Notorious and Notorious RBG

Korman, Gordon. Notorious
January 7th 2020 by Balzer + Bray
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Keenan ends up living with his father on an island that is part Canada and part US when he is diagnosed with tuberculosis. He got the disease in his travels with his mother, who flits from country to county, and being in Canada is both restful and boring, especially since he is not allowed to do anything but sit in a lawn chair. Things become less boring when he meets ZaraBeth, who likes to be called ZeeBee. She is obsessed with gangsters from the 1930s, and all of their activities with Prohibition. She is also sure that her dog, Barney, was murdered. This suspicion has merit-- Barney was a huge dog who wreaked havoc on the island, tearing up gardens, damaging property, and stealing food from stores. ZeeBee has another dog, a small, fluffy pooch called Barney Two, but she wants nothing to do with him. The two have a good summer, but when Keenan starts school on the island and ZeeBee has to take a ferry to the Canadian school, she is upset when he starts to hang out with other kids, who think that ZeeBee is a little weird because of her dog and her gangster obsession. The other kids aren't perfect, and at one point trash the local lighthouse. Keenan wants to stay friends with ZeeBee, so helps her to investigate Barney's death, and in doing so, comes across information that leads to the unraveling of a Prohibition Era mystery as well.
Strengths: If you liked Swindle, definitely take a look at this one. Korman is clearly a dog person, and I immediately loved Barney Two, even if the first Barney was a hellion! Working in problems with parents and an interesting health complaint (T.B.- this is why all teachers have to be vaccinated!), this twofold mystery is a quick read. The little bits of history are fun as well, and I can see this being read by students who enjoyed Al Capone Does My Shirts.
Weaknesses: Not quite as funny as Korman's other titles. There usually always a ripsnorting scene or two, but this didn't have one.
What I really think: Definitely purchasing, since Korman is so popular in my library.

Carmon, Irin  and Knizhnik,Shana. Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg (Young Readers' Edition)
November 28th 2017 by HarperCollins

Gift to the Blendon Middle School Library

I don't know how I missed this wonderful book; it's certainly something we need right now. Young people need to read books about people who are passionately devoted to making the world a better place, despite the personal sacrifices that have to be made. Bader Ginsburg is a bit older than my mother and is an inspiration for everyone, no matter what the politics. Anyone who can keep working at a very demanding job at the age of 86 is to be admired, even if I do worry about her and think it would be better for her if she retired. I can understand, however, her determination to keep going as long as she can-- she certainly fought hard to get where she is, and there is no reason for her to give up her position until she has to!

Ah, the book. This is beautifully formatted for young readers. The pages have lots of white space, bright red headings, and there are lots of photographs of Bader Ginsburg throughout her life, sort of like the Sally Ride biography by Tam O'Shaughnessy, which is the gold standard of illustrations for me. If the pictures exist, let's see them! I love that the authors start out with the memes of the justice, because that will draw in students who are somehow unaware of her, and also how they very carefully lay out what the world was like when Bade Ginsburg was young.

There's just enough information about court cases that young readers can understand their impact but also not be overly confused. The balance between personal and professional life is also well maintained, and this leads to a well rounded picture of an impressive professional. I was especially intrigued by the description of her collars-- I'd love to be a fly on the wall if Queen Elizabeth and Bader Ginsburg ever got together to compare the subtle messages sent by the queen's broaches and the justice's collars!

This really should be required reading for all young girls, many of whom have never had it explained to them how hard women had to work to get the rights we have now!

Me and Banksy

Kyi, Tanya Lloyd. Me and Banksy
January 7th 2020 by Puffin Books
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Dominica goes to a fancy private Mitchell Academy with her friends Holden and Saanvi. They generally like school, but are increasingly alarmed by Principal Plante's insistence on having cameras everywhere and school IDs that "ping" parents when students arrive in the building. This concern grows when footage of a student having an embarrassing moment is posted on a school discussion forum, and not long after, footage of Dom turning her shirt right side out in the empty school library, thereby showing her bra, is also posted. Dom gets in trouble for the "flashing", but the principal doesn't call her home; Dom is pretty sure that the principal's nasty son, Josh, is the one behind hacking into the surveillance cameras, since he taunts her about the incident. Dom is embarrassed and devastated, but doesn't want to talk to her mother about it. Her mother has a very busy and successful catering business that keeps her out many nights, and she is also dating Frank, since Dom's father died when she was quite young. The apartment building doorman keeps close tabs on Dom, as does her grandmother, George, but she still could use some more sympathetic adults in her life. She is very interested in art, and George runs a local gallery and gives her lots of books. After reading a book about Banksy's installations addressing the issue of  privacy and surveillance, Dom decides to do a project on him for her ethics class. This is scuttled when the teacher (who also has footage posted of her) changes the project, but also because Dom starts thinking about doing a similar project to draw attention to the problems at her school. She finds that boys are getting points for sharing embarassing things when Holden infiltrates their group, and with the help of fellow students Max and Miranda, Dom mounts an impressively involved graffitti campaign to try to make a difference. Knowing she could get expelled for even the small pictures she puts up around the school, will Dom and her friends be able to pull out all the stops and change the culture of privacy at their school?
Strengths: This book had so many things I enjoyed! Dom's active interest in making art and learning the history of it is a rare thing to find in a middle grade book. The issues of privacy and surveillance is even rarer, and very, very timely. Because of increased security in my school, we have a LOT of new cameras that are so clear that the school resource officer can read what people are looking at on their phones in the hallway-- how long will it be before I am caught on tape at 6 a.m. in an empty building adjusting my slip in the hallway? Yikes! I loved how Dom took Banksy's art and adapted it to her own circumstances.  There were a lot of smaller plot points about everyday middle school that were nice to see-- Dom's relationship with her grandmother, her mother's dating, her jealousy over Holden and Saanvi's relationship, the school work, and dealing with social media bullying. I especially appreciated the note right at the end of the book that told students that while Dom's approach to solving her problem makes for a great story, if readers experience social media problems, they should immediately tell a trusted adult to get help.
Weaknesses: As a principal's kid, I'm not a fan of the trope of the evil principal who lets her own child get away with things. Even though my dad wasn't at my school, I couldn't get away with ANYTHING. Also, the graffiti was hard to take; while the school deserved a hard time about the surveillance, the custodians were the ones who had to clean up the walls! (Some of it was chocolate and not paint, but still probably hard to clean!)
What I really think: Even though this is a Canadian title, the hardcover IS available from Follett Titlewave, so I'm definitely purchasing. There were a lot of things I really loved about this one, including the black squirrel on the cover. And I love that the black squirrels at Kent State CAME FROM CANADA!
https://www.cleveland.com/metro/2011/01/kent_state_university_celebrat.html

