I requested for assist with critiques this month (February 2025) from pals (like two bookstore managers and an IG reviewer) and am thrilled that collectively we’ve 9 new middle grade titles to share. Books that you simply and the readers in your life will love.
From heartfelt life like tales to fantasy, dystopian, and thriller, there’s an excellent guide for nearly each form of reader. Which of them will you wish to share along with your readers or learn your self!?!
My necessary life lesson this month has been to ASK FOR HELP whenever you’re burned out and dealing day by day due to beginning a brand new enterprise. (Imaginarium Author Solutions.) Even simply the act of asking made my shoulders really feel unburdened. Additionally, I’m very grateful to know such type, good, and useful individuals who may pitch in and write critiques for me. (In fact, I’m paying them as a result of I by no means anticipate anybody to work at no cost.)
Notice: I’m not in a position to star or not star the books that had been reviewed by different folks. If I learn them, and I hope to catch up quickly, I’ll come again to them and think about doing that.
New Center Grade Books, February 2025
Racing the Clouds by Sydney Dunlap 
REALISTIC FICTION
I couldn’t put this guide down — it’s so effectively written with distinctive character improvement and plotting! Sage, a 13-year-old lady stuffing her feelings of guilt whereas recollections of the previous proceed to hang-out her. She hopes that going to go to the grandparents she’s by no means met will repair what’s incorrect. But it surely doesn’t prove how she’d hoped, at the very least not at first. The one factor good about her go to is her new pal from the airplane and the stray canine she rescues. This hopeful, heartfelt story offers with emotions, rising up, habit, and the therapeutic energy of a canine. The again matter is especially useful with extra in-depth data and a dialogue information.
What Fell From the Sky by Adrianna Cuevas
HISTORICAL FICTION / SCI-FI
Within the small city of Soledad, Texas, 1952, troopers parachuted in and took the city in a secret (however truly traditionally true) navy op. Concurrently, a gaggle of pals discover an alien whose dad and mom are prisoners of the navy operation. Pineda, who’s half Cuban, is handled in another way than the white youngsters in his city, so he can relate to the alien’s experiences. Pineda and his three pals work with a Black soldier to save lots of their new alien pal and her lacking dad and mom on this wonderful, thought-provoking story. The story attracts parallels between the otherness of area aliens and the otherness of immigrants in a profound, non-didactic manner. I extremely advocate What Fell From the Sky for guide golf equipment as a result of the dialogue can be wealthy and necessary.
No Buy Vital written by Maria Marianayagam
REALISTIC
Ajay is a lonely boy with Tamil dad and mom who loves karate and the Hardy Boys. At his college, he’s peer pressured to steal a sweet bar, and his actions result in a lie that results in one other lie till the lies are uncontrolled. Ajay feels responsible and desperately desires to repair his errors. However how? With center college pressures, ethical quandaries, and household complexity, this highly effective story of redemption, friendship, and rising up is a mesmerizing learn –and nice for dialogue. (Ebook membership, anybody!?)
House Chasers written by Leland Melvin and Joe Caramagna, and illustrated by Alison Acton
REALISTIC GRAPHIC NOVEL
Tia isn’t nice at college however nice at fixing automobiles together with her brother. She’s shocked to find she will get accepted into her dream program that sends and trains youngsters to enter area, however she’s preserving a giant secret, one which impacts every little thing. When their area process doesn’t go as deliberate, she and her crewmates should make quick choices, take dangers, and consider in one another. Readers will benefit from the fascinating story with flawed however likable characters, nice pacing, and interesting artwork.
Oasis by Guojing
DYSTOPIAN GRAPHIC NOVEL
The grey-black, dark-colored paintings matches the futuristic dystopian vibe in a narrative about two siblings within the desert residing alone whereas their mother works at a manufacturing unit within the metropolis. They’re lonely and making an attempt to outlive. Their solely vivid spot is once they make a trek to a cellphone to speak to their mom, however then, she stops calling. When the siblings discover an AI robotic in a junk heap, they repair her up and he or she turns into like a mom…till their precise mom returns, and battle ensues. Household, robotics, survival, and love, this guide presents layers of storytelling that may maintain you studying and pondering deeply.
Montgomery Bonbon: Thriller on the Manor by Alasdair Beckett-King
MYSTERY
evaluation written by Krista Carlton, supervisor at The Bookies
On this thrilling third installment of Beckett-King’s Montgomery Bonbon sequence, a package deal arrives for the well-known (undoubtedly grown-up) detective. However in a twist, the package deal will not be for Montgomery, however for Montgomery to ship! 10-year-old Bonnie Montgomery, her detective alter-ego, and Grampa Banks are off to ship the mysterious package deal to the rich prison Fergus Croke. Not lengthy after assembly their questionable host and his adopted proteges, Croke is murdered, and Bonbon is on the case. Bonnie’s deduction expertise and her friendships are put to the take a look at as she seeks to unravel the secrets and techniques held on the coronary heart of the monkey-filled mansion.
NOTE FROM KRISTA: *Whereas humorous and intelligent, the topic of homicide is current and made gentle of, which can trigger some dad and mom to pause.*
Chicken of a Thousand Tales by Kiyash Monsef
FANTASY
evaluation written by Krista Carlton, supervisor at The Bookies
The follow-up to Monsef’s first guide, As soon as There Was, finds Marjan the place we left her, serving to magical animals however on the behest of the shadowy Fells group. When Marjan begins to hearken to her coronary heart and to these round her, she beneficial properties the braveness to face up for what she believes. Friendships are examined, household is discovered and the historical past of Marjan’s world is revealed. Marjan is a hero for this age, a sort but conflicted excessive schooler searching for hope and justice in a darkening world. Discovering the depth of Marjan’s world was an absolute delight! When you cherished the primary, you’ll love this guide, and in the event you haven’t picked up this sequence, you merely should!
Away written by Megan E. Freeman
DYSTOPIAN
Overview written by Sophie Nogar, supervisor at Second Star to the Right Bookstore
AWAY is the right companion/sequel novel for the readers who love ALONE. However, in the event you didn’t learn ALONE, you may nonetheless begin with this guide. AWAY tells the riveting story of the opposite facet of the story featured in ALONE: this time we meet the individuals who had been evacuated, and observe alongside a courageous group of pre-teens decided to determine why they’re evacuated, and the way they’ll get again dwelling. AWAY is the right story for brave youngsters who know when one thing isn’t proper, and are decided to sort things. The guide is uniquely written in varied codecs, and the audiobook contains a totally different narrator for every of the primary youngsters, so both possibility is a enjoyable technique to learn this “can’t put it down” guide.
Tear This Down written by Barbara Dee
REALISTIC
evaluation written by Ava Foroutan, guide reviewer at AvianBookLand
I actually loved this guide, I really feel I may relate to Freya within the sense that she’s naturally inquisitive and asks loads of questions. All through the story with Freya and her pals, we be taught extra about feminism and suffragists (not suffragettes as we be taught within the guide). I favored how this guide permits our characters to talk up, ask questions freely and work in direction of change. I additionally favored that it does present that there are boundaries that must be revered, and that change isn’t one thing that occurs in a single day. This guide additionally demonstrates reverse feminism, friendship points, and being extra inclusive.
