Fantasy Tuesday- All the Sequels!

I do still read all of the fiction books before I buy them for my school library, and some of the nonfiction as well. I read a lot of books, and last year wrote reviews of about 60% of them. It takes a lot of effort. Sometimes, fantasy poses a challenge to me, but I try valiantly to solider through. Writing this right after Valentine's Day, and between world events, having to cover a class during my fictional lunch time, and a lot of children who needed comforting chats when I was not actively working with one of five language arts classes, I couldn't muster the brain power.

Definitely take a look at these if you've read the first books in the series, which have circulated well in my library. 

Okogwu, Tọlá . Onyeka and the Rise of the Rebels (#2)

May 30, 2023 by Margaret K. McElderry Books

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

From the Publisher:

Onyeka and her superhero friends are on the run. Having exposed head teacher Dr. Dòyìnbó’s hidden agenda behind the Academy of the Sun, they’re living as fugitives, laying low as they try to figure out their next move. Despite their best efforts, Onyeka’s parents are still missing, and students at the Academy are still in danger.

But when their safe house is discovered, Onyeka must turn to the only allies they have left: a group of rebels called the rogues. Joining forces, will the groups defeat their shared nemesis, or is there a new danger on the horizon?

My thoughts: There's at least one more book left before we get Onyeka's situation figured out. 

Dumas, Marti. Charmed Life (Wildseed Witch #2)

May 2, 2023 by Amulet Books

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

From the publisher:

After a summer of being the worst witch at a fancy witch school, Hasani can’t wait to get back to the peace and normalcy of Riverbend Middle where she knows all the rules and is destined to be captain of the Mathletes. There are a few little hiccups to work out—like how she’s going to tell her best friend that she’s a witch—but even though the other two members of Hasani’s coven have joined her friend group and her school, there’s no reason to think that eighth grade won’t be smooth sailing . . . That is until her former friend (and fellow witch) LaToya shows up.

LaToya starts trying to take her friends and make Hasani seem like the bad guy. To make matters worse, strange things begin happening around the school—including a termite infestation—and Hasani is so sure that LaToya is to blame. However, when Miss Lafleur comes to visit to help deal with the termites and investigate the magic, she helps Hasani to channel her powers more and realize just how strong her magic has become. But Miss Lafleur also isn’t convinced that LaToya could have caused all this chaos on her own—so Hasani sets out to prove it, and heads to a magical market, 3Thirteen, to find the ingredients she needs to do so. But in all her focus on proving she’s right and learning more about her magic, is Hasani losing sight of the people and things that are most important to her?

My thoughts: A lot of YouTube details, and a lot of girl drama. I would have liked a little more magic other than the termite infestation, which creeped me out. Again, never ever moving south of Ohio. 

Dao, Julie C. Team Chu and the Epic Hero Quest (Team Chu #2)

May 2, 2023 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (Byr)
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

From the publisher:

The popular fantasy video game War of Gods and Men is being adapted for reality television, and Team Chu and company are competing for the title of child hero: the young person destined to unite the forces of Pantaera to save it from a sinister fate. Over the next week, they'll be challenged by sirens, vampires, elves, and more in Tests of Courage, Determination, Humility, Intelligence, and Strength.

Popular athlete Clip is confident he'll take the prize, if it weren't for that test of humility. And despite claiming not to care about the game, Sadie finds herself pulled into the immersive world of Pantaera and rising to meet the challenges thrown her way. And her best friend, Jeremy, proud nerd and last pick for P.E. teams, wants more than anything to save the world of the game he loves, no matter the cost.

Join Clip, Sadie, Jeremy, and their friends on a thrilling adventure through an extraordinary fantasy world to learn who among them has what it takes to become Pantaera's child hero!

My thoughts: I bought two copies of the first book because it had a lot of action, as well as a video game feel. This veered more into the fantasy world, and there were many characters to keep straight. I liked that parents and grandparents were still involved, but it added to the number of people I needed to remember. I think there was even a map. The War of Gods and Men game had a medievalish/Dungeons and Dragons feel to it.

Reintgen, Scott. The Drama with Doomsdays (Celia Cleary #2)

May 16, 2023 by Aladdin 

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

From the publisher:

Ever since the fateful visions about Jeffrey Johnson, Celia Cleary’s prophecies have focused on smaller things like minor mishaps and everyday inconveniences. It’s finally starting to feel like she has a handle on her powers…until things take a turn for the weird.

One day at school, Celia’s notebook magically fills in with a single name written over and over: . She uses the family guidebook to investigate and learns that the mysterious Patrick is connected to a Doomsday Prophecy—a vision that involves a large group of people, a point of no return, and a terrible future. The target for this particular reckoning? The entire eighth grade.

Celia soon finds herself in a race against the clock to figure out which Patrick at their school is at the heart of the coming disaster. As the shifting sands of luck turn against her, she’ll need Grammy’s voice and the help of friends more than ever. But even with their efforts combined, can they prevent the doomsday?

My thoughts: The first book dealt more with Celia's emerging magical abilities, and this one went off into the Tweens Save the World realm. I worry about the world and impending disasters, because the tweens I know can't even put on jeans and tennis shoes to come to school. Can you save the world in pajama pants and Crocs? Have concerns, but Celia seems on top of things.

Yoon, Jenna. Lia Park and the Heavenly Heirloom

May 30, 2023 by Aladdin

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

From the Publisher:

Twelve-year-old Lia Park and her best friend, Joon, are now full-time students at International Magic Academy after defeating corrupt diviner Gaya, and their first assignment is an ambitious one. The evil nine-headed monster and King of Darkness, Jihaedaegukjeok, wants to destroy the three Heavenly Heirlooms that create fire and light to plunge the world into darkness and destroy humanity.

The heirlooms can only be destroyed if they are all together, so over time, they have been hidden carefully with magic. Except now, one of them is missing. Lia, Joon, and their classmates have been tasked with recovering the lost heirloom and bringing it to IMA for safekeeping. They expected the task to be difficult, but the number of obstacles the magic trainees run into makes Lia start to wonder if the sabotage could be coming from someone inside the school.

