••Carol Baldwinhas a review written by Kate Lundeen about ONE FINE VOICE by Rebecca Langston-George. There is also a GIVEAWAY opportunity.
••Jennifer Bohnhoff published Perspective last October, a middle grade novel set in Duluth and Isle Royale during the Great Depression. She now shares other stories set during this time. Included is a great GIVEAWAY of these books, including her own.
Three kids all want to be known for more than looking different. Pictured center on the cover is thirteen-year-old Sunny. She has alopecia, a disease causing her to lose her hair. Trevor has severe psoriasis and Vee deals with Vitiligo, an autoimmune disorder where white patches appear on one’s skin.
Together they create The Secret Winners Club with a set of rules so each can rise above their physical appearance and excel at what they are really good at. They promise to support each other to achieve their dreams.
For Sunny it is winning the Junkbot competition. Trev wants to be chosen for the lead in the school’s production of the musical Grease, and Vee’s desire is to beat her nemesis as the fastest racer on the swim team.
Their plan begins to have success as each one finds a mentor who gives them advice. But the decisions each one makes causes more problems. The 55 chapter titles state which of these character’s viewpoint is featured resulting in a special story about friendship, making choices, and believing in more than winning at all costs.
What is really special about the plot are the families and how they impact their child’s decisions and direction in life. Each family dynamic has different types of challenges from single parent to divorce. They all are understandable in a heartfelt way. Finally, although Sunny, Vee, and Trev’s physical conditions are an important part of the story, they take a back seat to their internal journey to find a new outlook on the future.
FIVE MORE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: THE SECRET WINNERS CLUB by Donna Galanti
The Character ARC for Sunny, Vee, and Trev are well done and believable. Change becomes a positive in each ones’ life.
Often times when reading middle grade books, I find secondary characters not very important to the story. More like ones thrown in there to complete a main character’s profile. Not so here. From the adults to the other young characters, they each bring more meaning and empathy to the story.
Everyone makes mistakes in life, but what you do about making that mistake a positive is a great lesson to learn. We see that exact thing come true in endearing fashion here.
A story worthy for a reading group at school or at home to enjoy and discuss together. So much can come out through sharing reactions and understanding viewpoints that surface because of this special story.
Not to be missed is the back page “Letter From Donna” where the author shares why the book has personal meaning to her.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Donna Galanti is an award-winning author of middle-grade books with the Unicorn Island series, Joshua and the Lightning Road series, Loon Cove Summer, and The Secret Winners Club (3/3/26). She’s also the author of the paranormal suspense Element Trilogy for adults. Donna has lived in fun locations including England, her family-owned campground in New Hampshire, and in Hawaii where she served as a U.S. Navy photographer for Fleet Intelligence Pacific.
Donna is an avid outdoor adventurer and nature lover. She volunteers for the Old-Growth Forest Network and the National Audubon Society. When Donna’s not wandering the woods seeking magic and wonder, you can usually find her biking or kayaking. For more information on her books, online courses, speaking, and events, visit her at: www.donnagalanti.com.
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BE SURE TO VISIT ALL THE OTHER BLOGGERS ON TODAY’S MARVELOUS MIDDLE GRADE MONDAY!
Serendipity is one lucky girl. Everything about her life is positive. She has the lead in the school play, is a star on the basketball team, and of course Serendipity is also class president.
Everything is perfectly awesome, until the fateful day when she visits a town carnival and gets cursed with bad luck.
Now she is awful at basketball and can’t remember her lines on stage. She also might lose the class presidency to an opponent who is promising delicious cookies every day for the students. Even worse is the curl on top of her head she can’t seem to straighten out.
How will she ever get un-cursed? No hints as to what happens next but what she does endangers her friendship with her always best friend, Basil.
Colorful illustrations are an integral part of the enjoyable plot. Readers will learn that bad luck doesn’t have to be all bad. It might allow you to step back and see your situation in a much more positive way.
SERENDIPITY will appeal to ages 8 and up. An inspiring debut from a talented artist and author.
BOOK BIRTHDAY: February 10, 2026. PAGES: 224
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Gabbie Benda earned a degree in Communication Arts from VCUarts with a focus on children’s illustration and comics. After over a decade as a camp counselor and art teacher, Gabbie is well versed in the art of making kids of all ages smile.Serendipity is her debut. She lives in Richmond, Virginia. (Author Website)
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It’s almost time for another Marvelous Middle Grade Monday. Won’t you join us? It’s here I share highlights and links from other bloggers about middle grade books. Many of the posts will have reviews, interviews, and tips on writing. Take a look at PAST MMGM POSTS. Details on how to submit your post can be found in the right margin.
••ALWAYS in the MIDDLE is where I join the blog tour for Calliope Callisto Clark And The Search For Wisdom with a review and GIVEAWAY opportunity.
