FALLING SHORT

Posted on April 17, 2022 by Greg Pattridge

A friendship between two opposites provide a heartwarming, memorable reading experience.

Pictured on the left is Isaac. He lives and breathes basketball and is a budding superstar. On the right is Marcos. Academically gifted, he avoids sports and embarrasses himself at anything athletic. But these two sixth graders have been best friends since kindergarten.

One thing they do have in common is their parents are divorced or heading that way. Isaac’s father doesn’t live with them anymore as his drinking habit has led to frequent loud disagreements with his wife. Meanwhile, Marcos could never connect with his athletic father who remarried and has another son who may live up to his expectations.

These two besties are determined to help each other excel at what they aren’t good at. Could Issac possible get better grades and Marcos make the basketball team? Easier said than done despite the change of appearances on the cover.

Taking turns narrating 54 alternating chapters turns into a perfect way to bring out the emotion in each of these kids. They’ll do anything for each other, including sacrificing their own strengths if it will help their friend.

Sports fan and those middle graders who do not like to read have a new friend in FALLING SHORT.

BOOK BIRTHDAY: March 15, 2022 PAGE COUNT: 304

FIVE MORE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: FALLING SHORT by Ernesto Cisneros

  1. You’ll learn about two former NBA stars that Marcos tries to emulate: Mugsy Bogues, the shortest NBA player in history; and Rick Barry whose trademark underhand free throw was a sensation.
  2. Despite their fathers being far less than a good dad, it doesn’t matter to Isaac and Marcos. They just want to bond with their father, and many young readers will see themselves in the portrayal.
  3. The great message that friendship is truly a gift and important for every kid.
  4. A rare look at the emotions of two middle grade boys who still have both parents (When usually in MG lit there is a dead or missing parent). This one will be hard to keep on the shelves as it garners new fans.
  5. I often find that the second book by an author is disappointing. Mr. Cisneross is far from that assumption. His first, Efron Divided, was a success and FALLING SHORT is on equal footing here.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR (Ernesto Cisneros)

I am a 20-year veteran teacher currently serving the city of Santa Ana: the colorful but mostly dismissed section of Orange County, California.  I teach reading and writing to local students at an inner-city intermediate school.  

I hold an English degree from the University of California, Irvine; a teaching credential from California State University, Long Beach; as well as a Masters in Fine Arts in Creative Writing from National University.

(For more about the author visit his web site)

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Comments are welcome below!

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

BREAKING NEWS

Posted on April 15, 2022 by Greg Pattridge

Things don’t usually come to a screeching halt at the RAT, also known as Ridgewood Arts & Technical School, Ridgewood City’s most prestigious progressive institution. But that’s what happens when Headmistress Hardaway interrupts class and announces, “A scandal has rocked the fundraising committee!” Everyone is a suspect and Hunter Jackson, student council special investigator, vows to root out the student who’s heartless enough to steal donation money. He’s not alone. Ridgewood Roar news editor, Anthony Ravello, and the rogue, indie-press pioneer, Liberty Lennon, plan to do some journalistic digging of their own in a race against each other to scoop the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth to their faithful readers…or at least their versions of it. With the truth getting murkier by the day, students at the RAT gobble up news bytes and wash them down with locker-side gossip as they try to unmask the classmate responsible for the missing funds.

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This upper middle grade story is told from three different perspectives. Using student newspaper articles. recordings, and other narratives the mystery of who stole the $1000 unfolds.

On the left is Tony who is a news editor for the school’s newspaper, the Ridgewood Roar. Liberty takes the opposing spot. She has started her own underground newspaper (The Rebel Yell) with help from her grandpa. Tony and Liberty don’t get along and are critical of each other’s reporting skills.

The third perspective is from Hunter who plays detective for the student council in trying to figure out the case. His view comes in the form of memos where he details what he has learned from potential witnesses and suspects

Most public middle schools these days don’t have newspapers, leaving the journalism path to high school. But this is the prestigious gifted school and it seems a natural fit. The often humorous narrative takes you right back to 8th grade with behind the back gossip and accusations. Yes, middle school is a unique beast we must all experience and it was fun seeing it depicted at Ridgeview Arts and Technical.

The story is mostly about the happenings at the school, with details about each main character’s family and home life in the background. A few scenes of heartfelt support provided by the family members were a welcome inclusion.

