Reviews, Etc.

BONUS REVIEW: Dead on the Vine by Elle Brooke White

BONUS REVIEW: Dead on the Vine by Elle Brooke White

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

When Charlotte inherits her great-uncle’s farm, the timing couldn’t be better. While she’s sad her great-uncle is gone, she was in the exact right place in life to leave Chicago and move to California. Her best friends, Diane and her brother Beau, have time to join her on her first trip back to the farm since childhood.

Sadly, the farm is looking run down. The bank says they are barely breaking even. And Charlotte has to wonder if it is even worth her time – and money – to try and make a go of life as a produce farmer. She might be better off selling the place. Although the thought of that about breaks her heart. It also doesn’t endear her to the employees who have kept the place running.

Coming to the farm has introduced Charlotte to some trouble makers in town, crass men who seem to have it out for Charlotte and the Finn Family Farm. But on the plus side, Charlotte also met the charming and bright little pig she names Horse (because he eats like one) and a sweet little ladybug she calls Mrs. Robinson who caught a ride on Charlotte’s car and seems to be sticking close to Horse.

While the animal discoveries have been delightful, the other discovery on the farm – the dead body – could ruin Charlotte’s chances of doing anything with the farm, including selling it. But maybe if she can help the police figure out who the man was, and who might have wanted to kill him, she might be able to see a future for herself with the family farm.

Review

What a fun series launch!

This cozy mystery has all the right ingredients:

  • A fun setting – A produce farm (strawberries and tomatoes) with potential for so much more.
  • Likable characters – I loved Charlotte from the start. She’s spunky and doesn’t put up with much guff. I loved that she stood up to some of the blow-hard personalities in this. Horse and Mrs. Robinson and the rest of the animals were a hoot. And I liked the human characters around the farm as well.
  • Twisty clues and increasing suspense – The mystery here was great! There was no shortage of trouble for Charlotte to deal with, but it was well paced throughout the story. I was guessing on the culprit until about the last quarter of the book. The way the mystery wraps up was perfect.
  • Balance between character development and the mystery – There’s nothing more frustrating to me than a cozy mystery without much mystery. But the interplay between the characters is what will make a series go from good to delightful. When an author can put both together – a cast you care about and want to spend time with alongside a well-plotted mystery – I will read everything they want to write.

This was a delight to read. I will definitely be watching for a sequel. Cozy fans should check this one out!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: Ready to Rise by Jo Saxton

REVIEW: Ready to Rise by Jo Saxton

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary and Review

I so enjoyed reading Jo Saxton’s most recent book, Ready to Rise. Jo is one of my favorite speakers and teachers from If:Gathering, which is where I first heard her. In fact, hearing her is the best way to engage with her because she has the BEST accent! I can hear her voice when I read her writing, and I love it. The audio book of this is a treat, I’m sure!

I was especially eager to read this after hearing Jo speak at this year’s If:Gathering conference where she brought some of the message of this book on leadership, on women rising up into their callings and into the places where God desires to use them. If you get a chance to listen to the message, gift yourself the time – it’s inspiring.

This is a great blend of personal stories, Bible stories, and practical application. Each chapter has a reflection question or two, and some have additional questions to consider as you work through the meat of that chapter. The questions were right up my alley and left me longing for a pen and paper. I am eager to get my hands on a physical copy of this so I can underline and scribble in this as well as engage the questions personally. The tone is conversational. Reading this felt like a conversation I would have with a friend or a mentor.

My favorite chapters were the ones on voice as well as the one on saying yes to who you are. I also enjoyed the places where Jo shared from conversations around a table with women. I would have enjoyed engaging in those conversations in person. Some of the Bible stories explored in the book were the creation story, the story of Deborah from Judges, and the foot washing scene in John 13.

If you love Jo, and/or if you are looking for a resource to explore your God-given gifts and voice to use for God’s purposes and for your passions, be sure to pick this one up!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: The List of Things that Will Not Change by Rebecca Stead

REVIEW: The List of Things that Will Not Change by Rebecca Stead

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Random House/Wendy Lamb Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

When Bea was 8, her parents sat her down to tell her that her dad was gay and they were getting a divorce. At the same time, they gave her a notebook. Inside they had made a list – The List of Things that Will Not Change. It included affirmations of love from both of her parents as well as a reminder that they were still a family, even if the family looked different in the future.

Now that Bea’s dad and Jesse are getting married, Bea is thrilled with the idea that she is going to finally have a sister. Jesse’s daughter, Sonia, is Bea’s age. She lives in California, but after Christmas she’ll be visiting New York for a week. Bea is certain they’ll become the best of friends and that Sonia will be as happy as she is.

