Category: Middle Grade Fiction Review

BONUS REVIEW: Untwisted by Elise Allen

BONUS REVIEW: Untwisted by Elise Allen

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Disney-Hyperion in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Kaloon has changed. Magic is allowed now. And to help foster a positive relationship between Mages and the general population, the teens of Kaloon will attend Maldevon Academy together (along with any Magical Animals of appropriate developmental level).

The transition to accepting magic came with a high price. The Battle for Unification was a terrible war between the kingdom and Dark Mages. It was only after Kaloon won that the kingdom’s twin princesses, Flissa and Sara, could truly live as individuals instead of pretending to be one Princess Flissara (see Twinchantment for the whole story).

Sara is far more excited about starting school than Flissa. While Flissa’s great with all the academics, the social scene stresses her out completely. Flissa would be happy to stay at home.

School doesn’t turn out like either of the girls expected. Sara keeps saying the wrong thing and offending her new classmates. And she freezes up in front of the magic teacher she wants to impress. Flissa is actually the one who makes a friend on the first day.

Soon the girls’ personal experiences are secondary as they watch the various groups on campus strike out at one another. Kids and teachers are still fighting the magic vs. non-magic war, just in more secretive ways. Is there any chance of Kaloon truly being unified?

Review

I liked this one even more than the first book! The integration storyline with magical and nonmagical factions was fascinating. Even better was the way the relationship between Sara and Flissa evolved! For the first time, the girls get to publicly be themselves. But they’re still discovering who they are after having a shared identity for so long. I loved this aspect of the story!!

There’s a great mystery here, too. Who is trustworthy? Who is working a secret agenda? The relationship between the princesses gets fractured over these questions. Sara is determined to uncover the truth. And her suspicions include some of Flissa’s new friends. For the first time there’s a wall between the sisters – literally and figuratively.

Fans of middle grade fantasy should be sure to check out this series! I think the books are better enjoyed if they are read in order. You can see my full review of Twinchantment here. I’m hopeful that there will be more stories starring Sara and Flissa and all their friends.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: Eye of Zeus by Alane Adams

REVIEW: Eye of Zeus by Alane Adams

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Spark Press in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Phoebe Katz is a foster kid, a ward of the state. Her case worker found her abandoned at a bus stop when she was a baby. All that was with her was a note and a mirror, two precious possessions now.

Phoebe seems to be a magnet for trouble. She never causes the trouble, but it always seems to find her.  And it’s never made sense before.

Then, a statue of Atlas comes to life and speaks to her, calling her Princess of Argos and telling her she’s in danger. He tells her to talk to Athena to get the answers she seeks.

Thankfully, Phoebe’s friends Damain and Angie are able to help her find the statue of Athena at Athens Square Park. There, the statue comes to life and tells the three kids that Phoebe is a daughter of Zeus. The gods of Olympus are real, and their timeline and Phoebe’s on Earth are intersecting. Ares, the god of war, has broken the barrier between the two worlds, and Phoebe was sent away to protect her from a prophecy.

Now Ares has Phoebe’s caseworker as a hostage. Phoebe discovers a prophecy that says she must collect items from dangerous mythical creatures. Those items are the only way she can rescue her caseworker and thwart a prophecy that insists she will ultimately destroy Olympus.

Review

This was fun. There’s a Percy Jackson feel to this – 12 year old hero demigod with unexpected powers discovers her true heritage and heads off on a quest to fight monsters thanks to a prophecy.

Phoebe’s team includes one demigod and two humans, which changes things up a bit in the quest dynamics. I felt like there was some inconsistency with Phoebe’s friends. There were moments when they were cautious and reluctant and others when they were all in on the next step. I couldn’t find the thread to explain the vacillation in their engagement. Also, there’s no camp for training or preparation. Phoebe acquires all of her skills by instinct. It was one of the disappointing parts of this for me. She just somehow knows magical words to activate powers she never knew she had and what powers are part of her repertoire.

While there are a couple pieces unresolved at the end of this (Who is the school counselor who knew to give her ambrosia?), the quest is resolved and there’s no cliffhanger. There are a ton of monsters to fight and challenges to their quest. There are some moments of violence and mild gore as the kids get covered in monster goo.

Fans of mythology stories like the ones from Rick Riordan (or his imprint) or Kate O’Hearn should check this one out.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Winterborne Home for Vengeance and Valor by Ally Carter

REVIEW: Winterborne Home for Vengeance and Valor by Ally Carter

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

April has lived in foster care since her mother left her with a note and a key April’s always worn around her neck but never understood. That key was the launching point for April’s adventure.

