The Dark Life - book review #iLoveMG

This is part of my continuing series, #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 Dark Life

Recommended by Elliot

Dark Life by Kat Falls is a high fantasy novel. It is about a boy named Ty, who has spent his whole life undersea, helping his family farm flourish. But roaming around undersea, there is also a group of outlaws, and when these outlaws start causing trouble, Ty is caught up in the shuffle, and has to fight for his home. 

He finds a girl named Gemma, who is from land, but has come undersea to look for her brother. As they venture, they also uncover secrets about living undersea. Seacrets that cannot fall into the wrong hands. 

 

Dark Life is a great book where layer after layer of secrets unfold, leaving the reader guessing. To lovers of Jennifer A. Neilson and Suzanne Collins, Dark Life is full of action, adventure, and lots of secrets. I strongly recommend this book. I would give it 4.5 out of 5 stars.

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

The Super Secret Octagon Valley Society - book recommendation #iLoveMG

This is part of my continuing series, #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 (Super Secret) Octagon Valley Society

Recommended by Asher

I recommend The (Super Secret) Octagon Valley Society by Melissa de la Cruz.

This book starts off with eight characters Anton, Ting Ting, Lil Kimmy, Julie, Maureen, Dilip, Harold, and the star of this novel Edwin. He has always been shy but very good at Mathematics top of his class even. He hopes that in his journey he will find others like him smart but a little nervous. 

In this thrill-finding, book watch as these eight iconic characters traverse The Octagon Valley Society Institute for the EXTRAordinary conquering whatever comes at them next.

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

Babysitter's Club readalikes

My 5th graders love realistic fiction and graphic novels, so what could be better than realistic graphic novels? This #FirstChapterFriday collection is pretty much always checked out from the classroom library, but it's fun to booktalk them anyway so readers can plan ahead about books they'd like.

You can always tell the savvy readers who skip the queue at school and order books from the public library - smart!

If You Liked the Babysitter's Club Graphic Novels

TThe Babysitter's Club Graphic Novels (series)

Sunny Side Up (series)

Merci Suarez Changes Gears (series - not graphic novel)

Real Friends (series)

Just Jaime (series)

Go with the Flow

All's Faire in Middle School by Victoria Jamieson

El Deafo by Cece Bell

New Kid (Class Act is the second, School Trip is the third in the series)

There are so, so many more graphic novels I could include (and you'll notice graphic novels pop up in a lot of my other book-recommendation categories too). What are your favorite realistic fiction graphic novels?

Click here for all of our #iLoveMG posts.