AMAL UNBOUND

Posted on February 24, 2019 by Greg Pattridge

It’s Another MARVELOUS MIDDLE GRADE MONDAY!

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The cover is both hopeful and haunting. The same can be said for the story. Twelve-year-old Amal lives with her family in a Pakistani village. Another family rules the town and have control of all the residents—most of whom are in financial debt to the Khan’s. The law they go by is their own and it’s a do it our way or suffer the consequences.

Amal loves school and her family, but family comes first as she stays home to help her pregnant mother who will soon give birth to another child. One day Amal has an unfortunate encounter with Jawad, the egotistical son of the ruling family. Her so called disrespect leads to a sentence of being a servant at the family’s mansion. She’s pulled away from friends, family, and a teacher she adores. Amal discovers her temporary servitude could turn into a lifelong ordeal.

I was glad to find a first person narration here as Amal gives the story heart. She’s stronger than any of those who are in charge. Amal wants to do what’s right and stay out of trouble, but deep down she knows none of it is fair. Adult readers might prefer a longer, more in-depth study of the politics going on here, but for the intended audience it is a perfect look at another culture and how being a kid can be so different depending on where you live.

PUBLISHED: 2018   PAGE COUNT: 240

laugh2FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT—laugh2

AMAL UNBOUND by Aisha Saeed

  1. Short chapters are a welcome pull to bring in emerging readers who may be looking for brevity, along with teachers who only have five minutes left at the end of a class period to read a chapter out loud.
  2. I doubt real world events would end on such a promising note, but doing so here gives much inspiration and hope.
  3. The power of reading comes through as a theme loud and clear, especially when Amal teaches another young servant the basic skills to untangle the written word.
  4. The author supplies Discussion Guides and other resources on her website. It goes beyond what is usually provided. Well done! (See them here!)
  5. A compelling story about indentured servitude and the strength it takes to overcome. You’ll remember this one long after reading.

FAVORITE LINE

But did it really have to be this way? If I were a boy, would I be staying home to fold laundry and iron clothes? If I were a son, would he so casually tell me to forget my dreams?

THE OFFICIAL PLOT (From Amazon)

Life is quiet and ordinary in Amal’s Pakistani village, but she had no complaints, and besides, she’s busy pursuing her dream of becoming a teacher one day. Her dreams are temporarily dashed when–as the eldest daughter–she must stay home from school to take care of her siblings. Amal is upset, but she doesn’t lose hope and finds ways to continue learning. Then the unimaginable happens–after an accidental run-in with the son of her village’s corrupt landlord, Amal must work as his family’s servant to pay off her own family’s debt.

Life at the opulent Khan estate is full of heartbreak and struggle for Amal–especially when she inadvertently makes an enemy of a girl named Nabila. Most troubling, though, is Amal’s growing awareness of the Khans’ nefarious dealings. When it becomes clear just how far they will go to protect their interests, Amal realizes she will have to find a way to work with others if they are ever to exact change in a cruel status quo, and if Amal is ever to achieve her dreams.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR (From Aisha’s Website)

Aisha Saeed is a New York Times bestselling author. She wrote WRITTEN IN THE STARS (Penguin/Nancy Paulsen Books, 2015) which was listed as a best book of 2015 by Bank Street Books and a 2016 YALSA Quick Pick For Reluctant Readers. She is also the author of the middle grade novel AMAL UNBOUND (Penguin/Nancy Paulsen Books, 2018) a Summer 2018 Indie Next Pick, An Amazon Best Book of the Month, has received starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly and Kirkus and is a Global Read Aloud for 2018. She also has a forthcoming picture book BILAL COOKS DAAL (Simon & Schuster/Salaam Reads, 2019). Aisha is also a founding member of the nonprofit We Need Diverse Books™. She has been featured on MTV, the Huffington Post, NBC, and the BBC, and her writings have appeared in publications including the journal ALAN and the Orlando Sentinel.

Aisha is represented by Taylor Martindale at Full Circle Literary Agency and lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband and three sons.

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If you have time, please comment below.

