middle grade fiction

Emma Greville is a freelance editor from Sunny Geelong on Victorian coast. She’s an ex-English teacher with an MA in Literary Criticism, and a lover of Dragons!

She is passionate about helping kids discover a love of reading and writing, and explores the world of words through school visits, presentations and writing workshops.

She’s popped in today to share her author journey, along with her awesome middle grade fantasy adventure, Raine in the Underlands.

Plus, we review a brand new middle grade novel, This Camp is Doomed.

Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to listen to excerpts from four middle grade novels about young spies. This podcast will not self-destruct at any point, so do not panic.

Spotlighted books include A Recipe for Trouble by Sarah Todd Taylor, City Spies by James Ponti, N.E.R.D.S. by Michael Buckley, and Undercover Latina by Aya De León.

Find a partial transcript of this episode at https://happyrdng.blogspot.com/2023/09/the-eagle-has-landed-check-out-these.html

This epsiode opens with "Amplify," a verso poem about young people getting involved in social activism, and then spotlights five middle grade books about protagonists who are  passionate about bettering their communities. Featured books include A Good Kind of Trouble by Lisa Moore Ramée, Dress Coded by Carrie Firestone, Take Back the Block by Chrystal D. Giles, Turn the Tide by Elaine Dimopoulos, and Small Town Pride by Phil Stamper. 

Creator of Macca the Alpacca and Worst Week Ever series of books, Matt Cosgrove and Eva Amores pop in to talk all about the Worst Week Ever series that's taking the world by storm. They share their processes, tips and all the fun of co-creating such a fun series of books.

Plus, tune in to win the first 3 books in the series. 

Sherri Winston may have had a degree in journalism, but it was when she joined a writers group that helped her transition to full-time Middle-Grade Fiction author. Hear Sherri's inspiring story in this Florida Writer Podcast with host Alison Nissen. 

Sherri Winston is the author of President of the Whole Fifth Grade, as well as my latest book, Lotus Bloom and the Afro Revolution, which was long-listed for a National Book Award. She also recently published her first book for early readers, Wednesday and Woof: Catastrophe along with several other books in the series.

She was born and raised in Michigan and attended Michigan State University, then much later the University of Michigan as a journalism fellow. She is the proud mama of her daughter, Kenya, and a proud aunt many times over.

Sherri Winston may have had a degree in journalism, but it was when she joined a writers group that helped her transition to full-time Middle-Grade Fiction author. Hear Sherri's inspiring story in this Florida Writer Podcast with host Alison Nissen. 

Sherri Winston is the author of President of the Whole Fifth Grade, as well as my latest book, Lotus Bloom and the Afro Revolution, which was long-listed for a National Book Award. She also recently published her first book for early readers, Wednesday and Woof: Catastrophe along with several other books in the series.

She was born and raised in Michigan and attended Michigan State University, then much later the University of Michigan as a journalism fellow. She is the proud mama of her daughter, Kenya, and a proud aunt many times over.

Enjoy our presentation of The Crossover written by Kwame Alexander  and published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Thirteen-year-old twin basketball stars Josh and Jordan wrestle with highs and lows on and off the court as their father ignores his declining health.

The Crossover was awarded the Newbery Medal and was a Coretta Scott King Honor title. 

The Crossover is recommended for ages 9 and up.  See review for more information:  https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/kwame-alexander/the-crossover/

This title is available as an ebook and audiobook on Libby by Overdrive and Hoopla.  

Libby ebook: https://bit.ly/Crossover_Libbyebook

Libby audio: https://bit.ly/Crossover_Libbyaudio

Hoopla ebook: https://bit.ly/Crossover_Hooplaebook

Hoopla audio: https://bit.ly/Crossover_Hooplaaudio

Please visit www.calvertlibrary.info for more information.

Music: Dub the Uke (excerpt) by Kara Square (c) copyright 2016. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/mindmapthat/53340

Enjoy our presentation of Island of Thieves written by Josh Lacey and published by Houghton Mifflin. Tom goes with his Uncle Harvey to Peru, where they narrowly escape imprisonment and death as they hunt for buried treasure after tracking down a journal written by John Drake, a young relative of Sir Francis Drake, on a voyage to Lima in 1577. Includes biographical information on John and Francis Drake. 

