In the Middle Monday Review of The Odd Job Squad by Karl Fields

 In the Middle Monday is a feature where I review books that while geared towards middle school readers are what I believe represent excellent examples of story.

The best way to get even is to get Odd... Thirteen-year-old Ander Cartwright is an expert on two subjects: fortune cookies and payback. Especially payback. When he’s not struggling with algebra, Ander leads an anonymous revenge club that operates within the walls of Marina Middle School. Got a beef with a classmate? Email Ander’s crew and, if your case if legit, they’ll get even on your behalf. It’s not easy to right wrongs and fly under the radar at the same time. That’s why Ander developed three simple rules designed to help him and his friends stay incognito. But when Ander spots the opportunity to settle a score of his own, he ignores the rules, setting off a chain of events that threatens to blow his cover, and it’ll take all the butt-kicking, detention-dodging skill the guys can muster to keep a lid on their secret.(Publisher's summary from Goodreads)

Middle school and bullies walk hand in hand down the locker filled halls of grades six through eight and Karl Fields takes this unfortunate fact of life and creates for his readers an entertaining yet realistic twist on getting even in his debut novel The Odd Job Squad.

Ander and his best buds Christian, Joe, and Shooter (the only girl in the group) have been trying to set things right for victims of bullying at Marina Middle since sixth grade. Together they decide which cases to take on from the various emails they received and follow a few simple rules: everyone has to agree to take on a case, the payback should match the crime, and it should never be personal. But when Ander gets a chance to payback an old nemesis he forgets the rules and the squad’s anonymity is threatened. What follows is a frantic push to set things right, and in the process, not only does Ander grow and learn about revenge not being sweet, but he also gets a glimpse at why bullies become bullies.

What makes The Odd Job Squad a perfect middle school read is equals amounts of charming relatable characters, interesting and original events, and real issues facing tweens and young adults. I loved Ander, who is a typical middle school guy who struggles with algebra and the fact that he lacks athletic abilities. But what he lacks in these two areas he more than makes up in personality and his strong sense of right and wrong. His intentions to fight for the underdogs is noble and his loyalty to his friends make Ander not only a fantastic narrator, but a character I wanted to succeed. He is a keen observer of human nature using what he labels as people’s preactions. Ander’s voice, as well as the other characters in the book, is authentic and gives credence to the story without compromising or watering it down as many middle school often authors do.

The events that move the story forward were completely original and fun to participate in. Part of the conflict involves a quest to score tickets to a boy band concert, which takes the odd squad on a scavenger hunt around San Francisco and ends up with Ander singing one of the band’s pop hits in Chinese.

But what I really appreciated most about the book was how Fields’ managed to deal with the issue of revenge without leaving the reader believing that getting even is an acceptable way to deal with bullies. The ending leaves the reader contemplating what causes a bully to be mean in the first place? And provides a few answers to reflect upon. I also enjoyed the other theme of friendship and the budding of romance that occurs between Ander and Shooter.

Although I usually prefer young adult novels, The Odd Job Squad is a book that will appeal to not only middle school, but many young adult and adult readers too. It is definitely a book I will be recommending to my students this year and will consider for next year's Area Wide Book Battle.

Source: Received copy for review from author

In the Middle Monday ReviewMoon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool

In the Middle Monday is where I review books geared towards the middle school audience.

The movement of the train rocked me like a lullaby. I closed my eyes to the dusty countryside and imagined the sign I’d seen only in Gideon’s stories: Manifest—A Town with a rich past and a bright future.

Abilene Tucker feels abandoned. Her father has put her on a train, sending her off to live with an old friend for the summer while he works a railroad job. Armed only with a few possessions and her list of universals, Abilene jumps off the train in Manifest, Kansas, aiming to learn about the boy her father once was.

Having heard stories about Manifest, Abilene is disappointed to find that it’s just a dried-up, worn-out old town. But her disappointment quickly turns to excitement when she discovers a hidden cigar box full of mementos, including some old letters that mention a spy known as the Rattler. These mysterious letters send Abilene and her new friends, Lettie and Ruthanne, on an honest-to-goodness spy hunt, even though they are warned to “Leave Well Enough Alone.” Abilene throws all caution aside when she heads down the mysterious Path to Perdition to pay a debt to the reclusive Miss Sadie, a diviner who only tells stories from the past. It seems that Manifest’s history is full of colorful and shadowy characters—and long-held secrets. The more Abilene hears, the more determined she is to learn just what role her father played in that history. And as Manifest’s secrets are laid bare one by one, Abilene begins to weave her own story into the fabric of the town.

For anyone who has read To Kill a Mockingbird and consider it a quintessential reading experience then Clare Vanderpool’s debut novel Moon Over Manifest will delight you with its compelling story and setting, powerful prose and endearing characters. I loved everything about this book from its double entendre title and adorable cover, to the way the narration unfolds Manifest’s historical past. All the elements work in tandem to bring together a tale that lives and breathes long after the last word is read.

