Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted at That Artsy Reader Girl. Each week you compile a list of ten books which coincide with that week’s theme. You can find everything you need to know about joining in here!
This week’s theme is ‘Books I Hope Santa Brings’, but to be honest I haven’t really asked for many books this Christmas. So instead, I thought I’d talk about some of the Middle Grade novels on my TBR!
I’ve fallen head over heels in love with Jessica Townsend’s Nevermoor series over the past month, and 2020 has been such a horrible year, and those books such a comforting escape, that it’s made me realise I should be reaching for more and more Middle Grade. So here are ten I’ve got my eye on!
The House with Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson: Anderson won the very first Wales Book of the Year Children & Young People Award for The Girl Who Speaks Bear this year and I’ve been meaning to give her work a try. I love the sound of this one!
Wilde by Eloise Williams: Sticking with the Welsh theme, Williams is Wales’s very first Children’s Laureate and this is her latest novel which I believe involves witchcraft.
Glass Coffin by Gabby Hutchinson Crouch: This is the next book in The Darkwood Series, which I love, and it’s due out in June. This series has such a good sense of humour and I’m looking forward to joining this group of fairy tale misfits on their next adventure.
The Ship of Shadows by Maria Kuzniar: This historical novel follows a young girl from Seville who joins a crew of ruthless women, which, frankly, is all I want from my fiction. This one sounds like perfect summer reading!
The Midnight Guardians by Ross Montgomery: This one, on the other hand, sounds like the perfect winter read, and follows a young boy in the Second World War who teams up with his imaginary friends to save his sister from the Midwinter King. It sounds so charming.
Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan: I’ve put the Percy Jackson series off for years because I’ve always had a feeling I wouldn’t click with Riordan’s sense of humour, but this series has such a huge fanbase that I’d like to give it a try myself.
A Pinch of Magic by Michelle Harrison: This novel follows three sisters trapped by a curse and, as one of three sisters myself, it’s one I’d like to try.
Paola Santiago and the River of Tears by Tehlor Kay Mejia: I’ve wanted to get my hands on this one since it was first announced, I love the idea of a Middle Grade novel about La Llorona, and I keep meaning to give Tehlor Kay Mejia’s work a try.
Murder Most Unladylike by Robin Stevens: This is the first in a historical Middle Grade series about two girls who start solving crimes, and to be honest that sounds like everything I need in a book. I’ve bought this one for my niece this Christmas so I hope she likes it!
A Most Improper Magick by Stephanie Burgis: There’s so much fantasy set during the Regency era out there and this series sounds so sweet. I’ve read and enjoyed work by Burgis before, so I should give this one a try!
Jessticulates 
Yeeees! I’m always so excited when more people turn to middle grade. It’s a fabulous category, regardless of age. Nevermoor is one of the middle grade books that had me really looking at reading more of it, too. xD What a powerful series. The House with Chicken Legs is on my list, along with the author’s new book. I got copies of both this year and just didn’t pick them up yet, but I’ve heard they’re good! Paola Santiago was really good, though! I hope you get a chance to read it soon. Can’t wait for its sequel already haha!
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I’ve got The House with Chicken Legs and A Pinch of Magic on my TBR as well. Riordan/Riordan Present books aren’t generally a fit with me, either, but I did love the Sal & Gabi books. Hope you find some great middle grade titles to enjoy 🙂 (Though Nevermoor sets a high standard!!)
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I’ve put Percy Jackson off for years, too. Hopefully we can both get to it in 2021! 😉
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I’ve been meaning to read Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief and Murder Most Unladylike for ages!
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I started the Percy Jackson series a few years ago and didn’t finish, but with the new series being announced, it has renewed my interest. I hope you find the series enjoyable.
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The House with Chicken Legs is such a brilliant book—and I can’t get over that cover!
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I love middle grade! I have quite a few of these on my TBR as well, though I’m unfamiliar with quite a few–which means I need to add them! The Midnight Guardians sounds so good! A Pinch of Magic and The Ship of Shadows also sound so good. 🙂 I hope you get a chance to read them!
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I haven’t read much middle grade lately (ever since my “baby” grew up), but I’ll be interested in seeing your thoughts on these books. I may be tempted to give one a try!
My TTT
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Some great covers on here! Happy TTT, and happy holidays 🙂
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I’m also obsessed with Jessica Townsend’s Nevermoor series! I had forgotten how much I loved reading middle grade until I picked it up. I haven’t heard of most of the books you mentioned but they all look so beautiful and magical and hopeful. A Pinch of Magic by Michelle Harrison is one I think I’ll be adding to my tbr too! Wonderful post, Jess!
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I love this post!! A Pinch of Magic and Percy Jackson were so much fun. I have one left in Percy. I also want to read Ship of Shadows. I love seeing the Middle Grade post!! 🙂
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I’ve read tons of MG books this year but no fantasy. I might have to give some of these a try. I do love a good mystery, so MURDER MOST UNLADYLIKE is going on my TBR list for sure!
Happy TTT!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
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I need to read more middle grade. I used to read a lot more and seem to have slipped a bit. Murder Most Unladylike and of course PErcy Jackson look awesome.
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I really enjoyed Percy Jackson so I hope you do! The rest of this list looks fabulous. I think they’re all going on my TBR. Happy holidays!
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I just realized that I’ve read A Most Improper Magick too but it was published in the States as Kat, Incorrigible. It was so much fun!
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I don’t read middle grade but I’m always impressed with how pretty middle grade covers are, I especially like Paola Santiago and the River of Tears. I hope you get a lot of book-shaped presents and some of these come into your life soon 🙂
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My daughter really liked the Percy Jackson books. My son’s favorite author is Lauren Magaziner; so far all her books have been Middle Grade, in case you’re looking for new middle grade authors to try. He’s loved all her books except Pilfer Academy, which he hasn’t read yet (he’s getting that, along with a signed bookplate Ms. Magaziner was kind enough to send, for Christmas).
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I love Nevermoor too! I have a few middlegrade books on my TBR shelf, but they’re the serious historical kind. The fun ones get read right away.
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I really want to read The House with Chicken Legs as well! And I loved A Pinch of Magic!
My post!
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The Percy Jackson series is fun. I haven’t read the rest, but I hope you get to read them all.
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Have you read Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer yet? It’s also a great MG book. My favorite!
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I’m not a huge MG reader, but I thought Murder Most Unladylike was cute.
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Awesome list, Jess! MG books have been such winners for me this year. I have most of these on my TBR and sitting on my Kindle shelf waiting to be read 😅 I hadn’t heard of The Midnight Guardians before though and it looks really good so I’m defo gonna check it out! I’d add Amari and the Night Brothers to this list cos it’s an amazing MG that I can’t wait for everyone to read! 😍 Hope you enjoy all of these!
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Thanks Dini! After hearing you talk about Amari and the Night Brothers I immediately went out and pre-ordered it, so I can’t wait to read it. 😀
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I love middle grade books so much! Sometimes I think it might be my favorite genre. I need to add some of these to my list! 🙂
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It’s been far too long since I’ve read a middle grade novel. I might need to borrow this list from you. Hehe. 🙂
My post.
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I don’t read much MG, but I recently read the Percy Jackson series and it was really good! You’ve got my interest up for some more MG books as well.
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Murder Most Unladylike sounds good.
Here is our Top Ten Tuesday.
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I’ve read most of the Percy Jackson series, and it’s really fun!
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I’ve only read the Percy Jackson series from this list, but it’s one of my favorites 🙂 The rest of your list looks like so much fun too! Hope you’ll enjoy all of these.
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Thanks Lindsey!
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