Night Ride - book review #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 Night Ride

Recommended by Lydia 

The Night Ride by J. Anderson Coats, is a charming fiction novel about a girl named Sonnia, who loves horses, and hopes to buy one of the king's horses named Ricochet, but soon, Ricochet gets moved to a nearby racetrack to be one of the kings racing horses, and Sonnia decides to move with him. She soon finds out that all the kids are participating in an illegal race at night, and the winner gets a grand prize of a lot of money! Sonnia is sure she can't ride in the night ride, but soon her beloved Ricochet is put at risk, and she knows she must. This thrilling middle grade novel, will capture your heart with adventure, love, and surprising twists. 

I would recommend this book to fantasy readers because even though it is fiction, it has that fantastical feeling to it, but even if you prefer non-fiction, this has a lot of difficult situations that Sonnia has to deal with, and so much to learn about herself, and others. She said: "Just because you have good memories with someone, doesn't mean they're a good person", and that is an important lesson we can all learn from. In conclusion, I would give this book a 10/10 for the emotional roller coaster, and because you feel like you're there experiencing everything with Sonnia.

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

PS Have you seen J. Anderson Coats's newest book, A Season Most Unfair? My fifth graders from '21-22 got to give input on the cover and were DELIGHTED their top choice made the cut! 

Diversify your Magic and Magical Schools Books

Every Friday I share one or more books with my students as part of #FirstChapterFriday. It's an amazing way to build your reading community and get kids excited about books

This week was one of my highest-demand categories...

Diverse Magic and Magical School Books

Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia

Lia Park and the Missing Jewel by Jenna Yoon (book two is out now!)

Nic Blake and the Remarkables: the Manifestor Prophecy by Angie Thomas

Lei and the Fire Goddess by Malia Maunakea

Shad Hadid and the Alchemists of Alexandria by George Jreije

The Marvellers by Dhonielle Clayton (book two is out now!)

The Witchlings by Claribel Ortega (book two is out now!)

Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston (book two is out now!)

Which have you read? I'm 4 for 8 and might have to request the rest from the public library, because these are going to be going hand-to-hand in my classroom for the rest of the year! 

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Sweep - book review #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.

Title

Recommended by Eliana

Sweep is a capturing story written by Jonathan Auxier. It is a fantasy story about friendship and hope, which captures the reader’s mind with its descriptive details that set the reader in the moment. The story opens in a city in Victorian England, set in the late 1800s. It starts with Nan Sparrow, a young 11 year old orphaned chimney sweep. The author describes her life as hard and brutal, as she lives under the watchful eyes of her master, Wilkie Crudd. The book also goes back and forth between chapters, sometimes referring to Nan as “the girl” and telling mysterious stories about her beloved Sweep, who supposedly took care of her for her childhood. 

After The Sweep mysteriously disappears, Nan’s life falls into ruins. Ever since the Sweep has disappeared, Nan’s childhood has been a dismal journey, until Nan discovers something shocking about a piece of char that The Sweep left for her, along with his hat. The piece of char has come alive! Nan decides to name this creature Charlie, and they go through a perilous journey to find out what Charlie really is. Read more to find out what happens next. 

The author, Jonathan Auxier, includes so much detail and feeling into this book that you can really feel like you are there with Nan. In some chapters, Charlie’s personality had me laughing because he is just so hilarious to read about. The author has also included a bunch of real life events, like the holidays that Charlie and Nan learn about. Overall, this is a great book, and I would definitely read a sequel. I think that the author makes this story tie up perfectly with comedy, while also including facts from the real world. If I had to rate this book, it would be a 8/10.

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

Restart - book review #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.

Restart

Recommended by Maitreyee

Restart is a book by Gordon Korman and it is Realistic fiction. The book is about a kid named Chase who fell off a roof, but he doesn't remember hitting his head. He doesn't remember anything really. He doesn't even remember his name and when you don't know who you are and some people hate you and call you a bully and other people treat you like you're famous. Who do you believe? How do you get back your old life or do you start a new life? 

