Ghost Book

Lai, Remy. Ghost Book

Published August 15th 2023 by Henry Holt BYR (Macmillan)

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

In this graphic novel, we meet July Chen, who lives with her father. Her mother passed away when she was born. She has always been able to see ghosts, (she has "yin-yang" eyes, which can see both sides of life and death) although few people seem able to see her, but she has always kept this information from her father, who sells dumplings at a street market and seems very distracted. When it's hungry ghost month, her life becomes even more complicated, especially since her school hosts a hungry ghost festival. When she meets Will, she thinks he is a ghost, but he is a boy whose body is in the hospital. He's had a series of near fatal accidents for his whole life, and is accompanied by a small pet ghost, Floof. He seeks July's help, since she is the only one who can see him. If she can't keep him alive, he wants her to deliver a bowl of forgetting soup to his mother so that she isn't sad once he passes. Since her father is rarely home and no one notices what she does at school, July is able to plunge into investigating what is happening to Will. The two eventually find that they share a common bond, and because of their linked past, only one of them can live. They are in contact with two messengers of Hebai Wuchang who is trying to keep the balance of the worlds. Will's name keeps sliding off the registers, and July isn't there at all, since she was supposed to die at birth. Will July and her new, somewhat ghostly friend by able to negotiate with the spirits in order to both remain among the living? 
Strengths: While I enjoyed Lai's Pie in the Sky, my students prefer books more along the lines of her Pawcasso. Given Lai's habit of using very bright, happy colors, it was interesting to see a ghost story in her signature style with a darker palette. There's some well developed ghost lore, and the background of July and Will's shared past gives them a compelling reason to work together. There's even a bit of a twist with July's father that I don't want to spoil. The ghosts are quite creepy, and have their own agendas that compete with July's. The idea of July being able to save Will's life is an appealing one. This had good pacing, and will be a popular choice for readers who want a solid, spooky ghost graphic novel. 
Weaknesses: Point me directly to Madame Meng for a big bowl of the soup of forgetting. While the messages that "a broken heart is a heart that has loved and been loved" will make this popular with soft hearted teachers and librarians, I have different views on grief and would be completely fine with forgetting everyone. I'd have forgotten, so what would be the big deal? At least July admits that she isn't sad about her mother, since she never met her. This is a "me problem" more than a book problem. 

What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who liked Telgemeier's Ghosts, but also reminded me a lot of Torres' and Elbert's Lola's Ghost and Fernández's ¡¡Manu!! (although that might have been because of the school uniforms!)

Dust

Bowling, Dusti. Dust

August 15, 2023 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

**Slight spoiler in Strengths.**

Avalyn and her family lived in Oklahoma when she was young, but after the humidity caused a nearly fatal asthma attack, they moved to Clear Canyon, Arizona. The climate is drive, and the mountains help keep the air still and the dust down. With medication and careful living, Avalyn is able to breathe more easily most of the time. She has two good friends, Nan and Dillon, who stick with her at school and help her face off against the horrible Meanie Butt Band, headed by the awful Bryden, who calls Avalyn "Wheezer". The chidlren are so horrible that Bryden at one point plays a dangerous game of keepaway with Avalyn's emergency inhaler. When a new boy, Adam, starts at school, Avalyn feels bad that Bryden calls him "Dirt Head" and wants to ask him to sit with her at lunch, but Nan and Dillon thinks including him might make them more of a target. Adam's arrival coincides with massive dust storms that wreak havoc with Avalyn's respiratory system, and when Avalyn touches Adam's arm, she has the most awful feeling of being trapped in unpleasant circumstances. Because her activities are limited due to her asthma, Avalyn practices spelling a lot; it calms her down and gives her something to focus on, but she also has odd instances where she sees words appear on people and surfaces. Does she have some Empath powers like her favorite X Men character? She and Adam bond a little over their shared love of this comic, but Adam, who often comes to school looking uncared for, doesn't want to make friends or have anyone talk to him. As the dust storms and The Meanie Butt Band's bullying both intensify, Avalyn finds herself struggling more and more. She tries to help Adam, but eventually uncovers such horrific information about him that she's not sure what to do, especially since following him has put her in danger several times. Luckily, she is able to talk to her parents, who are overprotective but also very understanding, and she finally realizes that even though Adam might be angry with her, she needs to tell someone abou this circumstances. She eventually confides in Ms. Imani, the school nurse. She also uses the school spelling bee as a platform to call out the Meanie Butt Band and put an end to their reign of terror. When Adam leaves town, the dust storms seem to quiet down as well. Avalyn misses him, but is glad that she, Dillon, and Nan can go to school and not live in fear of being terrorized. She also is literally breathing easier without the dust storms. 
Strengths: Asthma is certainly a widespread health concern for many students, but it shows up in so few middle grade books. The details about medication and coping strategies are informative and worked into the story well. The Arizona setting seems very exotic to me, since Ohio always seems damp enough to keep down any dust! It was good to see Avalyn, Dillon, and Nan stick together against the bullies, and to see Avalyn eventually speaking up against the injustice. Adam's trauma is that his mother has passed away, as has his grandmother, who was raising him, and now (highlight for spoiler)  (he is living with an uncle who is sexually abusing him. There aren't any details, but it is strongly implied. Avalyn's parents are concerned and involved in her medical care, but also let her have as much freedom as they can. 

Weaknesses: With the serious themes of bullying, health concerns and child abuse, I wish this hadn't included the fantasy elements. There was a lot to process in this book, and the magic is woven into the story in a way that made me wonder if this was a fantasy book or not. For the record, and for future Cybil's judging, this is definitely a fantasy, since Adam definitely can control dust storms. 
What I really think: Behren's Disaster Days and Jordan Sonnenblick's two memoirs include characters with asthma, but I can't think of many others. This is a good chioce for readers who like problem books mixed with a little magical reality, like Reese's Every Bird a Prince and Haydu's One Jar of Magic. This could be a strong Newbery contender.

MMGM- Blather, More Tales to Keep You Up at Night, AND Stinetinglers

It's

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
 at 

Always in the Middle 

and #IMWAYR day 

at 

Unleashing Readers

Happy New Year! I'm writing this two weeks from the end of the 2022-23 school year, but this is posting on the day before we have students return. I love the beginning of the school year! Checking out all of those books. But the end of the school year? Not my favorite. Inventory. Mourning lost books. Shutting everything down. 2022-23 was perhaps the least pleasant of my 25 year teaching career, so I am looking forward to a better year this year!

