GIFT GUIDE 2009
Middle School Gifts
From toys that stand the test of time to board games that are anything but boring, we found the best middle school products that will build your child's brain, as well as being chock full of fun. Our list of loot is kid-tested, teacher approved, and full of options for any family, so get wrappin'!
When You Reach Me
This gem of a novel pulses with edge-of-the-seat intrigue, complex characters, and the intricacies of middle school friendship. Funny, exceptionally well-written...in short one of the best books for young readers we've seen all year.
Grip-Rite Neo Flying Disc
This disc takes all the clumsiness out of throwing and catching a Frisbee. Constructed for long-distance flying, with a flexible rim covered in an easy-grip material, this beach bum floats.
Artifact
What if Indiana Jones designed the Monopoly board? He might end up with something like Artifact, a globe-trotting game that challenges players to recover ancient stolen works of art.
DNA Science Kit
With this hands-on kit, kids can explore the science behind genetics, as they build a DNA ladder, puzzle out gender chromosomal patterns, and even extract actual DNA!
Fifteen Puzzle
First invented in 1880, this pocket-sized numerical puzzle became wildly popular in the 1930's. Now it's making a comeback with this retro version.
The Silver Blade
With a plot that reads like a magical mix of Star Wars, Dante's Inferno and Romeo and Juliet, this French Revolution fantasy is practically impossible to put down and a must-read for children of today.
The Miles Between
Funny, articulate and well-written, The Miles Between tackles deep philosophical questions with a light and clever tone. A great road trip movie...only in book form!
Stitch-it Pink Piggies Kit
At this age, kids are just starting to dig into longer, more in-depth projects. This kit is a perfect way to practice working on something complex from start to finish.
Farkle
Once in a while someone comes up with a game that is so profoundly simple that it requires only a few low-tech pieces, and yet is so fun that kids return to it time after time.
I Am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I Want to Be Your Class President
Oliver Watson is a bumbling buffoon of a seventh grader, who just can't quite get his act together...or so it seems. Readers, privy to his inner monologue and the goings-on of his secret double life, will find this smart read impossible to put down.
The Chosen One
A riveting book with mature themes, this tightly spun novel explores what it means to be thirteen in a very different world.
Stomp Rocket Super High Performance
Sometimes the best things in life are also the most simple. That goes for the stomp rocket, one of the greatest, and simplest, toys around.
Pocket Japanese Album
Your child doesn't need to be an artist to enjoy the classic design and effortless cool of this notebook, which contains 60 pages of Japanese-style zigzag accordion paper.
Electric Plane Launcher
Got half an hour to spare? Experiment with motion, physics, and beginner electronics by creating this super cool launcher for paper airplanes.
Mummy Rummy
This game, similar to Gin Rummy, has four color-coded "suits" which players must try to assemble into matching sets.
Bocce Tournament Set
Long revered in Italy as the perfect way to pass a sunny afternoon, bocce is beginning to catch on as a low-key antidote to high-energy athletic pastimes.
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