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The Whispering Pines (EXIT 13, Book 1)

Preller, James and Keele, Kevin (illustrator)
The Whispering Pines (EXIT 13, Book 1)

February 7th 2023 by Scholastic Inc.

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Ash and Willow's family are on a long car trip, and as evening falls, they are caught in a dense fog. They pull over for a bit, and Ash walks their dog, Daisy. He thinks he sees a wolf off in the forest, and feels an odd pull, but figures that the creepy atmospher is playing tricks with his mind. Miraculously, even though there don't seem to be any motels in the area, the family soon passes a sign for the Exit 13 Motel, and pull in for the evening. Kristoff, the teen running the desk, is a bit Goth and mysterious, so Willow is drawn to him. Once checked in, Ash has some trouble sleeping, and thinks he again sees a wolf outside the window, as well as the mysterious Kristoff. Things look better the next day, except for the fact that their father is experiencing a lot of neck pain and doesn't want to continue their trip until he sees a doctor. When their parents go to town, Ash and Willow are able to investigate the area around the hotel and find nothing but creepiness! They also strike up a friendship with Justice, a somewhat younger Black girl with muscular dystrophy, who is also interested in exploring the motel while her parents are waiting for their car to be repaired. There's something in the woods, something odd about Kristoff and his mother, and something keeping Ash and Willow at the motel. What will The Spaces Between (August 13, 2023) bring?

Strengths: This was just the right amount of creepy balanced with a nice sibling relationship. Parts of the plot are delivered in illustrated panels, which was interesting and will appeal to readers who love graphic novels. Having been on a number of family car trips, including one that ended up in a horrible cabin down a secluded back road in Maine, I was immediately drawn into Ash and Willow's adventure. Willow was a great older sister, and her interest in Kristoff was amusing, but I also liked how she looked out for Ash. We didn't see too much of Justice, but her use of crutches was presented and dealt with in a very matter-of-fact and constructive way. I am a bit worried about Daisy, after an adventure in Whispering Pines, and am very eager to read the next book. 
Weaknesses: The nature of the family's travels was never fully explained, and this bothered me for some reason. Given the way the plot unfolded, they should have been traveling to a new town for a move! I wasn't as keen on the climax of the book, but it makes more sense knowing that there is a sequel coming out very soon. Can't give away all of the excitement in book one!
What I really think: This reminded me, oddly, of Naylor's 1998 Sang Spell or Cohen's 2022 The Shadow Grave, and I had to laugh when the father referenced Hotel California! 
 

The Pearl Hunter and Light a Candle

Beck, Miya T. The Pearl Hunter

February 7th 2023 by Balzer & Bray/Harperteen

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
 

Kai and Kishi are twins growing up in a world base on Japan in the Tokugawa period (1603–1867), in a family of divers who collect mussels and oysters containing pearls. Their mother is very strict, especially after the death of her sister, Hamako, in a diving accident. Kai bristles at this and doesn't think the rules make sense, but Kishi is more careful and is a better diver. When a ghost whale (bakekujira) carries off Kishi, Kai must work to rescue her sister. She almost succeeds, but the whale wakes up and almost drowns. She is rescued by Ryujin, the dragon king, but would rather die and join her sister. Ryujin takes her to Benzaiten, the protector of pearl divers, who will decide Kai's fate. Kai begs Benzaiten to help her rescue her sister, and she agrees: if Kai can bring her a pearl from Dakini, the Fox Queen, Benzaiten will save her sister. Kai starts off on her journey, newly imbued with the ability to fly, to Sky Mountain, but is injured and is saved by Ren. Ren is also being held captive by a group of bandits. They take her to General Takagi, who takes her in. Kai is treated well by the women in the family, but anxious to get back to her quest. Luckily, Ren sneaks into the compound and rescues her, and they manage to escape with horses, which help in their journey. Once they find Dakini, however, it isn't easy to make her part with the pearl. Will Kai and Ren be able to fulfill their quest before Kishi is lost forever?

Strengths: The details about Kai and Kishi diving were fascinating, and I would have enjoyed a book that detailed their ordinary life engaging in this pursuit just as much as Kai's adventure! This is a solid hero's quest, and is peopled with interesting magical creatures and destinations. Their seem to be more Indian, Chinese or Korean fantasies, so seeing one with Japanese cultural connections is great. Kai's relationship with Ren is interesting, and her desire to save her sister is compelling. The cover is very attractive as well, so this book will not struggle to find readers. 
Weaknesses: I wish the time period had been stated at the beginning of the book; there was definitely a medieval feel, with carts and villages, but I was distracted trying to pin down a time period. That's more of a "me" issue, especially with a fantasy, but it would have strengthened the world building to have more specifics about time and place. 
What I really think: This read a bit like a Japanese version of Levine's 2001 The Two Princesses of Bamarre, which used to be very popular in my library, and reminded me a bit of Lim's 2017 The Crystal Ribbon. This will be popular withe fans of the Rick Riordan Presents, especially with this great cover. 

Lee, Jean Kuo. Light a Candle: A Story of Chinese American Pioneers on Gold Mountain (I Am America)

January 1, 2023 by North Star Edition

Copy provided by the publisher

It's 1864 in La Porte, California, and Emma Fong lives with her parents, who run a local Chinese store, and her brother. She goes to school at the local church, where her teacher, Ms. Lilley, is inclusive and advocates kindess for everyone. This is important when students like Mable refer to Emma as "China Mary" and don't necessarily want to be friends with her because they have been told by their families that Chinese people are not desirable to have in the community. Emma's father is a well respected business and community leader, but when a new teacher comes to town, problems arise. He is also running the town newspaper, and announces that the school will only serve the white families. Since Emma is a good scholat who likes school and values education, this is a blow. Her father  manages to get a tutor for her and her brother, but the school situation is just the beginning of the intolerance that surfaces in the community. When the Pacific Railway is set to be constructed and ten thousand Chinese workers are expected to be involved, the community thinks it might be best to not have any Chinese in the area. Emma and her family fight against this, and manage to make a difference in the way their community is seen. 

