Rise of the Spider is set in the small town of Heroldsberg, Germany as Adolf Hitler was beginning to rise in popularity and power. Young Rolf and his Rise of the Spider is set in the small town of Heroldsberg, Germany as Adolf Hitler was beginning to rise in popularity and power. Young Rolf and his best friend Ansel watch a duo of Hitler Youth begin a chapter of the paramilitary boys group in their town and see that organization dovetail with the increase of Nazi leaders in government and local police along with anti-Semitic sentiment. Worse, Rolf’s older brother Romer has been drawn into the web of violence and political unrest.
Michael Spradlin mixes historical facts and locations with a likable main character. Rolf’s dad, hard-working widower who has done all he could to support his boys amid his own grief of the loss of his wife and oldest son, will generate sympathy among readers. By the end of this opening book to a planned trilogy, readers will be left confident that Rolf and his dad will rise above the prejudice and hate and hoping that they are able to find Romer and persuade him to leave the Hitler Youth.
Rise of the Spider is free of profanity and sexual content and this book 1 has kept violence fairly low. Ideal for those in grades 5-7.
Thanks for the print arc, Margaret K McElderry/Simon & Schuster....more
11 year old Andie lives above the family diner with her grandmother, mom and little sister. She has a best friend, loves to create stories, isn’t alwa11 year old Andie lives above the family diner with her grandmother, mom and little sister. She has a best friend, loves to create stories, isn’t always thrilled to do her part at the dinner and misses her dad when he’s out of town using his 18 wheeler to haul musicians’ equipment across the country. Totally typical, right? Nope. She lives in a dwindling town with a population of 11, has a morning glory plant named Priscilla who actually snatches things off the diner countertop/people’s plates, and on Midsummer’s Days she will “test” a recipe to see if she has inherited her family’s magical gift that seems to run through the oldest girl each generation. The usual gift does not come, but Andie does begin to see ghosts and to communicate with them and with their help, may be able to revive the old soda factory, bring her father home for good, and keep Morning Glory from falling off the map.
Wonderful “ghost” story that isn’t the least bit scary. But middle grade readers will thoroughly enjoy meeting a unique cast of characters and solving the mystery of the lost Juneberry Blue soda recipe right along with Andie. Text is free of profanity, sexual content and violence.
Read alike: Ghosts of Ordinary Objects series by Angie Smibert....more
The cover of this graphic novel is eye-catching and I looked forward to a graphic novel story of how the Statue of Liberty came to be the iconic welcoThe cover of this graphic novel is eye-catching and I looked forward to a graphic novel story of how the Statue of Liberty came to be the iconic welcome to immigrants into New York Harbor. With the art of sculptor Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi being at the forefront of the history, a graphic representation of the events seemed fitting. Sadly, the events were told in a somewhat dry manner and seemed almost disjointed at times and the graphic panels were definitely not my style. This is definitely a niche book that may fit into a history classroom that covers the post Civil War era, likely more jr high or high school rather than elementary or middle school.
Thanks for sending me a copy for review, Flying Eye Books....more
It’s picture day for 7th grader Andrew Yaeger and he is looking sharp in a new, name brand collared shirt and is determined to take the kind of picturIt’s picture day for 7th grader Andrew Yaeger and he is looking sharp in a new, name brand collared shirt and is determined to take the kind of picture that his mom will be proud to hang on the wall. But the fates have another idea. Thus begins the day from you know where and making everything worse is the fact that Andrew struggles with anxiety and has some stemming habits that he is trying to keep hidden. So with every encounter with Mean Gene, every errant basketball that connects with his face and each mishap in the science lab, the tension grows from a cold little popcorn kernel to one that has been sitting in hot oil and is ready to pop. Fortunately, Andrew has best friend Jonesy by his side, a nurse who not only can tend to his black eye but can repair his Gene-ripped shirt, a mom who loves him unconditionally, a counselor who has handed him a few tools, and several teachers and one administrator who are ready, willing and able to support him.
