Bean Stalker

White, Kiersten. Bean Stalker and other Hilarious Scary Tales.
July 25th 2017 by Scholastic
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline

In this collection of fractured fairy tales, we follow the inept Jack through several adventures, and other characters show up along the way. The stories covered are all fairly standard, European tales via the Grimm brothers, such as Rapunzel, Snow White, LIttle Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, and the princess and the pea. The twists on these stories include pyromaniacs, zombies, vampires, and other monster like beings that are all on the gross side.

This had its moments. I liked that Jack was a main focus, because so many of the fairy tale retellings have girls as the main characters (which is why I liked Shurtliff's Jack so much). Five years ago, the addition of vampires and zombies would have made this wildly popular among my Twilight fans. The general tone makes it great for readers who like somewhat gruesome twists ala Gidwitz's A Tale Dark and Grimm, but isn't quite so dark, making it appropriate for both elementary and middle school readers. I can see fifth graders finding Jack's confusion between pea and pee hilarious.

This didn't appeal to me personally. I didn't care for the Lemony Snicket-esque asides, or for the odd twists on the stories. If this had covered some less well known fairy tales, or been somehow differently arranged, I might have bought it. I just don't have enough readers who ask for this sort of tale, and if they do ask, I have the works of E.D. Baker, Surtliff, Jessica Day George or Diane Zahler to hand to my students.

WNDB Wednesday- Dysfunctional Families

Helget, Nicole. The End of the Wild
April 11th 2017 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Public Library Copy

Fern's family is struggling more than most. Her mother was killed in an auto accident a year ago, and her step father is out of work. Their town is an impoverished one, so when a fracking company sets up operations in the woods near Fern's house, many people look at it as a great opportunity, including Alkomso, Fern's friend, and some of her other classmates. To Fern, it means that the woods on which she depends for food for her family is in jeopardy, and she will be unable to help feed her younger siblings. Her teacher, Mr. Flores, is concerned about the environmental impact of the fracking. Fern's friend and neighbor, Mark-Richard, is put into foster care after he accidentally sets his house on fire, and Fern must also try to make peace with the neighbor who cause her mother's accident, but whose dogs help save her from a bear. With the school science fair approaching and many students doing projects on the fracking operation, Fern, as well as her town, must decide on how to achieve the delicate balance which will allow both the citizens and their environment to survive.
Strengths: I appreciated the fact that the author was able to portray fracking as something harmful but which could help out people in many ways. This is a hard thing to do. There are not a lot of books that include the difficulties of modern rural poverty, and this provided a sympathetic and informative portrayal of such a situation. Alkomso's family is Muslim, and some of their difficulties are realistically portrayed as well.
Weaknesses: Another dead mother? It would have been nicer if Fern's mother had been alive to share the recipes with her. The family still could have struggled just as much financially. I know that in areas of rural poverty in Ohio, it's hard for everyone to find jobs.,
What I really think: I will probably buy this one because it addressed the important modern issue of fracking, but the cover is NOT appealing. I'm also a little irritated personally that people who are opposed to fracking don't address the larger, contributing issues-- people keeping their houses too warm and driving to work when they could find other transportation, but that doesn't have anything to do with the book!


Ellis, Ann Dee. You May Already Be a Winner
July 11th 2017 by Dial Books
Copy provided by the publisher

Olivia's family lives in a trailer park and has been struggling ever since her father walked out. Her younger sister, Berkeley, is unable to go to child care because she's had a cough, and since their mother needs to go to work, Olivia has been staying home from school. She is very conscientious about making sure her sister does school work, plays outside, and has her meals, but it's not an ideal situation. Eventually, the school demands that Olivia goes back. She's not thrilled with the idea, especially since she has met a boy, Bart, who has been hanging around the park. Olivia writes letters to her father, whom she believes is working at a national park, but doesn't hear back from him. It's tough to go back to school, but even tougher when her mother wants her to take Berkeley to school with her. She does this successfully for a few days, hiding her in a broom closet with activities and food, but eventually the girls are found out. Social Services finds their father and sends their mother away, and things slowly return to a new normal.
Strengths: This was an intriguing book, and my readers enjoy stories of young people on their own, trying to make up for dysfunction parenting. The stories of Jacqueline Wilson, especially Lily Alone,
Castelman's Sara, Lost and Found, Connor's Waiting For Normal, and even Tanaka's disturbing Nobody Knows are all popular in my library. The family problems were realistic, and Olivia tried her best to handle her circumstances. I enjoyed the neighborhood, especially since it seemed very much like any other neighborhood where residents know each other. My grandparents lived in Countryside Estates near Ravenna, Ohio for several years.
Weaknesses: At almost 350 pages, this is a bit on the long side. Since Olivia's rich imaginary life is somewhat confusing (especially at the beginning of the book), I think the story would have been stronger without her daydreams.
What I really think: No one dies! The cover and title of this one are both strong, and I think this one will see steady circulation.

Gabby Duran Blog Tour

Allen, Elise and Conners, Daryle. Gabby Duran: Troll Control (#2).
May 17th 2016 by Disney Hyperion
Copy provided by Spark Point Media

Gabby, just employed as a sitter for alien Unsittables, is given a new charge-- a troll child named Trymmy. Yes, trolls are aliens, and they are not wild haired and unpantsed-- they are smarter than most humans, although Trymmy is prone to stealing things. Gabby has some other issues to deal with as well; her school orchestra is trying to raise money to travel, and Gabby is supposed to be helping the smarmy Madison with the fund raiser. However, problems with A.L.I.E.N. and it's nemesis, G.E.T.O.U.T. complicate not only her babysitting, but the rest of her life. Her good friend Zee is aware of the full details of Gabby's babysitting, but Satchel remains detached from that reality. Will Gabby be able to keep Trymmy, and the rest of her life, under control?
Strengths: There aren't enough books about middle school students babysitting, and this one adds the extra interest with babysitting aliens. This is a great way to introduce science fiction to readers who claim they don't like it. The fact that these are also humorous and have bright and appealing covers is a plus.
Weaknesses: I had trouble getting my mind around trolls being aliens. And once the image of the wild haired plastic ones was mentioned, I had an odd picture of Trymmy in my mind!
What I really think: Fun addition to the series.

