Grandpere's Ghost Swamp review

 

Basil Theriot has spent her entire life in New Orleans—in her family’s famed Cajun restaurant in the French Quarter, really—but she’s never been out to the bayou where her grandfather grew up. She’s also never seen a ghost.(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

 Sixth grader Basil Theriot and her family are mourning the death of her Grandpere Claude.  "G'pere" operated Theriot's Restaurant in the French Quarter but he mainly enjoyed mingling with tourists to tell his stories from down by the bayou. He was always the life of every party and will be missed greatly by many.  But on the day of his funeral, Basil is visited by the ghost of her Grandpere. He has a special message for her that leads to self discovery by sending her on a quest to learn more about her Cajun roots and the bayou.

 

This is a wonderful middle grade novel about family, friendship and the environmental impact Louisiana is experiencing.  Basil's mom and dad became owners of Theriot's Restaurant after her grandfathers passing. Currently, they are experiencing hard times because they are not able to replicate the famous mirlitons recipe G'pere was famous for.  Her parents are also expecting the restaurant will be handed down to Basil someday but are unaware that she secretly is not interested. She feels her entire life that she has missed out on holidays or Mardi Gras celebrations because of the restaurant. Being self-employed has made her parents to busy to have any real family time together.  During her social studies class, they are about to begin a Career Day Project. Her best friend Tommy already knows he wants to be a ghost hunter but Basil has no interest in being a restaurateur. While struggling with her ideas, G'pere's ghost guides her on a path to explore her Cajun roots by venturing through the swamp and disappearing wetlands where she learns about the losses caused by the hurricanes and the human impacts on the environment. Her friendship also takes a twist and Basil learns about honesty by keeping secrets from Tommy about seeing G'pere's ghost and from her parents by using Tommy as a front for her explorations. 

 

The front cover caught my eye immediately and I could picture everything perfectly in my mind by the descriptions of the coast and swamps, shrimping boat or the air boat tour with the surrounding wildlife.  I could also smell the wonderful scents of the French Quarter restaurant cooking of Cajun and Creole-Italian meals.  I learned so much about the devastating and long term impacts of the past hurricanes that continually affects the communities and coastal region that I never realized. I hope readers will take away the same thoughts and feelings that I found.  With the help of G'pere's ghost, Basil did connect with an unexpected career choice but how is she going to tell her parents what she truly feels?  There are many character developments with Basil and her friend Tommy and ends with a positive outcome for all.  The author included a wonderful informational end-note about the Louisiana land-loss crisis as well.  I really found this story to be a favorite and I think this is a "just right book" for ages 9-12.~

 

Title: Grandpere's Ghost Swamp

Author: Rachel M. Marsh

Pub. date: March 2026, Greenwillow Books

Genre: middle grade, realistic fiction

Hardcover, 240 pgs. 

Navigating Early review

At the end of World War II, Jack Baker, a landlocked Kansas boy, is suddenly uprooted after his mother’s death and placed in a boy’s boarding school in Maine. There, Jack encounters Early Auden, the strangest of boys, who reads the number pi as a story and collects clippings about the sightings of a great black bear in the nearby mountains. Newcomer Jack feels lost yet can’t help being drawn to Early, who won’t believe what everyone accepts to be the truth about the Great Appalachian Bear, Timber Rattlesnakes, and the legendary school hero known as The Fish, who never returned from the war. They embark on a quest on the Appalachian Trail in search of the great black bear. But what they are searching for is sometimes different from what they find. (goodreads summary)

After the passing of his mother, thirteen year old Jack Baker relocates to Morton Hill Academy in Cape Felty, Maine. His father decides to move him closer to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard where he is stationed in the Navy. Jack finds himself trying to adjust to a new life ahead at the boarding school while trying to come to terms with his mother's sudden death. Soon after his arrival, he notices an unusual boy named Early Auden.  Jack learns things about Early that he finds intriguing such as; he sometimes shows up for class and then disappears, has his own workshop in the school's custodial room and clearly has a knack for numbers. To Early, the number pi is an adventurous story that he sees in shapes, color and texture. He can perform amazing calculations in his head and calms himself by sorting jellybeans by number and color when he becomes upset.  Early's Pi stories are very real to him and he feels a need to help save him after a professor announces that the number eventually comes to an end. When the boys find themselves alone at school during fall break, they decide to take a trip down the Kennebec River in search of the mythical Great Appalachian Bear and help Pi return from the dangers of being lost.  Along the way, they meet several characters who have a strange similarity to Early's Pi stories that help create an adventuresome journey for the two themselves. Most importantly though on their quest, the boys learn that sometimes what you end up finding is not necessarily what you've set out looking for.

This story was filled with adventure, imagination and so beautifully written that it definitely pulls in the reader. Even though Early's story of Pi is fictional, it is so believable that it is a story within a story itself.  There is depth to the characters and tale that makes this not just a typical adventure story either. It is more of a read between the lines story and its reader will find true friendship, self discovery, meaning of hope and character development. I imagined Early, that despite his differences, a character truly exceptional and gifted telling that magical tale from what he sees in his mind from a set of numbers. I envisioned Jack feeling lost and unsure of his place in a complicated world searching for answers to his own questions.  It had a detailed 1945 setting including the woodlands of Maine that had me traveling easily through that era. The journey turns to many dangers along the way when they encounter a band of thieves, the thought of what is behind the giant bear prints, and making it back to the academy alive just to name a few. They also meet other characters that offer help and hope and continue on their epic journey to save Pi, even though Jack questions what is reality or insanity as their adventure seems to run parallel to Early's Pi story. It eventually sorts out and explains many things for each boy in more ways than one. Jack and his father both had good character development. I always like books where not only children are shown to grow, but adults do as well. It had some drawn out parts but just as many thrilling and exciting ones to keep you page turning. There are also great new vocabulary words and descriptive word choices that kids will find. This is a book for thinkers and good choice for either boys or girls. At the end of the book, the author also discusses the concept of Early's character and the number pi in her author's note. I usually read a book during summer vacation to my kids. I know this will be a great pick and look forward to sharing this one with them in the upcoming months. I think this is a "just right book" for ages 10-13.~

