Winterhouse

Guterson, Ben. Winterhouse
January 2nd 2018 by Christy Ottaviano Books
E ARC from Netgalley.com

Poor Elizabeth Somers. Her parents died when she was four, and she has been raised by her uncaring Aunt Purdy and Uncle Burlap. When they decide to take a vacation over Christmas, she is packed off to Winterhouse with $3 and a grocery bag of clothing. There's little explanation, but she is glad to have a few books with her, and the hotel is not as bad as she has feared. Aside from the creepy booksellers, the Hiems, who warn her that the proprietor, Norbridge Falls, is not what he seems, and is not to be trusted. Norbridge seems quite nice, and looks out for Elizabeth, and also shows her the tremendous library at Winterhouse. Elizabeth also meets Freddy, whose parents send him to the hotel while they travel, and the two discover that they both like anagrams, word ladders, and other puzzles.
Strengths: This definitely had a Lemony Snicket sort of vibe, and the parallels between this and Greenglass House are definitely very strong. Also had shades of Seible's Trouble with Twins. Well paced, with plenty of twists and intriguing characters, this certainly has a lot of fine qualities to recommend it. Bonus points for the Hiems' name-- it means "winter" in Latin! (hiems, hiemis, f.)
Weaknesses: With the addition of the puzzles, students who have trouble following the plot of mysteries may struggle with this one.
What I really think: I'm not sure if my students will be willing to invest in a trilogy of these, but I may have to buy this first book because I love the cover and the premise so much. This year, I have had to buy Ivy and Bean,  Junie B. Jones and Melvin Beederman books for my very reluctant sixth graders. I would love to have students who would enjoy this book, but right now, I'm struggling to get them to read more than 50 pages. At least this has some pictures, which they all seem to require!

All weakness in this novel I am going to blame on the fact that I read this during extreme attack of Middle Age Ennui, and was immediately annoyed by "Uncle Burlap". Really? Burlap? And the dead parents. I loved Winterhouse itself, and the idea of the library, and just about the time I was settling into those lovely thoughts, Elizabeth and Freddy started with decoding messages, of which I am not a fan. That, and Elizabeth's favorite book is Anne of Green Gables, she claims to have read Swallows and Amazons, and she ends the book reading The Wind in the Willows. Really? Isn't that a tad precocious? I'm done with Anne, even I hadn't read Swallows and Amazons until it appeared on a list of 100 Best Middle Grade Books, and in 15 years, I haven't been able to get a single student to read The Wind in the Willows. So, a bit "bah, humbug" here.

MMGM- Streetcar to Justice, Cinnamon Bun Besties

Wow. This is my 4,000 post. I've been blogging for neigh on 12 years, which my 6th graders have helpfully pointed out is longer than they have been alive.

Doesn't hurt my feelings, kids. I am wearing a sweater that is older than half of our teachers, and I knit it myself (in 1986)! Age and wisdom will always triumph over youth and beauty!

It's Marvelous Middle Grade Monday at Always in the Middle and #IMWAYR day at Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers. It's also Nonfiction Monday.

Hearth, Amy Hill. Streetcar to Justice: How Elizabeth Jennings Won the Right to Ride in New York
January 2nd 2018 by Greenwillow Books
E ARC from Edelweiss Plus

One hundred years before Rosa Parks' experiences with segregated transportation, Elizabeth Jennings fought her own battle with the segregated streetcars in New York City. While black men and women were free in many parts of the north at this time, there was still a lot of fear because of the practice of slavery in the south. Jennings was a "respectable woman" who attempted to ride a street car to her church with a friend. At the time, the practice was that blacks could ride the "white" streetcars at the discretion of the conductor. If other riders complained, the person would have to take a "Jim Crow" car, which might not have as direct a route. In Jennings' case, there were no riders who complained, but the conductor did not want to let her on. When Jennings voiced her complaints and demanded to be allowed to ride, the conductor drove her to a police station to have her arrested. Her case went to court, where she was defended by the future president Grover Cleveland, who was a new lawyer at the time. This very obscure bit of history was very thoroughly researched by the author, the many sources used are listed in a bibliography and have footnotes. Some of the newspaper articles are included alongside the text. The afterword on how Hearth came to investigate this case is interesting as well.
Strengths: This was just long enough to cover the pertinent information while still being interesting and compelling. Sometimes, middle grade nonfiction gets to be too involved to keep readers' interest. Hearth gives a good background of what life was like for different groups of people at the time. I really enjoyed this one, and think it is important for young readers to understand what life was like in the past. If I polled my students, I would guess that most of them are of the opinion that ALL black people in 1854 were slaves.
Weaknesses: The cover of this is not great, and I might want to take a look at a print copy to see how the pages are set up before purchasing.
What I really think: We need a lot more interesting, narrative nonfiction about topics like this!

Deutsch, Stacia. Cinnamon Bun Besties
January 2nd 2018 by Sky Pony Press
ARC provided by publisher (So my students can read it!)

Suki is on the student council, and their yearly fund raiser to help with the cost of the year end dance is to sell Candy Cards. Anyone can buy a piece of candy and a card for $1, and the student council delivers them to the recipients. There's a lot of profit, and Suki's organization contributed to the  the previous years' sales record. This year, JJ, with whom she is on the outs, decides that HE wants to help, and he thinks they can sell even more. Suki is angry, but has little recourse to protest, and her best friend Marley tells her to just deal with it. In the meantime, Suki sees a very cute dog loose at the dog park. She goes to the local shelter to see if anyone has brought the dog in, and decides to volunteer there, since she is not allowed to have a dog at home. She and Marley keep trying to catch the dog, whom she calls "Cinnamon Bun" after its coloring and its predilection for a similarly named coffee drink, to no avail. The Candy Cards project is not going well, and we learn a little more about why Suki is at odds with JJ. When the animal shelter is having a hard time making ends meet, Suki asks the student council to donate some of the profits to help with the animals. The news picks this up, and local companies come to the aid of the shelter. The Candy Cards ends up going okay once JJ and Suki learn to work together, and Suki's ability to handle responsibility ends up being rewarded.
Strengths: The inclusion of a group of friends that broke up after a misunderstanding was perfect, and the student council fund raiser was great. In fact, I need to mention to our Builder's Club that they should totally do this for Valentine's Day. My high school sold carnations periodically, and that was always exciting and nerve wracking! The animal shelter subplot is good as well. These books are so popular that I asked the publicist to send a paper ARC instead of an e ARC, because I have about five girls who keep returning the books with their friend, who immediately wants to check the book out! That's a good use of the taxpayers' money!
Weaknesses: Could have used a bit more romance. My first CAR was called Suki, so I had trouble with the name! Also, I swear there was another book about an animal shelter that had cinnamon buns in it. And now I really want a cinnamon bun!
What I really think: I enjoy these books, and my students adore them. I hope there will be more on the way after the February release of Salted Caramel Dreams.

