Thankfully, there are so many MG books being written about mental health. Some of these books are about children struggling with mental health issues and some are about a family member.  They help the kids see themselves in the story or their family in the story, as well as help  middle graders develop a better understanding and empathy for those who are struggling with a mental illness.  Here are some of my favorites from the past. These are older books – books sure to be on your library’s shelves.

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FINDING PERFECT

By Elly Swartz         

Molly is a twelve year old girl who is a poet, a friend to many, a great student and a caring sister. However, she has a secret. Everything in her life must be perfect. Her glass animal collection must be spaced evenly on her desk, her hair must be combed an even amount of times, her food can’t touch another food, she washes her hands ten times before she eats and she silently counts everything by fours. (more)

 

OCD

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NEST

By Esther Ehrlich

I couldn’t put this touching book down and finished it easily in a day. Miss Ehrlich’s beautiful descriptions of the marshes made me feel like I was trudging through the woods and climbing the dunes with Chirp, the main character. more

grief

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Things that Surprise You

By Jennifer Maschari 

Emily is about to begin middle school and is feeling all of the usual angst that goes along with that. However, Emily has a lot of other issues to deal with and they all involve change.. Her parents have recently gotten divorced, her mother is working a lot more hours, her best friend is suddenly only interested in being on the field hockey team with lots of new friends and her older sister is living in a residential facility to help with her eating disorder. more

Sister with an eating disorder

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My LIfe in the fish tank

By Barbara Dee

Zinny is one of four children in a perfectly normal family who is living a perfectly normal life. Her brother Gabriel is 18 and about to begin college. Her sister Scarlett is 16, and then there’s her little brother Aiden who is in the third grade. Summer is ending, Gabriel is moving into his college dorm and the rest of her family is about to begin the new school year. Zinny and her two best friends (girls she’s been best friends with for years) walk to school together, talk about boys together and eat lunch together. So all is normal, until the night the phone call changes her family’s life to anything but normal. It’s the night they learn Gabriel wrecked his friend’s car and is in the hospital. It’s the night they learn he’s shouting crazy things in the ambulance and the emergency room. And it’s the night when, just maybe, he wrecked the car on purpose. And finally it’s the night Zinny’s family’s life became very, very different. more

Brother with bipolar depression

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the Science of breakable Things

By Tae Keller

This memorable middle grade book about friendships, family, science and mental illness is Natalie’s story about surviving seventh grade, finding a second best friend and most of all, gaining a better understanding of her mother’s depression. She helps us understand the fear that she may never find her old mom again and her desperation to do so. more

Mom with depression

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Bea is for Blended

By Lindsey Stoddard

Bea and her mom refer to themselves as Team Ember. It’s always just been the two of them in their townhome, plus Grandma Bea who takes care of Bea when her mom is at work, Aunt Tam (Bea’s second mom) who lives next door and Maximilian, her best friend. more

Anxiety

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THE SUMMER OF JUNE

By Jamie Sumner

June will be starting middle school in the fall, but first she has the magical summer ahead of her. June has been struggling with extreme anxiety for many years, but she’s determined to move on with the help of a caring counselor and a supportive, understanding mom. She knows she doesn’t want to be “the girl who pulls out her hair because of the anxious thoughts in her head or the nervous mouse girl who is scared all the time and runs from everything”. more

Anxiety

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No Fixed Address

By Susin Nielsen

Felix’s story will grab you from the very first page. We immediately feel his fear about being in a police station and being questioned by a kind, but nonetheless a police officer, about his iffy living arrangements and about his quirky, but loving mom. We learn about his astute P.O.O. (powers of observation) that help him to better understand the world around him. And then we learn a little more of Felix’s story about he and his mom have been living in a stolen van for the past four months more

Parent depression

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THINGS YOU CAN’T SAY

Parent suicide

Lasagna Means I Love you

Between the Lighthouse and You

grief

Where the Watermelons Grow

Parental schizophrenia

Sidetracked

Child with anxiety

Kat Greene Comes Clean

Parent with OCD

The War That Saved My Life

Child with PTSD

Each Tiny Spark

The True History of Lyndie B. Hawkins

Parent with PTSD

The Magical Imperfect 

Parent with depression; child with selective mutism

Good Enough

Child with eating disorder

Taking Up Space (Disordered Eating)