While on a museum visit, April recognizes that her key matches a Winterborne family heirloom – a jewel-covered box. She sneaks into the museum only to discover the key won’t turn. Then, she accidentally sets the museum on fire.

When April wakes up in the hospital, she finds her life has changed. Ms. Nelson represents the Winterborne Family Foundation, and they offer to take April in. She and four other kids are cared for at the huge and mysterious Winterborne mansion.

April is eager to see if her key will lead her to any answers about her mother, so she explores the mansion. As she slowly gets to know the other kids, she also discovers some mysterious goings on at the mansion. How far will a mysterious figure go to make sure no one believes what April says she has seen and to keep their own secrets?

Review

This was fantastic!! I only planned to get a few chapters in when I stared this. Next thing I knew, I was at the end. I could not put this down! The kids, the mysteries – all of it was perfect!

I am a sucker for a book with a great ensemble, and this has one. Each one of the kids has a story I would eagerly read. And even though I fell in love with each one just on the little I discovered in this book, it’s clear there is so much more to learn about each of them.

The mysteries are exceptional. Tons of twists and turns, including some at the very end. And even more unanswered questions to be addressed in future books.

And I hope there will be TONS of future books! This is the sort of book I would hand to every kid I know. This is for older middle grade readers (10+) and teens, I imagine due to the action and some violence involved in the mystery. I have yet to read an Ally Carter novel I didn’t love. But this is now one of my all time favorites. Fans of her previous books should run right out and get this one. You will not be disappointed.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

 

REVIEW: Chirp by Kate Messner

REVIEW: Chirp by Kate Messner

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Mia and her family are moving back to Vermont after two years in Boston. Two years Mia would love to forget. But now they’ll be close to her grandmother again and get to do all the things she remembers from when she was younger.

Mia’s parents are requiring her to choose two summer activities to keep her busy. They are quick to point out the gymnastics spot near her grandmother’s cricket farm. But Mia wants nothing to do with gymnastics these days. But she does sign up for a Warrior Camp nearby as well as a Launch Camp for Young Entrepreneurs. Mia thinks Launch Camp might help her come up with ideas to help the cricket farm.

Because the farm is in trouble. Gram is convinced someone is sabotaging her business – letting seagulls in, turning of the breakers to the freezers, etc. Mia’s parents think it’s more a run of bad luck – and a sign Gram should get out of the business. But Mia’s noticing weird things at the farm, too. And she’s determined to do whatever she can to help her grandmother.

Review

This was so good! There’s a TON of great stuff going on in this story. The cricket farm and the pieces on insects as a protein source for humans is fascinating (and creepy, in my opinion). Then there are the two camps Mia attends, the friends she makes there, and the things she learns at both. It’s obvious something happened at Mia’s gym back in Boston, and it feels bigger than just her broken arm. But it takes awhile for Mia to get to a place where she’s ready to address it, even in her own mind, much less tell an adult about it. And finally there’s the sabotage mystery. All of those pieces are woven together beautifully and seamlessly. Everything fits like an intricate jigsaw puzzle.

There are so many ways I could see teachers (and homeschooling parents) use this book in the classroom. It would be a great read-aloud and would also work for book clubs and reading groups. Kids could learn more about insects as food or about real cricket farms. They could learn about maker spaces or visit some. Students could learn about Warrior camps or business plans or a whole host of things that come up in the course of the novel.

In my opinion, you can’t go wrong with a novel by Kate Messner. I believe she does a masterful job of addressing serious and important topics (in this case harassment and boundary issues) in age-appropriate ways. Her books give kids an opening to talk about real life issues and give them language for difficult topics. Be sure to check this one out – for older middle grade readers (10+).

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: The Queen Bee and Me by Gillian McDunn

REVIEW: The Queen Bee and Me by Gillian McDunn

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Bloomsbury Children’s Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Meg has lived in Willow Pond her whole life. She knows what to expect from her family, her school, and her neighborhood. She’s been best friends with Beatrix since kindergarten.

As they’ve gotten older, Meg and Beatrix’s interests have started to change. Beatrix is into dance and sets the standard for most things at school with their peers. If Beatrix thinks something is great – or lame –  everyone usually falls in line with her opinion.

Meg loves science. In fact, she’s one of only four 7th graders invited to do a science experience at her school. Meg is thrilled, except it means telling Beatrix she won’t be doing dance. Meg’s never been great at dance anyway. But Beatrix has expectations. If Beatrix didn’t care, it would be fine. But she has a way of punishing people who go against her. She “froze” Meg out for a week last year, and it was miserable.