But as the wedding gets closer, Bea discovers that different people, and different families, can have complicated feelings about big changes. And she discovers she has some complicated feelings herself.

Review

This was delightful! I adored Bea from the very beginning. She is creative and insightful and completely realistic for her age. The entire cast of characters is fantastic. No one is perfect or perfectly happy. There are complex situations and complex feelings. But the adults are committed to Bea and Sonia and to supporting one another. And Bea’s friends are a great support for her.

My favorite relationship in the whole book is Bea’s relationship with her therapist. It’s matter-of-fact and never something for her to be self-conscious about. Bea is honest about places where she holds back. She listens to what Miriam says, even if she isn’t sure Miriam is right. The whole thing is SO well done.

Because the relationship between Bea and Miriam is so strong, there are a ton of great pieces here about feelings and emotions – anger, emotions that can be masked by anger, acting on our feelings, dealing with worries, and imagining the feelings of others. I loved all of it!

The relationship between Bea’s dad and his boyfriend is great. Each has his own “voice” and way of relating to Bea that feels realistic. I especially loved Jesse’s relationship with Bea.

Not everyone in the book is on board with the gay relationship, which adds to some of the conflict in the book. It’s painful to watch, but also honest . And the book gives Bea space to process that.

There are SO MANY rich things that could be done with this book in a classroom setting – read-alouds with discussion, book groups, etc. But I think kids will also love just spending time with Bea and her friends and family, soaking up all the goodness here. Fans of Rebecca Stead should not miss this one!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

BOOK NEWS: April 14, 2020

BOOK NEWS: April 14, 2020

Posted on by Jaymie

Here are some of the books out this week!

Books for Kids

It’s a Moose – When the new baby a family is expecting turns out to be a moose, they run into some difficulties. This looks ADORABLE!
Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum: I Am Harry Houdini AND I Am Susan B. Anthony – Two new 8×8 picture books (with stickers!) from the Xavier Riddle series on PBS.
I Am Leonardo da Vinci – The latest picture book biography in the FANTASTIC Ordinary People Change the World series.
Rescuing the Declaration of Independence: How We Almost Lost the Words that Built America – The true story of the man who saved the Declaration from destruction during the War of 1812.
Peter & Ernest: Sloths in the Night – Book 3 in the Peter & Ernesto graphic novel series for kids. Even though there are dangers in the dark, Peter and Ernesto form a search party to look for one of their friends who has gone missing.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Anti Hero (Graphic Novel) – A girl who longs to be a superhero switches bodies with another who is super-genius smart and forced to help her villainous grandfather. The two have to live in each other’s lives while they try to find a way to switch back. This is at the top of my list for this week!
Camp Average: Double Foul – Sequel to Camp Average (a book I have had on my wish list for a year now). The kids are back at Camp Average for a new summer of fun while their super-competitive camp director pits the boys against the girls in his neverending schemes to win at anything and everything. I can’t wait to read both of these books.
Finally Something Mysterious – The members of an only-child detective club have a new case when hundreds of rubber ducks end up on a neighbor’s lawn. This is on my list for this week, too.
Marvel Action: Black Panther Rise Together – Collects issues 4-6 is the Marvel Action Black Panther series. There are adventures here for T’Challa, Shuri, and for both together. I can’t wait to read this one, too.
The Prettiest – When a list goes up online, ranking the “prettiest” girls in the 8th grade, three girls band together to stand up for themselves and the other girls in their grade.
When Stars are Scattered (Graphic Novel) – The story of a boy and his non-verbal younger brother growing up in a refugee camp as told to the author by a man who lived it.
Girls Save the World in This One – A “YA horror comedy” set at a zombie convention where three girls are there to enjoy all the fun around their favorite shows until they discover the zombie apocalypse has actually arrived at the con. I’m not much of a horror reader, nor do I usually enjoy zombie stories, but this sounds like a HOOT!
Redemption Prep – YA mystery where the “it” girl at an exclusive and mysterious prep school goes missing in the middle of mass. This is on my wishlist for this week.

