Treasure of the World

Sullivan, Tara. Treasure of the World

February 23rd 2021 by G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Ana lives with her parents, grandmother, and brother Daniel in Bolivia, near the Cerro Rico metal mine where her father works. Daniel has always been sickly and had trouble with his lungs, issues that were made worse by the altitude in the mountains. Still, the two children have been able to attend school, although it is almost a two hour walk to get there, and Ana has to help  her grandmother and mother after school, searching for small bits of ore in scrap rock. When ore prices rise, Ana's father (who is frequently drunk and abusive) demands that Daniel go to work in the mines with him. After only two days, Daniel is gravely ill, and Ana volunteers to go in his place. Her father has to plead with the supervisor, Don César, since girls are usually considered bad luck to have in the mines. Ana wishes she could continue on with her schooling, since she knows that education is the only way she can avoid a future as the wife of a miner, but she loves her brother and is protective of him. Ana is a good worker, but after a month, Daniel is back in the mines. When a collapse occurs, it impacts Ana's life in several ways. Her father is dead, and her brother is missing. She tries to find Daniel, but gets stuck in the mine. Luckily, she is eventually rescued by Santiago, who takes her into a nearby village so that his sister can help Ana. After she has recuperated a little, Ana goes home, only to find that her brother has been found, but her mother has married. This actually improves their lives quite a bit, but mining life is difficult, and most families are one medical emergency away from disaster. Ana is brave and resilient, and has learned to take chances in order to help her family. Will she be able to find a way out of their current troubles?

Strengths: Like this author's The Bitter Side of Sweet, this is an important book about how children in other parts of the world live. The depiction of the situation of women and girls is explained well, and while part of Ana is resigned to this, the bigger part of her is not, and she does what she can to change her lot. Her grandmother provides a lot of history about the treatment of the Incan people in Bolivia, and of the state of the mining industry and how it affects people. Her friend Victor has several interesting complications in his life that paint a more vivid picture of what life is like. Seeing the wealthy household in the larger town was also informative. I really liked it when the mother got remarried, and for a bit Ana was able to really enjoy her improved life, only to see it threatened. This is definitely a captivating story about a little investigated part of the world. 
Weaknesses: While this is not an #ownvoicesbook, Sullivan lived in Bolivia for a number of years and has clearly done massive amounts of research to adequately portray life in a rural Bolivian mining community. 
What I really think: This had so many good details about life in Bolivia, and a really compelling story about a girl using her initiative to make her life better. It will be popular with readers who like Bow's Stand on the Sky, Saaed's Amal Unbound, Butterworth's Running on the Roof of the World and Kadarusman's Girl of the Southern Sea.

Books for Gamers

I would rather clean grout with a toothbrush than play a video game. At least at the end of an hour, something would have been accomplished! 

The first video game I ever saw was Pong, and I was way too old to be interested! Last night, Kim at Otterbein had me attend her class virtually to talk to her education students about working with the school librarian. The students seemed very interested in video games, so I put this list of books on that topic.

Did learn that "XD" is a typed emoji for a squinty eyed smile. Younger member of staff had to teach me this. On the other hand, I can use a typewriter, rotary phone AND a phonograph, and I doubt most college students can!

 40 #MGLit Video Game Books

Baptiste, Tracey. The Crash (Minecraft #2)  (Multiple titles, not in any order)

July 10th 2018 by Del Rey Books

Ali-A, Cavan Scott, Aleksandar Sotirovski (Illustrations)

Ali-A Adventures: Game On! the Graphic Novel

October 24th 2017 by Random House Books for Young Readers

Anderson, John David. Insert Coin to Continue. 

16 September 2016, Aladdin

Brady, Dustin. Trapped in a Video Game (series)

April 10th 2018 by Andrews McMeel Publishing

Brady, Dustin. Escape from a Video Game Mystery on the Starship Crusader 

April 20, 2021 by Andrews McMeel Publishing

Brown, Gavin. Josh Baxter Levels Up . 

February 23rd 2016 by Scholastic Press

Chang, Slyv. Tournament Trouble (Cross Ups series)

March 13th 2018 by Annick Press

Cube Kid. Diary of an 8-Bit Villager Warrior (series)

May 17th 2016 by Andrews McMeel Publishing

Dashner, James. The Eye of Minds. 

8 Ocotber 2013, Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Eliopoulos, Christopher. Cosmic Commandos 

July 4th 2017 by Dial Books

Frederick, Shane. Gamers Unite: The Video Game Revolution. 

Compass Point Books, 2010

Fry, Jason. Minecraft: The Voyage (Minecraft #5) 

May 5th 2020 by Del Rey Books

Graley, Sarah. Glitch . May 14th 2019 by Graphix

Hansen, Dustin. Game On!: Video Game History from Pong and Pac-Man to Mario, Minecraft, and More November 22nd 2016 by Feiwel & Friends 

Hansen, Dustin. My Video Game Ate My Homework 

April 21st 2020 by DC Comics 

Hautman, Pete. The Flinkwater Factor.

September 1st 2015 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young

Heidicker, Christian McKay. Cure for the Common Universe (YA)

14 June 2016 by Simon and Schuster

Horneman,‎ Jurie and CoderDojo 

CoderDojo Nano: Make Your Own Game: Create with Code 

September 7th 2017 by Egmont Books Ltd

Kincaid, S. J.. Insignia. 

10 July 2012, Katherine Tegen Books

Klavan, Andrew. MindWar. 

July 8th 2014 by Thomas Nelson Publishers 

Korman, Gordon. Slacker. and Level 13

April 26th 2016 and 2019 by Scholastic Press

Kuhn, Damien. The Fortnite Guide to Staying Alive 

October 23rd 2018 by Andrews McMeel Publishing

Lecomte, Ligouri. The Geek's Cookbook: Easy Recipes Inspired by Pokémon, Harry Potter, Star Wars, and More! 

May 1st 2018 by Skyhorse Publishing

Lee, C.B. Minecraft: The Shipwreck. 

November 3rd 2020 by Del Rey Books

Maggs, Sam. Con Quest. 

June 23rd 2020 by Imprint

Mancusi, Mari. Dragon Ops. 

May 12th 2020 by Disney-Hyperion

Mancusi, Mari. Gamer Girl. 

Dutton, 2008

Markell, Denis. The Game Masters of Garden Place. 

July 17th 2018 by Delacorte

Markell, Denis. Click Here to Start. 

July 19, 2016 Delacorte BFYR

Miller, Jeff. The Nerdy Dozen . 

June 10th 2014 by HarperCollins 

Naftali, Joel. The Rendering. 

