Fans of adventure and survival stories will love this one [3.5 for me!], which features three cousins who must fend for themselves in the Sequoia NatiFans of adventure and survival stories will love this one [3.5 for me!], which features three cousins who must fend for themselves in the Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park in California. The youngsters, Owen, Vivian, and Amy are spending the night all on their own near a lake while their parents--his father and their mother--are camping on the other side of the mountain. What begins as a small step toward independence after the family's hike ends up becoming a struggle for survival after an earthquake closes off the trail. With little food and water but plenty of determination, the youngsters take the long way around the park, facing various challenges, including rugged terrain and a bear, as well as some of their own demons about life back home. While some of the nicknames and encounters grew a bit tiresome, most of the text was riveting, keeping readers guessing about whether the cousins would be able to make it to safety--and at what price? It's a good thing that they knew more than the usual facts about surviving in the wilderness or else the ending could have been quite different. The author's decision to focus on their journey and not go back and forth between the youngsters and the adults makes the book even more suspenseful and appropriate for its intended audience. The inclusion of a map of the area allows readers to see just how treacherous their trek was. ...more
This middle-grade novel [3.5 for me!] has so many quotable passages or golden lines as well as three characters that will touch readers' hearts with tThis middle-grade novel [3.5 for me!] has so many quotable passages or golden lines as well as three characters that will touch readers' hearts with their individual plights. The way the book is structured reminds me in many respects of Louis Sachar's classic Holes although there is no work camp for kids or incarceration or unrequited love in this one. But as is the case with Holes, there are parts of the narrative that seem at first to have no connection until suddenly, they do. Tildy has lost the amber necklace her mother gave her, and fears that her mother will leave once again. Leon fears losing his grandmother after his grandfather died, and he's desperately trying to communicate with the man's spirit to lift her out of the Depths of Despair. (I love how this is capitalized throughout the narrative.) And Nell is on an impromptu road trip with her mother after their house in Florida was destroyed by a hurricane. Nell wants to go home where she has happy memories of times with her other mom. Beneath all these different kinds of losses are raw emotions and complex feelings about safety, belonging, and family as well as attachments to things that seem terribly important. Parts of the story are stronger than others, but this one is certainly worth a read as even older readers will find themselves thinking about what matters most in their own lives. The author effectively balances humor and heartache, and readers will miss these characters and the small town where all this takes place once all the loose ends are tied up. ...more
Prankster and social media star Tommy Harding has arranged for his senior class to have access to Sunny World, a Florida theme park, after it closes fPrankster and social media star Tommy Harding has arranged for his senior class to have access to Sunny World, a Florida theme park, after it closes for the day. It's hard to see what his followers--not to mention the girls he's stringing along--find attractive about him since he seems self-centered, impulsive, cruel, and dishonest, as painted in this novel. Every move he makes is calculated, intended to gain more likes, followers, and attention, while keeping his longtime girlfriend, Kiara, in line. But when all the romantic balls he's been juggling unexpectedly come down on his head, his deceitfulness is revealed online, Tommy ends up dead, and suspicion falls on the three girls with whom he's been involved. Honestly, it's hard to care about his death since he seems to have betrayed everyone around him. Since the story is told from multiple points of view [the three girls: Kiara, Priscilla, and Nevaeh, readers are treated to each of their perspectives and their possible motivations for doing him in. But this doesn't save the book since the girls are stereotypes, and readers aren't afforded much insight into their personalities or what drew them to Tommy or in the case of two of them, what kept them hooked. The book cover and teaser were quite promising, but the actual story didn't live up to its billing. Too bad since there are surely plenty of teens and older folks out there who have fallen for a Tommy or two in their time and could have used a lifeline for how to escape his clutches. Because parts of the narrative bounce around too much and the three girls are all too quick to point the finger of suspicion at one another, the entire thing became too predictable and parts of it all too unbelievable, at least for me. ...more
