Middle grade fiction

Strangers in strange lands

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

How to Say Goodbye in Cuban by Daniel Miyares (Anne Schwartz Books, 240 pages, grades 4-8). Daniel Miyares tells the story of his father, Carlos, a young boy living in the Cuban countryside in 1956. When his father wins the lottery, he decides to pursue his dream of opening a furniture store, moving the family to the big city. Carlos is heartbroken to leave his friends and grandparents, but things take a darker turn as the political landscape in Cuba changes dramatically. The beginning of each chapter shows Castro’s slow rise to power, as he gathers enough supporters to overthrow Batista and takes over the country. Carlos’s parents aren’t particularly political, but that doesn’t protect them from the state taking his dad’s business. Carlos secretly watches Papi and some other men work every night building a boat, and shortly after that, his dad disappears. When life gets more dangerous in the city, the family returns to their grandparents’ farm, where Papi reunites with them and tells them they’re going to America. Carlos is heartbroken all over again, but his father convinces him it’s their only chance for a better life. After a dangerous nighttime journey, they arrive in Florida, ready to begin that life. Includes a four-page author’s note with additional information about Carlos and how his son Daniel came to write this book, along with several photos.

I was surprised to learn that Daniel Miyares has never won a Caldecott, and this graphic novel could easily remedy that situation–or win him a Newbery. The story and gorgeous artwork capture both the beauty of Cuba and the tension, confusion, and danger of the early days of Fidel Castro’s regime. The last part of the book, covering the family’s escape is both suspenseful and moving, and readers familiar with today’s immigration situation will be surprised at the welcome the Cubans get from the American military.

The Experiment by Rebecca Stead (Feiwel and Friends, 288 pages, grades 4-7). Despite his normal New York City upbringing, Nathan has always know that he’s different from other kids. He brushes his teeth five times a day with special pink toothpaste, his mother carefully records every calorie he eats, and…he and his family are aliens. Known as the Kast, his parents have raised Daniel on tales of how they traveled from their home planet as children to begin an experiment living on Earth. Nathan meets each month on Zoom with other Kast children, and he’s begun secretly texting one of them, a girl named Izzy. But recently a few of the kids, including Izzy, haven’t been on the calls, and when Nathan discovers that he’s growing a tail, he suspects he’ll be the next to disappear. He’s not wrong, and he and his parents are summoned to the mother ship, which sits in a parking lot outside a Pennsylvania mall, disguised as a storage container. As Nathan learns more about the ship and his parents’ past, he begins to suspect that it’s all a deception, and that he and the others might be human after all.

This science fiction story is hard to put down once you get through the first few chapters, and the last half has plenty of twists and turns that will keep readers guessing until the very end. It reminded me a little bit of a Margaret Peterson Haddix story and would make a great introduction to the sci-fi genre.

A year in the life of a middle schooler

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Dear Jackie by Jessixa Bagley, illustrated by Aaron Bagley (Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 288 pages, grades 4-7). Jackie and Milo are best friends, born on the same day and growing up next door to each other. They’re nervous about sixth grade but certain they can navigate it together. When Milo starts hanging out more with his soccer teammates, and Jackie’s frenemy Adelle teases her about not dressing like a girl or having a crush, Jackie decides to take matters into her own hands. She types a letter to herself from a secret admirer and “accidentally” drops it into Adelle’s locker, which is right above her own. The cool kids are intrigued, so Jackie writes another note to get more positive attention. Before long, she’s in over her head, and she and Milo have both hurt each other with a series of misunderstandings and cruel pranks. Jackie gives into pressure and goes to the big school dance, but when the kids find out the identity of her “secret admirer,” she’s sure her life is over. With the help of her older sibling Bari, she figures out how to tell her parents who she really is and to make amends with Milo. A final letter to Bari at college reveals that she and Milo have found their people through a gaming club, and seventh grade promises to be a much better year for everyone. Includes notes from the wife-and-husband author and illustrator.

Fans of middle school graphic novels will enjoy this one, which really pours on the middle school cringe and cruelty in a way that all too many of us will find familiar. Non-binary Bari and Jackie will help kids see that there are many ways to express your identity, and the most important thing is to be true to yourself. I hope we get a sequel to find out how seventh grade turns out.

