What Middle Grade Books I Read in August

 

I read eight middle-grade books in August.  Time to get back to reading books to help my library patrons find just the right book!  I'm starting to record video reviews for middle-grade books on my YouTube channel. I linked those videos to the titles of the books. With hybrid and distance learning, we are encouraged to do more videos with our faces to help students connect. So, I'm not trying to make money or be a YouTube star...I just want to connect books to readers.  

3 Stars | Every Shiny Thing | Cordelia Jensen & Laurie Morrison | 2018 | Grade 5-9

The story is about two middle school girls and is told in alternating views. One is free verse and the other is traditional. Foster care, autism, family dynamics, addiction, Quaker school, simplicity, stealing like Robin hood to help the poor are all part of this book. The story dragged a little and I wanted it to move along. Otherwise, I liked it. Great for Middle school and division 2.

4 stars | Resistance | Jennifer A. Nielsen | 2018

This book is 2020-2021 Maud Hart Lovelace nomination for Division 2 which is for middle school or grades 6-8. The interest level from the publisher lists this book for grades 5-8. Because most of the Division 2 books interest level starts at 5th grade, I usually buy and promote these titles for 5th grade. Many 5th graders are looking for edgier middle school reading. I am saying all of this because this book is intense! I actually did not read this until this week. I will let 5th graders know that sensitive readers may want to wait and read this book later. (Yes, I know this will entice some to read this because of my warning.)

This is a story of a Jewish teenage girl from Poland who is working with the resistance to defy the Nazis. It is very specific in describing the atrocities of how Jews were treated. You also go along with resistance groups and experience the danger and harrowing as well as heart-breaking activity they plan and play out. This book is more plot and action than a character study. For those students looking for WW II books, they will read about lots of details as to what the resistance groups experienced. It is so sad to read about such evil and yet, many Jewish people held tightly to their faith and experienced love and help from others despite the dangers.

May we never forget and may it inspire us to do better and love people.

I really liked this book and its perspective. I recommend it highly to adult readers too. 

5 stars | Ghost Boys | Jewell Parker Rhodes | 2018 | IL 4-8

Jerome is a black 7th grader in Chicago who tries to avoid the bullies and do well in school. A new boy comes to school and Jerome tries to help him avoid a bully attack. The new boy uses a toy gun to scare them away and then gives the gun to Jerome to play with. Later, in the park, as Jerome plays, a police car arrives and shoots Jerome and he dies. Jerome now looks on as a ghost at how the rest of the days play out.

Jerome meets the Ghost of Emmitt Till and is also able to communicate with Sarah who is the daughter of the police officer who shot him. Sarah begins to see how she can become an activist to make a change in our world.

This book is heart-breaking and outstanding. It is so well written and tells an important story. History is so important in helping us change for the better if we could only learn our lessons well. I hope parents and teachers use this book for a discussion or read aloud. I rated it a 5 because it gave me that reading feeling at the end where I want to press this book into everybody’s hands to read.

4 Stars | Prairie Lotus | Linda Sue Park | 2020 | Grades 5-7

I love author Linda Sue Park even more because she loved reading “Little House” as much as I did as a kid. This book is her adult response to challenge the racism in Wilder books and then give a diverse perspective to an American pioneer story. 

Park writes about a father, Ben, and his daughter, Hanna, who arrives in a small town in Dakota Territory in the 1880s to open a dress shop. They are coming from California and looking for a new life after the death of Hanna's mother. Hanna is half-Chinese. Unfortunately, she encounters lots of people who are unwelcoming to her and refuse to have any contact with her. People even keep their children away from the school she is eager to attend. Hanna's dream is to assist her father in the clothing shop they are opening by using the seamstress skills that she learned from her mother. Many people she encounters are not open to a Chinese person in their midst. Will they end up having to leave with all of their work and dreams dashed?

Encounters with Native Americans is one of the plot points in this book. Park is careful to show how Hanna is respectful and empathetic to the people she makes friends with. The author's notes at the end explain how Park did much research and had many people help her to get the scenes just right. (I recognized many of the experts from her list!)

Many of the scenes take place in the schoolhouse. I imagined a place similar to the “When Calls The Heart” television show. Even though there are a lot of tough things in this story...I still got the warm pioneer story vibes from this book. Kids may not be reading Wilder books as much anymore, but fans of “When Calls The Heart” might really enjoy reading this one. This book is a great addition to the frontier life genre and adds much-needed diversity.

3 stars | The Pumpkin War | Cathleen Young | 2019 | IL 4-6

This story takes place on Madeline Island in Wisconsin on Lake Superior. Every year they have a pumpkin race in the fall. People grow large pumpkins and then hollow them out and use them as a boat for the race. 12-year-old Billie is convinced that her best friend Sam purposely did something to cause her to lose in the past year. She had not been friendly with him since that time.  

The story takes over summer from planting to harvest time. Billie is part Ojibwa and many of the things she does come from her heritage....such as powwows, her grandmother's stories, and some of the food she cooks and eats.  She also works hard keeping bees, fishing, and managing her pumpkins. Her father's estranged father comes to visit and Billie learns about forgiveness.

This is a short book with a lot packed into it. When it came to describing beekeeping or pumpkin growing or many of the activities that Billie does the reader does not get much help in understanding it. So many times I thought this would make a good video so I could see the honey processing or other tasks that Billie does. I wanted more description for the reader. 

