Overview
Near the end of 2023, I began toying with the idea of doing mini review round ups throughout 2024. I wrote a post in January 2023 with all the books I read in 2023 but didn’t review. The idea of mini review round ups was basically an attempt to get ahead of having to write one massive post like that for 2024. Thank-you to Annemieke @ A Dance with Books for writing Pocket Reviews and reminding me of this idea! I only wrote two round up posts during 2024 but I’m knocking out one more now. We’ll see if I can better stick with this idea throughout 2025… (though stay tuned for a “books I read in 2024 but didn’t review” later in February, after I’ve published my remaining 2024 reviews).
Today’s round up is all middle grade: three contemporary novels, one contemporary novel-in-verse, and one speculative novel.
102 Days of Lying About Lauren by Maura Jortner
102 Days of Lying About Lauren answers the question, “What would happen if a middle schooler lived in an amusement park?” I imagine I added this book to my TBR expecting it to delve into whatever serious matter led Mouse to live in the amusement park in the first place. The story could have been a lot darker or heavier than it actually is. Overall, it’s nothing fancy, but the unique premise could have high middle school appeal. The story only gently touches on the reason for Mouse living in the park, which doesn’t appear to have as negative an impact on Mouse as it might in real life.
Just Lizzie by Karen Wilfrid
When I think about Just Lizzie, I think “This is a Very Contemporary middle grade novel”. Prior to the start of the novel, Lizzie’s family has had to move due to the older married man next door neighbour harassing Lizzie’s mother. Lizzie has a strained relationship with her mother and misses her old home. Her brother’s just left for college and her best friend Sarah Nan’s interest in boys and ‘maturity’ is straining their relationship as well. (I found Sarah Nan to be just as interesting a character as Lizzie – I love a well-drawn bff.) When Lizzie learns about asexuality and tries to explain her identity to those she cares about, she’s not met with support. So a lot of the story is a tough go for Lizzie. The story explores romantic and sexual identities and ideals, while also interrogating how women are or aren’t viewed as victims when it comes to unwanted attention from men. I appreciated the inclusion of everyday awkard tween moments, like when the seven year old kid you’re baby-sitting asks if you have boobies or when you work up the courage to ask your older brother if he had sex with his girlfriend. Lastly, as I noted in my 2024 end of year book survey, a scene during the girls’ self-defense class had me tearing up.
Representation: Asexual protagonist
Louder Than Hunger by John Schu
In this semi-autobiographical novel-in-verse, eight grader Jake describes his experience with anorexia, primarily during his treatment at a residential facility. I read this book in one sitting while camping last summer. Oof, was it an intense read! So so sad, and quite bleak at times. I can’t being a child who’s going through something similar and reading this book. Thankfully, as Schu notes in his afterword, treatment methods have progressed since when he was a kid. This book deserves of all its accolades. Just be mindful of the content.
Representation: Eating disorders
The Cookie Crumbles by Tracy Badua and Alechia Dow
Laila’s managed to score a spot in a baking competition to win a scholarship to a prestigious high school. Her bff Lucy tags along to write about the competition in hopes of boosting her own chances of winning a scholarship to the same school. When one of the judges ends up hospitalized in a coma after eating one of Laila’s cookies, the competition turns into a whoddunit mystery, as a raging storm keeps competitors and judges locked in the school over the weekend. Chapters alternate in first-person narration from Laila and Lucy.
In terms of fun and silliness, The Cookie Crumbles ranks similarily to 102 Days of Lying About Lauren. Both feature an outlandish premise that would almost certainly never occur in real life, yet makes perfectly fine fodder for an entertaining middle grade novel. It’s a little bit silly, but a lot of fun. The comparison to Knives Out is fair enough, as long as one keeps in mind this is a story for ten year olds. Some more realistic middle school tension arises between Laila and Lucy when it comes to Lucy’s reporting.
Side note: The adult characters in middle grade novels seem more relatable to me lately… Laila’s dad is a gaming streamer. (I am secretly a big Twitch viewer.)
Representation: Black protagonist, Flipino American protagonist, Korean American supporting character, sapphic supporting characters
Just a Pinch of Magic by Alechia Dow
I have yet to meet a middle grade story about a bakery that I didn’t enjoy. I don’t remember much about this one now, except: it was a bit weightier and more emotional than I expected from the adorable cover and description. Creative backstory for Wini, whose mother apparently cursed the entire town then disappeared.
Representation: Black protagonist, gay supporting characters (protagonists’ dads)
What’s a book you read recently that you haven’t reviewed yet, or don’t plan to review?
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