Graphic Novel Round Up

Korman, Gordon and Templer, Hannah. One False Note (39 Clues #2)
3 September 2024 by Graphix

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

In this second book in the graphic novel adaptation of the 2008 Scholastic series written by a variety of middle grade authors (the first being Riordan's The Maze of Bones), Amy and Dan Cahill find themselves in Vienna, trying to solve the mystery that their aunt left. They are accompanied by Nellie, their au pair. They think a clue is leading them to Mozart, but because other family members are also trying to get the inheritance, they are attacked by the athletic and vicious Holts. When researching and visiting Mozart's house, they realize that the sheet music they have includes an extra line, and also that Mozart's sister Nannerl's journal is missing two pages. Jonah Wizard is on tour and conveniently in the same town, and they think that he has stolen the journal pages. They realize that the extra line plays the tune for an old folk song "The place where I was born", so head to Salzburg. When visiting Nannerl's tomb, they see the Man in Black, and end up in an abbey chased by monks! When they have a moment to rest with Nellie, they find that Saladin, their aunt's cat, had a chip in his collar. They manage to relocate that chip to their Uncle Alistair's cane when they steal a paper from him. They follow Jonah to Venice and locate the missing journal pages, racing away in a stolen boat once they get them. They hide the pages in a seat cushion to keep them dry, but get separated from them. They end up on the Kabra's yacht, but a boobytrapped piano key causes a huge explosion. After that, they find samurai swords, so the next book should take them to Japan. 

Strengths: Amy and Dan are very sympathetic characters, and I definitely want them to be the ones to get the inheritance, since most of the other relatives are rather evil and buffoonish. Nellie is understandably irasicible, but ultimately helpful. The graphic novel adaptation makes it much easier to understand what the European cities look like. The historical ties are interesting, and might encourage readers to find out more about the people and places mentioned. I'm curious as to how many books in the series will be adapted into graphic novels. I only have the twelve books from the first series; there are five spin off series that I didn't buy because of the fragility of the paper-over board format. 
Weaknesses: These books have a lot of coincidental occurences, and lucky escapes. They have nonstop action, which makes them popular with young readers, but also makes it hard to keep track of everything that is going on. 
What I really think: There aren't very many graphic novels that are exciting adventures, so this is a good choice for readers who liked Horowitz's Stormbreaker in this format. 

Stine, R.L. and Gonzales, Maddie (illus.) 

The Haunted Mask

September 3, 2024 by Graphix

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Carly is scared of just about everything, so kids at school tease her. Even her best friend Sabrina gives her a hard time for jumping at every little noise. As Halloween approaches, Carly gives some thought to a costume, but wants to have something that will scare her bullies. When her mother makes her a weird copy of her head in an art class, she thinks this will be a better costume to work on than the giant chicken one her mother has found. Carly manages to find a costume shop still open, but none of the masks look scary enough. She finds a room with horrifying masks, but the owner says they are not for sale. She begs, and gets a creepy green goblin. She combines the mask with her own head on a stick, and goes trick or treating with Sabrina. The maks seems to have an effect on her personality, and she eventually finds the bullies who were troubling her and steal their candy. She forgets her head, and finds that the mask won't come off. Returning to the shop, she speaks to the owner who says that a symbol of love can remove it... but only one time. If anyone ever puts on the mask again, it will be on them forever. Carly goes back to find the head her mother made, and the mask comes off. Unfortunately, when she is busy talking to her mother, her brother finds the mask and puts it on! This was on the younger end of the Goosebumps series, so a great choice for elementary school readers. There was a great shout out to the author; in the mask shop, there is a mask that looks like Bob Stine's face which the owner says is a television character or something! 

Cassidy, Sara. The Secret Office 

August 13, 2024 by Orca Book Publishers

E ARC provided by Netgalley

Allie and Henry love living in their apartment building, but now that their mom Sam works from home, they are not allowed to make noise and do very much during the day. They gather cans to trade in for money to use to buy their mother headphones, but that doesn't solve the problem. The building superviser, Mr. Jeff, doesn't like messes, so when the  kids are snooping around, they are suprised to find a small, dirty room in the basement that isn't being used. It's the old coal bin, and the kids think it would make a great office for their mom. The problem? The landlord would want money for it, and there aren't enough cans for Allie and Henry to afford the rent every month. They manage to come to an agreement; a new family is moving in and wants two parking spaces, and since Sam doesn't have a car, the kids trade the parking space for the office space. With Mr. Jeff's help, they clean and decorate the room so that their mother has a new place to work. This was a cute book for elementary school students, and I love how Allie and Henry identified a problem and found a way to work it out. This would be a great choice for readers who enjoyed LaCoer and Albert's The Apartment House on Poppy Hill or Reynold's Stuntboy, but seems a little young for my middle school readers. 

Frakes, Colleen. Knots

September 3, 2024 by HarperAlley

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Norah's parents both work in the prison system, and often have to move for their jobs. Norah tries to not cause any more trouble in the family, because her younger sister complains a lot and also has a lot of behavior problems. Money is tight because of the frequent moves, so Norah's mother cuts her hair for her. Starting middle school is a big deal, so Norah wants a new look. After a brief argument, her mother agrees that Norah can color her hair, but doesn't put any on parameters on the activity. After talking to a woman in the drugstore who is training to be a cosmetologist, Norah buys the supplies and bleaches her own hair. It ends up being a weird mottled color, and while her mother isn't happy, she does allow Norah to dye her hair blue. The one friend Norah has made thinks it makes her look cool, and the day is not a complete disaster. Home life, however, frequently is. Norah is prone to accidents, like falling off her bike or burning things in the kitchen (she puts a metal tea kettle in the microwave), and her mother usually overreacts to these incidents in unproductive ways. Her father is more supportive. When the father gets a promotion, the mother must take a job in a different city, and moves out, taking the troublesome younger sister with her. Norah's father works long hours, and doesn't take very good care of Norah, leaving her to cook her own meals and take care of the house. Norah's hair grows out and becomes very unkempt. When she shares the story of the teakettle with her class, a fellow student tells a similar story about taking care of his two younger sisters and running into trouble, and the assistant principal who is observing the new teacher reports the family to children's services. Norah is very worried that something similar will happen to her. Will she be able to have a productive conversation with her parents and get the support she needs to take care of herself?