Winging It by Megan Wagner Lloyd, illustrated by Michelle Mee Nutter (Graphix, released October 21, 272 pages, grades 3-7). Luna’s unhappy when her dad tells her they’re moving from California to Washington, D.C., and even more so when she learns they’ll be living with her maternal grandmother until they can find their own place. Luna’s mom died when she was a baby, and while she would like to be closer to Grandma and learn more about her mom, her grandmother has always seemed stiff and distant. One day, though, Grandma shares her mother’s old nature journal, and Luna, who’s never enjoyed the outdoors, starts taking tentative steps to explore the natural world, with her biggest dream being to see the luna moth for whom she’s named. Slowly, she starts making friends with her neighbors and getting involved with her school’s environmental club. Even her busy father and her grandmother take an interest in sharing nature with Luna, and by the time a year has gone by, everything has changed so much that Luna feels like she’s truly found a new home.

Fans of Allergic and Squished will be excited to see a new graphic novel by the same team. Just like Dear Jackie, this story goes month by month through a school year, from one summer to the next, and shows the reader how much can happen in a middle school year, and how many changes there can be. Luna is forced to be brave as she deals with a big move and the adjustment of living with a grandmother she barely knows, but she rises to the occasion and discovers parts of herself she never knew existed.

Fairy tales

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The Invisible Parade by Leigh Bardugo, illustrated by John Picacio (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 60 pages, grades 3-6). There’s a party planned for the evening, but Cala doesn’t want to go, since she is still grieving about her grandfather’s recent death. As the family does errands around town, illustrations show her mom giving money to a man sitting and begging, Cala bumping into a sneezing woman, and her siblings arguing. She ignores them all, feeling too sad. That night at the cemetery, Cala sees the ghosts of people who have parallels to those from earlier in the day. A skeleton on a horse is sick, another one is hungry, and a third likes to argue. They explain to her that helping sick people can lead to a caring heart, witnessing hunger can make you grateful, and fighting can provide a chance to forgive. A fourth rider, Death, shows Cala the ancestors, including her grandfather, who are still with her. By the end, Cala is no longer afraid of hunger, sickness, anger, or death, and is ready to join the party. Includes notes from the author and the illustrator.

This collaboration between a best-selling YA author and a Hugo Award winning illustrator offers a dark fairy tale perfect for Día de Muertos. The story will get readers thinking about their fears and the good that can happen when they face them, as well as how to handle grief. The illustrations will be loved by anyone who appreciates all things spooky. I saw this recommended for ages 4-8, but I think older kids would get more out of the tale and be less likely to be frightened by the pictures.

Greta Ever After by Melissa Dassori (Christy Ottaviano Books, 304 pages, grades 4-7). Greta has high hopes as well as high anxiety as seventh grade begins. Her best friends are excelling at sports, student government, and acting, and she wants to show everyone she can be a star journalist. A magical cuckoo clock she receives for her twelfth birthday has a wooden dancer girl who comes to life for Greta, introducing herself as Lulu and offering Greta the chance to escape life by entering the clock with her. Greta is tempted, especially when she finds herself struggling to come up with good news stories to write about. In desperation, she starts to secretly create situations around school that she can report on. Before long, she’s getting the praise she was seeking for her writing, but knows that she’s compromised her journalistic integrity. As the deadline to join Lulu closes in, Greta must decide whether she wants to escape from life or stick with getting through the tough times.

This was a fun mix of realistic middle school story and fairy tale magic, with a performance of Into the Woods allowing Greta and her friends to enter into a different sort of fairy world. I guess maybe I’m not up on my journalistic ethics, but I thought some of Greta’s ideas for creating news were pretty cool, and that the reactions when her family, teachers, and friends found about them were a bit overblown. Greta is a relatable character, flaws and all, and readers will connect with her dilemmas.

