Allies

Dee is really too young to be in the army.  At age 16, he lied to enlist and fight against Hitler's army, but that isn't the only lie he's told.  His name is really Dietrich, and he was born in Germany.

Now he's waiting in a boat at Omaha Beach preparing for D-Day with his best friend, Sid, hoping they can make it through the day alive.

Samira's mother works for the French resistance, but when she is captured by German soldiers, Samira must decide if she will try to rescue her mother or try to relay their message to the resistance fighters.

Henry always wanted to be a doctor, but he faced discrimination as an African American.  When he joined the army as a medic, he hoped the men would begin to see him as a fellow soldier, but the army has its share of racists, and the German army is shooting at everyone on D-Day, medic or soldier.

There are other characters from different countries, all Allies in the war against Hitler, who tell their part in the story of the D-Day invasion.  It will take a global alliance to bring down Hitler, and many soldiers will not last the day.

This newest book from Alan Gratz treads familiar WWII territory, but on the restricted timeline of the D-Day invasion.  The multiple timelines could be difficult to track, but that fast pace and confusion adds to the reality of war Gratz conveys in the book.  This is a perfect fit for readers who enjoy WWII stories and for Gratz's legion of fans.  The author also successfully conveys the idea that humanity must unite against injustice and oppression.  Recommended.

Look Both Ways

This is a collection of ten short stories about kids making their way home from school all connected by the idea of a school bus falling from the sky.  There are the kids who steal pocket change to make enough money to buy something special on the way home.  There is the kid whose friends try to help look better before approaching his crush.  What about the skateboarding who has an unfortunate run-in with some bullies on the way home?  Or the kid who doesn't want to be a bully but joins in anyway to save himself?  Finally, there the kid whose mother is the crossing guard.

You will meet them all and more in this book.  I really enjoyed most of the stories, which are more like vignettes, but it was a little disappointing to realize the book would not return to their stories.  Some of them felt more like the first chapter than a complete story.

I normally love Jason Reynolds, but this book didn't really do it for me, and I think a lot of kids will be frustrated with it, too.  Honestly, the school bus falling from the sky felt like a tease by the time you get to the end and figure out what it really is.

Live in Infamy

It's been 80 years since the allies lost WWII.  The United States has been carved into pieces ruled by the Axis powers.  The Germans have the east coast, and Japan has the West.  Chinese American Ren Cabot has grown up under this oppressive rule.  In fact, he was forced to watch his own mother's beheading for her role in the Resistance.

You'd think that would keep him cowed, and he does struggle to maintain his temper around the soldiers, but Ren has a secret.  Everyone is talking about the Viper, a revolutionary who writes essays and somehow gets them out into public places.  Love or hate, everyone is talking about the Viper.  But not even Ren's father knows he is the author.

Now Ren is caught up in a mission with the Resistance to free the prisoners held on Alcatraz.  Being imprisoned is bad enough, but there are rumors the Empire is experimenting on the prisoners, trying to give them extra-human abilities so they can be used as weapons.

Ren wants to help, but this mission will take him to the very heart of the Empire and very real danger.

This is Caroline Tung Richmond's second book set in this world, but it's only the first one I've read.  From a plot perspective, this is a stand-alone/companion book, but I do think it would be better to read the books in order since the protagonist of The Only Thing to Fear makes an appearance here.  I still enjoyed it a separate story, and I think the human experimentation creating super-human abilities was an interesting twist and a natural sci-fi outcome of the real experiments performed by Nazis during the war.  Recommended, but be aware there are some gruesome scenes.

Mayhem and Madness

Bailey's life is pretty boring.  He goes to school, hangs out with his best friend, tries to "accidentally" run into the girl he likes at school...pretty average.  All that changes when he discovers a secret lair beneath his house with a computerized super suit. 

Can it be true?  His missing father was Mayhem?  The most famous supervillain in recent memory?  His dad?  Bailey can't help himself.  He has to try on the suit, and before he knows it, he's practicing flying.

Everything goes to the next level when he meets the mysterious Mr. Jones who says he designed the suit and that Bailey's dad is being held hostage by domestic terrorists.  He can't do it without money though, and Bailey has the perfect disguise. 

Now he's robbing banks and trying to keep his secret safe, but how far is Bailey willing to go?  Should he really trust Mr. Jones?

This supervillain story by J. A. Dauber is comic book inspired and will appeal readers who enjoy first person action. It was ok but not my favorite.  I wanted Bailey to deal more with the unintended consequences of his actions. 

The Usual Suspects

Thelonius is tired of getting blamed for everything.  He and his best friend Nehemiah have been placed in special education because of their behavior problems, and anytime something bad happens, they are the first suspects.  Thelonius figures if he's going to get the blame, he might as well enjoy the chaos, and he's really good at creating chaos.

When someone finds a gun in the park bordering the school, Thelonius and the rest of the special ed class are the first ones called in.  But this isn't a normal prank, and Thelonius is not going down for this one.  He knows no one is going to look much further, so he decides to solve this mystery on his own.

Thelonius only wanted to save his own skin, but his investigation uncovers some pretty sketchy activities going on at Persons Crossing and puts him on the radar of some seriously nasty kids. 

Can he solve the case, keep from being labeled a snitch, and maintain his friendships before the school administration pins the crime on him?

Maurice Broaddus's middle grade debut is in the style of a hardboiled detective novel with a twist.  I appreciate he is choosing to focus on the special ed kids and the students who always get blamed when something goes wrong, but in my experience, no one is placed in sped for being a classroom disruption.  There is a lot of testing, and some students who could benefit from services don't qualify.  I don't think kids will realize this, so it will just bug education professionals.  He does accurately portray the mix of invested and burned-out teachers.  This is a strong mystery that reminds me in tone of The Fourth Stall.  Highly recommended!

The Last Last-Day-of-Summer

Sheed and Otto are cousins with a knack for solving problems.  In fact, they already have three keys to the city, and their home town just keeps getting weirder by the second.  It's the last day of summer, and Sheed wants to spend it sleeping in, but Otto wants to squeeze in one more adventure.

He changes his mind fast when a guy named Flux uses an old camera to freeze time.  Everyone and everything in the town is frozen except for Sheed and Otto and a strange man who calls himself Time Star.

The only other people who can move freely are people they've never noticed before, the clock watchers.  Now that time is frozen, they don't know what to do.  Father time, the Golden Hours, Game Time, The Witching Hour...they are all loose in town!

