The Halloween Moon

Fink, Joseph. The Halloween Moon

July 20th 2021 by Quill Tree Books

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Esther Gold loves Halloween so much that even her bat mitzvah was Halloween themed, and now that she is thirteen, her parents have informed her that she is too old to go out trick-or-treating. She is crushed; she isn't wild about the candy but loves the costumes and the traditions of the holiday. To circumvent her parents unreasonable dictum, she tells them that she and her friend Agustín are going to a movie, and they tell her not to wake them up when she comes in! There are all manner of strange things going on in the town, and when the adults all seem to be falling asleep, including their parents, Esther and Agustín, along with classmate Sasha, seek the help of Mr. Gabler, who seems to be unaffected. He always gives out toothpaste because of his occupation, but proves again and again that he "wasn't always a dentist" by using un-dentistlike skills! There's also the creepy Dan Appel, the strange robbery at an illegal art collection, and a terrifying plunge into the "Halloween dream". Will Esther and Agustín  be able to wake up everyone in their town?

Strengths: There are not as many Halloween books for middle grade as there could be, especially since 8th grade is usually the last time kids get to go out trick or treating. Banning a tween from going out is quite the punishment, and readers will sympathize with Esther plight. Agustín is a good friend, and Sasha starts off as someone with whom Esther doesn't get along, but the two eventually warm to each other and mend misunderstandings. Mr. Gabler was definitely my favorite character, and it was interesting why he didn't fall asleep. The Halloween queen is not someone I would want to meet late at night under a full moon!
Weaknesses: It took me a while to figure out why the writing style wasn't working for me, but I think it was the detached tone and the fact that there was more description and conversation than action. It also was a bit annoying that the main character was usually referred to as her entire name. 
What I really think: This wasn't quite as scary as my students seem to want, and the writing style was a bit odd, so I think I will pass on purchase. 

 

Maya and the Robot

Ewing, Eve L. and Almeda, Christine (illus.) Maya and the Robot

July 13th 2021 by Kokila

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Maya lives in an apartment in the city with her mother and baby brother Amir, and visits with her dad on the weekends. She is really interested in science and technology and looking forward to 5th grade, until she realizes that her two best friends, MJ and Jada, have the cool science teacher while she is stuck with Ms. Rodriguez, who has the desks arranged in rows. Maya goes by her middle name instead of her first name, Patricia, but is too afraid to correct her teacher. Zoe, the most popular girl in the grade, gives her a hard time about this. Maya helps out Mr. McMillan, who runs a local variety store, after school, and when she is cleaning out a storage closet, she finds a robot (Ralph) that Mr. Mac's son, Christopher, had developed when he was younger. Knowing Maya is interested in working on such things, Mr. Mac helps Maya get it back to her home, where she starts to work on it. With some help and a little luck, she gets Ralph to work and starts to program him to do all sorts of interesting things, like greet people in other languages, grocery shop, and clean up things around the house. As the school science fair approaches, Maya decides to bring the robot, and finds out information about Mr. Mac's son as well as some of her classmates. 

Strengths: This started with quite a bang! The most common complaint I hear about books is that they don't have "anything happen", but this was funny and engaging from the very beginning, in the way that Dairman's All Four Stars was. I loved Maya's science interests, and her feelings of insecurity when she has to be in class away from her friends will resonate with readers. Her family and community are also supportive, and I want a shop like Mr. Mac's down the street from ME! Ralph the robot is awesome, even if his skills require a bit of suspension of disbelief. Even the backstory about Christopher is handled in a sensitive way. I love the bright cover! 
Weaknesses: This is just a bit young for my library. The inclusion of recess, and of one teacher for all classes, makes this hard to sell to my older readers. 6th graders would pick it up, especially because of the great illustrations, but I don't see 7th or 8th graders being interested.  
What I really think: This was a very fun book, and it was great to see so much science and technology represented. I would definitely buy this for an elementary library, and it would make a great gift for a tech obsessed child. 

The Verdigris Pawn

Wishingrad, Alyssa. The Verdigris Pawn

July 13th 2021 by HarperCollins

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Beau is the heir to the throne of The Land, and his father, known as Himself, has kept him very sheltered. When Beau's tutor dies and Himself's forces are suffering from illness, it is suspected that there is a charmer loose in the palace who is causing these problems. Beau has been playing a forbidden game, Fist, that is based on overthrowing the king. Fledge, who works in the stables, has been teaching him the game, and Beau considers him his only friend. When Beau runs afoul of Barger, the man takes one of thepieces of the game, a verdigris pawn, to use against the boy. Beau runs away, and comes across Cressi, who heals him when he has an accident. This reveals her as a healer like Beau's mother, who came from another class of people in the kingdom, and who met an untimely end. Cressi fills him in on all of the evil things that his father's rule has done, and Beau starts to feel like he should help the people in the kingdom, but Cressi is taken by Barger. Beau runs off again and runs into Nate, who gets the impression that Beau is an apprentice cordwainer. The two decide to go to the Bottom, where the kingdom's disadvantaged have gathered, and try to find Doone, who is a sort of folk hero who is fighting against Himself's rule. While Cressi is with Barger, she meets other women who are healers, and learns to make potions. Barger wants to use her skills, but she increases her skills in order to help overthrow his powers. In the meantime, Beau finds out that Doone isn't what he is said to be, although he has a hard time convincing Nate of this. He's determined to find Cressi and figure out a way to change the way that the kingdom operates so that children are not sent to the Mastery House to be taught how to do menial jobs and exploited by the well-to-do, and so that Doone is not able to terrorize people into giving his henchmen all of their assets. Will he be able to find his new friend Cressi, and convince his father to turn the kingdom around for the good of the people?
Strengths: Beau is a typically sheltered royal child who doesn't have a firm grip on the reality of his past, but comes in to his own as he attempts to right the wrongs to which he is introduced. Taking the standard fantasy trope of a tween saving the kingdom and working in social justice themes is kind of a brilliant twist. Cressi is a great character, and I can see readers getting into a lot of trouble in the kitchen, trying to make brews using the kitchen spice rack. While some of the adults are evil, it's good to see that there are some who are looking out for Beau and Cressi. The slowly revealed back story of Beau's mother and her relationship to the magic that Cressi has will keep readers guessing, and I liked the way that everything was resolved. (But don't want to spoil the ending!)
Weaknesses: I didn't quite feel the chemistry between Cressi and Beau, so found it harder to believe that they had such a strong connection. 
What I really think: This will be a big hit with readers who can't get enough vaguely medieval fantasy quests. It seemed like there were shout outs to a lot of classics like Alexander's The Book of Three  (pig keepers are mentioned!), and some of the traveling reminded me a bit of The Door in the Wall. I was glad that Beau isn't injured quite as often as Jaron in Nielsen's The False Prince! Hand this to fans of Prineas and Durst. This could be a stand alone, but the ending does leave room for a sequel. 
 

