Definitely Daphne

Charles, Tami. Definitely Daphne (series)
August 1st 2018 by Stone Arch Books
E ARC from Edelweiss Plus

Tami Charles, who came out with Like Vanessa in the spring, has a new series of short tween chapter books out. Unfortunately, I read the E ARC, which was the entire series together, and by the time I figured out it was four separate books, Summer Brain had set in and I don't feel I can review this properly. I know I did like the fact that the main character's mother was in the military, and she was struggling with frequent moves.

I will purchase this series, because at 96 pages each, my struggling readers can get a fun, realistic fiction series that makes them feel successful when they finish the books! I didn't quite buy Daphne's success as a vlogger, since after 12 years of blogging I only have about 300 followers, but students won't mind. I will probably buy these in paperback (for about $5) instead of the hardcover, which Titlewave lists at $18.54. That's the problem with some of the specialty easy reader titles (like Jake Maddox)-- the hardcovers are prohibitively expensive.

From the Publisher:
In front of her followers, Daphne is a hilarious, on-the-rise teen vlog star. But at school Daphne is the ever-skeptical Annabelle Louis, eighth-grade super geek and perennial new kid. To cope with her mom's upcoming military assignment in Afghanistan and her start at a brand new middle school, Annabelle's parents send her to a therapist. Dr. Varma insists Annabelle try stepping out of her comfort zone, hoping it will give her the confidence to make friends, which she'll definitely need once Mom is gone. Luckily there is one part of the assignment Annabelle DOES enjoy--her vlog, Daphne Doesn't, in which she appears undercover and gives hilarious takes on activities she thinks are a waste of time. She is great at entertaining her online fans, yet her classmates don't know she exists. Can Annabelle keep up the double life forever?
   

Funny Kid: Stand Up

Stanton, Matt. Stand Up (Funny Kid #2)
June 19th 2018 by HarperCollins
Copy Provided by Young Adult Books Central

After his attempts to run for class president in Funny Kid for President, Max has decided that his identity is firmly tied to being the "funny kid". When his arch enemy, Abby Purcell, not only calls him "unfunny kid" but gets a laugh when his own joke did NOT, he is beside himself and feels that amends have to be made. He tries out for the Redhill Talent Quest, only to find that another participant, Tumbles the Clown, is attempting to be funny at the expense of Max. Tumbles heckles Max mercilessly and throws him off his game, but when Max tries to heckle Tumbles, he is admonished for it! Clearly, this isn't fair, and when Max's grandfather disappears from the local nursing home, Max uses this as an excuse to drop out. There is a note from kidnappers, which is highly suspect, but Officer Purcell is still brought in to help, and brings her daughter... ABBY! Max is not happy at all, and gets involved with the search, but also decides to continue to participate. Eventually, a secret emerges involving Tumbles and Max's grandfather. Can Max solve the mystery in time to amuse the audience at the Talent Quest?

This notebook novel is a good mix of illustrations and text, and has plenty of throwaway jokes, such as a backstory of Max trying to make people laugh that includes an account of his birth, complete with his bare baby bum! This is far more amusing than Patterson's I, Funny, especially since it is very clear that Max's grandfather isn't in any real danger. I do like the depiction of "Cranky Pants"-- "Mom says he thinks Planet Earth is his house and everyone else popped in without asking"! (page 18)

It's interesting that Max's downfall is due in part to the fact that all of the students in his class really like their new, young teacher, Miss Sweet. They don't appreciate Max playing jokes on her, and since that is a huge source of his humor, it has a bad effect on his popularity. Also interesting is watching him freeze and be unable to come up with good jokes when him rhythm is thrown off. Losing one's "mojo" happens all too frequently, and it's important for young readers to see this happen to some of their favorite characters.

Like other notebook novels like Two Dogs in a Trench Coat Go to School, How to Be a Supervillain, Remy Sneakers, and King of the Bench Funny Kid includes plenty of poop and fart jokes, visual gags, and silly situations that will make readers laugh out loud. Get a copy of this for long summer car trips along with Marty Pants and some Big Nate comic books to insure that instead of hearing "Are we there yet?" you'll be hearing bad jokes!

Stilton, Thea. The Secret of the Crystal Fairies.(Thea Stilton Special Edition #7)
October 9th 2018 by Scholastic
Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central

Even though Thea is off on an international scientific expedition to the Arctic, her five friends in the Seven Roses Unit are willing to give up their exotic spring break vacations in order to magically travel to the Crystal Kingdom to help save the day. Queen Tourmaline is under an evil spell, so things are not going well in the kingdom. it is up to the girls to travel across it, meet with different fairies and creatures, and try to figure out how to reverse the spell. They are guided by Turquoise the fish through an odd ocean, and furthered along by the Current Carnelians. They meet dragons, follow the Rocky Crystal Path, and try to talk Wolf into letting the Sweet Awakening Gem leave the Jade Jungle so that Tourmaline can be released from her spell.

This is a sparkly and colorful book, filled with all manner of sweet, magical fairies, multiple types of shiny jewels, and an air of adventure that comes straight from a video game. There is even a map that shows the route that the group takes, and there is a list of the beings they meet at the beginning.

The draw of these books is the use of lots of color and pictures. The stories are a bit predictable (there are a LOT of them!), and I struggle to keep Thea's friends straight, but there is nonstop action and adventure, although not as many descriptions of food as in Geronimo Stilton books! (Although there are some yummy cupcakes!)  The Thea Stilton Special Editions are more like The Kingdom of Fantasy series; I rather prefer the regular adventures where the girls travel to different countries.

There's no lack of beautiful ball gowns or phrases like "fabumouse" and "mouselets", and the girls (who are pictured as being a vaguely multicultural group, for mice!) all get along well with each other and with their companion and guide, Will. They enjoy their adventures and look forward to seeing their friend and mentor Thea again on their next mission.