I thought Billie lived an amazing life and I loved the setting since I have visited several times. I don't think they really have pumpkin races though. I don't think the author is Ojibwa and so this is not an own voices book. I wanted to love this cozy fall book but it fell a bit short for me.

4 Stars | The Unsung Hero of Birdsong, USA | Brenda Woods | 2019 | Grades 4 - 7

It is just after WW II in a small town in South Carolina and Gabriel receives a new bike for his birthday. In his excitement and daydreaming, he doesn't pay attention to traffic on his first ride and gets in in front of a car on the road. A man named Meriwether Hunter pushes him into safety and then fixes his damaged bike...good as new. Meriwether is an African American war veteran who is having difficulty finding work in the Jim Crow South. Gabriel befriends him and gets his father to hire him at his auto shop. It is there that Gabriel learns how racism, segregation, and Jim Crow laws affect the life of a man who was an unsung war hero. He is a hero to Gabriel and his family for saving his life but other people in the community make his life very difficult because of his skin color. 

This book takes a light-handed approach in dealing with racism and Jim Crow laws. Gabriel and Meriwether are such likable characters! There are some quirky characters in the town in which some are funny and others difficult. It is a coming of age story where a boy with a happy go lucky life begins to realize that life can be unfair, unequal and disappointing. 

There is a caution scene for sensitive readers where a man dies in front of the characters. Overall, this would be a great classroom read-aloud about racism, The Great Migration from South to North, and the role of African American soldiers in WW II. I enjoyed this book.

4 Stars | On the Horizon | Lois Lowry | 2020 | Grades 5 and up.

This short book is mostly written in rhyming verse, free verse and haiku and is a personal narrative of the childhood of the author, Lois Lowry. She focuses on when she lived in Hawaii and Japan during and after World War II. Oh boy, is it emotional and heartbreaking. I shed some tears while I was reading this one! It is also a tribute to the USS Arizona which sunk during the bombing of Pearl Harbor. When Lowry's family moves to Japan, she also experiences the devastation of the bombing of Hiroshima. There is no doubt that Lois Lowry is the master of her craft because she writes a cohesive and beautiful memoir with so few words. This book isn't just about her. She includes stories of real people that connects to her, Pearl Harbor, or Japan. There is also the amazing connection she has with author and illustrator Allen Say! Read the author's notes in the back for some interesting details. I love Hawai’i and I know most visitors will visit The USS Arizona Memorial. I suggest this book as an essential read either before or after visiting. It is also another great book for the catalog of World War II stories. 

Including the author's notes, this book is 72 pages long. Kenard Park illustrates almost every page with lovely pencil drawings. 

“It was an island of rainbows.

My mother said that color arced across the sky

on the spring day when I was born.”

2 stars | The Miraculous | Jess Redman l 2019 | IL 4-6

Wunder is 11 years old and has been noticing and writing down miracles in his journal for most of his life. When his baby sister is born but dies on day 8, it puts the entire family into heartbreak. Mom is depressed and Wunder does not believe in miracles anymore. At the cemetery, he meets Faye who is a cape-wearing quirky girl who find a mysterious house nearby with a witch. The witch gives them some tasks that require Wunder to deliver letters all over town. It turns out that even though there are miracles attached to these people from Wunder's journal, there is also death and grief. Everyone is looking for hope.

This book was not for me. I thought the writing was fine...and it kept me turning pages, but I was depressed reading this book. It was also a bit too weird and mystical for my taste. I did not get a feeling of hope from this book. I was glad to have finished it so I didn't have to read anymore.

What Adult Books I Read in August

 

I concentrated on reading more middle-grade books this month. But most of the books I read for adults were really good. Well, except for one.  You can see the last one was not for me. 

4 Stars | In Five Years | Rebecca Serle | 2020

Dannie and Bella are lifelong best girlfriends. Bella is wild, carefree and adventurous while Dannie is controlled, determined and a type-A lawyer. Dannie dreams one night of a life very different than the one she has planned; she is married to someone other than her fiancé. Later when Bella introduces her to her newest boyfriend, she finds herself facing the man of her dream. A few twists happen that I cannot mention so I won't give away the story. This is a fast read and I read it in one day! This book also gives New York City some love as the setting in this contemporary fiction story.

4 Stars | 500 Miles From You | Jenny Colgan | 2020

Lissa is a public health nurse in London who experiences a fatal car accident and suffers from post-traumatic stress syndrome. Human Resources encourages her to take advantage of a nurse trade and go to a quiet country position to help her deal with the situation. Meanwhile, Cormac is a nurse in the Scottish Highlands who is persuaded to also take advantage of this program where you can advance your skills working in an urban setting. Lissa and Cormac both decide to do a trade and actually trade their living situations. Of course, fitting into both situations is comical and difficult for each of them. They are able to update each other on their cases and begin a relationship without ever having met.

This book is the third book in the Bookshop book setting. Lissa befriends both Nina and Zoe from the first two books. If you haven't read them....you would still enjoy this one, however....read them all. I liked all of them. This book made me want to stay awhile in Scotland and hang out with the characters. What a great read!

