Showing posts with label Marvelous MIddle Grade Monday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Marvelous MIddle Grade Monday. Show all posts
Monday, August 26, 2019
MMGM: Charlie Thorne and the last Equation by Stuart Gibbs
ABOUT THE BOOK
Throughout history, the greatest scientists — Einstein, Darwin, Gallileo, Newton — have made discoveries that were too dangerous to trust humanity with, so they hid them. The CIA — and many other people — have been searching for these for decades to no avail.
But now, an evil organization is closing in on the most dangerous discovery of all — an equation developed by Albert Einstein himself that could destroy the world. Desperate, the CIA has no choice but to recruit the most brilliant person they can find to help them: A twelve-year-old genius named Charlie Thorne.
The catch: Charlie isn’t like any genius you’ve ever encountered before. She’s a daredevil. A troublemaker. And possibly a criminal.
Now, Charlie finds herself unwillingly dragged into a perilous mission that will take her from the ski slopes of Colorado to the tundra of Greenland to the secret tunnels underneath Jerusalem. Along the way, she’ll have to crack a series of clues left by Einstein himself. She’ll have no idea who to trust. And her life will be in constant jeopardy.
But she’ll have to survive. Because she’s the only one who can save the world.
REVIEW
Having read a number of Stuart Gibbs books, I was intrigued when I heard about this one. The description of twelve-year-old Charlie Thorne as both a genius and a thief caused me to raise my eyebrows. Definitely a different sort of main character. So I eagerly picked up the book and read it. And I was not disappointed. Gibbs takes the reader on quite the ride along with Charlie and her CIA companions. Charlie isn't entirely likable at first, at least I didn't find her so, even though her intelligence and abilities are impressive. She isn't really using her abilities in a productive way, mostly she's using them to skim through her college courses, and manipulate others. But later in the story after I read her backstory it became clear why Charlie behaves this way. If my parents simply used me to try to make money or get famous I'd probably be self-protective and cynical as well. On top of that is her bitterness toward the company she sent a computer program to, only to have them steal the software and make millions off it. However her stealing from the company and basically ruining them in the process wasn't really the best response. And it's that choice that gets her pulled into the search for Pandora.
Pandora is a supposed equation created by Albert Einstein that supposedly presents a shortcut to creating energy. An incredibly valuable item, if it exists. After seventy years of searching in vain, the CIA is desperate enough to blackmail Charlie into helping them find the equation. Especially since a terrorist group called the Furies is out to find and exploit the equation as well. Charlie agrees to help, reluctantly, but she has her own plans related to the equation, she just has to survive in order to do so.
There is much excitement as Charlie faces off with both the CIA and the Furies in a struggle to survive long enough to find the equation. She makes both good and bad decisions that heavily effect the outcome. There's plenty of science thrown in along with background about Einstein (although how much of this is actually true, I don't know, but Gibbs makes it believable enough for the reader to buy into the story, despite the fabricated parts). I did find myself rooting for Charlie as things heated up and she struggled with both the difficulties before her and her own personal choices. I found it fascinating to follow along as she struggles to work through the little information available to try to figure out where Einstein hid the equation. There is a decent among of information included involving math, physics, and Einstein himself. I found that fascinating but not all young readers will, those who do will be enthralled with Charlie's brilliance and her courage in finding something to care more about than herself for the first time.
A fascinating new book in a series that I look forward to reading more of. I do look forward to reading about Charlie again as she wrestles with some truly immense challenges.
Monday, June 3, 2019
MMGM: Grenade by Alan Gratz
ABOUT THE BOOK
It's 1945, and the world is in the grip of war.
Hideki lives on the island of Okinawa, near Japan. When WWII crashes onto his shores, Hideki is drafted into the Blood and Iron Student Corps to fight for the Japanese army. He is handed a grenade and a set of instructions: Don't come back until you've killed an American soldier.
Ray, a young American Marine, has just landed on Okinawa. He doesn't know what to expect -- or if he'll make it out alive. He just knows that the enemy is everywhere.
Hideki and Ray each fight their way across the island, surviving heart-pounding ambushes and dangerous traps. But when the two of them collide in the middle of the battle, the choices they make in that instant will change everything.
From the acclaimed author of Refugee comes this high-octane story of how fear can tear us apart, and how hope can tie us back together.
REVIEW
Fourteen-year-old Hideki is shocked when he is given two grenades and told to use one to kill American soldiers with it before killing himself with the other one. With no training and scared out of his mind, Hideki hides with the other middle school boys after the Japanese soldiers send them off to fight.
Ray, an eighteen-year-old marine, is stunned by the horrors of combat, both the loss of teammates and how easily the others seem to kill, even those who aren't soldiers. Before long though the shock and fear teach him the concept of kill or be killed. But he can't let go of his morals so easily. As he experiences the horrors of the battle, he begins to collect photographs that he comes across in buildings or on the bodies of the dead. These remind him that all involved are human beings despite their efforts to destroy each other.
Hideki struggles to survive as he flees from battle to cave and eventually to his family's tomb where he watches his father die. His father makes him promise to find his sister, Kimiko, the only remaining member of his family that lives and he sets off to find her. But he can't avoid the fighting and his encounters with both American and Japanese soldiers as well as Okinawan civilians leave him wondering who the monsters really are.
When Ray and Hideki run into each other, only one survives, leaving the other to try to cope.
