JUST LIKE THAT by Gary Schmidt

 

Just Like that by Gary Schmidt

Historical Fiction (United States, Vietnam War)

 Grief, Loss, Humor

387 pages

"The well-phrased writing is understated, endlessly 

engaging, and sometimes suspenseful or amusing."

 (Booklist)

Description

Booklist starred (September 1, 2020 (Vol. 117, No. 1))

Grades 6-8. It’s the summer of 1968. The accidental death of a dear friend

has blindsided Meryl Lee, and grief still overwhelms her at times. Unable to 

face her old school for eighth grade, she enrolls at St. Elene’s Preparatory 

Academy in Maine, where she initially feels isolated from her pretentious 

roommate and other classmates. From the start, she’s intrigued by the strong,

 enigmatic headmistress, Dr. MacKnockater, who seems to understand so much

and whose opening address unexpectedly mesmerizes and challenges Meryl Lee. 

Slowly, she begins to find her way and tentatively makes friends 

while navigating boarding-school life under the watchful eyes 

of her inscrutable teachers. 

Meanwhile, Matt has arrived in the area. A good-hearted, vulnerable boy on the run 

from his sometimes-violent past, he’s befriended by Dr. MacKnockater, who takes 

him in and gradually gains his trust. The Vietnam War isn’t just the story’s backdrop,

but an inescapable, unsettling element of the times, painfully affecting several characters. 

The well-phrased writing is understated, endlessly engaging, and sometimes suspenseful

 or amusing. While fans of Schmidt’s The Wednesday Wars (2007) and Lizzie Bright 

and the Buckminster Boy (2004) will find links to both stories here, this well-constructed 

novel, with its beautifully interwoven strands of narrative, stands on its own. An 

unforgettable story of loss, healing, and finding one’s way.

PAX by Sara Pennypacker

 

PAX by Sara Pennypacker

Fiction, Animal-Human Relationships, War

Description

Hornbook

“Peter and his pet fox have been inseparable since Peter rescued Pax as a kit. Now Peter’s father has enlisted, and there’s no room at Grandfather’s house (where the boy will be staying) for a fox, tame or otherwise; Peter’s father forces his son to release Pax into the wild. Heartsick, Peter soon decides to run away to find Pax. He stumbles onto the land of a woman named Vola, a hermit who reluctantly helps the boy regain his strength after an injury and whose own tragic backstory gradually emerges. Omniscient third-person chapters alternate between Peter’s story and that of Pax, who falls in with a young vixen, her fox-kit brother, and an aging alpha who takes Pax under his protection as the fox tries to find his boy. Pennypacker’s setting is stark, the details of time and place intentionally murky, with occasional textured black-and-white illustrations by Klassen playing up scenes both ordinary-seeming (a boy in a baseball dugout) and subtly menacing (flowers trampled into the ground). “Just because it isn’t happening here doesn’t mean it isn’t happening” reads the book’s epigraph, and readers are kept off-balance throughout as soldiers, including Peter’s father, amass and prepare for an unnamed war against unidentified combatants that’s poised to take place practically in Peter’s backyard. An emotional, thought-provoking story of conflict, loyalty, and love. elissa gershowitz”

My Comments

This is a timeless book set in a timeless place. It can be read on many levels depending on the reader. Don't let the adorable cover fool you; this is a book that addresses loss, anger, moral responsibility towards animals, human's place on earth, respect, and love. One of my absolute all time favorites. Highly recommended through 8th grade for independent reading or classroom discussion. It's also a not long and it's a page turner!

THE MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF AIDAN S. (as told by his brother) by David Levithan

 

Fantasy, 215 pages

Description

Publishers Weekly starred (January 4, 2021)

It’s great to step into a magical wardrobe and be transported to a fantastic world, but what happens when you come back? Returning from a magical place called Aveinieu with a royal blue leaf in his hair, 12-year-old Aidan finds he’s been missing for six days, his inexplicable disappearance resulting in a massive, town-wide search as well as endless police questioning of his family and best friend. But joy over his safe return quickly turns to unease about his inability to account for the time-Aidan knows he won’t be believed, and his exhausted parents don’t know whether to be worried or furious. His brother, 11-year-old Lucas, previously duped by Aidan’s fanciful stories, tries to catch him in inconsistencies in a brotherly arc that moves toward emotional support. Via Lucas’s urgent narration, Levithan (19 Love Songs) validates both Lucas’s real-world experience and Aidan’s post-portal mourning, telling a well-paced story about the collision of realities in the vein of Laura E. Weymouth and Seanan McGuire. Ages 8-12. Agent: Bill Clegg, the Clegg Agency. (Feb.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

My Comments

Magical and mysterious with a hint of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. I love the relationship of the brothers.

