Adventures in a video game: My friend from the future by Dustin Brady

 Dustin Brady has written a number of series with a video game connection or style. While I am always wary of books that claim to be unique on the market, I will say that there are not a lot of titles that follow this structure. They generally have a lot of white space on the page, widely-spaced text, and are under 200 pages. There are black and white illustrations scattered throughout as well.

Previous series include "Trapped in a Video Game" and several spin-offs and most recently World's Worst Time Machine, which I personally really enjoyed. Most recently, he's releasing "Adventures in a Video Game" which are stand-alone titles that follow a similar structure to his first books.

The story kicks off with a light reference to the other series and the corporation/software that got the kids stuck in video games in those titles. In this story, Bentley is trying to have a decent 12th birthday party, but his friends, old and new, can't seem to keep away from the sensitive topic of his sixth birthday party, when everything Went Wrong. His friends pry the story out of him and he tells them about how his dad used to work for a popular arcade/gas station/pizza place but was fired when his latest creation, the newest game for the Polly arcade machine, seemingly "killed" the owner. The Polly arcade featured the owner's deceased daughter as a superhero fighting to save earth and delivered a real slushy if you won.

Bentley and his friends discover that his dad has been trying to fix the new game and sneak into the corporation's headquarters to try it out, but it's still got some serious glitches - Bentley's friends get sucked into the game and Polly comes out of it into the real world! Polly believes she's from the future and there to save the world, but Bentley wants to save his present - and his friends.

Brady writes a fast-paced story with lots of video game jargon and details that will draw in players but he also does a good job at writing balanced characters, especially strong female characters and realistic male characters with a range of feelings. There are almost always some underlying messages and this book talks about dealing with grief as well as the larger themes of whether or not it's right to make some people expendable in order to save others.

Verdict: If you don't already own Brady's books, start with the first series and go from there. If you've already got fans, this will be a sure hit and I'm especially pleased to see that the books are stand-alones and don't need to be read in order. Recommended.

Released simultaneously with Don't Climb This Mountain, which has a YouTube video theme, similar to this one focusing on arcade games.

ISBN: 9781524890353; Paperback on Baker & Taylor for $9.59

Published September 2024 by Andrews McMeel; Review copy provided; Donated to the library

Where the water takes us by Alan Barillaro

 This quiet story reminds me of Kevin Henkes' Junonia and similar titles. Ava's mom has a high-risk pregnancy with twins and Ava is sent to stay with her grandparents for the summer, on one of a cluster of islands in a lake in Canada. She loves her grandparents, but she struggles with feeling like her parents have sent her away because she's a "burden" and she's worried about her mom. Her grandmother tells her some Italian superstitions to entertain her, but this only deepens her worry and when she's caught out on the lake in a storm and finds a dead bird, she begins to believe she's cursed.

She has an awkward burgeoning friendship with Cody, an exuberant boy visiting the area for the summer after his parents' divorce, but her own personal worries and his over-the-top enthusiasm make it hard for them to connect. Ava convinces her grandmother to help her raise two robin eggs - and convinces herself that if the eggs hatch and the fledglings survive, so will her mother. Ava is torn between desperately wanting her mom to be ok and her own ambivalent feelings about her twin brothers to be. The story comes to a close in a climactic storm, where Ava saves Cody's life and eventually accepts the changes her family is going through.

This is very slow-paced and philosophical, with lots of dreamy thoughts from Ava about what she's experiencing and seeing, although she shies away from directly confronting her fears and worries. She's selfish in the manner of most eleven-year-olds, especially as an only child dealing with her mom's high-risk pregnancy. There's a confusing scene when she is rescuing Cody and is described as giving him CPR in the water, in a storm. I am not much of a swimmer, but it seems to me that would be fairly impossible? There's a little hinting at romance/a crush and Cody teases her about "kissing" him.

The most attractive part of this book, for me, was the lovely watercolor art that frames and flows across the pages, showing the quiet, isolated life of the lake, the birds, and the deer. There's also casual inclusion of Ava's mixed heritage, Korean and Italian. The book is just under 200 pages and, while certainly not a beginning chapter book, is also likely not to intimidate readers who don't want to tackle thick, all text books.

Verdict: This isn't likely to fly off the shelves, but if you have an audience for quieter summer stories it will probably find some readers. I think this will possibly click a little more with my audience because of the lake and summer descriptions, although our local lakes are certainly a lot busier than the one described, many people go camping up north where it can be a lot less populated.

ISBN: 9781536224542; Hardcover on B&T for $10.63; Published July 2023 by Candlewick; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

The flying horse by Sarah Maslin Nir, illustrated by Laylie Frazier

 I am finally getting to the bottom of my pile of galleys and review copies. This is one that sounded interesting, but the cover looked meh and I set it aside. Once I actually read it though, I was intrigued by the unique voice. The story alternates perspectives between Trendsetter, or Trendy, a horse, and Sarah, a horse-loving 7th grader. Both characters are based on the author's childhood and her own horse.

Nir weaves history and horse facts into this story that follows the real Trendsetter through a series of imaginary adventures, from his birth to the training arena of the Lipizzaners, and finally to America, where an accident seems at first to mark the end of his promising career. Sarah's life is less eventful; she spends a lot of time with her beloved grandmother and struggles at school, even though she has earned a scholarship to a challenging school. Her inability to write or spell holds her back until her grandmother suffers a serious accident and Sarah finally tells her family her struggles.

The two stories come together when Trendy gets a new chance with Sarah and Sarah gets a new chance with school and writing, when her teacher shares her story with the Olympic equestrienne who brought Trendsetter to the US.

The tone of the story is warm and thoughtful, confiding little morals and words of wisdom to the reader and the descriptions, especially of Trendy's feelings and the places he goes, are richly imagined. Horse-loving kids who like quieter, more thoughtful stories will relish the slow build and quirky characters and the short length, 160 pages, keeps the story from bogging down in description.

Verdict: This is not your typical horse story, but it stands out because of its length and interesting perspectives. The cover is not very attractive, but a paperback edition is coming in August with a photographic cover that I am sure will make it fly off the shelf. Recommended if you have readers who like more old-fashioned horse stories or who prefer shorter reads.

