Tag: middle grade fiction

REVIEW: Shine! by JJ and Chris Grabenstein

REVIEW: Shine! by JJ and Chris Grabenstein

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Piper’s life revolves around music, although she says she personally can’t carry a tune in a lunch box.

Her mother was a cellist and also a singer. At Piper’s age she had a full music scholarship to Chumley Prep. Piper’s dad has always dreamed of writing musicals and directing orchestras on Broadway, but he never caught a break like that. When Piper’s mom died, he started directing music at Fairview Middle School so he had a steady job to take care of the two of them.

And now, her dad’s a cappella group has won the Winter Sing-Off, beating the Chumley Prep group. It’s a huge achievement for Piper’s dad. And it gets him invited to take the director’s job at Chumley after Christmas. A “perk” is that Piper can go to the school for free. She’s less than thrilled.

At the Winter Sing-Off, Piper overheard the arrogant Chumley kids mocking her dad and his group, but she was too shy to speak up. What is she going to do now when she has to go to school with those kids every day?

Review

“The brightest stars don’t just shine for themselves.”

What a DELIGHT! This is the kind of book I want to hug. I loved this – the characters, the plot, the message. It was a treat to read!

Piper is my favorite sort of middle grade character. She’s bright and sweet and over time she gets comfortable in her own skin. She finds a fantastic crew at Chumley which offsets some of the social issues at the school. Piper’s not perfect. She struggles with the pressure to be a star at Chumley and with her expectations of herself, and that leads her to vent that frustration onto a friend. But she finds her way back, on her own, given some time and space – exactly what you hope kids can do.

The story was almost as excellent as Piper. It’s a new kid story combined with an identity story as Piper is trying to figure out who she wants to be in this new setting. As an outsider, she catches glimpses of what the pressure of a school like Chumley can be like for kids, especially kids with parents who have sky-high expectations and the money to make things happen. And while Piper puts up with some taunting and some unfair treatment, she mostly has the freedom to find her place and be herself while she figures out the Chumley system and competes for an all-school award.

This would be terrific for a classroom read aloud, for book groups, or for family/bedtime reading. Don’t miss out on this one. You can check out my reviews of some of Chris Grabenstein’s other books here.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: The Friendship Lie by Rebecca Donnelly

REVIEW: The Friendship Lie by Rebecca Donnelly

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Things seemed so much simpler in second grade. With her twin brother, Kyle, by her side, she could face anything. She didn’t need a ton of friends. But meeting Sybella was like fate. From their first meeting it was obvious Sybella had a great imagination and a sense of adventure. When Cora told her about the magical land of Aquafaba, Sybella “got it” right away. And for three years, Cora, Kyle and Sybella played and developed their magical, imaginary land.

By fifth grade, though, life is more complicated. Cora and Kyle’s mom is living in Belgium and going back to her maiden name. A new girl at school is trying to wedge herself into Cora, Kyle and Sybella’s trio. And Cora’s life is pretty consumed by her dad’s work in “garbagology.” Her school is even doing a Trashlympics competition later in the year.

When something fractures Cora’s friendship with Sybella, it’s the final straw. She’s lonely, she doesn’t have her mom close by to talk to, and she’s not sure if this fracture is something they’ll be able to mend or if their friendship is broken for good.

Review

What a terrific friendship story! This is a perfect story for upper elementary readers – an age group that often deals with growing pains in friendships. I think this would work especially well as a classroom read aloud. There’s a lot to discuss in the novel, and teachers can also help kids track the novel’s two timelines (“Before” and “now”), two perspectives (Cora’s and Sybella’s), and a 40-year-old story from a discarded diary.

Cora seems like a melancholy kid, even before the friendship drama. And I loved that Sybella and Kyle accepted her and never tried to “fix” her. The friendship fracture – like many conflicts – could have been solved with some clear communication, but that’s a great life lesson. There was an extenuating factor that wasn’t directly handled by the end (for good story reasons) that frustrated me. I think the impact of an outsider on the situation would make for a great discussion point for a book group or a class to dig into.

The garbology pieces of this were so fresh and creative – and quirky! Families or schools could use this as a starting point for further work on sustainability and environmental issues including recycling.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart

REVIEW: The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Coyote and her dad live in an old school bus that they’ve turned into something of a mobile home. They come and go as they please, living life on the road. They have a few rules for their nomadic life. Before they pick up any passengers, they ask them about their favorite book, place and sandwich. Also, Coyote calls her dad “Rodeo,” never “Dad.” And they never talk about the life they had before – before Coyote’s mom and two sisters died in an accident.

