Gabby Garcia's Ultimate Playbook

Palmer, Iva-Marie. Gabby Garcia's Ultimate Playbook
May 9th 2017 by Katherine Tegen Books
ARC from Publisher at ALA

Gabby's year is going very well, and she's just about to make the most brilliant baseball play of her life when her world comes crashing down-- the principal tells everyone that the area around the school must be evacuated because of asbestos. Even worse, the students will all have to go to other schools! (Actually somewhat realistic. My daughter spent her 3rd grade year in a high school building for this very reason!) Gabby has to go to the private Piper Bell school. She has a plan, which she details in her "playbook" (which is not a diary!). She wears her baseball jersey so the kids know who she is, but all does not go well. She is called a "Luther polluter" and has a disastrous time at practice. It's late in the season, but the coach gives her a try; things just don't go well. When she tries to bring cookies to school, her lunch explodes all over them, further damaging her social credibility. Eventually, she decides to play hockey for the most disorganized team on the planet. The real advantage of the hockey team seems to be that the players all have a "special talent", and it's decided that Gabby will be the team poet. She is leery of this, but agrees to try. Of course, her need to do a poetry event is in conflict with a hockey one, and she needs to decide how she will handle it.
Strengths: I really liked Gabby. She's sort of a more realistic Big Nate. She means well, she has a plan, but things don't seem to work out for her. She has a supportive family, her best friend is away but occasionally in contact, and she is passionate about sports. She also has some of the realistic flaws that middle school students have-- she has unrealistic expectations, she doesn't think things through quite as much as she should, and she's mortified when things don't go well. She's willing to face consequences, however-- there is a very nice scene where she feeds the neighbor's dog chicken with mole sauce, which sickens the dog, and she admits to doing this, not realizing that the mole sauce would make the dog sick. I always need more books with girls playing sports, and this has a great cover, and the interior illustrations are nice.
Weaknesses: This comes in at 286 pages, which is long for a realistic middle grade book. While I understand the function of the poetry portion of this, cutting it would have made this a much stronger book. I love poetry, but it didn't quite make sense for Gabby's character.
What I really think: I will purchase this, but the length might make it a hard sell. Kids who like sports book usually play sports and usually have less time for reading!
 

Thick as Thieves

Turner, Megan Whalen. Thick as Thieves (The Queen's Thief #5)
May 16th 2017 by Greenwillow Books
ARC from Baker and Taylor

Kemet displeases his master Nahuseresh and is badly beaten. While he is still recuperating, he is approached by an Attolian who asks him to meet at the docks so that he can go to Attolia and gain his freedom. Kemet assumes that the Attolian means to kill him, but when his master is poisoned, his friend and fellow slave Laela tells him to flee. Seeing no other choice, he meets the man and ends up fleeing with him across the kingdom. They are hunted as escpaed slaves and travel from town to town trying to stay safe. They are constantly losing their money and clothing only to be given an opportunity to get back on their feet so that they can make it a little further before losing everything again. Eventually, they work their way onto a ship because the Attolian has an earring with a royal seal on it. When they get to the palace, Kemet is surprised by who the king is, and warily accepts his freedom in exchange for all of the information he knows about the Medes. Kemet never feels safe, and works to figure out some future for himself where he can feel free and unthreatened.
Strengths: The writing was very intriguing, and the mystery unfolded at a nice pace. I have only read the first two books, and those long ago, but I got the feeling that if I were familiar with the story I would understand quite well what was going on. Kemet is an interesting character, as is the Attolian, and the characters in Attolia have interesting motives.
Weaknesses: I cannot get my students to check out the first book. This might be due to the cover on the 1996 edition of The Thief that is in my library.
What I really think: If I could get all five books with covers similar to the one above, I would definitely buy this for fans of Flanagan's The Ranger's Apprentice or Pierce's Alanna series. The new covers for the Alanna books have been a HUGE help in enticing students to read those. Still, I can get books 3-5, so am debating purchase.

Giveaway- Girling Up

Bialik, Mayim, Girling Up: How to be Strong, Smart and Spectacular.
May 9th 2017 by Philomel Books

Copy provided by the publisher

While I absolutely would have gotten a copy of this for my own personal daughters, it has a bit too much information for me to feel comfortable handing it to other people's daughters. Since I have a copy the publisher sent me, I'll be glad to forward it to one lucky winner! Make sure your comment links back to your blog or gives me some way to contact you.

From the publisher:

Mayim Bialik, star of The Big Bang Theory, puts her Ph.D. to work as she talks to teens about the science of growing up and getting ahead. A must-have book for all teenage girls.

Growing up as a girl in today's world is no easy task. Juggling family, friends, romantic relationships, social interests and school sometimes it feels like you might need to be a superhero to get through it all! But really, all you need is little information.

Want to know why your stomach does a flip-flop when you run into your crush in the hallway? Or how the food you put in your body now will affect you in the future? What about the best ways to stop freaking out about your next math test?

Using scientific facts, personal anecdotes, and wisdom gained from the world around us, Mayim Bialik, the star of The Big Bang Theory, shares what she has learned from her life and her many years studying neuroscience to tell you how you grow from a girl to a woman biologically, psychologically and sociologically.

Enter to win a copy!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

MMGM- The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora

It's MMGM at Ramblings of a Wannabe Scribe and #IMWAYR at Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers. It's also Nonfiction Monday. 

We're kicking off the blog tour for The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora! See below for the link to enter the giveaway of this fun new title. 