MMGM- Ten Thousand Tries and Larger Than Life

It's

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
 at 

Always in the Middle 

and #IMWAYR day 

at 

Teach Mentor Texts 

and 

Unleashing Readers

Makechnie, Amy. Ten Thousand Tries

July 13th 2021 by Atheneum Books for Young Readers

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Golden Maroni is a HUGE soccer fan, and aspires to be like his hero, Lionel Messi. His father, a high school teacher and soccer coach, also loves the game, but his ALS diagnosis is slowing him down considerably. Golden and his sisters, younger Roma and Whitney, and older Jaimes, can see that their father's condition is worsening, and have been told that ALS has no cure. Their biologist mother is coping the best she can, and is on top of treatment and accommodations as the father's condition worsens. His friend and neighbor Lucy has been away for the summer, and he has cared for her cat, Curtis Meowfield. Golden is determined to be made captain of his team along with his friend Benny Ho, and have a great 8th grade year. He even approaches his doctor at his yearly physical about growth hormones, since he is the smallest in his class, but is told this isn't the time. Luckily, being small and fast is an advantage in soccer, and Golden is very invested in playing for the team his mother is coaching. He's very concerned about Lucy. Her mother is dating George, whom they call "the Dark Lord", and it seems likely that he has a job in Maine and the family will move there. Golden does a few things to sabotage the real estate agent's attempts to sell the house, but George catches onto him. The Maroni's family life is very busy, and as the father steadily declines, more and more work falls on the children. Golden isn't thrilled about combing his sisters' hair, doing his own laundry, and having to go grocery shopping, but after a talk with his father, tries to help out more and make the days more pleasant. As summer turns into fall, Golden's soccer season is a success, but his father's condition rapidly worsens, and Golden struggles with how he will continue when both his father and Lucy are gone. 

Strengths: I'm not a fan of sad books, but this one has a brilliant balance between soccer and every day life, and dealing with the devastating progression of ALS. There's just enough details of the father's condition, and it's contrasted with Golden's misguided belief that his father can overcome the disease. The organizational problems of a family adjusting to having one less parent to help out is also brilliantly described-- I don't know that I have ever seen morning chaos depicted quite so brilliantly in a middle grade novel. While this is sad, the family's approach is pragmatic. The mother cries occasionally, the children are told that their father is going to die, and there are difficult emotions, such as when Golden accuses his mother of wanting the father to die because she's not trying to make him "better". Golden is so wrapped up in his own problems that he doesn't notice that his friend Benny's grandmother is descending into dementia, and the two have some difficulties over soccer as well. Golden at one point says "I wish we could rewind. Before...everything. When life was perfect and I didn't even know it." (Italics mine; quote from the ARC) This is quite possibly the most poignant line in all of middle grade literature. But overall, there is a feeling of life, and living, and making the most of each day no matter what happens. I loved that Golden is determined to put in the 10,000 hours needed to make him an expert at soccer. This novel zips along like a soccer ball heading toward the goal, taking unpredictable zigs and zags along the way. 
Weaknesses: I could have done without the character of Gag Me, Mrs. Gagne, the bus driver and lunch lady, who was described as a "terrifying curmudgeon". Granted, that's the look I'm going for personally, but it seemed mean and out of character for Golden. It also seemed odd to start each chapter with a quote from a character in that chapter. 
What I really think: Note to all middle grade authors: if you have to write a sad book, include a LOT of sports details in it. I have one Messi fan who will swallow this book whole because of the soccer even though it's hard to get him to read realistic fiction. Well done, and I still tear up when I think about that line. It's so true. 

Quirk, Anne. Larger Than Life: Lyndon B. Johnson and the Right to Vote

July 13th 2021 by Norton Young Readers

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

I have to admit that my biography section does not have that many books about presidents. With the exception of Freedman's Lincoln, they aren't that interesting, and my students seem to want only living ex-presidents. What they do want to read are books about presidents that put them into a larger historical context and have an interesting premise, such as Balis and Levy's fascinating and funny Bringing Down a President (Nixon), or Seiple's Death on the River of Doubt (Teddy Roosevelt). Larger Than Life fills the bill and offers a lot of surprises about a seemingly unlikely champion of civil rights. 

Johnson was president when I was born. If you had asked me what my general impression of the man was before I read this book, I would have said he was kind of a jerk. He stood too close to people in order to intimidate them, ran into problems with the Vietnam war, and most importantly, not only named his beagle "Him", but once lifted him up by his ears. Such issues are not whitewashed, but we do see more of Johnson's background and motivation. We also see the wide array of social issues that Johnson put forward as part of his "Great Society" initiative, such as social security, Medicare and Medicaid, Head Start, Voting Rights Act, urban renewal, and support for the arts and the environment. Considering how much backlash President Biden is getting currently for similar initiatives, it's impressive to see the variety of issues Johnson's administration was trying to address. 

The information is well presented and the moves along quickly. The type size and position on the page, along with the number and variety of photographs all make this a book that students will want to pick up-- while it's irritating, it's also true that my students don't want dense text. Of course, the photographs are black and white, and today's readers might need a reminder that color photography wasn't widely used! My only complaint is that the narrative doesn't proceed linearly, but goes back and forth in time. This makes sense considering the issues the author is trying to explain, but is still a bit jarring. 

Larger Than Life is a timely book about a lesser known president who made a surprising impact on society during his sometimes troubled stay in office, and is a great addition to a middle school biography collection. Not only that, but his cowboy hat and suit make him an easy choice for a wax museum subject!

Better With Butter

Piontek,Victoria. Better With Butter

July 20th 2021 by Scholastic Press

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Marvel has a lot of anxiety. Her parents have her in therapy, and the school knows about her issues, but she still has to complete certain tasks. When a public Wax Museum goes badly wrong for her, she is sure that she can never go to school again and plans to convince her mother to let her be homeschooled. On her way home, she sees several boys tormenting a small goat, who faints whenever they scare it. The goat is filthy and has been eating garbage, but has a name tag on that says "Butter". She takes the goat home, hoping to convince her landscape designer mother to let her keep it, Her father is in the navy, and is often away on assignment. Her older brother, Reef, thinks she's misguided, and when Butter eats things in the yard, he's proven right. Her mother is ready to take the goat to the humane society, but her father comes home and says that they can foster the goat until the owner is found. Marvel makes very little effort in that direction, but manages to get a note from her school counselor that she should have an Emotional Support Animal, and she takes that and runs with it. She registers Butter, makes him a vest, and takes him to school. It's her teacher's first year, and she believes the paperwork, but eventually, Marvel is called to the office. The principal says she can bring Butter on a trial basis, and before long, Marvel has a role in the school production of Heidi with Butter by her side, and is visiting the lower school to help other students with anxiety. Marvel makes friends with some of her classmates who are intrigued by her unusual pet, and is far less anxious with the goat by her side. This is great, but what will happen if Butter's owner claims her?