Books for Adults

Big Finish (Hardcover) – An elderly man in assisted living teams up with his roommate’s granddaughter who’s hiding from her abusive boyfriend even though he knows any “trouble” could get him kicked out and sent to the horrible local nursing home. I can not WAIT to read this!!
A Case for the Yarn Maker (e-book – April 16) – Book 2 in the Ainsley McGregor series. When the “Yarn Goddess” comes to town, and an argument breaks out with one of the locals, Ainsley never expected it to end in murder. I have the first book in this series. I’m looking forward to digging into it soon.
Cutie and the Beast (e-book) – A local trainer trying to make ends meet after his wife left rents out his master suite to a new co-worker who is also down on her luck. They have daughters the same age and can really help each other out. But living like a blended family when you actually aren’t one can make for some confusion for everyone. I am intrigued by this one.
The Happy Ever After Playlist (Trade Paperback) – From the author of The Friend Zone (Rating: ♥♥♥♥½). A woman who is struggling in life gets a new infusion of confidence when she takes in a lost dog. But when the owner of the dog – a musician on tour – wants his dog back, she is not giving the animal up without a fight. This sounds great! I have this one on hold at the library.
The Joy of Falling (Trade Paperback) – Over a year after losing their husbands in a scuba accident, two widows embark on a marathon together hoping to get back some of what they have lost. This sounds charming.
Not That Kind of Guy (Trade Paperback) – A state attorney who’s been unlucky in love needs a date for a family wedding. Her intern is only too happy to be that date, because as soon as she is not his boss any more, he plans to make his move. Sounds great!
Star Trek Discovery: Aftermath (Paperback Graphic Novel) – Two stories from the Star Trek Discovery universe, one involving Saru and Tilly and then the primary story which involves Spock and Captain Pike after the Discovery disappears.
Star Trek: The Unsettling Stars (Trade Paperback) – From the Kelvin timeline (the J.J. Abrams movies). Kirk and his inexperienced crew encounter a new race fleeing an unknown enemy. I’m eager to check out this new story.
Ready to Rise: Own Your Voice, Gather Your Community, Step into Your Influence – The latest book from one of my favorite Christian speakers, Jo Saxton, addresses the things that tend to derail women from leading in the ways God has called them. I heard Jo speak during If: Gathering this year, and I was inspired by what she had to say. It sounded a lot like what this book is going to address. Don’t miss this one.

REVIEW: Gotham High by Melissa de la Cruz

REVIEW: Gotham High by Melissa de la Cruz

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 gets kicked out of his exclusive prep school for defending another student from bullies. So he ends up at Gotham High.

There he reconnects with the literal “girl next door,” Selina Kyle. Since Bruce has been away, Selina’s mom has died leaving her alone to care for her father with Alzheimer’s who needs full time care. Bruce also meets Jack Napier, Selina’s friend and sometimes hook up.

Bruce runs into Harvey Dent – right before Harvey gets kidnapped. The attack happened at school. In fact, Harvey had been trying on Bruce’s long leather coat, making Bruce wonder if he was the actual target. That would make more sense, considering his family’s money, than Harvey. The security footage has been erased, and Bruce was drugged. He can’t remember anything that happened.

While Bruce tries to figure out what happened to Harvey, Selina continues to string both Bruce and Jack along for fun. A distraction from the weight of her life outside of school. When Harvey is returned, but Selina is kidnapped from Bruce’s house during a party, Bruce won’t stop until he finds her and the people responsible.

Review

There are some fascinating twists to the well-known Batman/Bruce Wayne stories here. Alfred is Bruce’s uncle rather than the family butler. He lives in Hong Kong with his husband, but comes to Gotham when Bruce gets kicked out of school. The details of Bruce’s parents’ deaths have been changed up as well. Then there’s the fact that all of these future foes go to high school together.

The usual all-white cast is shaken up as well. Jack Napier (future Joker) is white as is Ivy. Bruce is Asian as his mom was from Hong Kong. Selina presents as Lantix. And Barbara Gordon is Black, and her mom is the principal of the school. I loved this diversity. In fact, Batgirl (Barbara Gordon) is my favorite DC character – I would love to see a story set around this African American version of the character. Maybe there will be future stories from Gotham High. For the story in this particular book, I didn’t love the characters like I did with some of the other DC graphic novels recently. I was most intrigued by Ivy, frankly, and she doesn’t get a lot of page time.

The mystery of what is going on is puzzled out over the course of the book. The reader has more information than the characters in the story, so the final wrap up isn’t a big surprise to the reader.

There’s plenty left at the end with the relationships between the characters for additional stories in the future. Fans of Bruce Wayne story lines as well as fans of the new DC Entertainment graphic novels for teens (Shadow of the Batgirl, Oracle Code, Raven, Mera: Tidebreaker, etc.) should check this one out.