Title: Navigating Early
Author: Clare Vanderpool
Pub. Date: January 2013, Delacorte Press
Genre: adventure, middle grade
Hardover, 306 pgs.

Candle Island review

 

A moving portrait of loss and the restorative power of art.(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the accidental death of her father, twelve year old Lucretia Sanderson and her mother, relocate to Candle Island, Maine to rebuild and deal with their grief.  Her mom, a famous artist in Vermont, is also trying to avoid the nonstop hounding of journalists looking for interviews. Hoping to start a new life there, Lucretia finds it difficult to fit in with the local islanders and the touristy summer kids. When they move into their home, she learns the history behind the house belonging to the family of a girl named Murdock.  From the beginning, she has not been able to make friends with her and learns her story slowly as to why.  But as the summer goes on, there are many secrets among the island including one that Lucretia and her mom keep close to themselves. 

 

This is a heartfelt story for upper middle grade readers about grief, self-discovery, friendships and trying to navigate this big world as a gifted twelve year old.  The beautiful writing gave me a lot of visualization for the various characters, island life and the beauty of the New England Coast.  Lucretia is very mature for her age and at times I felt she should have been older than twelve.  But I did understand why her character was written in this way after learning she is a prodigy.  It was hard for her to fit in with the Islanders and the summer kids definitely did not make it any easier with their bullying.  The spoiled and wealthy summer kids cause much havoc for Lucretia and the Islanders but eventually had to take accountability for their actions.  The group of three were quite mean and I was glad how they had to answer for it in the story line.  The book is not only about Lucretia's grief and rebuilding. There are secrets about a hidden room, a found poetry writing, a mysterious boy with a magical singing voice, an orphaned osprey chick rescue and the role art plays in our healing.  There is a wonderful sense of family between adults and kids while also showing empathy for others and animals.  The state of Maine is the perfect setting for the appreciation and the beauty of art and nature which plays a strong role in the story as well.  Although it is not a fast-paced read, it does depict a slow island life I'd long for.  There are good character developments among the many throughout.  It is a wonderful book for summer reading but could also work for anytime of the year with the many twists and themes.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 11-13.~

 

Title: Candle Island

Author: Lauren Wolk

Pub. date: April 2025, Dutton Books for Young Readers

Genre: middle grade realistic fiction

Hardcover, 352 pgs. 

Snoop review

 

The story of a boy who's stuck at home with two broken legs... and who starts using cameras and a drone to spy on his classmates, neighbors, and a possible criminal who's come to town.(goodreads summary) 

 

 

 

 

 

After an unfortunate accident on the ski slopes leave 12 year old Carter home bound with two broken legs, he decides to fill up his boredom by watching his local police departments live feed security camera links. At first, he views neighborhood citizens and his classmates around town to see what they are up to.  But when he starts seeing things that look a bit unusual and possible endangered animals roaming the streets at night, he has a hard time convincing people to believe him.  But worse yet his obsessive innocent snooping, or so he thought, leads him into trouble with his classmates and the police, isolating him more than being wheelchair bound at home in the first place.

 

This new middle grade book is short and fast-paced for the reader who is looking for something quick to read.  There are a lot of events going on all at once but will keep kids engaged to find out what happens in the end.  If Carter was not constantly glued to his phone, he would have been able to see his little brother barrel down the ski hill right into him.  While recovering, he needs to attend zoom school which he finds difficult and being home all day is boring.  Once he gets hooked on the police live cams, he becomes even more addicted spying on his school crush Lacey and the popular kids group around town. This also leads him into some sleuthing of a possible crime but everything snowballs.  It definitely shows how technology can lead into too much distraction and has a cause and effect element. It is told mainly from Carter's point-of-view and has themes of privacy, friendships, family, feeling isolated from others, middle school drama and illegal animal smuggling.  Some things do seem a little overstretched in reality but kids may still find it entertaining.  As the story unfolds, Carter redeems himself by uncovering an illegal operation but also admits that his snooping/spying turned obsession got out of hand and that you have to be aware of where to draw the line.  The author always includes good character development in his stories and are good choices for middle grade readers.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 11-12.~

 

Title: Snoop

Author: Gordon Korman

Pub. date:  July 2025,  Scholastic Press

Genre: middle grade 

Hardcover, 195 pgs.

 

 

Bird Nerd review

 

Thoughtful, nerdy fifth-grader Nyla sets out to win her school's bird watching competition, while balancing old friends with new in this heartfelt debut.(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

 

Fifth Grader Nyla Braun knows everything about birds and what better way to prove to her classmates that she is more than just a bird nerd than by winning the Spring Birding Tournament. It is a friendly competition arranged by her teacher between her school in Philadelphia (the City Birders) and another school in the suburbs (the Burb Birders).  She makes a bird feeding station, visits local parks and visits with her fellow bird watching grandfather for tips.  But Nyla finds it may not be as easy as she thinks to be the big winner. 