ZENOBIA JULY by Lisa Bunker

 

Description
The critically acclaimed author of Felix Yz crafts a bold, heartfelt story about a trans girl solving a cyber mystery and coming into her own. Zenobia July is starting a new life. She used to live in Arizona with her father; now she's in Maine with her aunts. She used to spend most of her time behind a computer screen, improving her impressive coding and hacking skills; now she's coming out of her shell and discovering a community of friends at Monarch Middle School. People used to tell her she was a boy; now she's able to live openly as the girl she always knew she was. When someone anonymously posts hateful memes on her school's website, Zenobia knows she's the one with the abilities to solve the mystery, all while wrestling with the challenges of a new school, a new family, and coming to grips with presenting her true gender for the first time. Timely and touching, Zenobia July is, at its heart, a story about finding home. -Publisher

My Comments

This is a story that you want to keep reading. Zenobia has experienced tremendous loss and rejection, but she is a fighter inside. She is not a rebel, but she is not afraid to stand up for others. Zenobia is complex. She defies stereotypes. She breaks your heart. The book, however, is not all sadness. There are colorful, funny characters, there is friendship, and there is triumph. Zenobia July will give some students courage. It will open the minds and hearts of all readers.

ALI CROSS by James Patterson

 Description

When his best friend Abraham is reported missing, Ali Cross sets out to find him, but he soon learns that being a kid sleuth isn't easy and clues aren't always what they seem"--Provided by publisher.

My Comments

Great choice for those looking for high action mysteries.

MAYBE HE JUST LIKES YOU by Emily Barbara Dee

 

Description

When boys in her class start touching seventh-grader Mila and making her feel uncomfortable, she does not want to tell her friends or mother until she reaches her breaking point.

My Comments

Realistic portrayal of sexual harassment of a girl in middle school that is called just joking by the boys. Mila's confusion, her unwillingness to tell anyone, and the conflict it causes in her life ring true. The story pulls in the reader from the beginning to the end. Highly recommended.

THIS LIGHT BETWEEN US by Andrew Fukuda

Description 

"In 1935, ten-year-old Alex Maki of Bainbridge Island, Washington, is horrified to discover that his new pen pal, Charlie Lévy of Paris, France, is a girl, but in spite of his initial reluctance, their letters continue over the years and they fight for their friendship even as Charlie endures the Nazi occupation and Alex leaves his family in an internment camp and joins the Army" -publisher

My Comments

A gorgeous, tragic story with a tragic ending. The racism against the American Japanese after Pearl Harbor is painful to read, but the perseverance against all odds in the United States and in the war overseas is inspiring. The relationship of Charlie and Alex grows against the backdrop of war's injustice. This is a book for advanced middle school through adult readers.

LIFE IN THE BALANCE by Jen Petro-Roy

 

Realistic Fiction, Softball, Friendship, Family, Alcoholism

Description

After Mom’s alcoholism has created anger within the family and a problem at work, she leaves to spend eight weeks in rehab. Dad takes a second job and has little time for Veronica. Just when she’s worked up the courage to tell Claudia, her best friend, about the situation, Claudia preempts her with the news of her parents’ divorce. Reluctant to add to her friend’s distress, Veronica doesn’t tell her, but when Claudia discovers the secret, she feels hurt that Veronica didn’t confide in her. A heart-to-heart talk sets their friendship back on course, but it will be a long time before Veronica feels that her family is right again. Still, a support group offers a gleam of hope. Petro-Roy, whose Good Enough (2019) portrays a 12-year-old at a treatment center for anorexia, writes with clarity and avoids suggesting that alcoholism is easy to manage or to live with. Given that Veronica’s a sixth-grader whose family is in distress, it seems natural that friendship lies at the heart of this very readable story.