My thoughts: This reminded me of several other books where they had to collect items, but was also an academy tale, which a lot of students like. Academies are a great way to get parents out of the way without killing them.

MMGM-- Ruby Lost and Found

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Li, Christine. Ruby Lost and Found

May 16, 2023 by Quill Tree Books

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Ruby is having a hard time now that seventh grade is out for the summer. She got into some trouble at school, and isn't doing as well academically as her older sister Viv. She's also still mourning the loss of her beloved Ye-Ye (grandfather), which has been made harder since her Nai-Nai (grandmother) left San Francisco's Chinatown after the funeral and hasn't been in contact. Since her parents are running a start up energy company, they don't want to have Ruby at home alone, and also have concerns about Nai-Nai, so Ruby gets to spend the summer hanging out with her grandmother and going to the local community center. Nai-Nai has a good network of friends, which include May, who used to run the popular local bakery that is now operated by her daughter Annie, as well as the somewhat mean Auntie Lin. There's a boy, Liam, who comes with his own grandmother, but Ruby is struggling with so much friend drama in her own life that she ignores the fact that he is lonely, and rebuffs his frienship. Ruby is also upset that May's bakery may go out of business, and looks into ways to save it, including applying for the Legacy Business Registry and getting grants. Even more concerning is Nai-Nai's increasing memory lapses. In flashbacks to past summers, we see some of the scavenger hunts that Ye-Ye put together, and Ruby longs for the time that they spent together and feels guilty about what happened the day he died. When she finally tells her parents about Nai-Nai's problems, they want to have her see a doctor, but Nai-Nai interprets this as them trying to lock her up, and decides to run away. Ruby goes with her, and they do get a chance to see some of the city's sites that held a special place in Nai-Nai's memory. Will Ruby be able to keep her world from changing, or will she be able to adapt to it when it does?

Strengths: Having been to San Francisco in 1989, I definitely think that it would be a great city for a scavenger hunt, especially having read Bertman's The Book Scavenger as well! This had a great setting, and lots of opportunities to get out into the city to see the sights. It was very realistic that Ruby's parents didn't want to leave her home alone after she got into some trouble, and it made perfect sense for her to go and stay with her grandmother. I liked the positive depiction of the senior center, and the inclusion of a bakery that has fallen on hard time. Businesses don't last forever, as we also saw in Chao's When You Wish Upon a Lantern and Boba Time for Pearl Li. My town recently lost it's local Yogi's Hoagies (which must have housed an ice cream shop back in the day) to a Dunkin' Donuts shop, and feelings ran pretty high about that. Luckily, Schneider's Bakery seems to still be going strong. Overall, this is an interesting look at how life changes around us even when we might not want it to. 
Weaknesses: There was so much going on with the bakery and Nai-Nai that we didn't get to really fully investigate Ruby's problems with Naomi and Mia. I'm a big fan of friend drama, but almost with that it had been left out. There were also some currents of Ruby feeling that she was a disappointment to her parents that could have been fleshed out, but then the book would have been too long! 
What I really think: I always enjoy a book with close bonds with grandparents, and think this book will be popular with readers who liked Messner's The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z, Sumner's Roll with It, Camiccia's The Memory Keeper,  Yee's Maizy Chen's Last Chance.

Together for Never

Kaye, Marilyn. Together for Never
March 14, 2023 by Holiday House

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Charlotte is always trying different clothes and makeup to keep up with her popular best friends. Her mother has left her and her father, and is traveling through Europe with her younger musician boyfriend, but she's left before, and Charlotte is sure she'll be back. It's always been just Lily and her mother, and Lily is a bit nerdy and unpopular, since she cares more about a series of fantasy books that also have a television series. When Charlotte's father and Lily's mother start dating, and Charlotte's father invite the two to spend time at a beach cottage together, it's not a perfect set up. The two are constantly fighting and belittling each others' choices, although they do work together long enough to try to get their respective parents to date other people. Charlotte is still trying to be popular, and attempts to hang out with some high school students who live in the small beach town, but Lily has seen these teens get into trouble and tries to warn her away. It doesn't work, of course, but just drives another wedge between the two. Charlotte contacts her mother, who shows up at the beach with her boyfriend, and this doesn't help matters. Eventually, the parents are so tired of all the fighting that they decide to break up, and Lily and her mother plan to head home. Charlotte decides to go on a motorcyle ride with one of the older boys, and it ends badly. Will this emergency be enough to bring the four together as a family. 

Strengths: Blended families don't get the attention in middle grade literature that they deserve, and I imagine that tweens whose parents are dating live in constant fear that their parents might date someone whose child they know and hate, so this is a great premise for a book. There's just enough fun stuff, like hanging out on the beach, getting ice cream, and staying in a cool beach house to balance out the emotions that the girls have about their parents dating. The parents seem supportive and understanding, and seem to genuinely care about each other and the girls. The book is a good length, and moves quickly. 
Weaknesses: While friend and family drama is always in demand in my library, this cover is not going to encourage readers to check out the book. 
What I really think: This had a very similar vibe to this author's 1980s Sisters series, and felt almost like a book written a while ago and dusted off for publication. The way the girls thought about others seemed dated in a way I can't quite explain, and there were other small things, like the mother sunbathing covered in tanning oil that seemed half a bubble off. Even if actual tweens call each other weirdos, scum, and hoodlums, it's unusual to have this negative attitude work its way into books. 

