The Night Train

Savaryn, Lorelei. The Night Train

August 20, 2024 by Viking Books for Young Readers 

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Maddie and her twin sister Nat live with their parents, who have a YouTube show called "Wrecked to Decked" and renovate houses in their Midwestern town of Hush. The girls help out and appear on the show, and enjoy this somewhat unusual life. When they visit the sight of the next project, the Signalman's Cottage, Nat says she sees a ghost. The girls' grandmother, who died recently, also had a history of seeing ghosts, but their father always thought it was nonsense. Knowing that, Maddie, who also felt an eerie presence, tells her father that nothing was wrong, angering her sister. The girls are very different; Maddie runs cross country and plays volleyball, and Nat has been obsessed with the paranormal ever since their grandmother passed away. She has done lots of research, and has discovered that the cottage is tied to the most significant event in the town's history, an 1893 train wreck apparently caused when the signalman who drunk and didn't switch the tracks. A passenger train collided with a mail train, and everyone involved was killed. Every year, the town stages a reenactment, which takes place on Halloween. This was the birthday of the conductor, Alphaeus Fink, and also coincidentally Maddie's birthday (Nat was born 1 November). When Maddie lets Nat know she did see the ghost they called Sarah at a previous renovation, and can see the ghost of a girl with her mouth sewn shut at the cottage, the two know that they have to work together, as their grandmother would have, to help the spirits move on. Through their research they, along with classmate Westin, who is helping their parents film the renovations, find out that every 13 years during the reenactment, a child goes missing. Maddie finds a notebook kept by the most recent victim, who was the best friend of Oliver Fairbanks, who has grown up to be their teacher. Because Maddie's birthday is on October 31st, she has a connection to the train wreck, and because she has paranormal abilities, she is able to go through "thin places" and talk to some of the children who have been taken during the reenactment. What's going on? How is the man who acts as the conductor, Mr. Shanek, involved in this? Hush is a creepy place, and the train wreck would add ghosts to any location, but there's even more involved. Westin thinks that what is happening is a curse tied to a deal that someone made, a deal that involves sacrificing children at a regular intervals. There are a lot of pieces to the history and the curse that are revealed in a very tantalizing way that I don't want to wreck. Will Maddie be able to piece them together before she herself is in danger?

Strengths: This was one of those books that cause me to smile because the plot is so clever and I am surprised as to the direction the story. I've read a few books, so very little surprises me! The history needs to be understood in order to solve the mystery, but there are a lot of layers that are, again, a bit surprising. The tension between the twins added another level of interest, as did the appearance of paranormal powers. I loved the fact that the powers were paralleled with puberty; it's not always something welcome of enjoyable. Maddie doesn't WANT to see ghosts; she just wants to do sports. The twins also argue with their parents, who think that powers are silly and that their grandmother was making up her abilities. That is also a great way to explain how the parent child relationship changes in the tween years. The story of the conductor and his daughter was very interesting, and I was glad that we do get to hear her side of the story at the end of the book. Westin is a helpful character to have to balance out the twins. The fact that the reenactment is occurring in just a few days lends an air of urgency to the story. Very well done, and probably going to be my favorite book of the month! (It's the first book I read in May, so I should at least keep an open mind.)
Weaknesses: This is another title I read while on a bus of 8th graders going to DC, and the intricacies of plot involving the times on the watches took more mental effort to figure out than I had. Also kind of doubt that the watch company would still have any records of a watch purchase from that long ago. Did enjoy the fact that the children went to the library to research the event in the newspapers!
What I really think: This had an effective blend of history, mystery, and horror that will appeal to fans of Currie's It Found Us, Cohen's The Shadow Grave, and Duga's The Ghost in the Headlights. Feels a bit like some of Dan Poblocki or Mary Downing Hahn's work, which is always a good thing. 

MMGM- Dogs!

It's

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
 at 

Always in the Middle 

and #IMWAYR day 

at

Unleashing Readers

Rice, Eleanor Spice and Wilson, Rob.

Your Pets' Secret Lives: The Truth Behind Your Pets' Wildest Behaviors 

May 28, 2024 by MIT Kids Press 

Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central

From the team that brought you Unseen Jungle: The Microbes that Secretly Control Our World comes a fantastic look into what makes pets of all kinds tick! Accompanied by Wilson's charming illustrations, there is information about a wide range of pets and their sometimes strange behaviors. 

As a dog lover, I appreciated that the book started with man's best friend... even if things got a little gross when talking about the different kinds of worms that dogs can pick up! Even though I am always good about giving my dogs heartworm medicine, it's very important to understand how easy it is for dogs to get worms, and I can see young readers convincing parents that this treatment for their pets is important, even if it can be expensive. There's a lot of information about cats, their nocturnal habits, and their hunting instincts, and even some discussion of whether or not your cat really likes you. (Even though I've made peace with my grandcat, I still believe that MOST cats just want to do me in!)

Dogs and cats aren't the only pets discussed. Why are birds such messy eaters? It's their job. It was especially interesting to read about the relationships that birds have with each other. I'm not convinced that I could make the life of a goldfish any better, but there are very convincing arguments for ways to do this. I wasn't surprised that gerbils and hamsters communicate through their odors, and I learned a few things about ferrets and rabbits as well. There's even a fascinating bit about reptile parthenogenesis, as well as information about tarantulas and lizards. 

This ends with information about jobs that are related to animal and pet care, making this a great book to read alongside French's How to Be a Vet. There are also a lot of source notes and internet sites for further research. There are several interviews with scientists who specialize is various pets as well. Rice is an entomologist, and does a great job of explaining science on a middle grade level. 

This was just the right length for pleasure reading even though it was packed with information. There's plenty of white space on the page, and Wilson't illustrations support the humorous and conversational tone of the text. Hand this to pet lovers and aspiring vets along with Keenan's Animals in the House, Brownlee's Cute, Furry, and Deadly, Mills' Guide to Kittens and Guide to Puppies, and books by Alexandra Horowitz, who has worked with Rice. 

Greenwald, Tommy, Greenwald, Charlie, and Pate, Shiho.

Best Day Ever (The Rescues #2)

September 17, 2024 by Red Comet Press 

E ARC provided by Netgalley

Moose and Bear, two rescue dogs, and their cat friend Tiger, are back after their adventures in The Rescues, settling in to their new home with Cathy. They have a trip to the vet that makes them a little anxious, but ends well. They fight over who gets to sit in the comfy chair, but decide that sharing is the best course of action. They also stay home alone when Cathy goes out, and have to deal with a very loud storm! The three friends make the best of every situation, and support each other with kindness. 

