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Showing posts with label Middle Grade Novels. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Middle Grade Novels. Show all posts
Friday, March 12, 2021
Middle Grade #OwnVoices Novel Eye-Opening and Empowering
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Despite the endless hours she works, Mamá always comes home in the evenings to say goodnight to her girls. When she fails to appear one night, Minnie hopes Mamá has just been unable to get away. With no word from her, however, Minnie begins to fear the worst: she's been detained by ICE. Knowing she can't confide in anyone—not even a surprising new school friend—she carries on as best she knows how, trying to keep her sisters calm, fed, and entertained. Nothing seems to go her away, although somehow, the girls seem to be getting a bit of help from the Peques, the Argentine fairies Minnie's younger sisters still believe in.
Even the Peques can't help with Minnie's upcoming audition for Peter Pan. Minnie knows a penniless Latinx girl has no real hope of playing Wendy, but she's desperate to try for the part. Mamá knows how important the audition is to Minnie and promised to be there. Is she really going to miss it? If she could be there, Minnie knows she would be. What has happened to Mamá? She can't conceal her family's situation for much longer, but her mother has always insisted strangers can't be trusted. What is Minnie to do?
Let's be honest here, the cover of On These Magic Shores by Argentine-American Yamile Saied Méndez is...not great. Thank goodness it came to my attention because of The Whitney Awards. Had I seen the book in a library or bookstore, I never would have picked it up. And that would have been a shame because there's a lot to like about this #OwnVoices middle grade novel. It touches on a lot of tough issues—racism, poverty, fear of deportation, children with too much responsibility, etc.—in a way that is eye-opening but also approachable. As Minnie struggles, she learns the value of friendship, forgiveness, asking for help when you need it, and being grateful for what you have even if it's not a lot. Some of the lessons are more subtle than others, but they're all there. Although the plot of On These Magic Shores isn't always logical, the transitions between scenes not always smooth, and the prose a little rough in places, overall the story is engaging and compelling with enough going on to keep me turning pages. The magical realism isn't my favorite element of this novel, but it worked well enough. Character-wise, Minnie and her sisters are sympathetic heroines. Minnie's prickly personality makes her difficult to like, especially when she acts like a victim-y brat. She does grow and change because of her struggles, but she's still a bit hard to take. Others act inconsistently (Maverick, for instance), but they're still a likable lot overall. There are enough issues with On These Magic Shores that I didn't end up loving it. However, it is an eye-opening, empowering, empathy-inducing story. I liked it overall.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of Land of the Cranes by Aida Salazar and Efrén Divided by Ernesto Cisneros)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for scary situations (absent parent, racism, fear of deportation/police, etc.)
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of On These Magic Shores from the generous folks at Lee & Low Books as part of an awards competition I am helping to judge. Thank you!
Friday, November 27, 2020
Chernobyl Middle-Grade Novel Engrossing and Enlightening
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Neither Valentina Kaplan nor Oksana Savchenko think much about what it means to live next to a nuclear power plant or the fact that their fathers perform dangerous jobs inside. The Ukrainian government has assured its citizens that Chernobyl is infallible, Pripyat a perfectly safe place to live. No one would dare question anything the authorities say. So Valentina and Oksana, along with their families, neighbors, and friends give their safety little thought, going about their daily lives as they always have. Until April 26, 1986. When a reactor inside the plant explodes, killing both the girls' fathers, and releasing massive clouds of radiation into the air, their lives change forever.
As a Jew, 11-year-old Valentina has long been bullied by Oksana. So, she's not happy when her mother takes charge of her nemesis in the chaos after the explosion. She's even less thrilled when both girls are pushed onto a train in a desperate attempt to get them out of Ukraine and into Leningrad, where they will wait out the disaster with Valentina's estranged grandmother. Thrust into a strange new world, the girls are forced to rely on each other as they work through their shock and grief to face an unknown future. As they spend more time together, they come to see each other in a new light, even becoming friends. When disturbing secrets are revealed, it becomes clear that Oksana's fate lies in Valentina's hands. How far will one girl go to save another? Is Valentina willing to risk her own life for someone who spent years bullying her? How strong is the girls' tenuous friendship really, when push comes to shove?
I know little about the Chernobyl explosion, so I was excited when I discovered The Blackbird Girls, Anne Blankman's newest historical novel. The story, written for a middle-grade audience, paints a grim but interesting picture of life in communist Ukraine and Russia. It features two sympathetic, admirable heroines, both of whom grow as characters throughout the novel. Their story is full of tension and suspense, which makes the tale a compelling one. While The Blackbird Girls deals with some difficult, disturbing subjects, overall it's a hopeful book that teaches important lessons about the danger of stereotyping, the value of independent thinking, the joy of finding good even in troubled times, and the saving power of friendship and found family. Set in an intriguing period of history, The Blackbird Girls is a moving novel that is both educational and engrossing. I enjoyed it.