Strengths: Norah is accident prone in a way that many middle school students are; my own kitchen counter has a spot where my daughter put a hot frying pan even though I'm pretty sure I explained why there are several glass counter savers in the kitchen. She is given more freedom than many children her age, which will be interesting for tweens to read about. The episode with the classmate being reported to children's services was interesting, although I was a bit surprised that it was done so publicly. I was glad to see that despite her move, Norah was able to make a friend, and liked her teacher, who clearly cared about her. The artwork is appealing, with the same bright colors employed by other popular graphic novel series, like The Baby-Sitters Club or Terri Libenson's Invisible Emmie series. 
Weaknesses: This is yet another semiautobiographical novel showing a traumatic childhood ala Raina Telgemaier, and is completely on trend with the current thought that it is necessary to share unpleasant details about one's personal life. Maybe the roots of this subgenre really go back to Alison Bechdel's 2006 Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic? I am of the generation that believes these are the sorts of stories best kept to oneself, but younger readers seem to revel in the schadenfreude of these graphic tell-alls. 

What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who like Hale's Real Friends, Sax's Picture Day, Sharp's Just Pretend, Harper's Bad Sister or Ogle's Four Eyes. 

Escabasse, Sophie. Taxi Ghost

September 3, 2024 by Random House Graphic

E ARC provided by Netgalley

Adèle lives in Montreal with her older sister Helen and her grandmother, who runs a small shop. Over winter break, she hopes to spend some time at the library, reading, but when she gets her first period, she finds that she has inherited the ability to see ghosts. Her grandmother has gone to a lot of trouble to NOT interact with the spirit world, so isn't much help, but Adèle does work with one ghost who doesn't want his grandson to sell his house to a wily developer who is trying to ruin the neighborhood. Since the grandmother is also involved in such an endeavor, she is a little more interested in helping Adèle with her new abilities, especially when an especially evil ghost, a soul eater, is on the loose, causing damage in the real world.

Fans of Escabasse's Witches of Brooklyn series will enjoy this one, and will readers who enjoyed Steinkellnerr's The Okay Witch, Paramore's Malcolm Kid and the Perfect Song, or Mandanna and Ballesteros' Jupiter Nettle and the Seven Schools of Magic. I really like Escabasse's illustration style, and this will get a lot of love for the period positivity and fighting against gentrification. 

Ripley: Fire Station Five

Cameron, W. Bruce. Ripley: Fire Station Five
August 27, 2024 by Starscape

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Ripley is a blue marle Border Collie who is meant to be trained as a guide dog like his litter mates, but he is too distractable for that. Ben, a firefighter, thinks that he might be of use to the fire department, since he is an intelligent dog. When Ben is bringing him home, he notices that there is a fire at his neighbor's house. Sammie is a middle schooler whose father passed away in a car accident and who has been homeschooled because this made her a very anxious individual. Her therapist had suggested that Lizzy, Sammie's mother, leave her home alone for short periods to make her less dependent. The fire, which forced the girl out onto the roof of the house, did not lessen the anxiety, but Ripley does. Lizzy writes about dog training, and since Ben is a volunteer firefighter who also works at his father's business, he needs someone to watch Ripley and help with his training. Having Sammie work with the puppy seems like a solution to everyone's problems. She certainly gets along with him, but the training doesn't quite go as planned, and her social anxiety is so bad that going out to public venue to socialize him is difficult. It's even harder when Lizzy falls off a ladder that Sammie refused to hold, and ends up in a cast. The two get some help from Sammie's Aunt Emily, but since Lizzy is in a cast, it's hard for her to train Ripley and get Sammie out of the house. Ben comes up with the good idea that Sammie could spend time at the fire station training the dog to become accustomed to that environment. This is okay with the chief, but he's retiring, and his heir apparent, Hutch, is not a fan of dogs or children. Ripley gets some practice going out on calls, and Ben tries to take him into different situations to figure out how the dog will react. At the same time, Ben and Lizzy start dating, and Ben works with Sammie on her issues with being in public and being afraid of things. When Ben and several of the firefighters are involved in a water rescue, Ripley is helpful, but Hutch still put an end to Ripley and Sammie's time at the station. What will it take to change his mind?

Strengths: Like the other books in this series, this is told from Ripley's point of view, so much of the book is dog centric, which gives the story a unique perspective. Sammie's anxiety will resonate with today's young readers, and her therapy and behavior at home ring fairly true. The romance between Ben and Lizzy is light, and gives the book a bit of hope. There are good details about how to train a dog, even though I suspect that training a search and rescue dog takes a lot more consistency and rigor than is shown in this book. The search and rescue details are what draw readers to these books. 
Weaknesses: I wish that this had centered more on Ripley's involvement with search and rescue. While the information and details about Sammie's anxiety were interesting, my readers who pick up dog books are often more interested in action and adventure. 
What I really think: Dog books are always popular in my library, and this is a good choice for readers who have delved into Cameron's Dogs with Purpose, as well as Jennifer Li Shotz's working dog books and  Mason and Stephens Rescue Dogs series. The covers of Cameron's books always draw in readers with their appealing photos of dogs. 

Night of the Living Head and Buffalo Dreamer

Alkaf, Hanna. Night of the Living Head (Tales From Cabin 23 #2)

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

August 27, 2024 by Balzer + Bray

Melur, who lives in Malaysia, desperately wanted to attend Camp Apple Tree Farm in the US, and manages to talk her mother into this by suggesting her camping experience ties in with visiting a cousin in New York. Camp isn't exactly what she wanted, however, and she finds herself wandering in the woods as the "dare" portion of a truth or dare game with her cabin mates. She is creeped out by the experience, and sure enough, comes across the witch's cabin. She is invited in, and the witch tells her this harrowing tale. 

Alia's family has moved from Kuala Lumpur to rural Negeri Sembilan for her father's new job as a university professor. His specialty is Nusantara culture and the Malay shadow theater, so he has a large collection of puppets in the home. Alia, who has always been haunted by her own bad luck, having been born on Friday the 13th, often feels a creepy presence around her. When she returns home from school one day to find her older sister, Ayu, waiting for her with a birthday present, she is apprehensive. Ayu, who is nine years old, left home years ago because she didn't get along with their parents. Why is she back? Ayu gives off not only a creepy vibe, but an odd, sour smell that Alia dislikes intensely. Strange things happen at school as well, and Alia and her friends start to realize that perhaps Ayu is really a penanggalan. These creatures are able to take off their heads and fly around without their bodies, killing and eating babies and small children. They their innards in vinegar so they shrink and fit back into their bodies. At one point, Alia thinks that Ayu's head is turned the wrong way on her body, but her parents reassure her that's she's just imagineing things. As the situation both at home and school gets stranger, with Alia being accused of messing up her mother and father's possessions, Alia decides to try to investigate. She pretends to be sick and sends Ayu out to get her food. She finds trinkets in Ayu's suitcase that look like they may belong to missing children who have been on the news. When she confronts her parents, she finds out that they know that Ayu is a penanggalan, but claim she is not evil. After the paint on the walls bubbles, and the house itself tries to warn Alia about Ayu, she's not so sure. Her mother and father, as well as her friends and most of the town, are possessed as well. Ayu tells her that the monsters are doing this for fun, and that she has tried to fight against her monster tendencies. It's not enough; the fact that Ayu is trying to exist in our realm means that she has essentially opened the door to other spirits. Will Alia be able to save her family? And what does this story mean to Melur?