I'm a huge fan of all of Greenwald's work, and this collaboration with his son, Charlie, is delightful. It's about the length and complexity of an I Can Read book, and has illustrations that evoke definite warm and fuzzy feelings. I probably won't buy a copy of this for my middle school library, but will probably have to buy one for myself to go along with the first book that is sitting on my shelves. I am all in favor of any children's books that encourages adopting rescue animals! 

Palmer, Iva-Marie. Oh My Dog!

August 13, 2024 by HarperCollins

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Caroline Kline's life in Rockport, Texas has not been easy. The twelve-year-old lost her mother in a car accident, and Hurricane Emma wiped out not only her home, but her father Hank's florist business. Now, the two have an apartment, and Hank is working at the Fresh and Fine grocery floral department. Money is tight, and for her birthday, she and her dad go on a spree... but only for things she needs, and only at Bargain Styles. Caroline thinks wistfully about what life would be like if her mother were still around and things were just easier. When she is out skateboarding, she meets Stan George and his friendly dog Denver, and before she knows it, her father has talked to Mr. George and she has a job walking Denver twice a day for $20! This money will allow her to get some fashionable jeans, a new skateboard, and just make it easier to hang out with people like Kiki Page. Things go well until Denver starts to actually talk to her... in English. She doesn't believe it at first, and even after Denver makes a small miracle happen, Caroline would rather not talk to him. Caroline's best friend, Yumi, doesn't understand it when Caroline agrees to go to the mall with Kiki, and doesn't go even though she is invited. Caroline finds that Kiki is really nice, and has a good time talking to her other friends, but is worried about what Yumi thinks, especially after one of the friends says something mean about Yumi and Caroline doesn't stick up for her. Caroline and Kiki make a couple of funny TikTok videos with Caroline saying funny things about animals, and they get a lot of likes. Kiki even gives Caroline an old phone so that she can post more videos. When her father finds out, he tells her she has to give the phone back, but Caroline can't bring herself to do this. Denver keeps telling her that she needs to restore people's faith that the world is a good place, and that's why only she can hear him talk. It's a tough situation; Caroline needs other people in her life and wants to confide in Denver, but she is freaked out by the fact that she can understand him. When another hurricane threatens Rockport, Caroline is watching Denver while Mr. George goes to work on the levee. They decide to leave town and pack up the car, but at the last minute, Denver runs away. They both go chasing him... and a tree falls on their car. Hank and Caroline are both injured but okay, but they can't find Denver. When the storm ends, Caroline and Yumi go looking for the dog, and while they don't find him, they find other pets in need. They bring them to the courtyard of the apartment and take care of them. They alert the news, and make a big splash, which is good because Caroline had previously gotten some flack about her TikTok posts. The animals get adopted or returned to their owners, and when Mr. George comes back, Caroline finds out that Denver saved him, too. Caroline might not be able to restore everyone's faith, but she is doing what she can where she is. 

Strengths: I've been asking for more positive books, and this certainly is very positive. Palmer deftly steps around the faith/belief idea with Denver being sent "from the heavens" and not from god, which works well enough. The depiction of recovering from a hurricane is a good one, and the inclusion of friend drama makes any middle grade book better. I was so glad that Kiki was actually nice. The issue of social media and getting technology from a friend was handled very well. I loved that Caroline was willing to take care of lost animals after the storm, and that doing so connected her with a lot of new people. This was a fun, lighthearted story. 
Weaknesses: Even positive middle grade books still feel a need for a dead mother. I was a little surprised that Caroline didn't want to talk to Denver. If a dog had talked to me at any point in my life, I would have been perfectly happy to chat! Palmer makes Caroline's reaction make sense within the story; my objection is purely personal. 
What I really think: This is an excellent book for elementary school libraries, and the positivity is fantastic. I'm not sure if middle school students are going to believe that a dog would talk to them. I think my 6th graders would like this, but my older students probably won't pick it up. This felt a bit like a Patricia MacLachlan book.

Not Nothing

Forman, Gayle. Not Nothing

August 27, 2024 by Aladdin

ARC provided by Young Adult Books Central

Alex has had a difficult life. His mother struggled with mental illness, and when she could no longer care for him, he was placed in foster care. Now, his aunt and uncle are raising him, but doing so reluctantly and frequently complaining about the cost. Alex had done something very bad at school, and as punishment, he has to do community service five days a week at the Shady Glen Retirement Village all summer. His social worker, Frank, brings him to the facility and introduces him to the director, Ms. Winston, who tells him to talk to Ms. Sandler. This turns out to be Maya-Jade, a girl his age, who is spending time volunteering and hanging out with her grandmother Vivian while one of her mothers is being treated for breast cancer. Alex isn't thrilled to be at the facility, but he does connect with Joseph Kravitz. The 107-year-old man connects with something in Alex, and starts to tell him the story of his relationship with Olka, the love of his life, during the Holocaust. These chapters are presented in a different font. Alex starts to get invested in the people at the facility, even intervening when the administration and families want to separate Ginny and Dickie, two of the residents who have Alzheimers. All along, we hear the story of Joseph's experiences during the war, eventually ending with his time in the Plaszow concentration camp. We also find out what Alex did to end up having to do community service. 

Like Sonnenblick's Notes from the Midnight Driver, this is an interesting exploration of the interplay between the young and the elderly. Joseph (often referred to as Josey) can sense that Alex is troubled, and manages to overcome the physical hardship of being over 100 to talk to the boy. Alex is enthralled by Josey's story, and the relationship between the two is mutually beneficial. 

Much of the book is told from his perspective, but in a third person, omniscent way, which is a bit unusual. For much of the book, Alex is referred to as "the boy" because of this narrative style. 

We don't know for much of the book what has caused Alex to have to spend so much time at Shady Glen, but we do find this out at the end of the book. He certainly benefits from this found family, and the support that he gets from Maya-Jade and the residents of the home, and it's good that he doesn't have to spend all of this time with his uncaring aunt and uncle, or alone in their apartment. Given the difficult living situation with his mother, I'm surprised that social services didn't have him in more traditional therapy, but nursing homes are popular locations for unofficial therapy, as shown in Van Draanen's The Secret Life of Lincoln Jones.  

This is a good choice for readers who want to explore the Holocaust from a distance and have read other titles like Lowry's Tree. Table. Book, Marsh's The Lost Year, Sternberg's Summer of Stolen Secrets, Walters and Kacer's Broken Strings, or Carelli's Skylark and Wallcreeper. 

