By Valerie Khoo
Are you writing a middle-grade novel right now? Then you should also be reading middle-grade novels right now – and the newer the better!
Why?
Because what’s in bookshops today gives you the best possible insight into what publishers are looking for – and it may not be what you remember reading as a kid. Middle-grade books today are competing with screens, schedules and other pressures for young readers’ attention, which means that your hook and the pacing of your story are more important than ever.
To help out, I’ve put together a list of five new middle-grade novels that bring together both of these things in compelling, readable stories that kids are loving. And, taking a tip from this year’s CBCA Book Week theme (Book An Adventure), there’s a strong thread of adventure running through each of them.
Danger Road by A. L. Tait
Number one on my ‘must read’ list, this compelling cold-case mystery strikes the perfect balance between feeling like a ‘grown up’ crime novel and being suitable for readers 10+. As brothers Alex (13) and Leo (14) try to solve the 25-year-old hit-and-run death of Corey Armstrong, they uncover old secrets and discover more about their town – and themselves – than they imagined. I challenge you to put it down!
You can listen to my chat with Allison in episode 677 of the So You Want To Be A Writer podcast about how she created not only a twisty mystery, but three-dimensional characters and a realistic world. You can also dive into the world of Australian children’s books every week with Allison on her podcast Your Kid’s Next Read.
Run by Sarah Armstrong
This gripping survival story is set in the Australian bush and the authentic, atmospheric setting is a real highlight – as is Sarah Armstrong’s keen sense of pacing. Twelve-year-old Cas thought running away from home would solve all his problems. But he didn’t count on being alone, afraid and hopelessly lost in the bush. Cas has given up all hope of rescue when he stumbles upon a strange family hiding out in the wilderness. He won’t survive without their help. But when he discovers they’re also on the run – from something so big, they won’t even talk about it – he realises his problems are just beginning …
Villain by Adrian Beck
Proving that humour can sit side by side with mystery and pace, Adrian Beck’s first middle-grade novel explores the ramifications of AI and asks some big questions in amongst the thrills. When gaming fanatic Jay receives a strange phone call on a school trip, the voice on the other end calls himself Z and says he has trapped Jay’s classmates in the elevator at the very top of a skyscraper. Jay has no choice but to try and solve Z’s deadly riddles to save his classmates and family members. Beck demonstrates how to use humour and tender moments to offset some of the scarier moments of the story, keeping it age appropriate and exciting.
The Surface Trials by H. M. Waugh
M. Waugh’ s middle-grade sci fi duology Mars Awakes and Mars Underground has marked out her place in this territory, and this new novel will cement it. The captivating tagline – ‘Three days. 100 contestants. A race to survive.’ – tells you to expect pace, action and adventure. Which is exactly what you get.
Set on an alien planet where, under the watch of a galaxy-wide TV audience, Ammy Antares and her fellow competitors must complete a challenging quest to gain entry into an elite planetary academy. They have three days and three clues, and this high stakes elimination-quest novel keeps readers on the edge of their seats.
Spirit of The Crocodile by Aaron Fa’aoso & Michelle Scott Tucker with Lyn White
This thoughtful coming-of-age story is set in a Torres Strait Islander community where climate change threatens culture, tradition and connection to place. It’s fiction based on a conflation of real events, places and situations, building tension as the story rolls out. The cheeky main character Ezra is living an idyllic childhood surrounded by croc-infested waters – he loves a laugh, he loves his mates and he loves a dare. But when one of Ezra’s dares goes wrong, he realises he needs to make some decisions about measuring up. And when Ezra, his mates and his family are thrown into danger and turmoil by a massive out-of-season storm he needs to find his courage as well.
