Who Is the Man in the Air?: Michael Jordan

Soria, Gabe and Williams, Brittany (illustrator)

Who is the Man in the Air?: Michael Jordan

November 1st 2022 by Penguin Workshop

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

This graphic novel captures a small snapshot in time; the 1997 NBA Finals basketball game between the Utah Jazz and the Chicago Bulls, often known as "The Flu Game". Jordan was a very important member of the team, and when he became ill in the middle of the night, the team management and other players panicked. How could they win with their key player not up to snuff? Despite feeling nauseated, Jordan went on to play a very competitive game, leading to his team's narrow win. There is some back story about Jordan's career up to this point, and other notables of the time, like Dennis Rodman and Scottie Pippen, are briefly introduced and discussed. There's a nice timeline of Jordan's lifeup until his retirement in 2003, as well as a selected bibliography.

Strengths: I was not at all familiar with this event, since I haven't seen a basketball game in over forty years, so I looked up news clips of this. Williams' does a nice job of capturing the look of the time, and the color palette also represents actual events; Jordan's suit as he enters the building before the game is spot on. There's a lot of information about the teams, the players, and the way that the ball game progressed. Jordan is a perennial favorite, and has enjoyed a renewed interest after the Netflix documentary about him, The Last Dance. 
Weaknesses: Part of me would like a bit more of an afterword about Jordan's activities since 2003, but as a snapshot in time that won't date, this works well.
What I really think: Given the lack of sports graphic novels, I"ll definitely be purchasing a copy. I have Who Was the Voice of the People: Cesar Chavez, but this will much more popular, as sports books tend to be. I'd love to see Soria and Williams team up on some other historical sports nonfiction or even a fictional story involving sports. Given the popularity of graphic novels, perhaps we should have an overview of the 1929 Stock Market Crash or other somewhat less enticing historical topics, so that students will read the book and learn! 

Hedge Over Heels: A Wish Novel

McMullen-Ciotti, Elise. Hedge Over Heels: A Wish Novel 

November 1, 2022 by Scholastic Inc.

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Rayna is getting very tired of having to move to a different city every time her military mother is reassigned, so isn't planning on becoming too invested in Frederick, Maryland, the latest posting. She is fortunate that her Aunty Jac, an artist, lives with them, since her mother often has to travel. After her last disastrous experience of friends ghosting her, she has a plan; get good grades, ask for a dog, and keep herself emotionally distanced so that the next move isn't so hard. Her mother, hoping to make the move easier, surprises Rayna with a per Hedgehodge named Spike. This doesn't go over very well, since she wants a "real" pet. However, Spike is pretty engaging, and the idea of having an "edgy" pet is appealing to Rayna, who styles herself as a wannabe Goth, with an allegiance to The Nightmare Before Christmas, an all black wardrobe, and colored hair. She also paints high top Chuck Taylors with skulls, and even considers styling some skull decorated accessories for her new pet. Keeping her distance from others is also hard, especially when she meets Nick, who is Cherokee, and has had to move many times because his father was also in the military before he retired. She also meets Wilma, who struggles because her mother passed away a year ago, as well as Matt, Kevin, and Marcie. She starts to get involved in projects at school and starts to doubt her hands-off approach to life until she overhears her mother and aunt talking and suspects that her mother will have to move to California. She starts to back off, but realizes that she needs people, and one cute hedgehog, in her life. Will she be able to stay in Maryland and keep her new friends?

Strengths: I'm a big fan of books where the main characters aren't completely adverse to whatever is going on in their lives, and have realistic struggles depicted. Rayna is fairly resigned; her plan to distance herself from others is based on a recent unpleasant friendship experience. She does warm up a bit to both her new environment and pet. She has a good support system, even if her mother is gone frequently, and I loved the depiction of the school and the neighborhood, even if I've never seen a school that decorates quite as extensively for holidays! Nick is a sweet first crush, and there's a scene at the very end with the most minor hand holding and a sweet kiss, which is perfect for a middle school romance. The author is Cherokee, so seeing a tiny bit of that culture in the protrayal of Nick is great. Most of the WISH novels include some characters who are not described as white, but many times are not reflective of the author's identity. The cover is quite good; props to the Scholastic art department and their use of PhotoShop to manipulate pictures of animals. You rock!
Weaknesses: This reminded me a bit of Pigture Perfect, in that Rayna was not happy with her new pet. Moral of the story, middle grade parents: ask before getting anything other than a dog for your child. 
What I really think: All of the WISH novels are very popular in my library, and hedgehogs are enjoying a moment of popularity, so I will definitely purchase this one. Younger readers will not be as annoyed with Rayna's Goth tendencies; if there's a whole group of people being edgy in the same way, is it really edgy? Even our teachers are dying their hair neon colors, which should have brought about the death of this trend for the young. To quote Cheryl Crowe: "You're an original baby, turn around and you're lookin' at a hundred more."
 

The Great Caper Caper

Funk, Josh and Kearney, Brendan (illus.). The Great Caper Caper 

(Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast, #5)
November 15th 2022 by Union Square & Co.

E ARC provided by the author

I usually review middle grade fiction and nonfiction, and occasionally picture books for Young Adult Books Central, but Mr. Funk's books are so much fun that I was very pleased to be asked to participate in the blog tour for his newest picture book. Just keep in mind that I have the mindset of a 12-year-old for most literature!

Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast wake up in their refrigerator home to discover that the lightbulb that usually illuminates their world is gone and they have been plunged into darkness! In the distance, however, they see a faint glow, and upon investigation discover that the bulb is being used in a far corner to light only Las Veggies, run by the marginally evil Count Caper. He denies having stolen it, and his veggie goons eject our heroes. Not ones to stew, they leap from the frying pan into the fire and round up their friends to help formulate a plan to keep the lights on. Inspector Croissant, Professor Biscotti, Miss Brie and others assemble to cook up a plan to infiltrate Count Caper's Tower and retrieve the light bulb with the help of a packet of animal crackers. Will they be able to understand Count Caper's motivation and convince him to shine his light on the entire refrigerator?

Told in Funk's solid rhyming style, the story moves at a brisk clip and reminded me strongly of  David Kirk's 1992 Miss Spider's Tea Party, which I read approximately 4,000 times when my children were little. The meter helped propel the story forward and added a sense of urgency to the quest. I enjoyed the fact that the rhyming included more complex words; dismay, sneer, barge, and even grandiose are used. I'm convinced that using these words in picture books help toddlers build impressive vocabularies, and they also make the books a bit more fun for adults to read multiple times! There's even a nice message about the power of friendship.

