Young Adult Books

With all of our 7th graders reading The Outsiders, there is a constant need for fiction set in the 1960s. Fiction set in the 1960s that gives a good overview of the events of the time and DOESN'T include a large amount of sex, drugs, or foul language. Sigh. While the following book was great, my search is going to have to continue, because I would categorize this as high school or public library material.

Tash, Sarvenaz. Three Day Summer.
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline
May 19th 2015 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Michael doesn't know what he wants to do with his life. He should go to community college to avoid the draft, but he's not particularly keen on the idea. He has a girlfriend, Amanda, but she's kind of annoying and he'd like to break up with her. When his friend Evan talks him in to going to Woodstock with some friends, the group gets within walking distance before their car overheats. After they walk to Yasgur's farm, Evan breaks out some tabs of brown acid, and Michael has a bad trip. He ends up in the medical tent where Cora, who lives nearby, is volunteering. Cora has just broken up with Ned, who wants to be a doctor. Ned was the perfect boyfriend, so she's a bit bitter, especially since her family still seems to like him. Cora gives Michael tea and walks him around (the standard treatment for a bad trip), and the two feel an instant connection. Eventually, they spend time together, listening to the music, hanging out, and even meeting Janis Joplin briefly. The general atmosphere of Woodstock is well described, and Cora's struggle with career choices is one that certainly would be typical of the time period.
Strengths: Interesting background on how the locals felt about Yasgur renting out his farm, some interesting intergenerational drama with Cora and her folks, and good coverage of the musical groups. I really felt muddy after reading this one! Great description of setting.
Weaknesses: Would have liked to have seen Michael developed more; his character seemed very flat to me. Either that, or more coverage of Cora's career thoughts. The names Evan and Amanda seemed out of place. Gary and Linda, yes.
What I really think: If it didn't have the f-bombs, sex, and drugs, I'd probably buy it, even though it's a bit light on plot. Just not a middle grade book.

Lynch, Chris. Hit Count
May 19th 2015 by Algonquin Young Readers

I love Lynch's writing, and while I give him credit for some creative uses of the f-bomb, there's too much drinking and drug use, as well as the language, for me to be comfortable with handing it to students. It also is rather slow paced and introspective, which is great for Young Adult literature. A good buy for high school libraries; not so much for middle school.

From Goodreads.com: "Arlo Brodie loves being at the heart of the action on the football field, getting hit hard and hitting back harder. That’s where he belongs, leading his team to championships, becoming “Starlo” on his way to the top. Arlo’s dad cheers him on, but his mother quotes head injury statistics and refuses to watch games. Arlo’s girlfriend tries to make him see how dangerously he’s playing; when that doesn’t work, she calls time out on their relationship. Even Arlo’s coaches begin to track his hit count, ready to pull him off the field when he nears the limit. But Arlo’s not worried about tallying collisions. The winning plays, the cheering crowds, and the adrenaline rush are enough to convince Arlo that everything is OK—in spite of the pain, the pounding, the dizziness, and the confusion.

Hit Count explores America’s love affair with football and our attempts to reconcile the clear evidence of its dangers with our passion for the game."

Dimopoulos, Elaine. Material Girls
May 5th 2015 by HMH Books for Young Readers

Even though I have a marked inability to dress myself (my favorite jeans are Lands End dark wash mom jeans-- when they went down to $10, I stocked up. Ten years ago.), I am intrigued by fashion. This looked promising, but again, was a bit too introspective and detailed for middle school. I also got distracted by wondering what exactly an "Unum" device was, and if it really existed, like the bar code scanner in the book that tells the girls if their outfits have "expired". For my set, I'll still with Chloe Taylor's Sew Zoey books.

From Goodreads: "In Marla Klein and Ivy Wilde’s world, teens are the gatekeepers of culture. A top fashion label employs sixteen-year-old Marla to dictate hot new clothing trends, while Ivy, a teen pop star, popularizes the garments that Marla approves. Both girls are pawns in a calculated but seductive system of corporate control, and both begin to question their world’s aggressive levels of consumption. Will their new “eco-chic” trend subversively resist and overturn the industry that controls every part of their lives? Smart, provocative, and entertaining, this thrilling page-turner for teens questions the cult like mentality of fame and fashion. Are you in or are you out?"

Dessen, Sarah. Saint Anything
May 5th 2015 by Viking Juvenile

While this one IS completely middle school appropriate, it just didn't blow me away. Along for the Ride is one of my all time favorite romance books, Saint Anything, was just a bit too whiny, and I wanted to slap the mother. Yes, the brother is in jail because he's an idiot, but how about showing some love and support to the child who is still at home and not messed up? Also thought that the title and cover were less than attractive. Will buy; just not a favorite.

From Goodreads: "Peyton, Sydney's charismatic older brother, has always been the star of the family, receiving the lion's share of their parents' attention and—lately—concern. When Peyton's increasingly reckless behavior culminates in an accident, a drunk driving conviction, and a jail sentence, Sydney is cast adrift, searching for her place in the family and the world. When everyone else is so worried about Peyton, is she the only one concerned about the victim of the accident?

Enter the Chathams, a warm, chaotic family who run a pizza parlor, play bluegrass on weekends, and pitch in to care for their mother, who has multiple sclerosis. Here Sydney experiences unquestioning acceptance. And here she meets Mac, gentle, watchful, and protective, who makes Sydney feel seen, really seen, for the first time."

RSVP

Malone, Jen and Nall, Gail. RSVP:You're Invited
May 19th 2015 by Simon & Schuster Aladdin Mix
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline

Sadie's mother runs a wedding planning business, and Sadie loves to help, but after a particularly disastrous wedding on board a boat, Sadie is told to go do other things with her life. Lauren's parents run the marina in their North Caroline seaside town, and Lauren is very invested in getting good grades and studying for standardized tests. Violet is very sporty and lives with her father in her grandmother's house, which is a step up from the trailer park, and Becca's parents run an information stand in town. Becca is completely boy crazy because she wants a romantic interest to fuel her songwriting, and Ryan, who is visiting for the summer from Ireland, is in her sights. The group start a party planning service, starting with a murder mystery/tea for nine year olds, and are able to get a decent amount of business. Each of the girls brings her own set of skills to the business, but there are lots of problems along the way. Sadie still wants to get her mother's attention, and at the end of the book, manages to do this in a big way, which will be addressed in the sequel. (Which won't come out until 16 March 2016.)
Strengths: The setting is a fun one-- not many of us live in seaside resort towns. The inclusion of a grandmother and senior living facility is a nice touch. The girls are good at solving their own problems. There are a few reasons for the girls to be sad, but they AREN'T because it's summer and they are busy and having fun.
Weaknesses: I love the girl entrepreneur books, but would like to see one where the girls have a business that is less girly-- maybe lawn mowing or landscaping!
What I really think: A little on the long side, but pretty happy and full of girl power. Hooray!

Zeitlin, Meredith. Sophomore Year is Greek to Me
April 21st 2015 by G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Copy from Young Adult Books Central and Reviewed There.

