Well. 2021 was certainly a mixed year for me. It had a really rough start, not a great middle, and a painful and chaotic end. But, it also had some really great books!
Maybe it feels silly to think that the books were one of the brightest spots in the year, but to be honest, they kinda were? I mean, some other good things happened, too, and I have a lot to be grateful for, but the books… those are one of the best gifts from this past year to me.
2021 was a good year for me particularly for middle grade books. When I first started blogging, I only reviewed young adult books, but once I started reading middle grade, I couldn’t stop. I had to add them to my review list, and I’ve never been sorry I did!
With all that in mind, here’s the list of the best middle grade books I read last year. There are a couple backlist titles on there that I didn’t get to until this year that were too good to leave off the list. Other than that, all of these books came out in 2021. I hope you enjoy!
What you need to know: OMG. This book is hilarious and so sweet. I can’t say it any better than this clip from Goodreads: A dead body. A missing will. An evil relative. The good news is, Great Grammy has a plan. The bad news is, she’s the dead body.
What you need to know: One of my most-anticipated books of 2021. I adore this series from beginning to end. It’s packed with magic, friendship, courage, and a time pretzel. Last book in the series that began with THE STORM KEEPER’S ISLAND.
What you need to know: A brother and sister set out on a desperate attempt to escape North Korea during the Korean War. Beautiful and aching. (This technically came out in 2020, but I read it in January 2021.)
What you need to know: A reluctant reader critiques his aunt’s book, testing the stunts, discovering ghosts, and making new friends along the way. Hilarious and heartfelt. (This technically came out in 2020, but I read it in April 2021.)
What were the best middle grade books from 2021 that you read? Did you read any of the books on my list? If so, did any of them rank among your favorites?
If not, are there any books on my list that you’re thinking of checking out now that you’ve seen them here? Please let me know! There’s nothing better than knowing someone is going to check out one of my favorite books.
Summer is one of my favorite times to read. The more relaxed schedule makes me feel like I’m not so pressed for time, and I usually manage to fit in a few backlist titles I’ve been excited about reading.
This year was better and worse for me reading-wise. I have no shortage of books thanks to my early-pandemic massive orders to indie bookstores near me, as if somehow I alone could save their businesses. (Hopefully I did help, though!)
But I also had a lot of other stuff going on. Some physical. Some just the accumulated exhaustion from an overwhelming school year with my girls. In any case, it was more of a relief to hit summer than it usually is, but also not as much of a respite either.
In any case, I did get to read a number of really great titles, books that totally made my week. I also got to pass on some of my favorites to another reading friend and her daughter, so hopefully those books will be much read and loved there, and that makes me happy, too.
Anyway, without further ado, here’s the list of my favorite reads in summer 2021.
5 Awesome Middle Grade Books I Read in Summer 2021
I’ve only been reviewing middle grade books for a few years, but I can’t believe I overlooked them for so long. Often I find middle grade titles say things I didn’t know I needed to hear in a way that I never thought to put them. These are the best middle grade books I read this summer, and every one of them will stick with me a long time.
The Most Perfect Thing in the Universe by Tricia Springstubb
What you need to know: I feel like this book hit me straight in the center of my heart. It said so many things I needed to hear, and at exactly the right time. It centers on hope and the life-saving quality of unexpected friendships.
What you need to know: I love the way the author used senses of hearing and smell in this book. It’s packed with lyrical prose and an incredible story world. Loved it!
What you need to know: Heartbreaking in all the best ways. A sister(and oboe player!!)’s search for her missing brother written in poetry. Moving and heartfelt.
4 Fantastic Young Adult Books I Read in Summer 2021
When I first started blogging, I only reviewed young adult fiction. In the years since, I’ve branched out into middle grade and nonfiction, and I love both of those, too, but YA will always hold a special place in my heart. These books were the best in YA that I read this past summer.
We Can’t Keep Meeting Like This by Rachel Lynn Solomon
What you need to know: You probably know how I feel about Rachel Lynn Solomon, so there’s no surprise to her latest being in this list. This is another perfect, delightful rom-com featuring a baker and a harpist! So much to love.
What you need to know: Fun and gripping. A must-read for online gaming fans and fans of star-crossed romance. I need everything by Alexis Nedd forever.
