Lizzie Flying Solo

Stevenson, Nanci Turner. Lizzie Flying Solo
April 16th 2019 by HarperCollins
E ARC from Edelweiss Plus

When Lizzie's father is arrested for embezzling from his company, she and her mother are not able to keep their farmhouse. They move to a nearby town where people won't know them, and end up staying in the Good Hope family shelter. Lizzie finds it stressful and challenging to keep people from finding out about her past, and takes great comfort in walking through the woods near the shelter and watching people riding in the fields of the stables there. When her mother gets a job, Lizzie says that she will volunteer at the library, but also uses this as cover to spend time at the stables. The staff their are friendly and understanding, and give her an application to work in the stables in exchange for lessons. When school starts, she meets Bryce, who has just moved from the west to live with his father after his parents' divorce. Bryce has his own horse, and is with his father because he was promised riding lessons, but his well-to-do father doesn't really approve of Bryce's desire to learn dressage instead of Western riding. Lizzie understands having difficulty with a parent, since her father does not contact her and her mother when he is released on bail, which was paid for by another woman. Lizzie falls in love with Fire, a new horse that is being trained, and decides to save up the $1,000 needed to buy him. She babysits, cleans tack, enters contests, and manages to save up enough to purchase the horse, which the caring staff members at the stable warn her will probably not happen. Bryce has some issues in his life, but they manage to work out in the same way that Lizzie's do-- slowly, and not always the way that they imagine to be best.
Strengths: The family's reasons for moving to the shelter are well explained, but I also liked the mother's explanation (as well as the author's notes at the back) that everyone was there because they hit a rough patch of some sort. We are seeing more middle grade literature featuring homeless and home insecure families, but since the stories are all different, we can always use more. Bauer's Almost Home, Sarno's Just Under the Clouds, Nielsen's No Fixed Address, Messner's The Exact Location of Home, Balliet's Hold Fast, and the upcoming Cameron's Maybe a Mermaid, Knowle's Where the Heart Is, Pyron's Stay and Armtrong's Roam are all good depictions of different types of families in transition.
Weaknesses: The cover and title are  very reminiscent of 1980-90s fiction, but since my equestrian readers often rely on books from that era, they won't be bothered.
What I really think: I liked this much better than this author's Swing Sideways or Georgia Rules. It's far more hopeful, and having much of the action take place at a stables is brilliant. I need about five new horse books every year to keep up with periodic readers who will read nothing but horse books!

Yep, this is the cover I kept thinking about. Mills' Lizzie at Last. (2000)

Meena Meets Her Match

Manternach, Karla. Meena Meets Her Match
January 29th 2019 by Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers
E ARC from Edelweiss Plus

Meena is an artistic, exuberant elementary school student who has a great, supportive family, kindergarten sister Rosie, and cousin Eli who is in her class at school. Ever since winter break, though, her best friend Sofía has been a bit cold to her, and she's not sure why. This worry is soon eclipsed by the increasingly weird feelings Meena has-- she blacks out and scribbles on her assignment in school, she zones out with her cousin, and eventually has a seizure at home in the kitchen. When she comes to, she is in the hospital, and tests need to be run. Back at home, her parents are overly concerned and don't want her to do anything unaccompanied until they find out more about her condition. Meena is concerned, but tries to channel her worry into making the best Valentine box in her class, using found candy wrappers and other objects. More tests and doctor's appointments are in the works, and an X-Ray reveals a spot in Meena's brain. This is certainly scary, although the doctor doesn't think it is too serious, but orders an MRI. Meena's worry is compounded by escalating fighting with Sofía and concern about Valentine's Day, and her behavior is not the best as she tries to deal with these things. Eventually, the doctor decides that her seizures might respond to medication, and she feels relieved to be able to form a new reality.
Strengths: There are very few books about children dealing with chronic but not life threatening health problems, and this book, based on the author's experience with her own daughter, brilliantly portrayed the process of trying to diagnose a seizure disorder. The problems with friends, the temper, the sadness-- all are realistically done. Like Belford's Another D for Deedee, or the Morrises' Mustaches for Maddie, it's an entertaining book that also will help young readers be empathetic about the plights of others.
Weaknesses: Meena is in about third or fourth grade, and everything about her seems really young to the middle school mind. The way she's fighting with her friend, her Valentine's box, the things she does in school, even how she gets along with her parents. This is not really a weakness, but it makes it not quite right for my students.
What I really think: I think I'll pass on this, but I'd love to see one with a more middle school focus!

