The Charmed Children of Rookskill Castle by Janet Fox

    

·        2019 Maud Hart Lovelace Reading List

·        Genre: Horror - Historical Fiction

·        Grade Level: 5th grade and up

·        Reading Level: 5.0 (12 points)

·         Length: 400 pages

·         Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers (March 15, 2016)

·         My Rating: 2 out of 4

·         Readability: Not my cup of tea...long and plodding. 

·         Division 2

·         Summary:  In 1940, during the Blitz, Katherine, Robbie, and Amelie Bateson are sent north to a private school in Rookskill Castle in Scotland, haunted by dark magic from the past. The plot contains violence.

This story starts out with a father sending his children away from London during WW II to a Scottish castle and boarding school where they should be safe from the bombing. The school is run by a woman who uses her dark magic to steal the souls of children. She wears a chatelaine which is a set of short chains attached to a woman's belt, used for carrying keys or other items. She has 13 charms to use in her quest to gain 13 souls. 

This book has many violent and very creepy scenes. It is also full of vocabulary that I had to look up since I didn't have background knowledge.  I did learn a few new words...include chatelaine which is the key element in this book.  I was determined to finish this book and not abandon it but it just wasn't for me. The plot was just too slow and complicated.  

Short by Holly Goldberg Sloan

 

Short by Holly Goldberg Sloan Interview

• 2017 Copyright
• Genre: Realistic Fiction - Musical Theater
• Grade Level: 3rd - 7th 
• Reading Level: 5.3 (10 points)
• Length: 304 pages
• Publisher: Dial Books (January 31, 2017)
• My Rating: 4 out of 4
• Readability: Easy to read....a little longer....lots of humor. 
• Division 1 or Crossover
• Summary:  Very short for her age, Julia grows into her sense of self while playing a munchkin in a summer regional theater production of THE WIZARD OF OZ.

Julia is a very short 5th grader and her mother enrolls her and her younger brother into the local summer theater where they get to play munchkins.  Since Julia is smaller than most 5th graders, she is still able to be a munchkin.  Because she is older, she is allowed to take on some leadership roles and get the chance to have the role of a flying monkey too.  She meets her neighbor and develops a wonderful relationship with a former ballerina who creates some of the best costumes for the play. The neighbor is able to take part in the production too. Julia also becomes friends with the senior director and an adult actress who is a dwarf. 

You are really in Julia's head in this book and sometimes she is thinking all over the place.  One thought leads to another thought with lots of funny insight.   I like quirky characters and Julia is fun to get to know..  Interestingly, I had just read another musical theater book (Jack & Louisa) and I think this one has more depth and more character development. 

I thought  this book was going to be about a girl who was a dwarf.  It isn't. She is just a late bloomer. :) If you watch the interview above you find out that this book is autobiographical based on the author's life as a child. 

Jack and Louisa: Act 1 by Andrew Keenan-Bolger and Kate Wetherhead

  

• MHL 2019 Reading List
• Genre: Realistic Fiction - Musical Theater
• Grade Level: 3rd - 7th 
• Reading Level: 5.7 (6 points)
• Length: 240 pages
• Publisher: Grosset & Dunlap (February 10, 2015)
• My Rating: 3 out of 4
• Readability: Easy and quick read.  Very specific story about musical theater.
• Division 1 or Crossover
• Summary:  In separate voices, 12-year-old Jack and Louisa tell of Jack's reluctant move from New York City to the suburbs of Shaker Heights, Ohio, where his new neighbor Louisa urges him to audition for "Into the Woods."

I was little lost in this book because I have never seen the musical or movie called Into the Woods. I did put them on queue to watch this summer on my Amazon movies account. It sounds like they might be fun to view. As when I read some sports books, I felt a little lost since I didn't have all the background knowledge that the story was immersed in.

Anyway, this is a light read with a simple and steady plot. I think the right kid may just love it if musical theater is their thing.  I am currently reading Short by Holly Goldberg Sloan and it seems to not only be about musical theater (Wizard of Oz) but the author does a better job of just telling a well rounded interesting and funny story. 

There are three book in this series so far:

Midnight Without a Moon by Linda Williams Jackson

• 2017 Copyright
• Genre:  Historical Fiction
• Grade Level: 5th - 7th 
• Reading Level: 6th
• Length: 320 pages
• Publisher:  HMH Books for Young Readers (January 3, 2017)
• My Rating: 4 out of 4
• Readability: Good story!  Well Written. History comes alive. Mature Readers....not sensitive readers....violence, language, tough issues... Newbery Contender!
• Division 2
• Summary:  Rose Lee Carter, a thirteen-year-old African-American girl, dreams of life beyond the Mississippi cotton fields during the summer of 1955, but when Emmett Till is murdered and his killers are unjustly acquitted, Rose is torn between seeking her destiny outside of Mississippi or staying and being a part of an important movement.

