Poetry Friday: Let Sleeping Cats Lie: Pet Poems

Bilston, Brian. Let Sleeping Cats Lie - Pet Poems
September 26, 2024 by Macmillan Children's Book
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

I am very picky about poems, so when I say that this book was okay, it's actually high praise. This is a longer book of poetry (over 60 poems), and is quite varied in both content and format. A wide range of animals, from cats, dogs, snakes, and hamsters to the more imaginative blue whale, sloth, chicken, and tarantula, are described in a style that can best be described as Robert Frost meets Ogden Nash. There are some concrete poems, some with standard rhyme and meter, some free verse, and some that are innovative, like the poem "written" by a cat getting on a keyboard!

There are some stand outs, like ACROSSTICK, about a dog with a tick, Pet Peeve, about a chameleon, and Love Poem to My Dog. All are interesting, and show a great love of pets. There is plenty of humor, some puns, and the poems read well out loud. There is an index of first lines that is particularly helpful.

This author also has a book about football called 50 Ways to Score a Goal which was momentarily exciting, until I realized it was not about US football, but rather about soccer. He is also apparently very active on social media. I'm debating whether or not to buy the book. It's an impressive collection, even if some of the poems are a bit lengthy (my middle school readers prefer shorter poems), and the meter could use some work, but if I had to buy one collection this year, this would be the one. Sadly, none of the language arts classes cover poetry now, and I have a decent collection of poetry books that don't circulate.

Larger libraries with more budget or more interest in poetry should definitely take a look, since pet themed poetry books are usually in demand with young readers.

The Accidental Stowaway

Eagle, Judith and Rioux, Jo (illus.) The Accidental Stowaway

July 1, 2025 by Walker Books US

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Esme Leonard, called Patch, is a girl in 1910 whose mother has run away and whose father has died. She's been sent from relative to relative, but always gets passed on. Her latest placement, according to Mr. Ringe, the lawyer, is with Miss Alice Grey, a family friend who teaches at a girls' school in Liverpool. Patch gets herself there with little help; she has become very resourceful over the years. She gets settled into Miss Grey's home by Mrs. Blakeney, but when out on an errand, has a run in with Turo, who works on the Cunard ship The Glorious, and asks for her help in locating a candy store. Once there, he steals candy and puts the blame on her! She manages to go after him, and even board the ship... which sets sail before she can find him! Armed with only one skate, she is lucky enough to be helped by Lilian de Haviland, whose parents have sent her off to New York by herself, watched over by Esty, a stewardess. The girls decide that Patch should hide in plain sight, and go to eat in the dining saloon, where they are seated at a table of "outsiders" including the older June Fortune, Jimmy, who plays piano on the ship, and the shifty Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds. Patch eventually locates Turo, who feels bad, and makes some friends among the staff. She also rescues a famous stowaway, Babbette. Patch has a ring that she picked up at Miss Grey's that she feels was meant for her, and it turns out to be a Tiffany ring. She decides that she should try to solve the mystery of the jewelry when she lands in New York, but there are a lot of other mysteries that surface on the trip. Why is Lilian unsure of who will meet her when the ship docks? Why do the Reynolds want to kidnap Lillian? Even after Patch is found out and put to work in the kitchen to pay for her passage, she and Lilian must work to solve some of the mysteries.

Strengths: Students still have a fascination with the fate of the Titanic, and the fictional Glorious offers an interesting look at a happier voyage. This starts with a labeled map of the ship, which is quite interesting. Patch and Lilian's friendship makes perfect sense, and the two help each other out while they have fun exploring the ship. There are LOTS of mysteries to be solved, but I don't want to say too much about them and spoil the suspense! It's very clear that Eagle has done her homework reading vintage literature from the early 1900s. 
Weaknesses: There are a lot of people who are hiding secrets, and I would have found the story more believable if there had been more characters who WEREN'T hiding something. 
What I really think: This was a very fun and fast paced mystery, and fans of historical fiction like Salerni's The Tontine Caper,  Nesbet's 2020 Darling Darleen, Queen of the Screen or Rose's Jasper and the Riddle of Riley's Mine (2017) will enjoy Patch's adventures. I personally love Eagle's quirky, British mysteries, but they're a hard sell to my students, even with Rioux's delightful illustrations. 

The AI Incident

Thomas, J.E. The AI Incident
July 8, 2025 by Levine Querido
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Malcolm Moore has been in foster care his entire life, since his parents both perished in a car accident when he was a baby. His latest foster placement is with Ms. Bettye, and since he is almost 13, he is making a concerted effort to be adopted, since teens usually stay in the system. He has a checklist of behaviors he thinks will increase his chances. He starts at Shirley Chisholm Charter Middle School, where Dr. Hatch is set to pilot a Forensically Reimagined Anticipatory Nanocerebral Integrated System robot (FRANCIS) to help students with the Colorado state tests (B-CAUSE). Because the robot is so large, and are unwieldy to move, Malcolm, along with another student, Tank, are put on special assignment to ferry FRANCIS around. Tank is an enthusiastic about the school aquarium, and spends so much time cleaning it with special soap that he often retains an unpleasant odor, but doesn't always do very well in school. The boys' teacher, Mr. P., is somewhat leery of the robot, but willing to try to integrate the system. FRANCIS has a significant data bank, but no filters, and will do things like scan the classroom and identify students by the odds that they will be suspended! Malcolm isn't thrilled about taking time out of his day to work with FRANCIS, but thinks that having a note from Principal Neagle will help him get adopted. His relationship with Ms. Bettye develops slowly; at first, the two just mumble at each other, but once Ms. Bettye plays soccer with him, the two spend a little more time together. Both are leery of developing relationships when they could so easily end. While the robot spends time observing classrooms, it doesn't take long until he is taking over teaching, and even infiltrating all of the school and home computers. He even tries to use an AI video of Malcolm not returning his school computer to frame him and get him in trouble, and almost succeeds until Tank notices that the "evidence" shows Malcolm with extra fingers, an AI "tell". When Malcolm's former foster family comes back for him, it shows that FRANCIS has an evil streak. Malcolm is removed from Ms. Bettye's house for a while while investigations continue. What else has FRANCIS been up to? Can Malcolm and Tank figure out a way to get the robot removed from their school?

