Category: Middle Grade

The School for Whatnots by Margaret Peterson Haddix

1/11/2022

The School for Whatnots by Margaret Peterson Haddix

What's What and What's Not

Numerous books by Haddix feature children attempting to survive in anomalous societies. They include Among the Hidden (a third child forbidden by the Population Police) and Running Out of Time (a girl from the future who must save her 1800's community from a deadly disease). The author’s latest story presents an ingenious concept: coexistence of humans and androids.

Young Max leads a protected life. To craft the perfect childhood, his wealthy parents enroll him in a school where his classmates are remarkably realistic androids, programmed to act like "normal" children. Max doesn't know this school is a carefully constructed environment.

Max and Josie are classmates and best friends. One day Josie leaves Max a startling note, "No matter what anyone tells you, I'm real."

Readers learn that young Josie was recruited to pretend to be an android at Max's school. But that's only the first of many plot twists. Things get "curiouser and curiouser." Josie looks for answers to her questions: who is behind the Whatnot Corporation and why were the two friends placed in this bizarre school?

The omniscient narrator occasionally breaks the fourth wall and speaks directly to the audience, eventually disclosing the identity of several mysterious individuals. Shocking plot revelations scattered throughout the text will keep middle grade readers swiftly turning pages.
It's a story of friendship, a biting commentary of class divisions, an examination of technology's side effects, and a relentless search for truth. The School for Whatnots is entertaining reading that can invite serious discussions about what it means to be human. Don't miss this one. Haddix is at the top of her game.

Audio copy accessed via Net Galley.

Pub date: March 1, 2022 Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books ISBN: 978-0062838490

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Behind the Iron Curtain

12/7/2021

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The Genius Under the Table: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain
by Eugene Yelchin Narrated by the author

"What does drawing correctly teach us, children?" "Drawing correctly teaches us to live by the rules."

Yelchin pulls back the Iron Curtain, offering a glimpse of life for Jews living in 1970's Russia. Six-year-old Yevgeny lives with his parents, older brother Victor, and grandmother, eking out a meager life in a communal apartment. His poetry-loving father, mother whose ballet dreams were denied, and competitive figure skating sibling are described in charming detail.
Living conditions are so cramped that the only place for the boy to sleep is under the table. He secretly swipes his father’s only pencil to draw on the table’s underside.

Short chapters offer poignant snapshots into a bizarre world that glorifies the mummified body of Lenin, requires citizens to earn a stamped coupon to purchase a book, and causes family members to remove all images of grandfather from the family’s photo album.

From the opening pages, readers are aware of an ongoing Russian obsession with the United States: a land of bright colors, forbidden chewing gum, blue jeans, and rock & roll. The shameful treatment of Jews is a puzzle to Yvegeny. He is confused by his father's robot-like devotion to the Communist party.

Sardonic wit punctuates the narrative. Yevgeny wonders at the meaning of the word “defect.” It sounds to him like “defecate.” Does this mean that people leave the USSR to relieve themselves?

The memoir is more than a recount of life in Russia. The Genius Under the Table: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain is an exploration of art that breaks rules, exposes truth, and yearns for freedom. It is also a story of the love within a family that expands beyond a cramped one room communal space.

Yelchin’s considerable talents as a storyteller, illustrator, and narrator make this slim volume an education and a delight. Yevgeny's “artistic talent” will fascinate readers.

Art and the Iron Curtain

Picture books accounts of artists who fled the confines of life in Cold War Russia. Poignant memories. Gorgeous art.

Audio copy accessed via Net Galley.

Release date: December 7, 2021 Libro.fm

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I Need a Hero

11/17/2021

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The Cursed Carnival and Other Calamities:
New Stories About Mythic Heroes
edited by Rick Riordan

A book that's like a box of chocolates.

An anthology, like a box of chocolates, consists of tasty little morsels. The one you select may consist of creamy sweetness, rich darkness, or be a little bit nutty. All look so tempting. Which one will you pick?