Strengths: While I can't imagine any student being allowed to bring a goat into my school, Piontek very carefully addresses any issues that might arise and makes me believe that Marvel is not only allowed to keep the goat at home, but also is allowed to bring it to school. The family dynamic with her father returning home makes sense, and her efforts to register the animal (which doesn't need to be done) and bring the paperwork to school shows initiative. I was glad that the help she is receiving for her anxiety is outlined, but it is also realistic that the school requires her to do the same work other children are doing. The interactions with her classmates ring true, and it's good to see that while some classmates make fun of her, others are empathetic and try to befriend her. 
Weaknesses: This story was solidly written, fast-paced, and engaging. On a personal level, this was hard for me to read. I was an anxious, weepy child who was scared of everything, and the wisdom at the time was to tell the child to buck up. My parents were both educators, and had no patience for any reluctance. There are a LOT of students today who act like Marvel, and I'm not sure that today's methods of dealing with them will make them more successful. There are a lot of librarians and teachers who are open about their own anxiety online, so clearly my opinions are in the minority, and this book is definitely on trend.
What I really think: This was similar to Kadohata's Saucy, but I could believe it a bit more. My students will have more sympathy for the main character than I do, and since this is generally upbeat and believable, I will buy a copy. The cover alone will insure that this is always checked out. 

Cartoon Saturday- The Okay Witch

Steinkellner, Emma. The Okay Witch and the Hungry Shadow (The Okay Witch #2) 

July 6th 2021 by Aladdin 

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Moth and Charlie have had such a good winter break that they don't want to go back to school, but Moth's mother won't let her stay home even though she's just found out about her magic powers and traveled to her grandmother's realm, Hecate. Pike, who is descended from the founders of their town, is an enormous jerk who blows everything out of proportion and is relentless in his bullying of Moth. The other kids play along, although Moth hears a few girls who seem sympathetic to her. When she travels to Hecate for a celebration, she is glad to see Peter, and finds an amulet called a nyklum. It is supposed to absorb the traits that Moth admires from other people and transfer those things to Moth. She uses it when she goes back to school, and is able to stand up to Pike. Her mother is dating her English teacher, Mr. Gorski-Garcia, and the other students have given her a hard time about this, but wearing the nyklum gives Moth the self confidence she needs to stop hiding. She is nominated for Founderella, a time honored position at a local festival, and wants to keep using the amulet until after the winner is announced, but there is a catch. Will Moth be able to withstand the forces of evil with her limited magic, and find a way to get through middle school? Don't want to spoil the twists in the story by giving away too much of the plot!

Strengths: Graphic novels usually are a bit light on storyline and character development, but this book had a lot of character backstory and development. The secondary characters are fun as well; Mr. Gorski-Garcia is delightfully goofy, and even the cat, Lazlo, has quite a history. There's a fair bit of social commentary as well, with the social hierarchy of the small New England town being called into question, and a significant discussion about the racial discrimination experienced by Moth's grandmother. The Founderella tradition is handled in an interesting fashion as well. On top of all of that, there is some fantastic magic at work. 
Weaknesses: The noses. Why do they always bother me so much?
What I really think: Definitely purchasing, and glad to see a graphic novel with a girl of color on the cover. We're seeing more of these, but graphic novels have been less diverse than middle grade books in general. 

Cooke, Stephanie and Costa, Mari. Paranorthern and the Chaos Bunny A-Hop-Calypse.

July 13th 2021 by Etch/HMH Books for Young Readers

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

This was very similar to Witches of Brooklyn as well as The Okay Witch, and a little like Glitch, so I may pass. Fantasy graphic novels don't do as well in my library as realistic ones. The chaos bunnies were interesting, but if you accidentally open a portal, make sure you tell a qualified adult! I really liked this author's Oh My Gods because it was very different from other graphic novels I had read. There's a sequel to that coming out in January 2022. 

From the publisher: 

A witch named Abby and her three friends—a wolf-girl, a ghost, and a pumpkinhead—band together to try and save their supernatural town from an invasion of rabid (but adorable!) chaos bunnies in this enchanting middle-grade graphic novel for fans of Making Friends, The Okay Witch, and Lumberjanes.

It’s fall break in the supernatural town of North Haven, and young witch Abby’s plans include pitching in at her mom’s magical coffee shop, practicing her potion making, and playing board games with her best friends—a pumpkinhead, a wolf-girl, and a ghost. But when Abby finds her younger sister being picked on by some speed demons, she lets out a burst of magic so strong, it opens a portal to a realm of chaos bunnies. And while these bunnies may look cute, they’re about to bring the a-hop-ocalypse (and get Abby in a cauldronful of trouble) unless she figures out a way to reverse the powerful magic she unwittingly released. What’s a witch to do?


In this deliciously humorous, cozy, and bewitching graphic novel, sometimes the most of powerful magic comes from our connections to family and friends (but kicking bunny butt is great, too).

The Last Super Chef

Negron, Chris. The Last Super Chef

July 6th 2021 by HarperCollins

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Curtis loves watching the television show The Last Super Chef, especially since he has a secret-- his mother told him in second grade that his father is Lucas Taylor, although he's never met the man. When a contest is announced that will lead to five children being on the show, Curtis and his friend Tre decide to send in a video. Curtis' family- his mother and younger sister Paige- struggle financially, especially after his mother loses her job. Curtis is worried that they won't be able to buy ingredients for him to continue practicing, and in order to make his video, he breaks into the house of his landlord, Mr. Pettynose, and uses his cheese to make a souffle. He's almost caught because Mr. Pettynose misses the cheese and realizes the oven is warm, but attributes both of these things to a ghostly visit. Curtis is a bit worried that the kitchen will be recognized on his audition video, because he is one of the five contestants! The film crew show up at his door as he is watching the program, and present him with the invitation. Since he failed to inform his mother he was entering, she is a bit surprised, but before long Curtis is on the set of the program with Kiko from Japan, Pepper from Boston, Bonifacio from Mexico City and Joey from Chicago. All have great skills in the kitchen, and all will stay on the program until the end, at Thanksgiving, and will be awarded points to see who the winner is. There are a lot of competitions involving different techniques and types of food, and Curtis holds his own. He doesn't do too well with his one on one interview dinner with Taylor, because he can't believe the man won't acknowledge their relationship. 

Strengths: Negron's Dan Unmasked was great fun, and this book starts with an ill-conceived bake sale that will draw students right in. Curtis' love of cooking is evident, and is set within the context of his somewhat straightened reality. I really enjoyed the fact that he got along well with his mother and younger sister, and that all of the diverse contestants are shown working together rather than sniping at each other, which seems to be the pull of many reality shows. Middle school students are ALWAYS hungry, and always glad to read about food. There are some great twists I don't want to give away, and an interesting depiction of a character with Parkinson's (something with which Mr. Negron's is dealing) that is handled in a realistic way. (My mother had Parkinson's for over twenty years and did quite well until she was 84, at which point not all of her problems were related to that disease!)
Weaknesses: There's a LOT of information about serious cooking with unusual ingredients, and even though I have a great cookbook collection, few of my students have exhibited any interest in cooking. I was also uncomfortable with Curtis breaking into Mr. Pettynose's house with no repercussions.

