Jess Keating’s middle grades debut book, How to Outrun a Crocodile When Your Shoes are Untied, was mentioned by a lot of my teacher friends last year as one to read, and now the second book in the series, How to Outswim a Shark Without a Snorkel, is out. I’ve been following Jess on twitter and always interested to hear her perspective on things, so I’m thrilled to be welcoming her to my blog today as a part of her release week blog tour, and I’m especially excited about the topic she chose that can be used with students!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Title: THE REAL BOY
Author: Anne Ursu
Publisher: Walden Pond Press
Release Date: September 24, 2013
Number of Pages: 288
Source of Book: ARC & finished copy from publisher in exchange for honest review

          On an island on the edge of an immense sea there is a city, a forest, and a boy. The city is called Asteri, a perfect city that was saved by the magic woven into its walls from a devastating plague that swept through the world over a hundred years before. The forest is called the Barrow, a vast wood of ancient trees that encircles the city and feeds the earth with magic. And the boy is called Oscar, a shop boy for the most powerful magician in the Barrow. Oscar spends his days in a small room in the dark cellar of his master’s shop, grinding herbs and dreaming of the wizards who once lived on the island generations ago. Oscar’s world is small, but he likes it that way. The real world is vast, strange, and unpredictable. And Oscar does not quite fit in it.

          But it’s been a long time since anyone who could call himself a wizard walked the world, and now that world is changing. Children in the city are falling ill, and something sinister lurks in the forest. Oscar has long been content to stay in his small room in the cellar, comforted in the knowledge that the magic that flows from the trees will keep his island safe. Now, even magic may not be enough to save it.

Click Here to enter

Title: THE REAL BOY

Author: Anne Ursu
Publisher: Walden Pond Press
Release Date: September 24, 2013
Number of Pages: 288
Source of Book: ARC from publisher

          On an island on the edge of an immense sea there is a city, a forest, and a boy. The city is called Asteri, a perfect city that was saved by the magic woven into its walls from a devastating plague that swept through the world over a hundred years before. The forest is called the Barrow, a vast wood of ancient trees that encircles the city and feeds the earth with magic. And the boy is called Oscar, a shop boy for the most powerful magician in the Barrow. Oscar spends his days in a small room in the dark cellar of his master’s shop, grinding herbs and dreaming of the wizards who once lived on the island generations ago. Oscar’s world is small, but he likes it that way. The real world is vast, strange, and unpredictable. And Oscar does not quite fit in it.
          But it’s been a long time since anyone who could call himself a wizard walked the world, and now that world is changing. Children in the city are falling ill, and something sinister lurks in the forest. Oscar has long been content to stay in his small room in the cellar, comforted in the knowledge that the magic that flows from the trees will keep his island safe. Now, even magic may not be enough to save it.

First Thought: Without a doubt one of the best books I’ve read this year. A mesmerizing and enchanting story.

Anne Ursu‘s THE REAL BOY is a mesmerizing and enchanting story of friendship, courage, and magic with an endearing main character who just wants to be “normal.” It’s a story that shows the reader what it means to be hopeful in the face of lost hope. It’s a story that begs to be read.

Ursu has created an intriguing fantasy world filled with magical elements, yet the explanations show that the magic been declining over the years. The mythology she creates for this world is fascinating and shows the reader the depth to which their magical ancestors cared about the people of this town. The contrast between the people of Asteri and the people in the Barrow adds an element of class differences that, when added to the lonliness of Oscar’s situation and his uncertainty, creates even more of a divide leading him to feel like he just doesn’t get it.

The beauty of the main character, Oscar, is that he really isn’t sure what’s happening, so the reader gets to go along on the journey of discovery with him. We get to be a part of his awakening and realization that there may not be one particular way to be “normal” even if he may think there is. His interactions with the other inhabitants of the Barrow, including the magician he works for, show that he is a curious boy, but one who doesn’t necessarily have the same way of interacting socially…no doubt related to his orphan status and not remembering his past. This leads to a bit of a mystery as he finds clues that may lead to the truth about his past, although he is not sure he wants to know the truth.

In THE REAL BOY, Anne Ursu again demonstrates a lyrical quality to her writing that had me going back and rereading sections because of the stunningly beautiful descriptions she weaves together. There is such magic in her writing…beyond the story, and just with the way she puts words together and describes things. I felt as if I was there in the Barrow, in the woods, living this story with Oscar and seeing the entrancing settings around him. Being so drawn into that world creates an even richer experience for me as a reader.

I feel compelled to add that one of the strongest elements of this story for me, was having heard Anne’s story. She wrote this thinking about her son, and I feel that the message, for so many other children that may be struggling with something that makes them feel not quite “normal” at times, is such a strong one. Being different doesn’t make you not real. We are all real…we are just different versions of reality.

Final Thoughts: My favorite middle grades books I’ve read in a long time. Please read THE REAL BOY this fall. 

Author: Daisy Whitney
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Release Date: September 3, 2013
Number of Pages: 288
Source of Book: eARC from publisher on NetGalley

Seventeen-year-old Julien is a romantic—he loves spending his free time at the museum poring over the great works of the Impressionists. But one night, a peach falls out of a Cezanne, Degas ballerinas dance across the floor, and Julien is not hallucinating.
          The art is reacting to a curse that trapped a beautiful girl, Clio, in a painting forever. Julien has a chance to free Clio and he can’t help but fall in love with her. But love is a curse in its own right. And soon paintings begin to bleed and disappear. Together Julien and Clio must save the world’s greatest art . . . at the expense of the greatest love they’ve ever known.
          Like a master painter herself, Daisy Whitney brings inordinate talent and ingenuity to this romantic, suspenseful, and sophisticated new novel. A beautifully decorated package makes it a must-own in print.