Can Sheed and Otto wrangle this odd group and figure out how to stop Flux, his army of clock watches, and his monster friend, the time suck, before time is frozen forever?

This new Lamar Giles book is good, but it could have been great.  This feels like the second book in a series rather than a stand alone.  There are references to the cousins' past adventures, and their rivals, but it's all sort of out of context.  I loved the clock watchers and the context.  This just feels a little like three books squeezed into one. 

The Geography of Lost Things

Ali's feelings about her dad are complicated.  He left her and her mother twice, and it always seemed like he cared more about his car and some 90s grunge band than his own daughter.  It's been years since she's seen him, but it isn't really a surprise when she finds out he died.  It was bound to happen. 

What is a surprise is the 1968 Firebird convertible which arrives shortly after his death.  He left her his prize possession.  Ali hates that car for all it represents, but it just might be the thing that saves her. 

The bank is foreclosing on their house.  They have to be out by the end of the week, but Ali has a buyer for the Firebird, and what he's offering is enough to pay off what they owe on the mortgage.  The problem?  The buyer is in Crescent City, a five hour drive, and Ali doesn't know how to drive a stick.

Enter her ex-boyfriend, Nico.  Nico offers to drive the car in exchange for $1000, but it seems like he has more in mind.  Ali still has feelings for Nico, but she can't get over the fact that lied to her, just like her father.  Dishonesty is a major deal breaker for her. 

Nico doesn't want Ali to get rid of the car because it's awesome, and he is also worried she will regret giving up the only piece of her dad.  He convinces her they can trade up using Craig's List.  Ali is skeptical, but she agrees to play along as long as they are still headed toward that buyer in Crescent City. Can they really trade up to $25,000 in a week? 

But it's not just the money; this one week may change Ali's perspective on everything.

Jessica Brody's new road trip romance is a fun adventure with plenty of soul searching.  Recommended for grades 8 and up.

Scouts

It's the summer before 7th grade, and Annie and her friends are getting ready to go on the first big camping trip of the season.  Their town in the Tennessee mountains isn't big enough for a Boy Scout troup, so they just call themselves the scouts and have adventures.

They settle in the watch the meteor shower, when something strange happens.  Something...a meteor...maybe something else streaks through the sky much too close for comfort.  They decide to try to find the meteor, so they can maybe claim a reward. 

Only Annie knows that Beans and his mom are about to lose their house and have to move.  Maybe they can use the reward money to save his home.

Fynn and Rocky are fighting because even though they've been friends for years, they aren't sure how they feel about their parents dating.

Plus, Fynn brought his stupid cousin Scarlett, who is such a girl.  This was supposed to be a great adventure, but everyone is fighting.

They will have to figure out how to work together as they travel through woods and caves and meet bears and skeletons in search of their prize  There's also the Mason Mountain Clan who may or may not exist, and who may or may not kill them all if they catch them! 

Shannon Greenland's book is a wacky adventure that goes on just a little too long.  I'm not the target audience for this, but I was ready for it to be over about 50 pages before the end.  Plus, the mysterious falling object is never really explained.  It wasn't for me, but I can see an audience for this book.

How We Roll

When Quinn's hair started falling out the summer before 8th grade, it changed everything.  Her two best friends since childhood suddenly couldn't figure out how to be normal, and an embarrassing incident at a party ruined her reputation and altered her friendships for good.  Also, she never really shares her problems with her parents because she knows keeping her younger brother Julius, who is on the autism spectrum, happy and successful takes most of their energy.

When her parents decide to move halfway across the country to find a better school for Julius, Quinn is actually kind of relieved.  No one in Massachuesetts knows about her alopecia.  She can show up on the first day with a wig and pretend everything is normal.

It works, sort of.  Everyone things Guineviere (the wig) is her real hair, and she's somehow immediately accepted by some of the most popular girls in 9th grade.  But the wig is itchy, and she's constantly afraid it will come off and expose her secret.

There's also Nick, the kid in the wheelchair.  He used to be a football star until a snowmobile accident crushed his legs leaving him as a double amputee.  Nick is sullen and moody, but Quinn feels drawn to him, and they have study hall together, so they have plenty of time to talk.

Quinn can understand a little of what Nick is going through because of her horrible 8th grade year, but even as their friendship deepens, she still isn't ready to reveal the truth about her bald head.  As they learn to trust each other, their feeling might just become more than frienship.

Natasha Friend's new book is a quick and hopeful read about about the struggles these two teens face when major physical struggles occur.  Though it is a quick read, it never feels rushed or dismissive the topic.  The romance is very light, and Quinn's new friend's turn out to be winners in the end.  Recommended for grades 8 and up for references to underage drinking and specific but untrue rumors about a couple of characters being sexually promiscuous.

Beast Rider

Manuel is only 12 years old, but he knows in his heart, he will leave his home in Mexico and travel north to reunite with his brother in Los Angeles. 

His best chance to travel across Mexico is as a beast rider.  It is dangerous in many ways.  Some people die just trying to climb on top of the trains as they go by.  Once onboard, there are violent and ciminal men who will take advantage and steal what little you have. 

At one stop, Manuel is beaten by Mexican police.  At another, he is attacked by a gang and left for dead.  He is ready to give up, but the people of a nearby village nurse him back to health.

Now scarred and walking with a limp, Manuel continues north, but will el Norte be the land of dreams he always imagined?

This slim volume by Tony Johnston and Maria Elena Fontanot de Rhoads is a painful tale of one young immigrant trying to find his way.  This is an example of a book that is deceptively simple at first glance but is actally a much more complex story.  Recommended for those who want to better understand the immigrant experience and get a different take on the personal journy of one boy.

The Long Ride

Jamila, Josie, and Francesca have been best friends forever.  They live in an upper middle class neighborhood in Queens where they never quite fit in with their brown skin and their multiracial parents.  A new school integration plan will bus them from their home in Queens to a new school in South Jamaica, a poorer mostly black neighborhood. 

While many people in their community are concerned, the girls are secretly pleased.  Finally, they will be able to blend in with the other kids.  Then Francesca makes a startling announcement.  Her parents have decided to send her to private school instead!  They won't be going to school together after all.

More bad news, Jamila and Josie don't have any classes together.  Josie seems to be fitting in ok, but Jamila isn't doing as well.  There is a boy she likes, but some of the kids and one girl, in particular, are harassing her about it.  They tell her to "stay with your own race," but Jamila isn't even sure what that means.  Her mom is white, and her dad is black.

