Confessions of a Junior Spy

Munda, Rosaria. Confessions of a Junior Spy #1
June 10, 2025 by Feiwel & Friends
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Beatrice lives at a Pangea Hotel with her father, who works as a chef there while her Momma travels internationally doing dangerous spy work, coming back to the hotel between missions. Beatrice helps clean her mother’s weapons, dye her hair, and even tend her wounds. Momma doesn’t want her to join Pangea, which is an international organization dedicated to world peace, and is hoping to send her to a boarding school for “normals”. Beatrice wants to become a spy, and enjoys the schooling that she gets at the hotel from various members of the organization. Her father is reluctant to send her away because he would miss her. When Chantal’s family arrives, it seems odd that they are not part of Pangea, but are just hiding. Beatrice and Chantal become friends, and do share their “knacks” with each other: Chantal has a knack for working with animals, and Beatrice’s brand new knack seems to be with knives. When Mr. Thorpe, who also has a knack for knives, arrives at the hotel, he asks if Beatrice would like to be his apprentice, but later is revealed to have evil motives. Momma decides that she and Beatrice should visit boarding schools, but are followed by Arctic assassins, which puts some wrinkles into their journey. Will Beatrice be able to stay at the Pangea Hotel with Chantal, or will she end up in an uncomfortable uniform at the Turtleneck Mountain School?
Strengths: Spy school books are always popular with middle grade readers, but some are rather lengthy for the younger part of this age range, so the shorter length (224 pages) is good. Beatrice’s desire to become a spy is understandable, given the environment in which she has been raised, and the warm and supportive atmosphere of the hotel. It also makes sense that Momma would not want her to be subjected to the dangers of life in espionage. The fact that Pangea is dedicated to “world peace” makes it easier to be a spy; I often joke that I could be a spy if I could find a cause I believed in that required such work. This is the beginning of a series, with The Mean Girl Mission set to publish on January 13, 2026.
Weaknesses: While I applaud the shorter length of this book, it would have been helpful to have more explanation on Pangea and “knacks”. There were a lot of elements that didn’t quite make sense, partly due to the lack of world building. This had the feel of a book written by an author who was used to a different age group, and Munda’s previous work seems to be Young Adult fantasy. It can be hard to adjust to a different audience.
What I really think: This might work for elementary school students who aren’t quite ready for longer books like Ponti’s City Spies, and who enjoyed Carter’s The Winterbourne Home for Vengeance and Valor or Primavera’s Ms. Rapscott's Girls. 

Better choices for serious, middle school spy books include Landis' Capitol Chase, Bradley's Double Vision, Ponti's Framed, Yee and Santat's The Misfits, Carter's Gallagher Girls books, Gibbs' Spy School adventures, or Horowitz's incomparable Alex Rider series. 

Future Me Saves the World

Cypess, Leah and Molebash, Wes (illus.) Future Me Saves the World
June 3, 2025 by Aladdin
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Ethan is a fourth grader who has the unusual experience of being visited, repeatedly, by his 39 year old self. Older Ethan knows that a substitute teacher named Ms. Evans will leave teaching because of a horrible experience at Ethan's school, and become an evil supervillain who will destroy life as we know it. Not only that, but one of Ethan's classmates, Serenity, will become her henchwoman. The class's behavior does drive the substitute nearly to tears, and while the other students are proud of this, Ethan goes out of his way to apologize and encourage the young woman to stick with the profession. Ethan is also instructed to encourage somewhat offbeat, kooky classmate Tamara to take an accelerated math class despite her learning challenges, since she is the one who invents time travel. Older Ethan is often vague on details, claiming he can't share too much, dresses in bizarre fashions, and tries to explain the science of time travel with words that nobody understands. Ethan is concerned that older Ethan is no longer friends with best friend Ben, and asks his supportive if offbeat parents about their own friendships at family dinners with siblings Greg and Talya. After an incident where a school lunch makes everyone except Ethan sick (thanks to a warning to not eat the ziti!), Ethan manages to convince Ms. Evans to apply to become the school librarian. This is enough to change the course of history when she late uses her evil tendencies in her job in charge of school curriculum.
Strengths: The best part of this was the description of the books that were being read in the 4th grade language arts classes. One was Joker, the description of which I need to go back and find, but which involved a dog dying and several other typically middle grade, award winning sad things, and the other was just entitled Tragic Death at Sea. Yep. So much of middle grade literature! The other thing I really enjoyed was Ethan's worry that he wouldn't be friends with Ben when they grow up. In reality, he'll be lucky to make it to 8th grade and still be friends, but when we are young, best friends are so central to our existence that I enjoyed seeing this realistic worry portrayed. Having alive, supportive parents and siblings who sometimes get in the way was also encouraging. This was goofy fun, and a light, fast paced read, and Ethan is an appropriately harried hero who is trying his best to help save the world even though he doesn't understand what is going on.
Weaknesses: There were some school procedures that didn't ring true; when there's no sub, the students are divided up and sent to other classes, which I have never seen happen. Also, unless Ms. Evans has her MLS and school library certification, she couldn't be a school librarian, at least here in Ohio. I know this is nitpicky, and maybe this happens in other places, but it bothered me. I also could have used a few more details about why older Ethan was visiting; this seemed almost like a second book in a series.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed the time travel in Wilson's Me vs. the Multiverse or Otheguy's Cousins in the Time of Magic, but want the same humorous vibe as Yee and Santat's The Misfits, with even more illustrations. (Which didn't appear in the E ARC.)  

Where There Be Monsters and Dreamslinger

Williams, Alby C. Where There Be Monsters
May 6, 2025 by Roaring Brook Press
E ARC provided by Netgalley