••Susan Uhlig is sharing THE EXPERIMENT by Rebecca Stead. Aliens, anyone?
••Linda Browne reveals her February Bookcase Bizarro. Although threre are no MG books she does have some helpful advice for authors: How to write book blurbs with human and AI feedback.
••Natalie Aguirre @ Literary Rambles has an interview with Christyne Morrell and a GIVEAWAY of her MG mystery The Case of the Scarlet Snakebite.
••Brenda @ Log Cabin Library is a part of the blog tour for The Secret Winners Club by Donna Galanti. Check out her review.
••Rebecca Douglassreviews both parts of Roald Dahl’s memoir. That includes Boy: Tales of Childhood and Going Solo.
••Jenni Enzor is featuring The Nine Moons of Han Yu and Luli by Karina Glaser.
••Rosi Hollinbeck has a review of DINOSAURS: EXPLORING PREHISTORIC LIFE AND GEOLOGICAL TIME. Rosi also shares three links of interest for her writing friends.
••Karen Yingling at Mrs. Yingling Reads has a book to share every day. Check out Karen’s MMGM choice for today and all her reviews from this past week.
ALWAYS in the MIDDLE is the fourth stop on the virtual book tour for this new middle grade novel (see below for the entire tour schedule and GIVEAWAY details). I wasn’t sure what to expect when I first saw the cover. A female character and a dog staring at a Greek Philosopher? What was going on here?
When I began reading the story, greatness and satisfaction arose from the pages. It was that good.
Callie Clark is a sixth grader being raised by her 80-year-old grandparents. At the young age of two her parents died in a car accident leaving her in the care of Granny and Grampy.
They eventually let Callie get a dog who supplies much love and friendship. Unfortunately, Archie hasn’t been trained to not jump up on others or limit his excessive barking. It hasn’t been easy. Grampy would like nothing more than to send the dog back to the shelter so the pup can be placed with another family.
A unit on ancient Greece in old Miss Kippenberger’s class gives Callie hope that she can learn more about her often disruptive behavior and how to keep Archie (Her Best Forever Friend) from being sent way. As she learns about the Greeks Philosophers, Callie decides her name should be more philosopher like. She chooses Calliope Callisto Clark.
Calliope is enthused about getting answers to her own big questions from these famous Greeks. After talking with the school librarian, a person she respects, they decide to create a club to do just that. Only her best friend Peggy and her never-ever friend Phillip join in for the weekly meeting.
Instead of answers, she finds that Socrates, Plato, and Epictetus bring more questions, but ones that will hopefully make her a better person and Archie a better behaved dog. Calliope’s first person narration is so engaging and spot on for an 11-year-old. She wants respect both at home and at school. The 45 chapters fly by with heartfelt humor, tension, and life threatening changes for her grandparents.
FIVE MORE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: CALLIOPE CALLISTO CLARK AND THE SEARCH FOR WISDOM by Claudia Mills
Peggy is the friend every kid deserves. She’s very different from Callie, but the two of them together bring about a bond they both need in their life.
The discussions about the Greek Philosophers are easily understandable for the intended audience. They can enjoy the sometimes erroneous thoughts and emotions Callie has about others and how she brings herself to realize not everything you believe in is true.
Phillip, her always perfect classmate, is another character you will like. His true story eventually surfaces and it is masterful how his character evolves by book’s end.
It’s hard to change when teaching one way your entire career. Miss Kippenberger is certainly set in her ways, but the emotional events in the story bring about a small welcome change.
Those who have owned a dog will understand the behavior of Archie. It’s not really a dog story but he does become a hero.
About the Author
Claudia Mills is the author of almost 60 books for young readers. To write her books she draws on childhood memories of growing up in New Jersey as well as funny stories her two sons brought home from elementary school and middle school as they grew up in Colorado. She loves to visit schools, where she is always on the prowl for material that can make its way into a chapter book or middle grade novel.
Claudia had a second career as a professor of philosophy at the University of Colorado at Boulder, specializing in ethics and political philosophy, which she left a few years ago to devote herself full time to writing. In addition to her books for children, she has published many articles on philosophical and ethical themes in children’s literature, including essays on the work of Maud Hart Lovelace, Eleanor Estes, Betty MacDonald, Louisa May Alcott, and Rosamond du Jardin, and published an edited collection, Ethics and Children’s Literature, as well.
All of Claudia’s books have been written between 5 and 7 in the morning, while drinking Swiss Miss hot chocolate at her cozy home near the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. She likes to write for an hour every day, watching little bits of daily writing grow into big piles of published books to share with children everywhere. (For about Claudia and her writings visit her author website)
GIVEAWAY
Enter for the chance to win one of 10 signed hardcover copies of Calliope Callisto Clark and the Search for Wisdom. One grand-prize winner will receive two additional signed books by Claudia Mills, plus an unforgettable one-hour Zoom visit with the author!