Zona loves living in New York with her journalist father, and she has good friends at her school, where she is the features editor of the school paper. When her father informs her that he is going to Athens for six months to do research, she is crushed. How can she leave the paper and her friends? Her father has an ulterior motive-- Zona's mother was from Greece, but her family disowned her when she married, didn't answer her letters, and are unaware that she passed away due to complications with Zona's birth. Living in Greece will give Zona a way to reconnect with her mother's family as well as a change to experience a new culture.

Zona's strong relationship with her father, and their shared interest in newspaper reporting, is evidenced in the headline notes they leave for each other. As much as they get along, the trip to Greece separates them; the father is busy with his research, and Zona is caught up in the freedom that Greek teenagers are allowed. It was interesting to see the relationship explored as it pertained to Zona's growing independence. I wish more books would explore this topic! Also interesting was Zona's experience in a new school, although it was odd to me that she was able to keep in touch so easily with her friends in the US. When I lived in Greece in the 1980s, there were letters, and to call the states, we had to go across town to the phone company because our apartment didn't have a phone! There was a light romance, and some serious issues with classmates that added to the well-rounded international school experience.

Once Zona traveled to Crete to meet her extended family, the book picked up and became very interesting. Details of life in a small Greek village, as well as details of the Easter celebrations and the politics of an extended Greek family are intriguing and amusing. Readers of Jennifer E. Smith, Sarah Dessen, and Maureen Johnson's 13 Little Blue Envelopes will enjoy this terrific tale of discovering one's roots.

I did find it REALLY annoying that Zona whined and complained about going at first. Come on! A lot of people would love to go to Greece. Quit being a spoiled brat. However, the target demographic will understand her feelings. I was also concerned about Zona's interest in news reporting-- not a good career move at all. The news "articles" that appeared in the book were unnecessary, and I would rather have had the information covered in the narrative.Also, until she gets to Crete, she didn't discover much about Greek culture or life in Athens at all, which was disappointing.

Guy Friday- Skateboard Party

English, Karen. Skateboard Party. (The Carver Chronicles #2)
December 2nd 2014 by Clarion Books

In this sequel to Dog Days, Richard has put off doing his project on Howler Monkeys. His teacher, Ms. Shelby-Ortiz, gives him a note to take home on a Friday, but he decides that giving the note to his parents will ruin his weekend of playing video games, so he conveniently forgets. Even though he is assigned several lunch detentions and has to sit on the bench at recess, he decides to withhold the note for various reasons, like the fact that he hid cereal in a plastic container in the oven, and his mother melted it. He's in enough trouble already, and he doesn't want to miss a birthday party. His friend points out that it would have been less trouble to just do the project, but Richard is in deep and can't find a way out of his problems. His parents are called to school, and his punishments are much worse than doing the project, but he finally pulls himself together to do well on a spelling test, and actually enjoys learning about Howler Monkeys. Because of bad weather, he even gets to go to the birthday party!
Strengths: There are so many good examples of consequences and supportive adults in this book! I love how it even describes how students are supposed to wait quietly to be excused. The cover will intrigue students, and they will find Richard's plight funny, but identify with his problems at the same time. This is definitely an "organic chicken nugget" type book. Karen English should write some books for slightly older middle grade readers!
Weaknesses: Will students find this overly didactic? I thought it was great and would like to hand it to some of my reluctant readers to see what they think.
What I really think: Buying copies and foisting it on children whether they like it or not. Maybe it has enough pictures to appeal to my notebook novel fans, who certainly can learn from Richard's mistakes!

Return to Augie Hobble

Smith, Lane. Return to Augie Hobble
May 5th 2015 by Roaring Brook Press
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline

Augie lives with his family near their business in the Southwest, Fairy Tale Place. Built in the 1960s and bypassed in the 1990s by a new highway, the business isn't doing all that well. Augie knows this, and helps out as much as he can, repainting mushrooms and sweeping up barf. He has a good friend, Britt, but the two struggle against the stereotypical bully Hogg and his evil henchman, Trip. Augie has also failed his Creative Arts final project and has to turn in a new one by the end of the summer. Combine this with the fact that he suspects that there are werewolves in the area, and a tragedy occurs that leads to odd circumstances, and it's understandable that Augie is having a difficult time.
Strengths: Intriguing Lane Smith artwork throughout and a fantastic setting (I LOVE fairy tale parks!) could have made a great humorous middle grade realistic novel. This is not what this is.
Weaknesses: I may be more disappointed in this book than I have ever been in a book. **SPOILER ALERT** Britt dies from anaphylactic shock, and for a while, Augie is convinced that his friend ate a cookie that contained peanuts that he had put in his backpack for a car trip. That's not the cause of death, but Britt then comes back as a ghost and leaves messages for Augie. It's a weird, weird sort of grief and takes a nice, humorous story onto weirdly dark ground. 
What I really think: This would have been absolutely fabulous if the tragedy had not occurred; as it is, I don't think I'll buy it.

#WeNeedDiverseBooks Wednesday- Bayou Magic

Rhodes, Jewell Parker. Bayou Magic
May 12th 2015 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline

Maddy is apprehensive about visiting her Grandmère’s in Louisiana for the summer, but finds that she understands her grandmother and enjoys life in the Bayou more than she imagined. She has a friend, Bear, who accompanies her on jaunts on the water, since she thinks she has seen Mami Wata, a water spirit. She enjoys listening to her grandmother's stories, and also enjoys cooking with her and learning about the medicinal uses of plants in the area. Bear's father works off the coast on an oil rig, and when a fire on the rig has disastrous consequences both for Bear and for the wildlife in the Bayou as well as the livlihood of the local people who harvest shrimp, Maddy must get in touch with her magic and try to restore the ecosystem of an area she has come to love.
Strengths: Ms. Rhodes is a lyrical story teller who clearly loves this area of the world, values multigenerational connections, and believes that everyone possesses magic of some sort. Her characters are all supportive of one another and work together for the common good, and have a rich cultural heritage that Maddy learns to embrace. The theme of environmentalism is also a good one, and readers unfamiliar with the bayou will learn a lot.
Weaknesses: This is a little slow, with the action building gradually.
What I really think: Rhodes draws such a vivid picture of the grandmother that I couldn't help but contrast it with my own grandmothers, who would most likely have given me a dust rag or a hoe and told me to go be useful if I claimed to have been party to any magic at all! Neither were storytellers as well; there was work to be done. The descriptions of the climate were also so vivid-- all that mud, humidity and bugs-- it's not a setting I find appealing. I feel rather like I need to wash the mud off of my feet and coat myself in talcum powder. Effective writing, to be sure!

Don't we all want to be Superstars?

Since I am busy hounding students to turn in books and preparing for inventory, this was a particularly nice surprise:

http://www.yabookscentral.com/blog/yabc-superstar-of-the-month

It's nice to be praised for a job well done. Rewards don't hurt, either!