Junior High is not getting off to a great start.

Marina Budhos's new novel is inspired by her own experiences growing up in New York City, and while there are some parts of the story I enjoyed, the book just didn't really do much for me.  Even though it's told from Jamila's perspective, it seems to mostly skim the surface of the school year.  Biracial readers need to see themselves reflected in literature, but I'm not sure how much appeal this one will have.

Lalani of the Distant Sea

Lalani's village at the base of Mount Kahna is suffering through a drought.  There is very little water to drink, the crops are dying, and various mysterious diseases infect the people.  Lalani can escape when she listens to tales of adventure, daring, and sometimes even sadness.  She loves the stories.

Legend tells of an island to the north, Isa, that is the opposite of Mount Kahna.  On Lalani's island, there is suffering, but Isa is the land of plenty.  Every generation, the strongest men set sail in search of Isa.  Many years ago, Lalani's father was one of those men.  No one has ever returned.

After she encounters a strange man with magical powers, a terrible mudslide destroys Lalani's village.  She feels responsible and in an effort to escape, she steals a boat and tries to find Isa on her own.

But how can one girl succeed where so many strong men have failed?  Lalani holds fast to hope and to the old stories she loves so much.  Her favorite is the story of Ziva, who was despised and outcast because of a birthmark on her face.  Ziva was brave; she tried to escape.   Lalani will try, too, but she must face terrible creatures, ghosts, and even her own mind to find Isa, the land of plenty.

I love Erin Entrada Kelly's book so much.  I felt like I was sitting around the fire on an island far away listening to this tale of courage, strength, and love.  I will add that I read this on my Kindle, and some of the illustrations didn't make sense until I saw the paper copy.  Highly recommended, but read it in print for the full impact!

The Big Game

Danny Owen is poised to take the junior high football team by storm as a 7th grader this year.  He's going to be a starter this year, catch the eye of the high school coach, and play for the high school team as an 8th grader.  He's got it all planned out.  He's going to follow in his dad's footsteps and make it to the NFL.  Everyone agrees he has a special talent.

Then his dad dies while helping Danny train during the summer.  His world is shaken, and neither he nor his mom is dealing with it well.  Danny often feels overwhelming anger for what seems like no reason.

To make matters worse, his new English teacher just doesn't get it.  Danny is a football player, a good football player.  His grades in English don't really matter as long as he passes.  Danny's not good at reading.  He is good at football.  That's his future, but Ms. Wright has figured out the truth.  Danny can't read, and she doesn't care about football, so she isn't going to just pass him.

When an injury at practice has Danny on the sidelines, his mother sees it as a wake-up call.  Maybe they've been wrong to let Danny coat through life on his athletic ability.  As Danny struggles to make up for the skills he missed over the years in the classroom, he sees his chances of playing in the big game slipping away as his replacement keeps getting better.

So...Tim Green is great, and I can't say enough about what a great leader he is in getting kids to read; however, it's also not a secret that I'm not a sports person.  It will be no surprise then that it is difficult for me to enjoy a sports genre book like this.  I have tolerated other sportsbooks ok, but I just don't like the main character.  Maybe it's because I grew up in Texas, and my entire educational career has been here, so I've met plenty of kids who think football is life and they are God's gift to the world as 7th graders.  He does make some emotional progress by the last chapter, but he is still an aggressive, entitled jerk who doesn't even love football when he isn't in the starring role.  I give it two stars instead of one because everyone eventually realizes Danny should actually know how to read by the end, and I know literacy is an important message for the author.  I also know plenty of kids will enjoy this book, especially those who love football.

Charlie Thorne and the Last Equation

What if Albert Einstein had discovered an equation so incredibly powerful it could solve all the earth's fuel problems indefinitely and make an atomic weapon look like a cherry bomb?  Covert organizations all over the world have long believed this to be true, but now there is evidence a terrorist organization is on the trail.  The CIA has to find Pandora first, not just to save lives, but whoever has Pandora has all the power.

The best way to ensure the United States gets Pandora is to bring in Charlie Thorne, 13-year-old genius, possible criminal, and half-sister of a CIA agent.  Dante and Charlie barely know each other, but Dante knows Charlie is a tool he needs to obtain his goals.

Charlie, Dante, and Agent Milana Moon are now in a deadly race across the globe to find clues and solve a series of puzzles.  They must face a white supremacist terrorist cell, Israeli intelligence agents from Mossad, and all the idiots who don't think a 13-year-old girl is capable of much.  Plus, the CIA may not have been completely honest about its mission.  If anyone can outthink and out manouever all these spies and double-crossers, it's Charlie Thorne.

This is the first book in a new series by Stuart Gibbs, and I am, as always, a big fan.  The tone of this one is darker because the stakes are higher, but Gibbs is a master of writing young characters who see the flaws in adult logic.  I hope there are more books and more name dropping of scientific and mathematical geniuses!  If I have a complaint, it's that the CIA is a little too inept in this world.  They would have been taken down years ago if they made so many mistakes in real life, but I say suspend your disbelief and go along for the ride!  Highly recommended!

The Darkdeep

Nobody goes to Still Cove.  It's dark, creepy, and constantly covered in a thick mist.  Plus, all those rumors about the beast can't be dismissed lightly.  That's why Nico and his friends go there to try out their new drone.  They are hoping to avoid Logan and the rest of the bullies, but they aren't so lucky.

When Nico falls off a cliff trying to catch his drone, his friends are terrified but also right behind him.  What they discover is an island hidden in the mist with an old houseboat floating in a pond in the middle.  The house is full of strange things, but the strangest by far is the thick whirlpool swirling in the basement.  Yeah, they didn't know houseboats could have basements, either.

An accident reveals the truth, if you jump through the whirlpool, it will spit you back out on the shore, and it will bring your fantasies to life, in a shadowy shortlived way.  What starts out as good fun quickly turns to something more terrifying, and the figments begin to change, and the darkdeep itself seems to call out to the kids.

This is book one in a series coauthored by Ally Condie and Brendan Reichs.  It's Stranger Things lite and will appeal to a younger crowd looking for a thrill.  I wish the plot had come to the scary part sooner, but it's still an enjoyable read, and plenty of kids will love it.  A spooky final scene will propel readers into the sequel.