Strengths: Remember the 1990s Scholastic Dear America books? Still have an unusual number of those in your library that are devolving into piles of paper flakes? Replace them with these Jolly Fish Press titles with more diverse characters. This title in particular would be a great companion to Yee's Maizy Chen's Last Chance, since it elaborate on the Chinese American experience in the 1860s. Emma is a great character who is aware of the world around her and not willing to suffer injustice. Her diary entries are printed so that modern children can read them. I did like that there were sympathetic characters like Ms. Lilley, so that Emma's world didn't seem as bleak as it probably was. There are historical notes and a timeline of Chinese American history at the back, as well as some black and white photos. 
Weaknesses: A prebind of this slight volume runs $17, although paperbacks run around $9. 
What I really think: I've already purchased Brave Bird at Wounded Knee, If the Fire Comes, and United to Strike, and they have circulated well with my students, who are attracted by the shorter length (138 pages) and the appealing covers .

When You Wish Upon a Lantern

Chao, Gloria. When You Wish Upon a Lantern

February 14th 2023 by Viking

E ARC Provided by Edelweiss Plus

Kai and Liya live in Chicago's Chinatown where their families both have businesses; the Once Upon a Mooncake bakery and the When You Wish Upon a Lantern sundry store respectively. Liya is still grieving the loss of her Năinai, who started the store over fifty years ago after coming to the US from Taiwan. Kai and Liya have been friends since they were very young, but recently things have been awkward. Liya finds Kai attractive, but is mortified that she choked on a Boba bubble and threw up on him when they were out. Kai has a long time crush on Liya and took her vomiting right after he asked her out as a sign that she wasn't interested. The two's fathers frequently fight over the garbage in their shared alley, which doesn't help! When Liya finds out that the business owes the landlord two months' rent, she's determined to find a way to help save it, making sure that the local festivals lead to a lot of sales. She also tries to make more of people's wishes come true, the way she and her Năinai used to. The bakery isn't doing too well, either, thanks to the bad business practices of Kai's father (who spends a lot of money on schemes that don't pan out, as well as on betting on horses). Kai and Liya go back and forth between enjoying each other's company, fretting over perceived miscommunications, and worrying about their futures. Will they ever get together, and will the family businesses be saved?

Strengths: This was as much a travel book as a romance; I enjoyed hearing about all of the local businesses in Chinatown, visiting the park, etc. Young Adult romances often seem whiny to me, and while Kai and Liya had their moments of apprehension, they have a strong connection that outlasts their misunderstandings. There's also a delightful scene where Liya bonds with Stephanie and is forgiven for an episode in the 5th grade that has shaped her actions for years. That really resonated with me! The families both want more for the teenagers; even though the family businesses were a success for the generations that started them, the hope is that Kai and Liya will go to college and have more professional careers that don't depend on the success of the business. 
Weaknesses: Wouldn't the lanterns being sent up into the air or out onto the river be pollution? It's not a tradition in my fairly landlocked Tree City, although I did have neighbors who set a nearby tree on fire one New Year's Eve with a similar lantern!
What I really think: This is an excellent Young Adult romance that will work very well for middle school students who enjoyed books like Rigaud's Simone Breaks all the Rules or Kasie West's or Jenna Evans Welch's romances. I enjoyed this one very much. 

MMGM- Betrayal by the Book

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Beil, Michael D. Betrayal by the Book (The Swallowtail Legacy #2)

February 14th 2023 by Pixel+ink

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Lark and her family, which includes her younger sister Pip, her stepfather, and her three stepbrothers, have decided to stay on Swallowtail Island in Ohio instead of going home to Connecticut. Despite being a potential heiress of some land owned by the Cheever family and willed to her and Pip, Lark decides to help with the annual Swallowtales literary festival that her late mother's friend Nadine is running. She's excited to be a page for one of her favorite YA authors, Ann Keyheart. It's a bit disconcerting to meet her idol in person when she ends up being a booze swilling bully, but Lark enjoys talking to her assistant, Didi, who is an aspiring author. Lark is also investigating a mystery left over from her previous adventures, and has a clue about the location of a hollowed out copy of Little Dorrit and the bird figurine nestled within it. When someone close to Keyheart is murdered, Lark is not far away, to the chagrin of Officer Pawalski. The murder weapon seems to be local chocolates, as the victim was highly allergic. But who had the means and motive? The literary festival continues, and Lark meets a host of possible suspects, from the snooty ballet student, Gabby, who is Lark's age, to literary agents and other authors, none of whom are very fond of Keyheart. Was she the intended victim? When Lark's book and figurine surface and have an odd connection to the victim, the mystery deepens. Will Lark be able to solve it before the suspect flees the island?
Strengths: I'm a big fan of cozy mysteries like Braun's The Cat Who books, although I haven't read as many as I would like lately. It seems like a format that would work so well for middle grade murder mysteries-- here's a bakery run by a tween's parents, and then there's a murder! Bunce's Myrtle Hardcastle mysteries come close, but the historical setting makes them harder to sell. Betrayal by the Book captures everything that I love about cozy mysteries. Swallowtail Island is a fascinating fictional place, with a deep history, interesting residents, and fun local businesses. There's just enough connection with Lark's mother through people who knew her and the mystery of the bird figurines, and Lark's grief is realistic and doesn't overshadow the other aspects of the book. This read like an episode of Murder, She Wrote in all of the best ways, and I appreciate some of Beil's humor aimed at adults, like a passing reference to nautical attire making someone look like "Captain Stubing", a reference Lark did NOT understand! 
Weaknesses: There was a chase seen towards the end that seemed very like the one in the first book that threw me a bit. 

