Children's Book Review - Stand Up!: A Graphic Novel by Tori Sharp

Stand Up!: A Graphic Novel by Tori Sharp
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A fun middle-grade graphic novel about stepping outside your comfort zone and having the courage to try something new!

Stand Up! by Tori Sharp is a fun middle-grade graphic novel featuring best friends Clay and Kyle and how they team up to develop a successful podcast using the natural strengths they’ve recognized they have growing up with ADHD and autism. The two eighth-grade protagonists capitalize on what many might see as stumbling blocks to reaching their dreams.

I enjoyed getting to know Clay, Kyle, and their friends from the Greenlake Middle School Drama Club as they prepare to mount the final show, a musical called “Gals and Dolls,” of their middle-school years. However, both Clay and Kyle have always worked backstage, and this time, they want to audition for acting roles. After the experience of their audition, Clay decides to stay the course and act; Kyle isn’t feeling it and opts to stage manage, a role at which he both excels and is comfortable. Making the switch to performer proves unexpectedly difficult for Clay, though, as her ADHD doesn’t pair well with the seemingly endless repetition and the hurry-up-and-wait nature of rehearsals. Dania, another classmate making her first appearance on stage playing the lead female role, faces struggles of her own with slowly increasing stage fright. Clay’s immediate crush on Dania is sweet and entertaining when her attraction makes her tongue-tied and verbally awkward around the other girl. Suddenly shy, she is unable to talk to Dania about her feelings. However, Dania’s collaboration on Clay and Kyle’s brilliantly funny podcast, “Passing Notes,” paves the way for the two to get closer. The story has a spectacular HEA for everyone.

An interesting aspect of the story is gender identity and non-traditional families. While the main characters are named Clay and Kyle, typically male names, it is left ambiguous in both the narrative (for quite a while) and the illustrations as to whether they are actually males or females. Frankly, and this may be the point, it doesn’t matter to the trajectory of the story. The plot would work in the same fashion with any gender configuration. Also, Clay, Kyle, and their respective moms all live together in a single apartment on the second floor of an older home, where the first floor has been converted into a coffee shop/bakery. The relationship between the moms is never addressed or revealed, and readers are left to establish that themselves. They could be friends sharing the space, each with their one child, or they could be a couple. What we DO know is that they are both committed parents, and the four of them get along very happily. Once again, their status doesn’t affect the trajectory of the plot. They and their friend Lettie, the owner of the bakery, have an enviable and long-held friendship, but it is unclear whether Lettie lives above the bakery as well.

The story moves quickly, going from the end of one middle-grade musical into preparation for the next: Clay developing her crush on Dania, creating the podcast, and including Dania in the podcast production. The artwork, while more modern, reminded me somewhat of the Archie comic books of my childhood, while the storyline is much more robust than anything from that era. I enjoyed the clever feminine twists to the names or titles of everything imaginable throughout the story. Well done!

I recommend STAND UP! to middle-grade readers who enjoy graphic novels, especially those looking for reps of ADHD, autism, and LGBTQ main characters.

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Book Review: King Coyote by Rachael Meyers Jones

King Coyote by Rachael MeyersJones
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Exciting summertime adventures paired with a hard-won coming-of-age story.

King Coyote by Rachael Meyers Jones is a wonderful and exciting summertime coming-of-age story as a pre-teen navigates his parents' impending divorce, loneliness, and a fish-out-of-water stay in rural Vermont. King is twelve years old when he is dropped off for the summer at his cousin's house in Northeast Vermont, while his parents work through the process of separating and setting up two households back home in Boston. When he and Nat were much younger, they had been inseparable: their families even shared a duplex. But when their grandfather had died, Nat's parents had relocated to the family farmstead in Vermont, and the two had not seen each other since. This summer, the cousins are thrust back together and finally have their comfortable relationship restored enough to work through the really big feelings they've both kept tamped down.

King is the engaging main character whose hurt radiates from every pore. It will take the summer and a lot of adventure for him to realize he can't fix the change in his parents' feelings for each other. While reuniting with Nat gives him the sounding board he needs, it is his feeling of responsibility for the small, scraggly coyote he names Coal that eventually pulls him out of his sadness and allows him to gain some perspective.

Intruding on his healing are the awkward encounters with the few white people in the area, who see him as someone to fear because of the color of his skin. His cousin knows what's going on but chooses to look the other way, at first. Nat, the only child of mixed ancestry at her school, had found their attitudes isolating, with most people choosing to ignore her, only seeing her white heritage, while others rudely overstepped basic common boundaries and personal space: a confusing and painful situation for her that her Black father tried to help her understand and overcome. While no answers are found on the teens' adventure into the wilderness, they come away from the experience with more confidence in themselves to handle whatever comes their way in the future.

The description of the Vermont setting and the kids' summertime activities on the mountain are, for the most part, vivid, glorious, and idyllic. Their freedom to roam and relax without cellphones, videogames, and streaming services is a renewal, especially for King, who had much more access to this back in Boston. They gain knowledge, self-reliance, trust, and build resilience from their experiences, but still realize the toll their unexpected and impulsive absence had on their frantic parents.

I recommend KING COYOTE to readers of middle-grade fiction and adventure stories, especially those who enjoy a natural or wilderness setting.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy through Toppling Stacks Tours.

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Audiobook Review: Living at the Edge of the World - Spring (Papala Island Adventure, #2) by S.J. Barratt

Living at the Edge of the World - Spring by S.J. Barratt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Viking history and modern-day treasure hunters clash on a small, isolated island.

Living at the Edge of the World – Spring is the second book in author S.J. Barratt's Papala Island Adventure series and, once again, excitement visits the tiny, remote island in the Scottish Shetlands. When tween twins Timothy and Tabitha Brown and their friends uncover what may be the most perfectly preserved Viking helmet ever found, their excitement draws unscrupulous thieves to their remote community, and they will stop at nothing to get their hands on the valuable ancient artifact!

