8/2/23 Enemies become friends in this story about Valentina and Oksana who survive the Chernobyl disaster in 1986 when they are sent to live with Vale8/2/23 Enemies become friends in this story about Valentina and Oksana who survive the Chernobyl disaster in 1986 when they are sent to live with Valentina's grandma. (view spoiler)[Oksana's being sent away also means being away from verbal and physical abuse for the first time in her life. Abuse that she didn't even realize was happening until she saw how others lived. Give this to those who liked Fighting Words or Starfish and are looking for similar books. (hide spoiler)] 5/27/23 This is the kind of book I would have loved as a tween. It was so good I had to recommend and give it to someone else to read the day after I finished it. Valentina and Oksana are frenemies whose mothers send them away from their home in Pripyat after the Chernobyl explosion in 1986 in this story about the healing strength and bonds of friendship. Fans of The War That Saved My Life will love this. Or anyone who likes books about life behind the Iron Curtain like A Night Divided or Cloud and Wallfish....more
A story about trades and bartering. How will Samuel and Papa trade aBalow knife for a cow for Mama? It reminded me of a shorter and simpler version ofA story about trades and bartering. How will Samuel and Papa trade aBalow knife for a cow for Mama? It reminded me of a shorter and simpler version of Kekla Magoon's The Season of Styx Malone. If younger readers like this, they may want to give Kekla's a try. In addition, fans of Patricia MacLachlan's Sarah, Plain and Tall will like this story that seems to be set in a bygone era....more
Sports story from the late 1940s. Set in Eastern Wisconsin. Young baseball fans and cheeseheads* will enjoy this story about Nick who must figure out Sports story from the late 1940s. Set in Eastern Wisconsin. Young baseball fans and cheeseheads* will enjoy this story about Nick who must figure out a way to win a local contest to be a batboy for a day without his parents knowing. *those from Wisconsin, especially Green Bay Packers fans...more
6/25/23 3.5 stars. This is a reread. (view spoiler)[It is still a sad story. (hide spoiler)] Z.J's dad isn't the same; he has headaches and forgets th6/25/23 3.5 stars. This is a reread. (view spoiler)[It is still a sad story. (hide spoiler)] Z.J's dad isn't the same; he has headaches and forgets things. What can Z.J. and his Mom do to help him? Give this one to fans of realistic fiction (view spoiler)[who aren't always looking for a happy ending (hide spoiler)]. 3/21/21 Tweens who like football, realistic fiction or novels in verse will want to give this story about ZJ whose father's career in the NFL is cut short due to continual hits to the head a try. What is really wrong with ZJ's father? Will he ever get better or be able to play football again?...more
It's a dog story. (view spoiler)[Even though the dog doesn't die (hide spoiler)], there are parts of this story that are sad. Lydia is grieving; her mIt's a dog story. (view spoiler)[Even though the dog doesn't die (hide spoiler)], there are parts of this story that are sad. Lydia is grieving; her mother has just passed away at the start of the story. She quickly finds herself moving from her Rochester, New York home to a small town in rural Connecticut to live with her two aunts. Shortly after the family adopts the baddest dog ever. This is a story about adapting to change, making new friends, and discovering your 'people'. Give this one to the fans of emotional dog stories like Joan Bauer's Almost Home or Patricia McLachlan's Waiting for the Magic....more
This was a student recommendation that was a lot of fun. There's teen angst, first romanceI, good friends, and autumn traditions in this novel length This was a student recommendation that was a lot of fun. There's teen angst, first romanceI, good friends, and autumn traditions in this novel length story about Faith Herbert, a high school senior who recently learned that she can fly and has superpowers. Whoever said that overweight girls couldn't be the heroine in the story? Inspired or based by the Faith comic book series, it seems obvious that author Julie Murphy is a fan. If you like fan fiction or are looking for a story that promotes positive body image, this is the book for you....more
Young environmentalists will like this one. This could be a good One School One Book read, especially for for schools that celebrate Earth Day.Young environmentalists will like this one. This could be a good One School One Book read, especially for for schools that celebrate Earth Day....more
7/30/22 This is such a fun story about a determined and strong-willed tween. Iris is deaf and into electronics and whales. When a scientist, Andi resp7/30/22 This is such a fun story about a determined and strong-willed tween. Iris is deaf and into electronics and whales. When a scientist, Andi responds to her comment on a blog about a whale, Blue 55 who travels alone, Iris and her grandma set out to meet the whale (view spoiler)[by going on a cruise without her parents' permission (hide spoiler)]. 2/14/21 3.75 to 4 stars, a whale story for kids who like uplifting stories. From 2019, this one was definitely Newbery worthy. It did win the 2020 Schneider Family Book Award for Middle Grades. If you found The Thing about Jellyfish or The Line Tender too heavy, give this story about a young girl searching for a whale a try....more
It's 1955. In their early twenties, Zooey and Franny are the youngest of the seven Glass children whose claim to fame is that they were all part of raIt's 1955. In their early twenties, Zooey and Franny are the youngest of the seven Glass children whose claim to fame is that they were all part of radio program "It's a Wise Child" during some point in their childhood. In these two novellas, Franny is in a crisis of sorts as she searches for meaning in her life (view spoiler)[much to the frustration of her boyfriend in the first novella and her family members in the second (hide spoiler)]. Various family members make appearances throughout the story including their Mom, Bessie as they try to help Franny. Even though, the two stories go together; I enjoyed the first novella Franny more as I would have enjoyed learning more about the older siblings in the Glass family. As the only other book, I have read by J.D. Salinger is Catcher in the Rye, I am curious if there are any other books about the siblings....more
