MMGM for February 4, 2019

Posted on February 4, 2019 by Greg Pattridge

                       

Here at ALWAYS in the MIDDLE I have a review of  RUBY IN THE SKY by Jeanne Zulick Ferruolo. Click on the colored circle to reach my post and do the same for each of the features and reviews below.
Author Fleur Bradley at the YA Sleuth has a review of Song for a Whale by Lynne Kelly. There’s also a GIVEAWAY!
June McCrary Jacobs at ‘Reading, Writing, & Stitch-Metic’ features A Time to Act: John F. Kennedy’s Big Speech, a biography on the 35th President of the United States.
Rosi Hollinbeck reviews  and has a GIVEAWAY of WHISTLING IN THE DARK by Shirley Hughes, a mystery set during World War II. Rosi also posts links every writer will appreciate.
Dorine White at The Write Path has a kick off to Black History Month with Carter Reads the Newspaper.
Patricia Tilton at Children’s Books Heal reviews We Say #Never Again: Reporting by the Parkland Student Journalists. Edited by MSD Teachers,  Melissa Falkowski & Eric Garner.
Maria Antonia features Cool Zone with the Pain and the Great One by Judy Blume.
Andrea Mack at That’s Another Story has the thrilling adventure, Journey of the Pale Bear by Susan Fletcher.
Karen Yingling at Ms. Yingling Reads has another informative MMGM post. Be sure to check out today’s feature on GIRL WITH BRUSH AND CANVAS along with 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

RUBY IN THE SKY

Posted on February 3, 2019 by Greg Pattridge

WELCOME TO ANOTHER MARVELOUS MIDDLE GRADE MONDAY!

The legend of astronaut Michael Collins lives on in middle grade books. Collins was the one who stayed back in the Apollo command module as fellow astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin made the historic first walk on the moon.  He first appeared in 2017’s historical, I Love You, Michael Collins, set in 1969.

A1cd7v-yuDL.jpgRuby in the Sky is set in the present. Ruby and her mom have been on the move since leaving their home in Washington D.C., never staying in one spot long enough to get connected to a new community. Ruby’s father was left behind. The why isn’t revealed until the climatic end. Ruby stays close to him by looking at the moon. It’s what they always did when separated. Vermont is their current spot and before they can  get settled a policeman is at their doorstep.

Told through Ruby’s twelve-year-old perspective, the story is full of heartbreak and engaging characters with their own often hidden pasts. The subplot of Michael Collins comes in as Ruby chooses him to research for an oral report—a frightening event for a girl who likes to stay hidden and silent.

Ruby’s tale will grip you to the end. Her friendships with Abigail, the old lady who lives in a shed, and fellow classmate, Ahmad, give her the strength to make her life right. In the end you just might stare at the moon and smile.

PUBLISHED: February 5, 2019   PAGE COUNT: 304

THE OFFICIAL PLOT (From Amazon)

Twelve-year-old Ruby Moon Hayes does not want her new classmates to ask about her father. She does not want them to know her mother has been arrested. And she definitely does not want to make any friends. Ruby just wants to stay as silent and invisible as a new moon in the frozen sky. She and her mother won’t be staying long in Vermont anyway, and then things can go back to the way they were before everything went wrong.

But keeping to herself isn’t easy when Ahmad Saleem, a Syrian refugee, decides he’s her new best friend. Or when she meets “the Bird Lady,” a recluse named Abigail who lives in a ramshackle shed near Ruby’s house.? Before long Ahmad and Abigail have become Ruby’s friends―and she realizes there is more to their stories than everyone knows.

As ugly rumors begin to swirl around the people Ruby loves, she must make a choice: break her silence, or risk losing everything that’s come to mean so much to her. Ruby in the Sky is a story of the walls we hide behind, and the magic that can happen when we’re brave enough to break free.

laugh2FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT—laugh2

RUBY IN THE SKY by Jeanne Zulick Ferruolo

  1. Ruby, Abigail, and Ahmad’s past come together in a celebration of their differences. It’s nice to have a book where the secondary characters aren’t just there to fill space.
  2. Keeping silent is a common way young people deal with problems and new situations. Ruby plays the part with ease and how she comes out of her shell is the touching basis for the story,
  3. A Vermont town in winter was the perfect setting
  4. Ruby faces real and difficult challenges many kids will find familiar. Themes of friendship, empathy, and healing give us all a connection through the beautifully written words.
  5. The “Ruby Moon” cover is a winner.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR (From Jeanne’s Website)

Jeanne lives in Ellington, Connecticut with her husband, Paul, her children, Andrew and Sophia and a poorly behaved Golden Retriever named Meadow.

