The Night Raven

Reach for this book when your child is starting to question the fairness of the world or feels like their voice is too small to make a difference. Set in a gritty, atmospheric 19th-century Stockholm, it follows Mika, an orphan with a brilliant mind who assists a detective in solving a series of chilling crimes. Beyond the thrilling mystery, it explores themes of systemic poverty, the resilience of children in harsh environments, and the importance of finding one's own power. It is an excellent choice for mature middle-grade readers who enjoy complex historical settings and are ready to engage with realistic, albeit difficult, social themes like class disparity and survival.