This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.
Thanks to Disney-Hyperion for the review copy of the book and sponsoring this post.
When my kids were younger, they were good readers, and it was often hard to find a book that was at their reading level — as their teachers encouraged — that wasn’t so far above them in content that it didn’t click with them. I did a lot of reading, because I was involved in book blogging and specifically kidlit book blogging, but also because I wanted to be able to put great books in their hands.
I was a bookworm myself growing up, and reading books aimed at 8 – 12 year old kids, always takes me back. I enjoy reading young adult as well, but there is something special and magical and innocent about middle grade books that warm my heart.
So — here’s my recommendation to all of you moms and grandmas and aunts: If you want to really know what your child might be thinking, dip a toe into the realm of middle grade fiction. Read a book that you’ve seen mentioned or that is on the children’s bestseller list so you can see if it’s a good fit for a child in your life, or like Dawn recently did, read some books that your kid (or teen) loved, or pick out a book and read it out loud together. I have done that with my kids even into their teen years, and it’s a shared experience I treasure.
I think I enjoyed Click’d as much as I’ve enjoyed my last few adult reads.
Allie Navarro has spent the summer away from her best friends Emma, Zoe, and Maddie, but she spent that summer meeting new friends at the exclusive CodeGirls camp to which she was invited. They all spent the summer working on their own apps and games. Allie’s is called Click’d. She designed it as a fun app for people who love quizzes, and to help people find friends who are out there who share their interests — people who they might not otherwise meet without the app.
It’s a huge success, so much so, that her computer teacher enters her into a Games 4 Good contest. She’s one of the youngest contestants ever. She loses some of her excitement when she finds out that another guy from her computer class — Nathan, her nemesis — is also competing.
When she lets her friends at school test it, they can’t wait to share, so despite her worries that too many users might crash the system before the competition, she lets it go. The kids all over school are having a ball finding their top 10 friends with whom they’ve clicked as they appear on their leaderboard.
Of course, what Allie fears — happens. She has to figure out how to fix a glitch. And while almost everyone loves the app, a few people, including her good friend Emma, aren’t so charmed.
This is a great novel of friendship, talents, coding, and moral choices. I loved it, and highly recommend it for kids of all ages. The novel is set in middle school, and it will definitely appeal to kids of that age, but younger readers will enjoy it as well. There aren’t any mature topics that would be over the heads of kids as young as 3rd or 4th grade.
About the Book
New York Times best-selling author Tamara Ireland Stone combines friendship, coding, and lots of popcorn in her fun and empowering middle-grade debut.
Allie Navarro can’t wait to show her best friends the app she built at CodeGirls summer camp. Click’d pairs users based on common interests and sends them on a fun (and occasionally rule-breaking) scavenger hunt to find each other. And it’s a hit. By the second day of school, everyone is talking about Click’d.
Watching her app go viral is amazing. Leaderboards are filling up! Everyone’s making new friends. And with all the data Allie is collecting, she has an even better shot at beating her archenemy, Nathan, at the upcoming youth coding competition. But when Allie discovers a glitch that threatens to expose everyone’s secrets, she has to figure out how to make things right, even if that means sharing the computer lab with Nathan. Can Allie fix her app, stop it from doing any more damage, and win back the friends it hurt—all before she steps on stage to present Click’d to the judges?
About the Author — Tamara Ireland Stone is the author of Time and Time Again, a collection of her two novels Time Between Us and Time After Time, and the New York Times best seller Every Last Word. A Silicon Valley-native, she has worked in the technology industry all her life, first testing Atari game boards in her parents’ garage, and later, co-founding a woman-owned marketing strategy firm where she worked with some of the world’s largest software companies. She enjoys skiing, hiking,and spending time with her husband and two children. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.
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Trisha McKee says
When my daughter was that age, yes, we would get chapterbooks and take turns reading out loud.
stella methvin says
I read, they read and then I question to see if they understood it all. and we talk about it.
