Great Middle Grade Reads discussion

As we zoom into autumn, take a quick backward glance at your end-of-summer reading. What was your favorite middle grade book (or books) from August?

My personal favorite from last month was The Gauntlet by Karuna Riazi, which is rich with cultural details since the main character is Bangladeshi-American. She and her two friends (and her little brother) are dragged into a mysterious board game. They can only escape if they win.

I read a lot in August, but many of the reading for the first time MG books were rather disappointing.

So I think that from my MG novels I read in August for the first time my favourite has been Emily's Runaway Imagination. And yes, I do wish I had read this as a child, as Emily was a true kindred spirit and I loved Beverly Cleary’s sense of time and place, of 1920s Oregon.

The best books I read in August were My Jasper June by Laurel Snyder and A Pinch of Magic by Michelle Harrison.

Persuasion by Jane Austen (a reread) and China Court by Rumer Godden

I managed two. Both are enjoyable.
The Hatmakers Set in Georgian England, a girl tampers with her guardian's magical hats with entertaining consequences
The Forest of Moon and Sword Set in medieval England, a girl sets off from Scotland to rescue her mother before she goes on trial for being a witch.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Parts One and Two and Where the Mountain Meets the Moon

I just read and reviewed The Cat Who Saved Books, which is soon to be published in the UK, but has been out in other countries for a while.
I thought this was absolutely wonderful! And it fits our BOTM for October, so if it's available in your libraries in the US already, I'd love to nominate it :) But I suspect not.

I also read A Swiftly Tilting Planet the third in the Time Quintet (starts with Wrinkle in Time). I thought it was the best yet.

I can also recommend Chase Tinker and the House of Magic which I think I got here as a Read4Review, and I offer sincere apologies to Malia Ann Haberman for taking so long to get around to it. It's extremely good, with a huge amount of magical experiences in it! (and the first of a series of four, too)

I read a historical, non-fiction book called Last to Join the Fight: The 66th Georgia Infantry which is very very far removed from my wheelhouse (fantasy/sci fi), but as I mentioned in my review, the author was fastidious and well-prepared in his research which made it more enjoyable. Not sure if anyone in this group reads historical, non-fiction, but it was pretty good.

Also, finished The Complete Poetry of Edgar Allan Poe which was amazing! So morose, yet so beautifully versed. He was a maniacal genius.

The best book I read in August was Rhinos in Nebraska: The Amazing Discovery of the Ashfall Fossil Beds by Alison Pearce Stevens. It was a fascinating account of the discovery and the research being done on the Ashfall Fossil Beds that was written for young readers. The writing is very accessible for young readers getting into paleontology. The illustrations are great and there is a large amount of information on the animals that they've found in the fossil beds.

Words on fire

Kathryn wrote: "Words on fire"

Excellent book!