THE SEASON OF STYX MALONE by Kekla Magoon

 

The Season of Styx Malone by Kekla Magoon

Realistic Fiction, African American, Adventure, Foster Children, Friendship

297 pages; 2018

ALA Notable Book, Coretta Scott King Honor, Hornbook starred review
NPR, HornBook, Kirkus Reviews, SLJ, Shelf Awareness
Five starred reviews

Description
Meet Caleb and Bobby Gene, two brothers embarking on a madcap, heartwarming, one-thing-leads-to-another adventure in which friendships are forged, loyalties are tested . . . and miracles just might happen.

Caleb Franklin and his big brother Bobby Gene are excited to have adventures in the woods behind their house. But Caleb dreams of venturing beyond their ordinary small town. 

Then Caleb and Bobby Gene meet new neighbor Styx Malone. Styx is sixteen and oozes cool. Styx promises the brothers that together, the three of them can pull off the Great Escalator Trade--exchanging one small thing for something better until they achieve their wildest dream. But as the trades get bigger, the brothers soon find themselves in over their heads. Styx has secrets--secrets so big they could ruin everything. 

Comments

High action, fast-moving plot encompasses serious issues such as foster children, family life, friendship, and much more. It reminds me a bit of Maniac Magee. This would be a fantastic book for group discussions. So glad this was recommended to me by our elementary librarian, Stephanie Spierings!

MOUSE AND HIS DOG by Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko with illustrations by Wallace West

 

Mouse and His Dog by Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko

Illustrations by Wallace West

Science Fiction, Animal Fiction, Dog Shelters, Friendship

435 pages; 2024

Description

From Follett

"In Dogtown, a shelter for real and robot dogs, Mouse helps his big-hearted but trouble-attracting best friend Buster find a forever home, and embarks on an adventure with Stewie, a misunderstood dog, and Smokey, a malfunctioning robot dog"--Provided by publisher.

From the Publisher

An Instant NEW YORK TIMES and Indie Bestseller!

Mouse lives in Dogtown, a shelter for real dogs and robot dogs, where the kibble is plentiful, and the rafters hide a secret community of mice. His unlikely best friend is Buster, a big-hearted real dog who attracts trouble like a burr to fur.

Determined to help Buster find his forever home, even if means losing his best pal, Mouse embarks on a bold quest with three of Dogtown's "unadoptables": Buster, Stewie--a huge, lovable dog whose ex-owner said he was mean, and Smokey--a robot dog hardwired with a smoke alarm he can't control.

But Mouse is just a mouse, and the world is big and complicated. How's a little guy supposed to find homes for the dogs he loves?

My Comments

An adorable, heartfelt adventure with a message about responsibility and the importance of caring for pets. It is a bit heartbreaking how Buster is constantly returned to the dog shelter, but his big-hearted mouse knows the importance of friendship, loyalty, and determination. Give to upper elementary and animal lovers of all ages. Another favorite!

IMPOSSIBLE ESCAPE by

Impossible Escape: a true story of survival and heroism in   Nazi Europe by Steve Sheinkin

World War II, Holocaust, Narrative Nonfiction

243 pages; 2023

Description

"A true story of two Jewish teenagers racing against time during the Holocaust--one in hiding in Hungary, and the other in Auschwitz, plotting escape"--Provided by publisher.

School Library Journal starred (August 1, 2023)