Squint

Morris, Chad and Brown, Shelly. Squint
October 2nd 2018 by Shadow Mountain
E ARC from Edelweiss Plus

Flint, who is very interested in drawing comic books, is now usually called "Squint" by his classmates because he is suffering from a degenerative eye disease the affects his corneas and gives him very poor vision. His classmates, who used to be friendly, now bully him. When McKell suddenly starts talking to him, he is wary that her motives are also devious, but she is friendly and invites him on a hike. She is kind, and Flint soon finds out that it is because her brother suffers from progeria and has a YouTube channel where he challenges people to go out and do things that he can no longer do. When Flint's eyes become so bad that he is eligible for a cornea transplant, he is out of school for a while, and upon his return he realizes that McKell has been out, too. Her brother has passed away, and she struggles with her grief and loss. Flint has been trying to finish a comic to submit to a contest, but once his vision improves, he fears it isn't very good. McKell is also shy and beset with anxiety over her own talents. She writes and performs music with a ukulele. She and Flint spend more time together and encourage each other to break out of their boxes and take chances.
Strengths: Flint is being raised by his grandparents because his mother has opted out of raising him. There isn't a lot of money, and both grandparents work hard to take care of Flint's needs. There is a growing number of books with grandparents assuming parental roles, which mirrors what is going on in society. There are not many books about children with impaired sight (Although Vrabel has both A Blind Guide To Stinkville and A Bind Guide to Normal, and there is the classic Beverly Butler Light a Single Candle (1962), which captivated me when I was in middle school.) McKell's experience with loss is well done, and the inclusion of a character with progeria is interesting, even if we don't see much of him before he passes away.
Weaknesses: I found it hard to believe that Flint's classmates would be so insensitive, although I'm sure that there are places where this is absolutely how people treat others. We had a student with diminishing sight, and as far as I could tell her classmates were kind and remained friends with her. The trajectory of some of the relationships from friends to bullying is well explained, but it was sad. We also had a student who was deaf, and the other students were almost TOO interested in being friends with her and talking about her challenges.
What I really think: Definitely purchasing. Even though Flint struggles on so many levels, he keeps trying and is generally upbeat.

Kat Wolfe and Field Tripped

St. John, Lauren. Kat Wolfe Investigates (Wolfe and Lamb Mysteries #1)
October 9th 2018 by Farrar Straus Giroux
E ARC from Edelweiss Plus

Kat and her single mother live a hectic and stressful life in London, where her mother is an underling in a sketchy vet practice. When their home is broken into, Kat's mother decides they must leave. They look for new jobs, and find one in a small coastal town where the vet passes away and left not only the practice but a house, car, and temperamental cat! They move, and are immediately welcomed by the vet-starved populace. Kat is hoping to save up for her own computer, so she starts a pet sitting and walking business. Once of her first customers is the Portuguese bird artist Ramon, who wants her to watch his talking bird, Bailey. When Kat shows up to work, she finds suspicious circumstances and thinks that something has happened to him. She lets Officer Singh know, but there are other, bigger mysteries going on in England at the time, one involving her estranged grandfather, who is the Minister of Defense. With the help of Harper, who has broken both legs in a fall from her horse, necessitating her father hiring Kat to exercise the animal, and local retired librarian Edith, Kat stumbles into a world of international intrigue.
Strengths: I loved the scenes where Kat and her mother move into the small town and set up their veterinary practice. I've spent too much time over the summer watching shows like Doc Martin and That's My Boy, and the descriptions are similar to what is described about small town life in those places. This then segues into more of the British type of murder mysteries, with M15 and other more serious organizations. Students love this sort of thing, which makes this title an interesting mix of All Creatures Great and Small meets Stormbreaker.
Weaknesses: It was a bit of a jolt when this changed from the cozy seaside veterinary practice to the disappearance of Ramon. I just wasn't expecting it from the cover and description.
What I really think: Definitely purchasing, as this was great fun. Boy, do the British love their CCTV! (Or hate it, I know!)

Woodrow, Allan. Field Tripped
August 28th 2018 by Scholastic Press
Copy provided by the publisher

When the fifth graders of Liberty Falls Elementary School take there annual trip to Mink's Mystery Mansion, the children who go have their own agendas in mind. Aaron has just changed schools again, and hopes to be able to make new friends. With his father in the military, he should be used to change, but it's still hard. Eddie is related to the inventor, Edward Minks, but his family is struggling financially, since Minks gave away all of his money for the greater good. Eddie has blueprints of the mansion and hopes to find a secret room with a book detailing all of his ancestor's undiscovered inventions. Jessie also hopes to make friends, and finds a kindred spirit in Anna, who has brought her rabbit Mopey along in her backpack. Chloe hopes to continue in the good graces of the popular Sophie, but starts to realize how mean and selfish her supposed friend is. When a horrible snowstorm strands the school at the mansion, the children try to investigate and find the inventions-- some so they can earn money, and some so they don't have to write an assigned paper on their field trip.
Strengths: I really like Woodrow's work, especially Pet Wars, and there are not enough books about field trips. Not that my students ever take them, thanks to budget cuts, but they are always fun both to go on and to read about. This is a bit different from Woodrow's other school stories in that it has a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory or Mr. Lemoncello's Library vibe to it, with funny inventions, odd occurrences, and a mystery to be solved. The relationships between students evolve in realistic ways. The cover is fantastic. More books should have Slinkies on the cover!
Weaknesses: This is a solidly elementary school book. The goofiness falls on that side of the Pilkey Line, and the characters all have more elementary concerns. Jessie's cat back pack that meows was a big indicator of that. If Mr. Lemoncello did better in my library, I would keep this, but I think I will send it along to the elementary school.
What I really think: I would definitely purchase this for elementary. Having a narrow interest range isn't really a weakness-- it just makes it sad for me when I relaly like a book but know my students are just not going to vibrate to it.

#WNDB Wednesday: All-of-a-Kind Family Hanukkah

The pressing question is this: Why is the Sydney Taylor All-of-a-Kind Family series not available in a nice, new hardcover editions with original illustrations? The books were published in the 1950s, with a book about Ella coming out in 1978, so chances are VERY good that any and all library copies in existence now are pretty nasty. I recently deaccessioned a thirty year old PermaBound edition of book three, which was all my library had.

This new picture book would be a great introduction to the series, but chances are not good that anyone can FIND the original books anywhere!


Jenkins, Emily and Zelinsky, Paul O. All-of-a-Kind Family Hanukkah
September 11th 2018 by Schwartz & Wade Books
Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central

It's Hanukkah on New York's Lower East Side in 1912. Young Gertie, who is four, is very excited about all of the preparations that her parents and four older sisters are making. Making latkes is especially intriguing, since they are made only once a year. Gertie wants to help, but the others tell her it is too dangerous and she should read her library books instead of trying to help out. Angry, she goes to the next room to hide, thinking they will be sorry they ignored her, but no one comes. Eventually, Papa comes looking for her and takes her out to the family celebration to eat the delicious latkes.

This simple story is a good introduction to the classic Sydney Taylor All-of-a-Kind Family (1951) middle grade books, which were some of the first books about Jewish children that reached a main stream audience. Today, there is a Sydney Taylor book award for contributions to Jewish children's literature. These books showcased the daily life and celebrations of a family in an immigrant neighborhood in New York City in the early 1900s and were some of my favorites when I was young-- they were sort of the equivalent of The Brady Bunch when it came to positive and fun depictions of a large family.

