Lie Until It's True and Darkness and Demon Song

Weaver, Jessie. Lie Until It's True

May 7, 2024 by Melissa de la Cruz Studio

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

In this sequel to Live Your Best Lie (which I haven't read), Amanda Pruitt and her family are glad that her sister, Cora, has been found not guilty of the murder of a social media influencer, even though Amanda was the one who turned her in and who has a TikTok account under the name of UntilProven that has reported insider information about her sister's case without their parents' knowledge. Amanda is going to spend some time with her Aunt Amy at the Summit Hotel, where she hasn't been for three years. Why? A famous artist, Royden Das, was killed there, and her friend Vince's mother is in jail for the murder. His granddaughter, Lillia Das, is living nearby. Vince is trying to keep his family's art gallery afloat, and is glad to see Amanda, because he has a huge crush on her. Mallory, whose parents own the summit, is romantically involved with Cole, whose mom managed the facility. Cole thinks that Das' murder was committed by a ghost, and he has invited the Haunting or Homicide program to the hotel to investigate. To sweeten the deal, he has offered up Amanda and her online personality as part of the investigation. There's a lot of intrigue involving Das' romantic interest 50 years ago, who through herself off the hotel before they eloped and is said to haunt the hotel. The hotel is struggling financially, and Cole thinks that the program will help. Amanda doesn't want her identity known. When Cole is found murdered, and Amanda has blood on her clothing after suffering a seizure and not remembering how she got from one place to another, there is a lot of interest in this new case. How are the three violent deaths connected to each other, the hotel, and to Amanda? 

Strengths: My students ask frequently for murder mysteries, and since this involves not only an elderly artist's death but also a (not so nice) teen, this will have a lot of appeal. The cover is fantastic. The inclusion of social media will add to the appeal, and I really appreciated that there was no language or descriptions that would push this into the high school category. Amanda's seizure disorder is intriguing, and her fear that she is the one behind the two murders adds some interest. 
Weaknesses: This was somewhat hard to follow because of the shifts in viewpoint; sometimes there are flashbacks, some of the chapters are social media posts and comments, and there are also texts. This is a Young Adult Novel in length. 
What I really think: The hotel setting of this reminded me a bit of Stine's You May Now Kill the Bride. This would be a great choice for a high school library, and would be okay for a middle school one where Patterson's Confessions of a Murder Suspect is popular, but I'm afraid that my students would struggle with the flashbacks. I'm debating purchase. I really loved Barnes' The Inheritance Games, but it's been hard to get students to read it, mainly because of the length of each book, and the fact that it is also a long series. 

Fournet, M.R. Darkness and Demon Song (Marius Gray #2) 

June 18, 2024 by Feiwel & Friends

ARC provided by Young Adult Books Central

In this sequel to Brick Dust and Bones, In this sequel to Brick Dust and Bones, Marius has managed to bring his mother, Kelly, back from the dead. He continues to go to Madame Millet's school, where he has met the enigmatic Lynna, and also hunts monsters, selling them to Papa Harold. His flesh-eating mermaid friend, Rhiannon, still helps support him. When Marius stops by a local restaurant, the Old Coffee Pot, with his mother and Lynna, he manages to free some ghost hunters who are being possessed by spirits, but his mother becomes violently ill. Something is not quite right, and he tries to find out. He seeks the help of a retired demon hunter, Creecher, who sends him on a mission to find out how good he is, and then tells him that his mother is possessed by a demon. He consults Papa Harold, who says that if Marius can capture the Honey Island Swamp monster, he'll help with information so Marius can exorcise his mother. The monster is actually protecting owls on Honey Island, so Marius doesn't capture him. Now, he needs other help to rid his mother of the demon. With the help of Madame Millet, Mama Roux, and Creecher, will he be able to locate part of his mother's soul in Hell and reunite her with it? While this book could conclude Marius' story, there is a bit of demon song wafting through the air at the end that could lead to yet another tale.

Marius' relationship with Rhiannon has something of the feel of Tom's relationship with Alice in The Revenge of the Witch, which is not black and white, and therefore very interesting. How can you be friends with someone you are supposed to think is a monster? The New Orleans setting, with the super creepy paranormal creatures (children with solid black eyes infesting a movie theater!), is great, and the plot moves along very quickly. I KNEW that bringing Marius' mother back from the dead would have some negative ramifications, but I liked How Marius was determined to solve the problem, had a support network he could ask for help, and did everything in his power to put things right.

I wasn't quite sure where Marius and his mother were living. I think they were still in the graveyard, living in a mausoleum, which seemed odd. Of course, she wasn't really in any condition to hold a job and rent an apartment, so that makes some sense. The details in the first book of their living arrangements was interesting, so I would have liked to know more. I was also hoping that Marius' life would return to normal so that he was even more invested to work to keep his mother.

I enjoyed this one, and it's not often we see a middle grade horror SERIES. I'd love to see Fournet write some stand alones with the same setting, but with different monster hunters. Readers who enjoyed Baptiste's Jumbies series or Royce's  Conjure Island will be glad to be able to travel back to New Orleans.

BLOG TOUR! Rachel Friedman Breaks the Rules

Kapit, Sarah and Kote, Genevieve (Illus.) Rachel Friedman Breaks the Rules
June 18, 2024 by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Rachel is eight years old and doesn't like to follow the rules. Her father is doing his best to raise her and her older brother Aaron after the death of her mother when Rachel was very young, but struggles with the best way to handle Rachel's defiance and ADHD. Rachel does gymnastics, and idolizes teen sensation Holly Luna, so when her best friend Maya gets tickets to go see her, Rachel is jealous. After several different episodes involving not following the rules, like throwing challah at Aaron and making and throwing a paper airplane at shul, Rachel's father makes her a deal; if she can follow the rules for a week, she can go see Holly Luna. Rachel really tries, but when one of Aaron's friends leaves the door to the house open and her cat Cookie escapes, Rachel breaks the very important rule of not crossing the street alone so she can rescue her pet. She not only has to clean the litter box for the month, but the trip to see Holly Luna is off. To protest, Rachel decides to break as many rules as she can. She wears her pajamas to shul, eats a cookie there, and finishes off her display by doing a cartwheel in the aisle. Rabbi Ellen is very understanding, and tells Rachel that while questioning is an important part of Jewish faith, there are some important reasons why the rules exist. Rachel's father apologizes to her for not understanding her point of view and lets her go see her idol. This appears to be the first book in a planned series. 