Discover new adventures from the worlds of: Sal and Gabi, Aru Shah, Zane Obispo, Tristan Strong, Nizhoni Begay, Paola Santiago, Sikander Aziz and Riley Oh. Bet you can't pick just one!

If a hero isn't ready to lose everything for a greater cause, is that person really a hero?
Jason Grace, The Tower of Nero

Rick Riordan Presents includes stories by Carlos Hernandez, Roshani Chokshi, J.C. Cervantes, Yoon Ha Lee, Kwame Mbalia, Rebecca Roanhorse, Tehlor Kay Mejia, Sarwat Chadda, Graci Kim, and SURPRISE! Rick Riordan, who introduces an Irish hero: boy a marked for death before he was born. Is he destined for greatness or destruction?

The multiverse is home to an assortment of fascinating characters: Gum Baby will give you two pieces of her mind "one for now, and one to take home and enjoy later." Riley is the only member of her family who does not possess supernatural powers, or does she? Nizhoni battles a demon-possessed drum that contaminates everything, including the fry bread she loves to eat.

There are numerous ways to enter these mythic worlds:
Relax and plunge through the floor into a different universe. Take the elevator to the Lower Levels of Hell. Descend six thousand feet to face plant on Seventh Avenue. Visit a New York deli to find a "Demon in the Trash." Locate the red cactus flower that your mind envisioned. Slip in and sample any one of the selections, finding stories that pique your interest. They can be read in any order.

The Cursed Carnival and Other Calamities is an introduction to mythologies and cultures that invite further exploration. Fans of the Riordan series will relish these stories chronicling additional adventures for characters featured in the addictive series. It's an enchanting potpourri brimming with danger, humor, courage, friendship, and magic.

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: September 28, 2021 Publisher: Rick Riordan Presents ISBN: 978-1368070836

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Classic Remix: Little Women

10/30/2021

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More to the Story by Hena Khan

Louisa May Alcott's 1868 classic tale of sisters gets updated with these retellings that feature four siblings with unique personalities and interests, a hardworking mother, and a modest home filled with love. Khan and Morrow give this framework fresh settings and perspective, resulting in new stories to tell.

More to the Story introduces a Pakistani-American family of girls ages 10 through 16 who negotiate the challenges of a contemporary family life in Atlanta.

Seventh grader Jameela and her sisters Maryam, Bisma, and Aleeza miss their father who must temporarily work overseas. The narrative’s dynamic shifts slightly when teenage Ali, the son of a family friend, moves into town. When Jam decides to feature Ali in an article for the school newspaper, she faces a question of journalistic ethics.

A major plot point centers around Bisma's cancer diagnosis and treatment. The effects of a serious illness are accurately described without excessive technical details and medical jargon.

Khan seamlessly blends Muslim life, including religious observance, food, and customs into the narrative. A heartwarming story.

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: September 3, 2019 Publisher: Salaam Reads ISBN: 978-1481492096

So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix
by Bethany C. Morrow read by Adenrele Ojo

So Many Beginnings is a stunning reimagining of Little Women that starts with Alcott's early 1860's time period and then fashions an entirely new tale, deftly weaving in often-overlooked aspects of American history. The March family resides in the Freedpeople's Colony of Roanoke Island, working to build a free society for formerly enslaved individuals.

Morrow's characters are intelligent women with lofty goals. Meg is a teacher who hopes to marry. Joanna dreams of becoming an author but by day works alongside construction crews, building homes in the colony. Bethlehem is a skilled seamstress and designer who wants to develop an African-based clothing enterprise. Talented dancer Amethyst earns accolades as a performer. The sisters encounter both overt and subtle forms of racism and gender inequality as they pursue personal and professional ambitions.

Listen to a sample

Audio copy accessed via Net Galley

Release date: September 7, 2021 Publisher: Macmillan Audio

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A Boy and His Bicycle

9/28/2021

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Neverforgotten
by Alejandra Algorta art by Iván Rickenmann translation Aida Salazar

You will forget that you forgot

Ten-year-old Fabio lives in Bogotá with his bread-baker mother and bus-driver father. His world changes the day his mother presents him with a used salmon-colored bike. Fabio soon masters the skill of balance while peddling. The bicycle and the boy become one. Whizzing around the city, he delivers his mother’s fresh bread.

