Christmas shopping for kids? Or just want to treat yo self? Look no further! The breadth and depth of the middle grade novels I read this year astounded me: they charged through fields on the backs of talking stags, hid deep beneath the earth in cheesemongers' caves, got into trouble over imaginary friends, travelled to England from Poland and the Phillippines, and befriended superhero squirrels, amongst other things. If you can't find something to like in at least one of these books, I may have to report you to the Lack of Imagination Police. Sorry.
(NB: There are soooo many books to read and not enough time, so these weren't necessarily released this year.) (NBB: Presented in no particular order.)
(NB: There are soooo many books to read and not enough time, so these weren't necessarily released this year.) (NBB: Presented in no particular order.)
What if imaginary friends were real? And dangerous? And illegal? Sheehan takes a fantastical idea and crafts it into a believable, poignant, twisty tale of friendship, love and acceptance, not to mention doing an amazing job of sprinkling little clues throughout and then tying all those hints and threads up into an intensely satisfying yet unpredictable ending. (OUP, 2014)
By the end of the first chapter, Ironheart is up and running at turbo speed and doesn't let up till the end. A brilliantly-plotted adventure story, with thoughtful, inventive world-building and wonderfully individual characters - from ice pirates and kindly androids to scary villains and the brave and likeable main character, India, herself. This was astonishingly accomplished for a debut novel, and am delighted to see there'll be a sequel coming out next year. (Macmillan, 2014)
When her errant father shows no sign of returning to Poland, Kasienka and her mother pluck up all the courage they have and head for England. But life there isn't what either of them expect... Beautifully written, heart-wrenching at times, bitingly perceptive, brave and funny and hopeful. A quick read, with the blank verse, but it contains multitudes. A gem. (Bloomsbury, 2012)
Funny, charming, beautifully written, easy to read, heart-warming and with SUPERHERO SQUIRRELS. Plus the illustrations of the animals are hilarious and the last page made me tear up - it has one of my new favourite last lines in a book. Another gem, and so deserving of all its awards. (Candlewick, 2013)
Alex Jennings is bullied ceaselessly because of his father, the most famously failed explorer in the history of the Cusp. But when his dad escapes from hospital yelling 'squiggles', the evil Davidus Kyte and his henchmen come after Alex, and Alex just might have to brave the Forbidden Lands himself to get to the bottom of the mystery... Startlingly original, imaginative, pacy, poignant, and funny. One scene featuring two policeman had me laughing so hard I was still thinking about it the next day and chuckling. But it also has a huge amount of heart. (Faber & Faber, 2013)
Jinx knows not to step off the path in the mighty forest known as the Urwald - but what if your stepfather is plotting to kill you and a mysterious wizard turns up and invites you to come with him? A well-written, classic MG tale with lots of intriguing mysteries which kept me turning the pages, an immersive setting, engaging characters and a sprinkling of humour. Looking forward to the next books in the series and seeing where life takes Jinx next. (Harper Collins, 2013)
In the underground city of Caverna, the world's most skilled craftsmen create delicacies beyond compare: wines that can remove memories, cheeses that can make you hallucinate and perfumes that convince you to trust the wearer even as they slit your throat. The people of Caverna are more ordinary, but for one thing: their faces are as blank as untouched snow. All except for our heroine, Neverfell... Mind-bogglingly original, beautifully written, intricately plotted, wryly amusing and completely engrossing. A book to savour. (Pan Macmillan Children's, 2012)
When Pea's dizzy mum writes a bestselling children's book, Pea and her sisters, the naughty Tinkerbell and the smooth Clover, leave their tiny flat in Tenby for a new life in London. This isn't my usual kind of book: it's the younger end of MG, it isn't fantasy, and there's no big adventure story. But I fell in love with it. It's that unusual thing: an absolutely happy-making book, the kind that makes you want to hug yourself when it's over. The characters are brilliantly drawn and loveable, their lives are gripping despite their problems being fairly 'normal', and it's HILARIOUS. (Red Fox, 2012)
In a world where animals no longer exist, twelve-year-old Kester Jaynes is locked away in a home for troubled children, and told there's something wrong with him. So when he meets a flock of talking pigeons and a bossy cockroach, Kester thinks he's finally gone a bit mad... Gripping, funny, pacy, original, poignant - a fantastic road trip adventure without a road in sight. (Quercus, 2013)
Best friends Sophie and Agatha are about to discover where all the children being abducted from their village go: the fabled School for Good & Evil, where ordinary boys and girls are trained to be fairy tale heroes and villains. But this year there's a bit of a spanner in the works... I have a soft spot for subverted tropes, and TSFG&E delivers in spades. Not to mention being very funny, wildly inventive, exciting, well-written and for a delicious change, focussing on a friendship between two girls. I can't wait to crack open the sequel. (Harper Collins, 2013)
Andi desperately hopes her long lost half-brother Bernardo will be as mad on basketball as she is. But when he steps off the plane from the Philippines, she cannot believe her eyes. She hasn't seen him for ten years, but even so, how did he get to be EIGHT FOOT TALL? Original, gripping and with SO MUCH HEART. Loved the unusual characters and loved the story. A winner if you're looking for a refreshingly different MG read. (David Fickling, 2010)
Quirky twelve year old Noelle (Know-All) Hawkins may be one of the brightest girls in her class but even she can't explain how her dad, wacky scientist Big Brain Brian, spontaneously combusted while sitting in a portaloo. Or can she...? A bright, funny, original detective story with bounce-off-the-page entertaining characters. Reluctant readers will love all the boxed clues, illustrations and jokes, and die-hard kid readers will enjoy trying to figure out the mystery of the exploding loo for themselves. (Simon & Schuster, 2014)
Eleven-year-old Olivia's been in and out of foster care and children's homes since she was taken from her violent mother at the age of five. Now she's found a new family who seem okay... except an evil ghost lurks in their house. I idly read the first couple of pages of this... and the next thing I knew I'd read the whole thing in one night. Nicholls paints one of the most three-dimensional main characters I've ever read, and my heart broke for her so many times. A dark story, but leavened by warmth and heart, and made utterly engrossing by Olivia. (Marion Lloyd, 2013)
An oldie, but just in case there's anyone out there who hasn't yet discovered the wonderful Eva Ibbotson, I wanted to direct you her way. I loved this story of orphan Maia travelling to the Amazon, and so wish it had existed when I was a kid - adventurous ten-year-old me would've been besotted. Wonderful characters, terrific atmosphere, brilliant plotting, some gorgeous turns of phrase, and threaded through with a lovely 'Carpe Diem' wisdom. Plus I think all kids will love the satisfying way the nasty characters get their come-uppance. Before I read it, I lent it to a twelve-year-old boy and he loved it so much he read it three times. Now I see why. Hugely recommended. (Macmillan, 2001)