I got permission from Picky Reader (here after the 2009 Ellen Potter interview!) to post about her May 27th wedding. It was a beautiful day, and everything went very well. She and Picky Partner put so much work into choosing the venue, the catering, and especially the music, which included a lot of older songs so that the guests would enjoy them. 

Her colors were green and yellow, but her attendants wore green, and yellow disagrees with me, so I found a gray dress for $6 at the thrift store. It was sparkly, like Barton's Glitter Everywhere.

Nell's necklace was a ring of my mother's, and I had on my mother's pearls and my grandmother's opal ring. Two of my cousins who came and I all wore the rings our aunts gave us for graduation, and my aunt Skyped in! Several of my friends came from some distance as well. 

My favorite moment was at the rehearsal, when they asked Picky Partner's dad to give him away! I had two good friends who helped me set up, and one took the leftovers back home. It was a good day, and they are very happy.

But back to books! 

These two titles are both something I will purchase, but they are both short story collections that are fantastical and scary in nature. Since I struggle with all of that, I'm going to just give impressions of these instead of detailed reviews. Sometimes, we just do what we can. 

Poblocki, Dan. More Tales to Keep You Up at Night
August 15, 2023 by Penguin Workshop
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Gilbert's brother Ant has been injured, and when Gilbert goes to the hospital to visit him, he sees a shadowy figure dart into the restroom, but when he looks for the person, finds a bag of cassette tapes and a player. Gilbert's been warned not to listen to the tapes, but he does. The tapes seem to change reality, and cause bad things to happen. They are somehow connected to the Bowen family from Tales to Keep You Up at Night, and also to a man who was employing Ant. Will Gilbert be able to save his brother?

Like Nance's Daemon Hall or White's Nightbooks, this is a story within a story. It's all deeply creepy, but I didn't pay enough attention to how all of the stories worked together. Poblocki's work is popular in my library, and it doesn't hurt that these books are right across the aisle from Schwartz's perennially popular Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. I personally prefer his The Ghosthunter's Daughter or The Ghost of Graylock, but both of these story collections  will be a good fit for upper elementary AND middle school students, whereas the aforementioned books might be a bit much for fifth graders. 

Stine, R.L. Stinetinglers 2

August 29, 2023 by Feiwel Friends

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

The thing that I liked best about the first Stinetinglers book was that Mr. Stine prefaced each story with what inspired the tale. While I have collections of short stories edited by Stine (Fear, Nightmare Hour, Scream and Scream Again), it was good to see some original stories. It's circulated well, and I know that my students will also look forward to this one, even though I'm not as big a fan of this cover, which has a very 1990s vibe to it, maybe on purpose. Great stories for fans of this author as well as Lubar's Weenies story collections. I know just the student who will want to check this out first! 

Forget-Me-Not Blue

Moranville, Sharelle Byars. Forget-Me-Not Blue
August 8, 2023 by Holiday House
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Sofie lives with her mother and older brother Con. While times are tough, the family is supportive of each other and make things work. They get a lot of their meals at a local food pantry, where they also find clothes, but both children are good students, and they manage to get scholarships for things like swimming lessons. Their mother's friends can be problematic, and when they are over partying, Sofie often goes to the attic with Con, since there have been times when her mother's boyfriends have gotten a bit too enthusiastic or even violent. One friend, Lili, often supplies drugs, but after an incident years previously when the mother left the children alone for a week and Children's Services almost removed them, their mother stays away from the drugs. When the mother's grandfather, Gunner, shows up to live with them, it seems a bit odd. There's a lot of family trauma, and the children's grandmother, an actress named Summer, was killed in a car accident. The accident also claimed the wife of local diner owner, Tommy, who emply's Sofie's mother in the restaurant. When the mother doesn't come home for several days, it seems like a good idea to have Gunner (whom Sofie refers to as "the scarecrow" around, but he also goes missing. Since it's summer, the children are able to evade detection, and still can get some food. Tommy checks in on them, and brings leftovers. Gunner finally shows up; he's been on a bender. He spent time in prison when Summer was young, and attends AA meetings regularly. He had been sober for twelve years before. When the mother finally returns, it's clear that she is also in the throes of addiction, possibly set off by a back injury. Sofie hopes that everything will settle down, and that she can win an award from her 5th grade teacher, Mr. Bloom, whom she likes and admires, but her mother is arrested and eventually incarcerated three hours away in another state. Gunner is made a temporary guardian, and the family muddles along. Con has his first romance with Jade, a girl who has issues of her own. When Gunner's background finally comes to the attention of Children's Services, Sofie ends up in foster care. Will she ever be able to have a stable family life? 

Strengths: We are certainly seeing more and more students who have family members with addiction, and many who are being raised in less than ideal kinship or friendship arrangements. Books like Petro-Roy's Life in the Balance and Campbell, Marcy's Rule of Threes address some aspects of children dealing with the effect that problematic parents has on their lives, and Sofie's struggles are portrayed in a sympathetic but also interesting way. Both the mother and great grandfather work hard to do what is right for the children, but don't always conquer their problems with addiction. Gunner is portrayed as going to AA meetings frequently in order to be able to take care of the children. Con is a great, protective older brother, and the two gets along well, although there is a little jealousy over Jade and some teen rebelliousness that makes the relationship seem relatable. Tommy is a supportive adult who is the center of a bit of a twist. The adults in the book are generally supportive, and there are people at the food pantry, teachers, and social workers who all do their best for Sophie. I'd like many of my students who take their lives for granted to read the passage where Con takes Sophie to Walmart to buy her tennis shoes after her flip flops break, and to see the joy she feels in having new shoes that are comfortable. 
Weaknesses: This was slightly longer than some middle grade books (272 pages) and dragged a bit in the middle when the family spends a lot of time gardening. I know that Moranville also did A Higher Geometry, and her style reflects some Young Adult influence. 
What I really think: The cover is not appealing. There's not even that much about swimming in the book; Sofie's new tennis shoes would have been better. I enjoyed reading the story, but this would be easier to get into the hands of students with a more contemporary style of illustration. 

