Drawing Deena

Khan, Hena. Drawing Deena.

February 6, 2024 by Salaam Reads / Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

ARC provided by Young Adult Books Central

Deena lives in Falls Church, Virginia with her younger brother Musa and her parents. Her father was an engineer in Pakistan, but wasn't able to find a similar job in the US, so the family struggles with money a bit. Her mother has a boutique in the basement and imports dresses from Pakistan, that she sells mainly to family friends, so the income is not huge. Deena loves to draw, and her latest project for school is a portrait of her cousin, Parisa. Parisa is older and heavily invested in social media, so she suggests that Deena create a social media account for the boutique, and perhaps a web site. Deena even creates a logo and decides to post photos of the outfits with Parisa modeling, in the style of Desi fashion magazines. Her mother is a little apprehensive about this, but agrees. Deena wants her mother's business to succeed, and to be the one who helps it do that. One reason behind this desire is that she has recently cracked a back molar and had to be fitted with an expensive night guard to stop her from grinding her teeth at night. The logo goes well, and Parisa wants to post one of Deena's drawings on her own account. This causes some problems with Deena's friend, Lucia, because the two of them promised that they would both stay off social media until they were both allowed to get accounts, since they have both seen people who spend too much time online and ignore their friends. Their friend Nisha, who is more into sports than they are, thinks they are a bit overboard, but doesn't argue with them. When a local artist, Salma, comes in to buy an outfit for her opening at a gallery, Deena wants to go, and attending the exhibit makes her think that she might some day be able to do more with her drawing. Her parents continue to fight, and the money concerns seem to be behind this, and Deena starts to feel more and more anxious. She's nauseated every morning, and even throws up at school. The school nurse is very supportive, and mentions that Deena might like to talk to a counselor. She has an anxiety attack when her class goes to an immersive Van Gogh exhibit, and during a class video about money on a morning where she was already not feeling well, she has a very bad panic attack. The nurse calls her mother, and has a talk with both of them about how seeing the school counselor might help. It's free, so the mother agrees, but the father thinks that seeing a school counselor might reflect badly on her later in her career and doesn't want her to go. The thought of feeling better was so appealing, however, that she stands up to her father and asks to be allowed. By the end of the book, things have improved a little in many different areas of Deena's life. 

Like this author's Zara's Rules for Record Breaking Fun, Amina's Voice, and Zayd Saleem series, this book has lots of good, supportive family moments, even though there is also some tension. I particularly enjoyed Musa, and would love to see him have his own book about soccer! The two squabble a bit, but genuinely like each other. Deena's anxiety is similar to Amina's, and is certainly trending in middle grade books. The mother's boutique was fascinating, and I know that some of my students' mothers have similar enterprises where they sell clothing or jewelry from their home countries; one of my students with a Nigerian background would frequently wear some of the clothing to school. Everything about this story seems realistic and well researched; the treatment of anxiety of students at school is spot on, the fact that Deena is surprised she doesn't get a lot of followers right away is accurate, as is the slight uptick in the mother's business because of the increased exposure. The squabble between Parisa and Deena sounds very cousinly. I've read several books lately about Desi weddings, so all of the descriptions of outfits, food, and the social buzz around them correlates with the information in those books. Best of all, there are some helpful tips for dealing with anxiety as well as a happy ending. 

It's hard for me, as an older person, to not agree with Deena's father, who wants everything to be kept more private, although he did know enough to give her mints to take to school to help with her nausea. I definitely understood when Deena mentioned that she just needed to power through, but younger people don't have the acquired skills or practice with this that adults have. There are certainly a lot of books about children dealing with anxiety, including Dee's Haven Jacob's Saves the Planet, Sumner's Summer of June, Machias' Flight + Fight, Dilloway's Five Things ABout Ava Andrews, Downing's Controlled Burn, Stroman's The Spin, Baron's The Gray,  Gerber's Taking Up Space, Leavitt's North of Supernova, and LaRocca's Mirror to Mirror, and the topic even shows up in frequently in graphic  novels like Lerner's A Work in Progress, Scrivan's Nat Enough, and Libenson's Emmie and Friends. 

Dread Detention

Killick, Jennifer. Dread Detention
February 13, 2024 by Delacorte Press
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Angelo, Naira, Gus, and Hallie are all given a Saturday detention for their part in a food fight. They are met at the gate of their school, which backs up to the Dread Wood in an undetermined part of England, by the groundskeeper, Mr. Larrick, who tells them to go to student services. There, they meet Mr. Canton, who gleefully confiscates there phones, puts them in his fanny pack, and marches the students off for a fun day of exercising, bonding, and feeling remorse for their misbehavior. Right off the bat, there is a horrible, inhuman scream, and the group goes to the animal enclosure to investigate. Unfortunately, Mr. Canton is soon swalloed up by a gaping hole in the ground... and a huge, skulking, creepy creature! Angelo is narrating, and we see how the students, who all have secrets they are trying desperately to hide, investigate in the school to see what is going on. When Mr. Larrick smashes up the insect lab, narrowly missing finding the children hiding there, the group climbs out onto the roof to try to escape Larrick and his wife, whom they have previously seen gleefully throwing a chicken down a well! The pair have also thrown chickens out onto the school's yard, where they are quickly consumed by massive trapdoor spiders. The kids don't have any luck, and the Larricks see them. Feeling that there might be clues to be had in the Larricks house, they take off to investigate. There's a brief interlude while we get some valuable information about the Larricks, and also learn a bit about why the four have been assigned detention. They realize that they all had bad interactions with one student, who is related to the Larricks, who are hiding massive secrets. After they leave the house, Hallie gets sucked up into the well. Will the three remaining kids be able to figure out what is going on with the infestation of giant spiders before people come to pick them up from detention?
Strengths: Wow. Just wow. Think Durst's The Lake House or Stroud's The Screaming Staircase, but with SPIDERS. Giant, violent spiders that shoot hairs covered with an irritant and can spring out of the ground and swallow riding lawn mowers! Evil villains with a fun back story! Kids with secrets who are sorry for their misbehavior! The kids' problems were included just enough to give a bit of breathing room when the spider action got too intense. The coolest school. I wondered a bit at first about a school that was part old mansion and part layers of additions, but this is set in England, so why not? (In the US, we usually turn old mansions into senior living facilities or office buildings.) I was so enthralled with the building, which backs up to the Dread Woods, that I wanted to know more about it. It was a relief at the end to know the building survived. 
Weaknesses: I'm not scared of spiders, but it turns out there is only so much stomping and squelching I can take. Might have skimmed over some of the spider fighting in the middle, but my students will relish every crunching carapace.
What I really think: Buying THREE copies. This was spectacularly creepy, and like nothing I've read before. I've read a few books, so that in itself is remarkable. Why aren't there more creepy horror stories with spiders? (Sadly, The Alarming Career of Sir Richard Blackstone hasn't circulated well, and I can't for the life of me remember the name of the book about a giant spider I read during the 48 Hour Books Challenge... ten years ago?) There really are not many, unless I have missed some. And I'm still sad that Dean Carter's 2005 The Hand of the Devil was read to bits. Giant, killer mosquito.)

