Middle Grade – Page 2 – Jill's Book Blog

Review: Georgie Summers and the Scribes of Scatterplot

Title: Georgie Summers and the Scribes of Scatterplot
Author: Isaac Rudansky
Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Contemporary
Publisher: Greenleaf Book Group
Source: Bookinfluencers.com
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: February 4, 2025
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

In a world where fiction is forbidden and truth is a matter of life and death, one young boy must write a story to save humanity . . .

When his father is abducted by a mysterious figure, twelve-year-old Georgie Summers is thrown into the adventure of a lifetime. Georgie’s journey takes him to Scatterplot, a hidden realm where Scribes record human memories to safeguard the truth. But when the evil Flint Eldritch threatens to corrupt those memories and plunge the world into chaos, Georgie must team up with an unlikely group of friends to stop him. As the journey grows increasingly dangerous, Georgie realizes that only he holds the key to defeating Eldritch and saving not just his father . . . but every mind on Earth.

Will Georgie be able to wield the power of the Aetherquill to save his father and protect everyone he loves, or will Eldritch rewrite history itself? In Georgie Summers and the Scribes of Scatterplot, author Isaac Rudansky spins an exhilarating tale of strength, determination, and the power of friendship to lift you from the depths of loneliness and despair.

Review:

This book is a great middle grade fantasy! The world of the scribes and Scatterplot had magic that centered around reading and writing. I think kids who love reading will love this world. The ending was really shocking, so I hope there will be a sequel to clear things up!

There’s a special Crack the Code Challenge, where readers are invited to figure out the secret code hidden within the book. When readers find the clue to decipher the alphabet chart in the front of the book, they can crack the code and send in the message for a chance to win weekly prizes! This challenge is only available on the limited first print run of hardcovers.

Georgie Summers and the Scribes of Scatterplot is a fun and fast-paced middle grade fantasy!

Thank you Isaac Rudansky and Bookinfluencers.com for providing a copy of this book as part of a paid campaign!

Content warnings: death of parent, missing parent, memory loss, fire, violence

Have you read Georgie Summers and the Scribes of Scatterplot? What did you think of it?

Review: Nina Peanut: Creative Genius

Title: Nina Peanut: Creative Genius
Author: Sarah Bowie
Genre: Graphic Novel, Middle Grade
Publisher: Union Square and Co.
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback
Release Date: August 13, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Perfect for fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, here is a witty and humorous story about a girl’s claim to fame and her journey toward self-discovery.

Nina Peanut runs a very serious, very amazing YouTube channel; so why are her grandmother and her best friend, Brian, her only viewers? (Hint: it might have something to do with her obsessions with quirky stuff like a potato with a human face.) Nina wants to be as popular as queen bee Megan Dunne, and when Nina’s cat accidentally wanders into one of Megan’s videos, Nina realizes she just might have the chance to chase her dreams. But as Nina goes down the road of stardom, she starts to question whether or not fame is worth the price she’s paying.

Review:

Nina Peanut likes making videos for an online site, but she has to learn that getting likes online doesn’t mean that you will have good friends in real life. This is an important lesson for kids to learn these days when they want to gain popularity online, but that can take away from your real life interactions. Your online popularity can also be taken away or turned into something that makes you feel bad or embarrassed quite quickly as well. Nina was also funny, and she reminded me of a younger Georgia Nicolson character.

Nina Peanut: Creative Genius is a fun middle grade graphic novel!

Thank you Union Square and Co. for sending me a copy of this book!

Have you read Nina Peanut: Creative Genius? What did you think of it?

Review: Cinderella and the Beast (or Beauty and the Glass Slipper) (The Princess Swap #1)

Title: Cinderella and the Beast (or Beauty and the Glass Slipper) (The Princess Swap #1)
Author: Kim Bussing
Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: January 7, 2025
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

What would happen if Cinderella found herself in the beast’s castle, and Beauty woke up in some evil stepmother’s home? Fairy tales meet Freaky Friday in this series, where there’s a magical mix-up for every princess!

Ella’s spent her life dreaming about adventure, but it’s hard to have adventures when you’re stuck with a stepfamily who treat you like a servant. When she unexpectedly wakes up in a land far, far away, she’s thrilled at the chance to embark on an epic quest. That is, until she finds herself trapped once more—this time in the castle of a dangerous beast.

Belle, meanwhile, has plans. Her family’s trading company is on the brink of ruin, and to save it, she’s going to enter—and win—a royal competition in the prince’s honor. But when she unexpectedly winds up in a cellar with a wicked stepfamily who have their own plans to keep her from the competition . . . things get complicated.

