It’s Time to Awaken the Sleepers: Twelve Backlist Titles For a New Generation, a guest post by Susan Koehler

In this sometimes discouraging era, when middle grade books are being challenged and middle grade sales are in a slump, a couple of positive trends have emerged. One is that graphic novels are increasing in popularity, and another is that backlist titles are being rediscovered.

Partly, this rediscovery can be attributed to graphic adaptations of existing series, like Magic Treehouse and The Baby-sitters Club. Once they’ve enjoyed the graphic illustrated versions, kids are finding interest in the original works.

However, when we reach back to the titles of yesteryear, we realize that many books made their appearance, ran their course, and sort of got put to rest. Many of these “sleepers” need to be awakened because they have the potential to reach today’s young readers. Let’s take a look at twelve titles that deserve an encore.

Knights of the Kitchen Table is the first book in The Time Warp Trio series, a set of zany, time-traveling stories that were written by Jon Scieszka. The books are short, funny, and well-crafted, and the text is broken up by a limited number of illustrations. The series revolves around a trio of main characters – Joe, Sam, and Fred – who are in possession of a book that helps them travel through time. In this first installment, published in 1991, Joe receives “the book” from his magician uncle and the kids soon find themselves face to face with King Arthur. Unlike the ever-popular Jack and Annie, these three unlikely heroes bumble their way through adventure, often by accident. The tone of this series is evident in titles like The Not-So-Jolly Roger and See You Later, Gladiator. Light-hearted, easy, and hilarious, this series is a fun, often silly diversion for early middle-grade readers, ages 7-10.

Bunnicula: A Rabbit Tale of Mystery, originally published in 1978, was written by James and Deborah Howe. After his wife’s untimely death, Howe continued to write books about Bunnicula and turned their original project into a series. In this original book, the Monroe family adopts a rabbit they found in the movie theater where they saw the film Dracula. They bring the rabbit home to join their other pets – Harrold, the dog, and Chester, the cat. The story is told through the voice of Harrold and revolves around Chester’s fervent insistence that the rabbit is a vampire who sucks the juice out of vegetables. Chester is paranoid but extremely well-read, and his attempts to thwart the fanged bunny are hilarious. While the title and cover art suggest something scary, the fright-factor is very non-threatening and the humor is non-stop. There is now a graphic-illustrated version available, but this first book is a must-read, stand-alone classic. For kids who enjoy its off-beat humor and adventure, the other books in the series will not disappoint. This book and its successors are appropriate for early middle-grade readers, ages 7-10.

The Buried Bones, published in 2011,is the first book in the Clubhouse Mysteries, a series written by the incomparable Sharon Draper. Ziggy and his friends call themselves The Black Dinosaurs, and no amount of suspense and adventure is too much for this fearless foursome. In the first book, the boys build a clubhouse and start doing some digging so they can bury some treasure. Their digging leads to the discovery of a box of bones, and the mystery begins. With just the right amount of edge-of-your-seat thrills for young readers, this book is a captivating entry to a series worth reading. Throughout the series, readers join the boys in wonderfully expansive encounters, like a tunnel that was used for the Underground Railroad and some Shawnee legends that are introduced during a camping trip. This delightful series is appropriate for readers ages 7 to 10.

Loser, by Jerry Spinelli, was originally published in 2003. While it isn’t as well-remembered as some of Spinelli’s other titles, like Maniac Magee and Stargirl, this book has great characters and great lessons to offer. It centers around a kid named Donald Zinkoff, who is given the nickname Loser after an unfortunate showing during field day. But Zinkoff’s problems didn’t start then. Everyone recognizes that Zinkoff is different, but not everyone appreciates his uniqueness. Zinkoff’s innocence, trust, and enthusiasm for life make him a sympathetic, relatable, and often entertaining character. As readers, we are compelled to connect to Zinkoff. We want to be his friend. We want to root for him. We want to protect him. And through this connection, we just might develop authentic and enduring empathy. This book is appropriate for readers ages 8 to 12.

The Hundred Dresses, by Eleanor Estes, was originally published in 1944 and was a 1945 Newbery Honor Book. This timeless classic centers around Wanda, a Polish-American girl of humble means who is relentlessly ridiculed by classmates. One day, when some girls tease her about the faded dress she always wears, Wanda speaks up and claims to have 100 dresses at home. The girls do not believe her and immediately begin to mock Wanda about the dresses. One day, the teacher holds a drawing contest, and Wanda draws a beautiful dress that leads her classmates to discover her talent and understand that her 100 dresses are actually designs that she has drawn. Feeling great remorse, the unfriendly girls decide to apologize but do not get the chance. Wanda’s father, who faced similar discrimination and harsh treatment at work, decided they should move away. Although a bit dated and tightly focused on a particular sect of the population, the lessons are universal and the writing is lovely. This book is appropriate for readers ages 8 to 12.

Newfangled Fairy Tales, Book 1 is a wry, hilarious romp through familiar tales that have been given a contemporary, farcical twist. Edited by Bruce Lansky and originally published in 1997, this collection offers brief reinventions of well-known tales written by a host of authors, including Lansky. Recently, gatekeepers have been putting out the call for shorter fiction, and kids’ preferences have been trending toward humor. This book and its Book 2 companion are silly, offbeat, and often nonsensical. King Midas is a workaholic banker, the three bears are driven to the home of Goldilocks by habitat intrusion, and a princess pays off a dragon to throw the fight. The familiarity of the original fairy tales, combined with the accessibility of the text and lightness of the themes, makes this a potent choice for reluctant readers. This book and its companion are appropriate for readers ages 8 to 12.

