MMGM- Interview with Michael Spradlin about his Threat of the Spider!

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Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

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Unleashing Readers

I'm always delighted to see new titles out by the fantastic middle grade writer Michael Spradlin, and even happier to talk with him about his work! If you don't have his World War II titles, his Pararescue Corps novels, or, if you're lucky, his 2013 Scholastic Killer Species series, you need to add all of his titles to your next order. You'll especially want to stock up on his newest series, The Rise of the Spider. since they are short books in an addictive series. They follow the rise of the Nazis from the point of view of German boys who have run in with local officials, and are a welcome twist on the WWII story. Please welcome Mr. Spradlin to the blog today! 

• You’ve written about World War II before, but most often from the point of view of US combatants. What inspired you to write from the perspective of German teens?

I originally had the thought of writing about the Edelweiss Pirates, which were a real group of German kids and teens who engaged in active espionage near the end of the war. Many of them were caught and executed. These were 12-18 year old kids. Executed. Then in talking with my editor we started asking questions about ‘resistance at the very beginning’ during Hitler’s rise to power. And Rise of the Spider was born.

• Rolf and Ansel are friends, but have different approaches to life, so it’s good to see events unfold from their perspectives. Can you tell us anything about what characters other books in the series will focus on? Will we get Hans’ perspective?

We won’t get Hans’ perspective directly as in the protagonist, as there is nothing remotely redeeming about him. The Spider Strikes (book 3) will feature Joshua, Ansel and Rolf’s Jewish friend, book four will feature Moritz and his twin sister Mathilda whose father owns the bookstore, Mathilda will the focus of Book Five and another Jewish lad, Avram will he in book six.  And everything I’ve told you so far might change.

• I loved the details of everyday life in a small Bavarian town at this time. How were you able to get these details? Did you hunt down German women’s magazines or read social histories?

I read a lot of stuff. Mostly I looked at pictures because I don’t read or speak German. But I managed to find a lot of good material on how elementary schools operated for example. I also visited Heroldsberg, and it has a definite vibe (although I’m sure the vibe was quite different in the 1930s)and I think the location brings a lot to the story.

• Local news is so important, yet there are few local newspapers remaining. Seeing Ansel’s father try so hard to get the news out to people was inspiring. Do you have a background in reporting? Where should today’s students turn for news?

As a matter of fact I do! I grew up in the small town of Homer, Michigan and for all of high school I was a correspondent for our weekly newspaper, "The Homer Index". I covered high school sports and features. It was my first paid writing gig.

As for news today, especially for young people, that’s a good question and I’m not sure I have a good answer. The news of today is not the news of my youth. I guess I would say to talk to a trusted adult and ask them to review some various sources along with you. Then you can make a decision. And listen and learn from various viewpoints. It creates understanding.

• The Hitler Youth plays a large role in your books. What was the most alarming thing you learned about this organization?

Oh, where to even begin. This was just a tragedy inflicted on an entire generation of young people. I don’t know that I can single out one thing as it is all so horrible. I think the darkest hour is probably after Hitler becomes chancellor and all other youth programs like Scouts, are forbidden and participation in the Hitler Youth is mandatory.

• Your MEDAL OF HONOR series have been wildly popular with my middle school readers. Did you draw on any real-life inspiration for your characters in THE WEB OF THE SPIDER series?

I’m sure I did. I don’t think I made any direct parallels but everyone you meet becomes part of your voice. I think there is a little bit of me in Ansel, the gadfly, the joke cracker, you know me well enough to know that there is almost always a character like Ansel in my fiction. But the real people in the books, are straight from history, like Himmler and Hitler himself.

• Do you have any favorite middle grade books about World War II? I loved Wulffson’s 1996 Soldier X about a young German soldier who pretends to be Russian in order to survive.

I do. It’s call Into the Killing Seas and it’s great. (N.B. This is one of Mr. Spradlin's titles, along with Prisoner of War and The Enemy Above.)

• It’s easy to look back at history and think that people should have prevented horrible things from happening. There were many people in Germany who didn’t support the Nazis, but didn’t act against them, either. Did you find any lessons in this?

The lesson is down to whoever it was that said, ‘Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.’ (the attribution is questioned). We have to be vigilant. We have to guard our rights viciously. They can easily be taken away, or even worse, given away. Don’t fool yourself. Hitler was just one in a long line of dictators that seized power in multiple ways. He wasn’t the first and he certainly won’t be the last.

• There are so many books about World War II. Why are readers still interested in this topic, even after almost 80 years?

I’m not sure but I’m glad there are because I love writing about it. I think it resonates because it is possible to determine good and evil. Other wars and eras have not been so easy to delineate.

• On a lighter note, during your trip to Bavaria, did you have any particularly tasty regional food? Were the items in Frau Hufnagel’s bakery based on local treats?

I did try schnitzel. Not a fan. I have to say most of the German food I tried was heavy and meh. However they do great pastries and yes, the apple fritters are a treat!

How fantastic that there may be SIX books in this series. The first one (of which I bought two copies) has been constantly checked out, and my readers are eager for book two. 

Spradlin, Michael. The Threat of the Spider (#2)

June 24, 2025 by Margaret K. McElderry Books

E ARC Provided by Edelweiss Plus

Following the events of Rise of the Spider, we return to Heroldsberg, Germany, in 1930. From the point of view of Ansel, a friend of Rolf's, we get a front row seat to the increase in the popularity of the Nazi party in 1930. Ansel's father is a reporter for a Nuremberg newspaper, but with all of the political upheaval, has been given permission to set up a satellite office to better report on what is going on in the smaller town. Along with Klaus, a photographer, he sets up shop in the bakery abandoned by Mrs. Hufnagel, who left the country after her shop was burned. People are unhappy with the economic state of the country, and there are few jobs but lots of frustration. People like Hans are active in groups like the Hitler Youth, which often target Jewish businesses like the Leibowitz's book shop where Ansel gets his Dirk Goodly mystery books. Ansel's father wants the truth to be told about what the Nazis are doing, and when Himmler is set to come to Heroldsberg to speak, he sees it as an opportunity to raise public awareness about the horrible things the Nazis are doing. Unfortunately, the local party chairman is also the chief of police, so when Ansel's father goes missing, asking Chief Muller for help is not an option. Instead, Ansel enlists the help of Rolf and their friend Joshua to investigate and try to locate his father. Working against Hans is fraught with danger, but the stakes are high. With Rolf's family planning to leave Germany for Long Island, and a tragic end to Ansel's investigation, how much worse will things get in Heroldsberg?

While there are plenty of books about World War II, there are relatively few told from the perspective of German characters. My favorites are Marino's The Plot to Kill Hitler series and Osborne's Hitler's Secret, but The Web of the Spider series is even better, since it gives such a good look at what life was like in the time leading up to the war. We think about the Great Depression in the US, but the economy was a global problem. There are definitely parallels to current economic and social difficulties that make this a somewhat cautionary tale.