The Dream Spinner

Annalise Meriweather is cursed.  She was born with one hand twice the size of the other, and the big hand is marked with a broken black heart.  The hand also has a mind of its own, sometimes even shooting sparks or flames. 

This is not the only reason people despise her.  On the day Annalise was born, her town was also cursed.  The fields and the sky blackened.  People are killed by roving bands of wolves, and the people blame Annalise.  Her parents have even built a cage around the house to keep people away.

Annalise is caught up in an epic tale of conflict and betrayal.  Twin sisters were born to a king and queen.  One would be the Dream Spinner, beloved of all.  The other would be the Fate Spinner, despised by everyone and always jealous of her sister's happiness. 

The broken heart on Annalise's hand is a sign she is cursed by the Fate Spinner.  One day Annalise decides it's time for her to take her fate into her own hands.  In order to do so, she will have to defeat a terrible maze filled with challenges and pain.  If she can survive, she has a chance to meet the Dream Spinner and make her dream a reality.  All she wants is the ability to control her hand and her own destiny, but achieving her dreams is more dangerous than she could have imagined.

This new fantasy by K.A. Reynolds is a story about mental health wrapped up in a quest tale.  There were so many things I loved about this book.  Give me a story about a weakness becoming a strength any day!  Plus, magic dream cats who help you on your path?  Yes, please!  And that cover?  Beautiful!  However, I think this could have been edited down by at least 100 pages.  This could have easily been a 4 or 5 star book for me with a tighter plot, but I would still recommend it because of its message about mental health. 

The Remarkable Inventions of Walter Mortinson

Walter Mortinson doesn't really fit in with the rest of the citizens of Moormouth.  They don't question, they don't create, and they don't think for themselves.  Walter, however, is always creating and inventing, but he has to do it in secret.

He's also an outcast because his mother is the town mortician, and no one wants to befriend a kid who lives with dead people.  Plus, everyone thinks his mother is responsible for his father's death.

When one of his inventions creates havoc, his mother has had enough!  She insists Walter put aside his inventing ways and help her in the mortuary business.  Walter, of course, decides to run away.

Famed inventor, Horace Flasterborn, has invited Walter to become his apprentice, and there's no time like the present.  Walter steals the hearse and grabs Cordelia, his former best friend, and sets off on an adventure.

But nothing is as it seems.  Flasterborn has a connection to Walter's family history, and Cordelia is definitely keeping secrets.  Walter thinks he has it all figured out, but what if he's wrong?

This fantasy tale by Quinn Sosna-Spear is ok, but it lacks a bit of direction.  There are so many subplots and ideas that nothing feels really developed.  It was ok, but I don't really have strong feelings about it either way, which is too bad because this would normally be the kind of book I would love.

I Love You So Mochi

Kimi has a problem.  It's senior year, and she's been accepted into an amazing fine arts program for college, but she's just stuck.  She dropped her art class back in the fall, and she hasn't painted anything for months.  She has been creating, though.  She makes amazing outfits for herself and even created the perfect dress for one of her best friends, the dress that gave her the courage to ask her crush on a date.

But Kimi's mom is an artist, and she sees fashion as a frivolous hobby.  When she finds out about Kimi's artist's block, it seems like an amazing coincidence that Kimi gets a letter from her estranged maternal grandparents.  Kimi's mother has barely spoken to them since she left Japan, but now her grandfather wants Kimi to come visit!

It's not really a decision.  Kimi has to get away from her mother's disappointment and figure out what she really wants to do with her future.

Kimi is instantly inspired by Japan, and soon her sketchbook is filled with fabulous new designs, and that's not all.  Kimi has never really been in love.  The reality never lives up to the fantasy, but then she meets Akira, a really cute guy dressed like a giant mochi.  She is instantly smitten, and Akira, who is set on becoming a doctor, vows to help Kimi discover her true passion.

Sarah Kuhn's romance is sweet confection with a big helping of international travel.  I enjoyed the side plot of the strained relationships in her family's past which informs Kimi's situation in the present.  Kimi's character, though, is a bit of a cliche.  How many more stories do we need about tiny, adorable, awkward girls who don't realize the guy actually likes her.  That's the plot of at least 90% of romantic comedies.  Kimi is saved by being Japanese American, at least.  I also don't get what the real difference between painting and fashion is.  They are both careers in the arts in which making a living is difficult.  I don't really see how one is better than the other.  The main conflict just seems a little silly.  However, it's cute, sweet, and clean with two Asian love interests, so I would recommend it anyway.

Spin the Dawn

Two of Maia's brothers died in the war, and one of them returned with a crushed leg.  Her father became an alcoholic after her mother died, and Maia is the only thing standing between the family and ruin.  Her father was once a great tailor, but he has lost his skill.  Maia has a talent for sewing, but as a woman, she cannot openly earn a living from her work.

When the chance to become the emperial tailor arrives, Maia decides to disguise herself as a one of her brothers and take her chance.  She will face a series of seemingly impossible challenges and treacherous competitors, but that is nothing compared to the final challenge.

In an effort to postpone her upcoming wedding, the emperor's betrothed sets Maia the challenge of creating three dresses from myth.  She must succeed or die.

Accompanied by the royal sorceror and a pair of enchanted scissors, Maia must journey to the most dangerous parts of the kingdom to gather the laughter of the sun, the tears of the moon, and the blood of the stars.  The more time they spend together, the harder it is to see Edan as just an annoying enchanter.  Maia's heart is drawn to Edan, but can a man who is bound ever freely love?

Elizabeth's Lim's new fantasy is a mash up of Project Runway and East of the Sun, West of the Moon.  I know the blurb says it's Mulan, but that's just because she pretends to be a boy and is Asian.  I think this bears a stronger resemblance to the other tale of love, sacrifice, and impossible tasks.  This is a great pick for fantasy fans who enjoy hard-fought happiness.  The ending left me wondering what will happen next.  Recommended for grades 8 and up for references to a sexual relationship between the two main characters.

Breakout

Nora and her friends are getting ready for summer break and working on an assignment to contribute to the Wolf Creek time capsule.  Nora, the budding reporter is excited.  She is documenting life in her town for the future.  Her best friend, Lizzie, isn't so excited.  She would rather make people laugh than do homework during the summer.

Wolf Creek is also home to a federal maximum security prison.  When two inmates escape, everyone's plans are put on hold, and anxiety is running high.  There are roadblocks and canceled plans as everything is put on hold waiting for the good guys to catch the bad guys.

