City Spies by James Ponti: Book Review

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Book received at no charge to facilitate review.

Sara hacks into the foster care computer systems to report her foster parents for bad behavior. Instead, she winds up in court facing juvenile detention for illegal hacking. A British man impersonates her attorney to get her out of the mess. As it turns out, the man, better known as "Mother," needs her as part of a diverse team of orphan teens from all over the world in Scotland to work as spies for M16.

The team takes on new names after the cities they are from, so Sara becomes Brooklyn and joins Kat, Paris, Sydney, and Rio on a mission to become part of a team in the global environmental challenge. They need to make it to the top ten without actually winning the Stravros Challenge to buy time to uncover the identity of the Purple Thumb and keep him from attacking again.

Will the five spies combine their unique skills to save the entire intelligence community? Readers will be riveted by the spies' adventures, especially appreciating how each spy's skills come together to solve the mystery. While the contest focuses on environmental issues, those are glossed over in favor of what goes on inside M16. Overall, this is a solid pick for spy thriller seekers.

Rating ★★★★☆

Publishing Information

Publisher: Aladdin (March 10, 2020)

ISBN: 9781534414914

Ages 8-12

Book can be purchased here.

Book Review: The Revenge of Magic: The Last Dragon by James RileyBo

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Book received at no charge to facilitate review.

Six months after the attack in Washington D.C. that took his father from him, Fort Fitzgerald battles constant nightmares. In every dream, the Old One wants the location of the last dragon. Fort has never even seen a dragon and has no idea what it all means.

In the meantime, Gabriel, the new kid at the Oppenheimer school has been assigned Fort's roommate. Fort must keep Gabriel with him at all times. The weird thing is that this new kid,  has the same nightmares as Fort. He also holds secrets that Fort must uncover if he wants to save his father. He will need the help of his friends, Jia, Cyrus, and Rachel to keep the Old Ones from returning to earth.

A magical fantasy that will have readers wondering what twist will end with the thrilling resolution. An action packed story with an ending that will leave the reader excited for the next installment. 

Rating: ★★★★☆

Publishing Information

Publisher: Aladdin (Oct. 8, 2019)

ISBN: 9781534425729

Ages 8-12

This book can be purchased from the following retailer.

Book Review: Oh, Rats! by Tor Seidler

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Book received at no charge to facilitate review

Phoenix loves his bushy red tail. It's his favorite part of being a squirrel. As he's admiring in reflection in the water, while trying to impress a girl, he's swooped up by a red-tailed hawk named Walter. Soaring over New Jersey, Phoenix gets an earful from the hawk who won't stop talking. He thinks his luck has turned when Walter loses his grip and drops Phoenix. Fate changes quickly when Phoenix lands on fresh tar on the streets of downtown Manhattan. The tar chars off his glorious fur, leaving him looking like a sewer rat.

Luckily, the brother and sister team of Lucy and Beckett rescue Phoenix and bring him to home, an abandoned pier, where he is nursed back to health amongst the wharf rats. When the rats learn of a plan to demolish the wharf to make room for a new development, they enlist Phoenix with his excellent climbing skills to sabotage the city's electrical grid. Will their plan work? And an even bigger question is the dilemma that Phoenix must face when Walter returns and offers to take him home.

A light-hearted look at the deeper concepts of cooperation, finding yourself, and creating belonging amongst strangers.

Rating ★★★★☆

Publishing Information

Publisher: Atheneum/Caitly Dlouhy Books 

Publication Date: August 27, 2019

ISBN:  9781534426849

Ages: 8-12

**Review books are donated to my local Little Library. No payment received for posts though purchases through affiliate links help support this blog.**

Lu by Jason Reynolds Book Review

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Book received at no charge to facilitate review

As co-captain of the Defenders, Lu shoulders the responsibility of leading the track team to their upcoming championship. But Lu faces his own hurdles before he can lead the team to a win.

Just before the big week, Lu finds out his mom is expecting a baby. While his mom struggles with morning sickness that lasts all day, Lu tries to help her with her business, stepping up as delivery boy. He faces inner turmoil at the discovery that his dad acquired his coach's Olympic gold in a less than moral way. Will he be able to convince his dad to return it?