Blather- State of the Blog 2018

On the bright side, I have posted at least one book review since January 1, 2012. I try to keep my blog posts up at least a month ahead, so I should be able to keep up the streak in 2018.

I did not meet my 2017 goal of 825. On New Year's Eve, I had finished 822 books and had to go to a party. People who really like to read books can understand how hard that was to attend.

2017 was a difficult year all around. I had some super boring health issues that made it hard to focus. I watched a lot of movies, and checked social media more than I should have! This year, I am making sure the computer is OFF so all I have to do is READ. It will help when I can start running again in March. Believe me, after breaking the same foot three different times, I will be starting out slowly.

I really don't have any more blogging goals for 2018. Just hope to keep blogging and make 2019 an awesome year.

I'm off to ALA Midwinter in Denver in February, which is stressing me out a bit. Because of travel, I'll be out of school for four days. I have the best sub in the entire world, but it's still hard to be away and among people for that long. Looking forward to visiting the history center at the Denver Public Library and learning more about Lenora Mattingly Weber! After that, I think I'm not going to anymore conferences until 2019, when I hope to hit Book Expo and maybe ALA Annual in D.C. Maybe Books by the Banks in October of 2018, since my daughter might still be in Cincinnati. (If she doesn't go to Cork for a semester abroad, which I hope she does.) Nerdy Camp is on my birthday this year, and I should go to that, since Michigan is not a far drive.

Want to get reviews before the books even come out? While I wait until close to the publication time here on my blog, if you follow me on Goodreads, you can find out if the E ARC is available at Netgalley or Edelweiss Plus.

TBH, This is So Awkward

Greenwald, Lisa. TBH, This is So Awkward
January 2nd 2018 by Katherine Tegen Books
E ARC from Edelweiss Plus

Gabby, Priyanka and Cecily have been friends for a long time, but settling into middle school is taking some time. They aren't supposed to be texting during school hours, but they manage to use the small moments they can find to keep each other updated by text or e mail on everything that is going on. They all have their issues-- Gabby's parents are divorced and she may have to move, Priyanka has a crush on a boy, and Cecily gets caught in them middle of new girl Victoria's attempt to break into her social circle by getting involved in the dance committee the girls are on. Victoria is a bit pushy, as is her mother, who e mails the principal and the PTA when she feels her daughter is being ignored. The principal decides that if students can't be kind to each other while using social media, there will be no school dance, so the girls have to band together to make sure that the dance is a reality. This is told entirely through text with a LOT Of emojis.
Strengths: Today's readers will be very familiar with this format, and trying to read a story about people they don't know might be an interesting exercise in determining how much is NOT conveyed through text messages! It is kind of amazing hoe much of the characters' personalities is conveyed in very few words, and I enjoyed this more than I thought I would.
Weaknesses: The use of e mail by the students already seemed dated, and since I have a dumb phone, this was VERY difficult for me to read! I really enjoyed the characters and the storyline, so I wish this had been a traditional story so it could have been fleshed out more. I hope this doesn't become a series. One is quite enough.
What I really think: If I buy this, it will be because I love this author and because I think this book will be a historic artifact very soon, kind of like the books I have about computer dating or VCRs that enable children to travel through time.

Battle with the Britons: Julius Zebra #2

Northfield, Gary. Battle with the Britons: Julius Zebra #2
January 2nd 2018 by Candlewick Press
E ARC from Netgalley.com

Julius and his companions are back after Rumble with the Romans, since Hadrian has not given them their freedom as promised after their last battle in the Colosseum. Julius and his friends the crocodile, warthog, lion, mouse and giraffe are sent to Britain to spread the news that Hadrian is a great guy. Not surprisingly, when they arrive, the reception is not great AND the animals they have to face in battle are much better than they are. Julius assesses the situation and comes up with a great idea to save the day, and possibly his friends as well. The book ends on a cliff hanger, but we will have to wait until Entangled with the Egyptians comes out in the US.
Strengths: This is a goofy notebook novel with pop eyed animals fighting with swords, and there are enough immature jokes to keep younger readers guffawing. For older readers, there is a bit of Roman history. This is akin to a historical Stick Dog book, although Julius is not quite bright enough to be as philosophical as Stick Dog.
Weaknesses: I'm never quite sure how accurate the history is, in the same way that I'm always a bit confused by Lucy and Andy Neanderthal. Oldfield apparently worked on some of the Horrible Histories, so I'll assume that the details are correct. Will 12 year olds care? Most likely not.
What I really think: Definitely have to purchase this one, as the first has been popular and at least gives students a small taste of Ancient Rome!

A Variety of Stuff

Apparently, I have lost my magical power over the universe. Usually, if the weather looks suspect, if I walk to school and get completely ready for the day, school will be canceled. I think it's putting on the lipstick that is the magic moment. It was about as cold as it is possible to get without school being canceled (-13, while -15 is the number at which they don't want children out), but I was fine-- I had four layers on my legs. The newspaper deliverer was skidding a bit on the roads, but it was early.

With only three days, the week has been hugely busy. Half the 7th graders needed books set between 1950 and 1973, the other half needed nonfiction, and today all 230 8th graders need a Holocaust fiction AND nonfiction book. That will be a challenge!

New books arrived, but they still need a lot of processing, which my volunteers will tackle bit by bit. Last night, I read 8 Food Dude type nonfiction books (I only put half on Goodreads!), Santopolo's Glam Opening (Sparkel Spa #10), LaReau's The Infamous Ratso, Rissi's Anna, Banana, and the Little Lost Kitten (#5), Surovec's My Pet Human Takes Center Stage (#2), and Meyerhoff's Starry Skies ad Fireflies (The Friendship Garden #5).

This order has a LOT of early chapter books and easy readers, since I have a vast number of struggling 6th graders.

