[CJ Hammond Posts: 20 Status: Offline When I'm not writing, I'm thinking about writing.]

I agree with anyone that's mentioned Holly Black, although she can verge on YA.

Currently reading Thirteen by Tom Hoyle and loving it. Boy has to escape mad cult: brilliant and not fantasy based. There's a sequel too.

[sally-spratt Posts: 6 Status: Offline I love kids' books! WWW]

Just finished "Counting by 7s" by Holly Sloan.  Recommend for a different Middle Grade voice. 

[Mercedes Ortiz Posts: 119 Status: Offline Abracadabra! WWW]

Thank you all so much for the excellent book tips! Have a great weekend!

[Barbara Etlin Posts: 2,234 Status: Offline WWW]

Bumping this topic. Looking for new books to add to my reading list, with these qualifications:

What are your current (last year or two) favourite MG novels?


I especially like and am interested in:
- funny
- great voice
- historical (but not dry or didactic)
- unusual structure
- multi-cultural/diverse

My personal taboos/dislikes:
- people dying of cancer or other terminal diseases
- anything depressing
- child abuse
- dystopic/end-of-the-world/plagues
- sports books, books about athletes (I can think of only one exception and it was a tiny subplot.)

Thanks! 

[olmue Posts: 3,475 Status: Offline WWW]

Laura Amy Schlitz is funny and dark and MG and historical. I haven't read her newest book, but I'm catching up on all the others.

Anything by Gary Schmidt is great.

[Kell Posts: 1,202 Status: Offline On the other hand WWW]

I loved The Hired Girl! Barbara, I think it would fit the bill.

[terrylynn Posts: 144 Status: Offline writing outdoor adventures WWW]

Eddie Red series by Marcia Wells
How to Outrun a Crocodile When Your Shoes Are Untied by Jess Keating

There Will Be Bears by Ryan Gebhart

[JodyJS Posts: 1,247 Status: Offline Preorder now! Out April 2021! WWW]

I'm currently reading Moonpenny Island by Tricia Springstubb. Love the voice. Mysteries abound. So far nothing depressing like you mentioned.

[rab Posts: 533 Status: Offline WWW]

MOONPENNY ISLAND is one of my favorite reads of the year, JodyJS. Nothing historical, but warm-hearted and humorous. The setting is based on Kelly's Island in Lake Erie, but you don't need to know that to appreciate the book, by any means. It's a good one for seeing setting as almost a character.

[Barbara Etlin Posts: 2,234 Status: Offline WWW]

Rose, I'm going to catch up on some of Gary Schmidt's older books, and I've missed his latest one. Thanks for the reminder! I love THE WEDNESDAY WARS; it's one of my favourites. I think he's a brilliant writer. But I didn't like OKAY FOR NOW; a couple of the subplots are on my taboo list.

Thanks for the suggestions, people! I'm making a list.

[Steve Vodney Posts: 35 Status: Offline Lost in a Library]

"Liesl and Po" was especially good.