What I really think: This is another excellent example of a child involved in a cooking show competition for readers who enjoyed Ganeshram Stir it Up!, (2011)Williams' Pizza, Love and Other Stuff That Made Me Famous (2012), Fiore's Taste Test (2013), Littlewood's A Dash of Magic (2013), Harper's Lights! Cameras! Cook! (2017), Nail's One Hundred Spaghetti Strings (2017), Janowitz's The Doughnut King (The Doughnut Fix #2) (2019), LaRocca's Midsummer's Mayhem (2019) and LaMotte's Measuring Up (2020), and Delaney's Alice Fleck's Recipe for Disaster (2021).

The Girl in the Headlines

Jayne, Hannah. The Girl in the Headlines

July 6th 2021 by Sourcebooks Fire

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Andrea lives "in a nice house with hardwood floors and...[eats] Cheerios every morning", but wakes up bloody and alone in a hotel room to find out that her father has been murdered, her mother is in critical condition in the hospital, and her younger brother Josh is missing. She is wanted by the police as a person of interest, but as time passes, she becomes a suspect. She finds an unlikely ally in Nate, the clerk at the hotel desk, whose mother abandoned him. Since he's 18 he's managed to work out a deal with the hotel owner to live on site, but he knows the trauma of uncertainty and neglect growing up. Andrea maintains that her family was loving and stable, but as more and more reports show up on the news, she learns some secrets about her past. She can't turn herself into the police, since they would never believe her innocence, so with Nate's help, starts to investigate on her own. She has other suspects in mind; an angry ex-boyfriend, a friend and neighbor who was loaned money by her father, and maybe even shady characters from her family's past. Will she be able to find Josh before harm comes to him, and prove her own innocence, even though she can't really remember what happened?
Strengths: Wow. This was a fantastic murder mystery. It starts with a stressful, suspenseful premise and builds from there. Nate as an ally makes perfect sense, and he is a steadying presence in the background. The contrast between Andrea's "perfect" family and his own troubled one is great, considering that Andrea is the one in trouble. The brushes with the police are a bit unlikely, but plausible, and add to the suspense. The key to the mystery is a twist I don't want to spoil. With a few tweaks, this would be great for all of my readers who crave murder mysteries. 
Weaknesses: The blinding pain that Andrea experiences a couple of times isn't explained that well, and the cover isn't great. 
What I really think: Too many f-bombs for a middle school library (and they weren't necessary at all), and this is available only in paperback and e book versions, although Follett does have a prebind. The language is a shame, because there's little violence, no sex, and would otherwise be exactly the sort of murder mystery my students want. 

Reminder: Authors are welcome to use any kind of language they want. Since I have a limited budget, it seems unwise to spend taxpayer money on books that contain language that would cause my students to get suspended if they used it in school. 

Forever This Summer (Love Like Sky #2)

Youngblood, Leslie C. Forever This Summer (Love Like Sky #2)

July 6th 2021 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

After the events of Love Like Sky, Georgie (who still struggles with family members calling her G-Baby) finds herself traveling from her suburban Atlanta home and all of her summer plans to Bogalusa, Louisiana to  help her Great Aunt Vie. Vie runs the local, popular diner, which Georgie's aunt and other friends and relatives have been helping to run since Vie is suffering from Alzheimer's, which is getting worse. Georgie hopes to work in the diner, but instead gets stuck do household chores. When she goes to the diner, she find out that Markie is working there. Markie is a tiny bit old than Georgie, was born with a limb difference, and was in foster care with Vie, but is now with a woman named Roselle. She's not quite sure what happened with her mother, who abandoned her as an infant. When Georgie's best friend Nikki comes to visit, the two want to help Vie, and decide to put on a talent show to raise money for Alzheimer's research. This takes a lot of time, and Georgie is also helping Markie find out about her mother, consulting the library as well as local residents who are familiar with the town and the people in it. When Georgie and Markie's family lives turn out to be connected, will this change Markie's future?
Strengths: It's good to see extended family portrayed in middle grade literature; all too often, books are limited to children and parents, with the occasional grandparent. Georgie's parents' situation is also a good inclusion-- there are not many books depicting parents who have remarried and have other children, although many of my students have family dynamics like that. The small town setting reminded me a bit of Strong's Just South of Home, and Georgie's visit to the mayor's office to ask for a permit for her talent show was fun. Marki's limb difference is handled sensitively, and her reactions to how others treat her seem accurate. I appreciate that she is shown on the cover; I've had several students with limb differences, and can't think of any other middle grade books that portray this. A great sequel to a strong first book. 
Weaknesses: I had a bit of trouble keeping Markie and Nikki straight-- the names are so similar. I would have liked to see more of the family dynamic with the father and stepmother, since that was so interesting in the first book. We do get a little bit, and Peaches makes a brief appearance. 
What I really think: The first book has circulated well, so I'll definitely purchase this second one.

Sheth, Kashmira. Nina Soni: Master of the Garden (Nina Soni #3)

April 1st 2021 by Peachtree Publishing Company

Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central

We've seen Nina's struggles with friends (Former Best Friend) and with her sister Kavita (Sister Fixer), but now she is turning her attentions to a much more enjoyable project-- planting a garden! Her mother is a professional gardener, so has access to lots of equipment and seeds, and Nina uses what she has learned about planning to come up with a garden that she hopes will produce enough food so that she can sell some of it. Her friend Jay is also interested in gardening, but Nina is worried that he and her sister will not be on board with her ambitious plan. After a lot of work, the garden is finally planted, but there are slugs, rabbits, and other problems that make Nina worry that she won't have a good crop. Nina learns a lot about the process of gardening, and realizes that it is not as easy an undertaking as she thought!

I love this family centered story. Siblings are hugely important to young readers, and there are not as many books that explore these relationships as there should be. Nina loves Kavita, but is often annoyed by her exuberance, her spontaneity, and her younger outlook on life. I also like the fact that Jay seems to have very different interests from Nina, but they are still able to be friends. 

There are so many good details about what goes into making a garden-- this could practically be a textbook! Nina makes many lists and plans, and keeps good track of her successes and failures. 

Nina would be best friends with Carolyn Haywood's Betsy, and I can see her getting into some quality trouble with Harley's Charlie Bumpers. Perhaps she could get some gardening help from Cheng's Anna Wang, or Meyerhoff The Friendship Garden crew!