Tracie Cooper says
I love to read with my tween nieces on road trips!
Robin says
Yes, I read with my son every night before bed.
Michelle H. says
We read some of the same books and discuss them together.
DanV says
Yes, I read together with my middle grade children
Julie Hawkins says
Absolutely. We read together every night before bed.
Sarah L says
subscribe email: slehan at yahoo dot com
Sarah L says
No kids, but I read with my nephew.
Thanks for the contest.
Buddy Garrett says
Yes, we did.
allison says
Yes we all love reading here! Thanks so much for the chances to win.
S. Carter says
I do not have children of that age. My mom always read to me growing up and I think that instilled my love of reading for life.
Kristi Housman says
My daughter is grown, but we did read with her growing up. Not as much in middle school, but definitely in grade school.
krystal wethington says
Yes of course.
Courtney h says
Sometimes we will each read the same book
Sarah Mayer says
My son is a senior in college.. might be too young of books for him 🙂
Deanna says
Reading together seems to end once my kids leave elementary school. :O
Rosanne says
No I haven’t. My middle school granddaughter is a lot like me. She likes to go off by herself to read and regroup after being around everyone. I know she would love this book.
Tracey byram says
We will read at the same time in the same room but not necessarily read together.
Eileen Boyce says
Yes we read together.
elizabeth p says
I tried. Thanks for the chance.
Stephanie Liske says
I love to read with them. 🙂
Lisa says
I sometimes do read with my niece.
Rosalee Jacklin says
We love reading to each other! Ever since I was a little girl I couldn’t read something in my head & comprehend it. I ALWAYS had to read out loud. So my kids grew up listening to me read. (Age appropriate books of course) So they began reading out loud. And we decided it could be a learning experience every day. Its so much fun!
Erin M says
My son and I would take turns reading to each other.
Wendy Pesce says
we like to read together too- he is doing a book study and I like to read it too to make sure i understand it if he needs any helo
shawna says
Yes, we love to read together!
Jennifer H. says
No, not with my nephews but they would like this.
Lisa V. says
I think by middle grade my daughter read herself. But, I do read with my granddaughter.
LYN WILLIAMS says
Absolutely. Reading is a very important people of life. Kids who don’t feel comfortable reading usually will have self doubt, and I want my babies to be confident in everything they do.
Jade Walker says
We read together with her younger sister. The eleven year old loves to read to the five year old, and we alternate.
Brittany says
My mother did with me and my siblings and now we do it with my niece!
Jessica Whitehouse says
My middle child is in 5th grade- he doesn’t really like to read together because he reads faster on his own. His favorite series is the Wimpy Kid.
Ed says
Yes, reading is a must every evening before bed!
Kathy Pease says
Yes we always love reading hour
Denise Sachs says
No, my middle grade son reads on his own, but he likes telling me what he read about.
Dan Granville says
I read with my son several nights a week.
Kathy Hanley says
My daughter loves to read and always brings a book or her Kindle to the beach or on road trips and you can usually find us with our books at the beach or by the pool!
Jennifer Oppel says
my 2 year old is starting to show more interest in books and reading. I have started reading throughout the day and bedtime with him!
Daniel M says
not anymore
Erica B. says
We read everyday together!
Julie Waldron says
Mine are grown but I did a little bit.
DeAnna Keller says
Once in a while, we will read together.
Susan Christy says
We would read together, but not aloud.
Jillian Too says
We love to read together.
Darcy Koch says
We don’t read together as in reading the same book, but we do each read a book of our choice and sit quietly in the same room reading.
Zoey says
I don’t have any children in middle grade myself, but even as an adult, I still enjoy reading YA books.
Ashley says
I don’t have any children. But, I use to read with my Mom as a child.
Brandy Schwartz says
I try to read with my grandchildren whenever I get a chance.
Brittney House says
We read together every night before bed.