Strengths: Rachel is an amusing character, somewhat along the lines of Junie B. Jones and her exuberantly defiant personality. Her hatred of rules will be shared by many young readers, who will applaud her attempts to push boundaries. Kote's illustrations are perfect, and add a lot of interest to the page. Rachel's Jewish culture plays a large role in the book, and I especially liked Rabbi Ellen's assertion that questioning is part of religious tradition. 
Weaknesses: Since I have to deal all day with children who think the rules don't apply to them, and that they can run in the hallway, I would have preferred it if Rachel had been more considerate of others. I wasn't quite sure why she was so averse to rule following, and I prefer a character like Nina Soni, who occasionally gets into trouble but learns from her experiences. 
What I really think: This is a good addition to culturally connected early reader series like Sheth's Nina Soni, Brown's Lola Levine, and Warner's Absolutely Alfie, and, Florence's  Jasmine Toguchi.

The Sequel, Rachel Friedman and Eight Not-Perfect Nights of Hanukkah is out September 3, 2024, and the third, Rachel Friedman Is Not the Queen, is out in February 2025!

Rachel Friedman Breaks the Rules Blog Tour Schedule

June 17

@Rootedreaders

@adthompson

@diversify.our.parenting

@thenextgenlibrarian

@the_library_family

@arethoseyourkids

@the_unwined

June 18

@dharashahauthor

@djredsbooks

June 19

@Shelvesofcolor

@msyinglingreads

@babiestobookworms

June 20

@picturebookrecommendations

@bookishrealm

June 21

@jewishyabooks

@notinjersey

Countdown to Yesterday

Marr, Shirley. Countdown to Yesterday
June 18, 2024 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

James is 11, and things are tense in his house. His mother, who has never before made a cake for the school fundraiser, has decided to take on the most difficult one in the Australian Women's Weekly Children's Birthday Cake book for her first attempt. While her own mother, who had immigrated from China, didn't use this revered cookbook, she is determined to finally make James a cake. She makes James go to school early to get assigned that choice and everything. This is just one of the tell tale signs that something is wrong in his house. His mother and father seem at odds, so it's only slightly surprising when his mother says that she has found a new apartment. His father is staying in the house, with all of his computer equipment he uses for his job as well as his musical instruments. Around this time, James runs into Yan, who always has her nose in a vintage computer textbook, and the two commiserate about the difficulties with parents. They also hang out in the school library, in the room where the librarians stock pile old books and equipment, and come up with the idea of a time machine. Yan says she has created one, and even James' father claims that computers might make this possible. As things escalate with his mother's baking and her encounters with the mother of James' nemesis, who also wants to make the rocket cake, James becomes determined to travel to the past to revisit happy memories. When Yan and James make this happen, will James choose to remain in the past, or does revisiting it give him new insights?
Strengths: I'm a fan of time travel books, so enjoyed the combination of computers that James and Yan were able to cobble together in order to make time travel work. The idea of traveling through an Internet Archive "WayBack Machine", but to the actual place and time rather than a web site, was intriguing. I also enjoyed the birthday cake cookbook mentions, although I feel compelled to note that the US Baker's Coconut Cut-Up Cakes is very similar and predates this by a couple of decades. Yan and James work well together, and the depiction of the divorce and the new living arrangements will resonate with many young readers. 

Weaknesses: While I personally enjoyed all of the cake details, there should have been fewer of those and more details about time travel for the target demographic, especially readers in the US for whom this book won't have any emotional connections. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed Edge's The Many Worlds of Albie Bright or Welford's Time Traveling with a Hamster. 
 

MMGM- Stepping Off and Jane Addams: The Most Dangerous Woman in America

It's

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
 at 

Always in the Middle 

and #IMWAYR day 

at

Unleashing Readers

Sonnenblick, Jordan. Stepping Off.
June 4, 2024 by Scholastic Press
E ARC Provided by Edelweiss Plus

When Jesse is at his family's home in Tall Pines Landings, everything seems better. Unlike his life in Long Island, where he commutes into Manhattan for school, his life in Pennsylvania includes good friends, fun activities, and a feeling that "the real world isn't real". That's the slogan for the community, but also something that Jesse holds onto tightly when he is in New York. His long time best friends are Ava and Chloe, and since he is heading into his junior year in high school, he's trying to reconcile his feelings of friendship with the romantic attraction he feels... to both girls. On some days, he thinks that he wants to be involved with moody Ava, whose younger sister Annie he coaches in tennis, but on others, he prefers the sunny, carefree Chloe. Lately, though, his attention has been taken off of his friendships and his musical interests by his parents constant bickering. His mother, a high school teacher, and his father, a busy doctor, fight over everything, and have started to avoid being in the same place at the same time. Feeling that maybe his mother is hiding a new relationship, Jesse reaches out to his grandparents, who come to visit from Florida to assess the situation as well as spend time with Jesse and his sister Leah, who is in college. There's not much the grandparents can do, but his grandmother does leave him with a freezer full of matzo ball soup. When Ava's mother dies, her grief distracts the teens from relationship problems for a while, but also distances them from each other. Jesse and Chloe finally connect after a romantic evening on the lake, but when Jesse is called back to New York suddenly, he doesn't know where the relationship stands. He doesn't want to say anything to Ava when he can't talk to her in person, and this upsets his remote support network. He starts the school year, but everything seems off. He has a good friend, Carson, but things just aren't right. He tries to visit Chloe, but that doesn't go well, and it's hard to deal with his parents being separated, especially with Leah off at college. When March of 2020 rolls around, the Pandemic causes lots of changes. Jesse's father has to work at the hospital and retirement facilities, so doesn't want Jesse to be exposed to him. For a while, Jesse and his mother live in her apartment, but eventually decide to head out to Tall Pines Landings. Eventually, Chloe and Ava's families come as well, and Jesse has to come to terms with the fact that his world of refuge has suddenly become his "real world". He has to deal with remote schooling, family members getting ill, and Chloe and Ava needing answers. As the lockdown continues, will he find a way to figure out both of his lives?