Cartoon Saturday- Four Eyes

Ogle, Rex. Four Eyes.
May 2, 2023 by Graphix
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

In this graphic novel, young Rex Ogle (Free Lunch) is apprehensive about starting middle school. He lives with his hardworking mother, younger brother Ford, and Ford's father, Sam. Rex's father has a new family, and while he is well to do, does not support Rex monetarily as well as he should. Middle school is tough, especially when his long time best friend Drew decides to hang out with the "cool kids" that bully Rex and make fun of the fact that he gets free lunch and his mother works at a local Chinese restaurant. Rex struggles in school because he can't see the board, and he gets headaches from trying to focus. He eventually gets examined for glasses, but ends up with a pair he thinks are ugly because they are less expensive. The lenses are thicker than he expects, and Oliver makes fun of that as well. There are other tensions in Rex's world, including the fact that his mother fights with his abuela, who is one of the few people who seem to understand Rex, and who offers rare treats like new clothes and different food, which angers Rex's mother further. Hiding during lunch one day, Rex meets Scott, who used to wear glasses and likes comics. Rex had spoken up when Oliver was picking on Scott, and the two become friends, bonding over their shared interests. Middle school is still a struggle for Rex, but he gains a little perspective when his abuela shares things about her impoverished upbringing that are even worse, and he talks to his mom about her reasons for resenting her mother. After suffering with broken glasses for a while, Rex gets new ones that he likes better. His father pays for them after his mother complains, and thanks to contributions from both his abuela and father, Rex is able to go on a Washington, D.C. trip with his classmates and feels somewhat better about his whole experience. 

Strengths: The style of artwork is appealing, and conducive to showing all of the angst that Rex is feeling. His mother and stepfather seem a bit nicer in this book than in Free Lunch, so the story centers more on Rex's struggles in school and with his glasses. It's good that he makes a friend not only in Drew but with a couple of other students who like Star Wars and comics; it was very realistic that his elementary school classmates could have gone to a different middle school, leaving him with few friends. Rex does make efforts at standing up for himself and for others, which was good to see. Graphic memoirs see a lot of circulation, but fewer of them have boys as the main characters. 
Weaknesses: I got glasses in 7th grade, almost fifty years ago, and not a single person made fun of me. I was also very short, and wore a back brace for scoliosis, so I was much geekier and much more of a target than Rex! I've talked to students at my school as well, and so many people have glasses and braces that this is no longer a subject of derision. I'm sorry that Ogle was bothered by bullies when he was growing up, but I'm not sure how this will resonate with my young readers. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who like graphic novels about children who struggle with various issues, like Telgemeier's Guts or Libenson's Invisible Emmie. 

Beatty, Robert and Sherrell, Braeden (illus.) Serfina and the Black Cloak

April 4, 2023 by Disney Hyperion

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Serafina and her father live in the basement of the Biltmore Mansion in the early 1900s. Her father works there repairing equipment, and Serafina toils on as the chief rat catcher, finding rodents in the night and carrying them outside to release them. She is not allowed out in the day, and her father tells her that no one must see her. She does come to the attention of the young, orphaned Braeden Vanderbilt, and talks to him about the fact that children have gone missing from the estate. Serafina has had a run in with a dark and creepy figure in a black cloak, and thinks that it is behind the disappearances, but no one would believe her. She talks to her father about her background and finds out odd and disturbing secrets about her past. When she is out of the basement in the daylight, a staff member wants to know who she is, but she makes her escape with Braeden in a carriage. The two share a deep bond neither understand but find comforting. When they run into trouble in the woods, the need to solve the mystery of the disappearances grows more desperate. Will Serafina be able to solve the mystery and return the lost children to their parents?

It's always interesting to read a graphic novel version of a novel I read years ago (this originally came out in 2015), and see what I remember. Serafina wearing her father's shirts so he wouldn't be seen buying dresses in town was foremost in my mind; sure enough, the drawings do show her in a belted garment that looks suspiciously like an old fashioned undershirt. I also remember violent killigs of rats, but this seems to have been changed to relocating them. She does still have to grab them and hold them tight, which was uncomfortable to read! The rest of the story remains the same, and some of the issues in Serafina's past are made more clear by having illustrations. 

While it's rather disturbing that Serafina has been hidden away in a basement for her whole life, her father has good reasons for it that I don't want to spoil, and they do get beds and linen in the end! The mystery of the figure in the black cloak is rather dark, and there's a pervasive sense of dread and doom because of it. The pages mirror that feeling with very muted colors; blues for the night, and tans and maroons for the daytime. Despite the missing children and the evil of the cloak, Braeden and Serafina finally have each other and are able to have a soul mate to help them deal with their trauma. 

There are several novels in the original series, so I wonder if more will be adapted into graphic novels. This put me in mind of several other middle grade novels, although I can't think of anything that is exactly like it. I think Serafine would be friends with Bunce's Myrtle Hardcastle, the figure in the cloak reminded me of some of the creepiness of Smith's Hoodoo, and this also had the adventure and something of the feel of Chadda's City of the Plague God. 

Guy Friday- The Greatest Kid in the World

Anderson, John David.The Greatest Kid in the World

May 9, 2023 by Walden Pond Press

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Zeke lives with his college aged sister Jasmine, younger brother Nate, and hardworking, department store assistant manager mother in a typical suburban ranch. He misses his dad, and reads a box of postcards that his father has sent from the road often. It's a little hectic in the house, and Zeke adds to the frenetic energy by frequently doing ill advised pranks and getting in trouble at school or getting injured at home. When he gets a letter telling his mother that he is a finalist in a Greatest Kid in the World contest, he doesn't tell him mother because he assumes it is a joke. When Mr. Notts and cameraman Logan show up to film Zeke for the show, even his mother doesn't believe them. The Klein Agency for the Betterment of All Mankind, also known as KABAM? Sounds suspicious. But since there is a $10,000 prize and a trip to Hawaii for the winner, his mother is all in. There are four other finalists, and when Zeke looks up their videos about why they were chosen, his disbelief is further reinforced. They pack lunches for the homeless and help three legged puppies. How can he compete? It's summer, so Jasmine is in charge of the boys, and Zeke has to be filmed doing whatever it is that will make him the greatest. At first, Jasmine tries to organize games and activities with the boys that will make them all look good, but that doesn't seem to work. Zeke decides that maybe he should try a number of Guinness World Record Book activities, and maybe that will be the key, but that's not right either. When the KABAM organizers want to delve into the issue of Zeke's father, he knows that he has to come clean about his life. 

