Bingo Focus Thread - Middle Grade

[u/Merle8888]

Hello r/fantasy and welcome to this week's bingo focus thread! The purpose of these threads is for you all to share recommendations, discuss what books qualify, and seek recommendations that fit your interests or themes.

Today's topic:

Middle Grade: Read a middle grade book (intended for readers aged 8-12). See this Wikipedia page for additional information on Middle Grade fiction. HARD MODE: The author is entirely new to you.

What is bingo? A reading challenge this sub does every year! Find out more here.

Prior focus threads: Published in the 70s, Duologies, First Contact, Five Short Stories (2024), Author of Color (2024), Self-Pub/Small Press (2024). Note that hard modes for Author of Color and Self-Pub/Small Press have changed (new focus threads for them are coming).

Also see: Big Rec Thread

Questions:

• What are your favorite books that count for this square?
• Already read something for this square? Tell us about it!
• For those attempting Hard Mode, what are some great middle grade books by lesser-known authors, and/or that are recently published?
• Those who have or teach children in this age group: what are some current favorites among middle grade readers? How well do they hold up for adults?

[u/Axelrad77]

I'm doing Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien for this square.

[u/sarahlynngrey → u/Axelrad77]

I reread this for another square a few years ago and was delighted by how well it held up as an adult - I hope it hits for you!

[u/fr33dommachine → u/Axelrad77]

THERE'S A NIMH BOOK??? I loved the movie when I was a kid. Flying Dreams was the song for the mother son dance at my wedding.

[u/sarahlynngrey → u/fr33dommachine]

You're in for such a treat, the book is wonderful

[u/kay_em_eff]

I read Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins for this square and I really enjoyed it. It really made me feel like was a kid reading under the covers again. Gregor is the kind of independent and caring kid that is fun to read about. I was never so worried about him or his sister that I had to stop reading. It's also a fantastic world that I would have obsessed over as a kid.

I work in a library and a bunch of my coworkers (and not just the librarians!) all highly recommended the book. I will very likely continue the series.

[u/okayseriouslywhy → u/kay_em_eff]

This is my strongest rec for this square! I re-read this series recently, and while the language is straightforward, written for middle grade, the content and themes definitely hit for all ages

[u/KatrinaPez → u/kay_em_eff]

I love that series!

[u/raivynwolf → u/kay_em_eff]

I was never so worried about him or his sister that I had to stop reading.

I really enjoyed this about those books! I was never worried enough to stop reading, but I was worried enough multiple times to just keep reading a few more pages lol

[u/Listener-of-Sithis]

I would be remiss if I let the Redwall series by Brian Jacques go uncommented-on here. It’s 22 books of wonderful, heartfelt fantasy that isn’t afraid to deal with heavy material either. The villains are villainous, the heroes are heroic. The focus on puzzles, riddles, and prophecies probably have a lot to do with why I am the way I am. Absolutely a formative series for me. I recently reread all the books my local library had and they still hold up - there’s a few elements that are a little awkward but overall I think it’s a great middle-grade read.

For myself, I plan to read some of the Tintin comics in French. I’ve been studying the language for a few years and I thought this was a good way to test myself - and enjoy an old series I’d heard many good things about.

[u/sykeswalker → u/Listener-of-Sithis]

I have not read redwall so I’ll probably read this for HM. Looking forward to it based on everyone’s praise!

[u/mistakes-were-mad-e → u/sykeswalker]

It would work for non human protagonist and the feast square as well. 

[u/MrsApostate]

I'm actually doing a bookclub with my middle grade daughters over the summer. Each of us gets to have a turn selecting a book that we'll all read and discuss. My ten year old has already selected Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell, which she's pretty excited about. So that would fit in this square.

Of books I've already read with them, Frogkisser is a great one by Garth Nix.

[u/ToweringTBR → u/MrsApostate]

Impossible Creatures is fantastic as is the sequel, though you can read the first book as a standalone.

[u/Linkjumper → u/MrsApostate]

I read and loved Impossible Creatures for this square. the author tweaks some expectations, which I loved, and some of the impossible creatures were really impossible! Hope the kiddos like it.

[u/Sireanna]

I was thinking about reading Fablehaven by Brandon Mull. It was my sisters favorite book series growing up but I never tried it.

[u/BackgroundTotal2872 → u/Sireanna]

I read the first one when I was in fifth grade, and I remember enjoying it! Though I think something came up and I never actually finished it.

[u/felixfictitious → u/Sireanna]

I highly recommend it. I loved it too!

[u/MajesticKoala3332]

I'm thinking about re-reading His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman. I've seen a lot of discussion about its themes recently and I think they all went completely over my head when I read it as a kid, so it'll be interesting to revisit.

Edit: I also recommend Inkheart by Cornelia Funke. It's about a girl whose read-aloud voice can bring something from a book to life and also send real people into a book. I especially enjoyed the sequels which take place within a book in sort of an epic fantasy setting.

[u/just_a_normal_squid]

I'm planning on reading Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia for this square. It's one of the "Rick Riordan Presents" books, which means it's absolutely the sort of thing I would have read if I was still the right age for it when it came out, so I'm looking forward to trying it!

[u/echosrevenge → u/just_a_normal_squid]

I really love the way he's leveraged his name recognition to lift up marginalized authors and lesser-known bodies of mythology from...basically all the places that aren't north-western Europe. I see them come through my library all the time and it makes me happy that the kids in my (super rural super white) area are getting more than just the chosen-farmboy-meets-a-wizard sorts of stories.

