Middle Grade Books - My Best Reads From 2021

There are too many to mention really and this list seems to keep growing as I struggle to actually pick 10. Here are some of the best Middle Grade books I have read this year. 

The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh by Hellen Rutter 

Five stars are not enough!!! This book really touches on the struggles of life for children. Although the main focus is on Billy who is trying to overcome his stammering the other characters also represent real children who have a range of things that make them stand out.  A good look at school life and the struggles of dealing with bullying and the judgements of other.  Billy is desperate to get rid of his stammer and fit in. On the way he learns some tough lessons about friendship but also about being true to himself and how helping others can make you feel wonderful.  Not ashamed to say that the last few chapters had me quietly crying as I was reading. I felt the emotion that the characters were feeling so strongly.  This book is a must for children - a perfect book about how we treat others and the importance of empathy.

The Super Miraculous Journey of Freddie Yates by Jenny Pearson 

This is by far one of the most powerful books I have read in a long time. I picked it up at the library as I had heard it mentioned by an indie book shop on Twitter. Oh my goodness I was not prepared for this. I was expecting a comical tale of some young boys on a silly adventure. This book is so much more.  Yes they are three best friends (year 6) on an adventure and plenty of comical things happen. I laughed a lot whilst reading it. However this book really is so much deeper. This is a book about dealing with loss, dealing with family separation, body image, wanting to know who you are and where you fit in. This story is a must read for any primary school class from year 4 up. It is an ideal class read and I am going to shout about it to the KS2 staff in my school and anyone else who will listen.  I laughed and I cried - if I’m honest I feel like I cried more but it was powerful. Also I have gone to bed singing ‘One more step along the road I go’ with a strange sense of sorrow and happy memories. I’m not sure children still sing that song in school but they should. Thank you Jenny Pearson for reminding me of it.  Jenny Pearson has got the balance just right if serious and outright outrageous. I’ve always loved seagulls it’s about time one saved the day as a hero rather than being a villain. The church report in the news was inspired and I can genuinely see that little old lady from church in my mind.  An added bonus was I did not know that it would be set in South Wales - maybe not relevant to all readers but for someone who is always looking for Welsh connections for our pupils it was amazing. Buy this book (or like me borrow it from a library) but make sure you read it and share it with the children in your lives. 

The Amazing Edie Eckhart by Rosie Jones

This was a book that I couldn’t put down once I started it. It is fast paced and there were no parts that dragged.  I really like that this story has a strong lead character who has cerebral palsy. Despite the obvious reference to the disability in the story it is not a pitty story. Edie is determined and she doesn’t let things stand in her way. However it takes some friends to point out that just maybe she does use her disability to hold herself back. This is a brilliant coming of age book about the trials of starting secondary school, making new friends and finding out who you really are.  This book covers a range of important issues from disability to sexuality. This is all done in subtle and well handled ways that make it relevant to the readers. I think there are many children who would see them selves in this book.  It is a feel good story and I hope that there are more in the series.  I would recommend this book to others, I would recommend it for 11+ readers.

A Kind of Spark by Elle McNicoll

This book was so insightful- as a teacher it made me think long and hard about how I interact with my students. I’m confident I’m more understanding than Addie’s teacher but still it was a very interesting read. Also so important for children to see the injustice in in action as much as being an instigator. I also liked the use of the witch trials to compare with modern day attitudes.
It gives perspective. 
This book is a must read for children and adults alike. A master piece that had me crying as I felt the emotions of the characters.

Show Us Who You Are by Elle McNicoll

This book had me on the edge of my seat the whole day. I had to read on. 

This is a gripping tale of Artificial Intelligence and the moral lines of power and control. 

Cora is autistic and Adrien has ADHD. Cora things that Pomegranate is amazing and is desperate to help Dr Gold and Adrien’s father improve their grams in anyway she can. Cora’s father and Adrien do not feel the same way. Who is right ? After Adrien is left in a coma following a car accident Cora is more determined than ever to become involved but she soon starts to discover an unsettling truth. 

This is a story about acceptance of who you are and who others are. Not trying to put people in to peg holes whatever the shape and certainly the life lesson not to underestimate someone because you feel they are different. 

Neuro divergent characters are key to this story but there is so much more to it than just that. 

This is an ethical story the makes you question if you personally would draw the line or cross straight over it. 

An amazing book that must be read -age 9+ 

Sweet Pizza by G.R.Gemin

I was not able to put this book down. It has been on my shelf for over a year and I have put of reading it because I wasn’t sure it would be my kind of book. (I’m not sure what I was actually expecting- But this was not it) 

This book is outstanding. It cuts so true to life as I see it now in South Wales (the view of other cultures, the declining high streets, the use of language a slang)

But more than that it is a dual narrative that tells the history of Welsh Italians and how they were treated during the war - the change in people’s attitudes, the hardship and the community. 

This is such an important history for children to know - it’s important so that we don’t let these things happen again. 

The characters in this story are true and believable. I felt that I was on this journey with them. Hearing Nonno’s voice on the tapes. 

Joe is on a mission to save his family cafe and find out about its past. It’s an adventure into who he is and where he comes from. I think many children will be able to relate to that. Having more than one part to you but being proud of them all. Joe’s schemes are bold and come close to the line but this adds to his charm. He will not be dissuaded.

I bought this book originally as I was looking for texts with a Welsh connection to recommend to staff. This is going straight to the top of the list. 

My only regret is that I’ve waited so long to read it. This copy won’t be going to school though. I will be keeping it for when my daughter is old enough for it - I feel so strongly that this is a book she needs to read so that she can understand the history of where she lives.

