The Book of Lies

Quinn is at her mother's funeral, but no one knows her.  She's covered her distinctive red hair so she won't stand out.  She's not even sure why she's there.  It's not as if Isobel was ever much of a mother to her.  Quinn has spent her life in the country with a strict grandmother and occasional visits from a disapproving mother.  But then from the back of the room, she sees her--another girl with the same fiery red hair.  Does Quinn have a sister?

Piper is at the center of love and support from her family and friends at her mother's funeral.  She and her father will have to support each other now, and, of course, she has Zak, her beautiful and adoring boyfriend, but Piper wants more.  Then she sees her--the girl in the red coat at the back of the room.  Her hair is covered by a scarf, and Piper only glimpses her face, but that's all it takes.  Piper would know that face anywhere.  It's identical to her own.  Her twin has made an appearance at the funeral.

Twins.  Separated at birth because of some vision from their grandmother that one would destroy the other...something about being half dark.  Now they are together, and the truth is going to come out.

I was excited to read this book first because the cover is awesome and next because I saw it was written by Teri Terry, author of Slated.  It started out great and then started to lag.  It was never enough that stopped reading, but it did take me a couple of weeks to get through this one.  I think part of the problem is the alternating narrative.  Piper and Quinn have different parts of the backstory to contribute, but otherwise their voices are very similar.  I think Terry was afraid of giving away too much too soon, but she ended up with two characters without much personality.

In the Shadow of the Sun

Mia is a bit puzzled by her dad's decision to bring her and her older brother Simon on a trip to North Korea.  It has one of the most repressive governments in the world, and people can be imprisoned for the slightest mistake.  But here they are.  Mia, who was adopted from South Korea as a child is making the best of things.  She can read signs and communicate a little thanks to Korean Saturday school, but Simon is angry and closed off about the whole trip.

Her father has traveled to North Korea before helping to get food to the starving population, but he's never been there as a tourist.  After Mia finds forbidden photos of conditions in the labor camps, her father is arrested for spying.  She and Simon decide the best way to save their father is to get the photos out of the country so the damaging evidence can't be connected to him.

Now the two Americans are headed out across North Korea on foot in an attempt to cross the border into China.  They will face hunger, the wilderness, North Korean soldiers, and their own strained relationship as they try to escape.

I particularly enjoyed the short profiles of North Korean characters sprinkled throughout the book to give the reader a sense of what life is like in the DPRK and the varying political ideologies of its people.

This new book by Anne Sibley O'Brien is inspired by her own experience growing up in South Korea and the feeling of always being a stranger in her home.  This theme of otherness in transracial adoptions is deftly woven into this action-packed adventure.  This will appeal to kids on many levels especially considering the current political climate.  Recommended.

Posted

It all started with a text.  Kids are always texting at BMS when they think the teacher isn't looking, but one day, things go too far.  A teacher confiscates Ruby Sandels phone and right there on the screen is some pretty terrible stuff about another teacher.  That is the last straw.  Cell phones are banned.

Now kids have to communicate the old-fashioned way, face to face or on paper.  This isn't much of a problem for Frost.  His mom can't afford a cell phone anyway.  Frost and his friends come up with a new way to communicate.  They start using the post-it notes everyone has to buy but never uses to leave notes for each other on their lockers.  The idea catches on like wildfire.  Some of the notes are friendly, some are silly, but some just plain cruel, and there is no way to determine who left the note.

In the middle of this upheaval, Rose arrives as a new student.  She's tall and bigger than most kids in school, and this makes her stand out--and not in a good way.  When one of Wolf's friends strikes up a friendship with Rose, it strains the tight relationship amongst the other four.  They don't need another person and certainly not a new girl with a target on her back. 

As the sticky note war spins out of control, everyone has to choose a side, and Frost knows things will never be the same. 

I really liked this new book by John David Anderson, and the message is one all middle schoolers need to hear.  I'm just not sure Frost's voice is authentically middle school.  He seems much older than 8th grade.  I want to try this one on a few kids to see what they think. 

The Empty Grave

Lockwood and Co are back for one last adventure in the final book of this series.  I have absolutely loved reading this series.  Jonathan Stroud has done an amazing job of writing a series with chills and nuance.  If you haven't read the other books in the series, STOP READING NOW.  Seriously, you will be spoiled to death if you read this review without reading the first four books, so go do that now.  You won't be sorry!

The Empty Grave opens with our intrepid friends breaking into the tomb of Marissa Fittes, herself.  Following up on a revelation from the skull in book four, they have come to find proof one of the most revered women in British history was a liar.  What they find in there sets them off on one last adventure to discover the truth about the problem and its origins.

Of course, it wouldn't be a true Lockwood and Co adventure without plenty of ghost hunting, including an especially creepy one who is haunting a theater and draining the life from her victims.  Plus, our team will meet some of the most infamous spirits in history.

The relationships in this book are so perfect.  Many of the doubts among team members are gone, and they are stronger because of their newfound trust.  Lucy and Holly are friends, Kipps is sardonic as ever, but completely loyal, and George is the best researcher in the city.  Lucy's only real concern is for Lockwood who she fears will do something foolish to protect her and the team.

The ending of this last book is perfect.  It wraps up all the major questions but still leaves the reader to imagine Lockwood and Co off doing what the do best--hunting ghosts!

Solo

Blade is sick of being a rockstar's son.  His dad's lifelong battle with addiction means he's never really there when Blade needs him and always pulling embarrassing stunts when he doesn't.

High school graduation should be a time for celebration, but when Blade's drunk father causes a scene, it just sets off an avalanche of bad that complicates things with his girlfriend and leads to the revelation of a family secret that threatens to shatter him.

He even tries to give up music, the one thing he loved inheriting from his father.

Blade decides to go to Africa to find out some things about himself and to get a fresh perspective.

I really enjoyed Kwame Alexander's new YA book and Blade's voice on his mission of discovery.  I did feel like the end was a bit rushed, but it's definitely worth the read!

Wonder Woman: Warbringer

Diana has always felt like a bit of an outcast among her Amazon sisters.  They have all earned their places on Themyscira through battle, but Diana was born there--created from her mother's desire to have a child.