Hansel and Gretel by Stephen King, illustrated by Maurice Sendak (HarperCollins, 48 pages, all ages). The classic fairy tale is retold by horror legend Stephen King and illustrated using set and costume designed by the equally legendary Maurice Sendak for a 1997 production of the opera Hansel and Gretel.  Side note: the opera was composed by Engelbert Humperdinck, whom I remember as a singer from the 60’s and 70’s. I learned that the pop singer took his stage name from the German composer who created the opera Hansel and Gretel in 1893. The name dropping is fierce, and surely HarperCollins is counting on this to generate sales heading into the holiday season.

It’s a pretty long but engaging retelling, and the illustrations are all that you could want in a story whose candy-studded gingerbread house conceals a child-eating witch. In his introduction, King describes much of Sendak’s work as “sunny exterior, dark in the center…or sometimes vice versa,” and his story pays homage to this sensibility. I usually steer clear of books with celebrity authors, but in this case, I think it’s worth a look and most likely, a purchase.

Animal friendships

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Pocket Bear by Katherine Applegate, illustrated by Charles Santoso (Feiwel and Friends, 272 pages, grades 3-7). Zephrynia is a cat who likes to “rescue” (some would say steal) items that she finds, bringing them to her owner Elizaveta and her daughter Dasha. She always seeks counsel about her treasures from Pocket Bear, a small stuffed bear who traveled in the pocket of a World War I soldier before winding up as a castoff that Dasha found. Dasha was injured and lost her father before she and her mom immigrated to the U.S. from Ukraine, and she has a soft spot for the stuffed animals that Zephrynia brings her, so much so that she cleans them up and offers them a new home through her Second Chances store. When Zephrynia finds an unusual old bear in a dumpster, Dasha works her magic, preparing Berwon to find a new home. But his history makes him the target of an unscrupulous antiques dealer, and Zephrynia finds herself acting unselfishly for the first time to rescue Berwon and bring about a happy ending for him, Pocket Bear, Elizaveta, and Dasha. Includes an author’s note about her inspiration for this story, a little bit of the history of teddy bears, and the soft spot she has for stuffies.

As I was considering books to offer my four fourth-grade reading clubs this fall, I found myself leaning heavily on Katherine Applegate’s books. And why not? The stories are full of heart, memorable characters, interesting plots, and timely messages, yet have short chapters and enough illustrations to make them good choices for those who haven’t read a lot of chapter books. This one will go into the rotation, as it has all the elements mentioned above. And in case you are wondering, one of my groups voted for Wishtree, while another chose Dogtown. (Non-Applegate choices were The Wild Robot and The Guardian Test.)

Fox and the Mystery Letter by Alex G. Griffiths (Frances Lincoln Children’s Books, 40 pages, grades K-3). Fox lives in a cottage in the middle of a dense woods. “He lived alone–usually that was just the way he liked it.” But one morning, a large bird delivers a letter that reminds Fox of–oh, never mind. The letter is the beginning of a puzzle that Fox must solve, and with every step, readers get hints that Fox may have had a dear friend in the past with whom he quarreled and parted ways. The hunt takes him through the woods, up a tree, and across the ocean until finally the puzzle is solved and the friendship is repaired.

This is a charming animal story, and who doesn’t enjoy a good scavenger hunt? It’s a great mentor text for making predictions as clues are dropped throughout the story about Fox’s friend and what happened to their friendship. It seemed a bit risky on the part of the friend to trust that Fox would persevere through such a complicated hunt, but he does, and it’s a happy ending for everyone.

Two (or more) of a kind

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The Taylors by Jen Calonita (Scholastic, 224 pages, grades 3-6). Taylor, a.k.a. Teffy, is nervous about starting fifth grade, which is at the middle school. She’s surprised and delighted to discover three other girls named Taylor in her class, each one named, as she is, for Taylor Swift. The pop superstar’s Eras Tour is coming to their hometown of Indianapolis, and all four are desperate to get tickets. They come up with different strategies, most notably selling friendship bracelets to try to raise the exorbitant sums the tickets are fetching online. When not pursuing their Swiftie passions, the four try out for cheerleading and navigate the occasionally bumpy roads of fifth grade, including dealing with mean girl Hannah and some misunderstandings among themselves. Although they’re not able to realize their dream of buying tickets, they decide to attend the Tay-gating party next to the stadium, where their loyal friendship pays rich dividends in the form of a surprise truly worthy of Taylor Swift.

