My Top 10 Middle Grade Books of 2019

[@GavinReadsItAll]

Update: I no longer support Onjali Q. Rauf due to her transphobia. I can’t edit the part of the video out where I discuss her book, but I just wanted to update in the comments that I would no longer recommend The Boy at the Back of the Class. I can’t in good conscience recommend a book that promotes acceptance when the author herself is intolerant of trans people and continues to target them online and in speeches she has made in the past.

[@angelalakes]

Thank you. I didn't know of this author, but the first thing I saw on her twitter was a transphobic tweet. I started watching you on here recently, and now I'm making a point to join your Patreon. Thank you for all the work you put in to your creative and funny videos. I especially love your middle grade content. :)

[@susanveligor364]

💖 love your content. I always thought I was the only adult that read and loved middle grade books. Oh course my love of reading children’s books is mainly because I’m a teacher, currently 4th grade and have so many books around me every day. I love discovering new bookstores & libraries, purchasing new books for my ever growing collect, and I’m so thankful for book tubers like you who make me feel I’m among many! 😁

[@GavinReadsItAll]

MsV Fab in Fourth Aww so happy you feel that way and love that I can help in some way. You’re definitely not alone in reading children’s books as an adult, they are the best books!

[@prioryofprose6366]

Thank you for bringing me into the middle grade world last year!

[@GavinReadsItAll]

Rozy Ravenclaw I’m so happy you came to the middle grade party 🎉

[@paulnorfolk2597]

Just now ordered Frostheart thank you for recommending. Its now July 2022, love your channel x

[@mpsensha]

What a treat, the illustration fits you. What a lovely gesture! I'm sure you didn't feel the ground below your feet for some time after receiving this. 😊

[@GavinReadsItAll]

Melanie HP that is definitely how I felt when I received, I was too shocked to move! Love it so much 💙

[@BluemoonInJune]

I finally read Nevermoor this week and I loved it too! So good! I can't wait to continue the series. 😊

[@GavinReadsItAll]

Silverbrook excellent, happy you loved it! I hope you love Wundersmith just as much ☺️

[@barbiestargirl1700]

FROSTHEART series is SO AMAZING!! Thank you SO MUCH FOR THE RECOMMENDATION ❤️

[@Michelle-kw2ht]

A Pinch of Magic gets a sequeal this year, right? I think I saw that somewhere.. Haven't read the book, but after your review I'm very excited for it, definitely will keep my eye out for it! I mentioned Keeper of the Lost Cities during your unread books video. But I thought of it again during this video, cause I read it back to back with Nevermoor. And to try and get you excited for KotLC: I loved it even more than I loved Nevermoor! I do regret reading them back to back though. Now I haven't read Wundersmith yet because I read several KotLC books instead. But I guess that means I can still look forward to it. Indeed no surprise Frostheart is your number one! I definitely want to read it after having heard you talk about it! Your excitement is so fun to watch

[@GavinReadsItAll]

Michelle the sequel to Pinch of Magic comes out Feb 6th so not long to wait, eek! It’s so good! And I hope you love Frostheart. Keeper of the Lost Cities is gonna be read by me VERY soon, watch this space 😉

[@Michelle-kw2ht]

@@GavinReadsItAll I'm on the edge of my seat!

[@shreyabooked9309]

The illustration is amaaaazing! I HAVE to read Frostheart this year, it's on my TBR.

[@GavinReadsItAll]

Shreya roy chowdhury isn’t it 😭 and yes you absolutely have to read Frostheart 💙

[@shreyabooked9309]

@@GavinReadsItAll I also find The Girl Who Drank the Moon fascinating, I'll pick that up too!

[@taylerpryer4987]

I just finished reading Frostheart last night and I fell in LOVE with this book!! I can't wait for the sequel omg.

[@GavinReadsItAll]

Tayler Pryer AAHH so happy you loved Frostheart too! The wait for the sequel is killing me!

[@sabrina.lnd95]

Loved the singing as always, absolutely incredbile! I might have shed a tear or two

[@GavinReadsItAll]

Haha tears of pain, not laughter I bet having to listen to my voice

[@U_Nailed_It2]

Your illustration is awesome!! I'm glad I found you, you've just won a piece of my book ❤️ I thought I would be childish if I read middle school reads but you've normalized me 😂

[@maleneerika7163]

When you loved Wonder so much you have to read Auggie & me: three Wonder stories! They are soooo good❤ really interesting reading snippets of stories from other people and some of their lifes. And I would recommend reading Fablehaven by Brandon Mull.

[@GavinReadsItAll]

Malene Erika Eltved Kristensen I’m definitely gonna check out Auggie and Me! And oooo never heard of Fablehaven, thanks for the recommendation.