Alan Gratz has written a powerful story of the horrors of war, but also the resilience of the human soul. The book is compelling and moves quickly from the very first page. Despite the focus on the actions of the characters, Gratz manages to invest the story with powerful themes of humanity in the midst of war, and the incredible dangers of fear. I was reminded once again that no one who experiences it is left untouched by war. To be honest, the book is rather heartbreaking which means it isn't going to suit all readers. Gratz, as usual, does not talk down to his readers, and he uses some of the actual language that would have been used at the time, and he doesn't hesitate to show just how horrific war can be. A powerful war story about survival and hope in the midst of awful conditions that will leave it's mark on those who read it.
Monday, May 27, 2019
MMGM: Lindsay's Joyride (Shred Girls #1) by Molly Hurford
ABOUT THE BOOK
An empowering new series from the cyclist who runs Shred-Girls.com is guaranteed to give readers an adrenaline rush--and the confidence girls gain from participating in sports!
It's time to ride and save the day!
Lindsay can't wait to spend her summer break reading comics and watching superhero movies--until she finds out she'll be moving in with her weird older cousin Phoebe instead. And Phoebe has big plans for Lindsay: a BMX class at her bike park with cool-girl Jen and perfectionist Ali.
Lindsay's summer of learning awesome BMX tricks with new friends and a new bike turns out to be more epic than any comic book--and it's all leading up to a jumping competition.
But some of the biker boys don't think girls should be allowed to compete in BMX. Now it's up to Lindsay, Jen, and Ali to win the competition and prove that anyone can be great at BMX.
REVIEW
I don't read a lot of sports books. Interestingly, while I love watching sports, I don't usually enjoy reading about them. But when I heard this book involved girls and BMX bike riding, I was intrigued. My library needs more sports books and this one sounded like a good choice. While the book is hardly award-worthy literature, it is a fun story about a girl who dreams of being a superhero, only to discover an interest and passion in BMX riding thanks to her cousin. Lindsay isn't comfortable with other kids her age, she prefers to dream of being a superhero, she even trains every day, and reading her beloved comic books. But when she goes to stay with her cousin, Phoebe, she discovers a new world, one that she finds compelling. And finding a new passion also helps her find friends. A decent choice for young readers who are really into bike riding, comics and superheros.
Monday, May 13, 2019
MMGM: A Circle of Elephants by Eric Dinerstein
ABOUT THE BOOK
From the author of What Elephants Know, a 2017 ALA Notable Children's Book and winner of the 2017 South Asia Book Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature, comes this stunning companion novel about the complex relationship between people and nature coexisting in the Borderlands of 1970s Nepal.
Thirteen-year-old Nandu lives in the newly established Royal Elephant Breeding Center on the edge of the jungle. Here, the King's elephants are to be raised under the protective watch of the stable. Nandu-along with his adoptive father Subba-sahib, his mentors, friends, and the rest of the elephant drivers-is tested by man and nature as earthquakes, drought, wild herds, and rumors of poachers threaten the Center.
When Nandu's world is thrown into turmoil, so, too, is the world of Hira Prasad, the Center's powerful bull elephant. An unbreakable bond of brotherhood drives Nandu and Hira Prasad together as they struggle to maintain the delicate natural order of life in the Borderlands.
Dinerstein's poetic prose and scientific expertise come together in this breathtaking tale that transports the reader to the center of dangerous conflicts and heartbreaking friendships.
REVIEW
I really enjoyed Dinerstein's first book about Nandu. When I heard there would be another book about Nandu I was excited to return to the setting and characters I'd grown to care about. This book is just as fascinating and important as the first one. I love books like this one for several reasons. First, they give me a glimpse into a way of life and a culture very different than my own, something I enjoy reading about. Second, I'm a big believer in the need to take better care of the environment and the animals around us. And third, I just love a good story. This story revolves around the live of a young Tibetan boy named Nandu, who was adopted by Subba Sahib, the man who runs the elephant breeding stable Nandu calls home. Nandu's love for his home and the elephants shines through, which I credit the author for, his own passion for his subject is clear. But he does struggle with the tradition of chaining the elephants up, especially in the face of his growing desire to protect the animals that live in the surrounding jungle. When poachers arrive and start killing the rhinos, Nandu is infuriated and desperately wants to help stop them, but to do so would be very risky. But Nandu's heart is tender and he can't just sit back and let the animals die, so with the help of some friends he sets out to do something about it. I enjoyed reading about Nandu's journey as he wrestles with the circumstances in which he finds himself as well as his own conscience. A fabulously told story for those interested in reading about other cultures and the importance of the environment.
Monday, February 11, 2019
NEWBERY MEDAL WINNER REVIEW: Merci Suarez Changes Gears by Meg Medina
ABOUT THE BOOK
Merci Suarez knew that sixth grade would be different, but she had no idea just how different. For starters, Merci has never been like the other kids at her private school in Florida, because she and her older brother, Roli, are scholarship students. They don’t have a big house or a fancy boat, and they have to do extra community service to make up for their free tuition. So when bossy Edna Santos sets her sights on the new boy who happens to be Merci’s school-assigned Sunshine Buddy, Merci becomes the target of Edna’s jealousy. Things aren't going well at home, either: Merci’s grandfather and most trusted ally, Lolo, has been acting strangely lately — forgetting important things, falling from his bike, and getting angry over nothing. No one in her family will tell Merci what's going on, so she’s left to her own worries, while also feeling all on her own at school. In a coming-of-age tale full of humor and wisdom, award-winning author Meg Medina gets to the heart of the confusion and constant change that defines middle school — and the steadfast connection that defines family.
