REFUGEE for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on December 17, 2017 by Greg Pattridge

Thanks to Patricia Tilton at Children’s Books Heal for recommending this one several months ago. It took a long time to reach the top of my to read pile but the wait was worth the time spent turning the pages.

I immersed myself into three stories of families fleeing dictatorship for a better life. Told in third person, it stays close to the young main characters, each from a different time: Josef in 1930’s Nazi Germany; Isabel in 1994 Cuba; and Mahmoud in 2015 Syria. Their tales of escape are told in alternating chapters.  In many ways the sad stories were hard to read. No family in this world should have to endure the suffering that took place on these pages.

What it does do is provide empathy for the seemingly endless refugee crisis. The writing here is crisp and tension filled and although the young characters are fiction, the facts surrounding their terror are real. Historical fiction should bring to light a different time period so readers can learn. It’s accomplished at the highest level here and won’t be a book you’ll soon forget.

PUBLICATION DATE: 2017   PAGE COUNT: 352

From SCHOLASTIC PRESS: … All three kids go on harrowing journeys in search of refuge. All will face unimaginable dangers — from drownings to bombings to betrayals. But there is always the hope of tomorrow. And although Josef, Isabel, and Mahmoud are separated by continents and decades, shocking connections will tie their stories together in the end.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: REFUGEE

  1. The stories told here would be a fantastic discussion springboard for upper middle grade on up through high school. Younger readers should be cautioned of the violence and death portrayed on the pages before they even think about reading this one.
  2. The unfolding of events in each time period will challenge your thinking. The refugee crisis will continue to have more chapters unfold and finding a solution should be a top priority of our leaders. History shows sending them back is not the right answer.
  3. Cell phones come into play for Mahmoud and his family. A technology I hadn’t even connected in helping with a refugees path to freedom.
  4. The cover depicts the danger ahead and the feeling of isolation each of the characters face. A perfect visual.
  5. I appreciated the short chapters. Teachers often don’t have 20 minutes to read a full chapter out loud with the length of many MG books. Small doses followed by discussion will lead to better understanding.

FAVORITE LINES: Although not a line from the story, this comes from the Author’s Notes after describing what we can do to help the refuge situation:

I will be donating a portion of my proceeds from the sale of this book to UNICEF, to support their relief efforts with refugee children around the world.

Alan Gratz

AUTHOR QUOTE:
I was an eighth grade English teacher before I was a full-time writer, so I suspect that’s what I would be doing. My dream job, outside of writing novels? Game show host. I also wish I could draw comics.  (See more at Alan’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.

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HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC KIDS

Posted on December 15, 2017 by Greg Pattridge

YIKES! We’re down to just 10 shopping days until Christmas. No need to panic with these last minute gifts from the talented folks at NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC KIDS. First up is a fun page-turner:

Weird But True! Christmas: 300 Festive Facts to Light Up the Holidays — (ages 8-12, 208pages) The PERFECT stocking stuffer! Ready for some totally festive facts? Even Christmas can be weird — it’s true! Did you know that Santa’s reindeer are probably all female? Or that artificial snow can be made from seaweed? Or that “Jingle Bells” was the first Christmas carol sung in space? Every kid will ho ho ho when they unwrap this book that is chocked full of the most random and fascinating facts about their most favorite holiday.

Filled with colorful pictures and some pretty weird facts from all over the world, the handy size (6.5 inches x 6.5 inches) would be perfect for the long ride to grandma’s house. I was either shaking my head or laughing at the strange facts surrounding one of our most beloved holidays. This will become one of your favorite go to books every December.

Keep the holidays merry and bright with a dose of laughter in my second recommendation:

 Just Joking Jumbo — (ages 7-10, 288 pages)  What do you get when you have 1,000 giant jokes and 1,000 funny photos?  A stocking stuffer that adds up to some seriously big laughs! If you have a budding stand up comedian on your list this year – this is the perfect book for them.  Knock-knocks, puns, riddles, tongue-twisters, photos of silly situations and even the craziest info about the history of funny business – it’s all here!

