BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MIDDLE GRADE MARCH PROMPTS

Here are some recs for each of the 5 prompts for #middlegrademarch
Be sure to check out ‪@LifeBetweenWords1‬ and ‪@OnTheMiddleShelf‬ for their recommendations today as well.
BOOKS MENTIONED:
The Penderwicks - amzn.to/3YZfqae
Finding Langston - amzn.to/3EyKGEK
Rayme Nightingale - amzn.to/3m2OhUV
Esperanza Rising - amzn.to/3ZdMkDI
When Stars are Scattered - amzn.to/3ILMnBg
Brown Girl Dreaming - amzn.to/3YU6iDK
A Wrinkle in Time - amzn.to/3xLoGCz
When You Reach Me - amzn.to/3IPgBTQ
The Last Cuentista - amzn.to/3SqNVnb
The Giver - amzn.to/3XXg4Un
Song for a Whale - amzn.to/41mcFRJ
City of Ember - amzn.to/3SsNUiH
The Strangers - amzn.to/3ILAnj0
Among the Hidden - amzn.to/3KvX2kC
Refugee - amzn.to/41yn6C3
The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise - amzn.to/3IttEcp
Inside Out and Back Again - amzn.to/3xMlmXX
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon - amzn.to/3KysVt4
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind - amzn.to/3KsVOGZ
Sweep - amzn.to/3SrR1rq
Forget Me Not - amzn.to/3Ex1Xhn
Out of My Mind - amzn.to/3lVt4fL
A Boy Called Bat - amzn.to/3ILMnBg
Counting By 7s - amzn.to/3Smr0tt
Orion and the Starborn - amzn.to/3lVsP4l
A Duet for Home - amzn.to/3knrBhP
The Last Mapmaker - amzn.to/3XUBQbc
(Links are affiliate links. Thanks for clicking and shopping.)
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#booktube #readathon #bookrecommendations

[@Angelareadsalot]

A Wrinkle in Time is THE book that turned me into a reader! Found it at my school library in 4th grade and fell in love. If you love time travel, interplanetary travel, STEM, female scientists, strong female heroines, coming of age, good vs evil symbolism, parent/child/sibling bonds….definitely give this a try :)

[@BooksAndJams]

I know so many people love it. It was just ok for me.

[@mariannej8454]

Thank you for the recommendations! I added these 6 to my TBR: The Penderwicks, A Duet for Home, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, Inside Out & Back Again, Brown Girl Dreaming, When Stars are Scattered, and Finding Langston.

[@BooksAndJams]

Oh yay! You added some fantastic reads. I hope you really enjoy them.

[@KellyOblak]

Krista puts out a video = Kelly’s TBR grows. I added three books to my TBR. My MGM is going to be great because I already had The Penderwicks, Refugee, Forget Me Not, When Stars are Scattered, Out of My Mind and Song for a Whale on my TBR. I just finished my neurodivergent/ new book. I had ordered Simon Sort of Says from my library. It came in early and I only had a week to read it, so starting early. The book was fantastic. I laughed. I cried. Ten stars on my five star scale.

[@BooksAndJams]

Sorry...not sorry! You already have a rockin' tbr! What a fabulous reading month you're going to have. I'm not familiar with Simon Sort of Says. I need to add that to my list. Thanks!

[@mitzireadsandwrites]

What a list of middle grades!! You are awesome!! Have I ever mentioned that I met Lesa Cline Ransome a couple of times? I worked with her husband James Ransome a few times with Author/Illustrator visits and met her that way. They were so great to work with! When I taught school, I helped with author visits which was perfect job for book nerd me. 😂

[@BooksAndJams]

I didn't know that. I love getting to hear authors speak, but you're basically best friends! haha. I bet that was fun to work with authors to come to schools. Such a great job for us book nerds.

[@thenonniche6657]

The Giver is actually part of a quartet. If you haven't read them you should. Gathering Blue, Messenger and Son.

[@BooksAndJams]

I have read the Giver quartet. I didn't like the others quite as much as I liked the first one. But I should have mentioned that here in the video. I forgot about it.

[@thenonniche6657]

The Giver is my favorite one in series also.

[@maryhunt3279]

I love Song for a Whale! So glad to see this as a recommendation! My 6th grade teacher read Wrinkle in Time to us before lunch. This was my introduction to Sci-Fi. My favorite of all time. I did not know there were more in this series until I was an adult. So, I had to catch up, of course!

[@BooksAndJams]

I have never continued on with the L'Engle series because I thought A Wrinkle in Time was so weird. haha. Maybe I will someday.

[@mothergooselibrarian.3257]

Hi Krista! I miss your book club! I had to watch my finances so I had to leave Patreon for a while. I love your enthusiasm for middle grade. I need to get back to reading it. When I was in the library I read mostly kid lit but now I’ve fallen into adult reads! I miss MG and look forward to March!

