Tag: middle grade

Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers (#QP2027) Feature Review: White House Secrets: Medical Lies and Cover-Ups by Gail Jarrow

Who doesn’t want to learn about presidential secrets and coverups? Gail Jarrow has written a highly engaging, fascinating look at nine presidents in history who concealed medical issues while president of the United States of America. Presidents profiled include James Garfield, Chester Arthur, Grover Cleveland, Woodrow Wilson, Warren Harding, Franklin Roosevelt, John Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, and Joe Biden. Readers will learn who knew what when, including the media, family members, and medical professionals. 

Jarrow writes about presidential medical secrets with a sense of urgency. Students will be shocked by some of the details, such as that James Garfield wouldn’t have died if his doctors hadn’t put unclean fingers inside his wound and just how much medication President JFK was taking for Addison’s disease and severe back pain. Given that many of our politicians are hanging on to their offices well into old age, these discussions around fitness for office and ethics are highly relevant. Recommended for teens who like historical nonfiction that reveals complex, messy history and exposes the truth about historical figures. 

Hand this to students who like books such as the History Smashers series by Kate Messner or to teens who have read other books by Gail Jarrow such as Blood and Germs or The Poison Eaters.

–Laura Gardner

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Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers (#QP2027) Feature Review: The Moon Without Stars by Chanel Miller

As she enters 7th grade, Luna is quiet but confident in who she is – a lover of books and drawing – and she knows that her best friend Scott will be by her side no matter what. But new-found popularity for Luna after she and Scott produce a series of “self-help” zines for classmates shifts her perspective on middle school, her life, and her friendships. As she navigates her new social status, Luna is forced to confront what she’d be willing to compromise, who she’s willing to give up, and how those things affect who she ultimately wants to be.

With an inviting cover that doesn’t age down the middle-school aged characters, this is an ideal bridge book for younger teens as they transition from middle grade to young adult books. Luna’s journey is ultimately a classic tale of the importance of friends and offers opportunities for readers to think about how even those who are different from us might also have their own insecurities. Luna’s straightforward and frank analysis of her own coming of age and her experiences with a diverse array of classmates provide a fresh and relatable perspective on middle school for contemporary young teens. Luna’s observations on getting older also feature a wry sense of humor that could appeal to slightly older teens who are ready to feel nostalgic about the tumultuous years of middle school. 

Younger teens who enjoy realistic, relatable fiction that provide a humorous look at growing up would enjoy this title. It is also, a great alternative and “next level” book for middle school students who are ready to read beyond The Diary of a Wimpy Kid or Dork Diaries. Recent comparable titles include Jess Callan’s Ollie in Between and Naomi Milliner’s The Trouble with Secrets. Fans of classic Judy Blume like Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret and Then Again, Maybe I Won’t will also enjoy this.

–Maryanne Olson

Getting THAT book to THAT kid with Ellen Cochrane

We sat down with debut author Ellen Cochrane to discuss how vital nonfiction is for young readers, the process of becoming a first-time published author in retirement, and the incredible survival story that formed the basis of Ellen’s debut nonfiction book, Follow the Water.

Promote this interview to your readers!

Use these ready-to-print bookmarks to promote this interview to your library’s readers. We even left space for your library’s logo! Click here to use the design on Canva. Be sure to select, “Make a Copy”, in order to personalize. Click here for the pdf.

Visit Ellen’s website here

Find Ellen’s books here

Find materials to enrich your students’ reading of Follow the Water here

Contact Ellen (and request speaking engagements) here

Read up on the closure of the Peruvian research station here;

Ellen is deeply shaken by this development, as it underscores a larger environmental crisis, an alarming war on science, and why helping young people understand the real-world power of science has never mattered more. A portion of the proceeds from Ellen’s book will support the research station, and she hopes to help draw attention to what is happening and why it matters.

Download our ready-to-print bookmarks here!

Ellen CochraneFollow the Water BookkmarksDownload

Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers (#QP2026) Feature Review: The Factory by Catherine Egan

Asher signs up to participate in a special research experiment at the Factory that will help out his mother financially. However, as he makes friends with some of the other kids in the study, he finds out that something sinister seems to be going on at the facility. Will he be able to see the experiment to the end and save his family?

The Factory draws the reader in immediately, hooking them in with the mystery of the plot. It is fast-paced, easy to read, and will leave readers guessing until the very end. It combines both thriller and science fiction, and has strong themes of friendship, survival, and family, which will appeal to most every teen. It is also one of the few young adult books to not have a romance subplot, instead focusing on the action and friendship plots. Teens, especially reluctant readers, will find this book hard to put down.

Give this to teens who enjoyed Neal Shusterman’s Unwind, Donna Barba Higuera’s The Last Cuentista, or who are fans of the anime Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead.

–Jacqueline Bush

Great Graphic Novels (#GGN2026) Featured Review: The Other Side of Tomorrow by Tina Cho and Deb J.J. Lee

Two young North Korean teens’ lives become intertwined, when they meet crossing the river into China. Yunhu plans to reunite with his mother who crossed earlier, while Myunghee is an orphan traveling alone. Both hope for a better life and a chance at real freedom. But to achieve that they will have to cross the borders of at least two countries and face numerous dangers, including swimming across crocodile infested waters and enduring a harsh prison camp.

The story alternates between Yunhu and Myunghee, giving voice to each of their unique perspectives, while revealing the indoctrination and oppression they experienced in their native country. Lee’s muted but expressive illustrations match the lyrical tone of the text. Readers will be inspired by the perseverance needed to successfully traverse the difficult journey of the Asian Underground Railroad. An author’s note provides additional background information about the North Korean government and life north of the DMZ.