Rob Harrell (author of WINK and the hilarious LIFE OF ZARF) draws on his own experiences with anxiety, OCD and panic attacks to give authenticity to Andrew’s feelings and uses his drawing skills and quick wit to provide some moments of relief so that readers don’t find themselves drowning in Andrew’s intense emotions. POPCORN may help those with similar feelings find the words to describe what is going on in their hearts and minds and to seek help until they find it. Those who have never battled the overwhelming pressure of panic pressing them down may gain a better understanding of what some people in their lives do feel, better preparing them to be supportive.
Text is free of profanity and sexual content. While there is a bully, there is little violence other than that done by a basketball and a test tube confined explosion plus an errant ketchup bottle rocket. Highly recommended for grades 4-7.
Thanks for the print arc, Penguin Random House....more
Created in the spirit of manga created by Japanese “god of manga” Osamu Tezuka, this unicorn story is perfect for graphic novel readers from grades 3-Created in the spirit of manga created by Japanese “god of manga” Osamu Tezuka, this unicorn story is perfect for graphic novel readers from grades 3-6. Classic good vs evil with the pure-hearted Unico and his watch-cat friend Chloe triumphing in this installment. But the young unicorn can’t remember his past or his real purpose as a mythical West Wind servant of the goddess Venus has been keeping him hidden and his memory wiped in order to protect him from her master. But Venus senses the positive energy coming from Unico and is determined to wipe him from the face of the earth and this setback just renews her determination…to be continued in book 2 Unico: Hunted.
Along with the storyline of Venus seeking to destroy Unico is a sweet story of Chloe who is abandoned in the forest by the fiance’ of her good-hearted owner and a sweet old woman who lives in the woods. The book skips back and forth between the two plots with little transition, but even young readers will easily be able to tell from the background change and the presence of Venus, West Wind and/or Night Wind (an evil servant of Venus) that the switch has occurred.
Highly recommended for libraries serving grades 3-6 who have a strong readership in graphic novels and have patrons requesting manga. This manga-style graphic novel stays free of profanity and sexual content and the gore-free violence comes from a big game hunter and the powers of Venus to control others and bend them to her will. Unlike some other manga, clothing of all human characters covers their bodies modestly.
Thanks for the print arc, Scholastic Graphix....more
Beautiful non-fiction picture book detailing the little known facts about Jovita Valdovinos and her determination to fight for the rights of Mexican CBeautiful non-fiction picture book detailing the little known facts about Jovita Valdovinos and her determination to fight for the rights of Mexican Catholics in the early 1900s for readers/listeners in grades 2-5. Young Jovita loved her home and the countryside surrounding it and spent as much time as possible exploring it. Wearing the skirts that were required by the culture of the time and place made this difficult and thus came Jovita’s first act of defiance-wearing pants! Later she followed her father and two brothers when they joined the Cristero Revolution in an attempt to regain the right to worship as Catholics, establish parochial schools and for priests and nuns to be able to control the money given to the church. At first she was not allowed to fight, but after the deaths of her father and brothers, she not only kept on wearing pants, but cut her hair short, changed her name to Juan and led the Cristeros until they were granted the freedoms they deserved. Great story about standing up for what you believe and fighting for your rights as well as those of a whole group of people. Gorgeous illustrations by Molly Mendoza were created using Sumi ink and composed digitally in Procreate and enhance the text perfectly. The text in the bulk of the book seldom exceeds 4 or 5 sentences, is set in a large font and has plenty of space between lines. Back matter is fairly extensive and elaborates on the life of the Mexican hero which makes this picture book also useful for older elementary readers.
A 2024-2025 Texas Bluebonnet Award nominee....more
Like World War II historical fiction by Marsha F Skrypuch, Steve Watkins tackles a lesser known aspect of World War II. Skrypuch tackles the plight ofLike World War II historical fiction by Marsha F Skrypuch, Steve Watkins tackles a lesser known aspect of World War II. Skrypuch tackles the plight of those in Ukraine, besieged on all sides by German Nazis, Soviet soldiers and even military in Italy while Watkins presents the relatively unknown story of nearly 20,000 orphaned and abandoned children from East Prussia at the end of the war, called Wolfskinder or Wolf Children.