One of the truly brilliant elements in Moon Over Manifest is how effectively Vanderpool weaves story with setting through the eyes of Abilene Tucker, one of the most unforgettable characters since Harper Lee’s Scout. The small town of Manifest, Kansas in 1936 is revealed primarily through first person narration. Vanderpool’s addition of newspaper articles, letters,  and Miss Sadie, a diviner who regales Abliene with stories about Manifest’s past, allows the reader to walk hand in hand with Abilene as she attempts to understand why her father sent her to Manifest. The historical aspects of WWI, immigration, coal mining and prohibition combine to add color and realism to this town. Conflicted, Abilene searches to find among Manifest’s past a connection to her father hoping to answer the question of whether his desertion is temporary. Moon Over Manifest plot holds the reader’s attention through the rich use of symbolism, history, and disarming characters.

Vanderpool’s impressively clever plot is greatly magnified by her spectacular array of memorable characters and beautiful yet simple prose. The reader is introduced to not only the current town’s folk but also those who lived and contributed to Manifest’s past and present. While certain characters certainly stand out more than others, they all enhance and enrich this tale of loss and redemption.  But the star is certainly Abilene. I ached for Abilene as she dealt with the possibility of never seeing her father again...

I remembered all these things about Gideon, but I couldn’t remember if he’d said the words or if I’d only imagined them. Those words I’m coming back for you. 

Memories were like sunshine. They warmed you up and left a pleasant glow, but you couldn’t hold them.

...And I loved how this 12 year-old girl looked at the world and used her observation of it to make sense of herself and those around her...

I thought I knew a thing or two about people. Even had my list of universals. But I wondered. Maybe the world wasn’t made of universals that could be summed up in neat little packages. Maybe there were just people. People who were tired and hurt and lonely and kind in their own way and their own time...If there was such a thing as universal---and I wasn’t ready to throw all of mine out the window---it’s that there is power in a story. And if someone pays you such a kindness as to make up a tale so you’ll enjoy a gingersnap you go along with that story and enjoy every last bite.

Abilene’s childlike wisdom and sharp observation makes her voice resonate and will continue to be heard for years to come.

While I have barely touched the surface of the magnitude of Vanderpool’s novel, there is no possible way to fully explain just how truly special Moon Over Manifest really is. This is a book that must be experienced first hand, and in my humble opinion is a true classic in the making. While categorized as a middle level read, the intricate fabric of the story will be enjoyed and appreciated by any adult who loves to read.

 

In the Middle Monday ReviewThe Cupcake Queen by Heather Hepler

In the Middle Monday is where I review books geared towards the middle school audience.

When her mother moves them from the city to a small town to open up a cupcake bakery, Penny’s life isn’t what she expected. Her father has stayed behind, and Mom isn’t talking about what the future holds for their family. And then there’s Charity, the girl who plays mean pranks almost daily. There are also bright spots in Hog’s Hollow—like Tally, an expert in Rock Paper Scissors, and Marcus, the boy who is always running on the beach. But just when it looks as though Penny is settling in, her parents ask her to make a choice that will turn everything upside down again. A sweet novel about love, creativity, and accepting life’s unexpected turns. (Publisher's summary from Goodreads)

The Cupcake Queen by Heather Hepler is a book I might have missed had it not been a title being considered for next year’s book battle. A 2011-2012 Truman Award nominee, I found not only the characters fun and endearing, but Hepler’s writing sprinkled with sage insights about several teen issues including divorce, death, abandonment, and bullying. 

While the main conflict focuses around Penny dealing with her parent’s divorce, being uprooted her from Manhattan, her father and her friends, adjusting to a small town, and being the target of resident mean girl Charity’s disdain, Hepler brilliantly mixes in through her other extraordinary characters a host of other conflicts as well without making the reader feel overly stuffed.  For example, Tally was a marvelous character, whose quirky nonconformist ways had me laughing and wishing I had had a friend just like her when I was in middle school. Tally gives Penny great advice, and eventually Penny is able to see that her glass is actually half full as she begins to understand that Tally is also dealing with her own issues due to the abandonment of her father.  

Penny also begins to put her own problems into perspective as she gets to know more about Marcus, the cute boy Penny is crushing on.  Marcus is dealing with the death of his mom, and his father’s  disconnect from losing his wife.  The relationship that arises between the two was sweetly portrayed and innocent enough to keep this book firmly within the middle school genre. 

Finally, I loved how Hepler succinctly added insights through the voice of her characters, which kept them from being too philosophical for the book’s audience. For example:

“I think about the problem with running from your trouble. The problem is in the stopping. The whole time you think you’re getting away from everything, the trouble is running like mad, too, trying to catch up with you. And it doesn’t slow down when you do --- it keeps on sprinting. So when trouble finally reaches you, it hits you hard.”

And

"It’s hard when things don’t happen like you think they’re suppose to,” ... “I guess at some point you just have to let go of what you thought should happen and live in what is happening.”

Like a cupcake, which is just the right size when you want something sweet and delicious, The Cupcake Queen has all the right ingredients for a good middle school book except that it definitely is written more for girls than boys. Still the insights gained from this story holds true no matter what sex or age the reader might be.  

In the Middle Monday ReviewThe Undertakers:Rise of the Corpses by Ty Drago

 In the Middle Monday is where I review books written for the middle school audience.

"On a sunny Wednesday morning in October, a day that would mark the end of one life and the beginning of another, I found out my grouchy next door neighbor was the walking dead. When you turn around expecting to see something familiar, and instead see something else altogether, it takes a little while for your brain to catch up with your eyes. I call it the 'Holy Crap Factor.'"

