SAL & GABI BREAK THE UNIVERSE by Carlos Alberto Hernandez

Science Fiction, Cuban American, Diabetes,  Grief, Humor, Multi-Universe

Book Description

Winner of the 2020 Pura Belpre Award

Best-selling author Rick Riordan presents a brilliant sci-fi romp with Cuban influence

that poses this question: What would you do if you had the power to reach through 

time and space and retrieve anything you want, including your mother, who is no 

longer living (in this universe, anyway)?

How did a raw chicken get inside Yasmany's locker?

When Sal Vidon meets Gabi Real for the first time, it isn't under the best of 

circumstances. Sal is in the principal's office for the third time in three days, and it's 

still the first week of school. Gabi, student council president and editor of the school 

paper, is there to support her friend Yasmany, who just picked a fight with Sal. 

She is determined to prove that somehow, Sal planted a raw chicken in Yasmany's locker, 

even though nobody saw him do it and the bloody poultry has since mysteriously 

disappeared.

Sal prides himself on being an excellent magician, but for this sleight of hand, he 

relied on a talent no one would guess . . . except maybe Gabi, whose sharp eyes 

never miss a trick. When Gabi learns that he's capable of conjuring things much 

bigger than a chicken--including his dead mother--and she takes it all in stride, Sal 

knows that she is someone he can work with. There's only one slight problem: 

their manipulation of time and space could put the entire universe at risk.

A sassy entropy sweeper, a documentary about wedgies, a principal who wears a 

Venetian bauta mask, and heaping platefuls of Cuban food are just some of the delights 

that await in his mind-blowing novel gift-wrapped in love and laughter. (Publisher)

My Comments

Aimed right at a wide middle school audience. Fast paced, page turner. 

ANCIENT EGYPT MIDDLE SCHOOL FICTION & BIOGRAPHIES

BIOGRAPHIES

Hoobler, Dorothy. Cleopatra
A biography of the Egyptian queen who gained and maintained powerover her kingdom through her alliance with Julius Caesar and later Marc Antony.

Morgan, Julian, 1958-. Cleopatra: ruling in the shadow of Rome
A biography of Cleopatra VII, famous for her relationships withJulius Caesar and Mark Antony, the last pharaoh of Egypt.

Sapet, Kerrily, 1972-. Cleopatra : ruler of Egypt
The seventh Cleopatra -- The shadow of Rome --

Schiff, Stacy. Cleopatra : a life.

Cooney, Kara. The woman who would be king : 
Hatshepsut's rise to power in Ancient Egypt 
A biography of Hatshepsut, the longest-reigning female pharaoh of ancient Egypt,and the story of her rise to power.

Lange, Brenda. Nefertiti
Egypt then and now -- Everyday life in Egypt -- The mysterious queen Nefertiti --

Edwards, Roberta. Who was King Tut?

Hawass, Zahi A. Tutankhamun : the mystery of the boy king

Graphic Novel Biography
Jeffrey, Gary. Cleopatra : the life of an Egyptian queen

TALES

Climo, Shirley. Illustrated by Ruth Heller. Egyptian Cinderella

his Egyptian spin on the classic Cinderella tale was initially recorded in the first century by a Roman historian and is retold here by folklorist Shirley Climo. 

Green, Roger Lancelyn. Tales of Ancient Egypt

Puffin Pixels is a new collection of classics featuring pixelated, 8-bit video game cover artwork. Whether you're an adult nostalgic for video and computer games of the past, a teen looking for something edgy for your bookshelf, or just someone who tends to divert from the mainstream-Puffin Pixels adds a sophisticated, fresh, flair to the canon to satisfy every reader. - Publisher

Hibbert, Clare. Illustrated by Janos Jantner. Terrible Tales of Ancient Egypt 

(Monstrous Myths series)

The myths of ancient Egypt are peppered with tales of creation, love, family, trickery, and revenge. Readers will love learning about the famous Egyptian gods and goddesses, including Ra, Osiris, Horus, Isis, and Set. - Publisher

Land of enchanters : Egyptian short stories from the earliest times to the present day
Contains over twenty stories from ancient, Greco-Roman, Christian, Muslim, and modern Egypt.