“the dust danced with him, it would lift itself from the ground and soar through the air,”

Alicia is a regular bread recipient. To his consternation, she always greets Fabio as “my son. ” To this young boy, the old woman is a mystery. Why is she known as Mamalica? Why does she call him son? Where is her husband? Fabio is puzzled.

Then the unthinkable happens, Fabio forgets how to ride his bike. When he attempts to ride, he falls. He has failed. Without his bicycle, Fabio sees no way forward.

"Walking makes Fabio feel like a city pigeon, picking at dirt when he should be flying between rooftops..."

The narrative follows Fabio as he struggles with fears. So many fears: fear generated by his imaginings, fear of the unknown, fear of making a mistake, fear of letting go.

The imagery is exquisite, flavored with language so beautiful that it begs to slowly savored. Themes are threaded throughout the text, offering a variety perspectives on an idea. Here are a few:

Movement. The bus moves people. The days accelerate. Speed becomes one word “velocityisequaltodistancedividedbytime."
Size is Relative: The world under the bed is small. The souls of giants are trapped inside small bodies.
Monsters: The city is a monster, gobbling up smaller neighborhoods.

Native Colombia artist Rickenmann's sixteen black and white realistic renderings of the Bogotá’s landscape, especially abandoned buildings and open spaces, offer a fitting overture and coda to this exquisitely told tale.

The Spanish edition and an English translation are bound together. Salazar’s translation is filled with rhythm, poetic language, and expressive imagery. The combined work of author, illustrator, and translator have resulted in an incredibly thoughtful and moving experience.

Algorta has appropriately titled her debut novel Neverforgotten. A book unlike anything that I have ever read, it continues to haunt me.

Iván Bogotá's evocative cityscape.

Meet the author: Alejandra Algorta.

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: October 26, 2021 Publisher: Levine Querido ISBN: 978-1646140947

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Bezerkered!

9/28/2021

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Barb the Last Bezerker by Dan Abdo and Jason Patterson

“I’m a Bezerker and protecting humans from monsters is my duty.”

Thunder, Boulder, Claymore, and Arrow are Berzerkers, super-sized heroes who fight to protect the land from monsters. Unfortunately, this foursome’s brawn often exceeds their reasoning skills. Their nemesis Witch Head is intent on destroying all who thwart his plan for total domination over monsters and humans. He tricks the Berzerkers into helping him obtain Shadow Blade, a sword of awesome power.

In all the chaos, no one notices Barb, a Berzerker who is considered an inconsequential girl. That was a mistake!

With one swift movement, Barb grabs the sword, claims it, and teams up with a 400 pound Yeti-like monster named Porkchop. She is in search of the North Zerks. He’s looking for lunch.

Along the way she meets vampire goat fiends, the Grub of Death, shadow bats, and Glom, a Snot Goblin. Not to worry, Barb the Last Berzerker is up to the challenge.

Barb longs for her mother, a woman who loves sunrises and leaves warm oatmeal for her daughter when she must go fight in the Monster Wars. She is able to connect with her warrior mom as she sleeps. There are hints that in further episodes the two will meet.

When you need a fighter who is willing to take on an impossible task, you need Barb, a diminutive Bezerker who is fearless. She will always have your back and she never backs down from bullies.

"Big mean bullies are my specialty."

This is a terrific series packed with cliff-hanger chapter endings, plently of action, and a ton of "groan-worthy" jokes. The oversized panels often span the gutter. A traditional primary color scheme often used in superhero comics is scrapped for secondary colors: orange, green, and purple. The message is that is no ordinary superhero story. Come for the weird monsters, the action and adventure. Stay for an unlikely friendship that is golden. This series is off to an explosive start. Thanks Dan and Jason.

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: September 28, 2021Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books Young Readers ISBN: 978-1534485716

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Africans Who Shaped Our World

9/17/2021

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African Icons: Ten People Who Shaped History
by Tracey Baptiste art by Hillary D. Wilson

"the history of Africa is...the longest of anywhere on Earth."