January 25th 2011 by Egmont

Reedy, Trent. Gamer Army . 

November 27th 2018 by Arthur A. Levine Books

Schrieber, Joe. Game Over, Pete Watson. Illustrations by Andy Rash 

March 11th 2014 by HMH Books for Young Readers

Strasser, Todd. The Good War 

January 26th 2021 by Delacorte Press

Tabak, Lawrence. In Real Life(YA) 

November 11th 2014 by Tuttle Publishing

Tash, Sarvenaz.The Geek's Guide to Unrequited Love 

June 14th 2016 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Tashjian, Janet. My Life as a Gamer (My Life #5) 

April 7th 2015 by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)

Vande Velde, Vivian. Heir Apparent 

October 1st 2002 by Harcourt Brace and Company

West, Carly Anne. Missing Pieces (Hello Neighbor #1) 

August 28th 2018 by Scholastic Inc.

Also, Penguin Random House seems to be the go to publisher for video game titles! The publish the Official Minecraft Novels and other titles. 

Firestone, Mary. Nintendo: The Company and Its Founders 

January 1st 2011 by Essential Library 

The Magical Reality of Nadia and The Year I Flew Away

Youssef, Bassem, Daly, Catherine R. and Holgate, Douglas (Illustrations)

The Magical Reality of Nadia
February 2nd 2021 by Scholastic Inc.

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Nadia and her best friend Adam are excited about starting 6th grade. After spending the summer with cousins in Egypt, Nadia is all set to up her fashion game, and she's confident in her academic abilities, since she is a whiz at trivia. Her new teacher, Ms. Arena, seems nice, and her other friends Vikram, Chloe, and Sarah are all in her class. They are also academically inclined, and super excited about a project the class is doing to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the The Museum of American History. The theme is "What Makes America, America", and Nadia wants the project to be about immigrants. Her friends, who have fairly diverse backgrounds, agree. Jason, a new boy with whom Adam has become friendly, has been delivering digs about Nadia's Egyptian heritage. He has made fun of her food, her clothing, and said some pretty nasty things that teachers haven't caught. Adam values the friendship because he wants to learn more about sports so that he can talk to his stepfather about them, so he doesn't stick up for Nadia. However, Nadia does get support from an unexpected source: she has an antique hippopotamus necklace that she bought in Egypt, and which is the home to an ancient teacher, Titi, who angered the wrong royal magician! He comes to life on the pages of a comic book Nadia has brought home for Adam, and gives her a lot of good advice on her project as well as how to handle Jason. As work on the projects continues, there are some tense moments, especially when Nadia's group project is damaged at the museum workspace. Will Nadia be able to get the project done, handle Jason, and restore her friendship with Adam?

Strengths: I am not usually a fan of books about bullying, because they are not realistically done. Jason is a great example of what a real bully looks like: generally likable, not suspicious looking to teachers, but underhandedly mean for no particularly good reason. I loved that Nadia stood up to him, and that most of her friends did as well. Adam's reasons for going along with him were also absolutely spot on for a 6th grader. It was also nice that Jason changed his ways when Nadia made him understand more about the situation of descendants of immigrants... which is everyone who doesn't have a Native American background! The school project was a great way to showcase these topics. The inclusion of a bit of history about the Egyptian Spring (2011, when Nadia was a baby!) was also interesting. 
Weaknesses: This was a bit on the young side. I wish that more middle grade novels had characters in the 8th grade; this way, they'd be fine for elementary school students and for middle school ones as well. Stu Truly is an excellent example of a book that has a lot more readers because the characters were older. 
What I really think: Like The Year I Flew Away, I would have enjoyed this more without the magic component, which makes it seem a bit young. The inclusion of cartoon panels makes this a lot of fun, and I would definitely buy it for an elementary school. 

 

Arnold, Marie. The Year I Flew Away
February 2nd 2021 by Versify

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Gabrielle enjoys her life in Haiti but knows that things are difficult there. She also knows that when family members go to live in the US, they can be helpful in improving the lives of those they leave in Haiti, so she's a bit leery when she finds out she is being sent to live with an aunt and uncle in Brooklyn, New York. She doesn't want to be one of the bad children who gets sent back, but the transition is a hard one. First, she moves to the US in the winter, and is not used to the cold. While her aunt and uncle are nice, her older cousin is not. At school (which is free; in Haiti, her parents struggled to pay for her tuition) children make fun of her accent and the way she is dressed, and Gabrielle does not like the American food that her uncle insists she learn to like. It's hard to believe the librarian, Mrs. Bartell, who is also from Haiti, that things will get better. When a local witch, Lady Lydia, offers Gabrielle a bargain, she is interested. Lady Lydia gives Gabrielle three slices of mango, and eating a slice will grant a wish. In exchange, Gabrielle will lose "an insignificant thing", although the witch is purposefully vague. After three slices, Gabrielle will owe her her "essence", and since Gabrielle doesn't even know what this is, it seems like a fair exchange. Gabrielle wishes for her English to be better and unaccented, and her wish is granted. The librarian is skeptical, but life is so much easier without having to put in all of the work to improve her language herself. However, the thing she loses is her ability to speak or understand Haitian Creole, so she finds it harder to communicate with her family. With the help of a talking rat, Rocky, she tries to avoid using another slice of mango, but after some difficult times wishes to be completely American. Sure enough, her wish comes true, but at what price? Gabrielle realizes that giving up her Haitian culture is a price that is too high to pay. With the help of Rocky, Mrs. Bartell, and her new friends, will she be able to defeat Lady Lydia and find her own way to be successful in the US?

Strengths: I really enjoyed the beginning of this when Gabrielle's home and family life in Haiti was described, and when she is trying to navigate her new school. The scene where she is looking for something to remind her of home and she settles on a bottle of cod liver oil was especially touching. (The familiar, even if it is not ideal, is what we love best!) I also enjoyed her interactions with the elderly Jewish woman for whom her aunt provides home help, and reading about the number of different jobs her aunt and uncle have in order to keep their family going is timely. 
Weaknesses: This had a good message about not losing one's cultural identity while trying to assimilate into a new culture, but it was delivered in a somewhat heavy handed way. I wish this hadn't had a magical component to it, but had included more information about Haitian culture. Perhaps if there had been a bit more discussion about the importance of magic in this culture, it would make more sense to readers unfamiliar with it. 
What I really think: This seemed a bit young for my readers, but this is a great book to have if Baptiste's The Jumbies is popular. I can't think of any other books with Haitian immigrants except for Farrar's A Song for Bijou. 
 

