Mo Farah, the Boy Who Ran to Be Free by Seema Yasmin

Mo Farah, the Boy Who Ran to Be Free by Dr. Seema Yasmin, illustrated by Noha Habaieb

Publisher:  Salaam Reads and Simon&Schuster
Published:  September 29th, 2026
Format Read:  Paperback
Number of pages:   85 pages
Source: Publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Opening Lines:  "This book tells the story of Olympic Champion Mo Farah."

Hussein Abdi Kahin was born in Somaliland.  When he was four years old, war broke out in his country.  To protect him and his brother, their mother sent the boys to live with family in Djibouti.  At the age of nine, a mysterious woman appeared and offered to take the brothers to Europe.  At first, the brothers were excited by the prospect of playing sports there, but when only Hussein was taken and given a new name, Mo Farah began to worry.

Unbeknownst to Mo, he had been trafficked.  He was forced into a life of servitude by the woman who took him.  He was not allowed to leave her apartment and was expected to perform all the housework while caring for her children.  For four years, he endured this life until the woman finally allowed him to attend school on the condition that he never reveal his true identity.  Born with dyslexia, Mo struggled academically, but his passion for running kept him going.  Eventually, he confided in his coach, and when he became an adult, the truth about his trafficking ordeal was revealed.  

Mo Farah, the Boy Who Ran to Be Free is the second book in the Muslim Mavericks chapter book series.  Written with a lyrical quality, it vividly captures Mo's childhood, his struggles in school, and his remarkable journey to becoming an Olympic gold medalist.  It is an inspiring and uplifting story about a young boy who overcame tremendous obstacles, achieved his dream of winning Olympic gold medals, and was eventually reunited with his birth mother and twin brother.

Mo showed incredible bravery in coming forward with his story and remarkable resilience in pursing his dream of competing in the Olympics.  The author's note explains how Mo Farah received his name and why he did not feel safe in revealing his true identity for many years.  It also describes how he was forced to live under a false story for most of his life.  The author notes that the book is based on public interviews, documentaries and news reports.  She also explains that while the events are rooted in documented facts, some scenes reflect what Mo "may have been thinking or feeling at the time" and are therefore interpretations rather than firsthand accounts.  The black and white illustrations by Noha Habaieb complement the text and children who enjoy sports-themed books are likely to find this an engaging and inspiring read.

I hope you'll check out all the other Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday posts at Greg Pattridge's blog HERE  

My Wonderful Disgrace by Angourie Rice and Kate Rice

My Wonderful Disgrace by Angourie Rice and Kate Rice
Publisher:  Candlewick Press
Published:  May 12th, 2026
Format Read:  Hardcover  
Number of pages:   224 pages
Source: Publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Opening Lines:  "So. The ball is five days away, which is either a long time or no time at all, depending on how ready you are."

From Goodreads:  "Amy Middleton isn’t in love with Leo Prince. Not yet. The Senior Year Ball is days away, and he still hasn’t agreed to be her date. But Amy can imagine it all in advance: a night of supreme perfection. She’ll bask in the spotlight in her silver stilettos and designer dress—rose quartz fabric, mermaid skirt, illusion bodice with beaded lace—and when the music starts, Leo will lead her onto the dance floor and into their shining adult lives. 

When he finally says yes, success seems assured, and the night belongs to Amy, arriving on Leo’s tuxedoed arm as planned. But with the buzz of an unexpected text, nothing that happens next will be as it seems—least of all Amy’s carefully choreographed love story."

My Wonderful Disgrace is the second novel from mother-daughter writing duo Angourie and Kate Rice.  The story unfolds through an anonymous letter, text messages between Amy and her friends, student group chats, school newsletters and announcements, police interviews, and Amy's journal entries.  As the story progresses, the events of that disastrous night are slowly revealed.  At first, I wasn't sure I would enjoy a story told via the journal, texts and other snippets of information, but the authors completely drew me in.  The format feels authentic and surprisingly immersive, allowing the mystery to unfold piece by piece.       

Throughout the story, I really felt for Amy.  She finally works up the courage to approach her crush, Leo, and invite him to her party.  When he agrees to take her to the school ball, everything seemed to fall into place.  Unfortunately, from that moment on, just about everything that can go wrong does.  All of Amy's preparations from choosing the perfect dress, styling her hair just right to practicing walking in her new heels seems to be for nothing. 

