Nimona by Noelle Stevenson

 

I was looking for a quick read to finish up October with, so I picked up Nimona from my graphic novel shelf. This  is a cute adventure story about a villain named Lord Ballister Blackheart and his new sidekick, a frisky shapeshifter named Nimona. Their ongoing mission is to get under the skin of the heroic Sir Ambrosious Goldenloin, an arch nemesis with whom Blackheart has a complicated history. As their acts of villainy play out, it becomes clear that Nimona has a mysterious backstory as well, and her true origins may pose more danger than Blackheart knows.

This novel was very cute and quite smart at the same time. It felt witty and modern to read, despite the medieval setting. The illustrations were beautiful and the overall themes were very goodhearted and centered around love, acceptance, and friendship. I really enjoyed it and think it's a great choices for middle to high school readers. This was a nice, easy way to wrap up the month and I'm excited to have another book to bring to my students.  

Challenge Tally

Middle Grade Mission: 29/24 - Finished!  

Total Books Read in 2022: 91

Paradise On Fire by Jewell Parker Rhodes

 

Paradise on Fire tells the story of a teenage girl named Addy who is sent to an outdoor skills camp for the summer. Her parents passed away in a house fire when she was very young, and she is still struggling with her grief and anxiety over it. She's become preoccupied with making maps and drawing escape routes so that she will never end up stuck inside somewhere. Her aunt thinks that the camp will do her some good, and when Addy arrives there, she realizes that her aunt was right. She quickly falls in love with hiking and exploring the woods. Her enjoyment is cut short, however, when a forest fire threatens the camp. Addy must conquer her fears and use her map making skills to find a safe route around the fire to save herself and her friends.

I thought this novel was pretty good and very appropriate for the middle grades audience it was written for. Addy's journey is emotional and uplifting, and the story carries a strong environmental message as well. The sections where she must find a way around the fire are genuinely suspenseful and I think young readers will easily be swept up in the excitement. This novel didn't hit me quite as strongly as the other book by Jewell Parker Rhodes that I have read, Ghost Boys, but it was still a pretty solid read. I will definitely be donating this one to my school and recommending it to lots of students. 

Challenge Tally

Middle Grade Mission: 28/24 - Finished!  

Total Books Read in 2022: 88

Black Birds in the Sky by Brandy Colbert

 

It's been awhile since I posted here, but I have still been reading as much as I can. Starting my masters program has been time consuming, to say the least. I've definitely slowed my pace, but I did still manage to finish a few things. My next few reviews will be on the shorter side, but I still wanted to get my thoughts down here.

I read Black Birds in the Sky by Brandy Colbert towards the beginning of the month. This is a nonfiction middle grades novel about the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. I didn't know much about the topic before reading, and I did feel like I had a good understanding of the horrific event afterwards, so the book did its job. Even though I really shouldn't be surprised by the extent of historical racism anymore, I found myself truly stunned by the events described here. This is a shameful part of American history and it should be discussed more. 

The text itself was clearly well researched and not too difficult to read. One small issue I had was the amount of background information provided. I'm not sure if Colbert didn't have enough information to fill out the whole novel or if she thought all the backstory was necessary, but this book spends over 100 pages on other historical topics that are related to Tulsa. I found myself disengaging from the narrative during these sections and wishing to get back to the main point.

Aside from that though, I thought this was an excellent and very informative nonfiction novel for middle grades and young adult readers. Anyone who doesn't know much about the Tulsa Massacre would benefit from giving this one a try. I disagree with those who want to deliberately forget about events like this. It is only through understanding and confronting the past that we can do better in the future. 

Challenge Tally

Middle Grade Mission: 27/24 - Finished!  

Total Books Read in 2022: 86

Isla to Island by Alexis Castellanos

 

Isla to Island by Alexis Castellanos was the second graphic novel I read while I was on vacation at Niagra Falls. This turned out to be a good choice to read in the car, because as I discovered, there is almost no words in this one--just a whole lot of beautiful illustrations to look at. The lack of words don't diminish the story in the slightest though, and this was the perfect book to get lost in on a long road trip.

The story follows a young girl named Isla who is sent from her home in Cuba to live with an adoptive family in New York City as part of Operation Peter Pan in the 1960s. At first, Isla is desperately homesick and sad, but her foster family helps her to gradually come out of her shell. She starts attending American school and learning English, and she discovers a passion for plants and books that help fill her days. She eventually flourishes under difficult circumstances and watching her grow from a frightened little kid to a confident and intelligent young woman shows what is possible with kindness, understanding, and determination.

This book was truly phenomenal. As there are almost no written words in it, the illustrations do all of the work in getting the story across. Castellanos uses color to convey a lot of the emotions Isla experiences, with the sections where she is sad being in black and white, and color slowly creeping back in as she starts adjusting and feeling better. The art style itself is friendly and expressive. Each page was a pleasure to look at, and I often found myself pausing in my reading to appreciate the pictures further. Isla was an easy character to root for, and her adoptive parents in New York were incredibly sweet and loving. Everything about the story was heartwarming and by the time I got to the end, I was on the verge of happy tears. This book was one of those one that you can immediately tell is special.

