Help me, LJ-wan Kenobi!

[stillsostrange]

I need book recs! Smart, fun middle grade books, specifically. Bonuses awarded for female MCs and MCs of color. Hook me up, LJ.

Comments

[matociquala.livejournal.com]

These are probably more YA than middle grade, but Delia Sherman's THE FREEDOM MAZE and Kelly Parra's GRAFFITI GIRL.

Also, Sherman Alexie's THE ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART-TIME INDIAN.

[marthawells.livejournal.com]

"Above World" by Jenn Reese, has both.

[txanne.livejournal.com]

The Princess Curse, by Merrie Haskell. It contains some descriptions of past beatings, but I didn't think they were too graphic. (OTOH, I'm not an abuse survivor.)

[http://users.livejournal.com/jane_drew_/]

Hmm... is Neil Gaiman's "Coraline" middle school? (would, on that one, also say to really avoid the movie); "Howl's Moving Castle," Dianna Wynne Jones;.... oh! Um... bother; "The Perilous Gard" and "The Sherwood Ring," Elizabeth Pope; "Seven Daughters and Seven Sons" Barbara Cohen and Bahija Lovejoy; Ruth Nichols' "The Marrow of the World" and "A Walk Out of this World"...

I don't have a clear read on what the difference is between YA and middle grade, but the last three five and nifty red uniforms six books on the list were ones that I enjoyed greatly when I was about middle school-ish, I think.

[thecoughlin.livejournal.com]

Princess Academy ( I forget the author), Jerry Spinelli's Star Girl, Cynthia Lord "Rules", "Drums,Girls, and Dangerous Pies" (can't remember author) and I will provide more when I am smarter and less road weary-



ETA: some of the are "younger" and crossover to middle-grade (4-6) as well as middle school.

[dichroic.livejournal.com]

Two nonfantasy recs, for a change:
The one I most recently read is "Olivia Bean, Trivia Queen", by Donna Gephart. To me, Gephart's books have a tone sort of like Judy Blume's, except that her heroes and heroines tend to be accomplishing something unusual (creating a Youtube radio show, participating in her mom's Presidential campaign, or in this case appearing on Jeopardy!).

Disclaimer: the author was a childhood friend. But I think her books are good, independently.

Also, I love the three Penderwicks books by Jeanne Birdsall, the tales of four sisters. Those remind me a lot of Elizabeth Enright, though I realized at some point they could also be taken as an answer to the more annoying parts of Little Women. All the adults in the story are concerned, not about the sister who is tomboyish and athletic but about the one who is too responsible for her years. There's not a lot of physical description in those books, and the four sisters are clearly white, but the third one in particular is good about bringing in supporting characters of color. (I have a hunch there will be an interracial romance in the fourth and that it will be treated very much as a matter of course.)

[puddleshark.livejournal.com]

Fly By Night or Gullstruck Island by Frances Hardinge. Female MC. Strange, subversive & darkly funny.

[desayunoencama.livejournal.com]

Bruce Coville's Magic Shop books. SKULL OF TRUTH has queer characters/subplot.

[katfeete.livejournal.com]

I'm not entirely clear on what middle-grade covers but I think Ursula Vernon's "Dragonbreath" series (as well as her earlier standalone "Nurk") may qualify. These are sort of midway between comic and book, and thoroughly awesome. No bonus points unless "only dragon in school" counts.

Ursula LeGuin did a series for kids called "Catwings" which I have not read myself but LeGuin.

I'll try to think of a few more when I don't have a Small Person throwing her breakfast on the floor.

[jakobdrud.livejournal.com]

Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi? Male character, but very interesting POV nonetheless.

[miladygrey.livejournal.com]

Magic Under Glass and Magic Under Stone by Jaclyn Dolamore. Heroine of color, Regency-style YA romance in a fantasy world.

Liar by Justine Larbalestier. Heroine (except when she's really not heroic at all) of color, twisty-complex plot, veiled fantasy elements. Some violence, some language and references to sex.

The Shattering by Karen Healey. Takes place in New Zealand, one protagonist is half-Maori, one is Samoan. Warnings--violence, much discussion of suicide and grieving, sexual references. One protagonist is on the verge of coming out. Might not strictly count as middle-grade, but OMG I loved it.

And if they can wait until July, Sarah Rees Brennan's Unspoken promises Gothic drama and intrigue, a half-Asian protagonist named Kami, and a family motto that (apparently) can be translated as "Hot Blond Death". I'm anticipating it with glee.

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

Anything by Janni Simner.

[orrin.livejournal.com]

I'm sure you're already familiar, but on the off chance that you're not, Ted Naifeh's Courtney Crumrin and Polly and the Pirates are technically comics, but they're both wonderful!