While I'm never a fan of bullying, and it is painful to witness some of the things Amy experiences, the story tackles its difficult topics with honesty.  There is a lot happening within these pages.  The high school drama, the devastating consequences of the inappropriate photo sharing, themes of privacy, misunderstandings between friends, a student protest that then involves the tragic death of a goat, and an all-around chaotic night that spirals out of control.  Despite all the drama, the novel offers a thoughtful look at the unrealistic expectations often placed on attending this special events. 

Venus Washington Paperback Collected Set: Venus Washington and the Lasagna Drama; Venus Washington and the Birthday Blowout; Venus Washington, Eye Spy

 Venus Washington Paperback Collected Set: Venus Washington and the Lasagna Drama; Venus Washington and the Birthday Blowout; Venus Washington, Eye Spy by Maisha Oso, illustrated by Courtney Lovett 
Publisher:  Atheneum Books for Young Readers 
Published:  September 22nd, 2026
Format Read:  Paperback
Number of pages:   304 pages
Source: Publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Venus wants to learn the secret behind her grandma's delicious lasagna recipe so she can help her mama, who has been busy caring for Venus's new baby brother, Zion.  But when the lasagna is ready, grandpa lets it slip that "your grandma put her foot in this lasagna."  Venus takes the expression literally and becomes convinced that the special ingredient must be one of her grandma's toes. 

Horrified by the thought of eating lasagna made with crusty feet, Venus asks her best friend Summer, her worst enemy Winter (who also happens to be Summer's twin), and even her pet hamster to help track down grandma's missing toe.  

  

 Venus's baby brother, Zion, is about to celebrate his first birthday.  Mama and Daddy tell Venus she can help with the decorations, but she interprets that to mean she's in charge of planning the entire party.  Soon she has a long list of ideas, including inviting all of her classmates and their pets, just no parents.  She also decides that every guest should bring a Barbie as a gift and pay an admission fee.  After all, she wants to help daddy save money, so he won't have to "lose an arm and a leg" paying for the party. 

  Venus Washington isn't sure where she got her name.  She was born on Earth and has never even been to Washington.  Then mama tells her that they are going on a special "girl's trip" together. Mama wants the destination to remain a surprise, but daddy accidently let's slip that it has something to do with Venus's name.  Naturally, Venus takes this as proof that she must be part alien.  After all, Daddy is always saying that mama has eyes in the back of her head.  Doesn't that make them both aliens?  Now Venus is determined to uncover the truth, especially when her friends challenge her to prove that mama has an extra set of eyes.    

This three-part paperback collection is super cute.  It's been described as Amelia Bedelia meets Junie B Jones and Dory Fantasmagory.  In each story, Venus takes common expressions literally, leading to a series of hilarious misunderstandings.  Whether she's trying to figure out what it means to be as "hungry as a horse" to the concept of a "spelling bee,"  Venus's conclusions are both well intentioned and funny.

  

Venus turns to her best friend Summer and Summer's twin sister, Winter, for help interpreting the confusing things that adults say.  Their efforts only add to the humor.   Filled with laugh-out-loud moments, this collection is sure to appeal to young readers who enjoy wordplay and silly misunderstandings.  The charming black-and-white illustrations are sprinkled throughout and complement the text beautifully.  

Paper Bag Mask by Brock Heasley

Paper Bag Mask by Brock Heasley
Publisher:  Th3rd World Studios
Publishing:  November 17th, 2026
Format Read:  Paperback  
Number of pages:   326 pages
Source: Publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Opening Lines:  "At the end of his sixth hour waiting in line, Redmond hung his head in utter frustration, starred at the cold, unfeeling checkout counter, and insisted one more time:  He'd paid for the game system months ago and he was not--under any circumstances--leaving without it."

Redmond has been waiting for three years for Castle Destiny 4's release, and he even stayed up all night playing it.  Therefore, it was no surprise that he could barely keep his eyes open during AP History.  He only half heard Mr. Street when he mentioned the final that would count for 50% of their grade, or the jokes he made about Elodia to the class.   The moment the bell rings, Redmond is ready to hightail it home for another round of game play. 