So obviously, I absolutely loved Isla to Island. The almost wordless format and beautiful illustrations combine with the inspirational story to create a reading experience that is moving and unique. This is Castellanos' first graphic novel, and I will certainly be picking up anything else she comes out with in the future.

Challenge Tally

Middle Grade Mission: 26/24 - Finished!  

Total Books Read in 2022: 78

Anne of West Philly by Ivy Noelle Weir and Myisha Haynes

 

I went with my family on a trip to Niagra Falls a few weeks ago. It was a great trip, and the falls were definitely beautiful, but it did cut into my reading time. To make sure I got at least a little bit of reading in while I was away, I brought along some graphic novels. The first one I read was Ivy Noelle Weir and Myisha Haynes' Anne of West Philly. As you might guess from the title, this is a modernized, graphic novel retelling of Anne of Green Gables. It's the third in a series of reimagined classics for middle grades readers that have come out recently. I have already read and loved Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy, and The Secret Garden on 81st Street, so I couldn't imagine not loving this one too. Plus, Anne of Green Gables is a story that is already near and dear to my heart, so this was the perfect blend of old and new for me. I read it in the back of the car and in our hotel room over the course of a few days, and as expected, I enjoyed it very much.

The plot follows the story of plucky orphan Anne Shirley. She is adopted by brother and sister Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert at the start of the story, and her dreamy and dramatic worldview endears her to them almost immediately. As she settles in with her new family, she has to handle hurdles like making new friends, fitting in at her school, and dealing with a pesky boy. Her exuberance and creativity get her into one scrape after another, but her winsome personality and enthusiastic spirit help her overcome them. She makes a best friend in a neighbor girl named Diana Barry and finds a passion in coding in her school's computer club. By the end of the story, she is flourishing and happy. With Matthew and Marilla's guidance she's finally found where she belongs.

This version of Anne of Green Gables had all the heart and sweetness of the original. Anne is still joyful, imaginative, and unique. Diana is still the kind of best friend kids dream of having. Matthew and Marilla are still curmudgeonly and loving in equal measure. All the classic moments from the novel are there too, but with modern twists that bring them up to date. The illustrations are also beautiful, and do a nice job of making the new setting of West Philly seem just as magical and full of possibilities as Green Gables. There's really nothing not to like about this book, and it's a wonderful way to get kids interested in a classic story.

This ended up being the perfect book to bring along on my vacation. It's easy to read, extremely sweet, and a fitting tribute to one of the best children's classics of all time. I can see myself recommending this to students over and over again. I'm really hoping that more books come out in this series in the future, as I've loved everything they've done so far. 

Challenge Tally

Middle Grade Mission: 25/24 - Finished!  

Total Books Read in 2022: 77

When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller

 

I came across When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller while I was looking for books for my Middle Grades Mission Challenge. It won the Newberry Award in 2021, so that was really all the persuasion I needed to pick it up. The inside flap, which promised a story about a young girl struggling with some family issues mixed in with traditional Korean folklore, only sweetened the deal. I've read a few middle grades books that mix contemporary issues with old cultural stories, and those have been some of my favorite reads so far this year. All signs were pointing to this novel becoming a new favorite, so I started off my reading with high hopes.  

The novel follows a young girl named Lily who, as the novel begins, has just moved with her family into her grandmother's (halmoni's) house. Halmoni is very ill and needs help around the house, so this is a stressful and sad time for the family. Upon arriving, Lily is immediately troubled by a strange occurrence. She sees a giant tiger, just like the ones in the folktales Halmoni tells her, standing in the middle of the street. Lily is the only one who can see it, so at first, she dismisses it as some sort of optical illusion. That proves to be untrue when the tiger appears again and starts speaking to her. The tiger explains that Halmoni has stolen something the tiger wants back, and if Lily will help her retrieve it, she will help Halmoni feel better. Desperate to help her family, Lily agrees. Deals with tigers, however, are tricky business, and Lily will need to keep her wits about her if she wants to make everything turn out right.

When You Trap a Tiger is a story about stories--the ones you find comfort in and tell over and over, the ones you tell yourself to cover up uncomfortable truths, and the ones that you lock away and try not to think about. Lily's quest to help Halmoni leads her to dig through all of these, and in the process, she discovers a lot about herself and her family. Watching her grow and come to some very mature realizations was a pleasure and probably the strongest aspect of the novel. The language was also very beautiful and the inclusion of Halmoni's Korean folktales was very engaging. For the most part, I did enjoy this read.

That being said, however, I did not like this book as much as I thought I was going to. Frankly, I'm stunned by this because it's the exact kind of story I typically love. I think the issue for me was the way the magical realism was handled. I felt like everything was left too hazy. What was real and what wasn't was never made clear, and the way the folktales connected to reality never clicked in a satisfying way for me. This didn't feel intentional. It felt clumsy. Something was continually off about it. I had trouble fully getting all the layers straight in my mind, and that really should not be an issue I have to deal with in a novel written for children. Of course, this wasn't a bad book by any means and I want to be very clear about that. I did still enjoy it. On the whole, however, I was surprised it was selected for the Newberry.

