Middle grade fiction

A Rover’s Story by Jasmine Warga

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Balzer + Bray

Summary:  Resilience comes to life in a NASA lab, a rover built to explore Mars.  At first, he thinks he is a back-up for another rover named Journey, but he eventually learns that he is the one being sent into space.  He is curious about humans, or hazmats as he calls them, and particularly takes a liking to engineers Rania and Xander.  Rania has a daughter named Sophie, who starts writing letters to Resilience.  Although the rover never sees them, the letters give readers some insights into Rania’s home and family life.  The book is divided into five parts that cover more than 20 years, as Resilience gets launched and explores Mars with his drone, and friend, Fly.  An accident puts the rover out of commission for many years, but in the end, he is able to realize his dream and Rania’s of returning him to Earth.  320 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  Jasmine Warga does an amazing job of realistically bringing Resilience to life with a personality and curiosity that still keeps him in the realm of machine yet shows readers human emotions.  The subplot about Raina told through Sophie’s letters is also extremely well done and very moving.  A great recommendation for fans of The Wild Robot, and a Newbery contender for sure.

Cons:  While I could very much appreciate this book, I never really got engrossed in it. I guess I just generally prefer reading about people.

Red Scare by Liam Francis Walsh

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Published by Graphix

Summary:  Peggy’s got a lot going on: she’s recovering from polio and has to use crutches, her twin brother Skip has started being mean to her, and her father has returned from the Korean War with serious physical and psychological injuries, forcing her mother to work as a hotel maid.  One night, Peggy goes to work with her mom and winds up being a witness to a murder and unknowingly coming into possession of a mysterious substance.  When she realizes that she has this potion and that it enables her to fly, she and her new neighbor Jess begin having adventures all over town.  The FBI catches up with them eventually, intent on recovering the potion no matter who gets in their way.  When a suspenseful showdown atop a fire tower puts Peggy, Jess, and Skip in danger, Peggy finds out that she is braver than she thinks.  Includes additional information about polio, the red scare, and the atomic age. 240 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  Great snakes!  Tintin fans will love the Hergé-inspired artwork and nonstop adventures of this historical graphic novel that features the red scare of the 1950’s, polio, UFO’s, the Korean War, and a stirring speech about freedom and respecting others’ beliefs delivered by Peggy’s father to the mob going after Jess’s Communist dad.  

Cons:  There was a lot going on in 240 pages, both the rapid-fire plot and the characters’ development and growth, making some resolutions feel a bit too speedy.

Playing Through the Turnaround by Mylisa Larsen

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Clarion Books

Summary:  Nick, Lily, Jake, Cassie, and Mac all have problems at school and at home, but twice a week they get to forget about all that and just play music in their incredible Jazz Lab with Mr. Lewis.  But when Mr. Lewis is mysteriously absent just as the school board is amping up to make serious budget cuts, the five eighth-graders fear that they will lose their beloved group.  With the help of Quagmire, a troublemaker who isn’t afraid to speak truth to power, they embark on a series of increasingly outrageous actions to get the adults around them to listen–and not just about Jazz Lab.  A bittersweet plot twist near the end helps solidify them as a group and makes them even more confident about speaking up for what is important.  272 pages; grades 4-8.

Pros:  As you may know, I do love a good band story, and this one has an empowering message and a great cast of characters with issues that many middle schoolers will relate to.  The multiple points of view and short chapters make this a quick and engaging read that will appeal to reluctant and avid readers alike.  I found it hard to put down and zipped through it in just a couple of days.

Cons:  While I applaud the author for not neatly tying up all the loose ends in the final chapters, I was still wishing for a happy resolution for Cassie.