Forced to flee his home and family, twelve-year-old Will Ritter falls in with the Undertakers-a rag-tag army of teenage resistance fighters who've banded together to battle the Corpses.

First, I have to explain that while I love reading about vampires, werewolves, fairies, and even demons (to a lesser extent) I definitely have a bias when it comes to zombies. Consequently, I  have not read many books that feature the undead. However, The Undertakers: Rise of the Corpses is an exception, mainly because it has everything I look for in a middle school book. It has an original plot that is action packed and will hold the attention of even the most reluctant readers, a strong male protagonist that will also appeal to girls, and secondary characters that are well rounded, dynamic and do more than just fill pages. 

When 12 year-old Will suddenly begins seeing corpses, his first instinct is to wonder if he is going crazy.  Within hours after his first encounter with the undead, he is rescued by Helene, the cute new girl at school and brought to an abandoned building in downtown Philadelphia where he discovers that he is just one of many teens who are seers of the undead and who have been fighting these corpses for over two years. He also finds out that his father, a policemen killed two years ago, not only knew about the corpses, but had been the driving force behind the formation of the Undertakers.  All this takes place within the first 60 pages, and the action continues almost non-stop for another 400. 

Will is a fantastic protagonist. He is clever, caring, and quick-witted, and as he processes the events that have brought him to the Undertakers, his actions and decisions are often emotionally motivated. Will’s character traits prove to be both a weakness and a strength and certainly makes him more real in terms of his youth.

While Will is certainly the star of The Undertakers, Drago has also created secondary characters, who add quite a lot to the story.  Tom, the Undertakers’ leader, and his sister Sharyn both play a leading role in the story.  Tom’s concern for the welfare of the members of the Undertakers is admirable, and it was easy to accept his maturity despite his age. I was also taken with Sharyn, whose fighting abilities made her a force to be reckoned with, and she offset Tom’s conservative approach and Will’s recklessness, making her an invaluable asset to story. 

Finally, I have to say that as far as zombies go, the corpses are quite an innovative take on the undead. I am not sure just where this series will lead, but I for one will be following. 

 Source: Thanks to Kay at Sourcebooks Inc. for sending me a copy of The Undertakers: Rise of the Corpses for review.

 

Minding the Middle Monday ReviewThe Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger

In the Middle Monday is where I review books written for the middle school audience.

In this funny, uncannily wise portrait of the dynamics of a sixth-grade class and of the greatness that sometimes comes in unlikely packages, Dwight, a loser, talks to his classmates via an origami finger puppet of Yoda. If that weren’t strange enough, the puppet is uncannily wise and prescient. Origami Yoda predicts the date of a pop quiz, guesses who stole the classroom Shakespeare bust, and saves a classmate from popularity-crushing embarrassment with some well-timed advice. Dwight’s classmate Tommy wonders how Yoda can be so smart when Dwight himself is so clueless. With contributions from his puzzled classmates, he assembles the case file that forms this novel.(Publisher's summary from Goodreads)

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger recently won the Cybils 2010 Award for Middle School  Fiction. Being a middle school teacher, naturally I was interested in reading the book that made it through several rounds of judging to win this prestigious award. While I  enjoyed the book, I must admit I am a little baffled at how the book manages to represent  the best in 2010 middle school fiction.

Far from being an expert of middle school literature, one thing I have noticed in my 17 years of teaching middle school reading is that many middle school authors tend to forget that middle school starts in sixth grade (ages 10-11) and ends in eighth (ages 13-14). There is a huge disparity between sixth and eighth graders’ reading tastes, so I do understand that writing a book that appeals to all three grades is a difficult job. The Strange Case of Origami Yoda fits quite well in sixth grade and I believe it would appeal to fourth and fifth graders (elementary) too. I also think that  a certain amount of seventh graders, particularly the reluctant readers, will embrace the humor, short chapters, and funny illustrations. I did, however, have a difficult time seeing how this book won over a Newberry winner (Moon Over Manifest) or several other books nominated in the middle school category that would have had a wider appeal to all three grade levels.

Still if you have a kid who loved Diary of a Wimpy Kid, then I am certain that Angelberger’s book will be a hit. The maturity level of the characters accurately represent most sixth grade boys and the conflicts while mostly superficial do have some lessons to impart especially about fitting in, or in Dwight’s case how not fitting in is okay too. While I do not see many middle school girls gravitating to this book, those who do will easily recognize character traits and antics of sixth grade boys they go to school with and enjoy the mostly guy humor therein.  I am just not convinced that this is the best example of  2010 middle grade fiction.

In the Middle Monday Review of Priscilla the Great by Sybil Nelson

Welcome to In the Middle Monday where I review middle level books geared towards grades fifth through eighth.

Meet Priscilla Sumner, an ordinary seventh grader with extraordinary gifts. As if middle school isn’t hard enough, not only does Priscilla have to fight pimples and bullies, but genetically enhanced assassins trying to kill her and her family. Armed with wit, strength, and a genius best friend, Priscilla must defeat the Selliwood Institute, an organization dead set on turning children into killing machines.

