5 Middle Grade Books to Celebrate Planet Earth, a guest post by Kristin L. Gray

Environmental stories, whether subtle or overt, nurture a sense of stewardship and care for our home planet. Young readers’ imaginations expand beyond the page as they make connections between fictional worlds and our natural one. They realize they too can create positive change.

What better week to share environmental tales than this week in April when we celebrate Earth Day?

Make everyday Earth Day when you demonstrate support for our planet by providing readers access to these choice titles:

THE MONARCHS OF WINGHAVEN by Naila Moreira

Walker Books US (May 2024)

ISBN: 978-1536218305

Sammie, a budding naturalist, knows of a secret and wonderful place: Winghaven, an abandoned lot in the middle of the suburbs where wildlife flourishes. She spends hours making notes and drawings in her meticulous field journal. When Bram, a new boy, turns up with his camera, Sammie worries he’ll give away her hidden haven—after all, the other boys at school bully her. But Bram is a scientist like Sammie, and together they observe tiny pond creatures, a pileated woodpecker with a red crest like a pirate’s bandana, and thriving monarch butterflies whose habitats are becoming scarce. When Sammie and Bram discover bright flagging tape encircling the trees, they learn Winghaven is in danger from a local developer—and it’s going to take courage, spirit, and science to save it. This beautifully written story, full of details about the natural world, includes Sammie’s field illustrations as well as real-life notes on keeping a nature journal, studying monarchs, and bird-watching.

HAVEN JACOBS SAVES THE PLANET by Barbara Dee

Simon & Schuster

ISBN: 978-1534489844

Twelve-year-old Haven Jacobs can’t stop thinking about the climate crisis. In fact, her anxiety about the state of the planet is starting to interfere with her schoolwork, her friendships, even her sleep. She can’t stop wondering why grownups aren’t even trying to solve the earth’s problem—and if there’s anything meaningful that she, as a seventh grader, can contribute. 

When Haven’s social studies teacher urges her to find a specific, manageable way to make a difference to the planet, Haven focuses on the annual science class project at the local Belmont River, where her class will take samples of the water to analyze. Students have been doing the project for years, and her older brother tells her that his favorite part was studying and catching frogs.

But when Haven and her classmates get to the river, there’s no sign of frogs or other wildlife—but there is ample evidence of pollution. The only thing that’s changed by the river is the opening of Gemba, the new factory where Haven’s dad works. It doesn’t take much investigation before Haven is convinced Gemba is behind the slow pollution of the river.

She’s determined to expose Gemba and force them to clean up their act. But when it becomes clear taking action might put her dad’s job—and some friendships—in jeopardy, Haven must decide how far she’s willing to go.

The Fire, The Water, and Maudie McGinn by Sally Pla

Harper Collins Quill Tree Books

ISBN: 978-0063268791

Maudie always looks forward to the summers she spends in California with her dad. But this year, she must keep a troubling secret about her home life–one that her mom warned her never to tell. Maudie wants to confide in her dad about her stepdad’s anger, but she’s scared.

When a wildfire strikes, Maudie and her dad are forced to evacuate to the beach town where he grew up. It’s another turbulent wave of change. But now, every morning, from their camper, Maudie can see surfers bobbing in the water. She desperately wants to learn, but could she ever be brave enough?

As Maudie navigates unfamiliar waters, she makes friends–and her autism no longer feels like the big deal her mom makes it out to be. But her secret is still threatening to sink her. Will Maudie find the strength to reveal the awful truth–and maybe even find some way to stay with Dad–before summer is over?

Secrets of the Sky #1: The Chaos Monster by Sayantani DasGupta

Scholastic Press

ISBN: 978-1338766738

Ten-year-old Kinjal knows something strange is going on. But he does not expect his dog, Thums-up, to disappear before his eyes in the middle of the night! Even stranger, two enormous flying horses appear and insist on taking Kinjal and his twin sister, Kiya, to a place they have never heard of: the Sky Kingdom. The twins have no choice but to go if they want to see their dog again, even if that isn’t why the winged pakkhiraj horses showed up in the first place. They have come to this dimension to seek help — bees are disappearing, along with the nectar the horses need to survive.

Whisked away to a magical realm, the twins must use Kiya’s scientific skills and Kinjal’s love of books and language to help the horses. Once there, they discover that the disappearance of the bees is more nefarious than they thought, and the plot goes all the way to the top.

CONSIDER THE OCTOPUS by Nora Raleigh Baskin and Gae Polisner

Henry Holt and Co.

ISBN: 978-1250793522

Jeremy “JB” Barnes is looking forward to spending the summer before seventh grade hanging on the beach. But his mother, a scientist, has called for him to join her aboard a research ship where, instead, he’ll spend his summer seasick and bored as he stares out at the endless plastic, microbeads, and other floating debris, both visible and not, that make up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

Miles and miles away, twelve-year-old Sidney Miller is trying to come up with an alternate activity worthy of convincing her overprotective parents that she can skip summer camp.

When Jeremy is asked to find the contact information for a list of important international scientists and invite them to attend a last-minute Emergency Global Summit, he’s excited to have a chance to actually do something that matters to the mission. How could he know that the Sidney Miller the messages is not the famous marine biologist he has been tasked with contacting, but rather a girl making podcasts from her bedroom—let alone that she would want to sneak aboard the ship?

Nora Raleigh Baskin and Gae Polisner’s Consider the Octopus is a comedy of errors, mistaken identity, and synchronicity. Above all, it is a heartfelt story about friendship and an empowering call to environmental protection, especially to our young people who are already stepping up to help save our oceans and our Earth.

Bio:

Kristin L. Gray is the author of Vilonia Beebe Takes Charge, a Bank Street College Best Book of the Year; The Amelia Six: an Amelia Earhart Mystery, an Amazon editors’ pick of the month, Kansas Notable Book, and distinguished Junior Library Guild selection; and the forthcoming polar whodunit Penguin Ranch. A retired pediatric nurse, Kristin adores mysteries, weird science, and writing funny, fact-filled books for curious kids. She calls Arkansas home and loves nothing more than hearing from young readers. Well, cake. She really loves cake. Find her online @KristinLGray.

Filed under: Earth Day, Middle Grade, Middle Grade Fiction, Mind the Middle, Mind the Middle Project