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?

Pay Attention, Carter Jones book review

"This is a sentimental book and has my whole heart." [Katie note: keep the Kleenex handy.]

#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.

Pay Attention, Carter Jones

Recommended by Anonymous

My book is Pay Attention, Carter Jones by Gary Schmidt, and the genre is realistic fiction. The book is about a boy named Carter Jones, and on the first day of school, a butler knocks on the door. Turns out, his father, who's in war, sent a butler. The butler quickly helps the Jones family clean up the house and takes them to school in a shiny purple S.U.V. Carter must now figure out how to navigate the complex world of middle school without his father, and with this new strange man in his life, all while dealing with the grief and anger from his past. 

This is a sentimental book and has my whole heart. It’s engaging and will never bore the reader and its warmth will reach out to all of its readers. You’ll find yourself cheering on Carter as he slowly opens to the butler and figure his way through middle school. I love it and rate 11/10!

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

The Benefits of Being an Octopus 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 Benefits of Being an Octopus

Recommended by Ash/Max

My book is The Benefits of Being an Octopus by Ann Braden. The book is about a girl named Zoey. Zoey lives with her mom's boyfriend, Lenny, in a trailer situated in a neighborhood full of rich kids. She has to deal with all sorts of issues as well as taking care of Aurora, Bryce and baby Hector. At school, she tries to be invisible and go unnoticed. Unfortunately, her teacher Ms. Rochambeau forces her to join the school debate club. Debate club eventually leads to Zoey seeing things in a different way, like her mom’s relationship, her best friend Fuchsia’s issues, and her own place in the world. 

 I enjoyed The Benefits of Being an Octopus because of its descriptive imagery and underlying messages about the cultural divide and the gun debate. I probably wouldn’t have picked this up and read it, but I’m glad I did. This was overall a pretty good book.

 

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

Top 5 Favorite Books for Tweens

Looking for summer reading recommendations from real, live people? My 5th graders each compiled a #BestBookList, which could have an overall theme or not. You can see all of their recommendations at #BestBookList. For individual book recommendations, check out our  #iLoveMG posts. If you are looking for younger readers, #3rdfor3rd features recommendations from when I taught third grade.

Top Five Favorite Books for Tweens

Recommended by Milly 

• Harry Potter- a young boy who finds out he is a wizard and has to save a bunch of people form death 
• New Dragon City- New Dragon City is about a boy and girl who are trying to survive the dragon apocalypse [Prequel, Dawn of the New Dragon, arrives September 2025!]
• Artemis Fowl- a sociopath boy who kidnaps a fairy but regrets it later 
• Sparks- is about two cats with very different personalities pretend to be a dog do they can save the day 
• Front Desk- a girl and her mom move to America and work at a motel to make money with a mean dude

Click here for all of our #BestBooks posts or click #iLoveMG for individual book recommendations. What is your favorite middle grade book for 5th graders?