Gr 8 Up-Sheinken has penned another must-read with this powerful and harrowing account of childhood friends Rudolf Vrba and Gerta Sidonová, Slovakian Jewish teens who not only survived the Holocaust but fought back against the Nazis. In 1942, when their government announced that Jews were to be deported to "work camps," Rudi was determined not to go and ran away to try to make it to England. He was captured at the Hungarian border and sent to Auschwitz. Due to his age and health, he was spared the gas chambers and sent to work. With cunning, determination, and good luck, he managed to survive, but never stopped thinking about escape. In April 1944, Vrba and friend Alfred Wetzler made an astonishing escape-even though they were near starvation, they walked to Slovakia with a goal to tell the world what was happening in the camps. Their account became known as the Vrba-Wetzler report, which compelled President Roosevelt to intervene with the Hungarian authorities, credited with saving over 200,000 lives. Paralleling Rudi's story, readers learn how Sidonová and her family hid with relatives in Hungary, and her later work with a Hungarian resistance. Sheinkin's unflinching account of the torturous conditions in Auschwitz is chilling and unimaginable, and the escape is heart pounding. This is all expertly interwoven with informative background information making for an absorbing page-turner. This book is well documented with extensive source notes, bibliography, and index; it also includes two diagrams of the camp and black-and-white photos. VERDICT Thoroughly researched with exceptional writing, this riveting narrative is an important addition to Holocaust literature. Highly recommended for all libraries.-Karen T. Bilton © Copyright 2023. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

My Comments

Mind boggling, frightening, inspirational, educational, and a page turner. It's a terrifying adventure. A must for any 8th grade World War II reading list.

IMPOSSIBLE CREATURES by Katherine Rundell

 

Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell

Fantasy, Magical Creatures, Quests

Katherine Rundell | Official Publisher Page | Simon & Schuster

358 pages; 2023

Description

School Library Journal starred (August 1, 2024)

Gr 3-7-An immersive low fantasy in a similar vein to The Chronicles of Narnia, this novel begins with a boy named Christopher who saves a griffin named Gelifen from drowning. Upon seeing the griffin, his grandfather tells him that Christopher is the guardian of the Archipelago: a wondrous world hidden within this one teeming with impossible creatures such as dragons, unicorns, and manticores. However, the creatures are dying. In order to save them and the Archipelago, Christopher goes with Mal, Gelifen's owner, to see why that world is dying and if they can save it. From start to finish, readers embark on a dragon ride with many emotional highs and lows. Both main and supporting characters are fleshed out, making it easy to empathize with them, and character development is enhanced by intense action scenes. Even though the cover is sweet, do not be fooled: Rundell is the George R.R. Martin of middle grade fantasy. Do not give to children who are sensitive to the deaths of beloved characters. Violence occurs throughout the story, but it is never explicit or gratuitous. Though the book will evoke sadness, readers will also be left with some hope. VERDICT A quintessential fantasy that will delight readers of all ages who can handle intense storylines; this will circulate well in public and school libraries alike.-Wilsinia Ocasio © Copyright 2024. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

My Comments

Adventure, magic, friendship, wisdom. Absolutely wonderful. I have recommended this highly to my students, but they haven't taken the bite. I hope someone does soon. It's one of those books that spans a wide age range. Love!

GAME CHANGER by Tommy Greenwald

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Game Changer by Tommy Greenwald

Sports, Football, Hazing, Coma, Feelings, Friendship

287 pages; 2017

Book Trailer

Description

"Thirteen-year-old Teddy Youngblood is in a coma fighting for his life after an unspecified football injury at training camp. His family and friends flock to his bedside to support his recovery--and to discuss the events leading up to the tragic accident. Was this an inevitable result of playing a violent sport, or was something more sinister happening on the field that day? Told in an innovative, multimedia format combining dialogue, texts, newspaper articles, transcripts, an online forum, and Teddy's inner thoughts, Game Changer explores the joyous thrills and terrifying risks of America's most popular sport." - Amazon

My Comments

The format is engaging and portrays what feel like realistic interactions between friends, teachers, and parents. The story is chilling, especially since I have a son who played football through 4 years of college. I don't know if I would have supported that after reading this book. An excellent recommendation for all readers.

I AM NUMBER FOUR by Pittacus Lore

 

I Am Number Four (Lorien Legacies, Book One) by Pittacus Lore

Science Fiction, Extraterrestrial Beings, Friendship, Romance

440 pages; 2010

Description
Extraterrestrials-they were a group of nine. Nine aliens who fled from their home planet of Lorien when it fell under attack by the evil Mogadorians. They scattered on Earth & went into hiding until the day they would be ready to strike back. They look just like ordinary teenagers, but they have extraordinary abilities known amongst their people as Legacies. The Mogadorians still hunt the Loric survivors here on Earth. They caught Number One in Malaysia. Number Two in England. Number Three in Kenya. And they killed them all. They tried to capture Number Four, John Smith--but failed. Now the teenagers are beginning to find each other. And they must all reunite before it is too late.

