Lost Time

Mukanik, Tasha. Lost Time
October 3, 2023 by Razorbill
Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central

In this graphic novel, Evie finds herself catapulted back 67.5 million years to the cretaceous period in North America after a fight with her mothers. Her mothers, who study ancient creatures, wanted her to travel back with them, but Evie was scared. Running away, she managed to accidentally get transported by herself. She does find an abandoned research center, and working taped logs of the scientists there. After picking up an egg and hatching a Quetzalcoatlus (whom she names Ada), Evie dedicates herself to listening to the tapes and caring for herself and her growing "pet". When she finds that the scientists had a temporal communicator, but that it is stored at a far flung location, she teaches Ada to let her ride on her back. This takes some time, and there are always other ancient creatures to deal with, but the two soon set out. They find another abandoned station, as well as the tempcom, but Ada manages to drop it in the sea. Heading home dejected and longing to speak to her mothers, Evie finds brief solace in caring for an injured T Rex, Prince, who comes to her rescue after fire devastates the research station. Will Evie ever be able to find her mothers and return to the present? 

Readers who enjoy manga will like the vivid style of the pictures, and those who struggle with text will appreciate the many wordless panels, showcasing scenes of survival, daily life, or Evie's longing to be with her parents. The drawings of dinosaurs (and other ancient creatures), as well as the notes in the back on different species, will please the children who are obsessed with these animals and can identify all of the different ones by name. 

This is an easy to follow story with not a lot of text, which is great for emergent readers but left me wanting to know a lot more about certain aspects of Evie's story. I also have my doubts about Evie's ability to tame a prehistoric Quetzalcoatlus and T Rex, but if she can travel 67.5 million years into the past, she should be allowed to do just about anything she wants. 

There are not a lot of fictional books about dinosaurs, and Nat Geo Kids has two fantastic guides;  How to Survive in the Age of Dinosaurs and The Dinosaur Atlas. There is another graphic novel, Plumeri's 2014 In the Beginning: Dinosaurs #1, and Martin's 2016 The Ark Plan series, but there could be a lot more books set during this time, like the old television show Land of the Lost,  or set in the modern era with dinosaurs, like Jurassic Park. Since there aren't, definitely pick up Lost Time for a young dinosaur fan. 

This would be a good choice for an elementary school; I don't know that I would have purchased this for my middle school, but since I got a copy for review, I'll include it in the collection since there aren't as many adventure oriented graphic novels. There's just not as much of a plot or character development as middle grade usually has. 

Nightshade's Revenge and David Atherton's Baking Book

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Horowitz, Anthony. Nightshade's Revenge (Alex Rider #13)

January 16, 2024 by Philomel Books

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

In his short career with MI6, Alex has managed to take down the evil organization Scorpia and fight Nightshade, but was not able to take them down. He did what he could, but he's glad to be back at school. Exams are a bit of a struggle when you're off fighting international criminals every other week, but he's relishing the short time he has remaining to be in school with his best friend Tom, who has decided he won't be going to college. The two decide to take a break from studying and go skateboarding... but of course, Tom is kidnapped by Nightshade. Alex goes after him, but is soon approached in his home by Brother Mike, who tells him that the organization will kill Tom unless Alex goes to the prison and helps Freddy Gray escape. Alex has been visiting Freddy, who was an operative for Nightshade, and feels that Freddy is making good progress turning his life around, especially since his parents also come to visit them. Freddy is being held in a very secure location, but with the help of some gadgets, Alex manages to get in. He breaks him out and is worried that Freddy will go back to Nightshade, but when Freddy does a favor for Alex (I don't want to spoil things, but Freddy manages to NOT kill someone Alex thinks will die), he knows Freddy is not acting for Nightshade. Alex is supposed to be investigating the death of Steven Chan, who was investigating the video game company Real Time, on behalf of a man whose son died playing the game. He's ended up in California, working again with Ben, and tries to hunt down Jon Lucas, who once worked for Real Time and may have some evil plans in place. Alex is also trying to get Mrs. Jones' son, William, out of Nightshade. Will Alex be able to neutralize Nightshade enough so that he can concentrate on passing his GCSEs?

Strengths: Smithers is back! Smithers is one of my favorite characters, and I didn't quite realize that in the 2006 film, he was played by Stephen Fry! That's about as perfect as it gets. There are some great gadgets, including a business card that can be dropped into a cup of tea and emits a gas that puts people to sleep. Always a fan of the gadgets. It's good that Alex gets to see Sabina in California, and since she mentioned that her family is moving back to England, I think there's at least one more book that could be written. After all, we need to see if Jack passes her law exams! It was great to see Alex skateboarding, and Tom is a long suffering but very good friend. As always, Horowitz's writing just gets better and better; crisp, to the point, and action packed. I imagine that his knowledge of exotic locations has been gleaned by traveling there when his film writing is being produced. For those of us who hardly ever leave home, it's always fun to travel vicariously with Alex! Another great volume of exciting spy adventures! 
Weaknesses: Ah, poor Freddy. Just doesn't end well. Also, wasn't the very first Stormbreaker involved with evil video games? Oh, well. It's always a popular topic, so I didn't mind that much. 
What I really think: Invariably, when I am suggesting Stormbreaker to a student, there is another student nearby who has read the series and pipes up that it is excellent. It still the number one book in my library over the last twenty years. If you work with middle grade readers and HAVEN'T read these books, you really need to pick up a couple of them. I'm particularly fond of Scorpia and Secret Weapon (and personally own TWO copies of the latter!). 
 

Stormbreaker #1 (2000)
Point Blank #2 (2001)
Skeleton Key #3(2002)
Eagle Strike #4 (2003)
Scorpia #5 (2004)
Ark Angel #6 (2005)
Snakehead #7 (2007)
Crocodile Tears #8 (2009)
Scorpia Rising #9 (2011)
Russian Roulette (prequel, #10) (2013)
Never Say Die #11(2017)
Secret Weapon  (2019)(short stories)
Nightshade (#12) (2020)

Atherton, David. David Atherton's Baking Book for Kids
September 19, 2023 by Candlewick Press
Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central

Having read this author's Bake, Make, and Learn to Cook: Fun and Healthy Recipes for Young Cooks (which has my favorite illustrations; the teal and orange colors are fantastic) as well as Bake, Make, and Learn to Cook Vegetarian: Healthy and Green Recipes for Young Cooks, I was interested to see this volume of baked goods by Atherton, who apparently was a Great British Baking Show Winner. (I've never watched it, but I know there are a lot of avid fans.) This one, illustrated by Harry Woodgate, had a good variety of things to bake, including samosas and sausage rolls, proving that baking doesn't have to be all sweets. 

