The Screaming Staircase [Lockwood and Co, #1] by Jonathan Stroud

The Screaming Staircase [Lockwood and Co, #1]
by Jonathan Stroud

Genre: Middle grade paranormal horror

My Rating: ★★★

Description:

Ever since the Problem began, and the dead started haunting the hallways and shadowed corners of England, teams of ghost hunting agencies have cropped up across the country, all with one purpose: combat the Visitors. Most of these teams have adult supervisors to secure their safety. Not Lockwood and Co.
Lucy Carlyle is used to danger. But when a ghost hunting assignment goes badly wrong and a new contract springs up to investigate one of the most haunted houses in Britain, she and her teammates will be tested to the limit. They have one night to earn their fortune. But first they have to survive it.


Overall Thoughts, aka, It Should Have Been Victorian

I bought this book mainly because it looked like it might be similar to Doctor Who (and I'm a hardcore Whovian, so that's a big plus in my books), and partly because I thought it was a book about Victorian ghost hunters. Well, I got part of it right. It was about ghost hunters for sure, but Victorian ghost hunters? No. I feel betrayed, because that cover screams "Victorian era" at me, okay? But hey, I ended up liking it anyway, so I guess that's a plus.

*note* I will probably be talking about the Victorians a lot in this post, and I want to apologize in advance. I know it's a really small thing to get so worked up over, but I wanted a story about Victorian ghost hunters so bad, so forgive my rantiness. *end of note*

The Characters

The characterization was kind of all over the place. Lockwood is hands down the best character. He acts like he should belong in the Victorian age a lot of the time, so whenever he used a modern word I had to do a double take and remember the time period it's set in. Lucy, the narrator, is okay, but she didn't really stand out to me as being awesome. But she didn't annoy me either, which is something I can't say about the last member of the trio. Let's talk about George for a minute, because he was really annoying! He's the stereotypical middle grade comic relief character, and it rubbed me the wrong way. I kept waiting for the author to turn that stereotype on its head, but by the halfway point I'd given up all hope. I can only wish that the sequels have some better character development for him, but since this is a middle grade series (which usually means fairly static characters) my hopes aren't too high.

Plot/Pacing

As for the plot... it was rather lackluster. The beginning set up something super cool and intriguing, but the introduction of a second plotline halfway through the book messed everything up. The author did try to tie the two plots together at the end, but it ended up not working very well (in my opinion.) I was also disappointed by the way the mystery element was resolved, but I wasn't in it for the mystery, so it didn't bother me as much as lackluster mysteries have done to me in the past. (Looking at you, The Lost Girl of Astor Street.)

Worldbuilding

I think my favorite part of the book was the ghosts. Which were awesomely creepy and... dare I say... fun? That sounds wrong, but hopefully some of you understand what I'm trying to say. There's all these different types of ghosts, with different levels of danger and creepiness. Some look like typical ghosts, some (apparently) like corpses, and some like shadows or blood (which is both "ew!" and "cool!" at the same time.) I also liked how the book explained why adults are sending kids into mortal danger to hunt ghosts. Only children and teens can actually sense ghosts clearly enough to be of any use fighting them. And speaking of fighting them, the kids use rapiers! Honest to goodness rapiers. How does that not scream "Victorian" at you?

However, despite my complaints, The Screaming Staircase was a fun, enjoyable read. Not a new favorite, but I'll definitely be looking at reading the sequels in the future. And would someone please write me a book about Victorian ghost hunters?

Content

Recommended for ages 12 and up.

This is advanced middle grade/early YA, so there's not much in the way of objectionable content. No swearing as I can recall. A few instances of rude humor, which irked me (can't stand it whatsoever.)
A character feels the emotions of a dead woman through a piece of jewelry, through which she gets the impression of bliss and pain. There are no real details, but there's an implication of the woman's relationship with a man.
Some of the ghosts could be disturbing. Scenes of peril. Several descriptions of dead bodies. There's a few descriptions of a severed hand and a skull in a jar. If a person is touched by a ghost, they turn blue and can die without proper treatment. Descriptions of blood. A few horror legends, including one about a man who collected the heads of the people he killed for fun. Mentions of suicide in the context of a story one character tells Lucy and the others.

Stargirl [Stargirl, #1] by Jerry Spinelli

Stargirl [Stargirl, #1]
by Jerry Spinelli

Genre: Middle grade contemporary

My Rating: ★★★★

Description:

Leo Borlock's life is pretty ordinary. He goes to an ordinary school in an ordinary town filled with ordinary people who blend with the crowd and try not to stand out too much. And then one day, a new girl shows up at Mica high school -- a girl who doesn't blend in, who doesn't even try. Her name says it all: Stargirl Caraway.
Stargirl becomes a bright spot in Leo's ordinary life. But in a school like his, unique and popular are two different things entirely. Soon, he's forced to ask himself -- what does his value more? His social standing, or the girl he's quickly beginning to fall in love with?

