Guy Friday- WWII

Katz, Gwen. Among the Red Stars
October 3rd 2017 by HarperTeen
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline

Valka has trained as a pilot, and idolizes some of the Russian women who have made the news for the aviation exploits, but has had no luck finding a job. When the Germans attack the Russians, Valka answers a call for a women's  air unit. Her long time friend, Pasha, joins the army. The two were just friends, but start to realize, through a series of letters, that they are fonder of each other than they thought. Valka has to learn how to fly for combat, how to get along with superior officers, and how to deal with the fact that she or her comrades could die at any time. Pasha also has to deal with these things. Eventually, Pasha goes on a mission behind enemy lines and needs to be rescued by Valka.
Strengths: World War II is still a really popular topic, and I'm always looking for books on different facets of it. Riordan's The Sniper covers women in the Russian military, but I didn't know how much more involved Russian women were in the military. Plenty of air missions, which is not as much covered as army fighting, so this had several things to recommend it.
Weaknesses: I could have used more of a plot. Once Pasha started trying to recover some photographs and Valka's unit got involved, I was able to connect more to the story, but I struggled for the first part of the book because I couldn't quite tell where the story was headed.
What I really think: Definitely purchasing. Liked it MUCH more than Lasky's Night Witches, which was just too brutal.

Greetings From Witness Protection!/Dog Day Afterschool (Crimebiters #3)

Burt, Jake. Greetings From Witness Protection!
October 3rd 2017 by Feiwel & Friends
E ARC from Netgalley

New York City kid Nicki has been in foster care since the death of her grandmother, who taught her how to be a pickpocket. It's been hard to find a permanent place with her background and attitude, so she's a bit surprised when she is approached by the marshalls of the Witness Protection Program to join a family. Her father has been released from jail but has never come back to claim her, which helps her make her decision. Not only would she join the Sicurezzas, but they would be unable to send her back to the Center, and all her previous records would be destroyed. Why? Elena Sicurezza worked with her brother, a big shot in the Cercatore family syndicate, but crossed him. In order to better hide the family, their name is being changed, they are moving to the south, and the federal agents feel that adding another child to the family will make them harder to trace. Nicki changes her name to Charlotte and moves into a new house with "Harriet Trevor", "Jonathan", and their son, "Jackson". It's an adjestment, especially since "Charlotte" can't commit any crimes, has to keep a B- average, can't be photographed or use social media, and has to generally lay pretty low. Luckily, new neighbor Britney is friendly, and the two gets along even though Britney warns Charlotte that she isn't popular. Slowly but surely, Charlotte learns to live with the Trevors, get along in school, and come to terms with her own past, which might just be the most dangerous part of the entire relocation.
Strengths: Most middle schoolers secretly wish that they could leave their own families and be someone else, at least part of the time. Following Nicki's story is one way for them to do this. She's a flawed but sympathetic character, and her issues are an intriguing lens through which to view ordinary middle school problems.
Weaknesses: Pretty sure that neither foster care nor real witness protection programs work in real life the way they do in the book. There's some suspension of disbelief necessary to buy into this premise.
What I really think: Definitely purchasing, since it was an entertaining, well-written story. This is a fun way to get readers who like realistic fiction interested in spy type books, I think, and might encourage them to go on and read things like Carter's Gallagher Girls books.


Greenwald, Tommy. Dog Day Afterschool (Crimebiters #3)
October 10th 2017 by Scholastic Press
Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central 

It's the end of the school year, and Jimmy Bishop is busy making plans for summer. He wants to volunteer at the local animal shelter where he got Abby, his crime solving pooch, play lacrosse, and hang out with his friends Irwin, Baxter and Daisy. Things become complicated when Baxter admits that unless he passes math, he might be held back, and the building that houses the animal shelter is sold, and the shelter will have to close. Jimmy and his friends band together to help Baxter study, try unsuccessfully to solve a mystery involving a stolen answer sheet, and struggle through the end of the year at school, but the animal shelter is a big deal. Unfortunately, Daisy has gotten a new pet, a cat named Purkins who does NOT get along with Abby. After the stolen answer sheet debacle, Daisy and Irwin are not spending a lot of time with Jimmy, so all of the success he has in helping the shelter isn't as meaningful without his friends. With the CrimeBiters somewhat scattered, will Jimmy be able to solve the mystery of who is behind the sale of the building and the destruction caused to the animal shelter?

It's rare that the third book in a series is the most solid, but I enjoyed this book even more than My Dog is Better Than Your Dog and It's  a Doggy Dog World. In fact, there is such a complete and delightful recap of previous books in the beginning of the book that this could be read on its own if necessary. The characters all seemed to come into their own, and the fact that many of them make mistakes and are able to redeem themselves is a theme that should be explored more in middle grade fiction. The tensions between the characters are realistic and honest, and it's great to see the group working together to help Baxter be successful in school and to apologize when a mistake is made and they accuse someone wrongly in the case of the stolen answer sheet.

Children who try to make a positive impact on their world is an underutilized plot, and since this also involves dogs and cats, there will be many young readers who are drawn to this story.

While this has shades of Woodrow's Pet War or Singleton's Curious Cat Spy Club, it also pays homage to the classic Henry Reed neighborhood adventures. Even the illustrations have an appealing, timeless quality. A must read for any middle grade reader who enjoys mysteries or pet stories, Dog Day Afterschool begs to be picked up almost as insistently as the wide-eyed Purrkins.

Saturdays with Hitchcock.

Wittlinger, Ellen. Saturdays with Hitchcock.
October 10th 2017 by Charlesbridge
ARC from Baker and Taylor

Sixth grader Maisie and her best friend Cyrus like to hang out together, especially to see classic movies at their small town Illinois theater run by the cranky Mr. Schmitz. She's not happy when Gary starts hanging around with them, since she feels she's too young to be interested in boys, and Cyrus acts weird whenever Gary is around. Maisie's beloved Uncle Walt moves in with her family while he is recuperating from an injury he received doing one of his own stunts for a movie. His career isn't going all that well, but he's still determined to make it in Hollywood. He and Maisie bond over movies, and he nicknames her "Hitchcock". Maisie's mother Cindy isn't pleased to have Walt back; even though he doesn't do a lot to help out with their mother, Evelyn, the mother clearly thinks Walt is wonderful. Maisie starts to notice that Evelyn is forgetting a lot of things, and has left her tea kettle boiling on the stove, so Cindy finds a caregiver to stay with Evelyn. When an accident happens despite the caregiver, the decision is made to move Evelyn into Maisie's room. Meanwhile, the tensions grow between Maisie and Cyrus; Cyrus has a secret that he won't tell her because he can't. Eventually, we find out that Cyrus like likes Gary, and Maisie starts to think that she like likes Gary, but doesn't feel right since Cyrus is interested in him. Mr. Schmitz turns out to be an old flame of Evelyn's, and he steps in to help care for her. Things seem to be going fairly well, but there's a lot of emotional information for Maisie to process.
Strengths: I am enjoying the recent trend in ailing grandparent stories-- it's so much more realistic than having all of the siblings and parents die. Maisie's relationship with her uncle, as well as the family dynamic in general, is strained but very realistic. Maisie's mother loses her job, and that's certainly something that many children have had to deal with. The grandmother's decline is softened by her reconnection with Mr. Schmitz. The stand out plot line, of course, is the like like triangle, and it's handled very brilliantly. Like Mattie in Dee's Star Crossed, Cyrus is attracted to a boy but doesn't feel that this automatically makes him gay, and we see enough of middle school behavior to understand why Cyrus doesn't want to announce his feelings to the world. It's a nice touch that Gary has a cousin who's gay, so he is kind to Cyrus, even though Gary clearly prefers Maisie. Well done, all around.
Weaknesses: If there are middle school students who like 80 year old movies, they do not go to my school. In 20 years of teaching, I've only had two students who have stated classic movies as an interest, and since I was the only 12 year old with a Gene Kelly obsession forty years ago, I've been looking for them. Maybe it's just my community's lack of good classic movie theater.
What I really think: I will buy a copy of this, but I will have to hand sell it to my growing group of students who ask for LGBTQIA books.