I have read two other books this year that connect cultural folktales with a modern storyline, The Magic Fish and The Last Cuentista. Both of those were phenomenal reads and are among my favorites for the year. Sadly, When You Trap a Tiger paled in comparison. I'm not sure how many actual middle school kids would be able to make it all the way through this book and enjoy it. Magical realism is high concept to begin with, and I don't think the way it was implemented here is particularly child-friendly. I'm definitely in the minority on this one though. Goodreads has pages and pages of excellent reviews for this, so I suppose I'll have to chalk my feelings up to personal preference. Even so, it was a good book that was a little disappointing. I'm not sorry I gave it a try. 

On a side note, with this novel, I have officially completed my Middle Grades Mission Challenge! I have read 24 fairly current middle grades books since the beginning of 2022 and some of them have been shockingly good. I'm going to continue on throughout the rest of the year and see how many more I can get to.

Challenge Tally

Middle Grade Mission: 24/24 - Finished!

Total Books Read in 2022: 69

Across the Desert by Dusti Bowling

 

I found Dusti Bowling's Across the Desert while browsing new middle grades novels on Goodreads. I was stocking up on books for my Middle Grades Mission and this one looked interesting enough, so I picked it up. I was in the mood for a short, easy read to kick off the month and this one was calling to me, so I decided to give it a try.

The plot of the novel follows a twelve-year-old girl named Jolene. She lives in Phoenix and her life has been tough lately. Her mother has become addicted to oxycodone following a bad car accident, and she spends most of her time sleeping and finding ways to acquire more pills. Money is extremely tight due to this. Jolene is outgrowing all of her clothes and there is very little food in the house. Jolene finds an escape from her troubles through watching a streamer that goes by the name of "Addie Earhart." Addie is a young pilot, who streams herself flying her ultralight plane around the Arizona desert. Jolene is usually Addie's only viewer, but that suits both girls just fine. They have struck up a tentative friendship online. Jolene doesn't have many friends, so she treasures this relationship.

As the story begins however, disaster strikes. Jolene tunes into Addie's stream as usual. As she watches, something goes wrong with Addie's ultralight and she crashes somewhere in the desert. The stream abruptly cuts off, leaving Jolene the only person who knows what happened. Frantic, she tries contacting the police and telling other adults her friend needs help, but when people hear that this was something that happened online to a person she doesn't really know, they stop taking her seriously. Determined to save her friend, Jolene sets out on a dangerous mission across the desert on her own to rescue her.

I enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought I would, which made for a nice surprise. I have read a lot of middle grades books lately that I personally really liked, but didn't really think an average twelve-year-old kid would actually sit and read all the way through. This one was different. It moved quickly, it was very engaging, and it dealt with the kind of real world issues that young readers are interested in. Jolene's journey into the desert to try and save her friend felt genuinely harrowing, and the way Bowling described the heat, her thirst, and all the pain she was in had me wincing internally. It felt real and it felt dangerous and it made for a real page-turning experience. Jolene was an easy character to root for and I enjoyed watching her grow throughout the text. 

The element of Jolene's mother and her drug addiction was handled very well too. Bowling did a nice job of portraying the pain that both Jolene and her mother were in. She explains in the notes at the end of the book that she struggled as a kid with her own father's addiction to pain pills, and you could absolutely tell that she was writing from a place of experience throughout the text. There was this one point towards the end of the story where Jolene thinks that if she can complete this impossible task and rescue her friend, then maybe she can prove to her mom that she is worth getting sober for, and my goodness, that hit me right in the feelings.

So ultimately, I liked Across the Desert a lot more than I was expecting to. It was full of heart, had a very relatable protagonist, and was consistently engaging. I will most definitely be recommending this to students in the future and I think it's worth a read for anyone that enjoys middle grades realistic fiction. It was surprisingly solid!

Challenge Tally

Middle Grade Mission: 23/24

Total Books Read in 2022: 66

Vacation Reading Roundup

 

During the past few weeks, my husband and I took a long road trip from Connecticut to Florida to visit our families. One of my goals for the trip was to keep up with my reading while we were away, and I actually did it. I read at least 100 pages each day we were gone and I ended up finishing six books and liking all of them. Of course, I didn't have time to sit and blog during those days, as most of my spare time was filled with socializing (the horror). Since we're at the end of the month already, I have decided to combine my reflections on my vacation reading into one post. Strap in, we've got a lot of ground to cover.

Violets are Blue by Barbara Dee

**Slight spoilers ahead**

This middle grades contemporary fiction novel centers around a seventh grader named Wren and her difficult family life. Her parents have recently divorced and things are tough. Her dad has remarried a new woman and is expecting twins. He is happy. Her mom is sinking deeper and deeper into depression and is starting to display some worrying behaviors like missing work, feeling ill, and disappearing for long stretches of time. Wren lives with her mom, and constantly feels caught in the middle. She finds escape through her passion - special effects makeup. When she is transforming herself or her friends into different characters, she is able to take her mind off her troubles. When the situation with her mother takes a dark turn, however, she is unable to ignore the problems and must face the hard truth of what is happening.