REVIEW
Middle school is a tough time under the best of circumstances. It becomes more difficult once one throws in all the social drama, the pressure of living up to a scholarship, and changing family relationships. Merci is faced with all of these challenges. She attends a private school on a scholarship that requires her to do extra community service. She doesn't really mind this, but she'd rather not be a 'Sunshine Buddy' after her unfortunate experience with the program the year before. Things become even more complicated when she is assigned to be buddies with Michael Clark, the new boy, the boy that Edna Santos likes. Edna's jealousy of Merci leads to even more tension between the two than already existed. At home Edna resents having to spend so much of her time babysitting her annoying twin cousins. She also wonders what's going on with Lolo, her grandfather, that no one wants to talk about. Merci is a fabulous character that one can't help but root for in her efforts to juggle all the difficulties in her life. She doesn't always make the right decisions though and has to face the consequences. I especially enjoyed reading about Merci's family relationships that shine through as the most important thing in Merci's life, even when she's angry and frustrated with them. I'm thrilled to have a Newbery winner that I think middle grade readers are going to love. I don't think I'll have a hard time selling this book at all.
Monday, December 31, 2018
MMGM: The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart
ABOUT THE BOOK
Five years.
That's how long Coyote and her dad, Rodeo, have lived on the road in an old school bus, criss-crossing the nation.
It's also how long ago Coyote lost her mom and two sisters in a car crash.
Coyote hasn’t been home in all that time, but when she learns that the park in her old neighborhood is being demolished―the very same park where she, her mom, and her sisters buried a treasured memory box―she devises an elaborate plan to get her dad to drive 3,600 miles back to Washington state in four days...without him realizing it.
Along the way, they'll pick up a strange crew of misfit travelers. Lester has a lady love to meet. Salvador and his mom are looking to start over. Val needs a safe place to be herself. And then there's Gladys...
Over the course of thousands of miles, Coyote will learn that going home can sometimes be the hardest journey of all...but that with friends by her side, she just might be able to turn her “once upon a time” into a “happily ever after.”
REVIEW
Coyote and Rodeo (her father) live on the road in an old school bus. The school bus has been adapted to meet their needs with places to sleep, sit, and even cook. And for the most part, Coyote is content with this lifestyle that has been hers for the last five years. That changes though when she gets word from her Grandma that the park where she buried a memory capsule with her mother and sisters is being torn up. Coyote desperately wants to retrieve the capsule but she knows her father has no intention of ever returning to the town that reminds him so much of the accident that took the lives of his wife and daughters. So Coyote sets out to manipulate her father into taking her back. The problem is that she only has a week to get herself and her father from Florida to Washington. Along the way, Coyote and Rodeo pick up some passengers, Lester who wants to get to Boise, ID to see his former girlfriend (or does he?), Salvador and his mother who are fleeing an abusive situation, and Val, whose parents have kicked her out. But everything is set in motion by the arrival of a tiny kitten. But can Coyote continue to lie to her father? Especially the closer they get to their former home?
Gemeinhart has written a book that is all heart. Coyote won me over from the first page as she talks about her adoption of Ivan (the kitten). And the idea of living on the road in a school bus is certainly an intriguing one. The other people that Coyote and Rodeo reach out to along the way also helped make the story as strong as it is. Lester, a good guy who loves music and wants to be in a band, but who also cares for his ex-girlfriend and whom Coyote convinces to join them to help drive the bus. Salvador and his mother, who finally left the his father in search of a new job, and who Coyote invites to join them after they help her out of a jam. This is a tender story of a family trying to find their way and extending kindness to others along the way. I could have done without all the swearing/profanity, but those readers who aren't bothered by that will find themselves unable to resist an endearing Coyote and her determination to achieve her goal.
Monday, November 26, 2018
MMGM: The Law of Finders Keepers by Sheila Turnage
ABOUT THE BOOK
Pirates, family, and the truth about Mo's Upstream Mother collide in the conclusion to the Newbery Honor and New York Times bestselling Three Times Lucky.
When the Colonel and Miss Lana share the clues about Mo's watery origins that they've been saving, it seems the time is finally right for the Desperado Detectives (aka Mo, Dale, and Harm) to tackle the mystery of Mo's Upstream Mother. It's the scariest case Mo's had by far. But before they can get started, Mayor Little's mean mother hires them to hunt in her attic for clues to Blackbeard's treasure, which could be buried right in Tupelo Landing. Turns out, the Desperados aren't the only ones looking. A professional treasure hunter named Gabe has come to town with Harm's estranged mother--and soon the race is on, even though the treasure's rumored to be cursed. As centuries- and decades-old secrets are dragged into the light, there isn't a single person in Tupelo Landing quite prepared for all that they uncover. Especially Mo.
The fourth and last book in the Mo & Dale Mystery series and the long-awaited conclusion to Three Times Lucky, The Law of Finders Keepers is a heartbreaking, heartwarming, honest, and hilarious adventure that you can read right after you finish Three Times Lucky.
REVIEW
I have thoroughly enjoyed reading the Mo & Dale Mysteries. Mo is such a fun, fiesty narrator who isn't afraid to share what she thinks, polite or not. Mo, Dale, and Harm make a great mystery solving team. In this book, two mysteries collide when Mo and her friends are asked to find a pirate treasure before the professional treasure hunter can while simultaneously using newly available clues to hunt for Mo's Upstream Mother. But things start going wrong right from the beginning, and one member of the detective team nearly loses his life, the trio wonders if there really is a curse on this treasure. And it isn't looking good for Upstream Mother either as clue after clue leads to a dead end. Can Mo, Dale, and Harm solve their mysteries before they get separated, maybe for good? Once again, Turnage has created a delightful tale full of twists and turns as well as good solid detective work. I've enjoyed the interactions of the characters at least as much as the mysteries themselves. And I'm sad to say goodbye to Mo and her friends and family, but this book wraps things up nicely, although not perhaps in the way Mo would prefer.
