It’s only when I began writing this post that I noticed that most (six out of seven) of my favourite middle-grade reads from 2023 have blue covers! How odd!
I made a conscious effort to read more middle-grade books this year, also because I want to write more middle grade. It’s an age-group I enjoy interacting with, and I want more MG literature that moves and changes me, urging me to read on. Here are the books that I read and loved in 2023.
An Alien in the Jam Factory
I read this wacky book at the end of November 2023, and I loved it so much that it’s going to be part of the February 2024 edition of Read, Write, Explore. An Alien in the Jam Factory is a book that I think most children can identify with, even though the protagonist is a genius who meets an alien, a situation that most children cannot identify with. What makes me feel it has universal appeal? For one, it’s about loneliness. Scooter wants a friend he can bring home, or at the very least, a pet. He loves his family, but he resents it too. He wants to share his eagerness, excitement and enthusiasm with someone outside home. And when he finds a friend, everything begins to get better. I look forward to reading about Scooter’s next adventure!
Hour of the Bees
I stumbled upon Hour of the Bees by accident; I love when a book I know nothing about wins my heart. Magical realism, questions of identity, and complex family relationships come together in this beautiful story that slowly intertwines with a story told within it. I loved so much about it–the structure, the storytelling style, and above all, the atmosphere of the book.
Kolam Kanna
I’ve read Kolam Kanna three times already–once on my own, once while curating books for my book club, and once with the children at the book club–and I’ve enjoyed it each time! Bharathi, the protagonist of the story, is a talented kolam artist, but it’s thanks to his friends that he has the opportunity to showcase his talent to the world. In that sense, it’s much like Gobi Goes Viral, another book by Vibha Batra, which features on my list of favourite chapter books from 2023! Bharathi and his friends Tabassum and Alagu must fight for equal opportunity, and when help comes from an unexpected quarter, it’s heart-warming!
The Giver
I read The Giver (and then the rest of the series) only because somehow, the tweens at the April to June edition of my writing programme kept referring to it. An example of a utopian world? The Giver. Dystopia? The Giver. Fantasy? The Giver. I lost count of the number of times they referred to the book, so of course I had to read it! It’s a powerful, gripping book, one that asks uncomfortable questions and keeps us hooked until the end.
Because of Winn-Dixie
Books that my book clubbers enjoy hold a special place in my list of favourites because finally, the children who read with me are the true target audience of these books. Because of Winn-Dixie is the lovely story of a girl and a spontaneously adopted dog. During the course of a single summer, Opal slowly learns more about her mother, unravels her neighbours’ secrets, and grows to love the people around her. And everything happens because of the dog Winn-Dixie. Or so she believes.
Dungeon Tales
I love Venita Coelho’s books! I’ve read Dungeon Tales (both volumes), All of Me (probably my favourite), and Boy No. 32. Each one is special in its own way.
Dungeon Tales is a collection of short stories told in the form of stories within a story. The Badmash Badshah summons a prisoner each night to tell him a tale, and the book compiles some of the stories told by the many prisoners. The tales are humorous, adventurous, impossible … and altogether a delight.
Munni Monster
What if an old relative you’ve never met suddenly moved in with you? And worse, what if she has cerebral palsy, which makes her weird, disgusting … abnormal?
The sensitivity with which Madhurima Vidyarthi tells the story of Mishti who suddenly has to make room in her heart and home for Munni (who seems nothing less than a monster) is lovely. A story about love, belonging and family, I love how the characters grow through the tale, becoming gentler and more empathic. Munni Monster is the kind of story that I hope to read with my book clubbers over and over again.
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