Category Archives: Middle Grade 8-12

Review: The Guardians of Dreamdark: Windwitch by Laini Taylor

Blogger's Favorites, Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Middle Grade 8-12, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , ,
Guardians of Dreamdark: Windwitch by Laini Taylor

The Guardians of Dreamdark: Windwitch
Laini Taylor
Amulet Books
Published September 23, 2025 (Orig. 2007)

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About The Guardians of Dreamdark: Windwitch

From New York Times bestselling author Laini Taylor comes a new edition of her first cult favorite series, Guardians of Dreamdark, about a devil-hunting faerie and her quest to save her world
 
For centuries faeries have lived safely in their ancient forests, but now their peace is under threat. Devils are escaping the prisons that have held them since the Dawn Days, and only one faerie stands in their way. Magpie Windwitch is the greatest—the only—devil-hunter of the Age. Together with her trusted band of crows, she tracks down and recaptures these ravenous beasts that devour everything in their path.
  
When the hunt leads them to the legendary forest of Dreamdark, Magpie finds herself outmatched. Facing the greatest foe her kind has ever known (not to mention an imposter queen, a disgusting imp, and a young faerie warrior as infuriating as he is brave), one thing is If she’s to save the world, she’ll need all the help she can get. 
    
Bestselling author Laini Taylor’s thrilling first novel is now available for the first time for a new generation of fans.

My Review

I’ve read both the “Daughter of Smoke and Bone” series and the “Strange the Dreamer” duology, but I had never read “The Guardians of Dreamdark” duology. This first book is both like her other work and different. I can definitely see how she went from this series to writing Daughter of Smoke and Bone.

It feels a little like the 1994 movie Thumbelina. The story has definitive stakes and danger, but Magpie faces it all bravely along with her crew of crows and faerie allies.

This series is written for a younger audience than the author’s other books. It’s got a lot of adventure and danger, but very lightly brushes by romance, giving us the impression of characters who maybe feel some attraction for one another. It’s a longer book, coming in at about 400 pages, so that will certainly intimidate some upper middle grade/lower YA readers.

Because Magpie isn’t truly a child (she’s still young by faerie standards), I could see this being a great crossover series and appealing to adults, especially those who grew up with the author’s other books. Readers who like faerie adventures will enjoy the world-building and high stakes of the adventure.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 10 to 14.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
A few made up curses.

Romance/Sexual Content
Some blushing and attraction between characters.

Spiritual Content
Some characters are faeries. 7 powerful Djinn created the world through their dreams. Faeries can choose to leave the world for the Moonlit Gardens, a different realm, sort of like an afterlife space. If faeries are killed in battle, they also appear in the Moonlit Gardens. Other creatures like imps and scavenging devils appear in the story and cause trouble. Magpie and her family have spent years tracking down these devils and imprisoning them in bottles.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. Brief battle scenes and scary imagery. A monster made of darkness swallows up some characters.

Drug Content
Reference to social drinking and smoking tobacco at a community celebration.

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 Forest of a Thousand Eyes by Frances Hardinge and Emily Gravett

Blogger's Favorites, Book Review and Content, Dystopian or Post-Apocalyptic, Fantasy, Middle Grade 8-12, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , ,
Version 1.0.0

The Forest of a Thousand Eyes
Frances Hardinge
Illustrated by Emily Gravett
Amulet Books
Published August 26, 2025

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About The Forest of a Thousand Eyes

Costa Award-winning Frances Hardinge’s gripping story of a young girl’s daring mission through a natural world intent on her destruction.

With stunning two-colour illustrations by superstar illustrator Emily Gravett on every page, this richly atmospheric book is perfect for fans of David Almond and Kiran Millwood Hargrave.

The hungry Forest is moving forward like an army, a green and constant threat to the humans living in and on an increasingly crumbling Wall. Feather, accompanied only by her scaled ferret, Sleek, must avoid the Forest’s tentacles, and the many dangerous creatures it shelters, to return the community’s precious spyglass to its rightful place. Along the way, she develops her resilience, and meets other people living on the Wall, whose stories and experiences open her mind, and those of her community, to new horizons.

A compelling story filled with adventure, emotional intensity and the rawness of nature.

My Review

This is totally going to date me as a reviewer, but this book reminded me of The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan, but plants instead of zombies and make it middle grade. (I tried to link to my review, but apparently I never posted a review of that one! I’m adding the whole series to my list to reread.)