4 Stars | The Book of Longings | Sue Monk Kidd | 2020

I was a little fearful reading this book because it is imagining that Jesus was married as a young man to Ana. I was hoping it wouldn't be irreverent. The author did extensive research on the culture and history of the first century and was careful to respectfully write this non-traditional story about the humanity of Jesus during his years when we know little about his life. It was well done! Read the author's notes in the back when you get started reading to find out Kidd's thought process for writing this project.

The book is a story about his wife and how, as a woman at this time period, she has few rights and means to follow her dreams and longings. She is a writer who was raised in a wealthy home and was given some opportunities that were not typical. But she could never be independent and follow her own will. When an arranged marriage goes array, Ana finds herself in a predicament that could mean her death. Jesus, who she has briefly met, saves her and a relationship and marriage develops quickly. The story takes us through their marriage until the crucifixion of Jesus and what happens to Ana in her later life.

Experiencing the lifestyle of 1st century Nazareth, Jerusalem, and Alexandra, Egypt in both the wealthy and poor communities is one of my favorite things about this book. The author describes the scenery, food, clothing, smells, cities and homes with lots of details to help the reader see and feel this era. I was glad I read this as an eBook because I also looked up quite a few unfamiliar words for further definitions. The author shows us Jesus' perspective as he begins to see he is destined for ministry and how that plays out in the Gospels. You may not agree with every detail in this book, but overall, Sue Monk Kidd was successful in looking at the question...what if Jesus was married?

I don't know what to read next...this was really quite a rich experience that gave me plenty to think about. I may be rereading this book someday.

4 Stars | While We're Far Apart | Lynn Austin | 2010

Lynn Austin always writes a great story. In this historical fiction book, she writes about three families in Brooklyn, New York and their experiences during World War II.

While they wait for the war to end and for their loved ones to return, they deal with their own problems and difficulties. Penny volunteers to take care of widower Eddies's two children while he goes to fight. She has a big crush on Eddie and hopes he notices her! She also discovers secrets about her own childhood and takes charge of her independence from her parents. The children struggle as they miss their father. The elderly Jewish man in their apartment is accused of setting fire to the neighborhood synagogue while also learning how his own son is mistreated by the Nazis in Europe. So much difficulty on the home front. I really loved how the Jewish man explained his religion to the kids and how they befriended him. Hope amidst such a sad time period.

1 Star | White Out | Danielle Girard | 2020

This was an Amazon First free book and I was very disappointed in this mystery. I didn't even bother writing a review. I will post the publisher's summary:

After surviving a car accident on an icy road in Hagen, North Dakota, Lily Baker regains consciousness with no idea where or who she is. Scattered Bible verses and the image of a man lying in a pool of blood haunt her memory.

The same night of the accident, a young woman is murdered and tossed in a dumpster. Kylie Milliard, Hagen’s only detective, doesn’t immediately recognize the victim, but Kylie soon discovers that Lily and the dead woman share a dark past…if only Lily could remember what it was.

Lily and Kylie both want answers. But Kylie has to play by the book. Lily has to play it safe. And the more Lily learns about her identity, the more she fears the truth.

Ten Diverse Books I Loved

If you wanted me to gift you with ten diverse books with different genres that are great reads I would give you this set of books!  All of these titles are only a few years old and should be really easy to find in libraries both in audio, print or electronic formats. Click on the links for previous book reviews. 

Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed
| 4.2 | 5-8 | Pakistani | Contemporary

Apple in the Middle by Dawn Quigley
| 5.1 | 6-9 | Ojibwe | Contemporary

Finding Langston by Lesa Cline-Ransome 
| 4.2 | 5-8 | African American | Historical

4 stars! Historical fiction set in Chicago during the migration of African Americans from South to North. The boy in this story is Langston and his father and he has moved to Chicago. His mother died and he is still grieving. His new school has a couple of bullies that make life miserable. He finds peace and solace at a neighborhood library where he is welcomed. The book is like a love story to this library which is also named after a famous African American from Chicago. I listened to this book and read it too. I highly recommend listening to this gem! I think this could be a crossover book. It would be a great read-aloud or book club for kids. 

Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes 
| 4.2 | 5-8 | African American | Contemporary

Jerome is a black 7th grader in Chicago who tries to avoid the bullies and do well in school. A new boy comes to school and Jerome tries to help him avoid a bully attack. The new boy uses a toy gun to scare them away and then gives the gun to Jerome to play with. Later, in the park, as Jerome plays, a police car arrives and shoots Jerome and he dies. Jerome now looks on as a ghost at how the rest of the days play out. 

Jerome meets the Ghost of Emmitt Till and is also able to communicate with Sarah who is the daughter of the police officer who shot him. Sarah begins to see how she can become an activist to make a change in our world. 

This book is heart-breaking and outstanding. It is so well written and tells an important story. History is so important in helping us change for the better if we could only learn our lessons well. I hope parents and teachers use this book for a discussion or read aloud.  I rated it a 5 because it gave me that reading feeling at the end where I want to press this book into everybody’s hands to read.

