MMGM- Berry Parker Doesn't Catch Crushes

It's

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
 at 

Always in the Middle 

and #IMWAYR day 

at

Unleashing Readers

Sometimes, life hands you surprises. For instance, I never thought I would have a middle grade book dedicated to ME. The dedication to this book, by the fabulous Tanita Davis (whom I met at Kid Lit Con in San Diego in about 2014, and with whom I have corresponded about the Cybils Award and Latin in her novels), reads "For Ms. Yingling- and the fictional Mrs. Jüngling- who agreed that it would be nice if there were more middle grade books with Latin classes in them." There's also a wonderful tribute to librarians at the end. 

So just go buy two copies (at least!) for your library. You'll thank me- and Mrs. Jüngling.

Davis, Tanita. Berry Parker Doesn't Catch Crushes

September 16, 2025 by HarperCollins

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Like most middle schoolers, Berry doesn't like change, especially when life is going just the way she wants it to. She's having a great August with her mother, who comes once a year for a back-to-school "invasion", taking her vacation days from managing a resort hotel in Lake Tahoe to spend helping Berry get ready for the school year and spending quality time together. Berry's father, a surgical nurse, is goofy and embarrassing, but the two get along well. Her best friend, Lia, is going to be taking 7th grade Latin with her, so they'll be in the same cohort and have lots of classes together. Things go sideways when Berry suspects her mom has a boyfriend and is thinking about possibly moving to England, her father is hanging out with the new gym teacher, Coach Torres, and Lia isn't answering her texts... and is taking French! Even though she has the coolest Latin teacher EVER, Berry is not enjoying having to work with Lia's cousin Kai, even though some of the other students in the class, like Elyse, are friendly. Berry hopes that she can talk to Lia at her family's yearly barbecue, even if her father is talking about inviting Coach Torres. Lia has a huge crush on Miguel, and Berry thinks that some of her choices are motivated by this, but Lia also wants Berry to find some other friends. When Ivy, and Lennox, show up at the picnic, Berry isn't happy. Ivy wants to spend time cleaning out boxes of her mother's to free up space in the garage. Since Berry didn't quite realize that Grandma Gemma's boxes might be for her, she doesn't like this idea, especially since it means that Lennox is going to be hanging around as well. Things are rocky with Lia, although the two friends do continue to talk to each other, and school projects, like one on Ancient Roman bathrooms, are stressful. Berry's friends start to hint that she should be interested in Eirik, who might have a crush on her, but Berry just wants to focus on herself and her family. Ivy, who had Berry when she was 19, unearths some of Grandma Gemma's scrapbooks, and Berry is comforted to know that her grandmother also liked drawing and art the way that Berry does. When Ivy and Lennox get serious, will Berry be able to handle such a big change in her life? 

So many middle grade novels deal with grieving the death of a parent, when in real life, it's far more likely that tweens have to deal with parents who don't live nearby or parents who are dating. Davis understands how important family is to kids in middle school; her Figure It Out, Henry Weldon (2023) is a great exploration of problems with a sibling. The other huge concern of this age group is difficulties with friends. When Lia talked about how she felt a bit smothered by Berry I was sure the two were done, but it was more interesting to see them work things out. 

We learn so much about what Berry is experiencing emotionally (I LOVED her description of summer as a tangerine colored feeling!) that I was surprised halfway through the book to realize it is written in the third person. The details of everyday life are more vivid from this perspective, and there are so many excellent ones that made me feel like I was living Berry's story. There are delicious foods, fun outfits, activities with friends at school, and quality time spent with family that help give depth to Berry's inner life while making sure that the story moves along quickly. I don't often think about books in terms of dramatizations, but this would make an EXCELLENT After School Special! (What's the 2025 equivalent? A Disney Plus cartoon?)

Davis has a steady stream of excellent, upper middle grade novels that explore the middle school experience and include a wide variety of characters and events.  Partly Cloudy (2021) addresses the issues of having to live with a relative and the effects of wildfires, Serena Says (2020) includes a friend with serious health issues, and Peas and Carrots (2016) has both a student in foster care and a prestigious private school. One of my favorites is Mare's War (2010) that portrayed a grandmother who had been in the Women's Army Corps! These have all been popular with my students, who enjoy the endearing Black characters who struggle a bit with their lives but have a positive attitude and lots of support. Berry is in good company, and reading about her put me in a "tangerine" mood as well. 

Broyles, Anne and Li, Hannah (illustrator). 

Eating to Save the Planet: How Veganism Helps Fight Climate Change 

August 26, 2025 by Holiday House

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

I'm a firm believer that, as this book explains, our personal health and the health of the planet are closely intertwined. I walk to work rather than driving, and try to think through all of the aspects of the food I buy. There are a lot of novels that deal with climate anxiety, like Firestone's The First Rule of Climate Club, Dee's Haven Jacobs Saves the Planet, and Guillory's Nowhere Better Than Here, and Eating to Save the Planet is a great book for showing tween readers that there ARE things they can do to help the planet. 

Starting with an overview of why people eat what they eat (regional, cultural, and personal reasons), there is then a discussion of some staple foods across the world. Clearly, there is a need to address climate change, and Broyles lays out exactly how different types of food affect it. From greenhouse gas emissions to the cost of transporting foods, it's clear that people need to think through their food. The one thing that isn't mentioned, that I look for, is packaging. One of the reasons I don't eat a lot of the vegan "cheese" products, or lab cultured "meat" is the large amount of plastic that this food tends to come in. It's a balancing act, I know, but bears thinking about. 

There are a lot of meat alternatives mentioned, including bugs as food and meat substitutes, and a history of veganism. Even if people adhered to Meatless Mondays, reduces the amount of meat eaten would be a great start. Here in Ohio, there are a lot of soy products. One of the foods I eat a lot of is Cleveland Tofu, which is fairly local (reducing transport), and comes in ostensibly recyclable tubs. I guess I fall under the category of "reducitarian". 

The impact of dairy production and egg production is laid out well, but for me, personal reasons play into my choices; my mother's family were dairy farmers, so I get a lot of my protein from those products. I did find it interesting that the author uses flaxseed and water instead of eggs in baking, and I'm definitely going to look into that! There are lots of further resources and links to articles at the end of the book. 

While many middle school students think that a breakfast of Takis and sour gummy worms is perfectly fine, there are many others who are starting to give thought to how food fuels their bodies, and realizing that there are many things to consider. Both of my daughters became vegetarians in high school, and would have found this book to be very useful.  Saving the planet one meal at a time is a great way to think about the contents of this excellent nonfiction title, which I will purchase for my readers who are interested in learning more about how what is on their plate affects the planet.