This story is eerie. Feather, the main character makes a mistake that threatens her community’s survival, so she sets out on a quest to fix her error. The whole way, the Forest comes after her. The plants feel sinister as they creep along after her, sending vines to wrap her up and whispering thoughts of betrayal to her scaled ferret.

I love the community aspect of the story. Feather meets people from other settlements on her journey, and they trade ideas and learn from one another. So that she leaves behind her a trail of goodwill leading all the way home.

The story is a little dark, and definitely unusual. I’d say this would bridge upper elementary grades into middle school. It would work well as a story that has an eerie vibe for the Halloween season without being related to the holiday.

The message about caring for others and building community is well-crafted, and the quick pace of the adventure along with the evocative illustrations will make readers want to devour this book in one sitting.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 10 to 14.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. Someone tries to kill another person by pushing them off a wall. Forest elements stalk a character with ill intent. The story contains depictions of and descriptions of spiders.

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.

MMGM Review: Ghoul Summer by Tracy Badua

Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Middle Grade 8-12, Paranormal, , , , , , ,

Ghoul Summer
Tracy Badua
Storytide
Published September 2, 2025

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Ghoul Summer

In this beachside ghost story that’s perfect for fans of Erin Entrada Kelly and Wednesday, twelve-year-old Barnaby is forced to spend his summer helping his grandpa move, only to be confronted by Maxwell—a moody ghost boy with some unfinished business. 

Barnaby had grand plans for his summer. He should’ve been spending his days watching movies and gaming with his friends. Instead, his parents drag him to the boring beach town of Sunnyside to help his grandpa move.

Just when he thinks this summer can’t get any worse, a ghost boy named Maxwell shows up in their vacation rental home to kick Barnaby and his family out.

Barnaby tries everything to get rid of Maxwell on his own. But when his attempts fail and Maxwell actually becomes stronger, Barnaby realizes that there’s only one solution to his ghost helping Maxwell figure out his unfinished business. If he doesn’t, the ghost might ditch the rental home for Barnaby’s body instead.

With the clock counting down to the end of the trip, Barnaby is forced to enter an uneasy truce with Maxwell to find the truth—or be haunted forever. 

My Review

Helping a ghost resolve their unfinished business is a premise some readers will already be familiar with. I love that Badua shakes things up a bit in her book. For instance, Maxwell, the ghost, isn’t all that friendly. He’s moody and willing to get Barnaby in a lot of trouble if he doesn’t get what he wants. In many of the other ghost-with-unfinished-business stories I’ve read, the ghost is sad or friendly. Seeing Barnaby, who is himself a bit prickly, wrestle with his conflicting feelings about Maxwell made for a more interesting story.

While Barnaby is able to solve some mysteries about what Maxwell needs, others remain largely unresolved. This could be challenging for readers who like their stories wrapped up neatly, with consequences for all the parties who wronged the characters. On the other hand, I think the way Badua chose to end the book creates more opportunity for discussion, and I appreciate that. I love a hijinks-filled middle grade book that gives you some stuff to think about.

I’m surprised this came out in September. It seems like the kind of book that would have come out in May, at the start of the summer season. Kids here in Florida go back to school a lot earlier than some other places, though, so maybe it’s just me. Either way, Ghoul Summer is a fun story that packs a lot of character growth. I suppose a September release date is perfect for those of us not ready to let go of that summer feeling and readers anxious for the Halloween season.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
One character is a ghost with an attitude. In one scene, Barnaby tries to exorcise the ghost using a ouija board. This backfires and somehow connects him to the ghost, so he can take control of Barnaby’s body.

Violent Content
The ghost makes threats to get Barnaby in trouble, such as threatening to use Barnaby’s hands to punch someone.

Drug Content
References to a possible poisoning.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I borrowed a copy of Ghoul Summer from the library. 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.

Author Q&A with Isabelle Knight

Author Interview, Middle Grade 8-12, News and Fun, , ,

Author Q&A with Isabelle Knight

Hosting an author for a Q&A is one of the things I wish I did more on The Story Sanctuary. I love getting to know how an author comes up with ideas and brings their vision to the page. Today, I’ve got prolific young author Isabelle Knight here to talk about not one book but FOUR that make up her “Enchantria” series.

I’ve known Isabelle a bit through a weekly meme called Marvelous Middle Grade Mondays, where bloggers share bookish news and reviews of middle grade books on Always in the Middle. Her reviews are so enthusiastic, and I enjoy the way she relates her reader experience. I’m super excited to hear about her experience as a writer.

