MMGM- All the Nonfiction!

It's Marvelous Middle Grade Monday at Ramblings of a Wannabe Scribe and What Are You Reading? day at Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers. It's also Nonfiction Monday.

McCarthy, Tom. Pirates and Shipwrecks.
October 11th 2016 by Nomad Press
Copy provided by the publisher

This 120 volume includes five stories: the escape of Daniel Collins; Captain Franklin's 1845 Arctic expedition; Mary Reed, a female pirate; the Wild Men of Andamans; and Barbarossa. Each story starts with a map of where it took place, and ends with a historic overview of what else was going on in the world at the time. The end of the book has a nice glossary for a variety of words students might not know. The stated Guided Reading Level on this is V, which apparently correlates to a 5-6th grade level .


McCarthy, Tom. Survival
October 11th 2016 by Nomad Press
Copy provided by the publisher

Using the same format as the book above, this volume covers the Shackleton Expedition; Captain Bligh and the Bounty; a man lost in Death Valley in the 1800s; the shipwreck survival of Charlotte Picard;
and the Donner Party. 

In both of these books, there is enough background to understand why the circumstances were dire, and enough detail to make the tales of survival compelling. McCarthy has a nice, simple narrative form, but there are not many illustrations. 

These are available in both hard cover and paperbound editions through Baker and Taylor. I'm a little torn about these. On the one hand, they are good tales of survival, but there is something about the presentation and language that make the books seem like they come from a boxed set of books used in reading intervention classes, yet the Lexile levels are awfully high for struggling readers (I frequently see 6th graders who are reading at a 2nd or 3rd grade level; they would struggle with both the length and complexity of these books). Nomad Press specifically publishes books with curricular tie-ins, and even has teaching guides for some of their books, although not for these at the time of review. 

These stories would be interesting to use in a survival unit in language arts or history classes but might struggle to find readers who pick them up for pleasure reading since they are too difficult for struggling readers but a bit bland for more advanced readers. 

Ghigna, Charles. Strange, Unusual, Gross & Cool Animals
October 11th 2016 by Animal Planet
Copy provided by publisher

This larger format, full color book gives brief snippets of information about a large variety of unusual animals. At the beginning, there is a page that discusses how the book is laid out, which is helpful. Some pages have multiple animals, there are a few "featured creatures" to which more space is devoted, and there are some "macroviews" which show more details. The index is also helpful; many books of this type lack them. Readers who are interested in biology, or who just want to show gross pictures to their classmates, will find this an engaging book. I do have my doubts about the survival of this book in a library setting-- the large size and paper-over-board covers give this an approximate life span of one year. This would be great as a gift for an individual.

Yasuda, Anita and Crosier, Mike. Explore Greek Myths!: With 26 Great Projects
October 11th 2016 by Nomad Press
Copy provided by publisher

This book packs in a lot of information about Ancient Greek history, mythology, and a variety of related information. Interspersed with this are ideas and instructions for projects relating to the topics, ranging from a Greek gods memory game to an experiment with pulleys. There are plentiful sidebars with vocabulary words, and even short jokes, indicated by a picture of a Cyclops. Project pages have red borders to set them apart. The book includes a glossary, index, and bibliography of both books and web sites. I was impressed that the oldest book in the bibliography was from 1992, and was D'Aulaire's Greek Myths, which is an essential work. I would have been more impressed, perhaps, if Edith Hamilton had also been cited!

Jam packed with information and ideas, this would be a good resource to use with students who are studying Ancient Greece, although the very busy format might be harder for students to use by themselves.

Mooney, Carla and Casteel, Tom. The U.S. Constitution: Discover How Democracy Works with 25 Projects.
September 13th 2016 by Nomad Press

Divided into six chapters, this book is primarily concerned with the genesis of the constitution, a description of how it works, and includes a chapter on the important documents of other countries. The projects that accompany the extension information are geared more toward upper middle school, and while some crafts like calligraphy are involved, most of them are activities involving thinking and writing. This pages are helpfully set apart by a border similar to the red and blue on the cover. Each topic is accompanied by "Words to Know", "Did You Know" and "Essential question" features, and is illustrated with cartoons rather than photographs or copies of paintings. 

The extensive information makes this a good supplement to a text, or an introduction to the Constitution and the other topics tangential to it (like democracy, US history, etc.). I can see history teachers using some of the activities as writing prompts, but I don't know that our 8th grade curriculum covers this in such depth that this many activities would be needed. Home schoolers might find this to be a helpful resource for a course of study that could spend more time on this topic. 