Child with disordered eating pattern; parent recovering from eating disorder

The Battle of Junk Mountain

Grandparent with hoarding disorder 

BREATHING UNDERWATER

OPERATION FROG EFFECT

vilonia beebee takes charge

THE YEAR WE FELL FROM SPACE

Family member’s depression

 

It’s July, and your kids have another month for summer reading (and maybe even time this fall!).They may be searching for some new titles and I just might have a solution. Instead of books from long ago, I’m focusing on books from the recent past. These titles are books I’ve reviewed and adored, but because they are older, you may not know about them. You may know the authors from their more recent books, but their earlier ones are books you’ll also want to know (and books you’ll find on your library’s shelves!). What are some of your favorites from the past? Please let us know in the comments.

The Space Between Lost and Found This story helps us to understand those diagnosed with Alzheimers, and how it affects everyone in the family.

The Boy at the Back of the Class a book that will help all who read it to understand the meaning of what a refugee truly is and how important it is that refugees are treated with respect and kindness

Dan Unmasked a story about comic books, superheroes, baseball, grief and most of all the power of friendship.

The Lonely Hearts of Maybelle Lane a story about friendship, family and gaining the understanding that taking care of someone else not only helps the recipient, but also yourself.

We Could Be Heroes this memorable tale about two delightful neurodivergent children who find friendship for the first time, will grab your heart

The List of Things That Will Not Change A book about divorce, step families, therapy, gay parents

Camp Clique story about friendship, acceptance and trust

Here In the Real World a touching tale of friendship, family, the knights’ code of chivalry and heroes. 

Happy Spring everyone! Although we’re struggling to feel like it’s spring here in Illinois, I thought I’d share a picture of something we can look forward to very soon! And here are some favorite middle grade books I’ve discovered since my last post. I’ve given all of them five stars on Good Reads! I hope you’ll find a new title to add to your TBR pile!

Counting Thyme

By Melanie Conklin

How did I miss Counting Thyme? For some reason, I’ve missed the reviews for the past two years about this heartfelt and important middle grade novel with a great sense of place. What’s important, however, is that I now know Thyme and her family, and I can’t stop thinking about their story

The Owens family left their home, their beloved grandma and their friends in San Diego, and abruptly moved to the very strange and unfamiliar world of New York City. The plan is to go home once Thyme’s beloved 5 year old brother, Val, completes his trial treatment for neuroblastoma at Memorial Sloane Kettering, but Mom and Dad are making no promises. Meanwhile, Thyme has to share a room with her older sister (who can’t stand her), live in a prewar walkup New York City apartment and start middle school, AGAIN, just before Thanksgiving. She desperately misses her next door neighbor and best friend, Shani, back in California, feels invisible to her mom and dad and lives with the fear that her little brother might not get well. But through it all, Thyme remains a loyal, loving and compassionate big sister and daughter who is willing to do whatever is necessary to help Val get well, and to help her family get back to normal.

This story includes the familiar middle school issues of friends, first crushes and going to a new school, but more importantly it tells us about a family in crisis. It tells us about how a cancer diagnosis, especially of a child, not only changes the victim’s life, but that of everyone in the family. It tells us about the anger and the stress that are just simmering beneath the service, even as the family strives to care for the child. It tells us about how the parents can’t help but let the other kids fend for themselves. It tells us about the guilt the healthy children experience as they resent all of the attention their sibling receives, and the lack of attention and interest they receive from their parents. And, finally, it tells us the importance of trust as a family faces the biggest battle of their lives.

One of the biggest lessons I learned from this story was the reminder and the realization of the importance of being honest with your children, no matter how difficult that might be. Thyme just wanted to know what was really happening with her brother and with her life. When her family tried to protect her by hiding the truth, it caused her to be not only fearful, but it also to lose her trust in everyone and everything around her.

As I said, I will not soon forget Thyme’s story. This is a book that is one that should be in every elementary, middle and public library, as well as in the counseling offices of schools and hospitals. It is one that needs to be shared not only with the siblings of children with cancer, but also their parents.

The Last Grand Adventure

By Rebecca Behrens

Thank you to @rebeccabehrensbooks and @kidlitexchange for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

When I was growing up I always loved Amelia Earhart’s story and I always had the secret hope that she survived and was living happily somewhere on a desert island. When I began my freshman year at Purdue (where Amelia was a professor) and I found myself living in Amelia Earhart Hall, I was convinced it was a sign that my secret wish was true. So when I learned about The Last Grand Adventure, I knew I had to read it, and I wasn’t disappointed. In fact I loved every moment of the adventure, right along with Pidge and Bea!