Readers are returned to Papala Island, a small island on the far reaches of Scotland's Shetland Islands, where Tim and Tabitha are nearing the end of their stay with their Great-uncle Tamhas. With only a few weeks left before their departure and return to their London home, mother, and father, the twins are sad to leave their newfound friends and the close-knit community that made them so welcome. While Tim will miss all the opportunities still available to expand his knowledge of life and the island, Tabitha has really grown up during her sojourn, and the place and its people have become her new life. Her innocent announcement of their discovery of the Viking helmet on her social media accounts, though, has unexpected consequences.

The plot is exciting and full of local lore and nature. Readers who enjoy stories with a lot of interaction with animals will find themselves right at home among the pages. I was glad their leave-taking was gentle, with a proper plan for returning during their upcoming summer break from school. No tearful scenes or traumatic incidents to delay their departure.

Gill Mills narrates the audiobook, and her performance really brings the twins, their friends, and their family to life. While it took me a little while to connect with Mills's accent (so very different from the voices in my part of the world), once I did, I clearly imagined all the characters and the story's excitement and emotions.

I recommend LIVING AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD – SPRING to middle-grade readers and listeners, and for reading aloud at home, in the classroom, or at after-school programs.

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Audiobook Review: Living at the Edge of the World - Winter (Papala Island Adventure, #1) by S.J. Barratt

Living at the Edge of the World: Winter: The Papala Island Adventure Series, Book 1 by S.J. Barratt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Fun, middle-grade fish out of water story.

Living at the Edge of the World – Winter by S.J. Barratt introduces readers to Timothy and Tabitha Brown, twin tweens from London, sent to spend a couple of months with their Great-uncle Tamhas, who lives on the isolated island of Papala in the Scottish Shetland Islands, while their parents take a round-the-world cruise. While Tim is delighted, excited by the prospect of exploring the small island and learning as much as he can about his temporary home, Tabs is completely out of sorts with the lack of amenities and WiFi that are always available in London.

Although the twins, brother and sister, are temperamentally opposites and there’s very little crossover in their interests, they get along very well, and their casual banter is cause for quite a few laughs. They are close and obviously love each other. Problems arise from Tabitha’s privileged attitudes, which lead her to believe she knows better than their local friend, Fenella, and her refusal to listen puts them all in a dangerous situation. Eventually, she comes to acknowledge her responsibility for her actions. I enjoyed how she grew up and came to love the island as much as her brother and the 30-odd souls who call Papala home. I loved how her Uncle Tamhas was so low-key, patient, and, I think, deliberately obtuse about her TikSnap social media obsession and desire to become a successful influencer. However, it was her special expertise that helped her foil a dangerous scheme by a group of older boys on the mainland later in the story.

The story handles the children’s separation from their parents, friends, home, and the only life they’ve ever known gently, and Tabitha’s change in attitude is subtle and gradual. There are plenty of places for discussion, not only of Tabitha’s behavior, but of the culture and nature of the Shetlands, and there’s never a feeling of being lectured to in the narrative.

The audiobook edition, narrated by Gill Mills, was initially a little difficult to follow because I was unaccustomed to her accent and the Shetlandic dialect. But once I synced with the cadence and delivery, I was absorbed by the story. However, Tabitha’s whining and complaining at the start of the book was so strident and shrill, I worried I wouldn’t be able to stick with it for long. Thankfully, Tabitha’s voice mellowed as she settled into life on Papala.I recommend LIVING AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD – WINTER to middle-grade readers and listeners who enjoy exciting and warm adventure tales, and for use at home, in the classroom, or after-school programs.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Silver Dagger Book Tours.

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Children's Book Review: The Curse of the Dead Man's Diamond by Christyne Morrell

The Curse of the Dead Man's Diamond by Christyne Morrell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Delightful middle-grade book featuring a haunted house, humor, and finding out home is where the heart is.

The Curse of the Dead Man’s Diamond by Christyne Morrell is a delightful new middle-grade haunted house story featuring an engaging 12-year-old protagonist and the surprise inhabitants of her new home in Florida. There’s so much to enjoy: a mystery, a search for a fabulous but cursed diamond, and a young girl’s discovery that home is where the heart is.

Charlotte “Charlie” Hess is such a delightful character. While grieving the loss of her beloved grandmother, her father buys a fixer-upper home in a small coastal Florida town, uprooting her from her friends’ group and all that was familiar. The story unfolds from Charlie’s first-person point of view, and her voice is relatable and delivered with wit. I was on board and behind this character from page one and completely engaged with her feelings. The same goes for Charlie’s dad, who is trying to fit in in his new town. I laughed out loud at his Pig Latin! The three spirits are as well-developed, and their tragic backstories are sad and preventable. While they are ghosts and do ghostly things, as a parent, I was more frightened by the idea of an unsupervised 12-year-old with a box of hair dye. (So, not too scary for sensitive young readers.)

The plot moves quickly, with convenient-length chapters creating good logical stopping points for reading aloud or on one’s own. Chapters relating how the curse came to be are interspersed with Charlie’s narrative of the present. Young readers should have no trouble following the shift in perspective or time frame. The descriptions of the house, the town, and the landscape are vivid, and I felt as if I was experiencing the scenes firsthand.

I recommend THE CURSE OF THE DEAD MAN’S DIAMOND to readers of middle-grade fiction who enjoy a paranormal aspect in their stories.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy through TBR and Beyond Book Tours.

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Children's Book Review - Harry: A Service Dog (Service Dog, #1.5) by Jack Heape

Harry: A Service Dog Series Novella by Jack Heape
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Warm and wonderfully inspirational story of the making of a service dog and a service dog trainer.