MMGM- Lost Kites

It's

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
 at 

Always in the Middle 

and #IMWAYR day 

at

Unleashing Readers

Carr, Cathy. Lost Kites and Other Treasures
February 6, 2024 by Amulet Books
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Franny Petroski has had to deal with a lot in her twelve years, but things are looking up. Even though she hasn't seen her mother since she was four, she has a stable life with her Nana, a dental hygienist, in a cozy apartment above a coffee shop, and enjoys doing artwork with found objects. She sees a school conselour to help her through some of her issues, but is fairly content with good friends Lucy Bernal and Ruben Yao. When her grandmother breaks her leg taking out the trash (which Franny should have done), the family's fragile existence is disturbed. Luckily, Ruben's mother, Dr. Yao, finds a single story, handicapped accessible house that the family of one of her patients is willing to rent. The man who lived there has gone to a nursing home, and while the place is a little dingy and dated, it's easier for Nana to navigate. It's still hard for the two to get groceries and other things they need to get by, so Nana asks her son Gary, who lives in Wisconsin, to come to the East Coast and stay with them. Gary is a computer programmer, so can work from home, but has a difficult relationship with his mother, mainly because of the problems that Franny's mother Mia had while the two were growing up. Nana has never told Franny too many details, and her memory of being with her mother is not very strong. She is curious about her, and hopes to find out more details from her uncle, and also from one of her mother's friends, Carlton, whom they meet when stopping by to see the house where Gary grew up. Franny is also having some typical middle school friend problems; Lucy has moved to England to live with her grandmother while her father has a position there, and Ruben has started to hang out with a group of gamers, including the mean Tate, who is always giving Franny a hard time. When Franny tells Ruben that she's found out her mother has bipolar disorder, and he tells Tate, this further stresses their relationship. While her grandmother's  leg is improving, the emotional toll that the injury has taken is still there, and Franny is struggling with the new information about her mother and the impact that it may have on her own life. Will the Petroskis be able to find a way forward?

Strengths: Sometimes it's hard to put my finger on just WHY I like a book so much. Characters who have different and slightly challenging lives are always intriguing, and this felt a little like Berry's Heart Finds or Hope Springs, with the touches of art and the inclusion of a loving but troubled grandparent. The adult in me was worried for Franny and wanted to take dinner to her and her grandmother, and my inner twelve-year-old wanted to do art projects with her and be her friend. The characters in the book were all fully formed and interesting. There's Gary, who wants to help but has his own life in Wisconsin that doesn't involve having to deal with the fall out his sister has left; Aunt Gravy (Gracie), her grandmother's best friend and former coworker who is really very helpful but whom Franny just doesn't like; Carlton, who has a deeper connection to Franny's past than she realizes; Nana, who is doing her best to get by and who is struggling with her own emotions; and Ruben, who has a large and loving family but just can't quite understand how difficult things are for Franny. Weirdly, the house and its basement contents that Franny turn into art, were oddly intriguing. I could just see and smell it in my mind's eye! I guess that all of these things combine to make this a book that I felt I could step right into, which is a difficult thing for an author to accomplish.
Weaknesses: While Franny's troubles at school are mentioned a bit, I would have liked to see more school scenes to give a better idea to young readers how troubles at home might be impacting their classmates. There are too many young people like Tate who don't really stop and think about the life circumstances of people they encounter on a daily basis. This would have made the book a lot longer, though, and it's a good length for middle grade readers the way it is. 
What I really think: This has all of the elements that I think make a great middle grade novel; a young person who has an interest in doing things, friend drama, realistic and not horrific family drama, and a fantastic portrayal of resilience. The scene where the toilet in the new house overflows when her grandmother is out and Franny deals with it herself by phoning her friend Ruben is brilliant. When Aunt Gravy says that the house smells line Pine-Sol and Franny doesn't say anything about the disaster-- that's a perfect middle grade moment. Highly recommended.

Not the Worst Friend in the World, Dancing in the Storm

Rellihan, Anne. Not the Worst Friend in the World

February 6, 2024 by Holiday House

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
 

Lou and Francie have been friends since kindergarten, when Francie continually got into trouble for her outspoken ways. At the start of 6th grade, however, they are not speaking due to something that Lou did and regrets. Because she is no longer in Francie's orbit, she feels invisible at the Our Lady of Perpetual Hope Catholic school they both attend. When new student Cece shows up, Lou feels that there is an air of mystery about her, and agrees to meet with her when Cece passes her a note. The two have a few things in common, including a love of Fitzhugh's Harriet the Spy (1964), and Lou isn't sure what to make of it when Cece confides that she thinks that her father has kidnapped her. There is some compelling evidence: her parents are separating, her father has taken a leave of absence from his university job to come back to move to Mayfield, Missouri to be with his mother, whom he has not spoken to in a while and has seemed to dislike. Cece hasn't spoken to her mother in at least a month, and she has some evidence that before her mother left for a weekend with her Aunt Julie, she was planning on returning home. Lou agrees to help Cece investigate, because Cece doesn't want to go to the police and get her father in trouble. The two also end up working on a project for school together, and Cece has decided to interview local psychic Angel, and maybe get some help from her. Lou has a few problems of her own; her father lives in Kansas City, and her last visit with him was awkward. She likes her stepfather James, and her two young half siblings, but her mother is very busy. Lou doesn't feel she can tell her mother about the problems she's having with Francie. As the investigation continues, Lou starts to realize that Cece's father has not kidnapped her, but she doesn't know how to let her new friend know without making her angry. When Lou is scheduled to spend time with her father in Kansas City, Cece wants to come so that she can find her mother. When Lou finally admits that she hasn't even asked her father, Cece gets angry and lashes out in a hurtful way. When Cece goes missing after a birthday sleepover at Francie's, Lou knows she needs to speak up about her possible whereabouts and finally be honest with her friends about her feelings. 

Strengths: While it might seem far fetched to adult readers that Cece firmly believes she is the victim of parental kidnapping, Rellihan does a great job of offering convincing reasons for why Cece feels this way. It is also realistic for Lou to be reeled in by this, and for her to discount other information that presents itself because of her desire to remain friends with Cece. The girls' investigation is hampered by the fact that neither has a smart phone, and their corralling of sketchy technology to do their investigations does ring true. It was interesting to see the dynamics of a small town Catholic school, and the way the girls go about their project with April the psychic rings true as well. I love that the offered to pass out flyers to her, and also that April was concerned about Cece. Friend drama is a huge part of middle school and upper elementary, so I imagine that young readers will love "all the drama".
Weaknesses: The mystery would have been enough to propel this story forward, and the flashbacks to Lou and Francie's past slowed the story down. I'm also not entirely sure many second graders read Harriet the Spy now, and I know that teenagers are not reading magazines the way that Francie's older sister seems to be. My fairly good sized town (almost 40,000 residents) no longer supports a newspaper, the way that Mayfield can. 
What I really think: This is a great choice for readers who loved Shang's Bubble Trouble (2023), Walker's Let's Pretend We Never Met (2017), Vernick's Water Balloon (2011), or Comerford's Rissa Bartholomew's Declaration of Independence (2009). 

