MMGM- Near and Deer and The Mythmakers

It's

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
 at 

Always in the Middle 

and #IMWAYR day 

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Unleashing Readers

Liu, Sylvia. Near and Deer. 

1 October 2024 by Scholastic

Copy provided by the author

Sienna Chen's parents have recently moved the family from D.C. to the Virginia countryside to get away from the rat race and run a bed and breakfast. Sienna's grandmother (Nainai) has come along, and when the book starts, the two are running everything while the parents are away. Sienna is in charge of the baked goods, and everything is going well until her sheepadoodle, Jules, runs off. She goes after him and finds that he has discovered an abandoned fawn. The animal is adorable, and since a neighbor has said very threatening things about the local deer population, Sienna is concerned about it. She rushes home, but not soon enough to save the muffins, which burn and set off the smoke detector. This must be wired into the local fire department, because they are soon at the door, shooing the guests outside. Sienna is mortified, since her parents are trying to get a star accreditation to help the business, and this will not lead to good reviews. She manages to get the fawn to safety (coyotes are lurking about), and does some research to learn that she should contact a local wildlife rescue. Sadly, their phone mailbox is full. She finds out that she can feed the fawn milk from the family's goats, and struggled to do that. When her parents return, she doesn't tell them about the fire or the fawn. A woman who is studying local mushrooms, Dr. Klein, is staying at the B&B for a month with her son, Max, and her parents want Sienna to help entertain him. He's very energetic, but she eventually tells him her secret and enlists his services. She's named the fawn Persimmon, and micromanages Max when he tries to help. Jules seems to get along with the animal, but when the two manage to stumble into the house when the accreditors are visiting, Sienna's parents are furious! She still doesn't tell them that she's keeping the fawn in the shed, and continues to lie... and she's not entirely sure why. She and Max sneak out at night, and Max breaks his arm falling out of a tree. She still doesn't tell them. She even skips school to try to deal with Persimmon, and eventually ends up seeking help from Dr. Klein, since she just doesn't want to bother her parents, since the B&B is stressing them out so much. Dr. Klein takes her to the wildlife refuge to talk to Maite, who says it is best if Persimmon is away from people and hanging out with other deer, but Maite does allow Sienna to keep the deer for a while, if she and her father can build an enclosure. Feeling bad about the fact that her parents didn't get the star they were working for, Sienna e mails the accreditors and tells them her sad tale, and the grant a second chance. In the end, the family gets the star, Persimmon goes to the wildlife rescue with Maite, Max and Sienna keep in contact, and things are looking up. 

Strengths: To start, this cover will sell itself. A sheepadoodle befriending a fawn? Any young reader interested in animals is going to want this one! Sienna is a very well portrayed middle school character, with some facets of her personality that we don't always see. She's moved, but she's not whining about it. Her parents' business isn't going quite the way they want, but she is trying very hard not to add to their burden and help them out without complaining, even if she does make some missteps. She has some anxiety, with is on trend with the current middle school zeitgeist, but tries to handle it on her own. She's kind to Max, even if she micromanages him a bit, and does her best by the fawn. The fact that she doesn't tell her parents is quintessentially middle grade. My own daughter managed to hide a stray cat in her closet for two days in middle school, so I absolutely bought the fact that Sienna was able to hide the fawn in a shed! There's plenty of good information about why one shouldn't take animals from the wild, and Maite is kind but firm with Sienna about what needs to happen. This is a great realistic fiction novel that has a lot of appeal to a wide variety of readers. 
Weaknesses: Sienna's actions are absolutely true to life. Of course, she doesn't want to stress her parents out. But also, of course, she wants to keep the adorable fawn her dog has befriended. She is sure she can do everything she needs to do, but she really can't. This was frustrating to read as a parent, especially when Sienna is sort of rewarded at the end of the book. Young readers will think this is all fine, but the adult in me wanted to ground Sienna until she was 35. I did appreciate the author's notes about how trying to deal with wildlife on one's own is not a good idea at all! 
What I really think: I am hoping that Follett or Perma-Bound will offer this in a prebind, since paperbacks don't hold up very well in middle school backpacks! Readers who enjoyed this author's Manatee's Best Friend, Wood's Just One Wing, Hoyle's Just Gus or Millie, or other books involving animal rescue will enjoy this enDEERing tale! 

Hendrix, John. The Mythmakers: The Re

markable Fellowship of C.S. Lewis & J.R.R. Tolkien
September 24, 2024 by Abrams Fanfare
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

It's easy enough to find biographies of C.S. Lewis (although I don't have one in my library) or J.R.R. Tolkien (I like Doris Lynch's 2003 J.R.R. Tolkien : Creator of Languages and Legends), and, sure enough, there are quite a number of books about these authors and their relationship to mythology and to other writers at the time. These, however, tend to be rather long and academic sounding; tweens and teens are not really the demographic for these books. 

Teens and tweens are, however, the demographic for both Tolkien and (to an increasingly lesser extent) Lewis. Not a lot of teens and tweens, but the ones who take The Hobbit to heart get VERY serious about it. I have friends who have actually read (and can opine about) The Silmarillion, who dabble in Elvish, and who were SUPER excited when the live action movies came out and were better than the 1977 Rankin Bass Hobbit. My son-in-law is toying with the idea of a LOTR themed bathroom. These fans don't necessarily know much about the author of the book, and this is where The Mythmakers is a helpful resource. 

Hendrix, with his great artwork, introduces a Lion (representing Lewis' work) and a Wizard (representing Tolkien) and has them talk a bit, in graphic style panels, about myths, legends, and fantasy. There are even points in the narrative when it is suggested that we go to later pages ala Choose Your Own Adventure books, to get more information on certain topics. Once that intro has the reader hooked, we get some straight biography of both men, accompanied by pages illustrations. Tolkien was born in 1892, was just a year older than my grandmother, something I'd never considered before, and Lewis was born in 1898. They both lost their mothers, had some difficulties in childhood, got scholarships to Oxfors, had to fight in the Great War, and eventually met in 1926.

This is where the book gets interesting. The two bond over a love of Norse mythology, and have a group of other academics who meet up a couple of times a week to discuss stories over a pint. Both men teach, have home lives, and dabble in writing the kind of stories that they have enjoyed reading. Tolkien publishes The Hobbit in 1932, then spends a lot of time working on the Lord of the Rings series. Lewis publishes The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe in 1950. The two had different opinions about what constituted a good story, and also didn't necessarily share their personal lives with each other. After Lewis got married without telling Tolkien, the pair's relationship became even more strained than it had been, and the two weren't in much contact. Lewis died in 1963, and Tolkien ten years later. 