Posted in Middle Grade Book Reviews | Tagged | 9 Comments

THE WONDERS OF NATURE

Posted on February 22, 2019 by Greg Pattridge

Nature and art come together in this beautiful oversized hardback edition. The art work is stunning and you’ll be introduced to unique animals both on land and sea. Arranged in seven chapters, each begins with background information followed by pages of detailed art drawings.wondersofnature

The vibrant color and up close view give nature lovers a true gift. Each chapter ends with a two-page spread called Random Directory. Here you get a short description of each animal’s uniqueness.

Chapter one starts things off with birds. Two page spreads on plumage, useful beaks, and long necks had me from the get go. My favorites were the Reddish Egret and the Royal Spoonbill.

Next up are the hens, turkeys and pheasants. I do need to see a Padovana Chicken in person some day. It’s head is full of feathers fit for a queen or better yet a rock star in the making.

Insects are the focus of chapter three. The enlarged look at a quartet of beetles is truly unique and had my eyes dancing across the pages.

Just when you think it can’t get better, in come the butterflies, both the daytime and night flying variety. A spectacular show of their color and shape.

Natural Sailors gives readers a view of starfish, the Blue-ringed octopus, and crustaceans. Another chapter follows with Coral, jellyfish, and algae. The sea is a garden to behold.

Wrapping up the tour is a festival of fish. The brilliant scales of many types of fish are displayed. The Wrasse in both the Sixbar and Six-Line variety are the most colorful fish I never knew existed. The Saint-Peter fish is the last drawing and the vibrant color made it the perfect choice for a lasting memory.

Wonders of Nature would make the perfect present for any nature lover, young or old. It’s waiting to find a home on a coffee or end table, even though it won’t stay there very long. The pull to experience what’s inside is too great.

The Official Background from Prestel Publishing
Wonders of Nature: Explorations in the World of Birds, Insects and Fish by Florence Guiraud
Bright-eyed birds, evanescent butterflies, tropical fish and other pleasures await the readers of this large format book that will appeal to young children’s curiosity about the natural world. Reminiscent of the watercolors of Ernst Haeckel, John James Audubon, and Maria Sibylla Merian, these charming and expertly rendered pictures of birds, insects, and fish will provide hours of exploration. Presented in double-page spreads, interspersed with informative texts, Guiraud’s illustrations capture the wondrous beauty that populates our oceans, forests, and fields. Her expressive illustrations create a sense of intimacy and empathy with the natural world and their exquisite detail rewards close investigation. Certain to captivate both children and adults, this magnificent book will instill in its readers a connection to the world around them and ignite a sense of wonder about all living things.
About the author: FLORENCE GUIRAUD is an award-winning illustrator and author of more than 60 books. She is the recipient of the prestigious Saint-Exupéry Prize. She lives in Anglet, France.
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Coming up this Monday is another edition of…

If you would like to join in the MMGM fun, all you have to do is blog about a middle grade book on a Monday (contests, author interviews and whatnot also count–but are most definitely not required) and email me the title of the book you’re featuring 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 please don’t forget to say what book 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 the coming Monday.
Thanks for spreading the middle grade love and for being a part of this awesome tradition begun by Shannon Messenger and carried on here at ALWAYS in the MIDDLE! (CLICK HERE FOR PAST MMGM POSTS)
*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.
Posted in Middle Grade Book Reviews, non fiction | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Two new titles in HOW NATURE WORKS

Posted on February 21, 2019 by Greg Pattridge

ONE IGUANA, TWO IGUANAS

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The Galapagos Islands is the setting for this new addition to the How Nature Works Series from Tilbury House Publishers. It’s a fascinating account of how both a land iguana and one able to dive into the sea came to live in this remotes set of islands far off the western shore of South America.

Beautiful and often stunning pictures fit in well with the text. Although the author speaks to some pretty heavy scientific topics, the writing is smooth and understandable. Learn  about natural selection and how species adapt over time. The work of Charles Darwin in this part of the world is also explored.

Great for the classroom or home, I wouldn’t hesitate to add this to every middle grade child’s bookshelf.