Harry: A Service Dog is the second book in author Jack Heape’s lovely middle-grade series about service dogs, their selection, development, and training, as well as the variety and range of assistance areas, and their young human volunteer trainers. However, while featuring youthful main characters and their experiences, readers of all ages can enjoy their journey and learn about this absolutely amazing partnership between humans and these special dogs.

Sophie Martin is the young teenage protagonist of the book, who, as a budding writer, attends a two-week intensive summer creative writing camp. There, she meets a deaf teenager named Lucas Walker, with whom she develops a close friendship and discovers the extraordinary ways he interacts with his world, using senses other than hearing. Curiosity piqued, she asks him to teach her about ASL (American Sign Language), and he shares some common signs with her during the waning days of their camp session. However, most of their conversations are conducted through written messages in notebooks they pass back and forth. It is an offhand mention by Lucas about how his sister’s dog alerts him to their doorbell ringing at home that sticks with Sophie and inspires her to research service dogs. Kudos to the author for crafting engaging dialogue and realistic interactions between the two teenage protagonists, which felt both natural and authentic.

The author tells a fun and absorbing story of a platonic friendship between a hearing girl and a deaf boy, who meet because of their shared interest in creative writing. However, their collaboration launches a deep desire in Sophie to help Lucas live a safer, fuller life, with the freedom a service dog of his own would grant him. Heape deftly shows the depth of commitment required to undertake the training of these dogs, as well as the reality of day-to-day life while doing so. I enjoyed Sophie’s determined campaign to convince her parents that she was serious and would be dedicated to following through on her plans. There is also the emotional side of the partnership; the trainer will be completely engaged with this dog, from puppyhood until they are certified, and then will part with them as they are sent to their new owner. The training is rigorous, and the dog could be determined unsuitable to continue in the program at any point along the way: not a bad dog, just not the right dog.

I recommend HARRY to middle-grade readers with an interest in dogs and dog stories.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from Reedsy Discovery.

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Children's Book Review: The Cassette Tape Secret by Danielle Herzog

The Cassette Tape Secret by Danielle Herzog
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wonderful middle-grade tale of friendship and facing one's fears.

The Cassette Tape Secret by Danielle Herzog is a wonderful middle-grade novel about friendship, stepping out of one's comfort zone, and facing one's fears. Eleven-year-old Alex Bennett struggles with OCD and severe anxiety after the school bully viciously shamed him in front of the entire class about some of his compulsive but harmless behaviors. New classmate Ida May Brooks is his exact opposite—bold and sassy—but has her own secret heartaches to bear. When she finds an old cassette tape with a mysterious, pleading message for help, she begs Alex to work with her to uncover the story behind the forgotten recording. Alex wants no involvement in her scheme, but his therapist sweetens the deal with tickets to meet a famous social media influencer he admires. If he stretches outside his comfort zone and helps his classmate, he signs on as Ida May's sidekick and faces many of his basic fears in the process.

Alex is a warm, engaging, completely sympathetic bundle of anxiety, with a long, rigid list of things he avoids at all costs. It is heart-wrenching to observe his struggles, but also so uplifting as he finally tackles one challenge after another head-on. I love how he had learned to cook as an accommodation to his aversion to eating out (and having PEOPLE touch his food) and his eye-opening realization that he'd isolated himself even from those he loved, like his own grandmother. He proves himself to be quite witty as he and Ida May spend more time together.

Ida May is sassy and smart-mouthed, and her banter with her new friend, Alex, is full of humor, wit, and compassion far beyond her years. It was tough to watch her reactions to her mother's continued absence and to her mother's slow disengagement from her daughter.

The plot is full of action as the two deal with their mutual bully, Darren Roe, in their own ways, then team up to search for a hidden treasure and uncover the mystery behind it. It was riveting as they inch closer and closer to the answers they sought, while Alex made significant breakthroughs in his coping with his issues, with brave determination and dignity, until he can share his truths with his new friend.

I recommend THE CASSETTE TAPE SECRET to readers of middle-grade fiction, especially those who enjoy stories of courage, determination, friendship, and healing.

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Children's Book Review: Elvia and the Gift of Passion (Tales by Moons-light, #3) by Ruthy Ballard

Elvia and the Gift of Passion by Ruthy Ballard
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Perfect for reading aloud and sharing with the entire family.

Elvia and the Gift of Passion is the third book in the imaginative and fun middle-grade fantasy series, Tales by Moons-light, by author Ruthy Ballard. With its dramatic yet engaging ten-year-old main character and adventuresome and whimsical storyline, this may be a perfect book to read aloud and share with the entire family. Elvia is fed up with her boring life and hovering parents and longs for some excitement. But when she uncovers a long-held family secret, she gets more than she bargained for and the adventure of a lifetime when she suddenly finds herself 64,000 light-years from Earth.

The main character is Elvia Elizabeth Hill, a fun, typically self-absorbed, and oh-so-relatable pre-teen who is convinced she’s grown up in the wrong family. (And hasn’t everyone at some time during their childhood wondered if they had been switched at birth?) It seems to be a universal experience during adolescence to feel you don’t quite fit in with your crowd, are majorly different from your siblings, or are totally mismatched with the ideals of your parents. I loved Elvia’s total buy-in with the DNA results and her complete lack of questioning because it supported her suspicions.

Elvia interacts with a variety of colorful and well-developed secondary characters, many with interesting quirks, backstories, motives, or agendas; it’s such a robust story! I loved Lacie’s part-time career as a “color appellation artist,” her inventive color names, and how she used this “trivial” strength to improve her performance as an "uppy."

