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?