THE OFFICIAL WORD

One Iguana, Two Iguanas: A Story of Accident, Natural Selection, and Evolution by Sneed B. Collard III (ISBN: 978-0884486497; Grades 3-7; 48 pages)
 
Natural selection and speciation are all but ignored in children’s nonfiction. To help address this glaring deficiency, award-winning children’s science writer Sneed Collard traveled to the Galapagos Islands to see for himself, where Charles Darwin saw, how new species form. The result is this fascinating story of two species of iguana, one land-based and one marine, both of which developed from a single ancestor that reached the islands millions of years ago. The animals evolved in different directions while living within sight of one another. How is that possible?
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DON’T MESS WITH ME

Future oceanographers won’t be able to get enough of the over two dozen underwater creatures. You’ll learn the difference between poisonous and venomous but the fun is the information about these unique ocean dwellers.dontmesswith me.jpg

On the cover is the ominous Stargazer Fish. Protection is provided with a pair of venomous spines, one on each side of its body. I hope to never step on this little guy.

Inside the pages you get colorful pictures of all the other scary and often deadly creatures. Each is accompanied by a summary of its characteristics. My favorites were the Bearded Fireworm, Chinese Dragon Sea Slug, and the Palette Surgeonfish.

A handy recap of all the venomous species is presented in the final pages. There’s also a glossary, along with books and online sources giving every ocean loving kid the perfect place to begin their studies.

THE OFFICIAL WORD

Don’t Mess With Me: The Strange Lives of Venomous Sea Creatures by Paul Erickson and photographs by Andrew Martinez (ISBN 978-0884485513; Grades 3-7; 48 pages)
Why are toxins so advantageous to their possessors as to evolve over and over again? What is it about watery environments that favors so many venomous creatures? Marine biologist Paul Erickson explores these and other questions with astounding images from Andrew Martinez and other top underwater photographers.
GREAT for teaching STEM Marine Biology.
Scorpions and brown recluse spiders are fine as far as they go, but if you want daily contact with venomous creatures, the ocean is the place to be. Blue-ringed octopi, stony corals, sea jellies, stonefish, lionfish, poison-fanged blennies, stingrays, cone snails, blind remipedes, fire urchins―you can choose your poison in the ocean. Venoms are often but not always defensive weapons. The banded sea krait, an aquatic snake, wriggles into undersea caves to prey on vicious moray eels, killing them with one of the world’s most deadly neurotoxins, which it injects through fangs that resemble hypodermic needles. The Komodo dragon, an ocean-going reptile, tears into a water buffalo with its blade-like teeth, then secretes a deadly toxin into the open wounds.
Posted in Middle Grade Book Reviews, non fiction | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

CYBILS FINALISTS Part Two

Posted on February 20, 2019 by Greg Pattridge

SKYLARK AND WALLCREEPER

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THE ORPHAN BAND OF SPRINGDALE

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skylark and wallcreeper

Two alternating stories shine a light on the history of two devastating events. We begin in 2012 and a story told in first person through the eyes of 12-year-old Lily. Hurricane Sandy has arrived in New York City and Lily accompanies her grandmother during a hurried evacuation from a nursing home. Granny gives Lily a unique pen that she quickly loses in the chaos. The pen becomes the focus of the story as the search for it uncovers the mystery surrounding her grandmother Collette’s youth.

Flash back to 1944 at the height of World War II and young Collette is a French resistor. The third person narration takes readers back to this awful time. The German’s have taken over France and Collette is a messenger and spy to alert others of the enemy’s plans. She must pretend to be a boy as girls were not allowed to dress in them manner she needs for success in her short missions.

I found the 1944 story much more compelling but each have their own way of wrapping you up in the mystery. It is Lily and Collette’s story, especially as they find how their personalities are similar. But secondary characters like Henry, Johnny, and Simone enrich the reader’s experience.  Adults will find the history engaging and the two stories an enlightening way to explain the past. The intended MG audience is a whole different ball game. Historical fiction is always a tough sell and the 400+ pages in Skylark and Wallcreeper doesn’t help it fly off the shelves. Regardless, I hope this one will eventually find a wider young audience without it being assigned in a history class.

THE OFFICIAL PLOT (From Amazon)

Queens, 2012.

