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

WAVE

Posted on March 27, 2022 by Greg Pattridge

A novel in prose has to have several qualities to capture my interest. Like all story telling formats, there needs to be a connection to the characters. Next, the prose has to go beyond being a collection of poetic lines—a flow that makes for a page turning experience. Finally, telling the story in verse should not make you wish it had been done in a more traditional fiction type novel.

WAVE won me over on all accounts.

Thirteen-year-old Ava loves to surf and to sing. Singing and reading Rumi poems settle her mild OCD, and catching waves with her best friend, Phoenix, lets her fit in—her olive skin looks tan, not foreign. But then Ava has to spend the summer before ninth grade volunteering at the hospital, to follow in her single mother’s footsteps to become a doctor. And when Phoenix’s past lymphoma surges back, not even surfing, singing, or poetry can keep them afloat, threatening Ava’s hold on the one place and the one person that make her feel like she belongs. With ocean-like rhythm and lyricism, Wave is about a girl who rides the waves, tumbles, and finds her way back to the shore. 

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Wave will appeal to an upper middle grade audience or ages 10-15. The setting is one I have not seen too often in MG: A Southern California beach town in the 1980s. You feel for Ava’s misery with a dad far away she’s not connected with, a mom who is pushing her toward a career as a doctor—not a good fit for Ava, and the often racist taunts when she is at the beach with her best friend Phoenix.

A gut wrenching reality takes hold when Phoenix has another battle with the relentless cancer invading his body. Ava is there for him but will it ever be enough to save her only connection to the world she has been put in?

The spacing and layout of the prose goes along with Ava’s emotional journey. No worries if you shy away form 300+ page books as the poetic styling never fills up an entire page and won’t take you long to read. Occasional illustrations also provide a nice accompaniment.

Here’s hoping to hear more from Ava as she is a character worth anyone’s time. Another WAVE would be welcome.

BOOK BIRTHDAY: March 29, 2022 PAGE COUNT: 320

FIVE MORE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT WAVE by Diana Farid

  1. The Persian culture is brought forth in a wonderful fashion. Many of the words I had never heard but were thoughtfully explained in footnotes.
  2. MG readers will be amazed at the effort it took in the 80s to save a series of favorite songs. No instant downloads of your favorites. Instead, you had to tape them yourself from the radio and hope the disc jockey doesn’t blab while the song is playing. After days or weeks of effort you’ve hopefully created a nice cassette tape to share. Wave also has me now listening to an 80’s FM station and it really was a great musical time period.
  3. I’ve never surfed but the experience seemed exhilarating. It also served to connect me to the time period and place—one so different from where I grew up.
  4. Ava’s poetic narration takes you on your own wave of emotions.
  5. The song Ava writes is saved for the end as it should be. There is also a fun listing of the cassette tape music tracks chosen my Phoenix and Ava for each other.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Diana Farid is the author of When You Breathe, named a 2021 Notable Poetry Book by the National Council of Teachers of English; it was also awarded the California Reading Association’s 2021 EUREKA! Gold Award for nonfiction children’s book. She is a poet and a physician at Stanford University. Wave is her first middle grade novel. For more information, visit dianafarid.com.
Twitter and Instagram: @_artelixir


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

ALSO: BE SURE TO STOP BY THIS WEDNESDAY AS I’M HOSTING A BLOG TOUR STOP FOR “NO BOUNDARIES” with a GIVEAWAY!

Posted in Middle Grade Book Reviews, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

REBEL GIRLS—CLIMATE WARRIORS

Posted on March 25, 2022 by Greg Pattridge

In paperback format, this eye opening account of 25 woman explains how the world’s leading activists, authors, and scientists are helping combat climate change. I spotted a few recognizable names like Greta Thunberg and Margaret Atwood, but most were my first introduction to their work.

Each outstanding individual is given a two-page spread with their story opposite an illustrated picture. Learn how Zoologist Lucy King figured out an ingenious way for elephants and farmers to live side by side; How Anne Hidalgo became the mayor of Paris and enacted many environmental policies; or discover Angelina Arora who has created a plastic that breaks down in just 33 days (compared to 400 years) and the chemicals actually help plants grow.

It’s exciting to see most of these woman were inspired by what they experienced in their younger life as middle graders and teens. Dreams can become realities.

Along the way are extra QR codes that lead to audio stories of other trailblazing women. Bonus material in the back page invite readers to create their own story and portrait. Next comes a CELEBRATE NATURE piece with activities to learn about and advocated for nature and wildlife. The last page has many ideas to LIVE GREEN.

