ALWAYS in the MIDDLE features a review ofTHE BEST FRIEND BRACELET by Nicole D. Collier.
ET Charles shares Beth Anderson’s nonfiction picture book Thomas Jefferson’s Battle for Science: Bias, Truth and a Might Moose. With its unusual story, back matter and illustrations this book offers many entry points from upper elementary through middle grade and high school.
Valinora Troy reviews Spellstone by Ross Montgomery.
Rosi Hollinbeck reviews and has a GIVEAWAY of FREE PERIOD. Rosi also shares 3 links of interest for her writing friends.
NOTE: There will be no MMGM on Monday, November 25th. I am supervising a field trip for high school juniors and won’t be able to break away to create the post.
Be assured that MMGM will be here next week on November 18, then again on December 2nd and the rest of that month including Christmas and New Year’s week.
This friendship story is unique especially with an amusing dose of magic thrown in. Budding entrepreneur, Zariah (Mariah with a Z), is in 7th grade and makes bracelets for others who want one for their forever friend. She has interested classmate customers fill out a form describing their friend, and then Zariah makes them a special friendship bracelet.
Deep down Zariah would like her own real friend but so far nothing has worked out. When she makes the perfect bracelet using beads given to her by the mysterious woman at the craft store, turns out is magic. Whoever wears it becomes her bestie.
It’s bracelet on and bracelet off as many girls don’t work out as the forever friend. Zariah is frustrated assuming she will never have that special person in her life.
THE BEST FRIEND BRACELET is a great middle grade story, especially for girls. There’s drama with sleepovers, various cliques at school, eating alone at lunch, and having to participate in the always challenging group project. 7th grade is not easy with the social and emotional highlights and lowlights.
The 49 short chapters are easy and fun to read. The story will challenge and help young readers see their friendships in a refreshing new way.
BOOK BIRTHDAY: October 15, 2024 PAGE COUNT: 272
FIVE MORE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: THE BEST FRIEND BRACELET by Nicole D. Collier
A realistic portrayal of the middle school experience. Not having a friend is at the top of worries for any 7th grader and is given the proper treatment here.
Popcorn. I was wanting to make my own after Zariah cooked up her latest batch for an after school treat. The flavors she added were ingenious.
Very realistic family situations. Zariah’s dad travels for his work but has many helpful conversations with his daughter. Theo, one of the potential friends lives with her grandmother, something many middle schoolers will relate to.
There’s a Friendship Scale Zariah and Theo create that goes from a low of 1 (Strangers) to a 5 (Best friends). You’ll be ranking your own acquaintances after reading each selection.
The best friend profile is what you fill out if you want to buy a bracelet. Many of these are shared with Zariah’s notes as to what she is planning for her next creation. Readers might be filling out their own to check on how much they really know about a friend.
About Nicole
Nicole D. Collier, PhD, grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, the child of an accountant and a public school librarian. She taught fourth grade before becoming an author and leadership coach. In all her endeavors, she enjoys helping people mine the creativity, wisdom, and courage for change. The author of Just Right Jillian and The Many Fortunes of Maya, her writing illuminates the challenges and rewards that come from learning to be true to yourself. A self-proclaimed ever-victorious woman, Nicole has been known to run, dance, and turn cartwheels from time to time. She currently resides in St. Petersburg, Florida, with her husband, Phillip. (Author Website)
Ancient Egypt evokes an image of a magical world full of greats stories. Ones about Gods and goddesses, tombs and mummies, Kings and Queens. You get all of this and more in the colorful TALES OF ANCIENT EGYPT.
The four chapters include not only the myths but also true stories about this special place and time. Starting with The Creation of the World myth, you will be smiling but also shocked at some of the wild and imaginative tales of how Ancient Egypt evolved. Fascinating facts are interspersed among the pages. Some of my favorites included ones about Hieroglyphs, Astronomy, Master Ship Builders, Pyramids, and Making a Mummy.
The amazing layout blends paragraphs and colorful illustrations in an appealing way. This approach encourages readers to pick this book up again and again. The final piece details THE END OF ANCIENT EGYPT. A helpful alphabetical layout of Gods and Goddesses are also included along with a helpful Glossary.
Kids and adults who have an interest in Ancient Egypt have a new friend in this fun book.