[@hillisawesome]

I totally agree about Wundersmith, somehow it was better than Nevermoor, and that ending 😍. Definitely I will be rereading it as well before Hollowpox

[@GavinReadsItAll]

YAY and I hope Hollowpox knocks our socks off

[@kristie2182]

Awe the drawings just so thoughtful

[@GavinReadsItAll]

Kristie isn’t it 😭😭

[@nextpageadventure9160]

I really need to pick up Frostheart if you liked it better than Wundersmith.

[@GavinReadsItAll]

Next Page Adventure Frostheart is literally my favourite, and I bet Frostheart 2 will be just as amazing! So excited!!

[@ariel.1117]

Omg the Heart montage was amazing. I’m definitely reading every book you mentioned in this video! ❤️

[@GavinReadsItAll]

Ariel Enchanted haha thank you! Singing is 1/10 but I loved filming it 😂

[@prisperuses]

16:59 YESSSSS BUDDY READ BEFORE HOLLOWPOOOOOOX!!! 🥰🥰🥰

[@GavinReadsItAll]

Pris Reads a Lot woop woop 🙌🏼

[@littlebadbooks6697]

I am SO glad I stumbled upon your channel! I'm not much of a middle grade reader (although I SHOULD be) and am hoping that with your love of fantasy (I LOOOVE teen/adult fantasy), you'll get me on the middle grade bandwagon :)

[@GavinReadsItAll]

I REALLY hope I can get you on that middle grade bandwagon too! (Thanks for checking out my channel too!)

[@sakurahan91]

I’m reading FrostHeart next month for Polarthon! I think it’ll be the third book I get to for it. The first 2 are manga so I should be able to read both of them within one day, hopefully (fingers crossed).

[@sakurahan91]

I’d be soooooo down for a Nevermore and Wandersmith readathon before Hollowpox!

[@GavinReadsItAll]

sakurahan91 if someone else doesn’t arrange a Nevermoor readalong, I’ll happily host it!

[@cinyyyyy8416]

I aspire to read more middlegrade books this year!!

[@GavinReadsItAll]

the_bookish_poet yay that’s a great goal to have, I hope my channel can help you with that!

[@zara6472]

I own all of these but have only read one! I better make them a priority! I had several favourites in 2019 but one I have not seen you mention yet is Aru Shah and the End of Time. AMAZING! Based on Hindu stories, a young girl has to find hidden relics, take on demons, and go through some serious character growth in order to save the world!

[@rocknregalia]

I am reading Frostheart with my 9 year old. We are thoroughly enjoying it. All of these sound wonderful.

[@GavinReadsItAll]

Jayna Lascaibar Aw I am so happy you and your 9 year old are enjoying the book, it’s so magical and amazing!

[@MysteryDateWithaBook]

OMG! That illustration! ♥

[@GavinReadsItAll]

Right?!

[@SoulStainedInk]

I teach middle school reading and we do Wonder every year. My students are doing a mini-research project on Treacher-Collins right now as an intro before we start reading next week. ❣ Some of us super small booktubers have done Middle Grade May for years (5? Maybe) and I LOVE hearing Believeathon will be back then.

[@GavinReadsItAll]

Elizabeth Tyree oooo there’s a middle grade may? I know there’s a Middle Grade March ran by booksandjams I believe, but haven’t heard of middle grade may, I’ll have to look it up! And I love that project your students are doing!

[@SoulStainedInk]

@@GavinReadsItAll Akossiwa K has been running Middle Grade May for 5 or 6 years now. I got to cohost the last couple of years. She's AWESOME. Basically we just spend the mo th encouraging people to give MG the love...kind of like every other month, but with weekly themes 😂. I enjoyed the addition of MGMARCH last year (or was it the year before...whenever) as well because...middle grade books are far superior to the rest.

[@cryingaboutbooks]

such a good list 💖💖 Gav you need to read Gregor the Overlander by suzanne collins 👌🏼😘

[@GavinReadsItAll]

cryingaboutbooks ooooo same author as Hunger Games?

[@cryingaboutbooks]

How to Train Your Gavin yes! it was her first series and of course it’s middle grade 😉

[@mrs.darling5865]

I agree. It's so good!

[@louisity]

I also read Gregor the Overlander. I like it too! 👍

[@traceyvince258]

well well two timing a sprinkle of sorcery with frostheart you norty boy that proper made me chuckle. i find the contemporary middle grades tend to flaw me i cried at wonder and the boy at the back of the class. try john boyne's middle grade novel my brother's name is jessica. also i know i harp on about jo cotterill who wrote jelly and library of lemons but her writing practically finished me off last year but i found her not as well known.

[@GavinReadsItAll]

tracey vince Tracey you always have the best recs, keep them coming, I love it!

[@ABearandaBeeBooks]

Great recommendations! Thanks so much!

[@lisajackling6920]

You should read Keeper of the Lost Cities series by Shannon Messenger. We have read a lot of the same titles and loved them and this was my best read of 2019.

