Here’s the thing I love about middle grade–it’s unspeakably beautiful in its simplicity. Authors don’t have to worry about constant action, romantic tension, and enough complicated plot twists to keep a teenager satisfied. It seems children have longer attention spans.
Because middle grade readers are at the age where they just devour books, middle grade authors have more room for experimentation, niche genres, you name it.
When I was at middle grade reading level, almost everything I read was fantasy. BUT that could mean anything from a portal fantasy to a dark fantasy to an epic fantasy. Middle grade has it all. Including a niche subgenera of fantasy that I call haunting but sweet. These two books are exactly that, so settle back and enjoy!
Sylvia Doe and the 100-Year Flood
Thirteen-year-old Sylvia Doe has lived at Highground Home for Children nearly all her life. Whenever the administrators try to place her with a foster family, she runs away–back to Mason, Highground’s caretaker and her best friend. The only place she feels like she belongs is with him and the horses he has taught her to love.
When a powerful storm causes the remote mountain valley where she lives to flood, Sylvia begins to encounter strange and wondrous things floating down the river. Glittering gemstones and wild animal that don’t belong–everything’s out of place. Then she spots an unconscious boy floating in the water.
As she drags him to shore and their adventure together begins, Sylvia wonders who he is and where he came from. And why does she feel such a strong connection to this mysterious boy?
I’ve read Robert Beatty’s books before and loved them. Sylvia Doe is no different, pulling me into the breathtaking, heart-rending world of a girl who is out of place. The story is strange yet bewitching. Robert Beatty is a storyteller with a skill for balancing the dark with the beautiful, the heavy with the light gentleness of cozy fantasy.
Beatty’s world building also grabs me every time. He creates this tiny haven of a children’s home, then sweeps through it with a massive flood, revealing something that was never supposed to be revealed. And I love how he uses Sylvia’s journal entries in the story.
The only thing that got me was the ending. I myself was rooting for a different ending and the plot twist shocked me.
Content Warnings:
Death, wounds, nothing gory. It does have a haunting feel, however, balanced by its beauty.
Ratings:
Appropriate content: 4/5
Story construction: 4.5/5
Writing skill: 5/5
Ethics: 4/5
Other Information:
Christian: No
Point of view: Third person limited
Tense: Past tense
Romance: A little, though not overpowering
Series: No
Age recommendation: 9-14
A Nearer Moon
Along a lively river, in a vilage raised on stilts, lives a girl named Luna. All her life she has heard tales of the time before the dam appeared, when sprites danced in the currents and no one got the mysterious wasting illness from a mouthful of river water.
These are just stories, though–no sensible person would believe in such things. Luna prefers to take her pole boat out with her best friend, Benny, looking for adventure.
Yet beneath the waves is someone who might disagree. Perdita is a young water sprite, delighting in the wet splash and sparkle, and sad about the day her people will finally finish building the door to yet another world, in search of a place that humans have not yet discovered.
But when little Willow falls ill with the river sickness, everything changes. Luna is determined to find a cure for her beloved sister, no matter what it takes. Even if that means believing in magic . . .
After purchasing about twenty or so books from the library’s annual sale, I started reading through a few of them. My first pick had to be something quick and easy, as I only had a couple hours. So I slipped out the thinnest book, really more of a novella than a novel, and dove in.
It’s called A Nearer Moon, and if you like The Ogress and the Orphans, I think you’ll like this one too.
The prose–the writing, that is–is beautiful, with a sweet and simple storyline, all the events neatly falling into place so that by the end the puzzle has been fitted together and no threads are left untied.
One thing that got me, though, was how remote the book felt. I formed no connection with the characters and honestly could have cared less whether Willow lived or died. It was a little hard to care about the book when I didn’t care about the characters.
Content Warnings:
Mentions of death
Ratings:
Appropriate content: 4.5/5
Writing skill: 3.8/5
Story construction: 3.8/5
Ethics: 4/5
Other Information:
Christian: No
Point of view: Third person limited
Tense: Past tense
Romance: No
Series: No
Age suggestion: 8-12
Until next time, my friends!
–Astor
P.S. Feel free to comment with thoughts or questions. I’m happy to answer and seeing you interact with my post lets me know that you enjoyed it! Don’t forget to subscribe below!
Leave a Reply