Tuesday, November 13, 2018
MMGM: Louisiana's Way Home by Kate DiCamillo
ABOUT THE BOOK
From two-time Newbery Medalist Kate DiCamillo comes a story of discovering who you are — and deciding who you want to be.
When Louisiana Elefante’s granny wakes her up in the middle of the night to tell her that the day of reckoning has arrived and they have to leave home immediately, Louisiana isn’t overly worried. After all, Granny has many middle-of-the-night ideas. But this time, things are different. This time, Granny intends for them never to return. Separated from her best friends, Raymie and Beverly, Louisiana struggles to oppose the winds of fate (and Granny) and find a way home. But as Louisiana’s life becomes entwined with the lives of the people of a small Georgia town — including a surly motel owner, a walrus-like minister, and a mysterious boy with a crow on his shoulder — she starts to worry that she is destined only for good-byes. (Which could be due to the curse on Louisiana’s and Granny’s heads. But that is a story for another time.)
REVIEW
I love to read Kate DiCamillo's books because I always know going in that it's going to be a great story. Some of her stories I love because of the humor, others because of the heart. Louisiana's Way Home is full of heart. After reading Raymie Nightingale I knew that Louisiana's Granny takes her away, but I did not suspect just how heart-wrenching of a journey that Louisiana would end up taking. I immediately empathized with Louisiana at the beginning when she's wrestling with anger toward her Granny for taking her away from her friends and animals. She felt she'd finally found a home and now it's all been taken from her. But her Granny's tooth troubles made it a bit more difficult to be so angry with her as she is in so much pain. Louisiana's resourcefulness is impressive, if rather risky at times.
About halfway through the book, DiCamillo throws in a twist that I did not see coming and that left me as stunned and angry as Louisiana. After everything that Louisiana has already experienced it just seemed so utterly unfair for her to experience such a tremendous blow. And Louisiana struggles greatly with it, as would anyone. But thankfully there are those around her that are willing to show her kindness as she struggles to find her way and figure out just where is home and how will she know it when she finds it. As with her other books, DiCamillo somehow manages to write a story of hope in the face of tragedy and difficult.
Monday, November 5, 2018
MMGM: Squint by Chad Morris & Shelly Brown
ABOUT THE BOOK
Flint loves to draw. In fact, he’s furiously trying to finish his comic book so he can be the youngest winner of the “Find a Comic Star” contest. He’s also rushing to finish because he has keratoconus—an eye disease that could eventually make him blind.
McKell is the new girl at school and immediately hangs with the popular kids. Except McKell’s not a fan of the way her friends treat this boy named Squint. He seems nice and really talented. He draws awesome pictures of superheroes. McKell wants to get to know him, but is it worth the risk? What if her friends catch her hanging with the kid who squints all the time?
McKell has a hidden talent of her own but doesn’t share it for fear of being judged. Her terminally ill brother, Danny, challenges McKell to share her love of poetry and songwriting. Flint seems like someone she could trust. Someone who would never laugh at her. Someone who is as good and brave as the superhero in Flint’s comic book named Squint.
Squint is the inspiring story of two new friends dealing with their own challenges, who learn to trust each other, believe in themselves, and begin to truly see what matters most.
REVIEW
With all the nastiness in the world today, it's refreshing to read a story that focuses on kindness, compassion, and friendship. Flint, isn't comfortable around people, mostly because he can't see them very well and it's hard to read people you can't see well. Plus, he's obsessed with the comic book he is creating to enter in a contest. When McKell, one of the popular crowd, sits with him at lunch one day, he isn't sure what to think. He wonders if it's a joke or if she's there to make fun of him like the rest of her friends do. But it turns out she's there as a result of a YouTube challenge issued by her brother. But neither Flint nor McKell is sure if they can trust the other, McKell hides her visits with Flint, and Flint doesn't know how to respond. But as the two continue to spend time together, they start to see the real in each other. And as difficulties come, their friendship may be the one thing that gets them through it. I'll admit, this one brought tears to my eyes. The struggles of the two main characters are touching, and their relationship struggles as their relationship develops led to feelings of empathy from me. The story feels real in the uncertainties and worries that Flint and McKell must face and in the strengths and weaknesses of all the characters. There is a refreshing amount of depth here that many contemporary stories lack.
Monday, October 29, 2018
MMGM: Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy
ABOUT THE BOOK
She’s twelve. He’s dead. But together they’re going to save the world. Hopefully.
The iconic first book in the bestselling Skulduggery Pleasant series.
