As Jaxson begins a new school year, a new trumpet player, Liv, joins the school band and gives his some welcome competition. Everyone remarks on how sAs Jaxson begins a new school year, a new trumpet player, Liv, joins the school band and gives his some welcome competition. Everyone remarks on how similar they appear, almost like brother and sister, but that can't be...or can it? Both Jaxson and Liv have donor fathers. When they and their single mothers begin to explore their possible relationship through DNA testing and further complications arise, Jaxson and Liv are both forced to confront the definition of family. This book was enjoyable, but I felt that the eighth grade characters had voices that sounded much too adult for their ages....more
Maya has high hopes for her musical theater summer camp, but even though Maya follows all of the rules her mom has given her for her Maya in Public peMaya has high hopes for her musical theater summer camp, but even though Maya follows all of the rules her mom has given her for her Maya in Public performance, no one else seems to be following rules at all. Maya is used to playing a part since her autism diagnosis, but no one else is playing the parts she gives them. Maya's best friend Jules has moved away for the summer and doesn't seem to want to connect with Maya anymore. Irene Brown, the director of the camp program, not only didn't cast Maya as the lead in the musical, she didn't even give her a stage part. Aislinn, Maya's new friend, doesn't want to talk to her, Maya's mom is busy studying and no longer has time for her, and no one likes to be on the receiving end of Maya's advice for improving their theatricality. I enjoyed the high emotion of the story and Maya's attempt to follow the rules such as not 'being too much' and 'fix my face,' and 'listen and not get emotional.' When Maya is finally able to really talk to her mother about how her summer is going, she and Maya talk through how to deal with all of the emotions and problems in a way that helps her understand others better....more
With Teddy's anxiety of starting a new school (among his many anxieties), his strong aversion to milk, and the invasion of evil hamsters at RavensbarrWith Teddy's anxiety of starting a new school (among his many anxieties), his strong aversion to milk, and the invasion of evil hamsters at Ravensbarrow Elementary, it almost seems as though Hallet spent a lot of time hanging out with my family. I loved the story from start to finish and was impressed with the way illustrations were used to carry forward the action and dialogue. I am eager to read the next installment of Teddy's adventures with his new offbeat friends....more
Lucido combines youthful sleuthing with strange ghostly phenomena and friendship problems to deliver an engaging middle school read. Danica and her beLucido combines youthful sleuthing with strange ghostly phenomena and friendship problems to deliver an engaging middle school read. Danica and her best friend Jack have always worked together to solve mysteries in town, but now a new boy, Kennedy has asked for their help in solving a mystery and he also wants to join the Detective Club. Danica fears that he will replace her in her only real friendship, while Jack struggles to find his voice and Kennedy struggles to be his real self. Add in ghostly weirdness, school struggles, and family problems and there is a lot to keep readers interested....more
Frankie is spending summer vacation as her mother's research assistant out in the swamp. She is excited but afraid of everything, maybe because FrankiFrankie is spending summer vacation as her mother's research assistant out in the swamp. She is excited but afraid of everything, maybe because Frankie and her mom are fairies and everything is bigger than they are. One night, Frankie is lured outside by a song she hears out in the bog and she learns about the nature of courage. ...more
Hank Hooperman knows all about mistakes. He ranks his and tries to keep them at a low level, maybe 2/10 so that he and his three-year-old sister Boo cHank Hooperman knows all about mistakes. He ranks his and tries to keep them at a low level, maybe 2/10 so that he and his three-year-old sister Boo can fly under the adult radar. Being 11 years old, though, means that when his mom is gone for over a week, he needs help. The super is going to evict them, they are out of money for food, and he can't go to school and take care of his sister at the same time. How Hank works through his problems along with the good decisions he makes and how he faces his worries make for riveting reading. I rooted for Hank to come out on top when he made the 10/10 mistake. Would the adults in Hank's life offer a chance for him to redeem himself?...more