Her middle grade novel, Ruby in the Sky has won the SCBWI Work-in-progress Award in the Middle Grade Category (2016), the PEN-New England, Susan Bloom Discovery Award (2016), the Tassy Walden, New Voices in Children’s Literature Award (2015), and the Ruth Landers Glass Scholarship at the spring NE-SCBWI conference (2016). She is currently working on another middle grade novel, The Prisoner’s Daughter, set in communist Czechoslovakia in 1989.

A breast cancer survivor, Jeanne has been a public defender, taught English at the Gymnazium Parovska in Nitra, Slovakia, worked on Capitol Hill and waited tables at an all-night café/bookstore in Washington, D.C.

She is a member of SCBWI and has attended numerous writing conferences, most notably: Rutgers One-on-one Plus, namelos, Patricia Reilly Giff’s Writing Class, Whispering Pines and the Time to Write Retreat.

********************************************

Please comment below.

 (I received an ARC of this title for my honest review)

Posted in Middle Grade Book Reviews | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

TAKING COVER

Posted on February 1, 2019 by Greg Pattridge

This touching memoir begins when fifteen-year-old Nioucha Homayoonfar is lectured and detained 51YzZP+ucFL._SX336_BO1,204,203,200_.jpgby authorities because a small triangle of her neck is showing. The place is Tehran. The year, 1986.

The story shifts back to 1979 and the Iranian revolution, three years after Niocha and her family had moved from Pittsburgh to Iran. Baba—Father—wanted to be closer to his family. What comes next is a series of memories as Nioucha reminisces about life leading up to the scary ordeal detailed in chapter one.

Heartwarming at times but also brutal, you’ll be saddened at many of the struggles this family is put through. Eight pages of colored pictures fill the middle part of the book and attach yourself even more to Nioucha and her family You’ll get a deep understanding of life for those caught in a system of government that young Nioucha always questions. Use it to elicit discussion and comparison to the plight of many in today’s world.

Taking Cover(ages 12+) by Nioucha Homayoonfar, forward by New York Times best-selling author of Funny in Farsi, Firoozeh Dumas

In the mid 1970’s Nioucha Homayoonfar’s French mother and Iranian father made a decision that would change her life forever. At the age of five, Nioucha and her parents moved from Pittsburgh to her father’s homeland of Iran, at the time a modern, bustling country where people from different religions co-existed peacefully and women and men alike pursued the highest level of education and professional opportunities. A new school, new language, and new friends took some time to get used to.  But none of that compared to the changes that Nioucha experienced during and after the Iranian revolution of 1979. Once the Ayatollah took control, full robes and head scarves were required, religion classes became mandatory and boys were no longer allowed to interact with girls.  Her life continued to be filled with family, friends, pop music and even her first boyfriend (although both the music and the boyfriend were strictly prohibited), but Tehran had become barely recognizable as bombs were dropped on her neighborhood, loved ones and even Nioucha herself were kidnapped, acquaintances were executed and day by day, their freedom was chipped away.     Publishing in time for the 40th anniversary of the Iranian revolution, Taking Cover reveals the extraordinary story of Nioucha’s struggle to adjust, to understand and to figure out her place in the world while unrest and oppression swirled around her.  Additionally, this title is a unique blend of coming-of-age storytelling and history. Coupled with a thought-provoking forward by New York Times best-selling author Firoozeh Dumas (Funny in Farsi) Taking Cover encourages readers to take a deeper look at the importance of protecting religious, political, and social freedoms while Nioucha’s vivid descriptions of Iranian life — the food, the smells, and its customs — exposes readers to a country and culture rarely written about.