[@GavinReadsItAll]

Lisa Jackling oooo, I’ll be getting to Keeper of the Lost Cities VERY soon 😉

[@prisperuses]

15:56 YAAAASSSSSS OMG THIS MAKES ME SOOO HAPPYYYY! 🥰❤️

[@GavinReadsItAll]

Pris Reads a Lot ITS MA BABY 😭 bring on Hollowpox!!

[@Reading_Tamishly]

If you have to watch this video, just click 15:21 ✨You are welcome ✨

[@Ellorna]

So I'm planning to try participating in Middle Grade March and your channel is just a lot of help. I watched this after just finishing Circe by Madeline Miller and couldn't help noticing the gorgeous spine of the copy on your shelf! I was wondering what the front cover looked like so I might purchase the correct one? I've looked online but the pictures don't show the book spine lol

[@prisperuses]

12:15 THERE WE GOOOOO! 🥰🥰🥰

[@GavinReadsItAll]

Pris Reads a Lot our Morrigan ❤️

[@louisity]

I have not read Wonder too. 😂 Have you read the Land of Stories series?

[@GavinReadsItAll]

Nope not yet!

[@thetntchicken142]

@@GavinReadsItAll have you read land of stories yet? that was one of my favorites when I younger

[@mlibbym]

Have you read the other books in the Howl series? I loved Howl, but the second book is sitting on my pile of shame - unfinished series 🙄

[@GavinReadsItAll]

I haven't but I have the 2nd book and I plan on reading it soon.

[@NovelSarahndipity]

I totes tagged you on twitter to help me with my 9 year old niece, but this is really helpful!!!

[@GavinReadsItAll]

Oh I'm glad!

[@prisperuses]

17:27 HOW SHOCKING 💙❄️

[@GavinReadsItAll]

Pris Reads a Lot DONT GIVE ME THAT CHEEK! Also I had to show off my Jamie Littler illustration 💙

[@prisperuses]

You known what a just realized? I’ve read ALL OF THESE BOOKS! Well no, not a Sprinkle of Sorcery but that doesn’t count cause it’s not out yet! ARE YOU PROUD OF MEEEEEE? 🥰💙✨

[@GavinReadsItAll]

Pris Reads a Lot SO PROUD, YOU HAVE TASTE!

[@prisperuses]

WHAT WILL NUMBER ONEEE BEEEEE?!!! OOOOH I DUNNNOOOOOOO. ALSO NEVERMOOR BETTER BE ON THEREEEEEEE! 🥰💙

[@iceyreads7454]

Lol dont even need to watch this to know Frostheart will be here! Still gonna watch tho!

[@GavinReadsItAll]

Iceyreads74 haha good or you’ll miss the musical number 😂

[@iceyreads7454]

@@GavinReadsItAll it would truly be a crime!!

[@lifefullofwords]

I loved Wundersmith even more than Nevermoor too! I think the introduction of the magic school setting really added to the series. Don’t know how people think the series is just like Harry Potter, that school is nothing like Hogwarts!

[@GavinReadsItAll]

The Eclectic Reader very true, I only compare it to Harry Potter because some similarities in world building but not actual world, and it helps sell the book and gets more people reading it, so I’m not complaining 😂

[@lifefullofwords]

How to Train Your Gavin Oh for sure! I meant people saying they were TOO similar. I can see why it would sell books lol

[@SomeBunnyReads]

Nevermoor is 🤩💖

[@susie130]

"He's rumored to eat young girls' hearts, so he has a bit of a reputation." **shakes fist at you** I was drinking water when I watched that bit! Oh wow, you're right. I am surprised. I expected A Pinch of Magic to be a lot higher. I'm counting the days til ASoS, especially since you ranked it higher than APoM! I'm in the middle of Nevermoor right now, and I'm enjoying it, particularly Gemma Whelan's narration, but I'm starting to find it a bit too similar to Harry Potter. How did you feel about that?

[@GavinReadsItAll]

If A Sprinkle of Sorcery wasn't so high as well, I may have pushed Pinch of Magic up, but the top 6 books are rather close and I love them so much omg. And to begin with for Nevermoor, I was seeing it as a cross between the first Harry Potter and Goblet of Fire, but then it really starts to carve its own path as the story progresses and then book 2 is just SOOO good. It is rather similar to Harry Potter but I think it's going in its own direction now and I'm loving it.

[@cleg78]

Yay 🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗

[@cleg78]

I am counting down the days til Michelle Harrison’s new book comes out, literally 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼

[@cleg78]

Can’t wait til Jamie Littler’s new one comes out in October, wonder what new characters will be in it 🤔

[@cleg78]

Will be interesting to definitely see a bookkeeper in new book 😧😁😍

[@cleg78]

Don’t forget to vote for Gavin in the Newcomer bit on BookTube awards and also for The Believathon in the readathon section 🤗🤗🤗🤗

[@GavinReadsItAll]

Aw thanks so much Claire! And you’re gonna LOVE Sprinkle and I hope we love Frostheart 2 too. You’re amazing x

[@javin7134]

Just here to balance out the fact that the majority of this comment section is female lol