Camp Prodigy and The Silver City

Palmer, Caroline. Camp Prodigy

June 11, 2024 by Atheneum Books for Young Readers
ARC provided by Young Adult Books Central

In this graphic novel, we meet Tate Seong, who became enthralled with the idea of playing viola after hearing a prodigy his age, Eli Violet, backstage before a concert. Unfortunately, Eli (who uses they/them pronouns), was so anxious that they didn't go on stage, but Tate did pick up the viola. He isn't very good, but his parents are behind him 100%, but also want him to think about playing a sport, since that would make him a well rounded young man. Tate is uncomfortable identifying as male, but isn't sure how to go about telling anyone this. At Camp Prodigy, there are a lot of different campers, some of whom, like Xin, are very driven, and others who want to take advantage of typical camp activities like gimp bracelet making, hiking, and swimming. Tate meets Eli, who reluctantly agrees to help tutor Tate as long as he keeps their secret about erstwhile fame. Tate works hard, but struggles with not only the viola, but with a lot of anxiety about playing in public as well as a deep seated feeling of confusion about what to do about his nonbinary status. Eli is a good ally, and he seeks their advice about when they came out to their moms. When Tate gets a big solo and is unsure whether he can stand up in front of the audience, his new friends come to the rescue, reminding him that he doesn't have to do everything alone, and there are other people who can step in to help. At the end, Tate comes out to their parents, retaining their name, and the parents are very supportive.

Palmer's illustrations are solid, and often fall into the popular Manga style eye pops and dramatic emotions, which graphic novels tend to love but remind me of Speed Racer. The characters look different enough from each other that I was never confused, and it was very helpful when the new campers were introduced and appeared on the bottom of the page with their names. I'd love to see more books do that. There are notes on the evolution of the drawings at the end of the book.

 
Many middle grade readers have struggled with anxiety since the Pandemic, and Eli and Tate's journey toward understanding the underlying causes of their stress and fear are well portrayed. The other campers, counselors, and parents are all supportive, and even a character that is very competitive at the beginning, Xin, helps in the end.

 
Readers who are huge fans of Raina Telgemeier's Drama or Chmakova's Berrybrook Middle School will enjoy this look at a high pressure, elite musical camp.

Estrada, Ryan, Neas, Axur, and Zunniga, Alejandra. 

The Silver City (Student Ambassador #2)

May 14, 2024 by Iron Circus Comics

ARC porvided by the publisher

This is the second book in the series, which I didn't realize until I started to write this review. At least I know why I was a bit confused! The Iron Horse comics seem much more like traditional comic books than graphic novels to me, with a lot of action and adventure, unlikely scenarios, and over-the-top humor. Joseph uses all of his vast knowledge and array of skills (which are impressive for a fourth or fifth grader's!) to help out former president Tex Oldman. There's a lot of travel, monsters, and derring-do. This reminded me a little of Breach and Holgate's Clem Hetherington and the Ironwood Race, and (somewhat oddly) Cody and Mercado's Cat Ninja. 

From the Publisher:

“The ex-president has an international incident that only a younger version of him can solve! He needs . . . a student ambassador!” Eight-year-old student ambassador Joseph Bazan made a big splash on the international scene when he cracked the case of The Missing Dragon and kept the nation of Rhutar from going to war. Now, he’s back to being a regular kid and, to be honest, real life is a tad boring! 

When former president Tex Olman, impressed by Joseph’s character and creative problem-solving, asks for his help on a trip to Mexico, it’s a dream come true. Not only does he have the adventure itch, Joseph has always wanted to learn more about his ancestral roots in the vibrant, ancient city of Zacatecas. But this vacation isn’t all churros and museums (though it does have those!). There's a legend that ghosts haunt the city's famous silver mines, and it's starting to seem like more than just a story!
 
Joseph will need his deep knowledge, knack for friendship, and adventurous mettle to decode secret messages, explore dangerous caves, and save the city . . . that is, if the Ghosts of Zacatecas don’t get him first! Student Ambassador is a globe-trotting action-adventure set in the real world where dangers mount, the stakes are high, and smarts save the day!

Guy Friday- Jaden Powers and the Inheritance Magic

Perry, Jamar J. Jaden Powers and the Inheritance Magic
August 27, 2024 by Bloomsbury Children's Books
ARC provided by the publisher

Jaden and Elijah have been friends for a long time, even though Elijah no longer attends middle school in their Columbia Heights, D.C. neighborhood and instead attends a private boarding school. As the first day of 7th grade approaches, Jaden is even sadder that he won't be able to be with his best friend, and when Elijah isn't home when Jaden goes to his house for a planned sleepover, he's worried. It's worse than he imagines; Jaden's parents later come with the sad news that Elijah has drowned while visiting his grandparents. This doesn't sound right to Elijah, and when he is at the wake, he finds a notebook in Elijah's room with a note that says "Horrible evil is after me. Help me.". He then passes out, and his parents think it's just the toll that his friend's death has taken on him. It's more than that; on the way home, a burst of power shoots out of Elijah and causes a car wreck. When a mysterious man shows up at the house, while Jaden's family is frown, the truth comes out; Jaden has magic, and must attend the Five Emergences School of Magic, where Elijah really went to school, to learn to control it. He learns that his best friend was not only the most powerful sorcerer for generations, but also that he is suspected of siphoning magic off from others and working with the Ruin, who is draining magic from the world of Wonder. Professor Simeone Carmine whisks Jaden off to the school via puddle travel and flying Haizum. Their trip includes a stop at Matthias's Wandshop for the Boundless, where he can't get a wand to bond with him, necessitating his participation in a wand Bond Trial. He meets his roommate, Mikael, who informs him that Elijah was rather a local celebrity, but has fallen into disrepute. He also meets Silas Rivers, the fae prince of the Summerlands, who is sour and mean to Jaden at every turn, as are his friends. Life at the school is exciting, and Jaden throws himself into his studies in Sorcery and Spellcasting, Deterring Danger, Enchantment, and Elixirs, all while trying to find out what is going on with Elijah. He realizes that he worked closely with Luxor, a professor who vanished at the same time; the same time exactly, which comes to light when the students delve into the history of the enchantment bracelets that all of the students and staff must wear. Jaden also finds out that his magic is very rare Inheritance Magic, which means that Elijah most likely passed powers on to him. Eventually, Jaden is able to discover that Elijah wasn't siphoning magic from others, but was having his own powers siphoned by a surprising source. Will Jaden be able to stop the Ruin and save his friend? 

