MMGM- Mysteries, and Earth Day

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Always in the Middle 

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Unleashing Readers

Messner, Kate and Greenwood, Justin (illustrator)

History Smashers: Earth Day and the Environment

March 11, 2025 by Random House Books for Young Readers

Copy provided by the Publisher 

This tenth book in Messner's History Smashers series discusses the history, complications, and ramifications of my second favorite holiday (after Groundhogs' Day!)- Earth Day! I have very vague memories of the buzz surrounding the first celebration in 1970, but I definitely remember the twentieth anniversary and the renewed emphasis on recycling and environmental issues that resulted. I still have a "Save a Tree" tote bag I use... it's just like one on display in the Smithsonian! 

That is all surface interest, however, and Messner takes readers on a complicated, deep dive into the evolution of the ecological movement in the world and the US. Using a mix of comic strips, photographs, and text, a lot of historical events are depicted that show why protections for the environment needed to be put in place. From the time of Benjamin Franklin and the devastation of the beaver population in order to create popular hats, to a great illustrated overview of Rachel Carson's work against DDT, to short biographies of current leaders in the environmental movement like Hoesung Lee, Vanessa Nakate, and Greta Thunberg, this book is packed with information. 

Like other History Smasher books, there is an emphasis on how disproportionately communities of color are affected by environmental problems. This is information that is often left out of traditional textbooks, so is a welcome addition. 

The celebration of the first Earth Day isn't covered until halfway through the book, but the scene is well set for understanding its importance. I grew up fairly close to the Cuyahoga River, but even I learned a bit more about the fire that became a rallying cry for the movement. It's sad that even after the movement started, there were incidents like Love Canal, Three Mile Island, and the Exxon Valdez. The after effects, and the continued problems with the environment, are fully explored. The timeline at the end of the book is very helpful. 

It amazes me that many of my students don't have any interest in the environment. It's hard to get them to pick up books like Beer's Kids vs. Plastic and Bell's You Can Change the World: The Kids' Guide to a Better Planet. This popular series will be a great nonfiction companion to the growing pile of middle grade about climate activism and climate anxiety like Dee's Haven Jacobs Saves the Planet, Firestone's The First Rule of Climate Club, Frank's Global Warning, and Dimopoulos' Turn the Tide. 

King, Wesley. Benny on the Case
April 15, 2025 by Beach Lane Books (Simon and Schuster)

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Benny is an eleven-year-old who lives in St. George's Bay, Newfoundland, where his mother runs the Starflower by the Sea retirement home. He's been in special education his whole life, since he has Mosaic Down Syndrome. This means that while he has the physical features similar to others with this genetic condition, he doesn't have the health problems or cognitive delays. His teacher, Mr. Keane, has decided that it's time for Benny to be "reintegrated"; what we would term "mainstreamed" in the US. The day that he is to start, there is a lot happening; a nursing home resident has jewelry stolen, and one of the resident's granddaughter's, Salma, has moved from Seattle and is also starting school. The kids in their class aren't too well versed in dealing with others who might be different, and Mark and Ashlin are especially mean to the two, who become friends. Salma, whose father is from Tunisia, stands out in the primarily white Newfoundland community, and Benny is often treated like he is very young; Mark calls him "slow". When the fate of the Starflower, and of his best friend, 86 year old Mr. Tom, hinges on solving the mystery of the rash of thefts and a complicated scam involving retirement homes in the area (in which Ashlin's father is a major player), Benny and Salma step up to investigate. Benny's mother is struggling to keep the home open, especially since she is running it alone after the death of Benny's father four years previously, and Mr. Tom's health is rapidly failing. Will Benny and Salma be able to figure out the threats to the Starflower before it's too late? 
Strengths: This started with a description of "Newfoundlander speak" which was rather charming, and Benny had a great voice. I was instantly drawn into the story because of the feeling of community and wanted to know more about daily life there. The idea of a small, family run retirement home is intriguing, and I can't imagine how difficult a place like that would be to run. Mr. Tom and the other residents are not as key to the plot as they are to stories like Forman's Not Nothing or Van Draanen's The Secret Life of Lincoln Jones, but I still love to see tweens interact with older people, even if this leads to sad endings. The combination of the elements made for an interesting in unique story that I really enjoyed. 
Weaknesses: While I loved that the mystery was deeper than just items going missing from the residents, I wonder how lucrative it would be to take over retirement homes in Newfoundland. It really wasn't necessary to kill off the father. I would love to see another book set in this location with a lot more details about what life is like in Newfoundland, maybe involving smash ball, a sort of soccer with bodychecking! 
What I really think: Usually, the only characters in middle grade stories with Down Syndrome are siblings (Charlie in Cochrane's Breaking into Sunlight, Sarah in Oppel's Inkling, Izzie in Choldenko's One-Third Nerd, Charlie in Cartaya's Marcus Vega Doesn't Speak Spanish, Squirrel,  in Hart's Daisy Wormwood Changes the World, Benny and Tessie in Dallas' Somewhere to Call Home), although Darby in Cotterill's A Storm of Strawberries is a main character. It's quite interesting to see a main character with this condition, but it was the Newfoundland setting and the mysteries at the Starflower that really sold this one to me. Mystery lovers will applaud Salma and Benny's investigative skills while marveling at a school without a basketball hoop! 