Add an older brother annoyingly obsessed with Christina Aguilera, mischievous baby twin brothers who could scare the sin off of Satan, and parents more puzzling than a Rubik’s cube in the Bermuda triangle and expect a smoking page-turner! (Publisher's summary from Goodreads)

Priscilla the Great has it all, humor, adventure, secrets, one very hot ability, and a not so typical family unit, making Sybil Nelson’s new middle level book one very impressive tween read.

Told from Priscilla’s point of view I have to say I was immediately drawn into the book by Priscilla’s voice. She is a no holes barred kinda kid facing the world of middle school with the normal trepidation felt by most seventh graders. And if starting seventh grade isn’t difficult enough, Priscilla is facing it with a newly developed ability to shoot fire from her fingers. I think Nelson did a terrific job capturing the essences of middle school through her characterization of Priscilla, her best friend, Tai, and Kyle, who definitely had a thing for Priscilla, but didn’t quite know how to go about telling her.

Another aspect of this book that kept me glued to the page was the quirky family unit. Her stay at home dad was overly protective, which turns out to be warranted later on in the book. Her mostly absent mother made for a very strained relationship in the beginning, but as the plot unfolds Priscilla and her mother end up being very close. I loved Priscilla’s five year-old twin brothers who were hell on four feet and whose antics were hilarious. Finally, I also loved her other brother, who actually looked out for Priscilla and did a lot to round out this unusual family. My only problem with him was I would have liked to know a lot more about him than was provided in this story. Hopefully, there will be another book.

Priscilla the Great was a surprising and highly enjoyable read. I can’t wait to turn my middle school students onto this book and am recommending it as a possible addition to next year's book battle list.  

 Source: Received review copy from author

Minding the Middle Monday Review/Nightshade City by Hillary Wagner

Welcome to In the Middle Monday where I review middle level books geared towards grades fifth through eighth.

This week I am using a mini review format that I borrowed from Staci at Life in the Thumb, called Six Sentence Saturday where I will try to express my thoughts in only six sentences.

Deep beneath a modern metropolis lies the Catacombs, a kingdom of remarkable rats of superior intellect. Juniper and his maverick bad of rebel rats have been plotting every since the Bloody coup turned the Catacombs, a once-peaceful democracy, into a brutal dictatorship ruled by decadent High Minister Killdeer and his vicious henchman, Billycan, a former lab rat with a fondness for butchery. When three young orphan rats brothers Vincent and Victor and clever female named Clover flee the Catacombs in mortal peril and join forces with the rebels, it proves to be the spark that ignites the long-awaited battle to overthrow their oppressors and create a new city: Nightshade City. (Publisher’s summary from book jacket)

While I had a difficult time getting into the story and overcoming the fact that I was reading about a bunch of intelligent rats, once Wagner’s back story was in place, the action accelerated and I became truly engaged in the plight of rebels. Billycan, the vicious henchmen, was a fascinating villain, and for me the character that stood out the most. Hillalry Wagner’s writing was beautifully descriptive and at times quite graphic.  The book was also filled with lots of dialogue, which not only moved the plot forward, but gave much insight into the characters’ personalities. A variety of themes run throughout the story with family, loyalty, and fighting against oppression being central to the story. If you like books from animal POV, then I  Nightshade City is certainly a wonderful addition to this genre.

Source: Received book for review from Blueslip Media

In The Middle Monday/Review of Dead Boys by Royce Buckingham

Welcome to In the Middle Monday where I review middle level books geared towards grades fifth through eighth.

It has been a while since I have posted an In the Middle Monday. Many of the books I have been reading of late have been either strictly YA or books that are both middle level and YA too.  Today's book while geared towards middle school is so good that I also think many YA readers will love it and it a perfect book for this time of year too.

When Teddy Mathews moves to Rickland, his main concern is making new friends. But something is not right about this quiet desert town: All the boy he meets seem to vanish before his eyes, while the imposing shadows of the giant tree outside his house appears to be hiding more than darkness.

With the branches of the massive sycamore scratching at his window, Teddy’s life becomes a waking nightmare that no one else believes. Can Teddy escape the tree’s terrifying grasp and solve the mystery of the missing boys before he becomes the next boy to disappear? (Publisher’s summary from book jacket)

The Dead Boys by Royce Buckingham is one of the most gripping and suspenseful plot driven stories that I have read recently. I literally lost track of time and couldn’t read fast enough to satisfy my curiosity about what was going to happen next. The action starts within the first eight pages and continues almost non-stop over the next 193.

I loved the concept of a tree being the antagonist in the story. I also loved that each chapter had a picture of the tree with two outstretched limbs like arm reaching for the figure of a boy running just like on the cover. With each consecutive chapters those outstretched limbs grow getting closer and closer to the running boy, but it is a very subtle thing and definitely added to the eerie atmosphere Buckingham masterfully created in the book.

Even though The Dead Boys is a fast plot driven read, Buckingham still managed to create a very believable character in Teddy. While he is not all that happy to move to Richland, he embraces the change by trying to find friends. He is curious, brave, and intelligent enough to outsmart the evil that is so desperately trying to end his life.