Jinxed

McCulloch, Amy. Jinxed
January 7th 2020 by Sourcebooks Young Readers
E ARC provided by Netgalley

Lacey has always dreamed of attending Profectus school, which is geared to students who want to be Companioneers for Moncha Corporation. She has always tinkered with machinery and computers, and is excited about getting a baku of her own-- the android animals that are the digital communication devices of choice in her society. When she doesn't get in, she is crushed, but after rescuing her best friend Zora's baku, she ends up with a cat that has characteristics unusual for a baku. Suddenly, Lacey has gained entrance to the academy and her life is back on track. She fixes Jinx up, and is soon on a baku battle team at her school. She is better at repairs than anyone, fixing a completely crushed dog baku so that her team can continue. She even has a light romance going with the team captain. Still, there are problems-- Monica Chan, the founder of the baku movement, hasn't been heard from in a long tie, and Eric Smith is taking over. His evil son is trying to get Lacey kicked out of school. Lacey's father, who worked for Moncha Corp but left under suspicious circumstances, may be affecting her scientific progress. Lacey is even having problems with Zora, and she begins to suspect that Jinx's origin may be even more secret than she has suspected. A sequel, Unleashed, came out in the UK
August 22nd 2019 (Simon & Schuster Children's UK ), so hopefully we will see it here next year.

Strengths: The premise that since people always had cell phones with them, but the cells phones were making them anxious, so lets make faux pets that function like smart phones is brilliant. I always love books where the children have a passion in an interest, and Lacey has worked really hard to start on the path to making baku with Moncha Corp. The light romance is fun and doesn't take over the story, and there's a good balance between supportive and antagonistic characters. The baku battles will add another level of interest for students who want more action in the book; I was just enthralled with Lacey's ability to fix things!
Weaknesses: The British cover is SO much better. The US cover looks a bit too young, and this would do well even with high school readers with the older cover. I could have done without the mystery of her father, but maybe that will make more sense in the next book.
What I really think: Definitely purchasing and hoping the second book comes out soon, since this ended on such a cliffhanger! Also, I would like a baku poodle WAY more than my idiotic new smart phone. Slider phones rule!

MMGM- Close Calls and Cub

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.

Happy New Year! Of course, school people know that the REAL new year starts the Monday after Labor Day, but if you are silly and go by the calendar, I hope that your 2020 got off to a great start. Here are two utterly fantastic books to get you going!

Spradlin, Michael P. Close Calls: How Eleven US Presidents Escaped from the Brink of Death

January 7th 2020 by Bloomsbury Children's Books

E ARC Provided by Netgalley

There was a recent Jeopardy! champion who apparently got himself up to speed on many areas of knowledge by reading children's nonfiction books. This would have been an excellent one to consult for information about presidents and their lesser known brushes with death! 

The most interesting thing about this is that it wasn't all information about assassination attempts that I've read before. Readers who like war stories will be drawn in by Kennedy's PT-109 story (instead of November of 1963), and Ford's service on the USS Monterey (instead of the two attempts on his life while in office), and Eisenhower's involvement in World War II. The spying that George Washington had to deal with while he was otherwise engaged in the Revolutionary War is something I didn't know about, and the sidebar about the Tories was informative as well. Andrew Jackson's temperament and demeanor are described in enough detail that I was almost sympathetic to Richard Lawrence and his malfunctioning, damp pistols. Harry Truman's would be assassins, however, were almost a comedy of errors, although I am very glad that Truman was saved because he was living at Blair House while the White House was being renovated. 

Each entry is less than ten pages long, and written in a particularly fast-paced, engaging way. The tone is a bit flippant at times (Page 4 of the E ARC: "The constant spying drove Washington batty"), but only when the person discussed is not in any real danger. The section on Lincoln, and his dealings with the Pinkerton Detective Agency, was particularly gripping, and had me holding my breath with the one line description of events. Theodore Roosevelt also gets a treatment worthy of a man willing to give a ninety minute speech after his notes saved him from getting a bullet to his lungs, even though he did get hit and was bleeding!

It would have been nice to have the presidential portraits of the leaders discussed, although many readers today would just look those up online.(https://www.whitehousehistory.org/galleries/presidential-portraits)

My only real problem with the book was that the E ARC was a bit slow to load, making it difficult to go back and list all of the presidents mentioned. The table of contents has clever titles, but does not list the subjects. 

The short, high-interest discussions of various incidents might lead readers to further pursue longer books, like Swanson's Chasing Lincoln's Killer, Seiple's Death on the River of Doubt (Roosevelt), and Martin's In Harm's Way (Kennedy). This is a compelling, quotable book that is sure to interest readers who like history, danger, or who want to add some presidential anecdotes to their lunch table conversation!

Copeland, Cynthia. Cub
January 7th 2020 by Algonquin Young Readers
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Cindy finds that middle school in the early 1970s is fairly stressful-- all the cool girls are wearing elephant bells and blue eye shadow, but her parents are more conservative and make her wear longer dresses and sensible shoes. She also finds that they encourage her brothers more than they encourage her. She has one really good friend, but that friend starts hanging out with the cool, mean girls. On the bright side, she finds a boy in her class with whom she has a lot in common, and the two hang out and talk a lot. Also, she talks to her English teacher about writing, and her teacher connects her to a local newspaper reporter, a woman, who brings Cindy along to various events and helps her write articles, one of which is published in the newspaper. Cindy manages to make new friends, keeps up with writing as well as photography, and manages to gain the support of her parents for her endeavors.
Strengths: The details of school, fashion, home life, and sociopolitical events are all covered in an engaging and interesting way. The fact that this is a graphic novel actually helps tremendously with the understanding of what the world looked like at this point in history. I loved the reported with the VW Beetle, and yes, Cindy's parents probably would have been totally fine with her tagging along. This was also rather poignant-- in the 1970s, writing was still something that one could use for a career. I am always worried for journalism majors now!
Weaknesses: This was definitely a white, middle class story, but also a great feminist one. We just need some graphic novels about people from various backgrounds, and if they are also historical, so much the better. Graphic novels are a strain to read on my e reader (the pages have to be about 3"x5", so the print is minute), so I'm sorry for the lack of details in this review.
What I really think: Like Holms' Sunny books, this one made me ridiculously happy, since it covers a period of time during my own childhood. Will probably purchase at least two copies. I do sort of wish the cover were avocado green, though. Or maybe purple. Or orange. Better if it were a plaid of all three-- that would have captured the colors of the time! I was a little surprised that girls wore jeans to school; we weren't allowed until 1976.