MMGM- Life in the Balance and Kids vs. Plastic

It's

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
 at 

Always in the Middle 

and #IMWAYR day 

at 

Teach Mentor Texts 

and 

Unleashing Readers

Petro-Roy, Jen. Life in the Balance.

February 16th 2021 by Feiwel & Friends 

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Veronica is going through a really hard time. Her mother, a harried lawyer, is an alcoholic whose ability to function is rapidly decreasing. When she gets into trouble at work for being drunk and has to spend two months in rehab, Veronica is worried about missing her, and also about how her absence will impact her ability to play soft ball and take part in other activities, especially since her mother was also a really good soft ball player, and they practiced together a lot. Veronica's dad works from home, but is oddly distant and secretive about when he has meetings, often leaving Veronica to come home to an empty house and fix herself peanut butter sandwiches for dinner. She really wants to tell her best friend Claudia what is going on, but Claudia's parents have just told her that they are separating, and she doesn't want to add to her friend's burden of grief. Instead, she confides in Libby, whose mother has also struggled with alcoholism and who is involved in a therapy group to which she invites Veronica. There's little contact with the mother, and Veronica's dad is so worried about money that he takes a job at a hardware store. This leaves Veronica alone more, and she realizes that she might not be able to be on the travel softball team even if she earns a place on it. She and Libby come up with a plan to try to win a talent show and get money that way, and when Claudia finds out about Veronica's mother, she is hurt that Veronica did not confide in her. Will Veronica be able to find a good balance in her life and deal with all of the issues affecting her and her family? 
Strengths: My first thought on this was "Why don't I have more books in my library about alcoholic parents? Why haven't I read more recently?" It seems like there were a lot more titles dealing with this issue in the 1970s and 80s, and there are certainly a growing number of books about parents struggling with opioid addiction. Aside from Friend's Lush (2006), I can't think of any other titles, so it was good to see the topic of alcoholic parents depicted. Including Veronica's interest in softball was a great choice, and will widen the appeal of the book. Friend drama is an ever present part of the middle school experience, and Veronica's struggles with balancing her friendships with Claudia and Libby are realistically drawn. I also appreciated the positive depiction of teachers and librarians. 
Weaknesses: I wish we had started the story a few months earlier, and seen the decline in the mother's behavior instead of starting at her referral to rehab. Seeing a certain type of dysfunctional parents in action is oddly appealing to my students. I do wish that Veronica had gotten therapy or been an active part of Libby's discussion group. Veronica's family had the financial wherewithal to make sure she got professional help, and it seemed odd that her father wouldn't have been more concerned about her well being.
What I really think: Definitely purchasing, and I think that students will enjoy this. A better balance for my own tastes would have been to see more of Veronica's activities and less of her worries; while it is realistic for her to be worried, it's also good to see a discussion of positive coping mechanisms. A good example of this is Gerber's Focused. Students will probably not notice this as much. 

Beer, Julie. Kids vs. Plastic: Ditch the straw and find the pollution solution to bottles, bags, and other single-use plastics 

December 1st 2020 by National Geographic Kids

Copy provided by Media Masters Publicity

When tweens and teens find out how damaging plastic can be to the environment, they are usually enthusiastic about scrutinizing their habits and developing a "reduce, reuse, recycle" philosophy for their own, their family's, and their school's consumption. I saw this in 1990, when my advisory group at Seven Hills Middle School in Cincinnati started an Ecology Club on the 20th anniversary of Earth Day. We read the Earth Works Group 50 Simple Things Kids Can Do to Save the Earth (1990), started a paper recycling system at the school, sold reusable cloth lunch bags, and gave talks during the morning assembly. 

All too often, kids don't know where to start with their efforts. Kids vs. Plastic is a great book to use to point out the scope of plastic use in our society as well as the devastating effect that plastics can have on the environment. It is a hopeful book, however. It gives lots of tips on how plastic use can be reduced, items can be reused, and some plastics can be recycled. There are interviews with young people who started campaigns against single use plastic straws and golf balls that ended up in the ocean, and with scientists who are helping to build things out of recycled plastics or showing people how to use them in different ways. 

There are lots of good statistics, reported through visually appealing carts and graphs, that show how much plastic is thrown away, how long it lingers in the environment, and how it affects animals. There are bright red "Take Action!" graphics scattered throughout the book that show very concrete ways that kids can cut down on the amount of plastic they put into the waste stream. 

This is a topic near and dear to my heart. When I ran the Ecology Club, I managed to get my personal trash down to one cereal bag a month. Now, I compost, buy bulk foods (including peanut butter at Fresh Thyme, where before the pandemic I could bring my own jars!), and buy as much as I can at the thrift store. A book like Kids vs. Plastic is a great way to start a conversation about conservation, and to get another generation invested in caring about reducing plastic. 

I'm hoping that soon recycling will encompass more types of plastic. I was super excited when Rumpke Waste and Recycling in Columbus announced that they would be accepting cottage cheese and yogurt containers! 

The Spyglass Sisterhood

Kaye, Marilyn. Ellie Makes Her Move (The Spyglass Sisterhood #1)

January 1st 2021 by Holiday House

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Ellie's family moves from Brookdale to Lakeside after the town turns against them after her father successfully campaigns to have a homeless shelter built in the town. It's fine for her lawyer dad, who can work at hoping helping people, her  mother, who is interviewing to go back to work as a reporter, and her older sister, who is in college, but it Ellie struggles at school. She was popular at her old school, but since her friends turned against her, she decides that she will stick to befriending "loners". Sometimes this works well, like the goth wannabe Alyssa who is just glad to have a friend, or the overprotected Rachel, whose moms will only let her come to Ellie's house if they meet her parents, but sometimes it takes a lot of effort, as is the case with Kiara, who is glued to her computer screen and only agrees to befriend the group after they "meet" her in the video game to which she is addicted. Beside the cake that is constantly available at Ellie's house, there is another attraction: the older home has a turret in which there is a spy glass. It is magical, and offers views of Lakeside that don't reflect reality. This book serves as an introduction to this magical world, and picks up again with Rachel Takes the Lead, out July 13, 2022.

Strengths: It's tough to move to a new town, no matter what the reason, and Ellie's strategies to make friends are admirable. I can't think of another book that is quite as instructive, so I really appreciated that. The magical spyglass is intriguing, and while we don't know a lot of information about it, future books promise more details. It's good to see a group of girls with diverse interests find each other and come together. Readers who like the ensemble casts like the ones in Perez' Strange Birds: A Field Guide to Ruffling Feathers , Kimmel's Forever Four, or  Singleton's The Curious Cat Spy Club but want a little more magic in the story will enjoy this title. 
Weaknesses: The style and tone of this seemed very old fashioned. Ellie addresses the audience in the first person and tells us all we need to know to start her story, and Ellie's attitudes toward popularity, especially in her attitudes towards "loners" was dated. 

