As we draw closer to the end of the year, I feel a great urgency to read as many middle grade c2015 titles as I possibly can for Maine Student Book Award contention. Before I was on this committee, I really had no idea how incredibly challenging it is to develop a well-balanced, please-everyone list! Because the MSBA list targets students in grades 4-8, it includes a huge age range of readers. It's rare to find a book that would suit that full spectrum of ages, not to mention the full spectrum of interests. I'm grateful to other members of the MSBA committee who are as obsessive as I am about ferreting out possible titles for the list!
So, here's one in contention: My Diary from the Edge of the World (publication date November 3) by Jodi Lynn Anderson. Magical realism can sometimes be a bit hit or miss for me, but in this book Anderson takes such great care with both the magical elements and the realism. Gracie and her family live in Maine, until they decide that they must take a huge leap and try to find the Extraordinary World. You see, life on this planet is really different - sasquatches, angels, and dragons all coexist with humans and life can be very dangerous with this heady mixture of creatures. Most unnerving is the fact that a dark cloud has gathered and appears to be coming for Gracie's younger brother, Sam. In this world, a dark cloud means death and the family is determined to outrun it. They set off for the Extraordinary World, a place that Gracie's dad is convinced exists. There is an adventure aspect to this book, then, as the family traverses across the continent, dodging dragons, befriending (sort of) a sasquatch, and relying upon an angel to deliver them safely. But, each character also goes on an intense internal quest, of sorts, as they determine who they are and where they are going. Anderson's storytelling is, at times, truly lyrical and a surprising late plot twist truly took my breath away. This is a beautiful book, about the journeys that we all must make over the course of our lives - at times joyful, at times painful.
It is also a very long book, which will require a fair amount of stamina for middle grade readers. Resolute fantasy readers will love it!
Some other books I've read and enjoyed recently:
It is also a very long book, which will require a fair amount of stamina for middle grade readers. Resolute fantasy readers will love it!
Some other books I've read and enjoyed recently:
Loved The Boys Who Challenged Hitler, but don't have a lot of fantasy readers, at least not like I used to.
ReplyDeleteWasn't The Boys Who Challenged Hitler amazing? The story itself is incredible, but I also appreciated that Hoose included the process that he used to "get" the story. Quite something!
DeleteMy Diary from the Edge of the World sounds really intriguing. The only book I've ever read by Anderson is Tiger Lily which was an interesting reimagining of the Peter Pan story, but I've always wanted to read more by her.
ReplyDeleteI am now wanting to read Tiger Lily too! Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteIt looks like you've been reading some really interesting books lately. I want to get to The thing About Jellyfish, but I have no idea when I'll find time for it!
ReplyDeleteHi there Laura, this does sound like a fascinating read. Thanks for sharing! :)
ReplyDelete