Indian No More by Charlene Willing McManis and Traci Sorell
| 4.2 | 5-8 | Native American | Historical

Love Sugar Magic by Anna Meriano
| 4.2 | 5-8 | Mexican American | Fantasy

Merci Suarez Changes Gears by Meg Medina
| 4.2 | 5-8 | Cuban American | Contemporary

The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani  

| 4.2 | 5-8 | India-Pakistan | Historical

This book is set in 1947 when India was given independence from Britain and India was divided into the two countries of India and Pakistan. Pakistan became a Muslim country, and India was mainly Hindu. People were forced to leave and go to the country based on their practices. 12-year-old Nisha is the daughter of a doctor and he is Hindu. Nisha's mother has passed and she was Muslim. When it is no longer safe for them to stay in the country of Pakistan because of the danger they begin a difficult trek to India.  Nisha writes in her diary every night to her deceased mother and tells the story of the journey and her feelings about what is happening and how confusing it is for religion and beliefs to cause such anger. 

I loved this book because it taught me about something in history I was not aware of. It is very interesting and heartbreaking.   

A Place to Belong by Cynthian Kadohata
| 4.2 | 5-8 | Japanese | Historical

Stargazing by Jen Wang
| 4.2 | 5-8 | Chinese American | Contemporary

Middle Grade Books I Read in July

All of the above titles were on my Maud Hart Lovelace list to review for nominations for the school year of 2021-22.  I did a video to describes these titles plus the ones I didn't finish reading.  I forgot to review Finding Langston and so I will put that one in my next video I film. See the video below!

If you see the yellow hands on each book...you can count the number of stars I gave each book by the fingers that are raised! 

Books I Read in July

I was on vacation in July and read a lot of books by the pool! I read 11 adult books and 7 middle-grade books for a total of 18 books this month.  I have broken them into two parts. The first graphic show all of the adult titles I read. The graphic below shows the books I am read for my middle-grade books.

I will briefly describe each book.  For more details, check out my Facebook or Instagram posts. 

5 stars | The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek | Kim Michele Richardson

Another great book historical fiction book about the packhorse librarians in the 1930's. This one also explores the blue skin people who lived in Kentucky and how they also faced racism. Such a good read...I shed a few tears on this one. 

5 stars | Orphan Train | Christina Baker Kline | 2016

Great story about a young Irish immigrant girl and her harrowing childhood experiences as an orphan who was sent to the midwest to find a family.  I love stories like this. 

5 stars | Westering Women | Sandra Dallas | 2020

This is a dramatic historical fiction book about single and widowed women who joined a wagon train to get to California and seek husbands. 

5 stars | The 10,000 Doors of January | Alix E. Harrow
Fantasy and Historical Fiction mixed together with a lot of fairytale qualities is the basis of this novel. It was a slow start and I put it down. When I came back, I started over and loved 

4 stars | I'm Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness | Brown

I listened to this one which was narrated by the author. It is her experiences helping organizations and individuals understand racism through her view. 

4 stars | Sweet Tea and Sympathy | Harper | 2017
Funny Southern romance that I listened to from Audible. 

4 stars | The Last Flight | Julie Clark | June 2020
A thriller that wasn't too scary for me but one I couldn't put down!

4 stars | The Masterpiece |  Francine Rivers |  February 2019
Christian romance about an artist who also does graffiti secretly at night and his new assistant who doesn't want to make any more mistakes in her life. 

3 stars | Wild Montana Skies | Susan May Warren
Christian romance sent near Glacier National Park about a pilot who helps with rescue missions and has to face her ex-boyfriend and their rocky past. 

2 stars | One To Watch | Kate Stayman-London
A Bachelor-like television show asks plus size social media influencer to be the next bachelorette on their show. 

2 stars | Beach Read | Emily Henry

Two authors have houses next door to each other one summer and since they both are blocked, decide to switch genre styles and write the other person's type of book. 

Here are my middle-grade books for July!  I'll do another blog post about these titles later. 

Books I Read in June

I did a lot of comfort reading in June with 7 adult books, 1 young adult, and 2 middle grade.  Here's my list!

Every Bride Needs a Groom | Janice Thompson | 4 Stars
This is a Hallmark type story set in Texas about a woman who wins a wedding dress in a contest but has a break up with her boyfriend and no wedding can be planned.  It is funny and I especially liked her brother's antics. A very sweet and clean romance.  I found this on my bookshelf and I am not sure where it came from.  There are more books in this series. 

Dear Evan Hansen: The Novel | Val Emmich | 3 Stars

This book is based on the broadway musical of the same name. It is about a lonely, anxiety-laden high school student who mistakenly is thought to be the best friend of a student who has died by suicide. He ends up rolling with it because it can't figure out how to tell the truth. It starts his own romance and a revolution of kindness in his school. I expected to be as moved as I was listening to the music but was let down a bit. I think in this case, the musical is better. This is a YA book and includes language and mature topics. A friend lent this book to me!

Indian No More | Charlene Willing Mcmanis | 5 Stars
This is a middle-grade book about a Native American family who leaves the reservation and moves to Los Angeles after the government declares they are no longer considered Native Americans.  I loved this book and I encourage everyone to read this book which illuminates a historical event most don't know anything about. I checked this book out of the library. 

Things You Save in a Fire | Katherine Center | 4 Stars

A woman firefighter moves from Texas to Boston to help her mother and join a new fire station. She ends up battling lots of prejudice and fighting for equality along with learning to forgive her mother. I loved this book and plan on reading more from her. I got this book from Book of the Month. 

