Are you in the mood for a fun, adventurous story about modern day heroes with mythic heritage? Or do you want to share Sir Edmund Hillary’s courageous journey to the top of the world? Perhaps you want to see a young middle schooler take on the populars in hilarious and dramatic fashion? Whatever is driving your reading interests at the moment, you’ll find it here in this awesome middle school reading guide, created just for you.
Fiction
1. The Storm of Summer by Rick Riordan (Paperback)
(Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, Book 1)
London, UK: Disney-Hyperion Books.
From the creator of the Percy Jackson series comes a crossover series about a young boy living on the streets of Boston, Massachusetts. Without warning, Magnus, the protagonist, is driven from his home by his mother, in the hopes that she can ‘save’ him from his past and destiny. He spends his days avoiding authorities but is soon tracked down by his uncle. As his Norse ancestry and birthright slowly become clear, the city is attacked by an otherworldly force and Magnus is forced to decide between saving himself and the lives of millions.
Check out this over-the-top but uber-enthusiastic book talk from Christine @ PolandbananasBooks.
You can also learn more about Norse mythology and other maps, monsters, heroes and gods from other mythological worlds in the beautifully illustrated Myth Atlas by Thiago de Moraes – find the blurb in the non-fiction section below. Follow the link above for book-related activities. How is this awesome middle spread?!
2. Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney (Paperback)
(Book one in the series)
New York, US: Amulet Books.
This book follows Greg Heffley as he manoeuvres his way through middle school – yes, that’s your world. As he struggles to understand his annoying brothers and strangely likeable parents, he keeps track of his daily activities and thoughts in his journal. The book is loaded with excellent and hilarious drawings. The series now has 18 volumes, 4 of which are special edition books. Kinney has also developed four of the books into movies and are well worth a watch. The books were actually first released on Funbrain.com and you can read the whole book there.
If you like his style but you want more of the mythical stuff, check out Kinney’s new series Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid. Book 2, Rowley Jefferson’s Awesome Friendly Adventure follows Rowley’s adventure with Garg the Barbarian on a quest to save Rowley’s mum.
3. I Funny: a Middle School Story by James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein (Paperback)
London, UK: Young Arrow.
From the author of Alex Cross, Maximum Overdrive, Treasure Hunters, Katt vs Dogg, Dog Diaries, Middle School and new graphic novel series Jacky Ha Ha, this off-shoot series chronicles the (mis)adventures of Jamie Grimm. Bullying and self-doubt are never far from Jamie’s psyche but he never lets those, or his wheelchair, stop him from chasing his dream of becoming a world-class comedian. This is a funny and heart-warming story about resilience and determination. The book is full of black and white illustrations by Laura Park.
For a closer look at this and other James Patterson series, visit his website or go to Goodreads to find out what others are saying about him. While you’re there, take some time to explore Goodreads. It is extremely valuable for finding new books and genres, reading reviews, getting to know authors and, if you’re willing to write reviews, get some free books! That sounds like a win-win to me.
4. The 13-Storey Treehouse by Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton (illus.) (eAudiobook)
Tullamarine, VIC: Bolinda Audio.
If you want light, funny and adventurous, but need to rest your eyes or you’re going on a long road trip with the family, look no further than Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton’s Storey Treehouse series. These two have collaborated on 11 books in this series so far and they are a match made in…well, I’m not sure where. But this series is wildly popular with middle schoolers and you will not have to go far to find someone to talk to about these books. Start with the first one but you’ll be breezing through them in no time. If you prefer to have a book in your hands, by all means, go to the local library and grab a copy – hopefully, you won’t have to wait for one of your classmates to bring it back!
If you want to get an idea about the brain-thrust behind these books, watch this hilarious interview with Griffiths and Denton and they’ll have you wanting more.
5. Tales from Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan (Sophisticated Picture Book)
Crows Nest, NSW: Allen & Irwin.
From one of Australia’s most loved storytellers, Shaun Tan’s Tales of Outer Suburbia is a book about everything and nothing. If you are looking for escape from the mundane, explore one (or all) of these 15 stories about strange and odd occurrences in what seem like a very ordinary world. Each story is filled with interesting, bizarre and beautifully sketched illustrations that make the stories all the more fascinating. From an old buffalo in an abandoned lot, to a miniature unearthly exchange student and back to a lonely sea creature on a lawn, this book makes weird normal.
6. The Stonekeeper by Kazu Kibuishi (Graphic Novel)
Book 1 in the Amulet series
New York, US: Graphix.
Kibuishi’s first instalment of the Amulet series tells the story of siblings who, after the tragic death of their father, move with their mother to an old family home to escape the horrors of the tragedy. Unfortunately, their plans for a peaceful life are quickly derailed when their mother is dragged away by an octopus-like creature through a hidden door in the basement. The mother’s survival depends on the quick thinking and courage of the Em and Navin but what lies in wait will keep you on the edge of your seat.
CloudrisePictures in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada developed this cool book trailer. The trailer was good enough to get Kibuishi’s attention.
Kibuishi is an accomplished artist. You can view his entire Copper comic at his production company website Bolt City Productions. If you’re a fan of the Harry Potter series, Kibuishi was asked to do the art work for the 15th anniversary box set of the series, using his original art. He has recently revealed some hidden gems in one of the pieces of art that has both Harry Potter and Kibuishi references. Can you identify all the people and places in this photo?
