Tag Archives: middle grade

Review: Josephine Against the Sea by Shakirah Bourne

Posted on April 11, 2022 by That Unique* Weblog

JOSEPHINE AGAINST THE SEA is a fast-paced middle-grade novel by Shakirah Bourne that blends the usual angst and challenges of middle grade stories (loss of a parent, best friend drama, questionable adults, feeling different) with mythology and magical threats to … Continue reading →

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Review: ALLERGIC by Megan Wagner Lloyd and Michelle Mee Nutter

Posted on March 2, 2022 by That Unique* Weblog

ALLERGIC by Megan Wagner Lloyd and Michelle Mee Nutter is a graphic novel that addresses allergies to animals, and so much more. Maggie, the main character, is feeling alone at home and at school. Her parents are preparing for a new … Continue reading →

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Review: Swimming with Sharks (Wild Survival)

Posted on February 20, 2022 by That Unique* Weblog

SWIMMING WITH SHARKS by Melissa Cristina Márquez is the #2 book in the Wild Survival series. As a stand alone story, readers do not need to have read the first book to enjoy this adventure. The Villalobos family has a … Continue reading →

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Review: The Magical Reality of Nadia by Bassem Youssef and Catherine R. Daly

Posted on December 11, 2021 by That Unique* Weblog

THE MAGICAL REALITY OF NADIA by Bassem Youssef and Catherine R. Daly is a lot of fun, and it deals with the usual middle grade topics of changing friendships, conflicts and bullying, self-identity, and even group work challenges. All this … Continue reading →

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Review: Just Be Cool, Jenna Sakai by Debbi Michiko Florence

Posted on November 24, 2021 by That Unique* Weblog

JUST BE COOL, JENNA SAKAI by Debbi Michiko Florence is a layered, thoughtful, and light exploration of how middle schoolers respond to dramas big (family divorce) and not-so-big (academic competition, friendship changes). This stand-alone follow-up to Keep It Together, Keiko … Continue reading →

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Review: RICK by Alex Gino

Posted on July 4, 2021 by That Unique* Weblog

RICK by Alex Gino is not a continuation of the award-winning GEORGE from a several years ago, but the themes and some characters are consistent. This important novel focuses on Rick, whose best friend heckled and harassed Melissa (the focus … Continue reading →

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The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James by Ashley Herring Blake

Posted on July 2, 2021 by That Unique* Weblog

“I’m going to die today.” That’s the opening line of the heart-breaking (in the best way) middle grade novel THE MIGHTY HEART OF SUNNY St. JAMES by Ashley Herring Blake. Sunny is a 12-year-old girl going into summer without her … Continue reading →

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Review: The Girl from the Sea by Molly Ostertag

Posted on June 3, 2021 by That Unique* Weblog

Molly Ostertag’s THE GIRL FROM THE SEA brings together both fantastical and very real emotions and events in a graphic novel that addresses first love, hiding one’s true self from friends and family, and coming-of-age. The fantastical arrives in the … Continue reading →

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Review: GEORGE by Alex Gino

Posted on June 1, 2021 by That Unique* Weblog

Reading Alex Gino’s GEORGE is such a complete and loving gift. George* is a 4th grade girl who struggles with figuring out how to let her family and friends know she’s not the boy they all think she is. From … Continue reading →

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Meow or Never by Jazz Taylor

Posted on March 22, 2021 by That Unique* Weblog

MEOW OR NEVER by Jazz Taylor is much more hefty on the issues than the cover makes it seem. What looks like a simple middle grade novel about a secret pet and a secret crush rustles up topics centered on … Continue reading →

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