This book also ends on a cliffhanger, and it will be hard to wait a year to find out what happens next, although I am hoping we get to see a bit of Joshua's perspective. In some ways, it would be interesting to see a book from Hans' perspective. While history paints the Nazis as completely evil, which is certainly true, I often wonder about people who somehow really thought that what they were doing somehow helped their country. It would be interesting, and also cautionary, to explore how ordinary people can be persuaded to participate in such hate filled actions. If any author could do this with finesse, it would be Spradlin, whose Pararescue Jumpers series, Medal of Honor Books, and stand alone novels like Prisoner of War, Into the Killing Seas, and The Enemy Above all focus on characters who do really mean well and are operating under dire circumstances. 

Friddell, Claudia. The Mysterious Virginia Hall: World War II's Most Dangerous Spy
June 24, 2025 by Calkins Creek
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

I'm beginning to think that books about World War II will never stop being written, since we are now seeing some more of the hidden side of the war. Virginia Hall, who tried to keep her story as quiet as she could, has already gotten two middle grade treatments, in Purnell's 2022 Agent Most Wanted: The Never-Before-Told Story of the Most Dangerous Spy of World War II and Mitchell's 2019 The Lady Is a Spy: Virginia Hall, World War II Hero of the French Resistance, but this book is about half the length of those books, since it is heavily photo illustrated and in a verse format. This makes the book read very quickly, but still offers a good bit of information. (Page count is 160, but that includes some end notes and index.)

Hall's story is an intriguing one. Born in 1906, Hall took advantage of growing opportunities for women, and pushed the boundaries by joining the foreign service. After a hunting accident that caused her to lose a leg, she had difficulty joining the war effort, but eventually was able to operate as a British spy, helping to protect France. The book shows her path to that point, and also gives plenty of pulse pounding details of her war work. The fact that Friddell talked to Hall's family and got more insight to her life sets this one apart.

This is similar in length and format to Borden's 2013 His Name Was Raoul Wallenberg or 2018 Ski Soldier. Woodson's Brown Girl Dreaming is probably the best known example of a life story in verse, and I can't think of many biographies or autobiographies in this format, other than Etched in Clay: The Life of Dave, Enslaved Potter and Poet by Andrea Cheng or Engle's Enchanted Air. The Mysterious Virginia Hall didn't seem as poetic as some of these other works, but the shorter lines and lighter text, combined with a lot of good quality photographs, made this an exciting, fast-paced book to pick up. 

Into the Rapids

Braden, Ann. Into the Rapids
May 13, 2025 by Nancy Paulsen Books

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Addy and her mother have kept to themselves in their somewhat remote home in the Green Mountains of Vermont ever since her father's death when she was a toddler. The two don't even interact with their nearest neighbors, the Tollands, even though the son, Caleb, goes to school with Addy. He hasn't been all that nice to her, calling her "batty Addy", and she doesn't have other friends. She is excited about going to  middle school at Windhaven Regional, which is a 40 minute trip. When a bad storm knocks out a nearby bridge as well as the power in the area, it makes things a bit difficult, although Addy and her mother are fairly well prepared. Addy is concerned that she won't be able to get to the school to participate in the Survival Camp, and since that's where her parents met, she really wants to go. Not only that, but she's been practicing the recommended survival skills, and wants to do really well. She keeps running into Caleb on a hill near their homes, since cell signals are hard to get. Keeping lines of communication open is important, since Addy's mother isn't doing well with the weather situation, especially since Addy's father died when the car the entire family was in got swept into a rain swollen river. Addy helps by texting Marcy, her mother's therapist, a letter her mother has written, and getting a response, which seems to help. The skills she's acquired helping her mom come in handy when Caleb has a panic attack. He's been obsessed with death, and since a neighbor, Ike Horvath, is missing in the flood, and his mother wants him to go to a high pressure private school, Caleb has been spiraling into fears about the shortness of life. The neighbors are pulling together to get supplies, and are even building an emergency bridge to get water to the community, but while Caleb and his family are in the thick of these plans, Addy and her mother are isolated and know nothing about them. When he finds out that Addy really wants to get to the survival camp, he plans an elaborate route for her to get there, which includes going with his firefighter father across the bridge, getting a ride from a woman who is visiting her sister, and canoeing part of the way. Her mother is doing well enough that she agrees that Addy can go. Since Addy has not canoed much (although she has practiced her skills on dry land), Caleb starts the trip with her. When she goes off on her own, it doesn't take long before Addy capsizes the canoe, is injured, and must use her survival skills to actually survive. In the  meantime, the entire community is looking for her, and her mother takes her predicament better than expected. When she returns, injured, her mother steps up to take care of her. Ike has been found dead, and Addy goes to the funeral. The community rallies around Addy and her mother, with Eileen the firefighter helping Addy's mother repair the generator and car, and encouraging her to attend the local Labor Day picnic. Addy's discussions about panic attacks helps Caleb talk to his mother about his fears, and she is okay with him not going to the private school, and even arranges therapy for him. Even though climate related extreme weather is an ongoing concern, Addy is glad to have finally connected with her community. 

Strengths: This is a quick read, and comes in at well under 200 pages, which is something a lot of middle grade gatekeepers have been requesting. Braden draws on her own experience of having been in a plane crash that killed her father, and having to navigate life under those circumstances to draw a nuanced portrait of Addy, who has cut herself off from her community as a way to cope. Caleb is a nice foil for her; he has more social skills, but fewer coping mechanisms, and the two help each other out quite a bit. It was good to see the community finally step up to help Addy and her mother. Survival stories are always popular, and readers who were enthralled by Richard's 15 Secrets to Survival, Philbrick's Wild River or Hashimoto's Off the Map will enjoy reading about Addy's ill fated canoe trip. 
Weaknesses: I wish there had been another reason that Addy took off in the canoe, rather than getting to survival camp. Given the horrible weather, I can't imagine her mother agreeing to let her go alone, since the mother didn't seem to have a cell phone of her own. As much as Addy wanted to go to camp, it also seemed like she wouldn't have wanted to leave her mother when she was in a fragile state. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who are fans of Braden's work (The Benefits of Being an Octopus (2018), Flight of the Puffin (2021), Opinions and Opossums (2023) )or like survival stories with a foundation of grief or family and mental health issues like Rose's The Burning Season or Pla's The Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinn. 

