5 Books I’ve Loved, Recommended by Middle Graders | Dr. Shradhdha Shah
I’ve watched the Muddle Puddles Episode of Pepe Pig, which I believe is second only to the Messy Ice-cream episode. I was strongly recommended to watch it (under duress) when the mobile was shoved into my palm after a meeting with this one 3-year-old child in my clinic. It was a completely relevant recommendation after a detailed conversation with the mother about allergies, colds, coughs, the rains in Mumbai and uncleaned air-conditioners at the child’s playschool.
I’ve also watched most of the Bluey series, because “who doesn’t watch Bluey?” according to a 7-year-old who goes to the same dance school that I do. Good appraisal.
You should know that I don’t routinely get accosted by 3- and 7-year-olds (although, I really really do) and the reason for this is that I often ask for recommendations just before the patient leaves the cabin.
Which now brings me to a very very difficult bucket list of books recommended to me by middle graders. I’ve tossed and I’ve turned, I’ve aged, I’ve raged — just so the list can be whittled down to 5 page-turning books that are available on Audible, Kindle and in paperback. On Audible, these books are well narrated, especially for a family to listen to together or for a book-club to discuss, share and debate over. They’re also great for solo readers. One GREAT BIG FACT about these few books is that they’ve never been returned to the little library within our clinic, if that was where they were found in the first place. They’ve changed hands multiple times and once in a while, I hear of this or that child having received the same copy from a friend. It usually means that the kids found meaning, comfort and adventure in the pages.
Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson
I’m yet to meet a middle grader from anywhere in the world who didn’t love Astrid, the 12-year-old protagonist. Her character arc is simply fantastic with best-friend politics, loyalties tested, a low-intensity imposter syndrome, team dynamics, physical challenges, and recovery. She eventually mastered it all and finally, there appeared a satisfying end to the whole journey. Most children get hugely invested in the character arc if it’s a great character and it is SO important that the end was worth the emotional investment for the child.
The book is often compared with Raina Telemeier’s books by teachers and counsellors alike. It’s worth looking for these at your nearest book supplier!
Racheal Brooks is 12 and she has a grouse with destiny. Her body doesn’t respond to anything that is remotely normal. Her spine is growing in ways that no one can understand, much less control. This demon has a name — scoliosis.
She is shape shifting, but in real life. How do you convert a curse into your biggest blessing, all while going to middle school? The dances, the clothes, the teachers, the friends — all need to shape shift with her to find the right fit.
Rachael is forced to look at herself without the usual lens of friends and peers. It’s a new lens, with new settings. Will it all work out?
I simply loved the audiobook. A quick mention of a second book by the same author is due — “Focused” is a book from inside the head of a child with ADHD. This one reads well in paperback and also as an audio book.
Millions by Frank Cottrell
A-B-S-O-L-U-T-E-L-Y hilarious. This is Home-Alone style plot, originally written as a screenplay and then converted into a novel. The audio book is beautifully acted, especially since the main character is neuro-diverse in a way that is sweet, kind and unrealistically optimistic. This has been a good sibling read from what I hear, and great to enjoy while on a family road trip.
Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins
This is a high adventure action book series with fairly complex plots, loved by fans of the video game Minecraft. Children who enjoy complex plots and good vocabulary will love this series. The protagonist is 11 years old and has an incurable knack for getting himself out of danger, skirmishes and yet, he battles his own decisions to stand for loyalty.
This is a hilarious sci-fi account of how 13-year-old Ellie investigates the case of his new neighbour Melvin. Something is definitely off in the backstory that Melvin is putting on. The plot thickens as Ellie begins to realise that her grandfather may have figured a way to teleport into the body of this 14-year-old newcomer.
The sequel to this novel is called “The Third Mushroom” and is as entertaining as the first one!
Most of these books were sourced from independent bookshops for the library at our clinic and it has been exciting to finally put these down into a short list. Thanks A.A. for requesting for this list. Hopefully, I can curate more lists like these and share them with parents or with book-clubs for children that find them relevant.
Shelf Help is book club hosted by our clinic for lesser known books on wellness, designed into categories for all ages. Do reach out if you’d like to participate.
Originally published at https://www.linkedin.com.