I finally got to the point with two of my 8th graders where they had read every fantasy book I had. Even Chetwin's Gom on Windy Mountain. I had to break done and get a few titles that weren't exactly innovative in my mind. They won't be huge circulators, but will do okay. Things like The Evil Wizard Smallbone-- still medievalish quests with some magic. Sigh. I want more like The Gauntlet with something other than Celtic or (in the case below) vaguely Germanic settings. That said, I'm going to have about four readers fighting for this series! And you know what I'm reading THIS weekend.

Stay warm!

Blackwood, Sage. Jinx.     
Published January 8th 2013 by HarperCollins   
Library copy

Jinx is living with stepparents in a clearing near the treacherous forest of Urwald. To step off the path there is to invite death, so when his stepfather takes him into the woods and has him sit off the path and wait, Jinx knows this is not a good thing. Luckily, the wizard Simon happens upon them, and when trolls come out of the woods, he cloaks himself and Jinx so they are not carried off. His stepfather is not so lucky. Grudgingly, Simon takes the boy home and puts him to work cleaning and helping out. Dame Glammer, a witch with whom Simon deals, thinks the best course of action is just to EAT the boy. Jinx is not entirely sure if she is kidding or not. Simon's wife, Sophie, is not always around, since she teaches somewhere vague and unspecified, and never arrives at the house by the front door.  When Simon performs a spell on Jinx that robs him of the ability to see the color of people's thoughts, Jinx suspects that Simon is evil and takes off through the forest to visit Dame Glammer to ask her some questions. On his way, he meets Reven, who has an unspecified curse on him, and Elfwyn, who does as well. Dame Glammer is Elfwyn's grandmother, and the witch suggests that they travel to the Bonemaster to ask him about the curses and Simon. The Bonemaster seems nice, but he is highly suspect, and in the end Jinx is put into a terrible situation. How will the three children survive, and will their questions be answered?
Strengths: I appreciated that this had a Germanic/Grimm Fairy Tale feel to it rather than a Celtic?King Arthur one, and I think that fans of Delaney's The Last Apprentice might enjoy the interplay between good and evil in this one. Jinx is an appealing character, and even Simon has his moments, especially with his fun home and his love of cooking. I can see why fantasy fans like this series.
Weaknesses: This brought to mind a dozen other similar books (Prineas' The Magic Thief especially), so I would quibble with the dust jacket blurb that says this is "innovative".
What I really think: Don't regret purchasing. It will get steady use and last for a long time.

Flower Moon

Linko, Gina. Flower Moon
January 2nd 2018 by Sky Pony Press
ARC provided by the publisher

Identical Twins Tempest and Tally Jo are approaching their 13th birthday, but are increasingly at odds with each other. Tempest is a bit socially awkward and loves showing off her science experiments at school, which embarrasses Tally, who also misses the fact that the two used to always hang out together. Their parents decide to send them off to their grandfather's carnival for the summer, so the two end up in Georgia with Pa Charlie. While there, Tally starts to realize that the twins in her family seem to be doomed to spend their lives apart from each other, the way that their grandmother and her twin would only mail craft projects back and forth, and their mother and Aunt Grania have not been together since they were 18. Tally can feel that things are different, and that forces are literally forcing her and her beloved sister apart. Can she work with the people in the carnival who know and love her and try to figure out a solution before the convergence of the Flower Moon and their 13th birthday splits the twins apart forever?
Strengths: This has a lot of good sister drama with a background of magical realism that will be appreciated by fans of Lloyd's The Key to Extraordinary, Law's Savvy, and Downing's Moon Shadow. The plot moves along at a brisk pace, and there is an undercurrent of time sensitive mystery that makes this hard to put down.
Weaknesses: I'm never a huge fan of quirky Southern characters, and when the carnival was added, this got too creepy for me. It's not a creepy book, but it made me feel creeped out.
What I really think: My readers don't care much for Lloyd and Law; I may purchase this if there's enough money at the end of the year. It was well written and an interesting debut, but I'm just not sure if it will find readers in my library.

#WNDB- Black Panther: The Young Prince

Am I the only one is unsure of how to proceed after reading this post by The Radical Copy Editor? I had started to do "World Wednesday" posts back in January of 2014, but when the #WeNeedDiverseBooks movement started, I just borrowed their hash tag. I am most likely not using "diverse" properly.

I try to arrange my Wednesday posts to showcase books about a wide variety of people from difference ethnic backgrounds, levels of personal challenges, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Does anyone know the best term to use? "Windows and Mirrors Wednesday", going back to Mitali Perkin's quote?

Smith, Ronald L. Black Panther: The Young Prince
January 2nd 2018 by Marvel Press
E ARC from Netgalley.com

T'Challa enjoys his life as the heir to the throne of Wakanda, where his father is the reigning Black Panther. Their society is very technologically advanced because years ago a meteor hit near them and gave the valuable element of Vibranium to them. When war approached their borders, T'Challa's father sends him and his friend, M'Baku, to the African embassy in Chicago to hide from the father's enemies. T'Challa's adopted brother, Hunter, is older and stays to help with the war. When the boys arrive in Chicago, they find that the embassy is not nearly as luxurious as their home, and their middle school is certainly not what they are used to. While T. Charles (as he becomes known) embraces his nerdy French speaking, wrestling self and makes friends with Zeke and Sheila, Marcus decides to play basketball and befriends the shady Gemini Jones, who claims to be a warlock. T. is very concerned when Marcus moves in with the Jones family, but the war is heating up in Wakanda, and his father is otherwise occupied. T. investigates and finds that Mr. Jones is involved with some very scary magic, and he is afraid that his friend Marcus is involved. Can Sheila, Zeke and T. figure out what it going on and use the powers of the Black Panther to stop Gemini and his father before bad things occur? How will the war in Wakanda play out? And what does the future hold for the young Black Panther?
Strengths: Smith, whose two books on magic (HooDoo and The Mesmerist) show a great understanding for the way spiritualism and superstition play out in various communities, was a fantastic choice to write this book. The Black Panther canon seems to be presented well enough for people (like me!) who don't know anything about it, but with enough new information to be interesting to Black Panther fans. The Chicago setting is used well, and the story stands alone well.
Weaknesses: I found it difficult to believe that the boys were not taken care of better. Wouldn't an embassy have a lot of interest in protecting the son of a king? I was hoping that the concierge would step up and be sort of an Alfred (with Bruce Wayne) protector, but that didn't happen. The target demographic won't care, but if the boys really were in middle school, more adults would have been involved. I might have placed them in high school for a more realistic feel.
What I really think: Will probably purchase for my readers who like superheroes.