Rebellion of Thieves

Magoon, Kekla. Rebellion of Thieves
October 18th 2016 by Bloomsbury USA Childrens
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline 

While barely surviving in Shadows of Sherwood, Robyn Loxley is back in full force, stealing from the government for the disadvantaged people in her district. She would also like to get her mother out of jail, and thinks that entering the Iron Teen competition is a surefire way to get into the government facility where her mother is being held. The problem is that the sheriff is still hot on her trail, and her image is being disseminated so widely that even a taxi driver recognizes her. Her friends think it is a bad idea to enter the Iron Teen competition, because the fine print that Robyn didn't read indicates that contestants can be conscripted into the military police for any reason. The sheriff is a little apprehensive about Robyn, who has entered as Roberta Calzone with a fake Tag, and is sure that she is the outlaw Robyn but can't prove it because Robyn has cut off her mystical braid. Against all odds, Robyn makes it into the competition, continues to elude authorities, and manages to get close enough to free her mother. Things are still bad in the dystopia that is Sherwood, and another book is certainly in the offing. 
Strengths: The twist on the Robin Hood legend is great fun, and teens struggling to overthrow a dystopian government will always find readers. It's good to see a fantasy that includes a more diverse character AND pictures her on the cover.
Weaknesses: The moon lore, and the prophecy of having to find members that reflect different elements once again seemed odd. I also had a LOT of trouble believing that the sheriff didn't recognize Robyn. Robyn's attachment to her braid got tiresome, but I was relieved when she cut it off when she clearly needed to. 
What I really think: Perfectly fine book, but the first one hasn't circulated as well as I hoped. Pirates, Robin Hood, and fairy tale retellings are hit or miss in my library. May wait a bit to buy this sequel. 

Mighty Jack and The Great Shelby Holmes

Hatke, Ben. Mighty Jack. 
September 6th 2016 by First Second
Public library copy

Jack's family is struggling financially, so jack is frequently in charge of watching his sister, Maddy, who is on the autism spectrum and doesn't talk. While at a flea market with their mother, the children come across a creepy vendor who talks them into trading their mother's car for a box of seeds. When Maddy says he should, Jack is so shocked that he does, even though he gets in big trouble. The two plant the seeds, which sprout into a fantastical garden. With the help of new friend, Lilly, they tend the garden. Maddy gets hurt, so Jack rips everything out, only to find that Lilly has started a garden of her own, so their adventures can continue. 
Strengths: This is a good example of a better graphic novel-- neither part of a churned out series or patently weird, like the Glorkian Warrior books. Good story, decent illustrations, and 10-12 point font. This would have been my Cybils nomination if Charlotte hadn't beaten me to it!
Weaknesses: Has that typical graphic novel smell, which I dislike intensely. At $20 for a hardcover, this is a big investment into a book that will last three years, tops. (Remember, I have a few books from 1969 that are still holding together. Are they read much? No. So I guess it's worth it.)
What I really think: It's not that I don't like graphic novels-- they just irritate me. They smell, they are expensive, they are constantly falling apart. Add those things to the fact that children tend to check them out and return them two periods later... I just doubt that my particular students actually read the words. Still, I'll buy this one, since it is vastly better than many titles. 

Eulberg, Elizabeth. The Great Shelby Holmes
September 6th 2016 by Bloomsbury USA Childrens
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline

When Watson's mother, a doctor, gets out of the military and divorces his father, she takes a position in New York City. THe two move into a brownstone, where he meets Shelby, a girl his age who has unusual powers of deduction. Her family indulges her desire to solve neighborhood mysteries, and soon Watson is dragged into one with her. Neighborhood dogs are going missing before a big dog show, but Shelby has the skills to get them back. 
Strengths: I very much enjoyed the NYC setting of this book, and Watson was a fabulous character. 
Weaknesses: There is nothing really fresh about this book. There are so many middle grade mysteries about stolen pets, and the reworking of Sherlock Holmes-type characters is definitely getting old.
What I really think: My students are craving more murder mysteries than kidnapped pet ones, so I may skip this one.  

Have to say that the US cover is FAR better than the UK one!