Week One:

May 15 – Ms. Yingling Reads – Review

May 16 – Here’s to Happy Endings – Guest Post

May 17 – Folded Pages Distillery – Review

May 18 – All Done Monkey – Review

May 19 – Margie’s Must Reads – Guest Post

Week Two:

May 22 – Four Violet – Review

May 23 – YA Book Central – Excerpt

May 24 – Little Earthling Blog – Review

May 25 – The Reading Nook Reviews – Review

May 26 – The Boy Reader

Cartaya, Pablo. The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora
May 16th 2017 by Viking Books for Young Readers
ARC provided by Young Adult Books Central

Arturo lives in a very close knit community-- his family owns an apartment building, and his family, his grandmother, and most of his aunts and uncles live there. This summer, even a friend of his mother's is staying at the complex with his daughter, Carmen, to regroup after the death of Carmen's mother. Arturo is oddly drawn to her, but reminds himself that she is practically his cousin! There's a lot going on in his abuela's restaurant, La Cocina de la Isla, where his mother is the head chef. Not onlky does Arturo have a job as a junior dishwasher, but the family is trying to expand the place in order to do more business. The only problem? The slick Wilfrido Pipo comes to Canal Grove and wants to put up Pipo Place. This new apartment building will have it all, and Wilfrido is trying to get community buy in by having lots of parties and promising to increase business to the area. The problem? His plan involves tearing down abuela's restaurant! The family goes all out to save it, but will it be enough to appeal to Canal Grove's sense of family? And will Arturo be able to talk to Carmen without too many "epic fails"?

Weaving in some Spanish vocabulary, this warm tale of family, food and friends is a delightful change from the standard tales of gloom and doom coming out for middle grade readers. I loved that the Zamoras were able to work together without too much family drama, and that their community valued their contributions. While there were some sad things (the death of Carmen's mother before the book opens, and another death during it), they were handled with resilience and pragmatism. No one becomes inconsolable and unable to function, which I thought was much more realistic. There is even a scene where Arturo's mother asks him to help with the funeral dinner-- she cries over her loss but is able to go on, even using the cooking to bond with Arturo and help him through the situation, instead of being unable to care for him. We need to see more of these coping skills in middle grade literature!

There is an interesting sub plot involving Arturo's growing interest in poetry which ties into his discovery of Carmen as a girl instead of a "cousin" that will intrigue readers, and perhaps get them to investigate the work of Jose Marti. This was another instance of bringing a more hopeful tone to the story-- Arturo's grandfather was fond of Marti's work, and Arturo gets to know more about his deceased grandfather through reading journals he had kept when he moved to the US.

While the family's Cuban heritage is vividly portrayed, it is integral to the story instead of being the main focus. Family, and the family business, figures largely, and Arturo's teenage concerns are paramount. Will he be taken seriously as a dishwasher? Can he care for his abuela? What will happen to his family if the restaurant goes under? Does Carment like him? Readers will identify with these concerns while having a window into what it would be like to live in a close knit Florida community.

Fans of Johnson's The Great Green Heist, Grabenstein's Wonderland Motel series, and Paul Acampora's books about the adventures of middle grade boys will gobble up The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora... and probably get hungry for churros while reading this humorous and insightful tale.

Click here to enter the  Rafflecopter giveaway !
GIVEAWAY LEGAL COPY: Enter for a chance to win one (1) of five (5) copies of The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora by Pablo Cartaya (ARV: $16.99 each). NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Enter between 12:00 AM Eastern Time on May 15, 2017 and 12:00 AM on May 29, 2017. Open to residents of the fifty United States and the District of Columbia who are 13 and older. Winners will be selected at random on or about June 2, 2017. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received. Void where prohibited or restricted by law.

The Summer of Bad Ideas

Stewart, Kiera. The Summer of Bad Ideas
May 2nd 2017 by HarperCollins
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline

Cousins Edie and Rae end up spending longer at their recently deceased grandmother's home in Florida than their families had expected. While their grandmother was good at having adventures, she was bad at keeping her house in good order, and the parents spend a lot of time repairing things while the cousins, along with Edie's precocious twin siblings, are able to investigate the vibrant community that mourns their grandmother's loss. Edie is scared of many things, but gains a new sense of adventure and bravery while dealing with her family in a new setting.
Strengths: This was a great improvement over all of the books I read with dead siblings and parents-- middle grade readers are more likely to face the death of a grandparent. The parents are supportive, there is trouble to be found, and Edie and her cousin have admirable freedom.
Weaknesses: The  nondescript cover and the bald description of this book may make it harder to recommend than this author's very popular Fetching and How to Break a Heart.
What I really think: I will purchase a copy of this if I have money left, and if the book has an Accelerated Reader test written for it!

Cartoon Saturday- Lots of books with pictures

Holly Kowitt. The Principal's Underwear Is Missing
May 2nd 2017 by Feiwel & Friends
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline

When geeky 6th grader Becca accidentally breaks popular 8th grader Selfie's arm with a dodge ball, she tries to apologize, but it's hard to approach middle school royalty. She catches Selfie in the middle of a crisis, and after she helps out, gets drawn into Selfie's world in a weird way. Becca retrieves the teen queen's shopping bag from the principal's office, but grabs the wrong one, and the two end up with the principal's gigantic bra. Of course, it falls into the wrong hands, and these evil doers plan to run it up the flag pole and post it on YouTube. This would mean big trouble for both girls, so they work together with their various friend groups in order to restore the undergarment to its rightful owner without any publicity.
Strengths: I loved The Loser List, and it's held up surprisingly well for paper-over-boards (for six years!) and been popular. This has the same Notebook Novel format, and will appeal to fans of The Dork Diaries and The Clique.
Weaknesses: I found this surprisingly unrealistic, and the stereotypes were odd. Becca is a dork, Selfie is a fashion obsessed popularity hound, and the characters and plot felt stale.
What I really think: Students will love this, and I won't be sad when it falls apart, but I was just really surprised that this wasn't better. I thought that The Loser List was more nuanced and thoughtful.