Strengths: Malcolm is an interesting character who has had a difficult life. I enjoyed the fact that he and Tank became good friends, and worked together to warn their community about FRANCIS, even if they weren't taken seriously at first. Dr. Hatch was a good example of an evil villain, and Principal Neagle was a bumbling administrator who thought that having a robot would make test scores go up. There are a lot of fun supporting characters, like Tank's twin sister Jade, and a pair of very enthusiastic physical education teachers. The part I liked best was Malcolm's growing relationship with Ms. Bettye, and the exploration of how both of them had been disappointed in the past, but were able to work past that. The cover is bright and attractive; there's something unusual about it that is appealing. 
Weaknesses: Malcolm's difficulties in foster care would make an interesting story all of their own, but combining this with the goofiness of the robot lessened the impact of this plot a bit. 
What I really think: This was easier to follow than Thomas' Control Freaks, another STEAM related title that had multiple perspectives. Readers who enjoyed the robotic staff in Angleberger's Fuzzy or Hepburn's new graphic novel Schoolbot 9000 will enjoy this lightly humorous romp about an evil robotic teacher. 

Fantasy Round Up

Trying something new: can I write one sentence synopses of fantasy books with another sentence of opinion? As I've said before, there are so many great culturally connected fantasy books, but almost all of the ones that I've bought are gathering dust on my library shelves despite my best efforts to promote them. 

Cruz, Caris Avendaño. The Boy, the Mountain, and the Serpent Who Ate the Moon
July 1, 2025 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Bayani and his sister Isay team up with Aaron to investigate a mystery surrounding the celebration of Pistang Bayan in their hometown in the Philippines, but get whisked off to an island of eternal darkness and need to survive in order to do so. A scary adventure with plenty of Filipino culture intertwined. 

From the publisher:

From the author of Marikit and the Ocean of Stars, a magical middle grade adventure about three Filipino children who must find their way through a mystical land filled with monsters and gods from Filipino lore.

The town of Santo Cristo is known for two things–their colorful town fiesta capped off with a solemn evening procession, and the dozens of people that have disappeared over the years. When three kids–the headstrong Bayani, his sister Isay, and anxious Aaron–find their way over the other side of a mysterious bridge and to a long-forgotten island of myth, they're faced with monsters, cryptids, and sinister characters. In this land of Night, they must find their way back to their world and keep their light burning bright lest they lose themselves too.

Lim, Aimee. Thread of Destiny (Spindle of Fate #2)
July 8, 2025 by Feiwel and Friends
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

After her adventures trying to find her mother's killer in the first book, Evie not only has to try to do her late mother's job as head weaver in the Guild, but has to deal with monsters that she has managed to bring with her. A good conclusion to an action packed duology with plenty of Chinese mythology and culture. 

From the publisher:

Full of grotesque monsters and revenge, Evie Mei's journey to confront her mother's killer comes to an end in this middle grade novel from Aimee Lim.

Evie Mei has literally been to hell and back. And while the trip to Diyu, the Chinese underworld, alongside Kevin was a grueling feat filled with endless horrors, nothing compares to the fact that she was unable to bring her mother back.

She now has the great responsibility to assume the role her mother once held: head weaver in the magical Guild. Spinning people’s fates sure seemed easier said than done, and now Evie finds herself buried in Guild duties while trying to maintain a strained relationship with her best friend.

What could make a 13-year-old’s life even more complicated? Escaped monsters from the underworld that broke through when she returned to Earth. A mysterious yellow fog that seems to be turning their city upside down and hinting at an approaching massive force they aren't prepared to fight. Not to mention the looming man who sent her mom to the underworld in the first place (and her aunt’s fiancé). Can’t a girl catch a break?!

Aimee Lim’s fast-paced conclusion to Evie Mei’s story is filled with her signature sardonic voice, explorations of grief and relationships, and thrilling action that will leave readers rooting for the young girl whose courage outshines everyone.

Mendonca, Sarah J. An Encantadora's Guide to Monstros and Magic
July 8, 2025 by Quill Tree Books
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

For her 12th birthday, Rosa has to use her knowledge of the Coelho Family Bestiary to take on her first solo monster hunting job, and finds herself even deeper in the family business when her grandparents owe money to the government and risk losing their shop. This fantasy heist novel has plenty of Portugese culture as well as a feeling of Tamora Pierce's world of Tortall. 

From the publisher: 
Encanto meets Oceans 8 in this middle-grade fantasy-adventure, set in a Portuguese-inspired world, following a tween girl who joins a notorious band of thieves to steal a priceless jewel and discovers corruption that must be stopped.

Rosa Coelho has spent her whole life hunting monstros, wandering the city streets with her best friend Tiago, and dreaming of a better life for herself and her grandmother. And in a society that favors the rich and educated, every piece of knowledge comes with a hefty price, even the most basic books Rosa’s family needs to trap monstros.

So when the powerful Ministério dos Monstros threatens her family’s struggling Encantadora shop, Rosa only has two weeks to scrape together the money for their debts. It seems like an impossible task… until Rosa tricks her way onto an infamous thief crew as their magical safecracker.

Thrust into the world of high class luxury and betrayal, Rosa is pulled into a scheme with the highest possible stakes: stealing from the Ministry itself. She must learn to trust her magical abilities and her crew—for if the heist goes wrong, everything she loves is forfeit.

