Hello, Friday Fiction friends! You all know I love reading and am always checking out different genres, authors, and literary styles. But much of my heart is lost in middle-grade and young-adult books. Though I’m not young at all, lol, I feel like a child at heart most of the time.

So, when my fourth-grade grandson showed me the two books he’ll be reading this year in school, I had to read them first. Here is more about Because of Winn-Dixie and The One and Only Ivan.

Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

One summer’s day, ten-year-old India Opal Buloni goes down to the local supermarket for some groceries—and comes home with a dog. But Winn-Dixie is no ordinary dog. It’s because of Winn-Dixie that Opal begins to make friends. And it’s because of Winn-Dixie that she finally dares to ask her father about her mother, who left when Opal was three. In fact, as Opal admits, just about everything that happens that summer is because of Winn-Dixie. This updated edition of Kate DiCamillo’s classic novel invites readers to make themselves at home—whether they’re experiencing the book for the first time or returning to an old favorite.

I’ve heard of this book and the movie but really had no idea what it was about. But when I saw the book was written by Kate DiCamillo, my favorite middle-grade author, I buried myself in it at once. What a treasure! And to think Because of Winn-Dixie was her first book. Her style, the way she becomes the children or animals she writes about captures my heart every time. And though she tends to bring up difficult subject matter, she does it in such a way that is healing, not traumatic. The relationship between the dog, the child, and the father enchanted me. And the way Winn-Dixie drew in the neighborhood–you and any children you know won’t want to miss this one.

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

Having spent twenty-seven years behind the glass walls of his enclosure in a shopping mall, Ivan has grown accustomed to humans watching him. He hardly ever thinks about his life in the jungle. Instead, Ivan occupies himself with television, his friends Stella and Bob, and painting. But when he meets Ruby, a baby elephant taken from the wild, he is forced to see their home, and his art, through new eyes.

In the tradition of timeless stories like Charlotte’s Web and Stuart Little, Katherine Applegate blends humor and poignancy to create an unforgettable story of friendship, art, and hope.

I had a little harder time getting into this book because the beginning is steeped in sadness but once again, the book was well worth my time. The story of Ivan, Bob, Stella, and Ruby takes four very different characters and personalities and shows how we can truly love each other despite the differences. Though there are parts of the story filled with sorrow, the overall story is upbeat and I absolutely loved the ending. Another winner that you and the children you know will want to read.

One thing I didn’t mention is that middle-grade books are usually a quick read. I’m amazed at the way many middle-grade authors can implant a message of hope and courage in so short of a book. Try these two out. I believe you’ll awaken the child within…

Click to tweet: Friday Fiction: Two Newberry Award-Winning Middle-Grade Books. Because of Winn-Dixie and The One and Only Ivan. Much of my heart is lost in middle-grade and young-adult books. #kidsbooks #FridayReads