(Readalikes: Hm, I can't think of anything. You?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence, scenes of peril, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Sunday, December 29, 2019
Exciting Dogsled Race Novel Perfect for MG Readers Who Dig Outdoor Adventures
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
McKenna Barney loves mushing. Always has. Under normal circumstances, she—and her eight sled dogs—would be chomping at the bit to enter an upcoming, 200-mile dogsled race commemorating the brave work of early Canadian mail carriers. But these aren't normal times. The 14-year-old is showing signs of Stargardt disease, the same degenerative vision condition that has been stealing her younger sister's sight. McKenna doesn't want to admit her symptoms to her parents. That would only cause more tension, more fighting, and more stress over money. They're dealing with enough of that with one affected child. How much worse would it be with two?
When 8-year-old Emma realizes what McKenna's hiding, she makes her sister a deal. McKenna will run the race, carrying a letter from Emma to Foundation Fighting Blindness, asking the organization to help spread awareness about Stargardt disease. If she wins, Emma will say nothing to their parents about McKenna's condition. If she loses, Emma spills the beans. McKenna's not ready for that, so she must win. Even if it means navigating rough terrain, ice storms, animal attacks, and dogsled maintenance with low vision that's getting worse by the day. And it will. Can McKenna finish the race, let alone win?
Terry Lynn Johnson is an outdoor enthusiast with extensive dogsledding experience. It shows in her newest MG novel, Dog Driven, which rings with authority. The story includes lots of interesting information about mushing that's shared in a way that doesn't talk down to the reader or slow the plot's forward action. It also stars a strong, but vulnerable heroine who has to learn to have confidence in her abilities, accept her limitations, and ask for help when needed. Although the story stars several likable characters, the focus is really on the action-packed plot. There are plenty of exciting twists and turns in McKenna's path (literally and figuratively) to keep the tale exciting. Hand this one to kids who love the outdoors and are always up for a thrilling adventure.
(Readalikes: This is the first book I've read by Johnson, but I know she's written others about dogsledding and other outdoor adventures. Dog Driven also reminds me a bit of Hatchet by Gary Paulsen and The Wild Lands by Paul Greci)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for scenes of peril
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of Dog Driven on Amazon with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Saturday, December 21, 2019
MG End-of-the-World-Maybe Novel Is a Fun, Upbeat Read
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Elle Dross has been practicing for the Apocalypse for years thanks to her prepper grandfather. She doesn't really believe in its inevitably, though, until she learns that a discredited Harvard professor is predicting that an asteroid will hit Earth in April. It's possible the guy isn't totally legit, but what if he's right? What if Grandpa Joe is right? As scary as the end of the world could be, Elle knows her family would survive just fine. So would her BFF Mack. He might be blind, but he's run enough drills with her grandpa to know what to do. Bonus: Elle won't lose him to the blind school he plans to transfer to next year. As for the rest of their middle school, their classmates, and all their drama? The asteroid can blow it all to smithereens for all Elle cares.
Except. Maybe it's her duty, as one of the few who believe in the prediction, to warn the people around her. Before she knows it, she's running a secret doomsday club and printing an underground newsletter. Elle and her friends are prepared for anything—or are they? As life changes around them, they all have to figure out how to deal with impending life shake-ups. And some of those can be even more frightening than an asteroid hurtling towards Earth ...
Despite its rather dark premise, The World Ends in April by Stacy McAnulty is an upbeat, funny story that's mostly about friendship. The characters are likable and relatable; it's easy to care about their problems and their fates. Middle schoolers will relate to the theme of change, both in its inevitability and in its sometimes frightening nature. Even though I'm not the book's target audience, I still really enjoyed this sweet, fun novel. I especially appreciated the endnotes McAnulty includes, which give real, practical advice on emergency preparation as well as warning kids about how to find reliable information sources.
(Readalikes: Um, nothing is coming to mind. You?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for scary situations/ideas
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Tuesday, April 16, 2019
Hopeful MG Novel Provides Boost for Kids With Messy Life Situations
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Everything in Kate Mitchell's life falls apart when her dad, who's suffering from severe depression, moves out. The 11-year-old hasn't heard from him in months. Before he took off, the family loved to make music together—Kate would sing while she and her father both played the guitar and her mother tickled the ivories. Now, the music is gone. Although Kate has tried to sing and strum, she just can't. Not anymore. 
