ARC via Netgalley, but a paper copy in my house now and I'll be buying a copy for my school library in September. This comic is self-referential and dARC via Netgalley, but a paper copy in my house now and I'll be buying a copy for my school library in September. This comic is self-referential and demented and absolutely hilarious. You can't go wrong....more
Formula is a little played out by now (IMO) but the kids still love them and can't get enough. I know I'm not the target audience.Formula is a little played out by now (IMO) but the kids still love them and can't get enough. I know I'm not the target audience....more
Moxie is back with a new dilemma! When her arch-enemy contracts Moxie's mystery-solving services, Moxie has no choice but the do the unthinkable: she Moxie is back with a new dilemma! When her arch-enemy contracts Moxie's mystery-solving services, Moxie has no choice but the do the unthinkable: she has to go undercover as a Wonder Scout, possibly the most insipid group of girls she could ever think of. Everything about the Wonder Scouts is awful! Even .... well, even the girl who seems pretty nice, who wants to help Moxie earn the badges she'll need to be a full-fledged Scout. But also, why is one scout trying to sabotage another? It's a darned good thing Moxie McCoy (and Milton!) are on the case!
My 9yo and I both really enjoyed this installment--funny, clever, some insightful personal growth and a stealthy Message about trying new things. (It is NOT an overt message. It may not have been intentional. But Moxie tried something new! That's really all that matters.)
Looking forward to Book 4. Get writing, Matthew! Get drawing, Robbi!...more
Mollie knew she shouldn't say anything positive about her baby brother, lest the Kinde Folk hear and swap him for one of theirs. She knows that the loMollie knew she shouldn't say anything positive about her baby brother, lest the Kinde Folk hear and swap him for one of theirs. She knows that the locket around his neck is meant to protect him. But it won't hurt to wear the pretty necklace herself, just for a few minutes? He's such a good baby!
The changeling child--whom they call Guest, since he's NOT staying--is a hellion. Mollie's dad left and her mom is a mess, trying to care for this hated creature and distraught over her own boy. It's up to Mollie to go to the Kinde Folk and retrieve her real brother, but the queen won't give him up easily.
This is a different kind of story from what Hahn usually writes, and I think the story is stronger for it--the ideas and the writing sound fresher than they have in her other recent books.
I liked this one better than the first, but still didn't thrill me. The 9yo loved it, though.I liked this one better than the first, but still didn't thrill me. The 9yo loved it, though....more
Greg's friend finally gets his own book, in which we see, unambiguously, that Greg is a manipulative bully who does not have Rowley's best interests aGreg's friend finally gets his own book, in which we see, unambiguously, that Greg is a manipulative bully who does not have Rowley's best interests at heart. As if we didn't already know that.
While I'm really glad to see some acknowledgment that Greg is a huge asshole, I'm disappointed that Rowley is so attached to Greg, laughing off how poorly Greg treats him and excusing all the bad behavior. I need kids to recognize "friends" who aren't good friends, and to recognize when they're being treated badly. Anything else and we're setting them up to normalize abusive relationships later on....more
Akissi is a young girl growing up in the Ivory Coast, tagging along after her brother and getting into trouble. Each story is only a few pages long, wAkissi is a young girl growing up in the Ivory Coast, tagging along after her brother and getting into trouble. Each story is only a few pages long, with a punchline at the end. Worth having in public library collections. Might be a little young for my middle school, but I might include it anyway. Some of my 5th graders will appreciate it....more
Listened to this with the 9yo for his school book club. I'm not sure what about it spoke to him, but he loved it, and if in being honest I would have Listened to this with the 9yo for his school book club. I'm not sure what about it spoke to him, but he loved it, and if in being honest I would have loved it as a kid too. Now, with my bitter, jaded adult heart, I find it a little bland and dull in the same way as The Penderwicks....more
Beans is 11 years old. His dad can't find work, his mom is taking in laundry, his town is a craphole, and some dumb girls want to challenge his undefeBeans is 11 years old. His dad can't find work, his mom is taking in laundry, his town is a craphole, and some dumb girls want to challenge his undefeated marble gang. It's the depression, and Beans is trying to figure out how to make some money for his family. But when a job has unforeseen consequences, Beans needs to find a way to help his whole town.
I picked this up because my 9yo is supposed to read it for his school book group, and he was hating it. He read his 50 pages to have an informed opinion on why he disliked it, and he's done. And I kind of agree with him, though I read the whole thing. There's a lot of talk of things with no explanation of what they are--a game of marbles, for starters, but also the Great Depression, the New Deal, President Roosevelt, rheumatic fever. This would probably be a great read if it were in a classroom with some prereading--some background context, some history, etc. Instead, it's a story of a boy who wants to make some money and the weird dude who wants to clean up their town.
