OFFSIDE

Posted on August 14, 2026 by Greg Pattridge

Nicky, Fabiola, Al, Palmer, and Seba are five kids with very different goals. They play on the same co-ed soccer team but getting along with each other is a challenge.

Al, the team captain, sides with his father who wants separate teams for boys and girls. Al will do anything to make that happen. Palmer, the one with crutches due to a torn ACL, does more than just be a spectator on the sidelines. He discovers a bigger problem than what is happening on the field. Somehow, they must find a way to become a team.

The format is unique as previously used in the author’s novel, INVISIBLE. Text boxes include both a Spanish and English version, a real plus for classrooms. Illustrations throughout are colorful and perfectly match the emotional outcomes of the story. I really liked the several single page drawings showing even more detail.

This tale about soccer, teamwork and friendship is engaging throughout. Each of the families are unique with their own challenges. OFFSIDE is a great graphic novel to have on the shelves at home or in the classroom. Perfect for those who love to read about the challenges facing girls in sports where boy’s teams get all the attention.

BOOK BIRTHDAY: July 7, 2026. PAGES: 208

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Christina Diaz Gonzalez is the Edgar Award-winning and USA TODAY best-selling author of several novels including The Red Umbrella, Concealed, and the graphic novels Invisible and Offside. Her books have been named to thirty-two state award lists and have reached international acclaim with Japan’s Sakura Medal nominations and International Latino Book Awards. She currently lives with her family in Miami, Florida. (for more details visit the author’s 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.

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Marvelous Middle Grade Monday (August 10, 2026)

Posted on August 10, 2026 by Greg Pattridge

 

••ALWAYS in the MIDDLE is where you can find my review of THE ISLAND AT THE EDGE OF THE NIGHT by Lucy Strange.

••Susan Uhlig enjoyed another time travel novel–Adventure in the City of Stories—and learned some new things too.

••Brenda @ Log Cabin Library takes a look at Golden Boy by A. J. Symon, a perfect upper middle grade book.

••Jenni Enzor is featuring Giant by Judith McQuoid.

••Kasey Girard at The Story Sanctuary has a review of Listen to the Girls by Chrystal D. Giles:

••Jennifer Rummel @ YA Book Nerd has been reading a lot of survival stories so she made a MIDDLE GRADE SURVIVAL BOOKLIST.

••Rosi Hollinbeck reviews A DAY AT THE BEACH by Gary D. Schmidt and Ron Koertge. 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 review for today and all her posts from this past week including the novel THE DOLL HOUSE.

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THE ISLAND AT THE EDGE OF THE NIGHT

Posted on August 9, 2026 by Greg Pattridge

A page turning mystery that I couldn’t step away from for long. Twelve-year-old Faye Fitzgerald narrates the story set in 1932 on a distant Scottish Island.

Her life has been happy living with her botonist father, but then she is sent off to Auk Island School. It’s a terrible place, more like the worst prison than the welcoming environment a school should provide.

There are just a few other children in attendance. Each one seems to have done something horrible to be sent here. All that Faye remembers is a dark night where her aunt was injured by an axe, supposedly used as a weapon by little Faye.

She despises being locked up and is closely supervised by Nurse Violet and husband Dr. Lighter, the two running this awful place. Faye pretends to take the pill they give her each day, which turns out to be the right decision. She soon meets a young boy who has been in hiding. He’s a prince that everyone thinks is dead. They work together to try and get everyone off the island and solve the mystery of this place. Faye also discovers the truth about her family and the lies she will not accept.

The 58 chapters provide the perfect fast paced mystery readers will love. No spoilers here, but the plot wraps up every loose end in a satisfying way. THE ISLAND AT THE EDGE OF THE NIGHT is a gripping, delightful tale where nature takes the center stage. Highly recommended.

HARDBACK EDITION BIRTHDAY: June 2, 2026 PAGES: 320

FIVE MORE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: THE ISLAND AT THE EDGE OF THE NIGHT by Lucy Strange

  1. Faye is a marvelous main character. Her bravery and resilience to help others will have you in her corner the entire way.
  2. The supporting cast is just as strong especially new friend Boudicca. She’s a no-nonsense girl who will speak up and defy those in charge, refusing to do anything unpleasant. It does get her in locked up in a secret room which Faye and the Prince eventually find.
  3. Auk Island is the perfect place to set this story. With a giant mountain know as The Knife in the center, it too has a lot to offer in the understanding of the mystery. A great new world for your imagination.
  4. Boarding school stories always seem to be popular with middle school readers and this one should be at the top of their list.
  5. You might be one that can predict what will happen but the road to getting there is still a memorable one in this engaging mystery.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lucy Strange worked as an actor, singer and storyteller before becoming a secondary school English teacher. She now lives and writes in the heart of the Kent countryside with her partner James, their baby boy and a tortoiseshell cat known as Moo. (Author Website)