Hitchcock, Shannon and Specht, Amie Darnell. Dancing in the Storm

February 6, 2024 by Rocky Pond Books

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Kate is an avid gymnast, and her family supports her endeavors. Her grandparents even come from West Virginia to Louisiana to visit when she has a big meet, where she does very well. Her shoulder has been bothering her, but that's not unusual in the sport, so she doesn't tell her mother. She has two good friend, Claire, with whom she does gymnastics, and Mindy\ who is much more fun and does things that are not related to gymnastics, like baking or just hanging out. Kate is missing her dog, who passed away a bit ago, but continues on with her training and competition. When the pain becomes too much, she tells her mother, who discoverers a large bump on her shoulder. An appointment is made with the doctor right away, but he reviews Kate to an orthopedic specialist, who refers them to a geneticist. The root of Kate's problem is a genetic disorder called Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP), a rare condition where trauma causes tissue to turn to bone. Any kind of sport is discouraged, as well as any kind of activity that could lead to injury, and even things like shots or surgery that could traumatize muscles. Gymnastics are definitely out of the question. It takes some courage to tell people in her life, including her grandparents, her teachers, and her friends, and Kate is sad to give up gymnastics, although her parents decide to put in a pool to encourage physical activity. While Mindy is supportive, Claire and her friends from gymnastics just try to ignore this news. Kate's mother takes her to look at rescue dogs, and she adopts a new pet whose owner has passed away. When Kate is assigned a speech for class about something that she is passionate about, will she be able to adjust to her new reality and find some way to express how she is going to go on? 
Strengths: I had never heard of FOP, and it certainly is a life changing event for Kate. I love that Kate referenced Judith Heumann, who passed away recently. This is a realistic view of one girl's struggles with a rare and potentially debilitating disorder that changes the activities she loves and her relationships with her friends. 
Weaknesses: This got off to a rocky start for me, and seemed different from Hitchcock's usual writing. It's interesting to see this collaboration though; Hitchcock has done a number of these. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who want to are interested in the challenges of using a wheelchair in Stroker's in A Chance to Fly (the author is mentioned in the book), the discussion of Cystic Fibrosis in Baldwin's No Matter the Distance, or the issue of declinging eyesight in Johnson's Dog Driven. 

When I was young, I found the classic Light a Single Candle, about author Beverly Butler's descent into blindness riveting and reread Marie Killilea's 1952 Karen, about her daughter's struggles with cerebral palsey several times. There is something interesting about how people handle adversity, and the resilience that people can show in times of difficulty. I've often wondered about Karen Killilea, and was sad to discover that she died several years ago, and the age of 80, having lived on her own and worked as a receptionist for 40 years, despite being given the slimmest of chances to survive when she was born. 

 

Saturday Morning Cartoons- Alterations

Xu, Ray. Alterations   

January 30, 2024 by Union Square Kids

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

It's 1994, and Kevin Lee  lives with his mother and older sister in Toronto, Canada. His parents have recently divorced, and his father isn't around. He's not even paying alimony, which means that his mother is working long hours at her alterations shop, and asking Kevin and his sister Betty to help out. Kevin would rather read comic books than sew on buttons, but usually does what his mother asks. His older sister is very nice to him, occasionally giving him a comic book that she has bought, and working a lot harder at the shop than he does. His grandmother (Popo) comes to live with the family for a while, and cooks a lot of good traditional Chinese food, even though Kevin would rather have spaghetti some days. After his grandmother sends a century egg with him to school, it causes an overblown smell at his school, and after he is called to the principal's office (where he is "not in trouble"), kids start calling him "Egg Boy". He tries a variety of ways to deflect this attention, but it weighs heavily on him. After he accidentally throws a basketball at a substitute teacher, his mother is called from work again to talk to the principal. This causes a lot of stress in his family; his mother can't lose income, Betty (who is seven years older) feels like Kevin has it easy, and Popo hates to hear the fighting. Popo tells Kevin that when his mother was growing up, the cultural revolution in China was going on, and in order to try to make her life better, his mother and uncle tried to swim to Hong Kong. The uncle made it, but the mother did not, and spent time in jail. Kevin tries to be more understanding of his familiy, but finds it hard. When his class go to an amusement park, there is even more drama, and he sneaks off into a ride about his favorite comic that isn't open quite yet. He finds an invisibility suit, and travels all over the park wearing it and spying on his classmates. Eventually, he gets caught on a roller coaster that is being repaired, and when the test run stops, he has to be rescued. This changes his reputation with his classmates, and his family eventually learns to deal with their differences without fighting. This is a memoir about the artist's life as a tween. 

Strengths: This was an interesting look at middle school in the 1990s, when it was more acceptable to make fun of one's classmates for... apparently any reason whatsoever. Middle school students always think that everyone is looking at them, when in fact everyone is too busy thinking that they are being watched to care much about other people. The family dynamics were interesting as well, especially since Kevin and Betty seemed to get along decently well, right up until they argued constantly. The class trip to the amusement park, and Kevin getting paired with the principal when his partner didn't come, will seem exotic to students today, most of whom don't even get field trips to a local library two blocks away. 
Weaknesses: This seemed like it was a realistic memoir until the invisibility suit. I worried about Kevin breaking into the not-yet-opened exhibit to begin with, and was a little confused about what the purpose of suddenly going into fantasy was. Will kids care? No. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who can't get enough of graphic memoirs like Ogle's Four Eyes, Krosoczka's Sunshine , Russo's Why is Everybody Yelling, or Page's Button Pusher.  I am starting to wonder if Dan Santat is the only illustrator who had a halfway happy time in middle school, or at least wrote about a happy time in his A First Time for Everything. 

Extra Innings and Change the Game

Bowen, Fred. Extra Innings

February 2024, Peachtree Publishing

ARC provided by the Publisher at NCTE

Mike's family members all work hard; his older sister Terry is waitressing before college, his mother is an office manager for a local doctor, and his father owns a moving company. Mike spends a lot of time playing baseball, which he feels is work, but his father disagrees. He'd like to see Mike work on the trucks with him. Mike's team, the Rays, has lost one of their good pitchers to a travel team, so are putting a lot of pressure on Mike. The coach is very helpful, helping Mike and Noah with extra practices, but Mike is still worried about looking productive in his father's eyes. When one of his teammates suggests that he help caddy at the country club, Mike jumps at the chance. The money is good, but his father still doesn't think that baseball is that important. The Rays do really well, and it looks like they might make the playoffs at the end of the season, when two Babe Ruth League teams will go up against two of the travel teams. Mike's pitching is great, but will it be enough to help the team win? Historical information about Harvey Haddix, who pitched a perfect, but losing, game is included. 

