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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