She is hungry to prove herself, but an impulsive decision to rescue a girl from a shipwreck off the coast will cost her more than she can imagine.  Not only is the presence of a mortal destroying the island, but when she learns the true identity of the girl she saved, Diana wonders if she should have left the girl to die.

Alia is the warbringer--the latest in a long line of women to bear the curse of Helen, destined to bring war and strife into the world.  How the only options be to kill an innocent girl or doom millions to the horrors of war?

Diana believes there is another way, so she leaves her island home with a plan to break the curse for Alia and for future generations of girls.

I was so excited to read this book.  Wonder Woman plus Leigh Bardugo should have been amazing, but it was only okay for me.  It got better toward the end, but there were just a couple of things that should have made her suspicious but didn't because...plot?...I guess.  It was a good fantasy adventure, but I just expected something a little more elevated from this author.

The Playbook

This is a quick read with rules for success on the court and in real life interspersed with a handful of stories about athletes who have overcome challenges.

The advice is all good, and kids will love the graphic layouts, but this isn't really anything new.  Sports as a metaphor for success?  Heard it about a million times, but kids will pick it up because they enjoyed Kwame Alexander's other books and because of the sports angle.

This could be a good one for discussion, especially since there isn't much elaboration in the book, but if it makes a few kids stop and think, I won't complain!

Plus, Kwame is so stinking cute.  I just want to be friends with him in real life.

Overturned

Nikki Tate's father has been on death row for the last five years after being convicted of the murder of one of his best friends.  New evidence has come to light which exonerates him, and now he's coming home.

Nikki and her mom should be happy, and they are, but a lot has changed in five years.  Her mom has never been good at business, so Nikki has been shouldering much of the burden for running the family's failing casino/hotel, Andromeda's Palace.

But she has a plan to get out of Vegas, she's been using the poker skills her dad taught her to run and win illegal games in the basement of the casino.  She's saving for college tuition in Virginia, as far away from Vegas as she can get.

But her father can't seem to settle into life as a free man and is gone from the hotel most nights.  Then his body is found in the alley behind the hotel, killed the same way as the victim in the case that landed him in prison.  Nikki is devastated and becomes obsessed with solving the case.

She won't stop no matter what even when she is warned away.  To make matters worse, she's been dating a boy whose father owns another hotel/casino, and she's beginning to wonder if the rumors about mafia connections are true.  Does Davis's father have something to do with her father's murder?

Lamar Giles's murder mystery set in the Las Vegas underbelly is grittier than I expected.  It's a good mystery but a little unbelievable that Nikki could go into so many dangerous situations and always emerge unscathed.  It reminded me a little of Veronica Mars, but Veronica always knew not to go up against a motorcycle gang without backup.

How to Avoid Extinction

Leo's number one job these days is finding his grandmother.  She likes to wander off which isn't too big of a problem because she generally ends up in one of a few places, including the donut shop where his cousin Abbey works. 

Before his grandfather died, he and Gram planned a road trip to Utah to see the dinosaurs, and now Gram has decided it's time to go.  Abbey readily agrees, but Leo is a harder sell.  The three of them, along with Kermit, Abbey's old but loyal dog, set off in Gram's ancient yellow Buick.  By the way, they neglected to mention this trip to Leo's mom. 

Along the way, they will find dinosaurs, the breathtaking beauty of America, and new friends, but things don't all go according to plan, and Abbey and Leo are left wondering if this trip was a huge mistake. 

Gram just wants to prove she is still in charge of her own life, and Leo clings a little too tightly to the rules.  If they survive this trip, maybe it will be just what everyone needs.

Paul Acampora's newest book is a touching and hilarious road trip across America with quick dialogue and wonderful characters.  Highly recommended!

The Ghost in the H.A.T.B.O.X.

Hatter Madigan has been living at the Millinery Academy since his parents died, but he's finally old enough to be a cadet himself.  After years of sneaking around in hidden corridors, he's hoping he will be a Spade, the spies of the kingdom, and finally get out of his older brother's shadow.

Things seem to be going well at first when Hatter, because of his parents' former positions, is welcomed into a group of the social elite.  When he ends up in permanent detention for something that wasn't even his fault, he begins to question his new friends.  In detention, he spends more time with the social outcasts of the Academy and discovers he actually likes them better.

But the ghostly image of a boy covered in tattoos keeps haunting him, and he isn't sure if the boy is real or if he's going crazy.

When the new class of cadets begins acting strangely robot, Hatter and his friends begin to investigate.  What does the ghost boy have to do with all of this, and how can a group of outcasts save the Kingdom of Hearts?

Frank Beddor's new prequel to his Looking Glass Wars series ends with a bang, but it takes a lot of slogging to get there.  I really struggled to get through this one.  Fans of The Looking Glass Wars and Alice in Wonderland will likely enjoy this, but it read a bit like a slower paced Harry Potter where Harry chose Malfoy instead of Hermione and Ron.

The Girl in Between

She lives with her ma in an old abandoned mill.  She has to be invisible, so the authorities can't get her.  They used to live with her grandmother, and she was much happier then.  She always had food to eat and a safe place to sleep, but now it's just her and ma.  Ma promised to always come back, and the girl promised to never leave. 

Ma promised she wouldn't drink anymore, but sometimes she slips up.

The girl calls the mill a castle because it's so much better than any other place they've lived.  They've been there for a year and eight months, but the nearby construction is creeping closer and closer.

The girl would be happy to stay in the castle forever, but it doesn't seem like that will be possible. 

Sarah Carroll's new book is a heartbreaking look at homelessness and the devastating consequences of mental illness and addiction especially for the children of those who suffer.  The author is successful at portraying events in a way that keeps the story appropriate for middle school readers while more mature readers will grasp the nuances of the situation.  Recommended.

Goldfish Boy

Matthew has OCD.  He stopped going to school weeks ago, and he washes his hands until they are cracked and bleeding.  It's the germs.  They're everywhere carrying the potential for disease and death.

Because he never leaves the house, Matthew watches his neighbors from his window.  He knows their comings and goings better than anyone which makes him the perfect person to solve the crime when a kidnapping happens next door.

Mr. Charles's grandchildren are staying with him while their mother is out of town.  One minute, the little boy, Teddy, is playing outside, and the next he's gone.