What I really think: Beil's Red Blazer Girls (2009) series still circulates well, and I hope that he embraces the mystery genre and continues to delight us with more murder mysteries! Hand this one to fans of Souder's Coop Knows the Scoop, Stevens' Wells and Wong mysteries, or Haddix's The Secret Letters, even though that one doesn't have a murder. 

It doesn't hurt my feelings at all that the cover reminds me of Louis Bromfield's Malabar Farm office!

The Windeby Puzzle

Lowry, Lois. The Windeby Puzzle

February 14, 2023 by Clarion Books

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

In 1952, there was a body found in a bog near Windeby, Germany during construction excavation. The lower half of the body was cut off by the equipment, but it appeared to be the remains of a young girl, with her head half shaved, wearing just a cape. Numerous guesses as to why she was there were made, and it was determined that it dated from about 41 BCE to 118 CE. After studying this for years, scientists decided that this was really the body of a young boy, and how and why he died is still up in the air. Author Lowry, captivated by this sad story, introduces readers to the archaeological backdrop, then tells the story from the point of view of Estrild, a young girl who ended up in the bog. Her story includes her longing to expand gender roles in her time period, and her wish to become a warrior like the young men in her community, which leads to herr eventual death. Lowry then tells us more about the archaeology, and proceeds to tell another story, this time of Varick, Estrild's friend and supporter. If the body in the bog was a boy, how did Varick end up there? The details of how difficult life was at the time, especially for a disabled child like Varick who was abandoned by his family, are well explained. 

Strengths: There are so few books that combine fiction with nonfiction that the only example that came to mind was Faber's Fish Finelli (2013). I think it's valuable to describe real events that occur when they motivate an author to work them into a fictional tale, and the format is new and innovative. Estrild will speak to readers who like to see girls fight against the social strictures of their times, and the details about life during this time period are drawn bleakly and well. Varick was an interesting character, so I was glad to see the story from his point of view as well. 
Weaknesses: From the beginning, it was clear that this would be a fairly bleak book, especially since we get two different versions of the bog child's death!
What I really think: Years ago, there was a book about a boy in a prehistoric cave dwelling family who found a dog and took it in. Can't remember the title, sadly, and did put a copy I reviewed in the library. I thought it was interesting, especially when read with The Dog in the Cave. My students did not share my enthusiam; I don't know that the book checked out one time. Maybe fans of Catherine Called Birdy or Yolen's A Girl in the Cage would pick this one up? Impressed me a bit like Paulsen's Northwind; authors of a certain stature can write anything that they would like, but it doesn't mean that they will recapture the magic of Hatchet or A Summer to Die. (Or The Giver, which has just never been a book I personally enjoyed, although I liked Gathering Blue.) I will not purchase unless a teacher who has read the book wants me to. 
 

Win-Over and 100 Hispanic and Latino Americans

Torres, Jennifer. Win-Over (The Do-Over #2)

February 7th 2023 by Scholastic Press

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

After coping with the pandemic by staying at their father's ranch, Lucinda and Kel have realized that their mother and father aren't going to get back together. Instead, their father, Marcos, is getting married to his girlfriend, Syliva. They've made friends with Sylvia's daughter, Juliette, during the time that they were all living on the same ranch. For the wedding, everyone is traveling to Mexico to be with Sylvia's family. Not everyone is thrilled with the wedding, especially Sylvia's Tía Enriqueta, the matriarch who runs the Viramontes family farm outside Casa Grandes. Enriqueta doesn't feel that Marcos and his girls are really "family" to Sylvia yet, and that things are progressing too quickly. Even though everyone has traveled to her because Sylvia didn't want her to miss the wedding, the aunt says she won't attend. This is disquieting, and everyone reacts in different ways. The girls all try to think of things that they can do to prove that they are really family, such as helping to prune the apple orchard which has been neglected, but everything they do further angers the aunt. The farm has been failing for a while, and Sylvia is concerned that it will fold. One of the earlier successes of the farm was selling a family recipes for a special cookie, obleas. Kel finds a diary that Enriqueta had written when she was young, and finds the recipe as well as a long kept secret about it. Just when Enriqueta is about to share this with Sylvia, she finds that the recipe has gone missing, and Kel doesn't know what she did with it. The girls try to figure out the ingredients, working together with cousins who live on the farm. Will they be able to succeed, and win over the aunt in the process?

Strengths: It's good that each girl has her own interests, and a lot of the drama revolves around their devotion to their individual pursuits. Raquel even wants to miss the wedding because she doesn't want to be in Mexico, far away from the school newspaper. I'm always a fan of getting to know far flung relatives, and of traveling to new places, and this has a little bit of the flavor of Cartaya's Marcus Vega Doesn't Speak Spanish. There should be more books about blended families, and I would love to see more about children who have never had fathers in the picture, since that reflects the lives of so many of my students. This had a lot of humorous moments as well, and is generally upbeat in tone. 
Weaknesses: There is a lot of great stuff about blended families working together, but since the first book is firmly set during the pandemic, readers in ten years might need some background information! The style of illustration on the cover makes this seem younger than it is, which might make it harder to get into the hands of middle schoolers who otherwise would relaly enjoy the traveling and family antics. On the other hand, the cover and plot is somewhat similar to Fajardo's Miss Quinces, so maybe readers of that graphic novel can be enticed to read this series even though it's not in that format. 
What I really think: I enjoyed Stef Soto, Taco Queen, thought the fair setting of Flor and Miranda Steal the Show was fun, and ADORED The Fresh New Face of Griselda. Sadly, The Do-Over doesn't circulate as well as I'd hoped (few pandemic titles do), so I may pass on purchasing this worthy follow up. 