In 3166, Glory Brown lives in the Outerverse with her parents, who run the Light Inn. Her mother is very busy, printing leaflets and advising people on magic. The family, including the grandfather, lives near the Seam, which is a halfway space between the human world and the feral monsters that live in the Blight. There are some creatures, like Penrose, a talking mongoose who works as a bellhop at the inn, who are not a threat. Glory would like to attend the magical school for Spherinauts that her mother attended, so that she can learn to use her Moxie, or magical powers, but she is needed at home. When she meets a boy, Marcus, who is lost near her house, she gets pulled into his attempts to deliver a package. When she touches a pendant he has left in the room, she has to help him, because the object is cursed. Leaving a note for her parents (her mother is traveling, so can’t help with the magic), she takes off on a journey to return to the Sanctum Marmoris, where the school is based. Things are unstable all across the Outverse, with monsters coming across the seam, so using the gateways to travel is sometimes problematic. Once the two reach the school, they consult a Senior, Janessa, and try to figure out what is going on with Marcus’ curse. This, of course, uncovers a lot of other problems. While trying to solve these, Glory learns more about her mother and magic, and is looking forward to finally being able to study at the school.
Strengths: Magical academy books are always a good bet with middle grade readers, and there is very intricate world building to set up Glory’s Outerverse. There is a threat to the world which hits fairly close to home for Glory, so she is a good person to try to solve it. There are some evil adults, but supportive ones as well. Marcus is a good sidekick. There were just a couple of illustrations in the E ARC, but they were very charming, and I’m curious to see if there are more of them in the finished copy. The school has different types of magical training, all related to nature and science, and Glory is curious about this training, since her mother is a Magpie. I’m assuming that the sequel will have more explanations of where Glory fits in to the school and about her training there.
Weaknesses: For a book set in space in the future, this had a lot of elements that felt more like the late 1800s. While I love a good skirt, it seemed odd that Glory wore dresses and packed bloomers for traveling. I had to look up what an orrery was (Glory carries a pocket-orrery, which is a mouthful), and I can’t find a good explanation for what “mazy headed” is, but maybe I missed the explanations.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed the magical worlds in Bell’s Uncommoners, Durst’s Even and Odd or Dumas’ Wildseed Witch.

Kim, Graci. Dreamslinger

April 29, 2025 by Disney Hyperion

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Aria Loveridge lives in the Rest Haven Home for Dreamslingers because she has the genetic mutation that causes her to go into another world when she dreams. This world is dangerous and unpredictable, and it is thanks to her father than Dreamslingers are cared for at the home. They consult with doctors in the morning and have ways to remove the poisons acquired from their nighttime wanderings. Since Aria's mother was killed by people who shared this mutation, it's a lot for a teen to handle. Aria tries to help her father out with the home, but recently there have been a lot of anti-slinger protests in Texas, where they live. These close ties to different facets of the Dreamslinger world put Aria in a great place to find out secrets about her condition, but working through them is very dangerous. While her adventures finally lead to her finding a place where she is confortable, there are some unanswered questions that could be answered in a second book. 

I enjoyed Kim's The Last Fallen Star, and this is another great culturally (Korean) related adventure fantasy for fans of Rick Riordan's imprint. 

From the Publisher:
Fourteen-year-old Aria Loveridge lives at the Resthaven Home for Dreamslingers, a safe haven for children born with a genetic mutation that transports them to a powerfully magical realm while they sleep. But this magic can be unpredictable—even deadly. After all, it was only ten years ago when members of the Royal League of Dreamslingers caused the Great Outburst—a tragedy that killed hundreds of people, including Aria’s mom.

Since then, Aria’s dad has become leading expert on Dreamslinger Welfare, which means Aria knows better than most what it takes to keep society safe from her, and others like separation, identification, and most importantly, power suppression.

So when the Kingdom of Royal Hanguk—home of the Dreamslinger League—announces the first Dreamslinger trials where teenage slingers from around the world are invited to compete for a chance to join the League and learn how to use their powers, Aria knows what she must join the trials and take down the League from the inside.

But the Trials introduce Aria to a world of wonderous magic and friendship, a world where she finally feels like she belongs. And as dark secrets from the past are revealed—ones that make Aria question her very identity—she becomes even more determined to discover the truth for herself. She just has to survive the trials first.

MMGM- Snoop and Ablaze

It's

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
 at 

Always in the Middle 

and #IMWAYR day 

at

Unleashing Readers

Korman, Gordon. Snoop

July 1, 2025 by Scholastic Press
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Carter is on a ski trip to Colorado with his father and younger brother Martin, but is really more interested in watching the viral "Chattanooga Chop" videos on his phone than in experiencing the great outdoors. When his father leaves him watching Martin on the bunny slope while he tackles a harder run, Carter is so absorbed in his phone that he doesn't see Martin barreling right towards him. The resultant collision leaves Carter with two broken legs! Back home with his mother, who has custody of the boys since the parents are divorced, Carter has to attend Zoom school, but has little else that he is able to do, since even getting in and out of bed in the morning is a struggle. He turns to his favorite pasttime, screens, and becomes entranced by the video surveillance cameras up around town. At first, he uses them primarily to spy on his crush, Lacey, and her boyfriend, unpleasant popular kid Maddox, who has a group that does pranks around town, Chairmen of the Bored. Carter's friend Ethan occasionally visits, and the two even figure out how to break into the closed circuit cameras in the frozen yogurt shop that Lacey and Maddox visit. The more he watches, though, the more things stand out to Carter as troublesome. A man who seems to be casing a local art store where Carter's mother has a print for sale. (She works in photography, taking pictures of construction sites, often using drones.) A pregnant mother in the park struggles with her toddler every day. There's a suspicious red Maserati parked in the same place every day. And strangest of all, Carter keeps seeing red pandas, bonobos, and other unusual and endangered animals around town. What's with the Zipy Delivery Vans always around town? And the smell in the abandoned courthouse slated to be demolished? This makes him very distracted in school, although he does notice that his teacher, Mr. Grimes, doesn't seem to be doing well. Carter calls the police several times, but is eventually told to stop wasting their time. When Carter finally pieces everything together (and saves some classmated from an errant snow leopard!), will he be able to convince the police to help?

While this was an excellent mystery with fun and unusual elements, what I really liked about this book was Carter's screen addiction. Korman has addressed this before in books like Unplugged (2021) and Slacker (2016), but I loved how integral Carter's struggles were to his life. Screens caused his accident, made it hard to focus in school, and sent him down a weird yet ultimately productive rabbit hole. I don't want to spoil too much of the mystery! Carter knows he has a problem, which is more than some of my students, but still can't seem to tear himself away. He does manage to turn down Martin's kind offer of his iPad mini when Carter's mother takes away all his screens, which was encouraging and realistic. 

The other great inclusion was Carter's crush on Lacey, and his antithetical relationship with Maddox and the Chairmen of the Bored that causes the entire class, including his best friend Ethan, to avoid him. Middle school relationships can be a very delicate balance. I also enjoyed Carter's family relationships. His father doesn't live nearby, and his mother is very busy with her work. Carter borrows her drone for his surveillance, and is worried about damaging it... which doesn't stop him. He even has a good relationship with Martin, even though it has rocky moments. I'd love to see more sibling relationships in middle grade literature. 

Korman does a great job of putting a fresh spin on everyday middle grade experiences with heart and humor. It's also hard to suggest read alikes for Korman; maybe Singleton's The Curious Cat Spy Club, Kittscher's The Wig in the Window or Fitzhugh's Harriet the Spy, if anyone still reads that title (which is as old as I am!). Of course, there's always another answer... just read more Korman!

Lawson, Jessica and Gonzales, Sarah. 