It somehow seems fair that Lewis' Chronicles have more or less fallen by the wayside (at least in my library), while Tolkien's works have seen resurgence after resurgence. Lewis was much more famous during his lifetime; not only because of the Chronicles, but also because of his Christian writing (even I owned a copies of The Screwtape Letters and Mere Christianity in high school). Tolkien was less well known. 

I'm not the target demographic for this, but I found it fascinating. Half tempted to look up William Morris' 1896  The Well at the World's End, which influenced both men. Tolkien isn't my jam, but I have friends and family who are enormous fans. They will be tickled with the discussions of the lion and the wizard, nod delightedly at the biographies, and remember the 1960s and 70s counterculture affection for all things Middle Earth. Will this book get checked out constantly at a middle school or even a high school library? No. Will the readers who check it out adore it? Absolutely. Have I pre-ordered a copy for my son-in-law's Christmas present? You bet I did. 

Lola Reyes is SO Not Worried

Rodriguez, Cindy L. Lola Reyes Is So Not Worried 

September 17, 2024 by HarperCollins

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Lola and her mother are in Guatemala, at her Abuela Gloria's house for her father's memorial service. He passed away suddenly from a heart attack, but Lola's mother maintains that they will be fine, and Lola is surviving. She does snoop around in her father's childhood bedroom, and finds a set of worry dolls in a wooden box. She's intrigued by them, and brushes off the notes that they are "cursed", figuring that her father put that warning on them in the same way people out notes on diaries. She smuggles them back home, where she is ready to start 5th grade. Her neighbor, Chance, is her academic rival, and her mother is the principal at her school, where she becomes "Dr. Reyes". Lola is a little worried that her best friend, Ashlynn, is going to drop her in favor of Josie, but she has bigger worries-- the worry dolls have come to life. She asks Chance for help when they are running around her back yard, and they think they corral them into a gardening bench, but they escape. Lola and Chance try to track them down, since there was a note that said they would grow and then explode after six days, releasing the worries that they have absorbed back into the world. They manage to find Mateo in the laundromat, and comfort Sabrina, an 8th grader at their school who is struggling with relationship problems, and find Isabel at school, where Ashlynn is worried about the fact her mom has lost her job. Ricardo is found at the pool, where Josie is worried about her swimming career, Mercedes at Chance's house, since he's worried about having friends, and Carlos in the art room at school. On the night of the school Open House, which Dr. Reyes has to plan, a seven foot tall Zoraid is on the loose, fed by Lola, Ashlynn, and Josie's friend drama, as well as Lola's concerns about her mother's appearance of doing okay. Clearly, once all the dolls are gathered, Lola must figure out how to control them, and she manages to figure out that some apologies are necessary to put the past to rest.

Strengths: On the surface, this was a somewhat goofy, magical adventure with some deeper messages that teachers and librarians will appreciate. It's good to see Chance and Lola working together, although even that causes some very realistic tension with her friend Ashlynn. The Guatemalan cultural connections work well in the story, and I would have loved to see more of Abuela Gloria. One of my favorite fantasy books is Waugh's The Mennyms, so life sized, sentient dolls made sense to me! 
Weaknesses: This is one of those books that 6th graders will love, but 8th graders will not pick up because of the sentient dolls. If this had a different style of cover, and Lola was in 8th grade, it would find a lot more readers. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoy fantasy stories where a child deals with grief, like Grant's A Green Velvet Secret, Sugiura's Momo Arashima Steals the Sword of the Wind or Kelkar's That Thing About Bollywood.

On a personal note: Dr. Reyes is doing an astounding job keeping everything from unraveling, and she should be left alone. The only thing she might have done differently was to get Lola into grief counseling, which is one of those things that is done with today's younger generations. I'm still of the opinion that if people don't want to talk about their feelings, they shouldn't have to. Also, children do NOT need to know how their parents are feeling, as long as their parents are supportive and meet all of the children's physical and emotional needs. I'm not sure that the trend of encouraging children to share their worries with friends is that great an idea, but it's certainly a very widespread one. It's very apparent that I am from the "slap some dirt on it" generation. 

Saturday Morning Cartoons- Amazing Grapes and Dear Dad

Feiffer, Jules. Amazing Grapes
September 24, 2024 by Michael di Capua Books

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
 

In this graphic novel, Shirley, Pearlie, and Curly have a difficult life. Their father, Greg, never liked children, and walked out on the family. A year later, their mother, who is often remote, announces that they will be moving across the country to live on a mountain when she marries Lenny, who has three children, Penny, Benny, and Kenny. Just as they are about to load the van for the trip, a giant two headed swan swoops by and takes Pearlie and Curly away into the Lost Dimension. Shirley stays with their mother, who seems to recognize the swan. Pearlie and Curly have quite the madcap adventure, telling knock knock jokes to the swan, stopping at a bathroom in Meanyopolis, where all of the residents look like Greg, and being used as a plaything by the Police Hawks, who toss them in a game of drop ya/got ya over a pool of crocodile like creatures called akyaks. When the swan has to leave, the children have an emergency feather from the creature, just in case. Eventually, they meet Slirro, the Lord High Muckety Muck of Everything That Counts, who puts them in a dangerous party pit.  Back in our dimension, the mother can tell that her children are in danger. She sends Shirley to save the two, and opens the portal to the other dimension by singing and "Amazing Grapes" song. Three years have passed while Pearlie and Curly have been gone, although it doesn't seem that long to them. After meeting a baby monster, they take the Tower to Nowhere and meet an old lady without a head who gives them Kelly, a guide dog who is secretly a cat. Things get stranger and stranger, and eventually some light is shed on what's going on. The mother was the Empress Cornucopia of Trutopia, but left because she couldn't stomach the responsibility of running the kingdom with a war going on. She ended up in our dimension, and has always felt disconnected. How will Pearlie, Curly, and Shirley (along with her fiance, Earl) be able to save the kingdom and reconnect with their mother? 
Strengths: It's definitely not an every day occurrences to have a Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonist and satirist who contributed to The Atlantic, The Village Voice, and whose work was syndicated across the US turn his hand to a graphic novel. Feiffer (who is now 95) even had the first op ed comic strip in The New York Times for several years, and there was even a retrospective of his work at the National Archives years ago. It's like having John Cheever authoring an I Can Read book. This embraced his themes of anxiety and self reflection in a way that is accessible to younger readers, and has a lot of humor to boot. Of course, the real selling point is Feiffer's exuberant and eccentric illustrations. 
Weaknesses: This might be a bit challenging for younger readers to comprehend, although they will find the artwork appealing. There is a quirky, allegorical feel to this that readers might not have seen before.
What I really think: Readers will be glad to see Feiffer's classic style of artwork appear in this popular modern format, and will giggle at the vintage goofiness of this Daniel Pinkwater-style fantasy adventure. As a bonus for long time fans, this has more than a few nods to the classic The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster, which Feiffer illustrated.