What I really think: I think this series would do better with elementary school students, even though the girls are described as being in 7th grade. 

This author's name rang a bell, and sure enough, I've read her Sisters series. It's no longer in my library, but has some similarities to the Spyglass Sisterhood. 

Kaye, Marilyn. Phoebe (Sisters #1)

April 1st 1987 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 

I Survived the Nazi Invasion: The Graphic Novel

Tarshis, Lauren and Sarraseca, Ivaro (Illustrations)

I Survived the Nazi Invasion, 1944 (I Survived Graphic Novels #3)
February 2nd 2021 by Graphix

E ARC provided by Edelweiss 

Max and Zena are surviving in Poland the best they can after their father is imprisoned by the Nazis. When Max tries to reach out of the ghetto for some berries, he ends up in the hands of the Nazis, but he and Zena manage to escape and run deep into the woods. With the help of a farmer who hides them in his barn, they manage to find their aunt Hannah, who is working for the Resistance. After several close escapes fighting the Nazis, the Russians come into Poland and the two children are reunited with their father and later immigrate to the US. 

Strengths: The plot of this is exactly the same as the novel; the synopsis above is from my review of the February 2014 original. The benefits of having pictures means that readers who don't have a background in this period of history can envision more accurately what Poland during WWII looked like. Sarraseca has done his research, and the clothing, buildings, and general palette give a good sense of the desperation of the time. While it is a harrowing story, it is ultimately a hopeful one, since Max and Zena do get reunited with their family. 
Weaknesses: I'm not an expert in what bomb explosions look like at close range, but some of them didn't seem realistic. When I saw some of the pictures, they made me think that everyone in the frame with the explosion would surely have died. Very dramatic, certainly!
What I really think: This is really not for very young readers. Tarshis has a nice note at the end about how it's hard to write about this time period without going in to some level of atrocity, and this does have a shooting to the death, injuries due to shootings, and lots of bombing. For middle school, this is a great choice, although the originals are so short that the graphic novels hardly seem necessary. They'll be hugely popular with my readers. 

This made me think of the original cover of Russell Freedman's We Will Not Be Silent, which I swear had blue jeans and tennis shoes on the legs. Can't find a picture anywhere of that! Max's short pants and Zena's skirts will be completely foreign to modern readers!

Project Startup (Eat Bugs #1)

Alexander, Heather and Flores, Vanessa (Illustrations) 

with Laura D'Asaro and Rose Wang.

Project Startup (Eat Bugs #1)

February 16th 2021 by Penguin Workshop 

Hallie and Jaye are in the same 6th grade class that is working on entrepreneurial projects, and are assigned to work together. This is fine with Hallie, who is the kind of exuberant student who is oblivious to what her classmates think about her most of the time. After a class field trip where she took the dare to eat a bug, she is very excited about looking into the possibilities of creating a business to sell insect-based food products. Jaye, however, thinks that Hallie is weird, and is vehemently opposed to doing her weird bug project. Instead, she wants to create a Facebook-like app for Brookdale Middle School that will connect disparate students and foster camaraderie. She doesn't have any coding skills, but pushes the idea on Hallie until her best friend and neighbor, Spencer, presents her idea as his own in class! Stuck without an idea to present, Hallie jumps in with her bug idea, and Jaye has no choice but to agree. Hallie comes to Jaye's house to try a prototype, and Jaye's grandmother gets very excited about the project, having grown up in poverty in China and having eaten a variety of insect dishes. The girls follow the business protocols that they are learning in class as they try to find a focus for their business. They obtain crickets, freeze them, crush them into powder, and create chips with this high protein ingredient. They test them on their classmates, although their attempts to sell to the wider population fall flat. Things are shaping up when Jaye and Hallie have a falling out after a misunderstanding. Will they be able to repair their new friendship and win the class competition with their Chirp Chips business?

Strengths: This was a great mix of business skills and 6th grade friend drama. We all know (or possibly were) a Hallie; any of your students who are wearing cat ear headbands right now would be her friend. Jaye was born in China, and Wang's portrayal of her difficulties with her mother and her classmates are sensitively done. She represents so many girls who don't want to cause a stir and are willing to be somewhat unhappy if they can retain friends who are "popular". The arc of her friendship with Spencer is also realistic. I really appreciated the roles that the parents and grandmother played in this book: driving children to practice, helping with homework, overseeing work to be done. I would love to see more of this in middle grade literature. The illustrations will make this a must have book for elementary school, and I can see this being really popular with my 6th graders. 
Weaknesses: I almost wish that the character were 8th graders, and the cover was a little older looking, because it was a great story my 8th graders would enjoy, but this looks a bit young for them to willingly pick up. 
What I really think: While Boy Bites Bug (which is a fantastic wrestling book) doesn't circulate as much as I would like, I like the idea of promoting both entrepreneurial skills and entomophagy. Suspect that this is paper over boards (Penguin Workshop's default format), but I wish it were in a jacketed hardcover to hold up to library use. 

I am Defiance: A Novel of WWII

Walsh, Jenni L. I am Defiance: A Novel of WWII

February 2nd 2021 by Scholastic Press

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Brigitte enjoys her League of German Girls meetings because they get her out of the house, where she lives with her father and her older sister Angelika. As the Nazis assert more and more control over their town of Munich, the family is wary of sharing any information with anyone. After an incident where another girl has a copy of a book Helen Keller, which is banned, Brigitte knows she can trust no one. This includes her best friend, Marianne, whose home is bombed and who ends up living with the family when Angelika completes her government service and returns to college. Angelika is hiding a serious secret about her health that if discovered would put her in the Nazis' sites, and makes friends with a girl named Sophie who is actively opposing the regime. Brigitte struggles to maintain the fragile facade of normalcy even as her family disagrees with everything that is going on. I loved this quote from the father (from the uncorrected ARC): "First and foremost, we must think of our family. And that means acting as if we support this regime, even if I do not." Her father starts to make plans to take the family to an uncle in Switzerland, and this becomes even more critical as her sister's friend turns out to be Sophie Scholl of the White Rose movement. How will the family survive when everything around them is in chaos. 