Having read the other two short story collection by this talented author, who seems to pack more tension and fright in a paragraph than many of us canHaving read the other two short story collection by this talented author, who seems to pack more tension and fright in a paragraph than many of us can manage in 20+pages, I figured it would be a good choice for a Halloween read. And it was! The stories are short, scary, and stay with readers long after they finish them. There isn't a weak one among the 13. My particular favorites were "Two Truths and a Lie," "Sweat, Tears, Blood," "The Emperor of Thumbtacks," and "Perfect." Several take place in school classrooms and feature ordinary youngsters just like this book's readers are likely to be. This one is a 3.5 for me, and the decidedly creepy artwork, created with ink, pen, pencil, bleach, and collage, captures perfectly the chilling nature of the stories. ...more
Seventeen-year-old Hannah Lynn is eager to leave her small Maine town behind when she starts college, hopefully at Tufts where her mother went but faiSeventeen-year-old Hannah Lynn is eager to leave her small Maine town behind when she starts college, hopefully at Tufts where her mother went but failed to graduate. Having lost her mother when she was four, Hannah has become quite independent and distant due to her father's less than organized way of life. When her troubled [and often troublesome] older sister, Pauline, gets in trouble one again and her two sons need a place to stay, Hannah reluctantly agrees with her father that they should take in Henry and Simon. Feeling guilty for the mistakes he made with his own girls, her father, a former baseball star, turns over a completely new leaf. But nothing is easy with the boys. They are anxious about their places in their new home, uncertain about how long they will be able to stay, and understandably confused. Hannah never planned for them to be with the Lynns for long, just long enough for her sister to be in recovery and come get them or until a different placement can be found. But along the way, no matter how hard she tries to harden her heart, Hannah falls in love with her two nephews as well as someone else who has become important to her. While her choices aren't easy and she questions her decisions constantly, there are rewards for those decisions. This well-written story, told from Hannah's perspective, is filled with hope, heart, and insight into the foster care system. With several passages describing how Hannah deals with enormous grief and falls apart at times as well as coping, t's a 3.5 for me. Because of her flaws, she is all the more relatable. ...more
Although the premise behind this middle-grade story [3.5 for me!] is rather far-fetched, I still loved most of it, partly because it takes part in a lAlthough the premise behind this middle-grade story [3.5 for me!] is rather far-fetched, I still loved most of it, partly because it takes part in a library and partly because I liked the characters. Essie, who becomes known as "the library girl," has lived in the Huffington Public Library for all of her eleven years of life, apparently abandoned on a bookshelf by someone. Four kind-hearted librarians (Doris, Taisha, Lucinda, and Jeanne-Marie) can't resist taking care of her when no one shows up. They keep her hidden, protected, and loved. But as she grows older, they decide it's time to allow her to explore the world outside the library first-hand rather than from books. While checking out a department store, she meets a boy who looks just like her, and the truth behind her birth and family is slowly revealed. All four librarians are wonderfully depicted and take their roles as mothers quite seriously. Despite the tough topics the book addresses and the mistakes that many characters, including Essie, make, there are many humorous moments and individuals who step in when help is needed, particularly when Essie and the four librarians, come into conflict with newly-hired Ms, Matterhorn, who has to be one of the most meddling characters ever written and described as "a woman so disagreeable that cats leapt into open manholes when they saw her coming" (p. 66). And oh, how this book provides a roadmap for dealing with life's challenges: "If people were like books in the library, if everyone was their own story, then what had her mothers taught her? That all stories were good stories as long as they were true to the teller. And that you should never try to pretend that the things that had happened in the past hadn't or that the way people believed or thought or felt hadn't happened. Because what good was a story if it was censored and untrue? Stories were for sharing the infinite ways there were to be human" (p. 237). ...more