Most so-called joke books have pages of jokes spread out in text form. Not so here. Arranged in ten chapters from Far-out Space Silliness to Jokes You Can Count On, the pages are colorful and the pictures give it a whole new level of hilarity. There’s even some animal facts thrown is as some of our most endearing creatures on earth deliver the knock-knock jokes.

You’ll groan at some of the jokes, LOL at many others, but you’ll keep coming back for more. This one is great for road trips or holiday flights to the relatives. It could very well be the gift the kids go to first after all the packages are open.

Great holiday gift #3:

Bet You Didn’t Know: Fascinating, Far-Out, Fun-tastic Facts – (ages 8-12, 192 pages) “…the whole outing is really tailor-made for dipping and flipping at random….A bodacious wellspring of random knowledge.”— Starred review, Kirkus Reviews. BIG, packed with gorgeous photos and illustrations and guaranteed to keep kids occupied for hours and hours, Bet You Didn’t Know is the perfect holiday gift for the fact-lover or for your kid’s favorite teacher’s classroom. Did you know that the first stop signs were black and white? Or that a litter of kittens is called a kindle? Or that butterflies can see more colors than humans can?  Based on a favorite department in Nat Geo Kids magazine, this book is overflowing with fascinating facts, silly stats, and catchy little knowledge nuggets in all kinds of cool categories, from astronomy and sea creatures to revolutions and breakfast. Special features include Extreme Weirdness, Strange Places, Wacky World, and more.

The team of writers, editors, photo editors, and designers make a bold statement in the back of this impressive collection of facts: They call themselves the greatest book team around! I’d have to agree.

More than 80 categories of facts are put forth with bold photos and descriptions in never boring layouts. You’ll be turning the pages and the massive book to get a look at all the fun facts. Most of the categories have ten facts arranged across a two-page spread, but there are also sidelights into strange places like the “Ice” Castle, a Stone City, and a City in the Sky.

This one is great for the classroom, on the coffee table, or in the back seat of the car. It’s 2.6 pounds of facts you can’t stop reading—and that’s a fact! Don’t miss out!

And the final holiday selection brought me to a quick realization that I don’t know as much as I thought about dinosaurs:

Ultimate Dinopedia – (ages 7-10, 296 pages) Attention dinosaur fanatics! This is a big, gift-worthy hardcover that is also the most complete and comprehensive dinosaur reference ever. Although these amazing creatures roamed the Earth ages ago, new dinosaur discoveries are still being made today.  The new edition includes favorites, like the fierce T-rex and the gentle Brontosaurus, plus audacious new finds, like the Anzu, Kosmoceratops, and Yi. Every dino profile is colorfully illustrated and features descriptions of when they roamed the Earth, how they lived, what they ate, and more. There are more than 600 dinos featured in all, including 10 profiles of recently discovered dinosaurs and new entries in the Dino Dictionary. Reports from paleontologists present the latest news and insights from the field.

Ultimate is the perfect word to describe this dino-sized reference book. It opens with DISCOVERING DINOSAURS and it had me enthralled from the start. Featuring more than 20 sections devoted to the life of a dinosaur from beginning to the end. The DINOSAUR FAMILY TREE was especially helpful to prepare me for the learning that makes up most of the ‘pedia.

Part two and three take a look at the dinosaurs in two different groups: The Ornithischians (bird-hipped dinosaurs) and Saurischians (Lizard-hipped dinosaurs). In all there are more than 80 two-page spreads with a stunning illustrations. A fact box, pronunciation guide, and a nifty 1-3 paragraph description accompany the image. An example is  the YANGCHUANOSAURUS, one of the biggest terrors of its time at 36 feet and may have weighed 4,000 pounds!

The final part is a complete dino-dictionary. At your fingertips is an alphabetical guide to the important information on over 600 dinosaurs. A fantastic achievement by itself.

School libraries, dinosaur loving kids, and science teachers will find the DINOPEDIA a source they can’t be without. It makes a great gift, too.

Coming up next week is another 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.

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MMGM for 12/11/17

Posted on December 11, 2017 by Greg Pattridge

It’s That Holiday Season!