Laezman, Rick. 100 Hispanic and Latino Americans Who Shaped American History: A Biography Book for Kids and Teens 

February 2022 by Sourcebooks Explore

Copy provided by the publisher

Sourcebooks has a series of these "100" books (including 100 Disasters That Shaped History). They are great overviews of topics, and are the type of book that I would buy my children to take on long car trips, since there is so much information to dip into, but the books don't need to be read straight through. 

This is a well organized collective biography, starting with Ponce de Leon (born in 1460) and finishing with Selena (born 1971). I particularly like the timeline that appears at the bottom of the table of contents, since it shows the spread of years nicely. It's also very helpful to have the individual's dates of birth and death listed in the table of contents. 

There's a good mix of different careers. There are a number of entertainers (Ricardo Montalban, Celia Cruz, Desi Arnaz) , but also scientists (Severo Ochoa , Luis Alvarez), corporate executives, activists, and sports figures. The one page articles give an amazing amount of information, including the person's country of origin, highlights of life and career, and the all important paragraph about legacy and impact. I appreciated that there are lots of dates, so I didn't have to look up information on line. 

I always wish that these books had more photographs, but the Kris Dresen illustrations give a good feel for what the person looked like. A world map showing the distribution of where people were born would have been a good inclusion as well. This is an updated version of the 2002 original, and I'm not sure whether there were any new inclusions, if you already own that one. 

Not only does this book offer a print resource option for students who need to list one in their bibliographies, there is a lot of information. I teach my students to look for key words in order to improve their online searches, and this book conveniently has a lot of these in bold print in the articles. It will get a lot of use in my library. 

 

Fishing in Fire

Reedy, Trent. Fishing in Fire

February 7, 2023 by Norton Young Readers 

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

We've met the young people of McCall, Idaho before, in Hunter's Choice, and Racing Storm Mountain. This time, we focus on Annette Willard. She's passionate about writing for the school newspaper, hates all of the drama at school, and struggles to find her place in her large and busy family. She finds a lot of solace in fishing, so suggests a fishing trip with Swann Siddiq, Kelton Fielding, and Hunter and Yumi Higgins. Annette has a crush on Hunter, but feels awkward around him, and feels that if the group is in the woods, the girls won't judge her by her clothes. She has high hopes for the trip, and impresses Swann by borrowing her father's Gator, somewhat against the rules. The group head into the forest for a good place to fish. There's drama even on this trip, with Swann and Kelton flirting, and McKenzie, Morgan, and Mason showing up unexpectedly. Swann gets thr group involved in a fishing contest with the other kids, and soon they are venturing further into the woods. They aren't really prepared for the type of outing, but do have a little success with their fishing. When a wildfire starts to spread their way, though, will the group be able to survive?

Strengths: As we've seen in the previous books, all of these young people have a variety of different skills that are useful in the wilderness. They sometimes work well together, but are often at odds with each other, which ups the drama. The real draw for me is the great description of being outdoors-- what better book to read for the active young person who is stuck inside during the school day? This is a great escapist adventure, with pulse pounding survival details as well. While I would never head into the woods without all the supplies in the world (I've read too many books, like Johnson's Falcon Wild, which made me keep water and food in my car for when I even go three miles to the grocery store!), it makes sense that tweens don't think all that far ahead. Maybe Reedy needs to write a nonfiction book about properly safe outdoor adventures, even though those wouldn't be nearly as much fun to read about! 
Weaknesses: The mix of social drama and outdoor adventure is a bit odd. My readers who like outdoor adventure aren't usually too interested in interpersonal relationships, and vice versa. That said, Behren's Alone in the Woods combines the two and is very popular. 
What I really think: I'd love to see more outdoor adventure books from Reedy, since these books have lots of details, great covers, and are the perfect length. Stand alones would be better, since replacing lost books in a series can be a problem. Hand this to readers who enjoyed books like Henry's Playing with Fire, Davis' Partly Cloudy, Rhodes' Paradise on Fire, Gratz's Two Degrees, or Philbrick's Wildfire. 

City of the Dead and Whale Done

Ponti, James. City of the Dead (City Spies #4)
February 7th 2023 by Aladdin

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

The fascinating, unexplored storyline in City Spies, Golden Gate, and Forbidden City that has most intrigued me was Mother's abandonment in a burning building by his wife and fellow spy, Clementine. He was rescued by the first City Spy, Paris, but Clementine has been on the run with their two children, and the suspicion is that she is working for Umbra, which is evil. We've heard snippets of the story, but are usually too caught up in the current mission to learn more. This time, Mother's past seems bound up with the current problem. The children are sent to "retrieve" items from the British Museum, which seems a bit odd. After some underground adventures and some explosives, they find out that there is more to this mission than they first believed. Kat, in particular, starts to see some patterns emerge in seemingly random outages of the subway system and other London locations. A coded scavenger hunt of sorts sends our intrepid young spies on a number of different sorties to find information, and they eventually end up in Egypt, in the Valley of the Kings! I find that I don't want to say too much about why they do there, or what they do, because everything unfolds in such a fun way, and I don't want to ruin anything. 