**spoiler alert** This was a fun mystery although I had guessed what was going on from the beginning. Still, it was entertaining to follow some of the**spoiler alert** This was a fun mystery although I had guessed what was going on from the beginning. Still, it was entertaining to follow some of the breadcrumbs to see if my guess was correct. Siblings Maddy and Grace, who are only a few months apart in age, go on a highly anticipated class trip in late April where something goes wrong, and only one sister survives. As Grace tries to sort out what happened to her sister, readers also are treated to Maddy's thoughts before and during the trip as well as some of her poetry. It becomes clearer with every line that as much as she loves her sister, she feels overshadowed by Grace and resentful of the ease with which she navigates social situations, especially since Maddy struggles with that and often feels unseen, even at home by her own parents. When Grace seems to attract the attention of a boy in whom Maddy is interested, Maddy reaches her boiling point. Could she possibly have confronted Grace? Some readers will be unsure about what happened on that trip and even afterward, and only know for sure as they read those final pages. This is a solid debut novel well worth the read even though parts are predictable. ...more
Although I've read other versions about the Spirit of the Sea, one of the Inuit legends that I find most fascinating, this one stands up well against Although I've read other versions about the Spirit of the Sea, one of the Inuit legends that I find most fascinating, this one stands up well against those others. Arnaq lives contentedly with her father, Ataata, refusing all offers of marriage until she is tricked into accepting one lucrative proposal. But when she arrives at her new husband's home, she realizes that nothing he said was true. When her father comes to see her, he realizes that she's in a bad situation, fleeing with her. But when her husband and his seabirds attack, her father betrays her, cutting off her fingers to save himself. Her body parts transform into different animals, and the girl becomes Nuliajuq, the Spirit of the Sea. The story moves quickly, accompanied by attractive illustrations filled with blues and much movement. Young readers may enjoy comparing this version of the tale with others as well as searching for possible similar stories from other cultures. ...more
Eighth grader Evan Dunn feels as though he's almost sleepwalking through life. Although he has a couple of friends--later dubbed the Nerd Posse--everyEighth grader Evan Dunn feels as though he's almost sleepwalking through life. Although he has a couple of friends--later dubbed the Nerd Posse--every moment at school and at home has a bland, sameness, even the family meals, and there's hardly anything worth waking up for. But when the school track coach sees him running with a stray white dog, he starts thinking maybe this is something he can do well. Plus, that border collie that loves to run has stolen his heart. When its owner is injured, Evan and new friend Hana Ganz step up to help out at the kennel. While the plot is simple, the shift in perspective from Evan's to the dog, Sam, adds interest to the well-told story. Author Pete Hautman keeps things running smoothly, never missing a beat, even while he tugs at readers' heartstrings and reminds them that dogs like Sam aren't simply lawn ornaments or moneymakers but living creatures who feel and love deeply. This story--3.5 for me--is a good classroom read aloud as well as inspiration to go for a run with your own dog. ...more
I love the way the author builds suspense in this middle-grade horror story. While readers familiar with this genre will quickly realize the true idenI love the way the author builds suspense in this middle-grade horror story. While readers familiar with this genre will quickly realize the true identity of Mal, who befriends the protagonist, seventh Sadie Rivera, it's still entertaining, er, maybe haunting is a better word, to watch. For those who are just starting to read horror, this one is a solid introduction. Sadie seems pretty clueless, partly because her mother abandoned the family years ago, but also because she's spent most of her life without friends, trying to keep a ghost at bay. After she and her father move from Arizona to small-town Idaho, Sadie keeps to herself as much as possible despite the friendly entreaties that others extend to her. After all, she knows the cost of friendship for anyone who gets close to her. All that changes when Mal starts hanging out with her, somehow silencing the ghost. But there's something that isn't right with Mal. She loves pranks, which escalate in intensity, and aren't as harmless as Mal claims they are. As Sadie falls under Mal's spell and then begins to question her actions and her identity, she unwittingly puts others in danger. ...more
Once again, author Kathleen Glasgow has written quite a page-turner, tackling the tough topics of grief, loss, family dynamics, self-esteem, and alcohOnce again, author Kathleen Glasgow has written quite a page-turner, tackling the tough topics of grief, loss, family dynamics, self-esteem, and alcoholism. Just as she did in Girl in Pieces and You'd Be Home Now, she creates a likeable female protagonist in Bella Leahey, who will remind readers of themselves or someone they know. Bella, 15, drinks for many reasons. She does it to feel good, to become more outgoing, and to numb the pain. Still reeling from the loss of her beloved grandmother, Laurel, who lived nearby, and her breakup with her first boyfriend, Dylan, her social drinking is now out of control, and even at school she craves some liquid relief. Glasgow describes her downward descent, even as she lets down classmates and friends, while continuing to bear responsibility for her little sister, Ricci, and acting as a go-between for her