Review: Soar

Soar by Joan Bauer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Jeremiah is a middle schooler who loves baseball, but can no longer play because of his heart condition. He lives with his adoptive father who travels frequently for his job. Jeremiah travels with his father for his latest job and learns that the town HAD an amazing baseball team. Jeremiah is determined to make the most of his time in this town, and use his love and knowledge of baseball to turn things around.

I loved this book. I liked Jeremiah's voice. I loved the relationship between Jeremiah and Walt - his father. I liked that Jeremiah's medical condition was examined in a realistic way.

Excellent middle grade read!

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Review: The Right Hook of Devin Velma

The Right Hook of Devin Velma by Jake Burt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Devin and Addi are best friends and have been friends forever. They are opposites in most every way. Devin's father has medical bills that the family can't afford and Devin decides that if he can pull off a stunt that goes viral he can help with the bills. Addi is drawn into Devin's stunts as an unwitting co-conspirator...until one stunt goes dramatically wrong.

I loved this book. I liked the friendship between the boys AND the friendship between the families. Devin's grandmothers - G, Double-G, and Triple G - were like a Greek chorus and made me laugh every time. Addi's freezing and not being able to talk in new situations is so typical of kids his age and the author conveyed his interior thoughts beautifully.

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Review: Lifeboat 12

Lifeboat 12 by Susan Hood
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In 1940 Ken Sparks is a 13 year old boy living in London. Hitler has taken France and London is being bombed nightly. Parents have an option to send their children to Canada for the duration of the war where they will be safe. Ken is one of the lucky children chosen. He will be traveling on a passenger ship, SS City of Banares, to stay with his aunt in Edmonton. Initially everything seems ideal; plentiful food, toys, games, and warm beds. But there are also Nazi subs patrolling.

This is book is beautifully written in free verse. When a book is written in verse, word selection becomes so important and every word of this book has been chosen to move plot or character development along. Not a word has been wasted. This story would be interesting and engaging as fiction, but it's based on a true story, which adds a level of poignancy. The author has included references and photographs of many of the main characters.

This book is not to be missed!

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Review: Curse of the Boggin

Curse of the Boggin by D.J. MacHale
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Our lives stories are being written and kept in "The Library". Most books are finished and shelved, but some books remain unfinished and need help for the story to be completed. Marcus, Lu and Theo are the trio honest, brave and true enough to complete the stories. Unfortunately, completing the story usually means coming up against a supernatural being who doesn't want the story completed - in this case a boggin.

There aren't many horror stories written for the middle grade reader. This is a good one. It's scary and full of action. This is a great read for kids who will grow up to read Dean Koontz and Stephen King.

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Review: Last Man Out

Last Man Out by Mike Lupica
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Tommy Gallagher is 12 years old and shares a love of football with his dad Patrick - a firefighter. Patrick strives to be the "first man in" to a fire and the "last man out". And then the unthinkable happens and shakes the Gallagher family to its very core.

Lupica is a master at using sports as a framework to talk about tough issues. He doesn't sugar coat them or make things seem better than they are. An excellent read for the middle grade boy.

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Review: Baker's Magic

Baker's Magic by Diane Zahler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Bee is a hungry orphan. She steals a bun from a baker and is caught. The baker allows to work off her debt and Bee discovers she has a talent for baking. Bee also discovers she can bake her feelings into her pastries. She lives in a land whose king has died and is being ruled by a mage who uses his magic and the land's resources for his own profit. It's up to Bee and friends to put things right.

I enjoyed reading this book. I love the idea of baking feelings into baked goods. The heroines (there are really two) are plucky and fearless. My favorite character might just be the pirate captain who is also a woman, but completely in charge and as much a pirate as Blackbeard. A fun fantasy for the middle grade reader.

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Review: Freakling

Freakling by Lana Krumwiede
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I like the idea of this book. The author creates a very interesting world where people use the power of their mind (psi) to do almost everything physical. Everyone without psi is banished.

The plot was predictable and the writing was uneven. I wish I counted the number of times the word psi was used. It would make a great drinking game, but became very monotonous to read.

This book is clearly the lead in to a series. If the big ideas stay the same, and the writing improves this could be a good series for the sci-fi/dystopian young adult reader.

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Review: The Many Worlds of Albie Bright

The Many Worlds of Albie Bright by Christopher Edge
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Albie Bright is the child of brilliant scientists. He's even named after two brilliant scientists Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking. His mom is a quantum physicist, and his dad is a TV scientist (think a combination of Bill Nye and Neil DeGrasse Tyson). His mom has recently died of cancer and Albie misses her terribly. His dad deals with this by travelling even more and this leaves Albie mostly alone. One aspect of his mom's work was discovering whether there might be "parallel universes". Albie is sure there must be AND he's sure he can find his mom in one of them. All he needs is a cardboard box, his mom's laptop, and a banana. (That's right, a banana!)

I loved all the science in this book. I loved seeing how we might be the same, yet different in other situations. The first third of the book was very slow. It mostly consisted of Albie being sad. I almost quit this book, but once I got past the first third of the book, I was rewarded with a gem of a read.

