What a fun, visual interactive experience you will have reading this new book! Intended for ages 8-12, you won’t find a boring rehash of facts.
Instead, readers will discover flaps, pop-ups, pull-tabs, and other hands-on discoveries that uncover the truth about how our bodies work. Each section is a colorful and fascinating learning experience.
Included are:
The Skeleton: Bones and More
Skin and Muscles
Lungs
Heart and Blood
Seeing and Hearing
Smelling and Tasting
Biting and Chewing
Eating and Drinking
Pooping
The Brain and Nervous System
Birth and Growing Up
Living Well
I found myself going back again and again to discover more facts and to repeat once more using many of those interactive features. THE ULTIMATE BOOK of the HUMAN BODY is a fantastic source for home or school shelves. Of course it won’t be on the shelves for long with its appealing presentation. Thanks to author Anne-Sophie Baumann and Vanessa Robidou for a job well done.
Twirl Books is happy to send one copy of THE ULTIMATE BOOK of the HUMAN BODY to a lucky winner (U.S. and Canada addresses–no P.O. boxes, please). Leave a comment by 8 PM EDT on October 1st for your entry. You can also email me (gpcolo[at]gmail[dot]com) if you prefer not to comment and be entered that way. GOOD LUCK!
••Natalie Aguirre at Literary Rambles has an interview with Anital Fitch Pazner and a giveaway of her MG historical Words Matter: The Story of Hans and Sophie Scholl and The White Rose Resistance.
••Isabelle Knight is back this week with a review of The Bellwoods Games by Celia Krampien, a spooky yet beautiful middle-grade novel.
••Sue Heavenrich shares Riverkeeper, by Nancy Castaldoa. a middle grade non-fiction over at Archimedes Notebook.
••Carol Baldwin has an upper MG/YA story reviewed by Journey Bloomfield. She gives a thumbs up to DUST AND CROWN by Havelah Mclat.
••Jenni Enzor features a few books by Margaret Haddix: Running out of Time and The Remarkables.
••Karen Yingling at Mrs. Yingling Reads has abook to share every day. Check out Karen’s MMGM choice for this week and all her reviews from this past week.
A fantasy with a pair of unique characters sure to please readers.
Viola and Wilmur have been living in the town of Caveat for most of their lives under the care of Hestur, a woman who really doesn’t like children. They still have hope their parents will pick them up some day.
That never happens but someone else does arrive. Captain Cadence Chase breaks in uninvited to their house. She wants a mysterious book they have in their possession. They both agree to let the Captain have the book if she will take them with her, hoping they will be able to find their parents. The two friends soon set sail and are immediately involved in a mission to uncover the facts from a legend that will save the world they live in.
The world building sets the tone as it is so well done. There are continual surprises along the way keeping one guessing as to what will eventually happen by book’s end. The climatic finish paves the way for a sequel.
I enjoyed the story but have concerns about the length. Intended for 8-12 years olds, Scarlet Morning tops out at 432 pages. A number unappealing to 9 out of 10 readers at that age. I do think anyone (even older teens and adults) who love a deeply moving and surprising fantasy tale will latch on and read this one. Scarlet Morning is the first story written by an author known for his graphic works and it’s a great beginning.
BOOK BIRTHDAY: September 23, 2025
FIVE MORE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: SCARLET MORNING by ND Stevenson
Wilmur and Viola are very different but have such a heart warming and supportive relationship. This comes to light when they are separated for most of the story, their thoughts almost always focus on finding each other.
Captain Cadence Chase is also a superb character and you will see her a lot differently as the story moves to a conclusion. A great character ARC.
The illustrations, also done by the author, are wonderful. Some are full page while others surround the text and scene perfectly.
My question from the start as to why this fantasy world is the way it is was never answered fully, but enough to keep me engaged with the possibilities. A subtle yet effective story telling technique.
The author began imagining this story at age 12 and 15 more years passed before it reached publication. Never give up has never had a stronger proponent.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ND Stevenson is the award-winning, bestselling author and illustrator of Nimona and The Fire Never Goes Out and the co-creator of Lumberjanes and was the showrunner for the award-winning Netflix series She-Ra and the Princesses of Power. He currently lives in Los Angeles.
Dog lovers and even those who don’t know much about dogs will enjoy this captivating story. You learn about bullies both on the human and canine side and how to help those who are being bullied.