One of my schticks (and I have a lot-- yesterday I wore a Gunne Sax dress I bought in 1988, and today I'm rocking a prairie skirt and quilted vest I made in 1981. Why? Because I can.) is to sing on the morning announcements when there are a lot of overdue books. On the 8th grade trip, I had several students ask me why I hadn't been singing-- not that they wanted me to, of course. They hate it. Really. But they sort of missed it, too. Here's my song for today, to the tune of Home on the Range. And yes, the original is HIGHLY offensive to Native Americans. Hopefully, being unfamiliar with the song, most students will think I made up the tune as well!


Oh, give me your tome, it just wants to go home
And be back on the shelf with its friends.
Please bring it back now, so I won’t have a cow—
If you’ve lost it, you must make amends.

Due, due, books are due.
Bring them back to the library soon.
So when Friday comes round, every book will be found
And I’ll have no more reason to croon.

Six/A Dragon's Guide to the Care and Feeding of Humans

Vaughan, M.M. Six
May 12th 2015 by Margaret K. McElderry Books
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline

Parker and his sister Emma (who is hearing impaired) have just moved to the US with their father, Dr. Banks. Parker has a terrible time in his new school-- he is bullied, and finds an ally in wealthy computer geek Michael, who is giving money to the horrible Aaron. Emma does much better than Parker, but both children struggle with missing their mother, who was killed in a car accident several years previously. The three family members are able to read each other's thoughts thanks to a communication device their father has planted in their wrists. Dr. Banks worked with the Avectron corporation, and when his work on teleporting the wealthy to a manufactured planet, Six, doesn't go well, he is kidnapped by the evil Bowveld. Before he is taken, he is able to tell Parker to find Solomon Gladstone. With the help of Michael's family retainers, Parker and Emma are able to find Solomon, and find out information about his father's company's plans. After much evading of the company's personnel still on Earth, the three manage to get taken to Six. Will they be able to be reunited with their father? And are there other family mysteries that they will also uncover?
Strengths: Lots of fun science about teleportation, good adventure, evil scientist villains, chase scenes, and a sidekick who is wealthy enough to make obstacles disappear. Loyal family retainers who don't tell parents anything. That's a good start for a middle grade science fiction book. Somewhat like Omega City.
Weaknesses: I kept waiting for the pig that had been transported and then became a family pet to be mentioned more, but she wasn't at all. The ending is odd, and I can't tell if there will be a second book. The bullying was COMPLETELY unnecessary and just made the book longer. (368 pages.)
What I really think: Will probably buy a copy because the science is fun, but this would have definitely benefited from a LOT more editing. Really dragged in the middle, and dropping the whole bit with the pet pig and the bullying would have tightened up the story a lot.

Yep, Laurence and Ryder, Joanne. A Dragon's Guide to the Care and Feeding of Humans. 
March 10th 2015 by Crown Books for Young Readers

When Winnie's great aunt Amelia passes away, she leaves the family mansion in San Francisco to Winnie and her mother, a horse trainer who has been badly injured. Amelia had been corresponding with Winnie, and has told her the biggest secret of all-- the mansion comes complete with Miss Drake, a dragon! Miss Drake is sad about the demise of her pet (whom she called Fluffy), and is a bit annoyed that Winnie has found her. Winnie is insistent, however, so Miss Drake takes her shopping to a magical store. There, the two purchase a sketch book, which has the power to make whatever is drawn in it real. They don't know this at first, however, and Winnie completes 20 drawings of magical creatures that come to life and flee the book, endangering the delicate balance of magic that Miss Drake has tried so hard to keep. Most of the creatures are easy to catch, but the pemburu is unwilling to be caught, and is growing and growing, feeding on the magic of others. While working together against this common threat, Miss Drake and Winnie learn a lot about the other, and Miss Drake begins to understand why Amelia left Winnie in on their secret.

Even though Winnie's situation is somewhat sad (her father passed away when she was young, her grandparents disapproved of her mother, and things were not easy), things are improving, and the discovery of Miss Drake doesn't faze Winnie at all. The two have an uneasy relationship at first, with Winnie thinking that Miss Drake is the pet, but they both come to see that the other has skills and powers that are valuable.

This reads much like classic children's fantasies such as No Flying in the House or the Ruth Chew books, and the reader is sent right into a magical world without apology... and the world makes sense because we want so much to believe it is true. Flying on a dragon to a magical shop over San Francisco? Absolutely. A magic sketchbook that brings drawings to life? Hand it over. A tiara with a tiny dent where the pteranodon bit it? I will fight all of the pemburus you want me to as long as I can have a dragon like Miss Drake living in MY basement!

An excellent choice for a first fantasy book, A Dragon's Guide to the Care and Feeding of Humans was a heartfelt magical romp with lots of adventure as well as some deeply poignant moments.

MMGM- The Forget-Me-Not Summer

Back from the 8th grade D.C. trip, and I'm going to blame DAVE BARRY for the following events:

• Student lost his phone five minutes after we had book signed. Now know where Lost and Found is at American History Museum.

• Student threw up. At 1 a.m. Got to spend quality time with another chaperone, cleaning up. 

• A fire extinguisher exploded in our hotel 15 minutes before we were to load the buses, and we had to evacuate 150 students and stand in the parking lot. 

• I fan girled shamelessly because I wasn't prepared to meet DAVE BARRY. My students claim that jumping up and down might have been involved. 

• I gave in to peer pressure at about 12:30 a.m. The other teachers were Instagramming and wanted me to be on the top of their pyramid in the hotel lobby (which was under construction). I don't know why. I was too tired to ask!

Thanks, Mr. Barry! It wasn't The Worst Class Trip Ever, but I am definitely filing those events away in case I write my own middle grade novel.

This week, it's testing today, then just getting all of the books (which were due last Thursday) back in, shelved, and inventoried.

Let the hyperventilating begin!

It's Marvelous Middle Grade Monday at Ramblings of a Wannabe Scribe and What Are You Reading? day at Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers. It's also Nonfiction Monday.


Howland, Leila. The Forget-Me-Not Summer
May 5th 2015 by HarperCollins
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline

Marigold's father is a screenwriter, and she's very excited that she might be getting a real agent, after appearing in a couple of episodes of a tv show. Zinnia, who is younger, thinks she might act as well, and she and her sister could bond over the shared activity-- but she's horrible. Much younger Lily is constantly annoying both of them. When the girls' father gets offered a chance to make a documentary deep in a forest, and their mother gets a job editing elsewhere, the girls are told that they will be spending the summer on Cape Cod with their great aunt Sunny. Marigold is devastated, and none of them are thrilled to go across the country to live in a dinky house with no good computer or cell phone reception, but they work their way into the community. Marigold even finds a cute boy, and Zinnia takes it upon herself to restart the town talent show, much to Marigold's consternation when she finds out that the director of a film for which she would like a part will be judging the contest.
Strengths: This is a fairly happy book; Aunt Sunny's grieving over her long deceased husband is offset by her new romance. Cape Cod is a rarified atmosphere that may intrigue many readers. Having an older aunt around to superintend is realistic. Good cover.
Weaknesses: The build up in California dragged on a bit, and all of the girls were vaguely annoying to me, especially with the acting.
What I really think: Middle schools students will probably enjoy this one more than I did, so I will buy a copy.