The recipes are clear and concise, and there is the requisite overview of supplies, techniques, and ingredients at the beginning of the book. The baked goods do seem rather British (which only makes sense) and includes Hot Cross Hedgehogs, Chocolate Chip Buns, and some very convoluted things with bread dough, and well as a scone volcano that seemed reminiscent of Farrow's The Official Harry Potter Baking Book. The British don't make as many cookies as we do in the US because their biscuit manufacturing is so strong, but they do seem to like to spend a lot more time forcing bread dough into odd shapes than I do!

There's a nice cut up butterfly cake, although it has nothing on the Baker's Easy Cut-Up Party Cakes book, and a yummy looking Jam roll Swiss Roll that I might try even though rolling up the cake in a tea towel has always seemed like a difficult proposition! There's a custard cream recipe that also looks tempting, although I am unsure of why it was necessary to include canned corn in the recipe. The cookie options are heavy on bars. The birthday ombre cake on the cover is included in the chapter on Showstoppers, along with a cherry pie. 

I always wanted to bake with my mother when I was growing up and still love to read cookbooks. This is a great choice for the budding baker in your life who will be glad to have a copy of this to shelve next to titles like Klutz Books' Magical Baking, Strand's Kids in the Holiday Kitchen, Williams' Spooky Snacks and Treats, and Goldman's fantastic Super Good Cookies for Kids. 

The Vanderbeekers Ever After (#7)

Glaser, Karina Yan. The Vanderbeekers Ever After (#7)
September 19, 2023 by Clarion Books

Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central

In this final installment of the Vanderbeekers saga, we find the group recuperating from their summer journey (The Vanderbeekers on the Road) and preparing for the wedding of Mr. B. and Aunt Penny. Hyacinth is particularly excited, and starts to make grand plans. These are called into question, however, when Laney ends up being very. After being tired and fainting on the way to see Dr. Schwartz, the family ends up at an oncologist, Dr. Ayoub. Twins Isa and Jessie are so concerned that they even take time off school at the very beginning of the year. Laney has leukemia, and treatment starts right away at the Memorial Sloan Kettering hospital. With the help of a friendly nurse, Steve, Laney gets a port for medicine installed and starts chemotherapy, staying a week in the hospital and making some friends. There's an art teacher who helps her make garlands for the wedding. She meets Edward, who has been sick for a long time, and whose mother disapproves of some of the hijinks involving the extended Vanderbeeker clan. Laney does her best to befriend him, and soon improves his mood. One thing that does make Edward happy are the visits from therapy dogs, and the Vanderbeeker children start trying to find more people to train their own dogs, roping in Miss Josie and Billie Holliday as well as vet tech Cassandra and her hairless dog Mochi. Laney's leukemia doesn't go into remission, so she has to have more aggressive treatment. When she loses her hair, Oliver shaves his head in solidarity. The wedding is postponed, as the family struggles to keep the bakery and cat cafe open while dealing with the activities of the children and Laney's treatment. Edward goes downhill, and moves home to have hospice care, dying soon after. When Laney does go into remission, Mr. B. and Penny decide to go ahead with the wedding on Christmas day after all, even though they don't have any plans made, in true Vanderbeeker fashion. 

While this book did show the family working together in the same way as the other books, and included various comical scenes with pets and scrapes, the biggest part of it is dedicated to Laney's cancer. There are a lot of details about the hospital stay, activities that Laney is able to do while there, and information about how leukemia is treated. This is all very interesting, but readers looking for another light hearted Vanderbeeker adventure may be surprised. 

It's good to see the older children trying to help Laney with activities, or by using their contacts to improve the therapy dog situation for everyone at the hospital, although we don't see quite as much of the parents or other adults. The neighborhood and extended community are evident in everything from meals being delivered to the family to a local business loaning its van to transport Laney to the hospital. 

 

Fans of family series like Birdsall's The Penderwicks and Kingsbury and Russell's Baxter Family Children will enjoy the large family aspect of this, and Laney's struggle with cancer makes this one to add to a list of books like Gephart's Tried and True (2021), Harrell's Wink (2020), Dee's Halfway Normal (2017), Conklin's Counting Thyme (2016), Gemeinhart's The Honest Truth (2015), Lopez's Ask My Mood Ring How I Feel (2013),  or Sonnenblick's Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie (2005) that deal with this disease.

I am always amazed at how disorganized the Vanderbeekers are; it made perfect sense that they decided to have the wedding right away, even though they had canceled all of the plans, because that's how they seem to roll. Children won't think anything of it, but it's a chaotic and uncomfortable way to live! 

Saturday Morning Cartoons- Cat on the Run

Blabey, Aaron. Cat of Death (Cat on the Run #1)

September 5, 2023 by Scholastic Paperbacks

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Princess Beautiful is the most popular social media influencer who's a cat. Millions of followers, viral videos, constant comments-- she has it all. She has even caught the attention of the handsome, rich, and dashing Catrick Cash, and has a date with him. First, she has to film a video of her typing for her social media feed. She doesn't really look at the screen, and a handler is manipulating her paws. In doing so, she manages to set off weapons that almost cause the end of the world! There is a mysterious outline of a red scorpion that seems to be behind all of this. Social media dubs her "the cat of death" and quickly "convict" her of evildoing, followed by an amazingly brief trial that sentences her to jail time in a remote, heavily guarded facility. When she is being transported there in a bus with two guards, the bus hits spikes, the tires blow, and the bus falls off the side of a cliff onto an improbably car dealership on the side of the mountain. Of course, the vehicles there are filled with thousands of gallons of fuel, so everything blows sky high. When she finally hits the ground, miraculously unhurt, Princess Beautiful tries to go into town to create a disguise, but everyone recognizes her. She's been in contact with Catrick, who assures her that he will support her and help her prove her innocence. She hijacks a vehicle and follows a truck with the same scorpion outline that has been haunting her, and takes off on a high speed chase.  At the end of the line, she agrees to give herself up to the mouse policeman who is chasing her, but standing on the edge of a ruined road she is hit by a tranquilizer dart and falls over the edge. Is this the end for Princess Beautiful, or will we find out more of her exploits in a second book in the series?
Strengths: My students spend an inordinate amount of time on TikTok videos, even at school, where I thought phones were not supposed to be out. They look at their phones instead of talking to friends at lunch, and during study hall instead of doing homework. I don't understand the appeal, but they also apparently think they can be social media influencers when they grow up and somehow earn money doing it. Princess Beautiful has an entire empire funded by her influencing; an enormous building, staff, and a posh lifestyle where she can ask for a vanilla latte and have it handed to her wherever she is. She even demands that one of her staff leave his wedding to help her out, and he does. Of course, there is a down side to fame, and there is quite a heavy message of how everyone thinks that things that appear on the internet are true. Of course Princess Beautiful is evil because of her typing mishap. Of course she should be put in jail, and chased down when she escapes. Cat of Death is amusing, and skewers the subject of social media fame in a way that even younger readers will enjoy. 
Weaknesses: I know this is a cartoon, and so Princess Beautiful survives a fiery crash in the same way that Wile E. Coyote or the Road Runner would, but somehow the top of the mountain with the prison on it crashing into the sea and everyone surviving the crash seemed far fetched!
What I really think: I thought that The Bad Guys was great, and had one of the funniest scenes I've ever seen, with the Bad Guys trying to rescue a kitten from a tree. I don't expect Blabey to hit that level of hilarity every time, but it's always at the back of my mind. This seemed a bit young (Bad Guys certainly is), so I might not purchase it, but if I did, I know a lot of students would check it out. 

