The Ogress and the Orphans book review

"This part mystery, part heart-warming book is a great recommendation for a mystery or fantasy fan. "

#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 Ogress and the Orphans

Recommended by Ezra

The Ogress and the Orphans by Kelly Barnhill is a low-fantasy book which shows the importance of trust and distrust. It is about an ogress named, conveniently, the Ogress. She believes that the more you give, the more you have. The Ogress lives on the edge of a peaceful village – well, a village that used to be kind and good until the town’s library and school mysteriously burned down – called Stone-in-the-Glen. She is misunderstood, though. Instead of being thought of as kind, the townspeople think the Ogress is stealing children and wreaking havoc. 

This part mystery, part heart-warming book is a great recommendation for a mystery or fantasy fan. This book has great characters and a great storyline. Kelly Barnhill’s Ogress and the Orphans is an amazing read.

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

Wild Robot book review

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.

Wild Robot

Recommended by Anonymous

The Wild Robot by Peter Brown is very heartwarming. The main character’s name is Roz, AKA ROZZUM unit 7134, who is from a factory ship that sunk into the ocean during a hurricane. All the other carts/robots got destroyed, except Roz. She ends up on an island and meets animals and makes relationships. If you like adventure mixed with a little bit of sadness, you will love this book. I absolutely love this book, it can be a little sad at times, but it’s just the right amount of sad. If you like adventure mixed with a little bit of sadness, you will love this book. I rate it:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐(five stars)!

The Wild Robot, in addition to being a blockbuster movie, is also the first in a series of books!

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

Myth of Monsters: Medusa review

"I would recommend this book to anyone who likes mythology. This book isn’t a slow starting book."

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.

The Myth of Monsters: Medusa

Recommended by Anonymous

The book I read was called The Myth Of Monsters, MEDUSA. It was all about this girl named Ava, who had a hard time controlling her emotions. There was an incident with a snobby boy named Owen. 

When Ava told her mom and her mom was understanding. The next day, Ava transferred to a boarding school, Accademia. Her mom went there when she was a kid, so Ava thought she would give it a try. 

The principal, Mr. Orion, gave an announcement that made every students’ jaws drop. Everyone was a descendant of monsters. 

Could Ava find out what her monster is? Will she find the true story of her ancestors? I would recommend this book to anyone who likes mythology. This book isn’t a slow starting book. 

I like this book because there is adventure, drama, and there are clues that you can figure out, too! This is one of my favorite books of all time, and I think that whoever picks up this book, will fall instantly in love, like how I did.

[Bonus! Book Two, The Gods Revenge arrives on April 22nd, 2025! I've already pre-ordered and have tons of students on the hold list.]     

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

Preorder The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon by Grace Lin!

I am thrilled to share with you my fifth grader's review of the forthcoming The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon - Grace Lin's first middle grade novel in nine years! (We are huge Grace Lin fans here. My son has an autographed copy of A Big Mooncake for Little Star, and Where the Mountain Meets the Moon (Newbery Honor) is a book club selection for my fifth graders.)

This post is also part of  #iLoveMG, 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 Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon

Recommended by Anonymous

I think The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon by Grace Lin was REALLY good. All the characters have their own flaws and good things about them, and are very distinctive. The problem is kind of confusing at first (for the characters, not for me) and I love the rivalry between the dragon-head and the real dragon. The worm was probably my favorite character: he's so wise! (for a worm) The stories in between the book helped me understand what was going on, and it was a really good idea in the first place. 

Overall, I would rate this book 4.99 stars. Good job, Grace Lin! There would just be one thing I would fix: some of the drawings are a bit strange, and don't really match the story or what I'm thinking. Maybe they could be changed, or just removed. [Teacher note: this was the advanced copy with the sketches, not the full-color images.] Otherwise, this story was awesome with no flaws whatsoever.

Preorder Information

Grace is running several preorder campaigns for the book. And all preorders should receive the deluxe first edition, which is going to have these super-lovely sprayed edges with decorations. So fancy! 

- Preorder from High Five books for an exclusive sticker

- Preorder from Porter Square books for an enamel pin

- Preorder from the Eric Carle Museum for a virtual visit (order by April 11th) -  this is the one our school librarian is doing, yay! 

- All links available here 

- There is also details about all her upcoming tour dates (none in Wisconsin yet, sigh)

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

The Wolf's Curse book review

"I recommend this book to people who people who like books about fantasy and nature."

#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 Wolf's Curse

Recommended by Nathalie

My book is The Wolf’s Curse by Jessica Vitalis, and the genre is fantasy. It is about a boy named Gauge. Gauge lives with his grandfather in Bouge-by-the-Sea. He’s done so for twelve years, even when his life was upended by him realizing he can see the mysterious Wolf. 

But one day his grandfather dies, and leaves telling Gauge to stay away from the wolf. Gauge’s whole world is upended, leaving him homeless and an orphan. But he knows he has to complete the ritual that will send his grandfather to the Sea-in-the-Sky, where he can actually “rest in peace.” 

But Gauge starts noticing little thing about the way they send people to the Sea-in-the-Sky, and has to face a choice: Will he believe what he has thought his whole life, or will he believe the mysterious wolf and let the walls of reality crash in? 

This is a good book because it is about not always believing everything you are told, and the plot flows nicely. I recommend this book to people who people who like books about fantasy and nature. I rate this book 4 ½ out of 5 stars.

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

Review: Ms. Bixby's Last Day

"If you like sad or scary books you might like this book. If you like a happy book this might be your book. This book is happy and sad. "

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.

Ms. Bixby's Last Day

Recommended by Violet M

Ms. Bixby's Last Day by John David Anderson is a book that everyone should read. It is full of love and compassion. The main Ms. Bixby has a loud taste and personality. When she announces a big change to the class, three boys are on a mission to save her. They try to save her but end up doing something else. This book is good in so many ways. If you like sad or scary books you might like this book. If you like a happy book this might be your book. This book is happy and sad. This is why you should read this book. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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

Greenglass House

For one of our book projects, my 5th graders design their own book covers and write reviews. You can read more of their reviews at #iLoveMG. (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.

Greenglass House

This student drew an amazing cover but did not want to share their written review. So here's my thoughts instead:

Greenglass House by Kate Milford is the first in a series of five books about a mysterious house (now hotel) in a town full of smugglers with their own mysteries. The beginning is a bit confusing, as a colorful cast of characters appear at the hotel just before Christmas, but you soon settle in as things start going missing, and it seems like everyone has a motive! 

This is a great book for imaginative kids, especially those who like role playing games like Dungeons and Dragons, as the main characters play their own version of such a game throughout the story. If you like mysteries, games, and lots of sneaking, I recommend this book! 

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