Allen, Elise and Conners, Daryle. Gabby Duran: Multiple Mayhem (#3).
July 11th 2017 by Disney Hyperion
Copy provided by Spark Point Media

Gabby gets embroiled in a weird alien situation when pop star Russell Tyler shows up at her school with a box and instructs her to give it to Edwina. It's an essential piece of dangerous equipment; a mirror made of Narcissite. The Hautties, aliens who most often show up on earth as very attractive entertainers, want to use it to destroy the earth. While guarding this object, Gabby also gets a job sitting a Tridecalleon baby named One. His parents want Gabby to take him to the mall to his Buckeroo class, and Gabby is more than happy to get a chance to hang out at the mall. However, One keeps...multiplying. Of course, Gabby runs into the evil Madison when One is only three babies, but more keep coming. Luckily, Zee and Satchel are able to help her get the babies home and implement a system to get all of the diapers changed and babies fed while trying to contact the parents. The odd "Silver Fox" that her mother is now dating, Arlington Brindlethorpe, seems suspiciously interested in the babies, and Gabby has to manage to handle thirteen babies, keep the mirror safe, and deal with Madison's insensitive postings on social media.
Strengths: This was the most interesting book of the series. The multiplying baby was the best alien, and bringing in Zee and Satchel to help was fun. The real life drama of Gabby's mother beginning to date is made even more amusing by the suspicion that he might be an alien! Once again, it's fun to see a book with a main character who babysits, and introducing multiples is inspired. Bonus points for the best memory eraser ever-- who doesn't want to pet a baby bunny?
Weaknesses: I had trouble believing that even alien parents would be okay dropping their babysitter at the mall with their child.
What I really think: Aside from The Babysitting Chronicles (2016), Hurwitz's Tough-Luck Karen (1982) and Robertson's Henry Reed's Baby-Sitting Service (1966), there are precious few books that have children babysitting. Let's call a moratorium on bullying and class election books and put some energy into babysitting tales and wrestling books, authors!

MMGM- The Wild Bunch

It's Marvelous Middle Grade Monday at Ramblings of a Wannabe Scribe and #IMWAYR day at Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers. It's also Nonfiction Monday.


Gansei, Jan. The Wild Bunch
July 11th 2017 by Aladdin
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline

Paul is not happy that his father is dragging him into the woods on a camping trip right after summer vacation starts, especially since his father's two friends from college and their sons are coming. Hector and Jack aren't horrible, but they just aren't the sort of people Paul usually hangs out with. Jack's father is detained, but the guys head out into the woods. There are mini disasters right and left-- they hit a deer, set a tent on fire, and have more Spam to eat than Paul would like. Not only that, but there is a wild Beast on the loose, and the major attraction of the trip, Bear Falls, is off limits. Eventually, the boys get tired of listening to the dads sing and talk about fishing, and head off to find the falls on their own. Luckily, Hector is very prepared and has studied up on the wilderness, because Jack is a bit of a blusterer and frequently gets into trouble along the trail by not thinking. Good things to know-- stinging nettle leaves make horrible toilet paper, and you shouldn't put anything in your mouth unless you know what it is!

The characters in this were especially great. The fathers were a tiny bit annoying and a little goofy, there was a mother who ironed everything (do those even exist still, though?), and the park ranger was informative but a bit scary. While Jack and Hector were a bit stereotypical (bully and nerd), Jack was a great tween Everyboy. He's a little concerned about some things, but ready for an adventure. He's afraid of snakes, but resourceful. He's a great canvas for tween boys to project their own personalities onto.

This was a funny book. There were some situations that were inherently funny, but the thing that I liked best was the random humor. There are laugh-out-loud lines, and sunny things that happen, like Paul using the page on snakes in the guidebook when, um, nature calls, folding it up and stowing it in his back pack because he doesn't want to litter, and then getting bitten by a snake and having to use that page for reference! Perfectly gross! One of the dad's makes a "protein shake" with raw eggs, wheat grass, dandelion puree and the secret ingredients of ground anchovies! Jack talks in his sleep about asparagus and fluffy bunnies. I bookmarked a dozen pages because they made me guffaw. That's the sort of writing that keeps readers interested.

I am so happy that Aladdin is putting out a MAX series similar to its M!X series for girls. I am looking forward to these humorous, STAND ALONE titles!


Comics Squad #3: Detention! (Comics Squad #3) by Jennifer L. Holm Matthew Holm, Jarrett J Krosoczka, Victoria Jamieson, Ben Hatke, et al.
July 4th 2017 by Random House Books for Young Readers
Copy provided by the publisher.

Like Comics Squad- Lunch! and Comics Squad- Recess!, this book showcases the illustrative talents of some of today's favorite graphic artists for children. We do have some old favorites, like Squish and the Lunch Ladies, but there are some fun new entries from George O'Connor, who does a fun take on Sisyphus in detention, in keeping with his books about the Olympian gods, and a story by Jorge and Raf that makes me wonder why they haven't done an older middle grade graphic novel similar to Drama or Roller Girl. Victoria Jamieson has a story that showcases the complicated emotionals and behavioral issues of middle school, and Lark Pien and Matt Phelan have interesting fantasy excursions; after all, how does one survive serving a detention with some imagination?

This is a great book to hand to students about to enter middle school about two weeks before school is to start. Have to get them warmed up and prepared, right?


National Geographic Kids Almanac 2018 by National Geographic Kids
May 9th 2017 by National Geographic Children's Books
Copy provided by the publisher

Want the best bang for your buck when it comes to children's book. Purchase a copy of the newest almanac for $14.99, and it will keep your children reading all summer. Great for car trips, as long as you don't have children prone to motion sickness, because it has lots of conversational springboards. Good for bedtime reading, sitting on the porch with a glass of lemonade, and for sharing with friends on a rainy day.

Do not confuse this with an almanac for adults, which used to be a quickly dated print book filled with statistics, maps, and charts that now are much more current on the internet. This is 337 densely packed pages of random facts, games, and interesting tidbits accompanied by full color pictures and bright illustrations. This is a much better investment than a Guinness Book of World Records (they retail new for ridiculous sums, considering how quickly the binding separates from the pages), since it is easier to carry around and doesn't fall apart.

Not my favorite thing, but my brother (who was a complete nonreader) loved this sort of thing, and my own personal children spent endless hours with these even though they did love to read!

Variety of Titles

Graff, Lisa. The Great Treehouse War
May 16th 2017 by Philomel
Copy provided by the publisher

Winnie's very exacting parents get divorced and decide that they must split up time with her exactly. She lives with her mother three days, with her father three days, and in a tree house in the exact middle of their two houses, within view of her uncle's house, on Wednesdays. Her parents decide to celebrate every single holiday (Peach Cobbler Day! Eraser Day!) in time consuming fashions, so Wednesday becomes the one day of the week where Winnie can relax or get homework done. When her father plans to spend his summer collecting grouse poop for his research, Winnie's mother plans to claim 37 of Winnie's Wednesdays, so she decides to stay in the treehouse. Because the tree in which the house was built was planted by the now defunct kingdom, it's not on US soil, and therefore Winnie can make her own laws. Eventually, nine of her friends move in to the treehouse with her to escape their own parents, and that makes life just about as stressful as life with her parents. Will Winnie be able to figure out a way to pass fifth grade and make peace with her parents?
Strengths: This will appeal to fans of The Boxcar Children and other stories where they children are on their own in a slightly unbelievable way. It's not quite fantasy, but is highly unlikely. Full of fun activities, facts, and page decorations, it's a quick, funny read.
Weaknesses: Hard to believe that Winnie's parents wouldn't have been arrested for child endangerment. They are about the most irresponsible, dysfunctional parents I've read lately. Sure, celebrate Peach Cobbler Day, but refuse to go talk to your child's teacher if her mother is going to be there. Happens, but is still disturbing. 
What I really think: I am sending the copy of this to the elementary school, where I think the students will love it. I just don't see it being popular with 6th graders.


Mlynowski, Sarah. I See London, I See France
July 11th 2017 by HarperTeen
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline

THIS IS NOT A BOOK FOR HIGH SCHOOL!!!