Strengths: This was a great portrait of modern day children in a family setting. The mother is very busy with work and doesn't cook as much; Jasmine makes a lot of macaroni and cheese. Zeke's behavior at school is, unfortunately, not uncommon, and I did like the surprise twist that made the behavior seem somewhat understandable. I also liked the fact that Zeke finally sees the effect that his behavior has on his mother and his family, and thinks about changing. There are lots of funny scenes, and the book is generally upbeat, although does include some sad things that I don't want to spoil. 
Weaknesses: I would have liked to know more about how Zeke ended up on KABAM's radar, given his complete lack of service related projects! Also, I kept thinking that KABAM was secretly full of space aliens or criminal masterminds, because I read a LOT of middle grade literature!
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who like a mixture of humor and sadness, like Allbright's Milo Moss is Officially Unamazing, or Gephart's Death By Toilet Paper. 
 

Select

Matheson, Christie. Select
May 9, 2023 by Random House Books for Young Readers
E ARC provided by Netgalley

Seventh grader Alex loves playing soccer, and is happy with her San Francisco Rec league team even thought they don't have the nice uniforms the other teams do.She and her friends enjoy themselves, and her coach, Jayda, has a positive influence on many aspects of her life. Her mother is a bit unreliable, and since her father walked out when she was younger, Alex ends up caring a lot for her younger sister, Belle. Her mother rarely makes it to her games because she is too caught up with a new boyfriend, Xander, but during one game she does attend, Alex catches the attention of Coach Austin, the founder of San Francisco Select, and before she knows it, her mother has signed her up for the elite travel team. The thought is that better opportunities might lead to college scholarships, which would be helpful since the family can't afford college. Alex is sad to leave the Rec league, but Jayda understands. Playing Select means a lot of sacrifices; they practice at a facility quite a distance from Alex's house, so requires her to leave immediately from school and catch several buses, and she can't watch Belle after school. Her new teammates are not welcoming, especially Apple, who has cutting things to say about Alex's scholarship status on the team. Coach Austin is negative, and his training methods are unpleasant. Alex does make friends with Liv, and the two talk a little about how the team works. The games often involve train rides to outlying towns, and for the first game, Alex has to bring Belle with her because her mother has not come home. This further angers Coach Austin, who plays favorites when it comes to starting lineups and continued play in the games. He wants to win, and tells girls that they won't play in the second half if they don't score in the first. Alex, who is used to Jayda's positive coaching and her philosophy that teammates should work together, pushes back against this style from the beginning. Over the winter, the girls are required to spend $300 and register for futsal training, but Alex knows her mother can't afford it. She does get the cost knocked down to $100, and earns the money by herself. When Coach Austin's coaching methods become even more negative, Alex and her teammates decide that they can no longer stomach his leadership, and approach Jayda to see if she can coach them for their big game. How will Alex be able to balance her desire to better herself through the opportunities Select soccer offers with caring for Belle and enjoying the game?
Strengths: Author Matheson is herself a soccer coach, and her love and knowledge of the game are very evident. There are lots of good details about play on the field as well as the way travel teams are set up. Traveling to the games by public transport was interesting to read about, especially since this is set in the San Francisco area. There is just enough family drama to add another layer of interest, and Belle and Alex's relationship is sweet. Jayda is an awesome coach, and it's good to see that Alex has an adult in her life who supports her. The girl drama is on point as well; Apple's mother is just as unpleasant as Apple is, and I imagine that in elite levels of soccer, the competition is brutal. This is the perfect length, and ends on a happy note. This is a must purchase for middle school and elementary libraries where interest in soccer is strong. 
Weaknesses: As an adult, I wish that there had been more nuance to the story. The Select team has nothing pleasant about it, not even the better snacks! It's such a hassle that I wouldn't have let my children play more than two games. The coach is completely evil, and although he gets his comeuppance, it would have been nice to see some positives in a travel team. I was also very concerned that Alex's mother was so neglectful, and that situation was never resolved to  my satisfaction, although she did break up with Xander. These situations are all true to life, but I wish there had been more depiction of Alex getting help with these difficult circumstances. There are some links to applicable web resources at the end of the book. 
What I really think: I will definitely purchase this (probably two copies!), and this will circulate well. My students will love it, but as a former coach and teacher, I wanted the soccer experience to have a little more appeal before becoming horrible. 

Epic Ellisons: Cosmos Camp

Giles, Lamar. Epic Ellisons: Cosmos Camp
May 9, 2023 by Versify

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

This companion volume to The Legendary Alston Boys focuses on Wiki and Leen, who appear in that story as the Alston Brothers rivals. Leen is super excited to go to Cosmos Camp for the summer, and Wiki is thrilled that she will finally get some time alone, when she doesn't have to clean up after her twin or deal with her drama. Sadly, however, a heavily pregnant Anna, who is from Logan County and married to the very rich Petey Thunkle, gives Wiki a scholarship to the camp, and the twins' parents think it is great that both of them can spend a summer there. Anna has a task for the two-- Petey has gone missing, and she wants the twins to find him. The two settle into the camp, under the tutelage of Dr. Antoinette Burr and her two robot assistants, Sam and Ralph, for four weeks. They meet the other campers, and start to work on their prototypes for space shuttles while trying to investigate Petey's whereabouts. There are secrets that start to emerge; the Ellison family farm is in danger, Dr. Burr is not working for the camp of her own free will, and there's an alternate reality where Thunkle Tech doesn't control all of the smart phones and internet services and Petey isn't rich. Wiki can sense this past, and it gives her headaches. She meets Dr. Burr's son, Kelvin, who can also sense this past, and the children have to work to figure out what in the timeline changed. They've been though something similar with Otto and Sheed Ellison, and there's just as much at stake with Petey's realities, and just as many time travel and scientific connections for the Ellisons to figure out. Will they be able to retrieve Petey before Anna's baby arrives?
Strengths: Readers who have wondered what happened with Wiki and Leen, who appear often in the Alston Brothers books, will be glad to see these sisters showcased. Wiki has a photographic memory, and the girls generally get along quite well, even though they irritate each other occasionally. The idea of a space camp is a good one, even though it is more of a cover for Petey's disappearance than anything else. Alternative realities are fun, and the present that the twins are stuck in is rife with ThunkleGram, ThunklePhones, TunkleTube, and even a Thupotle restaurant! 
Weaknesses: Like any good time travel book, this story made my brain hurt a little bit. The cover looks a bit younger than I would like, but all covers are embracing this more cartoon style lately. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers Lee's Winston Chu and the Whimsies or Sedita's Pathfinders series. 
 