Running on Empty/Nike

Durrant, S.E. Running on Empty
September 18th 2018 by Holiday House
Library copy

AJ's parents have developmental disabilities. His mother works stocking shelves at a grocery store, but his father finds it hard to leave the house and spends most of the time in the garden. His grandfather had lived down the street, and cared for the family, but recently died of a heart attack after running with AJ. AJ's aunt, Josephine, also lives nearby with his cousin Aisha, but she is expecting a baby and AJ doesn't want to bother her. Things are not going as smoothly as AJ would like since his grandfather's death-- there isn't as much food, bills are not paid, and there aren't coins for the electric meter. Wen AJ goes to try out for the track team, he finds that his running shoes are too small, and he doesn't want to ask for new ones. Luckily, the coach figures out his plight and lets him have a pair from the lost and found, but when money becomes even tighter, AJ pawns these. His mother will occasionally go to school programs, but AJ is embarrassed by her, and is afraid that if the school finds out his grandfather is not around, he might have to go into foster care. AJ does his best to keep his family together, but eventually must ask for help.
Strengths: Like this author's Little Bits of Sky, this is a sympathetic but unsparingly portrait of a child in crisis. AJ doesn't want to ask for help, and tries to do everything himself, but eventually does seek help from his aunt. His relationship with his young cousin is very sweet. The coach and teachers are all sympathetic, but don't have the information they need to really help until the end of the book, and then they step up, as does the aunt. A good choice for readers who want books about children trying to survive more or less on their own.
Weaknesses: This has some British phrases and topics (trainers, biscuits, the coin operated electric system) that my students might not understand, but I thought it was great that AJ found a teapot in the neighbor's trash and brought it home, complete with cups that the homeowner brought out for him. Is it sad that I frequently talk to people about their trash and take some of it home with me?
What I really think: I wish this had a LOT more running in it, because that would entice readers to pick it up. Titles like Currinder's Full Tilt or Fry's Losing It do a good job of combining sports with a problem. Fans of stories about children in crisis will like this one, but I'm afraid sports fans may not finish.

Sichol, Lowey Bundy. From an Idea to Nike
Illustrations by C.S. Jennings
February 12th 2019 by HMH Books for Young Readers
Copy provided by Media Masters Publicity

While the Nike story is one that has been told many times (once by Phil Knight himself, in Shoe Dog), this new book delves more deeply into the business aspects or an entrepreneurial enterprise and is a great middle ground between a memoir like Shoe Dog and the very short "business biographies" that are around.

The From an Idea series (which includes From an Idea to Disney) really focuses on what makes a business happen; there has to be a need, a solution, a business plan, and people who are truly dedicated to pulling all of those things together. The Nike story is a particularly good example of all of these things coming together, and Sichol is good about showing how things went right or wrong at every important juncture. While everyone knows the story of Bill Bowerman's ruined waffle iron, I wasn't aware of Reebok's momentary trouncing of Nike in the field of aerobics shoes!

There is more information about sponsorships, covering athletes like Steve Prefontaine, Tiger Woods, Lance Armstrong, and of course, Michael Jordan. There's a great timeline at the back of the book, as well as a great bibliography and notes on sources.

The only thing this doesn't have that would make it even better is actual photographs of the people, products and ads involved. I'm sure that would be a huge headache, and Jennings' illustrations are fantastic, but students today are used to seeing photographs.

Readers interested in businesses, sports, or just tennis shoes will find From Idea to Nike to be an amusing, fast-paced read that will also teach them some business practices, even if they aren't paying attention!

August Isle

Standish, Ali. August Isle
April 16th 2019 by HarperCollins
E ARC from Edelweiss Plus

Miranda has always wanted to visit August Isle, where her mother spent her childhood summers. Her mother's friend, Clare, is still there with her family, and when business takes both of her parents away for the summer, Miranda is sent to stay with Clare. Clare's daughter, Sameera, is immediately welcoming, but Miranda thinks her mother wants to not have to be around her, and she always imagined being on the island WITH her mother. Clare has signed the girls up for sailing lessons, but Miranda is critically afraid of anything to do with the water. On a dare, Miranda, Sammy, and Caleb (who was in sailing with them), go into the local "haunted" house, and are caught by Mr. Taylor, the occupant who has spent many years traveling and collecting treasures. As punishment, Mr. Taylor requires the children to come and help him sort things. While neighbor Betsy knows, the children do not tell Clare. There is also a mystery in a local lighthouse, but Clare forbids the children from going there, and Miranda is also curious about a friend of her mother's named Ben, but can find no information about him. Miranda tries to overcome her fears and to find out more information about her past.
Strengths: This was certainly a bit cheerier than this author's The Ethan I Was Before, and the August Isle setting was nice. Sameera's occasional struggles with being Indian in a predominately white community were integrated well. Mr. Taylor's history was interesting, even if the children visiting him without telling Clare bothered me a bit. For the sake of the plot, she had to be unaware.
Weaknesses: Miranda's struggles with her relationship with her mother went on too long, was never resolved all that well, and given the spoiler, probably would never be fixed completely. There was a relationship that was much too coincidental for my liking.
What I really think: The Ethan I Was Before does not circulate well, and given the number of similar books coming out (children visit relative/friend in exotic place and find horrible family secret, like Always a Mermaid and Caterpillar Summer), I think I'll pass.

Stone, Tamara Ireland. Swap'd
Published February 5th 2019 by Disney Book Group
Public library copy

Allie gets tickets to Game On Con because of her previous coding experiences, and wants her friend from coding camp, Courtney, to visit and go with her. The plane ticket is very expensive, so both sets of parents say no. When a school assignment to recycle code ends with Allie creating a Swap'd app that enables students in her school to trade and sell items, giving her a 10% cut, she thinks that this is a great way to save the money. The app does well, and business is brisk. Allie and her friend Nathan find a way to make it all work... until it doesn't. Allie has to give back the money, and this makes her visit with Courtney seem unlikely. Will the two coders be able to work things out?
Strengths: Allie and Courtney are good friends, and it's interesting to see how they are able to sustain a long distance relationship. I liked that they were trying to fund their own adventures, even if they were VERY expensive. The app building and the business seemed realistic, although I did particularly think it good that a teacher finally realized they were doing something against school rules and made them undo their work. A pleasant, entertaining read.
Weaknesses: I knew that commerce at school was not going to be allowed, so I was a bit uncomfortable through the whole book!
What I really think: Will purchase, since the first book (Click'd) circulates well, and it's always interesting to read about Kids Doing Things, especially when it's with computers, since those skills might actually translate into jobs!