First Thought: I got to spend a little more time in Europe – the setting reigns in this book!

In STARRY NIGHTS Daisy Whitney has written an ode to artists and their famous artwork, to those who are well-loved and to those who just love to create. It instantly transports the readers to the streets of Paris, the museums housing the masters, and the heart of the pieces they lovingly created. It’s a touch of whimsy, a touch of romance, a touch of friendships, a touch of secret underground societies, a touch of travel guide, a touch of art history, a touch of unrequited love, a touch of kisses, a touch of mystery, a touch of art heists, a touch of a tour of the greatest art museums around the world. The twisty bits as we uncover what is really going on as Garnier races to figure out how to fix these most famous art pieces before they are destroyed adds an element to the plot that kept me turning the pages. Some of my most favorite parts of the story were the after-hours in the museum with the artwork coming to life elements along with how real the setting became for me. I love Paris and Daisy Whitney transported me right back there with this novel. STARRY NIGHTS is a fun read with a sweet romance and a mystery to figure out that will keep readers intrigued and looking up artwork from the Masters. It’s a bit Night at the Museum + Heist Society + some kind of romance story.

Final Thoughts: Daisy Whitney is one of my favorite authors, and STARRY NIGHTS doesn’t disappoint. Although very different from her previous books, it’s a whimsical read that I thoroughly enjoyed. 

Title: THE YEAR OF SHADOWS

Author: Claire Legrand
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Release Date: August 27, 2013
Number of Pages: 416
Source of Book: ARC from publisher

Claire Legrand used to be a musician until she realized she couldn’t stop thinking about the stories in her head. Now a writer, Ms. Legrand can often be found typing with purpose at her keyboard, losing herself in the stacks at her local library, or embarking upon spontaneous adventures to lands unknown. Her first novel is THE CAVENDISH HOME FOR BOYS AND GIRLS, a New York Public Library Best Book for Children in 2012. Her second novel, THE YEAR OF SHADOWS, releases August 27, 2013, with her third novel, WINTERSPELL, to follow in fall 2014. She is one of the four authors behind THE CABINET OF CURIOSITIES, an anthology of dark middle grade fiction due out in July 2014 from Greenwillow Books/HarperCollins. Claire lives in New Jersey with a dragon and two cats. Visit her at claire-legrand.com and at enterthecabinet.com.

PURCHASE LINKS:
amazon | barnes & noble | the book depository | indiebound | books-a-million | itunes

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

I loved, loved, loved Shannon Messenger‘s first middle grades book, KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES, (and for that matter, her first young adult book, LET THE SKY FALL), and since I ended up with a second copy of the ARC of book 2 in the KEEPER series, EXILE, I decided to host a giveaway to share the love of this fantasy series.

Author: Shannon Messenger
Publisher: Aladdin (a Simon & Schuster imprint)
Release Date: October 1, 2013
Number of Pages: 576

Sophie Foster thought she was safe. Settled into her home at Havenfield, surrounded by friends, and using her unique telepathic abilities to train Silveny–the first female alicorn ever seen in the Lost Cities–her life finally seems to be coming together. 
      But Sophie’s kidnappers are still out there. And when Sophie discovers new messages and clues from the mysterious Black Swan group, she’s forced to take a terrifying risk—one that puts everyone in incredible danger. 
      As long buried secrets rise to the surface, it’s once again up to Sophie to uncover hidden memories—before someone close to her is lost forever. 
      In this second book in the Keeper of the Lost Cities series, Sophie must journey to the darkest corners of her luminous world in a sequel that will leave you breathless for more.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Title: SIDEKICKED
Author: John David Anderson
Publisher: Walden Pond Press
Release Date: June 25, 2013
Number of Pages: 384

With not nearly enough power comes way too much responsibility.

Andrew
Bean might be a part of H.E.R.O., a secret organization for the
training of superhero sidekicks, but that doesn’t mean that life is all
leaping tall buildings in single bounds. First, there’s Drew’s power:
Possessed of super senses – his hearing, sight, taste, touch, and smell
are the most powerful on the planet – he’s literally the most sensitive
kid in school. There’s his superhero mentor, a former legend who now
spends more time straddling barstools than he does fighting crime. And
then there’s his best friend, Jenna – their friendship would be
complicated enough if she weren’t able to throw a Volkswagen the length
of a city block. Add in trying to keep his sidekick life a secret from
everyone, including his parents, and the truth is clear: Middle school
is a drag even with superpowers.

But this was all before a
supervillain long thought dead returned to Justicia, superheroes began
disappearing at an alarming rate, and Drew’s two identities threatened
to crash head-on into each other. Drew has always found it pretty easy
to separate right from wrong, good from evil. It’s what a superhero
does. But what happens when that line starts to break down?

I’m so excited to have been asked to be a part of the blog tour for THE WIG IN THE WINDOW, a fun middle grades mystery by Kristen Kittscher (a middle school teacher!). I’m especially excited that Kristen offered up a guest post on her revision process (an aspect of the author’s writing life I’m looking to share more examples of with my students – and in fact am co-chairing a session about at NCTE in November).

