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Dec 31, 2012 
Here we are on the last day of 2012. What an amazing year for middle grade books! There were so many memorable, heart-stopping books published this year — sci fi and fantasy, humor and history, graphic novels and nonfiction, love and death and everything in between. Join me on a poetic journey through some of the fantastic middle grade novels of 2012…
Once Upon a Toad there was a young reader
Who devoured stories like a fearless leader.
This year was no different, she read book after book,
Fantasy, reality, historical; whatever it took.
She cried over Ivan, witnessed some Drama, and cheered for Wonder(ful) Auggie,
Had a Laugh With the Moon, wore a Fake Mustache, and looked In a Glass Grimmly.
Next on her list was Glory Be, May B, Stealing Air, and The Marble Queen,
Followed by Jake and Lily, The Templeton Twins, not to mention Ivy and Bean.
She raced through The Fire Chronicle and Liar & Spy,
Then got Caught in The Genius Files and Starry River of the Sky.
No time to spare, there were still lots more books,
about Dorks who keep Diaries, one Wimpy Kid, and The Five Lives of Our Cat Zook.
She discovered The Upside of Ordinary, A Hero for WondLa, then poured over Son,
Just in time to See You at Harry’s, be A Whole Lot of Lucky, and try Flying the Dragon.
Next she figured out The 39 Clues while Stealing Popular and loving The Mighty Miss Malone,
But wait, Amber Brown was back, and while on Will Sparrow’s Road, she was never alone.
Then it was a Summer of the Gypsy Moths; the year was just flying by,
Three Times Lucky, Mr. Terupt Falls Again, The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls, oh my!
As the leaves began to fall, she curled up in her room,
With The Fault in Our Stars, The False Prince, and Gustav Gloom.
She raced through True Legend, Unstoppable, and Geeks, Girls and Secret Identities,
Made sure to read The Great Unexpected, Joshua Dread, and The Secret of the Fortune Wookiee.
Who Could That Be at This Hour? she thought, when she heard a knock,
She was Almost Home when she looked at the clock.
2013 was at the door; it’s practically next year,
She had to hurry up and finish Double Dog Dare.
And now that she’s done, there’s only one thing to do,
Start all over again with books that are new!
A very happy new year from all of us at From the Mixed-Up Files! Keep reading and keep writing!
Michele Weber Hurwitz, the author of Calli Be Gold (Wendy Lamb Books/Random House 2011) and an upcoming middle grade novel in spring 2014, can’t wait to see what books are in store for 2013.
11 Comments 
book lists, middle-grade fiction