The different settings introduced as the fantasy unfolds are creative and well-developed. Real Earth locations or part of the world of Urth, the descriptions are vivid and put me right next to the characters in the middle of all the action. There was an immediate and satisfying sense of place. In addition, the book includes delightfully eye-catching illustrations.

The author’s easy-to-read writing style and perfectly sized chapters, along with its fast pace and engaging characters, make ELVIA AND THE GIFT OF PASSION a story that’s sure to please middle-grade readers, including those of a reluctant nature, and the family as a whole.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tours.


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Children's Book Review: Ghostlight by Kenneth Oppel

Ghostlight by Kenneth Oppel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A suspenseful and exciting middle-grade novel of ghosts, friendship, and family

SYNOPSIS from Goodreads:

One teen's summer job scaring tourists with ghost stories takes a terrifying turn when he accidentally summons the spirit of a dead girl—and she has demands. . . .

Rebecca Strand was just sixteen when she and her father fell to their deaths from the top of the Gibraltar Point Lighthouse in 1839. Just how they fell—or were they pushed?—remains a mystery. And their ghosts haunt the lighthouse to this day. . . .

Gabe tells this story every day when he gives the ghost tour on Toronto Island. He tries to make it scary enough to satisfy the tourists, but he doesn’t actually believe in ghosts—until he finds himself face to face with Rebecca Strand.

The true story of her death is far more terrifying than any ghost tale Gabe has told. Rebecca reveals that her father was a member of the Order, a secret society devoted to protecting the world from “the wakeful and wicked dead”—malevolent spirits like Viker, the ghost responsible for their deaths. But the Order has disappeared, and Viker’s ghost is growing ever stronger.

Now Gabe and his friends must find a way to stop Viker before they all become lost souls. . . .

Ghostlight is a suspenseful and exciting middle-grade novel about ghosts, friendship, and family. In addition to the fictional tale, the book includes some serious and highly discussable topics such as divorce, the death of a parent, immigrant experiences, and what happens after you die. This is definitely one I would have been glad to share with my boys when they were that age for the excellent story, superior storytelling, and the diverse conversations it most likely would have prompted.

The ghostly aspects of the story are unique. I enjoyed the author’s vision of how ghosts exist, hidden on the edge of regular daily life. The descriptions of the evil Viker were scary, and I could clearly visualize his appearance and the changes he underwent. His consuming the other spirits and the images of the ghosts crossing the water to get to land both gave me the willies. And I worried from the start about Rebecca draining the energy from Gabe; it seemed so realistic.

The setting was fresh (Toronto), and I enjoyed the quest the four friends conducted to find the answer to Rebecca’s terrible problem (trying to avoid spoilers there.) The kids, including Rebecca, were well-drawn, each different from the others, but a well-matched, balanced group with interesting backstories. I liked that Callie was continuously researching for clues, and Yuri was steadfast in his focus on improvising the best way to combat the evil ghosts. These kids were serious about what they were doing yet still displayed their fun, young, and modern side. (Even Rebecca is intrigued and learns to use some modern conveniences.) They were or became friends, and some of their dialogue had me laughing out loud.

"Steaming pile of yak dung! Who says such a thing?”

“Me, from now on!”

With its unique setting, characters, and ghostly afterlife to its suspenseful and exciting plot, I recommend GHOSTLIGHT to middle-grade readers who like stories that involve puzzling out a mystery or a search, ghosts, or a setting during a summer job at an amusement facility or waterside in Toronto.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author or publisher through NetGalley and TBR and Beyond Book Tours.

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Children's Book Review: Instafamous by Erika J. Kendrick

Instafamous by Erika J. Kendrick
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Catch up with the squad at Valentine Middle School!

Instafamous, the new middle-grade book from the talented and clued-in Erika J. Kendrick, returns readers to Santa Monica and Valentine Middle School, the setting of her previous novels. While both Magic (Squad Goals) and Brooklyn (Cookie Monsters) make appearances, this new tale is all about Lyric Whitney Houston Darby.

Lyric is a self-confident 12-year-old who wants to follow in her famous singer-mother’s footsteps, but she wants to do it NOW. When her favorite reality musical competition television show, American Rockstar, announces auditions in her hometown of Santa Monica, Lyric is set on participating and confident she’s a shoo-in to win and finally launch her career: all against her mother’s wishes and advice. To qualify, however, Lyric must show proof she has “industry” experience, and the quickest way to get that is by starring in Valentine Middle School’s upcoming production of The Wiz. Lyric is supported in her aspirations and schemes by her BFFs and acolytes, Twinkle and Georgia, who are both facing their own struggles.

The plot is fun and lively while exploring important life lessons in friendship, family, honesty, mental health care, and handling attention and fame. The interactions and dialogue among the middle-grade girls felt authentic, and I smiled and laugh-cringed in equal measure. The author subtly includes a diverse range of characters so naturally, you’ll think you were actually back in school yourself. The story resolves nicely with the main character re-discovering what’s truly important in life.

I recommend INSTAFAMOUS to readers of middle-grade fiction, especially those who appreciate strong female characters and fans of the author’s previous work.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy through TBR and Beyond Book Tours.

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Book Review: Hannah's Pony Twist (Dream Pony Riders, #6) by Susan Count

Hannah's Pony Twist by Susan Count
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wonderful, sweet, faith-forward middle-grade pony tale.

While Hannah’s Pony Twist may be the sixth book in Susan Count’s wonderful Dream Pony Riders middle-grade series, it can easily be read and enjoyed as a standalone novel. The recurring characters are introduced with enough detail of what has transpired in their pasts to establish their relationships with one another and hint at their experiences in the previous stories without spoiling those prior books for those who haven’t read them yet. Each book features one of the pre-teen girls taking riding lessons at the stables managed by Miss Elena. This story unfolds from Hannah’s and her pony Freckles’ points of view.

