Middle grade fiction

Big Apple Diaries by Alyssa Bermudez

~ Janet Dawson ~ 4 Comments

Published by Roaring Brook Press

Amazon.com: Big Apple Diaries: 9781250774279: Bermudez, Alyssa, Bermudez, Alyssa: Books
Big Apple Diaries Book - Comics and Illustration Portfolio — Alyssa Bermudez

Summary:  Alyssa Bermudez used her real diaries from seventh and eighth grade to create this graphic novel that takes place in New York City from 2000 to 2002.  Her main concerns starting seventh grade are dealing with the popular kids, her crush on Alejandro, and owning as many pairs of funky shoes as her parents and Catholic school will allow.  She slowly matures through the next two years, a process that is hastened by 9/11 (her parents both work in the financial district), her father’s illness, and a desire to get into the best high school she can.  By graduation time, it’s clear she’s ready for the new challenges that lie ahead in high school.  Includes a 4-page author’s note with lots more information and photos about her life during those years.  288 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  Fans of the Raina Telgemeier graphic novel genre will love the real-life story of Alyssa that includes many light moments (shaving her eyebrows, accidentally dyeing her hair orange), as well as the very serious ones engendered by being so close to the events of 9/11.  

Cons:  The art is all done in blue and black…I prefer the full-color illustration of Telgemeier and Victoria Jamieson.

Sisters of the Neversea by Cynthia Leitich Smith

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Heartdrum

Sisters of the Neversea: Smith, Cynthia L: 9780062869975: Amazon.com: Books

Summary:  The story of Peter Pan gets an update featuring stepsisters Lily, who is Muscogee Creek, and Wendy, a white girl originally from England.  Lily’s mother is married to Wendy’s father, and they share a half-brother, 4-year-old Michael.  Mr. Darling has taken a new job in New York, while Lily’s mother plans to stay in Tulsa, and divorce is threatening to tear the family apart.  On the eve of Wendy’s departure, Peter Pan appears with a fairy named Belle, whisking Wendy and Michael away to Neverland.  Lily follows, and winds up connecting with a group of Native kids who live in hiding to escape Peter and his Lost Boys.  There are mermaids, more fairies (and lots of fairy dust), pirates (led by Pirate Queen Smee), and wild animals that Peter and his band are quickly hunting to extinction.  Wendy and Lily have to put aside their differences to figure out how to rescue everyone, and even Peter winds up a somewhat reformed character as the book winds up with a happily-ever-after ending.  Includes an author’s note that discusses the questions she had about the original story that led her to create this one.  320 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  The story manages to explore serious themes like colonialism, bullying, and the environment without losing any of the fairy tale fun.  The truth about the “bad” characters from the original story, the Indians and the pirates, turns out to be far more interesting and shows how storytelling can be misleading and result in harmful prejudices. 

Cons:  I’ve never read the original book and it’s been years since I saw the Disney movie, so I felt I wasn’t always appreciating all the details of the story.

Healer of the Water Monster by Brian Young

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Heartdrum

Healer of the Water Monster: Young, Brian: 9780062990402: Amazon.com: Books

Summary:  Nathan thinks he’s in for a boring summer vacation staying with his Nali (grandmother) on the Navajo reservation.  Before long, though, he’s discovered his ability to see Holy Beings, creatures from Navajo lore that only children can see before going through puberty.  One of these creatures, Pond, is a water monster who has been poisoned by radiation.  Nathan is tasked with traveling to a different world to bring back medicine for his new friend, which will in turn save the reservation from a long drought.  Meanwhile, back in the human realm, his uncle Jet is battling his own demons since coming back from military service in Afghanistan.  Nali is trying to convince Jet to partake in a ceremony to begin his own healing, but Jet’s drinking and a demon that only Nathan can see make Jet resistant.  Both Nathan and his uncle are eventually able to successfully make their journeys, and although neither one turns out quite as anticipated, it’s clear that, in both cases, healing has begun.  Includes a Navajo glossary and an author’s note.  368 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  Another compelling tale from Native imprint Heartdrum.  Nathan, who loves video games, doesn’t like sports much, and has his share of family and friend problems, is a kid many readers will relate to, and cheer for as he becomes the hero of his story.  It’s great to have another middle grade book with a contemporary Native setting, and fans of Rick Riordan’s books will enjoy the mix of realism and folklore.

Cons:  I was kind of bummed about the outcome of Pond’s story.