My 2020 didn't get off to a great start. Member of staff broke a 35 year old Christmas decoration as the tree was being put away, Sylvie barked nonstop at her food dish, and I read NINE books that were just... meh. Not bad, just not what I needed. Nothing traumatic, just not a great start.

I read 836 books in 2019, and only reviewed about 400 of them on my blog. Often, I read a book, know it's not something I'm going to buy, and then am too lazy to write a review. Reviews take almost as long to write as the book takes to read sometimes!

2020-- I think it's going to be tough. So, I'm giving myself permission to not feel bad about reading a book and not writing a review. That said, I have 8th graders being assigned TED talks, so I was glad to see:


Anderson, Chris and Oberweger, Lori. Thank You for Coming to My TED Talk: A Teen Guide to Great Public Speaking 
March 10th 2020 by HMH Books for Young Readers
E ARC provided by Edelweiss

This has a lot of good information on public speaking, related to TED talks but applicable to many settings. There are lots of anecdotes about specific TED talks, which readers could then look up online and use as examples.

Public speaking is such an important skill to have, and I love it when class reports have to be delivered orally, but I don't know that teachers always model presentations for students. In absence of this, books like this can fill a gap. My only concern is that it is a bit lengthy-- if my students are working on their TED talks and doing other homework, are they going to stop to read a 160 page book to help them out? It would have been nice to have more lists for browsing so readers could get some advice without having to read the entire book.

I would definitely purchase this for a high school where public speaking classes are offered, but am debating purchasing for my middle school library. Perhaps the teacher assigning the talks might want to buy a copy to have as a resource just for her students.

Stoop Sale Treasure (Hand-Me-Down Magic #1)

Haydu, Corey Ann. Stoop Sale Treasure (Hand-Me-Down Magic #1)
January 7th 2020 by Katherine Tegen Books
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Alma has moved to Chicago from a small town on a lake. She is now near her extended family, living in a building with her abuelita's second hand shop on the first floor and relatives in all of the apartments. She's glad to see her cousin Del and loves the neighborhood, but still misses home. After a neighborhood stoop sale where Del gets a pair of sparkly earrings, she thinks that they are bringing her magical good luck. Feeling left out of the talk of magic and other inside references, Alma feels left out, and ends up taking her cousin's earrings and putting them on a stone lion. She quickly regrets her decision, but when she goes to retrieve them, the earrings are gone. Del feels that her luck is as well. Alma confesses, and the two search for the earrings, finally uncovering them.
Strengths: I love books with a strong sense of place, and in this case, a Chicago neighborhood with a vibrant culture almost made me want to live in a city. Second hand shops are also great, and the strong extended family will appeal to both children who have a lot of cousins and to those who wish they had some. The sadness Alma feels is realistic, and stealing the earrings is one of those things that elementary age children sometimes do-- it feels like a good idea at the time, but they know better and soon regret their actions.
Weaknesses: I was hoping this would be move like Ruth Chew's Everyday Magic series, but there's no actual magic.
What I really think: This was a charming book, but falls into the beginning chapter book range. I bought a lot of those last year, and don't have that many readers who need them this year. I would definitely purchase for elementary school, but need more YA this year.

Saturday Morning Cartoons- Diana: Princess of the Amazons

Hale, Shannon and Hale, Dean. Diana: Princess of the Amazons
January 7th 2020 by DC Zoom
E ARC from Edelweiss Plus

Diana should be enjoying her life on Themiscyra, but as the only child in the Amazon community, she is rather lonely, especially since her mother is frequently busy running things. After helping with some clay projects, she takes some discarded clay to the beach, and inspired by her own creation story, forms a friend from clay and sand and attempts to breathe life into her. She is surprised the next day to find her creation, Mona, roaming the woods, but glad to have a friend. The two have all kinds of fun, although Mona has quite an eye for mischief. Mona also feeds Diana's insecurities that the other Amazons don't consider her one of them, and goads Diana into sailing to an island where the Amazons are guarding the portal to Tartarus, where monsters are imprisoned. Surprised that she is able to open the door, Diana starts to realize that perhaps Mona isn't the best friend to have. The Amazon guards are unable to defeat the monsters, so Diana goes to light the signal fire. Mona says she will do it so that Diana's deception is not found out, but she doesn't. Needless to say, reinforcements help, and the monsters are banished once again. Mona turns out to be someone with whom Diana should not have been dealing, but the experience brings her and her mother closer together.
Strengths: As a former Latin teacher, I can't get enough books about Greece and Rome to share with 7th grade students as part of their social studies curriculum. This book is perfectly formatted for fans of Holm, Jamieson and Telgemeier, with the right text to picture ratio, colorful, expressive pictures, and fast paced story. There's also the DC lure; Wonder Woman IS the best super hero, hands down! This will fly off the shelves.
Weaknesses: Students won't care, but I was bothered by how Mona was able to inveigle Diana into misdeeds. Surely Wonder Woman was smarter than that, even at a young age. It was also hard to believe that her mother and the Amazon community didn't take better care of her. But that's just me.
What I really think: Definitely purchasing, and this will circulate well even though (oddly) DC and Marvel tie ins often don't do well in my library. This will be the exception.