Patton, Jay Jay, Patton, Antoine, Valdez, Kiara, and Jenai, Markia (illus.)
Dear Dad: Growing Up with a Parent in Prison -- and How We Stayed Connected
September 17, 2024 by Graphix
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Jay Jay's father was in prison from time she was three until she was ten, but her mother made sure that the two kept in contact. The father earns a college degree in computer coding during his time inside. When he is released, he returns to the family home in Buffalo with Jay Jay and Jayden, her younger brother, but feels that he must move to Florida for a better chance. It is a few months until the rest of the family is able to follow him. It is sometimes rocky, with the father sometimes treating Jay Jay like she is much younger, but the two bond over coding. The father puts together an app called Photo Patch that allows children of incarcerated people to write letters and upload pictures, which Photo Patch then prints and sends to the parents, since there are very strict ways of communicating. This is based on the true story of the Pattons. 

This was very interesting, but the title was a little misleading. I've had several students with parents in prison, but only a very small part of the book was about dealing with that situation. There was a lot of information that could have been included but wasn't, and this left me wanting to know a lot more. The graphic novel format will appeal to many readers, but perhaps didn't give as many details as a regular novel might have. 

Rocky Road: Team Canteen #1 and The Long Way Around

Jahn, Amalie, Rocky Road (Team Canteen #1)

September 3, 2024 by Pixel+Ink
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

For several years, Tasha has snuck away from the end-of-season talent show at the Happy Hollow summer camp to eat ice cream in the freezer that is going to be thrown away the next day. This year, she has the company of three new friends, Claire, Billie, and Raelynn, who are all rising 8th graders. They've all struggled to find kindred spirits, and are glad to have each other. When Billie is almost caught by a counselor but manages not to be punished because he starts up a conversation with her about a pink boa that the group had found in a props box, the group decides that the boa must be magic, and vows to mail the boa around during the year to whomever needs its powers. There's some postage involved, especially to Billie who is in Canada, but it makes them all feel connected. We get to see each camper's school year during the course of the book, and the group has occasional group texts that are shared. 

Billie's father is very involved in his hockey career, as well of that of his older brother. Billie is not a huge fan of the sport, even though he is an excellent goalie, and wants to quit. When the advisor for the ice capades' Annie on Ice schedules rink time when one of Billie's practices was supposed to take place, he is enthralled with the production, and volunteers to be the set designer. In order to find time to do this, he tells his parents that he is helping with a hockey team for younger players. He has a great time, and when the skater playing Miss Hannigan breaks her wrist, Billie is asked to step in. He's thrilled, but worried about what his family might think. 

Claire returns home to the same difficult position she left before being a scholarship student at the camp; her mother is working as a full-time teacher and a part time clerk while attending grad school, since her father was injured in an accident and his disability has run out. When Claire needs new shoes, her mother takes her to Rag-o-Rama where she sees a pair of used, high end tennis shoes for $50. While she would love them, her mother gets a $10 pair of shoes instead, but the owner, Miss Birdie, offers to hire her so she can earn the shoes. On her way to the shop one day, she meets Sam, who is a big fan of the store, and the two refurbish discards together. After she works off the coast of the shoes, Claire earns money, and plans to use it for a retirement party for her mother, who is going to become a principal. The only problem? She has to do all of this without her father knowing, and she he finds her hidden money, she has to regroup. Will she be able to work with the school sewing group she's put together to make back the needed cash?

Tasha was excited to hear from her dads that there would be a new family member joining them when she gets home, but rather than the dog she expects, she is greeted by her cousin Jillian, who is in fifth grade. Jillian's mother has died after being "sick" for a long time, the dads are very solicitous of Jillian and her terror of a dog, Mortimer. Tasha starts to feel like her dads prefer Jillian to her, and she's angry when Mortimer destroys her poetry journal. When Mortimer destroys the family's Christmas presents and Jillian runs away, Tasha is worried, and goes to find her. The two start to work together, and take Mortimer to behavioral classes. The teacher's son, Gavin, has been giving Jillian a hard time, calling her "Killian Jillian", so Tasha tries to find a way to get back at him so he leaves Jillian alone. She also submits her poem to a children's literature magazine and waits eagerly to hear its fate. 

Raelynn struggles to deal with herr twin, Baylee, upon her return home. They aren't identical, and Baylee is the more mature, traditionally pretty one. Realynn is shy, and very into videogames, but when other players in the game she likes identify her, she is appalled that people know who she really is. One of the other players is Jamal, who comes to her defense when kids at school are mean to her. Raelynn is distraught when she thinks her sister is putting the moves on her crush. When Jamal asks her to the school dance, she would love to go, but it's on the same day as MegaCon. Since neither kid has bought tickets to either event, Raelynn asks Jamal to go to MegaCon, and he says yes. 

This was a fun look at a group of kids who have trouble fitting in, and find great comfort in being supported by friends. The boa isn't magical, but just the thought that it is empowers the kids to take chances and to try new activities and make connections with people. I had a few quibbles (Billie would have needed a permission slip and medical emergency form to be in the Annie on Ice production; Claire's mother wouldn't have retired from teaching after twenty years, she would have just gone on to be a principal so the party seemed odd), but this was a fun look at a group of kids trying out new things and finally feeling like they belong. This is a great choice for readers who enjoyed the drama, friendship, and activities in Arno's Molly in the Middle, Sumner's One Kid's Trash, or Libenson's Positively Izzy 

Random note: My own children, who were dressed entirely from the thrift store their whole lives, were aghast that Claire would consider $50 shoes, especially since for $10, you could pick up brand new shoes at Target on clearance, and for $3, you could get a decent pair of used ones at the thrift store. I did splurge when they ran cross country and got them $30 Asics at Kohls, because foot health is important! 

Nesbet, Anne. The Long Way Around 

September 10, 2024 by Candlewick Press

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Sisters Amy and Vivian, with their mother Judy, and their cousin Owen, and his father Mike, are all set for a hiking trip in Sequoia National Park. Amy, who is 8, is less thrilled with the hiking aspect than the other two (who are 11 and 12), but they are all looking forward to being out in nature, cooking over a campfire, and being together. Their first day goes well, and the kids get the chance to cook their own dinner and put up their tent a bit of a distance from the parents. When there is an earthquake in the middle of the night, the children are separated from their parents. Owen calculates how much food they have, and they figure out on the map where they need to go. It is, of course, the long way around because of damage on the trail. Amy isn't thrilled with the idea, and wants to stay put and wait to be rescued. The group runs in to problems endemic with back woods hiking, like seeing a bear, and falling in a stream, but make steady progress. Amy sees a golden bear several times, and thinks that it is magical bear. Owen is dealing with the emotional trauma of having been in a car accident with his friend Mateo, and seeing Mateo struggle with amnesia that is so bad that he doesn't remember Owen, and Viv is very worried about starting middle school, so at the end of the day when the hiking is done, these issues are often explored. The children take an unmaintained trail to save time, and run into some problems with that, including finding a man with a broken ankle who needs their help. Luckily, they aren't too far from a populated camping area, but the trail to it has been damaged. The kids decide to use the trail anyway, and are soon helped and reunited with their parents. 

