Middle Grade Madness! discussion

What is Sci-Fi?
- Sci-Fi is short for science fiction and it’s a main genre with sub-genres of its own.
- It involves futuristic concepts.
- This can range from advanced science or technology, time travel, space exploration, parallel universes and alien life forms.

Sci-fi can sometimes be confused with fantasy but the big difference between the two is that sci-fi is NOT magic-based like fantasy is! There are no supernatural or magical creatures. Whilst sci-fi concepts might seem impossible and fantastical, they’re always based on science, even if it’s science that doesn’t technically exist yet.

Interestingly, sci-fi books like 1984, Fahrenheit 451, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and others have predicted technology that exists today!

How It Works:
- Recommend as many sci-fi books/graphic novels for our list as you want (read more about that below) OR you can just take part.
- There's no need to sign up to take part, just join in the conversation below.
- This readathon starts in September 2022 (countdown below).
- Create a new Goodreads shelf for Sci-Fi September so you can keep track of what you’ve read for it if you want!

- Recommendations for our list closes on 28th August.
- I will feed the books/graphic novels from our list into a random picker.
- Using the link below (not yet added), access the random picker, spin the wheel, and it’ll randomly pick a book/graphic novel from our lists for you to read.
- Read the book/graphic novel and let us know your thoughts on it below!
- Then spin the wheels of the random picker again and it’ll choose another book/graphic novel for you.
- Try to read what the random picker picks for you but if you don’t have access to that book/graphic novel yet or if it chooses something you’ve already read for the readathon or that you've already read before or that you don't want to read/have DNF'ed/aren't interested in, then spin it again and it’ll choose something different.
- Alternatively, you can just ignore the random picker and read anything on the list that you like, but the random picker makes it more fun and spontaneous!


IF YOU WANT TO RECOMMEND A BOOK/GRAPHIC NOVEL FOR THE LIST:
The Rules on Recommending:
- It can be a book or a graphic novel.
- It MUST belong to the sci-fi genre.
- The book or graphic novel must be in English or translated to English.
- They can be MG, YA, Adult or New Adult.
- If the book/graphic novel is part of a series please only recommend the first in the series.
- You can recommend as many books or graphic novels as you like to be added to our list.

RECOMMEND YOUR BOOK(S) OR GRAPHIC NOVEL(S) FOR THE LIST HERE: https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...
Or let me know below and I can add it to the poll for you!

LINK TO THE RANDOM PICKER:
https://www.classtools.net/random-nam...

Check out our sci-fi recommendations here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

It’s pretty sparse on there so feel free to add your own recommendations too! We’ll definitely get some good ones on our book list for this readathon...

Hey guys, our book of the month in September will also be sci-fi. I can’t decide between:
Sal and Gabi Break the Universe by Carlos Hernandez
OR
The Once and Future Geek by Mari Mancusi

Please vote here for which you’d like to read:
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...

So excited for this, I got into Sci Fi a year or so ago when I read the Gabby Duran series. Need to get my sheleves together.

Same! I actually left it so late to set this up that for a second I was like oh well forget it but then I remembered how much I wanted to read some cool sci-fi and time travel type books and I got all excited again.

Kadi wrote: "Same! I actually left it so late to set this up that for a second I was like oh well forget it but then I remembered how much I wanted to read some cool sci-fi and time travel type books and I got ..."

to make it better my library finally has a copy of Alien Summer, Area 51 interns book 1! Whoo Hoo!

woa! sci-fi for September!

i have plan to read Fifth Season by NK Jemisin and now i read that September readathon is Sci-Fi genre. How lucky!

Fillisita wrote: "woa! sci-fi for September!

i have plan to read Fifth Season by NK Jemisin and now i read that September readathon is Sci-Fi genre. How lucky!"

I'm also planning on reading Fifth Season! I was planning to read it before the year is over but it looks like it will be Sci-Fi September!

What a coincidence for you guys! It looks like it has an interesting concept but seems way too long for me😩 if you do end up reading it please share your thoughts and then I might add it to my TBR if you guys enjoyed it!

