My favorite season is here! In honor of all things autumn, here are three great fall-themed middle grade books.

Happy Reading!

Me and the Pumpkin Queen, by Marlane Kennedy

Mildred is a very focused eleven-year-old. Very focused on giant pumpkins. She’s growing the giants in memory of her mother, who never got a chance to enter the Circleville, Ohio, Pumpkin Show weigh-off herself. After four disastrous growing seasons, Mildred is hoping to finally have a flawless pumpkin to enter in the contest. As long as busybody Aunt Arlene doesn’t interfere too much…and Daddy doesn’t need too much help at his veterinary practice…and her best friend Jacob can pitch in with some last-minute help…and the dogs don’t trample the seedlings…and the weather cooperates.

 

The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z, by Kate Messner

Gianna Zales is a star runner with one more hurdle to jump before she goes to cross country sectionals – a monster leaf collection project. To get it done, she’ll have to survive a rival who desperately wants to take her place at sectionals, a grandmother who leaves her false teeth in the refrigerator, and a best friend whose feelings about her are changing like the leaves. Gianna Z needs a stroke of brilliance to make it work!

The Best Halloween Ever, by Barbara Robinson

Every Halloween, the six Herdman kids steal candy, spray-paint other kids, and take everything that isn't nailed down. This year promises to be the same until the Mayor decides to up and cancel Halloween. True, that means there'd be no Herdman trouble to contend with, but that also means no candy, no costumes, and no trick-or-treating! Is it possible that the Herdmans themselves could make what looks like a horrible Halloween into the best one ever?