The Ringmaster's Wife | Kristy Cambron | 4 Stars

Think Downton Abbey and Water for Elephants and The Greatest Show on Earth. There are two time periods to keep track of...but the author always gives a timestamp at the beginning of the chapter. One of the characters is based on Mabel Ringling who married John Ringling. Since there isn’t much information about her...the author imagines what she was like. I would love to visit their home in Sarasota, Florida now! I got this book from my church library. It is a clean read with messages of God’s love and forgiveness.

Out of Left Field | Ellen Klages | 4 Stars

It is 1957 and Katy wants to play little league but is rejected because she is a girl. She takes on a mission to find out the history of women in playing baseball in hopes to get them to change their minds. This is such a great story that promotes social change and women's rights. I really enjoyed this one. This is a middle-grade book and I got it from a school library. 

Chocolate Cream Pie Murder | Joanne Fluke | 3 Stars

This cozy mystery is about a cookie store owner in Minnesota who solves mysteries in her home town. It always includes lots of recipes and is really corny and sweet. It is really comfort reading.  I read this on Libby. 

When Love Calls | Lorna Seilstad | 4 Stars

This is a sweet vintage read set in Iowa about orphaned sisters. The oldest gets a job as a telephone operator and gives up her dreams of being a lawyer to provide for her sisters. Interesting to learn about the job of a telephone operator. I got this book series from my church library.

While Love Stirs | Lorna Seilstad | 4 Stars

The sisters move to St. Paul and the second sister follows her culinary dreams. One of her first jobs in promoting gas stoves by traveling around and doing cooking demonstrations. 

As Love Blooms | Lorna Seilstad | 4 Stars
The third sister follows her dream of horticulture and gets in involved in Como Park. I enjoyed this series because it really felt like a visit to local museum and learning about the family that lived there. They are also very charming and always promote women's suffrage and rights. 

The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacy McAnulty

5 stars | Grades 3-7 

This is a funny and heartwarming story about a girl who is a genius at math because of an electrical accident from lightning when she was 8. She had been homeschooled but at the age of 12, she returns to school. Yes, middle school. You know that will be difficult! Lucy knows she will face kids who will make fun of her. She's a savant when it comes to math but also deals with obsessive-compulsive behaviors. Now she needs to fit in and find friends! Throw in a pet shelter and rescue project and some quirky but loveable characters and you end up with a great book! I loved it!

This book reminded me a little of  Wonder by R. J.  Palacio but with more humor and math! This would also make an excellent read-aloud!

 

A Place to Belong by Cynthia Kadohata

  

4 stars | A Place to Belong | Cynthia Kadohata | Grade 4 and Up

An American Japanese family leaves an internment camp, renounces their American citizenship and gets on a ship to go back to Japan. The parents and their two children discover the horrific conditions in the destroyed city of Hiroshima as they pass through on their way to the grandparent's poor country home. The grandparents are so happy to see their son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren again. But, life is very hard in Japan, and getting even enough rice to eat is difficult. The book takes the reader along as the family struggles for how to survive and what difficult choices they may have to make.

This book would be a great teacher or parent read-aloud for kids so that lots of discussions can take place. Adults should read it for insight into Japanese Internment history. 

There is humor, heartbreak, joy, and sadness in this quiet and yet impactful novel. I want adults to read this book and then encourage kids to read it or read it to them. The cover and subject matter will not market to kids because this one needs some selling!

I am feeling inspired to promote middle-grade books through YouTube because of all of the people that inspire my reading from YouTube with their book reviews.  So, give a listen and subscribe to my channel!

Indian No More by Charlene Willing McManis

This is a book that I have been waiting for. It tells the struggle of a Native American family from Oregon who relocates to Los Angeles after the United States government tells their tribe that they have been terminated and they no longer exist.   Regina who is a 5th grader, her third-grade sister Peewee, her parents, and her grandmother relocate to a little house in LA.  Regina's father is excited to go back to school and then get a good job to provide for his family. When they arrive they are surprised at how small their house and yard are and miss space and nature they enjoyed in Oregon.  Regina and Peewee meet lots of kids in their neighborhood and it is very diverse...Black, Cuban, and German.  They learn a lot about racism personally as they encounter lots of stereotypes about Native Americans. They also experience racism toward others in their neighborhood. 

This book reminds me a little bit of a Beverly Cleary book about kids in a neighborhood who enjoy being neighbors together.  It also goes deeper as it includes the parents and the grandmother's struggles in starting over in a new city away from their family and friends in Oregon and the rich traditions they do not want to forget.  McManis also does a good job of showing racial stereotypes from the lens of a Native American. 

This book is based on the childhood experiences of McManis.  She completed the writing of this book but became ill before the final edits.  Traci Sorell stepped in to take the book to the final publication. At the beginning of the book, the author gives a note, a map, and a glossary. I appreciated having some of this background information before I began to read the story.  At the end, the notes from the co-author and the editor really showed how carefully this book was vetted for correct content. They felt like this was their chance and responsibility to have the microphone and speak for the Native American community. 

Parents and teachers should read this book and then share it with their children and students. It is a very important book to add to our understanding of the history of racial issues in the United States. 

I rate this book a 5 out of 5.  The book could be read by 3rd - 6th-grade students. 

Books I Read in May

I read nine books this month. I started and didn't finish a number of ebooks...but once I started reading print books, my reading took off. I don't know if it was because of the format or just a coincidence. I do love holding a paper book!