Page Count: 160 BOOK BIRTHDAY: October 1, 2024
ABOUT THE AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR
Hugo D. Cook is an Egyptologist and a classicist who studied at Oxford University and Cambridge University and knows six ancient languages to an advanced level. Hugo has an educational TikTok channel that teaches up to 4 million viewers per video about the history, culture, and writings of ancient Egypt. He currently works as a lecturer at the British Museum in London where he teaches the Egyptology and Hieroglyphs course.
Sona Avedikian is a Michigan-based illustrator. She received her BFA in illustration from College for Creative Studies in Detroit with a focus on children’s illustration. Her favourite things to draw revolve around magic, adventure, and non-fiction. You can probably spot her in the back of a library or taking long walks around her neighbourhood.
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It’s almost time for another Marvelous Middle Grade Monday. Won’t you join us? It’s here I share highlights from other individuals blogging about middle grade books. Many of the posts will have reviews, interviews, and tips on writing. Take a look at PAST MMGM POSTS.
It’s easy to get a spot in the lineup. All you have to do is email me the title of the book or feature and a link to your blog at gpcolo[at]gmail[dot]com
Make sure you put MMGM or Marvelous Middle Grade Monday in the subject line so it gets sorted accurately–and don’t forget to say what you’re featuring) You MUST email me your link by Sunday evening (11 PM Eastern Time) in order to be included in the list of links for the coming Monday.
*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.
NOTE: There will be no MMGM on Monday, November 25th. I am supervising a field trip for high school juniors and won’t be able to break away to create the post.
Be assured that MMGM will be here on November 11 and 18, then again on December 2nd and the rest of that month including Christmas and New Year’s week.
Upon a closer look though TEAM CANTEEN is a new series geared toward upper middle grade readers, perfect for ages 10-12. On the cover are 7th graders Claire, Billie, Raelynn, and Tasha. They met at summer camp and bonded over the fact that none of them fit into their life at home.
The story begins at the end of summer camp when they come to believe a pink feathered boa will bring them good luck. The four agree to share the boa by mailing it to each other while they are at home in different cities and schools.
Alternating chapters with the four main characters takes readers through the school year. Claire is having a hard time since her Dad lost his job and is afraid the kids at school will find out. Billie is trying to follow his dad’s wishes for him to be a hockey star, but he’d rather be a figure skater. Raelynn hides the fact she is an online gamer and is having a tough time with her twin sister as they are at odds with each other all the time. Finally there is Tasha who has two new adoptive members of the house that aren’t working out (one younger cousin and a destructive dog).
Middle school and all its drama is the focus. Our four tweens have their problems, but it seems though that the pink boa is helping each of them cope. The story may in fact help readers in this age group see the bright side of friendships and how they can help.
PAGE COUNT: 256 BOOK BIRTHDAY: September 3, 2024
FIVE MORE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: TEAM CANTEEN ROCKY ROAD by Amalie Jahn
Accepting who you are is a wonderful lesson for all to experience.
Alternating viewpoints was the perfect choice to present this story. You have the chance to experience each character in a much more meaningful way.
This one looks like it might be headed toward YA territory if future books in the series also take you through a full year. Readers will be able to grow right along with Claire, Billie, Raelynn, and Tasha.
The challenges of middle school share the stage with those coming from siblings and parents at home. Both sides come across in a believable way.
The feathered boa does not take this story into the fantasy realm. Instead it provides the change in each of these characters in a contemporary, realistic fashion.
About The Author
USA Today Bestselling author Amalie Jahn is the recipient of the Literary Classics Seal of Approval and the Readers’ Favorite Gold Medal for her debut YA novel, THE CLAY LION. Her first YA contemporary, THE NEXT TO LAST MISTAKE, won the prestigious IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award in 2020. She is a contributing blogger with the Huffington Post and Southern Writers Magazine, as well as a finalist in the 2015 Kindle Book Awards. A TED speaker, human rights advocate, and active promoter of kindness, she lives in the United States with her husband, two children, and three extremely overfed cats.
When she’s not at the computer coaxing characters into submission, you can find Amalie swimming laps, cycling, or running on the treadmill, probably training for her next triathlon. She hates pairing socks and loves avocados. She is also very happy time travel does not yet exist. Stalk her right here in the present day at these social media sites:
A novel in verse set during the 2016-17 school year will attract football fans, but the historical aspect will also be of interest to other readers.
