Hatch and Last Kids on Earth #6

Oppel, Kenneth. Hatch (The Overthrow #2)
September 15th 2020 by HarperCollins
E ARC provided by Netgalley

After the invasion of killer plants in Bloom, there was some progress made on coming up with a herbicide to control the plants. Unfortunately, there is a new life form dropped in the rain; this time, larva that burrow under the earth. This new invasion is worrisome, and the government is still concerned. So concerned, in fact, that Colonel Pearson orders Petra, Anaya, Seth, and the others to be moved to another lab. Separated from their parents, the hybrid children are taken to another facility where they are poked and prodded, subjected to a large number of experiments. The scientists do find transmitters in their brains, which is concerning, because it means that the aliens can locate the children. There are many other hybrids in the facility who are undergoing the same physical changes. Darren has skin patterning and a tail like Petra, and Siena and Esta have feathers like Seth. Eventually, the cryptogens make contact in the form of Terra, a voice that speaks to Petra, and tells her that they are coming to Earth to retrieve her blood, in order to use it to make a weapon. We also find out that there are three different life forms; flyers, runners, and swimmers, who all have examples among the hybrid children. The flyers are the ruling class in the society, and are determined to keep the others under their rule. The scientists are trying to remove the hybrid's alien characteristics, surgically if needed, which is received in different ways by the hybrids. When things become untenable in the lab, the group decides to go back to Deadman's Island, but Seth and the other flyers are left behind. Once at the original lab, things do not get better, and as the children become more and more like the aliens, the group finds it hard to prepare themselves to make contact. The ending is quite the cliffhanger; a third book, Thrive, comes out in 2021.
Strengths: We learn a lot more about the aliens, their plans, and their life forms. The scientists are fairly evil, so it gives the children someone to fight against. It's also good to see some of the other hybrids and see how they react to all of this. This was very action packed and exciting; a little bit like MacHale's Sylo or Lore's I Am Number Four. 
Weaknesses: This focused more on the children and their evolution and wasn't as concerned with what was going on in the world at large. It made sense, but I wanted to know what was going on. I thought about this book a lot in the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic; "at least it's not raining evil alien plant life"!
What I really think: Definitely purchasing. This is the freshest dystopian series I've read in a while, even though this seemed a bit like Patterson's Maximum Ride.

Brallier, Max and Holgate, Douglas.
The Last Kids on Earth and the Skeleton Road (Last Kids on Earth #6) September 15th 2020 by Viking Books for Young Readers
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Jack and the gang are still continuing to fight in the post apocalyptic world they inhabit, after June's recent solo adventure. Thrull is still a threat, with his skeleton army, but Jack has been training zombies in order to take out those soliders. It's not going particularly well, especially since the skeletons seem to be impervious to wounds, popping back up with the aid of weird vines. This doesn't stop the group from traveling around slashing things, riding in BoomKarts, and interacting with a range of post apocalyptic creatures. Can they save the world? Probably not in this book, since there is a Netflix series, and demand for this paper-over-board volumes will be high.

I'm always saying that middle grade literature needs less soul searching, fewer dead parents, and more action and humor, so I feel bad that I don't much care for this series. My students really like it, especially since it is highly illustrated, but even as a twelve year old, this type of book wasn't my style (my jam being Ellen Conford, Paula Danziger, and lots of historical fiction). On the bright side, to avoid reading this, I did scrub some serious tea stains out of a couple of mugs, and if we ever get back to school, my students will be glad to see this title.

Chase, Mary. Loretta Mason Potts

July 15th 2014 by NYR Children's Collection (first published 1958) 

E ARC provided by Edelweiss

The only reason I can see that this has been republished AGAIN (it was reissued in 2014 as well) is that the author also wrote the screenplay for Harvey. 

I rarely review books if I don't like them, but this book made me ANGRY. I can understand that people might have a nostalgic love of this, and making an E Book available might be a good idea, but to actually print new copies of this makes no sense.

Colin Mason lives with his mother (who is given to wearing high heels and furs) and his younger siblings. His father does not live with the family, and the mother goes out some nights in a drab coat and low shoes to a mysterious, unspecified location. After overhearing women talking at the grocery store, Colin realizes that he has an older sister. Loretta was a difficult child, and after a visit to the country at a very young age, was left with the Potts family because they seemed to be able to control her, whereas the mother was not. Even though she is still fractious and unpleasant, the mother brings Loretta home and expects the children to accept her. Loretta covets one sister's doll, and when she can't have it, makes plans to steal it and run back to the country. Colin, meanwhile, finds out that Loretta can travel through the closet to a magical kingdom where the Countess and General find her rudeness endearing and treat her well. Eventually, the siblings and the mother visit this alternative universe, but things don't go well there, so they are all glad to be back home, although they occasionally listen wistfully at the closet. 

Strengths: The illustrations were very nice. If this is being reissued for older people who have fond memories of it, that's fine. It also could be interesting from a historical perspective on the study of fantasy elements in children't literature. 
Weaknesses: This is not going to appeal to children today, and I wouldn't even want to encourage them to read it. Loretta is a horrible and unappealing character, but her mother just abandoned her with another family? Some older titles, like Ruth Chew's Everyday Magic books, are dated but still have some charm. I did not see the charm in this at all. 
What I really think: I understand the the NYR Children's collection republishes older titles, but the question is WHY? There are so many new books by authors who need to earn a living that are also much better written and much more applicable to modern life. No public or school library should buy this book. 

MMGM- My Life in the Fish Tank, Don't Stand So Close to Me

Dee, Barbara. My Life in the Fish Tank
September 15th 2020 by Aladdin
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Zinny's family includes college aged brother, Gabriel, high school sister, Scarlett, and elementary brother Aiden. The siblings are wont to be loud and rambunctious, and alternate between having fun together and squabbling. When Gabriel is in a car accident, Zinny's world is upended. Because of the accident, and also because he was acting after it, Gabriel is in a residential care facility, getting help managing his recently diagnosed bipolar disorder. While her mother takes a leave of absences from her job teaching high school to coordinate Gabriel's care, she also tells the children not to tell anyone about Gabriel's problems. Zinny is fond of her brother and is definitely worried about him, but when her friends Maisie and Kailani ask her what's going on, she doesn't want to say anything. She does get invited to a "lunch bunch" run by a guidance counselor. She doesn't feel like she needs to be there, but when Maisie and Kailani stop talking to her, it's one of the few choices she has during lunch. The other is to help her science teacher, Ms. Molina, set up the room for the crayfish the class will be studying. Ms. Molina knows something is going on with Zinny but lets her help without pressing her about other issues, saying only that she can spend lunch in the science room as long as she continues to go to lunch bunch. It helps Zinny a bit to know that other students have issues with which they are struggling, and it is also helpful to have some new friends. Things are not great at home; her father stays at work as long as he can, and her mother has stopped buying groceries and cooking dinner. Zinny is helping Aiden out with his homework, including a how-to demonstration that he is struggling with, and she starts trying to cook dinners as well. The family occasionally visit Gabriel at his facility, but Scarlett doesn't want to go, even though she is getting counseling under the condition that her mother attend some as well. Ms. Molina helps Zinny apply for a marine biology summer camp, which she is very excited about. There's lots going on in Zinny's emotional life, and she has to find a way to understand her friendships and family dynamics in order to move forward with her life.
Strengths: Dee has a fine tuned ear for stories about topics of current interest, and this is a nuanced portrait of a family in crisis, but also a fast-paced story about navigating the treacherous waters of middle school friendship. The characters were especially well developed and added a lot to the story. I especially liked Ms. Molina, who was very supportive of Zinny. Other than insisting that Zinny attend the lunch bunch, she didn't ask about Zinny's problems all the time, just gave her some needed distraction (herbs, biology camp, helping out with the crayfish) and kept an eye on her. The parents are also portrayed in a more helpful way; they struggle and have their own challenges, but do make progress and don't ignore the other three children while worrying about Gabriel. It was good that Kailani and Maisie were able to work through some of the issues with their friendship. With this great cover, I can see this being a popular book.
Weaknesses: It seemed odd that the mother would take an extended leave of absence from a school in Zinny's district yet still try to keep Gabriel's condition a secret. I believe that people should be able to control their own narratives; with Scarlett telling all of her friends, the mother should have known that she would have to tell people something. There are ways to let people know that your family is having difficulties without going into details that aren't their business. I understand that Dee is trying to destigmatize mental illness, but people should be allowed the option of keeping their lives private if they want to.
What I really think: The friend drama in this is what will appeal to my readers, so I will definitely purchase this, especially since this author is popular in my school.