Kearney's illustrations are rich with detail; every pickle in a jar has a face, and the expressions on the animal crackers' visages are delightful. Young readers will be able to spend hours identifying the items in the refrigerator, and might even want to recreate scenes if they have play kitchens with plastic food. There's such scope for the imagination here, and had my children read these, there would have definitely been some Halloween costumes based on the characters. Quilt batting would make great whipped cream hair. 

Such a wide assortment of vegetables are used, and this would be a great spring board for introducing them to young readers' diets, although as a parent you have to be somewhat comfortable with cannabalism. "Open wide! Here comes Asparagus! I took off his glasses and jacket. No, don't cry. It's not really Sir French Toast's friend." On second thought, there might be a lot of back story about the nonsentient versions of the vegetables necessary before making this leap. 

This fifth installment doesn't disappoint, but I do have a LOT of questions. Is the refrigerator open? Is the light really on all the time inside a refrigerator? How could we even tell? Is Count Caper's Las Veggies in the vegetable crisper, which is why the main part of the unit is dark? How dark IS it inside a refrigerator? Where is Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast's apartment? The butter compartment on the door? And how is there a window? And a tiny flashlight? You might laugh, but I would have spent hours discussing this sort of thing with my children. Any book that appeals to both children and adults alike is worth investigating, even if you can't find a packet of animal crackers to help you. (And does anyone keep these in the fridge? Hmmm!)

Morning Sun in Wuhan

Compestine, Ying. Morning Sun in Wuhan

November 8th 2022 by Clarion Books

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

In January of 2020, Mei Wong is trying to navigate her life in Wuhan, China, after the recent death of her mother in a traffic accident. Both of her parents were busy doctors, so she also relies on her Aunt, who is the director of Yangtze Middle School, which Mei attends.Mei loves to cook, and plays a video game called Chop Chop, wherein the players have to practice their cooking skills in order to feed soldiers that are protecting society from zombie hordes. She plays this online with friends Ming and Hong. She shared a love of food with her late mother, and the two often went to a restaurant where Chef Ma worked, since her mother had saved his daughter when she was ill. When the news starts to buzz that there is a bad virus circulating, Mei's father gives her a mask and tells her to stay inside as much as possible. He stocks the kitchen with food, but doesn't come home for days. The neighbors in the building have a WeChat group that Mrs. Fong has put together, and are all taking care of each other. Food is a problem, especially after authorities put everyone in lockdown, and only those with volunteer passes can do shopping. Food is sent up in baskets, and the elderly and the very young who have ill adults are struggling with getting meals. Even upstairs neighbor, Juan, who is about Mei's age, subsists on shrimp crackers until she asks for Mei's help. Mei begs her aunt to be able to help out Chef Ma, whose restaurant has been closed but who is now working in the middle school kitche to provide food for hospitcal workers. Both she and Mei's father are reluctant at first, but eventually allow her to help cook. She's not used to the scale or speed of a professional kitchen, but learns a lot, and even helps to coordinate meals in her neighborhood. She still longs for her mother, but is glad that she is able to get out of the apartment and use her skills to help others. When Mei's father collapses at work, there is a fear that he is ill with COVID-19. How will this change Mei's life?

Strengths: In addition to the fantastic middle grade titles Revolution is Not a Dinner Party (2007) and Secrets of the Terra-Cotta Soldier (2014), Compestine has also written a number of cookbooks and food themed picture books. It's not a surprise that there is so much food in this book, and the recipes look so enticing that I was half tempted to try some myself! There have been a few middle grade pandemic titles published, but it was absolutely fascinating to see a perspective from another country, and since Wuhan is Compestine's hometown, the details were great. The inclusion of video game details will make this appeal to readers who are interested in those, although I suspect this is not a real game. 
Weaknesses: Mei's mother's death seemed a bit forced, but I understand the need to get the mother out of the picture so that Mei had to take care of herself a bit more. It did seem odd that Mei wasn't shown attending school virtually, but again, the story took a different direction. The book ended rather abruptly, but perhaps the E ARC cut off some of it. 
What I really think: This was quite interesting, and will be a great historical document for students who, in a few short years, will not remember much about 2020. The cover is very appealing, and the appearance of a mask on Mei will be evocative for readers today. I would love to see some realistic fiction titles from this author about ordinary children and their daily life in China; books like Baitie's Crossing the Stream or Danticat's Behind the Mountains have proven to be popular in my library, since they offer a window into a life unlike the one that my students are living. 
 

The Frost Fair and Worst Villain

Hastings, Natasha. The Frost Fair (The Miraculous Sweet Makers #1)

November 1, 2022 by HarperCollins 

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

In London in the 1683, Thomasina is dealing with the Great Frost that has overtaken London. Her family runs a bakery and sweet shop, but ever since the death of her twin brother Arthur, her mother has been completely out of commission because of grief, and even her family barely acknowledges her existence. When a strange man, Inigo, appears to her and claims that is she goes to the Frost Fair with him four times and surrenders all of her memories of her brother to him, Thomasina thinks this is a solid plan, even when snowflakes start to appear on her skin, and she sees a number of creepy people with similar skin lurking in the area. Along with her new friend Anne, whose family runs an apothecary, she tries to sell medicinal sweets to improve the income of the shop. When she meets a boy her age who is a descendant of Inigo, she starts to realize that there is something very creepy and possibly nefarious about Inigo's attempts at taking her to the Frost Fair. Will she be able to save her mother... or herself? 
Strengths: This has a great cover, and an interesting setting. I was hoping that this would be similar to Hooper's fantastic 2003 At the Sign of the Sugared Plum. The idea of a sweet shop combining with an apothecary is great, and Thomasina and Anne are great characters. The book moved along quickly and was pretty scary at times. 
Weaknesses: The historic details of this seemed half a bubble off. Most women during that time would have lost at least one child; Thomasina's mother would not have had the luxury of not getting out of bed. As nice as it was to see Anne portrayed as a person of color, I'm not sure how historically accurate that is, either. Some of the language seemed too modern as well. 
What I really think: This was really more of a horror book than a history or fantasy novel, but I think I would have trouble convincing my students of this. Since this looks to be a series, I think I will pass for now. 

Bearce, Amy. The Worst Villain Ever

October 18, 2022 by Snowy Wings Publishing 

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

George Pruwell has always struggled to keep up with his family's legacy of evil, and it is a relief when he is finally admitted to the Academy of Villainy and Wrongdoing. His older brother, Alex, is the evil one in the family, and even though his mother is supportive, George always feels like he is just not evil enough. It's a rough transistion to school, even though he meets a boy, Sam, who tries to help him with some technology. Every time he tries to do something evil, George's kindhearted nature gets in his way. Will he ever be able to live up to his family's expectations of evil?

