Middle Grade Madness! discussion

Feel free to recommend as many mystery books as you like below!
Please only recommend Middle Grade books. (Because this is a middle grade group and I know people will benefit more if the books are only middle grade.)

Please clearly label your recommendation(s) from other comments you might make like “I love that book” or “I’m reading that book right now”, etc.

Please use book links like: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone or to help people navigate around GR to find the book(s) easily.

Please include some extra details on the book (if it’s part of series, if it’s part of other genres, etc.)

Challenge: Describe why you like the book in 5-8 words!

(Comment reserved for future use)

Well, Robin Reads, the best science fiction that I've read lately is The Murderbot Diaries series starting with All Systems Red (The Murderbot Diaries, #1) by Martha Wells. The main character is a gender neutral "bot" which has been programmed as a killer but begins to evolve and become self-aware. The books in this series are short until book 5, . Book 6 is due out in April, 2021.

@Lynn have you got any mg recommendations? I don't really read sci-fi otherwise I'd recommend some myself!

Kadi wrote: "@Lynn have you got any mg recommendations? I don't really read sci-fi otherwise I'd recommend some myself!"

I have a couple. I'll add them to the sci-fi recommendations.

I recommend . It is about a group of kids who are great in their fields who are assigned to a team that must compete for the ultimate prize. What happens when they find out that the man running the game has his own agenda and it may not be entirely legal. This is part of a three book series.

I recommend . The main character is struck by lightening and basically loses her face. Advanced surgery does a "face transplant." The story then revolves around how a person learns to live with someone else's face. Lots of drama and have tissue handy. There are elements of both romance and coming-of-age fiction.

I recommend . A boy is programmed as an assassin who appears when he sleeps, but he thinks he has narcolepsy. This book is part of a 2 book series, which includes lots of adventure.

@Lynn Thanks for the recs! I can only read Faceless unfortunately, because that's the only one my audiobook service had. Will try to read that soon

A Robin Reads wrote: "@Lynn Thanks for the recs! I can only read Faceless unfortunately, because that's the only one my audiobook service had. Will try to read that soon"

I hope you like Faceless. It was very popular at my school.

Sleeper has been on my TBR since 2018 and thanks for reminding me of its existence Lynn! Hoping to read it this year now!

Kadi wrote: "Sleeper has been on my TBR since 2018 and thanks for reminding me of its existence Lynn! Hoping to read it this year now!"

It has been quite a while since I read it.

I hardly read any sci fi but my favourite is
The Strangers
Its a perfect book i like this book with a alternate universe 3 siblings and a unique plot is like the best i also read wrinkle in time like it was okay but reading it for school spoils the fun

Haniya wrote: "I hardly read any sci fi but my favourite is
The Strangers
Its a perfect book i like this book with a alternate universe 3 siblings and a unique plot is like the best i also read w..."

I started reading that book like 2 years ago and I was really intrigued about what the reason was for the multiple set of siblings. It makes so much sense that it was an alternate reality! I DNF’ed it very early in because I couldn’t get into it but I should give it another try some time in the future.

How about The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer L. Holm. It's a sci-fi book and in The Fourteenth Goldfish, Jennifer Holm illustrates the wonder and possibilities of science, the complexities of family relationships, and the allure of immortality through a humorous story of an eleven-year-old girl named Ellie and her quirky grandfather Melvin.

Thanks for the recommendation Patricia! It looks so good I want to read it right now!
Coincidentally it actually fits with the task for the reading challenge I’m taking part in and I’ve been searching all day for a good book with a number in the title. It’s also not super long. This looks like the perfect book, I’m so excited to start it!

Kadi wrote: "Thanks for the recommendation, Patricia! It looks so good I want to read it right now!
Coincidentally it actually fits with the task for the reading challenge I’m taking part in and I’ve been search..."

You're welcome Kadi! I've wanted to read this one too. It's been on my shelve last year and I think about nominating it this time:)

@Patricia I’ll add it to our book list for the sci-fi September readathon and then you can read it next month if you have time! I’d wait and read it next month too but my reading challenge ends this month so I have to read it soon. I’m going to start it tomorrow after I find a copy!

Kadi wrote: "@Patricia I’ll add it to our book list for the sci-fi September readathon and then you can read it next month if you have time! I’d wait and read it next month too but my reading challenge ends this..."

Sure! I'm going to read it next week after I also find a copy:) Thanks, Kadi!

Awesome! We can compare thoughts on it on the sci-fi September readathon page once we’ve both read it if you like!😊

Kadi wrote: "Awesome! We can compare thoughts on it on the sci-fi September readathon page once we’ve both read it if you like!😊"

Sure! I'd love to:D

Kadi wrote: "@Patricia I’ll add it to our book list for the sci-fi September readathon and then you can read it next month if you have time! I’d wait and read it next month too but my reading challenge ends this..."

Hi Kadi! I already found a copy of the fourteenth goldfish and it cost me $6 to buy it😅😅but it's fine, at least I have a copy of it so we can both read about it:)

Is $6 a lot? I only understand UK pounds lol
Also I found a copy too! I’m already at chapter 5 though that’s not very far in, it’s just the chapters are short.
If you’re free right now we can buddy read the book if you want!

Kadi wrote: "Is $6 a lot? I only understand UK pounds lol
Also I found a copy too! I’m already at chapter 5 though that’s not very far in, it’s just the chapters are short.
If you’re free right now we can buddy..."

It was 5 pounds in UK pounds. I'm going to start reading it today and sure, I would like to buddy read with you:D

Patricia wrote: "It was 5 pounds in UK pounds. I'm going to start reading it today..."

Hey Patricia sorry I’ve been super busy. I actually finished the book like within a few hours it was such a short read. It was a great book though, thanks for recommending it! I hope you’ve been enjoying it!

Kadi wrote: "Patricia wrote: "It was 5 pounds in UK pounds. I'm going to start reading it today..."

Hey Patricia sorry I’ve been super busy. I actually finished the book like within a few hours it was such a s..."

Thanks, Kadi. Wow, you're so fast to read but I'm going to finish this book next in the third week. Hope so! I'll let you know if I finished reading it:D Thank you so much, Kadi:)!

I've written a number of MG scifi short stories - does the group have any interest in hearing about them?

We recommend this novel, ''Braxton Rogers and the Brave New Beyond'' by Keith Yagerman. It's George JR's favorite book at the moment. We had a good time reading it, and it has a powerful message about family, overcoming tragedy, and team work. Plus, the kids are the heroes. What kid doesn't like that. A lot of evil robots get destroyed in this story.

Previously called Mars Diaries. Series