You can view all the books in the REBEL GIRLS series at rebel girls.com. There is even an app available.

Rebel Girls—Climate Warriors is an inspiring look at what one can do with purpose and drive. Most important, it will inspire others to do the same.

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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 Uncategorized | 4 Comments

MMGM for March 21, 2022

Posted on March 21, 2022 by Greg Pattridge

Spring into some great MG reviews. Click on a sun to reach a blogger’s post:

In case you missed her comment on last week’s MMGM, Suzanne Warr shares a heartfelt tribute to Apricot Kitty, a beloved book reviewer always up for giving two cents worth of advice.

At ALWAYS in the MIDDLE I have a review of Kelcie Murphy and the Academy for the Unbreakable Arts by Erika Lewis.

Author June McCrary Jacobs has Show Me a Story. This book focuses on creating handmade literacy activities for children to use while learning to tell and write their own stories.

Patricia Tilton at Children’s Book’s Heal reviews Pighearted by Alex Perry, a heartwarming story that tackles difficult topics, including medical ethics.

Carol Baldwin features another young reviewer. This time around, Elliott Kurta’s younger brother, Blake, reviews I Escaped the California Camp Fire.

Maria Antonia reviews WHEN STARS ARE SCATTERED by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed.

Valinora Troy is back this week with a review of WULFIE-A GHOSTLY TALE.

Rosi Hollinbeck reviews IMAGINARY by Lee Bacon. Rosi also shares three links of interest for her writing friends.

Alex Baugh at Random;y Reading returns to the MMGM lineup this week with a review of Wave by Diana Farid.

Andrea Mack shares her review of Rescue at Lake Wild by Terry Lynn Johnson.

Kim Aippersbach also returns this week with a review of THE BARREN GROUNDS by David Alexander Robertson.

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 Sunday’s MEANT TO BE.

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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 , , | 2 Comments

KELCIE MURPHY and the ACADEMY for the UNBREAKABLE ARTS

Posted on March 20, 2022 by Greg Pattridge

A school for children with magical abilities. Sounds like Hogwarts, but AUA has its own unique plot with a memorable cast of characters.

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The Otherworld is at war. The Academy for the Unbreakable Arts trains warriors. And Kelcie Murphy—a foster child raised in the human world—is dying to attend.

A place at AUA means meeting Scáthach, the legendary trainer of Celtic heroes. It means learning to fight with a sword. It means harnessing her hidden powers and—most importantly—finding out who her parents are, and why they abandoned her in Boston Harbor eight years ago.

When Kelcie tests into the school, she learns that she’s a Saiga, one of the most ancient beings in the Otherworld. Secretive, shunned, and possessed of imposing elemental powers, the Saiga are also kin to the Otherworld’s most infamous traitor.

But Kelcie is a survivor, and she’ll do whatever it takes to find her parents and her place in their world. Even if that means making a few enemies.

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This first book in the series covers year one at the Academy in 34 fast paced chapters. Readers get a full understanding of Kelcie’s past, present, and near future. Thankfully, there are no intense cliff hangers. A fresh continuation will occur when book 2 is released.

The third person narration stays close to Kelcie. It all begins at the at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts where she is is kidnapped and sent to a non-human world and a very unique school.

Kelcie is the only student who arrives without any prior knowledge as to why she is there. In order to gain entrance you have to cross a nasty acting bridge or be sent home. Yes, Kelcie makes it as do others. They are assigned to units (called a Fianna) of 4 students. They live together and as a group partake in training and trials to enhance their magical skills.

Fantasy and friendship are intertwined into a winning formula. Of course it doesn’t hurt to have action, danger and mystery thrown in to keep the pages turning. The twist and reveals will keep you reading way past bedtime.

It’s great to have another fantasy series to recommend and Kelcie Murphy and the Academy for the Unbreakable Arts is a welcome addition to the shelves.

