Category Archives: Middle Grade 8-12

Review: All the Blues in the Sky by Renée Watson

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All the Blues in the Sky by Renée Watson

All the Blues in the Sky
Renée Watson
Bloomsbury USA Children’s
Published February 4, 2025

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About All the Blues in the Sky

# 1 New York Times bestselling and Newbery Honor author Renée Watson explores friendship, loss, and life with grief in this poignant new novel in verse and vignettes.

Sage’s thirteenth birthday was supposed to be about movies and treats, staying up late with her best friend and watching the sunrise together. Instead, it was the day her best friend died. Without the person she had to hold her secrets and dream with, Sage is lost. In a counseling group with other girls who have lost someone close to them, she learns that not all losses are the same, and healing isn’t predictable. There is sadness, loneliness, anxiety, guilt, pain, love. And even as Sage grieves, new, good things enter her life — and she just may find a way to know that she can feel it all.

In accessible, engaging verse and prose, this is an important story of a girl’s journey to heal, grow, and forgive herself. To read it is to see how many shades there are in grief, and to know that someone understands.

My Review

I could not put this book down, and that did not surprise me since I have LOVED everything by Renée Watson that I’ve ever read. She’s an incredibly talented writer with some serious range– writing young adult and middle grade fiction, a poetry collection, and this novel in verse. She’s amazing. I can’t say it enough.

Sage’s story drew me in from its first pages. Her grief is raw. You can feel it pulsing beneath the words on the page like a heartbeat. She feels guilty for unresolved parts of her friendship with her best friend. She envies others who got to say goodbye to their loved ones. Her feelings are moving and easy to understand.

I love the sense of community around Sage. She’s part of a grief support group for kids, and even though she feels closer to some kids than others, she learns different things from each of the kids in her group. She has meaningful relationships with adults in her life, too, beyond her parents.

The book includes an author’s note in which Watson shares that she lost 15 loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic and how this made her think about the losses that children were experiencing during that time.

All the Blues in the Sky offers hope amid the heartache and reminds us how much we need our connections to one another. I love this book and recommend it wholeheartedly.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 10 to 14.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
A kiss on the cheek and then the mouth.

Spiritual Content
References to attending funeral services. One character describes memories of attending church with their grandmother.

Violent Content
Brief descriptions of an accident in which a car struck a girl on a bike, killing her. References to someone who was murdered by police officers. Reference to fatal illnesses and loss of child and adult family members. (These are mentioned in the grief group Sage attends. They’re described appropriately for the audience.)

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.

Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday

I’m sharing this post as a part of a weekly round-up of middle-grade posts called Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday. Check out other blogs with posts about middle-grade books today on Marvelous Middle-Grade Mondays at Always in the Middle with Greg Pattridge.

Review: Mixed-Up by Kami Garcia and Brittney Williams

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Mixed-Up
Kami Garcia
Illustrated by Brittney Williams
Lettering by Comicraft’s Tyler Smith
First Second
Published January 21, 2025

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Mixed-Up

New York Times bestselling author Kami Garcia has returned with a middle grade graphic novel about the struggles of a game-loving girl who gets diagnosed with dyslexia and her loving support network that help her along in the journey.

When reading isn’t as easy as ABC…

Stella knows fifth grade will be the best year ever. Her closest friends, Emiko and Latasha, are in her class and they all got the teacher they wanted. Then their favorite television show, Witchlins, announces a new guidebook and an online game!

But when the classwork starts piling up, Stella struggles to stay on top. Why does it take her so long to read? And how can she keep up with friends in the Witchlins game if she can’t get through the text-heavy guidebook?] And when she can’t deal with the text-heavy Witchlins guidebook, she can’t keep up with her friends in the game. It takes loving teachers and her family to recognize that Stella has a learning difference, and after a dyslexia diagnosis she gets the support and tools she needs to succeed.

Bestselling author Kami Garcia was inspired to write this special book by her daughter’s dyslexia journey; her own neurodivergent experience; and the many students she taught over the years. Mixed-Up shows that our differences don’t need to separate us.

