top ten middle grade books i had to buy…but remain unread

Tuesday, March 19, 2013 |
Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, where we all get to exercise our OCD tendencies and come up with bookish lists.  If you’d like to play along, check out this post.

top ten tuesday

I have a couple of bookshelves full of books I had to buy (at the time) but are still languishing there, unread.  It’s a problem!  Interestingly, it’s a YA and adult problem.  I had to go over my collection with a fine-tooth comb to find ten middle grade books I bought but haven’t read.  Most of them were recent purchases that live on the Kindle app on my phone.  I think that speaks pretty well for the genre.  And why middle grade, again?  Because it’s Middle Grade March, of course!

Top Ten Middle Grade Books I Had To Buy…But Remain Unread


1. Scones and Sensibility by Lindsay Eland – I bought this one for a Jane Austen reading challenge a couple of years ago, but never got around to reading it.  Baking and middle grade are totally my thing, though, so it will move to ‘read’ status soon.

2. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O’Brien – I was completely freaked out by the film version of this story as a kid, and so when I saw the paperback at a book fair I (naturally) picked it up.  It’s in the ‘I’ll get to it someday’ category (maybe when there’s someone I can read it aloud to).

3. The Magic Mirror of the Mermaid Queen by Delia Sherman – I very much enjoyed Changeling, so I picked up its sequel as soon as I heard about it.  What’s holding me back?  I want to reread the first book before I dip into the second.

4. One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia – This one won awards all around, and my roommate pushed me to pick it up.  Then there was an ebook deal, and I bought it!  And I’m just slow.

5. Ordinary Magic by Caitlen Rubino-Bradway – A couple of fellow bloggers wrote such gorgeous things about Ordinary Magic that I bought it immediately… and it’s one I’m saving for a particularly bad day (I think it’ll be the perfect antidote).


6. A Drowned Maiden’s Hair by Laura Amy Schlitz – Another ebook deal that caught my eye because of the pretty cover art and the author’s name (I met Schlitz briefly at BEA last year, when she was promoting Splendors and Glooms).

7. Cold Cereal by Adam Rex – Rex’s name is a ubiquitous one in children’s lit.  It turns out that if I ‘know’ the author when an ebook deal comes around, I tend to buy it, sight unseen. Cold Cereal, meet Cecelia’s ebook collection.

8. Savvy by Ingrid Law – I’ve had this one in hardcover since just after its release – I was swayed by positive (ecstatic!) reviews and I have no idea why it hasn’t been a priority.  Need to fix that!

9. The People of Sparks by Jeanne DuPrau – I read The City of Ember many years ago on a whim and enjoyed it immensely.  I thought the film didn’t do justice to it, but at least it brought my attention to the fact that there were sequels.  I thought I wanted to continue the story at the time, but I’ve been reluctant to go on (series fatigue, maybe?).

10. The Cabinet of Wonders by Marie Rutkoski – When I first heard about steampunk I tried to round up all of the books in children’s and YA that had a hint of it, and this was one.  I now have TWO copies on my shelf, both still unread.  Travesty!

What books have you bought but haven’t read?

16 comments:

Heidi said...

I have Drowned Maiden's Hair sitting on my shelf just waiting to be read as well! I LOVED Splendors and Glooms last year, so of course I had to get it.

I actually wasn't a fan of Ordinary Magic, but I may be one of the few who weren't, so hopefully you still enjoy.

One Crazy Summer is (no surprise given the award) wonderful.

I was completely freaked out by The Secrets of Nihm as a kid too! Freaked out and loving it. I really ought to read the book someday.

Ryan said...

We have the movie version of Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, but have never read the book.

Anonymous said...

I haven't heard of quite a few of this, but now that I have my wish list has grown! And I'm with you on the City of Ember series.

Tales of Whimsy said...

Scones is adorable!
And I looved Savvy.
I have some great MG waiting for me too.

Liviania said...

I have a copy of Scones and Sensibility lying unread too.

NIMH is so, so good, from my childhood memories, and I liked Cold Cereal but Smekday is even better.

Charlotte said...

I've never read City of Ember either...sigh. One Crazy Summer is an excellent one, as is Cabinet of Wonders. I hope you enjoy them!

Kat C @ Books and Sensibility said...

Hm, I don't really read many MG books,so I haven't heard of most of these, but that Scones and Sensibility sounds interesting, maybe it's the name !

Kristen said...

Wow! Some classics in there as well. I loved Drowned Maiden's Hair and One Crazy Summer. I don't actually buy a lot of middle grade myself and most of it isn't unread. :) I can see where this could be a challenge to fill a list of it. :) Loving your Middle Grade month so far!

Steph Su said...

Put Ordinary Magic on your immediate TBR list, now! Yes, I think I was one of the bloggers who blabbered on and on about it last year, haha. I haven't read Savvy, either. I'm beginning to think it's a crime.

Anonymous said...

I agree with Steph Su - Ordinary Magic was a wonderful surprise. I have followed the comments on this book and always happy to see how most of them get this parable about bigotry wrapped up in a delightful and sometimes dark adventure. It is my pick for the book I would like to see made into a movie.
I also thought Scones and Sensibility was a cute take on the Jane Austen book. So many of the Austen-inspired leave me cold especially the ones pitched at younger readers but this was quite charming.
Maria T.

elena said...

oh, I love this list! Scones and Sensibility looks ADORABLE! The title alone makes me want a scone. Ordinary Magic looks excellent and thanks for reminding me to pick it up!

Nan said...

I did read Mrs. F to my kids when they were little, and it was a wonderful experience. I do like this new (??) term 'middle grade' rather than 'juvenile' for that age group.

Kristen M. said...

I'm rereading NIMH for the chapter book challenge. It might even be my next book. I read the book and watched the movie many, many times as a kid. I'm really interested to see what I think of them now!

Amy said...

How did I not know about this Middle Grade March?! TRAGEDY!! Such a great idea! Also great? This list of MGs you've got here.
I am adding Scones and Sensibility to my TBR IMMEDIATELY. Sense and Sensibility is my fave Austen, and I too have a soft spot for baking MGs. I just finished A Tangle of Knots (good, but not great) and I have Bliss on my kindle!
Savvy is really good. I hope you get to read it soon! Especially because there's a sequel: Scumble.
Seriously, I'm adding so many of these books. I love it!

Gina @ My Precious said...

I've only read one of those books, Ordinary Magic. It was really good. I recommend taking the time to read it soon. Its a fast, fun read.

Unknown said...

Don't think you're alone on this matter. There are a lot of people who buy interesting books but couldn't find the time to read them. But with these many great books you have on your hands, I suggest reading them soon. Books possess magic that can transport you to different realms and allow you to be anyone that you imagine. You can't pass up on that moment.
Shelley @ Y\'all Twins?

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