Here’s my bingo card for Middle Grade Carousel’s Reading Bingo challenge. This month, I finished nine middle grade books. Well, eight titles that fit the descriptions on the bingo card. (I actually read more than nine books, including a few books for adults.)
How Does It Work?
Pick your challenge, grab a book, and fill in the squares. Try and get 5 in a row, or attempt to fill in the whole sheet if you’re a speedy reader.
Rules
- Because this is a Middle Grade Carousel challenge, all of the books on your Bingo board should be MG reads. Find out more about Middle Grade books here.
- Each square needs to be filled with a unique book. You cannot use the same title more than once, even if it fits multiple themes. Choose wisely!
- You should only be filling in your Bingo board with books you’ve read during this month.
Here are my results… (The * means that’s the book that got me my Bingo!)
*Graphic Novel
The Little Mermaid // by Metaphrog
MG, Graphic Novel, Fairy Tale (2017)
So, this is the Hans Christian Anderson version of the fairy tale. (But it does borrow some elements from the Disney version!) The illustrations did not blow me away, but I did like a few of them. Particularly when the sea witch bargains for the little mermaid’s voice. They did the whole thing in pink and it is striking!
The one thing I didn’t like was the ending. They got it wrong. 😦 She doesn’t turn into sea foam! She joins the daughters of the air. [4 stars]
*A Book by a Favourite Author
Ramona and her Father // by Beverly Cleary
MG, Contemporary (1977)
This is perhaps the most perfect of the Ramona books! Okay, I love them all, but this one is extra special. And it definitely earned the Newbery Honor.
I love how it tackles her dad’s job loss and his smoking. Ramona has come a long way from her days as Henry Huggins’ nemesis. I think that’s what I really like about these books. Ramona still does things her own way, except now we get to see it through her POV. And, frankly, that makes all the difference.
The scene with the burrs? Wonderful! [5 stars]
*First in the Title
Jacob Two-Two’s First Spy Case // by Mordecai Richler
MG, Contemporary (1997)
This was a fun read in the same sort of vein as The Phantom Tollbooth. Jacob Two-Two breaks into espionage when his neighbour turns out to be a Master Spy.
Lots of fun word-play. (The villains are Mr. I.M. Greedyguts and the Perfectly Loathsome Leo Louse.) And lots of little Canadian jokes 🙂 [4 stars]
*A Tail on the Cover
The Unteachables // by Gordon Korman
MG, Contemporary (2019)
Gordon Korman’s back on top of his game for this book! Hooray 🙂 As for the tail… yes, there is a tail on the cover of the book. See the little lizard sitting on the desk?
I enjoyed getting to know the group of kids nicknamed the Unteachables. As in many of Korman’s books, we get to see things through several differing viewpoints… including the teacher Mr. Kermit, and even the principal. [4 stars]
*Author’s First Name is Jonathan
Bridget Wilder: Spy-in-Training // by Jonathan Bernstein
MG, Contemporary/Espionage (2015)
This book reminded me of the Spy School books. But it’s a little weirder than that. There were some nice twists and turns, but I wasn’t crazy about a few of the things that happen in the book. Mainly with regards to the big brother Ryan, who is constantly in trouble. But this all seems to be part of a running joke in the book. Maybe I was taking it too seriously. Anyhow, this book was okay, but nothing to get excited about. [3 stars]
Other MG Books I Finished this Month…
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- Double O’s in the Title // Cool Zone with the Pain and the Great One // by Judy Blume
- A Book that was Recommended // The Moffats // by Eleanor Estes
- Pick Your Prompt / A Mystery // Room One // by Andrew Clements
- A Quest // The Dark is Rising // by Susan Cooper
Final Thoughts…
January Bingo: Complete! Have you read any of these books? Let me know what you thought of them.