Loch

Reach for this book when your middle schooler is wrestling with the ethics of authority or feels a deep, protective instinct toward the natural world. It is a perfect fit for the child who is moving away from simple monster stories and toward more complex questions about what it means to be truly 'monstrous' versus simply 'misunderstood.' Loch follows fifteen-year-old Loch and his sister as they join a high-stakes scientific expedition to find prehistoric creatures in a Vermont lake. While the premise is a pulse-pounding survival adventure, the heart of the story lies in the siblings' realization that the adults in charge have cruel intentions. It explores themes of empathy, the courage to defy unjust authority, and the bond of family. Due to some intense action and creature-related violence, it is best suited for readers aged 10 to 15 who enjoy a cinematic, fast-paced narrative.