The Dead Boys is a fantastic middle grade novel that will appeal to even the most reluctant of readers. However, I also think it will appeal to YA readers as well. The story is one of a kind, and keeps you on the edge right up to the last page. It is a book I will be recommending for next years book battle list for sure!

Source: Received Copy from publisher for review

In the Middle Monday/ Review of The Last Words of Will Wolfkin by Steven Knight

 Welcome to In the Middle Monday where I review middle level books geared towards grades fifth through eighth.

It's funny. If you're born a certain way, you don't really understand how it is to be any other way.

So it has been for Toby Walsgrove--paralyzed since birth, unable to move or talk, with no known family, he has spent his entire life at a Carmelite convent in London. That is, until the day that his cat, Shipley, starts talking to him. Shipley has been watching over Toby his whole life and tells him they must go to Langjoskull, a city of exiles buried deep below the surface of Iceland. Because Toby is no ordinary boy--he's a descendant of the great king Will Wolfkin, and his kingdom needs him.

Toby has never wielded a sword that can stop time. He has never shifted into his kin creature. He has never even walked on his own two legs before. Ready or not, though, he has a destiny, a responsibility, even a family--and not all of them are happy to meet him. . . . (Publisher's Summary from Powell's Books)

 
I purchased The Last Words of Will Wolfkin because the cover attacked my attention and I am always on the look out for middle aged reading material to introduce to my students. Fantasy is always a good pick with this age group but I was disappointed with this book. While I did find Knight’s world under the ice novel, I also felt that there were too many inconsistencies in the setting to keep me completely grounded. I like both Toby and Emma as characters as well as a few of the secondary characters, but I also never felt like any of the characters were completely credible. It also seemed like Knight tried to throw in too many magically elements, which were not always completely explained, and would confuse the audience it was written for. The last part of the book definitely was a disappointment except for the final battle, and the very end left me very dissatisfied.  While I had hoped for a good fantasy to recommend to my students, I did not find it.

In the Middle Monday/Review of IQ Book Two: The White House by Roland Smith

Book Two takes us on another thrilling caper, this time to the White House where Q and Angela continue their quest to uncover the truth behind the supposed death of Angela's real mother - a former Secret Service agent - while trying to differentiate the "good guys" from the "bad guys."

Last summer I read Roland Smith’s first book in the IQ series, IQ Book One: Independence Hall and was so excited about the book that I immediately put it on the 2010 Area Wide Book Battle. Since then, I have been anxiously awaiting book two in the series IQ Book Two: The White House.  Once again, Smith has written an exciting edge-of-your seat adventure that grabs the reader and doesn’t let go until the very end.

Book Two in the series takes up where book one left off. Quest Munoz (Q) and his step-sister Angela have arrived at the White House with their rocker parent’s band, and the secret service staff that is protecting them. Q and Angela are both great characters. I loved how the two of them interact with each other and the various secondary characters in the book. I was particularly fond of a new character in this book Willingham, the president’s kid, (PK) for short. He is quite intelligent and keeps Q and Angela on their toes throughout the book. Roland also gives a lot more background information about Anglea’s mother, Malak, a former Secret Service agent, who in book one made a startling appearance at the very end; startling because she was supposed to be dead. Malak’s role in book two is much more significant because she is undercover posing as her twin sister and is trying to discover the head of a terrorist cell. The setting takes place primarily at the White House and various locations around D.C.  This was a very fast read as I finished it in one sitting.

I do have a couple of problems with the book, however. First, if you have not read book one, then the beginning of book two will be difficult to understand. It took me a while to get into it even though I read the first book.  The other problem is that the ending is a cliff-hanger, which means that I will probably have to wait another year before finding out what happens next.

IQ Book Two: The White House is definitely a book that will appeal to the middle school audience because the plot moves at a break neck pace and the characters are likable. I would, however, recommend that anyone reading this series read book one first.

In The Middle Monday Book Look Reviews of i so don't do mysteries and i so don't do spooky by Barrie Summy

 

Welcome to In the Middle Monday where I review middle level books geared towards grades fifth through eighth. 

Once again I will be using my Book Look review format, which are mini review using either 75 words or less or only six sentences. My Book Looks were inspired by Kate at the Neverending Shelf and Staci at Life in a Thumb respectively.

i so don't do mysteries by Barrie Summy

(review in 75 words or less)

Sherry (short for Sherlock) Holmes Baldwin is spending spring break in California with her best friend, Junie. She can’t wait to hang out in the sun, hit the mall, and spend time with cutie-pie Josh.
Then . . . a freaky change of plans. Sherry’s mom, a cop killed in the line of duty, contacts her. Not only is she a ghost, she’s a ghost in danger of flunking out of the Academy of Spirits, and she needs Sherry’s help. Unless she solves an important mystery in San Diego, shell be banished to an afterlife for ghost failures!
If Sherry wants to be a normal seventh grader (as in, one who doesn’t communicate with ghosts), she cant tell anybody about her mom or what she has to do. Not her brother, not Junie, and especially not Josh. Its up to Sherry alone to save the day. Except . . . she so doesn’t do mysteries.

This übercute mystery is just right for middle school girls. I loved Sherry’s quirkiness and middle school slang. I was also surprised at how fast the plot flowed. The original mystery had a couple of delightful red herrings thrown in to keep me on my toes. The premise of a girl helping her ghost mom from flunking The Academy of Spirits was very unique, and Summy did a bang-up job with all her characters.