Sonnenblick always does such a fantastic job of writing young adult books that also speak to middle grade sensibilities, and is one of the few authors writing realistic, sometimes humorous fiction for adolescent males. I think that adults forget how all encompassing the desire for romantic entanglements is in high school, but Sonnenblick has not. Jesse's attraction to both girls is real, compelling, and utterly confusing to him. Getting a whiff of Chloe's hair can almost make him faint. He doesn't want to hurt either girl, but likes them both equally. This will sound all too familiar to high school readers, and will be a tantalizing peek at the future for middle school ones. 

Jesse has other interests, of course. He works at the Tall Pines recreation center and is very sweet with Ava's sister Annie. He plays guitar, and composes songs for his friends, some more successful than others. He attends a very competitive math and science school, and the depiction of his grades falling when he is struggling with family issues is all too realistic. 

The family issues are something I would love to see come into play a lot more in realistic fiction. Young people spend a lot of time with their families, and when things are stressful, it can affect every aspect of their lives. It's good to see that Ava does take some solace in being with Jesse and Chloe after her mother's death, and also that Jesse and his sister are able to remain friendly when their parents are squabbling. Jesse's grandparents felt so utterly real to me, and their experience during the pandemic was painfully close to home. 

The best part of this book might just be the portrayal of life during the COVID-19 pandemic. I've read several books set during that time, but none of them seemed quite right. Perhaps it was too soon. When Jesse describes the days at school leading up to Friday, March 13 as having "a weird, day-before-Christmas-if-Christmas-were-a-nuclear-holocaust vibe in the air", that's exactly what it felt like to me. I didn't see anyone in person for months, and didn't hang out in stained sweatpants, but somehow Jesse's pandemic felt very much like my own. The fact that we were involved in his life for quite a while before the pandemic hit made the contrast all the more poignant. 

I've been a fan of Sonnenblick's ever since Notes from a Midnight Driver, which is about the same age as Jesse now, and never quite believe that the books are as good as they are. How can they be such a fantastic mix of "awkward multiplied by heartbreak" and still be so funny? I don't know, but I am glad to see this new title, and will hope for many, many more. 

Brill, Marlene Targ. Jane Addams: The Most Dangerous Woman in America
June 18, 2024 by Ohio University Press
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Born in 1860,  Jane Addams had a life that was financially comfortable and progressive, although also beset with physical hardships. Her father started a flour mill and used his financial and social position to help the welfare of others, and allowed Jane opportunities that many young women did not have at the time. However, Jane's mother died right after she was born, and Jane herself suffered from tuberculosis of the spine, which often left her in constant pain. Even though her father was a great believer in education, she was not allowed to go to Smith, but instead had to attend the strict Rockford Women's Seminary, where she fought to be the first woman to get a degree from the institution instead of just a diploma, in 1881. She was going to attend the Women's Medical College of Philadelphia, but her ill health prevented this. She spent time trying to figure out what she wanted to do with her life, traveling and helping with her family. Eventually, she and a college classmate, Ellen Gates Starr, founded Hull House in Chicago in 1889. Housed in a mansion in a formerly well-to-do area, Addams sought input from the nearby residents as to what services would help them. Services ranged from food, day care, and job placement to volunteer classes, language classes, and drama and art clubs. There was even a nurse who would provide basic medical treatment. Even early on, two thousand people a week came through the doors. Not content with limiting herself to the operation of Hull House, Addams also fought for child labor laws, sanitation improvements, and for equal opportunities for people of all bakgrounds. She was a mediator in the Pullman strike, and was the first vice president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association in 1912. She wrote books and articles to raise awareness and as a way to earn money for her causes. She suffered from constant ill health, and suffered at various times from typhoid, tuberculosis, cancer, and even a heart attack! She continued to work for the public good, eventually succumbing to lung cancer in 1934. 

Strengths: This was a fantastic overview not only of Addams' life but of the social and historical context in which she lived. There are a good number of pictures to help younger readers understand what the world looked like in Addams' time; I especially loved the picture of her with her classmates! The information about her family and how they formed her personality was especially interesting, and the fact that there was a women's medical college in existence in 1881 was something I feel like I should research more! The concept of Hull House seems like it would be a good thing for people of wealth to put together today; the social work of the 1800 and early 1900s was really fascinating, and would help with so many problems today. Other than LeBron James' initiatives in Akron, I don't know of other similar philanthropic efforts, although there must be some. It's the grassroots nature of Addams' work that is so appealing. The fact that she fought through so many health issues and yet always took on more and more work is inspiring. I was to share her story with all of my students! 
Weaknesses: This is being released in paperback; given its value for research, I would love to have a hardcover copy of it. At least Ohio University Press usually uses a higher quality of paper than most paperbacks have. 
What I really think: This is a must purchase for all school and public libraries. It's a great biography of a woman who gave so much to society, and who deserves to be remembered. I am so glad that Brill subtitled this "The Most Dangerous Woman in America", acknowledging the power that Addams had. It's so much better than the book I read as a child; Wagoner's 1944 Jane Addams: Little Lame Girl. 

Invisible Isabel

Pla, Sally and de Regil, Tania (Illus.) Invisible Isabel

July 9, 2024 by Quill Tree Books

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Elementary school aged Isabel Beane comes from a large family that includes older brother Ian and sisters Irene and Iliana, as well as younger twin siblings Ivy and Isaac. She is not fond of the hustle and bustle of her household, preferring quiet and solitude, but her mother brushes off her concerns. She is also uncomfortable at school, where Mrs. Pickel, her teacher, is a brusque, demanding woman who has no time for Isabel'd delicate constitution because she wants all of her students to work nonstop on preparing for testing, on which she expects they will get perfect scores. All of these things make Isabel have "worry moths" in her stomach, not that her mother believes that she is really ill. Isabel used to have friends, but they have all moved on, urged in part by Monica to avoid Isabel because she is too quiet and sensitive. Monica's mother is gone, and her busy father isn't coping well, so Monica's life is all TOO quiet for her. When she is allowed to have a birthday party, her father insists that she invite all the girls in her class, but Monica gets around inviting Isabel by talking to her and encouraging her to say that she doesn't like parties. Thinking that this conversation was a friendly overature and that if she drew pictures of all of the girls, they might be her friends, Isabel works hard on these and puts them on the girls' lockers. She forgets to sign her name, and Monica is dismissive, but it does make a difference to the other girls, who are becoming weary of Monica's abrasive personality. When Isabel doesn't feel well on the day of testing, her mother and Mrs. Pickel once again tell her it is all in her head (where Isabel is quite sure the pain is NOT), but once testing is over and she is found curled up in a ball under her desk, with a high fever, it turns out that she has appendicitis. The doctor who operates turns out to be Monica's father, and her ruse about inviting Isabel to the birthday party is uncovered. After talking to Isabel, he tells her parents that having worry moths is not something to be taken lightly, and suggests that maybe Isabel is neurodivergent. Her parents finally listen to her concerns, and she gets some help with coping strategies from Counselor Wanda. At the end of the book, Isabel is referred to as autistic. 