The One and Only Ruby

Applegate, Katherine. The One and Only Ruby (One and Only Ivan #3)
May 2, 2023 by HarperCollins

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Ruby, who is now safely living in a wildlife sanctuary where she can visit Ivan and Bob from time to time, is approaching her Tuskday, which marks the fact that she is growing up. It's a big deal, but with the celebration coming up, Ruby is apprehensive about it. While she gets visits from Carmen, a young girl, and has elephant aunts like Akello in the sanctuay, Ruby still misses her Aunt Stella, and mourns that fact that she never experienced the comforts that Ruby now enjoys. When Jabori, who took care of Ruby at an elephant orphanage in Africa comes to visit, Ruby remembers some of her past and is haunted by it. She shares her story with her friends, and they learn how her mother was killed, and Ruby was brought to the US where she was in a sketchy circus before being imprisoned at the Big Top Mall. One she works through these memories, Ruby realizes that she is still dealing with trauma, but she can still enjoy her Tuskday. 

Strengths:  The plentiful page decorations of Ruby and her friends are delightful. The amount of text comes in somewhere between Ivan and Bob; this isn't in verse, the way Ivan is, but isn't as straightforward a narrative as Bob is. Instead, it is a philosophical journey that Ruby must take to make peace with her past and to understand what it means to be an elephant. It was interesting to learn more about Ruby's perilous past and her troubled journey to the US. There are notes about the plight of elephants at the end, and information about the horrible ivory trade. 
Weaknesses: I was hoping that this would have more action, like Bob did. He's my favorite character, but didn't appear very much!
What I really think: Readers will be interested to return to the world of The One and Only Ivan and The One and Only Bob, so I can see this being a popular title. The cover is great. 

MMGM- Absolutely, Positively Natty and Men of the 65th

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and #IMWAYR day 

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Unleashing Readers

Greenwald, Lisa. Absolutely, Positively Natty

May 9, 2023 by Katherine Tegen Books

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Natty and her father move from Long Island to her father's parents' house in Miller Creek after her mother decides she needs some time alone to deal with her depression. Natty embraces the move as a new opportunity full of possibilities and puts a brave face on everything. Her new teacher, Ms. Lamlot, is a calming presence, but she finds herself thrown into a maelstrom of tween girl angst. She meets Mack, who hates everyone, but seems somewhat open to being friends. She also meets Lillian (who would rather be called Luna) and her friends Wade, Tape, and Braid, who all have a rather negative aura around them as well. Natty has a patch on her bag that says "positive vibes only", and the students at her new school do not embrace this philosophy. It's not easy for Natty to remain positive, but she doesn't see the point in being negative. Her grandmother is concerned, and tries to get her to join a group at school for children whose parents are getting divorced, and also wants her to attend the closest synagogue, but Natty is more concerned in finding a positive activity and getting her mother to move back with them. She comes across the idea of a pep squad and throws herself whole heartedly into that. Mack wants nothing to do with it, although she does occasionally hang out with Natty, and is concerned when Natty has a moment or two of being verklempt, although Natty quickly recovers and doesn't want to talk about it. Mack has a troubled family life, with parents who bicker and have to change apartments because of financial difficulties. There's also bad blood between her and Luna's group. Natty realizes that Luna and her friends have joined the pep squad to get out of a punishment, and also so they can slowly torture her, but she is not going to let it get her down. It does get hard to manage everything that's going on; her best friend from Long Island is struggling with their friend group because of what happened with Natty's mother, Natty tries to get people to like her by having her grandmother cater lunches at school, and her father seems to be dating Ms. Lamlot, which is not in the plans. There is also a teachers' strike that shows how many problems the school has, but which also interferes with Natty's plans for a pep assembly. Will Natty be able to reign in her positivity and find a way to regulate her life in a more authentic way?

Strengths: Natty has to deal with a lot of issues that affect many tweens. Parents divorcing, changing schools, trying to make friends, dealing with aging grandparents; these are all true to life. While I understand that this book examines toxic positivity, I thought that Natty's positive attitude had moments where it really worked well for her. There are certainly a lot of students who are negative, like Mack and Luna, but there are so many books about tweens who have a negative outlook. Greenwald has done her research, and the school details are all solid; I rather enjoyed the beleaguered principal who worked with her to set up a club, as well as Natty's e mails to the town mayor and her classmates, setting up the squad and the assembly. Of course, it's hard for tweens to deal with so many issues without accepting support, so young readers will enjoy Natty's epiphany that everyone has struggles, and it's okay to admit that things are not going well. 
Weaknesses: Except it's not. If you let people know that you are struggling, they can just use that against you. I guess I have a toxically positive personality, and I am absolutely not going to change that. However, I fully realize that I am in the minority here, and that everyone else thinks it is good to share one's struggles. Therefore, my feelings that this is a weakness in the book actually makes it a positive. Does that even make sense?
What I really think: I adore all of Greenwald's books, from the 2022 Dear Friends all that way back to the 2009 My Life in Pink and Green, and know that Natty's story will resonate with my students really, really well. I will definitely purchase a copy. I especially love the cover.

Aikens-Nuñez, Talia. Men of the 65th: The Borinqueneers of the Korean War
May 2, 2023 by Zest Books
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Over the last 80 years, there have been thousands of books about the US in World War II, but relatively little about the Korean War. Since it occurred from 1950-1953, we are quickly reaching the same point with survivors that we are with WWII; few are left. I'm glad to see a book that not only provides vital information about basics of the war, but also sheds light on the involvement and treatment of a lesser known group of soldiers, a group from Puerto Rico. 

There are some middle school readers who are obsessed with reading about war, and it's a fine line between giving them all of the battlefield that they want and balancing it with historical information to give them context and also show them that war is not a good thing. Aikens-Nuñez does a great job of this. There is a great explanation not only of the events leading up to the Korean War and the US involvement in it, but a lot of great information about Puerto Rico, the Spanish-American War, and the start of the Borinqueneers in 1899 and the various roles they have played through history. 