Dear Brother

McGhee, Alison. Dear Brother

August 8, 2023 by Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
 

Sister feels that she is America's Overlooked Sibling and that her parents favor her older brother over her, and she offers proof of this from the family photo album. They applaud his activities  but trivialize hers, don't care about her safety at the hands of her brother, and ignore her requests while fulfilling his. She would very much like a dog, so of course her parents decide to let her brother get a bearded dragon that she does not want instead. Nevermind that the apartment building in which they live doesn't allow dogs; the choice is clearly motivated by favoritism towards her brother. He also gets to go to music camp with his banjo, and Sister has to watch the stupid bearded dragon while he is gone. Doubly not fair! Of course, she lets her parents and brother know what an imposition this is. Frightful (whom she didn't even get to name!) requires a lot of care, and Sister grudgingly provides it. She even texts her brother pictures of his pet. Her friends Jorrinda and Kareem come over to play with the animal, which makes her jealous as well. There is a scary moment when a window is left open and Frightful gets a chill in the middle of the night, but Sister wakes up in time to save him. She slowly gets used to the pet and withdraws some of her complaints about favoritism. When her brother returns from camp, the two spend more time together and get along a little bit better. This is by the same author (but different illustrator) of Dear Sister, but I'm not entirely sure that the two are connected. 

Strengths: Sister's longing for a dog will resonate with readers who have similar desires, so fans of Lloyd's Allergic will understand Sister's large collection of stuffed dogs and her well developed arguments trying to convince her parents to get a dog. While she starts out in a very negative mood about her brother and the pet, there is some forward progress in dealing with her negative emotions, and by the end she is even making outfits for Frightful and she and her brother have a banjo bongo band. The facial expressions on the characters are particularly engaging, and the yellow color scheme makes this graphic novel feel upbeat. 
Weaknesses: Sister was very, very negative and rather entitled for most of the book. While I see this a lot at school with my students, it's not an attitude I enjoy very much. 
What I really think: Sister seems very young, so I will pass for middle school. I would probably purchase this for an elementary school, since the illustration style is attractive and the story is good. Perhaps we need a graphic novel about her brother's experience at banjo camp! 
 

Back of the Net

When the World Cup soccer games were being played, I had a lot of 6th grade boys who were enjoying the nonfiction books I had recently purchased about different soccer teams, but they read through them so quickly. I wanted something a little longer for them, and this series looked good. I bought them without reading them first, which I rarely do, but I don't regret it. 

These are somewhat similar to longer Jake Maddox books, or a bit like Fred Bowen, but they have a high interest/low lever twist: the boys are in high school. They drive cars and are scouted by colleges. Each story deals with a different problem that one of the boys on the team has, often trouble with anger management or a family difficulty. They are fairly exciting; several involve encounters with police, reckless behavior (that has serious consequences). I think the boys will like them; I've already checked out the first one to a boy who saw me reading it during testing. (Disclaimer: I scan the room at the end of every page. I pay attention. Testing is serious, serious business!)

They did amuse me, though, because they were sometimes SOOOOO dramatic. A tiny bit cheesy. But if they get my students reading because they feel a bit edgy, all to the good. Not surprisingly, my reviews on Goodreads were the only ones! 

Fabbri, Gary and Brown, Alan.  Back of the Net series

Published December 15th 2022 by Claw (Abdo)

Library Copies

Making the Grade (#1): Aiden loves to play soccer and is good at it, but his season is in jeopardy due to his inattentiveness in class and his poor performance. He thinks that his teacher is unreasonable, but his coach backs up the dictum that Aiden must improve his school work or he will be off the team. Things are a little rough at home; his single mother works long hours, and Aiden often has to care for his younger sister, but the mother does check his grades. The problem? Aiden has been breaking into her phone and deleting school messages, so she doesn't know how bad things are until there is a school meeting. Aiden finally agrees to tutoring with classmate Michelle, but will he be able to turn things around? 

Perfect (#2): Enzo feels a lot of pressure to do well at soccer. His father, who is Argentinian,  thinks that he should be fast and also make the winning goals, because "no one remembers the passer". This causes Enzo to be a less than helpful teammate as he showboats during the games. His coach calls him out, but he isn't able to stop himself. He spends a lot of time thinking about the proper diet and working out at the gym, and is pretty full of himself. When his hubris causes him to miss a goal and blow a game, he realizes that he doesn't really like soccer, he just likes winning. He runs away from home after a game, runs into a man smoking on a bench, and wallows in self pity for a while. When he returns home, his parents are glad to see him but obviously are concerned. In a surprise twist, it turns out that some of this pressure is due to the fact that Enzo wets the bed, and his father isn't happy with this, either. At the end of the book, Enzo is working with a school counselor on coping strategies and doing better. 

Stand Your Ground (#3): Jackson had some problems with Enzo in the second book of this series, and continues to be a hot head on the field. His teammates try to get him to back off, but he just can't. He even fights with Coach Williams and gets red cards from the refs. Soccer is his plan to be the first person in his family to go to college, but he worries that all the refs are such jerks and get in his way. His brother Elijah is helpful, and Jackson needs all the help he can get when the police show up at his house. He had blocked a player in the game, but broken his nose, and the referee's car had been vandalized. When Elijah goes with his to the school to check out the placement of the video camera so that Jackson's deeds can go unpunished, and the two decide to grab pizza. Unfortunately, the see the defender he injured from the other team, and the two end up scrapping. The police come again, and Jackson faces discipline at school. He still gets into fights, and after a particularly brutal one that ends in him being injured, he gets help from his new friend Giana to help control his anger by understand his body's fight or flight response. 

Get on Up (#4): Manny is a good soccer player, but he has been having a lot of pain in his hands. A football player has given him some tape and showed him how to wrap his hands, but it still hurts. He takes ibuprofen and acetominophen, but very carefully follows the dosages on the package; the instructions are even included in the book. Sometimes this helps, but it often does not. He tries to self diagnose through Google and thinks he may have arthritis. It makes it hard to play games, and even to concentrate on other things in life. When he passes out during a game, his mother thinks he must be dehydrated, but when he is in the hospital, he finally tells his parents about his arthritis fears. He gets tested, and the doctor confirms that Manny suffers from Lupus, an autoimmune condition. Angry that he can't play soccer, Manny goes out at night and kicks garbage cans, and runs from the police. They tackle him, he is injured, and this doesn't help. After questioning God and vandalizing his church, he eventually works with a doctor to adjust his medication and learns that if he is careful and manages his condition, he can continue to play his beloved sport. 