Hazel is new in Willow Pond. From the way she dresses to her fascination with honey bees, she stands out. Beatrix knows all the tricks for drawing negative attention to Hazel, while still seeming “nice” to adults, or avoiding teacher attention. But Meg, and Hazel, know the truth. Beatrix doesn’t like Hazel and she’s determined to make her miserable.

Meg’s mom encourages Meg to befriend Hazel. She moved a lot as a kid, and she knows how it feels to be new. But her mom has no idea that it can be just as hard to be with the kids you’ve known forever when your place in your social circle is in jeopardy.

Review

I enjoyed this middle school friendship story filled with bee information. The author does a good job linking the bees to the larger story. As Meg learns about bee behavior in the hive, she makes connections to her situation at school with Hazel and Beatrix.

Beatrix is a classic mean girl “villain.” I suspect her strong reaction to Hazel comes from (a) seeing that Hazel marches to the beat of her own drum and likely wouldn’t yield to Beatrix and (b) fear of losing Meg who always gives in and does what Beatrix wants. She’s catty and manipulative and pretty unlikable all the way through the story. She will give readers lots to think and talk about.

The emphasis on science – and the creativity in science – is great. I learned a lot about bees, just like Meg does.

I loved all the ways Meg grows through the story. This season in her life changes how she thinks about bees, how she sees her relationship with Beatrix, her relationship with her mother, and her understanding of herself. This would be a good class read aloud or book group choice. It’s full of things to prompt great discussion and interaction.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

BONUS REVIEW: The Lonely Heart of Maybelle Lane by Kate O'Shaughnessy

BONUS REVIEW: The Lonely Heart of Maybelle Lane by Kate O’Shaughnessy

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Knopf Books for Young Readers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Maybelle Lane lives in Louisiana with her mom. Not in Baton Rouge where they used to live – where Maybelle had a best friend and a more comfortable life. Now they’re in Davenport. Maybelle is alone a lot while her mom works two jobs to make ends meet. And instead of friends, she has a gang of boys to avoid whenever possible. They’re bullies at school, and they tease Maybelle because her mom went on a date with the art teacher. Maybelle’s mom called off the relationship with her when Maybelle asked, but apparently word got around anyway.

Maybelle is about to be even more on her own than usual. Her mom has a job singing on a cruise ship for a month. It’ll pay really well, and they need the money. And it could open doors for her mom for the future. So Maybelle will stay with a neighbor.

Just before her mom leaves, Maybelle discovers her dad is a radio DJ in Nashville. Her mom is adamant that there’s no place for him in their lives, but listening to him on the radio makes Maybelle feel a little less lonely.

When her father announces a singing contest in Nashville where he will be one of the judges, Maybelle knows she has to go. Her mom loves the idea of Maybelle performing – of course, Maybelle left out all mention of her father. So Maybelle and her neighbor head out on a road trip that could change Maybelle’s life forever.

Review

This was lovely. I adored the traveling trio on their summer road trip to Nashville. Maybelle was sweet, determined and afraid. There was just the right amount of introspection and self-discovery and awareness in this. A perfect balance of outward living and internal processing. Tommy and Mrs. Boggs were delightful – and did their own growing along the way. I got a kick out of Maybelle’s collection of sounds, something that threads through the book. There are also pieces in here about anxiety and panic attacks that are handled well. The book also looks at grief and evidence of child abuse.

I’ve read other road trip stories with secret or semi-secret treks to meet a relative or a personal hero or to dream an impossible dream. What makes this one special is the ensemble on the journey. I was thrilled to find an epilogue in this that shows a quick view of the next year in the characters’ lives. It’s a satisfying wrap up to the larger story as well as the individual journeys of the main characters. Be sure to check this one out.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: The Newspaper Club by Beth Vrabel

REVIEW: The Newspaper Club by Beth Vrabel

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Running Press Kids in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

When Nellie’s dad is out of town for a long term work assignment and her mom loses her newspaper job, her mom’s college friend, Mrs. Kim-Franklin comes to the rescue. She invites them to move to Bear Creek and helps them get set up in the house next door. By default that means Nellie and Mrs. Kim-Franklin’s daughter Min are now “best friends,” at least according to Min.

Nell’s not really had friends before. She’s brilliant and can be off-putting to her peers. But living in a new town, and stumbling onto some mysterious events at the park piques her journalistic curiosity. To get the answers she is looking for, Nell needs to get to know the locals. Nell’s neighbor Thom offers to walk her to the local newspaper office so she can give them the information on the park. Min tags along, and the three discover yet another mystery in this small town that Nell would like to dig into.