A chapter book and one that will also resonate with middle grade readers. I had never heard of Maysoon Zayid, This non-fiction look at her life assured me that I will never forget her. Growing up, Maysoon’s dream is to become a actress on Broadway and TV. Her favorite show is the popular daytime serial General Hospital.
She never gives up despite her long odds. Being a Palestinian girl from New Jersey with cerebral palsy makes the road even tougher. But Maysoon achieves her dreams along with becoming a popular comedian, appearing in comedy clubs across the U.S.
The message of not letting hurtful comments stop you from achieving your dreams, is an important one. You’ll be cheering her on throughout the seven chapters. Illustrations add to the reading experience.
Maysoon Zayid, The Girl Who Can Can is inspiring and perfect for discussion. The book is the first in the MUSLIM MAVERICKS series of stories. You’ll. be looking forward to what comes next.
BOOK BIRTHDAY: Feb. 10, 2026
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Seema Yasmin is a Pulitzer Prize finalist, Emmy Award-winning journalist, medical doctor, professor, poet and author. A fiction fellow of the Kundiman and Tin House workshops, she is the author of five books including Muslim Women Are Everything, Viral BS: Medical Myths and Why We Fall for Them, and the poetry collection, If God is a Virus. Yasmin trained in medicine at the University of Cambridge and in journalism at the University of Toronto. She served as an officer in the Epidemic Intelligence Service and is director of the Stanford Health Communication Initiative, clinical assistant professor of medicine at Stanford University and visiting assistant professor of crisis management at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management.
It’s almost time for another Marvelous Middle Grade Monday. Won’t you join us? It’s here I share highlights and links from other bloggers about middle grade books. Many of the posts will have reviews, interviews, and tips on writing. Take a look at PAST MMGM POSTS. Details on how to submit your post can be found in the right margin.
••Jenni Enzor is featuring The Friendship Awards, honoring friendships in middle-grade books with Wish, Wonderland, PeonyWatercolor’s Wish for Sun and Moon, Always Abigail, Anne of Green Gables, Betsy Tacy, and The Story Girl.
••Rosi Hollinbeck has a review of DEAD ENDS!: FLUKES, FLOPS & FAILURES THAT SPARKED MEDICAL MARVELS. Rosi also shares three links of interst for her writing friends.
••Karen Yingling at Mrs. Yingling Reads has a book to share every day. Check out Karen’s MMGM choice for today and all her reviews from this past week. (Happy 20 years of reviews, Karen!)
The first book in tie CITY SPIES series hit the shelves for the first time in 2021. The popularity of this unique story brought five sequels:
GOLDEN GATE
FORBIDDEN CITY
CITY OF THE DEAD
MISSION MANHATTAN
LONDON CALLING
Now in 2026, the seventh novel, CITY SPIES EUROPA has arrived.
I had read several of the books in the series but had missed the past three. A helpful appraisal of each of the seven team members appears in the back pages so I started there to re-familiarize myself with these smart group of kids. I then went back to page one and began reading.
This may not be the best approach if you are new to the series so I would suggest reading CITY SPIES first, or all six as they are available to purchase in a set.
CITY SPIES EUROPA brings another exciting and clue inducing story line. Umbra, a bad guy previously imprisoned with the help of the spies is somehow continuing his destructive thoughts from his cell with the help of outsiders he recruited. Umbra plans to bomb famous locations around Europe, destroying many landmarks and innocent people. He’ll stop the attacks only if he is released from prison.
The CITY SPIES separate into different teams to solve codes and investigate clues in Rome, Paris, London, and Amsterdam. It’s a nerve wracking adventure for all of them.
The third person narration takes readers through 39 chapters, often focusing on a few characters at a time. You’ll be confused right along with the spies as to what path they should take to stop this villain from creating havoc. The ending is a page turner and the door is left open for another book in the series.
BOOK BIRTHDAY: FEB. 10, 2026. PAGES: 384
FIVE MORE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: CITY SPIES EUROPA by James Ponti
Of course these kids aren’t traveling by themselves across Europe, There are helpful adults like TRU (their leader) and Mother (who is not a mother). They shined in their role as mentors.
The mystery surrounding another adult, Clementine, will have you guessing and re-guessing as to which side she is on. Clues about her whereabouts and if she is working with the bad guy made for an engaging sidelight.
Each of the spies expertise is different and working together is a must to decipher the clues. Paris was my favorite, but each one will for sure have fans.
The cover for each book in the series is always an attention grabber. With EUROPA’s cover you are pulled right into the exciting plot.