Strengths: Even though there is a rather large cast, I am able to keep the characters separated in my mind, which speaks to the quality of the character development. We learn a lot more about Kat and her abilities in this volume. The biggest draw for me is always the travel, and I recommend these to students who want vicarious adventures when stuck in study hall! Including information about the King Tut exhibit is fantastic, sixth our sixth graders study ancient Egypt, and makes this a great companion to Fleming's The Curse of the Mummy! The issue of countries having appropriated cultural artifacts in the past and thinking now about returning them is addressed in a thoughtful way. Of course, I was enthralled to find out more about Clementine and see a surprisingly character emerge and be added to the City Spies! This really made me think about Gilman's Mrs. Pollifax novels, which I adored!
Weaknesses: Like many traveling spy books, there are some coincidences and helpful people that seem a bit unlikely. But then, we are dealing with tween spies who are traveling around the world, so an undercover taxi driver shouldn't really bother me! 
What I really think: While I'm a big fan of hugely long mystery series, five books is really about perfect for a middle grade series. In my last deep weeding dive, I pulled some series where book ten had been checked out once in ten years. Just before winter break, a student checked out a third book in a series that hadn't been circulated in the three years I've had it. Certainly, this must be replicated in sales, which is what motivates publishers. I love Ponti's work, but it's easier to circulate (and sell, I suspect) books that are stand alones or in shorter series. If I'm wearing my Reader Hat, I say publish 20 more of these, but if I have on my Librarian Hat, I'd like to see the series wrapped up. 

That being said, there are always exceptions that prove the rule. Gibbs' FunJungle series definitely falls into that category. More impressive is the fact that students mention to me that they have BOUGHT their own copies of this or the Spy School installments. 

Gibbs, Stuart. Whale Done (FunJungle #8)

February 21st 2023 by Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

When an inconsiderate worker sets off fire crackers near FunJungle when the weather has been very dry and a kangaroo is spooked, a horrible fire burns down the substandard employee trailer park. Because JJ McCracken, the owner, has always been concerned about the threat of fire, he is prepared with crews that save the zoo, if not the housing or surrounding area. Teddy doesn't have a place to stay; his father is off to Argentina, and his mother can sleep in her office at the zoo. When his girlfriend Summer suggests that he goes with her and her mother to visit California, his parents can't really object. They are staying in an exclusive beachfront community with Binka, a model friend of Summer's mother. Also along is Doc, who is visiting the marine animal center in Long Beach. When an enormous whale is found dead on the beach, Teddy and Summer want to investigate. Cass, a scientist tasked with performing an autopsy on the animal, is willing to talk to the kids when she realizes they have a scientific interest, and Doc takes a shine to her and wants to help. When the whale explodes in a spectacularly messy way, Teddy gets involved in the investigation. At first, it seems like it might just be a college prank, and two local Harvard students are implicated, but Cass and Doc soon realize that the amount of explosives involved are not something they could have put in place. There's also a local beach resident who claims that the beach is disappearing, and it does look like sand is disappearing. This isn't FunJungle, though, and Summer seems to be interested in hanging out with people other than Teddy. Will he be able to able to solve the mystery without her?

Strengths: Like the Texas adventure in Tyrannosaurus Wrecks and the  Yellowstone excursion in Bear Bottom , it's good to see Teddy and Summer being able to venture away from the zoo. Summer's background gives them the wealth and privilige to be able to do this, while Teddy's family's problems ground him. There's enough goofiness (like the exploding whale) to make this appealing to younger readers, and enough ecological mystery to appeal to older ones. Teddy's relationship with Summer sees some ups and downs; all 8 books of the series take place over a very short period of time even though the first was published in 2010, so this is realistic. Summer's celebrity, being used to hawk eco-conscious clothing, is appealing.  There are some excellent villains, some animal highjinks, and, of course, Teddy's uncanny ability to solve the case. I very much appreciate that Gibbs' addresses environmental issues in his books, and also that he is responsive to reader suggestions and crafted a marine adventure after getting a lot of requests. Perhaps Teddy and Summer need to follow Doc and Cass to Baja so that Gibbs can write stories to go with titles that were suggested, like Twist and Spout and License to Krill.

Weaknesses: The villains have improved since the first FunJungle book, but I would like to see them with a little more nuance. I'm a fan of characters who read a bit gray, although my students never complain about ones that are more black and white. 
What I really think: These books are a little easier to read out of order than the Spy School series, which is really helpful when I have a lot of students reading through them. These are always such fun, and do get better with each installment. I'm looking forward to seeing what happend next, but it may be time to return to FunJungle for a bit! 

Winston Chu and the Whimsies

Lee, Stacey. Winston Chu and the Whimsies

February 7th 2023 by Rick Riordan Presents

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Winston and his friends are taking home a pie (on a skateboard) that they have baked in a cooking class when things go badly wrong. The pie is ruined, which Winston had wanted to take home to his mother and sisters Coco and Phillipa to commemorate his father. It landed on two beefy guys hanging outside a shop, Mr. Pang's Whimsies. Mr. Pang greats Winston and his friends and invites them into his shop. They are a little apprehensive, but go in. In thanks for foiling what he suspected would be a robbery, Mr. Pang offers Winston the first thing he touches. There is a lot of strange merchandise in the store, but when a bird flies in and is caught behind a table, Winston takes a broom from the shop to help it out. This means the broom is his, and while his friends complain, Winston graciously accepts bother the broom and a dustpan, and thanks Mr. Pang. Shortly after, things begin to go missing. They are small things at first, like a key chain or stuffed animal, but when Winston's goldfish goes missing, he has his friends help him get rid of the broom. It's not enough, though, and the broom reappears sevearl times, and eventually takes away his young sister Coco, leaving an odd doppelganger. He tries to tell his older sister Philippa, but she's worried about her job at Waffle Fury and doesn't believe him. His mother is also trying to find a job. The school year has started as well, so Winston is worried about many things at school while believing that something is terribly wrong with Coco. His friends, including Cassa, Bijal, and the wealthy Maverick, try to help him figure out what's going on. The broom and dustpan are tied to characters in the ancient Chinese story, "The Cowherd and the Cloud Weaver", and Coco's spirit has indeed been taken. With his friends' and sister's help, Winston must figure out who Mr. Pang is, how he's using his magical implements, and why he has taken Coco, in order to get her back. 