Representing those 20,000, Watkins created sisters Asta and Pieta whose father was conscripted to serve in the German army, or Wehrmacht, and their mother doing all she could to keep the three of them safe. After the nearly complete destruction of their capital city home of Konigberg, the trio flees to countryside home of their Oma and Opa. As the fighting between Wehrmacht and Red Army forces collide over them there, they hike under great duress on foot to the Baltic Sea and find an evacuation ship. That ship, the real life Wilhelm Gustloff, is torpedoed, sinks and takes Mama with it after she pushes Asta and Pieta onto a lifeboat. The girls find temporary shelter with other survivors but choose to leave on their own to return to Oma & Opa’s farm. All these tragedies are completed in approximately 100 pages and the remaining 170 detail the struggles the girls endure as they search in vain for someplace safe, warm and with enough food to survive. Other children come and go in their lives, various farms, caves, and shelters hollowed out in the snow and under felled trees are created, and food becomes such a scarcity that they become malnourished and resort to eating bark, the stolen slop from pig troughs, and so much worse. It is a tough read and joy is non-existent, with only a few brief respites from the intensity of their plight. As the book concludes, the war is over, but East Prussia is under the control of the Soviet Red Army who have determined that all Germans must leave or face the certainty of death and the girls decide to walk to the city of Hamburg, hanging to the thin thread of hope of finding their last known family.
Based on its length and similarity in style to works by Skrypuch, Alan Gratz, Jennifer Nielsen and Kathy Kacer, Wolves at the Door is likely directed towards readers in grades 5-8. But as a middle grade librarian, I often directed my 4th readers of historical fiction to works of Skrypuch, Gratz, Nielsen and Kacer. I would carefully consider each individual 4th grader before recommending this book to them. While there are no incidents of rape, nor overly detailed descriptions of mass graves, etc., there are almost no moments of rest or relief for the girls once they board the doomed evacuation ship and even as a mature adult, my heart was heavy as I read and I yearned for Watkins to allow Asta and Pieta find some sort of safety and comfort. While Christel, a girl who stayed with the sisters for a time, is “adopted” as a laborer into a Lithuanian home, a fact for some Wolf Children, the sisters’ fate is left in limbo as they turn their faces towards the 1000+ kilometers they must go in order to reach Hamburg. There is no happy ending. This is historically accurate, but some younger readers may be left a bit disturbed by the facts.
Recommended for older middle grade readers and younger YA with an interest in World War II history.
Gordon Korman just keeps putting out fantastic books for middle grade students! Old School is his 105th book and he still creates new and wonderful stGordon Korman just keeps putting out fantastic books for middle grade students! Old School is his 105th book and he still creates new and wonderful stories that keep me turning pages as fast as I can and providing reminders that our kids are something special.
This title focuses on a 7th grade boy who has lived most of his life with his grandmother in a condo in a senior living community. Lack of proper registration as a homeschooled student results in a visit from a truancy officer and puts Dex into a public middle school for the first time and it is awkward with a capital A. After a short time and a unjustified suspension, nearly the whole school rallies behind him, begins to show up at the senior center and finds that hanging out with those age 60+ is fun! Of course it wouldn’t happen in real life. Unfortunately, our kids don’t have always that sense of justice and ability to unify in support of a cause so completely. BUT, it’s nice to think they could and the sheer rightness of their actions will make readers cheer!! There is laughter, tears and kids being kids and I had one of those sighs of satisfaction at the end that means I gave it 5 stars, which is very rare for me.
Main characters Dexter, Gianna and her brother Ronny, Jackson, and strong supporting characters Ms Napier and Teagan each tell what is happening in their own chapters providing multiple views of the same event. The group represents typical personalities present at any school-Dexter is a bit of an oddball whose intelligence puts him at the top of the class very quickly. Gianna is a budding newspaper reporter with integrity. Brother Ronny is an obnoxious bully, has repeated a grade and may have to repeat another if he doesn’t pull things together. Jackson is a stellar athlete and was at the top of the class until Dex arrived. Ms Napier, unlike the clueless principal, actually seems to like and understand the tweens and teens on campus. Teagan is one of those fair weather friends who has decided that what ever is important to her should be the biggest priority for all. Korman develops each personality clearly but even the “bad guys” have traits that should evoke some sympathy and understanding with readers.
Korman keeps his works free of profanity, sexual content and any violence is kept mild. Page count is under 300 pages, making it more accessible than many other books being published for the grades 4-8 crowd.