ISBN: 9781951836672; Published March 2023 by Harry N. Abrams; Galley provided by publisher; Paperback edition ordered for the library

Two titles, this one and The Jockey and Her Horse, were published in 2023 by Abrams. The paperback editions coming in August, and a third hardcover coming in the fall, are published by Cameron & Co. and have the photographic covers, as seen below.

Matt Sprouts and the curse of the ten broken toes by Matt Eicheldinger

 Matt Sprouts has an unbelievable story, but it's all true and he's going to tell you all about it. It all started at the beginning of summer...

After his attempts to practice his martial arts skills go awry, Matt is told to go outside. He joins his next-door neighbor and friend, Eric, but unfortunately they're also joined by Matt's annoying little brother, Elliott, and Eric's equally annoying younger siblings, Kyle and Jenna. Jenna persists in chasing Matt everywhere and he is not comforted by his mom's assurance that she has a crush on him. So when she corners him and is about to TOUCH him, he panics, uses a "karate" move, and accidentally breaks her collarbone.

Thus begins... THE CURSE. Matt feels miserable and upset about Jenna, but doesn't know what to say or how to apologize. He tries to go on with his summer, playing soccer with the raging Coach Cup, hanging out with Eric, and getting ready for middle school. Of course, there's less-pleasant things, working in the hot sun for their weird new neighbors, a strange encounter with an old lady in purple, and walking and cleaning up after their untrained dog, Nala. In fact, this is how Matt breaks his first toe, with a great "plan" for avoiding work that backfires on him (as does the fact that he and Elliott lied about training Nala and just played with her instead.)

Broken toes - and bad luck - dog Matt all through the summer and into the school year. His annoying classmate Grace insists on being his girlfriend, no matter what he does to try and shake her off, and his friend Eric is refusing to talk to him. More broken toes means skipping soccer, and the weird purple lady returns as... his substitute teacher?? And the unseen wife of their neighbor, Mr. Klinkle. Matt and Elliott have a run-in with their dad, when he loses his temper and yells at them, and then apologizes. This, and the succession of broken toes that end with him in a wheelchair, an unsuccessful attempt at breaking the "curse" by playing (and winning) a big soccer tournament with broken toes, and a little self-reflection, finally inspire Matt to realize that he needs to show, not just say, he's sorry to Jenna. Matt also resolves his friendship issues with Eric, sees the abusive Coach Cup removed, and realizes that he actually likes Grace as his girlfriend. It's been a wild and crazy year, but Matt has learned quite a bit and is ready to move on to 7th grade - and the next adventure.

Black and white cartoons are sprinkled throughout the book, but the ratio of cartoons to 300 pages of text definitely leans towards the text, so this can't really be categorized as a notebook novel. It's obviously pushing for the Wimpy Kid market, while trying to show a little more maturity and growth in the characters. However, there were several, to me, significant problems with the book. First, consent doesn't just go one way. It's just as bad for girls harassing boys to be excused by the "they have a crush" thing as it is for using it to excuse boys' behavior! Why do Matt's parents, who spend a certain amount of time trying to build character into their kids, never have a talk about using words or talking to an adult about someone harassing you, whatever their gender? Both Jenna and Grace are bothering Matt and he responds by trying to avoid them and then, instead of talking it out, asking them to leave him alone, or talking to an adult, he resorts to childish and sometimes nasty behavior to try to avoid them. There's the stereotypical bully who's been "held back three grades," and, although she's seen through Matt's prejudiced eyes, the very strange Mrs. Klinkle, who seems to pick on students and is hardly the person most schools, no matter how desperate, would pick as a long-term sub, let alone a permanent teacher. There's also a sequence where Matt's mom uses the boys to model costumes for her ballet school where the boys make it clear that wearing a dress is the Worst Thing Ever while she actively ignores their protests. That whole section felt completely unnecessary to me.

Verdict: This is pretty typical of this genre of Wimpy Kid-style fiction, which rarely seems able to completely escape from stereotypes. At least Matt's parents do make an effort to teach him the importance of kindness and he does learn some lessons, while breaking toes along the way. I will may end up purchasing this because it will be popular and it's not the worst of the genre, but I wish someone would write something funny that didn't depend on stereotypes - and that Eicheldinger had given Matt better tools for dealing with social-emotional challenges. I recommend purchasing it in paperback and seeing if it's popular before buying a heavier binding or ordering the sequel.

ISBN: 9781524888695; Published March 2024 by Andrews McMeel; Galley provided by publisher; Paperback edition purchased for the library

Saving H'non: Chang and the elephant by Trang Nguyen and Jeet Zdung

Chang, the intrepid young student and conservationist of Saving Sorya, returns and this time she's involved in the rescue and rehabilitation of H'non, an abused and elderly elephant. The journey of Chang - and H'non - is a complex one, ranging from Chang's research into the evolution of elephants to an honest look at the complexities of using elephants for labor and as tourist attractions. There are graphic images of the abuse H'non suffers and the cruelties of her owners, but also a realistic appraisal of the struggles of the local families to support themselves and the relationship between them and the elephants. Chang faces her own prejudices and feelings as she is put in charge of supervising a local trainee to care for H'non and the story ends in a joyful and upbeat moment as H'non is fully returned to the wild.

The art is meant to be Chang's notebook and it is very similar to a nature journal with lots of individual illustrations, little asides, facts, and more. In general, it's a watercolor wash of sandy browns and pale greens. Every page is a beautiful surprise, from a reflective view of a starry night to an explosion of green vegetables at the market. The intricate art matches the story, exploring the emotions, heartbreaks, and challenges the conservationists face as well as the feelings and struggles of the local townspeople and their relationship with the elephants.

I loved Saving Sorya, but I was sad that it didn't fly off the shelves as I'd confidently expected. However, it did circulate reasonably well and I still think the unique collaboration of these creators is worth adding to library shelves and promoting to readers as well as their new creation. It's worth considering that it might find more readers in the nonfiction area (and by nonfiction circulation standards, it has circulated very well) and I'll also make it a point to promote these books more in the near future.

