Middle grade fiction

Let’s hear it for the boys

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Mexikid Dreams: A Graphic Memoir by Pedro Martín (Dial Books, 320 pages, grades 5-8). In this sequel to the Newbery Honor book Mexikid, we get a look at Pedro’s family closer to home. All the siblings are expected to help make ends meet by getting up early on Saturdays to pick strawberries. Pedro would rather stay home and watch cartoons, so when his oldest brother finds another job that their father approves of, Pedro decides he needs to find an alternative career path to get him out of the fields. He begins a hilarious stint as the trombonist in a couple of bands, one at school and one directed by the local priest who signs them up for a memorable concert in a prison. The same priest convinces their dad that the kids need to find other things to do as summer approaches, and Pedro and two of his brothers get a chance to go to camp. A few days of “normal kid” life convinces Pedro that it’s not all it’s cracked up to be and makes him appreciate his family more than ever. Includes an epilogue that tells what all the kids in the family ended up doing (spoiler alert: they’ve all had interesting and successful careers) and a collection of photos from Pedro’s childhood.

I don’t usually review sequels, but I couldn’t resist the chance to find out what the family from Mexikid would get up to next. There are enough school and family hijinks to satisfy any Wimpy Kid fan, with Pedro constantly poking fun at himself and his schemes. But there are a lot of more serious storylines about immigration, including his father’s brutal stories about being an undocumented worker in his youth, the police raids on the family farm to round up the undocumented workers that help the family, and Pedro’s trip to the prison where the Mexican kids are targets of racist guards, and Pedro finds himself scanning the crowd of prisoners for familiar faces. This feels like it may be the last of the Mexikid books, but I hope Pedro Martín will continue to find a way to share his talents as an artist and a writer for kids.

Absent by Rex Ogle, illustrated by LJ-Baptiste (Norton Young Readers, 304 pages, grades 5-8). Manny is a poet and lyricist who would rather be skateboarding than in school and isn’t afraid to tell his teachers that. Calvin is an artist and cartoonist who can’t get to school on time because of all his commitments at home. Liam wants to be a doctor who sometimes misses classes when he’s hiding from the bullies who trigger his panic attacks. The three boys wind up in detention together and tell their stories through poetry (Manny), comics (Calvin), and journal entries (Liam). Although they come from different backgrounds and have different interests, somehow a friendship grows during their three-week detention, and each one comes away from their punishment with new friends and new tools to help them cope with life at home and at school.

Told in three different formats, this book zips along quickly, with funny and sometimes heartbreaking stories unfolding that include poverty, incarcerated parents, and bullying. Each boy is incredibly resilient in his own way, and each has at least one adult who believes in him and encourages his talents. I was wiping away a few tears by the time detention ended and a friendship had been born that left each boy in a heading in a more positive direction.

The right stuff

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The Gallaudet Eleven: The Story of NASA’s Deaf Bioastronauts by Kerry O’Malley Cerra, illustrated by Kristina Gehrmann (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 48 pages, grades 1-4). As the Space Race heated up, a researcher at NASA needed to figure out how to help astronauts with motion sickness as they traveled into space. Knowing that motion sickness originates in the inner ear, he decided to study a group with vestibular systems don’t work–which is some people who are deaf. He recruited eleven men from Gallaudet University and spent the next ten years studying them in all sorts of environments that had them spinning, floating, and traveling on a ship through stormy seas. The team saw it as a way to serve their country, and the experiments led to the creation of medicines, space suits, and other devices that eased motion sickness for the hearing astronauts. Includes a note from the author (who is deaf but now hears with a cochlear implant) with additional information about the bioastronauts and the creation of the book, a timeline, and a list of selected sources.

This was such a fascinating story, and one that is sure to grab the attention of a wide range of readers. The Gallaudet’s enthusiasm and willingness to put themselves through a variety of challenging experiments really shines through, despite their isolation from scientists and hearing astronauts who didn’t know how to communicate with them.

Casting April by Wendy Lu (Knopf Books for Young Readers, 288 pages, grades 4-7). April loves the theater and secretly hopes to try out for her middle school play. Having a tracheostomy tube makes her nervous about performing onstage, and her mom’s worries don’t help her confidence. When her best friend Ruby urges her to try out, April nails her audition and eagerly awaits the cast list. Much to her surprise and disappointment, she’s given a backstage role. She decides to give it a try, hoping to unseat new girl Zahra from the lead role. After overhearing the director Ms. Rooney telling other teachers that she was afraid to give April a part because of her trach tube, April becomes more determined than ever to prove her wrong. The play turns out to be full of surprises, and April’s discoveries about Zahra and Ms. Rooney cause her to reevaluate everything. When it looks like the performance might get cancelled, April puts aside her own ambitions and works with her family and friends to prove once and for all that the show must go on.