Queer as a Five-Dollar Bill

Wind, Lee. Queer as a Five-Dollar Bill
October 2nd 2018 by BookBaby
Public library copy

Wyatt's parents run the Lincoln Slept Here bed and breakfast in Lincolnville, Oregon. Business isn't great, so they try to supplement their income by selling reproduction documents and having special events, but it's still a struggle. Wyatt's mom works for the mayor, whose son Johnathon is consistently nasty to Wyatt. His favorite insults tend to center around "sissies", and since Wyatt is Gay but closeted, this is extremely hurtful. To try to ward off comments like this, Wyatt publicly kisses his best friend, Mackenzie, in a hall at school. This makes her very happy, since she has always had a crush on Wyatt, makes him mom and dad happy, since they also like Mackenzie, and slows down the comments a little, but is extremely uncomfortable for Wyatt. When his class goes to the public library to start a 9th grade history project on Abraham Lincoln (partly in preparation for the town's annual Valentine's Day "Abe and Mary: A Great Love" celebration, the librarian, Mr. Guzman,  hands a very old book to Wyatt and tells him he might be surprised at how interesting Lincoln can be. In the book, letters from Lincoln to Joshua Fry Speed are reproduced. Speed had offered to share his room, and his bed, with Lincoln when he was a struggling young lawyer, and the two lived together for four years. When Speed got engaged to a woman, Lincoln wrote him an impassioned letter asking if he really felt that this was the right course of action, and shortly after Speed married, Lincoln married Mary Todd. Wyatt posts this information on the school blog he is supposed to do, and the information eventually gets picked up by the national news. This starts all sorts of trouble-- the library asks for the book back, the blog is supposed to be taken down but is reposted on another server, and the family business is in jeopardy. Wyatt agrees to appear on a right wing talk show, the Von Lawson Report, to discuss the matter, but the host is incredibly cruel, and the family business is put in jeopardy. So is Wyatt's mother's job, since the mayor is none too happy about the publicity for the town. Enter a Civil Rights lawyer and her very cute son, Martin. Martin is Gay and not ashamed of it, and this adds a new dimension to the fight. Martin helps Wyatt navigate the social media waters and deal with the negative comments, and the two think about starting a relationship but know that it is not a great time. Eventually, the LGBTQIA+ community embraces the news about Lincoln, and makes Lincolnville's Valentine's celebration a destination vacation, which helps the hotel, and gives Wyatt space to come out to his family.
Strengths: I am always looking for LGBTQIA+ books that don't involve drinking or high school level romance, and this is perfect. Bonus points for having a mystery plot that is not about Wyatt's coming out! There's certainly room for books like that, but it's not the only story that Gay kids have. Wyatt's relationship with Mackenzie is well done, and her range of emotions is understandable and realistically portrayed. Johnathon is a typical, unenlightened high school jock, but he does come around late in the book. Mr. Clifton is a great example of a librarian who knows his patrons and looks out for them, and his declaration that he's on Wyatt's side and wants him to know that things get better, without actually saying much more than that, was fantastic. The historical notes on the actual letters of Lincoln and Speed are complete, and it would be interesting to have a nonfiction book on this topic. This is a must purchase for high school, middle school, and public libraries everywhere!
Weaknesses: I must live in a fortunate bubble-- our school system had an openly Gay superintendent, my principal for many years was Gay, and no one has ever made a big deal out of it. This made the issue of the community being upset by the assertion that Lincoln was Gay seem a little unrealistic to me, and it's just sad that there are places in the world where this is the reality.
What I really think: Definitely purchasing, and hoping that Mr. Wind doesn't experience the problems he had in publishing this book with any future titles. !

The Infinite Lives of Maisie Day

Edge, Christopher. The Infinite Lives of Maisie Day
April 9th 2019 by Delacorte Press
E ARC from Edelweiss Plus

Maisie is excited to wake up on the morning of her tenth birthday, because she knows that her parents are throwing her a big party, complete with gazebo and lots of food, to make up for the fact that she has few friends. She's very bright, and taking Open University classes instead of going to the local primary school. This is okay with Maisie, but seems to irritate her fifteen year old sister, Lily, very much. In the first chapter, though, we are introduced to a very different world than Maisie's real one-- her house sits on a vast plane of nothingness, and no one is there. In alternating chapters, we see two very different stories played out. In one, Maisie's birthday proceeds as normal with house cleaning, errand running, and snacks being prepared. She even spends a little more time with Lily, whom she loves but feels estranged from. In the other chapters, we experience Maisie's discombobulation as nothing in her world seems real. When these two worlds converge, it's a story worthy of The Twilight Zone, but I don't want to spoil the surprise twists!\
Strengths: This was a page turner, and the ending was brilliant. Not one, but two twists! It reminded me of Bradbury's All Summer in a Day, since it combined every day sorts of things with a terrifying twist. My students like that very much when they read it in class, so I think I could get them interested in this.
Weaknesses: Very few tween readers want to read about super bright children; Lily could have been irritated with Maisie for any number of readers. I guess it was a good way to fit in all of the science background, though.
What I really think: This read more like a short story, so will be good for students who really like science fiction or who are being forced to read it but don't like it. It may take some explaining to get students to pick it up and stick with it, but I'm definitely purchasing a copy, since it was extremely clever, and had a fair amount of horror (but also sparkly birthday trappings).

MMGM- Orange for the Sunsets

It's Marvelous Middle Grade Monday at Always in the Middle and #IMWAYR day at Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers. It's also Nonfiction Monday.

