Hello, beautiful bookworms!
It is time for another Top Books Recommendations Tuesday and this week I have decided to talk about one of the best and most underrated genre categories out there.
I want to start by stating that I was not aware of this category until recently. I’ve always thought a kid’s book to be a kid’s book and period. I’m grateful by my chance discovery of Soman Chainani’s series a few years back. Halfway through, I became aware that it was not a children’s book and not quite YA either before I realized it was being marketed as a Middle Grade book.
One important thing to know is that Middle Grade, much like Young Adult, refers to an audience – especifically that of 8 to 12 year old children – not a genre. This is why it is considered a category within a genre.
After industrial revolutionization, children were freed from mandatory labor and granted the liberty of school and free time and Middle Grade books started coming out by the dozen , because they finally had an audience. If we were to analyze every Middle Grade book we would find a lot of common elements: a group of kids who are somehow in one way or another powerful and capable enough to defeat a much greater evil; a group of kids who combine strengths to save the world.
Personally, what I like most about Middle Grade books are their hidden depths and how they always hold a different message for the reader, depending on the real life circumstances they find themselves in at the moment.
So below, in no particular order, is a list of books I’d read at any age and stage of my life.
♥ The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani
Beautiful series that deals with subjects such as love (in all its forms, shapes and sizes), self-acceptance and the value of friendship.
♥ Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling
♥ The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis
THE MOVIES DO NOT GIVE THEM JUSTICE.
♥ Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
For a Middle Grade book, it was so controversial when it first came out. Also, its adaptation is one of my favorite movies of all time.
♥ Percy Jackson and The Olympians by Rick Riordan
♥ Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
Hidden depths, people.
♥ A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
Other Middle Grade books I’m looking forward to reading in the future…
♥ Holes by Louis Sachar
♥ Wonder by R. J. Palacio
♥ Furthermore by Tahereh Mafi
♥ The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang
What about you, dear reader? What are your thoughts and/or your favorites in the MG category?
xxx,
Yeli
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Wonder and Harry Potter have to be my favourites ❤️
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They’re so good 😊
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I don’t typically read a lot of MG, but the Percy Jackson books will always be my ultimate favorite! ♥ I read the first four HP books and enjoyed those as well, plus Bridge to Terabithia. I’m looking forward to giving The Prince and the Dressmaker a shot!
– Aimee @ Aimee, Always
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That’s great! I’m looking forward to it as well
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I love The Series of Unfortunate Events so much!
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I know, right?
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I love this! I admit I wasn’t a fan of Diary of a Wimpy Kid (unlikable characters, gross ending), but I do believe you can read MG at any age!
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