This is a fascinating historical fiction story (set in 1967) of a granddaughter, her grandma, Pidge and their search for Pidge’s sister, Amelia Earhart. While I read this absorbing book (I had a hard time putting it down!), I experienced so many emotions as I followed Pidge and Bea on their cross country trip from Sun City, CA to Atchison, Kansas to celebrate Amelia’s 70th birthday. They are in a rush, because Pidge believes with all her heart that her long lost sister will be waiting for her on her special day. At times the story was heart wrenching and at times full of excitement. Bea, a rule following straight A student who rarely leaves her hometown of Burbank, is suddenly thrust into a situation where she is a stowaway who is thrown off a train in the middle of the desert, and turns into a hitchhiker with very little food and almost no money. I felt her fear and her embarrassment when she realizes the grandmother she barely knows has gotten them into an unbelievable situation. I also felt her struggle to face her fears as she bravely supported and protected her grandma, and to find the courage to continue their great adventure.  I felt her growing hope that just maybe her great aunt Amelia might be waiting for them in Kansas. Finally, I loved how Bea learned so much from her adventure about the kindness of strangers and the realization of the importance of family; even if it is a step family. I highly recommend this to students in grades 4-8, who are looking for a story full of adventure, mystery and history!

Enginerds

By Jarrett Lerner

Published by Simon and Schuster

Twelve year old Kennedy, and his friends all eat lunch together in an empty science room or anywhere else that’s available, as long as they don’t have to eat in the cafeteria and listen to the endless chatter about who likes who, who was holding hands or who’s going to the next party. Because who wants to talk about those things, when you can be discussing a scientific finding about the latest weather phenomenon or your newest invention? And what do they call themselves? Well, enginerds, of course because “it’s the nerds who are the engine of the world.” 

This hilarious book will keep kids reading until the end! It’s full of adventure, laugh out loud moments and even some potty humor. It also has very short chapters, which will help those reluctant readers gain a feeling of success, as they fly through the book. However, everyone will love this book, as I did, no matter their reading ability. It’s a great choice for anyone in grades 2-5. I highly recommend Enginerds for all elementary libraries, and believe me, one copy will not be enough! Finally, the best news is that more Enginerd adventures are coming soon!

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Remember, you can also find me on:

Instagram @redcanoereader

and

Twitter @redcanoereader

During this snowy 2018, I’ve been curled up with my coffee and reading a LOT of books. As usual, I’ve been searching for new books (or books which are new to me) to share with you. Here are some of my favorites that I’m excited to tell you about!

New Favorite Picture Books

On a Magical D-Nothing Day by Beatrice Alemagna. 

I learned about this book on one of my favorite book blogs, What to Read to Your Kids. I’m always excited when I see it in my Inbox! I’m sure you’d really enjoy it to!

This is a truly magical book that you will definitely need to add to your collection, I’m sure. We’ve all yearned for our little ones to walk away from their video games and to go explore the outdoors. This little person (we’re not told if it’s a girl or a boy, which I love) is forced by his mother to do just that. At first, he doesn’t see any of the magic, but once he drops his video game in the lake, his eyes are opened to the mystical secrets of the forest. The lyrical and descriptive language is amazing, such as “Sunbeams fell down through a giant strainer and blinded me.”, but it is the accompanying illustrations that add the true wonder to the story. I recommend that you read it several times, (which shouldn’t be a problem since I’m sure it will become a family favorite!) so that you can truly notice all of the tiny details on every page. I loved how the little person’s legs became tree trunks when he felt like he was a small tree, how the martians jumped out of his video game, his view of the upside down world and the pure glee we see on his face when he discovered each little forest surprise. And please take an extra look at the mushroom page! But most of all, I love his conclusion “why hadn’t I done these things before today?” I hope you’ll love this book, as much as I do!

Accident by Andrea Tsurumi

I also learned about this book on What to Read to Your Kids. Many thanks to The Book Mommy for her great reviews!