Ablaze: The Story of America's First Female Smokejumper

July 1, 2025 by Viking Books for Young Readers

Copy provided by the publisher

Deanne Shulman loved being outdoors as a child, and her concern for the natural environment led her to apply to work with the United States Forest Service, where her brother had also worked. Her job was to help fight fires by clearing brush and debris, working in hot conditions for long hours. This was her passion, so it's not surprising that she was interested in trying out a related job- smoke jumping. Being able to travel to remote areas to fight fires by parachuting into them was another level of dedication, but Deanne was denied the chance to do this in the 1990s because of her size, even though she passed all of the physical tests. There had never been a woman smoke jumper, but the Forest Service claims that Deanne couldn't join because she was under the 5' 5", 130 pound size requirements. Undaunted, she filed a complaint based on the Equal Employment Opportunities Act, and continued to train while it was being investigated. Eventually, she was allowed to work in her chosen field. The book ends with more notes about Shulman's career, as well as a glossary of terms. 

The illustrations are rendered in yellows and oranges, and have a smoky, soft focused look to them that makes the book feel very steamy! There is plenty of good information about wild fires, and also about what the job of fighting them entails. Seeing Deanne as a young child enables readers to put themselves in her boots and equipment. It would have been nice to have the years that various events happened right in the text, but younger readers won't necessarily miss them. 

Given the number of wildfires that have made the news in the US, this is a great picture book biography about a woman who broadened opportunities for others. It's a great choice not only for Women's History Month, but for Young readers interested in firefighting or forestry work, and would be a great nonfiction accompaniment to books like Rose's The Burning Season. 

Under the Neon Lights

Vinson, Arriel. Under the Neon Lights
June 3, 2025 by G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

In this novel in verse, we meet Jaelyn, who lives with her mother in Indianapolis. The two have moved there from Plainfield after the parents divorced. Jaelyn and her friend Noelle love to spend time at the local roller rink, WestSide Roll, where they can be as loud and exuberant as they want. There's a colorful cast of characters, including the owner, Mr. Mike. The neighborhood is gentrifying, and Jaelyn has increasing problems with her job at the local movie theater, where the manager, Beth, is hostile towards her. There is also fear of rents increasing as more and more upscale businesses open. When the news comes that WestSide Roll is closing in five weeks, Jaelyn is devastated. This is especially hard since Noelle has started to hang out with different friends, and the one bright spot in her life is Trey, a boy she met at the rink and whom she is teaching to skate. Jaelyn has a difficult relationship with her father, who hasn't spent much time with her, but the two reconnect over their love of roller skating. After the rink closes, Jaelyn tries the nearby Avon Roller Rink, but is appalled by all of the rules. She loves her job at the theater, and Noelle's grandmother's health starts to fail. Desperate to find some joy in life, she tries to arrange a skating reunion at a nearby tennis court, or the parking lot of WestSide Roll, only to be told those locations aren't available. Will the skating community be able to band together for one last free skate?
Strengths: We recently took groups of middle school students to the Sequoia Lanes in Columbus, Ohio. It is a bowling alley built in the early 1960s smack dab in the middle of a residential neighborhood. If you stand at the front door and look across the street, there is a split level home right there. I was enthralled by the idea of having a local bowling alley, but also knew that the neighborhood had changed and that many other businesses had gone out, so the alley's days might well be numbered. A pool right next door closed a few years ago. The feeling of longing for a way of life that is gone was so palpable, and I completely understood how Jaelyn felt. The topic of gentrification has been addressed in many middle grade and young adult books, but this one packed a gut punch. The verse format makes it read quickly. It was definitely set in current times, given some of the references to music and popular culture, but also had a bit of a throwback feel to it, mainly because of the roller skating and the "old heads" who hang out. The romance was very sweet, and will appeal to readers even if they (foolishly) aren't interested in roller skating. This was quite a fun book, despite the sadness, and I enjoyed it a lot.
Weaknesses: This was definitely young adult in language (there are multiple f words) and also in the longing for the past. Middle School students generally aren't quite as nostalgic as high school students.
What I really think: Watson's This Side of Home (2015) or Nye's Going, Going (2005). I would buy this for a high school library but will pass for middle school. 

Kickturn

Spangler, Brie. Kickturn
June 17, 2025 by Knopf Books for Young Readers

E ARC provided by Netgalley

Lindy and her parents have a nomadic lifestyle, traveling the Southwest in a converted school bus (a "skoolie") so that her mother can post pictures of herself doing yoga poses, spreading love and lifestyle advice. Her father, a formr software engineer, helps, and Lindy is often called upon to model clothing sent by sponsors, since posts featuring her do well on the analytics. Lindy is tired of this lifestyle, and lonely for friends her own age. She spends a lot of time watching the skateboarder and social media star Kentucky Jones while neglecting her homeschooling material, which she finds difficult, especially since her parents don't seem to offer much support. When the bus breaks down in San Jose, California, it's not an easy fix, and the family rents a house while waiting for the repairs to be done. Lindy meets Dasha  and May at a convenience store, and the two invite her to skateboard with them. They show her the ropes, and May even loans her a board. Lindy enjoys having a more private room, and warm shower, and some friends. She also takes to skateboarding in a big way, and her parents often accompany her to the skate park, where she also meets Carter, a seven year old social media influencer who can do a lot of skate tricks that Lindy can't even imagine. When the group finds out that Kentucky Jones is coming to San Jose, they are super excited to meet their idol. The bus takes a while to be fixed, but eventually is road worthy once again, and Lindy's parents inform her that they will be moving on. Unhappy to be leaving, Lindy sabotages the bus. When her parents find out, they are angry, and a bit perplexed that Lindy is no longer enjoying life on the road. She pleads her case for staying, which is bolstered by the fact that she is failing all of her online classes. Lindy gets her way, and the family decides to stay in San Jose. 

Strengths: There need to be a lot more books about skateboarding, as well as volleyball and track. It's interesting to see parents who are social media influencers; Weissman's So Over Sharing is another one to look at. Lindy's desire to stay in one place and make friends is understandable, and it's great to see her connect with girls her age while also developing a hobby. Bonus: both of Lindy's parents are alive!
Weaknesses: This was a little younger than I had hoped; the font looks hand drawn, ala Wimpy Kid, and the interior illustrations do support Lindy being in late elementary school. I just wish that she had been older. I also wish that the parents had paid more attention to Lindy; at a minimum, they should have checked her progress in school. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed other books about families on the road, like Gemeinhart's The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise, Goebel's Alpaca My Bags, or Hawes' Big Rig.
 