Throw Like a Girl

Henning, Sarah. Throw Like a Girl
January 7th 2020 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Recommended to me by Erin Fry

Liv Rodinsky is a great softball player and enjoys her private school team, but when comments are made about the coach (who is her sister and married to a woman) she punches another player. This gets her kicked off the team and booted out of school because she loses her scholarship. She ends up back at the local high school, where she hopes she can get on the softball team in the spring. The coach makes her a deal-- if she can play another sport and show that she can control her anger and be a good teammate, she has a chance. When Grey, a quarterback on the Northland team (whose mother happens to be the softball coach) sees Liv tossing around a football with her younger brother, he makes her a proposition-- if she will be the substitute quarterback, he'll put in a good word with his mom. Liv was thinking of running cross country, but is okay with football, even if her parents are not and she has to hide her participation from them. The football coach is impressed with her playing, and very soon Liv makes some fantastic plays that get her a lot of notice. Her parents eventually cave. She ends up dating Grey, and starts to worry that his various injuries might be more serious than he will admit to, and that it isn't a great idea for him to keep playing. There is some YA misunderstanding and angst, but in the end, everything works out.
Strengths: We're getting there. Girls can play football, and there's no major roadblocks in Liv's way. There is a little bit of pushback about Liv playing, but not a lot. No jerky coaches, no mistreatment by the entire team, etc. Liv is a good player, and people appreciate her. The romance with Grey is a nice touch. I love that Liv's family is supportive, and her interactions with her sister and brother (who is younger) are fun and realistic.
Weaknesses: Concussions are a huge concern, and while there is a little information about Grey's problems, I wish there had been more discussion.
What I really think: Definitely purchasing for fans of Tigelaar's Playing with the Boys, Murdock's Dairy Queen, and Heldring's The Football Girl. We've actually had more girls playing football at my school than boys cheering in the last twenty years, although it's still only two girls and one boy!

Hill, Clarence Jr. Troy Aikman (A Football Hall of Fame Biography)
September 3rd 2019 by Random House Books for Young Readers
Public library copy

I've been enjoying Dan Wetzel's Epic Athletes series from Henry Holt, and they have been circulating very well, so I thought I would take a look at this series. Like Epic Athletes, this talked a lot about Aikman's childhood and his entry into sports, but also follows his entire playing career as well as his retirement. The author clearly knows his stuff, since he covered the Cowboys as a news writer, and the bibliography is impressive.

I'm just not sure that my students know who Aikman is or care about him in the way they do the athletes covered by Epic Athletes. The other biographies in this series are John Madden and Michael Strahan. I could get behind this if the series covered players who are no longer active but are still well known, but I don't know enough about football to list who that might be. (Joe Namath? Terry Bradshaw? Franco Harris?  Joe Montana? Didn't date myself at all with that list!) I'll have to talk to some of my sports fans before I purchase these. This was well done, but I don't know how much it will circulate.

The Turnkey of Highgate Cemetery

Rushby, Allison. The Turnkey of Highgate Cemetery
July 24th 2018 by Candlewick Press
Personal copy

Flossie Birdwhistle died of rheumatic fever at the age of twelve, and became a Turnkey, or guardian, of Highgate Cemetery in London. She makes sure that the spirits of the people interred there are happy and at rest, and that the cemetery stays safe. As World War II starts affecting the city, she is on the alert, and seeing the ghost of an SS officer loose on the town has her worried. Her fear is warranted, and trips to a cemetery in Germany uncover the fact that this man  has a direct connection to her family and is pure evil. With the help of other spirits in other cemeteries throughout the city, she works on a way to fend off the German spirit attacks that are helping the war efforts of the living.
Strengths: This had some interesting information about London during World War II; I particularly enjoyed the decription of Churchhill's underground war rooms, which as absolutely fascinating to visit! This is a well constructed story that nicely balances the ghost aspect with the history. Flossie is a fascinating character who does her best despite being somewhat ill-prepared for such an important undertaking. Readers who enjoyed Stroud's The Screaming Staircase might find this an interesting, different take on ghosts in London.
Weaknesses: This may have the same illustrator as The Joy of Spooking, which I had to finally weed because no one would check it out. Also, I was confused that Flossie wore an iron ring. As a spirit, wouldn't that have harmed her? Have to admit, I didn't investigate that as I should have, but it seemed wrong.
What I really think: I liked this book, but may have trouble finding readers for it with this cover and the somewhat complicated history.

After-School Superstars

Mills, Claudia. Nixie Ness: Cooking Star (After-School Superstars #1)
June 25th 2019 by Margaret Ferguson Books
Personal Copy

Nixie loves coming home after school with her friend Grace, and the two have lots of fun with Nixie's mother, who works from home as a graphic designer. When her mother gets a full time job away from home, Nixie ends up in the after school program at her school, and Grace's mother makes other plans for her. Nixie is devastated, especially since Grace starts spending more time with a new student, Elyse. Nixie gets the opportunity to be part of a cooking class at the program, and starts to enjoy both the cooking and the other students, but she still is not happy about what is happening with her best friend. She tries to mend things by making a special lunch for Grace, only to have to give her own lunch to Elyse, and eventually gets desperate enough to pretend to be ill so that her mother will have to leave work and pick her up. Nixie hopes her mother will remember how much fun it was to be home with Nixie and go back to working from home, but of course this plan doesn't work out that way. Eventually, Nixie mends things with Grace, but also realizes that she can make other friends, too.
Strengths: Mills is able to capture elementary school drama perfectly, and Nixie's obsession with keeping Grace to herself is spot on. I love that an after school program is shown; my girls went to a before school program that they enjoyed very much; there were a couple of times when they wished they went after school as well because of some of the activities. I can't really think of many books that cover this except for Clements' The Losers' Club, but there have to be a large number of children who have the experience of being in after school care.
Weaknesses: I would be perfectly happy if all middle school books had 8th or 9th grade characters; would elementary school readers be more likely to pick this one up if the characters were in 5th grade? Also, I would like to see the characters in forthcoming books be interested in science and other STEM topics rather than cooking and drawing.
What I really think: Like Kelsey Green: Reading Queen and the Franklin School Friends books, this is a book that will appeal to struggling 6th grade readers but is absolutely essential for elementary school libraries.

