Book Review

As a young woman, coming-of-age in the early 1800s, Constance’s future appears to be headed towards marriage and raising a family. In fact, her parents arrange this future for her as part of a business negotiation. Yet, Stance refuses to fit the prescriptive and restrictive labels and roles assigned to her.

This year was incredible year for middle grade books. The following list is our favorites from the past 12 months. Of course we did not have time to read all middle grade books published, but the ones we did were stunning, memorable, and brilliantly timely.

Melody’s story continues in Out of My Heart, the sequel to Sharon M. Draper’s wildly popular Out of My Mind. As Melody continues navigating life with cerebral palsy, she takes a bold, brave step to have a new adventure – go to a sleep away camp for a week.

One morning Brother Edik, a monk in the Order of the Chronicles of Sorrowing, is tending to his chores when he discovers a young girl taking refuge in a barn stall. He decides to care for Beatryce and help her overcome a terrible fever.

The Genius Under the Table is an insightful and jarring memoir of author Eugene Yelchin’s experiences growing up in the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Yevgeny and his family live in a small, cramped apartment with a KGB spy next door.

Silas lives a solitary life with his Pa and companion Mittenwool, a ghost. His life is shattered when a group of men come to his house in the middle of the night to take his father away. Silas promises to stay put. Then, the pony that accompanied the strangers returns, and he feels compelled to seek out his father.