Here are two very different books that will entertain and engage readers. First up is SOCCER TO THE MAX by Bibi Belford followed by the new graphic version of Kelly Yang’s popular novel, FRONT DESK.
Sandburg has his summer all planned out. There’s a 3v3 soccer tournament he plans to win then it is off to his grandparents ranch near San Antonio, Texas. Not so fast. Best laid plans disappear quickly when his parents leave him at a soccer camp while they take his little sister to her doctor in Texas.
Things also don’t go as planned at camp and the confident Sandburg realizes other kids are better than him at soccer. He does get to room with Zander, a tall boy who turns out to be a friend after not expecting that would ever happen. Sanburg is a typical almost 5th grader whose thoughts are often humorous, thought provoking, and reflective.
The 38 chapters move along at nice pace with Sandburg’s first person narration. The interactions between Sandburg and the other characters were a highlight along with the soccer matches.
The ending wrapped up all the plot points nicely with more unexpected surprises for Sandburg. SOCCER TO THE MAX is the perfect story for those with a passion for soccer or anyone else who likes entertaining tales with memorable character arcs.
BOOK BIRTHDAY: Sept. 19, 2026 PAGES: 278
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bibi Belford is the author of middle-grade fiction, including ‘Canned and Crushed’, ‘Crossing the Line’ (a Christopher Award Winner), ‘Another D for DeeDee’ (Kirkus Starred Review), and ‘Soccer to the Max’. She graduated with a BA in English from Westmont College and completed her master’s in bilingual literacy at Northern Illinois University. She’s been a classroom teacher, reading teacher, and literacy coach in East Aurora, Illinois’s elementary schools, and a volunteer for Chicago public schools. Belford lives in Chicago, Illinois, and enjoys books, beaches, gardening, and spending time with her grandkids. (For More about Bibi Belford and her books visit her AUTHOR WEBSITE)
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Front Desk first arrived on the shelves in 2018 and has been consistently popular with the 9-12 year old aged age group. I even reviewed the title back then and loved the premise. Here’s the official background of the story:
Mia Tang has a lot of secrets.
Number 1: She lives in a motel, not a big house. Every day, while her immigrant parents clean the rooms, ten-year-old Mia manages the front desk of the Calivista Motel and tends to its guests.
Number 2: Her parents hide immigrants. And if the mean motel owner, Mr. Yao, finds out they’ve been letting them stay in the empty rooms for free, the Tangs will be doomed.
Number 3: She wants to be a writer. But how can she when her mom thinks she should stick to math because English is not her first language?
It will take all of Mia’s courage, kindness, and hard work to get through this year. Will she be able to hold on to her job, help the immigrants and guests, escape Mr. Yao, and go for her dreams?
As often happens, a memorable story like this one is now in a graphic version, perfect for those who love a colorful format. Here are a few examples:
The time period of the 1990’s with an immigrant family doing their best to help others sounds very familiar in our present year. Mia is a fantastic young girl who carries this story well. FRONT DESK THE GRAPHIC NOVEL will bring more fans to her corner.
About the Author
Kelly Yang is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the FRONT DESK, including FRONT DESK, THREE KEYS, and ROOM TO DREAM, and the winner of the 2019 Asian Pacific American Award for Literature. She is also the author of the middle grade novel NEW FROM HERE, the picture book YES WE WILL: ASIAN AMERICAN HEROES, and the young adult novels PARACHUTES and PRIVATE LABEL.. FRONT DESK was Kelly’s award-winning debut middle grade novel about a 10 year old Chinese American immigrant girl who manages the front desk of a motel while her parents clean the rooms. FRONT DESK was awarded the 2018 Asian Pacific American Award for Literature, the Parents’ Choice Gold Medal, is the 2019 Global Read Aloud, and has earned numerous other honors including being named an Amazon Best Book of the Year, a Washington Post Best Book of the Year, a Kirkus Best Book of the Year, a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, a NPR Best Book of the Year, and a Publisher’s Weekly Best Book of the Year.Ever since she was a little girl, Kelly Yang has LOVED telling stories. She tells all kinds of stories — stories about gutsy girls and bold boys, about motels, loan sharks, immigration, poverty, and race. The thing all her stories have in common is they are important, accessible, and filled with diverse characters. (For more about Kelly visit the Author Website)
ABOUT THE ARTIST/ILLUSTRATOR
Fumio Obata, graphic novelist and illustrator. Fumio is a specialist in sequential image design, and inspired by both Japanese and European aesthetics.
Fumio writes stories and adapts existing scripts for comic books and graphic novels. He is a published author of 8 different languages with over 10 years of experience in the industry, with genres expanding from straightforward reportage to poetic interpretations.
He also creates illustrations that range from humour to fantasy, and lectures in Illustration at the University of Gloucestershire in the UK. (Website for Fumio Obata)
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