Although this story already feels slightly dated (the Eras Tour ended almost a year ago), the friendship of Teffy, Tay-Tay, TS, and Taylor is truly an inspiring one, showing four girls whose loyalty and integrity helps them achieve their lofty goals. Although it’s technically a middle school story, I like that the girls are in fifth grade, making this a great choice for elementary readers. 

Let’s Get Together by Brandy Colbert (Clarion Books, 304 pages, grades 4-7).  In alternating chapters, Kenya and Liberty tell their story of sixth grade. Liberty’s been in the foster system most of her life and has finally landed in a good home with a woman named Joey. She’s nervous about her first day of middle school, but doesn’t expect the surprise that meets her there: a popular girl named Kenya who looks exactly like her. There’s tension between the two girls from the start, and a big fight at the sixth-grade mixer lands them both in the principal’s office, where Kenya’s father realizes he’s finally found his long lost daughter–Kenya’s twin. As the girls learn about their past, they slowly become good friends and decide there’s only one way to a happy ending: get Kenya’s dad and Joey to fall in love and get married. The author’s note tells of her love of the original Parent Trap movie that inspired this story as well as additional information about children in the U.S. foster care system.

Those who have watched either of the Parent Trap movies will appreciate the parallels in this take-off, although Liberty’s story of being taken by her mom, who struggled with mental illness and drug abuse, has a more serious tone, and also provides a more realistic reason why parents would separate their twins. Despite that, the story is fun and the alternating chapters gives readers a chance to get to know each twin equally well.

A ghostly vacation and a creepy operation

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

The Last Resort by Erin Entrada Kelly (Scholastic Press, 240 pages, grades 4-7). When Lila’s Grandpa Clem dies, leaving an old inn to her father, the whole family has to leave their home in Phoenix to spend the summer at the inn in Ohio, sorting out the estate. Lila’s despondent about the trip, fearing it will further estrange her from her two former best friends, who have started accusing her of being overdramatic and leaving her out of things. The inn is pretty creepy, and Lila begins seeing strange people appear and disappear, including her late grandfather who she never met. When he tells her he was murdered, Lila is determined to figure out what happened to him and teams up with her neighbor Teddy and her brother Caleb to solve the mystery. As the people around her start having nightmares that reflect their worst fears, the situation becomes increasingly desperate, and Lila finds that the personality traits she’s often been criticized for having are an asset when it comes to dealing with ghosts and haunted mansions. Thanks to Scholastic for providing me with a free copy of this book.

This is a classic Scholastic series: a bunch of popular authors each write a book in a series, combined with a gimmick that will have kids clamoring for the latest installment at their book fairs or Scholastic flyers (think 39 Clues or Horizon) In this case, a few of the illustrations have QR codes that lead readers to a site where the ghosts tell their stories and allow readers to solve mysteries. While this method of storytelling is unlikely to showcase Newbery winners like Kelly (and book 2’s Jasmine Warga) at their creative best, this is a fun ghost story with an engaging protagonist who learns that what she’s been told is “too much” is actually her own imaginative and courageous personality.

Troubling Tonsils! (Jasper Rabbit’s Creepy Tales) by Aaron Reynolds, illustrated by Peter Brown (Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 88 pages, grade 1-4). Our old Creepy Carrots/Crayon/Pair of Underwear friend Jasper Rabbit introduces main character Charlie Marmot and his tonsils, then the tale begins innocently enough with Charlie coming down with a sore throat. A trip to the doctor reveals tonsillitis, and an operation is scheduled for a few days hence. Charlie’s actually excited, asking the doctor if he can put the tonsils in a jar to bring in for show-and-tell. By the time surgery day arrives, Charlie’s throat feels better, and the doctor is shocked when he does a quick pre-op check and discovers that the tonsils are gone! No one can explain this, but Charlie is sent home, where he starts to experience strange sights and sounds in the middle of the night. Finally, exhausted, he falls into a deep sleep one night, only to discover upon waking that he….