Disclaimer-I rated this book the way I think scary book loving kids would rate it. I have never a fan of the series.
Great choice for those from age 8 Disclaimer-I rated this book the way I think scary book loving kids would rate it. I have never a fan of the series.
Great choice for those from age 8 to 12 who love 1) graphic novels, 2) scary books, 3) a straight-forward plot, and 4) a quick read. It has been years since my reading of the 1993 The Haunted Mask, #11 in the original Goosebumps series but this one seems to follow the same simple storyline of a tender-hearted, easy to scare girl who just wants to get back at those who have taken pleasure in startling her. Carly Beth’s targets (those who have had fun and her expense) include two male classmates, her best friend and her brother. A gruesome mask from a local costume shop proves the means to scare those four as well as young kids in her neighborhood and by the end of the evening, Carly discovers not only that her voice and personality seem to now be matching the horrifying appearance of the mask but it seems to now be permanently attached. A panicked return visit to the costume store results in the news that she has one shot at getting it off, the vague clue of “a symbol of love.” The book concludes as Carly Beth finds a symbol, manages to get free but the mask is then donned by her unsuspecting brother.
I’ve always found this book a bit disturbing, mostly because “friends” are so focused on scaring, belittling and tormenting one another. A best friend does not take joy in her friend’s panic and revenge is never the answer to a problem. However, as said in my opening statement, those looking for quick, scary reads, this one is all that. The graphic panels done by Maddi Gonzalez are detailed, the mask gruesome and the facial expressions clear....more
For those who appreciate World War II/Holocaust historical fiction, and stories of Anne Frank and others who were forced into hiding during that horriFor those who appreciate World War II/Holocaust historical fiction, and stories of Anne Frank and others who were forced into hiding during that horrific era, this book is likely a “must have.” Anne Hoffman worked closely with those associated with the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, conducted interviews and researched events, people and places in the Netherlands to create likely scenarios for Anne and her older sister during the two years prior to their family going into hiding. Readers will likely feel grief as they read about Anne and all her hopes and dreams for a future she still hoped for, despite the looming threat of the Nazi regime and even Dutch police who carried out orders to harass, arrest and kill Jews and others deemed undesirable by Adolf Hitler. While no one really knows what sorts of conversations occurred between Anne, Margot and her parents or what the girls did with her friends, much can be inferred from Anne’s diary and the recorded experiences of others living in Amsterdam at the same time. Knowing the fate of Anne, Margot and their mother made this book hard to read and may cause some great distress, but there is much to learn from Hoffman’s recorded speculation of their lives. Some may find certain themes repeated far too often—perfect Margot, special and outspoken Anne, Anne’s strained relationship with her mother, but if a library has high circulation numbers in Holocaust historical fiction, especially if Anne’s diary is part of that circulation or done as a study in an ELA or Social Studies classroom, then this book should be considered.
Text is free of profanity and sexual content and the violence perpetrated against the Jewish people is kept factual but not stated in an overly graphic way.
Thanks for the print arc, Scholastic and the 2024 Literary Feast....more
Prolific writer Joy McCullough (playwright as well as writer of picture books as well as those for middle grades and young adult) brings her middle grProlific writer Joy McCullough (playwright as well as writer of picture books as well as those for middle grades and young adult) brings her middle grade audience an adventure story of two orphaned siblings taken in by a successful and seemingly generous premier baker. But alas, not is all as it should be Laurel Fox’s kitchen or her home and most especially, not in her heart. Impulsive younger sister Dahlia and more cautious and bookish Basil must combine their distinctive skill sets in order to escape Fox and her dastardly plan to use the tears of children to give her baked goods a distinctive salty-sweet flavor that no one will guess or possibly emulate. Narrated by an unidentified Englishperson who is somehow from a time period other than the one in which Dahlia and Basil live, Joy uses this tool to allow him to vaguely identify modern technology such as cell phones and ear buds in creative ways as well use creative idiom and references to literature/movies such as Mary Poppins. Some will fly right over the heads of readers, but others will alternate between being impressed by McCullough’s wordsmithing and laughing and nodding their heads in comprehension and appreciation. With its somewhat dark tone, Basil & Dahlia would best suit readers who enjoy Snicket’s Unfortunate Events and works by Roald Dahl. Text is free of profanity and sexual content and violence is relatively bloodless and not overly graphic. Target age: grades 5-7 and possibly strong 4th grade readers.