Guy Friday- Skateboards and Bicyles

Berend, Janet Eoff. True Vert
October 11th 2016 by Breakaway Books
E ARC provided by the author

After being badly injured in Vertical, Josh is back and eager to return to skateboarding. He is especially interested in the Alpha Dog Skate Kru competition, since the winner gets to train at the ADSK facility. Even though the competition is tough, and his skateboard is stolen, he does well. He signs a contract with the owner, Dirk, but also with his parents. His deal with them? He has to keep up with his high school classes and always wear his helmet. After that, Josh lives the skater life that can only be dreamed about-- limitless ADSK clothes and gear, contact with great skateboarders, and cool facilities. When Dirk wants him to try out a mega ramp that has him going fifty feet in the air, Josh feels confident that he can do it... until he can't. Having lied to his parents, he hides the details of his second traumatic brain injury from them, and even after suffering from headaches, he is considering riding the mega ramp again. Josh loves to skate, but what price is he willing to pay?

The best part about this book is that it speaks to a fantasy world of skateboarding that few people ever experience. Josh gets cool gear, he's restyled and featured in a skating magazine, he is shown on t.v. He has excellent skateboarding skills and is taught by legends in the field. Top that off with the attention of his friend Erin, a soccer player who bakes oatmeal cookies, and you have a book that readers can insert themselves into and spend days fantasizing about a similar lifestyle. Add the ability to borrow Dirk's car instead of riding the bus, and True Vert is a book that all of my readers who skateboard, and some who don't, will be avid to read. 

There are plenty of touches that bring this back to earth without making the story sad. Josh struggles in school and needs a tutor. For a long time, he does have a lengthy bus ride to the training facility. Things don't always go smoothly with Erin, and his friends feel abandoned because of all the time he spends training away from them. 

Traumatic brain injuries are in the news a lot, and for good reasons. They can be devastating, and since Josh has already suffered one such event, he needs to be even more careful. The fact that he has to make a choice between the ADSK lifestyle and possible further injury adds a real element of struggle to this story, and we get to see how mature Josh can be when he ponders his options.

It's very difficult to find books about skateboarding, much less books of this quality. Berend clearly is very familiar with the terminology, lifestyle and logistics of skateboarding, and this brings an immediacy and vibrancy to the story. It also sets True Vert apart from the few other skateboarding books such as the Matt Christopher or Orca book titles in that True Vert is more literary and has a much better understanding of how it feels to be a skater. 

McDonough, Yona Zeldis. The Bicycle Spy
September 27th 2016 by Scholastic Press
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline

Marcel's parents run a bakery, so it's not unusual for them to ask him to deliver bread. He loves to ride his bike, and is a big fan of the Tour de France, so he often imagines that he is riding in it while on his errands. Because it is 1942 and the Nazis have invaded France, there has been no race, and there are lots of shortages and rationing. His mother is able to bake pan d'epice (gingerbread) for him to give to German guards when he is out delivering, and he soon finds out why-- his parents are members of the Resistance, and he is delivering messages for them! At school, he makes a friend in new student Delphine, who is also a fan of the Tour de France, and the two spend a lot of time together, playing cards, studying, and riding bikes. When Delphine confides in Marcel that she is Jewish and her family has been trying to escape the Nazis, he takes her very seriously. Eventually, a mean classmate finds out, and her family is on the run again. Marcel's parents have connections that could help the family get to Spain, and Marcel's skills as a bicycle spy might be the only thing standing between his friend and her family's demise.
Strengths: This was a well-constructed and engaging middle grade novel about a topic which still fascinates readers. Marcel's involvement was realistically portrayed, and exciting to read. Tying in his interest to professional bike racing was inspired. Good length, attractive cover, and a great friendship between Marcel and Delphine make this a historical fiction title that will be easy to get children to read.
Weaknesses: There were a couple of uses of "mom" and "kid" that seemed out of place, although I know the words were in use then. Small quibble. 
What I really think: Our 8th grade studies the Holocaust, and this will be a fantastic book to add to my collection for those classes. It also reads well on its own because of the adventure and the interest in bike riding.

When I was in London in July, I was able to visit the Imperial War Museum's 1940s House exhibit. There was also a "living history" interpreter; a man who had been living in Birmingham during the Blitz. I had quite a lengthy conversation with him about his experiences as a young child during that time. Two things struck me particularly-- he mentioned how integral bicycles were to his experience, and how boys at that time thought nothing of biking 10-20 miles at a time. His favorite ice cream, he said, was 5k away in another town, so he would bike there, eat ice cream, and then bike home! 

Late in the conversation, he pulled an out of focus photograph out of a pile and handed it to me, saying that it was his favorite picture from the war. It was his French teacher, nodding off at the front of the room. The gentleman had a camera in his desk and had snapped it surreptitiously. His teacher was too old to go and fight, but was a member of the Home Guard. Because of the bombings, he would often be out all night, helping people in shelters, and then have to report to teach the next day. This man remembered his teacher fondly after more than 70 years. How wonderful is that?