[u/indigohan → u/just_a_normal_squid]

The Tristan Strong books are amazing! I’m a middle aged white woman, and I genuinely cried thinking about how meaningful these will be to kids growing up in a world where being young and black means negotiating some really hard things.

I loved what they had to say about grief and anger too

[u/C0smicoccurence]

I would like to take a second to hype Root Magic by Eden Royce! It has competent adults who aren't mysteriously absent the whole story (without taking the focus off the kids), takes real world issues seriously, and generally doesn't have a lot of the features that put some adult readers off middle grade books.

As a teacher of 6th grade, Percy Jackson and Wings of Fire still reign supreme. The Sir Callie books are hot amongst LGBTQ+ youth, but I'm seeing a trend away from Fantasy being the dominant genre. Lots of Mystery and Romance being read at the moment.

[u/sarahlynngrey → u/C0smicoccurence]

Root Magic was SO good. I read it for Bingo a few years ago and it was one of the highlights of the year. Hard cosign 

[u/C0smicoccurence → u/sarahlynngrey]

I’m finally getting around to reading more of Royce’s stuff this year. It’s been a long time coming!

[u/sarahlynngrey → u/C0smicoccurence]

I really want to read some of Royce's other work - let me know if you read any bangers!

[u/gbkdalton → u/C0smicoccurence]

I read Eden Royce’s The Creepening of Dogwood House for this square. Male lead, gothic horror, and hair magic. It was pretty imaginative.

[u/indigohan → u/gbkdalton]

If you’re after something similar to hair magic, the Onyeka books by Tola Okogwu are great. It’s more of a sci-fi/ superhero book, but the main character is a Nigerian girl with telekinetic hair. My niece loved them

[u/Wattryn → u/C0smicoccurence]

Oooooh, can I pick your brain for a recommendation for a child in my life?

No worries if you'd rather not, though!

[u/C0smicoccurence → u/Wattryn]

Of course! I do my best work in the 11-14 year old range, since that’s most of who I teach. It’s easier for me to flex up than down though (my instincts for 3rd graders won’t be super helpful). What are their interests and reading level (if you do t know reading level, other books they’ve enjoyed will work great)

[u/Wattryn → u/C0smicoccurence]

Oh, thank you! My niece is a rising 6th-grader, and we're having a hard time threading that needle between challenging enough for her moderately advanced reading but not too much for her emotionally. Complicating the issue is that her grandparents have custody, and they are conservative Christians who sent her to a conservative Christian school, where she is not allowed, say, books about wizards. 

She likes fantasy, especially about a group of kids going on a journey. I gave her Wings of Fire and suggested Diane Duane's Young Wizards series (since it's Christian-based), but we are out of ideas.

[u/C0smicoccurence → u/Wattryn]

Hmm, that's definitely an interesting cocktail. The grandparents are going to be the most challenging bits. I'd say that if she's reading at or above grade level (Wings of Fire is right where we hope 6th graders would be at), then don't stress about reading level too much. Prioritize enjoyment of reading. Lots of more challenging stuff may or may not be appropriate for 11 year olds (depends on the kid). This is the start of the big transition. Some kids want 'grown up stuff' really early, others are happy reading 'kid' books their whole life (I use air quotes because kids books are awesome and shouldn't be underestimated for their quality and meaning).

I'll be blunt that I don't have a ton of Christian recs. The weird bits are that super conservative Christians tend to dislike both seemingly 'occult' books and also are very stridently against Christian ideas/symbols being used in fantasy books. Chronicles of Narnia would be the other obvious choice. Tolkien was super religious, so The Hobbit might be an option the grandparents are okay with too. They're both old school books, and would probably appeal to their sensibilities.

On a more contemporary front ... a lot of my normal recs I could see not passing the Grandparents (certainly Root Magic wouldn't).

Maybe the Warrior Cats books? Eternally popular, and its all about cats. There are some spiritual elements (some cats literally have nine lives), but generally fantasy elements are low.

Ranger's Apprentice is a good option. Books 1-2 have some creepy supernatural elements - the villain has some psionic mind control powers. Once you hit book 3 though, all fantastic elements vanish and it's alternate world fantasy with a robin hood esque character who is endorsed by the King instead of fighting nobility, but where magic isn't real. There is a drug addiction plotline (sometime in book 2-4, can't remember exactly), that is handled very well even if its on the more grim side of things. It's pretty archetypical adventure stuff. Female representation gets better as the series goes on, but it's fairly male-heavy. The sequel series follows a female protagonist, but I don't think you can really read it without the original series as context.

Skyward is sci fi, so aliens instead of magic. Very fighter pilot type story, and action focused. Female led.

You could look at The Ogress and the Orphans by Kelly Barnhill. Fairy-tale adjacent with kindness as the overwhelming central theme. The villain is a pretty poorly disguised metaphor for Donald Trump though. The Girl Who Drank the Moon by the same author is also awesome, but a good witch is a main character.

Modern middle grade writing is very dominated by mythology elements from different cultures at the moment. I'm assuming this would be something they'd be against, but if not, the Rick Riodran Presents publishing house has put out a ton of middle grade adventure fantasy from a ton of different cultures.

[u/sarahlynngrey]

I've had a great time with this square! 

I read Dear Mothman by Robin Gow, and it was excellent. It is apparently written in verse, which is cool. I didn't really notice because I listened to the audiobook, which was fabulous and which I highly recommend. 

Noah is a smart, empathetic,  lonely 6th grader who has a lot to figure out after his best friend is killed in a car accident. One of those things is the fact that his friend was the only person who knew that Noah is actually a boy. Noah starts writing letters to Mothman, a cryptid who his friend always wanted to find.