After five years on the road together, Coyote’s gotten really good at managing Rodeo. She knows what to say or how or when to say it to convince him to do almost anything. She used these skills to get her kitten, Ivan, for example.

So when Coyote finds out from her grandmother that the park near their old house is about to be dug up, she knows it will take some epic finessing to get her father to leave Florida and get to Washington before the park is destroyed. And she can’t come right out and tell him why they need to go, because it would break the rule of never talking about their loss. But Coyote and her mom and sisters buried a time capsule in that park just days before the accident. Now, Coyote absolutely has to get back to that park and save those last memories before they are destroyed forever.

Review

Oh, this was lovely! Dan Gemeinhart is an amazing writer! I have enjoyed several of his other books. He develops these fantastic characters. And he really knows how to get to the heart and soul of a story. This book is a perfect example of that skill. Coyote and Rodeo are amazing. They have developed an extreme coping strategy for their loss. But as Coyote gets older, and when the park situation comes up, it’s no longer enough for her. But Rodeo won’t give up his coping mechanisms easily. Watching the two of them walk through this challenge was fantastic.

They pick up some awesome passengers along the way. I loved the whole ensemble. Each one was on his or her own journey of identity or self-discovery or a scary new start – and they became something of a family on the journey.

Bring your tissues for this one. I absolutely loved the heart of this. This is an emotionally rich and complex story, which is awesome for middle grade readers. There’s lots to think about and talk about with this one. I could see this being great for a book club or discussion group.

I would steer this one to older middle grade readers. That’s my gut for this one, first because of the emotional intricacies. Some younger readers won’t have the life experience and empathy yet to really “get” Coyote and her story.  There’s also some language which might catch younger readers – or Christian readers – off guard (g-damn, “lord,” etc.). For the older crowd – upper elementary, middle school – this is a story and a character that is not to be missed!! (Language, LGBTQ)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: Definitely Daphne by Tami Charles

REVIEW: Definitely Daphne by Tami Charles

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Annabelle had no idea what was in store for her. Since her mom’s in the military, they’ve moved a lot. She thought this move to New Jersey from Germany would be like all the rest – her mom would do her stuff, her dad would work from home and homeschool Annabelle.

Not this time.

Shy Annabelle is off to middle school, full of cliques, strange customs and expressions she doesn’t know. When Annabelle announces she wants to quit after the first day, her parents send her to a therapist to help with the transition.

The therapist thinks Annabelle’s love of making movies could be the key to helping her make some friends and adjust to her new circumstances. Annabelle agrees to try it under a few conditions. Her account has to be private – family viewing only. And she’ll use her middle name – Daphne – and only be on camera with a disguise. There’s just one part of the plan she doesn’t tell the adults – she’s going to use the vlog to show how awful school is so she can go back to homeschooling!

Review

I loved everything about this! Annabelle is so relateable. From the new school and friend issues to her vlog and therapy to her feelings about her mom’s deployment. It’s all real and familiar.

Annabelle goes through some ups and downs. She tries on some new identities in the story – both “Daphne” and others – with mixed results. Through it all I couldn’t stop cheering for her.

The “Daphne Doesn’t” vlogs were great – things kids will definitely recognize about school. And the blog was a way for shy Annabelle to share her thoughts and feelings – and be affirmed for them. Which eventually gave her some confidence to share with those closest to her. She even has the gumption to reach out to someone who doesn’t make it easy, but who needs a friend just like Annabelle does.

This was absolutely perfect from start to finish – a delight to read. Highly recommend!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: EngiNerds by Jarrett Lerner

REVIEW: EngiNerds by Jarrett Lerner

Posted on by Jaymie

[Thanks to the author, Jarrett Lerner, who hosted a social media contest in 2017 where I won a copy of EngiNerds.]

Summary

Kennedy and his crew of friends call themselves “The EngiNerds.” There’s roughly a dozen of them, and they hang out in the science lab at lunch. Ken’s best friend is Dan. His nemesis is John Henry Knox, a kid obsessed with weather.

One day Ken comes home from school and finds a huge and heavy box on his porch with his name on it. Dan helps him get it in the house, and they start to put it together. After a brief distraction, they come back and find a fully assembled robot.

Greeeg, the robot, is apparently smart enough to assemble himself. And he’s VERY hungry. Greeeg will eat anything – except radishes – including glass jars and take out containers. At first, Ken thinks Greeeg is another cool present from his grandpa like the wind tunnel or the train set. But Grandpa K. didn’t send Greeeg. And Ken is starting to think that his cool new robot might be a lot more dangerous than he first thought.

