The Book Search

 Now that school is in full swing, it's time for some realistic middle grade fiction!  Check out these two books by favorite middle grade authors. The first one is called "Absent" by Rex Ogle.  You might remember some of Rex's other works like "Free Lunch" or his series "The Supernatural Society".  This one is an excellent combination of graphic novel and searing social commentary.  It's told from three points of view, Manny, Calvin and Liam and on the surface, they could not be more different.  Manny is angry at the world-his dad is in jail, his mom left when he was small, he lives with his grandparents, and he feels like the teachers at school don't see him.  Manny loves to write and writes rap lyrics, which he finds out are actually poetry.  His story is written in verse. Calvin lives with his dad and two little brothers.  Calvin's mom is not in the picture and Calvin's dad expects Calvin to co-parent with him.  Calvin wants to d...

 Magical mysteries?  Yes please!  And these have a side helping of social issues!   The first one is called "Raven, Rising".  It's written by Christine Hartman Derr.  I haven't read any of her other books but I really liked this one.  It's about Raven, a 13 year old girl who lives with her aunt because her parents were killed 8 months ago.  Raven and her aunt Coral have relocated to the Cherokee Nation in NC from Oklahoma because of an amazing job opportunity for Coral.  They had been living in the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma, and this is an important part of both Coral and Raven's lives.  Raven misses her parents desperately and one of the things Raven used to do with her mom is bake, but the accident that killed her parents was a gas leak and Raven was the last one who used the stove, so she blames herself.  She has vowed to never bake again.  Except that ingredients seem to be following her around, trying to get noticed, and...