101 Books to Read Before You Grow Up

Schulze, Bianca. 101 Books to Read Before You Grow Up.
October 10th 2016 by Walter Foster Jr
Copy provided by the publisher


In this brightly colored book, heavily illustrated by Shaw Nielsen, 101 classic and newer books are highlighted. Each book has basic information about suggested age range for readers, genre, publisher, publication date and page count, a fun "Did you know" fact about the book or author, a brief description of the plot, as well as some read alike recommendations. At the bottom of the page there is a space for the reader to rate the book and enter some brief notes. 

Any list of "must read" books (including the famous SLJ one) will have some contentious titles, which will differ from reader to reader. This is a solid list, which covers a variety of standard recommended titles, with a few wild cards (the author is Australian) thrown in. 

This would be a perfect gift for the young bookworm in your life, and would also make future gift giving easy if one copied the table of contents and provided the books included for birthdays and holidays. It also is a handy desk reference for teachers who want to have descriptions of books available to share with students. 

My only real objection is that the suggested ages seem more in line with what I would expect of very gifted readers rather than the general population.  Also, it would have been nice to include the original book covers or an interior illustration, but there are no doubt copyright issues with including those. 

Mystery Thursday- Creepy Flowers

Warning: This is NOT a creepy book. The cover makes it look like it should be. It should be. It has a creepy cover. It has all the elements of a story that could turn creepy on a dime. And yet, the talking doll NEVER KILLS ANYONE. I expected this to be like The Time of the Fireflies. 

If I knew the talking doll wasn't going to kill anyone, I could have enjoyed this as a Rumer Godden style book with a fantastic dollhouse. As it was, I was on edge every time something new happened. 



O'Reilly, Jane. The Secret of Goldenrod.
October 1st 2016 by Carolrhoda Books

E ARC from Netgalley.com

Citrine (formerly Trina) moves to an abandoned house so that her father can refurbish it. Everyone in town is deeply apprehensive about the house, and at school the children give Citrine such a hard time that she doesn't want to return. Her father lets her stay at home and help with the refurbishment, probably in part because he feels guilty that Citrine's mother left the family and hasn't been in contact with them in years. She finds the secret entrance to the turret room where a beautiful dollhouse is. The house has one doll in it-- and the doll talks to Citrine. The two decide that the doll's name should be Augustine, and they have a fair amount of fun together. In the meantime, townspeople keep returning items that had been stolen from the house in the past, hoping that by returning them, their bad luck will end. Citrine finds out about the original family, the Roys, and discovers that Augustine's owner, Annie, died of diptheria, which drove her grieving mother over the edge. The father moves to the carriage house (on which the dollhouse is based), which eventually burns down. Even so, none of the family comes back to murder Citrine and her father in their sleep. When the townspeople decide to give Citrine the money that was collected when kids dared each other to spend the night in town, Citrine decides to use the money to recreate the wonderful costume party that the Roys held. Descendants of the Roys come to the house and decide it is so wonderful that they want to live there, and Citrine and her father are to be the caretakers. 
Strengths: The descriptions of the house are fantastic, the dollhouse is great, and Augustine provides friendship for Citrine at a time when she really needs it. As I stated earlier, if I hadn't hear that squeaky-death-is-around-every-corner violin music in my head at every plot turn, I would have loved this. 
Weaknesses: I wasn't fond of the bullying, and the sub plot with Citrine's mother seemed forced. 
What I really think: This might be better suited to elementary libraries, since doll stories are a tough sell in middle school, unless the dolls are murdering everyone with the steam heating system. Still, I really enjoyed it and might just have to buy a copy. 


Ventresca, Yvonne. Black Flowers, White Lies
October 4th 2016 by Sky Pony Press
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline

Ella's mother is getting remarried, and while it's difficult to accept a new stepfather and brother, she's glad that her mo there will have someone once she goes to college. Stanley is a good guy, but new step brother Blake is really good looking. He comes to town for the wedding, and to stay in New York until college starts, and he and Ella hit it off pretty well. Ella also meets Gavin at the family bookstore, buying some cat books. He later comes to the animal shelter where she volunteers to look at cats, and asks her out. The hardest part of the wedding for Ella is the fact that she still feels very connected to her father, who died before she was born in a car accident. She's heard his voice before, but feels an even stronger, somewhat creepy, connection as the wedding approaches. When she starts hallucinating about things, and her beloved pet is injured, she starts to suspect that everything is not as it seems with her new step sibling. 
Strengths: This was a great, creepy book, and the cover will draw many readers to it. I can't think of many middle grade appropriate books that involve "gaslighting". There were a ton of twists and turns in this one, and I hate to give them away. 6th graders wanting murder mysteries? This would be a great one to hand them.
Weaknesses: At one point, the step brother tries to seduce Ella, but she is not having it at all, and there aren't a lot of details.
What I really think: This is a great read for reluctant 8th grade girls, especially. Nice and creepy, but with some romantic elements. 