Who could've done it?  Could it have been Mr. Charles who isn't too happy to have little kids messing up his life?  What about Old Nina, the recluse who's been acting strange lately?  What about Jake, Matthew's former friend, and current neighborhood bully?  Of course, there is also Teddy's older sister who isn't exactly a sweetheart.  Somebody took Teddy and Matthew is going to figure out who.

Lisa Thompson's debut novel is a solid middle school retelling of Rear Window, one of my favorite movies.  Fans of the movie will see plenty of nods to little plot elements, but a knowledge of the movie isn't necessary to enjoy the story.  This is also a great book to let readers into the mind and world of someone who suffers from OCD.  Highly recommended!

The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora

Arturo Zamora is third generation Cuban American and third generation La Cocina de la Isla.  His grandmother started the restaurant 19 years ago, and it has become a staple of the community.  Abuela is the heart of the family and the restaurant, but everyone is worried about her failing health.

Arturo's mother's closest friend has recently died, and her widow and daughter have come to stay with the Zamoras for the summer.  Arturo hasn't seen Carmen in a couple of years, and now he feels awkward and nervous around her.  But she's practically related, right?  You can't like someone you're related to!

When rich developer Wilfrido Pipo sweeps in to try to change the neighborhood with an exclusive high rise some people are excited about the new opportunities Pipo Place will bring, but others are worried these changes will make the neighborhood into a place they don't recognize.

Carmen and Arturo discover that Pipo wants to knock down La Cocina to make room for his highrise, and they set out to galvanize the Zamora family and the community to fight back.  It's time for Arturo to learn when something is important, you have to risk epic failure.

This lovely story by Pablo Cartaya reminded me at times of Neal Shusterman's Antsy Bonano.  It has the same combination of humor and tenderness.  Cartaya's story is rich in details and community if the villain is completely one dimensional.  Highly recommended.

York: The Shadow Cipher

Tess and Theo Biederman have always appreciated the work of 19th century New York architects, the Morningstars.  They live in a Morningstar building, and their grandfather was president of the society devoted to solving the Morningstar cipher. 

Even after 200 years, the cipher remains unsolved, and Theo, Tess, and their friend and neighbor Jaime are about to lose their homes thanks to a rich investor who wants to tear down their building. 

When a new clue unexpectedly falls into their hands, they begin to wonder if maybe everyone has been working on the wrong cipher all these years.  What if this new clue can help them solve the real mystery, find the treasure, and save their homes?

It won't be easy, and things start to get dangerous as they solve the clues, but they are determined to find the answers.

Laura Ruby's series opener is a fun puzzle mystery with a touch of science fiction sprinkled in.  Ruby's New York has much in common with ours, but there are plenty of details for readers who are paying attention to show that it is most definitely different--female superheroes get as much box office attention as males, the US didn't break its treaties with Native Americans, hybrid pets are everywhere, and everyone uses solar energy.  It is a large book, and readers will have to pay attention to work out the clues, but fans of Blue Balliet's books, The Westing Game, and Harry Potter will enjoy this.  This was really a fun read.  Highly recommended!

Wishtree

Red is a 200 year old oak who has been providing shade and shelter to the neighborhood for most of her life.  But she has a special role, too.  She is a wishtree.  Every year in the days leading up to May 1, people write their wishes on scraps of paper or fabric and attach them to Red's branches.

This year a new family has moved into the neighborhood, and the little girl has a special wish.  She wants a friend, but some people are uncomfortable with Samar's family because they are Muslims.

One day a boy carves the word "Leave" into Red's trunk, and it causes a flurry of activity.  News crews are filming the neighborhood and asking questions, and the lady who owns the property has decided maybe it's time to cut down the old oak.

Since this could be her last wishing day, Red wants to take an active part and try to grant Samar's wish.

This is another beautiful story about friendship from Katherine Applegate.  The best part for me was how many of the children were able to see past the adults' prejudices to welcome a new friend to the neighborhood.  The characters are a little young, but my middle schoolers love Applegate's books, so this will be an easy sell.

Beyond the Bright Sea

Crow has lived her entire twelve years on a tiny island off the coast of New England with Osh, the man who pulled found her floating in a skiff when she was a newborn baby.  She also has Miss Maggie, who lives on the next island.  Together, they form a kind of family, but Crow has always been curious her birth parents. 

Her curiosity comes to a head when she sees a fire one night on a nearby island that's been uninhabited for years.  It used to be home to a leper colony.  Once Crow begins to investigate that fire, she is involved in a chain reaction that will lead to answers and to danger.  She will take risks, make discoveries about herself, and join the many people who have searched the Elizabeth Islands for buried pirate treasure. 

There are so many things to love about Lauren Wolk's new book.  Crow's family and the ramshackle house built from the detritus of shipwrecks is one charming and metaphorical touch.  The factual information about leprosy and pirate treasure are woven beautifully into the story, as well.  My only complaint is that I wanted a little more explanation about Osh's mysterious past!  Recommended!

Explorers: The Door in the Alley

Sebastian lives an orderly life.  He is all about rules until the day meets a pig in a teeny hat running down an alley.  The woman chasing the pig inlists Sebastian's help in getting the pig back inside the strangest place he's ever seen, The Explorer's Society. 

As punishment for entering the society without being a member, even though they invited him in, Sebastian begins to work there after school doing whatever needs to be done.  From tree house offices to jaw-dropping library to the most fun slide ever, the society headquarters is like no other place on earth.

Evie has been living in a state home since her parents died two years ago.  She is still sad most of the time, and weekly dinners with the boring Andersons is the only thing that breaks the monotony.  One dinner turns out to be anything but boring when Evie and the Andersons are held hostage by a man with a wired jaw and one with a melted face. 

Little does Evie know this is the beginning of a great adventure to save her grandfather.  Little does Sebastian know that meeting Evie outside the society will completely mess with the rules and order of his life. 

This series opener by Adrienne Kress is fun adventure-mystery in the vein of The Mysterious Benedict Society.  Kids will love the story and the amusing narrator!

Flame in the Mist

Mariko is unhappily on her way to marry a man she's never met.  Her father has traded her for political power, and all the intelligence and cleverness in the world doesn't change the fact that a woman's will is just not important.  When her caravan is attacked and burned, Mariko is the only survivor, and she vows to get revenge on her attackers the only way she knows how.  She disguises herself as a boy and tries to infiltrate the ranks of the most dangerous gang of thieves in the empire.