Strengths: Having your parents and friends possessed by monsters would certainly be a scary thing, and the suspense that builds as Alia realizes what is going on with her sister will keep readers on the edge of their seat. There is some friend drama at school as well, so Alia has a lot to navigate. The father's interest in puppetry is intriguing, and I wish that we had heard a whole lot more about that; I somehow thought that the sister would animate one of the puppet heads, but there wasn't anything like that, which was a shame! Possessed puppets are pretty petrifying! (Anyone else's brother have a Charlie McCarthy dummy? I was sure that was not a safe toy!)

Weaknesses: I had the same quibble with Ireland's The Boo Hag Flex; while the camp sounds vaguely intriguing, it's not really necessary for the main story, and we don't spend enough time there for it to really make much of an impression. I suppose the publisher thought a series would do better, so wanted a connection, but it's really not necessary. The Creepover books are all stand alones, and my students will still read lots of them. 
What I really think: This series has some interesting monsters that are different from the run-of-the-mill US ghosts. The sibling who is possessed is older; in both Bourne's Nightmare Island and Oh's Spirit Hunters, it's the younger brother who has this problem. I'm definitely purchasing this for fans of Night's Creepover series and the Scholastic Poison Apple books. 

I would like to see glossaries of terms that are not in English; there were several that I wrote down, but by the time I looked them up, I'd lost the context. My students will probably just look the words up on their phones, but it would be nice to be able to flip to the back of the book and find them. I understand why the terms aren't defined, though. 

Duncan, Violet. Buffalo Dreamer
August 27, 2024 by Nancy Paulsen Book
E ARC provided by the Publisher

Summer lives in Arizona to be near her father's family, who are Apache, but goes to visit her mother's parents every summer at their Cree reservation in Northern Alberta, Canada with her younger brother Sage in tow. She loves spending time with her cousin Autumn, riding the horse her uncle gave her, and being close to the other family in the area. Her grandfather, Mosom, had attended a residential school in the area, and excavation at the site has unearthed the bodies of children, similar to the situation at a residential school in British Columbia. Summer has been having dreams about a young girl running away, and talks to her mother about this dream visitor named Buffalo Dreamer. She and Autumn interview Mosom about his experiences at the school, which wasn't closed down until the 1990s. When the girls visit Kokom Rose, who is planning a march and vigil at the school for the children, she seeks the older woman's advice about the dream visitor and her message of "bring the children home". At the rally, Autumn tells summer that she did some research and found out that while some people knew of Buffalo Dreamer's attempt to run away, they also knew that she grew up and had a baby, but that's all she could find out. It turns out that an older woman that Summer has seen several times and with whom she felt a connection is Buffalo Dreamer, and Summer is able to talk to the woman, who has shared Summer's happy experiences with her mother as well. Mosom eventually talks about his past at the school, and Summer assures him that the younger generation wants to preserve these memories so that history doesn't repeat itself. Summer enjoys the time she has with her extended family, and gets to attend a Pow Wow. Summer learns that while the past can be difficult, it is important to know the history of her people, both the good and the bad.

Strengths: Even though this deals with the sad and difficult topic of residential schools, there are many scenes of what could be called Native American Joy. Summer is glad to be back out in nature, and goes out with her  mother to pick sweet grass, and helps her grandmother pick berries. There are family fish fries, and a warm sense of closeness with the extended family. There are a few books about residential schools (Here is a nice list from Colorin Colorado), so it's always a topic we can see more books about. This is a short and accessible book that will appeal to a wide range of readers. 
Weaknesses: This was a very short book, and I would have liked to know more information about the particular school, and especially a lot more about Buffalo Dreamer, since she got to speak with her. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who want to know more Native American or Indigenous Canadian history and found books like McManis' and Sorrell's Indian No More, Bithell's 

Brave Bird at Wounded Knee: A Story of Protest on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, or Day's We Still Belong to be interesting and informative. 

August Fantasy Round Up

Again, so many fantasy fiction books, so few readers in my library. There must be a lot of tweens who do enjoy fantasy, based on the number of books published each year, but I need to spread my limited budget around. See if these are something that would do well in your library. 

Voigt, Cynthia. When Wishes Were Horses

August 13, 2024 by Scholastic

E ARC Provided by Edelweiss Plus

We all would love to have wishes granted, but it's a process that often has difficulties. Voigt, who absolutely ruled the 1980s Young Adult scene with titles like The Tillerman Saga (1981), Izzy Willy-Nilly(1986), and Tell Me if the Lovers Are Losers (1982), is back after a long break with a middle grade fantasy title. In it, four children all find envelopes delivered to them with instructions to "make a wish". Bug, whose large family is crowded into an apartment over the family's sporting goods store, initially wishes to win a skateboard and then a Lego set, but eventually finds that these wishes were wasted, and that he is happiest when he helps people find what they should wish for and help it come true. Zoe wishes for her parents to stop fighting, only to have them stop speaking to each other. Her father moves out, and the parents even want to split up her and her brother, Connor. How can she reframe that wish? Casey wishes for a dog even though she knows her busy and abrasive mother, Faye, won't allow one. Instead, a neighbor asks Casey to dog sit Calvin, and when the neighbor doesn't return, it takes some wise wishing to be allowed to keep her new pet. Finally, Billy wishes to have a unicorn, and is happy to hang out with the magical creature and race it, but he soon realizes that a wish that makes him happy might not make the unicorn happy. 

There have been a few middle grade books that deal with wishes. Snyder's Bigger Than a Breadbox is similar to this book, since it deals with the fact that items and things wished for come at a cost. Hubbard's You Wish involves a lifetime of birthday wishes, so is rather charming. Whitesides' The Wishmakers is probably my favorite because it's goofy and action packed. Reader who enjoyed the Best Wishes series (by a variety of authors, including Sarah Mlynowski, Debbie Rigaud, and Christina Soontornvat) might like this new book, which evokes classic tales of everyday magic like MacDonald's Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle and Eager's Half Magic. 

Hoang, Brandon. The Crossbow of Destiny

August 6, 2024 by Scholastic Press

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

I enjoyed the character of Freddie, and was especially interested in her interactions with her Ông ngoại (grandfather), as well as the traveling around Vietnam. 

From the Publisher:

When Vietnamese American Freddie Lỗ finds herself in Vietnam for the first time since she was little, she's not quite sure how to feel. The memories of her extended family are more like distant echoes; she has a tough time speaking Vietnamese; and she can't help but feel like she just isn't Vietnamese enough.