This was an excellent book, and I liked it a lot. Barbara Dee's writing was easy to read and I thought that Wren's character felt genuine and was very likeable. This novel deals with the difficult topic of addiction, and it was handled very well here. It was totally appropriate for middle grades readers while still being truthful and emotional. The element of Wren's special effects makeup was interesting too, and different from the hobbies usually present in these types of stories. It was nice to break away from sports, traditional art, and music and see something different. One small issue I had was that I thought Wren should have figured out her mom's issues with addiction earlier in the story - there were a lot of clues pointing in this direction - but overall, this was a great book and I can definitely see myself recommending it to students in the future.

Challenge Tally

Middle Grade Mission: 18/24

Total Books Read in 2022: 60

The Aquanaut by Dan Santat 

This middle grades graphic novel follows Sophia, a young girl who has been struggling since her father was lost at sea. She spends most of her time at Aqualand, a marine theme park that her father created, and hangs out with her uncle Paul, who also works at the park. One day, she is shocked to find an "aquanaut" dressed in an old fashioned diving suit arrive at Aqualand. Before long, she discovers that this mysterious character is actually four little sea creatures piloting the water-filled suit. They have decided to leave the sea to seek safety on land and need Sophia's help to stay undercover. She must try to protect them from Aqualand's main investor, a callous man that values profits over the welfare of the animals in his care. 

This was a very cute story with a great message about caring for others, animal welfare, and the importance of family. The art and illustrations were charming and the plot was incredibly sweet. This was an easy novel to read and one that I will definitely be putting in my classroom library. There were times where I wished it was a little bit deeper or more complex, but it was still a great reading experience.

Challenge Tally

Middle Grade Mission: 19/24

Total Books Read in 2022: 61

Too Bright to See by Kyle Lukoff

This middle grades contemporary novel follows an eleven-year-old kid named Bug. Bug's uncle has recently passed and away, and as they were very close, she is devastated by the loss. Bug lives in an old house that she has long believed is haunted, and soon after her uncle's death, she begins experiencing some alarming supernatural phenomena. She comes to believe that he is trying to deliver her an important message, and figuring out what that message is leads her to realize some important truths about herself. 

This was a beautiful novel, and well deserving of all the awards it has been nominated for. It contains a unique blend of supernatural elements alongside LGBTQIA+ topics. I was surprised by how well it handled realistic and deeply emotional issues through this otherworldly lens. Everything remained respectful, appropriate, and full of love. The whole novel is overflowing with love, actually. It was a pleasure to read Bug's journey. This is a wonderful addition to any young reader's library, as it delivers important messages about being yourself and accepting others. 

Challenge Tally

Middle Grade Mission: 20/24

Total Books Read in 2022: 62

A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher

 

This young adult fantasy novel follows a fourteen-year-old girl named Mona. She lives in a world where a small percentage of the population is born with magical abilities. Some people are born with very strong powers and can control elements like water and fire. Others are born with less impressive abilities. Mona, for example, can control dough and baked goods. She coax dough into the perfect consistency and achieve perfect bakes every time using her magic. She works at her aunt's bakery, which is the ideal place to use her talents. Her quiet little life, however, is soon disrupted when a dead body turns up in the bakery's basement and Mona is implicated in the crime. She soon uncovers a nasty plot to rid the world of magical people and must find a way to use her modest abilities to help her kingdom defeat those who seek to dismantle it.

This was an excellent story and surprisingly funny. I really enjoyed the world-building in this one and the quirky magic system. Mona doesn't wave a magic wand or say a spell to use her powers. Rather, she touches dough and convinces it to do things. She persuades it in her mind to move, bake, dance, rise, etc. She can also bring baked goods to life, and her sourdough starter, Bob, and a clever little gingerbread man serve as her familiars. The writing was witty and Mona as a narrator was very likable and genuine. One aspect of the story that I particularly liked was Mona's continued assertion that it was ridiculous she had to step up and be a hero for her kingdom. She acknowledged that many adults had to fail in their responsibilities for things to deteriorate to a point where a fourteen-year-old had to step up and fix everything. This was both a good point and a funny way to consider the situation. I'm used to kids in fantasy novels believing their own hype a little too much. This was a very fun little novel and well worth the read.

Challenge Tally

Total Books Read in 2022: 63

Anne of Green Gables: A Graphic Novel by Mariah Marsden and Brenna Thummler

This middle grades graphic novel is an adaptation of L.M. Montgomery's classic about the young, whimsical orphan named Anne Shirley. The story follows her as she is adopted by brother and sister Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert and comes to live with them at Green Gables, a beautiful farm in the small, picturesque town of Avonlea. Anne's quirky and romantic personality leads her into several adventures as she grows up, makes friends, and attends school. Her optimistic outlook on life brings happiness to almost everyone she meets and encourages them to find the magic and wonder in everyday things.