And for another, slightly different title involving panthers...

Schrefer, Eliot. Mez's Magic (The Lost Rainforest #1)
January 2nd 2018 by Katherine Tegen Books
E ARC from Edelweiss Plus

This would be a great choice if you have readers who are loving Erin Hunter's new Braveland series. Exotic animals in an exotic location-- Schrefer always does a great job with this. I may pass, since interest in talking animals is waning in my school. Still, take a look at this one for elementary and middle school.

From Goodreads.com:

"Caldera has forever been divided into those animals who walk by night and those who walk by day. Nightwalker panthers, like young Mez and her beloved sister, have always feared daywalkers as creatures of myth and legend. Until the eclipse.

Now Mez has discovered that she can cross the Veil and enter the daylight world. Her magical power has unknown depths, but she must rush to discover it after a mysterious stranger arrives at her family’s den, bearing warnings of a reawakened evil.

Saving Caldera means Mez must leave her sister behind and unite an unlikely group of animal friends to unravel an ancient mystery and protect their rainforest home."

2017 Middle Grade Fiction Finalists

So, I'm still running a little behind, but here are the exciting Cybils finalists! Head over to Cybils.com to see other divisions!

Amina’s Voiceby Hena Khan
Simon & Schuster
Nominated by: Flowering Minds

Amina (AH-min-ah) lives near Milwaukee, and enjoys being with her friends, especially Soojin. She loves to sing, but doesn’t like to do so in public. Amina’s brother Mustafa is becoming an obnoxious teenager, and her father’s older brother is coming from Pakistan to stay with the family for three months. When a misunderstanding causes Soojin and Emily to stop speaking to her, Amina thinks things can’t get any worse… until the mosque her family attends is gravely vandalized. What do the vandals mean, “Go home!”? Amina is home, and has to reconcile how she sees herself with how others see her, not only regarding her Muslim background but her singing and her relationship with family and friends.

While this book will speak to students who share Amina’s Muslim background, it also addresses universal concerns that middle grade students have in a realistic and touching way. The details of Amina’s home life are wonderfully drawn, and the descriptions of food, clothing, celebrations and family relationships again serve as vivid mirrors or clear windows to a way of life. Her individual quirks, such as being afraid of speaking in public and having trouble eating when she is upset, are very common among middle school students, and are depicted with a light touch, making this an intriguing, timely and appealing book.

Karen Yingling, Ms. Yingling Reads

Armstrong and Charlieby Steven B. Frank
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Nominated by: Greg Pattridge

Armstrong has been signed up for Opportunity Bussing by his parents. As the youngest and the only son, he’s grown up feeling like he doesn’t really have a place. Everything is hand-me-downs. His father runs the household, having lost his leg in the war, and now living with PTSD. Meanwhile, Mom works long hours in a local hospital.

Charlie attends Wonderland Elementary and is watching most of his friends flee for farther away schools for sixth grade. Their parents don’t want their children exposed to the bussed in students. Charlie though has other problems, a mother suffering from debilitating depression,  and an upcoming birthday that will make him older than his brother who died the year before of a severe asthma attack.
Told in alternating points of view, with a few asides by the yard duty officer, this Armstrong & Charlie is the story of a growing friendship between two reluctant sixth graders.

Sarah Sammis, Puss Reboots

Caleb and Kitby Beth Vrabel
Running Press Kids
Nominated by: Mrs. Shh!

Caleb wants to be like every other twelve year old, but he isn’t. He is battling a life threatening disease that many have never heard of Cystic Fibrous. CF as many call it is affecting not just him but his whole family. From his annoying “perfect” older brother, to his divorced parents and countless trips to the hospital ER and hospital stays. He just wants to be like all the other kids he knows. He want’s to live life to the fullest and not do the daily treatments in order to breathe. One day Caleb meets Kit and she doesn’t treat him like he is a fragile boy, she doesn’t ask questions she just accepts him for who he is. She has a full vivid imagination and they create this magical world in the woods. Problem is Caleb is sick and he can’t keep up this charade for long with out his actions creating some serious consequences.

Caleb and Kit is the first middle grade book I’ve read that discusses Cystic Fibrous in a plain matter of fact manner. It doesn’t sugar coat the disease and shows the reader how life is like for the 30,000+ people living with it. The author presents the facts and intertwined it with a story of friendship, family, growing up and challenges of living with a chronic illness. Cystic Fibrous is the back story but not the whole story, we learn so much about Caleb, his family and Kit. Caleb and Kit is a heartwarming tale that will delight the reader.

Shannon Griffin, Picture Books to YA

Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactusby Dusti Bowling
Sterling Publishing
Nominated by: Heidi G.

Even though Aven was born without arms, she has never let that stop her from doing the same things as her classmates. She even entertains them with interesting stories about how she lost her arms. When her father gets a job managing Stagecoach Pass, an old west town in Arizona, Aven finds her new classmates judge her on sight and don’t want to give her a chance. Afraid to turn her classmates off completely by watching her eat with her feet, Aven seeks refuge in the school library. There she meets Connor, a boy with turrets syndrome, and Zion, a shy overweight boy. Together they find a way to fight peer pressure and expectations while solving the mystery of Stagecoach Pass. A fun and heartfelt story about overcoming expectations and finding self-worth. Readers will love Aven and her friends and all of the interesting characters she meets at the park.

Stacy Mozer, It’s All About the Journey

Refugeeby Alan Gratz
Scholastic
Nominated by: Wendy

Three children, three countries, three points in history.  Refugee is three stories in one.  

Josef a Jewish boy surviving in 1930’s Nazi Germany. Will his family be able to find a better life after they board a boat on its way to Cuba?  Isabel lives in Castro controlled Cuba in 1994. Her family and best friends board a makeshift boat and try to make it to United State soil before the US Coast Guard find them. The seas can be rough but living in Cuba is rougher. Mahmoud lives in Syria in 2015 where the war has been going on for as long as he can remember. His family will trek across many countries and face so many hardships and challenges. They will make unthinkable sacrifices until they get a to a safe place. Syria might have broken them but maybe not all is lost…
Refugee is a story of family, hope, survival and heartache. Josef, Isabel and Mahmoud experience more in their young lives than most people. You will cry for them, you will cheer for them, their stories will stay with you long after you turn the last page.