Saturday Morning Cartoons- Pachecho and Gyro and the Argonauts

Zambrano, Juan E. Pacheco and the Witch of the Mountain: A Graphic Novel
June 17, 2025 by Andrews McMeel Publishing
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus 

Pacheco lives with his father and grandfather, who are fisherman near San Chaparrón. Pacheco tries to help, but often gets distracted while delivering fish, and the business is struggling anyway. He is very interested in magic, and enthralled by the light displays the witches put on, but his father doesn't want him involved in magic. When he is approached by a magical bird, it takes him up to meet Doris, the witch of the mountain, who is trying to save magical creatures. Pacheco would love to be her apprentice, and even cleans up her house, but it is not allowed for boys to perform magic, and only people from certain family backgrounds are allowed. This doesn't stop him from doing some magic at the market in the mountains, and this brings both him and Doris to the attention of the very displeased witch council. Doris doesn't agree with their rules, and hates the fact that the other witches are draining the magic from magical creatures for their own uses. Pacheco gets some help from Chiqui, the granddaughter of Providencia, the Great Sorceress, and from Feliciano, another boy who does magic, and has enough self confidence that he wants to take the test to become an apprentice even though he is not allowed. Can the council see the error of their ways and usher in a new age of inclusive magic?
Strengths: The author of this book is from Venezuela, and it was interesting to see the giant stature of the Great Sorceress that looks a bit like the giant statue of the Virgin Mary in Trujillo. Doris' mountainside and the magical creatures also have a South American feel. Young readers will understand how Pacheco would rather learn magic, despite the odds, than stay with the family business, even though he wants to support his family. The cast of witches is nicely diverse, and the rules, while perhaps unfair, are clear. There is a happy ending, which always helps.
Weaknesses: This seems a bit too young for my students. Andrews McMeel has a good range of titles, but some are more appropriate for younger grades. 

What I really think: This is a good choice for elementary readers who want magical graphic novels like Hatke's Mighty Jack, Hale's Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld, or Foxe's Adventure Kingdom books.

Pruett, Joshua, Holden, Anthony(artist, and Castillo, Amanda (illustrator)
Gyro and the Argonauts! aka the BEST BOOK EVER WRITTEN*: 

*About a Kid Named After a Sandwich
June 17, 2025 by Andrews McMeel Publishing
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Gyro has no family, but works in an Ancient Greek vineyard under the tutelage of Pyro. He loves the stroies of the Greek heroes, even though, as the narrator points out, they are frequently violent jerks. The author has a nice note about how Greek mytholody has always been remixed and changed, and he then proceeds to put his own spin on traditional tales, making Heracles a woman and having Pegasus flinging "horse apples" on the unsuspecting. 

I thought that this would be a graphic novel, but while it has page decorations, it's still rather words. If books like Northfield's Julius Zebra or Ford's Stickman Odyssey are popular with your students, this is an interesting title by Pruett, who is a Disney television writer. There are echoes of Whitehouse and Slavin's Bogbrush the Barbarian as well. 

Guy Friday- J vs K

Alexander, Kwame and Craft, Jerry. J vs K
May 6, 2025 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

In this notebook novel, we meet J Ennis, who loves to draw, and whose stories have taken Dean Ashley Public School by storm. He's not a fan of reading, but enjoys making books like his J-Man superhero comics. When a storytelling contest is announced, he is worried that the new kid, K Wright, will steal his thunder. He's already stolen J's singular initial name, and J doesn't care for his white framed glasses, bald head, use of long words, or dad fashion sense. Even more distressing is the praise that fellow students heap on his for his poems. The two talk to each other, but try to give each other bad advice about writing stories, like using the "6th person" viewpoint. The whole school is buzzing about the contest, and Mr. A, one of the cafeteria workers, even comes up with a literary themed menu including Rolls of Thunder, Spuds, not Spuddies, and Hot Dog Man. J and K eventually figure out that they have more in common than they thought, and team up on a graphic novel entitled Croak and Dagger (which is sadly not included in the E ARC). They place second, losing to a fourth grade, Geoffrey Kenny, but have a newfound friendship as well as a renewd interest in story telling. 

This reminded me a bit of Barnett and Scieszka's Battle Bunny, with all of the inside jokes and breaking of the fourth wall with notes from the authors, or Reynold's Stuntboy. There are plenty of nods to other middle grade writers as well as Craft and Alexander's work. Language arts teachers will love all of the discussions of literary devices, and Craft's fans will enjoy the illustrations. Dad jokes and puns abound. There's even Mrs. Yang (after author Kelly?) the librarian, who catches up on her reading during lunch because students fail to come to the library. 

Has its moments, but will probably attract more elementary readers, especially since the boys are both in fifth grade. 

The Glade

Jamnia, Naseem. The Glade
May 27, 2025 by Aladdin

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
 

Pina Ahmadi and her best friend, Jo Manalo, are excited about spending the summer at Camp Clear Skies in Wisconsin, which has just reopened after being closed for twenty years. Pina, who suffers from anxiety and often hides behind Jo, is trying hard to turn herself into Pina 2.0 during the summer away from her close knit Iranian American family. Things are a half bubble off at the camp, and there are rumors about a missing camper. Counselor George and his mean girl sister Bethany are odd, but Pina and Jo, who is  nonbinary, meet Eddy and Arish, who are interested in finding out why the camp is so creepy. When the group sneaks out at night, they have a bizarre shared dream that makes them want to find out more about the history of the camp. George knows about The Glade, and tells them that if campers sleep there, it their dreams become more intense and dangerous, so of course they sneak out of their cabins and try to have more dreams. Jo gets sucked further into The Glade because she is struggling with a troubled home life and caretakers who won't accept their gender identity, and is worries about moving away from Pina so that she can live with her uncle, who has gotten a job in Detroit. Breaking into the cabin of Ms. Angela, the camp owner, the group finds out more about the sordid history of the camp, and the identity of the missing camper. Will this be enough to break the spell of The Glade and save Jo?

Summer camps in books certainly have their creepy moments, and this is a good choice for readers who enjoyed Berk and Mitchell's Camp Murderface, Murphy's Camp Sylvania, or Burch's Camp Twisted Pine. 
 

Maeve Mulvaney Has Had Enough

Mangan, Kelly. Maeve Mulvaney Has Had Enough
April 29, 2025 by Holiday House 

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Maeve moves from Vermont to the south, along with her mother, father, and older brother Thomas when her mother gets a job at a university. She's not happy about any aspect of this move, and lets her family know about it. At a local comic book store, she's excited to see some vintage copies, but has a run in with an unpleasant boy in "a sports ball jacket" who accused her of not being a real fan. Luckily, one of the clerks, Marisol, helps her, and tells her about a local con, Squee Con, in Tampa, which is about two hours away. Her parents aren't thrilled about letting her go, but say they will consider it if she doesn't community service at school. Goodman Middle School isn't the worst place, because she meets the exuberant Daniel, who likes to use Shakespearean slang, as well as Frankie, Cori, and Jamal, who welcome her and share many of her interests. However, the boy from the comic shop, Robbie, continually gives her problem, and his goons are not shy about hurling insults like "you dress like a boy" at Maeve. Frankie, who like Maeve is on the heavier side and proudly identifies as "fat", stands up against the bullying. Maeve joins the service club, but it's run by blonde, thin, and popular Tammy, and her much nicer friend Cecelis, who can't quite stand up against Tammy's more right wing ideas for the service group. Unsatified with the treatment they get and the agenda of the service club, Maeve and her friends break out with their own Super Agitator Squad, advised by sympathetic art teacher Ms. AJ. The group discusses tocix masculinity, sexist dress codes, bullying, and other issues of the current zeitgeist, and help spread the word with an online comic addressing them. Maeve is very passionate about her work, but she runs afoul of the administration and her parents with her methods. How will Maeve find a way to change her school while also staying out of trouble in the unfair culture of her school. 