BREAKING NEWS is best for middle schoolers, especially those interested in journalism. For us adults, it’s an enjoyable and fast pace read sure to dig up memories of your own teen age years.

PAGE COUNT: 176

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

FRANK MORELLI is the author of the young adult novels ON THE WAY TO BIRDLAND (2021) and NO SAD SONGS (2018), a YALSA Quick Picks nominee and winner of an American Fiction Award for best coming-of-age novel. His latest middle grade novel, BREAKING NEWS, is set to release on April 28, 2022.

A Philadelphia native, Morelli now lives in High Point, NC with his best friend and muse, their obnoxious alley cats, and two hundred pounds worth of dog. Connect with him on Twitter @frankmoewriter and IG @frankmorelliauthor.

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Blogging about middle grade books or authors next week? Join the celebration.

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, New Release | Tagged , | 5 Comments

MMGM for April 11, 2022

Posted on April 11, 2022 by Greg Pattridge

TIME TO PUT A FEW MORE TITLES ON THE STACK. CLICK ON A SET OF BOOKS BELOW TO REACH A BLOGGER’S POST!

At ALWAYS in the MIDDLE I have a review of HONESTLY ELLIOTT by Gillian McDunn.

Author June McCrary Jacobs features a non-fiction book, The U.S. Coast Guard.

Carol Baldwin opens the door again for budding superstar reviewer, Elliott Kurta. Today he has NO CLUES YOU LOSE and it includes a GIVEAWAY.

Max at Completely Full Bookshelf recommends Go with the Flow by Lily Williams and Karen Schneemann.

Patricia Tilton at Children’s Book’s Heal reviews Book Buddies: Marco Polo Explorer by Cynthia Lord.

Maria Antonia has a post about WOLF HOLLOW by Lauren Wolk.

Rosi Hollinbeck features a review of AIR by Monica Roe. Rosi also shares three links of interest for her writing friends.

Karen Yingling at Mrs. Yingling Reads always has a fantastic MMGM book to share. Be sure to check it out along with her other reviews from last week including Saturday’s FOR THE RECORD.

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(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)
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 Book Lists, Middle Grade Book Reviews | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

HONESTLY ELLIOTT

Posted on April 10, 2022 by Greg Pattridge

I’ve enjoyed several middle grade novels by author Gillian McDunn. Back in 2019 it was CATERPILLAR SUMMER followed by last year’s THESE UNLUCKY STARS. Ms. McDunn’s focus is always on the main character trying to understand themselves in a world that often refuses to understand them. Those two stories focused mostly on a female character, but with her newest we meet HONESTLY ELLIOTT and it’s a memorable ride.

Elliott has been struggling since his closest friend moved away, and he’s not too sure where he fits into his own family, especially since his newly remarried dad and stepmom are expecting a baby. His grades aren’t too great, he’s always forgetting things, and he doesn’t really like sports. All together, the result is someone the complete opposite of his dad–a fact they’re both very aware of. Elliott’s only solace is cooking, where he can control the outcome, testing exciting recipes and watching his favorite cooking shows.

When he’s paired with the super smart and popular Maribel for a school-wide project, Elliott worries they won’t see eye to eye. But Maribel is also looking for a new way to show others her true self and this project could be the chance they’ve both been waiting for. Sometimes the least likely friends help you see a new side to things . . . and sometimes you have to make a few mistakes before you figure out what’s right.

Elliott’s first person narration is often heartbreaking with doses of humor and passion for the cooking he loves. Here’s a sample:

My insides feel heavy, like a hunk of overcooked oatmeal. Meanwhile, my brain starts going in six hundred directions. Six hundred things blocking my way to culinary camp. Six hundred reasons for Dad to be disappointed in me.

I have to think of something.

His feelings are a perfect view of a boy living with ADHD. Elliott’s sixth grade year is off to a rocky start. He goes through what many kids experience living in a two-home existence with Mom during the week and Dad on weekends. She supports him in her own special way, but his father hasn’t connected with the way Elliott acts, especially with his passion of cooking.

The 39 chapters fly by with a hopefulness for growth and change in all the characters. One thing I didn’t like was the use of footnotes—36 of them. They are great in non-fiction but always slow my reading down in contemporary fiction, having to look down for a few seconds at the footnote before finding the spot where I left off. It just doesn’t flow as well, but that’s just me.

Honestly Elliott is an honest and enjoyable trip into a sixth grade boy’s journey to succeed.

