The Children’s Book Review | April 23, 2019
Ridley Pearson is the best-selling coauthor (with Dave Barry) of Peter and the Starcatchers, Peter and the Shadow Thieves, Peter and the Secret of Rundoon, Escape from Carnivale, Cave of the Dark Wind, Blood Tide, and Science Fair. He is also the author of eighteen novels, including internationally best-selling series Kingdom Keepers, Cut and Run, and The Middle of Nowhere. The stage adaptation of Peter and the Starcatchers earned the most Tony nominations (9) of any play in history. Here he shares 5 of his favorite middle grade books …
Moon Overt Manifest
Written by Clare Vanderpool
A young girl jumps from a train taking to live the summer with a grandmother she doesn’t want to visit. I recently recommended this to a young reader having not read it myself, and can’t wait to dive in. Forget all the awards. What attracts me is a rebellious character determined to find her way in a complicated world and to discover the truth about what means the most in life.
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Ages 8-12 | Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers | 2010 | ISBN-13: 978-0385738835
Amulet
Written by Kazu Kibuishi
A brilliant example of the power of the graphic novel. Action. Suspense. Character. Tension. And an artist who can tell whole stretches of narrative without a word. Genius!
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Ages 8-12 | Publisher: Graphix | 2008 | ISBN-13: 978-0439846806
Drama
Written and Illustrated by Raina Telgemeier
I enjoyed this graphic novel about theater, finding one’s identity and celebrating one’s selfhood. It works on many different levels and is entertaining throughout.
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Ages 10-14 | Publisher: Graphix | 2012 | ISBN-13: 978-0545326988
Matilda
Written by Roald Dahl
From Roald Dahl, a young girl with quasi-superpowers and a Headmistress who deserves a comeuppance. What could go wrong?
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Ages 8-12 | Publisher: Puffin Books | 2019 (Reprint) | ISBN-13: 978-1984836205
Science Fair
Written by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
One should never recommend one’s own book, but this one I co-wrote with the amazing and funny, Dave Barry. And it’s a hoot! Parents doing all the work for their children’s science fair projects allow things to get out of hand when one such project is about to accidentally expose classified government secrets. Mix in two bumbling spies and you can’t stop laughing.
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Ages 10+ | Publisher: Disney Editions | 2008 | ISBN-13: 978-1423113249
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Check out Ridley Pearson’s newest book …
Super Sons: The PolarShield Project
Written by Ridley Pearson
Illustrated by Ile Gonzalez
Publisher’s Synopsis: Jon Kent and Ian Wayne are opposites in every way except one–they are the sons of the World’s Greatest Heroes, Superman and Batman! To uncover a global conspiracy, this unlikely duo will need to learn to trust each other and work together to save the Earth. But who is the mysterious Candace, and what secrets does she hold that could be the key to everything?
The polar ice caps have nearly melted away, causing devastation to coastal cities. Erratic, deadly weather forces everyone inland, tearing families apart. Earth is facing its greatest crisis–and Superman and Batman are nowhere to be found.
From New York Times bestselling author Ridley Pearson (Kingdom Keepers) and artist Ile Gonzalez comes the first book in an epic new series that follows the Super Sons of Superman and Batman as they struggle to find their place in a rapidly changing world!
Ages 8-12 | Publisher: DC Zoom | April 2, 2019 | ISBN-13: 978-1401286392
Available Here:
Ridley Pearson, author of Super Sons: The PolarShield Project, selected these 5 middle grade books. Discover more articles on The Children’s Book Review tagged with Middle Grade Books.