Strengths: Like this author's Cameron Battle and the City Spies, this story starts with something rarely seen in middle grade literature; a close friendship between two boys.  Jaden's family was great, and I was a bit sad when they were frozen and he was whisked away. A magical story where the protagonist has to save the world WHILE his parents are tracking his phone and demanding he be home in time for dinner would be fantastic! Silas is an easily identifiable nemesis, Mikael is a kind and supportive roommate, and the professors are surprisingly well developed characters who are fairly competent and useful. The draw for young readers will be all the details of the ancient bristlecone wand that Jaden bonds with, the investigation into what happened to Elijah, and the thwarting of evil that (is this really a spoiler?) Elijah is able to do. 
Weaknesses: I've read dozens of magical academy books, and I'm also old and jaded and firmly believe that the world has absolutely NO magic in it. This had many middle grade magical academy tropes, but young readers who really, really want to get a letter like Jaden's inviting them to a magical school and whose souls are NOT dead will love all of Jaden's adventures as well as his successes in saving the world from destruction when all of the magic is sucked out of it. 
What I really think: There is room for a sequel, as there is more work and investigation to be done at the school. If Perry keeps this series to two books, that would be perfect. I'll definitely purchase this for fans of Sanders' Keynan Masters and the Peerless Magic Crew, Elle's Park Row Magic Academy, Alston's Amari and the Night Brothers, Royce's Conjure Island, and the large number of magical academy books that have been published since 1998 as this has a few twists, a well developed magical world, and a generally upbeat tone, despite, you know, both the magical and real world being in danger of being destroyed and taken over by evil. 

I gave this four stars on Goodreads because I feel like this review verges on snarky. This is very well written, with an engaging world and intriguing characters, and there are even some twists on middle grade fantasy tropes. My snarkiness arises from having read too many books about tweens getting powers in middle school and having to save the world because magic is draining out of it. 

Mbalia, Kwame. Jax Freeman and the Phantom Shriek
October 1, 2024 by Freedom Fire
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

A must read for fans of this author's Tristan Strong. Reminded me a bit of Bell's A Crooked Sixpence, with all of the magical elements. Very fun and fast paced fantasy adventure.

From the Publisher:

The award-winning author of the best-selling Tristan Strong trilogy has created a secret world where kids can wield magic by summoning the power of their ancestors

What do you get when you combine Kwame Mbalia's incredible imagination and world-building talent with trains, history, and ghosts? Nothing less than middle grade magic. 

On his twelfth birthday, Jackson "Jax" Freeman arrives at Chicago's Union Station alone, carrying nothing but the baggage of a scandal back in Raleigh. He's been sent away from home to live with relatives he barely knows. But even worse are the strangers who accost him at the train station, including a food vendor who throws dust in his face and a conductor who tries to steal his skin.

At his new school, Jax is assigned to a special class for "summoners," even though he has no idea what those are . . . until he accidentally unleashes an angry spirit on school grounds. Soon Jax is embroiled in all kinds of trouble, from the disappearance of a new friend to full-out war between summoning families.

When Jax learns that he isn't the first Freeman to be blamed for a tragedy he didn't create, he resolves to clear his own name and that of his great-grandfather, who was a porter back in the 1920's. By following clues, Jax and his schoolmates unlock the secrets of a powerful Praise House, evade vengeful ghosts, and discover that Jax may just be the most talented summoner of all.

A unique magic-school fantasy from the best-selling and award-winning author of the Tristan Strong trilogy has just pulled into the station.

Give Me Something Good To Eat and other creepy tales

Gillespie, D.W. Give Me Something Good to Eat

13 August 2024 by Delacorte Press

E ARC provided by Netgalley

Mason lives in Pearl, North Carolina, where Halloween is a Big Deal. He and his best friend, Serge, decide to go trick or treating, and he's disappointed that he has to take his younger sister with them. Serge is interesting in Becca, so invites her and her friend Mari to go with them, which disappoints Mason. The group knows that children have often gone missing on trick or treat night, and joke that their Assistant Principal, Mr. Kirby, might be behind the disappearances. When Meg is separated from the group, they go looking for her only to see her be absorbed into a creepy tree root creature when the even creepier Mrs. Vernon is nearby. The cops refuse to help, and when Mason gets home, his mother and father don't even remember Meg! Mason understands a little bit about what is going on; when he was younger, his best friend Marco went missing, so Mason has kept a notebook filled with information about the array of children who are unaccounted for in Pearl over the years. The group travels into "Underpearl", which is much like Pearl, but a haven for monsters who want to have a place where they can act like humans. They meet a girl named Gloom who helps them out a bit, and have to fend off giant spiders, scarecrows with pumpkin heads, zombies, and other monsters. Meg has indeed been taken by Mrs. Vernon, who is a witch who steals children so that she can turn their souls into candy and their bodies into creatures known as the Skinless who act as her servants. Mason and his friends must find a way to get the witch to destroy the spell that keeps Underpearl going, so that children no longer have to be sacrificed. Will they be able to save Meg and make sure that the curse is lifted from their town?

Strengths: The cover of this is absolutely creepily awesome, and the story is tied in with Halloween nicely, although it could be read at any time of year. The fact that Mrs. Vernon was distilling the souls of children into candy to feed to the monsters was very clever, especially since it allowed Mason to get back the soul of his sister as long as he had one piece of it. The story of the town is well developed and sets a good background for all of the terrors that the children must face. There's a happy ending, which is always nice, even in a creepy tale! 
Weaknesses: I think I was supposed to be a little sympathetic to the monsters and their need for Underpearl, but wasn't quite able to feel that. It should be noted that I read this on a bus to D.C. with a bunch of 8th graders, so don't have as good an understanding of the whole book as I should. 
What I really think: I am definitely ordering a copy for the library; I don't need too many details to know that missing sisters, evil witches, and battles with vampires make for an excellent middle grade horror title that fans of Cervantes' The Cursed Moon, Duga's The Replacement, and Currie's The Girl in White will love. 

Garcia, Anastasia and Skaffa, Teo (illustrator). 

Ghostly, Ghastly Tales: Frights to Tell at Night

July 30, 2024 by Gibbs Smith

Copy provided by the publisher

This is a somewhat different collection of scary stories than Poblocki's Tales to Keep You Up at Night, Stine's Stinetinglers, or Allen's Only If You Dare. It's not the style of the stories, which are all well-written and appropriately creepy for middle grade, but in the formatting of the book. I always struggle with reviewing short story collections; I don't necessary want to dissect every single story. I will say that I liked that the stories are grouped by types, so there are Haunted Objects, Grim Ghosts, Creature Feature, Be Careful What You Wish For, and It Goes Bump in the Night. This is great for readers, or teachers looking for tales to regale a whole class with, to help find a certain type of tale. 

This is the most heavily illustrated collection of stories I have seen, and Skaffa's illustrations, as well as the plentiful use of darker backgrounds, add to the eerie feel of the book. There are plenty of spooky creatures, frightened children, and atmospheric page decorations of cobwebs, skulls, and creepy vines. Because there is so much ink involved, the book has very heavy paper and an almost graphic novel feel to it. The cover glows in the dark, although I haven't tested it yet. I do like to warn students! 

Each story has a "fright level" on it, which will be on point for elementary students; middle school students will probably say that none of the stories are scary enough, because they don't involve brutal, grisly murders! 