Hurricane Sandy is flooding New York City, and Lily is at a nursing home with her grandmother, Collette. Lily visits Collette often, as she is beginning to lose her memories. When the National Guard shows up to evacuate the building and take them to safety at the Park Slope armory in Brooklyn, Lily’s granny suddenly produces a red box she’s hidden in a closet for years. Once they get to safety, Lily opens the box, where she finds an old, beautiful Montblanc pen. Granny tells Lily that the pen is very important and that she has to take care of it, as well as some letters written in French.

But Lily loses the pen in the course of helping other nursing home residents, and as she searches the city trying to find it, she learns more about her grandmother’s past in France and begins to uncover the significance of the pen with the help of her best friend, a quirky pen expert, and a larger-than-life, off-Broadway understudy. Told in alternating sections (2012 and 1944), this engaging book explores a deep friendship during difficult times and the importance of family.

For more about SKYLARK and WALLCREEPER visit Anne O’Brien Carelli’s web site.

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THE ORPHAN BAND OF SPRINGDALE.jpg

Gusta is an endearing character you will fully cheer for. She’s been sent away to Springdale, Maine to live with her Grandmother who runs a group home for unwanted children. The year is 1941 and Gusta’s German father is not welcome in the states. As war creeps ever closer to reality, Gusta settles into new surroundings and the uncertainty of her future. A beloved French horn is the one connection to her father and grandfather and she plays it quite well.

She begins school and an eye test immediately trips her up. Gusta is nearsighted and since glasses are expensive, she works off the expense helping a neighbor with his pigeons and accounting books. Suspicions from classmates and community members surface about her father and she hopes there is one more wish to make things right. She wants to be reunited with her parents, help her uncle with medical bills, and avoid  questions about her birth certificate. And why can’t everyone just get along despite where they were born?

At over 400 pages, the average middle grader will not have the patience for all the side plots that pop up and disappear much too quick. This might be better suited for adults or older readers learning about WWII. It’s a compassionate story but one you need a lot of patience to read.

THE OFFICIAL PLOT (from AMAZON)

It’s 1941, and tensions are rising in the United States as the Second World War rages in Europe. Eleven-year-old Gusta’s life, like the world around her, is about to change. Her father, a foreign-born labor organizer, has had to flee the country, and Gusta has been sent to live in an orphanage run by her grandmother. Nearsighted, snaggletoothed Gusta arrives in Springdale, Maine, lugging her one precious possession: a beloved old French horn, her sole memento of her father. But in a family that’s long on troubles and short on money, how can a girl hang on to something so valuable and yet so useless when Gusta’s mill-worker uncle needs surgery to fix his mangled hand, with no union to help him pay? Inspired by her mother’s fanciful stories, Gusta secretly hopes to find the coin-like “Wish” that her sea-captain grandfather supposedly left hidden somewhere. Meanwhile, even as Gusta gets to know the rambunctious orphans at the home, she feels like an outsider at her new school — and finds herself facing patriotism turned to prejudice, alien registration drives, and a family secret likely to turn the small town upside down.

For more about Ann Nesbet and some handy Teaching Materials to use with THE ORPHAN BAND OF SPRINGDALE, visit her website.

Visit Part One of My CYBILS finalists here. You can also read all about the winner I featured this past Monday, THE PARKER INHERITANCE.

Posted in Middle Grade Book Reviews | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

CYBILS FINALISTS Part One

Posted on February 19, 2019 by Greg Pattridge

Yesterday I featured the CYBILS Middle Grade Fiction winner, The Parker Inheritance. Today and tomorrow I’m reviewing the other finalists beginning with these two selections…

THE DOUGHNUT FIX and HARBOR ME

Doughnut Fix.jpgTristan (Tris) is a boy with a problem many MG kids can relate to: His parents suddenly decide to move to a new town. After living in New York City, Tris is used to big city life. His best pal is there and everything he loves from the sports to the restaurants is right under his nose. It all makes the switch to small town Petersville the worst thing that has ever happened in his 12 years.

Tris narrates the story in past tense and is the kind of kid you know will do well in life. He’s considerate of others and deals with his problems in a charming way. Instead of sulking like his younger gifted and talented sister, Tris makes a new friend and gets to know the main street—the only street in Petersville. And it doesn’t have a single restaurant! There he meets Winnie, a shop owner, who stopped making her famous chocolate cream donuts many years ago. Thanks to his Mom, Tris has become quite the cook and his favorite is dessert. With a copy of Starting your Own Business for Dummies, Tris sets out to open up his own doughnut stand.