Swimming With Sharks (Wild Survival #2) and Minecraft: The Dragon

Márquez, Melissa Cristina. Swimming With Sharks (Wild Survival #2)

July 6th 2021 by Scholastic Paperbacks

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

The Villalobos family is back after their adventures in Crocodile Rescue, and this time they are off to Sri Lanka to investigate a possible rare Pondicherry shark. Their producer, Mr. Savage, is excited that the network has approved more shows that show how dangerous wild animals are, but Adrianna and her family are more interested in fostering an understanding of the science of the animals so that they are no longer endangered. Even though Adrianna was badly bitten by a crocodile, she still wants animals to be understood. In Colombo, they meet Manil, whose son Sev takes Adrianna and her brother around the town and introduces them to his friends Manisha, Punya, and Dilip. There are fascinating things in town, like herds of elephants in the woods nearby, but Adrianna is worried about the fact that sharks are being harvested for their fins. The Pondicherry shark shows up in an aquarium in a restaurant, and the crew has it DNA tested. Adrianna pitches the idea of a Shark Festival to the producer, so that local scientists and residents are involved in educating people about the benefits of sharks, and how the local fisherman need the sharks to keep the oceans healthy. The poachers that appear in the first book are sighted, and Adrianna gets herself into more sticky situations. Can the Villalobos family film a convincing show and change the public perception of sharks as vicious killers?
Strengths: Any book that encourages students to investigate math or science related fields is a plus, but there are far more books about students who want to pursue performing arts or cupcake baking. I loved the snippets of information about different sea life, and the additional bits at the back about marine biology in general. Setting this in a wild life reality show is a great idea, and the Villalobos family gives the kids lots of room to investigate and get into a bit of exotic trouble. I love Adriana's passion! There are good details about the local communities as well, and it's good to see the kids making friends. The mystery with the poachers adds another intriguing element. 
Weaknesses: The ending was a bit abrupt, but I'm sure we'll hear more in book three. I still do not understand why Scholastic publishes some of their best and most interesting titles in paperback only! While Follett lists a hardcover available, it's at $25, while normal trade hardcovers are around $15. I bought the first book in a prebind, so will buy this one in that format as well, but would love this series to be issued in a standard dust jacketed hardcover. 
What I really think: The first book has appealed to a wide range of readers in my library, where for some reason many of my students want to grow up to be marine biologists. The covers are great, and this is a great choice for a quick read. They'd also make a fantastic purchase at a Scholastic book fair!

Drayden, Nikcy. Minecraft: The Dragon (#8)

July 6th 2021 by DelRey Books

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Even though I have never played Minecraft, I have read valiantly through this series because my students love them so much. I have bought all the books but #7, Brooks' The Mountain. This is the sequel to The Island, which a student checked out last March and hasn't returned, so if I buy it, I might also have to rebuy the first book, but I'm hoping that it will be returned in September. (It actually came back! Wooo!)

Apparently, there are villagers, pillagers, AND illagers in Minecraft, and that's sort of where this lost me. I enjoyed the story of Zetta, who really wants to be a potioner even though her father doesn't want her to. She runs off to apprentice herself to her Aunt Meryl in order to help her town, Sienna Dunes, defend itself against invaders, and ends up taking care of a baby dragon. 

Readers who understand stone swords, traveling with pumpkin pies, and walls made out of terra cotta defending towns from zombie hoards and ravening beasts will love this video game turned into a story, especially since the writing is solid and the plot advances nicely. Those unfamiliar with the video game might get stuck on the plentiful details, like I did. 

I will purchase this one, but it might be the last one that I do. Interest in the game seems to be waning. 

MMGM- Secondhand Dogs

It's

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
 at 

Always in the Middle 

and #IMWAYR day 

at 

Teach Mentor Texts 

and 

Unleashing Readers

Crimi, Carolyn. Secondhand Dogs

July 6th 2021 by Balzer + Bray

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Gus is the pack leader at Miss Lottie's house, and has kept the peace well with excitable Roo, loyal and protective bulldog Tank, and the newest addition, Moon Pie, whose owner, Gertie, has passed away. Neighbor Quinn, a tween whose father has passed away and whose family relationships are strained, helps take care of the dogs. There is also a very shy cat, Ghost, with whom Gus has arranged an uneasy détente. When Miss Lottie has the pack meet a new dog, shepherd/husky/Doberman mix Decker, Gus is worried. While Decker reminds Lottie of a childhood dog, Decker is a traumatized, controlling personality whose goal is to be the pack leader and slowly remove all of the other dogs! He manages to get into Lottie's bed, and displace Moon Pie, who is sure that he will soon be going home to Gertie's. Gertie, unfortunately, has passed away, and this is being kept from Moon Pie so as not to make him sad. Decker also has a confrontation with Tank during which he bites his own paw, causing Tank to be caged and leashed away from his friends. Roo has always thought Gus' leadership style was too weak, and starts to follow Decker around as though her were the pack leader. At the same time, Decker tells Moon Pie that he is the weakest member of the pack, and that the other dogs are lying to him. Gertie is at her home, Decker says, and Moon Pie should run away to find her. Ghost overhears this exchange, and tries to tell Gus, but finds it too difficult. Miss Lottie is devastated when she finds out about Moon Pie, and the dogs decide to run away to help find him. With a coyote roaming the neighborhood, this is dangerous for all of the dogs. Will they be able to find their friend and restore peace to their household?

Secondhand Dogs has a well developed cast of characters and has the feel of Watership Down in its examination of power structure and group dynamics. Gus is a steady, thoughtful leader who is always motivated by kindness and the best interest of his pack. Tank is a gentle giant who makes sure that his mates feel secure. Roo is the loose cannon-- an excitable hunting dog who doesn't think things through. Moon Pie is sweet and trusting, and just wants to go back to his beloved human, Gertie. Ghost is the odd cat out, who seems to enjoy solitude until there is a chance to be included. Decker is evil on the surface, but improves once the humans understand what his motivations are and intervene. Caring for all of these dogs is Miss Lottie, whose story we don't fully understand until the end, and Quinn, whose work with the dogs helps him process problems in his own life. 

As impressive as the character development is, younger readers will enjoy the plot, which is solid and fast moving. Decker's deviousness causes Moon Pie's departure, which has a ripple effect throughout the household. Encounters with rats and coyotes add to the excitement, and there's a little comic relief when Moon Pie is taken in by a woman who smell of "warm pudding and muffins", calls him "bunny-boo", and feeds him roast beef and mashed potatoes! The resolution is worked out well, with all of the animals and humans getting what they need to be happy and healthy. 

Like Standish's Bad Bella, Cameron's A Dog's Purpose novels, and Ibbotson's One Boy and His Dog, Secondhand Dogs offers a look at the complex, codependent relationship that dogs and humans have. Readers who have had a dogs in their lives will connect to Gus' love of his pack, Miss Lottie's care of them, and Quinn's investment in an alternate family that ultimately helps him love his own. 

I have to say that Moon Pie's love of popcorn and yearning for Gertie had me tearing up frequently; the first time I made popcorn, my new secondhand dog, Pongo, got very excited. His former owners, Bob and Peaches, passed away, and we decided that perhaps he had snuggled with them while enjoying a snack. Now, I make popcorn on the 24th of each month to celebrate my new little guy who, like Moon Pie, just wants to be near me at every moment, and will bark only if I don't give him enough attention the moment I get home from work. 