The story is simple and easy to follow, and the notes at the back are helpful in understanding so of the concepts of the time, as well as the history of the series. Zelinsy's drawings, while vastly different from the Joe and Beth Krush illustrations in the original books with all of their fine-line details, depict the era well. The family's apartment is clearly laid out, and made sense for the first time to me-- of course it was just two rooms! The colors are happy, and the sense of movement and joy comes through the rough outlined shapes.

All-of-a-Kind Hanukkah is a great addition to a collection of holiday books, and also a good way to develop an interest in a classic series. Give this one to readers who love Little House on the Prairie early reader novels, American Girl books, or historical fiction picture books.

Everlasting Nora

Cruz, Marie Miranda. Everlasting Nora
October 2nd 2018 by Starscape Books
E ARC from Edelweiss Plus

Nora and her mother have been living in her father's family mausoleum after they lost their home, and her father, in an apartment fire. They manage, like many others who live in the cemetery, to eke out an existence. There isn't enough money to buy the uniform and supplies needed for Nora to attend school, so she helps her mother do laundry for one family and also makes and sells garlands of flowers. She has good neighbors in Jo and his grandmother, Lola Mercy, and they are very supportive when her mother does not return one night and men associated with loan sharks break into Nora's home and steal the her father's watch and the money she has been collecting to travel to live with her uncle. Because she does not show up to do laundry, she loses that position, and she starts to panic when her mother is still missing. She goes to the mahjong game her mother regularly attends, and talks to some of her mother's friends. Most of the friends can only say that her mother owes them money, but Rosie has some more information. Eventually, Nora finds her mother, who is very sick. Lola and Jo help her tend to her mother's medical needs, and Nora reaches out to the women who employed them, who helps a little. Because circumstances are so dire, Nora attempts to break into the home of the man who stole her watch to get it back, and she finds that there are some issues that have stood in the way of her mother maintaining contact with her brother. Will Nora be able to get her mother the help she needs?
Strengths: It's so important that students read about what life is like for other children their age in other parts of the world, or children in the US whose lives are very different. If you liked Saaed's Amal Unbound or Yang's Front Desk, this is another great title to offer to students to expand their horizons. I love that Nora is bright and would really like to attend school, and even does some work with a man who has a mobile school that comes to her area. Even though Nora struggles to get food and water, she is upbeat and proactive about her own life and shows a lot of resiliency and skill in survival. For adults who loved Little House on the Prairie for the way Laura had to use her pluck to survive, I believe that books like this are the thing to hand to students now instead! The glossary of Filipino words and phrases is helpful, and the details of every day life are amazing!
Weaknesses: I'm assuming that this takes place in the modern day, but it might help readers who don't know about life in the Philippines to somehow indicate this.
What I really think: As a child, I loved books set in different historical periods that told me details of every day life. If there had been books about children in other parts of the world, I would have loved those as well. It's great to see more #ownvoices accounts of life in different countries!

A Trio of Fantasy Books

https://www.flickr.com/photos/gr8dnes/5256191075

The books were far better than the trio of SKUNKS that I met on my way to work today! It was 72 out (at an hour Kevin Sands calls "too early for honest folk, too late for brigands and thieves"), and also garbage day, so I passed THREE skunks. They hide in the shadow of the garbage bins, and even though I religiously wear my glasses in the morning, they were hard to see. Two resulted in an awkward jog (with twenty pounds of books on my back!) away from the little critters, and one I avoided by side stepping into the street. Too much excitement!

Easley, Sean. The Hotel Between

September 4th 2018 by Simon Schuster
E ARC from Edelweiss Plus

Cameron lives with his Oma, who works at his school as a substitute teacher, and sister Cassia, who has been challenged all of her life with the complications of spina bifida. His mother is dead, and his father has disappeared, although Oma says he was stolen and didn't abandon them. One day, Cam is coming home from school and see a mysterious building; the Hotel Between. He meets the mysterious Nico, and finds out that the amulet on the necklace he wears that belonged to his father ties him to the place in a strange way. Hoping to find his missing father, he gets more and more involved with the hotel, working there and meeting people like the Old Man and Stripe, who are vaguely evil and mysterious, and almost certainly know more than they are telling. The hotel has a series of doors that connect to different parts of the world and facilitate travel and the "best vacations" that people have ever had-- even if they are not going to remember all of the magical details. The hotel has some problems, however, and is always in danger of having the pins that connect the worlds fail in disastrous ways. Cass is very ill, and Cam believes that the hotel may hold the secret to healing her, and that their father disappeared when trying to figure this out. Will Cam be able to find his father, or will the mysterious hotel hold more grief for him than anything else?
Strengths: There is a lot of great world building going on with the hotel, its mechanics, and the people inhabiting it. It was very clear that while Cam put so much hope in the hotel, he was going to be disappointed, because things were much more complicated than they seemed at first. It's a great concept (a central door to get to a lot of different locations), and the mystery with the parents also worked well and was solved in a very interesting way. My favorite past was probably Oma, in her flowered shirts and khakis!
Weaknesses: Even with all of the action and adventure, there was a strong feeling of sadness and anxiety that overshadowed the fun elements of the book.
What I really think: Something about this cover, and the overall plot, reminded me of Oliver's The Shrunken Head. This is the sort of fantasy that doesn't do particularly well with my readers (who seem to prefer old school medieval fantasies or happier magical realism), so I am debating.

Saunders, Kate. The Land of Neverendings
August 14th 2018 by Delacorte Press
Public library copy