This is a rare MG tale with no divorce, bullies, or fantasy worlds.  It’s Tris dealing with his often hilarious four-year-old sister and seeing another side of his other sister as they each deal with their new setting in different ways. He also gets a new vision of friendship. His plan for opening a business is recapped after the story’s completion for those wanting to start their own business. Even better—a sequel is in the works.

Now, about that cover… yes there is a raccoon toward the latter half of the book loose in their house, but it is far from the focus of the story. The animal may become more prominent in book 2, but it makes no sense to feature it in this first effort.

THE DOUGHNUT FIX is a fun story that moves along at fast pace. You’ll be pleased to have spent time with this family and the icing on the doughnut are the included recipes.

THE OFFICIAL PLOT (From Amazon)

Tristan isn’t Gifted or Talented like his sister Jeanine, and he’s always been okay with that because he can make a perfect chocolate chip cookie and he lives in the greatest city in the world. But his life takes a turn for the worse when his parents decide to move to middle-of-nowhere Petersville―a town with one street and no restaurants. It’s like suddenly they’re supposed to be this other family, one that can survive without bagels and movie theaters.

His suspicions about his new town are confirmed when he’s tricked into believing the local general store has life-changing chocolate cream doughnuts, when in fact the owner hasn’t made them in years. And so begins the only thing that could make life in Petersville worth living: getting the recipe, making the doughnuts, and bringing them back to the town through his very own doughnut stand. But Tristan will soon discover that when starting a business, it helps to be both Gifted and Talented, and It’s possible he’s bitten off more than he can chew…

ABOUT JESSIE JANOWITZ (From her website)

In high school, I fell in love with the French language (and French pastry!), and when I went to Princeton for college, I majored comparative literature because it allowed me to study French plus everything else I was interested in, including Creative Writing.

After college, I taught in a French public school high school for cooking and restaurant service. Then I sold translation rights for a publishing house. This led me to law school, which I loved. One of the many cool things about the U.S. legal system: it’s built on stories!

Eventually, thanks to my family, I found myself back reading and writing stories, ones for kids because those are the ones I’ve always loved best.

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Every child has worries no matter their race or socioeconomic status. The half dozen fifth and sixth graders in Ms Laverne’s class are fortunate to have her as their teacher. She is soft-spoken and full of understanding. But how can she teach when deportation, race, parent incarceration, and poverty are in the forefront?

The solution is to give this group one hour per week in a room by themselves to talk. No  teachers present. The result is an awakening for all as they support one another in their individual struggles.

Haley narrates the story from her perspective. She is the mixed race red-headed girl with a father in jail. The story begins at the end of this special year and then goes back to recount what happened. A hand held recorder with the voices of her classmates is all she has to remember. It also gave her the voice to share her own troubles

The writing is purposely poetic and flows in smooth waves. It’s a story full of contemporary topics facing too many kids today. The concept of freedom alone would bring a lively discussion and deeper thought for all. It is fiction but the set-up of putting six kids alone in a room would never fly in my school district.  Nevertheless, Harbor Me is a story that will force you to rethink and relate more to these tough issues facing our youth.

THE OFFICIAL PLOT (From Amazon)

It all starts when six kids have to meet for a weekly chat–by themselves, with no adults to listen in. There, in the room they soon dub the ARTT Room (short for “A Room to Talk”), they discover it’s safe to talk about what’s bothering them–everything from Esteban’s father’s deportation and Haley’s father’s incarceration to Amari’s fears of racial profiling and Ashton’s adjustment to his changing family fortunes. When the six are together, they can express the feelings and fears they have to hide from the rest of the world. And together, they can grow braver and more ready for the rest of their lives.

A FEW WORDS FROM JACQUELINE WOODSON ABOUT HARBOR ME

Where it takes place:

In the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn

Where I wrote it:

In Brooklyn and while I was traveling around the country.

Why I wrote it:

I have so many questions. Sometimes, writing is the only way I can answer them.