Still, this is her chance to reconnect with her family, especially her Ông ngoại -- or grandfather -- who is receiving a lifetime achievement award. But when Ông ngoại is kidnapped, it's up to Freddie, her cousin Liên, and a mysterious boy named Duy to get to the crossbow before it ends up in the wrong hands.

In this Indiana Jones–style adventure, readers will travel through Vietnam -- from its seaside villages, through remote jungles, to the majestic Marble Mountains of Đà Nẵng -- as Freddie learns what it takes to be a hero.

Abe, Julie. Tessa Miyata is So Unlucky

August 20, 2024 byLittle, Brown Books for Young Readers

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus 

I enjoyed the fact that Tessa and Jin became good friends. Of course they get magical powers and get invited to a magical school. That's always fun for middle grade readers, but why are there no books about teachers at magical schools? This is a good choice if culturally connected fantasy novels circulate well in your middle school library.

From the Publisher:
In this thrilling new adventure, Tessa Miyata and her best friend Jin must battle the gods... and win. With magic abound and stakes higher than ever, this is a perfect pick for fans of Amari and the Night Brothers! After her first adventure in Tokyo, Tessa Miyata is having the best summer of her life with her best friend, Jin. Still, she wonders if she'll ever see Kit, the mythical Unlucky God that Tessa and Jin freed, or the last magical city again.

Then, Tessa and Jin get magical, talking invitations informing them that they've been chosen to attend the Academy of Gods– to battle immortals on behalf of the Unlucky God! Win, and they'll be given the gift of immortality. Lose, and they'll forget everything they learned about the magical city and Kit will cease to exist. Tessa and Jin may be God Blessed, but they’re mortals amongst gods... Can they defeat the other clans? or will they lose Kit forever?

Stringfellow, Lisa. Kingdom of Dust
August 20, 2024 by Quill Tree Books/HarperCollins
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

The African folklore was very interesting, but this seemed very familiar because there was magic that had been damaged by evil rulers, and a tween that has to save the world and find out her own history. I might have bought it, since it's a good length, but the cover looks very young. An engaging story for readers who enjoyed Okorafor's Ikenga, Smith's Where the Black Flowers Bloomed, Perry's Cameron Battle and the Hidden Kingdoms, and Hendrix's Adia Kelbara and the Circle of Shamans.

From the publisher:

Though the land of Kun used to be lush and green, Amara has only ever known her homeland as a dry, dusty desert. When the griots vanished more than a decade ago, they took their magic with them, along with goddess Oala’s gifts of rain and plenty, leaving Kun controlled by a powerful and uncaring king. And though her foster mother, Zirachi, assures her that Kun is not under a curse, Amara can’t help but wonder if her own origin, which is shrouded in mystery, is somehow linked to the broken kingdom.

When Amara and Zirachi are attacked by the Nkume, the fearsome king’s guard, Amara must flee, leaving all that she has known behind. With nowhere to go but knowing that she is under Oala’s protection, Amara sets off to do the find the griots and save Kun before the kingdom blows away like dust.

Allen, Damara. The Skeleton Flute
August 27, 2024 by Aladdin
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

The Pied Piper story is a deeply creepy one, and isn't retold much in middle grade literature; Cody's The Peddler's Road and Skurzynski's What Happened in Hamelin (1979) are the only ones I can think of. The divorce, and Sam's feelings about it, would have been great in a realistic fiction book, but wishes gone wrong are always appealing. 

From the Publisher:

Sam Windsor’s parents and younger siblings, Grayson and Addie, are his whole world, so when his parents announce they’re separating, Sam is devastated. He’d do anything to make his parents change their minds and keep the family together. When a stranger offers a flute made of bone that supposedly grants the player’s wish, Sam doesn’t really believe it will work but figures he has nothing to lose.

Surprisingly, the wish on the skeleton flute comes true. The next day, his parents are happily in love, with no plans for his dad to leave. But there’s a major problem: his parents’ relationship isn’t the only thing in his life that has changed, and some of the changes are definitely for the worse.

Caught in a world full of unintended consequences and familiar strangers, Sam has limited options for returning to his old life—worries, challenges, and all. Can he track down the mysterious man who gave him the flute and undo his wish?

Alston, B.B. Amari and the Despicable Wonders

August 27, 2024 by Balzer + Bray

I'll have to wait until I get the library copy of this one to read it, since no advanced copies were available. 

From the Publisher:

War has come to the supernatural world, and Amari’s two worst enemies are leading the charge.

Elaine Harlowe has manipulated her way into becoming prime minister, using her mind control ability to force the Bureau to take up her vicious grudge against magiciankind. Meanwhile, Dylan Van Helsing, the newly crowned leader of the League of Magicians—and Amari’s former partner—is after a destructive new power that would not only ensure the magicians’ victory . . . it would make him invincible.

With neither the Bureau nor the League safe for Amari, and her newly returned brother, Quinton, determined to keep her out of the fray, she and her friends decide to find a way to end the war on their own.

So when they learn that the only way to stop Dylan is to find powerful magical inventions known as Wonders, they go after them. But wielding these items comes at a terrible cost, and Amari will have to decide just how much she’s willing to sacrifice . . . because the Despicable Wonders will demand everything.

The Night Train

Savaryn, Lorelei. The Night Train

August 20, 2024 by Viking Books for Young Readers 

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Maddie and her twin sister Nat live with their parents, who have a YouTube show called "Wrecked to Decked" and renovate houses in their Midwestern town of Hush. The girls help out and appear on the show, and enjoy this somewhat unusual life. When they visit the sight of the next project, the Signalman's Cottage, Nat says she sees a ghost. The girls' grandmother, who died recently, also had a history of seeing ghosts, but their father always thought it was nonsense. Knowing that, Maddie, who also felt an eerie presence, tells her father that nothing was wrong, angering her sister. The girls are very different; Maddie runs cross country and plays volleyball, and Nat has been obsessed with the paranormal ever since their grandmother passed away. She has done lots of research, and has discovered that the cottage is tied to the most significant event in the town's history, an 1893 train wreck apparently caused when the signalman who drunk and didn't switch the tracks. A passenger train collided with a mail train, and everyone involved was killed. Every year, the town stages a reenactment, which takes place on Halloween. This was the birthday of the conductor, Alphaeus Fink, and also coincidentally Maddie's birthday (Nat was born 1 November). When Maddie lets Nat know she did see the ghost they called Sarah at a previous renovation, and can see the ghost of a girl with her mouth sewn shut at the cottage, the two know that they have to work together, as their grandmother would have, to help the spirits move on. Through their research they, along with classmate Westin, who is helping their parents film the renovations, find out that every 13 years during the reenactment, a child goes missing. Maddie finds a notebook kept by the most recent victim, who was the best friend of Oliver Fairbanks, who has grown up to be their teacher. Because Maddie's birthday is on October 31st, she has a connection to the train wreck, and because she has paranormal abilities, she is able to go through "thin places" and talk to some of the children who have been taken during the reenactment. What's going on? How is the man who acts as the conductor, Mr. Shanek, involved in this? Hush is a creepy place, and the train wreck would add ghosts to any location, but there's even more involved. Westin thinks that what is happening is a curse tied to a deal that someone made, a deal that involves sacrificing children at a regular intervals. There are a lot of pieces to the history and the curse that are revealed in a very tantalizing way that I don't want to wreck. Will Maddie be able to piece them together before she herself is in danger?