Mills, Claudia. Vera Vance: Comics Star
March 17th 2020 by Margaret Ferguson Books (After-School Superstars #2)

The Winterhouse Mysteries (Winterhouse #3)

Guterson, Ben. The Winterhouse Mysteries
December 31st 2019 by Henry Holt & Company
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Elizabeth is firmly ensconced in her new home after Winterhouse and The Secrets of Winterhouse. Spring is coming, and there are some guests at the hotel working on an enormous puzzle. Hyrum pops his head in from time to time, and there are several instances that rumble the house-- Norbridge contributes them to "thundersnow", but Elizabeth is suspicious. Elana is still in very poor health, her age having been greatly advanced by the evil Gracella. Freddy finds out that the author Damien Crowley wrote about something called the Dredforth Method that could bring back Gracella, but the book in which he wrote about it has gone missing. Luckily, Freddy visits, and the two are able to work through some mysteries in order to help Elana.
Strengths: This is a fantastic series for young readers who want something "harder"; the mystery is very well developed and complex, with threads weaving in and odd in a very clever fashion. My synopsis is short because I am NOT a reader who has great comprehension, and while the mystery was fun to read, it was hard for me to remember the details! The reason that I love these books is the description of the house, the relationships between the characters, and the delight page illustrations. The description of Elizabeth's room alone was enough to make me want to purchase this! This has been a favorite with students who like Milford's Greenglass House, Wood's The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place, and Funaro's newer Watch Hollow series.
Weaknesses: Both Freddy's parents and Elizabeth's aunt and uncle are given moments of sympathy, which seemed odd. Perhaps Gracella is villain enough? Also, I am personally not a fan of puzzle and riddles, and all of these books have a lot of those, which is good for readers who ARE fans.
What I really think: Definitely purchasing. This book seemed like it wrapped up the series nicely, but I'm not sure whether it is over or not. Three and five book series are my favorites, since students seem more apt to pick up the entire series when they are that length, which means that the books wear evenly, and I don't feel like I wasted the taxpayers' money on book eight!

MMGM- Running Wild and Escape This Book

Bledsoe, Lucy Jane. Running Wild
September 10th 2019 by Margaret Ferguson Books
Personal copy

Willa lives with her father and brothers Seth and Keith in the Alaskan wilderness. The nearest settlement is Fort Yukon, and they only have one neighbor. Their father, a high school teacher, moved the family after the death of the mother, and tells the children that humans are just animals, and need just food, clothing and shelter, not all of the fripperies of civilization. Willa, who loves to read and mourns the loss of the encyclopedia after her father burns it out of spite, disagrees. For a while, living off of the grid wasn't bad, but after their father alienates the one couple who are their neighbors and brings back whiskey from a supply run (after years of sobriety) and becomes increasingly abusive, Willa knows that it is time to leave. She gathers supplies and readies her brothers to raft to Fort Yukon. Of course, this is not an easy task, especially since her brother has made a pet of the wolf pup whose mother their father shot. The journey is fraught with peril, and when they arrive at Fort Yukon, it is not as easy to just phone their aunt in New York City as Willa suspected. Luckily, they get help from a family, who not only contacts their aunt, but helps make arrangements for the wolf pup to go to a sanctuary. The children are ready to go to the city with their aunt, but the pup runs away, and they go back to try to find him. Their aunt decides to stay in Fort Yukon for a while and eventually gets a job there, which gives the children the best of all worlds-- the Alaskan wilderness, but with actual adult support as well as friends and an education.
Strengths: Survival tales are always in demand, and this is a good choice to put with Lawrence's The Skeleton Tree, Hobb's Never Say Die and Carter's Not if I Save You First. Willa's reasons for undertaking the adventure are not frivolous, she is fairly well prepared, and she cares for her brothers as much as she can. I enjoyed particularly the view of life before the children run away, and also her interactions with Amelia and her family in Fort Yukon. Her aunt's move to Alaska was a charming addition as well.
Weaknesses: The dysfunctional grieving parent trope has now displaced my former least favorite thing (talking animals), but at least in this case the dysfunctional father affords the children an adventure, and is addressed at the end of the book.
What I really think: I really enjoyed this one. It was a good length, had a variety of appealing elements, and was fast paced. I am glad that Holiday House has gotten better at cover art-- I can see this title having great longevity in my library!

Doyle, Bill and Sax, Sarah. Escape This Book! Tombs of Egypt 
January 7th 2020 by Random House Books for Young Readers
Copy provided by the publisher

This blog is devoted mainly to books suitable for school libraries, but on occasion publishers send me activity books. This makes me a little sad, because many of these are ones my daughters would have loved. Tombs of Egypt would have been great to have for the 6th grade unit on this period of history. We built a "pyramid" out of cardboard, and my older daughter's class had an assignment to research and make a model of the items that might have been in a Pharaoh's tomb. (I think this is the same year we made a cuneiform calendar out of dough as well!)

The point is: ancient history is fascinating to some middle school students, and activity books are a great way to get students off of their phones. This book starts with a mission-- an "escapologist" wants help with this Egyptian venture, and gives a variety of drawing assignments that will help along the way. It's a little uncomfortable for me, since there are instructions not only to draw things, but to poke holes through and crumple up pages, but that's part of the fun. There are activities, puzzles, or things to write on every page spread, and a lot of information about ancient Egypt along the way. Accompanied by the escapologist's gopher, Amicus, the reader takes the role of the oldest child of Tuthmosis I and has a variety of adventures, accompanied by historical background and facts about each one.

I will probably give this book to one of our 6th grade social studies teachers, and I can see it being used in some class activities, or maybe as a prize for a student who REALLY likes Ancient Egypt.

Titles for younger readers

Smith, Nikki Shannon The Amazing Life of Azaleah Lane  
Mari Lobo (Illustrations)
January 1st 2020 by Picture Window Books
E ARC provided by Netgalley

Third grader Azaleah lives in Washington, D.C. area, and is enthralled by the pandas when her class visits the National Zoo. When her teacher offers extra credit for constructing a diorama with the pandas, Azaleah is thrilled, because she enjoys the STEM focus of her school.Her weekend ends up being very busy, with her mother running a local restaurant, her father being a lawyer, and her sister Nia having the leading role in her school's production of The Wis. It doesn't help when her Auntie Sam babysits and her younger sister Tiana's favorite stuffed toy, Greenie, goes missing. Will Azaleah be able to touch base with her best friend Rose, get her work done, and find her sister's toy?
Strengths: This is 112 pages long with bright, happy illustrations. Azaleah is a fun, motivated character who loves her family and wants to do well in school, even if she has trouble managing her time a little bit. I would have adored this when I was in first grade, especially since MY class visited the pandas when they first came to the US. (A long, long time ago!)
Weaknesses: Too young for my students, although the format would work well for many of my lower readers.
What I really think: I would definitely buy for an elementary school, but will pass for middle school.