Verdict: If you can purchase only one of these titles, I think the newest one is more accessible, featuring a more familiar animal, the elephant, instead of the sun bear. Promote to readers who love animals and graphic novels, to those interested in animal welfare, and to teachers introducing their students to global issues and wanting to use high-quality graphic novels in classroom study units.

ISBN: 9780593406724; Published October 2023 by Dial Books for Young Readers; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

Browsing the beginning chapter books: The best of Iggy by Annie Barrows, illustrated by Sam Ricks

Genre: Realistic fiction, Humor

Protagonists: Male, White

Reading Level: 500s; Intermediate chapter book

Series: Complete with 5 books

Originally reviewed in March, 2020

Review: I never really got into Ivy + Bean, but I have plenty of kids who love them. Even more impressive, although there was a long gap between the penultimate and final? book, kids still knew about the series and were excited about a new book!

I was interested to see how Barrows handled a new character. The first thing to be aware of, is that the Iggy series is a much higher reading level than Ivy + Bean. There are still illustrations and it's a short book, at the end it congratulates readers on making it through 20 chapters, but some of the chapters are only a page long. However, the font is smaller and more dense, more like a chapter book than a beginning chapter book.

Iggy is the kind of kid who means well, but... yeah. Definitely a slightly more naughty version of Melonhead, a literary kid for whom I have always had a deep affection. Iggy and the narrator, who have several spirited exchanges throughout the book, explain that this book is about "three types of things we wish we hadn't done." Of course, there are degrees in this. The first thing, convincing the goody-two-shoes Jeremy Greerson to jump off the shed roof, Iggy doesn't really regret, just that he got into trouble for it. Also, there were extenuating circumstances. The second thing Iggy just... went too far. As the narrator explains, there are no extenuating circumstances. "The truth is Iggy was bored and lonely, so he went into the bathroom, and while he was there, he lost his mind."

The third thing... well, Iggy wishes he'd never done it. He wishes he'd never even THOUGHT about it. But he did. And he's very, very, very sorry.

Verdict: Sure to tickle the funny bone of your readers with a thoughtful, surprisingly subtle discussion of making choices and mistakes. Recommended.

Revisited: This has had mixed circulation over the years. I promote the first book and it checks out frequently, but the subsequent books don't go out much. I think it might circulate better if moved back to the juvenile fiction, instead of the beginning chapter books, and I also should promote them to the schools. I would recommend purchasing just the first book (which is still in print in hardcover and paperback) and see how your audience reacts.

ISBN: 9781984813305; Published January 2020 by Putnam; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library; Purchased the rest of the series.

Jawbreaker by Christina Wyman

 Something about the cover of this one said "graphic novel" to me, probably because of the obvious similarities to Telgemeier's Smile and since that's not a genre I personally enjoy, I requested a copy just to give it a quick skim. It's not actually a graphic novel and I ended up reading the whole book, finding it to be a unique and thoughtful work, albeit with some inconsistencies, not unexpected in a debut novel.

 Max has a lot of challenges. Her parents have always struggled financially, and she no longer gets along with her younger sister - especially now that they're both in middle school and her sister has joined the bullies in tormenting her because of her extensive braces. She tries to stick it out, but things just get worse and worse, from misunderstandings with her friends to her parents' increasing arguments to struggling in school because she doesn't have the same tech access as the other kids. When her sister joins the other bullies in publicly tormenting her, it seems like things can't get any worse - but maybe it's better for everything to be out in the open. With a lot of courage, support from her friends and some difficult conversations with her parents, Max starts a lot of positive changes in the school and her family.

This story is based on the author's own experiences growing up and there, I think, are where most of the inconsistencies come from. I'm guessing she grew up in the 80s, possibly 90s, so a lot of the behavior and portrayals of school are outdated. On the other hand, not all of the contemporary references ring true either - I don't know of any schools that actively encourage kids to use their cell phones in class! - but ultimately I think these things are outweighed by the honest portrayal of Max's family. Her parents aren't vilified, despite their own struggles - Max feels safe enough with them to honestly tell her mom not to hit her ever again, after she slaps her. Their father ends up going to get help for his alcoholism and at the end of the story they talk about maybe getting family therapy, although the cost may be prohibitive. It's the blunt realities of living paycheck-to-paycheck that are almost never portrayed in middle grade fiction that make the book feel real - the disappointment of not being able to afford small things, the extra costs at school that others don't think anything of, the strains it puts on family relationships. The portrayal of Max's friendships, sometimes rocky but always solid, keep the book from devolving into a misery memoir and readers will laugh, cry, and relate to Max and her world while seeing hope for the future.

Verdict: A strong choice for any library's middle grade fiction section. Pair this with Jamie Sumner's Roll With It for realistic depictions of families that struggle but come out on top and kids dealing with physical challenges. This was released in both hardcover and paperback, so it's an easy buy for book clubs or class sets. Recommended.

ISBN: 9781250331021; Published October 2023 by Square Fish/Farrar Straus Giroux; Borrowed from another library in my consortium; Added to my order list.

Tim Possible and the secret of the snake pit by Axel Maisy

 There's a particular type of notebook novel, inspired by the advent of Captain Underpants, that combines wild and goofy adventures, usually featuring a male character, with black and white illustrations and a certain amount of crude humor. These books wax and wane in popularity, and as they are often published in paper-over-board editions that last about as long as their popularity, it's easy to weed and replace them with the next popular thing.

  I, um, forgot I requested a copy of this to look at, and also didn't look that closely, so when it came I realized that is was the third book in the series! However, as it happened I had already ordered the first two, and I zipped through it despite not having read the first titles very thoroughly. Tim, whose "superpower" is that his worries become reality, his best friend Tito Delgado, and their neighbor Oskar, a time-traveling, mad scientist who is also a child-sized t-rex, are in trouble - again.

 What's happened this time? Well, it all started when Tim was talking to Zoe Charms, his crush. Or maybe when Tito and Oskar spent some time alone together without him. Or did it start when Tim started worrying about being a good friend and keeping all his friends together? Either way, it's ended with the Tim and Tito running away from weremoles who want to eat them (and everything else), a giant party, and a shocking discovery about all the staff at their school! There are snake aliens, galactic threats, and lessons about friendship mixed in with some very gross snacks, a "superhero" with a diamond-encrusted fly swatter, and, well, you get the picture.

