Awesome new fiction for middle graders

 The publishers have been busy and suddenly there are a kajillion books laying in my inbox.  Happily, there was time to read this weekend, YAY!!!  Here are two great new ones.

The first one is called Almost There and Almost Not by Linda Urban.  I love Linda Urban's work.  She wrote some of my favorites including Milo Speck, Accidental Agent and A Crooked Kind of Perfect.  She has such a great way with characters.  This one is no different-it's about Callie (her given name is California Poppy) and she has been struggling with behavior at school.  She finally had a teacher who understood her and gave her some great coping strategies, but when your mom dies in a car accident and your dad decides to drop you off at an aunt you never met and go to Alaska, things can get a little hinky.  Especially, when Callie starts to see ghosts.  She's not really sure at first that they are ghosts, but they're talking to her and no one else can see them, so it seems like they're ghosts.  Her aunt Monica has a broken arm and is very depressed about her husband dying so Callie is left to her own devices.  Which turn out to be writing thank you notes and bread and butter notes.  Aunt Monica has been thinking that she would do some research about a woman who she is related to by marriage, who wrote some books.  Her husband had hoped to do the research but died before he had a chance.  It turns out the author of the book is also the ghost.  As the story unfolds, the reader finds out the life story of the ghost (which has a large number of plot twists) as well as Callie's family story (way more complicated than Callie thought).  Callie is an amazing narrator and I was really sorry when the story was finished.  If you like middle grade fiction with social issues, this is definitely one for you!

Here's the cover image: 

And here's a video from Colby Sharp with author Linda Urban!

The second one is a magical mystery called The Last Windwitch by Jennifer Adam.  It starts with Brida who is kind of sneaking away from her guardian, Mother Magdi.  She REALLY wants to participate in the Day of Remembering, which Mother Magdi insists is too dangerous for her.  The Day of Remembering is a day for stories but the Queen has outlawed it.  The Voice of the village tells stories that are at once thrilling and terrifying-about storm horses that can change the weather and about three young witches and how one betrays her two sisters.  Brida is spellbound by the stories but when Mother Magdi finds them all, she sends everyone away, even the travelers who have come from far away to hear the stories.  Magdi is trying to protect everyone from the Queen who has silenced Voices in other communities.  Then a boy is attacked by a vicious beast, Magdi is called to help and soon realizes that bigger things are afoot.  Brida also starts to find some of her own magic, which is much different from the magic that Mother Magdi has been teaching her.  Mother Magdi decides they must set out across the valley to protect everyone.  In the course of their journey, they meet another young witch named Rissi, who is in hiding, but things really heat up when Brida is captured by a Huntsman and taken to the Queen.  This is a really exciting story with themes of finding your own voice and using your powers for the benefit of others.  The characters are interesting and likable and well thought out.  I wanted to be friends with Brida!   I think the kids are going to like this one a lot.