Strengths: This is on trend with current thought on many important social issues, and it's good to see that Maeve and her friends work together to try to change their toxic school environment. There are many areas of interest, like comics, that are not always friendly to women and girls, so exploring that was interesting. It was nice that Maeve found a friend group right away in her new school, as well as some teachers who were supportive. The school counselor was not, but Coach Crowder is realistically complex in his actions. The idea of an online zine was intriguing. 

Weaknesses: While I applaud Maeve's enthusiasm and effort, it seemed like she had some underlying issues that made her deeply unhappy. A brief interaction with her mother indicated that these might be the result of some issues with the family dynamics, and I wish she had had some help and support with the move and the bullying, perhaps through therapy. 

What I really think: This is a great choice for readers who like new books about social activism, specifically involving sexism, and enoyed Dee's Maybe He Just Likes You and Young's The Prettiest. Since my budget was cut for next year, and books on social activism don't circulate terribly well in my library, I am debating purchase for now. The culture in the south seems to be rather different than the culture in my Midwestern area.

June Fantasy Roundup

Jreije, George. Bashir Boutros and the Jewel of the Nile
May 27, 2025 by HarperCollins
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Bashir has spent the summer in Lebanon, hanging out with his best friend Farrah and putting up with his unpleasant cousin Wassim. When Wassim pushes him into the water, he finds a gold ring, which he keeps as a momento. On the flight back to the US, he is attacked  by a flight attendant who is a witch. There is a jinn in the ring, Yani al-Kabir, who informs Bashir that all manner of demons and evil creatures will be trying to get the ring back from him. After his parents are taken from their Concord, Massachusetts home by Ali Adin, a demon who once possessed the ring and had Yani in thrall to him, Bashir must team up with Farrah as well as magi Alina and Ziad to get them back. Bashir is a particularly reluctant hero who struggles with anxiety and poor self esteem. The Magi are the two remaining members of the Council of magic who are fighting against Ali Adin's attempt to get all ten pieces of the Jewel of the Nile back so that he has a lot of power. An epic journey, complete with battles, ensues. The ending of the book leaves the story open to another volume, but this could also be a stand alone. 

Readers who enjoy culturally based fantasies like Pahua and the Soul Stealer, Kagawa's Shinji and the Mark of the Coatl, or Hoang's The Crossbow of Destiny will enjoy Bashir's journey. 

Magaziner, Lauren. The Incorruptibles (#1)

June 10, 2025 by Aladdin

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Fiora is apprenticed to her Uncle Randal, making robes for hard-to-please sorcerers in the unfriendly town of Barrowburgh, but after a run in with particularly nasty sorcerers, is sent to the Incorruptibles Academy to train with the resistance. Fans of Ursu's The Troubled Girls of Dragomir Academy, Alston's Amari books, or Perry's Jaden Powers and the Inheritance Magic will enjoy this fantasy adventure. I keep hoping for fantasy books where the magical world is a little more fun; there are clearly a lot of unpleasantries caused by the evil sorcerers.  

From the publisher: 

A girl joins the human resistance against sorcerer tyranny in this first book in the exciting upper middle grade fantasy series The Incorruptibles that’s Keeper of the Lost Cities meets The Marvellers.

Fiora Barrowling lives in a world where sorcerers rule over humans. After surviving an encounter with The Radiance—the very worst of the sorcerers—she’s whisked away to the incredible Incorruptibles (“Inc”) Academy, a school for resistance fighters in training. But most of the other students think Fiora hasn’t earned her place there, and when things start to go wrong and it seems the sorcerers have a spy in the academy, all eyes are on Fiora. With all odds stacked against her, can Fiora prove that she belongs?

Take a look at these sequels as well! 

            

MMGM- What If You Fall For Me First?

It's

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
 at 

Always in the Middle 

and #IMWAYR day 

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Unleashing Readers

Miller, G. F. What If You Fall For Me First?

June 10, 2025 by Aladdin
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus 

Sofia Santini is tired of being thought of as cute; it's hard being a tiny 8th grader who looks like an elementary school student, especially when your clothes look like they come from the "girls 4-8 department of J.C. Penney's" because your grandmother buys them. It'seven harder when you have a crush on someone like Mark Chen, who is cute and cool. Sofia also likes Mark because he was nice to hear when they were science partners, so when she sees him hanging out with Ashlyn, a "fierce" volleyball player, at the school dance, she's crushed. She takes her frustration outside, where there's some screaming and throwing of things... which is witnessed by the very cool Holden. He's wealthy, working on his social media following, and also rather a jerk. Sofia knows this because he dated one of her friends, and things didn't go well. Holden is surprisingly understanding and kind, though, and honest with Sofia about how she comes across to others. Sofia asks for his help in trying to become fierce. Holden tells her she is fine the way she is (except that she should stop apologizing all the time), but is willing to help her with a "glow up" if it helps him to gain followers and the attention of social media star Igo Big. Sofia's single mother works hard as a yoga instructor and Uber driver, and struggles financially, but is always there for Sofia, but doesn't understand Sofia's need to navigate middle school differently. Holden offers to cut and color Sofia's hair, and is glad to spend the money that his divorced parents fling at him to pay for supplies. It comes out surprisingly well, and makes Sofia feel better about herself. Holden is pleased with her honest reactions and thanks, and teaches her how to take a compliment without deflecting or apologizing. Sofia's friends warn her against them, but since Destiny, Nina, and Eve (from Not if You Break Up With Me First) all were involved in a scuffle at the dance and have been spending time in In School Suspension and after school detention, she is seeing more of Holden than she sees of them. The scuffle involved Eve and Andrew's break up, and the school is divided on whose side to take.

Sofia and Holden have their own middle school existences, but keep connecting in ways that make them both happy. Sofia adopts a skater girl style wardrobe on her own, and Holden feels oddly left out. He starts to date Tylee, who approaches him, but breaks up with her shortly afterwards. His family situation is not good; his father is remarried, and usually sends his wife to deal with Holden, while his mother is pregnant and has little time for him. Spending time with Sofia and her mother, eating home cooked meals and not having to pretend to be cool is a welcome break. Sofia creates a video to ask Mark to the Winter Clincher dance, and it gains her a lot of attention. He agrees to go with her, but he's also made a deal with Holden that he will be nice to Sofia as long as Holden pays him $10 a week! Mark has also been using Sofia to get help on his homework, and agreed to be lab partners with her in the first place because he knew she would do all of the work. Holden has struggled with Mark being a jerk because he realizes he "like likes" Sofia, who is beginning to realize that Mark isn't the boy she wants to be with.