Baptiste is a master storyteller with a solid background as the author of numerous informational books for young readers. All her skills come into play with African Icons: Ten People Who Shaped History, the collected biographies of individuals who had a significant impact on African and the world civilization.
Each featured person is introduced with a brief description of geography and setting, followed by a full-page portrait with a name pronunciation guide. These segments neatly segue the biographical profiles from one time period to a succeeding moment in history.
Some of the featured individuals: Imhotep, Aesop, and Hannibal Barca are familiar historical figures. Others are less well known.

Information is presented in such vibrant detail that the narrative takes on a multidimensional quality.

Baptiste’s extensive research reveals fascinating insights into the lives of four influential women: Merneith, Amanirenas, Tin Hinan, and Queen Idia. Readers are introduced to: the mother who served as a regent and facilitated the transfer of power from father to son, the warrior queen who fed prisoners to her pet lion and negotiated the Roman retreat from her country, a queen with a disability who founded a thriving city in the desert, a woman skilled in medical and mystic arts who ensured that her son learn Portuguese to facilitate diplomatic negotiations without a translator.
Thank you, Tracey. We need more stories about historically significant women.

Of interest to librarians is the chapter titled “Libraries in the Sands.” Readers will learn that scholarship in sixteenth century Timbuktu was legendary. Library collections consisted of a wealth of information on a vast array of topics as well as literary works. Books were handwritten on paper made from linen or fish skins and richly embellished with designs and illustrations.

Back matter includes: Culture Lost description of innovative, intellectual, and artistic accomplishments originating in Africa that were erased by European colonization, an Author’s Note, extensive Source Notes organized by chapter topics, a lengthy Bibliography, suggestions for Further Exploration, an Index, and a Designer’s Note. The depth and breadth of the author’s research is impressive.

This slim volume is an essential addition to public, school, and classroom libraries, filling an often-neglected historical, geographical, and sociological information gap. My advice: If library funds are limited and it becomes necessary to limit purchases, put this book on the “must purchase” list.

Meet the Creators

“here is to Africa achieving the stature that it deserves to have…” Kai Krause

Author

Artist

Graphic Designer

Baptiste is the author the best-selling Jumbies series. Stories are expertly paced, building to a thrilling climax. Complex characters, cinema graphic settings, and intriguing story lines are hallmarks of her work.

Wilson, a professionally trained medical illustrator (Johns Hopkins School of Medicine) brings her considerable skills to this authoritative work. Each portrait conveys the unique demeanor and physical characteristics of its subject.

Kai Krause is German software and graphical user interface designer. He is credited with creating a map of Africa that more accurately depicts the immense size of this content. Read his description of The True Size of Africa.

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: October 19, 2021 Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers ISBN: 978-1616209001

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Sea Spirits

9/3/2021

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Josephine Against the Sea by Shakirah Bourne

It is best not to make trouble with a sea spirit...

I thought Josephine Against the Sea would be a simple story of a girl learning to accept her father's interest in women following the death of his wife. But there is more going on here. A lot more.

Josephine, affectionally called Bean, is a girl who knows her own mind and is determined to get what she wants. This girl has a serious attitude. That's attitude with a capital A. She loves to play cricket. However she is no longer allowed to play because of an acccident two years ago. Bean hopes to redeem herself, proving to the coach and her father that she belongs on the team. Daddy has his doubts.
This eleven-year-old is very possessive and resents any woman inserting herself into this father/daughter relationship. She often resorts to devious tricks to send away any potential girlfriend.

Josephine meets her match when her father dates Mariss, who is one step ahead of Josephine, outsmarting her at every turn. Mockingly referring to her boyfriend's daughter as "Josie Sweets," Mariss moves in and begins to take control of the entire family.

Josephine is stunned by the change in her father. He is obviously trapped under an evil enchantment. She realizes that Mariss is a Sea Mumma, a water monster with the face and torso of a woman that spirals down into a slithering snake tail. It is up Bean to dive into the deep and fight this evil Carribean spirit.