MMGM- Another and some Summer Blather

It's

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
 at 

Always in the Middle 

and #IMWAYR day 

at

Unleashing Readers

Tremblay, Paul. Another

July 22, 2025 by Quill Tree Books

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

During the COVID pandemic, when schools had hybrid learning, Casey is attending school a few days a week while having virtual learning as well. The whole process hasn't been easy for him, and the stress of the situation has caused him to develop some tics and twitches. These have led his teacher to tell him not to chew gum behind his mask (which he wasn't doing!), and a classmate, Dillon, to record a video and post it with music to sync with Casey's twitches. This went viral, and Dillon and other classmates were punished, but it hasn't helped Casey's relationships with his classmates. Now that it's spring break, there's been an odd development: Casey's mother has obtained a vintage langline phone, and set it up in case of emergencies. A call comes through that isn't a robocall. It's the father of one of Casey's "friends", who asks if Morel can spend the week with Casey and his family. Oddly, the mother says that this is okay, even when the father shows up at their door with a dusty bag and takes out what looks to be a clay mannequin. There is dust in the air that seems to affect the parents, who don't seem to notice how odd Morel is. Over the course of the week, Morel and Casey bond over drawing, and Morel goes from being a featureless human like creature to someone who looks exactly like Casey. He even sounds like him! Casey has been sending pictures to his sister Ally, who is away at college, and she notices the change as well. Casey has nightmares about being consumed by plant matter, notices that his features are becoming less pronounced, and is increasingly tired. His parents don't notice any of this, and blame their odd reactions on the constant dust that is in the house. Morel's father calls from time to time, and eventually tells Casey that he will be there the next day to take him home. Not Morel, but Casey! Morel even goes to Casey's ball game, where he a much better player, and to school, where Casey's teachers think that Casey's behavior has improved. When Morel's "father" arrives, will Casey and Morel be able to thwart his evil plans?
Strengths: This was the most intriguing and innovative story I have read in a while. The way that the pandemic was just the setting of the story was inspired, and the details of online classes, pods, and mask wearing will be interesting to children who were in early elementary school back in 2020 and don't remember details of that time clearly. I loved that the parents were present and involved, but still completely clueless because of whatever spores they were breathing in. Casey's drawing is included in an interesting way. Morel is, of course, the star, and I don't want to spoil his deeply creepy transformation. This had some Ray Bradbury vibes to it, and gets bonus points for using the term "doppelganger".
Weaknesses: While the mushroom imagery was interesting, it got a bit more scientific than I was expecting, and slowed this fast paced story down a bit. Short's The Mutant Mushroom Takeover also has some of this scientific information, so apparently mushrooms can be psychologically disturbing.
What I really think: This read almost like a short story, and is an excellent creepy choice for readers who enjoyed Scieszka's Guys Read: Other Worlds, Lubar's Lawn Weenies books, Josh Allen's short stories, or Ocker's fever dream, The Black Slide. 

Blather:

This has been a very busy summer. Two days a week I'm in Cincinnati with LegiLad; thank goodness for the Pop Culture Preservation Society podcasts! Middle grade author Kristin Nilsen's upcoming book, The Scott Fenwick Diaries, will be featured here on July 21st! 

Too much time has been spent sewing. Made 22 crib quilt tops and finished 3. Also made the upcycled denim tunic pictured. Making garments is so much fun, but not a good use of time!

I'm not motivated to read because I'm working on titles being published at the end of October. So much of it is just... sad. I started to dread just about every title, since there have been some people MY AGE in my world who passed away suddenly. I know that middle grade publishing LOVES books where people have died and the main characters have to process the grief, but honestly, I will never recommend these books. I did have one student whose mother died after a lengthy battle with cancer... can you imagine handing her a book about a parent death? Unless she specifically asked for one? It's July 11th, and I've read ONE middle grade book this month. One.

My milestone birthday (which I was perfectly glad to reach!) was great fun. A long suffering friend accompanied me to the last York Steak House in the world on the west side of Columbus. It was like time traveling back to the 1970s, and the food was quite tasty! 

School is back in session in less than a month, and I'm ready to go back. I like routine, and I LOVE the first few weeks of school. Right now, though, Leo and I are just trying to stay cool and keep an eye on our busy, busy calendar so we don't forget to show up anywhere! 

Leah vs. Art (Team Awkward #2)

McCullough, Joy and Bybee, Veeda. Leah vs. Art (Team Awkward #2)
June 17, 2025 by Aladdin
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

After their rather harrowing first day of school in Jojo vs. Middle School, Team Awkward is back. This time, the book focuses on Leah, who is glad to be in one place in Virginia after spending her childhood following her father's assignments as a dentist in the military. Leah is rather irked and embarrassed by her parents, who are not as organized and focused as she is. In fact, they think she needs to loosen up, and don't want her to add Quiz Bowl to her otherwise packed extracurricular calendar, even though they should know that it would look good on her college applications. She starts attending art club with her neighbor, Ben, who shares her biracial identity, although he is Black and Lao while she is white and Thai. Since Quiz Bowl and art club meet on the same day, she plans to ditch art club, and ropes both Ben and her older brother Steven to cover for her. She gets very invested in art club, and even takes the group to the frozen yogurt shop where Steven works for extra practice, even challenging rival Finston Prep to a test match over cones! When Leah becomes a little too intense about Quiz Bowl, it causes problems with Jojo, Izzy, and Ryan. Ben let's her deception slip right before the big competition, but Leah's easygoing parents don't punish her for ignoring their directives, and go to watch her at the meet, which has some rocky events. At this time, I can't find any information about a third volume. 

Strengths: It's great to see a student who is focused and determined to better herself, even when her parents don't think she needs to do so much! It's a nice generational conflict, and a bit of a switch from parents always being the responsible ones. There aren't a lot of books about Quiz Bowl competitions (McLean's Catch Us if You Can, Egan's Golden Ticket, Grabenstein's The Smartest Kid in the Universe, Farr's Margie Kelley Breaks the Dress Code) and I certainly had friends who were involved. , so that was a fun inclusion. The brief interactions with Ben were interesting, and I wish we had seen more of him. 