The time the author spent researching each location and the history of Europe brings another element to the appeal of City Spies. I learned many new things about this part of our world.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
James Ponti is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of four middle grade book series, including City Spies and The Sherlock Society. His novels have been named to sixty state award lists, optioned by Hollywood, and translated into sixteen languages. He’s a two-time Edgar Award-nominee, winning in 2018 for Vanished. He lives with his family in Orlando, Florida. (Author Website)
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BE SURE TO VISIT ALL THE OTHER BLOGGERS ON TODAY’S MARVELOUS MIDDLE GRADE MONDAY!
Two sisters face tremendous challenges in a fantasy world all new to them. Twelve-year old Katie and her younger sister Jenny live in Minneapolis with their mom. Divorce in their family has upset both girls. Dad seems to never want to be with them again.
At the story’s beginning pages they have arrived at Grandpa’s gray stone mansion in Duluth, Mom has left for Ireland and the girls will be staying here under Grandpa’s care.
It’s a spooky place, including the fireplace in the basement. Turns out by entering you can travel to O’Mirra, a kingdom full of magic and mystery. When grandpa disappears, they know he has been captured and imprisoned by an elf whose actions are more like a dictator.
They travel via the portal to this realm with the help of another much friendlier elf. Once there they find it to be creepy with scary creatures and trees, but this place is also exciting and has unique scenery.
The third person narration stays close to Katie who discovers more about herself than ever imagined. She’s always been environmentally conscious, but the plot goes much deeper. Topics like divorce, grief, and the anxiety Katie feels provides the backdrop for this magical tale. The heartfelt ending adds to the appeal of the 28 chapters.
The relationship between brave Katie and the much more cautious Jenny was also a highlight. Leave it to Spunky the wolf pup to provide a few smiles. His name says it all. Small black and white illustrations appear throughout, adding a bit of visually appealing accompaniment. In the back pages is a perfect summary of MAGIC SPELLS and THE CORE WIZARD POWERS. You could even read these first before diving into page one.
THE WIZARD’S WAY is the first in a series and I’m guessing more visits to O’Mirra are forthcoming. Young readers will be anxiously awaiting.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lisa Kelly lives in sunny Santa Barbara, California, with her husband and two goofy dogs. Ever since she was a child making up magical bedtime stories for her brothers and sisters, Lisa has believed in the power of imagination.
With a PhD in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Human Development, Lisa has dedicated her career to helping children, teens, and adults discover the “wizard powers” they already carry inside. For over 20 years, she worked as a life coach, guiding people to name their dreams and take the steps to achieve them. As a college instructor, she taught the healing power of imagery—the way imagination can calm our minds, strengthen our bodies, and help us grow.
Now, through her book The Wizard’s Way and her school visits, Lisa combines storytelling, psychology, and creativity to inspire young people. She helps kids see that they are brave, lovable, and full of magic—and that through imagination, love, and hope, they truly can change their lives and even the world around them. (Website)
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It’s almost time for another Marvelous Middle Grade Monday. It’s here I share highlights and links from other bloggers about middle grade books. Many of the posts will have reviews, interviews, and tips on writing. Take a look at PAST MMGM POSTS. Details on how to submit your post can be found in the right margin. Hope to see you back here on Monday!
••Brenda @ Log Cabin Library shares a graphic novel: Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King by Darin S. Cape, and a picture book for a blog tour that might have some crossover to younger kids: Katie’s Really Bad Day: A Story About Test Anxiety by Kathleen Jeffrey.
••Rebecca Douglass reviews Dusti Bowling’s Dust and Holding on for Dear Life.
••Jenni Enzor is celebrating the birthday over the weekend of Charles Dickens with four Dickens-inspired middle-grade books. Books are: The Traitor’s Gate by Avi, The Great Trouble and The Boy Called Dickens by Deborah Hopkinson, and The Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson.
••Isabelle Knight reviews Greenglass House by Kate Milford, a cozy, wintry middle-grade book that is perfect to read when you’re snowed in!
••Valinora Troy features a review of The Big Bad Wolf Murder by P.G.Bell.
••Carol Baldwin has an update on her Work in Progress, a historical MG.
••Karen Yingling at Mrs. Yingling Reads has a book to share every day. Check out Karen’s MMGM choice for today and all her reviews from this past week.
It’s easy to get a spot in the lineup. Email me the title of the book or feature for any middle grade book, author or giveaway, and a link to your blog. Send it to: gpcolo[at]gmail[dot]com
Make sure you put MMGM or Marvelous Middle Grade Monday in the subject line so it gets sorted accurately–and don’t forget to say what you’re featuring) You MUST email me your link by Sunday evening (11 PM Eastern Time) in order to be included in the list of links for that week’s MMGM.
*Please note: these posts are not a reflection of my own opinions on the books featured. Each blogger is responsible for their own MMGM content and I do not pre-screen reviews ahead of time, nor do I control what books they choose. I simply assemble the list based on the links that are emailed to me.
Always in the Middle... 