My Favorite Middle Grade Novel This Year

(at least thus far this year)

 

The Time Fetch by Amy Herrick,  Algonquin Young Readers

As the winter solstice nears, the days get shorter. But what if the days were literally getting shorter as time was lost, forever? Edward doesn't believe in his aunt's new agey Solstice nonsense until the unthinkable happens. Annoying classmate Feenix disappears and no one seems to notice. Pumpkins decay in the course of a single class. And time has started disappearing. Though Edward would rather do the easy thing than the right thing, he and three classmates will have to venture into the snow if the world is to be put back into balance. Take the dimensional characters and realistic relationships from Rebecca Stead's books and mix with the strange magic of The Peculiar; the result is Amy Herrick's stunning middle grade debut. 

I think it has Newbery potential. 

A Wrinkle in Time: Graphic Novel

Translating a book to another medium is always difficult, but Hope Larson's graphic novelization of A Wrinkle in Time retains most of the scenes and dialog. While I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who hasn't read the book (everybody needs a chance to visualize the book on their own), Hope's adaptation will make the text more approachable to visual learners and L'Engle fans. Black and white illustrations are given added depth with the use of a pale blue. I was intrigued by the way Faith highlights Meg's emotional arc in her adaptation. But no matter who you are, you're sure to find a plot, character or mood detail interpreted in a way you'd never considered and it is this that makes the adaptation worth reading.

The Sequel to A Discovery of Witches (finally!)

Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness

Viking (Penguin) July 10, 2012

Waiting for this book was excruciating- but after reading it, every moment spent waiting was worth it. When Diana and Matthew time-walk to Elizabethan London, Matthew thinks he has everything under control. But time has changed him, and surprises (and secrets) lurk. Harkness has woven history and magic together, complete with accurate portrayals of historical figures, artwork, and sciences. The result is a book as much for those who love historical fiction as fantasy or romance. As with A Discovery of Witches, Deborah Harkness's loving descriptions of manuscripts and magic are just as appealing as her descriptions of Matthew. Her knowledge of history and an ability to craft intricate plot makes Harkness the perfect writer for educated women looking for an escapist read (and the book makes a perfect post-finals gift).

Sci-Fi Time Travel

The Klaatu Diskos 1: The Obsidian Blade by Pete Hautman
One day Tucker's father disappears into a waver in the air, and returns a short time later with a strange girl. He won't say where he's been, or offer up a reason why he's lost his faith. Then Tunker's mother starts behaving oddly, and then, one morning, both his parents are gone.

Though the book begins slowly, I think this is due to it's place as the first book in a series, and therefore must set up characters and a world before plunging readers into the mind-bending places the Diskos leads to. Hautman uses the Diskos as portals for time-travel, portals that bring both readers and characters to question concepts of religion, progress, medicine, and history. I'm haunted by this book, continually trying to make the connections between time, space, and characters. Hautman has created an incredibly intricate world, and while only some strands of the story have come together by the end, I have no doubt that his sequels will prove he has spun a masterful web indeed.

A Year Without Autumn

Candlewick, October 11, 2011

Sometimes I wish I could go back in time and hand books to my nine year-old self. From the first chapter of A Year Without Autumn I wished I could do this. It seems that there are relatively few books these days that start with loving, supportive families. Jenni's parents are in-love and expecting their third child, and while her little brother can be annoying, Jenni loves him nevertheless. They are looking forward to being a family of five and enjoying their yearly one-week family vacation. Like every year, Jenni's best friend Autumn will be having vacation the same week, in the same time-share community as Jenni. As is often the case with best friends, Jenni and Autumn are very different. Autumn is out-going, adventurous,and daring- the daughter of artists. Jenni is sensible, intelligent, and cautious...a trait few young protagonists are applauded for.

The first day of vacation, Jenni goes to meet Autumn, taking the old elevator up to her condo when the new one doesn't arrive. But Autumn isn't in her condo, someone else is. Autumn's parents' car is gone, and things look slightly different. When Jenni returns to her parents' condo, she's met with a messy living room, a baby sister, and an overly anxious mother. These are only the beginning of the changes, the biggest of which is that Autumn's little brother is in a coma, thrown from a horse one year ago. This pivotal event has completely altered both families, and wrecked Jenni and Autumn's relationship.

Liz Kessler carefully handles the issues faced by both Jenni and Autumn in their possible future. As Jenni doesn't get mentally older when she time travels, the snippets she sees, though difficult, are entirely age appropriate. In presenting only snippets of Autumn & Jenni's future, Kessler has allowed readers to view the situations through their personal experience, meaning the extent of difficultly will reflect what they are ready to handle.

Emotionally wrenching, slightingly magical, and with a happy ending that fits perfectly, A Year Without Autumn impossible to put down. If my nine year-old self had been handed this, I would have hidden under the covers until I finished reading (despite school in the morning) and then immediately passed the book on to a friend.

A Year Without Autumn is a coming of age story that acknowledges the difficult realities and unexpected joys of growing up and assures readers that despite how things seem, they can always change.

Ages 9-12

How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe

by Charles Yu
Pantheon, September
A novel about a man coming to terms with his father and his place in the world while travelling in (or avoiding, as the case may be) time. Part Neal Stephenson, part Dave Eggers, with a dash of Douglas Adams.

Charles Yu's father invented time travel before disappearing, his mother lives in a loop of time in which she makes dinner over and over again, and Charles, a time machine repair guy, spends his life existing out of time, searching for the time/space to which his father disappeared. From explanations of tenses as a basis for time travel to job opportunities in the Death Star's accounts receivable, How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe covers the spectrum of science fiction today.