[@BooksAndJams]

Aww Amy. I miss you too. I totally understand though. Hope you read some fantastic books in March.

[@thebestiebooksleeve]

You always get me so excited to run to the library and grab so many middle grade!!!!

[@BooksAndJams]

Sorry...not sorry! haha

[@coffeelovingmaria]

So many great recommendations. I have loved many of the books you shared.

[@BooksAndJams]

Thanks, Maria.

[@GlitterPoolParty]

For the sea/sky prompt, i recommend The wreck of the gossamer (book 1 of the puzzle box chronicles) by Shawn McCarthy

[@BooksAndJams]

I have never heard of that one. Fun!

[@Bookslovejenna]

The Giver is a quartet. The second and third books take place in different but connected lands and then the final book - Son - connects them all and you get answers and explanations.

[@BooksAndJams]

I have read the full Giver quartet. I didn't care for the other 3 as much as I liked The Giver. It's been a long time though. Maybe I should reread them.

[@LouiseReader]

Gosh I love your enthusiasm and knowledge for Middle Grade March. All great suggestions here, many of them on my TBR already.

[@BooksAndJams]

Aww thank you. That's really kind. I hope you read some great books next month.

[@mollyalladin2431]

I knew you would have a ton of recs!

[@BooksAndJams]

So many! I had to narrow it down a bit and just stick to the prompts.

[@BookTalksWithMrsThomas]

I’ve taught Esperanza Rising and The Giver❤. Yea Middle Grade March!!!

[@BooksAndJams]

Both are fantastic books for discussion. I bet it was fun teaching them.

[@ElliesCozyChronicles]

So many good recs!! I am including some of them in my MGM TBR! Thanks so much for hosting MGM!! I'm so excited to participate for the third time!

[@BooksAndJams]

Awesome! Glad to add to your tbr pile. I am so excited for March to get started.

[@paperbacksandponytails]

I have Finding Langston and the rest of the series on my tbr for next month. Hey look, When Stars Are Scattered😍😂. Refugee was really good.

[@BooksAndJams]

I hope you love Finding Langston and the other 2. Such a lovely story.

[@ChattieTheMadChatter]

Wow did not know that When Stars are scattered was non fiction Loved the art in that too. 💜📚

[@BooksAndJams]

Yeah, it was so well done all around.

[@bethanysbookshelf]

When Stars are Scattered won an award in my state! Sequoyah Book Award - 2022

[@BooksAndJams]

Oh nice! I definitely encourage people to read that one.

[@ChattieTheMadChatter]

Oooh Love city of Ember, have read the 2nd People of Sparks and really should read the rest as I did not realise there was a 3rd and either 4th or precule 💜📚

[@BooksAndJams]

I read the whole series, but City of Ember is definitely my fave of the bunch.

[@ABookLikeYou]

I forgot about the wild robot! That’s a good one. 😊

[@BooksAndJams]

It's such a great read aloud option!

[@nicolespivey9521]

I am not a huge sci-fi fan so I think I am going to use the group read for the sci fi selection as well. I am going to read Odder by Katherine Applegate for the sea/sky prompt or the released in the last year prompt. I am going to read Rain Reign for my neuro diverse prompt.

[@BooksAndJams]

I usually say I'm not a sci-fi fan, but I do usually end up enjoying them when I read them! Hopefully you love A Rover's Story. I am going to read Odder next month too. It looks like such a sweet story. I have been hearing about Rain Reign. Hope it's a good one!

[@victoria9663]

Love it!!! Got all my picks set up for each of the prompts now, thank you! 👏👏 I was missing a sci Fi so I am going to read The Strangers on your recommendation!

[@BooksAndJams]

I love it. I can't wait to hear what you think.

[@jennifermanian1420]

I loved Songs for a Whale 🐋 and passed itto my niece's daughter ❤.

[@BooksAndJams]

I really enjoyed that one too. What a lovely gift.

[@sherrystengel9673]

I had already chosen The Giver for sci-fi/dystopian, and I had chosen Song for A Whale for sea/sky. I chose Al Capone Does My Shirts for the neurodiverse character prompt, Northwind, by Gary Paulsen for published in the last year & A Place to Hang the Moon for an award winner,not a Newbery.

[@BooksAndJams]

I plan on reading Al Capone this year for that prompt. I have heard such good things about it. Oh A Place to Hang the Moon is so so lovely!

