Middle Grade Novels With Teen Appeal

Middle grade is a wide and varied genre. Because of the vastly different reading levels, interests, and maturity within the 8-12 age range, some middle grade will only appeal to a small minority of kids, while others will appeal to many -- and beyond.
Here, I've compiled a list of novels marketed as middle grade, but which have teen appeal. Again, they are not rated in any order. Enjoy!

1. Keeper of the Lost Cities

Image courtesy of Goodreads

A middle grade fantasy in the spirit of Harry Potter. Sophie has heard the thoughts of the people around her since she was five years old. When a mysterious boy turns up, claiming to know more about her and her powers, she is thrust into a strange new world of magic.  This book was decent. While it never surprised me in any way, it was definitely engaging and kept me flipping pages. Some of the characters were well-written, too. 

2. The Ascendance Trilogy

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The False Prince, the first book in the Ascendance trilogy, introduces us to Sage, a young orphan who is unwillingly roped into a plot to impersonate the dead Prince Jaron and take over the throne. All three books are full of unexpected plot twists, revelations, and snarky humor (mostly from our hero, Sage.)

I definitely recommend these books. 4.5/5 stars. 

3. Sweep by Johnathan Auxier

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A beautifully written historical fantasy novel. Nan Sparrow is a chimney sweep -- every day she faces the perils of the climb, of fire, falling, getting trapped. But one day, she is trapped in a chimney fire, and she's sure she's met her end. 

But she wakes up -- and she isn't alone. A strange new creature has saved her life -- a golem made of coal and ash. Suddenly, Nan's whole life changes. Because now, she's not alone. 

This is a novel that speaks unflinchingly about the horrors that children faced as sweeps during the Industrial Revolution. It's a book that will make you smile, and it's a book that will certainly make you cry. While I don't agree with all of the author's worldview, I definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves a good story. 

4. Harry Potter

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Do I really need to write out a book blurb for this one? Yes? Fine. 

Harry Potter has always been... different. But when he finds out he's a wizard -- and possibly the most famous wizard alive -- things start to make sense. Sort of. He's enrolled in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and starts to learn how to control his powers. But there's way more happening under the surface than Harry realizes, and soon, he's fighting for his life. 

Harry Potter was my childhood. Honestly. I remember choking up listening to the Deathly Hallows at age eight, not wanting to watch the movies until I was finally (finally!) convinced, and playing Harry Potter themed games. And I'm being completely honest when I say this. The love of Harry Potter never left me. I love this series. And I always will. 

Honorable Mentions 

(These are books that may not appeal to everyone, or that I read quite a while ago and don't remember very well.)

- The Wingfeather Saga by Andew Peterson (this is a Christian fantasy, but I feel it would appeal to a wide variety of people. The humor might not be for everyone, however, and the first book was a little rambly. The sequel is much more cohesive.)

- The City of Ember by Jeanne Du Prau (Post-apocalyptic. I read this book years ago, but I remember enjoying at fifteen.)

- The Boundless by Kenneth Oppel (A magical realism/historical fiction novel. It's written in third person, present tense, and it's such an unusual POV choice that I feel it might annoy some readers.)

And that about wraps it up for now! Have you read any of the novels I mentioned? Have you read any other middle grade novels that you would add to this list? Let me know in the comments!

Spoiler Free Book Review: Skyward by Brandon Sanderson

Skyward [Skyward, #1]

by Brandon Sanderson

Genre: YA science fiction

My Rating: ★★★★★

Description:

Claim the stars.

Those words have driven Spensa Nightshade -- callsign "Spin" -- to redeem her family's honor as a pilot. The Krell attacks have only grown more vicious, and new pilots to fight them are growing rare. But many tell her she'll never make it. Then one day, she discovers the wreckage of a ship -- a ship with a soul.

As she attempts to repair the ship while navigating the hostile world of flight school and frequent Krell attacks, Spensa must face the truth about what happened to her father -- and what she fears might happen to her.

Overall Thoughts

Skyward blew me away. The plot, characterization, writing style... everything was beautifully written and made for an unforgettable story and a novel that I could not put down.