Posie Parker the golden retriever pictured on the cover narrates the story. She lives in New York City with her owners, energetic young friend, Lucy, and her mother. Posie has been learning how to be a therapist by listening to the mom who helps clients with their emotional problems. She is working with Tyler who is being bullied at school. It parallels what is going on with a new dog in the neighborhood named Shadow. A bulldog has been spreading rumors about him and acting aggressively at the local park. Posie takes the lessons that are helping Tyler and apples them to Shadow’s situation in how to deal with the bully bulldog. Posie is not alone as she has help with some of her dog friends.
Being a dog owner myself I smiled at the reactions Posie has about her humans and life as a dog. They seemed spot on like why dogs bark when the doorbell rings. The plot moves along at a perfect pace and the length (111 pages) make POSIE PARKER AND THE BULLDOG BULLY an appealing read-aloud. The ending wraps up the the plot with satisfying appeal. You’ll be hoping for a sequel to be back again with Posie and her owners. Posie Parker you are one good dog… as is your story!
BOOK BIRTHDAY: September 16, 2025
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
(For more about Jessica and her books be sure to visit her author website)
It’s almost time for another Marvelous Middle Grade Monday. Won’t you join us? It’s here I share highlights from other individuals blogging about middle grade books. Many of the posts will have reviews, interviews, and tips on writing. Take a look at PAST MMGM POSTS.
It’s easy to get a spot in the lineup. Email me the title of the book or feature and a link to your blog at gpcolo[at]gmail[dot]com
Make sure you put MMGM or Marvelous Middle Grade Monday in the subject line so it gets sorted accurately–and don’t forget to say what you’re featuring) You MUST email me your link by Sunday evening (11 PM Eastern Time)in order to be included in the list of links for that week’s MMGM.
*Please note: these posts are not a reflection of my own opinions on the books featured. Each blogger is responsible for their own MMGM content and I do not pre-screen reviews ahead of time, nor do I control what books they choose. I simply assemble the list based on the links that are emailed to me.
••Jenni Enzor is featuring The Clockwork Sparrow by Katherine Woodfine.
••Karen Yingling at Mrs. Yingling Reads has abook to share every day. Check out Karen’s MMGM choice for this week and all her reviews from this past week.
A ghost story with excellently crafted characters and a creepy plot. Twelve -year-old Lila Clements has a few challenges for the summer. First is to win back her friends who think she is somewhat of a drama queen. Lila sees something and assumes the worst. She has to change her thinking and summertime is perfect for that goal.
Not so fast. The grandfather Lila has never met died of a heart attack in Ohio. It’s going to be a long drive from the family’s home in Arizona. Dad has not had any contact with Grandpa Clem for many years adding to Lila’s “Why are we even going?” attitude.
Grandpa lived in a scary looking Victorian Inn pictured on the cover. Her parents will have to decide what to do with the property. Meanwhile, Lila has to pause her goal of mending the relationship with those friends.
The trip gets off to a scary start when the family gets in a car accident. Everyone is okay, but now Lila is seeing strange people at rest stops that no one else notices. Then on the day of the funeral she sees Grandpa Clem sitting in his favorite chair. He can also speak and tells her he did not die of a heart attack but was murdered. We soon find out the hotel is a place for ghosts passing onto the afterlife and many of them are making their way back into the real world ready to cause all sorts of problems.
Her parents would never believe this story so Lila and her younger brother Clem along with new friend and neighbor Teddy (who knows a lot about ghosts), must find out who killed grandpa
It’s as page-turning read where the chapter endings always have you wanting to read more. The Inn holds all sorts of creepy surprises especially on that 4th floor. You’ll enjoy getting to know both Teddy who has such a forgiving personality, and skeptical Caleb who would rather be playing video games. Along with Lila, they become a memorable trio. Readers will be pleased that more books are planned in the series.
The Last Resort is a great addition to your Halloween reading or any other time you want a creepy house as the setting.
BOOK BIRTHDAY: September 2, 2025 PAGE COUNT: 240
FIVE MORE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: THE LAST RESORT by Erin Entrada Kelly
Family, friendships, and grief are intertwined in the story line and provide many opportunities for discussion..
Ghosts usually don’t get much empathy but here you will feel sorry for several of the ghosts especially grandpa who wants to enter the after life to be with his wife once again.