There is plenty of information about the training of soldiers, the set up of the army (I love the one page that broke down the different terms of what different military groups are called, not that any of the information stayed with me!), and various operations and fighting. This is well illustrated with period photographs, and while I always think that pictures of groups like the singing Sons of Puerto Rico are fun, my military experts will enjoy the ones of the equipment or battlefields, and will ADORE all of the maps that start the chapters. 

The most interesting part of the book is the court martial of ninety-six members of the regiment following the retreat from Hill 391. The group was treated very unfairly, which highlighted the way that members of color were treated in the military at this point in time. The army tried to hush it up, and eventually everyone was exonerated. In 2016, the 65th Infantry was presented with a Congressional Gold Medal. While it's good to have this treatment come to light and know that people in power are trying to do better, there are so many stories like this that it makes me wonder if the military will ever really change. 

This is a well-researched and formatted book for middle grade and even high school libraries. There is a good glossary, timeline, and abundant source notes at the end. I'm glad that we are finally seeing more military history that shows the dedication and resilience of underrepresented populations in the face of social and political oppression. This is a great book to have alongside ones like Farrell's Standing Up Against Hate: How Black Women in the Army Helped Change the Course of WWII, Stone's Courage Has No Color: The True Story of the Triple Nickles, Walker's Deadly Aim: The Civil War Story of Michigan's Anishinaabe Sharpshooters or Turner's Man Called Horse: John Horse and the Black Seminole Underground Railroad.

Ellie Engle Saves Herself

Johnson, Leah. Ellie Engle Saves Herself
May 2, 2023 by Disney-Hyperion

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
 

Ellie is perfectly content staying home and reading comic books, although her best friend, Abby, is not. Ellie's life at home is pretty quiet since her Dad moved out and her mother works long hours, but she enjoys going to visit Abby's more bustling family. She's also missing her grandfather, who has recently passed away. When there is an earthquake right before school, everyone's day is a challenge, but Ellie feels especially strange. When she touches her goldfish, which she thinks has died, and it comes back to life, she has even more concerns. She runs some experiments on her own (she can't bring a rotisserie chicken back to life!), but can't really explain why she has this new ability. It's cool, but somewhat uncomfortable, sort of like the way she feels about Abby. Sure, it's her best friend, but she likes her as a little more than that. Abby is also the first one she tells about her powers, and they freak Abby out a bit. It's hard to juggle the magical abilities, and it becomes even more of a challenge when the media finds out about them. She tries to manage her own publicity by contacting the media herself, but when she brings a dog back to life, she learns a hard lesson about the give and take of the universe. 

Strengths: I'm pretty sure that if you polled middle schoolers, 95% of them would want magical powers. The other 5% wouldn't look up from their phones long enough to opine. The idea that an earthquake could just cause someone to have the ability to bring the dead back to life is definitely innovative. Middle grade readers are also big fans of social media, and many of them want to be YouTube stars without fully understanding how unpleasant that kind of fame could be, so I liked that Ellie, even though she wasn't really searching for fame, had to deal with it in a realistic way. Her mother's struggles at providing for her are realistic, and something we should see more of in middle grade literature, and the bakery is a great place for Ellie to occasionally hang out, and Mr. Walker (the owner and Poppy's best friend) is a huge support. 

Weaknesses: I wished that the magic had been something a little different. Anything with reanimating dead things has me envisioning zombie hordes, no matter how light and bright the cover is. I loved that she made plants grow, but bringing back living creatures always makes me a little uneasy.
What I really think: It's hard to find books where there is just one person who suddenly has magic; usually it's passed down throuh families, a developed trait that requires schooling, or a world where some portion of the population has magic. Readalikes might include Royce's Root Magic , Thayer's The Talent Thief, Kessler's Has Anyone Seen Jessica Jenkins (invisibility rather than magic) or Villanueva's Sugar and Spite, but Ellie's magic is a little unusual and will speak to readers who hope that they, too, will suddenly have powers one day. 

Cartoon Saturday- A Work in Progress

Lerner, Jarrett. A Work in Progress

May 2, 2023 by Aladdin

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Will is a happy kid with a strong friend group until one day in fourth grade when an unpleasant classmate calls him "fat". He starts to wear baggy clothes, to not go to the cafeteria during lunch, and slowly grows away from his friends because he is so entrenched in thinking that he is fat that he imagines they won't want anything to do with him. Not wanting to talk to others isolates him, and sends him further into a spiral where he is obsessed with his weight. He thinks about dieting, but doesn't have good information, and alternately denies himself things like pizza that his mother brings home as a treat, but then binges and feels bad about himself. He likes a girl in his class, Jules, who loves to draw as much as he does, but after overhearing her friends say unkind things about him, is very reluctant to ever try to talk to her. When he is hanging out behind the school during lunch, he meets Markus, who skateboards. He doesn't want to talk to Markus even after the other boy spills all of his problems about trying to fit in as he moves from school to school, although Will appreciates that markus talks to him and doesn't seem to be repulsed by his weight. After Will restricts his food intake so much that he passes out at school, his parents finally realize that he has some problems that he needs to work through, and send him to a therapist. Markus teaches Will to skateboard in exchange for Will teaching him how to draw. Even though skateboarding is hard, Will starts to realize that many things are a struggle at first, and take practice. He finally gets up the nerve to talk to Jules, and his therapist helps him feel better about himself and his weight. 

Strengths: There are books about weight issues and disordered eating going back to Levenkron's 1978 The Best Little Girl in the World. Since scientific treatment of this sort of condition changes all the time, I should probably go back and take a look at everything from Anderson's 2009 Wintergirls to Pollen's 2019 The Year I Didn't Eat and reassess their relevance. This illustrated novel in verse captures the feel of 2023, and Will's anxiety, centered around his body image, seems similar to Gerber's 2021 Taking Up Space. Will spends a lot of time in his own head, and can't manage to get out, even with Markus' help. The novel in verse format, with its short lines, helps give a good feeling of panic, and I do want to take a look at a finished copy, because the E ARC illustrations don't seem quite finished, and Lerner's art work is always well done. Markus is an intriguing character, and Jules is not mean to Will in the little we see of their interactions. The parents do eventually step in and get Will help. This is the most evocative book about a mental state I've seen since Klass' You Don't Know Me or Going's St. Iggy.  
Weaknesses: Considering that almost a quarter of middle school students are obese, the social implications of being overweight in middle school might be somewhat different than they were when Lerner was young. Of course, many more students are anxious, so Will's reaction to his perception of how people see him will resonate with some readers. My students have indicated that people are not really made fun of for things like braces, glasses, and being overweight as much as they seem to have been in the past, although, again, it's hard to tell what children might internalize. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who want to read about mental health challenges with weight related components, like Fipps' Starfish or Baron's All of Me. 
 

