Capture Your Tween's Imagination With These Two Middle Grades Adventure Novels

by MK French

We are in the throes of the dog days of summer when kids may be bored with the regular schedule of summer time activities. Surprise them with a new book or two to keep them entertained until the new school year begins. 

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Clara Poole and the Long Way Round by Taylor Tyng

July 2024; Pixel+Ink; 978-1645951599
ebook, print (384 pages); MG adventure

Clara Poole is invited to be the spokesperson for an adventure race after an unintended flight over Michigan. Her father won't allow it, so Clara forges his signature and runs away to Paris. She's paired with a veteran disinterested in working with her, and there are ten treacherous stages in a race around the world. In addition to the dangers and adventure of the trip, someone is trying to sabotage the competition.

The unintended flight was a science experiment at school involving balloons tied to a chair that got loose when Clara extended her tether too far and she pulled out the connecting pin. She liked being alone and didn't mean to upset her family, though she felt like her father blamed her for everything. She'd always been a daredevil, climbing all over everything until a tragic accident befell the family. This same streak drew the attention of WOOBA, the organization that set up the race. They were in dire need of funding and hoped Clara's notoriety could bring it in. With her father wanting to move, Clara joined the race to avoid this plan and regretted it very quickly. Training was full of odd characters and veiled threats, then the race itself began.

The ridiculousness of the racers and the instructors will give kids lots of laughs, but there is an undercurrent of stress and strain because of it as well. The race is dangerous and there is a saboteur, leading to accidents, ruined balloons, and competitors that openly hate each other. Clara is determined not only to win but to prove that one of the aeronauts is a cheater. Throughout the race, she pulls away from her father and gets closer to her pilot, and we learn about the history of the race, the contestants, and the crazy antics involved. She makes friends with other children participating, and both she and her father realize there's more to life than hiding. This is a fun chapter book for middle graders, and will no doubt capture their imaginations.

Buy Clara Poole and the Long Way Round at Amazon

Clara Poole and the Wrong Way Up by Taylor Tyng

July 2024; Pixel+Ink; 978-1645951629
ebook, print (368 pages); MG adventure

After winning the Air Race, Clara Poole received a summer of negative publicity. She isn't sure she belongs at Air Academy, and there are several conditions to her acceptance. Accidents occur on campus that put her and her friends in danger, and then the headmaster goes missing. The Academy is now under the strict control of the Assistant Head of School, Cyprian Hunt. Trouble might be impossible to avoid now.

It's not necessary to have read the first book, but it helps to understand what happened in it. That's where you meet Clara's friends from the race, and understand why people online would make underhanded comments about Clara's flight abilities. From the start, the Air Academy isn't what you would expect, and the difficulty finding the proper location and wandering around the train station in chapter one reminded me of Platform 9 3/4. Once in the air, Clara finds out she's actually an alternate student, only allowed to participate if another drops out or gets injured. There's actually a very high injury rate to start with, and now there are challenges to determine who is actually accepted into the school on a permanent basis, even as they start learning. Accidents, jealousy, rivalries, and new friendships develop.

Kids will understand the pain of bullying, losing close friends, and teachers playing favorites. Clara goes through all this with her remaining friends, and she has another elder who serves as a role model for her. Just as in the first book, one of the adults involved is a dour stickler for old-fashioned rules. She goes through loss outside of the struggles within the school and tries her best to stick up for what she thinks is right. Even when adults all around her try to mask the truth for their own ends, Clara insists on what is real and fair at all times. It's a good message and will show kids that persevering will eventually bring rewards.

Buy Clara Poole and the Wrong Way Up at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever.

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