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Review: On Two Feet and Wings

On Two Feet and Wings by Abbas Kazerooni
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a story of bravery and resourcefulness. Abbas Kazerooni was only 9 years old when he fled Iran. It was a matter of leave or be forced into the army. He expected to travel to Turkey with his mother. His father would not be allowed to leave the country. At the airport as Abbas and his mother are about to board their plane, she is pulled aside and not allowed to leave. Abbas continues to Turkey - alone - as a nine year old boy. He doesn't speak the language, know anyone, have anywhere to stay. This is his remarkable journey. What makes this story even more remarkable is that it is a true story.

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End of the Year - Annual Report

It's been a busy year in the library.  Our numbers and engagement are higher and livelier than ever.  One of the things I love the most about my job (or my calling!) is helping the boys find joy through literature. 

This afternoon a teacher brought his class of 4th graders to the library during their study hall period.  It's a Friday and the boys typically don't have homework on Fridays so study hall is a moot point.  When one of the boys asked about study hall and learned being in the library was study hall he responded with a, "best study hall ever!" comment.  This will carry me through the weekend.

Here's a look at our library this year.

Review: The War I Finally Won

The War I Finally Won by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book picks up immediately where The War that Saved My Life left off. Ada and Jamie are living in the English countryside with Susan their guardian. The are finally cared for the way children should be cared for - with love and kindness. But this is WWII and even countryside isn't safe.

I didn't believe I could like a sequel better than the first book in the series, but I do. This book shows what real sacrifice looks like - from rationing, to blackout curtains, to giving up your home for the war effort to being bombed out of your home to losing loved ones. I love Ada. She's never been to school, she's very prickly, but she has a great depth of compassion and loyalty. She also has a well defined sense of justice and makes sure that justice is fairly administered.

This is a wonderful, wonderful book.

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Review: Wishtree

Wishtree by Katherine Applegate
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"You can call me Red." This sweet story is told by a red oak tree. This particular tree is an old, "wish tree". People of the town hang their wishes in the branches of the tree each May. Red has seen them all - sad, silly, hopeful. This year Red decides to try and answer one wish. Red, with the help of her animal residents, work to bring a community together.

I loved this book. The voice of the tree was just what I imagine a tree would sound like, thoughtful and wise. I was amused by the animal residents - from their names, to their personalities, to their tree preferences. A very innovative way to introduce some very adult themes.

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Review: Hello, Universe

Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

"I hear with my eyes."

This is the story of 4 children and the event that brings them all together. Virgil is shy and quiet, Valencia is clever and determined, Kaori is in tune with the universe (or so she thinks) and a budding entrepreneur, and Chet is a bully. The universe connects the 4 children in ways none of the expected, and all 4 had a role to play in the story.

I liked the characterization of the children. All very different in so many ways - physically, ethnically, temperamentally yet all were believable and likable (or at least understandable.)

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Review: Minecraft: The Island

Minecraft: The Island by Max Brooks
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is the book for lovers of all things Minecraft. It will take the reader through the beginning levels of the game, all through the telling of a story.

It was written by Max Brooks, an avid gamer and lover of Minecraft. My nephew walked me through the game during summer vacation and that really helped me understand the story in the book. It would have been a much more confusing book to read if I did have that background knowledge of the game.

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Review: The Stars Beneath Our Feet

The Stars Beneath Our Feet by David Barclay Moore
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Lolly is 12 and lives in Harlem. His life is a tough one. He's being harassed by a gang, he lives in the projects, he barely sees his father, and his mother is in a new relationship. He's struggling with the loss of his brother. Building with Legos is his best way of coping. Now that's being threatened by a girl.

I liked a lot about this book, but I thought it tried to do too much. Lolly seemed to be facing EVERY issue a kid could face. After a while I kept thinking, "What next?" as he was confronted with a new challenge.

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Review: Me and Marvin Gardens

Me and Marvin Gardens by A.S. King
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Obe is a boy who loves to spend his time outside. He picks up trash along the stream that runs through his family's property. It's been a tough summer. His former best friend is now running with a much different crowd.

One day by his stream Obe makes a discovery, an amazing discovery; the kind of discovery that can change a life. He is now the protector of this discovery, and he's not sure what to do about it.

This book has interesting characters and a very interesting plot. A part of the plot involving bullying and it's resolved in a very realistic rather than idealist way. Obe's family wasn't perfect, but it was intact and much like anyone's family.

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Review: Flying Lessons & Other Stories

Flying Lessons & Other Stories by Ellen Oh
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Short story collections are not something often seen for the middle grade reader, and short stories that are written by diverse authors telling tales about under represented groups are NEVER seen. This book is the brainchild of the people at We Need Diverse Books, and it's masterful.

This book contains ten stories written by some of our best and brightest middle grade authors. Every reader should be able to find themselves in this book. As Christopher Myers wrote, "[Today's kids] see books less as mirrors and more as maps. They are indeed searching for their place in the world, but they are also deciding where they want to go." Flying Lessons & Other Stories is indeed a treasure map.