Stephanie's uncle Gordon is a writer of horror fiction. But when he dies and leaves her his estate, Stephanie learns that while he may have written horror it certainly wasn't fiction. Pursued by evil forces, Stephanie finds help from an unusual source – the wisecracking skeleton of a dead sorcerer…
REVIEW
With a new book in the series coming out, the Skulduggery Pleasant series is being reprinted with new covers. Not having read the series when it first came out, I was interested in reading it this time. And I was not disappointed. In fact if anything, I was pleasantly surprised at how compelling and interesting the story was. With a main character who happens to be a walking, talking skelton, I figured the book would be more creepy than it turned out to be. Not that there wasn't plenty of creepiness, just that the snappy banter between Skulduggery and Stephanie added humor to the story lessening the creepiness factor a bit. Once the action gets going in the third chapter, it doesn't really let up until the end. While their are brief respites for the characters, they go from one dangerous situation to another after Stephanie is left alone in the house her Uncle Gordon left to her. She discovers magic and evil are alive in the world and joins Skulduggery in seeking her Uncle's killer. But after Skulduggery is captured it's up to Stephanie to determine whether she's really ready to join this dangerous world or whether she should leave it to those with more experience. (We all know what she chooses though, after all, she wouldn't be a main character if she didn't dive in 100%.) The book is clearly British in origin, but other than a few British terms (bonnet for hood, etc.) the story is easy to follow. And once the reader is dragged into the story, there's really no letting go until you know what happens. Now I just need to get my hands on the rest of the series, because this is definitely a series where you don't want to read just one book.
Monday, August 6, 2018
MIDDLE GRADE BOOK REVIEW: Zap by Martha Freeman
Eleven-year-old Luis is left looking for answers after a city-wide blackout leads him to an electrifying mystery in this edge-of-your-seat thriller from Martha Freeman.
Luis Cardenal is toasting a Pop-Tart when a power outage strikes Hampton, New Jersey. Elevators and gas pumps fail right away; soon cell phones die and grocery shelves empty. Cold and in the dark, people begin to get desperate.
Luis likes to know how things work, and the blackout gets him wondering: Where does the city’s electricity come from? What would cause it to shut down?
No one seems to have answers, and rumors are flying. Then a slip of the tongue gives Luis and his ex best friend Maura a clue. Brushed off by the busy police, the two sixth graders determine they are on their own. To get to the bottom of the mystery, they know they need to brave the abandoned houses of Luis’s poor neighborhood and find the homeless teen legend known as Computer Genius. What they don’t know is that someone suspects they know too much, someone who wants to keep Hampton in the dark.
In this electrifying mystery, two can-do sleuths embark on a high-tech urban adventure to answer an age-old question: Who turned out the lights?
REVIEW
When the electricity goes out in Hampton, New Jersey, Luis isn't concerned at first. After all, most of the time such outages are temporary. It seems like a good chance to enjoy being out of school. He's more concerned about completing his science fair project in hopes of winning the prize. But as days go by with the power still out, and authorities seemingly clueless about how to fix it, Luis becomes curious. After helping his friend Maura get her grandfather to the hospital after he suffers a stroke, he hears something that makes him curious and he starts to investigate. With the help of a local homeless teen named Computer Genius, Luis and Maura get closer to figuring out the cause of the outage. But looting, rioting, and expensive supplies are making it difficult to move around town safely. And someone doesn't want Luis and Maura discovering the source of the outage. I enjoyed this book for several reasons. First, the main character is the son of immigrants who live in a disintegrating part of town. Numerous Spanish phrases and references to life in this geographically segregated area are eye-opening. Luis has spent a lot of time exploring the abandoned houses in his neighborhood and Computer Genius lives in one of these houses. Interestingly, the character of Luis is based on the real life and experiences of a friend of the author (he comments on this at the end of the book). The second part of the book that I liked was the information about electricity and hacking that is blended into the story. This makes the book especially appropriate for use in STEM classes. I learned quite a bit about the power grid and computer coding that I didn't know. This is a fun mystery as well with a great main character.
Monday, July 16, 2018
MMGM: Breakout by Kate Messner
ABOUT THE BOOK
Nora Tucker is looking forward to summer vacation in Wolf Creek--two months of swimming, popsicles, and brushing up on her journalism skills for the school paper. But when two inmates break out of the town's maximum security prison, everything changes. Doors are locked, helicopters fly over the woods, and police patrol the school grounds. Worst of all, everyone is on edge, and fear brings out the worst in some people Nora has known her whole life. Even if the inmates are caught, she worries that home might never feel the same.
Told in letters, poems, text messages, news stories, and comics--a series of documents Nora collects for the Wolf Creek Community Time Capsule Project--Breakout is a thrilling story that will leave readers thinking about who's really welcome in the places we call home.
REVIEW
Nora Tucker and her best friend, Lizzie Bruno are looking forward to the end of the school year. The upcoming field day will provide Nora a chance to prove her running skills and earn her the chance to throw water balloons at the principal. The cookout and other activities promise to make the day a fun way to end the school year. But the arrival of Elidee Jones who runs faster than Nora and the escape of two inmates from the local prison change everything. Told through letters, poems, newspaper articles, transcripts of 'recordings', and texts, Breakout, tells the story of not only Nora, Lizzie, and Elidee, but the story of this small town that revolves around the prison. The girls face the fears associated with having two murderers on the loose, but also the prejudices of not only themselves, but those around them.
I enjoyed this book immensely. Not only did I like the format (although not everyone will) but I enjoyed the characters and the themes. Themes related to friendship, racism, white privilege, and the justice system pervade the book, but not in overwhelming ways. As Nora's eyes start to open to the biases of those around her, she starts to see things she never noticed before. And as she points out at the end of the book, she can't go back to the way things were before, and that's a good thing. I also appreciated the unique voice of each girl. Nora is a bit nosy and blunt in her observations and perspective. Lizzie has a snarky voice, and she enjoys comedy and writing parody articles for Nora's practice newspaper. Elidee struggles to find a place in this new place, but finds inspiration in copying the patterns in the beautiful poetry she reads. Reading her poems even inspired me to go looking for the works of the poets she references.