Overall Thoughts

My brothers were actually reading Stargirl for literature class this year, and my Mom (aka, the Literature teacher) told me I'd really like it. And guess what? I did. I actually read the whole thing in just a couple of hours. I liked the message of celebrating nonconformity. The writing style. And the homeschool rep! (Which I do not see enough of in fiction).

The Characters

Most of the characters were fairly stereotypical, but I'm going to venture to say that that was an intentional choice made by the author. The character that truly stands out is Stargirl herself, both in the story and on the page. Everyone else feels average, one of the crowd, including the narrator, Leo. But I think that this really helps emphasise the themes of the book.

Writing

The writing was really simple and also really impactful at the same time. I find that a lot of middle grade falls into one of two camps -- simplistic, dumbed down language choices, or simple, purposeful language choices that can be enjoyed by any audience. Stargirl falls into the latter category. I especially loved the descriptions of the desert, because those were just beautiful. 

Overall, I really enjoyed Stargirl. 

Content

Recommended for ages 9 and up. 

No swearing that I can remember. Mentions of kissing. Stargirl is bullied. 

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Wonder
by R.J. Palacio

Genre: Middle Grade contemporary

My Rating: ★★★★★

Description: 

August "Auggie" Pullman is just a normal kid. At least, that's how he sees himself. He just wishes other people would see him that way. He was born with a facial difference that has, up to this point, kept him out of public school, and now, starting fifth grade at Beecher Prep, he just wants everyone else to see him the way he sees himself -- perfectly, wonderfully ordinary.
But his classmates can't seem to get past viewing Auggie as different.

Overall Thoughts

I've wanted to read Wonder for a while. (Shout out to the awesome person who lent it to me!) It's an amazing story, and I'm so glad I finally got the chance to read it! I finished the whole novel in about a day and a half, which should give you some idea to how much I enjoyed it.

The Characters

I think the characterization was the strong point in this novel. I liked that the author chose to explore the situations from the point of view of multiple characters (you have Auggie, the main character; his sister, Via; her boyfriend and her best friend; and two of Auggie's friends, Jack and Summer.) Seeing all of the characters and their different points of view made the novel really unique. I loved seeing different sides to the same story, how different events meant different things to different people. All the point of view characters were well-developed and felt human. One character who didn't get a lot of development was Julian, the bully: however, I've read that R.J. Palacio wanted to tell his story, but couldn't find a way to do that in Wonder without disrupting the story. She released an e-book in 2014 called The Julian Chapter which tells his story. She said she didn't want to justify his behavior, but she did want to humanize him, which is what the book apparently does. Another addition to my TBR, apparently. :P

Plot/Pacing

The plot centers around Auggie's first year in public school, navigating fifth grade. (Also, yay for homeschool rep!) It's not an incredibly twisty or riveting plotline in and of itself, but it's compelling in its own, quiet sort of way. The everyday events in the lives of the people in Auggie's life are relateable and sympathetic -- I especially related to Via, Justin, and Miranda's POVs, because I recently graduated high school myself, and a lot of their struggles hit really close to home.

Writing/Theme

The message of the book was excellent -- a theme of kindness, forgiveness, and compassion that I believe is universal. Though the book is marketed as middle grade, I think that this book would appeal to many who have long since grown out of grade school, high school, even college. It's a lovely, heartwarming story.

Content 

Recommended for ages 8 and up.

Bullying. Name calling. One character punches another character in the face. Several boys are attacked by older boys, and a fight ensues, not described in detail. 

Several instances of bathroom humor.
I don't recall any specific instances of swearing.

City of Ghosts [Cassidy Blake, #1] by Victoria Schwab

City of Ghosts [Cassidy Blake, #1]
by Victoria Schwab

Genre: Middle Grade horror

My Rating: ★★★★

Description:

Cassidy Blake's parents are the Inspecters, paranormal investigators and authors whose latest project -- a TV show documentary -- will take them to some of the most haunted cities in the world.
Which would be just fine with Cassidy -- only she can actually see the ghosts. Since her near-drowning a year ago, she's been able to cross over the Veil between her world and the world of the dead. Her best friend is even a ghost.
When she arrives in Edinburgh, Scotland, and meets a girl like her -- someone who can also cross the Veil -- Cassidy realizes she has a lot to learn. About herself. About her strange powers. And about the Veil itself.
And she has to learn fast. Because the city of ghosts is far more dangerous than she ever imagined.

Overall Thoughts

City of Ghosts is a middle-grade horror novel by the author of The Monsters of Verity duology. I picked this up soon after reading Our Dark Duet, and while I didn't find it quite as good as The Monsters of Verity, it was still fun and enjoyable, and I will definitely be reading the sequel.

The Characters

The characters in this book were strong and honestly made the book for me. Cassidy, the main character, is spunky and also smart, and her character voice throughout the novel (it's written in first person point of view) was excellent and kept me engaged. 

Jacob, her ghost friend, was probably my favorite character. He's got a great sense of humor, but thankfully isn't delegated to the role of comic relief, as so many friends in middle grade tend to be. I actually really enjoyed the friendships portrayed in these books, and I'm excited to see them develop more in future installments. 