It's not a bad story, but definitely a lackluster one....more
Cilla is still struggling a bit with her multi ethic family, but also worrying about changing friendships and being a good bit sister, and other issueCilla is still struggling a bit with her multi ethic family, but also worrying about changing friendships and being a good bit sister, and other issues of third-graders. Relatable and warm....more
The story continues to be at least passably interesting, but the writing is falling apart, and I didn't think the writing was all that great in the fiThe story continues to be at least passably interesting, but the writing is falling apart, and I didn't think the writing was all that great in the first place. But the Boy is loving it (and is over 100 pages into book 3 the next day; I may not need to continue listening to the series after all), and since he's the target age group, I guess it's an okay book....more
Fun enough adventure story in which two children fall into the world of fairy tales. The writing is cliche on places and the story doesn't really brinFun enough adventure story in which two children fall into the world of fairy tales. The writing is cliche on places and the story doesn't really bring anything new to the fairy tale table. But the story is a fun enough way to pass the time, and I might take the second from the library also....more
I love Gregor. This gets a little darker--Ares and his mom are both felled by an Underland plague, and Gregor is prophecied to search for the cure. I rI love Gregor. This gets a little darker--Ares and his mom are both felled by an Underland plague, and Gregor is prophecied to search for the cure. I really, really love how good Gregor is with his little sister--how kind and caring he is, and how will he takes care of her even in the harshest conditions. He's only 11, but he's a great model of positive masculinity....more
Listened to this as a family and we are LOVING this series. (I've read it before, but in my pre-Goodreads days.) High-stakes action adventure, with soListened to this as a family and we are LOVING this series. (I've read it before, but in my pre-Goodreads days.) High-stakes action adventure, with some violence (the series is, at its heart, a war story). Love it, recommend it to everyone....more
Aru is a great character. This time she's traveling with a second Pandava sister and a boy of ... unknown relation (the new sister's bff, along for thAru is a great character. This time she's traveling with a second Pandava sister and a boy of ... unknown relation (the new sister's bff, along for the ride), as they endeavor to reclaim a stolen bow & arrow of love or be kicked out of the Otherworld. Work fast; they have ten days.
Adventure, friendship, mythology, and good humor throughout. The first book is gaining popularity in my middle-school library; I'm sure this second installment will also circulate heavily....more
Greg himself is still kind of a jerk who thinks he's better than his friends, but he's branching out. Meltdown starts with Greg commenting on climate Greg himself is still kind of a jerk who thinks he's better than his friends, but he's branching out. Meltdown starts with Greg commenting on climate change (because they're having an unusually warm winter) and his own fears about the planet's future, which is a nice way to get kids interested in the perils. Then they get slammed by a ton of snow that closes school, and forced outside by his mom, he and Rowley start building forts and readying themselves for snowball war. (My favorite part: where he reads up and studies castle warfare to prepare for the snowball fight. <3 research!)
This addition to the series is about Greg being a kid and engaging in kid behavior--not his self-centered avoidance of everything but the kind of kid activity that he'll remember fondly and not cringe at his memories of his jerky self. And it was funny. ...more
Moxie and Milton are back, this time trying to get to the bottom of a new mystery: who is sending the anonymous notes to students? Who is the SquiggleMoxie and Milton are back, this time trying to get to the bottom of a new mystery: who is sending the anonymous notes to students? Who is the Squiggler? But Moxie and Milton have some other things going on--specifically, their partnership isn't working. At all. And then Moxie's best friend sides with Milton, of all people. This installment has more Feels than the previous, and while I'm not usually one for having my heartstrings tugged, I still loved this. Being a kid is HARD. Being a friend, a sister, a partner, a classmate? These things are really hard to navigate, and Swanson & Behr do such a great job capturing Moxie's struggles. It's great. So great....more
Hahn's titles are just so on-the-nose. This is better than some of her other recent offerings--a creepy old house, a new kid, making a friend in the aHahn's titles are just so on-the-nose. This is better than some of her other recent offerings--a creepy old house, a new kid, making a friend in the area who happens to know all about the ghost... And then meeting the first and solving her Issue. Check, check, check. And still I read anything this woman wires, knowing I'd have loved it as a kid but it just doesn't deliver now....more
Geoffrey is sent off to his grandmother's while his mom has a baby. On his first day, a bird poops on his head. Luckily the gardener is nearby to explGeoffrey is sent off to his grandmother's while his mom has a baby. On his first day, a bird poops on his head. Luckily the gardener is nearby to explain how lucky it is--and this sets Geoffrey on a quest to collect the poop of every animal and display it in a museum. As long as you don't take yourself too seriously, this book will appeal to anyone's interested 8-year-old boy. It's the tongue-in-cheek "seriousness" one expects of Terry Pratchett, and while I don't think this is anywhere near his best work, it might prove an easy gateway for younger readers...more
A quiet boy from a big, loud family. A smart, clever, budding naturalist girl who is deaf. A girl who believes she's psychic. And a bully who is belieA quiet boy from a big, loud family. A smart, clever, budding naturalist girl who is deaf. A girl who believes she's psychic. And a bully who is believable and (kinda) sympathetic instead of a cartoon. None of them really KNOWS the others, deeply. Some of them are lonely. Some of them believe they aren't. They all need each other in a very human way. Perfectly understandable how this will the Newbery. I'll be adding it to my middle school collection....more