Island of Thieves was named a Best Fiction for Young Adults in 2013

Island of Thieves is recommended for ages 9 and up for some violence.  Please see review for more information: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/josh-lacey/island-thieves/

This title is available as an ebook on Hoopla: https://www.hoopladigital.com/title/12920009

Please visit www.calvertlibrary.info for more information.

Music: Dub the Uke (excerpt) by Kara Square (c) copyright 2016. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/mindmapthat/53340
 

Enjoy our presentation of If We Were Giants written by Dave Matthews and Clete Barrett Smith and published by Hyperion.  Fourteen-year-old Kirra must summon the courage to face her own mistakes before she can help save her peaceful community from a gigantic threat.


If We Were Giants is recommended for ages 8 and up for discussions of trauma and PTSD. Please see review for more information.  https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/dave-matthews/if-we-were-giants/

This title is available as an ebook on Hoopla: https://www.hoopladigital.com/title/1290117

Please visit www.calvertlibrary.info for more information.

Music: Dub the Uke (excerpt) by Kara Square (c) copyright 2016. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/mindmapthat/53340
 

Enjoy our presentation of The Explorer written by Katherine Rundell  and published by Simon & Schuster. Left stranded in the Amazon jungle when their plane crashes on their way back to England from Manaus, Brazil, four children struggle to survive for days until one of them finds a map that leads them to a ruined city and a secret hidden among the vines.

The Explorers was given the Costa Children's Book Award.

The Explorer is recommended for ages 8 and up. See review for more information: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/katherine-rundell/the-explorer-rundell/

This title is available as an audio book on Hoopla: https://bit.ly/Explorer_Hoopla

Please visit www.calvertlibrary.info for more information.

Music: Dub the Uke (excerpt) by Kara Square (c) copyright 2016. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/mindmapthat/53340
 

Enjoy our presentation of Timeless: Diego and the Rangers of the Vastlantic by Armand Baltazar and published by Katherine Tegen Books. You’ve never seen Earth like this before: continents reshaped, oceans re-formed, cities rebuilt, and mountains sculpted anew. Dinosaurs roam the plains alongside herds of buffalo, and giant robots navigate the same waters as steam-powered ships. This is the world Diego Ribera was born into. The past, present, and future coexisting together. In New Chicago, Diego’s middle school hallways buzz with kids from all eras of history and from cultures all over the world. On his thirteenth birthday, Diego learns of a special gift he has within, a secret that is part of something much bigger—something he cannot yet understand.

This title is recommended for readers age 9 and up. Please see Common Sense Media for more information and reviews. https://bit.ly/Timeless_Reviews

Timeless: Diego and the Rangers of the Vastlantic is available as an eBook and audiobook on Hoopla. 

Hoopla eBook- https://bit.ly/Timeless_HooplaeBook
Hoopla Audiobook-  https://bit.ly/Timeless_HooplaAudio

Please visit www.calvertlibrary.info for more information.

Music: Dub the Uke (excerpt) by Kara Square (c) copyright 2016. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/mindmapthat/53340

Enjoy our presentation of Everything Sad is Untrue by Daniel Nayeri, published by Levine Querido. At the front of a middle school classroom in Oklahoma, a boy named Khosrou (whom everyone calls "Daniel") stands, trying to tell a story. His story. But, no one believes a word he says. To them he is a dark-skinned, hairy-armed boy with a big butt whose lunch smells funny; who makes things up and talks about poop too much. But Khosrou's stories, stretching back years, and decades, and centuries, are beautiful, and terrifying. Like Scheherazade of One Thousand and One Nights in a hostile classroom, Daniel spins a tale to save his own life: to stake his claim to the truth.

Everything Sad is Untrue has won numerous awards, including being named a 2020 Book of the Year by Amazon, NPR, The New York Times and several other publications.