Survival in SPAAAAAACE

Bradford, Chris. Lunar
July 1, 2025 by Union Square Kids

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Luna and her dad, a Moon Miner, are driving his Rover around the moon, taking core samples, when they are recalled to the Hub because of a meteorite warning. When the Rover flips, they manage to hop back, and get back in time. Once back, the warning becomes an order to evacuate in the Earth Return Pod, since the Hub is in the path of the meteorite. After a series of mishaps, Luna doesn't make it into the EARP, which takes off without her. She does manage to escape an explosion the damages the hub, and has to take stock of her skills and supplies to try to survive alone on the moon. She knows from her training that the most important things to have are oxygen, water, food, power, and a pressurized shelter, but also must locate some way to communicate with Earth so they don't assume she is dead, but send help. She realizes that the landers scattered about the moon have antennae and communication abilities, so sets out in the rover to find one. It's quite a distance away, so she takes careful stock of all of her supplies, and eventually manages to make contact with Earth's Gateway, who agree to send rescuers. 

Strengths: There were so many good details about being in space! Of course, none of these encourage me to travel there, since your blood can boil if you don't have on your pressurized suit, and when you do have your suit, you need diapers! I love how smoothly Brandford weaves in the scientific details. I think most children's worst fear is to be left, and where worse to be left than on the moon! She does have great skills, and has paid attention to all of the safety precautions, which was good to see. This has engaging illustrations and dyslexic friendly font and page coloring.
Weaknesses: I do not want to go to space, and in reality, I'm pretty sure that Luna would have died. Because of this thought, it would have been nice to see her safely rescued instead of being shown patiently waiting. 
What I really think: This is a good space survival adventure in the style of Sylvester's MINRS, Swiedler's In the Red or Emerson's Last Day on Mars  but suitable for emerging readers. 

Bradford, Chris. Stellar
July 1, 2025 by Union Square Kids

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Stella and her brother Ryan are vacationing with their parents at the Galaxy Space Hotel. While Stella is super excited about everything she sees and experiences, Ryan would rather lose himself in a video game. There are some adjustments to be made in space, like dealing with space motion sickness, which is caused when the lack of gravity results in fluid pooling in the head, but the family feels well enough to go to the space museum on the International Space Station. Stella is expecially excited, since the ISS is due to be deorbited the following year. When there is a solar flare, and the group needs to head back to the shuttle to avoid a proton storm, Ryan has to be found. He's stuck, but then manages to spin away into space! Stella goes after him, and the two end up very far away from the ISS. The two eventually get back in the craft, only to find that it is falling out of orbit. Ryan uses his gaming skills to try to figure out how to operate the ISS, which is a challenge since many of the buttons are labeled in Russian. Heading toward Earth with less coolant than is optimal, will the two be able to survive?
Strengths: The combination of Bradford, who is a seasoned writer who devotes himself to fast-paced, exciting stories like the Bodyguard series, and Barrington Stokes publishers, who actually think about what tweens want to read because they ask them, is brilliant. Stella's story is short, but definitely engaging. There are some fun things that will speak to young readers, like Ryan's addiction to video games, and his reluctance to follow his sister's instructions. There is a lot of science information included in a casual way that was very instructional. Charlotte Grange's occasional illustrations heighten the appeal for the graphic novel set. In the E ARC, the page background color was a soft yellow. I haven't seen a print version, but the print version of Bradford's GAMER does have this dyslexia friendly paper.
Weaknesses: I found it hard to believe that the children would manage to survive, but young readers will not have this same objection.
What I really think: There are not as many easy to read space adventures like Landers' Blastaway or Levy's Seventh Grade vs. The Galaxy, but perhaps there should be. I will definitely be buying a copy.

Blood in the Water and Search for the Sunken Statue

Jackson, Tiffany D. Blood in the Water
July 1, 2025 by Scholastic Press
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Kaylani doesn't want to leave her mother or her Brooklyn home to go spend a month with family friends, the Watsons, on Martha's Vinyard, but she isn't given much of a choice. She'd rather stay home and work on her father's appeal, since he is spending time in prison after being framed for embezzling funds while working at the Mercer Hedge Fund. The Watsons are big supporters of her father, having helped him go to college, so they want to allow Kaylani to have a vacation to take her mind off her troubles. Sadly, since their granddaughter London, and her older sister Cassie, aren't too thrilled to have Kaylani around, it's not that appealing a break. The girls go to an elite private school in Connecticut, and won't even hang out with the local residents. They are a bit enamored of Chadwick, whom Cassie dated last year, but it's an uneasy relationship. For his part, Chadwick is very kind to Kaylani, and even gives her a tour of the Watson's house and its history, and suggests that she looks into the life of the previous owner, Alice McBride. When London demands to tag along to a late night beach party with Cassie, the girls meet Chadwick's young brother, Miles, and also talk to Jaden, who works for the Watsons. There is bad blood between Jaden and Chadwick, and when the two get into an altercation, Cassie has Jaden drive the younger girls home while she sees if Chadwick is okay. The next day, Chadwick is missing, and his body is later found near the bridge that was featured in the movie Jaws that the teens all jump from. There seems to be a shark bite to his body, and there is a lot of blood in the water. Chadwick's death hits the community hard, but even when it is determined to be a homicide, the kids all still hang out at the beach. Miles wants to investigate, and asks Kaylani for help in finding his brother's phone. Kaylani would like to help, and has found the local history to be very interesting, but because of issues with London and the Watsons, would really just like to go home. 

Strengths: While Kaylani has her reasons for wanting to stay at home in Brooklyn, I think that most tweens would embrace the opportunity to travel to Martha's Vineyard and stay at a mansion, complete with an enigmatic housekeeper who is an excellent cook. There's drama aplenty, with London and herr snotty ways, the mysterious falling out that Chadwick had with the girls, and even some charity embezzlement that Kaylani is accused of. This is also a realistic look at dealing with a parent in prison; oddly enough, one of my childhood friends' fathers was imprisoned for embezzlement! The setting is well defined, and there is a lot of interesting Black history of the area. I don't want to ruin the mystery, but I did like that it cleared up several different issues. It's hard to strike a good balance in a middle grade murder mystery, but this did a good job of having a sympathetic but somewhat remote character killed in a slightly gruesome way. Miles' reaction was also well portrayed. The cover of this is fantastic; it screams "murder mystery" perfectly, and the mansion in the background is a great touch. Readers who have never been to Martha's Vineyard will want to go after reading this, although they will definitely be cautious! 
Weaknesses: While this was a decent mystery, it could have been a great one with a little more build up, a few more clues, and a more suspenseful ending. It felt a bit forced and rushed near the end, which is too bad, since the beginning, with the Watsons' lavish lifestyle, will lure readers innn and make them expect something terrible. You can tell I hang out with middle school students too much; part of me wanted Kaylani to be tortured just a bit at the end before being rescued and the mystery solved! 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who like a side of Black history with their mysteries, and have enjoyed Johnson's The Parker Inheritance, Strong's Just South of Home, or Banks' Billions to Burn.  While this could have used some further editing, the appeal of the cover is undeniable, and since it is a murder mystery, this book will ALWAYS be in big demand. It reminded me a bit of some of Joan Lowery Nixon's books like her 1987 The Dark and Deadly Pool. 

