Review: Out of the Dust

This is part of my continuing series, #iLoveMG , where I share middle grade books that my fifth graders recommend. (Please note that my fifth graders read a wide variety of books across a wide variety of genres, levels, and topics. Do not think that these books are "only" for fifth graders.) Or check out #3rdfor3rd for recommendations from when I taught third grade.

Out of the Dust

Recommended by Anonymous

My book is called Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse and the genre is historical fiction. It’s also a novel in verse. The book is about a girl named Billie Joe, who is living in Oklahoma during the dust bowl. 

 

Billie Joe is currently living with her father and her pregnant mother. Her favorite thing to do is to play the piano. She survives a terrible accident, but no longer can she play the piano’s brilliant keys. She is scarred inside and out, and to make matters worse, her father’s farm is fading, and soon enough, gone. 

 

This book is a great book if you like novels in verse that are sad, touching, and will melt your heart. I loved this book so much that I couldn’t put it down. It teaches you empathy, and makes you feel pity for Billie Joe, and everyone else who lived in the dust bowl. 

 

I rate this book 5/5 stars, because it’s very sad, yet it was written with a lot of imagery, and hope.

Click here for all of our #iLoveMG posts. What are your favorite middle grade books?

Lalani of the Distant Sea book recommendation

"Lalani of the Distant Sea is definitely the best book club book I have ever read..."

#iLoveMG is my continuing series where I share middle grade books recommended by my fifth graders. (Please note that my fifth graders read a wide variety of books across a wide variety of genres, levels, and topics. Do not think that these books are "only" for fifth graders.) For younger readers, #3rdfor3rd for recommendations from when I taught third grade.

Lalani of the Distant Sea

Recommended by Elsa

My book is called Lalani of the Distant Sea by Erin Entrada Kelly, and the genre is high fantasy. This book is about a twelve-year-old girl named Lalani. It takes place on an island called Sanlagita, where the best sailors make the daring journey to Mount Isa on a day called Sailing Day. 

 

But when her mother pricks her finger and gets mender’s disease, Lalani finds a legendary mountain beast, and Sanlagita floods, she must leave and venture to the island of Mount Isa to save them all. 

Lalani of the Distant Sea is definitely the best book club book I have ever read. I really like how it transitions from Lalani’s point of view to other points of view, like when it was from Bai Vinca’s point of view. (I probably shouldn’t say any more about other characters in case I spoil it.) (A big shout-out to Erin Entrada Kelly.) This book is AMAZING!!! I would recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy, suspense, and that in-the-middle-of-the-sea vibe. I would definitely rate this book five out of five stars!

Click here for all of our #iLoveMG posts. What are your favorite middle grade books?

A Rover's Story book review

"I love this book. It is my best friend’s favorite book in the world, and I can see why. "

#iLoveMG is my continuing series where I share middle grade books recommended by my fifth graders. (Please note that my fifth graders read a wide variety of books across a wide variety of genres, levels, and topics. Do not think that these books are "only" for fifth graders.) For younger readers, #3rdfor3rd for recommendations from when I taught third grade.

A Rover's Story

Recommended by Tenny

The book I have reviewed is called A Rover’s Story by Jasmine Warga. It is told from the perspective of a NASA Mars rover, and I find that very interesting. The rover’s name is Resilience. Resilience isn't the name of a real rover, but it is inspired by real Mars rovers Perseverance and Opportunity. Resilience can hear what the humans (Resilience calls them “hazmats”) say, but only other robots can hear what Resilience says. He is accompanied by a helicopter named Fly that lives inside him most of the time and a satellite that helps to guide him. 

But Mars is more dangerous than it seems. For example, what if Resilience gets caught in a dust devil? What if he gets stuck in rough terrain and stops being able to move? Resilience must do all he can to avoid the dangers of Mars and not go offline, all while collecting rock samples and attempting to bring a previous Mars rover online. 

I love this book. It is my best friend’s favorite book in the world, and I can see why. If I were to rate this book, I would give it five stars. I think it is quite an unusual book for a few reasons. One of them is because it is told from the perspective of a Mars rover. I would definitely recommend this book to many people, especially people who are interested in realistic fiction.

Click here for all of our #iLoveMG posts. What are your favorite middle grade books?

The Way I Say It book review

#iLoveMG is my continuing series where I share middle grade books recommended by my fifth graders. (Please note that my fifth graders read a wide variety of books across a wide variety of genres, levels, and topics. Do not think that these books are "only" for fifth graders.) For younger readers, #3rdfor3rd for recommendations from when I taught third grade.