Things come to a crisis when Mark comes clean, and Sofia and Holden have to reassess not only their relationship, but also their own identities. Sofia prefers being "fierce", but doesn't like all aspects of being cool, since her mother has instilled in her the need to be nice. Holden realizes that his social media following doesn't really translate into real relationships, and that his tough guy, "skeezeball" facade isn't really working. He does have a little help when his stepfather finally sees that he needs support.

There are so many books about middle grade students navigating grief after the death of a loved one, but it is so much more common for them to need help navigating personal relationships and struggles with identity. Middle school is all about finding out who you are and how you want to interact with everyone around you. As someone who was tiny and a "human Care Bear" like Sofia, I can attest that her frustrations are absolutely on point. Should she have spent the entire book obsessing about Mark, who was kind of a jerk? Absolutely not. But did I personally obsess over a bespectacled trumpet player who was in my youth group for... three or four years? Absolutely. Holden's bravado and cool kid persona at school, and even his "skeezeball" ways make perfect sense as a defense mechanism. Have I seen students with more money than they should have because of divorced parents? Unfortunately, yes. I did really appreciate the stepfather finally paying attention.

There is so much to unpack in this book, and so much drama. As an old person who has no patience for drama at all, I would have preferred this to be a little more streamlined, but the target demographic will be thrilled with all of the twists and turns this takes. I could also have done without some of the goofy teacher names, like Mrs. Schmekpepper, as well as her constant literary quotes, but the teachers are otherwise realistically portrayed. There also seemed to be a lot of dances.

I have hope for middle grade literature when I read titles like this. I can see it appealing to lots of students, and is in great company with 2025 releases like DeVillers' Meet Me at Wonderland, Shang's The Best Worst Summer of Esme Sun, and Reardon's Dad Rock Dragon Quest that showcase difficult family, friend, and romantic interest relationships, but give young readers examples of positive ways to navigate the ever changing landscape of adolescence.

Dickinson, Elizabeth Evitts. Claire McCardell: The Designer Who Set Women Free 

June 17, 2025 by Simon & Schuster

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

I don't read a lot of adult books, but when I was invited to read this new title during Women's History Month, I couldn't decline! I'd heard of McCardell, since I read a lot of fashion history, but was surprised at how perfectly her life embodied everything that went on in the early twentieth century! 

Born in 1905, McCardell was a bit younger than my grandmother, which gave me good perspective. She was a very active child, and enthralled by her mother's wardrobe. I loved the depiction of families bringing in a seamstress to help with seasonal sewing. We have almost entirely forgotten as a society that ready to wear clothing wasn't always available. Even in the 1980s, I was making a lot of clothing for both my mother and myself! Also fascinating was the fact that while McCardell's parents were very invested in the idea that she would go to college, she wasn't interested in the local Hood College that her father helped found. She wanted to go to what was to become Parsons School of Design, then in its infancy. From there, she studied in Paris, and then had the most amazing career in the New York grament industry, holding a wide variety of roles at a time when women had to fight very hard to make their way in any field. 

This touched on her private life just enough; we see her romantic relationship factually presented as a factor in her career, which I appreciated. We also see a few friendships, and her family, in the same way, making this a great career biography. I do wish there had been some pictures; maybe in the final version there will be. It would have been nice to see the people in her life, and its essential to see the fashions she created, but of course those are easy enough to look up online. 

There is a mention of home economics, and how it was a back door for women to get into science and many other fields. Of course, McCardell had to study this field. I highly recommend Dreilinger's The Secret History of Home Economics: How Trailblazing Women Harnessed the Power of Home and Changed the Way We Live if you are interested in women's history. 

A young readers version of this (slightly shorter, with a lot of pictures) would be fantastic, as would a similar biography of the amazing Edith Head, who is mentioned briefly. I won't be buying this for my middle school library, but I sort of want a copy for myself, mainly because McCardell's life story showcases the history of the early 1900s. It's just a shame that she died in 1958; how amazing would her designs in the 1960s and 70s have been? 

Sunday Salon- Summer Blather

Whew. School has been out for three weeks, and I have been BUSY. Last year, I read 150+ books in June because I couldn't walk very much, and read even more in August and September after my foot surgery. Now that I am about 90% healed, not much reading is getting done. One of my students challenged me to read 200 books, and I might have to disappoint her! 

What have I been doing? Twice a week, I go to Cincinnati to "tutor" my three month old grandson while my daughter works. Very little gets done when one is dealing with a baby! He's a delightful guy, but other than reading ten picture books a day, working on word sounds and letters, reciting math facts into the top of his fuzzy head, singing Schoolhouse Rock, going on lots of walks, and feeding him bottles, I'm lucky if I read one book! 

Leo is not fond of the reduction in staff when I travel. He tends to bedevil my daughter's cat, so must stay behind to guard the house. He gets lots of walks when I return. 

I also took a trip to West Virginia with a friend for a few days, and will be going to Michigan to visit my brother in July. Have vague thoughts about going to New York to see the Corning Museum of Glass and Rochester, where I had some family, but that may have to wait. 

The rest of my time has been spent quilting; if you want to see my work, I've actually had a quilting blog since about 2011! I've been quilting for almost 50 years, and it is something I enjoy very much. It's a nice change of pace. 

Because there are only so many full size quilts one can keep, I've given away almost everything I've made in the last fifteen years. Anybody in my vicinity who has a baby gets a quilt! I even sent one to Tanita Davis because it matched the cover of her new book so well. Trust me, you'll be hearing a LOT about this title, so you should go and preorder Berry Parker Doesn't Catch Crushes right now! 

Catty Corner Lands on Her Feet

Murphy, Julie. Catty Corner Lands on Her Feet

March 25, 2025 by Union Square Kids

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
 

Catty is part human, part cat, just like her mother Tabby and her grandmother, and has been homeschooled her whole life, rarely seeing other children. When her mother gets a job in a fish cannery, her mother and father decide to send her to third grade in the public school. There are rules about no hissing and scratching, but Catty is ill prepared for navigating the all-human world. Her teachers are fairly understanding, but when Catty shreds a classroom map when one teacher uses a laser pointer to highlight places on it, it tests their patience. While Catty tries to hide her true self at first by wearing a hat and tucking her tail into her pants, she is soon showing her classmates her real nature, to mixed results. Most of the children are supportive, and she wins over others by doing things like saving a class goldfish from being knocked off a desk. She even has two best friends, Jo and Bebe. This is the first book in a purported series, the next being Catty Corner Pounces into Action, out March 25, 2025 as well. (Synopsis from the publisher: "Holy macaroni! Someone is stealing tasty snacks and crafty food art at Friendswood elementary school. Luckily Catty Corner and her best friends, Jo and Bebe, are on the case. Soon they’re following clues and tracking down leads. But the three friends can’t agree on much—is it a ghost, some very hungry mice, or a sneaky thief with a big appetite known as the Gobbler Bandit? Can they catch the culprit before their school’s big Meatball Mania fundraiser, or will it be a foodie fiasco?" 