My Comments

The plot has suspense involving making the team, friendship, family secrets, and what's happening with Veronica's mother. The story is accessible and age appropriate. This is a great realistic fiction choice for all middle schoolers.

LGBTQIA+ BOOK LIST

 

George by Alex Gino

"Grades 4-6. Ten-year-old George has a secret. Everyone thinks she is a boy, but inside she knows that she is really a girl named Melissa. When her fourth-grade class prepares to mount a dramatic production of Charlotte’s Web, George knows that more than anything in the world, she wants to play the part of Charlotte. After all, who cares if she plays a girl’s part? Hasn’t her best friend Kelly told her that, in Shakespeare’s time, men played all the parts, even those of girls and women? But things aren’t that simple, not even when George summons the courage to dramatically show her single-parent mom the truth. Gino’s debut novel is a sensitive, insightful portrayal of a transgender child coming to terms with gender identity. George is an appealing, thoroughly believable character, and her best friend Kelly adds humor and zest to this gentle story. Gino does an excellent job introducing factual information into the narrative without impinging upon the accessible and appealing story. Pair this important addition to the slender but growing body of transgender fiction with Ami Polonsky’s Gracefully Grayson (2014)." Booklist Starred, 2015. Vol 111. No. 22)

Drama by Raina Telgemeier (Graphic Novel)

From Raina Telgemeier, the #1 New York Times bestselling, multiple Eisner Award-winning author of Smile and Sisters!Callie loves theater. And while she would totally try out for her middle school's production of Moon over Mississippi, she can't really sing. Instead she's the set designer for the drama department's stage crew, and this year she's determined to create a set worthy of Broadway on a middle-school budget. But how can she, when she doesn't know much about carpentry, ticket sales are down, and the crew members are having trouble working together? Not to mention the onstage AND offstage drama that occurs once the actors are chosen. And when two cute brothers enter the picture, things get even crazier!

7 Days at the Hot Corner by Terry Trueman

"Gr 6 Up-Scott, a baseball-obsessed high school senior, works through the shock he feels when he learns that his best friend is gay. The immature teen's initial reaction is self-centered and a bit hysterical; he fears that he may have contracted AIDS after having helped Travis recover from a bloody batting-cage accident a few months earlier. While he awaits the results of tests to show whether he has the virus, Scott starts to gain an awareness and understanding of his friend's situation. Travis has been thrown out by his parents (and taken in by Scott's father); and after his friend gives an anonymous interview to the school newspaper, Scott fears for his safety. A history teacher ties the issue to a lesson on how Nazi Germany persecuted anyone who failed to conform to its standards. The book's strength lies in the straightforward depiction of the protagonist's struggle to come to terms with Travis's revelations. The other characters fail to develop fully, but this novel will find its audience among teens who see themselves in Scott's character.-Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information." (School Library Journal, April 1, 2007)

A High Five for Glenn Burke

Grades 5-8. When Silas has to do a presentation on a famous inventor for his sixth-grade class, he chooses Glenn Burke, the baseball center fielder credited with inventing the high five. “When Glenn Burke arrived in the big leagues in 1976, the Los Angeles Dodgers thought he was going to be the next Willie Mays,” Silas explains, but there’s one thing he doesn’t share with his class, friends, or teammates: Burke was pushed out of baseball because, like Silas, he was gay. Even as he considers coming out, Silas worries about his secret being revealed. As he becomes increasingly nervous, he distances himself from baseball and, worse, tells a lie about his best friend Zoey, which causes her to stop speaking to him. Bildner’s (Martina & Chrissie, 2017) latest is a middle-grade book that will have broad appeal. Young readers will relate to Silas and cheer him on as he navigates longstanding relationships that suddenly seem new and awkward. Muted problems at home, seen through Silas’ eyes, encourage communication with and trust in parents. The story also speaks to the importance of creating a welcoming community—whether on a baseball field or in a classroom—that embraces differences with not only tolerance but also complete and unrelenting support. An essential book for all readers, not just baseball fans, about friendship, acceptance, and self-confidence. (Booklist Starred, February 1, 2020 Vol. 116, No. 11)

Beyond Magenta by Susan Kuklin

182 pages.

