Great Middle Grade Reads discussion

In a close race with many options, The Train to Impossible Places by P. G. Bell was picked for our March read for BOTM. I'm looking forward to reading this one myself!

Please leave your comments and discussions here, and remember the code: respect, tolerance, and good vibes. :) Also, if you are going to reveal a plot point, include the information in spoiler tags so as not to spoil it for people who may not have read that far! For those who aren't familiar with them, spoiler tags and instructions on how to include them (among other things) can be found by clicking on the link "(some html is ok)" at the top right of the text box when you are creating a message.

Yes! I'm going to find my copy soon:)

Hurray! (was hoping we'd pick this one)

Yay! I never heard of this book before I saw this, but I can't wait to read it now!

I am about halfway through reading this, and I am loving it! I think kids would find it hugely fun to read or have someone read to them. I've already recommended it to my sister to read to her classroom. I will follow up with more thoughts once I finish reading. If the second half fulfills the promises made in the first half, I will be giving a full five-star rating.

I have been torn about including this in my 5/6th grade book club for next year because I don't know if it's too out there for some kids to enjoy. Fantasy can be a little tricky, and I felt myself as a reader getting confused/lost in a few places. I logic thought my way out of that confusion, but would be interested to hear if anyone else had this problem during their read.

Blair, I think this will appeal to those who like far-fetched ideas, or are able to roll with whatever comes their way. But if your students like something more grounded to our world, they might have difficulty.

I finished reading, and I must say it lived up to my expectations. I rated it 5 stars. I wanted to deduct half a star for a plot problem that I noticed -- which I'm not going to share, because I don't want to influence someone else's read.

I don't think this book would have confused me when I was around ten years old. I have always been a roll-with-it kind of reader. So I think the reaction would depend on the child. It might help to have an adult read aloud and explain things that might be confusing.

It certainly made good on its promise to take the reader to impossible places!

This is one of my favorite mixed-up middle-grade fantasy adventures. I find it clever, bright, and maybe perfect for kids who 'don't like to read.' Bell's vision of another world is fun and quirky, ever-surprising the reader. I think that is what keeps a young reader engaged. Fun read!

It's interesting how different we all react to books. Interesting and wonderful, cuz I love hearing other perspectives and POVs...
While I thought there were lots of fun, original scenes, I had a hard time finding any characters I liked. Suzy seemed to care little about her parent's state or the new "friends" she met. She made decisions to (view spoiler)[trust someone who had given her no reason to (hide spoiler)]. Again and again. I guess I need someone to really root for. And Suzy didn't fit the bill for me. I do think this is a great book for those who like world-building and imaginative scenes. Just my two cents. :-)

That's a good point! I was bothered about Suzy for the first half of the book, because of (view spoiler)[her willingness to lie and steal (hide spoiler)]. But later on (view spoiler)[she redeems herself by coming clean, and it's at this point that she starts to forge friendships with the other Impossible Postal Express characters, especially Wilmot (hide spoiler)]. Of course, individual reader reactions are going to vary--and definitely the big draw of this book is the imaginative world-building.