#WNDB Wednesday- Balcony on the Moon

Barakat. Ibtisam. Balcony on the Moon: Coming of Age in Palestine. 

October 25th 2016 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline

This is the author's memoir of her childhood, and is divided into chapters based on where her family was living at the time. They move from a more suburban house to an apartment in the city, and then out to a smaller town. Her father, who has narcolepsy, struggles to keep working, and at one point is so distraught that he loads the entire family in the truck, intending to kill them all, but deciding not to because they were all willing to go with him. The mother is determined to have a family with five boys, as well as the author and her sister. When the family moves to a smaller village, Ibtisam struggles because her family is poor and many of the students are wealthy, so she is just as happy when the family moves back to the city. Although many of her friends are quitting school to get married, Ibtisam is determined to go to college and become a writer. To her surprise, her mother decides to go to high school at the same time she does, despite having seven children and her family being against a married woman being in a coeducational school. In addition to internal struggles, the family has to deal with the events going on in Palestine. Family members are separated, and various conflicts come perilously close to the family home. By the end of the book, Ibtisam graduates from high school, gets a good scholarship, and attracts the notice of a publisher who wants to hear her authentic Palestinian voice. 

Strengths: This had a good balance between personal experiences and historical information that helped make sense of what was going on. I always love details of ordinary life, and this had plenty of them. The chapters dealing with the mother's return to school were interesting and inspiring. The tone of this was story-like enough that I think I can find a lot of readers for this. 

Weaknesses: I haven't read the story of this author's childhood, Tasting the Sky, but need to remedy that right away. 

What I really think: This very well done memoir will be popular among my students because of the personal detail, and will hopefully inform them about an interesting facet of Middle Eastern history as well. 

All the books with Hamsters!

I should probably be doubting ALL of my life choices at this point; I have become the go-to person for any book with "barf" or "poop" in the title, Notebook Novels on any topic, and now, apparently, rodent themed speculative fiction. At Young Adult Books Central, I seem to be the local expert on Geronimo Stilton books. 

But maybe I shouldn't feel too bad. These are all titles that my students adore. Sure, I'd rather curl up with some Sonnenblick, but when I can have lengthy and analytical  conversations on the literary and artistic merits of Stick Dog versus The Platypus Police Squad with my students, perhaps it engenders a special rapport. 

Will someone please let me know if I start trying to entertain adults with armpit farting noises or laughing out loud at the emission of bodily noises? It's bad enough that I have to restrain myself from high-fiving adults in professional settings! 


Welford, Ross. Time Traveling with a Hamster
October 4th 2016 by Schwartz & Wade 
ARC provided by the publisher

Al Chaudhury is getting by in his British coastal community. His father has passed away, his mother is dating a decent enough guy, and his grandfather is a steady if quirky presence in his life. On his 12th birthday, Al receives a letter from his father who claims that Al needs to break into their former house and use a homemade time machine to save his father from a serious go kart accident that eventually caused his death. This is not an easy task, and it is complicated by having to explain his absence in the present, technical difficulties with 1980s computers, the fact that he and his 12-year-old father are almost identical, and the peril his hamster faces when caught in the past. Al perseveres even though a positive outlook seems unlikely, especially after his intervention seems to make matters worse. 

While I am always a sucker for a time travel book, this one was especially good. The use of rudimentary computing devices, as well as an old-fashioned bathtub, to make a time travel machine is brilliant and will appeal to students who love technology. Al's multicultural background adds some amusing quirks as well as realistic problems, and his grandfather definitely makes it into my top five favorite literary grandfathers, along with Gene from Gephart's There Will be Bears and the bodybuilding grandfather in Herbach's Gabe Johnson Takes Over. 