BOOK BIRTHDAY: MARCH 1, 2022 PAGE COUNT: 331

Five more Things to Like About: Kelcie Murphy and the Academy of Unbreakable Arts by Erika Lewis

  1. The magical characters are introduced into the world building scenes and doing so makes them more than memorable. There are GRAPPLER EELS; GRINDYLOWS who are pond dwelling,unfriendly creatures—especially to children; SPRIGGANS, a woodland creature from Cornish mythology whose sap has healing powers.; and TROLLS, FAIRIES, and GOBLINS.
  2. Kelcie’s tough nature is equaled by classmate Brona. These two girls see each other in an entirely different way by the end. A marvelous twist.
  3. The other interesting character in my reading was Niall. He is a a sweet young boy who is Kelcie’s first friend. He’s missing one hand but is out to prove he can survive better than anyone else.
  4. Celtic mythology is a fascinating component of the tale.
  5. I was getting a little bit confused with all the new terminology. That is until I discovered in the back pages a handy glossary. You could even read this first as an introduction to the world you are about to enter.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Erika Lewis grew up in Alexandria, Virginia, spent summers with her grandparents in Worcester, Massachusetts, and currently lives in Los Angeles, California. With a passion for storytelling set in magical places, she spends as much time as she can traveling. When she’s not writing, she can generally be found scribbling notes in a blank book while wondering through abandoned buildings, all kinds of museums, and graveyards. A graduate of Vanderbilt University, her list of credits straddles the comics and novel space, including Game of Shadows from Macmillan’s Tor Books, Firebrand and Acursian from Legendary Comics, #Guardian from Awesome Media & Entertainment, and The 49th Key from Heavy Metal Publishing. The Color of Dragons (HarperCollins), her debut novel for young adults, published in Fall 2021. 

Visit her website at https://erikalewis.com/

Twitter: @ErikaElyLewis

Facebook: @TheErikaLewis

Instagram: @erikaelylewis

TikTok: @erikalewisauthor

Goodreads: Erika Lewis | Goodreads

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I received a copy of the book in exchange for my honest critique. Please comment below!

Posted in Middle Grade Book Reviews | Tagged , , , , | 12 Comments

THE ANGEL OF SANTO TOMAS

Posted on March 18, 2022 by Greg Pattridge

Classified as a picture book biography for elementary age readers (5-10 years old), The Angel of Santo Tomas is the heartwarming story of Philippine’s courageous Doctor Fe Del Mundo.

Fe del Mundo’s sister dreamt of becoming a doctor—a big dream for a girl in the Philippines in the early 1900s. When her sister dies, Fe vows to take her place and becomes the first woman and first person of Asian descent to study at Harvard Medical School. At the start of WWII she leaves Boston, where she is safe, and returns to the Philippines, where she is needed most, to care for American and British children forced into an internment camp at Santo Tomas.

Full page color illustrations help tell the story. They are bold and beautifully depict the impactful events in Fe’s life. Text is contained in a paragraph or two on each page, filling in the details that the images put forth.

A detailed timeline appears in the back pages giving even more information about this amazing doctor who lived to be just a few months shy of 100. Highlights include:

  • She was the first Asian woman to attend Harvard Medical School
  • Funded the building of a children’s hospital in Quezon City
  • Received the Ramon Magsaysay Award, Asia’s equivalent of the Nobel Prize

Inspiring and thoughtfully presented, The Angel of Santo Tomas will encourage today’s youth to follow their own dreams.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tammy Yee grew up in Honolulu, Hawaii, where she explored tide pools, caught crayfish in island streams, and collected monarch butterflies from crownflower trees to raise them into butterflies. After graduating from college, she cared for children as a pediatric nurse. Having her own children rekindled her love for picture books, so in 1994 she exchanged her stethoscope for a paintbrush and has been writing and illustrating ever since. (for more visit Tammy Yee’s website)

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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 , , | 3 Comments

MMGM for March 14, 2022

Posted on March 14, 2022 by Greg Pattridge

It’s St. Patrick’s Day coming up this week. Click on a four leaf clover to reach a blogger’s post.

At ALWAYS in the MIDDLE I have a review of UNICORN ISLAND Secret Beneath the Sand by Donna Galanti.

Natalie Aguirre at Literary Rambles has a guest post by debut author Sonja Thomas and her agent Ronald Gerber and a giveaway of her MG Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence and a query critique giveaway.

Patricia Tilton at Children’s Book’s Heal reviews The Wolf’s Curse by Jessica Vitalis, an unforgettable fantasy about death, grief, magic and friendship.

Jennifer Bohnhoff has a review on the first book in the Video Game Elementary series. 

Maria Antonia shares a post about LONG WAY DOWN by Jason Reynolds.

Rosi Hollinbeck reviews DOWN TO EARTH by Betty Culley. She also shares three links of interest for her writing friends.

Stephanie Robinson at Fairday’s Blog features the book Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly.

Max at COMPLETELY FULL BOOKSHELF reviews this year’s Cybils Awards finalists in Middle Grade Nonfiction! He’s also giving away a copy of one of them, The Genius Under the Table by Eugene Yelchin

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 like Friday’s Honestly Elliott.

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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 , , | 4 Comments