The stories have a bit of a textbook feel to them, perhaps in part because of the illustrations, but also because of the use of bold text in the stories, and a short discussion about the story's origin at the end of each tale. There are even more notes at the end of the book, covering the author's inspiration. I might have just added these to the end of the chapters instead of putting them at the end of the book. I did enjoy that there was a bibliography of different story collections which inspired the author. 

This would be a great gift for a reader of scary tales, or for a favorite teacher who reads aloud to classes. Maybe it's the pink end papers with the skulls, but something about this just makes it a fancier book than many other scary short story collections. 

Allen, Josh. Once They See You: 13 Stories to Shiver and Shock

August 20, 2024 by Holiday House

E E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Reviewing short stories is very difficult; I always feel like I should review each story individually to really do the book justice, but that is just... hard. SO! You need to buy this book for the story about Toasty Tarts. Just do it. Allen's Only if You Dare and Out to Get You! circulate constantly in my library, especially with their spooky, glow in the dark covers.

The illustrations give these a feel of the Schwartz Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, which was first published in 1981 and still is in constant use. The stories are much better, though, is a weird, creepy, David Lubar Lawn Weenies kind of way.

I can't really explain why this is so good, but if you have a middle school library where scary stories are in high demand, just go ahead and buy two copies. I can't wait to see if the giant eyeball on the cover glows in the dark as well!

Lion Dancers

Tse, Cai. Lion Dancers

August 13, 2024 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Wei attends Bird's Beak Middle School and is on the basketball team, but none of his teammates ever chose him, and he gets no time on the court. His best friend, Jun, is much better at basketball, and she encourages him to become more involved with the people on the team. When he is walking home, he runs into a man with a Lion Dancer t shirt; his father was a very good lion dancer with a competitive team before he died in a car accident, leaving Wei to be raised by his grandmother. The man tells Wei to come to the training center for the Southern Phoneix team. Having trained a  bit with his father, and danced before, Wei still does a good job, but is surprised when he is yelled at by Hung and told to go away. The adults at the center tell Hung that he should not treat others like that. They don't know about the history that the two have; Hung used to be the "tail" of the lion to Wei's "head", and the two were a good team until they fought with each other. The other dancers welcome Wei, and he participates in the Lunar New Year Lion Dances. The team is hired by businesses to come and do the dances, which culminate in the lion reaching for the "cheng" (cabbage). If the cheng is successfully retrieved, it means that the business will be successful. Hung is angry when he once again has to be the tail for Wei, and the two don't work well together. There is a very bad performance at a local mall that is barely salvaged. Wei eventually talks to Hung, and tells him that the people who are tails are the strongest people on the dance team, and that Wei himself is not strong enough to be the tail. At the end of the season, there is a big celebration. The mysterious captain of the team is revealed, and a competition team is announced. Wei and Hung are able to work together and be successful. 

Strengths: I didn't know anything at all about lion dancing, but this had a lot of good information about the sport! The beginnings of the chapters in this graphic novel have information about steps, costumes, and different parts of the dance that were very interesting. Wei's trouble fitting in to school is realistic; he really wants to get back to lion dancing, but is conflicted because of his father's death, as well as his interactions with Hung. I really enjoyed all of the discussion about teamwork, and found it intriguing that the lion dancers all had to try to place the drums and cymbals, since they are so important to keeping the dancers on their marks. There is some action and suspense with the dances, especially when one business has hung their cheng very high, and Wei has to really work with his partner to reach it. Having worked in a giant chicken costume in high school for a fast food restaurant, I can't imagine how hard it is to do these lion dances! 
Weaknesses: I am not entirely sure where this is set; the author is from Australia, but there are some of the store fronts that have names in Chinese characters on them in the illustrations. It's not all that important to the story, but would have been interesting to know. 
What I really think: There are so few graphic novels about sports, and this is an excellent look into what activities are available for children in other parts of the world. I love that this is based on the author's own experiences with the Chinese Youth Lion Dance Team! This was a very unusual and engaging story. 

Project Mercury and Comet vs. Asteroid

 Smith, Ronald L. Project Mercury.
August 6, 2024 by Clarion Books
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Ike Pressure knows the drill. His family has moved often, since his mother is an army specialist and his father is a recruiter. Their new posting is the Mercury Army Base in Nevada. There's not a lot to do there, but Ike is okay with that; he's rather be playing video games, and he does occasionally get outside. When he finds out that one of his mother's friends is also moving to Mercury, he's not all that happy, because it means he will once again have to deal with the loud and bossy Eesha Webb, who was born on the same day he was. The Webbs, who also have six year old twins named Jack and Jill, are a very athletic and competitive family. Eesha often refers to Ike as a nerd,  but when she mentions that Area 51 is very close to them and that she thinks Mercury has some ties to aliens, both are able to geek out on all things space and UFO related. They both think that their parents are probably involved, which mades it even more intriguing. When Ike finds an odd, old radio in the basement, and he hears things that sound like code, he is sure that something is up. Eesha and Ike investigate in the woods, and Jill finds something that looks like "alien tech". When Mixie shows up, they are astonished to find that she is from the year 2300! Should she have been time traveling? Of course not, but she was fooling around and traveled back in time. Life in 2300 is pretty good, but she knows better than to tell Ike and Eesha that. The three figure out that the army is involved in a project, and when Ike's mother's phone rings in her purse with the very same tune that has played through the radio, they suspect she is set to time travel. Mixie takes the children with her to the future, and as they are exploring New Glades, there is an emergency announcement; alien ships have been detected and they have to go to Mixie's home. Mixie's parents are NOT thrilled that she has not only traveled to the past but brought children home with her. They manage to contact the Peacekeeper so that Ms. Pressure isn't attacked. Ms. Pressure has traveled to the future to try to get help with the problems plaguing Earth, like climate change and global warming, and the future is glad to help out and send her back to the army with some solutions. Not only that, but the higher ups are so pleased that they offer the children an opportunity to be hired on as Undercover Kids. Will they get to have more adventures in a sequel?
Strengths: Smith gets a HUGE number of bonus points for his optimistic view of 2300 as a time when there have been no wars for over 500 years, society has not collapsed, they haven't had a pandemic in a long time, and they are willing to help the past out with practical solutions to climate change! There's a good sense of mystery about the army project, some tension with Eesha and Ike working together, and some comic relief from the twins. The depiction of life on an army base was very informative. I know that Smith usually writes fantasy, but I would absolutely LOVE him to write a realistic middle grade book about a tween army brat; I believe this was his upbringing, and I think he would write an excellent, funny novel about that life. There are so few (Benedis-Grab's Army Brats and Lesage's AWOL are the only two that come to mind) that this would be a great addition to middle grade books. 
Weaknesses: This could have used a bit more action earlier in the story, and fewer descriptions of tofu lasagna! The only thing worse than eating cardboardy cereal is reading about it! 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed Murray and Smith's Alien Summer or Buxbaum and Naidu's Area 51. I couldn't help but think of Fleming's nonfiction Crash from Outer Space when the kids are talking about Area 51; I know that Eesha wants to believe in extraterrestrials, but I'm going to side with Fleming's research on this topic! 