Basketball Town

Maraniss, Andrew. Beyond the Game: Maya Moore

March 5, 2024 by Viking Books for Young Readers

E ARC Provided by Edelweiss Plus

This highly illustrated biography comes in at just under 100 pages. We learn about the life and athletic career of Maya Moore, who was born in 1989 and played college and professional ball. When she retired, she worked hard to get a wrongfully imprisoned friend exonerated. After he got out, she turned her talents to working on other social justice issues. 

Strengths: I had never heard of Maya Moore, but her story is similar to Marks' fictional  From the Desk of Zoe Washington , which also examined wrongful incarceration and racism within the justice system. The illustrations add a lot, and young readers will enjoy the fast paced story that involves not only sports but also activism. The basketball statistics at the back are great as well. 
Weaknesses: I am looking forward to seeing the physical copy of this; the E ARC had to be accessed through a drop box, which made it harder to read. 
What I really think: I really enjoy Maraniss' work and will purchase this series even though it is slightly young for my students. Sports biographies are always very popular, and I love that this goes "beyond the game" and talks about the ways that sports figures try to make the world a better place. 

Rothman, Scott and Johnson, Darnell. Basketball Town

September 12, 2023 by Candlewick Press

Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central

In this picture book, young Maxwell loves basketball so much that he even dreams about it, and when his dreams take him to Basketball Town, he's thrilled. Everywhere he looks, there are places to play, people hooping, and fresh high tops and gear! Because he hasn't practiced as much as the residents, his skills are not as good as theirs, but the mayor of Basketball Town (who looks a lot like his father) tells him that he needs to work on his game if he wants to play in the Championship. This is a blow, but Maxwell goes to Skillsville and learns what he needs to better his game, and enters the Daily Dunk Off. While Maxwell earns the titles of "King Dunkman the First", the mayor tells him he still isn't ready for the Championship, so he practices some more. He is able to play in the Championship, and his teammates from real life are there. His hard work pays off, and his team does well against a very good team. When he wakes up, Maxwell is ready to do some real work on his basketball skills.

Rothman's fantasy basketball world is vividly illustrated by Darnell Johnson's bright pictures, and young readers will love seeing all of the action and fashion on the pages. The digitally created images have a tiny bit of a feel of the 1970s Harlem Globe Trotters cartoons, at least to my eyes!

The message of reinforcing skills through hard work and repetition is a good one, and a world revolving around basketball is one that many young readers would like to inhabit. I review a lot of sports books for middle grade readers, but have never considered that sports books might be attractive even to early elementary school readers! Basketball Town will be a slam dunk with readers who enjoyed Dahl and Lugo's Goodnight, Basketball, Wheeler and Gott's Dino-Basketball, Barber and Ligasan's Allie's Basketball Dream and Herzog and Bowle's Little Basketball.

Myrtle, Means, and Opportunity (Myrtle Hardcastle #5)

Bunce, Elizabeth C. Myrtle, Means, and Opportunity (Myrtle Hardcastle #5)

October 24, 2023 by Algonquin Young Readers

ARC provided by Young Adult Books Central

Our intrepid investigator Myrtle Hardcastle is back, as her governess, Ada Judson gets a letter that she has inherited a Scottish estate from an Uncle, Angus McJudd. Her English father and mother, who is from New Guinea where the parents both live, want her to go to Scotland to investigate. Since Mytle's lawyer father is very close to proposing to Ada, he sends Myrtle with her to keep an eye on things under the guise of learning in a new environment. Because of her past investigations (Premeditated Myrtle, How to Get Away with Myrtle, Cold-Blooded Myrtle, and In Myrtle Peril), Mytle suspects foul play, especially when the advent of Miss Judson, Cook, and Myrtle causes some consternation among the staff at the estate. Jessie Craig, the Mistress of the Hounds, resents their presence, her grandmother, Mrs. Craig isn't wild about having to feed them, and the lawyer, Mr. Macewan, is surprised that they came. He thought they would sell Rockfford to Fyne Fisheries and be done with the place. The only ally they seem to have is Lt. Smoot, a policeman who personally helps them get to the island. The house is run down, there's no money for upkeep, and there's a lot of mystery surrounding the fishery, as well as a historic broach, the finding of which is supposed to help the McJudd estate. When Mr. Macewan is found murdered in a pond, Myrtle is not surprised. A neighbor, Kirkpatrick, is also trying to buy the estate, and when a pin with his clan symbol is found on Macewan's body, it doesn't look good, especially when it turns out that he's also been trying to pressure Jessie to marry him. The run down house has a lot of rooms in which to hide, and there are also rumors of ghosts. One of these "ghosts" turns out to be Gus, Jessie's brother, who is not supposed to be on the island. Will Myrtle be able to use all of her skills to unravel the mysteries and find a solution so that Miss Judson can come back to be in England with her and her father? 

There are some rhymed clues, a treasure map, and a lot of good sleuthing for readers who like to try to figure out the mystery for themselves, and the suspense holds until the very end of the book. While some of the plot elements are wrapped up nicely, there is plenty of room for a sequel when the group returns to England, having secured the future of Rockfford. 

Fans of classic mysteries by Agatha Christie or Dorothy Sayers, or of modern books set during the past, like The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie (Flavia de Luce, #1) by Alan Bradley or Robin Stevens Wells and Wongs mysteries, will adore this deep dive into mysterious happenings, suspicious will changes, and moldering, remote estates. Bunce does modernize the characters by making Myrtle interested in science, and adding some diversity to the cast with Miss Judson's New Guinean background. 

While I personally loved this series, there is a LOT of Scottish dialect in this that 10-14 year olds might find difficult to navigate, although there is a helpful glossary at the end of the book. If you have a strong reader who likes a bit of murder and can handle the vocabulary in phrases like (page 237 of the ARC) "After a brief but marginally revivifying nap made somewhat less restful by an awkward profusion of canine and feline limbs poking into various human orifices..." this is a great choice. 