Well, now, I guess you’ll just have to read this short chapter book to find out, won’t you? To be honest, the Creepy books aren’t my favorites, but kids can’t get enough of them, and I trot them out every Halloween to universal joy. Fans will be delighted to see this new chapter book series, perfect for those who are just moving up to that level. The story is a perfect blend of funny and creepy, with an ending worthy of The Twilight Zone. Look for book 2, Unsettling Salad, in February, 2026.

Elementary heroines

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Dream On by Shannon Hale, illustrated by Marcela Cespedes (Roaring Brook Press, 240 pages, grades 3-6). Fourth-grader Cassie has a lot of big emotions as she navigates the difficult terrain of growing up in a small house with a large family and dealing with changing friendships at school. When she sees a flyer in the mail telling her she’s won some fancy prizes, she starts to dream about how this could change her life. Usually, she would enjoy sharing those dreams with her best friend Vali, but recently Vali’s been spending more time with another girl who alternates being friendly and being mean to Cassie. Cassie’s frequently told that she’s too sensitive, but she can’t help the way she feels, and as the story goes on, she learns that being sensitive also means having a greater sense of wonder about the world around her. Things don’t magically resolve themselves, but having good conversations with her mom (who’s often too busy for such things) and with Vali about their friendship helps Cassie feel better about her problems and to find a way to a new normal at school and at home. Includes a note from Shannon Hale about the parallels between Cassie’s 1980’s childhood and her own.

Fans of Shannon Hale’s Real Friends series will be delighted to discover this new graphic novel, with book 2 coming in August 2026. Just as with Real Friends, I found the tone of this book a little melancholy, but it’s a realistic portrayal of a character who is extra sensitive, making her prone to lower moods but also extra appreciative of more joyful ones.

Amina Banana and the Formula for Friendship by Shifa Saltagi Safadi, illustrated by Aaliya Jaleel (G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 128 pages, grades 2-5). Amina’s both excited and nervous about her first day of third grade in America. Her family has recently relocated from Syria to Indiana, and all of them have had to overcome many difficulties, with obstacles still ahead. Being scientifically inclined, Amina writes a five-step formula for making friends at her new school, only to find herself crossing off one step after another after a series of discouraging setbacks. But she finds a kind group of girls who help her with her English and encourage her to share her culture with them and with the rest of the class. By the final pages, Amina has found new friends and the courage to be herself in her new country.

I was wowed and humbled by the courage of Amina and her family in this early chapter book series starter (book 2 is out, and #3 will be published in January). Her dad, a pharmacist in Syria, is working at a fast food restaurant while her physician mom studies to pass the boards so she can practice medicine in the U.S. Despite their hardships, the family is loving, supportive, and has fun together. I’m always happy to find books featuring protagonists in younger elementary grades, so it was nice to discover these two books with girls in fourth and third grades.

Let’s visit the Goodreads 2026 Mock Newbery list!

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

As you’ll see, I’ve been a little resistant to these three books, all of which are currently at or near the top of the Goodreads 2026 Mock Newbery list. I thought I’d dive into them during the last couple weeks of summer before school started. One that I did not get to, and probably won’t, is Max in the Land of Lies by Adam Gidwitz, simply because it’s a sequel which I don’t usually review. I did love the original, Max in the House of Spies, so I feel pretty confident rooting for it to get Newbery acclaim.

Rebellion 1776 by Laurie Halse Anderson (Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books, 416 pages, grades 5-9). Elsbeth tells her story from March, 1776 through the end of November, a time when she is working for the Pike family in Boston while searching for her father who’s mysteriously gone missing. He’s the only family member she has left after her mother and siblings died of smallpox when they lived in Philadelphia. There’s a lot going on in 1776 Boston, starting with the evacuation of all British loyalists after the Patriot army takes the city (I finally learned what Evacuation Day is and why it’s still celebrated in Boston). Elsbeth witnesses the financial fall and rise of the Pike family, as well as their struggles with the decision about whether to inoculate their children against smallpox. In the end they proceed, and it falls on Elspeth to nurse them through the mild cases of the disease that they have to suffer in order to create immunity. After months of anxious searching, Elsbeth is finally reunited with her father, and a final chapter gives a report of what happens to her and other characters up until 1781. Includes a note on sources which details the immense amount of research that went into writing this book.

