Category: Middle Grade Fiction Review

BONUS REVIEW: The Unusual Chickens series by Kelly Jones

BONUS REVIEW: The Unusual Chickens series by Kelly Jones

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of Are You Ready to Hatch an Unusual Chicken? from Netgalley and Knopf Books for Young Readers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer – SUMMARY

Sophie and her family have inherited her great-uncle Jim’s farm. And Jim at one time had some very special chickens. Now those chickens belong to Sophie – but someone is trying to steal them! Sophie shares the story of her family’s adjustment to the farm and her own learning curve when it comes to chickens in general as well as her unusual chickens through letters to her dead great-uncle, her Abuelita who has also passed away, and a farm supply catalog company.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

Are You Read to Hatch an Unusual Chicken? SUMMARY

Sophie continues to care for her unusual chickens, and now she gets to hatch a batch of her own for the very first time. She has a lot to learn – about the hatching process and also about caring for the farm she inherited in book 1 (a different farm than Great-Uncle Jim’s). The biggest lesson of all, though, is learning to ask for help. Sophie is a bright girl who loves her chickens. She’s committed to doing whatever it takes to care for them. And that’s good because her new chicks are a whole new level of “unusual.”

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

Review

I adore this series! I read book one from the library in  preparation for reading book 2. It was adorable! I loved Sophie. She’s got a great “voice.” The format – letters to deceased relatives and an unknown person at the catalog – is clever. It’s like a journal, but it keeps Sophie connected to family, which is important to her and to the story.

In the second book, Sophie continues to tell her story in letters to the dead and also emails to the living. Her letters and emails are where Sophie pours out her heart about the ups and downs of family, friends, a new school, and being a farmer with unusual chickens. There are illustrations and chicken facts throughout the book, which were fun to read. There are general illustrations for the story, too, which I loved. Henrietta is my favorite chicken from the illustrations!

The bulk of this story is anchored in reality – Sophie’s family is trying to find their way on a farm when they are city folks, and they have little money to put into the farm while they get it up and running. Sophie is making new friends and starting at a new school – pretty typical activities for kids her age. The Brown family is becoming part of the community around their farm, especially as Sophie meets people who can help her with chicken tasks. The unusual chickens are the only fantasy elements in the books. I read a lot of fantasy where the whole WORLD around the story is fantastical. This is a lovely change of pace. It reminds me of the author’s YA book that I read last year.

I thoroughly enjoyed both books in this series, and I recommend them highly!!

REVIEW: Judy Moody and the Right Royal Tea Party by Megan McDonald

REVIEW: Judy Moody and the Right Royal Tea Party by Megan McDonald

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this from Netgalley and Candlewick in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Judy’s imagination gets quite the work out when her class does a family tree project. Judy’s grandmother brings her all the family research they have, including the Moody family crest. Judy learns that one of her relatives was on the Titanic and another broke someone out of the Tower of London.

Judy decides this means she must be related to the Queen of England. She writes to the queen, visits a castle (in Virginia, where her family lives), and plans a royal tea party for her friends where she could be crowned queen.

But the tea party doesn’t go the way Judy planned. And a classmate’s family tree project shares new information relating to Judy’s family that changes everything.

Review

Overall, this is a solid story, but not my favorite. I’ve not enjoyed the latest books as much as I adored the earlier ones in the series. This one is cute, with lots of British references, including a list of fun terms at the back. The castle tour and family tree projects were fun parts of the story. The kids had really clever ideas for their projects. This could be a great classroom tie in for lessons on the British monarchy or for family tree projects. It could also be fun for a tea party or tea-party themed birthday celebration. The illustrations were not available in my early review copy, but Peter H. Reynolds always does an excellent job!

If you’re new to Judy Moody, I would start with the earlier books to get to know the characters. Judy Moody Goes to College is my favorite. Readers could start with this one, though, without issue. The books don’t have to be read in order. If you enjoy Judy’s books, be sure to check out the series starring her brother Stink as well as the Judy Moody and Friends Early Readers.

Rating: ♥♥♥

REVIEW: Snazzy Cat Capers by Deanna Kent

REVIEW: Snazzy Cat Capers by Deanna Kent

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Ophelia Von Hairball V of Burglaria is the premiere cat burglar in the world. And she could prove it once again by winning the Furry Feline Burglary Institute’s (FFBI) 5th Annual Purr-fect Heist Competition – if she had any idea it was happening.

But Ophelia’s nemesis has gone all out to keep Ophelia out of the competition. Thanks to her new inventor/sidekick, Oscar F. Gold, though, Ophelia still has a chance. She just has to get all the way to Paris, sneak into the Belle Mew-seum, and steal the rare Himalayan Diamond without being seen by her nemesis. Then she has to get to Belgium with the diamond by the deadline which is in less than two days.