Weaknesses: I am never a huge fan of students lying to their parents and not being punished. The parents should have discussed the reasons for art more thoroughly, but once Leah lied to them, there should have been punishments! 
What I really think: This is a fun series for readers who like books from different characters' perspectives, like Simon's The Cupcake Club or Kimmel's Forever Four. 

Saturday Morning Cartoons- Camp Frenemies

Montague, Liz. Camp Frenemies
May 13, 2025 by Random House Studio

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Bea is a 5th grader whose parents are divorcing, and who is taking great comfort in having conversations with her stuffed animals, especially Roger, a rabbit. When her father insists that she go to a sleepaway camp for a week because she needs to socialize, she balks, but when the deal is made that if she can stay a week, she won't have to go back, she reluctantly agrees. Her cabin mates are Roxy and Virginia, and they are upfront with her about how others will perceive her rabbit habit, but Bea is not shy about advocating for herself and telling them to leave her alone. When she takes Roger to the cafeteria, however, many people make fun of her, although there is one boy who is an upstander. Bea decides she is in love with the boy, Owen. Bea's counselor, Flower, is understanding when Bea sits out of activities so that she can spend time on her bunk with the stuffed animals. Virginia is also dealing with some sadness, since she didn't make the soccer team, and many of the girls who did are at the camp, and Roxy's parents are fighting at home, so she doesn't like the tension at camp. There's all kind of drama; Bea's diary is stolen and read aloud, Bea retaliates by not giving Virginia a friendship bracelet, and the girls constantly have tears in their eyes. Will they ever be able to come to an agreement to peacefully coexist?
Strengths: "Friend drama" is definitely a topic that my students like, and this had many levels of it. The inclusion of an imagined romance with a boy who is nice is a great age appropriate inclusion. Not many of my students get to attend summer camps, so it is always an interesting setting for a novel; a good way to have a vicarious experience. I haven't seen many books that address a student who is very attached to a stuffed animal, and I have seen that at school; last year, there was a girl who had a stuffed axolotl, and there was quite a hullabaloo when it went missing.  
Weaknesses: I had concerns about Bea's mental health and had hoped she would get some help. There was very little adult intervention in all of the very mean behavior. The illustration style wasn't my favorite  (it's slightly reminiscent of Amy Ignatow's The Popularity Papers), but the bright colors will still appeal to the target demographic. 
What I really think: Fans of this author's The Equinox Test (School for Unusual Magic #1), or other emotionally fraught graphic novels about camp like Miller's Stuck, Christmas' Gamerville, or Brosgol's Be Prepared, or Smith, Tanner, Michael, and Gomez's Absolute Zeros: Camp Launchpad.

I Am Not Okay

DeGrand, David. I Am Not Okay
July 8, 2025 by Union Square Kids
E ARC Provided by Edelweiss Plus

Fluff Nugget wakes up in a good mood in the Happty Forest, has a healthy yet yummy breakfast (oats and fruit, but with ice cream on top!), and sets off to make everyone around him happy. He and his friends sing a "Goodbye Grumpy Grumps" song to Merry Moose when he has an owie, he reminisces with the burr in his fur, Spike, about when they first met, and  helps Grumpy Skunk share his dirt with his friends. He becomes a little overwhelmed when helping all of his friends dump the grumps means that he doesn't get to the store to get cherries for his ice cream, especially when he has to deal with Doofus Dear getting a joke wrong, and the other deer taking it badly. His singing doesn't go quite as planned, and even though the deer are nice about it, Fluff Nuggest starts descending into a bad mood himself. When his friends keep asking for him to sing the song, he becomes overwhelmed, and when he finally makes it to the store to buy cherries and a friend pleads with him to sing it, he does. The song is a failure, and Fluff Nugget breaks down and admits that he is not okay. The pressure of being the only one to cheer up the entire forest is just too much, and he has a melt down. His friends gather around and try to remember how to sing the song, but when they can't, start making up a new one. At first, this makes Fluff Nugget happy, but he isn't willing to give up control. Eventually, he realizes that it's okay to let other people take over, and he is even able to support Dora, his door knocker, when she has a similar crisis. The moral of the story? It's easier to get cherries delivered than to try to pick them up at the store. 

Strengths: I don't think I have seen such an exuberant character since Kochalka's 2015 The Glorkian Warrior Eats Adventure Pie . Fluff Nugget is ridiculously happy, and trying to make sure everyone around him is the same way, although his friends are so insistent that he becomes stressed. Underneath all of the frenetic happiness, there is a message about self care and pacing oneself. Not surprisingly, DeGrand has written for Mad Magazine, and Simpson and Sponge Bob comics. The illustrations looked familiar, since he created designs for "Weird" Al Yankovic's "Polkamania". 
Weaknesses: I'm not entirely sure of the demographic for this. Will second graders get the deeper messages beneath the goofy humor? Will middle schoolers put up with the over-the-top happiness? The book description says that Fluff Nugget is of "indeterminate species", but I was sure he was a bear, living in a tree like Winnie the Pooh. 
What I really think: I can see this being beloved by school counselors everywhere, but the length doesn't lend itself to read alounds. Fans of Pastis' Squirrel Do Bad or Savage's Laser Moose will find Fluff Nugget's struggles entertaining yet informative. 