[@kimhoot2044]

Thanks so much for your recommendations! I was having a little trouble with the neurodivergent prompt. I thought I'd read Al Capone Does My Shirts but it would start a series which is something I'm trying to avoid this year so your suggestion for Counting by Sevens will probably be my choice. I'm having the same problem with the sci fi prompt. My internet search led me to another first in a series so while I was at the library today I looked at the kids' sci fi section and found The Jamie Drake Equation which I may choose but I'm still really attracted to Last Day on Mars. At least I have plenty of time to decide…AND the group read is sci fi so that'll work if I run out of time! Loved your video, thanks!

[@BooksAndJams]

I didn't realize Al Capone was the start of a series. I had that planned for neurodivergent character as well, but I'm just going to view it as a standalone for now. Hopefully that works! haha

[@JenniferClark-po3bx]

I read Among the Hidden to my sixth grade class every year. They loved it! Great discussion throughout the book and quite different opinions. I'm newly retired and this is what I miss the most.

[@BooksAndJams]

I can imagine that book leading to a lot of great discussions. I love getting kids talking about books like that. Fabulous. I can imagine that was a lot of fun for you.

[@KatieReadsKoziesAndMore]

Oh my, you think A Wrinkle in Time is weird? Granted, I haven’t read it in about 20 years, but I fell into that series with my whole heart and loved every bit of it. Hmmm…I may need to give it another try. I also have been looking for an excuse to watch the most recent movie adaptation. I counted 23 new recommendations by you that I want to read. They all sound fabulous! I reluctantly became the wearer of hearing aids in January. (I can hear consonants again.) Maybe I need to start with Song for a Whale in honor of my new hearing aids? We need to stretch March to include a couple extra weeks so that I can read even more middle grade books. As always, thank you so much for sharing your love of books with us.

[@BooksAndJams]

I did think A Wrinkle in Time was such a strange book. I had a hard time sticking with it and knowing what was going on. I am not always a fan of weird books. haha. I'd be curious what you think of it now, but don't want to ruin that nostalgia you have with it. I never read beyond the first book in that series. I love that you counted 23 of these you want to read. haha. You have your work cut out for you.

[@somero2350]

I loved Sweep. Such a good one. I read The Giver in 9th or 10th grade and remember nothing about it. I own it though so I added it to my MGM list. I plan on reading Winterhouse and Chains also. Thanks for recs.

[@BooksAndJams]

Sweep is so so good! I am excited for you to reread The Giver. Chains is on my TBR as well. I can't wait to share that on Monday.

[@nataliewaters3176]

No! And Krista grew my TBR by a ton! It’s already groaning 🤦🏽‍♀️. Can’t wait though. Thanks for the great recommendations!

[@BooksAndJams]

Haha. Glad you found a few that sound good to you.

[@nataliewaters3176]

I have, far too many! Thank you for the reply! I am also looking forward to reading Tune It Out by Jamie Sumner, The House Swap by Yvette Clark, Hamra And The Jungle Of Memories by Hanna Alkaf and Sticks And Stones by Abby Cooper. Thought I’d leave some titles for you since you gave me some great looking ones!

[@nataliewaters3176]

Oh and if my suggestions aren’t actually middle grade I apologise in advance. I think they are. We don’t have middle grade in the UK.

[@MLLatUtube]

I have added The Wild Robot, Orion and the Starborn, and The Last Mapmaker to my list. I am also intrigued by The Last Cuentista and A Duet For Home. Several of your other suggestions sound good too - I made a list and will see how many of them I can get to in March.

[@BooksAndJams]

Those are all great choices if I say so myself. haha. I hope you can get to all, or most of them!

[@PagesandChaos]

Loved Where the Mountain Meets the Moon and Sweep. Read them both for last year’s prompts

[@PagesandChaos]

And I might have to add Esperanza Rising and The Giver to my lists😂

[@BooksAndJams]

I want to read more by Grace Lin. I have two other of her books on my shelves. Yes read Esperanza and The Giver. Both are fantastic. One of the joys of middle grade is they are typically shorter and quicker reads so we can squeeze more into our month! yay!

[@PagesandChaos]

@@BooksAndJams agreed! I can’t wait to dive in!

[@reddotreads2693]

Ooh, so many amazing recommendations! I particularly noted Where the Mountains Meet the Moon; if my Chinese book is not chosen in my subscriber choice video, I may use this middle grade for my China choice instead! 😊📚💜

[@BooksAndJams]

I really love the fairy tale feel of Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. And the illustrations are fantastic!

[@ChattieTheMadChatter]

Have heard such good things about the Wild Robot💜📚

[@BooksAndJams]

It's an adorable book. I highly recommend it.

[@ChattieTheMadChatter]

4:57 that I'd awesome as it is a genre I only know a few in and want to read more from.

[@BooksAndJams]

Sweet! Hope you find some good ones to try.

[@Kofimagne]

I real life scan the shelves of these videos hoping to see my book on the shelf. 😢 Maybe one day. I still have work to do!