Walters, Eric. Don't Stand so Close to Me
September 22nd 2020 by Orca Book Publishers
E ARC provided by Netgalley

Quinn and her friends at middle school are surprised but delighted when there is an assembly to announce that spring break 2020 will start a day early and will last three weeks, but they are also a little scared about the Covid-19 pandemic. Quinn's father is a doctor at the local hospital, and to keep Quinn and her mother safer, he lives in the basement. Her mother starts working from home. Quinn's friend Reese is disappointed that she can no longer visit her grandmother, who lives in a retirement facility that is closed to visitors to contain the spread of the disease. Her neighbor and friend Isaac sometimes visits... they sit in their respective driveways in lawn chairs. Isaac's dad is a police officer who has to try to enforce social distancing guidelines. The days in isolation pass slowly, with Zoom classes and assignments pertaining to the virus, but there is a little light in the middle of the tunnel when students are allowed to put on a socially distanced school dance outside,and everyone abides by the rules.
Strengths: This reminded me a little of Polak's Orca title, The Leggings Revolt, in that it is an excellent purchase for historical reasons. The details of the school closing down, the changes in homelife, shopping, visiting relatives-- all good and a little too close to home at this point. In five years, middle school students will have only a vague memory of what was like, so this will be great to hand them.
Weaknesses: I would have liked more leading up to the school closing; we had a weird and fraught week with a very frenetic last day of school. My other vivid memory is going to the grocery store after work on March 13 and getting the very last gallon of milk. I wish Quinn had gone to the store with her mom or dad!
What I really think: Definitely purchasing for historical reasons. Yes, some day we won't have to social distance, although life will never be exactly the same again. But then, it never is.

Tarnowska, Wafa'.  Amazing Women of the Middle East : 25 Stories from Ancient Times to Present Day

Hoda Hadadi , Sahar Haghgoo, Christelle Halal , and Esteli Meza Margarida Esteves (Illustrators) 

E ARC provided by Edelweiss

I love these biographical compilations, although every time I see one, I want to buy an extra to cut apart for bulletin boards. (But never actually do it!) This one is especially nice because I have never heard of most of the 25 women covered. The ones from ancient times, like Zenobia, were the only ones I knew. The illustrations and page colors are attractive, the women listed in chronological order, which I very much appreciated, and the information was intriguing and just long enough. When students are assigned biography projects, its nice to have this kind of book around to give them a starting point, and there are lots of intriguing choices. I always wish that the modern women would have a photograph included, but that's a personal preference. Students will not hesitate to just look things up online. Definitely purchasing. 

The Canyon's Edge

Bowling, Dusti. The Canyon's Edge
September 8th 2020 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

**Spoiler Alert**
I found that it's hard to write this review without immediately revealing key plot elements that are revealed more slowly in the book. Proceed at your own risk!

Nora and her father live in Arizona, and frequently hike and explore canyons. They have made a trip out to a slot canyon on her birthday, which is not a happy occasion any longer. A year ago, while celebrating in a restaurant, her mother was shot and killed by a random gunman. Her father has had an extreme reaction, not letting her go back to school because he can't keep her safe there, and rarely leaving the house himself. He does have her in counseling, and she gets a lot of good advice and coping skills from Mary. She's glad to be doing something with her father that her family had enjoyed doing before everything went wrong, but when there is a sudden flash flood, she fears that she is also going to lose her father. He has managed to get Nora to safety before being washed away himself, and Nora spends days trying to survive while looking for him and for help. She thinks about what happened to her mother, how much she and her father miss her, and how she will be able to go forward if she loses her father as well. Mary has often had Nora assess her feelings about situations by asking her "Are you likely to die?" In this case, Nora may, so she faces some difficult realities about the way she and her father are living.
Strengths: This novel in verse does have some of the chapters in prose, which helps, and Bowling certainly has a great writing style in both types of narrative. I love that her books are set in the Southwest; there aren't a lot of stories that are, and it's an interesting and exotic location for my Ohio readers. I'm glad that she was in counseling, and like Aven in Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus, Nora has a fairly upbeat attitude despite her horrible circumstances. The details of exploring canyons and surviving in the desert add to the appeal of this story.
Weaknesses: This is a personal objection; again, we have a parent who is so grief stricken that he doesn't care appropriately for his daughter. I will never be a fan of this, and think it is an insulting portrayal every time it is done. Not allowing Nora to go back to school is particularly heinous, although I was glad that she was in therapy. I don't know that therapy really helps, but it is the responsible thing to do as a parent.
What I really think: I really enjoyed Pinkney's The Red Pencil, Warga's Other Words for Home, and Hilton's Full Cicada Moon, but can only get a few of my students to check them out. I don't understand it; you would think the fewer words in a verse novel would be a big hit with  my readers, who will hand a book back to me if it is too long or the print is too small. Even Alexander's verse novel The Crossover, which checked out well for a while, has been tough to move. Survival tales generally do well, and I enjoy this author, so I am conflicted.

Shelly Struggles to Shine (The Derby Daredevils #2)

Rosewater, Kit and Escabasse, Sophie (illus.) Shelly Struggles to Shine (The Derby Daredevils #2)
September 15th 2020 by Amulet Books
E ARC provided by Netgalley

After putting together a roller derby team in Kenzie Kickstarts a Team, we see how the girls are doing. Kenzie is still great at planning what the team is doing, Bree is fast, Jules is good on defense, as is Tomoko, and Shelly starts to wonder what her essential role on the team is. When another group of teams is scheduled to be in Austin, the Derby Daredevils are excited to skate against some new groups, and throw themselves into practice. Shelly gets it in her head that the girls could benefit from new costumes, so starts to design and create things like bubble skates (bubble wrap wrapped around regular skates) for her team members, based on their personalities or skills. She is hoping that she can win Star Skater at the event, so her teammates will feel she is contributing. Her designs don't go over well with her teammates, who are a bit annoyed with them, and when there are wardrobe malfunctions on the rink, Shelly is blamed. How can she prove her worth to her team?
Strengths: This had lots of good description of the sport, a group of diverse characters (both in different ethnicities, and Shelly's crush on Bree), and a lot of realistic interactions among friends. From what I understand, fifth grade can be brutal, with lots of friend drama, fears about middle school, and negotiations with parents about freedoms. It was also good to see Shelly go back and forth between her mother and father; there's not enough of that in middle grade literature, and it certainly is the situation for many of my students. The illustrations add another level of fun to this.
Weaknesses: Like the first book, this seems a bit young. The characters are in fifth grade, and there's a big difference between the concerns of elementary school and middle school.
What I really think: I really liked the sports descriptions in this, but I'm not sure I need a series of books on roller derby. With the current situation, I am worried about budget cuts. I've placed this on my "list to purchase if I have enough money".