Mascot

Waters, Charles, and Sorrell, Traci. Mascot

September 5, 2023 by Charlesbridge 

Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central

Six eighth graders at Rye Middle School are assigned a debate by their language arts teacher, Ms. Williams, in this novel in verse. They have to discuss whether or not it is appropriate to have Native American mascots for sports teams. Callie, who is Black and a Cherokee Native citizen, feels strongly that having the school mascot be the Braves, with the attendent insulting gestures and cheers, is inappropriate. Priya, whose family is from Gujarat, India, agrees, and cringes whenever there are pep rallies or games. Tessa, who is white, has been raised by parents who marched with Martin Luther King, and doesn't quite understand how to be an ally. Franklin is Black, and thinks that the mascot is fine, as does Luis, his best friend. Luis' family is from El Salvador. Sean's family has Irish ancestry, and would be considered more right wing. The family works hard but finds it difficult to get ahead financially, so Sean doesn't see how "white privilege" is working in his favor. When the groups have to research their debates, the students come up with a lot of information. This data sways Franklin, who starts to see they point of changing the name of the team, but doesn't sink in to Luis or Sean. The class evenutally petitions the school board to change the name, and gathers signatures. When they speak at the board meeting, Tessa doesn't stick to the agreed upon comments, and her classmates are angry that she felt a need to disregard their opinions. It takes the board quite some time to decide what to do, and Callie's side of the debate decides to have a protest. Only Franklin, Callie, and Priya are punished for leading it. While waiting for the decision to come down, they do make an effort to raise money to help with the cost associated with the change. In the end, the project is a divisive, but ultimately helpful one for the school community. 

It was interesting to see the variety of backgrounds represented, and realistic that not everyone's minds were changed by the argument. Sean talks to an alumnus, Mr. Allen, who runs a local diner and is himself Native. He claims that having a Native mascot is honoring his ancestors, but he is one of the few who see it that way. Sean never does change his mind, and Sean's parents are surprised that Ms. Williams is able to say nice things about his academics even though he persists in being against the name change. While not all of the actions of the characters are perfect, they are thoughtful and deliberate, which makes this book interesting. Tessa eventually does learn to become a better ally through listening to her fans and checking her privilege. 

There are countless occurrences of team names being changed, and all seem to have some controversies and differences of opinions surrounding them, even though the use of stereotypical Native images have been considered problematic since the 1940s. The Washington Commanders and the Cleveland Guardians are two major league teams who finally changed their names (in 2022 and 2021 respectively), so I'm sure there are plenty of smaller teams who have not yet made this transition due to all of the factors mentioned in Mascot. 

This is a great addition to a growing list of Native American titles that have the approval of Native American scholars and critics, such as Christine Day's We Still Belong, Young's Healer of the Water Monster, or titles by Cynthia Leitich Smith. 

Lulu Sinagtala and the City of Noble Warriors

Villanueva, Gail D. Lulu Sinagtala and the City of Noble Warriors

(Lulu Sinagtala and the Tagalog Gods #1) 

January 9, 2024 by HarperCollins 

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Lulu lives with her sister Kitty and her mother, a busy medical assistant in a neighborhood clinic in Silanganan Village, not too far from Manilla, Philippines. There is a good support system, with various neighbors and "aunties", as well as best friend, Bart. Lulu was adopted, and doesn't resemble her mother or sister at all, and mentions her dark skin and flat nose as something that sets her apart. When there is a small earthquake, a truck is set in motion towards the girls, but somehow Lulu is able to stop it. When she wakes up, she questions whether the incident actually occurs. When she eavesdrops on her mother and others at the local beauty shop, she learns some things about her past, and when she accidentally throws her Tita Cecile several streets away, she learns some secrets about her past. Sadly, just as she is finding these things out, her mother is kidnapped by a wakwak, a winged creature who spirits her off. Tita Cecile tells Lulu that Lulu is the salamangkero, the one that the magical life forces have chosen to protect the realms. In order to find her mother, Lulu, along with Kitty and Bart (who is a shape shifter who also appears on occasion as a neighbor's Shi Tzu!), must travel to a variety of places, deal with difference magical creatures, and try to make a deal to get her mother back. While on this quest, she meets her biological family, finds out why she was adopted, and learns about her powers. When her mother is found, her biological father, Supremo, is sadly overcome by Maligno. He asks Lulu to kill his body, so that the spirit of Maligno also dies, but Lulu can't manage to do this. This leaves an opening for another installment of this tale. 

Strengths: Lulu is an intriguing character who has some of her own struggles, including epilepsy, which is rarely portrayed in middle grade fiction. Three is a good number of characters to have on a quest, and I liked that Kitty had fewer magical powers but Bart had more. There are a LOT of characters from Filipino mythology (and the author describes these at the beginning of the book AS mythology, which helps a lot!), and there's a nice glossary/appendix at the end of the book with more explanation. This is well paced, and has some fun characters sprinkled throughout. 
Weaknesses: I liked this author's Sugar and Spite because it had a fresh take magical realism and good details about everyday life in the Philippines. Lula Sinagtala is more along the lines of a Rick Riordan style fantasy quest, and these are waning in popularity in my library, since there have been so many culturally connected fantasies in this style over the last ten to fifteen years. 

What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed Maunakea's  Lei and the Fire Goddess or Thomas' Nic Blake and the Remarkables. 

MMGM- Slugfest and Dungeons and Drama

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Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
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Boyce, Kristy. Dungeons and Drama

January 9, 2024 by Delacorte Press

Copy provided by the publisher

High schooler Riley loves theater, and hopes one day to be a director, so the decision to borrow her mother's car and drive to nearby Columbus from her small town with her best friend Hoshiko to see a production of Waitresses seemed like a perfectly good plan... except that she doesn't have driver's license! Her parents, who are busy and divorced but very involved in her life, ground her for two months. Not only that, but since she clearly can't be trusted on her own, she has to spend every day after school working at her father's game store, Sword and Board Games. Aside from spending the obligatory weekends with her father, Riley hasn't seen much of him, but has a very close relationship with her mother, even going to some of her interior design jobs. Riley feels that her father chose the game store over her and her mother, so isn't thrilled to be at the business. On top of that, she has an awkward interaction with employee and classmate Nathan, made worse when she talks with her ex-boyfriend, Paul, and claims to be unaffected by their breakup because she already has a new boyfriend. She doesn't, of course, but claims that she and Nathan are dating. She convinces Nathan to go along with the ruse, because he is interested in Sophia, a member of the Dungeons and Dragons group, on whom Nathan has an unrequited crush. Sophia does seem more interested in Nathan when he flirts with Riley, so the two keep flirting in front of her. Of course, at school, they have to keep up appearances in case Paul shows up. Over time, the two bond over a shared love of frosted PopTarts, and Riley starts to realize the appeal of her father's shop and the community that thrives there. She also enjoys Nathan's attempts to inculcate a love of Geek Culture in her by exposing her to Weird Al Yankovic, LARPing costumes, and Monty Python movies. Riley is also busy trying to save the spring musical at school, but she is conscientious about keeping up with her school work. As time passes and Sophia seems more interested in Nathan, Riley finds to her chagrin that she is warming to him as well. When several situations make life stressful, including her father's health crisis, to whom will Riley turn for help and comfort, especially when Paul makes it clear that he would like her back?