Darraj, Susan Muaddi. Farah Rocks Fifth Grade (Farah Rocks, #1) 
Ruaida Mannaa (Illustrator)
January 1st 2020 by Stone Arch Books
E ARC provided by Netgalley

Farah is a very bright fifth grader who hopes to get into Magnet Academy for middle school, along with her best friend Allie. She is concerned, though, when there is a new girl at her school, Dana, who is mean to both her and her younger brother, Samir. Going to a new school would mean leaving him behind, and Farah doesn't want to leave him with the evil Dana. She starts to fail her tests, going so far as to delete e mails from her teachers when they express concern. With her mother picking up more hours at the local supermarket, Farah is responsible for Samir after school, and she takes her responsibility seriously. Samir was born prematurely, so his medical bills have burdened the family, especially since her parents donated a window to the Orthodox church they attend when his health improved. Because her parents are so involved, they eventually notice what is going on, and let Farah know that it is her responsibility to get a good education, and they will worry about finances and Samir.
Strengths: I love the close-knit family, and Farah's concern for her brother. It's also great to see a representation of an older sibling caring for a younger one after school. There are other supportive adults in her life, like Mr. Richie, her teacher, who does express concern, even if the bus driver is not seeing Dana's behavior. There are lots of details about the family's cultural background (they speak Arabic, the father came to the country when he was 28 and has an accent, holidays, food), but that isn't the focus of the story. There is even a hummus recipe at the end of the book!
Weaknesses: Don't study Latin at Magnet Academy, Farah! Or at least, don't grow up to major in it! This is just slightly young for my readers.
What I really think: Would definitely purchase for an elementary school but will pass for middle school. I'd love to see more of this character, and would buy a story about her in 6th grade!

Bo's Magical New Friend

Elliot, Rebecca. Bo's Magical New Friend (Unicorn Diaries #1)
December 26th 2019 by Scholastic Inc.
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Bo is glad to be at school and working towards a patch for her blanket, and she is also glad to see a new classmate at Sparklegrover School for Unicorns, Sunny. Sunny is a bit unusual because he doesn't know what his magical power is. Bo's is to grant wishes, so she wants Bo to make a wish to know his powers, but he does not. When the unicorns go out on a trip, trolls capture Sunny and another unicorn, and the others must use their powers to free their friends. After this, the group prepares for their patch ceremony and parade. Bo manages to get her patch, and Sunny figures out his powers.
Strengths: This is super cute, and the illustrations are adorable. I don't know any six year olds who would not want to read this. The story is solid, with a little adventure and some light friend drama. The little longer length is great for young readers who want something more substantial than an I Can Read book.
Weaknesses: The shape shifting Mr. Rumptwinkle really fell down on the job when the trolls got his students, didn't he? What's the purpose of turning into a bunny and following the unicorns if he doesn't keep them safe?
What I really think: While The Owl Diaries have done well with my lower levels readers, this is just a bit too twee for middle school. I will pass on purchasing, but would definitely get this for elementary school.

I Remember: Poems and Pictures of Heritage.

Hopkins, Lee Bennet (ed.). I Remember: Poems and Pictures of Heritage.
April 16th 2019 by Lee & Low Books

E ARC from Edelweiss Plus

I have a very specific need for poetry books in my library. They need to contain 40 poems, preferably by different authors, and need to use a lot  of figurative language. I have one teacher who always assigns a poetry project in the fall, so I need about 130 poetry books. Generally, my poetry books get checked out once a year; invariably, a couple are lost or damaged, so I need to get a few new ones.

Don't get me wrong; I love poetry. I published a poem in Writer's Digest in 1985. But is it really something our students are going to use in real life? Wouldn't they be better off having a computer class? At any rate, I am also super picky about what constitutes good poetry, and aside from Timothy Steele, there's very little modern verse that I like. This was perfectly fine, and the pictures were fantastic. I also liked the multicultural focus. I need to go back and count the number of poems; if it has forty, I'll buy it.

From Goodreads.com
From the joyous to the poignant, poems by award-winning, diverse poets are paired with images by celebrated illustrators from similar backgrounds to pay homage to what is both unique and universal about growing up in the United States. Newbery Medalist Kwame Alexander takes us on a riotous ride through good times and sad spent with his extended family--a journey perfectly captured by Coretta Scott King Award winner Michele Wood's vibrant overflowing and overlapping images. Pura Belpre Award winner Margarita Engle shares happy memories of learning to embroider, accompanied by fine artist and printmaker Paula Barragan's colorful graphic representation of a granddaughter and grandmother at work. Bestselling author Nick Bruel talks about his confusion over having to define himself by a single racial label, which is brought to life by newcomer Janine Macbeth's reflective image of herself trying to figure out her own mixed ancestry. Together these heartfelt poems and captivating illustrations shine a light on the rich diversity of people in our nation as well as the timeless human connections and experiences we all share. Readers of any age and background will find much that sparks their memories and opens their eyes.

Wetzel, Dan. Lionel Messi: Epic Athletes
November 12th 2019 by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
E ARC from Edelweiss Plus

The other titles in this series have circulated well, and this is definitely one I will buy. It is especially interesting, because it covers how soccer clubs recruit and train members in other countries. Messi is Argentinian, but trained in Spain when he was very young. When he was 16, he had to decided in which country he wanted to play, because whatever country he chose was where he would have to stay! It also talked about his growth hormone disorder, and the challenges his family faced getting him training and medication. Since he retired in 2018, this is a good look at his career, but he seems to be doing a lot of other things, so students will still know who he is. There's not much out there on soccer, and a growing number of my students are interested in it, so this will circulate well. 