Girls to the Rescue, Book 1, published in 1995, is the first of a seven-book series edited by Bruce Lansky. Each book features a collection of tales that flip the script on the traditional damsel in distress. Some stories are originals and some are adaptations, but all of them feature female protagonists who show agency. Written by a variety of authors, including Lansky, these brief stories offer a mix of styles, tones, and genres and expose students to lesser-known tales from multiple cultures and traditions. In his introduction, Lansky provides a rationale for the series. Notably, he writes that “the heroes succeed because they are clever, courageous, and kind. They don’t rely on their beauty. They don’t rely on magic. They don’t resort to violence.” This book and its companions in the series are highly accessible, and readers will find them refreshingly entertaining. These books are appropriate for readers ages 8 to12.

Escaping the Giant Wave, by Peg Kehret, is a 2004 adventure in which two siblings experience an earthquake that sets off a fire and ultimately a tsunami. The kids are vacationing with their parents on the Oregon coast, where their dad is being honored as Salesman of the Year by his company. As part of this honor, the parents are invited to attend an adults-only dinner on a yacht. They leave 13-year-old Kyle and his little sister BeeBee alone in the hotel room for the evening. In the world of middle-grade fiction, this scenario gives the kids the perfect opportunity to show agency and face challenges without the help of adults. There’s plenty of excitement, thrill, and danger within the safety of a narrative designed for young readers. This book is appropriate for readers ages 8 to 12.

I Love You, Michael Collins was originally published in 2017. Written by Lauren Baratz-Logsted, this middle grade historical fiction was recognized and recommended by The Planetary Society and The National Science and Engineering Council of Canada. Set in 1969, the story is told in a series of letters written by 10-year-old Mamie to astronaut Michael Collins. While everyone else in her class chooses to write to Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, Mamie alone chooses Collins. He won’t travel the moon in a lunar module. He won’t walk on the moon’s surface or enjoy the television spotlight. Collins must stay on the ship and make sure the others have a safe place to return to. As Mamie’s story is revealed through her letters, we see that her mission is very similar to that of Collins in this heartwarming family drama. This book is appropriate for readers ages 9 to 13.

Emmy in the Key of Code, written by software engineer Aimee Lucido, was originally published in 2019. Written in verse, the story is told by twelve-year-old Emmy, who is trying to fit into a new city and a new school. At the beginning, the book is rich with musical imagery. As Emmy begins to assimilate into her new school, she takes a coding class. Gradually, the tone and style of the poetry is altered and enriched to reflect Emmy’s new affinity for coding. Along the way, she faces ups and downs in friendship and embarks on a coming-of-age journey of self-discovery. The female protagonist and STEM elements alone give the book lots of relevance. However, that’s only the beginning of its magic. The writing is enchanting, the main character is highly relatable, and the masterful use of metaphor provides a deeply rich, meaningful exploration of human emotion. This book is appropriate for readers ages 9 to 13.

The Red Umbrella was written by Christina Diaz Gonzalez and was originally published in 2011. Since that time, Gonzalez has experienced a surge of popularity and has collected numerous awards with titles like Concealed and Invisible. However, Gonzalez’s debut novel speaks with a captivating voice and offers readers an often heart-wrenching look at the experience of unaccompanied minors who came to the United States through Operation Pedro Pan after the 1959 revolution that brought Fidel Castro to power in Cuba. The story begins in 1961, when 14-year-old Lucía Álvarez realizes that her life in Cuba has been irreparably changed. Her parents make the difficult decision to send Lucía and her little brother to the United States. As part of Operation Pedro Pan, the two siblings go to Nebraska, where a kind family cares for them, but they struggle to learn the language, the customs, and the norms of a foreign place while wondering if they will ever see their family again. This book provides readers with a beautifully crafted story and compelling characters while offering opportunities to learn some  history and develop some empathy. A Spanish translation, La Sombrilla Roja, is also available. This book is appropriate for readers ages 10 to 13.

The Trial is a novel in verse written by Jen Bryant and originally published in 2005. The captivating voice of 12-year-old Katie Leigh Flynn relays the unfolding story of the trial of Bruno Richard Hauptmann, the man accused of kidnapping Charles Lindbergh’s baby. This trial was one of the most publicized events of the 1920s, and historians still study the figures involved, the evidence shared, and the worldwide hype that accompanied it. While the topic may seem grim and unusual for a young audience, the subject matter is handled delicately and told through the unjaded, authentic voice of the narrator. The book does not take sides in the highly-publicized courtroom drama, but it provides a window into various perspectives and raises still-relevant questions about justice and the many factors that can influence it. This book is appropriate for readers ages 10 to 13.

There you have it – my list of sleepers that need to be awakened. These backlist titles deserve new readership because they have timeless value and something worthwhile to offer middle grade readers right now.

Authors of today need to keep writing new books, publishers need to keep publishing new books, and the defenders of the right to read need to keep on fighting to make sure those books remain available. But no matter how many new titles we can offer to young readers, there is still room on the shelves for some sleepers that just might awaken the joy of reading in a whole new generation.

Meet the author

Susan Koehler is a veteran educator, a lifetime literary enthusiast, and the author of several books for kids and teachers. She’d love for you to check out a few of her own middle grade sleepers! Susan is a member of SCBWI and a contributor to From the Mixed-Up Files of Middle Grade Authors. Even though she’s no longer in the classroom every day, she still loves to work with students and teachers. You can learn more about Susan’s books, author visits, and writing workshops at susankoehlerwrites.com, and follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and Threads @susankoehlerwrites.

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