Emily's sister Holly has passed away, and Emily finds herself missing Bluey, Holly's stuffed toy that the two created many adventures around. The toy was cremated with her sister, and she understands this, but she finds herself struggling. Her parents are moving on as best they can, and her father wisely does not mention her sister and her mother has taken a job. Her friends are a bit weird about it, or it could just be the middle grade years. Emily spends time after school with a neighbor who runs an antique store. Ruth lost her son ten years ago, and also is nostalgic for his toys. She and Emily talk a lot  over cups of tea and biscuits, and Emily takes comfort in this. When Emily starts hearing and seeing toys come from the imaginary land of Smockeroon, she worries that she is hallucinating, but Ruth has had similar experiences, especially with a fat black toad of gried showing up. At first, it is comforting to spend time with the beloved (if a bit strange) toys, but things start to take a very dark turn. Ruth is almost killed in a home fire while her spirit is visiting the imaginary world, and Emily must figure out how to deal with her past but also move forward.
Strengths: I very much enjoy Ms. Saunders' work, especially The Whizz Pop Chocolate Shop, Magicalamity, and Beswitched,  and she is a very British writer in her use of lots of cups of tea and lots of very good biscuits. (Custard creams for the win!) She also has a way of taking lighthearted topics and making them rather dark, which also seems particularly British to me (think Jacqueline Wilson's books for 8 year olds-- lots more child abuse than US fiction has!) Beloved toys certainly have lots of unplumbed powers, and books about grief are certainly on trend.
Weaknesses: Grief is also incredibly boring, not only to experience but also to read about. I understand where this book came from, and commend Saunders for her efforts, especially this: "Young people weren't supposed to die. When you had a dead young person in your family, it was like joining a weird club that nobody on earth wanted to be a member of." Yes, and that's why it's a best practice to pretend the person never existed, and move on. Since this is hard for young people to do, Emily really should have been in some sort of grief therapy.
What I really think: My students rarely willingly pick up a book about toys-- I think in the US, toys start to be uncool around the age of 6. I just don't see this being read in my library, so I won't purchase it.


Lasky, Kathryn. Den of the Forever Frost 
(Bears of the Ice #2)
October 9th 2018 by Scholastic Press
Copy provided by the publisher

Cubs Stellan and Jytte, along with their cousin, Third, are making their way across Nunquivick (which is in the same world as Ga'Hoole and the Beyond) to try to find their father, Svern, who had fought the evil powers behind the Ice Clock and whom they suspect is now in the Den of the Forever Frost. Their mother, Svenna, is still imprisoned in the headquarters of the Grand Patek and doing calculations about the Ice Clock while also befriending the poor cubs who have been tortured. The cubs meet a wide variety of creatures and come across many dangers in their trek. When they find a tourist area in the Firth of Grundensphyrr and take a tour, they uncover a Roguer plot but also find some clues to lead them to their father, who is fighting Dark Fang. After saving their other cousin, Second (who is now named Froya), they find the Den of the Forever Frost and are told that they are the keepers of the key to the Ice Clock. They are sent on a further quest to talk to the owls.

Readers who enjoy animal fantasy books like Hunter's Warriors books, London's The Wild Ones or Iserles' Foxcraft series will enjoy the detailed world building and in-depth fantasy plot. There are a huge number of incidental but well developed creatures, from talkative wood frogs and helpful ice spiders to the owls and wolves that appear in Lasky's other series.

The land of Nonquivick is also well described, and there is a map in the book. Considering that the cubs are navigating only by the stars, they do quite a good job getting where they want to be! The world building also includes a variety of vaguely Scandinavian words like yoickhynn, nachtmagen, and fyngrot. These are apparently used in other books, according to the Ga'Hool Wikia, so fans of those books will be pleased to see the characters and concepts from the books used again.

There's plenty of action and adventure, villains to be vanquished, and voles to eat as the bears continue their journey to save both their parents and their world.

N.B. If I can read these books and think about them critically despite the fact the bears save wood frogs from freezing but whack and eat voles, I think 7th graders can read an occasional book with a human protagonist without throwing fits. Even football books are easier for me to read than fantasy books with maps and the dreaded talking animals!

MMGM- Trapped!

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.

Ponti, James. Trapped (Framed #3)
September 25th 2018 by Aladdin
E ARC from Edelweiss Plus

Florian and Margaret have their most important mission yet-- Marcus has been accused of stealing valuable library books and of having ties to organized crime, and only they can prove him innocent. We start with the two of them brilliantly crashing a fund raiser to get information, the flashback to the case that gets Marcus in trouble. His first case was never solved to his satisfaction, and when someone intercepts a dead drop key in a library book and finds a pile of classified documents in a post office box, he feels the cases may be related. The trio go back and investigate the four most likely suspects, who all have ties to books or libraries, and some of whom have very personal ties to Marcus himself. As always, adults underestimate the detective abilities of the children, who in turn completely underestimate the spying skills of Florian's mother! Eventually, Florian works out the code, and has to ask Nic the Knife for help in bringing the federal agents in to corner a Russian spy.

Strengths: Like Stuart Gibbs' various mysteries, Ponti's work is always just a pleasant relief to read. I push through a lot of books that are either poorly written or don't interest me, so just letting Ponti's clever, deft prose wash over me and his characters amuse me is wonderful. There are so many interesting details about D.C., libraries, and various things that I kept turning the pages to see where the story would take me next. Good stuff. The affection the children have for Marcus is great to see, and Margaret and Florian's friendship is fantastic. If I recall correctly, there are supposed to be five books in this series.

Weaknesses: This is a tiny bit on the long side.

What I really think: Definitely purchasing. I think the covers may be working against this series. It doesn't check out as often as Gibbs' work, but then Gibbs' books have really appealing covers.

BLATHER: Cross Country season is finally over, and I a hoping to get caught up on... life pretty soon! It's a good thing I'm not involved in the Cybils' awards this year, because I have only managed to nominate two books-- I can't imagine the wreck things would be if I were category organizer! 

It's a bummer when life gets in the way of reading, but that's the way it is sometimes! 

Apple Pie Promises and Double Cross (Twintuition #4)

Homzie, Hillary. Apple Pie Promises
October 2nd 2018 by Sky Pony Press
E ARC from Edelweiss Plus

Lily loves to bake, especially with her mother, to whom she has been close after her parents' divorce. When her mother suddenly gets a fellowship to study in Morocco because another participant couldn't go, Lily is very proud of her mother, but doesn't really want to have to live with her father and his "new and improved"family. Kimberly is okay, and her daughter Hannah is a year older and goes to the same school. The girls usually get along okay, but because her father's video business is finally taking off, he has his equipment in the spare room, so the girls have to share. Hannah is horribly messy, and Lily is not. Lily tries to remain positive, but when Hannah finds out about Lily's crush and threatens to tell everyone about it, Lily starts stooping to pranks. It doesn't help that Hannah is the head of the haunted house committee for the fall festival, and Lily doesn't always agree with her approached. Lily wants to bake an apple pie for the festival, but her father is too busy to take her apple picking, and it's hard for her mother to find time and band width to Skype. The family is looking for a new house, and as the pranks escalate, Lily and Hannah both become increasingly unhappy. Can the step sisters work things out?
Strengths: Interesting descriptions of life in Seattle, decent baking information, and a very good plot involving school mates who have to learn to live together as sisters. I have seen this with my students, and always marvel at how this would work. This series always has a nice romance, and lots of friend drama besides. I can't wait to put up a display of the books, since the covers all look so delicious!
Weaknesses: I wasn't a fan of the pranks, and they seemed out of character for Lily. Also, the secret to good pie is in the CRUST, and Lily spends most of her time worrying about the filling. (Pie baking is one of my skills.)
What I really think: Definitely purchasing. The Swirl novels and the Scholastic Wish novels have done very well in my school library.