NONONONONONONO!

I love this author, I love books about traveling around Europe, but Sydney and her friend Leela travel around, smoke pot and see a sex show in Amsterdam, get drunk, and make poor choices about sex. It made ME wildly uncomfortable. This isn't even for high school students, in my opinion. Definitely that New Adult category. Although not as much cursing. While I wish my own travels around Europe had included hot guy, this was WAY WAY WAY TOO MUCH INFORMATION!

I think I need to go read some Anne of Green Gables now. Or Little Women. I'm done with Montgomery.

Everything All at Once

Leno, Katrina. Everything All at Once
June 6th 2017 by HarperCollins Children's Books
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline

Lottie's aunt, a famous author of the Alvin Hatter fantasy series, dies of breast cancer at the age of 40, and the world is plunged into grief. Luckily, Lottie's parents and brother, Abe, are still alive, and the family spends a lot of time grieving together. In addition, Lottie is given a set of letters that her aunt wrote, giving her different tasks, since Lottie has always been anxious and afraid to do things. As she reads though the letters, she gets to know her aunt a little better and finds out a very important secret about her life involving a young protege, Sam, whom Lottie comes to like.
N.B. While Lottie is in high school, it's appropriate for middle school. It's also a fantasy.
Strengths: The writing was engaging, and I found myself liking the characters. It was a fun gimmick to have a J.K. Rowling type author as the aunt, and a great twist at the end. (Which turned this into a fantasy book.)This would be a good book for readers who adore Tuck Everlasting. This has some similarities to 13 Little Blue Envelopes, and I felt like the aunt meant well with the letters.
Weaknesses: Too many details about being sad.
What I really think: The best way to move on after a loss is to stop obsessing about the person. Don't look at pictures, don't think about the person-- move on. I know. Lottie's entire family should have been in therapy a whole lot sooner. The wallowing in loss and obsessing about it seemed very unhealthy and counterproductive. Yeah, everyone grieves differently, but I'd like to see more functional grieving in middle grade books. It's not like people are going to stop dying.

Guy Friday-- Princesses, Inc.

You know, there need to be more books about BOYS babysitting! After all, Keith Robertson's Henry Reed's Babysitting Service came out in 1966! I liked that Breck got some mention in this book, but I would have LOVED to see him take more of an active role in babysitting!


Mancusi, Mari. Princesses, Inc
July 18th 2017 by Aladdin
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline

Hailey and her friends really, really want to attend ComicCon so that they can meet famous YouTuber Collin Prince. Hailey also really wants to go, hoping that she can enter a writing contest and possibly get into a writing camp. Her story? A fanfic piece on Collin Prince that she and her friend are co-writing. When all of their families agree that it's too expensive, the girls decide to babysit... with the added twist that they will go in princess or pirate costumes and get more jobs that way. This, of course, means costumes and a lot of work, and doesn't always go smoothly. Hailey has the added complication of meeting Breck, who loves video games as much as she does, and whose father is an author. He is very helpful on some of the babysitting gigs, and offers to ask his father to look at Hailey's writing. After a particularly unsuccessful babysitting venture (Only Hailey shows up to a wedding, and has a lot of trouble keeping the triplet flower girls under control. She even has to ask her step sister for help!), the girls decide to give up, and end up visiting a hospital as princesses, with a surprising result.
Strengths: This is actually a really good idea, one which I would have embraced forty years ago when I was getting a whole dollar an hour to watch the entire Fitzgerald family of five children! I'm not sure how much children today babysit, but I always enjoy books about tweens who do something unusual, and this embraces that on several level-- Hailey writes AND she is passionate about videogames and cosplay. Mancusi also wrote the great 2008 Gamer Girl and clearly has a love for the world of ComicCon. The humor is great. Once again, the M!X series does not disappoint.
Weaknesses: YouTubers and fan fiction-- two of my own personal least favorite things. I don't really want to encourage readers to explore either of those things, but those who already are will enjoy this.
What I really think: Can there be a M!X Book of the Month Club where they just automatically send me all of their titles? That would be fantastic.

 

Super Girls

McMullen, Beth. Mrs. Smith's Spy School For Girls
Expected publication: July 4th 2017
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline

Abigail has lead an odd and nomadic life with her mother, Jennifer. She thinks they have always gotten along, but her mother suddenly decides to send her off to boarding school because she needs more structure in her life. Abigail proves her mother correct when she uses sheets to escape from her dorm room, and ends up in the headmistresses' office. This doesn't end well, and she has her room moved to the fourth floor. She also finds out that Mrs. Smith's School for Children is actually a cover for a spy training operation, and her mother was friends with Mrs. Smith. Children are, of course, frequently used in spy operations, so when Mrs. Smith thinks that they can run Jennifer to ground by using Abigail as bait, she has older, successful child spy Veronica train her for a couple of nights, and then they ship her off to San Francisco under the guise of attending a family wedding. Nothing goes right on the trip, but luckily Toby, another student, is keeping tabs on Abigail. When she returns to the school, she lets her friends Charlotte and Izumi in on her secret, and the girls, along with Toby, take off to New York City to try to find Jennifer. Secrets are revealed, and the stage is set for more adventures.
Strengths: If you can't keep Carter's Gallagher Girls series on the shelf, take a look at this one. It has all of the spy school story essentials-- a boarding school, spy gadgets, a mission that can only be completed by children. There's a tiny bit of romance, some intrigue, and lots of travel and chases.
Weaknesses: I didn't care for Abigail, and there was a lot of incompetent spying going on. Abigail wasn't really trained properly, and she has no innate spy abilities, so she went from one bad situation to another. The Gallagher Girls are fun because the are smart, well trained, and successful spies.
What I really think: I love spy stories, but this one wasn't my favorite. Debating.

Yee, Lisa. Katana at Super Hero High (DC Super Hero Girls Adventure Collection #4)
July 4th 2017 by Random House Books for Young Readers
Copy provided by the publisher

Katana hasn't shown up prominently in the other three books in this series, but when she is late getting back from picking up BatGirl's cake, everyone starts to worry. Katana has entered a secret passage under the school because she heard voices calling to her, and is caught in a tidal wave of swords! Luckily, Miss Martian locates her, and her friends snap her out of her trance, and no one is injured. The swords are stowed away safely, and everyone gets back to their school day. The latest project is all about ancestry, and this is very timely for Katana. Her grandmother was a super hero samurai, which was very unusual for a woman. Unfortunately, her grandmother disappeared and is presumed dead. Katana starts to investigate her own background, and odd things continue to happen. Sand crabs appear around the school, and seem to want to communicate with her. There are mystical haiku poems that seem to indicate that Katana needs to harness the power of the swords. Most worrying, a super villain named Dragon King is on the loose and seems to be targeting Katana. With the help of her super friends, can Katana figure out the mystery of her grandmother and subdue the Dragon King?

Like the previous books in this series (involving Wonder Woman, Super Girl and Bat Girl), Katana's story works in a distractingly large number of DC characters. I'm starting to get to know a few of them (like Big Barda and Carzy Quilt), but fans of actual DC comics who are already familiar with the characters will definitely enjoy the appearances of even obscure characters. including Granny Goodness, who was the librarian at Super Hero High before she caused problems!

