Non Hughes

Hello! I meant to post a lot this year, but depression and anemia did a pincer movement and caught me out! So let’s look back at what I read in 2024!

I read 8 middle-grade novels this year (so far), so let’s go through them! (No Spoilers.)

Nura and the Immortal Palace by M.T. Khan (2022)

In January, I was looking for middle-grade novels based on the mythology of countries not in Western Europe. Picked up Nura and the Immortal Palace, a novel based on Muslim culture and tradition, set in Pakistan. 10 months later, it is still the best book I read this year. The world is original and engaging, vividly brought to life through specific and colourful descriptions. Word choice is 10/10 throughout.

The main character is deeply flawed, but she’s so bold in her actions that she’s immensely likeable and her actions drive the plot in meaningful ways at every turn. The book is so well structured that I use it as reference for almost every aspect of the writing craft! I enjoyed both rooting for Nura and facepalming when she acted unknowingly against her own interests, and the climactic sequence was especially great. I really felt the stakes and was crossing my fingers for the characters.

Good Different by Meg Eden Kuyatt (2024)

I LOVE novels in prose. Cloud Busting by Malorie Blackman is one of my all-time favourites, so when I saw Good Different pop up, I was all over it. Brought it home and read it in one sitting, then sent a copy to a friend so that she could read it too.

It is a lovely, heartfelt prose novel about an autistic girl who has held in her discomfort for too long, and finally explodes. There is a great supporting cast, though not all are supportive of our girl, and their attitudes and beliefs about autism and accommodations were diverse and multi-dimensional. The prose is enjoyable and easy to read, and so very relatable.

Amir and the Jinn Princess by M.T. Khan (2024)

I was super ecstatic to see that this book was coming out after I’d read Nura and the Immortal Palace. I was so excited that I pre-ordered it and read it the very day it was released. Another well paced book with heart and originality. Coming back to further explore the world of jinn was awesome, especially since Amir sees a side to their society that Nura didn’t, so it felt familiar but fresh at the same time.

As with M.T. Khan’s first book, Amir is another flawed character who was very engaging. I didn’t find him quite as fun as Nura because he was a little shy, but his quest was noble and he tried really hard to succeed, so I supported him wholeheartedly. I loved the contrast between him and the secondary character, and how long it took him to realise his privilege, despite seeing it face to face through the entire book. All the threads of the plot pull together beautifully up to the climactic sequence. My only complaint is that the final resolution felt a bit deus-ex and didn’t feel like it was earned by the hard work the characters put in for 300 pages. Super excited for the third installment whenever that comes out!

Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell

I think this is top of almost everyone’s list for the year, and indeed is an awesome, beautiful, heartwarming, heartbreaking, funny and engaging book. I did like Nura and the Immortal Palace better, but if we’re talking this year’s new releases, then this is my favourite for sure. I have read all of Rundell’s works, so was super hyped for this one, and it didn’t let me down.

The characters were the real strength of this book–and I’m counting the world as a character, because it was so fully realised and had a life of its own–with visually and emotionally striking protagonists and supporting characters. The villain was creepy and great, and I cried at least twice. If you have read the book, you know where I’m talking about!

In the Shadow of the Wolf Queen by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

A 2023 release, this is the first book in the Geomancer series, and it definitely feels like the first in a series upon reading. I’m quite glad I read it this year, as the second book just came out and I am itching to find out how the plot resolves! (It’s arriving in the post tomorrow.)

I definitely have a type when it comes to books, because this is yet another heartfelt read with a flawed character and a well paced plot. The descriptions and characters are what really set it apart for me – I was genuinely creeped out by some, afraid of some and felt the warmth of some. Their introductions were all wonderfully handled, and I loved the depth of them as we saw peeks of their real selves hidden behind fearsome reputations.

Again, my only gripe is the ending – some of the revelations felt like they wasted the protagonist’s journey and diminished her efforts, and the main plot doesn’t resolve satisfactorily. Clearly this is a great tactic though, because I pre-ordered the sequel so that I could find out what happens next!

Honourable Mentions

Some other middle-grade books I read this year, which I enjoyed but would probably not buy copies of to gift my nephews and nieces:

• Power of Three by Diana Wynne Jones – I read this as a kid and it was (and is) a firm favourite, but you have to keep track of a lot of people, time-skips, place names etc, so I think it’s a hard one for today’s attention span.
• Dragon Song by Anne McCaffrey – as above, a wonderful book that I enjoyed greatly, but a bit slow paced for most of today’s readers (I don’t know if I would have finished it if it were paper, but I got into it while on a long drive in which I couldn’t turn it off).
• The River Thief by Hannah Peck – I was excited for this one because of the theme and magic of it, and honestly because of the hype (Waterstones Indie Children’s book of the month). It is a gem in terms of style, truly wonderful voice, but it was very slow to get going, partially because the author takes the time to fully explore the historical period, the lives and beliefs and troubles of the family and community. I think it’s an awesome, beautiful book, that I sadly skipped through quite a lot. xD

On my Reading List

The next books coming up on my Winter reading list:

• The Storm and the Sea Hawk by Kiran Millwood Hargrave – just insert it into my brain right now. I missed the postal delivery today and when I learnt it is being redelivered tomorrow, I very nearly got the audiobook so I could start reading it today.
• Mayowa and the Sea of Words by Chibundu Onuzo – this came out in June, but didn’t look like it’d be a good comp for my book so got bumped down the list, coming round to it now and super excited. I love books about books!
• Fox Goes North by Jeremy Strong – made for younger readers than my usual upper middle-grade preference, but it looks so heartwarming and is set to be a lovely Christmas read.
• Murder! By Narwhal! by Alex T. Smith – a whodunnit with great reviews. Also it has a sprayed edge with a narwhal on it, so I am legally obligated to get it.
• Midnight Treasure by Piers Torday – I looove this author. Binge read all of the Wild series in two weeks, and was back and forth to the library like a yo-yo. So I’m super excited for his latest book. I didn’t even read the blurb!
• Fia and the Last Snow Deer by Eilish Fisher and Dermot Flynn – prose novel set in prehistoric Finland? Sign me up!
• Witchspark by Dominique Valente – looks like the start of a really fun series, so I thought I’d give it a shot!

And some that I’m so excited for that I’ve pre-ordered them:

• Inkbound: Meticulous Jones and the Skull Tattoo by Philippa Leathley – about a girl who finds out that her fate is to kill someone. I love when darker themes are dealt with in children’s novels, so tapping my toes for this one.
• The Poisoned King by Katherine Rundell – sequel to Impossible Creatures, doesn’t have a blurb or a cover yet, I don’t care, I’ve pre-ordered it a year in advance!

Let me know if you have some middle-grade favourites from this year, or coming up next year.