I’ve joined up with the IT’S MONDAY! WHAT ARE YOU READING? kid-lit edition, hosted by Unleashing Readers and MARVELOUS MIDDLE GRADE MONDAY hosted by Always in the Middle…
I’ve got one recent MGE release to review today and a few backlogged reviews that I’ve been meaning to post for quite some time. Hope these bite-sized reviews are enough to feed your fiction addiction!
Lu and Ren’s Guide to Geozoology: A Graphic Novel by Angela Hsieh Published by Quill Tree Books on May 27, 2025
Genres: Fantasy, Graphic Novel, Middle Grade
Pages: 256
Source: Purchased
My rating:
This graphic novel follows a girl who learns more about friendship and family as she journeys across the fantastical land of Lirrin to tend to its majestic animals.
Lu dreams of being a great adventurer, just like her ah-ma, who is a world-renowned geozoologist. Ah-ma has traveled far and wide, researching unique animals like dreamy cloud-jellies, enormous sunfish, and playful mossgoats. There’s nothing Lu loves more than reading Ah-ma’s letters about her quests, even if she and her mom struggle to understand the Cylian language Ah-ma writes in.
But when Ah-ma’s letters suddenly stop, Lu becomes worried. So when a nearby town needs a geozoologist, Lu decides to go on the journey to find Ah-ma. She charts a course with the help of Ren, an old friend turned new travel buddy.
As they follow in Ah-ma’s footsteps, Lu begins to discover the complex relationships between geofauna—and between people. What stories has Ah-ma never told her? And what’s Ren hiding from her?
This stunning graphic novel explores the bonds of family and friendship and takes kids on an adventure through a whimsical and fantastical world. Lu wants to follow in her grandmother’s footsteps and become a geozoologist, but she has to find her grandmother first. So she and her friend Lu set off on a journey through a land full of geofauna (living animal landscapes) and learn some surprising truths about Lu’s grandmother along the way. I loved absolutely everything about the adorable and whimsical setting, including the environmental themes that were integrated (without a heavy hand). I highly recommend this heartwarming story!
A Game of Noctis by Deva Fagan Published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers on April 9, 2024
Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade
Pages: 317
Source: Edelweiss
My rating:
A thrilling middle grade fantasy about a girl who must participate in a deadly game with a ragtag team of players to save her grandfather from a terrible fate—perfect for fans of James Riley and Shannon Messenger!
In the opulent, sinking city of Dantessa, the Great Game rules all. Pia Paro believes that so long as you follow the rules, you always have a chance at winning. But after her beloved Gramps is sentenced to a life of servitude, Pia accepts a dangerous offer and joins a team of players seeking to win the most perilous game of Noctis.
The Seafoxes—Pia’s new teammates—are unlike anyone she’s ever met. There’s brash, bold Carlo; macabre Serafina; kindhearted Pasquale; and their dashing ringleader, Vittoria. Each has their own reason for playing, and soon, Pia begins to question all her long-held beliefs. Maybe the rules Pia once trusted to lift her up have only been keeping her—and thousands of others like her—down.
As she struggles with these revelations, Pia must survive a gauntlet of clockwork soldiers, perilous underwater adventures, and even a game against Death herself. But with Pia’s grandfather’s life at stake, Pia must finally decide whether she’s brave enough to not just break the rules, but to change the very nature of the Game.
Deva Fagan has become one of my favorite MG fantasy authors. Her books are always incredibly unique and nuanced, and this one is no exception. The Game of Noctis puts readers into a fantasy world with an extreme class system where your livelihood depends on your ability to, quite literally, play the game. When Pia’s grandfather is no longer able to play and is at risk of being taken away, she has to resort to desperate measures. She decides to join up with an unlikely group of players for the ultimate game–A Game of Noctis. The book has a ton of important messages about classism and difficult economic realities, but the game itself is interesting and entertaining, so it doesn’t feel too heavy-handed. A highly engaging read!
Sona and the Golden Beasts by Rajani LaRocca Published by Quill Tree Books on March 5, 2024
Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade
Pages: 400
Source: Library
My rating:
From Newbery Honor and Walter Award–winning author Rajani LaRocca comes a gripping middle grade fantasy perfect for fans of The Serpent’s Secret and The Last Mapmaker.