Jones, Richard. Perdu

April 1st 2021 by Peachtree Publishing Company

Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central

Perdu lives all alone in the countryside, the only hint of hope in his dreary life a red scarf around his neck. Following a floating leaf to see where it belongs leads him closer and closer to the city. Once there, he catches the attention of a small girl who shows up in many of the scenes, but in general, is ill treated. There are too many people and too much hustle and bustle, and when he desperately tries to get food in a cafe by pulling on the tablecloth, he is chased, yelled at, and loses his scarf. In a park, the little girl approaches him with his lost scarf, puts it on him, and takes him home to stay with her. 

The illustrations are executed in a soft, that reminded me of one of my favorite 1960s Whitman Tell-s-Tale books, Fiedler'sMy Very Special Day. The backgrounds are softly colored and impressionistic, so small, brown Perdu, as well as the little girl, stand out. The colors include a lot of muted turquoise, brown, and ochre, with the warmer colors being used when Perdu is in trouble. 

The text is simple and short, which makes this an excellent choice for a book that must be read multiple times. There are some tense bits, with Perdu being scared and barking and snarling, but this is followed immediately by the little girl finding him. 

While not a terribly unusual story, it's always heartwarming to read about someone who finally finds a place in the world. Readers who enjoy heartwarming books about dogs such as Cecil's Lucy, Bauer's Little Dog Lost,  or Colfer's The Dog Who Lost His Bark will enjoy this sweet tale of a small dog alone in a big world. 

The Dust Bowl (American Horse Tales #1) , Chasing Lucky

Corpora, Michelle Jabès. The Dust Bowl (American Horse Tales #1) 

June 29th 2021 by Penguin Workshop (Paperback)

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Ginny's family lives on a farm in Oklahoma that has been in the family for several generation, but has recently fallen on hard time in the 1930s. After a particularly bad dust storm that damages property and crops, the father feels that they need to try to sell some possessions in order to keep going. Ginny has her own horse, Thimble, who is expensive to keep. When she goes with her father into town to try to sell Thimble, she has the horse perform tricks to make the men think he is lame, so no one will buy him. Her father is angry, and Ginny decides it would be best to run away and try to get to family in California who have offered to take them in. During her travels, she helps Silvio, who is also trying to make it to California. His father has passed away, and things are even harder for his family, in part because they are Mexican American. The two get a little bit of a break when they help a well to do man get his car to a service station using Thimble. Mr. Bennett feeds them, tells Ginny she should go home, and even gives the children $10 to help them out. They make a little progress, but when Ginny starts to cough in a way that reminds Silvio of his father's fatal illness, she gives Silvio the money and starts for home on Thimble. When she returns, will the family be glad to see her? And what will become of Thimble?

Strengths: I would have loved this book as a child, and readers who enjoyed Hapka's Ponies of Chincoteague series will want to have this one on their radar. Ginny's devotion to Thimble, and her attempts to save him, will resonate with readers who would love to have a horse of their own. Ginny does have a plan for running away, and even makes fairly good preparations. I enjoyed the inclusion of Mr. Bennett, who is working for a government agency that helps farmers reclaim lands damaged by the dust bowl, and there's even a mention of the father getting employment with a WPA project. As we approach the centenary of the the 1929 Stock Marker Crash, I suspect that we might see more books about this topic. I wish that the Colorado Historical Society could put their Dust Bowl house experience online so that readers could understand the full impact of what Ginny experienced! 
Weaknesses: A girl going through Ginny's experiences in the 1930s would probably have understood why her horse had to be sold. The Great Depression was so severe that some families sent their children out on their own; a horse would have certainly been a luxury. Also, I know that the term "American" is used for the US, but it has always bothered me. I would have preferred a name that included United States instead.
What I really think: This series looks to be in paperback, on the short side, and has very large print. This would be great for elementary readers who live and breathe horses, but since I already have the entire Horse Diaries series, I will pass on this one.

Bennett, Jenn. Chasing Lucky

November 10th 2020 by Simon Pulse

Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central

Josie Saint-Martin and her mother have lived an itinerant lifestyle ever since they left the small Rhode Island seaside town where they lived with her grandmother. Now, as her senior year approaches, her grandmother and aunt have left to work in Nepal, leaving Josie's mother in charge of the bookstore which has been in the family for ages. Her cousin, Evie, will also be with them. One of the first people Josie meets when she comes back to town is her former best friend, Lucky Karras. The two had been inseparable, but when Josie left town suddenly, Lucky's life spiraled downward. He was involved in a bad fire, and carries scars from that, although his family's fortunes have improved and they now run a successful yacht repair service. There are some priveleged kids in town who go to a private school, and one of them, Adrian, shows up at a party showing a nude photo of Josie's mother as a teen. The Saint-Martin woman have a reputation, and also a "love curse" that seems to follow them, and Josie feels awkward and angry. When she and Lucky leave the party together, she ends up throwing a rock that accidentally shatters a large window at Adrian's family's department store. Lucky takes the blame, and Josie feels guilty. She tries to help him pay for the window, even though she's not making a lot of money herself. Most of her income comes from a photo hosting web site where she displays her art work; this also leads to rumors that the nude photo came from her site. Josie and Lucky spar back and forth, and both have a lot of anger about the way their lives have gone. Josie worries about her mother's erratic behavior, her cousin Evie's choices of friends, and her own future. Her father is a successful photographer in California, and Josie hopes to graduate from high school and go to join him when her mother fulfills her own wish of moving to Florida. Josie doesn't speak much to her father, but hopes to impress him, although she is unable to get an internship. When her relationship with Lucky takes an interesting turn, will it jeopardize her future?

This is a solidly young adult book because of the high levels of angst Josie exhibits; she doesn't get along with her mother, she worries about her cousin, she can't seem to stop making choices that make her the subject of gossip in town, and she has trouble communicating with Lucky in a straight forward manner. There is also more romantic activity in the book than middle grade readers would be comfortable with. 

Josie's love of photography is interesting, and she has a camera collection that will intrigue anyone familiar with actual cameras. Each chapter starts with the description of one of her pieces of art; she specializes in pictures of signs from her small town. There is some information about using light to take good pictures, the web site hosting her art, and a few other details that will speak to fans of Rushby's Shooting Stars, Nelson's Hot Cocoa Hearts, and Bauer's classic Thwonk. 

Cartoon Saturday- Kyle's Little Sister and Long Distance

Jeong, BonHyung. Kyle's Little Sister 

June 22nd 2021 by JY (Yen Press)

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Grace is just entering 6th grade, and will be rejoining her older brother Kyle at school, where he is a popular and athletic 8th grader. Grace resents him, especially since her friend Jay has a crush on him. Their friend, Amy, often pushes Jay out of her comfort zone, and soon the girls have a falling out. Grace has worried about fitting in at middle school, since she is more of a quiet gamer, and now finds herself eating lunch alone. When popular but mean spirited Cam befriends her, "accidentally" bumping in to Amy and spilling things on her, Grace is a bit leery, but glad to have a friend. Cam continues her mean streak, refusing to let a new girl sit at their table, and asks to be introduced to Kyle, on whom she also has a crush. When Grace refuses, Cam cuts her off and is very mean. Amy and Jay, who have reached a détente, see how Cam is treating Grace and tell Kyle about it. Kyle confronts Cam, which doesn't really help things. Will Grace be able to reconnect with her friends and find a way to be les resentful about her brother?