Teens who enjoyed Hyun Sook Kim’s memoir Banned Book Club may be interested in this story about her northern neighbors. Give this to readers who find inspiration in books like Eoin Colfer’s Illegal or Jenny Sanchez Torres’ We Are Not From Here, which feature the arduous journey faced by many refugees seeking a better future.

—Heather Christensen

Amazing Audiobooks (#AA2026) Featured Review: The Story of My Anger by Jasmine Mendez

This biography of Malcolm X for middle and high schoolers is an engaging look at the life of the civil rights leader. Listeners will learn about the life of Malcolm X, who walked many different paths on his way to becoming a Civil Rights leader.

Ibram Kendi’s reading is clear and accessible. This is a strong, serviceable reading of the title that will engage readers. He brings gravitas to the seriousness of some Malcolm X’s story, and humor to those parts that deserve it. Malcolm X’s long struggle with Elijah Muhammad and his subsequent separation from the Nation of Islam are presented with care. His death and the aftermath for his followers and family are read with sympathy and will connect with listeners.

Any young people who are interested in the history of the Civil Rights movement or the life of Malcolm X will be engaged by this book as well. If your readers enjoyed Revolution in Our Time by Kekla Magoon they will relish expanding their knowledge of the Civil Rights movement with this title. If they are fans of Ibram X. Kendi’s other books, like How to Be a (Young) Antiracist, will also be drawn in by this biography.


-Lynda Salem Poling

Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers (#QP2026) Feature Review: The Poetry of Car Mechanics by Heidi E.Y. Stemple


Dylan is lost. He feels like an outsider everywhere he goes. His mother is absent. His grandfather, with whom he lives, doesn’t seem to care. The only place he finds peace is in the woods behind his grandfather’s auto shop. One afternoon, he finds an injured hawk and alerts a sanctuary. At the sanctuary, he finds new purpose and connection. 

This heartfelt novel in verse about finding yourself and reimagining your community will inspire readers who have also felt unseen. Dylan’s poetry is rough and sometimes feels immature, giving it an authentically teenage feel. Additionally, Dylan is a compelling character. The subject matter is relatable to others in small towns. As a verse novel, there is plenty of white space, and the cover, while quiet, hides a compelling story of mental health and life in all its messiness. With the title, this book will appeal to both the nature lover and the auto mechanic who just needs to feel seen. 

Great for readers who loved the verse format of Jason Reynolds’s Track series, but are looking for a little bit more John Green-like content. 

–Josie Snow

“The more specific we make our stories, sometimes the more universal they become.”: A Conversation with Abigail Hing Wen

Abigail Hing Wen talks about her bestselling romance series, her newest AI-inspired middle grade, and the power of writing effective relationships for teen readers.

Check out the QR codes below to visit Abigail Hing Wen’s website & to learn how to receive free stickers by preordering The Vale

Learn how to bring Abigail to your school or library

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Amazing Audiobooks (#AA2026) Featured Review: The Beat I Drum by Dusti Bowling

Connor Bradley starts his first year of high school in a rough place – new school, new home, strained relationship with his father, and fighting his Tourette’s all day every day.

Connor’s constant fight to manage his Tourette’s leads him to constantly stress about his tics and his father’s voice in his head telling him to “just stop it already” makes him feel like they could take over his whole life, but his story is full of new friends he immediately connects with at his new school and even a budding first love. While he’s certain that he doesn’t want his father in his life anymore, he’s compassionate enough to eventually accept him and the changes his father is making to be the kind of parent Connor needs. When a teacher introduces him to playing music as a way to relieve stress and sometimes quiet his tics, Connor is immediately drawn, especially to the drums. The stress of all the changes and his growing frustration of not being able to get his own drum set lead Connor to lash out at his friends and family. But as he rebuilds his relationship with his father, he learns that people can change and can be forgiven, even him. While most of the teens in this story have some sort of visible disability or difference, the dramas they face are the same as those that all teens do. 

Matt Godfrey gives each character a distinct voice and conveys their compassion for each other. He portrays Connor’s frustration without being over the top.

This is the third in the Life of a Cactus series and fans of the first two will enjoy this one that focuses on Conner. Drum fans who connected to I Am Drums by Mike Grosso will enjoy this as well. If readers are looking for representation of people with Tourette’s like in Halli Gomez’s List of Ten, they will also enjoy Conner’s story of self-acceptance.

-Lynda Salem Poling

Amazing Audiobooks (#AA2026) Featured Review: All the Blues in the Sky by Renée Watson

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On her 13th birthday, Sage’s best friend was struck by a drunk driver and killed while on her way to Sage’s house. Sage feels guilty – for the small part that she played in her friend’s death; for not having a chance to say good-bye; for still being alive with all the future potential that means. In the grief group at school, Sage learns that there are many ways to grieve, everyone’s experience with death is different, and that healing doesn’t always go in one direction. 

Bahni Turpin’s sympathetic reading of Sage’s thoughts and reactions both adds to the depth of feeling in the story and makes it more accessible to readers. The rawness of Sage’s anger, confusion, and sorrow is well conveyed through Turpan’s performance. While this would be a valuable asset to anyone experiencing the loss of a loved one, it’s also a powerful window to anyone.

Like Ruby Lost and Found by Christina Li, this book shows that there is a path out from grief. While not as funny as Simon Sort of Says by Erin Bow, this book brings the same uplift and also shows the value of new connections after tragedy.

–-Lynda Salem Poling