Salerni, Dianne K.  , Schu, Matt (illus.).The Tontine Caper

April 22, 2025 by Holiday House

E ARC provided by Edelweiss

In 1901, Nicodemus Lombardi finds himself working for Gunther Hogg at his Precipe Inn in the Poconos after the death of his grandfather, Nonno. Nonno was a painter who died suddenly, and since Nico’s parents had perished when he was younger, Gunther claims that he is owed money, and puts Nico to work, along with his daughter, Agnetha. The inn struggles, since there are only five rooms, so when lawyer Arnold Hawes convenes a group of investors wishing to dissolve a tontine, there is a lot of work to do. The tontine, an investment scheme, involves shares in the Carbon County coal mine. There are only three remaining survivors, which means that the investment can be divided and distributed, although there has to be a vote to see if members would rather wait until there is only one survivor who would get the entire sum. The elderly Beuregard Ames and his granddaughter Beatrice arrive, followed by Diana Von Tropp and her two sons and the Deetlebaum family with Lottie and her mother, grandmother. The lawyer is late in arriving, so we see the different schemes of those hoping to profit. Nico serves all of the guests, appreciating the ones who aren’t cruel to him, as Gunther is, and is making plans to break free of his servitude, feeling (rightly so) that he will never be able to repay his debt. With so many people trying to get the money, and so much drama, who will finally get the fortune from the tontine?
Strengths: I always enjoy learning things I don’t know, and the idea of a tontine (which has been effectively illegal in the US since about 1906) is an intriguing one. I’m also a fan of English manor house mysteries a la Agatha Christie, so setting this story at a small inn in the Pocono Mountains (which I’ve always wanted to visit), was an intriguing choice. There is an art related mystery that leads to a very satisfying conclusion, but which I don’t want to spoil. Nico’s situation is one that more children in the early 1900s would have experienced, similar to the orphaned Anne of Green Gables (Montgomery, 1908) or Understood Betsy (Fisher, 1916). The characters are quirky and interesting, and Schu’s illustrations are fantastic. I’d love to see more illustrations scattered through middle grade books, reminiscent of Joe and Beth Krush’s or Hilary Knight’s mid century work.
Weaknesses: My bloodthirsty students are more interested in gruesome murder mysteries than ones that involve cons or scams, and when this was compared to Knives Out, I sort of hoped for a cozy style murder. (Nico does suspect that his grandfather was killed.)
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who like mysteries like Guterson’s Winterhouse or Eagle’s The Pear Affair. This author's Eleanor, Alice and the Roosevelt Ghosts and The Carrefour Curse are also good mystery choices. 

Spikol, Susie and Metallinou, Renia  (illustrator).

Forest Magic for Kids: How to find Fairies, Make a Secret Fort, and Cook Up an Elfin Picnic.
April 1, 2025 by Gibbs Smith
Copy provided by Media Masters Publicity

Want to encourage children to spend more time outdoors exercising their imagination? Do you suspect, like the author, that fairies and magical creatures might be real? This manual on exploring the natural world and its fantastical possibilities is for you.

My students have very poor imaginations these days, so need a helping hand to cultivate a more inquisitive nature and apply this curiosity to all of the possibilities in the world. Going outside and really looking at the world around them would be a great place to start. Starting with a list of essential equipment like a journal, flashlight, and magnifying glass, this book walks young readers through the steps they need to take to become more observant about the world around them, more attuned to natural surroundings, and more aware of tiny creatures that are often overlooked.

In order to develop these skills, there are lots of activities and craft projects. From creating a DIY observation notebook to making mushroom spore prints, there are a huge number of unusual and innovative projects that utilize materials found in nature. The instructions, which include lists of easily obtainable items, are clear, but also have room for a variety of interpretations. I was particularly intrigued by the recipes for making various sorts of glitter and fairy dust out of rocks and chalk, as well as the standard "potions" out of leaves and twigs that used to be hard wired into the repertoire of children of my generation!

Metallinou's artwork is delightful, and reinforces the feeling of whimsy. While believing in fairies and magical creatures starts at a very young age, this book has a fair amount of text, so is better suited for older children, or for supervised use with younger ones. Readers who can't get enough of imaginative activity books like Halligan's Sunday Funday, Brunelle's Turn This Book in to A Bird Feeder or Storey Publishing's Backpack Explorer books will enjoy preparing the activities in Forest Magic for Kids and spending time lying on their stomachs on the grass, looking for tiny creatures and imagining all of the magical possibilities.

On Again, Awkward Again

Kelly, Erin Entrada and Mbalia, Kwame. On Again, Awkward Again
April 15, 2025 by Amulet Books
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Pacy, who lives in a cozy apartment with her aunt and mother who work in an Asian market, is obsessed with Star Trek and is rather klutzy. Her friend Brigida despairs of her; she's forever doing things like telling her French teacher she should be able to pick "Jean-Luc" as a name because "gender is a spectrum" and bashing her lip on the water fountain. Cecil is worried about starting high school because he has frequent bouts of IBS and is given a hard time up his upcycled wardrobe, although he has his best friend Robbie who has his back. When Pacy and Cecil meet in the nurse's office, both teens are intrigued, but clueless as to how to talk to someone they have a crush on. Both end up on the decorating committee for the freshman formal, and do indeed hit it off. Pacy is concerned when her pretty and socially NOT awkward sister Gigi talks to Cecil, but when Pacy and Cecil end up in the principal's office after Pacy pulls the fire alarm (she really thought there was a fire!), the two have a good excuse to spend time together as they work to find a new venue for the dance. The course of true love never runs smooth, and these two have more challenges than most. Cecil has not one but two allergic reactions; after the first, Pacy calls his father, and ends up seeing his family's unusual bed and breakfast. Because this is a Young Adult book, the two have a misunderstanding that leads to them breaking up, but because they are so singularly suited to each other, it's not a spoiler to reveal that they do end the book together. 

Strengths: I'm a huge fan of young adult books that can be read by middle school students without them learning a lot of health class information they might not already know, and this was one of those books. Pacy and Cecil are engaging, geeky characters who are fairly comfortable in their own skin until they start to doubt that someone can be attracted to them. That's an emotion that is not confined just to Geek Americans! This is a fun romp, silly at times, but blissfully free of Serious Issues. I imagine that it was great fun for Kelly and Mbalia to write together. 

Weaknesses: Pacy and Cecil definitely seem more like 1990s teens than 2024 teens. The flavors of essential geekdom are constantly changing, and I haven't seen a student who cares about Star Trek in at least four years. 
What I really think: This is a bit of a departure for both of these authors, and it was fun to see what they created together. Readers who want books about awkward high school romantic experiences, like Lubar's Let Sleeping Freshman Lie and Quatch's Not Here to Be Liked will enjoy this sweet geek fest. 

Picture books by middle grade authors

LaRocca, Rajani and Alam, Nadia (illus.) Mauntie and Me

November 12, 2024 by Candlewick Press 

Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central

Priya is the youngest in her family, so when the relatives all gather at her house, her cousins often leave her out. Luckily, her Mauntie (MY auntie) is also the youngest, and is willing to spend time with her, sharing special snacks and braiding her hair. When Aditi, a cousin who is just a year older than Priya, comes for a visit, she also wants to hang out with Mauntie, even using Priya's special name, Priya puts up with Aditi helping braid her hair, winning all of the games, and knowing the answers to Mauntie's riddles, but when she tells them that she is moving back to the area, Priya is NOT happy. Mauntie offers to spend a special day alone with Priya and asks her a riddle: "What grows when you share it?" Priya enjoys having Mauntie to herself, but finds that she misses Aditi a little bit. The answer to the riddle is, of course, love, and Priya finds that she enjoys spending time with her aunt AND cousin once she gets used to the idea.

