Book Reviews Middle Grade Fiction

Discover the extraordinary, life-changing novel about the power of words to bring light into the darkest of times. The year is 1939, and Nazi Germany is holding its breath. Death has never been busier, and he is the one telling this unforgettable story. When young Liesel Meminger is sent to live with a foster family outside of Munich, she has nothing to her name. But after finding a hidden book in the snow, she discovers something she simply cannot resist: the magic of reading. With the help of her kind, accordion-playing foster father, Liesel learns to read and soon begins stealing books from wherever she can find them. As the war escalates and bombs begin to fall, Liesel shares her stolen treasures with her terrified neighbors in the bomb shelter, and with the Jewish man her family is bravely hiding in their basement. Beautifully written and deeply moving, this modern classic explores how friendship, courage, and a love for books can help you survive when the world is falling apart.

Sara Martinez just wanted to do the right thing when she hacked the New York City foster care system to expose her corrupt foster parents. Instead of a medal, she is facing years in juvenile detention and a strict ban on using computers. Just when all hope seems lost, a mysterious British spy named Mother swoops in, offering her a totally different path: a place in a highly secret MI6 agency. Sara is whisked away to a hidden base in Scotland, where she joins the City Spies, a brilliant team of five kids gathered from around the globe. While attending a local boarding school, they master explosives, sleight of hand, and breaking and entering, allowing them to infiltrate places adults simply cannot reach. Before she knows it, Sara is dangling from buildings and hacking rival computer networks at a youth summit in Paris, racing to stop a dangerous villain.

The epic tale of wild cats surviving in the deep forest has been brought to life in a stunning visual adventure. For generations, four fierce groups of cats have shared the woods according to ancient laws. But the balance of power is shifting dangerously, and ThunderClan is facing complete destruction from the growing shadows of their rivals. You will be pulled right into the heart of the action when an ordinary orange house cat named Rusty wanders into the untamed woods. Rusty has a comfortable life with humans, but he trades it all for the thrilling, brutal life of a wild warrior. Experience the intense training, fierce battles, and deep friendships of the forest as Rusty fights to prove that a house cat can become the bravest hero of them all. This incredible full-color adaptation takes you right into the tall grass and the flying fur, offering a breathtaking new way to explore a legendary world of survival and courage.

The epic climax of the original warrior cat saga is brought to vivid life in this stunning, full-color graphic novel. Tensions in the forest have reached a boiling point as the sinister Tigerstar rises to power, leaving a trail of betrayal and terror in his wake. You will join Fireheart as he uncovers dark secrets and fights to protect his beloved ThunderClan from a ruthless pack of wild dogs and unseen threats lurking in the shadows. As the brutal summer heat pushes every feline to their absolute limit, alliances shatter and old friends become sudden enemies. The stakes have never been higher, and Fireheart must face his ultimate destiny in a spectacular battle that will determine the fate of the entire forest. Dive into the breathtaking visual conclusion of the story arc that started it all, where courage and loyalty face their greatest test.

Nine-year-old Peter Hatcher has a massive problem in his life, and his name is Farley Drexel Hatcher. To the rest of the world, Peter's two-year-old brother is just an adorable, sweet little toddler known as Fudge. But Peter knows the dark truth: Fudge is a walking, talking disaster zone who ruins absolutely everything he touches. Whether he is throwing massive, screaming temper tantrums in the middle of a shoe store, scribbling all over Peter's hard-earned homework, or smearing mashed potatoes on the dining room walls, Fudge always finds a way to cause absolute chaos. Worse yet, Peter feels like his parents only ever pay attention to his troublemaking little brother. Now, Peter spends most of his time just trying to protect his most prized possession—a tiny pet green turtle named Dribble—from Fudge's destructive little hands. Living with Fudge requires a mountain of patience, and Peter is quickly running out of it. Get ready to laugh out loud at this hilarious, classic story about the wild ups and downs of surviving life with an impossible younger sibling.