Non-Fiction
7. First to the Top: Sir Edmund Hillary’s Amazing Everest Adventure by David Hill and Phoebe Morris (illus.) (Junior Picture Book/Non-Fiction)
Auckland, NZ: Puffin Books.
If you ever wondered how a regular boy from a small town could become one of the first two people to climb the highest mountain in the world, this is your story. Sir Edmund Hillary was a young boy from New Zealand who dreamed of adventure, building rafts to explore the waterways near his home. He loved to tramp (that’s a New Zealand word for long walks on rough terrain) and after hiking many mountains around the world, he became one of the best mountaineers in the world. He joined an expedition that brought him to Nepal where he hoped to achieve his ultimate goal: to climb Mount Everest.
Encyclopedia Britannia online has some great information about Everest. You can get access with your Gympie Regional Libraries card. If you don’t have one, you can request a new digital library card here:
https://gympie.spydus.com/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/MSGTRN/WPAC/JOIN
(Warning! If you’re under the age of 16, you’ll need parental permission, but fortunately, the library has now reopened so you can head down there and grab one right now. The card gives you access to traditional books, graphic novels, information books, a brand new Digital Makerspace, DVDs, music downloads, movie streaming apps, robotics and a whole lot more).
In the meantime, hop over to Vimeo to see this fantastic time-lapse of Mount Everest. I’ve got chills!
8. Smashing Saxons: Splats, Hats and lots of Rats (Horrible Histories) by Terry Deary and Martin Brown (Non-Fiction Paperback)
London, UK: Scholastic Book Service.
Fans of the TV series will love this book. It’s a piece of history, without the boredom that comes with the classroom textbook. Terry Deary and Martin Brown have created a world where history is fun, disgusting, unbelievable and really interesting. The humorous illustrations supplement the text and the anecdotal and presumptive fictional letters, decrees and news reports make the history attention-grabbing and enjoyable.
The British TV series by the same name is fantastic! If you’ve got Netflix at home, you can find it there, otherwise you’ll likely find it free-to-air on your tele. Of course, there’s always the Horrible Histories YouTube channel dedicated to the show too.
The National Museum of Australia has a great website for anyone interested in history. The site has online games, videos, exhibitions and for those with a keen interest, classroom resources. There’s a great unit on Ned Kelly, one of Australia’s most notable hero…er, villain…? Well, you be the judge! Here’s the link:
https://www.nma.gov.au/learn/classroom-resources/in-search-of-ned-kelly
Speaking of Ned Kelly, if you like comics and graphic novels and want a different perspective on his story, have a read through this excellent graphic novel called Ned Kelly: the Man Behind the Mask.
9. Ned Kelly: The Man Behind the Mask by Hugh Dolan (Historic Graphic Text)
Sydney, NSW: NewSouth Publishing.
This graphic novel is part of a non-fiction series created by Hugh Dolan, a former intelligence officer for the Royal Australian Air Force. Two of the other 3 books, one about Indigenous War Hero Reg Saunders and the other about the landing at Gallipoli, both won Educational Publishing Awards. But who can resist the story of an outlaw bushranger, whose story has created as much hatred as it has adoration.
This version of the Ned Kelly story provides an accessible account, uses references and images of original artefacts and tells both sides of the story.
10. Myth Atlas: Maps and Monsters, Heroes and Gods from Twelve Mythological Worlds by Thiago de Moraes (Non-Fiction – Hardcover)
London, UK: Alison Green Books.
This is a great introductory book for anyone interested in knowing some of the stories behind a few of the popular mythological cultures. The publisher notes that this is not a book about how these myths have influenced the modern day cultures. Rather, it’s a book about the stories that cultures have been telling each other over time and how they shed light on their understandings of the world around them. The illustrations were done by de Moraes and they provide an amazing backdrop to the stories that are told. Each chapter focuses on one of 12 cultures and their stories, with specific examples of characters, gods and lands.
If you’re a fan of the Avengers, there’s lots of information here about Thor, Loki and Odin. Fans of Percy Jackson will discover there’s more to the Greeks than Poseidon. By the way, did you know that Nike, the shoe company, was named after the Greek God of Victory? See what other mythological stories you can find that tie into popular culture today.
For those interested in something a little different, Being 12: the Year Everything Changes is a great web radio series about the challenges of being 12. Although it’s an American show (New York, to be specific), these kids talk about some very relevant topics. Everything from race, gender, bullying, homelessness, and survival. (wnyc.org/series/being-12)
If you’d like something closer to home and a little more random, ABC Radio has created a series called Short and Curly. It’s a fun podcast for young people and their families that makes you question what’s right and wrong in the world. Hosted by Carl Smith, Molly Daniels and Dr. Matt Beard, Short and Curly will definitely get you thinking.
So, you’ve made it to the end of this list and you’re craving more but just don’t know what to read next. Why not ask your peers? Book Club for Kids is a website dedicated to podcasts where middle grade students can talk about books, hear about what others are reading, listen to author interviews and listen to celebrity readings. There are lots of opportunities for interaction or you can quietly listen to the podcasts on your own. Here’s the link: http://www.bookclubforkids.org
Happy Reading!