Spooooky Books!

MacHale, D. J. Black Moon Rising (The Library #2)
October 3rd 2017 by Random House Books for Young Readers
ARC provided by the publisher

Marcus, along with his friends Lu and Theo, are struggling to make it through middle school. Lu gets a bad grade and Marcus' parents want him to be involved in extracurricular activities. At least things aren't as bad as they are at Coppell Middle School in Massachusetts, where disasters like the bleachers collapsing at the pep rally are starting to occur almost daily. When Marcus' key gets very warm, he visits Everett in the library and checks out the story of CMS. When he gets there, he manages to meet the evil Nate Christmas (who is busy trying to flood the boys' bathroom) as well as Ainsley, the preppy and peppy class president, and the painfully shy Kayla. . All three are frequently in the middle of the latest disturbance, but Marcus starts to realize that Ainsley is the most likely instigator of events. With the help of Lu and Theo, who also come to the school, Marcus is able to connect Ainsley and the school librarian to a coven that is trying to resurrect a witch with connections to Salem.

When things go wrong around the time of a Halloween school dance, you know there are going to be lots of deliciously creepy factors. The power goes out, white ravens appear, and seemingly benign libraries shape shift out of their plaid skirts into the skin of a wolf-beast! Add a sacrificial circle in the middle of the woods with a dash of Salem witchcraft, and there won't be an unchewed fingernail in the library!

Aside from the creepy mystery, there are some really interesting middle school dynamics going on. While Nate is easily blamed for mischief because he's always in the middle of one scheme or another, it's far creepier to realize that Ainsley, the go-to girl for all events in the middle school, might be the one mysteriously creating trouble! No one will suspect the good girl, who will be given unprecedented access to the school, and unwarranted trust by her classmates! So much more havoc can be wreaked by such a person!

The Library itself is an intriguing space, and there is a lot left undiscovered about its secrets, although we do find out that they still use paper circulation cards. It's nice that Marcus is able to go to Everett for help; as scary as this series is, it's a good idea to have some adult back up just in case. I was very amused by Marcus' choice of extra curricular activity at the end of the book as well.

While there isn't as much about Marcus' biological parents in this book, the ending hints that the trio will investigate the disappearance of Lu's cousin next, and I'm hoping that we find out a little more backstory about both Marcus' family as well as the stories held by the library. We'll certainly have the idea reinforced that having a mechanical fortune teller tell you future is never a good idea! Readers who like MacHale's Morpheus Road series, as well as books by Hahn, Kehret, Poblocki and Barbara Brooks Wallace will scare themselves silly reading The Library with a flashlight under the covers.


Terry, Laura. Graveyard Shakes
September 26th 2017 by Graphix
Copy provided Letter Better Publishing Services

Victoria and her younger sister Katia have been homeschooled, but their parents decide to send them to Bexley Academy. Victoria, despite her love for her odd hat, tries to fit in after girls make fun of her, but Katia is a free spirit who wants to do her own thing no matter what opinion classmates have. Near the school, there is a graveyard where many ghosts hang out, including Little Ghost, who is scared of the other phantoms. He is, however, friends with Modie. Modie is an unusual case. He was injured in an accident that killed his mother, and his father is keeping him alive by killing a tween every 13 years and feeding the spirit to Modie! Modie doesn't like this idea, although he enjoys hanging out with Little Ghost. When Katia runs away from the school during a storm, it looks like she will be the next victim to keep Modie alive. Katia tries to prevent this, with help from Little Ghost.
Strengths: This is a mildly scary and definitely creepy tale that is a great choice for Halloween. The formatting is perfect for middle grade readers-- the text is not too small, the pictures are clear and support the text, and the characters are distinct enough that the story moves along quickly. It's hard to tell from the ARC how much of this will be in color. The color is nicely done, but students would pick this up even if the final copy does have some black and white pages. Modie's moral struggle adds an unexpected depth to this. I will definitely purchase a copy, since my students have become inordinately fond of graphic novels.
Weaknesses: Younger readers might have problems with the idea of the father killing children in order to save Modie, but middle school students will be fine with the idea.
What I really think: I personally am not a fan of the "do your own thing even if it's weird" philosophy when it comes to middle school students, so I wasn't very fond of Victoria and was even less fond of Katia. Middle school is tough no matter how much one follows the social mores, so encouraging students to remain steadfast in behaviors that will bring them under the censure of their classmates seems unwise.

MMGM- We Are Party People, Not on Fifth Street

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. 

Margolis, Leslie. We Are Party People
October 3rd 2017 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux
E ARC From Netgalley.com

Pixie's parents run the local party business, We Are Party People, and also give toddler classes on music from their storefront in the mall. Her mom and dad dress up as everything from John Lennon to Luella the Mermaid to the Crazy Chicken. When Pixie's estranged grandmother develops increasingly bad problems with dementia, Pixie's mother goes to stay with her and get her resettled. This means that a lot of the party business needs Pixie's help. This is a lot to ask, since she is trying to make her way through middle school with the help of longtime friend Lola and newcomer Sophie. Pixie suffers from shyness and some social anxiety, so when Sophie decides to run for class president and wants her help, and her father wants her to sing at birthday parties, her anxiety escalates, especially since she is also meeting her mother. She is impressed with how well Sophie can go up to other students and introduce herself, and is a bit jealous of her ability to talk to boys. Sophie gives a great speech for the school election, and thinks that being the mermaid at a birthday party would be a lot of fun. Since Pixie doesn't want to do that, Sophie is recruited, but has second thoughts when mean girl and election opponent Jenna is at the party! Will Pixie be able to harness her inner resources to save the day?
Strengths: This is what we need in middle grade novels. Some realistic friend and family drama, a little crush, a fun setting in which a middle grade character DOES something, and a happy ending. Confetti on the cover. I love Margolis' other books, such as If I Were You, and I can't wait to share this title with my readers. This would also be perfect for elementary students who want to read about older students.
Weaknesses: The character development could have been a bit better. Pixie is anxious and anxious and anxious... and then she's not. There were some circumstances that made this make a little more sense, but I wished she had analyzed Sophie's behavior a little more and tried it out with varying degrees of success before finding out what worked for her.
What I really think: First of all, I want to name my next dog Pixie! I was a little put off by the portrayal of Pixie's anxiety at first, but was glad to see her be able to overcome it. I will probably get people who are really annoyed at me by that comment, but honestly, I think the way she felt is pretty much how 95% of middle school girls feel, and I'm including the teachers and librarians in this group! It's people like Jenna and Sophie who are unusual.