Kadi wrote: "What a coincidence for you guys! It looks like it has an interesting concept but seems way too long for me😩 if you do end up reading it please share your thoughts and then I might add it to my TBR ..."

Will do!

The Book List:
MG:
Cleo Porter and the Body Electric by Jake Burt - Kadi
Glitch by Laura Martin - Kadi
The Once and Future Geek by Mari Mancusi - Kadi
Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix - Kadi
*The Sand Warrior by Mark Siegel - Oleander
The Last Human by Lee Bacon - Kadi
Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee - Kelly
The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer L. Holm - Patricia
Ben Archer and the Cosmic Fall by Rae Knightly - Donna
The Mad Queen of Mordra by Elwy Yost - Capn
Gabby Duran and the Unsittables by Elise Allen - Aurora
Wonderscape by Jennifer Bell - Laura
Escape Room by Christopher Edge - Laura
Between Sea and Sky by Nicola Penfold - Laura
The Many Worlds of Albie Bright by Christopher Edge - Laura
The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin - Satrina

YA:
The Stranded by Sarah Daniels - Laura
Uglies by Scott Westerfeld - Satrina
I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore - Dea
The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey - Dea
Fractured by Gordon G. Bowman - Emma
Sleeper Code by Tom Sniegoski - Kadi

Adult:
Wool by Hugh Howey - Dea
The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells - Dea
The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham - Dea
Artemis by Andy Weir - Satrina
Redshirts by John Scalzi - Satrina

(Names in italics are the recommended.
* indicates graphic novel)

Hey guys, the book list is officially up!
You can find the random picker here: https://www.classtools.net/random-nam...

Kadi wrote: "
The Book List:

MG:
Cleo Porter and the Body Electric by Jake Burt - Kadi
Glitch by Laura Martin - Kadi
[book:The Once and Fu..."

Great list!!

@Kelly It is isn’t it! So many interesting books! And I’m really happy with how many book recommendations we got. I thought we’d struggle but I guess we know more sci-fi than I expected. I can’t even decide what to read first. Looks like I’ll rely on the random picker this time!

Kadi wrote: "@Kelly It is isn’t it! So many interesting books! And I’m really happy with how many book recommendations we got. I thought we’d struggle but I guess we know more sci-fi than I expected. I can’t ev..."

It's funny because only recently did I really start enjoying sci-fi! I never gave it much of a chance before.

There are a few that I already had on my TBR, so I may start with those. Except that the random picker is fun!!!

I'm currently reading The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer L. Holm and I'm liking it so far. But I'll try to read many books above:)

Kelly wrote: "Kadi wrote: "@Kelly It is isn’t it! So many interesting books! And I’m really happy with how many book recommendations we got. I thought we’d struggle but I guess we know more sci-fi than I expecte..."

I gave the random picker a spin just because it's too fun not to, and I got one of the books I was planning on anyway, I Am Number Four! Woo hoo.

I went to the random picker and got The 5th Wave which I already read so I spun again and got The Fifth Season and Wool

So, those will be my first two books. Thank you Kadi!

Satrina wrote: "I went to the random picker and got The 5th Wave which I already read so I spun again and got The Fifth Season and Wool

So, those will be my first ..."

Hey isn’t the fifth season the one you wanted to read? What a coincidence!
I also want to read Wool so let me know what you think of it when you get to it later!

Dea~Country Girl At Heart wrote: "Good choice Kelly! I loved the book, and the movie!!"

Omg same! Past Kadi thought the guys were so cute in that movie. Present Kadi also thinks that😂
I read so many of the books in that series but I never ended up finishing it. I recently learnt after reading someone’s review that the publisher (who is also an author) has a notoriously bad reputation towards how he treats the authors😬 I knew Pittacus Lore was a pseudonym but I had no idea it was written by multiple different authors.

