Category Archives: Middle Grade 8-12

Review: The Winnie-the-Pooh Collection by A. A. Milne and Ernest Shepard

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The Winnie the Pooh Collection by A. A. Milne and Ernest Shephard

The Winnie-the-Pooh Collection
A. A. Milne
Illustrated by Ernest Shepard
Aladdin Books
Published August 6, 2024

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About The Winnie-the-Pooh Collection

With gorgeously redesigned covers and the original black-and-white interior illustrations by Ernest Shepard, these beautiful editions of the four Winnie-the-Pooh books by A.A. Milne are now together in a collectible hardcover boxed set—sure to delight new and old fans alike!

Explore the Hundred Acre Wood with everyone’s favorite bear-of-very-little-brain, Winnie-the-Pooh!

In Winnie-the-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner, meet Pooh, Christopher Robin, and the other … Continue reading →

Review: Mia and Friends by Karlin Gray and Micheline Hess

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Mia & Friends by Karlin Gray and Micheline Hess

Mia and Friends: Mia Hamm and the Soccer Sisterhood that Changed History
Karlin Gray
Illustrated by Micheline Hess
First Second
Published May 21, 2024

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About Mia and Friends: Mia Hamm and the Soccer Sisterhood that Changed History

Based on the true story of soccer legend Mia Hamm, Mia and Friends follows a group of young women who made history at the 1999 Women’s World Cup!

Despite being named after a famous ballerina, little Mia Hamm never cared for pirouettes. Instead, she chased the ball: baseball, basketball, and especially soccer. Since she was often the only girl on her sports … Continue reading →

Review: A Bite Above the Rest by Christine Virnig

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A Bite Above the Rest by Christine Virnig

A Bite Above the Rest
Christine Virnig
Aladdin
Published August 6, 2024

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About A Bite Above the Rest

A boy moves to a Halloween-themed town only to realize there may be more to the tourist trap than meets the eye in this fast-paced romp of a middle grade novel perfect for fans of The Last Kids on Earth and Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library !

When Caleb’s mom decides they are moving to her childhood home in Wisconsin, Caleb is not thrilled. Moving schools, states, and time zones would be bad enough, but Mom’s … Continue reading →

Review: How to Write the Soundtrack to Your Life by Fiona Hardy

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How to Write the Soundtrack to Your Life by Fiona Hardy

How to Write the Soundtrack to Your Life
Fiona Hardy
Kane Miller Publishing
Published August 25, 2020

Kane Miller Website | Bookshop | Goodreads

About How to Write the Soundtrack to Your Life

Murphy Parker is going to be a songwriter. If she can summon up the nerve to play in front of anyone other than her dad, that is. When an unplanned keyboard performance at school goes well, Murphy wonders if maybe her dreams have a chance after all. Until her entire grade accuses her of plagiarism.

Someone out there is playing Murphy’s songs. But why? How did they hear … Continue reading →

Review: Grow Up Luchy Zapata by Alexandra Alessandri

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Grow Up, Luchy Zapata by Alexandra Alessandri

Grow Up Luchy Zapata
Alexandra Alessandri
Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Published July 23, 2024

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About Grow Up, Luchy Zapata

A funny, relatable middle school drama about two Colombian American girls who have always been BFFs—until sixth grade turns everything upside down.

Luchy Zapata is starting middle school, and she’s muy excited. She and her two best friends, Cami and Mateo, will finally be at the same school. Luchy and Mateo will be in art class together, and she and Cami can try out for the same soccer team! As long as they’re all together, Luchy can handle … Continue reading →

Review: Mind Over Monsters by Betsy Uhrig

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Mind Over Monsters by Betsy Uhrig

Mind Over Monsters
Betsy Uhrig
Margaret K. McElderry Books
Published July 16, 2024

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About Mind Over Monsters

Gordon Korman meets Scooby-Doo when anxiety-prone middle schoolers try a mindfulness app that has them face their fears all-too-literally in this spooky and humorous middle grade adventure.

FACE YOUR FEARS! That’s what the meditation app with the cheesy name De-stress-o-rama is telling Lena to do. She’s one of seven always-worried middle schoolers trying out this new app to see if it can help students handle stress. But something is going wrong—very, very wrong.

The group’s fears are becoming all too real, first lurking … Continue reading →