Gardner, P.J. Horace and Bunwinkle
September 15th 2020 by Balzer + Bray
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Horace is a fussy Boston Terrier who is not happy when his owner, Eleanor, buys a farm and moves him there. Things get even worse when she adopts a sister for him, and it ends up being a very vivacious pig, Bunwinkle. The pig is determined to win over her fussy brother, and the two eventually bond over a pet detective television show. They find they must work together and use the information gained from this program to solve a mystery about missing animals.
Strengths: Well, I had to read this, because my daughter's name is Eleanor and she has always loved pigs! I thought this was treated with the animal's best interests at heart; it was interesting to see that Horace has problems with obsessive licking that occasionally callfor the "cone of shame", ointment, and close observation. Bunwinkle is the runt of the litter but will grow bigger, and Eleanor knows that. It's okay, because the farm has plenty of room. I always enjoy books set on working farms, and this had a classic feel to it. The illustrations are particularly charming; look at the eyes on those two! Throw in a detective story, and you've got one fun book!
Weaknesses: The fact that Eleanor is an adult makes this more of an elementary book; a middle grade book would have a tween caring for the pets.
What I really think: I won't purchase, but this is a great choice for younger readers who love animals, want to learn about farm life, and like a good mystery like Quackenbush's Miss Mallard Mysteries.

Nubby and Escape From the Twin Towers (Ranger in Time #11)

Andrus, Aubre. Nubby's Story

September 1st 2020 by Scholastic Inc. (paperback)

E ARC provided by Edelweiss 

Based on a true story, we follow founder of W.E.A.R., a nonprofict animal rescue organizaition, Lou Robinson and husband Mark Bowling as they care for a boxer who was born without front legs. From birth, they took Nubby in, fed and cared for him around the clock, battled illness, and found the best way to maximize his potential despite the challenges he faced. With four other dogs in the house, and an animal charity to run, the two managed to help Nubby and also get word out on social media that "different is not disposable". They also faced challenges due to storms, reconfigured their house to better care for Nubby, and generally were tireless in figuring out the best way for Nubby to interact with other dogs, stay mobile, and have the same experiences as able bodied dogs. 

Strengths: Told by Andrus, one of the authors of Fetch, this is an engaging, easy to read story with a positive message about facing challenges. Fans of Miles' Puppy Place books will cheer on Nubby and probably want to be part of Nubby Nation. This was an easy read, perfect for strong readers in second grade through elementary, and also helpful for emerging readers in middle school. 
Weaknesses: This is available in paperback, and currently does not have a prebind edition, which makes it something that would fall apart in three circulations in my library. I have no idea what "The Dodo" is, so I was confused by the cover. Perhaps me students, who actually LIKE spending time online, will know what this is? (Although there is another book in this Dodo series, 50 Odd Couples, by Gabe Polt.)
What I really think: Sylvie, my Yorkiepoo constant companion, has faced hip surgery, blindness for over five years, Addison's disease, and at 14 is now slowly losing the use of her back legs, so I certainly understand modifying things for a pet with challenges. She's not in pain, so I haven't had to make the hardest decision yet. I will buy this if a prebind becomes available.

Messner, Kate. Escape From the Twin Towers (Ranger in Time #11)

February 4th 2020 by Scholastic Press

Copy checked out through the Ohio E Book Project

Risha and her friend Scott are thrilled to go to work with Risha's mother when they have a school project, especially since she works high up in one of the Twin Towers. When her mother goes to another floor to deliver a muffin to a friend, a plane hits the tower that they are in. The children are trapped under some furniture, but that's when Ranger appears from the current day with his magical, time transporting first aid kit. He alerts workers who are fleeing, and they rescue the children and take them out of the building. Scott suffers from asthma, and the smoke is hard on him, so going down many flights of stairs is hard. Ranger stays with them all the way and makes sure they get out safely. Someone lets Risha borrow a phone to call her mother, but it goes directly to voice mail. After the second plane hits, the area is evacuated, and Risha is concerned that she has told her mother to meet her at a coffee shop nearby. Contact is made with Scott's father, and they arrange to meet him. While they are fairly safe, Ranger goes to work locating people, and his training serves him well. Will he be able to find Risha's mother, or will she be one of the many fatalities that day?
Strengths: There were lots of good details about what the building looked like after it was hit, how Risha and Scott got out of the building, the chaos on the streets, and even little things, like high heeled shoes being abandoned on the sidewalks. The book is tense, but not overly scary, and everything is okay at the end, which is helpful for my sensitive students who still want to know about this historic event. There's a nice bibliography in the back, as well as some notes about Messner's personal experience on that day. 
Weaknesses: It seemed a little unlikely to me that schools would have let children go to work with parents that early in the year, but it's as good an excuse as any to get children into the Twin Towers. 
What I really think: Definitely purchasing. These books are a bit young for middle school, but I've had a lot of emerging readers really like the series. I may stop at an even dozen, though. 

The Hacker's Key

Skovron, Jon. The Hacker's Key
September 1st 2020 by Scholastic Inc.
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Ada Genet feels trapped in Springfield Military Reform School, having spent most of her life traveling with her father, the "gentleman criminal" Remy Genet, who specialized in cyber crime and did not resort to killing people. When a piece of highly sensitive equipment, the so called "hacker's key" is stolen from the UN, the government believes her father knows something about it. She is granted a rare visit with her father to try to get information from him, but he instead facilitates her escape, instructing her to go and find the key. What should she do with it? That's up to her, and depends on what sort of person she wishes to be. Armed with a stash of money, a slew of safe houses, and Pascale, a friend of her father's to help occasionally, Ada is off on her adventure. She decides to take classmate Jace with her, since he is good with computers, and ends up taking along Cody as well. She doesn't much care for Cody, but she catches the two trying to leave campus, and does speak fifteen languages, which could be helpful. After a brief stop in Baltimore, the crew is off to Iceland, Ireland, and Prague, following a string of clues leading to the elusive "Mother Brain" who is apparently behind the theft. Along the way, Ada rappels down the Cliffs of Moher, single handedly takes out a group of spies, eludes both Russian and Chinese agents, and travels on planes, trains, and buses. Will she be able to locate Mother Brain and stop her from using the Hacker's Key to bring down all of the computer systems in the world?
Strengths: Spy adventure books are the best form of escapism. What middle schooler doesn't like to think they could have unlimited funds to travel all over the world and solve mysteries? Heck, I want to do that! This had a sort of 39 Clues feel to it, with the extensive traveling, and plenty of unlikely scenarios, like Ada taking out five adults, but I appreciated that it also had her thinking about what sort of international criminal she wanted to be. Really, the lack of socially responsible and positive crime is the only thing holding ME back from a life of globe trotting espionage! I should have seen the twist at the end coming, but I was so caught up in the fun details that it was a chilling surprise. Love the cover, love the inclusion of cyber crime, and even enjoyed Ada's difficult relationship with Cody. This will be hugely popular.
Weaknesses: As a boring adult, I could have used a little more back story-- what were some major heists pulled with her father? How did she end up in the school? How exactly is she buying all of these tickets? I sort of wished that Pascale had stuck around but not really interfered much. Also, the hardcover edition was freakishly expensive! ($25.28 from Follett instead of the normal $14.50.) 
What I really think: It's been a while since there has been a good new spy series, and this will be fantastic for fans of fast-paced spy series like Horowitz's Alex Rider, Carter's Gallagher Girls, and Bradford's Bodyguard, but I have actually put off purchasing because of the price difference.