The Characters

The characters were all, in a word, excellent. Every member of Spensa's flight group has a well-developed personality, and each are distinct from each other, so that even though there is a rather large cast of characters, I was almost never confused by who was who (though the flight introduction scene had me a little worried!) Inter-character conflicts were well-written and purposeful; even some of the more "stereotypical" conflicts were turned on their heads as the book progressed.
Spensa as a protagonist was amazing, and her POV was well-developed with a distinct voice. Her character arc was truly incredible, but I can't say more without getting into spoiler territory. There were several other well-developed characters, including Spensa's ship and the Admiral of the air base.

Plot/Pacing

The plot is taut and well-paced; there's never a slow moment. Conflict abounds in Spensa's desperation to become a pilot, her fear of being proven the coward everyone thinks she is, her struggle to fix the wrecked ship, and the varied personalities and temperaments of the people she comes to know in flight school.  In a typical Sanderson fashion, there were several heart-stopping plot twists I didn't see coming. Seriously, the author needs a standing ovation just for his brilliant plot twists. The last act was pulse-pounding, and if the book was hard to put down before, it only got harder the further I read.

Worldbuilding

The world was well-described and original. The fact that the entire planet is wreathed in a junk field, and that most of the people living on the planet live underground, just made the symbolism involving stars all the more powerful. There were some elements of the world that were revealed near the end and not explained fully, but I have no doubt that we will get a more thorough explanation of these revelations in Starsight! 

Content

Recommended for 11 and up.

In terms of content, there was hardly anything objectionable. A few (maybe one or two) minor swear words.
There was no sexual content as far as I remember.
There was quite a bit of violence: planes are shot down, characters are wounded, a few characters are killed on-page -- but nothing is described graphically, and tends to look more at the emotional consequences of the violence than anything else. There are also several intense scenes during battles between the Krell and the pilots.

Awesome YA Friend Groups!

Putting together this list was way harder than it should have been. I sat for far too long scanning my bookshelf, trying to remember if the hero/heroine had any friends apart from their love interest. But yes. Fortunately, there are some pretty awesome friend groups in the tidal wave of YA fiction that has flooded the publishing market in recent years.
These groups aren't ranked (because picking favorites is near impossible for me and I'm not even going to attempt it at this point.)

1. The Crew of the Rampion (The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer)

Image courtesy of Goodreads

Reviews forthcoming. Stay tuned. 

This series deserves a special place in my heart for being one of the first YA series' I ever read. It also has an amazing group of teens and young adults who rise above their differences to save the earth. The character interactions in this series are amazing, funny, sad, and profound at different times. I loved seeing unlikely friendships develop. 

2. The Illuminae Group (The Illuminae Files by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff)

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Reviews forthcoming. Stay tuned. 

This series captured my heart, mind, and hours of my life I should have been spending washing dishes. (Shout out to you, Dad, for putting up with my consistently late chore habits!)

The friend groups in each individual book, as well as in the trilogy as a whole were so fun. (Obsidio, anyone?) Each character has their own distinct voice and place in the group, and I just loved reading their interactions, both through video surveillance and instant messages. Sarcasm abounds. 

3. The Reckoners (The Reckoners Trilogy by Brandon Sanderson

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Read my reviews for the Reckoners series: Steelheart, Firefight, and Calamity. 

In Steelheart and its sequels, the main character, David, joins with a shadowy band of rebels known simply as the Reckoners. The group he joins with is closely knit, and the character interactions between them are well written and believable. I loved that while some of the characters in the group were humorous, they still had intricate backstories and distinct voices. They weren't just there for laughs and had a real purpose. 

4. The Golden Trio (The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling)

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You know Harry Potter was bound to be mentioned at some point, right? This series is a perfect example of realistic friendships. I loved that throughout the books, the character's friendships grew with them. They became more mature, older, but at the same time, it's still easy to see the original friendship three eleven-year-olds started at the beginning of a new school year. This series has always been nostalgic for me; it was one of my favorites as a kid and still is. 

5. The Glenrock Brothers (The Safe Lands Trilogy)

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Reviews forthcoming. Stay tuned. 

Levi, Mason, and Omar are siblings from the town of Glenrock. When the village is attacked and many of the citizens taken to the Safe Lands, each of them has a part to play in rescuing their friends and family. I loved this series because of the brothers' relationships with each other. Each was different, but each illuminated parts of their personalities and deepened their characters. While they aren't always working together, eventually their ties as siblings bring them together to fight the injustices taking place in the Safe Lands. I highly recommend these books. 

6. Adrian's Team (Renegades by Marissa Meyer)

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Read my reviews for the two currently released books in the Renegades trilogy: Renegades, and Archenemies. 