Kuchner, Marc J. and Schu, Matt. Asteroid vs. Comet 

April 23, 2024 by MIT Kids Press

Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central

Can we live on Mars? Is Pluto a planet? Star Wars vs. Star Trek? There's no shortage of geeky, space related questions that tweens readers can ponder, and Asteroid vs. Comet offers new opportunities for scientific thinking. In order to really calculate things properly, we first meet both an asteroid, in the Asteroid Belt, and a comet, in the Oort Cloud. We find out that while asteroids are hot, comets are cold, and learn the speeds, weights, and composition of the competing bodies. The two rarely collide, but this is a fun speculation. 

This is not quite a comic book (although it is a comet book!), but a nicely sized nonfiction book with lots of illustrations. Each topic is approached with a page from both the asteroid and the comet point of view, and the text is very readable. Words and ideas are nicely explained, and I was able to understand the scientific concepts. There is definitely an air of suspense in this, which is hard to create in a science related nonfiction book, and I won't ruing the ending and tell you who survived the hypothetical collision!

While some young readers love nonfiction and don't want to read anything else, it can be a challenge to get some readers to pick up books with facts. This is a perfect length, and is highly engaging. The pictures help, and I can see this being a book that I can recommend to my students who need to include some science themed nonfiction books in the mix, even if they aren't wanting to pick them up. 

I love when young readers have specific interests, and space is a topic that frequently sparks readers to search for information. Regas' 1,000 Facts About Space Aldrin and Dyson's Welcome to Mars: Making a Home on the Red Planet, Lowery's Everything Awesome About Space and Other Galactic Facts!,  McAnulty's Where Are the Aliens, and Drimmer's Can't Get Enough Space Stuff. 

MMGM- The Everybody Experiment and What Is Color

It's

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
 at 

Always in the Middle 

and #IMWAYR day 

at

Unleashing Readers

Ramée, Lisa Moore. The Everybody Experiment.

August 27, 2024 by Balzer + Bray

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

At the end of 6th grade, all of Kylie's friends are excited to make the transition from elementary school to middle school, but she's not thrilled. She worries that she isn't as "mature" as her friends, especially since she has a reputation of being quick to cry. She's even done a science project on the physiological reason for tears, and that causes some of her classmates to make even more fun of her. She's also worried about her father's traveling for his new job, and devastated that he can't be at her promotion. Her mother is studying for her PhD, and her younger sister Brianna requires a lot of time, but the two get along well. Approaching the problem of a new school year scientifically, Kylie hypothesizes that if she tries all of the activities that her friends do over the summer, she will be as "mature" as they are. Her mother reluctantly agrees to this plan, as long as there is a disclaimer that Kylie won't do anything dangerous or harmful. Even though she is out of her comfort zone, Kylie manages to go to a restaurant with her friends, go shopping at the mall, attend a boy-girl party and navigate how to say no to ziplining when she is wearing a skirt. Her friends are fearless in their pursuits and also want to watch scary movies and shave their legs, neither of which are successful endeavors, although Kylie does enjoy it when everyone dances. There is some friend drama when Kylie sees Cory and Naomi kissing, and Naomi denies it. This, combined with other situations, has Kylie thinking philosophically about the whole process of lying. There's a trip to a theme park that is rife with problems, as well as drama with birthday parties, Kylie's karate classes, and of course, Brianna deciding to copy her sister and shave her arm! Will Kylie be able to feel comfortable with her classmates and their level of maturity as she starts seventh grade?
Strengths: Middle grade books are full of trauma and drama, but adults think that this needs to consist of death and other terrible things. For tweens, it's your friends talking about you behind your back, crying in awkward situations, failing a test, or just trying to figure out life. Seeing others work through problems like these is just as valuable as seeing young people dealing with grief, which is not quite as universal. Kylie takes a measured and scientific approach to her problem, loops in her parents, and tries to keep a brave face in front of her friends. Ramée does a great job of capturing little, but critical moments; haven't we all worn just the wrong thing, like Kylie and her lack of bike shorts when she wants to zip line? (I wore shorts to freshman schedule pick up when everyone else wore jeans; thinking about it still makes me cringe.) I wouldn't mind a follow up volume about Kylie, focusing on how well she balances her schoolwork, karate, and babysitting Briann during her 7th grade year. If we could avoid school elections and newspapers, all the better! 
Weaknesses: Brian Crane's Pickles just has a strip that proclaimed "Old folks know more about being young than young people know about being old". In middle school, I was often anxious and prone to tears, but my mother was NOT having that. As a member of Gen X, with Boomer leanings, it's very, very true that people my age want everyone to just "suck it up" or "slap some dirt on it" and move on. This is how we were raised. Today's young people will sympathize with Kylie's tendency toward tears, but I was just a little irritated with her at first. It was good to see that she was resilient and kept going; I'd love to see more of these positive role models for tweens. 
What I really think: Despite, or perhaps because of, my personal feelings, I know this is a book we need in elementary and middle school libraries. If the only middle grade novels published next year involved tweens dealing with school and family problems, with a little sports thrown in, 85% of my students would be perfectly happy, and the remaining 15% would have plenty of fantasy books to read. Readers who enjoyed delle Donne's Hoops: Belle of the Ball series, Hurwitz' How I Saved the World in 65 Days, and Lakritz's Things That Shimmer will enjoy this insightful look at the ordinary stress of middle school. 

Weinberg, Steven. What Is Color?: The Global and Sometimes Gross Story of Pigments, Paint, and the Wondrous World of Art 

August 20, 2024 by Roaring Brook Press

Copy provided by the Publisher

This colorful and frenetic look at the history of color and art is sort of like a printed version of falling down an internet rabbit hole looking for information about painting supplies. It's broken up into chapters that cover different colors, but has all sorts of additional information. It's not just a chapter about green; it's information about verdigris and Scheele's green (which may have poisoned Napoleon), but also how to make different colors, artists who used them, and other tangents. Orange? There's a little history of the robes that Buddhist monks wear. Brown? There's information about henna and how the dye is used for personal ornamentation. Pink? How to make a dye out of avocado pits, but also the history of how it became linked to gender, and also the history involving the pink triangle symbol as well as the LGBTQIA+ flag. A discussion of black leads into Vantablack, which is somehow a series of nanotubes that can only be used by one artist. 

