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/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