Title: THE WIG IN THE WINDOW
Author: Kristen Kittscher
Publisher: HarperCollins Children’s Books
Release Date: June 18, 2013 (tomorrow!)
Number of Pages: 368

 

Title: GHOST HAWK

Author: Susan Cooper
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books (a Simon & Schuster Children’s imprint)
Release Date: August 27, 2013
Number of Pages: 336
Age Recommendation: Ages 10-14, grades 5-9
Source of Book: ARC sent from publisher

From Newbery
Medalist Susan Cooper, a story of adventure and friendship between a
young Native American and a colonial New England settler.

On
the winter day Little Hawk is sent into the woods alone, he can take
only a bow and arrows, his handcrafted tomahawk, and the amazing metal
knife his father traded for with the new white settlers. If Little Hawk
survives three moons by himself, he will be a man.

John Wakely is
only ten when his father dies, but he has already experienced the
warmth and friendship of the nearby tribes. Yet his fellow colonists
aren’t as accepting of the native people. When he is apprenticed to a
barrel-maker, John sees how quickly the relationships between settlers
and natives are deteriorating. His friendship with Little Hawk will put
both boys in grave danger.

The intertwining stories of Little
Hawk and John Wakely are a fascinating tale of friendship and an
eye-opening look at the history of our nation. Newbery Medalist Susan
Cooper also includes a timeline and an author’s note that discusses the
historical context of this important and moving novel.

First Thought: A magnificent treasure of a book. Quietly powerful story sews its threads into your consciousness and doesn’t unravel.

GHOST HAWK is a beautifully written book that is quiet in its impact, but leaves an deep impression. The gripping tagline on the cover is Memory ~ Mystery ~ Murder, is fitting (and the cover is stunning). The descriptions are rich, the text is accessible, the story is epic. The plot follows a circle of life flow starting with before Little Hawk is born, in the 17th century set in Colonial New England, with everything coming full circle many many years later. The elements of the Native culture are embedded in an unobtrusive way because that’s just how life is, yet explained for those unfamiliar with them. 

Narrated by Little Hawk whose voice hooked me into the story from the beginning, GHOST HAWK provides a Native perspective of an unimaginable, controversial, and tumultuous time in United States history, a historical perspective many don’t know, and one that’s important to tell. His voice stays strong, even after a shocking moment that changes the trajectory of the story, and his gentle ways provide the calming presence necessary to process the events that occur.  Seeing events from his perspective, feeling his love and fear, living his friendships all help the reader connect to the story in a meaningful way.

I have not previously read anything by Susan Cooper, but based on this, I can see why she was a Newbery medalist, and I would not be surprised if GHOST HAWK is on the shortlist this year. It just feels like it’s that kind of book. Powerful, meaningful, surprising, endearing, hopeful, beautiful. I felt utterly connected to this story and the characters in it. Although not a quick read, it was a book I needed to keep reading.

Final Thoughts: This is the book I’m going to be proclaiming everyone should read this year. And I really hope you do.

Title: BOT WARS
Author: J.V. Kade
Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers (a Penguin imprint)
Release Date: March 21, 2013
Number of Pages: 368
Source of Book: ARC from author

Twelve-year-old Trout St. Kroix has been searching for his missing father for the last two years, after his dad disappeared while fighting in the Bot Wars. The Bot Wars began after robots became so advanced that they revolted and demanded more workers’ rights, causing the government to declare all robots terrorists and ban them from the Districts. Trout never questioned anything the government told him–even when his own nanny bot was banished–until a vid he posts about his missing dad goes viral and new information pops up. At first Trout is wrenched his dad might be alive, but when his brother disappears, Trout learns nothing is what it seems . . . not even his own father.

Percy Jackson meets Transformers in this heart-stopping, futuristic adventure that will make you question everything you know–and look at robots in a whole new light

I’ve already shown this to two of my middle school boys in class, and had them read the summary to see what they thought, and they both said they would read the book because it sounds good to them.

BOT WARS by J.V. Kade (who also writes YA as Jennifer Rush-ALTERED) is an intriguing sci-fi look into the future. The robots are advanced, as is the American society, but is it really all as it seems? In true dystopic fashion, the main character finds out maybe he doesn’t know as much as he thought he did, and maybe there are some people out there fighting against the government that created a “better” world. There are intriguing allegories that can be made about slavery/working class and how those groups are treated.

In BOT WARS, Kade has created an exciting book full of non-stop action that has a bit of a rescue/heist feeling to it. It is an enjoyable, suspenseful read. It’s full of fun characters – both human and robot – who are very entertaining. But what really makes the heart of this book are the family ties that make it an even stronger book than just the story of the robots vs. humans. Beyond all of the fighting and political aspects, it’s about a young boy searching for the father he has been missing for two years, and his inability to give up hope that he’s out there somewhere just waiting to be found and reunited with him. A boy needs his dad, and a dad needs his son…but how can they each keep each other safe in a world of robots? This is an action-packed, cleverly imagined middle grade book with strong boy appeal. Hand this off to those who want futuristic books, those who love science-fiction, and those who would like reading a book about a boy who won’t give up hope.