Strengths: This starts with a helpful map showing where the children walked, and is based on the experiences of the author, which gives the story a lot of great details about what it is like to hike in the wilderness. It's good to see cousins who are friends, and I loved that aside from Amy, they didn't really complain very much; they just figured out what need to be done, and did it. This is on trend for discussions of children dealing with trauma as well. This is a bit of a break from Nesbet's historical fiction titles like The Orphan Band of Springdale, Cloud and Wallfish, and Daring Darleen, Queen of the Screen, and she clearly has a love for the great outdoors! 
Weaknesses: The children seem a bit too unconcerned about what has happened to Just and Mike; when they finally meet a ranger, they don't even ask about them for quite some time. It also seemed highly unlikely that the ranger would have let the group hike to their parents after so many resources were used trying to find them. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoy outdoor adventures like Behren's Alone in the Woods, Lang's Out of Range, and Downing's Just Keep Walking. 

Stage Fright and Spy School Entrance Exam

Parris, Wendy. Stage Fright
September 17, 2024 by Delacorte Press
E ARC provided by Netgalley

Avery has moved from the Midwest to Philadelphia, and is glad to be going "home" for summer vacation. She's glad that she will be able to see her old friends and neighbors like Paige, Tyler, and Jaylen. Things get off to a bit of a rocky start when Paige doesn't meet her at the airport, especially when Paige has been off at the mall with Bethany Barnes, who bullied Avery when they were younger. Wanting to revisit the group's old stomping grounds, Avery suggests meeting at Tyler's treehouse, and is surprised that it has fallen into some disrepair. Her friends haven't been hanging out together, so they all try to think of an activity they can do together. Avery suggests their "Ridge Road Detective Club" game, but the others scoff that they are all too old for such nonsense, until Avery suggests breaking into the local Old Winter Playhouse, since it is the tenth anniversary of the death of the director's nine year old daughter. Sneaky out in the middle of the night is always interesting, and when the four get into the theater, there are some scary things that occur. There is a ghost light on the stage, and when they venture too far away, they see and hear eerie things. There is a skull that seems to follow them around, and after touching it, Tyler thinks that they are being surrounded by rats. Jaylen falls off the stage and breaks his ankle; of course, none of the children can get cell phone service. They hunker down to wait until morning, but Jaylen thinks that the walls are closing in on them. In between the spooky ghost manifestations, Avery gets caught up on some things her friends have been going. Paige and Jaylen kissed, even though the kids made a pact to always stay friends, and Paige is worried about her parents' pending divorce. Of course, the altered states of Tyler and Jaylen are even more concerning, as is being followed by menancing ghosts! When things get especially bad, there is a fire started, and the theater is badly damaged. The ghost is put to rest (I don't want to spoil some of the details!), the kids aren't blamed for the fire, and Avery is able to return to Philadelphia with the knowledge that even if she had stayed in her old neighborhood, her friendships still might have changed. 
Strengths: Friends changing in middle school and growing apart is definitely more scary (and more common) than viscious ghosts, and pairing the two popular topics is an inspired idea. While as a responsible adult, I can't condone children lying to caregivers and sneaking out in the middle of the night, there is a certain appeal to such activity when one is a tween. There's a good back story to the haunting of the theater, and a good variety of ghost menancing. This is a good length, and moves quickly, as any good killer ghost story should. 

Weaknesses: Like this author's Field of Screams, this is more gently scary than terrifying. Also, would people in Philadelphia make fun of a Midwestern accent? Aside from a friend from New Hampshire who once said I had a "nasal" accent (I mean, I did grow up close to Cleveland), I always labored under the delusion that the Midwest didn't have an accent. 
What I really think: This is a great choice for readers who have an interest in eerie books with theater connections and enjoyed Gonzalez's Fearless, Key's Twelfth, Schusterman's Olive and the Backstage Ghost or Freeman's Noah McNichol and the Backstage Ghost.

Gibbs, Stuart. Spy School Entrance Exam: A Spy School Book of Devious Word Searches, Clever Crosswords, Sly Sudoku, and Other Top Secret Puzzles! (Paperback)
September 24, 2024 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Clearly, this is not a book for a school library, given the amount of puzzles in it, but it would make an excellent gift for an avid SPY SCHOOL fan. In addition to the different puzzles, there is some introductory notes from the principal (heavily redacted, of course!), information about different characters, as they introduce a variety of puzzles, and a lot of illustrations in the style of the SPY SCHOOL graphic novels. I'm not a fan of puzzles, but they do have different levels of them, and they look fairly interesting. The one exception is the crossword puzzles. Creating proper crosswords is a difficult thing to do, and these are rather simplistic. There is also information about some codes. Answers and explanations are at the back.

I liked the explanation that the system had been hacked, so the school was going back to old school pencil and paper testing. If I had a paper ARC of this, I would have to have a contest for the winner, because I have a lot of readers who adore the series and would love to get their hands on this! This is 240 pages long, so not a short book, and worth the $11 price tag. 

Culturally Connected Fantasy Titles

Farmer, Craig Kofi. Kwame Crashes the Underworld
September 10, 2024 by Roaring Book Press
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Lots of humor and Ghanian representation. Kwame's friend Autumn is Hard-of-Hearing, and this was worked into the story well. I love that Kwame's mother was his middle school principal. First person voice, and highly engaging. Great for fans of ' Brown's Serwa Boateng Guide to Vampire Hunting, Saunders Keynan Masters and the Peerless Magic Crew and Baitie's Crossing the Stream. 

From the publisher:

Twelve-year-old Kwame Powell refuses to acknowledge any feelings about his grandmother’s passing. And he certainly doesn't want to accompany his parents to her celebration of life ceremony in Ghana, where he knows he'll have to face his feelings about her death head-on.

But when an aboatia – a mischievous monkey from Akan mythology – steals Kwame's grandmother’s dashiki, his last physical reminder of her, Kwame decides to take matters into his own hands. He chases the little thief across town, to the edge of the pier, and… into a magical whirlpool that leads straight to Asamando, the Ghanaian underworld.

With his best friend Autumn, and the crafty aboatia he names Woo, Kwame finds himself embroiled with angry nature gods intent on destroying humanity. And, matters only get more complicated when he runs into none other than his grandmother herself... except in the underworld, she’s still a kid. And very much alive.

