Category Archives: Middle Grade 8-12

Grandpere's Ghost Swamp by Rachel M. Marsh

Review: Grandpere’s Ghost Swamp by Rachel M. Marsh

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Grandpere’s Ghost Swamp
Rachel M. Marsh
Greenwillow Books
Published March 24, 2026

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About Grandpere’s Ghost Swamp

Ferris meets Ghosts of Tupelo Landing in this cozy ghost story about family, environmental activism, food, and friendship.

Basil Theriot has spent her entire life in New Orleans—in her family’s famed Cajun restaurant in the French Quarter, really—but she’s never been out to the bayou where her grandfather grew up. She’s also never seen a ghost, even though dozens of ghost tours pass by the restaurant every day and her best friend Tommy is determined to be a ghost hunter.

But then Grandpere’s ghost appears. And he has a mission for her.

Basil wouldn’t mind being haunted if Grandpere could be helpful and share his secret recipe that might save the restaurant. But instead, he’s intent on connecting Basil with her Cajun heritage. He sends her out to the bayou to meet his an airboat captain, a shrimper, and a scientist rebuilding Louisiana’s fast-disappearing coastline.

For fans of Gracie Under the Waves and A Strange Thing Happened in Cherry Hall, Grandpere’s Ghost Swamp has a little bit of a pinch of spookiness, a dash of environmental activism, and a heaping of family.

My Review

This is definitely one of those books where the disparate threads all come together nicely in the end. In a way, it reminded me of Once For Yes by Allie Millington. I adored the Louisiana setting. Some of the characters made me think of my partner’s family members, who are from Louisiana. His family is also Cajun, so that was a fun connection to the story as well.

It was interesting to read a book in which the main character is surrounded by people who love food and cooking, yet she has strong negative feelings about them. Basil’s perspective about the family restaurant makes a lot of sense, and it makes sense that she would have such strong conflicted feelings about her future, since she feels the family needs her to be as invested in the restaurant as they are.

I like how her relationship with her grandfather’s ghost propels the story in unexpected ways. While Grandpere clearly has something important to resolve, his presence helps Basil in ways she wouldn’t have predicted. I like that she learns a lot about him and about herself through the experience.

Grandpere’s Ghost Swamp celebrates strong family connections across generations and a love for the natural world. Give this book to fans of Elsie Mae Has Something to Say by Nancy Cavanaugh and Nowhere Better Than Here by Sarah Guillory.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
Basil sees the ghost of her grandfather, who recently passed away. She eventually sees other ghosts as well.

Violent Content
A kid gets in trouble for throwing salt all over a classroom when what he thinks is a ghost appears. An argument escalates into a food fight.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: Until We Meet Again by Lily Kim Qian

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Until We Meet Again
Lily Kim Qian
First Second
Published April 21, 2026

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About Until We Meet Again

A poignant and vividly illustrated graphic memoir about a young woman’s search for belonging as her immigrant family moves between Canada and China.

Lily isn’t sure where home is anymore. Her family is constantly on the move, resettling in different towns across Canada and, eventually, in Shanghai, China. Her father plays the role of primary caregiver while her mother is absent for long periods of time. When she reappears, her strange behavior turns Lily’s life upside down. As Lily enters her college years, she strives to better understand her family and her place in the world. But can she escape the inherited trauma passed down by her immigrant parents?

My Review

This moving illustrated memoir follows Lily from early childhood to adulthood and shows her feelings about and relationship with her mom as she begins to witness and, later, understand her mother’s mental health issues.

A few lines of thoughtful narrative appear on each page, reflecting on a moment or experience from the author’s childhood. Graphic novel panels without dialogue illustrate the events described.

This storytelling style gives readers a chance to piece together for themselves what’s happening and how the illustrations intersect with the narrative statements. I really enjoyed the way those added up to more than the sum of their parts.

I think it’s also an important story. Kids who have parents with mental health issues may find some of the descriptions and scenes resonate with them or validate their own experiences. Other kids who haven’t had an experience like this may find Qian’s writing illuminating. The story also briefly addresses the harm of stigma surrounding getting a diagnosis or treatment for mental health issues, which is another important topic for discussion.

All in all, this moving story deserves space on the shelf next to Visitations by Corey Egbert and Messy Roots by Laura Gao.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 to 18.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
References to her mother throwing things and becoming very upset if confronted by someone or something she didn’t like.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: The Grace of Wild Things by Heather Fawcett

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The Grace of Wild Things
Heather Fawcett
Storytide
Published February 12, 2023

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About The Grace of Wild Things

An inventive and fantastical reimagining of Anne of Green Gables—with magic and witches!—that explores found family, loss, and the power of a girl’s imagination, from the acclaimed author of The Language of Ghosts and The School Between Winter and Fairyland. Perfect for readers who loved The Girl Who Drank the Moon and Serafina and the Black Cloak.