I already loved Anne of Green Gables before reading this, so there was no way I wasn't going to also love this beautiful adaptation of it. It's just a shortened version of the original story, but all of the most memorable parts are there. It's a nice introduction to the original for younger readers. The illustrations are absolutely stunning, and the perfect accompaniment to the text. I kept stopping to marvel at the art as I was reading. Mariah Marsden and Breanna Thummler took an already charming story and somehow managed to make it even more charming. It's worth a read for the pictures alone, but of course, the story is wholesome and wonderful too. It has worthy themes of individuality, kindness, and family, and Anne is just so winsome that you can't help but root for her. This is a book you read when you want to smile. I liked it a lot.

Challenge Tally

Middle Grade Mission: 21/24

Total Books Read in 2022: 64

The Troubled Girls of Dragomir Academy by Anne Ursu

This middle grades fantasy novel follows Marya Lupu, a young girl growing up in the kingdom of Illyria. Magic exists in Marya's world, but only boys manifest it and become sorcerers. Sorcerers are very important in this world, as they are the people's only defense against the Dread, a terrifying magical force that can wipe out entire villages if left unchecked. Her brother Luka, with his mature demeanor and uncommon intelligence seems destined for this role, and everyone is waiting for the day when he will be selected for magical training. As such, Marya has grown up very much in his shadow. She becomes the unwitting center of attention, however, when an unfortunate accident with the family goat leads to her being sent away to the Dragomir Academy, a school for troubled girls. Right away, Marya can tell that things aren't quite right at this school, and she begins poking around and asking questions. What she uncovers about the school, her classmates, and the Dread is shocking, and will change Illyrian society forever if she can find a way to put all the pieces together and communicate what she has learned.

This novel was amazingly good and I was very pleasantly surprised by it. When I started reading, I figured I was in for another mildly enjoyable magical adventure, but The Troubled Girls of Dragomir Academy is a book that actually has something to say. Marya has to grapple with complex issues like injustice, power imbalances, sexism, gaslighting, and questioning authority. She learns that the world she lives in has ugly problems that can't be neatly solved. She learns that family can disappoint you on the most fundamental levels. It's easy for readers to draw parallels between what Marya goes through and real problems present in the world today, making this a very thoughtful and smart read. At the same time, it's easy for middle grades readers to understand and contains a very engaging plot. I really loved this one and I appreciate Ursu's clear effort in delivering a message about social justice. This is a little gem of a book and well worth the read for people of any age.

Challenge Tally

Middle Grade Mission: 22/24

Total Books Read in 2022: 65

Whew! That was a lot of reading and mini-reviewing! My trip home was nice, but I am happy to be back to a normal reading and blogging schedule now. July should be back to our regularly scheduled programming.

The Mysterious Disappearance of Aidan S. by David Leviathan

 

I first came across The Mysterious Disappearance of Aidan S. by David Levithan on a Barnes and Noble trip a few months ago. I've been on the lookout for good middle grades novels this year, and the summary on the inside flap of this one caught my attention. As my last read was a fairly complex fantasy series, I was in the mood for something shorter and simpler. I decided to give this one a try.

The plot of the story follows a middle school student named Lucas. As the story begins, his older brother Aiden disappears one night from his bedroom. He's left absolutely no trace of where he might be or how he left, and the entire town turns itself inside out searching for him. After six days have passed without a trace of him, he suddenly reappears in his family's attic. He initially tells them that he accidentally traveled to a different world called Aveinieu through the door of an old dresser, but as he sees everyone react to that story with disbelief, he becomes reluctant to talk about it. 

At first, Lucas doesn't believe his brothers story either, but eventually, he comes to think he is telling the truth. He asks him for more details about Aveinieu, and Aiden tells him wonderous things about impossible animals and magical foods. Everything is better there, he says, and in the days after his return, he longs to go back. The rest of the family, the police, and his friends at school, however, continue to regard his story with suspicion and Aiden finds himself under a lot of pressure and ridicule. He is constantly asked to reveal what "really happened." Seeing the tremendous toll this is taking on Aidan and the rest of his family, Lucas starts working on a plan to help everyone move past it.

This is a fairly shot novel, and it was definitely a page-turner. As I started reading, I was very engaged in the plot and interested to find out more about where Aidan had gone. Was the world of Aveinieu actually real, or was he creating a story to cover up a darker truth? I kept reading on, looking for clues and answers. As I continued to move through the story though, the pacing surprised me. I read chapter after chapter of people needling Aidan about his experience and the family struggling to handle it, without getting the kind of twists or information I would expect in this kind of story. It turns out that not very much happens in this book beyond that, and I soon realized that I wasn't reading a mystery that was meant to be "solved." I was reading a story about a family struggling to come to terms with a difficult, unexplainable event. Whether Aidan really went to a different place was not the point at all, and although there are clues sprinkled throughout that suggest that it was all real, the tale Levithan wanted to tell here was one of family, truth, and the relationship between brothers. 