McCaughrean, Geraldine. Casting the Gods Adrift. A Tale of Ancient Egypt

When Akhenaten, Egypt's new pharaoh, decrees that only one god shall be worshipped from now on, life is thrown into chaos for Tutmose, the young son of a dealer in rare animals meant for the temples of the traditional gods. Tutmose's happiness at living at the pharaoh's court is darkened when his father, maddened by the pharaoh's rejection of the gods, plots a deadly revenge. Back matter suggests further reading. -Publisher

Williams, Marcia. Ancient Egypt, Tales of God and Pharaohs.

In this retelling of nine tales of ancient Egypt, Marcia Williams uses her signature comicstrip style to capture the rich mythology and early history of this great civilization. Rami, Ra's beloved cat, highlights Egypt's many cultural and technological advances along the way. An instantly engaging, accessible introduction to an ancient civilization, this collection of stories is sure to fascinate and inspire young Egyptologists.

FICTION


Aubin, Henry T. Rise of the Golden Cobra
During a picnic overlooking the Nile, 14-year-old scribe Nebi spots the riders first. Led by the treacherous Count Nimlot, the raiding party slaughters Nebi's master, the region's head of police. Although wounded, Nebi escapes, the only living witness that the pharaoh's northern territory is no longer secure. Nebi is quickly catapulted into events that will change history. Set in 728 B.C., Rise of the Golden Cobra surrounds the actual reign of Pharaoh Piankhy, the brilliant and compassionate leader whose astonishing campaign united Ancient Egypt... - Sora

Carmichael, Leslie. The amulet of Amon-Ra
Jennifer is given an old scarab amulet that transports her back to ancient Egypt,where she explores her new surroundings and tries to solve the mystery of how she got there and what she needs to do to get back home. -Publisher

Cooney, Caroline B. For all Time
The fourth installment in the time travel series finds Annie, a teenager in 1999,attempting to get back to 1899 Egypt where she hopes to join her boyfriend, Strat,but she instead ends up in ancient Egypt and in great danger. -Publisher

Carrol, Emma. Secrets of a Sun King
It's November, 1922. In a valley in Egypt the tomb of a long dead pharaoh is about to be discovered. The world watches and waits for news with bated breath. Thirteen-year-old Lilian Kaye, who lives in a flat above a shop in London, is eagerly following the story. One morning the news takes a sinister turn: a man- a famous Egyptologist- disappears. All that remains of him are his feet. Then Lil's grandfather is taken suddenly ill, and when a mysterious package turns up for him from the Egyptologist, Lil starts to believe there is truth to the rumours of a pharaoh's curse. - Publisher

Curry, Jane Louise. The Egyptian Box 
Tee is happy to find that the ancient Egyptian box she inherits holds a spirit who will serve her, until she notices changes in her servant's appearance and behavior. (out of print)

Duey, Kathleen. Mummy
When the portal transports them to the Valley of the Kings in ancient Egypt,the Time Soldiers encounter thieves and an angry pharaoh as they try to make their way to safety, and along the way they learn that the amulet may give them some control over their journeys. (out of print?)

Ellerby, Leona. King Tut's Game Board.
With a mysterious friend he meets while vacationing in Egypt, 16-year-old Justin makes astonishing discoveries about two ancient civilizations. (out of print)

Friesner, Esther M. Sphinx's Princess
Although she is a dutiful daughter, Nefertiti's dancing abilities, remarkable beauty,and intelligence garner attention near and far, so much so that her family is summonedto the Egyptian royal court, where Nefertiti becomes a pawn in the power play ofher scheming aunt, Queen Tiye.

Friesner, Esther M. Sphinx's Queen
Nefertiti escapes the palace and the consequences of a false charge with two of her friends,
but while she takes refuge in the hills along the west bank of the Nile, Nefertiti's desires to prove her innocence in front of the Pharaoh are shadowed by questions about long-held, sacred beliefs.


Hofmeyr, Dianne. Eye of the Moon
Isikara embarks on a dangerous adventure when, while helping her father with the mummification of the Egyptian queen and her eldest son, Tuthmosis, she discovers the prince is still alive and decides she must rescue him and help find allies who can assist him in regaining his throne.

Hofmeyr, Dianne. Eye of the SunWhile Ta-Mui, maidservant to Nefertiti's rival, Kiya, is imprisoned for her effort to rescue T
uthmosis and Isikara and her relationship with a handsome villager, Tuthmosis and Isikara spread rumors of the prince's intentions as they make their way back to Egypt, which terrifies both Nefertiti and the High Priest.

