Top Middle-Grade Fiction of the Month

Oops, this was supposed to go up last week. But guess who just started her brand new job as an elementary school librarian?? That's right. This girl. Dream job: attained. So, yeah...I may be a littel swamped at the moment. But! I'm excited for lots of new content for the blog (for example, the decorating of my new library) and to review even more books as I share them with students. So, of course, here are some more reviews! My favorite middle-grade reads from the month...

Beyond the Doors
David Neilsen

My rating: ★★★★

ISBN: 978-1101935828
Publisher: Crown Books
Date of publication: August 1, 2017
Age: Grades 4 - 7
Genre: Horror, Mystery
Format: ARC from author

Themes: family relationships, memories, nightmares & monsters, humor, doors

"When a family disaster forces the four Rothbaum children to live with their aunt Gladys, they immediately know there is something strange about their new home. The front entrance is a four-story-tall drawbridge. The only food in Aunt Gladys’s kitchen is an endless supply of Honey Nut Oat Blast Ring-a-Dings cereal. And strangest of all are the doors—there are none. Every doorway is a wide-open passageway—even the bathroom! Who lives in a house with no doors? When they discover just what Aunt Gladys has been doing with all her doors, the shocked siblings embark on an adventure that changes everything they believe about their family and the world."

This is the second book I've reviewed of Mr. Neilsen's (see Dr. Fell back here), and may I say, his writing is still so fun. It's creepy, yes, but with just the right amount of funny. I mean, how would you like it if you were stuck eating Honey Nut Oat Blast Ring-a-Dings cereal for every meal? I also enjoyed his ability to tell the story from the point of view of each of the four siblings (alternating between the four with each chapter), each with their own unique personality and depth. It made it even more interesting and, at times, totally hilarious (I mean, one of the characters is a seven-year-old girl obsessed with all things cute and fluffy). His strong writing voice, reminiscent of Lemony Snicket, is sure to please readers of all ages.

I will admit, though, that I wasn't quite as much of a fan of the story itself as I was his first. The writing, yes, but the plot... The premise of this story, while very original and unique, became a bit difficult for me to follow. The traveling through space and time and memory became very layered very quickly (think like the movie Inception) and I was a bit lost trying to follow along. I hope younger readers would not be daunted by it. Still, I would be quick to recommend it to fans of Lemony Snicket, Neil Gaiman, and the like. And, if you can listen to the audio book, DO, because Nielsen is a very talented performer.

Find it at your library or on Amazon

The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart
Stephanie Burgis

My rating: ★★★★½

ISBN: 978-1681193434
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Date of publication: May 30, 2017
Age: Grades 3 - 7
Genre: Fantasy
Format: ARC from publisher

Themes: dragons, chocolate, responsibility, failure & success

"Aventurine is a brave young dragon ready to explore the world outside of her family's mountain cave . . . if only they'd let her leave it. Her family thinks she's too young to fly on her own, but she's determined to prove them wrong by capturing the most dangerous prey of all: a human.

"But when that human tricks her into drinking enchanted hot chocolate, she's transformed into a puny human without any sharp teeth, fire breath, or claws. Still, she's the fiercest creature in these mountains--and now she's found her true passion: chocolate. All she has to do is get to the human city to find herself an apprenticeship (whatever that is) in a chocolate house (which sounds delicious), and she'll be conquering new territory in no time . . . won't she?"

Dragons and chocolate? I mean, honestly, what's not to love? And that's just the premise. Then you start reading it and it just wins you over that much faster. Burgis' character voice (in this case, it being an extremely frustrated dragon-turned-human who thinks chocolate is manna from heaven) is spot on. Aventurine is hilarious. And sassy, spunky, scared, sad, and all sorts of other "s" adjectives. She experiences a full range of emotions and wonderful development. Really, it wouldn't have been a successful story without such a strong main character; it's so well done. Kids will love it and I will definitely recommend it.

Find it at your library or on Amazon

Posted
John David Anderson

My rating: ★★★½

ISBN: 978-0062338204
Publisher: Walden Pond Press
Date of publication: May 2, 2017
Age: Grades 6 - 9
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Format: Library eBook

Themes: bullying, friendship, middle school, written communication

"When cell phones are banned at Branton Middle School, Frost and his friends Deedee, Wolf, and Bench come up with a new way to communicate: leaving sticky notes for each other all around the school. It catches on, and soon all the kids in school are leaving notes—though for every kind and friendly one, there is a cutting and cruel one as well.