Athaide, Tina. Orange for the Sunsets
April 2nd 2019 by Katherine Tegen Books
E ARC from Edelweiss Plus

Asha's family has lived in Uganda for many years. Her father works with the department of tourism, her mother is a nurse, and Asha enjoys going to school in a mainly Indian school.  She is best friends with Yesofu, who is African and whose mother works for Asha's family. As the two get older, Yesofu starts to realize the disparities in the way Indians and Africans are treated; for example, on their soccer team, Yesofu gets little playing time even though he is one of the best players. When Idi Amin comes to power, the social construct comes into question. When Uganda was under British rule in the 1880s, Indian workers were brought in to help build railways. Many stayed, and they ended up being in a social strata below the British, who held power, and the Ugandas, who were shut out of many jobs. Amin doesn't like this, and wants to return "Africa to the Africans". This means that Indians must leave the country. The exact parameters of this changed; at first, Asha's family thinks they can stay because they have protected jobs, but soon even those residents who are citizens are forced out. Not only that, but to "help" the economy, the Indians leaving are not allowed to take most of their money with them, and must sell their properties to the government. Asha doesn't want to leave, and when she sees her father making plans, takes the family's passports and hides them. As the clock ticks down, many of her friends leave, businesses stand empty, and protests and riots against the Indians become more frequent. Yesofu loves Asha, but he also sees that his people have fewer opportunities than hers, and begins to support Dada Amin. When an indiscretion on the part of Asha and Yesofu causes the arrest of Asha's father, Asha and her mother know that they must leave their beloved homeland even though they don't want to.
Strengths: This was an excellent mix of daily life, politics, friendship and suspense. It also covers a point in history of which I was completely ignorant, since I started reading the newspaper in 1974, when Nixon resigned. It managed to realistically portray both Asha's feelings of anger and disbelief at being displaced from her home and also Yesofu's feelings of injustice in equally sympathetic terms. The author left Uganda as a young child, and drew upon conversations with friends and relatives who remembered this event, which makes it all the more impressive that she was able to give Yesofu's concerns voice.
Weaknesses: There were a few moments were it felt like I had heard Asha's complaints before, but that probably bothered me only because I really, really wanted to know what happened next!
What I really think: Definitely purchasing, and glad to have this to add to a collection of riveting novels set around the world, like Amal Unbound, The Night Diary, Everlasting Nora, The Bridge Home, Running on the Roof of the World, and Stand on the Sky.

Washburn, Esme and Calista (Photographs)
20 Recipes Kids Should Know
April 2nd 2019 by Prestel Junior
Copy provided by Media Masters Publicity

My 85-year-old father buys Aunt Jemima scrambled egg breakfasts because his home economics education was so sorely lacking that the only two things he can cook are chili and beef stew. Don't let this happen to the children in your life!

This cookbook starts with basic terms and information that all young cooks need, and I appreciated that the author cited the sources of some of her recipes in the notes. The instructions are very complete, which is suitable to beginning cooks, and the measurements are given in both English and Metric amounts. This is a large format book (9.8 x 0.4 x 11.3 inches), so there are large illustrations of the finished products.

This is broken down nicely into meals, snacks, and sides, and the recipes are in fact good ones for children to know. I might have made a few substitutions-- oatmeal instead of banana bread for breakfast; a different soup other than black bean for lunch; and dinners not quite as heavy on the meat for dinner. The sides of roasted vegetables and mashed potatoes are quite good, and the desserts are also essential-- cake, pie, cookies, and strawberry shortcake. (Which I would probably have replaced by the banana bread!)

I'm a sucker for cookbooks, and if this weren't so appealing and colorful, I would probably give it to my father instead of offering it to students in my library. There's hope for them; for my father, not so much!

In the Neighborhood of True

Carlton, Susan Kaplan. In the Neighborhood of True
April 9th 2019 by Algonquin Young Readers
E ARC from Edelweiss Plus

In 1958, Ruth and her family relocate from New York City to a suburb of Atlanta after the death of her father. Her family runs the local newspaper, so her mother goes to work as a society writer while Ruth and her younger sister stay in their grandparents' cottage. Fontaine, her grandmother, is very eager for Ruth to be part of the debutante scene, since both she and Ruth's mother were Magnolia Queens back in the day. Ruth isn't wild about wearing tea dresses and listening to the girls speculate about her background, but she wants a social life, and some of the girls aren't bad. The problem? Ruth's father was Jewish, her mother converted, and Atlanta society at the time did NOT accept Jewish members! Fontaine says just to keep it quiet, but as social unrest starts to grow during the long, hot summer, Ruth starts to question her grandmother's views. She starts attending synagogue and meets Max, who is working with social justice programs, but she also meets the more traditional Davis, who is cute, popular, and likes her a lot. When the synagogue is bombed, Ruth starts to question her status even more, especially when she suspects that Davis' brother might have a connection to it.
Strengths: This did an excellent job of channeling teen novels of the 1950s (I have quite the collection, so I know this!), down to the pastel tea dresses and bouffant hair dos. It reminded me a little of Cavanna's Jenny Kimura. The real brilliance of this, however, is the inclusion of more problematic material. I loved that the debs had flasks of Southern Comfort in their handbags, that the back biting is more than just over who doesn't where cashmere sweaters, and that we have a New York view of Southern life at the time. Ruth's desire to pass is completely understandable, but so is her realization that this isn't really going to work. Very interesting book about civil rights in the mid twentieth century, but also a very timely story as well.
Weaknesses: While I understand that a huge plot point hinges on the fact that Ruth spent the night with Davis, this (combined with the drinking) pushes it over into the Young Adult section. I would have thought that Ruth's family would have been HUGELY upset about her fall from virtue, but that isn't mentioned very much. Yes, other things are going on, but the fact that her granddaughter spent the night with a boy would surely have sent Fontaine to bed with the vapors for days.
What I really think: I won't be purchasing it for middle school, but would definitely be glad to have this in a high school collection.

