Middle grade fiction

Doodles from the Boogie Down by Stephanie Rodriguez

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Published by Kokila

Summary:  Steph is in eighth grade at her Bronx Catholic school, which means she and her friends are applying to New York City high schools.  Her strict Dominican mother wants her to continue at a Catholic school near home, but Steph is drawn to an arts school in Manhattan.  Since the school of her dreams requires a portfolio, not an exam, Steph decides to secretly work with her art teacher and mentor, Ms. Santiago, on a portfolio and to purposely fail the high school entrance exam.  Naturally, this plan drastically backfires, and Steph finds herself in trouble with both her school and her mother.  Fortunately, her mother, helped by her own mother, sits down and talks to Steph, resulting in a better understanding on both sides, and ultimately, Steph’s admission to the Laguardia Arts High School.  Includes a note from the creator telling more about her own life and what was the same and different from the fictional Steph.  208 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  Fans of graphic memoirs, especially artists, will love this new addition to the canon and will root for Steph in spite of a few less-than-great choices on her part.  

Cons:  I was bummed to learn that the real Stephanie didn’t get to go to LaGuardia High School.

Parachute Kids by Betty C. Tang

~ Janet Dawson ~ 3 Comments

Published by Graphix

Summary:  10-year-old Feng-Li is excited to be visiting America for the first time on what she thinks is a vacation, but a week in, she discovers her father packing to leave.  Turns out, her parents have decided that she and her older siblings Jia-Xi and Ke-Gāng will settle in America, where they’ll have more opportunities, and their parents will return to Taiwan and earn money to support the kids.  At first, nearby family friends help out, but when the father of that family gets transferred, the kids are really on their own.  Jia-Xi is trying to prepare for the SAT’s while taking care of the house and kids; Ke-Gāng is struggling with the fact that he’s gay and that the trouble he got into back home caused his parents to want the kids out of Taiwan; and Feng-Li is just trying to learn enough English to make a friend and to keep her siblings from their constant bickering.  As one catastrophe follows another, the kids try to keep things going, and Feng-Li is forced to grow up fast to keep her family from falling apart.  Includes an author’s note about her own experiences as a parachute kid, and how she used those experiences and those of other immigrant friends to create this story.  288 pages; grades 4-8.

Pros:  A compelling graphic novel about a family faced with some unimaginably difficult times, and the three brave kids who are able to admit their mistakes and work hard to make things better.  As Betty Tang says in the author’s note, “We need more diverse books, so eventually, everyone can find a piece of themselves reflected and their voices heard.”  The Lins’ story adds another voice to that canon.  

Cons:  I was hoping Ke-Gāng would be able to come out to his family by the end of the story, but it didn’t happen.

The Guardian Test (Legends of Lotus Island, book 1) by Christina Soontornvat, illustrated by Kevin Hong

~ Janet Dawson ~ 3 Comments

Published by Scholastic

Summary:  Plum has grown up on her grandparents’ small island farm, so when she unexpectedly gets an invitation to attend Guardian Academy, her life changes dramatically.  The Guardians are an elite group of shapeshifters who keep all the islands safe, and Plum joins the other kids who are trying to pass their first test–learning to transform.  With only a month to prepare, Plum is worried that she isn’t progressing as quickly as her classmates and is tempted when she learns that one of the other girls has found a shortcut to passing the test.  But her love of nature and abilities to communicate with animals and plants serve her well and she moves on with most of her classmates in an adventure to be continued when book 2 comes out in July.  160 pages; grades 3-7.

Pros:  Kids not quite ready for Harry Potter will love this Thai-inspired fantasy about a magical school with some pretty intricate world-building.  The short chapters and illustrations keep things moving along, and readers will be eagerly anticipating Plum’s next adventure.

Cons:  The cover gave me a graphic novel vibe; kids might be surprised to discover that this is a chapter book.

Four Eyes by Rex Ogle, illustrated by Dave Valeza

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Graphix

Summary:  Rex’s transition to middle school is a rough one, with his best friend Drew abandoning him for the popular kids and his blurry vision giving him daily headaches and making school work tough.  He finally admits to his mom what’s going on, and the diagnosis that he needs glasses is a blow to both of them.  Rex worries (correctly) that the bullying at school will get worse, while his mom and stepdad can’t afford new glasses and are forced to call Rex’s real dad, who’s something of a bully himself.  As the year goes on, though, Rex makes a new friend who teaches him how to stand up for himself.  Sixth grade ends on a positive note, with the promise of a seventh grade sequel.  224 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  The multitude of middle school graphic novel fans will enjoy this new entry that perfectly captures the angst of both family and friend relationships.  Nice to see a boy main character in this type of book.