Strengths: Bowen's sports fiction books have the perfect mix of sports details and family and friend issues. Mike's desire to live up to his father's expectation of working while still being able to play ball was a great inclusion, and the scenes where the boys are caddying and realizing how much work it is are fantastic. I also liked that Mike was 14; publishers don't seem to understand how appealing older characters are to younger students. Being 14 gives Mike a lot of freedom without killing off either of his parents! The other inclusion that made me chuckle was Noah's dislike of the sponsors' names associated with the team, but also his realization that those sponsors make the sport possible. It was a nice touch to have Mike's dad show up to some games, see how well Mike was doing, and decide to have his moving company sponsor a team the following year as long as Mike promised to caddy and earn some money. I'd love to see more books with kids working. 
Weaknesses: There are a LOT of details about various baseball games and statistic that I don't really understand, but this makes them perfect for my readers. I do wish that Bowen would write more football, basketball, and soccer titles, since baseball stories are not quite as popular with my students. (It was fun to learn that Bowen's son is a baseball coach, though!)
What I really think: Peachtree should turn some of these titles into graphic novels with bright colors and larger text. They would be super popular with my students. I'll definitely buy this one, but if it were about the more popular sports, I would buy two copies. 

Kaepernick, Colin, Ewing, Eve L., and Caicedo, Orlando (illus.)

Change the Game: A Graphic Novel

March 7, 2023 by Graphix

Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central

Born in 1987 and raised in California, young Colin was more interested in football than in baseball, although he was an multi-sport athlete and his parents were more invested in his baseball career. He struggled with fitting in at school, but had some good friends. The struggles often revolved around issues of personal identity. As a biracial teen being raised by white parents, he often felt that the Black portion of identity was something he should hide. Inspired by a friend's hair, he goes to a lot of trouble to get cornrows braided, even though his hair wasn't long enough and the rubber bands used hurt so much that he had to take the style out. His parents thought that look wasn't "professional" enough. There are many microaggressions from all sides, and he wasn't sure how to deal with these. He finds a girl in whome he is interested, only to be encouraged to date a different girl. This is a fascinating look into how past experiences can cement the idea of activism in a young person's mind, and highlights why Kaepernick was so adamant about standing his groung when he took a knee during a professional football game, even though it eventually meant the loss of his pro ball career. Additional information, complete with color photos, explains what the former athlete is going now, including his Know Your Rights camps for athletes of color. 

Caicedo's graphic novel style is more young adult than cartoonish, with long, lean characters, subtle coloring, and expressive, realistic faces. He does a great job of capturing movement on the page, and in conveying emotions. This is a slim volume, but really packs a punch. 

Since I was not really very familiar with Kaepernick, other than his frequent appearances in the news in 2016, I could have used more information about his family life. The role of his parents was critical in the book, and I was not aware that he was adopted as an infant. Since today's readers would have been very young when he made headlines because of his social activism, a little more explanation would have been helpful. 

Readers who love all things sports related and who have enjoyed graphic novels like Smith's Victory. Stand!, Wilson's Play Like a Girl and Tavares' Hoops will love seeing Kaepernick's games related in full color, and those who like biographies, like Wetzel's Epic Athletes series including Steph Curry and LeBron James, will find the details of Kaepernick's high school career inspiring. 

Just Keep Walking and Just Do This One Thing For Me

Downing, Erin Soderberg. Just Keep Walking
February 6, 2024 by Scholastic Press
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Jo Conlan and her mother Sarah have decided to hike the Superior Hiking Trail in Minnesota. Jo was supposed to do this hike with her father in the summer before seventh grade, just as her older brother Jake did, but since her parents have recently divorced and her father has a new girlfriend, he is choosing to spend time with her and her children. Emotions are still running high, and even though her mother is not an active outdoorsy person, and claims she might cry every day, the two set off to walk 100 miles. This is a bit more than her father and Jake hiked, and the two plan to end their trip with a gondola ride down out of the mountains. Carrying a heavy pack and hiking with poles is a bit of a challenge, and Jo hadn't wanted to hike around the neighborhood looking like a dork to practice. The first day is only nine and a half miles, but everything hurts. She's twisted her ankle, and is pretty miserable. She and her mother don't talk a whole lot, and after three days, Jo is concerned that her mom will give up. They don't run into too many people on the trail, but do get reinforcements delivered to them by the mom's friends Regina. The trip looks a little less grim when they run into a former student of her mother's, Julia, and her girlfriend Maddie. The two are just in between Jo's age and her mom's, so they make a good group. Since they are now a bit more used to the pack carrying and time spent on their feet, the journey is easier, and having two other people, as well as a dog, helps. Jo even is able to have a heart-to-heart with her mother about what happened between her and her father. Unfortunately, Sarah falls near a latrine one night and hurts her ankle badly enough that she has to be helped out to the road, where fellow hikers kindly stop, interrupt their day, and get her to safety. Julia asks if Jo would like to continue with them, and her mother agrees. It's lonelier without her mother, but Jo is bound and determined to prove to her father, and to herself, that she can hike what she planned. Despite bear and moose sightings, outdoor latrines, and an almost overpowering miasma of personal body odor, will Jo be able to finish her hike and find some inner peace?
Strengths: One of my goals, which I may not manage to make, is to walk the Coast-to-Coast trail in England. What I really liked about this was that it wasn't really a tail of survival; there was plenty of support, other people around, and even though there was a bear sighting, there wasn't any real danger. Outdoor athletics (and yes, hiking is a sport!) are more often than not quite safe, if one is prepared. I loved that Downing and her son went along the same trail in order to do research for the book! The details about what to pack, what the trail is like, the aches and pains one might have, how it feels to hike in the rain, and the type of food that gets eaten and great to read. Younger readers will vibrate more to Jo's emotions about her father; my soul is dead and I wake up assuming that by the end of the day, everyone I care about could be dead, so the drama was lost on me. The best past of this was that Jo and her mother had a fairly good time on the trail; there's never any fighting or squabbling, although there are some silences and tears. This seems completely realistic, and it was a relief not to have parental drama.  
Weaknesses: While I understand that Jo is struggling with her emotions about her father, her musings are a bit repetitive at the beginning of the book. I do admire her "just keep walking" attitude; it's one that many of today's middle grade readers would do well to adopt. 
What I really think: Like Bryson's A Walk in the Woods (which made me decide to NEVER walk the Appalachian Trail!), this is a great book to read while sitting in a comfy chair drinking a cup of tea! I'm definitely purchasing a copy and will hand it to readers who enjoyed Hashimoto's The Trail, Behren's fantastic Alone in the Woods or Disaster Days, or Terri Lynn Johnson's dog sledding books! Now, I should take a look at my plans for Wainright's Coast-to-Coast, although I don't know that this will ever happen. It's still fun to think about! 