Title: OUT OF MY MIND
Author: Sharon M. Draper
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Release Date: March 9, 2010
Number of Pages: 295

Eleven-year-old Melody has a photographic
memory. Her head is like a video camera that is always recording. Always. And
there’s no delete button. She’s the smartest kid in her whole school—but no one
knows it. Most people—her teachers and doctors included—don’t think she’s
capable of learning, and up until recently her school days consisted of
listening to the same preschool-level alphabet lessons again and again and
again. If only she could speak up, if only she could tell people what she thinks
and knows . . . but she can’t, because Melody can’t talk. She can’t walk. She
can’t write. Being stuck inside her head is making Melody go out of her
mind—that is, until she discovers something that will allow her to speak for the
first time ever. At last Melody has a voice . . . but not everyone around her is
ready to hear it.

From multiple Coretta Scott King Award winner Sharon M.
Draper comes a story full of heartache and hope. Get ready to meet a girl whose
voice you’ll never, ever forget.

Today starts my daily listing of my Top Ten lists (in no particular order – it’s hard enough for me to limit it to ten!) of the Best Books I’ve Read this year in different categories.

Since it’s a Monday, I’m starting with the Middle Grades books. If you haven’t read these, you should definitely add to your To Be Read list! Titles link to my reviews.

Disclaimer: I read a lot of books this year, but there are still quite a few middle grades books I didn’t get to. This is by no means an exhaustive list of the quality middle grades book that came out in 2012.

Title: MIRA’S DIARY: LOST IN PARIS
Author: Marissa Moss
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Release Date: September 4, 2012
Number of Pages: 224

Mira is shocked when she
receives a postcard from her missing mother from Paris. Her father
decides it’s time for a trip to France to search for her. While visiting
Notre Dame, Mira touches a gargoyle and is whirled into the past. There
she meets the famous painter Degas and catches a brief, shocking
glimpse of her mother. Mira begins to suspect that her mom didn’t run
out on them but is a prisoner of the past. Can one family on an
incredible worldwide adventure stop a plot in time?

I’ve lived in Paris and Rome, each a wonderful experience. Living in a foreign city broadens your sense of who you are and how you want to live in ways that are delightfully unpredictable. In both cities, I explored the cultural riches in a way you can’t during a brief visit, but more than that, I learned the rhythm of a different lifestyle. There’s no such thing as rushing in Rome, no sense of urgency – or, frustratingly – of efficiency. You learn the Italian shrug of acceptance.


Travel in general demands that kind of flexibility. Planes are delayed. Connections are missed. A drive into the Amazon jungle that was supposed to take five hours ends up taking ten because roads have been washed out. But being open to what happens during travel mishaps means you end up having tea with Bedouins in Petra or are invited into a house-raising for a newly married couple in Vietnam. I love the expected parts of travel, the amazing sites, the great art, but I also love the completely unplanned, the moment you have to be open to in order to experience it.


I’ve been to more than 30 countries. The ones that have been the most difficult, have also been the most rewarding – India, Peru, Vietnam, Jordan, Egypt. I hope I can keep adding to this list. I’d love to see Indonesia, South Africa, Namibia, anywhere new. But the place I keep going back to, the city that has my heart, is Rome. Must be the gelato.
Guest post generously provided by Sourcebooks.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Title: AUDITION & SUBTRACTION
Author: Amy Fellner Dominy
Publisher: Walker & Company
Release Date: September 4, 2012
Number of Pages: 272
Source of Book: ARC from publisher at IRA Convention

For as long as Tatum can remember it’s been:

Tatum + Lori = Best friends

They
do everything together, including a yearly clarinet/flute duet for
District Honor Band auditions. But when a new boy transfers to their
middle school and their band, the equation suddenly changes to:

Lori + Michael – Tatum = One happy couple

With
her best friend slipping away and her parents recently separated,
Tatum’s life has turned upside down. Plus her good friend Aaron thinks
that they are secretly boyfriend and girlfriend, all because of one
little lie Tatum told. Accepting change isn’t easy for Tatum, but just
how much is she willing to give up to hold on to her friendship with
Lori and life as she knows it? For Tatum, the best way to move forward
may require a whole new formula . . .

AUDITION & SUBTRACTION is such a cute story. It’s exactly what I’ve come to expect from Amy Fellner Dominy! Her writing voice is spot on for a middle grades book that will engage readers. Her books have middle school appropriate romance with a unique twist. This time it’s the band students.

Some things seemed a little obvious to me as an experienced reader, but as a middle schooler, I probably wouldn’t have realized them at that age. However, Amy’s writing is that type of fun, school-set romance, with friendship/family elements. It’s kinds of like the chick flick for the book set, which is a very good thing because so many of my students are asking for that, but with more depth of thought and lessons to learn and quality to it than some of the other books for this age in this genre. She also writes smart characters who are not the popular kids, but are the real kids that I see who are interested in a variety of things and want to be successful, but are also insecure at times.

AUDITION & SUBTRACTION is all about the reality of what happens when it’s no longer just you and your best friend, but a boyfriend is introduced to the mix. It’s the reality of how we move on in our lives and reevalute friendships and relationships as we grow up and sometimes grow apart. It also includes a very sweet start to a relationship with a really good guy who is fully supportive of the main character.

Beyond the friendship and romance elements, there’s a strong message of figuring out what you want and going for it, no matter what others might say to try to hold you back. Doing what you can to reach your dreams by working hard is an important part of this novel. There are also strong parental figures who are supportive of their child, which is always nice to see.

