Tag: Older Middle Grade Fiction

REVIEW: Parked by Danielle Svetcov

REVIEW: Parked by Danielle Svetcov

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Jeanne Ann and her mother live in Chicago where her mom works in a restaurant as a cook. The hours are long, and her boss is awful. Jeanne Ann splits her time between school and the local library. She stays there until it closes, and the staff have a rule that someone stays with her until her mom gets there to pick her up. The library is like a second home. Jeanne Ann loves Mrs. Jablonsky, the librarian. She has a reading spot, and she helps shelve the books. The librarian even gives her review copies of upcoming books so she can tell them which ones to buy.

But one day, Jeanne Ann’s mom decides to pursue her dream, so they buy a run down orange van and start driving west to San Francisco.

They find a side street with a great view and park the van near some other folks with the same idea. Jeanne Ann’s mom says they are on vacation and can relax for a few days. But when she decides to look for a job, she runs into road blocks. The former co-worker who invited her to come out to San Francisco is gone. The apartment they thought they could live in isn’t an option. So they live on the side street in their van. Across from Cal’s house.

Cal was 8 the first time he approached one of the folks parked across the street. He gave the man some food. And ever since then, he’s been hyper-aware of the people living there. He wants to help them. He wants people to SEE them. But his efforts backfire. He’s gotten into trouble at school which means trouble at home. But the arrival of a new orange van – and a girl his age – catches his attention.

Review

This was SO good! I loved Jeanne Ann and Cal. Readers in books get me every time – and Jeanne Ann is a reader. That trait – and her relationship with books – is a thread through the whole story. Cal is earnest and determined. He’s young – both kids are going into 7th grade. His intentions are great, but his execution causes some trouble. But he keeps showing up. He keeps trying to help; he keeps trying to get his mom to see HIM and see the need right in front of them.

There’s a library thread in this that is absolutely delightful! Mrs. Jablonsky is trying to find Jeanne Ann and her mom when Jeanne Ann stops coming to the library and her books are flagged overdue. The love of this team of librarians for this preteen girl warmed my heart.

The ending of this is also spectacular. I loved how everything came together in the end. This feel-good story tackles a lot of topics – homelessness, helping vs. rescuing, success and failure, fear, friendship, food, reading, neighbors. So much to love here. This would be an AMAZING read aloud at home or at school. Be sure to check this one out.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

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.

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: ♥♥♥♥♥

 

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: Aggie Morton, Mystery Queen: The Body Under the Piano by Marthe Jocelyn

REVIEW: Aggie Morton, Mystery Queen: The Body Under the Piano by Marthe Jocelyn

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Aggie is a bright girl, living in Torquay, England with her mother and grandmother. She takes dance at the Mermaid Dance Room from Miss Marianne. Marianne lives with her sister-in-law, Irma Eversham, and her niece Rose, neighbors of Aggie’s. Mrs. Eversham is abrasive, shrill, short-tempered and snappish. In fact, on the night of the benefit concert at the Mermaid Dance Room, Irma doesn’t even stay for the performance. She walks in, shouts at people, and leaves.

The benefit goes well, collecting clothes for the recent influx of refugees. When Aggie and her friends show up for dance class the next day, still excited about their performance and the good they accomplished, Aggie is surprised to find Irma dead under the piano from what appears to be poison.

Since Aggie saw the body, she’s eager to do some investigating of her own, especially when Miss Marianne becomes the primary suspect. Aggie discovers that her new Belgian friend, Hector, is an eager partner for her investigation. While Aggie’s nursemaid is determined to distract her from investigating, Aggie is firm in her plans to discover the culprit for herself.

Review

This was a fun mystery! Aggie is a great character – curious and determined. And she’s already a storyteller. She plots out interesting scenes and conversations in her mind based on the people and events around her. When I read the author’s note that Aggie was written with Agatha Christie in mind, this habit of Aggie’s was even more endearing.