Strengths: This is the book I have been wanting! There were so many German families who didn't quite understand the full extent of the Nazis' evil, and who were just trying to keep themselves safe. This is easier to see given the current circumstances in the world. While Brigitte and her family don't agree with the Nazis, they know that to act against them could end in Angelika's death. The inclusion of the Bund Deutscher Mädel is inspired. There have been books about the boys' organization, but this is the first I have seen of the girls'. Putting Angelika into contact with the White Rose movement is also a great addition, and the author's notes about what is and isn't factual are appreciated. Even the cover of this one is just perfect. 
Weaknesses: There were a few problems with the historical context or language issues that bothered me but will bother no one else. Brigitte talks about her father being a botanist who has lots of plants, which led her to think he was a "potanist"; this pun doesn't work in the German. There were also some board games mentioned that might have existed in Germany at the time (Monopoly, Sorry, Lincoln Logs), but which could have been replaced by propaganda based games. I always want more historical details about every day life in my historical fiction books!
What I really think: Really want to buy two copies, and am really excited to be able to offer this one to our 8th graders who do a Holocaust unit. Since I am 75% German (and 25% English, a very common mix in Ohio!), I would have loved imagining myself in Brigitte's place when I was young. When I bike to school in the rain, I may or may not still imagine that I am running important errands for the French Resistance!

Rain is Not My Indian Name and Ancestor Approved

Smith, Cynthia Leitich. Rain is Not My Indian Name

February 9th 2021 by Heartdrum (first published 2001)

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
 

Rain and Galen have been friends for a long time, but on New Year's Eve (also Rain's birthday), the two are celebrating, and share a kiss, reinforcing Rain's thoughts that their friendship might be changing into something more. When Galen is killed on his way home that evening, Rain is completely lost and doesn't even attend his funeral. Instead, she stays home, watching television and cleaning the house, especially in the summer. Her mother passed away several years ago, and her father is currently stationed in Guam, so she and her brother Fynn live with their grandfather, who is traveling. Fynn's girlfriend, Natalie, has also moved in.

Since she is the news editor of the local paper, she asks Rain to do an article on a Native American camp that Rain's Aunt Georgia is running. There is some controversy because the town, which is mainly white with the smallest smattering of other ethnic groups, has provided money for the camp even though there are only about four teens in it. Rain hadn't wanted to do the camp and was surprised when her friend Queenie, who is Black but has some Native heritage, is attending the camp. TO make matters even more complicated, Galen's mother is running for public office and is not happy with the money being spent, so she also reaches out to Rain to ask about it. Rain and a young reported get involved in the camp, which addresses some Native topics but is also very tech centered, and work on a feature article for the paper. Rain has to come to terms with Galen's loss, Natalie's pregnancy, and the trajectory of her own life. 

Strengths: This novel covered a lot of interesting topics, and holds up fairly well. There were not a lot of books with cultural connections when this was published, which makes this even more interesting. Rain is a resilient character, and shows a lot of strength in going forward with her life. Her town is not diverse, and her struggles with this even though she doesn't "look native" are informative to read. She is in high school, but this is written in a way that is very accessible to middle school students as well. It moves quickly, and was an enjoyable read, even though I strongly suspect I've read it before. (It was Natalie who seemed very familiar, in her flannel and overalls-- very grunge!)
Weaknesses: There were some things that seemed dated that I might have changed, unless this is now meant to be historical fiction now. Small things, like reading X Files fan fiction, using a computer to input a purchase into Quicken, and the brother with his pinstripes and fancy neckties all scream turn of the century to me, but younger readers might not notice. Serious photographers even today use traditional cameras like the one on the original cover (above). 

What I Really Think: This is being reprinted in paperback, so if prebinds are available, I might purchase it. Don't think I had this in the collection at any point, but I did have this author's vampire/angel series, Tantalize!

Smith, Cynthia Leitich. Ancestor Approved: Intertribal Stories for Kids

February 9th 2021 by Heartdrum

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

It is so helpful to have publishing imprints run by people who share the cultural background of the authors they publish! Native American books have been particularly hard to find and it's even harder to know if they accurately reflect the background, since there are many different tribal enrollments. Levine Querido, Tu Books from Lee and Low, Rick Riordan Presents, Kokila, Salaam Reads, and Versify all provide books by #OwnVoices writers. It's great to see Heartdrum join this growing list. 

This reminded me a bit of Once Upon an Eid, because while it deals with one event (a PowWow at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor), it has story about attendees from many different tribal backgrounds and places. This is a great way for readers to find themselves in the pages of the book, but also points out that Native Americans are not all part of a monolithic culture. There are stories by a variety of authors, and the list of authors is itself a great resource. Smith, Tim Tingle, Rebecca Roanhorse and Joseph Bruchac, Christine Day, Eric Gansworth, and Traci Sorell were authors whom I have read, but Dawn Quigley, Carole Lindstrom, David A. Robertson, Andrea L. Rogers, Kim Rogers, Monique Gray Smith, and Art Coulson were all new to me.

Reviewing short stories collections is not something I do well, but Ancestor Approved was a great collection that should be on the radar of every middle school and high school librarian. My only complaint is that I wish the subtitle hadn't been Intertribal Stories for KIDS (emphasis mine) because I think these stories would work well for older teens as well. 

New Pub Date: Kingston and the Magician's Lost and Found

I try very hard to post books very close to the publication date, and rarely before, since not everyone can get advance readers copies. The original publication date for this was 10/27/20, so that's when this was originally posted. However, the actual publication date is today! Here's a reminder.

Moses, Rucker and Gangi, Theo. Kingston and the Magician's Lost and Found
October 27th 2020 by G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Kingston and his mother had moved to the suburbs after his magician father's disappearance during a magic act four years ago, but they are back in Echo Park, Brooklyn to try to revitalize the family business so it is not foreclosed. Kingston's uncles, Crooked Eye and Long Fingers, haven't had a sale in the magic shop for well over a year, so the mother wants to turn it into a cafe, her long time dream. While being back in the city stirs up painful memories of his absent father, whom he believes will return, Kingston is glad to reconnect with his cousin Veronica and his best friend, Too Tall. After seeing a shadowy figure at the Mercury Theater, where his father's act ended in tragedy, Kingston goes back to investigate with his friends. He finds a box of his father's, the Lost and Found, which seems to imbue him with some strange powers. The group connects with a person who was seen with his father, Urma Tan, and she claims that there are two realms, and Kingston's father is trapped in the one from which she came. She is able to stay in our realm only through the power of crystals, and she needs their help to be able to maintain her presence. They are understandably leery, and investigate other options, eventually coming into contact with the children of their father's nemesis, the Maestro, who was responsible for the trick that caused his disappearance. Sol and Sula are knowledgeable, and soon Kingston is swept into the other realm, where he meets famous black magicians. Will this journey enable him to find his father and bring him back to Echo City?
Strengths: Kingston's desire to figure out the magic in his world and the adjoining realm to bring his father back forms a strong central premise to this well-paced and engaging fantasy novel. Although Echo Park and the Mercury Theater seem to be fictional locations, they provide an interesting setting for the magic that occurs. There are a lot of interesting codes as well. The best part is the inclusion of actual Black magicians from history, like Black Herman and Richard Potter. It's always great to be introduce students to unheralded historical figures through fiction.
Weaknesses: It has been difficult to determine if the authors are Black, since these seem to be pseudonyms for Craig Phillips and Harold Hayes, Jr. of Sunnyboy Entertainment. Mr. Hayes seems to be Black, but I can't find information about Mr. Phillips. With the interest in providing #ownvoices books to students, it would be helpful if this information were easier to identify.
What I really think: My students aren't super keen about books involving magicians, but this has a bit more adventure to it. It reminded me a little of Henderson's The Magic in Changing Your Stars (April 7th 2020 by Sterling Children's Books), but with famous Black magicians instead of tap dancers. I will probably purchase. (It's currently 6/29/20, and I feel like my entire life should be couched with the word "probably". Will I have a budget? Will school open? Will I have a job?)