Wiechman, Kathy Cannon. Not on Fifth Street
October 10th 2017 by Calkins Creek Books
E ARC graciously provided by publisher upon request

Brothers Pete and Gus live with their family in Ironton, Ohio in 1937. Practical Pete, the younger brother, is the one the father counts on to help around the house, and Gus is the more poetic, distracted, romantic type. When the Ohio River starts to rise after a warm and rainy January, the father asks Gus to accompany him in helping their neighbors prepare for and fight the rising waters. Gus is pleased to be asked instead of Pete, until he realizes that being left in charge of the house and younger siblings is a greater responsibility. Pete accepts his job and performs it with diligence, trying to keep the house dry while not alarming his mother more than necessary. As the water rises, he removes the refrigerator motor and takes it upstairs so it doesn't get damaged, brings food and supplies up, and even positions the family row boat so it can be accessed if needed. Gus helps with sandbagging until the men in the town realize how futile their efforts are. When his father wants him to go home, he instead crosses the river to visit a girl he likes, only to be stuck there when the bridge is closed. His family hadn't liked Venus because her family is protestant and her mother is divorced, but Gus learns some family secrets that make the girl more accepted by his family. Pete evacuates the family to an aunt's house and is worried that he hasn't heard news of Gus and his father, but eventually the family is reunited, and the clean up work can begin.

Historical fiction is a great way to help young readers understand current events. I read this book while Hurricane Harvey was devastating the Gulf Coast in Texas. While the conditions of the flooding are different, the end results are the same. The author based this story on her own family's experience living through this flood; it was interesting to read that the brothers marked the flood level in the garage, and that the house is still standing! This is ultimately a hopeful story about living through and overcoming disaster.

The details about daily life are accurate, but might surprise readers. The fact that Venus is not Catholic is bad enough, but that her mother is divorced? Scandalous. Again, there are many issues today with people from difference religious backgrounds getting along, and it's all too easy to forget that not very long ago, the Catholic/Protestant division was very, very important. Perhaps in 80 years, it will be just as unremarkable to have Muslim neighbors. There are other, more frivolous details as well-- knickers, ice boxes, and popular radio shows are just a start.

The drama between the brothers, as well as the socioeconomic divide between Pete's house on Fifth Street, which should be safe from the flood, and his friend Richie's house closer to the river that is prone to flooding, add interesting dimensions to the book, but the real draw is the flood. Through short chapters, first from Pete's perspective and then from Gus's, we see day by day and hour by hour how the water rises, and what devastation it causes. There's a light but palpable tension as Pete tries to keep his family safe but unaware of how bad things are, and Gus's decision to travel out into the midst of the problem steps the tension up a notch.

The short chapters help to really move the story along. Readers who enjoy survival stories with lots of action and adventure will want to add Not on Fifth Street to their pile of books containing Will Hobbs, Gary Paulsen, and Terry Lynn Johnson titles.

Caught Offside (Soccer Sisters #2)

Montalbano, Andrea. Caught Offside (Soccer Sisters #2)
October 3rd 2017 by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
E ARC from Netgalley.com

In this sequel to Soccer Sisters, we follow Val Flores as she works with the Brookville Breakers. She's never minded before that Brookville is a wealthy town, and she lives nearby in a not so wealthy neighborhood, but she starts to feel uncomfortable with Chloe's driver and some of her other teammates. Makena starts to talk about a dance she's going to at her school, and even goes shopping with some of the other soccer girls and doesn't tell Val. When mean girl Jessie suggests that Val would be more comfortable with a rival team, El Fuego, Val starts to question her allegiance to the Breakers.
Strengths: This looks enough like the Alex Morgan Kicks series that my soccer loving girls will be sure to pick it up. Montalbano is a very passionate emissary of soccer and supporter of Girl Power, and the length and writing style will go over well with middle grade readers.
Weaknesses: I was about halfway through before I realized this was a sequel; I was somehow just confused. This seems to have been published previously, and there doesn't seem to be a hardcover copy being published, although Follett is issuing prebinds.
What I really think: The beginning of this could have used more focus (the collapse of the indoor soccer area doesn't seem to have affected as much as one would think), but it's still a solid purchase for middle school libraries.

Mustaches for Maddie

Morris, Chad and Brown, Shelly. Mustaches for Maddie
October 3rd 2017 by Shadow Mountain
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline

Maddie is navigating 6th grade as best she can. She's excited about the play that her class will be doing, and decides to try out for Juliet, even though Cassie, a very popular girl, thinks the role should be hers. Maddie has a vivid imagination and an off kilter sense of humor, and she worries that her classmates won't quite get her jokes or share her love of fake mustaches. When the weakness in her arm and leg become bothersome, her mother makes a doctor's appointment for her, but when the symptoms become worse, Maddie ends up in the hospital undergoing an MRI. The verdict-- she has a tumor near her pituitary gland that is causing lots of problems and could potentially impinge upon the optic nerve. An appointment is made for surgery, but Maddie's parents decide to take her and her four brothers to Disney beforehand. Maddie isn't thrilled to tell her classmates, but is encouraged when they send her off with a basket of gifts and cards. Cassie, of course, feels that Maddie should give up her role in the play, especially since Cassie has a crush on the boy playing Romeo, and even goes so far as to voice the opinion that Maddie is making up the tumor in order to get attention! The surgery goes well, but Maddie later has problems with a cyst and has to undergo another surgery. When Maddie returns to school, she has more confidence that her classmates like her, and is able to talk her teacher into presenting Romeo and Juliet with a happier ending.
Strengths: This is based on the authors' daughter's similar experience, so there are a lot of good details about what it would be like to deal with this kind of medical experience. How Maddie's absence is handled by her school is a good thing to have in a book, since students do occasionally experience the illness of a classmate. The parents are supportive, the brothers are slightly annoying, and there is a good balance between Maddie's bravery and fear.
Weaknesses: A lot of the book was concerned with the play; I know that some schools do more with theater, but books involving theater don't do well in my library. Also, Maddie and her classmates often seemed a little young when they did things like play imaginary games on the playground. This may be because the authors' daughter was nine when she went through the experience, but they wanted to have an older middle grade audience.
What I really think: Debating purchase, since my readers do like medical drama but really don't pick up books with theater in them.

