Let’s be honest, it’s not a secret that Middlegrade is my favourite genre at the moment and has been for a long time. There is just something special about it and today I wanna explore what that “something special” really is. That sounds like great fun, doesn’t it?
Today’s post is linked it with this week’s Top Ten Tuesday, a weekly meme hosted by Jana @ The Artsy Reader Girl.
1 – They exist in all forms and colours
While they all have the same target audience – namely children between 9 and 13 years – Middlegrade books come in many different forms and by that I mean many different genres. While most books are some kind of fantasy genre with all their subgenres and nuances, there are also some marvellous contemporary books around.
2 – They spell Friendship and Family with a capital F
While these books can have all kinds of topics going on between their pages, the great big majority have friendship and family as a main theme. And I think it’s beautiful. Family and friendship is essential in our lives and I love how problems that can come with that can be worked on and solved. It eminates a warm glow and always make me feel good.
3 – There is no drama
One reasons why I prefer Middlegrade books over for example YA books is that there is little to no drama. Or better, there is no drama for drama’s sake. Of course there are issues. A book would not be a good book if there wasn’t some kind of conflict that the hero had to work his way through. However, the conflicts in middlegrade books always seem more genuine to me.
4 – They deal with difficult topics in an understandable way
Since we are already on the topic of issues, I love how Middlegrade books deal with more difficult topics in a more delicate sort of way. I have yet to find a Middlegrade book where for example grief, death or disabilities have been explained in a way where a young reader would either feel talked down to or would not understand the difficulties of the topic. I, as a grown-up reader, enjoy books that deal with those topics more that most books for adults.
5 – There is lots of humor to be found
Now that we are done with the serious stuff: most of the Middlegrade books I have read are really funny. It’s not always comedy on every page but I guess young readers appreciate some kinds of shenenigans every once in a while. I guess that’s true for adult readers too. I mean, who wouldn’t? 😉
6 – They are fast-paced and engaging
I think this is one of the things I love most about Middlegrade. There is never a dull moment in those books, even when the plot slows down a bit.
7 – They are full of imagination and adventure
I feel like this is true for the most Middlegrade Fantasy books and it’s the thing that makes me love them most. Middlegrade books have this kind of whimsy to them, this air of wonder and anticipation and imagination. It’s like they are one big journey into something great, something wonderous and new and exciting. It’s all about discovery, about adventure, about dreams and hopes and struggles and daring and friendship. They are the perfect mix.
This might just be the best post I have written this year. I hope you think so too. 🙂
What do you think of my list? Do you agree? Does this make you wanna pick up all the Middlegrade books?
Great post – and I wholeheartedly agree with you! I love reading middle-grade! Love your images too.
Thank you so much, Mary! I loved writing this post and I love reading books in this genre. 🙂
Those are beautiful Instagram photos. You have quite the eye for color and texture. And I, too, love the whimsy you can often find in MG books. It’s interesting how that changes drastically in YA books. Great post!
Awww, thank you so much, Tessa! I think it’s really intersting too how fast that changes in YA books. I mean, where is that whimsy going? I know, all that whimsy has to do with innocence but still I feel like that’s the thing that I miss most in YA books.
Yes, middle grade books are awesome. I loved this list.
My TTT .
Thank you! I’m happy you like it. 🙂
I tend to read less middle grade nowadays, as I just find the writing quite young for me, but the reasons I haven’t dropped it altogether are covered in your post, I love the focus on friendship and family, and all the humour.
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/19/top-ten-tuesday-264/
Great reasons. I love MG books, and I’m always trying to read more. I like that they can focus on tough topics and do it well. I also love how they can be really fun and funNY like you said. MG authors tend to have good senses of humor.
-Lauren
http://www.shootingstarsmag.net
Great post! I agree the MG books have the cutest covers and are a great way to introduce topics to the youth!
I enjoy Middle Grade so much and would definitely consider it one of my comfort places.
I can see how the no drama would be a great pull to middle grade.
Nice list! You have very good points. I think I need to make more of an effort to read middle grade! Here is my Top Ten Tuesday.
I love middle grade books, especially reading them with my son. We’re currently reading The Only Road by Alexandra Diaz, and it’s the best way to teach him about different experiences that are somewhat “pulled from the headlines,” but on his level. 🙂
Wonderful post! The only middle grade book I have read is Wonder; however, I just bought 4 middle grade books on bookoutlet! I have one fantasy with a POC and another that’s a mystery with the MC in a wheelchair! I think that is so freaking awesome. I’m so excited to read them. I really want to get more into middle grade <3
This does make me more interested in middle grade! I haven’t read a lot of MG books actually but my younger child is this age group now and he’s definitely looking for books that are more challenging so I will have to do some research!
I like your photos! I love middlegrade books. I mostly love how they blend humor with thought-provoking topics.
You really hit the nail on the head here! I especially love the humor and the imagination. Why is that lacking from adults? Adults are writing the middle-grade books, too, right? So why can’t we get more of this in the adult book world?! I love how simple middle-grade seems, even though it has *layers*. I think the reading can be totally different between a child and an adult, and they can both like the book, but take away different things, even if it seems so simple on the surface! Also, found family? Always one of the best tropes ever.
What a lovely post! I love your pictures. I don’t read much MG, but I understand the appeal. And this post is certainly appealing 🤩
I don’t know that I’ve ever read a middle grade novel, but I do know a lot of people really enjoy them, and there are some (like those by Natalie Lloyd) that Twitter friends really like! Perhaps someday I’ll give some of them a chance. 🙂 Thanks for visiting Finding Wonderland a couple of weeks ago; apologies it took me this long to visit here.
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I also love reading middle grade, for a bunch of the same reasons. I’m technically in the middle grade age group (I’m 13) but I read plenty of YA, and I have to say I much prefer middle grade. This was an amazing post, and I loved reading it!!!
Thank you so much! I don’t think I have talked to anybody about Middlegrade books that actually belongs in the age group. 😀 Do you have any favorites? I’m always open to suggestions. 🙂
I love all books by Wendy Mass, and also Kirby Larson. Kimberly Brubaker Bradley is one of my favorite authors, and The War that Saved my Life and it’s sequel, The War I Finally Won are two of my favorite books! What are some of you favorite middle grade books?
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