Hulme-Cross, Benjamin. The Egyptian Warrior
Travel back in time with brothers Arthur and Finn as they help a Pharaoh's daughtersurvive a siege and stop an assassination plot.

Gregory, Kristiana. Cleopatra VII: Daughter of the Nile, Egypt, 57 B.C. 
(The Royal Diaries) 
Captivating story of young Cleopatra's tumultuous life. Daughter of King Ptolemy Autletes, Pharaoh of Egypt, Cleopatra lives a life filled with opulence and mystery. -Publisher

Jarmon, Julia. The Time Traveling Cat and the Egyptian Goddess
Topher, mourning the loss of his mother, an Egyptologist, takes in a stray cat--with the approval of his dad--that leads him on a time traveling adventure to ancient Egypt.

Kerr, P.B. The Akhenaten Adventure
When 12-year-old twins John and Philippa get their wisdom teeth, they suddenly have the power to grant wishes and make things disappear. They are genies! Quickly, they learn to control their powers just before they embark on a dangerous quest that will take them into the tomb of an ancient pharaoh. Along the way, the must confront Iblis, the most evil genie in the universe! This fast-paced and funny fantasy is the first children's novel from critically acclaimed thriller writer P.B. Kerr. -Sora

LaFevers, R.L. Theodosia
Nate is sent to live with a family cousin, the world's last beastologist, after his parents are declared lost at sea, but danger mounts when he is brought on an expedition to the Arabian desert, gets lost, and must protect a newly hatched phoenix egg and rescue his guardian.

Lester, Julius. Pharaoh's Daughter : A Novel of Ancient EgyptA fictionalized account of the Biblical tale in which a Hebrew infant, rescued by thedaughter of the Pharaoh, passes through a turbulent adolescence to eventuallybecome a prophet of his people while his sister finds her true self as a priestessto the Egyptian gods.

Maurer, Gretchen. Call me Isis : Egyptian Goddess of Magic
Isis, Egyptian Goddess of Magic, thinks herself destined for a charmed life as theGoddess-Queen of Egypt. But in one fell swoop she loses her love, her home,even her magical powers. How will she reclaim Egypt's throne for Horus, against the will of the evil usurper, Seth? Will she be able to save Egypt from ruin? And where can you find her now?"
--Back cover.

McGraw, Eloise Jarvis. The Golden GobletA young Egyptian boy struggles to reveal a hideous crime and reshape his own destiny.

McGraw, Eloise Jarvis. Mara, Daughter of the Nile
The adventures of an ingenious Egyptian slave girl who undertakes a dangerousassignment as a spy in the royal palace of Thebes, in the days when Queen Hatshepsut ruled.

Napoli, Donna Jo. Lights on the Nile
Kepi, a young girl who was content staying at home helping her father who was wounded while building a pyramid for the pharaoh Khufu, is kidnapped along with her baboon, Babu,and taken to the capital city, where she is separated from Babu, sets out to find him andappeal to the pharaoh, and discovers she has powers she never knew about.

Paver, Michelle. Gods and Warriors (Book 1)
In the turbulent world of the Mediterranean Bronze Age, Hylas, a lowly twelve-year-old goatherd, thief, and outsider, journeys from the Greek mountains to Crete and Egypt, making allies with animals, battling tyranny, and withstanding the elemental powers of the gods of land and sea. - Publisher

Paver, Michelle. The Burning Shadow (Gods and Warriors, Book 2)
In his search for his sister Issi, Hylas is kidnapped and sold into slavery and must escape the Crows with the help of his friend Pirra and a lion cub"--Publisher

Riordan, Rick. The Kane Chronicles (also in graphic novel format)
The Red Pyramid - Book 1
The Throne of Fire - Book 2
The Serpent’s Shadow - Book 3
(Series description) When a magical accident unleashes the Egyptian gods on the modern world, siblings Carter and Sadie Kane discover that they are the only ones who can put things right. As descendants of the greatest Egyptian magicians, they must find a way to defeat the evil god Set before he can destroy them. - Follett

Rubalcaba, Jill. A Place in the Sun
In ancient Egypt, the gifted young son of a sculptor is taken into slavery when he attempts to save his father's life, and is himself almost killed before his exceptional talent leads Pharoah to name him Royal Sculptor.