Thanks for the print arc, Atheneum Books/Simon & Schuster for Children’s Publishing....more
Linh Pham’s illustrations will capture the eyes of young readers of graphic novels and the story of child detective Nancy Spector will spark their imaLinh Pham’s illustrations will capture the eyes of young readers of graphic novels and the story of child detective Nancy Spector will spark their imaginations. Every space on each page is filled with color and detailed drawings of creatures from a world not our own. The simple text tells the story of Nancy trying to solve the mystery of the missing invisible dog belonging to his equally invisible professor and ending with shades of an evil nemesis at work. The identity and motivation of that nemesis is not the only unknown left by the end of this series opener and only time will tell if the next installment will answer why Nancy is living alone with only a cranky puppy partner as her companion, what happened to her detective parents and how long have they been dead and more. The unusual monsters in Nancy’s world could render this graphic novel scary but with the color scheme and lack of any real violence or gore makes it more fun and creepy and I anticipate this series to be very popular with grades 2-4 (and maybe a few years on either side of that range, too!) However, adults are likely to find the overabundance of booger-goo dripping from Nancy’s dog’s nose to be disgusting and unnecessary, the plot overly simplistic and may not care for this one. I, myself, made every effort to view this one as if I was part of that target audience and do believe that the younger elementary set will like this one a great deal.
Thanks for sharing a print copy with me, Algonquin/Workman Publishing....more
What a wonderful, fact-filled exploration of the animal kingdom! 500 interesting and sometimes funny or wacky tidbits about animals from 5 different cWhat a wonderful, fact-filled exploration of the animal kingdom! 500 interesting and sometimes funny or wacky tidbits about animals from 5 different categories: Magnificent Mammals, Creepy Crawlies, Water World, Scaly Things, Amazing Amphibians, and Feathered Friends. The photographs are wonderful and the page layouts interesting. This is a book for animal-loving kids from a wide range age range or maybe just those readers who like to browse through books with a plethora of illustrations, just flipping and learning without worrying about reading pages in order or even finishing the book. Would make a great addition to any library’s reference section, a coffee table book in homes or a go-to during quiet times. I can’t even imagine the amount of research time it took for author Ginjer L. Clark to put together this compilation of photographs and facts!
Thanks for sending a finished copy to me, Rockridge Press!...more
Tate isn’t sure what extra curricular activity fits but when Eli Violet, a child prodigy, is heard playing their viola, a new string instrument playerTate isn’t sure what extra curricular activity fits but when Eli Violet, a child prodigy, is heard playing their viola, a new string instrument player is born! A summer camp designed to improve orchestra members’ abilities while also participating in the usual arts & crafts, swimming and sports activities is offered, Tate snaps at the chance to improve. Surprisingly, Eli Violet is there, too, but under an assumed name as they try to overcome a severe case of burnout coupled with intense anxiety. The two become friends and begin to share thoughts and feelings with one another and soon realize that they have similarities well beyond simply playing the viola—both are non-binary and both are struggling with anxiety. Tate and Eli make a deal to help one another leading Tate to not only earn section leader status and the big solo during the end of summer concert but to come out to friends and family.
The subtle advice to tweens and early teens about seeking out help for emotional struggles in a variety of places begins right away and may be of real benefit to readers whether to help them find relief for their own panic or to gain some understanding of others. A message of working hard, goal setting and determination to improve skills comes through loud and clear without seeming “preachy.” The coming out aspect of Camp Prodigy did seem rather contrived with Eli Violet coming from a two mom family and finding it easy to announce their pronouns of they/them to everyone and Tate only needing one month to gain the courage to come out to new friends and his family. The responses from all was easy acceptance and understanding which is fairly unrealistic. The action of a camp counselor asking each camper to share their name and pronouns during the first meet and greet may be common in some areas, but would not be typical in others.