 

The first thing that captured my heart was Nyla's gaze of wonderment on the beautiful front cover.  But this heart-warming debut novel is more than just about bird watching.  It is about family and friendships, perseverance, belonging and self-discovery.   Middle grade readers will find Nyla and her classmates relatable as she tries to navigate friendships, the desire to be popular and being true to herself.  Her family is very supportive of her birding passion and it was wonderful how encouraging they were.  Her relationship with her best friend Tasha changes as the competition gets underway and there are many ups and downs of balancing new friends with old.  There are many bird facts included in the story that offers a wonderful learning opportunity for kids and maybe even spark a new hobby of bird watching.  There are detailed descriptions of various birds and behaviors that kids will recognize from their backyard and may just want to stop and watch for themselves after reading about Nyla's experience. I loved how she journaled and recorded her findings and sharing her passion with readers.   This is a quiet, gentle book that I found to be a fast-paced read.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 9-11.~

 

Title: Bird Nerd

Author: Jennifer Ann Richter

Pub. date: October 2024, Holiday House

Genre: middle grade fiction

Hardcover, 240 pgs.

 

 

 

 

It Happened to Anna review

This spine-tingling ghost story follows a tween girl who’s being literally haunted by loneliness until a new friendship upends her life.(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Twelve-year old Sadie has been haunted her whole life by a very possessive ghost.  After the death of her best friend Anna, she moves to a new town and school trying to start over.  But the ghost keeps her from making friends.  Whenever she tries, it reacts by making lights go out or doors suddenly slam, a constant reminder of its' vengeful force and what happened to Anna.  But the ghost doesn't seem to be around when she is with Mal. A mysterious girl she meets who is also lonely and looking for a friend.  Mal seems to push Sadie to take part in pranks on other students to seal their friendship.  At first, it was fun to have a new best friend but takes a twist when the stress becomes too much for Sadie being mean to others and the constant worry about being caught.

 

I always like to find at least one middle grade ghost story during the spooky season.  This one is moderately scary and touches on many themes throughout such as: grief, loneliness, parental leaving, social isolation, bullying, toxic friendships and choices.  Because of the haunting, Sadie has become very isolated and lonely even though she wants to have friendships.  She fears that bad things will happen to others if she does and it is best to avoid it.  When her counselor and dad encourage her to open up and make friends, she reluctantly joins the after school graphic novel club.  Shortly after, Mal's friendship becomes toxic and the pranks become cruel to the point of bullying.  Sadie grows more and more unhappy about the relationship but also fears being alone.  Going to her Guidance Counselor offers her good advice to sort out what she needs to do to change things with Mal and stand up for herseslf.  Unfortunately, this is where things get spookier when Mal is revealed and her plans for Sadie become all to real.  She must make choices when a classmate becomes the personal target of Mal's anger and ending the relationship once and for all. While the plot twist was easy to figure out early on, the story is fast-paced and definitely a page turner with good foreshadowing.  It has a sad ending about Mal but a happy one for Sadie who is ready to move on and finally be able to live a normal life.  For readers that like a spooky paranormal story for anytime of the year, I think this is a "just right book for ages 11-12.~

 

Title: It Happened to Anna

Author: Tehlor Kay Mejia

Pub. date:  August 2024, Delacorte Press

Genre: middle grade paranormal

Hardcover, 212 pgs.

Felix Powell, Boy Dog review

 

In this funny, young middle-grade novel about friendship, family, and animals, Felix Powell is magically transformed from a boy into a dog.(goodreads summary) 

 

 

 

 

 

Felix is excited to spend his $5 at the local thrift store that his Nan gave him.  When he spies a special blue blanket, he knows exactly what he wants to spend that money on.  Felix isn't like other 8 year olds.  When he grows up he wants to be a Wildlife Biologist who studies primates.  He also enjoys spending time with his dog Mary Puppins and has a special talent speaking to her.  But when he and Puppins play a game with his newly purchased blanket, it magically transforms him into a dog!   At first he enjoys being a dog and hanging out all day with Puppins. But soon he remembers all the things he likes best about being a boy and worries that he won't turn back in time for his Bean Fest plans with Nan.

 

This a unique story for the older elementary reader about family, friendship and imagination. After turning into a dog, Felix has an adventurous day with Mary Puppins smelling, playing and experiencing everything about being a dog. When Felix and Puppins run into the neighborhood cat with an aloof attitude, the interactions give Felix mixed emotions about some negative feelings he is experiencing. There is nice conflict resolution easy for young readers to understand expressing empathy. Felix and Puppins show problem solving and teamwork to help Gumbo the cat out of a predicament they caused.  It has short chapters and is fast paced keeping readers attention to the end and finding out whether he is successful in returning back to a boy.   There are also lively black and white illustrations to break up the pages giving great visuals along with the story. This is the first book in a series for Felix with more curiosity and adventures to come.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 8 - 9.~

 

Title:  Felix Powell, Boy Dog

Author: Erin Entrada Kelly

Pub. date: July 2024, Greenwillow Books

Genre: Middle Grade

Hardcover, 149 pgs.

