Middle School | Page 3 of 7

Sports Heroes, illustrated book on athletes breaking barriers for 8 and up

The style of art that’s used in Sports Heroes is the type that makes elementary-aged readers effortlessly flock to it. The lines are crisp, its edges are sharp, it’s loaded with contrasting colors, the shapes are absurd-but not too silly, and everything has a retro look that’s at home for Mad Men or today’s eight-year-olds. What elementary-aged readers, as well as some middle school readers will come to terms with when they look through Sports Heroes, Inspiring Tales of Athletes Who Stood Up and Stood Out; is that sports-and a variety of them can bring about the best in people.

Sports Heroes is an illustrated book on athletes who defied their sport or the times surrounding them. It’s great for readers aged 8 and up.

(brief) Stories that kids don’t know, but want to read, they just don’t know it yet

It Takes Guts makes reading about the body fueling process fun

It Takes Guts, How Your Body Turns Food Into Fuel (And Poop) is seemingly custom-made for the reading level, humor, patience, and temperament for sixth-grade students. It’s also intelligent enough to be appreciated by those older readers, even those who have no idea what chyme it is. That’s another reason that middle school ages will enjoy It Takes Guts, it’s funny and laden with puns or other learning pneumonic devices. The puns in the book are so sublime that some readers won’t even get them, but they’ll know that they’re there to make the book more palatable.

It Takes Guts How Your Body Turns Food Into Fuel reads like a graphic novel at times due to its friendly text, paired with clever art. This book is great entertainment and knowledge for ages 11 and up.

Fun biology middle school Stem you seek?

The Weeping Tide, misfires in its second entry in the Wilderlore series

Sometimes I co-teach a lesson on fantasy reading. It’s good to experience it from this perspective because it reminds me what separates the good from the great; as well as those that didn’t measure up to the levels of their predecessor. The Accidental Apprentice was the first book in the Wilderlore series, which we were big fans of. The Weeping Tide is the second book in the series and as the name and cover image would imply, it mainly takes place around the water. This is where our fantasy lesson planning came in, because I was reminded that fantasy books typically have a large number of characters.

The Weeping Tide is the second book in the Wilderlore series that slows down the story with longer chapters and drama that mglit fans might not dig.

The second verse is not the same as the first

Prisoners of Geography, natural barriers shape our world for ages 9 and up

I mentioned the phrase prisoners of geography to a group of fifth-grade students in social studies one day. At the time we were learning about the westward expansion of the United States, specifically, how impactful it was when The Louisiana Purchase opened up that massive area. When I used that phrase the term ‘prisoners’ and ‘geography’ threw them for a loop and immediately led to the things that fifth-grade students will say. I quickly told them that it wasn’t an incarceration, rather the term meant that people and countries are largely defined by the physical boundaries that surround them. Prisoners of Geography, Our World Explained in 12 Simple Maps is not your average world book. This is a very smart book that leads to questions, answers and an actual discussion about what’s happening in our world and why things have happened.

Prisoners of Geography is the illustrated young readers edition of the international bestseller. It’s fun, educational and a go-to STEM for ages 9 and up.

Maps and stats to make ages 9 and up curious and talkative

The Monsters of Rookhaven, odd, a little evil and great for ages 9 and up

A great heel makes the difference in stories that entertain, vs. those that flounder. It’s especially true in wrestling, as well as, literature. If the heel isn’t a strong one then the audience can be hopeful that it moves along quickly; with the vestiges of said plot point withering away due to its lack of spandex or words. The Monsters of Rookhaven is mglit that runs from the first page. It’s brilliantly weird, fun to read and feels familiar enough to bring in reluctant readers, while being different enough to satisfy those who need something new.

The Monsters of Brookhaven is mglit with an excellent villain, beautiful mystery and monsters that do exactly what a 9-year-old wants them to do.

upper elementary spooks, monsters and dread-with a side order of feelings

AfterMath, mglit on loss, tragedy, growing up, family, and some math puns

Middle-grade books about tragedy don’t need to be a drag. Some topics and some characters certainly need to have their story presented in a book that’s clearly dramatic and mglit readers can still learn from them. Take for example the topic of school shootings. It’s an event that happens at schools and students have drills to prepare for them. However, because they happen, they occur too often, and when it does happen it impacts the kids in that particular school in ways that others can’t fathom. AfterMath is mglit that deftly walks the line of drama, feelings of melancholy, school shooting, coming-of-age, and death of a family member in a way that readers can empathize with and learn from.

great Realistic fiction that you wish it wasn’t

Stuntboy is the start of a fabulous, fart-free, graphic novel series

In the best of all possible ways, Stuntboy has an old-school strand woven all through the book. Even before you read the graphic novel that seed is sown when you turn the cover and see what author Jason Reynolds has written. It’s the dedication page where authors and illustrators dedicate the book or thank influential people in their lives. Reynolds’ blurb simply says “For ten-year old me” and illustrator Raul the Third’s is dedicated to the Village Two apartments where he grew up. Stuntboy has the DNA of a 10-year-old all through it. It’s also a graphic novel with the sensibilities of a traditional book, where the written words navigate its direction.

Stuntboy is the start of a great graphic novel series that will sit alongside Captain Underpants in elementary school libraries.

A graphic novel series that will be shared and constantly checked out

A Day In The Life of A Poo, A Gnu and You is a go-to STEM reference

Everything old is new again. That phrase comes to mind when realizing some of the great books that came out during the pandemic that didn’t receive the attention that they deserve. A Day In The Life Of A Poo, A Gnu, and You, a Laugh-Out-Loud Guide to Life on Earth is one of those books. It’s as big as an illustrated book, yet has the depth and weight of a reference book, but has more colors and graphics than some comic books or graphic novels. As if the book is attempting to pile on its brownie points, it’s educational, funny, ridiculously entertaining, and wait for it….one that kids will really want to read.

A Day In The Life of A Pooh is at the intersection of comic book, reference material, large-form graphic novel, and humor mag that’s been given a STEM jacket to wear.

The intersection of comic/graphic novel/reference, funny book