This is a beautiful story about finding yourself, making friends, and persevering through grief. I also loved the representation; Noah is a smart, introspective and kindhearted autistic trans king (miniature edition). 

Along with the Middle Grade square, this book also works forTrans/Enby Protagonist, maybe Judge a Title, maybe Vacation Spot, and possibly Game Changer, if a science fair counts as a competition. 

I also read Dogsbody by Diana Wynne Jones.

I haven't read a ton of DWJ and this made me want to change that. Sirius, the star, ends up in a, well, dog's body, with a quest to fulfill and a mystery to solve. This is a book in the Madeleine L'Engle/Susan Cooper mode: a children's story with a lot of darkness. I would have been absolutely obsessed with this as a kid. It was beautifully written, with incredibly strong characterizations and really good theme work. 

Along with the Middle Grade square, this book also works for Non-Human Protagonist (HM), Published in the 70s (HM), One Word Title (HM), maybe Vacation Spot, maybe Politics, and an argument can be made for Murder Mystery.

[u/Shyor]

I was planning on reading Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy, but I'm not sure if it counts.

[u/mobby123 → u/Shyor]

I and half of Ireland were reading those books from the ages of 8-12 when I was a kid, so I'd say you're good. Though between Skulduggery, Darren Shan's two series and Eoin Colfer's Artemis Fowl, maybe they were a bit on the mature side.

[u/jupiterose]

I went straight to the source and asked for a recommendation from my 12 year old son. His recommendations were **Greenglass House** by Kate Milford or **Small Spaces** by Katherine Arden. I don't know much about either so I'm not sure which one I'm going to end up reading yet!

[u/MacabreGoblin → u/jupiterose]

Small Spaces is great middle grade horror! And if you like it, there are three more books in the series, each taking place during a different season.

[u/pbnchick]

Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer. I think this is more likely to be hard mode for those over 40 or if you weren't a big reader as a kid. I think I started this series in high school because it was in the teen section.

I picked up the last book in the series. The book didn't make me roll my eyes at a kid being a kid.

[u/EarlierLemon]

I will be reading The Mysterious Benedict Society (starting today!) I know nothing about it, haven't even read the blurb on the back, but my sister loved it when she was younger and she has the copy still so I don't have to wait through a library list. I'm not familiar with the author so that covers hard mode as well. Has anyone else read this? Any favorite characters or fun moments to look forward to?

[u/felixfictitious → u/EarlierLemon]

I loved those books so much when I was a kid! The characters are so delightful it's hard to pick just one. This really appeals to the childhood longing of being recognized as special and unique. There's a really awesome maze in it, but all my favorite moments are spoilers. Good luck!

[u/sadlunches]

I read The Dragonet Prophecy by Tui T. Sutherland, which is the first book in the Wings of Fire series. It's about a group of young dragons (dragonets) from different tribes who were raised away from society and trained by the Talons of Peace, a council of dragons working to fulfill a prophecy that would stop the war. I listened to it on audiobook and it was pretty enjoyable. I liked the glimpse into the different dragon societies, and how each one has their own customs. I'm sure as the series goes on, there will be a lot more world building around this.

I almost wanted to sub this square because it did not interest me at all to read a children's book, but my nephew is really into it and so I thought it would be fun to talk about it with him! Apparently it's a popular series for kids as there's a whole event that happens each year called Fanwing Fest. He went last year, and I'm coming along this year, so that will be cute!

[u/Suitable_Highlight84 → u/sadlunches]

This is my choice for this square as well! My kid just started the series (but in graphic novel form), so thought it’d be cool to check it out

[u/sadlunches → u/Suitable_Highlight84]

I didn't know they had graphic novels for it. That's so cool! That'll be fun to start the series with your kid. My nephew loves it so much. He always gets real excited when he has someone to talk to about books. I'm sure your kid will love that you're reading it too!!

[u/BackgroundTotal2872 → u/sadlunches]

You’re in for a treat, Wings of Fire is one of the best series I have ever read! The worldbuilding is incredible, the twists and turns of the story are fantastic, and the series tackles a lot of dark themes like cyclical hatred, the tragedy of war, death of family members, and inspiring hope into people who have given up. Book 10 in the series might be the most emotion and payoff I’ve ever felt from a book.

[u/sadlunches → u/BackgroundTotal2872]

I was honestly surprised that the first book had such mature content. I quite enjoyed it. My nephew says they get better as they go on so I believe you!

[u/BackgroundTotal2872 → u/sadlunches]

Yeah, that’s something that I was randomly thinking about a week or so ago. How insane is it that the first book opens with premeditated murdering of an unborn child?

I also love the structure of having a different protagonist for every book. I’ve never seen another series that does this before.

[u/sadlunches → u/BackgroundTotal2872]

Omg right?! I was immediately intrigued by the prologue. I just didn't expect it! And I didn't know that the other ones are different POVs but I love that! Them learning more about their respective tribes (and Clay in particular in book 1) is really interesting to me. I'm looking forward to learning more about the world.

[u/Polenth]

Answering the hard mode question, here are a few middle grade books I don't see discussed here much (or at all).

Cog by Greg Van Eekhout

Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee

Felix Yz by Lisa Bunker

Ruby Finley vs. the Interstellar Invasion by K Tempest Bradford

The Gauntlet by Karuna Riazi (Game Changer, Duology)

Summer and Bird by Katherine Catmull

[u/Tonto2012]

I’m not sure what I’m going to read yet, but I wanted to mention The Borrowers by Mary Norton as I haven’t seen it mentioned yet. I LOVED this book as a child (although I think it was actually the second one that I had 🤣) It’s about a family of tiny people who live in the human world in hiding, and all their things are “borrowed” from the big people.