Rubalcaba. Jill. The Wadjet Eye
After his mother dies, Damon, a young medical student living in Alexandria, Egypt, in 45 B.C., makes a perilous journey to Spain to locate his father who is serving in the Roman army led by Julius Caesar.

Scieszka, Jon. Tut, tut.Sam, Joe, and Fred finish their school project on ancient Egypt without using their
magical time travel book, but when Joe's sister Anna plays with it and travels to
the land of pyramids, they must follow her back in time to bring her back to 1996.

Shecter, Vicky. Cleopatra's Moon
Selene, having grown up in a palace with her parents, Cleopatra and Mark Antony,is forced by war to build a new life in the household of Roman emperor Octavianus,where she finds herself torn between two young men and two possible destinies.

Sevigny, Alisha. The Lost Scroll of the Physician
After a brutal fire takes their parents’ lives, Sesha and Ky, children of the pharaoh’s royal physician, are left charming snakes and stealing food to survive. Unsure of who to trust, the pair are found and brought back to the palace, where the pharaoh tasks Sesha with finding a rare medical document her father was transcribing. But are the royals hiding something?

Snyder, Zilpha Keatley. The Egypt Game
Melanie and April turn a deserted lot into an imaginary Egypt where they spend many hoursenacting rituals and consulting oracles, but there are real dangers and problemslurking outside their make-believe world that almost bring their game to a disastrous end.

Turetsky, Bianca.The time-Traveling Fashionist and Cleopatra, Queen of the Nile
After trying on a Grecian dress, a twelve-year-old girl who likes vintage fashion travels back to ancient Egypt, where she experiences life as a handmaiden to Queen Cleopatra and learns valuable lessons about confidence and leadership.

Travis, Lucille. Tirzah
Tirzah’s people, the Israelites, have been in slavery to the Egyptians for many years. She observes the suffering of her people and the injustices that are done to them by the Egyptian police. One night, when the plague of death strikes down Pharaoh’s own son, he allows the Israelites to flee on foot, only to pursue them with horses and chariots. Tirzah befriends a young Egyptian girl who has fled with them, even though others treat her badly. In spite of hardship and disappointment, Tirzah and her family keep trusting Yahweh to carry them through.

ORPHAN ISLAND by Laurel Snyder

Fantasy, Adventure, Bildungsromans, Orphans, Grief

269 pages

Description

"A group of orphans wait each year for a boat to arrive on the island, replacing the eldest with the youngest, never to be seen again, as each remaining child child learns what it means to say goodbye to childhood forever. "(Follett)

"In the tradition of modern-day classics like Sara Pennypacker's Pax and Lois Lowry's The Giver comes a deep, compelling, heartbreaking, and completely one-of-a-kind novel about nine children who live on a mysterious island.

On the island, everything is perfect. The sun rises in a sky filled with dancing shapes; the wind, water, and trees shelter and protect those who live there; when the nine children go to sleep in their cabins, it is with full stomachs and joy in their hearts.

And only one thing ever changes: on that day, each year, when a boat appears from the mist upon the ocean carrying one young child to join them--and taking the eldest one away, never to be seen again.

Today's Changing is no different. The boat arrives, taking away Jinny's best friend, Deen, replacing him with a new little girl named Ess, and leaving Jinny as the new Elder. Jinny knows her responsibility now--to teach Ess everything she needs to know about the island, to keep things as they've always been.

But will she be ready for the inevitable day when the boat will come back--and take her away forever from the only home she's known?

"A unique and compelling story about nine children who live with no adults on a mysterious island. Anyone who has ever been scared of leaving their family will love this book" (from the Brightly.com review, which named Orphan Island a best book of 2017)." (Publisher)

My Comments

This book drew me in despite my initial reservations. I am not sure why the reviews specify grades 4-7. It is magical, but sophisticated. The themes of self sufficiency, caring, loss and becoming a young adult is relevant for older grades. I will recommend Orphan Island to mature 6th graders and older. 

BREAKING STALIN'S NOSE by Eugene Yelchin

Historical Fiction, Soviet Union, Communism, Parents

140 pages

Description

In the Stalinist era of the Soviet Union, ten-year-old Sasha idolizes his father, a devoted Communist, but when police take his father away and leave Sasha homeless, he is forced to examine his own perceptions, values, and beliefs." (Follett)

"Sasha Zaichik has known the laws of the Soviet Young Pioneers since the age of six:
The Young Pioneer is devoted to Comrade Stalin, the Communist Party, and Communism.
A Young Pioneer is a reliable comrade and always acts according to conscience.
A Young Pioneer has a right to criticize shortcomings.
But now that it is finally time to join the Young Pioneers, the day Sasha has awaited for so long, everything seems to go awry. He breaks a classmate's glasses with a snowball. He accidentally damages a bust of Stalin in the school hallway. And worst of all, his father, the best Communist he knows, was arrested just last night.