Strengths: This was one of those books that cause me to smile because the plot is so clever and I am surprised as to the direction the story. I've read a few books, so very little surprises me! The history needs to be understood in order to solve the mystery, but there are a lot of layers that are, again, a bit surprising. The tension between the twins added another level of interest, as did the appearance of paranormal powers. I loved the fact that the powers were paralleled with puberty; it's not always something welcome of enjoyable. Maddie doesn't WANT to see ghosts; she just wants to do sports. The twins also argue with their parents, who think that powers are silly and that their grandmother was making up her abilities. That is also a great way to explain how the parent child relationship changes in the tween years. The story of the conductor and his daughter was very interesting, and I was glad that we do get to hear her side of the story at the end of the book. Westin is a helpful character to have to balance out the twins. The fact that the reenactment is occurring in just a few days lends an air of urgency to the story. Very well done, and probably going to be my favorite book of the month! (It's the first book I read in May, so I should at least keep an open mind.)
Weaknesses: This is another title I read while on a bus of 8th graders going to DC, and the intricacies of plot involving the times on the watches took more mental effort to figure out than I had. Also kind of doubt that the watch company would still have any records of a watch purchase from that long ago. Did enjoy the fact that the children went to the library to research the event in the newspapers!
What I really think: This had an effective blend of history, mystery, and horror that will appeal to fans of Currie's It Found Us, Cohen's The Shadow Grave, and Duga's The Ghost in the Headlights. Feels a bit like some of Dan Poblocki or Mary Downing Hahn's work, which is always a good thing. 

MMGM- Dogs!

It's

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
 at 

Always in the Middle 

and #IMWAYR day 

at

Unleashing Readers

Rice, Eleanor Spice and Wilson, Rob.

Your Pets' Secret Lives: The Truth Behind Your Pets' Wildest Behaviors 

May 28, 2024 by MIT Kids Press 

Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central

From the team that brought you Unseen Jungle: The Microbes that Secretly Control Our World comes a fantastic look into what makes pets of all kinds tick! Accompanied by Wilson's charming illustrations, there is information about a wide range of pets and their sometimes strange behaviors. 

As a dog lover, I appreciated that the book started with man's best friend... even if things got a little gross when talking about the different kinds of worms that dogs can pick up! Even though I am always good about giving my dogs heartworm medicine, it's very important to understand how easy it is for dogs to get worms, and I can see young readers convincing parents that this treatment for their pets is important, even if it can be expensive. There's a lot of information about cats, their nocturnal habits, and their hunting instincts, and even some discussion of whether or not your cat really likes you. (Even though I've made peace with my grandcat, I still believe that MOST cats just want to do me in!)

Dogs and cats aren't the only pets discussed. Why are birds such messy eaters? It's their job. It was especially interesting to read about the relationships that birds have with each other. I'm not convinced that I could make the life of a goldfish any better, but there are very convincing arguments for ways to do this. I wasn't surprised that gerbils and hamsters communicate through their odors, and I learned a few things about ferrets and rabbits as well. There's even a fascinating bit about reptile parthenogenesis, as well as information about tarantulas and lizards. 

This ends with information about jobs that are related to animal and pet care, making this a great book to read alongside French's How to Be a Vet. There are also a lot of source notes and internet sites for further research. There are several interviews with scientists who specialize is various pets as well. Rice is an entomologist, and does a great job of explaining science on a middle grade level. 

This was just the right length for pleasure reading even though it was packed with information. There's plenty of white space on the page, and Wilson't illustrations support the humorous and conversational tone of the text. Hand this to pet lovers and aspiring vets along with Keenan's Animals in the House, Brownlee's Cute, Furry, and Deadly, Mills' Guide to Kittens and Guide to Puppies, and books by Alexandra Horowitz, who has worked with Rice. 

Greenwald, Tommy, Greenwald, Charlie, and Pate, Shiho.

Best Day Ever (The Rescues #2)

September 17, 2024 by Red Comet Press 

E ARC provided by Netgalley

Moose and Bear, two rescue dogs, and their cat friend Tiger, are back after their adventures in The Rescues, settling in to their new home with Cathy. They have a trip to the vet that makes them a little anxious, but ends well. They fight over who gets to sit in the comfy chair, but decide that sharing is the best course of action. They also stay home alone when Cathy goes out, and have to deal with a very loud storm! The three friends make the best of every situation, and support each other with kindness. 

I'm a huge fan of all of Greenwald's work, and this collaboration with his son, Charlie, is delightful. It's about the length and complexity of an I Can Read book, and has illustrations that evoke definite warm and fuzzy feelings. I probably won't buy a copy of this for my middle school library, but will probably have to buy one for myself to go along with the first book that is sitting on my shelves. I am all in favor of any children's books that encourages adopting rescue animals! 

Palmer, Iva-Marie. Oh My Dog!