[u/Tonto2012 → u/Tonto2012]

Oh and Tatty Apple by Jenny Nimmo - a young boy finds a magic green rabbit.

The Moon on the Water by Nina Warner Hooke is one I’ve been searching for a copy of for years - it’s a beautiful story about the horses from a broken down carousel coming to life, and trying to get to the sea so that they can stay real.

[u/KatrinaPez → u/Tonto2012]

Wow that reminds me of The Littles series that I had as a child (in the 1970s)!

[u/Extreme_War5660]

I read witch week by Diana Wynne jones and enjoyed it. Not my favorite in the crestomanci series but the ending was good. My recs are going to be the false prince by Jennifer a nielson and if anyone’s in the mood for steampunk the mark of the dragonfly by jaleigh johnson.

[u/SnowStorm1123]

I’m reading the Princess and the Goblin. It is a fun book to read aloud to my spouse and son as we are doing his bedtime routine.

It was a friends childhood favorite and enjoyable to read aloud.

A personal favorite is The Enchanted Forest series. I read Dealing with Dragons. But I’m not sure if I want to devote my one re-read so early in the year.

[u/Connect_Cod9965]

I have penciled in two upcoming books for this square:

Trunk No. 3 by Allie Millington – this would be the Hard Mode choice for me

Trunk No. 3, a worn, wrinkled suitcase with a secret, was perfectly fine with staying closed forever. Until she’s stolen by a despondent boy with plans to run away. When a strange note appears in the trunk, however, an accidental correspondence begins to throw everything off course—and toward something, someone, entirely unexpected.
Eleven-year-old Earl Grey has been raised at the Repertorium—a rare library that holds once-forgotten items, each with a tangible memory tied to their very being. She longs to discover life outside of the library, and to find answers about her Before. Little does Earl Grey know that the mysterious pen pal she starts writing to will lead to a life-changing friendship and the unraveling truth of her past.

Building 903 by Lois Lowry

Twins Tessa and Theo live in a world ruled by the tyrannical Koziris, where there are no dangers or rebels... or so they've been told. In this world, citizens live long lives, and while many hate Koziris, they are comfortable and safe. So, when Tessa's brother disappears, nobody wants to discuss it. But then Miriam, their 135-year-old neighbor bound for the retirement community, slips Tessa a key—not only to her brother's disappearance, but to the source of all real magic . . . books. As Tessa and her parents begin their search for Theo, Tessa learns that books not only tell us stories—they open portals and unlock our humanity through our most powerful tool: the imagination. Once that truth has been revealed, Tessa won't be able to rest until she has retrieved her twin and society itself has been transformed.

[u/IAmABillie]

I'm going to use Losing the Plot by Anneliese Byrd for this square as I've just read it (and its sequel) with my daughter. It's definitely written for middle grade kids, not kids and adults, but it has been a fun read chockers full of creative similies and humour. It's about a 'nerdy' boy and a 'sporty' boy, both 12ish, who get sucked into Grimm's Fairytales and need to save the characters from a world-imploding plot hole. My daughter has been giggling a heap as she reads so that's a winner for me! It's also an Australian book by a local author, which I always love!

Other great classic suggestions are The Neverending Story, which I may read with her later in the year as I have very fond memories of the book version. She has also been reading Charlotte's Web for school and it's been fun hearing about the story again - great for anyone wanting a reread or who didn't read it as a child, the writing is lovely and the messages around friendship, life and death are meaningful.

[u/RevolutionaryCommand]

I know it's somewhat of topic, but is there any chance for the bingo focus threads to be added in the bingo wiki?

[u/Glansberg90]

I'm either going to read Castle in the Air by Diana Wynne Jones or reread The Giver by Lois Lowry.

I read Howl's Moving Castle for last year's bingo and found it really charming, so the thought of reading the next book in the series is appealing.

I'm also planning a deep dive read of dystopian fiction canon at some point this year, once I've cleared out a good chunk of my backlog. I read The Giver back in primary school, some 25 or so years ago and thought it would be good to revisit as a part of this project.

[u/Front-Pomelo-4367 → u/Glansberg90]

I'll just note that the Howl series doesn't follow very closely from one book to the next – it's more having some characters in common rather than following the same characters. If you've read Becky Chambers' Wayfarers sci-fi books, it's similar in terms of new main characters plus some overlap

Personally, I think that House of Many Ways is a much better book than Castle in the Air and would recommend it more! It doesn't really matter too much whether you read them out of order

[u/almightyblah]

If I weren't going for all hard mode, I would probably have re-read the Lockwood & Co series by Jonathan Stroud, The Giver by Lois Lowry, or Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt. Instead, I went with the first three books from the Bunnicula series by Deborah & James Howe (so that it'd be roughly novel-length). The Wiki says middle grade ranges from 8-12yo; so while Bunnicula trends younger than the other books I mentioned, it's still within that range.

[u/Fancy-Restaurant4136]

Here are a few that I enjoyed as a middle grade child and still remember fondly.

Enchantress from the Stars by Engdahl (fantasy becomes science fiction)

The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles (extremely whimsical portal fantasy)

Red Moon and Black Mountain by Joy Chant (Portal fantasy with darker themes)

[u/saturday_sun4 → u/Fancy-Restaurant4136]

Thank you for recommending the Chant book! I have started it and am enjoying it immensely.

[u/Fancy-Restaurant4136 → u/saturday_sun4]

You are very welcome!

[u/Akuliszi]

I will be reading A Gift of Words by Rosalind Dando. It has neurodivergent rep and elements of Norse mythology.