Not only does Lu face hurdles with his parents but with himself as well. He can't seem to get over  the real hurdles on the track. Lu has poor eyesight caused by being an albino. When he loses a contact, the coach discovers he can barely see. The coach comes up with a brilliant idea to teach Lu how to get over the hurdles without the contacts.

In one of life's great lessons, Lu learns winning gold in life doesn't always mean on the track. Relatable characters mixed with a realistic look into middle class family life make a dazzling gold medal ending to Reynolds Track series.

Rating ★★★★☆

Publishing Information

Publisher: Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books (October 23, 2018)

Series: Track (Book #4)

Pages 224

ISBN: 978-1481450249

Ages: 10 and up

Book Review: The Boy, the Boat and the Beast by Samantha M. Clark

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Book received at no charge to facilitate review

What wonders would the world hold if one day you woke up not knowing who you are? When a boy wakes up on the beach in a world he doesn't recognize, he struggles to discover why he's there and who he is. Food and water comes easily to him but his bigger desire to know his place in the world doesn't come easy. An eerie feeling for a young boy.

It doesn't help that an unknown voice occupies his mind. A voice he nicknames "the bully" because of the negative thoughts it fills his brain. As if the bully isn't bad enough, a monstrous beast sits ready to devour him if the water doesn't pull him under first.

The boy focuses his energy into building a boat in an attempt to get back to his parents. The boy's adventure captivates the reader though the melancholy tone makes for slower reading. Perhaps slowing down is a good thing as it helps the reader catch the allegories of the story and appreciate the lyrical writing. A solid fantasy for those who love solving mysteries.

Rating ★★★★☆

Publishing Information

Publisher: Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books (June 26, 2018)

                                                                              ISBN:  978-1-5344-1255-2

Pages: 256

Ages: 8-12

Check by Cynthia Kadohata Book Review

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Book received at no charge to facilitate review.

Conor MacRae's whole life revolves around hockey. Both he and his dad make sacrifices so that Conor can play on an elite hockey team. Even though almost every waking minute involves hockey, loves everything about it. When his dog, Sinbad gets sick with cancer, Conor has to choose between payments to the vet for chemotherapy sessions or hockey lessons.

Once Conor steps back from everyday lessons, he has time to notice things he hasn't noticed before like his dad's crying and somber moods and even the lack time with his mother's Japanese family. Maybe, just maybe he the hockey rink isn't the only place Conor belongs.

The elite athlete will relate to the time spent perfecting the sport but the heart of the story lies with the relationship outside of the rink.

Rating: ★★★★☆

The Nightsiders #2: Vault of Shadows by Jonathan Maberry: Book Review

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Book received at no charge for book review consideration.

The leader of the Orphan Army, eleven-year-ol Milo Silk, has just escaped the evil Huntsman. Together with a Evangelyne the werewolf girl, Shark and his other friends, Milo faces the task of keeping the Heart of Darkness along with the Dissosterin crystal egg safe. The vengeful Huntsman, Queen Mab with her group of fairies, and the zombielike holo men could all destroy Milo and his friends.

After a rescue mission gone wrong in which many innocent lives are lost and the Heart is fractured, Milo and his group set out to find the Heir of Gadfellyn Hall .The quest makes them question the cost of war. Not only has Milo lost many of his friends, but he must face another boy in his troubling dreams. Plenty of action combined with aliens, zombies and magic make for a page turning novel the preteen and teen will have a hard time putting down. Along with the action, it will also leave the reader questioning the purpose of war. 

Rating:★★★★★

Publishing Information

Simon & Schuster Book for Young Readers (August 30, 2016)

Author: Jonathan Maberry

ISBN 9781481415781

Ages 8-12

Purchase this book:

This Side of Wild: Mutts, Mares and Laughing Dinosaurs by Gary Paulsen: Book Review

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ARC received at no charge to facilitate review.

When author, Gary Paulsen, rescues an elderly poodle named Corky from animal shelter, he discovers a spunk and lack of fear that makes the dog an amazing guard dog who returns the favor of saving a life. Gretchen, a dog who drinks from a mug, convinces the author that animals have an understanding and way of communicating that goes beyond what our minds can fathom. Who knew a mare would actually have the capability of protecting a jackrabbit from coyotes or that a bird could not only mimic a president but maybe even feel lonely? Some fascinating insights into the relationships animals have with humans.