 

Faker review

 

The story of a family of liars... and the son who wants to break the family tradition.(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trey is used to moving around and being the new kid in school.  While attending boarding schools, he knows how to make friends with the rich kids.  Once they are hooked,  it is then his dads turn to lure in the parents for one of his investment scams.  Trey's dad is a con artist and good at his profession.  But once the investment scheme is completed and the money is all set, Trey and his family pull a Houdini.  A Houdini is when it is time to take the money and run, immediately leaving everything behind to disappear for a while.  But Trey starts questioning what he has been taught to do after settling in Boxelder, Tennessee and starting a public school for the first time.  His dad offers a new investment on a fake start up electric car company, the biggest scam by far.  Trey longs to lead a normal life but does not know how to tell his dad he is tired of lying and running.  

In this new middle grade novel, readers will find themselves pulled into Trey's story.  It is filled with internal conflicts and life lessons as Trey tries to navigate his 12 year old self while being his con man dad's partner in crime. When his social studies teacher does a unit on debating ethical issues, he begins to take a different look at the family business.  On top of this, his teacher's daughter takes an environmental stance to save a local pond polluted with sludge.  Things begin to become personal when Trey joins the cause and he begins to care for the friends that he is making at his new school.  He also questions his dad's swindling lifestyle and sees things differently after his 10 year old sister becomes a little to enthusiastic about ripping people off.  She is quite a feisty character but does not have the maturity to fully understand what is going on.  Trey has a lot of character development and readers will connect with him as he questions right from wrong and longing for a normal life.  His dad promises it will stop after the big one but will it ever?  The book touches on many themes such as; morals, values, friends and family relationships, trust, lying, guilt and even environmental issues.  The book is a quick read and has some twists and turns. The ending wrapped up a little fast but had a positive outcome.   If kids are looking for a book to start the school year off with this would be a great read.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 10-12.~

 

Title:  Faker

Author: Gordon Korman

Pub. date: July 2024, Scholastic Press

Genre: middle grade, realistic fiction

Hardcover, 224 pgs.

Wild Wave review

 

Another WILD adventure from Rodman Philbrick, author of Wildfire and Wild River. Wild Wave is the adventure of two kids trapped in the aftermath of a tsunami.(goodreads summary)I

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Middle Schoolers Nick Chase and Jess Hardy are spending a Saturday morning at an animal rescue sanctuary called the Friends of the Wild. Jess is a volunteer and Chase is gathering information for a school podcast assignment for one of his classes.  Suddenly, out of nowhere, an earthquake hits and everyone is frantic.  When they look over the bay area, the water is gone and boats are overturned on their sides. Only mud is left where the sea should be.  Nick and Jess's instinct tells them to run as a tsunami hits destroying everything in its path.  As the two kids run for high ground, they depend on each other for survival by working together and putting their courage to the test. 

 

This was a heart pounding and exciting middle grade novel. The story begins immediately by plunging readers into Nick and Jess's fight to stay alive.  As the rushing floodwaters push them deep into the forest, they begin to wonder how they will make it to safety or if they will ever see their families again.  They eventually find Mr. and Mrs. Bumper, the high school soccer coach and the science teacher at their middle school stranded in the forest.  Knowing they need to help save them as well, they decide to continue to trek out on their own, readily prepared by the Bumpers to face the dangerous elements ahead.  Remaining level headed and working together was a key part of the story for their survival. The numerous cliffhangers throughout makes you want to keep turning the pages. The chapters are fast-paced and short which would work well for reluctant readers.  We learn a lot about Nick and Jess as characters and their families.  They show their vulnerabilities and fear like any person would in a challenging situation such as this. But they also demonstrated maturity, strength, problem solving, courage and hope in finding their families alive.  Readers will relate to the pair and cheer for a positive outcome.   A great adventure story to end the summer with or pick up at the upcoming school book fair.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 10-12.~

Title:  Wild Wave

Author: Rodman Philbrick

Pub. date: August 2024 Scholastic Press

Genre: middle grade fiction, adventure

Hardcover 192 pgs.

 

 

 

 

Ferris review

 

The beloved author of Because of Winn-Dixie has outdone herself with a hilarious and achingly real love story about a girl, a ghost, a grandmother, and growing up.(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

 

It is the summer before fifth grade and Emma Wilkey (aka Ferris) seems to have a lot happening all at once. Her younger sister Pinky thinks she's an outlaw, Uncle Ted moves into the basement determined to paint the history of the world, her father thinks raccoons are taking over their attic and grandmother Charisse is feeling poorly and recently started seeing a ghost in her bedroom doorway.   On top of this, she gets an unexpected new hairdo from her Aunt Shirley that does not suit her.  But Ferris keeps in mind Charisse's saying that "every good story is a love story" to keep her focused on what she needs to do. 

The minute Ferris arrived into this world she knew she was loved.  From the very first chapter, that is exactly what this heartwarming and moving new middle grade novel gives us.  This story has so many things to offer from family, friendships, love, humor, community and a sweet ghost story.  Ferris's six year old sister Pinky is a wild child.  She gets herself in trouble numerous times wanting to be an outlaw on a wanted poster. Uncle Ted is separated from his wife and does not want to give up on the marriage, so recruits Ferris to be a spy and report back her findings about her Aunt Shirley's feelings.  Charisse's visiting ghost requests that the chandelier in the dining room be lit by candles.  Before the chandelier could be hung, her husband went off to war and never returned. Lighting the candles now will help him find his way back to her.  Ferris and her best friend Billy Jackson are determined to do this for Charisse even though they cannot see the ghost for themselves.  Her dad is mild mannered and reads encyclopedias and her mom pastes stamps into the S&H Green Stamps book and seems to be the one to have to deal with Pinky and her shenanigans. Each character is its' own story within the story. The family and community is quirky but it all adds to the book and Ferris's relationship with each one.  