Verdict: If your copies of Hamstersaurus Rex, My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish, and similar titles are ready to be retired, this is a silly replacement that kids who like this genre will be eager to read.

ISBN: 9781534492752; Published December 2023 by Aladdin; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library (first two titles in series published).

Browsing the beginning chapter books: The Unbelievable Oliver and the four jokers by Pseudonymous Bosch, illustrated by Shane Pangburn

Genre: Humor; Magical realism

Protagonists: Jewish male

Reading level: 600s

Series: Complete with two titles

Originally reviewed in 2019

Review: In my opinion, this is really a young middle grade book. It's just under 200 pages and illustrated, but it has fairly complex vocabulary and I'd promote it primarily to fluent 2nd and 3rd grade readers. However, I put it into my beginning chapter book collection.

Bosch is (was?) a very popular chapter book author. My library only has the first book of his best-known series, The name of this book is secret and although I've considered more titles, I've never gotten enough interest from the kids to purchase more, since they're all available in my consortium. I was interested in this book because I'm looking for younger middle grade and because the magician theme is usually a popular one.

Oliver, an under-sized Jewish eight-year-old, dreams of being a great magician. But with a deck of cards that's incomplete and a lack of, well, magic, that has even his best friends, twins Beatriz (Bea) and Martina (Teenie) unimpressed, he's ready to give up. Then the twins get him invited to the most popular (and nasty) third grader's birthday party - as the star entertainment! Oliver is desperate and begs his cousin, who works in a magic shop, for help. But all he gets is a moldy old hat. A hat with... a talking rabbit inside?

When Oliver arrives at the party, he soon finds out he has more problems than his lack of magic, a bunny on the lam who thinks they're in Vegas, and some mean kids. Bea and Teenie's present for the birthday boy, a robot cat their dads helped them buy, has disappeared and Oliver is accused of being the thief! Can he switch from magician to detective and solve the mystery?

The pages are decorated with frequent line drawings in shades of grey and purple. There are occasional speech bubbles, but I would call this an illustrated chapter book or at most a graphic blend, not a notebook novel or graphic novel.

I wasn't very taken with the book. Benny the bunny talks about a lot of "professional magic" that includes gambling, running from the police for undisclosed reasons, and lots of jokes that I think will pass over most of my readers' heads. There's not really any reason given for the sudden transition from magic tricks and a talking rabbit to solving a mystery; even when it is solved, although the solution is given in the form of a magic trick, it feels forced and the culprit doesn't make any sense. The bullies are over the top, "mean rich kids" and overall the humor felt forced. However, I'm not the audience for this and the real question is, will fluent second graders and third graders enjoy it? I think the answer is yes.

Verdict: I prefer Kate Egan's Magic Shop series, but I admit they don't have a high circulation in my library - not enough pictures would be my guess. I think this will circulate more, especially due to the more extensive graphics. While I don't see it having the staying power of humorous illustrated titles like Dragonbreath, it's certainly a perfectly acceptable filler book for kids in that transitional chapter book phase and features a diverse cast.

Revisited: This never really took off, but it circulates enough to justify keeping it on the shelf. If you don't already own it, I probably wouldn't go back and purchase it though.

ISBN: 9780525552321; Published May 2019 by Dial; Review copy provided by the publisher; Donated to the library

North of Supernova by Lindsey Leavitt

I'm most familiar with Lindsey Leavitt as a teen author, although she has a wide variety of titles in different age ranges. It didn't sound at all like something I'd personally like, or that any of my readers would be interested in - a girl turns to tarot and astrology to break up her dad and his new girlfriend? But Ms. Yingling recommended it, so I thought I'd skim it.

One hour later (yes, I read fast) I had read it cover to cover.

Stella's main concern this summer is getting an invite to the coveted after party of popular girl Talia and handling her consuming anxiety, especially since her dad took her out of therapy. She hopes this will be her gateway to a friend-filled summer, leading into finally feeling like she belongs in 7th grade. Then her dad comes back from his business trip to Las Vegas with exciting news. He's met his old college girlfriend, they're engaged, and they're going to spend the next two weeks in Vegas. Stella's excitement over getting her coveted invitation is dimmed by the rapid series of events and her stress increases when her aunt slips her a letter from her mom, who had disappeared into her opioid addiction.

When they arrive, Stella is reluctantly appreciative of Whitney, her dad's fiancee, who shares Stella's need for order and organization. She's surprised by how friendly her soon-to-be stepsister, Vivian is, even though she's fifteen, and the two make a cautious pact over their shared anger at their parents' abrupt changes to their life. Vivian doesn't want to leave Las Vegas, her friends, her school, or her dad. Stella doesn't want to leave Washington's forests for the blinding heat of Las Vegas, especially when she might actually be connecting to new friends. She turns to astrology to try and find answers, as well as a solution for breaking up their parents' engagement, but the more she gets involved, the more confused she gets. To add to her distress, her mom, freshly out of rehab, shows up again and wants to start rebuilding her relationship, her younger brother seems just fine with moving to Vegas, and she's starting to have feelings for the younger brother of a friend of Vivian's.

The ending is a perfect storm of emotion, incidents, and failed communication as Stella tries to figure out a solution that will leave everyone happy - but maybe that's not possible? In the end, the adults take a step back and really listen to their kids and as a family they come to a decision that everyone is willing to try.

Stella is a strongly realistic character, struggling with her longings for friendship, her anxiety, and the trauma resultant from her mom's addiction. There are no stereotyped villains or mean kids - even Talia, the vaunted "popular" girl, turns out to be a kind friend who has her own family challenges. Stella's mom is bluntly honest in her apologies for her past mistakes and realistic about the challenges she faces in her effort to battle her addiction. Although readers might wonder why Stella's dad wasn't more honest with her before (and didn't let her keep going to therapy) it's a very realistic twist that as Stella grows older both she and her parents have to adjust to seeing her as a more independent person and work on being more open and honest about themselves as adults, not just parents. This is complicated by her parents' desire to make up to her for the past when she covered for her mom's addiction.