Libenson, Terri. Invisible Emmie
May 2nd 2017 by Balzer + Bray
ARC provided by Young Adult Books Central

Emmie is not comfortable in middle school-- she has curly hair, is a late bloomer, and is artistic. She tries to stay under everyone's radar. In alternating chapters, we also meet Kate, who is fabulous, has everyone as a friend, and is everything Emmie is not. Emmie does have one friend, Brianna, but even that relationship is rocky. Her parents are busy, school makes her anxious, and the boy on whom she has a crush, Tyler, asks out Kate! Just when she thinks things can't get any worse, a poem she has written about Tyler falls out of her notebook and picked up by the obnoxious Joseph, and everyone starts to make fun of her. Can Kate help Emmie to stand up for herself?

This book will be immediately popular because of the format. Kate's chapters are in comic strip form, while Emmie's are in Notebook novel form. Not only that, but it is filled with cringe worthy moments, and middle school students all experience some of these, no matter how "popular" they are! Reading about similar things in books makes their own problems seem less severe.

It was interesting that while Emmie felt that her own image left something to be desired, she still refereed to her classmates in unflattering terms like Smelly Kid and Brainiacs (complete with propeller beanies). Kate's depiction is a bit over the top, but we eventually find out why that is. It was nice to see Emmie grow and get over her anxiety, and the character of Tyler was nicely done.

Middle school can be difficult, but it helps if it can be approached with some humor. Invisible Emmie is a great choice for readers who like middle school stories about students struggling to fit in that are combined with pictures. Read alikes for this include Vivat's Frazzled, Wells' Mackenzie Blue, and Barshaw's Ellie McDoodle.

Brockington, Drew. Catstronauts: Mission Moon
April 18th 2017 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Public Library Copy

When a global energy crisis threatens to cut off all of the power in the US, the president contacts the World's Best Scientist to come up with a plan sexy enough to sell to the US people-- the two decide that traveling to the moon to install solar panels that will be able to send enough power to earth is the answer. The catstronauts are chosen to man the mission, even though they feel it is appropriate to fix a crucial piece of equipment with yarn. This imperils them, but luckily another cat broke the rules and snuck his robot on board, thereby saving the day.
Strengths: I liked the drawing style and the color palette, and the cats were funny. A lot of reviews have mentioned the STEM tie in. The amount and size of text is very much what my graphic novel readers want.
Weaknesses: The complete lack of alternatives to the energy crisis struck me as odd, as did the catstronauts slap-dash approach to a serious mission. It left me feeling uncomfortable. If this were pure fun, like Blabey's Bad Guys, it would be amusing, but the many suggestions I've seen to tie it in with science make me a bit uncomfortable.
What I really think: Might buy a prebind in a year or two, but these never live long enough in my library for the smell to abate otherwise. Seriously. Why do these smell so bad? The ink? The paper? Inquiring minds want to know.


Siegel, Mark. The Sand Warrior (5 Worlds #1)
May 2nd 2017 by Random House Books for Young Readers
Public Library Copy

Basically, this is "only tweens can save the world" in graphic novel format. High fantasy, with requisite bullying of the ones who will save the world. Fans of Stevenson's Nimona  or the Faith Hicks The Nameless City will adore this, but my graphic novel readers tend to like the easy-to-read graphic novels like Squish: Super Amoeba, and my fantasy fans turn up their nose at graphic novels. It doesn't help that graphic novels tend to be expensive, fall apart easily, and have a weird smell from the ink that gives me a headache. I will let the public library buy these.

Guy Friday- Fair Ball

Even More Blather:
Clearly, the end of the year hits me hard, and I often find myself crying over things like Constance Green's A Girl Called Al or, this morning, Tommy Greenwald's The Real Us. (Go. Go to Edelweiss Above the Treeline RIGHT NOW and download an E ARC.).

I'm tired. 7th grade classes have been working on Renaissance Fair Projects all week and have managed to get glitter banned from the library, I'm trying to move all of the nonfiction to the wall so I have more room for fiction, the workroom sink is permanently clogged, and I haven't even begun to panic about getting all of the books returned.

I just spent another eight weeks in an orthopedic boot, which made chaperoning 8th graders in D.C. a bit more challenging. The summer will be spent in physical therapy and swimming and biking rather than running. On the bright side, my forearms are NOT sore. Or my ears. My ears are good.

There are other bright sides. We have about 80 students interested in Cross Country for next year. The students are so sad that the books are due. They hover over the donated books like teenage boys eyeing the last piece of pizza. And David Lubar sent me a sweet e mail that included the line "Thanks, again, for all you do. "

So! Another cup of tea, a wad of tissues, and I think I will wait until this evening to review Sonnenblick's The Secret Sheriff of Sixth Grade so I'm not a soggy mess when the day starts!



Jeter, Derek and Mantell, Paul. Fair Ball (The Contract #4)
April 18th 2017 by Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline

The Indians are in the final four of the Kalamazoo baseball championship, and Derek hopes that his team can work together to win. He's also hoping that for his birthday he can invite his friend Dave for a week at his grandparents' house. He and Dave are also supposed to have a sleepover, but Dave keeps backing out and doesn't want to talk about it. Sharlee is taking a karate class, and one of Derek's teammates, Gary, is taking it as well but doing very poorly. Vijay is a little irritated with Derek's insistence on being friends with Dave when he seems to want to avoid Derek. All of this puts stress on the team, and even brings down Derek's grades a bit. Eventually, Dave's parents' problems with Derek's family are worked out, and the team is able to come together. Will they win the championship?
Strengths: This is a good length for a middle grade sports book, had a lot of baseball, and incorporated important life lessons. The best part is always Derek's supportive family.
Weaknesses: I wish that Derek were a little older, and the big discussion of diversity in the middle of the book really slowed things down and seemed overly preachy.
What I really think: Baseball books aren't as popular as other sports books in my library, but these are a solid circulator and I will no doubt buy the entire nine book series.

