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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