Kyle’s Little Sister by BonHyung Jeong

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Published by JY

Kyle's Little Sister: Jeong, BonHyung: 9781975316549: Amazon.com: Books
Kyle's Little Sister by BonHyung Jeong, Paperback | Barnes & Noble®

Summary:  Grace is excited to be starting middle school, but before long she’s dealing with what’s been a lifelong problem for her: living in the shadow of her popular, athletic brother Kyle.  One of her two best friends, Jay, has a crush on Kyle, and the other friend, Amy is trying to push the shyer Jay into telling Kyle how she feels about him.  Finally, Jay and Grace have had enough, and the whole friendship falls apart at a disastrous sleepover.  Feeling friendless, Grace welcomes the overtures of a more popular girl named Cam, and enjoys hanging out with her and her friends until she starts to notice what a bully Cam can be, particularly towards Amy.  When Grace learns that Cam has a crush on Kyle and is just using Grace to get to her brother, she realizes that Cam isn’t a real friend…and that Amy and Jay were.  Fortunately, the two other girls have come to a similar conclusion, and the friendship is soon back and better than ever (and even Kyle turns out to be not such a bad guy).  240 pages; grades 3-6.

Pros:  Did you follow all that?  There is a LOT of middle school drama in these 240 pages, but it is true to life, and fans of the realistic fiction graphic novel genre will love both the story and the anime-style art.

Cons:  At times, dialog was written in bubbles with no little tail indicating who was saying the words, which I found a bit confusing.

Samira Surfs by Rukhsanna Guidroz, illustrated by Fahmida Azim

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Kokila

Samira Surfs by Rukhsanna Guidroz: 9781984816191 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books

Summary:  Samira and her family are Rohingya refugees from Burma, living outside a camp in Bangladesh because they are not allowed to officially register as refugees.  She spends her days selling hard-boiled eggs on the beach, and the friendships she forms with other girls selling there enrich her life.  Some of the girls surf, as does Samira’s brother Khalad, and Samira starts to get interested in trying it herself.  When a surfing contest is announced with a substantial cash prize, she daydreams about what a win could mean for her family.  She has to learn to surf in secret, though; her parents disapprove of swimming for girls, and fear the water after her mother’s parents drowned during their escape from Burma.  On the eve of the contest, it seems as though Samira’s surfing dreams have come to a crashing end, but her courage and the connections she has formed with friends and family ultimately save the day.  Includes an author’s note with additional information about the Rohingya, and a list of websites for learning more and getting involved.  416 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  This novel in verse brings to light a group of people that most of us probably know very little about.  Samira’s narration doesn’t shy away from her fears and worries, but also shows her courage and determination to create a new life for herself and her family.

Cons:  Looking at recent news, it appears that the Rohingya situation in both Burma Bangladesh hasn’t changed much since 2012, when this book takes place.

Both Can Be True by Jules Machias

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Published by Quill Tree Books

Both Can Be True: Machias, Jules: 9780063053892: Amazon.com: Books

Summary:  Ash is starting at a new school after a bullying incident over their gender.  Daniel is tired of hiding the fact that he feels things deeply and cries easily.  The two of them bond over their shared love of a dog that Daniel is secretly trying to rescue.  When they meet, Ash is dressing and acting more like a girl, and a budding romance soon develops.  But, as has happened before, Ash begins to feel more like a boy, and has to decide how much to reveal to Daniel.  Both have to learn to stand up to parents and other kids who have certain expectations for them, and to learn that, even though each of them possesses seemingly contradictory parts of their personalities, both can be true.  368 pages; grades 5-8.

Pros:  Ash and Daniel are two well-developed characters with the daunting tasks of taking on gender norms and toxic masculinity in middle school.  Readers will be rooting for both of them as they gradually come to accept who they are and learn to speak up for what they need from those around them.  Their unconventional romance (which remains somewhat ambiguous to the end) is sweet and based on true friendship and caring about one another.

Cons:  The men, especially the dads, were pretty terrible throughout the book.  Daniel’s dad gets a bit of redemption at the end, and Ash’s mom is able to explain some of her dad’s clueless behavior, but it would have been nice to have some more nuanced portrayals.

Long Distance by Whitney Gardner

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Published by Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers

Long Distance: Gardner, Whitney, Gardner, Whitney: 9781534455665: Amazon.com: Books
Long Distance: Gardner, Whitney, Gardner, Whitney: 9781534455658: Amazon.com: Books

Summary:  When one of Vega’s dads gets a new job, the whole family packs up and moves from Portland to Seattle.  Vega’s so unhappy about leaving her best friend behind that her parents decide to send her to Camp Very Best Friend, where even the most introspective kids are guaranteed to find friends.  Camp turns out to be a pretty strange place, from the odd bus ride there to the weirdly peppy counselors, but Vega does actually find herself making some friends.  Good thing, too, because when she and some of the others start to make some disturbing discoveries about camp, they need to band together to figure out how to escape and make it safely home again.  Although the lessons are unexpected, Vega learns plenty about friendship during her unusual summer, and winds up with a lot more friends than she started with.  320 pages; grades 3-7.