I have a rating system for my books that is as follows: 
5 Stars:  I really loved the book...and would recommend it highly for others to read. It was a perfect read for me.
4 Stars:  I really liked the book...and would recommend it highly for others to read. It was practically perfect.
3 Stars:  I liked the book...it would be a recommendation for some but not everyone.  It had a few distractions.
2 Stars:  It didn't care for the book...but I read it. I wouldn't recommend it.
1 Star: I didn't like the book at all. I don't give many of these out...because I usually will not finish the book instead. 

So here are brief summaries of each of my May books:

The Mother-In-Law by Sally Hepworth:  5 Stars  I loved reading this book! It is a family drama murder mystery set in Australia. I cared about the characters, couldn't guess the ending, and was very entertained. I found this book in a little library on my walking route!

The Printed Letter Bookshop by Katherine Reay: 3 Stars  This is a cozy, warm story about a bookshop that is willed to a niece by her aunt. It involves lots of interesting characters and their lives inside the setting of a book store.  I was a little distracted and confused by the different character changes and didn't totally settle into this book, however, overall, I liked this comfortable story. It was an eBook which might have been my issue of distraction.  

The Endless Beach by Jenny Colgan: 4 Stars   This is actually the third book written by Colgan about the Scottish Island of Mure. Here is the order of them:  The Summer Seaside Kitchen, A Very Distant Shore, The Endless Beach, and Christmas on the Island.  Even though I haven't read the other books, it didn't matter, I still enjoyed the book as a stand-alone.  This book is about Flora and Joel and their relationship, Flora's family, Flora's best friend, and the new doctor on the island.  And another character of this book is the actual setting of the island.  It is such an interesting place and probably a great island to visit. Flora runs the family restaurant and so if you like reading about food, there is a little of that as well.  

City Spies by James Ponti: 4 Stars  I love kids spy stories and this once was great!  I look forward to reading more in this series.  I wrote a review on this one and posted a video as well.  I hope to promote this book to lots of kids. 

Frankly in Love by David Yoon: 3 Stars   This is a high school angsty love story about a second-generation Korean American boy who has difficulty fitting into his Southern California high school life and his parent's Korean expectations.  Frank Li is dating the wrong girl and needs to keep this a secret. He gets the idea to pretend to date a girl in his parent's circle so that he can keep his parents off his back. She needs the same thing...because she is also not dating the right guy with a Korean background. You can imagine that this is complicated and feelings and love interests get very confused.  Frank Li also has to face a difficult family situation with his father as well.  This is usually not my favorite type of book and I am sensitive to lots of bad language and wanted to give this book a 2.  However, reading about Korean culture and getting a glimpse at the issues facing kids caught in between two cultures was very good. So many kids have faced this in the past and now. It just involves different races and countries. Something to think about.  

The Borrowers by Mary Norton: 4 Stars   This is a classic story written in the 1950s about small people who live under the floors in houses and borrow everything they need from the homeowners...in secret.  This book takes place in the late 1800s.  At this point, there is only one family left in the home. A mother, father, and young girl are living under the floor in the kitchen. They are very isolated since all the other little families who used to live in hiding have left because they were seen. When you are seen, cats or exterminators are called and it is too dangerous to stay.  At this point, only one elderly lady and her housekeeper live at the house. So, one night, the father takes his daughter borrowing to teach her this skill.  She discovers a boy and he discovers her. Even though they try to keep this a secret, it doesn't work. Now, the family has to get out before it is too late.   

Wonderland Creek by Lynn Austin: 4 Stars   This is a reread for me.  I finished Jojo Moyes's book Giver of the Stars this spring which is about packhorse librarians in Kentucky.  I loved that book.  I remembered that I had read Wonderland Creek a few years ago and liked it a lot too. So, I decided to reread this one.  It is written by Lynn Austin and she always tells a great story.  This is a great book as well.  I had a few distractions with the mystery in this book which didn't let me give it a 5, but I would still highly recommend this book.  It is funny, entertaining, and also gives a message of faith which I enjoyed. The setting is very important to the story and I loved imagining the scenery of the  Kentucky forests.

Valentine by Elizabeth Wetmore: 2 Stars   I plodded through this story set in Texas in the 80s. It starts out with a terrible crime committed against a teenager. The result of this crime is wrestled within the family, town, and the courts.  Time and characters switch up throughout the book and I had a hard time keeping track of the plot.  Sometimes a character would be brought into the story and then not much happened with them later.  The plot was too busy and character-based for me.  I did try listening to this on Audible but it didn't help.  I made myself finish the book since it was a Jenna book club choice and she just raved about it. But, it didn't get better for me.  I did listen to Jenna talk to the author about this book and I found the interview very delightful.  I wish I had liked the book as much. 

Adequate Yearly Progress by Roxanna Elden: 3 Stars  This is a story about high school teachers in an urban school in Texas who are facing a new year with a superstar superintendent who claims he can fix the plight of poor schools.  Although, a funny and snarky take on education, it is also very familiar and many elements are very true.  This book focuses on the teachers and not the students and there are no easy answers written in the book to solve the problems.  The ending was a little rushed for me and I found the way storylines were tied up was a little unbelievable.  Although humor is a big part of the story...it also features some very sad plots too.  There is some language as well.  