Elidee isn't really sure who the good guys really are.  She just moved to Wolf Creek, two weeks before the end of the school year, and she's seen polic violence back home in New York.  She and her mom moved to Wolf Creek to be closer to her brother who is an inmate at the prison.  He's done bad things, but is he a bad guy?

There aren't many other black people in the town.  In fact there's only one other black kid in the middle school, and Eidee has a hard time fitting in.  Eventually, Nora and Lizzie win her over, but the more time they spend together, the more Nora starts to realize her friendly safe town isn't as friendly and safe as she thought it was.

Kate Messner's new novel is told using various formats to document the events of the story:  letters for the time capsule, text messages, news reports, etc.  This gives the story a sense of immediacy and keeps the pace moving.  Elidee loves poetry, and many of her entries are in the form of poems inspires by the work of others like Jacqueline Woodson and Lin-Manuel Miranda.  This is a great book for middle school because that is a time of questioning and becoming.  Readers will begin to analyze their own racial biases and develop compassion for those who are different in some way.  I like Elidee's sentiment at the end of the book that if you don't mean to welcome everyone, then you don't mean welcome at all.  Highly recommended.

Young Captain Nemo

Gabriel Nemo and his family have spent their lives trying to undo the legacy of their ancestor, Captain Nemo, who wasn't exactly a hero.  His parents live in a hidden lab at the bottom of the ocean, his sister uses her large imposing ship to impose her own morality on ocean vessels, and Gabriel goes to middle school.

His parents sent him to the California coast where his lives alone in a house that is really a secret lair for his state of the art Nemotech submarine Obsure.  He's supposed to be acting as a sort of ambassador with the world, but really he goes to school and performs daring sea rescues with the help of his two best friends, Peter and Misty.

When his sister Nerissa comes across a strange new creature, she enlists Gabriel's help.  No one has ever seen anything like the Lodgers.  They are giant mollusks, so large they are using wrecked ships and downed airplanes as shells.  And they also sharp teeth and long tentacles they use to secure new "shells" whether they are currently occupied or not.  And the Lodgers have run afoul of the U.S. Navy.

Now Gabriel and his family have to find a way to save the Lodgers before time runs out.  But it won't be easy to save these massive creatures when they don't know who their friends are, and every encounter is potentially deadly!

This is the first book in a planned series by Jason Henderson, and, yes, you will have to suspend your disbelief A LOT, but this is a fast-paced, high action, thriller.  I can imagine multiple kids who will enjoy this book.  It has sea monsters and a standoff with the Navy!  Recommended. 

Ronan Boyle and the Bridge of Riddles

Ronan Boyle is the newest recruit to the Garda, Ireland's secret police force dedicated to dealing with problems of the magical variety.  Nevermind he is small, awkward, and can't see anything without his glasses, Ronan is determined to make the cut.

His parents are in prison, and he knows the wee folk are to blame.  His is going to succeed in the Garda and find out the truth, but first he has to make it through the training where failure doesn't just mean getting cut; it might mean death.  Just ask Brian, the rapping ghost.

His first case involves leprechauns, who are not cute creatures eager to part with their gold.  No, they are loud, beer drinking, pickle loving, fart monsters.  Ronan better make sure his knee guards are in place lest he sustain a serious shillelagh injury.  Ronan won't give up until he solves the case and maybe uncovers some clues about his parents' legal troubles along the way.

Thomas Lennon's new series is a fun take on mythology we don't normally see.  It's part hard-boiled crime novel, part fantasy/mythology, and part over the top humor.  I'm pretty sure American kids will miss some of the jokes, but there are still plenty of accessible ones here for everyone.  Recommended for fantasy readers who enjoy a good dose of humor.

Slayer

Nina and her twin sister, Artemis have grown up at the Watcher's Academy.  Artemis is destined for greatness, like their mother who serves on the Watcher's Council.  No one really expects much from Nina.  She isn't training to be a Watcher, so she isn't really important.

She's found a place for herself as a healer and spends her time learning how to provide comfort and medicine to the wounded. 

Everything changes when Buffy's actions put an end to the Slayers for good.  In that moment, Nina became a Slayer, but not just any Slayer, the last one. 

She still isn't sure it's real, but when dead bodies and demons start showing up, she can't deny the truth any longer.  This will definitely make waves.  A Slayer inside the Watcher Academy?  Watcher's and Slayers have been at odds for years despite Buffy's relationships with her Watchers.

But even worse, Nina is supposed to become a hunter, a killer, when all she's ever wanted to do is heal.  She's going to have to figure something out; the fate of the world depends on it.

Kiersten White's first novel in a series that will expand the Buffy the Vampire universe is good fun.  If you're a fan of the show, and want more of the world, you will enjoy this.  Just be aware, this story is set in the world but not in the neighborhood of the original show.  Even if you are unfamiliar with the story, White gives enough background, you can easily keep pace.  Recommended for grades 8 and up.

The Last Voyage of Poe Blythe

Poe and Call were orphans toiling in the Outpost, just waiting for their chance to get on a mining ship.  It would be easy to slip away, to find another life.  There had to be something better.  But on their first voyage, Call was killed by Raiders.

Poe lost everything, and now she only wants revenge.  She quickly became one of the Admirals favorites with her designs for armored mining ships.  Her goal is to kill as many Raiders as possible.  They don't deserve to live.

Suddenly the Admiral promotes her to captain and sends her off on what will be the final mining voyage.  All she has to do is collect gold and make it back safely, but nothing goes as planned.

The ship is under attack, and there is a traitor among her crew.  Now Poe must confront the truth about her world, the reason she was sent on this journey, and what she has become.

There are a lot of things I really like about Ally Condie's newest book:  action, heartbreak, a strong yet flawed heroine.  But there is just something that didn't quite work about this novel.  Maybe the pacing was off?  I was excited to read it, but I just found my mind wandering.  I have talked to other people who loved it, so this may just be one of those either/or books.

A Good Kind of Trouble

Shayla is allergic to trouble.  She is the ultimate rule follower, so it's no surprise she doesn't understand her older sister's involvement in the Black Lives Matter movement.

Shayla just wants to make it through 7th grade with her friendships in tact and maybe find a cute boy who will overlook her extra large forehead. 

But when the coach praises her running skills and asks her to try out for track, Shayla starts to think of herself in a new way.  She is also surprised this causes some ripples among her friends.  It seems like everyone suddenly has their own interests and no time to devote to each other. 