Nonfiction

A 2015 Stonewall Honor Book

"A groundbreaking work of LGBT literature takes an honest look at the life, love, and struggles of transgender teens.

Author and photographer Susan Kuklin met and interviewed six transgender or gender-neutral young adults and used her considerable skills to represent them thoughtfully and respectfully before, during, and after their personal acknowledgment of gender preference. Portraits, family photographs, and candid images grace the pages, augmenting the emotional and physical journey each youth has taken. Each honest discussion and disclosure, whether joyful or heartbreaking, is completely different from the other because of family dynamics, living situations, gender, and the transition these teens make in recognition of their true selves." -Publisher

Twelfth by Janet Key

Realistic Fiction, Mystery, LGBTQIA+

354 pages

Description

School Library Journal (June 1, 2022)

Gr 4-8-It's June 2015 and 12-year-old Maren is not all that excited to be attending the Charlotte Goodman Theater Camp for the summer. However, Maren is soon drawn into a mystery involving a series of clues that may lead to the missing diamond ring of Charlotte "Charlie" Goodman, the famous director who was said to perish in a fire and for whom the camp is named. Maren soon befriends aspiring filmmaker Theo, and together they begin to unravel the mystery, hoping to find the ring to save the camp, which needs funding. The novel deftly tackles serious topics like depression, homophobia, and transphobia. It also is wonderfully inclusive, as Theo is nonbinary and Charlie is gender nonconforming. Key wisely uses Shakespeare's Twelfth Night as the backdrop for her narrative, serving as the camp's main theater production, the basis for the clues for the mystery, and as the lost film Charlie had been working on before her demise. The story includes flashbacks to Charlie in the 1940s and 1950s, interspersed between Maren's chapters, which are set in June 2015, only weeks before gay marriage was made legal. End notes feature facts on theater, film, and LGBTQIA+ history as well as information on ways readers can seek help if they are struggling with depression. VERDICT A engrossing mystery with a diverse cast of characters; an insightful exploration of the topics of gender, depression, and sexuality; and a satisfying and comprehensive conclusion. Highly recommended.-Laura J. Giunta © Copyright 2022. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

My Comments

Clever plot with a lot of action and suspense with a satisfying ending. Twelfth Night is the perfect backdrop for this story. of love, appearance, reality, ambition, grief, greed, and deception. Gender identity, acceptance and forgiveness are major threads running through the story are major themes. The only criticism I have is that the story is a little long, so recommend to better readers, Grades 6-8.

BLACK BROTHER, BLACK BROTHER by Jewell Parker Rhodes

 Realistic Fiction, African American, Racism and Prejudice, Fencing, Coming of Age

239 pages.

Description
Booklist starred (March 1, 2020 (Vol. 116, No. 13))
“Grades 5-8. A profound treatise about institutional racism for the middle-grade set, Rhodes’ (Ghost Boys, 2018) latest elevates beyond simple moralizing into a penetrating look into the soul of a young person struggling with how to become a Black man of character in a world that expects him to be less. Dropping the reader directly into a tony prep-school office where Donte anxiously awaits judgement for an offense he did not commit, Rhodes dials readers immediately into the boy’s acute dread as he cycles through feelings of shame, anger, and confusion, ultimately leading to a nonconfrontation that causes him to be arrested. As we learn more about Donte and his biracial family, including his lighter-skinned brother, we come to root for him and his pursuit of redemption as he seeks to prove his self-worth to his bullies and his school community through fencing. His coach, one of the first Black Olympic fencers, helps him refine his talent and his ability to deal with the inequities he experiences on a regular basis. An entertaining story and happy ending does not take away from this powerful examination of how the educational and justice systems punitively treat children of color—and how this bias impacts their self-perception and esteem. A powerful work and a must-have for children’s collections.”

My Comments This is a powerful story that skillfully weaves a classic Rocky-like story with serious messages about the effects of cruel and undeserved racism. Rhodes incorporates valuable lessons about redirecting hurt and anger into positive action. Dante comes from a tightly knit, loving family who helps him deal with racist bullying by standing beside him and validating his emotions. Discovering a way to channel his emotions and to develop his confidence through fencing brings the story to a new level that can resonate with all readers. The afterward provides information about the effects of racism on children with links to further reading. An excellent choice for all middle schoolers. Pair this with Stamped by Jason Reynolds, a YA remix of Stamped from the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi.