It takes her a while to get her footing, but the members of the Black Clan accept her as a boy which means they also accept her intelligence and inventiveness.  Despite herself, Mariko begins to feel a sense of belonging with these outlaws who are dangerous, no doubt, but whose motives may not be exactly what she first thought. 

Okami, the wolf, is the most dangerous of all with his supernaturally quick and efficient fighting ability.  Mariko is drawn to him and fearful of his wildness.  Through all of their arguments and threats, something else could be developing between the two. 

Mariko thought she understood her world and her place in it, but her time with the Black Clan is teaching her otherwise, and she is beginning to realize she has only ever seen a carefully crafted version of reality.

Renee Andieh's new book is as dark and dangerous as it is lush and romantic.  It is steeped in the world of feudal Japan and samurai culture.  I really enjoyed reading this one.  I just wish the fantasy elements had been more integrated.  There's a scene near the end that had some foreshadowing but still seems pretty out of place.  I'm hoping the author will anchor the fantasy elements more firmly in the seque.  Recommended for 8th grade and up for PG-13 sexual content. 

Hideout

Since the fight, Sam has been feeling off.  Two vicious bullies beat Sam and his friend, Grover, so badly they had to be hospitalized, and now Sam can't stop trying to figure out why they picked him. 

His dad got him a fishing boat, and Sam's been taking it out every day--but not to fish.  Police think there is a body somewhere in the swamp.  They found an abandoned boat, and Sam thinks if he can navigate the maze of Mississippi swamps to find the body, he'll be a hero, and he won't feel bad about himself anymore. 

Instead, he finds Davey, a kid about his own age living in an old fishing camp.  No one is supposed to be out there anymore since the swamp is under government protection, but Davey says he's waiting for his dad and his brother to show up.  Sam decides to keep Davey's secret and to help him by bringing food and supplies. 

He has a feeling Davey isn't being completely honest about his situation, but Sam is enjoying spending time with his new friend at the secret camp.  The fun quickly turns to danger when Davey's older brother shows up and it's clear he is involved in criminal activity.  Will Sam be able to save himself and his new friend, or will their bodies be lost in the swamp forever?

Watt Key's new book will appeal to kids who love action adventure stories, and this one is a page-turner.  I enjoyed this one even if Sam did come across a little whiney to me.  The issues of dealing with friendships and being the target of bullying will appeal to kids, and when Sam finally gets over himself, his loyalty to his friends is admirable.  Recommended for grades 7 and up for some mild profanity and violence.

Four-Four-Two

Yuki Nakahara is an American, but when the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor, many people don't see it that way.  His family is sent from their farm in California to an internment camp in the Utah desert.  The people are treated like prisoners even though they have done nothing wrong. 

Yuki is eighteen, and he believes the only way to prove he is a true American is to join the army.  His parents don't support his decision, but Yuki and his best friend, Shig, enlist anyway.  They become part of an all Japanese unit, the 442.

No amount of training and preparation could prepare them for the realities of war.  Yuki thought he would be a brave soldier and return with a chest full of medals to honor his family, but the reality of war is a terrifying bloodbath.  Several of the people they trained with die in their first battle, and now Yuki just hopes to survive the war so he can make it home.

As the war continues, and Yuki the soldier does things that would horrify Yuki the kid, he begins to wonder who he will be if he does make it home.

Dean Hughes's newest book shines a light on one of the darkest chapters of American history, the unwarranted imprisonment of innocent citizens.  Hughes's books are not just accessible to the middle school audience, they are very popular with kids who like war books.  The author writes about the realities of war in an honest way that still manages to appropriate for middle school.  In a time of growing international tensions, the message about the horrors of war is timely.  Recommended.

The Lost Property Office

Jack Buckles is not like other kids.  He senses are overwhelmed by information everywhere he goes which is why he tries to distract himself with games on his phone most of the time.  He has traveled to London with his mother and younger sister because his father has gone missing.

When his sister wanders after a man who looks like their father, Jack gets swept up in a great adventure.  The kids somehow find themselves in The Lost Property Office, a strange combination of old and new, this is just the place he needs to be.  Here he meets Gwen who takes him off an adventure to find out the truth about his father and what he was doing when he disappeared.

Jack's father wasn't a salesman after all.  He was a tracker.  The twelfth in a long line of trackers who use their heightened senses to find things lost to history.  Jack realizes that his heightened senses are a gift instead of a curse if he uses them instead of trying to repress them.  Together with Gwen, Jack discovers his father's disappearance is connected to the Great Fire of London and a long-hidden secret about the fire's origin.

James Hannibal series opener is a thrilling fantasy adventure with its rooted planted firmly in the past.  Give this to kids who like a good story they can sink their teeth into!

Spirit Hunters

Harper's family has just moved to a new town in a new to them but really old house.  Harper immediately notices a strange feeling and cool temperatures in her little brother's room, but she shrugs it off amid all the unpacking.

Strange things have happened to Harper in the past.  She has recently recovered from injuries she got in a mental health facility, but she can't remember how she got those injuries.

Her little brother's imaginary friend is taking up more of his time and energy, and Harper misses the Michael who used to be full of life and laughter.

There are rumors the house is haunted, but Harper doesn't want to believe it despite all the evidence in front of her.  Once she realizes the true danger she and her brother are in, she knows she will have to do something.

The more she investigates, the more she remembers about her past trauma.  Will Harper be able to save her little brother and herself, or will they fall victim to the evil spirits in her house?

Ellen Oh's new book is a fairly typical horror story with the twist that Harper's family has Korean ancestry.  Kids will love it for the chills, and the diversity factor definitely bumps it up in my estimation.

The Boy at the Top of the Mountain

Pierrot is the son of a French mother and a German father who is still struggling with the effects of the first world war.  His childhood is spent in France playing with his neighbor and best friend, Anshel, who is Jewish.  But when Pierrot's parents die, his life truly begins to change.

He ends up in a mansion called the Berghof on top of a mountain living with his aunt.  She is the housekeeper and head of a staff with mixed feelings about their master.  When his arrival is imminent, the house is cleaned from top to bottom, and Pierrot's aunt warns him to stay out of the way.  The master doesn't care for children.  She also changes his name to Pieter, a strong German name.