The Bonaventure Adventures

Delaney, Rachelle. The Bonaventure Adventures
May 2nd 2017 by Puffin Books
Copy received from the publisher

Sebastian travels with his family all over Europe with the circus his father runs. Times are tough-- the circus is not getting the audiences it needs to remain solvent, and his father, Dragan, eventually sells all of the animals to a zoo. Seb has no circus abilities, but feels that the circus is outdated. When he finds letter to his father from an Angelique Saint-Germain asking that Seb be sent to her circus school in Montreal, he comes up with a plan. He will attend the school, find out what needs to be done to modernize the family circus, and save the day. His father isn't thrilled with the plan, but he manages to get to the exclusive school. He quickly realizes that Angelique thinks his father will give her decrepit school money to survive, and manages to keep his lack of circus skills a secret by claiming to be a fire breather. He makes friends with Frankie and Banjo, who are also frequently in trouble, and together the misfits find a way to try to save both the Bonaventure School and the Konstantinov Family Circus.
Strengths: This was a realistic view of the problems modern circuses are facing, which was refreshing. The circus and the school were both a little quirky, but in an understandable way. Seb, Banjo and Frankie were sympathetic characters who tried to do what was right, and the problems they were trying to solve were important but within their skill set to solve. The Montreal setting was interesting as well. I'm a sucker for a cover with silhouettes.
Weaknesses: I was vaguely confused about Sebastian's origins and about what language he was speaking. A small quibble.
What I really think: I enjoyed this one more than I thought I would, and it is available through Follett's US web site. Definitely take a look if circus tales are popular in your library.

Blather:
Occasionally, when I am reading through SLJ for book reviews, I am alarmed by how many books I discard because of ONE SENTENCE in the description. Totally justified, really, in not buying a book that has "wandering rabbit bard" in the description. It's sort of like "Name That Tune"-- what combination of words will make me stop reading. "Rabbit bard" in and of itself stops me in my tracks!

Still over 500 books out. They were due on Tuesday, but I told students if they can get the books back in by first thing Monday morning, that's okay. I'm not so much worried about books due 9 May-- it's the books due back in November that worry me!

Also, spending quality time condensing the nonfiction so that I can have another row of shelving for fiction. That will be fun!

Clayton Byrd Goes Underground

Williams-Garcia. Clayton Byrd Goes Underground.
May 9th 2017, Amistad
ARC from Publisher at ALA

Clayton loves to hang out with his grandfather, Cool Papa, and play the blues at Washington Square Park with his grandfather's band. Clayton desperately wants to have a solo, but Cool Papa tells him he's not quite ready. The two do this whenever Clayton's mother has a long nursing shift, since she is not thrilled with Clayton taking part in these activities. Since Cool Papa frequenly was on the road when she was growing up, Clayton's mother is very bitter about the music. When Cool Papa passes away unexpectedly, she acts on this bitterness by selling or giving away every last possession of his, although Clayton manages to keep a blues harp and a hat his grandfather favored. Since he was so close to his grandfather, Clayton takes his death very hard, even though his father visits more and tries to distract him. Eventually, he becomes so angry at his mother that he runs away from home and falls in with a street gang that performs on the subway. The boys in the gang are not nice to him, and do a lot of vaguely criminal things, so hanging around with them eventually land him in jail. When his mother has to pick him up there, she is sure that it is the result of his grandfather's influence, but his father points out that he needs more help to get over the death of his grandfather.
Strengths: Cool Papa is right up there with my favorite fictional grandfathers. Not only do the two make music together, but Cool Papa makes fish sticks and spaghetti, reads to Clayton at night, and is generally a loving and supportive presence in his life. I also liked that his father plays a prominent role even though he doesn't live with Clayton. This is a great length for middle grade, and moves very quickly.
Weaknesses: This is not only very sad, but the way that Clayton's mother deals with the death is very dysfunctional, and Clayton makes dangerous choices.
What I really think: I'm debating this one. I'm a bit worried that the 1980s style cover is going to make this one a hard book to encourage children to pick up. I love Williams-Garcia's work, but the sadness and bad choices in this one were a bit much. It got a starred review in School Library Journal.

Crowder, Melanie. Three Pennies
May 2nd 2017 by Atheneum Books for Young Readers
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline

Marin has been in a foster home since she was four and her mother abandoned her. She has never given up hope that her mother will return, and carries a piggy bank and a copy of the I Ching with her to remind her of her mother. When her new social worker, Gilda, tells Marin that her mother has terminated parental rights, freeing Marin to be adopted, Marin decides that she will do everything she can to make herself unpleasant. She is placed with Lucy Chang, a doctor who has suffered her own losses but who feels that taking in a child would be the right thing to do. She is unsure of her own abilities, but willing to work with Marin to make a home for the two of them. Marin still wants to find her mother, and manages to get enough information from Gilda's files to hunt down a friend of her mother's who provides her with information she thinks will allow her to find her mother-- on her birthday, her mother scatters wishes off a seaside cliff near her San Francisco home. Marin is determined to go there to confront her mother. Her timing is bad, however; there is an earthquake, and Lucy is panicked and sets off to find her with Gilda. Will Marin be able to put her past behind her and move on?
Strengths: This is beautifully crafted... think Newbery possibilities. It is a spare and moving novel of one girl's search for family told in an intriguing way. I was really interested in Marin's story, so this was a quick read. Not surprised that other titles by this author are in verse. I liked the inclusion of the earthquake. It was very realistic.
Weaknesses: The parts with the owl were odd, and there were a lot of coincidences. I was also a bit disturbed by the portrayal of Marin's foster homes that were only taking in children in order to make the rent.
What I really think: People who liked Pax and Sometimes a Fox will adore this lyrical, introspective novel of love and loss. I was intrigued by Marin's story, but the style was rather odd, and I don't think it will resonate with my students.