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Corvus-A Crow’s Story

Posted on August 7, 2026 by Greg Pattridge

A crow and a butterfly become friends for life in Corvus: A Crow’s Story, a memorable and heartwarming tale,

Clarence, a wise caterpillar who eventually turns into a butterfly, narrates the story. He hopes to help Corvus, the only crow in the nest who cannot fly. All the crows are heading south for the winter but can’t take Corvus unless he learns how to use those important wings. Winter would be unforgiving if he stayed.

Clarence is an entertaining narrator with dashes of humor along with facts about animal migration, his upcoming short life, and the uniqueness of the crow population. His unlikely friendship with Corvus is so well written you believe this companionship could really happen.

Black and white illustrations also add to the story. The back pages include several more helpful sections: FUN FACTS FOR CURIOUS READERS; NATURE NOTES, and DISCUSSION QUESTIONS. The author’s background as an educator shines through on every one of these pages.

Friendship and dedication to what is right help Clarence and Corvus in a face off with a one-eyed hawk. A perfect ending to a story that would make a great read-aloud. CORVUS, A CROW’S STORY comes full circle inan emotional and endearing look at life. Strongly recommended for families and middle grade readers.

BOOK BIRTHDAY:May 16, 2026 PAGES:174

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Shallen Anne Chitwood was born and raised in the Midwest. After earning her Master of Science in Education from Southern Illinois University, she moved to Tennessee, where she spent many years teaching elementary and middle grade students. She and her husband now live on a farm. 

When she isn’t writing stories or poetry, Shallen can be found in the garden or caring for her furry and feathered friends. Her debut novel, Big Love and War Horse (for ages 14+), received the 2025 Readers’ Favorite Silver Medal for Literary Fiction as well as a Literary Titan Gold Book Award. (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.

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Marvelous Middle Grade Monday (August 3, 2026)

Posted on August 3, 2026 by Greg Pattridge

 

••ALWAYS in the MIDDLE is where you can find my review of GHOST IN THE NIGHT by Tiffany D. Jackson.

••Susan Uhlig was delighted with Beth Ferry’s first middle grade novel, GROWING HOME.

••Natalie Aguirre at Literary Rambles is participating in the Apple a Day Giveaway Hop, featuring lots of new middle grade choices.

••Carol Baldwin has a review of TIME TRAVELING WITH A HAMSTER by Ross Welford.

••Rebecca Douglass is reviewing The Wednesday Wars and Just Like That by Gary D. Schmidt.

••Kasey Girard at The Story Sanctuary returns this week with a review of The Shark Prince by Malie Maunakea.

••Jennifer Rummel @ YA Book Nerd reviews Wilderness Hacks: a social media show turned survival story.

••Karen Yingling at Mrs. Yingling Reads has a book to share every day. Check out Karen’s MMGM review for today and all her posts from this past week including the novel SPINDLEWOOD.

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GHOST IN THE NIGHT

Posted on August 2, 2026 by Greg Pattridge

Many years ago I visited the city of Savannah, Georgia for just a day. I should have stayed longer to soak in the town’s amazing history. GHOST IN THE NIGHT gives you many details about this coastal city through the first person narration by twelve-year-old Harmony.

Harmony’s father is a musician and takes his daughter with him to many of his out of town gigs. In each city they visit, Harmony takes a ghost tour as she doesn’t know if they are real. The recent loss of her grandmother has her even more intrigued. When they arrive for an extended time in Savannah, Harmony discovers it is known as America’s Most Haunted City,

On her first ghost tour in Savannah, she takes a picture of a house and believes an image in the window is a ghost. With the help of twp new friends, Myah and ten-year-old Robby, she begins to investigate. This leads them to finding clues about an unsolved murder and a missing little boy.

GHOST IN THE NIGHT is nicely paced story that is sure to give you some chilling moments. The Black history is what engaged my reading but younger readers will enjoy the ghostly backdrop and three memorable characters. Best for the upper MG.