The best part of the book was the fact that while Gabe was coping with the absence of his father, he had so many good memories of their time together that he tried everything he could to try to avert his loss, even when it meant believing in the unbelievable and imperiling his own future. My only criticism of this is that the hamster just didn't have a big enough role, but I'm willing to forgive that because of this line: "My dad died twice. Once when he was thirty-nine and again four years later, when he was twelve. "


O'Donnell, Tom. Hamstersaurus Rex
October 4th 2016 by HarperCollins
ARC provided by Young Adult Books Central

When a hamster appears randomly in Sam's 6th grade classroom, the students are excited, especially Martha, who appoints herself the "hamster monitor". When the hamster disappears, the teacher is relieved, but Sam keeps catching glimpses of the rodent. When he sees the animal ingest a large quantity of body building supplement, its name becomes more apt-- Hamstersaurus Rex grows a scaly tale and wicked teeth, and develops a voracious appetite. Sam tries to take good care of the hamster, but is thwarted by the sheer amount it eats, his mother's fur allergies, and its habit of disappearing at inopportune moments. Sam's difficulties with Kiefer "Beefer" Vanderkoff, the class bully, don't help, nor does Martha's interest in finding the animal or her attempts at befriending Sam and inviting him to visit the local doll museum with her... and to travel there on a tandem bicycle. Throw in a physical education competition and a forgotten science fair, and Sam's week has become VERY complicated. 

O'Donnell, who wrote the very original and amusing Space Rocks!, has created another humorous book full of lots of great lines and unusual situations. While I'm not a huge fan of stereotypical bullies who give smaller children "swirlies", Beefer takes this to a new level, adding pancake mix to the water, causing Sam to rock a "sad unicorn" hairdo for the day. He even considers adding cement mix, but that attempt doesn't end well! It's the little details that made me snort with laughter. Referring to food as "hamster-tricious AND hamster-licious" might be a short lived fad in my household, and I have to admit that I sort of want to smear white glue all over my face so I can "enjoy the sensation of peeling it off"!

The pictures added a lot to the story and will cause a lot of fans of Burnam's Teddy Mars, Lombardo's Mr. Puffball series and Fry's The Naughty List to pick it up. This is a rare book that mixes two very big elementary concerns (Hamsters! Dinosaurs!) in with a solidly middle school experience, making it perfect both for elementary students who are curious about middle school and middle school students who want some comfort reading that reminds them of a simpler time. 

The best part of this book, though, was Sam. He was such a likable character, and his insistence in taking care of the hamster despite a number of difficulties was oddly touching. He was respectful in all of his dealings with classmates, even Beefer. I especially liked how he went to the doll museum with Martha because he had promised her, and how he reacts when his best friend, Dylan, brings him to task for not including her in his plans. Hamstersaurus Rex may seem very silly on the outside, but I appreciated the fact that it was also a very heartfelt book.

And one realistic fiction one, for good measure.

Birney, Betty G. Humphrey's Mixed-Up Magic Trick (Humphrey's Tiny Tales #5)
23 August 2016, G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Copy Provided by Young Adult Books Central

When his class covers careers and the teacher asks students to pick one to present to the class, Humprey starts to wonder what jobs he can do other than just being the class hamster. Thinking that career opportunities for hamsters are limited to being a pet, Humphrey starts to brain storm and comes up with ideas such as being a detective or hamster entertainer. When Miranda decides to present about being a magician, she enlists Humphrey's assistance for her tricks, and Humprey's skills and cool head during a magic emergency assure him that this career path is one he could pursue should he need to. 

These eight Tiny Tales books are on a slightly easier level than the According to Humphrey series. With large, well-spaced font and attractive pictures, these are a great alternative to I Can Read books for younger children who can read on their own. 

Humphrey is an observant and well-behaved hamster who keeps a notebook of his ideas but doesn't actually converse with the children. There are a few diverse characters, and some positive cultural moments-- a classmate tells Miranda that girls can't be magicians, and the teacher gently points out that they certainly can. While I am not entirely sure that this is a good career path for students, I do actually know two full time, employed magicians!


For readers who enjoy Dr. KittyCat, Lola Levine, or the Owl Diaries, Humphrey's Tiny Tales are a good introduction to chapter books for beginning readers.

Time Traveling with a Hamster Blog Tour!

BLOG TOUR (9/26-10/24)

Cracking the Cover  – September 26

Mommy Ramblings – September 27

Comfort Books  – September 28

Oh! For the Hook of a Book – September 29

I'm Shelf-ish – September 30 y

Royal Legacy Reviews & More – October 3

Mrs. Yingling Reads – October 4

Parajunkee – October 5

Eclectic Bookworms – October 6

The Children's Book Review – October 7

As They Grow Up – October 11

Quite the Novel Idea – October 12

Confessions of A Readaholic – October 13

Hopelessly Devoted Bibliophile – October 14

The Hiding Spot – October 17

Fandom Monthly Magazine – October 18

Feed Your Fiction Addiction – October 19

YA Books Central – October 20

Swoony Boys Podcast – October 21

The Boy Reader – October 24

MMGM- E.B. White

Nominations for the Cybils Awards are now open! Make sure you head over to nominate your favorite titles. Middle Grade Fiction especially needs lots of good titles nominated!