Cervantes, J.S. Daggers of Ire
September 3, 2024 by HarperCollins

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Perfect for aspiring brujas who enjoyed Rivera's Cece Rios or Meriano's Love. Sugar. Magic. 

From the Publisher:

Esmerelda Santos is a rare bruja, born with Chaos magic in her veins. She and her family are direct descendants of one of the four original witches—a mysterious legend about the night magic was born in San Bosco. But since the death of her mother, Esme is more concerned about healing their father’s spiraling grief.

When Esme finds a heart spell in a forbidden grimorio, she thinks it could be the answer to making her dad whole again. But before she can try, she and her best friend, Tiago, discover that their families and all the town’s witches have vanished—along with their magic, which keeps San Bosco alive. The only way to save them and the town is to find an original witch—impossible, since no one has actually ever seen one.

With a witch hunter on their tail, Esme and Tiago journey to a banished realm where forbidden magic runs wild. Here the two must embrace their powers and confront the legend’s terrible truths . . . or risk losing their families and their magic forever.

 Randall, Julian. The Chainbreakers

September 3, 2024 by Henry Holt
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

This had some really interesting inclusions of history, from the author of the Pilar Ramirez series. Violet Moon is an engaging character, and her adventures will resonate with fans of Baptiste's The Jumbies and Okorafor's Ikenga. 

From the Publisher:

In this action-packed fantasy, thirteen-year-old Violent Moon must rescue her father and save her enchanted underwater world—perfect for fans of The Marvellers and Tristan Strong series.

All Violet Moon has ever wanted is to be a Reaper captain like her father. Born on the Tides of the Lost, a magical world beneath the waves of the Atlantic Ocean, Violet has spent her life at her father’s side rescuing souls lost in the water.But when a rescue mission turns to disaster after the arrival of the dreaded Children of the Shark, weaponized ghost-sharks who steal the souls for themselves, her father is seized and pulled down into the darkness of the Depths. With no choice for Violet but to inherit the captain's powers and helm the ship as the next in line, it'll be up to her to save her father—if he even still lives—and stop the Children of the Shark before they devour the world.

Marsh, Rachel M. Rougarou Magic

September 10, 2024 by Greenwillow Books

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Can't say I can think of any other middle grade books featuring Cajun characters, other than Maberry 2015 The Orphan Army and maybe Fournet's Brick Dust and BonesBrick Dust and Bones (a rougarou is involved, but my knowledge of Cajun culture is not great). It makes perfect sense to have a fantasy novel involving the rich folklore and belief in magic. Boston is not a place I would want to live, but neither is the South, so the problems with Feliciana living in Boston made perfect sense. I'll take my food bland, thanks, although here in Ohio I like to think that we would all be a lot nicer to Feliciana.

From the Publisher:

After discovering that the creatures from Cajun folklore actually exist, Feliciana is torn between hiding her heritage and starting fresh at her new school—all while caring for an unexpected magical friend. Rachel M. Marsh’s debut novel is for fans of Tracey Baptiste’s The Jumbies and Katherine Applegate’s Crenshaw.

Twelve-year-old Feliciana Fruge does not like Boston. If given the chance, she would gladly move herself and her mom from the freezing city right back to Grandma’s house in Louisiana. Feliciana dreams of escaping her stepfather’s corny jokes and bland food and the relentless bullying at school.

So, when she transfers to a new school and has the chance to start fresh, Feliciana plans to be as un-Cajun as possible in order to blend in. But then Grandma sends Feliciana a mischievous and magical monster from Cajun folklore—Roux the rougarou. While Grandma might have meant for rambunctious Roux to keep Feliciana company, now Feliciana must juggle making new friends, outsmarting a bully, creating her best art to qualify for an upcoming competition—and hiding her mysterious, magical canine companion from everyone.

 Diño, Yxavel Magno. The Serpent Rider

September 10, 2024 by Bloomsbury Children's Books

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

There are relatively few fantasy books with Filipino characters, other than Villanueva's  2024 Lulu Sinagtala and the City of Noble Warriors and 2021 Sugar and Spite, Badua's 2022 Freddie vs. the Family Curse, and Torres' and Elbert's 2012 graphic novel Lola: A Ghost Story.  No matter where tweens are in the world, it is up to them to save the world from paranormal destruction! Definitely appreciate that this is a stand alone fantasy novel. 

From the Publisher:

In this middle grade debut inspired by Filipino folklore, a spunky, determined warrior must claim her destiny in order to save her sister, perfect for fans of Witchlings and The Owl House.

Tani dreams of fulfilling her destiny as a Serpent Rider, fighting alongside an elemental serpent to defend her village against monsters. More than anything, she wants to protect her little sister Ligaya, the village princess who's tasked with memorizing their community's history, including the tale of Great Bakunawa, the most powerful and feared sea serpent that swallowed six of the world's seven moons.

After a devastating monster attack, Tani can no longer wait patiently for her bakunawa egg to hatch. She makes a desperate deal with a stranger who promises her a serpent of her own. But when her gamble puts her sister in major danger, Tani must find a way to save Ligaya before she's lost forever. All the while, in the depths of the sea, Great Bakunawa is stirring, threatening to devour the last moon and plunge the night sky into eternal darkness . . .

Fantasy Tuesday

Almond, David. Puppet

September 3, 2024 by Candlewick Press

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

**Spoilers at the end.**

The elderly Silvester spent years performing with his wife Belinda, and traveling with Silvester's Magic Puppet show. Now, in the autumn of his years, he is donating all of his puppets and sets to a museum. He retains his workshop in the attic, and creates a puppet one night who seems to come alive. Puppet learns to walk, talk, and eat jam sandwiches. When Silvester takes him out to the park, he starts to call him "Kenneth". The two meet young Fleur, who invites them to visit her at Crow Hall, the cottage she shares with her mother. Soon, Silvester and Kenneth are meeting other people in the town, from the owner of the local cake shop, to men who remember seeing the puppet show as children. Everyone treat the puppet, who only has three fingers on each hand, like a real child, but one who might have some challenges. When Silvester visits Fleur and meets her mother, Antonia, he finds that she was the one who sent a small puppet, Claude, to him years ago. It's good that Silvester has this new friend after he sleeps for three days straight; at least someone checks on him. Fleur shows an interest in making puppets, and a new puppet show is planned. Everyone shows up to this big event, and exclaims how beautiful and wonderful it is, but afterwards, Silvester goes home and passes away. Puppet goes to live with Fleur, but his life force slowly drains, and he eventually flies away into the sky. 

This had a very British feel to it, with the small town and the public puppet shows, and was similar to other Almond titles. It also reminded me a bit of DiCamillo's The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, or her more recent The Puppets of Spellhorst series. This seemed a bit young to me, so I won't be buying it, but if doll or puppet stories work well with your students, definitely take a look. 