Whispering Pines

Lang, Heidi and Bartkowski, Kati. Whispering Pines
September 1st 2020 by Aladdin
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

After Rae's father goes missing, her mother decides to move to a new town and start over. Rae thinks there is something sinister about the disappearance, and that it has something to do with his work as a scientist studying aliens, but both her mother and her older sister Ava don't want to hear her theories. Rae is glad when a next door neighbor, Brandi, is friendly right away, but is horrified when Brandi is brutally attacked. It turns out that many, many children are being attacked in Whispering Pines, and it's horrifying-- their eyes are removed, and they are psychologically destroyed. Caden knows about this all too well. His mother is a psychic who is often approached by the parents of missing children to get in contact with him, and his own brother, Aiden, has been missing for nine months. What his mother doesn't know is that Caden is responsible. The two had been dabbling in magic, summoning creatures from another plane of existence, and things went badly wrong. Other kids think Caden is "weird" because of his family and his habit of sprinking salt around houses to ward off evil, but Rae forms a bond with him. There's not just something weird in their town; there are LOTS of weird things. Between Green On, the energy company, whose representative seems creepy, and Dr. Anderson, Rae's therapist who seems to counsel all of the children who go missing, Rae and Caden know they need to get to the bottom of things before more children are damaged. With the help of classmates Alyssa and Vivienne, they try to decode the secrets of The Other Place and the horrifying presence of the Unseeing.
Strengths: Aside from the obvious attraction of demons ripping out people's eyes in the woods, there's a lot of psychological horror in this-- parents not quite believing things are going wrong, which is scarier on a deeper level. I thought it was a great touch that Rae was able to make friends right away; it's a tired trope when main characters can't. Caden's position in school society is realistic, but again, it was nice that Rae befriended him despite his quirks. The adults all seem fairly untrustworthy, but some end up being really bad while others, like Caden's mom, are surprisingly supportive. Alyssa was an interesting character; mysterious, and I still don't know exactly what her motives are. Personally, my favorite part was that Rae ran cross country, although I was confused by try outs. Everyone always made our team, which is why at one point we had 75 runners! Definitely purchasing. Did I mention the murderous demons?
Weaknesses: The mystery with the missing father wasn't really necessary-- the creepiness of Whispering Pines was plenty for one book, which is a bit on the long side for middle school. (@320 pages.)
What I really think: Yep. This. This is what my students want in creepy books. Demons who rip out people's eyes in the creepiest ways. Children chained to furnaces in basements. Magic spells that get kids in trouble. Definitely purchasing! I've never seen Stranger Things, but will definitely hand this to students who are wearing t shirts from that show!

Scritch Scratch

Currie, Lindsay. Scritch Scratch
1 September 2020 by Sourcebooks
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Claire is a little embarrassed by her parents-- her mom runs a baking business, JuliCakes, out of their home, and her father runs a Haunted Chicago tour company. He takes people around the city to different creepy sites on a bus, and Claire has no interest in any of it. When the bus driver and her older brother Sam are unavailable to help, Claire is pressed to step in to take tickets, monitor the bus, and generally help out. She would rather be working on her science fair project, but doesn't want her father to lose out on income, so reluctantly goes along. At one point, she thinks she sees a young boy alone on the bus, but it turns out to be much more sinister than that. The boy is a ghost who won't leave her alone, flooding her dresser drawers, lurking outside of her room scratching at the door, and even following her to school and causing a flood in the restroom. Of course, the flooding her brother Sam witnesses, which makes them call their parents home suddenly, isn't something her parents can see! Claire is understandably spooked, but doesn't know quite what to do. Sam believes her and tries to help, and she eventually reaches out to her best friend, Casley. Things have been difficult with Casley ever since new girl Emily has befriended her. Emily's life isn't easy, however, and it turns out that she and her mother have moved in with relatives, and Claire's crush Warner is Emily's cousin. Claire knows that this ghost wants something from her, and will haunt her until she finds a way to put him at ease. The answers come from some forgotten Chicago history, and encourage Claire to help with her father's research.
Strengths: This is an excellent ghost story, but also has some great historical aspects as well as key concerns for middle school students. All ghosts should be slightly murderous, and this one, with his damp, wordlessly insistent hauntings, was perfect. Claire's relationship with her parents was great; they are both involved and supportive, but somewhat embarrassing, and she ultimately likes spending time with them. I also appreciated that her brother was her biggest ally. Don't see that a lot, and I enjoyed it. The friend drama with Casley and Emily-- Every. Single. Day. in middle school. However, middle grade lit isn't overflowing with instances where friends look critically at what is going on, examine the background and motivation of new friends, or reconcile, so I really liked that part!
Weaknesses: The title and the cover could be better.
What I really think: Definitely purchasing. This will be a big hit with fans of Ellen Oh's Spirit Hunters and White's Nightbooks.

Ave atque Vale, Stick Dog

UPDATE: According to an e mail from Mr. Watson, there will be TWO MORE Stick Dog books. Hooray!

After twenty years in a school library, I have read 12,000 middle grade novels, by conservative estimate. Books come, they go; they fall apart from overuse, they gather dust and disintegrate from neglect. There are a small, small number that are consistently popular. My Stick Dog collection recently had to be replaced with Perma-Bound copies because the ratio of tape and glue to actual books had reached a tipping point.

According to a nice interview with Mr. Watson, the Stick Dog series would be ten books long. Stick Dogs Meets His Match is the tenth book.

Stick Dog is at once deeply philosophical and ridiculously silly; whether the dogs are trying to outsmart squirrels or save pinatas from abuse, Stick Dog is always deeply concerned about his friends, understanding of their misconceptions, and tactful in redirecting their efforts in positive ways. While occasionally judgmental, the dogs share a deep bond of friendship and and survive because they coexist peacefully and work for the common good.

We could all learn lessons from Stick Dog. Be well, my friend. May the pipe always be dry, the park always full of tasty snacks, and the wildlife frightened enough to keep its distance.