Cons:  Having read Rex Ogle’s Free Lunch, I know that his family life was much more troubling than what is portrayed here.

You Are Here: Connecting Flights edited by Ellen Oh

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Allida

Summary:  These twelve short stories are all written by different authors about different Asian Americans kids and their families, but the stories connect to one another.  Everyone is traveling through Chicago’s O’Hare airport on a busy, stormy Fourth of July weekend, with flights delayed and canceled.  Whether they’re traveling to see family, attend a basketball tournament, or move to another country, each protagonist experiences some form of racism or microaggression from a fellow traveler.  Characters from different stories appear throughout the book, often offering support or solidarity as the kids learn to stand up for themselves or their families.  In the final story, Soojin’s mother is ready to move back to Korea after the family store is vandalized with racial slurs, but she eventually sees how much Soojin loves America and how many Americans are kind and supportive, ending the book on a hopeful note.  Includes an editor’s note telling how the book was created and brief biographies of all the writers.  272 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  After Ellen Oh edited the short story collection Flying Lessons, she learned that there wasn’t enough Asian American representation in that book which led to the creation of this one.  It’s a great collection, with thoughtful, interesting characters and situations in stories that can stand alone or be enjoyed as an ensemble.

Cons:  I started to find the similar situations and setting a bit monotonous; I preferred the greater variety of Flying Lessons. 

Fox Point’s Own Gemma Hopper by Brie Spangler

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Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers

Summary:  Gemma’s dealing with a lot at the beginning of seventh grade:  her mom has recently abandoned the family, leaving Gemma to deal with taking care of her baseball star older brother, twin kid brothers, and her dad who spends most of his time working.  At six feet tall, she can’t hide out at school, and her best friend’s attempts to get in with the popular kids make her feel like a loser.  She loves baseball, but only gets to play when her brother needs batting practice.  Usually, she pitches what he wants, but one day, she’s so fed up that she does her own thing.  Her amazing pitches are captured on camera and go viral, catching the attention of the same scouts who discovered her brother.  Suddenly Gemma is in the spotlight, and she discovers that, while it can be scary, it’s a more exciting place to be than where she’s been hiding.  272 pages; ages 4-7.

Pros:  Readers will be rooting for Gemma as she deals with a family that doesn’t always appreciate her and the usual friend dramas of middle school.  Accepting that her mom is gone helps her to move on, and the last few pages are completely emotionally satisfying.

Cons:  I prefer full-color illustrations.

School Trip by Jerry Craft

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Published by Quill Tree Books

Summary:  Jordan Banks and his friends (and frenemies) from New Kid and Class Act are back for their last hurrah before finishing up at Riverdale Academy Day School (a.k.a. RAD).  The whole eighth grade gets to choose from a variety of trips including Yellowstone, Alaska, Mississippi, and, for Jordan, Paris.  He’s happy to be in a group with friends like Drew, Liam, and Alexandra, less thrilled with the inclusion of class bully Andy.  As the group experiences adventures and mishaps in France, they get to review some of what they’ve learned about friendship, bullying, and other relationship issues during their time in middle school.  Jordan has a big decision weighing on him, having gotten into an art school for high school and trying to decide if he wants to transfer or stay at RAD.  Back home, he finally figures out what he wants to do (“helped”, as always, by his mother), and it seems as though the story may be continued, or this could be the final installment.  256 pages; grades 4-8.

Pros:  Jordan Banks fans will be thrilled with a new book about RAD, and the chance to get off-campus leads to plenty of humor and also many thoughtful conversations on a wide range of relevant topics that will make this a great jumping-off place for class or book club discussions.

Cons:  One of my favorite things about New Kid was how deftly Jerry Craft wove discussions of racism and other social justice topics into a funny school story with lots of fun and interesting characters.  While I still love the messages being imparted, in this installment, they sometimes felt a bit more heavy-handed.