Seyma Shabbir says
Yes I have my sons read to me for 20 minutes a night!
Angel Heaps says
we do every night
Kristen says
No, he reads by himself.
Angela Saver says
Yes, we do read together with the middle school-aged kids. Thanks for the chance at this!
LeAnn Harbert says
Yes we read together sometimes.
Jerry Marquardt says
I read together with them as much as possible.
Denise B. says
I’m not sure what grades is in middle school; because there was no such thing when I when to school, and our children are homeschooled. However, we all have our own things to read. We usually go to the library once a week.
Jessica says
My oldest is 5 and we read together on a daily basis.
Terry says
Yes, I would read with my kids when they were growing up. As a former teacher, reading was an everyday event in our household.
cheryl s says
when my kids were younger, yes we would read together
Donna Clifford says
We read on the couch at the same time. Does that count?
susan smoaks says
we read together all the time. it’s nice for us to spend time reading together.
Deborah Caudill says
I used to read to my son even before he was born by putting headphones on my belly. I read to him all the way through middle school and he loves reading as much as I do. I don’t have any middle school aged children, but do read to some of the neighborhood children. I am waiting patiently for grandchildren to read to.
Abigail says
I have a younger reader but we read together before bed every night
Christopher Mason says
All the time.
Marina says
Yes we love to read together, especially before bed.
Kelly Dawson says
I don’t have children, but I love reading with my cousins!
Cindy says
No, our family does not read together.
Jeri Bergstrom says
We read aloud after dinner every evening.
Michelle C says
No, once my kids became proficient readers I didn’t really think about reading to or with them!
Ashley C says
My oldest is only in 1st grade but he loves reading with me.
demureprincess7(at)gmail(dot)com
Angie S says
We read all the time together. Usually take turns reading a page at a time each. It gives us both a chance to do character voices and goofy sounds and stuff.
Angela Thorpe says
Yes, every night!
Michelle Donovan says
My Daughter is very independent and loves to read. We would read next to each other but different books
Katherine Hahn says
My kids are all older now, but I did when they were younger.
TallulahJane says
Yes I have always read to my kids and with them…no matter the age.
Melissa Storms says
I read a lot of the books my middle grader reads so we can have conversations about them.
Jenette says
Reading is not my 9 year old daughter’s strongest skill so we read together a lot.
Paula Michele Hafner says
No. They’ve always preferred to read on their own by around 11 or 12.
Kathy Davis says
I have always read together with my children, grade school, middle school AND high school.
Linda Madden says
Yes, my granddaughter and I read together every night. It’s a special time for me!
Randi S says
Sometimes, but often he likes to read himself!
Laura Royal says
Yes, we have daily reading time and they love it.
Christy Peeples DuBois says
I read with both of my girls until they were old enough to read books on their own. I truly believe the level at which one reads directly results in what grades a person will make in school or in life. I know there are exceptions but in general I believe this.
Wendy R. says
I did read with my kids at all ages. Well, maybe not high school! My niece is now in middle school and her parents read with her for sure.
Anne Higgins says
We have read together and it is nice….
Peter G says
Live in Florida.
Nannypanpan says
I don’t but should
Tracy Shafer says
I sure have! All the time.
Lorena Keech says
No children, but my parents always read with us.
Sally Gearhart says
My youngest son loves when we read together but my 3 older kids like to read alone. Reading is one of our favorite things to do together.
sheila ressel says
I like to spend time reading with my niece.
McKim says
I did when my kids were that age.
Cynthia R says
Occasionally I like to read the same book as them and we can talk about it, especially if it’s a popular ya book. But we don’t read out loud to each other or anything like that.
elizabeth miller says
We do still read together in a sense. A lot of nights, my daughter will lay on the couch with her head on my lap and read. When she does, she often stops and reads the interesting parts to me and we often discuss it.
April says
Yep, we read all the time together!
Jay Jackson says
I read to them when they were younger.