Change is hard for young children, and giving up a comfortable relationship can be especially challenging. Aditi is a year older, so better at games and riddles, which Priya resents a little bit. Mauntie explains that she spent quite a bit of time with Aditi before her family moved away, which makes Priya the one who is a bit of an interloper, and that, combined with Priya's growing affection for her cousin, makes the change a bit easier.

Alam's illustrations are packed with fantastic details, and it's fun to watch the family grilling out and packing into the house. This makes the moments that Priya shares just with her auntie even more special. They spend time in Priya's bedroom, hide under the dining room table, and share moments of quiet that are hard to find. The cover is especially fun, with the photographs of the two together over a number of years.

My mother had eight brothers and sisters, so there were lots of cousins at our family gatherings. I was one of the youngest, but so was my mother, and I was always specifically told NOT to bother my aunts! Many children crave adult input from someone who is not their parents, and since Mauntie seems to be college aged, I am not surprised that both Priya and Aditi are drawn to her. Celebrate the special role that aunts have in the lives on their young nieces with this book, along with James and Brown's Auntie Loves You, Coyle and MacPherson's Thank You Aunt Tallulah!, and Liu and Ansori's Auntie Always Loves You!

Hiranandani, Veera and Alam, Nadia (illus.) Many Things at Once

January 28, 2025 by Random House Studio

Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central

Alam loves the story of her family. Her mother's grandfather came to the US from Poland, and her father's family had to leave Pakistan during the Partition. She thinks it is interesting to be both Jewis and Hindu, but sometimes she struggles. Her cousins might know more of other languages than she does, and she sometimes doesn't feel enough like either of her parents. She has some friends whose family backgrounds have a variety of components, which helps, and her parents are understanding, and tell her it's okay to feel "many things at once".

Nadia Alam's illustrations capture what makes each side of the family special. I especially loved the recreated photographs that accompany the family history; it was a missed opportunity to not include a photo of the author's family when she was about six years old, so that young readers could see her when she was about their age.

While there is a lot of philosophy about identity, this story is, at its heart, about loving and honoring relatives who came before us, and being grateful that they were able to escape difficult circumstances and make it to the US to meet people from a wide array of backgrounds. I'm not surprised that Hiranandani's family is from New York; my family roots are all in the Midwest, and I am a much more homogeneous, Western European blend of English and German!

We've come a long way since Maclear's 2010 Spork, which was a more abstract treatment of a multiracial family. Add Many Things at Once to a list to help children understand that they don't have to be just one thing that includes Mawhinney and Poh's Lulu the One and Only, Davol's Black, White, Just Right! Woodson and Blackall's Pecan Pie Baby, and Benjamin's My Two Grandads. Hiranandani's middle grade fiction The Whole Story of Half a Girl and How to Find What You're Not Looking For also draw from her experiences with identity and are great for older readers.

Weatherford, Carole Boston, Weatherford, Jeffrey Boston, and Martinez, Ernel (illus.) Rap It Up! 

March 18, 2025 by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)

Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central 

This exuberant picture book, with it's smooth rhyming couplets, is a shout out to the joy of hip hop creation. A young rapper, who claims to have practically born with a mic in his hand, gives detailed instruction on how to write the poetry that turns into fly hip hop songs. Many types of literary devices are showcased and explained, and there is even a handy glossary at the end of the book for readers who forget what they are. Jeffrey Boston Weatherford's note at the end explains his love of the genre and his devotion to spreading the word to young performers.

Martinez's illustrations are brightly colored and full of delightful details that support the text and make this book even more engaging. There are a lot of pages that employ a graffiti style, and there are lots of words in a variety of colors on the page.

Language arts teacher will appreciate the spirited but also gently didactic tone; this is really a great instruction manual for writing. It even includes prompts to grab a pencil and paper, and talks about different types of figurative language. It even mentions near rhyme, although that line employs a perfect match.

Readers who got down to Boogie Boogie, Y'all by Esperanza, Breaking to the Beat! by Acevedo, Daddy and Me and the Rhyme to Be by Bridges and Person, Darryl's Dream by McDaniels and Hip-Hop Lollipop by Montanari will enjoy this poetic tribute to the process of writing rap.

Poetry Friday- Lifeboat 5

Hood, Susan. Lifeboat 5 (Companion to Lifeboat 12, 2018)
October 8, 2024 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central

Bess Walden, who is fifteen, and her brother Lewis, who is 10, are sent out of East London by their parents during the Blitz. After a brief stay in an orphanage, they are lucky enough to get passage on the SS City of Benares. Bess meet another girl, Beth, who is also a bit heavier and has had trouble making friends, as Bess has. They become close friends, and spend time together on the very fancy ship, although each girl has a couple of younger roommates to help take care of. Bess is concerned because her brother is with boys on the ship, and she can't watch him as closely as she would like, although he seems to be in good hands with Ken, an older boy (whose story is told in Lifeboat 12), and chaperone Michael Rennie. Aside from a bout of seasickness, Bess and Beth are generally doing well until the ship is torpedoed in the middle of the night. Trying to escape with their roommates, they find that the stairs have collapsed, and Bess is frantic to be separated from Louis. The girls manage to get into a lifeboat, but it capsizes. The water is freezing, and all around them people perish, including Michael Rennie, who had managed to save many of the boys in his care. The girls encourage each other to hold on, and are eventually rescued by a British ship. Bess is reunited with her brother after he sees he green bathrobe hanging up. There is some additional information about various aspects of the ship, including the lack of information that remains about the Indian Lascars who were working on the ship and perished. 

The characters in the book are based on real people who were involved in the historical event. Heiligman's 2019 Torpedoed: The True Story of the World War II Sinking of "The Children's Ship" is great nonfiction coverage of the SS City of Benares, and would make a great companion for both of Hood's books. The little boy in the red silk life jacket that his mother had custom made for him so that he would wear it all of the time appears in both the fiction and nonfiction accounts. 

The verse format is what sets this book apart from other novels set during this time period, and Hood employs several different formats, which are described in the back of the book. The alphabet poem written from the sea's perspective is especially effective; there is something haunting about the list of all of the items that are consigned to the deep. 