BOOK BIRTHDAY: March 1, 2022 PAGE COUNT: 288

FIVE MORE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT HONESTLY ELLIOTT by Gillian McDunn

  1. On the cover Elliott is holding one of his masterpieces, a Desperation Pie, You become very familiar with how to make one, but what a treat to find the recipe for the filling and crust printed in the back pages. I’ll be trying this one out for sure.
  2. Having Elliott team up with Maribel will have you thinking there’s no way this is going to work. Their learning styles are complete opposites as is their popularity. What brings them together is not only the cooking but Maribel’s own health challenges and they see each other beyond how others see them,
  3. The well done look at how a new sibling, a half brother in this case, can bring about many hurtful and worried feelings.
  4. Family and friendship are the focus of middle graders and the story line here wraps them up in a gift to be read by all.
  5. An understanding of ADHD and how it effects the learner is a marvelous outcome of this story. You get a few insights into the treatment used but it never is the focus of the story. Maybe it could be explored more in a sequel.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

GILLIAN McDUNN is the author of Caterpillar Summer, The Queen Bee and Me, These Unlucky Stars, Honestly Elliott, and the forthcoming When Sea Becomes Sky. Her books have received various honors and awards including Best Books of the Year by Kirkus and Parents Magazine, chosen as Junior Library Guild gold standard selections, and nominated to eight state reading lists, including the Texas Bluebonnets Master List. Her most recent book, Honestly Elliott, received four starred reviews.

​Gillian loves to do crosswords with very sharp pencils, visit different beaches, bake gluten-free treats, and spend time with her family.  Visit Gillian at www.gillianmcdunn.com or on Instagram/Twitter @gillianmcdunn 

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Comments are welcome below. I received a copy of the book to use for my honest review.

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Posted in Middle Grade Book Reviews, New Release | Tagged , , , , , | 9 Comments

HOW TO BE A GENIUS

Posted on April 8, 2022 by Greg Pattridge

It’s never too late, especially if you understand how your brain works. This colorful guide features 8 chapters, each covering a fascinating aspect of our brain

  1. MEET YOUR BRAIN A good place to start as you learn about Right and Left brain capabilities, Nerves and Neurons. and a quick look at what is a genius.
  2. COME TO YOUR SENSES How does your brain work with your sense of sight, hearing, smell, and touch?
  3. HOW MEMORY WORKS? Not only that but how to improve your memory and pay attention better.
  4. PROBLEM SOLVING Just how do we learn new things? Types of intelligence are covered, along with logical and illogical thinking.
  5. A WAY WITH WORDS The link between reading and writing and how we learn language.
  6. THE CREATIVE MIND Are you a creative person? Either way, you find out how to boost your creativity with various challenges.
  7. YOUR BRAIN AND YOU Take a personality test to find out which of the five types you fall into.
  8. THE EVOLVING BRAIN How the brain grows, a look at brain surgery and animal intelligence.

You won’t find a droll retelling of material here. Instead you get bright images and interactive activities that are fun to try out. Each reveals a little more about what’s inside your head. Have a pencil handy as many of tasks have you writing answers in the guide.

HOW TO BE A GENIUS is a for a middle grade audience (Ages 9-12), but even us adults will experience new learning with this 192 page source. Perfect for car trips and finishing the book will leave you with a fresh perspective on the brain. Highly recommended.

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Blogging about middle grade books or authors next week? Join the celebration.

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 | 6 Comments

MMGM for April 4, 2022

Posted on April 4, 2022 by Greg Pattridge

IT”S A NEW MONTH OF MONDAYS!

CLICK ON AN BELOW TO REACH A BLOGGER’S POST!

At ALWAYS in the MIDDLE I have a review of THE BUTTON BOX.

Author June McCrary Jacobs features the historical fiction novel, Miss Happiness & Miss Flower,  by Rumer Godden.

Patricia Tilton at Children’s Book’s Heal reviews Out of my Heart by Sharon L. Draper.  Top question to Draper by fans of Out of My Mind, is “what happened to Melody?

Maria Antonia has a post about THE LAST FIFTH GRADE OF EMERSON ELEMENTARY by Laura Shovan.

Rosi Hollinbeck takes a look at HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DAD by Gary Paulsen. Rosi also has three links of interest for her writing friends.

