Category: Middle Grade

Mythspeaker by Christopher Roubique

Frankly, any good faith attempt to bring the world’s diverse mythologies to a wider audience of young readers — a la Rick Riordan’s Camp Half-Blood Chronicles — is a win in my book. While Christopher Roubique is careful to note that his story is based not on any one tribe’s beliefs but on an amalgamation, …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2026/09/14/mythspeaker-by-christopher-roubique/

Art Attack (The Sherlock Society #3) by James Ponti

with a special shout-out to Yaoyao Ma Van As, who’s done an even better than usual job on the terrific cover. Young sleuth Alex Sherlock is absolutely stunned when one of the most popular girls in school sits down next to him and his best friend Yadi while they’re having lunch one day. He’s crestfallen …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2026/09/08/art-attack-the-sherlock-society-3-by-james-ponti/

The Ghost In Cabin 13 by J.C. Phillipps

Is it just me or is the horror genre having a major resurgence this year? Perhaps it’s related to the growing phenomenon of Summerween and the accompanying marketing opportunities: it just feels like horror titles are making a bigger splash than usual lately. I, personally, have mixed feelings on the genre, even as I acknowledge …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2026/08/31/the-ghost-in-cabin-13-by-j-c-phillipps/

Little Monsters by Máire Roche

Honestly, stick any Little Women retelling in front of me and I’m gonna read it. Ofc, it helps that this one has a super interesting modern twist too. Some of the changes from the original had me wondering whether this really needed to be tacked onto the LW framework but overall this was a compelling …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2026/08/17/little-monsters-by-maire-roche/

Kestrel Takes Flight by Joy McCullough

I think the main thing I need to get over when reading books in verse is that the poetry is never going to grab me as art in and of itself. None of these poems stand alone, at least in my initial read of the book, but they all stand together beautifully to tell a …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2026/08/13/kestrel-takes-flight-by-joy-mccullough/

Camp Catastrophe (Dante N Ferno #2) by Brian Gordon

This Diary Of A Wimpy Kid-Inferno mashup is back, as our hapless middle school demon hero takes on a new challenge: sleepaway camp! Now that Dante has a best friend, he’s willing to do practically anything to keep their relationship strong, including going to summer camp in the woods. Angelic Virgil insists that Camp Sulphur …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2026/08/10/camp-catastrophe-dante-n-ferno-2-by-brian-gordon/

The Space Cat by Nnedi Okorafor & Tana Ford

I vastly overestimated the number of books I still had to read for the 2026 Hugo for Best Graphic Story, so this is the last and, dare I say, my favorite of the slate! Full ranking at the bottom, once I’m done discussing this utterly charming graphic novel that reimagines the life of Nnedi Okorafor’s …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2026/08/06/the-space-cat-by-nnedi-okorafor-tana-ford/

The Invisible Parade by Leigh Bardugo & John Picacio

When I opened the part of the Hugo 2026 voter’s packet for Best Professional Artist, I did not expect to find an entire kid’s book in there! I’m so glad I did tho, as this is a gorgeously illustrated, heartfelt book about grief, culture, and learning to mourn in a healthy way. It’s Dia de …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2026/07/27/the-invisible-parade-by-leigh-bardugo-john-picacio/

Adventure In The City Of Stories by Emma Otheguy

with wonderful illustrations by Poly Bernatene. This sequel to Cousins In The Time Of Magic finds our three young protagonists Siggy, Camilla and Jorge heading back in time for an even more personal reason than in the first book. Camilla is already having a terrible day after being humiliated at her Florida school by the …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2026/07/20/adventure-in-the-city-of-stories-by-emma-otheguy/

The Strange Disappearance Of Imogen Good by Kirsty Applebaum

Okay, but what happens neeeeeext?! That is less a complaint than a plea for Kirsty Applebaum to keep writing more books about the garden at the heart of The Strange Disappearance Of Imogen Good. The book itself opens with Imogen about to sneak into a forbidden garden, in hopes of ditching her once best friend …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2026/06/26/the-strange-disappearance-of-imogen-good-by-kirsty-applebaum/