OLIVIA GRAY WILL NOT FADE AWAY

Posted on March 20, 2026 by Greg Pattridge

Olivia Gray is starting her seventh grade year. Many will agree that middle school brings new challenges and confusion toward growing up.

For Olivia, her older brother Malcomb has a new crush, and has come out as gay. That part is okay but the person she always went to for advice now spends no time with her. She feels invisible.

Meanwhile at school, her friends are obsessed with gossip about who likes who and Olivia could care less. Except now the most popular boy has asked her to go to the fall formal dance. She rejects that invitation in a unknowing way, but now it has become the main topic on the social media app known as KruShh. This leads to Olivia feeling even more invisible, in a real fantasy like way.

Talking with the new young librarian and a another student named Jules, she begins to realize she might in fact be asexual (a lack of sexual attraction to others). As is later revealed, asexual is a label that fits about 2% of individuals. Olivia just wants to fit in, but now it is even more of a problem.

Best for 5-8th graders, the third person narration is engaging throughout the 34 chapters. Readers will enjoy the honesty about middle grade friendships and how they often change. Social media adds to the problem. Being a new teenager can be an extremely difficult time. Thankfully for Olivia she has parents who love her and want her to be happy no matter the choices Olivia makes in her life. They do dive into it in an often overwhelming way, but it is appreciated.

OLIVIA GRAY WILL NOT FADE AWAY is a book that will not fade away and help many young readers with understanding others and themselves in their teen years.

BOOK BIRTHDAY: March 17, 2026 PAGES: 272

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ciera Burch is a lifelong reader, writer, and ice cream aficionado. She has a B.A from American University and an MFA from Emerson College.

When she’s not reading or writing, she can be found playing Dungeons & Dragons, eating ice cream, and thinking up more spooky stories with Black girls at the center. While she is originally from New Jersey, she currently resides in Washington, D.C with her stuffed animals, plants, and far too many books and D&D dice.

Find her on Instagram @cierasburch. She’d rather you not find her on Tumblr. (Ciera’s 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 (3/16/2026)

Posted on March 16, 2026 by Greg Pattridge

 

••ALWAYS in the MIDDLE is where I review RED RIVER ROSE by Carole Lindstrom.

••Natalie Aguirre @ Literary Rambles is participating in the Chasing Rainbow Giveaway Hop with lots of middle grade book choices.

••Jennifer Rummel @ YA Book Nerd reviews Written in the Stars and Playing for Keeps.

••Brenda @ Log Cabin Library has Deathly Fates by Tesia Tsai.

••ET Charles enjoyed Jennifer Chambliss Bertman’s BOOK SCAVENGER: THE UNBREAKABLE CODE.

••Rebecca Douglass reviews the audiobook of Dust Bowling’s 24 Hours in Nowhere.

••Jenni Enzor is featuring Valinora Troy’s Lianna and the Hombit and Siobhan Parkinson’s Kathleen: The Celtic Knot. Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day!

••Kasey Giard @ The Story Sanctuary has a review of Hafsa’s Way by Aisha Saeed.

••Susan Uhlig was fascinated by GREENGLASS HOUSE (Kate Milford) which introduces one to the Roaming Worlds.

••Rosi Hollinbeck has a review and GIVEAWAY of ORPHANLAND by Lauren Fischer. Rosie 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.

Posted in Book Lists, Middle Grade Book Reviews, MMGM Links | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

RED RIVER ROSE

Posted on March 15, 2026 by Greg Pattridge

Twelve-year-old Rose is the daring and likable heroine in this historical novel. It’s 1885 and the Canadian government is forcefully moving towards a takeover of Rose’s Métis community during the North-West Resistance. She along with her parents and little sister Delia live in Batoche near the Saskatchewan River. It’s a small town with a few shops, a school, and a church.

Rose hears the adults talking about losing their land and the debate on how to react. The decision is to fight and Rose knows she has to help in some way. But shouldn’t girls be home taking care of family, not out on the front lines where danger exists?