This book took me a few chapters to want to continue reading. I have been on the track of abandoning books lately. But, I continued and was very pleased with this book.  It is a book that might be tough to read because it has lots of violence and language.  I would be particular about which 5th grader I would give this book to. It is not for a sensitive reader.  

I kept thinking that this book took place in 1955 and that is not ancient history but it felt maybe even 100 years older. The culture of the deep South and a African American family are the key elements of the story. It is something that is not familiar to someone raised in Minnesota. 

This book has been well reviewed and may be one of those books that will tossed around as a Newbery contender for the writing and story for 2018. 

This book is the author's first novel for middle grades.  She has a sequel coming out in January 2018 called A SkyFull of Stars. 

Maud Hart Lovelace Division 2 Nominees 2018

Here is my Spark Video for Division 2! MHL II 2018

The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann

• Genre:  Fantasy
• Grade Level: 4th - 7th 
• Reading Level: 5.7 (11 points)
• Length: 400 pages
• Publisher:  Aladdin; First Edition edition (August 30, 2011)
• My Rating: 5 out of 4
• Readability: Great and can't put it down book!  Not for sensitive readers. 
• Not eligible for MHL (too old)
• Summary:  In a society that purges thirteen-year-olds who are creative, identical twins Aaron and Alex are separated, one to attend University while the other, supposedly Eliminated, finds himself in a wondrous place where youths hone their abilities and learn magic.
  

This title is featured on the Barnes and Noble summer reading journal as one of the choices for 5th and 6th graders. The catch line from Kirkus Reviews that is written on the cover of the book says  "The Hunger Games meets Harry Potter".  I would say that is pretty accurate!  I was concerned as to the level of violence in the book. So, I decided to read it.  I loved it and couldn't put it down.  It does end with a violent battle at the end a few characters do face death, however, it is not to the extent of violence as The Hunger Games series.

Aaron and Alex are twins who live in the land of Quill. On their 13th birthday children are sorted in this dystopian type of community.  The Wanteds go the University, the Necessaries do all the work, and the Unwanteds are eliminated.  They are eliminated because they are creative and that is not tolerated at all in Quill.  It is pretty horrible to read about them as they leave their families and go on a bus to the Death Farm where they face dying in a boiling lake of oil.  However, when they get there, they find a beautiful world full of magic and color, and love. Aaron is a Wanted and Alex is an Unwanted. 

The plot continues with Alex longing to rescue his twin who lives in Quill and yet his twin is becoming a powerful leader soon to be in line to take over the kingdom.  Secrets are told and eventually the  land of Quill discovers this unknown world of magic and a battle between good and evil is played out.  
There are 7 books total.  I looked on Good Reads and it seems as though the series is really liked.  I will have to see about ordering them for my library. 

Billy Sure: Kid Entrepreneur by Luke Sharpe

• Genre:  Humorous
• Grade Level: 3rd - 5th 
• Reading Level: 4.2 (3 points)
• Length: 160 pages
• Publisher:  Simon Spotlight (May 26, 2015)
• My Rating: 4 out of 4
• Readability: Funny, Fast and Easy Read!
• Division 1 and crossover
• Summary:  Famous young inventor Billy Sure is hosting an online contest to help other kid inventors.

Billy Sure has invented the All Ball over the summer; it makes him famous and the All Ball is selling like crazy. When he gets back to school in the fall his teachers, friends, and even the principal treat him differently. They want money or their own ideas invented or as in the case of the adults, they want him to inspire the school population. Billy decides to hold a contest and asks people to submit their ideas for a new and great invention to get everyone off his back.  But one thing is bothering Billy, he is not sure he really came up with the All Ball idea on his own. 

This book is funny and a little fantastic as it somewhat spoofs inventing shows and contests.. Yet, it is inspiring for kids to know that with work and ingenuity, they can come up with lots of new ideas that the world might need. I really liked it because it was a quick read and yet mature enough for a middle school student to enjoy.  Billy is in seventh grade. However, this book is also appropriate for 3rd graders. There are tons of books in this series already. (12!)  I hope the rest of them are as good!