Overall, Amy Fellner Dominy has written a cute, fun, easy to read romance and drama book that middle school girls are always asking me for. I think they’ll really enjoy AUDITION & SUBTRACTION, especially those band students. I know I did!

A legendary ghost, an ancient treasure, a mystery only Samantha Sutton can solve.

What
happens when Indiana Jones meets Nancy Drew? You get Samantha Sutton,
twelve year-old archeology buff with sharp wit and an insatiably curious
personality. SAMANTHA SUTTON AND THE LABYRINTH OF LIES is the
incredible page-turner about a young girl from California who is given
the chance to follow her archeologist uncle to the excavation of an
ancient Peruvian temple.

What she doesn’t expect, though, is the
legend haunting this ancient site. When important artifacts begin to
disappear overnight, Samantha must navigate the disapproving eye of her
uncle’s acerbic assistant, the bungling boyishness of her annoying big
brother, and the ever-present stories swirling among the locals of the
hysterical spirit that wanders through the town late at night. Using her
keen sensibility and her knack for mapping the unknown passageways of
Chavín de Huántar, Samantha uncovers a mystery far bigger than she could
have ever imagined. This is a novel for children (and adults!) who love
history, mystery, and heart-stopping plot-twists.

In SAMANTHA SUTTON AND THE LABRYNTH OF LIES real-life archeologist Jordan Jacobs brings
to life Samantha Sutton, the curious, twelve year-old daring-do heroine
of his debut novel. Combining everything you love about history,
mystery, and heart-racing adventure, Jacobs weaves
a plot full of non-stop fun and incredible facts. From what it’s
actually like to be on a real archeological dig to the delightful tastes
and smells of South America, the plot is woven from Jacobs own experience working at the actual site of this exciting adventure—an ancient Peruvian temple shrouded in mystery.

 

For my stop on the blog tour, I’m hosting author, and real life archeologist, Jordan Jacobs’ guest post:

Chavin
de Huantar almost killed me.

I lost 35 pounds over the 10-week archaeological field season–a
not-so-pleasant combo of high-altitude labor, giardia, and the cunning Peruvian
parasites that detected my innocent gut as soon as I arrived.  A mystery
fever confined me to bed for three full days mid-summer, with only the team’s
shared copy of Lord of the Rings to keep me company. To this day
I’m not sure which remembered scenes I read and which I merely hallucinated.

And when I wasn’t ill or raving, I was struggling to adjust to life in the
Andes.  Over the course of the summer, I was gored by cacti, attacked by
bats, chased through the village by unfriendly dogs, and badly bruised when my
shower exploded–clogged with mud from its riverine source.   A taxi
I’d hired to take me back from an outing never appeared, and I had to hitch a
ride back in a truck full of half-dead chickens.  A collision on a
cliffside road almost sent our excavation van tumbling over the edge.  

I’m not a sickly person.  Not at all.  I tend to do well in
remote and foreign places (in subsequent travels to Asia, Africa and elsewhere
in Latin America, I’ve never encountered such a shock to my system). But my
Andean summer took its toll.  In September, when my parents came to meet
my return flight to California, I looked so weak that my dad insisted on
carrying my filthy duffel. My mom just cried.
 
It was the best summer of my life.  

For a young archaeologist, there can be nothing better than Chavin de
Huantar.  The site dates to about 1200 BCE, and continued in active use as
a religious and political center for at least a thousand years.  Roughly
10,400 feet above sea level, it’s a vast complex of platforms, terraces, and
plazas, all flanking a central temple–six stories tall and the width and
breadth of a New York City block. Threading through the site are narrow
passageways— called “galleries”–their entire network still unmapped.
 Exploring the pitch black depths of the ancient temple was an
unparalleled thrill, and realized some childhood dreams.

So, too, did the science.  The Stanford professor leading the
project was exacting in his methods, and led our team patiently through the
survey, excavation, and analysis.  All energy was applied to a simple
series of questions: How had this place been built?  What was its purpose?
 How had it been so successful?

The answers that emerged that summer–and in all the years of research
before and since–have been as shocking and as thrilling as anything in the
movies. The whole experience made me feel like I was twelve years old. The
place was begging for a kids’ book.  

And so I wrote one.

I’d always wanted to write something for kids about
archaeology–probably because, as a kid, I was always reading about archaeology
myself.  And while I knew that most children might not have the patience I
had had to track down dense college textbooks and dry academic journals, I
wanted to present a realistic view of the discipline I love so much, and share
with them the real-world excitement that it offers.

Setting the book in Chavin made things easy.  In writing Samantha’s
adventures, I was able to throw all my adventures on her and her compatriots,
the good as well as the bad.  I chase them with dogs and bats.  I
explode their showers.  I threaten them with falls off Andean cliffsides,
and strand them, then retrieve them, in trucks of half-dead poultry.  But
they get a stake in the scientific discoveries, too.  I took pains to get
these right–both those made during my summer in Peru and in the years of
excavation that have occurred there, before and since.   

In many ways, Samantha Sutton and the Labyrinth of Lies is a true
story. It’s my story.  And it’s a story that my younger self would
have been eager to read.

I have a very special MMGM this week with a guest post from author Amy Fellner Dominy. Her first book, OyMG was released last year, and her second book, AUDITION & SUBTRACTION, came out in September. She writes cute, fun books that are perfect for her middle school audience. Check them out!