Shannon Griffin, Picture Books to YA

Restartby Gordon Korman
Scholastic
Nominated by: Deb

What happens when the school bully loses his memory? In a page-turning and readable book balanced with humor and serious Gordon Kormon takes on that question.

When Chase wakes up in the hospital he doesn’t remember what happened. He doesn’t remember falling off the roof and he has no clue who any of the people in the room with him are. He remembers nothing. So begins his journey to recovering his memory that becomes a chance to become a better person. Chase finds out he is a football star and also one of the most popular kids at school. And he also discovers he’s a bully. There are hints early on when his little half-sister clearly shows she’s afraid of him and soon there is no doubt. Chase was a nasty bully responsible for the tormenting of a student at school to the point that that student leaves and goes to another school. It won’t be easy for Chase to redeem himself if that is what he truly wants. It shouldn’t be.
What makes this standout is how Kormon manages to blend several voices in telling this story to show that Chase has a long way to go to prove he is not the guy he was before the accident. He is given a chance to start again, but not without a hard look at what he did and the pain he caused. And in writing the story the way he did, Kormon shines a light on everyone’s role in bullying, including parents, other students at the school and school administration,
Restart is stand out book with wide appeal , that will also generates some fine classroom discussion, this is a book that ticks all the Cybils Award boxes.

Deb Marshall, Read, Write, Tell

The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamoraby Pablo Cartaya
Viking Books for Young Readers
Nominated by: Melissa Fox

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. His abuela runs La Cocina de la Isla, a restaurant where his mother is the head chef. When the slick Wilfrido Pipo comes to Canal Grove and threatens to tear down many of the buildings, Arturo must protect his comfortable world. As serious as the urban renewal is, however,  Arturo’s teenage concerns are paramount. Will he be taken seriously as a dishwasher? Can he care for his abuela? Does Carmen 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.

This warm tale of family, food and friends, with the addition of a delightfully over-the-top villain, was a delightful change from the standard tales of gloom and doom coming out for middle grade readers, and the panelists gobbled this up… and got hungry for churros while reading this humorous and insightful tale.

Karen Yingling, Ms. Yingling Reads

Zap

Freeman, Martha. Zap
January 2nd 2018 by Simon Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books
E ARC from Edelweiss Plus

Luis is a little concerned when the electricity goes out in his house in Hampton, NJ, but he heads off to school. The power is out there as well, but he runs into his friend Maura and decides to spend the day at her house in the suburbs. When they arrive, they find that Maura's grandfather, Mr. O'Hara, has had a stroke, at just about the same time the power outage occurred! He ends up in the hospital, and with no electricity to charge phones, pump gas, or to support so many other crucial functions, things get hectic. Luis' parents can't go to work at their jobs, either, and as the power outage continues, tensions run high in the town, spurred on by the outspoken candidate for mayor who blames the incumbent for the outage.. Luis frequents a local bodega, and the owner, the diminutive Senora Alvaro, is almost attacked by rampaging teenagers, but Luis manages to keep her safe. After this, he decides to hunt down a local homeless man know as Computer Genius to see if he might know what caused the power outage. Computer Genius is willing to help... for a price. Luis and his friend Carlos find Red Bull and Pringles for the hacker, and Carlos is dispatched to help Senora Alvaro. When Computer Genius seems to be getting close, Luis finds himself followed by guys who seem intent on beating him up, but he insists on staying in town even when his parents want to decamp to a relatives house. Who is behind the power outage, and will Luis and the Computer Genius be able to restore power before things in Hampton get even worse?
Strengths: I love the quote with which this book starts: "We live in a society exquisitely dependent on science and technology, in which hardly anyone knows anything about science and technology. This is a clear prescription for disaster." Carl Sagan. Books like Weyn's Empty, Philbrick's The Big Dark, Pfeffer's Life as We Knew It, and Walters' The Rule of Three are so utterly chilling because they could so easily happen. In Zap, the outage is localized and due to some easily explained but scary politics, and the science and technology used to explain the outage is utterly realistic. Told from Luis' point of view, we see his tween irritation against the larger issues, and it's a twist on "tweens saving the world" to have him investigate in ways that adults don't pursue. The inner city setting contrasted with Maura's new home in the suburbs speaks to many current issues in our society, but it's good to see that the two remain friends. Young readers will be enthralled with Luis' exploring of abandoned houses. There were just so many things I liked about this book! It was an intriguing read. There are also some great science connections on electricity!
Weaknesses: While I liked the fact that Luis is the son of Nicaraguan immigrants, I was a bit worried that this wasn't an #ownvoices book, especially when Luis talks about having to clean up his parents' vomit after their "well deserved" partying. However, there is a note at the end from a friend of Freeman's who grew up in a similar setting, and he apparently gave her notes on what it was like to live in a similar time and place. Aside from that alarming description, the parents are hard working and treat Luis well, although it was a stretch to me that an 11 year old would be left behind by any parents during a power outage. I wish that Luis had been 14 or 15, since the book would then appeal to high school readers as well. I also wasn't entirely comfortable with how the role of the grandfather was treated.
What I really think: Clearly, I need to stock up on bottled water. And peanut butter. Can't wait to purchase this and share it with my students.

MMGM- Escape From Aleppo

It's Marvelous Middle Grade Monday at Always in the Middle and #IMWAYR day at Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers. It's also Nonfiction Monday.

Senzai, N.H. Escape From Aleppo
January 2nd 2018 by Paula Wiseman Books
ARC provided by the author.

Nadia and her family live in an apartment building in Aleppo, Syria, so her aunts and uncles, and well as her grandmother, are all close by. When their neighborhood is being bombed in October of 2013, they have a plan to leave and head toward the Turkish border to meet Nadia's father. With the help of her older cousin, Razan, Nadia packs up her cat, Mishmish, and prepares to leave. Since being caught and injured in a bombing earlier, however, Nadia is very fearful of being outside, and her hesitancy Causes the family to be caught in a direct hit of their building. Nadia is not badly injured, but is trapped in the rubble, and her family leaves her, assuming that she has perished. When she finally emerges, Nadia tries to follow the agreed upon route to a dental clinic, but the landscape of her neighborhood is barely recognizable. Along the way, her cat reappears, and she is fortunate enough to meet an elderly man, Ammo Mazen, making his way across the town. He agrees to help her, applies ointment to her wounds, and listens to her story. The two don't find Nadia's family, but they find two boys who were being helped by a friend of Mazen's. Basel, who is eight and looking for his grandfather, leaves with them, but Tarek decides to stay behind. Mazen must visit lots of contacts on their way out of Aleppo, and Nadia, after snooping through his wagon and overhearing conversations, discovers that he is finding a preserving rare books and artifacts that would otherwise be destroyed in the war. Mazen's health is not good, but the small group, which Tarek eventually rejoins, makes their way towards Turkey. Mazen's health is not good, and the journey is arduous, so he stays at a small town near the border while the children make the final leg of their journey, hoping to be reunited with Nadia's family.