I also want to talk a bit about Cassidy's parents, because they were such a breath of fresh air. In so many middle grade and teen novels, the parents are totally out of the picture -- either dead, or abusive, or absent -- which serves as an excuse for why the main character is free to explore the story goal in sometimes unsafe ways. Cassidy's parents felt like real people, and I liked that they actually cared about their daughter and were just overall good, caring people?

Plot/Pacing

The plot was well-paced, but was also one of the weaker aspects of the novel. For a good portion of the book (I would say 60% or so), Cassidy is reacting: it's only when we hit the third act or so that we really see her acting towards a goal. It didn't really bother me, because the plot before that point was still good and engaging, but from a purely objective standpoint, not having a real goal for much of the book definitely weakened the overall structure.

Writing

The writing style was good -- not my favorite, by any means, but good. I don't really enjoy narrators who speak directly to the reader, and Cassidy was definitely one of those narrators, but I didn't mind it nearly as much as I usually do when reading this kind of narration. So, mostly my problems with the writing stem from my own individual preference, not from any objective issues.

Worldbuilding

The last thing I want to talk about is the setting and worldbuilding. I loved the descriptions of Edinburgh, and the descriptions of both the real world and the world beyond the Veil. They were vaguely creepy, and the whole book felt... grey and misty. I know that probably doesn't make much sense, so let me rephrase: this novel is atmospheric. Wonderfully so. 

I also found the whole "Ghost world" easy to follow along with; it never confused me even when new information about it was revealed. We're also left with a sense at the end that there is more about the Veil and the ghosts that Cassidy doesn't know yet, and I'm excited to see what new things will be revealed in Tunnel of Bones. 

Also, side-note: the ghost stories sprinkled throughout this book are so spooky. I'd really love to know if they were made up for the book, or if they are real ghost stories from the Edinburgh area. 

Content

Recommended for ages 11 and up.

I don't recall any specific instances of swearing, but I believe there may have been a few times when characters used the Lord's Name in vain. 

Violence is not described; this is a middle grade book, after all. A boy is trapped in a burning theater. Cassidy recalls her near-drowning before the beginning of the book. Several ghost stories are told and could be disturbing for some readers. One story recounts how a ghostly woman spirits children away from their homes. 

Brief description of a corpse. 

Keeper of the Lost Cities [Keeper of the Lost Cities #1] by Shannon Messenger

Keeper of the Lost Cities [Keeper of the Lost Cities, #1]
by Shannon Messenger

Genre: Middle Grade fantasy

My Rating: ★★★

Description:

Sophie has always been different. Not only is she a twelve-year old going through high school, but she can also hear the thoughts of those around her.

When she meets a mysterious boy who claims that Sophie is not who she thinks she is, she is thrust into a new world that will test her to the limits. 

For there are secrets in Sophie's past... secrets that some would kill for. 

Overall Thoughts

I'd heard a lot of hype about this book before I read it, so I came to it with a lot of expectations. While Keeper of the Lost Cities is a solidly written and enjoyable book, there was hardly anything that stood out to me as exceptional.

The Characters

In terms of characterization, it was hit and miss. Some of the allies were likeable and fun -- namely Dex and Keefe. I also liked Sophie's foster parents... I've completely forgotten their names. However, there were a few characters I couldn't help but hate -- a wise mentor figure and a nasty antagonist with no real motive for hating Sophie at all. I also didn't understand Sophie's obsession with Fitz.
Looking back on this book, I can't say that any of the characters stood out as exceptional or particularly interesting.

Plot/Pacing

The plot was fairly generic -- a girl with special powers discovers that she is, in fact, an Elf (it's not really a spoiler, guys, it's revealed in the first two chapters) and has to leave the human world so that she's safe -- from what, no one will tell her. I really liked Sophie's dilemma in the earlier chapters -- her having to leave her family and go somewhere strange and foreign to her. However, it was only for a couple chapters that this decision was prominent. I wish Messenger had gone into Sophie's emotions about this more.
However, the pacing was excellent, and there was never a dull moment. I have to hand it to the author, she really knows how to draw you in and keep you reading.

Worldbuilding

The worldbuilding was... unusual. Everything the Elves do, from teleportation to capturing starlight, is supposed to be science of some kind. While the world was interesting and the technology fun to read about, I almost wish Messenger had just decided to call the Elves' "science" what it was -- magic. I feel that my suspension of disbelief wouldn't have been tested so much if everything was just explained as magical and not psuedo-science, which kind of bugged me.

I think my biggest issue with the book was the fact that humans are treated as very second-rate compared to Elves. Elf culture is more refined, Elves don't get into wars, Elves are vegetarian and humane, whereas humans are almost thought of as, well, primitive. I wish Messenger had had Sophie turn this idea on its head, but nothing came of it. I hope that this issue is addressed in future volumes.

Content

Recommended for ages 8 and up.

This is a middle grade book, so there is very little content. Violence is fairly light and not descriptive. There are references to crushes, and one character mentions that he has four girlfriends. There is no swearing as I recall. Characters are drugged.

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

Image courtesy of Goodreads

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

Image courtesy of Goodreads

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

Image courtesy of Goodreads

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!