Readers who want the pairing of World War II and verse format will want to pick up Hood's Lifeboat 12 (which doesn't necessarily need to be read first) or her 2022 Alias Anna: A True Story of Outwitting the Nazis, and would be well advised to seek out Borden's His Name Was Raoul Wallenberg: Courage, Rescue and Mystery During World War II (2012) or LeZotte's T4: A Novel in Verse (2008). 

Ghost Scout's Honor

Blankenship-Kramer, Carey. Ghost Scout's Honor
April 1, 2025 by Scholastic Press
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

In the wake of a bad friend break up with Laura, Evey is determined to earn the school Student of the Year award, but when the widespread ghost problems in Savannah, Georgia worsen, this means that she'll have to join the Ghost Scouts, an organization headed by Laura. Along with Matilda, Fin, and Pip, she is trained and put on a squad that has to take care of threats and occasionally "ghost sit" at houses to make sure the inhabitants are safe. The ghosts, which attack humans and can freeze them with a good-like substance, seem to be getting worse, and when Evey overhears Laura talk about "Ghost X", she becomes obsessed with finding out the secret, even though it puts her and her new friends in danger. Every also struggles with ADHD, anxiety, and anger management, and since her parents are in therapy after almost divorcing, she has frequent sessions with Daisy, her own therapist, which are recounted at length. After training on ghost gloves and flashlights and learning the difference between banshees, wraiths, poltergeists, and mares, Evey and her squad are given tie dye overall uniforms and sent out on missions. After getting a weird response from her school librarian about Ghost X, Evey becomes even more suspicious, and finds that Ghost X has killed several times, and is being kept in an unlikely place. Solving the mystery puts Evey in even more danger. Will she be able to use her Ghost Scout skills to save the day? 
Strengths: In addition to having a number of legitimately scary ghost scenes, this also speaks to many of the social concerns of 2025. Evey is dealing with her parents' marriage problems by being in therapy, where her other problems were diagnosed and are being helped. Her friend group is diverse (Fin is nonbinary, and Pip uses a cane because of Spinal bifida. Matilda is Black.) and accepting of gender identities and pronouns. A main concern is that Evey isn't asking for help, but is trying to do everything on her own. I did enjoy the fact that Laura ended the friendship with Evey as a way to protect her, and that the two were able to discuss this late in the book. There is definitely a well developed ghost situation in Savannah, somewhat reminiscent of Stroud's Lockwood and Co. or Jinks' How to Catch a Bogle, and we do get some history of the infestation. 
Weaknesses: I could have used more details about why the ghosts are portrayed as having rotten skin and dangling eyeballs (this is not usually the case), and about how there aren't more fatalities from ghost freezing, since this has been a problem since 1866, and fewer details about Evey's mental state, but younger readers might feel differently. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed Averling's The Curse of Eelgrass Bog, Parris' Stage Fright, Savage's Karma Moon: Ghost Hunter, Schusterman's Dead Air, or Strong's Secret Dead Club, 

Kaya Morgan's Crowning Achievement

Tew, Jill. Kaya Morgan's Crowning Achievement

April 1st 2025 by Freedom Fire

E ARC Provided by Netgalley.com

Kaya is very excited to be attending a Renaissance fair two week camp near her home in Georgia. When her father was alive, he would work at the fair as the lead archer, but since his death, Kaya has missed the event. Her fondest dream is to earn the role of Queen, and knows that this would make her father proud, since he always supported her, buying her princess dresses from the time she was young. Her mother is a bit harried, having to work double shifts as a nurse and take care of Kaya and well as her older brother, Kev. Jr., who is starting college in the fall, so doesn't have time to give Kaya the proper regal hairdo. Her friend Tyler Nomura is going as well, and hopes to be a knight. When Tyler and Kaya get to camp, they are a little worried that the only other participants are from a fancy private school, and when blonde Jessie is crowned queen for the first week, it adds insult to injury that Kaya is training to be a jester. It's not that she hates working with Barry, who knew her father, and it is interesting that Kaya's father started out as a jester as well. It's just not Kaya's dream, even though she is quite good in the role. She fights a bit with Jessie and her friend Wren, although Jessie seems nice. For the second week, Kaya does get to intern with the queen, and puts her own spin on things by including a bit of archery with her skit. At the final showcase, the camp director brings in board members, and the children find out that unless the board provides more monetary support, there won't be another camp. The racist behavior of the camp director, who tells Kaya that she's just not "suited" to the role, brings out details about the difficulties her father had being accepted by the others in the fair, and makes Kev, Jr. angry. WHen the director tries to use a video of Kaya to promote diversity at the camp even though there really isn't any, Kaya knows she needs to do something. Kaya works with Tyler, as well as Jessie and the others, to show the world that the Renaissance fair should be more inclusive. 

Strengths: I think Kaya would get along quite well with Allen's Mya Tibbs. Both girls know exactly what they want, and aren't afraid to stand up for themselves in order to get it. In doing so, they sometimes rub other people the wrong way. Jessie and her friends ended up being fairly nice and helpful, but Kaya's reaction to them caused them to include Tyler in some of their plans but not Kaya. The family's interest in "geeky" pursuits, and the prejudice they face because of them, will resonate especially with the Black nerd community who are starting to get some attention in books like Baptiste's Boy 2.0. I especially liked the details about archery, juggling, and Kaya's hair dos. 
Weaknesses: While the director's behavior near the end of the book is certainly inexcusably racist, when Kaya was first chosen as jester, she didn't seem to have any real reason to be upset, other than she wanted the part and didn't get it. When she turned out to be very good at the role, I thought this would take a turn ala 1950s teen romances where dreams are dashed, but better dreams emerge.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed Jamieson's All's Faire in Middle School but want to see more knights and princesses of color. I can't think of any other middle grade books that include this cultural phenomenon. While I certainly had lots of friends who were involved in this (which is why I know all about how to care for homemade chain mail), my students haven't picked up All's Faire in Middle School frequently, even though it's a graphic novel. 

