I’ve always been a fan of Christmas book giving. The gift of story lingers much longer than the joy of the day itself. The books I like to give have these characteristics:
- Lots of adventure
- Clean content. Nothing that makes the reader uncomfortable.
- A storyline that makes the reader think in a new way.
- The reader is left at the end feeling good about life.
Those are the books I love to read, and the books I love to give.
At Chicken Scratch Books we are still a few months away from having books like this to offer for sale. We’re getting closer, but for this Christmas, we’re still not there. Regardless, we want to help you find some great new traditional middle grade novels to give as gifts, so our goal is to give you a nice collection of book recommendations you can trust.
We’ll introduce you to 9 of our favorites. These are stories we love and love to read to our kids too. If you haven’t read any of them, add them to your own list. You just might find some new favorites for yourself!
Recommendation #1
Leepike Ridge by N.D. Wilson is a contemporary adventure story about a boy who accidently discovers a whole new world underground. Tom has to use his curiosity, wits, and courage to find the answers to many questions if he has any hope of surviving and finding his way back home again. This story is filled with surprises, danger, and a good helping of trust and hope. My students and I cheered Tom on all the way through.
More information here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1007870.Leepike_Ridge
Recommendation #2
Will In Scarlet by Matthew Cody is historical fiction set in medieval times. It tells the story of Will, who’s ancestral noble family home has fallen to a treacherous push to unseat the king. He’s on the run, then picked up by the Sherwood Forest band called the Merry Men. He’s out for revenge, until he learns what that really means. This is a wonderful retelling of the Robin Hood legend with a fun twist.
More information here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17133348-will-in-scarlet
Recommendation #3
Pay Attention, Carter Jones by Gary D. Schmidt is a contemporary story about a boy who’s family inherits a proper British butler. Carter has to adjust to new expectations, new opportunities, and the world of cricket. He learns the value of family, friends, and what’s really important in life.
More information here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37763409-pay-attention-carter-jones
Recommendation #4
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman is a fantasy/supernatural story about a boy who is raised by the ghosts in a graveyard. As he grows, he longs to learn more about the world of the living, so he embarks on a quest to learn his past, understand his present, and prepare for the future.
More information here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2213661.The_Graveyard_Book
To watch a video of us talking more deeply about these previous three books, click here.
Recommendation #5
Nickel Bay Nick by Dean Pitchford is a contemporary story set around the spirit of Christmas. Sam doesn’t seem to mind breaking every rule in the book, until he discovers that he holds the key to making Christmas happy for everyone in his town. He learns the value of family and friendship and being true to yourself.
More information here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17465440-nickel-bay-nick
Recommendation #6
Some Kind of Courage by Dan Gemeinhart is historical fiction set in pioneer times. Joseph has lost his whole family, and then his horse gets stolen too. He embarks on a quest to get his horse back and has all sorts of adventures and makes many friends along the way. This is a huge favorite of my middle school age students.
More information here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25578408-some-kind-of-courage
Recommendation #7
Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale is a great fantasy with an unusual setting. Most of the story takes place with Dashti locked in a tower. The adventures and intrigue are boundless, with a twist at the end that takes your breath away.
More information here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/248484.Book_of_a_Thousand_Days
Recommendation #8
Ungifted by Gordon Korman is a contemporary story set in school. Donovan has to pretend to be someone he’s not to avoid getting in trouble for the worst prank of his life. What he doesn’t expect is that his new persona fits him better in more ways than he imagined. Lots of fun and laughs.
More information here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13623777-ungifted
Recommendation #9
Absolutely Truly by Heather Vogel Frederick is a contemporary mystery. In her new town, Truly uncovers a mystery that guides her to learn about family and neighbors and the real meaning of belonging. The setting is a charming tiny town with lots of adventure.
More information here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20759639-absolutely-truly
For a downloadable PDF of these final 5 book recommendations, click here:
Click here to access the PDF Chicken Scratch Reviews.
The gift of a well crafted story is very valuable. But finding great books, with all the needed adventure in addition to the values you want, can be a daunting task.
These recommendations are books you can trust.