Happily-ever-after couldn’t feel farther away. Can Ella escape the beast’s clutches? And can Belle get rid of this stepfamily in time for the competition?

For other Princess Swaps, don’t miss Snow White and the Dragon (or, Sleeping Beauty and the Seven Dwarfs)!

Review:

This book is such a clever twist on these classic fairytales. Cinderella and Belle had to live through each other’s story to get back to their former lives. Their lives were interconnected in a unique way. Their stories similar in the way that they had to both escape the place where they were being held captive. Though there were many similarities in the plot, there were some new additions to the stories.

Cinderella and the Beast (or Beauty and the Glass Slipper) is a great fairytale with a twist!

Thank you Tundra Books for providing a digital copy of this book!

Content warnings: death of parent (off page)

Have you read Cinderella and the Beast (or Beauty and the Glass Slipper)? What did you think of it?

Review: The Queen of Thieves (The Moonwind Mysteries #2)

Title: The Queen of Thieves (The Moonwind Mysteries #2)
Author: Johan Rundberg, A.A. Prime (translator)
Genre: Middle Grade, Historical Fiction, Mystery
Publisher: Amazon Crossing Kids
Source: Firefly Books Distributed Lines
Format: Paperback
Release Date: March 5, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Mika will do what it takes to uncover a string of thefts in the city―and keep her fellow orphans safe. After a merciless winter, spring has sprung in 1880 Stockholm, and the city awaits the arrival of the SS Vega , the first ship to have sailed the Northeast Passage. Life is busy at the orphanage, but twelve-year-old Mika quickly notices that the older orphans are up to something―and it doesn’t look good. When Constable Hoff approaches her with information about thefts around the city, Mika becomes even more concerned about what the other kids are up to―and what they might be planning for the Vega celebration. The police will have no sympathy for orphans, and she’d hate to see her friends condemned to life in jail. But Mika soon finds herself in a bind she can’t get out of―one that could condemn her own life. Can Mika uncover who is really behind the thefts in the city and keep her friends safe, without getting caught? Find out in this breathless sequel to The Night Raven.

Review:

The Queen of Thieves is a story about orphans living in Stockholm in 1880. Mika solves mysteries involving the orphans she looks after. I was surprised at the twists and turns in the story. There were some heartbreaking parts, about the orphans wanting to be adopted and find their forever family. There are a couple of ongoing mysteries about Mika’s origin and a baby in the orphanage, so I’m looking forward to finding out more answers in the next book!

The Queen of Thieves is a great historical middle grade mystery!

Thank you Firefly Books Distributed Lines for sending me a copy of this book!

Content warnings: death of parent (off page), child abuse

Other books in the series:

The Night Raven (The Moonwind Mysteries #1)
The Lost Ones (The Moonwind Mysteries #3)

Have you read The Queen of Thieves? What did you think of it?

Review: Impossible Creatures (Impossible Creatures #1)

Title: Impossible Creatures (Impossible Creatures #1)
Author: Katherine Rundell, Ashley Mackenzie
Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Source: Publisher
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: September 10, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

The day Christopher saved a drowning baby griffin from a hidden lake would change his life forever. It’s the day he learned about the Archipelago, a cluster of unmapped islands where magical creatures of every kind have thrived for thousands of years—until now. And it’s the day he met Mal, a girl on the run who desperately needs his help.

Mal and Christopher embark on a wild adventure, racing from island to island, searching for someone who can explain why the magic is fading and why magical creatures are suddenly dying. They consult sphinxes, battle kraken, and negotiate with dragons. But the closer they get to the dark truth of what’s happening, the clearer it becomes: no one else can fix this. If the Archipelago is to be saved, Mal and Christopher will have to do it themselves.

Review:

Impossible Creatures is a great middle grade adventure. I loved the vivid world building. There is a bestiary in the back of the book which is so helpful to see what the creatures look like. I loved the illustrations throughout the book. It was nice to see the characters and story come to life in the illustrations. I’m so curious to see what will happen in the next book!

Impossible Creatures is a beautiful middle grade story!

Thank you Penguin Random House Canada and Tandem Collective for providing a copy of this book!

Content warnings: death of parental figure, death of animal

Have you read Impossible Creatures? What did you think of it?

Review: The Hotel Balzaar

Title: The Hotel Balzaar
Author: Kate DiCamillo, Júlia Sardà
Genre: Middle Grade, Historical Fiction
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Source: Publisher
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: October 1, 2024
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

In a wise and magical follow-up to The Puppets of Spelhorst, Kate DiCamillo revisits the land of Norendy, where tales swirl within tales—and every moment is a story in the making.