Patricia wrote: "I'm currently reading The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer L. Holm and I'm liking it so far. But I'll try to read many books above:)"

I hope you continue to enjoy it! I put my name down as the recommender but really it’s your recommendation. And don’t worry, read as many books as you can and have time for. I want to read almost all the books but I know I won’t have time for that😞

So I spun the random picker and I got The Day of the Triffids so I’m going to check out the preview on Amazon and if I like it I’ll get my own copy and continue reading it.

Then I got Uglies which I’ve already read so I spun again a few more times and I got Gabby Duran and the Unsittables. I’m excited to start reading these!

Kadi wrote: "Patricia wrote: "I'm currently reading The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer L. Holm and I'm liking it so far. But I'll try to read many books above:)"

I hope you c..."

I have 5 MG scifi on my list. From your list above I have Dragon Pearl, The Sand Warrior and the last human.

The other two are The Once and Future Geek, and Alien Summer, Area 51 Interns.

I will be reading Alien Summer, Ive wanted to read it ever since I saw an ad for it and the library finally has a copy. Dragon Pearl, because dragons, and The Sand Warrior graphic novel.

Kadi wrote: "So I spun the random picker and I got The Day of the Triffids so I’m going to check out the preview on Amazon and if I like it I’ll get my own copy and continue reading it.

Then I go..."

Yay! I hope you enjoy it. Happy scifi reading everyone.

Kadi wrote: "Hey isn’t the fifth season the one you wanted to read? What a coincidence!
I also want to read Wool so let me know what you think of it when you get to it later!"

I got it and went "Yes!" and my husband asked me the reason of my joy.

Since the random picker is so fun, I kept spinning the wheel and so far got The Once and Future Geek and The Sand Warrior which I didn't know but sound nice and since being MG I might get my son on board for Sci-Fi September

Satrina wrote: "Kadi wrote: "Hey isn’t the fifth season the one you wanted to read? What a coincidence!
I also want to read Wool so let me know what you think of it when you get to it later!"

I got it and went "Y..."

The Sand Warrior is on so many MG rec list blogs. Hope you both enjoy it. Talking about books is a great way to bond.

AurorainBookland wrote: "The Sand Warrior is on so many MG rec list blogs. Hope you both enjoy it. Talking about books is a great way to bond."

He said yes! Come September we'll start with The Sand Warrior.

I agree completely, we bond so much over reading books together.

Satrina wrote: "AurorainBookland wrote: "The Sand Warrior is on so many MG rec list blogs. Hope you both enjoy it. Talking about books is a great way to bond."

He said yes! Come September we'll start with The San..."

Cool!

I could not think of any MG sci fi books. I've got tons of adult ones.

Theirs a few on here I wouldn’t mind giving a go!

Kadi wrote: "Patricia wrote: "I'm currently reading The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer L. Holm and I'm liking it so far. But I'll try to read many books above:)"

I hope you c..."

Thanks, Kadi! I finished reading it yesterday and it was a great book:D

Audrey wrote: "I could not think of any MG sci fi books. I've got tons of adult ones."

I thought that would be the case for everyone but we got a surprisingly good spread of all age categories. If you want to give some adult sci-fi recommendations I can still add it to the list as a last minute thing.

Patricia wrote: "Thanks, Kadi! I finished reading it yesterday and it was a great book:D"

I’m glad you enjoyed it! Are you planning on reading the sequel? I’ve added it to my TBR but I don’t think I’ll read it in September

Kadi wrote: "Patricia wrote: "Thanks, Kadi! I finished reading it yesterday and it was a great book:D"

I’m glad you enjoyed it! Are you planning on reading the sequel? I’ve added it to my TBR but I don’t think..."

sure! I'd love to read the next sequel. Maybe we can read it in October or November?

Patricia wrote: "sure! I'd love to read the next sequel. Maybe we can read it in October or November?"

Oh wow sure ok! In October maybe? If I remember haha!

Satrina wrote: "He said yes! Come September we'll start with The Sand Warrior.

I agree completely, we bond so much over reading books together."

I love that you're bonding with your son over books! That's my hope for my future hypothetical kids.

If he's open to reading more too I recommend Ben Archer and the Cosmic Fall from the list. It has a nice focus on the bond between the mum and her son as well as cool action. If you have a dog he might relate to the book even more!