Beil, Michael. Search for the Sunken Statue (Swallowtail Legacy #3)
June 17, 2025 by Pixel+Ink
E ARC Provided by Edelweiss Plus

After the events of Wreck at Ada's Reef and Betrayal by the Book, Lark is back for another adventure along the shores of Lake Erie.

With the arrival of Labor Day, Lark must get ready to attend school, having moved from Connecticut to Swallowtail Island with her sister Pip, stepfather Thomas, and three stepbrothers. The Roost, the home that her mother willed to Lark and Pip upon her passing, is a comfortable place, and over the summer Lark has become well known for her ability to solve crimes. Now that summer people have gone, the locals like Simon and Dinah (both in their 90s!) are gearing up for winter. When Chase Kennan, a famed expedition leader, and his team have arrived on the island to search for a statue, there's an excitement surrounding their attempts to retrieve Kennan's father's statue from Lake Erie. It fell off a boat in 1967, and was never recovered. It's not long before the statue is found and brought to the docks, but it goes mysteriously missing. How could something that big and heavy just disappear? An insurance investigator, Billie, is brought in, and Officer Pawlowski is also involved. Lark has other things to deal with; her Aunt Abigail, an art dealer from Manhattan, has arrived demanding her share of the Roost and its land, and she has to contend with playing on a new soccer team. In order for the team to play, they need one more girl, so Lark makes an arrangement with Gina that Lark will sing in the choir if Gina will play soccer... for her father, Coach Djoussou! When Owen visits on a break from his boarding school, he tells Lark that the coach there is interested in having her play. Since she's been running the house with her step brother, Blake, while Thomas is in New York for work, and the younger kids are not cooperative, it's a tempting offer! When Lark has time to investigate the mystery, she uncovers information from the past. Will it also help her to thwart the advances of Aunt Abigail to take her property?
Strengths: Lark is dealing with a lot of issues tweens face (siblings and stepsiblings, navigating a new school, balancing sports and life) and also solving crimes, which is great fun. Swallowtail Island has a lot of cool sites and residents, and the interactions Lark has with them remind me of the best adult cozy mysteries. Thomas is a good stepfather who benefits from the extended community, including Nadine, Lark's mother's best friend. The mystery is solid, and I don't want to give away any of what happens. The aunt is a good evil foil. It was just so much fun to spend time with Lark. When I was young, I would have saved up my babysitting money to buy this series at the mall, and would have reread it frequently.
Weaknesses: The aunt was so unpleasant, and she just made me sad. For her not to have any pity for Lark and Pip and to want to take their home... ugh. She deserved worse than she got!
What I really think: Readers who love cozy mysteries like Frederick's Absolutely Truly, Haddix's The Secrets of Trash and Treasure, or Beil's own The Red Blazer Girls will want to pick this one up. Ohio libraries especially will want to purchase the whole series! If you missed the first two, definitely take a look!    

Just Another Meet Cute

Nguyen, Jenn P. Just Another Meet Cute
May 20, 2025 by Scholastic Press
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

When Nina Reilly is out on a hike, trying to avoid a family gathering, she manages to sit down on a juice box with disastrous results and scrape her leg in quick succession. Normally, this wouldn't be the worst thing, but when a cute, buff guy her age shows up, offering her a band aid and even a pad and tampon (hey, he has sisters and knows how to be prepared!), it's a little embarrassing. He even loans her his jacket to cover up with, but the two part suddenly when both have places to be. Realizing that he left his keys in the coat pocket, Nina and her cousin Linh investigate and do a little light stalking based on the gym card on the key ring. It takes a couple of days, but she manages to run into the hiker, Ryan, and save him from being run over. The odd thing is that he doesn't seem to remember their encounter. Surmising from the key ring evidence that he is a dog person, when Ryan suggests they meet in the park, she brings along a neighbor's dog, to which she is allergic. Taking Benadryl makes her fall asleep on the date! When Ryan's sister finds out Ryan is with a girl, she invites Nina back to the house for a family dinner, because the grandmother makes fantastic pho. Nina is half Korean, and her father, who abandoned her mother before she was born, and has another family she's never met, is back in town and dating her mother! When Nina goes to Ryan, she runs into his twin brother, Ian, who is really the one who was on the hike. This creates an awkward situation, and Nina spends a lot of time going back and forth between the brothers, trying to decide which one is a friend, and which one is a romantic interest. She also has to navigate incorporating her father into her life, especially when her mother informs her that he is moving in with them. Since the two have been living with the mother's sister, Sarah, this creates a lot of tension. Ryan and Ian also have divorced parents, and both are super sweet and cute. How will Nina ever be able to decide to date just one of the twins, and how can she avoid hurting the one she doesn't?

While it seemed to me, an old person, that the entire misunderstanding could have been avoided if Nina has just told Ian the truth when she arrived with Ryan at the family party, young readers will enjoy all of the subterfuge and secrets of a "hidden" romance. There are plenty of fun dates, including one helping out at a food truck and getting a steak as payment! Since both the twins and Nina has Korean heritage, there are some interesting details about food and families that give this some more interest.

The emotions surrounding Nina's father, and his new role in her life, make sense. Nina has a close relationship with her mother as well as her cousin Linh and Aunt Sarah, who are both worried that the father will take off again. While it seemed unlikely that there would conveniently be a house for Nina's mother to buy right next door to the aunt, it is satisfying to think the family will still be together.

While the idea of an angsty love triangle is more of a young adult romantic concept, this story didn't have any more mature language or situations other than kissing, so would be a decent choice for older middle grade readers as well. Fans of Debbi Michiko Florence's Get it Together, Keiko Carter, Kasie West books, or Sarah Dessen titles will enjoy this more complicated than normal "meet cute".