City Spies by James Ponti

I am a cozy mystery lover and James Ponti does a good job with his mystery series for middle-grade readers. His Framed series are mysteries with plenty of action and humor but not too gruesome or violent. City Spies is his newest book and probably the beginning of a series. It is about five orphan kids from around the world who come together to live in Scotland to form a secret British spy team.  They live in an old castle and when not spying go to a local private school. They each have their own specialty from hacking to sleight of hand and together form a team to stop villains. 

The story starts in New York City where orphan Sara Martinez is facing juvenile detention and a ban from using computers for hacking into the foster care system software. A British spy sweeps in and gets her released into his custody. He brings her to Scotland to meet the other for kids who will be part of her new spy family. Everyone is named after the place they came. Sara now becomes Brooklyn.  Her hacking abilities are needed for the team's next mission which takes place in Paris. They are acting undercover in an international youth summit contest and trying to prevent the villains from destroying the world. Interestingly, a virus attack is one of the problems they face. This book came out in March 2020 right on the brink of sheltering orders for protection from COVID 19. I wonder if James Ponti knew his plot would be this close to reality. 

I enjoyed reading this spy adventure book and would rate it a 4 out of 4.  I can't wait for the next book!  

April Books

I read eleven books this month and I really liked all of them! April was a good reading month. 

The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes  (Adult)

I loved this historical fiction story about librarians on pack horses for the Appalachian people in the 1930's.  I rated it a 5!  This was so good.  (Book of the Month)

If You Lived Here, You'd Be Home By Now by Christopher Ingraham  (Adult)

Christopher Ingraham says he is a "born again Minnesotan". He moved from Maryland as a reporter for the Washington Post to live in Red Lake County, Minnesota. He had written about this area as being the worst county to live in Minnesota. When he visited, he realized he wanted to move to Minnesota to eliminate a crazy lifestyle!  I rated this a 4. (Libby EBook)

Funny, You Don't Look Autistic by Michael McCreary (Adult)

Michael tells about his life growing up autistic with humor and heart. A great memoir. I rated this book a 4. (Libby EBook)

The Family Romanov by Candace Fleming (Young Adult)

My book club read this book this month. It was such a good story about the lives of the last Tsar in Russia. So sad. This is non-fiction and the author does a great job explaining the complicated history of Russia. I rated this book a 4. (Libby EBook)

Becoming the Talbot Sisters by Rachel Linden (Adult)

Twin sisters live completely different lives but are able to come together to help each other out and change their lives and others. This story deals with sex trafficking, surrogacy, international aid, and food TV entertainment. I rated this book a 4. I listened to the audiobook and it was easy to follow with a good narrator. (Libby Audiobook)

Roll With It by Jamie Sumner (Middle Grade)

Ellie is in a wheelchair because of cerebral palsy. Her mother and her move to help their grandparents and find the transition difficult and yet Ellie finds the friendships she longs for. This is a great book and I rate it a 4.  (School Library)

The Path Between Us by Suzanne Stabile (Adult) 

This is a sequel to The Road Back to You which talks about the Enneagram and relationships.  Easy to follow and so encouraging. I rated it a 4. (Kindle Purchase)

The Dearly Beloved by Cara Wall (Adult)

This is the story of two pastors and their wives, their marriages, careers, ministry, and families who live in New York City. I really like this book and rated it a 4. (Libby Ebook)

Shine! by J. J. and Chris Grabenstein (Middle Grade)

Piper goes to an elite private school and despite thinking she is not talented becomes an example for everyone. Great story. I rated it a 4. (School Library)

All the Colors of Magic by Valija Zinck (Middle Grade)

Penelope's mother is in the hospital and now Penelope's gray hair turns red and she has magical powers. The road calls her to help rescue her father. I really liked this book and rated it a 4. (School Library)

Captain Superlative by J. S. Puller (Middle Grade)

A girl dressed as a superhero runs through the middle school helping kids and battles bullying and unkindness. Janey wants to know who is behind it. Bring your kleenex to this one. I rated it a 4. (School Library)

Strong Girl Characters!

Strong Girl Character Book Recommendations!

I am on a good reading streak and I have really liked almost everything I have picked up! I had the above stack of books on my desk and realized that all of the characters are really strong and charming characters filled with heart and spirit. Let me tell you about them.

Roll With It by Jamie Sumner

Ellie and her mother move to help take care of her grandfather during the middle of the school year. She is having to adjust to a new living and school situation which isn't easy since she has to use a wheelchair. She was born with cerebral palsy and isn't strong enough to walk. Her grandparent's home and her new school are not quite ready for wheelchairs. It seems like the challenges are too much, but Ellie begins making friends which makes this move one of the best things that have happened to her. 

I loved Ellie! She is a fighter who doesn't let her disability stop her. It is a fast read, about a 4th-grade reading level, and 250 pages long. I really liked it and give it a 4-star rating. 

All the Colors of Magic by Valija Zinck

The intense colors on the cover of the book drew me in. It is about a little girl who discovers she has magical abilities from her red hair. Her father has been missing since she was little and now Penelope is being led through a road and voices that she needs to go on a rescue mission. Hopefully, she will find out the mystery of where her father is on her journey. 