I love Riley! She has a fantastic sense of style and dresses in BRIGHT clothing, although I can't think of the last time I saw an actual teenager wearing a skirt! It's heart warming to see her and her mother take equal comfort in their movie musical nights, but also realistic to see the mother very busy with her work. Swords and Boards is an appealing setting, and Boyce packs the shop with a variety of quirky but endearing characters, some of whom come to her rescue with the school musical. Hiroko is a charming foil, and her relationship with gamer Lucas is also a lot of fun. The parents, and their oversight of Riley's life, are a great addition, and the fact that Riley gets along fairly well with both of them was delightful. Of course, it also made her father's very realistic health scare more emotionally wrenching.

Riley gets a good introduction to Dungeons and Dragons; she gets her own set of dice, a character in the game, and experience with people who can quote Monty Python. Boyce clearing has a solid stake in the world of Geekdom; Weird Al and Monty Python go hand in hand with D&D, LARPing, and Board games like Settlers of Catan. I know this because (while my own personal essential fandom is LHOTP) my daughter and son-in-law could have stepped right into this book as characters. There is a rather critical lapse in not mentioning Star Wars more often, as there is definitely some crossover there as well.

The romance in this isn't really enemies-to-lovers or a love triangle; Nathan and Riley have a bit of a rocking first meeting, but warm to each other quickly, and never harbor any real animosity towards each other. Paul is never really a threat, because Riley is over him; she just doesn't want him to pity her. I wouldn't have minded having the character of Sophia explored a bit more instead of spending time on the theater, but teens interested in theater will enjoy this sub plot.

Boyce's Hot Dutch Daydream (2023) and Hot British Boyfriend (2021) are hugely popular in my library, and fill a much needed gap in Young Adult literature; swoony romances that even middle school students can enjoy, filled with characters who are essentially well adjusted, socially responsible, and happy. Wrap this up with a copy of Lord of the Rings Risk or a DVD of Monty Python's Spamalot and gift to your favorite theater geek who also has one foot in the High Geek world of gaming.

Korman, Gordon. Slugfest

January 9, 2024 by Balzer + Bray
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

When the state changes the rules for eighth grade physical education requirements, it catches several students out. Arnie Yashenko ("Yash") has spent all year traveling to the high school to practive with their team, but if he doesn't make up his credit in summer school, he won't be able to move on to the high school. Chloe missed three months of school because of a skiing accident, and is very wary of hurting herself again, so has sworn off sports. Kaden is a smart kid, and skipped gym for most of the year so he wouldn't have to put up with the locker room. Fiona, a tech whiz and member of the water polo team, refused to put her face in the water during swimming, and flunked the class. Twins Sarah and Stuart got kicked out because they were constantly fighting, and Jesse played so many practical jokes that summer school is his punishment. Arabella cut PE for three years. Since she's also taking the investigative journalism class in summer school, it's not quite so bad. The teacher for the course is a retired Family and Consumer Science teacher, Mrs. Finnerty, who has the students playing games like duck-duck-goose, although some of the games get pretty competitive. She also plies them with fantastic baked goods, which makes the experience a better one. Yash is worried that since he is missing the high school conditioning practice, he is at a disadvantage and may not make the team, especially since new kid Nick seems to be first in line to be picked for quarterback. Yash convinces Kaden to help him train, even though Kaden's coordination is laughably bad, and before long, the other kids in the class (that they all call "Slugfest") are learning to play football. Yash agrees to help out with the play, and is even somewhat interested in the investigative journalism class because he suspects that Mrs. Finnerty is not actually licensed to teach phys ed, and he is concerned that the summer school credit won't count, and he'll never be able to go to high school. There is also a suspicion that Nick doesn't live in the district, and while Bella is investigating, the two have a tentative romance, which makes the investigation awkward. The children pull together for the Open House Night, and things are going fairly well, but Yash is given a hard time by the boys on the football team. When the opportunity arises to have a bit of a competition, the Slugs band together, and under the tutelage of Mrs. Finnerty (who is more than just an awesome baker, she won a gold medal in the Olympics for swimming!), they work to show that they are more than just "Slugs". Will they be able to pull off an epic, movie-like win?

Strengths: Sports teams, baked goods, and a spunky older gym teacher substitute? Hard to go wrong with that. The characters are all well developed and easy to tell apart, and are all very passionate about various things, which is always good to see. There's a lot of realistic interactions, and the romance between Bella and Nick is good to see. The fact that Nick is playing for the district by giving his aunt's address is also something that happens all too often. I have to say that Mrs. Finnerty really steals the show here, and her reasoning behind the "childish" games is actually very clever. There are way too many elderly and infirm grandparents and teachers in middle grade literature, so to see someone who's about 75 being shown as being active and a former Olympian is fantastic. Basketball coach Sister Louisa in Jenn Bishop's Free Throws, Friendship, and Other Things We Fouled Up and the grandfather who was a bodybuilder in Herbach's Fat Boy vs. The Cheerleaders (2014) are other good examples of vibrant older characters. 
Weaknesses: There were a number of school details that gave me a little pause; middle school students not getting credits seems unlikely, although I'm not sure how Kaden and Arabella managed to cut so many classes. Summer school is usually half a day, and there usually is no open house. The kids wouldn't need to hack into the teacher certification database; it's public record. This also had more stereotypical characters than I'm used to seeing in Korman's work. The football players don't come off particularly well. 
What I really think: While these ensemble cast books are okay, I really miss seeing Korman develop one character. I'd love to see him go back to his McDonald Hall roots and do a small series without the multiple perspectives; a sports series would be fantastic. I'll definitely purchase a copy because my students are such avid fans, but the style of this isn't a personal favorite. 

Arya Khanna's Bollywood Moment

Avachat, Arushi. Arya Khanna's Bollywood Moment
January 9, 2024 by Wednesday Books

ARC provided by Young Adult Books Central

In New Jersey, Arya's older sister Alina is getting married to Nikil, and there are huge amounts of preparations being made. Since the family is Indian, there is a wide array of different parties that are expected to be held, including engagement parties. Since Arya is expected to attend all of these, they sometimes get in the way of her high school career. She has good friends, Lisa and Andy, but things have been weird with the three ever since Lisa and Andy dated briefly but then broke up. She also works at Belle's Bookshop, and is involved in student government, although she is upset that Dean Merriweather is president. The two have a rather fraught relationship, and Arya just finds him pushy and annoying. The senior class has to plan a formal, but don't have much money, so are trying to fund raise so that the don't have to use the school for the dance. Arya finds out that Alina might be moving to California after the wedding, and her mother is very depressed, so things are upsetting at home AND at school. The more Arya has to work with Dean, however, the more she finds herself annoying attracted to him. Will Arya be able to maintain her friendships with Lisa and Andy, get the senior formal planned, and survive her sister's wedding. 