Author Q&A with Isabelle Knight

I find that a story was often inspired by a question. Was there a question that inspired you to write the Enchantria series? Or one of the novels in particular?

This is a good question, and my answer to that is sort of, but also not quite in the way you might think. I think that the Enchantria series in all does have a question at its heart (perhaps even multiple questions!), however, I never really know what question a story will have at its heart until I start writing it. Sometimes, I might not even realize what question the story has until I’m done writing it!

This was especially true for the final book in the series, The Last Hope. However, while I was writing The Last Hope, I did already have the first three books written, so I think I had the faintest idea of a question while writing book four, and that was: How do you find hope when it seems all hope is lost? However, this was a very faint question I was asking myself while writing the story, and the story evolved, and while it does ask that question, there are a lot more questions in it – questions that I never expected until I started writing it!

Are there things about your favorite character that couldn’t be included in the series?

I feel like most authors would say that there are things that couldn’t be included in the series (and while there are soooooo many worldbuilding bits that I couldn’t include because, well, then the book would balloon up to over 150K and even for me, that’s a tad extreme – especially for middle-grade). But I think that there actually weren’t that many things about my characters that couldn’t be included.

I am what is called a “pantser” meaning I write by the seat of my pants without an outline or a plan, and so I figure out the characters as I write the story, and what I figure out is just really naturally woven into the story! However, this is only true for Enchantria… It is completely the opposite for my current work-in-progress, which I can’t tell you too much about, but I will say… there are a lot of things about my main character and side characters that I just can’t include without the novel ballooning up to 150K…

You’ve created a wide-ranging story world with several different kingdoms populated with magical creatures. What did you have the most fun discovering about the setting of the series?

This is such an impossible question! I loved all of it! While there were bits that made me wish to tear out my hair in frustration (such as trying to invent/figure out twelve different kinds of creatures/beings to inhabit the twelve kingdoms. By kingdom #8, I was just desperately pulling whatever came from my mind), I had a lot of fun with everything, really! I definitely loved discovering Enchantria’s magic system, though, so if I had to narrow it down to one, this miiiight be my favorite part. Just finally discovering how everything in the magic system worked and having it all pull together smoothly was amazing (and I especially loved all the crystals in Enchantria! They’re a pretty big part of the world, as you’ll see once you’ve read the book!)

Is there a scene or moment in the Enchantria series that really sticks with you? Can you tell us a little bit about it?

There are two that come to mind right away. The first is in book one, and it is probably my favorite scene in book one, and it is when Elenora and her new friends are on the quest to find the Tribe, and they have to cross this river of literal magic that sort of runs along the northern border of Enchantria. There used to be a bridge there, but when Elenora and her friends show up, they find it in crumbling ruins because Ravena (the villain) has destroyed it. I won’t spoil anything or say exactly how they get across, but I just loved writing the scene! The descriptions of the river were just such fun to write!

The second scene that comes to mind is from The Last Hope, and it is the very last scene in the book (not counting the coronation and the prologue!), and it is, of course, when Elenora and her friends finally defeat the villain! Again, no spoilers, but this scene came out so differently than what I’d been expecting, but it was so much truer to the story and its themes of hope than my original idea of them just destroying Ravena…

What do you most hope that readers take away from the series?

This is a hard question to answer. I think every reader will take something very different away from this series, and I think that is what I really love about reading. I don’t really want to write to “teach a lesson or moral” or anything, but instead, I just really want to write to face hard questions that I myself have asked countless times before.

I think book four really does ask these two questions: “What makes a hero?” and “Where is home, truly?” I really do hope that readers will pick up on these questions and think about them, however different their answers to these questions may be from my own. The way these questions are sort of ‘answered’ in book four is really just my take/answer (though, really, I can’t promise I have one definitive answer for any of those questions) on them, and I want readers to find their own. But most of all, I just hope they will see themselves in Elenora and just have a great time reading the series!

What is one question about your books you are often asked by readers?

I get so many questions, so… (digs through mailbox and interviews to find the number one most asked question I get)

Alright, I think I found it… And it is the most common question I think every author on planet Earth gets: Where did you get the idea for the Enchantria series?

The answer is a lot, a lot, a looot of different places. Books, movies, TV shows, even a video game I once played! But I think the main original idea (which has since evolved greatly and has changed throughout the years, because I got the idea for this series when I was pretty young) came from a movie I watched as a kid. It had two kingdoms with this very clear border between the two kingdoms.

