I read many, many middle grade books last year, but somehow just one Indian book stands out this time! Here are my top ten, in no particular order. I highly recommend these books to readers ten and above!
The Stories Grandma Forgot (and How I Found Them)
Last year, I read many books in verse, primarily because that’s what I’ve been writing. My most recent middle-grade verse read was The Stories Grandma Forgot (and How I Found Them) by Nadine Aisha Jassat. It’s a richly woven book about family and a support system. I always find verse novels to be pacy reads, but this one was even more so because it has multiple secrets at its core, secrets that the reader is curious to uncover. It’s a story about stories, and I love how all the stories come together at the end.
Odder
Odder by Katherine Applegate is the second verse novel on my list this year. Like I said when I wrote about The One and Only Ruby (which features on my list top ten early middle grade reads from 2024), I love how Applegate seems to get into the skin of the animal whose point of view she chooses as her narrative voice. Odder is a gorgeous book told from the point of view of a playful otter and the humans who save her.
Pax, Journey Home
Another story about animals in the wild, Pax, Journey Home by Sara Pennypacker is gentle, sweet and full of aching love. Although I haven’t read Pax, I loved reading this sequel and getting to know the characters as I read. Every character is beautifully drawn and as we read on, we feel their pain and yearning. Told from two points of view—a boy and a fox—it’s a lovely story about grief and healing, love and loss.
Mirror to Mirror
And I’m back to middle-grade verse novels with Mirror to Mirror by Rajani LaRocca. This book is especially close to my heart because it is about a pair of sisters who love and protect each other; it’s them against the world. I loved the voices of the twins and how Maya and Chaya emerge as distinct individuals, who respond differently to the world. Their relationship is beautifully drawn, filled with tenderness, anger and aching love. Verse is such a powerful medium to tell a story as poignant as this one!
Restart
Restart by Gordon Korman came to me highly recommended by one of my creative writing students and although I took a while to get to it, I’m so glad I finally read it! A captivating hook, brief chapters, and multiple narrative voices come together in this book about a boy who gets the chance to start his life over with an almost clean slate. Chase Ambrose used to be a bully, but amnesia leads him to forget that. He can now decide who his friends are, what he wants to do with his new life, and most importantly, who he wants to be.
Starfish
Any list of “must read” middle-grade novels in verse will lead you to Starfish by Lisa Fipps. A lovely, powerful book about trying to find a safe space where you feel comfortable in your own skin, Starfish is a story that will resonate with many. It is an optimistic book that deals with fatphobia, friendship, and therapy. Ellie, the protagonist of the story, goes through much as she comes to terms with what she wants. Most importantly, as the story progresses, I love how she learns to stand up for herself.
In the Beautiful Country
In the Beautiful Country by Jane Kuo was on the list of required reading for a course I did on revising a novel-in-verse, and I wonder if I would have come across it otherwise! When I started reading it, I wondered if it would resonate with me, or whether I would have to get through yet another story about the immigrant experience. But I loved it. It’s a story about making choices. No matter what circumstances we find ourselves in, our lives are determined by the choices we make.
Red, White, and Whole
Red, White, and Whole is another verse novel by Rajani LaRocca, and another book about the immigrant experience. What I absolutely love about the book is how the imagery of blood finds its way into the story in so many ways. While I enjoyed Mirror to Mirror more, I was drawn into this story too, with its gentleness and emotion. Reha’s love for her family shines through the pages as she strives to be the best version of herself, the version her parents want her to be.
How to Win an Election
After all the serious books above, I come to a book that I enjoyed for the opposite reason—it made me laugh in all the right places! As a writer, I feel that that’s more difficult to do than to make a reader feel big emotions, and How to Win an Election by Menaka Raman seems to do it effortlessly. It is a wholesome, fun read with over-the-top characters and dastardly plans. I was thrilled that it won the AG-BLF prize for children’s fiction last year! The book is such a treat!
Twitch
The last book on my list of favourite middle-grade books from last year is Twitch by M.G. Leonard. A story about a birdwatcher and an escaped convict, Twitch is the perfect blend of quiet and pacy. The protagonist Twitch is an observant character, and through his eyes we try to track down Robber Ryan in this wonderfully crafted story. With him, we try to figure out whom to trust, whom to befriend and whom to beware of. It’s a lovely, gripping story!
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