Yee seems to have hit her stride in this fourth volume, though. I liked how Katana's school work aligned nicely with her super hero mission and led to a better understanding of her own powers and motivations. Her mythology is more clearly delineated than the other characters, and I thought it was especially clever to have her solve a mystery involving her grandmother.

There are a growing number of books where girls have amazing powers, such as the new McMullen, Beth. Mrs. Smith's Spy School For Girls releasing at the same time as Katana. Older titles include Hale's Playing with Fire (School for S.P.I.E.S., #1), Salane's Lawless, and  Hale's Dangerous. If Wonder Woman was a big hit in your house but you're a bit tired of untying children from the Golden Lasso, by all means take a look at this series and introduce some other female super heroes into the mix.

Walking with Miss Millie

Bundy, Tamara. Walking with Miss Millie
July 4th 2017 by Nancy Paulsen Books
ARC from publisher at ALA

Alice is not happy about moving from Columbus, Ohio to Rainbow, Georgia in 1968, and thinks that her mother is making too much of her grandmother's forgetfulness. When they arrive, however, Alice starts to realize that perhaps there are some problems. Still, it's a temporary fix, and soon her father will return to the family and they will all move back to Ohio, where Eddie can return to the school he attends because he is hearing impaired. Alice is forced to help a neighbor, Miss Millie, and walks her dog, Clarence. However, Clarence only wants to walk with Miss Millie, so Alice is able to learn a lot about the elderly woman's life. She also has run ins with the town bullies, as well as their sister, Pam, who takes a liking to Eddie and plays with him, trying to learn sign language. Alice begins to settle in to her new community when tragedy strikes. Will she be able to figure out life her new life?
Strengths: The information about Miss Millie's life is very interesting, and Alice's struggles are realistic. This was a quick and pleasant read that offered a brief taste of what life was like at this time.
Weaknesses: I wish that this hadn't been from the point of view of a young, white girl. More details about Civil Rights movement would have been helpful. Spoiler alert: Miss Millie is 94. Draw your own conclusion.
What I really think: I really, really need books about the 1960s for a unit one of my teachers does, so I will probably buy this one. I just wish it had more period details and was from Miss Millie's point of view.

The Unicorn in the Barn

Ogburn, Jacqueline K. and Green, Rebecca (illus.)The Unicorn in the Barn
July 4th 2017 by HMH Books for Young Readers
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline

Eric Harper is irritated when he sees a "No Trespassing" sign on his treehouse. He knows that his father had to sell his grandmother's house and some of their land to pay for her nursing home, but the treehouse is still his. He meets the new occupant of the house, Allegra Brancusi, who is living there with her mother, who is running a veterinary practice there. He also sees a shimmering white horse that appears to be hurt... but it turns out to be a real, live unicorn. Very matter-of-factly, Dr. Brancusi explains to Eric that she has a number of magical creatures under her care, and since it's hard to find people she can trust to work with the animals, she asks Eric to come and work for her. This job consists mainly of scooping unicorn poop, but Eric feels better just being around Moonpearl. Things are somewhat difficult at home. His mother died when he was young, his older brother is busy being a teenager, his father is very gruff and seems overburdened, and Eric misses his grandmother. He visits her once a week, but it's not the same as having her nearby. After his grandmother picks a few unicorn hairs off of his jacket, Eric notices that her arthritic hand seems improved. He knows that Moonpearl's magic can heal people, but since the unicorn is pregnant with twins, Dr. Brancusi doesn't want to take any chances with her health. As the fall turns to winter, Eric must deal with his grandmother's declining health, and he and Allegra become friends while tending to the animals.
Strengths: This was delightful! I would have adored this when I was in upper elementary school. There is a pregnant unicorn, for heaven's sake! And a talking Cheshire cat! Eric's relationship with his grandmother was very sweet, and while this was sad, it wasn't hand-wringingly soppy. I liked how Allegra, Dr. Brancusi and Eric all worked together to help Moonpearl, and I thought the twist at the end of the story was a nice touch. I almost didn't read this one because it looked twee, but it ended up being a book I can easily hand to any of my students who want magical realism.
Weaknesses: I wanted Moonpearl to heal Eric's grandmother as much as he did, but even in fantasy books, that's not necessarily what happens.
What I really think: I think this begs for a party. Who knew there was a unicorn-themed food trend?

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/5-ways-unicorn-food

Mansbach, Adam and Zweibel, Alan. Benjamin Franklin, You've Got Mail
June 20th 2017 by Disney-Hyperion
Copy received from the publisher for review at Young Adult Books Central

After the adventures in Benjamin Franklin: A Huge Pain in My A**, Ike is worried about a letter he has gotten from his famous friend from the past... it says "Help!" Of course, now that mail can travel back in time with old postage stamps, Ike has his (now) girlfriend Claire send him back to Franklin. He ends up near the mailbox on Franklin's porch, but the house has been burned down. Immediately noticing that his clothing will make him suspicious, Ike gets himself outfitted with suitable garments and goes in search of Franklin to find out what is wrong. He finds his friend without money, so the two set up a snake oil business to fleece local coal miners out of their money to "cure" their black lung. Once they have a bit of cash, they manage to book passage to France, since Franklin's need for help stems from the increasing problems with the British. On the boat, the two meet Jefferson and Adams, and head off for an audience with Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI. Because they'd spent most of the trip inland eating oysters and drinking champagne, they all become violently ill right when they have the audience, and it's up to Ike to save the day. Will his impassioned speech be enough to get the colonists help and save his time from being wildly different?

This is a goofy take on history that will be popular with fans of Kinney's Wimpy Kid and other irreverent middle grade books which celebrate potty humor and unlikely heroes. Ike is interested to travel back in time but doesn't have too much of a concept of what language and manners he should embrace, so he frequently angers people he meets. He refers to Franklin as B-Freezy, for example, and almost blows the audience with Antoinette before settling down and trying to fit in.

One of the best parts about this is Claire's letters from the "future"; she informs him that things are not going well, but also keeps an eye on any historical anomaly's that crop up. Once Ike returns, there are a few things that are different, which is a bit of an unusual turn for a time travel book.

Fans of Potter's The Left Behinds and Limbaugh's Rush Revere books will want to pick up these two books. For more accurate historical content, they can investigate Gutman's Flashback Four or Qwerty Stevens time travel books.

My biggest complaint about this book is that while trying to replicate the Colonial affectation of capitalizing words, the authors have chosen to capitalize nouns, verbs and adjectives randomly. I'm pretty sure that the words that were capitalized were always nouns, since the tradition stemmed from a similar German practice. I would have thought that was a fairly well known fact. While there were coal mines in Virginia in the 1740s, I wasn't convinced that there would have been large enough communities of miners with black lung to support the sales of Ike's concoction. The historical research involved in this book was probably tenuous at best.