Might Moe: The True Story of a Thirteen-Year-Old Women's Running Revolutionary

Swaby, Rachel and Fox, Kit. Might Moe: The True Story of a Thirteen-Year-Old Women's Running Revolutionary

October 15th 2019 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

Public library copy

Maureen Wilton saw her brother come home from school with a ribbon he won in a race, and decided that she wanted to win one, too. Eventually, she set a women's marathon record on May 6, 1967 with a time of 3:15:23. At that point in time, girls and women were not encouraged to run, but Wilton was very fortunate that her parents were supportive and that she found a coach, Sy Mah, who was willing to work with a girls' running team. Unfortunately, the rest of the world was still not up to speed with women's running, and the negative reactions eventually got to Wilton, and she dropped out of the sport. Mighty Moe tells the story of Maureen's fight to be able to race, her training, and the politics with which she had to deal at a very young age in order to pursue something that she loved.

This is a fascinating snap shot of a (thankfully!) long ago time that young people don't understand. When I was in middle school, there was no girls' cross country team, but for my students, girls have always been able to do anything. Many of their mothers ran cross country. The training methods, running outfits and shoes, insistence of society that girls don't run, and even the grainy pictures taken from 8mm movies all seem like ancient history compared to today!

More importantly, Wilton's fight to keep running, and the toll the negative publicity took on her, are important for young people to understand. It's one thing to participate in a difficult sport; it's another to keep working under difficult conditions when people are repeatedly telling you it's something you CAN'T do! It was fascinating to find out that Kathrine Switzer came to run with Wilton not long after her own fraught marathon run, and that the two connected years later.

This is worth purchasing if only for the history of women's running it contains, but I loved reading about a young girl who had a dream that she was able to achieve despite obstacles, and loved the fact that she helped open up the world of running for other girls and women.  While some of the training methods are definitely not advisable ("kill it to cure it" did NOT work with my Achilles tendon!), this is a fantastic window into a bygone time. Definitely purchasing. 

Roberts, David. Suffragette: The Battle for Equality
May 31st 2018 by Pan Macmillan
Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central

While there are a number of excellent books about women's suffrage available, including Kops' Alice Paul, Zimet's Roses and Radicals, and Bausum's With Courage and Cloth, this book is a bit unusual-- it focuses more on the British movement to get women the vote. It does touch on some US movements and personalities, but the timeline is centered around the Women's Social and Political Union, founded by Emmeline Pankhurst.

In the US, the women's movement ran into difficulties along racial lines, with African-American participants often being told to keep quiet or go to the back of the parade. It is noteworthy to see African-American women's leaders mentioned, and this would be a great book for students looking to do a National History Day project on someone who has not previously been studied as much. In the UK, the movement ran into more problems along class lines, since the population was not quite as diverse in the early 1900s. I expect that we will see more books that include different voices, and this one is a good start.

Following the different movements, protests, and people chronologically, Suffragette paints an easily understandable trajectory of events. I wasn't aware that the women's movement in the UK was so violent! There's lots of rock throwing, glass breaking, and even jujitsu! My favorite part of this, however, is the large number of thumbnail biographies that accompany the well done illustrations of the historical characters.

There is a very nice bibliography at the end of the book that will get readers started on other books. With it's nicely formatted page design and attractive, colorful drawings, Suffragette is definitely a book that will get young feminists informed about the past so that they can make a difference in the future.

Merry Christmas Titles!

Hapka, Catherine. Santa's Puppy
October 15th 2019 by HMH Books for Young Readers
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Santa's fluffy white puppy, Peppermint Bark, wants to constantly be near him, but when Christmas arrives, both Santa and the elves tell the dog to stay behind at the North Pole and keep Ms. Claus company. Undeterred, Peppermint Bark decides to stowaway in the pack of toys on the sleigh. At the first stop, he hears human children, and hops out to investigate. Santa and his sleigh leave, and the dog ends up inside the chimney! Luckily, young Chris and Holly Kerstman hear the barks, and the family helps rescue him. Chris can communicate with the dog, who lets him know they need to find a portal to get him back home. The town of Poinsettia is famous for its holiday celebrations, so there are lots of different places to check for the portals, and Peppermint Bark and the children get into all kids of trouble. Elves Happy and Juniper come to try to find the dog, and they find trouble of their own. Will Peppermint Bark be able to get back home where he belongs?
Strengths: Vaguely reminiscent of Phyllis McGinley's The Year Without a Santa Claus, this is a delightful romp that will warm the hearts of holiday and dog fans alike. Poinsettia's Christmas is the ultimate celebration, and the trouble the children get into trying to find the portal is all light hearted and amusing. Peppermint Bark, who breath smells like warm cocoa, is every child's dream dog, and the ending, with a visit to the North Pole to hang out with Santa, is delightful.
Weaknesses: I found it a little hard to believe that that the portal to the North Pole only opens once a year, but it gives an immediacy to the plot that makes it more exciting.
What I really think: As someone whose house was for years visited by wily elves named Jeek and Glendle who got into all kinds of trouble, I can appreciate a good Christmas story. My students like them as well, and dog stories are popular, so I'm definitely buying a copy of this, even though few of my 8th graders will ever touch it.

Keene, Carolyn. A Nancy Drew Christmas (Nancy Drew Diaries #18)
September 18th 2018 by Aladdin
Copy from the Ohio E Book Project

Ah, Nancy. I'm beginning to think that her father is neglectful (You have a case, so you send your child alone across the country to a ski lodge? Where she gets injured but just continues to hang around?), and I rather missed George and Bess in this one, but we do get a brief glimpse of the Hardy Boys. This had a lot of environmental topics, which I completely support, but this one felt a bit heavy handed. The mystery... they are always a bit Scooby Doo to me, but I'm old. I love this series because it's a great read for middle schoolers, and aside from book 1 and 2 these can be read in any order, but I think 18 is enough, so I think this is the last one I will purchase.

If you are an adult fan of Nancy Drew, you owe it to yourself to pick up Cain's snarky Confessions of a Teen Sleuth.