Zimmerman, Laura. Just Do This One Thing For Me
August 22, 2023 by Dutton Books for Young Readers
Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central

Drew's mother, Heidi, leaves a lot to be desired as a mother. Her main source of income is to review products she gets for free and then sells, but she also has child support for Drew's younger brother Lachlan (under the guise of working for the orthodontist who is Lock's real father), and illegal Social Security payments for her mother, Sharon, who has been dead for several years. She splits these with her even sketchier sister, Krystal. Heidi is not overly interested in raising Drew, Lock, or middle sister Carna, and leaves most of the details of child and house care to Drew, who is a senior in high school and is counting the days until she can escape to the University of Wisconsin. When Heidi gets tickets to go to a Justin Timberlake concert in Mexico, she has no qualms about leaving the kids for a week, and Drew is used to it. The three kids spend Christmas with the girl's father, Malcolm, and his girlfriend Stephanya. When it turns out that her mother's flight was canceled, Drew is a little worried that she isn't in touch, but there are other distractions. Krystal has tried to fill a prescription for marijuana muffins in the grandmother's name, which has alerted the authorities, and an agent shows up asking to speak to the grandmother and Heidi. Drew manages to put him off. When Carna comes across Heidi's body in the garage, the girls are not quite sure what to do. Drew knows that if they alert the authorities, the kids will be split up, and since she has been dealing with most of the parental chores, and the weather is freezing, they decide not to tell anyone about Heidi's death, which seems to have been caused by a free hazelnut latte. (Heidi was allergic, but cavalier about it.) It's not easy to pretend to the world that Heidi is still alive; it involves putting off the investigative agent, texting Heidi's friends as if she were alive, and going to school while trying to run Heidi's internet review business. As time passes, Drew manages to find someone to cremate Heidi's body and not say anything; they pay him enough money from a stash of Heidi's stowed in a gun cabinet that he would be in trouble if anyone found out. Drew has a boyfriend, Darden, who is occasionally useful, and with whom she doesn't want to split, and he's another level of complexity. Things go along well for a while, but can't go on forever. When the investigative agent manages to get some real dirt on Heidi, it propels the girls into staging Heidi's death and relying on unexpected resources to continue to be together. 

I've read a couple of middle grade novels about children covering up dead relatives (Pennypacker's 2012 The Summer of the Gypsy Moths, and Jones' 2021 Six Feet Below) that didn't seem believable for various reasons. This is definitely a Young Adult novel, based on the frequent use of the f-word, but the fact that Drew turns 18 during the book does help make this seem more realistic. It was also a good inclusion to portray Heidi as a loving but completely self centered mother who had relied on Drew for far too long. Even the fact that she didn't take her own hazelnut allergy seriously made me feel much better about her death, and the girls' refusal to tell anyone about it. Zimmerman cleverly thought through ALL the details. 

It was heartbreaking that Lock is just eight, and that Drew is completely devoted to making sure he doesn't realize how unstable their home life was with their mother, and the lengths she goes to to insure that he always feels loved and wanted. Carna's sullenness and small acts of defiance (she gets a tattoo) also are perfectly drawn; she knows that the most likely outcome for her is to go live with Malcolm out in the woods, which would be most unpleasant. 

The adults who deal with the children are all half a bubble off; their father isn't very interested in them; their aunt is involved in two many illegalities of her own, and Lock's father has never even seen his son. Darden's family tries to help, but can't possibilty understand Dew's difficult circumstances. A greatly misguided guidance counselour, who is not helpful to Drew's college application process, ends up unwittingly finding a solution to keeping the family together! I very much enjoyed the fact that these individuals were never depicted as being terrible people, just people whose own lives seemed to be working at cross purposes to Drew's! 

I loved Zimmerman's My Eyes Are Up Here, but I can't quite think of other Young Adult Titles that have this exact amalgamation of circumstances. Killborn's Safe Harbor, Walters' King of Jam Sandwiches,  or Paulsen's memoir Gone to the Woods have a similar blend of dire family circumstances and teenage resiliency and initiative. There was something about Just Do This One Thing For Me that was tremendously interesting, and I'm sure it will be a huge hit with high school readers. 

Between Two Brothers

Allen, Crystal. Between Two Brothers
January 23, 2024 by Balzer + Bray

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Isaiah "Ice" Abernathy and his older brother Seth have always been exceptionally close. As they start 8th grade and 12th grade, respectively, Ice feels that he is not getting to spend as much time with his older brother, and knows that he will miss him. Seth runs cross country, and is hoping to get a good scholarship at Texas A and M. He's even gotten a job at a local law firm to earn some money. Ice works a lot on the family farm, and is thrilled that his parents are finally able to arrange transportation so that he can be part of the school newspaper. He and Zurie Mitchell are the two photographers, and the two develop a supportive friendship. The family attends church every Sunday, and consider it a "family day"; the boys refer to having to stay home together as "Jesus jail". When Ice finds out that Seth has been accepted to start college in January, but his brother hasn't told him, he's very angry, especially since the two haven't been able to spend time together. They have a big fight. All too soon, there's really bad news: Seth's truck has been hit by a semi driven by an employee of Bayou Meat Processing, the company for which his father works as a supervisor. Seth is badly hurt. His brain is swelling, and he is put into a medically induced coma. When he eventually wakes up, he can't move or speak. The family is devastated, and when the father is laid off from his job, things look even more grim. Seth makes some progress, and is eventually sent home, but his care is enormous. The family sues the company, and try to find a way to go forward. Ice has a great idea to help his brother. He'll train to run, and take Seth along with him in a specially designed running stroller. His parents say no, because they think it's too dangerous, but Ice forges their signatures and even steals his father's truck to get to the race. His father follows him, and knows how important the race is. Will the family be able to find some stability, and will Seth ever improve?

Strengths: I loved all of the details of the family's life on their farm, their church home, and the boys' school. They laugh together, make spaghetti dinners, and support each other's endeavors. Of course, realy life isn't that rosy, and Seth's accident is horrifying. I liked that Ice's friend Zurie supported him, and that Seth's best friend still comes to visit and helps Ice out the way that Seth would have. The tone is amazingly upbeat; I've read many similar books about sibling trauma that are soggily sad. The Abernathy's are able to muster a lot of resilience that is good to see. 
Weaknesses: I was enjoying all of the happiness and good things about the Abernathy family, and was sort of hoping that the whole book would be as joyous as the beginning. I know life isn't that way, but things have been so grim lately, that a completely joyous book would not hurt my feelings. 
What I really think: This started out reminding me of Magoon's The Season of Styx Malone, but took a rather sad turn that was based on something that happened to one of Allen's sons. It was upbeat, however, and ended a bit like Van Draanen's The Running Dream. The cover is great, so I will definitely purchase it. 