(For more about Ms. Woodson and her books check out her website)

 

Posted in Middle Grade Book Reviews | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

MMGM for February 18, 2019

Posted on February 18, 2019 by Greg Pattridge

                  

Happy President’s Day! I have a review of the CYBILS Middle Grade Fiction winner, THE PARKER INHERITANCE by Varian Johnson. Click the presidential seal to reach my post and do the same for each of the features and reviews below.
Joanne R. Fritz at My Brain on Books joins us with a review of SONG FOR A WHALE by Lynne Kelly.
Sue Heavenrich at Sally’s Bookshelf stops by again with a review of Lost in the Antarctic: The doomed voyage of the Endurance, by Tod Olson.
June McCrary Jacobs at ‘Reading, Writing, & Stitch-Metic’ has a S.T.E.A.M. feature on an amazing book, ‘Apollo 8:  The Mission That Changed Everything‘, by Martin W. Sandler.
Rosi Hollinbeck reviews and has a GIVEAWAY of  FANTASTIC FAILURES by Luke Reynolds. Rosi also has some not to be missed links for her writing friends.
Patricia Tilton at Children’s Books Heal reviews The Unforgettable Guinevere St. Clair by Amy Makechnie.
Maria Antonia at Of Books, Photography, and Tea has Pay Attention, Carter Jones by Gary D. Schmidt.
Dorine White at The Write Path has an interview with Emilio Iasiello, author of The Web Paige Chronicles.
Beth Mitchell at Imaginary Friends reviews Max and the Midknights by Lincoln Pierce.
Alex Baugh at The Children’s War has The Unsung Hero of Birdsong, USA by Brenda Woods.
Janet Smart at Creative Writing In The Blackberry Patch is featuring CATCH ME WHEN I FALL by Bonnie Graves.
Karen Yingling at Ms. Yingling Reads has another informative MMGM post. Be sure to check out today’s feature and all of her reviews the past week.
Andrea Mack at That’s Another Story is featuring THE THEORY OF HUMMINGBIRDS by Michelle Kadarusman.
If you would like to join in the MMGM fun and get your own spot in the parade, all you have to do is blog about a middle grade book you love on a Monday (contests, author interviews and whatnot also count–but are most definitely not required) and email me the title of the book you’re featuring 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 please don’t forget to say what book 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 the coming Monday.
Thanks for spreading the middle grade love and for being a part of this awesome tradition begun by Shannon Messenger and carried on here at ALWAYS in the MIDDLE! (CLICK HERE FOR PAST MMGM POSTS)
*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.
Posted in MMGM Links | Tagged , | 4 Comments

THE PARKER INHERITANCE

Posted on February 17, 2019 by Greg Pattridge

WELCOME TO ANOTHER MARVELOUS MIDDLE GRADE MONDAY!

And it’s a special one! Congratulations to Varian Johnson and THE PARKER INHERITANCE, the winner of 2018’s CYBILS Middle Grade Fiction Award.cybils-2018-300x168.png

I previously reviewed two of the CYBILS Finalists: In December I featured FRONT DESK and last September I gave a thumbs up to THE MISCALCULATIONS OF LIGHTNING GIRL. Tomorrow and Wednesday I’ll have brief reviews of the other four finalists. But today is all about our winner!

In the past three years I’ve read Middle Grade books exploring a number of heavy topics. Racism, gay acceptance, police violence against black youth, bullyiThe-Parker-Inheritance-final-cover-689x1024.jpgng, and sexism come to mind. There have also been much lighter fare devoted to friendships and the occasional mystery. The Parker Inheritance takes all of these topics and threads them into one glorious story all of us should read.

Set in the fictional town of Lambert, South Carolina (although based on the author’s hometown, Florence, SC), it’s the present day story of Candice and her new friend Brandon as they research the past and a letter Candice found in her Grandmother’s attic. She not only wants to clear her beloved grandmother’s name for some wrong doings, but also discover if there really is a huge amount of money hidden somewhere in the town. To do so she and her friend will have to solve a puzzle.

This leads the sleuths to the ugly past of Lambert and a separate story set mostly in the 1950s. The cover depicts this splendidly with the split visual of old and new. On the left side of cover you can barely make out the characters from this other time period, Beautiful Siobhan standing under the PJ’s sign and mixed race Reggie shining shoes. They are in love and events soon to unfold will tear them apart, but also provide the connection to the modern day story.