At least Kate has her BFF to help her through. Now that Sofia is hanging out with another girl, though, Kate feels more alone than ever before. Add to that the fact that her paternal grandma, whose dementia is getting worse every day, has moved in with Kate and her mom, and her life feels like it's spiraling way, way out of control. When her grandma tries to help by spilling the secret of everyday magic, Kate is skeptical. As she puts the principles into practice, however, amazing things do start to happen. Can Kate hocus pocus her life back together? Can she bring her dad and Sofia back? Anything is possible with a sprinkle of everyday magic, right?
The Three Rules of Everyday Magic, a debut novel by Amanda Rawson Hill, is a sweet, hopeful story about forgiveness, kindness, and finding one's inner strength. The tale doesn't come to a neat, tidy end (spoiler alert!), which helps the book stay authentic. Still, it's an empowering novel that will give children with difficult challenges and messy life situations a bit of a lift. While its plot seems a little meandering and unfocused, overall I enjoyed The Three Rules of Everyday Magic.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of lots of novels, but no specific titles are coming to mind. Help!)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for difficult subject matter (parental abandonment, depression, etc.)
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-copy of The Three Rules of Everyday Magic from the generous folks at Boyds Mills Press via those on The Whitney Awards Committee to facilitate contest judging. Thank you!
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Original Alternate World Makes Inventive Middle Grade Novel Exciting, Absorbing
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
When 13-year-old Jax Aubrey awakes to an empty world, he assumes he's the sole survivor of some crazy apocalyptic event. Except nothing seems damaged or different—all the people have just up and disappeared. If it's a nightmare, it's the most realistic one he's ever had. When Jax notices his 18-year-old guardian, Riley Pendare, moving around as well, he learns the truth: he's a Transitioner. People like him and Riley are among the few who are able to slip beyond the week's ordinary seven days into a special eighth day.
There's little to occupy Jax's time on the eighth day—until he discovers a mysterious girl hiding in the house next door. Unlike Jax, Evangeline Emrys exists only on this extra day. Curiosity piqued, Jax determines to find out everything he can about her. Riley warns Jax to stay away from Evangeline, but Jax can't understand the harm. As he gets to know her better, though, he realizes who the girl really is and why Riley's so determined to keep her existence a secret. By nosing around, Jax has added fuel to an ancient feud—now it's up to the two boys to protect Evangeline from an enemy as old as time.
I love books that fire up my imagination by offering me unique, alternate worlds. The Eighth Day, the first book in Dianne K. Salerni's inventive new middle grade series, does just that. Although the plot's a little skimpy, its focus being more on world-building, the story is still exciting and absorbing. It's a fun, original read. I'm counting down the days until January 27, 2014 when the sequel finally comes out!
(Readalikes: Reminds me of an old, adult book—The Girl, the Gold Watch & Everything by John D. MacDonald)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Another Tender Tale From An Author Who Always Knows Just How to Touch My Heart
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Lucy Emery should be excited about her new home on the shore of a beautiful New Hampshire lake. She's never lived by the water before. It's a lovely spot, but the 12-year-old's nervous about starting over in a new place. She's not looking forward to a long, friendless summer, let alone beginning school without knowing a soul. It doesn't help that her mom's busy working and her dad, a famous nature photographer who promised her lots of father/daughter adventures in New Hampshire, is already off on another out-of-state assignment.
When she discovers that her dad's judging a children's photography contest, Lucy thinks she may have found the perfect way to kill two birds with one stone—not only will the photo scavenger hunt fill up her empty summer days, but maybe, she can use her pictures to convince her dad to pay more attention to his daughter. With the help of her new friend, Nate, Lucy goes in search of photo-worthy vistas. As she shoots the lakeside with its sparkling waters, towering mountains, and endangered loons, she finds not just beauty, but also a terrible truth. Revealing it could destroy the only friendship she's got. Does Lucy dare tell Nate what she knows? How will the knowledge affect his family? And what about the photography contest? If Lucy doesn't win, how will she keep her own relationships intact? As Lucy battles with herself over what to do, she'll discover even more startling truths—about friendship, family and, ultimately, about herself.
Cynthia Lord has a knack for creating tender, uplifting stories about kids grappling with everyday challenges. Her newest, Half a Chance, is no exception. As in her other books, Lord populates this one with likable characters who earn both our sympathy and our admiration. She moves them around in a rich, atmospheric setting while putting them through their paces. It's difficult not to care about the outcome of a tale with such a richness of people and place. I definitely cared. Half a Chance isn't my favorite Lord book (that would be Rules), but it's still a lovely, poignant story by a writer whose books never fail to touch my heart.
(Readalikes: Hm, I can't really think of any. Can you?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of Half a Chance from the generous folks at Scholastic. Thank you!
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