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Review: Isabel Feeney, Star Reporter

Isabel Feeney, Star Reporter by Beth Fantaskey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Isabel is growing up in Chicago during prohibition. She needs to sell newspapers at the corner to help her mother put food on the table, but her heart's desire is to become a news reporter. She finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation - a gangster's murder investigation!

This is a well written, old style mystery for kids. Isabel is plucky and the setting is gritty and feels real. A welcome addition to our library.

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Review: Word of Mouse

Word of Mouse by James Patterson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I've become a little reluctant to read James Patterson's middle grade readers. He cranks them out with co-authors and the quality really varies. This book is co-authored by Chris Grabenstein who write the Mr. Lemoncello books which I love.

Isaiah is a blue lab mouse that escapes and meets up with a mischief of mice. He is telling us his story. In addition to being blue he has other gifts, such as reading, speaking to humans, and using simple machines. He's able to help his adopted mouse mischief and finds he has more to offer than he thought.

I liked that I learned a fair bit about mice by reading this book. I liked Isaiah, the main mouse, and I liked the story. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH have always been a favorite of mine and there are definitely shout outs to that classic in this book.

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Review: Molly Moon's Incredible Book of Hypnotism

Molly Moon's Incredible Book of Hypnotism by Georgia Byng
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What a surprise! This book was not what I expected.

From the cover, I expected that Molly Moon was a dog, but no! She's an orphan, named after the box she was left in at the orphanage's front door. It's a miserable place to live in with adults and children alike bullying Molly. As a result she spends a lot of time in the library where she finds an old book about hypnotism. And this is where the fun begins!

This book contains friends, enemies, criminals, Italian cooking enthusiasts, first class plane travel and Broadway shows - and of course hypnotism. It also contains a pug named Petunia and A LOT of fun.

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Review: The Best Man

The Best Man by Richard Peck
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Asher, tells the story of his 5th and 6th grade years. His tale is framed by two weddings.

Richard Peck is an author I don't always enjoy reading. I feel like some of his books are very out of touch with his readers, but not this one. It's contemporary and believable. The characters are realistically drawn and their voices ring true as middle school students. This book tackles two very serious issues, death and sexual orientation. Both are dealt with honestly and with just enough detail to make them accessible to the intended reader.

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Review: Clayton Byrd Goes Underground

Clayton Byrd Goes Underground by Rita Williams-Garcia
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Clayton Byrd is a blues musician. He plays the blues harp (no harmonica here!). He's learned everything he know about music from his grandfather, Cool Papa Byrd. Clayton and Cool Papa have a very special relationship.

But things change - as they always do - and Clayton finds himself navigating uncharted waters. His mother isn't a help to him, and he sets out to find what he is sure will help him. The journey is dangerous and along the way he learns some unexpected lessons about himself and his family.

While I loved Clayton and Cool Papa's relationship, I don't think the author did such a good job developing his mother or father. They were very one dimensional. The same applies to his teacher and school. The strength of this book is the way the author wrote about Clayton's pain. It felt very authentic and was powerfully felt by the reader.

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Review: Ghost Knight

Ghost Knight by Cornelia Funke
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Murderous ghosts, British boarding school, witches, Stonehenge, a rebellious preteen boy, and a free spirited preteen girl make for an engaging middle grade fantasy. Cornelia Funke melds the medieval and the contemporary together in a seamless fashion. The characters are all quirky and likable. There are a few pleasant surprises for the reader to discover.


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Review: When Friendship Followed Me Home

When Friendship Followed Me Home by Paul Griffin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the story of Ben, a pre-teen who has seen way too much tragedy in his life, and Halley, an eternally optimistic girl who is facing one of life's greatest challenges. Throw in a dog, a few of life's really big issues, and a loving family and you this beautiful, beautiful book.

I generally like to review books as soon as I've read them, but I need to let this one sit with me for a while. The ending is heartfelt and sad, yet somehow a little bit hopeful too. This book's strength was the honest way it dealt with difficult issues, and mined them to just the right depth for a middle grade reader.

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Review: Moo

Moo by Sharon Creech
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sharon Creech is a master at novels in free verse for middle grade readers, and Moo doesn't disappoint.

This is the story of Reena and Luke who have lived all their lives in the city. Their family moves to Maine to reset their lives. While there they learn important life lessons while helping to care for their elderly neighbor's farm animals - especially a contrary cow named Zora.

The free verse is beautiful, the story is heartwarming, the characters are likable. This book is a must read for lovers of novels in free verse.

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Review: An Eagle in the Snow

An Eagle in the Snow by Michael Morpurgo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Michael Morpurgo is an awesome author of historical fiction for the middle grade reader. I'm always eager to read his novels.

This book tells the story of one moment at the end of the "Great War" that could have changed the course of history. A chance meeting on the battlefield, a split second decision, and a man is haunted by his decision for the rest of his life.

There is primary source information at the back of the book and tells the rest of the story and where the inspiration for this book came from. A wonderful, wonderful story!

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