August 13, 2024 by HarperCollins

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Caroline Kline's life in Rockport, Texas has not been easy. The twelve-year-old lost her mother in a car accident, and Hurricane Emma wiped out not only her home, but her father Hank's florist business. Now, the two have an apartment, and Hank is working at the Fresh and Fine grocery floral department. Money is tight, and for her birthday, she and her dad go on a spree... but only for things she needs, and only at Bargain Styles. Caroline thinks wistfully about what life would be like if her mother were still around and things were just easier. When she is out skateboarding, she meets Stan George and his friendly dog Denver, and before she knows it, her father has talked to Mr. George and she has a job walking Denver twice a day for $20! This money will allow her to get some fashionable jeans, a new skateboard, and just make it easier to hang out with people like Kiki Page. Things go well until Denver starts to actually talk to her... in English. She doesn't believe it at first, and even after Denver makes a small miracle happen, Caroline would rather not talk to him. Caroline's best friend, Yumi, doesn't understand it when Caroline agrees to go to the mall with Kiki, and doesn't go even though she is invited. Caroline finds that Kiki is really nice, and has a good time talking to her other friends, but is worried about what Yumi thinks, especially after one of the friends says something mean about Yumi and Caroline doesn't stick up for her. Caroline and Kiki make a couple of funny TikTok videos with Caroline saying funny things about animals, and they get a lot of likes. Kiki even gives Caroline an old phone so that she can post more videos. When her father finds out, he tells her she has to give the phone back, but Caroline can't bring herself to do this. Denver keeps telling her that she needs to restore people's faith that the world is a good place, and that's why only she can hear him talk. It's a tough situation; Caroline needs other people in her life and wants to confide in Denver, but she is freaked out by the fact that she can understand him. When another hurricane threatens Rockport, Caroline is watching Denver while Mr. George goes to work on the levee. They decide to leave town and pack up the car, but at the last minute, Denver runs away. They both go chasing him... and a tree falls on their car. Hank and Caroline are both injured but okay, but they can't find Denver. When the storm ends, Caroline and Yumi go looking for the dog, and while they don't find him, they find other pets in need. They bring them to the courtyard of the apartment and take care of them. They alert the news, and make a big splash, which is good because Caroline had previously gotten some flack about her TikTok posts. The animals get adopted or returned to their owners, and when Mr. George comes back, Caroline finds out that Denver saved him, too. Caroline might not be able to restore everyone's faith, but she is doing what she can where she is. 

Strengths: I've been asking for more positive books, and this certainly is very positive. Palmer deftly steps around the faith/belief idea with Denver being sent "from the heavens" and not from god, which works well enough. The depiction of recovering from a hurricane is a good one, and the inclusion of friend drama makes any middle grade book better. I was so glad that Kiki was actually nice. The issue of social media and getting technology from a friend was handled very well. I loved that Caroline was willing to take care of lost animals after the storm, and that doing so connected her with a lot of new people. This was a fun, lighthearted story. 
Weaknesses: Even positive middle grade books still feel a need for a dead mother. I was a little surprised that Caroline didn't want to talk to Denver. If a dog had talked to me at any point in my life, I would have been perfectly happy to chat! Palmer makes Caroline's reaction make sense within the story; my objection is purely personal. 
What I really think: This is an excellent book for elementary school libraries, and the positivity is fantastic. I'm not sure if middle school students are going to believe that a dog would talk to them. I think my 6th graders would like this, but my older students probably won't pick it up. This felt a bit like a Patricia MacLachlan book.

Not Nothing

Forman, Gayle. Not Nothing

August 27, 2024 by Aladdin

ARC provided by Young Adult Books Central

Alex has had a difficult life. His mother struggled with mental illness, and when she could no longer care for him, he was placed in foster care. Now, his aunt and uncle are raising him, but doing so reluctantly and frequently complaining about the cost. Alex had done something very bad at school, and as punishment, he has to do community service five days a week at the Shady Glen Retirement Village all summer. His social worker, Frank, brings him to the facility and introduces him to the director, Ms. Winston, who tells him to talk to Ms. Sandler. This turns out to be Maya-Jade, a girl his age, who is spending time volunteering and hanging out with her grandmother Vivian while one of her mothers is being treated for breast cancer. Alex isn't thrilled to be at the facility, but he does connect with Joseph Kravitz. The 107-year-old man connects with something in Alex, and starts to tell him the story of his relationship with Olka, the love of his life, during the Holocaust. These chapters are presented in a different font. Alex starts to get invested in the people at the facility, even intervening when the administration and families want to separate Ginny and Dickie, two of the residents who have Alzheimers. All along, we hear the story of Joseph's experiences during the war, eventually ending with his time in the Plaszow concentration camp. We also find out what Alex did to end up having to do community service. 

Like Sonnenblick's Notes from the Midnight Driver, this is an interesting exploration of the interplay between the young and the elderly. Joseph (often referred to as Josey) can sense that Alex is troubled, and manages to overcome the physical hardship of being over 100 to talk to the boy. Alex is enthralled by Josey's story, and the relationship between the two is mutually beneficial. 

Much of the book is told from his perspective, but in a third person, omniscent way, which is a bit unusual. For much of the book, Alex is referred to as "the boy" because of this narrative style. 

We don't know for much of the book what has caused Alex to have to spend so much time at Shady Glen, but we do find this out at the end of the book. He certainly benefits from this found family, and the support that he gets from Maya-Jade and the residents of the home, and it's good that he doesn't have to spend all of this time with his uncaring aunt and uncle, or alone in their apartment. Given the difficult living situation with his mother, I'm surprised that social services didn't have him in more traditional therapy, but nursing homes are popular locations for unofficial therapy, as shown in Van Draanen's The Secret Life of Lincoln Jones.  

This is a good choice for readers who want to explore the Holocaust from a distance and have read other titles like Lowry's Tree. Table. Book, Marsh's The Lost Year, Sternberg's Summer of Stolen Secrets, Walters and Kacer's Broken Strings, or Carelli's Skylark and Wallcreeper. 

Camp Prodigy and The Silver City

Palmer, Caroline. Camp Prodigy

June 11, 2024 by Atheneum Books for Young Readers
ARC provided by Young Adult Books Central

In this graphic novel, we meet Tate Seong, who became enthralled with the idea of playing viola after hearing a prodigy his age, Eli Violet, backstage before a concert. Unfortunately, Eli (who uses they/them pronouns), was so anxious that they didn't go on stage, but Tate did pick up the viola. He isn't very good, but his parents are behind him 100%, but also want him to think about playing a sport, since that would make him a well rounded young man. Tate is uncomfortable identifying as male, but isn't sure how to go about telling anyone this. At Camp Prodigy, there are a lot of different campers, some of whom, like Xin, are very driven, and others who want to take advantage of typical camp activities like gimp bracelet making, hiking, and swimming. Tate meets Eli, who reluctantly agrees to help tutor Tate as long as he keeps their secret about erstwhile fame. Tate works hard, but struggles with not only the viola, but with a lot of anxiety about playing in public as well as a deep seated feeling of confusion about what to do about his nonbinary status. Eli is a good ally, and he seeks their advice about when they came out to their moms. When Tate gets a big solo and is unsure whether he can stand up in front of the audience, his new friends come to the rescue, reminding him that he doesn't have to do everything alone, and there are other people who can step in to help. At the end, Tate comes out to their parents, retaining their name, and the parents are very supportive.

Palmer's illustrations are solid, and often fall into the popular Manga style eye pops and dramatic emotions, which graphic novels tend to love but remind me of Speed Racer. The characters look different enough from each other that I was never confused, and it was very helpful when the new campers were introduced and appeared on the bottom of the page with their names. I'd love to see more books do that. There are notes on the evolution of the drawings at the end of the book.