Tina says
I have read to my children since before they could read. They both love to read now. But they still like to have me read to them. And i will admit, I enjoy reading to them.
molli taylor says
yes , of course i read with them! you are never too old for story time!
Amy Tolley says
I love to read as do my kids and grandsons
valerie says
yes me and my daughter love to read. my daughter is such a book worm
ELIZABETH C. says
Yes, My son is in middle school & we love to read together ! 🙂
nickie says
Yes, I read to my son
Ashley Turicik says
Me and my daughter just finished reading diary of a wimpy kid books one to seven together
Tabitha P. says
Sometimes we will read together before bed. I’ve been slacking lately though.
LAMusing says
I don’t have kids
Kristie says
We don’t read together as much as we used to.
Erika W. says
We have read to my son at night together for years. Currently we are reading the Percy Jackson series. We do a chapter a night.
sylvia says
my oldest is in pre-k; we do try to read as often as possible.
Chrissy says
My children aren’t quite in middle school yet but I currently read with my children all the time and I hope that they still love reading with me when they are in middle school!
Crystal F says
I do some when she needs help getting through a book quickly.
KENNETH OHL says
I must say I don’t have any middle school children only my little niece would is 7 years old
Cynthia C says
I read with my kids when they were that age. It was fun.
Sara Zielinski says
Yes we read together all the time.
paige chandler says
Yes We read together on the weekends, Special time
Julie Bickham says
My youngest just started middle school this year. She reads on her own but she comes to me when she can’t read a word then she’ll ask me what the word means.
Debbi Wellenstein says
By the time my kids were in the middle grades, we did not read together much.
Lasonda says
My granddaughter is not that age, but we read together a lot.
Julia Barnes says
I don’t have kids that age but if I did we would definitely read together.
Melissa says
i don’t have kids yet, but im looking forward to many kids. i love reading.
Audrey Stewart says
We read together all the time.
Ann Fantom says
My daughter liked to read by herself when she was in middle school
Ashley C says
Sometimes I make him read me his assigned school reading, just so I know it actually gets done.
Adrienne Gordon says
Yes, my daughter and I read together.
Sharon Rooney says
I do not read to my middle aged child but we do read together. We sometimes read the same book and it is really great to get their take on the book/story.
alice minx says
Yes.. not as much anymore.. I really miss that time
Tina W says
We read together at least three nights a week!
Deb P says
Yes in the pass, We did.
Julie says
I don’t read together often with my 7th grader, but last year we did read aloud some of a book he was reading for school. I never found out how it ended! 🙁
Laurie Nykaza says
Love to read books with them I did when they were in middle school too.
Rachel says
My children are not in middle school but we do read with them.
Jen R says
No, I hate to say that I do not read aloud with my middle grade children.
Harold says
Yes, we do all the time!
Susan Smith says
Yes she and I read together occasionally..
Linda Lansford says
never read to him
Will G says
I do not have any middle grade children.
Steve Weber says
I do not have kids, but I do read with my nieces and nephews.
Janet Woodling says
My children are grown but as youngsters we spent hours reading together.
Elle says
I don’t have children in middle school yet but I would.
Elena says
Yes, we read together
Maureen says
Sometimes but most of the time we do not
hannah says
Sadly I’m still not a mother. This would be for my nephew.
Margaret Smith says
Sometimes, but not as much as we use to read together.
Melody Gross says
My daughter and I read regularly together. 🙂
Kelly D says
Yes, we read a lot.
ShannonBaas says
We enjoy reading together.
Jenny Scheldberg says
We like to go find books we’d both like at book stores.
Sandy Klocinski says
I read to my daughter when she was smaller. Less so as she got older. I’m grateful that she grew up to be an avid reader
Amber Hites says
My son loves to read. It’s nice to lay back and have him read to ME! LOL
MaryAnne JK says
they reach an age when it’s better just to know you’re ‘there’….