How hard could it be?

Review

This was fun! Lots of cat puns, but the overall story was solid. Ophelia is a bit of a diva when it comes to her cat burglaring (but she is still like-able). Her partner, Oscar, is earnest and clever. They make a great team when Ophelia deigns to let Oscar help.

The illustrations in the book – pictures, letters, comic panels – are integral to the story telling. You can’t skip past them. With the exception of a couple times when the integration or transition was clunky, this worked really nicely.

No worries that this book will turn readers into criminals. The cat burglars return the things they steal – at least, eventually. The heist is really more about the challenge than about the spoils.

The age range on this one is 7-10 which makes this either a transitional chapter book or a young middle grade. It’s over 200 pages, and while illustrated, there are fewer illustrations than say a Bad Kitty book. So I would lean towards a younger middle grade audience. (2nd-4th grade, and maybe higher) This fun book is the kick off of a new series. Book two – The Fast and the Furriest – will release in 2019.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Ra the Mighty, Cat Detective by Amy Butler Greenfield

REVIEW: Ra the Mighty, Cat Detective by Amy Butler Greenfield

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Ra is the Pharaoh’s Cat. He lives a pampered life poolside with all the snacks he could want. Cats are revered in Egyptian culture. So Ra is living the good life!

When a stray kitchen cat named Miu asks Ra to help her prove a young servant didn’t steal a priceless amulet, Ra is not interested. He has the pool and snacks! Why would he want to do anything  but nap? Ra’s companion, Khepri the scarab (dung beetle) and Miu convince Ra to help them find the girl who is in hiding in the palace. When they find Tedimut, the servant girl pours her heart out to Miu about what happened (cats are great listeners), and Ra decides, after hearing her story, to help.

Ra and Khepri move about the palace, listening to the human occupants talk about the crime. But the animal occupants – Aar the leopard, Ini and Ibi the turtledoves, and Bebi the baboon – are helpful informants, too. But can a lazy, pampered cat and a dung beetle really  solve a mystery in the palace? And if they do, how will they get the humans to understand what really happened?

Review

I loved this book! It’s marketed to the early chapter book crowd, but I feel like it’s really more of a young middle grade book. I think this will work for any elementary school kiddo who can handle the length of the book. The mystery is solid. There are a few possible suspects, and Ra and Khepri are fun detectives. I love how they figured out the solution AND were able to clue the humans in.

There are some classic detective schemes used in this one, including the clueless “detective” and the clever “assistant” who really does a lot of the mystery solving. Ra and Khepri make a great team, though. Khepri is insightful, smart and observant even if he is obsessed with dung. Ra wants to live up to his title as Pharaoh’s Cat, and he uses his access to the palace and his position to get them into all the places they need to go to solve the case. Miu is devoted to Tedimut, and she’s committed to doing what she can to save her.  And she knows just how to work Ra to help make that happen.

I loved this! I hope there are many more to come. The Egyptian history pieces, including an author’s note, give this great story an added layer of awesome. Highly recommend.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: Wish Upon a Sleepover by Suzanne Selfors

REVIEW: Wish Upon a Sleepover by Suzanne Selfors

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from the author in a social media contest. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Leilani longs to be one of the Haileys. They are a clique of six girls named Hailey (all spelled differently). They always have themed sleepovers and fun conversations. And Leilani wants desperately to be a part of it all.

It’s not that Leilani doesn’t have friends. She has Autumn, her best friend since kindergarten. But every other week Autumn goes to her dad’s. Then Leilani is stuck at home with her mom and great-grandmother, Tutu.

Leilani is convinced that if the Haileys just knew how fun she was, they would welcome her in. And the best way to show them is to have her own awesome sleepover – with a Hawaiian theme – and invite them. On her “Do NOT Invite” list is her second cousin, Todd, who always has gas. Also on the list is her new neighbor, William, who never speaks when Leilani talks to him. And finally on the list is “Manga Girl,” a girl at school who is always drawing comics, including a mean one of Leilani.

But Leilani’s invitations go to her Do NOT Invite list instead of to the Haileys. It’s Leilani’s worst nightmare. But maybe there’s a way Leilani can redeem her plans and get in with the Haileys after all.

Review

This was delightful! I loved the rich characters in this book. I expected a typical friendship story, but this went deeper than I expected. There’s a lot of anxiety issues addressed in the story – from shyness to stage fright, to selective mutism. I loved the extra layers this added to the story.

To be honest, Leilani is probably the character I liked the least. Her obsession with the Haileys started to grate on my nerves. But the insightful kids at her sleepover called her out. It was great. And Leilani learns a lot from the sleepover experience.