This is a timely and important story that will help young readers understand what is going on in Syria, and grasp why their are so many people who have been displaced. Since a story is only illuminative if children read it, Senzai adds many vivid details that will draw readers into Nadia's experience. In the first part of the book, Nadia flashes back to more pleasant times of her life. We see her enjoying a birthday party, celebrating with her family, and relishing small pleasures, like polishing her fingernails or playing with her cat. For reasons I don't understand, my students don't quite grasp that children in other countries live lives very similar to their own until wars or other tragedies disrupt them. These details of Nadia's life before the bombing of her apartment building goes a long way to investing readers in her life.

As Nadia travels across the city, Senzai does a fantastic job of describing both the shops and streets before the war, colored with Nadia's experiences in various places, and contrasting that with the devastation that has occurred. Details about the history of the conflict and of Ammo Mazen's past alternate with the grim present that include soldiers, snipers, and bands of teenagers out looking for any supplies they can steal. This makes the story both informative and exciting, and sweeps us along in Nadia's journey to Turkey.

As Nadia's fear turns to grim determination, we also see how the war is affecting young Basel and Tarek. Ammo Mazen is a huge help to the group despite his somewhat suspect past, and his ill health makes his devotion to getting the children to a safe place all the more touching.

While Gratz's recent Refugee has the story of a family escaping a similar situation in Syria, Escape from Aleppo will appeal to readers who wonder how they would survive in a war-torn environment, but like this author's riveting Ticket to India, showcases young people trying to survive such trials without the support of their families. When I was a tween, I was fascinated by stories of children my age during the Holocaust or on the Oregon Trail because they were pulse pounding and exciting, but reading about these experiences also made me appreciate the hardships of others. Escape from Aleppo is a must-read middle grade novel for understanding the evolution of the current political environment in the troubled country of Syria.

Snow Lane

Angelini, Josie. Snow Lane
January 2nd 2018 by Feiwel & Friends
E ARC provided by Netgalley.com

In 1985, Annie is the youngest of nine kids in a Catholic family, which was an unusually big family for the time. Some of her siblings are nice; some are not. Her father works several jobs, and her mother struggles to keep up with the demands of so many children. Life has its good moments, like when Annie gets to work on her aunt and uncle's farm, and it's bad, which mainly include her sister Fay. Mainly, however, life involves the day to day struggle to make it through the day. Since Annie has some health problems (she is prone at various times to vomiting and fainting, due to poor nutrition) and isn't able to keep up with the clothing trends at her school, she's glad to have the quirky Kristin for her friend. She is also pleased when Jordan, a boy in her class, is willing to spend time with her. This makes up for her difficult family life, but when her sister Nora goes missing, family secrets bubble to the surface.
Strengths: Middle grade readers are enthralled with the idea of large families, and the details of the day-to-day existence of the youngest child in such a family will appeal to my readers who like sad stories. Annie's life is a struggle overlaid with enough of a mystery to keep the pages turning. Something is very wrong in Annie's world even though she tries to make her life seem ordinary. Her relationship with Jordan is very sweet. The cover is great-- pretty, but darkly atmospheric.
Weaknesses: The ending is a bit abrupt. It's good to have answers, but they arrive all in a giant clump.
What I really think: Found myself liking this more than I thought I would. Definitely purchasing for my 7th grade girls who want depressing books every February. I'd never heard of this author, who generally does paranormal, YA type books.

TBH, This is SO Awkward

Greenwald, Lisa. TBH, This is SO Awkward: A Novel in Text
January 2nd 2018 by Katherine Tegen Books
E ARC from Edelweiss Plus

Gabby, Priyanka and Cecily have been friends for a long time, but settling into middle school is taking some time. They aren't supposed to be texting during school hours, but they manage to use the small moments they can find to keep each other updated by text or e mail on everything that is going on. They all have their issues-- Gabby's parents are divorced and she may have to move, Priyanka has a crush on a boy, and Cecily gets caught in them middle of new girl Victoria's attempt to break into her social circle by getting involved in the dance committee the girls are on. Victoria is a bit pushy, as is her mother, who e mails the principal and the PTA when she feels her daughter is being ignored. The principal decides that if students can't be kind to each other while using social media, there will be no school dance, so the girls have to band together to make sure that the dance is a reality. This is told entirely through text with a LOT Of emojis.
Strengths: Today's readers will be very familiar with this format, and trying to read a story about people they don't know might be an interesting exercise in determining how much is NOT conveyed through text messages! It is kind of amazing hoe much of the characters' personalities is conveyed in very few words, and I enjoyed this more than I thought I would.
Weaknesses: The use of e mail by the students already seemed dated, and since I have a dumb phone, this was VERY difficult for me to read! I really enjoyed the characters and the storyline, so I wish this had been a traditional story so it could have been fleshed out more. I hope this doesn't become a series. One is quite enough.
What I really think: If I buy this, it will be because I love this author and because I think this book will be a historic artifact very soon, kind of like the books I have about computer dating or VCRs that enable children to travel through time.