If I Were You

Margolis, Leslie. If I Were You
May 12th 2015 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
E ARC from Netgalley.com

Melody and Katie have been friends for a long time, but when they are about to enter 7th grade, they have a tiff-- Katie has "dibs" on the cute Kevin, but Melody actually has known him longer and is secretly dating him. Both girls are unhappy with their home lives and themselves, and make a wish to be the other. At first, Katie is thrilled to be the pretty and shapely Melody, with her big, quiet house and mother who loves to buy her expensive clothes, and Melody is thrilled to be in Katie's cozy home with her adorable step brothers. The girls make the transition well, since they are best friends, and there are only a few goofs, like Melody forgetting that she is supposed to be vegetarian, and Katie not knowing Melody's past history with Kevin. The girls eventually realize that even though there are perks to being the other girl, there are difficulties as well, and by the end of the summer, each girl has a better understanding of the life issues her friend is facing.
Strengths: What middle school girl doesn't secretly want to be her best friend? This was fabulous, especially when the more mature Melody thinks that it's fantastic that Katie looks like she's 8! The friendship drama is real, and the families different enough to make this very interesting. Kevin is a great romance; the detail of his cherry Chap Stick obsession was great!
Weaknesses: I ended up feeling really sorry for Melody-- she sees her father once the entire summer, and her mother is obsessed with her weight. Katie's family isn't perfect, but they are least there for her. Melody doesn't have very much in the way of emotional support.
What I really think: I adore Margolis, and she has such a good understanding of what middle grade girls want! I am always looking forward to whatever she writes next. This was a good twist on the Freaky Friday genre.

Anna Banana and the Friendship Split.

Rissi, Anica Mrose. Anna Banana and the Friendship Split.
May 5th 2015 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline

Anna and Sadie have been friends for a long time and do everything together, but Sadie becomes very nasty at Anna's 10th birthday. She highjacks Anna's wish, telling her to ask for a pony, and when Anna gets a pony necklace from her grandparents, Sadie appropriates it for herself. SHe says other mean things, claiming that Anna's dog Banana would rather live with her in her fancy house when she grows up, and the meanness continues at school. Anna doesn't know what to do; she eventually confides in her mother, who says that perhaps Sadie, whose parents are divorced but wealthy, is jealous of Anna's family. Anna tries very hard not to be mean back, but eventually stands up for herself. Will she ever be able to be friends with Anna again?
Strengths: This was a good story about friendship and friend drama. Sadie's actions are never entirely explained, but that is often the case in circumstances like this, and it might be helpful for readers to see that friend drama is not always their fault! I liked the illustrations, although in the E ARC Anna's family didn't seem noticeably darker complected. Not sure of the ethnicity.
Weaknesses: The dog didn't play a very large role, and Sadie was a tiny bit over the top, especially since her mother had a housekeeper. Is that a thing? Does anyone really have a housekeeper who is around to feed children snacks?
What I really think: Excellent choice for an elementary library, because there are plenty of mean girl moments. This is on the young side for middle school, though.

Noelle Stevenson, Grace Ellis, Brooke A. Allen (Illustrator). Lumberjanes #1. 

April 9th 2014 by Boom! Studios (first published January 1st 2014)

Five outspoken campers try to complete their scouting badges in various fields while trying to keep themselves safe from supernatural forces at their camp. While the head of the camp seems to know about these things, their counselor is just concerned for their well-being as they are out all night fighting bands of foxes, get sucked below earth to fight ancient Greek like rock statues, and have a run in with a troop of male zombie scouts. Of course, there is poison ivy, too.

This was a book that I just didn't understand. I didn't understand it as a reader-- there is not much explanation as to why all of these things happen. I was hoping for a fun, girl power camp story, but this is... more. We may get explanations eventually, as this is a series, and some readers might not care, but the world building felt weak. I also didn't have a good feel for the characters, whom I could tell apart from their pictures, but who didn't seem to have much in the way of distinct personalities. Hard to express in graphic novel format, I understand.

I also didn't understand this as a librarian. What really confused me was the demographic for this one. I picked it up because Leila Roy of Bookshelves of Doom was so pleased with it, but I can't think of a single student to whom I would hand this. I think it is meant to appeal to a type of student that I see very rarely... manga fans, perhaps (I'll run it by my daughter); alternative, creative types who express their creativity through tattoos and tongue piercings; readers who like fantasy books and graphic novels. And that's where my biggest problem is. The fantasy readers at my school turn up their noses at graphic novels; my graphic novel readers are often struggling, and would find this confusing.

It's great to be ground-breaking, genre-busting, and all of those things, but I'm not paying $15 for a book that will fall apart after ten uses if I don't think it will appeal to any of my readers. I'm glad my public library had the funding for it, but I think I will pass.

Guy Friday- Wilder Boys

Wallace, Brandon. Wilder Boys
May 5th 2015 by Aladdin
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline

Jake and Taylor are worried after their depressed mother is beaten by Bull, her boyfriend, and taken to the hospital. They are not sure that she will survive, and they know that they must leave or Bull will turn his anger on them and their Jack Russell terrier, Cody. Packing up provisions and the journal and letters that their father left before he left the family to live out in the Grand Tetons, the two hop a train from Pittsburgh to Chicago, get a ride as far as Montana with a sympathetic trucker with a checkered past of her own, and stow away in a luggage compartment on a tour bus to the Tetons. There, they attempt to follow the map that their father has left, but are short of supplies. Luckily, they save a man, Skeet, after a rock falls on him and breaks his arm, so he helps them learn survival tactics and gives them supplies. Their faces have been on the news, and they are still ill prepared for the rigors of backwoods travel, so will they manage to find their father?
Strengths: Lots of adventure and survival in a variety of settings. Even though each activity wasn't a good idea, I appreciated that the author was realistic about the dangers and still made it seem like the boys had no other choice but to do what they did. Every time I thought "No. Not going to work.", there was a good excuse or a save from an unexpected source. Had a My Side of the Mountain feel, and notes on surviving in the wilderness. Very nice!
Weaknesses: The ending was a bit deus ex machina-- don't want to spoil things, but the reappearance of a main character twice seemed a bit much, and the beginning was super depressing, even though it was very quick. Still, a petty complaint about an otherwise good book. On the digital ARC, the appearance of a page decoration along the bottom of each page slowed down turning the pages horribly. Hopefully, this will be fixed in the final copy.

O'Dowd, Chris and Murphy, Nick V. Moone Boy: The Blunder Years
May 5th 2015 by Feiwel & Friends
ARC from Baker and Taylor

I mention this one because it is a notebook novel of sorts, although the letters are typed onto lined "paper". Plenty of illustrations are included. However, this book was so very, very Irish that there were parts that even I did not understand. There are sidebars with explanations of vocabulary, but it was still something I don't think I will buy. It is apparently based on a Hulu television program, which I'm almost tempted to watch, if only for the scenes with the house surrounded by asphalt. As for the book, though, I think I'll pass.