Size Me Up (#5): Ben is only 5'3", often a foot shorter than his competitors. He also has to deal with Mt. Pleasant High School bullies Anthon and Wayne, who like to stop Ben whenever he is trying to get somewhere and threaten to beat him up. Ben talks to Coach Williams about his chances to play college soccer, hoping it will get him away from the violence in his town. He works with Aiden and Michelle on his studies, and likes math because he can use it for soccer statistics. At one point, Ben stops Anton and Wayne from beating up a girl named Carly, but this doesn't stop the two. We know they are bad news from the ragged, sleeveless jackets they wear. At one point, the two try to knife Ben, but the chase along the streets of town ends in Anton's bloody death when he is hit by a car. Ben thinks he's safe, but Wayne shows up at his apartment building and beats him in the elevator, and Ben is saved by his stepdad, Will, who takes out Wayne with a baseball bat and holds him until the police arrive. Ben returns to the soccer field and dates Carly. 

Home Boy (#6): Kai has trouble focusing on the soccer field because there is a lot going on at home. And I mean a LOT. His parents argue a lot, but it's more than that. Kai has been in the middle of some of these arguments and has internalized a lot of his father's negative comments, so when he loses a game he plays of depressing music, like Beck's Loser, because apparently Kai is a 47 year old high school student who also listens to Queen, Chumbawumba, and Smash Mouth. Some of the parents' fights turn unintentionally violent; at one point, the father is pulling the mother but not hitting her. Kai gets in the middle and pushes the father away, which results in lots of broken glass and some blood. Kai is so upset that he drives his car really really fast on some back roads, hits and animal, and totals his car. Coach Williams takes him home because Kai refuses to talk to his parents. At Thanksgiving, the mother decides to tell the family that she has gotten a job 11 hours away, and I for one can't blame her. While things still aren't perfect, the father seems to be okay with the kids (Kai's sisters are older), and once the mother is out of the picture, things settle down. The Mt. Pleasant team does well at their last game, with the boys all playing well together and doing their best for the long suffering and very  understanding Coach Williams. 

Field of Screams

Parris, Wendy. Field of Screams
August 1, 2023 by Delacorte Press

E ARC provided by Netgalley

Rebecca and her mother decide to spend the summer in Iowa while her mother works on her PhD so she can earn more money teaching high school. Rebecca's father died when she was in kindergarten, and she still misses him. While she had wanted to connect with his family in Iowa years ago, she's not happy that her mother has picked this summer to do so, since she is missing summer camp with her best friend. Her Uncle Jon lives on the family farm, where he and her dad had spent summers with their grandparents. It was in the care of an uncle, and needs some work, so he and her Aunt Sylvie are glad to have Rebecca to help with her young cousin Justin, especially since Sylvie is heavily pregnant. Rebecca thinks the summer will be dull, but is very interested in ghosts and paranormal activity, and hopes that the old farmhouse will be haunted. She meets neighbor kids Nick and Kelsie; Nick is sweet and nice, but Kelsie is whiny and unpleasant, especially when her father starts chatting up Rebecca's mother. Kelsie's parents are divorced, and she would like to go spend time with her mother in California, hoping to get them back together. She also is jealous of the time that Nick spends with Rebecca. There is something odd in the house; there's a one eyed barn cat named Jade who seems to spook at everything, odd cold areas around the house, and swings that go back and forth for no clear reason. Of course, since everyone knows Rebecca's interest in ghosts, no one believes her. She has an even more intense experience at an abandoned house nearby, Meadow Winds Farm. This is owned by Kelsie's grandfather, and Rebecca is warned away, but she investigates the house. Between what she finds and sees there, and some family documents in the attic, she realizes that her father also had some paranormal experiences, and manages to track down the background of the most likely candidate for haunting. Will she be able to figure out what the ghost wants before another tragedy occurs?
Strengths: It's clear that Parris has spent some quality time in Iowa, and the descriptions are fantastic. I also know that the rundown house at Meadow Winds farm is completely realistic; my uncle owned a similar house, and my cousin and I got to go into it before it was torn down! Rebecca's interest in ghosts is shared by many of my readers, and her family's refusal to believe her will be familiar to them. The family dynamics add a lot to the story, and Rebecca's dislike of her mother dating is quite normal for a rising 7th grader, at least if you believe middle grade literature! The history is interesting as Rebecca uncovers it, and the ghost has solid reasons for hanging around. 
Weaknesses: This has a great cover, and I loved all the family history, but it was more spooky than scary. It would be perfect for elementary readers; my students are apparently weirdly blood thirsty! There are other books with the title Field of Screams, so I wish the title had been different. 

What I really think: This is a great choice for readers who like spooky stories like Shawl's Speculation or Urban's Almost There and Almost Not. 

We Still Belong

Day, Christine. We Still Belong
August 1, 2023 by Heartdrum

ARC provided by Follett First Look

Wesley Wilder lives with her mother, a hair stylist, her cat, Vader, and her aunt's family (including adorable 8 month olf cousin Zoe, in Everett, Washington. They all live with her grandfather, who is a retired postal worker and a member of the Upper Skagit community. The house is a little crowded, but everyone gets along well. Wesley plays the violin, loves computer games, and has written a poem for Indigenous People's Day that is running in the school newspaper. She's very excited about this, and hopes to raise awareness in her school. She's even gone to a meeting of the Native/Indiginous People's Union, only to find that the school has denied their application because they didn't have the required number of people. Wesley also has a huge crush on fellow gamer Ryan Thomas. The two have chatted a bit, and get along well, so Wesley is working up the courage to ask him to the school dance. Her friend Hanan encourages her, but also keeps her updated about what's going on with the dance invitations on social media. Things are a bit financially tough, and Wesley doesn't have a phone. Her father hasn't been in the picture, and a meeting with him a few years previously didn't end well. Her family is amazed that amount of money Gemma, a gaming streamer that Wesley likes to watch, is able to crowd source so much money to help students for Indigenous People's Day. Sadly, Wesley doesn't get a good reception for her poem at school; she had hoped that her teacher would have her read it out loud and give her extra credit, but he claims that it didn't meet his criteria for this. At the same time, she finds out that Ryan has accepted an invitation to the dance from another girl. Wesley tries to focus on the positive despite her disappointments, and she gets some good feedback on her poem, when she and her family attend a local powwow, and she connects with a teacher and another student, Skye Reynolds, who revive her interest in the Native/Indiginous People's Union. She also has some good moments with Ryan, and they clear up their misunderstandings and start a sweet romance. 