When Molly Teng's mother, Dot, moves them yet again, and this time from Maine to Texas, Molly is more upset than usual. Even though she was the only sWhen Molly Teng's mother, Dot, moves them yet again, and this time from Maine to Texas, Molly is more upset than usual. Even though she was the only student in her school in Maine who had Asian heritage, she still felt more at home than in Texas. Besides, Mom moved them there for Mom's need to reconnect with her older sister Bobbie, not for Molly's needs. Not only that, but living in an old house like this one in Buckeye Creek was bound to trip her up given her propensity for being zapped by old things and having unwanted memories take over. Then there is the presence that Molly senses, which turns into a full-on ghost sighting. A young girl, Jade, just like Molly has been trapped in the attic for more than 100 years. When Jade begs Molly to help her uncover her history, to see her and give her a place, how can Molly say no? Filled with interesting connections to the Chinese Hungry Ghost festival and to the missing history of generations of Asians, particularly Chinese Asians who went unrecorded and dishonored through much of the history of the United States, this book is an engrossing read, with just enough spookiness to keep a fraidy cat like me reading. I had a hard time putting the book down....more
Dessie Mei Breedlove's life is changing too fast, spinning out of control. Because of her grandmother's incipient dementia, Dessie Mei's parents have Dessie Mei Breedlove's life is changing too fast, spinning out of control. Because of her grandmother's incipient dementia, Dessie Mei's parents have uprooted her from her forever home and dropped her down in a new place. Worse, her older twin brothers get to stay behind to finish high school and she was not allowed to stay with her best friend Sophie. Even worse than that, everyone at her new school calls her Donna. She doesn't understand until she meets Donna in person, and sees that Donna could be her twin. Is that even possible? The orphanage in Hunan didn't give any information about Dessie Mei being a twin! Justina Chen deals compassionately and forthrightly with the complexities and feelings of all parties to transracial, transnational adoption as well as the challenges of confronting racism in the United States and making and keeping friends in middle school. ...more
The Lorax meets "Toads and Diamonds" and Click, Clack, Moo in this engaging story about two sisters, the spirit of the forest and a group of spiders. The Lorax meets "Toads and Diamonds" and Click, Clack, Moo in this engaging story about two sisters, the spirit of the forest and a group of spiders. I loved the simplicity of the story that nevertheless handles important issues with deftness. Wonderful, colorful illustrations add to the appeal of this story. I predict this story will rank among children's classics in short order....more
Millie, Nora, and Bea, once best friends, were now living in different places and attending different schools. They hadn't spoken since fifth grade anMillie, Nora, and Bea, once best friends, were now living in different places and attending different schools. They hadn't spoken since fifth grade and the pandemic and their friendship had fallen apart over a birthday party and making paper fortune tellers. Now, at the beginning of seventh grade, the mysterious appearance of more paper fortune tellers that they never wrote, but which are written in their handwriting, has provided the impetus for conversation. Although reconnecting doesn't solve all of their problems, the three are finally able to work through old grievances and to move forward into the futures that none of them had previously been able to embrace....more
Effie is afraid. She is repeating fifth grade because of her difficulties with math and English, but her problems run far deeper. She has moved with hEffie is afraid. She is repeating fifth grade because of her difficulties with math and English, but her problems run far deeper. She has moved with her older sister Deja to live with her father. Her father drinks too much and neglects the trailer and his kids. Still, this might be better than the terrible secret Effie tried to leave behind when she moved away from her mother and stepfather Nick. And, oh yes, no one in her family communicates with her because Effie is Deaf and none of her family has tried to learn American Sign Language. Effie's new neighborhood has many new houses that are squeezing out the deer population through habitat loss. Effie understands on a deep level how moving out into the open, as the deer must, can prove dangerous. The hope Effie has is that her school ASL interpreter can help change her life. This story shines a light in a sympathetic way on a person's desire to communicate in a world that often dismisses or ignores her efforts....more
Middle school is hard enough to navigate, but Eowulf has a family secret that she keeps even from her best friends in middle school with whom she playMiddle school is hard enough to navigate, but Eowulf has a family secret that she keeps even from her best friends in middle school with whom she plays Dungeons and Dragons. She is a descendent, many times removed, of Beowulf, and she trains with her father to fight monsters. When Eowulf decides to befriend the friendless Amodeus, the dynamic between her and her friends changes, though, and Eowulf discovers that her family and others in town had even more secrets than she could have imagined. In the end, a cohort of friends proves necessary to correct misguided thinking and change certain doom by reimagining how a story could end. I loved the story with its many voices and twists. The author knew how to nuance the story, with both compression of history and expansion of action and the art both supported the story and stood to tell the story in some places. I can't wait to read the next installment of Eowulf's adventures....more