Overall, the book felt like a compilation of notes about animals that didn't quite make it into Paulsen's adventure novels. While not Paulsen's best work, the reluctant reader may love the different anecdotes on animals relation to man. With each chapter being a different experience, the older middle grade reader can merely enjoy the short stories rather than think through a plot.

Rating: ★★★★☆

This book can be purchased from the following retailer:

Book Review: Out of Bounds by Fred Bowen

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Book received at no charge in exchange for an honest review.

Nate Osbourne loves playing forward on his U-14 soccer team, the Strikers. He and his teammates want nothing more than to beat their nemesis, the Monarchs, for the championship title. All season, Nate and his friends play their hearts out hoping they will make it to the championship game.

When the game is on the line, Nate faces a difficult decision between winning or showing good sportsmanship. Will his teammates understand the choice he makes and is it really the right one?

While Bowen's descriptions of the sports action will draw the reader in, it's the real life examples of sportsmanlike play in actual games that got my attention. Out of Bounds is a solid read for the soccer fan.

Rating ★★★★☆

Publishing Information:

Publisher: Peachtree Publishers (Aug. 2015)

ISBN: 978-1-56145-845-5

Ages 7-12

This book can be purchased from the following retailers:

The Life and Times of Benny Alvarez by Peter Johnson: Book Review

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Book received at no charge to facilitate my review

His little brother calls him Mr. Negativity, his mom tells him he is the "glass half full" kind of guy but Benny Alvarez likes to think of himself as a realist who sees all sides of things. Benny also likes to think of himself as a word connoisseur (con-nois-seur - noun: an expert in a particular subject). With the help of his two friends and his handy thesaurus, his prowess with words lands him the boys champion in a poetry contest against his adversary, Claudine.

While Benny's smart-aleck antics at school make him a character easy to relate to for any middle school reader, his relationships at home carry rich characters through a lukewarm plot. As Benny faces a grandfather who is slowly going senile, a wild younger brother, an overly optimistic mother, a father who has lost his job and a sister who he actually likes, he learns the meaning of love that can't be found on the pages of his thesaurus. With character development deep, the reader can't help but laugh and even cry as Benny extends the compassion he gains at home to his peers at school.

Rating:  Recommended to Highly Recommended ★★★★✬ (4 1/2)

Publishing Information:

Publisher: Harper (June 24, 2014)

Pages: 224

ISBN: 978-0-06-221596-3

Ages: 11-14

This book can be purchased at the following retailers:

Book Review: Ignoramus by Karla Oceanak and Illustrated by Kendra Spanjer

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Book received at no charge to facilitate review.


If it's not bad enough to have a middle name of Valentine in honor of the day he was born, Aldo Zelnick thinks it is worse to have a birthday on Valentine's Day. At 11-years-old, pink hearts, lace and getting lovey dovey tops the list of the all time worse things a boy would have to experience on his special day.

This year, Aldo refuses to let pink, romance, and girls ruin his party. He plans what may be the coolest party ever with hot wings, video games, wrestling, and if that wasn't enough, shooting bows and arrows for the main attraction.  

Everything goes as planned until his friend, Bee, who is a girl, decides she wants an invation to his party. This proves to be more than a minor inconvenience to Aldo who stands by his decision to only invite the guys. When he loses a contest to Bee, he gives up his sketchbook rather than let her crash his party. 

Much to the reader's amusement, Aldo must get himself out of the mess that ensues. It's called a comic novel for a reason and while humor spills from every page, Aldo learns a valuable lesson about friendship as well. The Aldo Zelnick comic series aims to tickle the reader's funny bone with a volume from every letter of the alphabet. Besides Ignoramus having plenty of side-splitting moments, the introduction of "I" words help build an impressive vocabulary. The comic illustrations add an array of fun. A must read for fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

Rating: Recommended ★★★★☆

Publishing Information
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Publisher: Bailiwick Press (Dec. 2013)
Pages: 150
ISBN: 978-1934649411   
This book can be purchased at the following retailers:

 

**I received the book at no charge from the publisher to facilitate my review. As always, I retain the right to give a fair and honest review.**

The Other Side of Free by Krista Russell (Book Review & Giveaway)

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Book received at no charge to facilitate review.