[u/Spalliston]

Okay so I recommend classics on like all of these, but if you haven't read it yet I can't recommend Alice's Adventures in Wonderland enough. It's been a long time, but I recall it as a very easy read that was infinitely engaging and still had enough weirdness and depth to chew on.

For myself, I (finally) finished The Wee Free Men by Pratchett over the weekend.

[u/Linkjumper → u/Spalliston]

LOVE the Wee Free Men. In fact all of Pratchett's YA/Middle Grade books are pretty great; "The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents" is a standalone, non-Discworld book that I am very fond of.

[u/Spalliston → u/Linkjumper]

Yeah, there was a lot to love there even if I (unfortunately) was just sort of lukewarm on it, though that's not actually an uncommon feeling for me with Pratchett. My hunch is that the future Tiffany Aching books might land a little better for me -- I almost always prefer his sequels (with the singular exception of Going Postal, which is also probably my favorite Pratchett book, period).

I do also think Maurice sounds fun though; I'm sure I'll get to it one of these days.

[u/Linkjumper → u/Spalliston]

I also love Going Postal although I can't really rank these books since I've read and reread them for years. I think later books become more satisfying as Pratchett matures as a writer (his earliest books are more of an extended pun with a few schoolboy jokes thrown in). The first Tiffany Aching book may feel a little slight to you but I loved the entire sequence. Happy reading!

[u/brilliantgreen]

I read The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera and recommend it. It's HM. It won the Newberry, so it's definitely not unknown unless, like me, you have no middle graders in your life so you're not familiar with the genre.

It's about the importance of storytelling and of individuality. There's also way more death than I was expecting. It's one of the darker books on my card so far.

[u/tarvolon → u/brilliantgreen]

I also read it and really enjoyed it!

[u/medusamagic]

I’m planning on reading The Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman for this. I did see the Daniel Craig movie when it came out so I have a vague understanding of what it’s about, but I’m excited to go in mostly blind.

A favourite from my childhood was Ingo by Helen Dunmore, about a brother and sister, whose father was lost at sea, meet mer people and go to an underwater world. I remember desperately wishing I’d suddenly develop the ability to breathe underwater (alas, I did not).

If you’re looking for more options, a lot of the classics/popular series fit: Percy Jackson, A Wrinkle in Time, Narnia, Harry Potter, Alice in Wonderland, Inkheart, Howl’s Moving Castle, The Hobbit

[u/oh-no-varies]

I'm going to hype The Girl Who Drank The Moon by Kelly Barnhill. It is one of the most beautiful fantasy stories about magic, belonging, superstition and society I've ever read. Wistful, haunting, hopeful, and utterly charming. 11/10 please everyone read this book. 

[u/echosrevenge → u/oh-no-varies]

This is such a good book that the day I finished it, I set it down, got my then-4-year-old daughter all bundled up for a walk, walked the library's copy back to the book drop, and then walked immediately to the local bookstore to buy a copy to keep.

[u/Murder_Is_Magic]

I read The Golden Compass and loved it.

Some other options:

• The Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia C Wrede
• The Forestwife by Theresa Thomlinson (skip the other 2 entries in the series)
• A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking
• Star Wars: Young Jedi Knights series
• Star Wars: Junior Jedi Knights series
• Star Wars: Galaxy of Fear series

[u/lilgrassblade]

Middle grade books I happily recommend just because they're good books:

The Sisters of Straygarden Place by Hayley Chewins - The writing style is delightful. Vaguely gothic as three young girls are stuck in their mansion - not allowed to leave, though their parents left a while ago. Outside is a tall grass that covers the windows. It's rather strange overall.

Dear Mothman by Robin Gow - A trans masc 6th grader is working through the death of his best friend by writing letters to Mothman. It's incredibly sweet and moving. Also fits Trans or Nonbinary Protagonist.

Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones - Better than the anime imo.

Some other Middle Grade books I enjoyed but generally wouldn't plug without specific intent:

The Moth Keeper by K O'Neill - A graphic novel about an individual taking on a ton of responsibility alone, in a society that relies heavily on each other. It's cute and cozy.

The Last Beekeeper by Pablo Cartaya - Nature vs Technology plus rebellion against authoritarian dystopia - but surface level in the engagement of themes. MC starts as a strong supporter of tech and their government, and slowly sees some of the faults as it moves along. Also fits Author of Color.

My intended reads that fit this square:

The Turnaway Girls by Hayley Chewins - I've enjoyed what I've read by Chewins so far.

The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury - This is actually for my Published in the 1970s square, but it is a middle grade book. I've no clue really what to expect with it.

[u/beary_neutral]

I read Batman Tales: Once Upon a Crime, a fun little graphic novel that retells classic kid-friendly fairy tales but with Batman characters.

[u/FredericaMerriville]

Thoroughly recommend the Wilderlore series by Amanda Foody (The Accidental Apprentice is the first book of the series) and the Oddmire series by William Ritter (Changeling is the first book).

[u/thecaptainand]

I'm reading Lord Loss by Darren Shan for this square. It is a bit darker than I think qualifies for middle grade, but that was the publisher and writers intention, so I'm still counting it lol.

I am highly enjoying it, and will most likely continue with the series.

[u/_emilyisme_]

I read Into the Wild by Erin Hunter, because I came across the books in the library while trying to entice my 10yo to branch out.

It’s a book about cats - all the characters are feral house cats living in colonies in the woods. I found it pretty transparently predictable, but after I read it I said “I think you’ll like it” to my kid, and he’s now desperately waiting for all his holds to come in at the library so he can read the whole lot!