Slider's Son

Davis, Rebecca Fjelland. Slider's Son
September 12th 2017 by North Star Press of St. Cloud
Copy received from the author for Cybils Award nomination

The Great Depression has hit the small North Dakota town where Grant O'Grady lives pretty hard, but things are decent for Grant, since his father, Slider, is the town policeman. The family still struggles a bit, and Grant joins his friends in picking up pieces of coal that fall of the passing trains so that the family can heat their home, and hopes to pursue a professional baseball career in order to better his life. His friend Little Joe has bigger problems. His mother is Native American (Mandan Nation) and his father, Big Joe not only drinks more than Slider (who seems to have a verifiable problem), but is abusive to his wife and children. He even manages to break Grant's arm vary badly after the two have a run in. At the very beginning of the book, we find that Big Joe has been killed and left in the family's cellar, and the family is nowhere to be found. The book goes back over the incidents that lead up to this event. We see lots of evidence about how difficult life was at this period in time, including a child who has tuberculosis, a grandmother who has cancer and refuses treatment, and elderly neighbors who struggle with having enough food.
Strengths: This was well researched, and moved quickly, especially since it started with the graphically macabre description of Big Joe's demise. I like the small details, like the store heating the area by burning old tires in a barrel, and small glimpses into the daily life of teens at the time. Not as many opportunities for children to climb up things or shoot things today!
Weaknesses: This had a lot of mature content and was not for readers sensitive to corpses or domestic abuse. I think the issues with Native Americans were well researched, vetted, and handled fairly, but there still may be some who complain.
What I really think: This would have been a bit more clever if Slide would have been the abusive father. This will be a title that selected students will find helpful for the language arts project that involves historical fiction from this time period, and is a great companion to books like DeFelice's Nowhere to Call Home and Hunt's No Promises in the Wind.

The Gravedigger's Club

Harris, Robert J. The Gravedigger's Club (The Artie Conan Doyle Mysteries #1)
May 1st 2017 by Kelpies
Copy received from the publisher for the Cybils Awards

Artie and his friend Ham are on an extended break from their boarding school because it has to be repaired, so they are trying to find things to keep themselves occupied. They have heard rumors that odd things are occurring in local church yards, so sneak out at night to investigate. It's not that hard-- Artie's father is a bit too fond of drink, and not as fond of going to work as he should be. The two manage to get in with some of the local constabulary as well as some local gravediggers, and uncover a number of mysteries. Is it really the ghost of the Gray Lady wandering about looking for her true love, or are there more sinister forces on the prowl in 1870s Edinburgh, Scotland?
Strengths: I have a great fondness for Harris, whose work with Jane Yolen (the young Greek heroes series, as well as the Stuart Quartet) is quite superb. I wasn't aware he had done so many other books, but most of his work doesn't seem to have made it to this side of the pond. I'm also a great fan of this time period, and the Andrew Lane Young Sherlock Holmes series is great fun. It's an interesting twist to be reading about this time period through the lens of Doyle rather than Holmes, and Ham and Artie tackle their investigations with great good humor and a sense of derring-do. The mention that Greyfriar's Bobby, the dog, had just passed away after sitting at his master's grave for 14 years was a nice touch.
Weaknesses: The boys seem to get away with a lot of things that children today would not be able to manage, and the book in general might be hard for young readers to understand. A bit more background information might have been helpful for clueless US readers.
What I really think: The paperback of this is actually available through Follett, so take a look if Lane's series, or Holmes stories in general, are popular in your library. I will probably pass, since the Lane is only checked out by a couple of my readers every year.

The Gift (Birdie Mae Hayes #1)

Agee, Jeri Anne. The Gift (Birdie Mae Hayes #1)
November 7th 2017 by Sky Pony Press
E ARC from Edelweiss Plus

Birdie Mae lives in a small town in Alabama with her very young brother, Bubba (who likes to run around after stripping off his clothes, hence the cover), and her parents, who operate the only grocery store in town. She's concerned when she gets a new neighbor, but Doyle Baker seems fairly nice. When her father finds out that the Bakers are opening a new grocery store on the other side of town, though, she is worried that the family business will be negatively impacted. Not only that, but she starts to see things before they happen, like Doyle falling out of a tree. After a few more incidents like this, she talks to her parents, who send her off to spend some time with her grandma Mae, who has the same ability. Once she knows she is not imagining things, Birdie learns to deal with her new skill.
Strengths: Nice length, well illustrated, good length early chapter book. Birdie's interactions with Doyle and the children at school are realistic and well done.
Weaknesses: Birdie Mae's "gift" is presented in a way that makes it seem VERY real. Since the target demographic has a hard enough time discerning fantasy from reality, this could be both good and bad.    This is definitely a fantasy book.
What I really think: This is a bit too young for my students, and a bit too Alabama for me.

The Wizards of Once

Cowell, Cressida. The Wizards of Once.
October 3rd 2017 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Public library copy

In Ancient Briton, there is the magic son of a Wizard, Xar, and the daughter of the queen of the Warriors, Wish. Xar has no magic, and Wish wants to embrace magic, even though her people are against it and are trying to remove all of it from the world. Xar is trying to get some magic, and thinks that it is a good idea to mix the blood on a sword that Wish has with his own blood. He's a bit unsure whose blood it is, but it turns out to be from a witch. Witches are terribly dangerous, and everyone thought they were gone, although one shows up and is dispatched by Xar and his many magical companions. Unfortunately, his sprite Squeezjoos is injured by the blood, and Wish and Xar approach Wish's mother to see if she can save him. Since both Xar's father and Wish's mother are cut from the same cloth as many British parents (odd and a bit abusive), this request is just made more difficult. Complications ensue, a magical witch killing sword figures largely, and a tenuous peace comes to the world of the witches and warriors, waiting for the next book in the series.
Strengths: This will be popular with fans of Cowell's How to Train Your Dragon series, and seems very familiar. It's got a vaguely Monty Python-esque vibe to it, with lots of goofy characters, the sort of wizards vs. warriors scenario that shows up in lots of books, and has illustrations as well. The cover is quite nice. The parents do improve, and Xar does become less obnoxious as the book goes on. He and Wish are able to work together.
Weaknesses: Nothing particularly new or fresh about the story.
What I really think: There's something about some illustrations of noses that I find really repugnant. Ignatow's Popularity Papers has them, and Cowell's work does as well. Also, there are SOOOO many fantasy books based in ancient British mythology, and I think we just need to say no more. With the influx of new books with fantasies based in other cultures, I would rather spend my money diversifying my collection instead of adding the 200th book that seems vaguely like it's related to the story of King Arthur.

Merry Christmas!