From Follett

In rural Ohio, friendships and a beautiful girl prove distracting to a fifteen-year-old who has hidden on Earth for ten years waiting to develop the Legacies, or powers, he will need to rejoin the other six surviving Garde members and fight the Mogadorians who destroyed their planet, Lorien.

My Comments

This is an oldie, but a classic sci-fi adventure. Recommend this to anyone who likes Legend by Marie Lu, The Divergents by Veronica Roth, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, Maze Runner, and others! Couldn't put this down and just ordered a fresh copy for the shelves!

A LAND OF PERMANENT GOODBYES by Atia Abawi

A Land of Permanent Goodbyes by Atia Abawi

Realistic Fiction, Refugees, Bombings, Civil War

2018: 285 pages

Description
School Library Journal (December 1, 2017)

Gr 7 Up-Told from the point of view of Destiny, this novel focuses on one Syrian family tragically affected by a senseless and brutal war. Tareq, the eldest son, along with his father and young sister, are the only members of their immediate family still alive after their village is bombed. The only practical means of survival is to flee their homeland for Turkey, Greece, and ultimately, Germany, to evade persecution and probable (if not inevitable) death. Abawi presents a gripping, heartbreaking story about the refugee crisis in Syria, and how all wars cruelly impact people, society, and nations. The author does not shy away from many of the barbaric acts of terrorism perpetrated against the anti-establishment Muslim citizens: beheadings followed by vacant-eyed human heads posted on metal spikes to terrorize nonbelievers into compliance. She contrasts this poignantly, memorably, and poetically with the endearing way she describes Tareq and his loving family. Several other characters are introduced. Alexia, an American on vacation in Greece, decides to stay in the country to help. Her story is an integral one as it merges with Tareq's arrival, though the thread ends somewhat abruptly. Overall, Abawi skillfully places humanity enmeshed in war into two sides: the "hunters" who feed on the suffering and the "helpers" who lend a hand. VERDICT An inspiring, timely, and must-have account about the Syrian refugee disaster and the perils of all wars; best supplemented with nonfiction information for research purposes.-Etta Anton, Yeshiva of Central Queens, NY © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

My Comments

This is an unforgettable book that can do much to inspire compassion and understanding in readers. It can also encourage curiosity to learn more about global unrest. Although there is no gratuitous violence, there are disturbing descriptions as described in the review above, including the implication of rape. These scenes are not dwelled upon and are part of the fabric of the refugee experience. The overwhelming takeaway is the refugees' fear, uncertainty, hunger, cold, loss, and grief. Highly recommended for grades 8 and up.

 

NOTORIOUS by Gordon Korman

 

Notorious by Gordon Korman

Mystery, Humor, Buried Treasure

2020; 307 pages

Description

From Follett

Told in different voices, on Centerlight Island, halfway between the United States and Canada, middle-schoolers Keenan and ZeeBee team up to seek gold rumored to be hidden there a famous gangster.

From the Publisher
A funny, suspenseful mystery and unlikely friendship story from New York Times bestselling author Gordon Korman--perfect for fans of Swindle and Ungifted.
Keenan has lived all over the world but nowhere quite as strange as Centerlight Island, which is split between the United States and Canada. The only thing weirder than Centerlight itself is his neighbor Zarabeth, aka ZeeBee.
ZeeBee is obsessed with the island's history as a Prohibition-era smuggling route. She's also convinced that her beloved dog, Barney, was murdered--something Keenan finds pretty hard to believe.
Just about everyone on Centerlight is a suspect, because everyone hated Barney, a huge dog--part mastiff, part rottweiler--notorious for terrorizing the community. Accompanied by a mild-mannered new dog who is practically Barney's opposite, ZeeBee enlists Keenan's help to solve the mystery.
As Keenan and ZeeBee start to unravel the clues, they uncover a shocking conspiracy that dates back to Centerlight's gangster past. The good news is that Keenan may have found the best friend he's ever had. The bad news is that the stakes are sky-high.
And now someone is after them. . . .