Since Arya is a senior in high school, there are many facets that make this a solidly Young Adult title, including some more colorful language. She doesn't spend a lot of time at home, and the issue with her m other is never really resolved. 

While I am not a huge fan of weddings, this was an interesting look at how some Indian weddings are structured, and it was fun to see the types of food served, different ceremonies, and variety of clothing. It was hard enough for my daughter to find ONE wedding dress; I can't imagine having to have THREE!

Young readers are often captivated by the idea of planning and attending a wedding, so this is a great choice for those who spend a lot of time thinking about what their own wedding day might be like, if that even crosses the mind of modern high schoolers. This is perfect for fans of Bajbai's Sister of the Bollywood Bride or The Meet-Cute Project, and for readers who enjoyed Ziegler's Revenge of the Flower Girls when they were younger. There were many wedding books in the 1950s and 60s, like Cleary's 1963 Sister of the Bride, but I would have thought that modern young women would like career romances more than ones about weddings! 
 

Maybe It's a Sign

Shen, E.L. Maybe It's a Sign
January 23, 2024 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Freya June Sun had a very close relationship with her mother, a college professor, her father, an accountant, and her old sister, May. After her father's death eight months previously from a heart attack, she finds herself missing him tremendously and looking for signs from him at every turn. He shared many traditional Chinese superstitions with her, and was also tremendously involved with her musical career playing the viola. The big problem right now is that Freya doesn't really want to play the viola anymore. She is supposed to audition for a larger orchestra, but has so much anxiety about performing that she really doesn't want to. When she is on her way to her school concert to play a solo, she sees it as a sign that she should quit when her family is running late and May wears a white head band (white being the color of death), but then she sees a pair of cardinals, which are a lucky sign. She tries to keep on, even when Gus Choi spills a milkshake all over her concert dress after the performance. Gus is irritating, but when the two are partnered in home ec for a final project that includes preparing a three course meal, she starts to see the sweet side of his personality. She also finds that she very much enjoys baking, and finds it calming. In addition to dealing with her ongoing grief, she has to deal with her sister leaving the house in the middle of the night, her two best friends being obsessed with grades and boys, and worries about the family finances that she overhears her grandparents discussing. When a baking competition is scheduled for the same day as the orchestra try outs, how will she decide which path she should take when there isn't a sign from her father. 

Strengths: I was somewhat superstitious as a tween, and Freya's magical thinking rings true. After all, if I walk to work in the snow and fully reassemble, down to lipstick, it means we will have a snow day, because I have that sort of control over the universe. Looking for a sign as a way to handle grief is certainly something that many people do. Her conflicting interests between cooking and viola will speak to readers who are themselves torn between choices their parents make for them and what they really want to do. The best part of this, for me, was the sweet friendship between Gus and Freya that was considerate and supportive, and culminates in a sweet kiss on the cheek that Gus asks about before he does. Also, Gus was a spectacular cook! 
Weaknesses: Considering the fact that church aunties had told Freya's mom to get her into grief counseling, it was suprising that her mother had not done this. I was shocked that the school still had TWO cooking labs, since ours has been a faculty lounge for twenty years, but life on the east coast is different in many ways, and I was glad to see a home ec class still in existence. (See Fry's Undercover Chef for a good use of abandoned food labs!)

What I really think: This had many similarities to Karen Chow's Miracle and is a good choice for readers who enjoyed Langley's The Order of Things or Polak's For the Record.

The Reckoning

Hudson, Wade. The Reckoning
January 2, 2024 by Crown Books for Young Readers

E ARC provided by Netgalley

**Spoilers, but they appear in the publisher's synopsis as well.**

Lamar lives in the South with his family in a town called Morton. There are parts of the town that his parents don't want him to visit because there have been some incidents, but he is a budding film maker and wants to capture his town for a documentary. He angers a local thug, Mike Crosby, and luckily his grandfather, Joshua Phillips, happens by and gives Lamar and his friend T.C. (who is white) a ride home. In talking to his grandfather about his current project, he is reminded that his grandfather was a Civil Rights activist in the 1960s. After a long career in the postal service (a job he got because he was a Vietnam veteran, and which was groundbreaking because he was only the second Black man hired in the area), he continued to speak up for change. His current project is getting the town to pave the streets in the Black areas of town. Lamar decides to do his documentary on his grandfather. Sadly, not too long into the project, Joshua is involved in a traffic accident, and is shot and killed by a white man who claims that Joshua attacked him. This man has a history of racist behavior, and the community is outraged. Lamar's sister, Kyra, who is an activist herself, works to stage a protest to draw attention to this latest in unjust killings. The law enforcement in town is willing to believe the white man, but when a video of the altercation surfaces in Lamar's e mail, he knows he needs to push for more investigation. Unfortunately, the video came from a friend whose family is now in a difficult position and must leave town. Will Lamar be able to get justice for the grandfather that he was just getting to know better? 
Strengths: This had several things that I always like to see in middle grade stories; children doing things, supportive parents, and strengthening ties with grandparents. This also had a very strong, small town setting, and a lot of timely information about Civil Rights both past and present. There is an interesting scene where Joshua is showing a documentary about Civil Rights to Lamar and several friends, and one friend is not at all interested in knowing the history of how Black people were treated. I see a lot of students like this, which is why I like to have books with this information to hand to readers who are interested in Civil Rights and who enjoyed Jackson's The Lucky Ones. 
Weaknesses: There is a lot of information about filming, classic films, and Civil Rights that, while very interesting, occasionally slows down the pace of the story .
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who liked Hudson's memoir Defiant, or stories that highlight the continued racism, especially in the South, like Buford's Kneel or Coles' Black Was the Ink. 
 

The Curse of Eelgrass Bog

Averling, Mary. The Curse of Eelgrass Bog

January 2, 2024 by Razorbill

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Kess Pedrock lives an unusal life in the small town of Wick's End, where she and her brother Oliver are trying to keep their parents' Unnatural History Museum open while their parents are stuck in Antartica doing research. They don't go to school, and money's a bit tight, but Kess is determined to stop the museum from crumbling and bring back business. When Lilou Starling, who is new in town, comes to the museum and asks a lot of questions about the nearby Eelgrass Bog, Kess is glad to have someone to talk to. Lilou's grandfather had lived in the town, and left a cryptic message before he died to beware of witches, break the curse, and save the society, so she enlists Kess' help to solve the mystery. The Bog is dangerous, with watch fires burning outside of it, and horrible megafauna living within it. Kess isn't supposed to venture in, but she and Lilou do. There, they meet the mysterious Ivy Holloway, who seems to know Lilou's grandfather. But that was 70 years ago, and Ivy is a little older than they are, so how can this be possible? There are all manner of strange and wonderful things in the Bog, and once Kess delves into them, she will learn many things that cause her life to make a lot more sense. Is this a good thing, or a bad thing? I really don't want to say much more and spoil the twists. 