Restart is a beautiful book about a kid who has to find his place and when things get ten times harder when Chase finds out a secret he doesn't want to know about himself, he will have to find who he can really trust. If you like Sweep you will love Restart. I rate this book 4 stars. It is amazing and is definitely a must read!

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

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda - book review #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 Strange Case of Origami Yoda

Recommended by Eleanor

I liked The Strange Case of Origami Yoda because it had multiple perspectives. This book is about figuring out if origami Yoda is just paper or for real. This kid named Tommy puts together a bunch of stories about origami Yoda. Origami Yoda is a finger puppet on this kid named Dwight he talks like Yoda who gives everyone advice. Which most of the time is really helpful. 

I would recommend this book to anyone that likes books in multiple perspectives and a little middle school drama and if you want a new series to read. This is a really great book.

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

Ruby on the Outside - book review #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.

Ruby on the Outside

Recommended by several students

Katy's review: 

Ruby on the Outside is written by Nora Raleigh Baskin. It is realistic fiction. In this book Ruby, the main character, lives with her aunt who she calls Matoo. Her mom is in prison and no one knows except her aunt. It is set during summer for most of the book. If you have read All The Impossible Things, and enjoyed it, you would like Ruby On The Outside. 

 One of my favorite paragraphs is: I imagine there comes a certain time in a new friendship when the inevitable invitation comes up: Wanna come to my house? Which will mean, sometimes fairly soon after that, you most likely have to reciprocate. This is exactly why I’ve always managed to successfully avoid it until this moment. Of course, that is also why I’ve never had a best friend before. 

This was a good book, although it was a little short for me. Although, I love long books. If I had to give a rating I would give it a 7 ½ / 10. 

Jack's Review 

The book is Ruby on the Outside by Nora Raleigh Baskin, and the genre is realistic fiction. Ruby’s mom is in prison. She doesn’t even think about telling anyone, until she meets Margalit. Will they tell each other their secrets, or will they find out more about their family’s history. It is a good book because there is friendship, and it is a good story. I would rate this book 3.5/5 stars.

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

Starfish - book review #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.

Starfish

Recommended by Zoe

The book Starfish written by Lisa Flipps is a realistic fiction. It tells about the story of Ellie, who is a girl that ever since her fifth birthday party, has been bullied about her weight. She made Fat Girl Rules to life by. She later meets her new neighbor Catalina, someone who doesn’t judge her for who she is, and her new therapist, a woman who helps Ellie stand up for herself through the bullying. Although Ellie sees herself as beautiful, she wishes that the rest of the world (especially her mother) could see through her eyes. 

One of the unique things about this book is that it is written in verse. If you like heartbreaking, sad, and emotional rollercoasters, this is the book for you. Starfish helps people to be who they want to be, no matter what the outside world says to them.

[Note from Katie ... rumor has it that a sequel is coming!]  

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

Unicorn Rescue Society recommendation #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.

Unicorn Rescue Society (series)

Recommended by Caroline

I really liked Unicorn Rescue Society. I usually read realistic fiction books but I liked this new change. This book was funny, had a lot of pictures, not too many words on each page but still a good amount. 

This book is about a little boy named Elliott who is going to a new school and has a field trip on the first day! He is nervous that no one will like him. He makes a great friend during his adventure and they find a mythical creature together. They discover strange things along the way. Professor Fauna is not what you think. A lot can happen in one day! I really liked this book and I really recommend it.

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

Troubled Girls of Dragomir Academy book review #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 Troubled Girls of Dragomir Academy

Recommended by Pippa and Livi

[From Pippa]

My book was The Troubled Girls of Dragmir Academy. This book is written by Anne Ursu and it is fiction. This book has a very interesting plot line. Nobody notices Marya Lupu, mainly because her brother, Luka Lupu, could become a sorcerer if everything goes correctly. But when Marya does something terrible during his trial, and he is told that he doesn’t possess magic, Marya is shipped off to Dragomir Academy, a “school for troubled girls”. While there, Marya starts to uncover many mysteries, and when a close friend is arrested, and the horrible Dread, which comes in the night and leaves its victims bloodless corpses, threatens to attack the school, will Marya fight for her school or accept defeat? 