From the Publisher:
"Martin Moone is eleven and completely fed up with being the only boy in a family of girls. He’s desperate for a decent wingman to help him navigate his idiotic life. So when best mate Padraic suggests Martin get an imaginary friend—or "IF" for short—he decides to give it a go.
     His first attempt is Loopy Lou, a hyperactive goofball who loves writing rubbish rap songs. But Martin soon gets fed up with Lou’s loopiness and decides to trade in his IF for someone a little less wacky. Enter Sean "Caution" Murphy, an imaginary office clerk in a bad suit with a passion for laziness and a head full of dodgy jokes. Sean is full of tips and tricks to guide Martin through the perils of the playground, from dealing with his sisters’ pranks to besting the bullying Bonner boys. But getting rid of Lou is not that easy, and having TWO imaginary friends is a recipe for trouble!"

Last Panda Standing / Operation Bunny

Krosoczka, Jarrett. Last Panda Standing (Platypus Police Squad #3)
May 5th 2015 by Walden Pond Press
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline

Frank Pandini, having recovered from both The Frog Who Croaked and The Ostrich Conspiracy, is back and running for mayor of Kalamazoo City. When he is attacked with a boomerang by a flying squirrel while giving a speech, Rick Zengo is assigned to watch him. After Pandini outlines his campaign for a nut free city, Rick thinks he knows who is behind the attacks; the squirrels at Nutter's Nuts. Also under suspicion-- McGovern, who is running against Pandini, whose life might be more entwined with the opposing candidate than the people of Kalamazoo might imagine. O'Malley must investigate leads with the new member of the force, Jo Cooper. There's lots of tasty hot dogs and cocoa, but the squirrel threat must be neutralized.
Strengths: The mysteries in these are rather clever, and I'm glad that the film noir device isn't used as heavily in this one. Pandini is actually a very complex character; most of the characters are a lot deeper than one would expect. That said, the students pick these up for the pictures.
Weaknesses: It didn't seem right that Zengo and O'Malley were surprised that Jo was a female police detective. It's 2015. Nothing new.
What I really think: I hope this doesn't go longer than five books. The first two are already looking very worn out, and while they are amusing, it will hurt to have to buy the entire series twice.

Gardner, Sally. Operation Bunny (Wings and Com. #1)
February 11th 2014 by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)

Emily Vole is found abandoned at a train station in a hatbox, and the Dashwoods, a Yuppie couple who want a child, adopt her. When she doesn't turn out to be the blonde, perfect child they want, they treat her as a servant, especially after their own triplets are born and go into commercial acting. Emily takes care of the house and children and is not educated or loved at all, until neighbor Miss String sees her out hanging laundry. Miss String and her talking (once human) cat, Fidget, step in to help with the housework and educate Emily while the triplets and Mrs. Dashwood are off working. Then, a tragedy occurs and Emily is plunged into a weird, magical world where she is needed to save the day.
Strengths: Fun, nonsensical romp in the tradition of Roald Dahl.
Weaknesses: I worry about the British and their parenting skills. Really worry. British children's books seem to have an overabundance of abandoned, abused children.
What I really thought: Would have loved this as a ten-year-old; have no readers for it. Paper-over-boards binding, which is starting to really irritate me!

OMG!!! OMG!!!

So, I'd talked to Mr. Barry's publicist, and had five copies of The Worst Class Trip Ever, and we had planned all sorts of activities on Twitter... Until it occurred to me that I don't have, you know, a smart phone.

This lead to my complete gobsmackedness and excessive fangirling when I came around a corner at the American History Museum in Washington, D.C.. And saw ... Dave Barry.

He'll probably block me on Twitter, but... OMG!!!

The Friendship Riddle/ The Year of the Three Sisters

Blakemore, Megan Frazier. The Friendship Riddle
May 5th 2015 by Bloomsbury USA Childrens
E ARC from Netgalley.com

Ruth is growing up in a small town in Maine with her Mom, who is a doctor in Rockport, and Mum, who travels a lot with her job as a software trainer. Ruth's former best friend was Charlotte, who lives in an apartment over the town library, which was redesigned by her one father. Her other father works in the library. Charlotte has become pretty and popular, adn would rather be with Melinda than Ruth, who doesn't care what she wears and is still obsessed with the Taryn Greenbottom books by reclusive writer Harriet Wexler. Ruth is invited to a mortifying play date with Lucas (who sounds like he might be on the autism spectrum), and starts to connect with the quirky Lena. She also makes a friend of Coco (Christopher), who offers to help her study for the local spelling bee. The big mystery in Ruth's life centers around a succession of notes found in the library and various other places. These notes seem old, and have a number of riddles that must be solved. With her new friends, Ruth makes pretty good headway on the clues. When dramatic snows ruin the library, she is forced to make an uneasy truce with Charlotte. In the end, an unlikely source is discovered for the notes.
Strengths: Nice diversity that isn't harped on-- two nontraditional families, and Charlotte has been adopted from China. Ruth's friendships develop in an understandable way. Her Mom is pushy about certain things (school lunches, the locker room), and that embarrasses Ruth. The mystery, while improbably, is interesting.
Weaknesses: This would have been a great book to hand to readers of either genders, except that there are lengthy discussions about Ruth wearing a bra and other puberty things that even I don't want to read about. Taking those out would have brought this to a more manageable length as well.
What I really think: I didn't buy that notes had been floating around for 20 years, and that they were dreamt up by someone with whom Ruth was familiar. Taryn Greenbottom? There were also too many details about the spelling bee-- reading lists of words was boring.

Cheng, Andrea. The Year of the Three Sisters
April 7th 2015 by HMH Books for Young Readers

In this fourth book in the series, Anna talks to her best friend, Andee, about trying to get her friend, Fan, to come to the US from China for a student exchange. In a typical Andee fashion, her friend organizes everything for Fan to be able to come over-- passport, school enrollment, money for the flight. What Andee doesn't understand is that in China, Fan works full time because her family are migrant Chinese, and forbidden from going to the "regular" schools in the city. Fan is grateful to be in the US, and studies very hard so that she can improve her family's life. Andee doesn't understand-- why doesn't Fan want to have more fun? Anna, who saw the conditions under which Fan lived in China, knows how hard it is for Fan to be away from her family, and tries to help with her transistion. Will this hurt her friendship with Andee?
Strengths: This was another charming book, and I enjoy these more the older Anna gets. The book shows real concerns treated by everyone in a supportive and helpful fashion. I did buy the other books in the series, and my 6th grade readers have picked them up. Perfect for elementary school, and good for lower lever middle school readers.
Weaknesses: Was a little hard to believe how quickly Fan was able to come to the states, but Cheng does mention all of the difficulties and paperwork that would be involved.
What I really think: Reading a generally upbeat, easy book is such a relief on some days. I would love it if Cheng wrote books with different middle school aged characters. That would make my day!