I knew there were a lot of supervillain books that had been published, but I didn't realize quite how many I had. Starting with Walden's 2008 H.I.V.E., I seem to have bought every super villain book to come out, including Fry's How to be a Supervillain, Kraatz's The Cloak Society,  Anderson's Sidekicked, Boniface's Ordinary Boy, Buckley's N.E.R.D.S, Moore's V is for Villain, Cody's Powerless, McCullough's School for Sidekicks, Bacon's Joshua Dread, Ferraiolo's Sidekicks, and finally Kupperberg's Supertown and Wallace's The Supervillain's Guide to Being a Fat Kid, both published in 2022. I love Bearce's work, but I think I might be okay on supervillain books for a bit. If you are not as well stocked, make sure that you purchase this one, especially for an elementary library!

MMGM- The History of the Computer

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Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
 at 

Always in the Middle 

and #IMWAYR day 

at 

Teach Mentor Texts 

and 

Unleashing Readers

Ignotofsky, Rachel. The History of the Computer
April 26th 2022 by Ten Speed Press

Copy provided by the Publisher

This highly illustrated history of not only the computer but of the technology that lead up to it is very complete and absolutely packed with information. From computer basics like what binary is to a discussion of the "internet of things" (that makes some of us very nervous!), this book carefully lays out just about every facet of computers that I could imagine.

The illustrations have a cartoon style to it that is very appealing, and many of the pages are dark, with white text in very small print. There's even a bit of homage to the time periods discussed in the styles, and there's a good feel for the fashion and the way computers looked at previous points in history. There's a lot of detail in the pictures.

There were some very insightful mentions, such as how computers manage to integrate a variety of technologies into their framework; I'm constantly amazed at the use of video calls and the fact that my phone can take pictures and send them. Computers in the 1970s and 80s didn't have this, and my first experience of the internet was a nongraphic interface. That's right, kids. The internet, but with text only! There are also fun bits of trivia, like the fact that the first computer "bug" was actually a real bug, and the first computer worm was "The Creeper" in 1971.

Between the main text and the page borders that detail events that occured within the times being discussed, I can't think that there are any major (or minor!) computer innovators or events that were not covered. Even though there is so much information, the individual anecdotes are told in a very conversational way; I never get tired of hearing the story of Allen and Gates almost forgetting the "boot" program to load BASIC, but I'd never heard of the Homebrew Computer club. Seeing the real individuals behind computer processes that we use today, and realizing that they developed these innovations fairly recently, is always fascinating.

The information presented is balanced across the decades, and I can see an updated version of this book being created in twenty years; there's a two page spread on "the future" that will certainly be able to be elaborated upon in that amount of time! I was also very glad to see that there is an index in the book; since the pages have so much information on them, if I wanted to go back and look for information about Tim Berners-Lee I would be hard pressed to find it by flipping through the pages.

Since today's middle school students were born around the time my own daughter took her first smart phone to college, they will be amazed at the deep history of computers and the technology that lead to them. I haven't invested in many books detailing this history (I do have Sherman's 2003 The History of the Personal Computer, but have to warn students that a lot happened after 2003!), so I'm glad to see this comprehensive and entertaining look at technologies that are so ubiquitous today.

Daisy Woodworm Changes the World

Hart, Melissa. Daisy Woodworm Changes the World
November 8th 2022 by Jolly Fish Press (first published 2022)

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
 

Daisy Woodward attends a small charter school where she and Poppy have known each other since first grade. Most of the students get along, but Miguel and Devon have belittled Daisy because of her slight lisp and her interest in insects. Daisy's brother, Squirrel, is a senior with Down's syndrome who is very into fashion and wants to be a YouTube star giving fashion advice. Her mother, who fought cancer when Daisy was younger, lost her job as an account for a big outdoor store chain, so she and Daisy's father, who was an at-home dad and freelance photographer, have started a dog waste removal business called Poop Fairies. Their business van is somewhat of an embarassment. When Daisy's teacher, Mr. Lipinsky, assigns a "change the world" project, she isn't quite sure what to do. When Squirrel is dumped by his girlfriend at a dance just as the annual Special Olympics is canceled, she hopes to raise his spirits by making his dream of becoming a YouTube star come true. The only problem? After an unfortunate trolling incident, her parents have forbidden Squirrel from using any social media. Miguel's cousin is also involved in the Special Olympics, and he is trying to raise money so that they can be held. He knows a bit more about social media, and the two get involved in several projects, including one where Squirrel stars in a commercial. Daisy forges her parents' signature for that. Daisy also is running cross country, and Mr. Lipinsky takes over as coach! There's a lot going on, and her parents' financial woes add to her stress. They are very busy with work, so Daisy is able to get away with a lot. When they find out about all that she and Squirrel have been up to, will they be understanding? And how has Miguel become a decent person?

Strengths: I appreciated the author's note at the end of the book about her brother, who also lives with Down's Syndrome. Her experiences give a lot of authenticity to Daisy's deep friendship with her brother, and her struggles to get him as many opportunities as she can. Her interest in insects, while not explored very much, add another layer to Daisy's personality, and I am always interested to see cross country involved in a middle grade novel. Squirrel and his friends are active in many activities, and while Daisy sometimes chafes against having to help with these, she is always trying to help out her brother and her parents without too much complaining, which is great. Her friend Poppy is of Indian descent and her project involves classical Indian dancing, which was an interesting inclusion. Daisy's relationship with Miguel follows a realistic arc, and even Devon eventually redeems himself a bit. Mr. Lipinsky was delightful as a teacher as well as a coach. Daisy's busy life makes for a compelling and upbeat read. 

Weaknesses: The dates of the cross country season seemed a bit off; ours in Ohio is over in early October, but I know from Erin Fry (Losing It) who coached in California, that the season is a little different because of the temperatures as well as occasional fires! I'm just glad to see the sport included. 

What I really think: Books about characters with intellectual disabilities need to be carefully done, and Hart does an excellent job of sympathetically portraying Daisy and Squirrels life. There is a lot going on in the book, and it starts out with a lot of quirky things, but it is generally upbeat and shows middle school students acting in a positive manner. A great addition to a middle school collection.

 

Crunch (Click #5) by Kayla Miller

Miller, Kayla. Crunch (Click #5) 
Published August 30th 2022 by Etch/Clarion Books

Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central

Olive has been taking guitar lessons for a while, but starts throwing herself into a lot of activities. Her best friend Willow is being pressured to join the Berry Scouts because both of her parents were in the group when they were young; instead of supporting Willow in trying to tell her parents she didn't want to do this activity, Olive ends up signing up herself. When several girls in her class are given dress code warnings, Olice is angered and puts together a group to present information to the principal about why the code should be changed. Even though the principal is open to this, Olive and her friends charge head first into a complicated fashion show exhibiting forbidden fashions. She wants to enter a short film competition, so makes a costume for her brother and spends a lot of time on stop motion animation. With all of this going on, she forgets to practice her guitar, often struggles to complete her homework, and finds it hard to get out of bed and make it to school on time. Will Olive learn to balance all of her activities before she gets burned out?