Strengths: This reminded me a bit of Whitesides' 2011 Janitors, with the modern setting and the magic that seeps into daily life. That series has been very popular with some of my students. It also has some similarities with Oh's Spirit Hunters, also a strong circulator. The magical elements were amusing (like the Mustache of Mischief), and were woven into the story in a believable way. I would have been perfectly fine to read just about the Chu's family life, because Winston's flirtation with Dani was great fun, especially when he claimed he could play the ukelele. He even convinces a friend to help him learn to play The Rainbow Connection so he could keep up the lie! 
Weaknesses: It would have been nice to know more details about the Cowherd and the Cloud Weaver, and how they were connected to Mr. Pang. While "Whimsies" figure largely in the title, it wasn't a term used much in the story, which was a little confusing. While it was all tied together nicely, there was a lot going on in this book, and a lot of characters to keep track of. Ms. Lee usually writes Young Adult novels like Luck of the Titanic and Outrun the Moon, so the length and complexity are in keeping with that age group while the humor and magical realism are definitely more middle grade. 
What I really think: There are several culturally connected fantasy books where siblings are abducted by magical creatures and must be retrieved, like Lee's Pahua and the Soul Stealer , Kim's The Last Fallen Star, Córdova's 2020 The Way to Rio Luna and Riazi's 2017 The Gauntlet. Winston's adventures were well written, but I may pass on this one, as I already have a lot of similar titles, and at over 350 pages, this might be a hard sell in my library right now. 

The Talent Thief

Thayer, Mike. The Talent Thief

February 7, 2023 by Feiwel Friends

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Tiffany doesn't have an easy life. Her mother is gone, and her father works long hours at Best Buy to make ends meet, and long hours at the Myers planetarium because it's his passion. He donates his time and a lot of materials for free, but the owner doesn't seem to appreciate it, and threatens to close it down. She also misses her grandmother, who recently passed away. She'd like to make her grandmother proud, but seems to fail at everything she tries. She's on the tech crew for the school play, in which the very mean Candace is starring. Candace has a great singing voice, but constantly belittles those around her. Tiffany just assumes she's cursed, but when she sees two meteors crash right above her, things seem to change. At first, she thinks that it may be coincidental that just when Candace loses the ability to sing, she is able to belt out a tune, but she eventually realizes that she can "steal" someone's talent for a day. The one person she tells is Brady, who thinks that they can turn this newfound skill into an internet sensation, and enter a contest that might help save the planetarium. She also lets her friends at a senior facility in on some of her secret after she mistakenly appropriates her older friend's ability to shuffle cards, leaving him to feel that he's had a stroke or similar episode! Tiffany benefits from Brady's friendship, and his ability to borrow items from people with amusing skills so that she caan absorb them for their videos helps to launch their success. But will it be enough? 

Strengths: Like this author's The Double Life of Danny Day, this is a well developed story with a solid foray into believeable magical realism. Is Tiffany any more cursed than most middle school students? No, but I was more than happy when she gained her magical power and was able to use it to get back a bit at Candace and her cronies and to try and improve her life. The day to day struggles that she and her father face will speak to many children who have parents who depend on them to make dinner and take care of themselves. It was also good to see Tiffany's friends at the retirement facility; in an ideal world, senior care centers would always be built down the street from middle schools so that just this type of generational camraderie could occur. Brady was an unexpected ally who uses his knowledge of social media to good effect. The cover is just the right kind of illustration, with hints of the magical qualities. 
Weaknesses: I wish Candace has been a bit more nuanced. I'd love to see a book where the mean girl is not beautiful and talented! 
What I really think: This reminded me a bit of Snyder's Bigger Than a Breadbox, in that a tween has to make the moral choice between getting good things for herself, but to the detriment of others. Tiffany is worried about her own curse at the beginning of the book, but widens her circle of concern to the larger community, and is able to work through her own problems as she makes progress on helping others, which is a great message. Definitely keeping an eye on Mr. Thayer's work!

MMGM- 14th Boys Read Pink CelebrationThe Carrefour Curse and the

It's

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
 at 

Always in the Middle 

and #IMWAYR day 

at 

Teach Mentor Texts 

and 

Unleashing Readers

I love hosting the Boys Read Pink celebration at my school! We've also had Celebrity Spokespeople like Sneed Collard, Alexander Vance, Tommy Greenwald, and Jason Henderson. Joining these hallowed ranks is the fantastic middle grade author, Michael Spradlin, who writes everything from nonfiction (Close Calls and the Medal of Honor series) to historical fiction (Keeper of the Grail and Prisoner of War) to action packed tales like Killer Species and Spy Goddess series. Not only that, but he's a great public speaker and a positive presence on Twitter. He graciously agreed to be interviewed for the 14th Annual Celebration!

Who were you as a middle grade reader? What were some of your favorite books?

I read everything. By middle school I had read almost every book in my house, including my mom’s cosmetology text book. I haunted my school library and read just about anything. 

Were there any books with girls as the main characters that you remember reading?

Of course, Harriet the Spy, The Bobbsey Twins. I always wished that Joe Hardy and Iola Morton would stop with the sexual tension and just commit. I’m sure there are others I can’t remember, but I don’t remember being very discriminatory. 