That cover is a perfect attention grabber urging prospective readers to pick up the book and dive right into the chapters.
The awkwardness of growing up with friends who now believe once loved behaviors and ways are babyish is accurately portrayed. This will resonate with many middle grade readers.
After you read the book, a QR code will let readers talk with each of the three main ghost characters. If Scholastic has success with this new feature, you might be seeing more books using an interactive extension. You can see how it works in the following short video: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Flr3f1lqYbo
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Erin Entrada Kelly has received numerous awards and recognition for her work, including the 2025 Newbery Medal for The First State of Being, 2018 Newbery Medal for Hello, Universe, a 2021 Newbery Honor for We Dream of Space, the 2023 NAIBA Book of the Year Award for Those Kids From Fawn Creek, and 2017 APALA Award for The Land of Forgotten Girls, among many other honors. She is also a National Book Award Finalist and author/illustrator of Marisol Rainey and Felix Powell, stand-alone stories for younger readers. Her books are New York Times bestsellers.
Before becoming a children’s author, Erin worked as a journalist and magazine editor in her home state of Louisiana. She received numerous awards from the Louisiana Press Association and the Associated Press for community service journalism, feature writing, and editing. She has published more than thirty short stories and has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and the Philippines Free Press Award for Short Fiction.
Erin has a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from McNeese State University, an MFA in fiction from Rosemont College, and an honorary doctorate of fine arts from Moore College of Art and Design. She lives in Delaware and teaches in the MFAC program at Hamline University. (Erin’s Author Website)
This heartfelt and enjoyable read debuted last year, but I never had the opportunity to feature a review. Now with the paperback releasing this month, it’s a perfect time to take care of that omission.
Linus became interested in art thanks to his dad. He developed a love of drawing with charcoal but the past year has given it up because his father died. Linus and his mom moved hoping that would lessen the hurt of losing a loved one. Maybe the change would get Linus back to being an artist.
The story takes an unexpected twist with what is going on with their neighbor Maude and her ugly backyard tree. It’s not a normal tree. Linus sees it through his bedroom window at night, watching the tree grow and change. He finds claw marks on his bedroom door, neighborhood pets are missing, and strange, threatening creatures have been seen. Maude is definitely up to no good.
Luckily, Linus has help with his amusing best friend, Spencer, and Abby who is visiting her grandmother. They hope to uncover the truth and stop Maude’s wicked monster-filled tree from harming anyone or anything.
MONSTER TREE pairs the honest portrayal and healing of grief with the scary horror aspects of the plot. It works with page-turning perfection. The characters are memorable with real individual challenges of their own like Linus’s colorblindness and Abby’s hearing aids. Their friendship is honest and real. It’s one readers will understand and enjoy. My favorite takeaway was how Linus found a way to move forward from the grips holding him back after the unfortunate passing of his father.
If you like a dose of horror mixed in with real life challenges look no further than this engaging reading experience.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sarah Allen is an award winning author whose books are filled with quirky, neurodiverse characters, STEAM elements, and a sense of finding Joy in the weirdest and most unlikely of places. Her books have been Jr. Library Guild selections, Whitney Award winners, A Mighty Girl Best Of pick, and state award winners. Sarah received her MFA in creative writing from BYU and regularly teaches at writing conferences and presents at schools across the country. She lives in Florida with her two fluffy black cats! (For more about Sarah and her books visit https://www.sarahallenbooks.com/.
It’s almost time for another Marvelous Middle Grade Monday. Won’t you join us? It’s here I share highlights from other individuals blogging about middle grade books. Many of the posts will have reviews, interviews, and tips on writing. Take a look at PAST MMGM POSTS.
It’s easy to get a spot in the lineup. Email me the title of the book or feature and a link to your blog at gpcolo[at]gmail[dot]com
Make sure you put MMGM or Marvelous Middle Grade Monday in the subject line so it gets sorted accurately–and don’t forget to say what you’re featuring) You MUST email me your link by Sunday evening (11 PM Eastern Time)in order to be included in the list of links for that week’s MMGM.
*Please note: these posts are not a reflection of my own opinions on the books featured. Each blogger is responsible for their own MMGM content and I do not pre-screen reviews ahead of time, nor do I control what books they choose. I simply assemble the list based on the links that are emailed to me.