A Shot at Normal

E ARC provided by Netgalley

**Slight spoiler**

Juniper's parents have an alternative lifestyle that involves organic food, selling herbs at the local farmers' market, and homeschooling. Before moving to Playa Bonita, Juniper was fine with it, because she had a group of friends and wasn't so isolated. Now, with the high school right across the street, she's tired of her parents convictions interfering with her life. She can't go to school because she hasn't been vaccinated, and they won't even let her get a job at a mainstream coffee shop where she might actually meet some people. When Juniper gets ill with a fever, her mother thinks it is just flu, but as she worsens and ends up in the hospital, it turns out to be the measles. Since she had been at the farmers' market with her mother when she was exhibiting symptoms, she has seen lots of people. Unfortunately, this leads to a tragic death, and Juniper decides she needs to be vaccinated. A local walk in clinic refuses, and advises her to get a lawyer. Researching at the local library, Juniper meets Nico. The two take to each other, and he invites her to go to his school's film club with him. This is a pleasant distraction at a time of growing tensions between her and her parents. Her parents acknowledge that the local death is bad, but staunchly maintain that they have to do the best for their own children, even though Juniper's siblings have also become ill. Eventually, Juniper's identity becomes known in the small community, and the family is on the receiving end of threats and vandalism. All the while, her relationship with Nico progresses in a charming way, with him showing her his geeky treehouse, asking her to a school dance, and going hiking, which leads to an unfortunate incident where he is stung by a bee. Since he is very allergic, he ends up in the hospital but is fine. Juniper has confided in Nico about her parents and vaccinations, and his mother has a friend who is a lawyer who offers to help. Juniper loves her family, and usually is okay with their lifestyle, so she doesn't want to be emancipated. She just wants to be able to control her health. Will Juniper be able to win her case, and how will her parents react?

Strengths: I've had an increasing number of readers looking for high school romances, and I adored this one. The portrayal of an alternative lifestyle was fun, and Juniper's reaction to being homeschooled in the kitchen was perfect. The progress of her measles was realistic, and the tragedy fell within the bounds of possibility. The way she dealt with it also seemed realistic. Having the younger brother and sister was a good device, since they didn't struggle with "being normal" the way Juniper did. Nico is a great guy, and it's sweet how he invites Juniper into his geekdom. They get along so well, and there is no huge misunderstanding that puts them at odds for most of the book. I love the portrayal of his peanut and bee allergy-- it was a bit odd that he didn't show Juniper how to use his EpiPen right away. I've been at lunch with a total stranger (Hi, Matthew Winner!) who put his EpiPen on the table and asked the whole group if we knew what to do if he had a reaction! The grandparents are fantastic as well. I've been struggling to find motivation to read, but I finished this one right away. I'll have to investigate other titles by this author!

Weaknesses: There is one f-bomb, but it occurs when Nico is stung by a bee, and only once. This falls within my parameters of acceptable profanity for middle grade! The parents are absolutely horrible, but this also makes sense given the teen protagonist. I doubt that Juniper could have attended school events without permission slips being involved, and the legal events probably would have taken longer, but middle grade readers won't care too much.

What I really think: I feel like I should really break down all of the science about vaccines more carefully with this book, but honestly-- I just enjoyed it. (Some other reviewers on Goodreads did a great job, even mentioning some problems with the oils the mother sells being problematic.) Juniper and Nico were very sweet, Juniper's reaction to her parents in her teen years was very realistic, and I just appreciated that it was very clear that Vaccines Are Good and not getting vaccines is bad for society. Some people will not like this stance, and we are not allowed to call them idiots. I'm definitely purchasing. 

The Egyptian Mirror

Bedard, Michael. The Egyptian Mirror

May 20th 2020 by Pajama Press 
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

This review posted earlier, but the cover has been changed, and the publication date was moved up, so here it is again!

Simon's neighbor, Mr. Hawkins, has broken his leg. Since he is all alone in a large house, Simon and his mother are taking meals over and checking on the gentleman. Mr. Hawkins had been an archaeologist, and collected a vast number of historic mirrors, and turns out to be rather fascinating. Simon enjoys visiting with him, reading his books, and learning a bit of history. There is one mirror with quite a back story, and when Mr. Hawkin's passes away, it seems integral to the mystery that develops. Simon and his friend Abbey find the mirror and bring it into the house, and Lucy, a niece of Mr. Hawkin's wife's, appears as the heir to the estate. She is a bit creepy, and has an unhealthy hold over the neighborhood. Simon's health takes a serious downtown; he is fatigued and feverish, and has bouts of vertigo so severe that he misses most of the school year. He and Abbey try to solve the mystery of why Lucy wants the mirror, and find out some magical but evil things about her and her connection to the mirror.
Strengths: This was a shivery sort of mystery; not a lot happened, but it was all very intriguing and sucked me right in. Simon and Abbey were both great characters, and I especially love their interactions with their younger siblings. The mirror collection, and Mr. Hawkin's house, will appeal to readers who like classic fantasy mysteries with old English manor houses. I love anything with an Egyptian component; Curry's The Egyptian Box (2002), LaFever's Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos (2007) and Hoover's Tut (2014), Northrop's Tombquest series (2015), and Egypt is still part of our 6th grade social studies curriculum.
Weaknesses: The cover could have been better, and Simon does spend a lot of time under the weather.
What I really think: I may buy this because I enjoyed it so much, but fear it will not circulate well. It's a bit reminiscent of The Alarming Career of Sir Richard Blackstone, which has not gone out very much. The new cover will certainly help.