Though music is outlawed in the land of Devia, Sona hears it everywhere. Sona is a Malech, a member of the ruling class that conquered Devia centuries ago. Malechs forbade music to prevent the native Devans from using their magic, and Sona hides her abilities lest they put her in danger.
Then Sona discovers an orphaned wolf pup. She believes the pup, with its golden ears, might be related to one of the five sacred beasts of Devia, and she vows to keep it safe. That means bringing the pup in tow when Sona embarks on a perilous quest, along with a Devan boy, to secure the nectar of life for a loved one who has fallen gravely ill. On the journey, as Sona uncovers secrets about the Malechian empire and her own identity, she realizes that the fate of the sacred beasts, and the future of Devia, just might come down to her.
This captivating fantasy novel by award-winning author Rajani LaRocca will sweep readers into Sona’s quest across the land of Devia as she grapples with the lasting impact of colonial rule and learns to fight for what she knows is right.
I loved everything about this book–the rich worldbuilding, the deep and relatable characterization, the heartbreaking twists and turns, the animal characters who go along on the journey–everything! And, yes, I’m leaving my review at that. You should just go read it.
Olivetti by Allie Millington Published by Feiwel and Friends on March 26, 2024
Genres: Contemporary Fantasy, Middle Grade
Pages: 252
Source: Purchased
My rating:
Being a typewriter is not as easy as it looks. Surrounded by books (notorious attention hogs) and recently replaced by a computer, Olivetti has been forgotten by the Brindle family—the family he’s lived with for years. The Brindles are busy humans, apart from 12-year-old Ernest, who would rather be left alone with his collection of Oxford English Dictionaries. The least they could do was remember Olivetti once in a while, since he remembers every word they’ve typed on him. It’s a thankless job, keeping memories alive.
Olivetti gets a rare glimpse of action from Ernest’s mom, Beatrice--his used-to-be most frequent visitor—only for her to drop him off at Heartland Pawn Shop and leave him helplessly behind. When Olivetti learns Beatrice has mysteriously gone missing afterward, he believes he can help find her. He breaks the only rule of the “typewriterly code” and types back to Ernest, divulging Beatrice’s memories stored inside him.
Their search takes them across San Francisco—chasing clues, maybe committing a few misdemeanors. As Olivetti spills out the past, Ernest is forced to face what he and his family have been running from, The Everything That Happened. Only by working together will they find Beatrice, belonging, and the parts of themselves they’ve lost.
A heartfelt middle grade mystery with a typewriter as one of the main characters–how can you go wrong with a hook like that? In this story, a young boy tries to figure out why his mother left suddenly and where she disappeared to, and he finds an unlikely ally in his mother’s typewriter, Olivetti. The typewriter decides to break the rule of never speaking to humans so he can help find his missing owner by recounting everything she ever wrote on him. Olivetti’s voice is singularly wonderful–I listened to the audiobook version of this book, and the British narrator captured the typewriter’s essence perfectly. It’s impossible not to love his wry observations of the world. And your heart goes out to Ernest as he uncovers difficult truths about his mother’s health. The book is sad in some parts, but it’s ultimately uplifting, and the mystery aspect of the story (and the talking typewriter) will keep kids turning the pages!
MG posts since my last IMWAYR & MMGM:
Also check out:
What I’m currently reading:
Right now I’m listening to Sadie by Courtney Summers, a gritty YA psychological thriller. I’m really loving the full-cast audiobook for this one–it’s a perfect fit because of the podcast aspect of the book.
Happy to see that you enjoyed Olivetti, I purchased that awhile back so now eager to get to read it finally. Happy MMGM
All of those sound like really great books! How can a writer not love a book about a sentient typewriter? (Especially a writer old enough to have used one).
All of these look good! While I tend to stick to the YA as opposed to middle grade graphic novels and books right now, I will keep these as ones to share with our middle school librarians. Thanks for sharing!
I’ve not read any of these although two of them are on my TBR list. I enjoy your review format as it gives readers quick insights into many different books. Thanks for featuring them on this week’s MMGM!
How fun!!! Wonderful to see you enjoyed Olivetti! I loved that book, and I’ll be interviewing the author later this summer! I’ve been re-reading Olivetti for ages now actually, so I was ever so glad to see it on your list of reviews! A lot of these other books are also on my TBR — thanks for sharing and reviewing them! I’ll definitely try and get my hands on a copy of A Game of Noctis!