The Way I Say It

Recommended by Nushi

My book is called The Way I Say It by Nancy Tandon. The genre is realistic fiction. It is about a boy named Rory who has a speech impediment. He can’t say his r’s and he gets bullied a lot. This book is set in Lakeville, Connecticut. 

His old best friend, Brent, even bullies him now. Brent and Rory are not friends anymore because Brent started getting new friends. Rory likes his new speech therapist because they both like rock music. But Brent gets into a bad bike accident and goes to the hospital for a head injury. Brent comes back and has to go to the same speech therapist as Rory, but Rory doesn’t like that. Brent’s friends now bully him because he is not normal anymore. Rory and Brent do a group project together and become closer. Rory keeps practicing his r sounds and on the last day of school, he can say his own name. 

This is a good book because it is about standing up for yourself. I find it a little predictable in some spots but otherwise it's a nice book. I give this book a rating of 4 /5 stars.

Click here for all of our #iLoveMG posts. What are your favorite middle grade books?

The London Eye Mystery book review

"I recommend this book to anyone who likes a good mystery."

#iLoveMG is my continuing series where I share middle grade books recommended by my fifth graders. (Please note that my fifth graders read a wide variety of books across a wide variety of genres, levels, and topics. Do not think that these books are "only" for fifth graders.) For younger readers, #3rdfor3rd for recommendations from when I taught third grade.

The London Eye Mystery

Recommended by Oliver

The book The London Eye Mystery is a great and engaging mystery by Siobhan Dowd. When Kat and Ted’s cousin, Salim visits from rainy and dreary Manchester with his mom, Aunt Gloria. Salim’s parents are divorced and Salim and his mom have plans to go to New York City leaving his dad behind in Manchester. 

The next day Kat, Ted, their parents, Salim, and Aunt Gloria go to the London Eye. Someone offers them a ticket and Salim takes it and gets on to the London Eye. He doesn’t come down. 

It’s a great book because the story is engaging and very exciting as Kat and Ted follow a trail of clues to solve the mystery. I recommend this book to anyone who likes a good mystery. So, you should try reading this book and try to solve the mystery as you read along.

Click here for all of our #iLoveMG posts. What are your favorite middle grade books?

The Gauntlet book reivew

"If you like books that have a little bit of mysterious and fantasy in them then you will love this book."

#iLoveMG is my continuing series where I share middle grade books recommended by my fifth graders. (Please note that my fifth graders read a wide variety of books across a wide variety of genres, levels, and topics. Do not think that these books are "only" for fifth graders.) For younger readers, #3rdfor3rd for recommendations from when I taught third grade.

The Gauntlet

Recommended by Anneliese

My book is called The Gauntlet by Karuna Riazi and the genre is realistic fantasy. The Gauntlet is a book about a girl named Farah and how on her 12 birthday she receives a game called The Gauntlet as a present. 

When she and her friends start to play the game her little brother runs into the room and disappears into the game. Farah and her friends have to go into the game and do two things: Go find her brother. Complete the game without making any mistakes.

I really liked this book because it was like Jumanji (which is a movie about two kids that go into the future and they have to play the game but it always disappears after they move a piece) with a twist. It had a very interesting plot and it would alway leave something out and then answer it but then yet another thing was unexplained. If you like books that have a little bit of mysterious and fantasy in them then you will love this book. I give this book a 4/5 star rating.

Click here for all of our #iLoveMG posts. What are your favorite middle grade books?

Rain Reign book review

Rain Reign is "a perfect read for dog lovers or anyone in search of a emotional journey."

#iLoveMG is my continuing series where I share middle grade books recommended by my fifth graders. (Please note that my fifth graders read a wide variety of books across a wide variety of genres, levels, and topics. Do not think that these books are "only" for fifth graders.) For younger readers, #3rdfor3rd for recommendations from when I taught third grade.

Rain Reign

Recommended by Luca

Rain Reign is a captivating novel that grips you from the very first page. The main character, Rose, has a fascinating obsession with homonyms, happy in the way her name fits the rule. She even names her beloved dog Rain, which has multiple homonyms, reign, and rein. But when a powerful superstorm sweeps through their town, Rain goes missing, and Rose is faced with the ultimate challenge, will she be able to find her dog when it matters most? 

This book excels in weaving a good, engaging storyline filled with unexpected twists that keep you interested the whole book. It’s a perfect read for dog lovers or anyone in search of a emotional journey. If you’re looking for a book like this, dive into Rain Reign, I guarantee you’ll fall in love with it!"

Click here for all of our #iLoveMG posts. What are your favorite middle grade books?