Natalie says
I love reading with my kids, thank you for the chance to enter
Angela says
Yes, we read together and it is fun.
Laurajj says
Oh yes, we still do and love it!
Beth Rees says
We normally do audio books when we drive together in the car
Nannypanpan says
I don’t, but I try to steer him towards certain books
Birdie Skolfield says
My middle school daughter reads by herself as she does most things now its the 13 age ya know
Edye says
Yes, my whole family reads together often.
Amy Hall says
He’s not a big reader, but we do read various things together as part of homeshcooling.
Cheryl B says
My Granddaughter is in elementary, I don’t have any mid level Grandchildren.
Mita says
I sometimes read with my middle schooler.
Sarah Hayes says
I hope im still reading with my child when she is that old
laura says
Oh yes we love to read together!
Gina M says
My son is 7 years old, but I would like to think that we will read together when he gets into the middle grades.
Thanks for the chance to win!
wildorchid985 at gmail dot com
Sherrie Cruson says
My seven year old granddaughter isn’t in middle school yet but she is one of the top readers in her class. She loves to read thank goodness! When she was small I used to read to her during our weekend sleepovers but now I would say it’s the other way around 🙂
mrsshukra says
Yes, still do!
Cheryl Chervitz says
My kids are grown, but I don’t think we ever read together unless it was school homework books. Both my kids liked whatever book I was reading.
Andrea Williams says
We don’t read together, but we do read some of the same books!
Jennifer Rote says
I wish I could get my son to read. I am an avid reader but he won’t even try.
carol clark says
yes i do but not for very long my child likes to read to me
Angelica Dimeo says
My kids are not in Middle school but I do read to them
paula peterson says
I read with my children everyday. Thank you so much for the nice give a ways. I’m very confused by the comments for this post. I’m a single mom of 2 girls, the blog advice and give a ways, help me so much. Most the comments on here are not very good, or nice
Jeanne Coulombe says
I always read to my children and now they both love to read as adults and they read to there children and I also read to my grandchildren.
nicole henke says
my duaghter has dyslexia, so reading with her is a great way to get her interested in a book, and reading it on her own when Im not looking! which works, as then she has to tell me what I missed (aka mini report!)
Anita Duvall says
I had two awesome readers back in the day. Now I am trying to encourage my niece and nephew to read. My 25 year old and 22 year old are both college graduates and teachers now!!!
jeremy mclaughlin says
Yes i sometimes read with my middle schooler.
Klydra Pugh says
I do read everyday with my middle school children.
Thanks for the chance.
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Keri justice says
Honestly no, I don’t read to my middle schooler.
Kathy Stevenson says
Yes, sometimes I read with my middle schooler. It depends on the book.
Laura B. says
My nieces’ are pretty independent and prefer to read by themselves mostly, however, once in awhile they are read to.
Michaela Kay says
I did enjoy reading together with my sons, they especially liked Harry Potter.
shelly says
Yes, I read the Harry Potter books with my son.
Kristin C says
I love to read with my kids.
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Nancy says
Yes, we like to read together with our children no matter how old they are.
rochelle haynes says
Some times i read with my grandson he loves to read
amy stonger says
I don’t read to my son in middle school but he reads for us each night. He has two younger siblings that love it.
Deborah Cochran says
I’m in beautiful southern California! My middle school aged kids still love to read and even though we don’t read together as often as we would like, it’s still fun!
Kristen J. says
I don’t have middle grade children yet, but I do intend to read to them even at that age. My father read to me as I was growing up until I think I was in middle school, and I have always remembered those times well.
Katrina Angele says
My son is not that age yet but I will when he is.
Samantha Wagner says
Yes, I homeschool my kids, so we read a lot of books together.
Katie Bellamy says
Yes! I love to read her books too!