What you need to know: Sequel to Forest of Souls. It’s still got the creepiest trees I’ve ever read! Love that. The characters strike my heart and the story keeps me guessing. I’m in to the end with this series.
What you need to know: The sequel to Lobizona. Another wild, fast-paced adventure following a group of teens determined to make a place in their world for themselves. Inspiring and action-packed.
4 Incredible Nonfiction Books I Read in Summer 2021
I guess I could have lumped these in above, but it felt more right to give these nonfiction titles their own place to shine. These were so much fun to read. I found myself searching online for more information about the topics mentioned and eagerly turning pages in every single one. Several are backlist titles, but I couldn’t leave them out because they were such great books.
What you need to know: Thirteen amazing stories of inventers and scientists who did not get the credit they deserved during their lifetimes. I could not stop reading this one.
What you need to know: All the things about Harriet Tubman that you never knew. Wowza! The writing is so accessible and the biographical information about Tubman is truly amazing.
What you need to know: This is another backlist title. This book totally breaks down options for high school graduates from internships to charitable programs to military to college and gives tips for how to apply to or prepare for all of them. So much great information.
What you need to know: This is a backlist title, but I did read it over the summer, and it’s AMAZING. Tells all kinds of incredible facts about trees, their lives, and how they interact with plants and animals around them. Beautifully illustrated. So much information on each page.
19 Fantastic Books for Your Spring 2021 Reading List
It’s finally spring! And there are so many amazing books coming out this season. What’s on your Spring 2021 Reading List so far?
My list feels completely out of hand, packed with so many amazing books to read and so many more that I hope I’ll be able to squeeze into my reading time. I’ve broken the list into two groups: middle grader for readers 8-12 and young adult for readers 12+. You can also find this list on Bookshop, where you can browse either the whole middle grade or young adult list and support indie bookstores.
8 Middle Grade Books for Your Spring 2021 Reading List
What you need to know: A young princess desperate to protect her older sister from the curse that will put the whole kingdom to sleep. The first in a three-book series of fairy tale retellings.
Available April 6, 2021
Girl Warriors: How 25 Young Activists are Saving the Earth by Rachel Sarah
What you need to know: “A dead body. A missing will. An evil relative. The good news is, Great Grammy has a plan. The bad news is, she’s the dead body.” (from Goodreads)
What you need to know: A New York City newbie battles grief over losing her mom, starting over, and discovering how to remake her family in this heartwarming debut.
What you need to know: Sci-fi fantasy with mind-blowing twists from the author of DESCENDANT OF THE CRANE about a girl who only remembers her missing sister.
What you need to know: An underage winning lotto ticket holder frantically hides the truth from her hoarder mother and suspicious small-town neighbors.
What you need to know: “An intersectional, feminist YA anthology from some of today’s most exciting voices across a span of genres, all celebrating body diversity and fat acceptance through short stories.” (from Goodreads)
Available May 11, 2021
Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating by Adiba Jaigirdar
March is Women’s History Month, and in honor of the rich history we have of amazing women, I wanted to share a list of books about female heroes you may or may not know about already. I usually focus on fiction here, but lately I’ve found myself drawn to many of these stories myself, and I wanted to share them. In my glorious plans, I had hoped to share this list early in the month, but it just did NOT work out that way for me.
You can also find this complete list on Bookshop, where you can browse and purchase books while helping to support indie bookstores.
Note: This post contains affiliate links which don’t cost anything for you to use, but help support this blog. All opinions my own.
16 Amazing Books to Read for Women’s History Month
Hannah Senesh: Her Life and Diary, the First Complete Edition by Hannah Senesh
What you need to know: I first learned about Hannah Senesh through a biography about her called So Young to Die. Her life story is amazing, and her poetry really moving. As a young woman, she volunteered on a mission to rescue fellow Jews from the Nazis during World War II.
Available June 15, 2021
Let Me Play: The Story of Title IX: The Law that Changed the Future of Girls in America by Karen Blumenthal
What you need to know: Title IX is the law that made it illegal for discrimination based on gender in education programs that receive Federal assistance. Learn how it came to be and the fight to get the law passed so girls could have access to sports and other programs.