PAGES: 288 BOOK BIRTHDAY: August 4, 2026

FIVE MORE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: GHOST IN THE NIGHT by Tiffany D. Jackson

  1. I was hoping the mystery would be wrapped up in a believable way. Success came thanks to the detective work of the three kids. Well done.
  2. The setting of Savannah, Georgia came alive in a virtual tour of all that it has to offer. Great world building, especially if you have never visited.
  3. The way Harmony’s emotional journey was handled in the plot. Grief is tough to overcome and those dealing with grief of their own will be pleased with Harmony’s character arc.
  4. Robby was my favorite character. He is technology gifted and is always skeptical of the other’s belief in ghosts.
  5. The cover alone will bring a lot of new readers for the author. Tiffany D. Jackson’s previous thrilling MG mystery, BLOOD in the WATER, a completely different plot, is also recommended.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tiffany Jackson – ‘White Smoke’ Portrait Session – September 12th, 2021 – Photography Provided By: KOLIN MENDEZ – © 2021 KOLIN MENDEZ PHOTOGRAPHY – http://www.kolinmendez.com – All Rights Reserved

Tiffany D. Jackson is the highly acclaimed, New York Times bestselling author of YA and MG novels such as Blood in the Water, Monday’s Not Coming, Allegedly, The Scammer, and more. She is also the coauthor of Blackout and Whiteout, and author of the picture books Santa in the City and Trick-or-Treating in the City.  The recipient of the 2025 Margaret A. Edwards Award, Tiffany is a Coretta Scott King-John Steptoe New Talent Award-winner and a NAACP Image Award-nominee. She received her bachelor of arts in film from Howard University and has over a decade in TV/Film experience. The Brooklyn native is currently splitting her time between the borough she loves and the south, most likely multitasking. Learn more at writeinbk.com

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Posted in MG Contemporary Fiction, MG Mystery | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

NEW TITLES FROM NOMAD PRESS

Posted on July 31, 2026 by Greg Pattridge

Classrooms usually have a set curriculum. Those enthusiastic young learners who have already mastered the objectives are sometimes forgotten. What they need is a differentiation of their learning from the norm. It’s often a difficult task for teachers who might be focused more on the struggling learners. Nomad Press has many fantastic titles that allow for extended learning with some amazing independent learning titles.

The newest include THE OCEAN and THE CARBON CYCLE. They begin with a cartoon panel introduction to each of the 6-7 chapters. From there, readers learn with descriptive text, handy Words to Know boxes, and activities to enhance and excite users to learn more. Here is an example of one that is an extra you can download from NOMAD SITE. QR codes are also included that bring even more knowledge to the topic. The back pages include Additional Resources, an Index and an extensive glossary in case you missed them in those Words to Know boxes in each chapter, .

Great for home or classroom, these titles will for sure excite and motivate.

In The Ocean: Explore a Watery World with Hands-On Science Activities for Kids, young marine biologists learn the ocean’s history and the key roles it plays on Earth, including its part in the carbon cycle and in regulating weather and climate. Explore the polar oceans, intertidal zones, the shallow ocean, and the deep open ocean, and the incredible biodiversity adapted to living there. Find out how people use and rely on the ocean and how humans are making a giant impact on this massive body of water.

(For Grade Levels 3-6)

Young scientists explore how the first life forms that evolved on our planet consumed carbon and now, 4 billion years later, carbon is still the building block of all known forms of life.

Learn all about the carbon cycle and the human influence on that cycle through a compelling narrative, links to online resources, essential questions, text-to-world observations, hands-on STEM activities, and graphic-novel-style illustrations and photographs.

(For Grades 7-10)

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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.

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Marvelous Middle Grade Monday (7/27/2026)

Posted on July 27, 2026 by Greg Pattridge

 

••ALWAYS in the MIDDLE is where you can find my review of THE LAW OF SOLITUDE by Anthony Peckham.

••Katy Kramp @ alibrarymama reviews 4 Fantasy Series Starters for Kids: An Encantadora’s Guide to Monstros & Magic, The Genie Game, The Last Ember, and The Magic Library of Waterfall Way.

••Isabelle Knight is featuring a summer middle-grade reading list.

••Jenni Enzor features The Heart of the Samurai by Margi Preus

••Carol Baldwin has guest blogger Kate Lundeen reviewing ENEMIES IN THE ORCHARD by Dana Vanderlugt.

Brenda @Log Cabin Library was impressed with The Invisible Thread by Sue Lamoree.

••Maria Antonia has a post about: Super Sleuth by David Williams 

••Jennifer Rummel @ YA Book Nerd reviews a graphic novel about family and dancing: School Dance.

••Rosi Hollinbeck reviews CONFESSIONS OF A MANGO. Rosi also shares 3 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 review for today and all her posts from this past week including REMEMBER ME, DAPHNE.