THEODORA HENDRIX AND THE MONSTROUS LEAGUE OF MONSTERS by Jordan Kopy/Illustrated by Chris Jevons

 Fantasy, Humor, Horror (not too scary!), Families, Friendship
Fantastic Fiction Review

Interview with Jordan Kopy

256 pages.

Description
"If you think monsters don't exist, just ask Theodora Hendrix. The start of a brilliantly funny new series, perfect for fans of Amelia Fang. The first rule of the Monstrous League of Monsters is: Keep monsters hidden from humans. But when zombie George and his cat companion Bandit find an abandoned baby, they can't leave her to be eaten by hobgoblins. So they spirit her home where she quickly becomes part of the family. Fast-forward ten years, and young Theodora doesn't seem too scarred by her monstrous upbringing. But now a series of anonymous letters suggest that someone is about to reveal their secret. If Theodora doesn't act fast, she may lose her family for ever..." Google Books

My Comments
So much fun! I kept trying to skim through (having a lot of books waiting on my shelf), but slowed down because it is such an enjoyable, witty read. It is just scary enough for elementary and middle school. The characters are so loveable and caring that you forget that they are 'monsters.' The story is an accessible level for a wide range of readers, but Kopy throws in some great vocabulary words here and there that elevate the reading experience without discouraging young readers. A well written page turner!

THE CROSSOVER by Kwame Alexander

 

Novels in Verse, Realistic Fiction, Basketball, Fathers and Sons, Twins, School and Education, Grief

218 pages

Kwame Alexander

Description
Horn Book Guide starred (Fall 2014)
Twelve-year-old twins Josh and Jordan (JB) are a well-oiled machine on the basketball court. But then JB gets a girlfriend, and before Josh knows it, things start to change. Josh's narration is a combination of exciting play-by-play game details, insightful observations on middle school, and poignant meditations on sibling dynamics and familial love. This verse novel has massive appeal for reluctant readers.

My Comments

Beautiful writing. Lyrical. Brilliant. Slam dunk! Recommend this book!

NEW KID by Jerry Craft

 

Graphic Novel, Realistic Fiction, African Americans, Prejudice, School, Family and Friends

249 pages

Description
"Seventh grader Jordan Banks loves nothing more than drawing cartoons about his life. But instead of sending him to the art school of his dreams, his parents enroll him in a prestigious private school known for its academics, where Jordan is one of the few kids of color in his entire grade. As he makes the daily trip from his Washington Heights apartment to the upscale Riverdale Academy Day School, Jordan soon finds himself torn between two worlds--and not really fitting into either one. Can Jordan learn to navigate his new school culture while keeping his friends and staying true to himself?"--Provided by publisher.

My Comments A valuable book to read for both teachers and students. Craft skillfully portrays how Jordan feels as the new kid who is on scholarship at a predominantly white, wealthy private school. I am impressed at how Craft manages to show the oblivious insensitivity of the other students while not demonizing or stereotyping anyone. I also love the way Jordan acknowledges his own feelings while respecting others. Even though he feels like an outsider, he is kind, stands up for others, and finds true friendship in a challenging situation. The artwork is dynamic - beautiful! This is an easy book to recommend to a wide range of students and teachers.See also Stamped by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi

Watch Hollow by Gregory Funaro

Fantasy, Horror (but not too scary!), Mystery

246 pages

Description
"Deep within the enchanted woods stands the once-grand Blackford House, whose halls hold a magical secret: a giant cuckoo clock that does much more than tell time. But when the clock's gears cease to turn, an evil presence lurking among the trees begins to come out of the shadows. When Lucy and Oliver Tinker arrive in town, they have no idea that anything is wrong. A mysterious stranger has made their father an offer that's too good for him to refuse. All Mr. Tinker needs to do is fix the clock at Blackford House and fistfuls of gold coins are his to keep. It doesn't take long, however, for the children to realize that there is more to Blackford House than meets the eye. And before they can entirely understand the strange world they've stumbled into, Lucy and Oliver must join forces with a host of magical clock animals to defeat the Garr, a vicious monster that not only wants Blackford House for itself, but also seeks to destroy everything the Tinkers hold dear"--OCLC.