This moving story of a ten-year-old boy's world shattering is masterful in its simplicity, powerful in its message, and heartbreaking in its plausibility." (Publisher)

My Comments

I was immediately drawn into this spare and chilling story. Sasha's story portrays the trust, fear, and anxiety during the era of Stalin rule. The deep tragedy of shattered lives is communicated through the eyes of a ten year old similar to the innocent perspective of Bruno in The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne (2016). I do wish Sasha's character was a few years older to broaden the audience. It would be useful if elementary and middle school students learned something about this time period prior to reading this book for some historical context and deeper appreciation of the story.

FOURMILE by Watt Key

Realistic Fiction, Family, Loss, Violence

228 pages
Teacher's pdf guide available

Description
"Twelve-year-old Foster lives with his mother on Fourmile, their Alabama farm. Foster is still struggling with the death of his father the previous year and the knowledge that he and his mother will have to sell Fourmile and go live in Montgomery. To complicate matters, Foster’s mother is dating Dax Ganey, a man Foster knows is deceitful and bad for her. When a mysterious stranger, Gary, arrives at the farm, Foster bonds with him and looks up to him, unknowingly trying to fill his father’s place in his life. When Foster’s mother spurns Dax, he becomes a dangerous enemy to Foster, Gary, and her. Eventually, Foster must face both Dax and his fears and come to terms with a new life that does not include Fourmile." (teacher's guide summary)

My Comments
I read this book in one sitting. Key's plot and characters keep you on the edge of your seat. Key describes emotions of grief and the fear of change. He also portrays the frustration of being at the mercy of adult decision-making. There is a lot to think about in this short book. One caveat is that there is a lot of violence and grief, but I am glad to have this book on the library shelf. This important book will be just the right match for some middle school readers.

THE STRANGERS by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Adventure, Paranormal, Supernatural, Mystery

405 pages

Description

Booklist (February 1, 2019 (Vol. 115, No. 11)) 

Grades 5-8. With this book, best-selling Haddix launches a new middle-grade series that blends adventure and sf elements into an engrossing mystery. Something strange is going on in the Greystone household. Chess (12), Emma (10), and Finn (8) come home from school one day to find their mother in despair over a news story about a bizarre kidnapping—bizarre because the three children who were taken share the names, ages, and birthdays of the Greystone kids. Then Mrs. Greystone is called suddenly out of town, leaving her kids in the care of a stranger, with nothing but questions and a coded letter. Convinced their mother’s in danger, the kids and Natalie (their new caretaker's daughter) set out to crack the code and save Mrs. Greystone. Third-person narratives switch among the Greystone kids, giving readers an intimate sense of their personalities and close sibling bond. The kidnapping alone could have made a compelling mystery, but Haddix throws in secret rooms, alternate realities, and a cliff-hanger ending to raise the stakes and delight fans new and old. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: The buzz is high for this new series, which the publisher is betting will bring Haddix “to a new generation of reader.”

My Comments

This is another Haddix winner. She is a sure bet recommendation for middle school students. I love the suspense in this book, the relationship of the siblings with their different perspectives. The book ends with a cliffhanger. Can't wait to read book 2! Perfect upper elementary through 7th. 

THE REMARKABLE JOURNEY OF COYOTE SUNRISE by Dan Gemeinhart

Realistic Fiction, Families, Grief, Fathers and Daughters

344 pages

Description

Twelve-year-old Coyote and her father rush to Poplin Springs, Washington, in their old school bus to save a memory box buried in a park that will soon be demolished.

From the Publisher

Five years.That's how long twelve-year-old Coyote and her dad, River, have lived on the road in an old school bus, criss-crossing the nation.It's also how long ago Coyote lost her mom and two sisters.Coyote hasn't been home in all that time, but when she learns that the park in her old neighborhood is being demolished--the very same park where she, her mom, and her sisters buried a treasured memory box--she devises an elaborate plan to get her dad to drive 3,600 miles back to Washington state . . . without him realizing it.On the way, they'll pick up an eclectic group of folks. Lester has a lady love to meet. Salvador and his mom are looking to start over. Val needs a safe place to be herself. Coyote will learn that going home can sometimes be the hardest journey of all, but that with friends, she just might be able to turn her 'once upon a time' into a 'happily ever after.'