••Jennifer Rummel @ YA Book Nerd reviews Dream On by Shannon Hale, a graphic novel about growing up, friendship drama, and worrying what other people think.
••Jenni Enzor has a post about Vanished and Trapped by James Ponti.
••Rosi Hollinbeck has a review of SECRETS OF THE DEAD. Rosi also shares three links of interest for her writing friends.
••Karen Yingling at Mrs. Yingling Reads has abook to share every day. Check out Karen’s MMGM choice for this week and all her reviews from this past week.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been creeping into our lives for longer than you might guess. There are positives and negatives surfacing in news sources across the globe. Now we have the entertaining and engaging middle grade story with the unassuming name: THE VALE.
Bran Lee is 13-years-old and his parents are coders. They program computer code to create new devices and worlds. Mom’s best work: Maisy Maid, is a robot who takes care of you while at home. Dad’s passion is geared toward the Vale, a virtual world full of elves like the endearing Gnomly, pictured on the cover with Bran. The setting is a beautiful forest and castle. Bran has been helping his parents create this enchanting place since he was 6-years-old. Bran loves to put on the helmet and jacket that allow a user to fully experience the AI-generated Vale.
All of the inventions the family created are fantastic and unlike anything ever done. Sadly, there has been nothing but rejection in launching the products. The family can’t pay their bills and are frustrated. Bran would rather spend his spare time in the Vale with Gnomly than deal with reality of the present.
He decides to secretly enter the Vale in a multi-million dollar competition that would solve all of the family’s problems. Unfortunately, as the presentation day gets closer the Vale is going through some unexpected and damaging looks. There’s been no change to the code but now sunlight is becoming darker, a new girl character emerges, and a wizard is stealing things with the intention of becoming the most powerful. Bran and Gnomly try and uncover the truth to save the Vale and to save Bran’s family.
Chapters feature either the real world or the virtual one titled “The Book of Elf”. The third person narration in both is perfect, bringing out the emotions and changes in the characters. It’s a fast paced story and the climatic ending scene had me gripping the book tighter and tighter, hoping but not believing there would be a satisfying end. Sorry, no spoilers so you can enjoy THE VALE for yourself, a truly adventurous and magical tale.
BOOK BIRTHDAY: 9/16/2025. PAGES: 304
FIVE MORE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: THE VALE by Abigail Hing Wen
Other characters include Uncle Roy and Piper, a girl he meets at an early competition. They aren’t just secondary parts of the story line. Each in their own way provide many of the surprises in the plot. You’ll be saying “I never saw that one coming!”
Full page illustrations, though few in number are detailed and add visual accompaniment to this unique story.
Bran is portrayed accurately as a 13-year-old trying to make sense of everything happening. He has a soft heart and desires the best for his family. Uncle Roy provides him with mentorship and friendship. Bran is one you will remember as is the fun charming elf, Gnomly.
The use of AI will bring about much needed discussion and debate about its’ use. AI is not going to disappear so the more we understand it the better.
Financial stress on a family is accurately portrayed. There’s changes in personalities and tough decisions sure to be familiar with many young readers.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Abigail Hing Wen is an author, film producer and director, as well as former tech executive. She is the New York Times best selling author of multiple novels for young people, including Loveboat, Taipei, which has been adapted as the movie Love in Taipei, now on Netflix. Abigail served as an executive producer and on set during production. Her novel Kisses, Codes and Conspiracies, a thriller and romantic comedy novel featuring three teens on the run through the Bay Area, is an instant national bestseller, USA Today bestseller and Amazon Editor’s Pick for YA Book of the Month. Abigail is directing her first short film starring Lea Salonga, a prequel to her middle grade debut The Vale, coming September 2025, and featuring an inventor family that builds an AI generated virtual world. She serves on the board of Harvardwood and is a member of Dan Lin’s Rideback Rise Circle. In 2025, she served as a judge for the Golden Trailer Awards, recognizing the industry’s most outstanding film trailers.