Lloyd, Natalie. The Witching Wind

September 3, 2024 by Scholastic Press

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Roxie Darling's grandmother, Ruthie Diamond Darling, was a folk singer when she was younger, and Roxie wants to follow in her footsteps. Since Ruthie wants to hit the road again, Roxie is excited, especially after an unfortunate incident at a school pool party has left her feeling "less than" and caused her to be estranged from her best friend, Loretta. Grayson Patch also has a complicated life; she's in foster care and uses a walker because of her brittle bone disease, but she is hopeful that her older sister Beanie will connect with her on the sister's 18th birthday, and the two will get an apartment in New York City together. For now, Grayson is being cared for by the Cottons, who have a three year old daughter, Freya. In the girls' Tennessee town, there is a Witching Wind that causes a lot of distress, and this season has seen more and stronger winds pummel the town. When Granny Ruth goes missing, Roxie's cousin Collette (along with her pet groundhog) helps Roxie look for her, and also tells Roxie some of the history of the wind, which is tied to the True sisters who lived on Monarch Mountain. Grayson struggles with the fact that her sister won't text her back, and reaches out to a social worker, Donna for help. At school, the girls realize that they are both dealing with someone who is missing, as well as unfriendly people at school, and end up together with a supportive group called the Yeehaws. After Granny Ruth, is found in the woods, she doesn't remember Roxie. The medical professionals claim that she had a stroke, but Roxie is determined that the wind has stolen her memories. The Yeehaws plans a camping trip on the mountain to find out the secret of the Whispering Wind. The Cottons agree to let Grayson go. Roxie is also struggling with her self esteem, and is given negative messages about her weight again and again, especially by school personnel. She gets better messages from Grayson, who informs her that "every body is a swimsuit body". Once on the mountain, Roxie meets Addison True, who says that Ruth had visited her recently in order to obtain something for Roxie. Will Roxie be able to find out the truth about the wind, and will Grayson be able to make peace with her family situation?

Like Lloyd's other titles (The Key to Extraordinary and A Snicker of Magic), this has a quirky, Southern setting and strong themes of female empowerment, family ties, and everyday magic that resonate with a lot of people. Expect to see a lot of love for this new story. At 368 pages, it is a bit longer than other middle grade magical realism titles. 

Bourne, Shakirah. Beware the Heartman (Josephine Against the Sea #2)

September 17, 2024 by Scholastic Press

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Jo is enjoying playing on the Barbados Youth Cricket team, and hanging out with her friend Ahkai. She's a bit worried that he is hanging out a lot with Lynne, who is from "overseas" and isn't one of Jo's favorite people. She's accepted that her father and Ms. Alleyne are dating, and is hoping that her entrance exam results are good enough so that she and Ahkai can both go to Lamming Secondary. When she finds out that she is actually supposed to go to Queen Mary College, she begs her father to put in for a transfer so that she can remain with her friend, especially since Lynne also got into Lamming. There are bigger problems, however. Her cricket coach has gone missing, and when a boy from the cricket team does as well, rumors start to swirl that the Heartman is on the prowl. This dark and shadowy figure stalks people and eats their hearts out, and Jo thinks she might have  brought him into the area. She starts to think that maybe Lynne is the Heartman, or at the very least has Ahkai bewitched. When Ahkai also goes missing, Jo knows she needs to figure out what is going on. Where has her friend gone, and what is Lynne's relationship to the villain of the first book, Mariss? 

Bourne, who also wrote the excellent Nightmare Island, has created another eerie tale about evil creatures preying on unsuspecting tweens, and has infused this horror with interesting facets of life in Barbados. This is perfect for readers who want creepy tales with some different cultural aspects, like Ireland's The Boo Hag Flex or Howard's Bumps in the Night. 

Kopy, Jordan and Jevons, Chris. (Illustrator)

Theodora Hendrix and the Monstrous League of Monsters 

October 1, 2020 by Walker Books Limited

Copy provided by the Publisher  

My students love creepy, Halloween based books, but they also want any monsters in the book to rip people's heads off in particularly bloody ways. Here, the monsters take care of baby Theodora even though it can get them into trouble, which is not as violent and gory a tale as my students would like. This also fell on the elementary side of the Pilkey line with the mentions of snot and earwax. The illustrations are a good touch. This would be great for readers who liked books like Vernon's Castle Hangnail, Kloepfer's Monsters Unleashed, or Lubar's Accidental Monsters series. Think of it as a cute, elementary version of Gaiman's The Graveyard Book. The title reminded me a bit of LaFevers' fantastic 2007 Theodosia Throckmorton and the Serpents of Chaos series! 

From the Publisher: 

"Theodora was just a baby when Georgie rescued her from a hobgoblin-infested graveyard and delivered her to the Monstrous League of Monsters. The kind-hearted monsters vote to keep Theodora, risking Headquarters’ wrath if they’re ever discovered. They get away with it, too – until a series of anonymous letters coated in earwax threaten to expose them to Headquarters. As the monsters race to identify the letter-writer Theodora takes matters into her own hands, hatching a simple – no, clever – no, brilliant – plan. If she fails, her beloved monsters will rot in the dank prisons of Transylvania. Forever. But if she succeeds, Theodora will lose her own freedom. Forever."

Rundell, Katherine. Impossible Creatures
September 10, 2024 by Knopf Books for Young Readers

ARC provided by Follett First Look

Christopher has to travel to Scotland to stay with his grandfather while his father travels for work; his mother died, which of course made his father had "contracted... downward and inward". Animals have always been attracted to Christopher, as they were to his mother, but his father doesn't like this. The grandfather understands, though, and kindly welcomes his grandson, even knitting him a sweater! We also meet Mal, who can fly when there is wind, with the help of a coat. She's attacked by a murderer and separated from her griffin, whom Christopher finds. The two meet and have to work out how to deal with the magical creatures, since magic has been dying in the area. This seemed very British, in that it seemed like it was for younger children most of the time but then had dark turns with the murderer. Feels a tiny bit like Mull's Fablehaven or Sutherland's The Menagerie, but stylistically is closer to the late Kate Saunders' 2012  Magicalamity, or maybe I'm just stuck on the similarity of covers. 

From the Publisher:

The day Christopher saved a drowning baby griffin from a hidden lake would change his life forever. It’s the day he learned about the Archipelago, a cluster of unmapped islands where magical creatures of every kind have thrived for thousands of years—until now. And it’s the day he met Mal, a girl on the run who desperately needs his help.