It's Marvelous Middle Grade Monday at Ramblings of a Wannabe Scribe and What Are You Reading? day at Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers. It's also Nonfiction Monday.






Hautman, Pete. The Forgetting Machine
September 20th 2016 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young 
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline

Now that Ginger has figured out the problems in her hometown that were making people comatose (see The Flinkwater Factor), she's stuck doing boring school projects like finding out why her town is named Flinkwater. (No, there's no flink in the water!) When her big crush, Billy, has a new tutor, Mr. Rausch, who is supposed to help him with his history class, he suddenly knows a lot of facts but doesn't remember Ginger! Ginger's father also has some memory loss, which seems to be affecting many people at ACPOD. Add to this mix the Tisk's who are trying to get Charlotte's Web removed from the town library (run by the Pformidable Pfleuger, who loves paper books) and whom Ginger suspects have altered online copies, and life starts to get exciting. Ginger and Theo figure out that Rausch has a machine that he is using to download information directly into people's brains, but at the expense of their other memories. He's also saving the memories in animals' brains. Clearly, this is not something that Ginger can allow to happen. 
Strengths: This was a fun, science fiction-y romp which I enjoyed a lot. Not space travel, not dystopia, just technology being used for good and evil. I especially enjoyed the chapter in the back that discussed whether the technologies mentioned were something currently being used in the present or being developed for the future. (As invasive as using fingerprints instead of passwords is, I think passwords will be the death of us all and I'm okay with it. Or retina scanning.)
Weaknesses: The first book hasn't circulated terribly well, probably because of the cover. I think I will include it with the video game books, or put it on display with the really popular Korman's Masterminds, and that might get readers into this series. 
What I Really Think: This is a fun change of pace for Hautman, and I'm enjoying it!

AND, since this uses Charlotte's Web as a cultural touchstone, maybe I can use that to drum up interest in this E.B. White's biography. 

**UPDATE** In the comments, Kirby Larson pointed out that there is a nice post on this book at The Nerdy Book Club. Since I read an E ARC on a Kindle from 2010, I didn't get to see the art very clearly, so I'm looking forward to the library copy I purchased to come in. The art will make it much easier to entice children to read this. 

Sweet, Melissa. Some Writer! The Story of E.B.White
October 4th 2016 by HMH Books for Young Readers
E ARC from Netgalley.com

I have to say that this was an oddly readable book despite its length (176 pages) and subject matter (E.B. White just mainly wanted to be left alone and write). Will my students be as blown away by it as the teachers and librarians like me who seem to love it? Probably not. As much as I like The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus illustrated by this author, I would not be at all surprised if it has never once circulated. 

So, well researched, visually appealing, oddly readable. I will definitely purchase and recommend, but will any of my students read it? Sigh. 

Sadness leaking down to elementary school

I know that middle grade books have been getting progressively sad, and to be fair, I've had some new 6th graders whose teachers read Wonder to them ask for sad books. Still, now I'm seeing books geared toward 3rd to 5th graders that are getting me down. Just not my thing. If anything is described as "tender" or "timeless", the 12 year old boy I have become wants to hurl. 



Beasley, Kate. Gertie's Leap to Greatness
October 4th 2016 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
E ARC available at Netgalley and Edelweiss Above the Treeline

Gertie is bound and determined to be "great". The book starts with her resuscitating a bullfrog and taking it to school in a shoebox so that she has the best summer story to tell. Unfortunately, 5th grade is marred by the appearance of a new girl, Mary Sue, whose father is a film director in town with a famous kid star. Gertie wants to be phenomenal so that her mother, who walked out when Gertie was very young, notices her before she moves away from town. Gertie tries being the best student, being the star of the class play, and just about anything else she can, but her innate personality works against her. When Mary Sue's mother, an environmental lobbyist, speaks to the class about trying to shut down the oil rigs on which Gertie's father works, she realizes that she needs to be great for many reasons, even if her mother still ignores her. 
Strengths: I loved that Gertie had a nontraditional family (her aunt lives with her and her father) that is still very supportive. The teacher is also portrayed as generally fair, even when Gertie points out an incident where she was NOT fair. The fighting with Mary Sue is very on point, as was the fight with a former best friend who aligned herself with Mary Sue. 
Weaknesses: I disliked Gertie. She did not come across as a sympathetic character to me. Others (who like Hollis Woods and other unpleasant fictional characters) will disagree.
What I really think: I would consider this for elementary, but it seems young for middle school. 