The LINKS for December 11, 2017

(Click on an ornament to take you to their site)
Welcome to another great set of links. Below are my thoughts on MAGNUS CHASE and the GODS of ASGARD: THE SHIP OF THE DEAD by Rick Riordan (Also linked via the blue ornament).
Ashlyn Avery from WHAT SHALL WE READ NEXT? joins the MMGM holiday walkway this week with a review of The Maze Runner by James Dashner.
Melissa Roske has an interview with Beth McMullen, author of the MG debut, MRS. SMITH’S SPY SCHOOL FOR GIRLS.
Patricia Tilton at Children’s Books Heal is reviewing The Castle in the Mist by Amy Ephron
Rosi Hollinbeck at The Write Stuff is reviewing and giving away Welcome to Wonderland #2: Beach Party Surf Monkey.
Iron Guy Carl at Boys Rule! Boys Read! has a great selection of books he’d like to see checked out more. Right now they are relegated to the Island of Semi-Neglected Books. Take a trip over and see if you agree.
Zoie at Whisked Away By Words is featuring this week The Fog by Kyo Maclear and Kenard Pak.
COMPLETELY FULL BOOKSHELF has a fun post discussing new and upcoming books written by authors of books previously recommended.
Author Dorine White at The Write Path has a review of Wormwood Mire.
Suzanne Warr at TALES FROM THE RAVEN returns this week. She  has an interview with The Art of the Swap author Kristine Asselin, and also includes the names of the winners of her holiday giveaway!
JustinTalksBooks is back with a review of Lawless by Jeffery Salane.
The Middle Grade Mafioso is featuring a review of THE CHILDREN OF REFUGE by Margaret Peterson Haddix.
Karen Yingling always has some awesome MMGM Picks. Be sure to check out her book choice today along with her other reviews from the past week.
If you would like to join in the MMGM fun and get your own spot on the walkway, 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!
*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

MAGNUS CHASE and the GODS of ASGARD: THE SHIP OF THE DEAD

Posted on December 10, 2017 by Greg Pattridge

It’s MARVELOUS MIDDLE GRADE MONDAY!

We come to the final book in this epic North Mythology series. Magnus is 16 and I would have put his character solidly in the YA category. But rules are made to be broken and Chase’s thoughts and actions seem more like a 12-year-old at times plus his hilarious narration keeps the story flowing with laugh out loud moments. I can understand the decision to market this toward the 10-14 year old age group (The story also picked up the honor of 2017’s best MG book from Goodreads)

This is a completely separate adventure from books one and two. If you haven’t read the those and dive into THE SHIP OF THE DEAD, you might feel a little lost at first but references to the past fill in the holes. There’s also a twelve page glossary and pronunciation guide in the back that you’ll be referring to often. World building at its finest.

Chase and his band of friends include dwarfs, elves, hand maidens, and a talking sword. Add in a few sons and daughters of the gods and he’s ready to sail. Their adventure takes them to a far away land to stop Loki, the god of mischief, magic, and artifice. It’s a difficult journey fighting off evil along the way. In the end Chase must face the evil Loki in a battle—not with weapons but with words of insult. Whoever makes the other person feel smaller with carefully timed  zingers will win. Although Loki’s crew of giants will take much more to conquer than put downs.

There’s diversity, action, and even one character, Alex, who is fluid-gender—and can be a male or female depending on the situation. Despite their differences these seven brave souls get along and support each other. Something this world needs a lot more of these days.

This is epic in size, but it’s just what fantasy lovers crave.

PUBLICATION DATE: 2017   PAGE COUNT: 432

FULL PLOT (from Amazon)

Magnus Chase, a once-homeless teen, is a resident of the Hotel Valhalla and one of Odin’s chosen warriors. As the son of Frey, the god of summer, fertility, and health, Magnus isn’t naturally inclined to fighting. But he has strong and steadfast friends, including Hearthstone the elf, Blitzen the dwarf, and Samirah the Valkyrie, and together they have achieved brave deeds, such as defeating Fenris Wolf and battling giants for Thor’s hammer, Mjolnir. Now Magnus faces his most dangerous trial yet. His cousin, Annabeth, recruits her boyfriend, Percy Jackson, to give Magnus some pointers, but will his training be enough?