It was sort of like being dropped into a Spin Art machine, both visually and from an information standpoint. I think for the full effect, I should have read this while listening to my 1961 record album, Professor Ludwig von Drake's Wonderful World of Color. (Which I'm a little surprised Weinberg didn't mention. The Green with Envy Blues is one rockin' song.)

The end of the book has a lot of interesting appendices, like a color toolbox, maps of where certain colors originated, how to plant a color garden, links to art in the public domain, and a great glossary and index. 

I can't think of any other  middle grade nonfiction book that so totally discusses color, and how it is used in art. From outlining the differences between pigment, vehicle, and medium to talking about what art can be, this really has it all. If you have young artist who want to immerse themselves into art history, hand them What is Color?, along with Chip Kidd's Go: A Kidd's Guide to Graphic Design (2013) or

Pitamic and Laidlaw's Modern Art Adventures: 36 Creative, Hands-On Projects Inspired by Artists from Monet to Banksy (2015).

Death at Morning House

Johnson, Maureen. Death at Morning House
August 6, 2024 by Katherine Tegen Books
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Marlowe Wexler has a decent summer planned, working at a local ice cream parlor alongside her crush, Akilah. Things go well, until they don't. An excellent date at the Cheesecake Factory ends with some light arson (due to a defective candle), and before she knows it, Akilah has taken another job, and Marlowe is shuttled off to Ralston Island in the St. Lawrence River. A friend of her parents' is doing research on the property, which was owned by a Dr. Phillip Ralston and his wife, former actress Faye, in the 1930s, but has been derelict ever since two of their children died on the same day. The book goes back and forth, telling the story of the Ralstons as well as Marlowe's experiences as a docent at the house. In 1932, there were six children the doctor had adopted in England from mothers who couldn't care for the children and whose fathers had been killed in the Great War. Clara, William, Unity, Victory, Edward, and Benjamin all are fed the Kellogg's sanitarium diet, with whole foods, are expected to swim twice a day, and are encouraged in their academic and creative pursuits. Clara is a swimmer and dancer, and is a favorite of the father, but is having a bad summer and drinking a lot of bootleg hooch that can be found abandoned along the river due to bootleggers. There is also young Max, the couple's son, who is four, and a difficult child given to tantrums. Phillip's sister, Dagmar, has been involved in the children's care. Marlowe knows that Max drowned, Clara found him, and subsequently threw herself off the house in grief, but there are things about the story that don't seem right. Dr. Henson, the family friend, works alone in her office while a variety of local teens and Marlowe run tours of the house. April is super friendly, Ricki is an enigmatic Goth type, and the others were all involved in their own tragedy when one of their friends drowned after prom. Marlowe, who is missing Akilah but afraid to text her, throws herself into work and also investigates the mysteries. When Dr. Henson goes missing, things become dire. As the tensions ramp up, and adult supervision is minimal, a storm and subsequent fire bring hidden secrets from the past and the present to light. (I don't want to ruin either mystery!)

Strengths: This was an interesting mix, sort of like The Durrells in Corfu meets Downtown Abbey. I loved, loved, loved Morning House and was super intrigued by the Ralstons and their lifestyle. The children's "playhouse" that is made of stone and has a turret? Oh, yes, please!!! There could have been a whole book about them, even with the father's disturbing adherance to eugenics. Marlowe's story is a good summer adventure with a little romance thrown in, and I love the idea of teens spending time away from home, even if they haven't burned down a cottage! Both stories work well together, the mysteries are suspenseful, with satisfying conclusions, and the ending is as happy as it can be considering there are several murders. The cover is nicely historic AND creepy. 
Weaknesses: This was more of a Young Adult Novel, with several f-words as well as a complicated, interwoven mystery that my students might find hard to follow. I loved it, since Johnson's writing is always compelling, but will pass on purchase for my school. 
What I really think: I would definitely buy this for a high school library, where it would be very popular with fans of Barnes' The Inheritance Games series.

Also, I'm added the St. Lawrence River area as another place I don't want to live. I always thought the Florida Keys would be the most terrifying place to live, but along the river in New York, if there were flooding, it would be a COLD drowning death. No, thank you! 

Cartoon Saturday

Scott, Bob and Scott, Vicki. An Unlikely Pair (Molly and the Bear #1)
August 6, 2024 by Aladdin

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

When 11 year old Molly's leave her home alone briefly to go crusing in their classic car, she is glad to be home alone. She texts with her best friend, but eventually has a big surprise-- a bear has come in through the kitchen window and eaten all of her mother's cookies! The bear is more frightened of Molly than Molly is of the bear, so Molly talks to Bear and gets him to calm down. She's always wanted a pet, and what better pet than an 800 pound bear? She spends a delightful summer with her new friend, hiding him from her parents. Eventually, it's time to go back to school. Everyone loves the new addition to the school, and even her teacher and the principal don't mind having the bear around. Someone who does mind is Max, a good friend of Molly's, who yells at her for breaking the rules. Molly is hurt and confused, since the school year had been going so well. Eventually, she lets her parents know about Bear, and even makes peace with Max.

This book is based on the comic strip by Bob Scott, and has a lot of good information about dealing with anxiety and fears. I  loved the style of the illustrations; very mid century, and the father has a sort of George Jetson vibe. It's a bit goofy, but fun. If Perma-Bound has a prebind, I will probably purchase. 

Smith, Sherri L. The Pearl

August 6, 2024 by Graphix

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Amy lives in Hawaii in the early 1940s. Her father came to the islands from Japan, and his parents and grandmother still live there. When the grandmother, who worked as a pearl diver when she was young, becomes very ill, the family can't travel to help with her care because there is a new baby, so Amy is sent. She spends a lot of time with the woman, hearing her stories, but when Pearl Harbor is bombed, Amy is in a bad situation. She can't leave, but can't get news home. At one point, the government takes her from the family farm to the city so that she can translate news releases into Japanese. At first, she doesn't want to betray the US, but when she finds out that her parents were sent to a camp and her baby brother died, she is willing to help the Japanese cause. Her family doesn't live far from Hiroshima, and when the atomic bomb is dropped, she is badly injured. Eventually, she is able to go back to the US and reunite with her family. 

This was an interesting look at an unusal event-- getting stuck in a country not one's own during a war. I've read a few others, but none about a US citizen in Japan, although Napoli's In a Flash has Italian sisters in Japan at that time. This would be interesting to read along with  A Place to Belong by Kadohata, which has a family that moves from the US back to Japan after World War II, or Yoko Ono: Collector of Skies. The graphic novel is well done, and colored primarily in blues and grays, which gives a vintage, black and white feel to everything. 

Fox, Coco. Let's Go, Coco!