Mark Baker at Carstairs Considers returns with a review of Once Upon Another Time by James Riley.

Valinora Troy has two reviews. The first one is for younger readers, Merrylegs by Pam Smy, and the second offering features the MG book, THE MONSTER MISSIONS.

Stephanie Robinson at Fairday’s Blog features an intriguing fantasy, Unicorn Island: Secret Beneath the Sand by Donna Galanti.

Jennifer Bohnhoff has a couple of animal books for young readers: Racoon Summer and A Packrat’s Holiday: Thistletoe’s Gift.

Karen Yingling at Mrs. Yingling Reads always has a fantastic MMGM book to share. Be sure to check it out along with her other reviews from last week including Saturday’s A Duet for Home.

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(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)
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 Book Lists, Middle Grade Book Reviews | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

THE BUTTON BOX

Posted on April 3, 2022 by Greg Pattridge

Ava is Sephardic Jewish and her cousin Nadeem is Muslim. Their different religions and cultures have never stopped them from being best friends. But after a bully makes them question their ties to each other, a visit to their grandmother opens up a whole new world. Thanks to Granny Buena’s magical Button Box–and her mysterious cat, Sheba–Ava and Nadeem find themselves transported a thousand years back in time to medieval Morocco. There, they meet their feisty Jewish ancestor, Ester ibn Evran, and a Muslim prince on the run from his enemies. Prince Abdur Rahman is trying to reach safety in Spain. It’s up to Ester, Ava, and Nadeem to help him. If they fail, they could change the course of history forever!

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A unique plot with diverse main characters, ones you don’t find very often as protagonists in MG lit. It’s a fast pace read through 14 chapters. Abdur Rahmna was an actual prince as history tells us, who did escape to the safety of Spain. It’s a fun, fictional twist to have children help him make the trip. Yes, different faiths can work together toward a common goal.

Having a button be the unique portal to the past was a never before used device in time travel books. Although the book could have been longer, the shorter length is much appreciated in this day of 300 + page middle grade books.

Much discussion could take place from a classroom or at-home read aloud of THE BUTTON BOX. In particular, how the world today could learn from the kindness and peace loving cultures portrayed.

BOOK BIRTHDAY: April 1, 2022 PAGE COUNT: 152

FIVE MORE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: THE BUTTON BOX

  1. I learned about Morocco and it’s culture along with tidbits from Spain’s history.
  2. Ava and Nadeem were likeable and their companionship became a necessary link to the climatic ending.
  3. The many unfamiliar words were all defined in the 3-page back-pages glossary.
  4. Not to be missed are the author notes about who are Muslim and Sephardic Jews along with more background on Prince Abdur Rahman. Historical photos are also added in.
  5. It’s certainly sequel worthy with many directions these characters could take with the plot.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

BRIDGET HODDER: Bridget has decades of experience as a reading and communication specialist, working primarily with young people with learning disabilities. Like Ava in “The Button Box,” Bridget is Sephardic. She is also the daughter and granddaughter of Holocaust survivors. Her first Middle Grade book, “The Rat Prince,” was published by Farrar, Straus & Giroux. “The Rat Prince” was an ILA -CBC Children’s Choice List starred selection, an Amazon Hot List pick, and was a finalist for the Mythopoeic Society award in Children’s Fantasy Literature. After the release of “The Button Box,” Bridget and Fawzia’s next co-written multicultural children’s tale for Kar-Ben / Lerner Books will be published in 2023. To learn more about Bridget’s life and work, visit her website: ​​http://bridgethodder.com/

FAWZIA GILANI-WILLIAMS, PhD: Fawzia, who is Muslim, was born and raised in England, where she became an elementary school teacher. An internationally experienced educator, Fawzia has worked in England, the United States, and Canada. Her writing explores moral power, quiet heroism, and multicultural cognizance, and her research interests include child identity and empowerment, and Islamic critical theory. She currently works as a cluster librarian in the UAE, where she manages elementary school libraries.  Fawzia’s previous book, “Yaffa and Fatima: Shalom, Salaam,” illustrated by Chiara Fedele and published in 2017 by Lerner Books’ Kar-Ben imprint, was awarded a silver medal by the Sydney Taylor Book Award. To learn more about Fawzia’s life and work, visit her website: http://fawziagilani.com/

A QUESTION FOR BRIDGET HODDER

Where did the inspiration for “The Button Box” come from? 

