Since getting back into reading, March has become one of my favorite months because the theme is Middle-Grade books!! I have fallen in love with middle-grade books because sometimes we just need fresh air. Life is rough and complicated, and these books provide a sense of innocence while still packing a punch. I highly encourage you to at least try a middle-grade book; it might just surprise you.
There are a plethora of content creators out there that host reading challenges for the month or post middle-grade book recommendations. It truly is a whole new world of literature!
The group I have followed for a couple of years for prompts is Middle-Grade March. I believe it’s a group of readers and educators that also have YouTube channels that promote reading middle-grade year round. The prompts this year are:
Sometimes, I get more excited looking for books than sitting down to read them. We are in the culture of “swipe and awe”!! Maybe one day I’ll share my ever-growing want-to-read list on Goodreads, but it’s a little out of hand at this point.
One prompt that I’m excited about is the Series prompt. I am slowly working through the ever-growing Warrior Cats world by Erin Hunter (who is a trio of authors that have been expanding this world over the years). The best part of this series is that the characters talk about animals. If you enjoyed Chronicles of Narnia, The Golden Compass, Aristocats, etc, you will probably enjoy this world. Another nice thing about this world is there are multiple series, but each series is in sets of 6. So far, I have read two sets, Warriors and New Prophecy. This month, I aim to get through the foundational series Dawn of the Clans.
Another prompt I’ve got my eye on is flowers on the cover. I’ve had my eye on With Just One Wing, and as soon as I read the synopsis, I knew it would be a tear-jerker instantly!! And I am here for the feels! This story is about a young adopted boy and a mockingbird. There’s an injury that happens with the mockingbird, which causes the boy to grapple with a difficult decision to surrender the bird to a bird sanctuary, which then prompts the internal reflection of his birth mother’s decision to give him for adoption and seeing things through a new lens. *Insert tears* I am a sucker for those hard lessons with kids, and watching them grow throughout a story through this wholesome lens just gets me every time.
And in true G & N fashion, here are some additional recommendations that would totally fit this year’s prompts.
Author with Three Names
Flowers on the Cover
Book Including Travel
Part of a Series
Published in the 1900s
For more frequent reading updates, don’t forget to follow our IG page @DALitMamas and make sure you find me over on Storygraph! Happy Reading!
Book Reviews & ARC’s
Firstly, I want to say thank you for considering me for your book reviewers; I am super excited. I love to read and encourage adult readers to take the leap, pick up a book, slap on a pair of headphones, and listen to an audiobook. While I love reviewing ARCs and books from authors, I want to provide guidelines and answer frequently asked questions on our process.
See HERE for further ARC requests