 

Awake and Mission Manhattan

Krovatin, Christopher. Awake
February 6, 2024 by Scholastic Inc.
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Simon and his family have moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico in an attempt to get away from his sister Rachael, who burned down the family home. Simon has nightmares about it, and his other sister, Aly, spends hours trying to figure out where her sister is. Simon has the ability to sense auras around people, and also to push them to do things by getting into their minds. Aly's powers are a bit vaguer, but even the father is able to move objects with his mind. When Simon goes to school, he's trying very hard just to keep his head down, but when bullies give a fellow student, Lena, a hard time, he steps in and intervenes. Lena also has powers, and when Simon is sleeping, she comes into his dreams and the two comisserate about their powers. After an incident at a street fair where Simon caused some bad things to happen, Lena convinces him that he can use his powers for good and not for evil. The two spend a lot of time in her dreams, and even manage to do good deeds, like convincing the mother of bullying twins to treat them better so that they don't give others trouble. Simon also gives one of the bullies his lunch. With a new friend and more control of his powers, things are looking up for Simon... until Rachel shows up in his dreams. Lena realizes that the building where she appears is in Albuquerque, and the two hunt her down. After being in the hospital after setting the house on fire, Rachael is very angry. She has aligned herself with Colin, a cyberpath who can hack into computers and make things go his way, and Joyce, who has the terrifying power to drain people's energy. Rachael invites Simon to come and "have fun" with her group, and they order room service and stay in a hotel room, but Colin's system didn't quite work, and security comes after them. Simon doesn't feel that he can just let Rachael go, and he and Lena decide to call the police on her. This leads to a terrifying confrontation. Can Simon and Lena find a way to communicate with Rachael before she causes more destruction? 
Strengths: Krovatin has come a long way from his 2012 Gravediggers series, and clearly has done his research in writing a short, punchy horror book that keeps tweens turning the pages. What eleven year old ISN'T worried that older, rebellious sister might suddenly decide to set fire to the house? I loved the sibling dynamics in this, with Aly retreating, and Rachael being the oldest who turns into a "wild child". I also enjoyed Lena, who is willing to be friends with Simon, but refuses to talk about their powers at school. Smart girl. I also love her outfits in the dreams. Why not? This is a little more complicated than, say, K.R. Alexander's scary titles, but I love the innovation. Readers who liked this author's Darkness will be glad to see this new title. 
Weaknesses: Could we please have a book where children have powers and ENJOY them a little more? It's such a fun idea, but there always seem to have horrible complications! 
What I really think: I bought three copies of Krovatin's Red Rover (it's NOT a dog, it's a DEMON) and two of Ablaze, but I may only buy one of this title. It's a little more complicated and philosophical than the other two books. I enjoyed it a lot, but it lacked the quick and easy horror hooks that most of my readers prefer. 

Ponti, James. Mission Manhattan (City Spies #5)
February 6, 2024 by Aladdin
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

The spies are off to Venice, Italy, to a climate convention for young people. Since their cover is being student fellows at the Foundation for Atmospheric Research and Monitoring, it makes perfect sense, but some of them don bee costumes as cover anyway. Rio is assigned to young climate activist Beatriz, who is also Brazilian, and manages to locate a bomb on the water taxi she is taking to go talk to a group of adults. This puts him under suspicion by the police, but endears him to Beatriz. Cairo, meanwhile, is still sorting through his feelings about his mother, Clementine, who is still at odds with his father. When Beatriz has to speak in Washington D.C., the spies notice that there is a pattern of unsettling behavior involving empty buildings, and worry that terrorists want to kidnap Beatriz and hold her in one of the abandoned locations. Does this have something to do with someone who wants to take Beatriz's place as an environmental leader? I don't want to spoil all of the twists and turns in this, so pick up a copy and find out! Since this ends with Clementine spying on all of the children at The Farm, it seems HIGHLY likely there will be at least one more sequel. 

Strengths: I love that this included a big environmental component, just like Gibbs' Fun Jungle books. It's one thing to see student protests around the world; it's quite another to see the nitty gritty of travel and security! The scenes in Venice with masked protestors wheeling a suspicious looking globe into the area was very interesting, and a little bit funny, even though it was a serious situation. The chidlren continue to play well off each other's strengths, and the addition of Cairo, who is struggling to understand what is going on with his mother, is a good one. Another strong addition to a popular series. 
Weaknesses: Oddly, I wanted to spend more time at the Farm. Apparently, I was just not in spy mode when I read this. Totally a "me" problem, as most of my readers are all about a LOT of action, and not just tea by the fire!
What I really think: Five books does make such a nice series, so I wouldn't have been disappointed if this had been wrapped up and we saw something new and exciting from Mr. Ponti, but I also understand the desire to keep a good thing going. These books circulate well, so I will continue to buy them for my school library. 

MMGM- The Liar's Society and I Am, I Can, I Will

It's

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
 at 

Always in the Middle 

and #IMWAYR day 

at

Unleashing Readers

Gerber, Alyson. The Liar's Society (#1)

February 6, 2024 by Scholastic Press

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Weatherby has been raised on the East Coast by her single mother; her father has never been in the picture. She has his journal from his school days, however, and because of this would love to attend the prestigious Boston School so that she can get a glimpse of his world. She is a keen sailor, and competes in regattas with neighbor Skip, who is like an uncle to her. After a competition where she goes against Boston School student Jack Hunt, she comes to the attention of the school and is offered a scholarship. She is a bit conflicted; the sails she used were not regulation, and since she didn't catch that, she technically cheated and shouldn't go to the school. She keeps quiet, and is soon inhabiting the elite world. She meets Teddie, who also sails, and is very nice about loaning her equipment and clothing. Weatherby isn't thrilled to have to partner with Jack, but when he realizes how good her sailing really is, the two form an uneasy friendship. Jack's father is tremendously wealthy and powerful. The family produces nonstick and weather resistant coatings, and have donated a lot of money to the school. They even have an enclave on a nearby island, and host the Boston School students there. When money is hacked out of the school account, however, the trip is postponed. Weatherby is crushed, because the last page of her father's journal is set on the island, and she hopes to go there and find what was on the missing page. There is a secret society that recruits students from the school, the Last Heir, and Jack assumes he will be tapped for it. Oddly, Weatherby is as well, and the two soon join forces with Iris, Pres, and Harper to complete the challenge that the Last Heir sets for them. It takes them to Hart Island, where they uncover information not only about the island, but about Weatherby's past. In doing so, they irritate a lot of powerful people, and it seems likely that these confrontations will continue in another book. 