Review

This was page after page of fun. The boys are quirky and smart. They bicker and banter, but when push comes to shove, they back each other up. I didn’t even get to know them very well yet in this first book. There’s a lot more to discover about the boys in the next book, I hope.

And the robot adventure is just getting started for Ken and his friends. There are plenty of mysteries and unanswered questions to carry readers further into the series.

If this had come out when I was teaching, I would have needed several copies of this in the library. I know just the kids I would have given this one to. They would have gobbled it up, begging for more.

I highly recommend it for the middle grade readers in your life who enjoy funny, quirky stories and science fiction.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Bodyguard: Recruit by Chris Bradford

REVIEW: Bodyguard: Recruit by Chris Bradford

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Connor Reeves is a teenaged martial arts champion. He lives in the shadow of his dad who died a “hero” even though Connor doesn’t know what happened to him. But Connor has a similar nature evidenced by his coming to the aid of a boy being mugged in an alleyway.

Connor’s rescue attempt puts him on the radar of the Guardian program. Guardian trains kids to serve as bodyguards to other kids. Another kid can blend in, seeing things that other professional security might miss.

This makes Connor a perfect candidate for protecting the President’s daughter. Bristling from being under constant surveillance, Alicia Mendez can be unpredictable and difficult to protect. She knows the need for her Secret Service team intellectually, but she doesn’t see the danger around her that makes them essential. But since she thinks Connor is only an English exchange student, he will be able to stay close enough to her to hopefully keep her safe. And that will be important because Alicia is definitely in danger.

Review

I first heard about this book when I read about the publicity campaign. The first four books in this series were released simultaneously. (In fact, originally, it seems these were published in the UK as two novels, but they were split into 4 for the US release.) I appreciate not having to wait 6-12 months to see what happens next.

Connor is a fantastic character. I would have loved more time with his full team at Guardian, but I know it was important to get Connor onto his assignment in the US.

The First Daughter is a typical teen. And her frustration over her limits is understandable. But her flippancy over the need for her protection was really frustrating for me as a reader. I know it makes for a fun story, but it was aggravating to watch her risk everything to rebel and push back against her limits.

I was chomping at the bit to get to book 2. You can tell this was originally part of a larger story arc. This ends on a major cliffhanger and a twist. If you are getting this book for a kid, be sure to get the books two at a time so the reader can enjoy the full arc. I enjoyed book two – Hostage – just as much. Tons of great action. The First Daughter is still extremely frustrating, but it makes for good suspense. I enjoyed both of the first two books in this series (in the US) – the whole series is likely to be very popular with readers who enjoy action and suspense.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Apartment 1986 by Lisa Papademetriou

REVIEW: Apartment 1986 by Lisa Papademetriou

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Callie’s in something of a new stage of life. Her dad recently got a new job, and the family moved to NYC. Her mom’s given up her social work job to start a soap business. Callie has changed schools and is trying to find her way with a new crowd.

When Callie’s dad loses his new job, everything starts to shift again. Callie feels the need to keep up with her friends which right now means $250 for a concert ticket. But her parents are tense, and this is NOT the time to ask for that kind of money. But the money is only one issue at school. She’s also having issues with her history teacher. And if she gets one more tardy, the school will call her parents.

When Callie oversleeps one day, she decides to skip school all together (text in an excuse, avoid another tardy) and spend the day at a museum. It’s educational! She’ll go back tomorrow. But one day becomes two and then becomes a pattern. The time away from school temporarily postpones her issues there, and gives her time for a new friend, time to reconsider an old friendship, and time to gain new insights into her family. But problems rarely disappear when you avoid them.

Review

This was delightful! I loved Callie. She’s smart and earnest and a little quirky. Her friendship with Cassius is great. While she doesn’t share much with him about the things swirling in her life, he’s a sounding board for her – a safe place to think.

I loved Callie’s family, too. The family side of Callie’s story – the relationships, the things she learns about her family – was my favorite part. I discovered great layers to the characters as the story went on. I found the sections where the family talks about Callie’s uncle were really well-done.

In some ways, as I was reading, I felt the story meandered in several different directions. There’s the family stuff and the money stuff and the new vs. old friends stuff and then the Callie-centric stuff. It all holds together, though, with Callie at the center of it all, figuring out life one step at a time. Loved it!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Princess Juniper of Torr by Ammi-Joan Paquette

REVIEW: Princess Juniper of Torr by Ammi-Joan Paquette

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Princess Juniper has enjoyed quite an adventure. She requested a small country to practice ruling, and her father gave her Queen’s Basin. Her band of kid-citizens has created a cooperative community there, and Juniper has learned a lot about leadership. She even made contact with her mother’s people, the Anju.

