Styx and Stones by Gary D. Schmidt and Ron Koertge (Clarion Books, 240 pages, grades 4-7). Simon has spent centuries in the underworld, but he’s different than the other shades. After refusing to drink from the river Lethe, which wipes away memories, Simon spends his time in Hades’ kingdom plotting to escape. Even though each attempt results in his destruction, he’s brought back to life (sort of) the next day. Finally, his kindness to three-headed dog Cerberus results in success, and Simon finds himself naked in one of the boys’ bathroom stalls of a middle school in St. Paul, Minnesota. He’s rescued by Zeke, who spends too much time being bullied in the bathroom, and who gives Simon not only clothes, but a home, and an introduction to 21st-century American middle school. In return, Simon gives Zeke his undying friendship. The action shifts back and forth from school to the underworld, where Hades vows to retrieve Simon and destroy him. But Persephone and the other shades have been moved by Simon’s kindness, and little by little, changes begin to happen in the underworld. Eventually, the two worlds collide, and even Zeke’s friendship isn’t enough to keep Simon safe. But their few weeks together have changed everything for Zeke, Simon, and even the kingdom of darkness.

Collaborators Schmidt and Koertge have produced another engaging story that brings classical mythology into the modern world in a way that will undoubtedly appeal to Rick Riordan fans. While the world building is a little weak at times (how does Simon know English?), the story has a lot of heart and plenty of both mythological and middle school adventure. To me, it wasn’t quite strong enough for Newbery contention, but clearly there are other opinions, because it’s currently at #10 on the Goodreads list.

Midnight Mayhem by Christina Uss (Holiday House, 164 pages, grades 3-6). When Kaz accidentally eats an odd food combination at a diner, he loses the ability to sleep. At first, his sleepless nights are boring and lonely, especially since he and his family have just moved from Massachusetts to Philadelphia, and he hasn’t started school or made any new friends yet. When his parents put him into a hospital sleep lab to try to figure out a cure, Kaz meets fellow insomniac Floyd, who only requires an hour or two of sleep a night. Floyd loves adventures but has a tendency to inadvertently get himself into trouble, and Kaz finds himself forced to choose between lonely boredom and chaotic friendship. Ultimately, he chooses friendship, and he and Floyd get themselves a gig as late-night radio hosts…where Kaz accidentally discovers a (partial) cure for his sleeplessness.

This quirky novel features two endearing characters and a series of wacky adventures. It’s a pretty short read, and that, combined with plenty of humor, makes it a good choice for elementary kids. I haven’t read Gordon Korman’s latest, Sleepless, but interestingly it also features a group of kids who no longer need sleep, raising some interesting questions, as this book does, about what you would do with an extra 8 hours of activity in your life.