Strengths: Friend drama is a huge attraction when it comes to plots that my students request, and this has plenty of drama! Yen Press also publishes Svetlana Chmakova’s Awkward, Brave, and Crush which I have had to replace several times, and the themes are very similar. There's a wide range of middle school experiences, and we get a few glimpses of Grace's home life, which is supportive even though her father is away. There's also a decent amount of true-to-life middle school romance. 
Weaknesses: Grace is perhaps the single most challenging character I have ever encountered. The cover is very indicative of her every sulking move in the book. She's not even very nice to Amy and Jay. The art style will appeal to younger readers, but the manga style always makes me think that the story is being performed by the cast of Speed Racer. 
What I really think: I personally do not understand the appeal of Telgemeier's story lines (would anyone read a novel about dental trauma?), but this tale of mean girl drama in middle school will probably go over well with my students, who even like the Tessier and Amandine Chloe graphic novels, which make me cringe whenever they are checked out. Will probably purchase, but this was not a personal favorite. It's probably "toxic positivity" to suggest that maybe if we quit telling students to be anxious about middle school, they will stop being so anxious.

Gardner, Whitney. Long Distance

June 29th 2021 by Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Vega is very unhappy when her dads move her from Portland to Seattle, especially since she has to leave her best friend Halley, who shares her love of space. To add insult to injury, they send her to a summer camp for kids who have trouble making friends. The counselors are a bit odd, and there are strange goings on in the woods as well. One camper, George, seems to have an especially close connection to the camp (he claims his parents run it, but they are never seen), and changes personalities constantly-- and they are all annoying. Vega does befriend Qwerty, who is also from Portland, as well as bunkmate Gemma and her brother Isaac. There are other campers, but it is these four who come across strange technology that seems to control the counselors, and seems to be somehow connected to George. Vega is very worried about her friendship with Halley, since her phone isn't working and she is getting no messages back from her best friend, after seeing Halley post pictures of herself with some new friends. When the suspicious technology leads the campers to find out the true nature of the camp, they must convince George that friendships are possible even when people are far apart from each other, a lesson which Vega is also able to apply to her situation with Halley. 

Strengths: Vega doesn't think she needs to go to a camp to make friends, but at least tries to join in to activities and not mope about Halley the entire time she is away. She's also not overly anxious about making friends, although she is angry about moving, which seems very realistic. The camp is just quirky enough to make it interesting, and the story line does take a very decided twist that I don't want to spoil. It has a good message about friendship, and shows kids connecting remotely in a way that I hope will be more historically important than a depiction of every day life. 
Weaknesses: The one father was only ever shown wearing a bathrobe, which seemed very odd. Isaac and Gemma were a tiny bit hard to tell apart, but on the plus side, I was not distracted by the noses! (My number one complaint about graphic novels!)

What I really think: This was a bit odd, but in a fun way. It's a great mix of summer camp and science fiction. There aren't a lot of science fiction graphic novels, so include this along with Brooks' Sanity and Tallulah, Winnick's HiLo, Hatke's Zita the Spacegirl, Graley's Glitch, and Hansen's fantastic My Video Game Ate My Homework. 

Sells, Chad. Roar of the Beast (The Cardboard Kingdom #2)

June 1st 2021 by Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers

Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central

As Halloween approached, the Cardboard Kingdom characters are getting ready, but there are problems. Elijah is worried that his stepbrother doesn't want as much to do with him, Alice is generally secretive and the costume plans, and Miguel is still trying to understand his feelings for Nate. Vijay, whose role is the Beast, is bullied by older teenagers, who make fun of his mask,and even though his sister Shikha confronts them, they still pop up and give the group problems. When Nate breaks his leg going after what appears to be a monster in the neighborhood, the group is on high alert. They form watches at night and worry that the monster will bring trouble to the neighborhood on Halloween. When they find out who is controlling the monster, will they be able to do anything about it?

The best part of these books is the variety of characters. From Alice (who is always wandering aroudn with an evil plan saying "Bwa ha ha ha ha") to frightened Elijah to take charge Shikhas, the members of the Monster Mashers are well developed, and we get glimpses into their family life. My favorite is probably Animal Queen, who has a lot of power in the group, but whose parents don't want to let her go trick-or-treating. 

The illustrations help the story a lot, and enables us to see what the children really look like in their costumes and also how they FEEL they look. Imaginative play is rather a lost art, and by middle school, tweens don't engage in quite as much of it. Even though there are some naysaying teenagers, it's good to see that there is a neighborhood group encouraging creativity in costuming, story writing, and general world building. How cool is it that there is a Dragon's Head Inn that serves refreshments out of a garage!

The color palette has a lot of purple and orange, which helps create the spooky feel of Halloween. There should be more middle grade books involving this holiday-- it's huge in the tween world because of the freedom that children are allowed to roam the neighborhood at night, costumes that allow children to take on other identities, and most importantly... candy!

Roar of the Beast is a good addition to imaginative graphic novels like Moyer's Ham Helsing: Vampire Hunter, Winnick's Hilo, and Graley's Donut the Destroyer. 

Kiki Kallira Breaks a Kingdom

Mandanjna, Sangu. Kiki Kallira Breaks a Kingdom
July 6th 2021 by Viking Books for Young Readers

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Kiki, who struggles with anxiety, lives with her mother in London and loves to draw. She also loves hearing myths from Indian culture and celebrating festivals they way her grandparents did in Karnataka, the state they were from. When Kiki starts drawing her own version of the legend of Mysore, and the demon king Mahishasura, things start to go wrong. She opens a portal into that world, and the demon comes into her bedroom and sets her desk on fire! She sees a girl outside run the demon off with a sword, and when she goes after her, finds that it is Ashwini, a relative about whom her aunties tell cautionary tales, and whom she has worked into her book. Ashwini tells her that only Kiki can dispatch Mahishasura, and takes her to the world that Kiki herself has drawn. Kiki meets many of the characters she has created, like Lej, Jojo, Suki and Samara, the "Crows" who live in a house also designed by Kiki. Ashwini tells Kiki that Mahishasura can be defeated if the golden eye of the gandaberunda is broken, but that the world that Kiki has created will cease to exist once that happens. The interactions between the worlds seems to be more complicated than this, and Kiki is plunged into an adventure that takes her to an underground market, and on many other adventures while she figures how to best keep the demons out of her world without destroying her own creation. 