I believe one kingdom was good and the other was a dark, creepy forest… The movie’s called Strange Magic (thank you to Pinterest for helping me remember the name, because I’d forgotten the movie till I was scrolling to find inspiration for my WIP, and the movie poster for it popped up!), and Strange Magic and Enchantria are absolutely NOTHING alike… But it gave me the idea for Enchantria and Nyxria. Other ideas just came to me as I started writing the book, and I pulled inspiration from a lot of my favorite books!

About the Enchantria Series

Amazon | Goodreads

Elena Ramirez’s mother disappeared eleven year ago. On her sixteenth birthday, Elena finds her way to the magical land of Enchantria, only to find that she is the subject of a centuries old prophecy that is now being fulfilled. With the old prophecy being fulfilled, Ravena, the dark lady of the ravens, awakes and is now determined to destroy Enchantria at any cost. Elena and her new friends must fight against Ravena and undertake a series of dangerous quests to save Enchantria. If they fail, Enchantria is doomed. And Ravena is getting stronger by the minute. Will they manage to defeat Ravena and restore order to the land or will Ravena destroy Enchantria, once and for all?

About Isabelle Knight

Website | YouTube

Isabelle Knight is the middle-grade fantasy author of the Enchantria series, which she began writing at age ten and published sometime later in her life. A lifelong book and cat lover, she now resides in a book-filled apartment surrounded by countless stuffed pandas and enough books to start her own bookstore. When she’s not writing about creepy shadows, daring heroines, and magical adventures, she’s talking about books, writing, and doing writerly ramblings on her blog and YouTube channel.

Review: The Sherlock Society: Hurricane Heist by James Ponti

Blogger's Favorites, Book Review and Content, Middle Grade 8-12, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, , , , , , , ,

The Sherlock Society: Hurricane Heist (The Sherlock Society #2)
James Ponti
Aladdin
Published September 2, 2025

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About The Sherlock Society: Hurricane Heist

When a hurricane uncovers new information in a cold case, the Sherlock Society investigates a decades-old heist in this second book in the action-packed and funny New York Times bestselling Sherlock Society middle grade series from Edgar Award–winning author James Ponti!

When a category three hurricane hits Miami Beach, it uncovers a body buried at the renowned Moroccan Hotel. The body is identified as the man who served as the hotel’s bell captain sixty years ago…and the presumed culprit of the million-dollar jewel heist that took place just before his disappearance.

Since the bell captain clearly didn’t take off with the goods as had been long believed, the Sherlock Society sets their sights on uncovering the real culprit of the theft. But when the thief may also be implicated in the bell captain’s murder, even sixty years later, there are people who want the truth to stay buried.

My Review

I read the first book in the “City Spies” series earlier this year, and I enjoyed it. Going from that book to this one, I couldn’t help noticing how much tighter the writing is in Hurricane Heist. Like, City Spies was good. Hurricane Heist was so smooth. The pacing is quick, the shifts between timelines are well-managed, the characters are consistent and engaging. I probably could have read the whole book in a single sitting without even noticing the passing of time. (I got interrupted and had to stop.)

As a Floridian myself, I’m always a little nervous about books that include hurricanes. I’ve read some hurricane descriptions that truly made no sense in other books, but Hurricane Heist seemed pretty accurate. I think the author also lives in Florida, so I’m not surprised. It was also interesting that the hurricane doesn’t happen at the most intense parts of the story (in terms of plot). I like that Ponti did that– I think a lot of authors would have tried to orient the whole story around the storm, which gets tricky when you’re talking about a mystery that requires people, especially kids, to be out investigating.

The story handles the mystery elements and young characters really nicely, too. They’re involved in the actual investigation, and things get a little tense a few times, but it stays very appropriate to the middle grade audience.

I like that the characters of the Sherlock Society each have specific talents and niche interests, too. That makes them each valuable to the story in a different way.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book. I loved the first one, too, and I’m already eager to read the next installment in the series.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. References to murder and theft.

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.

Banned Book Review: Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret. by Judy Blume

Blogger's Favorites, Book Review and Content, Contemporary, Historical, Middle Grade 8-12, , , , , , , , ,

Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret.
Judy Blume
Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Published February 28, 2023 (Orig 1970)

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret.

Margaret shares her secrets and her spirituality in this iconic Judy Blume novel, beloved by millions.

