Kid-Lit for Middle Graders

Looking for a great book for a young reader this holiday season? National Public Radio’s Backseat Book Club recently randomly polled some librarians and booksellers on this year’s best “middle-grade” fiction (The Year's Outstanding "Backseat" Reads, for Ages 9 to 14, Dec. 10, 2012). Here are a few of their top choices:

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Starry River of the Sky by Grace Lin

Liar & Spy by Rebecca Stead

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

The Great Unexpected by Sharon Creech