Strengths: There are many students in middle school who exhibit symptoms of anxiety, and I'm sure that there are many at the elementary students as well. Isabel seemed to be in second or third grade, so it is very likely that she has not yet been identified as needing to be evaluating for her neurodivergent qualities. The girl drama is very true to life, and being the only child not invited to a birthday party is very disheartening. The illustrations by de Regil are a nice touch. 
Weaknesses: The combination of the "worry moths" of anxiety and the physical symptons of appendicitis might confuse some readers and cause them to worry that their psychosomatic pain, as real as it is, might be more serious. While I'm glad that Isabel's symptoms were eventually taken seriously, I almost wish that the precipitating event hadn't been apendicitis. Also, I think few elementary teachers who support testing as much as Mrs. Pickel.
What I really think: This is a bit too young for middle school, but would be an excellent addition to an elementary library for students who enjoyed Gennari's Muffled, Mackler's Not If I Can Help It, or Kapit's Get a Grip, Vivy Cohen!

Camp Sylvania: Moon Madness

Murphy, Julie and Maldonado, Crystal. Camp Sylvania #2: Moon Madness 

May 14, 2024 by Balzer + Bray
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

After a disastrous summer with vampires in Camp Sylvania, the campers are given not only a voucher to attend the new and improved camp, but also a voucher for a friend. Maggie is thrilled to be able to bring her best friend Nora, who is in turn happy to be getting a break from her new stepdad Steve and stepbrother Darren, even though things are going fairly well with the new family. The two are prepared for a great camping experience, but upon arrival find that they are in separate cabins. One is bunking with Kit and Evelyn, and one has a cabin with just Claire, the daughter of Luna, the new camp director. Instead of a weight loss camp, Luna is running a earthy/crunchy holistic healing experience, and one of the first things that is done is to take all of the campers "synthetic" food and toiletries. Several of the campers do hang on to their acne cream! There are breathing workshops, sound baths, primal scream therapy, organic food, and Respectful Sage Burning. Luna's insistence on "moon water", a glowing water used for just about every purpose, gives Maggie and Nora pause, and even Claire admits that there were a few side effects, although none were particularly serious. When counselor Birdie starts to exhibit some odd symptoms, and these eventually spread to the campers, the campers know that this is yet another paranormally connected summer camp, and must work to wrestle control back from Luna. Will junk food and acne cream be their saviors?
Strengths: This is a perfect level of horror for late elementary school students, who might not have had a chance to go to summer camp but are very much looking forward to it. While Luna is not as evil as Sylvia, the director of the camp from the first book, there are still plenty of horrific things occuring that I don't want to spoil. The packing list that included different gems was a good indication of how this camp would work, and was a different approach than the "fat camp" setting in the first book. Maggie and Nora have realistic struggles with their friendship, and the secondary characters are pleasant and helpful. This isn't a graphic novel, although the cover might draw in fans of Sedita's The Pathfinder's Society.
Weaknesses: Chapters were from alternating points of view, and I had some difficulty telling Nora and Maggie apart. Also, it seemed odd that the girls would bring decorative lights, posters, and Squishmallows to camp for just a couple of weeks. There was also a lot of attention to fashionable clothing. Must be a posher camp than I ever attended!
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed Parker's The Devouring Wolf, LaRocca and Baron's The Secret of the Dragon Gems, or other summer camp stories with supernatural elements.

Mid-Air

Williams, Alicia D. Mid-Air
April 23, 2024 by Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Book

ARC provided by Follett First Look

Isaiah has been friends with Darius and Drew for a long time, and the three often try to break world records, often involving their skateboards. Both Drew and Isaiah have to deal with fathers who frequently travel; Isaiah's father is a photographer for National Geographic while Drew's is in the military. While he gets a long with these friends, Isaiah doesn't tell them everything about himself. He collects vintage concert t shirts from heavy metal groups that his friends consider "too white", he enjoys helping his mother with plants for her business, and he secretly enjoys wearing nail polish. His father thinks he should "toughen up", but sometimes the stunts that his friends want to pull are too much for him. When the three try to break a record for wheelies, they head to a neighborhood with better street surfaces and encounter someone who yells at them to leave. Tragedy occurs when the melee ends with Drew not seeing a car approaching. Both Isaiah and Drew are devasted by their friend's death and think it's their fault. Drew becomes very quiet, leaving Isaiah to suffer alone. During the summer, Isaiah is sent to live with relatives and help on the farm, which is very therapeutic. He meets a girl, Kiana, who accepts his "softer" side and even gives him black nail polish to wear. When he returns home, he has a better grasp of who he is, connects more with Darius, and gets ready to start high school as his authentic self.
Strengths: Like Williams' Genesis Begins Again, this is a great exploration of personal identity, a very important topic in middle grade literature. It's interesting to see her embrace the novel in verse format. I particularly enjoyed Isaiah's relationship with both of his parents, which was close but somehow detached in the way that parent-child relationships tend to become when children get into high school and have to decide who they are in the world at large. The grief is certainly there, but I appreciated that Isaiah was working at overcoming his guilt and really trying to figure out how to move forward. The difficulties with Drew are also well portrayed, and the fact that Isaiah is concentrating on his own issues and not really understanding what his friend is going through is absolutely true to life. There's a lot of healing and understanding that goes on, leaving this book with a hopeful ending as Isaiah starts high school unafraid to show the world his interests.
Weaknesses: This is a rather contemplative and long novel, which would probably appeal very much to Isaiah himself, but doesn't have as much action as the cover would indicate. On the bright side, it is a book that involves skateboarding without involving the characters in building a skate park.
What I really think: This is not quite as philosophical as Rhodes' Ghost Boys, Draper's Tears of a Tiger, or Alexander's Rebound, and is equal parts dealing with grief and finding personal identity. This is a good choice for readers who want to read about more well rounded male friendships, like those in Jung's The Boys in the Back Row, Lucas' Thanks a Lot, Universe. or Craft's New Kid.