The Perfect Score

Buyea, Rob. The Perfect Score
October 3rd 2017 by Delacorte Press
E ARC from Netgalley.com

Mrs. Woods is brought in at the last minute to be a long term sub in a 6th grade class. She is retired, and doesn't particularly care about the all important state assessments; she would rather read with the students and have them enjoy learning. In chapters told from the points of view of different students in the class, we see how the year progresses, the projects that are completed, the home lives of the speakers and the challenges they face, and then the delivery of the test. We hear from Natalie, who wants to be a lawyer like her parents; Randi, who is tired of gymnastics because her mother is pushing her; Gavin, who hates school and feels that it wasn't important to his parents; Scott, who struggles socially and academically, and has to deal with an aging grandfather; Trevor, who is a bully because he is bullied at home. The students also work with a teacher on art and community service projects, and go to a local nursing home to visit the residents. In the end, there is an issue with the testing, and the children figure out a lot of personal connections between their teachers and the residents of the nursing home.
Strengths: There is absolutely no doubt that Buyea is a good writer who tells interesting school stories and tries to incorporate characters from a variety of backgrounds. His Because of Mr. Terupt is one that many of my students have read with teachers in elementary school. The characters are always fully developed and change in interesting ways throughout the stories, and I thought the story about Scott's grandfather was particularly well done.
Weaknesses: There are a lot of problems but not a lot of action. However, the popularity of Wonder has made this type of story more in demand. The cover is good, so I will probably purchase it.
What I really think: Mr. Buyea really, really needs to write a novel about middle school wrestling, preferably from the viewpoint of one wrestler. However, I need novels about wrestlers so badly that I would probably buy two copies even if the story is told from multiple view points.

The War I Finally Won Blog Tour

Bradley, Kimberly Brubaker. The War I Finally Won
October 3rd 2017 by Dial Books

ARC provided by the Publisher

After The War That Saved My Life, Ada and Jamie are settled in with Susan, and Ada is set to have surgery on her clubfoot, when news arrives that their mother has died in a factory bombing. Ada is very confused, and worried that this will mean that she and Jamie have to find another home, especially since Susan's house was also destroyed in a bombing. Eventually, her fears are put to rest, her recuperation from surgery is complete, and the new family moves back to their village to put together a new life. This is difficult with the war going on, and even more difficult because things are always changing. People leave, people die, and change is very hard for Ada. Lady Thornton lets Susan stay in the guest house on the property, and when Lord Thornton is off working on the war effort and Maggie is at school, Lady Thornton decides to close up the big house and move in with them! Ada thinks that Lady Thornton is cold and mean, an opinion reinforced when Lady Thornton makes changes to the living arrangements without consulting her. Things are even more difficult when a German Jewis refugee, Ruth, moves in with them all to be tutored. Germans, even ones fleeing the Nazis, are not trusted, and Ruth is frightened for her family back in Germany, so her presence adds extra uneasiness to the household. The details of war time living, like rationing, black outs, and the results of bombing, are clear every day. One bright spot is Jonathan, who allows Ada to spend some carefree moments riding horses with Ruth, even though Lady Thornton doesn't approve. War time is bleak, but there are small comforts and victories to be found. This is a great book to read alongside Shirley Hughes' Whistling in the Dark, Giff's Genevieve's War, or Sam Angus' tales of the British Homefront.

Strengths: I LOVED this sort of book as a child. Penelope Farmer's Charlotte Sometimes, tales of British evacuees,and really ANY historical fiction books were always my favorite. This has all the elements that I wanted-- girls much like myself, straightened circumstances, and details about what daily life was like at the time. It makes me want to watch more of the Masterpiece Theater show My Mother and Other Strangers. 
Weaknesses: It's very difficult to get my students to read historical fiction, especially this year when all of my sixth graders are demanding that everything they read have pictures! I do have one 8th grader who is even enjoying books on the Indian Partition of the 1940s, so I will definitely hand her these two books.
What I really think: I will probably buy a copy, since the 8th grade does a unit on WWII, and on the bright side, it won't get worn out overly quickly!

The Peculiar Incident on Shady Street

Currie, Lindsay. The Peculiar Incident on Shady Street
October 10th 2017 by Aladdin
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline

Tessa's family moves from Florida to an older home in Chicago so her father can accept a position in the symphony. Tessa misses her best friend, and strange things keep happening-- lights flicker, doors slam, and her little brother's super creepy ventriloquists dummy, Reno, appears to be crying! Her mother blames it all on the older home and the stress of moving. Tessa is glad to get outside, and enjoys North Pond, where she meets a neighbor, Andrew. She discusses the oddities with him, and with his friend Nina, they investigate. Clues lead them to nearby Graceland Cemetery, and they  begin to suspect that the ghost who is haunting them is a little girl named Inez Clarke, who is said to have died either of a lightning strike or diphtheria. Small sketches appear with Tessa's drawings with the initials "IB", a small, musty box of mementos is retrieved from a crawl space, and the children use local history resources to unravel the mystery and free the ghost.
Strengths: I definitely liked Tessa, and thought that she handled the move better than other fictional characters! She reaches out to children she meets in order to make friends, and even asks her parents for a cell phone in a very mature and reasoned way.The descriptions of the neighborhood are vivid and add a lot to the story. The ghost has good enough reason to haunt the house, and is just the right amount of creepy. Well plotted, nicely paced, pleasant characters; a very winning debut book.
Weaknesses: What parents in their right minds would buy a ventriloquist's dummy for a four year old? Creepy. That said, my brother had a Charlie McCarthy one back in the 1970s. Also, had trouble believing that a musician and artist could afford to buy a house in the neighborhood described!
What I really think: Definitely putting a copy on my order list! The nicely creepy cover will make this one that readers of Ellen Oh's new Spirit Hunters, Peg Kehret, Betty Ren Wright, Mary Downing Hahn, and Joan Lowery Nixon will gladly pick up. Bonus points for the comments that Shady Street sounded like something out of an R. L. Stine novel!