My Comments Mysterious and a little scary. A lot of fun with a satisfying conclusion. Recommend this to Mary Downing Hahn fans.

 

THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES by Suzanne Collins

 

Science Fiction, Survival, Action, Violence, High School
517 pages.

Suzanne Collins

https://twitter.com/hungergamesnet

Description

Kirkus Reviews starred (June 15, 2020)

An origin story for both President Snow and the Hunger Games as we know them. 

Coriolanus Snow has the right family name, a prestigious address, talent, and 

charisma—but unless he wins a prize to pay for university, it’s all for nothing, as 

his family’s wealth came from the now obliterated District 13. He must succeed 

in his final project of being a mentor in the Hunger Games, but his District 12 girl

 tribute assignment at first feels damning. However, Lucy Gray Baird is vibrant 

and wild, a singer and performer with star power; she’s perfect for Coriolanus, who 

has been tasked with boosting the grim, lackluster games that, early in the shift from 

mock war to sporting spectacle, are even more brutal and unpredictable. Coriolanus 

is pulled between Mengelian Dr. Gaul’s twisted mentorship and connections with 

sympathetic foils Lucy Gray (which veers romantic) and compassionate classmate 

Sejanus. Conflicted Coriolanus thinks of himself as a good person in an impossible 

situation but also as exceptional—a belief with a high price. Collins humanizes him 

as superficially heroic and emotionally relatable while also using him for a vehicle for philosophical questions. Though readers know how he will eventually answer the 

questions explicitly asked of him, the central question is why, resulting in both a 

tense, character-driven piece and a cautionary tale. There is some mention of 

diversity in skin tone; Coriolanus and Lucy Gray seem to be white. The twists and 

heartbreaks captivate despite tragic inevitabilities. (Science fiction. 12-adult)

My Comments Despite some reviews, I think this prequel is as good, if not better than the Hunger Games trilogy. Collins delves into serious, relevant philosophical questions about human behavior and choices. It would be excellent for 8th through high school sociopolitical discussions related to Machiavelli ideology. This book is best for older and mature readers. On my favorite list. Waiting for the next one!

LEAGUE OF SECRET HEROES by Kate Hannigan

 

Fantasy, Spies, Superheroes, World War II

Book Description
Soon after being recruited by the mysterious Mrs. Boudica to join a secret military intelligence operation, Josie, Mae, and Akiko discover their superhero abilities and use them to thwart a Nazi plot to steal the ENIAC computer.

My Comments High action with smart, brave female characters in a World War II context. Fun.

ZOMBIE TAG by Hannah Moskowitz

 

Fiction, Grief, Brothers, Families, Horror, Humor

Book Description

From Follett

In the months since Wil Lowenstein's older brother Graham died, Wil has spent most of his time playing a game he invented, but when he finds a way to bring Graham and others back from the dead, fighting zombies is suddenly no longer a game.

From the Publisher

Wil is desperate for his older brother to come back from the dead. But the thing about zombies is . . they don't exactly make the best siblings.

Thirteen-year-old Wil Lowenstein copes with his brother's death by focusing on Zombie Tag, a mafia/

capture the flag hybrid game where he and his friends fight off brain-eating zombies with their mothers' spatulas. What Wil doesn't tell anybody is that if he could bring his dead brother back as a zombie, he would in a heartbeat. But when Wil finds a way to summon all the dead within five miles, he's surprised to discover that his back-from-the-dead brother is emotionless and distant.

In her first novel for younger readers, Moskowitz offers a funny and heartfelt look at how one boy deals with change, loss, and the complicated relationship between brothers.