Messner has written an excellent novel that makes for both an enjoyable read, and a social commentary on current issues.
Monday, June 18, 2018
MMGM: The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani
ABOUT THE BOOK
It's 1947, and India, newly independent of British rule, has been separated into two countries: Pakistan and India. The divide has created much tension between Hindus and Muslims, and hundreds of thousands are killed crossing borders.
Half-Muslim, half-Hindu twelve-year-old Nisha doesn't know where she belongs, or what her country is anymore. When Papa decides it's too dangerous to stay in what is now Pakistan, Nisha and her family become refugees and embark first by train but later on foot to reach her new home. The journey is long, difficult, and dangerous, and after losing her mother as a baby, Nisha can't imagine losing her homeland, too. But even if her country has been ripped apart, Nisha still believes in the possibility of putting herself back together.
REVIEW
Nisha likes her life except for one thing. Her mother died when she and her twin brother Amil were born. When she is given a diary for her twelveth birthday, she decides to write letters to her mother. Life in her village isn't perfect but it isn't bad either. She and her brother attend the local school where she has no real friends and her brother is bullied but she gets to help out the family cook, Kazi prepare the meals. Her father is a doctor who works at the local hospital and while he isn't particularly tender, he does take care of them, even though he has little patience for Amil's learning difficulties.
But things take a sudden turn when India gains her independence and tensions between Muslims and Hindus explode into violence. With a mother who was Muslim and a father who is Hindu, Nisha doesn't understand why this is happening. Why people who used to get along, don't anymore. The announcement that India will be split into two separate countries (India and Pakistan) the violence gets worse. Nisha learns that her family is going to have to leave the only home she's ever known because Hindus are no longer welcome in what will soon be Muslim-dominated Pakistan. Heart-broken and confused, Nisha must leave behind most of what she's ever known, including her beloved Kazi. The journey itself is difficult for everyone but meeting her mother's brother offers a spark of hope.
I really enjoyed reading this book and not only because it takes place outside of the United States. Nisha is a fabulous character, who though she's growing up is still a child in many ways. She wants to know what the adults are whispering about, but once she finds out, she doesn't understand it and it scares her. She gets along with her brother most of the time, but they get on each other's nerves sometimes too. And Nisha struggles with her own personal weaknesses as well, including shyness. I appreciated the fact that the problems in Nisha's life aren't all solved by the end of the book. While things are better, her life has still almost completely changed. Yet hope remains alive and well despite all the heartache and changes in Nisha's life.
Monday, May 14, 2018
MMGM: The Creature of the Pines by Adam Gidwitz
ABOUT THE BOOK
Elliot Eisner isn't exactly excited about starting at a brand-new school in a brand-new town; he'd much rather stay at home and read a book. But things take an unexpected turn when he finds out his weird new teacher, Professor Fauna, has planned a field trip for Elliot's very first day. Along with a new friend--brave, outspoken Uchenna Devereaux--Elliot gets caught up in a secret group of adventurers, The Unicorn Rescue Society, whose goal is to protect and defend the world's mythical creatures. Together with Professor Fauna, Elliot and Uchenna must help rescue a Jersey Devil from a duo of conniving, greedy billionaires, the Schmoke Brothers.
REVIEW
I'm always on the lookout for fantasy/speculative books for middle grade readers that aren't really long and difficult. Not all readers are ready or able to take on Harry Potter or The Lightning Thief. So I was really interested when I heard about this series. And it didn't disappoint. With a couple of fun, but quite different characters combined with an unusual mentor and a delightful mythological creature at the heart of things, The Creature of the Pines works well for younger readers. The story is intriguing from the first when Elliot climbs on the school bus for the field trip on his first day of school and meets Uchenna Devereaux. She's the only person who looks remotely friendly, but her tendency to play musical instruments in the air is a little off putting. But their friendship is really cemented when they venture into the Pine Barrens with their class and stumble across a young Jersey Devil, the last thing they expected to find. And they certainly didn't intend to take the creature on the bus with them or accidentally turn in loose in the middle of the city. Professor Fauna seems to be the only one who can help, but he's a bit unusual himself and downright terrifying at times. This book makes for a fun read for reluctant readers who need some humor mixed in with their excitement and love the idea of magical creatures existing all around us.
Monday, March 5, 2018
MMGM: The Journey of Little Charlie by Christopher Paul Curtis
ABOUT THE BOOK
Newbery Medalist Christopher Paul Curtis brings his trademark humor and heart to the story of a boy struggling to do right in the face of history's cruelest evils.
Twelve-year-old Charlie is down on his luck: His dad just died, the share crops are dry, and the most fearsome man in Possum Moan, Cap’n Buck, says Charlie’s dad owed him a lot of money. Fearing for his life, Charlie strikes a deal to repay his father’s debt by accompanying Cap’n Buck to Detroit in pursuit of some folks who have stolen from him. It’s not too bad of a bargain for Charlie . . . until he comes face-to-face with the fugitives and discovers that they escaped slavery years ago and have been living free. Torn between his guilty conscience and his survival instinct, Charlie needs to figure out his next move—and soon. It’s only a matter of time before Cap’n Buck catches on.
