Now’s the Time to Catch Up on Your “To Be Read” Pile

It’s been quite a week, so I decided to scrap my planned blog post for this month in favor of encouraging you to get some quality reading time in. With schools and activities shutting down, and everyone being encouraged to avoid crowded areas, many of us are finding ourselves at home with our families. This is the perfect opportunity to take on your “To Be Read” pile, and even engage the family.
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Here are some of my favorite chapter books and middle grade novels, and a look at my TBR stack. Enjoy!

Chapter Books

​Magic Treehouse, written by Mary Pope Osborne

This series is the gold standard in chapter books. Also check out the Merlin Missions books in the series. They’re written at a slightly higher reading level.

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A to Z Mysteries, written by Ron Roy 

​A terrific mystery series with millions of copies in print. The three sleuths are fun to root for and very relatable. Ron Roy’s Calendar Mysteries is another great series featuring the sleuth’s younger siblings.

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Noelle at Sea: A Titanic Survival Story, written by Nikki Shannon Smith
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Featuring a young Black girl aboard the Titanic, this book is full of twists and turns and plenty of emotion. It’s part of the Girls Survive series, which features 3 other titles by Nikki Shannon Smith: Sarah Journeys West, Ann Fights for Freedom, and Charlotte Spies for Justice.

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The Kingdom of Wrenly, written by Jordan Quinn

​Prince Lucas and Clara Gills set off on amazing adventures in this enchanting series which features sea monsters, dragons, and treasure. A great series for new readers.

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​Denis Ever After, written by Tony Abbott

​Follows the story of Denis, a young boy who tries to solve the mystery of his own death. Poignant and suspenseful, this is a book you won’t want to put down.

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​Greenglass House, written by Kate Milford

This Edgar Award winner features Milo, a young boy who lives at a smugglers’ inn. Snowed in with a dodgy cast of characters, Milo and his new friend try to solve the mystery of Greenglass House and find out a lot about themselves in the process.

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The Peculiar Incident on Shady Street, written by Lindsay Currie
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Tessa Woodward tackles a century-old mystery in this spine-tingling story. This is a perfect read aloud, too!

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​The Moon Within, written by Aida Salazar

Celi Rivera’s life is overcome with changes in this captivating novel in verse. This book earned 4 starred reviews, and for good reason. ​

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​The Parker Inheritance, written by Varian Johnson

This Coretta Scott King Honor book tells the story of a decades old secret in small town in South Carolina. When Candice finds an old letter addressed to her grandmother, it starts her out on a quest to solve a puzzle which promises a fortune.

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​As promised, here’s a glance at my abbreviated TBR pile:

• Lions and Liars, by Kate Beasley
• Zap!, by Martha Freeman
• Cardboard Kingdom, by Chad Sell
• Furthermore, by Tahereh Mafi

Well, that’s all for this month. Happy writing (and reading) and have a magical (and safe) month! ​​

Bryan Patrick Avery

At the ripe old age of 7, Bryan Patrick Avery discovered his destiny after receiving a children’s magic set and his first Bobbsey Twins Mystery book. A published poet and author, Bryan is African American, a member of SCBWI, and the Society of American Magicians. His short mysteries, poems, and essays have been published in the Buffalo Soldier Newspaper, The Case Online, The National Examiner and other publications He delights in making mysterious stories appear out of thin air. Bryan also blogs at the Children’s Book Academy and is being mentored by Dr. Mira Reisberg. @bryanpatrickavery