The Extremely Embarassing Life of Lottie Brooks

Kirby, Katie. The Extremely Embarrassing Life of Lottie Brooks
July 1, 2025 by Random House Books for Young Readers
Copy provided by the publisher

It is VERY hard to be Lottie, who is not quite twelve. She is starting a new school, and hopes that things will go better than they did at her old school, even though this isn't likely, since her best friend Molly has moved to Australia. Lottie has acquired a lot of unflattering nicknames in her day, and manages to embarrass herself at Six Green. She obsessed constantly about things like wearing a bra, getting highlights in her hair, and wearing her clothing in just the way that everyone else does, but always manages to mess things up just a bit. She's worried that she won't have any friends at all, but does manage to meet Poppy, who is a lot of fun. There is plenty of embarassment in her family life as well; her parents called her "Lottie Potty", her younger brother is just rude, and to make matters unbearable, her mother is pregnant... and she's over 40! While Lottie makes plans to improve her life, and perhaps catch the attention of the gorgeous Theo, she never seems to do the right thing. That is, until the cool and popular Amber and Jess want to hang out with her and Poppy. This fits in with Lottie's wish to be popular as well, even though Amber has a crush on Theo, so Lottie has to give hers up. The Queens of Six Green go shopping, have sleepovers, and plan what they are going to do at the school dance. Lottie continues obsessing over a variety of things, like following people on Instagram (Should she? Shouldn't she? Will her parents even let her keep her account?), getting her period and using deodorant, wondering if Molly is having too good a time in Australia and will forget her, and losing her WiFi privileges after a scheme goes wrong. Will she be able to survive until the new year? Six there are already six books about Lottie out in the UK, it looks likely that she will! 

Strengths: Oh, poor Lottie. While there are some big, life changing things going on in her world (changing schools, friend moving away, mother having a new baby), it's the smaller, daily embarrassments that really hit home. These are portrayed in a very realistic way; her struggles with improper use of hair conditioner and resultant greasy hair took me right back to my own daughter's sixth grade year, when I had to have her walk me through exactly how she was washing her hair... there was no shampoo, only conditioner, and not enough rinsing! The friendships are also described in a way that will resonate with many readers, and Lottie's struggles with Amber and Jess will be all too understandable to anyone who has thought of dumping a less popular friend in favor of people who are mean. There is plenty of humor in the book, and both parents are alive! The diary format, which sometimes includes conversations in text, as well as the stick figure illustrations, will appeal to today's readers who love graphic novels. 
Weaknesses: This book was published about four years ago in the UK, and there are a few things that seemed a little dated. It's a hard line to walk; it's good to have some cultural touch points and descriptions of fashion, but the tween world moves quickly! This is also a bit on the long side, at over 400 pages. I'll have to open the book and show students that the text is large, and the inclusion of pictures are what makes this look like quite a long book. 
What I really think: This is a more realistic version of Amores and Cosgrove's The Worst Week Ever, or an updated but younger version of the classic Georgia Nicholson tales (1999) by the late Louise Rennison. It addresses the anxiety of starting middle school (secondary school, since this is a UK title) in the same way that Vivat's Frazzled or Scrivan's Nat Enough do. 

June 2025 Statistics

Confession: Right now, I have blog posts until the end of 2025 with the exception of 12 days. It's really, really hard to get motivated to read more! 

Instead, I've made three baby quilts, fifteen baby quilt tops, gone on lots of walks with my dog Leo, and spent quite a bit of time with my grandson in Cincinnati. Didn't count all of the books that I've read with him! 

The only bad thing about this is that one of my 6th graders challenged me to read 200 books over the summer, but that's just not going to happen. I've read 556 books (213 pages on average) and my goal for the year is 750.

What do you think? Am I slipping up? Should I be worried?

MMGM- Let's Travel!

It's

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
 at 

Always in the Middle 

and #IMWAYR day 

at

Unleashing Readers

Lonely Planet. A Kid's Guide to London

June 26, 2025 by LONELY PLANET

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

I've always been a big fan of the Let's Go travel guides; back before the internet, that's how we planned our travel. Those, of course, had very specific information about hotels and restaurants in addition to the descriptions of sights to see, but were great for getting an idea of what experiences to plan.

While Let's Go books were densely packed paperbacks with few pictures and a ton of tiny text, This Lonely Planet series has beautiful pictures of London locations, and brief overviews of appealing places to visit. 

The fact that this one started off with different ways to travel around the city was brilliant; when my daughter and I visited London in 2016, one of our favorite things to do was to travel on the Tube because it made us feel like we lived in the city. From double decker buses to light rail, London has a lot of different ways to get around, including lots of great walking routes. One I totally missed was the Green Belt Cycle Route, so if I ever get back to London, you know I will be investigating that. 

The different chapters were well arranged, and included information about places to play and eat, as well as specific coverage of sights along the Thames, and "royal treatment" which will definitely appeal to young Anglophiles. The chapters on "The Wild Side" included not only the zoo, but also wildlife in parks inside the city. "Going Green" showcased a number of outdoor sights, including Primrose Hill (which was worth the climb!) and Queen Mary's Garden, which has spectacular roses is you time your visit right. 

London is probably my favorite city in the world, not that I have been to many, and this book offered me plenty of nostalgic moments as well as new adventures I would love to take. I'd be careful handing this book to young people, since they might develop an overwhelming urge to travel to Great Britain so that they can bring the scenes in this book to life. 

Lonely Planet. A Kid's Guide to Rome

June 26, 2025 by LONELY PLANET

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

The Rome I visited in 1985 was from a completely different era. The lira was still in use. You could ride the bus without a ticket if you were really desperate, fearing arrest the entire time. It was hard to know exactly what days the Villa Borghese was open. (Not on Mondays, so I didn't get to see it.) It was also hard to build anticipation, since seeing pictures of the city was as easy as opening Google Maps. Reading A Kid's Guide to Rome makes me want to return so that I can walk into the great pictures from this book. 

Not only are there a lot of good travel tips, such as how to get around the city and the sorts of food to look for, but there are also good historical tidbits, such as the fact that the Vespa scooter was developed as a way to get across the war town roads after World War II. Rome has so much history, and it's easy to become obsessed about the ancient parts of the city, so it was good to see descriptions of modern sights as well. I now sort of want to go to an amusement park in another country now, even though I'm not usually a fan of these venues!

This was arranged in a very compelling way, starting with travel and food, and moving on to enticing subjects like secrets of the city. There are some maps that help to understand how big a city Rome is, and a complete index, which is  helpful in looking up different places. 

My students often say they don't want to travel, but I think it's because they don't know what fascinating places there are in the world. This series also includes books about Paris and New York and is perfect for middle school readers. I'm interested in seeing the City Trails books by this publisher, even though they look to be for a bit younger audience. Travel books are a great thing to read when winter blues descend!

Tousey, Jen. Awesome Road Trip Activities for Kids: Over 100 Fun Games, Puzzles, and Journal Prompts!
March 11, 2025 by Callisto Kids
E ARC Provided by Netgalley

This activity book would be a fantastic resource for children who have to take long car trips with their families... as long as they don't get car sick reading in the car the way that I do! This starts with a helpful map of the US, as well as a pictorial listing of road signs. Talk about reinforcing skills needed as an adult! I remember taking the exam for my driver's permit and wondering why I had never paid any attention to road signs! 