***************************************************

Coming up next week is another edition of MARVELOUS MIDDLE GRADE MONDAY.
If you would like to join in the MMGM fun, 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.
Thank you so much for being a part of this awesome tradition begun by Shannon Messenger and for spreading the middle grade love!
*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 | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

MIDDLE GRADE in the NEWS: 1/30/19

Posted on January 30, 2019 by Greg Pattridge

Here are a few news and special feature articles I’ve enjoyed recently:INTHE NEWS

  1. Gay characters in MG books are few and far between.  THE WHISPERS by Greg Howard, is getting a lot of interest, initially in a bidding war from publishers and now through gatekeeper readers: librarians, teachers and parents. This interview with the author delves into the reasons for the story and its journey to the shelf.
  2. Congratulations to Meg Medina on winning the Newbery for Merci Suárez Changes Gears (I was surprised the book wasn’t among the finalists for the CYBILS). Read how she reacted when hearing the news in this article from Publisher’s Weekly.
  3. A shout-out to the Colorado Book and Arts Festival happening March 16th. An impressive lineup of authors (including 13 middle grader writers) will be present during the four hours. Stop on by if you are in the area that day. You can’t beat the price: $15!

That’s all for now. I’ll be back Friday with a review of TAKING COVER.

Posted in Middle Grade News | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

MMGM for January 28, 2019

Posted on January 28, 2019 by Greg Pattridge

                    

Tomorrow is National Puzzle Day, but there’s nothing puzzling about the wide variety of reviews and features here today. Click the puzzle pieces to reach my review of THOMAS WILDUS AND THE BOOK OF SORROWS by J.M. Bergen, and the Rubik’s Cube for all the other sites below.
Author Susan Uhlig is featuring INKLING by Kenneth Oppel, a story with an unusual character.
June McCrary Jacobs at ‘Reading, Writing, & Stitch-Metic’ honors the centennial anniversary of Jackie Robinson’s birth on January 31st, 1919. The book is a biography entitled, ‘Jackie Robinson: American Hero‘.
Dorine White at The Write Path returns with a review of The Light by Robert Jones.
Natalie Aguirre at Literary Rambles has an interview with debut author Jeanne Zulick Ferruolo and a giveaway of her MG contemporary Ruby in the Sky.
Faith Hough at Life’s An Art! has a potential future Newbery winner. Discover why with her review of Gary D. Schmidt’s Pay Attention, Carter Jones.
Michael Gettel-Gilmartin at Middle Grade Mafioso has a lot to say about THE FRIENDSHIP WAR.
Patricia Tilton at Children’s Books Heal shares Survival Tails: Endurance in Antarctica by Katrina Charman, an action-packed animal adventure about an expedition to Antarctica told from the dogs POV.
Maria Antonia has Ramona and her Father by Beverly Cleary (winner of the Newbery Honor in 1978), part of Maria’s blog series on Newbery books.
Kara Armstrong at Scribbles of an Aspiring Writer returns with a review of an upper middle grade book—Cinder, by Marissa Meyer.
Rosi Hollinbeck reviews MOON SHADOW by Erin Downing. Be sure to also click on her helpful links for writers.
Karen Yingling at Ms. Yingling Reads always has an 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 , | 1 Comment

THOMAS WILDUS AND THE BOOK OF SORROWS

Posted on January 27, 2019 by Greg Pattridge

This new fantasy series has a familiar plot line of a boy discovering his magical abilities but with plenty of surprising twists. We first meet twelve-year-old Thomas Wildus as a loving son going to school and spending Thomas-Wildus-And-The-Book-Of-Sorrows-Main-File (10.10.18).jpgtime with his mom and a best friend, Enrique. Then he wanders into a book store and is given a copy of The Book Of Sorrows to read. His concept of who he is and the world around him begin to change.

Memories of his father’s final words seven years prior have renewed meaning… “Magic is real Thomas. No matter what happens, always remember that magic is real.” He’s never been able to find evidence of those words until now. It’s a journey that takes him from California to places around the globe, giving him insights into his own talents and heritage.

Told in third person, the storytelling stays close to Thomas. The focus is on good versus evil and figuring out which side is which. The page turning climax reveals the answer and will have you wanting to read more about Thomas. Thankfully, the wait won’t be long with the soon to be release of Thomas Wildus and the Wizard of Sumeria, book 2 in the series.

Until then you’ll find this story weaves our modern world perfectly with ancient magic, giving readers an adventurous ride with plenty of memorable characters.