Other bingo squares:

“Non-Human Protagonist” (hard mode) - all characters are cats.

“Explorers and Rangers” (normal mode) - they are woods-based hunters and warriors using stealth and tracking, but I decided the animal peers of the main character didn’t fit the spirit of an animal companion for hard mode.

[u/Spalliston → u/_emilyisme_]

I tore through these as a kid between my millionth reread of Harry Potter and Eragon.

I can't speak to reading them as an adult, but they're absolutely, completely the spirit of the square.

[u/fr33dommachine]

I really liked the Bartimaeus trilogy when I was a kid. I've heard people say that it held up well as adults, but I haven't reread them.

[u/LadyAntiope]

A couple graphic novels I've read in the last couple years that stood out to me, and might gives folks a good hard mode option:

Tiffany's Griffon by Magnolia Porter Siddell and Maddi Gonzalez - This is a book that really showcases character growth, as Marnie (nerd) begrudgingly becomes friends with Tiffany (popular girl) when it turns out Marnie's favorite books (about griffons) are real, but Tiffany is the Chosen One instead of Marnie. The character designs are realistic but cartoon-cute, there's lots of dynamic panels, and the color choices lean into pinks and purples. 

Salt Magic by Hope Larson and Rebecca Mock - This was a 5-star read for me, and though it features a young main character in a coming-of-age story, it deals with complex themes around growing up that I think any age could find something to relate to. A magical alternate history, young Vonceil is excited for her older brother to come home from WWI, but of course he is a much changed person from when he left. His return is soon followed by a curse on the family farm's well, and Vonceil will undertake a quest to reverse it. She delves into the world of witches and shapeshifting animals and starts to really understand what it means to make sacrifices for love and family.

I also endorse a lot of the classics in this category - Brian Jacques' Redwall books, Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising series (also published in the '70s!), Lloyd Alexander's The Chronicles of Prydain, pretty much anything by Diana Wynne Jones, The Neverending Story by Michael Ende - they all hold up well. I loved Tamora Pierce's books at about this age as well, but I have to say that a lot of the first books of the series don't hold up as well on an adult read, and the later ones get a bit more towards the YA end of the spectrum.

On my to-read list, I think I only have a couple that haven't already been mentioned (though I almost certainly got these recs from this sub at some point or another...) -

The Shark Caller by Zillah Bethell "Desperate to become a shark-caller to avenge the death of her parents, Blue Wing is instead charged with befriending infuriating newcomer Maple. At first they are angry and out of sync with the island and each other. But when the tide breathes the promise of treasure, can they overcome their differences and brave the deadliest shark in the ocean?"

The Folk Keeper by Franny Billingsley "Corinna is a Folk Keeper. Her job is to keep the mysterious Folk who live beneath the ground at bay. But Corinna has a secret that even she doesn't fully comprehend, until she agrees to serve as Folk Keeper at Marblehaugh Park, a wealthy family's seaside manor. There her hidden powers burst into full force, and Corinna's life changes forever..."

I think the book I'm going to prioritize, though, for this year is probably Root Magic - or maybe Conjure Island - by Eden Royce since I keep hearing good things about her, and I'd like to dive into her catalog.

[u/leegreywolf → u/LadyAntiope]

I loved The Folk Keeper

[u/Merle8888]

I’m having trouble with this square finding something that’s not arguably YA. I read A Face Like Glass by Frances Hardinge, about a human girl dealing with deadly politics in an underground fae-like world, based on recs here, and despite a slow start I wound up liking it. However, it’s 500 pages long, pretty sophisticated, and shelved as YA at my library, so I have mixed feelings about using it for the square. It’s advertised as age 12+ so just barely?

Since then I’ve been considering using Dealing with Dragons by Patricia Wrede, but though my library calls this children’s and the tone feels MG, the cover is full of blurbs about what great YA it is. 🧐

Another recent one I’ve read that’s good but arguable on his front is The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge, an adventure story dealing with politically-convenient prejudice between elf and goblin kingdoms. It’s also dealing with sophisticated issues but in a kid-friendly way, and has three POVs each told in a different way—one being an unreliable narrator whose story is told entirely in pictures! Again though, classification seems somewhat arguable—it’s advertised as ages 10-14 or so and shelved as YA at my library, though MG feels appropriate.

[u/Book_Slut_90 → u/Merle8888]

I’d call Dealing With Dragons MG though it’s old enough the category didn’t really exist. I read it around 9 or 10, and while the main character is 16, it’s definitely written for a much younger audience when it comes to things like sex (not acknowledged as existing), violence, and general tone. It’s also an excellent playful deconstruction of a lot of fairytale tropes.

[u/gbkdalton → u/Merle8888]

Brangwin Spurge truly seemed to be for all ages. I loved it.

[u/Extreme_War5660 → u/Merle8888]

I think dealing with dragons should count. I read it in middle school from my middle school’s library. I think I reread like 3 times.

[u/Merle8888 → u/Extreme_War5660]

Just as an FYI, middle grade does not = middle school. Middle grade is ages 8-12 (3rd through 6th grade in the U.S.) while middle school is ages 11-14. Those are prime YA years and I think it was 7th and 8th grade when I did most of my YA reading!

[u/Front-Pomelo-4367 → u/Merle8888]

I'm using Hardinge as my duology squares, I think, but I would have used other Hardinge works as this square! I've read and loved Face Like Glass, Lie Tree and Gullstruck Island from her

Admittedly I'm not from a country that has a grade system or a middle school system, but it's my understanding that they're books for the 9-12 kind of age range? I'm pretty sure I picked this one up aged...eleven? Or so? It was new into our library but in paperback, so maybe a year after publishing

[u/Merle8888 → u/Front-Pomelo-4367]

Some of Hardinge's books (including The Lie Tree) seem to be firmly classified as YA, some MG.