“A magical, witchy, and thoroughly successful homage to a classic.” —Kirkus Reviews(starred review)

Grace has never been good at anything except magic—not that anyone believes her.

While other children are adopted from the orphanage, nobody wants Grace. So she decides to make a home for herself by running away and offering herself as an apprentice to the witch in the nearby woods. After all, who better to teach Grace to use her magic? Surely the witch can’t be that bad.

But the witch is that bad—she steals souls for spells and gobbles up hearts. So Grace offers a deal: If she can learn all 100½ spells in the witch’s grimoire, the witch will make Grace her apprentice. But if Grace fails, the witch can take her magic. The witch agrees, and soon an unexpected bond develops between them.

But the spells are much harder than Grace expected, and when a monster from the witch’s past threatens the home Grace has built, she may have to sacrifice more than her magic to save it.

My Review

I didn’t read the back cover copy before I read this book. I remembered that a friend had read and loved it, so I’d had it on my reading list. The only thing I remembered about the book was that it was a reimagining of Anne of Green Gables. So, at first as I read, I assumed the witch-y things were Grace’s imagination. Ha! Then she woke up in the oven, and I was like, wait a minute.

At first, I wasn’t sure I liked the idea of a Marilla character as an evil witch. The story really won me over, though. I liked the way that her grumpiness and solitary nature gave way to fondness for Grace over time. And Patrick, the rain cloud! I thought that was a very clever way to introduce a character like Matthew from the original story.

The character I was immediately sure about was Grace. She was so thoroughly Anne, from her imaginative nature to her daydreaming and tendency to goof things up. I loved her friendship with Serena, too. That reminded me a lot of Anne and Diana.

Grace’s commitment to work through the spells in the grimoire gave the story more structure than I imagined. I loved those adventures and ways in which the spells worked out differently than Grace intended.

The Grace of Wild Things is the only book by Heather Fawcett that I’ve read so far, but I have already added others to my reading list. I’m excited to check out more of her books, and I wholeheartedly recommend this one.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 10 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
Vague reference to an adult who became romantically involved with a man until she learned he was married.

Spiritual Content
Some characters are witches. One character is a faery.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. Grace wakes in an oven of a witch who plans to cook and eat her. Other bones indicate that she’s done this before. A tree appears to try to devour a boy. Nightmares appear in a forest.

Drug Content
One spell makes a character act silly, and someone assumes the character is drunk.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I borrowed a copy of this book from the library. All opinions are my own.

Review: The Bard and the Book by Ann Bausum and Marta Sevilla

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The Bard and the Book: How the First Folio Saved the Plays of William Shakespeare from Oblivion
Ann Bausum
Illustrated by Marta Sevilla
Peachtree
Published April 2, 2024

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About The Bard and the Book: How the First Folio Saved the Plays of William Shakespeare from Oblivion

The unlikely true story of why we know the name William Shakespeare today, and the four-hundred-year-old book that made it possible.

Four hundred years ago, no one bothered to write down the exact words of stage plays. Characters’ lines were scribbled on small rolls of paper (as in, an actor’s role ) and passed around, but no master script was saved for the future. The main reason we’ve heard of Romeo, Juliet, Hamlet, and Shakespeare himself is that a group of people made the excellent choice to preserve the plays after the Bard died. If they hadn’t created the book known as the First Folio, Shakespeare and his works would surely have been lost to history.

Part literary scavenger hunt (the search for every existing First Folio continues today), part book trivia treasure trove, and part love letter to Shakespeare, this behind-the-scenes, sharply funny true story is an ideal introduction to the Bard and his famous plays.

My Review

Happy National Shakespeare Day! Today is the day we traditionally celebrate Shakespeare’s birth and death. I figured this was a perfect day to review a book about Shakespeare.

I read an article years ago that said that home libraries often have fewer nonficton titles than they should, and since then, I’ve been on the lookout for great nonfiction for kids. This book caught my eye immediately. I love the idea of pairing this with a first look at Shakespeare’s work.

The book covers the way that theaters operated during the time Shakespeare’s plays were written. I’d never considered that there wouldn’t be bound copies of an entire play from the very beginning. But actually, plays weren’t printed that way at the time.

The author also shares some facts about Shakespeare’s life and what happened to copies of his work from those first printings to now. I loved reading the author’s note and backmatter info about her research experience and her family’s connection to writing nonfiction.

The only other book by Ann Bausum that I’ve read at present is White Lies, which is aimed at an older audience. This book features playful illustrations and cheery text, making it perfect for middle grade or early young adult readers.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 10 to 12.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
Reference to romance in Shakespeare’s plays.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
Reference to illness and death.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a copy of this book for Christmas. All opinions are my own.