My Review

I love the way this book shows Stella’s struggles with reading. I do not have dyslexia and have limited familiarity (some loved ones are dyslexic) with the diagnosis, but the pages show Stella’s experience clearly. The panels make it easy to understand what’s happening and why.

Several adults offer Stella support as they talk with her about the differences in how her brain processes letters on a page. Stella learns new skills, and we see the change in her confidence and carriage as she begins reading more quickly and with better comprehension.

This book made me want to see that kids like Stella get the support they need and that the adults in their lives learn about neurodivergence.

Besides being a compelling story about dyslexia and growing as a reader, Mixed-Up also tells a sweet story about friendship and fandom. Stella and her best friends are excited about a new online game that’s based on a TV show they watch together. When competing in the game requires a lot of reading, Stella gets discouraged and withdraws from her friends. Her friends feel rejected and confused about the withdrawal, and a conflict brews.

All the pieces of the book come together to celebrate neurodiversity, friendship, and the many different forms of reading so beautifully. I highly recommend this book. The backmatter has a great list of resources for people interested in learning more about dyslexia.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
Stella and her friends follow a popular show called Witchlins in which the characters have magic powers.

Violent Content
One scene shows a story Stella is writing and characters in peril. The scene is quickly resolved.

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: Horse Trouble by Kristin Varner

Blogger's Favorites, Book Review and Content, Contemporary, Graphic Novel or Adaptation, Middle Grade 8-12

Horse Trouble
Kristin Varner
First Second
Published October 26, 2021

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About Horse Trouble

An American Library Association 2021 Best Graphic Novel for Children

Twelve-year-old Kate is laser-focused on her one true horseback riding. But try as she might, she can’t hide from life’s problems in the stable.

There’s nothing Kate loves more than being around horses. But her best friend is allergic to them, so Kate has to take riding lessons without her. Kate’s forced to navigate some of life’s hardships―like the mean girls at the stable who tease her and her body insecurities―all on her own. To make matters worse, Kate is continually falling off her horse. To Kate, her tween years feel like one unfair punishment after another. Can she get over it all…and get back on her horse?

Horse Trouble, the debut graphic novel from children’s book artist Kristin Varner, is an oh-so-relatable graphic novel with humor and heart.

My Review

After reading Dog Trouble, I immediately looked online to see if Kristin Varner had other books, and I was overjoyed to learn she does! Yay! One of the things I really enjoyed about Dog Trouble is the chapter openers that would introduce a specific dog or breed of dog and tell some things about it. There are also sidebars throughout the story in which the author would define terms specific to the story, which helped make the book more accessible to readers who don’t have experience in the story’s main activity.

Varner does something similar in Horse Trouble, though it’s slightly less well-developed than the other book. (Which makes sense, since she wrote this one first.) I love the idea and the fact that I could read a book about competitive horseback riding and follow the story easily, learning terminology along the way.

I loved Kate as a narrator and main character. She’s such a great kid and takes such good care of the horses she’s responsible for. I enjoyed this one a whole lot, and I will absolutely read more work by Kristin Varner.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Representation
Kate is a plus-sized girl.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
No profanity. Kate endures some mean comments about her body.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
Others say mean comments about Kate’s weight.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. All opinions are my own.

10 Best Books I Read in 2024

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10 Best Books I Read in 2024

I’m finally catching up on some stats and information on my reading life in 2024, and that process reminded me that I haven’t shared my top 10 best books I read in 2024 yet!

Since I review mainly young adult and middle grade books here on The Story Sanctuary, the list will center on books for those age groups. In the past, I’ve made a separate list for each age group, but this year, I’m just making one list and including both. As a bonus, I ranked them.

Note: This post contains affiliate links that do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. Thanks for using them to do your shopping.

10 Best Books I Read in 2024

10. The Loudest Silence by Sydney Langford

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

My thoughts: Platonic love, music, disability, nuanced identities, and an incredible cast of characters fill this sweet story. The Loudest Silence explores Deaf-Hard of Hearing experiences and family expectations. This one is unforgettable.

Published July 30, 2024 | My Review

9. The Judgment of Yoyo Gold by Isaac Blum

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

My thoughts: I love that this book examines hypocrisy and harm within a highly controlled religious community without disregarding the positive experiences or beauty that faith brings to practitioners’ lives. This book is messy and raw, but it’s also bold and full of love.