Pros:  From the graphic novelist who brought you Fake Blood comes this fun summer read that celebrates friendship in all different forms. There’s some good suspense as the kids try to figure out what’s going on at camp, and a happy ending for all life forms. 

Cons:  Your kids may never want to go to summer camp again.

Forever This Summer by Leslie C. Youngblood

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Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Forever This Summer (Love Like Sky): Youngblood, Leslie C.: 9780759555204: Amazon.com: Books

Summary:  In this follow-up to Love Like Sky, Georgie and her mother return to Mom’s hometown of Bogalusa, Louisiana to take care of Aunt Vie, who is losing her memory to Alzheimer’s.  For many years Vie was a fixture at her diner, which is now being run by her two sisters.  When Georgie finally gets permission to help at the diner, she meets Markie, a 12-year-old girl in foster care, who, despite a limb difference (she’s missing part of one arm), is able to be a better waitress than Georgie feels she can ever hope to be.  When Markie asks Georgie to help her to find her real mother, Georgie finds herself in situations that push the boundaries of what she knows is right, even as she is trying to organize a talent show to raise money for Alzheimer’s.  Mid-summer, her best friend Nikki comes for a visit, and Georgie finds herself in an even more delicate balancing act as she’s pulled in different directions by her old friend and her new one.  As the summer ends, Georgie deals more or less gracefully with many changes and new discoveries, hopefully paving the way for book 3.  Includes an author’s note with additional information about Alzheimer’s.  336 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  Georgie’s story perfectly captures summer life in a small Southern town, with memorable characters and settings.  Black history and civil rights lessons are woven seamlessly into the plot.  There aren’t a lot of children’s books about Alzheimer’s, and this story does a great job portraying a character with the disease, and assuring readers that the person is still who they always were despite their memory loss.

Cons:  There are also few books about characters with limb differences, and I wish there had been more about Markie’s.
 

Monster Friends by Kaeti Vandorn

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Published by Random House Graphics

Monster Friends: (A Graphic Novel): Vandorn, Kaeti: 9781984896827: Amazon.com: Books

Monster Friends: (A Graphic Novel): Vandorn, Kaeti: 9781984896827: Amazon.com: Books

Summary:  Reggie is spending his summer house sitting for relatives, living by himself after what seems to have been some unsettling events in his recent past.  He seems torn between enjoying his solitude and feeling lonely.  When gregarious Emily the rabbit shows up, he has a good time hanging out with her.  Emily’s got her own troubles with four sisters, one of whom makes fun of her for her vivid imagination.  As the summer progresses, Reggie starts to make more connections and to accept that he may not be as adventurous as the best friend he left behind.  By the end of the summer, he and Emily are good friends and he has decided on a new life path for himself.  272 pages; grades 1-5.

Pros:  Younger graphic novel fans will love Reggie and his friends, all of them monsters with some surprising abilities.  The illustrations are adorable and the “be true to yourself” message that Reggie learns is a good one.

Cons:  I found the first chapter confusing.

Amber and Clay by Laura Amy Schlitz, illustrated by Julia Iredale

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Published by Candlewick

Amazon.com: Amber and Clay (9781536201222): Schlitz, Laura Amy, Iredale, Julia: Books

Amber and Clay by Laura Amy Schlitz, Julia Iredale, Hardcover | Barnes & Noble®

Summary:  Rhaskos is a slave in ancient Greece, separated from his mother at an early age.  His mother is taken away to live in a household that includes Melisto, a girl whose wealthy father loves her, but whose mother despises her.  When Melisto joins a group of young girls serving the goddess Artemis, her life takes an unexpected turn and becomes entwined with Rhaskos’s.  Rhaskos’s mother finds a way for Melisto to obtain Rhaskos’s freedom…but it will take years and many strange turns that involve gods, goddesses, and the great philosopher Sokrates.  Includes exhibits of ancient Greek artifacts with museum-type descriptions interspersed throughout the book; each of these plays a role in the story.  Also, an author’s note with additional information about Greek words, verse, and history; and an extensive bibliography.  545 pages; grades 5-8.  ó

Pros and Cons:  I honestly don’t know where to begin with this book.  It truly is a masterpiece, written mostly in verse, but with some sections in prose, and an incredible attention to historical detail.  I can’t even fathom the research that must have gone into writing it, and I can’t imagine any other publisher besides Candlewick producing this.

Having said that, I feel like this is a book with very, very limited appeal.  Looking back over my 21 years of being a school librarian, I can think of two middle school girls who might have been interested in this book.  I had to really push myself to read it (it’s over 500 pages!), although it was pretty absorbing once I started.

Will this book receive Newbery consideration?  Absolutely, and there is no question that the writing and research of that caliber.  Do I hope it wins?  To be honest, no. Call me a simpleton, but I would rather see a book win that is going to appeal to a much greater audience of young readers.