Happy 4th of July- Junior Lifeguards

Carey, Elizabeth Doyle. The Test (Junior Lifeguards #1)
April 24th 2017 by Dunemere Books
E ARC from Edleweiss Above the Treeline

Jenna is tired of being on the swim team in her small, tourist oriented East coast town. She used to win everything, but recently she hasn't been, and she feels a lot of pressure from Coach Randall and her parents to do better. Since she's about to go into high school, she'd rather have a fun filled summer, and trying out to be a junior life guard seems to be the way to go, especially when she sees the really cute Luke Slater hanging the poster about try outs. It wouldn't be any fun without her friends, though, so she recruits several of them to try out as well. Piper would rather spend her summer helping her grandmother in the stables of their riding school, but her grandmother wants her to get out and meet people her own age. Ziggy would rather use her time for the environmental causes she supports, but has to admit that she's a bit tired of always doing what her parents want her to do. Selena would rather go to an acting camp but is being forced to go to summer school, so is enticed by the idea of cute boys and the possibility of earning good money working as a beach lifeguard. Luke Slater's father is in charge of the program, and try outs are tough. Jenna doesn't seem to impress the elder Slater, and her friends (who don't swim as well) seem to do better at tryouts than she does! There's the added drama of new but somehow dangerous Hayden, who seems to like Jenna, and the internationally jet setting Samantha, who shows up to tryouts in a bikini. Even if Jenna becomes a junior lifeguard, will it lead to the sort of summer she imagines?
Strengths: This is a great summer read, and like Bradford's Bodyguard series, is being released in paperback this summer, so there's no waiting to see how the story develops! Jenna is an interesting character, and one who will speak to many middle grade readers, many of whom have been involved in sports that have become too time consuming or competitive. While the biggest portion of the book revolves around sun and fun and BOYS, there is an undercurrent of more serious issues. Jenna's friend group is nicely diverse, and I loved how they all had their own interests. Even the covers are great, which the pictures of girls who look 13 and not 18. I would definitely have saved my babysitting money and begged my mother to drive me to the mall to purchase these when I was 13!
Weaknesses: These are only available in paperback, which is great for teens but not so good for school libraries. Follett doesn't have a prebind available yet, but I'll keep a lookout for them.
What I really think: Definitely a fun series, both for fans of beach life and for those of us in landlocked areas who only get as far as the beach on a lake!

The three sequels are all available except for Fireworks, which comes out on 25 July 2017!

     

MMGM- Surivor Diaries #1 and Middle School Babymouse

Johnson, Terry Lynn. Overboard! Survivor Diaries #1
July 4th 2017 by HMH Books for Young Readers
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline

Travis and his family are on a boat off the coast of Washington State on a whale watching expedition run by Marina and her father. When a wave capsizes the boat, the two children get swept away from everyone else. Marina knows water safety since she has worked on the family boat, and the two finally make it to a small island. There, they continue to use their survival skills to stay warm, start a fire, and find a way to alert people where they are. Travis must manage to overcome his fear of heights in order help the two survive.
Strengths: This was a great, fast-paced book that fans of Tarshis' I Survived series will gobble up! While that series seems to revolve around children surviving by accident, Overboard! shows how Travis and Marina deliberately use their knowledge and skills to survive. This also had survival tips from the Coast Guard at the end of the book, providing readers with useful information! The next book in the series is Avalanche!, which should be good as well. Johnson's experience in the outdoors shines through in this.
Weaknesses: I could have done without the artifice of the reporter interviewing Travis at the beginning of the book, but I think this will tie all of the volumes together. Also, I was disappointed this wasn't Ice Dogs, which was just brilliant. Overboard will find more readers, but Ice Dogs was just brilliantly written.
What I really think: Definitely purchasing this whole series, because the books will never be on the shelves!

Holm, Jennifer L. and Matthew. Lights, Camera, Middle School (Tales from the Locker #1)
Random House Books for Young Readers
ARC provided by the Publisher

Babymouse is headed to middle school, which is the scariest place on earth, akin to a monster movie, where the popular zombies wear sparkly lip gloss, lunch is horrible, lockers are beyond understanding, and the library is the refuge of choice. She is worried that her lack of good whiskers will impair her social progress, even though she doesn't really want to fit in. She'd rather stand out! What better way to do that than to get involved in film club? Ms. Octavia is glad to have Babymouse, who writes a script for an epic film adventure called Au Revoir, My Locker. The roles are cast, scenes are blocked, and filming begins. There are any number of set backs-- filming is deleted, scenes go wrong, and bathrooms are flooded. Through it all, however, Babymouse perserveres with a tiny bit of help from her friends, and her film premiers to... unexpected laughter which leads Babymouse to the insightful remark that "MIddle school wasn't a monster movie. It was a comedy. A bad comedy."
Strengths: Middle school students are certainly more than ready for Babymouse to get older and follow them to middle school. I was particularly pleased with the change in format. The book is slightly bigger, but maintains the 18 point font, and there are enough pages with pictures on them to lure in reluctant readers. The story is true to Babymouse's established eccentricities, but adds new, age appropriate concerns. This will be hugely popular.
Weaknesses: There are so many books that tell students how miserable middle school will be, and I find them slightly tiring. I also am not entirely convinced that middle school libraries are quite the haven during lunch that they are portrayed to be in literature. Mine is much too busy during lunch for it to be a good place for students to hide!
What I really think: A must purchase for all middle school libraries. Just not my personal favorite. Does Babymouse have an actual name?

Squirrels, Hamsters, and Dogs

O'Donnell, Tom. Miller, Tim (Illus.) Hamstersaurus Rex vs. Squirrel Kong
June 27th 2017 by HarperCollins
Copy provided by the publisher for Young Adult Books Central

Sam and his friend Dylan aren't quite in the clear after the events of Hamstersaurus Rex, especially when there is an attack on their school, and Hammie is blamed. The Principal Truitt wants to locate him to the Irma Bergstrom Memorial Home for Troubled Small Pets, based on the video footage that Sam was taking for his Chinchillazilla vs. MechaChinchillazilla movie, but Sam knows the truth-- the school is being menaced by a giant, ferocious squirrel. While Hammie would savage a bag of Funchos Spicy Wasabi and French Onion Flavor-Wedges, he's a good hamstersaurus at heart. Dylan is preparing for the big disc golf tournament so that the Maple Bluffs Discwhippers can trounce their opponents, but Sam has seen suspicious activity involving a quadcopter spraying Funchos dust and encouraging Squirrel Kong to attack. He suspects the SmilesCorp is involved, and when he breaks into their secret lab, he finds an unlikely ally, as well as proof that some of the adults in Maple Bluffs are hiding big secrets. Can Sam, with the help of Hamster Monitor and generally brilliant go-to doll docent Martha, figure out how Squirrel Kong evolved and manage to save Maple Bluffs as well as Hammie?

O'Donnell has a real way with words, and I would have laughed even if this were just a list of funny phrases; I totally needed a PETCATRAZ cage when my daughter had Gimli, her dwarf hamster! From Sam's mother calling him Bunny Butt to the doll in the museum made of beef jerky, this book kept me snorting from the random, funny descriptions and names. Combine this with Tim Miller's excellent depictions of a giant, ravenous squirrel and twitchy, ever-ravenous hamstersaurus, and there's a laugh on every page.