#WNDB- India

Chanani, Nidhi. Pashmina
October 3rd 2017 by First Second
E ARC from Netgalley

Priyanka has trouble fitting in to her high school, although she has a good friend and a lot of artistic ability. She doesn't get along terribly well with her mother, who came to the US right before Priyanka was born and won't talk about Priyanka's father. Luckily, family friend Uncle Jatin makes time to take her to an Indian dinner and picks her up from school. When his wife is expecting, Pri worries that the new baby will cut down on the amount of time he can spend with her, and she prays to Shakti that this won't happen. When baby Shilpa is born prematurely and has health problems, Pri feels horrible. Finding a shawl of her mother's that affords her visions of life in India helps her feel a little better. Her mother still won't talk about India, but when Pri wins $500 in an art contest, she wants to go visit her aunt there. After praying to Shakti, her aunt calls and asks if Pri can come and stay with her since she is also expecting. When Pri gets to India, she is sad that the shawl no longer offers her visions, but by talking to her aunt and exploring the country, she is able to learn the background of the shawl as well as her own parentage. She returns to the US with a renewed appreciation for her mother.
Strengths: The artwork is very beautiful, and I loved the use of color for the fantasy sequences and the black and white for every day. I'd love to see more graphic novels that talk about the process of settling in the US. Many of my students were either brought to the US when very young, or are the first generation born here, and I'm sure there are lots of interesting stories. There is a lot of good cultural information in this, not only about food and clothing, but about attitudes and mores as well.
Weaknesses: Priyanka seemed more like a middle school student than a high school one. There were a fair number of reviews on Goodreads that weren't as happy with this as I was, and I think the disconnect between the stated age of the character and her reaction to events might be behind that.
What I really think: Definitely purchasing. Readers of El Deafo, Roller Girl, and Sunny Side Up will love this one!


Kelkar, Supriya. Ahimsa.
2 October 2017 by Lee & Low/Tu Books
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Above the Treeline

In a small town in India in 1942, Anjali is worried that her mother has lost her job working for a British colonel, Brent. At the age of ten, her biggest worry is that there won't be enough money to buy a new dress for her for the holiday. It turns out that there are much bigger problems brewing. Anjali's mother has quit her job so that she can join the resistance to the British, which in her case means learning to spin and weave so that India isn't dependent on the British processing their cotton. Anjali has a friend, Irfaan, who is Muslim, and while the two of them never minded the religious difference, this also becomes a problem. Anjali's mother is upset with the way Untouchables, whom Ghandi started to call Harijans, are treated, and decides that she and Anjali will clean out their own outhouse instead of leaving it for Mohan. Mohan, of course, needs the work, but the discussion with him about what his people need gives them some insight. For one thing, the term he preferred was "Dalit". As the political situation in India becomes more and more serious, it's not enough for Anjali and her mother to give food and treats to the Dalit; they set up a school, and eventually, the mother is taken to jail for "inciting riots". While Anjali fears for her mother, she would like to see change in her society but realizes that it will be very difficult.
Strengths: I especially liked that the author based this on her grandmother's actions at this point in history. There are a lot of great details about what every day life was like, and good discussions about the Indian social structure and how it wasn't beneficial to the society as a whole. Anjali is a typical ten year old, who is more concerned with how things affect her. The inclusion of an older uncle who is opposed to the family's work in the resistance is a good one. This is a fascinating period of history that I wish more of my students knew about.
Weaknesses: There might be a lot of this that middle grade readers might not understand. Some more extensive notes on Indian history at this time would have been helpful. Also, I wish that Anjali had been a little older and had a better understanding of her society.
What I really think: I thought this was a great book, but it's not something my students are going to pick up without a bit of convincing. I have Bradbury's A Moment Comes, Sensai's A Ticket to India (which discusses Partition from a modern view point), and my favorite, Venkatraman's Climbing the Stairs, but my students are not interested in historical fiction as much as I would like them to be.

Sven Carter and the Trashmouth Effect, The Empty Grave

Vlock, Rob. Sven Carter and the Trashmouth Effect
October 3rd 2017 by Aladdin
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline

Sven and his friend Will have their quirks-- Will navigates the world while dealing with OCD, and Sven has a compulsion to lick or eat disgusting things, hence his nickname, Trashmouth. After a weird biking incident where Sven thinks his arm has been detached from his body (with gruesome details), Sven visits Dr. Shallix, but comes to no conclusions. He gets more information after a new girl in his science class, Alicia, vaporizes Will! Obviously, this is upsetting, especially when Alicia claims that Will was an alien "Tick" who had come to destroy the Earth. In order to defeat the Ticks, Alicia decides that she should keep Sven around; besides, she sort of likes him. After a series of adventures that include snakes with clown wigs that get set on fire, murderous room service chicken dinners, tin foil underpants, a giant toilet at Niagra Falls and a clone of Sven with a face on its butt, Alicia realizes that Sven is indeed the Tick's secret weapon, and in order to save the world, they need to either figure out how to stop the plan from unfolding... or neutralize Sven.
Strengths: Although my reading preferences might suggest otherwise, I am not, nor have I ever been, an actual 12-year-old boy, and it takes books like this to reaffirm that. This was a bit too much on the gross, inexplicable side for me personally, but I think that this (as well as the great cover) will make it appeal to my readers. Lots of funny turns of phrase, a decent enough plot, and a great female character in Alicia. Very interested to see what this author produces next. (Skateboarding. Please. Involve aliens if you must, but get those skateboards in there!)
Weaknesses: This was a bit on the long side. I would have cut some of the beginning about Brandon Marks and the bullying. Didn't really add much to the story. Sorry, Mr. Vlock. Judging from the acknowledgements, YOU really liked having Brandon in the book.
What I really think: I will definitely purchase this, but I think it is not a bad plan to tell readers that it is a funny science fiction story and NOT a realistic book about BMX biking!

Stroud, Jonathan. The Empty Grave (Lockwood & Co. #5)
September 12th 2017 by Disney-Hyperion
Public Library Copy

Lockwood, Lucy, George, Holly and the others are back in this final book in a fantastic, spooky series. After the exploits in The Creeping Shadow, the crew suspects that Penelope Fittes is really Marissa Fittes, egged on by the Skull, who suggests that the essence of the two are the same. Investigating Marissa's tomb reinforces this idea, and when the Fittes agency starts to shut down all of the other agencies, and George is brutally attacked, Lucy suspects that the final confrontation is at hand. It's likely that Portland Row will be attacked, so much time is spent fortifying it as well as creating a portal to the Other Side in Jessica's bedroom. This comes in handy when the attack inevitably occurs, and allows the group to break into Marissa's base and finally halt the progression of the Problem and save the small agencies.
Strengths: Despite the lackluster review (I don't want to give things away), I adored this so much that I spent five days reading it! I didn't want to finish it too quickly! The information we receive about the Skull is fascinating, and its relationship with Lucy is the best part of the book. Flo Bones and Kipps also get some good coverage. Lots of salt and silver slinging, intrigue, nasty cold ghost details, and a quickly moving plot. Honestly? My favorite part was when they were putting the Portland Row house back together at the end of the book? Why? Since my most longed for fictional job is to be Lockwood & Co.'s office manager, I was planning to repaint and have the carpets cleaned about the time they started taking the artifacts off the wall. I never thought that Stroud would include that bit, but it made me ridiculously happy.
Weaknesses: There is not enough Lockwood. Sure, some of his appeal is that he is brooding and enigmatic, and there is a scene where he and Lucy share a moment, but there's no kiss, and just not enough interplay between the two. I was beginning to think that Lucy would somehow bring the Skull back from the dead, because those two spent MUCH more quality time together.
What I really think: A TELEVISION SERIES??? That's something that I might actually watch, even though I don't normally do creepy. Such a great series. Stroud's work holds up nicely, too: The Amulet of Samarkand (2003) still circulates with my heavy duty fantasy readers.

