I read and loved so many middle-grade books in 2022! While some of these are early middle-grade books (I've read four of them with my book club for ages nine and ten), others are for ages ten and above. When I review a book, I usually indicate what age-group I think it is suited to, but do remember that reading levels vary widely! Secret Friends Secret Friends is heartbreaking, and that's the only reason I haven't introduced it to my book club. I meet children just twice a week, and online at that, so it's tough to see how affected a child is by a book. With my regulars, I know I can introduce a book like this as long as I include a trigger-warning. With newcomers, not really.Secret Friends is about the need to fit in, and about how we are willing to go to any lengths to belong. The problem is - how far can a child go? Read a … [Read more...]
Nadya
Nadya's family is perfect, or so it seems. It's full of laughter and fun, and she knows that no matter where she is, her father will find her.But one day, things don't seem so perfect anymore. Eventually, Nadya's father tells her that he's going away. He promises he'll be back soon, but that's a lie.With minimal text and powerful, bold illustration, Nadya tells the story of family, and relationships that need to change and grow. Emotions run high, and pictures, rather than text, propel the story, bringing a sense of urgency into the story and highlighting the conflict and tension in the family.And I loved it. I loved how much was expressed in so little. Graphic novels work best for me when they are like this - with expressive pictures doing most of the talking. Especially for middle-grade readers who struggle with dense text, Nadya is the perfect read!TitleNadyaAuthor … [Read more...]