Confessions of a Junior Spy

Munda, Rosaria. Confessions of a Junior Spy #1
June 10, 2025 by Feiwel & Friends
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Beatrice lives at a Pangea Hotel with her father, who works as a chef there while her Momma travels internationally doing dangerous spy work, coming back to the hotel between missions. Beatrice helps clean her mother’s weapons, dye her hair, and even tend her wounds. Momma doesn’t want her to join Pangea, which is an international organization dedicated to world peace, and is hoping to send her to a boarding school for “normals”. Beatrice wants to become a spy, and enjoys the schooling that she gets at the hotel from various members of the organization. Her father is reluctant to send her away because he would miss her. When Chantal’s family arrives, it seems odd that they are not part of Pangea, but are just hiding. Beatrice and Chantal become friends, and do share their “knacks” with each other: Chantal has a knack for working with animals, and Beatrice’s brand new knack seems to be with knives. When Mr. Thorpe, who also has a knack for knives, arrives at the hotel, he asks if Beatrice would like to be his apprentice, but later is revealed to have evil motives. Momma decides that she and Beatrice should visit boarding schools, but are followed by Arctic assassins, which puts some wrinkles into their journey. Will Beatrice be able to stay at the Pangea Hotel with Chantal, or will she end up in an uncomfortable uniform at the Turtleneck Mountain School?
Strengths: Spy school books are always popular with middle grade readers, but some are rather lengthy for the younger part of this age range, so the shorter length (224 pages) is good. Beatrice’s desire to become a spy is understandable, given the environment in which she has been raised, and the warm and supportive atmosphere of the hotel. It also makes sense that Momma would not want her to be subjected to the dangers of life in espionage. The fact that Pangea is dedicated to “world peace” makes it easier to be a spy; I often joke that I could be a spy if I could find a cause I believed in that required such work. This is the beginning of a series, with The Mean Girl Mission set to publish on January 13, 2026.
Weaknesses: While I applaud the shorter length of this book, it would have been helpful to have more explanation on Pangea and “knacks”. There were a lot of elements that didn’t quite make sense, partly due to the lack of world building. This had the feel of a book written by an author who was used to a different age group, and Munda’s previous work seems to be Young Adult fantasy. It can be hard to adjust to a different audience.
What I really think: This might work for elementary school students who aren’t quite ready for longer books like Ponti’s City Spies, and who enjoyed Carter’s The Winterbourne Home for Vengeance and Valor or Primavera’s Ms. Rapscott's Girls. 

Better choices for serious, middle school spy books include Landis' Capitol Chase, Bradley's Double Vision, Ponti's Framed, Yee and Santat's The Misfits, Carter's Gallagher Girls books, Gibbs' Spy School adventures, or Horowitz's incomparable Alex Rider series. 

Future Me Saves the World

Cypess, Leah and Molebash, Wes (illus.) Future Me Saves the World
June 3, 2025 by Aladdin
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Ethan is a fourth grader who has the unusual experience of being visited, repeatedly, by his 39 year old self. Older Ethan knows that a substitute teacher named Ms. Evans will leave teaching because of a horrible experience at Ethan's school, and become an evil supervillain who will destroy life as we know it. Not only that, but one of Ethan's classmates, Serenity, will become her henchwoman. The class's behavior does drive the substitute nearly to tears, and while the other students are proud of this, Ethan goes out of his way to apologize and encourage the young woman to stick with the profession. Ethan is also instructed to encourage somewhat offbeat, kooky classmate Tamara to take an accelerated math class despite her learning challenges, since she is the one who invents time travel. Older Ethan is often vague on details, claiming he can't share too much, dresses in bizarre fashions, and tries to explain the science of time travel with words that nobody understands. Ethan is concerned that older Ethan is no longer friends with best friend Ben, and asks his supportive if offbeat parents about their own friendships at family dinners with siblings Greg and Talya. After an incident where a school lunch makes everyone except Ethan sick (thanks to a warning to not eat the ziti!), Ethan manages to convince Ms. Evans to apply to become the school librarian. This is enough to change the course of history when she late uses her evil tendencies in her job in charge of school curriculum.
Strengths: The best part of this was the description of the books that were being read in the 4th grade language arts classes. One was Joker, the description of which I need to go back and find, but which involved a dog dying and several other typically middle grade, award winning sad things, and the other was just entitled Tragic Death at Sea. Yep. So much of middle grade literature! The other thing I really enjoyed was Ethan's worry that he wouldn't be friends with Ben when they grow up. In reality, he'll be lucky to make it to 8th grade and still be friends, but when we are young, best friends are so central to our existence that I enjoyed seeing this realistic worry portrayed. Having alive, supportive parents and siblings who sometimes get in the way was also encouraging. This was goofy fun, and a light, fast paced read, and Ethan is an appropriately harried hero who is trying his best to help save the world even though he doesn't understand what is going on.
Weaknesses: There were some school procedures that didn't ring true; when there's no sub, the students are divided up and sent to other classes, which I have never seen happen. Also, unless Ms. Evans has her MLS and school library certification, she couldn't be a school librarian, at least here in Ohio. I know this is nitpicky, and maybe this happens in other places, but it bothered me. I also could have used a few more details about why older Ethan was visiting; this seemed almost like a second book in a series.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed the time travel in Wilson's Me vs. the Multiverse or Otheguy's Cousins in the Time of Magic, but want the same humorous vibe as Yee and Santat's The Misfits, with even more illustrations. (Which didn't appear in the E ARC.)  