Loki is free from his chains. He’s readying Naglfar, the Ship of the Dead, complete with a host of giants and zombies, to sail against the Asgardian gods and begin the final battle of Ragnarok. It’s up to Magnus and his friends to stop him, but to do so they will have to sail across the oceans of Midgard, Jotunheim, and Niflheim in a desperate race to reach Naglfar before it’s ready to sail. Along the way, they will face angry sea gods, hostile giants, and an evil fire-breathing dragon. Magnus’s biggest challenge will be facing his own inner demons. Does he have what it takes to outwit the wily trickster god?

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT:

MAGNUS CHASE AND THE GODS OF ASGARD:

THE SHIP OF THE DEAD

  1. The characters are a breath of fresh air, each with their own problems but coming together to work as a team. Their skin color, religion, or how they got to this point is insignificant in their little group.
  2. Magnus Chase has many insecurities and its a joy to follow how he covers himself. He’s supposed to be hero but his actions often say otherwise. Kids will see themselves in many of the scenes. Kind and caring, my aunt would say What a sweet boy!
  3. Magnus has a crush and the romance is portrayed in a cute, lighthearted way. His feelings are confused and its spot on to how most would deal with this new liking.
  4. The series is over but you never know. There’s a tiny opening at the end that leads to the possibility we’ll see more of Magnus Chase.
  5. The ending had me cheering for all that is right in this mythical world in hopes some of it will rub off in our real one.

A SAMPLE OF CHASE MAGNUS SPEAK: 

Our host/captor, the frothy-daddy giant guy, stood before us, his arms crossed, his brow knit. He was now only twice as tall as a human. The cuffs of his army-green skinny jeans were turned up over pointy black boots. His suit vest was buttoned over a white dress shirt, the sleeves pushed back to show lots of swirling runic tattoos on his forearms. With his panama hat and his gold-rimmed glasses, he looked like an agitated Whole Foods shopper, stuck in the express line behind a bunch of people with too many items, when all he wanted to do was purchase his macrobiotic smoothie and leave.

A FEW WORDS FROM Rick Riordan

Normally it takes me one full year to write each book. I’m trying my best to speed that up, but it’s a slow process to make a book and get it right. Readers will always be able to read faster than I can write. Believe me, I want the books to be done as much as you do. I’m not keeping any complete manuscripts locked up on my computer just to be mean. If the book isn’t out yet, that’s because it isn’t done yet! (For more visit Rick’s website)

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EVOLUTION—HOW LIFE ADAPTS TO A CHANGING ENVIRONMENT

Posted on December 8, 2017 by Greg Pattridge

This science title will have STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) fans cheering. Filled with interesting facts, essential questions, and interactive projects, EVOLUTION is a must have for classrooms and home. Here’s the official blurb from Nomad Press:

Why do humans walk on two legs? Why do fish have gills? Life on Earth is incredibly diverse and part of the reason for this is evolution, or the theory that living things change with time. Evolution: How Life Adapts to a Changing Environment explores the theory of evolution, its history, how we think it works, examples of creatures who have evolved in response to specific circumstances, and what this might mean for the future of our planet.

  • This nonfiction title for students ages 9 to 12 offers an introduction to evolution and the concept that every living species evolves to adapt to the changing environment.
  • This book invites readers to think in terms of geological time, which is useful when considering the earth as an ecosystem that has survived for millennia.

What I loved about EVOLUTION…

  1. Yes, there’s a glossary in the back, but I often find students getting frustrated with the back and forth of defining a word. Problem solved as a box called WORDS TO KNOW turns up frequently and pulls the definition from the glossary and puts it on the page you are reading.
  2. Just because this title is for 9-12 year olds, the subject is not given light treatment. Terms like DNA replication, homologous character, and mutualistic coevolution are just a few of the topics explored in easy to understand ways. With examples from real life even my brain learned new things.
  3. Primary sources are easily attained via the QR codes or through a list of URLs on the resource page.
  4. Photos and drawings accompany each chapter and give our visual generation exactly what they crave.
  5. The focus stays away from debates as to how we got here and instead looks at how we’ve changed from cave man days to today and how we will continue to change in the future.
  6. The variety of projects can be done with few materials, either at school or as a scientific homework assignment.
  7. A page of questions for teachers to use can be accessed at this site. There you will find questions to ask before , during, and after reading.
  8. Science work in the field is often highlighted as will the realization for kids that there are some very interesting careers connected with evolution.