The Nightmare Hunter

Smith, Bradley. The Nightmare Hunter #1

April 1, 2025 by Penguin Workshop

E ARC Provided by Edelweiss Plus

Maxwell is an emo skateboarder who shows up at Gloomy Elms middle school to look for the next person who needs his help in dispelling nightmares. He sees the most likely candidate; Sid, who has been having nightmares and is shown at school with creatures attached to her that are invisible to everyone else. Maxwell dispatches them, and she feels oddly better, but she still thinks he is creepy, and her friends definitely don't believe that he can help. After several nights of worsening nightmares, Sid agrees to have Maxwell come to her house and sit beside her while she falls asleep so that he can enter her nightmare and help her figure out why she is having them. During their adventures, Maxwell tells her that he learned to do this nightmare busting with his younger sister Gwen, who is missing. In addition to helping over fifty others figure out why them are plagued with bad dreams, he hopes to locate his sister. Sid's nightmares are hard to figure out, but the two try to locate the source. At the end, Maxwell realizes that he still has more work cut out for him, since nightmares are increasingly trying to become really, and he still hasn't found his sister. The final panel shows him leaving Gloomy Elms looking for the next person to help, walking down the road ala Bruce Banner in The Hulk or Jonathan Smith in Highway to Heaven. 

Strengths: There are not too many middle grade horror graphic novels, and both the horror genre and the graphic novel format are very popular with my students. Dreams seem to be more vivid for the young, and I can see tweens thinking that of COURSE Maxwell can help Sid figure out her problem. This is a quickly moving story line with lots of action and adventure, with a dash of philosophy to add some meat to the plot. Not that younger readers will get the connection, but some of the nightmare sequences made me think of Jack Davis' vintage Mad Magazine illustrations. The E ARC was all in black and white, but the final version does appear to be in full color. 

Weaknesses: This required a bit of suspension of disbelief that Maxwell was roaming around on his own and could solve people's nightmares. Like Sid, I would have been very leery about inviting him into my home. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoy spooky graphic novels like Terry's Graveyard Shakes or Lai's Ghost Book.

MMGM- The Right Call

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Unleashing Readers

Greenwald, Tommy. The Right Call
April 15, 2025 by Amulet Books

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

In this companion to Dinged (2022), Rivals (2021) and Game Changer (2018) set in the same Walthorne community, Cal Klondike is a fifteen years old pitcher who has recently been making the news with his skills. His father, who has always been supportive, has become a little too intense, and Cal is feeling a lot of pressure. The book starts with information from a police scanner that a man has been attacked; we then flash back five months. Through local news articles, transcripts of Cal's meetings with a school counselor, Mr. Rashad, interviews, texts between Cal and his friend Luis, and poems that Cal writes, we see how the growing interest in his baseball career is making Cal dislike the sport more and more. He is glad to be doing well, and helping out his team, and enjoys perfecting his "slurve" (slow curve) ball with Luis, who is the team's catcher, but doesn't care for dealing with scouts or his father's increasingly volatile behavior towards Mr. Tedesco, the coach, or the umpires. After his father loses his temper with Cal for going to the batting cages at the fair with his friends, Cal has even less patience. Still, when he is pitching a crucial game, he ignores his body's hints and continues to pitch hard, partially tearing a muscle in his shoulder. He's out of the game two months, and has to spend time doing physical therapy. He's back in time for the fall season, but his father is increasingly worried about Cal's scholarship opportunities. During a game where Mr. Klondike thinks the umpire is unfair, he gets thrown out of the game for repeatedly arguing with the very level headed older umpire. It doesn't help that Mr. Tedesco has been ribbing the ump about his poor eyesight and age. After the game, there is an altercation in the parking lot, and Cal and his mother arrive just after Mr. Klondike has pushed the umpire, Mr. Goshen, who falls, hits his head, and is badly injured. The police get involved, Mr. Goshen is hospitalized, and has a long recovery. Cal quits playing as his father's legal case proceeds, but eventually connects with Mr. Goshen, who is a Vietnam vet who served during the Fall of Saigon, and makes peace with his father and baseball in general. 

While I find it harder to follow a story in a variety of formats (especially texts),  my students love this shorter, more varied form, and Mr. Greenwald has really perfected it. There is a lot of suspense and tension in the way the story is told, and it's a relief when Cal is able to see another perspective on his sport through Mr. Goshen's eyes. I was surprised at how much Luis' humor and support for his friend came through his texts! 

There's plenty of baseball descriptions for players and fans, and Greenwald's support of umpires and his concern for the growing number of altercations that they are dragged in to is fantastic to see. Carl Deuker (Night Hoops, Swagger, Golden Arm, Shadowed) has always been my go to for sports stories that include serious issues, but Greenwald is now right up there on my list of sports novels that are great choices for middle school and high school readers who have moved beyond the simple problems of Fred Bowen and Matt Christopher books and are willing to give serious thought to more complex ones. 

Myer's Monster is a book that is frequently used as a class novel; teachers love the social justice themes as well as the format that engages deeper levels of thinking. I'd love to see Greenwald's Walthorne books used in a similar way; they would certainly be a hit with the athletes in the classes. 

Once for Yes

Millington, Allie. Once For Yes
March 25, 2025 by Feiwel & Friends

E ARC provided by Netgalley 

The Odenburgh is an apartment building at the edge of an urban area that has "Downtown Disease" and is the only older building left on the block. Since the original builder is portrayed as still owning the building, I would guess that the no nonsense, flat-roofed, red brick structure is from the late 1960s. All around are larger, more expensive apartment buildings devoid of style and soul, and the building is concerned about its future. It's put up with having residents, but doesn't really enjoy them, since they are loud and always have problems. One of these residents, Prue, has her share, and uses a defunct landline to perform her bathtub podcast and to talk to herself. She used to do the podcasts with her older sisters, Fifi and Lina, but Lina has passed away in an accident, and Fifi is not longer interested. When the news arrive that the building is going to be torn down, Prue is devastated, since it was where she has lived her whole life, and where she feels connected to Lina. Fifi is glad to move, and the parents, who don't discuss Lina, are practical and locate a new home. There is some mystery surrounding what happened to Lina, and when Prue meets Lewis, a boy who lives across the street, some of the questions are answered. We hear frequently from the building itself, and when Prue decides to mount a campaign to try to save it, the Odenburgh attempts to help by playing tricks with the lighting. Prue's best resource is Niko, who is taking pictures of both the demolition and rebuilding, and the residents do band together to paint the building and to record what the building meant to them. It is to no avail; the Odenburgh comes down, but the stone with the name on it survives, and is included in a park where the memorial bench to Lina is also placed.