Verdict: The library I borrowed this from put it in young adult, but it's solidly middle grade/middle school, in my opinion. Stella's romance never goes farther than hand holding and a brief kiss and her emotional struggles and anxieties are something many kids can relate to. I don't have a huge audience for this type of realistic fiction, but I do have a solid core of readers who will love this. For those concerned about the astrology aspects, it's treated from many different perspectives, both from skeptics to true believers, to the firm reminder to be respectful of others' beliefs. If you have the audience for this type of realistic fiction, this is a strong addition to your library.

ISBN: 9781250858498; Published June 2023 by Laura Godwin/Simon & Schuster; Borrowed from another library in my consortium

Alvin Ho: Allergic to girls, school, and other scary things by Lenore Look, illustrated by LeUyen Pham

I have this in my beginning chapters section, although it's not truly a beginning chapter. I originally weeded this and the companion series, Ruby Lu, due to low circulation. However, I have a lot of teachers request/assign this title so I purchased a couple copies of the first book for them.

Told in a stream-of-consciousness style, with humorous black-and-white illustrations, it's a quirky mix of the classic Ramona and the more contemporary Wimpy Kid. At home, Alvin is loud and exuberant, but at school he just can't make a sound. This first book follows him through his first semester in second grade. Most of the incidents in the book stem from his initial outrage and frustration - when seats are assigned he can't speak and so his friend and neighbor Flea (Sophie), a GIRL, assumes he will want to sit next to her. He goes through a lot of trial and turmoil trying to get the boys to play with him and make friends with them, from taking his father's favorite vintage toy (and breaking it) to being mean and dismissive to Flea. Eventually, he realizes that Flea is a better friend than the boys he's been hanging around and he accepts her friendship.

There are thoughtful discussions with his father about being a gentleman, lots of interpolations about American history, specifically around the Revolutionary war, and a stomach-turning or hilarious (depending on how you feel about it) chapter on the whole class getting chicken pox. There's also integration of Alvin's heritage of being Chinese-American into the story and his school appears to be somewhat economically and racially diverse.

Some things about the book felt very outdated; It was originally published in 2008, but the chickenpox vaccine became available in 1995 in the US and by 2005 was one of the required vaccines for school. So while it's possible that Alvin and his classmates didn't get the vaccine as infants, it's odd that not a single person in his class was vaccinated. I had mixed feelings about the "boys vs. girls" thing as well. On the one hand, I still see a lot of teachers dividing their classes by boys and girls and, especially younger kids, still have issues with socializing with the opposite gender. On the other hand, a lot of kids don't care about this anymore and many parents actively encourage them to have a wide variety of friends. I don't know if this will reinforce stereotypes or encourage kids to break them down. Alvin, who visits the originator of the chicken pox, Jules, says he doesn't know whether they are a boy or a girl because they play with both genders.

Verdict: I can see why teachers like this and kids would find it funny; I can also see some things about it that feel outdated and I'm not surprised kids lost interest in it on their own. It really only circulates for the school assignments, but it's available in paperback and I don't think it's a problem to keep a few copies on the shelf. Because of Alvin's age and the length and complexity of the book, this is one of those titles that is a fit for younger readers who read at a high level and are very fluent, so you might consider this if you have a large population of those readers.

ISBN: 9780375849305; This edition published 2009 by Yearling; Purchased two copies for the library in 2022

World's Worst Time Machine by Dustin Brady, illustrated by Dave Bardin

Dustin Brady, creator of the Escape from a video game and Trapped in a video game adventures, has a knack for writing stories that grab the attention of reluctant readers. His newest series starter is no exception.

Liam, in his usual race for the school bus, is startled to see a huge crowd of strange people outside his eccentric neighbor's house. Belatedly, he realizes that he's missing the garage sale of the century, and is not comforted by the practical reminder of his sort-of-friend Elsa that he has a report on Thomas Edison due soon and he hasn't read the book.

After some encounters with a bully, Liam finds a treasure in the old house - a real time machine! Excitedly, he ignores the "World's Worst Time Machine" label and sets it up in his basement, only for things to go immediately go drastically wrong. Now he's got a wanna-be gangster, real-life (and scary) gangsters, missing parents, and an annoyed bully on his trail! His only hope is Elsa's mysterious familiarity with the time machine and a good supply of Cheetos...

Spot illustrations and one-page spreads are scattered throughout the book, showing the action and giving pictures of the three (white) young protagonists. Back matter includes profiles of the real-life gangsters and their fates as well as historical context for the Depression-era people Liam meets. Brady keeps the action moving with a constant stream of disasters, most caused by Liam's headlong rushes into events without stopping to think or ask questions. There are some fun call-outs for local libraries and lots of snarky dialogue. One thing that really shines in this book is Brady's ability to write a strong girl character and mesh her smoothly into the story, showing her as competent and in charge but also vulnerable and making mistakes. Although Liam is shown as the main character, both in the description and images, we get a good understanding of Elsa's character and motivations as well and she is a strong protagonist in her own right.

Some promotion for this book leans heavily into the "reluctant boy reader" which I really dislike, but the cover and description are generally neutral, if leaning a little heavily on Liam as protagonist, (he's more of a catalyst in some respects) so if you want to play it that way you can.

Verdict: Recommend this to readers who want fast-paced action, humor, and strong characters without lengthy emotional scenes as well as those who want a book that doesn't double as a doorstop. It will please the parents who insist on their kids reading "real" books, not graphic novels, with a few illustrations to sate the kids. Brady has written a great series starter that also has a nice sprinkling of history, a little science, and engaging, fun characters. Highly recommended.

ISBN: 9781524884130; Published April 2023 by Andrews McMeel; Purchased for the library; Review copy provided by the publisher; Donated to the library so I have 2 copies, which I will definitely use!

Haven: A small cat's big adventure by Megan Wagner Lloyd

I have become extremely choosy about the traditional middle grade titles I purchase, even more so than in previous years, due to various reading trends I see in my community. I almost never purchase titles without at least glancing through them, so unless I get a review copy or borrow it from another library in my consortium, it's probably not going to happen. I am of two minds about this title, which I borrowed to preview.