DC Entertainment has graciously shared some pictures of the interior art of the book so readers can see what they will get to enjoy.

Rating: ♥♥♥

REVIEW: You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle

REVIEW: You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and G. P. Putnam’s Sons in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Naomi and Nicholas have been together for almost 2 years, and their wedding is just around the corner. You’d think Naomi would be feeling deliriously happy or nervous or excited. But what she’s feeling is trapped. Boyfriend Nicholas and Fiancé Nicholas feel like two different people.

Naomi feels like she’s pretending all the time. Then Nicholas acts superior,  like he “knows” her so well, which makes everything feel fake because he only knows the things she displays. She has to rely on a secret document on her computer to remind her of his good qualities.

Everything Naomi has wanted for the wedding has been vetoed or overruled by Nicholas’ controlling mother. She picked Naomi’s gown and her maid-of-honor. It’s hard to be excited about a wedding that will reflect nothing of what you wanted. Naomi says she’s moving forward with the wedding, “40% because I love him and 60% because I’m too afraid to call it off.”

But in an emotionally charged moment, Naomi realizes Nicholas is just as unhappy as she is. In fact, some of her recent misery is his doing! They both know whoever calls the whole thing off will become the villain in their break up story. AND they’ll have to pay for all the ridiculously expensive (and non-refundable) choices his mother has been making for the wedding. But now that Naomi sees Nicholas’ behavior for what it is – trying to push her to call things off – she’s is NOT backing down.

It. Is. On.

Review

The beginning of this was miserable for me. I don’t do well with stories where a character is being railroaded or manipulated and doesn’t stand up for themselves. While Naomi has some spark in her own mind and in her thinking, none of it comes out of her mouth. She and Nicholas are both miserable. And reading about their misery was miserable for me.

And then Naomi catches on. She realizes Nicholas is trying to make her miserable so she will dump him. He gets to be the victim, and she will have to deal with his mother and paying for the wedding she has foisted on them. Then the story started to get interesting. But….

Now here I have to be honest. It has been my intention since I started this blog in 2016 to not post negative reviews. When I have read other books from publishers that weren’t a good fit for me, I told them so and didn’t post a review. I put another book into the schedule and moved on. But this quarantine/virus situation has seriously impacted my reading. I don’t have something else to put into this spot. And at the halfway point through this book, I just had to stop. I couldn’t read any more.

The writing is good. There are funny moments. But this is like the antithesis of books I enjoy. The one-upsmanship in the pranking started to border on immature and hateful. I started to feel like maybe Nicholas wanted to make a go of this relationship and was trying to draw Naomi out, but she refused to entertain that thought. My frustration with her at the beginning, where she had no boundaries or gumption to stand up for herself, became sympathy, but that ebbed away and became annoyance. I didn’t like Naomi, and I was cheering for Nicholas to be rid of her. And she’s the point-of-view character. It just wasn’t working for me.

I’ve read plenty of reviews that found this delightful. There ARE right readers for this book! But I am not that reader. I want warm stories, inspiring stories, and hopeful stories – especially right now. I can only handle so much of a prank war. I rarely find them funny in real life. But I know there are readers that will love to watch this couple dig through this season in their relationship and will care deeply to find out what happens on the other side.  If that is you, you should definitely check this one out! (Language – content for the first half of the book only)

No rating.

 

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: ♥♥♥♥

BOOK NEWS: April 7, 2020

BOOK NEWS: April 7, 2020

Posted on by Jaymie

Happy April! Wherever you are checking in from, I hope you are doing well and enjoying some great books. Here are some of the books releasing this week:

Books for Kids

A Is for Another Rabbit – A rabbit-obsessed narrator annoys an owl by not following the rules of a traditional alphabet book.
A Book for Escargot – A sequel to Escargot. This time Escargot is headed to the library in search of a book about a snail hero.
Cat Ladies – Princess is a cat who knows how to take care of her ladies and keep them out of trouble. But when a stranger arrives, it upsets Princess’ carefully maintained system. I can not WAIT to read this in person!
Do Not EVER Be a Babysitter!  – Uncle Pig endures an Amelia Bedelia sort of adventure when he babysits his nieces and nephews. 
The Elephants’ Guide to Hide-and-Seek – When an elephant struggles in hide-and-seek, he uses a handy resource from the Elephant Hobby and Sport League to help. This looks ADORABLE!
Explosion at the Poem Factory – A former piano teacher takes a job at a poem factory, but one day the machines go berserk.
Follow that Car – Mouse follows Gorilla through a series of interesting settings on a chase.
Star Wars: I Am a Padawan – The latest Little Golden Book is written by Ashley Eckstein, the voice of Ahsoka Tano from Star Wars The Clone Wars and Star Wars: Rebels, all about her character, Ahsoka as she trains to become a Jedi.
Marie Curie and the Powers of Persistence – First book in the new My Super Science Heroes series. In the book Marie Curie faces an evil nemesis that wants to thwart her growth into a super scientist in the future. It’s a clever idea. I’d like to check this one out in person.
Scoob!: A Dog’s Best Friend – An early reader based on the new Scoob movie.
Bumble and Bee: Let’s Play Make BEE-lieve – Book 2 in the Bumble and Bee series from Scholastic ACORN. Bumble and Bee are ready for a day of adventure on the pond, but their friend Froggy isn’t interested.
Junior Monster Scouts: It’s Raining Bats and Frogs! – Book 3 in the Junior Monster Scouts series. The Baron’s evil plan goes wrong and the rain just won’t stop.

Books for Older Kids and Teens

Ansley’s Big Bake Off – Book 1 in the new Daniels’ Sisters series from Faithgirlz written by the younger sisters of Alena Pitts (and daughters of the late Wynter Pitts). It looks like this is a spin-off of Alena’s series Lena in the Spotlight. The Daniels’ sisters are trying to find a new normal after the loss of their mother and move to a new city. Ansley dreams of gymnastics success, but she also discovers how much baking means to her. How does she decide which passion to pursue?
Aru Shah and the Tree of Wishes – Book 3 in the Pandava series based on Hindu mythology from Rick Riordan’s imprint.
Camping with Unicorns (comics collection) – Book 11 in the Phoebe and Her Unicorn series. This book highlights Phoebe and Marigold’s summer adventures.
Catwad: Me Three (Graphic Novel) – Book 3 in the Catwad series.
Compass of the Stars – Book 2 in the Thea Stilton and the Treasure Seekers series. The Thea Sisters are on the hunt for seven secret treasures.
The Deceivers – Book 2 in the Greystone Secrets series by Margaret Peterson Haddix. The Greystone kids and their friend Natalie are trying to rescue their parents and friends from the evil world they discovered in book 1. I have these on my reading list.
Disney Frozen (Graphic Novel retelling) – A graphic novel retelling of the first Frozen movie.
Eye of Zeus – Book one in a new Legends of Olympus series (not connected to Rick Riordan that I can tell). When a statue of Athena comes to life, it tells Phoebe, a girl who has been bounced around in foster care, that she is the daughter of Zeus. I’m looking forward to reading this one!
The Last Kids on Earth: June’s Wild Flight – June gets a solo story in this spin off of the Last Kids on Earth series. This book is set between books 5 and the upcoming 6th book.
Lila and Hadley – Hadley’s life is upside down. Her mom is in jail. Hadley has to move to another state to live with her older sister. And they haven’t spoken in years. In the middle of it all, Hadley meets Lila, an abandoned dog with no interest in anyone or anything – except Hadley. I’m eager to read this one!
The List of Things that Will Not Change – There are plenty of things changing in Bea’s life – like her dad getting married to his boyfriend and her getting a new sister. But she keeps a list of things that will not change – like her parents’ love for her – to help her through the ups and downs.
Nat Enough (Graphic Novel) – First in a new series. Nat has never felt like she is “enough.” And when middle school starts, and she’s not even cool enough for her best friend, she’s not sure where she fits. I can’t wait to read this one!
Poison at the Pump – Book 25 in the Imagination Station series. This time the kids travel back to the cholera epidemic of 1854.
Rewritten (Older Middle Grade) – Book 2 in the Unwritten series. The characters from Gracie’s original fairy tale have had to start over, and some of them aren’t very happy with her about that. But when Gracie finds out she’s still in danger, she ends up in a horror story as she tries to set things right. I am so intrigued by this one!
Scoob Junior Novelization – A junior novel based on the movie.
Thieves of Weirdwood – First in a new illustrated fantasy series about two thieves who stumble across the headquarters of a magical organization.
Timmy Failure: Zero to Hero – A prequel to the series which is also now a movie on Disney+. This is Timmy’s origin story.
Untwisted – The sequel to Twinchantment. While the kingdom adjusts to the return of magic, not everyone is happy about the new unified approach, especially at the school where the princesses attend. I’m looking forward to the next step in this series!
Whatever After: Abby in Oz – A special edition from the Whatever After series where Abby and her friends head to Oz.
Wizard for Hire: Magic Required (Older Middle Grade) – The third and final book in the Wizard for Hire series. Ozzy’s been injected with a mind-control serum, and Rin the “wizard” has gone missing.
What Were the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World?
Who Is Temple Grandin?