Where There Be Monsters and Dreamslinger

Williams, Alby C. Where There Be Monsters
May 6, 2025 by Roaring Brook Press
E ARC provided by Netgalley

In 3166, Glory Brown lives in the Outerverse with her parents, who run the Light Inn. Her mother is very busy, printing leaflets and advising people on magic. The family, including the grandfather, lives near the Seam, which is a halfway space between the human world and the feral monsters that live in the Blight. There are some creatures, like Penrose, a talking mongoose who works as a bellhop at the inn, who are not a threat. Glory would like to attend the magical school for Spherinauts that her mother attended, so that she can learn to use her Moxie, or magical powers, but she is needed at home. When she meets a boy, Marcus, who is lost near her house, she gets pulled into his attempts to deliver a package. When she touches a pendant he has left in the room, she has to help him, because the object is cursed. Leaving a note for her parents (her mother is traveling, so can’t help with the magic), she takes off on a journey to return to the Sanctum Marmoris, where the school is based. Things are unstable all across the Outverse, with monsters coming across the seam, so using the gateways to travel is sometimes problematic. Once the two reach the school, they consult a Senior, Janessa, and try to figure out what is going on with Marcus’ curse. This, of course, uncovers a lot of other problems. While trying to solve these, Glory learns more about her mother and magic, and is looking forward to finally being able to study at the school.
Strengths: Magical academy books are always a good bet with middle grade readers, and there is very intricate world building to set up Glory’s Outerverse. There is a threat to the world which hits fairly close to home for Glory, so she is a good person to try to solve it. There are some evil adults, but supportive ones as well. Marcus is a good sidekick. There were just a couple of illustrations in the E ARC, but they were very charming, and I’m curious to see if there are more of them in the finished copy. The school has different types of magical training, all related to nature and science, and Glory is curious about this training, since her mother is a Magpie. I’m assuming that the sequel will have more explanations of where Glory fits in to the school and about her training there.
Weaknesses: For a book set in space in the future, this had a lot of elements that felt more like the late 1800s. While I love a good skirt, it seemed odd that Glory wore dresses and packed bloomers for traveling. I had to look up what an orrery was (Glory carries a pocket-orrery, which is a mouthful), and I can’t find a good explanation for what “mazy headed” is, but maybe I missed the explanations.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed the magical worlds in Bell’s Uncommoners, Durst’s Even and Odd or Dumas’ Wildseed Witch.

Kim, Graci. Dreamslinger

April 29, 2025 by Disney Hyperion

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Aria Loveridge lives in the Rest Haven Home for Dreamslingers because she has the genetic mutation that causes her to go into another world when she dreams. This world is dangerous and unpredictable, and it is thanks to her father than Dreamslingers are cared for at the home. They consult with doctors in the morning and have ways to remove the poisons acquired from their nighttime wanderings. Since Aria's mother was killed by people who shared this mutation, it's a lot for a teen to handle. Aria tries to help her father out with the home, but recently there have been a lot of anti-slinger protests in Texas, where they live. These close ties to different facets of the Dreamslinger world put Aria in a great place to find out secrets about her condition, but working through them is very dangerous. While her adventures finally lead to her finding a place where she is confortable, there are some unanswered questions that could be answered in a second book. 

I enjoyed Kim's The Last Fallen Star, and this is another great culturally (Korean) related adventure fantasy for fans of Rick Riordan's imprint. 

From the Publisher:
Fourteen-year-old Aria Loveridge lives at the Resthaven Home for Dreamslingers, a safe haven for children born with a genetic mutation that transports them to a powerfully magical realm while they sleep. But this magic can be unpredictable—even deadly. After all, it was only ten years ago when members of the Royal League of Dreamslingers caused the Great Outburst—a tragedy that killed hundreds of people, including Aria’s mom.

Since then, Aria’s dad has become leading expert on Dreamslinger Welfare, which means Aria knows better than most what it takes to keep society safe from her, and others like separation, identification, and most importantly, power suppression.

So when the Kingdom of Royal Hanguk—home of the Dreamslinger League—announces the first Dreamslinger trials where teenage slingers from around the world are invited to compete for a chance to join the League and learn how to use their powers, Aria knows what she must join the trials and take down the League from the inside.

But the Trials introduce Aria to a world of wonderous magic and friendship, a world where she finally feels like she belongs. And as dark secrets from the past are revealed—ones that make Aria question her very identity—she becomes even more determined to discover the truth for herself. She just has to survive the trials first.

MMGM- Snoop and Ablaze

It's

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
 at 

Always in the Middle 

and #IMWAYR day 

at

Unleashing Readers

Korman, Gordon. Snoop

July 1, 2025 by Scholastic Press
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Carter is on a ski trip to Colorado with his father and younger brother Martin, but is really more interested in watching the viral "Chattanooga Chop" videos on his phone than in experiencing the great outdoors. When his father leaves him watching Martin on the bunny slope while he tackles a harder run, Carter is so absorbed in his phone that he doesn't see Martin barreling right towards him. The resultant collision leaves Carter with two broken legs! Back home with his mother, who has custody of the boys since the parents are divorced, Carter has to attend Zoom school, but has little else that he is able to do, since even getting in and out of bed in the morning is a struggle. He turns to his favorite pasttime, screens, and becomes entranced by the video surveillance cameras up around town. At first, he uses them primarily to spy on his crush, Lacey, and her boyfriend, unpleasant popular kid Maddox, who has a group that does pranks around town, Chairmen of the Bored. Carter's friend Ethan occasionally visits, and the two even figure out how to break into the closed circuit cameras in the frozen yogurt shop that Lacey and Maddox visit. The more he watches, though, the more things stand out to Carter as troublesome. A man who seems to be casing a local art store where Carter's mother has a print for sale. (She works in photography, taking pictures of construction sites, often using drones.) A pregnant mother in the park struggles with her toddler every day. There's a suspicious red Maserati parked in the same place every day. And strangest of all, Carter keeps seeing red pandas, bonobos, and other unusual and endangered animals around town. What's with the Zipy Delivery Vans always around town? And the smell in the abandoned courthouse slated to be demolished? This makes him very distracted in school, although he does notice that his teacher, Mr. Grimes, doesn't seem to be doing well. Carter calls the police several times, but is eventually told to stop wasting their time. When Carter finally pieces everything together (and saves some classmated from an errant snow leopard!), will he be able to convince the police to help?