Haven found refuge as a tiny stray kitten with Ma Millie and now, as a small cat, she never ventures outdoors. She knows nothing of the animals passing in the woods, the adventurous fox and the cruel bobcat. But when Ma Millie falls ill, Haven gathers all her courage to venture forth and find help. Despite the discouraging words of the creatures she meets, and her fears, some of which are realized, she refuses to give up. 

The ending is bittersweet; Haven realizes that her difficult journey was worth it and she has indeed saved Ma Millie, but it's only the postponement of her eventual passing. Haven finds a new home and reconnects, however briefly, with the friends of her journey, having realized that although she is small and scared she has the courage she needs when it matters.

At just a little over 100 pages, this is a short book, which is definitely what most of my readers want. The animal theme is a popular one as well and Lloyd's writing is beautiful and gently humorous. However, it is a more slow-paced adventure, with more description than action and the themes of loss and the natural order of prey and predator are sure to upset some sensitive parents.

Verdict: Ultimately, I think this is one that's worth purchasing. The beautiful writing and more serious subject will attract adult gatekeepers and readers who like titles like One and Only Ivan. The shorter length will make it accessible to the many struggling readers that comprise my audience now and the animal theme will attract a wider range of readers who might not normally pick up something without the raucous humor of popular titles like Dog Man. Your audience may vary, but this should fill a niche nicely for older readers who need something short and for teachers looking for an accessible title to fit their curriculum and a wide range of reading levels.

ISBN: 9781536216578; Published August 2022 by Candlewick; Borrowed from another library in my consortium

Speak Up! by Rebecca Burgess

It's nice to see the plethora of Raina Telgemeier-style memoirs and realistic graphic novels start adding some diversity. Recent titles have shown more cultural diversity as well as tweens dealing with a variety of mental illnesses and this title has a neurodiverse main character and is written by an autistic person.

Mia struggles with bullying at school and her mother's constant worries and pushing for her to be "happy," which to her mom means being involved with lots of friends, school activities, and being "normal." When she needs to escape from the pressure, the bullying, and all the other problems her life seems to encompass, Mia hides in her room, where she spends her time writing lyrics and working with her best friend Charlie to perform online as the viral singing sensation Elle-Q.

As if her usual challenges aren't enough, Charlie wants Mia to try out for the new talent show and sing in public; Laura, part of the group of mean girls bullying her starts being friendly but only when no one else is around, and Mia gets sensory overload after a particularly mean trick and has a meltdown. Although Mia eventually gets support from her mom and, to her surprise, from the teacher running the talent show, it's Mia in the end who finds the inner courage to speak up for herself with her mom, the bullies, and with Laura and Charlie about how she feels about their friendships. Finally, Mia is able to shine on stage and speak up for herself - in front of everyone.

Burgess' art is bright and colorful. They have a cartoon style that smoothly integrates the complex emotions and struggles Mia faces, as well as the insecurities of her friends and enemies, without making her a caricature or, as some of the bullies call her, a "robot." Charlie is presented as a Black tween who uses they/them pronouns. There's certainly some wish-fulfillment here with Mia's singing going viral and her mom finally changing how she sees her and giving her more support and freedom. But that's one of the brightest parts of middle grade fiction, that it doesn't all have to be realistic, it can be hopeful, daydreams and all, even if in "real life" it probably wouldn't happen that way.

Verdict: A must-have for collections with fans of Raina Telgemeier. This is sure to fly off your shelves as soon as the readers are aware of it and it brings some much-needed representation to neurodiverse tweens. Recommended.

ISBN: 9780063081208; Published September 2022 by Quill Tree; Borrowed from another library in my consortium

The U-Nique Lou Fox by Jodi Carmichael

Elizabeth Louise (she prefers to be called Lou) is having trouble staying positive. She usually focuses on her art and screenwriting skills, her friends and family, but between her ADHD and dyslexia and a new, very strict teacher, she's struggling in school. It doesn't help that her mom is having a difficult pregnancy. She tries to prove her worth by putting on the perfect school play and making wishes, which seem to be coming true - but not in the way she imagined! Not only that, she manages to alienate all her friends. As her grandmother has warned her, "be careful what you wish for." However, with the support of friends and family, and a teacher who turns out to be not so mean after all, Lou recovers, fixes her mistakes, and learns that it's ok to be her own unique self.

This would be a typical school story, where the main character learns a lesson about friendship and self-identity, but what makes the story stand out is the portrayal of a character with ADHD and dyslexia, especially a girl since girls are under-diagnosed in these areas. It would make a good school book club choice as well, with the encouragement to relate to a character who is resilient in the face of difficulty, deals with universal friendship troubles, and also gently introduces the adult perspective of a teacher who cares about her students even if she needs to make changes in how she's teaching.

Verdict: Even if you have plenty of school stories, this is worth purchasing for the representation and should appeal to most readers who enjoy this type of story. It's written in a dyslexic font and the author identifies as ADHD.

ISBN: 9781772782585; Published August 2022 by Pajama Press; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

The two wrong halves of Ruby Taylor by Amanda Panitch

 All her life, Ruby's best friend has been her cousin Sarah but lately she's been getting increasingly frustrated with her. Their grandmother has always favored Sarah and doesn't consider Ruby Jewish enough, or Jewish at all and Ruby can't lose the memory of overhearing her grandmother denigrate her while Sarah listened and said nothing. She doesn't feel like she can talk to anyone, so she distances herself from Sarah and immerses herself in her new friendship with Amanda. But she can't stop from trying to win her grandmother's favor and when she releases her anger at Sarah in a fight, she also releases something else; a dybbuk.

At first, she doesn't believe the dybbuk is even real, but as Sarah acts out more and more, with increasingly dangerous pranks and attacks on Ruby, their grandmother, and the new (female) rabbi, Ruby realizes Sarah has been possessed and it's up to her to save her cousin. But is she Jewish enough to do it? And what is she saving Sarah from?

