Middle Grade Must Reads – July 2025 (Part One)

Cruise Ship Kid, Thief At Sea!

• Written by Emma Swan
• Illustrated by Katie Saunders
• Published by Usborne

I was lucky enough to have been able to view the Usborne showcase a few weeks ago and this was one book that was really  interesting, so I was delighted when this book popped through my door.

There’s 4 things you should know about me:
1. I live on a cruise ship
2. My name is Silver. Yes, really
3. I’ve never had a best friend my own age 😦
4. I’m definitely not a detective

Somehow, though, I’m now investigating the CASE OF THE MISSING MEGA-EXPENSIVE WATCHES. But, I’ve got a plan. If I can solve the crime, then surely the kids on board will want to be friends with me. Right?

I’ve had lots of help (interference) from the Gang, but I won’t tell you about them because they are all over 80 and prefer playing bingo to solving crimes.

So, do you want to be definitely-not-a-detective too and help me catch the thief at sea?

I had never given any thought to what it would be like to live aboard a cruise ship, especially being a child. After thinking about it I thought it would probably be quite lonely. And this is the case for main character Silver, who’s friends are all over 80. Silver is a fabulous main character who creates disaster and fun wherever she goes.

Told in a diary format we follow Silver as she tries making friends, staying loyal to the elderly friends  and trying to solve the mystery over the missing watches. Filled with doodles throughout the book this book is going to be loved by all children both young and old. There are sections for the reader to fill out. And over the course of the book we learn that it’s ok to be ourselves and we don’t need to change ourselves for anyone.

This is the first book in a new series that will have you laughing out loud. I can’t wait for the next book.

The Cursed Tomb

• Written by Iszi Lawrence
• Published by Bloomsbury

I really like anything written by Iszi Lawrence, and I couldn’t wait to start this book.

It’s 1249 BCE in ancient Egypt and eleven-year-old Henut is sceptical of just about everything, even the gods. But a mysterious break-in, an unsettling dream and a strangely familiar shadowy figure lead her into a dangerous quest she could never have imagined. Will she really venture into a tomb in the Valley of Kings? She might not have a choice…

This is a great read, the thing I like about Iszi Lawrence is that everything she writes children will get a history lesson, everything she writes is so rich in history.

This book looks at ancient Egypt, and as most schools- mine included this is going to be perfect for a class read for those studying Egypt. This is full of interesting facts that will leave children wanting to learn more.

Packed with real historical details of the rule of Pharaoh Rameses II, mummification, hieroglyphs, historical figures and the pyramids of Giza, this page-turning thriller about the myths and magic of ancient Egypt will have readers gripped.

The House at the Edge of the World

• Written by Nadine Aisha Jassat
• Published by Hachette

I love this author, whatever she writes it’s an exciting read. And this book is just the same. This is a book full of diverse characters that are feisty, gentle and believable. And every character is needed in this book, especially the baddies. Even the character of the house is important in this story.

The main character Amal is the narrator of the story and it’s a great way to see the world through her eyes.

She is an interesting character who openly suffers from anxiety which affects her confidence and it was interesting to see how she copes with this on a daily basis. 

This is written in verse with some humour scattered throughout the book. The main theme of this book is hope and believing in yourself.

Jassat is a must-read children’s writer and I cannot recommend The House at the Edge of the World highly enough.

Written by Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick 

Published by Faber on 31st July

I was hooked the second I picked this book up and I was so disappointed when I had finished it-  lucky it’s the first in a new series – I just hope book 2 won’t be so long in coming. 

Discover a magical island where the houses grant your wishes and the alleyways are secret portals . . 

When Dilly arrives on the island of Ollipest, she is unsure what to expect from her new life . . . She certainly doesn’t expect to find magic!

Until now, the magic of Ollipest Island has been a well-kept secret. Then the Museum of Lost Umbrellas opens after many years of closure . . .

And when the museum attracts some unsavoury anti-magic outsiders, Dilly must unlock her ancestral powers to help keep the island safe.

A dazzling, epic adventure where witches fly with umbrellas, magical dogs walk out of the sea and pet parrots suddenly become humans. This will keep readers on their edge of the seats and leave them desperate for the next instalment.

Everything about this book is perfect, the characters, the plot, the setting, everything.

The plot is very well thought out and I am desperate to visit Ollipest. I loved the house  and I really wish that there is such a thing as a magic library.

The characters are real and believable. The story does have a moral being that you don’t have to be related by blood to be a family and you need to get to know a person before judging them.

The story will keep you wanting more.

This is definitely in my top 5 of 2025.