It's exciting to do new activities, and middle school students are not the best judges of how to fit everything into their schedule. I've had a number of students who thought they could do both cross country AND competitive soccer even when both have practice at the same time every week day. Olive's mother is supportive, but often gives Olive permission and just information support to get her into trouble! Olive really enjoys each activity, but all of them together stress her out. It's important to see her deal with these issues, but there aren't a lot of middle grade novels that deal with time management. Hurwirtz's Calli Be Gold and delle Donne's Belle of the Ball are two notable exceptions.

Miller's bright graphics are a fan favorite, and her previous books (Click, Act, Camp, and Clash) are popular with readers of Chmakova's Crush series, Libenson's Invisible Emmie, and Scrivan's Nat Enough. Olive's anxiety is something we're seeing in more books these days, but I love that she is surrounded by good friends who are willing to help her.

Like the Baby-Sitters Club Graphic novels, the Click series is a candy colored confection that readers can't gobble down quickly enough, but which also has a tiny bit of added vitamins and fiber in the storyline about school and life balance.

Langeland, Deirdre. The Cool Code
November 8th 2022 by Clarion Books
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Zoey (whose parents embarrassingly call her Zonut) has always been home schooled, and she's apprehensive about starting public school. Because she loves coding, she has made an app that can guide her to dress and act the right way. She manages to make friends despite her rough start, and they help her hone the sometimes pushy app. The colors in the graphic novel are nice and bright, and the style is a bit different from other graphic novels but still has a similar feel. This will definitely be a popular title. 

From the publisher:

In this funny and heartfelt slice-of-life graphic novel for fans of Raina Telgemeier and Kayla Miller, when coding whiz Zoey goes from homeschooled to new school, she develops an app to help her make friends. Will the Cool Code help Zoey fit in? Or will it completely crash her social life?

In an attempt to fit in, Zoey develops an app called the Cool Code with a cute llama avatar that will tell her everything from what to say to what to wear based on pop culture algorithms she's uploaded.

But when the app gives her ridiculous advice, awkwardness and hilarity ensues. With a few upgrades and a bit of debugging from the coding club, the app actually works--Zoey gets really popular . . . and gets her pulled in all kinds of directions, including away from her real friends.

Life's most complicated choices. . . is there a code for that?

Lacey's Story: A Puppy Tale

Cameron, W. Bruce. Lacey's Story: A Puppy Tale
August 30th 2022 by Starscape
Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central

Lacey is the exuberant puppy of Wenling, who lives on a farm with her mother and father, ZZ. ZZ has worked on the farm since before Wenling was born, but the owner feels that things are not going well and is planning on cutting down the trees in the orchard. There won't be enough money to keep ZZ on, so the family might have to move. Wenling is distraught; she loves being outside and growing things, and the owner's sons, Grant and Burke, are her best friends. Burke is in a wheelchair for unspecified reasons (the story is delivered by Lacey, so everything is from her viewpoint), but doesn't let it slow him down too much. When Lacey runs off and is hit by a car, ZZ wants to put the dog down, but Wenling's mother prevails, since the dog is doing well except for the fact that her back legs are paralyzed. ZZ crafts a cart for Lacey, which makes her happy, but also requires a lot of practice and training to use properly. Grant and Burke's dog, Cooper, has been trained to help Burke with some things, and is instrumental in helping Lacey learn to take turns in her cart more slowly. Lacey is able to go all over the farm with Wenling, which sometimes gets them into trouble; the children are caught out in a big snow storm and survive by taking shelter in a unused glass greenhouse on the property. To try to earn money, Wenling tries growing different things and sells seedlings to neighbors, but when she falls from a tree and breaks her leg, she has to get creative in making her rounds. Of course, Lacey comes to the rescue! Will the children's efforst be enough to save the farm?

This is the 9th book in Cameron's spin off from his adult title, A Dog's Purpose, and has the same extremely appealing cover as the other titles. I have to admit that Molly's Story is my favorite because the dog on the cover looks a bit like my dog Sylvie! Since these are also on the shorter side and have straight forward stories, they are a bit hit with my struggling readers who love dogs.

Since we are seeing and hearing events from Lacey's view point, there are some details that aren't fully fleshed out, and sometimes the perspective feels forced, but this view does make it easier for some readers to understand events. Burke's wheelchair use is approached very matter-of-factly, and aside from a cringey moment when ZZ asks Burke to help him convince Wenling that Lacey should be put down because HER legs are paralyzed, both the human and dog disabilities are portrayed in a positive fashion. It's realistic to show families struggling with job security, and the plight of small farmers is certainly noteworthy.

Wenling's energy matches Lacey's, and she loves being outside and growing things. I'd love to see more books, like Peters' Jasmine Green series, that shows young people on working farms.

Add this title to a growing list of fun and instructive dog books that includes Crimi's Secondhand Dogs, Hart's Coal Mine Dog and other historical titles, Tubb's Zeus: Sog of Chaos, Mason's Rescue Dogs, and Shotz's American Dogs series. 

A Spoonful of Murder

Stevens, Robin. A Spoonful of Murder (Wells and Wong Mysteries #6)
November 8th 2022 by Simon Schuster Books for Young

Copy provided by Edelweiss Plus
 

When Hazel's grandfather passes away, her rather expects her to make the month long journey back to Hong Kong to join the family in mourning. Since she has to be away from Deepdean, she demands that Daisy be allowed to travel with her. Upon returning home, she finds that her father's second wife has had a baby... a son, named Theodore. Because sons are considered more valuable in 1930s China, Hazel's nanny is assigned to him, and Hazel no longer is the favored child. It's difficult to explain to Daisy how wealthy her family is, and Daisy balks at many things (food, traditions) that she finds "foreign", but Hazel brings her to task and Daisy is apologetic. There is something odd going on with Hazel's father; he has business dealings with several people that seem to be going poorly, and he is not taking his recently deceased father's place in society the way that some want him to. After a party, a hair pin that was left to Hazel by her grandfather goes missing. Soon after, she is supposed to go with her former nanny, Su Li, to take her brother to the doctor. She and Daisy use the oppportunity to look around the building at the bank that is housed there, and see some suspicious activity. When Su Li doesn't come back soon, the girls go looking and find that the elevator is jammed. When it is finally fixed, they find Su Li murdered with Hazel's pin in her neck, and Teddy missing. It looks like someone is trying to frame Hazel. Could it be one of the Triads, criminal gangs that control much of Hong Kong? Or is it a business deal of her father's gone wrong. Along with Ah Lan, a boy who works in the household, Daisy and Hazel utilize their detective skills and with the help of Detective Leung (who is sent by one of the societies Hazel's father is ignoring) and try to get back her baby brother.