Review: The Whale’s Song by Rossana Bossù

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The Whale’s Song: Discover the Giants of Our Oceans
Rossana Bossù
Post Wave
Published June 24, 2025

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About The Whale’s Song

Whales have fascinated us for centuries—award-winning artist Rossana Bossù brings these giant, awe-inspiring creatures to life.

Dive into the fascinating world of whales. Did you know that, when underwater, the heart of a blue whale can slow down to as little as two beats per minute? Or that a narwhal’s famous unicorn-like horn is actually a long canine tooth? Readers will also discover how these magnificent creatures play a vital role in keeping our oceans healthy.

From their enormous size to their complex behaviors, learn how these gentle giants live and thrive, and discover why they need our help now more than ever.

INSPIRATION TO TAKE ACTION: Perfect for sparking curiosity and a love for marine life, this book is a call to action to save these magnificent animals before they become legends.

ECO-THEMES: Kids will learn about the importance of animal conservation and environmental protection.

ENCOURAGES SCIENTIFIC CURIOSITY: This exploration of whales will encourage an interest ocean creatures, big and small.

EXQUISITELY ILLUSTRATED: Gorgeous artwork introduces children to the incredible variety of these giants of the ocean, from toothed to baleen whales.

My Review

This is such a cool book. Every page has short blocks of text interspersed with fasincating illustrations. One spread, for example, talks about a whalefall (when a whale dies and its carcass sinks to the ocean floor) and the four phases of decomposition that happen and how that nourishes other animals and the environment. A diagram shows an example of each of the four phases. It’s not super specific, so it’s not gross. Think more of a cartoon-y illustration. This is not a science textbook– it’s a book you’d give to a kid who is in a marine mammal phase.

The book has so much information. None of it really goes into deep detail, but the text introduces a lot of interesting topics. For example, one spread shows the different kinds of orcas and details where they live and what they eat, showing how different the varied groups are. Even the endpapers have a purpose: the front endpages show line drawings of the different baleen whales and the back endpapers show the different kinds of toothed whales.

My older daughter did a report for school on whales in middle elementary school, and a book like this would have been absolutely perfect. Give this to the young whale enthusiast or animal lover in your life.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 9 to 12.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
Brief summaries of stories about whales in mythology, folklore, and spiritual beliefs.

Violent Content
Circle of life stuff– what animals eat and hunt. References to whaling industry. Whales dying or becoming beached on shore. Accidental injuries/illnesses to humans because they approached beached whales.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: The Poisoned King by Katherine Rundell

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The Poisoned King (Impossible Creatures #2)
Katherine Rundell
Knopf Books for Young Readers
Published September 11, 2025

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About The Poisoned King

Return to the magic of the Archipelago in the dazzling sequel to the runaway, #1 New York Times bestseller Impossible Creatures, hailed as “an instant classic” (Katherine Applegate, Newbery Medal Winner for The One and Only Ivan)!

Christopher Forrester woke to find a dragon chewing on his face—and his heart leapt for joy! He’d been dreaming of going back to the Archipelago, the secret cluster of islands where all the creatures of myth still live, and here was his summons.

But there is a poison spreading in the Archipelago. Rooting it out will involve a daring rescue mission on the back of a sphinx, a stealthy entrance to a dragon’s lair, and a death-defying plan to save a prisoner held in the heart of a castle. At the center of this storm is Anya: a small girl with a flock of birds at her side, a new-hatched chick in her pocket, and a ravenous hunger for justice.

Katherine Rundell’s second thrilling installment in the Impossible Creatures series involves castles, dragons, and revenge—the things of which great stories are made. The splendors within are brought to life with more than fifty illustrations, including a map and a bestiary of magical creatures.

My Review

The cameos from some of the minor characters from Impossible Creatures were one of my favorite parts of this book. I really enjoyed getting to see what happened to Irian and Nighthand, but I loved that the tiny dragon, Jacques, was back in this story, too.

I have to say that after the painful losses in the first book, I was braced for tragedy in this one. While I don’t want to spoil anything, I will say that this book wasn’t as devastating as the last one.

The hardcover edition has beautiful artwork throughout. The endpapers have a map of the Glimoria Archipelago surrounded by some of the different mythical creatures. Like the first book, this one has an illustrated glossary of creatures in the back.

The story moved forward at a smooth pace, keeping me engaged all the way through. I am really enjoying the series and definitely want to read the next book when it comes out.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
The narrator sees two adults kiss (from a distance).

Spiritual Content
Magical creatures exist in the story.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. Someone poisons several others as part of a power grab. Some magical creatures intend to kill or eat the main characters. One character vows to get revenge on the person who framed her father for murder. The characters hear that someone falsely accused of murder is sentenced to be executed.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I borrowed a copy of this book from my local library. All opinions are my own.