But it’s time to leave Queen’s Basin and return to Torr. The Monsians have invaded, and Juniper’s father, King Regis has been captured. So Juniper and her friends have a plan to return to Torr and set things right. Can a group of kids have any hope of saving a kingdom? Did Cyril leave to warn his father, the one who let the Monsians into Torr? Or could he still be on Juniper’s side? Will the Anju help Juniper save the day? Or is she be completely on her own to rescue her father and save her people from war?

Review

Great conclusion to the Princess Juniper trilogy! Juniper has grown up a lot in the weeks that she has been on her own. She’s built confidence in herself and in her team.

There are some nice twists still to come in this story as people vie for power in Torr. Things move faster than Juniper expects and not everyone is who she thought they were. And that increases the tension and pacing of the story nicely.

Everything’s wrapped up neatly for fans of the series with this book. A satisfying conclusion for Juniper and the people of both Queen’s Basin and Torr.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Princesses, Inc. by Mari Mancusi

REVIEW: Princesses, Inc. by Mari Mancusi

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Hailey, Kalani, Sarah. and Madison are Collin Prince’s biggest fans. Collin is a YouTube star who does magic and crazy videos. And Collin is going to be at Comicpalooza!

Sadly, the trip is too expensive for any of the girls to be able to go. Until they get the great idea to earn money by becoming themed babysitters. Just like people do with princess parities, the girls hire themselves out to babysit but they show up in costume. They even plan routines with magic and pirates (for kids who don’t like princesses) and buried treasure.

Soon, the girls are juggling school, sports, family and babysitting. On top of that, Hailey is trying to keep up with her fanfiction project with Sarah while also writing a story for the Comicpalooza kids’ writing contest. But it’s only for a few months, right? They can keep juggling it all for a few months. For Collin! Can’t they?

Review

This is a fairly familiar concept – teen takes on more than he/she can handle until everything crashes around him/her. But it is executed with a fun pop culture twist here that really clicked for me. I loved that Hailey is a writer. And I loved her energy and enthusiasm. The story stressed me out when everything started to unravel. But the ending was delightful and satisfying (if somewhat predictable).

The character development is pretty light except for Hailey. But the other three girls and the rest of the supporting cast are solid and enjoyable.

I’ve enjoyed the MIX line by Aladdin for years (You can find them on bookstore and library shelves because they have multicolored stripes on the spine. MIX books have stories centered on female protagonists while MAX is their latest line with stories focused on male protagonists). The stories were always popular with my students while I was teaching, and I know they would enjoy this one!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

Thanks to Netgalley and Aladdin/Simon and Schuster for an electronic advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed reading Princess Inc, and will continue to watch for MAX and MIX books from Aladdin in the future.

 

 

REVIEW: Posted by John David Anderson

REVIEW: Posted by John David Anderson

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Frost. Bench. Wolf. Dee Dee. Friends by default. Eighth graders who’ve been together for a couple years. A “tribe” of kids with different interests who found each other because they didn’t really fit in another group.

The “war” starts when student cell phones and devices are banned from the school. They are a distraction from learning and a means for being horrible to other people. But just because they can’t use their devices at school doesn’t mean the students are going to be nice to each other all of a sudden. They move from electronic communication to paper – notes passed in the hallway. And Post-it notes.

It starts as a harmless message between friends, a sticky note on a locker. But it grows bigger very quickly.

That’s not the only thing that changes during those weeks. In the middle of the phone ban, a new girl arrives at the school She changes the dynamic in the whole building – and the dynamic between Frost, Bench, Wolf and Dee Dee. And Eric (Frost) isn’t sure things will ever be the same between them again.

Review

I have been looking forward to this book for months! But the reality was a different book than I was expecting.

At its core, this is a book about friendship and about finding your tribe. And it’s a great friendship story! I loved the core group of boys. Their nicknames – Frost, Bench, Wolf and Dee Dee – are so perfect for their characters and reflect their passions. I love how these guys are together and how they support one another.

There’s strong foreshadowing in the story. From the beginning, Eric calls what is coming a “war.” This set a different, darker tone than I was expecting for the story. It’s a great tool for pulling the reader forward. I had to know how the “war” got started and how it might wrap up.

This is also a bullying story. Middle school is a tough time. Kids can be cruel. They look for ways that others are different, places where they might be insecure, and target those. In this case it’s gaming and “nerdy” hobbies, sexuality, and appearance. It’s painful and sadly realistic. This would be a great book to read aloud and discuss, either at home or in a classroom setting. It’s important for kids to know 1) how to find their tribe and 2) how to support it. Posted is a great place to start that discussion!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