Published by Levine Querido

Summary:  Matt’s happy to have switched from flute to bass drum for marching band. Not only will he stop getting teased for playing a “girl’s instrument”, he’ll get to be in the drum line with his best friend Eric.  The boys are excited to learn that the band will be participating in the big World of Amazement band competition.  When they find out that the DefenderCon comic event is right next door the same weekend as the competition, they hatch a plan to escape on the last day of the trip to attend the convention.  Sean, a trumpet player who’s best friends with the biggest bully in the band, finds out about their plan, and wants in.  When Eric learns that he’s moving at the end of the school year, it suddenly becomes even more important for the two friends to get to DefenderCon–without Sean.  The trip to the World of Amazement turns out to be a day no one is likely to forget anytime soon, and nothing turns out the way Matt or Eric could have possibly imagined. But each boy proves his loyalty to the other one in amazing ways, and it seems as though their friendship will endure even when they’re living on opposite sides of the country.  272 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  As a former band geek myself, I enjoyed pretty much everything about this book.  “We’re proud of being in the band, even though we’re also super embarrassed about being in the band.”  Exactly.  But what I loved the most was Matt and Eric’s friendship.  There are many middle grade books about girl best friends, but it’s rare to see a boy friendship like this one.  And they have to deal with a lot of bullying and homophobia because of it (they have a funny and heartfelt conversation about being gay, and decide they are not).  I also got a kick out of (and could relate to) Matt’s earnestly lefty Unitarian parents.

Cons:  I felt that World of Amazement could have been more creatively named. 

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Published by Harry N. Abrams

Summary:  Maddie Polansky’s pretty sure seventh grade will suck, with art class offering the only bright spot on an otherwise dismal daily schedule.  So when she hears that unopposed mayoral candidate Lucinda Burghart is planning to cut the school’s arts funding, she feels desperate enough to try to do something about it.  After learning that the only qualification to run is to be a registered voter, she starts asking around.  To her surprise, Janet, her 23-year-old babysitter, agrees.  Janet is struggling to find work and figures she has nothing to lose.  There’s one obstacle after another, though, beginning with the required 350 signatures to get on the ballot. Although Maddie considers herself the most unpopular kid in the class, she realizes she needs allies and finds ways to convince other kids who are passionate about the arts to join Janet’s campaign.  They all have plenty to learn as they make their way through the fall, and, as we all know, there can be some interesting surprises on Election Day.  Includes a six-page author’s note with ideas and websites for getting involved in community activism and politics.  304 pages; grades 3-6.

Pros:  Woven into this fun, slightly snarky middle school tale is a wealth of information about civics and elections, and a pretty heartwarming message encouraging kids to become activists.  The illustrations on almost every page keep things moving along at a good clip, and it’s nice to see some of the stereotypical middle school mean girls turn into human beings as the story progresses.

Cons:  Maddie’s parents, clueless almost to the point of negligence, never move beyond ridiculous one-dimensional characters.

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Published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Summary:  Lou’s mom hopes to capitalize on Lou’s beautiful singing voice; Lou loves to sing but her aversion to loud noises and touch make it difficult for her to be on stage or even to function in settings like school.  She hasn’t had to worry about school for awhile, though, as she and her mom are living in their truck, traveling from one campsite to the next in search of their big break.  When Lou crashes the truck, police take her away from her mom and send her to live with a wealthy aunt of whom she has only dim memories.  Her aunt and uncle send Lou to the private school where her uncle teaches, and she finds herself enjoying school and friends for the first time.  An astute counselor diagnoses her with sensory processing disorder, but Lou refuses treatment, preferring to see herself as the fighter her mother always told her she was.  Lou feels herself increasingly torn between the desire to be reunited with her mother and the happiness she feels in her new life.  A crisis at school finally convinces her to accept help from friends and family and to begin to create a life that might be able to include all the people she loves.  288 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  Lou is a likeable character who has been dealt a pretty tough hand, and she is indeed a fighter who does remarkably well despite that.  It’s nice to see some supportive, savvy social workers and school counselors in a children’s book (for a change), as well as some quirky kids who aren’t total outcasts.

Cons:  Lou’s immediate and unwavering acceptance by the theater crowd seemed a little unrealistic for middle school.   

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Published by Crown Books for Young Readers

Summary:  Isaiah, his mother, and 4-year-old sister are living in what he has dubbed the Smoky Inn, a run-down motel that they’ve moved to after losing their apartment. Ever since Isaiah’s dad died suddenly from a heart attack, his mother has been spiraling: drinking more, not working, and often neglecting her children.  Isaiah tries to help out by starting a candy-selling business with his friend Sneaky and getting a job at a barbershop.  But when the family is evicted from the hotel and ends up sleeping in their car, Isaiah begins to realize he has a problem that’s too big for him to solve.  Fortunately, he has some caring adults in his life, a talent for writing, and his dad’s notebooks full of stories about superhero Isaiah Dunn.  His mom is smart enough to finally seek help, and the end sees the family reunited at a surprise event Isaiah has planned to honor his dad.  208 pages; grades 3-6.

Pros:  Based on an award-winning story that was included in Flying Lessons and Other Stories, this book would make an excellent choice for an elementary book club, due to its relatively short length and 10-year-old protagonist with a humorous take on his difficult circumstances.  He really does turn out to be a hero and is instrumental in keeping his family together during a pretty dark time for all of them.  

Cons:  Isaiah’s frenemy Angel seems like she has an interesting story to tell, and I wanted to know more about her.  Maybe a sequel?

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