Watson, Tom and Long, Ethan (illus.) Stick Dogs Meets His Match (#10)
September 8th 2020 by HarperCollins
E ARC provided by the publisher

As the soft, fragrant warmth of spring strips the chill from Stick Dog's world, he and his friends approach the day with a mission. Karen has decided that coffee is magic (after her taste of it in Tries to Take the Donuts), and requests that the intrepid canine coterie locate some instead of going on yet another pursuit of food. Always ready to embrace a new adventure, Poo-Poo, Mutt, and Stripes go willingly to the White House Cafe to try to liberate some beverage to ascertain if Karen is correct in her assertion that it is sunshine, unicorns, lightning, and fairy dust. When they see two harried mothers with strollers, they formulate an elaborate plan that involves Poo-Poo bashing his head into a trash can, then holding the small children for a coffee ransom. Stick Dog is just about to point out that this isn't very nice when the children demand muffins, and the women abandon their coffee in this quest. The dogs carefully transport the two drinks into the woods, and give Karen one all to herself.

This is just an introduction; the main plot is that the dogs venture forth and find a smell of meat; so much meat that they call it Meat-a-palooza. The most obvious explanation is that there is a huge pirate's chest full of meat, but Stick Dog, in his infinite wisdom, notices a truck from Mike's Magnificent Meats, and convinces his friends that they need to travel to the truck's home to find the meat. Also in the truck is a German Shepherd named Lucy with whom Stick Dog is instantly smitten. When our marvelous mongrels get to the shop, Lucy manages to distract Mike long enough for Stick Dog to get a five hot dogs. Since there are not enough to go around, Lucy and Stick Dog share. Our hero is impressed with Lucy's strategic planning, and relieved that he does not have to plan the heist all alone. When Lucy finds that the pooches often goes hungry, she invites them to stop by any time, and offers to help them get food. Stick Dog returns to his pipe with his friends, an unaccustomed reassurance of sustenance, and a heart ready to begin a romantic adventure.

It took a bit of time for Stick Dog to grow on me, but by book four, every new volume was much anticipated. What food would the dogs seek next? What impossible bind would the others get into from which Stick Dog must rescue them? How evil would the local squirrels be? Stick Dog grew as an administrator, motivator, and planner with each new installment, and Karen, Stripes, Mutt, and Poo-Poo added familiarity with their steadfast, unchanging approaches to the world. Their insistence that Stick Dog is the less intelligent one is amusing to even the youngest readers, who can tell that Karen's perceptions of the world are skewed, and that Poo-Poo has probably sustained significant head trauma from his habit of butting into everything.

That's the essential brilliance of Stick Dog. The books are funny to six year olds, who think it's funny that Karen gets into coffee and runs around in a caffeinated frenzy, but also to adults, who can probably assign the personality of each of Stick Dog's posse to people with whom they work! These make great read alouds for younger children, are perfect for emerging readers venturing into longer forms, and a welcome diversion from painful required reading for 8th graders. Suitable for all readers, these will be especially welcome to fans of Simpson's Phoebe and her Unicorn, Pastis' Timmy Failure, and Blabey's The Bad Guys.

Make sure you read them all!

1. Stick Dog (2012)
2. Stick Dog Wants a Hot Dog (2013)
3. Stick Dog Chases a Pizza (2014)
4. Stick Dog Dreams of Ice Cream (2015)
5. Stick Dog Tries to Take the Donuts (2016)
6. Stick Dog Slurps Spaghetti (2016)
7. Stick Dog Craves Candy (2017)
8. Stick Dog Crashes a Party (2018)
9. Stick Dog Gets the Tacos (2019)

MMGM--Wish Novels

It's

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
 at 

Always in the Middle 

and #IMWAYR day 

at 

Teach Mentor Texts 

and 

Unleashing Readers.

Wallace, Sandra Neill, Wallace, Rich and Palmer, Charley (illustrations)

The Teachers March!
September 8th 2020 by Calkins Creek

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

This picture book covers the 1965 March in Selma by the Reverend F.D. Reese. It definitely has more information than most picture books and would be fantastic for using in a classroom for #bookaday. Not only does it discuss the general state of civil rights during this time period, but it talks about voting difficulties, and how the teachers were encouraged to March even though it might mean they would lose their jobs. This is certainly a great time to hear about effective protests on important topics. The timeline, bibliography, and notes on writing the book, as well as notes about the fate of some key players, really round this out. The art work, especially the colors, is vaguely reminiscent of some of the picture books I had growing up, so was a good match for the topic. The Wallaces are great at picking timely topics and researching them very well. I'll definitely be purchasing this, as I imagine my teachers will be looking for books to help them start conversations about race. 

Since we are living in interesting times, I think it is VERY important to also include books like the Wish Novels in my library. Having grown up in the 1970s with Watergate, the threat of poisoned Pixie Stix at Halloween, the gas crisis, economic insecurity, the hostage crisis, and doom and gloom predictions that we were entering the next ice age after the blizzard of 1977, I know the importance of Reading as Escapism. 

When you read over 800 books a year, there's not a lot of time to deal with reality!

Goebel, Jenny. Alpaca My Bags

September 1st 2020 by Scholastic Inc.

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Amelia Amundsen's family lives in a yellow travel trailer (that they call the "Gnarly Banana!), and are constantly on the move from one adventure to another. Amelia's older brothers, Neil and David, are thrilled to be able to climb mountains, but the parents don't seem to understand that Amelia gets very scared, even after having to rescue her several times. When the family starts to run out of money, the parents decide to head to Winterland, Colorado, so they can complete a skiing adventure and also check in with family. They park their trailer in a campground and get ready to re enter the public school system. Mrs. Horton, the secretary, doesn't approve of homeschooling and suggests that Amelia would be better off in sixth grade, but the mother shows her Amelia's high test scores. Amelia's cousin, Cat, is also in the 7th grade, and she is picked to serve as a new student escort, but the two get off to a really rocky start. The one highlight of Amelia's days is an alpaca ranch run by Rachel. The alpacas, especially infant Samson, are adorable, and Amelia seems to have the knack of dealing with them. She gets offered a job there, helping deal with manure, fix fence posts, and do other odd jobs, and she really wants to work there, but she starts having problems at school. Her parents don't want her to spend time at the ranch if her class work is suffering, so Amelia claims to be using the time to run in order to prepare for the hiking expedition her brothers want to take, and is able to spend some time at the ranch. As much as Amelia's parents seem to chafe at being in one spot, the kids seem to like it. The boys find a dog they name Annie, and settle well into high school. Although there are some boys who give her a hard time, Amelia is slowly getting used to the routine of middle school, and is relieved that she doesn't have to go on adventures all the time. Still, the parents decide that two weeks is enough, and plan on moving on. Unfortunately, an out of control wild fire arises, and endangers the alpacas. Amelia is instrumental in getting them to safety, and she and her family survive, although their trailer does not. Will Amelia be able to convince her parents to stay, and to mend ties with their extended family?
Strengths: This had all of the essential elements for a really solid, popular middle grade book. Amelia is just a regular kid, but has an interesting and quirky family. Living in an RV sounds a bit difficult, but reading about it is awesome. She likes school, but has some realistic struggles. She occasionally lies to her parents in order to get what she wants, but pays the price for it. The alpacas are fascinating, and I am a HUGE fan of books where tweens are not afraid of hard work (although there is some self doubt attached to this, which is also realistic). The family dynamics, especially surrounding the dog, are good humored, and the desire and ability to have adventures is certainly unusual. Having lived for three months in a travel trailer when moving from Maryland to Ohio in third grade, I can vouch for the authenticity, although there should have been something mentioned about the vagaries of the plumbing! Can't wait to have a copy of this to hand to readers, although I won't need to, since the cover will make this sail off the shelf.
Weaknesses: There's a lot of Tolkien quoted, and while middle schoolers DO read him, it's generally a different group of people than the readers for the WISH novels. Who knows? Maybe some of them will be tempted to pick up The Hobbit after reading this. I was a fan of realistic, happy fiction, but attempted Tolkien in 7th grade because all of my friends were reading it, so it's not impossible! Also thought that Mrs. Horton wielded an unrealistic amount of power.
What I really think: I do not understand why this wasn't published in hard back. Oh, wait. I know. The parents are both alive and fairly functional. Sigh. This was such a fantastic book. It had small, realistic problems, cool interests, and a generally upbeat attitude. I could use hundreds of these titles instead of all of the slow, sad, "literary" novels that publishers keep pushing.