Strengths: Millington does a great job at creating a sense of close knit if dysfunctional family, and her portrayals of urban neighborhoods are exceptionally rich. The use of a landline that is still connected but largely inoperable was interesting. This follows the current zeitgeist about land use in cities; I've even seen 1960s era houses in neighborhoods in Cincinnati being torn down so that larger, newer ones can be built. Prue's relationship with Fifi is realistic, since siblings often grow apart when age differences become apparent. I appreciated that this didn't end with the building being saved, which would have been somewhat unlikely given its condition and the problem with rodents.
Weaknesses: If inanimate objects speak, wouldn't it be more interesting if they were under happier and more adventurous circumstances? Like this author's Olivetti, there is a wealth of family trauma in this book, and my students just don't ask for this sort of book.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who are interested in the topic of gentrification and who enjoyed Dilloway's Five Thing About Ava Andrews, Nelson's The Umbrella House, Giles' Take Back the Block, Watson's This Side of Home, or Broaddus' Unfadeable.

Saturday Morning Cartoons- Lola and Grace

Most of the time, I can read books from the perspective of tweens, and I certainly am not a snob about writing styles or content. My own preference as a tween was realistic fiction with a bit of romance, but, man, I did not personally like these two books! Maybe I was just tired (read them first thing on spring break) and crabby, because even though the girls were approaching romance and friendship in a fairly modern way, a lot of their actions just seemed... off. I was also unreasonably annoyed by the hair in the faces of so many characters, the lying to the parents, and the kissing in public. And the bare midriffs. So, yeah, we can chalk my reaction up to me being old. 

As the pharmacist who gave me my first pneumonia vaccine said, I'm "old, but not OLD old."

BéKa and Maya (Illustrator). The Love Report #2
February 13, 2024 by Hippo Park
Copy provided by the publisher

Lola and Grace are back after their adventures in The Love Report, and Grace is trying to figure out how to go back and forth between her divorced parents and stay organized. Their friend Darius rents the building where the kids had been working on their art, and Adele in particular is glad to have a space to paint murals. Sean is saying mean things to Felicity, and thinks that he can blackmail her into going out with him by telling her that all of the negative things being said about her will stop if she does. This is not an effective strategy, and just makes Felicity even more angry. Grace is interested in her new neighbor, Abe, who also plays guitar. When Adele is offered a chance to go to Sardinia to paint, she wants to take her friends with her. At first, they try to lie to their parents about who will be chaperoning, but once they are honest, they are allowed to go. In Sardinia, the local boys  bother the girls, and Lola does not feel confident about her body, since she is skinny and not as developed as her friends. Charlie has decided to stay home, and her self involved parents leave her locked out of the house. She calls Lola and Grace, and they arrange for her to get help from Abe. The two both like anime, and develop a romance. Back in Sardinia, the girls gain some self confidence and are able to stand up to the local boys, and have a good trip. 

This is a French import, and while there is a lot of good information about body positivity, relationships, and sexual harassment, a lot of it seems slightly odd, due to cultural differences. My students don't seem to mind; they ADORE this series, as well as Tessier's Chloe books, which come across the same way. 

The Love Report books are more like manga than graphic novels, and are bound to be very popular with readers of Chmakova's Berrybrook Middle School or Hale's Best Friends. The artwork is particularly gorgeous. 

BéKa and Maya (Illustrator). The Love Report #3

April 15, 2025 by Hippo Park

Copy provided by the publisher

Abe is worried that he is "ugly, but nice" because of his acne, even though he fights with his mother when she suggests taking him to a dermatologist. He is enjoying hanging out with Charlie, but things get complicated when Grace asks Charlie to find out who Abe's girlfriend is. Instead of simply replying that the two of them are, in fact, dating, Charlie agrees to find out the information. New student Gabriel is very anxious, and often talking to a figment of his imagination which makes him an easy target for the ever evil Sean. Sean also has a revealing selfie of a girl in their class, and is using it to get information about classmates. He also starts an "ugliest couple" contest. When Adele and Felicity kiss in public, this sends ripples through the school, and Collette approaches the two and says she would rather hang out with them than her usual popular crowd, since they are so "trendy". When Adele gets her period for the first time and has horrible cramps, the male gym teacher makes a joke about it, but Felicity stands up to him, and the two go to the school nurse, who is more sympathetic. When Sean posts the winner of the "ugliest couple" contest, Grace finds out that Abe is seeing Charlie. Lola is interested in Gabriel, but the two are both shy and awkward. When Lola and Grace find out that Sean has pictures of Collette, they manage to get his phone and delete them so she no longer has to do his dirty work and spy on others... but she sends him another one with a text that she is still willing to do his bidding. 

Tweens love drama, and this has both friend and romantic relationship drama. Like earlier books in the series, it addresses many social situations like public kisses, period positivity, and a cautionary tale about revealing selfies, but in a French way that is just slightly different from how those issues would be addressed in the US. The manga style artwork is very pretty. Readers who like the graphic novel drama  of Raina Telgemaier but aren't quite ready for books like Oseman's Heartstopper will swoon over these titles. 

The Peach Thief

Smith, Linda Joan. The Peach Thief
March 4, 2025 by Candlewick Press

E ARC Provided by Edelweiss Plus

In 1850, Scilla Brown is living in the workhouse because her parents have died. She sneaks into the earl's gardens at Bolton Hall because she is starving and hopes to find a peach, but she is caught and thrown into a shed by Mr. McQuaig. He tells her the damage that has been done to the plants by her unsuccessful escape, and she offers to do work to make up for it. Since McQuaig thinks she is a boy, she gives him the name of Seth and gets hired to wash plan pots. She is fed more than she would be at the workhouse, and the bed is softer and warmer, so even though Deacon and Phin, two other boys who work there, are mean to her, she decides to stay. She seems to have won the favor of her coworkers, and when she gets a look into the garden, she is enthralled and determined to stay, even though the rules for workers are fairly harsh, like being fined five pence for being late. Under the watchful eye of Mr. Layton, the gardener, she learns to repot plants and to water them, and is allowed to stay in exchange for just room and board. She learns a lot about plants, although things don't always go well, especially when a winter storm damages a lot of the property. She has a crush on Phin, who of course is more interested in scullery maids, including a friend of hers from the Workhouse, Emily. When Prince Albert is expected to visit the hall, there are many plans to be made, and Scilla has to find a way to live the life she wants while navigating it as a boy... which is an increasingly difficult thing to pull off. 