My Comments

I love this book, but wish Coyote was 14 years old instead of 12. This is a thoughtful novel, but I don't think tCoyote's age rings true. I also wish that authors would think carefully about the age of their audience. A 12 year old protagonist  effectively eliminates 7th and 8th grade readers. The suggested grade range

UNDER THEIR SKIN by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Science Fiction,  Mystery, Thriller, Brothers and Sisters, Extinction, Robots

311 pages

Description

From Follett

Twelve-year-old twins Nick and Eryn investigate why their mother and new stepfather are keeping secrets, why they are forbidden to meet their stepsiblings, and, most important, why their lives are in danger. 

From the Publisher

From New York Times bestselling author Margaret Peterson Haddix comes the first book in a brand-new thrilling series about twins who are on a quest to discover the secrets being kept by their new family.

Nick and Eryn's mom is getting remarried, and the twelve-year-old twins are skeptical when she tells them their lives won't change much. Well, yes, they will have to move. And they will have a new stepfather, stepbrother, and stepsister. But Mom tells them not to worry. They won't ever have to meet their stepsiblings.

This news puzzles Nick and Eryn, so the twins set out on a mission to find out who these kids are--and why they're being kept hidden. 

My Comments

 Page turner! Very accessible for middle school, but still engaging. This would be a great group/class discussion book on topics such as the role of robots, prejudice, human error, decision making, and secrets. Can't wait to read book 2: In Over Their Heads!

EACH TINY SPARK BY Pablo Cartaya

Realistic Fiction, Family, Friendship, Hispanic American, Learning Disabilities, Mental Health, Multicultural, Perspectives

Downloadable discussion guide from Follett

315 pages

Description

Booklist (August 2019 (Vol. 115, No. 22)) Grades 5-8. If you've ever wondered how it is inside the mind of a person with inattentive type ADHD, this book offers a peek. Emilia Rosa struggles with her distractibility, but when something interests her, like tinkering with old cars or the controversies surrounding some district rezoning in her Georgia town, she latches on and digs deep. Her middle-school social studies project on local tourism brings out the activist in her, leading to a chain reaction that causes some minor hullaballoo in her school. Meanwhile, Emilia is trying to reconnect with her father, who's home from active duty; missing her mother, who's working away from home; and struggling to understand her abuela. This story covers themes like honoring your roots, seeking the truth, cultivating empathy, and being a good communicator. Besides a look at a distractible thinker's thought processes, this book also offers insight on the immigrant experience. For Emilia, all it takes is one, tiny spark to get the ball rolling, and plenty of kids will relate to her passion and perseverance.

My Comments

A good selection for book groups, literature circles, class read, or a read aloud. There are many themes that could generate meaningful and relevant discussions in a class. I suspect that the book may be a little long for some readers, so I will choose carefully when recommending, however, it is a good choice for teachers seeking new class books. One note: the story is about a sixth grader which unfortunately may narrow the grade level of interested middle school readers.

MAGESTERIUM SERIES BY Holly Black & Cassandra Clare

Adventure, Fantasy, Friendship, Good & Evil, Magic295 pages

Description

From FollettWarned away from magic all of his life, Callum endeavors to fail the trials that would admit him to the Magisterium only to be drawn into its ranks against his will and forced to confront dark elements from his past. 

From the PublisherFrom NEW YORK TIMES bestselling authors Holly Black and Cassandra Clare comes a riveting new series that defies what you think you know about the world of magic.Most kids would do anything to pass the Iron Trial. Not Callum Hunt. He wants to fail. All his life, Call has been warned by his father to stay away from magic. If he succeeds at the Iron Trial and is admitted into the Magisterium, he is sure it can only mean bad things for him. So he tries his best to do his worst - and fails at failing. Now the Magisterium awaits him. It's a place that's both sensational and sinister, with dark ties to his past and a twisty path to his future. The Iron Trial is just the beginning, for the biggest test is still to come . . . From the remarkable imaginations of bestselling authors Holly Black and Cassandra Clare comes a heart-stopping, mind-blowing, pulse-pounding plunge into the magical unknown.