The casual reader will have an almost impossible time figuring out the puzzle, but it is fun trying. This is one of those rare books I couldn’t wait to return to so that more of the mystery would be revealed. It’s an eye opening account of growing up a different color than white in the south. Things have improved but we still have a long way to go.

You may need a scorecard to keep up with all the character names and the length might scare away emerging readers, but the story is one you will long remember. The themes are ripe for discussion and the end result will be a greater healing of the differences that often divide us in this country.

PUBLICATION DATE: 2018   PAGE COUNT: 352

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT:

THE PARKER INHERITANCE

  1. The two friendships in the story were a touching reminder of the importance in having someone you can lean on.
  2. The back and forth writing in two time periods is a difficult one to pull off.  There is usually a drop off in interest as one story is interrupted by another. Here though, the two tales are woven into one in an intriguing and page turning way.
  3. Although fiction, the book does give you real life events like Brown v. Board of Education and African American tennis player, Althea Gibson, winning her match at Wimbledon.
  4. The puzzle was a fun way to pull in readers. The end result is the real story of intolerance in 1950s America. A time period we should never forget.
  5. The author does a six and half page Q & A in the back of the book—further insights into topics and events in the book. Very revealing!

FAVORITE LINES

She ran her thumb over her grandmother’s handwritten words.
Find the path. Solve the puzzle
What if her grandmother hadn’t made a mistake? What if there was a treasure?
What if her grandmother had put the letter there, on purpose?
For her?

THE OFFICIAL BLURB (From AMAZON)

When Candice finds a letter in an old attic in Lambert, South Carolina, she isn’t sure she should read it. It’s addressed to her grandmother, who left the town in shame. But the letter describes a young woman. An injustice that happened decades ago. A mystery enfolding its writer. And the fortune that awaits the person who solves the puzzle.So with the help of Brandon, the quiet boy across the street, she begins to decipher the clues. The challenge will lead them deep into Lambert’s history, full of ugly deeds, forgotten heroes, and one great love; and deeper into their own families, with their own unspoken secrets. Can they find the fortune and fulfill the letter’s promise before the answers slip into the past yet again? 

 

A QUOTE FROM Varian Johnson

As I wrote The Parker Inheritance, I found myself thinking even more about the power of perception. How it could be a danger to those without power . . . and also how we could manipulate that perception to create a level playing field. What if we dressed in a different way? Talked in a different way? Had different friends? How much of yourself is worth giving up if it allows you a chance to be successful? To live without fear? To survive?

Even after writing the book, I don’t have any real answers. But I hope as others read the novel, they begin to consider their own perceptions. Those in positions of power often see their mistaken viewpoints as mere inconveniences, or as life lessons. But for the powerless, that same misguided viewpoint may very well be the difference between life and death.

(For the full background on the event in the author’s life that became the jump start for The Parker Inheritance, visit Mr. Johnson’s website)

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Make a comment if you have time. I enjoy reading all of them. Click on the comments link below.

Posted in Middle Grade Book Reviews | Tagged , , , | 11 Comments

RUNNING WITH WOLVES

Posted on February 15, 2019 by Greg Pattridge

51nakfqnq9l._sx332_bo1,204,203,200_In this compelling memoir, wildlife experts Jim and Jamie Dutcher, tell their fascinating story of living with a pack of wolves. They trade off narrating their unique experiences with these misunderstood creatures. It’s not a dry retelling of facts, and you come away with an appreciation and respect for wolves.

The story though goes much deeper as we learn about Jim and Jamie’s lives before a chance encounter brought them together. There are stories of how they became enamored with wildlife in their youth. We also get a peek at their careers—Jim as a film maker for National Geographic and Jamie caring for animals at the National Zoo in Washington D.C. Their love of animals goes beyond wolves.

But this unique experiment in Idaho is the the heart of the book. In a large enclosure set up in the majestic Sawtooth Mountains, first Jim and then Jamie begin observing and living with a pack of wolves. The six-year adventure brings a deep understanding for themselves and now young readers. Wolves reputation as savage beasts is forever squashed by their tale.

