Middle Grade

Reviews: New Middle-Grade Releases

Sarah Forster shares her thoughts on two middle-grade novels set in post-apocalyptic utopian worlds, packed with plenty of adventure, miracle technology, and imaginings of the future. Kidnap at Mystery Island, by Carol Garden I love the cover of this futuristic…

Your Christmas Shopping List 2022

The Sapling editors have compiled a list of recommendations of this year’s releases for your Christmas book shopping! Picture Books How My Koro Became A Star Written by Brianne Te Paa Illustrated by Story Hemi-Morehouse Published by Huia Publishers RRP:…

Book Reviews: New Fiction For 8–12s

It’s a middle readers kind of a day! And so, we bring you five reviews of recent fiction releases for the 8-to-12-year-old bookworms in your life, courtesy of librarian and NZCYA Awards judge – and convener of those judges for 2021 – Alan Dingley….

Finishing the furballs: Donovan Bixley

Donovan Bixley lets the cat out of the bag as he completes his Flying Furballs series. Why did you choose war and spies as the basis for your middle-grade series? Most of my books start from doodling things I love…

Ngā Pakiwaitara o tēnei Whenua me Taitua

Nā Tania Roxborogh tēnei arokatenga i tuhi. Hei tāna, te whakamahi o te reo Māori ki roto o ngā akomanga me ngā pakiwaitara o Aotearoa me taitua, ā, e matapakia ana tōna pukapuka Charlie Tangaroa and the Creature From the…

THE SAMPLING: Katipo Joe—Blitzkreig

Brian Falkner is the author of over a dozen books for teens and younger readers, published in New Zealand, Australia, the US and the UK. Enjoy this extract from his latest book, first in a series, Katipo Joe: Blitzkreig.

THE SAMPLING: Awa and the Dreamrealm

Some mysterious middle-grade reading for you today, in the form of a new Sampling! Here’s the prologue and first two chapters of Isa Pearl Ritchie’s first book for young people, Awa and the Dreamrealm.

THE SAMPLING: Bonjour Lucy Bee

Bonjour Lucy Bee is a fast-paced holiday adventure novel. Lucy Bee is on a family reunion holiday in France when she finds an injured boy behind a bush.

THE SAMPLING: Rafferty Ferret: Ratbag

By Sherryl Jordan Rafferty is an orphan, raised by monks. Misfortune strikes and he is outcast, and must fend for himself. He uses his cunning and charm to develop a trade for himself as the town’s ratcatcher… and rat liberator….

THE SAMPLING: The Mapmakers’ Race

We’re pleased to present an excerpt from The Mapmakers’ Race (Gecko Press), a new novel by Eirlys Hunter and illustrated by Kirsten Slade. Kate De Goldi says the book is ‘one of the most poised, stylish children’s books [she has] read in a long time … An utter delight’.