This doesn’t fit Rose’s personality and she takes action, Rose disguises her appearance to look like a boy and hauls a cart full of guns and supplies to the front lines. She also devises a brave scheme to stop additional Canadian troops from arriving by ferry.

The world building and sense of community is strong and heartfelt. Thirty-three emotion packed chapters display Rose’s determination to keep her family and community together. Carol Lindstrom based this novel on her own family history. You can also find Rose in the author’s 2025 picture book, The Gift of the Great Buffalo.

Red River Rose is a rare look at a time period in Canada that will never be forgotten thanks to books like this one. Perfect for any young middle grade reader who enjoy adventurous historical fiction.

BOOK BIRTHDAY: March 17, 2026 PAGES: 224

FIVE MORE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: RED RIVER ROSE by Carole Lindstrom

  1. The writing is never boring as you feel for what is going on in each scene, making this story even more memorable. A good start for those who have never read a story based on history.
  2. Ambroise, Rose’s friend is a great support for Rose. He is a fun and necessary companion who helps Rose and ends up as a memorable character for sure.
  3. The character ARC for Melanie, a girl who dislikes Rose, is nicely done. There is often a good side to people few get to see.
  4. The Author’s Note is a compelling look at the why and how this book had to be written. A well done extra after reading the story.
  5. The front cover of a book often stops at the front cover. Not here as the entire scene gets colorful exposure throughout.

About the Author

Carole Lindstrom is a New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of literature for young people, including the Caldecott Medal-winning WE ARE WATER PROTECTORS. She is Anishinaabe/Metis and an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe. She is honored to write books that allow her to shine a light on her beautiful people and their strength and resilience. Her tribal homelands are in Belcourt, North Dakota, but she was born and raised in Nebraska and currently makes her home in Maryland.

Carole has been a voracious reader and library geek ever since she was growing up in Nebraska. On weekends you could usually find her at the library lost in the book stacks or holed up in her bedroom with a good book. It wasn’t until she had her son, that she discovered her love of writing for children and began to work seriously on her writing.

(Carole’s Author Website)

COMMENTS ARE WELCOME BELOW

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Posted in Historical fiction, Middle Grade Book Reviews | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments

CAPUT MUNDI

Posted on March 13, 2026 by Greg Pattridge

You know the plot is going to have some surprising twists and a lot of unanswered questions after the first few minutes reading Caput Mundi. 11-year old Niil Terra is kidnapped by a couple who are trying to get a debt back from his father.

They take Niil to the severely damaged island of Umbra. With no word from Dad about accepting the demands of his captors, Niil begins to bond with this couple who treat him with respect.

He soon learns that he inherited a unique skill from his mother who four years ago left and never came back. Niil can attract and use Enarii, a magical liquid that can be formed to be anything you desire. Did you forget your shovel? No problem! Visualize the shovel you want and Emarii does the rest.

The next twist comes when his captors leave him alone for months. Niil eventually meets a tough minded 13-year-old girl named Ada and her cautious cousin Soes. The three take off for Caput Mundi to find answers to their questions about the events in this strange world. Could his mother be the leader of the the Doubleyes, a group trying to destroy Emarii. There’s one surprise after another including an evil plot for revenge.

Having heard from young readers about chapter length (“We only get 15 minutes of free reading time and I always hate when I can’t finish a chapter!“). Yes, these chapters are long here but fortunately they have scene breaks within each chapter giving you a place to pause your reading.

Overall, the story will have you changing your mind several times as to who is the one causing all the problems. The world building is fascinating and the engaging fantasy adventure in Caput Mundi will have you hoping for Book 2 as there are still a few plot twists unresolved.

BOOK BIRTHDAY: March 17, 2026 PAGES: 274

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

B.R. KANG is a 1.5-generation Korean-American, unapologetic foodie, Harvard alum, and constant daydreamer. Her debut novel, “Caput Mundi,” has been nearly twenty years in the making—rooted in what-ifs, countless revisions, hundreds of rejections, and a stubborn belief that good stories are worth fighting for. 

When she’s not writing, she’s in the kitchen experimenting with recipes or exploring flavors from around the world. Learn more about her and her work at CaputMundiBooks.com.