Then someone at school says she's not black enough.  Wait.  What?  How can Shayla not be black enough?  How is that even possible?

When Shayla attends a protesst, her worldview suddenly changes, and she decides to wear a black armband to school in support of Black Lives Matter.  She never imagined one little decision could shake up her whole life!

Lisa Moore Ramee's book is a great pick for upper elementary and middle school readers.  It's a little simplistic, but that makes it more accessible.  I listened to this in the car with my 9 year old niece who is an advanced reader from a rural, mostly white community.  She asked me to pause the story frequently to ask questions and clarify situation for her.  This book brought up issues she had never even considered and got her thinking about bias.  This book will give kids a safe place to think and confront their own biases.  That's a successful read!  Recommended.

Monstrous Devices

Alex's newest gift from his grandfather is an old tin robot for his collection.  There's something different about this one though he can't quite figure out what it is.  He is awakened that night by strange sounds to find more tiny robots in his bedroom.  He is mesmerized by the tiny things until they become violent.

Alex isn't sure how to handle the situation, so he's grateful when his grandfather shows up.  The two then set off on a race across Europe pursued by tiny aggressive robots and the ruthless people who control them. 

Now Alex is caught up in an ancient feud between competing powers and the old tin robot is right at the heart of it.  He will have to move quickly or risk the destruction of a city if the Golem of Prague is awakened.

Damien Love's debut is something different.  Robots and golems?  Yes, please!  This was a great adventure with plenty of atmosphere and thrills.  Recommended for those who like their fantasy a little on the bloody side.

Focused

Clea is having trouble in school.  She blurts things out in class and struggles ot understand directions.  She even failed her project in language arts because she missed the first line in the directions, and it seems impossible to make it through her homework.

The only time she is completely focused is when she is playing chess.  Somehow, she has a laser focus and can often see the game playing out to the end in her mind.  She loves being on the chess team with her best friend Red and really wants to be in the top twelve to get a spot at chess camp, but her grades are getting in the way.

Her parents and teachers think she may have ADHD, but Clea doesn't think it's possible.  After all, she can focus on chess.  She just needs to work harder and stop making stupid mistakes.

Clea doesn't want to have ADHD, but she does know things need to change.  Her grades are falling, and she might even be losing friendships because of her impulsive behavior.  She needs to get focused now before she loses her friends and her plae in chess club.

Alyson Gerber's novel is inspired by her experiences with ADHD, and some students may see themselves reflected here.  It just feels like a little too much ADHD pamphlet with some story wrapped around it.  Also, her friends are a little unrealistic.  If you shared my most personal secret with everyone, even on accident, I don't know that I would trust you anymore.  Clea embarrassment over ADHD doesn't really ring true either.  Many kids have this diagnosis; it is much more normalized now than it was even ten years ago.  In conclusion, I would definitely purchase this book for middle and upper elementary libraries, but I think reading the blurb would be sufficient to recommend it its target audience.

Secret Soldiers

Thirteen year old Thomas is making his way across the country trying to enlist as a soldier in the British army, but not only is he just thirteen, he is also small for his age.  He is desperate to get to the Western Front and find his older brother.  They haven't heard from James since he enlisted.

He is turned away once again, but a street kid named George seems him as the perfect target.  With his mining experience, George knows some men who will pay him well for Thomas's skills.  This is how the two boys sneak into the army and find themselves on a secret mission not to fight on the field at the Western Front but to join the men digging below the earth. 

Men are dying every day as the Allies try to break the German line, but the diggers hope to change all that.  It's dangerous work.  They could be discovered and killed by German soldiers who are also working underground, but there are also the dangers of cave ins and carbon dioxide poisoning. 

Thomas and George are also joined by Frederick, the son of a wealthy family hoping to prove himself in battle and Charlie, who is running away from a violent father.  They are all much too young to be soldiers, but their efforts will be vital to turning the tide of the war.

Keely Hutton's story of boys in WWI is a page turner readers will love.  It tells the story of the clay kickers who made all the difference on the Western Front and makes the horrors of the war real for younger readers while still keeping the spirit of a story about young boys.  Hutton also references shell shock, what we now know as PTSD, and it's paralyzing effects as well as the necessity for soldiers to become desensitized to the humanity of the enemy.  Highly recommended.

Remember Me

Nell and her father have relocated again, but he promises this will be the last time.  He's landed his dream job as the guest relations manager at the Winslow Grand Hotel.  They are both still grieving her mother's death a few years ago, and Nell hopes this job will help. 

Strange things begin to happen from the moment they arrive.  Nell hears music and voices no one seems to notice, but there's no way she's telling her father--not even when the nightmares start.  She doesn't want him to think she is losing the progress she made on her nightmares and hallucinations with her therapist in Colorado.

In 1905, Lea arrives at the Grand with her parents and younger brother for the summer.  The hotel is a beautiful prison for Lea because she will have to marry her overbearing and possibly violent fiance at the end of the summer. 

In the present, Nell is strangely drawn to Alec, a brooding hotel employee surrounded by rumours.  And what about her "hallucinations" that bear a strong resemblance to an actual murder in the hotel's past? 

Chelsea Bobulski's spooky new romance is like Titanic...with ghosts!  This was fast-paced love story with a supernatural twist.  Was it predictable?  Yes.  Did I still enjoy it?  Yes!  The romance is balanced by some quality horror scenes.  Hand this one to readers who enjoy deep, dark, soulmate love stories.  Recommended for grades 8 and up.

Sal and Gabi Break the Universe

Sal is in the principal's office again, and it's the third time this week, but it isn't his fault this time.  Yasmany picked a fight with him.  Sal has to defend himself or end up the butt of everyone's jokes.

Sal prides himself on his magic skills, but it wasn't sleight of hand that put that raw chicken in Yasmany's locker.  Yasmany should be the bad guy here, but Gabi, student council president herself, is defending him.  None of that really matters because Sal knows he isn't going to get in trouble.

When the chicken mysteriously disappears, Gabi realizes something is going on.  What's more, she believes Sal when he tells her he can manipulate time and space to pull objects for other universes into their own.  Maybe Sal is finally going to have some real friends.

This talent isn't all fun and games.  When Sal gets upset, he sometimes accidentally conjures his dead mother from another universe, and she's different every time.  This can make things awkward for his dad and stepmother.  But the even bigger problem is Sal may actually be destroying the universe with the chaos particles created when he conjures things.  Can Sal and Gabi figure it out before it's too late?