My Comments

A fun mystery, especially for dog lovers and treasure hunters. I enjoyed the characters and the satisfying ending!

ACROSS SO MANY SEAS by Ruth Behar

Across Many Seas by Ruth Behar

Historical Fiction, Discrimination, Immigration, Refugees, Sephardic Jews

2024; 258 pages

Description Kirkus Reviews starred (December 1, 2023)

Four 12-year-old Sephardic Jewish girls in different time periods leave their homelands but carry their religion, culture, language, music, and heritage with them. King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella’s expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492 sends Benvenida fleeing from Toledo with her family, though she promises to remember where she came from. In 1923, Reina celebrates Turkish independence with her longtime friend and neighbor, a Muslim boy, causing her strict father to disown her and send her to live with an aunt in Cuba as punishment. Reina brings her mother’s oud with her and passes it on to Alegra, her daughter, who serves as a brigadista in Castro’s literacy campaign before fleeing to the U.S. in 1961. In Miami in 2003, Paloma, Alegra’s daughter, who has an Afro-Cuban dad, is excited to travel to Spain with her family to explore their roots. They find a miraculous connection in Toledo. Woven through all four girls’ stories is the same Ladino song (included with an English translation); as Paloma says, “I’m connected to those who came before me through the power of the words we speak, the words we write, the words we sing, the words in which we tell our dreams.” Behar’s diligent research and her personal connection to this history, as described in a moving author’s note, shine through this story of generations of girls who use music and language to survive, tell their stories, and connect with past and future. Powerful and resonant. (sources) (Historical fiction. 10-15)

My Comments
An informative, accessible book. The plot offers a window into a wide span of history that encompasses the world. I learned so much from this book and was moved by the courage of its characters. Highly recommend for grades 6-8.

SPY SCHOOL by Stuart Gibbs

Spy School by Stuart Gibbs (series)
 
Fiction, Mystery, Action
2012; 290 pages

Description
Ben Ripley leaves his public middle school to attend the CIA's highly secretive Espionage Academy, which everyone is told is an elite science school.

My Comments
Action, action from the first page. This is a great book for almost any middle schooler. Some vocabulary and idioms may be challenging for readers, but the great plot may carry them through! All of Gibbs' books are a good bet for recommendations.

WHAT STAYS BURIED by Suzanne Young

 

What Stays Buried by Suzanne Young

Horror, Ghosts, Missing Children

2023; 264 pages

Description

School Library Journal Xpress (September 29, 2023)

Gr 6 Up-Calista Wynn sees dead people. But she won't much longer. Once she turns 13 (in a week), her ability to communicate with ghosts will disappear. In this middle grade debut, Calista must rush to use her powers to save the disappearing children in her town of Meadowmere, NY, before it's too late. Calista comes from a long line of mediums who can speak to ghosts but lose their powers on their 13th birthdays. With the help of the ghosts of her father and grandmother, Calista works to stop Edwina Swift, the evil "Tall Woman" who has taken numerous children, including Calista's sister Molly, to make herself more powerful. Young's suspenseful novel is dark; with seances, curses, mediums, and possessions, some readers may find aspects of the book terrifying. Yet, the novel also shows strong family bonds across generations and worlds, while overarching themes of the power of love, family, and friendship make this a solid entry into horror for adventurous readers. VERDICT Those with an interest in the occult will enjoy this book for the well-developed protagonist and solid plotting.-Rebekah J. Buchanan © Copyright 2023. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

My Comments

Another scary book! Seances (summoning and speaking to the dead), the occult, and a wicked witch who is stealing children's souls. The scary stuff is softened by strong family bonds and the value of caring about others. Good prevails in the end!