At first glance, this may seem like another middle school theater story, but there’s a lot more packed into it, including interesting insights into living with a disability. April proves herself capable of handling just about anything related to her health, proving those around her wrong about her limitations. At the same time, she wants to be treated like other kids. She also gets a lesson about invisible disabilities with her discoveries about Ms. Rooney. An engaging and inspiring story by an author who also lives with a tracheostomy tube.

Two books to kick off Hispanic Heritage Month

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The Mystery of the Stolen World Cup Trophy by Angela Cervantes (Henry Holt and Co., 240 pages, grades 4-7). Diez has a dad who loved soccer and almost went pro. He had a mother who loved mysteries until she died of cancer not too long ago. These two influences come together when Diez and his dad are invited to an exclusive FIFA party by Diez’s crush, Rio. In the middle of the party, the World Cup trophy mysteriously disappears, and Diez teams up with Rio to try to figure out what happened. A big storm keeps everyone in the hotel for several hours, so the mystery must be solved before lockdown ends and the thief can escape. Although the police and a famous investigator are on the case, it’s Diez who discovers the missing piece to the puzzle that reveals who stole the trophy.

I’m not usually a big mystery person, but I got caught up in this story, which was not only a whodunit but the story of Diez. He has a great sense of humor and is also honest about his own shortcomings and working through his grief about his mother. There were a lot of characters to keep track of, and I would have appreciated a list of them all somewhere that I could have referred back to. I definitely didn’t see the final resolution to the mystery coming, but it all made perfect sense. This should generate a lot of interest with students coming back to school after the big World Cup summer.

Queso, Just In Time by Ernesto Cisneros (Quill Tree Books, 272 pages, grades 4-7). Queso is another narrator dealing with grief, in this case losing his dad in a senseless shooting. Before he died, his father had been going through a difficult time, dealing with PTSD from his military service. In an unexpected series of events, Queso finds himself transported back to 1985, where he meets Pancho, who turns out to be his dad when he was Queso’s age. Pancho accepts Queso’s story that he’s gotten separated from his mom and invites him to stay at his house, where Queso meets a younger version of his beloved abuelita and his abuelito, who passed away shortly after Queso was born. He also learns of his dad’s struggles at school and his joy at being the best at foosball. Torn between missing his home and wanting to soak up every minute with his father, Queso tries to help Pancho do better at school and have more confidence in himself, hoping that that will help him lead a happier life. When Queso is finally able to go home again, he discovers that his dad is still dead, but the changes that Queso initiated in 1985 have paid big dividends in his present life.

This Back to the Future-inspired time-travel story explores a number of different issues including grief, living your best life, Queso’s Mexican heritage, and being an ally as Queso learns to be that to LGBTQ+ friends in the past and present. I have mixed feelings about time-travel stories, which are a lot of fun, but which always leave me wondering about making changes that go forward into the present. Cisneros handles the plot of this one very well, though, and I definitely had fun revisiting the 1980’s.

The secret lives of middle school girls

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Raise the Bar by Fernanda Frick H. (Dial Books, 352 pages, grades 5-8). For as long as she can remember, Samantha has loved to lift heavy things. Now she trains daily at her gym in Chile, inspired by her hero, Eva Dos Santos, the first Latin American woman to win a weightlifting Olympic gold medal. Sam’s parents don’t support her dreams, but her older brother helps her try out for the elite High Performance Center, where kids from all over Latin America train for events like the Pan American Games and the Olympics. When Sam is accepted to train with Dos Santos, her parents grudgingly allow her to go. At the center, she pushes herself as hard as she can, not allowing herself to become a full part of the friendly camaraderie of other athletes. A disastrous performance at an important event results in an injury and a period of soul-searching that gives Sam a new perspective, making her a more supportive teammate and allowing her to reconcile with her family. Although she doesn’t get the Pan American gold medal she’s dreamed about, Sam is well on her way to becoming a champion by the end of the story.

Middle school readers will love reading about Sam’s experiences, as well as the subplots involving various other athletes. Her ambition and passion, as well as her setbacks, will ring true for many teens and tweens, and her comeback story is sure to inspire.