At the Hotel Balzaar, Marta’s mother rises before the sun, puts on her uniform, and instructs Marta to roam as she will but quietly, invisibly—like a little mouse. While her mother cleans rooms, Marta slips down the back staircase to the grand lobby to chat with the bellman, study the painting of an angel’s wing over the fireplace, and watch a cat chase a mouse around the face of the grandfather clock, all the while dreaming of the return of her soldier father, who has gone missing. One day, a mysterious countess with a parrot checks in, promising a story—in fact, seven stories in all, each to be told in its proper order. As the stories unfold, Marta begins to wonder: could the secret to her father’s disappearance lie in the countess’s tales? Book two in a trio of novellas bound by place and mood—with elegant line art by Júlia Sardà—The Hotel Balzaar masterfully juggles yearning and belief, shining light into every dark corner.

Review:

Marta’s mother works at the Hotel Balzaar while Marta creeps around the hotel during the day, being quiet and not disturbing anyone. One day, a woman arrives with a pet parrot. She tells Marta stories that remind Marta of her father who has disappeared. She realizes that the answers to her father’s disappearance may be hidden in these stories.

This story reminded me of the Eloise books and movies, since Marta lived in a hotel like her. However, there was a more serious tone since Marta was always thinking about her missing father. The story takes place decades ago and the beautiful black and white illustrations reflected that.

The Hotel Balzaar is a beautiful middle grade story!

Thank you @penguinrandomca and @tundrabooks for providing a copy of this book. This book was gifted to me from Penguin Random House Canada as part of the Holiday Book Magic Campaign! The Holiday Book Magic books are a curated list of books that are perfect for gifting and enjoying all year long!

Have you read The Hotel Balzaar? What did you think of it?

Review: Unicornia: Learning to Fly

Title: Unicornia: Learning to Fly
Author: Ana Punset, Diana Vicedo (illustrator)
Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Source: Publisher
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: December 3, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Do you believe in unicorns? School, friendship, and a certain magical beast will enchant beginning readers in this first of a series.

Welcome to Unicornia, the most wonderful place ever! Claudia is about to start her first day at the Unicornia Academy of Magic, where she’ll learn all about spells, potions, and most importantly, unicorns! But she will need to ace her first unicorn flying test at the end of the week if she hopes to advance. With the help of her new friends, will Claudia learn to ride in record time? Get ready for unicorns, glitter, and magic galore in this shimmering story of friendship and fun. Originally published in Spain, the popular series, with sweet illustrations and a simple, humorous text, is poised to charm young unicorn fans everywhere.

Review:

Claudia and her family have just moved to Unicornia, where unicorns fly in the sky. She’s excited to start her first day at Unicornia Academy of Magic where she will learn about potions and magic. However, she’s nervous about learning to ride a unicorn. Claudia must ace the flying test at the end of the week to be able to continue in the class, so her new friends join together to teach Claudia how to get comfortable riding a unicorn.

This is such a cute, illustrated chapter book. I loved that the illustrations were coloured in black, white, and pink. Claudia learned to make friends who in turn taught her how to fly a unicorn. Even though she was scared at first, Claudia faced her fear and learned how to do it.

Unicornia: Learning to Fly is a fun chapter book!

Thank you Penguin Random House Canada and Tundra Books for providing a copy of this book! This book was gifted to me from @penguinrandomca as part of the Holiday Book Magic Campaign! The Holiday Book Magic books are a curated list of books that are perfect for gifting and enjoying all year long!

Have you read Unicornia: Learning to Fly? What did you think of it?

Review: Let It Glow

Title: Let It Glow
Author: Marissa Meyer, Joanne Levy
Genre: Middle Grade, Contemporary
Publisher: Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: October 1, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

When Aviva Davis and Holly Martin meet at the holiday pageant tryouts for their local senior’s center, they think they must be seeing double. While they both knew they were adopted, they had no idea they had a biological sibling, let alone an identical twin! The similarities are only skin deep, though, because while Aviva has a big personality and even bigger Broadway plans, Holly is more the quiet dreamer type who longs to become a famous author like her grandfather.

One thing the girls do have in common is their curiosity about how the other celebrates the holidays. What better way to discover the magic of the holidays than to experience them firsthand? The girls secretly trade lives, planning to stage a dramatic reveal to their families at the pageant. Two virtual strangers swapping homes, holidays, and age-old traditions–what could possibly go wrong?