 

There are new vocabulary words with their meanings for kids to learn, funny moments and sad moments, loss and grief and a very exciting ending that kept me turning the pages to see what happens.  The short chapters help make this a fast-paced read.  There is a lot for Ferris to sort out for such a young age of ten but she handles the situations with smarts, calmness and determination all in the name of love.  There is a bit of a magical presence for Ferris that she discovers about herself as well.  I am never disappointed when I read a story by Kate DiCamillo. The thing I like best about this book is that it is written with tenderness of relatable family situations.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 9-11.~

 

Title:  Ferris

Author: Kate DiCamillo

Pub. date: March 2024, Candlewick Press

Genre: middle grade, fiction

Hardcover, 226 pgs.

 

Mr. Whiskers and the Shenanigan Sisters review

 

Mr. Whiskers is a paw-some new dog detective from an Edgar Award winning author. He's on the trail of a kidnapped dad, pirate treasure, and a place to call home..(goodreads summary).

 

 

 

 

 

 

A street smart stray dog named Mr. Whiskers teams up with Misty and Zelda Nanigan to help solve a big mystery.  The girls dad goes missing after he is questioned by an FBI Agent who then unexpectedly takes him away.  As clues unravel, they think he was actually kidnapped.  But Mr. Whiskers and the sisters are hot on the trail as they piece together the mystery in order to save him.

This is a fun and fast paced story for the middle grade reader who likes mystery and adventure. Told from Mr. Whisker's point-of-view, there are many dog puns and funny moments.  There are riddles, suspicious FBI agents, secret rooms and passageways, possible pirate treasure and problem solving.  Scattered throughout the book were several illustrations that added good visualization to the many characters and adventures they encounter.  Mr. Whiskers is quite the charismatic character and Misty and Zelda are very resourceful making them a likeable sleuthing team.  The story is a page turner and full of suspense but is also heartwarming.  It has a good family feel to it as well and I hope there will be many more Mr. Whisker stories to follow.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 8-11.~

Title: Mr. Whiskers and the Shenanigan Sisters

Author: Wendelin VanDraanen

Pub. date: October 2023, Alfred A. Knopf

Genre: middle grade, mystery

Hardcover, 196 pgs.

Best Wishes - The Sister Switch review

When different girls around the country receive a wish-granting bracelet in the mail, magical mayhem ensues.(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fifth grade Addie Asante has always felt stuck in the middle. Her older sister Sophie is bossy and little sister Camille gets what she wants.  Addie's parents find out about a failed math test from Sophie and as a result they tell her she is not allowed to participate in the school talent contest with her friends. She really wants to win the talent show because the top prize is one month of free classes at the Franklin School of the Arts.  She has always wanted to take a songwriting class there and this was her chance!  The next day, a mysterious box arrives for Addie with a bracelet inside and she places it on her wrist.  Unfortunately, she did not read the attached letter and still being mad at her sister, she makes an abrupt wish to not be in the middle of Sophie and Camille anymore.  The bracelet warms and glows but then all of a sudden, the three sisters  switch places!  What has Addie done and will things ever turn back to normal again?

This is the second book in the Best Wishes series and kids will relate to Addie's feelings of being the middle child.  Addie learns about the mysterious bracelet from Becca, the girl from the first story, after she reads her letter about the magic wishes the bracelet holds.  Switching places among the sisters has its ups and downs for all three girls.  Sophie, who is transported into youngest Camille's body, has many challenges going back to kindergarten.  Addie enjoys the freedom of being in oldest sister Sophie's body and finally gets her own room.  Camille as Addie, loves that she is taller.  But as the days go on things become very tricky.  The girls must learn to get along and work together in order to break the magic wish.  The sisters have good character development and they each learn important things about the other.  Becca also warns Addie about the mysterious blond lady who makes an appearance again and tries to take the bracelet from her.  But we still do not know who she is and the reason why she is after it.  The book is fast paced and has a few illustrations throughout.  Addie's story will lead into the third book, Time After Time, which is due out this November.  This a nice series for the upper elementary reader that is full of magic, family, friends and conflict resolution.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 8-10.~

Title:  The Sister Switch

Author:  Sarah Mlynowski & Debbie Rigaud

Pub. date:  April 2023, Scholastic Press

Genre: middle grade fantasy

Hardcover, 192 pgs.

 

A Rover's Story review

 

 Meet Resilience, a Mars rover determined to live up to his name.(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Resilience (Res) is a robot that was built for a mission. He is learning about his anticipated journey to Mars as he collects and processes information from the NASA Scientists.  After landing on Mars he will explore the planet, take samples, send back photos and locate a missing Rover named Courage. It is very important that Res finds Courage so he can bring it back online to retrieve its collected data.  But in the meantime, Res is also learning about human emotions and storing that information into his system as well.  But having human-like feelings is not suppose to be a part of Resilience's mission or a part of being a robot.  Res is determined to live up to his name and make his humans proud of him by completing his mission and being the first robot to return to Earth.