When the master arrives, it is none other than Adolf Hitler, the Fuhrer himself.  Almost despite himself, Hitler feels an affection for Pieter and spends a good deal of time with him.  This is how Pierrot, the loving child whose best friend was a Jew becomes indoctrinated in the philosophies of hate until he becomes a monstrous teenager hungry for power.

This book by John Boyne is something of a companion to The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas as it has the same fable-like quality.  This is truly a disturbing book which illustrates how malleable young children are.  I don't think this one is quite as successful as Pyjamas only because Pieter's awakening is too quick.  After spending an entire book watching him become corrupted, I needed more development on the back end of the story.  Even though Pieter is quite young at the beginning of the story, I would recommend this book for older readers, at least 7th grade, because it deals with mature themes and because a working knowledge of the events of the Holocaust and WWII would be helpful in understanding the true stakes of the story.

Balcony on the Moon

This memoir follows Ibtisam Barakat from childhood through her teenage years and high school graduation in Palestine.  This is a story we don't often hear about a displaced people living in a war zone. 

Barakat chronicles the struggles of moving because of harassment from the Israeli army to the financial and emotional struggles of her father who loved driving but also suffered from narcolepsy. 

Her greatest struggle though is trying to be herself in a world that doesn't always value girls like it does boys.  Her mother seems to walk the edge of changing times wanting her daughter to be traditional but also allowing her freedom.  These mixed messages often cause conflict like when Ibtisam wants to get a summer job like her brothers. 

Barakat's greatest love is education and writing.  She practices by writing to pen pals all over the world and gets an unexpected boost from a famous literary figure in the Arab world.  But the greatest surprise for Ibtisam is the day her mother announces she wants to go back to school and get her high school diploma.

This is a fascinating read, and I hope the author will continue her story!

Lucky Broken Girl

Ruthie and her family have recently immigrated to New York from Cuba.  Her father loves America and the freedoms of New York, but her mother is homesick for Cuba, her beloved home before it was ruined by Castro.

As for Ruthie, she knows she's smart, but she is in the "dumb" class at school because she is learning English.  She is working hard to learn English, and she is so excited when the time finally comes to move up to the "smart" class.

Then disaster strikes, Ruthie's family is in a terrible accident that destroys their brand new car and leaves her with a broken leg.  When she wakes up in the hospital, she is in a full body cast that goes all the way up to her chest!  The doctor says it is so one leg won't grow longer than the other, but all Ruthie knows is she will be stuck in bed for months.

Over the months of recovery, Ruthie struggles with loneliness, anger, and depression, but she also finds new friends in unexpected places and new talents in herself.

This semi-autobiographical book by Ruth Behar is based on her real experiences as a bedridden child.  By the end, I really enjoyed this book.  The tone is just a little younger than I expected, so it took me a while to readjust.  Additionally, I would not recommend the audiobook.  It is read by the author, and she reads everything a strange sing-song voice that is difficult to listen to.  So, read the book for a story about the immigrant experience and overcoming challenges, but skip the audio!

The Secrets of Solace

Lina Winterbock is an apprentice archivist in the mountain strongholds of Solace.  The archivists collect items from the debris storms and bring them back to the strongholds to study.  These items somehow fall through from other worlds into Solace and are collected in scrap towns.

Lina's parents died when she was young, so she only has her teacher and mentor for supervision.  That leaves her with a lot of free time to explore and eavesdrop on conversations she probably shouldn't hear.  It's also how she discovered her "workshop" and the ship buried there.  Only someone as small as Lina could make it through the tunnels, and Lina spends much of her free time trying to dig out the ship in her secret workshop.

Outside the mountains, the Iron War rages as the Merrow Kingdom and the Dragonfly Territories battle for control of resources and power.  The archivists are neutral in the war, but they are taking in refugees from both sides. 

One night Lina meets one of these refugees and discovers he has a powerful secret that could put everyone at risk.  Despite this, Lina and Ozben quickly become friends.  They are bound by secrets, and their own feelings of unimportance, but they will both be vital players in events that could change the outcome of the war.

Jaleigh Johnson's new book set in the world of Solace is a companion to The Mark of Dragonfly.  Read that one to find out more about the scrap towns.  The first book was very popular in my library, and I'm sure this one will be, too.  This is a solid fantasy adventure for middle school readers.

Horizon

Molly, Anna, Oliver, and Javi are headed to Japan for the Soccer Robots championship.  They are all excited, if a little nervous, for their first international flight.  Halfway through the flight, something goes wrong, and they crash on a jungle island in the middle of nowhere.

Yoshi was on his way home to Japan to meet an angry father and serious punishment.  The twins, who only speak Japanese and French, were on their way home from boarding school.  No one is too sure about Caleb except for the fact that he seems to think he should be in charge.

They aren't just the only survivors.  They are the only ones left on the plane when it lands.  Some kind of strange lightning seemed to examine and everyone and throw most of the passengers out of the plane.

It seems impossible because there is only the Arctic in between them and Japan.  Plus, there are strange creatures they've never seen before.  Where are they, and how did they get here?  Will they be able to survive until rescue arrives?  That's assuming someone can find them in this impossible place.

I have to admit it enjoyed this book more than I thought I would.  It reads like Lost for middle school.  The first entry is by Scott Westerfeld, but this will be one of those massive multi-author series with an online gaming platform that Scholastic loves to do these days.  I enjoyed it, but I'm just not willing to commit to all that.  The good news is plenty of kids will.  Series books are super popular in middle school, and I'm sure this one will be promoted through book fair, which will keep it prominent.

Armstrong and Charlie

Charlie isn't looking forward to 6th grade.  If he starts 6th grade, he'll probably finish it, and that means he'll be older than his brother ever got to be. 

Armstrong isn't looking forward to 6th grade either.  His parents have decided he needs to take advantage of opportunity busing.  That means he'll have the opportunity to get up at 5:30 and ride a bus across town to some white school where he doesn't know anyone.

The two boys end up sitting next to each other in class and become almost instant rivals in the classroom and on the playground.  Armstrong is a bit of a rebel.  If he can get away with it, he doesn't see a problem.  Charlie is the rules boy, and Armstrong's never-ending need to get away with something rubs him the wrong way. 