Kareem lives in Chicago with his mom, dad, older sister and younger brother. He is a huge fan of the Chicago Bears. Kareem also loves to play football but has been cut from the team. The coach’s son promises to help him get back on the squad if Kareem does both of their homework assignments. Doing so only causes more conflict.
Family problems add even more tension and anxiety in Kareem’s life. He was born in the U.S. as a Syrian-American. Kareem feels stuck between the two worlds. When a new family arrives from Syria, Kareem is asked to be a friend to Fadi. Not wanting to stand out he fails this task in more ways than one.
Meanwhile, his grandparents are in Syria and Mom goes back there to bring them to America. She gets trapped and is unable to return home due to then-President Trump’s ban on travel from Muslim nations. Kareem feels it was his fault as his actions initially caused the trip to be delayed.
The tension Kareem faces parallels with the inclusion of NFL Facts and Rules. Each section of the story matches the football season. It works well combining Kareem’s passion with his own life right through overtime.
Another plus is Kareem loves to read and he relates to many middle grade classic characters of that time. Books like Holes, The Last Fifth Grade of Emerson Elementary, Wimpy Kid, and Hatchet help Kareem in his own life. These along with his family’s support lead Kareem to fight the injustice of having his family on different sides of the planet and finds the importance of being himself.
Social issues, language barriers, and an enduring main character make Kareem Between a special title.
PAGE COUNT: 336 BOOK BIRTHDAY: September 10, 2024
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
SHIFA SALTAGI SAFADI is the author of Kareem Between and several picture books, including The Gift of Eid. She has a bachelor’s degree in English literature, teaches ELA at a local middle school, and reviews Muslim books on her blog, Muslim Mommy Blog. Shifa was born in Syria and immigrated to the US with her parents as a young girl. She lives near Chicago with her husband and four children.
Find her on Instagram @MuslimMommyBlog
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It’s almost time for another Marvelous Middle Grade Monday. Won’t you join us? It’s here I share highlights from other individuals blogging about middle grade books. Many of the posts will have reviews, interviews, and tips on writing. Take a look at PAST MMGM POSTS.
It’s easy to get a spot in the lineup. Email me the title of the book or feature and a link to your blog at gpcolo[at]gmail[dot]com
Make sure you put MMGM or Marvelous Middle Grade Monday in the subject line so it gets sorted accurately–and don’t forget to say what you’re featuring) You MUST email me your link by Sunday evening (11 PM Eastern Time)in order to be included in the list of links for that week’s MMGM.
*Please note: these posts are not a reflection of my own opinions on the books featured. Each blogger is responsible for their own MMGM content and I do not pre-screen reviews ahead of time, nor do I control what books they choose. I simply assemble the list based on the links that are emailed to me.
Set on 1985 Montana, Unsinkable Cayenne is a 12-year-old girl just entering 7th grade. Cayenne (she was named after the spice) has never lived anywhere except the van her parents use to drift from place to place. It’s a life that brings the family closer but is so much different from other families.
After her twin siblings are born the parents decide to settle down and rent a small house. Cayenne likes the idea of fitting in and maybe getting some friends her age. But it’s not easy.
Her social studies teacher has them learning about the Titanic disaster and Cayenne sees parallels to her own life, especially with the lowly third class passengers. Will she ever be accepted by the rich girls or the rich boy she secretly likes? She wonders and worries what normal is really like.
The writing flows smoothly and readers will bond with Cayenne. Novels in verse are not my preferred way of story telling, but in this case it was a good choice. I finished it a a few hours wrapped up in Cayenne’s world. A great starting point for discussion that also makes UNSINKABLE CAYENNE perfect for middle grade readers.