Published October 15, 2024 | My Review

8. Shark Teeth by Sherri Winston

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

My thoughts: An older sister desperately tries to keep her family together but wonders if that’s the best thing for her and her siblings. This one has memorable characters and incredible depth of feeling. It hit me deep.

Published January 16, 2024 | My Review

7. The No-Girlfriend Rule by Christen Randall

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

My thoughts: Finding the right book at the right time is just as important as finding the right people to play tabletop games with. The No-Girlfriend Rule celebrates the friendships, jokes, and how a game can take on a life of its own. If you like DnD, you want this on your reading list.

Published March 5, 2024 | My Review

6. Puzzleheart by Jenn Reese

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

My thoughts: It’s not easy to craft a text-based story filled with puzzles that are engaging and easy to visualize and balance that with compelling characters in a story that makes you want to cozy up with a cup of hot cocoa. This one does it. I had such a great time reading it.

Published May 14, 2024 | My Review

5. Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

My thoughts: Inspired by Pacific Island mythology and packed with danger, sea dragons, and a chance at redemption. I loved the intricate magic and the unforgettable characters.

Published April 9, 2024 | My Review

4. Wolfpack: How Young People Will Find Their Voice, Unite Their Pack, and Change the World by Abby Wambach

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

My thoughts: This 100-page book by famed soccer star Abby Wambach encourages leaders who lift one another up and work together rather than seeing others as rivals. It’s filled with simple but profound counsel from a woman who learned many of these lessons through blood, sweat, and tears. I am not usually into motivational books, but this one blew me away.

Published October 6, 2020 | My Review

3. Don’t Let the Forest In by C. G. Drews

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

My thoughts: If you like dark, creepy forests, dangerous monsters, and boys who might only find the courage to love one another when it’s too late– stop reading this and go buy Don’t Let the Forest In right now. It’s so good.

Published October 29, 2024 | My Review

2. The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman by Gennifer Choldenko

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

My thoughts: This book has so much heart. I can’t stop talking about it. The sweet relationship between siblings. The trauma and struggle of a family in crisis. It’s heartbreaking and healing at once.

Published June 11, 2024 | My Review

1. A Magic Fierce and Bright by Hemant Nayat

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

My thoughts: I cannot stop raving about this book. I love the magic system. (Adya can magic machines.) It’s a story about sisters. There’s a helpful (hilarious) sentient motorcycle that I can’t get enough of. The plot was a wild ride from start to finish. I love it so much.

Published July 9, 2024 | My Review

What were the best books you read in 2024?

What books topped your list of favorites from 2024? Please leave a comment and let me know what your number one favorite is. Let me know if you read and enjoyed any of the titles on my list, too!

Review: Sylvia Doe and the 100-Year Flood by Robert Beatty

Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Magical Realism, Middle Grade 8-12, , , , , , , , , ,

Sylvia Doe and the 100-Year Flood
Robert Beatty
Disney Hyperion
Published October 8, 2024

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Sylvia Doe and the 100-Year Flood

Sylvia Doe doesn’t know where she was born or the people she came from. She doesn’t even know her real last name. Sylvia has lived at the Highground Home for Children in the mountains of North Carolina for as long as she can remember. Whenever the administrators place her with a foster family in the city, she runs away, back to her horse Kitty Hawk—her best friend—and the other horses in the herd, the only place she feels like she belongs.

When Hurricane Jessamine causes the remote mountain valley where she lives to flood, Sylvia must rescue her beloved horses. But she begins to encounter strange and wondrous things floating down the river. Glittering gemstones and wild animals that don’t belong — everything’s out of place. Then she spots an unconscious boy floating in the water. As she drags him onto the shore and their adventure together begins, Sylvia wonders who he is and where he came from. And why does she feel such a strong connection to this mysterious boy?

SYLVIA DOE has earned the prestigious STARRED REVIEW from both Kirkus Reviews and Publisher’s Weekly. The award-winning author Kwame Alexander praised the story, saying “Magical realism at its best!”

My Review

This book came out right around the time when Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina with rain and flooding. It took me a while to circle back to read the story, but I’d heard so many amazing things about it that I didn’t want to miss it.