Strengths: This was a fantastic private school tale with a lot of intrigue, rivalry, and sailing! While I didn't understand much of what Weatherby was doing on the water, I loved how involved in it she was. Her relationship with Jack isn't really an example of the enemies-to-lovers trope that it might have been in a book aimed at older audiences, and it was great to see that they were able to connect despite their differences because they were able to admire the other's sportsmanship. The background characters like Teddie, Iris, and Harper add a lot of depth to the school part of the story, and the mystery was fantastic. A bit of a surprise in the environmental twist that it took, and I also didn't see Weatherby's connections to the Boston School coming! I think this will be a hugely popular title, and it was interesting to see Gerber transition from her usual (and extremely well done) problem novels like Braced and Taking Up Space. I don't have confirmation that there is a second book on the way, but I've seen hints on social media. 
Weaknesses: This takes place in a REALLY rarified environment, and I often didn't feel like I understood what was going on. As much as I like sports in middle grade books, this started with a LOT of sailing. The mystery was the best part of this, and that didn't really surface until the end of the book. I enjoyed this, but would have liked to get to the mystery a bit sooner. 
What I really think: This has been compared to Barnes' Inheritance Games, (or even her The Fixer) which is a good parallel, but I think it will also appeal to reader who like Burkhart's Saddlehill Academy or Matula's Holly Mei series. The illustration style of the cover is PERFECT for upper middle grade, but I wish that Jack had been as equally prominent, because I think this book would appeal to a wide variety of readers, like Carter's Gallagher Girls series. 

Carter, Dr. Cynthia Jacobs, Chamblee, Ruth and Walthall, Steffi (illus.)

I Am, I Can, I Will: A Guided Journal of Self-Discovery for Black Girls

January 16, 2024 by Workman Publishing Company

Copy provided by the Publisher

Marian Wright Edelman, founder of The Children's Defense Fund, said “You can't be what you can't see.” This book helps to change that for Black girls, with its mix of collective biography and writing prompts. 

This is broken into three chapters, based on the phrasing of the title. In the "I Am" chapter, each woman is given a statement that summarizes her most important acchievement and the accompanying text gives more details. We learn about well known figures such as Oprah Winfrey and Kamala Harris, but also Lois Mailou Jones, a Harlem Renaissance artist and Julieanna Richardson, the founder of TheHistoryMakers.Com. There are several pages of writing prompts, suggestions for drawings, and activities that invite reflection in young readers about the qualities of these foremothers. 

The "I Can" chapter looks at qualities that young readers can see in others and manifest in themselves, like courage for overcoming obstacles and helping others. Some of the more familiar faces we seen include Angela Davis and Wilma Rudolph, but there are many more women of whom I have not heard, such as disability rights activist and fashion designer Haben Girma, 18th century human rights advocate Elizabet "Mumbet" Freeman, US family court judge Jane Bolin, and Johnetta Cole, a college president and organization leader. These mini biographies are once again accompanied by activities and full page, full color illustrations of the women described. 

The final section is "I Will", and encourages young girls to think of the things that they can accomplish. Examples include Marine aviator and combat pilot Vernice Armour, viral immunologist and researcherr Kizzy Corbett, and arctic explorer Barbara Hillary. These examples are drawn from many points in time, and cover a wide range of professions and accomplishments. The book doesn't have an index, but does have a good bibliography. 

Collective biographies are always great to have on hand for sparking interest in further reading, and I know that as a middle school student I would have ADORED all of the writing prompts and would not have rested until every single page was filled in. This would also make a good keep sake for motivated readers and writers who put down their middle grad hopes and dreams. Sadly, my favorite women from  history, Margaret Murray Washington and Flemmie Pansy Kittrell were not included, but that just means we need another book like this one. 

Because this is a journal, and empty spaces in books rarely stay empty in the library setting, I will be donating this copy to the 5th Annual African-American Read-In that Lee Rutherford, sixth grade language arts teacher at my school, has been organizing. 

https://www.westerville.k12.oh.us/post-detail/~board/district-news/post/fifth-annual-wcsd-african-american-read-in-event-feb-24

Across So Many Seas

Behar, Ruth. Across So Many Seas

February 6, 2024 by Nancy Paulsen Books 

E ARC Provided by Edelweiss Plus

From the points of view of four different young girls across a span of time going from 1492 to 2003, we see how the effects of forced migration are felt by one family. We first meet Benvenida and her family, who are living in Toledo, Spain at a time when all Jewish residents are forced to leave the country, even though they have been there for generations. Even though some people, including Benvenida's aunts, become conversos and deny their heritage to avoid problems, Benvenida's family chooses to leave and to go to live in Naples, Italy, with the mother's family. The journey out of the country is difficult, although they do meet some kindness along the way. The father dies on the sea voyage, and not everything is good in Naples. Benvenida's uncles and grandfather run a printing company, but soon are forced to leave, ending up in Turkey. In 1923, we meet Reina, who is living in Turkey with her parents and sisters. Her famiy still speaks Spanish. Their neighborhood is diverse, and one of Reina's best friends is Muslim. She is not supposed to talk to Sadik anymore, since she is twelve, but sneaks out with him and plays the oud at a celebration. When her father finds out, he decides to send her with an elderly aunt to Cuba, where he has married her off to an older man who will marry her when she turns 15. We meet her daughter Alegra who becomes a brigadista in the 1960s, when there are two sides to the feelings about Castro's regime. In 2003, at the funeral of Celia Cruz in Miami, we meet Paloma, who is learning all about her family history. Her father is Afro-Cuban, and her mother is the descendent of Benvenida, Reina, and Alegra. Her family is planning a trip to Spain, and once there, she finds even more connections to the past. 

Strengths: Readers who liked the multiple perspectives in Gratz's Refugee will find it fascinating that all of the girls in this book are related. The beginning, set in 1492, offers a good look at history I have not seen covered in middle grade literature. The historical aspect of each story gives just enough information to support the trials of the young girls involved, and there were plenty of cultural details about the family's background. The thread of music throughout the book was a nice touch. 
Weaknesses: It was heartbreaking to see Reina sent from Turkey to Cuba to be married off, but it's also important for young people to know about these practices and to continue fighting for equality. 
What I really think: This is a great choice for readers who liked this author's Letter's From Cuba, Dobbs' The Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna, or Danticat's Behind the Mountain. 

Sunny Makes Her Case

Holm, Jennifer L. and Holm, Matthew. Sunny Makes Her Case (Sunny #5)
February 6, 2024 by Graphix

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

After her amazing summer at the pool in Sunny Makes a Splash, Sunny is back at school. She thinks that it's perfectly reasonable to do nothing but watch The After School Special after school in her wood paneled family room, but her mother thinks she should do something else. Her friend tries out for the cheerleading squad, but since Sunny really had no knowledge of what cheer takes, she doesn't make the squad, while her friend does. She keeps running into Tony (from the pool) at school, and he's clearly interested in her, but they never get too talk very much, since she is always running late to class. Her friend Arun isn't a huge fan of sports, and he and Sunny decide to start a debate team. It's hard to find a faculty sponsor at first, but they eventually recruit a science teacher, who does a great job helping them practice. It doesn't come quite as naturally to Sunny, but she tries hard. She and Arun actually do really well, and when people at school actually notice that the school HAS a debate team, they also have Jason join. Things are fairly calm at Sunny's house; she does talk to her brother (who is stationed abroad) on the phone, and hangs out a little with her grandfather, but we don't see as much of her family. She does go shopping with her mother in order to obtain the perfect outfit for the debate: a powder blue power suit, complete with vest and a bow blouse! Because that's what girls wore in the 1970s! My power suit was rust corduroy! Sunny and her team continue to do well, and she manages to finally connect with Tony. Sigh.