I didn’t know that I wanted to read a 400-page historical fiction novel about the American Revolution, and I’m afraid many middle school readers will feel the same way. Which would be a shame, because this is an extremely compelling story with all sorts of interesting characters, many of whom I’ve had to leave out of my brief review. The chapters are short and the plot keeps humming along, making it a quicker read than I thought it would be. Readers will learn a lot about American Revolution history and find parallels to contemporary life, most notably the vaccine controversy and the fact that ordinary life goes on even when you are living through revolutionary times.

The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest by Aubrey Hartman (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 320 pages, grades 4-7). Clare is an undead fox who has made his home in Deadwood Forest for the last six years, ushering lost animals to their afterlife in one of four realms: Pleasure, Peace, Purpose, or Pain. His life, such as it is, is quiet, and he has learned to keep himself busy reading and tending his mushroom garden to keep away disturbing thoughts about being abandoned by his mother and the car accident that led to his demise as a kit. When he gets wind of a prophecy that could shatter his peaceful life, Clare sets out to make sure that it doesn’t happen. His least favorite animal, a badger, appears at his door, and although he tries to usher her into the afterlife, she seems unable to cross over. As All Hallows’ Eve approaches, Clare begins to have some insights into his life that eventually allow him to let the prophecy unfold and his own path to change dramatically.

I can’t decide how I feel about this book. The story, characters, and world-building are all exceptionally well done, and there are interesting questions about life, death, and self-acceptance that would make this a great choice for a book club. At the same time, I felt myself having to push to get through it, as it started to feel like kind of a heavy read, so it may not be for everyone. Based on the writing alone, though, I would not be unhappy to see it get a Newbery.

The Trouble with Heroes by Kate Messner (Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 368 pages, grades 4-7). This novel in verse opens at the end of the 7th grade school year for 13-year-old Finn Connelly. Not only is he in danger of failing two classes, but he’s in a lot of trouble for vandalizing the headstone of Edna Grace Thomas, a local woman famous for her love of the Adirondack Mountains and her support of other climbers. Edna’s daughter makes Finn an offer: he and his family won’t have to pay for damages if Finn will hike the 46 highest peaks in the Adirondacks over the summer along with Edna’s dog Seymour. Knowing his mom can’t afford to pay, Finn reluctantly agrees to go, accompanied on each hike by one of three local climbers. As the summer progresses, Finn’s resentment gradually gives way to a love of hiking, as he uses the long climbs and the beautiful vistas to process his grief about his dad, a firefighter known for his heroism on 9/11 who struggled with addiction and died while working long hours during Covid. Finn learns more about his dad and slowly unravels his own feelings of grief and anger, while figuring out his own talents and using them to help his family move forward.

This book sounded a bit mawkish to me, but I’m happy to say I was completely wrong. I would love to see it get a Newbery, because I think it has a lot of kid appeal. The verse format makes the 350+ pages move pretty quickly, and Messner injects plenty of humor and lightheartedness despite the weighty topics. Finn goes through some pretty big changes, but they all feel in keeping with being 13 years old. And there’s a pretty lovable dog as the cherry on top.

Family: it’s complicated

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Danilo Was Here by Tamika Burgess (HarperCollins, 304 pages, grades 5-8). Danilo’s family has gone through tough times since his beloved Papá left for the United States to try to find work, shortly before the U.S. bombed his Panamanian neighborhood in December, 1989. Papá has stopped writing and sending money, and Danilo is determined to find out what’s happened to him. When he gets recruited for a California baseball clinic shortly after his family has been forced to move into a refugee camp, he decides to go and try to find his father. Danilo inherited his baseball talent from Papá, and when he discovers his dad lives less than an hour away, he writes a letter inviting him to come watch the team play. But things don’t go as planned, and Danilo finds himself in the unfamiliar position of being the worst player on the team, with PTSD and worries about his mother and sister distracting him from the game. When he finally does connect with Papá, he learns that his dad has moved on, and Danilo and his family can’t count on him for support. Fortunately, Danilo finds caring friends and adults in the U.S., and with their help he’s able to figure out what his dreams are and how best to support his family when he returns to Panamá.