Did
you ever keep a diary?  Have you gone
back and read through it?  I started
writing my first diary when I was thirteen. 
The entries are ridiculously stupid. 
I stepped on gum.  I had a horrible hair day.  A boy said hello to me in the hall.

You can find Amy online at all of the usual spots…

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/amyfellnerdominyauthor

Come back next week for my review of Amy Fellner Dominy’s newest book, AUDITION & SUBTRACTION.

Title: PARTNERS IN CRIME (Sleuth or Dare Book 1)
Author: Kim Harrington
Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.
Release Date: May 1, 2012
Number of Pages: 179
Source of Book: Bought the paperback from Scholastic Book Clubs

Whodunit?

When
best friends Darcy and Norah have to create a fake business for a
school assignment, they come up with a great idea: a detective agency!
Darcy loves mysteries, and Norah likes helping people, so it’s a perfect
fit.

But then their pretend agency gets a real case.
Someone is missing, and it’s up to Darcy and Norah to take on the
search. Unfortunately, there’s someone else out there who doesn’t want
the two detectives stirring up any trouble. . . .

With the help of hidden clues, spy gadgets, and trusted friends, can Darcy and Norah crack the case in time?

I really enjoyed Kim Harrington’s young adult debut book, CLARITY, also a mystery book, so when I saw that she had a middle grades mystery series also, I made sure to get it right away. Part of the reason is that so many of my students liked CLARITY also, so it’s always nice to have a favorite author in the classroom, but also because some of my students aren’t ready for the maturity of the young adult book yet, so I was hopeful that the SLEUTH OR DARE series would be a good fit for my other readers, and I’m sure it will be.

PARTNERS IN CRIME is a perfectly middle grades book. The writing level and complexity of the subplots and main mystery are all right in that sweet spot. The mystery was a bit obvious to me, but again, I’m not the age or ability level of the intended audience. It didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the book at all though. One thing that is really nice is that the mystery is such that it’s a great fit for younger middle grades students who want to try mystery but aren’t ready yet for more complex novels.

I also thoroughly enjoyed the characters in this book. There was quite a bit about their relationships with their families, and the arc the characters take to accepting and appreciating their own families is a nice message.  In addition, the two main characters are not the popular girls, but instead each have their own interests aligned with their intelligence and abilities. It’s nice to see a story with these characters who are into astronomy and technology being the strong leaders of the book, and even though they’re not popular, they still have good relationships and confidence in themselves. There are some subplots relating to bullying and typical middle school dynamics that are handled well also.

Once again Harrington has struck just the right voice. The book is written with a strong female lead and in such a way that it sounds like she’s talking right to the reader. This allows us to get insights into what’s happening, but also stay fully engaged in the story. Overall PARTNERS IN CRIME is a fun, quick mystery with heart. I look forward to reading the next two books in the series: SLEEPOVER STAKEOUT and FRAMED & DANGEROUS and handing these off to my students.

Title: WONDER
Author: R.J. Palacio
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (a Random House imprint)
Release Date: February 14, 2012
Number of Pages: 313 pages
Source of Book: Bought a hardcover & got a signed copy from publisher at ALA

I won’t describe what I look like. Whatever you’re thinking, it’s probably worse.

August
(Auggie) Pullman was born with a facial deformity that prevented him
from going to a mainstream school—until now. He’s about to start 5th
grade at Beecher Prep, and if you’ve ever been the new kid then you know
how hard that can be. The thing is Auggie’s just an ordinary kid, with
an extraordinary face. But can he convince his new classmates that he’s
just like them, despite appearances?

R. J. Palacio has written a
spare, warm, uplifting story that will have readers laughing one minute
and wiping away tears the next. With wonderfully realistic family
interactions (flawed, but loving), lively school scenes, and short
chapters, Wonder is accessible to readers of all levels.

There’s just something so powerful about what R.J. Palacio has created with WONDER. The world of upper elementary and middle school teachers and librarians has been all abuzz about this book since February, and I knew it was a book I would have to read, but I also knew it would be a book that I would likely want to use for a read aloud with my students, so I held off until close to going back to school so it would be fresh in my mind. If you still haven’t gotten to it yet, I urge you to do so as soon as you can because this is one of those books that must be read and shared with children and teens. Even if you don’t have or work with kids, read it, and share it with someone who does. This is one of those titles that exemplified for me the power of Twitter – I may not have known about it if it wasn’t for my Personal Learning Network out there, and I am so thankful that I have.

WONDER is a book that makes you think. It brings up the hidden parts of all of us that you may be ashamed of, brings it to light, and helps you to know how to do it better. It’s about acceptance and understanding. It’s about being…no…choosing kind. It’s about relationships. It’s about family and parents and siblings and friendships and school and teachers and students and principals and how all of those people interact to create someone’s experience. It highlights the importance of adult interactions with children. It highlights the importance of both verbal and non-verbal behaviors and how those can impact someone’s view of others and one’s self. It highlights our fears and our hopes and our dreams. It makes you think and leaves you a better person than when you entered this story. It’s the wonder of WONDER (#wonderofwonder).