Huett, Caleb Zane. Top Elf
September 26th 2017 by Scholastic Press
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline

Ollie is happy living at the North Pole and working in the Games and Puzzles division with his good friend Celia, so he's concerned when Santa wants to retire and wants to have a contest to pick his successor. Ollie thinks that one of his children should be picked, but warms to the idea of an elf being in charge. The contest is only for elves under the age of 16, and Celia and Ollie decide that they would be better choices than some of the entrants. One seems especially suspicious-- Ramp claims to be 16 but seems much older, and isn't very competent. There are a lot of contests, from working in the mail room, to a sleigh design challenge and race. Ollie and Celia work together and support each other, although some of the other contestants try to sabotage each other; Andrea tells Ollie that reindeer really like jokes, for example, which almost causes him to not be able to assemble a team of the acerbic and contrary creatures. Both elves do well and advance, and Ollie is glad to work with his mother on designing a new Santa suit. It's an oddly close competition, and when they get right to the end, there is an even bigger problem that might effect the energy that runs the entire North Pole. Of course, Celia and Ollie don't worry about the next competition, but instead try to avert the treachery. Will it be enough to convince Santa to leave Christmas in their capable hands?
Strengths: There aren't a whole lot of Christmas themed books, and there are always students who want some. This is funny, and will appeal to holiday loving readers from 2nd to 8th grade. There are enough descriptions of the North Pole for readers who just like Christmas, but a fair amount of action and adventure to move the story along. The cover will be great in holiday displays.
Weaknesses:This would have been even better if it had been a bit shorter-- some of the competitions drag on a bit.
What I really think: . If any book ever begged for illustrations, this would have been it! I'll probably buy a copy to have on hand for when Funke's When Santa Fell to Earth is checked out.

I do have my concerns about the inclusion of the HeatMiser and SnowMiser. Did the author get permission from Rankin Bass to use these? They are in the stop action The Year Without a Santa Claus. That is based on Phyllis McGinley's 1950s poem by the same name that ran in Good Housekeeping magazine, but I'm pretty sure those characters weren't in the poem. HeatMiser and SnowMiser are not folk characters, so it was odd to see them included. And now their songs are firmly stuck in my mind!

The Girl Who Saved Christmas

Haig, Matt. The Girl Who Saved Christmas
October 31st 2017 by Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
Copy provided by the publisher

In Victorian London, Amelia Wishart lives a miserable existence in a small flat with her dying mother, who had worked as a chimney sweep. Amelia takes up the job, but meets with disaster while cleaning Mr. Creeper's chimney. It's horrible news, therefore, when her mother tells her that Amelia will be taken care of when her mother passes... by Mr. Creeper. Creeper manages the local work house, which has all of the components of a Dickensian novel; gruel, washing floors, and quantities of downtrodden orphans. Amelia is different. During the past Christmas, she was visited by none other than Santa Claus himself, and was given a bit of hope that things would be okay. She also has the comfort of her cat, Captain Soot, but loses all hope when Creeper forces her into the work house and makes her give her cat to none other than Charles Dickens, whom she sees on the street. At the North Pole, Amelia's plight is having an impact. There is a vicious troll attack on the elf village, Elfhelm, and Santa does not seem to have enough magic to get his sleigh air born. Santa decides that the best way to get magic back is to find some hope in the world, and he believes that this hope resides with Amelia. He takes his sleigh as far as London on Christmas Eve, and looks for the girl. Will he be able to find her in time to deliver presents to all the children of the world?
Strengths: The Victorian London setting is appealing, and the illustrations by Chris Mould have their moments. Including Charles Dickens as a character works as well; it sounds as if the man did travel about a bit, so it's possible he might have run into a child such as Amelia. The details of the elf village and the personalities of the reindeer all add to the mythology of Santa. Reading this would not convince any younger child that Santa was not real.
Weaknesses: This had some really sad moments, and the plot device of having Christmas imperiled is not really new.
What I really think: There aren't a lot of middle grade novels about Christmas, and children ask. This might be more popular in elementary schools than in middle schools.

Secret Snowflake and The Twelve Pets of Christmas

Garland, Taylor. Secret Snowflake.
October 10th 2017 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Library copy

Riley is super excited about the Secret Snowflake project that her language arts teacher, Mrs. Darlington, has assigned to help the students be more aware of what it takes to be a great friend. When she gets the name of her long time crush, Marcus, she's thrilled and plans a series of homemade gifts for him. She thinks that Marcus might have her name, too, and is impressed with how thoughtful and perceptive her gifts are. Riley and Sophia pay a lot of attention to the project and realize that Alice, a new girl, could use some friends. Riley is also enjoying her choral group, which spends the holidays going to nursing homes and malls to spread holiday spirit, and makes a new friend in Jacob, the only other 7th grader in the group. As the holidays approach, there is cooking baking, carol singing, and hanging out with friends, but when the big Secret Snowflake reveal party happens, she realizes that her perception of classmates hasn't been entirely accurate.
Strengths: Super cute and fun! I also appreciated that while this is clearly Christmas related, the book celebrates the holiday season in a cultural rather than religious way. Many of my Muslim students are great fans of this type of romantic school story, and this is heavy on the US celebration of the holiday without getting into religious details. I'm a big fan of the Generic Holiday Bush and Winter Carols for this reason!
Weaknesses: I wish that Marcus had redeemed himself , but his depiction is probably more typical of the average, jerky middle school boy. As much as I want every middle school boy to be just like Heldring's Caleb in The Football Girl, it's not going to happen in fiction OR in real life.
What I really think: Only two in the series so far, and I bought them without reading them. I would gladly buy two dozen in a series of these!

Garland, Taylor. The Twelve Pets of Christmas

October 10th 2017 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Library copy

Quinn volunteers at the local animal shelter, and paints ornaments of the Twelve Pets of Christmas that the shelter is featuring in December. Everyone is so pleased with them that she gets lots of orders for custom ornaments. She plans on donating half of her proceeds to the shelter and using the other half to fly out to visit her best friend, Annabelle, who moved away at the start of the school year. Quinn is especially fond of one of the dogs, Buddy, who has made quite an impression on one little boy. Unfortunately, Charlie's mother is in school and can't afford the expense of a pet. Quinn and her new friend, Eliza, spend a lot of time helping out the shelter and finding ways for pets to be adopted. In the end, Quinn finds a way to help Buddy and Charlie as well.
Strengths: Pet and shelter stories are always popular, and I liked that Quinn dealt with difficulties in her life with support from those around her. A mother is never mentioned, but this book lacks the typical hand wringing about the situation. It's nice to see Quinn and Eliza connect over a shared interest, and Quinn's entrepreneurial spirit is a good example.
Weaknesses: This is a perhaps overly positive and sentimental view of a pet shelter; readers who want to volunteer at an actual shelter might be disillusioned.
What I really think: Well done, Little, Brown! If I had tween girls on my Christmas list, these books would definitely be in their stockings. Great covers, fun stories, even a cute small size!