Recommendation: I definitely think this is a fun read that will appeal to grades 5-8 grade girls. It offers fun characters, and focuses on the various social aspects of middle school kids. 

i so don't do spooky by Barrie Summy

(six sentence review)

In Barrie Summy’s second book of her middle school series, Sherry once again teams up with her ghost mom, and her grandpa (a wren) to find out who is staking her step-mother. As in her first book Summy brings back Sherry’s best-friend and partner-in-crime, Junie; boyfriend, Josh, and snarky Amber, Junie’s cousin who drives. Each one of these characters help to ensure a fast-paced read with loads of laughs and some suspenseful moments. Sherry’s wit and people skills make for an enjoyable read. While the mystery is not too complex, there are a few cute twists and I think even reluctant readers will find this a interesting story. I will definitely be reading Summy's next book i so don’t do makeup, which was released this May and another one, which will be release sometime next year.

Source: received copies from publisher.

In The Middle Monday/Book Look Reviews of Middleworld by J&P Voekel/Zan-Gah: A Prehistoric Adventure and The Beautiful Country by Allan Richard Shickman

Welcome to In the Middle Monday where I review middle level books geared towards grades fifth through eighth. 


This week I am reviewing three middle school reads using  my Book Look Review format. These mini reviews are where I attempt to review a book in either 75 words or less or using only six sentences, and were inspired by Kate at the Neverending Shelf and Staci at Life in a Thumb respectively.

Middleworld by J & P Voelkel

(a six sentence review)

Fourteen-year-old Max Murphy is looking forward to a family vacation. But his parents, both archaeologists and Maya experts, announce a change in plan. They must leave immediately for a dig in the tiny Central American country of San Xavier. Max will go to summer camp. Max is furious. When he's mysteriously summoned to San Xavier, he thinks they've had a change of heart.
Upon his arrival, Max's wild adventure in the tropical rainforests of San Xavier begins. During his journey, he will unlock ancient secrets and meet strangers who are connected to him in ways he could never have imagined. For fate has delivered a challenge of epic proportions to this pampered teenager. Can Max rescue his parents from the Maya Underworld and save the world from the Lords of Death, who now control the power of the Jaguar Stones in their villainous hands? The scene is set for a roller-coaster ride of suspense and terror, as the good guys and the bad guys face off against a background of haunted temples, zombie armies, and even human sacrifice! (Publisher's summary from Powell's Books)

Learning about the ancient Mayan world is just one of the fun aspects of Middleworld by J & P Voelkel. I was totally involved in this great new adventure for middle school readers and found it difficult to put the book down. Max is a very reluctant hero and his faint-hearted attempts at bravado were actually quite enduring and humorous. Lola, his Mayan side-kick was smart and courageous and Max’s Ying to his Yang. The plot had just the right amount of twist, turns, humor and surprises that even reluctant readers will enjoy the read. If this book doesn’t earn some awards this year then I will be very disappointed.

Zan-Gah by Allan Richard Shickman

(a six sentence review)

The hero, Zan-Gah seeks his lost twin in a savage prehistoric world, encountering suffering, captivity, conflict, love, and triumph. In three years, Zan-Gah passes from an uncertain boyhood to a tried and proven manhood and a position of leadership among his people.

In Zan-Gah, Allen Richard Shickman gives a realistic account of prehistoric life, through Zan-Gah’s  eyes and reminded me a lot of  Jean Auel’s Earth Children series only for middle school readers. Zan-Gah is a strong and intelligent character whose brave quest to find his missing brother takes the reader on an exciting adventure. I loved Shickman’s attention to details and his vivid descriptions. This is definitely an interesting and unique coming-of-age story, and while only a merger 148 pages long, it more than adequately tells a great story. I could easily see this used to in conjunction with the teaching of early man in a social studies classroom. My only complaint was there were a few times when I felt that the narration became didactic and threw the flow of the story off; however, this only occurred a few times and was a minor flaw.

Source: Copy from publisher

Zan-Gah and the Beautiful Country by Allen Richard Shickman

(review in 75 words or less)

The prehistoric saga continues in Zan-Gah and the Beautiful Country, the sequel to the award winning Zan-Gah: A Prehistoric Adventure. In this story, Zan's troubled twin brother, Dael, having suffered greatly during his earlier captivity, receives a ruinous new shock when his wife suddenly dies. Disturbed and traumatized, all of his manic energies explode into acts of hostility and bloodshed. His obsession is the destruction of the wasp men, his first captors, who dwell in the Beautiful Country. When he, Zan-Gah, and a band of adventurers trek to their bountiful home, they find that all of the wasp people have died in war or of disease. The Beautiful Country is empty for the taking, and Zan's people, the Ba-Coro, decide to migrate and resettle there. But the Noi, Dael's cruelest enemies and former tormentors, make the same migration from their desert home, and the possibility develops of contention and war over this rich and lovely new land. (Publisher's Summary from Powell's Books)

Zan-Gah and the Beautiful Country continues where Zan-Gah left off. The same attention to details and vivid descriptions are present in this novel. The focus is Zan-Gah’s attempts to help his brother acclimate back into his tribe and deal with the demon’s that have greatly changed Dael’s personality. Even though this book provides more information about the tribual life and has more characterization, I thought it was less exciting than the first book.