Published July 1, 2005
Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls Vol 1: 100 Tales of Extraordinary Women by Elena Favilla and Francesca Cavallo
What you need to know: Tells the story of one of rock-and-roll’s most compelling female icons. Packed with photos and stories from friends and band mates. A must-read for music enthusiasts.
Published October 1, 2010
#notyourprincess: Voices of Native American Women edited by Lisa Charleyboy and Mary Beth Leatherdale
What you need to know: In World War II, the Soviet Union became the first nation to allow women to fly combat missions. These are the stories of those fighters. Also, it’s written by the author of CODE NAME VERITY.
Published January 22, 2019
Radium Girls (Young Reader’s Edition): The Scary But True Story of the Poison that Made People Glow in the Dark by Kate Moore
What you need to know: “The untold story of five women who fought to compete against men in high-stakes national air races in the 1920s and 30s — and won.” (from Goodreads.)
What you need to know: Learn about the 70 year fight for women’s suffrage and how the success of those leaders led to today’s #MeToo, #YesAllWomen, and Black Lives Matter movements.
Published August 6, 2019
I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai with Christina Lamb
What you need to know: Malala believes all girls have a right to an education. She refused to be silenced, even after she’d been shot in the head by the Taliban. Here, she tells her inspiring, unforgettable story.
Published October 8, 2013
Irena’s Children (Young Readers’ Edition): A True Story of Courage by Tilar J. Mazzeo
What you need to know: During World War II, Irena Sendler worked with an underground network to rescue 2,500 Jewish children from Nazi occupied Poland. I couldn’t put this book down.
17 Amazing Books You Need to Read Coming Out Winter 2021
It took me so long to post this that the title probably should read, “Books You May Have Missed From Winter 2021.” I’m still trying to find my normal after a miscarriage right at the end of the year, so many of my best laid plans have just not come about. Not going to lie– it was rough, and some days I’m still overwhelmed thinking about it.
Having new books to celebrate and look forward to has helped, though. I’m excited to talk about a few of my favorites here, and I hope you’ll check them out.
What you need to know: One of my favorites so far this year! I sat on the edge of my bed and started reading page one just to get a feel for the book and didn’t stop to get comfortable until page forty-something.
What you need to know: Takes place seventeen years before THE HATE U GIVE and follows Starr’s dad as he wrestles with how to finish school, help his mom, and take care of his new baby.
What you need to know: The fantastic conclusion to the Sands of Arawiya duology and follow-up to WE HUNT THE FLAME. Packed with barely controlled magic, undeniable love, and a desperate quest to free a kingdom from evil.
What you need to know: A companion novel to WOVEN IN MOONLIGHT, which was one of my favorites last year! Inspired by Bolivian history and politics. Adventure, magic, and romance in the jungle. So much fun!
What you need to know: Second in the All the Stars and Teeth series. A queen with a curse in her bloodline. A boy who holds half her soul. A mythical artifact that could save her kingdom– if she can find it.
What you need to know: New adventures with your favorite mischief-maker Puck. This book is the first in a new Iron Fey series that promises loads of fun.
What you need to know: This is the book I wanted so many other books to be. I loved every minute of it, from the friendships, banter, and tiny Michigan town to the raw grief, tender first love, and daring hope.
What you need to know: From Goodreads: In Love Is a Revolution, plus size girls are beautiful and get the attention of the hot guys, the popular girl clique is not shallow but has strong convictions and substance, and the ultimate love story is not only about romance but about how to show radical love to the people in your life, including to yourself.
What you need to know: A magic-gifted medic must cure a mysterious illness to prevent her people from going to war. Part fantasy, part mansion mystery, and part swoony romance. This is a must-read for sure!
What you need to know: A genetically engineered boy on the run must make a terrible choice: to work for a terrorist organization or face his own death with the boy he loves.
Available March 9, 2021
The Last Secret You’ll Ever Keep by Laurie Faria Stolarz
What you need to know: A kidnapping survivor hunts for clues to prove what happened to her. A girl with a similar story disappears, leaving the survivor wondering if she’ll be next?