August 13, 2024 by HarperAlley

E ARC Provided by Edelweiss Plus

Coco lives in Indiana, but her best friend Blair is moving to Boston. Coco doesn't know how she will be able to survive the school year at Orchard Middle School, but the other students are nice to her, especially Tami. Even though she is worried about a lot of things, she fights through her anxiety and tries out for the basketball team. She makes the Lady Owls along with Zander, who is nonbinary. The team approaches the coach to remove the "Lady" from the team names, and this is done without too many problems. When Coco breaks her arm during practice, she is a little concerned, but continues to work with the team and even learns to shoot with her left hand. There were a couple of plays that she blew, and teammate Maddie, who calls people unflattering nicknames "as a joke", gives her a hard time. Coco has a crush on Tami, but Tami confides in Coco that she has a crush on Adam. Coco realizes that Maddie is mean because of the way her parents treat her, but after she tells Maddie to stop with the nicknames and Maddie doesn't, Coco tells her that she doesn't want to be friends with her. The Owls win the semifinal, and there could be more graphic novels with this character. 

The color palette is an interesting yellow, orange, and purple, and the illustrations are different from many graphic novels I've seen. They remind me of something, but I can't quite think what. There's plenty of drama, and I can see this being popular with students. 

Buckle Up

Lindell, Lawrence. Buckle Up
August 27, 2024 by Random House Graphic
E ARC provided by Netgalley

Lonnie 's parents have recently divorced, and he is struggling with the transition. He and his sister Nicole fight quite a bit, but do try to listen to their mother when she tells them to knock it off. One of the particularly difficult things about the divorce is after school pick up. Lonnie wants to be dropped off and picked up at a corner a bit away from school, because he feels like the other students have too many questions about why his parents no longer pick him up together. He tells his father that he is the only child in his class whose parents are divorced. At the beginning of the book, he doesn't speak to his father a lot as they shuttle back and forth; we see a lot of Lonnie's internal monologue with himself. As he and his father spend more time together, sometimes getting food or visiting the comic book store together, Lonnie shares more with his father about what is going on in his life. In addition to the divorce and the emotional difficulties this has caused for Lonnie, they discuss detentions that Lonnie has assigned for teasing a boy who was bullying him and the trouble he is in for forging his mother's signature. We see an exploration of how Lonnie and his father feel about the fact that one of the boys in his class, Ray, has two mothers. The father thinks this is not "the norm", which makes Lonnie worry, since he thinks he might be bisexual. The father prints out a pamphlet to share with his son, and they can discuss the issue. The topic of family therapy comes up as well. And the end of the book, Lonnie is comfortable enough with his family's situation to be picked up at the front of the school building. 

Strengths: There are not as many books about tweens navigating life with divorced parents as you would think, so this fills a definite need. Urban's Weekends with Max and His Dad works for slightly younger readers, and Levy's The Jake Show for slightly older ones. Lonnie's internal dialogue is nicely show in outlines of the character or in monochrome drawings, and contrasts nicely with what he actually says to his father. The examples of acting out are intriguing, and the discussion of family therapy helpful to young readers who might be in a similar circumstance. 
Weaknesses: At my school, it seems like more students live in single parent families than two parent ones, so it seemed unusual that Lonnie would be so ashamed that his parents were divorced. Also, since most of the book deals with emotional issues being discussed during car rides, this is a rather slow moving story. 
What I really think: The most obvious read alike for Buckle Up is Reynold's Stuntboy books or Sharp's Just Pretend, but since this is a graphic novel, there is a built in audience for it no matter what the content. 

The Owl Prowl Mystery

Renn, Diane. The Owl Prowl Mystery (Backyard Rangers #2)
August 13, 2024 by Fitzroy Books
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Miles and his friends in the Backyard Rangers are back after their adventures in Trouble at Turtle Pond. It's October, and Miles is excited for Halloween, but his friend Pia points out that his decorations could be dangerous for the owls. He's found several owl pellets near his house, and a local birder who shows up at a festival at Turtle Pond mentions that he has taken an owl who was hit by a car to a rehab center. Malik is impressed by the group's attempts to raise money for various wildlife causes. Miles is very interested in trying to see different birds because his teacher, Ms. Rivera, has given the students a scavenger hunt, and whichever group sees the most birds get a homework coupon. Since he is struggling in school in part because of his ADHD, he wants the coupon enough that he lies about seeing an owl, and even draws a picture at the pond. Celeste Frost has a picture of the owl on her phone. Locals are calling the owl "Bella" and notice that it doesn't seem to be scared of humans. Pia, Luke, and Delaney really want to go on a night hike, an "owl prowl", but it's being held on Halloween, and Celeste is having a party. The group conspires to get dropped off at Celeste's house, but then walk to the owl prowl. The organizer requires permission slips, but lets the children come on the tour since their teacher is there. Mile goes off the path and finds a strange net in the woods that he suspects is being used to catch owls, but he doesn't know what to do about it. When he goes back during the day, the net is gone, but Celeste's parents have closed off one of the walking trails on their property. Malik, who has taken a job working landscaping in the area, says the net is probably a "mist net", and combined with the fact that some of the owl pellets have white mouse fur in them, Miles thinks there is an owl baiter in the area. The Backyard Scouts start an investigation, and have a list of suspects which includes Miles' neighbor Mr. Panek, Malik, and others. Bella mania has gripped the town, and there are even people trying to sell Bella merchandise in town. When Miles' parents find out that he was in the woods near the Frost house, they take him to apologize to her family, especially since Malik is being suspected of being the trespasser. The group thinks that they have found the baiter, but have they? Will they be able to help keeps the owls near Turtle Pond safe?

Strengths: The best part of this book, for me, was the fact that it was very realistic and addressed issues that other books just ignore. Miles' ADHD comes into the story in interesting ways, and there is mention of him taking medication and having help at school. His parents limit his screen time! When the children run off and go on the owl prowl, they are eventually found out. These types of issues are a HUGE deal in elementary and middle school, but are usually never shown. There's a little bit of friend drama when Miles tells the others that Delaney is going to the doctor for treatment of her scoliosis when she wanted it to be kept secret, and Miles thinks that Celeste is stuck up before he gets to know her. There is an especially funny scene with Miles' father making cookies for his mother's book group, and he tries to bake owl pellets at the same time to disinfect them! The mystery is strong as well, and environmental issues speak to a lot of young readers. I enjoyed Renn's Young Adult 2012 Tokyo Heist and 2015 Blue Voyage, but has somehow missed the first book in this series. 
Weaknesses: This seems to be available only in paperback or e book, and the cover art is not strong. 
What I really think: I'm waiting for students to ask me for books with characters who are interested in birding, because there are a growing bumber of them, like McCullough's Across the Pond, King's The Drake Equation, Miller's Rare Birds! This will also appeal to readers who like environmentally themed books like  Hurwitz's  Hello from at Renn Lake, McDunn's When Sea Becomes Sky,  or Johnson's Rescue at Lake Wild.