 
Many middle grade readers have struggled with anxiety since the Pandemic, and Eli and Tate's journey toward understanding the underlying causes of their stress and fear are well portrayed. The other campers, counselors, and parents are all supportive, and even a character that is very competitive at the beginning, Xin, helps in the end.

 
Readers who are huge fans of Raina Telgemeier's Drama or Chmakova's Berrybrook Middle School will enjoy this look at a high pressure, elite musical camp.

Estrada, Ryan, Neas, Axur, and Zunniga, Alejandra. 

The Silver City (Student Ambassador #2)

May 14, 2024 by Iron Circus Comics

ARC porvided by the publisher

This is the second book in the series, which I didn't realize until I started to write this review. At least I know why I was a bit confused! The Iron Horse comics seem much more like traditional comic books than graphic novels to me, with a lot of action and adventure, unlikely scenarios, and over-the-top humor. Joseph uses all of his vast knowledge and array of skills (which are impressive for a fourth or fifth grader's!) to help out former president Tex Oldman. There's a lot of travel, monsters, and derring-do. This reminded me a little of Breach and Holgate's Clem Hetherington and the Ironwood Race, and (somewhat oddly) Cody and Mercado's Cat Ninja. 

From the Publisher:

“The ex-president has an international incident that only a younger version of him can solve! He needs . . . a student ambassador!” Eight-year-old student ambassador Joseph Bazan made a big splash on the international scene when he cracked the case of The Missing Dragon and kept the nation of Rhutar from going to war. Now, he’s back to being a regular kid and, to be honest, real life is a tad boring! 

When former president Tex Olman, impressed by Joseph’s character and creative problem-solving, asks for his help on a trip to Mexico, it’s a dream come true. Not only does he have the adventure itch, Joseph has always wanted to learn more about his ancestral roots in the vibrant, ancient city of Zacatecas. But this vacation isn’t all churros and museums (though it does have those!). There's a legend that ghosts haunt the city's famous silver mines, and it's starting to seem like more than just a story!
 
Joseph will need his deep knowledge, knack for friendship, and adventurous mettle to decode secret messages, explore dangerous caves, and save the city . . . that is, if the Ghosts of Zacatecas don’t get him first! Student Ambassador is a globe-trotting action-adventure set in the real world where dangers mount, the stakes are high, and smarts save the day!

Guy Friday- Jaden Powers and the Inheritance Magic

Perry, Jamar J. Jaden Powers and the Inheritance Magic
August 27, 2024 by Bloomsbury Children's Books
ARC provided by the publisher

Jaden and Elijah have been friends for a long time, even though Elijah no longer attends middle school in their Columbia Heights, D.C. neighborhood and instead attends a private boarding school. As the first day of 7th grade approaches, Jaden is even sadder that he won't be able to be with his best friend, and when Elijah isn't home when Jaden goes to his house for a planned sleepover, he's worried. It's worse than he imagines; Jaden's parents later come with the sad news that Elijah has drowned while visiting his grandparents. This doesn't sound right to Elijah, and when he is at the wake, he finds a notebook in Elijah's room with a note that says "Horrible evil is after me. Help me.". He then passes out, and his parents think it's just the toll that his friend's death has taken on him. It's more than that; on the way home, a burst of power shoots out of Elijah and causes a car wreck. When a mysterious man shows up at the house, while Jaden's family is frown, the truth comes out; Jaden has magic, and must attend the Five Emergences School of Magic, where Elijah really went to school, to learn to control it. He learns that his best friend was not only the most powerful sorcerer for generations, but also that he is suspected of siphoning magic off from others and working with the Ruin, who is draining magic from the world of Wonder. Professor Simeone Carmine whisks Jaden off to the school via puddle travel and flying Haizum. Their trip includes a stop at Matthias's Wandshop for the Boundless, where he can't get a wand to bond with him, necessitating his participation in a wand Bond Trial. He meets his roommate, Mikael, who informs him that Elijah was rather a local celebrity, but has fallen into disrepute. He also meets Silas Rivers, the fae prince of the Summerlands, who is sour and mean to Jaden at every turn, as are his friends. Life at the school is exciting, and Jaden throws himself into his studies in Sorcery and Spellcasting, Deterring Danger, Enchantment, and Elixirs, all while trying to find out what is going on with Elijah. He realizes that he worked closely with Luxor, a professor who vanished at the same time; the same time exactly, which comes to light when the students delve into the history of the enchantment bracelets that all of the students and staff must wear. Jaden also finds out that his magic is very rare Inheritance Magic, which means that Elijah most likely passed powers on to him. Eventually, Jaden is able to discover that Elijah wasn't siphoning magic from others, but was having his own powers siphoned by a surprising source. Will Jaden be able to stop the Ruin and save his friend? 

Strengths: Like this author's Cameron Battle and the City Spies, this story starts with something rarely seen in middle grade literature; a close friendship between two boys.  Jaden's family was great, and I was a bit sad when they were frozen and he was whisked away. A magical story where the protagonist has to save the world WHILE his parents are tracking his phone and demanding he be home in time for dinner would be fantastic! Silas is an easily identifiable nemesis, Mikael is a kind and supportive roommate, and the professors are surprisingly well developed characters who are fairly competent and useful. The draw for young readers will be all the details of the ancient bristlecone wand that Jaden bonds with, the investigation into what happened to Elijah, and the thwarting of evil that (is this really a spoiler?) Elijah is able to do. 
Weaknesses: I've read dozens of magical academy books, and I'm also old and jaded and firmly believe that the world has absolutely NO magic in it. This had many middle grade magical academy tropes, but young readers who really, really want to get a letter like Jaden's inviting them to a magical school and whose souls are NOT dead will love all of Jaden's adventures as well as his successes in saving the world from destruction when all of the magic is sucked out of it. 
What I really think: There is room for a sequel, as there is more work and investigation to be done at the school. If Perry keeps this series to two books, that would be perfect. I'll definitely purchase this for fans of Sanders' Keynan Masters and the Peerless Magic Crew, Elle's Park Row Magic Academy, Alston's Amari and the Night Brothers, Royce's Conjure Island, and the large number of magical academy books that have been published since 1998 as this has a few twists, a well developed magical world, and a generally upbeat tone, despite, you know, both the magical and real world being in danger of being destroyed and taken over by evil. 

I gave this four stars on Goodreads because I feel like this review verges on snarky. This is very well written, with an engaging world and intriguing characters, and there are even some twists on middle grade fantasy tropes. My snarkiness arises from having read too many books about tweens getting powers in middle school and having to save the world because magic is draining out of it. 

