It's
Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
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and #IMWAYR day
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Mr. Whittier informed me that "Summerween is an informal celebration that blends Halloween themes with summertime activities and aesthetics. Folks try to capture the fun, spooky spirit of Halloween in warmer beachier times. Instead of crisp autumn weather and October traditions, Summerween reimagines the holiday with things like pool parties, beach trips, tropical drinks, summer camp vibes, and outdoor gatherings, all paired with classic Halloween elements like horror movies, candy, costumes, and more.
At its core, Summerween is less of an official holiday and more of a vibe for summer. It appeals to people who love spooky season and want to celebrate it before fall arrives, in a campy, sort of nostalgic, over the top type of way."
Of course, I dragged my feet long enough on reviewing the perfect book for this holiday that the E ARC expired and I lost my notes. It was very fun, though, and will make younger children giggle. I think that my grandson will be a big fan, which is fine as long as he understands that he will be wearing a thirty year old bunny costume for Halloween until he grows out of it, because that sucker took me way longer to make that it should have!
May 12, 2026 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
E ARC provided by the publisher
From the publisher:
Perfect for fans of Creepy Pair of Underwear, this wolfish picture book romp follows a kid who finds himself in a hairy situation when he dons a pair of not-so-normal undies under the light of the full moon.
Do not, under any circumstances,
Or for any reason,
Wear this underwear under the full moon.
Do you understand?
Get ready to howl with laughter as one rule-breaking, underwear-loving kid transforms into a—gasp!—UNDERWEARWOLF! Now he’s on an unforgettable nighttime adventure that may or may not include furry paws, sharp claws, uncomfortable wedgies, and an honest-to-goodness wild wolfpack! No butts about it—this is one read-aloud that’ll blow your undies off!
Do not, under any circumstances,
Or for any reason,
Wear this underwear under the full moon.
Do you understand?
Get ready to howl with laughter as one rule-breaking, underwear-loving kid transforms into a—gasp!—UNDERWEARWOLF! Now he’s on an unforgettable nighttime adventure that may or may not include furry paws, sharp claws, uncomfortable wedgies, and an honest-to-goodness wild wolfpack! No butts about it—this is one read-aloud that’ll blow your undies off!
Vickers, Elaine. The Sweet Spot
May 5, 2026 by Peachtree
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Trip loves to play baseball, and feels it is his legacy. His grandfather, who lives next door, played in the major league. Even though the family has moved to Cedar Valley so they can be more stationery now that the father is in the reserves (and has a job teaching high school science), his father chooses to be deployed. This puts a lot of pressure on his mother, and he and his sisters Shar and Marley all help with household tasks and take care of five year old Bean. Now that it's summer, Trip spends a lot of time playing baseball with his friends Dylan and Andy. The coach makes Trip team captain because he hasn't missed any practices or games for two years, and Trip takes this very seriously. He's also okay with having a new teammate, Sam, since she seems to be an excellent player. She even helps coach Trip on some batting skills, with good results. Dylan and Andy, however, are not thrilled, mainly because Dylan's father frequently rails against "woke" policies. Trip misses his father desperately; he likes to hang out with his grandfather, and even manages to chat with his father in the Need for Speed video game about different challenges he is facing with the team. Trip is trying to be the best ball player he can be; he shows up early, starts running and lifting weights, and improves his diet. He works with Sam, whose older brothers are college players and have some good tips. He occasionally forgets to do things for his mother he has promised to do, and at Dylan's urging damages Bean's favorite doll. To his credit, he tries to make amends. When his mother has to travel for business, he is irritated, but surprised when his sister show him how important his mother is in her career. Trip helps out his grandfather by cooking (after getting tired of canned spaghetti!) and mowing the lawn, and is the one to find his grandfather when he has painfully dislocated his shoulder. The grandfather ends up in the hospital, but things become even more stressful for the family when the father is injured. The extent of his injuries isn't known, but the mother prepares to go to Germany to be with him. The older children step up, but Trip decides that isn't enough; he needs to quit the baseball team. His grandfather lets him, his coach understands, Dylan is happy to be able to start again, and Sam is sympathetic. Will Trip be able to work through his feelings and return to the baseball field?
Strengths: This is exactly the sort of middle grade book I love to see. Even though Trip faces some fairly difficult circumstances, he is upbeat and tries his best to improve his situation. Because it is 2025, he is not at all surprised that there is a girl on his team, although he does react to his friends' disapproval. Dylan is an unfortunately typical middle school boy, and the fact that Trip doesn't agree with him but is sometimes powerless to stop Dylan is perfect. I loved Sam's matter-of-fact attitude, her drive, and her knowledge of her sport. While I usually like a little romance in middle grade literature, it made more sense for the two to be good friends. Trip thinks a lot about gender roles, even questioning whether his grandfather gives him preferential treatment. There aren't a lot of books about deployed parents, and it's good to see Trip's longing for his father represented. This book was an enormous relief after reading a raft of realistic stories that were soggily sad.
Weaknesses: The cover has a Richard Cuffari 1980s vibe that is a bit odd; I keep thinking that there is a clown on the cover because of the way Trip's cheeks are drawn.
What I really think: Vickers did such a nice job with Half Moon Summer, but I liked this one even better. Instead of always showing middle grade characters with anxiety, I would love to see more that model resiliency and determination. Many athletes want to be the team captain, but fewer are willing to do the work. Many of my students don't have any goals, and seem unable to plan, so Trip sets a good example on so many levels. Not only that, but the story is fast paced and intriguing. A must purchase title for middle schools where baseball books are in demand.
Strengths: This is exactly the sort of middle grade book I love to see. Even though Trip faces some fairly difficult circumstances, he is upbeat and tries his best to improve his situation. Because it is 2025, he is not at all surprised that there is a girl on his team, although he does react to his friends' disapproval. Dylan is an unfortunately typical middle school boy, and the fact that Trip doesn't agree with him but is sometimes powerless to stop Dylan is perfect. I loved Sam's matter-of-fact attitude, her drive, and her knowledge of her sport. While I usually like a little romance in middle grade literature, it made more sense for the two to be good friends. Trip thinks a lot about gender roles, even questioning whether his grandfather gives him preferential treatment. There aren't a lot of books about deployed parents, and it's good to see Trip's longing for his father represented. This book was an enormous relief after reading a raft of realistic stories that were soggily sad.
Weaknesses: The cover has a Richard Cuffari 1980s vibe that is a bit odd; I keep thinking that there is a clown on the cover because of the way Trip's cheeks are drawn.
What I really think: Vickers did such a nice job with Half Moon Summer, but I liked this one even better. Instead of always showing middle grade characters with anxiety, I would love to see more that model resiliency and determination. Many athletes want to be the team captain, but fewer are willing to do the work. Many of my students don't have any goals, and seem unable to plan, so Trip sets a good example on so many levels. Not only that, but the story is fast paced and intriguing. A must purchase title for middle schools where baseball books are in demand.
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