This has great prompts for some classic car games, like All Around Town Bingo, and has a section for jokes, problems and riddles. This is a consumable book, so if you have multiple children, you might want more than one copy. There are word searches, codes to break, mazes, and a travel journal, as well as "silly stories", which are rather like Mad Libs. 

There is a helpful answer key at the back, so frustration will be limited. The illustrations are simple and colorful, with plenty of white space. If I had this book as a child, I would have wanted a variety of colors of pens so I could have used this on different trips and kept them straight. The list price for this is $9, which would be money well spent for the entertainment it provides! The author does note that she tested these activities on her daughter, and they do all seem like children up to 12 or 13 would be interested in them. I've recently been appalled at home much time children spend on screens, and this would be a good way to distract children on long journeys without using damaging technology. 

Svoboda, Tomáš Smot. Up, Up, and Away: The History of Aviation

July 8, 2025 by Albatros Media

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

This was a beautifully illustrated overview of the history of aviation, shorter than Grove's Milestones of Flight, but also more culturally inclusive. I was impressed with the range of topics that were included; Akron's Goodyear blimp was even included. Younger readers will be drawn in by the grandfather ostensibly telling the story.

Readers who are interested in the intricacies of the development of different forms of transporation will want to add this one to their shelves alongside Adams and Jay's On Track: The Remarkable Story of How Trains Have Changed Our World, Ralphs' Transported: 50 Vehicles That Changed the World, or Kirkfield's From Here to There.

Written in the Stars

Heart, Lee. Written in the Stars
May 6, 2025 by Simon Spotlight
E ARC provided by Netgalley

Quinn, whose father passed away after a long illness, is still set to go to Camp Whispering Woods for six weeks in the summer, although her mother is still not coping well. She's excited to meet up with old friends Olivia, Emma, and Leah. Her cabin also includes Grace, who seems nice, and Kayla, who comes with a lot of luggage and actually gets up early in the morning to blow dry her hair and put on makeup. Their counselor, Jayden, makes sure that the girls are up in time in the morning and participate in standard camp activities like swim tests, hikes, and drinking "firefly juice" (aka "bug juice"). Camp food is pretty middling, and vegetarian Leah starts counting how many veggie burgers she's eaten, although she does start a campaign and gets the cook to also serve tofu tacos and macaroni and cheese. Quinn has several meetings with cute British boy Harry, and is always excited to see him or hang out after the campfire. Since the camp includes both boys and girls, there is a prank war going on that includes hanging a nightgown from the flag pole and covering the boys' toilet seats with petroleum jelly. There's some talk of Harry and Quinn dating, and a few hugs, but with camp being a very short amount of time, the romance is just a summer tween fling.
Strengths: Having gone to a Campfire Girls' camp, there was never the opportunity for this sort of romance, but it is very fun to think about. And Harry's British? Nice touch. All of the elements of a good camp story are here, with food, outdoor activities, stress over swimming levels, and counselors, but with the added incentive of meeting Harry during some activities. This must be a rather nice camp; I don't think the ones I went to would have had any electricity for blow dryers. Vicarious camp experiences, like vicarious travel, are always fun.
Weaknesses: This needed a lot more romance in it; lingering glances, touching hands, planning on staying in touch, etc. The book is short, which is great, but felt a little rushed. There was no reason to include a deceased father, although I was greatly amused by Quinn's assessment of her mother that "It sounds harsh, but I wish she would just get it together already." I feel that way often about characters, but know that I am not allowed to say that!
What I really think: This is a great choice for readers who love Nelson's WISH books, Darling's Crush books, or other light romances, as well as camp stories. I'm glad to see this Spotlight Sprinkles series, which also includes Meet Me at Sunset (5/6/25) and Playing for Keeps (8/26/25). I will definitely purchase all of these!

Saturday Morning Cartoon Round Up

Williams-Garcia, Rita. and Miller, Sharee (illustrations)
One Crazy Summer: The Graphic Novel
May 6, 2025 by Quill Tree Books
E ARC provided by Netgalley

This book was originally published in 2010, and won many awards, so it's not a surprise that it was adapted into a graphic novel. Since it is historical fiction, the story holds up well. Delphine and her sisters Vonetta and Fern are sent by their father and grandmother from New York to Oakland, California to live with their mother, Nzila, who abandoned them when Fern was a baby. Nzila is very involved with the Black Panthers, so the girls attend the group's summer program while the mother concentrates on her art. The highlights of the original are preserved, but as with any graphic novel adaptation, a lot of the details and back story are neglected. The illustrations are bright and engaging, but not as reflective of the 1960s as they could have been. The girls' skirts are much too long, and there is Chinese take out shown in a very modern day plastic bag. Plastic bags were not much used until the late 1980s. They are so ubiquitous that people forget that. Even into the 1990s, it was more common to get paper bags where I lived. I have several copies of the original, so may not buy this. 

Miller, Kayla. Stuck (Click #7)
May 6, 2025 by Clarion Books
E ARC provided by Netgalley

Olive is excited to head off to Camp Acorn Lake, with friends Bree, Willow, and Max. She's not thrilled that the very negative Nat is in her cabin. When Bree and Max have a fight, Olive gets dragged into the middle of it. When a donor proposes a contest for how her money could be used in the camp, the campers all come up with ideas, and have to present them as skits. These include creature comforts like air conditioning, but Olive thinks the camp would benefit from a garden. She is also building bat houses, and when she tries to hang one up, the weather goes bad. Nat finds her, and the two have a heart to heart about why Olive is so invested in Bree and Max's fight, and about why Nat is so negative. This was a fine addition to a very popular series, and my students will be eager to read it. 

Libenson, Terri. Entirely Emmie (Emmie and Friends #9)

May 6, 2025 by Storytide (HarperCollins)
E ARC provided by Netgalley

Emmie, who struggles with anxiety but who has improved as middle school progresses, is wary of going to the year end school camping trip to Camp Blue Lake, since Sarah will miss it in order to attend a cousin's quinceañera. When Bri gets sick, Emmie must go by herself, although her sister Trina, who is home from college, volunteers as a counselor, where she meets Ciera, whom she later dates. Joe, who is friends with Anthony and Tyler (on whom Emmie has a crush) would rather just stay at home and not be bothered by anyone while eating junk food, is sent to camp by his parents, who DON'T want him to sit around doing nothing. Tyler and Anthony have been leaving him out of their activities, and he gets stuck with Emmie on the bus. He uses humor to try to survive in middle school, but it frequently turns mean. When another girl spends time with Tyler, Emmie is sad, and she and Joe come to an understanding. Joe plans a big prank to try to get the attention of his friends, but it doesn't end well. Tyler asks Emmie out, but she decides that she would rather remain friends. Joe and Emmie have a new appreciation for each other.

There are a lot of characters in this series, and they all get some good coverage, but I sometimes get confused about some of them. This would explain why some of my students reread the books a lot. I'll buy this one, since the series is popular. 

