Key Books for Middle School

One of the joys I have in life is being able to review books.  I’ve met some gems along the way.  It’s worth a post to recall the best over this past year.  I bring you some key books for middle school.  Each link is to my review of that book.  

Key Non-Fiction books

The Complete Baking Book for Young Chefs.  I liked this book.  The only thing I wished it did was be broader based.  But baking is an excellent skill to learn!  🙂

Animal Atlas.  This is one of the nicest animal books I’ve reviewed.  Lots of interesting facts, and interactive elements too. 

Crossing on Time by David Macaulay.  Excellent information and illustration about steam ships.  Just fascinating. 

Spies. Lies and Disguise.  A book I chose to keep!  And I don’t keep many.  But this one I thoroughly enjoyed and look forward to sharing it with my lad.  A World War 2 book. 

The Flag Book is another book I chose to keep.  By Londely Planet, a well put together book with lots of curious information about flags. 

Dark Skies.  I admittedly waffled on adding this one as I received a ARC copy and some of the destinations… I would want to see them in colour.  Having everything in grey scale was the only negative. Astro-tourism.

Key Fiction Books

Prairie Lotus.  I liked this, in the style of Little House in the Prairie book.  Introduced me to history I wasn’t highly familiar with. 

Time Sight.  It took me a bit to get into it, but in the end this was a very enjoyable read. Second sight, Scotland, history, a well-written package.

I’ve told my son a fair bit about this next book, Under the Broken Sky.  He is planning on reading it after he finished the Camp X series (which he’s told me I HAVE TO read.  🙂  Japanese in China, World War 2, their story.  Not an easy read, but a good read. 

Dog Driven.   Such a good read.  Dogs, a race, youth learning who they are, and who they need to be.  Good stuff. 

StarGazing.  I remember being surprised by this book.  A good read that I happily recommend to others.  🙂  Chinese-americans learning to live life in all their variations. 

The Giant from the Fire Sea.   A decently good read.  🙂  Fantasy, growth, determination, mystery to solve. 

Key books for middle school, true-life

This section contains books based on real life. 

 So Into the Blizzard is the story of the heroes of a mega blizzard in 1978.  Again, not an easy story, but a good one.  Well-written.

Born to Fly.  A story based on a women’s race.  Excellent way to understand early aviation history in the eyes of the women who joined in. 

The Heart Changer.  I read this biblically based story for the crew.  I liked it. Definitely worth sharing. 

It Rained Warm Bread.  I recently read this with my lad, and it sparked good conversations.  Poetry that reads like a book about real history.  A World War 2 book. 

Locked in Ice.  Fascinating piece of history in an easy to read and understand chapter book. Learn about Fridtjof Nansen and his trip to the North Pole. 

And there you have it, my tops picks for middle school reads over this past year.  Great books.  Lots of reading for fun and learning.  Pick one of these key books and the middle school youth in your life are sure to be delighted.

Others in this series

• Add in your life. 
• Edmund Burke, philosopher. 
• Clarity in Writing.
• Deep Runs the Well. 
• Ease of Consistent Schedules. 
• Fantastic Ways to learn History. 
• Going Through Browswer Tabs. 
• Hiding the Unknown.
• Invested in Health.
• William James, philosopher.
• Key books for middle School. 
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