Middle School Monsters by Robin Easter (Little Brown Ink, 224 pages, grades 4-7). “In movies, the monster is usually the one terrorizing the humans. In middle school, it’s the other way around,” Jamie tells the reader on the second page. She hints that she’s really a werewolf, and that she has to hide her identity to fit in at her new school. A group of girls befriend her on the first day, warning her to stay away from weird girl Vera. But Jamie finds she likes Vera, who may or may not be a vampire, and the two secretly become friends, writing a story together about werewolf Scout and vampire Raven. Vera introduces Jamie to her online friends who have similar interests. But when Jamie’s new friends bully Vera, Jamie stands by silently, and when their Scout and Raven story falls into the wrong hands, she disavows any connection to it. Understandably, Vera pushes her away, and Jamie has to decide which is more important: fitting in or true friendship?

Ah yes, the age-old middle school dilemma, told here with a fun twist about who is a monster and who is not. Readers will be rooting for Jamie to embrace her true self, and I’m happy to spoil it by saying she decides to go with her werewolf persona. There were parts of the story that could have been more fleshed out, and kids may be disappointed that there aren’t real monsters in the book, but they will also connect with the middle school drama and the importance of finding real friends.

Dance Team Drama (Detective Baby book 1) by Meg Cabot, illustrated by Amelia Allore (HarperAlley, 176 pages, grades 3-7). Jenny has a superpower that only her best friend Vesper knows about: she can understand and speak baby talk. After the money she raised for the new dance team uniforms disappears, Jenny’s desperate enough to offer her services as a babysitter. Her first job introduces her to a crackerjack baby detective named Rosie with twin sidekicks Timmy and Tippy Tupperman who communicate via baby monitor. Unbeknownst to their grown-ups, they’re just wrapping up a case, tracking down a missing cat. They’re able to coerce Jenny into helping them return the cat and collecting the reward. Jenny’s ready to pack it in after that adventure, but Rosie convinces her that she knows what happened to Jenny’s lost money. Sure enough, she manages to crack the case which involves not only Vesper, but Jenny’s brother, her crush, and her nemesis from the cheerleading squad. We’re sure to see more from this crew in book 2, Cheerleader Challenge, coming out next spring.

And on a lighter note, here’s a quick and fun mystery from beloved middle grade and YA author Meg Cabot, featuring a heroine with an unusual ability and three very clever babies. The manga-style pink and purple illustrations will draw readers right in, and they’ll have some good laughs following Jenny and the Detective Babies as they crack their first case.

Orphan girls

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Birdy by N. West Moss (Christy Ottaviano Books, 288 pages, grades 4-8). Birdy and her younger brother Mouse have lived all their lives in Manhattan with their mother, whose cancer and mental health issues have meant a difficult childhood for both kids. When their mom passes away, the kids are sent to the country to live with an older couple who are distant relatives. Everyone is trying to find their way in this unexpected new situation when the kids’ long-lost Uncle Clay comes for an extended visit. Despite her fear of any kind of attachment, Birdy finds herself drawn to the new adults in her life. She’s surprised to enjoy day camp, meeting kids her age and getting to engage in fun activities that weren’t part of her city life. At the same time, she’s working through her grief and doesn’t always know what to do with her feelings of anger, fear, and sadness when she remembers her mom. Although the kids’ situation is only for six months, things start to feel permanent, and everyone waits anxiously when a social worker comes to visit and to make a recommendation for their placement. A happy ending gives Birdy and Mouse an unusual but loving found family.

The story is somewhat slow-paced and most of the action is internal, so I think it would take a certain kind of reader to connect with it. Having said that, this is probably my favorite middle-grade novel of the year, and I found myself slowing down reading it so that I could savor every bit of Birdy’s journey before getting to the extremely satisfying ending. I loved that Birdy was reading Cynthia Voigt’s Dicey books, a series I loved many years ago and that tell the story of a similar orphan girl.

Raven, Rising by Christine Hartman Derr (Heartdrum, 288 pages, grades 4-8). Raven and her aunt have moved to a new town after a freak accident that Raven feels responsible for claimed the lives of both of her parents. She longs for the connection to her Cherokee heritage that was a big part of her old community, and a clique of mean girls and a bullying assistant principal make her feel unwelcome in her new school. She misses the baking she once did with her mom, which almost felt magical, but she feels like her passion for cooking may have caused her parents’ accident. Raven finally befriends two other girls and starts to notice that they have some unique powers, similar to her baking. The three of them join forces to take action against the assistant principal and to try to deal with the ringleader of the mean girls in a constructive fashion. Their friendship makes a huge difference to Raven, and by the end of the book, she’s starting to feel like she and her aunt are becoming part of their community.

Magic realism gives this story a fun and occasionally spooky vibe, addressing many issues, including bullying (by kids and adults), grief, and respecting and celebrating others’ cultures. I closed both books hoping for sequels so that we can find out what happens next for Raven and for Birdy.

