Our Middle Grade book spotlight this week is focused on books that have some unreliable narrators!! An unreliable narrator is a character who is telling their story but you have no idea if you can trust them or not; you are getting their point of view but there may have been some incidents throughout the plot that cause you not to trust their side of the story. As you read through the action, you will find yourself asking what is really going on and maybe changing your opinions multiple times until you get to the end. This week, we have some realistic stories as well as some fantasy and mysteries. These books and more can be found by searching the catalog using the search tag #youthnarrators as well as on Libby and Hoopla. Check back next week for a new Middle Grade book spotlight and if you have any book suggestions, please let us know!!
The Magic Thief by Sarah Prineas--In the city of Wellmet, a young street urchin named Connwaer survives by picking pockets, but when he tries to steal the “locus magicalicus” of aged sorcerer Nevery Flinglas, he gets caught. Nevery is amazed that the young lad didn't drop dead when he touched the magic stone, so he agrees to take Connwaer on as his apprentice. Meanwhile, the city of Wellmet is rapidly losing its power supply-magic. Both master and apprentice become deeply involved in finding out who or what is stealing the city's magic.
The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin--The mysterious death of an eccentric millionaire brings together an unlikely assortment of heirs who must uncover the circumstances of his death before they can claim their inheritance.
Liar & Spy by Rebecca Stead--When seventh-grader Georges' father loses his job as an architect, his parents are forced to sell their home and move into an apartment building. Adding to Georges' stress is the fact that Jason, his best friend, has begun sitting at the "cool" table at lunch and no longer intervenes when bullies harass Georges. Relief (or some form of it) comes in Georges' introduction to Safer, a homeschooled boy who lives in his building. Safer describes himself as an amateur spy and enlists Georges' help in discerning the true nature of their unusual and possibly evil neighbor, Mr. X. As Georges and Safer become closer, their spy mission not only sheds light on their situation at home, but also gives Georges the fuel he needs to work through his problems at school.
Clementine by Sara Pennypacker--Eight-year-old Clementine does not always think before she acts and when she realizes she may be the difficult child in her family, she does anything to prove them wrong. Pennypacker takes readers through a week with Clementine as she attempts to help get glue out of the neighbor’s hair by nearly cutting off all of her hair and has an unfortunate adventure with permanent markers.
Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech--After her mother leaves home, Sal and her grandparents take a trip retracing her mother's route. Along the way, Sal tells the story of Phoebe, whose mother also left.
Blubber by Judy Blume--Jill goes along with the rest of the fifth-grade class in tormenting a classmate and then finds out what it's like when she, too, becomes a target.