Fawzia and I have always been active in centering the voices of those who are marginalized in one way or another. This book is a joyful extension of that serious work, for Muslims and for Jews, in an increasingly anti-Muslim and anti-Jewish time. 

My personal inspiration for “The Button Box” came from my own experience in childhood of trying to reconcile the Sephardic part of my upbringing with the ways of the outside world. Since Sephardic Jews only represent about 1% of all Jews in the US, we are a tiny minority within a minority, and feeling marginalized comes with the territory. Very few people even know who we are.

This book, and the sequels that Fawzia and I hope will follow it, needed to be written not just for Jewish and Muslim children, but for all kids everywhere who know what it means to feel the fears that come with being different.

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I received a digital copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. Comments are welcome below.

Posted in Historical fiction, Middle Grade Book Reviews | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

MENACE IN THE MIST

Posted on April 1, 2022 by Greg Pattridge

One look at the cover and you might be expecting a fantasy story full of mysterious creatures. Far from it as the short book description verifies:

12-year-old Cally and her new step-cousin, Giles, must take on Big Oil and Gas as they search for the cause of a poisoned water supply in this environmental mystery set in a small Maine community.

Page Count: 175

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Cally’s Dad works in Singapore while she and her Mom stay back. The story begins with them taking a break in a beach town on the coast of Maine. There’s more to the visit than just time off.

Cally meets her step-cousin Giles for the first time. He’s 14 and dealing with the tragic loss of his mom, who passed away due to cancer. Giles is not getting along with his new stepmom (Cally’s Aunt).

Cally is also faced with a huge decision: live with her Dad in Singapore, or stay back and go to Giles’s school where she can be challenged more in her favorite subject—math. While she decides what to do, Cally gets to know Giles better. This sends them on an adventure that leads to the discovery mentioned above about the town water being poisoned.

It’s a fast pace story with the environmental theme taking a front seat. Cally does make a decision on here future and it’s a surprising one at that. I’d welcome another book to see what happens next.

Caution: Because I am always asked by parents if there is any inappropriate language in a book, this story has enough to raise a flag here. Giles favorite word seems to be sh** and you’ll need to have more than ten fingers to count how many times in occurs. Other minor, red flag words are in the text so I wouldn’t buy this one for your 4th grader. Save it for 7th grade and up.

MENACE IN THE MIST is available now.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Janet Wylie is a retired professor of developmental biology, who had the joy of studying embryonic development for a living at the same time as helping her children grow up. Now she is a novice writer of fiction for middle school readers, buoyed by the help and enthusiasm of other writers, family and friends.

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Blogging about middle grade books or authors next week? Join the celebration.

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

NO BOUNDARIES BLOG TOUR (And GIVEAWAY)

Posted on March 30, 2022 by Greg Pattridge

Welcome to the No Boundaries Blog Tour!

In No Boundaries, twenty-five inspiring women from around the world — many of whom are National Geographic Explorers — share their adventures, failures, successes, sage advice and lessons learned, straight from the field.  This week, get to know five of the amazing women featured in No Boundaries and be inspired by their work and the challenges they overcame to forge new paths in science and exploration!

Meet Dr. Stephanie Grocke

Dr. Stephanie Grocke is a volcanologist and National Geographic Explorer. She earned her PhD in Volcanology from Oregon State University in 2014. Her research there, and the research she has conducted as a postdoctoral fellow at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, has taken her around the world to study volcanic eruptions. Her goal? To understand the processes that lead to volcanic eruptions with the hope that someday scientists will be able to predict them.

Q: What are your favorite hobbies?
Stephanie:
“Sports! Skiing and sailing are two sports I always did with my family when I was growing up. When I was 18, I sailed across the Atlantic Ocean with my sister and my dad. We spent weeks on a boat together, sharing a tiny space. It took a lot of planning, patience, and most of all, a sense of adventure. On some nights, the storms were so violent that waves would crash over the side of the boat, and we had to strap ourselves to the boat rails. I never thought I’d be able to complete a trip like that, and when we had land in sight, I felt the greatest sense of personal accomplishment—I knew I needed to continue to seek adventure to get that feeling again.”

Stephanie’s Advice for Aspiring Volcanologists:
“Volcanoes are windows into the interior of our planet. There is so much we don’t know about them and so much we can learn about our planet from them. Beyond volcanoes as a hazard, they hold many secrets about how our planet works. There’s a lot of work to be done, so don’t be discouraged. Go out there and delve into the unknown!”