Strengths: This was a very well balanced book. We see just the right amount of Wesley's home life to support her school life. She likes gaming, but has other interests. She doesn't have social media, but her friend Hanan does. The school doesn't have a large Indigenous population, so is lacking in awareness, but isn't completely averse to learning more. Ryan is a great kid, and he and Wesley have a solid friendship as the basis for a romance of equals. He is crushing on her as much as she is crushing on him! There is even a great scene where Wesley is nice to a popular blonde girl who is crying in the bathroom, and the girl turns out to be struggling with her own issues and decently nice herself. As someone who is blonde and named Karen, I appreciate that this did not devolve into easy stereotypes. I really liked the messages of resilience and of Native joy. 
Weaknesses: I am very sorry that Wesley was often mistaken for another girl who looks similar to her and also plays the violin, but I don't think this is as racially focused as she might believe. I appreciate that Day brings this up, but is understanding. (One teacher is depicted as weary, with her glasses off, when she calls Wesley the wrong name.) This year, there are two white boys I cannot tell apart unless I really focus, because Boy A looks more like Boy B's older brother than Boy B does! I always apologize, and my standard process is to offer the students I mistake for others a pencil every time I do, which helps me be better at getting the names right. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoy Day's other titles, or who want books with some social activism, like Moore's A Good Kind of Trouble. 

Fantasy Round Up

Bennett, Jenn. Grumbones
August 1, 2023 by Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers 
Copy provided by Edelweiss Plus

Helena Novak lives in the misty seaside town of Forlorn, where her classmates are cruel and call her "Haunted Helena". Her father is a salvage diver, and her mother drives their tugboat, but her grandmother Babi has some dealings with the supernatural, which made her slightly suspect. She was Helena's favorite person, though, and since her death, Helena has been unhappy. She was sure she would be able to talk to her grandmother the way her grandmother talked to her late husband, who was killed fighting in Vietnam. Using a memento and a phrase, Morana was able to talk to her husband, but Helena hasn't had any luck. She's spent time with her friend Ben in the local cemetery, where Ms. Neja gives tours and runs a gift shop, but she still can't contact her grandmother. When some mementos are taken from Babi's grave site, Helena investigates and tries to get them back, but ends up traveling into Hereafter. Her grandmother is there, but off in the city, and there are various runmors about her dealings with the Rime Queen, who is terrorizing the place. There is danger at every turn, especially from ravenous Nightmares and vultures, but Helena and Ben are lucky enough to find a guide, Grumbones, who is willing to work for a good review. He helps them make their way across the city, gives them tips on fighting the various forces of evil, and sheds some light on Babi's background. Will Helena be able to finally speak to her much beloved Babi and return to Forlorn, or will she and Ben get stuck in the troubled underworld of Hereafter?
Strengths: Helena's desire to connect with her recently deceased Babi was a little bit like Yardley's in Grant's A Green Velvet Secret, but instead of being based in the real world, the story slips into a classic fantasy adventure. Babi's past is fascinating, and there are lots of secrets that Helena didn't know about her family. Grumbones is a great guide, and there's quite a twist about his identity that I don't want to ruin. This mix of elements made for a fresh, new type of story with unusual characters. 
Weaknesses: If there are so many ghosts in Forlorn, it didn't make a lot of sense for Helena's classmates to be as mean to her as they were, even if she did hang out a lot in the cemetery. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who like their fantasy books to have a darker feel to them, like Gale's The Wizard's Dog mixed with Snicket's All the Wrong Questions series with a little of Gordon and Williams' Tunnels thrown in. It definitely felt more like a fantasy adventure title than a spooky/horror title. 

Burgis, Stephanie. The Raven Throne (The Raven Heir #2)

August 8, 2023 by Bloomsbury Children's Books

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Cordelia and her family have moved from the wilderness to the castle after Cordelia magically mended the broken Raven Crown and she became queen in The Raven Heir. While Cordelia hopes to unify the kingdom and restore peace, not everyone in the land of Corvenne thinks this is a good idea. Life in a castle is an adjustment for the wild triplets; Giles still wants to be a bard and sings when no one can hear him, and he tries to dress and act the part of a royal. Rosalind, however, is tired of dealing with Lady Fauvre who is supposed to help her but is constantly sniping at her and making her feel bad. All she wants to do is train, wear clothes that she can move in, and keep Cordelia safe. When Cordelia twice falls under a magic spell that threatens her life, everyone is concerned. When two of the squabbling factions spill blood in the archive, a centuries old pact is dissolved, and Cordelia and her siblings, along with former nemesis Edmund, must travel to the Raven's Nest to make things right. Will they be able to appease the ancient spirit that has been slepping below the archives, identify the traitor who has caused problems, and continue to rule Corvenne?
Strengths: Young readers who want to defy authority and save the world will love Rosalind's spark and Cordelia's fearless determination to keep her kingdom peaceful. Giles was probably my favorite character, although Cordelia's mother made me happy as well. There are plenty of villains who get their comeuppance, and enough medieval adventure that fans of John Flanagan's The Ranger's Apprentice might want to pick this up. 
Weaknesses: Cordelia didn't shape shift as much in this; if she did, I blanked it out. That was one of the best parts of the first book, but maybe I missed a reason that she didn't shift anymore. I was not in the mood for a fantasy book, and struggle with them at the best of times, so I strongly suspect that this is a me problem and not a book problem. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who want a medieval action adventure fantasy but don't want a huge long book. I imagine that this will be a three book set, and I am curious to see what future volumes bring. Hand to fans of Sarah Beth Durst's work, Pierce's Alanna, The First Adventure, Oh's The Dragon Egg Princess, or Benko's Unicorn Quest series. 

Parker, Natalie C. The Nameless Witch (Devouring Wolf #2)

August 8, 2023 by Razorbill

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Riley Callahan is back after she and her friends came into their werewolf heritage in The Devouring Wolf. This time, her pack is trying to learn to work together, but Riley befriends Ter, a young witch who is on the run. She's not a bad witch; she even tells them NOT to give her their names, but she is next in line to become the Namelss Witch, which doesn't bode well for the wolves, since witches are fond of killing them and using their bones for magic. Riley feels sorry for Ter, so agrees to help, and does not tell her moms about finding her. Contacting the Free Witches in the area who might not be as determined to imprison Ter in this role doesn't go particularly well, and Riley worries that she and her pack won't be able to save Ter. They try to remove her magic through a group spell that goes wrong; they then have to involve the grownups to help them finish things ups. 

I really liked the first book in the series, and normally like the whole "all witches aren't entirely evil" trope (think John Delaney's delicious Tom and Alice back and forth in The Last Apprentice series), but I didn't care for this one as much-- maybe the children hiding things from parents but then having to go to them? When children hide things, they usually solve them successfully on their own, at least in books! I do think my readers will like this one; middle school students like fantasy novels because they think magic might still be possible, and the idea that they themselves could possibly be werewolves or witches will have some appeal. 