PUBLICATION DATE: 2019   PAGE COUNT: 364

THE OFFICIAL BLURB (From AMAZON)

Thomas thinks he’s an ordinary twelve year old, but when a strange little man with gold-flecked eyes gives him an ancient text called The Book of Sorrows, the world he knows is turned upside down. Suddenly he’s faced with a secret family legacy, powers he can hardly begin to understand, and an enemy bent on destroying everything he holds dear. The more he reads and discovers, the deeper the danger to himself and the people he loves. As the race to the final showdown unfolds, Thomas must turn to trusted friends and uncertain allies as he seeks to prevent destruction at an epic scale.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT:

THOMAS WILDUS AND THE BOOK OF SORROWS

  1. Thomas shines as the main character. His interests are typical for a twelve year old, including a first crush. You’ll find yourself attached to this kid with his changing mood and emotions.
  2. Enrique makes a nice secondary character. His family situation is different from Thomas and their connection was one of those surprising twists.
  3. The different types of magic are a fun part of the story. I need the same ability, especially after I’ve forgotten something from home!
  4. Short excerpts of The Book of Sorrow, the book Thomas is asked to read, are shared The old English is not easy reading, but there is enough after thought thrown to help one’s comprehension. You haveth been warneth.
  5. The elements I look for in a fantasy read are all here: enduring characters, new worlds explored, and an exciting story.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR (From J.M. Bergen’s website)

Once upon a time, in a galaxy far far away…
J.M. Bergen graduated from the University of Arizona with a degree in creative writing, a minor in business, and a head full of dreams.Over the years his writing has appeared in a variety of publications under a variety of pen names, and though his favorite stories feature magic and adventure, his best-known work to date has been non-fiction. J.M.’s debut series originally started as a bedtime story for his oldest son. The story turned into a saga, and one book turned into five.

The first book in the series, Thomas Wildus and The Book of Sorrows, is scheduled for release in February 2019. The second, Thomas Wildus and The Wizard of Sumeria, will be published in late 2019, with the remainder of the series released before the end of 2021.

When J.M. isn’t working on the Thomas Wildus books, you can find him playing with his kids, napping, or dreaming up new adventures. If you ever meet him and can’t think of anything to talk about, you might ask about Herman the Shark, the Kai and Eli stories, or why Riddle-Master by Patricia McKillip is his all-time favorite book. Or maybe, just maybe, you’ll have questions and stories of your own (if you do, he’ll think that’s far more interesting).

********************************************************************

I was given an ARC for an honest review.

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

Posted in Middle Grade Book Reviews | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

CAPTAIN ROSALIE

Posted on January 25, 2019 by Greg Pattridge

CAPTAINROSALIE.jpgThis sweet but sad tale is set during World War I. In just 60 pages, you learn how Rosalie is dealing with her father’s absence. He’s a soldier away on duty. She sits in back of the classroom and plans her own mission. Meanwhile, her mother works long hours to support the war efforts. The consequences are great for both of them.

Told in first person through Rosalie’s eyes, the text is frequently broken up with charming illustrations that give deeper meaning to the story. Read it to yourself or as a read aloud. The tale brings understanding to those who have never had a loved one fighting for a cause in a far away place.

Captain Rosalie is a beautiful effort and a book you will want to share.

THE OFFICIAL WORD

While her father is at war, five-year-old Rosalie is a captain on her own secret mission. She wears the disguise of a little girl and tracks her progress in a secret notebook. Some evenings, Rosalie’s mother reads aloud Father’s letters from the front lines, so that Rosalie knows he is thinking of her and looking forward to the end of the war and to finally coming home. But one day a letter comes that her mother doesn’t read to her, and Rosalie knows her mission must soon come to an end. Author Timothée de Fombelle reveals the true consequence of war through the experiences of small, determined Rosalie, while acclaimed artist Isabelle Arsenault illustrates Rosalie’s story in muted grays marked with soft spots of color — the orange flame of Rosalie’s hair, the pale pink of a scarf, the deep blue ink of her father’s letters. All the more captivating for the simplicity with which it is drawn and told, this quiet tale will stay with the reader long after its last page is turned.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Timothee de Fombelle was born in the heart of Paris in 1973, but often accompanied his architect father on his travels to Africa. Each summer his family left for the countryside (the west of France), where the five brothers and sisters lived like wild horses, making huts in the trees, playing in the river and losing themselves in the woods. In the evening they performed plays for their parents and devoured the books in the library. Childhood remains for him the lost paradise which he re-discovers through writing.

After becoming a literature teacher, Timothee taught in Paris and Vietnam before choosing the bohemian life of the theatre. Author of a dozen plays, he writes, designs, builds sets and directs the actress he admires the most, his wife Laetitia. They have a young daughter, Jeanne Elisha, who already loves climbing trees. Toby Alone was his first novel and has been translated into 22 languages. He has since written its sequel, Toby Alone and the Secrets of the Tree, and the Vango series.