Freckles is an older animal, and Hannah is concerned he’s slowing down and will be retired. He refuses to trot unless strongly urged and walks slowly and only for short distances. However, the truth behind his behavior is a surprising and loving testament to the bond between the pony and his young rider. The plot portrays a young girl growing into her teen years and learning to look beneath the surface of someone’s behavior before leaping to judge, standing up for herself and those in need, and that pursuing one’s dream can require hard work, practice, and perseverance.

I recommend HANNAH’S PONY TWIST to readers of middle-grade fiction, especially those who enjoy horse-themed stories.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours.


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Book Review - On The Block: Stories of Home, edited by Ellen Oh

On the Block: Stories of Home by Ellen Oh
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Welcome to The Entrada! You’ve come home.

On The Block: Stories of Home is an anthology of twelve connected vignettes, edited by author Ellen Oh, that portray the diverse families in residence at the New York apartment building known as The Entrada. Each chapter, appropriately titled by the apartment number of each new middle-grade-aged narrator, is a lovely gem and tells of the young resident’s life in the days leading up to the building’s first community potluck.

The stories explore the cultures and concerns of the new young immigrant, and while their origins are global, their hopes and fears are universal and relatable to all readers. I loved that the connections among the families while beginning with a common address, became personal through the friendships of the building’s child population. I enjoyed the concurrent points of view of events or encounters among the children, two or more people observing the same event but “seeing” or interpreting something from it that was entirely different. And I’m not talking about the paranormal activity threaded through some of the tales, though there is that!

Food is a common thread running through the collected tales. There are numerous scenes of family meals, and some of their favorite dishes may be unfamiliar to many readers. However, they are tempting just the same because of the authors’ tantalizing descriptions. The story culminates in the building’s big community potluck on a wonderful summer Saturday evening.

At the end of the book are the contributing authors’ biographies, including the titles of their previous works. That information alone is gold and could provide additional stories for the targeted age group to enjoy.

I recommend ONE THE BLOCK to readers of middle-grade fiction, especially those interested in getting a peek into a different culture.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy through TBR and Beyond Book Tours.


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Book Review: The Curse of the Dead Man's Diamond by Christyne Morrell

The Curse of the Dead Man's Diamond by Christyne Morrell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Delightful middle-grade book featuring a haunted house, humor, and finding out home is where the heart is.

The Curse of the Dead Man’s Diamond by Christyne Morrell is a delightful new middle-grade haunted house story featuring an engaging 12-year-old protagonist and the surprise inhabitants of her new home in Florida. There’s so much to enjoy: a mystery, a search for a fabulous but cursed diamond, and a young girl’s discovery that home is where the heart is.

Charlotte “Charlie” Hess is such a delightful character. While grieving the loss of her beloved grandmother, her father buys a fixer-upper home in a small coastal Florida town, uprooting her from her friends’ group and all that was familiar. The story unfolds from Charlie’s first-person point of view, and her voice is relatable and delivered with wit. I was on board and behind this character from page one and completely engaged with her feelings. The same goes for Charlie’s dad, who is trying to fit in in his new town. I laughed out loud at his Pig Latin! The three spirits are as well-developed, and their tragic backstories are sad and preventable. While they are ghosts and do ghostly things, as a parent, I was more frightened by the idea of an unsupervised 12-year-old with a box of hair dye. (So, not too scary for sensitive young readers.)

The plot moves quickly, with convenient-length chapters creating good logical stopping points for reading aloud or on one’s own. Chapters relating how the curse came to be are interspersed with Charlie’s narrative of the present. Young readers should have no trouble following the shift in perspective or time frame. The descriptions of the house, the town, and the landscape are vivid, and I felt as if I was experiencing the scenes firsthand.

I recommend THE CURSE OF THE DEAD MAN’S DIAMOND to readers of middle-grade fiction who enjoy a paranormal aspect in their stories.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy through TBR and Beyond Book Tours.

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Book Review: The Queen of Ocean Parkway by Sarvenaz Tash

The Queen of Ocean Parkway by Sarvenaz Tash
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A magical mystery for middle-grade readers!

The Queen of Ocean Parkway is a new, fantastical mystery story for middle-grade readers from the creative mind of author Sarvenaz Tash. Young Roya Alborzi and her precocious new friend and neighbor, Amin Lahiri, travel through time to try and break a curse that makes the women of the Petrov family disappear, never to be seen again.

The main character, Roya Alborzi, is the only daughter of their Brooklyn apartment building’s super, and while only 11 years old, she is carrying an emotional load that adults would have trouble managing. Though her parents are divorced, her father is desperately ill with cancer, and she does all she can to assist her mother in her job to free her up to care for him. Then, one of her favorite tenants, Katya Petrov, suddenly disappears without a trace. She joins forces with Amin, the son of the new family in the building, to find her and break the chain of disappearances that have plagued the Petrov family for the past four generations.

The Brooklyn setting is well-developed, feeling familiar and comfortable. Roya’s descriptions and tales of the other neighbors for her fledgling podcast are entertaining and made me laugh about some of her observations.

The plot thickens as soon as the characters are introduced, and some surprising twists make the story even more suspenseful and intriguing. As time travel is involved, the author must re-describe the Coney Island setting each time Roya and Amin land in the past. The gorgeous cover, rich with jewel tones, attracts the eye and had my imagination working before I even read the first page. I liked how the author populated the apartment building with an array of different configurations of families and enjoyed meeting each one as the mystery of the disappearing Petrovs unfolded.

I recommend THE QUEEN OF OCEAN PARKWAY to upper elementary and middle-grade readers or for reading aloud in the classroom, in afterschool programs, or at home.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy through TBR and Beyond Book Tours.