What you need to know: The second in the King of Scars duology which follows Nikolai (remember him from the Shadow and Bone series?). This comes out just in time to get us through the final weeks of waiting for the Shadow and Bone Netflix series which comes out in April.
I know it’s already almost March, but it’s been a rough go these last few months. I was kind of on a roll there with my lists and if-we-were-having-coffee posts, and then life threw me a pretty big curveball.
So here it is, in all its belated glory. Let me know if you read any of the books on this list, completed the survey on your own blog, or want to talk about your favorites from last year.
**2020 READING STATS**
Number Of Books You Read: 140 Number of Re-Reads: 3 Genre You Read The Most From: YA Fantasy
1. Best Book You Read In 2020?
Ooooh, this is tough. I’m going to break this into age groups.
I felt like THE LOST CITY read a little too much like a guidebook to the story world or that the world building sometimes dominated the story. So, I wasn’t expecting that, and I think I would have enjoyed it a lot more if the story had been more prominent.
I enjoyed CINDERELLA IS DEAD. I thought the concept for the story was really awesome, I think I just got too wrapped up in the hype. Maybe would have appreciated it more if I’d just read if fresh, no expectations?
3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?
THE MONSTER OF MARNMOUTH VALLEY by CJ Greene kind of shattered all my expectations. I loved the characters and found myself “just one more chapter”-ing my way through the whole thing!
4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?
5. Best series you started in 2020? Best Sequel of 2019? And Best Series Ender of 2020?
Normally I’m horrible about series, but looking over my reading from last year, I actually conquered more series than I thought, including some really big ones.
I love this series with all my heart. It reminds me so much of THE SCORPIO RACES, but for a slightly younger audience. And the relationships between generations are incredible. It’s a fabulous series.
I feel like that’s such a predictable choice, and yet, I think it’s deserved. This book was the one I needed to finish out the year. I longed for it because I wanted more of Elias and Laia’s story, but dreaded it because I knew not everyone would make it out alive, and I knew that was going to be heartbreaking.
6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2020?
I have to list two: Elizabeth Acevedo and Kiersten White.
Both have been writing books for a while, and I have owned books by both for a while. With Acevedo, I read WITH THE FIRE ON HIGH, and was just blown away by how immersive and unique and beautiful the story is.
For some reason I requested THE CAMELOT BETRAYAL on Netgalley. I think I was just gambling to see if I would even be able to get a copy of a book by an author as big as Kiersten White is. When I realized it was a sequel, I decided to read the first book in the series first, and I immediately fell in love with the gender-flipped Merlin/King Arthur story. LOVE!
7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?
8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?
WHERE DREAMS DESCEND by Janella Angeles. I felt completely swept away by this story. The magic, the romance, the danger. I dove in, and just couldn’t stop reading.
9. Book You Read In 2020 That You Would Be MOST Likely To Re-Read Next Year?
1. New favorite book blog/Bookstagram/Youtube channel you discovered in 2020?
I started following Bowties and Books on YouTube early last year, and I love the reviews, and updates, and more than that, I feel like I learn a lot from their takes on bookish world issues. From diversity representation to bookish drama, they always bring wise perspective that I deeply appreciate.
I want to expand my BookTube subscription list, so if you have any suggestions, please share them!
2. Favorite post you wrote in 2020?
My favorite post might be the one that is a list of 26 Asian-Inspired Fantasy books by Asian authors. Initially it was meant to be a reading list to help us get through another delay in the release of the movie Mulan, but after all the conflicts over the movie, maybe it’s really better as an alternative reading list.
3. Favorite bookish related photo you took in 2020?
I love lots of things about this photo. The Jane Austen quote. The colorful book spines. The diversity that the titles represent. The fact that I have all these books somehow, and that many of them came from independent bookstores or through review opportunities from blogging.
I’ve been kicking around this idea of doing a weekly community library in our neighborhood. Maybe load up a book cart or two and wheel them outside. Let the neighborhood kids pick through and borrow what they want and return things when they’re done. It’s still a dream at this point, but I’m hopeful, and this photo is at least partly what inspired me.
What are your best bookish thoughts about 2020?
Did you post a 2020 Bookish Survey? If so, please share the link in the comments! Also tell me if you read any of my favorite books, or which favorites you discovered last year that must be on my reading list.
