middle grade is tricky

[adrian_turtle]

I really like being The Book Aunt. I'm a bit proud of having given my 13-year-old niece a great many books that hit the sweet spot so well her mother asks me how on earth I DO that. Almost all of them since "Hippos Go Berserk" have had female protagonists, which worked really well for her...she has too much sexism in her local world. (The only exception was "Wizard of Earthsea," which was conincidentally the only one she didn't like.) Of course, it helps that she's a reading sort of child. You know. There's the kind of child teachers/librarians/parents try to encourage to read more, and the kind of child where you have to take the book away to make them take a bath.

It's harder for me to be a Book Aunt for my nephews, in part because I don't know them as well. (They live near my mother, where I don't visit.) What's good for a ten-year-old? I don't read much for that age, so I'm at a loss. I'd prefer something written in the 21st century.** My niece loved "How Mirka Got Her Sword," but part of the reason she loved it was the Girl!Power! and Orthodox Judaism*. And she liked Castle Hangnail, but that might have been too young for her? On the other hand, my nephew isn't as much of a reading enthusiast, so something a little easier might be right for him. The Armitage stories were too hard for him, even though I loved them when I was 9, and my niece adores them as readalouds.

My nephew likes acting and baseball, but anything can catch his interest if it's fast-paced or funny. The books I like tend to be slower paced. I reread King of Shadows lately, and realized it isn't all that good. I liked Out of Left Field, and my 13y.o. niece loved it, but I'm not sure how much of that is the Girl!Power! and caring about the family already. How many girl power books can I throw a boy before I seem preachy, when I don't have other significant connections with him?


*We can quibble about the boundary between Orthodox and Conservative, but her family's practice is somewhere near that border. And the family I grew up in thinks that level of observance is fanatical and absurd. They think I'm being silly when I don't eat pork, or when I go to Saturday morning services just because I like them.

**It always annoys me when I ask a librarian "What's good for [age] that's come out in the last ten years?" and they offer me a new edition of "The Very Hungry Caterpillar," or "All of a Kind Family." I'm asking because I want to find something for my younger niece, and be sure her sister doesn't already have it.

Comments

[anne]

The last MG book I read was really fantastic--Sal and Gabi Break the Universe, by Carlos Hernández, out late last year or early this year. Boy protagonist with a girl best friend. Ridiculous middle-school pranks and shenanigans, PLUS breaking into the school at night to save the world! And some sad stuff, like a little brother in the NICU, but (spoilers) it turns out OK.

I got the rec from Marissa Lingen--I think she has a godchild in the relevant age bracket. I'm sure she'd be happy to point you in the right direction.

[callunav]

I was going to say that it had been a long time since I tried to come up with recommendations for a boy, and then I realized I'm not sure I ever have. Some Diana Wynne Jones stuff should hit that age range and not be too gendered - Archer's Goon, maybe, for light and funny. It's definitely not from the 21st century, though, albeit not on par with the All-of-a-Kind Family.

(I have an extremely bright and literate 11-year-old pseudo-niece who likes SFF and for whom I keep wanting to make recommendations, but she's mostly busy reading Xanth, at the moment. I try not to sigh, but I don't always succeed.)

The only 10-year-old boy I spent much time with in the past couple years was All About the Superheroes, which probably doesn't help.

I'd love to hear what you come up with.

[silveradept]

There are several baseball related stories that follow the form "[Player] and me" that might be quick MG reads.

If graphic novels are good, Space Battle Lunchtime is a good one to go with.

Many of the MGs that I see on the regular are also gunning for the Percy Jackson series (plural) and the various series of animals working together that starts with the Warriors series (cats.)

[mrissa]

I am indeed happy to rec middle grade, but right now I am away from my booklog that would make it easier. Do you want me to make a note to go through it this week looking for good recs?

[adrian_turtle]

I went to the library after reading your comment, and found Sal and Gabi Break the Universe just before the children's section closed. (Why does the children's section close at 6? The rest of the library is open until 9.) I'm halfway through already, and it's a delight.

I also grabbed The Shadow Thieves, by Anne Ursu. I've read it before, and need to read it again to check the reading level. If I remember correctly, it also includes breaking into a middle school at night to save the world. The library had it upstairs with YA, but it LOOKS like a middle grade book.

[adrian_turtle]

That would be wonderful! Thank you

[adrian_turtle]

Thanks for reminding me of superheroes! "Please Don't Tell My Parents I'm A Supervillain," is aimed a bit older, but I like it.

[adrian_turtle]

I'll check out Space Battle Lunchtime. I bounced off the Warriors series. And didn't like the "Wings of Fire" series either, for those who like dragons better than talking cats. The local girls are only interested in talking dragons, not monster dragons like in "Owen, Dragon Killer of Trondheim."

Rick Riordan has definitely tapped into a rich vein.

[boxofdelights]

The True Meaning of Smekday, by Adam Rex. Fast-paced and very funny. The protagonist is a girl.

I've generally given it to eight-year-olds, but they have been the reading sort of child.

[conuly]

Middle grade, male reluctant reader?

The Last Kids On Earth series. Boom, done, you can thank me later.

[rinue]

Yay! I was similarly popping over to rec Sal and Gabi and am glad that's already been sorted.

[mrissa]

Ben Hatke's graphic novels are fun and generally quite good, mix of protags.

Maurice Broaddus The Usual Suspects is a MG (non-murder) mystery, boy protag.

Roshani Chokshi's Aru Shah books are great, and so are Kelly Jones's chicken books. Both have female protags but male characters also.

Hilary McKay's Casson family series has a variety of perspectives/PoVs and is funny and loving and great. Mimetic fiction.

Daniel Jose Older's Dactyl Hill Squad

Clete Barrett Smith's aliens series

Trenton Lee Stewart's Mysterious Benedict Society series

all of Ursula Vernon's Dragonbreath books

[adrian_turtle]

Thank you so much! I've read some of those, but will check out the others next time I get to the library. Mysterious Benedict Society and The Usual Suspects look especially appealing.

I tried Dactyl Hill Squad, which didn't work for me even though it had so many elements I like. (It moves so fast I probably would have loved it when I was 10, though.) I liked Saffy's Angel, but somehow I had it shelved as YA in my head, next to The Young Unicorns or Rax.