Margaret Simon, almost twelve, likes long hair, tuna fish, the smell of rain, and things that are pink. She’s just moved from New York City to Farbook, New Jersey, and is anxious to fit in with her new friends—Nancy, Gretchen, and Janie. When they form a secret club to talk about private subjects like boys, bras, and getting their first periods, Margaret is happy to belong.

But none of them can believe Margaret doesn’t have religion, and that she isn’t going to the Y or the Jewish Community Center. What they don’t know is Margaret has her own very special relationship with God. She can talk to God about everything—family, friends, even Moose Freed, her secret crush.

Margaret is funny and real. As you read her story, you’ll know why this book has been the favorite of millions of readers. It’s as if Margaret is talking right to you, sharing her secrets with a friend.

My Review

My elementary school teachers read books like Superfudge out loud to us, but I largely missed out on the books Judy Blume wrote for girls. An aunt gave me the book Tiger Eyes when I was in high school, which I read but didn’t like at the time. So, this is my first time reading Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret.

I can see the reason why so many people love and appreciate this book. It centers girls and speaks frankly about the pressure that girls feel during adolescence as their bodies change in ways that their peers notice. I love that. To have a space that normalizes the awkwardness, the questions, and the shifting landscape in relationships between girls is so important.

I also appreciated the exploration of faith and religion, though I suspect that some of the issues might be less relevant today maybe? Margaret’s dad is Jewish, and her mom was raised in a Christian family. Because of this, they’ve decided not to participate in any organized religion and to let Margaret decide what she believes as an adult. This is complicated by the fact that Margaret’s grandparents and some friends want her to choose between Judaism and Christianity, as if she has to pick a side in an argument.

I suspect that community pressure to join a particular faith is probably less now than it was in the 1970s, but that might really depend on where you live and family circumstances. So maybe it’s still super relevant for some young readers!

It’s always fascinating to me to read a novel that would have been classified as “contemporary” when it was written which essentially then is read as historical fiction. Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret. was first published more than fifty years ago.

Yet the importance of safe spaces where girls can talk frankly about their experiences is just as important now as it was back then. I’m really glad I was finally able to read this book.

Why Has Are You There, God? It’s Me Margaret Been Banned?

The open discussion about Margaret’s experience with puberty has prompted its being banned. She and her friends can’t wait to get their periods and develop curves. Margaret also questions whether she’d like to participate in religion. Her family is nonreligious, but she feels left out of the ceremonies and rituals that many of her friends experience, which makes her curious about religion. She goes to services and offers a kid’s view of the experience.

Margaret’s experience will resonate with a lot of readers, especially those experiencing pressure about growing up or asking questions about religion. I’m glad there are books that reinforce that it’s normal to have those kinds of questions around Margaret’s age.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 10 to 14.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
Margaret wonders when puberty will begin. She discusses her growth (or lack of it) with girl friends. Margaret and her friends do exercises where they flex their chest muscles, hoping this will help them develop their figures.

The girls talk about starting their periods. They also talk about a curvy girl in their class and spread rumors that she’s had sexual experiences with boys. They don’t say anything overt, and, in fact, when someone asks Margaret to explain what she thinks the girl has done, Margaret herself isn’t sure. She only knows it’s something that’s bad or shameful and has to do with boys. It highlights the ignorance and shaming surrounding relationships and sexuality at the time.

Margaret attends a birthday party where the kids briefly play Spin the Bottle and Two Minutes in the Closet. It’s mainly awkward approaching cringey. One boy politely asks Margaret for permission to kiss her. Another makes it clear he’s going to do what he wants (he kisses her on the mouth more than once).

Spiritual Content
Margaret’s grandparents disowned her mother when she married Margaret’s dad because he is Jewish and they are Christian. Margaret’s family is nonpracticing, and her parents want her to choose what, if any, faith she’ll practice when she grows up. She prays to God privately, not sure her whether her family would be supportive of the habit. She visits a synagogue with her grandmother to see if she would like to practice Judaism, and follows a friend to the local Catholic church where she walks into a confessional. At one point, adults argue about whether religion is something you choose for yourself or whether you’re born into it. The conversation makes Margaret uncomfortable.

Margaret includes prayers spoken directly to God as part of the narrative.

Violent Content
Margaret’s dad injures himself while using a lawn mower. She goes looking outside to see if he’s lost a limb, but he just ends up needing stitches. Margaret repeats a hurtful rumor to someone and upsets them. She feels bad about it later and knows she was wrong.

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.