Strengths: Stevens' note at the end about how Hazel's world is long gone because Hong Kong has changed so much made me even gladder that she captured it in this book. She made sure to have sensitivity readers, did a lot of research, and even traveled there to make sure this was as authentic as possible. After five books that show Hazel in England, it is good to see her back home, dealing with the dynamics of her family and society.

Weaknesses: Daisy is quite unpleasant, and inserts herself into many situations where she is unwanted in a very obnoxious way. True to life, I'm sure, but I don't remember her being this difficult in previous books. Also, I don't know where the title came from. There are no spoons in the story. The title should have somehow worked in the pin.

 
What I really think: This is a great gateway book for Sayers and Christie, so I enjoy having it even though there are only a few students who read them. This is a great investment series; it might not be wildly popular like Wimpy Kid, but it will stay on the shelves for many years and be as relevant in the future as it is now. I enjoyed it tremendously and can't wait to see what Hazel and Daisy get up to when they return to Deepdean.

Welcome to the 'Burbs (Cat Ninja #4)

Cody, Matthew and Thomas, Chad. Welcome to the 'Burbs (Cat Ninja #4)

November 1, 2022 by Andrews McMeel Publishing 

Copy provided by the publisher

Claude, aka Cat Ninja, has gotten up to a lot of trouble since we met him in the first installment, Cat Ninja. Now, he is moving from Metro City to Peaceful Valley, to live for a month with Marcie and Leon's father. He's bought a house in the suburb so that the kids and their pets, the robotic dog Adonis and Mr. Squeaks the hamster, have more room. Marcie doesn't want to be away from her friends, but after Leon wipes out on his skateboard trying to impress neighborhood children, develops a group of friends even though Leon doesn't. The neighbors seem friendly, even though it's a little odd that Mrs. Widdle brings the family a sullen looking fish as a welcoming gift. The fish is, of course, an evil henchman, and soon Cat Ninja and crew are called upon to fight the fish mafia. Cat Ninja has some problems; because he's in the suburbs, he isn't as quick to respond to crises, and Octopunch gets more acclaim. He's also in the sights of Fish Face Malone, who wants to take him down, but the Goldfather, a fish in charge of the syndicate, manages to deal with Fish Face. When Mr. Squeaks is kidnapped by the evil fish, Cat Ninja starts to notice that the only pets in Peaceful Valley are piscine, and also uncovers alarming information about the local Goldfather's Fish Flake factory that employs many local residents, including Marcie and Leon's father. Will Cat Ninja be able to save the day?

**Slight spoiler because it was SO funny.**

Strengths: These Epic! Originals graphic novels always remind me strongly of the Harvey World comic books we would get as a treat at gas stations on road trips-- it didn't matter that we picked up Richie Rich number 83 without reading the proceeding ones. While Cat Ninja seems to have a few new skills and adversaries, it's easy enough to catch up with his antics. This volume deftly combined some real life concerns, like moving to a new neighborhood and navigating life with divorced parents, with the goofy fight with the Goldfather's syndicate. 
Weaknesses: This ends on quite the cliffhanger, and because these have been published in a couple of formats, I'm not quite sure what follows this book; it looks like the stand alone Baby's Day Out, but there might also be a combined volume. 
What I really think: Here's the spoiler: I loved the shout out to Soylent Green! "Goldfather's Fish Flakes are... people. I mean, made by people. In a sewage plant." I'm not sure that any 8-12 year olds will get the reference to that 1973 film, but I appreciated it, especially since I had forgotten that the movie takes place in 2022! I appreciate any time a  book includes jokes to make it worthwhile for adults to read it. Of course, graphic novel fans will like it best, and this is a great way to introduce the format to younger readers. 

The Switch

Smith, Roland C. The Switch

November 1st 2022 by Scholastic Press

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Henry Carter lives on a farm with his extended family near Portland. His father is the head of a zoo in the city, and his sometimes quirky relatives work on the farm. One uncle, Edgar, has put up a wind turbine despite the objections of some of the family. When an electromagnetic pulse causes all of the electronics to stop working, planes fall from the air, cars don't run, and chaos ensues. The wind turbine gives the Carter clan a rare advantage of having power, so they close ranks and try to protect their compound. One plane that went down is near the farm, and since some of the passengers were neighbors, the family has to clean up the wreckage and bury the victims. One of these, Caroline, was a classmate of Henry's, and he hears her voice in his head throughout the book. When Henry's father doesn't return home, he sets off with two uncles to try to find him. Portland is a huge mess, and no one is at the zoo but Henry's birthday present, a dog named Gort, and a zoo keeper, Derek. When the family truck goes missing with the uncles in it, Henry teams up with a Portland girl, Robin, to travel to the Rabbit Hole where they think they have been taken. Run by the leader of an animal rights group that had been protesting at the zoo, the Rabbit Hole has taken in a number of people and are rumored to want to take down the community run by Henry's mother. Using a map and following the smell of cooking beef (the truck the uncles were driving had a quantity of meat in it), Henry and Robin manage to find the group and get accepted in, hoping to get the uncles out. This is a hard prospect, since the leader is very strict and has intense helpers, and also might know more about Henry that is healthy. Will Henry be able to make it back to his family? And will he ever find out the fate of his father?

Strengths: ARGH! This one was so hard for me to read, because this is how the world will end, people! We are all so reliant on power and technology that this is really the most likely scenario for the collapse of civilization. We'd all like to think we would have access to a community like Henry's family's farm, but it's far more likely that I would raise my own food and find a water source only to be killed by gun toting maniacs who want the 48 jars of peanut butter in my basement. Oh, the book? Lots of good details about how Henry's family survives, great adventure going into Portland, a mystery to be solved with Henry's father, and a confrontation with evil, somewhat unbalanced adversaries. Things are looking up a bit at the end of the book, and this seems like a stand alone, but there could be a sequel. Definitely a book that will be popular with reader who like dystopian tales as well as survival and adventure stories. A must purchase for middle school libraries. 
Weaknesses: Henry starts a journal at the beginning of the book, but then stops rather abruptly. The idea that he hears Caroline talking to him was a bit odd. I wish that he had been old enough to drive, but the uncles with whom he travels are used in a very effective way. 
What I really think: Offer this to fans of Philbrick's The Big Dark (which at least ends with the power coming back on), Esplin's 96 Miles, or Eric Walters' fantastic Rule of Thre3 series. I have three copies of the latter that are all very worn, and it's a series that my readers frequently revisit. I was a big fan of O'Brien's Z for Zachariah in middle school, and The Switch reminded me of the 1974 Made for TV movie Where Have All the People Gone with Peter Graves, except in that one the electormagnetic pulse killed a lot more people and left the cars alone if they weren't running at the time. I can still recall a scene where the characters got keys from an employ key rack in a grocery store and tried to get a car to start. And look! It's available in its fuzzy, full length glory on YouTube!