Booklist (December 15, 2011 (Vol. 108, No. 8))

Grades 5-8. Six months ago, 12-year-old Wil lost his older brother, Graham, to a severe respiratory attack. While at his friend Anthony’s house playing “zombie tag”—a pretty cool game Wil and Graham made up that simulates a zombie invasion—Wil discovers a secret artifact hidden by Anthony’s father: a bell that supposedly raised a group of the dead 30 years ago. Wil steals it and gives it a go, and presto: 70 local dead people rise from their graves. Graham is among them, and his family is thrilled to see him. But he’s different now, so emotionless and cold that Wil begins to wonder if he’s made a horrible mistake. Moskowitz’s latest is nearly unclassifiable by genre and that’s much of the charm. Is this contemporary fiction? Fantasy? Horror? What’s more, Moskowitz deftly swerves between comedy, pathos, and even terror, and makes it look so effortless readers won’t think twice about the strangeness of the mix. There are a few plot bumps near the end, but the surprising amount of heart and wistfulness behind this will carry readers through.

My Comments

This was one of the strangest premises of a book that I have ever read, but it will definitely work for some readers. Having three sons of my own, I thought the dialogue and the game very plausible. Will's way of dealing with losing his brother through playing the zombie game makes sense, but then of course the zombies are real along with unicorns. This book confronts a heartbreaking situation in a realistic young adult manner. It is a strange book, but rather brilliant at the same time. I added the label humor, but it's the kind of humor that gets one through tragic circumstances.

WINK by Rob Harrell

 

Realistic Fiction, Cancer, Friendship, Families, Middle School, Courage...with humor

316 pages.

Description

After being diagnosed with a rare eye cancer, twelve-year-old Ross discovers how music, art, and true friends can help him survive both treatment and middle school.

Kirkus Reviews (December 1, 2019)

A rare form of cancer takes its toll in this novel based on the author’s experience. Seventh grader Ross Maloy wants nothing more than to be an average middle schooler, hanging out with his best friends, Abby and Isaac, avoiding the school bully, and crushing on the popular girl. There’s just one thing keeping Ross from being completely ordinary: the rare form of eye cancer that’s reduced him to the kid with cancer at school. Ross’ eye is closed in a permanent wink, and he constantly wears a cowboy hat to protect his eyes. The doctors are hopeful that Ross will be cancer free after treatment, but his vision will be impaired, and the treatments cause him to lose his hair and require the application of a particularly goopy ointment. This isn’t a cancer book built upon a foundation of prayer, hope, and life lessons. The driving force here is Ross’ justifiable anger. Ross is angry at the anonymous kids making hurtful memes about him and at Isaac for abandoning him when he needs a friend most. Ross funnels his feelings into learning how to play guitar, hoping to make a splash at the school’s talent show. The author balances this anger element well against the typical middle-grade tropes. Misunderstood bully? Check. Well-meaning parents? Check. While some of these elements will feel familiar, the novel’s emotional climax remains effectively earned. Characters are paper-white in Harrell’s accompanying cartoons. Not your typical kid-with-cancer book. (Fiction. 9-12)

My Comments

Deeply personal, painful, but balanced with humor. The middle school feelings of just 

wanting to fit in can resonate with any person going through traumatic illness. I wouldn't 

market this book as humor because the devastating experience of disfiguring and 

painful illness rings so true, but the humor gets you through as it also gets people 

through bad experiences in life.

Pair this with Wonder by Palacio, Out of My Mind by Draper, and other similar books.

Five stars. A favorite!

STAMPED by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi

 

Nonfiction, United States History, Racism

294 pages.

Book Description

Kirkus Reviews starred (December 1, 2019) "Award-winning author Reynolds (Look Both Ways, 2019, etc.) presents a young readers’ version of American University professor Kendi’s (How To Be an Antiracist, 2019, etc.) Stamped From the Beginning (2016). This volume, which is “not a history book,” chronicles racist ideology, specifically anti-blackness in the U.S., from its genesis to its pernicious manifestations in the present day. In an open, conversational tone, Reynolds makes it clear that anti-black racist ideology in the U.S. has consistently relied on the erronious belief that African people (and black people in general) are “dumb” and “savage,” ideas perpetuated through the written word, other media, and pseudo-science. Using separationist, assimilationist, and anti-racist historical figures, a direct line is drawn throughout U.S history from chattel slavery through the Civil War, Jim Crow, the civil rights era, the war on drugs, and #BlackLivesMatter, with plenty of little-known, compelling, and disturbing details inserted. Readers who want to truly understand how deeply embedded racism is in the very fabric of the U.S., its history, and its systems will come away educated and enlightened. It’s a monumental feat to chronicle in so few pages the history of not only anti-black racism in the U.S., but also assimilationist and anti-racist thought as well. In the process it succeeds at connecting “history directly...to our lives as we live them right this minute.” Worthy of inclusion in every home and in curricula and libraries everywhere. Impressive and much needed. (further reading, source notes, index) (Nonfiction. 12-adult)"