Sam's single minded determination to save Hammie and to do the right thing keeps this from being completely silly. He is often conflicted-- SmilesCorp is mutating animals, but his mother works there. He has promised Dylan he'll be at her tournament, but he has to save the town from destruction. Even his dealings with the reformed Beefer Vanderkoff show a maturity and gentleness of spirit that would seem wildly out of place amongst all of the slapstick humor if it weren't so endearing.

Readers who can appreciate Stick Dog's humane manipulation of his less-than-intelligence friends or revel in the deeper thematic undercurrents of justice inherent in Captain Underpants will find Sam and his sidekick to be as mouth wateringly awesome as a bag of Maple Syrup and Pickles Funchos. Remember, it's the Partially Hydrogenated Frog Chromosome Extract that makes them extra tasty!


Cameron, W. Bruce. Molly's Story (A Dog's Purpose Novel)
July 4th 2017 by Starscape Books
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline

C.J. is frequently neglected by her mother, Gloria, who is much more interested in dating and going on fancy trips than she is with making sure C.J. goes to school regularly. When her friend, Trent, gets a dog from a neighborhood woman who rescues them, C.J. is immediately taken with Molly and eventually decides that she will take the dog home and hide her from Gloria. Molly adores C.J. and is willing to spend her days in a closet under the stairs as long as she can snuggle with her girl occasionally. In order to be with her dog, C.J. frequently skips school. Eventually, Gloria finds out about both the truancy and the dog. She tries to turn Molly over to another rescue, but since Molly is microchipped, C.J. gets her back. Eventually, C.J. runs away from home and she and Molly spend several weeks couch surfing before the two return to Gloria and try to work out system that will make everyone happy.
Strengths: Like Bailey's Story and Ellie's Story, this has an appealing cover and a standard dog's-eye-view type of story. It's nice that the books don't need to be read in order, and I was especially fond of this one, because Molly looks a lot like Sylvie when she was a chocolate brown puppy!
Weaknesses: C.J. was not very likable, her mother should have been turned in to Children's Services, and Molly was not treated well.
What I really think: I'll buy a copy mainly for the cover, and because the other books have been popular, but I wasn't very happy with the story. It was just sad, but in a way that made me want to slap all of the characters.

My Top Secret Dares and Don'ts

Truiet, Trudi. My Top Secret Dares and Don'ts
March 14th 2017 by Aladdin
Public library copy

Kestrel's grandfather has passed away, so she and her mother and brother travel to British Columbia to help her grandmother out with her lodge. Her father stays behind because he is very busy with environmental law cases. When they arrive, Kestrel finds out from the cute bellboy, Beck, that the lodge is in trouble because people have been posting (fake) negative reviews and business is down. The lodge is in danger of being bought by the father of evil twins who are staying at the lodge, Veranda and Rose. Kestrel misses her friends and would rather be home, but she tries to make the best of the situation by hanging out with her brother and grandmother, and trying to help the lodge. Luckily, her best friend Langley's mother is a PR person, so the two come up to the lodge as well. Kestrel gets involved in a local effort to save endangered toads, investigates the hotel situation, and overcomes some of her fears and anxieties.
Strengths: I love books about Kids Who Do Things, and helping out with family businesses is always fun. There's an age appropriate "like" interest, some mean girls, brush with a celebrity, some family drama but parents who are alive if sometimes busy, and a productive look at some anxiety. Kestrel's grandmother and father are described as being Squamish ( a Canadian indigenous people), but there aren't a lot of details about culture.
Weaknesses: The M!X books are so interesting. I don't know why they don't get more attention. I am so, so glad that there is also a MAX series for boys.
What I really think: Definitely purchasing, and enjoyed my short stay in scenic British Columbia!


Ballarini, Joe. A Babysitter's Guide to Monster Hunting
June 20th 2017 by Katherine Tegen Books
ARC provided by Young Adult Books Central

Kelly desperately wants to attend Camp Miskatonic-- she's overhead Deanna, head of the Princess Pack at her school talk about it, and it sounds awesome. The problem? It costs $4,000 to go for the summer, and Kelly's family is struggling financially. She has managed to raise $3,000 by doing various chores for neighbors, but still has a way to go. When her friend Tammy suggests babysitting, Kelly is reluctant to look into that activitiy. When her mother volunteers her to babysit Ms. Zellman's son Jacob on the night of a big Halloween party, Kelly isn't happy. However, the money is good, and her mother is worried that Ms. Zellman, who is her boss, will fire her if Kelly doesn't babysit. Once settled in for the night with Jacob, Kelly isn't a great babysitter. She texts her friends, lets Jacob eat candy as a bribe to get her phone back from him, and just wants him to go to sleep so she can watch her Korean soap opera on Netflix. She's been warned that Jacob has nightmares, but she doesn't realize the monsters are real. When one attacks Jacob and drags him off, Kelly calls his regular babysitter, Liz, who comes to the rescue with her other charge strapped in a front pack! With the help of Mama Vee, Kelly's former babysitter,the Grand Guignol, aka The Bogeyman, and all of his evil hench monsters are put in their places!

Liz is a great character, and I love that she bills herself as a "professional babysitter". Kelly doesn't understand this at first, but she certainly does later! Her Babysitter's Guide is filled with lots of descriptions of different monsters so that she can identify them, as well as the best way to battle them. She also carries a back pack full of objects that are made to look normal but are really monster fighting equipment.

The babysitter's have to battle an amazing array of monsters, from Toadies and Shadow Monsters to the apparition Cat Lady. The Bogeyman is quite scary and evil, and Liz has a long history with him that motivates her to do away with him once and for all. Because the organization is organized and effective, it changes the way that Kelly feels about being a babysitter.

Readers who like Lorey's Nightmare Academy, Coville's The Monsters of Morley Manor, Lubar's Monsterriffic Tales or Stine's Goosebumps books will enjoy following Kelly's adventures in babysitting, and may pick up a few points in case they are babysitters themselves!

I didn't care much for this one because of the negative way the babysitters are portrayed-- frizzy hair, dental appliances, social outcasts, etc. Deanna and her "princess pack" were over the top, too. I also kind of wanted to slap Kelly for wanting to go to the camp. Use the $4,000 to pay for college, girl, instead of wanting to be like the bratty Deanna. It just seemed more like what people thought middle school was like, and not how middle school actually is.

Prisoner of War: A Novel of World War II

Spradlin, Michael P. Prisoner of War: A Novel of World War II
June 27th 2017 by Scholastic Press
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline

Henry has had a difficult life on the family farm in Minnesota. After the death of his mother, his father took up drinking and abusing him, so at the age of 15, he signs up for the Marines, with his grandfather vouching for his age. He survives basic training and is sent to the Philippines. Just as his commander is ready to send him home for being underage, the Japanese attack. Henry (nicknamed "Tree"),along with his friends and protectors, Gunny and Jamison, must try to stay alive during the bombings, and when the Japanese take them prisoners. Henry has some problems with anger management, and makes lots of bad choices, angering a guard he refers to as "Scarface" and getting beaten regularly. He does manage to save an Australian soldier, and the alliance with this group helps when Gunny is taken for "questioning". Japanese prison camps were brutal, and Tree ends up spending several years there. The prisoners show a lot of resourcefulness when it comes to outsmarting guards, obtaining medicine and food, and helping each other, but conditions are such that not everyone will survive.