When his Aunt Winnie sends 13-year-old, Jem, away from Charles Town into care of former slave named Phaedra, Jem struggles with resentment and anger.  Though lucky to escape his cruel master, Phaedra's demands make Jem feel like he has never found freedom. Instead of doing what he wants, Jem spends his time running errands for Phaedra at Fort Mose, a fort in Florida occupied by runaway slaves who have pledged their allegiance to the Spanish against the British in exchange for freedom.

Jem really wants to join the militia, but Phaedra insists he is too young. Instead, he runs errands for her and explores the forest where he finds a baby owlet he calls Omen. His adventures in the forest also lead him to the discovery of a slave rebellion. The English blame the Spanish for the uprising and declare war. Jem must overcome a series of missteps to help the people at Fort Mose, or face certain death.

After living in harsh slave conditions,  Jem's resentment toward Phaedra seems out of place. However, solid writing in handling a mature subject matter easily outweigh any character flaws. Though the younger middle grade reader may find The Other Side of Free challenging, the older reader may find the little known events in 1700's slave history fascinating. A solid piece of historical fiction by author Krista Russell.

Rating: Recommended ****

Publishing Information:

Peachtree Publishers (Oct. 2013)

ISBN:  978-1-56145-710-6

Ages: 10-14

This book can be purchased from the following retailers:

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Book Review:The Templeton Twins Make a Scene by Ellis Weiner & Ilustrated by Jeremy Holmes

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Arc copy received at no charge to facilitate review.

Warning: If you have not read the first Templeton Twins book, the narrator would definitely warn you to be very wary of this review. In case you don't know what wary means to be characterized by caution. So if you choose to read on, do so with caution or at least write the narrator a note of apology before proceeding.

Luckily, The Templeton Twins Make a Scene offers a humorous stand alone novel regardless of whether one has read the first (though don't tell the narrator that). The twins, John and Abigail return when their brilliant father accepts a job at the Thespian Academy of Performing Arts and Sciences (TAPAS). He has set out to invent a device which will allow audience members to see close ups of stage actors. It's not long before the villanous Dean brothers show up to create havoc in their attempts to get their hands on the invention.

Though the story line with the Templeton Twins ends up as predicted, it's the narrator who nearly steals the show. Some may find his story interruptions, for things like word definitions, annoying. However, his ridiculous questions and quizzes at the end of each chapter bring an aspect of slapstick humor and sarcasm that many readers will find irresistible. After all, having the narrator as a character really is the point so if you don't like snarky humor, don't say I didn't warn you.

Rating:  Recommended ****

Publishing Information:

Publisher: Chronicle Books (Oct. 2013)

Pages: 272

ISBN: 978-1-4521-1184-1

Ages: 8-12

Book can be purchased from the following retailers:

**FTC disclosure: I received an ARC book of no value at no charge to facilitate my review. No monetary compensation was received.

Passion For Middle Grade

Tweet Okay, I'll admit it. I have a soft spot for middle grade novels. I love the versatility. Middle grade books can be enjoyed by any age. From Charlotte's Web by E.B. White to Beyonders by Brandon Mull, middle grade encompasses a whole array of great reading.

What is middle grade? 

In the publishing world, middle grade usually refers to books for ages 8-12. However, most publishers like to divide it out further by adding ages 10-14 for upper middle grade to young adult. Many middle grade novels are also considered young adult like the Harry Potter Series. The Harry Potter books are a great example of a series that moves from middle grade to young adult. The main character in a middle grade novel is usually 12 years old or younger. However, sometimes the main character is 12 years old, and the novel fits closer into the young adult category. Many Newbery winners fit into the middle grade category. Early Readers and Chapter books are not considered middle grade, but fit into a category of their own.

When is my child ready for middle grade?

The beauty of middle grade is that even younger children are ready to listen to a middle grade book before the age of eight. As far as reading middle grade on their own, there are a lot of middle grade novels written for lower middle grade. These tend to be 100 pages or less. When your child has mastered the chapter book and is looking for a new challenge, it is time to move up. I don't put an age on that. I have known 8 year olds that are ready for books beyond 100 pages and are reading far beyond their age. I have also known 8 year olds that are struggling to move past the chapter book. Even for those that struggle reading the chapter book, it is still a great idea to introduce them to some of the classic middle grade literature like Stuart Little or Frindle.
Many 10 year olds are ready for the upper middle grade like the Fablehaven series.

Most importantly, don't put limitations on your child. Let them read whatever they want and provide them with good books.

Coming soon: Book lists for middle grade.