Mowry, Tia and Tamera. Double Cross (Twintuition #4)
May 8th 2018 by HarperCollins
Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central

Cassie and Caitlyn Waters are still struggling to understand the power they share, The Sight. It is somehow tied to the disappearance of the father that they have never met over ten years ago, and their father's mother has come from England to try to train them to use their power. When they both have visions about bad things occurring on their class trip to San Antonio to visit the Alamo, and this is reinforced by their grandmother warning that they should not go, the twins brush these concerns aside, even after their mother gets a frantic, upsetting phone call from her sister in San Antonio. The girls arrange to meet their cousin Steve near the Riverwalk, where students are allowed to hang out, but break the rules by leaving the area. Things get grim when one of their classmates, Lavendar, is seen going off with a young man and isn't answering her phone. Since one of the girls had a vision about her phone being smashed, this is worrisome. They go looking for her, and do manage the young man in question, who demands money from the tweens before telling them where their friend is. Luckily, the police show up, and the man is arrested. Lavendar is eventually found, with the help of the girls' vision and a homeless man, and brought back. Details emerge about their father's disappearance, and using their visions, clues from their grandmother's investigations, and details from their mother, they manage to find him. But will they be able to rescue him?

This last book in the series combines the mystery of the long lost father, appealing facts about having an ability to see visions, and realistic details about interactions with classmates. There is also a lot of family involvement, which is always good to see, especially since the mother is a chief of police in a small town.

There need to be more books about class trips, and I wish there were even more details about the Alamo and Riverwalk, because we will clearly not be taking a trip there with 8th graders from Ohio! Clearly. the girls don't make good choices about how to behave on the trip, even though the chaperones tell them very clearly what the rules are. Bus trips, hanging out away from school, and the opportunity to have adventures are always fun to read about, so this was a good inclusion.

The bright, colorful covers on these, as well as the celebrity connection, help make these popular books, and it's always good to see fantasy books with characters who are not white. This is a good series to hand to readers who have moved a little beyond Mlynowski's Whatever After series along with this author's Bras and Broomsticks books, and has the sister power of Hale's Princess Academy series and Barrow's The Magic Half.

I'm not a huge fan of the stereotypical characters in the book (bullies, rich girl and her minions, etc.), and was pretty alarmed at the way the children handled Lavender being missing. The solution to the mystery of the father is also rather... odd. Still, these have been a big hit with my students, and I'm glad the series wrapped up in four books rather than ten!

Hey, Kiddo and Bounce Back

Krosoczka, Jarrett J. Hey, Kiddo
September 25th 2018 by Graphix
E ARC from Edelweiss Plus

In this graphic novel style memoir, Krosoczka describes the difficulties he faced growing up in the 1980s and 90s. His mother was not married and did not even list his father on his birth certificate, and struggled with addiction, mainly to heroin. After the age of three, Krosoczka was cared for by his grandparents and learned not to rely on seeing his mother, who was in and out of residential programs. His two aunts were still at home, and his basic needs were met, but his grandparents had problems of their own. Both alcoholics, they bordered on verbally abusive on occasion. Still, they were generally supportive and encouraged Krosoczka to pursue his art, which was something that helped him cope throughout his school career. In notes at the end, we learn a little about the way the book was written, and also that Krosoczka lost his mother in 2017 to a final heroin overdose.
Strengths: In the current climate where openness and frank discussion of issues is encouraged, this will be popular. Krosoczka tells his story in a compelling way and rolls up his sleeves rather than wrings his hands, and the artwork is excellent as always. I particularly liked the way he worked in some wallpaper from his childhood home.
Weaknesses: This is very frank, covering issues such as unmarried parents and drug and alcohol abuse, and has some vulgar language. The digital ARC was hard to read at spots, and the grandmother usually uses "fecking", but there was at least one full octane version of that word.
What I really think: It may be hard for the book to find the right audience. Fans of graphic novels or the Lunchlady Books who pick this up expecting a light, fun read will be surprised. That being said, I do have students who are being raised by their grandparents because their parents are unfit, imprisoned, or deceased. Not that I'm going to push this book on those students, but other students might be more understanding if they read this, and all students should be able to see their experiences reflected in literature.

Khan, Hena. Bounce Back. (Zayd Saleem, Chasing the Dream #3)
October 2nd 2018 by Salaam Reads
E ARC from Edelweiss Plus

Zayd is busy with basketball and also his uncle Jamal Mamoo's large Pakistani style wedding, which takes up a lot of family time, but has an unexpected set back-- he sprains his ankle playing basketball and ends up on crutches. He can't play, and he's not happy about it. Shortly afterward, his beloved grandfather Nana Abu has a heart attack. While it's not fatal, he ends up in the hospital, and then both of his grandparents move in with Zayd's family for a bit while Nana Abu recuperates. When Zayd's ankle is a better, he is allowed back on the court but struggles, worrying that he will reinjure himself. He also struggles with wanting to tell his teammates information that might help them play better, and his coach reassures him that taking a leadership position is difficult, but important.
Strengths: This addresses two very common and important concerns young readers face-- sports injuries and ailing grandparents. Khan really has hit the sweet spot of incorporating specific cultural information into universal stories that is a great way to show readers that while the particulars of Zayd's family, food, and celebrations might be different from their own, the essentials of his life are very similar to their own. I would love to see more sports books dealing with injuries, since they can change the way a student's entire school year goes.
Weaknesses: Zayd complains about going to practice and games when he is injured, thinking that watching tv and drinking milkshakes instead is due recompense. That seemed odd to me-- my injured runners are always very good about coming to practices, even though it often means they are sitting around in a field somewhere!
What I really think: I would love a similar but longer and more complex series with a slightly older character; my 8th graders are not going to pick this up because it looks too easy and Zayd is too young.