Nelson, Suzanne. Pumpkin Spice Up Your Life
September 1st 2020 by Scholastic Inc.
E ARC provided by Netgalley

Nadine lives in a small New England town frequented by "leaf peepers" in the fall. She plays cello, and is trying to get into the competitive Interlochen summer program. Her mother walked out years ago, but she and her dad get along fine. Her best friend, Daniel, works at the local coffee shop, the Snug Mug, making impressively complicated coffee beverages, like Nadine's favorite Pumpkin Spice Supreme. When the long time owner, Marley, sells the shop to a man from the city, Nadine does not like the way things are changing. The owner's daughter, Kiya, is pretty and popular, and Daniel falls for her immediately. Even though Kiya seems to have a crush on Graham, Daniel decides to ask her to the fall dance, and works on a hugely elaborate to ask her, proceeded by five days of surprise gifts, starting with a balloon at her locker that he asks Nadine to help him with. Nadine is not happy-- her beloved coffee shop is changing, with the new owner embracing a more purist approach to coffee instead of super sugary concoctions, and she and Daniel can no longer hang out in the break room.  She also realizes that she "like-likes"Daniel, so is crushed by his pursuit of Kiya. Will Nadine be able to put in the effort it will take to succeed with her cello dreams, and how will she handle her feelings for Daniel if he decides to date Kiya?
Strengths: For some weird reason, the television show Friends is popular with my students, so they will LOVE the Snug Mug and Nadine hanging out there drinking sugary coffee prepared by a cute boy. The fact that Nadine is very interested in playing cello appealed to me-- I spent a LOT of time in high school hanging out with string players! There's plenty of friend and relationship drama, but it was all very positively handled. Angsty, but positive, which is great to see. There are lots of good, age appropriate romantic details that tween readers will love. The Wish novels are popular with my girls, but also a huge hit during February when we encourage the boys to read romance novels.
Weaknesses: I have a hard time believing tweens drink this much coffee or really hang out at coffee shops, but I can definitely appreciate the wish fulfillment aspect of this!
What I really think: Definitely purchasing, since any version of these books involving coffee seem to circulate inordinately well in my library. 

Dalya and the Magic Ink Bottle

Evenson, J.M. Dalya and the Magic Ink Bottle
September 1st 2020 by Capstone Editions
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Dalya's parents are divorced, and she lives with her mother, seeing her father rarely. She isn't excited to spend the summer with her father in his native Istanbul, especially when she sees how decrepit the house is where they will be living in order to help Zehra Hala sell it. The stairs and floors upstairs are so bad that Dalya is warned not to go up there, lest she fall through! When she follows a cat upstairs, she finds a mysterious ink bottle that seems to be set to grant wishes. When she wishes to go home, she finds herself turned into a cat... in 1907! She meets a girl living in the house, Mina, who is being mistreated by her aunt Sibel. Knowing that she needs to find the creator of the ink bottle, Mustafa the Great, or remain stuck back in time in the body of a cat, she enlists Mina's help. Mina disguises herself as a boy, and the two take off on an adventure. At the Cat Bazaar, they meet a helpful rat, Boz, but also run afoul of a very nasty group of squirrels. They try to locate Mustafa, talking to many creatures and finding out more about the magic and Mina's father. Even if they locate the magician, will Dalya be able to return to the present and put things right with her father?
Strengths: Like Abu-Jaber's Silverworld, this had a nice mix of magic, cultural connections, and family mysteries. I really enjoyed the travels around Istanbul; this has been compared to The Wizard of Oz, and I can see that, especially when the group finally finds Mustafa. The family secrets are good, and the fraught relationship between Dalya and her father is one that will speak to many young readers. I can see this being popular with Hunter's Warriors fans; there are some of my students who would very much enjoy being turned into a cat.
Weaknesses: This was slightly formulaic. There are a lot of fantasy novels that involve having to endure many adventures in order to complete a quest.
What I really think: I'm not sure about this one. Given the right group of students, it could be popular, but it's not exactly the kind of fantasy my students generally request. This is a great magical romp that I would definitely buy this for an elementary school, but it seems a little young for my middle school students, who want fantasies with more murders, more control, and stronger magic.

Cartoon Saturday- Witches of Brooklyn and Forget Me Nat

Escabasse, Sophie. Witches of Brooklyn
September 1st 2020 by Random House Graphic
E ARC provided by Netgalley

Effie arrives in the middle of the night at the Brooklyn home of her aunts Selimene and Carlota. Her mother has died, and she has never know her father, so her mother's stepsister is the best fit for her. The aunts are herbalists and acupuncturists who have a large, comfortable home. After an initial difficult time, Effie settles in. She attends school, where she makes friends with Oliver (who has a Scottish manny) and Berrit). She notices that when she gets angry, unusual things happen, like a snake in a classroom picture coming to life and menacing someone who is mean to her. Effie discovers that not only does she have magical powers, but her aunts are witches who have a secret lair and an armored knight as a librarian! This gives Effie an interesting plan of learning for the future, but her aunts get an interesting case brought to them; Tilly Shoo, a pop singer who has a large fan base among Effie and her friends, arrives in the middle of the night to see about having a curse removed; someone has given her skin cream that turns her face red. While she and her considerable entourage stay with Effie's family, the aunts work on a cure. It is Effie who finds what they think might be the answer, but it is more complicated than most curses. Effie invites Oliver and Berrit to come to a private concert, and the cure is started. There is a second book mentioned at the end of this, so we should be able to follow Effie's magical learning.
Strengths: This had a lot of good things going for it: a generally likable main character, a different style of illustration, an appealing setting (the house is terrific!), quirky relatives who are also kind, a realistic introduction to magic, and an interesting plot (Tilly Shoo) on top of Effie's transitional story. The friendship with Oliver and Berrit is well developed, and there are some good details about the magic. A few fun side stories, like Tilly's assistant who wants to cook, add some additional depth.
Weaknesses: It seemed odd that Effie would be dropped off in the middle of the night by a very suspicious looking social worker in sunglasses, and I kept waiting for something more to come of this. Perhaps in the next book. Personally, it took me about half of the book to realize that Carlota's odd nose was actually a tiny pair of eye glasses; Selimene had very large glasses (and a lack of dentures? Her mouth was oddly pursed.) I find that I obsess about small things in character portrayals in graphic novels. Berrit's hair also bothered me.
What I really think: I liked this more than a lot of graphic novels, and it had a different illustration style and a fantasy story that I think will appeal to the readers at my school. Definitely purchasing, although I always try to wait to get prebound versions of graphic novels so that they last more than three months.