In a high stakes, nail-biting finish Josephine must brave a violent storm, locate her father trapped in an underwater cave, confront an raging Mariss, and free her father. When all her efforts fail and it seems that hope is lost, Josephine comes through with her own powerful weapon. She uses her cricket-playing skills to defeat the Sea Mumma and release her father from the spell. Shakirah Bourne's middle-grade novel will bewitch readers with its fascinating characters, humor, and a boatload of Caribbean folklore.

Caribbean Magic

Meet Corrine, another young Caribbean who must face danger and outwit a water spirit.

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: July 6, 2021 Publisher: Scholastic Inc ISBN: 978-1338642087

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Aftermath

8/17/2021

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AfterMath by Emily Barth Isler

Lucy loves math. She loves precise definitions and phenomena that can be explained. She loves solutions.

There is one aspect that does not fit into her world view of calculations and exact answers. Her younger brother Theo was born with a heart defect. His short life was filled with doctors and hospitals and treatments. Now he is gone, leaving behind grieving parents and his sister Lucy.

Mom and dad decide that the best way to cope with their loss is to move to a new town. They select a city that has suffered a profound loss. Four years ago, a deranged shooter entered the elementary school, killing and injuring many inside the building.

Lucy’s anguish as she witnessed her brother's painfilled demise stretch over five years is both similar and very different from the public tragedy that instantly affected the entire community.

Isler's characters provide a variety of perspectives on the aftereffects of grief. Lucy's father withdraws, remaining in bed or behind his newspaper. Her mother visits with a therapist and busies herself with making the family home fresh and different. Lucy learns that the bedroom in her new home was the bedroom of Bet who was a shooting victim. She develops an internal storyline for Bet. By chance, Lucy connects with Avery, a classmate who appears to be a pariah. Later, Lucy discovers that Avery's brother was the shooter.

The one place where Lucy feels most comfortable is math class, a world of formulas and equations. However, there is one concept that eludes her: infinity. Lucy searches to understand this mathematical expression throughout the book. The text is brimming with math facts, riddles and jokes which are a counterpoint to the story's heart-rending subject matter.

While this is a story of grief and loss, AfterMath is a hopeful story. Through an extracurricular mime group Lucy learns new ways to express herself, make friends, and solidify her relationship with Avery. Her family begins to heal.
A touching story that avoids becoming maudlin. The author’s narration is well suited to the voice of a tender twelve-year-old. Occasionally a title is precisely the perfect fit. AfterMath is a brilliant title choice.

Audio copy accessed via NetGalley.

Pub date: September 7, 2021 Publisher: Carolrhoda Books ISBN: 978-1541599116

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Strange and Stranger

7/31/2021

1 Comment

Strange and Stranger

What's it like when everything seems to be different? Very different. Twelve-year-olds Jett Baranov and Jake Wind find themselves in situations which are definitely not-your-normal middle-school situations. We're talking encountering things like alligators and aliens.
Packed with plenty of humor, adventure, and interesting plot twists, Unplugged and Weird Kid are entertaining stories perfect for summer listening. If you are ready to take middle school adventures to a whole new level, try these audiobooks.

Unplugged by Gordon Korman

Narrated by A.J Beckles, Maxwell Glick, Vikas Adam, Reba Buhr, Sarah Mollo-Christensen, Barrett Leddy

Listen to a sample

Jett, the son of a wealthy Silicon Valley tycoon, knows how to get his own way. Always. He is an expert at gaming the system.

In an attempt to rehabilitate his son, Jett's father enrolls him in a summer camp deep in the Arkansas woods. The Oasis of Mind and Body Wellness has some basic rules: no meat, no pets, no screens.

Jett knows this regime isn’t going to work for him and immediately resorts to subversive activities including unauthorized trips into town and adopting a pet lizard. Three campers join him in a series of madcap adventures.

Their activities become serious when the foursome realize that there is a devious staff member, hypnotically controlling the minds of wealthy adults and bilking them out of vast amounts of money.

The fast-paced action escalates when the kids discover a mafia-owned mansion, a staff member’s secret life, and a reptile who may not be a lizard.