Journey of the Pale Bear

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Fletcher, Susan. Journey of the Pale Bear
October 2nd 2018 by Margaret K. McElderry Books
E ARC from Edelweiss Plus

Arthur has run away from his home in Norway during the reign of Henry the VIII. His Welsh father was killed in a war, and his mother has remarried a man who is abusive. After attempting to steal someone's dinner in a pub, Arthur runs across a captive polar bear, and isn't attacked by the animal. The bear is a gift from King Hakkon to the British ruler, and is being shipped over. The captain of the ship is not happy, and when the doctor who is accompanying the bear sees that Arthur pacifies it, he wants the boy to come along. Life at sea is full of all sorts of dangers, including pirate attacks, but through it all, Arthur and the bear seem to share a special bond. When the ship is in danger of sinking, Arthur frees the bear and ends up cast ashore with it. They are eventually recaptured and make their way to London. Arthur has a letter from Wales that he carries with him and has lost, but when he finally gets it back and finds someone to read it, he finds out that he isn't really wanted in Wales any more than he is in Norway. When the bear doesn't do well in the king's menagerie, Arthur is consulted and comes up with an innovative solution to help with the bear's health.
Strengths: This combines two popular topics, befriending wild animals and seafaring! There's a lot of good research, and an appearance by Henry III. Great cover, and I love this author's The Shadow Spinner (1998).
Weaknesses: Historical fiction during the Middle Ages is hard to find, but also a bit hard to write, I think. There are always lots of descriptions about how horribly things smelled and how completely awful life was, which is completely accurate but not that much fun to read!
What I really think: Every time Arthur would scratch behind the bear's ears, I would give my dog a good ear scritch. Readers who really enjoyed Morey's Gentle Ben, Kerr's The Winter Horses or other animal books will like it for the affection, and readers who like swashbuckling tales like Cadnum's Ship fo Fire or Lawrence's The Wreckers will find that this book floats their boat!

Mystery on Vacation!

Stevens, Robins. Mistletoe and Murder
(Wells and Wong #5)
September 18th 2018 by Simon Schuster
E ARC from Edelweiss Plus

Daisy and her brother Bertie don't want to go home fro Christmas, and it's too far for Hazel to return to China, so the girls decide to spend their holidays under the care of Daisy's Aunt Eustacia, who teaches at a womens' college in Cambridge. Amanda, a student there, is supposed to chaperone the girls, who are staying in "King Henry's" ( a former prefect at their school) room, but she is very busy with her school work, so let's them wander on their own. This is fine with the girls, who sense a possible mystery in the offing. Twins Donald and Chummy Melling are due to come into their inheritance on Christmas day, but Donald, the older, will get everything, and Chummy will get nothing. Chummy is the twin whom everyone thinks should inherit, and Donald has been involved in a series of unfortunate accidents. The other appeal of visiting Cambridge was that Alexander and his friend George, who helped with a previous inquiry by letter, are going to be there as well. As males, of course, they have less restricted access to Maudlin College and its lodgings. When one of the twins has a fatal accident, this is very helpful. The girls try to investigate, but are constantly thwarted, and must rely on the help of the detectives who are supposedly their arch rivals. When there is yet another murder, it is even more important for Daisy and Hazel to figure out what has gone on.
Strengths: The book Daisy brings with her to read? Gaudy Night! My readers love murder mysteries, and there are definitely murders in these. There's also lots of very pleasant British life, the opportunity to run around without supervision, climbing up buildings, and even a little about the inequities faced by both women and ethnic minorities in the UK during this time period. (1930s)
Weaknesses: Hazel comments a bit on the difficulties of being Chinese is a place where Chinese people are something rare, especially when she meets George, who is Indian. There's just a hint of it, though, and it's such an interesting part of the story that I wish we knew more.
What I really think: I love British mysteries, and it occurred to me that Harry Potter fans might be enticed to read these books by the mention of tea and cakes, and the cozy rooms in the colleges. Definitely purchasing and gently twisting some arms to get students to read these!

Gibbs, Stuart. Spy School Goes South (Spy School #6)
October 1st 2018 by Simon & Schuster
E ARC from Edelweiss Plus

Murray is ready to talk, but only to Ben. He's turned over a new leaf, gotten some exercise, lost some weight, and is ready to turn over SPYDER's secret whereabouts. Cyrus decides that Erica and Ben should go, because they will work better in a stealth situation, so they are soon on a plane headed south. Zoe and Mike decides to stow away, and of course things start to go wrong. Murray is double crossing them, (it's not a spoiler if you expect it to happen, right?), and soon they are crash landing in the jungle in Mexico. NOT the Mexico of picture postcards, but the Mexico with crocodiles and clouds of mosquitoes. They eventually make their way to the resort where the SPYDER headquarters has been moved, and infiltrate it by pretending to be associated with the Farkle Family Fiesta taking place. This provides a room (via a stolen credit card) and camouflage (family t shirt). They manage to infiltrate it, only to have Ben decide that he couldn't let a former nemesis be killed, so he saves Paul Lee. Saddled with their newest evil criminal as well as Murray, Ben and Erica have to salvage the mission. They have to deal with Ashley and Warren as well, but thankfully Erica's mother shows up. After much adventure and mayhem, we're still not much closer to taking down SPYDER, although Ben has made some progress on his romantic life, which means we have more adventures to look forward to in book seven!
Strengths: You know how, as an adult, you read things like Lillian Jackson Braun's 29 book Cat Who mysteries? And you don't think about character development or plot or literary merit? You just read them because they are fun to read? Gibbs' writing is just so much fun that I definitely fall into this trap, especially on a Sunday afternoon. These books are all hysterically funny, with deft turns of phrase, improbably schemes, and great characters. I am especially fond of Erica because she is so skilled and competent. Can she fly the airplane they are in that is crashing to the ground? Well, she's flown OTHER planes, so why not? Ben is actually very complex-- he has a brilliant mind for fighting criminals, but his survival and defense skills are weak, which intrigues me. Great stuff.
Weaknesses: My biggest Gibbs fan has gone on to the high school. Excuse me while I go weep.
What I really think: Definitely purchasing, although seven books is about as long as a middle school series needs to be.