Lots of Bots and Ratscalibur

Richards, C.J. Lots of Bots (Robots Rule #2)
May 5th 2015 by Harcourt Brace and Company
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline

George is back after The Junkyard Bot, and starting his internship at Tinker Tech. On the bright side, his friend Anne Droid is there; on the down side, so is Patricia Volt and her MeBot Cookie, with whom Jackbot falls instantly in love. George has a series of mishaps that get him assigned to help the OCD Bot clean so he stays out of trouble. Tinker Tech is launching the new MOD device, a sort of less intrusive Google Glass that utilizes contact lenses and an ear bud, but which George discovers is part of an evil plot. His Uncle Otto is distracted because Mr. Freezie has offered him a lot of money for his junk yard, and Jackbot is so besotted that he isn't very helpful. After finding his parents' car in the junk yard and uncovering the symbol for Mercury, George knows he needs to hack into Dr. Micron's computer and find out what really happened to his parents. What he finds certainly gives enough of a plot for a third book!
Strengths: In some ways, this is the perfect middle grade novel. It's goofy but has tech stuff, appeals equally to both genders, has pictures in a notebook novel style, and has an orphan main character. This is generally upbeat in spite of the lack of parents, and has a good deal of action and adventure to boot. Very fun.
Weaknesses: I didn't find Uncle Otto's transformation into a mustard yellow polyester wearing social climber very funny, and it wasn't really all that necessary. I liked his character a lot and thought he supported George well, so his mishaps in this book were just sad to me.
What I really think: Definitely buying. Will never be on the shelves. Amused  me as well.

Buckley, Michael. Undertow.
May 5th 2015 by HMH Books for Young Readers
ARC from Baker and Taylor

Lyric lives in "the zone" on Coney Island, where her school is full of juvenile delinquents and there is a nearby camp of Alpha-- sea creatures that have come to land and are now trying to be integrated into US society, despite extreme prejudice against them, and efforts by protest groups as well as the governor to send them back. Lyric's father is a policeman, and he wants her to be very careful-- her mother is Sirena, and has to stay hidden most of the time. Lyric gets horrible migraines because of her mixed heritage, and when she is approached by the new school principal/CIA type guy to befriend the head of the Alpha, it is an added stress. She and her family would love to leave the Zone, since they are the only mixed Alpha family that remains, and the principal has forged documents for her mother that they badly leave. It's difficult to get away, though, especially since her best friend, Bex, is horribly abused at home and looks to Lyrics family to help her. Will the situation between humans and Alpha ever get resolved? Not right away, because this seems to be a three book series.
Strengths: This certainly drew me in and kept me reading. Lyric and her family were intriguing characters, the setting was very vivid, and there was a lot of excitement and action.
Weaknesses: This was super, super, super depressing. Is Coney Island really that bad? Lyric talks about her school even before the Alpha as being really horrible. Lyric's headaches are horrible. Bex's entire life is horrible.  The Alpha are horrible, and I never felt like there was a good reason for them to come to land. They were desperately unhappy there, very violent within their own community, and the humans hated them. It was like the Little Rock Nine reenacted in Brooklyn with Merpeople who didn't really want to be integrated.
What I really think: Would have thought about purchasing-- fans of Dystopia don't mind super depressing. However, this one comes too close to the YA line for me when it discusses condoms early on in an unnecessary scene with Lyric's crush, so I think I will pass. Intriguing, though.

Lieb, Josh. Ratscalibur
5 May 2015, Razorbill
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline

Joey and his mother are settling in to the big city, but being down on their luck isn't nearly as difficult a situation as Joey's is when he is turned into a rat, must survive on the streets AND is chosen as the one who will help save the rats from encroaching evil. Fans of Selden's Cricket in Times Square, O'Briens' Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, and especially Jacques' Redwall will enjoy this tale of inner city ratventure.

Interestingly enough, one of our teachers was recommending White's Once and Future King to students, so I'm on an Arthur kick. I don't know about this one, though. Kind of lost me at the spork in the scone, but I strongly suspect my extreme aversion to talking animals is prejudicing me against this. My students love Lieb's I am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil, so this may be one of those books I Just Don't Get.

MMGM- The Worst Class Trip EVER

It's Marvelous Middle Grade Monday at Ramblings of a Wannabe Scribe and What Are You Reading? day at Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers. It's also Nonfiction Monday.


Barry, Dave. The Worst Class Trip EVER.
May 5th 2015 by Disney-Hyperion
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline

Wyatt and his friend Matt sometimes get into trouble, but not the kind of trouble they manage to find when their 8th grade class travels from Miami to Washington, D.C. on a field trip. The two think that the men sitting behind them in the airplane are terrorists because of comments they make and the fact that one of them doesn't want to relinquish his backpack. The two get into a kerfluffle with the men on the airplane that almost makes their chaperon, Mr. Barto, want to send them back... but nothing really happened, and it's too much trouble to send them. The boys realize, however, that the men know their names AND the name of the tour bus they are on, and since Matt has taken something that turns out to be a radar jammer out of their backpack, they are definitely chasing the boys. They find them, and when the jammer is in the possession of Suzana, the cute girl whom Wyatt likes who is in the room next door, the men take Matt with them. Realizing that his disappearance might set off alarms in the chaperons, Wyatt and Suzana use realistic ruses to cover up his absence. Eventually, they track down Matt's location using the GPS finder on his cell phone and manage to get him out-- only to have another classmate, Cameron, taken hostage. More trouble with Mr. Barto ensues, but the high jinks and sightseeing continue. Eventually, the group realizes that the men they are tracking might actually be the good guys, and Wyatt and his friends have to save the day in a hysterically funny way, since they messed up the good guys' plans.
Strengths: While school elections, dances, bullying and newspapers are WAY overdone in middle grade lit, field trip books are not. This is beyond brilliant, and shows that Barry has either been a chaperon on such a trip or grilled some chaperon mercilessly to get him information. I love Suzana as much as Wyatt does because she "is basically a Navy SEAL disguised as a hot eighth-grade girl". I would LOVE to read more about Wyatt in another book!
Weaknesses: Wyatt points out on too many occasions that his mother is very loud because she is Cuban. While it's nice that Wyatt is half Cuban, this seems to be an overuse of stereotype and made me uncomfortable.
What I really think: If Dave Barry would promise to devote his entire life to writing middle grade fiction, he could come and live in my spare room, and I would bring him meals and do his laundry so he could write ALL THE TIME. The man is brilliant. This book restored my faith in middle grade fiction. I am buying a copy for everyone I know, especially the 8th grade social studies teachers at my school.

Atkinson, Rick. Battle of the Bulge
5 May 2015 by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
E ARC from Netgalley.com

Do you have boys who frequent your library who are keenly interested in WWII? There are fewer now than there were, but it is still a topic that inspires a level of fanaticism other topics do not. Our school curriculum no longer covers this era, but the books still circulate well. This new book is a youth oriented reworking of part of this author's Guns at Last Light, just as the companion volume, D-Day, is. 