Source: Copy from Publisher

In The Middle Monday Reviews/ The Poney Whisperer: The Word on the Yard by Janet Rising

 Welcome to In the Middle Monday where I review middle level books geared towards grades fifth through eighth. 

Pia has always told her pony everything...but now he's talking back.
It's hard being the new girl in town-new school, new stable, new rivalries. It seems Pia's only friend is her pony, Drummer. But horses can't talk...can they?
Suddenly, all the horses are talking-to Pia Now she can understand Drummer, and does he have a lot to say Who knew this sweet-looking horse would have such an attitude. When news of Pia's pony-whispering power spreads, her popularity grows and she finally feels like she belongs...that's when everything starts to go wrong.

Pia is a relatable character with several problems most of which stem from her parent’s divorce. She has to deal with being the new kid both at school and at the stable where she boards her pony Drummer. Right away, she meets up with Cat, the stock mean girl, with a name to match and makes an enemy. While riding Drummer, Pia finds a small statue of Epona, the goddess of horses that allows Pia to converse with Drummer. If you thought Mr. Ed had attitude, let me just say that Drummer surpasses him hands down. With Pia’s new ability she quickly begins helping all the ponies in the stable with a variety of problems and become a celebrity. However, one pony belonging to the yard’s hunk, James, is not talking, and Pia begins to suspect abuse and is torn because she really likes James.

Word on the Yard is a quick read that will appeal to many tweens with a passion for horses. Pia deals with her problems in a fairly typical way. She makes some decisions that definitely get her into trouble, but is a strong enough character to accept her flaws and grow from the experience.

While the book has a limited audience, I think that Rising did a good job portraying several aspects of problems many teens face when adjusting to newly divorced parents (dad’s new wife, mom dating, and finding new friends). On the whole, The Word on the Yard was a fast-paced and cute story that even non-horse loving readers will find appealing.

Source: Copy provided by Sourcebooks

ISBN:9781402239526

Subtitle:The Word on the Yard

Author:Rising, Janet

Publisher:Sourcebooks Jabberwock

In The Middle Monday/Book Look Reviews/ School of Possibilities by Seita Parkkola & Jump the Cracks by Stacy DeKeyser

Welcome to In the Middle Monday where I review middle level books geared towards grades fifth through eighth. 

Today I am using a mini review format inspired by  Kate at The Neverending Bookshelf.  I like her format so much that she graciously agree to let me borrow it.

My Book Looks then are mini reviews where I challenge myself to review a book in 75 words give or take. It is a great exercise in concise writing, which has never been my forte.

As far as I'm concerned, there's no excuse not to be decent...Especially when you're responsible for a kid.It just figures that fifteen-year old Victoria's dad fails once again to be at the train station like he's promised. Fuming, Victoria watches as a teen mom stashes her bruised little boy in the train's bathroom. When the mom gets off the train alone, Victoria decides she has had it with all the poor excuses who call them selves parents. Making a split-second decision, Victoria boards the next train out of town-taking the little boy with her. No, really, what would you do? Victoria's staying on the run until everyone responsible starts keeping their promises. This kid's not falling through the cracks. Not on her watch. (Publisher's comments from Powell's Books)

Jump the Crack by Stacy DeKeyser is a quick read that pushed my ability to suspend disbelief. Victoria is certainly a teen that I would like to know, but her responses and actions are a stretch. I doubt that a fifteen-year old could allude police after kidnapping a two-year old for even one day let alone two all while riding buses and trains. Victoria’s reasoning though flawed was commendable and the ending, thankfully, provide some real consequences for her actions, and was less predictable than I had thought.

Final Thoughts: While I liked Dekeyser's writing style, the story was hard to swallow. I was not too impressed with this 2011 Twain nominee

Source Disclosure: Borrowed

Storm Steele is an impossible child. Or so his parents believe thanks to the influence of his evil step-monster. Now Storm is being forced to attend the School of Possibilities for troubled youth. But Storm notices that something strange is going on at his new school. The students are not...normal. Soon he's being spied on, followed by classmates-and worst of all, forced to accept the headmaster's perfectly behaved daughter as his girlfriend. He can feel himself becoming more obedient, more like his classmates. Storm tries to resist, but he doesn't understand how or why the school is controlling him. Can Storm escape-or will he be turned into a zombie of good behavior like everyone else around him? (Publisher’s summary from Powell’s Books)

The School of Possibilities by Seita Parkkola is a bizarre tale with a futuristic feel. The setting is vividly described, and the action gains speed as Storm becomes increasingly aware that the school is more than a little strange. The book’s humor and creep factor should appeal to the middle school crowd particularly guys because, for the most part, Storm is a believable character caught in a very unbelievable situation. 

Final Thoughts: Some exciting action, makes for a fast read with lots to attract middle level readers. Some confusing parts including the resolution, and might be contributed due to an unusual sentence structure.