Strengths: This used an unusual font, which fit the book well. There are lots of clues about Kess'  life that I caught right away, so I wasn't too surprised at the twists, but I've also read a ton of books. I think young readers will be surprised. Oliver is a bit overbearing as an older brother, and it will seem unusual to kids that he is in charge of everything at 15, but again, this makes perfect sense later on. There are lots of creepy details about monsters in the Bog, and this has its scary moments, but is primarily a mystery with a lot of fantasy elements. Kess was an interesting character, and it was good to see her develop a friendship (and maybe something more) with Lilou. 
Weaknesses: This felt very damp and icky, which my readers will probably like. I had the same problem with Wilson's The Boys of Blur. This is why I don't live near a bog! 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who liked the museum in Davies's The International House of Dereliction or Burch's Finch House, or  the fantastical setting of Miles' The Fall of the House of Tatterly or Fournet's Brick Dust and Bones. 

Top Story and Understood Betsy

Yang, Kelly. Top Story (Front Desk #5)

September 5, 2023 by Scholastic Press
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Mia Tang and her best friend Lupe are spending their winter break in San Francisco so that Mia can attend a writing camp run by the newspaper and Lupe can go to a math camp and compete in a Math Cup tournament with Mrs. Tang at the university. They are staying at a family run hotel in Chinatown, where they bond with the older owners, the Luks. When the Luks cook quits, Mia contacts Jason (whom she has been missing) and asks him to come and cook. Hank, whose brother Darrius has been a lawyer in San Francisco for years, offers to drive Jason up so that he can try to find his brother. While camp is very interesting, and Mia gets to be taught by the man who runs the city beat, she realizes that the staff doesn't have a lot of diversity, and that campers who are well connected and wealthy seem to have better opportunities. Mia is steadfast in her desire to tell the stories of the interesting and diverse population of California that is often neglected. She uncovers some fascinating stories, as do other young journalists like her friend Haru, who learns about Miss Breed and the letters that young Japanese interned during World War II wrote to her, and Amne, who has learned about her tribal ancestor Jose Guzeman, and his attempts to keep the Chochenyo language alive. Mia meets Emma, whose mother works at a fortune cookie factory in the  neighborhood, and is confused and hurt when Jason seems to have a crush on her. With Lupe still reeling from sharing her feelings with a girl she liked, Mia doesn't quite know how to process her new feelings for her former nemesis. There are many ups and downs in the two weeks, and Mia experiences a lot of different forms of racism. She does get an article printed "above the fold" in the newspaper, although she is not paid what she should have been for it. As the gang heads back to Anaheim (with a new dog, Comma!), it looks like there is at least one more story ahead for Mia and the crew of Front Desk. I loved the information at the end of the book about the newspaper that Yang put out for her community when she was young!

Strengths: This is set in the early 2000s, when "the internet is coming", so it's an interesting snapshot of newspaper publication at the time. Mia and her friends always get involved in interesting projects, and this is no exception. There is a strong message of speaking up against injustice and making sure that one's voice is heard. This felt a little bit like a sit com episode when the entire cast ups and travels to a different location, and it was fun to see San Francisco and Chinatown through Mia's eyes. Her feelings for Jason are explored in an age appropriate way. There's a nice holiday feel to this that should make it popular with fans of the series.  
Weaknesses: There were a lot of things that seemed very providential. Also, I've never heard of any winter break camps for kids, although it's a good idea. Maybe this is more of a California thing. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who love this series, who are interested in the ins and outs of newspaper reporting in the early 2000s, or who like behind the scenes stories like Badua's The Takeout. 

Of course, the BIG question is this: How will Front Desk hold up over the next 100 years?

Fisher, Dorothy Canfield. Understood Betsy

October 15, 1999 by Henry Holt and Co. (Originally published 1916)

School library copy

This has held up surprisingly well. Since Betsy lives in a somewhat unusual situation, it is well explained. She lives with her great aunt and her daughter, Aunt Francis, who are very protective of Betsy because both of her parents are dead. When the great aunt is ill and must go live in a warmer climate (I'm assuming tuberculosis, although it isn't specifically mentioned) and it's not safe for Betsy to be around her, she is sent to a very different situation in Vermont (1,000 miles from the unnamed place where she lives) to distant relatives who have more than once expressed a desire to have her live with them. Because she is unused to their way of life, it is again well explained. She is expected, for the first time, to help around the house and solve her own problems. She also goes to a small country school where they let her move around to different levels of classes depending on her abilities. She even gets to help other children. Of course, like in Alcott's Rose in Bloom, this child centered way of raising her makes her healthier and happier. When her aunt comes to visit and tells Betsy that she is going to be married, but that she won't be able to have Betsy live with her because the new husband travels a lot for his work, both are relieved. Betsy is able to stay in Vermont, where we can only assume she has a very nice life.

There is a great introductory note in the 1999 edition, as well as information at the end about Dorothy Canfield Fisher's career, and her interest in Montessori teaching methods. There are a few things that didn't make as much sense, but there was little that modern children wouldn't understand, since there is so much explanation. A good example of this is when she churns butter with Aunt Abigail, and there is so much detail about this lost household chore! I really enjoyed the little insights into Betsy understanding that real people lived at different historical periods, or that she doesn't need to know her left from her right hand to guide the horses. There are a few things that aren't expressed the way we would today; Aunt Abigail, at 200 pounds, is described as very fat, but later, Betsy is said to be in better health because she is a bit fat and also tanned (brown) from being outdoors.

This would be a much better choice than Anne of Green Gables or Little Women for readers who like historical fiction and want to take a look at some older titles. I'm not sure why I bought a copy of this 20 odd years ago; it hasn't circulated all that much, but I think I'll be trotting it out to some 6th graders next year!