There are a lot of World War II books, and yet I always need more for my readers who find it fascinating. A lot of books set during this time period take place in Europe, but there is a small number set in the Pacific theater. This is an excellent addition to books such as this author's Into the Killing Seas, Salisbury's The Hunt for the Bamboo Rat and Lynch's The Liberators, as well as excellent nonfiction titles like Farrell's Pure Grit, and Weintraub's No Better Friend. I've been reading  middle grade World War II fiction for twenty years, and those are the only Pacific theater titles I can muster, so there is a need to more!

Spradlin's book is especially effective because it takes into account what younger readers want, which is action, adventure, and violence, with what the adults handing them the books want, which is a certain depiction that war is not a great option. Henry's enlistment is done out of desperation over his situation at home, which was not unusual at the time. While the story doesn't glorify war, it does celebrate the men who banded together to help each other survive, and showed the triumph of human will under impossible circumstances. The other thing that young readers like is anyone undermining authority, and the prisoners certainly managed to get the better of their captors on many occasions. I imagine that Hogan's Heroes was wildly popular with 12 year old boys when it was on television, for just this reason.

The historical details are rich and interesting; it had never occurred to me that the guards at the prisons camp were the less successful soliders, but it makes sense. The heat and humidity of the jungle, the food rations or lack thereof, and the historical background are all effectively portrayed, and will hold up to the scrutiny of the most well informed war buff.

Books about war are not my favorite, and Tree certainly makes a lot of choices with which I wholeheartedly disagree, but Prisoner of War will get the most reluctant reader avidly turning the pages to see what fate holds for our underage protagonist.

Need more books for your tween war monger? Check out this World War II podcast.



Ure, James. W. Seized by the Sun: The Life and Disappearance of World War II Pilot Gertrude Tompkins
July 1st 2017 by Chicago Review Press
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline

While I am intrigued by this "Women of Action" series, this read more like a scholarly tome than a middle grade book. I'm glad to know about these, and will keep them in mind for my REALLY hard core war buffs, but will most likely not purchase and will rely on students getting this from the public library. If I had an unlimited budget, or if World War II was officially in our curriculum, I'd buy it.

From the Publisher
"Of the 38 Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) confirmed or presumed dead in World War II, only one--Gertrude "Tommy" Tompkins--is still missing. On October 26, 1944, the 32-year-old fighter plane pilot lifted off from Mines Field in Los Angeles. She was never seen again.

Seized by the Sun is the story of a remarkable woman who overcame a troubled childhood and the societal constraints of her time to find her calling flying the fastest and most powerful airplane of World War II. It is also a compelling unsolved mystery.

Born in 1912 to a wealthy New Jersey family, Gertrude's childhood was marked by her mother's bouts with depression and her father's relentless search for a cure for the debilitating stutter that afflicted Gertrude throughout her life. Teased and struggling in school, young Gertrude retreated to a solitary existence. As a young woman she dabbled in raising goats and aimlessly crisscrossed the globe in an attempt to discover her purpose.

As war loomed in Europe, Gertrude met the love of her life, a Royal Air Force pilot who was killed flying over Holland. Telling her sister that she "couldn't stop crying, so she focused on learning to fly," Gertrude applied to join the newly formed Women's Air Force Service Pilots. She went on to become such a superior pilot that she was one of only 126 WASPs selected to fly fighter planes. After her first flight in the powerful P-51 Mustang, her stutter left her for good.

Gertrude's sudden disappearance remains a mystery to this day. Award-winning author Jim Ure leads readers through Gertrude's fascinating life; provides a detailed account of the WASPs' daily routines, training, and challenges; and describes the ongoing search for Gertrude's wreck and remains. The result of years of research and interviews with Gertrude's family, friends, and fellow WASPs, Seized by the Sun is an invaluable addition to any student's or history buff's bookshelf."

The Secret Grave

Ruby, Lois. The Secret Grave
June 27th 2017 by Scholastic Paperbacks
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline

Hannah and her large, bustling family like living in an old mansion, Nightshade, that had been briefly inhabited by ancestors, even if it makes the summers away from town seem longer and more humid. When Hannah is out in the woods, she meets the mysterious Cady, who wants to be her friend. Cady gets out and about a little, but generally wants to meet Hannah in the woods. She is also not fond of anyone who comes between her and Hannah, and starts to dress like her in an unsettling way. Hannah is even more unnerved when Cady sets off her brother Scooter's life threatening asthma on purpose, and when spooky occurrences take place back at the house. The death of one of the owners years ago seems to have led to many unresolved issues as well as a couple of threatening ghosts. When her friends return from their vacations, will they be able to help Hannah solve the mystery before life at Nightshade becomes truly dangerous?
Strengths: What this lacked in creepy moments at the beginning of the book, it made up for in friend and family drama. Scooter's sever asthma was interesting, and not something I've seen in middle grade literature, although I have many students with asthma. The older sister's desire to go to college and leave her family behind was also a nice touch. This did get creepy later on, and it was fairly apparent to me what Cady's issues were, but she was odd enough that I wasn't entirely certain.
Weaknesses: The Irish grandmother seemed odd, and as far as I can tell, there were no Studebakers manufactured in 1984. (Said grandmother is described as driving one she purchased off  eBay.)
What I really think: I need to read the descriptions on Edelweiss more closely. My students are not fond of paperbacks, and they don't hold up. Luckily, this is available from Follett in a prebound copy. Will purchase a copy.


Bernstein, Jonathan. Live Free, Spy Hard (Bridget Wilder #3)
April 11th 2017 by Katherine Tegen Books
Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central

Bridget really tries to be more like her perfect cheerleader sister, Natalie, but it's hard when you are secretly working as a spy and occasionally have to step out without explanation to, say, save a lot of restaurant patrons from being poisoned. When Natalie is chosen to be the face of a new campaign by the president's wife, Bridget manages to save people from a mutant insect attack... but also get fire extinguisher foam all over the first lady. Jocelyn Brennan isn't pleased when (using her suspension as an excuse to her unaware parents) Bridget is assigned to impersonate the Jamie, the presidential daughter, who has been uncooperative with the campaign. Using nanomask technology and a wig, Bridget is a convincing Jamie. She is almost too convincing when she manages to slip and take a tumble just like the first daughter has done in the past. This infuriates Jamie, but Bridget manages to not only repair her reputation by staging a spontaneous dance routine at another event, but even bonds with Jamie over their love of the boy band L4E. When Jamie goes missing, Bridget is easy to blame. With the help of new annoyance Adam Pacific (and even DaleTookey), she sets out to uncover a major national scandal that involves presidential candidate Morgan Font without her parents realizing why she is gone.

Bridget irrepressibly goes from catastrophe to catastrophe, utilizing nanomarbles, deep fried Mars bars and Cheerminators to further her goals. Since Bridget has been learning spy techniques, she doesn't have to rely on the gadgets quite as much, although it never hurts to have an Uber account.

