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.

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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!]  

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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?