Cartoon Saturday- My Life as a Meme

Tashjian, Janet. My Life as a Meme( #8)

April 2nd 2019 by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)

E ARC from Edelweiss Plus

Derek's mother, a veterinarian, is asked by a wealthy client to dog sit her Instagram-famous pooch, Poufy, at her opulent estate. Derek is allowed to bring several of his friends, so soon the group is lounging by the pool and helping with Poufy's arduous grooming and social media routine. When wild fires come close to the mansion, the group wants to go home, but find that the roads leading there are closed, and they must evacuate to a local high school. It's challenging staying there with a high maintenance dog, although Poufy is very appealing to the girls. Derek has his picture taken while reading to young children with Poufy on his lap, and he looks like he is crying because he was in the middle of a sneeze. He becomes the subject of some viral memes, which make him angry, even though he knows that people affected by the wild fires have much bigger problems. When Derek and his family return home, Poufy has to stay with them for a while, and Derek has lice! This doesn't help his social situation, especially when the boy who started the memes ends up at his school.

Strengths: Living in Ohio, I think it's very hard to understand the devastation of wild fires in California. Like Cooney's Flash Fire (1994), this gives enough detail to help students understand a topic that is in the news with alarming frequency. Derek certainly has his fingers on the pulse of all the latest trends, and Instagram has been the student platform of choice for at least six years. Very relatable characters, supportive family, and a friend in a wheelchair who helps Derek be a more empathetic person. And who doesn't love a fluffy dog?

Weaknesses: I love Tashjian's The Gospel According to Larry (2001) and Multiple Choice (1999) and wish she would write more books like that. These are popular, but not my personal favorite.

What I really think: Every middle school and elementary school library needs this entire series. If you have Wimpy Kid books, you need to have these. The small illustrations teach vocabulary words, if you need a reason to justify purchasing all of them. Trust me. You need them.

My Life as a Book, 

My Life as a Skater Stunt Boy

My Life as a Cartoonist

My Life as a Joke 

My Life as a Gamer

My Life as a Ninja

My Life as a Youtuber

Guy Friday- Goodbye, Charlie Bumpers

Harley, Bill. Charlie Bumpers vs. The End of the Year
April 1st 2019 by Peachtree Publishing Company
ARC provided by the publisher.

It's been a rocky year of fourth grade for Charlie, but he is not looking forward to moving on to fifth grade. He likes his teacher, he has friends in his class, and it's all comfortable and familiar. When his annoying younger sister Squid starts singing a song her teacher taught the class about standing up to bullies, Charlie has a stark realization: his friend Hector has been acting strangely in many of the ways Squid mentioned. Is he being bullied? Charlie consults his other friend, Tommy, and the two realize that Jaden, Darren, and Butler have been seen talking to Hector is a menacing way, and the two decide to become Heroes of Vengeance and save their friend. When Charlie talks to Hector, he finds out that his friend is moving with his family back to Chile because of his parents' jobs. Also, Hector doesn't want to be a tattletale, and asks Charlie to stay out of it. Charlie doesn't like this idea, and also doesn't want Hector to move away. In true Charlie fashion, he comes up with a plan to try to get the teachers to vote Hector a School Ambassador for the following year, hoping that this honor will convince the family not to move. Charlie and Tommy also keep an eye on Hector and the bullies. They do everything they are supposed to do-- they tell a cafeteria monitor about the troubles they are having, but she tells them to take care of the matter themselves. Eventually, Charlie knows he must stand up for his friend, and the resultant fracas finally gets the attention of Principal Rotelli and is resolved with teachers and parents alike in Emergency Mode. Charlie is not able to keep his friend from moving, but doing the right thing has unexpected rewards.
Strengths: It is VERY hard to get bullying right in a fiction book, but Harley does a great job. It's pitch perfect that Squid's teacher instructs the kids to do all the right things in second grade, but by fourth grade, Charlie starts to doubt all of these methods. Still, he does keep these actions in mind, and does watch out for his friend. He and Tommy are such typical students-- they come up with great ideas and questionable ways to implement them, but do so with SUCH enthusiasm. These are popular with my younger, more reluctant readers in 6th grade, but are absolutely essential in an elementary collection. I really, really, really hope Harley turns his hand to a slightly older character for his next book!
Weaknesses: Has anyone ever been given a wedgie at school? We did have a student twenty years ago who was pantsed in gym class, but I'm unsure about the reality of someone having their underwear pulled out of their pants, as Jaden did to Charlie.
What I really think: Sad to see Charlie go. A paperback series of these books would be a fantastic back-to-school gift for a second through fourth grader!

In case you've missed the other six books, I haven't!:
Charlie Bumpers vs. The Teacher of the Year
Charlie Bumpers vs. The Really Nice Gnome
Charlie Bumpers vs. The Squeaking Skull
Charlie Bumpers vs. The Perfect Little Turkey
Charlie Bumpers vs. The Puny Pirates
Charlie Bumpers vs. His Big Blabby Mouth

Thursday Blather 'N Reviews

I'm trying to participate in the #Library30 on Instagram and Twitter, but... it's on Instagram and Twitter, which just make me tense and take soooo much time. Digital immigrant, here. I vastly prefer the long form of a blog!