Text is free of profanity, violence and sexual content. Representation: Black and Caucasian characters, several non-binary characters and Eli Violet has two moms, campers’ body shapes, clothing choices and hairstyles demonstrate a great variety, one camper is on the spectrum. Target age group: grades 5-8.
Thanks for the print arc, Simon & Schuster/Atheneum Publishing....more
With a last name like Sherlock, it seems only natural that a brother-sister duo would begin a detective agency in order to earn some money toward thinWith a last name like Sherlock, it seems only natural that a brother-sister duo would begin a detective agency in order to earn some money toward things their parents have declined to pay for. And with a former newspaper investigator for grandfather, who can also handle the transportation needs, it also seems like the right thing to bring him on board. To lighten the individual responsibilities that go with solving a mystery, throwing in friends Yadi and Lina is also wise. But what mystery can this group tackle? While searching for undiscovered money hidden by Al Capone somewhere in Florida, the group stumbles into an illegal dumping operation in the heart of the Everglades and the focus turns away from money and toward the far more important task of finding the perpetrators and shutting down the chemical spills that are destroying the national park’s ecosystem.
James Ponti has already given middle grade readers a zombie series in Dead City and created a teen spy group in City Spies. The Sherlock Society combines mystery and crime-fighting in what looks to be another successful series for readers in grades 4-7. Nestled into the plot of solving a mystery is a bit of friend drama, some disagreements between parent and child, as well as guidelines for organizing research using the 5 W’s. Siblings Alex and Zoe obviously care for one another but do not always see eye to eye and do a bit of realistic bickering. The Yadi and Lina characters provide examples of solid friendship and a little sideline story gives a picture of not so desirable friends. The story moves at a brisk pace and new information comes in steadily to keep the guesses coming as readers try to solve the mystery/crime before The Sherlock Society does. A few red herrings are thrown in to keep the full solution a surprise at the end but many astute middle graders will have much figured out before the end.
Text is free of profanity, sexual content and violence is primarily that done to nature and while there are explosions, only property is destroyed. Ideal for readers of other Ponti works, titles from Stuart Gibbs and the Myrtle Hardcastle Mysteries.
Thanks for the print arc, Simon and Schuster....more
What a perfect book for readers of middle grade lit who love novels-in-verse (NIV), sad/happy heart-warmers, and/or music. Author Fritz combines poetrWhat a perfect book for readers of middle grade lit who love novels-in-verse (NIV), sad/happy heart-warmers, and/or music. Author Fritz combines poetry and music with a story of loss, dysfunctional family, and hope for help like a composer weaves the voices of different instruments into a magnificent symphony. Maddie/Mad/Madrigal has used counting and organization as coping tools for her extreme anxiety, but when her older brother disappears from college and their family begins to come apart, things get even more difficult. Fritz’s NIV format, Maddie’s efforts on the oboe, and the musical terms that are incorporated intensify the emotion and passion felt not only by Maddie, but her parents, sister, and her friend Emma. Key to the plot is climate change and the positive effects that school aged youths can have on the environment. Basically, Everywhere Blue has something for everyone from grade 4 and up with no profanity, sexual content, or violence. Representation: Maddie’s mom is French, school friend Nico presents as Hispanic, and Maddie’s best friend Emma is Chinese-American.
Thanks for the print ARC, Holiday House publishing.
Merged review:
What a perfect book for readers of middle grade lit who love novels-in-verse (NIV), sad/happy heart-warmers, and/or music. Author Fritz combines poetry and music with a story of loss, dysfunctional family, and hope for help like a composer weaves the voices of different instruments into a magnificent symphony. Maddie/Mad/Madrigal has used counting and organization as coping tools for her extreme anxiety, but when her older brother disappears from college and their family begins to come apart, things get even more difficult. Fritz’s NIV format, Maddie’s efforts on the oboe, and the musical terms that are incorporated intensify the emotion and passion felt not only by Maddie, but her parents, sister, and her friend Emma. Key to the plot is climate change and the positive effects that school aged youths can have on the environment. Basically, Everywhere Blue has something for everyone from grade 4 and up with no profanity, sexual content, or violence. Representation: Maddie’s mom is French, school friend Nico presents as Hispanic, and Maddie’s best friend Emma is Chinese-American.
