#middle grade lit

[mccoppinscrapyard]

Read in 2022 (5/?)

A Kind of Spark by Elle McNicoll

❝ My Grandpa always said, people like me in the past might not have been the most sociable. Or the chattiest. But while everyone else was around the fireplace gossiping, we were out finding electricity. That's what my autism is. It's a kind of spark. ❞

[kaykedrawsthings]

My new graphic novel Break is available for pre-order! And I’m doing special signed and personalized pre-orders through Oblong Books. 

Break is the 6th book in the Click series following the adventures of Olive and her friends.

Summary: 

Spring Break is full of possibilities…but not for Olive.

This year, Olive is leaving her friends and all of their exciting vacation plans behind to visit her dad at his new apartment in the city.

Goober is thrilled to spend a whole week with their father and has a long list of activities for their time together. Olive, on the other hand, still remembers the hurt of their dad moving halfway across the world. She would rather spend time with her friend Bree or scrolling through her new phone to keep up with everything she’s missing back home than catch up with him.

As the week winds on, the normally easygoing Olive finds feelings of loneliness and resentment throwing her out of whack. Is there any hope of salvaging the visit—or will Olive’s Spring Break be a Spring Bust?

Color by Jess Lome Lettering by Lor Prescott

[authorclaribelortega]

Witchlings Coven Houses: Moth House

Motto: Mysterious, Morbid, Dependable friends  

House colors – Black and Grey

House gem – Obsidian

​

In touch with their emotions and with special insight into the other side, Moth House members are sensitive and obsessed with all things ghostly. These chaotic good witches will bake you a delicious cake in the shape of a casket to celebrate a special occasion, hold your hand and cry with you in a cemetery you if you’re feeling sad, or help you hex your bully. Once they’ve let you in their life, they will do anything for you, so long as that doesn’t include their greatest fear: because while they might not be afraid of death, public speaking is their one true nightmare. They are great listeners but do not open up often, choosing to keep their own problems to themselves. Their closed off nature can sometimes lead to them losing their temper. It takes a long time for them to reach their limit but if they’re wronged one too many times, they do not forgive easily. Moth House members love to express themselves by writing, and excel at writing stories, poems or even songs. These witches are curious about the afterlife and often have ghost companions as they’re able to earn their trust a lot easier than other witches can. With one foot in this world and one foot in the other, Moth House members get easily distracted and daydream often. Their taste in clothing and media aligns with their house traits and Moth House members love to listen to moody music, wear all black, and scare themselves with horror films. Moth House members are a tight knit group that tends to keep to themselves but with time, can be welcoming of other coven members, especially if they’re being ostracized. 

Strengths: 

Patient 

Trust-worthy 

Sensitive​

Professions: Moth House members most often go on to become authors, musicians, undertakers, university professors or ghost liaisons. Cemetery maintenance is also a favored career path. 

Fun fact: Great at baking, you can almost always smell something delicious being made if you walk past this Coven House.

Are you in Moth House? Would you be happy being sorted there?

Moth House art by Lissy Marlin

[radedneko]

It was nothing like her own Wood. She had never entered Noc Forest; people got lost there all the time. There were tales about bandits, about children eaten by wolves. Mother said they weren't true, but it was easy to believe. The few paths were winding and twisted, and the trees pressed together, blocking what little light came from the setting sun. A moment after they'd stepped off the lane, they were in darkness.

~Goblin Market by Diane Zahler

[wizard-legs]

Another sun sprite/solar flairy!! Cannot get enough of these little fellas.

[junipum]

the boy is HOMEEEE ignore old plushies my bookshelf is a mess rn. why does he look so sad

[kelseykingillustration]

Crossing the stream

[mando-abs]

Guys, I’ve read the Wild Robot

And let me tell you, if I hadn’t recently taken a Children’s Literature class in college, I would’ve said this was the best middle-grade book I’ve read since elementary/middle school. I almost read this book in one night (I was sleepy 😴) like I couldn’t put it down.

The heart behind this book is astounding and it never shies away from showing complex and difficult concepts. You will fall in love with Roz and her gosling son along with all of the other animal on the island.

If you’ve got younger ones, I highly recommend reading this to them or having a little book club moment with them. However, be prepared for whatever hard questions may come your way (i.e. circle of life and climate issues). You know your child and how much they can handle/understand. If you’re like me and much older, it’s a quick read and a great way to finish off a long day. It’s a part of a trilogy and you bet I’m patiently waiting for my hold on a copy at the library.

If the movie is anything like the book (which, given a rewatch of the trailer, it’s looking like so), we are in for a special treat.

[mega-banette]

Thinking about the order of the roll call. Specifically how Swan is last and is said to have everyone else’s backs…

[adamsvanrhijn]

still not fully here but wanted to say my bones are better now and i do not need surgery <3 (still in a lot of pain but. i can move forward now!!)

and with my new lease on life i have decided i am going to close read a bunch of high school level english-language literature by the time of my birthday in like less than a month and a half because i dropped out and it is long past time i gain an adult understanding of the broader canon and it's still. really weird that i have not fully read the great gatsby. like you'd think at least in the last 5 years i would have picked it up you know

SO if you still remember novels and short stories you read in english in a high school class, especially if they are public domain, i would appreciate inbox recommendations.. and then i can make a little list of stuff i did actually read in high school and stuff i want to read now. and then get to it.

[amiablesummer]

my favourite stories - 2/? - The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens

Time, Kate was learning, was like a river. You might put up obstacles, even divert it briefly, but the river had a will of its own. It wanted to flow a certain way. You had to force it to change. You had to be willing to sacrifice.

[haveyoureadthistransbook]

The Witch Boy by Molly Knox Ostertag

goodreads

In thirteen-year-old Aster's family, all the girls are raised to be witches, while boys grow up to be shapeshifters. Anyone who dares cross those lines is exiled. Unfortunately for Aster, he still hasn't shifted . . . and he's still fascinated by witchery, no matter how forbidden it might be. When a mysterious danger threatens the other boys, Aster knows he can help -- as a witch. It will take the encouragement of a new friend, the non-magical and non-conforming Charlie, to convince Aster to try practicing his skills. And it will require even more courage to save his family . . . and be truly himself.

Mod opinion: I haven't heard of this book before, but it sounds sweet.

[radedneko]

She knew Aunt Teri loved her. She said so in all the birthday cards she sent, always with a crisp five-dollar bill tucked inside. But was it possible her aunt didn't like her? And was this how it was for Frankie at home?

~Frankie & Bug by Gayle Forman

[wizard-legs]

As a wee bairn I learned that meerkats use their tail as a “third leg” for extra support when standing on their hind legs, and that fun fact has never left my mind

[nicolettesketching]

Books, plants, and cats❤️

[mdashow]

One of my favorite illustrations - originally painted in landscape format - revised and reformatted to look more like a middle grade book cover for my portfolio. (It's not a real book though. Sorry!)😄 (All graphic design by me, too!)