REVIEW
One of the things I've always loved about Christopher Paul Curtis's books is the way he brings his characters to life. Before I was two chapters into the book, Little Charlie was feeling awfully real to me. The use of dialect though challenging to read at first added to the vision in my mind of a large-in-stature, but rather naive in experience, twelve-year-old boy. But as Little Charlie faces the loss of his father, the loss of his home, and being forced into working with a man he's heard nothing but evil about, his naivety gets left behind. Although not as fast as I wanted it to. One of the things that happens to me when I really start to care about a character, is that I want to talk to them and give them advice. That's impossible of course, but it makes the book all the more compelling as I fly through the pages wanting to know what happens next. Charlie's experiences traveling with Cap'n Buck slowly open his eyes to the true purposes of their trip and he's forced to decide just what he's going to do about it. As with all of Curtis's books, this one leaves the reader thinking about his/her own journey and the choices we make along the way. And frankly the book is a powerful reminder of just what great evil exists in the form of slavery. There were a few things that were harder to read, but being historical couldn't be left out if the story was to be as potent as it had the power to be. Curtis has written another powerful tale of a young man forced to grow into manhood too soon. I'd definitely put this on my favorites list. This is also bound to be a book strongly in contention for the Newbery Medal in a year's time.
Monday, February 26, 2018
MMGM: The Book of Boy by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
ABOUT THE BOOK
Boy has always been relegated to the outskirts of his small village. With a large hump on his back, a mysterious past, and a tendency to talk to animals, he is often mocked and abused by the other kids in his town. Until the arrival of a shadowy pilgrim named Secondus. Impressed with Boy’s climbing and jumping abilities, Secondus engages Boy as his servant, pulling him into an expedition across Europe to gather the seven precious relics of Saint Peter. Boy quickly realizes this journey is not an innocent one. They are stealing the relics, and gaining dangerous enemies in the process. But Boy is determined to see this pilgrimage through until the end—for what if St. Peter can make Boy’s hump go away?
This compelling, action-packed tale is full of bravery and daring, stars a terrific cast of secondary characters, and features an unlikely multigenerational friendship at its heart. Memorable and haunting, Catherine Gilbert Murdock’s epic medieval adventure is just right for readers of Sara Pennypacker’s Pax, Adam Gidwitz’s The Inquisitor’s Tale, and Pam Muñoz Ryan’s Echo.
Features a map and black-and-white art throughout.
REVIEW
Medieval stories aren't really my favorites, but I'd heard good things about this one so I decided to pick it up. Unfortunately, it turned out to be not really my thing. The book does have plenty of good things going for it though. The writing is excellent, the plot compelling, and the characters intriguing. The details about life at the time including disease, injury, and religious beliefs are all well presented. Those who enjoyed The Inquisitor's Tale will probably like this one, the two books have a similar type of story with similarly unique characters. The problems I had with this one are similar to the problems I had with The Inquisitor's Tale and relate to my own religious beliefs. I'm not a fan of stories that involve taking liberties with religious beliefs, people, and organizations. That very much happens here in relation to ideas about hell, angels, and 'earning' one's way to heaven by collecting so-called religious relics. And the fact that Secondus is stealing the relics with Boy's help doesn't make me feel any better. The book may be considered a Newbery contender by some, but I'm afraid that like The Inquisitor's Tale, this one is going to have a very selective audience. Specifically those who like unusual stories that take place in a hard-to-relate-to time period with rather unusual religious aspects to it. I have a hard time getting kids to pick up historical fiction as it is, I'm afraid this one might be a hard sell despite how well done it is.
Monday, October 30, 2017
MMGM: A Properly Unhaunted Place by William Alexander
ABOUT THE BOOK
Rosa Ramona DÃaz has just moved to the small, un-haunted town of Ingot—the only ghost-free town in the world. She doesn’t want to be there. She doesn’t understand how her mother—a librarian who specializes in ghost-appeasement—could possibly want to live in a place with no ghosts. Frankly, she doesn’t understand why anyone would.
Jasper Chevalier has always lived in Ingot. His father plays a knight at the local Renaissance Festival, and his mother plays the queen. Jasper has never seen a ghost, and can’t imagine his un-haunted town any other way. Then an apparition thunders into the festival grounds and turns the quiet town upside down.
Something otherworldly is about to be unleashed, and Rosa will need all her ghost appeasement tools—and a little help from Jasper—to rein in the angry spirits and restore peace to Ingot before it’s too late.
REVIEW
So many fantasy novels these days are thick and detailed. This is great for avid readers, but makes it challenging for fantasy-loving reluctant readers. So, I am delighted to be able to highly recommend this less than 200 page fantasy. Rosa and Jasper make for delightful main characters who are faced with a rather large problem. At first it appears that Ingot doesn't have any ghosts, which troubles Rosa considering appeasing ghosts is what her mother does best, and something she has gotten involved with as well. But after her father's embarrassing death, maybe that's what her mother wants. But Rosa misses the business of the big city, including the hauntings.
Jasper, on the other hand, has lived his whole life in Ingot, a town without hauntings of any kind. But as he is showing Rosa around the town's famous Renaissance Faire, a haunted, upside-down tree comes stampeding through the fair. Rosa does her best to stop it, but without her tool belt, she isn't properly prepared for it. What is clear is that something is going on, and the Ingot may not be as unhaunted as everyone thinks. And it may be up to Rosa and Jasper, to appease some very angry ghosts before absolute disaster strikes.
This well-written book is entertaining with lots of interesting twists and turns, as well as a fantasy trope, turned on its head. In most ghost stories, the main characters are seeking to get rid of ghosts, but not in Rosa's world. In Rosa's world, hauntings are the norm, and a town without them is the anomaly. The story moves quickly with the kind of plot that works perfectly for young readers. A great addition for most libraries.