MMGM- Rise of the Spider and Valor Wings

It's

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
 at 

Always in the Middle 

and #IMWAYR day 

at

Unleashing Readers

Spradlin, Michael. The Rise of the Spider (Web of the Spider #1)
September 24, 2024 by Margaret K. McElderry Books

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

It's 1929 in the Bavarian town of Heroldsberg, Germany. Rolf, who is 12, is worried about his older brother, Romer. A brilliant soccer player, Romer is increasingly dissatisfied with life, and fights frequently with their father, who runs a toy factory in nearby Nuremberg that is experiencing difficulties. Rolf knows that things are hard in Germany; after the Great War, the country had to pay reparations, and the economy was suffering. Ansel, Rolf's best friend, is well versed in the news of the day because his father is a reporter for the Nuremberg Zeitgeist. When the two friends see Romer talking to two young men, they are worried to find that Hans and Nils have moved to town to set up an office for the National Socialist German Workers Party, better known as the Nazis. While Ansel isn't pleased with the spidery Hans' glib replies and calls Hitler an idiot, Rolf is more circumspect in his speech. He does tell his father, who is not happy that Romer is considering joining the Hitler Youth. Rolf asks if his older brother, Klaus, who died in the Great War, was also troublesome at that age, and the father does remember that Klaus fought quite a lot with his mother, who died of the Spanish flu. Still, when Mrs. Hufnagel's bakery is attacked and set on fire, and Romer's shirt smells of kerosene, Rolf becomes very worried about his brother. When he finds that Romer has traveled to Nuremberg for a rally, he and his father go after them. With things heating up in the country, will Rolf and his father be able to keep Romer safe? 

Unfortunately, this ends on a cliffhanger, and the next book, Threat of the Spider, doesn't even have a publication date yet! I love the description of what everyday life was like in Heroldsberg, and the information about the economic difficulties makes it easier to grasp why the German people supported Hitler and were coerced into believing his lies about the Jewish population. Almost one hundred years later, many of these details tend to fade away, so Rolf's experiences are a good foundation for understanding how Hitler's rise to power was possible, and how the Holocaust was able to happen. 

Spradlin has done a number of books about World War II, including The Enemy Above, Prisoner of War, and Into the Killing Seas, as well as the nonfiction Jack Montgomery: Gallantry at Anzio (Medal of Honor), so he brings not only incredible historical research to this book, but also a good feel for the time

period. As soon as I found out that Rolf's mother had died, I thought "Who's the family's housekeeper/cook?" Sure enough, we soon met Mrs. Holsten, who was supporting her seven children after her husband perished in the Great War. I loved the father's explanation that he had to keep her on as a way to support the economy! 

There are many stories of fighting during the war, and of the wide range of experiences of Jewish citizens in horrible circumstances, but in the US, there aren't many stories about how ordinary German citizens lived, and how they felt about the Nazis. I had dear friends who were just about Rolf's age. Both were forced into being in the Hitler Youth, but got into quite a bit of trouble for putting the uniform neckerchief on a dog! Seeing the political events through Rolf's eyes was very interesting, and the stage is set for even more enlightening and exciting adventures. Hand this to readers who enjoyed Smith's My Brother's Secret, Hoose's The Boys Who Challenged Hitler, McCormick The Plot to Kill Hitler: Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Spy, Unlikely Hero, Osbourne's Winter's Bullet or other books that give more background about the lives of ordinary people during the lead up to World War II. 

Subity, Sam. Valor Wings.

September 17, 2024 by Scholastic Press

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

It's 1940, and things in Europe are becoming dire. In alternating story lines, we meet Iris, who lives in England and is taking care of the last dragon in the area, whom she has named Galahad. Dragons used to  be more widespread, but were accused of killing livestock and spreading disease, and were driven off before Iris was born. Her mother has passed away, and her father and older brother Jamie are working on the family farm. When people find Galahad, he ends up in the possession of the army, directed in the area by General (Colonel? I had to read this through Edelweiss Shelf and can't easily go back and find things.)Stephenson, whose daughter Maud warns Iris that it is pointless to fight for the dragon. To make matters worse, Jamie enlists to fight, although it is some consolation that he is supposed to be Galahad's handler. In Belgium, we meet Max, who has been sent to live with his grandmother while his parents are working in the Resistance in Germany. When the Germans come to their town, headed by General Wyvern, the two take a few belongings, as well as Max's dog Plum, and leave, since they are Jewish. The plan is to head to France, but instead of just going over the border, they are going all the way to Dunkirk. When Jamie ships out without Galahad, Iris gets permission to train the dragon to help with the army, and Maud works with her. It isn't until Iris is in danger that Galahad manages to fly. Max has several harrowing experiences, is separated from his grandmother, and ends up with Jamie and Maud's brother Jack as they work their way through France toward Dunkirk in the rear guard. When Galahad almost perishes in a burning barn, Iris and Maud both ride off to find the fabled herd of dragons; when they do, the leader, Belrath, says he knew Iris' mother Charlotte, and might help to rescue soldiers, but says it will take some time to make the decision. This is time that the girls don't have. Riding Galahad, and Belrath's daughter, Malory, the two take off to Dunkirk. Will they be able to find and save their brothers?

Strengths: Subity dives right into the action, and has us suspend disbelief about the dragons right away. The alternating story lines are both well developed, and meet in a satisfying way. This also gives us a good look at two sides of the preparations for Dunkirk; both the English side, with Iris' father getting their sailboat ready, and the French side, where Jamie and Jack are trying to blow up bridges so the Germans can't use them. The chapters end on cliff hangers, so readers will be frantically reading to find out what happened next. There's no lack of explosions, treacherous falls, planes strafing the area, and other exciting things that are essential to a good World War II book. Surprisingly, there is a strong feminist element as well, with Iris and Maud referring to themselves as "women of valor". This is well paced and exciting, and dragons are always popular with my readers. 
Weaknesses: As an adult reader, there were a lot of coincidences that seemed unlikely, even though they make for a happy ending. I was also a little confused at the beginning when villagers called Iris "dragon girl" under their breath, but it also seemed like Galahad was supposed to be a big secret. Young readers won't mind either thing. (I was also overly concerned about Plum and thought it unlikely that he and Max wouldn't get separated.)
What I really think: This reminds me strongly of Len Lamensdorf's Will to Conquer series, but I can't think of any other World War II/fantasy books than the Brasheres' 2024 Westfallen or Scarrow's Time Riders. Fans of Subity's  The Last Shadow Warrior will enjoy this, as will readers wanting dragons, or a fresh look at the battle of Dunkirk. (Although I'm still a fan of Tunis' 1962 Silence Over Dunkerque [sic].)

