Published by Scholastic

Summary:  Ant’s the shortest kid in his fifth grade class and that’s just the beginning of his problems.  His number one concern is winning the local spades tournament to redeem himself after a humiliating loss last year.  The Joplin men are famous for their spades playing, and his brother and father are encouraging him and his best friend and teammate Jamal to win.  But in the weeks leading up to the tournament, things seem to fall apart.  Jamal gets in a fight at school and has to drop out.  A new girl named Shirley proves herself to be an excellent spades player and a good friend, leaving Ant feeling confused.  Worst of all, Ant’s dad starts drinking and gambling again, and Ant has to come to terms with the fact that Dad has a pattern of letting him down.  Told by a folksy omniscient narrator (whose identity is revealed near the end), Ant’s story shows that friends and family may not always be who they seem…and that it’s important to lean into the support of the ones who are always there for you.  Includes a list of substance abuse resources for readers.  320 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  Varian Johnson once again proves himself a master storyteller with this engaging story that doesn’t shy away from tough topics, but is also filled with humor and realistic, well-developed characters and situations.  A good contender for Coretta Scott King and/or Newbery consideration.  I am still recovering from my 2019 disappointment when The Parker Inheritance failed to win Newbery (although it did get a CSK honor).

Cons:  Spades sounded a lot like bridge, a game that has filled me with frustration in the past, so I kind of skipped over the card game descriptions.

Published by Katherine Tegen Books

Summary:  Joy’s father has recently lost his job, and the family has been forced to sell their house and move into a small apartment.  Joy misses her beloved home, and doesn’t like the thin walls of the new apartment and having to share a room with her little sister.  She’s happy to meet Nora, who quickly becomes a friend, and even more excited when Nora shows her the Hideout, a secret room in the building where Nora and her friends hang out.  The kids like to write on the walls, and one day Joy notices a new message from someone who seems to be in pain.  Joy writes back, but the writer stops responding before she can figure out who it is.  Before she can solve the mystery, a series of crises occurs with Joy’s family, her new friendship with Nora, and the discovery of the Hideout by the parents.  With the threat of changes to her family and friendships, Joy realizes how much she’s come to value the community of her new apartment building, and has to work hard and be creative to figure out a way to set things right again.  288 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  In her follow up to From the Desk of Zoe Washington, Janae Marks again proves herself an excellent storyteller.  Joy is a believable sixth-grade narrator, the other characters are well-developed, and the different plotlines hum along at a pace that will keep the reader moving quickly through the book.  Plus, I’m a sucker for a happy ending.

Cons:  I thought the revelation of who the anonymous wall-writer was and the reason for the messages was going to be a bit more dramatic.

Published by Dial Books

Summary:  Bug’s house has always shown signs of being haunted, and when Uncle Roderick passes away, it seems as though there is one more ghost, this one with a message for Bug.  Bug is also struggling with the idea of starting middle school with an identity that never feels quite right.  Moira, Bug’s best friend, is suddenly interested in clothes, makeup, and new friends, but none of that feels right to Bug.  Possibly guided by the spirit of Uncle Roderick, Bug makes a surprising discovery–he is a transgender boy.  It seems as though Uncle Roderick suspected that this might be the case and has guided Bug to learn his true identity so he can start middle school as himself, taking on Uncle Roderick’s middle name, Thomas, for his own.  192 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  I reviewed Alex Gino’s George (now called Melissa’s Story) back in 2015, and I believe that’s the last time I’ve read a middle grade novel with a transgender main character.  So it’s an understatement to say the need is there, and Kyle Luyken has done a beautiful job with this story that will be embraced by any kid struggling with identity.  It’s also a bit of a spooky ghost story, which is always fun, and which adds an interesting dimension to Bug’s slow realization of who he is.  Currently #16 on the Goodreads Newbery list.

Cons:  I was hoping for at least one middle school girl character who wasn’t interested in clothes, makeup, and hairstyles.

Published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Summary:  Sixth-grader Hugo is dismayed about his father’s decision to quit his corporate job and move the family to become a ski instructor.  Hugo, small for his age, has finally found friends and doesn’t relish the idea of having to start all over again at a new school.  Sure enough, a boy named Chance seems to delight in bullying Hugo about his size.  Fortunately, Hugo’s cool cousin Vijay goes to his new school, and introduces Hugo to his surprisingly uncool but interesting friends.  The group is working on a new school newspaper (or newsletter, since it’s only a single sheet of paper), and Hugo gets drawn into this activity.  When he shows a talent for interpreting people’s trash to get insights into their personalities, he finds himself with a certain middle school celebrity status.  But superpowers must be used for good, and when Hugo uses his to get back at Chance, he finds himself in big trouble with both his family and his new friends.  240 pages; grades 3-7.

Pros:  Familiar middle school concerns of bullying, family tensions, and starting a new school are all explored here with a cast of engaging characters.  From the eye-catching cover to the satisfying conclusion, this book is sure to appeal to a wide range of readers.

Cons:  Hugh’s trashy grand finale felt a little anticlimactic.