My library is the perfect size, and has great sight lines. The shelving used to be as tall as I was, which wasn't helpful for locating children, but we were renovated in 2010, and it's better now. All of the nonfiction is along the walls; all the fiction in the center. I do miss the standing circulation desk, since I'm up and down all day; sitting is silly most of the time. And it does get a little crowded in the work space, with all of the library helpers.

I've been looking back at my reviews from ten years ago; I miss being able to occasionally just put all of the things I've been reading up, with just a line or two. I read more than the one book a day I usually post, but there were comments years ago that I had TOO MANY books reviewed on my blog, so I've tried to be more concise and organized.

We have state testing coming up in April. The library will be open this week (I checked out 421 books yesterday!), and April 18 and 22, but closed every other day. I did offer the students a book delivery service-- they can fill out a form, and I will deliver a book the next morning to their homeroom class. I will spend testing sitting in a very strategic place in the hallway, ready to deal with any problems that occur. Teachers can pop their heads out the door and have immediate help with computers, restroom breaks, etc. Students only have about four days of testing, but because it is on the computers, we can only do one grade per day. On the upside, I read a lot of book reviews, work on orders, and try to be as productive as I can be in between supplying headphones and reconnecting the computers to the internet!

Some things I have read recently that I won't review completely because... I just am tired!

McDonnell, Patrick. The Mutts Summer Diaries
April 9th 2019 by Andrews McMeel Publishing
Copy provided by the publisher

These are fun comic strip collections; The Mutts Winter Diaries circulates well. Our paper doesn't run them, so they are new to me. They are cute, and have a 1930s vintage vibe to them for some reason. The only thing I didn't like about this volume is that some of the strips were printed in a way that made me turn the book sideways to read them. I don't remember that from any other comic strip collection that McMeel has produced, and it made it hard to curl up with the book.

Nelson, Suzanne. I Only Have Pies For You
December 26th 2018 by Scholastic Inc.
Library Copy

This series of Wish Novels are hugely popular in my library. I get Follett Bound editions, and they are great for the girls who read at least a book a day, and like the beach read sort of titles. This one wasn't my favorite-- there was quasi-magical baking (Was great grandma's Heartstring Pie really magical, or did people think it was? And there was a curse with the recipe. ) and a small town setting. Liked the setting, but there are so many books with magical baking. Doesn't matter. My students will read it.

Grabenstein, Chris. Katt vs. Dogg
April 1st 2019 by jimmy patterson
Public library copy

I was really looking forward to this, but glad I read it before I ordered it. The dogs and cats stood upright, and it was a decent enough story, but the negative stereotypes of the animals grated on my nerves. The dogs were portrayed as uncouth and loud, and the cats were snooty and rich, and everyone was mean to everyone else. That just seemed wrong. If I had all the money in the world, I would definitely buy a copy. The cover is great, the illustrations are fun, and kids check out anything by Patterson, but it feels like giving kids Froot Loops. Not bad for them, but not good, either.

Mystery Thursday

Cummings, Pat. Trace
April 2nd 2019 by HarperCollins
E ARC from Edelweiss Plus

Trace lives with his Auntie Lea in New York after the car accident that took his parents' lives and left him with PTSD and a lot of guilt. His aunt isn't a textbook parent, but she surrounds Trace with a support community and also makes sure that he sees Dr. Proctor, a therapist who is helping him with his grief. He has friends at school, and when his class is doing projects on the 1800s, he has a good group that includes his best friend Ty. When he goes to meet the group at the New York Public Library, he ends up in a restricted level, following a ragged four year old who is crying. Eventually, he meets a man named Dallas Houston who tells him that he, too, has seen the ghost of the child. When Ms. Levy, Trace's school librarian, mentions a fire at the Colored Orphanage Asylum that occurred during the time period his group is studying, Trace looks into it and realizes that Cholly might have perished in that event. Family papers from a great aunt's estate shed more light on Trace's family ties to it, and add a lot of interesting information to his project!
Strengths: I had never heard of the Draft Riots, but now I want to find a nonfiction book on the topic! The history was woven into the narrative very nicely. I was very glad to see that for once, a grieving child is receiving therapy to help deal with problems. That is very, very rare. The friend group is nicely portrayed, and there is even a light romantic angle. Presley and her big words are quite fun, and I love that the teacher uses the word absquatulate, which was a favorite of my students from our word-a-day calendar this year!
Weaknesses: This had a lot of coincidences that seem unlikely, and Trace at one point supposes that his aunt's friends might be lesbians in an odd, out-of-nowhere way.
What I really think: While this has a decent mystery, is has an Avi Something Upstairs sort of vibe, rather than the murder mystery type that my students always request. Still, I will probably purchase it, because until publishers start publishing murder mysteries for 11-year-olds, I need mysteries!