We’ve all had lots of accidents. I know I certainly have! The story begins when Lola, the armadillo, spills orange juice on the living room chair, declares “I’ve ruined everything!” and decides that the only solution is to hide in the library until she’s grown up. But oh, no, on her way she runs right into a friend who has accidentally broken a swing, and quickly joins Lola in the race to the shelter of the library. That is until they encounter ANOTHER friend who has accidentally clipped the water hose when he’s trimming the hedge! This parade continues as it and adds friend after friend as they rush to get to the security of the library.

I loved the illustrations which included almost every imaginable animal involved in almost every imaginable calamity. The vocabulary was so much fun and that, along with the accidents which are shown on every page offer many opportunities for lively discussions with your little ones. With so much happening on every page, you’ll discover new surprises every time you read this delightful story. But what I liked most was the ending. A little bird follows Lola on her journey to the library and once Lola slows down simply says one word, “Accident.” The astonishment and relief on Lola’s face and the faces of all of her friends is very clear, as bird explains, “and now we make it better.”

We all need the reassurance that accidents are just that – accidents – and that they do happen. This book illustrates the lesson that is so important for all of us to learn. The lesson that tells us once an accident occurs, we need to kindly take care of the results of the accident, whether it be with an apology, with cleaning up the mess or by solving the problem we created, as well as graciously accepting our friend’s “I’m sorry.” after an accident occurs. What an important lesson for all of us to remember, both young and old!

This is definitely a book to add to your family library, as well as a book that should be in every elementary and public library. It’s a five star, for sure!

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New Favorite middle Grade Books

Hilde Cracks the Case: Hero Dog by Hilde Lysiak with Matthew Lysiak; Illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vrietnoff

Thank you to @kidlitexchange for sharing a copy of this book for review. All opinions are my own.

Hilde is a serious real-life reporter who is ten years old and writes her own actual newspaper, Orange Street News. She, along with a little bit of help from her reporter dad, is the author of this fun series! The stories are fictional, but are inspired by true stories that she has covered in her newspaper. Hilde has included a glossary of the terms she uses as she investigates her story, such as confession, confirm and deadline, which will be especially helpful to beginning mystery readers.  

This is the first book in a new early chapter book series, from the Branches division (#scholasticbranches) of @scholastic. Hero Dog is a puzzling mystery with lots of clues that prompt the reader to really analyze the evidence that Hilde discovers! It has easy to read font and illustrations on every page, which makes it a fun and enticing book to read. I especially liked that it stressed the importance of a reporter always answering the “who, what, when, where, why, how” questions in order to investigate a story. Hilde demonstrated the importance of this practice all through Hero Dog, when she paused and filled in the answers to these questions in her notebook. Learning the importance of this strategy will help your kids, as they strive to solve their own neighborhood mysteries.

I highly recommend this book for grades 1-3, and possibly for older reluctant readers who are looking for a fun book. Hero Dog will definitely keep mystery lovers engaged to the very last page! The series should become part of every elementary library collection.  

Smart Cookie By Elly Swartz

Thank you to @kidlitexchange and @ellyswartzbooks for providing this review copy of Smart Cookie. All opinions are my own.

Frankie is a 6th grader with a best friend, Elliott, a dad, a gram, a beagle and a hedgehog who lives in her family’s  B&B in Vermont. She and her dad are terrified of thunder and lightning, because her mom died while driving home one night during a storm. So since that time when Frankie was four years old, she, her dad and her gram have been living in and running the B&B. She and her gram are in charge of making the fresh cookies everyday that are a trademark of the inn, as well as doing other chores around the inn. Her dad maintains the building and grounds and does the cooking.

Frankie has decided it’s time to change that. She thinks her dad works far too hard and he needs to find a new wife, not to mention a new mom for her. And although family rule #10 is no secrets, Frankie has several; one being she has signed her dad up on a dating site!

I loved Frankie. I loved her courage, her resourcefulness, her spunk, her kindness and her creativity. I admired her very special relationship with her grandmother and the other senior center members. I admired her loyalty to her gram, as well as her understanding, when she discovered the secrets about Gram’s new love, and her hoarding issues. I ached for Frankie as she missed her mom, as she struggled to understand why her best friend deserted her and as she longed to be part of a family of three. I appreciated Frankie’s close friendship with Elliott and although they disagreed on things, they were extremely loyal and kind to one another and were an excellent team when it came to solving mysteries and problems.

This is a book that should be added to all elementary libraries and will soon become a favorite with grades 3-6. It would also be a good choice for those younger students who are ready for and requesting a middle grade book, because the subject matter is completely appropriate. I highly recommend Smart Cookie!