But the newspaper office is not what Nell was expecting. Many of the reporters are packing up their desks because they were laid off. When Nell asks the editor how the town is supposed to know what is going on at the park, or when it is safe to return, if there’s no newspaper to tell them, he tells her she might have to write the story herself.

With Thom and Min’s help, that’s exactly what Nell plans to do!

Review

I LOVED this! The six kids at the core of this book are delightful! Nellie is bright and brings the newspaper experience. Thom is loyal and thoughtful. Min is enthusiastic. Gordon is talented. Gloria is passionate, and Charlotte is brave. I loved them. I hope there will be shelves full of books starring these kids.

The mysteries here are kid-friendly – pranks or vandalism at the park and a sad business owner. There are a few serious moments which were especially endearing because I was already so attached to the characters from the rest of the story.

I loved the adults in this – the exasperated police chief who still answers Nell’s questions, Thom’s moms who make Nell feel welcome, Gloria’s dad who gives Gloria space to put her own “flavor” on their restaurant, etc.

The newspaper pieces are well written and informative. Readers could put together their own newspaper with the ideas and examples in this book. But it’s never overly technical.

Do not miss this delightful story! This would be so great as a read-aloud or for book groups. I loved this like I loved Beth Vrabel’s 2018 release, The Reckless Club. I can’t wait to see what happens for these characters next!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

SATURDAY SMORGASBORD: 2019 Cybils Awards

SATURDAY SMORGASBORD: 2019 Cybils Awards

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an advanced reader copy of The Bridge Home from another committee member and a published copy of Right as Rain from the publisher HarperCollins for review purposes. Both were passed on to a classroom teacher when my committee work was completed. All opinions are my own.]

The Process

Once again I had the privilege of serving on a committee for the 2019 Cybils Awards. This is the second year I served with the group choosing the winner in the Middle Grade Fiction category. You can see my post about the 2017 Cybils here and the 2018 Cybils here.

Now that our committee work is done, I am able to talk about the finalists we read this year. These are my personal thoughts on each of these books and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the full committee who presided over this category.  Keep in mind that another committee determined what books we would be choosing from. These seven were not our personal best of 2019, but the ones chosen by another committee of readers based on nominations. Books here are listed in alphabetical order.

The Books

The Bridge Home – Four homeless kids make a family for themselves as they live near an abandoned bridge, but when illness strikes, will they continue to fend for themselves or will they have the strength to reach out for help? This was one of those “it’s well written, but I didn’t like it” books. This was dark and sad and upsetting and heart-wrenching. I did not enjoy reading it. But it’s well-written and there’s TONS of material in it for readers to dig into. This is for older middle grade readers (10+). Rating: ♥♥♥♥

 

 

Maybe He Just Likes You – A middle school girl struggles to speak up about the behavior of the boys around her, especially when her friends tell her she is over-reacting or should be flattered. You can read my full review of this one here. I really liked this one! I feel like this is an important story that gives kids language for those behaviors that feel icky, but they can’t quite pinpoint why. There are other books releasing now that address similar situations (Chirp was a good one I read recently), and they are so important. This is another one that I think is good for older middle grade readers. Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

 

Operation Frog Effect – Eight kids tell the story of what happened that got their teacher in trouble. One of the stories is told in graphic novel format. To me this felt like a Mr. Terupt book (or something else by Rob Buyea), although not as in-depth. There’s a great, diverse group of students in this as well as an inspiring teacher. I enjoyed this. Rating: ♥♥♥♥

 

 

The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise – Coyote and her dad have lived life on the road in their renovated school bus since Coyote’s mother and sisters were killed in an accident. But now she is desperate to get back home before her last moments with her mom and sisters are lost forever. You can read my full review of this one here. This is another story that deals with difficult topics, in this case grief. This also deals with the subject of identity, which is a favorite topic of mine, especially in kids literature. This is the book chosen by the committee to win the Cybils Award for 2019 for Middle Grade Fiction. Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

 

 

Right As Rain – A grieving family moves to New York hoping a change of scenery can help them in their loss, but Rain is convinced her brother’s death is her fault. While she holds her secrets close, a new friend may help her open up and shine the light of truth on what happened that night. I LOVED this! Of these 7 books, I had already read and reviewed 3 of them. Of the four that were new to me, this was my favorite. I adored everything about this – the grieving pieces as well as the poetry and the hot chocolate and the soup kitchen and the running. Fantastic characters. A story I just wanted to hug. A happy tearful ending as Rain finally shares her story. Beautiful! Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

 