Library Girl and Carter Avery's Tricky Fourth Grade Year

Horvath, Polly. Library Girl

September 10, 2024 by Margaret Ferguson Books

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

The Huffington Public library is in a beautiful, 1894 building on a street filled with thriving businesses. Three of the children's librarians, Doris, Taisha, and Jeanne-Marie are all good friends, and a reference librarian, Lucinda, has managed to weaponize her baked goods and worm her way into their good graces even though they usually aren't friends with anyone who doesn't reread Elizabeth Enright every year. When the four are working late one night, they hear a baby somewhere in the library. Once they find the baby girl, they are unwilling to turn her over to the authorities, although they realize the trouble they might be in. Instead, they gather their resources (all of them have hoped for babies, with no results) and decide to raise Esmerelda, or Essie, in the library. They must hide this activity from Mr. Fellows, the head of the library, who asks occasional questions about a day bed, a tin washtub, or a dresser in the workrooms. Being librarians, they have satisfactory, if silly, statistics to support these items. Essie is cared for when the four take turns staying overnight. She learns to ride a bike in the stacks, but can't be sent to school because there is no record of her birth. She does meet the occasional patron, like the elderly Oscar, who wants to know why she has never had a phosphate at the shop across the street. Her mothers decide to give her spending money and allow her to go out to shops close by; they don't go with her so they can't be accused of kidnapping. She goes to the mall, where she buys disappointing bubble bath (there's no running water in her tub) and candy. She has always longed for a sibling, but does love the women who are raising her. She also thinks that going to school would be interesting, so when she meets G.E. at Gilmore's Department Store, she marvels at how different his life is from her own. When the library hires a new librarian, Ms. Matterhorn, keeping Esme's secret becomes harder and harder. What is Esme's full story? Will she be able to write her own ending? (There are twists and turns I don't want to ruin.)

Strengths: The cover alone will ensure that many children's librarians will find this in their holiday stockings this year. There is a tremendous sense of place, and living in a library would be fantastic. Horvath, whose Everything on a Waffle, Pine Island Home, and Canning Season all explore the idea of "found family" in different ways, has a knack for taking improbable situations and making them believable. Esme's sadness at her situation will give middle grade readers something to think about; what 7th grader is completely happy with their own home life? The ending is quirky, and teachers and librarians who like library themed "heart print books" will love this one. 
Weaknesses: There were several things that seemed... not necessarily inappropriate for children, but a bit uninteresting to them. Also, I think even six year olds know that you can't just find a baby and raise it on your own in a library without problems. 
What I really think: This is a great choice for readers who enjoyed the hidden children in Albus'  Nothing Else But Miracles or books set in libraries, like Alexander's The Library of Ever, Magoon's The Secret Library, or Prineas' The Scroll of Kings. 

 

Buyea, Rob. Carter Avery's Tricky Fourth Grade Year

September 3, 2024 by Delacorte Press

E ARC provided by Netgalley

Carter Avery is THAT student. The one who rockets around the elementary classroom when the teacher needs everyone to sit down. The kid who has no filter. The smart aleck who takes the teacher's chair when told to take any available seat. All of his teachers agree, and he knows all of the staff in the office because he spends so much time there. He has a very supportive grandmother, who is raising him and his high school aged sister Brynn after the death of their parents, but Carter hasn't gotten the support he has needed. That is, until Olivia Krane shows up at his school. When the third graders meet their new teachers on the last day of school, Carter is worried, because he's heard that Ms. Krane is super mean. But... she isn't. She does tell him to act in different ways, but doesn't mind when he sits in her chair. She even sticks up for him when the snooty Missy Gerber is mean. Carter confides in his bus driver that maybe "the Owl" isn't as mean as everyone has said. After a summer of swimming lessons, baking cookies, going to the library, and visiting a local farm with his grandmother, Carter is ready for the first day of school. It takes a little adjustment, but Ms. Krane is kind and supportive, and also shares with Carter than it would be helpful if he used kind words in her classroom because she is pregnant, and she wants her baby to be surrounded by pleasant things. It helps that she lets Carter move around as long as he isn't bothering others, even if it bothers Missy Gerber from all the way across the room, and she even lets him use a dictation device, called the Dragon, to record his stories, and then revise and edit them on the computer. The device is in the office, which means he sometimes overhears things he shouldn't. For instance, he hears that Ms. Krane's pregnancy is "artificial" and also that she is "liberal". He asks Mr. Wilson about these things, but has to get answers from his grandmother and Brynn. Ms. Krane isn't married, but having a baby, and some members of the community are upset, including Missy Gerber's mother. Fortunately, the school district is supportive of Ms. Krane. As the year progresses, the class has all manner of interesting projects, including a visit to a farm and chicks to hatch. Mason, a blind man whom Carter met at the summer reading program, is invited to the classroom with his dog, so that kids can read to the golden retriever. Carter even invites people in his life whom he enjoys to Thanksgiving, and Mr. Wilson (and his wife), Mason, and Ms. Krane all have an excellent holiday. When Ms. Krane isn't in school after break, Carter is worried, especially since the substitute is a hard line, ex-military guy named Lieutenant Boss. He doesn't understand Carter's ways, but after a while the two reach an agreement. Missy has been pulled out and homeschooled by her mother, which is unfortunate because she and Carter manage to become friends.  Ms. Krane even meets with Gram and Carter for breakfast so that she can reassure him that she and her new baby, Oliver, are doing okay, but because Oliver was premature, he needs to stay in the hospital for a while. The substitute changes some of his ways, and the class prepares for Ms. Krane's return. The party is successful, and Carter even makes a medal for Lt. Boss. The best news is that Gram will be caring for baby Oliver, and Ms. Krane will be able to return to the classroom. 

Strengths: Buyea's experience in the classroom is always evident in his excellent fiction, and he writes even more successfully from one point of view. (Both the Because of Mr. Terupt and The Perfect Score series have multiple voices.) Carter's voice is very strong, and his energy comes through on the page. He tries very hard to keep his impulsive behavior in check, but he can't always do it. He's not a bad kid, and the teachers have not understood him well enough to deal with his behavior. I loved all of the caring adults in Carter's world who see the good in him. It's also good to see that Ms. Krane's attention helps change Carter's behavior, but also the way his classmates see him, and having their support further improves his behavior. This is definitely a feel good story, where the world isn't perfect, but people are generally kind, or see the error of their ways if they are not. I'd love to see more characters in middle grade literature like Carter, because there are a ton of them in the real world. 
Weaknesses: Pennypacker's Summer of the Gypsy Moths (2012) is a little dark for fourth grade. I've never looked at Febreeze the same way since I read it. I also found it somewhat surprising that anyone in the community cared about the artificial insemination. We have a single teacher in my building who has a son who's almost twenty, and her teaching position was never challenged, even though her methods were no secret. 
What I really think: This is a "heart print" book, like many of Buyea's titles, that will be very much loved by elementary teachers. There is a sub plot with Brynn's friend who was hanging out with a boy who is no good for her, and that, combined with wrestling, could be Buyea's next book. That one, I would buy; this was just slightly too young for my middle school readers.