My Comments

Grades 7-12. A vitally important book. Stamped should be required reading. Jason Reynolds brings his storytelling abilities to nonfiction, bringing it alive, making it relevant, and accessible. I greatly appreciate how he chunks events, while sharing a new perspective that you will never forget. High Five stars, Absolute favorite!

GOOD ENOUGH by Paula Yoo

 

Realistic Fiction, Middle & High School, Asian Americans, Achievement, Families, Humor, Romance, Violin

322 pages.

Description
Kirkus Reviews (January 1, 2008) Patti knows that the only thing harder than calculus, or maybe mastering the cadenza from the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E Minor, is being a PKD, a Perfect Korean Daughter. The PKD achieves great grades, shines at extracurriculars and is devoted to her church but never complains or brags. Most important, the PKD never questions her parents' pushing her to get into Harvard, Yale and Princeton and become a doctor or a lawyer. Though witty, linguistically gifted Patti has a number of academic talents, her greatest joy is playing the violin. She knows she's not supposed to rock the Harvard/Yale/Princeton boat but, encouraged by her violin teacher, she applies to Juilliard. Now her dilemma is not her SAT scores or her grades, but how to hide her desire to attend music school from her academically oriented parents. The Clash, a jam session and a new boy at school encourage Patti to break from her PKD shell and see her social life and violin studies in new ways. Teens living through the pressure of college applications and questioning their futures will sympathize with Patti in this enjoyable, funny but not superficial read, which bears many similarities to Alex Flinn's Diva (2006). (Fiction. YA)

My Comments A little romance, music, and a lot of effort put into studying. I like the way this story shows the perspective of a high school student who studies hard, is intelligent, has goals, but who also begins to question what path she truly wants to follow regardless of family pressure. She also shows sensitivy and maturity as she begins to understand why her parents push her so hard. A good choice for both middle and high school students.

CHECKED by Cynthia Kadohata

 

Realistic Fiction, Father-Sons, Grief, Sports (Hockey), Dogs, Character, Determination and Grit

408 pages.

Description

From Follett

"A Caitlyn Dlouhy Book." "To help his dog through cancer treatment, Conor gives up hockey and finds himself considering who he is without the sport that has defined him, and connecting more with his family and best friend"--Provided by publisher.

From the Publisher

"Kadohata's slapshot is the heart-swelling narrative of a father and son...Truly powerful." --Jason Reynolds

"A deeply poignant story about a boy sorting out his priorities." --Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"A vivid, memorable portrayal of a boy within his family, his sport, and his gradually broadening world." --Booklist (starred review)

From Newbery Medalist Cynthia Kadohata comes a brilliantly-realized novel about a hockey player who must discover who he is without the sport that defines him.

Hockey is Conor's life. His whole life. He'll say it himself, he's a hockey beast. It's his dad's whole life too--and Conor is sure that's why his stepmom, Jenny, left. There are very few things Conor and his dad love more than the game, and one of those things is their Doberman, Sinbad. When Sinbad is diagnosed with cancer, Conor chooses to put his hockey lessons and practices on hold so they can pay for Sinbad's chemotherapy.

But without hockey to distract him, Conor begins to notice more. Like his dad's crying bouts, and his friend's difficult family life. And then Conor notices one more thing: Without hockey, the one thing that makes him feel special, is he really special at all?

My Comments

Love, love this book! I wanted to keep reading to find out what happened to all the characters: Sinbad, Conor and his efforts to be an amazing hockey player, the father's depression, and how the family's deep connections and love bring healing and joy to not only their own little family, but to those around them. I just wish Kadohata had made Conor 13 instead of 11, but the age doesn't really matter so I would recommend this for grades 5-8.