Monday, October 23, 2017
MMGM: Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus/Ban This Book/The Loser's Club
ABOUT THE BOOK
Aven Green loves to tell people that she lost her arms in an alligator wrestling match, or a wildfire in Tanzania, but the truth is she was born without them. And when her parents take a job running Stagecoach Pass, a rundown western theme park in Arizona, Aven moves with them across the country knowing that she’ll have to answer the question over and over again.
Her new life takes an unexpected turn when she bonds with Connor, a classmate who also feels isolated because of his own disability, and they discover a room at Stagecoach Pass that holds bigger secrets than Aven ever could have imagined. It’s hard to solve a mystery, help a friend, and face your worst fears. But Aven’s about to discover she can do it all . . . even without arms.
REVIEW
I've found a new book for my favorite book's shelf. I absolutely loved this book, so bare with me while a gush a bit. I even read it to my sixth graders and they loved it too. Aven is such a wonderful character, so full of heart and determination and a willingness to try. What makes it even better is that her parents are so there for her, in fact they are responsible for teaching her that having no arms is no excuse for not trying. They've taught her to do for herself as much as she can. But moving to Arizona, away from all her friends, isn't what Aven expected. And she gets tired of all the stares she gets at her new school. She even avoids the cafeteria so that the students don't see her eating with her feet.
In her efforts to avoid the cafeteria Aven visits the library where she meets Connor, a fellow outcast, who happens to have Tourette's Syndrome. His barking embarrasses him immensely, especially when the other students make fun of him. But as Aven and Connor become better friends they start helping each other grow stronger. And when Zion, another so-called 'freak' joins the group things start to look up for Aven.
At the same time, Aven is adjusting to her new home at Stagecoach Pass, a falling apart western theme park that her parents are now managing. When there appears to be a mystery surrounding the owner of the theme park, Aven recruits Connor and Zion to help her solve it. But the mystery takes a rather unexpected turn, leading Aven to wonder about her past as well as her future.
I loved the humor that Aven uses to cope with the challenges in her life. But it's her strong spirit and desire to help others that carries the day. This is one of my favorite books of the year and one I plan to share over and over, not just because the character is disabled but doesn't it stop her, but because of the relationships that shine through so beautifully, flaws and all.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Sixth grader Alec can't put a good book down. So when Principal Vance lays down the law--pay attention in class, or else--Alec takes action. He can't lose all his reading time, so he starts a club. A club he intends to be the only member of. After all, reading isn't a team sport, and no one would want to join something called the Losers Club, right? But as more and more kids find their way to Alec's club--including his ex-friend turned bully and the girl Alec is maybe starting to like--Alec notices something. Real life might be messier than his favorite books, but it's just as interesting.
With The Losers Club, Andrew Clements brings us a new school story that's a love letter to books and to reading and that reminds us that sometimes the best stories are the ones that happen off the page--our own!
REVIEW
In this delightful story about readers uniting to do what they love, Alec also faces normal 6th grade challenges. He wrestles with his interest in Nina, the girl who helped him form his club. On top of that he faces off with his former friend, who is also determined to win Nina over. Plus, he has to come up with a way to present his club's activity to the parents for the upcoming open house. Suddenly, what he intended as a way to get away with reading as much as he wants has become a lot more work than he ever planned. Alec was easy for me to relate to seeing as how I too love to read. And finding a balance between school, reading, and friends is a common problem for other book lovers as well. Once again, Andrew Clements has written a book that young readers will be able to easily relate to and enjoy.
ABOUT THE BOOK
An inspiring tale of a fourth-grader who fights back when her favorite book is banned from the school library--by starting her own illegal locker library!
It all started the day Amy Anne Ollinger tried to check out her favorite book in the whole world, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, from the school library. That's when Mrs. Jones, the librarian, told her the bad news: her favorite book was banned! All because a classmate's mom thought the book wasn't appropriate for kids to read.
Amy Anne decides to fight back by starting a secret banned books library out of her locker. Soon, she finds herself on the front line of an unexpected battle over book banning, censorship, and who has the right to decide what she and her fellow students can read.
Reminiscent of the classic novel Frindle by Andrew Clements for its inspiring message, Ban This Book is a love letter to the written word and its power to give kids a voice.
REVIEW
I knew when I picked up this book that it would probably make me angry, I am a librarian after all. And I was right, it did make me angry. As a librarian, I am well aware that not every book fits every reader, but for one person to dictate to everyone else what they should allow their children to do is just wrong. Especially when the whole book hasn't even been read. I found myself seriously cheering for Amy Anne's courage as she provided books for her classmates on the sly. I couldn't approve of this as a teacher, but as a reader I was with her 100%.
It all starts when Amy Anne goes to the library to check out her favorite book only to discover that it's been taken off the shelf because a parent objected to it. When she goes to the school board meeting with Mrs. Jones the librarian, she finds herself unable to find her voice, and her book along with a bunch of others are banned (or 'removed' as the school board justifies). What especially irritate me at this point is that the board is ignoring it's own policies to satisfy this parent, and none of the board members have read the books they are having removed.
But when Amy Anne informs her friends of what has happened, they form a group to resist by providing the banned books secretly from Amy Anne's locker. But as word spreads about the illegal library, the risk of discovery becomes greater. And Amy Anne can't help but suspect the activist parent's son of possible betrayal. When things come to a head, it's up to Amy Anne and her friends to find their voice before there are no books worth reading left in the library.
I'm glad I read this book, it demonstrates wonderfully the dangers of censorship and book banning. This is also a great story about a young girl learning to find her own voice in a world she feels ignores her, which ends up helping her out at home as well as at school.
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