The First Christmas Sweater

Tubridy, Ryan and Judge, Chris (illus.) The First Christmas Sweater
September 10th 2019 by Walker Books US
Personal copy

Hillary the sheep gets along well on the Irish farm where she is being raised. She enjoys making lists, hanging out with her fellow sheep, and dreaming about Christmas. Luckily, Farmer Jimmy, his wife Orla, and the other sheep are all very accepting of Hillary's big difference-- instead of having snowy white wool, she has multicolored fleece! When Hillary hears from her friend Didya the crow (who is always asking questions and talking a lot) that Santa is looking for wool for a Christmas sweater, Hillary hopes that he will visit her farm-- and he does! Of course, Hillary's wool is perfect for the decorated, colorful sweater Santa desires, and before she knows it, Hillary is off on a magical journey to the North Pole to get sheared. She meets the elves, reindeer, and Ms. Claus, and returns to her farm secure in the knowledge that her wool is keeping Santa warm on his rounds.
Strengths: This is a notebook novel, with large text and plentiful pictures. Since it is about Santa and Christmas, the elementary crowd will love it, but I have a large population of English Language Learners who are enthralled with this holiday, and this will be perfect for them. The characters are all well meaning, and even the one difficult sheep, Brian, is redeemed in the end.
Weaknesses: Having just read Parkes' Vanishing Fleece and attended the Rhinebeck Sheep and Wool Festival, I'm pretty sure that Hillary could have been shorn in Ireland, and that she would not have needed a jacket to keep her warm after she was sheared. Also not sure Santa would have gotten his sweater quite so quickly. Ah, isn't that the problem of being a grown up-- we know too much!
What I really think: This will be one the students will pick up for fun. As a parent who always told my children that Santa did NOT exist but who also went to great lengths to build the mythology of Jeek and Glendle, rogue drunken elves who occasionally left presents in the trunk of the car or under the tree OUTSIDE, I give this book bonus points for expanding on the Santa mythos.

The author is a celebrity in Ireland. I don't know celebrities in the US anymore, so I didn't know this until I read the notes at the back!

MMGM- Banjo

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.

Salisbury, Graham. Banjo.
October 1st 2019 by Wendy Lamb Books
Public library copy

Danny lives on a ranch in Nevada with his father and older brothers. He loves his dog, Banjo, but one night Banjo doesn't come home. A neighbor, Mr. Brodie, claims that Banjo was chasing his sheep and was shot by one of his sons. Distraught, Danny hunts for his beloved dog and does find him, injured, in a cave. When he brings him home, Mr. Brodie brings the law and tells Danny that the dog needs to be put down. After trying unsuccessfully to rehome the dog somewhere far away, Danny says that he will shoot Banjo himself. He takes him far out in the woods but can't bring himself to pull the trigger, and abandons the dog instead. He feels awful, but hopes that this way Banjo has a bit of a chance. He does, when he is found by Meg, a girl who rides horses. She soon takes to the sweet tempered dog, but knows that he must belong somewhere. It turns out that Banjo has been microchipped, and after some sleuthing, Meg locates Danny. Of course, having Banjo alive is a big problem for him, especially since Mr. Brodie, who is a decent man, has given him a border collie puppy named Ruby. When further information about Banjo's shooting comes to light, Danny is able to exonerate Banjo.
Strengths: I'm always glad to see books that are set on working farms, and both Danny's and Meg's lives are interesting. The Nevada setting is one I don't see very often. Salisbury is always an effective writer, and he delivers a gripping tale of canine fidelity.
Weaknesses: The softhearted city slicker in me is appalled at the treatment of Banjo. Sylvie is definitely NOT a working dog!
What I really think: Will definitely purchase for my fans of dog books.

The Arrival of Someday

Malone, Jen. The Arrival of Someday
Published July 23rd 2019 by HarperTeen
Public library copy

Amelia is a senior in high school and has lived her whole life knowing she has biliary atresia. It hasn't compromised her health... until she throws up blood during a roller derby match. She attributes this at first to taking a hit she can't remember in her character as Rolldemort, but that's not the case. The doctors tell her that her liver is "turning to cement" and she will need a transplant sooner rather than later. Her best friend Sibby is supportive, but Amelia is uncomfortable being known as "the sick girl" and asking her high school classmates to become organ donors. Her mother is worried, even losing weight so that she can be considered, and her brother who is at college is worried that he can't be at home with her. He deputizes his best friend, Will, to watch out for Amelia, and the two develop a romance. There are also the ordinary deadlines and concerns of high school to deal with, but her health steadily declines. Will all of the medical treatment be enough to save her?
Strengths: This would be perfect for fans of The Fault in Our Stars and other Lurlene McDaniel like titles where a romance is doomed due to a significant health issue. I love Malone's middle grade titles, and she draws me immediately into the story. This does have a more middle grade pacing, which is a good thing, and even the romance isn't quite as dire. Amelia has a good outlook-- it's not the strong, brave character with a deadly illness or the snarky fighter. Instead, she is balanced and nuanced, and her family is fantastic. I enjoyed reading this.
Weaknesses: A little formulaic; you know how this ends.
What I really think: I don't have the readers for YA romance that I used to have and there are too many f-bombs for me to purchase. I would definitely get this for a high school library and will suggest this to my readers who have public library cards.

Cartoon Saturday- Karen's Witch (Baby-sitters Little Sister #1)

Farina, Katy. Karen's Witch (Baby-sitters Little Sister #1)
December 26th 2019 by Graphix
Based on the 1988 novel by Ann M. Martin
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

When Karen and her brother go to spend the weekend with her father and his new family (that includes The Baby-sitters Kristy), Karen becomes obsessed with the idea that the older neighbor lady (who wears long dresses and shawls and spends a lot of time in her garden) is actually a witch. She refers to the woman as Morbida Destiny, and is determined to save the neighborhood from her evil influence. Along with Hanni, she spies on the neighbor, makes up spells to ward her off, and eventually crashes a "witches' meeting" at her house-- that ends up being a gardening club meeting that her grandmother is also attending. Karen learns a valuable lesson about judging someone based only on appearance.
Strengths: Farina's illustrations are similar enough to Telgemeiers that readers may not realize the change in authors, but distinctive enough that discerning one will. The colors and style are attractive. I particularly liked Karen and Kristy's close relationship. The cats were super cute, even if cats are plotting to kill us all!
Weaknesses: Karen's obsession with the witch makes this better for younger readers, but who knows? Maybe this series can bring back my name as one that is not for grandmothers!
What I really think: I am debating buying this one. On the one hand, these graphic novels do well, but on the other, middle school students are going to KNOW the neighbor is not a witch. Will they care? Probably not. This is in full color, and I recently had a student complain about the older graphic novels that were in black and white, so I might buy this.