According to Pew Research, "In the U.S., 8% of children live with relatives such as aunts and grandparents". I mention this because we have yet another deceased parent. If writers really want to have children alone, they would be more realistic to have them in foster care.


Scrivan, Maria. Forget Me Nat (Nat Enough #2)
September 1st 2020 by Graphix
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

After a rocky start in middle school in Nat Enough, Natalie has found good friends in Zoe and Flo, and is feeling fairly successful. She is also completely and utterly obsessed with her crush, Derek. She thinks about him constantly, and finds herself doing things she doesn't really like, just because Derek likes them. She eats pineapple pizza, almost dozes off in math club, and makes Zoe and Flo angry because she no longer wants to talk about anything that happens to them. She does spend a fair amount of time with Derek, and thinks that she will ask him to the dance. When she does, he lets her know that he just likes her as a friend, and Natalie gets the feeling that he has a crush on Lily. This plunges Natalie into despair, and the fact that Zoe and Flo are disappointed in her doesn't help. Flo is running for class representative, and Nat had said she would help with the campaign, especially the posters, and she said that she would help Zoe with her own crush. Can Nat pull herself together enough to get on with her life and make things right with her friends.
Strengths: Think back to your own middle school memories. What stands out? A science project? A field trip? Math work sheets? Or that one person on whom you had an unreasonable crush for a ridiculous amount of time? There are so many books about grieving or anxiety, when really, a far  more common experience that is rarely portrayed is having a crush. I adored the illustrations at the beginning where Natalie explains the "magic" signs that indicate that Derek likes her; I'm looking at you, lucky tube socks I always wore to MYF so I would get to stand next to my crush in the friendship circle. You got to hold hands! I did like the fact that she was friends with Derek, although this does make his rejection a little more stinging. It was realistic that Zoe and Flo were irritated, but also nice that they are ultimately understanding. The dance and the election were also fairly realistic. I also appreciated that Nat was a bit more upbeat than she was in the first book. She's clearly learned some coping skills. The bright colors and illustrative style will make this a best seller at book fairs. If we ever have those again. (Writing this on the last day of school, 5/21/20.)
Weaknesses: Could have done without the election. Our school doesn't have them, and I wonder if there are many schools that do. Also, if they do, are there really assemblies to announce the winners? I remember it being done over the PA system. Also, Flo would be unlikely to win, not matter how qualified. Alex and her ice cream machine would definitely have won!
What I really think: Doesn't matter. This series will be a HUGE circulator in my library, and falls somewhere between bran flakes and toaster pastries on the continuum of Books as Breakfast Foods. Maybe, say frosted shredded wheat. It's not like the Chloe series, which makes me feel like I'm just handing readers the sugar bowl and a spoon.

Milo Moss is Officially Unamazing

Allbright, Lauren. Milo Moss is Officially Unamazing
September 1st 2020 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Milo's family is really invested in trying to set world records. They will travel great distances, even flying, to participate in events that promise to get them in the books, such as a record attempt for a gathering of the most people dressed as insects. Milo enjoys these events, although the last one bothered him. The insect event ended with a record... but for the most people with food poisoning! Milo and his family brought their own lunches, so aren't even part of the record holders, although he tells his nephew Jesse that he and his parents did set a record. Jesse is Milo's age and in his class at school. Milo's sister Allie is much older than he is and sometimes acts like his mother, but can be counted on in a pinch to understand in the way a sister can. Jesse's dad, a firefighter, was killed five years previously, and both Jesse and Allie are coming to terms with that and tentatively working on moving on. Jesse runs cross country with Brandon, a boy who has bullied Milo for several years, after an incident in elementary school. Milo feels responsible for Jesse, and always sticks up with him, but after the record breaking fail, the two start to drift apart. At first, Milo thinks he can fix this by suggesting lots of different record breaking attempts to his parents, and they are helpful, even taking a long trip to be at an event where a dog rides a skateboard through many people's legs. When Milo finds out that this attempt means that the DOG is a record holder, he's done. He's missing too much school, and he feels like he will never be successful. It's not so easy for his parents to step away, however, since they have been doing this for years, keep detailed records, and have lots of ongoing projects, such as a toilet paper tower in the kitchen and trying to drink the most ketchup through a straw. After an incident when Brandon messes up Milo's computer project, the two actually talk to each other and come to a bit of an understanding; Brandon has felt all along that Milo was bullying HIM. Since Milo isn't talking much to Jesse, he and Brandon start to hang out, further estranging Jesse. Even though Milo has given up trying to set records, his parents approach the school to attempt one with the students dressed as farm animals. This is too much for Milo, who works with Brandon to use the principal's computer to send an e mail canceling the event. Can Milo make peace with his family's endeavors, reconnect with Jesse, and maintain an acceptable level of family harmony?
Strengths: While there is another book that touches on the idea of setting records (Teddy Mars: Almost a Record Breaker), this book takes things a step further. Milo and his family pore over the new edition, know the rules of setting records, are family with the fact that there has to be an official to document things, and attempt all manner of different things. For readers who love to read the Guinness Book of World Records, this will be fascinating. I really enjoyed Milo and Allie's relationship, and the fact that Jesse was his nephew but they acted mostly like cousins because of their age similarity. The death of Jesse's father, and the feelings of grief and of being ambivalent about moving on was one of the best representations of grief I've seen recently. The relationship between Milo and Brandon was also fascinating-- what constitutes subtle bullying, and how often do people not get along because of simple misunderstandings? This is fast paced, with lots of goofy record breaking and general middle school highjinks, so will be a popular choice.
Weaknesses: I could have used more explanation of motivations. Why were the parents SO into the idea of record breaking? Was one lie about a record that devastating that Milo and Jesse fell out? I know that middle school students won't care, but this lack seemed odd.
What I really think: Definitely purchasing, if only for the toilet paper on the cover. We need more upbeat, slightly goofy stories, and if they can work some more serious issues into books that also contain fathers smashing glass coffee tables while trying to set a record for trying to jump into underpants, all the better!

