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Thieves of Weirdwood is middle grade fiction at its best

Somewhere between a Rorschach test and a literary M.C. Escher lays Thieves of Weirdwood. The back cover of the book says to beware your imagination. That’s a very apt thing to keep a hold of, or alternately, let go and completely surrender to this incredibly engaging and creative book. Thieves of Weirdwood works on so many level that it plays out like a movie inside your head as you’re reading it. While I was reading the book I simultaneously wanted to read the book quickly so I could find out what happens; but I also wanted to take my time so that the book would last longer.

Middle grade readers: this is your next favorite book series

The Derby Daredevils, delivers for some girls aged 9-13

The Derby Daredevils is an ongoing series of books by Kit Rosewater with illustrations by Sophie Escabasse. There is a lot to like about the first book in the series that focus on Kenzie and Shelly. They’re two best friends who love to skate, have dreams, secret handshakes and all of the things that close friends have. Girls in upper elementary through middle school will find something to relate to and enjoy about this comfort read. The subtitle to the first entry is Kenzie Kickstarts a Team and given that Kenzie is one of our two main characters she’s out to start something bit.

Built for middle school girls in a roller derby and growing up mindset

Spies, Lies and Disguise presents WW II in a way perfect for middle school

I firmly believe that kids honestly want to learn. So far as the content, there are those things that they need to learn and those things that they want to learn. In middle school when kids start to earnestly learn about WW II they’re faced with the quandary of studying a horrifying period of human history, yet actually wanting to do it. Teaching or educating kids about this period of time is tricky too because there are so many angles that an author could approach it. Spies, Lies and Disguise, The Daring Tricks and Deeds That Won World War II by Jennifer Swanson with illustrations by Kevin O’Malley is an excellent supplemental text to those kids who already know the basics of WW II and want to learn more.

If your middle grade student is tough to embrace history, check this out

Rise Up, Ordinary Kids with Extraordinary Stories review

Some parents will have their guard up given the title to this book, Rise Up, Ordinary Kids With Extraordinary Stories. The title might lead some parents to think that it’s just a book about Generation Z kids who are better at grabbing headlines than solving things or actually doing something worth mentioning. However, readers of any age will be pleased to know that this is a book that spans the globe and covers many generations of special things or accomplishments that those under 23 have achieved.

Short storytelling and sharp graphics make this book pop