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The Jules Verne Prophecy by Larry Schwarz and Iva-Marie Palmer

The Jules Verne Prophecy by Larry Schwarz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An exciting adventure story that will grab the attention and imagination of even reluctant young readers!

Thirteen-year-old American teenager Owen Godfrey is spending his summer in Paris with his physics professor mother while she guest lectures at the Institut Lagrange de Paris. But rather than enjoying lazy days relaxing and seeing the sights, his mother has enrolled him in a special summer course to study the life and works of the father of science fiction, Jules Verne. As it turns out, the course is interesting, and there are a couple of pretty cool kids in the class with him, but only hours before their first big exam over 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, a street punk steals Owen’s backpack with his copy of the book that he needs to take the test.

His classmates, Nas and Rose, take Owen to a used bookstore where they purchase an old leather-bound copy of what appears to be a collection of all Verne’s works and then hurry back to school just in time for the exam. But as soon as Owen opens La Prophétie de Jules Verne, he realizes it’s not a collection at all but something entirely different, and so does his teacher, who confiscates the book and dismisses Owen from the test.

Later that night, Owen returns to school to appeal to be allowed to take the test, and he spies Professor Bessier through his office window as he hides the strange old book and leaves. But before Owen can catch up to him, two goons grab the professor, shove him into a car, and speed away.

The following morning, when the professor fails to show up for class, the three friends fear he’s been kidnapped because of the book. They retrieve the book from its hiding place in the professor’s now-trashed office and attempt to unravel the cryptic clues about a fabulous treasure Verne was rumored to have left behind and find the professor. However, they soon discover they are not alone; someone is following them and watching their every move.

The Jules Verne Prophecy by writing partners Larry Schwarz and Iva-Marie Palmer is an exciting adventure story that will grab the attention and imagination of even reluctant young readers. The pace is brisk, and the action is non-stop as the three main characters – Owen Godrey, Rose Bordage, and Nasim Shirvani – work out the meanings behind the clues and travel around “The City of Lights.” Owen has a crush on Rose, and their initial meeting is laugh-out-loud funny. The three friends learn many things, including first impressions and assumptions are not always accurate.

Their race across Paris ahead of the bad guys is riveting and creative in its execution, and their discoveries live up to the reputation of Jules Verne. A couple of loose ends are left hanging when the story closes, providing a great jumping-off point for a sequel. I’ll be looking forward to more adventures with these characters with anticipation.

I recommend THE JULES VERNE PROPHECY to middle-grade readers and for reading aloud at school, after-school programs, and at home with the entire family.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author or publisher through TBR and Beyond Book Tours.


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Shannon in the Spotlight by Kalena Miller

Shannon in the Spotlight by Kalena Miller
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A sensitive portrayal of a young girl’s struggle with OCD and the changing relationship with her best friend.

It was supposed to be a stellar summer for 12-year-old Shannon Carter and her two best friends, Elise and Fatima. Sure, Shannon’s sessions with her therapist, Ariel, were still ongoing and focused on controlling her anxiety, the increase in her compulsive habits, and obsession with getting dirty, symptoms of her diagnosis of OCD. But it was time for the local community theater’s summer musical!

Like every summer since they were old enough to participate, the girls were looking forward to working on the local summer musical at the Rosewood Youth Community Theater. This year’s production was The Sound of Music, the girls’ favorite, and Elise had her heart set on winning the role of Brigitta, one of the Von Trapp children. Fatima preferred to work backstage on set-building, props, and costumes, a true theater techie. On the other hand, Shannon just wanted to be with her friends and usually found herself assigned tasks involving glue or working in the concession stand when the show opened. So, things got weird when the musical’s director overheard Shannon singing with some of the other kids and insisted she auditions as well. But while her performance is spectacular, Elise bombs, and suddenly Shannon’s friend starts acting strangely toward her. And their friendship faces a real test when the cast list comes out.

Shannon in the Spotlight is a new middle-grade novel by author Kalena Miller, and it features a tween struggling with OCD, friendship dramas, and a home life that suddenly feels out of control when her grandmother moves in with her and her mother. The main character, 12-year-old Shannon Carter, has enough on her plate with a sudden increase in the repetitive behaviors symptomatic of her OCD, such as washing her hands and reapplying Chapstick constantly throughout her waking hours. Her anticipation of the wonderful summer ahead, spending tie with her two besties on the summer musical, is almost palpable. And her distress and disappointment over how things pan out even more so. The hurt she experiences over Elise’s actions is gut-wrenching, and the girls’ resolution of their troubles is quite emotional. Shannon is one gutsy kid.

The setting within a community theater production of The Sound of Music was fun and full of little bits of theater business and traditions. That world can be all-consuming to its participants, so Elise’s devastation over her audition and subsequent casting as Louisa rather than the prime role of Brigitta was realistic. She’s also twelve and doesn’t handle her disappointment or jealousy over her friend’s good fortune very well. I loved how Grandma Ruby slowly inserted her way into the production and how she and Shannon were able to build a relationship with each other that was separate from the fallout of the rift she had with her own daughter. I also loved the close relationship Shannon shared with her mother.

With its sympathetic and engaging main character, the sensitive portrayal of her struggle with OCD and the changing relationship with her best friend, and the competitive, yet ultimately cooperative, community theater setting, I recommend SHANNON IN THE SPOTLIGHT to middle-grade readers, especially those looking for OCD representation in fiction.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy through TBR and Beyond Book Tours.

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The House That Whispers by Lin Thompson

The House That Whispers by Lin Thompson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A marvelous story with the uneasy feel of a horror tale, but it turns out to be something very different haunting the Bradleys.