Riordan, Rick. The Ship of the Dead (Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard #3)
October 3rd 2017 by Disney-Hyperion
Copy provided by the publisher

I have apparently been very, very good. A copy of this arrived in the mail yesterday afternoon, and after I wept for about 45 minutes, I jumped right in, knowing that I HAD to finish it last night so that I could give it to a student today. I'm not giving it to him first thing in the morning, because he would do nothing else all day, but after the cross country meet, immediately after his race, I will let him have the book.

I've given up reviewing Riordan. There's a mission with lots of stops with the different gods, and a big set to, and lots of good details about Norse mythology. I even had a dream about Sam fighting someone. The details about Ramadan were interesting-- clearly, Riordan has lots of people proof read his books so he gets things right. The whole point to ME of a Riordan book are the snerks. At least once every three pages, I would laugh out loud, and after yesterday, I really, really needed that.

Next Trials of Apollo out in May, and then what? Do think there is going to be a final volume where everybody meets up and finally saves the world from everything. Then, sadly, Percy and Annabeth will probably get married, and the series will be over. After that, though, I bet that Riordan will go on to do other things, unlike some famous series writers. And the books he writes will still be really good!

#MGBooktober

Have to say that I am more excited about the #MGBooktober tag on Twitter than I should be:

1- I was reading Winterhouse and Addison Cooke and the Tomb of the Khan
2- Beverly Cleary's Fifteen. Silly, but I love it!
3- Terry Lynn Johnson's Ice Dogs
4- Torn between Nelson's The Girl Who Owned the City and Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451!
5- Lowry's Anastasia Krupnik, sadly. I must have been an annoying kid
6- Heldring's The Football Girl. Bought six copies, three with school money and three with my own!
7- Michael Currinder. Running Full Tilt was awesome YA stuff suitable for MG as well.
8- Roderick Townley's The Great Good Thing. Chapter 9 gets me EVERY TIME.
9- Weber's A New and Different Summer is all about food. My actual favorite book, but shameful!
10- Mo Willem's Diva and Flea
11- Eve Titus' Basil of Baker Street
12- Penelope Farmer's Charlotte Sometimes
13- Nancy Rose's The Secret Life of Squirrels: A Love Story
14- Norton Juster's The Phantom Tollbooth
15- Joe and Beth Krush
16- Spinellis' Hokey Pokey. I just didn't get it and couldn't figure out how to say anything nice about it. Only review I have ever deleted.
17- The grandmother in Betty Brock's No Flying in the House.
18- Anderson's Ms. Bixby's Last Day. This also made me cry!
19- Anything by Jordan Sonnenblick. I have them all on my desk.
20- Hate to admit it, but Anne Shirley. The teen Anne annoys the heck out of me now, but she does mellow, and I think we would have transitioned to an adult friendship as well.
21- Can't decide between Gibbs' Belly Up and Ponti's Framed!
22- Pierce's Tortall. Hands down.
23- Robinson's The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Oddly, coming in second might be Ship of the Dead!



I'll update this throughout the month and try REALLY hard not to answer EVERY question with The Football Girl or Stormbreaker!

MMGM- Sled Dog School

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.

It's time to start nominating books for the Cybils' Awards! 

http://www.cybils.com/2017/10/4794.html

Johnson, Terry Lynn. Sled Dog School
October 3rd 2017 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline

Matt's family is a bit quirky-- they live "off the grid" in Michigan, where his mother is a researcher and his father makes and sells pottery from their home, which also has an outhouse! Matt is struggling in school, especially with his math. When the teacher gives them the option of work up a business plan for extra credit, Matt hopes that this will be enough to keep him out of remedial math so Jacob, who gives him a hard time on the bus and in class, doesn't make fun of him. Matt comes up with the idea of a Sled Dog School, where he will give lessons using the equipment and dogs that his family has. His teacher requires the students to have three clients who are not family, and Matt starts out small, with Tubbs and his dog, Flute, who is very ill-behaved. Tubbs thinks that Matt's lifestyle is fascinating, and after a rough start, the two have some success with the dog sledding, if not with training Flute. They are soon joined by Alex, whose newscaster mother thinks that this will be a good activity for her college resume. Alex is good at everything, and also is okay with hanging around Matt's little sister, Lily, whom Matt is supposed to watch because his father is finishing up a big project. While the experience with the sled dogs is rocky, Matt enjoys making new friends. He continues to have problems with the math, but when the project is over, enlists the help of Tubbs and Alex to keep the school going.
Strengths: There are lots of interesting details on ho to care for and work with sled dogs. I especially appreciated how Matt and his family treated the dogs as working dogs but gave allowances for special connections with certain dogs. Books about children running businesses are always interesting to me, and the way the teacher ran the project was great. The fact that Matt eventually concluded that taking a remedial course would be helpful was good to hear-- the best academic decision I've made for my daughters was having one repeat algebra II with the same teacher. It wasn't a comfortable decision at the time, but it strengthened her math skills considerably! Seeking help is a good message, and one children need to hear about more.
Weaknesses: I could have done without Jacob bullying Matt, especially since his issues with Matt don't really seem to be resolved.
What I really think: Move over, Gary Paulsen. There is a new top sled dog in town, and her name is Terry Lynn Johnson! This book, along with Ice Dogs, are much more appealing to middle grade readers who don't have any practical experience with the sport. (Johnson also just came out with the fantastic Falcon Wild as well as two Survivor! books. She is on fire!)

The Exact Location of Home

Messner, Kate. The Exact Location of Home
October 3rd 2017 by Bloomsbury U.S.A. Children's Books
ARC provided by the publisher