This is another fun entry under the Rick Riordan presents imprint.  Carlos Hernandez's novel featuring the multiverse is a winner.  Recommended!

The Hidden Code

Hannah Hawkins's parents disappeared eleven years ago.  She's lucky to have her uncle and a great best friend, but you never really get over losing your parents, especially if they just disappear. 

When she finds a letter from her mother hidden in the house, Hannah decides it's time to find the truth.  Using clues from her past and from sneaking into her uncle's office, Hannah believes her parents were involved with something called the Code of Enoch. 

This leads her to a former friend of her parents who currently works at a major pharamseutical company.  She vaguely remembers the son Ethan from the days when their parents used to be friends. 

Hannah refuses to sit home waiting for something to happen. She sets up on a global race with her uncle and Ethan who may or may not be trustworthy to find the Code of Enoch before their enemies.  She's starting to realize the code could be the key to unlocking humanity's salvation or its doom. 

P.J. Hoover's new novel is in the spirit of Indiana Jones with adventure, buried clues, and a globe trotting race.  A fun read.

Aurora Rising

Tyler Jones has time for one more solo flight before it's time to recruit teams.  As an Alpha and the best of the Alphas, he knows he'll have his pick, and he can't wait to get out there and start exploring.

But that solo flight doesn't go as expected.  He sees a transport that looks like it's been floating in space for centuries, and there's one life sign aboard.  He should head back, and let someone else deal with this, but his innate need to be the hero kicks in.  That's how he finds Aurora resting in stasis on a ship full of corpses.

By the time he returns, the recruiting is over, and he's left with the dregs.  His sister Scarlett and their best friend Cat refused other offers, so he has the best diplomat and pilot on his team, but he also has an engineer who is disabled as the result of a childhood illness, and a security officer with a massive chip on his shouler.

They also have Aurora, or Auri.  The last thing Auri remembers is boarding the transport to take her to the distant colony where her father was waiting to meet her.  Now, it's been over 200 years, and there is no record of her former destination.  Everyone she's ever known is gone, and she is in the middle of a web of mystery and lies.

The team doesn't trust her, or each other for that matter, but Tyler finds there is something to this strange girl who have suddenly developed strange abilitites and a need to continue her journey to a planet that supposedly doesn't exist.

Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff's new series starter is a fun Breakfast Club in Space adventure.  Recommended for science fiction fans looking for thier next space opera obsession.

White Rose

Sophie Scholl is tired of being everyone's little sister.  She's just as angry about what Hitler is doing to Germany as everyone else in her family, but her older brother's tend to leave her out of things. 

She can't wait for her life to begin, but compulsory service in Hitler's youth organization is required before she can even go to college.  Sophie know she must keep her opinions about the Fuerher to to herself.

When she finally gets to the university, she sees her chance to finally make a difference, to wake the German people to the truth of Hitler's regime.  She knows it will be dangerous, but she never thought it would end like this.

Alternating between Before and After sections, Kip Wilson tells Sophie's Scholl's story leading up her involvement with the White Rose and the consequences of her actions after she is captured.  For me, this verse novel felt a bit too spare to really immerse me in Sophie's story.  I found myself calling up what I had learned out the German youth resistance group, The White Rose, from the nonfiction title, We Will Not Be Silent by Russell Freedman which I highly recommend.  White Rose would make an interesting pairing with Freedman's novel.

Strange Birds

Lane Disanti isn't happy about spending her summer in Florida with her grandmother.  She also ins't happy about her parents' divorce, but no one asked her.  In an effort to head off her grandmother's insistance she join the Floras, Lane decides to form her own group. 

When Ofelia finds the invitation in her backpack, she has a pretty good idea who it's from.  Her mom works as Mrs. Disanti's assistant, and she's seen Lane skulking around in her all black clothes.  As a budding investigative journalist, her curiousity gets the better of her, and she decides to attend.  After all, she needs a good story if she wants to get into the writing camp she wants to attend in New York.  That's assuming her overprotective parents will let her go.

Aster has always been homeschooled by her grandfather, but she's about to start attending classes at the middle school next year.  She's spent all her time around adults, and she loves to cook.  She's a little nervous about fitting in with the other kids, so when she finds the invitation to attend a secret club meeting, she decides to take a chance.

Cat is the latest in a long line of Floras, but she is secretly tired of the group and it's meetings.  She hates the brownies she has to sell for the fundraiser, and she really hates the hat.  Every year, one of the girls is selected as Miss Floras, and wears the hat as part of her prize.  After research the Migratory Bird Act, and learning about all the birds who died for fashion, the hat makes her sick to her stomach.  Maybe this new club could be a good alternative to the Floras. 

They don't exactly gel at first, but Lane is determined, and decides the girls need an adventure to bond over.  Since Cat has such strong feelings about the Floras hat, maybe that issue could be just the thing to unite this unlikely group of friends.

Celia Perez's new novel is great story of friendship, adventure, and four girls who refuse to fit anyone's mold.  The story is rooted in local history, activism, and conserationism, and may inspire young readers to get involved in a cause of their own.  Recommended.

The Downstairs Girl

Jo Kuan spends her days toiling as a ladies maid for one of the most demanding young women in Atlanta.  Miss Caroline is never satisfied with anything, and she always seems to have some plot to chafe against her mother's wishes.  This makes life difficult for Jo, but she has worked in the house practically her whole life, and the rest of the servants are like family to her.

In the evenings, Jo returns to the home she shares with Old Jin, the man who took her in as an infant and raised her.  They live in secret beneath a newspaper printshop in rooms that were once part of the underground railroad.  This secret life isn't easy, but it's the only home Jo knows.  Plus, she likes to uncover the secret speaking tube and listen to the conversations of the Bell family who publishes the newspaper.  Listening to them over the years has developed her vocabulary and kept her up to date on the news.  She also feels like she knows their son, Nathaniel, even though he would never recognize Jo.

Jo has another secret.  She is Miss Sweetie, the Agony Aunt for the Bell's newspaper.  No one knows her identity, but she writes opinion pieces and answers advice letters in a way that has all of Atlanta talking.  As hard as it is for the black citizens of 1890's Atlanta, in some ways it's harder for Chinese people.  They don't seem to fit in any level of society.  Perhaps this is why Jo is compelled to dig for the truth about her own history, but that search will leave her at the mercy of one of Atlanta's most dangerous men.  For a girl with so many secrets, Jo certainly is leaving her mark on the world.