Strengths: The introductory note where Ms. Murphy talks about how this would have been a book she would have loved as a child was helpful. I can't say that I ever wanted to be a dog, even in third grade, but I'm sure that there are many elementary students to whom this thought will appeal. The idea is fleshed out well, and Catty's reactions to ordinary school things like bells, riding the bus, and being easily distracted all seem like a realistic portrayal of a half cat, half human girl. The illustrations inside are quite charming, and give a good feel for how Catty must seem to her classmates. 
Weaknesses: While it's touching that Catty's mother lets her read the journal that she kept when she entered public school and encourages her to keep track of her feelings as well, it seems odd that the parents wouldn't have made more of an effort to socialize Catty with other children before suddenly dropping her in to public school. 
What I really think: This author's Dear Sweet Pea hasn't circulated well (might just be that peach cover!), and since Catty is in third grade, I will pass on purchase for my middle school collection. This is a good choice for readers who liked Weiner's The Littlest Bigfoot or the Hales' The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl. 

Saturday Morning Cartoons- Dan in Green Gables

Terciero, Rey and Aguirre, Claudia (illustrator)

Dan in Green Gables: A Graphic Novel: A Modern Reimagining of Anne of Green Gables
June 3, 2025 by Penguin Workshop
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

In about 1993 (based on a movie being shown in theaters), Dan and his mother drive into Tennessee, but sadly not to visit Dollywood. Dan is a big fan of Dolly Parton. Instead, his mother comes to the home of Dan's father's parents, Randy and Peg. His grandmother is thrilled to see him, but his grandfather seems angry about everything, especially Dan's cross earring and colorful silk shirts. Dan's mother, who seems to have a problem with alcohol, leaves him and disappears in the night. This means that Dan has to start a new school. He manages to befriend several girls who also have strong fashion expressions, and draws the ire of a bully. Having been the new kid many times before, Dan knows he needs to stand up to the bully or he will have a permanent target painted on himself, so he knees the bully in the groin and makes a public statement that he won't be picked on. This does not endear him to his grandfather, but his grandmother understands. Dan also questions things at church, where the message is strongly homophobic. He works very hard around the house, hoping to earn the respect of his grandfather, but instead, his grandfather complains that things like canning peaches are "women's work". Dan manages to find his place in the community, and even helps the church plan a fund raiser with a local Black church his friend Rudy attends. Kids at school tend to leave him alone, and he even makes a friend in Birdie, who originally calls him "carrot top" and gets a book thrown at him for his trouble. There is a lot of history for his grandparents to work through, since they were estranged from Dan's father, who died young, but they make progress, and Peg even manages to stand up to Randy on occasion. When Dan's mother comes back for him, will this upset his newfound, comfortable life?

Strengths: The theme of found families tends to be a frequent component of LGBTQIA+ titles, for good reason, and Anne of Green Gables is a great example of that theme. The atmosphere surrounding race and sexual identity in the South in the 1990s was even more fraught than it is today, but readers will be glad that the grandmother is supportive, and there are people in Dan's life who care for him. Rey Terciero is a pen name for Rex Ogle, who also wrote Free Lunch and Four Eyes. 
Weaknesses: Teen readers will not care about the original Anne of Green Gables, although these is a nice author's note about the importance of this book in his life. Jarrett Krosoczka also has fond memories of this title. This would have been just as good as a completely new tale, and doesn't really have as many parallels with the original as it should have to be a "reimagining". 

What I really think: This young adult title (there is more mature language and a trigger warning for homophobia and abuse at the beginning of the book) is a good choice for readers who enjoyed Weir and Hayne's Anne of West Philly (2022) or Curato's Flamer (2020). 

Kraatz, Jeremy and Jayme, Crystal (illustrator). 

I Witnessed: The Lizzie Borden Story

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

March 18, 2025 by HarperAlley

This graphic novel follows the Lizzie Borden murders from the point of view of Charles Churchill, a young neighbor who starts to converse with Lizzie about the pigeons that she keeps. After these are killed by her father, Charles sees Lizzie trying to buy Prussian acid in the pharmacy, claiming she needs it to clean a cloak. The family mysteriously falls ill, and not long after, Charles sees (Rear Window style) activity in the Borden house. The parents are killed, local interested is ignited, and there is a sensational trial. Borden is, of course, acquitted. 

There have been several explorations of the 1892 case, including Miller's 2016 The Borden Murders: Lizzie Borden and the Trial of the Century and Wallach's fictional 2023 Hatchet Girls, as well as other nonfiction titles. My students are interested in true crime information, but I'm not sure how much interest there is in a crime that happened before my grandmother was born. This was well done, and I normally love Kraatz's work, but I'm debating whether or not to purchase this. 

The Unforgettable Leta "Lightning" Laurel

Toalsen, R.L.The Unforgettable Leta "Lightning" Laurel

May 27, 2025 by Aladdin

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Leta lives with her mother and younger sister Amelia, and the family is struggling since the father has moved out. The mother works two jobs, and still struggles to put food on the table. Pops, the mother's father, helps out, but he is still running a heating and cooling business. He's also a manic runner at 65, sometimes going 18 miles a day, and lives in a retirement facility. Leta has picked up his passion for running, and is determined to be the best at the 400 yard race. It's tough, though, when she has to glue the sole of her running shoes back together, and doesn't have enough fuel for her body. Coach Mac is fairly understanding, and provides her runners with sports bras, food, and information about their periods and health. Even Coach Mac, though, can't provide new shoes. Leta is too ashamed to get free lunch, even though her friends Chrissy, Raina, and Sabrina also have backgrounds where there is some struggle. Leta wants to do really well in the upcoming state meets, hoping that her father will read the write up in the newspaper and come back to visit, especially since Amelia is looking forward to a daddy-daughter dance. When there's no food in the house, Pops often takes the girls out for fast food, and Leta starts to pick at this, even though Coach Mac talks to the runners frequently about eating disorders and how detrimental poor diet can be to runners' health. Since Leta often sees her mother eat less than she needs, this example sometimes speaks more loudly. On top of these serious challanges, there are standard middle school issues like whether to shave her legs, problems with Amelia, new girl Natalie, mean girls Briana and Brooke, and the crush that Leta has on Benny. When over training leads to a possible stress fracture, Leta decides to run through the pain to hopefully still win her race. Pops helps by showing her how to train in a pool, but stress fractures don't get better on their own. Will Leta and her mother finally be able to ask for help and find a better way forward?