Kirby ("Zig") Zigonski, a friend of Gianna Z's, is both sad and irritated that he hasn't seen his father for over a year. He knows his dad is busy with business deals and travels a lot, but since his mother is in nursing school and trying to make ends meet by waitressing, it would be nice to see him. When Zig gets a GPS unit in a big box of electronics at a garage sale, he starts geocaching again and suspects that "Senior Searcher" is really his father, leaving clues for him to find. When their landlady, Mrs. Delfino, dies suddenly, Zig and his mother find that they are going to be evicted from their apartment because they owe three months of rent. After a night of sleeping in the car and showering at school, and a night with his aunt, who has an abusive husband, the two end up in a family shelter, sharing a room with two bunk beds with Heather and her young son, Scoop. It's nice because they get a meal and it's not too far away from school and his old home, but Zig doesn't want his friends Ruby and Gianna to know what has happened, so he has to put on a good front. A surprising ally is Kevin, whose family is also homeless. As a few days quickly become a month, Zig finds it harder to get by, and wants his mother to contact his father, but she refuses and won't tell him anything about what is going on. An insensitive teacher at school who makes the children take donated food to the homeless shelter doesn't help, although Zig is lucky to get a fair amount of support. Eventually, he has to come clean to his friends, and eventually, things improve a little bit, with help coming from on unexpected source.
Strengths: Messner writes a "message" book with a dash of humor and characters who have their own interests, which keeps them from being soggy and sad. Yes, Gianna's grandmother is struggling with dementia, but Gianna has her running. In The Seventh Wish, Charlie's sister struggles with heroin addiction, but Charlie has her Irish dancing. Zig still is interested in geocaching and electronics even though his family is struggling with a lot of issues. I think this is very important for children who are reading these books. People don't become their problems. They are still ordinary children who struggle with a variety of issues. It makes for a much better story, too. This reminded me a lot of Sonnenblick's Zen and the Art of Faking It, and I was glad it didn't have the fantasy element that The Seventh Wish had. I think that Messner, who writes so many different kinds of good books, may have found her "thing". Books that language arts teachers want to use as class reads that students will actually enjoy. Brava.
Weaknesses: I didn't care much for the geocaching clues and skipped over them, and the ending was a tiny bit too neat for real life. Sweet, but too neat. Also, I feel like there may be another whole book about the aunt, since her story was not really discussed much.
What I really think: Definitely purchasing, and it will be a popular choice. It also made me think: Am I like Mrs. Heath? I'm probably not as sensitive as I should be, but I do always have pencils and paper in the library for students who need them, as well as other school supplies. And socks. I seem to be the local supply for socks. Even if a student has an overdue book, there are about 100 paperbacks they can choose from to read. For a while, I had study table in the library for children who arrived at school very early, but that was hard for me personally and emotionally. If I had the support of the administration, and students came in to read or study and NOT play on phones, I could definitely do a better job of helping out in that way.

Nominate for the Cybils Awards!

It's time to start nominating books for the Cybils' Awards!

http://www.cybils.com/2017/10/4794.html

There have been so many good books this year! 

Make sure you enter nominations for as many categories as you can!

2017 Nominations by category:

• Easy Readers and Early Chapter Books
• Elementary/Middle-Grade Nonfiction
• Elementary/Middle-Grade Speculative Fiction
• Fiction Picture Books/Board Books
• Graphic Novels
• Junior/Senior High Nonfiction
• Middle-Grade Fiction
• Poetry
• Young Adult Fiction
• Young Adult Speculative Fiction

Saturday Morning Cartoons- Ordinary Mishaps and Inevitable Catastrophes

Vivat, Booki. Ordinary Mishaps and Inevitable Catastrophes
September 26th 2017 by HarperCollins
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline

Abby has decided that Murphy's Law is absolutely true. Just when she thought middle school would be somewhat okay (After Frazzled), everything starts to go wrong. Her sister Clara's cat, Felix, is out to get her, she has to come up with an idea for Invention Convention, and her locker has been taken over by a LOCKER THIEF. Luckily, just about the time that Abby is going to lose it right in the school hallway, the other person using her locker shows up. And she's in Abby's science class! And has to work with her on a project! Even though Abby DOESN'T KNOW HER! It's a new student, Jess, who is unperturbed and equanimous about the ordeal. Jess goes so far as to go to the office to calmly inquire about the situation. Even though the secretary admits there has been a mistake, there are no more lockers to be had, so Jess cleans out half the locker and blithely goes about her business. Abby, meanwhile, has focused her panic mode on coming up with an idea with Invention Convention. Eventually, she introduces Jess to her friends Maxine and Logan, and even invites Jess to Antonia's bakery. Shockingly, the world does not come to an abrupt and bloody end, and Abby even has the revelation that perhaps Jess is so unflappable because of her perception of events.
Strengths: This is a quick, focused story that reluctant readers will breeze through, especially since there are more pictures than there were in the first book. Jess is a great example for Abby, and I'm glad that Abby calmed down a little. Invention Convention is one of the more stressful projects students do, and cats really are evil, so Abby does have a bit more basis in reality for the fears in this book.
Weaknesses: Abby is not a likable character because she is so overly dramatic and makes many of her own problems.
What I really think: I will definitely purchase this one. I talked over the summer to an incoming 6th grader who claimed she didn't like to read, and I handed her Frazzled on the first day of school. She can't wait to get her hands on this one!

Hero: Hurricane Rescue (Hero #2)

Shotz, Hero: Hurricane Rescue (Hero #2)
May 30th 2017 by HarperCollins
Public Library E Book

In this sequel to Hero, Ben and Hero are back. As the weekend approaches, Ben plans to spend it with his friend Noah when his mother and sister travel south. His friend Jack plans to run away with his dog, Scout, to see his father north of Gulfport. When a hurricane changes course and is heading directly to their town, Ben's father tells Ben and Noah to batten down the house and stay in the basement. Of course, they decide to go looking for Jack after telling his mother, a doctor who must report to the hospital, that Jack will be with them. Hero uses his rescue dog skills to locate Jack, who has been pinned beneath a tree. Luckily, he is unhurt, but the boys face alligators, sudden flooding, a mudslide, and a Boy Scout troop whose leader has broken his leg and sends the troop off to safety with the boys.
Strengths: This is a very fast-paced, exciting book with lots of action and adventure packed into the pages! It can be read independently of Hero, but readers who like the first book will be pleased to see another short, riveting book.
Weaknesses: There's not a lot of room for character development, but that's okay.
What I really think: Great pick for reluctant readers who aren't quite strong enough readers for Watt Key's survival books.

Coming 31 October 2017!

Who Killed Darius Drake?

Philbrick, Rodman. Who Killed Darius Drake?
September 26th 2017 by The Blue Sky Press
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline

Arthur Bash is a big kid who will menace anyone for a candy bar. He's used to protecting others from the annoying, geeky Darius Drake, so he's surprised when Darius wants to hire him. There's a spooky house by the Stompanado housing development on Rutgers Road, and Darius has gotten a message, written in blood, from that address. It reads "Who killed Darius Drake?" He wants Arthur's back up to investigate. When the boys go into the house, they meet Vincent Meeks, a threatening ex con whose childhood accident has earned him the nickname Scar Man. Eventually, the boys find out that there is a big mystery to be unraveled that involves Darius' grandfather, the long lost Dunbar Diamonds, and Jasper Jones, who lost money to Darius's grandfather. Arthur's step sister Deidre figures early on that the cryptic note refers to the fact that Darius almost died in the car accident that killed both of his parents, and this is the key to many of the clues.
Strengths: After a somewhat rocky start, I really enjoyed this, and the variety of clues and mysteries kept me turning the pages. Arthur was an intriguing character, and his family problems were realistic. Deidre was a great and supportive step sister. Darius's background was interesting, and the creepy old house was cool, even if Arthur was afraid that the floors would cave in!
Weaknesses: This felt a bit dated at first, which is too bad because the ending was much better. The beginning of the book was rocky because Darius lived in an orphanage, Arthur calls himself fat, and the threatening note gave a ScoobyDoo quality to the story. (Jinkies, Velma, it's a clue!)
What I really think: This was a solid story that might take a little hand selling. It's good that it looks like a murder mystery, because my students often ask for those. Not a lot of writers think murder is a good topic for a book for 12-year-olds!


