Well. 2021 was certainly a mixed year for me. It had a really rough start, not a great middle, and a painful and chaotic end. But, it also had some really great books!
Maybe it feels silly to think that the books were one of the brightest spots in the year, but to be honest, they kinda were? I mean, some other good things happened, too, and I have a lot to be grateful for, but the books… those are one of the best gifts from this past year to me.
2021 was a good year for me particularly for middle grade books. When I first started blogging, I only reviewed young adult books, but once I started reading middle grade, I couldn’t stop. I had to add them to my review list, and I’ve never been sorry I did!
With all that in mind, here’s the list of the best middle grade books I read last year. There are a couple backlist titles on there that I didn’t get to until this year that were too good to leave off the list. Other than that, all of these books came out in 2021. I hope you enjoy!
What you need to know: OMG. This book is hilarious and so sweet. I can’t say it any better than this clip from Goodreads: A dead body. A missing will. An evil relative. The good news is, Great Grammy has a plan. The bad news is, she’s the dead body.
What you need to know: One of my most-anticipated books of 2021. I adore this series from beginning to end. It’s packed with magic, friendship, courage, and a time pretzel. Last book in the series that began with THE STORM KEEPER’S ISLAND.
What you need to know: A brother and sister set out on a desperate attempt to escape North Korea during the Korean War. Beautiful and aching. (This technically came out in 2020, but I read it in January 2021.)
What you need to know: A reluctant reader critiques his aunt’s book, testing the stunts, discovering ghosts, and making new friends along the way. Hilarious and heartfelt. (This technically came out in 2020, but I read it in April 2021.)
What were the best middle grade books from 2021 that you read? Did you read any of the books on my list? If so, did any of them rank among your favorites?
If not, are there any books on my list that you’re thinking of checking out now that you’ve seen them here? Please let me know! There’s nothing better than knowing someone is going to check out one of my favorite books.
Reads things. Writes things. Fluent in sarcasm. Willful optimist. Cat companion, chocolate connoisseur, coffee drinker. There are some who call me Mom.
Skunk and Badger: Egg Marks the Spot by Amy Timberlake Starfish by Lisa Fipps Once Upon a Camel by Kathi Appelt Pony by R.J. Palacio Willodeen by Katherine Applegate, The Beatryce Prophecy by Kate DiCamillo Linked by Gordon Korman The Adventure is Now by Jess Redman Finding Junie Kim by Ellen Oh A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus Da Vinci’s Cat by Catherine Gilbert Murdock Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston
Yay! Thank you for sharing your favorites! I’ve had a few of them on my reading list, but there are some I hadn’t heard of yet. I will definitely check these out. ?
I would have to add these books to name a few:
Skunk and Badger: Egg Marks the Spot by Amy Timberlake
Starfish by Lisa Fipps
Once Upon a Camel by Kathi Appelt
Pony by R.J. Palacio
Willodeen by Katherine Applegate,
The Beatryce Prophecy by Kate DiCamillo
Linked by Gordon Korman
The Adventure is Now by Jess Redman
Finding Junie Kim by Ellen Oh
A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus
Da Vinci’s Cat by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston
Yay! Thank you for sharing your favorites! I’ve had a few of them on my reading list, but there are some I hadn’t heard of yet. I will definitely check these out. ?