This title is recommended for readers age 11 and up for some depictions of violence. Please see Common Sense Media for more information and reviews. https://bit.ly/EverythingSad_Reviews

Everything Sad is Untrue is available as an eBook on Hoopla and Libby by Overdrive.

Libby eBook - https://bit.ly/EverythingSad_LibbyeBook
Hoopla eBook - https://bit.ly/EverythingSad_HooplaeBook

Please visit www.calvertlibrary.info for more information.

Music: Dub the Uke (excerpt) by Kara Square (c) copyright 2016. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/mindmapthat/53340

Enjoy our presentation of Brother from a Box by Evan Kuhlman published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers. Matt Rambeau is officially a big brother—to a robot! Matt’s super-computer-genius dad is always getting cool tech stuff in the mail, but the latest box Matt opens contains the most impressive thing he’s ever seen: a bionically modified lifeform that looks human and calls Matt “brother."

Brother from a Box is recommended for readers age 10 and up. Please see Common Sense Media for more information and reviews. https://bit.ly/BrotherfromaBox_Review

This title is available as  an eBook on Hoopla.

Hoopla eBook - https://bit.ly/BrotherfromaBox_HooplaeBook

Please visit www.calvertlibrary.info for more information.

Music: Dub the Uke (excerpt) by Kara Square (c) copyright 2016. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/mindmapthat/53340

Enjoy our presentation of Lupe Wong Won’t Dance written by Donna Barba Higuera and published by Levine Querido. Lupe Wong is going to be the first female pitcher in the Major Leagues. She's also championed causes her whole young life. Some worthy ... like expanding the options for race on school tests beyond just a few bubbles. And some not so much...like complaining to the BBC about the length between Doctor Who seasons. Lupe needs an A in all her classes in order to meet her favorite pitcher, Fu Li Hernandez, who's Chinacan/Mexinese just like her. So when the horror that is square dancing rears its head in gym? Obviously she's not gonna let that slide.

Lupe Wong Won’t Dance was a 2021 Pura Belpre Honor book, a PNBA Award Winner and a Booklist Editor’s Choice Best Books for Youth 2020.

Lupe Wong Won’t Dance is recommended for ages 8 and up. Please see Kirkus for more information and reviews. https://bit.ly/LupeWong_Reviews

This title is available as an eBook and audiobook on Hoopla.

Hoopla eBook - https://bit.ly/LupeWong_HooplaeBook

Hoopla Audiobook - https://bit.ly/LupeWong_HooplaAudio

Please visit www.calvertlibrary.info for more information.

Music: Dub the Uke (excerpt) by Kara Square (c) copyright 2016. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/mindmapthat/53340

Enjoy our presentation of The Riverman by Aaron Starmer and published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Twelve-year-old Alistair Cleary lives in a town where everyone knows each other. One afternoon, his neighbor, Fiona, shows up at Alistair's doorstep with a strange proposition. She wants him to write her biography because in her basement there's a gateway that leads to the magical world of Aquavania, the place where stories are born. In Aquavania, there's a creature called the Riverman and he's stealing the souls of children. And Fiona's soul could be next. 

The Riverman is recommended for ages 10 and up, for mentions of death, violence and some language. Please see Common Sense Media for more information and reviews. https://bit.ly/Riverman_Reviews

This title is available as an audiobook on Hoopla. 

Hoopla Audio- https://bit.ly/Riverman_HooplaAudio

Please visit www.calvertlibrary.info for more information.

Music: Dub the Uke (excerpt) by Kara Square (c) copyright 2016. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/mindmapthat/53340

Enjoy our presentation of The Moon Within written by Aida Salazar and published by Scholastic Inc. Celi Rivera is an 11-year-old who is experiencing some new changes in her life. Her body is changing, she’s attracted to a boy for the first time, and her best friend is exploring what it means to be genderfluid. But the biggest thought swirling through her mind is about her mother’s insistence on holding a moon ceremony for Celi when her first period arrives. This is an ancestral Mexican ritual that Celi doesn’t want to have anything to do with out of fear of embarrassment. Can she find the strength to overpower her fear, embrace this ancestral tradition, and just be herself?