"In the middle of this, a new girl named Rose arrives at school and sits at Frost’s lunch table. Rose is not like anyone else at Branton Middle School, and it’s clear that the close circle of friends Frost has made for himself won’t easily hold another. As the sticky-note war escalates, and the pressure to choose sides mounts, Frost soon realizes that after this year, nothing will ever be the same."

Ah, middle school. Boy, does it suck. And here is a novel that really makes you think about why that is. What I loved most about this book were the characters—each with their own quirks and talents, but overall, written in a way to be widely relatable. It was easy to put one's self into the story. I also appreciated the philosophical undertones, especially in regard to words. Because, honestly, whoever came up with "sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me" saying should, himself, be stoned. Words do hurt. And this story carefully examines the ramifications of all sorts of words—words said to friends, whispered behind a back, or written anonymously for all to see.

On a more critical note, however, this wasn't as perfect as I would've hoped. The ending seemed to drag, especially with a bit of a double climax (in fact, there seems to be two parallel storylines, which both had to be wrapped up). And the way Anderson kept referring to the "war" of words was a bit overly dramatic—not the metaphor, but the referencing to it and how it began, because he just kept repeating himself. Overall, it's not one that I would be quick to recommend to my elementary school students, but I can see it being a fantastic classroom study in a middle school class. Also, a definite recommendation to those who enjoyed Sticks and Stones or Goodbye Stranger.

Find it at your library or on Amazon

Top Nonfiction Books of the Month

The Football Fanbook: Everything You Need to Become a Gridiron Know-it-All
(A Sports Illustrated Kids Book)
by Gary Gramling

My rating: ★★★★

ISBN: 978-1683300076
Publisher: Sports Illustrated
Date of publication: August 8, 2017
Age: Grades 4 and up
Genre: Nonfiction
Format: ARC from publisher

Themes: football, NFL, facts & trivia, stats

"So you're a football fan and now you want to take your passion for the game to the next level? The Football Fanbook is filled with fun trivia and unique lingo to impress friends, illustrated behind-the-skills how-to's, important game-winning strategies, and much more, including an analysis of each NFL team. Readers will sound like experts in no time."

Now THIS is a football book! Somehow Gramling manages to fit in records, cool facts, team summaries, and an index of valuable lingo all within a manageable size of book--totally accessible to the middle-grade audience it's targeted towards. The anecdotal way it's written keeps the stats and numbers personable and exciting. Gramling really knows what he's talking about. I don't know that there's much to criticize, except that I do wish the book itself was bigger, more like the reference book that it is rather than a small chapter book. A small complaint, because football fans are going to appreciate this book in any case. Very much recommended, especially as football season gets underway.

Find it at your library or on Amazon

Benjamin Franklin's Wise Words: How to Work Smart, Play Well, and Make Real Friends
Written by K. M. Kostyal, illustrated by Fred Harper

My rating: ★★★★

ISBN: 978-1426326998
Publisher: National Geographic Kids
Date of publication: January 24, 2017
Age: Grades 3 - 7
Genre: Nonfiction
Format: copy from publisher

Themes: Benjamin Franklin, self-improvement, biography, quotations

"Discover history through the eyes of one of the smartest, funniest, and coolest figures from America's past. This book presents 50 of Benjamin Franklin's famous 'wise words' from Poor Richard's Almanack, his personal letters, and other writings, with sage advice on everything from good citizenship and manners to friendship and being happy. Sayings are paired with hilarious illustrations and witty translations for modern audiences. It's a great go-to for inspirational and innovative ways to practice mindfulness, industriousness, and self-improvement."

This was actually a really interesting book that not only helped me learn more about an important figure in American history, but also helped me find a way to improve my own life. I'm not even kidding. I mean, some of BF's (how the author often refers to Franklin) sayings are pretty cheesy or archaic, but some are definitely applicable (hint: my favorite is on page 53). The author's interpretations of them, however, were not always as admirable; I wish she'd left more of the interpreting up to the reader to apply it to their own understanding as they choose. Either way, I did love the stories she told from BF's life that showed how he lived up to his own advice--well-researched and well-delivered. I don't think it'd be very useful as a biographical reference, but overall, more for fun.