Skylark and Wallcreeper

Carelli, Anne O'Brien. Skylark and Wallcreeper
October 2nd 2018 by Yellow Jacket
ARC provided by the publisher

Lily is visiting her grandmother, Colette, at her senior facility when Superstorm Sandy hits their Queens neighborhood. Since Colette is grail and struggles with dementia, Lily stays with her when the facility is evacuated to an armory in Brooklyn. She's also a big help to the nurses, and even heads out to try to find food for the other residents. While she's out, she manages to lose a Mont Blanc fountain pen that her grandmother has entrusted to her safekeeping, mentioning that the pen should be delivered to Marguerite, of whom Lily has never heard. In flashbacks about Colette, we learn about her childhood in Brume, France under the Nazi occupation in the 1940s. Colette was approached by the Resistance to disguise herself as a boy and act as a messenger, having the people to whom she delivered mysterious packages since her notebook with an "X", using the fountain pen. It was during this time that Colette met Marguerite, whose father was very active in the Resistance. The two ended up working together. In alternating chapters, we find out more about the Superstorm and the progress in getting the senior residents settled, and about the course of the war as it affected Colette and her family. Lily eventually tracks down a fountain pen store to see if she could replace her grandmother's pen, but it turns out that someone has found it... and the owner has sent it to a woman named Marguerite, who has been looking for a similar pen for years. Lily decides that it is imperative that she go visit Marguerite, and sets off on an adventure to meet her. Family history is revealed, and Lily gets to fulfill her grandmother's long time dream of being reunited with her friend.
Strengths: This is similar to Weissman's The Length of a String, in that it deals with a child in the US and the story of a grandparent who is a young age during the war. I like this one a little better because there is more adventure in both stories. Colette and Marguerite are very daring when young, and it's interesting to see them as an elderly women, especially when we find out a little more about their lives-- Colette planted gardens all over the world! The story about the storm is interesting as well, and I'm a sucker for a fountain pen!
Weaknesses: This seems longer than it is. The print is a great size, but it does bring the book in at 400 pages. This is about twice as long as your average middle schooler wants to read, but I still think I can sell it when the 8th grade does its Holocaust unit.
What I really think: Queens seems a bit like Key West to me-- why would anyone think it was a good idea to settle there? The cover is good, and I always need more books about World War II, so I will be purchasing this one.

The Bookshop Girl, 9 From the Nine Worlds

Bishop, Sylvia. The Bookshop Girl
October 1st 2018 by Peachtree Publishers
ARC provided by the publisher

Property Jones (so named because she was abandoned in a bookstore and put into the lost property cupboard by Michael Jones, whose mother Netty ends up adopting the girl) loves living and working in the White Hart bookstore with her family, but times are hard. When there is a contest to win the best bookshop in the UK, The Great Montgomery Book Emporium, Netty enters and is greatly relieved to win, since the White Hart was in danger of going under. The Emporium is a mechanical bookshop, with fascinating rooms, and Michael and Property are thrilled to be there. However, not long after they arrive, Mr. Eliot Pink comes to inform them that Mr. Montgomery bought a draft of one of Shakespeare's books from him but never paid for it, so the Joneses must pay him 43 million pounds or forfeit the shop to him! Of course, they don't have that much money, but Property thinks she has seen the book. The family finds it, but it has been badly damaged. Something seems not quite right about both Mr. Pink and the book, and it's up to the children to find out why so they can save their fabulous new home. Property must struggle with another issue she is keeping a secret, and this complicates matters.
Strengths: This was delightful, and any young reader who would love to like in a bookstore will adore this. There's a light mystery, cats, and lots and lots of tea. There are even a few illustrations, and the ARC came with the most adorable buttons! There is an undeniably British feel to this, so readers who enjoy Roald Dahl or Kate Saunders will want to read this. It's sort of a UK version of Mr. Lemoncello's Library, without quite as many cool rooms.
Weaknesses: I had a lot of trouble believing that Property could keep her secret from Netty, but if I've learned nothing from UK middle grade lit, it's that most UK parents are apparently rather rubbish. (Ahem.)
What I really think: I would definitely purchase this for an elementary library. I'm debating for middle school, because I spend so much on these easier readers last year. That said, I know JUST the reader to whom to give the book and the pins!

Riordan, Rick. 9 From the Nine Worlds
October 2nd 2018 by Disney-Hyperion
E ARC from Edelweiss Plus

If you haven't ordered this for your library already, you need to! It's hard for me to review short stories, and the Norse mythology is not my strong suit, but there are different camps of Riordan fandom emerging now, and Asgard lovers will need this! I have to admit to loving The Lightning Thief best of all, although one of my runners is trying to convince me that The Kane Chronicles is really the best. (And I would love to see a movie of that one, as long as they didn't actually blow up the British Museum!)

From Goodreads:
The Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard trilogy may have concluded, but we haven't heard the last of our favorite peeps from the Nine Worlds. Join Hearthstone, Blitzen, Samirah, Alex, Jack, T.J., Mallory, Halfborn, and more on a hilarious and unforgettable journey through Rick Riordan's unique take on Norse mythology. While Magnus is off visiting his cousin, Annabeth, his friends find themselves in some sticky, hairy, and smelly situations as they try to outwit moronic giants, murderous creatures, and meddlesome gods. Can they stave off Ragnarok at least until Magnus gets back?

MMGM- No Fixed Address

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.

Nielsen, Susin. No Fixed Address
September 11th 2018 by Tundra Books (NY)
E ARC from Netgalley.com

Felix Knuttsen and his single mother Astrid move around a bit in Vancouver because Astrid finds it hard to keep a job after her career teaching art founders. After the death of her mother, Felix's Mormor, it's been hard for the two to maintain homes as well. When her latest boyfriend, Abelard, decides to go to India, Felix is glad to see him go, but it means that the only place he has to live is the Westfalia van after briefly landing with a friend, Soleil. Since it's August, they take a little vacation, and then Astrid tells Felix he can go to any school he wants. Using a fair amount of subterfuge, she gets him into the French Immersion School. This is great, since Felix is half Swedish and one quarter Haitian and French, and since his former best friend Dylan goes to the school and the two still get along. Living in the van requires a lot of planning and sacrifices, from showering at a community center and eating meals out of cans to carefully crafted stories about his movements. Felix makes an unlikely friend in the driven Winnie, who is very good at languages but not so good at social interactions. The three work on articles for the school paper, and the fact that Felix excels at the t.v. game show Who, What, Where emerges. He tries out for a junior edition and makes it. Since the grand prize is $25,000, he hopes he can win so that he and Astrid can get their lives back on track. As the competition approaches, Felix's life starts to unravel very quickly. What will it take for things to turn around for the Knuttsons?
Strengths: This had a tremendous amount of appealing, well fleshed out characters. Mormor, although her appearance was very brief, was a fantastic grandmother. Felix's description of his mother and her problems is interesting because it shows how much understanding and smarts he needs to have just to get himself clothed and fed. It's also a balanced description-- she's not a great mother, but she's not the worst, either. I feel like many of my students have similar backgrounds. The details about living in a van will appeal to students who have nice, comfortable homes, and will perhaps resonate with those who don't as well. Dylan and Winnie are good friends, and the teachers and social workers are all concerned and helpful. Even Soleil, who is ill used by Astrid, is very supportive. I liked the inclusion of Vancouver as almost another character, and the game show appearance is worked in convincingly. It is a book that will make many readers grateful-- I know enough to NEVER take baths for granted!
Weaknesses: The game show scenes got a bit overwrought, and there were a few moments where this came close to having too many social hot button issues, lessening the impact of Felix's predicament. That's very on trend, though.
What I really think: This will be a great circulator. The cover is very appealing, and this has a Boxcar Children vibe with the addition of the suspense of Felix's precarious situation. Nicely done.