Despite this, Charlie eventually does begin to see things from Armstrong's perspective, and when they are forced to spend time together outside of school, they develop a real friendship that will expand both their wolds. 

I really enjoyed this funny and heartwarming story about integration by Steven B. Frank.  My only issue is the ages seem off.  The language and kissing advice seem more appropriate for 8th grade, but these kids are in 6th.  It could make it a tough sell, but it will be worth it to meet these two great characters. 

You May Already Be a Winner

Olivia makes entering contests her full-time job.  Every day she enters multiple contests to win anything from a million dollars to a lifetime supply of frozen pizzas. (Where would they put those in their tiny trailer?!)  She loves the tagline many of the contest use, "You may already be a winner!"

Wouldn't that be great?  Olivia doesn't feel like much of a winner in her real life.  Her father is gone...for now, but she emails him every day.  He's out in Bryce Canyon "growing up."  She's sure he'll come back any day now or at least answer one of her emails.  It's been weeks since she went to school.  They can't afford daycare, and her mom is too proud to put her little sister Berk in a free program.

Olivia keeps calm by getting lost in her active imagination.

Olivia does the best she can to establish a routine for Berk and herself that involves school, entering contests, jumping on the tramp behind the abandoned trailer next door, and keeping house for her small family.

But things just keep getting harder, and mom seems more stressed out every day.  Why won't her dad reply to any of her emails?  Olivia is doing the best she can to keep things together, but she's only twelve.  How much longer can this go on?

This new book by Ann Dee Ellis is a sweet and heartbreaking story perfect for kids who like books with emotional family drama. Bonus points for all the Provo/Utah details.  I went to BYU, so I did get a little thrill when I recognized places and references.

Dreidels on the Brain

Joel is the only Jewish kid at his California school, it's Hannukah 1971, and he's looking for a miracle.  Snow in California?  A deal with God over a spinning dreidel?  Maybe just a miracle for his father who has a debilitating form of arthritis that has bent his spine and limited his ability to walk would be enough.

Joel dreams of being a superhero, Normalman.  Fat chance for a weird look kid with braces, hideous glasses, and a father whose joints make clicking noises when he walks.  Plus, his family is always broke.  His father was laid off from his engineering job, and his ingenious inventions never seem to make it off the ground. 

He's a pretty good magician and quick with the jokes, but life and maybe God seems determined to get him down.  As bad as things are, this Hannukah will bring even more problems.  One of his favorite stories is the tale of the Schlemiel.  The Schlemiel is the guy always spills his soup.  The Schlamazel is the guy the Schlemeil spills his soup on.  Joel doesn't want to be either, but at least things work out in the end for the Schlemeil.

This new book by Joel ben Izzy is a touching and funny exploration of family, faith, and being a twelve-year-old boy.  Highly recommended.

Piecing Me Together

Everyone thinks Jade has to get out of her poor neighborhood to succeed.  She has a scholarship to a fancy private school, and she does OK, but she can't help thinking sometimes that her community isn't all bad.

When her school counselor offers her a place in a mentoring program, Jade is hesitant, but when she learns there's a scholarship involved, she's all in.  Jade isn't quite sure what to think of Maxine who misses their first meeting.  Is she serious about this?  Is Jade just some kind of project to her?

Plus, a lot of the meetings seem to be about eating healthy and dating.  Jade wants some mentoring she can really use--like how to make a budget or start a business.

Jade has self-respect and confidence in her art, but it seems like the world tries to tear her apart every day, and she has to put the pieces back together each night.  Despite her belief that her community is good and that she has things to offer, no one else seems to think so.  That's the mentoring lesson she needs most of all--how to not give up on people and fold in on yourself when relationships get difficult.

This is a great book by Renee Watson in the vein of The Hate U Give but with gentler language that makes it good for middle school readers.  Seeing subtle acts of racism through Jade's eyes will help readers become more self-aware.  I also love that Jade's neighborhood is poor, but it's not all bad.  She has real friends and a sense of community there, and the local public school may not have as many electives as Jade's private school, but when an incidence of police brutality strikes close to home, the public school handles the situation by giving students a voice.

Last Man Out

Tommy loves playing defense, and he's great at thanks to his dad.  Dad has taught Tommy to know the field, know where the ball is, and to protect his team.  Thanks to all that training, he's one of the best on the team.

When Tommy's fireman dad dies saving a little girl from a fire, his world is shattered.  He wants to keep playing, but the anger and sadness he's trying to push down keep coming out on the field.  When his new friend, Mike, introduces him to skateboarding, it feels like a great outlet to get his adrenaline going.

Tommy's mom is doing the best she can to deal with her own sadness, but she's more worried about her kids.  Tommy's little sister, Em, quit her soccer team and is spending all her time in her bedroom.  Tommy wants to be the man of the house, but he's just a kid himself, and he doesn't know how to help Em.

Mike Lupica's newest book has all the sports action, his readers have come to expect with a more serious plot about dealing with grief.  I don't think this will have wide appeal beyond sports readers, but it is a great pick for those devoted to the genre.

Lucky in Love

Maddie family has been struggling to make ends meet since her dad lost his job.  Her mom is working all the time, but there still isn't enough to go around.  Her dad is depressed, and her parents are fighting all the time.  Her brother dropped out of college because he ran out of money, but he just seems to be spending all day sleeping and all late watching tv.

Maddie is going to college.  She is in line to be the salutatorian (behind her best friend Blaire), and she's determined to get a scholarship.  If she gets into UCLA, she can live at home to save money.  Plus, she's worried about going too far when her family is in such a state.

Maddie isn't much of a social butterfly, but she has her two best friends, Blaire the genius and the bubbly Elise.  She also sort of has Seth.  They work together at the zoo, and Maddie isn't ready to admit just yet she has a crush on him.

After a particularly terrible eighteenth birthday, Maddie buys a lottery ticket on a whim...and wins!  Now all her problems are solved, right?  Maddie is about to learn that money doesn't solve everything, but it will certainly help you figure out who you can trust even if you have to get your heart broken a few times to figure it out.

And what about Seth?  He was grounded from electronics when the winner was announced, and Maddie just can't bring herself to tell him just yet.  Their friendship is the only one that hasn't been touched by her money...yet.