Hazel Hill Is Gonna Win This One by Maggie Horne

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Clarion Books

Summary:  Hazel has accepted her friendless state in seventh grade and is focusing on winning the speech contest to avenge last year’s loss to Ella Quinn.  She doesn’t pay much attention to popular boy Tyler, who insists on telling her about his many crushes.  But one morning, his gossip is a bit different: Ella, his former girlfriend, told him she didn’t want to get back together because she has a crush on Hazel.  Hazel is out as gay, and she’s not happy that Ella’s using her this way.  When she confronts Ella, though, she learns that Ella’s been receiving sexually harassing messages from someone who may or may not be Tyler.  Hazel discovers an important clue linking Tyler to the messages, but when the girls try to report what’s going on, they end up being the ones to get in trouble.  Desperate times call for desperate measures, and Hazel decides to use her public platform in the speech competition to bring attention to what is happening.  240 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  Hazel’s funny and distinctive voice tells a story of middle school sexual harrassment that may, unfortunately, be all too familiar to many readers.  Hazel, Ella, and Ella’s best friend Riley courageously join forces to speak out for justice.  The unexpected friendship Hazel finds with Ella and Riley (with a possible romance with Riley) adds a sweet dimension to the story.

Cons:  I like to see villains have some redeeming traits or at least an explanation for their terrible behavior, but this was not the case for either the principal or Tyler’s mother.

Odder by Katherine Applegate, illustrated by Charles Santoso

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Feiwel and Friends

Summary:  Odder is a sea otter who loves to play in the ocean, frolicking with her friend Kairi off the coast of California.  She’s a lot more daring than Kairi, and one day her adventurousness leads them right into the path of a hungry shark.  Both are attacked, but Odder sustains the worst injuries, landing herself at an aquarium under the care of humans. It turns out she’s been there before, and the second part of the book goes back to her early days when she was separated from her mother, rehabilitated by the aquarium staff, and released back into the wild.  Her second time there ends differently, and both she and Kairi end up as permanent residents, becoming surrogate mothers to rescued pups.  Includes an author’s note about the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the real-life otters who were the inspiration for Odder and Kairi; also a bibliography and a list of additional resources.  288 pages; grades 3-7.  

Pros:  Katherine Applegate’s legion of fans will be pleased to see a new heartwarming animal book on the shelves.  The verse format makes for a quick read, with interesting additional information for budding marine biologists and cute illustrations.

Cons:  I wish there had been even more cute illustrations.

Oh, Sal by Kevin Henkes

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Greenwillow Books

Summary:  Sal Miller is four years old, the younger sister of Billy Miller, the protagonist of two previous Kevin Henkes books.  There’s a lot going on in Sal’s house right now, with a new baby sister who arrived on Christmas Eve, and a visit from Uncle Jake, who annoys Sal by calling her Salamander.  Sal’s favorite Christmas gift was a set of underpants, each one labeled with both a day of the week and a flower.  When she discovers that the Wednesday/Poppy pair has gone missing, she’s devastated.  Her mother promises that by the end of the day they’ll find the missing underwear and name the baby (who has been called “Baby” for a week).  This prediction comes true in a way that ties the two events together, and Sal decides that this bodes well for a happy new year.  240 pages; grades 1-3.

Pros:  As always, Kevin Henkes perfectly captures the small details of a child’s everyday life, creating realistic characters and situations.  I wish I had been as patient and kind with a new baby in the house as Mama and Papa are to Sal and Billy.

Cons:  While this has the look of a middle-grade novel, a book with a four-year-old protagonist may be a hard sell to elementary kids.

The Door of No Return by Kwame Alexander

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Summary:  11-year-old Kofi has a good life as part of his West African community.  He finds his English-speaking teacher pretentious but likes to learn and enjoys hanging out with friends at school, especially Ama, the girl he has a crush on.  His cousin is his rival, and Kofi is preparing for a swimming race between the two of them that may determine his future with Ama.  When his older brother Kwasi accidentally kills a prince in a wrestling match, life begins to take some dark turns.  The prince’s family kidnaps both Kwasi and Kofi; Kofi is eventually shackled and crowded onto a ship (the door of no return) with others to be taken away from their homes.  A plot twist in the end leaves the readers in suspense, preparing the way for the next book in this planned trilogy.  Includes a Twi glossary and guide to Adinkra symbols that appear in the book.  432 pages; grades 6-9.