parents. Much of the book focuses on her time in rehab after her mother finds her passed out on the front steps on Thanksgiving, having been left there by friends. Bella's journey to recovery isn't easy or assured, and she is so in denial about her addiction that it takes time before she realizes just how much harm she's done to her body and mind as well as those who love her. And even some of the others who are in rehab can't necessarily be trusted. Since the book is told from Bella's point of view, readers are able to see into her heart and mind while being fully immersed in her journey. Because drinking is so socially acceptable these days and her family often seemed so preoccupied by other matters, it's easy to see how and why Bella turned to drink to self-medicate. Readers who enjoyed this one might also want to read Thirsty by Jas Hammonds to compare the protagonists' journeys as well as how their family members and significant others react. There isn't a false note in this entire book, and it's clear that Glasgow knows the terrain quite well. ...more
This middle-grade novel is a 3.5 for me. Thirteen-year-old Ingrid is a lot like many of us. She stays way below the radar at school, overshadowed by hThis middle-grade novel is a 3.5 for me. Thirteen-year-old Ingrid is a lot like many of us. She stays way below the radar at school, overshadowed by her friend Rachel, who often treats her as a charity case and is in need of constant validation. But at home, under the care of Grandma, who has taught her to knit and has a popular podcast, and online during a roleplaying adventure game, she's a beast. She also has an account called Bye Forever, which is popular. When Rachel tells Ingrid's new neighbors, Alyx and Oliver, about the death of Ingrid's parents, Ingrid has had enough and liberates herself from Rachel. But Rachel's not finished with her, and as the book's plot unfolds, readers will realize just how devious she is. Ingrid responds to a text that she thinks was sent to her mistakenly, and begins a friendship with a boy called Traveler, who wants to play the online game with her and her friend Lorren, who lives 500 miles away. There are all sorts of moments of misunderstanding between Oliver and Ingrid and Traveler and Ingrid even while she wonders if there might be a chance for something other than friendship somewhere in the future. Growing up isn't easy; nor is it easy to find one's group, making Ingrid's struggles so relatable for the book's intended audience. Her fondness for a certain fantasy series and its author are charming, providing some of the book's best moments when she actually gets to meet the author and give her a present. This one was heaps of fun, highlighting a niche of teens often ignored in books for middle graders. ...more
Finally, a book [3.5 for me!] for middle graders or tweens about the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls epidemic! Told with heart, grace,Finally, a book [3.5 for me!] for middle graders or tweens about the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls epidemic! Told with heart, grace, and insight, this riveting, important, and timely story features a sympathetic protagonist in twelve-year-old Wren MacIntosh, whose mother, who is Cherokee, went missing more than five years ago. Wren's father, who is white, is the sheriff in Fort Gibson, Oklahoma. Now Wren spends her free time volunteering at the local animal shelter and searching online for possible clues as to her mother's whereabouts. The author effectively builds suspense around Wren's determination to find who's been harming local animals in her community as well as local authorities' discovery of remains that might be her mother. The emotional ups and downs she experiences are portrayed quite vividly as are her encounters with MJ, a teen bully who constantly harasses her and specializes in cruel, racist remarks. Then, too, Wren unexpectedly grows close to Brantley, a classmate with secrets of his own, adding to the book's complexity. Wren's supportive father and caring maternal grandmother, Elisi, with her "Famous" meals, and Landry, who runs the Animal Control center for the area, round out the cast of interesting characters. The ache of not knowing what happened to her mother is palpable in the descriptions of Wren's everyday life. This debut novel is well worth reading, reminding readers that despite what society and authorities may say, some lives seem more important than others. Parts of the plot are a bit hard to believe, but those small flaws don't detract from this story's importance. I can't wait to read more books from this author. ...more