Thanks for the print ARC, Holiday House publishing....more
From the author of the emotion-packed Everywhere Blue comes another NIV for middle graders that will hit readers where their heart is. Claire and her From the author of the emotion-packed Everywhere Blue comes another NIV for middle graders that will hit readers where their heart is. Claire and her parents have vacationed on the coast of Maine since she was 9 and as the years have gone by, the closeness between her parents has turned distant. During a mother-daughter outing, Mom reveals that the degree of distance has reached a critical point just before collapsing in the restaurant where they were eating. A diagnosis of ruptured brain aneurysm begins a recovery process that is slow, painful and full of personal grief and growth for not only Mom, but Claire and her dad as well. No other format conveys emotion as well as the carefully crafted words of a novel in verse and in Ruptured, Joanne R. Fritz is able to give readers a look into the heart and soul of a mother who is struggling to regain not only basic life skills but relationships with her daughter and husband plus the tangled emotions of a teenaged daughter with a secret that is tearing her up inside and a father who struggles to talk to others and express his feelings. Outstanding follow-up to a near perfect debut novel and with its absence of profanity, sexual content and violence will fit as nicely on the shelf of a 4th or 5th grader as it does on that of a junior high school student. Great addition to school and public library shelves and an excellent choice for those who enjoy traditional format books by Lindsay Stoddard and Barbara O’Connor or NIV such as Amanda Rawson Hill’s The Hope of Elephants or Chris Baron’s The Magical Imperfect.
Note #1-Don’t forget to read the end notes by the author!
Note #2-Teachers should keep a list of all the books and authors referenced by Claire and the librarians in her life and librarians should be sure to have all of them in their collections.
Thanks for the print arc, Holiday House and Joanne R. Fritz.
Merged review:
From the author of the emotion-packed Everywhere Blue comes another NIV for middle graders that will hit readers where their heart is. Claire and her parents have vacationed on the coast of Maine since she was 9 and as the years have gone by, the closeness between her parents has turned distant. During a mother-daughter outing, Mom reveals that the degree of distance has reached a critical point just before collapsing in the restaurant where they were eating. A diagnosis of ruptured brain aneurysm begins a recovery process that is slow, painful and full of personal grief and growth for not only Mom, but Claire and her dad as well. No other format conveys emotion as well as the carefully crafted words of a novel in verse and in Ruptured, Joanne R. Fritz is able to give readers a look into the heart and soul of a mother who is struggling to regain not only basic life skills but relationships with her daughter and husband plus the tangled emotions of a teenaged daughter with a secret that is tearing her up inside and a father who struggles to talk to others and express his feelings. Outstanding follow-up to a near perfect debut novel and with its absence of profanity, sexual content and violence will fit as nicely on the shelf of a 4th or 5th grader as it does on that of a junior high school student. Great addition to school and public library shelves and an excellent choice for those who enjoy traditional format books by Lindsay Stoddard and Barbara O’Connor or NIV such as Amanda Rawson Hill’s The Hope of Elephants or Chris Baron’s The Magical Imperfect.
Note #1-Don’t forget to read the end notes by the author!
Note #2-Teachers should keep a list of all the books and authors referenced by Claire and the librarians in her life and librarians should be sure to have all of them in their collections.
Thanks for the print arc, Holiday House and Joanne R. Fritz....more
“It’s okay to let your guard down. It’s okay to let yourself be seen. It’s okay to share your heart with other people. Not everyone will be gentle wit“It’s okay to let your guard down. It’s okay to let yourself be seen. It’s okay to share your heart with other people. Not everyone will be gentle with it. Some will etch little cracks in it. Some will make giant breaks. But cracks and breaks eventually mend. Hearts hidden behind thousand-foot-high, twelve-inch-thick walls don’t. They don’t even get the chance.”
Victoria ends her story of the summer before 8th grade with this thought after finally allowing Kyle to step into her family’s life as her mother’s husband and some kind of dad for her, older brother Jack and younger sister Maggie. In the first book about Victoria and her family, Dad has left for another woman and deeply wounds them with the jagged and permanent break he makes from all four. Now, mom has met a new man who is doing all that he can to demonstrate that he wants to be a permanent part of the family but Victoria is just as determined to make him leave.
