Category Archives: Middle Grade 8-12

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

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Grandpere's Ghost Swamp by Rachel M. Marsh

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 … Continue reading →

Review: Until We Meet Again by Lily Kim Qian

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Until We Meet Again Lily Kim Qian

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 … Continue reading →

Review: The Grace of Wild Things by Heather Fawcett

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The Grace of Wild Things by Heather Fawcett

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 … Continue reading →

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 by Ann Bausum and Marta Sevilla

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 … Continue reading →

Review: The Whale’s Song by Rossana Bossù

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The Whale's Song: Discover the Giants of Our Ocean by Rossana Bossu

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

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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 … Continue reading →

Review: The Poisoned King by Katherine Rundell

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The Poisoned King by Katherine Rundell

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

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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 … Continue reading →