Middle Grade Ages 9 and up - Gift Suggestions
Season's readings from our family to ours!
Looking for the perfect gift for a child on your list? The Lorain Public Library System staff recommends these titles.
“The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon” by Grace Lin
When stone lion Jin accidentally knocks the Sacred Sphere out through the Old City Gate, he has no choice but to run after it, tumbling out of the realm he calls home and into the human world. Together with unlikely allies, he must find the sphere…or risk losing everything.
“J vs. K” by Kwame Alexander and Jerry Craft
J and K are the most creative fifth graders at Dean Ashley Public School and they’re determined to win the annual creative storytelling contest. And when they find out that they are both entering, it's the beginning of one of the most intense rivalries the world has ever seen.
“Lighthouse Ladies: Shining a Spotlight on Hardy Heroines” by Kris Coronado
This true tale chronicles the amazing feats of four fascinating women. Each real lighthouse lady featured in this book — whether she’s on a wind-walloped Hawaiian clifftop or an icy channel off the Virginia coast — shows that girl power was around long before it became a popular phrase.
“Delish: The How-To Cookbook for Young Foodies” by Joanna Saltz
Any kid can be a great cook, it just takes some practice! Follow the editors of Delish on an epic cooking quest to learn all the basics and have tons of fun along the way. Step-by-step photos and clear instructions present essential know-how so young chefs can follow along as they learn cooking basics.
“Catching Cryptids: The Scientific Search for Mysterious Creatures” by Kim Long
For years the kraken was considered a mythical beast. Then, in 2004, high-tech cameras captured a photo of a living giant squid. Advances in technology have provided scientists with new tools to study previously undiscovered/ unresearched habitats.
“Butt or Face? Super Gross Butts” by Kari Lavelle
Examine a close-up photo of an animal and then guess whether you're looking at the top or the…umm…bottom. The answer is revealed on the next page with a photo of the complete animal. Fun animal facts and information about camouflage and other sneaky animal tricks are included.
“History Smashers: Ancient Egypt” by Kate Messner
Explorers opened King Tut's tomb and a nasty hex was placed on everyone present. RIGHT? Not so much. The discovery of the tomb taught historians a lot about ancient Egyptian culture. But no one incurred the wrath of a mummy. Okay, but aliens did soar in and build the Pyramids, right? WRONG!
“The Cartoonists Club” by Raina Telgemeier and Scott McCloud
A group of creativity-minded kiddos come together to form The Cartoonists Club, where kids can learn about making comics and use their creativity and imagination for their own storytelling adventures!
“Free Piano (Not Haunted)” by Whitney Gardner
Margot knows when she stumbles across a discarded synthesizer with a “not haunted” sign, she’s discovered the key to her dreams. Enter Vision, teen pop sensation of 1979 whose untimely demise left her spirit intertwined with the keys. But as Margot’s obsession with fame grows, she may lose what she loves about music…and herself.
“Lu and Ren’s Guide to Geozoology” by Angela Hsieh
Lu dreams of being a great adventurer, just like her ah-ma, who is a worldrenowned geozoologist. But when Ahma’s letters suddenly stop, Lu becomes worried. She charts a course with the help of Ren, an old friend turned new travel buddy. But what stories has Ah-ma never told her? And what’s Ren hiding from her?
“Lego: How to Build Everything” by Jessica Farrell
Go on a creative journey in this bumper book of Lego building fun, featuring some of the best builds from across DK’s How to Build Lego series! You’ll find Lego models of all kinds to inspire you, plus helpful pointers from the experts to guide you along the way.
“Dreamslinger” by Graci Kim
Aria, a Dreamslinger whose dangerous powers awaken while she sleeps, lives under strict suppression after the Great Outburst killed hundreds, including her mother. When the Kingdom of Royal Hanguk announces global Dreamslinger trials, Aria seizes the chance to compete, not to join the League, but to destroy it from within.
“Saphie the One-Eyed Cat” by JOHO
What exactly does a one-eyed cat do all day? Well, there's running, knocking things over, scratching things you're not supposed to, terrorizing your brothers, messing with your owner, stealing food and generally causing mayhem left, right and center!
“Crumble” by Meredith McClaren
Emily’s family bakes emotions into desserts, with one rule: never use bad feelings. But after her Aunt Gina dies, grief drives Emily to break it, creating a crumble filled with pain. Addictive but dangerous, the crumble numbs emotions. But baking (and eating) bad feelings doesn’t really make them go away…