I heard Stacey Lee talk about this book at TLA back in April, and I knew I had to read it.  I didn't know anything about the influx of Chinese immigrants brought to the south to replace the newly freed slaves.  This is a well-plotted historical novel about a girl who refuses to bend to societal expectations.  It may take a more sophisticated reader to appreciate it, though.  Recommended for grades 8 and up simply for text complexity.

SPOILERS!  Also, I want a sequel where Jo and Nathaniel get married and move to New York and start their own newspaper there!

Up for Air

No matter how hard she tries, school is a struggle for Annabelle.  Even after all the extra hours of studying and tutorials, the final report card for 7th grade is a disappointment. 

Swimming is where she excels, where she can actually see her hard work pay off.  In fact, the coach of the high school team has asked her to move up a year early in the hopes Annabelle's butterfly stroke will lead the team to victory! 

Now she has something to focus on when she thinks about all the looks she gets from her friends when she doesn't understand things at school.  Mia and Jeremy have been her best friends since she moved to the island, but lately, everything with Mia seems like a competition, and Mia isn't happy unless she's winning.

She still likes hanging out with Jeremy, but he seems worried about her hanging out with the older kids, especially Conner.  Annabelle doesn't understand why everyone is so upset about Conner.  He's only two years older, and he seems to be going out of his way to make her feel welcome on the team. 

Add a letter from the father she hasn't seen in years, and Annabelle suddenly feels like she is drowning under the weight of everyone's expectations. 

I have to be honest; I didn't really care for Laurie Morrison's new book.  Annabelle spends all her time complaining.  I did have some compassion for her struggles with school in the beginning, but then she just kept making horrible and dangerous decisions!  If I were her mom, I would probably lock her up for the rest of the summer.  Maybe she's just a little too realistic as a whiny 7th grader.  I didn't want to spend time with her, and it was a struggle to finish the book.

Pie in the Sky

Jingwen's family was supposed to move to Australia together, but when his father dies, it's even harder to leave his home in China.  Now he and his younger brother Yanghao are living with their mother in a small apartment in a country where no one speaks his language.

He feels like an alien, and it doesn't help that the annoying Yanghao is pretty much the only person he can talk to.  He spends most of his time daydreaming about all the fabulous desserts he would have made with his father in their imaginary shop, Pie in the Sky.

Jingwen feels like his father is slipping further away every day, so he comes up with a plan.  He and Yanghao will make one of the fantastic recipes for Pie in the Sky every day.  The problem?  Their mother has forbidden them from using the oven while she's at work.  She also won't let them bake while she's home, so they decide to bake in secret while she's at work.

This leads to some hilarious and dangerous situations! 

Remy Lai's story about two immigrant brothers is a great read.  She really captures the Jingwen's feelings of isolation and loneliness as he struggles to adapt to what seems like an alien life.  The author's illustrations add to the effectiveness of the book.  Immigrant kids will see themselves in these pages, and nonimmigrants may get some idea of the work it takes to be successful in a new country.  Highly recommended.

Guts

Raina wakes up one night with an upset stomach, but she thinks it's just a bug.  The problem is this bug won't go away.  Her anxiety over friends, grades, even food just twist her stomach in knots.

Even thinking about her upset stomach makes things worse!  Is Raina doomed to a lifetime of tummy trouble?

This is the third book in Raina Telemeier's middle grade graphic memoir series, and it's a winner.  Kids still love all of Telgemeier's books, and this one will be a beloved addition to the graphic canon.  Kids who suffer from anxiety will see themselves in the pages, and the treatment of therapy as perfectly normal is a message we still need to see more often.  Highly recommended--though this will fly off the shelves all by itself!

A Curse So Dark and Lonely

Harper's life isn't easy.  Her dad is gone, and her older brother has fallen into a "job" working for the loan shark to whom their father was indebted.  Harper can do little more than serving as the lookout while he works because of her cerebral palsy, but their mother is home dying of cancer so Harper does what she can. 

One night she tries to intervene in a sketchy situation only to find herself suddenly in another world.  The season has changed.  The world has changed.  Her cell phone no longer works, and no one has electricity.  Where is she, and how did she get here?

Rhen was cursed by an evil sorceress to repeat the autumn of his eighteenth year until he can get a girl to fall in love with him.  To be trapped in this endless loop would be bad enough, but he also turns into a terrible beast at the end of each failing season and becomes a mindless danger to his people.

The only person who knows the truth is Gray, the captain of the guard, really the only one left.  All the other servants and guards are long gone.  At the beginning of each cycle, Gray is magically transported away to find another girl for the next attempt.  Rhen has almost given up hope, and Harper is not the girl he would have chosen for himself, but the more time they spend together, the more he admires her and enjoys her company.

Could it be possible after all these years for the curse to be broken?  Or will Rhen remain a curse to his people forever?

Brigid Kemmerer's take on the Beauty and the Beast fairy tale is an engaging and romantic read with high stakes and plenty of development for all the characters.  The representation of cerebral palsy is definitely a plus, and the author deals with the kidnapping/captive plot point well. Highly recommended for fantasy and fairy tale fans, grades 8 and up.

The Kingdom

Welcome to the Kingdom where all your dreams come true.  In the Kingdom, life is beautiful and perfect.  None of the problems of the outside world exist.  They've even figured out how to bring extinct species back to life for the enjoyment of the guests. 

The crowning jewels of the Kingdom are the fantasists.  These beautiful "princesses" were engineered to be a fantasy come to life.  Ana has never questioned anything about the Kingdom until she meets Owen.  He is a park employee who works with the animals, and the more time she spends with him, the more confused she is about her programming.  She wasn't designed to feel any of these emotions, but it isn't long before Ana begins to fall in love with him.

Then Ana becomes a suspect in Owen's murder, and her very existence is on the line during her trial. 

Jess Rothenberg's novel is told in flashbacks from Ana's memories, police interrogations and court transcripts as it slowly unveils the dark truths about the Kingdom and the fantasist program as well as the truth about Ana's guilt or innocence.  Like all good science fiction, this book invites the reader to consider ethical issues with parallels in the real world.  Recommended for grades 7 and up.  There are hints about what happens with some of the fantasists and wealthy businessmen at parties, but all of this action takes place off stage and nothing is stated explicitly.