⭐️four favorite books of summer 2024⭐️
MBH no. 31
Hello!
My kids headed back to school this week, and I’m just baffled that I have a 4th and 7th grader now. Neither seem very little anymore, and this summer especially made me realize how fast they are growing up. I try to be a “present” parent but I still feel like I’m constantly grasping at what was—feeling an uncomfortable sort of nostalgia.**
The past few months I noticed a distinct switch– where I used to feel like I needed to fill the time, now I feel like I have to find the time– for most things, reading aloud included.
But although our summer reading looks slightly different than during the school year, we still found several fantastic 4 and 5-star books that I’m excited to share. And while I’m kind of allergic to the “back to school” season (I know I’m in the minority here, but I just love summer and get less excited about the school rush /pressure/stress), it will be nice to get back to a more structured schedule– reading routines included.
Enjoy these books—fantasy, historical fiction, realistic fiction—there’s something for everyone here!
**Claire Zulkey from Evil Witches just published a newsletter today on this topic, so check it out here if you’re interested—I felt a lot better after reading it;).
Victoria Stitch (series), by Harriet Muncaster (2020, 2022, 2023)
“Have you been spying on me?” asked Victoria Stitch after a few moments. Her voice was low and measured, but Celestine could sense the danger in it.
“No,” she stuttered. “I was checking to see…if you were all right.”
“You were spying!” shrieked Victoria Stitch, throwing her door wide open. Her glassy expression twisted into anger, her eyes becoming little slits. Celestine stepped back.
“How dare you betray me!” screeched Victoria Stitch. “You of all wisklings!”
Victoria Stitch is a “wiskling”-- a glamorous, gothic fairy-like creature– who feels cheated out of her rightful place as queen of Wiskling Wood because of a flaw in the diamond in which she and her twin sister, Celestine, were born. Celestine (who was supposed to rule alongside her) has accepted this fact, but Victoria is determined to claim the throne—by any means necessary.
My 10-year-old tore through the first three books of this “gothic fantasy” series. The unique world of the wisklings, the sibling rivalry, and the engaging, twisty plot will hook readers who are ready for something a bit longer and darker than the author’s popular Isadora Moon series. (Which we highly recommend for chapter book readers!)
Oh, and the illustrations are so fantastic! Check them out on the author’s website
Recommended for ages 8-12
Max in the House of Spies: A Tale of World War II, by Adam Gidwitz (2024)
Max doesn’t want to be sent to London. He’s never left Berlin. He barely speaks English. He doesn’t want to live with strangers. Most of all, he doesn’t want to leave his parents behind.
On the Kindertransport boat to England, Max has never felt more alone–until he meets two unexpected travelling companions: a kobold named Berg and a dybbuk named Stein.
Germany is becoming more and more dangerous for Jewish families, but Max is still determined to go home. He’s hatching a plan to get back to Berlin. It merely involves accomplishing the impossible: convincing the British to make him a spy.
Connor and I both really liked this book– we became huge Gidwitz fans after reading The Inquisitor’s Tale– truly, one of the best middle grade novels I’ve ever read.
The characters, especially Max, feel real and immediate. Readers will love how he stands up to an antisemitic teacher and schoolyard bullies. They’ll also love his cleverness and how he manages to convince the British intelligence that they want an almost 12-year-old for a spy.
Gidwitz is an incredible storyteller with such a strong, unique narrative voice. In this book, he is especially good at balancing serious, dark, historically accurate events with humor, charm, and a bit of magic.
I recently read a wonderful interview between the author and Melissa Taylor of Imagination Soup. In the interview, Gidwitz discussed what he hopes the world will take away from his book. He emphasized the importance of readers enjoying the story: if they aren’t turning the pages, it doesn’t matter what “highfalutin” idea the author wants to share. However, when readers are truly invested, the author can pose important questions that readers will want to wrestle with and think critically about.
And Gidwitz says that the big question in this book (and its sequel, due out next year) is:
“Between what is right and what you love–how do you choose?”
-Adam Gidwitz, in conversation with Melissa Taylor (Imagination Soup)
Max in the House of Spies ends in a total cliffhanger—just an FYI. We are chomping at the bit for the release of the next book, Max in the Land of Lies.
Recommended for ages 11+
Saint Ivy: Kind at All Costs, by Laurie Morrison (2022)
Nana sighed. “I worry about you with your big, soft heart. Your brother–he lets everything out. But that heart of yours is like a sponge.”
What did that even mean, that Ivy’s heart was like a sponge? It was a good thing that Ivy cared about other people and tried to help them.
Having a kind heart–doing generous things and caring for other people–that was the thing that made Ivy special. It was the thing that made her Ivy.
She wasn’t a genius like Kyra–that had become obvious once they’d started middle school. She wasn’t an amazing singer like Peyton or a star athlete like Will. But she was kind.
The kindest.
Saint Ivy is the story of an 8th-grade girl who finds joy in being kind to others but is uncomfortable being as compassionate to herself. Ivy constantly pushes away her feelings about significant changes in her life– including how she really feels about her mom’s surrogacy, her parents’ divorce, and her changing relationship with her best friend.
When she receives a mystery email from someone who needs her help, Ivy jumps at the chance to show once again that being kind is her “thing”. However, her refusal to accept kindness or help from others causes tension and misunderstanding with her friends and family.
Such a warm, realistic, and relatable middle grade novel. While Ivy is 13 years old, the author presents her identity struggle in a way that even much younger readers will identify with— this would be a great read-aloud for parents with 4th-7th graders.
Recommended for ages 9-12
The Ranger’s Apprentice (series), by John Flanagan (published 2004- 2024)
‘The Rangers are a mysterious group of people,” the Baron said. “But there’s nothing about them to be frightened of–unless you’re an enemy of the kingdom.”
He could see that the boy was hanging on his every word, and he added, jokingly, “You’re not an enemy of the kingdom, are you, Will?”
This fantasy series is set in a world resembling medieval Europe and follows the adventures of Will, an orphan who dreams of becoming a knight. Instead, on his 15th birthday, Will is deeply disappointed when he is chosen to become an apprentice Ranger, because the Rangers and their “shadowy” ways have always made Will nervous. This mysterious group is revered for their stealth, camouflage, knife skills, and long-range weaponry. However, Will quickly realizes that the Rangers are crucial to the safety of the kingdom.
My son likes the blend of adventure and fantasy and how the characters constantly travel from one place to the next. The author introduces the reader to a different land (and with it, a different culture) in almost every book of the series. The battle scenes are intense and detailed, and my son said that the characters are “so real and you want to know what happens to them.” Superb world-building, intense action, characters that the readers care about? Definitely the recipe for a great older middle grade/ young YA book series.
There are 12 books in the original Ranger’s Apprentice series and 6 in the newer Royal Ranger series, with the 7th releasing this fall.
You can buy the first 3 books as a collection here
or
You can buy individual books or various collections on Amazon. (I’m not an Amazon affiliate, just sharing the link to make it easier for you!)
Recommended for ages 11+
Wishing you hours and hours of reading magic,
Katie
🚨P.S. ‼️ As a reminder, I created a storefront through Bookshop.org. This impactful organization donates all profits to local bookstores (more on that here).
If you purchase through one of my links or by visiting my storefront, I earn a teeny tiny commission, which supports my work on this newsletter.
(I’m obligated to keep reminding you, so sorry if you’ve read this 20 times😂)
The Ranger’s Apprentice is still thriving! I remember it being a hit when I was a kid. You love to see it!
This is great, Katie! All of these are new to me.