Strengths: I'm always a fan of books about running, and Leta's challenges with training will speak to a lot of readers. Pops is a fantastic character, and I love that he is still running in his short shorts! His difficult relationship with Leta's mother is echoed in Leta's relationship with her own father. Leta often has to take care of Amelia, and we don't see this portrayed enough in middle grade literature; I loved that Amelia chafed under Leta's supervision and had her own after school agenda. Coach Mac tries to be aware of all of the challenges facing her athletes, but can't see every need. There is excellent information about periods, and even a scene where Leta's friends instruct her on how to use a tampon through the bathroom door. While Leta deals with a lot of difficult situations, there is an air of hope about her story, and a satisfying ending. 
Weaknesses: Free and reduced lunch programs, like other details about schools, vary from place to place. In my district, students have an account number that they give to the cafeteria, and no one knows if they have free lunch, or if their parents put money in the account. We also have a "share box", and Leta could pick up as many carrots and apples as she could eat, and other schools in my district even have food pantries. Other areas might be more like Leta's school. I would have liked to see a little more of the mother, but her absence drives much of the plot. Seeing more of Leta's relationship with Benny would also have lightened the mood. 
What I really think: This is a great choice for readers who liked Gerber's Taking Up Space, Dunlap's Racing the Clouds, or Morrison's Keeping Pace. If Barbara Dee wrote a novel with sports, it would read a bit like this title. 

The Ghosts of Pandora Pickwick

Wolff, Christina  and Kemp, Ruth Ahmedzai (Translator)
The Ghosts of Pandora Pickwick 

March 4, 2025 by Arctis

Copy provided by Edelweiss Plus

Mia is excited to be spending her school holiday with her Aunt Harriet in London while her father and mother travel to the US to promote their shoelace business. The aunt runs the family's Pandora's Antiques store that was run by her deceased grandmother, Pandora. There are some odd things that occur that make Mia think that her aunt is keeping a secret, and some tension between them when Harriet doesn't really acknowledge that Mia is adopted and has questions about her parents. When Mia goes in search of the source of noises in the middle of the night, she meets some ghosts, and Harriet finally admits that the antique shop is really a front for the ghost placement agency that she runs. Since many castles and grand estates in England change hands and are sold to wealthy celebrities who don't want ghosts, she find other homes for them. Some ghosts, like Jim, who is an ancestor, and Alistair, a young boy who prefers to live in the shop, stay around for a while, but others, like Olivia who shape shifted and scared Mia, are sent to other locations. Alistair starts to teach Mia to see ghosts at other times than just the witching hour (midnight), even though he tells her not to let Jim know, since he wouldn't approve. Mia hears whispers that she must be protected, and feels that there are still secrets that she doesn't know. When an invitation arrives to a ghost birthday at the house where Alistair was raised and died, Mia decides to slip into the ghost realm and attend. While there, family secrets are revealed, and Mia has to decide whether or not to use the powers that she has. 
Strengths: This had some British charm to it (although it was originally written in German), and some mainly friendly ghosts, so I would have loved this when I was in fourth grade or so. The shop is interesting, and there are some mysterious elements involved. Mia has plenty of opportunities to be on her own, since her parents are away and Harriet doesn't ask too many questions. 
Weaknesses: My students are only interested in ghosts who murder people in rather gory ways, but I would consider this for an elementary library where gentler ghost stories are popular. 

What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed the magical shop aspect of James' The Bookwanderers or the London paranormal aspects of Shearer's The Ministry of Ghosts. 
 

Rainbow Fair

Ma, Diana. Rainbow Fair
April 8, 2025 by Clarion Books

E  ARC provided by Netgalley

Sophie is looking foward to the Rainbow Fair at Monroe Middle School in Seattle. It's a yearly event, meant to showcase the school's diversity. Last year, in sixth grade, Sophie worked at the Chinese booth with her longtime best friend Katie, which made her parents very happy. This year, Katie (who has recently come out as bisexual and has very supportive parents) has gotten permission for the very first LGBTQIA+ booth. Because the school rules dictate that students can only work at one booth, Sophie is disappointed that she won't be with her friend. Sophie's long held secret is that she and her family are Muslim, although the only way they preserve this identity is by not eating pork and by the parents occasionally telling her "remember, you're Muslim". After a rare sleepover for Katie's birthday (Sophie's parents think it would put Katie's parents out, but are convinced when Sophie suggests the perfect hostess gift), Katie accidentally "outs" Sophie as Muslim. A teacher who was wishing there would be a Muslim booth finds out and puts Sophie in charge, since there are others to fun the Chinese booth, even though they are more interested in robotics and other topics. Sophie does a lot of research, but doesn't have any first hand experience with the religion or culture, and even her attempts at making some traditional food fall flat. Luckily, a new student, Anna, starts at the school. Since she is Muslim, the two work together. All of the students are a bit upset that people can only work at one booth, and come up with innovative ways to promote intersectionality. Sophie's biggest concern is that her parents will be disappointed that she is not at the Chinese booth, even though she has learned a lot about the family's Hui identity.

Strengths: Sophie's community seems very supportive, and her parents are very mindful of how to address her friends, who also include the nonbinary Shane who uses they/them pronouns. The family's decision to stay quiet about their Muslim identity isn't really explored until the end of the book, but that seems realistic; even though society is more open today, I still agree with my grandmother's assertion that it's not necessary to tell everyone everything. When I was in middle school, my church confirmation classes took us to a wide variety of religious institutions, and that was fascinating. Middle school is an age where many kids are exploring issues of identity, so Sophie's questions, as well as her desire to learn more about Islam from Anna, will resonate with many young readers.

Weaknesses: I don't think today's tweens care what other people eat. Tell them you're allergic to pork. You don't like pork. Your mother won't let you eat it because of hepatitis E concerns. This figures largely in the plot, but seemed like a non-issue. I also would have liked more information about Muslim cultures and identities, as well as the display at the booth. 

What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed this author's The Unbeatable Lily Hong or Ali and Saeed's Once Upon an Eid: Stories of Hope and Joy by 15 Muslim Voices. 

The Letter for the King

Dragt, Tonke and Watkinson, Laura (translator)The Letter For the King
First published January 1, 1962
May 13, 2025 by Pushkin Children's Books
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

I'm always intrigued by the titles that are republished years after they originally come out. Who is the audience for these? Adults who have lost their well worn copies? Grandparents who want to share a childhood favorite with the next generation? There are a few older fantasy titles that have held up amazingly well; students still check out Alexander's The Book of Three, and Tolkien's The Hobbit comes and goes in popularity. Since The Letter For the King appears on lists of books one shouldn't miss, I took a chance on it.