Our favorite princesses are BACK!

Vernon, Ursula. Giant Trouble (Hamster Princess #4)
May 9th 2017 by Dial Books
Copy provided by the publisher.

Harriet is enjoying her newfound ability to return to cliff diving when a gerbil in a dark cloak approaches her to try to sell her a handful of beans. That's one of the downsides of being a famous warrior princess "cloaked figures are always jumping out at you from behind bushes". Harriet knows better than to trade Mumphrey for the beans, but Mumphrey eats one. The gerbil disappears in a puff of smoke, and Harriet hopes for the best. However, the bean makes its inevitable way out of Mumphrey and ends up growing into a giant beanstalk on the castle grounds. There's no way to chop it down without devastating the surrounding countryside, so Harriet makes her way up the stalk and discovers a harpster (hamster/harp) and a golden goose who are being held captive by a giant lop eared rabbit. In typical Harriet fashion, she goes about freeing them, with the eventual help of Wilbur.
Strengths: Harriet's fractured fairy tale adventures should be required reading for younger students, but have enough sophisticated humor that they make older ones laugh as well. I adore Harriet's spirit and can-do attitude. Stinky monster shoelaces that need to be chewed to unknot them? Harriet knows it's all in a day's work and just gets it done. She's a great role model of feisty attitude and a much needed antidote to the traditional Disney-esque princess trope. Harriet doesn't need to be saved by anyone, although she does occasionally accept help in a pinch!
Weaknesses: I have a lot of success in getting boys to read these, but the sparkly, pastel covers do work against their success with boys.
What I really think: If I had small children to whom I needed to present gifts, this series would be at the top of my list. As it is, I love having them on hand to give to reluctant middle school readers.

Blog Tour for Hamster Princess!

Ursula Vernon

TOUR SCHEDULE:

May 8 – Margie’s Must Reads

May 9 – Doodlemom’s Homeschooling Life – Review + Craft

May 9 – Ms. Yingling Reads – Review

May 10 – Adventures in Homeschooling – Review

May 10 – Four Violet – Review + Craft

May 11 – The Delightful Life

May 11 – All Done Monkey – Q&A

May 12 – Pirates n’ Pixie Dust

May 13 – Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers – Review

Levine, Gail Carson. The Lost Kingdom of Bamarre
(The Two Princesses of Bamarre 0.5)
May 2nd 2017 by HarperCollins
Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central

Lady Peregrine is a Lakti, and her mother has taught her that the Bamarre are far inferior to her people in many ways, even though her loyal servant, Annet, is Bamarre. Soon, however, Perry learns secrets from the fairy Halina that make her doubt her entire existence. Still, she accompanies her father on a mission to her father's military headquarters, armed with several magical implements that her mother has given her. Among them are seven league boots, as well as a pendant that could keep her safe during fighting against the Kyngoll's her father is facing. Unfortunately, she needs these devices when she is captured, but her fate is not what she suspected. She ends up in a situation where she learns that her deep seated prejudices are unfounded, that her family is not comprised of the people she has known and loved for years, and that the fate of the Bamarre may rest with her.

There are a lot of twists and turns in this story, and I don't want to give away anything in this prequel to The Two Princesses of Bamarre (2001). Even though it's been a long time since I read that one, I was quickly drawn back into that world. It was good to see the magical keepsakes again, and to discover the origin story of one of the important characters discussed in the first book.

Perry is an intriguing character who must deal with a lot of conflicting ideas about her identity and her family. She meets these challenges in a realistic way-- she is reluctant to embrace them at first, but slowly comes around to her new reality and is able to champion a new cause. She also encounters magic for the first time, and finds it surprising. She also has a tentative romance, which is never a bad thing in an adventurous fantasy.

The Two Princesses of Bamarre was one of my daughter's favorite books in middle school, and I know that she is very excited to see this new journey into that world. Readers who loved Wrede's Enchanted Forest or Pierce's Tortall, as well as the princess tales of Baker, Green and Zahle, will definitely want to step out with Perry... in her seven league boots!

MMGM- Best binge read of the summer!

I normally don't review books that are only published in paperback, since paperbacks last about a month in my library. I'll make an exception for this British import. The four paperbacks are all coming out just in time for summer. If you know a tween boy, just buy the whole series and he'll be set for long car trips or lazy hours on the front porch. So good! At least Follett has these available in a prebind. Absolute must read for fans of British spy stories by great authors like Gilmore, Higgins, Muchamore, Horowitz and McNab.

Mr. Bradford very nicely did this interview with me for Young Adult Books Central.

Bradford, Chris. Recruit (Bodyguard #1)
May 9th 2017 by Philomel Books
ARC provided by Blueslip Media

Connor Reeves has just won a major kick boxing tournament and is on his way home when he tries to save a boy from being mugged. After a fight, the boy disappears and Connor ends up being taken to a police station, where the officers inform him that he passed "the test" and they want to recruit him to be a Guardian. These are bodyguards who are young teens who can go undetected in many situations. Since Connor's father died in the war and both his mother and grandmother are ailing, he takes the group up on their offer of a cover story of a scholarship to a private school and care for his relatives. He's whisked off for training, meets the other Guardians (including Charley, who oversees his unit), and is soon taken to Washington, D.C. on a detail to guard Alicia Mendez, the president's daughter! Alicia has a habit of running off and eluding the secret service, so it's important that Connor befriend her. He does, and manages to save her from an attack. However, book one ends in an uncertain way and MUST BE FOLLOWED IMMEDIATELY BY...