It’s the fall break at school, and Simon and his two sisters, Talia and Rose, are spending the week alone with their grandmother, Nanaleen, at her big old house in the foggy little town of Misty Valley, Kentucky. Mom and Dad are staying home in Louisville to talk and “reset,” whatever that means. Since their father lost his job, money has been tight, stress high, and everything seems wrong.

Eleven-year-old Simon is feeling the pressure, too. For quite some time, he’s known things weren’t right with him either. But with everything else that was going on, he didn’t want to be one more problem. Simon is one of three sisters, and no one knows Simon is the name he’s chosen for himself as the one that fits him best, as do the pronouns he and him. For a while, when anyone uses the name his parents gave him, he internally switches it to Simon; until now, it is immediate and natural. But the continued need to do so has sparked a growing anger deep within that is quickly becoming harder and harder to control.

When the three siblings are dropped off at their grandmother’s, Simon notices that even things there are somehow “off.” Nanaleen is having difficulties physically and mentally, and even the atmosphere in the house has changed, with shadowy figures glimpsed just out of sight and an ever-present sour odor of old unwashed towels.

With Simon’s older sister, Talis, spending less and less time with them and the odd scratching sounds coming from the walls, Simon and Rose investigate, worried that Nanaleen’s house is haunted by the restless spirit of her never-spoken-of sister, Brianna. But as the duo uncovers bits and pieces of Brie’s life, Simon starts to believe Brie is not the only spirit still around. There seems to be another presence in the house, and it is restless.

The House That Whispers is a marvelous story with the uneasy feel of a horror tale, but it turns out to be very different. Dealing with gender identity, family dynamics, how relationships transition over time, and even the realities of aging, the book touches on so many life changes that readers of all ages can relate to something within its pages.

Simon’s inner dialogue bounces around in much the same way as that of those struggling with ADD/ADHD. From the start, I sympathized with him, and that was just during the car ride getting to grandma’s. Readers are also privy to how his gender identity is in conflict, and middle-graders will get a glimpse into how he is affected.

With Talia at 13, Simon at 11, and Rose, a precocious eight-year-old, the three siblings are quite young to carry the weight of their parents’ uncertainty about their future together. But that’s just true to life. The kids know something’s up, but both mother and father keep the truth to themselves, thinking they are preventing them from worrying. Still, the children know deep down, and their minds are working overtime, creating even more dire scenarios for what is going on.

Grandmother Nanaleen is also declining before their very eyes, and it is confusing when the children notice some of the manifestations. The author does a stellar job revealing Nanaleen’s struggles and the children’s reactions and fears.

I recommend THE HOUSE THAT WHISPERS to readers of contemporary middle-grade fiction, coming-of-age, or facts-of-life stories. With its immensely relatable characters and the life changes they are witnessing or experiencing, this wonderful book kept me glued to its pages. It offers something for everyone, even after the reality of what is really haunting the Bradley family comes to light.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author or publisher through TBR and Beyond Book Tours.


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Children's Book Review:Cookie Monsters (Valentine Middle School, #2) by Erika J. Kendrick

Cookie Monsters by Erika J. Kendrick
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Within its exciting cookie sales campaign plot, Cookie Monsters also delivers a warm and wonderful story of recovery after the loss of a loved one.

It’s World Scout cookie season again, and Brooklyn Ace, Valentine Middle School’s leading cookie seller last year, has big plans to win the top spot this time around. Last year, she came in a close second to a high school senior who has since graduated and no longer poses a threat. However, this year’s campaign is going to be fundamentally different anyway; Brooklyn’s biggest supporter in her quest for sales domination was her mother, whom she recently lost to cancer. Brooklyn wants to honor her mother by dedicating the campaign to her memory.

But right away, there’s an unforeseen hitch in her successful campaign when the new girl at school, Piper Parker, announces her intention to take the cookie queen crown for herself. Soon, it becomes apparent that Piper will do whatever it takes, and no matter what, so she can win!

Cookie Monsters is a warm and poignant story about a twelve-year-old’s struggle with grief and its toll on her mental well-being, as well as an exciting and tense battle to sell the most cookies. Brooklyn is cool, popular, wholesome, and very much a regular pre-teen. From the outside, she appears to be coping well with her mother’s death but inside, she is drowning in pent-up emotions. She is surrounded by a supportive circle of girlfriends and has a loving father and grandmother at home, who are also dealing with their own grief. But as the results of Brooklyn’s loss visibly begin to affect her ability to function, she reaches out and accepts professional help and makes progress on dealing with her feelings. The story also reveals that her friends are dealing with their own difficulties, and Brooklyn is able to share her experiences and help get them on a path to communicating their needs with their own families.

The story is also about a very competitive race to sell the most cookies. Brooklyn’s nemesis, Piper Parker, pulls a couple of rabbits out of her hat, using her father’s business resources and wealth and promising incentives (bribes) to their fellow students to buy her cookies rather than Brooklyn’s. Although Brooklyn cries foul at all of Piper’s strategies, and some were definitely shady moves, frankly, Piper just had a better sales plan and executed it better than Brooklyn did (which Brooklyn slowly comes to recognize.)

Brooklyn’s scout squad is a wonderful mix of different personalities, each with their own strengths that they bring to their friendship and the campaign. Young readers will surely relate to one or more of these great characters and the individual issues they are facing in their lives. I enjoyed this group of girls so much.

The writing and pace of the story are absolutely flawless. I was completely drawn into the story and emotionally invested; I teared up a couple of times while reading, especially when she was making a breakthrough with her therapist. I know I’ll be thinking about Brooklyn’s tale for quite a while; I was that affected. Cookie Monsters would make an excellent read-aloud selection.

With its important messages nestled within an exciting cookie campaign plot, I recommend COOKIE MONSTERS to young readers who have experienced their own loss of someone close to them.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author or publisher through TBR and Beyond Book Tours.