The (Mostly) True Story of Cleopatra's Needle

Gutman, Dan. The (Mostly) True Story of Cleopatra's Needle
June 4, 2024 by Holiday House
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

A mother, who is a storyteller, is hanging out with her kid, and the two end up in Central Park near the Cleopatra's Needle obelisk. The kid isn't really interested in the impressive monument, but the mother proceeds to tell a story about it. Starting in about 1425 BCE, we meet Zosar Zubeir, who likes in Aswan, Egypt with his family. They are enslaved people from Syria, but the father is a talented stonecutter who is approached to work on constructing the obelish. It is promised that after the obelisk is done, the family will be freed, but after 621 days of backbreaking work, they are instead retained to work on another monument. There are lots of interesting details about how the stone was cut and made into its shape.

From there, we travel to Heliopolis in 1459. Thurmosis III is the pharaoh, and the drawings of young Lateef Jabari (that his mother had thrown out into the street) come to his attention. He wants Lateef to draw the hieroglyphics proclaiming all of his wonderful accomplishments so the carvers know what to inscribe. Later, Lateef witnesses the construction of a hill of sand and the installation of the needle.

In 1879, Panya Hassan is dismayed to find that Egypt is giving the needle to the US, hoping it will encourage more tourism, although she's not entirely happy to have so many Americans already in her country, looking at the Suez Canal and planning on taking artifacts home with them. She joins protests about this, and is also angry that the Statue of Liberty is being given to the US by France, instead of to Egypt.

Thomas Brighton of England has run away from home and stowed away on a ship. Finding himself in Egypt, he witnesses the efforts to get the obelisk onto a ship so that it can be carried to the US. He keeps a diary, and details how Commander Gorringe cuts a hole in the cargo hold so the needle can be carried there. Thomas has some good engineering ideas, and helps the crew, so he is able to sail with them, although the 39 day voyage is rough and includes a storm.

When the ship arrives in New York City, we meet Rebecca Watson, who is a young inventor aspiring to be the next Thomas Edison. She watches the progress of the needle from the harbor to its home in Central Park with interest. It takes a long time, and meets many difficulties. At one point, Commander Gorringe dines at her house, and after witnessing her invention to make it easier to pass dishes (a rudimentary Lazy Susan with marbles to move the boards), decides to adopt the same design to help with some tricky movements of the monument. It turns out that the storyteller's great grandmother was Rebecca, which is why she is so interested in the story and wants her child to know about it as well.

This was a very unusual format, but it worked. Mr. Gutman lives not far from Cleopatra's Needle, and has often biked by it. During the pandemic (when he wasn't filming delightful readings of his books to share with homebound students), he researched the background, and thought it would be more engaging to see the history through the eyes of young people who might have been involved. He is very clear in the end notes as to what he has made up and what is real; the children are all fictional, but everything that happened is based on some historical backgrounds. This addresses issues of modern concern, like the plight of enslaved people in Ancient Egypt, the theft of antiquities, and the way some groups of people are unfairly treated. There is even mention of a time capsule from 1880 that is under the obelisk; we may never know what was placed in it!

Gutman's work always has a nice mix of humor and history, evident in fictional books like The Flashback Four, Houdini and Me, and the Baseball Card Adventures, and even in nonfiction titles like his Wait! What? series. This is an unusual book, nicely mixing historical details with an engaging story, and would be a fun book to read aloud in a social studies class studying Ancient Egypt. A debate about whether or not antiquities should be returned to their home countries would be a logical offshoot, but perhaps we should just let Cleopatra's Needle stay where it is, given the difficulties in transporting it!

Vega's Piece of Sky

Torres, Jennifer. Vega's Piece of Sky
June 11, 2024 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus 

Vega lives in Date City, near the desert, with her brother Felix, who is taking classes at the local community college, and her mother, who runs Tia Clara's market. Her cousin, Mila, is spending the summer with the family, since her parents have decided she needed a change of scenery. Because Vega's grandfather is struggling after an injury, the mother is thinking of selling the store to developers who want to build a cottage community. When there is a fireball and a meterorite falls in the desert, there are a lot of tourists who come looking to find pieces of it. Two of these are Jasper and his dad, who is bound and determined to find pieces and sell them. Vega sells them a map, but decides to head out into the desert on her own in order to find them. She sneaks out at night into the Bobcat Mountain Wilderness, and runs in to Jasper, who has the same idea. The two are fairly prepared for their adventure, but when they happen upon Mila, who followed Vega out, they are dismayed that she is in pajama pants and flip flops, and has brought a telescope and book in her pack instead of food, water, or a flashlight. Things don't go particularly well, especially when Mila falls into a crevice. They manage to get her out, and even find a piece of meteorite, but their progress is definitely impeded. They have to deal with coyotes, rain, a hurt ankle, and even a scorpion that bites Jasper. Luckily, his father has followed the group, but he is only willing to take Jasper back. He's also determined to keep the meteorite, even though Jasper has given it to Vega. Will the girls be able to make it home and save the store? 

Strengths: Vega's desire to save her mother's business, which has been in the family for a long time, is understandable, especially when we learn about more of her motivation concerning her grandfather. She is fairly prepared for her trek into the desert, and I love that she has a scientific bend. Jasper is an intriguing character; his father is a complete jerk, but Jasper ends up being particularly nice. The trek through the desert is well described, and the different obstacles that the children face add to the feeling of suspense. There is a feel good ending to this one, but I don't want to give too many details and spoil it. 

Weaknesses: Note to young readers: Do not sneak out at night. It's a very, very bad idea. Your parents need to know where you are. Do not do this, especially if you are living in the desert, because there are scorpions. Or on Mars. (Think In the Red!)

What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed the outdoor adventure of Greenland's Scouts, Bowling's Across the Desert, or Lambert's Distress Signal. Also, I am never, ever going to go into the desert unless I can bring a whole wagonful of supplies!