Bradford, Chris. Recruit (Bodyguard #1)
May 9th 2017 by Philomel Books
ARC provided by Blueslip Media

The attack is just the beginning. After the best recap in a middle grade book that I have ever seen, we are plunged back into the story. Alicia is glad that Connor was with her, but still doesn't know the whole story. After he accompanies her to a school dance and gets involved with a prank instigated by Ethan, who's interested in Alicia himself, Connor's cover is blown with Alicia and she's angry. She runs off just as Connor is getting ready to leave the White House... and D.C. is being bombed. This, of course, is just a smoke screen for the terrorist attack that we have seen coming all through the first book, with the Yemeni Crescent Rising group (represented by Malik) bound and determined to kidnap Alicia. Even though his technology has been compromised, Connor manages to find Alicia, but the two are kidnapped and held for ransom. Not knowing where they are or what might happen to them, Connor uses his bodyguard skills to try to escape. Can he get them out? And what will happen with the terrorists if he does?
Strengths: The specifics of body guarding are absolutely exquisite. Mr. Bradford actually trained to become a licensed bodyguard in order to research these books. That is absolutely amazing and adds incredibly vivid details to the story. I loved how Connor's family was packed away in a convincing fashion and he's whisked off for training... and then whisked off yet again. The connection between his father and the president is touching, and his budding relationship with Alicia charming. Even the private school and Alicia's friends add a realistic dimension. I really cannot say how much I adored these.
Weaknesses: I would have liked to see a little more character growth from Connor, but that is hard to achieve when people keep shooting at you! Also, I was a bit uneasy with the terrorists being Arabic, especially given the connection to one of Alicia's friends. There is a Guardian with an Arabic name, and that made me feel a little better. I know that there are certainly Arabic terrorists, but I worry that this will make some students feel that their culture is being unfairly profiled, and wish that there had been fewer specifics about the terrorists.
What I really think: I NEED THESE RIGHT NOW!!!!! May I buy two sets? I really need to!

Bradford, Chris. Hijack
May 9th 2017 by Philomel Books
Copy provided by publisher, thankfully!

Since Connor was so successful in his first mission, he is picked to go on another one where his Principals will be the twin daughters of a very rich Australian publisher. Since he had a romantic complication with the president's daughter, another bodyguard, Ling, is assigned to the detail as well. One daughter, Emily, was kidnapped previously and had spent some time in captivity. She is understandably angry about many things,  while Chloe is somewhat more friendly and amenable to being watched. Both girls are unconcerned for their own safety, and frequently ask Connor and Ling to act more as servants than bodyguards. After the girls are mugged, presumably for their designer bags, Connor is sure that there is more danger around than previously thought. He remains on high alert, which helps when Emily falls asleep on a raft and floats out to see. Ling is fortunately not hurt when a jet ski blows up, but once the two hear about pirates, they know that being in the Seychelles is going to be no vacation. Unfortunately, the yacht is attacked by Somalian pirates, and held for...

Bradford, Chris. Ransom
May 9th 2017 by Philomel Books
Copy provided by publisher, thankfully!

Connor has been trained that the best way to deal with pirates in to not let them board the craft. Unfortunately, Cali, a Somalian boy who speaks limited English and claims that his father was a teacher, is aboard the yacht. He also claims he is not a pirate. The twins want to take pity on him, but Connor suspects that Cali has alerted the pirates. We know, from information in the previous book, why the pirates have targeted the vessel, and also know that they don't want to give up until they accomplish their goal. After a brutal shooting of the security officer, the twins, captain and Ling manage to make it into the safe room. Unfortunately, this is blow torched open by the pirates, and there is no choice but to deal with them. Connor does his best to call for help and to do everything he can to save the group, but there is a hidden enemy in their midst. 
Strengths: There are so many good details about what it takes to guard someone, and lots of pulse pounding moments of danger. The exotic location doesn't hurt. This is definitely a series that young readers will devour!
Weaknesses: Paperback only, and while Somali pirates are certainly a very real thing, I wonder how some of my students of Somali descent will feel about their inclusion. I also am very intrigued by Connor's mother and grandmother; I know the target demographic wouldn't be, but I'd love to see him go home more!
What I really think: I'm so glad that the publisher sent me the next two volumes! I would have preferred that the British versions had been retained, with 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 being just two volumes, but they would make very long books. In Hijack and Ransom, the twins were Ella and Lily. Wonder why the names were changed. At any rate, top notch action fiction!

We have to wait until October 2017 for Ambush and Survival!

It's Marvelous Middle Grade Monday at Ramblings of a Wannabe Scribe and  #IMWAYR day at Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers. It's also Nonfiction Monday. 

Links for E Books

Summer Reading: E Books
May 2017

E books have changed a lot! With any sort of internet connected computing device, you can check out a wide range of e books.The best ones require a public library card, but there are free books as well. Ask if you have questions. Don’t know what to read? See what I’m reading this summer on this blog!

Blendon Middle School Library 

1. Go to destinydiscover.com or use the free Destiny Discover App. 
2. Use the Location drop-down to select your state or province. 
3. In the School field, type Blendon. Click Go!. 
4. From the top toolbar, select Login. 
5. Type your regular username and password, and then click Login. 
6. Blendon has twenty e books. Check out and read! 

Infohio.org

1. User Name: (See me!), Password: (See me!) 
2. Reference sources (Encyclopedia, etc.) 
3. Under K-5 Resources: Book Flix 

Westerville Public Library (You need a library card!)