Although Ruby struggles with typical tween issues of identity, changing friendships, and family squabbles, she also is dealing with the more challenging issues of deciding how she will express her Jewish heritage and the discovery that adults are flawed and can be cruel and uncaring, even those within her own family. With the guidance of her parents, her friend Amanda, and Rabbi Ellen, Ruby starts on the journey of defining herself and her Jewishness, both within and without the traditions and bindings of her heritage.

The cover is somewhat misleading, with an almost manga-like look, it seems to contrast the two halves of dybbuk-possessed Sarah, rather than Ruby's attempts to reconcile the halves of her heritage. The book isn't really a fantasy either, with the haunting of the dybbuk being almost a secondary plot to Ruby's exploration of her identity. Throughout the story, she has her parents' support, even though she needs to ask for it and initiate conversations about some more serious things. Rabbi Ellen adds to Ruby's journey in thoughtful guidance on what tradition means and how she found her own path as well as deal with those, like Grandma Yvette, who are tightly bound within their traditions.

Verdict: There is a growing number of books about children with mixed cultural and racial heritage coming to terms with their identity and this is a great addition to that genre with an extra spooky twist of the dybbuk. A strong addition to middle grade collections.

ISBN: 9781250245137; Published August 2022 by Roaring Brook; Borrowed from another library in my consortium

Enemies by Svetlana Chmakova

 Those of us who have been *cough* around for a while remember Chmakova's first popular series, The Weirn, a manga-style paranormal adventure. We even remember when she came out with her first Berrybrook Middle School title, which introduced her unique style to the popular slice-of-life genre pioneered by Raina Telgemeier.

Each entry in the Berrybrook series focuses on a different set of kids and stands alone, although sometimes characters from previous volumes make cameo appearances or are more significant protagonists. One of the interesting things about this style is that readers can see the characters from different perspectives and interacting with different friend groups, as well as maturing and changing.

This latest volume focuses on Felicity. She enjoys art and gaming and moves easily between the two groups that make up her friends. She considers herself an easy-going, friendly person without any enemies and plans to do something big "someday." However, she often feels overlooked and a failure in light of her younger sister who has skipped several grades, wins multiple awards, and seems to excel at everything she tries. When a family discussion gets heated, Felicity determines to prove her sister, who says she never finishes anything, wrong and picks a school competition for entrepreneurship to prove herself.

However, Felicity quickly finds herself making mistakes - and enemies. Soon her friends aren't talking to her and her goal of finishing and winning something seems farther away than ever. Can she find the solution to her problems, repair her friendships, and maybe even find a new rapport with her sister?

Chmakova has a delicate touch and understands the the complexities of middle school. Her characters are humorous and realistic and while some of the characters can be two-dimensional, Chmakova expands a new set of them in each successive volume. Felicity, a side character in previous titles, comes into her own in this book, feeling both the pressure to excel and trying to find her own way. She has a supportive family, but they don't always see the full story of what's going on and she grows as a person and a character as she deals with her personal issues, handles a romantic interest, and makes - and confronts - many different kinds of enemies.

Verdict: This will be a popular title for old and new fans of Berrybrook Middle School. My only reservation is that it's currently only available in paperback or hardcover and I advise putting aside some budget to purchase a prebound version when available as these will be read to pieces otherwise.

ISBN: 9781975312725; Published September 2022 by JY/Yen Press; Review copy provided by publisher; Purchased for the library

Shine on, Luz Veliz by Rebecca Balcarcel

Ever since Luz shattered her knee playing soccer, she feels like she no longer fits anywhere. Her dad doesn't seem proud of, or even interested in, her anymore, she struggles to connect to her "friends" whom she only knew through soccer, and she doesn't know how she's going to get through the last few months of school.

Things start looking up when she connects with her elderly next-door neighbor, Mr. Mac, who convinces her to try some coding and she's cautiously finding her footing - and hoping to regain her parents' lost approval - when even more changes are dumped on her. It turns out her father has an older daughter he never knew about, back in his home country of Guatemala. Her mother has just died and he's taking custody of her, which means that Luz has suddenly gotten a stepsister who doesn't speak English, will be sharing her room, her parents, and at first glance seems to be everything Luz is not, right down to playing soccer.

After initial arguments and bad behavior on Luz's part, the two settle into something of a relationship with the help of Google translate and Solana's own sweet nature, but it's an uneasy truce and Luz constantly struggles to balance her sympathy with Solana's traumatic background and challenges with her more outgoing and friendly personality, that seems to make it easy for her to do all the things Luz struggles with, from bonding with her parents to being popular at school. As she struggles to mature, deal with her unexpected relationship, and meet an ambitious coding goal, she's thrown even more off-balance by Mr. Mac's unexpected illness. It will take many missteps and miscommunications before the two girls are able to truly become sisters and Luz finds her place moving forward.

There's a lot going on in this book, and some things did feel as though they were too quickly resolved, like Solana's immigration journey, but Balcarcel does an amazing job of making Luz a sympathetic main character. Even when readers, and the adults in her own life, are thinking she's a spoiled brat for her behavior, it's still understandable and even Luz herself can see the different perspectives even when she can't control her own anger and attitudes. She matures throughout the story and Solana, although more of a secondary character, is thoughtfully drawn and despite her quick adaptation in traumatic circumstances, still shines through as a real character.

I'm limiting the number of realistic fiction titles I purchase, especially the longer and more serious ones, as there just isn't a big audience for them, but I would have loved to add this one except for one tiny, okay huge, problem. The cover. That is an AWFUL cover. Luz is a former soccer player, not one of the "cool" kids, but on the outskirts and doing all she can to fit in. One of the things she does at first is give Solana a list of things she should do to fit in and not embarrass her at school. Her knee has been repaired to the point where she can walk on it, but it's still unsteady and she has to be careful. So why on earth did they put her on the cover in overalls that make her look about 10 and with her hip cocked to the side? Another thing that she specifically mentions is that her hair is short and thin, cut in a "short bob" and she envies Solana's thick, wide hair. Luz's hair on the cover is a wide, shoulder-length sweep. Just, no. I can't sell this cover. I might be able to get readers if I pull this for class book clubs, but even that's doubtful. Hopefully a paperback with a better cover will be released in the future.