MMGM- Atlas of Dogs and Different

It's

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
 at 

Always in the Middle 

and #IMWAYR day 

at 

Teach Mentor Texts 

and 

Unleashing Readers

Evans, Frances and Heaton, Kelsey (illus.) Atlas of Dogs

Published October 18th 2022 by Lonely Planet

Copy provided by the publisher

As much as I love dogs, I've never really thought about where the difference breeds originated! Poodles are my favorite, due to their small size and large intelligence, although my Shih Tzu Poodle mix Pongo has convinced me that there is something to be said for a breed raised to be lap dogs! Atlas of Dogs takes a deep dive not only into the place of origins of breeds, but into their personalities and histories, and was a fascinating look at many difference types of dogs of which I had never even heard!

Heaton's artwork really makes this shine, even though some readers might want photographs; young readers are far more likely to whip out a phone and look up pictures than I am, so I don't think the lack of photographs matters. The colors are absolutely gorgeous, and the illustrations allow the text to be arranged in very pleasing ways on the page, with background cleverly worked in. The maps of the continents are particularly nice, and beg to be hung on walls, but are two page spreads, so have a divide in the center. Lonley Planet should really make these into posters! 

After the maps of the continents, there are brief descriptions of a variety of dogs found there, each getting half of a page. The physical attributes particular to the breed are pointed out for each dog with arrows and labels. There are a lot of bits of additional information as well. Between descriptions, there are spreads on topics like Dogs with Jobs, Record-Breaking Dogs, and A Pup's Life. A glossary and index round out this well designed book. 

In addition to being a fun book for canine fans, I can see this being an interesting book to include in a science class covering genetics and animal adaptations. Since Shih Tzus like Pongo no longer have to make emperors happy, and even Golden Retrievers don't necessarily spend any time retrieving things, it's interesting to take a look at the history of how and why dogs were bred for different purposes. I can't think of another book that includes so much information about place and how the dogs' qualities were formed by their sites of origins. Add this to a diverse group of books about various aspects of dogs in the lives of humans that includes Albee's 2018 Dog Days of History, Horowitz's 2020 Our Dogs, Ourselves, Miles' 2013 Guide to Puppies, and Stall's 2005 The Good, the Bad, and the Furry.

Montañés, Monica, Gómez, Eva Sánchez(illus.), Schimel, Lawrence (trans.)
Different: A Story of the Spanish Civil War
November 1, 2022 by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
Copy provided by the publisher

Based on the childhood experiences of Montañés' father and aunt during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), we see how the deportation of their father affected seven-year-old Socorro and nine-year-old Paco. The father is part of the Republican movement opposed to the Nationalists, led by Franco and often called the "Falangists". Paco is kept in the city with his mother, where he has to hide the fact that his father was sent away because of his political beliefs and there is a great scarcity of food. Socorro is sent to live in the country with relatives, but misses her mother and doesn't want to eat any of the food forced upon her. She is at first in a school where they know her family situation, but manages to transfer to one where they do not. Because his father has fled to France, Paco hopes to learn French in school, but is traumatized by having to state what his father does that he finds it difficult to learn the language. He instead lies and tells the teacher his father works for the railway. Socorro and her mother eventually join the mother back in the city, although they have to rent the house out to an English family and live in one room. When the father leaves France and settles in Venezuela as World War II is gaining momentum, he sends for his family, and they undertake a long journey by boat and plane to join him. While life in Venezuela is different, the children are glad to see their father after eight years, and slowly adjust to living in a new country. 

Strengths: This reminded me strongly of Levi's Just a Girl, in that it is from the point of view of very young children who don't necessarily understand the politics of why their lives have been upended. I learned quite a lot about what happened in Spain in the twentieth century, and have to admit that I was woefully ignorant about Franco's long reign; he ruled until 1975. I have a fair number of students who are interested in what is going on in Ukraine and stop by the library to read the newspaper; this book would be helpful in explaining to elementary school students some of the experiences that children in war torn country go through. The artwork is very beautiful and reminds me of some children's books from the time period and also of Bishop's 1952 Ten and Twenty. 
Weaknesses: I have a lot of readers interested in World War II, but they are more often concerned with events on the battle field or concentration camps. It's somewhat harder to get them interested in stories of civilians trying to continue with their everyday lives, although that's what I find most compelling. 

What I really think: Eerdman's first came to my attention with Tak's 2011 Soldier Bear and 2014 Mikis and the Donkey when I was on the Cybils realistic middle grade fiction panel. This book has a similar feel, and it was interesting to learn about the Spanish Civil war. It's fascinating that the author herself moved from Venezuela to Madrid, Spain, just the opposite of her grandfather's journey, and her perspective as a resident of both of the countries adds a lot of vivid details to the story. 