This was not a bad thing by any means, and once I understood that what I was reading was not really going to provide conclusive answers or contain a shocking dark twist, I appreciated what it was. A quiet story about a family going through a really hard time and learning to trust each other. Levithan's writing was simple and poetic, and the text itself was easy to read. The characters were fine and behaved in ways that were mostly realistic (the exception being that Lucas' inner monologues sounded too mature for a middle school kid). I ended up enjoying it quite a bit by the time I finished. I do question, however, if this would actually appeal to real middle grades readers. I can see students like mine reading this and getting mad because "nothing happens." Readers of that age are generally not okay with ambiguity and quiet stories, especially when something like a fantasy land or a horrific crime are hinted at and never expanded upon. It would take a special young reader, or an adult like me, to appreciate that kind of book. In reality, this probably appeals more to middle school teachers than actual middle school students, but it was well-written either way.  

So ultimately, I did enjoy The Mysterious Disappearance of Aidan S. and I'm glad I gave it a try. I do wish that more information about the actual disappearance was explored, but I ended up liking the quiet, thoughtful nature of the story and the relationships between the main characters. I will be donating it to my classroom library, and hopefully putting it in the hands of kids that appreciate themes and emotions over action and suspense.

Challenge Tally

Middle Grade Mission: 17/24

Total Books Read in 2022: 50

The Ogress and the Orphans by Kelly Barnhill

 

When I saw that Kelly Barnhill had a new middle grades book out, I couldn't add it to my cart fast enough. I read and loved The Girl Who Drank the Moon a few years ago, and I was excited to see what Barnhill would come up with next. I was hoping for another smart fantasy novel with a lot of heart, and that's exactly what I ended up getting.

The novel is set in a small town named Stone-in-the-Glen. It used to be a lovely town that valued kindness and education, but things changed after a series of mysterious fires destroyed much of its infrastructure. The most devastating loss was their beautiful library, which served as an important community center. Now, people don't trust each other, stay inside their homes, and are generally depressed and unpleasant. A traveling Ogress in search of a home stumbles across this town one day and decides to try and change things. She builds herself a small house on the outskirts and begins leaving little presents outside the villagers doors at night. She hopes her secret gifts will promote positive change, but the people have grown so superstitious and tense that they don't have the desired impact. People still keep to themselves and don't think about their neighbors.

One group that does appreciate the gifts and longs for change, however, are the children that live in the small orphanage in the center of town. There are fifteen of them, and they have formed a tight-knit family. They are struggling to make ends meet after the payments they usually receive from the mayor dry up. The occasional gifts from the ogress have become a lifeline for them, and even with those, they still don't have enough to eat. Fearing for the future of their little group, some of the older children embark on a mission to figure out who their mysterious benefactor is, and in the course of their investigation, they set a chain of events into motion that will uncover some shocking truths about Stone-in-the-Glen and change their way of life forever.

I'm not trying to be dramatic here, but this novel was one of the best middle grades fantasies I have every read. Everything about it was pretty much perfect. The writing was Barnhill's signature mix of dry humor and fairy tale richness and the themes of kindness, caring for your neighbors, and the magic of reading were absolutely lovely to explore. I was delighted with it from beginning to end. It was just so, so beautiful. 

I think its strongest point was the characters. The kindly ogress, battling in her quiet way again the prejudices and unkindness of the townspeople, was inspiring, and her unfailing care and devotion to complete strangers made her extremely lovable (and highly relatable to teachers). The plucky, winsome orphans were also enjoyable to read. Their love of books and their support of each other was just so nice. The whole story was nice, for that matter. This is one of those books that feels really good to read. It gives us a vision of how the world should be, with an extra sprinkling of magic.  

I also loved the focus on helping others and being neighborly throughout the story. The problems that Stone-in-the-Glen have to face are not fair and not anything they asked for. In order to overcome the years of bitterness and suspicion that have built up, they have to open their hearts to each other. The ogress and the orphans help start the healing process, but everyone has to work together to make real changes. I thought this was a great message and a lovely way to structure the story. The villain of the story was pretty good too. He was an exaggeration of a kind of person we have in the real world, but with a magical twist that made him the perfect fit for this fantasy story.

So obviously, I truly loved The Ogress and the Orphans. It was a beacon of loveliness in our increasingly grimy world and it's definitely a new favorite for me. This further cements Kelly Barnhill's place as one of my favorite authors. She recently came out with an adult novel that I just picked up, and I'm very excited to see what that's like too. I'm very glad to have read this and I will definitely be recommending it to pretty much everyone that will listen to me. 

Challenge Tally

Middle Grade Mission: 16/24

Total Books Read in 2022: 45

Cress Watercress by Gregory Maguire

 

When I saw that Gregory Maguire had a new novel coming out last month, I already knew I was going to get it, whatever it was. The fact that it was an illustrated middle grades novel about a rabbit made it that much better. I've been a fan of Maguire's work since I read Wicked in college, and I've read most things he's come out with since then. I don't always love all of it, but I'm definitely a fan of his. I was excited to see what this story would be like, so I picked it up pretty soon after it was delivered.

