MMGM- Last Laugh and The Rescues

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Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
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Always in the Middle 

and #IMWAYR day 

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Unleashing Readers

Alexander, K.R. Last Laugh

January 2, 2024 by Scholastic Inc.

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Victor lives with his parents and his older sister Sarah and younger sister Genevieve. When his grandmother needs to travel out of town, the children's mother has them stay at their grandmother's house to watch her three cats. The grandmother was a world traveler, and her house is packed with objects she has collected, and there are a good number of dolls, which Victor finds a bit creepy. High school aged Sarah isn't happy, and decides to go out with friends, leaving Victor and Genevieve alone. To get back at her, Victor breaks his grandmother's rules and goes into her bedroom, where he finds an immense collection of clown figurines. He takes one and tucks it under the covers of the bed where Sarah will sleep, since she is terrified of clowns. When Sarah comes home, she finds her clothes in the sink, covered with ketchup, and feels that it is Victor's way of getting back at her for leaving. The only problem, Victor didn't do it. And the clown is gone. Once the children return home, Victor starts being stalked by clown figurines and dolls that no one else can see. He eventually confides in his sisters and his best friend. They believe him, but there's little they can do. I don't want to say much more and spoil the plot, but Victor has to battle the clowns to save his grandmother, who becomes ill because they are on the rampage, and who holds the key to why they are all evil! 

Strengths: Well, I didn't have coulrophobia before, but there's nothing like a clown doll menacing characters with a steak knife to instill a little bit of fear! There's just enough family drama in this to root it to reality, and I loved that the siblings are fighting together. The grandmother's backstory with the clowns is a nice twist, and makes sense. It doesn't hurt that we end on a bit of a cliffhanger; the story's not over, not that there will be a sequel. This makes it extra creepy. It's good to see that Victor has a good friend (don't have the book E ARC with me; I think it began with a G. Gavin or Garrett), and they are not only able to work together, but the clowns target him because of their friendship. The epic clown battle is great. Students who think they want to read Stephen King's It will definitely pick this up, as will Alexander's loyal followers. 

Weaknesses: Alexander writes a LOT of books, and they're really good, but they aren't perfect. My weaknesses are minor: this got a bit repetitive, the clowns weren't doing much actual damage, and the fight was a little shorter than it could have been. I loved the grandmother's story, and that could have been better developed; we don't really find out about her involvement until everything is over, and it would have been cool to see her help with the fighting instead of having her be passed out in a hospital bed. Again, none of this will stop my students from devouring this title. 
What I really think: Are there many middle grade books about creepy clowns? R.L. Stine's Nightmare on Clown Street is the only one I can recall, although Arden's Small Spaces gave me that vibe. Is it that clowns are TOO SCARY for middle school? This is a possibility. At any rate, I will purchase three copies... to start. There may need to be more. Over the summer, all of this author's books came back, and there wasn't enough room on the shelf for them because they are usually all checked out. 

Greenwald, Tommy, Greenwald, Charlie, Pate, Shiho (illus.)

The Rescues Finding Home (The Rescues #1)

September 5, 2023 by Red Comet Press

Purchased copy

In this early chapter book, we meet two dogs, Moose and Bear. Moose is missing an eye, and Bear is missing a leg, but the two are great friends and love to play together. They are living in a shelter where they get few visitors who might want to adopt them. One day, they are out in the yard, and deciding that neither looks much like the animal for which he is named. This escalates into both climbing up a tree and getting stuck there. Luckily, a woman named Cathy comes along and adopts both dogs. They are happy in their new home, and enjoy romping in the yard and getting treats from Mailman Joe. When a fence goes up, they are dismayed that they do not get to see as much of the world. They manage to tunnel under the fence and escape, but some home in time for dinner. When they crawl back under the fence and into the yard, they meet a new inhabitant, a cat named Tiger. Cathy washes up the new animal, but he has trouble sleepy. Moose and Bear helpfully try to sing Tiger to sleep and even trade beds with him. Eventually, the three snuggle up together and become best friends. 

The representation of older, special needs dogs in this is wonderful, and much needed in the world of dog books. The level of text complexity also fills a gap in children's literature in that it is slightly longer than a picture book but not quite a beginning novel. Butler's Kayla and King series or I Can Read Books with be the closest comparison. 

Moose and Bear are just goofy enough to get children giggling, but also has serious themes of family and togetherness. I loved how Bear and Moose tried to get Tiger to sleep, and how generous they were with sharing their toys. A sequel is in the offing, most likely having to do with Bear and Moose weathering a storm, which would be a great companion to the new Melling title, Ruffles and the Cozy, Cozy Bed! 

While the focus of this blog is definitely Middle Grade, I review a number of picture books for Young Adult Books Central. I'm such a huge fan of Greenwald's work that I actually bought my own copy of this title so Mr. Greenwald could sign it when he came to my school for an author visit! Pongo was very happy to be immortalized in the inscription.