Waking the Dead and Other Fun Activities

Lyall, Casey. Waking the Dead and Other Fun Activities
May 28, 2024 by Greenwillow Books

E ARC Provided by Edelweiss Plus

Kimmy is learning from her Grandma Bev how to bring people back from the dead, albeit briefly, so they can fulfill their last wishes. This is a service above and beyond what most funeral homes offer, and Kimmy is doing fairly well. She knows to have low lights and a soft voice, and to do what she can to assure the recently departed that all will be well, even if it means adopting Mrs. Waters' cat. Her mother knows about this, and Kimmy's father was killed by his own powers, so she is worried. When Granny Bev passes away suddenly, Kimmy is devasted at the loss of her beloved grandmother, and also at the loss of training which she still needs. She has her father's journals and some other family books to consult, but it's not the same. When a boy her age, Devon, dies in a local park unders suspicious circumstances, Kimmy gets involved with trying to solve his murder when she brings him back. Something goes wrong, however, and he stays alive. Not only that, but his family has no idea who he is. This is a huge problem, and Kimmy doesn't have the information she needs to solve it. When Mr. Kingsley and Mrs. Manning pass away at nursing homes, she brings them back as well... and they also stay alive! Tamsin, who works at the funeral parlor, has some insight into why this is happening, which has to do with families putting caps on magic, and Kimmy blowing right through those with her powers. Not only that, but there is an evil witch trying to take the three recently departed people! Kimmy at least knows she is over her head and seeks the help of her mother and stepdad Alex. Will Kimmy be able to break the connection with the people she has raised from the dead before it works to her detriment? And will she find out why she hasn't seen a spark from her grandmother?
Strengths: I loved the beginning, when Kimmy was learning from her grandmother, and I really wished we had been able to spend more time with the two of them. For purposes of the plot, however, it was important to move on. Tamsin worried me at first, but ended up being a good ally. Even Devon, Mr. Kingsley and Mrs. Manning were surprisingly okay with having died and been resurrected, and prove helpful in many ways. There is a good back story for the family powers, and a satisfying mystery with them. This moved along quickly.
Weaknesses: The publisher's blurb describes Kimmy as a witch, but her powers didn't seem very witch like. I'm not sure what labeled I would have used, but since she was battling an evil witch, I would have picked something different.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed Ursu's Almost There and Almost Not, Yi's A Sky of Paper Stars, or Jones' Six Feel Below (but with a bit more paranormal twists).

MMGM- The Cookie Crumbles and Lonely Planet's National Parks

It's

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
 at 

Always in the Middle 

and #IMWAYR day 

at

Unleashing Readers

Badua, Tracy and Dow, Alecia. The Cookie Crumbles
June 11, 2024 by Quill Tree Books

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Laila is bound and determined to enter the Sunderland Academy Golden Cookie competition so that she can win a scholarship to the prestigious boarding school, since her best friend Lucy has been accepted into their journalism program, since the two would not be districted to the same school the next year. Laila's mother is a busy nurse, and her father passed away from cancer several years previously, so the academy would be out of the question without a scholarship. Laila has participated in contests before and done well, although a fellow competitor at Sunderland accuses her of cheating in previous ones. The weather is bad, so there is no leaving the premises, and even phone service is sketchy, so Laila and Lucy (who has been allowed to attend so she can write a story) hunker down with contest runners. Polly Rose is a sweet, supportive British baker, Chef Remi is unbelievably nasty to everyone and bitter about being involved, and Noah is Remi's sidekick. Contestants include future debutante Philippa, Micah, son of restaurant owners, Maeve, and Jaden. All have some connection to Chef Remi. The first challenge is a cookie based on a chocolate truffle, and there are many details of Laila project. There is a cookie showcase involving a display at least two feet tall. When Laila's cookie seems to cause Chef Remi to pass out and be in physical distress, the EMTs are barely able to get through but do manage to get him to the hospital, where he remains in a coma. Lucy, who has compiled dossiers on everyone in the competition, starts investigating. Laila has to keep cooking, but the others seem to blame her for the attempted murder of the star chef, based on little evidence. Noah even says that Remi was taking medication for a rather serious heart condition. Tensions are high, and the flour flies, but will Laila spend the next school year on scholarship to Sunderland... or in jail for murder?

Strengths: This collaborative effort from Tracy Badua (Freddie vs. the Family Curse, The Takeout) and Alechia Dow (Just a Pinch of Magic) is a fun, Agatha Christie style murder-lite story (Chef Remi survives). There's plenty of baking, lots of journalistic investigation, some friend drama, and a murder attempt that doesn't involve someone actually dying. The setting of the posh boarding school in the storm adds to the English country manor estate feel, and it's fun to see both Laila and Lucy's perspectives in alternating chapters. 
Weaknesses: There were a lot of recipes that seemed awfully advanced for tweens. I wouldn't have thought that Laila's struggling mother would have been willing to pay for French butter (There IS such a thing? I mean, outside of France.). I'm definitely overly cheap and pragmatic in my cooking, so readers who desperately want to bake (and have watched baking shows) will probably adore these fancy details. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who can't get enough of cooking competition titles like Alice Fleck's Recipe for Disaster (to which this is rather similar), LaMotte and Xu's Measuring Up, LaRocca's Midsummer's Mayhem, Nelson's  A Batch Made in Heaven, the Marks'  The $150, 000 Rugelach, Negron's  The Last Super Chef, Faruqi and Shovan's A Place at the Table, but want the cooking garnished with some rainbow sprinkles of mystery. 

Ward, Alexa. Lonely Planet Kids America's National Parks

May 21, 2024 by Lonely Planet

Copy Provided by the Publisher

Starting with Yellowstone National Park, the US has been adding spectacular places to its list since 1860. This Lonely Planet Guide is a great introduction to young naturalists to the various parks that are scattered throughout the US and its territories. I love that this starts with suggestions for visiting a park in a responsible manner, a map that lists all 63 parks, since it makes it easy to see what parks might be close enough to readers to visit. I've taken a train through the Cuyahoga National Park and even visited the Indiana Dunes! 