The Soup Movement by Ben Davis 

I was inspired to read this book after hearing the author read a small part. I thought it sounded like a good book to inspire our key stage 2 children - so I set about reading it before I recommend.  Review:  This book is an emotional rollercoaster that follows the life of Jordan (some chapters are about the present, while others are extracts from his diary when he is in hospital having treatment for cancer) It is while he is in hospital that he meets Rio who inspires him to do a year of Mitzvah’s (acts of kindness) to make the world a better place.  The pair going on a range of adventures doing their mitzvah’s sometimes getting in to trouble on the way. But it is an inspiration- throughout the story you sense things aren’t always going to turn out well but there are a number of twists that you don’t see coming and things at the end took me by surprise.  I laughed along with Jordan, Rio and Harry but I also cried (a lot)  There are some really vivid images that are conjured up of cancer treatment, homelessness, war and how life’s events can impact us in ways we don’t realise.  I feel that this really is an important story for children - probably upper KS2/KS3  It can inspire a generation that are already doing so much more to help others.  Jordan’s one simple act of giving away his soup turns in to so much more a real ripple effect of kindness, friendship and community.  Read this book yourself and then share it with the children in your lives!

The Last Bear by Hannah Gold 

This book is an emotional adventure that captures the heart and mind of the reader. 

A loving bond between girl and nature - opening our eyes to the desperate need for us all to step up and do something to help the world we live in before it is too late. Something is better than nothing. 

The book follows April has she battles with her own family problems - a father who has never got over the death of her mother and as such hides himself away in work neglecting her. Stranded on Bear Island with nothing and no one other than her father April sets off on an adventure to explore. 

When she finds Bear and bond is formed and she will do anything to save him - but will she go too far? 

This book is a must read - touching, vivid images that build in your mind and Illustrations that are works of art. 

I would recommend for age 8+

Julia and the Shark by Kiran Millwood Hargrave illustrations by Tom de Freston 

This book was a powerful read - from fairly early on I had a nagging feeling that something terrible was going to happen. Something that would change Julia’s life for ever. 

The more I read the more I had to read - it was quite honestly an addictive read. Desperate to find out what was going to happen at the same time as willing it not to. 

Julia has left Cornwall for the summer to live on a small island in a lighthouse. Her dad is there to fix the light but her mum is on a research project to find a shark that she hopes will hold the answers to helping others avoid the pain of dementia. Obsession takes over and Julia finds herself watching her mother slowly slip away from her. Convinced she can save her and make things better for her family Julia embarks on a dangerous trip to find the shark that has been haunting her dreams. 

This book touches on so many hard hitting subjects - it really is powerful. 

The illustrations are outstanding- whole page spreads that pull you in to the depths of the ocean and place you vividly in to the dreams(nightmares) of Julia. 

Trigger warnings: Mental Health, loss

My Name is River by Emma Rea

This is a gripping adventure that doesn’t hold any punches. Emma Rea writes a hard hitting story of social justice, friendship and belonging. 

When Dylan’s farm is about to be sold to a large pharmaceutical company he sets off to get it back. Teaming up with Floyd whose dad works for the company the boys set of to Brazil to save the farm and bring back Floyd's younger brother Joe. 

Things quickly turn bad and the pair find them separated and caught in the middle of a greedy scheme which crosses many lines. 
Throw in Lucia a local girl with the vocabulary of a thesaurus and how could they not win? 

This story was hard to put down and I would recommend it for upper KS2 and older.

How to Save the World with a Chicken and an Egg by Emma Shevah 

A tale of friendship and finding your way. Ivy and Nathaniel are more alike than they realise and need each other much more than they would like to admit as well.

This book is a marvellous journey of discovery, family and saving the planet told through the eyes of Ivy and Nathaniel. Ivy can communicate with animals but no one believes her. Nathaniel struggles to communicate with anyone.

As Nathaniel tries to find out the secret that has kept his family apart for all these years - his and Ivy’s paths merge in the impossible possible that finally brings everyone together.

Not afraid to touch on the hard parts of life or the painful realities we face - this book is heartwarming and inspiring. A must read!

This books is also filled with interesting facts about all sorts of animals and includes a section at the end with more detailed information about Turtles, how to help bees and a list of ideas to help save the planet in small ways. 

Themes: Conservation /fostering/loss/nuro-divergent characters/ family dynamics / friendship

Recommend age :8+

The Race by Roy Peachey

The Race is an important historical novel as much as a contemporary coming of age story. 

This book follows a dual narrative of Lili ( a school girl of Chinese heritage who was adopted by English parents) and Eric ( an athlete, Olympic medal winner and missionary) separated by 70 years. 

Lili is a runner and a good one at that. But when the Queen is coming to sports day and the races are changed to be open for all - Can Lili overcome the distraction of Tom (who thinks very highly of himself and very little of others). This is a story about mind over mater, the power of being kind and getting through the challenges of school. 

Eric is the son of missionaries in China - educated in Scotland he goes on to represent the nation in Rugby and compete in the Olympics. Sticking to his beliefs he goes on to become a missionary himself - but as war closes in and things get more dangerous Eric finds himself in a prisoner of warm camp. Where alongside others he sets about making the place better for those who are suffering. 

This book is about finding out what is important to you, sticking to your principles and ultimately making decisions for the benefit of others not yourself. 

I wasn’t sure what to make of this book. Initially I wasn’t sure it would be for me. But the stories simply grabbed me and pulled me in. I couldn’t put the book down. 

This book is a must for children in upper KS2 (age 9+) 

Whilst it would tie in to many topics (sports, war, olympics) or as a great example of dual narrative- it is equally of value as a class read for the pure sake of it being such a brilliant book.