Carter Strike and Irina don't play as large a role in this volume, except that Bridget's mother remains very irritated by Irina's dashing, exotic style. Carter does save the day from time to time, and is always helpful is smoothing things over with Bridget's family. Jamie and the presidential family are an interesting addition, and adds Bridget Wilder to the list of children who are secret agents protecting the presidents' children, just like Bradford's Connor Reeves, and  Jones' Clayton Stone.

This walks the line between humorous and goofy beautifully, and should be a popular choice with both fans of Carter's Gallagher Girls and Rylander's Codename Zero.

The Someday Suitcase

Haydu, Corey Ann. The Someday Suitcase.
June 27th 2017 by Katherine Tegen Books
ARC provided by publisher at ALA

Clover and Danny are always together, and even their families spend time hanging out on Sundays. Clover's father is frequently away driving a truck, and her brother Jake is high maintenance due to some of his autistic qualities. When Danny becomes ill, and the doctors have trouble figuring out what is wrong with him, Clover is very worried. She makes him her science fair project and keeps careful track of his symptoms. The two find a clinic online that promises some hope, but it is in Vermont, and Danny's parents want to stick with local doctors. Danny is in and out of school, but slowly gets worse. Clover's parents are very concerned for her, since the two are so close. Eventually, Danny and Clover stow away in her father's truck when he is headed to Vermont, and take their "someday suitcase" with them. Will the clinic be able to help?
Strengths: Jake's portrayal is accurate and well done. His reactions to things are dealt with constructively, and Clover's parents address how hard it can be for her. The families are both supportive, as are most of the teachers, and Clover does find some new friends at school who help her through Danny's illness.
Weaknesses: Extremely sad, and Danny's illness could have used some more explanation.
What I really think: Great for fans of really sad books like The Truth About Jellyfish or Somewhere Among, but I will pass on purchasing.

Ghost Attack and The Dark Prophecy

Lubar, David. Ghost Attack: (Monster Itch #1)
June 27th 2017 by Scholastic Paperbacks
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline

Alex and his cousin Sarah get to spend some time at their grandparents' house for the summer, so they are looking forward to ice cream and hanging out with their grandparents, who write and illustrate children's books. Alex manages to get the smaller room in the new house, and his arms start itching like mad from a horrible rash. He eventually discovers that the rash is caused by contact with ghosts, and there is one ghost in particular who needs their help. After seeing a historical reenactment in down town Thistle, the cousins decide that their ghost must have something to do with the long ago bank robbery, and start to investigate it... after several servings of ice cream, of course!
Strengths: This is perfect for readers in about 2nd-5th grade, which are possibly the BEST years for summer reading... or summer in general. This had some suspense, a fun cousin relationship, and was just a nice mystery. The format was much better than this author's Monsterific Tales, which tend to have very small print.
Weaknesses: The cover should have had the ghost from the robbery on the cover. Plus, it's a shame that this is only available in paperback.
What I really think: I love Lubar's work and am always glad to read it. He knows his audiences very well.

Riordan, Rick. The Dark Prophecy (Trials of Apollo #2) 
May 2nd 2017 by Disney-Hyperion
Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central

Apollo, disguised as the mortal Lester Papadopolous, is traveling with Leo and Calypso after their adventures in The Hidden Oracle. They are searching for Meg, Apollo's demigod master, and their search has taken them to Indianapolis. There, they are attacked by extremely polite but terrifying blemmyae, and seek refuge in the Waystation, which is protected by Emmie and Jo, who were both Hunters for Artemis but had to leave because of their romance. They are upset because their daughter Georgina has been taken by one of the triumvirate, and before they will help Apollo in his quest, ask that he save two of their griffins and find Georgina. Britomartis, a minor deity with whom Apollo has had dealings in the past, offers to help, and the group is off to the Indianapolis zoo to use magic tater tots to get the griffins home. Lityerses, a minion of the "new Hercules" who is trying to take over Indianapolis, is out to get Apollo, but eventually ends up on his side. Once Georgina is found, it is determined that her memory has been impaired, and Apollo must find the throne of Mnemosyne to help restore it. This involves another quest, which also helps determine that Apollo must travel to the case of his son Trophinus to receive his prophecy before the forces of evil can receive theirs. Meg shows up and helps him with this, but because she doesn't properly prepare herself, her mind is addled. Trophinus is still angry over the treatment that he received from his father, so makes it more difficult for him to get the prophecy, but eventually delivers it. Apollo returns to the Waystation with Meg so that she can be healed, but the journey isn't over yet. A character from one of the other books shows up at the very end to take Apollo and Meg through the Labyrinth so that they can complete their mission.

Riordan's plots are also richly convoluted, even though they follow a comfortable formula: there is a mission that involves several quests that involve traveling, there are small fights along the way, and eventually there is a bit battle that informs the characters' next movements. These fast paced plots keep the pages turning at a furious rate, but they aren't the best part of Riordan's books.

Descriptions like Apollo being cursed with "a case of acne that would not respond to over-the-counter medicine" or random facts like the 3 Mile Island disaster being caused by an epic chainsaw fight between Hephaestus and Ares, caused by an insult to Ares bell-bottom jeans, or even phrases like "battle ukelele" are brilliantly delightful. I find myself not paying much attention to the plot because I just want to swim in the wonderful stream of words and phrases.

The other wonderful part of Riordan's writing is his inclusion of very obscure mythological characters, and the way that he manages to work their mythological story into his own. There is a glossary of characters and words at the back of the book that is very helpful, but I always feel like I need to have a copy of Edith Hamilton next to me so that I can refresh my memory of some of the stories. I hope that younger readers will be similarly inclined.

When The Lightning Thief came out in 2005, I (as a former Latin teacher) was thrilled just to have ONE middle grade book about mythology. Now there are multiple series by Mr. Riordan, as well as books by Anne Ursu, K.L. Armstrong, Zoe Marriott and many other authors, covering the mythology of different cultures. Not only that, put Riordan has been given a Disney-Hyperion imprint, Rick Riordan Presents, that will showcase adventures that include the folklore of different cultures.

Give Riordan books to anyone who loves mythology, action, or just a really good, well-turned phrase!

Riordan, Rick. Camp Half-Blood Confidential
May 2nd 2017 by Disney-Hyperion
Copy Provided by Young Adult Books Central

After Nico sings some tacky songs from a Camp Half Blood orientation video he has seen, the other campers decide it's time to find an updated way to inform new campers about the amenities and history of their hideaway. Interspersed with "screen shots" of Apollo's circa 1950 orientation film, various characters talk about difference facets of the camp, and offer descriptions of some of the more important features. Annabeth talks about increasing living space by constructing "tiny home" cabins, Chiron recounts his introduction to the camp, and Ellis Wakefield discusses "The Ares Peacetime Challenge". Pete the Palikos offers brief, illustrated overviews of areas such as Thalia's Pine, the Athena Pathenos, and the dining pavilion.

Riordan's trademark good humor shines through, and readers who have enjoyed the different series, from Percy Jackson to Trials of Apollo, will be glad to have additional information about their favorite characters and will more easily be able to imagine themselves as residents of Camp Half Blood. Pair this guide with a bright orange Camp Half Blood hoodie as a great gift for a die-hard fan!