While this was an excellent mystery with fun and unusual elements, what I really liked about this book was Carter's screen addiction. Korman has addressed this before in books like Unplugged (2021) and Slacker (2016), but I loved how integral Carter's struggles were to his life. Screens caused his accident, made it hard to focus in school, and sent him down a weird yet ultimately productive rabbit hole. I don't want to spoil too much of the mystery! Carter knows he has a problem, which is more than some of my students, but still can't seem to tear himself away. He does manage to turn down Martin's kind offer of his iPad mini when Carter's mother takes away all his screens, which was encouraging and realistic. 

The other great inclusion was Carter's crush on Lacey, and his antithetical relationship with Maddox and the Chairmen of the Bored that causes the entire class, including his best friend Ethan, to avoid him. Middle school relationships can be a very delicate balance. I also enjoyed Carter's family relationships. His father doesn't live nearby, and his mother is very busy with her work. Carter borrows her drone for his surveillance, and is worried about damaging it... which doesn't stop him. He even has a good relationship with Martin, even though it has rocky moments. I'd love to see more sibling relationships in middle grade literature. 

Korman does a great job of putting a fresh spin on everyday middle grade experiences with heart and humor. It's also hard to suggest read alikes for Korman; maybe Singleton's The Curious Cat Spy Club, Kittscher's The Wig in the Window or Fitzhugh's Harriet the Spy, if anyone still reads that title (which is as old as I am!). Of course, there's always another answer... just read more Korman!

Lawson, Jessica and Gonzales, Sarah. 

Ablaze: The Story of America's First Female Smokejumper

July 1, 2025 by Viking Books for Young Readers

Copy provided by the publisher

Deanne Shulman loved being outdoors as a child, and her concern for the natural environment led her to apply to work with the United States Forest Service, where her brother had also worked. Her job was to help fight fires by clearing brush and debris, working in hot conditions for long hours. This was her passion, so it's not surprising that she was interested in trying out a related job- smoke jumping. Being able to travel to remote areas to fight fires by parachuting into them was another level of dedication, but Deanne was denied the chance to do this in the 1990s because of her size, even though she passed all of the physical tests. There had never been a woman smoke jumper, but the Forest Service claims that Deanne couldn't join because she was under the 5' 5", 130 pound size requirements. Undaunted, she filed a complaint based on the Equal Employment Opportunities Act, and continued to train while it was being investigated. Eventually, she was allowed to work in her chosen field. The book ends with more notes about Shulman's career, as well as a glossary of terms. 

The illustrations are rendered in yellows and oranges, and have a smoky, soft focused look to them that makes the book feel very steamy! There is plenty of good information about wild fires, and also about what the job of fighting them entails. Seeing Deanne as a young child enables readers to put themselves in her boots and equipment. It would have been nice to have the years that various events happened right in the text, but younger readers won't necessarily miss them. 

Given the number of wildfires that have made the news in the US, this is a great picture book biography about a woman who broadened opportunities for others. It's a great choice not only for Women's History Month, but for Young readers interested in firefighting or forestry work, and would be a great nonfiction accompaniment to books like Rose's The Burning Season. 

Under the Neon Lights

Vinson, Arriel. Under the Neon Lights
June 3, 2025 by G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

In this novel in verse, we meet Jaelyn, who lives with her mother in Indianapolis. The two have moved there from Plainfield after the parents divorced. Jaelyn and her friend Noelle love to spend time at the local roller rink, WestSide Roll, where they can be as loud and exuberant as they want. There's a colorful cast of characters, including the owner, Mr. Mike. The neighborhood is gentrifying, and Jaelyn has increasing problems with her job at the local movie theater, where the manager, Beth, is hostile towards her. There is also fear of rents increasing as more and more upscale businesses open. When the news comes that WestSide Roll is closing in five weeks, Jaelyn is devastated. This is especially hard since Noelle has started to hang out with different friends, and the one bright spot in her life is Trey, a boy she met at the rink and whom she is teaching to skate. Jaelyn has a difficult relationship with her father, who hasn't spent much time with her, but the two reconnect over their love of roller skating. After the rink closes, Jaelyn tries the nearby Avon Roller Rink, but is appalled by all of the rules. She loves her job at the theater, and Noelle's grandmother's health starts to fail. Desperate to find some joy in life, she tries to arrange a skating reunion at a nearby tennis court, or the parking lot of WestSide Roll, only to be told those locations aren't available. Will the skating community be able to band together for one last free skate?
Strengths: We recently took groups of middle school students to the Sequoia Lanes in Columbus, Ohio. It is a bowling alley built in the early 1960s smack dab in the middle of a residential neighborhood. If you stand at the front door and look across the street, there is a split level home right there. I was enthralled by the idea of having a local bowling alley, but also knew that the neighborhood had changed and that many other businesses had gone out, so the alley's days might well be numbered. A pool right next door closed a few years ago. The feeling of longing for a way of life that is gone was so palpable, and I completely understood how Jaelyn felt. The topic of gentrification has been addressed in many middle grade and young adult books, but this one packed a gut punch. The verse format makes it read quickly. It was definitely set in current times, given some of the references to music and popular culture, but also had a bit of a throwback feel to it, mainly because of the roller skating and the "old heads" who hang out. The romance was very sweet, and will appeal to readers even if they (foolishly) aren't interested in roller skating. This was quite a fun book, despite the sadness, and I enjoyed it a lot.
Weaknesses: This was definitely young adult in language (there are multiple f words) and also in the longing for the past. Middle School students generally aren't quite as nostalgic as high school students.
What I really think: Watson's This Side of Home (2015) or Nye's Going, Going (2005). I would buy this for a high school library but will pass for middle school. 