A timeline of evolution studies begins the book and six chapters follow:

CHAPTER 1: How Does Evolution Work?

CHAPTER 2: Species and Speciation

CHAPTER 3: Classification and the Tree of Life

CHAPTER 4: Evidence for Evolution

CHAPTER 5: Human Evolution

CHAPTER 6: Why Does Evolution Matter?

Recommend this title for your child’s school or pick up a copy for home.

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Coming up next Monday is:

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 non fiction, Reviews | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

MMGM for 12/4/17

Posted on December 4, 2017 by Greg Pattridge

It’s That Holiday Season!

The LINKS for December 4, 2017

(Click on an ornament to take you to their site)
Happy December! Below are my thoughts on THE SEARCH OF THE LOST PROPHECY by William Meyer (Also linked via the blue ornament).
Completely Full Bookshelf is giving away several signed MG and YA books as part of the Holiday Signed Book Extravaganza!
Patricia Tilton at Children’s Books Heal has a review of a MG piece of historical fiction, Genevieve’s War by Patricia Reilly Giff.
Rosi Hollinbeck at The Write Stuff is reviewing and giving away Secret Sheriff of Sixth Grade.
Melissa Roske has an interview with Celia C. Perez, author of the MG debut, THE FIRST RULE OF PUNK.
Dorine White at THE WRITE PATH has a review of The Emperor’s Riddle.
Karen Yingling always has some awesome MMGM Picks. Be sure to check out her book choice today along with her other reviews from the past week.
If you would like to join in the MMGM fun and get your own star on the walkway, 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!
*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 SEARCH FOR THE LOST PROPHECY for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on December 3, 2017 by Greg Pattridge

I featured the first book in the Horace j. Edwards and the Time Keepers series last Friday. THE SECRET OF THE SCARAB BEETLE kicked things off with a trip to ancient Egypt. The time travel mystery continues with THE SEARCH FOR THE LOST PROPHECY and this time Horace and his two friends portal to 1920s Detroit.

They seek answers as to why Horace is the keeper of this strange stone scarab beetle. It allows him to go through portals but what other secrets does it hold? His grandfather would know but he suddenly died and his grandmother is in a nursing home. The answers do come in bits and pieces from his own exploring and from Herman, another time keeper he meets.

Horace discovers all is not safe both in the present and the past, setting up a hair raising  finale and a hint there may be some future time travel in the series. Great for those who can’t get enough mystery and time travel in their reading. The story moves along at a nice pace and the artists have come up with another great cover.

PUBLICATION DATE: 2017   PAGE COUNT: 240

FULL PLOT (From AMAZON) In The Search for the Lost Prophecy, the sequel to The Secret of the Scarab Beetle, Horace continues to search for more information about the Time Keepers and his role in this secret order. After he discovers that the tree portal at his grandparents’ farm is destroyed, Horace, along with his friends Anna and Milton, travels back in time to 1920s Detroit, hoping to learn more. There they meet keeper Herman at the Scarab Club and learn that someone is threatening the Time Keepers and the order’s mission. Horace finds out that the mystical Benben Stone is being stored in a crypt back in present-day Niles, Michigan. And Horace is now tasked with keeping the sacred stone safe. Will the person or persons threatening the Order learn of Horace’s true identity?

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT:

 THE SEARCH FOR THE LOST PROPHECY

  1. I often see a falcon flying high in the sky and wonder what it is up to. For Horace, his falcon is a personal protector and guide. We should all be so lucky!
  2. As much as I enjoy stories set in ancient Egypt, I was glad that the second book time traveled back to a completely different place in 1920s Detroit. You can’t get much more different than those two locations.
  3. Characters like Seth the bully and Horace’s uncle from the first book only make brief appearances, but there is enough stage setting to think they may be back causing more trouble in future stories. Interesting characters I’d like to know more about.
  4. A small drawing at the beginning of each chapter are the only images you will find. They make a great teaser for what’s ahead like the knife in chapter 15 and the graveyard in Chapter 11.
  5. You will learn a lot about the Dodge brothers and Detroit. A fascinating history of how they got started building cars.