The illustrations are very bold and heavily caricatured, adding plenty of humor and punch to this book of advice. Some are abstract in and of themselves, which seems fitting for BF's advice. I just hope the kids like them. Overall, it would take some hand selling, but you should read some or all of these sayings with your kids.

Find it at your library or on Amazon

Virginia Hamilton: America's Storyteller
Julie K. Rubini

My rating: ★★★½

ISBN: 978-0821422694
Publisher: Ohio University Press
Date of publication: July 13, 2017
Age: Grades 5 - 8
Genre: Nonfiction
Format: copy from publisher

Themes: Virginia Hamilton, biography, authorship, race

"Long before she wrote The House of Dies Drear, M. C. Higgins, the Great, and many other modern classics, Hamilton grew up among her extended family around Yellow Springs, Ohio. The stories she heard from her family fueled her imagination, and the freedom to roam the farms and woods nearby sharpened her powers of observation and encouraged her creativity. As she grew older, witnessing racial discrimination and the response of the early civil rights movement established in her a lifelong commitment to representing a diversity of experiences in her work."

Now here's a very traditional biography, and it's about someone who really does need more credit, especially in light of the recent #weneeddiversebooks movement and the like. Hamilton really was an amazing author who always featured characters of diverse races and backgrounds. This story of her life highlights the origin of the inspiration for her books; how her life provided her experience to tell an expert story. I also appreciated the little side notes and inserts about what was going on in history during the time of her life (e.g. notes about the Civil Rights Movement in Ohio, etc). Overall, very informative and well-written. The writing is a bit advanced, though, so I would definitely put the target age solidly in middle-grade.

Find it at your library or on Amazon

The Adventures of Henry Whiskers (Review and Giveaway!)

It's been awhile since my last giveaway, so I'm excited to offer not just one, but two books--the series The Adventures of Henry Whiskers, perfect for thrill-seeking beginning chapter book readers! Enter the giveaway below:

 

978-1481465748 | January 3, 2017

978-1481465779 | August 29, 2017

The Adventures of Henry Whiskers

Written by Gigi Priebe, illustrated by Daniel Duncan

My rating: ★★★½

Publisher: Aladdin

Age: Grades 2 - 5

Format: ARC from publisher

Themes: Adventure, Windsor Castle, mice, family relationships, courage

"Twenty-five generations of Whiskers have lived in Windsor Castle’s most famous exhibit: Queen Mary’s Dollhouse. For young, book-loving Henry Whiskers and his family, this is the perfect place to call home.

Top Early Readers/Chapter Books of the Month (August 2017)

Here we have my favorite books that are aimed at the younger grade-school kids, from early readers to chapter books. Also, stay tuned for later in the week for a giveaway of another awesome chapter book series!

The Good for Nothing Button
(Elephant & Piggie Like Reading!)
Charise Mericle Harper (and Mo Willems)

My rating: ★★★½

ISBN: 978-1484726464
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Date of publication: May 2, 2017
Age: Grades K - 2
Format: library book

Themes: emotions, imagination, birds

"Yellow Bird has a button. It does . . . nothing! It is a good for nothing button. Red Bird and Blue Bird are excited to try the button. But when they press it, they discover that the button makes them happy. Happy is something! A flabbergasted Yellow Bird insists the button does nothing. But it sure does seem to be making him mad. Mad is something! The hilarious debate that follows takes readers on an emotional roller coaster that pokes at the power of imaginative play."

A bit of a strange concept for a story (characters arguing over a button that does nothing?), but my initial skepticism gave in to an appreciation for its exploration of different emotions. This easy reader is another "Elephant & Piggie Like Reading!" book, so it follows that same style of simple illustrations, word bubbles, and typographical variations (you know, when the character emotion is conveyed through different fonts or all caps—that sort of thing). I appreciate this style; it's easier for kids to read and comprehend character voice, especially their emotions (which is really important with this story, since it is all about emotions). While, overall, it wasn't particularly funny or ingenious, it's definitely a good read.