[@BooksAndJams]

I love looking at the shelves of other booktubers as well. Keep up the hard work!

[@Kofimagne]

@@BooksAndJams thank you, and I will! I'm hard at work on the sequel to my debut novel.

[@glendaw5221]

I know I harp on this one (because I love it) but Al Capone Does My Shirts is a great MG book with a neurodivergent character.

[@BooksAndJams]

I am going to be reading that Al Capone book this March for sure.

[@Angelareadsalot]

I would like to recommend two books written in the last year that were outstanding 😊 New From Here by Kelly Yang ~ Chinese American diaspora during covid, authors personal story with her 3 kids Solito (award winner also) ~ a memoir about immigrating to the US from El Salvador at age 9

[@BooksAndJams]

I haven't heard of either of those. They sound great. Thanks for the recs.

[@jenniferdobbs7092]

I posted my pics on y'all's poster in insta. I do however have a couple more, that I may just read. The Giver would fall under a couple challenges for me, so I may swap it with Rover, but of course still read Rover being its the group read. I had searched hard for a 2022 middle grade that grabbed me, and put it on hold at the library, I really didn't want to pay full price on a hardcover, then Sarah mentions Amari and duh!, I have that on my shelf!!! 🤦‍♀️

[@BooksAndJams]

I am so excited to get started with my March reads. Frantically trying to finish up Feb ones first. haha. I have the first Amari on my shelves and hope to get to that in March too.

[@jenniferdobbs7092]

@@BooksAndJams I read Amari before or was popular. I almost bought it at Walmart because of its cover, but my money was tight and the library had it. Read it in a couple days. Think that's what brought me back to middle grade reading. Such a great book!

[@LifeBetweenWords1]

We had a lot of crossovers and sometimes we said almost the exact same thing 😂! (When I talked about A Wrinkle in Time I kept saying how weird it was, too 😆😆😆)

[@BooksAndJams]

I love that our middle grade tastes are so similar. Makes sense. haha.

[@just_bea_weird]

I can highly recommend: the Amari series (sequel came out in 2022) as well as the Adventures on Trains series (lots of skies). Witches of Brooklyn as well as Lightfall are both cute GN series if you want something short. Elle McNicoll's MCs are neurodivergent (A kind of Spark is excellent) and Alastair Chisholm's novels are great sci-fi books (Orion Lost in particular is amazing). And a favorite of mine is Greenglass House and it's won the National Book Award

[@MLLatUtube]

I am so glad someone has mentioned Orion Lost - I love that book.

[@BooksAndJams]

I would love to get to Amari in March. I think it has some sky on the cover, right? I haven't heard of the Adventures on Trains series. I'll have to look into that. I love the LIghtfall books. I've read the first two. I have been hearing a lot of A Kind of Spark, so I may have to get that one from the library.Thanks for adding a bunch more recs to the comment thread!

[@skeletonkeybooks]

I have my TBR set already, but I expect I'll add a few of these to my overall TBR. Sweep, in particular, appeals to me. Was it you who recommended Greenglass House in the past? It won an Edgar, so I'm reading that for the award winner prompt.

[@BooksAndJams]

Greenglass House is definitely a fun read. That was my Patron book club read last March. Hope you enjoy whatever you end up reading in March! There are just so many good ones.

[@lizlittle1641]

I read The Wild Robot with my granddaughter. It was so cute.

[@BooksAndJams]

I first read it aloud to my nanny kids and we all loved it.

[@GlitterPoolParty]

Add A rovers story... Thats the MGM group read.

[@BooksAndJams]

I didn't add it in this video because I haven't read it yet. All of these are ones I've read and loved!

[@novelideea]

Both the Giver and Wrinkle have sequels if they have read book one! ❤

[@BooksAndJams]

Yes! I have read the complete Giver quartet, but never read beyond Wrinkle in Time.

[@novelideea]

@@BooksAndJams I love the giver quartet!!

[@phague85]

I lost track of how many books I added my Goodreads TBR

[@BooksAndJams]

That makes my middle grade loving heart very happy!

[@Erin_C1010]

I want to read Last Cuentista for the prompt "award other than Newbery" since it also won a Pura Belpre award, too. That's not cheating is it? I already have my sci-fi book picked out.

[@BooksAndJams]

I didn't remember that The Last Cuentista had won another award. I think this year's Newbery winner also won another. It's not cheating at all! Plus ultimately as long as it's a middle grade go for it. The prompts are just for added fun.

[@lindawarner9406]

I found i never heard of becausdvof the rabbit

[@BooksAndJams]

I haven't heard of that one either.

[@books_and_bocadillos]

I bought The Last Cuentista at your recommendation last year, and I'm hoping to read it for middle grade march. 🫶🏽

[@BooksAndJams]

I hope you love it!