To keep my annual reading goals low pressure and focused on fun, I’ve adopted a scaling system to track my progress. I set my Goodread’s Reading Challenge to 10 books at the start of the year, and when that’s accomplished, increase the goal by an additional 10.
Upon reaching each new milestone, I’ll mark the occasion with a fresh list of books I’m looking forward to reading soon.
In Myrtle Peril by Elizabeth C. Bunce
I’ve been eyeing the next Myrtle Hardcastle mystery since it arrived on our doorstep upon its release date. I don’t know whether to credit my packed schedule or the fact that I’ll be waiting on the publishing schedule for a new volume for delaying what is sure to be an excellent read.
The Next Great Paulie Fink by Ali Benjamin
This is one of those books that catches my eye whenever I see it but I’ve never been in a position to pick it up. This year I’m determined not to let The Next Great Paulie Fink disappear into the shuffle.
To Night Owl From Dogfish by Holly Goldberg Sloan & Meg Wolitzer
Having read one other title by Holly Goldberg Sloan and seeing a lot of praise surrounding this camp-based story about two total opposites navigating their newly formed sisterhood, I have good feelings that this book is just the book to pluck at my heartstrings.
Midnight at the Barclay Hotel by Fleur Bradley
I’m always hunting around for a spooky but still funny story that hits the Scooby-Doo shaped hole in my heart. Midnight at the Barclay Hotel has been recommended so many times in Middle Grade reading spheres that I’ve gotten my hopes up that this will be just the trick!
Surviving the Applewhites by Stephanie S. Tolan
I’ve always liked stories about atypical families and after really enjoying Operation Sisterhood by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich I’m craving more quirky family-centric stories. This one about a trouble-making foster kid thrown into the midst of eccentric artists sounds like an excellent follow up read.
Furthermore by Tahereh Mafi
My friend recommended Furthermore absolutely ages ago because I am notoriously a lover of colorful things… and I’m sorry to say I never did more than admire the cover. It recently showed up on my feed and felt like the perfect sign that it needed to be near the top of this year’s To-Read stack.
Karma Moon: Ghost Hunter by Melissa Savage
This family-oriented TV ghost-hunting maybe-paranormal adventure sounds like just my kind of adventure!
Mascot by Antony John
I’m not usually looking for sports-centric stories, but this one is about a kid finding creative ways to stay involved in his passion for baseball after being involved in a disabling car accident, which isn’t something I’ve come across yet in my disability rep reading pile.
Stars So Sweet by Tara Dairman
I believe Stars So Sweet is the final book in the All Four Stars set, and since the previous book left off on a teensy bit of a cliffhanger, I’ll be excited to hop back in and see how things turn out for our young food critic.
Enemies by Svetlana Chmakova
It’s really exciting for me to see another volume added to the Berrybrook Middle School series! The rest of the series is so thoughtful and sweet in handling emotionally-charged subjects that everyday kids might face, so I trust this will be a stellar addition to the set.
Are any of these reads on your 2023 TBR?
- Share what books you’re excited to read in the comments below!
- Recommend a book you think I’d like based on this round of selections.
- Have a Middle Grade book coming out soon? Send me an ARC review request via my contact page.
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Elza Kinde 