Our middle grade book spotlight this week is all about Tales From Time Past!!! Our titles this week are all historical fiction stories; this is one of my favorite genres because it provides an opportunity to read about times and events in history that many times we do not know much, if anything, about because they are not taught in typical school classes. Historical fiction books are filled with true facts (authors need to do a ton of research) and many times the characters are inspired by real people. We have books that take place in the United States and others on other continents; some take place in more recent times and others further in the past. These books and more can be found by searching the catalog using the search tag #youthhistoricalfiction as well as on Libby and Hoopla.
The 2021 Summer Reading Program takes place from June 5th-August 11th with a new theme and badge activities every week. Make sure to watch the Middle Grade Book Spotlight book talk video for this week as it counts towards your badge activities for the week; if you read one of the titles featured or on the tagged list, that counts as another activity as well!!! Earn the weekly themed badges to get your virtual tickets which can be turned into opportunities to win prizes! For more information--such as to sign up or to sign in to your account in order to track your books and activities--visit our Summer Reading page and click “LOG IN NOW”.
Check back next week for a new middle grade book spotlight and if you have any book suggestions, please let us know!!
A Ceiling Made of Eggshells by Gail Carson Levine--Loma loves living with her large family in Spain and dreams of one day having a family of her own. Her grandfather, Belo, decides to bring Loma with him on his travels across Spain, and Loma soon learns about the dangers that the Jews of Spain face under King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, and the power that Belo holds in order to keep them safe. In the beginning, Loma loves getting to travel with Belo, but eventually she starts to wonder if her grandfather will ever allow her to follow her own dreams of settling down and starting a family.
All the Greys on Greene Street by Laura Tucker--In Soho in 1981, twelve-year-old Olympia--an artist--loves her life with her dad and his business partner, Apollo, especially when they restore antique paintings, and with her mother, who makes intricate sculptures in one corner of their loft. This leaves Olympia time to roam New York with Richard and Alex, her best friends, drawing everything she loves. Then, "Ollie's" dad disappears, leaving only a cryptic note with instructions to destroy it and warnings about Apollo, who is hiding something. When she cannot wake her mother up, Olympia realizes her life will never be the same.
Allies by Alan Gratz--Dee, a young U.S. soldier, is on a boat heading towards France on D-Day, terrified and feeling the weight of the entire world on his shoulders--but he is not alone. Behind enemy lines is Samira, a spy helping to sabotage the German defenders in Normandy, while paratrooper James is leaping from his plane to conduct a midnight raid. Lastly, in the thick of the fighting, is Henry, a medic looking to save lives.
Moonshine by Justin Benton--During the Great Depression, thirteen-year-old Cub's father turns to moonshine to put food on the table. The local sheriff catches wind and threatens Cub with an orphanage and Pa with jail if he doesn't stop. It grows more complicated when a big-city mobster comes around and makes Pa an offer he can't refuse. Desperate for his father to live a legal life, Cub intervenes, with terrible results. His father injured, Cub is forced to grow up fast before things turn deadly.
The Button War by Avi--Patryk and Jurek--two boys as much rivals as they are friends--are trying to make their way in their Russian-occupied Polish village in 1914 when Patryk discovers an old button on the forest floor, and Juryk becomes horribly jealous. World War I intensifies in Poland soon after, and Juryk proposes an exciting dare among their seven friends--whoever steals the best button from a soldier's uniform will become Button King. The contest is on.
Out of Left Field by Ellen Klages--In 1957, inspired by what she is learning about civil rights and armed with knowledge of female ball players, ten-year-old Katy Gordon fights to be allowed to play Little League baseball.