This is a tremendous resource for readers with an avid interest. Key players are explained, and their motivations examined in minute detail. Military maneuvers are given the same treatment. Plentiful pictures add tremendously to the text. This would be a great starting place for a WWII based History Day project, and is a very readable nonfiction book for those interested in the topic.

That said, it was WAY too much information for me; I have to admit that I skimmed a great deal!

Wild Hearts

Burkhart, Jessica. Wild Hearts
May 5th 2015 by Bloomsbury USA Childrens
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline

Brie's family moves to Wyoming, where her land developer father is going to build a hotel. Brie is homeschooled, and misses her older sister, Kate, who is a reporter in California. On their way in to town, traffic is stopped by a bison herd, and a local boy yells at her. This turns out to be Logan, who works several jobs around town to help out his family farm, which is experiencing rough times. Brie loves her new house and is excited about being in a new place, but is worried about local opposition to her father's project, which will wipe out land that wild mustangs have used for years. Logan and his father support the mustangs as well, but the attraction between Brie and Logan is unmistakable, and the two date even though Brie's parents forbid it. The two even manage to spend the night herding steers into the mountains, with the help of one of Brie's new girlfriends. Eventually, Brie and Logan are found out, but they mange to find an unusual way around the problem so that the mustangs are okay and the hotel is able to be built.
Strengths: Brie and Logan are in luuuuuurve, and there's lots of kissing and hand holding, but nothing objectionable. The descriptions of the horses and the scenery are great, and this had a twist to it that I didn't see coming. Other nice touched include Brie and her sister having their mother's name, and their mother having a career as a photojournalist.
Weaknesses: The solution to the mustangs didn't seem quite right to me-- the herd is basically dismantled, gentled, and ready to be sold. But I know nothing about raising horses in the west, so maybe this is okay.
What I really think: This series reads like Harlequin Romances for very young high schoolers, but that's why they are so great-- nothing instructional, and I have a lot of students asking for romances.

My Life in Dioramas

Altebrando, Tara. My Life in Dioramas
April 28th 2015 by Running Press Kids

Copy received from publisher

Kate enjoys her life in her family's old house. Both of her parents freelance, so there's lots of time for them to do things together. The problems is that they are struggling financially, and decide to sell the large farmhouse and move in with Kate's grandparents, who live about an hour away. Kate is upset because she would have to leave her good friends Stella and Naveen, and she would miss a big dance competition. Stella also dances, and the two have always been close, but Stella wants to train for a solo dance, and starts hanging out with girls that Kate doesn't like. In order to postpone the sale of the house (hopefully indefinitely), Kate works with Naveen to find ways to make the house unattractive to visitors. She fills a bean bag chair with bags of manure, plans lots of noise when showings are to take place, and generally does anything she can to scare off prospective buyers. Knowing her efforts won't put off things forever, she tries to recreate every room in the house in shoebox dioramas. Her parents get a bit more organized, but the house eventually sells.
Strengths: Lots of funny moments, and realistic problems. Moving, mean girls, trouble in school-- those are age-appropriate concerns of middle grade readers, and I like that they are addressed with humor and positive movement.
Weaknesses: A tad on the whiny/sad side, and the art (in the ARC) isn't the type that appeals to my readers.
What I really think: While I'm really fed up with books with dysfunctional parents, Kate's are at least able to hold things together. There was enough humor in this that I will buy it, and readers who like realistic fiction will pick it up, although a peppier cover would help.

Guy Friday- Petlandia

Hannan, Peter. Petlandia.
April 28th 2015 by Scholastic Press
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline

Madame Wigglesworth is fed up with her people after they have the audacity to bring home Grub, a dog, and rub his belly as if it were sacred. After he gets a better Halloween costume than she does, she forms a plan-- the humans must go. With the help of Honeybaked Hamster and Clowny the fish, the humans' bed is pushed out into the yard, and the doors locked against them. All goes well until a vote ends in GRUB being the president. This clearly won't wrok, so Madame brings rats up from the basement to count toward the vote. During her reign, she insists on being waited on hand and paw, so Grub retaliates by bringing in some frogs. This struggle goes back and forth (as no humans appear, and the house gets messier and messier!), and eventually the insect population, especially termites, exceeds the "pet" population.
Strengths: While students will be attracted by the pictures and the goofy pets, I thought this had some interesting messages about power, and had an almost folk tale feel to the story. If all notebook novels made me laugh this much, I wouldn't mind some students being so addicted to them.
Weaknesses: I'm betting on a paper-over-board binding. Sigh. Maybe I'll be wrong, but with the wear these books get, I wish there were old fashioned Gibraltar Bound bindings.
What I really think: I've been looking for notebook novels for my struggling readers, and this is perfect. At 144 pages, with a lot of pictures, this will never be on the shelf and is actually much funnier than something like Hissy Fitz. Madame Wigglesworth is a hoot!

I've always felt conflicted about my "books for boys" focus. I do believe that it is harder to find books for boys-- not as many are written and published. I'm expecting a shipment from Half Price Books of books to pass out to children after all the library books are due, and out of six huge boxes, my bet is that no more than three will be about football or basketball. The vast majority will have pretty girls in ballgowns on the cover.

We are currently doing a Princess in Black promotion where we are trying to fill up the circulation card with ALL BOYS. The girls are welcome to read the book, of course, but we want to mail the card to Shannon Hale to show her that we don't agree that only middle school girls should be invited to here her speak. If I can get 8th grade boys to check out Princess in Black and admit that it's amusing, I will have no trouble getting everyone in the school to read the following:


Jamieson, Victoria. Roller Girl.
March 10th 2015 by Dial Books

In this graphic novel, Astrid and Nicole have been best friends for years, but after Astrid becomes enamored of roller derby and signs up for a summer program, the troubles that the two have had get bigger. Astrid lies to her mother that Nicole is also in the program, choosing to walk home a good distance than admit Nicole's mother can't pick her up. Learning to skate is difficult, and hard work, but Astrid idolizes Rainbow Bite of the Rose City Rollers, so hangs in there and puts in the hard work. She makes new friends, dies her hair, and eventually comes clean to her mother and makes her peace with Nicole.
Strengths: Since students will read books about extreme dental trauma or bratty siblings on a boring car trip if done in this format, this is a no brainer. Sports, friend drama, independence-- all things students like. Wanting to do something that turns out to require a lot of hard work, and a child who is willing to put in that hard work-- something I like! We need more books about students with particular interests and passions. Decent dust jacketed binding as well. It's like Christmas! Buying two copies.
Weaknesses: There were a couple of scenes, like the hair dying, that dragged a bit, but in general this was well plotted, had characters that grew during the book, and rang true.
What I really think: Liked this much better than a lot of graphic novels, although anything that encourages students to dye their hair and glamorizes tattoos is never going to be my personal favorite!