The parks are listed in alphabetical order. Each entry starts with the state or territory where the park is located, and is accompanied by spectacular photographs as well as humorous illustrations that will appeal to young readers. There is the acreage of each park listed, as well as other statistics about miles of shoreline or heights of mountains, along with a good description. There are lists of Things to Do and Things to See so that young readers can start making their wish list of parks to visit. In between the park entries, there is supplemental information about animals, history, and other items of concern. This finishes with a glossary as well as a complete index. 

The photographs are stunning, and make this a book that will be well thumbed by children who would like to be out hiking but are stuck at home or in a car! While I wasn't as big a fan of the illustrations, this was mainly because I have friends who loves national parks so much that they got married at Zion, and I wanted to give this to them! These illustrations will, however, entice the target demographic, and are cute and engaging. Of course, now I wonder if Lonely Planet does have an adult version I need to investigate!

Lonely Planet. Lonely Planet Kids America's National Parks Activity Book 

May 21, 2024 by Lonely Planet

Copy provided by the publisher

This is a great accompaniment to Ward's Lonely Planet Kids America's National Parks guide. It is arranged in the same fashion, with a map at the front showing the location of various parks in the US and territories. The parks are arranged in alphabetical order. A wide variety of activities are shown, and each park gets a two page spread complete with fun facts. There are mazes, pages with lists of items to spot, pictures to color and drawing prompts, as well as word scrambles and searches. There's even flower matching, and a template for an acrostic poem proclaiming DESERT FUN. My favorite was the National Park personality quiz, and it's not a surprise that the park I was matched with was Acadia National Park in Maine, which I visited with my family in 1977. I even remember the bright green t shirt I got there! This ends with a "design your dream park" activity as well as a National Park wish list, which will probably include most of the parks, if young readers pay attention. For those who prize accuracy, there are answers at the back of the book as well. 

Some children adore activity book, and this one was particularly educational. While I wasn't entirely pleased with the crossword puzzles, which were the rangey, computer generated type where only one letter might overlap with the cross grid, the other activities looked appealing, and they were alternated nicely. I can see the two books together sparking a lot of conversations with an older person who was tremendously interested in parks, and perhaps has pictures to show the child and travel memories to share. 

My books came with stickers, but that might be a special promotion. I suppose I'll have to share!

Asking for a Friend and The Body Confidence Book

Riley, Ronnie. Asking for a Friend
June 4, 2024 by Scholastic Press
E ARC Provided by Edelweiss Plus

Eden Jones is a white, nonbinary tween who has social anxiety, something their mother thought might be lessened with a move to a new school. Eden has been lying to their mother, telling her that they have plenty of friends, so when the mother makes plans for a 13th birthday party, Eden panicks, since their are no actual friends to invite. Duke Herrera, a Filipino trans boy with ADHD, does make some overtures and is nice to Eden, who is very wary of anyone, given experiences from the past. When Eden came out as nonbinary at their previous school, best friend Nikki scoffed and said that it wasn't a real thing. Eden, who identifies as asexual and biromantic, tries to make friends with Tabitha. Tabitha is in foster care, and no one knows that she is a lesbian, so she welcomes a queer friendship. The three spend a lot of time at a bookstore, and are always glad to see books that mirror their own experiences. Soon Jackie, a genderqueer boy, is joining their group, but when Eden becomes friendly with Ramona, who plays volleyball, Duke warns against her. There are some problems that the tweens face, such as Tabitha having to move to a new foster home, but even that turns out well, when Tabitha finds out that her new foster parents are also queer. Duke and Eden squabble over whether to include Ramona, who identifies as cisgendered and pansexual, in their group, since Ramona has exhibited some mean tendencies in the past. With their birthday party fast approaching, and their mother making financiial sacrifices to host it, will Eden be able to confindently invite true friends to the party?

Strengths: Even though Eden has a lot of anxiety, this is a book that centers queer joy, and Eden has a lot of support. Even Duke knows the techniques for dealing with panic attacks and helps navigate them in a really helpful way. All of the characters are sensitively and thoroughly identified, even while there is a strong message that these identifications can change as one grows. Pronouns are always shared, and even though the characters attend a "very white, very cisgender, heterosexual school", there are efforts to have a petition for a gender neutral bathroom, and there are not a lot of problems with bullying portrayed. Like the situations in  this author's Jude Saves the World, the problems that Eden faces are eventually resolved in satisfactory ways. 
Weaknesses: The characters spend a lot of time having philosophical conversations about their identities, which slows down the book in spots. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who like books with a variety of queer characters,  like Sass's Ellen Outside the Line or medina's The One Who Loves You Most. 

Diedrichs, Phillippa and Wilkinson, Naomi (Illus.)
The Body Confidence Book: Respect, accept and empower yourself
June 4, 2024 by Frances Lincoln Children's Books

E ARC Provided by Edelweiss Plus

In this brightly illustrated nonfiction book, Dr. Diedrichs outlines techniques for living a happy and healthy life free of societal expectations to adhere to unrealistic norms. Many topics are covered, including body activism. There is a glossary of terms at the end of the book, and well as resources. There resources include not only books, but websites such as one that has academic photo galleries of different private parts so that young readers who fear they are "different" can see a wide array of what is considered "normal". This would make a great gift or a purchase for a public library and embraces the current zeitgeist surrounding body positivity. 

Saturday Morning Cartoons- Sink or Swim

Agarwal, Veronica and Durfey-Lavoie, Lee. Sink or Swim
June 4, 2024 by Random House Graphic
E ARC provided by Netgalley