I could get into some of the specifics of this book. The way Palacio chose to write so splendidly and honestly in Auggie’s voice. The way Auggie helps us to see inside the mind of someone we may have known or seen in the past, and what our actions may have meant to them. The way the various voices that get to tell this story enhance the reader’s experience so much. The way the use of emails and letters in certain parts highlights important moments in the story. The way Palacio flawlessly interweaves the multiple storylines and characters’ experiences to create this complete book. The way that this realistic story can appeal to upper elementary students, middle school students, high school students, and adults. The way it opens a readers’ eyes to actions and thoughts that may be hard to be honest about. The way it creates precepts for life that could make all the difference. But the experience of this book is about so much more than that. It’s about the human experience, and how we can all be better at it.

I can only be thankful that so many students will be experiencing WONDER in their classrooms this year. I can only be thankful that R.J. Palacio’s story may make those children take a second to think differently about bullying, and even more than that, their simpler interactions with others. I can only be thankful that the message to Choose Kind is permeating the world of education this year. We can only hope that more people get this message and pass it on, and the way to start is by sharing this book with others. So I encourage you to read WONDER, to pass it along to others, and to always choose kind.

Title: THE UNWANTEDS: ISLAND OF SILENCE (2nd book in the series)
Author: Lisa McMann
Publisher: Aladdin (a Simon & Schuster imprint)
Release Date: September 4, 2012
Number of Pages: 416
Source of Book: ARC from publisher at ALA

The battle is over. The
magical barrier between the dreary land of Quill and the fantastical
world of Artimé is gone. Now residents of both places are free to
mingle, but tensions are high. The artistic warriors of Artimé struggle
to forgive those in Quill who condemned them to death, while the
Quillens attempt to recover from the shock of Artime’s existence, the
loss of their leader, and the total collapse of their safe, orderly
world.

14-year-old Alex Stowe has recovered from his physical
wounds since his death-defying role in Artime’s victory, but his
confidence is shattered. He battles self-doubt after Artimé’s beloved
mage, Mr. Today, makes a stunning request, which is further complicated
by the mysterious arrival of two silent, orange-eyed teenagers.

Meanwhile
in Quill, Aaron is devastated by his fall from grace and seething with
anger toward his twin brother Alex. Spurred by rage, Aaron recruits a
team of Restorers and devises a masterful plan of revenge that will
return him to power…if no one gets in his way.

Bestselling author
Lisa McMann delivers another trademark page-turner in this second book
of The Unwanteds series, as Alex and Aaron’s parallel stories ultimately
come together for a shocking climax that will leave readers desperate
for more.

I really loved THE UNWANTEDS when I read it last year – it’s a great mix of dystopian and fantasy in a spot-on voice that Lisa McMann wrote with for her first jump from young adult (which are also great) to middle grades books. It is also highly engaging and makes a great book talk opportunity to hook middle schoolers with the premise of kids being “sent off to their deaths” for being creative in any way. Knowing all of that, I was eagerly anticipating the release of ISLAND OF SILENCE to find out what would happen to Alex and his friends and the magical land of Artime now that Quill knew of their existence. I was not disappointed.

From the very start, I was drawn right back into this fantastically creative, yet at times frightening, world that Lisa McMann has created with this series. I didn’t have any of that feeling of trying to remember what happened in the last book that I read over a year ago. All of the favorite characters were back including the magical creatures that Mr. Today created. While the Artimeans are figuring out how to handle everyone knowing about them, we alternate chapters with Aaron back in Quill and his continuous struggle to gain power back and eliminate his twin brother and all of the magic. Aaron is systematic and smart and frightening in his single-minded focus on ridding Quill of Artime. Meanwhile we have many characters who we don’t know if we can trust because they’re acting suspiciously, and a few who seem to be “double agents” but we’re never really sure. As we get further into this story, there doesn’t seem to be such a clear-cut right or wrong way to act for many of these characters. In addition, we’re introduced to the islands outside of the one these characters all live on, now that they know there is more beyond where they exist, and find out there may be more evils out there than even exist in Quill.

Along with all of the external battle going on, Alex has his own internal battle to contend with. He just doesn’t see himself as the leader that he needs to be and others want him to be, and he has to figure things out. Because Alex’s own twin has turned out so evil, and his own parents don’t want anything to do with him, he does feel very alone. This is where the creatures of Artime come even more into play as Simber and Ms. Octavia and Ms. Morning and Florence and Clive and the others all become the support system that he needs. My absolute favorite scene of the entire book comes on pages 168-169. It exemplifies the battle that Alex is having with himself, and why he feels the way he does, and what Artime means to him. I adore that scene (and I love Simber!) so much it has stuck with me for days.

It seems such a universal feeling for kids (and some adults) to want to feel included and able and believed in and supported and to have someone who will always be there for you. This book has that universal theme of needing someone to believe in you throughout. As Mr. Today says, “There will always be times we struggle, make bad decisions, even fail. What’s important is not that we fail, but that we learn and grow. And that we know that there is always someone out there who believes in us” (p. 250). That’s the type of book quote I want to always remember and post on my classroom wall. This kind of message, along with all of the excitement of the story, but with this at its heart, is part of the reason that I love this series.

Overall this book was a strong second book in a uniquely creative series with action, emotion, plot, excitement, characters, and heart that draw the reader in. The ending definitely left me hanging though, and I am dying to read the next book to find out what happens with Alex and Artime next. I was left heartbroken by the events toward the end of ISLAND OF SILENCE, but hopeful at the same time. That’s a pretty good place to be left in an engaging book series.