FAVORITE LINES:

“Be careful!” shouted Anna, but it was too late.

He fell between the front seats, knocking the stick shift. The car suddenly jumped forward. And in a giant flash of blue light, they were gone.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR (From Sleeping Bear Press):

As a high school history teacher for over ten years, William (Bill) Meyer) has taught almost
every historic time period from the Italian Renaissance to the American Revolution. He says, “I’ve worked in urban districts from Detroit to New York City, but also in suburban schools like Scarsdale and Bronxville. However, regardless of the place or the students no topic has piqued the imagination of my classes as intensely as the study of Ancient Egypt.” As a result of both their interest and his own childhood curiosity about the mysteries of that era, he wrote the Horace j. Edwards and the Time Keepers series. In many ways the series reflects his experiences as both a kid and a teacher. Travelling around the world to places like London, Paris, and Rome, his interest and studies of the past have come to life. For Bill, whether it is teaching in the classroom or presenting to a larger audience, the past is more than just a group of facts to be memorized and timelines to be shared; it’s a window into a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world we live in. He was born in Detroit, and currently lives with his wife in New York.

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THE SECRET OF THE SCARAB BEETLE

Posted on December 1, 2017 by Greg Pattridge

This first book in the HORACE j. EDWARDS and the TIME KEEPERS series came out last year. I’m featuring it today in anticipation of my review next week on Marvelous Middle Grade Monday of Book Two: THE SEARCH FOR THE LOST PROPHECY.

The epic time adventure begins with the required element in 75% of MG books: a scene with a bully. Horace is the new boy in Niles, Michigan and he’ll soon discover the bully is the least of his problems (although the bully returns later in the book in a fantastic twist of fate).

Horace is a typical eleven-year-old who doesn’t come to know his family’s past until a stone allows him to portal back in time. He arrives in ancient Egypt and soon befriends a young King Tut. The stone also allows him to use the portal to go back and forth from the present to the past. He gets his present world friends involved in the mystery.

There is adventure and action at every turn and the chapters fly by in a hurry. The male character will appeal to both boys and girls in the 8-13 year old age group. You have to love that cover. too.

Here’s the whole scoop from the publisher, Sleeping Bear Press:

Eleven-year-old Horace j. Edwards is an ordinary boy whose family has just moved to Niles, Michigan. But on the first day of sixth grade, mysterious things start to happen. His grandfather dies and Horace receives a strange gift–a stone scarab beetle. As he works to uncover the secrets surrounding his grandfather’s death and the beetle, Horace is transported back in time to the ancient Egyptian city of Amarna. He meets the future pharaoh, young King Tut, and together the two boys become engaged in a fight to save the city from total destruction and Egypt itself from Tut’s evil uncle Smenk. In the process, Horace discovers that he is the heir to an order of guardians, known as the Keepers of Time. The Secret of the Scarab Beetle is the first book in the middle-grade fantasy series Horace j. Edwards and the Time Keepers.

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Look for my review here next week of Book Two in the Time Keeper Series right here at the new temporary home for 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.

 

 

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MMGM for 11/27/17

Posted on November 27, 2017 by Greg Pattridge

 

