Middle Grade Fiction: Expand Your Horizons - Recommendations from the Ottawa Public Library
/The Ottawa Public Library is back to share fabulous folktale books with us. This month’s post is by Raven Winn-Desroches, Librarian, Children's and Teen Services at the St Laurent Branch of the Ottawa Public Library.
When kids first start reading novels on their own, it can be difficult to know where to start. There are so many books out there. It can seem quite overwhelming. Often, they will turn to the most popular books. The ones their friends are reading and talking about. While there is nothing wrong with this (I strongly believe that it does not matter what is being read, as long as kids are reading), it can lead to frustration. They do not like the popular books, or do not see themselves represented in its pages. Or they have simply read all the popular books and are now looking for more.
The list below is meant to help with this issue. These books feature a variety of marginalized voices all the while telling stories that can appeal to everyone. Reading outside of their immediate experiences can help kids learn empathy, and these books teach them about the world around them and the people in it. It is also a great jumping off point for anyone looking to read more diversely, or who simply want to see themselves reflected in the books they read.
I have also put together a list featuring the books below, and others like it here: Middle Grade: Expand your horizons | Bibliothèque publique d'Ottawa | BiblioCommons
All books mentioned are aimed at readers aged 8-12, but everyone’s preferences and comfort levels when it comes to reading may vary.
Dear Sweet Pea follows thirteen-year-old Patricia as she grapples with the effects of her parents’ divorce on her life. She is recruited by her neighbour, the town’s eccentric local advice columnist, Flora Mae, to manage her mail while she is away. Patricia cannot help herself: she notices the handwriting on one of the letters and responds to it as Flora Mae. This sets off a chain of events that throws Patricia’s friendships into disarray as she toes the line between right and wrong.
The Chance to Fly is the story of musicals-obsessed Nat Beacon. She is never seen an actor on stage who uses a wheelchair for mobility like she does, but she gets the chance to change that when she moves to a new town and gets cast in the ensemble of an all-kids production of Wicked.
In No Vacancy, Miriam Brockman and her family move to a small rural town in New York State, where they have purchased a dilapidated motel in the hopes of turning it into a successful business. Seeing her family struggle with this, Miriam and her new friend Kate orchestrate the appearance of a religious image in the town, in hopes of driving up much-needed tourism in the town. This book expertly interweaves Miriam’s Jewish faith, and the reality of antisemitism in today’s world, with themes of family and friendships that everyone will relate to.
Different Kinds of Fruit tells the story of Annabelle Blake as she navigates her budding friendship with a new student at her school. With Bailey, Annabelle’s world opens up, and she learns about things she had never thought of before – including gender, intercommunity conflict, and LGBTQ history. This is a coming-of-age story that shows readers how things like gender and sexuality and acceptance may not be quite so black and white.
Fifty-Four Things Wrong With Gwendolyn Rogers by Caela Carter
Gwendolyn Rogers is a fifth grader who, ever since she discovered a list of fifty-four things that are wrong with her (Number 16: she is sneaky. Number 13: She is impulsive), has become determined to fix everything that is wrong with her. Otherwise, she believes, she will only continue to be a bad daughter, student, friend, or person in general. Author Caela Carter pulls from her own experiences as someone with undiagnosed ADHD and dyslexia to create a moving and richly told story about self-acceptance.
Amari and the Night Brothers is the first book in a fantasy series. Amari Peters’s brother, Quinton, went missing some time ago, but Amari has never given up hope that he is still alive. When she finds a ticking briefcase in his closet containing information about something called the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs, Amari cannot help but want to investigate. This plunges her into a world where magicians, fairies, aliens, and all manner of supernatural creatures are real. Now, she must now compete for a spot in the BSA in hopes of discovering what truly happened to Quinton.
The Last Mapmaker is a story of identity and integrity, perfect for fans of tales of adventure. It follows twelve-year-old Sai, assistant to Mangkon’s most celebrated mapmaker. The daughter of a notorious conman, Sai hides her identity to maintain a respectable position in society. However, as her ship approaches the Sunderlands – a land of dragons, riches, and dangers untold, Sai must grapple with her lies, and decide what her future is worth to her. The Last Mapmaker deftly approaches themes of colonization and discovery that make it must-read.