Life hasn't been particularly kind to Carter Avery. Not only did his parents die when he was quite young, but his teachers have not liked him at all. Life hasn't been particularly kind to Carter Avery. Not only did his parents die when he was quite young, but his teachers have not liked him at all. (He could tell.) And his impulsiveness and inability to sit still have also annoyed his classmates, resulting in his often sitting alone at lunch. Carter figures that fourth grade will be more of the same or even worse once he learns that he's assigned to Ms. Olivia Krane's class along with his nemesis, Missy Gerber. Although she's fairly new to the school, students have already spread gossip about her. Later, parents will do the same. But there's something amazing that happens between Ms. Krane, who has a large purplish birthmark on her face, and the fidgety boy. With firmness but also understanding and empathy, Carter's new teacher helps him blossom, and teamwork with Missy allows the two students to see other sides of each other. This story is heartfelt, inspiring, and even though some parts are a bit hard to believe, Carter's journey exemplifies the old adage about a self-fulfilling prophecy. The difference in Carter in Ms. Krane's class and in his previous classes is clear. None of this happens overnight, of course, and when he must deal with a substitute teacher, Carter struggles again. But oh, how lovely it is to watch him blossom and see his classmates come to appreciate him. This one is a 3,5 for me, proving once again that this author has an ear for dialogue and knows quite well what goes on classrooms today. It would be a great choice for future teachers or a teachers' book club to give insight into how to handle students like Carter but also to reflect on what sort of teachers they are. ...more
Twelve different short stories feature a diverse cast of characters--youngsters living with their families in the Entrada, a six-story apartment buildTwelve different short stories feature a diverse cast of characters--youngsters living with their families in the Entrada, a six-story apartment building. Each protagonist faces some sort of relatable life challenge, including being misunderstood, a first crush, making friends, being heard, and even dealing with an artistic ghost. Not surprisingly, there's even a grouchy neighbor who complains about the cooking smells from someone's kitchen. Since the stories interlock in some surprising ways and some of their parents also face challenges, this collection is rife with discussion possibilities as well as providing avenues toward acceptance, empathy and risk-taking. Because each story is short, readers can consume the stories gradually or educators can share them one story at a time, but they also are interesting enough to hold readers' attention all the way through. These culturally rich accounts are easy to digest, and there isn't a weak one among the entire collection. Refreshingly, there are no troubled teens, addiction or crime mentioned on this particular block. ...more
This amazingly immersive novel focusing on water, rivers, and humanity is a 4.5 for me. I was curious to see how the author would tie together the difThis amazingly immersive novel focusing on water, rivers, and humanity is a 4.5 for me. I was curious to see how the author would tie together the different parts of the narrative--1840 Victorian England, 2014 Turkey, and 2018 London--with their various protagonists together with drops of water and rivers threading through all this. I was not disappointed. She does so deftly, handing so many hot-button topics such as the theft of cultural artifacts by privileged Westerners, cultural erasure of certain groups, genocide, and familial relationships as skillfully as one of the oral storytellers of the past. Sprinkling in oral stories and traditions along with dashes of genius, guilt, and obsession, she introduces readers to a fascinating cast of characters, some fictional but others such as Dr. John Snow, who are real. Reading this book is an emotional rollercoaster, but readers may come away from it feeling as though they're smarter, more aware, and more empathetic. They also may find themselves wrestling with some important ethical questions. I highly recommend adding it to your to-read pile. It's one of the best adult books I've read so far this year. ...more
A companion novel to Life After Life, this one, which focuses on Teddy, Ursula Todd's younger brother and bomber pilot during WII. It's just as good aA companion novel to Life After Life, this one, which focuses on Teddy, Ursula Todd's younger brother and bomber pilot during WII. It's just as good as the previous one since it features cameos from various members of the Todd family as well as the next two generations. There is quite a lot of description of his flying missions and his fondness for nature. In some ways, Teddy is quite extraordinary and even a hero, but in others he will remind readers of themselves and some of their own family members. Most notably, as happens so often, Teddy's life doesn't turn out the way he might have hoped and expected. It's so clear that he and everyone else, no matter how privileged or without privilege, has dreams and ambitions, but what happens when those dreams evaporate or seem out of reach through no fault of one's own? So much happened during the twentieth century, and the author has given readers a window seat into one ordinary man's journey through the decades. As I read this one, I felt incredibly sad about Teddy's relationship with his daughter, Viola, who never really bonded with him or her own two children, but I also felt grateful that Teddy had a strong relationship with her offspring. The book contains so many well developed, interesting characters that it's likely some readers will feel bereft when they reach those final pages. ...more