Roll with It – A girl with cerebral palsy who longs to be a baker adjusts to a new home and a new school. I loved Ellie and her family and friends in this one. The baking pieces were fun and sounded delicious. I don’t have a lot of books in my reading repertoire starring characters with disabilities, so I was glad to add this book to my list. Rating: ♥♥♥♥

 

 

Song for a Whale –  A deaf girl who is also a tech genius learns about a whale that can’t communicate with other whales, and she decides to find a way to “sing” to this whale. You can read my full review of this one here. I adored this book! Sure, there are moments where the reader has to suspend disbelief (like when the main character runs away to go on a cruise with her grandmother – and her parents don’t freak out more), but there are other moments that are so perfect. I loved the threads in this about finding community and being with others who understand you and share some of your life experiences. Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

 

You can see all of the 2019 Cybils Award winners here.

REVIEW: Batman Overdrive by Shea Fontana

REVIEW: Batman Overdrive by Shea Fontana

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and DC Entertainment in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Bruce Wayne is a month away from turning 16. A month away from a driver’s license which means freedom from Alfred, his butler, guardian, and overseer. He’s a teen on the edge – a street vigilante looking for a fight, always pushing to be independent. He’s so close to that freedom he is desperate for.

Part of that freedom is driving his dad’s ’66 Crusader. But the car has seen better days. Bruce meets Mateo at the salvage yard and he says he’ll help Bruce track down the parts he needs. But their plans are interrupted by some masked girls who keep stealing from Mateo’s uncle at the scrap yard. One girl, they notice, dresses like a cat.

Catwoman, Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy and Lady Shiva are stealing luxury cars and then stealing things from the salvage yard to change up the looks of the cars. Bruce and Mateo are on the case, but they have no idea the girls Bruce knows from karate are the car thieves.

Bruce is also investigating his parents’ murders. Carmine Falcone is his primary suspect. And he’s finding clues that could tie Falcone to the car thefts. But is it possible there are also ties between Falcone… and Alfred?

Review

This was fun! So much of the Batman future is in evidence – the secret entrance to the garage, Alfred, the “Batmobile” name, and the villains. Fans of the franchise will see a lot of familiar pieces in this.

The Alfred storyline was my favorite part of this. If you’re looking for it, you can see his presence, always watching out for Bruce. The panels of moments between Alfred and young Bruce are so precious. And anyone who understands grief and loss can see how Bruce is looking for an outlet for his anger. Alfred is the convenient target. Yet he keeps showing up. Just like a parent.

I’m eager to see if this becomes a series and if any other DC characters join this young hero team. I enjoyed the group that Bruce puts together and would eagerly show up for more adventures for them in the future. In this book, the car theft case gets wrapped up and Bruce gets some closure on the murder of his parents. Don’t miss this one!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Zatanna and the House of Secrets by Matthew Cody

REVIEW: Zatanna and the House of Secrets by Matthew Cody

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and DC Entertainment in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

It’s almost Halloween, and Zatanna’s been having a rough couple of days. She got into an argument with some bullies at school because they were harassing her friend. And it was SO weird – at one point, they all turned RED! Not like a blush, but their skin changed color. So strange….

Then Zatanna’s best friend ditched her, acting like Zatanna is too immature or too weird. Then Zatanna blew off her only other friend AND found out her dad lied to her.

And then, some crazy woman calling herself “the Witch Queen” broke into her house, used MAGIC on Zatanna, fought her dad, and then they both vanished.

With Pocus, a talking rabbit/animal spirit as her companion, Zatanna has to figure out how her father’s backward-words magic works and find him in this wonky House of Secrets before the Witch Queen takes the house away from their family and uses it for her own evil purposes.

Review

This was cute! I’ve seen this House before in an episode of Young Justice. It was fun to see it again in a new context. The library scene and the sphinx were my favorite parts of the story.

Zatanna changes a lot in the story. She learns things about herself and her family that she couldn’t have imagined at the very start. Her biggest challenges came from losing the “adult” characters who had always advised or protected her. She had to make her own way – although she did get help from a source she wasn’t expecting.

My only “complaint” is that the talking bunny had to be called a “familiar” which will put off some readers/families because of occult connections. I am not 100% familiar with Zatanna’s full history, but I know one of the villains has a “familiar,” so maybe that is part of the character’s history and would never be changed. But I feel like the bunny could have just been a magical talking bunny and left at that.

I love the confidence Zatanna has by the end – in herself and in her magic. She understands where she fits and she stands up for herself with Witch Boy. She also seems more confident in her own skin by the end. She’s found her footing and her purpose!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