Source Disclosure: ARC

In the Middle Monday Review/The Youngest Templar: Keeper of the Grail by Michael P. Spradlin

As an orphan, Tristan never dreamed he would travel the world or discover the truth about his past. But all that changes when the Knights Templar ride through the abbey on their way to battle. Suddenly, Tristan finds himself as a squire to one of the most respected knights. While exciting, it is also dangerous, as Tristan gets caught between rival knights desperate for power and entrusted with the most sacred relicathe Holy Grail. With the help of a young archer and a deadly warrior, can Tristan safely bring the Holy Grail back to England? Or will he succumb to the dangers of the evil men who follow in its wake? (Publisher's comments from Powell's Books)

The Youngest Templar: Keeper of the Grail is the first book in a series by Michael P. Spradlin that follows fifteen-year-old Tristan as he becomes a squire for Sir Thomas, a Knights Templar. The book is a 2011 Truman nominee, one of the Missouri Association of School Librarian’s award given to books that appeal to grades six through eight.

I found the Keeper of the Grail an engrossing adventure. Spradlin weaves authentic bits and pieces of the history of the Crusades into the story, placing Tristan in the middle of the capture and recapture of the city of Acre, by Saladin himself. Tristan is sent from Acre just as the city falls to the Saracens. Entrusted with the task of taking the Holy Grail to Scotland and the Church of the Holy Redeemer, Tristan embarks on the quest to save one of the most important relics of Christendom; a very tall task for a young boy.

Tristan is a very dynamic character. He is hardworking, courageous, and compassionate. His loyalty to the Templar Knights is unfailing despite his inexperience and naiveness. Reluctant to leave Sir Thomas, he obeys the order to take the Holy Grail. Traveling only at night he meets up with Robard Hode, a King’s Archer who after serving his conscription is also on his way to England. Together they make their way to the city Tyre. They also meet up with Maryam, an Al Hashshashin assassin injured by Hode after she and other assassins attack. Tristan unable to allow Hode to kill her, takes her along and the three join forces.

The Keeper of the Grail is fraught with battles and skirmishes as well as intrigued. Spradlin, foreshadows throughout the book that Tristan’s identity is important, which makes me curious to find out more. The book’s cliff  hanger ending was peevish, but definitely ensures that I will be picking up book two in the very near future.

I believe that Keeper of the Grail is a book that will especially appeal to middle school boys. The adventure and the various battle scenes are exciting and make this book a fast read. I also love the setting and believe that for some middle school readers the book might even encourage a desire to learn more about the Crusades and the Knights Templar. 

In the Middle Monday Review/Suddenly Supernatural by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel

As an eighth grade middle school teacher, I tend to read more young adult fiction than those often designated as middle school. However, as a committee member of an Area Wide Book Battle I am also responsible for finding books that will appeal to sixth and seventh graders too. Some young adult books, in my opinion work for all the middle school grades, but there are many that do not. 

Therefore, In the Middle Monday Reviews will be a place for me to specifically review middle level books geared for tweens. 

In the tradition of the loveable but flawed heroines from Louise Rennison's Georgia Nicholson Books, Kathleen O'Dell's Agnes Parker novels, and Lois Lowry's Anastasia Krupnik books comes Elizabeth Cody Kimmel's Kat Roberts. All Kat wants is to be normal, or at least to look that way to students at her new school. But her mother is a medium, and not the kind that fits in between small and large; Kat's mom is the kind of medium who sees spirits and communicates with them. And, even worse, Kat has just discovered that she can see spirits too. In fact, she seems to be the only one capable of helping a spirit at her school cross over successfully. The question is can she do it without needing to switch schools herself? (Publisher's comments from Powell's Book)

I picked up Suddenly Supernatural: School Spirit by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel because it is a 2010/2011 nominee for Missouri Association of School Library Mark Twain Reader’s Award. This means that teachers, librarians, students and parents felt the book was original and it’s literary value may enrich children’s lives. After reading the book I can see why it was chosen.

I found Kat, the main character, quite relatable and easy to connect with because she is like most seventh grade girls; she wants to fit in and have friends. Unfortunately, Kat has a few things that make fitting in difficult. First, she is relatively a newbie to the school; next, her mother is an “incense burning, Indian-skirt-wearing vegetarian who interacts with dead people;” lastly, ever since Kat turned thirteen, she has started seeing ghosts. Kat is unsure how to deal with her new ability, mainly because she feels that it will cause her be the brunt of jokes and untold other embarrassments from her junior high classmates.

Kat is joined by two other characters, who help make Kat’s adjustment to her ghost seeing ability easier. Kat’s mother is one. I loved the relationship Kat has with her mother. Her mother is very supportive and is quick to listen to Kat when she has a problem and her advice is solid. The other character is Jac, short for Jacqueline. Jac is even newer to school than Kat and she drags around a cello that is almost as big as she is. What I really liked about Jac was she could care less about being part of the popular crowd. Together Kat and Jac share each other’s secrets and a mysterious ghost helps both girls wrestle their inner angsts.

School Spirit is a cute story whose main message is about learning to accept one’s self. It speaks strongly about standing up for what’s rights instead of blindly following what is most popular. It is a perfect story for the tween audience. Kimmel also has three other books in this series, Crossing Over, Unhappy Medium, and her newest release Scaredy Kat.

I have included a video I found where Kimmel talks about her series. I will definitely be reading more from this series.