Giff, Patricia Reilly. Jubilee
September 13th 2016 by Wendy Lamb Books
Copy provided by publisher

Judith lives with her Aunt Cora on an island, and is well cared for and loved. She has been in a special ed classroom because of her selective mutism, but her aunt has fought to have her included in a regular ed 5th grade class. Judith's mother left her when Judith was young, and she still feels abandoned. She does find a dog whom she adopts, and struggles to become friends with Mason. When Judith's mother returns, she struggles with how to start a relationship with her. When a storm threatens the island while a young boy is missing, Judith must face many of her fears.
Strengths: Oddly enough, I was in an elementary class with a girl named Judith who was selectively mute, some fifty years ago, so this is something that actually occurs. I never knew why Judith spoke only to her mother, but did try to befriend her, which I was not able to do. I love the cover on this one, and the island setting, along with the supportive community that includes a church congregation, is appealing. Fans of Linda Urban and Patricia MacLachlan's sad, lyrical style will enjoy this.
Weaknesses: Mentioning junonia made me think of Henkes' book with that title, and I'm sure I've read many books where the crisis is a child getting lost in a storm. I do better with the more upbeat Polk Street School books by this author.
What I really think: Since I have a copy, I'll see how it does with my 6th graders. 

Mills, Claudia. Write This Down
September 27th 2016 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline

I've been enjoying Mills' Franklin School Friends books, but this one didn't work for me. It was a lot like Lizzie at Last (2000), which I deaccessioned as being outdated. The biggest problem is that I WAS Autumn... 40 years ago. The things that Autumn and I were interested in were dated that long ago, and my readers are going to have trouble connecting to a character who wants to dress and act life Emily Dickinson. When I was in middle school, I would have loved this book, but reading it made me realize how annoying I was in middle school! This book would be a great choice for middle schools where there is a big emphasis on creative writing. 

From Goodreads:
"Twelve-year-old Autumn loves to write. She finds inspiration all around her, especially in Cameron, the dreamy boy in her journalism class who she has a major crush on. Then her older brother, Hunter, who used to watch out for her but has grown distant since he started high school, reads one of her poems about Cameron to Cameron's older brother. They make fun of it and she is devastated. Determined to show her brother how talented she really is, Autumn decides that she is going to become a published author - now! She writes an essay about her changing relationship with her brother, enters it in a contest, and wins, and her dream of publication is within reach. But if her essay is published, everyone will know her family's secrets. Is being published worth hurting those you love?"

Cartoon Saturday- Fizzopolis: Floozombies!

Carman, Patrick and Sheesely, Brian. Fizzopolis: Floozombies!
October 4th 2016 by Katherine Tegen Books
ARC provided by Young Adult Books Central

Harold Fuzzwonker knows he is taking Floyd the Fizzy to school in his backpack because he would cause too much trouble back in Fizzopolis, but when Floyd brings along Grabstack (who has dreams of being in the theater), Harold knows he's in trouble. Along with his friend, Sammy, he travels under his house to his father's laboratory to investigate. When someone sticks a suspicious substance in the Fuzzwonker Fizz machine, it starts to manufacture floozombies which must be neutralized. This takes a while, but eventually Harold and Sammy figure out a way and enlist Franny's help in getting rid of the floozombies. 

Harold's desire to keep Fizzopolis under control is admirable, especially since his mad scientist father is not too concerned about safety of health regulations (I think Fizzwonker Fizz in manufactured in part by Franny sucking up swampwater into her trunk and regurgitating it!). Children who think it's a good idea to bring pets to school in backpacks will be endlessly intrigued by the idea of having a fizzy be a constant companion, although from an adult perspective, bringing Floyd to school is not the path of least problems! That, of course, is what makes this so humorously appealing to children. 

This feels very much like it might be a Cartoon Network tie-in but is not; there's just something about the supreme goofiness and the style of illustrations that puts my in mind of something like Spongebob SquarePants. Hand this to readers of Jon Scieszka's Frank Einstein books, the Robots Rule! series by Richards or any child who needs to be peeled away from the television on a sunny summer day and at least relocated under a tree with a book!

I like some of Carmen's work-- 13 Days to Midnight is truly brilliant, and the Atherton books are quite solid. There's some of his work that falls on the elementary side of the Pilkey line and is disappointing to me because I'd rather see him write more middle grade books!