Strengths: This was reminiscent of reading a long-lost work of France Hodgson Burnett, like a companion to The Secret Garden. The research on the clothing, farming practices, and language of the time is well done. There is one character, Mrs. Nandi, who is from India. Since opportunities for young girls were limited at this period in history, it is not surprising that Scilla took advantage of a rare opportunity to pretend to be a boy. Scilla has an interest in STEM topics long before science topics were thought of in those terms, and the information about plants and horticulture will interest young gardeners. 
Weaknesses:While I applaud the use of language from the 1850s, young readers might struggle with terms like ninnyhammer, hopshackled, Lorjus, gawby, meddling fussock, and tatter-clout. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who are extremely fond of historical fiction and enjoyed titles where children are struggling in the past, like Parry's Last of the Name or Hilmo's Cinnamon Moon.
 

The Liar's Society

Gerber, Alyson. A Risky Game (The Liar's Society #2)

April 1, 2025 by Scholastic Press

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

After finding out a number of secrets about her lineage, Weather by is determined to get into the exclusive Last Heir Society, along with her cousin Jack. The two are determined to work together even though their parents aren't pleased that they are friends. Jack's father is rather evil, and Weatherby's mother doesn't seem too eager to put her daughter in contact with his brother, who  is her father. Weather by and Jack have a good group of friends (the Liar's Society) that includes Iris, Prescott, and Harper, whose father was sickened by the chemicals in the last book. The school puts together another trip to Hart Isle, which has presumably been cleaned up, but it still ends badly, with Jack being poisoned by something put into Weatherby's water bottle. She's gotten a number of threatening notes telling her not to try to get into the Last Heir Society, but she wants to be a part of this group so badly that she ignores the danger. There are a large  number of clues that propel Weatherby and her friends to different clues, and they find out information about Grier Bishop, who was killed by poison. DId Weather by and Jack's fathers have anything to do with this? When Weatherby's father shows up, even though her mother has tried to make sure she doesn't meet him, she has a chance to ask. There are still a lot of questions, and Weather by is preparing to go to Switzerland on an exchange program where she can also use a key she has found to open a safe deposit box there. Will she get her wish to join the Last Heir Society, and can even that keep her safe? 
Strengths: There is something appealing about the rarified atmosphere of a private institution like the Boston School, especially in places like the suburban midwest, where this seems as far fetched as British Manor houses. Weatherby and Jack are now working together, and it's interesting to see them navigating family issues together from their disparate perspectives. The anagrams and puzzles are very clever, and lead to all sorts of interesting secrets and hidden places. Weatherby's mother's reactions to their change of fortune seem very realistic, and it was good that Weatherby got to meet her father. Hart Isle sounds fantastic; I'd love to take a vacation there and stay at Wigglesworth House even if I have to zip line there. Readers who want thought provoking action and adventure and secretly want to attend a prestigious private school will want the third book in the series immediately, even though I haven't yet seen a title. 
Weaknesses: I had some trouble getting into this one, but then I really don't like clues and puzzles. I needed more information on why Weatherby was so intent on getting into the Last Heir Society. It didn't seem important enough for someone to want to kill her. Everyone else seems to really like this one, so I must not have been in the mood for this one. 
What I Really Think:This is a good choice for readers who liked the first book, or who like clues and puzzles similar to those in Grabenstein's Mr. Lemoncello's Library or Durst's Spy Ring,  Currie's The Mystery of the Locked Rooms. 

Fires Burning Underground

McCabe, Nancy. Fires Burning Underground.
April 8, 2025 by Fitzroy Books
E ARC provided by the publisher

Anny starts middle school after years of being homeschooled. The transition goes fairly smoothly; she has a best friend, Ella, and makes new acquaintances in Tracy and Larissa. There are some bumps, like figuring out what to wear and how to navigate lockers and class changes. Anny is dealing with the death of a boy who went to her church, Robert, in a house fire. She didn't know him well, but suspected he might have had a crush on her. This is an odd thought, because she thinks that she might be gay. Since her family is very religious and her mother in particular has repeatedly opined that homosexuality is a sin and a choice that people make, Anny is very uncomfortable and doesn't know quite what to do with her feelings. She only knows at this point that she has no interest in discussing crushes on boys, and her friends are starting to notice. She and Larissa enjoy hanging out, and are obsessed with the Ouija board, which Anny's mother says could lead to demon possession, as well as ESP. They run experiments in school, trying to guess what the other is thinking, and are enthralled when a mind reader speaks at their school. They sometimes think about contacting Robert. While Anny and Larissa get along fairly well, they do have some miscommunication; when Anny becomes obsessed with replicating the pillow that she makes for Family and Consumer Science, with the idea of selling some of the 15 she creates at a craft fair, Larissa unkindly dismisses them, leading Anny to think that Larissa might like to control her a little too much. The two also plan a treasure hunt for Ella's birthday, which is an interesting idea that doesn't work out too well. Anny also isn't terribly supportive when Larissa has a crush on their art teacher. Robert's death hangs over Anny's thoughts for quite some time, which ends up being a good thing when Ella's house also catches fire, and Anny is able to stop her from going back into the house to get her dog. Anny's transition to public school, and her questioning of her sexual identity, sometimes causes difficulties, but she manages to navigate her new experiences fairly well.
Strengths: It is always interesting to see books that portray the transition from homeschooling to public school, and there aren't many of them. I appreciated that Anny had a close relationship with her parents, but didn't necessarily agree with their opinions. The friendships were realistically portrayed, as were the various tween obsessions. While there aren't a lot of fatal fires, there are a few; we lost a high schooler in my community several years ago, so it was interesting to see the effect on the community portrayed, and the fire safety tips were appreciated. Anny's questions about her own sexual identity will resonate with young readers who are trying to figure out their own.
Weaknesses: While there is no specification about when this book is set, it seems to be set in the early 2000s, maybe around 2005. There are a lot of cultural references like television shows and book series that would make most sense at that time, since there are also references to Facebook, Etsy, and texting. The obsession with ESP seemed like something more suited to the 1970s. However, there are discussions of terms relating to sexual identity (pan, ace, demisexual) that I don't know were in use twenty years ago, so I was a bit confused. Perhaps I missed something.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed Butler's Rabbit, Rabbit or Hitchcock's One True Way for the exploration of sexual identity, or Springstubb's How to Tell a True Story for discussions about the aftermath of a house fire.