Shelton, Dave. The Book Case (An Emily Lime Mystery)
April 5th 2018 by David Fickling Books
E ARC from Edelweiss Plus

When Daphne is kicked out of her boarding school, her parents are relieved when she is approached by St. Rita's School for Spirited Girls. They offer her a scholarship and place as a library assistant, which is great, since Daphne loves to read. When she is on the train to her new school, she is approached by a woman who wants her to return a rather lurid mystery to the school library. Upon arrival, Daphne is taken to the library and finds that the librarian is gone, but Emily Lime, a student, is running the greatly diminished library after a fire and funding problems have drastically reduced the number of books. She also makes friends with George, and the two get involved in all sorts of shenanigans while trying to solve a book related mystery. This is most likely set in 1950s England; there is talk about a girl losing her parents in the Blitz, but the war is clearly over.
Strengths: If your readers like Robin Stevens' Wells & Wong Mysteries, definitely take a look at this one. There are lots of good details about boarding school life during this time period, decent detective practices, and a great fictional library. Daphne and George have a great friendship. I also enjoyed the line drawings that were scattered through the text-- I wish there were more spot illustrations in more middle grade novels.
Weaknesses: There are a lot of things that aren't well explained; why is the school so unorganized? Why is Emily in charge of the library? Is anyone actually learning anything?
What I really think: While I enjoyed this, I just don't have the readership to support buying it. The Wells & Wong Mysteries go out occasionally, but not nearly often enough for me to justify another similar series.

Caterpillar Summer

McDunn, Gillian. Caterpillar Summer
April 2nd 2019 by Bloomsbury Children's Books
E ARC provided by publisher through Netgalley

Cat and her younger brother Henry (know as Chicken) have a great life in their San Francisco neighborhood with their artist/professor mother, but are looking forward to spending the summer with family friends who have moved while their mother is teaching a class. When the friends suddenly have to go care for a grandmother in India, Cat and Chicken end up with grandparents they never knew who live on Gingerbread Island near Florida. Their mother has to work so hard because their father passed away from cancer four years ago, and since then it has been up to Cat to care for her younger brother, who seems to be on the autism spectrum and can have problems with impulsivity and sensitivity to loud or confusing situations. Cat has not told her mother that Chicken has started to run away from her when they are at home, because she hasn't wanted to worry her mother, but she is very concerned living so close to the ocean. Her grandmother, Lily, is delighted to have the children, but their grandfather, Macon, is a bit more reserved in his emotions. Cat settles in well, making a fast friend in Harriet and an enemy in John Henry, who challenges her to take up fishing for a local contest. Cat's mother was very good at fishing, and Cat hopes her mother will instruct her on her weekend visits, which end up being infrequent. She starts to investigate the schism between her mother and grandfather, and schemes to bring them closer together so that she and Chicken can spend more summers on Gingerbread Island. Free from caring for Chicken all the time, Cat is able to ride bikes, get ice cream, and fish with Harriet, and she begins to realize, especially reading her mother's picture books that revolve around two characters modeled off her and her brother, that she has had to bear too much responsibility for her brother.
Strengths: I really liked the portrayal of a tween who is given too much responsibility for a sibling. Cat loves Chicken, but is tired of sacrificing her own plans in order to take care of him. The way that the family has dealt with the dad is realistic and not overly sad. The tie-in with the picture books is amusing. The relationship between the grandparents and mother is explained just enough, and I liked that the father's reluctance was more about his future plans for his daughter than the fact that the relationship was a mixed race one, which would seem somewhat dated, although this was set in the South. This was generally an enjoyable summer romp with some more serious issues explored.
Weaknesses: This was a quiet, gentle book. It was a little predictable with the root of John Henry's bullying behavior (abusive older brothers) and the child-missing-during-storm scene, but I do read a few books! Students may not notice.
What I really think: This felt a bit like an older, more leisurely book that would have been wildly popular when I was a child. I can see it being read aloud in a lot of classrooms. I am debating purchase, because I have a lot of summer-on-the-beach/lake books that I enjoy but which don't circulate a lot. If this one has teachers and librarians pushing it, readers will pick it up.

The Last Last-Day-of-Summer

Giles, Lamar. The Last Last-Day-of-Summer
April 2nd 2019 by Versify
(Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Young Readers)
E ARC from Netgalley

Cousins Otto and Sheed (aka The Legendary Alston Boys) live with their grandmother in Logan County, where they have lots of adventures involving dealing with the odd bits of magic found in their area. They have even won the key to the city twice, even though they have a rival in the Ellison twins for solving problems. On the last day of summer, they are ready to have another adventure, and Otto is making notes about the best prospects. When they are given a camera and have an odd encounter with a man named Mr. Flux and another man, the boys find that time in their town has been frozen, and they start to meet a variety of odd characters who all are involved with time. There are the stylists AM and PM, Missus Nedraw and her mirrors, creatures like the Time Suck, and a variety of Clock Watchers and Second Guessers. The boys manage to unfreeze a few people and get help from Petey, who works at the hardware store and has created a lot of inventions. He is also the key to Mr. Flux and the problems affecting the town, because of a Missed Opportunity. When a man named Time Star shows up, he helps the boys discover secrets about Petey's past, but also about their own future.
Strengths: Sheed and Otto are great characters, and readers will appreciate their, attempts at seizing the last day of summer and trying to have adventures. Of course, they get more than they bargained for! I love that Sheed is just a little reluctant and would rather sleep! Petey's story is interesting, and the idea of Missed Opportunities is an intriguing one. Time Star's real identity is a surprise to everyone. There are some illustrations to entice reluctant readers. It is getting easier to find fantasy books with people of color, so it's good to see that we are getting a lot more choices than were available before the #WeNeedDiverseBooks movement of 2014.
Weaknesses: The Ellison twins could have put in more appearances, and there is a teaser about the future that isn't fully developed.
What I really think: This was a bit on the young side for my readers, who love this author's Fake ID. They would probably be disappointed that this is not another murder mystery, but I can see this being popular with elementary school students. I'm interested to see what else Versify will be publishing.