British Boarding Schools are Dangerous Places

Stevens, Robin. Murder is Bad Manners.
21 April 2015, Simon and Schuster BFYR
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline

Daisy and Hazel attend Deepdean, a girls' boarding school, in 1930s England. Hazel feels a bit out of place, being from Hong Kong, but is thrilled when (after initially being a bit mean) Daisy befriends her and asks her to help with her detective agency. There aren't a lot of things to investigate... until Hazel happens upon the body of the science teacher, Miss Bell, lying bloodied on the gym floor! Hazel runs to get Daisy, but when they return, the body is gone, and the school claims that Miss Bell has gone away. The girls are quick to detail all of the clues, make a list of suspects, and methodically figure out which of the teachers, from Miss Bell's roommate to a dashing young male teacher to a poor drunken Latin mistress who is jealous of Miss Bell. They have to hide their efforts from the staff, but when they accuse one teacher of committing the crime and that teacher later turns up dead, they know that something particularly bad is going on, and they eventually involve law enforcement. Of course, their brilliant detective work is able to solve the crime.
Strengths: The detective work that the girls do is first rate, and clearly inspired by the author's background with Agatha Christie-type mysteries. In a perfect world, reading this book would encourage a tween to pick up Dorothy Sayers. Since it is a murder mystery, and students ask for those so much, I think I will buy it.
Weaknesses: All of my weaknesses are nitpicky. I'm not fond of the bubble gum on the cover-- it would have been fairly new at this time period. There is also one mention of a man using gel in his hair; I would have loved if Brylcreem or Brilliantine or even Macassar oil (my grandmother had honest-to-goodness antimacassars and CALLED them that!) had been mentioned. There are a fair number of historical details, but I just wanted more, I guess.

I also was a bit unsure about Hazel referring to herself as Oriental. With the #WeNeedDiverseBooks movement, it's been hammered in to me that that term is only used for rugs and food, and the preferred term today is Asian. I've come to the conclusion that when I was young, I must have been told that using the term Asian was rude and Oriental was more polite, because I find myself slipping and using the term Oriental much too often! In a historical book, using the term used at the time is probably correct; I've just had so much trouble with the term that I bristled at it.

There was also a dismissal of "pashes" being not really love, so people shouldn't be bothered by them. This differs from my understanding of them, so I would rather the term not have been mentioned. The way it's handled seems... odd.

What I really think: Despite my petty objections, I enjoyed this very much. Apparently, any book set in a British boarding school in the first part of the 20th century, especially one illustrated with silhouettes, is one that I want to buy.

Kerr, Esme. The Girl with the Glass Bird
March 31st 2015 by Chicken House (first published May 1st 2014)
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline

Edie's parents have died, and her grandmother goes blind and is sent to a nursing home, so Edie must go to her aunt's house, where she is miserable, tormented by her cousins who do really evil things like catch and eat her large goldfish. Luckily, her cousin Charles is doing business with the Russian prince Stolonov, whose daughter Anastasia is enrolled in the strict, Luddite Knight's Haddon school but having problems there. Edie is offered a position-- she may go to the school, but must figure out why Anastasia says her possessions go missing, she becomes injured, etc. Edie is glad to get away, and quickly befriends Anastasia, who seems fairly normal, even though odd things do seem to happen to her. Since Anastasia's mother has some mental difficulties, she does worry that she is imagining all of the bad things. There is more intrigue at the school as well-- Edie's mother attended the school, and there was some bad feeling between her and some members of staff. The situation with Anastasia escalates, but Edie is able to figure out that there is a real threat, and it comes from members of staff! Her quick thinking saves the day and insures that she will be able to stay with her new friend at Knight's Haddon.
Strengths: Again, the details of life in a British boarding school, this time a modern day one, are intriguing. The psychological manipulation and scheming surrounding Anastasia are actually more criminal than the cover would indicate.
Weaknesses: The involvement of the mystery with Edie's background complicated an already complicated story.
What I really think: Quite a good mystery, but there are only so many books set in British boarding schools that I can force children to read. I will probably not purchase this one.

Primavera, Elise. Ms. Rapscott's Girls. 
March 10th 2015 by Dial Books

The founder of the Great Rapscott School for the Daughters of Busy Parents (which is more US than British) draws on her own childhood experience as the daughter of scientists to provide what she thinks is the necessary care for five daughters of the busiest parents in the world. Four of these arrive in flying, post paid boxes, and are cleaned up, outfitted with sturdy boots, and sent on an adventure to find the fifth girl, Dahlia, whose box was not properly fastened and who is lost. Bea, Mildred, Fay and Annabelle must try to get hopelessly lost on purpose in order to find her, and have all manner of adventures along the way. Ms. Rapscott provides them with the world's most comfortable beds, proper adventuring attire, and plenty of cocoa. Helping out are the very clever corgis, Lewis and Clark. In addition to solving the mystery of Dahlia, the girls have to learn all of the things that they were missing-- how to brush their teeth, what birthday cakes are, and (most of all) to appreciate adventure.

Accompanied by the author's copious illustrations (ala The Invention of Hugo Cabret, many of them help tell the story), this quirky and charming boarding school balances outings where the girls get swept away by the wind to desolate islands with cozy surroundings like the Bumbershoot tree which keeps them warm and dry. The hunt for Dahlia seems almost leisurely, which is fine, because she is found to be very safe and well cared for. Most of the book is very anecdotal, with etiquette and practical skill sessions interspersed with adventures in all weather... and lots of birthday cake.

The girls really have no choice but to become better people throughout the course of the book, benefiting as they do from the attention of an adult as well as some life lessons.. They are all well delineated, separate characters, and their parenting backgrounds expose their weaknesses. Bea can only get the attention of her parents by screaming. Mildred is used to spending lazy days alone in her pajamas. Fay is a timid soul who is very concerned about the whereabouts of Dahlia, and Annabelle is intellectually precocious. I thought that the story of Ms. Rapscott herself, which is touched upon lightly, was really the most interesting one in the book, and an encounter before the girls are sent home for break leads me to believe that there may be further volumes in this series, and perhaps a romance for the teacher.

Ms. Rapscott's Girls is a happier version of The Series of Unfortunate Events, and will appeal to younger readers who like quirky, unusual adventures away from parents. Mary Poppins, Mrs. Pigglewiggle, Nanny Piggins, Harvey's Alice-Miranda books,and other books with fantastical elements and a good sense of humor are logical companions to this boarding school where much can be accomplished as long as one keeps ones' wits about oneself, ones' mittens on, and ones' appetite supplied with much birthday cake... and the occasional ice cream.

That said, this was so impossibly twee it was hard to finish. Many reviewers have said that their 8-year-old self would have adored this, but their grown up self wanted to scream, and I would have to occur with this. I have no patience for twee, and most middle school students aren't fond of it, either. When trying to define "twee" for my 21 year old daughter, I came up with the title "Little Lucy Sparklepants and the Fluffybunnikins Adventure". Too much sugar!