Chadda, Sarwat. The Fury of the Dragon Goddess (Adventures of Sik Aziz #2)
August 1, 2023 by Disney Hyperion
E ARC provided by Netgalley

Sequel to City of the Plague God. I was hoping that the first book would not be in a series. This was fine, and I enjoyed the Gilgamesh connection to Mesopotamian mythology. Lots of action, and Sik was a great character.

Again, I'd love to see some of these culturally connected fantasies that aren't quite this long. I have a lot of readers would would pick up fantasy books if they didn't have to read quite so much to get the whole story.

Professional Development-- 100 Great New Books

Once or twice a year for the last dozen years, I've put together a presenation of 100 Great New Books for my district's professional development. Each one includes all new books, and the slides are accompanied by my rapid fire delivery. These cover bullet points, but most titles are linked to my reviews if you want more information. 

It's a good time. Let me know if you have any questions! I do have another presentation for November.

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/16ASjarbpebMynTuVhHwb7z9wuTn2wZ5pNMjCzd09E6s/edit?usp=sharing

Please let me know in the comments if the link doesn't work! 

MMGM- Gallowgate

It's

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
 at 

Always in the Middle 

and #IMWAYR day 

at 

Unleashing Readers

Alexander, K.R. Gallowgate 
August 1, 2023 by Scholastic Press
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Sebastian Wight has always seen ghosts, at least ever since both of his parents were shot dead in front of him. His memories of that are vague, and his Aunt Dahlia has taken good care of him, so he doesn't want to tell her about his alarming abilities. It's hard enough to have people at school look at him strangely, with his hair white from shock and his habit of behaving oddly while seeing ghosts. Lately, it's gotten worse, and he sees a figure in a porcelain mask following him around. His new friend, Aaron, becomes possessed by a demon in the school cafeteria. When the evil spirits get too close to the house and let Sebastian know that he is marked for death, Aunt Dahlia finally notices. She's not surprised; she has powers of her own. She isn't happy that the wards she put on the house were violated, and decides to send Sebastian to the Gallowgate school for his own protection. Willow, a ghost, transports him to the school, but not onto the grounds, and the figure in the porcelain mask gives chase once again. Sebastian barely makes it through the school's iron gate because he looks over his shoulder while he is being chased! Once in the school, he is matched with a roommate, Harold Watts, who was raised at the school. Since students are supposed to be 13, Madame Ardea, the headmistress, is reluctant to allow Sebastian to take classes, but Harold says he doesn't mind. The classes include the four pillars of summoning, conjuring, alchemy and necromancy, and the students learn how to vanquish ghosts. All of the students have some trauma in their background; the only way to continue seeing the ghosts after the age of thirteen is to have seen a violent death. Some students, like Andromeda, have this ability because their parents purposefully let them see one. All of the students dress in "post apocalyptic chic" that consists of a lot of Goth and Steampunk clothing; much black, cowls with raven feathers, belts, and buckles. Sebastian is glad for once that he won't be the odd one out, but even at a school where people share his powers, he has trouble fitting in. He does find out that he can't bring his parents back to life since they have been dead too long and will have been damaged by the experience, but he does find out secrets about their past, like the fact that his mother was a teacher there. 

When Bastian starts his training, he finds that he has some powers he is not supposed to have, and the shadowman seems to have infiltrated the school even with all the wards that have been put up. Madame Ardea is constantly telling Bastian that he is imagining things, and dismisses all of his concerns, even though he knows he is experiencing odd things. When he hears his father's voice and finds a ghost named Virgil who offers to teach him the fifth pillar that Gallowgate is now suppressing, Descending, Bastian starts his training and tries to make sense of everything. His skills sometimes serve him well, as when he defeats the Snowbeast in the annual school games, but seem less than helpful when his Aunt Dahlia shows up at the school injured, in what was clearly an attack by the shadowman. Will Sebastian be able to learn the skills necessary to keep ghosts from hurting him, and will he be able to finally make some friends?

Jonathan Stroud's 2013 Lockwood and Co. series has been super popular in my library due to the Netflix series and my continued love of it, and Gallowgate is an awesome ghost hunting school in the style of The Author Who Shall Not Be Named. This is very similar to Black and Clare's Magisterium series in that it has a school, special food and celebrations (Halloween is a big deal here!), and family secrets that have led Bastian to be called to the school. Not only is this a ghost hunting academy story, but it's heavy on the whole Goth aesthetic AND has Alexander's trademark terrifying spirits. That student who thinks it is a good idea to wear a nose ring, black leather jacket, and ripped fishnets to school with black boots with chains? They'll love this one. Sebastian always feels like the odd man out, which will also appeal to readers. 

I'm not personally a fan of horror, and the idea of going to a sort of horror school doesn't appeal to me as much as fighting ghosts for Lockwood and Co. did; I like the idea of suffering with an ability but being glad I can help the world. There was a little too much reveling in the dark side of things for my personal taste, which makes this perfect for the target demographic. Bastian's secrets about why he has the terrifying abilities make sense, and since this ends with summer break from school, I would not be at all surprised to see a sequel. 

If you love horror but have not read any of Alexander's books, you need to do that right now. My favorites are Darkroom, Escape, and Vacancy. I'm not as big a fan of The Fear Zone or anything with creepy dolls, but my students will read anything Alexander writes. Unless they have a doll phobia. I always ask about that! Gallowgate is a new direction for Alexander, who also writes Young Adult fantasy under the name A.R. Kahler, including The Runebinder Chronicles and Immortal Circus. 

Admittedly, the following book has NO thematic ties to Gallowgate. I don't know about you, but it took every ounce of will power I had not to fall into a Barbie rabbit hole when the new movie came out. I've always been weirdly enthralled with Barbie, but didn't want my daughters to play with her. They were never really interested, although they had a few. For me, not surprisingly, it was always about the CLOTHES. Sixty plus years from her debut, the fashion history she embodies is fantastic. Imagine how much I loved THIS book-- by a woman who started designing clothes for Barbie in 1961!

Spencer, Carol. Dressing Barbie: A Celebration of the Clothes That Made America's Favorite Doll and the Incredible Woman Behind Them

March 19, 2019 by Harper Design

Ohio Digital Library Copy

Many thanks to Becky's Book Reviews for bringing this to my attention!