Tarshis, Lauren, Ball, Georgia, and Mitchell, Cassie (illus.)

I Survived the Great Chicago Fire (Graphic Novel)
May 2, 2023 by Graphix

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Oscar's father was a law enforcement officer in the country, but moved to a farm when Oscar was young. He was killed in a storm, and Oscar and his mother tried to make a go of it on their own. When Mr. Meadows, a painter, spends time capturing their farm on canvas, he strikes up a friendship with the mother. The two write letters, and soon the mother has agreed to marry the artist and move to Chicago. Oscar isn't pleased. The trip is long, and when the new family arrives in the city, their luggage is stolen under Oscar's watch by a group of street thieves who use a young girl to distract him. Seeing the girl later, Oscar follows her, but she goes home to an abandoned house to take care of a young brother, so he doesn't confront her. When a fire starts to rage through the town, Oscar helps Jennie and Bruno, but is soon separated from them. Amazingly, Mr. Meadows finds him, and the two manage to get across the river to Meadows' house and be reunited with Oscar's mother. Also amazingly, they later find Jennie and Bruno, who come to live with them. Notes on the fire are at the end. 

Strengths: All of Tarshis' I Survived novels are very popular, and I love that they give students a brief glimpse of history. The pictures in the graphic novels provide an even better look at some aspects of life, like the clothing and buildings. This had an interesting look at the criminal underbelly of Chicago, and didn't shy away from the horrible aspects of the city, such as the stock yard smell and general filth. The pictures of the fire were somehow mesmerizing to look at; they made the event seem even more terrifying. 
Weaknesses: There are a lot of coincidences that seem unlikely, but it makes for a good story. 
What I really think: I may not purchase, since I already own the text version, which is very similar, and the graphic novels are expensive.

The Wildes

Smith, Roland C. The Wildes: The Amazon
April 15, 2023 by Sleeping Bear Press

Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central

Ring and Asia Wilde are used to being left to their own devices in the Amazon along with their tutor, Professor Bob, while their mother and father study different environments and the animals there, but when their mother goes missing and isn't in any of her usual haunts, they start to worry. With the help of a local man, Raoni, they find that their mother has been kidnapped by men Raoni thinks are poaching the golden tamarinds Dr. Jane Wilde is studying. The children, along with the somewhat unprepared Professor Bob and the very helpful and adept Raoni, travel across the rainforest and manage to uncover an illegal conspiracy that threatens the rainforest, and do eventually locate their mother, who apologizes for all of the time she has had to spend away from them. This doesn't stop the family from having another adventure in The Vaquita, out August 15, 2023.

There is a lot of good STEM information about studying habitats, and Ring and Asia have clearly paid attention to their lessons. The Amazon is a fascinating and colorful place that has a TON of dangerous things that are fascinating. Poaching is a problem in many parts of the world, especially involving endangered animals, so it's good to bring attention to that. Smith always writes a good survival tale; I love his recent The Switch, and his mountain climbing 2007 The Peak series remains popular.

The presence of Professor Bob, who wasn't that helpful, made this seem a little young. Befriending a local guide when their mother goes missing follows the standard middle grade formula, but Professor Bob making the two do homework after they realize their mother is gone wasn't as much fun as the two being on their own.

It's always fun to read a book that lets me travel to places in the world I will probably never be able to visit! This is a great choice for readers who liked Stokes' Addison Cooke and the Treasure of the Incas, Vegas' Pyramid Hunters, Marquez' Wild Survival series or Gibb's Charlie Thorne, or who secretly harbor a desire to see really dangerous parts of the world!

Minerva Keene's Detective Club

Graf, Keir and Patterson, James. Minerva Keene's Detective Club
May 1, 2023 by jimmy patterson

E ARC Provided by Edelweiss Plus

**Some spoilers in What I Really Think.**

Minerva and her brother Heck live in the apartment building in Chicago. Their very busy professional parents are off traveling the world, ostensibly for work, but always seem to be in the middle of something fun when the children call. An older cousin, Bizzy, who is in graduate school, is supposed to be nannying for the family, but more often than not, Minerva has to take care of her absent minded carer. When the older gentleman, Kermit, with whom Minerva plays chess collapses from a suspected heart attack, she's upset. She's interviewed by Detective Taylor as a matter of course, but strongly suspects that her friends was poisoned. When another resident, Serenity, who owns a nearby gym, is also poisoned but dies, Minerva knows she needs to use her detective ability in order to find out what's going on. She ropes in quiet classmate Santos Salgado to help, since Heck is often more of a danger to himself than an asset to investigations. The group is interviewing Mr. Park about the happenings in the building when he also collapses, which makes Delores, the head of the residents' association, suspicious. Of course, she is hiding secrets of her own, and when the doorman, Oscar, also dies from a suspected poisoning, everyone starts to worry in earnest. What is going on? Is this all tied to Kermit's past? Delores' criminal activity? When Bizzy herself is poisoned, Minerva and her crew have no time to waste, and find the culprit in an unexpected place. 

Strengths: My students want mysteries, but they want MURDER mysteries. Aside from Stevens' Wells and Wong series (which is set in the 1930s, so not appealing to everyone) and Beil's Swallowtail Legacy series, there are not that many books for middle grade readers with murders. There are tons of cozy mysteries for adults, with fun settings like bookstores, coffee shops, or bakeries in small towns, and you'd think this would translate to middle grade fairly well. The apartment setting is fun, Heck is a good foil for his driven older sister, and Detective Taylor strikes a good note with taking Minerva seriously. I particularly liked how the mystery was solved, and if there are other books forthcoming, this is a perfect murder mystery for even upper elementary students. 
Weaknesses: Yes, I know that middle grade characters need to be parent-free in order to have their freedom, but Minerva's parents seemed very odd, and Bizzy was not a good caregiver. There was no reason the parents couldn't have been in the building. The premise of the school "detective club" was unneccesary, and Santos wasn't a very well developed character. I would rather have seen Heck given a better role. 