Your books are often about wars or military endeavors. What is it that makes this topic so appealing to boys? What aspects of this do you think would appeal to girls?

It’s funny. For my three WWII novels, I’ve gotten just as many letters and emails from boys as well as girls. I’ve had girls at my school visits say the ending of Into the Killing Seas has made them cry. I think there is a sense of inherent adventure in books about wars or conflict. What I try to make clear is that is NOT and adventure in the traditional definition of the word. It’s deadly, horrible and changes you forever on a fundamental level. 

One of your earlier titles is Spy Goddess: Live and Let Shop. What differences did you find in writing from a female perspective?

It came really easily. Rachel Buchanan’s voice was incredibly easy for me to find. I think probably the easiest of any of my characters. At the time, my house was full of teenage girls, so it was a real-life case of writing what you know. I do think it’s more difficult in the sense that girls that age are into boys and relationships that boys are. There was a lot of ‘shipping among readers of Spy Goddess. Boys never ask who is going to end up with who, like girls do. Boys just want you to blow up more stuff. 

What are some personality traits that you like your characters to exhibit? Do you think that these are equally valuable for all readers?

I think my number one trait in one of my character is honesty. I try really hard to make that apparent in my characters. They should be honest almost to a fault. I think that’s my personality flooding into my writing. Honesty is very important to me. And it can come in different packages. Rachel Buchanan in Spy Goddess can be brutally honest. Sometimes to the point of making people uncomfortable. Tristan in The Youngest Templar is quieter and more dignified but honest and honorable.

I also think a strong sense of duty is important. A commitment to a person or a cause, they are genetically incapable of abandoning. I feel like traits like these can drive the character, and thus the narrative, forward. 

What do you think that boys can learn from reading books from a female perspective?

Everything. Honor, duty, joy, despair, humor, sass, you name it, it’s all there. Guys, I hate to tell you, but for most of you women will become very important to you in the years ahead. Reading their books is like a cheat code of getting inside their minds and learning how they think. Fear not, grasshopper. You are going to find that women are really good for us and make us better men if we let them. Go with God. 

What’s your favorite dad joke? 

What’s brown and sticky? A stick. 

Salerni, Diane. The Carrefour Curse

January 31, 2023 by Holiday House

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Garnet and her mother have always been by themselves. They each have some magic, but they keep it fairly quiet, even though they run a shop that specializes in crystals and other items. Garnet has always wanted to go to her mother's family home, but has always been kept away. To force her mother's hand, she manages to curse herself with a classic magical malady-- she's spitting toads! Her mother takes her back to Crossroad House to ask relatives for a cure. There are a lot of relatives: the elderly head of the family, Jasper, and family historian Linden, and assorted aunts, uncles, and cousins. The house is impressive but moldering, and has a section that burned down long ago. Garnet's mother is very concerned for her safety, especially after Linden passes away. Jasper is also not doing well, but has the ability to draw energy from younger family members to keep him going. The family, especially Rose, hopes that he will soon pass the family ring to a successor, but he shows no signs of doing this. While he is "transitioning", the rest of the family are in peril. Accidents keep happening. Young Oak fall froms a tree, and an uncle tips over on a tractor. Garnet is experiencing some alarming phenomenon herself; she is able to travel to the past, slipping into someone else's body and seeing what is going on at the time. She sees her mother in the 1990s, when a visitor, Tana, disappeared. Garnet is also approached by a man claiming to be her father, whom she has never met, adding to her apprehension and danger about the place. Still, she wants to be able to help figure out the family curse. When it seems likely that her power of time walking mightprove crucial to this, she embarks on a plan to rectify the past in order to make the present safer for her family. Will she be able to succeed?
Strengths: There are some twists and turns in this that I don't want to ruin, especially because Garnet does manage to use her magical ability to very good effect and learn a lot by visiting the past. Any book that I can read and remember without having to consult my notes stands out as particularly well-constructed, especially since this took me a couple of days to read. (Because of Life, not the book!) The house was nicely creepy, the magic was solid, and the extended family, both present and past, were intriguing. Garnet's visits to the past were my favorite, in part because she didn't know what was happening at first, but managed to figure it out. Awesome family secrets as well, and Jasper was super creepy! Definitely enjoyed this one and can't wait to hand it to students! 
Weaknesses: The cover is not great. Like Salerni's Eleanor, Alice, and the Roosevelt Ghosts, this might have to be hand sold. Holiday House just cannot get a handle of covers, which is too bad. All this one needed was a good, creepy old house like the one on Alexander's Vacancy, although the Flowers in the Attic type portraits might help with the right readers. 
What I really think: This was a solid, dark fantasy book that fans of Josephson's Ravenfall or West's Long Lost will love, and has some shades of Puckett's The Glass Witch. It's the perfect vehicle for middle school readers who secretly believe there is more to their family than meets the eye, since they MUST somehow be able to work magic. Another great title from this author. 

The Puttermans are in the House

Feldman, Jacquetta Nammar. The Puttermans Are in the House
January 17th 2023 by HarperCollins

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

**Some spoilers in weaknesses.**

Sammy and Matty live in Houston, Texas, and their whole family is very much immersed in baseball. Sammy is making her way on her team and rooting for the Astros, but in the middle of one game, Matty inexplicably quits and stops communicating with his twin, which is hard on Sammy. There are other things to worry about though; Hurrican Harvey devastates the area, and the Putterman's house is badly damaged. Their grandparents' house is also hard hit, and they all move in with Sammy's Uncle Mike and his family, including her cousin Becky. Becky has always had a difficult relationship with the twins, since she thinks the family thinks that they are special, and that her interests, which including dressing up her cat so she can post pictures on social media. Since she is preparing for her Bat Mitzvah, and things are thrown into confusion because of the storm, she's even angrier. We find out why Matty has distanced himself from Sammy, and see the various family members struggle as they find a way to rebuild everyone's lives after the external and internal storms. 