Ah, the 1950s. Women were going out into the work force more, and there were all manner of opportunities. My mother, for example, wanted to go to a program in Pittsburgh that would have taught her computer skills, but her brothers (who were paying her tuition after her father's death) told her that she could be a teacher or a secretary. She chose teaching. Young Carol Spencer took a gamble and applied to a position that she suspected might have something to do with Barbie. After designing some children's clothing, she got the job, and started on an absolutely illustrious career making Barbie... Barbie. This is a feminist tale at heart, and such a wonderful snapshot of midcentury opportunies for women. I've always been conflicted about Barbie, but now I do think that at the time, she was definitely aspirational for many girls. It's hard to describe to modern people how important clothing was at this time. Clothing spoke volumes about you before you ever said a word. Class. Education. Socioeconomic position. But the thing was that you could make people think you were wealthier, more educated, and of a higher social position if you dressed the "right" way. If you were a talented seamstress, you could do this on the cheap. All of this mattered. 

To see Spencer's career alongside the evolution of Barbie was fascinating. I was never allowed to buy Barbie outfits; they were too expensive. I had one or two store bought ones that were birthday or Christmas gifts, but most of them were made by my mother (Below. My Barbie was well dressed!)I did, however, practically memorize the booklets that came with the dolls and/or outfits, so when Spencer mentions outfits, I definitely remember them! I started designing for Barbie myself when I was four, and spent an inordinate amount of time in high school (high school!) making tiny Barbie clothes, ostensibly for a display at the fabric store where I worked. 

Definitely buying this for my school library, because the two or three books on Barbie that I have get checked out all the time. In fact, I think this is a good opportunity to stock up on Barbie titles! Any suggestions? 

 

The Year My Life Went Down the Toilet

Arlow, Jake Maia. The Year My Life Went Down the Toilet
August 1, 2023 by Dial/Penguin

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Al has a lot of stomach troubles; she's in constant pain, and she often has uncontrollable urges to poop. But what 7th grader wants to spend all of her time thinking about pooping, or talking to her mother about it? She claims she's fine, but it's gotten bad enough that her mother has made a doctor's appointment for her, and even her close friend and neighbor Leo has noticed and is asking if she's okay. The doctor runs tests, including an unpleasant colonoscopy, and determines that Al has Crohn's disease. Medication is prescribed, and Al wants to move on. She doesn't even really want to go to the Irritable Bowel Syndrome support group, but when Leo is busy with the school play, she decides to go. There are just a few people; Mina, who is very friendly and has a colostomy bag, Ethan, who has Crohn's, Carl, who has ulcerative colitis, and Rikako, whose pronouns are they/she, is involved in the play, and has Crohn's as well. Al is reluctant to talk at first, but finds some comfort in being with a group of people who understand her need to visit the bathroom. While things are getting on a more even keep with her health, Al is hit with something else; her mother and Leo's mother are not just best friends, they are dating. Will people think that Al is copying her mother, if she tells people that she herself is a lesbian? Al has spent a lot of time on a private TikTok account so she can find out more about people who share her interests, but she doesn't have much real life experience, and is reluctant to tell others about things like her stomach issues or sexual identity, with which she isn't comfortable. The first person who finds out is Mina, because she "like likes" Al, and the two are soon going out. Mina is a very open person, and she eventually gets angry at Al for not being similarly open, espescially with herself.  It turns out that all of the other members of "the bathroom club" all identify as different types of queer, and by the end of the book, Leo is also out. Will Al be able to come to terms with her own life and get her mother to quit treating her like a baby? 

Strengths: I would like to see a lot more middle grade books where the main characters struggle with a variety of health issues, but also have other interests, like Gerber's Focused. I have had students with severe allergies, hearing loss, diabetes, and even the lack of a leg since birth, and those are just a few of the ones that I know about! Al's embarrassment at her condition will strike a cord with most middle grade students, and it's good to see that the support group helps her. Readers who are looking for LGBTQIA+ representation will find a wealth of characters here. 
Weaknesses: The group watches The Breakfast Club, and because it's an "old" movie, it's described as grainy. I don't think I've seen any movies that look grainy since HD television came out in 2007 and reception no longer counted on an antenna! I wasn't a huge fan of Al's unsupervised TikTok usage; if her mother was so concerned about her, why was she able to spend so much time on screens?
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed Luckoff's Different Kinds of Fruit or Sass and Melleby's Camp Quiltbag, or who want to raise awareness about digestive health issues. 

Cartoon Saturday-Into the Ring

Mided, Stephanie. Club Kick Out! Into the Ring
September 5, 2023 by HarperAlley

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
 

In this graphic novel, Sasha is a big fan of the video game Pom-Pom McPunch, and she's in a gaming club at Custard Creek Middle School. She's excited to enter 7th grader, since 6th graders weren't allowed ot hold offices, and she would like to be president. She's in the club with her good friends Sage, Noah, and Declan. Sage is apprehensive about the year because her father, who was a football star and motivational writer, is going to be the new principal. Sasha's brother Riley is also going into 7th grade, but is a deeply unpleasant character and wants to run against her for the presidential position. When school starts, things don't go well. The gaming club, along with all of the other clubs that aren't sports related, have been canceled by the principal and school board, and all of the funding they would have had will be funneled into teams and a new sports facility. Not only that, but Declan is being horrible about everything and is no longer friends with the group. When Sasha's friend Clover gets tickets to pro wrestling, it's a welcome diversion at first, but the group soon realizes that it might be their answer for an alternative to a club. It's sports related, but also incorporates elements of theater, costume, and story telling. They put together a proposal that the principal considers, but they still need a faculty advisor. Their language arts teacher, Mr. Park, seems like a good candidate, but he's busy with cooking lessons, since he had been the home ec teacher before the cuts. Eventually, they approach the school nurse, since Sasha is always in her office because she's clumsy, but she refuses. The kids eventually find out that this is because she performs in local pro wrestling meets and doesn't want anyone to know. She eventually agrees, and Sasha and her friends come up with all sorts of plans for the group. Sasha has become a cheerleader, and it is hard for the two to remain friends. Some of them are a little misguided, and get them into trouble, like staging a fight in the cafeteria to drum up support and get new members for the club. Since they hadn't asked permission, and a bit of a food fight ensued, this doesn't help their case. Eventually, they get the backing of the cheerleaders and the football team, and plan a big show at half time. Will this be enough to stand the group in good stead with the administration and have access to funding? Will the clubs ever be able to return?

N.B. Graphic novels are a challenge for me; I can't high light things in my e copy, and even when I take notes, I often forget characters' names. 