Magic books

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The Ordinary and Extraordinary Auden Green by Corey Ann Haydu (Quill Tree Books, 336 pages, grades 4-7). Denny is dealing with a lot as her twelfth birthday approaches: her mom has relapsed with the alcoholism that plagued her before Denny was born, and her best friend Runa wants to break into the popular crowd. Runa and Denny have spent many years creating the world of Sorrowfeld, an imaginary land they write about in a special notebook that’s filled with princesses and dragons. After Denny’s disastrous twelfth birthday party, she finds a gift from Runa–a mirror framed by dragons–that seems to show Runa hasn’t forgotten their magical world. When Denny gazes into the mirror, she’s transported into Sorrowfeld, trading places with Princess Auden, who finds herself in Denny’s world. Each girl has to deal with the other’s issues: Princess Auden has to figure out what’s going on with Denny’s parents and Runa, and Denny is tasked with fighting the dragons that the princess has been dealing with. Each girl feels torn between childhood and adulthood, still wanting the simple joys of being younger while facing the responsibilities of growing up. As each girl learns how to be herself and find her voice, both Denny and Auden learn how to deal with the dragons that they’re facing.

This is a very cool premise for a book, and for the most part it’s carried out with grace and skill. Anyone who’s ever created an imaginary world will envy Denny’s chance to visit hers, and the issues that each girl is facing are sympathetically portrayed. It did feel like it got a little preachy toward the end, with both Denny and Auden making one life-changing realization after another, but many middle school readers will find important lessons woven into a compelling and magical story. This has consistently been in the top ten of the Goodreads Newbery list.

When Tomorrow Burns by Tae Keller (Random House Books for Young Readers, 272 pages, grades 4-7). Long-time friends Nomi, Vi, and Arthur found a book many years ago with mysterious verses handwritten on its pages. Over the years, these verses have come to seem like prophecies, predicting events that have come to pass in their lives. Now their Seattle neighborhood is engulfed in wildfire smoke, and Nomi is certain that the end of the world that the book predicted is coming to pass. Told in alternating narrations, the three kids deal with a lot of big issues including sexual harassment and bullying, social media, climate change, toxic masculinity, and class differences. Through it all, their friendship evolves and survives, offering them hope in an uncertain future.

This is an amazing book that explores both the inner and outer worlds of three interesting and engaging middle school characters. The many different threads are expertly woven together, and it would make a great choice for any kind of book discussion. If anything, it felt a bit too ambitious taking on so many different topics, and I think it would be most appreciated by kids who get some expert guidance through it. Tae Keller is a Newbery Medal winner already, and she undoubtedly has another shot at it with this book.

New series for Dog Man fans

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Speed Reader by Matthew Cody, illustrated by Zack Giallongo (Andrews McMeel Publishing, 160 pages, grades 3-7). Despite his late superhero grandfather Felix Fast, Zander Fast isn’t exactly known for speed, as he plods through his day getting mediocre grades and coming in last in gym. But a mysterious package combined with a lightning strike unexpectedly gives him superpowers, and suddenly he can live up to his name, zipping through books, setting new running records, and dodging the villains that start showing up everywhere. With help from a new friend, his mom, and his great uncle Whizzy (Felix’s former sidekick), Zander’s able to defeat those villains, but it’s clear there’s more in store for him as a superhero.

From the author of the beloved Cat Ninja graphic novels comes a new series with the feel of a comic book or Saturday morning cartoon. What could be more relatable than a kid who struggles in school and gym class getting a superpower that specifically addresses those issues? Readers will enjoy reading about Zander and will be eagerly awaiting book 2.

Zeb and Bel: A Case of Bird Problems by Rachel Elliott (HarperAlley, 160 pages, grades 3-6). Bel is a cat who is also a detective. Zeb is her sidekick, brother, and a dog. When their human girl, Josephine, goes to see her friend Carlo do his magician act, Bel and Zeb follow and witness a shocking crime as Carlo’s bird and magician’s assistant, Payton, is stolen practically in front of the audience’s eyes. Bel gets on the case immediately, and with the help of Zeb, the two venture far into the city to figure out what happened to Payton. It’s not easy, but they crack the case, with the help (and despite the hindrance) of an engaging cast of animal characters. A cliffhanger ending and a preview page set up book 2, Night of the Bodega Cat. Includes instructions for drawing both Bel and Zeb, as well as a page showing mystery clues that were hidden throughout the story.

I found this graphic novel enchanting and laughed out loud at several scenes, particularly those involving Zeb and some of the other dog characters. It’s a good mystery, too, with an interesting (and funny) solution, and I liked how the author shared some of her visual clues at the end. For fans of both Dog Man and InvestiGators.