April is Poetry Month

It may have just snowed in Ohio, but spring must be right around the corner, because it's Poetry Month.

Memorizing a poem is a good thing to do; it can be soothing to repeat it to your self in times of stress.

We have a great collection of books in our library if you want to check out something to read, but there are also some fun sites that will introduce you to lots of new poetry. Take a look at some of these!

Library of Congress- Poetry 180

Poetry Foundation

Poets.org

The Poetry Archive

MMGM- Where the Heart Is

It's Marvelous Middle Grade Monday at Always in the Middle and #IMWAYR day at Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers. It's also Nonfiction Monday.

Knowles, Jo. Where the Heart Is
April 2nd 2019 by Candlewick
E ARC from Netgalley

Rachel's summer is not off to a good start; her parents don't remember her 13th birthday right away, and new neighbors move in across from her family's run down farm. They are very wealthy, and while Rachel is angry that their new home took away the sledding hill she always used, she is somewhat interested in a summer job taking care of their rescue animals, since it pays better and is less stressful than babysitting bratty young neighbors. She's glad of the money, since her parents seem to be struggling quite a bit. Rachel tries to be more helpful, taking care of her younger sister Ivy and trying not to complain about the lack of food in the house. She has a good friend, Micah, who has been by her side for years. Unfortunately, Micah "like" likes her, and she doesn't feel that way about Micah. In fact, after an encounter at a pool party with Evan, she is reminded that she really doesn't have any romantic feelings towards boys at all. Micah is okay with that, but angry that she kissed Evan and not him. Rachel's time is spent working on the neighbors farms and hanging out with friends, including Cybil, who seems really nice, but her mind is occupied with the increasingly unstable situation at home. When her parents finally let her know that they have to sell the house, Rachel isn't happy, but tries to make the best of the situation. Her friends rally around her, she manages to get her pony, Rainbow, placed with her neighbors, and life continues even though bad things happen.
Strengths: There are lots of good details about living in the country and farm chores, as well as the chain of circumstances that lead the family to have to sell their house and move into low income housing. Rachel's questioning of her sexual identity is lightly done, which I think is appropriate for books for middle school students. Her friendship with Micah is sweet, and her attempts at being a better sister and daughter are touching. This book moves along very quickly in an interesting way. I enjoyed this a lot.
Weaknesses: There are a couple of times where Rachel complains about details of her impoverished upbringing in a way that didn't feel authentic to me. I raised my daughters in a neighborhood where children ride beat up bicycles and shopping at the thrift store is what everyone does, and I frequently make a mean scalloped tuna and saltine casserole. Rachel's mother is an out-of-work librarian, and it just seemed to me that she would be used to these economies. Maybe it just hit a little too close to home!
What I really think: This hits that hard-to-define sweet spot of sad but hopeful books that my students enjoy. The sense of place and cover are great, and I can see this being very popular!

Bernice Buttman, Model Citizen

Lenz, Niki. Bernice Buttman, Model Citizen
March 26th 2019 by Random House Books for Young Readers
Copy provided by the publisher

Bernice lives in the Lone Star Trailer Park in Kansas City with her mother, her mother's boyfriend, and her four brothers, all of whom were named after the Hollywood stars their different fathers resembled. Her brother's steal things and wander the neighborhood blowing things up, and her mother stops by school to take back Bernice's lunch money so she can pay for her next tattoo. Unsurprisingly, Bernice has few friends and is somewhat of a bully, using her larger size to make even students like Oliver (whom she wishes would be her friend, since he is nice and smells like name-brand laundry detergent) feel uncomfortable. Her only real ally is Ms. Knightley, the local librarian, who compliments Bernice's research skills. Bernice wants to be a stunt man, and is trying to save up for camp, even starting an online collection for an imaginary dog in order to get the funding. When her mother finds out about the money, she steals it and decides to take off to Hollywood to try to make it on a reality television show. The brothers are left to their own devices at the trailer park, but Bernice is packed off to her aunt, who is a fully habited nun living in a convent. Bernice tries to make the best of the situation (although the convent has a decided lack of junk food and television), and tries to behave herself at school, but she runs afoul of the rich mayor's daughter, Imogene, who just pretends to be nice to Bernice in front of their teacher, since she wants to win a helpful student contest. Bernice does find a friend in Francie, but goes back and forth between her old ways (stealing money from a collection plate so she can go to stunt camp, baking a pie with laxatives in it) and trying to improve her outlook. When her mother reappears and wants Bernice to come and live with her again, will Bernice decide to return, or has she found her true home with her aunt?
Strengths: There is something irresistibly appealing about a truly bad character who decides to try for redemption, and Bernice is rightfully compared to Paterson's The Great Gilly Hopkins or Beasley's Gertie's Leap to Greatness. Her life has been difficult, but she knows the way she is supposed to act, and when she is surrounded by kindness, she rises to the higher expectations. The convent is a different sort of setting, but the aunt clearly loves Bernice, despite her challenges. It's nice to see a character struggle with baser instincts and be able to chose the right path. This was an amusing, quick read that was well written and engaging.
Weaknesses: My grandparents lived in a trailer park, so the over-the-top stereotypical depiction of the Buttmans was hurtful. Had standard stereotypes been applied to another cultural group, this would not have been acceptable.
What I really think: I think this would appeal to a slightly younger crowd, so I will send it on to the elementary school. It just made me sad, thinking about my grandparents. Ann Braden's The Benefits of Being an Octopus Ellis's You May Already Be a Winner or Walker's Why Can't I Be You are much more realistic depictions of people living in trailer parks.