Find it at your library or on Amazon

Stinkbomb and Ketchup-Face and the Badness of Badgers
Written by John Dougherty, illustrated by Sam Ricks

My rating: ★★★

ISBN: 978-1101996621
Publisher: G. P. Putnam's Sons
Date of publication: February 7, 2012
Age: Grades 1 - 3
Genre: Fantasy, Humor
Format: library book

Themes: quests, brother/sister relationships, kingdom, humor, badgers

"Welcome to the kingdom of Great Kerfuffle! Great Kerfuffle is really great. And there's usually a kerfuffle (the clue's in the name really). This particular kerfuffle started the day Stinkbomb's twenty dollar bill went missing. Stinkbomb and his little sister Ketchup-Face know exactly who took it: the badgers. After all, they're called badgers because they do bad things; otherwise they'd just be gers.

"They bring news of the badgers' treachery to King Toothbrush Weasel (don't get us started on the story behind his name…), who sends them on a quest to rid the land of badgers. What follows is a full on kerfuffle-fest, containing:  one deep dark forest, a grocery cart in distress, a song about jam—and, of course, a band of very tricky badgers."

Ah, so, so ridiculous. But it's supposed to be, so thus, it is successful—funny how that works, huh? Really, there's an art to being ridiculous, and Dougherty has the skill. This book doesn't come off as stupid or annoying, as could be the case (the characters are named Stinkbomb and Ketchup-Face after all). It's clever and snarky in a self-aware, yes-I-know-this-is-ridiculous sort of way. There's a lot of illustrations and typographical elements that further these elements. The climax is a little hollow (it's a little rushed and feels more like an afterthought) and there's less focus on character development. But really, the story was created to be a galavant into the silly, and so it is. I'd recommend this to reluctant readers especially.

Find it at your library or on Amazon

The Unlucky Lottery Winners of Classroom 13
Written by Honest Lee & Matthew J. Gilbert, illustrated by Joelle Dreidemy

My rating: ★★★★½

ISBN: 978-0316464628
Publisher: Little, Brown Books
Date of publication: June 6, 2017
Age: Grades 1 - 4
Genre: Humor
Format: library book

Themes: money, lottery, classroom relations, luck, humor

"When unlucky teacher Ms. Linda LaCrosse wins the lottery, she shares her winnings with her class--giving each student over a BILLION DOLLARS! You might think this was nice, but it was not. It was a nasty idea! With great money comes horrible allergies, steep taxes, exploding volcanoes, and other problems. As the students of Classroom 13 are about to learn, winning the lottery is not always lucky."

It honestly felt like I was reading Sideways Stories from Wayside School—it's a hilariously cheeky look into a classroom full of comically diverse characters. This story, though, is specifically about the lottery and what happens when different kids get their hands on a billions of dollars (each chapter is about a different kid in the class). So Lee really lets his creativity loose (and is his name really Honest Lee??), making for some funny, crazy, and even thoughtful situations. Really, it's less of a story—with a storyline with beginning, middle, climax and all that—and more of a collection of stories (again, like Sideways Stories). My favorite part, though, is the author's encouragement of kid readers to write their own chapter of what they'd do with a billion bucks. Creative, funny, and easy to recommend.

Find it at your library or on Amazon

Overboard!
(Survivor Diaries)
Written by Terry Lynn Johnson, illustrated by Jani Orban

My rating: ★★★★

ISBN: 978-0544970106
Publisher: HMH Books
Date of publication: July 4, 2017
Age: Grades 2 - 5
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Format: library book

Themes: survival, hypothermia, Pacific Ocean, lost children

"Eleven-year-old Travis and his family are on a whale watch off the coast of Washington when disaster strikes. The boat capsizes, throwing everyone into the ice-cold chaotic waves. Separated from their families and struggling to stay afloat, Travis and twelve-year-old Marina must use all of their grit and knowledge to survive."

Man, this book wastes no time getting the reader into a high-suspense, intense storyline. It's fast, action-packed, and informative, with a full survival story and useful facts in under 100 pages. Survival experts and Coast-Guard-approved-tips keep it authentic and educational. There are some sparse illustrations to help the story along, as well. Basically, kids will love it. I also appreciated the character development. While the main focus is the action, Johnson takes the time to share some character history, fears, and growth to make the whole story a bit more relatable. Really well done and easy to recommend, especially for fans of the I Survived series.

Find it at your library or on Amazon