Wasserman, Cassidy. On Guard 

June 10, 2025 by Random House Graphic

E ARC provided by Netgalley

Grace, who is starting 7th grade, is reeling from the combined effects of her parents' divorce and being dropped by her long time best friend, Ava. Her mother is very combative, and makes negative comments about her hair, clothing, etc., while her father is very supportive. While trying to avoid the cafeteria, she happens upon a fencing group, and finds comfort in the sport. I enjoyed the difficult relationship with the mother, but found the author's comments that so many middle grade portrayals of the mother-daughter bond are warm and fuzzy confusing. I think something like The Gilmore Girls is the exception rather than the rule. It will be interesting to see where they series goes, but I wish there were books featuring middle school VOLLEYBALL (which tons of students play) instead of two graphic novels about fencing. (See also Bagley's Duel.) 

Also, could we have a FEW more graphic novels with boys as the main characters? That would be helpful, since they are the ones who generally are drawn to the format.

I am Rebel

Montgomery, Ross. I Am Rebel

June 27, 2025 by Candlewick Press

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Rebel lives an idyllic life on a farm with his boy, Tom, who is twelve. They sleep in a cozy bed, have bacon for breakfast, and spend the days in the fields with the sheep. When the King's Guardsman show up at the house demanding double the taxes, Tom's Mum and Dad say that they will try to gather the money, but Tom thinks they should stand up against this treatment. In the woods, he meets Rider, an outlaw who is organizing a rebellion against the King in the High Tower. He gives Tom a red piece of cloth, but when Tom's parents find this, they are most unhappy. Tom runs away to join the rebellion, leaving the red cloth on Rebel's neck. Rebel is bereft and runs after his beloved owner. Eating some sorrell in the fields, he becomes very ill and is helped by Jaxon, a Masterless Dog. Rebel pleads with him to take him to Drulter, where a pig he has met mentioned the rebels are meeting, but when they get to the town, all they find is a picture Tom has drawn. A pub dog, Rollo, says that he can get them more information, but instead turns them over to Guardsmen. This catapults the two unlikely friends on an epic journey to reunite with Tom that takes them to a bothy where the rebels have stored guns (and where they meet Felix, a mouse whose wife was mistakenly taken a long with them), to the besieged city of Unsk, across a river, to the home of Pol, a shepherdess, and eventually onto the field of battle, where Rebel leads a charge that helps the Red Army defeat the king. On the way back, Rebel, Jaxon, and Tom have to decide what their roles will be after their adventures. 

Strengths: This had the feel of a classic animal adventure like Burnford's 1961 The Incredible Journey, but with a historical twist. Rebel is an endearing character who adores his boy and doesn't want to be separated from him. Jaxon is an irascible but good hearted wild dog who reluctantly helps the clueless Rebel from perishing, even though Rebel saves Jaxon twice, tethering the two together. There are a number of other animals as well, whom the pair meet on their way to the High Castle, but also on the way back home. There are a few humans as well, like Pol and her Grandad, who win Jaxon's trust and fix his injured paw. This are some philosophical moments, when Rebel meets the Companion and goes briefly to something like heaven before deciding he needs to stay to find Tom. While he makes it to the field of battle, Tom is injured, and the two sit out the worst of the fighting. Despite the sadness of the setting, this is a warm hearted tale of devotion and gratefulness that dog loving readers will adore. 
Weaknesses: This is set in an indeterminate place and time, although it has a pre-1800s feel to it. I personally prefer to know the setting of books, especially when they feel historical, but this doesn't seem to be referencing any particular king or military conflict. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed Pennypacker's Pax or the animal tales of Sam Angus or Michael Morpurgo. 

The blurb on Amazon for this compares it to Dragt's 1962 Letter for the King, which was just rereleased by Pushkin Children's Books. Has anyone this title? It hadn't been on my radar at all. 

Death By Whoopee Cushion

Grant, Vicki. Death By Whoopee Cushion

July 29, 2025 by Tundra Books

E ARC provided by Netgalley
 

Manya's parents are rather embarassing. They run a joke shop, Pranks a Million, and are very enthusiastic about their work, even driving a car that is decorated to look like a clown. The family lives in an apartment over the shop, which is next door to Delia's Divine Diva's, a lingerie shop owned by Manya's best friend Isaac's single mother. Business isn't great, but her father uses the extra time working in the "Funcubator" coming up with premium, high quality, "artisanal" pranks to set the shop apart. Two older, retired gentlemen, Gary and Sarge, often hang out in the shop, dusting and straightening merchandise. Both Manya and Isaace are very interested in science, and when a Serious Science camp is offered at the local Natural History Museum, they really want to attend, even though the $100 registration fee is a reach for their families. The camp goes well, but when Manya's parents plan a visit to her school, things go badly wrong. Their gravy blaster gun explodes, killing a newly hired custodian, Mr. Honig. Both parents are arrested and taken to jail pending an investigation, and Manya is left in Delia's care. When forensics show that a lethal chemical was added to the prank, things don't look good, despite the high priced attorney Delia has hired. When Isaac and Manya start investigating, they find out secrets about the parents past that may have some bearing on what happened. Will they be able to count out suspects like Gary and a troublesome school mate and prove the parents' innocence?

Strengths: Murder mysteries are absolutely the number one request I get from students, which shouldn't be a surprise to the publishing world, based on how many ADULT murder mysteries are published every year, and on how many television shows have a CSI bent. There is a nice set up to the story before the murder, so I came to know and like Manya and Isaac, and to want Pranks a Million to succeed. When the murder occurred, it was clear from the beginning that the parents were innocent even though the situation looked bad, so it made sense for the kids to investigate and to try to figure out who framed the parents. The mystery was very well developed, and explained a lot about the parents, but I don't want to ruin the surprises there. This was rather dark in the end, and there are multiple off page murders; it would make a great episode of my current guilty pleasure, the German SOKO Potsdam mysteries. I especially appreciated that Delia was there when Manya's parents were taken into custody; when I was in middle school, one of my friend's fathers was taken into custody for tax evasion, and it was very traumatic for her.

Weaknesses: While I loved the mix of humor and murder mystery, my students who really like murder mysteries might not want a book with a whoopee cushion on the cover. Still, this is better than another mystery about missing dogs. I also wish we knew a tiny bit more about Mr. Honig so his death was more wrenching.

What I really think: We need more murder mysteries, so add this to a short but effective list that includes April Henry's work, Souder's Coop Knows the Scoop or The Radcliffe Riddle, Sorrell's First Shot, or McDonald's Pepper's Rules for Secret Sleuthing. We're so desperate for this genre at my school that Ferguson's 2006 The Christopher Killer series still circulates really well.