Pros:  Kwame Alexander has produced another masterpiece novel in verse that is sure to win some awards.  The transition from Kofi’s life in Africa to his captivity is stark, violent, and may be disturbing to younger or more sensitive kids, but the whole story adds so many important dimensions to the narrative of slavery.

Cons:  The story takes place in 1860, which seemed late to me.  I thought the slave trade ended well before that.  I wish there had been more historical notes at the end to explain what was going on at that time.

Play Like a Girl: A Graphic Memoir by Misty Wilson, illustrated by David Wilson

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Balzer + Bray

Summary:  Misty’s always loved competing with the boys, so when they tell her football’s not for girls, she decides to prove them wrong. It’s the summer before seventh grade, and she convinces her best friend Bree to sign up for seventh grade football with her.  Practices in the August heat are grueling, and the girls have to learn new skills like tackling and learning how to wear football pads.  It proves to be too much for Bree, but Misty sticks with it and becomes an important part of the team.  Most of the boys eventually accept her as a teammate, but a couple never do, which results in some uncomfortable situations.  In between practices and games, Misty deals with friendship issues, a crush on a teammate, and being part of a large blended family.  In the end, she learns the importance of being herself and surrounding herself with people who believe in her.  Includes an author’s note with some additional information about her football career.  272 pages; grades 3-7.

Pros:  This husband-and-wife team has produced an excellent graphic memoir that will inspire kids to try something outside of their comfort zones.  Sure to appeal to the many fans of the ever-growing middle school graphic novel genre.

Cons:  I was bummed that Misty quit football after seventh grade.

Freestyle by Gale Galligan

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Graphix

Summary:  Cory’s part of Eight Bitz, a dance team getting ready for the annual Bronx Kids Battle dance competition.  When progress reports come out, though, his straight C’s upset his parents, who insist that he cut back on dance and get a tutor.  That tutor winds up being Sunna, his science lab partner who Cory has dismissed as a nerd.  But when he accidentally discovers her passion for yo-yo’ing, he changes his mind completely.  Sunna proves to be a good tutor of both the yo-yo and the more academic subjects, and before long Cory has come a long way with both and earned his way back into Eight Bitz.  There are rifts within the team, including Cory’s new friendship with Sunna, and the eight kids have to work hard and compromise to keep the group together.  A yo-yo competition and the Bronx Kids Battle wrap things up, with realistic successes for everyone.  272 pages; grades 3-7.

Pros:  It’s graphic novels week after a bunch of them arrived for me at the library all at once. This one, from Baby-Sitters Club alum Galligan, is a high-energy middle school story with plenty of action and early teen angst.  The artwork beautifully captures the dance and yo-yo moves, and the kids do an admirable job of working out their differences pretty much without parental assistance

Cons:  There’s a good review on Amazon by a Muslim parent who mentions some of the ways Sunna is not accurately portrayed, including being alone with Cory in her bedroom and holding his hand when they dance together.

Frizzy by Claribel A. Ortega, illustrated by Rose Bousamra

~ Janet Dawson ~ 2 Comments

Published by First Second

Summary:  Marlene’s curly hair has been the bane of her existence for the last several years, as her mother insists on the two of them making weekly visits to the salon to have their hair straightened.  Not only is this physically painful, but it makes Marlene feel like her natural look isn’t beautiful.  After a few disastrous attempts to style her hair on her own, Marlene gets into trouble and is sent to her tía Ruby for a weekend of gardening.  Ruby has fully embraced her Dominican heritage, including her hair, and she shows Marlene how to manage her curls and make them beautiful.  Marlene is nervous to show her new look to her mom, but it serves as a catalyst to a much-needed conversation that brings them closer together.  224 pages; grades 3-7.

Pros:  Marlene is a character many tweens will relate to, torn between wanting to fit in, wanting to please a parent, and wanting to be herself.  This graphic novel also has a great message about the Eurocentric standard of beauty and embracing beauty from all cultures.  

Cons:  I always enjoy a good subplot or two, but this story stuck pretty closely to the main hair-related plot.