Abigail is a frequent keynote speaker for young people, including Y’Allfest, US Presidential Scholars, and the Los Altos High Writer’s Week, as well as libraries, colleges, high schools and bookstores around the country. She’s also given keynotes and fireside chats for the National Conference of State Legislatures, Meta, Google, Paramount, Paypal and other tech and entertainment companies, and spoken on panels at venues such as SDCC, LACC, LA Times Festival of Books and ALA. For more, visit AbigailHingWen.com.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
COMMENTS ARE WELCOME BELOW!AND BE SURE TO VISIT ALL THE OTHER BLOGGERS ON TODAY’S MARVELOUS MIDDLE GRADE MONDAY!
The lunch lady is an alien and Earth is about to be invaded with eminent destruction as the goal. That’s not all: these invaders think humans are a tasty treat once cooked to the right temperature. What better choice than 10-year-old Matt to save the world in this laugh out loud adventure.
It all begins when Matt finds a cellphone on the sidewalk. His parents have yet to let him have one so Matt decides to secretly keep this unexpected gift. Not such a good idea especially when Matt goes to take a picture and the crossing guard appears as a monster alien. With help from Mrs. MacGillicuddy, that alien lunch lady, and friend Marcella, they “cook” up their own plan to hopefully send General Guggenheim and his giant spaceship far away to another galaxy.
Matt narrates the story with kid like humor and decision making. The plot moves along at a fast pace with frequent challenges for the characters. There are some scary moments but all are solved quickly.
With mostly short chapters (59 of them), PRESS 1 FOR INVASION is a great choice for a read-aloud. I’d also welcome a sequel. Bravo to the author for a perfectly entertaining middle grade debut.
BOOK BIRTHDAY: Sept. 9, 2025 PAGES: 320
J. A. Dauber is a professor of Jewish literature and American studies at Columbia University, where he has also served as director of its Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies. He lives right near there, with his family, so that he can walk to work and see if anyone has dropped anything. Like a phone. After all, you never know. He also wrote a YA novel about a teenage supervillain named Mayhem which won an award from the Children’s Book Council. Dauber received his undergraduate degree summa cum laude from Harvard and his doctorate from the University of Oxford, which he attended as a Rhodes Scholar.
Dauber has published many adult nonfiction and humor books—including Jewish Comedy and The Worlds of Sholem Aleichem, both finalists for the National Jewish Book Award. More recently he is the author of Mel Brooks: Disobedient Jew, American Comics: A History, and American Scary: A History of Horror, from Salem to Stephen King and Beyond.
*****************************************
GIVEAWAY NEWS! The winning names have been drawn for my LUCKY 13 Giveaway. Congratulations to these three lucky readers:
DAY 1 Rosie Hollinbeck won the 3-book hardback set of the FRAMED series
Day 2 Melanie Delaney won Books 1-3 in the CITY SPIES series
Day 3 Danielle Hammelef won books 4-6 in the CITY SPIES series and the new novel, HURRICANE HEIST
I will get those books to you in the next week. Thanks to all who entered and more giveaways will be coming soon.
It’s almost time for another Marvelous Middle Grade Monday. Won’t you join us? It’s here I share highlights from other individuals blogging about middle grade books. Many of the posts will have reviews, interviews, and tips on writing. Take a look at PAST MMGM POSTS.
It’s easy to get a spot in the lineup. Email me the title of the book or feature and a link to your blog at gpcolo[at]gmail[dot]com
Make sure you put MMGM or Marvelous Middle Grade Monday in the subject line so it gets sorted accurately–and don’t forget to say what you’re featuring) You MUST email me your link by Sunday evening (11 PM Eastern Time)in order to be included in the list of links for that week’s MMGM.
*Please note: these posts are not a reflection of my own opinions on the books featured. Each blogger is responsible for their own MMGM content and I do not pre-screen reviews ahead of time, nor do I control what books they choose. I simply assemble the list based on the links that are emailed to me.
It’s easy to get a spot in the lineup. Email me the title of the book or feature for any middle grade book, author or giveaway, and a link to your blog. Send it to: gpcolo[at]gmail[dot]com
Make sure you put MMGM or Marvelous Middle Grade Monday in the subject line so it gets sorted accurately–and don’t forget to say what you’re featuring) You MUST email me your link by Sunday evening (11 PM Eastern Time) in order to be included in the list of links for that week’s MMGM.
*Please note: these posts are not a reflection of my own opinions on the books featured. Each blogger is responsible for their own MMGM content and I do not pre-screen reviews ahead of time, nor do I control what books they choose. I simply assemble the list based on the links that are emailed to me.
Always in the Middle... 