Want to learn more about Stephanie and her fascinating research?  Check out this video from National Geographic Kids and follow her on Twitter.

Buy | Add on Goodreads

Meet 25 female explorers and scientists in these inspirational and poignant stories of exploration, courage, and girl power.

Along the way, they share lessons learned and words of wisdom sure to inspire the next generation of scientists, adventurers, and world-changers.

Track a volcanologist as she braves the elements atop an active volcano. Travel alongside a mountaineer as she battles stereotypes―and frostbite―to conquer the famed Seven Summits. Join a conservationist on her passionate fight to save lions. Dig with a paleontologist to uncover massive dinosaur fossils, bit by breathtaking bit. These heartfelt stories give readers an insider’s look at the amazing work female explorers at National Geographic―and beyond―are doing in the field to solve some of the world’s toughest problems.

Rather than detailing the lives of well-known women, this anthology celebrates lesser-known changemakers and outstanding women of diverse backgrounds, nationalities, and fields of study who are just beginning to make a name for themselves. Each profile is based on first-person interviews and comes paired with useful tips and relatable advice for budding explorers and scientists. Stunning photography and fascinating general interest information about the animals, places, and practices add drama and context.

No Boundaries sends a positive message to every girl who has ever dreamed or dared to go a little further. And although these explorers’ endeavors are quite adventurous, the lessons they share can inspire all girls, as well as boys, whatever their goals, skills, and interests.

Website | Twitter | Instagram

CLARE FIESELER is a National Geographic explorer, photojournalist, and conservation biologist. She has conducted field research on coral reefs and island ecology across the Caribbean and wider Atlantic Ocean. She also studies urban wildlife in her home city of Washington, D.C. As a journalist, Fieseler has traveled the globe, reporting on emerging environmental problems for the Washington Post, NPR, and National Geographic, among other outlets. She was awarded the 2019 Mass Media Fellowship from the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Fieseler is most proud of the time she rappelled down a rock cliff with a broken foot to photograph the world’s most endangered fern.

Website | Twitter | Instagram

GABBY SALAZAR is a National Geographic explorer, a nature and conservation photographer, and a social scientist. As a U.S. Fulbright Scholar in Photography and an associate fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers, she has worked on environmental photography projects across the globe, spending months at a time living in tropical rainforests and on tropical islands. Salazar has an MSc in Conservation Science from Imperial College London and is currently a doctoral student at the University of Florida’s School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Science, where she studies environmental marketing. She is committed to environmental education and uses photography to get kids outdoors and to connect them with nature.

GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

  • One (1) winner will receive a hardcover of No Boundaries!
  • US/Can only
  • Ends 4/10 at 11:59pm ET
  • Check out the other stops on the tour for more chances to win!

Blog Tour Schedule:
March 28th – Teen Librarian Toolbox
March 29th – YA Book Nerd
March 30th – Always in the Middle
March 31st – Bookhounds
April 1st – Randomly Reading

Posted in Giveaways, non fiction | Tagged , | 4 Comments

MMGM for March 28, 2022

Posted on March 28, 2022 by Greg Pattridge

One more round of great MG reviews and features for March. Click on a book stack to reach a blogger’s post:

At ALWAYS in the MIDDLE I have a review of WAVE by Diana Farid.

Carol Baldwin is doing a brotherly shift again as Elliott Kurta returns with a review and GIVEAWAY of PICTURING A NATION.

Sue Heavenrich features a MG non-fiction title over at Archimedes Notebook: Herbaria: A Guide for Young People, by Kelly LaFarge.

Patricia Tilton at Children’s Book’s Heal has a book older MG readers can look forward to reading as they transition to the next level. It’s Lies Like Wildfire by Jennifer Lynn Alvarez, a thriller for teens and young adults.

Maria Antonia tells us about KID SPY: MAC SAVES THE WORLD by Mac Barnett.

Alex Baugh is at The Children’s War with a review of Louisa June and the Nazis in the Waves by L.M. Elliott.

Karen Yingling at Mrs. Yingling Reads always has a fantastic MMGM book to share. Be sure to check it out along with her other reviews from last week including Friday’s AIR by Monica Roe.

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(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)
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 Book Lists, Middle Grade Book Reviews | Tagged , , | 1 Comment