I found this book very compelling because it was so different and full of interesting magic and mystery. I really liked it and give it 4-stars.  It is about a 5th-grade reading level and is 279 pages long. 

Shine by J. J. and Chris Grabestein

Piper doesn't feel like she was born to shine or be a star but she loves the stars, as in astronomy. Her father lands a new music teaching job at a very elite private middle school. Piper is enrolled as a student and discovers she doesn't quite fit into the culture of the school. She is trying to find her way when a special contest is announced and everyone is school is doing all they can to win the prestigious prize. She faces some decisions about staying true to herself. 

This book was so funny!  I am pretty sure I laughed out loud. It is a story about someone who is not willing to compromise who she truly is. I really liked it and rate it 4-stars. It is a 4th-grade reading level and 210 pages. 

Captain Superlative by J. S. Puller

A girl with a red mask, blue wig, silver swimsuit, rubber gloves, torn tights, high-top sneakers and a cape is running through the halls of a middle school helping kids and preventing mishaps. Janey Silverman is curious and wants to find out who is behind the mask. She ends up finding out more than she had planned and her life along with her classmates are changed. 

Grab some tissues because you will probably need them. I really liked this book and rate it a 4-star. It is a 4th-grade reading level and is 245 pages long. 

All of these books are great character studies that are also fast and fun reads.  I recommend all of them. 

Sweep by Jonathan Auxier

This book was on so many recommended lists that I finally found a copy to read. Someone even said it would be a book they would take to a deserted island for reading. That really made me want to read it. It turned out that I loved this book too.  Stories about monsters or horror are not my go-to genre, but this isn't horror.  Think Mary Poppins, Oliver Twist, and Jewish folklore with fantasy and historical fiction. 

The story is set in Victorian London and the main character is an orphan who is raised by a chimney sweep until he has to leave her when she is only six years old. Nan ends up having to work for an evil chimney sweep lord who employs little children to clean out the chimneys in London.  The little ones are the only ones who can easily fit inside a chimney in order to clean it. When she is in a life or death situation, a small chunk of dust comes to her rescue! 

In the title, the book calls the creation Nan has a monster but I would say he is more like a gentle guide golem. A golem is a clay figure brought to life in Jewish folklore. The book refers to Jewish mythology, child labor, historical history, and a little bit of mysticism and magic. The writing is very beautiful and you can recognize the quality of this author's craft in this book.  It won the 2019 Sydney Taylor book award for an outstanding book for children that authentically portrays the Jewish experience.

This book gets a 5 rating from me.  I thought it was an amazing read!  It is about a 4th or 5th-grade reading level and is 368 pages long. 

Framed Series by James Ponti

I highly recommend the mystery series Framed by James Ponti.  The main characters are Florian Bates and his best friend Margaret. They are middle schoolers in Washington D. C. who get called by the FBI to help solve cases.  Florian has developed a T. O. A. S. T. theory which stands for theory of all small things which helps him solve life's mysteries. It reminds me of Sherlock Holmes's observation powers when he solved cases.  I love books where kids are asked to help with solving crime cases and mysteries. Florian and Margaret are great friends and fun characters to get to know. The stories are fast-paced, funny, and clever.  I don't always read an entire series, but I read all three of these stories!  I give them all 4-star ratings. 

Book 1:  Framed 
Florian and Margaret solve the mystery of stolen paintings from the National Gallery of Art.

Book 2:  Vanished
Florian and Margaret go undercover at a private school in Washington D. C. where the President of the United States daughter may or not be behind a series of middle school pranks.

Book 3:  Trapped
Florian and Margaret get involved in a spy ring and stolen books from The Library of Congress. Fascinating to get inside this library!

The Vanderbeekers to the Rescue by Karina Yan Glaser

I really like happy and neighborhood books. Not that there aren't difficulties and problems but that overall the kids and adults encourage, support and love each other through the tough times. Karina Yan Glaser has written three books about the Vanderbeeker family of seven who lives in Harlem, New York City.  Her fourth book in this series comes out in September.  I usually read the first book in most series and then move on but I just couldn't resist continuing to read about this family. They are perfect to read aloud to a range of ages since it is about the entire family of different ages. Also, a good read-aloud for younger grades. 

In The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street, the family finds out that they are not able to continue their lease on their brownstone and have to move out around Christmas. This devastating news makes the five children start to plot how to convince their landlord, who lives in the upstairs apartment, to change his mind. 

In The Vanderbeekers and the Hidden Garden, the kids clean up a vacant lot by their brownstone to cheer up their beloved neighbor who has had a stroke.  Of course, they run into difficulties!

The Vanderbeekers to the Rescue was my favorite so far! In this saga, the Vanderbeekers keep finding stray animals at their door that they feel compelled to care for.  The only thing is, they need to get rid of their pets in order for their mother to pass the health inspection for her baking business which she runs in her home. 

I rate all of these books with 4 stars.  

Books I Read in March

I read 10 books this month:  3 adult fiction, 3 middle-grade fiction, and 4 graphic novels. 

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo:  4 stars
Dear Edward: 4 stars
Bear Town: 2 stars
Trapped: 4 stars
Vanished: 4 stars
The Doughnut King: 4 stars
Guts: 4 stars
Amulet: The Stonekeeper: 4 stars
Nat Enough: 4 stars
Best Friends: 4 stars