The LINKS for November 27, 2017

(Click on a star to take you to their site)
I’m still stuffed from four days of eating too much, but I found time to post this review. Below are my thoughts on CHILDREN OF REFUGE by Margaret Peterson Hadddix (Also linked via the blue star).
Mark Baker at Carstairs Considers is back this week with a review of Nightfall by Shannon Messenger.
Rosi Hollinbeck at The Write Stuff is reviewing and giving away The Theory of Hummingbirds.
Michelle Mason returns to MMGM and is also reviewing NIGHTFALL by Shannon Messenger.
Patricia Tilton at Children’s Books Heal is giving a little more book love to CALEB AND KIT by Beth Vrabel.
Completely Full Bookshelf is recommending The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies.
Melissa Roske joins the MMGM fun. She has an interview with MG author Shari Schwarz.  Shari’s debut novel, TREASURE AT LURE LAKE, debuted in 2016 from Cedar Fort.
Suzanne Warr has an interview with Jackie Ogburn, author of The Unicorn in the Barn, and is also giving away two middle grades: An arc for The Art of the Swap (interview with the author next MMGM!) and Hatter Madigan: Ghost in the HATBOX, by Adrienne Kress.
Sue Kooky at Kitty Cat at the Library is reviewing the book Pick the Plot.
Dorine White has a review of The Player King by AVI
Natalie at Literary Rambles has an interview with author, Stephanie Faris, and a PIPER MORGAN PLANS  A PARTY Giveaway
Karen Yingling always has some awesome MMGM Picks.
If you would like to join in the MMGM fun and get your own star on the walkway, 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!
*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.
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CHILDREN OF REFUGE for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on November 26, 2017 by Greg Pattridge

Here is the second book in the sci-fi thriller CHILDREN OF EXILE series. The first book by that name came out last year and was high on my to read list. I just never got to it. I decided to go ahead and read them out of order, reading this second book first for review deadline purposes. Turns out I didn’t have to worry about not knowing what was going on as this stands well on its own with a different narrator, twelve-year-old Edwy Watanaboneset.

He has an attitude about everything, but it’s hard to blame him for his obnoxious personality. Edwy was whisked away at birth and sent to a place called Fredtown to be raised by his Fred parents. The Freds preached about the good things in life and Edwy never got many answers to what this was all about. Now he has been sent back to his original home and after spending just 24 hours with his real parents, he’s taken away to Refuge City where he meets an equally irritating older brother and sister for the first time.

The worst part is he’s separated from Rosi, the narrator of the first book. She’s the closest person he has to a friend. I know this from his thoughts in Book 2 and after going back and reading Book 1, which begins as they find out they are being sent home from Fredtown.

There are aliens and humans up to no good in CHILDREN OF REFUGE, but Edwy’s mission becomes clear: Find out what happened to Rosi and try to rescue her. Full of thrilling moments, perplexing issues, and a futuristic city on earth, this one had me until the end… or rather the beginning for Book 3. Superb writing throughout the fast moving 41 chapters.

PUBLICATION DATE: 2017   PAGE COUNT: 272

FULL PLOT (From AMAZON)
It’s been barely a day since Edwy left Fredtown to be with his parents and, already, he is being sent away. He’s smuggled off to boarding school in Refuge City, where he will be with his brother and sister, who don’t even like him very much. The boarding school is nothing like the school that he knew, there’s no one around looking up to him now, and he’s still not allowed to ask questions!

Alone and confused, Edwy seeks out other children brought back from Fredtown and soon discovers that Rosi and the others—still stuck in the Cursed Town—might be in danger. Can Edwy find his way back to his friends before it’s too late?

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: CHILDREN OF REFUGE

  1. Edwy’s thoughts on the three places he knows: Fredtown, Cursed Town, and Refuge City. It’s a puzzle almost too big for anyone but especially entertaining to hear it from his youthful introspection.
  2. The adult character, Udans. His fate is unknown but I hope to read more about him in the next installment.
  3. The world building is so well done you feel like you are there as a part of Refuge City.
  4. I wasn’t keeping track but it seemed like a something new evolved out of each chapter. Superb story telling that will grip young readers to read one more chapter.
  5. There are a lot of discussion topics generated from how we treat each other to questions about whether we are getting closer to this fiction earth in the real world.

FAVORITE LINES (and I liked the action packed beginning):

The man lunged out of the darkness to grab me as I ran by.

“Let go!” I screamed, struggling to break away. “Let! Me ! Go!”

I was already being chased by a pack of angry men. It didn’t seem fair that someone I hadn’t even seen was after me too.

FROM THE AUTHOR, Margaret Peterson Haddix:  

As a kid, I also longed for a career that I didn’t actually believe real people got to do. The far-out, only-in-your dreams career I wanted was to be an author. All the grown-ups I knew were farmers (like my dad) or nurses (like my mom), teachers or dentists, housewives or grocery store clerks, etc., etc. The only authors I’d ever heard of were, well, just in books. (For the full story visit Margaret’s bio page)

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