MMGM- Girls, Girls, Girls

It's

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
 at 

Always in the Middle 

and #IMWAYR day 

at 

Teach Mentor Texts 

and 

Unleashing Readers

Lang, Heather and Christy, Jana. The Leaf Detective: How Margaret Lowman Uncovered Secrets in the Rainforest 

February 9th 2021 by Calkins Creek

E ARC provided by the publisher

In this picture book, we learn about the life of Margaret Lowman, an Australian who grew up in the 1950s being fascinated by the trees around her. As a college student, she had trouble not only finding people who wanted to study the rainforest the way she wanted to study it, but also had problems being the only woman in a field dominated by men who didn't necessarily support her endeavors. She wanted to actually get up into the rainforest canopy in order to study the leaves as well as the wildlife, but that was not the approved method in the 1970s. She cobbled together ropes and a pulley systems of sorts to get up to investigate. It was certainly risky, but also very productive. In addition to pioneering ways to study the rain forest, she raised awareness of the endangered area. She worked with people living in this climate to brain storm and promote products that could be sold, highlighting these so that governments would understand that destroying the rain forest was destroying not only a valuable ecosystem but also the economic survival of the residents. The book ends with a note from the author about working with Ms. Lowman (as well as a charming photograph of the subject), a two page spread detailing the rainforest, and a good bibliography. The illustrations are really beautiful, and done is vibrant blues and greens, and the story is a captivating one of following one's dreams against the odds. 

Harrison, Lisi. Girl Stuff 

February 2nd 2021 by G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Fonda is super excited that her best friends and neighbors (nesties!) will be going to her middle school for 7th grade. Ruthie had gone to a private school, and Drew to a Catholic one, so Fonda is making a lot of plans for how she and her friends can make a big splash, much like the Avas, a group of popular girls. They can have a color of the day, pick the best table at lunch, and start trends the way that Fonda's high school age sisters always have. Of course, plans in middle school are often ruined, and Ruthie's schedule has her spending the entire day with her Talented and Gifted classmates. They even learn through lunch, so she doesn't even go to the Lunch Garden (the book is set in California, where the weather is always good). Drew had met a boy over the summer who was just as interested in skateboarding as she was, but when she sees him at school, he is very standoffish. The three friends struggle to maintain their friendship while also doggedly pursuing their own goals. Ruthie eventually decides that she will start to do poorly on her school work in order to get kicked out of the TAG program, even though she really enjoys it and has even found a good friend in Sage. Fonda has made some inroads in being accepted by the Avas; while she would rather have had her own group of friends that could be popular, she's so determined to be part of the "in" crowd that she's willing to lie to her friends when she is invited to the Avas' party on the same night that the girls have a sleepover planned. When she pretends she has food poisoning, Drew plays along and pretends as well, because Will has invited her to the party as well. Of course, all three figure out that all of them are at the party. Will they be able to repair their friendship while pursuing their own interests?
Strengths: This is a perfect example of the types of problems that most of my readers like to see reflected in books. Friend drama is so prevalent in middle school, and it's always something slightly different. Reading about the experience of others makes readers feel better. Older sisters who are cooler. A boy whom you like but who acts weird in public. Wanting to be in an accelerated academic program but missing your friends. These are things that affect a lot more students than the death of a parent or sibling. The Clique series was one that my daughter loved when she was in middle school, and aside from Harry Potter and the odd, unexpected title (Roberts' The Girl with the Silver Eyes, Haddix's Among the Hidden) it was nearly impossible to get her to finish a book. Books like Girl Stuff take no hand selling whatsoever; I just need to put them on a front facing display, and they are immediately picked up. 
Weaknesses: This had a few dated moments (7th graders might not know what a Timex is, and they certainly don't wear them!), and this is being published in paperback. At least there is a prebind available through Follett. 

What I really think:  There are plenty of moments in this that are cringey, but they are so true to life. I found myself thinking that the group wasn't diverse enough because Ruthie was Jewish but the other two girls are just plain white. It's great to see more diversity, but it's not realistic to have EVERY middle grade book have a group of friends that includes a white girl (with blonde or red hair, usually), a Latinx girl, a Black girl, and an Asian girl. Also, as much as I have tried to get diverse representation over the last 15 years, most of my students will read about any kinds of characters. This was fun story that I will be glad to share with a wide range of readers.

Ahuja, Masuma. Girlhood: Teens around the World in Their Own Voices

February 9th 2021 by Algonquin Young Readers

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

I was utterly fascinated by Menzel's Material World (1994),  and Menzel's and D'Aluisio's What the World Eats (2008), and What I Eat: Around the World in 80 Diets (2006) along with books like Curtis and Duivenvoorden.'s What's for Lunch? What Schoolchildren Eat Around the World (2012). I think it's so important for students to understand that not everyone lives exactly the way they do. Girlhood is a fascinating look at the lives of girls from all over the globe. Each girl is introduced by Ahuja (who is a journalist), and facts about her country and some of the challenges specific to it are addressed. There are pictures and lists of facts, then some brief journal entries from each. I loved that there were entries from Congo and Kenya, because I've had some students from those countries. It's also interesting that some girls started life in one country and have ended up in another. There are also a range of life experiences, with some girls having been affected by anorexia, mental health issues, teen motherhood, or LGBTQIA+ issues. The color photos provided by the girls themselves add an interesting layer. I can't wait to see a print version of this, since the E ARC pages turned soooo slowly. Really enjoyed this, and think it would be a great book to nominate for the Cybils nonfiction award next year. 

Happy Presidents' Day, Kid Innovators

Bausum, Ann. Our Country's Presidents: A Complete Encyclopedia of the U.S. Presidency, 2020 Edition

January 12th 2021 by National Geographic Kids

Copy provided by Media Masters Publicity

First of all, I was impressed with the speed at which this was produced! This is an updated version of a book that goes back to 2001, but I'm sure that chapters about both candidates were prepared, and rushed into production as soon as it was prudent to do so! Also, I was shocked that Reagan was ONLY 69! I remember such a bit deal being made about his age, and he was 9 years younger than President Biden. 

The most important facet of this book is that it is NOT just a catalog of biographies. Throughout the book, pertinent historical information about key issues relating to the presidency, the presidents, or things that occurred during their tenure are covered. There is good information about the presidency and its evolution before Washington is even discussed. It was also useful that a chapter of "How to use this book" was included, since there are lots of timelines, thematic spreads, and reference aids included. 

Additional topics include the powers of the president, White House traditions, impeachment, kids in the White House, and a very interesting chart of Presidential Career Paths! There are occasional historical overviews as well, to put events into perspective. 

