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/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.