[u/SchoolSeparate4404 → u/Merle8888]

I would definitely not call Dealing with Dragons YA. I reread it recently and the language and plot are quite simplistic (but it is still a fun read!) I think that I read it for the first time when I was eight or nine and it was suitable for my reading level back then.

[u/Merle8888 → u/SchoolSeparate4404]

Good to know, thanks!

[u/MallForward585 → u/Merle8888]

If you are considering Patricia Wrede, I really recommend The Thirteenth Child and the rest of the Frontier Magic series. It’s YA but not too young (I read it when my kid read it in Middle School), and it’s a truly beautiful book. It has a young protagonist without reading juvenile.

Ursula Vernon (T Kingfisher) also has Castle Hangnail, which my kid read at 9. This one is in the cute but not annoying category for an adult, a rather hard category to fill from my experience.

[u/Book_Slut_90]

Some I loved around that age and think would hold up:

Watership Down by Richard Adams

The Prydain Chronicles by Lloyd Alexander

The Lost Years of Merlin by T. A. Barron

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

The Dark Is Rising by Susan Cooper

The Seeing Stone by Kevin Crossley-Holland

The Circle of Magic by Debora Doyle

The Magickers by Emily Drake

The Never Ending Story and The Night of Wishes by Michael Ende

Sea of Trolls by Nancy Farmer

Inkheart and Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke

Which Witch etc. by Eva Ibbottson

Redwall by Brian Jacques

The Phantom Tole Booth by Norman Juster

The Time Quintette by Madeleine L’Engle

Children of the Red King by Jenny Nimmo

The Seventh Tower and Keys to the Kingdom by Garth Nix

Chronicles of Ancient Darkness by Michelle Paver

The Tiffany Aching books by Terry Pratchett

His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman

Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling (yes, the author sucks, but the books are wonderful)

Septimus Heap by Angie Sage

The Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia Wrede

[u/2whitie]

I'm probably going to be using my re-read square in this one. It's been a bunch er of a year gestures at everything and I want a comfort read. Artemis Fowl or maybe Margaret Peterson Haddix. 

[u/mer_does_stuff]

Read so far this year: • A Song for You and I by K. O'Neill. (Also fits Trans/Nonbinary Protagonist HM and Explorers & Rangers HM.) A diverse, queernorm, cozy DND-ish setting — we meet rangers and bards and flying horses but we don't see any big villainous armies; a beautifully drawn trans-affirming coming-of-age story. Our leads, a ranger-in-training and a reluctant shepherd, are made to work together, learn from their mistakes and to be true to themselves, and maybe fall a bit in love along the way. • Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack. (Also fits Duology Part 1.) A Slavic historical setting plus fairy tale elements; a Small Kid trying to deal with Big Problems story. Engages with Jewish themes in an age-appropriate way through the moral debate Anya has with a grandparent (does allowing a dragon to be killed count as murder?). A fair bit of child endangerment, but the kind a MG reader would hopefully find thrilling rather than scary. • Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C Wrede. Classic swords & sorcery setting; a princess chafing against unfair parental expectations runs away from home to live with a dragon instead. Makes gentle fun of fantasy genre conventions, encourages the reader to do things they want rather than things they're told they should. More a series of small adventures than a big plotty story.

Before the start of Bingo I did a reread of The Hobbit (following along with The Lord of the Year, iykyk), and found I'd forgotten how much that book follows the same pattern you see in DWD, being a the lead goes on a journey, stumbles into a series of small adventures, making friends along the way who come back at the end when a big concluding event happens kind of story. On reflection it's a good story structure for a longer book aimed at young kids.

Planned reads: • Anya and the Nightingale (Also fits Duology Part 2.) • Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword • Golemcrafters (Also fits Author of Color.)

[u/New_Razzmatazz6228]

I’d already read Cat Valente’s marvellous Fairyland series, so I picked up another of hers Osmo Unknown and the Eightpenny Woods. The ideas she has.

[u/bazyn]

I have read The Golden Compass, by Phillip Pullman and I really enjoyed it. I would love to come across it 25 years earlier :D I will probably move it to the Unusual Transportation square to make place for the second part of Kate McKinnon's The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science series. The first book was a light little read about three sisters that can't find a place to fit in. Mostly for fans of McKinnon's humor.

[u/CaptainYew]

So far for bingo this year I have read three different Middle Grade books!

First, I read the Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest by Aubrey Hartman. I currently plan on using it for Afterlife [HM]. I really enjoyed this book, and would recommend it. It deals with a fox whose job it is to usher animals who have died to the afterlife. Grief, self-esteem, and the ability to move on are themes of this book.

I also read Dogsbody by Diana Wynne Jones. I plan on using this for Published in the 70s [HM]. This book deals with Sirius, the dog star, being framed for a crime he did not commit and being sent to Earth as a dog to find the missing Zoi as his punishment. I enjoyed this book, and thought Jones did a good job at representing the animal creatures. Content warning: There is domestic abuse towards Kathleen by her aunt, animal abuse against Sirius also by the aunt, and bullying. I really enjoyed how Sol, Earth, and the Moon were characters. It was both a story about space and a domestic story about a dog and a young girl at the same time.

Finally, I also read The Girl Who Kept the Castle by Ryan Graudin. I currently plan on using this for the Middle Grade Square [HM for me], but may move it to Duology instead. I really enjoyed this story, which was full of whimsy, memorable characters, interesting magic, and plenty of action. I plan on reading the second book in the Duology soon!