Introducing the Maud Hart Lovelace 2017-2018 Nominees

Maud Hart Lovelace 2017-2018 Nominees

The Warden's Daughter by Jerry Spinelli

• Genre:  Historical Fiction
• Grade Level: 5th - 8th
• Reading Level: 4.1 (9 points)
• Length: 352 pages
• Publisher:  Knopf Books for Young Readers (January 3, 2017)
• My Rating: 3 out of 4
• Readability: Easy to read, lots of things happening, easy to lose track 
• Division 2
• Summary:  Living with her warden father in an apartment above a 1950’s prison, Cammie O’Reilly struggles to come to terms with the loss of her mother, who died saving her from harm when she was a baby, and interacts with some of the inmates. 

In the summer between 6th grade and 7th grade, Cammie comes to grip with the trauma that has always haunted her because her mother died to save her life when she was just a baby. Cammie's anger and frustration 

sends her to set a fire, smoke, shoplift, and just be hard to live with. Lots of characters in this book interact with her, including her best friend, some of the  inmates from the prison her father is a warden of, and other people in the town. Cammie has a reputation for being tough and a "curmudgeon". Hope, however comes to Cammie and she finds transformation during this particularly tough summer when she misses having a mother. 

This book reminded me of Al Capone Shines My Shoes by Choldenko and the musical Hairspray. One of the plot lines is about the TV show Bandstand in Philadelphia along with some of the music of the era.  I had to look up some of the lines in the book and then realized that Spinelli was referring to music lyrics. 

I don't think elementary kids would get this book since it seems to refer to history without giving much explanation. A lot of things happen in this book and it was hard for me to keep track of everything.  I did, however, like how Cammie found hope at the end of the book. It reminded me that kids with trauma in their lives do have a hard time dealing with it and many times are destructive or take it out on everyone else. Even though Cammie's father seems rather distant in this book, he seemed to be taking the outlook that his daughter needs to struggle and she will come out of it OK. 

My Diary from the Edge of the World by Jodi Lynn Anderson

•         Genre:  Fantasy/Adventure
•         Grade Level: 4th - 7th
•          Reading Level: 6.1 (13 points)
•          Length: 419 pages
•         Publisher:  Aladdin (November 3, 2015)
•          My Rating: 5 out of 4
•          Readability: Fun, easy to read. longer in length but amazing plotline.
•          Divsion 2 or Crossover
•          Summary:  Spirited, restless Gracie Lockwood, twelve, of Cliffden, Maine, living in a world where sasquatches, dragons, giants, and mermaids are common, keeps a diary of her family's journey in a used Winnebago as they seek The Extraordinary World in hopes of keeping her little brother, Sam, safe against all odds.

Gracie keeps a diary while the family goes through a crisis, which results in this book. They live in an alternate world from what our planet lives in. It is the same but very different. The fantastic characters such as dragons, witches, mermaids, genies, etc are in full force and the people are always on the defensive in staying alive. Gracie's little brother has been ill and a large cloud is following them. This cloud is known to take people away to their death. Gracie's family will do anything to escape. They get in an RV and drive to the end of their flat world and hope to get to the world in which we the readers are familiar with. One in which life doesn't have to fight the fantasies. 

The characters are wonderful in this book! It is about a family sticking together no matter what happens and supporting each other despite the ups and downs. The whole fantastic plot line is not something I would usually pick up to read and yet, I couldn't put it down. I kept wondering if I would have time at school to read my book. Of course, I knew I wouldn't but it was the kind of book that you can't wait to get back to reading.  The author wrote the Maybird series and I may have to read that series this summer even though it is an older copyright. 

The Classy Crooks Club by Alison Cherry

• Genre:  Adventure
• Grade Level: 4th - 6th 
• Reading Level: 5.6 (11 points)
• Length: 336 pages
• Publisher:  Aladdin (March 29, 2016)
• My Rating: 3 out of 4
• Readability: Fun, fast and easy read. 
• Divsion 1 or Crossover
• Summary:  Twelve-year-old AJ is dreading spending the summer with her uber-strict grandmother--that is, until she's recruited to join Grandma Jo's madcap band of thieves.

AJ is spending a month of her summer with her grandmother who is very strict and doesn't seem to be proud of how AJ would rather play soccer than do girly things. She wants AJ to be a proper young lady. However, through some snooping, AJ discovers that her grandmother's bridge club is just a cover for a crooked operation where they plan heists to steal items and each one takes turns picking out the target. They in turn need AJ as she is able to move about quickly and get into places that have become difficult for the one who usually has this role. (She had to have hip surgery and is using a walker.)

Of course, even though it is exciting at first, AJ starts to wonder if what her grandmother is doing is really morally right. She realizes she needs to make a stand for doing the right thing and not what her grandmother wants.   

