Books In the Middle Podcast

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Garvey’s Choice By Nikki Grimes

Garvey is struggling to connect with his father who only seems to want Garvey to do something athletic. But that is his older sister’s area of expertise. Garvey is more into music and reading than running around! It hurts him to hear his dad complain to his mom about him not being the kind of kid he wanted. Garvey finds himself slipping further away from his dad and he isn’t sure how anything he likes will ever find favor with his dad.

Recommended for grades 6 and up.
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Ghost By Jason Reynolds

Ghost, or Castle as his mom calls him, feels that he’s been running for some time. It all started one night when his dad got out of control and tried to shoot him and his mother. Since then it feels like he just can’t take a breath and catch his breath. When he tries to show up a kid on a track team, he ends up getting on the team. But can he stay on it?

Recommended for 6th grade and up.

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How They Croaked: The Awful Ends of the Awfully Famous By Georgia Bragg

So, seriously, you read this book and you’ll never wish to go back in time again. Or at least go back into a time where there were no antibiotics, or how about just plain doctors who washed their hands! This book looks at nineteen deaths of famous folks and really more gory details about their ends than you probably ever wanted to know.

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Rites of Passage By Joy Hensley

Sam is only carrying on the family tradition of going to Denmark Military Academy - just like her father and her two brothers did. However, they were male, and she’s a female. And it turns out one of five who will be the first girls ever let into the prestigious DMA. So many, including her older brother at the school, don’t want her to succeed. With so many things against her, is it possible?

Recommended for grades 8 and up.

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Titans Clash by Sigmund Brouwer
Jack loves to play basketball, and while he isn't the best, he is pretty good. He knows he has to work for everything, but he is willing to put in the time. He does wish that his dad would be a bit happier though, when he does do well. But for the last few weeks, he knows why his dad is more down than usual. Jack's mom was in a terrible car accident and she hasn't been able to leave the hospital.

But then something happens with Jack's dad, something that Jack can't even begin to believe and it feels like quickly basketball isn't as important in life as it once seemed. Jack isn't sure how to put his family back together, but he knows he has to try.

Recommended for grades 7 and up.