I enjoyed the full cast of characters. The setting and timing of the story led to great challenges for the writer to address. Aggie’s age and gender meant she had to be properly supervised. The timing of the story also influenced how the women in the book were treated. I loved the feisty characters who pushed back against the gender expectations/limitations.

It’s not often that a kid’s mystery deals directly with a murder. Usually the crime is less violent – a theft, a missing person, etc. This is written for older middle grade readers (10+), probably because of the violence of a murder and an assault. Nothing seemed too graphic for the general reader in this age group. More sensitive readers should just be aware.

The case is delightfully twisty, giving readers several possible suspects. I enjoyed watching Aggie and Hector puzzle through their clues. I can’t wait to see what mystery the two of them stumble across next.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Charlie Thorne and the Last Equation by Stuart Gibbs

REVIEW: Charlie Thorne and the Last Equation by Stuart Gibbs

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

In 1955, as Albert Einstein lay dying and under the influence of morphine, the great genius spoke of a secret work. One he never trusted to humanity. And ever since then, the CIA has been trying to find it.

They aren’t the only ones. Over the years different governments – and spies – of the world have tried to track it down with no luck. The latest group calls themselves the Furies. They are disgruntled white supremacists, angry at the world and bitter about all they feel has been “stolen” from them. They would be among the worst of those hunting for Einstein’s final equation. And they are close to finding it.

The CIA has become desperate. That’s the only reason they would bring in a reckless, impulsive 12-year-old genius named Charlie Thorne. Agent Dante Garcia knows Charlie’s story and believes her brilliance could be just what they need to solve the mystery and find the equation before the Furies. But Charlie may be more trouble than the CIA is prepared for. And Charlie might not be prepared for what could happen to her once the CIA has what they want from her.

Review

This was great! I enjoyed the combination of mystery and action/adventure. Charlie is an interesting character – so smart but at times immature and naive. For much of the book, she was the only one I trusted. And that was a factor in the story, too. There was no super-surprising twist. The puzzles are pretty straightforward once Charlie figures them out. I loved the things I learned about Einstein and other scientists from the story. The ending was great.

There were parts that seemed too easy or too perfect. It was easy to suspend disbelief, though, because I was having so much fun with the story.

This has a lot more violence and death in it than you’ll find in most middle grade books, even if this one is for Older Middle Grade readers (ages 10 and up). It felt more like a YA novel in that way, although the 12-year-old protagonist would be young for a straight up YA novel.

Readers who can handle the violence (gun battles, fighting, death threats, death, etc.) will find a smart, fun adventure story here! I can’t wait for book 2.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: Friend or Fiction? by Abby Cooper

REVIEW: Friend or Fiction? by Abby Cooper

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Life was weird in Tiveda, Colorado. It was a small town, and no one every stayed there long. People there were generally passing through on their way somewhere else. For Jade, Tiveda was extra weird because her family was sticking around. That wasn’t the plan at first, but her dad’s been way too sick to move away, find new doctors, etc. And while she stays, her friends tend to come and go.

Until Zoe.

Zoe is a character Jade created. Jade’s a writer. And she writes stories about a fictional Jade and her best friend Zoe. All of the stories fit in a notebook that Jade takes everywhere so she always has Zoe with her. She can add to their adventures any time, which comes in handy when you don’t have a best friend at school any more. And Jade’s dad loves to hear any new Zoe story she writes.

When a kid named Clue takes Jade’s notebook for a “project,” she is beside herself. What dose she even do without Zoe? But the project seems to be a success because Zoe – Jade’s made up Zoe – has come to life, and she’s is living across the street from Jade and going to her school!

Review

This was great. There’s a touch of magic to the story that brings Zoe to life. But the rest is a realistic story about friendship, family and writing. And it all comes together so well.