I loved this book so much because it is a frighteningly fun feminist fantasy that is especially hard to put down. This book will change your life forever and make you stand up for what you believe in. This book is beautifully written, and it feels like you are standing right next to Marya as she adventures through the halls. I would recommend this book to anybody who likes fiction and plot twists. Finally, I would give this book a 12 out of 10 because it is gripping and has great imagery.

[From Livi]

I really liked the book The Troubled Girls of Dragmir Academy by Anne Ursu. It is set in a fantasy world. 

Marya, just a town girl destined to be a maid at her to be a sorcerer brothers estate, makes a huge mistake when the other sorcerers come to test her brother for magical powers. Then she is sent for life to an academy for troubled girls. When she starts to find out more about the history of her land and the history a magic, she takes a journey, a daring rule breaking journey including courageous stunts and other magical things. 

The book is sad and happy with an ending that no one expects….

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

City of Ember book review #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.

City of Ember

Recommended by Louis

The Wolf's Curse by Jessica Vitalis is about a young boy named Gauge. If you liked the Golden Compass, this book shares a lot of the same themes and settings but has a completely different plot.

The book centers around the city of Bouge by the Sea, a small town with a corrupt mayor that lives in fear of people like Gauge that can see the Wolf. Eventually in the book, after Gauge’s Grandfather dies, Gauge is forced to come out of hiding and release his Grandfather’s soul to the Sea in the Sky. Before he is caught by the townsfolk he is rescued by Roux, the blacksmith’s apprentice. Together they try to solve the mystery of the wolf and tell the truth about the corrupt mayor. 

Overall I think the Wolf's Curse is a good book for anyone that likes fantasy.

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

Book Review: Alone #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.

Alone

Recommended by Abby

[Alone review, written as a song - invent your own melody and rock out] 

She was a girl in Colorado doing alright 

Then she got abandoned overnight 

Now she’s gotta figure out how to survive 

So many tragedies 

Back in the house with her neighbor’s doggy 

Trying to find food that is tasty 

A whole life of canned food is waiting for her! 

She’s not excited to say (Maddie is alone!) 

 

She’s finding out how to drive at age twelve (Maddie is alone!) Making her way, with fire and intruders every day (Maddie) 

It’s gonna be her time (Maddie) 

To show them all that she’ll 

Live all alone! 

[Or, if you prefer your reviews in prose ...] 

My book is Alone by Megan E. Freeman. This book is written in verse and fits the genre of dystopia quite well. 

Maddie arranged a sleepover at her grandparents summer apartment without her parents knowing. After her friends cancel on her, she spends the night alone. Once she wakes up, it is her surprise to find out that the whole town got evacuated overnight because of a threat. Now she is all alone and working to find out how to survive alone just her and her neighbor’s adorable dog, George. 

I recommend this book to anyone who likes dogs and a bit of danger. The descriptions of George the dog are absolutely adorable and just to die for. My overall rating would be 8.4/10. 

This is honestly one of the best books that I’ve read.

  

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

Loteria book recommendation #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.

LOTERÍA

Recommended by Thomas

  

Loteria is the book's name and the author is Karla Arenas Valenti and the book is fantasy. The book is about a little girl named Clara. Life and Death are playing a game to decide Clara’s fate, a tic tac toe game. Life and Death starts to play, the placed a bean on a tree and something happens to a tree, then Life and Death placed a bean on a scorpion, and a scorpion appears in Clara’s house, then Life and Death placed a bean on a bow, then a siren, since the bow and arrow killed Clara’s friend’s mom, Chita. Esteban, Clara’s friend, filled with grief, followed a voice into a different place, where a devil awaits, now Clara has to find his friend before he gets sold off and survive the many challenges that Life and Death creates. 

My favorite quote is “We must honor all living creatures. It is not our right to restrict anyone’s freedom. We always pay a price for doing so.” I like this quote because animals deserve to live life how they want to, don’t force them to do something, and for keeping people in a cage (unless they are a VERY VERY VERY bad human being). 

I recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy and for people who like a boring book at the beginning and suddenly spikes with action. I think this book is really good, but it takes too much time for the action to rise, so I would rate this book, out of five, a solid 4.2

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

Dealing with Dragons book review #iLoveM

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.

Dealing with Dragons

Recommended by anonymous

   

Dealing with Dragons is an adventurous novel about a princess that is bored with her life in the Kingdom of Linderwall. The princess is named Cimerone, and eventually ventures off to become the princess of Kazul, a charming girl and one of the most sensible of the kind (Roxim would be the only one more sensible, as the elder of the group). She meets new friends and enemies and makes the acquaintance of two wizards a few times. The book is full of adventure and danger and princes trying to bother her.

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

Other Words for Home book recommendation #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.

Other Words for Home

Recommended by Abby

  

My book is Other Words for Home, written by Jasmine Warga and the genre is realistic fiction. This book is about a girl from Syria named Jude. Apart from her older brother, Issa, slowly growing apart from the family, all is well. That is until wars strike out in the area, and her family finds that it is no longer safe to stay. Leaving her father and Issa behind, Jude and her mother flee to the other side of the Atlantic, to America. What will happen with the emotion of being away from friends and family and being treated like an outcast at her new school? 

I really enjoyed this book because it contains a lot of emotional and meaningful scenes. The book also gives us a good sense of some Arabic words, including a glossary of the words at the back of the book. The story has so much character and heartfelt lines. 

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys realistic fiction books and books where characters have to move somewhere else because of problems in their lives in their home country. Finally, if I were to be asked how I would rate it out of ten, I would give it a solid eight out of ten.

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

City Spies - book recommendation #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.

City Spies (series)

Recommended by Eleanor H

 

I read City Spies by James Ponti and it is a mystery book. City Spies is an amazing book in it the main characters who are named after cities have to go to France and stop a possible attack. The book moves sort of fast through the story and a lot of things happen quickly. It is hard to stop reading it once you start reading it. This book has a lot of excitement and mystery and I suggest you pay attention to the clues. 

I would recommend this book to any one who likes mystery, suspense, and excitement. City Spies makes an amazing read and I would give it a nine out of ten.

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

Inside Out and Back Again book review #iLoveMG

For their recent independent book clubs, I had my fifth graders design their own book cover to accompany the book. I hope you enjoy their interpretations as well as their reviews. 

(Please note that my fifth graders  #iLoveMG 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.

Inside Out and Back Again

Recommended by Angelina

 

Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhhà Lai is my book. It is a historical fiction book, based on the Vietnam War in 1955. 

 

The book is told in verse in the perspective of a young girl named Hà. Hà has only known Saigon, Vietnam for the first 10 years of her life, but when the Vietnam War arrived at her hometown, Hà, her three brothers, and her mother are forced to flee to America. Hà doesn’t know whether she and her family will manage to escape or even sneak up to the fleeing ship without being caught. Even worse, Hà’s father served in the war, but fell for a trap set by the enemy troops and has suddenly gone missing. Through the stress, war, and risk, Hà and her family’s fate is in god’s hands now. 

Even though it is in verse, the book is amazingly told and engulfs the reader in the story as it progresses. I really like the plot because it shows that out of a devastating and despairing situation, one can still find a glimmer of hope in unexpected places.

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

The Gauntlet by Karuna Riazi book review #iLoveMG

For their recent independent book clubs, I had my fifth graders design their own book cover to accompany the book. I hope you enjoy their interpretations as well as their reviews. 

(Please note that my fifth graders  #iLoveMG 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 Gauntlet

Recommended by Ellen

  

My book is The Gauntlet by Karuna Riazi.

On Farah’s twelfth birthday she receives a game from her aunt, not expecting to be trapped in it. Farah and her friends complete challenges in a mind deceiving world and search for Farah's little brother Ahmed. The Gauntlet cheats and doesn’t give anyone an easy game. The players are fierce competitors, but the game doesn’t play fair. 

Can they escape and find Ahmed, or will they be trapped in the game forever?

I give this book 5 stars!

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