The full cast narration features individual narrators for each of the four young campers who uncover what is really happening at the Oasis of Mind and Body Wellness. Another hit from best-selling author Gordon Korman.

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Release date: January 2021 Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Weird Kid by Greg van Eekhout

Narrated by James Fouhey

Jake Wind’s life is getting even more complicated. In addition to starting middle school, he is experiencing major body changes, and it’s not just puberty. Truth is, Jake is an alien who came to earth as a flaming blob of goo” and was adopted by a couple. Without warning, his human form can suddenly shift into an animal or take on the appearance of a bizarre creature.
He meets Agnes, a tall girl who takes fitness and investigating mysteries to a new level. She aspires to be a save the world like her comic book superhero Night Kite.

Odd things are happening in town. Sinkholes begin appearing throughout town They discover xenogel, a mysterious substance that resembles Jake's goo. Town residents are becoming imblobsters, resembing humans in appearance but act strangely. Is there a connection? The two sleuths seek answers.

Listen to a sample

Can they save the world before it is too late? What will become of Jake and is impulsive shape-shifting abilities. Is he destined to remain on earth? Greg van Eekhout's novel is part sci-fi and part middle grade angst with a generous side of humor and word play. Jake's father is a proctologist, so the narrative is replete with butt jokes. Get out your guitars. Music plays a starring role in resolving the crisis.

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Release date: July 2021 Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers

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<<Previous

The School for Whatnots by Margaret Peterson Haddix

The School for Whatnots by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Behind the Iron Curtain

The Genius Under the Table: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain
by Eugene Yelchin Narrated by the author

Art and the Iron Curtain

I Need a Hero

The Cursed Carnival and Other Calamities:
New Stories About Mythic Heroes
edited by Rick Riordan

Classic Remix: Little Women

More to the Story by Hena Khan

So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix
by Bethany C. Morrow read by Adenrele Ojo

A Boy and His Bicycle

Neverforgotten
by Alejandra Algorta art by Iván Rickenmann translation Aida Salazar

Bezerkered!

Barb the Last Bezerker by Dan Abdo and Jason Patterson

Africans Who Shaped Our World

African Icons: Ten People Who Shaped History
by Tracey Baptiste art by Hillary D. Wilson

Meet the Creators

Author

Artist

Graphic Designer

Sea Spirits

Josephine Against the Sea by Shakirah Bourne

Caribbean Magic

Aftermath

AfterMath by Emily Barth Isler

Strange and Stranger

Strange and Stranger

Unplugged by Gordon Korman

Weird Kid by Greg van Eekhout

Category

Archives

Barbara Moon

The School for Whatnots by Margaret Peterson Haddix

The Genius Under the Table: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain​by Eugene Yelchin Narrated by the author

Art and the Iron Curtain

The Cursed Carnival and Other Calamities:New Stories About Mythic Heroesedited by Rick Riordan

More to the Story by Hena Khan

So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix ​by Bethany C. Morrow read by Adenrele Ojo

Neverforgotten​by Alejandra Algorta art by Iván Rickenmann translation Aida Salazar

Barb the Last Bezerker by Dan Abdo and Jason Patterson

African Icons: Ten People Who Shaped History​by Tracey Baptiste art by Hillary D. Wilson

Meet the Creators

Author

Artist

Graphic Designer

Josephine Against the Sea by Shakirah Bourne

Caribbean Magic

AfterMath by Emily Barth Isler

Strange and Stranger

Unplugged by Gordon Korman

Weird Kid by Greg van Eekhout

Category

Archives

Barbara Moon

The Genius Under the Table: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain
by Eugene Yelchin Narrated by the author

The Cursed Carnival and Other Calamities:
New Stories About Mythic Heroes
edited by Rick Riordan

So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix
by Bethany C. Morrow read by Adenrele Ojo

Neverforgotten
by Alejandra Algorta art by Iván Rickenmann translation Aida Salazar

African Icons: Ten People Who Shaped History
by Tracey Baptiste art by Hillary D. Wilson