Middle Grade

A Series of Unfortunate Events
By Lemony Snicket
The Baudelaire children have an unfortunate future when their parents die. In fact, one horrible thing after another happens, and, of course, adults are no help of all. It’s up to the three siblings to evade Count Olaf, a master of disguise intent on stealing their fortune, despite the bewildering misfortunes that beset them. Luckily, Klaus has knowledge obtained from reading, Violet is an inventor, and the baby Sunny, well, she has some sharp teeth. Grade 2 & up. A Wrinkle in Time
By Madeleine L’Engle
One of my all-time favorite books. Meg’s father has been missing for years, gone on some top-secret scientific project for the government. One fall night a strange visitor, Mrs. What, and her friends Mrs. Who and Mrs. Which, appear to take Meg, her brother Charles Wallace, and her new friend Calvin on an adventure to save Meg’s father. This is no ordinary journey, requiring travel in time and space to reach their destination. And getting there is only the beginning. This classic science-fiction story is just as wonderful today as in 1963– there’s a reason the protagonist of When You Reach Me, this year’s Newbery Winner, carries a copy around with her. Ages 8 & up.


Peter & the Starcatchers
By Dave Barry & Ridley Pearson
Have you ever wondered how Peter Pan came to fly? Or exactly why he and Captain Hook are mortal enemies? The orphan Peter and brave Molly have to use their wits (and a band of porpoises) to outsmart thieving pirates intent on stealing the magical starstuff. Barry & Pearson will take you on a thrilling adventure with pirates, secret societies, fierce natives, sea battles, traps, and a pinch of magic, revealing the exciting adventures behind the boy who never grew-up. 3rd grade & up.


The Brixton Brothers: The Case of Mistaken Identity
By Mac Barnett
In the spirit of the Hardy Boys, the Brixton Brothers is a rip-roaring adventure. Steve Brixton is not a detective, but when the league of librarians (the most secret agents of the US government) catch him checking out a book on needlework, they target him as an enemy agent. With the help of his Bailey Brothers detective books, Steve is off to catch the true crook! This adventure will have you reading under the covers with a flashlight. Ages 8 & up.

2010 Newbery Award & the beloved A Wrinkle in Time

I love A Wrinkle in Time. Actually, I love all of Madeleine L'Engle's work. And so, any book that can put A Wrinkle in Time back on the NYTimes Bestseller list is obviously a book worth reading- and, in this case, worth a Newbery.

That's right, this year's Newbery Award: When You Reach Me, by Rebecca Stead. The best description of this book is From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler meets A Wrinkle in Time. From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler in that the setting is very similar, NYC 1979. A Wrinkle in Time is constantly referred to by the protsgonist, Miranda, who keeps a copy of it with her at all times. The story is not as otherworldly as Wrinkle, but contains moments hinting at other-worldliness, with the possibility of tesseracts running through the novel (if you don't know what a tesseract is, it's a wrinkle in time. Read the book of the same title to learn more). But a hint of this magical science is all you need. The complex issues of friends, classmates, the hobo at the corner, and realities of being a latch-key kid all feature in the narrative.

Young readers will be smitten with Miranda's NYC latch-key existence. And while Miranda's life isn't perfect, it isn't bad. That's something I admire about Rebecca Stead's narrative, the normal issues of friends and school are enough, there's no horrible family life or abuse to deal with on top of everything.

A fifth-grade boy of my acquaintance, notoriously difficult to find books for, devoured this and loved it to the point of recommending it to others. Also recommended by middle school teachers of discerning taste and now the Newbery committee, this is not to be missed. However, if you haven't yet read A Wrinkle in Time, read it first, as it will only serve to enrich your experience of When You Reach Me.

The Time Traveler's Wife

Julie Diewald finished The Time Traveler's Wife at 2:30 am and I had a gushing email by 2:45 am. I thought I would share her emotional response with you in the hopes that it might persuade you to read the book- at least more than any normal review might. Or, read this if you've already read the book to know that others feel the same way (emotional and confused over the complexities of time travel).

Julie: So I just finished it.

It was an absorbing read and yet one I feared to end. I knew it would rip at my heart. I know it will leave an imprint in my mind for awhile. Tears. My heart aches. A beautiful picture of life with all its bumps and blessings. I enjoyed Clare being an artist and Henry a librarian. It's like our perfect combination of people. When Clare spoke of the creation of art, I understood her completely- as I'm sure you did. The author managed to tie up all the appearances and unknowns in such a complicated weaving of words that I'm satisfied but not. Ooh how could she rip him out of Clare's life? And how could Clare go forward when he is integral to her life? Ahhh. And the last scene- why not tell us more, paint the scene longer? I feel like Clare- waiting for something that has just vanished, unable to recapture. I don't know what to do now. sadness. Thankyou for the book. I enjoyed it. Even after all of these words, part of me feels like I never fully bonded to the characters. Surely to Henry more than Clare. He has a larger amount of book time. Maybe because of the realness of the world. The darkness and the light. Maybe because I have never experienced this kind of love. Or maybe the author has yet to convince me of their truths? I wonder what you thought of the book.

Marika (reply): That is a wonderful email. In all seriousness, I just got teary reading it. What with all the time travel, he never really knows how much life is truly left, and yet he knows the end, whereas Claire knows time, and is stuck there, yet tries to hold on to time which is out of joint.

I think you watch them more than bond. You are inexplicably unable to take your eyes off of them, which is made even more difficult when there are two Henrys or Claire and Henry are separated, or he is with a different her.

There is a trailer now for a movie of the book. I don't think it is the sort of thing that would translate well- I think the movie will just be a shoddy romance, without the true human connection pushed and stretched around time.

On another note, time travel has different rules in every single book, movie, television show,

game, etc. Which is your favorite form? What movie or book has a system in which all the

creator's rules make sense? What examples seem to contradict one another at every turn?