In her second middle-grade novel, Tamika Burgess takes a look at the recent history of Panamá, and the effects the U.S. involvement there had on ordinary Panamanians. Readers will relate to Danilo and his struggles with family, friends, and uncertainty about what he wants to do with his life, even though his experiences are likely to be very different from theirs. I hope this will be considered for a Belpré Award.

Kickturn by Brie Spangler (Knopf Books for Young Readers, 192 pages, grades 3-6). Ten-year-old Lindy is worn out and jaded after spending two years on a converted school bus, posing for photo shoots for her wellness influencer mom and watching her dad grow increasingly frustrated with the issues of the rundown bus that he quit his tech job for. When the bus completely gives out in San Jose, Lindy is excited to have a place to stay for a while and thrilled to meet some other kids who share her passion for skateboarding. Her hopes for putting down roots are dashed when the local garage is able to miraculously patch the bus together. When her parents start making plans for going back on the road, ignoring their daughter’s pleas, Lindy decides the only way to get their attention is to sabotage the bus. Although they’re furious with her, Lindy’s parents eventually calm down long enough to listen to her concerns (which include failing her fifth-grade homeschool curriculum) and to make a plan that allows them to settle down long enough to make a new plan. Includes sketches and Instagram usernames of real-life kids who love skateboarding.

With its appealing journal format that includes lined pages and lots of sketches and doodles, Lindy provides a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s really like to embrace van life and influencer culture. Although she occasionally sounds a little jaded and world-weary for a fifth grader, her voice is genuine and funny. Even kids who have lived in the same place all their lives will relate to her desires to fit in with friends as well as her struggles to get her parents to listen to what she needs.

Learning Black history through historical fiction

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Radiant by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson (Dutton Books for Young Readers, 320 pages, grades 4-7). Fifth grader Cooper Dale is ashamed of the fact that she sometimes wishes she were white, but she can’t help feeling that it would make her life easier at school where she’s the only Black student. While she shares events like grieving the assassination of President Kennedy and excitement about the Beatles with some of her classmates, she’s also the target of racist bullying by other kids, especially Wade. When Cooper’s mom gets a cleaning job with Wade’s family, Cooper finds out that his mother is dying of cancer. Although it’s hard for her to be compassionate, she learns from those around her, including her parents and older siblings, members of her church, and the new Black boy who is dealing with the loss of his own mother. By the end of the book, Cooper has realized that she and Wade may never be friends, but her empathy can help him get through a difficult time and may even change how he sees her and her family.

This novel in verse does an excellent job of weaving historical events of 1963 into a story that today’s readers will relate to. Cooper’s honest voice expresses both her wish to live up to her parents expectations of being “radiant” and her very human emotions in response to some of the difficult situations she encounters.

Will’s Race for Home by Jewell Parker Rhodes (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 208 pages, grades 4-7). Will’s family is barely making it as sharecroppers on a cotton farm in Texas when Father hears about the chance for free land in Oklahoma–if they can win the race to get there. Despite the risks of the journey, Father decides it’s worth a try, and 12-year-old Will successfully makes the case to join him. Along the way they encounter a rattlesnake, a rushing river that must be crossed to get to Oklahoma, and a mysterious ex-Civil War soldier named Caesar with some dangerous enemies. Caesar and his horse Midnight join Father and Will, and the three work together to survive and overcome the racism that threatens to derail their plans. When Caesar gets shot, it’s up to Will to ride Midnight all night, covering the last leg of their trip and making his family’s dream of owning land a reality. Includes an author’s note giving more historical context, particularly on the removal of indigenous groups from the land being claimed in the story and the Tulsa Race Massacre that took place in Oklahoma a generation after Will and his family settled there.

Fans of the I Survived series will enjoy this action-packed adventure featuring a courageous hero committed to helping his family. The author’s note addressed some of the more troubling aspects of the land rush, as well as the fact that the story for Black people settling in Oklahoma was unfortunately not as happily-ever-after as Will’s seems to be. I’m guessing both of these books will receive consideration for Newbery and Coretta Scott King awards.