Verdict: If it weren't for the cover, I'd expend precious budget dollars on this, but I just can't justify it when I am sure that even my less picky kids will be reluctant to pick this up. A great book with a dismal cover.

ISBN: 9781797209678; Published May 2022 by Chronicle; Borrowed from another library in my consortium

Smaller Sister by Maggie Edkins Willis

The explosion of fictionalized graphic memoirs, following in the footsteps of Raina Telgemeier’s works, is slowly leading to more diversity in the field. Many of the new titles are also tackling more serious mental health and family issues like anxiety, addiction, and racism.

This newest title portrays a young, white girl, dealing with familiar issues of growing up, fitting in, and finding her own sense of self while also tackling the issue of eating disorders through the experiences and influence of her older sister.

Lucy has always admired her older sister, Olivia or Livy, but when they start a new school Livy seems to be moving on without her. Lucy struggles to make friends and fit in, while growing increasingly hurt and anxious over her sister’s behavior. At first, it seems like Livy is just making her own friends and growing up without Lucy, but gradually it becomes clear that she has an eating disorder. When they move on to yet another school, Lucy finds herself navigating middle school, difficult and confusing friendships and romantic crushes, and her own anxieties about her body while her family’s attention is focused on Livy and her battle with anorexia.

The art and text are a strong combination, showing the bond between the sisters that, while sometimes stretched or damaged, is never broken. The sisters’ experiences show the damages of eating disorders and the different ways they manifest as well as looking at healthy friendships and navigating the complexities of middle school.

In addition to being a relatable and well-told story, this is a strong argument against “protecting” children from struggles with mental health, addiction, or suicide. Lucy’s family assumes that she is fine and they can focus on her sister and tries to protect and shield her from the knowledge of her sister’s illness, but it nevertheless affects Lucy and she begins to struggle with her own body image. It’s the support and gradual recovery of her sister, as well as finding a supportive and positive group at camp that helps Lucy start to move on from her damaging friendships and early signs of disordered eating.

Verdict: A relatable book for middle grade and middle school readers that encourages them to find a supportive network and build their own confidence and self-image. This will be popular with fans of Raina Telgemeier and similar titles.

ISBN: 9781250767417; Published June 2022 by Roaring Brook; Borrowed from another library in my consortium; Purchased for the library

Big Nate: Destined for Awesomeness

This isn't so much a review as a discussion of collection development choices. Before Wimpy Kid, there was Big Nate. A comic strip and then a notebook novel, Big Nate is similar in many ways to Wimpy Kid, although much more episodic, having started and continued life as a daily comic strip.

Big Nate, a white boy in middle school, considers himself a superior student, intelligent, witty, handsome, and irresistible to the girls he considers desirable. His "talents" are playing chess and drawing comics, but he continually insists that he's not a "nerd." His single father is played for laughs and he has a mutual hate-hate relationship with his teen sister. Of course, Nate's awesomeness is all in his own mind. Even his so-called "friends" find his arrogance, selfishness, and clueless behavior to be too much at times. He continues to pursue Jenny, although she consistently pushes him away and is in turn pursued by Kim, portrayed stereotypically as fat, stupid, and aggressive. He also spends a significant amount of time hating his social studies and homeroom teacher, Mrs. Godfrey, who continually tries to get him to actually do some work but he considers to be picking on him. In a nutshell, Nate is a complete jerk. His antics are sometimes humorous, but the only reason I tolerate him is seeing him repeatedly get his comeuppance.

That's my personal view. Wimpy Kid fans are usually quite happy to read Big Nate when they discover the series, although he doesn't have the brand recognition of Wimpy Kid. Since I consistently have to replace the books, both the paper over board notebook novels and the paperback comic collections, I have started buying them in prebound formats so when they inevitably fall apart I can get them replaced through the lifetime binding guarantee. I had vaguely realized there was going to be an animated series, but hadn't thought about it much since, in my experience, kids almost never connect adaptations with the original book or series.

Bearing in mind that I have not read all the Big Nate books and comic strips and have not seen the animated show, the plots of these episodes were, in my opinion, over the line and much nastier than the book. In one episode, Nate is in danger of getting too many detentions and, following a school legend, disappearing. A new student shows who is even more of a prankster and Nate eventually "sacrifices" himself (he gets splashed with gross food from the cafeteria) to "save" the principal while the new kid turns out to be an escapee from the "institute for criminally insane tweens." Nate's "heroic" actions don't last long however, and in subsequent episodes he deliberately spends thousands of dollars on his dad's credit card and evolves an elaborate plot to spend time with Jenny, while at the same time hiding his fear of cats. Meanwhile, his sister is attempting to break their father of his psychological fear of using bathrooms outside their home while her father tries to "cure" her of her claustrophobia.

The art is supposedly a "fresh new look" but it's basically stills of animation interspersed with reprinted comic strips which inspired the plot lines.

I can't imagine Nate ever actually worrying about anyone (other than himself) getting hurt and the plot with his sister basically toilet-training their dad was gross and creepy. Not to mention the persistent stereotypes about fat kids, and the overall denigration and harassment of all the girls.

Obviously, I'm not a fan of the series. I find it mildly humorous at best, and this newest iteration not funny at all. I think the stereotypes are harmful and especially dislike the new one of the "insane" kid introduced apparently just for this show especially gross.

I'm still going to purchase this book for the library and continue purchasing (and replacing) the Big Nate books. Why? Well, regardless of my personal opinions, an overwhelming majority of kids like Big Nate and find it funny and their caregivers consider it harmless. I read plenty of crap when I was a kid that was, dare I say, even worse than this (Elsie Dinsmore anyone?) I'll happily recommend other options for families that don't want their kids reading it, and I would love to see more genuinely funny comics and notebook novels that do not include these harmful stereotypes so I could offer better alternatives, but right now this is what we've got. In the end, I do my best to provide a balanced and accurate collection with an emphasis on popular reading materials for all ages, and this is something kids will want to read.

Verdict: I consider this along the lines of other media tie-ins - not something I personally like or recommend, but which kids will want to read and so most collections will want to purchase it.

ISBN: 9781524875602; Published August 2022 by Andrews McMeel; ARC provided by publisher; Will purchase when available in prebound binding.