Kitten Chaos

Faruqi, Saadia. Kitten Chaos (Must Love Pets #2)
October 4, 2022 by Scholastic Paperback
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Imaan and her friends have started a pet sitting service called Must Love Pets after they were called upon to watch a neighbor's dog during an emergency. Now that fifth grade is over, they are interested in ramping up their business. London has been Imaan's best friend for a long time, but Olivia has just moved to California and joined the group. Imaan's mother is a very busy free lance accountant who is trying to get the business of a neighbor, Mr. Greene, who is selling photographs on Etsy, and somehow the girls always seem to be in the way when he is discussing business. Since Imaan's father died of brain cancer when she was small, her grandfather, Dada Jee, has come from Pakistan to live with them and help take care of Imaan and her six year old brother, Amir. He is a little homesick, and has a lot of lemon trees growing in the backyard. He is in the middle of a harvest, and the kitchen is filled with buckets of lemons he intends to sell at the weekly farmer's market, which is somehow irritating the mother. Must Love Pets gets a referral and steps in to watch three adorable foster kittens who are more trouble than the girls expect! There are all manner of kitten hijinks as they climb curtains, escape outside, and even destroy some photographs of the mother's clients. Will the girls be able to get their charges under control and undo some of the damage the kittens cause Mr. Greene?
Strengths: This was a solid realistic fiction choice with Kids Doing Things. I liked that the girls had a business plan, even though it wasn't always easy to follow. The way they got clients was realistic. I enjoyed the storyline with Dada Jee and the fact that it hadn't occurred to his family that he might be homesick! The farmer's market was a fun setting. Of course, the kittens are the biggest draw here. This could easily be read as a stand alone; I've read so many pet sitting books that I thought I had read the first book in the series, Friends Fur-ever. I hadn't, but I got up-to-date very quickly.
Weaknesses: I was a bit unsure how Olivia's pictures saved the day when Mr. Greene could have reprinted his own, but it made for a nice connection. It also would not have hurt my feelings if Imaan's father were still alive.
What I really think: I would definitely buy this for an elementary library, but may wait to see if I have money leftover before purchasing this. I have a lot of similar titles already, like Howard's Girls Just Want to Have Pugs (and several others), Lang's Rules of the Ruff, Maple's Mission Impossible, Fairbairn and Assarasakorn's Paws: Gabby Gets It Together, Greenwald's Welcome to Dog Beach and even Marks' A Soft Place to Land.

Zara's Rules for Finding Hidden Treasure

Khan, Hena. Zara's Rules for Finding Hidden Treasure
October 18, 2022 by Salaam Reads
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Zara and her new friend Naomi, who moved into the neighborhood in Zara's Rules for Record Breaking Fun  have ridden their bikes to the park, and while they are playing, someone steals Zara's brand new bike. Because she forgot to lock it up (she never locked up her old bike, but then no one wanted to steal it), her parents decide that she's going to have to earn the money to buy the replacement. She and Naomi rule out a lemonade stand, but when Zara's mother discovers that Zara's grandmother and grandfather have let their basement fill up with lots of junk, Zara has the idea to do a rolling garage sale in her neighborhood. Unfortunately, she mixes up the boxes her mother says she can sell, and dips into "keepsakes" along with "knick knacks". Naomi tries to get Zara to clean out her room as well, but as Zara reflects on why she is keeping things she no longer uses, she understands why her grandmother doesn't want to get rid of things. This becomes clear to Zara's mother as well when she realizes that Zara has sold some of her treasured possessions. The grandparents are celebrating their 40th anniversary, and after attending Naomi's brother Michael's bar mitzvah, Zara gets some good ideas for the party and works with her friends to use some of the pictures she finds in the basement to put together some keepsakes. Her grandmother does clean out her basement and has a garage sale, which gives Zara just enough money to get a gently used bike as a charity shop run by her mosque.

Strengths: Zara's neighborhood is a great one, and I love that Zara and Naomi are still allowed to ride their bikes around and go to the park alone. The lesson about letting other people find value in their "junk" is an important one, but I appreciated that the grandmother still cleaned out things like an old toaster oven. There are fun illustrations accompanying this, and it's a perfect purchase for elementary schools where books like Nina Soni and Cleo Edison Oliver are popular. As adults, it's hard to remember how impossible it seems to make money of one's own as a child. I remember searching couch cushions for coins with my cousin; now, no one has coins in their pockets, cutting off an important source of childhood income!
Weaknesses: The grandparents are in their mid sixties and are not fit enough to go up and down stairs? I'm seeing more and more of this, and it's hitting too close to home. Excuse me a minute while I do sevearl laps down to my basement and back, just to prove a point! 
What I really think: I really wish that Khan hadn't gone back in time to when Zayd was younger; I wish she had written stories about an older Zara, because those would be great for my library. Maybe next time!

Miles Morales: Stranger Tides

Reynolds, Justin A. Miles Morales: Stranger Tides

October 18, 2022 by Graphix

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

After his adventures in Shock Waves, Miles is back. Vex and Trinity are still causing trouble, and his friend Ganke is trying to help him. After there is a weird incident at a video game launch that causes people in the city to be frozen, Miles discovers that a shadowy figure called the Stranger is behind the occurrence. He's unhappy with the behavior of people on Earth and taking extreme measures to wipe them out. In order to reverse the freezing process, Miles has to work with Trinity. Since his uncle is frozen and is involved in an auto accident, Miles has a vested interest in figuring out what's going on in order to save his uncle. The freezing is caused by a computer game (think Hautman's The Flinkwater Factor), so he works closely with Ganke trying to figure it all out, but when Ganke is also frozen, it's up to Miles to save the day on his own. This doesn't go smoothly, especially since Vex is working against Trinity. Will they still be able to take down the Stranger?
Strengths: Miles is a fun character who is a bit ambivalent about being a superhero, which seems on target for young people today. I have to save the world? Fine, but can I finish this game on the XBox first? Not everyone who is frozen is playing video games; some, like Miles' uncle, are accidentally exposed. I like that Miles occasionally gets help from people like Mr. Granderson, and his family is supportive as well. This reads very much like a comic book, which is appropriate given the topic, and has lots of chase scenes, things  blowing up, and action on the pages. 
Weaknesses: It's helpful to be familiar with the first book; this was a bit confusing at first even though I had read that one. 
What I really think: Jason Reynolds' novel about Miles Morales' Spider Man has circulated well, but I haven't bought Shock Waves yet. I don't get a lot of requests for books set in the Marvel Universe, which is a little surprising. I should see if I can get a student to check out Squirrel Girl! 

Undercover Latina

de León, Aya. Undercover Latina
October 11, 2022 by Candlewick Press
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Andréa Hernández-Baldoquín, her parents, and her brother Carlos all work for the  International Alternative Intelligence Consortium, better know as "the Factory". They aren't associated with any government, but work to help people of color. Their supervisor, Jerrold, wants to send Andréa and her mother on a mission.  Kyle Summer, of Carson, Arizona, is the son of suspected white nationalist terrorist. Even though his father left the family when Kyle was young, the Factory thinks they might be able to get enough information from him to hunt down and arrest the father. Since Andréa is very light skinned, she is supposed to pass as white, and she and her mother arrive in Carson with the story that the two are living at a great aunt's house because the Andrea's (she has people pronounce her name in the Anglo way in her new identity) parents are separating. The first day in her new high school, Andrea is approached by the popular white girls to be in their clique, but she quickly finds a way to connect with Kyle and his best friend Rámon over a card game called Triángulo. Another teen agent, Imani, who is Black, shows up to help, and the two learn enough about the card game to play in tournaments and connect with the guys even more. Andrea ditches the popular girls because she would rather hang out with Kyle and Rámon, and because they have said negative things about Latines in front of her, thinking she was white. Andrea manages to get information from Kyle's computer for her mother to check, and they find an e mail address. The Factory sends the father a message saying Kyle has been hurt, boping to flush him out. Things get more complicated when a woman Kyle's father has been dating sells Andrea a pack of Triángulo cards and ends up meeting Kyle and his mother. There are some mistaken identities, but in the end the Factory determines that Andrea needs to go to the SanDiego ComxCon to finally run the elder Summer to ground. Things get a little complicated when Andrea falls for Rámon, especially when he finds out she is Latine but has been lying about it. Will her relationship with Rámon jeopardize her mission, or will she and Imani be able to keep the ComxCon safe?

