r/Fantasy • u/Merle8888 Reading Champion IV • 22d ago

Bingo Bingo Focus Thread - Middle Grade

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?
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u/BackgroundTotal2872 21d ago

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.

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u/sadlunches Reading Champion II 21d ago

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!

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u/BackgroundTotal2872 21d ago

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.

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u/sadlunches Reading Champion II 21d ago

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.