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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 MG Fantasy, Middle Grade Book Reviews | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday (3/9/2026)

Posted on March 9, 2026 by Greg Pattridge

 

••ALWAYS in the MIDDLE is where I review NO WAY NEVER SISTERS by Chantel Acevedo and Natalia Sylvester.

••Jennifer Rummel @ YA Book Nerd reviews Dear Jackie: a graphic novel about friendship drama and being yourself.

••Natalie Aguirre @ Literary Rambles has an interview with Ciera Burch and a giveaway of her MG Olivia Gray Will Not Fade Away. 

••Jenni Enzor features Mitali Perkin’s The Golden Necklace: A Darjeeling Tea Mystery.

••Stephanie Robinson is with us again and shares her featured review on Fairday’s Blog of The Secret Winner’s Club by Donna Galanti.

••Kasey Giard @ The Story Sanctuary has a review of Mythspeaker by Christopher Roubique.

••Maria Antonia has a post about The Free State of Jax by Jennifer A. Nielsen.

••Susan Uhlig found OUTSIDE by Jennifer L. Holm very hard to put down.

••Rosi Hollinbeck has a review and GIVEAWAY of Wild Mountain Ivy by Shannon Hitchcock. Rosie 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, NO WAY NEVER SISTERS, and all her reviews from this past week.

Posted in Book Lists, Middle Grade Book Reviews, MMGM Links | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

NO WAY NEVER SISTERS

Posted on March 8, 2026 by Greg Pattridge

Blended families happen often around the world. A lot of them work out perfectly. With NO WAY NEVER SISTERS the opposite is true.

Tweens Melisa and Roxy are not anything alike. Meli is artistic and has a small group of friends. Roxi is into sports and has always been popular at school. They detest each other deeply. Not so with their little brothers who get along like best friends.

Now the worst news they could get arrives when their parents announce they are engaged. This means marriage is next. The girls are shocked. They’ll never be friends and now they are going to be sisters? No way will this ever work.

They come up with The Master Disaster Plan to prevent this marriage from ever happening. Their hope is that this plan will show their parents how much the two families are different and incompatible. They start by trying to sabotage the renovation of the house they plan to live in as one family. It’s one catastrophe after another which does cause some disagreements with the parents, Evi and Carlos, but is it enough to put an end to this blended family disaster?

Working together has an unexpected effect on them. The two girls begin to like each other. But their original plan to break up the family is too far along and seems to be getting the desired result. Is it too late to make things right?

The story is shared in compelling fashion with alternate viewpoints through the 20 chapters. This choice of storytelling is perfect to bring out the emotions of Meli and Roxy. Each girl also misses their divorced parent hardly in their life anymore. Meli’s father is far away working in Spain while Roxy’s mom is dealing with mental health issues and has moved to New Jersey.

Blended families gets a touching and heartwarming look with this story of sisterhood. Recommended for young readers who love a good story with engaging characters.

BOOK BIRTHDAY: March 10, 2026 PAGES: 288

FIVE MORE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: NO WAY NEVER SISTERS by Chantel Acevedo & Natalia Sylvester

  1. Meli has scoliosis and you get a feel for what challenges the condition brings. I’ve known several kids like Meli and having to wear a brace is not fun, though very necessary to stop the curvature of the spine.
  2. The two little brothers (AKA The Benjamins) were in the background of the story but brought many humorous sidelights.
  3. A great result in showing how one might perceive others incorrectly through a series of misunderstandings. First impressions need a second and third look to see the true value of a person.
  4. The two authors had never co-authored a story plot which could have brought disastrous results. Not so here as they pulled it off with a memorable story kids will love.
  5. Spanish is often used in short phrases, and Meli’s Abuela is a grandmother any kid would be lucky to have.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Chantel Acevedo, praised as “a master storyteller” by Kirkus Reviews, writes novels for kids and adults alike. Her Muse Squad duology and The Curse on Spectacle Key are Florida-set adventures inspired by her love of history and the importance of friendship. No Way Never Sisters is her first coauthored book. When she’s not crafting stories, she’s inspiring young writers as a professor at the University of Miami!