The plot follows a young rabbit named Cress. She lives in a forest with her mother and baby brother Kip. As the novel begins, Cress and her family are moving to a new home. Her father has recently disappeared and is presumed to have been killed by a predator of some sort, and her mother wants to move to a place that has more neighbors, for their protection. Cress is very sad to leave her comfortable warren, and becomes even sadder when she arrives at the Broken Arms, an old tree in which her mother has rented an apartment. 

Their apartment is tiny and musty, and her new neighbors are a colorful group of characters that begin annoying her almost immediately. Their landlord, an owl named Mr. Titus Pillowby Owl, is standoffish and unfriendly. Their super, a mouse named Manfred Crabgrass, is usually grouchy. Their fellow tennants, a family of squirrels named the Oakleafs, are loud and too chatty, especially their three small sons. There are dangers to be aware of too - a fox named Renard, a bear named Tunk, and a snake named The Final Drainpipe are all sneaking about looking for their next meal. Cress tries to settle in, but can't help being a little prickly. She is still secretly hoping her father will reappear and take them all back home, but as more time passes, that seems less and less likely. Throughout the course of the story, Cress must come to terms with her loss and start building a new life in which she can be herself, embrace her talents, and find peace with her family and friends.

This story was phenomenal. I was in love from page one. The characters were cute and lovable and the story was a nice blend of action and quiet moments. Maguire maintained a wonderful fairytale-like tone throughout the text that made everything feel like a grand adventure, but he mixed that in with his signature quirky style and slightly sharp humor. The blending of the two styles was a joy to read and often had me snickering. The illustrations throughout the story were stunning as well. They seemed to be imbued with brightness and really gave the me the feeling of sitting in a forest dappled with sunlight. The character illustrations were incredibly charming too - this is certainly a novel meant to be read aloud with a child peeking over your shoulder. 

The themes presented here were surprisingly complex for a book about talking animals. The main issue in the novel is Cress and her family processing the loss of their father and finding a way to move on with their lives. Maguire doesn't shy away from showing their anger and their sadness as they grieve this loss, but he keeps the focus on their growth and hope as the story moves on. Cress also grapples with self confidence, building healthy friendships, empathy for others, and thinking creatively throughout the plot, and she learns this lesson in a way that does not feel patronizing to readers. It just feels lovely--like all of this is possible for us too if we open our hearts to it. 

I loved pretty much everything about Cress Watercress. It felt like a classic children's novel with just a tiny bit of an edge, and I was completely charmed by it from page one. This is a wonderful novel for younger readers, especially if read aloud with a parent. It's definitely another Gregory Maguire favorite for me too, and it definitely cements the idea in my mind that I need to keep following his work for both kids and adults.     

Challenge Tally

Middle Grade Mission: 15/24

Total Books Read in 2022: 36

Alone by Megan E. Freeman

 

I found Megan Freeman's Alone through a recommendation from Amazon. I was intrigued by the pretty cover design, and when I saw that it was a middle grades survival story written in verse, I decided to give it a try. I've written before about my love for adventure novels, and Hatchet in particular, so I was hoping that this would have similar vibes. 

The plot of the novel follows a twelve-year-old girl named Maddie who wakes up one morning to find herself completely alone in her small hometown. The entire state has seemingly been evacuated for reasons Maddie doesn't really understand, and she's missed the transports out with the rest of her family. at first, she hunkers down in her house and waits for someone to return for her, but as the weeks drag on, she realizes that no one is coming back anytime soon and she needs to take care of herself. With only the neighbors' dog for company, she begins venturing out to gather supplies for her survival. She faces challenges like living without electricity, procuring food and water, staying warm in the winter, fending off wild animals, and dealing with injuries. She captures her feelings about everything in a journal in verse form, and as her entries go on, she becomes stronger and more self-sufficient. Alone is a story about survival, self-confidence, and growing up in extraordinary circumstances.

This novel was very good, and I really enjoyed reading about Maddie's journey. Watching her travel around her empty streets collecting food from houses and books from the library had a genuinely unsettling feeling, and the use of verse rather than prose contributed to the isolated tone of the story. There were fewer words to read, which matched Maddie's loneliness well. The pages looked empty just like the town was empty. The strategy worked well.

The characterization was great too. Maddie shows clear growth throughout the story, moving from being scared and sad to capable and strong. Her circumstances push her to do things she never thought she would have to do, and watching her use the limited resources available to her to learn was very satisfying. The plot spans a few years too, so there was plenty of time there for her arc to feel reasonable. This is the kind of story that would inspire kids and encourage them to think about what they would do if they ended up alone somehow, and anything that encourages that kind of engagement with the text is great for young readers. Even I was doing this as I was reading, so the motivation factor isn't just limited to kids here.

