A Boy Called Christmas – Matt Haig

A Boy Called Christmas by Matt Haig

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Received: Borrowed
Published: 2017
Publisher: HarperCollins Canada
Recommended Age: 8+
Pacing: Normal
Genres & Themes: Middle Grade, Family, Adventure, Christmas, Magic

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BLURB:

You are about to read the true story of Father Christmas. It is a story that proves that nothing is impossible. If you are one of those people who believe that some things are impossible, you should put this book down right away. It is most certainly not for you. Because this book is FULL of impossible things.

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The Wild Robot Escapes (The Wild Robot #2)

The Wild Robot Escapes by Peter Brown

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Received: Publisher
First Published: March 13th, 2018
Publisher: Little, Brown BFYR
Recommended Age: 8+
Pacing: Fast
Genres & Themes: Middle Grade, Adventure, Family, Animals, Kindness

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BLURB:

Shipwrecked on a remote, wild island, Robot Roz learned from the unwelcoming animal inhabitants and adapted to her surroundings–but can she survive the challenges of the civilized world and find her way home to Brightbill and the island?

Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World

Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World by Ashley Herring Blake

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Received: Distributor
First Published: March 6th, 2018
Publisher: Little, Brown BFYR
Recommended Age: 10+
Pacing: Normal
Genres & Themes: Young Adult, Contemporary, LGBT, Friendship, Introspection

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BLURB:

When a tornado rips through town, twelve-year-old Ivy Aberdeen’s house is destroyed and her family of five is displaced. Ivy feels invisible and ignored in the aftermath of the storm–and what’s worse, her notebook filled with secret drawings of girls holding hands has gone missing. Mysteriously, Ivy’s drawings begin to reappear in her locker with notes from someone telling her to open up about her identity. Ivy thinks–and hopes–that this someone might be her classmate, another girl for whom Ivy has begun to develop a crush. Will Ivy find the strength and courage to follow her true feelings?

Whichwood – Tahereh Mafi

Whichwood by Tahereh Mafi

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Received: Publisher
First Published: November 14th, 2017
Publisher: Dutton BFYR
Recommended Age: 10+
Pacing: Normal
Genres & Themes: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Friendship, Ghosts

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BLURB:

Laylee can barely remember the happier times before her beloved mother died. Before her father, driven by grief, lost his wits (and his way). Before she was left as the sole remaining mordeshoor in the village of Whichwood, destined to spend her days washing the bodies of the dead and preparing their souls for the afterlife. It’s become easy to forget and easier still to ignore the way her hands are stiffening and turning silver, just like her hair, and her own ever-increasing loneliness and fear. But soon, a pair of familiar strangers appears, and Laylee’s world is turned upside down as she rediscovers color, magic, and the healing power of friendship.

Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin

Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin by Liesl Shurtliff

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Received: Publisher
First Published: April 9th, 2013
Publisher: Yearling
Recommended Age: 8+
Pacing: Fast
Genres & Themes: Middle Grade, Fairy Tale Retellings, Adventure, Magic, Destiny, Family

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BLURB:

In a magic kingdom where your name is your destiny, 12-year-old Rump is the butt of everyone’s joke. But when he finds an old spinning wheel, his luck seems to change. Rump discovers he has a gift for spinning straw into gold. His best friend, Red Riding Hood, warns him that magic is dangerous, and she’s right. With each thread he spins, he weaves himself deeper into a curse.

To break the spell, Rump must go on a perilous quest, fighting off pixies, trolls, poison apples, and a wickedly foolish queen. The odds are against him, but with courage and friendship—and a cheeky sense of humor—he just might triumph in the end.

Because of Mr. Terupt – Rob Buyea

Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Received: Publisher
First Published: October 12th, 2010
Publisher: Delacorte BFYR
Recommended Age: 10+
Pacing: Fast
Genres & Themes: Middle Grade, Fiction, School Life, Friendship

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BLURB:

It’s the start of fifth grade for seven kids at Snow Hill School. There’s . . . Jessica, the new girl, smart and perceptive, who’s having a hard time fitting in; Alexia, a bully, your friend one second, your enemy the next; Peter, class prankster and troublemaker; Luke, the brain; Danielle, who never stands up for herself; shy Anna, whose home situation makes her an outcast; and Jeffrey, who hates school.

Only Mr. Terupt, their new and energetic teacher, seems to know how to deal with them all. He makes the classroom a fun place, even if he doesn’t let them get away with much . . . until the snowy winter day when an accident changes everything—and everyone.  

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas – John Boyne

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Received: Publisher
First Published: 2006
Publisher: David Fickling Books
Recommended Age: 11+
Pacing: Slow
Genres & Themes: MG/YA, Historical Fiction, Holocaust, Friendship, Family

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BLURB:

If you start to read this book, you will go on a journey with a nine-year-old boy named Bruno. (Though this isn’t a book for nine-year-olds.) And sooner or later you will arrive with Bruno at a fence.

Fences like this exist all over the world. We hope you never have to encounter one.