The book uses the story of Stone Soup with a nice Hawaiian twist. It was a great method of introducing depth to the characters as they went around town to get their ingredients.

This book can be handed to kids who love a good friendship story as well as kids who enjoy digging into books and characters who are dealing with mental health issues like anxiety. While the mental health aspects aren’t the central focus of the book, it’s a great thread. If readers are interested in learning more about selective mutism, they might try After Zero which addresses that as a central part of the story.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: Definitely Daphne by Tami Charles

REVIEW: Definitely Daphne by Tami Charles

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Stone Arch Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Annabelle had no idea what was in store for her. Since her mom’s in the military, they’ve moved a lot. She thought this move to New Jersey from Germany would be like all the rest – her mom would do her stuff, her dad would work from home and homeschool Annabelle.

Not this time.

Shy Annabelle is off to middle school, full of cliques, strange customs and expressions she doesn’t know. When Annabelle announces she wants to quit after the first day, her parents send her to a therapist to help with the transition.

The therapist thinks Annabelle’s love of making movies could be the key to helping her make some friends and adjust to her new circumstances. Annabelle agrees to try it under a few conditions. Her account has to be private – family viewing only. And she’ll use her middle name – Daphne – and only be on camera with a disguise. There’s just one part of the plan she doesn’t tell the adults – she’s going to use the vlog to show how awful school is so she can go back to homeschooling!

Review

I loved everything about this! Annabelle is so relateable. From the new school and friend issues to her vlog and therapy to her feelings about her mom’s deployment. It’s all real and familiar.

Annabelle goes through some ups and downs. She tries on some new identities in the story – both “Daphne” and others – with mixed results. Through it all I couldn’t stop cheering for her.

The “Daphne Doesn’t” vlogs were great – things kids will definitely recognize about school. And the blog was a way for shy Annabelle to share her thoughts and feelings – and be affirmed for them. Which eventually gave her some confidence to share with those closest to her. She even has the gumption to reach out to someone who doesn’t make it easy, but who needs a friend just like Annabelle does.

This was absolutely perfect from start to finish – a delight to read. Highly recommend!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Property of the Rebel Librarian by Allison Varnes

REVIEW: Property of the Rebel Librarian by Allison Varnes

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Random House in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

When June’s parents find a school library book in her bag that they think is inappropriate, she’s mortified that her parents are being so overprotective. The idea of them complaining to the librarian is embarrassing! But the idea that her favorite teacher could lose her job over it wasn’t on her radar at all.

But that’s what happens. Ms. Bradshaw is suspended. Then a group of parents starts weeding “inappropriate” books out of the library. And being found with a banned book becomes a detention-worthy offense.

June is determined to keep reading, hiding a book in her bedroom or between the pages of a text book and taking advantage of a neighborhood Little Free Library. And over time, she finds a few fellow rebels at school who are eager to find new reading material. So June starts sharing her stash. The kids know they have to keep this secret, but school administrators are watching. They are determined to “protect” the students from books they think are dangerous.

Review

June is a great character. She has some excellent moments that made me want to cheer. Her parents and the school board, PTO and administration were infuriating. I was appalled by the idea of such an extreme censorship response, especially with so little input from any true educational experts. June’s parents’ “solution” for June’s personal library at home was ludicrous.

As a kid, my parents let me read anything I wanted. As a parent myself, I try to speak into what my teen reads. We talk about what we are reading and why one of us might not keep reading a particular book. We talk about listening to your conscience and the Holy Spirit when that voice tells you something isn’t a good thing to read. I want my child to be a thoughtful and critical reader. Those are skills in short supply these days, but they can’t be developed if I control his reading life.

This book has some things in common with Ban this Book which I reviewed earlier this year, although I think Ban this Book has more to offer readers than just the censorship story. Each one has its own “flavor” and stands on its own.

Lots of terrific books are cited in this one. Hand this to any reader who loves books about books or who enjoys a little rebellion in their protagonists.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: After Zero by Christina Collins

REVIEW: After Zero by Christina Collins

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Sourcebooks in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Elise is the “quiet” one. It’s almost become a game for her. How can she get through the school day with as few words as possible? Unfortunately her teachers love things like group discussions and oral presentations. But a bathroom pass can do wonders to help her avoid those projects, at least for awhile.

Elise was homeschooled for elementary school. And she missed out on things other kids seemed to take for granted like birthday parties and negotiating social relationships. Now Elise is in a public middle school. She skipped ahead to 8th grade while her one neighborhood friend is in 7th. But Elise struggles even to talk to her.

At the beginning of the year Elise talked some. But a few false starts left her feeling exposed and awkward. It felt safer to just keep to herself.