Posted in Book Lists, Middle Grade Book Reviews, MMGM Links | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

THE LAW OF SOLITUDE

Posted on July 26, 2026 by Greg Pattridge

The final story in the Children of the Black Glass trilogy will please readers who have read the first two. I recommend doing just that even though you can read this one on its own. If you dive into this story first you’ll miss the full journey for siblings Tell and Wren in a gripping fantasy. They find themselves caught in the middle of a sorcerer’s war while on an epic quest to save both their father and a mountain village. 

In THE LAW OF SOLITUDE Wren has been taken captive by Desert, an evil sorcerer. Wren’s devoted brother, Tell, is determined to save her even though he lacks any magic to do so. Failure means possibly losing the city of Halfway and each other.

Desert is one mean villain. You’d never want to cross paths with her! Without giving away any spoilers, the plot wraps up nicely. Best for upper middle grade readers, THE LAW OF SOLITUDE is a satisfying tale set in a fantasy world you won’t forget.

BOOK BIRTHDAY: July 28, 2026 PAGES:304

FIVE MORE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: THE LAW OF SOLITUDE by Anthony Peckham

  1. The violence is scary but is kept at a level just right for advanced readers. Much of the scares are left to the imagination. No nightmares for me but they are certainly possible for the younger audience.
  2. Sibling devotion between Tell and Wren was a winning formula for admiring these two brave kids.
  3. The pacing in the 72 chapters is never too slow or boring. The author has you hooked from the first scene with each twist and turn.
  4. The mother and father are present in their own way, and each character is vastly different. Certainly not your typical parents.
  5. The cover alone will have new readers picking the book up for the first time. The inside pages could have used additional art, but the plot is left to evolve in your own mind.

ABOUT ANTHONY PECKHAM

Anthony Peckham is an award-winning screenwriter and novelist. His movie credits include Invictus, Sherlock Holmes and Don’t Say A Word. He was awarded the Christopher Award and Paul Selvin Award by the Writers Guild of America for Invictus, and was nominated for an NAACP Image Award. Anthony was also awarded the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival Spotlight Award in 2016. His Children of the Black Glass middle grade fantasy trilogy is published by Simon & Schuster.

Anthony was born and raised in South Africa and completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Cape Town in English and Classical History. He moved to California to attend film school at San Francisco State University and earned a M.A. in Film. He now lives in Hawaii with his family. (Author Website)

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MAX A LITTLE AXOLOTL-Book 2 BREAKING OUT

Posted on July 24, 2026 by Greg Pattridge

If you didn’t know much about the mole salamander known as an axolotl, then this is an entertaining place to start.

Max is back in book 2 and he has been attending Coral Elementary aquarium school where he doesn’t feel so lonely anymore. Although Max started out as the only axolotl living there, he does enjoy his teachers and new friends.

The plot gets even more interesting when a new axolotl enters the tank. She misses home and is lonely much like Max was when he first was placed in the tank in Book 1. Even though she’s just arrived, she soon disappears. Max and his friends journey through the tank to hopefully bring her back home.

The graphics are superb with mostly brief dialog in each. The 128 pages make for a perfect, easy read for new MG readers, You’ll learn about nature conservation and all the positives of friendships.

MAX A LITTLE AXOLOTL-Breaking Out would make a great gift for the graphic novel reader in your world.

Also available is last years Book One, Max A LITTLE AXOLOTL-An Original Graphic Novel.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

My name is Joey Spiotto. I am a New York Times Best Selling Illustrator and Author of picture books and graphic novels including the hit series Max, a Little Axolotl and Grumpy Unicorn from Scholastic as well as the wildly popular officially licensed books Alien Next Door and Klingon Next Door from Titan Books based off the classic Alien and Star Trek franchises.

Before working in children’s books, I was a regularly featured artist at the world-famous Gallery 1988 in Los Angeles where I’ve held several solo art exhibitions. Through the gallery my artwork has been commissioned by some of Hollywoods most talented filmmakers, actors, comedians and musicians including: JJ Abrams, Conan O’Brien, Vince Gilligan and many more.  

After graduating from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA. I went on to work as a concept artist in the film and video game industry working on a variety of projects that include the holiday classic The Polar Express from Warner Bros. as well as Dead Space, The Sims and more from Electronic Arts.

I live in Southern California with my wife Kristin, our two kids and our two cats. I love to draw, read, play video games, garden and go for long walks amongst some other mundane things. (Web Page)

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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.

Posted in Graphic Novels | Tagged , , | Leave a comment