Is it bad I have two series by Marissa Meyer on my list? I have no excuses, apart from the fact that she really knows how to write friend groups. While characterization in Renegades was patchy (see my review), Adrian's Renegade team was an excellent example of a friend group. I loved that we got to see many of their interactions through the eyes of Nova, the outsider, which coloured everything in a new light. 

The team is full of easy, casual friendships, which includes a lot of jokes and teasing, but they're also fiercely loyal to each other. 

7. The Pack (Blank Mastermind by Rosey Mucklestone)

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An indie book that captured my heart, Blank Mastermind is the story of a villain who gets amnesia and starts to wonder if the life he forgot was one he wants to remember.
The Pack has some really great characters and interactions. As villains, they're all incredibly flawed, but at the same time, incredibly loveable.
I definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves superheroes, amnesia stories, or well-written stories in general. (And anyone who loves the occasional Doctor Who reference!)

8. Skyward Flight (Skyward by Brandon Sanderson)

Image courtesy of Goodreads

Review forthcoming. Stay tuned. 

Yes, I know this is another Sanderson novel. What can I say? I'm obsessed. Skyward is the first book in a new science fiction YA series, about a girl named Spensa who dreams of becoming a pilot like her father in order to battle the Krell who seek to destroy her world -- and everyone along with it. 

Her flight group is full of well-developed characters who must learn to work together in order to not only survive, but save everyone and everything they love from destruction.

And that about wraps it up! Have you read any of the books I mentioned? Have you read any other YA books with great friend groups? Let me know in the comments!

Spoiler Free Book Review: Carve the Mark by Veronica Roth

Carve the Mark [Carve the Mark, #1]
by Veronica Roth

Genre: YA science fantasy

My Rating: ★★

Description:

Akos Kereseth and Cyra Noavek are sworn enemies. Akos is from Thuve, Cyra from the Shotet clan. The conflict between their people goes back decades.

Cyra is the sister of the cruel Shotet leader, Ryzek. She is also his weapon. Cursed with a currentgift that both gives her pain and allows her to inflict it on others, she has lived as a puppet to her brother's will for years. But no more. 

Akos is the son of an oracle in the nation of Thuve, one of the Fated, which he soon understands makes him more of a target than he realized. 

When Akos and his older brother are kidnapped during a Shotet raid, Cyra and Akos's lives intersect. 

Survival for both of them is the ultimate goal. But will they survive alone... or together? Can they defy the Fates that have governed them all of their lives?

Overall Thoughts

It's been months, and I still don't know what to think about Carve the Mark. On one hand, there were elements of the story I really enjoyed -- the characters were interesting, the storyworld was intricate and vibrant if a little confusing, some of the storylines were tension-filled page-turners. On the other hand, the plot rambled, the pacing was severely skewed, and some of the themes were... ahem... a little disturbing. 

I'm not going to get into any of the controversies surrounding this book (racism, self-harm, misrepresentation of chronic pain) because I don't feel I'm qualified to speak about these topics. Just know that these controversies do exist, and that there are many other reviews that address these topics and how they were portrayed in Carve the Mark. 

The Characters

In terms of characterization, all of the major characters were fairly well developed. Akos was different from what I expected, more gentle and bashful compared to Four from Roth's other series, Divergent. Cyra was probably the best developed character, and her POV was interesting to read. The main villain, Ryzek, has an original backstory that, while it doesn't make me sympathetic towards his actions, does throw everything he does in a new light. However, there were so many secondary characters -- many with similar names and personalities -- that it became hard to keep track of everyone.

Plot/Pacing

The plot... was very hard to pin down. There were so many rambly plotlines throughout this novel, and there was no overarching story goal to tie everything together. Many times when I thought that the plot was about to start just turned out to be another three-chapter ramble. The pacing was also patchy. Some sections of the novel flew by, and others moved slower than a slug on a glacier. That, controversies aside, was probably the biggest flaw of Carve the Mark. Without a solid story goal, the plot crumbles.

Worldbuilding

The setting had a very Star Wars-esque vibe to it. A solar system governed by a high council of sorts, a Force-like power called simply the Current, current-blades (basically light sabers). However, it was still an interesting world, with some fascinating descriptions of the cities and spaceships. I liked the beginning chapters' description of the ice-flowers opening, especially, and the description of one of the Thuvesite cities nearer to the end. I also thought that elements of the Shotet culture were interesting -- namely, the sojourn.