Even though this book was fun to read, I was a bit uncomfortable with the the morality of the grandmother and the resolution of the story. It did not feel like there was true transformation of the grandmother's crooked ways.  It is also a very girl driven character and may not appeal to the boys. 

Me and Marvin Gardens by Amy Sarig King

• Genre:  Fantasy/Ecological Mystery
• Grade Level: 3rd - 7th 
• Reading Level: 
• Length: 256 pages
• Publisher:  Arthur A. Levine Books (January 31, 2017)
• My Rating: 4 out of 4
• Readability: Great story, lots of ecological facts and a little mystery/fantasy
• Summary:
  Obe Devlin spends a lot of his time cleaning up the creek that runs through what little is left of his family's once extensive farmland, and worrying about what the developers are doing nearby, and the pollution it is causing--but one day he finds a strange creature by his creek that eats plastic, and soon the animal he calls Marvin Gardens becomes his personal secret, which he believes needs to be protected from pretty much everybody.
• Division 1 and Crossover

This book begs to be a spring read aloud for upper elementary teachers. The focus is on saving our earth from pollution and destruction by the hands of humans who are not taking care of our earth. There are also lots of family dynamics and growing up issues to discuss throughout the story line.

Obe Devlin, an eleven year old, spends lots of his free time picking up garbage along the creek of their rural home. However, land developers have purchased most of the land and are developing the area into a complex of homes. In the past, the Devlin family owned all the land but it was lost because of the grandfather's alcoholism and spendthrift ways.  As Obe is wondering, he discovers a dog/pig like animal that eats plastic. As he spends time with the animal he even names him Marvin Gardens after a place in his father's favorite game of Monopoly. Obe finds that Marvin Gardens has toxic poop which is burning holes into the ground and on the shoes of anyone who walks in it.  The boys in the development housing blame Obe. So, Obe turns to his favorite science teacher for help. 

Circus Mirandus by Cassie Beasley

• Genre:  Fantasy
• Grade Level: 4th - 6th 
• Reading Level: 4.8
• Length: 304 pages
• Publisher:  Dial Books (June 2, 2015)
• My Rating: 5 out of 4
• Readability: Great story, hard to put down. 
• Summary:
  "When he realizes that his grandfather's stories of an enchanted circus are true, Micah Tuttle sets out to find the mysterious Circus Mirandus--and to use its magic to save his grandfather's life"--
• Division 1 and Crossover

Micah Tuttle lives with his grandfather as his parents have died in a car accident. His grandfather is dying and his great aunt comes to live with them to help out. She is the character who is mean and hard-hearted and gets no sympathy from the reader. MIcah knows of the stories of a magic circus his grandfather visited as a boy. His grandfather has a saved wish to be granted by the circus and Micah believes it is to save his grandfather's life. Micah sets out to get this accomplished. 

This book is not the type of story I am drawn to.  I tend to lean toward liking realistic fiction. So, this book has not made it to my pile until this past week. I found this book hard to put down and totally engrossing! The characters were wonderful. The story was surprising and the lessons were wonderful. 

I highly recommend this book.  The illustrations between chapters were stunning.  I looked forward to them.  I can see this as a great movie someday!

The Someday Birds by Sally J. Pla

• Genre:  Realistic Fiction/Adventure
• Grade Level: 4th - 7th 
• Reading Level: 
• Length: 336 pages
• Publisher:  Harper Collins (January 24, 2017)
• My Rating: 5 out of 4
• Readability: Great story, hard to put down. 
• Summary:
  Charlie, twelve, who has autism and obsessive compulsive disorder, must endure a cross-country trip with his siblings and a strange babysitter to visit their father, who will undergo brain surgery.
• Division 2 and Crossover

This is a new favorite book of mine!  You will fall in love with Charlie and his family as they go on a cross country trip in a RV and stop along the way to explore the USA, search for birds, and make the best out of a difficult situation. The characters are great and very likable. Charlie is a twelve year old who has autism and OCD which makes a wacky trip in close quarters with his family a great challenge. Busy twin brothers, a boy crazy teenage sister, a strange babysitter, and a three legged dog are all part of this great adventure.  It is a story about facing challenges and getting through difficulties in your life. 

