Review: The Wanderer by Sharon Creech #iLoveMG

Welcome to #iLoveMG where I share middle grade books that my fifth graders recommend. (Please note that my fifth graders read a wide variety of books across a wide variety of genres, levels, and topics. Do not think that these books are "only" for fifth graders.) Or check out #3rdfor3rd for recommendations from when I taught third grade.

The Wanderer

Recommended by AU

The Wanderer by Sharon Creech is a realistic fiction novel told in ship log entries. It is about a girl named Sophie who goes on a ship journey with some of her friends to visit her grandfather, Bompie. Along the way, she learns how to juggle, goes lobster-catching, and tells the crew some of Bompie’s stories, along with other adventures. I give this book a four and a half star rating because it’s not something I would usually read, but it was worth it.

Click here for all of our #iLoveMG posts. What are your favorite middle grade books?

A Snicker of Magic Recommendation #iLove

Welcome to #iLoveMG where I share middle grade books that my fifth graders recommend. (Please note that my fifth graders read a wide variety of books across a wide variety of genres, levels, and topics. Do not think that these books are "only" for fifth graders.) Or check out #3rdfor3rd for recommendations from when I taught third grade.

A Snicker of Magic

Recommended by Arie

My book club book is called A Snicker of Magic and it’s by Natalie Lloyd. It’s a fantasy book and it has 311 pages. 

Let me tell you my summary of the book. So, there is this girl called Felicity Pickle and she is a nomad, she lives in her car and is always moving. She has a problem. She is always hesitant and nervous to socially speak. When she moves to Midnight Gulch, she discovers that there is some magic remaining there. She later uncovers her family’s secret history and learns that her family is cursed. Also nervous for her school’s annual talent show competition, will she be able to find her voice and break the curse, or will she mess up her competition, and will her family be cursed forever? So yeah, that was my summary. 

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy and a good mystery. I would give this book a 5/5 and once you read A Snicker of Magic, you definitely will too!

Click here for all of our #iLoveMG posts. What are your favorite middle grade books?

Recommended: My Jasper June #iLoveMG

My Jasper June

Recommended by Lucy

The book that I read is called My Jasper June, which is a realistic fiction book, and it is by Laurel Snyder. The book is set in Atlanta and starts when 13 year old Leah has just finished school and has a whole boring summer looming ahead of her. Her friends stopped making eye contact with her, “afraid the sadness could rub off on them, or something,” after a horrible day last summer. Her family have all turned to “ghosts,” unlike the fun, laughing, parents she used to have. 

However, one day Leah meets a mysterious girl unlike any other, Jasper who Leah discovers also feels lost. As Leah learns some of Jasper’s secrets, they carve out a friendship and a secret “hideaway” in an overgrown space, away from their parents and hardships. But as the fun and exciting days start to fade away, darker realities become more apparent. Leah and Jasper have to decide whether their friendship can save them both. 

Meanwhile, Leah’s annoyance with how distant her parents are is increasing and might bubble over anytime. Can Leah solve everyone’s problems and keep Jasper safe as well? 

I really enjoyed this book because of how vivid the characters were. The author really conveys how annoyed, sad, and lonely Leah was. Laurel Snyder also does an excellent job showing how different Jasper’s situation is and managing to keep the plot interesting, with many problems in the book, but all surrounding a main type of lesson. Although there is some violence and an alcoholic character, I think Laurel Snyder still manages to keep the book not too dark. 

If you liked the book The Vanderbeekers to the Rescue by Karina Yan Glaser or the picture book A Stone Sat Still by Brendan Wenzel, you will absolutely love this book. All in all, I recommend this book to anyone who wants a story of friendship or just a very eventful plot. A 5 star rating for sure.

Click here for all of our #iLoveMG posts. (Please note that my fifth graders read a wide variety of books across a wide variety of genres, levels, and topics. Do not think that these books are "only" for fifth graders.) Or check out #3rdfor3rd for recommendations from when I taught third grade.