Natalia Sylvester writes books for children, teens, and adults. Her young adult novel, Breathe and Count Back from Ten, was named a Pura Belpré Honor book and Schneider Family Honor book by the American Library Association, and Running is a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard book for teens. Born in Lima, Peru, she grew up in Florida and Texas. No Way Never Sisters is her first coauthored book, and her first middle grade novel!

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Posted in MG Contemporary Fiction, Middle Grade Book Reviews, New Release | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

BIG BRAIN PUZZLES: PLANT PANDEMONIUM! (REVIEW & GIVEAWAY)

Posted on March 6, 2026 by Greg Pattridge

A fun hands-on challenge for the big brain in your family. Those kids (or adults like me) who are always picking something up to play with or manipulate will love these puzzle challenges. Five different puzzles with a total of 45 challenges are offered. Test your skill with:

THE WATER LILY CAROUSEL

FLUTTER, FLUTTER, BUTTERFLY

UNDERGROUND PATHS

PLANT PANDEMONIUM

VEGETABLE JUNGLE

Each puzzle utilizes moving parts that either slide, pull, open, or rotate to match the challenge that is pictured. Your problem solving skills will be at their highest level figuring out each puzzle. Some are easy but others may take some time. Either way it’s satisfying and fun.

BIG BRAIN PUZZLES-PLANT PANDEMONIUM! would make a great gift and is a perfect choice for those long days when traveling. You’ll be hoping for more books with these type of challenges from the gifted creator, Camille Pichon.

Giveaway!

Twirl Books is happy to send one copy of this book to one lucky winner (U.S. and Canada addresses–no P.O. boxes, please). To enter leave a comment below or send me an email at gpcolo[at]gmail[dot]com by March 12th 8pm EDT.

Thanks to #Twirlbooks and Blue Slip Media…

Instagram: @chroniclekidsbooks

Twitter: @ChronicleKids

Facebook: @chroniclekidsbooks

Bluesky: @Chronicle Books

Instagram: @blue_slip_media

Facebook: Blue Slip Media

Bluesky: @blueslipmedia

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Marvelous Middle Grade Monday (3/2/2026)

Posted on March 2, 2026 by Greg Pattridge

 

••ALWAYS in the MIDDLE is where I join the celebration for the release of Donna Galanti’s new book with a review of SECRET WINNERS CLUB.

••Brenda @ Log Cabin Library shares her post about Caput Mundi: The Head of the World: Book 1: Enarii by B.R. Kang.

••Natalie Aguirre @ Literary Rambles has a guest post by Donna Galanti and a GIVEAWAY of her MG contemporary, The Secret Winners Club.

••Carol Baldwin has 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.

••Jennifer Rummel @ YA Book Nerd reviews Wrong Friend, a graphic novel about a friendship breakup.

••ET Charles reviews Emily Ecton’s hilarious middle grade novel THE GREAT PET HEIST.

••Rosi Hollinbeck has a review of ATLAS OF PREHISTORIC ANIMALS. 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, SMALL WONDER, and all her reviews from this past week.

Posted in Book Lists, Middle Grade Book Reviews, MMGM Links | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

THE SECRET WINNERS CLUB

Posted on March 1, 2026 by Greg Pattridge

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.

The final verdict is in: THE SECRET WINNERS CLUB is a winner.

BOOK BIRTHDAY: March 3, 2026 PAGES: 310

FIVE MORE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: THE SECRET WINNERS CLUB by Donna Galanti

  1. The Character ARC for Sunny, Vee, and Trev are well done and believable. Change becomes a positive in each ones’ life.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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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Posted in MG Contemporary Fiction, Middle Grade Book Reviews, MMGM Links | Tagged , , , , | 19 Comments

SERENDIPITY

Posted on February 27, 2026 by Greg Pattridge

A fun and engaging graphic novel!

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.

Posted in Graphic Novels, Middle Grade Book Reviews | Tagged , | Leave a comment