1. http://www.yourcloudlibrary.com 
2. Log in with your country, state,
3. Westerville Public Library and card number.
4. Browse books Check out!

Ohio E Book Project (You need a library card!)

1. ohioebooks.org/ 
2. Download Bluefire Reader
3. Browse books. Check out!
4. May take some time to download to your device

Free E Books
Depending on your device, there are lots of self published books that are free. They vary in quality. If you need to take an AR test, check to see if there is one at ARBookFind.com

Keys to the City

Schroeder, Lisa. Keys to the City
May 30th 2017 by Scholastic Press
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline

Lindy's summer assignment is to "find her passion" for her school's HAT program (Heart. Abilities. Talent.). She's jealous of her friends who know what they want, and doesn't even know where to begin to find her interests. Her parents are very busy setting up a Bed and Breakfast in a brownstone, so Lindy and her brother Davis have a nanny to take them on the subway, and Lindy's mother hires a neighbor, Vivian, to show Lindy various options. Vivian's grandson, Taylor, is staying with her for the summer, and the three have adventures flipping pizzas, going to plays, working in a local garden, and exploring the zoo. The B&B business is going slowly, creating some stress for Lindy's family, but she eventually finds a couple of things that she likes, including Taylor's dog, and is able to complete her summer project and help the family business.
Strengths: I adore the other books in this series of stand alone titles; Sealed with a Secret, My Secret Guide to Paris, and this author's other titles. It's nice to see a supportive family deal with some minor struggles. This has a nice light romance, a good friend, and a tween dealing with realistic issues. The cover is great.
Weaknesses: Lindy has a very privileged life (Nannies? Chinese  food every Sunday? Going to a Broadway play? Wow.), and her mother just annoyed me with how she was dealing with the B&B's financial problems. Tweens will probably like this view into someone else's life, but all of the luxury made it hard for me to feel sorry that Lindy didn't have a passion.
What I really think: Will probably purchase, since the other books are very popular, but it just wasn't my favorite.

ALL OF THE SADNESS

Once again, I find myself saying "Must read ALL of the realistic middle grade fiction printed every year" but wishing that I didn't feel this compulsion. I have two reasons for doing this-- if I think there is the most remote chance that a book will be nominated for the Cybils awards, I'll read it. Also, I read everything before I purchase it for my school library. How else would I know if it were good?

So in one weekend, I read a pile of books that included a dead mother, a dead father, dead brothers (2) and, my favorite, two girls from different time periods, one with parents who die in a tragic fire, and the other with a dead father and a mother too depressed to take care of her.

Really? REALLY?? Luckily, Chris Grabenstein has Beach Party Surf Monkey coming out, so I didn't become COMPLETELY depressed. ARGH! Also, these covers are not particularly good.



Stevenson, Nanci Turner. Georgia Rules
May 2nd 2017 by HarperCollins
ARC from publisher at ALA

Magnolia lives in Georgia with her mother and step father Peter until Peter realizes he is gay and wants to live with a man. Magnolia's father lived in Maine struggling with PTSD until his untimely death in a car accident, and left Maggie his farm. Her mother decides to go live there for a year, and then sell the place. Maggie isn't thrilled with leaving all of her friends, but comes to enjoy the farm and the community, especially a neighboring family headed by Sue and Kori, who run the local store and have a large, diverse family. Unfortunately, one of the daughters is gravely injured falling off a pony, but the community supports them, and Maggie's mother reluctantly agrees to stay in the nurturing community.
Strengths: Maggie's emotions concerning moving are very realistic, and Sue and Kori's family is a lot of fun before the accident.
Weaknesses: This could have been a really interesting family adventure novel if there hadn't been so much sad. Perfectly well written.
What I really think: I didn't buy this author's Swing Sideways, and I won't be buying this one, either.


Gale, Emily. The Other Side of Summer
May 30th 2017 by HarperCollins
ARC from publisher at ALA

Summer's brother Floyd is killed in a bombing in London, so her father decides to move the family (including sister Wren) to Australia. When the family is ready to fly out, the girls find out that their mother is staying in Cornwall with their grandmother. Once they get settled in Australia, Summer meets an odd boy named Gabe who appears to her in dreams. Is Gabe real? What is his connection to Floyd? Will figuring out what happened to him help Summer deal with her grief? And will her mother ever pull herself together?
Strengths: I liked the Australian setting.
Weaknesses: Sad and a bit confusing. I don't want to give away too much, but the entire plot with Gabe seemed... unlikely.
What I really think: No. Just no.

Magnin, Joyce. Jelly Bean Summer
May 2nd 2017 by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
ARC from publisher at ALA

**SPOILER ALERT**

Joyce's brother is MIA during the Vietnam war, and her family is taking it hard. Her older sister Elaine is annoying, and in order to escape her as well as her guinea pig, Jelly Bean, Joyce moves to the roof of their building. She sees Brian on another roof, and when the two meet, she finds out that his brother was killed in Vietnam, and Brian is trying to restore his brother's truck to take to his aunt's, where his father is sending him to live because caring for Brian is too difficult, since his mother is dead. The two try to earn money to fix the truck, and have a variety of schemes going, and the book is fairly upbeat and amusing until Joyce doesn't latch a gate and Jelly Bean is killed in a gruesome fashion by a neighborhood dog. At least Joyce's brother makes it home. There was one historical anomaly as well.
Strengths: This was a good story about one girl navigating her way through life during the Vietnam era, and readers would understand her difficulties with her family. The parents were sad, but managed to get through their days, as did the girls.
Weaknesses: The death of the guinea pig just pushed this right over the edge for me.
What I really think:  I would have bought this if it hadn't been for the guinea pig incident.