Hi-lo chapter books

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The Makeup Cover-Up by Natasha Deen (Stone Arch Books, 72 pages, grades 3-6). Bailey’s trying to fit in at her new school, but she’s torn between friends who are into makeup and clothes, and a mom who has a strict no-makeup policy. When Bailey starts sneaking to a friend’s house before school to put on the forbidden makeup, she feels cool and confident, but she also starts to notice issues with her skin. He big brother, even though he’s off at college studying theater, provides good moral support and serves as a go-between to help Bailey be honest with Mom and negotiate a compromise that works for both of them. Includes a glossary of makeup terms (which are highlighted in the story), a list of skin-care tips, and questions for discussion and writing.

This book is part of the four-book Tween Era series, written at a third-grade level but featuring middle school characters. It will appeal to a wide range of readers, with a short page count, plenty of illustrations, a lower reading level, and relatable issues for both elementary and middle school. I liked that the brother was the makeup expert! A good choice for reluctant readers.

The Clockwork Key (Relic Hunters, book 1) by Vashti Hardy, illustrated by Rebecca Sheerin (Union Square Kids, 104 pages, grades 3-7). Mabel and Will Graystone join their relic-hunting aunt on a journey to look for the lost city of Umber. Mabel is adventurous and impulsive, while Will is more of a thoughtful observer, each one of them bringing unique skills to the archaeological expedition. Aunt Lucy’s talking stuffed cat Grimm brings humor to the adventure, as they discover the secrets that destroyed Umber and outwit rival relic hunter Byron Cogsworth. The final pages hint at the next adventure, The Amulet of Hath.

This series was originally published in Great Britain a couple of years ago, but now the first exciting installment has been picked up by a U.S. publisher. It’s written in a dyslexia-friendly font, with lots of action and illustration and a low page count, making it another great reluctant reader choice.

Imaginary worlds, real-life issues

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The Second Life of Snap by Erin Entrada Kelly (Greenwillow Books, 176 pages, grades 4-7). 12-year-old Zuzu lives in an impoverished camp in the shadow of Lockwood Corporation that controls life in her dystopian Texas town. When her single dad loses his job, instead of severance pay, he’s given an old robot programmed to be a guardian. Zuzu’s not crazy about being watched over by Snap (Secure Network Android Processor), but one of her friends manages to reprogram it, turning Snap into more of a friend than a babysitter. Snap’s charger is broken, though, so Zuzu and her friends know he’ll only last as long as his current battery charge. As Snap takes on a life of his own, Zuzu starts to question the line between human and machine. When a dust storm hits the settlement, Snap proves his devotion, even though he can’t save himself. A final chapter fast forwards six months, offering a note of optimism that Snap has survived in some way and that change may be possible in this dark futuristic world.

Newbery medalist Erin Entrada Kelly creates a future that doesn’t seem too far off, addressing artificial intelligence, as well as corporate greed and the resulting societal inequalities. This would make a great book for an elementary or middle school classroom read-aloud or a book club, with a pretty short page count, a fast-moving plot, and lots of interesting ideas to discuss. The downside of being a quick read is that there’s not a lot of space for world building, and older readers may find it not quite as intriguing as some more fleshed-out dystopian novels. A great choice for fans of The Wild Robot series and A Rover’s Story.

Clock Hands by Marieke Nijkamp, illustrated by Sylvia Bi (Greenwillow Books, 288 pages, grades 4-8). In the city of Siennarra, the guilds hold all the power, and the guildless, unable to afford the apprentice fee, scrape by with whatever work they can find. Vale longs to practice a craft, but their guildless status prevents them from pursuing an apprenticeship. When Maestro Giuseppi and his daughter move to the city, he brings unconventional ideas that he’s picked up from living other places, refusing to join a guild and hiring Vale, first as a guide around the city and eventually as an apprentice. The powerful guilds respond violently, and Vale has to decide whether to simply accept their fate or to fight back. They choose the latter path, leading the guildless in a labor strike that proves the value of their work and opens up more fair ways for organizing labor in Siennarra. Includes an author’s note with additional information about the guilds of Middle Ages Italy that inspired this story, as well as information about labor strikes.

I missed 2023’s graphic novel Ink Girls, but this one, by the same team and taking place in the same imagined city, features a host of interesting characters and beautiful artwork depicting the city of Siennarra. Although the strike results in greater changes than most labor actions in the real world, it’s a great introduction to the concept of collective action and how it can be used for justice.

Long, strange trips

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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.