This is a cute and sweet romance from Kasie West.  It's not particularly deep or realistic, but it will do just fine for a quick dose of escapism.

Saving Red

Molly is still wracked with guilt over what happened to her brother last year, but she's not ready to talk about yet.  Maybe never.  She's lost all her friends and her sense of who she is.  Her best friend is Pixel, the therapy dog.  He didn't start out as Molly's dog, but her therapist thought it could help.  Now, Pixel and Molly go everywhere together.

Her parents have their own way of dealing with their grief.  Her mother smokes marijuana and buys junk from the home shopping channel.  Her dad just buries himself in work so much he's rarely home.

One day a chance meeting with a homeless girl changes everything for Molly.  The girl has wild red hair and loves to dance.  It doesn't take long for Molly to realize Red isn't quite right.  One minute she seems normal enough, and the next she's dashing off into the street or talking to herself.

Molly decides to reunite Red with her family for Christmas.  That gives her two weeks.  It won't be easy, but the fact that her parents barely know she's alive makes it easier to go out at all hours.  Molly thought she was going to be Red's savior, but the more time they spend together, the more Red feels like a real friend.  This isn't just about helping some girl she feels sorry for.  It's about helping a friend in a vulnerable situation.

This new book by Sonya Sones is a fast-paced story that cuts right to the heart of mental illness and the challenges of living with mental illness for those who suffer and their families.  The ending ties up a bit too quickly, and I could have done without the love subplot, but this is definitely a book kids will love!

Invisible Emmie

Emmie is so shy she would rather blend into the background.  She doesn't want people to notice her.  Her brother and sister are both in college, and her parents work a lot which means she spends most of her time alone.  This suits her just fine because she can devote her free time to drawing.  School is a stress zone for Emmie because there are too many people and too much noise.  Plus, she only has homeroom and lunch with her best friend.

Katie is popular and outgoing.  She has tons of friends and everything always seems to work out her way.  Her parents are perfect, and she even gets the boy she wants.  But Katie's not so wrapped up in herself that she can't see another girl in trouble.

One day Emmie writes a pretend love letter to her crush.  She never meant for him to see it, but it fell out of her notebook, and now everyone knows about it.  This feels like the worst thing that could possibly happen!

People always tell Emmie should speak up for herself.  It's not that hard.  But for Emmie it is hard.  Can Emmie break out of her invisible shell now that the worst has happened?

This is a cute graphic novel using alternating styles for the two girls.  Terri Libenson takes her readers into the world of those quiet kids who mind their own business but who are maybe longing to break free.  There is a fun twist at the end.

Miles Morales

What?!  A Spider-Man book by Jason Reynolds!  I was excited to see what one of my favorite YA authors would do with this source material, and I was not disappointed!

Miles is just a kid from the poor side of town trying to make his parents proud.  Of course, he also has superpowers because he was bitten by a genetically engineered radioactive spider so that sometimes puts a damper on things.  The only people who know his secret are his father and his best friend and roommate, Ganke.

Miles and Ganke attend a private school called Brooklyn Vision Academy.  Miles is a sko-low (scholarship) kid; Ganke isn't, but that doesn't keep them from being practically brothers. Miles does his best to keep his grades up, but his history teacher, Mr. Chamberlain, doesn't make it easy.  He's always talking about how slavery was good for America and the true vision of the south.

Miles also has a serious crush on Alicia who is beautiful, seriously into poetry, and is basically old Harlem royalty, but he doesn't have the courage to do much about it.

Miles has been trying to ignore his spidey-sense lately since it seems to be way off and has gotten him in serious trouble.  It always goes crazy in Chamberlain's class where nothing other than crazy old guy seems to be wrong.  He's also having bad dreams, and when Mr. Chamberlain shows up in those dreams, he begins to wonder if maybe his spidey-sense isn't so crazy after all.

This book gives young readers a super-hero for today.  Miles is fighting bad guys and the momentum of his family's past.  His father turned his life around, but his uncle didn't, and Miles wonders if he is destined for prison.  There is plenty of regular fighting action, like when Miles goes after a street thug who is stealing kids' sneakers, but the real story here is about the dangers of institutionalized racism.  This book is successful in taking down a social issue personified as its villain, but also because it is clear that you always have a choice in how you react to life's challenged no matter how undeserved they are.  Reynolds takes Spider-Man beyond the realm of comic book action and into the present where he also must fight against prejudice and racism.  In this story real heroes don't just fight bad guys on the ground; they speak up against injustice.

Also, I love that Reynolds has created strong male characters who are comfortable with their emotions.  The friendship between Ganke and Miles is beautiful and real.  They aren't afraid to be real with each other even if that means sharing heartbreak.

Genius: The Game

Rex is the son of illegal immigrants living in the US where he is secretly a coding genius.  He has a wide following online, but no one in his real life knows the extent of his abilities.  He's also been focusing a lot of his time and energy writing a program to find his brother who disappeared telling Rex not to come looking for him.

Tunde and Rex are best friends even though they've never met in real life.  Tunde is the resident junk engineer and child genius in a small Nigerian village.  He can fix anything or build anything with scavenged tech.

Painted Wolf is the third member of their group.  She's an activist and blogger whose identity must remain secret since she spends her time uncovering corruption in Chinese business and government.

These three teens are invited to participate in a game by a global tech visionary.  The winners will get money and prestige, but there is more at stake for our heroes.  Tunde's family is being held hostage by a corrupt general who demands that Tunde win the game and build him a machine that will give him incredible power.  Rex needs a quantum computer to run the program that will find his brother, and there just happens to be one at the site of the competition.

But this is more than just a game, and our teenage heroes will have to find a way to win the game and uncover a terrorist plot.

Leopoldo Gout's series opener seems like the kind of book I would love--an international cast, plenty of intrigue, high tech, and high stakes.  But this just didn't grab me like I thought it would.  It reads more like a script than a novel, so that makes it difficult to immerse myself in the world.  Plus, it just didn't make a whole lot of sense.  All of these kid geniuses from all over the world are invited to a competition that seems to be mostly about coding and engineering.  I'm not sure what the art, biology, chemistry, etc. kids were supposed to get out of it or how they could possibly win.  It's a good idea.  It just wasn't developed enough.