 

Books for Teens/Young Adults

Alex Rider: Nightshade – Book 12 in the Alex Rider series. Now that Scorpia has been destroyed, Alex is hoping to get back to a normal life. But a new criminal organization, Nightshade, is on the rise. Sounds awesome!
Black Widow: Secrets of a Super Spy – Discover the whole story of Black Widow Natasha Romanoff.
The Burning – A teen running from rumors and harassment in a new town with a new name gets drawn into the story of seventeenth century woman accused of witchcraft.
Empire of Dreams – An orphan joins the Royal Guard when her adoption by the empress is thwarted by her enemy. If she can survive the first year – something no woman has ever done – she may have the experience she needs to save the empire. This sounds fascinating!
Goodbye from Nowhere – A teen discovers his mother has been having an affair and his father has known and kept the secret. As Kyle withdraws from his usual activities and friends, his parents urge him to keep the secret until after a large family gathering over the summer. But Kyle sees what the secret is doing to people, and he’s not sure he should keep it after all.
Gotham High (Graphic Novel) – A re-imagined Bruce Wayne gets kicked out of his exclusive prep school for defending another student from bullies and finds himself at the local high school. There he starts hanging out with Selina Kyle and Jack Napier. But the school is rocked by the kidnapping of fellow student Harvey Dent.
Jack Kerouac Is Dead to Me – When her older boyfriend prepares to graduate and hit the open road, 15 year old JL has to decide if she wants to join him, knowing if she does, it will permanently fracture the relationship with her best friend.
Meet Me at Midnight – After a six-year prank war, Asher suggests he and Sidney join forces to prank the woman who kicked their families out of their lake houses because of the pranks.
The Perfect Escape – A teen in need of money is tempted to commit grade fraud when a co-worker approaches him with a more legal plan. The two of them could join up and compete in a survivalist weekend and split the huge cash prize if they win.
Rules for Being a Girl – From the author of Sex and the City. When no one believes her reports of a teacher coming on to her, Marin is not about to back down. She will use every means available to her to take back her power and make things right.
So This Is Love – The latest Twisted Tale is based on the story of Cinderella. What would have happened if Cinderella never tried on the glass slipper?
Sword in the Stars – The sequel to Once & Future (Rating: ♥♥♥♥). Ari and her crew must travel back in time to get the Holy Grail. (LGBTQ+) I’m curious to see what happens next for this quirky cast of characters in this quirky retelling of the King Arthur legends.
We Didn’t Ask for This – In the middle of the annual lock-in, a group of eco-protesters chain themselves to the doors, refusing to let anyone out until their demands are heard.
What I Like About You – Can you have a love triangle with only two people? You can when the person you are online has already engaged in a relationship with the guy you are meeting in real life – and you are NOTHING like your secret online persona. I can’t wait to read this one!
Speak Love: Your Words Can Change the World – A devotional for teens from Annie F. Downs.

 