This story of Caroline who returns to her small coastal town in Washington state with two young children in tow read a lot like a Hallmark movie. *CloThis story of Caroline who returns to her small coastal town in Washington state with two young children in tow read a lot like a Hallmark movie. *Close-knit family *Big city vs small town living *A love interest for the protagonist who happens to be handsome and hardworking *Adorable and sharp as tacks kids *Family, friends, or community members who are supportive of the protagonist Fans of chick lit, light romance and Hallmark movies will want to read this one....more
Fans of Reneée Watson's Piecing Me Together will like this book about a slightly younger teen finding her voice. Definitely Newbery worthy; it a was aFans of Reneée Watson's Piecing Me Together will like this book about a slightly younger teen finding her voice. Definitely Newbery worthy; it a was a 2020 Newbery Honor....more
8/6/22 Murder mystery in a small southern town. What really happened to the person (view spoiler)[ Tabby Goodman, Gramps's wife and Coop's grandma (hi8/6/22 Murder mystery in a small southern town. What really happened to the person (view spoiler)[ Tabby Goodman, Gramps's wife and Coop's grandma (hide spoiler)] whose skeleton is found buried at the local playground? 12/30/20 A human skeleton is found at the local playground! Who could it possibly be? That's the first mystery in this story about Coop, his good friends & twins Justice and Liberty and the other townsfolk of Windy Bottom, a small town in Georgia. Finding the answer to the first and subsequent mysteries only leads our protagonists to more questions (view spoiler)[(and even more of a mystery about who did it and motives) (hide spoiler)] than answers. Will anyone in the town (Coop & his friends, local law enforcement, etc.) be able to find the answers? Give this to anyone who likes a good mystery story. Here's hoping Taryn Souders writes another....more
Set on Madeline Island (part of the Apostle Islands on the south shore of Lake Superior), during the summer between 6th and 7th grade. Billie hasn't rSet on Madeline Island (part of the Apostle Islands on the south shore of Lake Superior), during the summer between 6th and 7th grade. Billie hasn't really spoken to her friend Sam in almost a year since he ruined her pumpkin boat in an annual race. Was it on purpose? Or did Billie misinterpret what happened? In addition, there's a new baby at hime and the grandpa (her Dad's dad) shows up unexpectedly. Billie is neither the most likable nor reliable narrator. She is human; she lies and is quick to anger. Regional readers who know Wisconsin's Madeline Island or are familiar with Ojibwe culture will enjoy this best....more
Road trip story for fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid style humor. Pair this with The Long Haul.Road trip story for fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid style humor. Pair this with The Long Haul....more
3.75 stars, when is a friend more than a friend? Told from a boy's point of view, middle schoolers Oliver and Ella explore the fine line between the t3.75 stars, when is a friend more than a friend? Told from a boy's point of view, middle schoolers Oliver and Ella explore the fine line between the two when they are paired together for a class project on the Civil War. Those with an interest in the Civil War, middle school stories about friendship and being seen, or fans of John David Anderson's Posted or Ms. Bixby's Last Day will want to give this one a try....more
Mothers & daughters and SECRETS; everyone in this story set in the late 1990s community of Shaker Heights, Ohio (which is a real town and the town thaMothers & daughters and SECRETS; everyone in this story set in the late 1990s community of Shaker Heights, Ohio (which is a real town and the town that the author grew up in) seems to have a secret. The town will never be the same as the Richardson family gets to know Mia and Pearl Warren. Fans of Jodi Picoult and other realistic suspense titles or stories with twists throughout will love this....more
Return to the world of Aurora County with the Cake family. The Cakes are a family of iterant bakers, there's father Leo, mother Arloin, daughter Emma,Return to the world of Aurora County with the Cake family. The Cakes are a family of iterant bakers, there's father Leo, mother Arloin, daughter Emma, and brothers Ben, Jody, Van, Roger and Gordon. Emma and Ben are ready to settle in one location, could Halleluia, Mississippi in Aurora County be the place? (view spoiler)[It's up to their father, what could lead him to stay? (hide spoiler)]...more
Sometimes the ending is the best part of the book; this is one of those stories. Becket Branch, her twin brother Nicholas, their older sister CarolineSometimes the ending is the best part of the book; this is one of those stories. Becket Branch, her twin brother Nicholas, their older sister Caroline, their parents who are urban vets and Mr. Fancypants, their very old dog move from the city to the country to help Gran run her farm and store. Becket is excited about country living and makes a list of all the new things she does - wanting a dog of her own, doing chores, driving a tractor and more. What I though would be a story of city kids adjusting to a new life turned out to be a delightful story about 3 kids who had more country in themselves than they anticipated. Give this one to kids who are looking for a story about farms or rural life. This would also be a good summertime story....more
This one had been on my radar for quite awhile; it was first published in 2018. I am not sure why I waited so long to read it. Set in late 1940s ChicaThis one had been on my radar for quite awhile; it was first published in 2018. I am not sure why I waited so long to read it. Set in late 1940s Chicago and at only 112 pages; the story of how young Langston (view spoiler)[who after his Mama passes away migrates from Alabama with his father to the North (hide spoiler)] learns about his namesake will be accessible to many young readers....more