Unboxing Libby

Cherrywell, Steph. Unboxing Libby
April 1, 2025 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

It's about 2285, and a colony is being established on Mars. In order to test out some of the facilities that are being built, robots have been brought it to simulate a population. These are remaindered companions robots produced by Minerva Corps, and modeled on characters from two programs, AI Cademy and Sky Surfers. Because of this, they come in a set number of models, which can be slightly customized as far as skin tones. The parents of the teen robots are nostalgic based older models of the same characters. We meet Libby (a happy, friendly teen) who has just been turned on and placed with Nora (an artist and sometimes moody character). Libby goes to school and meets other models like herself, as well as Wendy, Roxanne, and other models. There are so many Libbys that they go by nicknames; Libby uses "Max". She notices early on that she is different from the other Libbys, and when she discovers that she can cross boundaries that the other robots can't, she consults with Dr. Bhanjee, an engineer who runs diagnostics on her. Max 's programming is very different, and Dr. Bhanjee needs to find resources to properly diagnose her. In the meantime, Libby befriends Roxanne even though her script says the two aren't friendly, and even modifies her hair and clothing to be closer to the rather mean, trouble making character. Libby finds out that when robots have problems, they are sold or upcycled, but she still presses on with trying to find out who she really is. Her school friends have some problems, and Roxanne is ready to dismantle human society. "Glitter" Libby plans a Halloween party and reveals some things she has uncovered about how the robots interact. There is a scuffle, and the director comes and scans the robots for defects, marking many of the kids with red dots, intending to recyle them. Libby has had her off switch disabled, so is able to lead a revolt. Will the robots be able to evolve to be their authentic selves, and will the planetary government allow them to live in peace?

Strengths: There is a long history of books about robots or living in space, and this Unboxing Libby has an interesting premise. What if Mars were to be inhabited, and what if robots (even junky ones) could override their programming and become independent? Spin this topic with some nostalgia for Bratz or Monster High Dolls with a little bit of American Girl thrown in, and this has some promise. Of course Max is "not like the other Libbys", and is searching for her own identity. The evil Roxanne (who knew that calling everyone "Cupcake" could be so aggressive!) is an interesting foil to the scripted politeness that most of the characters follow. The tech savvy, intellectual Wendies come on strong as well, banding together to make change. There are good details about the housing and societies being planned, and a sneak peek at the administration and people behind the scenes, like Dr. Bhanjee and her family. 
Weaknesses: This had some confusing moments, and I don't think my students will get all of the philosophy and allegory that permeates the pages. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who liked introspective works like Malinenko's This Appearing House or DeStephano's The Ghost in the Machine, and readers who like friend drama will also enjoy it. With such a peppy cover, I was hoping for something a bit more fun, like Danziger's This Place Has No Atmosphere, a bit more adventurous, like Kraatz's The Moon Platoon or Levy's Seventh Grade vs. the Galaxy, or even a bit more instructive, Holm's The Lion of Mars (which does a great job of discussing interpersonal relationships and international conflicts.)

MMGM- The Beat I Drum

It's

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
 at 

Always in the Middle 

and #IMWAYR day 

at

Unleashing Readers

Bowling, Dusti. The Beat I Drum
Published April 1st 2025 by Union Square Kids
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Connor Bradley, Aven Greene's friend from Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus has had to move from Scottsdale, Arizona to Chandler, to be near his father. His mother has a better job, and their apartment is cheaper, but Connor misses Aven and his friends, and isn't thrilled about starting a new high school where people aren't aware of his Tourette's Syndrome. His mother talked to the school, so his teachers tell his classmates about his situation, and he does meet Amanda, who also has Tourette's. She has more muscle tics than vocal ones, but invites Connor to have lunch with her and her friends. Since Connor's tics also include spitting, the two eat outside, but it's too hot, and she assures him that her friends will understand. There are some jerks at the school, and Liam constantly gives him a hard time on the bus, but Rory, Amanda's friend, comes to his rescue. She has a birthmark that covers half her face, so knows all too well how unpleasant Liam can be. She and Amanda are involved with music, as is their friend Keanu. Amanda's parents own the Organ Pipe Pizza Parlor, and Connor is enthralled with the place, and is very happy to have new friends. He takes a lot of comfort from this, as well as taking drumming lessons from Ms. Chen at the school. He needs it, because he has a fraught relationship with his father. He feels that his parents divorced because his father couldn't deal with his Tourette's, and he and his father seem to fight even when his father is trying to help. Rory and Connor like each other, and share tentative kisses, and he agrees to go with her to a Pink Daylight concert, because she thinks that her real father is the lead singer, Ted Caddell. After a scuffle with Liam at school, where Connor gets suspended for punching the other boy in the face, Connor has a hard time dealing with his new friends, and makes everyone angry. He even breaks a drumstick while working with Ms. Chen. He reconnects with Aven, realizing that he's been neglecting her and that she's been in a funk. This gives him a little perspective, and his father also helps to shed some light on their relationship, and makes an effort to improve it. Connor is able to apologize to his new friends, and even though the concert doesn't go well for Rory, begins to feel at home in his new town. 

Strengths: I loved that Connor was starting his freshman year in high school. Young readers want to read about older characters, so this is perfect. It also makes sense, since we've seen him in middle school in previous books. It was good to see that while there were jerks like Liam, there were also supportive people like Amanda and Ms. Chen. The principal was realistically understanding when Connor punched Liam; there would still have to be a punishment, even if Liam was a bully. Dealing with divorce, and trying to navigate a new relationship with parents is something that many young readers experience, and Connor's difficulties seem well portrayed. It was interesting to see how Connor used drumming to work through his anger, and how even listening to music was therapeutic for him. The relationship  between Connor and Rory was my absolute favorite part of the book; we need more sweet romances like this! 
Weaknesses: The storyline with Rory thinking that her father was a rock star was a bit far fetched, and took attention away from other issues that have used more exploring. While I personally don't think that the father should have to share his past with Connor, he does have to get along with his son, and modern philosophy involves this kind of sharing. I think it is not necessary for children to know things their parents don't wish to share, but I am in the minority. 
What I really think: Readers who have followed Aven's story will be glad to pick up this related volume, and fans of Grosso's I Am Drums will appreciate the percussion representation.There are not as many books about kids in musical programs as there should be; fans of Larsen's Playing Through the Turnaround  and Landis' Operation Final Notice will also like this upper middle grade title.