Books for Adults

The Body in the Garden (Hardcover) – A young woman who overhears a blackmail attempt that turns into murder starts to investigate when the police are bribed to drop the case.
Chosen Ones (Hardcover) – Years ago, five ordinary teens were prophesied to take out a force of evil. And they did. This is the story of what happened after, when one of the five dies and the others discover the Dark One’s plans were bigger than they ever imagined. This sounds amazing!
Dead on the Vine (Hardcover) – First in a new Finn Family Farm Mystery series. A woman who inherits a produce farm has every intention of selling it. But when she finds a dead body there, the sale is on hold, and she has to work the farm while the police investigate the crime.
Deep Fried Revenge (Trade Paperback) – Book 4 in the Farm-to-Fork Mystery series. Angie and her crew are competing in the Best Restaurant competition at the Idaho State Fair when one of the competitors is killed.
Dogcather in the Rye (e-book) –  First in the new Bought-the-Farm Mystery series. A woman launching a farm-themed inn runs into trouble when her dog finds a dead body on her property. This looks like a cute series! This book is available for Kindle Unlimited subscribers at the time of this writing.
The Stolen Letter (Hardcover) – Book 5 in the Scottish Bookshop Mystery series. Delaney’s beloved bookstore, the Cracked Spine, is in danger of being closed down and she meets a woman who thinks she might be the reincarnated Mary Queen of Scots.
To Have and to Hoax (Trade Paperback) – One year into their marriage, Lady Violet and Lord James Audley had a fight to end all fights. They have barely spoken to each other in the four years since. But when Lady Violet gets word that James has been hurt in an accident, she rushes to his side only to find him completely fine, and utterly confused as to why she has come all this way. This launches the couple into a game of one-upsmanship as each tries to get the other’s attention. I already have this on hold from the library.
Up Next Murder (e-book – April 9) – The sequel to the delightful Microphones and Murder. In the course of solving their first case, a body was found. Now, for their second podcast season, the step-sisters dig into the case of the young woman found during that investigation. I bought this the MINUTE I saw it announced!
You Deserve Each Other (Trade Paperback) – When a pair of fiancés start to grow tired of their match, they know whoever actually calls off the wedding has to foot the bill for the canceled event. So they launch a series of pranks to get the other one to be the one to cancel. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
All the Glorious Names (Hardcover) – A 40-day devotional about the names of God.
Get Out of Your Head Study in Philippians (Paperback) – The study guide for the Philippians Bible study based on the Jennie Allen book Get Out of Your Head.
Shut Hell Up: When the Enemy Brings Up Your Past, Remind Him of Your Future (Trade Paperback) – Overcome the negative thinking that keeps you feeling inadequate and out of whatever God has called you to do.
When Did We Start Forgetting God?: The Root of the Evangelical Crisis and Hope for the Future (Trade Paperback) – From the former editor-in-chief of Christianity Today.
Your Story Matters: Finding, Writing and Living the Truth of Your Life (Trade Paperback) – A book about writing as a spiritual practice. I have this one on my list for this week.

SATURDAY SMORGASBORD: Older Middle Grade Books

SATURDAY SMORGASBORD: Older Middle Grade Books

Posted on by Jaymie

A couple years ago I wrote a post called What Is “Middle Grade?” It’s all about books targeted to older kids in roughly the 8-12 age range. Some of my all time favorite books are written for this age group – Frindle, No Talking, The Candymakers (you can read about the second book here), The Westing Game.

You can find some amazing middle grade books – ones I rated 5 stars – here. Books like Finding Orion and The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl and Solving for M.

Since that post two years ago, though, I’ve been noticing that some publishers are designating some books for what I call “older middle grade” readers – kids 10 and up. It can be hard to find books to fit this group. The readers are ready for something more intricate, or maybe something with more grown up content like crushes and relationship situations, But they aren’t all quite ready for the mature content in some books for teens and young adults.

I’ve been keeping a list of books that fit this older crowd. If you search for some of these titles, you might find them in a Book News post. If they are books I have read and reviewed, I will note that as well. But here are some of the books in that list for older middle grade readers. (Note that these books may include mature content.)

Books for Older Middle Grade Readers

Wizard for Hire series by Obert Skye – When his parents are kidnapped, Ozzy calls a wizard for hire to help. You can read my review of book one here. The third book releases in April.
The Pumpkin Falls mystery series by Heather Vogel Fredrick – Book 1 of this mystery series, Absolutely Truly, is marked for readers 8-12. The next two books, Yours Truly and Really Truly currently scheduled for June 2020, are marked for readers 10-14.
The Fairy Tale Reform School series by Jen Calonita – All 6 books, including Cursed which is scheduled to release in May, are written for kids 10 and up. You can read some of my reviews of the series here. Rating for Flunked: ♥♥♥♥
The Track Series by Jason Reynolds – All 4 books, about a group of kids who run track who have a lot to prove, are written for kids 10 and up. Rating for Ghost: ♥♥♥♥
The Trials of Apollo Series by Rick Riordan – A series where the god, Apollo, who has been turned into a normal teenager, is sent to earth to figure out what has happened to the Oracles and set things right. All 5 books, including The Tower of Nero which is scheduled for September, are written for kids 10 and up. Rating for The Hidden Oracle: ♥♥♥♥
Well That Was Awkward by Rachel Vail – For readers 10-15. You can read my review here.
Winterborne Home for Vengeance and Valor – For readers 10-14. You can read my review here.