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR

Isabelle Arsenault is an internationally renowned children’s book illustrator whose work has won many awards and much praise from critics. Her books include the graphic novels Jane, the Fox and Me and Louis Undercover by Fanny Britt, Spork and Virginia Wolf by Kyo Maclear, Cloth Lullaby by Amy Novesky (Bologna Ragazzi Award 2017) and Colette’s Lost Pet, which marks her debut as an author. She has won the prestigious Governor General’s Award for Children’s Literature three times, and two of her picture books were named as New York Times Best Illustrated Books of the Year. The poetry expressed through Isabelle Arsenault’s graphic universe, the gentle flow of her lines and the overall charm of her books have made her one of Quebec’s best-known and esteemed illustrators.

____________________________________________________________

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 | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

MMGM for January 21, 2019

Posted on January 21, 2019 by Greg Pattridge

            

ALWAYS in the MIDDLE has a review of THE FRIENDSHIP WAR by Andrew Clements. Click the MLK graphic on the left to reach the review and do the same for each of the other sites below.
June McCrary Jacobs at ‘Reading, Writing, & Stitch-Metic’ has a another intriguing S.T.E.A.M. book, ‘Low-Mess Crafts for Kids’.
Suzanne Warr at Tales from the Raven turns the spotlight on a half dozen 2019 MG debuts who participated in the recent #MGlitchat.
Completely Full Bookshelf sneaks back to the past and recommends Matilda by Roald Dahl.
Patricia Tilton at Children’s Books Heal reviews Mangoes, Mischief, and Tales of Friendship by Chitra Soundar, a book  inspired by traditional Indian folklore.
Beth Mitchell at Imaginary Friends has a review of 24 Hours in Nowhere by Dusti Bowling
Faith Hough at Life’s An Art! is back with another review—The Faithful Spy, by John Hendrix.
A big MMGM welcome to Maria Antonia who compares two books about Hurricane Katrina: Finding Someplace by Denise Lewis Patrick followed by Zane and the Hurricane by Rodman Philbrick.
Andrea Mack at That’s Another Story takes a look at Eliza Bing is (Not) a Star by Carmella Van Vleet.
Rosi Hollinbeck reviews NO FIXED ADDRESS by Susin Nielsen.  Be sure to also click on her links for writers as they’re always helpful.
Michael Gettel-Gilmartin at Middle Grade Mafioso is featuring BOW WOW by Spencer Quinn.
Karen Yingling at Ms. Yingling Reads always has an 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 , | 1 Comment

THE FRIENDSHIP WAR

Posted on January 20, 2019 by Greg Pattridge

IT’S ANOTHER MARVELOUS MIDDLE GRADE MONDAY REVIEW!

A welcome feeling surrounds me every time I open a new Andrew Clements book. He has over 80 published so far. Most are about school and have a unique twist on life inside those walls.81x7EGJFMTL.jpg

Sixth grader Grace narrates the newest story. She has an emerging scientific mind and loves to test out theories. Her best friend is a “do it my way or no way” type of personality and their friendship ends thanks to buttons—the kind on your clothes.

At first I thought how improbable, but then it all makes sense. Fads come and go like Pokemon cards, fidget spinners, and even marbles back in the day. Why not button collections? They actually have a fascinating history and I found myself checking out the buttons in my own closet.

Grace gets boxes of buttons from her grandpa who is still grieving the loss of his wife. She brings a few to school and soon everyone is collecting and trading for the best ones. Kids create bracelets and belts all in good fun. Grace makes predictions as to how her actions will fuel the button fad. What she can’t predict or fix is the breakup with her best friend. Leave it to new friend Hank and a different view of friendship to hopefully bring this war to an end.

Clements’s books can be light in nature, but always have a few tough issues buried inside. The length makes a perfect friend to those looking for the old style of MG books that were around 200 pages. You also get an entertaining story.

PUBLICATION DATE: 2019   PAGE COUNT: 208

FULL PLOT (From AMAZON)

Grace and Ellie have been best friends since second grade. Ellie’s always right in the center of everything–and Grace is usually happy to be Ellie’s sidekick. But what happens when everything changes? This time it’s Grace who suddenly has everyone’s attention when she accidentally starts a new fad at school. It’s a fad that has first her class, then her grade, and then the entire school collecting and trading and even fighting over . . . buttons?! A fad that might also get her in major trouble and could even be the end of Grace and Ellie’s friendship. Because Ellie’s not used to being one-upped by anybody. There’s only one thing for Grace to do. With the help of Hank–the biggest button collector in the sixth grade–she will have to figure out a way to end the fad once and for all. But once a fad starts, can it be stopped?