This is definitely one of my favorite books that I have read this year!  The story is told in alternating viewpoints between Resilience and a 12 year old girl named Sophie.  Sophie is the daughter of Rania who is one of the Scientists that created Res.  She writes letters to him while he is on Mars and the time spans over 21 years. Res will never know about the letters but they are an important part of Sophie's character.  As Res navigates the Red Planet, he runs into many obstacles and adventures where his emotions and human-like feelings take hold.  His interactions with Fly, a drone along for the mission and Guardian, an orbiting satellite, have humor and tender moments of friendship that I forgot they were machines.  I found myself wanting to keep reading his adventure as Res meets danger and many perils during his exploration. He problem solves sometimes without the command center sending information making him seem to be thinking on his own.  The author did a wonderful job giving Res emotion, feelings and a unique personality that you can't help but fall in love with.  At one point he questions his purpose and existence and I felt the sadness. This is what great writing does and how it gives us that certain connection to our reading.   This would have been a great summer read to my kids when they were younger.  They would have loved the concept of the book! It is a beautiful middle grade story about strength, hope, perseverance, friendship, love, family and of course, outer space and the exploration of Mars.   I think this is a "just right book" for ages 9-12.~

Title:  A Rover's Story

Author: Jasmine Warga

Pub. date: October 2022, Balzer & Bray

Genre: fiction, middle grade

Hardcover, 294 pgs

 

Home Away from Home review

From Newbery Honor Winner Cynthia Lord, a brilliant story about how to find home when everything around us is changing.(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eleven year old Mia is going through too many changes all at once.  Her parents are divorced and her dad has a new wife and baby.  Besides that, her mom and boyfriend Scott want to move to a new home and she has a difficult time when they need to get the house ready to sell.  To help with all the mixed feelings, Mia will be staying with her Grandma in Stone Harbor, Maine for a month.  Grandma calls it "a home away from home" and Mia is looking forward to spending alone time with her.  But when she arrives, a new neighbor boy named Cayman seems to have made himself quite comfortable there. Mia now feels jealous and competitive for her attention.  Her Grandma encourages her to make friends with him and the two go in search of the eagle's nest down by the lake.  While there, an unexpected large white bird is seen fighting with the eagles.  Never having seen a bird like this, Mia decides to post a picture of it online for information about what type of bird it could be.  It is a rare bird sighting and she stirs up unwanted attention from several outsiders that she really didn't intend to. This ends up putting the bird in danger and her friendship with Cayman falling apart.

Here is a wonderful story from one of my many favorite middle grade authors, Cynthia Lord.   It is heart felt and makes a great summer vacation read.  It is fast paced and short enough to keep kids attention throughout. Readers will find themselves connecting with Mia's feelings easily about change, making mistakes and understanding she needs to find a way to fix them.   Knowing that her actions caused unwanted consequences is a great learning opportunity for kids of this age.  Mia's friendship with Cayman is tested numerous times and we also find out that his mom is battling substance abuse.  The care and concern her grandmother expresses for Cayman and his mom shows what being a good neighbor means.  There is plenty of information about birds throughout the story which is perfect for the bird enthusiast.  Kids may pay more attention to the bird songs in their area from Mia's knowledge she shares.  I found myself visualizing the small Maine town of Stone Harbor and the locals that lived there.  What a beautiful "home away from home" place to be.  This is a gentle story about accepting change, normal feelings kids feel, following rules, learning from our mistakes and correcting them, empathy and being part of a community.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 9-11.

 

Title:  Home away from Home

Author:  Cynthia Lord

Pub. date: April 2023, Scholastic Press

Genre: middle grade

Hardcover, 224 pgs.

Astrid the Astronaut - The Astronomically Grand Plan review

 

In this first book of a brand new-chapter book series, a young girl is determined to be the first astronaut with hearing aids in space!(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Third grader Astrid can't wait for the after school program to begin!  Shooting Stars is a super cool Space Club and she is excited to attend with her best friend Hallie.  Astrid also dreams of being an Astronaut one day and will not let her hearing aids stop her from having that dream. There is also a space camp the two friends can attend at the end!  All these things are part of Astrid's astronomically grand plan she has taped above her desk at home.  But her grand plans fall apart when Hallie wants to join Art Club instead of the Shooting Stars.  At her first club meeting, Astrid is not sure how she will be able to stick to her plan without Hallie by her side.  

 

This is a wonderful new chapter book series for the second and third grade reader.  It flows easily and will keep kids interest to the end.  The chapters are short and includes illustrations throughout adding good imagery to the story.  Astrid is devastated when Hallie chooses Art Club over the Space Club.  She doesn't understand why she wants to switch and this makes Astrid feel alone.  When it comes to this age group, this is a realistic scenario about friendships and the story does well handling changes among friends.  It also has problem solving skills, finding and making new friends, teamwork, accepting that others have different interests and not letting anything stand in the way of your dreams.   Astrid's determination through the many ups and downs of third grade to still reach her plan shows resilience.  There are many character developments for her and messages throughout.  This would be a great series for the summer reading list and for kids who have an interest in space.   I am looking forward to reading the other books soon.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 7-8.~

Title:  Astrid the Astronaut

Author: Rie Neal, illustrated by Talitha Shipman

Pub. date: July 2022, Aladdin Books

Genre: middle grade

Hardcover, 97 pgs.

The Enchanted Life of Valentina Mejia review

 

To save their father’s life, a brother and sister must journey across a land full of mythical creatures and find the most powerful and dangerous of them all: the madremonte.(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Along with their father, Valentia and her brother Julian search the Andes Mountains for one of Columbia's legendary creatures, the Patasola. Their father has spent his entire life studying and writing about mythical creatures and Colombian legends.  When an unexpected earthquake hits,  Valentina and Julian fall down through the earth into an alternate world, where they find many of the magical beings they hear about actually do exist.  In order to return back to their world, they must find a portal guarded by the Madremonte.  She is the mother and protector of the earth but she despises all humans. Finding their way to her through the perilous jungle is the only way Valentina and Julian will be able to return back home to their father. 