It's fairly standard medieval adventure fantasy, and reminded me a bit of Howard Pyle's work, or Goudge's Little White Horse (although it has no aspect of "gargling with honey"). Most like Beckman's Crusade in Jeans (1973), which I kept around school for a number of years. I found it a little hard to believe that Tiuri would just go on this massive mission right before he is to become a night just because a random stranger asks him; wouldn't even a novice knight check out the person's motivations?

Might a really die hard fan, who has worked through a translation of Dumas' The Three Musketeers (Which took me about two weeks to read!), find this interesting? Perhaps. The style is very formal, and not as exciting as I had hoped. The translation is decent, but still feels like a translation. The illustrations are perhaps the best part of this. This wouldn't be the best use of my limited library money to purchase for my middle school; I'll recommend Flanagan's Ranger's Apprentice instead. If Pushkin Press wants to publish international books, I'd love to see translations of more modern titles that haven't made their way to the US. At 512 pages, very few of my readers will pick this up. Perhaps 25 years ago, during the height of the Harry Potter trend, but not now. 

MMGM- Dad Rock Dragon Quest

It's

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
 at 

Always in the Middle 

and #IMWAYR day 

at

Unleashing Readers

Reardon, Joan. Dad Rock Dragon Quest

June 3, 2025 by Aladdin

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Zadie Drake, 12, is not pleased that her cool mother, Freyja, is dating the geeky Lloyd Clutterbuck, but it's even worse now that he's moved into the house. He's a risk analyst, so always harshing Zadie's mellow, prohibiting her from playing her guitar loudly in the garage in their Wilbury, Michigan home. Her father, Damian, is a park ranger in the George Washington Forest in Virginia, and isn't in contact very often because the forest is a dead zone for cell service. Zadie's sister Persephone, 15, doesn't mind Lloyd as much, and is busy with her environmental podcast, HabiChat, that she runs with online friend Ezra. When the girls get the opportunity to spend a week with their father, Zadie is thrilled, but Freyja and Persephone are not. They know that Damian is not responsible, so it's decided that Lloyd will take the girls and stay for the visit. Zadie isn't happy with Lloyd's music choices (Billy Joel is not head banging enough for her), or his extreme preparedness, but glad to be staying at her father's very cool house. There are some rules for staying in the park that seem excessive, but when there are unusual creatures flying around outside, the rule about not going out at night makes sense. Shortly after, the group is plunged into a crisis; Tex Venom and his poachers attack the cabin and try to take the girls hostages because... surprise... Damian is really a Gamewarden, has magical powers, and takes care of magical creatures like his dragon, Maverick. He's run across Tex before, and knows that he sells creatures to the evil Chadwick Berkshire, who gets big bucks for creatures that the buyers kill or enslave. While the family escapes, Maverick is taken hostage, so the group must work to get him back. This involves traveling to Berkshire's house, which they are able to find because Ezra is Berkshire's son! Damian makes poor choices in trying to save a Death Worm and gets bitten, necessitating a trip to a sanctuary near Cleveland for healing. After this, the group manages to find out where Berkshire is auctioning off animals, and Zadie and Lloyd come up with a plan to disrupt it and save the animals. Freyja isn't happy to find out that her daughters know about the family's magical secrets, but the true hero of the day is Lloyd, whose circumspect actions and handy fire extinguisher save the day. Will Zadie have further adventures into magical creatures?

Strengths: It's so much more interesting when all of the parents are alive, but hard to get along with! It was fascinating that Zadie idolized her father despite his faults, but Persephone was not a fan! Having the mother out of the picture for most of the book, and seeing Lloyd step up to watch out for the girls was wonderful. He really had Zadie's best interests at heart, and the two do have a discussion about how they treat each other. The role of the step parent in middle grade literature is ripe for exploration, and Lloyd gets my vote for best step dad figure, despite of (or perhaps because of) his New Balance shoes and polo shirts. Sibling relationships are also interesting, and since Zadie and Persephone have very different views on issues, it creates some fun tensions. Of course, any book with a dragon preserve is going to appeal to a good segment of the middle grade population, especially when there is also a road trip! I needed this fun, upbeat book after so many lyrical, heartprint titles! 
Weaknesses: I had trouble connecting to Zadie. It was great that she had interests, but since her opinions were so strong, it was hard to connect with her. I was hoping that she would slowly come to understand that Lloyd really was a good guy, even before the two talked. Will middle school readers be looking for that nuance? Not anymore than they get invested in exploring grief. 

What I really think: Comparison's to Mull's Fablehaven series are apt, and this is rather like Burke's An Occasionally Happy Family, with the addition of dragons. This will also appeal to readers who want to play guitar, travel to national parks, or want to own their own dragon. I can see this being even more popular in elementary schools. Definitely looking forward to handing this to my students, and can't wait to see what fellow Youngstown native Reardon writes next. The author's note at the end mentions St. Charles school, which was about two miles from my house growing up! 

Friedrich, Paul Zebra and Yak: The Backwards Alphabet Book

June 3, 2025 by G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers

E ARC provided by the publisher

Zebra is lounging in a beach chair with a glass of lemonade when this book starts with "Z is for Zebra". Of course, he is surprised, because that is NOT the way Alphabet books are supposed to work. Where is the xylophone? How can zebra be expected to be ready if there's no xylophone? Yak is up next, and he's also very confused. Apple was apparently not around, so the book started backwards. All of the characters are confused, and no longer suprised by anything. There's a joyous romp through pumpkins and oranges and boogers as Zebra, Yak, and the other letters try to figure out what was up with the arrogant apple. Spoiler: the alphabet book is now going to start with alligator.

This was delightful. I audibly snorted several times, especially when N for Nose leads to Zebra having his hoof up Yak's nose. Does he want his booger back? They save it, in case B is for Booger. As one does. 

The simple illustrations have just the right level of goofiness, and the characters seem to romp across existing book pages that are just slightly altered. The other entry I love was S is for Snake, followed shortly thereafter by R is for Running! 

As someone who has spent her entire life at the end of the alphabet (I graduated 503rd in my class, followed only by someone whose last name started with Z!), I had to appreciated this. It had the meta feel of Townley's The Great Good Thing, with the characters coming to life and acting out the story when the book was opened, and I'm always a sucker for that. 

The only bad thing about this book is that I am now faced with a philosophical conundrum; I come from a family where we do not buy books because they cost a lot of money, and I've not been able to get over that, even though I have bought thousands of dollars with school board money for my school. It's hard to argue with the voice of your mother in your head. Do I buy this one for my grandson (whose last name begins with S, so he'll understand!) when I have two bookcases full of books that I've gotten in exchange for reviewing them? I might just have to, because I imagine it would become a fast favorite. "Do you want your booger back" sounds like a family catch phrase in the making.