Now that 2018 is over, it’s time to take stock of the authors, characters, and stories that thrilled us, delighted us, and inspired us. Here is a round-up of our favorite contemporary middle grade novels from 2018.
Merci Suarez Changes Gears, by Meg Medina
Sixth grade brings a whole batch of challenges for Merci Suarez. It’s her second year at Seaward Pines, where she and her older brother, Roli, are scholarship students. It’s already hard to fit in with her peers when they discuss their fancy vacations, but this year, Merci has been assigned as a Sunshine Buddy to the new boy in school, and that’s got the attention of the ever-popular Edna Santos. Meanwhile, at home, Merci’s grandfather, Lolo, is changing, acting forgetful, and having these crazy mood swings. Normally, Lolo is the person that Merci goes to with her school problems, but this year, she’s on her own, and things are getting worse every day. An unforgettable heroine facing real life problems is the centerpiece of this thoughtful, engrossing novel.
Front Desk, by Kelly Yang
When Mia Tang’s parents land jobs as the managers of a California hotel, Mia is sure this is going to turn everything around for her family and give them the stability they need. But it turns out the hotel owner isn’t the kind of guy who is going to let Mia swim in the hotel pool, or let the family take some time off to visit nearby Disneyland. In fact, he cheats the Tangs out of money, forces Mia’s parents to work endless hours, and berates the family every chance he gets. In addition, there’s trouble with bullies at school, and her mother’s claims that despite Mia’s love of writing, Mia will never be as good as a native-born speaker. Despite the circumstances, Mia finds her place with the hotel guests, where her compassion and her creative writing help create not only a better life for herself, but for those around her.
The Night Diary, by Veera Hiranandani
In 1947 India, the country has recently separated from British rule. Now separated into Pakistan and India, the countries’ inhabitants struggle to determine who they are and where they belong. This is especially true for 12-year-old Nisha, who is half-Muslim, half-Hindu. When it becomes apparent that her family will no longer be safe in what is now Pakistan, the family becomes refugees, traveling by foot to the “new India.” Nisha chronicles their trip through a series of letters to her deceased mother, in a journal given to her on her 12th birthday. Through these letters we see the historical significance of a country in political turmoil, as well as Nisha’s own inner turmoil as she struggles to find out who she really is.
Escape from Aleppo, by N.H. Senzai
Nadia’s 12th birthday, December 17, 2010, is perfect. The dining room is decorated, the cake is presented, everybody is about to sing “Happy Birthday,” and then her uncles call the men into the living room. On the television, a man has burned himself alive, to protest the actions of his government. It’s the start of the Arab Spring, and 3 years later, Syria is nearly unrecognizable. When a bomb hits her home, Nadia’s family tries to flee, but in the process, Nadia is buried under rubble and the family must go on without her. Shocked and left to rely on her own instincts, Nadia makes her way to the Turkish border. Through conversations and flashbacks, the reader experiences not only Nadia’s current mission to find her family, but also the drastic changes that have occurred as Syria fell into civil war.
The Science of Breakable Things, by Tae Keller
Natalie inherited her mother’s love of science, spending hours in her mother’s botany lab. But her mother suffers from severe depression and has spent the last several months in bed. When her science teacher suggests Natalie enter an egg-drop competition, Natalie imagines using the prize money to fly her mother to see a rare orchid, one that survives against impossible odds. Along with her best friend Twig and new boy, Dari, Natalie questions, researches, experiments, and revises a design that is sure to win the egg drop. At the same time, she is forced to deal with changes at home, as her mother’s depression deepens and more greatly impacts Natalie herself. Drawing parallels between the fragility of the egg and one of the most important people in her life, this book gently explores the topic of depression, and the way it touches both the suffering and those who love them.
Are You Ready to Hatch An Unusual Chicken? by Kelly Jones and Katie Kath
After her debut in Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer, 12-year-old Sophie Brown returns, along with her super-powered chickens. Sophie is slowly adjusting to her new life in a rural community, not to mention her rather outstanding chickens. This time around, Sophie has received her own clutch of eggs to incubate and hatch, along with two other chickens to add to her flock. Added to the stress of not knowing what the talents of these new unhatched eggs will be, is the learning curve of how to go about the whole process from scratch. Luckily, her cousin Lupe will be staying with the family, but Sophie’s not sure how he’ll feel about the chickens. Quirky, funny, and educational, this second installment hints at even more unusual chicken fun to come.
Love Like Sky, by Leslie C. Youngblood
11-year-old G-baby and her little sister, Peaches, have recently moved to the suburbs with their mother, new step-daddy, Frank, and stepsister, Tangie. They haven’t seen their biological father much since his own remarriage, and G-baby misses Atlanta and the best friend she’s left behind. But she’s excited to have a sophisticated older sister in Tangie. The trouble is, Tangie wants nothing to do with her. As G-baby focuses all her attention on getting Tangie to notice her, she leaves Peaches behind. When tragedy strikes the family, G-baby finds her focus shifting yet again. Suddenly, everything in both her old life and her new life seems to be falling apart and it’s up to G-baby to put it all back together again.
Lu, by Jason Reynolds
The final installment in the Track series, this fourth book focuses on Lu, the albino co-captain of the Defenders. Championships are approaching and Lu knows the team has a shot. On the track, he’s busy practicing hurdles. But at home, there are other hurdles to run. Lu’s busy helping his pregnant mom with her business. Then he discovers a secret that collides the past with the present and forces Lu to confront his dad in an effort to make things right. As with the other books in the series, Lu is about a track team, and the physical challenges of the sport. But it’s also about growing up with an individual unique set of challenges, about overcoming emotional obstacles, and about teamwork both on and off the track.
Breakout, by Kate Messner
Nora Tucker is looking forward to a normal summer in her small upstate New York town of Wolf Creek. But when two prisoners break out from the local maximum security prison where her dad works, along with half the town, things turn upside down. For the first few days, it’s exciting. Nora and her best friend Lizzie practice their investigative skills. But as the days drag on into weeks and the prisoners still aren’t caught, excitement turns into fear and exhaustion. And with fear and exhaustion comes wariness and finger-pointing. As Nora continues her investigating, she discovers that the real story isn’t so much about a prison breakout, but about the prejudices that exist in the town and the people she’s always known. Told through texts, newspaper clippings, and entries for the community time capsule, Breakout is both timely and thoroughly engaging.
The Season of Styx Malone, by Kekla Magoon
Caleb Franklin and his older brother Bobby Gene face another summer of adventure at home. Sure, the woods are great, but Caleb dreams of grander adventures, far beyond the secure life his father prefers. So when 16-year-old Styx Malone shows up, it doesn’t take long for Caleb to become completely enamored with the older boy. Styx is the epitome of cool, lives life a tad bit dangerously, and has a plan to help Caleb get the motorized scooter he so desperately wants. Unfortunately, as the summer and the Franklin boys’ relationship with Styx unfolds, they discover Styx has secrets—big secrets—and soon they’re in over their heads. This story of adventure and humor is paired with Caleb’s search for self-discovery and the struggle to see the world beyond his small town, while accepting the love of the parents who want to keep him safe.
What were your favorite contemporary middle grade novels in 2018?
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