The School for Invisible Boys

Hutchinson, Shaun David. The School for Invisible Boys

February 6, 2024 by Labyrinth Road

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Hector is having some interpersonal problems in several areas of his life; his step father and two step brothers, Jason and Lee, are very much into sports. It is also because of the step brothers that Hector has to attend a Catholic school, St. Lawrence's. He's been best friend with Blake for a while, but once Hector asked if Blake would be his boyfriend, Blake has been very mean. This severs Hector from his entire friend group, and he has to eat lunch with a group of misfits known as "the cupcakes". When Blake and his new evil friend Conrad are chasing him around the school with the intent of beating him up, Hector makes the startling discovery that he can turn invisible. He practices with this, and finds that with some effort, he can do this at will. He also meets another boy who is invisible, Orson Wellington. Hector asks the school librarian, Mr. Morhill, for information about the school, and meets his nephew, Sam, who is a girl. This should be quite a shock at an all boys' school, but Sam seems to be able to fly under the radar. In addition to meeting Orson, Hector has come into contact with a tentacled monster inhabiting the school. Orson calls this the "gelim" and the two start to wonder if the monster is affecting Blake. It is a bit odd that Blake was so put out by Hector's admission, especially since he is being raised by two mothers, but the abuse only escalates. How are Orson, the monster, and his classmates bad behavior all tied in to the mysterious history of the school?
Strengths: Being invisible is a superpower that many middle school students would like to have, and it is used to good effect in this story. Private schools are also appealing to my readers in a larger public school, and the idea of an entire abandoned and haunted building on campus is interesting. There are some long time teachers with interesting backstories who are used well in the plot. The interpersonal dynamics between Hector and Blake are some that I haven't seen much in middle grade literature; how does a relationship between same sex friends change if one of the friends introduces an unwelcome element of romance? Blake's reaction is unfortunately common (he repeatedly calls Hector "freak", but the understanding is that another, more hurtful, word is used), but the ending explains this a bit more. The author's note at the end mentions that he was greatly inspired by L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time as well as the work of John Bellairs, and this did have a vintage feel to it. 
Weaknesses: I would have liked it if the powers of invisibility were used more, but they were part of the story more for allergorical reasons. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed Oshiro's The Insiders or Howard's The Visitors. 

MMGM- A Royal Conundrum and The Human Body: An Alien's Guide

It's

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
 at 

Always in the Middle 

and #IMWAYR day 

at 

Unleashing Readers

Well, unless I've counted incorrectly, I have now posted at least one book review every single day for twelve years. That's the entire life span of half of my students. And yet, I am still not the most revered middle school librarian in the US. Oh, well. Still have to keep on keeping on. 

Yee, Lisa and Santat, Dan (illus.). The Misfits #1: A Royal Conundrum

January 2, 2024 by Random House Books for Young Readers

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Olive Zang makes such a small impression on people in her school that she is all but invisible. Her parents are very busy, and constantly having to travel for work. Now that her grandmother, Mimi, is gone, and her parents have to travel again, they take her out of school (where the principal had no recollection of her) and send her off to RASCH, a "reforming arts school" off the coast of San Francisco. It's located in an old mansion called Foggy Manor.  She's a bit leery at first, having had a less that fantastic experience at her school, but RASCH has fun classes, and she meets some fellow students with whom she gets along. The big test at the school is the Conundrum, and Olive works with several classmates like Phil, Theo, Iggy, and James. Even though other students think it is a competition, the group gets points for working together, and are soon told that they did a great job. The will be junior operative for No One Can Know (NOCK) headed by teachers Monica and Modest, and give themselves the nickname "The Misfits". Olive has a great time learning different techniques, and finds that the aerial gymanstic skills that her Mimi taught her come in very handy. When there is a big gala fundraiser set to take place, there is a lot of pressure, since Dame Gloria Vanderwisp's effort often raises a lot of money that is crucial to keeping the school open. When the day arrives, Dame Gloria wears her Royal Rumpus necklace, as well as a bejeweled pin of her cat, Winky, even though there are rumors that The Bling King is targeting the gala and might steal the jewelry. When he does, the Misfits get called in to investigate. Will they be able to solve the mystery in order to save the school, and will Olive find out additional information about her family members?

David Yoo's 2011 The Detention Club has a very similar cover, also by Santat!

Strengths: Tweens often struggle with personal identity, and often feel as invisible as Olive is at the beginning of the book. Being whisked off to a boarding school where they don't have to deal with difficult parents and where they are able to find friends who share their interests always seems like an appealing thought, especially when they also are taught spy skills and given cases to work on. Olive is a bit unsure of what her special skills might be, and it's good to see her remembering her grandmother as someone with whom she had a lot of fun... while incidentally gaining lots of skills. When Olive becomes accustomed to the school, she is even more motivated to save it, even if it means a somewhat risky investigation. Santat's illustrations are always fun to see, and I'll be interested to see a final copy with more details. Readers who like Yee's Maizy Chen's Last Chance will enjoy seeing a different facet of this author.
Weaknesses: Yee writes a great spy/adventure type book, evidenced by her Super Hero High (2016) series, but there were some quirky names and situations in this title that made it seem better suited for elementary students. I also had some trouble keeping all of the Misfits straight. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoy spy academy tales like Walden's 2008 H.I.V.E., Buckley's 2009 N.E.R.D.S., Hale's 2013 School for S.P.I.E.S. or Salane's 2013 Lawless series, or newer books like Carter's The Winterborne Home for Vengeance and Valor (2019) or Ponti's City Spies books (2020). 

Redford, Ruth and Cunha, Leandro (illus.)

The Human Body: An Alien's Guide

publication January 2, 2024 by Mayo Clinic Press Kid

ARC provided by the publisher

Zag and Zog are aliens who have been sent to observe human specimens on Earth. In order to do this, and keep their Zag-Zog Log, the miniaturize themselves and hop aboard an unsuspecting tween. In Fantastic Voyage style, they investigate all of the strange things they see and hear, from the persistent thumping (the heart) to why humans pee and poo. Going from body system to body system, they cover all of the highlights of what goes on with muscles, skin, digestion, circulation, etc., and even have a bit of an overview of what happens as a body ages. Eventually, the white blood cells repeatedly attack them, thinking they are foreign bodies that need to be expelled, and the two decide they have enough information to take back to their planet. 

Told in graphic novel format, this is an appealing nonfiction book that will interest students in third grade all the way through middle school. While the vocabulary is somewhat simplified, the information isn't dumbed down, and there is a nice glossary at the end. There's a lot of information packed onto each page, and I was amazed at the amount of things that this book really clarified for me. There were things I probably learned in school, but hadn't thought about them in a while, like how joints operate, or all the different sorts of hormones. 

The alien perspective is a bit goofy, but Zag and Zog ask lots of good questions in their mission to understand the human body. I liked that each had a color for all of their dialog that matched the color of their body; I find graphic novels harder to read than straight text, and this was a great way to clearly define the speakers. 

When my children were small, we had a copy of a 1969 book by Kidder entitled Little Corpuscle. As  goofy as it was, it was packed with information. The Human Body is a great book to expose children to human biology, and you never know what information will stick with them and might prove to be very useful when taking the MCAT!