Stephanie Phelps says
Oh yes I have always tried to read with them a couple of days a week!
vickie couturier says
yes,,the grandkids still like for me to read with them,,im grateful for that too
Pamela Gurganus says
I don’t have any middle grade children, but I read with my nieces and nephew.
rita leonard says
When my kids were younger I read with them all the time. It was a great joy to me to do that and I miss it now
Jamie Williams says
Yes she and I read together on occasion.
Jamie Williams says
I live in Virginia.
Lyndsey R. says
Not so much anymore. I used to read with him up til 5th grade now he reads better than I do!
Cindy Merrill says
I have three Grandchildren, all are in grade school, Julia just started 5th grade. I read to my grandchildren as much as I can!
Marty says
Yep. We kept the bedtime story habit, but now we take turns reading and we pick more sophisticated books.
Candice says
I ready with my nephew. I don’t have kids that are that age yet.
Kim Henrichs says
Mostly now it’s audio books while traveling/getting to and fro.
Jeanna says
Once in a while we will read our individual books together!
jberry says
When I was a nanny for a number of years, I had several charges that preferred to do their assigned reading and bedtimes stories w/ me.
Barbara Montag says
Liked and left a comment on Instagram –
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Barbara Montag says
Yes when the kids were in middle grade we often read together.
thank you
Terra Heck says
My kids are pretty good about reading on their own but I have read a couple of books with them. Thanks.
Robin Abrams says
I read with my grand children daily. I think that is very important to do
aaron reck says
Yes, I’ll read a book while they read a book. I might already read the one they are reading and I’m reading something different but then we do also discuss the book and topics.
Ellie Wright says
Occasionally I do. They mostly prefer to read by themselves now.
Madonna says
My daughter is grown now. I used to read to her every night even in middle school.
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HS says
Yes we read together all the time.
Kimmy Ripley says
All the time! It’s a great way to bond. <3
Dandi D says
Yes, my son still enjoys it when I read to him.
Kelly Grant says
Not much anymore, but I used too.
Jessica To says
My son and I would read together a lot when he was in middle school but not so much now that he’s in high school.
Betsy Barnes says
Oh yes! We always read to our son when he was growing up. It was a great time to discover together!
barbg says
I always read to my kids when they were smaller. I think it is so important for a parent to bond this way.
Holly Ferrero says
We do audiobooks together when we drive
tiffany c says
from ny, thanks for the chance!
D Schmidt says
I think the question might be for a different contest? My state in ME. Thanks.
Susan says
Thanks D. Yes, we messed up and forgot to edit that question. It’s fixed now and we have your entry recorded.
amber says
i’m from kentucky
Ty says
I live in Illinois.
Anne says
I live in NM.
mami2jcn says
I live in North Carolina.
Lauren says
I live in California.
Peggy Nunn says
I live in Alabama
Emily D says
As some of the others said, I think this is an old question, but I’m in North Carolina. 🙂
Susan says
Thanks Emily. We fixed the question now… but thanks for letting us know.
Julie Wood says
I am in Washington State but I do not think that wine is in this giveaway. Thanks for a great fun giveaway!
Susan says
Thanks Julie. We got your entry… and you’re right… we forgot to edit that field in the entry form. It’s fixed now.
Janet W. says
I live in Georgia!
Latanya says
I am in SC
Natalie says
I live in Minnesota!
Lisa Brown says
I am in California
shelly peterson says
I am in WA state but pretty sure that is the wrong question.
Susan says
Thanks Shelly. We’ve got your entry… and yes, we messed up on not editing that entry field.
Clem says
Hi! CA here, but I agree with the other commentator, I see no wine. Good day!
Susan says
Thanks so much for entering this giveaway. And you’re right… we messed up and forgot to change the question. But no worries… you’re still entered.
Cheryl says
My state is Indiana, but I think this question is left over from a previous giveaway.
Susan says
Thanks Cheryl… you’re right, we had made a mistake and forgotten to edit that field in the entry form.
Gina Blades says
I’m in California.