Robert Beatty has an incredible ability to write about difficult or intense things in what feels like this very gentle way. Sylvia Doe and the 100-year Flood has some high-energy scenes in which the characters face situations of peril as they’re swept away by floodwater or desperately searching for storm survivors. Yet the tone of the story remains gentle. I love that.

The story includes a little bit of romance between Sylvia and another character. It stays very sweet, with some blushing and attraction. I think there’s a scene where the two snuggle together and another where they kiss each other. I like that their feelings for one another don’t overtake the story and that the disaster situations remain the focus despite their shifting emotions.

Sylvia has been in foster care since she was found alone in the wilderness. She recognizes that the foster care system, and in particular, her social worker, is trying to do good things. The story doesn’t demonize the system or highlight its many challenges or places it can cause harm. But it does present a story in which the system, even as it functions the way it should, isn’t a good fit for Sylvia as a child. She needs something the foster care system can’t provide for her.

The strong connections Sylvia feels to animals, especially horses and birds, will make this one a great fit for animal-loving readers. The magical realism elements add an otherworldly feel that makes Sylvia Doe and the 100-year Flood appealing to readers looking for something beyond the reality in which we live.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Representation
Sylvia has light brown skin tones. She has grown up in foster care.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
Brief kissing between boy and girl.

Spiritual Content
Some unseen force has pulled animals and other things from other times and places into a flooded North Carolina river.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. Reference to flash flooding and hurricane damage. Sylvia spots a group of dead sandhill cranes, apparently killed in the hurricane. Three children die (off-scene) due to the hurricane and flood conditions.

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: Boy vs. Shark by Paul Gilligan

Book Review and Content, Graphic Novel or Adaptation, Historical, Memoir, Middle Grade 8-12, Nonfiction, , , , ,

Boy vs. Shark
Paul Gilligan
Tundra Books
Published October 15, 2024

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Boy vs. Shark

A hilarious middle-grade graphic memoir about boyhood, toxic masculinity and a shark named Jaws. For fans of Guts and New Kid.

In the summer of 1975, 10-year-old Paul Gilligan doesn’t have a whole lot to worry about other than keeping his comic books untarnished, getting tennis balls off roofs and keeping up with the increasingly bold stunts of his best friend, David.

And then Jaws comes to town.

Suddenly everyone is obsessing over this movie about a shark ripping people to pieces. And if you haven’t seen it, not only are you missing out, you’re also kind of a wimp.

Needless to say, Jaws leaves young Paul a cowering mess, and underlines the growing gap between him and David as well as the distance between where he stands and the world’s expectations of a boy’s “manliness.”

And when Jaws himself becomes a kind of macho Jiminy Cricket for Paul, what is a scared and overwhelmed boy to do?

My Review

I really like the way that the author handled references to the movie Jaws in the text. Some of the characters verbally reference different scenes. After Paul watches the movie, he relates what happens in some of the scenes with balloon animals as characters. The absurdity of the images helps keep the content from being scary and overwhelming. I thought that was a really nice touch.

I also appreciated the complexity of the relationships in the novel, especially Paul’s relationship with his dad. Paul’s dad embraces some toxic ideas about who Paul should be as a young man, which causes Paul a lot of stress. At the same time, though, his dad imparts a strong ethic of personal responsibility, which helps guide Paul through a difficult situation.

It’s always great to see three-dimensional parent characters in Kidlit, and in this instance, the fact that the ideals Paul’s dad holds up as masculine are not all good or all bad makes it easier to understand Paul’s feelings of confusion and hurt when he doesn’t perfectly fit his father’s ideals.

I really enjoyed this graphic memoir. The use of the movie worked really well to illustrate the theme, and Gilligan creates a compelling balance of humor and heart in his exploration of masculine values and growing up.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 10 to 12.

Representation
Paul’s best friends are an Asian American boy and a Black boy.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
References to plot points from the movie Jaws. Some bullying in which an older boy makes comments about a younger kid. A boy manipulates others into stealing something from a store.

Drug Content
In one scene, a boy has a bottle of wine under his shirt, which he drops.

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.