Property of the Rebel Librarian

Varnes, Allison. Property of the Rebel Librarian
September 18th 2018 by Random House Books for Young
E ARC from Netgalley.com
Copy also received from the publisher

When June's parents catch her reading a book of which they disapprove, The Makings of a Witch, they not only take it away from her, but her mother returns it to the school library herself. It's great that her parents are very involved in the school, but not so great that in the wake of her mother's visit, the school librarian, Ms. Bradshaw, is escorted out of the building by the police and the library is closed for a bit. It's even worse when she finds out that her parents are performing (with the principal's okay) a "book extraction" and removing any books that have any kind of material that could be considered at all objectionable by anybody. This doesn't leave many books left, and the library is reopened with a temporary librarian who spends her lunches talking with her mother on the phone. In order to keep herself in books, June starts borrowing them from a Little Free Library she passes on her way to school, many of which have very personal inscriptions "To Brendan" in them. When other students need books, they also come to June, and soon she has a small collection in an unassigned locker with a log cleverly labeled Property of the Rebel Librarian with all loans being kept in code. There is an interesting romance as well, with June being interested in Graham until she finds out more about his politics, and then she is more interested in another boy who is more helpful to her cause. June doesn't feel great about all of this subterfuge, but she also really misses Ms. Bradshaw, and is gratified that reading has become a bit more cool since it is banned. Eventually, there is some media attention that brings everything to a head.
Strengths: June is an interesting character who has to put up with really unfortunate parents. The trajectory of the romances is interesting. The variety of books discussed, and the growing culture of reading in the school will make librarians cheer. Varnes' writing is strong, and the book moves along quickly, which is always important in middle grade literature. I liked all of the supporting characters, such as the older sister and the classmates, and of course hated the parents, principal, and board members!
Weaknesses: I had trouble believing that the principal and school board would be able to remove the librarian, close the library, and eventually let the teacher go. The author seems to hale from the Tennessee area, so perhaps the teacher contracts are much, much different. It also seems odd to me that parents would be able to remove books; schools usually have a policy and procedure to address the issue of banning books. Again, this may be different in other areas, but since I could not imagine such events occurring, it made it really hard for me to get into the book.
What I really think: Even though I like Alan Gratz's Ban This Book, it has not circulated very well at all, perhaps because my students can pretty much get any book they want.


The interim librarian is given a bit of a hard time about the lunch time phone conversations with her mother (and a little derision about her sweatshirt with alphabet letters on it), which, really, she should be able make. Other teachers can take lunch, but it's rare that libraries are closed completely. I take lunch rarely. Even then, it's maybe 10 minutes, when there are no classes scheduled and I've already seen study hall students, and the library remains open with student helpers because the whole front wall of my library is glass that looks out onto the cafeteria, and the adults out there can keep an eye on things. It still makes me super nervous and I don't like to do it. But the librarian should be able to use her lunch to make phone calls, and doesn't deserve negative judging about her choice of clothing. If I can't comment on the young and their skin tight yoga pants, they should not be able to make fun of my cardigans and pleated skirts. (There, Twitter. Feel free to go crazy with this one. Hopefully, with all of the political news, the bullies on Twitter will ignore this one.)

Little Red Rodent Hood, Ella Unleashed.

Vernon, Ursula. Little Red Rodent Hood (Hamster Princess #6)
September 25th 2018 by Dial Books
E ARC from Edelweiss Plus

You want it. You need it. It doesn't matter what fairy tale this covers, your students (even middle school ones!) are going to want this story!

Unfortunately, the E ARC I had turned the pages sooooo sloooowly that I sort of lost track of what was going on; I would quote some particularly delightful lines, but even the bookmarks take forever to load. I made an entire plastic needlepoint coaster while waiting for the pages to turn.

So, here's the Goodreads synopsis. I just love these books so much that I wanted to make sure everyone knew that this is now available. Plus, I still really want a Hamster Princess t shirt that says "I am something that happens to other people!"

From Goodreads.com
"Most monsters know better than to mess with Princess Harriet Hamsterbone. She's a fearsome warrior, an accomplished jouster, and is so convincing that she once converted a beastly Ogrecat to vegetarianism. So why would a pack of weasel-wolf monsters come to her for help? Well, there's something downright spooky going on in the forest where they live, and it all centers around a mysterious girl in a red cape. No one knows better than Harriet that little girls aren't always sweet. Luckily there's no problem too big or bad for this princess to solve.

In this sixth installment of her whip-smart Hamster Princess series, Ursula Vernon once again upends fairy tale tropes and subverts gender stereotypes to brilliant effect. This is a "Once Upon a Time" like you've never seen before."
Cherry, Allison. Ella Unleashed.
September 25th 2018 by Aladdin
E ARC from Edelweiss Plus

Ella does pretty well dividing her time between her dad's place and her mom and her stepfather Krishnan's. She is beginning to enter the junior division for showing Elvis, Krishnan's dog, and enjoys going to the shows and hanging out with her family. Elvis's training isn't going all that well, but she keeps trying. She would like her dad to come to see her, but knows that he is uncomfortable being around her mom. She has a great idea-- if her dad were dating someone, he wouldn't feel so awkward, AND if he had something else to occupy his mind, he wouldn't concentrate so much on Ella! After realizing that the teacher she wants to set him up with already has a boyfriend, she and her friends set up a profile for her dad on the Head Over Heels dating web site, and start to answer e mails from women and try to set up dates for him. She arranges to meet a woman at the zoo, but doesn't like her three children. Another woman agrees to meet her father at an Italian restaurant at the mall, but when her dad is understandably confused about why the woman is talking to him, the "date" doesn't go well. Finally, she e mails a local yoga teacher, pretends to have a biking accident outside her studio, and gets her dad to meet her that way. This seems successful until Beth and her dad go to a dog show and some secrets are revealed. Ella finally has some honest conversations with her family about how she is feeling... and she gets a new puppy!
Strengths: The information about showing dogs was really interesting, and a nice break from children who walk dogs. There are lots of books about that. It's also good to see a family with a workable shared custody arrangement, and middle school readers will find Ella's attempts at fixing up her father amusing.
Weaknesses: This is very similar to Schwartz's Smart Cookie, and Ella's lying and arranging to meet people online was a little concerning.
What I really think: This will be an optional purchase, since I have similar titles.