Middle Grade Monday – Have I told you lately that I love you? (A collaborative book list, eventually.)

Middle grade students are a special breed. The people I know who work with them are a dedicated bunch, full of a deep affection for this age and all of it’s attendant terrors and triumphs. Students need to see this affection in the books they read and in the teachers they know. I do sometimes wonder how there are enough professional educators who enjoy working with them to staff the schools. Which is not to say that I don’t enjoy them. As I recently tweeted to our newest blogger, Amanda,

For those of you from other areas of the country, ‘pinch their heads off’ is a southern expression of exasperated affection. I’m sure any of you who work with (or have your own) tweens know what I’m talking about, but I thought I’d give you my favorite example from today.

At the beginning of each school year, I cover basic library procedures with all of my students. We discuss where everything is located, how to find what you’re looking for, and how to treat it. As a part of this, I explain how to find and use the most magical of library equipment – the bookmark. I send out for free bookmarks from companies and the federal government. I create bookmarks highlighting lists of books, library programs, school wide reading initiatives, etc. I encourage the students to take as many as they need – they’re free, I’ll get more!

So when I see this:

I feel justified in my exasperated affection. To make lemonade out of lemons, I made this:

That was a long explanation for a book list. Sorry. Here are all the titles I can remember which illustrate the genuine affection middle grade teachers have for their students:

• Frindle by Andrew Clements
• Liar and Spy by Rebecca Stead
• Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
• Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick

Please chime in through the comments section to add your favorites.

Filed under: Middle Grade Monday