This title won the Golden Poppy Award, Nerdy Book Award, and the NCTE Notable Poetry and Verse Novel Award.

The Moon Within is recommended for ages 8-12. Please see Good Reads for more information and reviews. https://bit.ly/MoonWithin_Reviews

This title is available as an eBook on Libby by Overdrive.

Libby eBook - https://bit.ly/MoonWithin_LibbyeBook

Please visit www.calvertlibrary.info for more information.

Music: Dub the Uke (excerpt) by Kara Square (c) copyright 2016. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/mindmapthat/53340

Enjoy our presentation of The Worst Class Trip Ever written by Dave Barry and published by Hyperion. When the eighth grade civics class of Miami's Culver Middle School goes on a trip to Washington, D.C., Wyatt Palmer finds himself in deep trouble before the plane even lands because his best friend Matt's decided the men sitting behind them are terrorists--and it's up to the boys to stop them. 

The Worst Class Trip Ever is recommended for ages 9 and up for violence. Please see Common Sense Media for more information and reviews. https://bit.ly/WorstClassTrip_Reviews

This title is available as an ebook on Libby by Overdrive.

Libby eBook - http://bit.ly/WorstClassTrip

Please visit www.calvertlibrary.info for more information.

Music: Dub the Uke (excerpt) by Kara Square (c) copyright 2016. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/mindmapthat/53340

Enjoy our presentation of Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett, published by Scholastic Press. When a book of unexplainable occurrences brings Petra and Calder together, strange things start to happen. Seemingly unrelated events begin to connect; an eccentric old woman seeks their company; and an invaluable Vermeer painting disappears. Before they know it, the two find themselves at the center of an international art scandal, where no one is spared from suspicion.

Chasing Vermeer  won the Edgar Award for Best Juvenile Mystery Novel. 

Chasing Vermeer is recommended for ages 9 and up. Please see Common Sense Media for more information and reviews. https://bit.ly/ChasingVermeer_Reviews

This title is available as an audiobook on Libby by Overdrive. 

Libby Audio- https://bit.ly/ChasingVermeer_LibbyAudio

Please visit www.calvertlibrary.info for more information.

Music: Dub the Uke (excerpt) by Kara Square (c) copyright 2016. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/mindmapthat/53340

Enjoy our presentation of Guest: A Changeling Tale by Mary Downing Hahn and published by Clarion Books. When her adorable baby brother is replaced by an ugly, ill-tempered changeling, Mollie is determined to find the so-called Kinde Folke who took Thomas, return the changeling she calls Guest, and make them give her brother back. 

Guest: A Changeling Tale is recommended for readers age 9 and up for some scary scenes. For more information and reviews please see Kirkus Reviews. https://bit.ly/GuestMDH_Reviews

This title is available as an audiobook on Hoopla. 

Hoopla Audiobook - https://bit.ly/GuestMDH_HooplaAudio

Please visit www.calvertlibrary.info for more information.

Music: Dub the Uke (excerpt) by Kara Square (c) copyright 2016. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/mindmapthat/53340

Enjoy our presentation of Flunked by Jen Calonita and published by Sourcebooks Young Readers. Gilly wouldn't call herself wicked, exactly. But when you have five little brothers and sisters and live in a run-down boot, you have to get creative to make ends meet. Gilly's a pretty good thief (if she does say so herself). Until she gets caught. And sent to Fairy Tale Reform School.

Flunked  is recommended for readers age 8 and up. For more information and reviews, please see School Library Journal. http://bit.ly/Flunked_Reviews

This title is available as an eBook on Libby by Overdrive and as an eBook and audiobook on Hoopla. 

Libby eBook - http://bit.ly/Flunked_LibbyeBook
Hoopla eBook - http://bit.ly/Flunked_HooplaeBook
Hoopla Audio - http://bit.ly/Flunked_HooplaAudio

Please visit www.calvertlibrary.info for more information.

Music: Dub the Uke (excerpt) by Kara Square (c) copyright 2016. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/mindmapthat/53340