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What are some new favorites that you have discovered during the past month or two? I hope you’ll share them with all of us in the comments section!

On this cold, but sunny winter day (yea for the sun!!), I want to share some books I’ve read during the the past month. Happily, I’ve been able to curl up with my new Christmas throw, my dog and my coffee and have found a lot of new favorites! Two are set in Cuba, which was a new and eye opening experience for me. Others offered window and mirror experiences for me as I’m sure they will for you and your kids. Through the stories of these brave characters, who bravely provide us with a window into their lives, we can develop a better understanding of some difficult topics, or they might mirror something you are experiencing, which will bring comfort to all of you. So that I don’t overwhelm you, this is the first of multiple posts with my new favorite books for your TBR list. Look for part two next week!

My Brigadista year

by Katherine Paterson

#partner @kidlitexchange

Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book – all opinions are my own. I can barely remember the Cuban Missile Crisis and I’m quite sure most of you weren’t even dreamed about at that time! My vague memory is of my parents (who rarely watched television) and my aunt and uncle being glued to the set, while my cousins and I were allowed to play with very little supervision. I remember the murmurs and the fear on their faces. It was something I had never experienced before or since. So as you can imagine, both my memories and opinion of Castro and the Cuban government were not happy ones. Therefore, when I read My Brigadista Year my eyes were opened to a part of Cuban history I wasn’t aware of and was very different than I knew.
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When Castro became premier of Cuba, he called for an army of young people to go out into the jungles and mountains to bring literacy to the citizens who had never had the opportunity to learn to read and write. This historical fiction book is the memoir of a member of that army, who at the age of thirteen leaves the safety and the comforts of her life in Havana, much to her parents’ dismay, and goes off to tackle the huge job of teaching citizens to become literate. She does this with no electricity, no running water and with the constant fear that she will be discovered by the rebels. But her parents have raised her to share what she has and to help others who are lacking, so this is exactly what she does.
✨
I liked this book so much. In fact, I read it in one sitting! I just couldn’t stop reading Lora’s story. I admired her courage, her kindness, her empathy and her determination to do the right thing. Thanks to the brigadistas, many, many people became literate while the army of volunteers learned compassion and self reliance. In Lora’s words “I taught the campesinos how to read and write, and they taught me how to be a person.” (page 177)
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Middle Grade; Historical Fiction; courage; kindness; empathy; Cuba

insignificant events in the life of a cactus

by Dusti Bowling

Aven is a spunky thirteen year old with a great sense of humor who just happens to have no arms. She loves to tell stories about the reason why, but the truth is she was simply born way. Thanks to her parents, though, and her personality, she has the confidence to do just about anything. She can even put up with those “looks” she gets, at least most of the time. However, Aven has just moved to Arizona with her parents, because they become the managers of an old theme park and is starting a new middle school. This means lots of “those looks” and no friends.

I loved this amazing “windows and mirrors” story! Not only did we get to know what it means to be Aven, but we were also given an opportunity to view the world through the eyes of a child with Tourette Syndrome, as well as an overweight child, who are both feeling very much alone and ostracized in middle school. We learn about the friendship that develops among these three kids and what this means to each of them. We learn how friendships and the support of those friendships can lead to growth, self confidence and self acceptance.

This would be a wonderful read aloud for grade 5 and up and will prompt many meaningful class discussions about the acceptance of differences and friendship.  It’s the perfect book for those kids who have read Wonder and ask what they can read next! This book (and lots of copies) needs to be in every upper elementary and middle school library.

Grades 5 and up realistic fiction; friendship; Tourette Syndrome; overcoming obstacles; love and family support; acceptance of differences

all the way to havana

Written by Mararita Engle; Illustrated by Mike Curato

This book tells the story of a young Cuban boy, his family, some neighbors and their 30 mile journey to Havana to welcome the boy’s new cousin to the world. The seven happily squeeze into the family sedan, Cara Cara, which had originally belonged to the boy’s grandpa. It’s a conglomeration of parts pieced together to keep the fifty year old car running, with a little ingenuity from the boy and his father. We see the pride and joy on their faces as they arrive in Havana with their gift and their cake for the new cousin. The little boy sees so many cars of all shapes and colors as they drive through Havana, but proudly know his Cara Cara is the best! This story allows us to see and to gain an understanding of the strong family ties and pride in a Cuban family, as well as the determination of the Cuban people to make the best of what they have.