Strengths: The cool kids are now the uncool kids; this is completely on trend with the new middle grade insistence that all of the artistic types who previously were on the fringes of school society are now the main characters of books, fighting the injustice brought about by the evil sports teams. This makes sense, since the people who write books are often ones who felt marginalized when they were young. Sasha's love of gaming is something that many young readers will appreciate, and they will cheer for Sasha as she fights The Man to regain her club. This also has a nonbinary charater, Clover, who uses they/them pronouns, and one of the characters (Artemis, who likes vampires and dresses like a Goth) has two mothers. This is full of humor, has some friend drama, and shows dedicated students trying to fight for what they believe in. My favorite characters were Sasha's parents, who run a local cheese shop (this is set in Wisconsin) called Cheese Louise!
Weaknesses: While sports generally get more support than other sorts of activities, I'm not sure that school boards and principals can often take it upon themselves to pull funding from nonsports groups and reallocate it. It could happen, I suppose, but doesn't seem all that realistic. It makes for a good story, thought, like Herbach's Fat Boy vs. the Cheerleaders, but that book seemed a bit more likely. 
What I really think: I'm not sure how many middle grader readers will be interested in pro wrestling, but this will appeal to the Post Covid middle graders who are always anxious, feel everyone is out to get them, and believe completely that the things they like to do are hated by everyone else. I'm struggling to understand these students, but this is completely on trend with what I have seen at school and in middle grade stories like Capp's Indigo and Ida, Badua's The Takeout, or Davault's Misfit Mansion. In the 1990s and early 2000s, everyone wanted to be popular. Now, characters seem to hate popular people and feel that they wish them ill. No judgement, just an observation on how perceptions change. 

Guy Friday- The Spin

Stroman, Marcus. The Spin (#2)

September 26, 2023 by Aladdin

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Young Marcus dealt with family issues and anxiety in The Grip, and continues on in this new book as the school year progresses. Basketball season is just starting, and Marcus feels that no one takes his interest in basketball seriously, since his father is convinced that he will be a famous baseball player. Coach Fuller believes in him, and he also meets with a mental health coach who helps him cope with his anxiety about sports and life with various mental exercises, as well as understanding his reactions. School work is important to both of his parents, who are divorced, but sometimes it is hard to get everything done as he attends practices and has to go between households. He still practices baseball with his father every morning. He has a new project at school, and his class is learning how to consume news and read articles critically. After Mrs. Tyler puts them through their paces in regards to assessing articles, the class learns that they are going to write a newspaper. There is already a school newspaper, that is printed and given away in the cafeteria, but the students don't always read the articles, except for the interviews with students. Their teacher talks about what their purpose should be, and soon the class is working hard at reporting. Marcus is very careful to make sure he includes the facts, but he feels that an article about his performance in the latest basketball game is unfair. Melanie knows basketball (her father is a coach with a professional team), but he feels that he was quoted out of context, and that she, too, feels he is only good at baseball. It doesn't help that his friend Robbie made an error with the online posting, and comments are enabled. Students say many unkind things about him before the teacher has them disable the comments. The class manages to discuss whether this article was factual and fair, and they do come to some agreements about how news should be reported. Marcus works through his feelings about basketball and baseball with his mental health coach, and is able to talk to his parents about his feelings. A family camping trip with his mom and Sabia helps him clear his mind and focus on his feelings as well. 

Strengths: Marcus' concerns with mental health are definitely on trend, and readers who have used the "five senses" focusing technique will find it interesting to see this reflected in a book. I enjoyed the family dynamic, and the description of Marcus and Sabia's schedule going between houses. There are enough basketball and baseball details to keep sports enthusiasts turning the pages. Marcus has some good friends, and is willing to discuss his feelings and how they affect his playing as well as his school work. 
Weaknesses: There's a lot more discussion of media literacy and mental health than basketball, and this slows the story down. It felt like the same issues were rehashed several times. 
What I really think: Basketball books circulate a lot more than baseball books in my library, so if I can get basketball fans to pick up The Grip, I'll purchase this second volume in August. It's a good choice for readers who enjoyed Derek Jeter's The Contract series or the Barbers' The Kickoff. 

The Spaces In Between (Exit 13 #2)

Preller, James and Keele, Kevin (illus.). The Spaces In Between (Exit 13 #2)

Expected publication August 1, 2023 by Scholastic

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Ash and Willow's family found themselves stuck in The Exit 13 motel in The Whispering Pines.  Their father is determined to escape, but drives off in the family car only to return immediately to the family, but in his world has just spents days driving around. The mother wants them to just enjoy being together. Other visitors, like Justice, managed to escape, and the family is able to go into town, but no further. Willow has been helping Kristoff, the dark and dramatic desk clerk whose mother has not been seen, with the housekeeping around the motel when a group of UFO enthusiasts checks in. Ash has tried to get information from Mr. Do, the enigmatic gardener, and has managed to find a book about liminal spaces. Ash still hears whispers calling him, and finds the woods especially creepy. Daisy, the family dog, is injured out in the woods, and the family does have to consult a vet. Willow is dealing with a creepy man who seems to be hiding something, and gets mysterious texts warning her about him from "AF". Kristoff goes missing. The UFO group is a lot of fun, and they even try to help the kids investigate the odd things going on, since they are more than willing to believe in supernatural phenomena, but no one is able to make any inroads into what is going on. Ash and Willow aren't checking out any time soon, but will they be able to leave in book three? (No title or publication date available at this time. 

Strengths: See? It's possible to have a scary adventure without killing the parents. I maintain that it actually heightens the tension to have them involved. For example, Willow is trying to occupy herself and be useful, but her parents don't want her to be near him because he's just a bit older. She and her brother, who get along fairly well and like each other, have to hide their activities from the parents, which is much more realistic. There's a big secret driving all of the mysteries, but we don't know what it is yet. We are just dealing with the ramifications of it. The UFO group was a good touch; helpful, believing, but ultimately, on their way back to the real world. (With a rescue dog and everything!)
Weaknesses: I loved the first book in the series, but this wasn't quite as good; not an uncommon occurrence in series. Mr. Do was an odd character. At one point, he quotes Eliot's The Wasteland, which will be lost on most middle grade readers. 
What I really think: I'm still looking forward to the next installation to see what is going on. I'd definitely order additional copies of these if I were hosting a Scholastic book fair, since they are just the right amount of creepy. The mix of text and a few comic style panels in each chapter are something I think will catch on.