My Comments

So good! This is one of those series that I can't wait to find time to sit down and read. The audio is also excellent. It is totally middle school appropriate, not too difficult a reading level, and a page turner. I would recommend this to fans of J.K Rowling, Rick Riordan, The Last Apprentice by Delaney, and another favorite of mine and my students...Ranger's Apprentice series by John Flanagan.

SWEEPING UP THE HEART by Kevin Henkes

Realistic Fiction, Bullying, Divorce, Grief, Sculptors, Friendship183 pages


Description"A seventh-grader in 1999 wonders when her real life will start—this spring break, she’ll find out. Her friend Natalie is spending a year in France, while Amelia’s widowed, emotionally distant father won’t even take her to Florida for one week! Love, support, and the excellent baking of their housekeeper, Mrs. O’Brien, a neighbor in her 70s, partly reconcile Amelia to staying home in Madison, Wisconsin, where at least she’ll have time for creating ceramic animals at Louise’s clay studio. At first Amelia’s dismayed to find a strange boy there—it’s Louise’s nephew, Casey, visiting while his parents go on a retreat, hoping to save their failing marriage. Casey confesses that his campaign to keep them together isn’t going well. Amelia can relate. Her mother died when Amelia was 2; with her father seldom home and Natalie in France, she feels unsettled and adrift. Active imaginations and shared creativity strengthen the preteens’ bond. Spotting a woman who resembles Amelia, Casey suggests she could be her mother, possibly reborn. Pursuing this intriguing idea spawns unexpected developments that spur Amelia’s emotional growth (reflected in the Emily Dickinson poem quoted in the title). Captured on the threshold of puberty’s tumultuous changes, Amelia and Casey quiver with hope and longing. Like a Chinese brush painting made of words, this short novel distills the slow-building impatience of early adolescence down to its essence—not much happens, yet everything does. The primary cast presents white. Spare, luminous, lovely. (Historical fiction. 8-12)"  (Kirkus Reviews Starred December 1, 2018)


My CommentsThis is a sweet, gentle book that shows ways to deal with the difficulties of growing up and how to understand others. Henkes deftly conveys the idea that it's okay to be yourself. I love the way Amelia immerses herself in her pottery. I would give it to thoughtful students.

THE YEAR WE FELL FROM SPACE by Amy Sarig King

Realistic Fiction, Bullying, Divorce, Family, Mental Health, Meteorites
262 pages

DescriptionAfter her parents separate, a Pennsylvania preteen struggles to accept the new normal. "Liberty, 12, loves creating star maps and connecting stars in new patterns, forming new constellations (rendered by Goffi). After their dad moves out, she and her anxious little sister, Jilly, 9, don’t see him for months. Their mother avoids answering questions. Lib abandons her star maps; the promise and possibilities they represented no longer feel real. Peer relationships suffer, too. Former friend Leah “excommunicates” her. Finn, offspring of another rocky marriage, ignores her. Being shunned isn’t all bad; Lib enjoys eating lunch with a fellow outcast, Iranian American Malik (other characters default to white). Reconnecting with Dad, the girls are upset to learn he’s dating. Desperate to restore her family, Lib bargains with the stars and meteorite she lugged home, utilizing magical thinking to bring about Dad’s return. Counseling helps, too. Lib may not be clinically depressed like Dad, but what ails her is equally huge. “We co-own a divorce. Split four ways,” she tells him. “It’s ours.” Lib’s precise, present-tense narration sensitively reveals how divorce changes each family member, not just their relationships. It’s a painful truth, but for Lib, sharing that hard-won insight is also empowering. Acclaimed as a YA novelist (Dig, 2019, etc.), King pens a middle-grade book that will especially resonate with readers confronting or affected by family turmoil. Quietly compelling. (author’s note, resources) (Fiction. 8-12) "(Kirkus Reviews August 15, 2019)

My CommentsLove the book, but wish the author had not made Liberty a new sixth grader. The book explores complex feelings and family relationships. This is a wonderful book for grades 7-8. It is not a book that I would give to many fifth or sixth graders. I wish that authors would refrain from stipulating an age or if necessary at least make the age one or two years older than the intended grade level. It is difficult to get a 7th or 8th grader to read about a 6th grader. That said, I love it, especially the star maps.