My Life As an Ice Cream Sandwich by Ibi Zoboi – A girl raised by her grandfather – the first black engineer at NASA – in Huntsville spends time with her father in Harlem, not sure if she could ever fit in there. For readers 10-13
Each Tiny Spark by Pablo Cartaya – As a girl watches her father try to piece his life back together after deployment, her community starts to fall apart, and some of her classmates are caught in the middle. For readers 10-12.
Count Me In by Varsha Bajaj – An Indian-American girl and her grandfather are targeted in an assault. While her grandfather recovers, the girl uses her social media accounts to bring attention to the attack. For readers 10 and up
Broken Strings by Eric Walters and Kathy Kacer – When a middle schooler gets cast in Fiddler on the Roof, she thinks her Jewish grandfather might have things in his attic the school production can use. But she discovers an old violin with broken strings and some secrets of her grandfather’s past that he wants to keep to himself.  For readers 10-14. You can read my full review here.
Charlie Thorne and the Last Equation by Stuart Gibbs –  The CIA drags a young genius into the hunt for a secret Einstein equation that could save – or destroy – the world. For readers 10 and up. You can read my review here.
The Crossover Graphic Novel by Kwame Alexander – For readers 10 to 12. The source material, the novel in verse by the same name (Rating: ♥♥♥♥), is also for readers 10-12.
Born to Fly by Steve Sheinkin –  A middle grade history of the 1929 Air Derby, the first women’s air race across America. For readers 10 to 14.
The Train to Impossible Places series by P. G. Bell – A troll-operated postal delivery train turns a girl’s world upside down. Both books in this series so far are for readers 10 to 14.

Roll With It by Jamie Sumner –  A girl with cerebral palsy who longs to be a baker adjusts to a new home and a new school. For readers 10 and up. You can read a brief review here.
The Tornado by Jake Burt – A fantastic bullying story from Jake Burt that asks what responsibility the formerly-bullied have when their bully chooses a new target. For readers 10 -14. You can read my full review here.
Friend or Fiction by Abby Cooper – When her dad gets sick, Jade starts writing stories in a notebook about herself and a perfect new best friend named Zoe. But after a classmate gets a hold of her notebook and does an experiment with it, fictional Zoe becomes Jade’s real-life neighbor and friend. For readers 10-14. You can read my full review here. The author’s previous books Sticks and Stones as well as Bubbles are also for readers 10 -12.
How to Rob a Bank by Tom Mitchel – When a boy trying to impress a girl ends up burning down her house instead, he thinks only the grandest gestures can make up for it – like robbing a bank to help pay for a new house. For readers 11 and up.
Look Both Ways by Jason Reynolds – A story told in ten blocks on the trip home from school. For readers 10-14.
Ali Cross by James Patterson –  A spin off of Patterson’s Alex Cross series, this one starring Alex’s son who wants to follow in his father’s detective footsteps. Ali is hunting for his missing best friend while his father is on trial for a crime he didn’t commit. For readers 10-14.
I Kill the Mockingbird by Paul Acampora – A group of teens hides copies of To Kill a Mockingbird in order to get everyone talking about it. For readers 10-14. You can read a little about the book here.  Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

The Agatha Oddly series by Lena Jones – All three books in the series about a young detective in London, including The Silver Serpent scheduled for June, are for readers 11 and up.
Pixie Pushes On by Tamara Bundy – A novel set in the 1940s about a girl growing up on a farm, missing her sister who is in quarantine because of polio, and who learns to soften her rough edges by raising a runt baby lamb. For readers 10 and up.
Go With the Flow by Lily Williams –  A group of high school sophomores start a “menstruation revolution” at their high school. A graphic novel for readers 10 to 14. Rating: ♥♥♥♥
Chirp by Kate Messner – Mia moves to Vermont, healing from a broken arm and hiding a secret. She and her new friends get pulled into helping her grandmother who believes someone is trying to sabotage her cricket farm. But Mia’s parents aren’t sure if there is a real threat, or if her grandmother’s thinking has changed after a stroke. For readers 10-14. You can read my full review here.
Parked by Danielle Svetcov – Jeanne lives in an orange van, but she hopes to have a more permanent address by the time school starts. Cal lives in a big house across the street from Jeanne’s van, and he’s determined to “rescue” her. While Jeanne is not on board with that plan, the two do form a friendship that will impact both of them. For readers 10-14. Rating: ♥♥♥♥½
Red Menace by Lois Ruby – A teen has FBI agents staking out his house (in 1953) because they are convinced his parents, college professors, are communist sympathizers. He knows the Rosenbergs are scheduled for execution because of their suspected activities. For readers 11-14.
A Home for Goddesses and Dogs by Leslie Conner – When a girl loses her mother and goes to live with an aunt and her wife, she struggles to find a place of belonging. Then the adults also take in a rotten, misbehaving dog. Wasn’t taking her in enough “rescuing” for them for awhile? For readers 10-14.