From the first page to the last, this fast-paced middle grade fantasy will have readers on the edge of their seats.   The story follows twelve-year old Valentina and young Julian through the jungles of an alternate Columbia, where legendary creatures have been closed off from the human world by the Queen Madremonte.  Her son was taken from her by humans and she despises them, seeking revenge on any who tries to enter their realm.  But as the kids are stranded there, they must find their way to the Queen's castle to ask for help getting back to their home. But in order to get there, they face many mythical beings and obstacles in the jungle along the way.  Some that help, which is forbidden by the Queen and others that stand in their way.  The wonderful writing of the Colombian landscape and folklore will keep kids engaged.  I found myself wanting to keep reading through the many heart pounding chapters to the next. There was an unexpected twist that turns up at the end of the book that changes everything for Valentina and Julian.  For kids who enjoy Narnia, they will find this one likeable.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 9-11.~

 

Title:  The Enchanted Life of Valentina Mejia

Author:  Alexandra Alessandri

Pub. date:  February 2023, Antheneum Books for Young Readers

Genre: fantasy

Hardcover, 213 pgs.

 

 

 

 

Best Wishes review

 

Becca Singer is having the Worst Day Ever. Her best friend, Harper, dumped her, and Becca is totally friendless and alone. Then the box arrives in the mail. Inside the box?  One bracelet, plus a mysterious note telling Becca to make a wish. So Becca puts on the bracelet--why not, right?--and wishes to have friends. Lots of friends. So many friends.(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

Ten year old Becca is looking forward to her birthday sleepover with best friend Harper.  They have been friends since kindergarten and this is the first year they have been separated into different classrooms.  She is saddened when she learns Harper will not be able to come over because of a chess tournament the next morning.  She also seems to be friends with Georgette from her class more and more lately making Becca feel left out.  She lets Harper know that she is not happy about things but then it turns when Harper tells Becca that she feels they have grown apart and thinks they could be regular friends instead of best friends.  Becca does not like that idea so the two split up their friendship entirely.  Feeling sad and upset about her horrible day,  Becca goes home to find a package addressed to her.  Inside the anonymous box contains a mysterious note and a bracelet.  The bracelet will grant one wish to its wearer.  Feeling alone without Harper,  Becca makes a wish for friends.  Not just one friend but a lot of friends.  Possibly a wish that may come with many regrets.

This is a cute and fast-paced story for the middle grade reader.   Growing up and growing apart from friends is something tweens face daily.  Things get out of hand quickly after Becca wishes for lots and lots of friends.  At first it was fun for her to be liked by everyone.  But each day gets harder, trying to keep up with so many people wanting to be her friend.  She realizes that this is not reality and if she removed the bracelet everything would go back to being the way it was.  Thinking that the bracelet may be a curse instead,  Becca quickly regrets her wish.  The story has good character development when she learns a lesson that it doesn't matter how many friends she has, what is a true friend and how important it is to be a good friend herself.  She helps one classmate named Shep share his talents and another named Willow who she finds has a lot in common with.  There is more magic and mystery when an unknown and very persistent woman wants to purchase her bracelet.  After all the whirlwind this story offers around the wish, Becca sends off the bracelet to a girl named Addie with a special letter about the magic of the bracelet and offering friendship and best wishes to her.  I am looking forward to reading the second book The Sister Switch to see why Addie is next to receive the bracelet and how her story unfolds.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 8-10. ~ 

Title:  Best wishes - Book 1

Author:  Sarah Mlynowski

Pub. date:  September 2022, Scholastic Press

Genre: Middle Grade

Hardcover, 171 pgs. 

The Adventures of Tintin review

Don't miss this expanded novelization of the action-packed film! Tintin stumbles across a model ship at the Old Street Market. Only it isn't any model ship--it holds a piece of the puzzle to finding the resting place of Red Rackham's treasure! But Tintin isn't the only ones after the notorious pirate's booty. With dangerous treasure seekers at their heels, Tintin and his dog, Snowy, are on a high-stakes thrill ride, that takes them from land to sea, from open air to the ocean floor! (goodreads summary)




Tintin is a young newspaper reporter who loves a good story!  While perusing the local market, he purchases a model ship only to find he is not the only person interested in this fascinating item. Barnaby, an American, gives Tintin a verbal warning about the ship and Sakharine, a man insisting on purchasing it even after Tintin tells him no. Curious as to why so much interest, he examines the model and finds a parchment hidden inside the mast with a secret message. With his reporter instincts, he sets out to discover the origins of the ship and learns that the Unicorn was commandeered by Sir Francis Haddock and holds an exciting mystery of pirates and possible hidden treasure. The tale of the Unicorn states that it sailed the Barbados Seas in 1676 but was attacked by pirates leaving Captain Haddock as the only lone survivor. According to the Captain, there is a secret behind the Unicorn that only a true Haddock will find. When his apartment is ransacked and the model is stolen, Tintin's nose for reporting kicks in. With his trusted dog Snowy, the two embark on an exciting adventure and discover the truth behind the Unicorn that takes him not only to many places but meeting many unusual people that could help make this the best story ever!