A black and white picture begins each of the 14 chapters and many will have you smiling or staring at them in awe. An eight page spread of colored pictures show life at wolf camp and a yearbook style look at the over dozen wolves they came to know as family.

Running With Wolves is a book to celebrate and share. Be sure to checkout their website, Living with Wolves, where the mission statement will hopefully bring results:

Living with Wolves is a non-profit organization dedicated to engaging the public worldwide in education, outreach and research to promote truth and understanding about wolves, while encouraging coexistence and inspiring people to take action to protect them.

(I received a copy  of the book for my honest review)

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Coming up this Monday is another edition of…

If you would like to join in the MMGM fun, all you have to do is blog about a middle grade book on a Monday (contests, author interviews, or anything middle grade related also count). 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 please don’t forget to say what book 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 the coming Monday.
Thanks for spreading the middle grade love and for being a part of this awesome tradition begun by Shannon Messenger and carried on here at ALWAYS in the MIDDLE! (CLICK HERE FOR PAST MMGM POSTS)
*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.

 

Posted in Middle Grade Book Reviews, non fiction | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

CYBILS MG Fiction Winners: A Look Back

Posted on February 13, 2019 by Greg Pattridge

The big announcement comes tomorrow with the crowning of the 13th Cybils MG Fiction winner (along with all the other categories). I’ve been involved in the judging the past four years.

I couldn’t name all the previous winners so I put together this graphic. 2006 is in the upper left corner, and if you follow the rows from left to right you’ll end up at 2017’s winner in the lower right corner. It would make a great library of reading for any lover of Middle Grade.

Posted in Awards | Tagged | 2 Comments

MMGM for February 11, 2019

Posted on February 11, 2019 by Greg Pattridge

                   

Happy early Valentine’s Day! Love is in the air for this week’s Marvelous Middle Grade Monday. I have a review of COGHEART by Peter Bunzl. Click on the heart to reach my post and do the same for each of the features and reviews below.
June McCrary Jacobs at ‘Reading, Writing, & Stitch-Metic’ features  a short story collection, Indian Shoes, written by Author Cynthia Leitich Smith, illustrated by Jim Madsen.
Michelle Mason at Musings of a Young Adult Writer stops by again with a review of THE REVENGE OF MAGIC by James Riley.
Welcome to Author Stephanie Robinson at Fairday’s Blog. She will be posting a once a month MG book review. First out of the gate is a feature on the book MUSIC BOXES by Tonja Drecker.
Patricia Tilton at Children’s Books Heal reviews Finding Langston, a coming of age novel by Lesa Cline-Ransome.
Dorine White at The Write Path has Foiled by Carey Fessler. There is also an Author Interview and Giveaway!
Maria Antonia at Of Books, Photography, and Tea reviews One-Third Nerd by Gennifer Choldenko.
CYBILS Middle Grade Fiction Chair, Alex Baugh, joins us this week from The Children’s War with a review of How I Became A Spy by Deborah Hopkinson.
Beth Mitchell at Imaginary Friends reviews a classic—The Giver by Lois Lowry.
Rosi Hollinbeck reviews A LONG LINE OF CAKES by Deborah Wiles. Rosi also has some not to be missed helpful links for writers.
Faith Hough at Life’s An Art! has a review of SWEEP, by Jonathan Auxier.
Suzanne Warr at Tales From The Raven can’t wait to share Inkling by Kenneth Oppel with our MMGM community this week.
Susan Uhlig introduces us to THE TURNING, a magical book about selkies. 
Karen Yingling at Ms. Yingling Reads has another informative MMGM post. Be sure to check out today’s feature and all of her reviews the past week.
If you would like to join in the MMGM fun and get your own spot in the parade, all you have to do is blog about a middle grade book you love on a Monday (contests, author interviews and whatnot also count–but are most definitely not required) and email me the title of the book you’re featuring 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 please don’t forget to say what book 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 the coming Monday.
Thanks for spreading the middle grade love and for being a part of this awesome tradition begun by Shannon Messenger and carried on here at ALWAYS in the MIDDLE! (CLICK HERE FOR PAST MMGM POSTS)
*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.
Posted in MMGM Links | Tagged , | 2 Comments