I loved the revelations Jade encounters in the last part of the book – about her brother, about Zoe, about the kids at school, about storytelling, and about herself. There’s so much here, and it’s all so rich. Jade grows and changes so much from the start of the novel to the end. It’s a fantastic journey.

This would be great for classroom reading or a book group. This fits in the “older middle grade” category, for kids 10 and up. There are tons of friendship pieces to talk about, but so much more – cancer, grief, isolation, family. There are great pieces about writing and writers in this, too, that could have classroom connections. The fact that Jade is a writer, that she connects with a teacher at school who encourages her writing, and her dad’s enthusiasm about her stories – those were some of my favorite parts of the book. Don’t miss this one!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: The Tornado by Jake Burt

REVIEW: The Tornado by Jake Burt

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Bell Kirby is quite the engineer for an elementary school student. His favorite school activity is Creator Club. (This year they get to recreate some of Da Vinci’s creations!) Bell designed a habitat of tubes for his chinchilla to run through that travels all over his bedroom. Bell’s dad, who is deployed with the Army, sends him engineering brain teasers to solve. And his mom, who’s an engineer with the Army, has a garage workshop where Bell can work on some of his own designs.

But Bell’s biggest “system” is the one he uses at school to avoid a bully named Parker. Bell has a system for every hour of every school day. He has studied Parker’s schedule both for school and for extracurricular activities. Bell has alternate routes for his alternate routes to get him from class to class to home while avoiding Parker as much as possible. Bell has tried to get help for the bullying at school, but Parker’s dad is the principal. He always has an excuse for why whatever Parker did was an accident, or he doesn’t believe Bell because there are no witnesses willing to speak up.

When Daelynn Gower shows up at their school, her eccentric appearance and outgoing personality catches Parker’s attention. And a cafeteria accident makes her Parker’s primary target. So Bell is off the hook! Parker isn’t tormenting him any more. In fact, Parker wants Bell to help him in his schemes against Daelynn. What can Bell do now?

Review

What a great twist on the bullying theme getting a lot of attention in children’s literature these days! I loved that this wrestles with the question of what responsibility the formerly-bullied have to the new target. Do they bask in their own freedom, or do they try to stand up to the bully, risking a renewal of the torment? Anyone who thinks that is an easy question – or an easy task – has probably never been bullied.

I loved Bell! His engineering brilliance makes him a unique middle grade protagonist. I loved how adults and kids recognized that talent in him. I thought Bell’s parents reacted reasonably to his situation at school, walking the fine line of being his advocate while also giving Bell space to try to handle his own business.

I have enjoyed all of Jake Burt’s work to date. You can read my review of Greetings from Witness Protection (one of my top books of 2017) here and my review of The Right Hook of Devin Velma here. The Tornado is a must-read for Jake Burt fans. This would be a great read-aloud or book group selection. The bullying angle gives a lot of material for discussion both at school and at home. This is another great selection for older middle grade readers (ages 10-14). Don’t miss this one!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: The Humiliations of Pipi McGee by Beth Vrabel

REVIEW: The Humiliations of Pipi McGee 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

Pipi’s humiliations are legendary. And no one at her middle school is going to let her forget them. From her kindergarten self-portrait (as a strip of bacon with boobs) shown on the first day of 8th grade to her reputation for picking her nose (an unfortunate school picture fiasco) and starting a vomiting epidemic on the school bus, Pipi can’t catch a break. If anyone touches her, they treat their hand as if they have the plague, trying to pass the “Pipi touch” to other students. But Pipi is convinced THIS will be the year everything changes. This will be the year of revenge and redemption!

Pipi has a plan to reinvent herself, undo all of her humiliations, and to strike back at those who hurt her the most when she was vulnerable. Her single-minded focus on changing her life before high school ends up causing more trouble than it fixes. In fact, her quest for reinvention could cost her the parts of her current life she actually enjoys.