The thrilling saga of the warrior cats bursts off the page in this action-packed, full-color graphic novel adaptation. Deep in the heart of the forest, the fragile harmony between the four wild cat Clans is rapidly crumbling. You will join Fireheart as he digs into dangerous secrets, desperately trying to uncover the truth behind the suspicious death of a former Clan deputy. But asking the wrong questions paints a massive target on his back. As a scorching summer heatwave bakes the territory, tensions rise and an old, ruthless enemy seizes power in a rival Clan. Fireheart must confront dark omens, shocking betrayals, and a devastating natural disaster that threatens to wipe out everything he loves. Experience the suspense and fierce battles of the wild like never before in this stunning visual journey where courage is tested and true heroes are forged.

Jess Aarons' greatest ambition is to be the fastest runner in his grade. He's been practicing all summer and can't wait to see his classmates' faces when he beats them all. But on the first day of school, a new girl boldly crosses over to the boys' side and outruns everyone.

That's not a very promising beginning for a friendship, but Jess and Leslie Burke become inseparable. Together they create Terabithia, a magical kingdom in the woods where the two of them reign as king and queen, and their imaginations set the only limits. Then one morning a terrible tragedy occurs. Only when Jess is able to come to grips with this tragedy does he finally understand the strength and courage Leslie has given him.

--- Added from Google Books ---

Jess Aarons' greatest ambition is to be the fastest runner in his grade. He's been practicing all summer and can't wait to see his classmates' faces when he beats them all. But on the first day of school, a new girl boldly crosses over to the boys' side and outruns everyone. That's not a very promising beginning for a friendship, but Jess and Leslie Burke become inseparable. Together they create Terabithia, a magical kingdom in the woods where the two of them reign as king and queen, and their imaginations set the only limits. Then one morning a terrible tragedy occurs. Only when Jess is able to come to grips with this tragedy does he finally understand the strength and courage Leslie has given him.

--- Added from Hardcover ---

The life of a ten-year-old boy in rural Virginia expands when he becomes friends with a newcomer who subsequently meets an untimely death trying to reach their hideaway, Terabithia, during a storm.

Deep within the hidden walls of a bustling Paris train station, a young orphan named Hugo Cabret lives a life of absolute secrecy. He spends his days keeping the station's massive clocks ticking and surviving by his wits, desperate to remain invisible to the world. But his fragile undercover existence is suddenly threatened when he crosses paths with a bitter old toy seller and his eccentric, book-loving goddaughter. At the center of Hugo's world is a mysterious mechanical man and a cryptic notebook left behind by his late father. To uncover the truth about his past and secure his future, Hugo must solve a complex puzzle of stolen keys, hidden messages, and forgotten history. Experience a breathtaking, cinematic adventure told through stunning original drawings and words that will completely change the way you read.

Milo thinks everything is entirely too boring. But his dull afternoon takes a sharp turn when a mysterious tollbooth suddenly appears in his bedroom. With nothing better to do, he drives his toy car right through it and leaves his ordinary life behind for the extraordinary Lands Beyond. Suddenly, you are navigating a world where words and numbers literally come alive. Milo travels to the Island of Conclusions, teams up with a ticking watchdog named Tock, and meets a cast of wonderfully bizarre characters. Soon, he finds himself on a grand quest to rescue the princesses Rhyme and Reason and restore order to a deeply muddled kingdom. Along the way, Milo realizes that the world is actually full of endless fascination and excitement. This beloved classic chapter book takes you on a clever, puzzle-filled journey that celebrates the magic of language, mathematics, and boundless imagination.

Living forever sounds like the ultimate dream, until you actually meet someone who has to do it. Ten year old Winnie Foster is tired of her strict, overprotective family and dreams of running away. When she finally steps into the beautiful woods near her home, she stumbles upon a secret that defies everything she knows about the world. She discovers Jesse Tuck drinking from a hidden, sparkling spring. Winnie soon learns that the entire Tuck family is immortal; they drank the water years ago and can never grow older. The Tucks are kind, gentle people who understand that living forever is more of a curse than a blessing. But they are hiding from a malicious, yellow suited stranger who wants to steal the magical water and sell it for a fortune. You will be on the edge of your seat as Winnie is forced to make the hardest choice of her life. Must she keep the Tucks' astonishing secret safe, and will she choose to drink the water herself? This breathtaking classic explores the beautiful, delicate circle of life.