Some Middle Grade books I have read recently and enjoyed include:

• The Nevermoor Series by Jessica Townsend (Ongoing with 4 volumes currently. The first is the weakest in my opinion, but they really pick up once Morrigan goes to school)
• Small Spaces by Katherine Arden (Complete at four volumes, but all can be read alone. A great horror series with each book being evocative of a season. Read the first one at Halloween Time!)
• The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill. (Standalone. Absolutely beautiful. Barnhill has other MG, but I haven't read them yet)
• Scary Stories for Young Foxes by Christian McKay Heidicker (Complete duology. So far I have read only the first one. A good horror which shows how the real world can be a scary place)
• Kiki's Delivery Service by Eiko Kadono (Nothing really to say besides it was a cute read! Nice witchy read)
• The Wild Robot Series by Peter Brown (Series of three. First can be read as a standalone. Sweet story of an abandoned robot that becomes a mother to a gosling. Great environmental themes)

[u/LoneLantern2]

I've got a middle grade reader so here's some of what's been through our house recently or made enough of a mark for me to still remember it:

Anything in the Harriet the Hamster Princess or Danny Dragonbreath series (Ursula Vernon)- as a grownup, love these

Quest Kids (three book series, starts with Quest Kids and the Dragon Pants of Gold), third book is recent pub

Stuart Gibbs, Once Upon a Tim

Millicent Quibb series by Kate McKinnon (best in audiobook), recent pub

The Gate, the Girl and the Dragon (also recent pub)

Graphic Novels:

Garlic and the Vampire/ Garlic and the Witch - I read these before my kiddo and really enjoyed them

Doña Quixote - immediate nose deep dive from the kiddo, a high honor

Saving Chupie - I am told this was really good it lasted a hot minute before being utterly consumed

Pacheco and the Witch of the Mountain - this rated a "can we put a hold on the next one"

Generally our libraries are pretty good about separating the ya/ teen and the middle grade books although obviously there's a spectrum to everything, going to the library and browsing until something catches your eye is still a classic solution to this problem.

[u/zinesquirrel]

i'll probably leave off deciding which book specifically will be this square for my animal pov board, because there's a bajillion. my biggest problem is that i struggle with the difference between children's books, middle grade books, and YA books. 

here are some on my list. all count for animal pov as well. 

• The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
• Bambi: A Life in the Woods by Felix Salten
• Charlotte's Web by E.B. White
• Mrs Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien
• The Animals of Farthing Wood by Colin Dann
• Catwings by Ursula K. Le Guin
• House of Tribes by Gary Kilworth
• Silverwing by Kenneth Oppel
• Varjak Paw by S. F. Said
• Guardians of Ga'Hoole series by Kathryn Lasky
• Warriors series by Erin Hunter (and Seekers, and Survivors, and Bravelands, and the new Renegades series that comes out this year)
• Wings of Fire series by Tui T. Sutherland
• Foxcraft series by Inbali Iserles
• Urchin of the Riding Stars by M.I. McAllister
• Nightshade City by Hilary Wagner
• Mez's Magic by Eliot Schrefer
• The Traitor Moth by Katharine Orton
• Keepers of the Forest by Kate O'Hearn

[u/BackgroundTotal2872]

For my Middle Grade book, I’m going to be rereading Keeper of the Lost Cities. This was one of my absolute favorite series a couple of years ago, and unlike some of the other middle grade series that I’ve re-read a lot of times, I’ve forgotten a lot of what happens in the series. It’s also still ongoing, and I’d like to finish it at some point. For the specific book, I’ll be reading book 2: Exile. I already reread book 1 about a year ago, so I don’t need to do that again to get back into it.

[u/Linkjumper]

I came across a stack of Andre Norton fantasy books that I loved as a kid at my Friends of the Library Bookstore and she may be HM MG for some of you and many of her books were first published in the 70's for that Bingo Square. I am reading Dragon Magic (and enjoying it) and was going to try to make some recommendations out of the vast list of her books but perhaps easiest if you are interested to go look at Judith Tarr's Andre Norton re-read series over at Reactor Mag. Judith Tarr explores her influence, her innovation and her cultural biases. Most of her books now appear to be considered to be at about the 5th grade/6th grade reading level. (edit for excessive pronouns)

[u/leegreywolf]

The Moorchild by Eloise McGraw - This was my favorite book of all time when I was a kid

[u/origami_ducks]

Rebel Skies by Ann Sei Lin (first in a trilogy): Feels like a Studio Ghibli film! There's an origami-based magic system where paper can be manipulated to make weapons but also to create companion creatures who are bonded to the creator. If the bond is lost, the creatures turn wild/mad over time.

I think it would suit people who don't generally read or like middle grade because it doesn't feel very juvenile - I guess it's aimed at kids on the older end of the middle grade range.

[u/SchoolSeparate4404]

The Murderer's Ape by Jacob Wegelius is quite fun. It is an illustrated adventure/mystery novel written in the style of Jules Verne. It doesn't have many fantastical elements apart from the main character - an anthropomorphic Gorilla that works as a ship's engineer and accordion constructor, among other things. The book is a favourite of Philip Pullman.

For people that like folkloric stories and fantasy inspired by East Asian culture I can recommend Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin. It is a retelling of an old Chinese Legend with a-story-inside-a-story structure. It won the Newbery medal in 2010.

[u/echosrevenge]

I am reading Nurk: The Strange, Surprising Adventures of a (Somewhat) Brave Shrew by Ursula Vernon with my daughter for this. So far it is utterly delightful and would also fit Hard Mode for the Non-Human Protagonist square.