Unfortunately, his history book slips from his hands and skids under a desk.  There's no way he can leave it behind because of their quiz tomorrow.  As he gets on all fours and scavenges the floor, he spies Mr. Street and Jasmine having a conversation.  When he sees them exchange small baggies, Redmond becomes convinced he has witnessed an illegal drug deal.  Filled with anger and suspicion, Redmond spots Mr. Streets prize possession, the Whomper, sitting on the lectern and impulsively he steals it.

Redmond soon learns that the hottest and most popular girl in school witnessed his theft and even has the photographic evidence.  She proposes that Redmond and his friend's team up with hers to hold the Whomper for ransom.  Before long, the students are plotting an even bigger heist while trying to expose Mr. Street to the entire school.  

This story has definite Ocean's Eleven meets The Breakfast Club vibes.  A group of students from different social circles come together to outsmart their history teacher.  There are the familiar cliques of jocks, popular kids and academic achievers, along with a shared determination to uncover what they believe is the truth about Mr. Street.  One of my favorite parts is the ransom video the students create, complete with the outlandish threats of what they will do to the Whomper if Mr. Street doesn't meet their demands.  The accompanying illustrations depicting the scenes from the video were a highlight of the book for me.  I couldn't help laughing with each new thing they came up with.  Their escalating schemes, however, make it increasingly likely that they'll get caught. 

Redmond is an interesting protagonist.  He genuinely believes that he is doing the right thing by exposing Mr. Street, yet he is also confused about what compelled him to steal the Whomper in the first place.  He jumps to conclusions and gets swept up in the attention that comes with his growing notoriety.  Like The Breakfast Club, the story raises questions about friendship and belonging.  Will this band of misfits still hang out after their prank is over?   It really captures the pressures of high school and the desire to find your crowd. 

Redmond's closest friends are Deep Singh and Alice.  I especially enjoyed Alice's character.  She is very loyal and always tries to look out for her friend's best interest, even when they disagree.  Elodia is equally loyal.  Although she's popular, she doesn't let it define her.   Her friendship with Jasmine is especially important to her and she is willing to support her however she can.  The story occasionally shifts to Alice's and Elodia's perspectives, revealing additional layers to their motivations.  Finally, I really enjoyed the footnotes from our unreliable narrator, which added levity to the story.  Paper Bag Mask is a reimagining of a prank that Brock Heasley and his friends pulled when they were in high school.  It's a delightful story that highlights the importance of forgiveness, taking responsibility for our actions and making amends when we've done something wrong. 

The Tiny Thing by Ellen Tarlow and Lauren Stringer

The Tiny Thing by Ellen Tarlow and Lauren Stringer 
Publisher: Beach Lane Books/Simon & Schuster
Publishing:  October 7th, 2026
Format Read:  Hardcover
Number of pages:   40 pages
Source:  Publisher in exchange for an honest review
Opening Line:  "One day, Mole was out walking when he saw a tiny thing."

While out on an autumn walk, Mole discovers a "tiny thing, " or a seed from a dandelion.  He brings the seed home and decorates it with some cloth and paint.  Each day as he goes about his routine, Mole talks, sings, tells stories and confides in his special guest.  When spring finally arrives, Mole takes his friend outside to explore.  Mole begins to build constructions out of flowers, sticks, leaves and flowers.  Each day as he works on something new, more and more animals come to watch.  Soon Mole is telling stories and singing songs to everyone's delight. 

Anyone who has ever made a wish by blowing on a dandelion and watching its feathery seeds dance away on the breeze will delight in reading The Tiny Thing.  With its gentle whimsy and bright, colorful illustrations the story celebrates the wonder than can be found in the smallest of things.  A truly warm and uplifting story of a Mole who with a little courage and a touch of imagination makes new friends. 

Socks & Secret Quests by Triona Murphy, illustrations by James Firnhaber

Socks & Secret Quests by Triona Murphy, illustrations by James Firnhaber
Publisher:  Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Publishing:  September 29th, 2026
Format Read:  Paperback  
Number of pages:   272 pages
Source: Publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Opening Lines:  "On days when Peri was being truly honest with herself, she had to admit that being apprenticed to the fabled and mystical shopkeepers wasn't quite as she'd imagined."

