If I had gotten this done yesterday then I was going to call it Wonderful Middle Grade Wednesday but it just didn't have the same ring as MMGM. And I'm drawing a blank for a "marvelous" word that starts with a T. So even though it is Thursday, here is my MMGM.
Since starting to read and participate in MMGM posts I have to admit, a lot of the books I read are recommendations from other MMGMers (just finished Liar and Spy) and sometimes I feel like I am just talking about what has already been talked about. So I chose two books for today. Ungifted by Gordon Korman, which I think I first heard about on Joanne Fritz's blog and Pickle by Kim Baker, which I don't think I have seen on MMGM and is written by the Co-Regional Advisor of the Western WA SCBWI.
It wasn't exactly what Donovan had intended, but there couldn't be a more perfect hideout for someone like him. That is, if he can manage to fool people whose IQs are above genius level. And that becomes harder and harder as the students and teachers of ASD grow to realize that Donovan may not be good at math or science (or just about anything). But after an ongoing experiment with a live human (sister), an unforgettably dramatic middle-school dance, and the most astonishing come-from-behind robot victory ever, Donovan shows that his gifts might be exactly what the ASD students never knew they needed.
Book Description from Amazon -
This is the story of the LEAGUE OF PICKLEMAKERS.
Ben: who began it all by sneaking in one night and filling his homeroom with ball pit balls.
Frank: who figured out that an official club, say a pickle-making club, could receive funding from the PTA.
Oliver: who once convinced half the class that his real parents had found him and he was going to live in a submarine.
Bean: who wasn't exactly invited, but her parents own a costume shop, which comes in handy if you want to dress up like a giant squirrel and try to scare people at the zoo.
TOGETHER they are an unstoppable prank-pulling force, and Fountain Point Middle School will never be the same.
Why they are Marvelous: Both of these books have a humorous slant to them which I enjoy. But what I think is key to middle grade literature are the ups and downs and bonds of friendship. In both of these stories the main character has trouble with his best friend/s as the events in his life start a series of changes. Will their friendships be able to endure these changes and come out stronger in the end, or will their differences become too much for them to handle? I thought both authors dealt with this aspect of the story well and that is what I remembered most from each book.
Happy Monday... I mean Thursday!
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Oliver: who once convinced half the class that his real parents had found him and he was going to live in a submarine.
Bean: who wasn't exactly invited, but her parents own a costume shop, which comes in handy if you want to dress up like a giant squirrel and try to scare people at the zoo.
TOGETHER they are an unstoppable prank-pulling force, and Fountain Point Middle School will never be the same.
Why they are Marvelous: Both of these books have a humorous slant to them which I enjoy. But what I think is key to middle grade literature are the ups and downs and bonds of friendship. In both of these stories the main character has trouble with his best friend/s as the events in his life start a series of changes. Will their friendships be able to endure these changes and come out stronger in the end, or will their differences become too much for them to handle? I thought both authors dealt with this aspect of the story well and that is what I remembered most from each book.
Happy Monday... I mean Thursday!
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Marvelous
Middle Grade Monday (MMGM) was created by Shannon Messenger. To find
other bloggers participating in MMGM go to her blog for a list of links.
Ungifted sounds great! I feel for you with the kid dilemmas--I really get that.
ReplyDelete:) My son seems to have an entire first week of I-can't-remember-what-I-had-for-homework syndrom. Maybe they're getting in all done now for the rest of the year?
ReplyDeleteSorry about the tough day, getting back on schedule always seems so difficult. And it takes so long for the kids to readjust.
ReplyDeleteYou could call it Terrific Middle Grade Thursday. Heck, you could call it anything you want. It's your blog. And I've been on a blogging break, so this is new to me!
ReplyDeleteI remember when my kids thought their own toys were sacred and not to be shared. Tough times. And I remember when they were teens and said they hated me. Or at least my older son did on several memorable occasions. The good thing is, they outgrow it all! And luckily for me (in spite of me?), they grew into fine young men.
Thanks for the nod. Yes, you probably read about Ungifted on my blog. Glad you liked it. I've never heard of Pickle. Sounds like fun. I feel like I'm always featuring books that other MMGMers have featured. Today, Jennifer Rumberger is featuring Navigating Early, which I was planning to talk about next week...
Julie, I really liked this line: "But what I think is key to middle grade literature are the ups and downs and bonds of friendship." :)
ReplyDeleteI personally have nothing against featuring books that I read because I found them featured on MMGM. I believe every blogger can showcase the same book under different lights. :)
I could use some humor. Thank you for these unique features.
Oh I almost forgot.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry your new year started that way. :(
I hope you've had better days since then.
*Hugs*
Look how late I'm commenting on this post! I hope that makes you feel better. I'm so sorry about the bad day you had long, long ago. That sounds like a doozy. (And I don't even know how to spell that word.)
ReplyDeleteThese books sound great. Thanks so much for the recommendations!