Under Locker and Key

Jeremy Wilderson has a bit of a reputation at his school.  It's one he's cultivated to secure his legacy.  He's not a thief.  He's a retrieval specialist.  If someone steals something that belongs to you, Jeremy will get it back.

This makes him a bit of an underground hero to the kids at Scottsville Middle School, but not to Becca Mills, favorite of the school staff and future FBI agent.  Becca's always watching trying to catch Jeremy in the act of thieving.

When an older student tricks Jeremy into retrieving something that doesn't really belong to him, Jeremy knows he has to make it right.  What did he take?  The master key to all the lockers in the school.  But how can he retrieve something when the mark knows he's a target?

Becca is already on the case of the missing key, and Jeremy convinces her to team up with him for what could be his last job ever.

Allison K. Hymas's debut book is a cute middle school caper with lots of wordplay.  Recommended for fans of The Fourth Stall and The Great Green Heist.

Refugee

Josef is a Jewish boy living in Germany in the 1930's.  On Kristallnacht, his father is one of several men rounded up and taken to a concentration camp.  Josef's family isn't sure what will happen to their home, but they know it is time to escape.  They board a ship headed to the other side of the world, seeking refuge in a new country with a new language.

Isabel is a Cuban girl in 1994.  There are riots in the street protesting Fidel Castro, and the police are watching her father.  When Castro announces that anyone wishes to leave should do so, Isabel sees her family's chance for escape.  She and her family board a homemade boat with her best friend's family headed for Miami.  They will face many dangers on the ocean as they seek a new home where they will not be persecuted and where they can find food and opportunities.

Mahmoud loves his home in Syria, but by 2015 the country is torn apart by violence.  When his family's apartment building is bombed, they know it is time to escape.  Germany is their best hope, but they will have to travel far through dangerous territory with criminals and thieves on every side.  Why can't people understand Mahmoud just wants his family to be safe?

Alan Gratz's newest book is his best yet.  He has a massive following among middle schoolers, and they will devour this title, as well.  As I read this book, I thought of one of my favorite quotes by Madeline L'Engle, "You have to write the book that wants to be written, and if the book will be too difficult for grown ups, then you write it for children."  Refugee should be required reading for every child, teen, and adult.  Gratz excels at humanizing the refugees in his story and gently reminds his readers that no one wants to be a refugee.  Highly recommended!

Wild Bird

Wren is awakened from an alcohol and drug induced stupor and forced from her California home to the Utah desert.  Her parents can't take her wild behavior anymore, and they are sending her to a wilderness program to get clean.

Wren is enraged.  She feels like her family just wants to get rid of her so they don't have to deal with her anymore.  When she does the math and realizes she will be stuck in the desert for most of the rest of the school year and her birthday, she is furious.  It seems like her parents are trying to get revenge.

As she sits isolated in her tent for the first few days, she can only think about how miserable and abused she is.  Wren is stubborn and slow to make any progress.  She can't help wondering what her friends are doing back home while she is dirty and dehydrated in the desert.  Meadow has been her best and only friend since the 7th grade.  They used to cut class and hide in the bathroom to smoke weed.  Nico is the cute older boy who provides alcohol and weed in exchange for Wren making deliveries.  They would think this whole camp is a joke.

It's not until Wren has a personal wrestle with her own mortality that her heart starts to change.  Her willfulness has always been a negative to other people, but out in the desert, that stubbornness can be put to good use.  It may be the only thing that can help her survive the wilderness and her own addictions.

This is another great book from Wendelin Van Draanen.  The author deftly illustrates how easily a normal kid can get caught up in drug and alcohol abuse and how addiction changes a person.  She also hints that cell phone addiction and our culture of convenience and waste feed into those behaviors.  Perhaps one of Wren's greatest realizations is when she finally admits to herself that Meadow was never really her friend.

I love that this book is not about shocking the reader with horrifying scenes.  It's about Wren's personal journey to accepting responsibility for her actions and to understanding herself.  Highly recommended!

Goldfish

Lou's life is swimming, and as she starts her race in the Olympic Time Trials, so feels amazing.  This is her day.  She and her best friend, Hannah, will qualify, and they will both get to transfer to a High Performance Training Camp where it will be all swimming, all the time...with brief moments of school in between.

But...Lou doesn't just lose; she comes in last.  She is not training for the Olympics, she's off the swim team, and she has no friends. Hannah is her only friend, and Hannah qualified.  Lou wants to be supportive, but her heart is broken.

As she returns to school feeling completely out of place.  Her efforts to make new friends are falling flat.  When she sneaks into the pool one afternoon for a comfort swim, she meets three older, cooler guys who are amazed by her underwater skills.  Gabe, Roman, and Pete want to get famous on Britain's Hidden Talent, but they need a novel talent.

That's how a six-foot gangly girl who is clumsy out of the water and who has no friends ends up as...acquaintances?...with three cool guys.  As they work on creating underwater dancing, Hannah is getting more and more stressed out at Training Camp, and Lou isn't sure how to help her.

Nat Luurtsema's novel is a hilarious journey through new beginnings and new friends. My only concern is the quick resolution of Hannah's anxiety and eating disorder.  It's not the main point of the plot, and there is a lot her to enjoy dispite this flaw.  Recommended for grades 8 and up.

It Ain't So Awful, Falafel

Zomorod is the new girl once again for the fourth time.  It's not easy when you are starting middle school, and you're Persian, and your name is Zomorod.  That's why she's taking inspiration from The Brady Bunch; she will begin life in Newport Beach, California, as Cindy.

She's determined to real living friends and not just books, but she gets off to a rough start.  After a couple of missteps, she meets Carolyn who is interested in learning about Iran, a loyal friend, and a fellow bookworm.

Things are looking up until political unrest in Iran eventually leads to the Iranian militants taking a group of Americans hostage.  Suddenly it seems like all of America is against Cindy and her family.

Despite the anti-Iranian sentiment in America, California feels like home, but Cindy also really misses her family in Iran.  With the new regime in power, many freedoms have been stripped from women in particular.  This is not the Iran she loves.  Lucky for her, Cindy finally has some real friends who will stand by her.

Firoozeh Dumas's newest book is a semi-autobiographical look at life in the late 1970's.  This book is honest, heartfelt, and full of humor.  It's great to read a story with such loyal friends and then to discover they are real people.  Highly recommended!