This companion novel to Just Roll With It can be read independently of that book. It centers on Ty, who suffered a broken arm that kept him from competitive swimming, an activity that he shared with longtime best friends, twins Max and Heather. Feeling sad and overwhelmed by his injury and unsure how to keep up his friendship without the common activity, Ty has retreated a bit. Even after the cast is off, he finds it difficult to answer texts from his friends, since he feels fat and generally miserable. All three go to the same summer camp after school is out, something they had been looking forward to. Swimming, canoe building, and other activities now hold no interest for Ty, who often ignores the attentions of his cabin mates in favor of staying in his bunk. He does do some exploring with Dan, who is interested in finding a stag beetle to take home, but this just seems to anger Max even further. Heather has confided that they were both sad at being ghosted, but didn't know how to reconnect. Max and Ty have constant tense interactions, but after their squabbling results in their canoe for the competition being damaged, Heather insists they talk it out. They come to an uneasy truce, and Ty agrees to participate in the swimming competition. The day of the even, however, finds him in the laundry room, washing clothes and spiraling into a depressive episode that involves him resorting to some self-harm, scratching his stomach and arms. He asks a counselor for help, and has another talk with Max, admitting how severe his situation is. Max confides that he has been so reactive because he thinks of Ty as more than a friend. Ty returns the feelings, and the two kiss. Heather admits that she has also been dealing with some troubling emotions after Max shared a song with a friend without her permission, but at an end of camp event, she sings the song and dedicates it to her girlfriend. Upon returning home, I hope that all three participate in some counseling to help regulate their emotions.
Strengths: This does pick up the thread of role playing games, with campers trying out a tabletop game, so readers of Just Roll With It will appreciate that. Summer camp is always a popular topic, so readers who enjoyed Be Prepared will be drawn to this. The artistic style is pleasant, and the camp scenes make ME want to go back and sleep on a cot in a leaky tent and swim in a lake. The idea of recovering from a sports injury will resonate with many young readers. The friend drama is intense, and again, always a popular topic. Books about anxiety and stress are on trend.
Weaknesses: I often refer to books that include a lot of sadness as "soggy", and Ty's emotions are shown as water engulfing him and making it hard for him to breathe, so he is definitely soggy in a lot of the book. Young readers might enjoy this more than I did; I find that swirling anxiety and constant bickering, while true to life, often slow down the plot of books.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed graphic novels like Ogle's Four Eyes, Page's Button Pusher, Sattin and Hickman's Buzzing. or Greene's A-Okay.

Poetry Friday- Red Bird Danced

Quigley, Dawn. Red Bird Danced

4 June 2024 by Heartdrum
E ARC Provided by Edelweiss Plus

In this very lyrical novel in verse, we meet Ariel and Tomah, who both face struggles in an Intertribal housing complex. Ariel, who lives with her baby brother Misko and mother who provides childcare for the community, are dealing with the fact that her Aunt Bineshiinh is missing. Tomah, who is bigger than many students his age, struggles with reading, and acts the role of class clown to get out of having to read aloud. His father, who works a security job, doesn't quite understand his son. Ariel loves taking ballet lessons, but money is too tight to continue them, and her mother encourages her to take up jingle dress dancing as a way to help her community heal, especially when her aunt's body is found. Tomah's learning disability is finally uncovered, and he is able to work with a teacher on coping strategies, but has a set back when a heart problem lands him in the hospital. When the community has its yearly pow wow, the children use it as an opportunity to contact their local representatives to highlight the plight of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, symbolized by the empty red dress.
Strengths: This short novel packs an emotional punch, and sheds some light on the important topic of #MMIW. The supportive Intertribal community was something I hadn't read about. There is a great author note about city dwelling Indigenous people, and the apartment complex was a setting I had not seen before. Ariel and Tomah support each other, and also get help from older members in their community. This will be a very informative book for many middle grade readers.
Weaknesses: There were many of the pages that were filled with vertical lines of text (one word per line) instead of horizontal text that I found hard to read. I wonder if the arrangement of the lines was meant to mirror the difficulties that Tomah had reading. I could have used a longer book, with more information about many facets of the story, since it was so interesting.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed the portray of Indigenous culture in Day's We Still Belong or the role that music and dance play in Kim's Make a Move, Sunny Park!

A Place to Shine

Arnold, Marie. A Place to Shine
June 11, 2024 by Versify
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Ten-year-old Sundae "Sunny" Williams and her brother Milan have been living with their grandmother, Nanna Jo, in their Chicago neighborhood since the death of their parents in a car accident. Sunny has a best friend, Folake, who lives with her large and supportive Nigerian family, but also has to deal with mean girls like Tessa Graves at school. When she accidentally runs into Tessa, she is challenged to a fight, but manages to avoid one when she tells Tessa that she must have a "battle bracelet" to go through with the challenge, or she will lose someone close to her. This isn't the worst part of Sunny's day. When she gets home, she finds the police outside, and sees Nanna Jo being taken away to the Shady Glen Nursing Center because she has been wandering around and seems to have diminished mental faculties. Somehow, the children are overlooked by social services, so with Folake's help, sneak into the basement of the school to avoid foster care. They run into a new music teacher, Mr. Evens, who is setting up his classroom, but manage to spend the night in the basement. Sunny tells Milan a story that Nanna Jo had told her, The Girl of Fire and Light, and realizes that she must have been told that story because she needs to go on the same quest as the protagonist, Luna. This will cure Nanna Jo's dementia and allow her and her brother to return home. This involves getting a seashell kissed by a mermaid, a hair from a manticore, and Gorgon tears. Folake is willing to go along with this quest, but when Sunny and Milan are once again discovered by Mr. Evens, the children worry that they won't be able to fulfill it. There's no one in the foster care system who can take both children, and when he hears that the two will be split up, Mr. Evens, who had taken the training to be certified as a foster parent with his wife Maya, hears this, he reluctantly agrees to take the children. The school has been chosen to participate in a fall music festival, and Sunny hopes to get a good role. She manages to approximate the quest, getting a seashell from someone at the community pool and a hair from Folake's brother Abeo who is wearing half of a lion costume for Halloween, but when Sunny and Folake fall out, the quest is in jeopardy. Will Sunny be able to help her grandmother return to her former self? If she cannot, what will happen to her and Milan?
Strengths: There are an increasing number of children being raised by grandparents, so Sunny's plight will resonate with young readers who might also have a grandparent with memory problems. Mr. Evens is a complex character, and his gruff demeanor is explained by his past, which he is able to overcome in order to take care of children who need him. The friend drama with Folake, who starts to hang out with classmates who have bedeviled Sunny, is realistic. I loved how well Sunny tried to look out for her younger brother. 
Weaknesses: The idea that Sunny believed that she could cure her grandmother by completing a quest made her seem very young. Middle school students might not believe this, although some elementary students might. This is more like this author's The Year I Flew Away than her upper middle grade I Rise. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who are interested in books involving children in foster care, like Lackey's All the Impossible Things, Hennessey's The Echo Park Castaways or O'Shaughnessy's Lasagna Means I Love You.