Strengths: Kiki is a sympathetic character who reacts understandably when attacked by a demon, and even though she is anxious, undertakes trying to save the world. Having her thrust into a world of her own creation is fascinating. I really enjoyed the house that the Crows lived in, and appreciated that a lot of time was spent there in between attempts to overthrow the demon. I was half expecting Kiki to have to travel all over on a quest, but this thankfully broke from that standard formula. There's plenty of food, hot chocolate, and hanging around to recuperate from demon hunting, which I like just about as much as the action. My students, who always want things to happen, will find plenty of chases and demons setting things on fire. 
Weaknesses: As with DasGupta's Kiranmala and Chokshi's Pandava chronicles, I almost needed an index, like Riordan's books have, with a list of characters. I just don't have the background knowledge to bring to this story, and I'm afraid many of my students will be in the same boat. While it's not completely necessary to understand the story, I feel that having a really good grasp of Greek and Roman mythology made the Riordan books even more enjoyable. I'd love to see books of stories like Napoli's "Tales From..." to go along with these. 
What I really think: This was a fresh take on fantasy, with a lot of fascinating Indian mythology as well. About fifteen years ago, there were a lot of fantasy books involving books; Funke's Inkheart, Womack's The Other Book (2008), Skelton's Endymion Spring (2006), Beddor's The Looking Glass Wars, and others that are lost to the mists of time were very popular. Perhaps we are seeing a resurgence, with Perry's The Thieving Collectors of Fine Children's Books . I liked this one because Kiki got to go into a world she had created. 

Josephine Against the Sea

Bourne, Shakirah. Josephine Against the Sea

July 6th 2021 by Scholastic

E ARC provided by Edelweiss

Josephine's mother has been gone for five years, but she is not happy that her father is now interested in dating. She would prefer that the two of them stay as they are, watching cricket after her father's busy days as a fisherman in Barbados. She even rigs a bucket of fish guts to spill onto the head of a woman that he brings home, with the help of her friend, Ahkai. Miss Alleyne, Josephine's new teacher, wants her to do well on her upcoming Common Entrance 11-Plus Exam, but this preparation leaves her feeling overwhelmed. Instead, she has gathered her savings and is planning on taking her father to a cricket match to take his mind off of women, but has to give the money to her father when one of her attempts to drive off his dates end with a broken window in their rented home. When a woman named Mariss shows up, she proves impossible for Josephine to scare off. Nothing works, and she and Ahkai start to believe that perhaps she is a sea creature called a Sea Mumma who has designs on her father. Will Josephine and Ahkai be able to fend her off?

Strengths: It's very difficult to find middle grade fiction set in the Caribbean; a search of Follett's Titlewave brings up Taylor's 1969 The Cay as one of the very few choices, which is problematic. I loved reading about Josephine's struggles in school, her adventures outside, and her struggles with Mariss. It's an interesting premise to have a parent dating an ACTUAL slightly demonic creature! I'm sure many young readers will appreciate that. Her friendship with Ahkai is good to see, and Miss Alleyne was probably my favorite character. I'm curious to see this author's expected 2022 release, Duppy Island. 
Weaknesses: Josephine was a challenging character. There was no excuse to drop a bucket of fish guts on the head of her father's date, and the fact that he didn't discipline her more strongly is concerning. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who want tales rich with Caribbean folkore like Baptiste's The Jumbies or enjoyed tales with magical elements like Callender's King and the Dragonflies or Smith's Hoodoo. 

Anna May Wong and A Glasshouse of Stars

Yoo, Paula. The Story of Movie Star: Anna May Wong 

January 1st 2019 by Lee & Low Books

Library copy

As a young girl in the early 1900s, Anna May was enthralled with the burgeoning film industry. She lived with her parents in Los Angeles' Chinatown, where they ran a laundry. Movie making looked far more glamorous, and even though her father wanted her to be a secretary, she looked for jobs as an extra in movies, persevering until she got a role in one. Unfortunately, Chinese Americans were negatively portrayed in many films, and because of laws forbidding difference races from kissing on screen, roles were often filled with white actors to avoid this issue. Wong decided to move to China to avoid this sort of discrimination, but returned to Hollywood in 1937 to fight for equal representation. She continued to act until her death in 1961, at the age of 56, and only accepted what she perceived to be positive roles, paving the way for other Asian American actors. 

Strengths: This would be a great nonfiction title to pair with Nesbet's Daring Darleen: Queen of the Screen or Wiley's The Nerviest Girl in the World for coverage of early Hollywood and filming. There's just enough about both, as well as about the racial discrimination of the day, to get readers interested in learning more. Lee and Low's The Story Of biographies have an interesting range of titles and should be included in elementary libraries where Who Was books are popular but a little more cultural diversity is needed. 
Weaknesses: I'm never a fan of illustrations in biographies, but I understand why they are used. There are a few photographs. 
What I really think: I wouldn't mind a longer biography of this actor, but this will be a great choice for my readers who are interested in the history of film and who just want a shorter book. 

Marr, Shirley. A Glasshouse of Stars

Published June 29th 2021 by Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers 

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Meixing Lim and her family inherit a house in the New Land from her mother's brother, who died of a heart attack while tending oranges in the yard. Ma Ma is pregnant, and Ba Ba (her father) struggles to find work, taking heavy manual labor he isn't used to. The family has difficulty with the new language and customs, and are helped a good deal by Mrs. Huynh, who is also from a different country, but not the one from which they hail. Her food is similar, and she is kind enough to help Meixing with a school uniform, and provides the family with many other kinds of support. School is filled with children who are unkind and make fun of Meixing's food, clothing, language abilities. One girl even steals a gold ring that belonged to Meixing's grandmother, and the teacher believes her over Meixing when a friend steals it back. When a tragedy occurs in the family, Mrs. Huynh once again helps, but relatives also arrive. The house, which she calls the Big Scary, seems to have magical abilities to increase in size to accommodate all of the relatives. Ma Ma's health is fragile, and her pregnancy seems challenging, and it takes a while for her to get back on her footing to take care of Meixing. Josh and Kevin eventually befriend Meixing at school, and she has a supportive teacher, Ms. Jardine. The glasshouse in the garden has portal like abilities that allow Meixing to talk to people from her past, including the uncle who passed away. There is a very frightening episode where older boys attack Meixing and her mother, but eventually Ma Ma has her baby, and a younger aunt offers to come and live near the family to help out. 

Strengths: I am always looking for books about various types of immigrant experiences, and this is one to add to titles like Sheth's Blue Jasmine, Lai's Pie in the Sky, Freeman's One Good Thing About America, Yang's Front Desk, and Behar's Lucky Broken Girl. It's also a rare example of a middle grade novel in the 2nd person. 
Weaknesses: This is the most trauma filled immigrant tale that I have read. My heart broke for Meixing, although it was good to see that there were kind people in their lives like Mrs. Huynh, Ms. Jardine, and the aunt. 
What I really think: This felt much more like an adult novel about a younger character than a middle grade novel. It also had a decidedly Australian feel.