The Candy Mafia and Don't Turn Out the Lights

Tidhar, Lavie. The Candy Mafia
September 1st 2020 by Peachtree Publishing Company
ARC provided by the publisher WITH CANDY

Nelle runs a private investigating business out of her mother's gardening shed, so she's not surprised when Eddie de Menthe, local candy bootlegger, shows up to ask for her help. She is a bit surprised at his problem-- his Teddy bear, Teddy, is missing, and he wants Nelle to find it. Teddy was stolen from Eddie's offices at an abandoned school yard, and there are lot of suspects. Could it be the hulking Mary Ratchet, aka Sweetcakes, who sells contraband with her coterie of Sweetie Pies? The elusive and fabulously Waffles, who specializes in outlawed pastries? Or mild mannered Bobbie Singh, who peddles his wares from under the counter at his father's shop? Nelle needs to investigate, especially when her shed is ransacked, she is approached by police who claim that Eddie is missing but who actually work for the agency that helps Mayor Thornton ban candy all over town. When research reveals that Eddie's bear might have belonged to the owner of the shuttered sweets factory in town, Farnsworth, Nelle realizes that she is dealing with a mystery even bigger than the turf wars in town. Will she be able to find Eddie or his bear, and also somehow convince the mayor that candy should not be outlawed?
Strengths: After a little bit of a measured start, this rewards to readers with a lot of action at the end of the book-- gun shots, chases, and some threatening villains! Tween readers always like a mystery, and always are interested in food, and this is a good combination of both. Definitely has a British feel, which will appeal to some readers. Nelle's set up reminded me of Sobol's Encyclopedia Brown; I half expected there to be an answer to the mystery at the back of the book. She was a great character, and her detective skills were on point.
Weaknesses: The whole "film noir" concept, with characters wearing hats and trench coats, doesn't appeal much to my readers, although I do see it a lot in middle grade literature.
What I really think: Now I want a garden shed. Reminded my a bit of Chris Callaghan's The Chocopocalypse which, sadly, doesn't circulate well, but also a little bit of Rylander's The Fourth Stall, which is never on the shelf.

Maberry, Jonathan, ed. Don't Turn Out the Lights:A Tribute to Alvin Schwartz's Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark
September 1st 2020 by HarperCollins
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

I have to admit that my favorite part of this book was Maberry's prologue-- especially when he talks about visiting school libraries and always seeing very worn out copies of Schwartz's work on the shelves. This is certainly true in my library-- the copies that were in my school library when I started in 2002 when I started are still in circulation, although I purchased new copies just last year. The original books were all published in the 1980s, so I did not read them as a child, although my own children seemed to enjoy them. I flipped through some of the stories not long ago and was kind of surprised at how... less than good they were! Doesn't matter. The authors who contributed to this volume (including Northrop, Stine, Ventrella, MacHale, and Z Brewer of Vladimir Tod fame) certainly have a great grasp on the twisty, shocking way that the original stories were told, and there's a bit of an ick factor to many. The only shocking absence is that David Lubar was not asked to contribute a warped and creepy tale. Maybe he was, and just decided to save his all for the Lawn Weenies books.

I'm rubbish at reviewing short story collections, so I'll just say that if Schwartz's books are popular in your library, you're going to need this book!

Jayla Jumps In

Jones, Joy. Jayla Jumps In
September 1st 2020 by Albert Whitman & Company
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Jayla lives in Washington, D.C. surrounded by extended family and friends. At a Thanksgiving gathering, she's often annoyed by her older cousin, Shontessa, and finds her older relatives a bit irritating as well. She's surprised when she finds out that her mother, who is very busy, is struggling with some health issues, including her weight and hypertension. When Shontessa is watching a lot of YouTube videos of Double Dutch competitions, Jayla is intrigued, especially when her mother and her uncle's fiance mention that they were active in the sport when they were younger. With their Christmas money, Shontessa and Jayla obtain clothesline for the jump ropes, and Jayla seems to have a talent for it. She wants to get a group together at school, but is disappointed when the gym teacher is too busy too help, and instead recommends the after school coordinator, Ms. McMillan, whom Jayla thinks is "the most clueless woman known to man". It turns out that Ms. McMillan has already started a group for jump rope, albeit single ropes and not Double Dutch. Even though the group doesn't really get started until March, Jayla finds out about a competition on the first of April, and pressures Ms. McMillan to help the group enter. Despite having very few practices and having to enlist Shontessa in order to have enough people, Jayla is sure that her group could win the competition, and she would then be a Double Dutch superstar with instant popularity. When the group is disqualified because Shontessa is too old, Jayla is crushed. In the meantime, her mother is trying to make changes to her diet, and finds that returning to the sport of her youth is effecting positive changes in her well being. As school ends, Jayla has to deal with changes in her family when her uncle marries, plans her summer of Double Dutch at the local rec center, and makes a new friend.
Strengths: I always enjoy books where young people have a particular passion and work hard to incorporate it into their lives. Jayla's journey is a bit rocky, but she perseveres, and even spreads her passion to those around her. The inclusion of church services and social events is welcome, and the discussion about health issues in the African-American population is something I haven't seen much in middle grade literature. Jayla thinks that Krazy Krunchies ( an inventive junk food that are like sweet potato chips!) aren't poison, and her cousin Antwon thinks their sugar, salt and grease are better than food that grows out of the ground and has dirt on it, but Jayla's uncle reminds her mother that the food, while tasty, is really bad for her health issues. I like that most of these discussions center around health and not appearance. The complicated relationships with her extended family are also interesting, and I would like to see more family weddings portrayed in middle grade literature. I'm also a huge fan of sports for girls, and this is a great addition to other books about Double Dutch like Spicer-Dannelly's Love Double Dutch (2018) and Draper's Double Dutch (2004)
Weaknesses: Jayla and my 86 year old father would get along famously. Jayla comments negatively on many of the people around her, especially about their weight, and seems discontented with many aspects of her life. I wish she hadn't been so negative about everything.
What I really think: I will purchase this if I am able to; there are many things to like about this book, although it's been a struggle to get my readers interested in Double Dutch.

The Collected

Alexander, K.R. The Collected
September 1st 2020 by Scholastic Inc.
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Even though she doesn't remember the travails of her older sister, Josie, in The Collector five years ago, Anna does have a vague awareness that dolls act differently when she is around them. While her friends play with dolls, Anna has noticed that with her, the dolls play back. When their grandmother dies, both girls leave the city with their mother to clean out their grandmother's house. Right away, it is apparent that their grandmother's descent into dementia was rapid; she had broken dishes and scrawled over every surface she could find. Anna is missing her grandmother terribly, because she feels that she is the only person who really understood her, and was sympathetic about Anna's odd relationship with dolls. Josie is beside herself, and just wants to leave. She keeps reminding Anna of the rules their grandmother had: No dolls, don't open the windows, and don't go into the woods. Anna thinks this is a bit ridiculous and doesn't understand why her sister is so insistent. As the family works to clean out the house, strange things begin to happen. Anna has visions of dolls appearing, attacking her, and calling her name, but doesn't take any of it too seriously. When she finds a hidden room in the house where her grandmother left notes for her, she starts to feel that perhaps this is an issue that only she can put to rest. Will Anna, with Josie's help, be able to defeat the force that has wielded such power over her family?
Strengths: This creepy cover will immediately appeal to readers who like creepy doll books like Bell's Frozen Charlotte, and the fact that it is a sequel will guarantee that readers will pick it up. This was definitely creepy, and had the added element of a mystery that needed to be solved.
Weaknesses: I liked the first book, but this was rather repetitive. This author has been writing a lot of really fantastic horror books lately, but this one just felt a bit rushed.
What I really think: Will probably purchase, but was vaguely disappointed.



Simpson, Dana. Virtual Unicorn Experience
September 1st 2020 by Andrews McMeel Publishing
E ARC provided by the publisher

Out today! Always a good time. The first time I read one of these, I thought it would be awful and twee, but they are anything but. This is book number twelve. I need to make sure I'm not missing recent volumes, available in prebind from Follett.

https://www.goodreads.com/series/146183-phoebe-and-her-unicorn