Kickturn

Spangler, Brie. Kickturn
June 17, 2025 by Knopf Books for Young Readers

E ARC provided by Netgalley

Lindy and her parents have a nomadic lifestyle, traveling the Southwest in a converted school bus (a "skoolie") so that her mother can post pictures of herself doing yoga poses, spreading love and lifestyle advice. Her father, a formr software engineer, helps, and Lindy is often called upon to model clothing sent by sponsors, since posts featuring her do well on the analytics. Lindy is tired of this lifestyle, and lonely for friends her own age. She spends a lot of time watching the skateboarder and social media star Kentucky Jones while neglecting her homeschooling material, which she finds difficult, especially since her parents don't seem to offer much support. When the bus breaks down in San Jose, California, it's not an easy fix, and the family rents a house while waiting for the repairs to be done. Lindy meets Dasha  and May at a convenience store, and the two invite her to skateboard with them. They show her the ropes, and May even loans her a board. Lindy enjoys having a more private room, and warm shower, and some friends. She also takes to skateboarding in a big way, and her parents often accompany her to the skate park, where she also meets Carter, a seven year old social media influencer who can do a lot of skate tricks that Lindy can't even imagine. When the group finds out that Kentucky Jones is coming to San Jose, they are super excited to meet their idol. The bus takes a while to be fixed, but eventually is road worthy once again, and Lindy's parents inform her that they will be moving on. Unhappy to be leaving, Lindy sabotages the bus. When her parents find out, they are angry, and a bit perplexed that Lindy is no longer enjoying life on the road. She pleads her case for staying, which is bolstered by the fact that she is failing all of her online classes. Lindy gets her way, and the family decides to stay in San Jose. 

Strengths: There need to be a lot more books about skateboarding, as well as volleyball and track. It's interesting to see parents who are social media influencers; Weissman's So Over Sharing is another one to look at. Lindy's desire to stay in one place and make friends is understandable, and it's great to see her connect with girls her age while also developing a hobby. Bonus: both of Lindy's parents are alive!
Weaknesses: This was a little younger than I had hoped; the font looks hand drawn, ala Wimpy Kid, and the interior illustrations do support Lindy being in late elementary school. I just wish that she had been older. I also wish that the parents had paid more attention to Lindy; at a minimum, they should have checked her progress in school. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed other books about families on the road, like Gemeinhart's The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise, Goebel's Alpaca My Bags, or Hawes' Big Rig.
 

Survival in SPAAAAAACE

Bradford, Chris. Lunar
July 1, 2025 by Union Square Kids

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Luna and her dad, a Moon Miner, are driving his Rover around the moon, taking core samples, when they are recalled to the Hub because of a meteorite warning. When the Rover flips, they manage to hop back, and get back in time. Once back, the warning becomes an order to evacuate in the Earth Return Pod, since the Hub is in the path of the meteorite. After a series of mishaps, Luna doesn't make it into the EARP, which takes off without her. She does manage to escape an explosion the damages the hub, and has to take stock of her skills and supplies to try to survive alone on the moon. She knows from her training that the most important things to have are oxygen, water, food, power, and a pressurized shelter, but also must locate some way to communicate with Earth so they don't assume she is dead, but send help. She realizes that the landers scattered about the moon have antennae and communication abilities, so sets out in the rover to find one. It's quite a distance away, so she takes careful stock of all of her supplies, and eventually manages to make contact with Earth's Gateway, who agree to send rescuers. 

Strengths: There were so many good details about being in space! Of course, none of these encourage me to travel there, since your blood can boil if you don't have on your pressurized suit, and when you do have your suit, you need diapers! I love how smoothly Brandford weaves in the scientific details. I think most children's worst fear is to be left, and where worse to be left than on the moon! She does have great skills, and has paid attention to all of the safety precautions, which was good to see. This has engaging illustrations and dyslexic friendly font and page coloring.
Weaknesses: I do not want to go to space, and in reality, I'm pretty sure that Luna would have died. Because of this thought, it would have been nice to see her safely rescued instead of being shown patiently waiting. 
What I really think: This is a good space survival adventure in the style of Sylvester's MINRS, Swiedler's In the Red or Emerson's Last Day on Mars  but suitable for emerging readers. 

Bradford, Chris. Stellar
July 1, 2025 by Union Square Kids

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Stella and her brother Ryan are vacationing with their parents at the Galaxy Space Hotel. While Stella is super excited about everything she sees and experiences, Ryan would rather lose himself in a video game. There are some adjustments to be made in space, like dealing with space motion sickness, which is caused when the lack of gravity results in fluid pooling in the head, but the family feels well enough to go to the space museum on the International Space Station. Stella is expecially excited, since the ISS is due to be deorbited the following year. When there is a solar flare, and the group needs to head back to the shuttle to avoid a proton storm, Ryan has to be found. He's stuck, but then manages to spin away into space! Stella goes after him, and the two end up very far away from the ISS. The two eventually get back in the craft, only to find that it is falling out of orbit. Ryan uses his gaming skills to try to figure out how to operate the ISS, which is a challenge since many of the buttons are labeled in Russian. Heading toward Earth with less coolant than is optimal, will the two be able to survive?
Strengths: The combination of Bradford, who is a seasoned writer who devotes himself to fast-paced, exciting stories like the Bodyguard series, and Barrington Stokes publishers, who actually think about what tweens want to read because they ask them, is brilliant. Stella's story is short, but definitely engaging. There are some fun things that will speak to young readers, like Ryan's addiction to video games, and his reluctance to follow his sister's instructions. There is a lot of science information included in a casual way that was very instructional. Charlotte Grange's occasional illustrations heighten the appeal for the graphic novel set. In the E ARC, the page background color was a soft yellow. I haven't seen a print version, but the print version of Bradford's GAMER does have this dyslexia friendly paper.
Weaknesses: I found it hard to believe that the children would manage to survive, but young readers will not have this same objection.
What I really think: There are not as many easy to read space adventures like Landers' Blastaway or Levy's Seventh Grade vs. The Galaxy, but perhaps there should be. I will definitely be buying a copy.