Our Middle Grade book spotlight this week is on books that feature holidays from this time of year as well as a little bit of cold weather. Some of the holidays may be familiar to you as well as some you may have never heard of; we also have some titles that showcase how familiar holidays were celebrated in the past so we can see what traditions we still have and do not have today! These books and more can be found by searching the catalog using the search tag #youthholidaystories as well as on Libby and Hoopla. Check back next week for a new Middle Grade book spotlight and if you have any book suggestions, please let us know!!
Greenglass House by Kate Milford--A lovely historic inn called Greenglass House located in the harbor town of Nagspeake boasts an attic ripe for exploring, cozy corners containing myriad secrets and a mysterious and multi-layered past. It is here that Milo resides with his adoptive parents, who provide a stopover for benign smugglers. When five unexpected guests arrive over Christmas break and one by one begin losing belongings that have ties to the enigmatic Greenglass House, Milo and Meddy, the cook's daughter, embark on an investigation to finally uncover the secret of the fascinating inn.
Nutcracked by Susan Adrian--Being cast as Clara in "The Nutcracker" ballet is a dream come true for Georgie. Each time she dances with the doll, she enters a magical world. But when the magic begins seeping into the real world, Georgie's life spirals out of control and she must save a friend in danger and put things right before Christmas.
Candlelight for Rebecca by Jacqueline Demba Greene--While Rebecca Rubin helps her building's ailing superintendent take care of his homing pigeons, she puzzles over what to do with the Christmas centerpiece her teacher insisted she make but which has no place in her Jewish home.
Horrible Harry and the Christmas Surprise by Suzy Kline--When their teacher ends up in the hospital, the members of class 2B find a way to include her in their holiday celebration.
A Year Full of Stories by Angela McCallister--Collects fifty-two folktales and legends from around the world, including tales commemorating such holidays and events as Chinese New Year, Purim, World Oceans Day, World Food Day, and Kwanzaa.
Christmas After All by Kathryn Lasky--In her fictionalized journal, eleven-year-old Minnie Swift recounts how her family dealt with the difficult times during the Depression and how the arrival of an orphan from Texas changed their lives in Indianapolis just before Christmas 1932.