8 Cold Middle Grade Books for a Late Summer Heatwave

At the Bottom of the World (Jack and the Geniuses Book 1), by Bill Nye (The Science Guy) and Gregory Mone
Jack’s two foster siblings are both geniuses; he isn’t. Thanks to their inventions, the three kids attract the attention of Hank Witherspoon, a wealthy inventor. Hank is judging a scientific competition, and several scientists working down in Antarctica are in the running, and he whisks the kids off with him to the bottom of the world. There they find not only cool science and technology, but a mystery to solve. A scientist whose discovery could save millions of lives is missing out on the ice, and Jack, though not a “genius,” comes through with the most vital clue of all. Science and adventure are blended beautifully in this exciting story full of the sort of humor that appeals to kids. And there’s plenty of snow and ice to keep readers cool!

The Last Polar Bears, by Harry Horse
A grandfather realizes that all his life he has been either been too old or too young to do what he wanted to do, so one day he sets off with his dog Roo to the North Pole to find the polar bears before they are gone. In letters to his grandchild, he tells of a journey full of snow, and ice, and strange, fantastical encounters as the little dog and the grandfather head north. Horse’s illustrations fill the book, adding considerable charm and making this a friendly one for readers daunted by large blocks of text. It’s not realistic at all, so imaginative dreamers might love it more than pragmatic scientists. Though the ending is a little ambiguous, the sequels in which Grandfather and Roo continue their adventures show that they made it back safely!

Running on the Roof of the World, by Jess Butterworth
12-year-old Tash knows to be afraid of the Chinese forces occupying her country, Tibet. Much of her culture is forbidden, and the Dalai Lama, spiritual leader of her country, is an exile in India and his name can’t even be spoken. When a man sets himself on fire in protest, the Chinese soldiers crack down on her town, and her parents, who work for the resistance movement, are arrested. Tash decides to find the Dalai Lama, and so, with her best friend Sam and two trusty yaks, and secret papers of her father’s, she sets off over the Himalayas. The brutal cold isn’t the only enemy; they are being hunted by soldiers as well. It’s touch and go, and the vivid descriptions of the dangerous landscape make the adventure all the more gripping (and the yaks are endearing travelling companions!).

The Ice Sea Pirates, by Frida Nilsson
Here’s a Swedish middle grade fantasy that will appeal to those who enjoy stories about plucky girls setting off alone on worthy quests. Ten-year-old Siri and her little sister Miki live on a remote island far up in the North Atlantic. Even on their island they’ve heard of Captain Whitehead, the most dreaded pirate of them all, who steals children to work in his diamond mine. But Siri isn’t thinking about the pirate when she lets her sister pick snowberries alone….and then Miki is kidnapped. Blaming herself, Siri knows she can’t rest until her sister is home again, and so she sets off over cold oceans and frozen wastelands, on a journey full of dangers and memorable encounters with unexpected friends and very much expected enemies. It’s chilly and atmospheric as all get out!

Avalanche!, by Terry Lynn Johnson
To those of us sweltering on a hot summer day, being buried in snow might sound wonderful. But for 12-year-old twins Ashley and Ryan, it is almost fatal. On a skiing trip with their parents in Wyoming’s Grand Teton Mountains, the twins head off on a detour on their own. Though the official avalanche risk was low, they are unlucky, and a tsunami of snow engulfs them. Fortunately, they’ve been drilled about what to do, and that saves their lives. Ashely is able to extricate herself, and find her brother. But he’s been injured, and is suffering from amnesia, so it’s up to her to find shelter and keep them alive until rescuers find them…and it is touch and go! Great for fans of realistic stories about kids surviving against tremendous odds.

Odd and the Frost Giants, by Neil Gaiman
In Norway, long ago, a boy named Odd leaves home very early one cold winter morning, when it was supposed to be spring, but wasn’t. In the snowy woods he meets three talking animals—a fox, a bear, and an eagle—and learns that they are Norse gods transformed by the curse of a Frost Giant. The giant has claimed Asgard, the realm of the gods, as his own, and, unless he is driven out, winter will last forever. It’s a wonderfully cold and snowy world, and Odd’s adventures with gods and giants make for magical reading. He’s a brave, smart hero to cheer for as he helps the gods with a problem they can’t solve themselves.

Moominland Midwinter, by Tove Jansson
This one has been my favorite winter book since I first read it when I was ten, and it’s a great first book for those who’ve never met the Moomins before! The Moomins are a family of friendly, large-snouted trolls living peacefully in Finland with their many friends, frolicking during the summer and hibernating during the cold Scandinavian winter. But this winter, young Moomintroll wakes up from his hibernation to find his house almost buried by snow, and all of his family still deep in sleep. He must face the cold, the dark, and the snow alone…but happily there are other creatures still out and about and winter turns out to be just as magical, in its own way, as summer!

The Crowfield Curse, by Pat Walsh
Here’s an escape from the heat into the unpleasantness of winter in a medieval monastery. William, a young orphan, works hard for the monks in return for meager food and a cold bed. The snowy forest around the monastery is full of magical beings, including a friendly Hob, rescued by William from a trap. But there is also a forbidden place in the forest, where the monks buried a murdered angel long ago. Drawn to that place, an unlikely pair of travelers have come to the monastery, one of whom isn’t human… Will is caught in a struggle between the forces of dark and light, with only his own good heart, and the support of the Hob, to help him raise the angel from the dead and set things right. The sequel, The Crowfield Demon, is set in March, so though there’s not as much snow, there’s still lots of damp chilliness. Anyone who likes good historical fantasy will love these!