Strengths: The details about being involved in a catastropic storm are very good; I especially liked that the parents had the children dress in swimsuits and then other clothes. That wouldn't have occurred to me but would be useful. The inclusion of an elderly neighbor in both their escape to the local school and also living with Becky's family was interesting and showed the value of extended community. The family's interest in baseball was something that held them together, and the fact that Becky didn't share this made it difficult for her to feel a part of the family. Since the grandparents live nearby, I'm sure that there was some competition among the grandchildren. Matty's reasons for not talking to his sister are explained, but I'm not sure how much should be revealed. 
Weaknesses: Becky is a challenging character, and it was difficult to see her treat her cousins badly when they had suffered so much. It also didn't help (highlight to reveal spoiler): when Matty told her he had kissed his friend Ethan, and that's why he was quitting baseball, because there were no gay major league players. Every single person in Matty's family was supportive, so him keeping this secret from them and suffering so much over the incident seemed a bit odd. This was more like Penny's Green Eyes and Ham than Stamper's Small Town Pride. 
What I really think: I have a lot of hurricane books already, and they don't circulate particularly well. Baseball is the least popular sport among my students, so I may pass on purchase at this time. It doesn't help that I'm almost out of money for this school year and will have a lot less money next year because a new middle school is opening and I'll have fewer students. Take a look at this one if you want family drama, Jewish culture, some LGBTQIA+ issues, baseball, or storm books.

Nat for Nothing (Nat Enough #4) and Terry's Crew

Scrivan, Maria. Nat for Nothing(Nat Enough #4)

February 7, 2023 by Graphix

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

While Nat is still struggling to maintain a relationship with Lily, (in Forget Me Nat and Nat for Nothing), she has good friends in Zoe and Flo. Her school year gets off to a rocky start, though, when she sleeps in late and ends up biking to school in her bunny slippers. She also has a literal run in with new student Luca, and later has to show him around the school. There is a new principal who is big on rules and short on fun, and everyone is required to participate in a school club. This is hard for Nat, since all she wants to do is draw comics, and hasn't vibrated to any of the activities offered, even finding art club judgey and boring. When Zoe takes up Volleyball and Flo throws herself (and her sock puppet Argyle) into raising money for a buddy bench, Nat finds herself at loose ends after school. Her parents find plenty of chores for her to do, but that's not as much fun as hanging out with her friends. When Luca suggests starting a comic book club, she isn't quite sure it will work, and the proposal is shot down twice by the principal. Still, the two try to gather members, and even use the club to help Flo raise money for her buddy bench. Luca also helps Nat with her ever present anxiety, labeling her negative thoughts "doubt gremlins" and telling her not to listen to them. Eventually, their efforts pay off, and they have an official club!

Strengths: My students love this series, and since so many of them struggle with their own "doubt gremlins", they will be especially fond of this installment. Friendships often fall apart in middle school, and Nat's on again, off again relationship with Lily is very realistic. My favorite part was Nat's parents making sure she was productive when she was bored, but I'm sure younger readers will prefer the rock painting, club founding, and Luca! 
Weaknesses: I didn't quite understand how the clubs were working. The librarian lets the comic book club meet in the library but then throws them out when the group is larger and too loud; if this is after school, the noise wouldn't be a problem, but it didn't seem like the librarian was the official sponsor. Young readers won't care, but I got stuck on that detail. 
What I really think: I'd like to see a little romance thrown into this series, since middle schoolers have that on their mind a lot. These brightly colored books are a big hit with fans of all of the realistic graphic novels with nervous or struggling main characters, like Chmakova's Berrybrook Middle School series, Libenson's Emmie and Friends books, and Telgemeier's work. 

Do feel I have to note that while buddy benches might be a big hit at elementary schools, I have never heard a middle school student do anything but make fun of these. Of course, Flo is rather quirky and unique, so it's right in character for her to champion this idea. 

Crews, Terry and Thomas, Cory (illus.). Terry's Crew

November 8th 2022 by Little, Brown Ink

Library copy

In this graphic novel, young Terry is excited to attend Rock City Academy, an elite private school is his town. He's planning on studying art, playing sports, and generally being a success at everything he does. He has some trouble fitting into the school. He thinks that his student guide, Rani, has befriended him, but then she is absent for days. A popular jock wants Terry to help his group with the talent show, but only if Terry is willing to knock Zander's books to the ground. Terry immediately regrets doing that, and soon apologizes, and Xander, Rani, and Terry form their own group for the talent show. When Terry's grades aren't as high as his mother wants, she bans him from performing in the talent show, but he approaches the teacher and asks if he can be the emcee. There are some bumps along the way, but Terry eventually has a good friend group, and is happy enough in his new school. 

Strengths: The art style is a little different than most graphic novels, which is refreshing, but it's not so dissimilar that students won't pick it up. Terry is a likeable character with admirable goals, and his behavior is very typical of middle school students. The talent show preparations help propel the plot forward, and the minor characters add some depth to the story. 
Weaknesses: Some of the characters were a little over the top; one teacher is particularly evil, and Xander reminded me very strongly of Richie Rich. 
What I really think: This seemed a lot like Jerry Craft's New Kid, but is apparently based on Crews' own life. I apparently haven't followed popular culture for 30 years, because I have never heard ot the author. Not sure if the celebrity aspect will appeal to my students, but since they will read just about any graphic novel, it doesn't really matter.