I don't recall ever reading a book filled with so much adventure starting on page one and continuing all the way to the end.  The nonstop action kept rolling along from one exciting part to another and it was truly a fun read.  The details of Tintin being kidnapped, a daring escape from a large vessel, outsmarting henchmen and flying an airplane for the first time over rough seas (just to name a few) gave me images of Indiana Jones. Tintin and Snowy are highly intelligent characters and extremely diligent on piecing together one clue after another of this puzzle leading them to the true story and making for a great pair of heroes. Several other characters also make it lively, funny and no doubt heart pounding at times from the bumbling Interpol Detectives to the Villain who is also looking for his own answers to the mystery.  There are several things that do stand out in the book. A character is shot and killed on Tintin's front porch steps along with other scenes of bullets flying. There is also the breaking of whiskey bottles either being thrown at people or over their heads knocking them out cold. Even Tintin gets knocked out with a clunking of a candlestick over his head. There was quite a bit of alcohol references and drunkenness on the part of Captain Haddock too but his character developed in the end.  All of these together would make for a good discussion about what is reality and what is entertainment. I did find this fast-paced story interesting and know it will keep readers wanting to read until the end. I enjoyed the exciting plot and writing style that took me from a laugh to an Oh No, look out! part with a turn of a page.  I do look forward to watching the movie but satisfied I read the book for now. I think this is a "just right book" for ages 10 and up.~

Title: The Adventures of Tintin
Author: Alex Irvine
Pub. date: November 2011, Little, Brown & Co.
Genre: adventure, mystery, middle grade
Hardcover, 227 pgs.

The Year Money Grew on Trees review

Jackson is a 13 year old boy living in New Mexico during the 1980's and is offered an unbelieveable opportunity.  If he succeeds at reviving a neglected apple orchard owned by an elderly neighbor into a healthy and prosperous one, she will give it to him for a price of $8,0000 and gets to keep any profits he makes.  This sounds better than working at the local junkyard which his dad is fixing for him to do for the summer.  Jackson and Mrs. Nelson sign an official agreement between the two and his challenge begins.  He knows nothing about farming, apple growing or what to begin with first. After searching out a book from his school library, he realizes he needs plenty of help and recruits his sisters and cousins by offering them a percentage of the profits for their hard work.  He does not tell them though of the agreement that he has with Mrs. Nelson.  Jackson needs to learn many things on his own while facing struggles along the way. Not too many adults are eager to be helpful or become involved either.  These parts made me sad but he was persistant enough to learn and accomplish them on his own.  He bounces with every up and down thrown at him and working out solutions to many problems he ran into. What a group of hard-working and dedicated kids...........

I thought this was a great book!  I found myself cheering them on and was eager to keep reading to see how it would end.  This book also taught me plenty about apple farming that I never knew. There were times when the kids had to figure out how much items cost or how much they needed to sell to make enough money. Several math equations were worked into the writing as well. The author also included various illustrations, for example specific farming equipment, that I felt offered great visualization to something unfamiliar to young readers.  The kids had so much determination and hard-work ethic that they make wonderful role models for readers and  send the message that in order to succeed, you should never give up. It may even inspire some future entrepeneurs this summer. I think this is a "just right book" for ages 9 and up. ~

Title: The Year Money Grew on Trees
Author: Aaron Hawkins
Genre: Fiction
Pub. Date: November 2010, Houghton Mifflin
Hardcover, 293 pgs.

Moonpenny Island review

Moonpenny is a tiny island in a great lake. When the summer people leave and the ferries stop running, just the tried-and-true islanders are left behind. Flor and her best friend, Sylvie, are the only eleven-year-olds for miles and miles.  But come the end of summer, unthinkable things begin to happen. Sylvie is suddenly, mysteriously whisked away to school on the mainland. Flor’s mother leaves to take care of Flor’s sick grandmother and doesn’t come back. Her big sister has a secret, and Flor fears it’s a dangerous one.(goodreads)


Flor lives on Moonpenny Island year round with her parents, older sister Cecilia and younger brother Thomas. She and her best friend Sylvie are inseparable. During the summer months, the island is filled with visitors and new people.  One such visitor to the island is an unusual girl named Jasper. She and her geologist father are on the island in search of prehistoric trilobites.  But suddenly at the start of sixth grade, Flor is faced with unexpected changes to her family and friendship. Syvlie is sent away to live with relatives on the mainland to attend school there, Flor's mother leaves to take care of her grandmother wondering if she will come back and her sister begins to act strangely giving Flor the feeling she is keeping something from her.   As Flor's world is suddenly crashing down on her, she discovers her tiny island holds many truths she was not aware of.

One of my favorite authors has once again, beautifully written another heart warming, coming-of-age story for young readers.  From the summer island descriptions to each of the many different characters,  I found the story engaging and believable.  After Sylvie is unexpectedly sent away for no apparent reason, this abrupt change strains their friendship like many girls can go through when a friend moves away.  The characters of Jasper and her father Dr. Fife were a subtle but important part to Flor's insight and character development. She is faced with many issues in her young life. Her parents argue and her mother suddenly leaves to take care of a relative with Flor not knowing when or if she is coming back. Her sister is resorting to sneaking around, lying and is holding a secret from Flor. There is even a mention of alcoholism when she learns  of another secret her friend holds that she never realized was happening all along. The changes she faces gives her uncertainty but she learns that adapting and going along with those changes is how you grow.  It is a warm and gentle realistic story about friendships, family, conflict, secrets and change. The story moved along nicely offering a message to its reader about opening your eyes and seeing the things around you but it is how you see those things that will help shape you.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 9-12.~

Title: Moonpenny Island
Author: Tricia Springstubb
Pub. Date: February 2015, Balzer & Bray
Genre: realistic fiction, middle grade
Hardcover, 292 pgs.