Dairman, Tara. The Great Hibernation
September 12th 2017 by Wendy Lamb Books
Public library copy

Jean Huddy is finally old enough to eat the sacred bear liver that keeps the adult citizens of St. Polonius-by-the-Fjord from falling into a deep sleep. When it makes her sick, her mother refuses to report her, feeling that the tradition, while important, is really rather silly. Of course, the adults in the town DO fall asleep, and the children must band together to keep the town going while they try to solve the mystery and find an antidote for their parents.
Strengths: While this is not a traditional fantasy book, I think I would have to class it in speculative fiction, since the adults do fall into hibernation. The world building is quite complete, although I am not entirely sure where the town is located. This had a Lemony Snicket meets Gilligan's Island sort of vibe-- children having to survive on their own. The sub plot about bringing more technology to the town was interesting.
Weaknesses: Very quirky. While I can see strong 3rd and 4th grade readers thinking this is the best book ever, I don't see my middle school students getting past the whole eating the liver thing.
What I really think: I adore, adore, adore this author's All Four Stars series, but I think I will pass on purchasing this one. The cover is too similar to Bo at Ballard Creek, which does not check out even though I love it.

#WNDB- Wishtree, The Pants Project

Applegate, Katharine. Wishtree
September 26th 2017 by Feiwel & Friends
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline

Red is an oak tree who has been around for over 200 years. She has a number of animal families inhabiting her branches, along with her best friend, the crow Bongo. It is tree policy not to talk to humans, but when a boy carves "Leave" into her bark in an effort to scare off Samar's Muslim family from living in the neighborhood. The tree makes an effort to make Samar's wish come true, and employs various animals in various ruses in order for next door neighboor Stephen to talk to her and become friends. Francesca, who owns the houses where Stephen and Samar live, decides to cut down the tree, which is pushing up the sidewalk, interfering with the plumbing, and causing problems on "Wishing Day" when people follow an old Irish tradition of tying wishes to the tree. Red isn't happy, but starts to make her peace with leaving, although she does break her policy and tells Samar and Stephen the story of a baby left in her care years before. The animals who live in her are less than pleased, and work on a plan. Bongo gives Samar a key on a ribbon; it's the key to Francesca's ancestor's diary, which Samar locates in a storage shed. Stephen rallies his classmates around the tree, and around Samar's family, but will it be enough to save Red from being cut down?
Strengths: This is certainly on point with current topics in the news, and with multicultural awareness. The sign at left is appearing more and more in my neighborhood. Applegate is a lyrical, effective writer, and I have to admit that I cried a little at certain points of the book. I can see this being used in classrooms, like Palaccio's Wonder, to promote kindness and awareness. I wouldn't be surprised if this won a Newbery Honor.
Weaknesses: This is a very gentle, slow book, narrated by a tree. All of my readers seem to want books that are more fast paced or humorous. Perhaps this would do better with elementary readers or for a class read aloud, delivered by a very enthusiastic teacher.
What I really think: Will probably not purchase. It's a lovely book with an important message, but I don't think I have the readers for it.

Clarke, Cat. The Pants Project
March 7th 2017 by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Public library E Book

Note: I use the pronoun "she" for Liv because for most of the book she is living as a girl and has not expressed a desire to use a different pronoun. If there were a sequel, Liv would probably be referred to as "he".

Liv lives with her Mom and Mamma, and goes to a very good private school. As she starts middle school, she's excited but also not happy-- all the girls in her school have to wear skirts, and Liv does not feel like she is a girl. The shoes for the uniform are okay, and she likes her short hair, but the skirt makes her feel highly uncomfortable. She doesn't want to complain, because she hasn't told her parents yet. At school, she is having trouble with her friend Maisie, because Maisie is gravitating toward mean girl Jade and her friends. Jade has made enough comments about how "gross" it is that Liv has two mothers that Liv lies to them and claims that an open house has been rescheduled so that they don't come. Liv does make friends with Jacob, and even wears pants to school with a skirt over them, but she gets in trouble. After that, Liv tries to talk to the principal about how unfair and sexist the rule is, but he won't listen. She starts a petition, with Jacob's help, and eventually comes up with a plan that gets the attention of the news media. Eventually, she is comfortable enough to let Jacob know that she is transgender, and tells her parents as well.
Strengths: This is a great book for middle school about a transgender student. The concerns are middle grade appropriate. Jacob's reaction to Liv's announcement is exactly how we want all of our students to react: you are my friend. I don't care about anything else. Liv's mothers present a little bit of a problem in how Liv's classmates react and how she has to deal with their reactions, but otherwise are just her parents. The issue I have with many LGBTQIA books is that they frequently involve a lot of drinking and descriptive sexual content; this book does not have any of that, for which I am thankful.
Weaknesses: Like Gracefully Grayson, a lot of Liv's discomfort with her gender are manifested through her discomfort with the "gender appropriate" clothing and exterior trappings. I would like to see a book that helps explain, on a deeper level, why a character feels trapped in the wrong body. I also had a LOT of problems believing there were any schools that would not allow girls to wear pants. At the end of the book, I realized that Clarke is a UK author; maybe things are different there. I cannot imagine a school in the US where this would be the case, which made it hard for me to embrace the main premise of the book.
What I really think: We have had several students at various points in similar journeys, so purchased this and it has circulated well. I know that I should rethink my policy to call students "Ms." and "Mr.", but I still like to do that. I may have to start calling transgendered students just by last names, although since I refer to all of my students as "dear" and "sweetie" that seems nicer than calling them "Smith" or "Columbo".

Blathery Notes: And really, EVERYBODY needs an older person in their life who calls them "honey" from time to time. I never go as far as calling everyone "cupcake" one day a year, but I love it when people call me "dear". Also, I love pleated skirts because I'm a bit... oddly shaped and pants are not attractive on me.

Also, I know it's Banned Books Week, and I should be excited, but I'm just not. Should books be challenged? No. But should middle school libraries be expected to have books with graphic sex, profanity, or drinking and drug use? Since a huge percentage of my circulation is books that I personally put into students' hands, it seems... creepy if I give a 12 year old a book from which they could learn details about sex. Or drugs. Or if the book includes curse words which would get them suspended if they used them.

I CANNOT BUY ALL THE BOOKS. Doesn't it just make sense that I buy the books that will get read? Certainly, I try to make sure all students see themselves, but why would I spend money on YA books? The students who really want them can get them in high school, or get a free public library card without ever having to set foot in the library, since our local library delivers to school. I'm just not handing the books to kids.