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Dad’s Girlfriend and Other Anxieties by Kellye Crocker

Dad's Girlfriend and Other Anxieties by Kellye Crocker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Engaging characters with a realistic portrayal of the impact of anxiety and the tightrope walk of meshing two families into one.

It was the end of sixth grade, and Ava Louise Headly and her best friends, Emma and Kylie, were looking forward to a great summer before their move to junior high. But the week before that final day of elementary school, Ava’s father informed her that they would spend the first two weeks of the summer break in Colorado, where his new girlfriend and her daughter lived. Anyone else would have been thrilled: two weeks in the Rockies vs. the same old, same old in the farmland of Iowa, right? But Ava has an anxiety disorder, only recently diagnosed after a frightening episode during Field Day activities, and she’s unrelentingly researched how many ways she could die in Denver.

It had always been just Ava and her dad. Her mother had died shortly after giving birth to Ava, and her father had relied on a friend of her mom’s (the lady across the street) to guide him through the early days of single parenting. Ava wasn’t jealous of The Girlfriend, as she thought of her. She didn’t even know her, and besides, her dad wasn’t invested in the relationship all that much, or was he? Still, her dad deserved to be happy, and Ava knew it was almost impossible for him to find someone in their small town. But knowing that and controlling her anxiety about the trip were two different things, and the day after school was out, she found herself on a plane headed west instead of sleeping in.

The Girlfriend, Jenn, turned out to be gorgeous and kind and warmly welcomed Ava into her home. Her daughter, Mackenzie (who only wanted to be called “Z”), was a whirlwind of activity and snark but nice. However, almost immediately, Z let the cat out of the bag. Ava’s father hadn’t told her, but they were headed to a cabin at a mountain resort for the next ten days. The mountains were where all manner of death and destruction awaited the unwary! And what else was he not telling her? Ava was determined to do everything she could to make them cancel the trip to the cabin or cut it short and go home.

Dad's Girlfriend and Other Anxieties is a realistic portrayal of a pre-teen dealing with not only an anxiety disorder but growing up and facing possible changes in the makeup of her family (her father’s possible remarriage, gaining a stepmother and stepsister.) And despite all of Ava’s attempts to sabotage their entire vacation and even her dad’s relationship, it’s a warm and wonderful story.

Ava is a great character, and her anxiety has its hooks into her deep. As a result, she researches and overthinks everything. Although Ava consciously makes decisions to sidetrack everyone else’s plans but genuinely feels terrible doing it. But she faces her fears and takes brave steps to admit her actions and try to make things right. Z is a wonderful, spirited girl dealing with her own insecurities and struggles with ADHD. Jenn and Eric are both good parents who have potentially found a new partner to love and share their lives with. They have their hands full with these two girls.

Fitting into a new situation is difficult for most people and especially tough at the pre-teen age. The story portrays the girls dealing with the possibility of their two small families becoming one and having to share their parents with new people. It dramatically explores some of the typical issues that come up, but there is a satisfactory resolution. I felt for both of these girls and the situations they were experiencing, and was quite affected by some emotional scenes.

The fun mountain resort setting is a bonus with all the cool activities going on. I loved the mud race. The young resort host, José, was an admirable role model/mentor with definite summer crush potential.

With its engaging pre-teen characters, realistic representation of the impact of anxiety, and the tightrope walk that meshing two families can be, I recommend DAD’S GIRLFRIEND AND OTHER ANXIETIES for middle-grade readers, especially those with anxiety, ADHD, or related issues.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author or publisher through NetGalley and TBR and Beyond Book Tours.

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Children's Book Review: Paradise on Fire by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Paradise on Fire by Jewell Parker Rhodes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Exciting and immediately absorbing; I loved it!

Six inner-city teens from the East Coast are flown to California to participate in a summer Wilderness Adventure. The main character, Addy, has never been out of the Bronx and, much like the other city kids, is anxious about the whole trip. Addy is an orphan; her parents died years earlier when she was a little girl, and her grandmother, Bibi, came from Nigeria to take care of her. Addy still has nightmares of losing her mother and father, of the fire, and of needing to know how to escape. Bibi had signed her up for this summer Wilderness Adventure; Addy just wanted to stay home.

Arriving at the Wilderness camp, Addy and the others quickly fall into the routine for the summer program. From the very beginning, Addy realizes that the wilderness, the forest, and the outdoors call to her very soul, and Leo, the camp owner, instinctively sees her as a kindred spirit. Along with Ryder, Leo's dog, the three bond as they begin to systematically explore and map their wild surroundings and record the environmental changes they find - changes to land and animals resulting from never-ending climate change. Leo teaches Addy about maps, topography, and other wilderness skills, and they talk about her returning to continue her studies and work there in the summers to come.

But with the end of summer, the Wilderness Adventure comes to a close, and the teens and their two college-age camp counselors head out for one final challenge, a 3-day hike with overnight tent camping. They've prepared well for this all summer long; however, nothing could prepare them for what they encounter on their first night out.

I loved this book! With interesting young leading characters, all with their own issues and fears, the story evolves, and the tension steadily increases until you find yourself smack in the middle of some honest-to-goodness pulse-pounding action. I almost thought I was breathing the fresh air and, later, choking on ash and embers. The characters were so very engaging that I was much affected as things unfolded. The story easily and totally absorbed me from start to finish.

In addition to the exciting story, the very serious themes of climate change, ecological degradation, and the need for environmental protection come through the action. These concepts with consequences are presented simply and straightforwardly so the youngest readers will understand, and older ones will not feel it's too preachy.

PARADISE ON FIRE is an unforgettable adventure story that is perfect for middle grades, high school, and readers who enjoyed Gary Paulsen's Hatchet.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy through TBR and Beyond Book Tours.

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