Kadi wrote: "I love that you're bonding with your son over books! That's my hope for my future hypothetical kids.

If he's open to reading more too I recommend Ben Archer and the Cosmic Fall from the list. It has a nice focus on the bond between the mum and her son as well as cool action. If you have a dog he might relate to the book even more!"

Oh, thanks! Sounds great, I don´t know if we'll be able to get to this one for this month because when we finish with The Sand Warrior will go for The Once and Future Geek but it will definitely go into our TBR.

Sadly, we don't have a pup but we have two stuffed puppies and that will do :D

These are the books I plan on reading for 🛸 Sci-Fi September 🛸!

Dea~Country Girl At Heart wrote: "Good choice Kelly! I loved the book, and the movie!!"

Good to hear!

I think I'm going to be super busy this month because I'm starting work for the first time (AAAAAAAAH!) but here are my planned reads:

Sal and Gabi Break the Universe
The Once and Future Geek
The Day of the Triffids (maybe)
The Retake (I forgot to add this one to the list but I've been eyeing it since August and it's suitably sci-fi with it's time-travel plot)
Gabby Duran and the Unsittables
Sleeper Code

I have no idea which one to start with!

Kadi wrote: "I think I'm going to be super busy this month because I'm starting work for the first time (AAAAAAAAH!) but here are my planned reads:

Sal and Gabi Break the Universe
[book:The Onc..."

Good luck with your job. Maybe assign each book a number and use a random number generator?

AurorainBookland wrote: "Good luck with your job. Maybe assign each book a number and use a random number generator?"

Aaw thank you! I'm not even sure what to expect for it so I'm trying to distract myself with books.

I tried to start with Sal and Gabi but boy is that book long! It's making me feel like a reading slump is coming on. So I think I'll just start with The Retake instead because I've been wanting to read it since mid-August and I'm very much a mood reader.

Kadi wrote: "AurorainBookland wrote: "Good luck with your job. Maybe assign each book a number and use a random number generator?"

Aaw thank you! I'm not even sure what to expect for it so I'm trying to distra..."

Your welcome. Totally a mood reader also.

I forgot I wanted to read Dragon Pearl as well! I saw that Jos started it and I was reminded I had hoped to read it for Sci Fi September. May have to foresake War of the Worlds and listen to the broadcast, which I have never done! Has anyone else?

Kadi wrote: "I think I'm going to be super busy this month because I'm starting work for the first time (AAAAAAAAH!) but here are my planned reads:

Sal and Gabi Break the Universe
[book:The Onc..."

Good luck on your new job! You'll do great!

Favorite Sci Fi:

Adult:
The Martian
Old Man's War
Terminal Alliance
Lock In
The Kingdoms

YA:
MILA 2.0 (trilogy)
Ender's Game
The Prisoner of Cell 25 (series)
One Word Kill (trilogy)
Bluescreen (trilogy)
Skyward (series)

MG:
Time Snatchers

How is everyone's sci-fi reading going? I'm about 50% through Sal and Gabi Break the Universe (which I am loving!!). I was thinking that it also falls in the magical realism genre. I definitely will be reading I Am Number Four and The Fifth Season soon. I got them both from the library yesterday and they look good!

I was thinking of listening to the 1938 radio adaptation of War of the Worlds instead of reading the book (for now). Anyone listen to it before?

@Satrina Aaw thank you! Work has been going well. Well, really it’s just a lot of sitting around for me because this is my training period so it’s just shadowing people basically.

@Audrey ooh what did you think of Time Snatchers? I came across it like last month and wanted to read it but there are quite a few bad reviews.
Also Ender’s Game! I watched the movie when I was young and loved it. It’s still one of my ultimate faves. Then I read the first 2 books and lol I preferred the movie. Wouldn’t you say the first book is more MG?

@Kelly no I haven’t listened to it! But did you know there was a War of the Worlds show that was released in 2019? It’s still ongoing! 3rd season is literally airing right now wow. I’m going to check out the trailer now