I'm sorry. These books are just so evocative of my own middle school experience that I just can't review them critically! While Ms. Holm is three years younger than I am, she has made Sunny just my age. Do I even need to mention that I was on the speech team in high school?

Strengths: In addition to being a fantastic look at a particular period in history (something which the pictures in graphic novels support nicely), this is a universal story about the constant pull between academics and athletics in schools. I love that Sunny is interested in pursuing debate even though she isn't entirely sure she's good at it, and even though she knows most people in her school don't care. It is not at all surprising that Sunny tries out to be a cheerleader even though she didn't really want to-- even I went to the cheer clinics at the end of 6th grade. There was powerful social pressure in the 1970s to be a cheerleader, and most girls didn't have the background in gymnastics that they do today. I loved the search for the advisor, and the fact that the book is dedicated to two of Holm's teachers. This is a popular series in my library, so I will buy two copies. 
Weaknesses: I would like to see more involvement of Sunny's family, and am voting that the next book be a road trip in a station wagon that includes the grandfather!
What I really think: This is a great examples of writing what you know and LOVE. The inclusion of a picture of Holm and the friend who was in debate with her was fun to see. Pair this with Copeland's Cub for a good look at an underrepresented era in middle grade literature. 
 

Guy Friday- Heroes and Escape Route

Gratz, Alan. Heroes
February 6, 2024 by Scholastic Press

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Frank McCoy's father is in the military and is stationed in Hawaii in 1941. He and his best friend, Stanley Summers spend a lot of their time coming up with ideas for comic books. Stanley is Japanese-American, and has to spend his Saturdays studying Japanese culture at his grandmother's school, but when Frank's sister Ginny's boyfriend invites Frank to visit him on the USS Utah, he's glad to get out of that task. Frank worries about everything, and is particularly worried that Stanley thinks he's a coward because he didn't stand up to two local thugs who were giving Stanley a hard time. At his previous school, there was an incident that left him overly anxious, but he's never told Stanley about it. Both of their families live on base on Ford Island, and the two take a boat over to the Utah. Soon after they arrive and meet Brooks, however, planes fly low over the carrier and start dropping bombs. The Utah is hit, and since the boys are on it, Brooks tries to think of the best way to get them off. It doesn't capsize for a while, but soon does, and they have to go over the side. On their way, they hear men trapped in the hull, tapping out an SOS. They eventually end up in the water, and there are dead bodies, fuel, and more planes shooting at them. They are separated from Brooks, and find his dead body. They make their way back home, helping Joe along the way. When they get back, they find Mrs. Summers frantically trying to bury Japanese heirlooms instead of heading to a nearby underground bunker. They finally convince her to seek shelter when Frank's house is destroyed by a bomb. Frank is glad when he finally gets back to his  mother and sister, but he can't bear to tell Ginny about Brooks. There is little time, as men start coming up from the water, badly injured. Everyone works to do what they can, and nurses from the local hospital do triage by using lipstick to put letters on men's foreheads. Ginny is devastated to find out about Brooks, but there is little time to grieve. Emotions are running high, and some people are not happy to see Stanley. We catch up with the boys a while after December 7th. Stanley's family is being sent away, and Frank's will be sent to the mainland as well. They say their goodbyes and promise to keep in touch, and talk about how they will reconfigure their comic book to show a hero who looks Japanese. The final chapter of the book is their comic, published in 1961, called The Arsenal of Democracy. 

Strengths: No matter how many books about World War II I've read, I always seem to learn something new. I can't say that I've read any books other than Salisbury's Under the Blood-Red Sun (1994) set in Pearl Harbor when it was being attacked. There are lots of good details of the bombs dropping and things exploding; this is what readers who are drawn to war stories seem to like, and I appreciated that there is a very strong sense of the damage that this does to the people involved, so nothing about the war seems glorious. There is some mention that after the bombing, many people lined up to volunteer to fight, but that is what happened. That, and my grandmother went out the next day and stocked up on sugar! The information about what happened to the Japanese Americans in the wake of the attack is vital, and there is some recognition of the fact that there were people of color working as nurses, cooks, and other support positions, which is not always acknowledged. The tie-in with comic books, and the realization that comic books don't always treat "others" well is a nice touch. 
Weaknesses: While Frank's protracted anxiety is on trend for middle grade literature and readers today, I think that if a young boy in 1941 were that anxious, he certainly wouldn't admit it to a friend. 
What I really think: Gratz's books are popular with my patrons, and I liked the fact that this followed both Frank and Stanley without switching to other viewpoints and interrupting the narrative flow, so I will definitely purchase a copy. Apparently can never have enough books about WWII. 

Clarke, Cassandra Rose. Escape Route (Star Trek: Prodigy #3)
August 1, 2023 by Simon Spotlight
Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central

In this third book in the Prodigy series (following A Dangerous Trade and Supernova), we find six members ot the Protostar Federation ship wandering the universe in the escape shuttle, trying to get back to Earth. Dal, an Augment android-type individual, was the captain and Jakhom Pog the navigator. We also have Gwyn, Zero (who uses they/them pronouns), Rok-Tahk, and Murf, who language doesn't translate to the others, so communication is difficult. When the warp drive on their shuttle becomes damaged, they realize that they won't be able to reach Earth until they are all grown ups unless they can fix it. They land on a white moon that seems to be comprised of garbage, Chakkara, and meet local resident Yichirri, who takes them to Amkarja, the leader. The planet is indeed made of waste, and since dangerous chemicals frequently end up there and cause explosions, the underground bunkers where the residents live are in danger. When it turns out that Murf can eat just about anything and neutralize it, the Chakkarans offer to give the crew the parts they need to fix their warp drive in exchange for Murf. Since Murf can't communicate, he is only able to voice his displeasure in whines. The crew feels bad, but is also desperate to return to Earth. What it the best way forward?

Since I haven't seen the Nickolodeon television series or read the first two books, I did have some unanswered questions, like why Murf hasn't picked up any language? Of course, we are dealing with space denizens (I imagine we don't call them aliens anymore, since that has picked up a perjorative sense in the last few years), so there are many subtleties I am missing. This also seems to be the final book in the series, so is more concerned with wrapping up the action than in investigating the different characters. 

Novel adaptations of television programs have been around for years; I may even have a Partridge Family mystery with a young David Cassidy on the cover, but I haven't seen as many of these adaptations recently. There are many novelizations of the Star Wars franchise, but far fewer of the Star Trek one, so this was good to see, even if Janeway was the only character mentioned (she was a hologram on the Protostar) with whom I was familiar! 

Space adventure is always good to find, and the adventures of the Protostar crew will be welcome by readers who navigated space with Sylvester's Miners, Landers' Blastaway, Fry's Space Pirates, and Levy's Seventh Grade vs. the Universe.