Connect the Stars by Marisa de los Santos and David Teague

• Genre:  Adventure
• Grade Level: 3rd - 7th 
• Reading Level: 5.3 (11 pts)
• Length: 352 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (September 22, 2015)
• My Rating: 5 out of 4
• Readability: Great story, easy to read, hard to put down. 
• Division 2 and Crossover

Audrey is a 13 year old girl who can tell when people are lying. This causes lots of issues for her and she has basically made herself a hermit and stays away from people in order to not be hurt.  Aaron has the ability to remember everything he reads or hears and is always spouting out facts and information but has not been able to deal with feelings and emotions. He gets into trouble for being a know it all. The main characters are told in alternately chapters in the book.  Marisa writes about Audrey and David writes about David. 

Both kids are offered the chance to go to an adventure camp in the dessert of Texas where 16 kids and a leader spend 6 weeks learning to survive, camp, and spend some renewal time. The kids are giving different tasks to accomplish which test them. They are broken up into groups of four and Audrey and Davis are joined by Louis  and Kate who also have their own personal difficulties they are working through. The problems they face throughout the camp involve personality conflict, internal conflict, survival and a mystery to solve. They mystery is slight compared to the adventure and coming of age story. 

This is a great story full of great characters which you will root for and learn to love.  It is funny, adventurous, mysterious, and heart tugging.  What is not to love!  I recommend it highly. 

Matylda, Bright & Tender by Holly M. McGhee

• Genre:  Realistic Fiction
• Grade Level: 3rd - 7th 
• Reading Level: 4th
• Length: 224 pages
• Publisher: Candlewick (March 14, 2017)
• My Rating: 4 out of 4
• Readability:  Loved the beautiful writing style, slows in the middle, great conclusion
• Division 1 and Crossover

This book is a friendship story of a girl and a boy who have such a beautiful and loving bond. They are best friends and in fourth grade decide that they need a pet to love.. A spotted lizard is their new pet. The story is told from the point of view of Sussy, the girl. She realizes that Guy is much better at caring for Matylda, their new pet, but she wants to learn to be as competent. Then, a tragedy happens and Sussy is left alone to deal with  grief and  loss. 

My Girl and Bridge to Terabithia come to mind when I read this book. I also thought Newbery potential!

It is sad but a beautiful story of working through tough situations. Family and friends are supportive and helpful. Sussy, however, has the most to deal with.  The story slowed a bit for me in the middle as Sussy dealt with trying to care for her lizard, but the conclusion was satisfying.  I recommend this book!

Like Magic by Elaine Vickers

• Genre:  Realistic Fiction/Touch of Magic
• Grade Level: 4th - 6th 
• Reading Level: 5th
• Length: 272 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (October 18, 2016)
• My Rating: 3 out of 4
• Readability:  Sometimes confusing, lots of things to look up for background knowledge!
• Division 1 and Crossover

This is a sweet story of three girls searching for friendship one summer. Each girl deals with her own problems and has her own talents. They all visit the library in Salt Lake City and a librarian points out a mysterious friendship box that they can take and return with something placed in the box.  This box is what ties the three characters together at the end.  I looked up the library, and it looks like a place to visit! The librarian reminds me of a magical character who helps the girls find their way. 

In this book, one girl is an artist and different artists are discussed. I looked them up and learned something new! She struggles with not having her mother in her life. Another girl is a musician and again I listened to some of the music mentioned.  She is nervous that her family is changing with the birth of a new baby. Finally another girl is a writer and again, there were some things I looked up. She is painfully shy and has trouble speaking out loud to people.  

I think this book will appeal to many girls for the cover and title alone. Is is a great story even though I did get lost at times with the back and forth of the box ownership.  This book will be further enhanced if you look of the places and art, music, and writing that is mentioned. 

Spaced Out by Stuart Gibbs

• Genre:  Science Fiction/Mystery
• Grade Level: 5th - 8th
• Reading Level: 5.2  (10.0 pts.
• Length: 353 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (April 5, 2016)
• My Rating: 4 out of 4
• Readability:  A sequel to Space Case (A Moon Base Alpha Novel). Fun and fast to read!
• Division 2 and Crossover

I liked Space Case so much that I read the sequel immediately.  I normally do not continue a series when reading for my library kids.  I like to get the idea and then move on to another series. However, I loved the mystery and the science fiction genre smashing.  Genre smashing is what I call two or more genres in one book.  Science Fiction and Mystery along with a lot of humor makes this a type of cozy mystery I love to read in my adult reading.  Nothing too horrific!

In this book, Dash is trying to figure out what happened to Nina the space commander when she suddenly disappears.  We also find that the rich space tourists, the Sjobergs, are up to something as well. It is so much fun to imagine living on the moon and a future life very different than on earth.  I look forward to more in the series!

I love this book review by a young student. She probably has a future career in publishing!