Review

There are some truly delightful moments in this story. But there are also plenty of painful ones for Pipi. This is the second “revenge” story line I’ve read recently, and both were a bit painful to read. This isn’t the good-will-triumph-over-evil sort of revenge where you identify with the oppressed and cheer for them to rise up. It tends to look more like good-kid-temporarily-becomes-a-jerk-to-get-back-at-the-jerks.  And as the reader, you have to sit back and watch it all fall apart while you hope Pipi will learn from everything and find some redemption in the end.

Pipi’s family really helps offset the more awkward and painful parts of the book. They are spectacular! My favorite scene is a birthday party in the middle of the book – it’s an absolute treat. There’s also a couple brief appearances of characters from the author’s 2018 book The Reckless Club (which I ADORED). The tie in was terrific.

I am loving the publishing trend of producing books for older middle grade readers – the 10 to 14-year-olds, the middle schoolers who are ready for more complicated and intricate stories but still young enough to steer away from some YA themes. This is a perfect example of a story for that audience – complicated friendships and relationships, lessons to be learned, and identity to develop. Be sure to check out Pipi McGee! (LGBTQ+)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Broken Strings by Eric Walters and Kathy Kacer

REVIEW: Broken Strings by Eric Walters and Kathy Kacer

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Shirli Berman longs to be a performer. She dances and sings AND acts. And for her 8th grade year she’s tried out for the school production of Fiddler on the Roof. She was hoping to get the part of Hodel and get to sing “Matchmaker, Matchmaker.” Instead, she will be playing Golde, Tevye’s wife – an old Jewish woman with no solo. It was hard not to be disappointed.

It’s been five months since the World Trade Center towers fell on 9/11. Some people thought it was too soon for something as festive as a musical. But eventually the school decided it would be part of “moving forward” from the tragedy. A way to heal and get back to some semblance of normal.

Shirli’s grandfather, who she calls Zayde, has some old clothes and furniture in his attic that Shirli thinks could be useful for the musical. But when she looks through everything, she also finds an old violin and a poster for a music group. And one of the little boys on the poster is Zayde.

When Shirli shows him what she found, Zayde becomes angry, saying those things shouldn’t be in the attic. They were supposed to be thrown away years ago. What happened in Zayde’s past, and why does he want to keep it secret?

Review

This is one of the best books I have read so far this year (and I’ve read over 270 books so far)!! What a delightful surprise this was. I loved all the typical parts – the rehearsals and preparation for the musical, and the sweet middle school romance that might blossom. But there’s so much more!

Since the story takes place in New Jersey in late winter and spring of 2002, the characters are still reeling from 9/11. And there are some powerful scenes with Muslim, Jewish and Hindu characters around the events of that day. The scenes are amazing on their own, but they also address how America struggles, still today, with Muslims and other “brown” people because of the terrorists who struck that day.

But the story truly shines in the ways it addresses Jewish history through the musical and also through Shirli’s family. I can’t tell you how many times I cried as Zayde opened up to Shirli about his past. I learned things about the Holocaust I’d never heard/read before. And the authors did a masterful job of ensuring those stories impacted more characters than just Shirli.

This is a phenomenal story – delightful characters, and moving scenes about family, music and friendship. It also addresses heavy topics like 9/11 and the Holocaust in ways that are honest while also being kid-friendly. I’ve noticed a trend lately from publishers to have books targeted to older middle grade readers – 10-14 year olds. These books have excellent storytelling and meaningful plots without engaging in some of the more mature teen behavior you might find in YA books for older readers. Broken Strings is one such book.

My only complaint about this book is something I hope was fixed in the final editing process. This takes place in a Jr. High School with 8th and 9th grade students, but the book frequently refers to the 9th graders as “seniors” instead of “freshmen.” It happens so often, I forgot that Shirli is supposed to be 14 instead of 16. Hopefully that is just a factor in my early review copy.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It would be an exceptional read aloud at school or at home, and would also be a fantastic choice for a book group. Don’t miss this one!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥+++