But when Elise discovers a secret her mom has been keeping, things start to spiral out of control for Elise. And if she won’t – or can’t – speak up, how can she ever find out the truth or find help?

Review

For most of the book, I struggled to figure out where things were going. I cared about Elise and felt desperate for her to speak – to get help or stick up for herself. There were some out-of-the-ordinary moments that left me wondering if the book was somehow in the fantasy genre and I missed it in the description. If I hadn’t agreed to review this, I might not have pushed through to the end. And that would have been a shame.

This is the sort of book that you can’t evaluate except from the end. You have to press through all of your questions and frustration for Elise. Because in the end, everything ties together and becomes clear.

I learned a lot in this story about Elise’s situation. I don’t want to give anything away by saying more. I will say this will fit with the collection of middle grade books exploring mental health, but it brings an entirely new piece into the discussion. I don’t know of another book that looks at kids like Elise. And the author told the story in such a way that the reader was desperate for Elise to get her answers even if the reader doesn’t know how they are going to come about.

This would be great for upper elementary and middle school readers, especially for fans of books like Finding Perfect, Still a Work in Progress, Family Game Night and Other Catastrophes, and The Seventh Wish.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Planet Grief by Monique Polak

REVIEW: Planet Grief by Monique Polak

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic ARC/ review copy of this book from Netgalley and Orca Book Publishers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Abby is furious with her father. She does NOT want to spend her weekend at some grief retreat. She’d rather be at soccer – with friends, running around, not thinking about how it is almost Mother’s Day and her mother is dead. If only a heart transplant had come through for her sooner, or if she had not even gotten sick at all.

Christopher isn’t quite as reluctant about the grief retreat as Abby. His main worry is that someone will find out exactly HOW his father died. His mom assures him that the retreat leader, Eugene, is the only one who will know. But Christopher still walks in with his defenses up.

The other kids in the group are Gustavo who has been to grief retreat before because of his father’s death. As a seasoned participant, he helps Eugene with the group activities. Antoine and his moms are grieving the loss of Antoine’s little brother who died from SIDS. And Felicia is there because both of her parents died.

As Abby and Christopher experience grief retreat and participate in some exercises to help them with their losses, they are surprised by the things they learn about their fellow group members – and about themselves.

Review

This is an emotional and touching story. And it is so well written. I felt like the grief and emotions expressed by the characters were completely on target. I felt them and understood them. The complicated experience of grief was portrayed in a way that middle grade readers can understand. I think kids who have experienced loss could read this and feel understood. They might even get some new insights into their own grief experience. Kids who have not experienced death have a chance to gain insight and empathy by reading the experience of these characters.

I think this book could find a home in every single classroom and school library as well as home libraries. For those who tend to avoid books with gay characters due to religious reasons, I think the two moms in this story (who are never in a scene together due to the extreme grief of one of the women) are a small part of a much larger – and much more important – story. I think the value of this book to grieving kids and their friends far outweighs any questions the kids might have about a character with two moms.

I highly recommend this story.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: Quid Pro Quo by Vicki Grant

REVIEW: Quid Pro Quo by Vicki Grant

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Orca Book Publishers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Cyril MacIntyre likes to say he started law school when he was ten years old.  That was how old he was when his mom started night school, and she couldn’t afford to get a sitter. So he quizzed her for her tests and ran to get her materials from the library. When she finally graduated, he was almost as proud of her as she was of herself.

But Andy MacIntyre is brusque and abrasive and loud. She had a hard time finding a job. Eventually she became an “articling student” for a local lawyer who was always trying to help the underdogs. It’s a perfect place for Andy. She and Cyril are finally pulling things together for a more positive life.

Then Byron shows up. He pushes Andy’s buttons worse than anyone Cyril has ever met. And he holds something over Andy’s head because she let him move into Cyril’s room but she never wanted Cyril to talk to him. Just when Cyril starts doing some investigating into Byron and his history with Andy, they both disappear. Cyril is alone. He knows if he calls the police he’ll end up in foster care, so he’ll just have to solve the mystery on his own.

Review

This was a great mystery! Cyril is a smart, resourceful kid. He really has to work to get all of the pieces to come together. Some of the clues – like Andy’s notes – can be puzzled out by the reader. The legal terms at the start of every chapter are a great way to convey information and keep the theme of the story going.

Andy is a pretty rough-around-the-edges parent. She’s aggressive and foulmouthed (although all her swearing is bleeped out in the book), but underneath it all you know she loves Cyril and wants to do right by him.

I’d recommend this for older middle grade readers – middle school age – due to the bleeped out swearing, the older protagonist (Cyril is 13 or 14 – the ARC was inconsistent on his age), and some components of the mystery. This will be great for kids who love a first rate mystery and those who want to be a lawyer some day.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