*Spoilers*
What I Really Think: While I haven't seen the television show Only Murders in the Building, this seems similar to the trailers I've seen. It's a cozy mystery, in that people keep dying in not too gruesome ways, people are sad but not too devastated, and the murders are all people they don't know too well. (Spoiler: Kermit and Bizzy survive.) Bonus points for the "murderer" not being a person; let's just say that lives could have been saved by having the exterminators visit on a regular basis. I'll definitely purchase a copy. 

 

Control Freaks

Thomas, J.E.Control Freaks
May 2, 2023 by Levine Querido

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Frederick Douglass Zezzmer, known as Doug to his friends, has a lot of ambition. He wants to be the best inventor of all time, even though his biological father, who is recently back in the picture, wants him to drop the science-y stuff and concentrate on sports for a while, since the father had some success in the field. Doug would rather do well at his classes at Benjamin Banneker STEM academy and impress Principal Yee so that he can be chosen to go to GadgetCon. Told from multiple perspectives, we see other people who are in Doug's circle, like his best friend, Huey, stepbrother, T.W. (who has pressures of his own), as well as various teachers and students. Since the students at Benjamin Banneker are very competitive, the school comes up with a new STEAMS competition, but there's a catch: the students have to work together, and can't work with only students in their own grade. The school hopes to foster collaboration and cooperation, which is hard when you have a lot of driven students who want to control projects and work on their own. Doug and Huey manage to get in a group together, but also work with athletic Liam, The Shark, and Padgett Babineaux, who has some challenges at home. Once the teams are assembled, the tasks start, and a number of teacm are disqualified for picking names that aren't appropriate, and end up doing community service with the very thrilled Mrs. Jalil! The competition is fast and furious

Strengths: The multiple perspective format allows us to see the inner workings of the minds of many of the participants, and see what other factors are affecting their lives. Doug is torn between his biological father, who has recently moved back to town, and his dad, who has raised him since he was young. TW struggles with school work. Huey has to juggle a number of stepfamilies. Other students deal with grandparents whose health is bad, fear of public speaking, or pressures from home. Set against a pell mell competition that causes quite a ruckus in school, this was a fun book that highlights science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. 
Weaknesses: There are a LOT of details about projects and challenges. While science teachers will find this fascinating, I'm not entirely sure that tweens want to read about school work quite as much. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for students who want a STEM themed romp with a science fair feel to it, similar to Lyons's Whiz Kid, Ewing and Almeda's Maya and the Robot, and Gray's Slimed. 

Timeslip Tuesday- The Rhythm of Time

Questlove and Cosby, S.A. The Rhythm of Time 

April 18, 2023 by G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Rahim Reynolds lives in Philadelphia with his older sister, Yasmine, his father, who is a professor, and his mother, who gives music lessons. He's bullied mercilessly at school by Demarcus and his henchmen, Lavell and Tron. Luckily, his best friend is neighbor Kasia, who is homeschooled and heavily into technology. This is helpful because his father doesn't believe in all the newfangled garbage like cell phones. For his birthday, Kasia gives Rahim a phone that she has cobbled together and connected to a sketchy network so that he doesn't have to pay for it. Kasia has better skills than she imagines, and the two soon find out that Rahim's cell phone can teleport him around town. When it teleports him back in time, things get complicated quickly. Kasia's computer equipment is taken away by government forces, so she is having trouble getting Rahim back to the present. He's landed in his same neighborhood in 1997, and has met his father when he was young. Luckily, his future grandparents take him in, since he claims he can't go home, and they figure he has run away. He finds out that his father was always a bit geeky (wearing a tie when everyone else is wearing sagging jeans and oversized white t shirts), but loves music. The two plan to use the phone to attend a Four the Hard Way Concert, but this involves breaking his grandparents' rules. There are bigger issues at stake, and Kasia work is opening wormholes and vorteces, and releasing extinct animals all over the place, in both the present and the past. When she manages to get Rahim back to the present, they realize that he presence in the past has changed a lot-- his father is now a struggling rap artist who still writes lyrics like a twelve year old and hasn't been successful, and his artistic mother has a stressful job at a bank. The two find out some things about WWII technology and meet Dr. Evelyn Jackson, who worked with Project Philadelphia in 1943. She is the key to all of the problems that Kasia has released, but will she be able to help Kasia and Rahim undo all of the damage to time they have caused? A second book seems necessary. 

Strengths: There is a lot of science based theory surrounding the time travel that was intriguing; I'm convinced that time travel will eventually be possible through cell phones. (I may have once had a long conversation with a phone salesman about why the "Go To Date" feature on my phone didn't work; apparently, the unlimited time travel package is prohibitively expensive!) I love that Kasia is great with technology and that her parents support her in this, and also that she wanted to share it with Rahim. The time travel also hits a lot of essentials like the Butterfly Effect, and what middle grade student doesn't want to travel back in time to meet parents? Page's Rewind was one of my daughter's favorites. There is a lot of information about 1990s hip hop music that might appeal to younger readers who want a throwback; certainly, we are well past the stage where they want to travel back to meet the Beatles. Of course, now that is a book that I totally want! 
Weaknesses: A middle school library has Stephen King's 1987 700+ page long The Tommyknockers? A college professor doesn't understand that his son's school has a lot of work that has to be done on the computer and doesn't provide one for him? There were a lot of little things like this (and the atomic wedgie style bullying; in 25 years, I've never heard of this happening) that made me wonder if either of the authors had been in a middle school or talked to 12 year olds lately. Also, wouldn't Dr. Jackson be over 90 years old?
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who liked Giles' The Last Last-Day-of-Summer and Henderson's The Magic in Changing Your Stars.