Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Summary:  A poem starts things off, beginning, “Dear weird toes/crooked nose/stressed out, left out/freaked out,” and concluding, “This party’s for you.”  If you’re thinking middle school, you’re on the right track, as all the stories take place at Bridger Middle School.  There’s the one about Katya, who’s dealing with a destructive Voice in her head.  A choose-your-own adventure story that give readers a chance to try out alternative endings.  Cora’s revenge against the mean girls that ends up backfiring. And it’s not just stories; there are “ads” for Happy Heads and Happy Friends, personality quizzes, and a letter from the Department of Insecurity.  The final poem bids the reader farewell, with thanks for coming to the party, and encouragement to “go on out there and be the/totally awkward/anxious/odd/normal/lovable/singular/human that you are.”  224 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  Kathleen Lane has her finger firmly on the pulse of middle school with this quirky collection.  These stories are funny in a weird way that middle school kids will love, and also captures the insecurity that we all remember so well.  The kooky format will engage readers, too.  I’ve seen this mentioned as a Newbery contender; it’s currently at #16 on the Goodreads list.

Cons:  While I’m sure there are elementary kids who would enjoy this book, I think it will be appreciated more by those who are living through puberty.

Published by Candlewick

Summary:  This follow up to the Newbery Award-winning Merci Suárez Changes Gears finds Merci in seventh grade, trying to find her place at the prestigious Seaward Pines Academy.  She’s starting to be a bit curious about boys and kissing, but vehemently denies any interest to her friends and family.  The seventh graders are in charge of the annual Valentine’s Day Heart Ball, and Merci reluctantly agrees to be the photographer if she can stay in the hall and not have to actually dance.  Her new friend (or maybe crush) Wilson is there, and Merci succeeds in not only saying something regrettable to him but also accidentally destroying some expensive photography equipment and hiding the evidence.  Merci has her own ways of dealing with these issues, some more successful than others, but all of them funny, relatable, and endearing.  With the help of her large and loving family and her loyal friends, Merci manages to muddle through another year of school and even do some dancing.  384 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  I started this book at the beginning of a train ride to New York City and finished it up later that evening when I returned home.  I loved Merci, her Cuban-American family, and the staff and students of Seaward Pines.  Upper elementary and middle school readers will quickly connect to her issues with peer pressure, family, and dealing with the consequences of questionable decision making. 

Cons:  Somehow Merci Suárez Changes Gears never got on my radar in 2018, and I was dismayed when a book I hadn’t read or reviewed won the 2019 Newbery.  Then I had to dive right into reading 2019 books, so I still have never read this book.

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.