Content

Recommended for ages 16 and up. 

TRIGGER WARNING: Self-harm; drug abuse. 

Swearing was not uncommon; mostly limited to moderate cuss words. No f-bombs that I can recall, though I could be wrong. 

Sexual content includes romantic attraction between two characters; mentions of touching in a sexual manner, some scenes were kind of uncomfortable for me to read. At least two scenes where one character unclothes another to their underwear, not sexual. Innuendo and sexual references were not extremely common, but frequent enough to make me hesitant to recommend this to younger teens. Two characters are heavily implied as being lesbian and in a relationship. 

One character uses drugs as a means of coping with grief. The Thuvesites use ice-flowers for various drug-related uses, including poison, painkillers, and recreational use. Cyra takes painkillers to cope with her chronic pain.

Violence is not necessarily gory, but descriptive enough that sensitive readers could be disturbed. Minor spoiler warning: Part of Shotet culture dictates that every kill should be carved into the killer's arm. A character marks themselves every time they cause another person to suffer, which can be interpreted as self-harm.

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World

Summary

In the conclusion to the epic trilogy, Hiccup seeks out the mythic Hidden World where all dragons come from, while struggling to fight against the evil dragon slayer, Grimmel.

Image courtesy of Rambles from My Library

The Rundown

Plot: 3/5 stars

Characterization: 4/5 stars

Worldbuilding: 4/5 stars

Pacing: 3.5/5 stars
Theme: 4/5 stars

Animation: 5/5 stars

Overall: 3.5/5 stars

My Review

I was really hyped for Hidden World. As a huge fan of the first two movies, as well as the Race to the Edge TV show set in the time period between them, I was excited to see the ending for the trilogy. I have to admit that I was somewhat disappointed.
This was mainly due to the raving I'd heard about it beforehand, and I feel that if I hadn't had such high expectations, I could have forgiven some of the flaws in the plot that took away from my enjoyment of the movie as a whole.  

All of the settings were beautifully animated. The Hidden World itself was gorgeously portrayed, and I really enjoyed watching some of these scenes. 

I had some problems with some of the settings themselves, not on an aesthetic level, but because of what these settings do to impact the rest of the trilogy. Without giving away too much, I found that the Hidden World had almost too much of a utopic feel -- it felt almost unrealistic. 

In terms of the heroes, we had some fairly good development -- though character arcs for some of the more major allies would have been nice. Eret, son of Eret was barely part of the story at all, and makes me wonder what the point of making him a good guy in HTTYD 2 was. Most of the major characters were decently developed, mostly building off their characters from the previous films, so I can't complain. I also liked Astrid much better in this movie than in the other two movies, which makes me happy.

In terms of the villains, I feel the story could spent more time developing them. The main villain, Grimmel, had truly weak motivations and seemed very tacked on. I feel that if the writers had spent more time developing him, he might have come off as a scarier villain overall.
The other villains felt even more tacked on, and never really got any chance for characterization.

Plot is where Hidden World probably failed the most. The "Hidden World" plot line didn't really fit with the "defeat Grimmel" plot line, which made parts of the movie feel random. In my opinion, the writers spent too much time on Toothless and the Light Fury's courtship scenes -- though some of the scenes were beautifully animated, they didn't really add much in terms of plot.

I feel that if Grimmel's motivations had been somehow tied to the Hidden World, the plot would have worked better. 

In terms of pacing, it feels as though the writers tried to fit two movies into the space of one. If Hidden World had been split into two movies, with scenes added for character motivation and plot building, I feel it could have been less rushed. 

The ending, naturally, was an absolute tearjerker. It was super emotional for me, and I feel that this was a scene the writers pulled off brilliantly. That epilogue type scene at the very end was also extremely emotional. I'm willing to forgive the weak points in the plot because of the nostalgia and also for the story in general -- while it failed in terms of plot, it ended the series well and I was happy about that. 

This is a kid's movie, so obviously there isn't a lot of content. Some violence, on par with the violence in HTTYD 2. A joke about two characters getting married. Mentions of romantic attachments. Kissing. Toothless and the Light Fury engage in courtship rituals. 

A villain uses drugs to control dragons. 

No real swearing; any exclamations are made up and based on Norse mythology ("oh my Thor"). 

I recommend How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World for ages 4 and up.