The anxiety felt by Victoria over so many things is palpable and almost overwhelming. She is afraid of her dad calling and not calling, she fears the loss of her best friend but continues to push Sarah away, and her preoccupation with the changes in her body presses down on not her, but readers as well. Ultimately, the message of allowing people to know you and be a real part of your life comes through, but at no point is there any suggestion that Victoria (and likely the whole family) needs help processing the grief and damage caused by Dad’s abandonment and Victoria, specifically, could benefit from some counseling over ways to cope with anxiety and an unhealthy view of her own body. Author R.L. Toalson demonstrates a real gift in conveying the depth of emotion felt by Victoria throughout the book but this is definitely not a title for everyone and some could find it triggering should they have similar family trauma or battle body image-related anxiety.
Text is free of profanity, violence and sexual content. Race of all characters is left up to the imagination of the reader except that Victoria is pictured as Caucasian on the book cover I had. While a sequel, I read this one easily without having read The First Magnificent Summer. Recommended for grades 5-8.
Thanks for sharing an electronic arc with me, Edelweiss....more
J.P. has always been uncomfortable in her own skin, felt singled out because she does not have a slim physique and enjoys a TV show spawned by a comicJ.P. has always been uncomfortable in her own skin, felt singled out because she does not have a slim physique and enjoys a TV show spawned by a comic book series about a space exploring crew. Kevin is her one close friend and they can tell each other anything and each one supports the others’ quirks and personal preferences. But 7th grade is beginning and J.P. knows that it will be worse than all the other grades put together. She’s right. A threesome of “pretty girls” make snide remarks about how many calories in her lunch, suggest that she order a special sized PE uniform and generally provide all sorts of helpful tips to improve her appearance. Her beloved grandfather’s cancer may have returned and her beautiful, successful lawyer mother seems as concerned with her appearance as the tormenting trio and less interested in spending time with her. The only refuge she has is the treehouse next to her home and during one visit to her place of respite, she sees a an actual doorknob on a painted door inside. Going through that door takes her into nothingness, but when she returns, it’s three days later and she has skipped over three whole days of unhappiness. The “skipping” becomes more and more frequent resulting in missed lectures, unawareness of what is going on with Kevin, and more. There is a J.P. who is present but just a few notes left by the stand in version is not enough to fill in the gaps. When the skipping results in several truly important events and the loss of her only friend, the importance of being present, learning from the hard things, and how to find the joy inside and with others finally begin to sink in.
Strengths: *may make readers think about the value in working through the hard parts of life *equates body shaming to bullying and provides some concrete examples of ways to deal with those bullies *illustrates and defines a true friend *no profanity, violence or sexual content *diversity in sexual identity, race and body shapes
Weakness: *could have conveyed all the good stuff in far less pages
Three kids, all dealing with significant losses, find connections and ways to help each other cope with their situations. Tildy has lost the necklace Three kids, all dealing with significant losses, find connections and ways to help each other cope with their situations. Tildy has lost the necklace her mom gifted her and is afraid that will be the “last straw” factor that causes her to leave the family again when she has only been back for a short time. Leon’s grandfather has died, left him and his grandmother alone and he is afraid she will be lost in the “Depths of Despair” unless he manages to contact the spirit of his dead relative. New to town Nell and her mom have lost their home and almost everything they own to a hurricane and this loss is on the heels of the death of Nell’s mum. Told in alternating chapters from the perspective of each young person, readers will be rooting for the trio to regain the security and joy in life that we all yearn for. Excellent character development in the three main characters and Tildy’s younger sister Marguerite; strong supporting roles played by Tildy’s parents, Nell’s mom, Leon’s grandmother and even the dearly departed Frederica Verne. The conclusion is ultimately positive but I’m pretty sure that not all will expect all three resolutions to play out like they do. Representation: Nell has two moms, Tildy has a traditional family and Leon lives with grandparents and does not have relationship with either of his parents. Race of the characters is left vague and even naming conventions do not lean towards any particular group meaning that readers can attach their own choices to characters unless they dwell on the cover for too long! Text is free of profanity, sexual content and violence. Target audience is likely grades 4-6 even though the trio are all in junior high school.
Thanks for the print arc, Peachtree Publishing....more
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