The story of the creation and history of Cleopatra's Needle, the obelisk that eventually was brought to New York City's Central Park, is told through The story of the creation and history of Cleopatra's Needle, the obelisk that eventually was brought to New York City's Central Park, is told through many imagined voices from a slave boy involved in its making to another boy involved in the hieroglyphs that tell a story, to an Egyptian girl who tries to prevent its gifting to the US, to an American girl who follows the progress of its installation in New York City. The author chose to use imagined children to tell the story, which has its intriguing aspects since he was able to inject imagined emotions and thoughts into the story. Also the author explains which parts of the history are true and which are imagined at the end, so I hope readers venture that far....more
Kota is a high-ranked gymnast with a small group of friends. One day, Riley, a new gymnast arrives to join Station Six Gymnastics. Riley moved from LoKota is a high-ranked gymnast with a small group of friends. One day, Riley, a new gymnast arrives to join Station Six Gymnastics. Riley moved from Los Angeles and struggles to fit in because none of her new teammates know American Sign Language. Kota, though reaches out and begins to learn ASL. As the two become friends, they learn about each other fears and support each other's successes. The storyline seemed like nothing out of the ordinary. I also did not find that the coloring of the artwork helped me follow the storyline although the art was technically good....more
Reese's family has struggled for a long time with his father's addiction to prescription painkillers after his work-related accident. Reese's dad has Reese's family has struggled for a long time with his father's addiction to prescription painkillers after his work-related accident. Reese's dad has tried many times to pull himself out of addiction, but he keeps falling back into old habits. Now matters have come to a head, and Reese's mother has moved her and Reese out of the apartment until Reese's father decides to accept professional help. Reese is confused and resentful and, above all, afraid that without his family around him, his dad will overdose and die. How Reese and his family navigate this often heartbreaking path toward recovery makes for engrossing reading. ...more
Ella hates being the center of attention; after a birthday party incident where she suffered anaphalactic shock from ingredients that weren't supposedElla hates being the center of attention; after a birthday party incident where she suffered anaphalactic shock from ingredients that weren't supposed to be on the cake, she has felt uncomfortable around her peers. Her mom chose to homeschool her to avoid any other incidents from her many food allergies, any of which have the potential to kill her. Now she is back in public school and has to figure out how to present in front of the class, her feelings about boys and one boy in particular, and her mom's new friend who may or may not be a romantic interest. Added to that, Ella really wants a dog and more than anything wants to pass her milk allergy test. Add on to that her best friend's troubles and her mom's hawk-like monitoring of her food intake, and Ella's life becomes way over-complicated. At times, I lost patience with Ella and her fears, but how Ella chooses to meet each challenge is woven together with her love of poetry and reminds us all that other people's challenges deserve consideration and celebration on the path to overcoming them....more
Brian Reyes was always the kid that got picked on and Avery was his friend who always stood up for him. Then, Brian began to grow a bump on his head tBrian Reyes was always the kid that got picked on and Avery was his friend who always stood up for him. Then, Brian began to grow a bump on his head that turned into a unicorn horn and Avery began helping Brian reach his full super magical potential...until, that is Avery was kidnapped by the forces of darkness and it was Brian's turn to rescue Avery. When Unicorn Boy arrives in the Underworld with his magic muffin friend and a black cat, he finds Avery hard at work rescuing themself, plus others. The two make an unbeatable team and escape to fight evil another day. This book is completely offbeat in its humor and use of magical and mythological history. It offers laughter with a side dose of encouragement to make the world a better place....more
When Invisible Man's invisible dog goes missing, Nancy Spector is on the case. With eye-popping graphics and a case with many twists that leads Nancy,When Invisible Man's invisible dog goes missing, Nancy Spector is on the case. With eye-popping graphics and a case with many twists that leads Nancy, her talking dog Jinx, and Invisible Man all over the island, this story is sure to entertain. Try to keep up!...more