Top 5 Tuesday: Middle Grade Favorites

 

This week I decided to switch back over and participate in Top 5 Tuesday, hosted by BionicBookworm, now following MeeghanReads!

This week's topic is: Favorite Middle Grade Books!

This topic was surprisingly difficult simply because there are simply so many middle grade books that I love, so narrowing it down to five is quite a challenge. I've opted to focus on middle grade reads from the most recent years (so excluding ones like Coraline, Catherynne Valente's books, etc.). I'll probably make an additional post sometime with more great middle grade reads, but for now, here are five of my more recent favorites!

 

 In no particular order:

1. The Thickety series by J.A. White

I've talked about White's The Thickety series more than a few times on my blog, but that's simply because I adore it so much. It's dark and spooky and full of some incredible messages, journeys, and characters. 

2. The Trials of Morrigan Crow (Nevermoor series) by Jessica Townsend

The Nevermoor series has been a huge hit over the past couple of years, and with good reason! It's so magical and inventive and I really never know what to expect with each new page. Townsend's imagination makes me so happy and excited to read each new installment in this series.

3. The Secret Keepers by Trenton Lee Stewart

I also really love Stewart's The Mysterious Benedict Society, but something about The Secret Keepers just always stands out to me and I found I connected to it so much. It's an adventurous and beautiful story with an amazing protagonist and his even more amazing mom. 

4. The Hatmakers by Tamzin Merchant

This was such a delightful surprise to read this year! This one just came out and it's absolutely worth the read. It's magical, inventive, and I love the sheer amount of detailed elements that Merchant included to bring this world and every 'Maker' to life.

5. Brightstorm by Vashti Hardy

Brightstorm checked off a lot of my favorite boxes--adventures, explorers, mystery, and determination. This was such a fun and meaningful story and I love following these new siblings on their adventure to discover what happened to their explorer father. 

Runner-Up: The Secret of Dreadwillow Cause by Brian Farrey

I read this one quite a few years ago actually, but I don't think I've ever mentioned it here and I thought it deserved some love. This book has such an incredible message and I loved how it showed the importance of friends and with being yourself and learning that it's okay to not know everything sometimes. 

Have you read any of these books? What are some of your favorite middle grade reads?