Toys with Hidden Agendas, Unexplained Blackouts, and a Gargoyle Superhero: 7 Exciting New Middle Grade Reads

Ellie, Engineer, by Jackson Pearce
This first in a brand-new series about a girl who loves to build, Elie, engineer is ready to pull off her biggest project yet in her backyard workshop: a dog house for her best friend, Kit. But, will she survive it when the neighbor boys and crafty girls helping her are at odds?

The Last Gargoyle, by Paul Durham
Penhallow is a stone gargoyle who protects his Boston building from spirits who haunt at night. When his newest ward nearly falls victim to the ruler of the underworld and a mysterious girl with a violin case keeps turning up, Penhallow must find a way to serve and protect amongst the shadows and secrets of the night.

Zap, by Martha Freeman
In this high-tech urban adventure, a blackout strikes sixth-grader Luis Cardenal’s home town of Hampton, New Jersey. Luis wants to understand what happened and why. In order to find answers, he and his ex-best-friend Maura have to brave the abandoned houses in his poor neighborhood and find a homeless teen legend to figure out why they’re all in the dark.

Roses and Radicals: The Epic Story of How American Women Won the Right to Vote, by Susan Zimet
In the wake of last month’s Women’s March, this non-fiction tale for young readers tells the 70 year story of the women who devoted themselves to the cause of a woman’s right to vote. The journey to the nineteenth amendment is as epic, frustrating, and complex as the women who led the movement and Zimet’s tale is sure to inspire young readers to stand up for what they believe in.

The Uncanny Express (The Unintentional Adventures of the Bland Sisters Book 2), by Kara LaReau and Jen Hill
In this follow up to Lareau’s first adventure on the high seas, the Bland sisters are unintentionally at it again. They can’t seem to keep things uneventful on the road to Dullsville with tasteless oatmeal and tepid tea. Instead, Jaundice and Kale are off solving the mystery of the disappearing Queen of Magic (otherwise known as Aunt Shallot) on a high-speed train.

Spy Toys, by Mark Powers and Tim Wesson
Imagine a world in which the leading toy manufacturer can make tiny, computerized brains and personalities for all their toys. Now imagine what happens to the toys that malfunction. You get a cuddly teddy bear who can crush a car and a smiling sunshine doll with a very short temper. When the head of the toy world recruits these rejects to protect a senator’s eight-year-old son from being kidnapped, hilarity ensues. This humorous middle grade novel is perfect for lovers of the movie Toy Story.

Escape From Aleppo by N.H. Senzai
Inspired by the current situation in Syria, Escape from Aleppo tells the story of Nadia, who, on her twelfth birthday watches anti-government protests and demonstrations erupt in her home city. When civil war breaks out, her family makes the decision to leave. This riveting tale from the author of Shooting Kabul sheds light on the international refugee crisis for young readers.