The illustrations are by one of my favorite illustrator’s, Mike Curato. He traveled to Cuba and took the same 30 mile hot and dusty ride in a 1954 Chevy that the young boy and his family experience in the story. From this, he created the illustrations using the textures from photographs he took along the way, along with pencil drawings and paintings. You’ll be transported to this beautiful island country as you imagine the warmth and love in a day in the life of a Cuban family. I highly recommend All the Way to Havana.

Family pride: ingenuity; Cuba

 

A Different Pond

Written by Bao Phi ; Illustrated by Thi Bui

I had seen this book on so many end of the year “best” lists, and after reading it, I certainly understand why that is! I remember reading about, and being aware of, the many Vietnam refugees in the 70s, but I never had any first hand experience in my small Midwestern hometown. This beautiful book helps me understand exactly what so many Vietnam refugees were feeling and experiencing as they struggled to live in the United States. The story tells of a little boy who accompanies his father on a fishing trip in the predawn hours. There’s much love and patience between the boy and his father, as the dad casts his line into the river and the little boy shivers from the cold. The dad shares stories about his childhood in Vietnam and about his brother who never returned from the fighting. Once they have a few fish, they return home knowing their family will be able to eat dinner that night when Dad comes home from one of his two jobs, Mom is home from her job and his brothers and sisters are home after school. This is a story about family, love and the struggles that a refugee family face as they work to survive in their new country. It enables us to have a small understanding of what the Vietnamese refugees experienced when they had to leave everything they knew in order to have a better life for their families, which is not unlike what refugees experience today. Sharing A Different Pond provides a perfect introduction to discussing the current world refugee situation. This book will help our children develop understanding of, and empathy for, the plight of refugees in our country and around the world.

Immigration; refugees; family love and support; Vietnam refugees

I have so many more books I want you to know about, but I’ll save them for another post – or maybe even two! Be sure and let me know what your new favorites are in the comments!

 

 

I share new books on my Instagram feed several times a week, but I haven’t shared any new chapter books on Red Canoe Reader in a while. Here are five memorable middle grade chapter books that I don’t want you to miss!

Josephine

Words by Patricia Hruby Powell

Pictures by Christian Robinson

This story is a free verse biographical poem about the dancer and civil rights advocate, Josephine Parker. It is best for grade 3 and up and is a perfect choice for a reluctant reader who is looking for a biography. The colorful illustrations and the short free verse poems on each page entice the reader to keep reading and to learn about Josephine’s fight for fairness, her kindness, her persistence and her success. It tells of her struggles in the U.S. when the country wasn’t ready to accept an African American dancer, no matter how talented. A country where she had to enter the theater by the back door and couldn’t even try on hats in a department store. We learn that all of this injustice prompted Josephine to flee to Europe where she was welcomed with love and standing ovations. Josephine entertained the troupes during World War II and joined the French Resistance, which led to her being awarded France’s highest honor.

Nest

 

 

Tru and Nelle

By G.Neri

This middle grade novel is based on the true life childhood friendship of Nelle Harper Lee and Truman Capote in their hometown of Monroeville, Alabama. Both Nelle and Tru, next door neighbors, were avid readers, lovers of Sherlock Holmes, misfits and motherless. One summer, Tru’s cousins built a treehouse for Sherlock (Tru) and Watson (Nelle) in between their houses, which became their secret clubhouse and the place where they met to solve the mysteries of their small town and plan their adventures. Nelle used both her strength and her brains, and Truman his creativity and determination to help them confront the town bullies, as well as face the trials in their daily lives.  Although these authors will be unfamiliar to your middle grader, the adventure and the humor in the story will definitely hold their attention. Personally, I was fascinated to learn about this childhood friendship between the two famous authors. Although the book is fictional, it is based upon the author’s research. I especially enjoyed reading the author’s note at the end of the book which told of Capote’s support of Harper Lee when she moved to New York City in 1956. He introduced her to a couple who sponsored her for one year, which enabled Lee to write To Kill a Mockingbird. Then In turn, Harper Lee’s research and support was instrumental to Capote’s when he wrote In Cold Blood.  

These are my latest favorite  middle grade chapter books. What have you read that you loved? Please let us all know in the comments!