PAGE COUNT: 304 BOOK BIRTHDAY: October 29, 2024
FIVE MORE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: UNSINKABLE CAYENNE by Jessica Vitalis
(in verse)
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History portrayed with the same problems facing today’s middle graders
Made possible by the relatable Cayenne and her internal conflict of being accepted
Titanic comparisons to the realities of poverty and class
Added to the reality
As did friends Dawn, Tiff and Beau
In the end being yourself matters most
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
JESSICA VITALIS is an award-winning, Columbia MBA-wielding writer and presenter with Greenwillow / HarperCollins. With a mission to write entertaining and thought-provoking literature, she often uses magic and fantastical settings to explore topics such as death and grief, domestic violence, and socio-economic disparities. Her work has been translated into three languages, and she was a 2021 Canada Council of the Arts grant recipient and featured on CBC’s Here and Now and The Morning Edition, and CTV’s Your Morning. The Wolf’s Curse and The Rabbit’s Gift (which received starred reviews from the School Library Journal and CCBC and was named a Canadian Children’s Book Center Best Books for Kids and Teens 2023), are stand-alone companion novels. Her most recent novel, Coyote Queen, is a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection, on the Kirkus Best Books of 2023 list, a Crystal Kite and High Plains Book Awards finalist, and won the Reading the West Book Award as well as the Women Writing the West 2024 WILLA Literary Award in Children’s Fiction and Non-Fiction. A novel in free verse, Unsinkable Cayenne, is a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection arriving October 29th, 2024. Jessica spent part of her childhood in Wyoming, where a giant, rusted-out boat sat in her backyard and howling coyotes kept her awake at night. Jessica has American and Canadian citizenship; she currently lives in Ontario with her husband and two daughters but presents at conferences, festivals, and schools all over North America.
Although BOUNCE! A Scientific History of Rubber has the look of a picture book, the content inside will appeal to middle grade readers. In an easy to understand way, the various chemical properties of rubber are explained. The section titles hint at the more technical nature of the book: Why is rubber stretchy?Why does rubber melt in the heat and get brittle in the cold? and How can rubber be molded and shaped?
Vivid, color illustrations appear throughout. They add meaning to the text and are fun to look at again. The more serious side of rubber is covered in the Author’s Note.
Indigenous people were the first to be mistreated as they worked in areas where natural rubber grows. Present day brings long hours and low pay for people who harvest natural rubber. There is also the environmental impact of rubber as it is difficult to recycle, and latex balloons create other problems for animals.
The short 48 pages end with a detailed timeline and bibliography. BOUNCE! is the perfect choice as a read aloud and discussion starter. Kudos to the author and illustrator for such an appealing format.
BOOK BIRTHDAY: October 22, 2024
ABOUT THE AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR
Sarah Albee writes children’s books for many age groups and under a number of pseudonyms. She has had three of her books appear on the New York Times Bestseller list. Before she began her career as a children’s book writer and editor, Sarah was a newspaper cartoonist and a semiprofessional basketball player. These days she lives in Connecticut with her husband and three children.
Eileen Ryan Ewen is the illustrator of many books for children, including H is for Honey Bee, Jonas Hanway’s Scurrilous Scandalous Shockingly Sensational Umbrella, and Nature’s Friend: The Gwen Frostic Story.
It’s almost time for another Marvelous Middle Grade Monday. Won’t you join us? It’s here I share highlights from other individuals blogging about middle grade books. Many of the posts will have reviews, interviews, and tips on writing. Take a look at PAST MMGM POSTS.
It’s easy to get a spot in the lineup. Email me the title of the book or feature and a link to your blog at gpcolo[at]gmail[dot]com
Make sure you put MMGM or Marvelous Middle Grade Monday in the subject line so it gets sorted accurately–and don’t forget to say what you’re featuring) You MUST email me your link by Sunday evening (11 PM Eastern Time)in order to be included in the list of links for that week’s MMGM.
*Please note: these posts are not a reflection of my own opinions on the books featured. Each blogger is responsible for their own MMGM content and I do not pre-screen reviews ahead of time, nor do I control what books they choose. I simply assemble the list based on the links that are emailed to me.
It’s easy to get a spot in the lineup. Email me the title of the book or feature for any middle grade book, author or giveaway, and a link to your blog. Send it to: gpcolo[at]gmail[dot]com
Make sure you put MMGM or Marvelous Middle Grade Monday in the subject line so it gets sorted accurately–and don’t forget to say what you’re featuring) You MUST email me your link by Sunday evening (11 PM Eastern Time) in order to be included in the list of links for that week’s MMGM.
*Please note: these posts are not a reflection of my own opinions on the books featured. Each blogger is responsible for their own MMGM content and I do not pre-screen reviews ahead of time, nor do I control what books they choose. I simply assemble the list based on the links that are emailed to me.
ALWAYS in the MIDDLE features a review of THE BEST FRIEND BRACELET by Nicole D. Collier.
ALWAYS in the MIDDLE
ALWAYS in the MIDDLE
ALWAYS in the MIDDLE