Mbalia, Kwame. Jax Freeman and the Phantom Shriek
October 1, 2024 by Freedom Fire
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

A must read for fans of this author's Tristan Strong. Reminded me a bit of Bell's A Crooked Sixpence, with all of the magical elements. Very fun and fast paced fantasy adventure.

From the Publisher:

The award-winning author of the best-selling Tristan Strong trilogy has created a secret world where kids can wield magic by summoning the power of their ancestors

What do you get when you combine Kwame Mbalia's incredible imagination and world-building talent with trains, history, and ghosts? Nothing less than middle grade magic. 

On his twelfth birthday, Jackson "Jax" Freeman arrives at Chicago's Union Station alone, carrying nothing but the baggage of a scandal back in Raleigh. He's been sent away from home to live with relatives he barely knows. But even worse are the strangers who accost him at the train station, including a food vendor who throws dust in his face and a conductor who tries to steal his skin.

At his new school, Jax is assigned to a special class for "summoners," even though he has no idea what those are . . . until he accidentally unleashes an angry spirit on school grounds. Soon Jax is embroiled in all kinds of trouble, from the disappearance of a new friend to full-out war between summoning families.

When Jax learns that he isn't the first Freeman to be blamed for a tragedy he didn't create, he resolves to clear his own name and that of his great-grandfather, who was a porter back in the 1920's. By following clues, Jax and his schoolmates unlock the secrets of a powerful Praise House, evade vengeful ghosts, and discover that Jax may just be the most talented summoner of all.

A unique magic-school fantasy from the best-selling and award-winning author of the Tristan Strong trilogy has just pulled into the station.

Give Me Something Good To Eat and other creepy tales

Gillespie, D.W. Give Me Something Good to Eat

13 August 2024 by Delacorte Press

E ARC provided by Netgalley

Mason lives in Pearl, North Carolina, where Halloween is a Big Deal. He and his best friend, Serge, decide to go trick or treating, and he's disappointed that he has to take his younger sister with them. Serge is interesting in Becca, so invites her and her friend Mari to go with them, which disappoints Mason. The group knows that children have often gone missing on trick or treat night, and joke that their Assistant Principal, Mr. Kirby, might be behind the disappearances. When Meg is separated from the group, they go looking for her only to see her be absorbed into a creepy tree root creature when the even creepier Mrs. Vernon is nearby. The cops refuse to help, and when Mason gets home, his mother and father don't even remember Meg! Mason understands a little bit about what is going on; when he was younger, his best friend Marco went missing, so Mason has kept a notebook filled with information about the array of children who are unaccounted for in Pearl over the years. The group travels into "Underpearl", which is much like Pearl, but a haven for monsters who want to have a place where they can act like humans. They meet a girl named Gloom who helps them out a bit, and have to fend off giant spiders, scarecrows with pumpkin heads, zombies, and other monsters. Meg has indeed been taken by Mrs. Vernon, who is a witch who steals children so that she can turn their souls into candy and their bodies into creatures known as the Skinless who act as her servants. Mason and his friends must find a way to get the witch to destroy the spell that keeps Underpearl going, so that children no longer have to be sacrificed. Will they be able to save Meg and make sure that the curse is lifted from their town?

Strengths: The cover of this is absolutely creepily awesome, and the story is tied in with Halloween nicely, although it could be read at any time of year. The fact that Mrs. Vernon was distilling the souls of children into candy to feed to the monsters was very clever, especially since it allowed Mason to get back the soul of his sister as long as he had one piece of it. The story of the town is well developed and sets a good background for all of the terrors that the children must face. There's a happy ending, which is always nice, even in a creepy tale! 
Weaknesses: I think I was supposed to be a little sympathetic to the monsters and their need for Underpearl, but wasn't quite able to feel that. It should be noted that I read this on a bus to D.C. with a bunch of 8th graders, so don't have as good an understanding of the whole book as I should. 
What I really think: I am definitely ordering a copy for the library; I don't need too many details to know that missing sisters, evil witches, and battles with vampires make for an excellent middle grade horror title that fans of Cervantes' The Cursed Moon, Duga's The Replacement, and Currie's The Girl in White will love. 

Garcia, Anastasia and Skaffa, Teo (illustrator). 

Ghostly, Ghastly Tales: Frights to Tell at Night

July 30, 2024 by Gibbs Smith

Copy provided by the publisher

This is a somewhat different collection of scary stories than Poblocki's Tales to Keep You Up at Night, Stine's Stinetinglers, or Allen's Only If You Dare. It's not the style of the stories, which are all well-written and appropriately creepy for middle grade, but in the formatting of the book. I always struggle with reviewing short story collections; I don't necessary want to dissect every single story. I will say that I liked that the stories are grouped by types, so there are Haunted Objects, Grim Ghosts, Creature Feature, Be Careful What You Wish For, and It Goes Bump in the Night. This is great for readers, or teachers looking for tales to regale a whole class with, to help find a certain type of tale. 

This is the most heavily illustrated collection of stories I have seen, and Skaffa's illustrations, as well as the plentiful use of darker backgrounds, add to the eerie feel of the book. There are plenty of spooky creatures, frightened children, and atmospheric page decorations of cobwebs, skulls, and creepy vines. Because there is so much ink involved, the book has very heavy paper and an almost graphic novel feel to it. The cover glows in the dark, although I haven't tested it yet. I do like to warn students! 

Each story has a "fright level" on it, which will be on point for elementary students; middle school students will probably say that none of the stories are scary enough, because they don't involve brutal, grisly murders! 

The stories have a bit of a textbook feel to them, perhaps in part because of the illustrations, but also because of the use of bold text in the stories, and a short discussion about the story's origin at the end of each tale. There are even more notes at the end of the book, covering the author's inspiration. I might have just added these to the end of the chapters instead of putting them at the end of the book. I did enjoy that there was a bibliography of different story collections which inspired the author. 

This would be a great gift for a reader of scary tales, or for a favorite teacher who reads aloud to classes. Maybe it's the pink end papers with the skulls, but something about this just makes it a fancier book than many other scary short story collections. 

Allen, Josh. Once They See You: 13 Stories to Shiver and Shock

August 20, 2024 by Holiday House

E E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Reviewing short stories is very difficult; I always feel like I should review each story individually to really do the book justice, but that is just... hard. SO! You need to buy this book for the story about Toasty Tarts. Just do it. Allen's Only if You Dare and Out to Get You! circulate constantly in my library, especially with their spooky, glow in the dark covers.

The illustrations give these a feel of the Schwartz Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, which was first published in 1981 and still is in constant use. The stories are much better, though, is a weird, creepy, David Lubar Lawn Weenies kind of way.

I can't really explain why this is so good, but if you have a middle school library where scary stories are in high demand, just go ahead and buy two copies. I can't wait to see if the giant eyeball on the cover glows in the dark as well!