Review:

When Holly Martin and Aviva Davis sign up to perform at a holiday pageant at a senior’s residence, they discover that they are identical twins. Both the girls know they’re adopted but they didn’t know that they had a twin. Holly’s family celebrates Christmas and Aviva’s family celebrates Hanukkah. They are both curious about each other’s holidays, so they decide to switch places for a few days until they can reveal their identities at the pageant. However, the girls don’t know much about each other, so they have to work hard to hide their identity in their new families.

This was such a fun holiday story! The Parent Trap is one of my favourite movies, and this story was like a holiday version of it. My family celebrates Christmas so I knew the Christmas traditions that Holly’s family did. I liked learning about Hanukkah in this story. Aviva was also learning about her family’s traditions, so her and Holly were both being taught throughout the story.

Let It Glow is a fun middle grade holiday story!

Thank you Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for providing a digital copy of this book!

Have you read Let It Glow? What did you think of it?

Review: The New Enchantress (Alyssa McCarthy’s Magical Missions #3)

Title: The New Enchantress (Alyssa McCarthy’s Magical Missions #3)
Author: Sunayna Prasad
Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Contemporary
Publisher: S.A. Prasad Publishing
Source: Author
Format: Paperback
Release Date: March 15, 2021
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Cursed by a sorcerer’s hex, Alyssa McCarthy finds herself in a fight she can’t afford to lose, or everything she knows will be lost!

After she finishes her final year of junior high, fourteen-year-old Alyssa faces an uncertain future in more ways than one when a sorcerer casts a hex that leaves her with involuntary magical powers that are too dangerous to remove.

Unable to control her newly gained abilities Alyssa’s end-of-middle-school sleepover ends in disaster when she knocks her friends unconscious when her powers go out of control. If Alyssa can’t learn to master her magic soon, she will be cursed to forget her loved ones and serve as the warlock’s slave for all of eternity.

Her only hope is to focus on controlling her emotions if she is to break the curse. However, the difficulties of adolescence, along with the perils and growing disasters she faces, make Alyssa struggle even more. From putting her friends’ lives at risk to losing their trust, she continues to fear what will become of her if she fails.

Will Alyssa be able to break the hex and become the enchantress that she was meant to be, or will she become enslaved to the sorcerer forever?

Review:

Alyssa McCarthy’s magic powers have returned with the appearance of a new villain: Boo-Champ Corey. She has a sleepover with friends that ends in her friends being attacked and stolen away, which sends Alyssa on a hunt throughout the magical world for them. Alyssa has to regain the trust of her friends while also learning how to use her new powers and defeat Boo-Champ Corey.

This is a great third book in the series. It was action packed. Alyssa had to deal with regular friendship drama that most kids face, as well as learning how to use her magical powers. The writing and storytelling really improved throughout the series. The ending was open to more books in the future so maybe there will be more books about Alyssa McCarthy.

The New Enchantress is an exciting magical middle grade novel!

Thank you Sunayna Prasad and Bookinfluencers.com for providing a copy of this book as part of a paid campaign.

Content warnings: death of parents (off page)

Other books in the series:

Have you read The New Enchantress? What did you think of it?

Review: The Sea Train Chronicles: The Call of the Waves

Title: The Sea Train Chronicles: The Call of the Waves
Author: Darian Storm
Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy
Publisher: Parker Publishers
Source: Author
Format: Paperback
Release Date: August 22, 2024
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Every life is a unique tapestry woven from countless threads of experiences, challenges, and triumphs. I am an immigrant from a small island in the Caribbean who took on the challenges of adapting to a new way of life, culture, and lifestyle, all while dreaming of the past. As I sat down to write this story, I was reminded of the moments that have shaped who I am today-the ocean, adventure, and friendships. From the laughter and love of my childhood friends, family, and kids, to the trials and discoveries of my adult years, each chapter of my life has contributed to the person I have become. In these pages, I invite you to walk with me through the pivotal moments, the lessons learned, and the dreams pursued, reflected in the story that the main characters live and endure as they search for the Sea Train. Welcome to the journey. I hope that all of you get to have some fun.

Review:

Four teenage cousins and friends embark on a journey out of their village and find a coded map. It takes them a couple of years to decipher what it means, but they eventually learn that it is a map to the Sea Train. Each of the kids have different skills which they use on their epic journey.

This book began with detailed world building. There was everything from the locations in the town to the festivals that are celebrated throughout the year. I appreciated the attention to detail that the author put in to build this world. These details formed the foundation for the exciting journey that the main characters went on.

The Sea Train Chronicles: The Call of the Waves is a great middle grade fantasy!

Thank you Darian Storm and Bookinfluencers.com for providing a copy of this book for a paid campaign.

Have you read The Sea Train Chronicles: The Call of the Waves? What did you think of it?