Peri and master shopkeeper Hema live in a wandering shop that travels around the kingdom of Genta, outfitting adventurers so that they can succeed on their quests.  Peri is the first person in more than thirty years to be chosen as an apprentice shopkeeper after the Stone of Power indicates that her magic lies in that path.  What she truly wants, though, is to follow in her sibling's footsteps and develop magic for something extraordinary.  Unfortunately, she's still waiting for her abilities to appear.  So far, the only skill she's manifested is the uncanny ability to knit at a remarkable speed.  

Everything changes when a dark wizard appears in the shop, abducts Hema, and plans to use her magic to equip his army and the dark creatures under his control.  Terrified for Hema's safety, Peri rushes after a trio of adventures who were recently in the shop gathering supplies.  She hopes they'll agree to take on a new quest, one that will rescue Hema and stop the wizard before he can put his plans into action. 

Peri is deeply uncertain about what she can contribute to the adventurer's quest.  Does she have shop magic or is her rapid knitting ability a form of wizard's magic?  Her confidence wavers and she worries about what all of this means for her future.  Being outside of the comfort of the wandering shop also presents huge challenges for her. 

The trio of adventurers have their own struggles.  They don't work together harmoniously, and trust is in short supply.  The archer doesn't want to kill anything, the wizard can't fully control their magic, and the leader tries to manage the entire crew and quest without listening to anyone's advice or directions.  

Socks & Secret Quests is packed with action and carries a delightful blend of Howl's Moving Castle and Dungeons & Dragons style fantasy.   James Firnhaber's illustrations are superb and add to the story.  I especially loved that Peri's magic stems from her knitting and the authors inclusion of the pattern instructions for knitting Niam's hat was a very nice touch.  And really, who doesn't love a magic shop that roams around the kingdom, equipping adventures with exactly the enchanted items to suit their skills?  While this could be read as a standalone, I'm hoping there will be more books in the series.   

True Crime Files: Heist at the Museum! by Sam Subity

True Crime Files:  Heist at the Museum! by Sam Subity, illustrated by YaoYao Ma Van As
Publisher:  Sourcebooks Explorer
Publishing:  October 6th, 2026
Format Read:  E-book via NetGalley
Number of pages:   128 pages
Source: Publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Opening Lines: "Charlie O'Neill crept through the dark fourth flo0r of the silent museum."

Ever since Charlie’s mom passed away, he and his younger sister Julie have been spending their afternoons at their father’s work. He’s a gemologist at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, and to the kids, the museum feels like a giant playground. They wander the halls, explore the exhibits, and have even turned hide‑and‑seek into a regular tradition.

One day, while hiding from his sister, Charlie overhears a cryptic conversation between two men. He’s convinced they’re planning to steal something from the museum that very night. He reports what he heard to Mr. Hoffman, a security guard, who passes the information along to the head of security. But no one seems to take Charlie seriously, not even Charlie's father. Determined to impress his father, and to protect the museum, Charlie decides to investigate on his own. He’s especially worried about the Star of India, the largest sapphire in the collection.

Meanwhile, Jack Murphy, better known as Murf the Surf, is finalizing the heist plan with his crew. Charlie sneaks back into the museum that night and actually witnesses the thieves entering. He manages to slip a matchbook out of one thief’s pocket and even spots their elaborate escape route through a window. In the adrenaline of the moment, Charlie tries to follow them but can’t rappel down to the ground. Murf ends up saving him. When the police later arrive, Charlie shares everything he saw. His information helps lead to the thieves’ capture, and most of the stolen jewels are eventually recovered.

Heist at the Museum is a creative retelling of an actual jewel theft that took place in 1964.  I loved that the story is told through Charlie, it made the adventure and mystery exciting.  The Appendix is a great addition.  It shares what happened to the thieves and the stolen jewels, highlights other museums that have faced similar heists, and includes a snapshot of major events from 1964, like the World's Fair and NASA milestones.  This would pair wonderfully with Dan Gutman's The Picasso Curse, both books play into art museum thefts, and I can see this being something young readers would enjoy reading.  

I hope you'll check out all the other Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday posts at Greg Pattridge's blog HERE