The one aspect of the text that I thought needed some improvement was the halfway-dystopian setup for Maddie being left alone. Freeman drops vague bits of information about the evacuation being ordered due to a suspected attack from a foreign nation, and then kind of turns that on its head in the novel's final pages to be due to something else nefarious. I almost wish she had just left the specifics completely out of the story, because the bits that were there were very flimsy and took away from the believability of the book. We already know from events like Hurricane Katrina that there are always lots of people that do not comply with evacuation orders for various reasons. There is literally no way that Maddie would find herself completely alone if such an order were passed. If the reasons for everyone leaving were left unknown, it would have made everything more unsettling, which wouldn't have been bad. It's more believable that a twelve-year-old would not be following current events and find herself left completely in the dark about what happened than it is to suppose the threat of an attack would cause every single person to leave a state. As this wasn't a big part of the story though, it didn't impact my enjoyment of the book too much.   

So overall, I thought Alone was a fantastic read and I like almost everything about it. This is a great story for younger readers as it is quick to read and genuinely interesting. Maddie's struggle to survive is very engaging and her growth across the text is satisfying to watch. This is a novel that I will definitely be recommending my to students. 

Challenge Tally

Middle Grade Mission: 14/24

Total Books Read in 2022: 35

The Hideaway by Pam Smy

 

I first came across The Hideaway by Pam Smy during a shopping trip in the middles grades section of Barnes and Noble. I was instantly drawn to it because the edges of the pages were sprayed black, giving it a very distinctive dark and moody look. When I picked it up, the cover design and the beautiful illustrations on the inside cemented my interest. I already had an embarrassing amount of books in my arms that day, so I didn't buy it right away, but I did pick it up on Amazon a few weeks later. I remained very curious about it, despite having several other books on my shelf that I was thinking about reading first. I figured that must mean something, so I decided to give it a try this month.

The plot of the novel follows a young boy named Billy that lives in England with his mother, Grace, and his stepfather, Jeff. Jeff physically abuses Grace regularly, and as the novel begins, Billy has had enough. He runs away to a small hideaway he discovered in a cemetery during a school trip last year. The small concrete shelter is dirty and cold, but it is the perfect place for Billy to get away from the violence and sadness at home. He settles in with the meager supplies he packed and enjoys the solitude. 

Before long, he runs into the cemetery caretaker, a kindly old man that agrees to let Billy stay there for a while in exchange for helping him maintain the headstones. Billy quickly agrees to this plan and falls into a new routine of working during the day and spending time thinking about what to do next at night. The old man has made it clear that he can only stay for a few days, so he has to figure out whether he will return home or find a new place to hide out. He loves his mother and misses her desperately, but he can't make himself go back to watch her be beaten and screamed at over and over anymore.

The story alternates between Billy's time in the cemetery and the people back at home who are trying to find him. The narration shifts between his mother, a police officer, one of his friends from school, and some kindly neighbors as they come together to try and locate him and help his mother separate herself from her abusive husband. Jeff has been very successful in isolating Grace from friends and family, so she is reluctant to reach out to others at first, but Billy's drastic act of leaving home and the kindness of several members of the community help her finally take steps towards protecting herself. She can only hope her efforts aren't coming too late to salvage her relationship with her son.

This book was absolutely beautiful. Billy's story was sad and serious, but it was presented in a way that was appropriate for younger readers. Pam Smy didn't shy away from telling the ugly truth of what living with domestic abuse is like, but her focus stayed on the actions people take to get out of these situations and the hope that always exists for a better life afterwards. Her writing style was simple and easy to read, like an old-school storybook. There's a little twist of the supernatural in the story that added to this feeling as well. Billy was a very likable character and it was easy to sympathize with him and root for him to find some peace. Due to the shifting narration of the story, it was also easy to sympathize with Grace. By including her point of view, Smy was able to show readers her backstory and explain how things went wrong over time for her, culminating in Jeff and the nightmare of living with him. She did a nice job of showing how abusers slowly exert more and more control over their victims and make them feel like there is no escape. 

Another important aspect of the multiple-perspectives strategy was showing readers the effect friends and neighbors have on people living with abuse. Some of Billy's neighbors knew that Jeff was violent and fought regularly with Grace, but they hesitated to say anything out of a fear of being wrong about the situation or somehow making things worse. It's easier to chalk things up to being "private family business" and not saying anything than it is to speak up. In this story, things only improve for Billy and his mother when these people actively start helping, which I thought was an important message to include.  

The first thing that attracted me to the book, its artistic elements, continued to consistently impress me throughout my reading as well. The pages were thick and had a lovely weight to them, the black edges matched the sadness of the story, and the large amount of illustrations throughout were the perfect accompaniment to the plot. It was a pleasure visually to make my way through the book. This is definitely one that should be read using a physical copy. A Kindle won't cut it here - it's worth having it in your hands.  

For being a book I randomly came across in a shop, The Hideaway was a surprisingly good reading experience. The difficult story, the simple writing, and the beautiful illustrations combined together to create something emotional, touching, and, ultimately, hopeful. This was a serious read, but a great one too, centered around love, family, and overcoming extremely difficult challenges. This has become a new favorite for me and I hope to explore more of Pam Smy's work in the future.   

Challenge Tally

Middle Grade Mission: 13/24

Total Books Read in 2022: 34