Since the is a National Geographic publication, there are many period illustrations and photographs, many in color, and the formatting is quite nice. You can tell it's a 2020 edition because of the use of teal borders, along with the 2021 Pantone color of the year, Illuminating. (A yellow which National Geographic has used for a long time!) The presidential portraits are always interesting to me, especially since men's suit styles have not changed significantly since Woodrow Wilson, who did rock the round, high shirt collar of his day. Was there ever a better painting than the Aaron Shickler one of John F. Kennedy? Very much in the style of its times, and somehow more moving than the rest. (The Kehinde Wiley portrait of Obama is also fantastic, but not in the book. Have to say that the Carter one was particularly well done. 

There are always students who are interested in presidential trivia, or who need a starting place for biography projects, and this is an excellent overview that goes beyond just listing the facts and data, and puts this information into perspective. If you are like me and haven't updated your corporate presidential biographies since the Clinton administration, it's time to invest in this updated book. 

Stevenson, Robin and Steinfeld, Allison. Kid Innovators (Kid Legends #7) 

February 16th 2021 by Quirk Books

Copy provided by the Publisher

These books are an excellent resource for students who aren't quite sure who to do for a biography project, or who want wider exposure to a variety of individuals in order to get ideas for further reading. If I had been allowed to buy more than the occasional Scholastic paperback as a child, I would have loved owning the entire set!

Divided into Tech Revolution, Sea, Skies, and Out Space, Cracking Codes and Saving Lives, and Trailblzers, this book showcases 16 different innovators, from the fairly common (the Wright Brothers, Steve Jobs, and Florence Nightingale) to the less well known (Reshma Suajani, William Kamkwamba, and Alvin Ailey). Each person is given 6-8 pages, much of which is spent on their childhoods, with less coverage given to their adult accomplishments and later lives. This information is accompanied by illustrations, and there are lists of further reading as well as an index at the back. 

These books make a perfect gift for a curious child or for the classroom library in an elementary school, and always remind me of my first book addiction, the Childhood of Famous Americans books  by Simon and Schuster, first published in the 1940s. Now I really want to hunt down people who have become somewhat obscure, like Eugene Fields! 

One Jar of Magic and Twig and Turtle #3

Haydu, Corey Ann. One Jar of Magic
February 9th 2021 by Katherine Tegen Books

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Rose Anders and her family are looking forward to New Year, when children who have turned twelve get a chance to gather magic for the first time. Since her father Wendell is widely known to father the most magic, Rose is known as "Little Luck", and everyone assumes that she will also excel at the crucial skill. Magic, which is kept in jars, is used throughout the year for various purposes. Each jar has a different purpose, and the people whom magic chooses must determine its use, although the magic all seems to be used for insignificant things. Rose's friends Ginger and Maddy are also going to collect magic, but they have grown weary of the attention that Rose gets, and tired of her attitude as well. When New Year comes and Rose only gathers one jar of magic, it becomes a topic of much discussion. Everyone is upset, and when her father gets upset, it isn't good for anyone. While the town where Rose lives is magic, there are towns nearby full of people who "aren't meant for magic", and when Rose and her mother stop by a diner on their way home from the gathering, they meet Zelda and her family, who don't want anything to do with magic. As Rose tries to figure out her life without magic, she finds out family secrets and comes to terms with the way her father acts. 

Strengths: This is mainly a story about an abusive household, and there is certainly a need for those stories. Roberts' 1977 Don't Hurt Laurie still circulates in my library and was my daughter's favorite. Of course, in that time, attitudes are treatment of this topic has changed, and Rose's story hints at the abuse and describes it in circumspect terms so as not to trigger readers who might have personal experience with it. I enjoyed the subplot with Rose and Maddy's friendship, since friend drama works in just about any middle grade novel, and Zelda was an interesting presence. The father's backstory was helpful to include later in the book, and the message that magic only treated the surface of things was interesting.
Weaknesses: While I understand why the father's behavior was described in vague terms, this made the story a bit harder to understand, especially since the world building made it hard for me to pinpoint exactly what the magic and why there were communities that didn't have magic. Some of my readers may struggle with the development of both of these topics as well. 
What I really think: Haydu includes a very helpful foreword about her opinions concerning grief. I have very different views, which might explain why I don't enjoy her books (The Rules for Stealing Stars (2015), The Someday Suitcase (2017), Eventown (2019)) as much as most people do. She is very popular with most other librarians and teachers. Fans of magical realism with sad overtones like Redman's Quintessence ,Staniszewski's The Wonder of Wildflowers. Ruby's Penelope March is Melting or Lloyd's  A Snicker of Magic and The Key to Extraordinary will enjoy this layered and lyrical novel. 

Jacobson, Jennifer Richard. Quiet, Please! (Twig and Turtle #3)

February 16th 2021 by Pixel+Ink

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

In this early chapter book, Twig and her younger sister Turtle are continuing to get used to living in their tiny house. Twig, however, is trying very hard to read for a lot of hours in order to help her class with their readathon, especially since the winning class gets to bowl in the middle of the school day! It's hard to find quiet in such a small place, and Twig even tries to hide in the square bathtub, and her mother turns the shower on her by mistake! Twig also plays soccer, and gets to try being a goalie, although she doesn't feel she does a great job in that position. After a night of having Bo, who is now the school reading dog who lives with the janitor, but used to be Twig's dog, stay with them in their loft, Twig is so tired that she accidentally wears her pajama pants to school. Twig's parents understand her need for quiet, and after trying to find places for her to read, institute a family quiet time every day so that all members of the family can get things done. Twig and Turtle will return for a fourth book in Make New Friends, But Keep the Old. 

Strengths: I love the small, artsy Colorado town setting, and the details of living in a tiny house are fascinating and true to life. (My daughter lives in a tiny house, but hers is out in the woods!) Twig and Turtle's parents are both involved in creative pursuits and are very supportive of both girls. There are challenges, but they are addressed in useful ways. I do identify more with the grandmother, who isn't as wild about some of the choices, and she's great to have around to tell the parents that soccer cleats are athletic equipment, not a third pair of shoes when the girls are limited to two! 
Weaknesses: What happened with the library book that was caught in the shower. I know it molded. Did Twig have to pay for it? This was not addressed, and librarians everywhere are concerned!
What I really think: I can see Twig being great friends with Cheng's Anna Wang, Meyerhoff's Friendship Garden gang, Springstubb's Cody and especially Mills' Kelsey Green, Reading Queen! At 112 pages, this is a great early chapter book that is perfect for elementary schools and even works at the middle school level for some struggling readers who do well with somewhat shorter, easier books, and who often love series!