Bea and the New Deal Horse by L. M. Elliott

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Published by Katherine Tegen

Summary:  The Great Depression has taken just about everything away from Bea: her dad’s job, her mother, and her home.  Now her father is drinking too much, trying to hold things together for Bea and her younger sister Vivian as they travel from one place to the next.  After sleeping in a barn in Virginia one night, Bea wakes up to discover her father has left a note and vanished.  The note says that Mrs. Scott, the owner of the farm, is the mother of the girls’ mother’s college roommate and will give them a place to live.  Bea is cautious about revealing their identity, but eventually Mrs. Scott discovers them and reluctantly lets them stay on her horse farm.  She is facing financial difficulties as well and has recently made things worse by buying an ornery chestnut horse to save him from an abusive owner.  Bea takes a liking to the horse, and after many ups and downs, Mrs. Scott agrees to train her to ride, with the hope of showing and selling him in a few months.  Bea, Mrs. Scott, and the horse have all been through some tough times, and it’s difficult for them to trust one another, but slowly they start to forge a bond, helped by Malichi, a blind Black WWI veteran who works in the house and Ralph, a loyal stable hand for many years.  By the time of the horse show, despite the high stakes, the somewhat patchwork group has solidified into something resembling a family.  Includes a lengthy author’s note with additional historical information and a list of sources.  384 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  Fans of The War That Saved My Life will want to check out this historical fiction novel with a heroine whose gritty determination has been shaped by hardship.  Anyone who loves horses will also appreciate the many scenes of riding and barn life, and I encourage you to keep a few Kleenexes handy for the final horse show.

Cons:  I was not crazy about the name they finally chose for the chestnut horse.

Aniana del Mar Jumps In by Jasminne Mendez

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Published by Dial Books

Summary:  Aniana loves to swim, but her swim team is a secret between her and her Papi, since Mami has extreme anxiety about water, dating back to her brother’s drowning death in a hurricane during her childhood in the Dominican Republic.  When Aniana develops symptoms of what is later diagnosed as Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, she’s forced to tell the doctor about her swimming, and Mami is sure that God is punishing her for lying.  Slowly, Aniana comes to terms with her illness and begins to see herself as a new person–someone who has to deal with a chronic disease, but also someone who is no longer afraid to speak up for herself.  A crisis brings the need for some resolution, bringing Mami the help she needs and allowing Aniana to find her way back to swimming.  Includes an author’s note about her own life experiences, including a chronic illness, that inspired her to write this book.  384 pages; grades 4-8.

Pros:  I jumped into this beautiful novel in verse and found it hard to put down.  Aniana is an inspiring protagonist who is forced to learn to live with a pretty debilitating disease and manages to re-make herself into someone stronger.

Cons:  I got very frustrated by Mami.

Hoops by Matt Tavares

~ Janet Dawson ~ 4 Comments

Published by Candlewick

Summary:  The story opens on a November evening in 1970.  Judi Wilson is watching her older brother and his friends play basketball, while her friend Stacy practices cheers.  When they head off to the high school game, Judi picks up the ball, dreaming of making the winning shot at a big game.  Fast forward five years, and Judi and Stacy are senior co-captains of the cheerleaders, rooting on the boys’ basketball team.  When Judi hears that a girls’ team is forming, she decides to try out, abandoning cheerleading and upsetting Stacy.  Only eight girls show up, so they’re all part of the new team.  Despite the lack of uniforms, a bus, meal money, or the use of the high school gym, the girls love playing and begin to win games.  As they get better known, they’re allowed to use the gym when the boys are done with it, but they still have to wear t-shirts with their numbers taped on with electrical tape and drive to away games in their coach’s borrowed RV.  Finally, when they make it to the state championship, the athletic director apologizes in front of the school for his shabby behavior, and the booster club gives them real uniforms.  In the final game of the championship, the score is tied with just seconds left, and Judi gets a chance for the winning basket, bringing the story full circle to her early dream.  Includes a 4-page author’s note about how he came to write this book and with additional information about Title IX.  224 pages; grades 3-7.

Pros:  Based on a true story, this graphic novel is fun and fast-paced, showing the uphill battle female athletes faced in the early days of Title IX.  Although it takes place in high school, the friendships and sports action will be enjoyed by elementary and middle school readers.  While I love Matt Tavares’s picture books, I hope he’ll continue with graphic novels as well!

Cons:  Judi’s sweatshirt on the last few pages indicates that she’s on a college basketball team, but I wish I found out for sure if she and her teammates got to play in college.