Guy Friday- Revenge of the Star Survivors

Merschel, Michael. Revenge of the Star Survivors
March 30th 2017 by Holiday House

ARC from publisher at ALA

Clark Sherman moves to a new school because his parents have gotten better jobs, but his experience in a new 8th grade is disastrous. His records from his previous school are messed up, so he ends up in remedial classes, including an independent study in the library with the fantastic Ms. Beacon. His days are spent avoiding the oppressive bullies, especially Ty Hunter. He has phys ed twice a day even though he would rather be reading sci fi novels or watching Star Survivors on television. He connects briefly with cute girl Stephanie, but she thinks he is a special needs student, and her friends laugh at her for talking to him. He eventually meets Les, who is similarly geeky, and who knows secret ways in and out of the school. A girl in his independent study, Ricki, is a bit odd (her parents throw a fit when Clark calls the house), but eventually the two join forces with Les. The principal is a mini-despot who is trying to get Ms. Beacon kicked out while also protecting Ty Hunter, who is a good athlete, but the trio is able to uncover evidence and bring justice to the school and social approbation to themselves.
Strengths: This certainly hits on the traditional geek interests, and is funny enough. It's also realistic in the way that Clark (which is a perfectly reasonable name
Weaknesses:
What I really think:

Lemons, Give Me a K-I-L-L

Savage, Melissa. Lemons
May 2nd 2017 by Crown Books for Young Readers
ARC from publisher at ALA

Lemonade Liberty Witt is sent from San Francisco to the small town of Willow Creek in 1975 after the cancer death of her single veterinarian mother. There, she is to live with her grandfather Charlie, who runs a store in the Bigfoot obsessed town. She meets Tobin, a boy who is investigating Bigfoot sightings and who is having a hard time connecting with other children his own age. Lem gets "hired" to be his assistant, and the two spend a lot of time interviewing people like retired teacher Mrs. Dickerson, who remembers Lem's mother and tells her stories about her over homemade cookies. Tobin's father was in the Vietnam conflict and was on his way home, but never made it. His mother doesn't know where he is, but hopes that he will show up soon. Charlie's relationship with Lem's mother was strained by the death of his wife, but he makes every effort to make Lem feel at home. The two solve a mystery involving Bigfoot that sheds light on other issues in Tobin's life, and when Lem eventually gets an offer to go back to San Francisco, she has to decide if she would rather stay in Willow Creek.
Strengths: The historical detail was accurate, and the inclusion of a Vietnam POW situation was helpful. Charlie is a great fictional grandfather, and his hot dog and tater tot meals are spot on. I had forgotten that Bigfoot was a trending topic during this time period. Somehow, all of the elements worked for me, even Lem's name, which I didn't like initially. A student to whom I gave the ARC really enjoyed this.
Weaknesses: Not sure that a tween boy would have had an answering machine at his disposal during this time-- they were new and very expensive, but at least they had been invented! I wish that the book had stated the year it took place earlier on-- I had to guess, and most young readers won't be able to figure this out.
What I really think: I need books set during this time period, and this is great for all readers. Nice cover, fairly upbeat in spite of the number of dead or missing parents. I'll purchase.

LEMONS BLOG TOUR

May 1: Caroline Starr Rose

May 2:  Bookhounds YA

May 3: Books, Movies, Reviews! Oh My!

May 4: Ms. Yingling Reads

May 5: Bea's Book Nook

May 6: Diving Under the Cover 

May 8: Imagination Soup

May 9: Read Now Sleep Later

May 10: Word Spelunking

May 11: My Brain on Books

May 12: YA Books Central

May 13: Cafinated Reads

May 15: Middle Grade Mafioso

May 16: Much Loved Books

May 17: Cracking the Cover

May 18: Oh, For the Hook of a Book!

May 19: Batch of Books

May 20: The Owl

May 22: 5 Minutes for Books

May 23: Awesome Book Nut 

May 24: Hopelessly Devoted Bibliophile

May 25: I'd So Rather Be Reading

May 26: Here's to Happy Endings

May 27: Doodle's Book Reviews

May 29: Reviews Coming at YA

May 30: Swoony Boys Podcast

May 31: Bloggin 'Bout Books

June 1: Xpresso Reads

Stine, R.L. Give Me a K-I-L-L(Fear Street Relaunch #6)
April 4th 2017 by A Thomas Dunne Book for St. Martin's Griffin
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline

Gretchen moves to Shadyside after her parents' divorce, and wants to try out for the cheerleading squad. The coach has just offered Devra Dalby, the daughter of the town's department store owner, the position, but after she seems Gretchen's recorded performance, has another try out. This time, Gretchen wins the spot. Gretchen is also stealing another cheerleader's boyfriend, Sid, which doesn't make Devra happy either. Gretchen starts to get threatening texts, and weird things start happening, but when a flaming baton mistake goes badly wrong, she really starts to worry that she is the target of Devra's wrath. Add to this cockroaches in the cheer leading uniforms and the death of Gretchen's neighbor onstage in front of the entire high school, and one wonders why the principal allows a four day cheer leading retreat in the woods. But what could go wrong?
Strengths: When my blood thirsty students ask for murder mysteries, this is what they want. Just enough detail to make it scary and gory, but not enough to be really psychologically scary. The events are always over-the-top enough that I think the students know the likelihood of such things happening to them is slim. There's also Stine's habit of making each chapter end with a cliffhanger, and he includes many twists. He understands the tween horror need.
Weaknesses: Really? Flaming batons? When the coach knows there is tension among the cheerleaders? Sigh.
What I really think: There will be a sequel. And I will have to read it. I'd love to see Stine write something else. I think he has hidden depths. Why is Susan Dey on the cover?