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: THE FRIENDSHIP WAR by Andrew Clements

  1. The relationship between Grace and her grandfather is special. It’s all about supporting one another and the results are heartwarming.
  2. Who knew there was so much history surrounding buttons? The ones you find each have a story and many are valuable.
  3. Hank is the perfect friend. He always wants to know why and his scenes with Grace were my favorite.
  4. Hurray for a story that doesn’t have a dozen issues crashing down on the MC. There’s also no divorce—just a loving family taking care of their kids.
  5. Emerging readers or those who haven’t quite caught on to the joys of reading can start here with a easy to understand story that forces you to think.

AUTHOR BEGINNINGS

I was born in Camden, New Jersey in 1949 and lived in Oaklyn and Cherry Hill until the middle of sixth grade. Then we moved to Springfield, Illinois. My parents were avid readers and they gave that love of books and reading to me and to all my brothers and sisters. I didn’t think about being a writer at all back then, but I did love to read. I’m certain there’s a link between reading good books and becoming a writer. I don’t know a single writer who wasn’t a reader first. Before moving to Illinois, and even afterwards, our family spent summers at a cabin on a lake in Maine. There was no TV there, no phone, no doorbell—and email wasn’t even invented. All day there was time to swim and fish and mess around outside, and every night, there was time to read. I know those quiet summers helped me begin to think like a writer. (Read more at Andrew’s author website)

##########################

I received a copy of the book for my honest review. Make a comment if you have time. I enjoy reading all of them.

Posted in Middle Grade Book Reviews | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

LOST IN THE ANTARCTIC

Posted on January 18, 2019 by Greg Pattridge

lost low res cover

Tod Olson continues his well-researched ‘Lost’ series with Lost in the Antarctic. Previous exciting reads include Lost in the Pacific, 1942; Lost in Outer Space; and Lost in the Amazon.

This current effort is a riveting account of Ernest Shackleton’s attempt to cross the Antarctic continent. He led 28 men on an ship called Endurance, hoping it could break through the icy waters. What results is a life threatening ordeal for each and every man aboard. The story comes together thanks in part to journals many of them kept to record their thoughts.

Beginning with THE LAST GREAT JOURNEY and ending with  LAST STAND, fourteen chapters take readers through the drama of trying to stay alive. Food is dwindling and living conditions are at their worst. Who could survive such horrid conditions? You’ll be pulling for them to make it home safely, but also question the thinking behind trying such a difficult expedition in the first place. They did it because they were explorers, wanting nothing more than to do something no one else had done.

Black and white pictures support the text and show aspects of the journey that will have you shaking your head. The outcome for Lost in the Antarctic is a thrilling ride and a great way to learn about an event through the eyes of those who experienced it.

THE OFFICIAL BACKGROUND from Scholastic

There wasn’t a thing Ernest Shackleton could do. He stood on the ice-bound Weddell Sea, watching the giant blocks of frozen saltwater squeeze his ship to death. The ship’s name seemed ironic now: the Endurance. But she had lasted nine months in this condition, stuck on the ice in the frigid Antarctic winter. So had Shackleton and his crew of 28 men, trying to become the first expedition ever to cross the entire continent.

Now, in October 1915, as he watched his ship break into pieces, Shackleton gave up on that goal. He ordered his men to abandon ship. From here on, their new goal would be to focus on only one thing: survival.

Filled with incredible photographs that survived the doomed voyage of the Endurance, Lost in the Antarctic retells one of the greatest adventure and exploration stories of all time.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

tod olson photoTod Olson is the author of the historical fiction series How to Get Rich and the four books in the Lost series–Lost in the Pacific, 1942; Lost in Outer Space;  Lost in the Amazon; and Lost in the Antarctic. He has written for national magazines on the Columbine school shooting, homeless teens, the murder of Matthew Shepard, and many other stories of interest to children and young adults. Tod holds an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts and lives in Vermont with his family, his mountain bike, and his electric reclining chair. To learn more, and to download free teaching resources, visit his website: todolson.com.

#########################

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 , , | 3 Comments