With the conflict in Gaza and unrest in Palestine continuing after months of attempts at peace talks, this picture book couldn't be timelier. And for With the conflict in Gaza and unrest in Palestine continuing after months of attempts at peace talks, this picture book couldn't be timelier. And for those individuals who see no relevance in that particular conflict, this story speaks to the healing power of community, resilience, and the importance of planting seeds of hope. After learning about all that olive trees give to her grandfather and his neighbors, the narrator is excited to plant olive seeds and watch for a tree to grow. Of course, this takes time, and she becomes disheartened. When small bits of green become visible, she nurtures it carefully and is devastated when soldiers march through the land and crush its tender leaves. Understanding her grief, her grandfather reaches out to their neighbors who have a surprise for the girl the next day. A message of resilience and strength in the face of adversity is included on the last page as the girl and elderly man embrace among all that greenery. The brief Author's Note reinforces this notion. Rendered in Procreate, the digital illustrations consist of muted tones of brown and olive as well as blacks, greens, and touches of blush pink in a variety of pages, some full-page images, some panels, some spot art, and even a few impressive double-page spreads with paths winding across them. The way the soldiers are depicted with only the lower parts of their bodies and no faces, just military attire, guns, and thick-soled boots supports the notion that there's an anonymity to war and a lack of regard for its consequences. This is an impressive, moving debut that may make readers reflect deeply about conflict, war, peace, and the future. Surely, aggression and violence are not the only way forward. ...more
This medical mystery [3.5] is so carefully described that it will keep many youngsters enthralled and trying to guess what has caused all those folks This medical mystery [3.5] is so carefully described that it will keep many youngsters enthralled and trying to guess what has caused all those folks to get sick and die. London in 1854 isn't a place that is particularly fresh-smelling or safe for its residents. When the city's citizen sickens, experts blame it on garbage that is rotting and bad air. But Dr. John Snow is convinced that they are wrong, and that the origins of cholera can be traced to water. He maps the clusters of recent cases, and looks for what they might have in common, finally surmising that it could possible that they all drank the same water. Although he collects water from a pump that he suspects has unsafe water, his microscope shows nothing he can use to prove his suspicions are right. Desperate to prevent further deaths, Snow interviews the families of victims, eventually locating a woman who did not live in the area where the suspicious water originated but whose sons had sent her a weekly container of the water. Readers will be on the edge of their seats as they follow Snow on his investigation, and then when they read the back matter explaining how the water became contaminated, they'll be even more intrigued and disgusted at some of the practices of that time. To add to this picture book's timeliness, there is a list of other infectious diseases and their causes in the back matter. Moody illustrations, created with graphite, charcoal, and digital coloring, evoke the time and place when Snow's investigation took place while the text is filled with tension and foreboding as readers realize that many more lives will be lost if Snow can't solve the problem of cholera. This picture book is a good choice for a science classroom library since it has many elements that evoke curiosity. ...more
Teenage psychic Quinn O'Brien comes from a long line of folks in desert-town Gypsum, Texas, with similar abilities. With their property headed for aucTeenage psychic Quinn O'Brien comes from a long line of folks in desert-town Gypsum, Texas, with similar abilities. With their property headed for auction since they've been unable to pay the bills, Quinn seeks some ways to earn money using his gift even though his brother, Ollie, disapproves. But a trip to the abandoned Alvarado Hotel sets an almost unstoppable force in motion. Quinn keeps hearing voices, seeing visions and being plagued with sets of numbers. A large safe hauled from the hotel holds a secret that has been hidden for decades, and Quinn and his friends June and Selena are destined to play out a scenario that occurred back then. There is lovely description of the desert and a mysterious entity that eats away at the town and the constellations, but parts of this suspenseful horror novel are hard to follow and downright unbelievable. The idea of loving and caring for something more than oneself is woven into the plot and the resolution, making it clear that sometimes people stay because they have no choice. My enjoyment of this one was uneven. Parts of the plot and writing had me hanging on excitedly to see what was going to happen or where this one was going, but others such as Kit's ability to reach across time and distance to set events in motion seemed hard to buy....more
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