Strengths: I love a good spy novel, and this starts out with an exciting mission that involved the whole family, and Andréa being in high school was a good call. It gives her and Imani the opportunity to go out at night and hang out without parents. There is a lot of information about race and culture, and Andréa must really examine her relative privilege of being fairer than many Latine people, as well as examine how she feels about passing. Kyle is gay, but hasn't told anyone but his family and Rámon, since the town of Carson is conservative. Kyle is also very aware, thanks to his close relationship with Rámon's family, of what language should be used to describe certain situations; people aren't "slaves", they are "enslaved people", and he even mentions tryng to be more "woke". The life of a spy is examined a bit, since Andréa is worried about falling for Rámon, and is glad that she can finally have a friend in Imani. The procedures used to hunt down the elder Summer are interesting, and it's exciting to see Andréa save the day. (Don't want to give too many details about that!)

Weaknesses: The game of Triángulo had so many descriptions that I thought maybe it was a real game. It doesn't seem to be. While some of the details about the make up and history of the game are culturally interesting and tie in later with the ComxCon, I could have done without the description of the rules and playing. I haven't heard any students talk about another game that's mentioned, Magic: The Gathering for years, so I'm not sure how much of a draw the card game will be for middle school readers. 
What I really think: This is a more culturally aware spy novel with some similarities to Carter's Gallagher Girls books that also brings in the culture of gaming. I would have liked to see more spy information and less gaming information, but spy novels are always popular with my students, and it's good to see one that is more culturally aware and relevant. I learned from reading this that "Latinx" is not a preferred term because it can be problematic for Spanish speakers to pronounce or use, so I'll have to remember that. 

Fight Back

Dassu, A.M. Fight Back

October 11, 2022 by Tu Books

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Aaliyah lives an hour from London with her mother, who is a lawyer, her father, who has just been promoted to the Head of Science position at his secondary school, and her older brother who is getting ready to go to university. After some incidents in London, there are a lot of people who are mistreating Muslims, and Aaliyah and her mother are accosted in the car park of a local grocery store and told to "go back home". Since bother Aaliyah and her mother were born in the UK, and her father came to the country from Tanzania when he was very young, this is very hurtful. Aaliyah goes to a concert with her best friends, and there is a bombing there. One of her friends, Lisa, has a brother who is very anti-Muslim, and says hateful things to her. Not wanting to wait for her friend's parents to pick them up, Aaliyah goes to her aunt and uncle's house nearby. The whole area is on high alert, and accusations fly about who might have caused the bombing that killed and injured many. A white supremacist organization keeps putting up flyers, and Aaliyah is concerned that her brother might be preparing to fight these dangerous groups. When an elderly neighbor goes into hospital and leaves his cat behind, Aaliyah finds the animal and hides it in her room, taking great comfort in Furball, even though her mother is very allergic. She also deals with her stress by thinking about wearing the hijab, so that she can show everyone that Muslims are good people. Her mother, who starting wearing the hijab in college, thinks that Aaliyah is too young and it is too dangerous. When her school bans the hijab, Aaliyah is very angry, and she and her friends plan a protest. How will she be able to stand up for herself when so many things are against her?

Strengths: Aaliyah's challenges with her friends are very realistically portrayed, and I loved the fact that this was upper middle grade, since she was able to have a lot of freedom that a younger child would not. Her reasons  for wanting to wear the hijab are well considered, and this decision is something that a lot of middle school age readers will be considering. The book moves quickly and has a lot of thought provoking topics. 
Weaknesses: This felt very British, and I'm not sure how appealing that will be to my students. I adore books set in England, but it's a tricky balance to find ones my students will enjoy. (Liz Pichon's Tom Gates books have a lot of fans, but Onjali Rauf's don't circulate well.)
What I really think: This had an important message, and is a good book to pair with Bajaj's Count Me In or Kelkar's As American as Paneer Pie. 

The Glass Witch

Puckett, Lindsay. The Glass Witch
October 18, 2022 by Scholastic Press

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
 

Adelaide is angry that her mother has to go to Washington, D.C. for a new job for three months and is leaving her with her grandmother, Bee Goode, in Cranberry Hollow. She knows nothing about her father, and her mother has been estranged from her family because of a century's old curse. The Goode family survived the witch trials, but the curse states that if more than three Goode women are within the city limits at the same time, a Hunter will be released and come to get them. The Hern family is also still in town, and were responsible for many of the deaths. Even though she and her mother have some magic, Addie doesn't believe in the curse and purposefully drags her mother over the town line, setting the Hunter free. Luckily, Addie has already made a friend in town, Fatima, who has many interests and skills, and helps Addie come up with a plan. In order to keep her mother, grandmother, and aunt safe, Addie plans to enter the town beauty pageant and draw out the Hunter so he doesn't go after the others. This is somewhat uncomfortable because all of the Goode women are curvy, and Addie, while embracing this, still struggles against the societal pressure to be thin. Will Addie be able to keep her family safe, and perhaps even overturn the curse? 

Strengths: I enjoyed the historical connection to the witch trials and the depiction of descendants of survivors. Cranberry Hollow was a fun setting, and there were a lot of fun connections with cranberry usage; I guess I've never gotten over my love of the Devlin's 1971 Cranberry Thanksgiving, even though I never owned a copy and my only exposure was my first grade teacher reading it to the class! Addie is angry about her mother going off to work, but still cares deeply about her. Her friendship with Fatima is good to see, since often children who move to a new location are depicted as struggling to make friends, and the two girls work together well. There is some very creepy stuff in the chapters from the Hunter's perspective, but this is not so scary that elementary students couldn't handle it. 

Weaknesses: This alternated between a YA level of horror reminiscent of Jones' Need and a middle grade level of humor which was an odd mix. My students will love the horror bits but might balk at grandmother's "Operation Bunny Bunker" and Addie's candy themed costume for the pageant. 

What I really think: This is an excellent choice for fans of Van Otterloo's Cattywampus and is a fun Halloween read. I found myself hoping this would be a much darker story because horror books have been flying off my shelves this year.