I don’t know for sure how many books will end up being in this series, but I do know absolutely for sure that I will be reading them all and sharing them with my students as well. This is a series that should be in every middle school classroom and book-talked for students to snatch it up. Just this week one of my students picked up the first book because he loved THE HUNGER GAMES and HARRY POTTER and since THE UNWANTEDS is touted as a combination of the two, he wanted to read it for sure. The next day he walked up to me hold the book in his hand and said, “This is the best book I’ve ever read in my whole life.” No higher praise than that!

Title: ONE FOR THE MURPHYS
Author: Lynda Mullaly Hunt
Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books (a Penguin imprint)
Release Date: May 10, 2012
Number of Pages: 224
Source of Book: Borrowed from Library

A moving debut novel about a foster child learning to open her heart to a family’s love

Carley
uses humor and street smarts to keep her emotional walls high and
thick. But the day she becomes a foster child, and moves in with the
Murphys, she’s blindsided. This loving, bustling family shows Carley the
stable family life she never thought existed, and she feels like an
alien in their cookie-cutter-perfect household. Despite her resistance,
the Murphys eventually show her what it feels like to belong–until her
mother wants her back and Carley has to decide where and how to live.
She’s not really a Murphy, but the gifts they’ve given her have opened
up a new future.

A heart-breaking and heart-warming debut book from Lynda Mullaly Hunt, ONE FOR THE MURPHYS is a beautiful story of family perfect for middle grade readers (and adults!). It’s about hope and unsureness and loss and love and friendship and caring and happiness and sadness and possibility and belonging and what it really means to be family. Carley and Toni and the Murphys are all a fantastic cast of characters who I just wanted to hang out with and hug. Adore Michael Eric and Adam – there’s something about well-drawn brothers in books that always gets to me (probably because I have two of my own). And the way in which this story is written, with each chapter being its own kind of vignette of something that happens after Carley is sent to be fostered by the Murphys, is astounding in its ability to draw the reader into the story emotionally. The chapters are short and the whole story takes place over 80 days, but it is utterly impactful. One of the strongest themes throughout the book is the idea of an everyday person being a hero in someone’s life. The ways in which you can be a hero to someone else are endless, and it’s a gentle call to arms to do so. I love how this is prevalent in the book, but in a non-preachy kind of way.

Although I don’t know from personal experience, what left an impression was how real and honest the emotions and feelings of this character felt for what I imagine a child in foster care would be going through. I adored this story, and the Carley, from the very start and my heart warmed and broke along with her as she traveled this journey of self-discovery and acceptance and finding strength and love. I want to hand this book off to every teacher and parent I know and I imagine there will be so many students for whom this type of story will resonate. Although Carley is in 8th grade, this book can definitely be read younger as well. Who doesn’t want a family to love and take care of them? If you haven’t yet read ONE FOR THE MURPHYS, I recommend you do yourself a favor and get to it soon.

I look forward to seeing what Lynda Mullaly Hunt will write next, and according to her website, her next middle grade book will be ALPHABET SOUP releasing in spring 2014. I’ll definitely be reading that one after enjoying ONE FOR THE MURPHYS so much.

Title: GOLD MEDAL SUMMERAuthor: Donna Freitas
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books (a Scholastic imprint)
Release Date: June 1, 2012
Number of Pages: 240
Source of Book: ARC from publisher at NCTE

Just in time for the Olympics: A gymnastics novel to flip for!

Joey
Jordan loves gymnastics: the thrill of performing a backflip on the
beam, the cheers of the audience when she sticks a landing. But even
with all her talent and style, she’s never quite made it to that gold
medal stand.

Now big changes shake up Joey’s life in and out of
the gym. Joey wants to break out some daring new beam and floor
routines–but she’ll have to defy her strict coach to do it. Her best
friend, Alex, is thinking about quitting gymnastics for good. And an old
friend named Tanner just moved back to town, and he’s suddenly gotten
very, very cute. Can Joey handle all the challenges coming her way, and
make her gold medal summer happen at last?

Drawing on her
real-life experience as a competitive gymnast, acclaimed novelist Donna
Freitas delivers both a terrific gymnastics story and a classic novel
about stretching some limits, bending the rules, and finding your
balance.

I really enjoyed Donna Freitas’ first book, THE POSSIBILITIES OF SAINTHOOD, and I expected a similar style of a fun, contemporary, romantic book with a teen girl coming into her own and finding her own strength in becoming confident in herself. GOLD MEDAL SUMMER met that expectation in a great middle grades story that is very timely with the summer Olympics coming up this summer. This book was a quick read because it is definitely written on a level for 5th-8th grades, but it touches on a lot of themes throughout. It’s a sports story, but it’s also a story about family and friendships and young romance.

I really enjoyed the realism of the whole story. There was no unnecessary drama, it all just felt true to what these young girls would have been going through. There’s also a great guy character as the romantic interest who is just a sweetheart. The insiders view of competitive gymnastics was intriguing, and made all the more interesting by knowing that the author was a competitive gymnast herself when she was younger. I completely bought into the family dynamics in this story as well. Joey is struggling with her relationships with her older sister and both of her parents, but she is able to come to terms and deal with them in a mature way.

When I met the author at NCTE, she said that she wrote the book she would have wanted to read when she was 12. I can see how that’s true and think many other girls will feel the same way. Overall this was an enjoyable book that I will definitely be handing off to my students in the fall. I imagine the girls will be reading and passing this one on to each other.

Title: CAPTURE THE FLAG
Author: Kate Messner
Publisher: Scholastic
Release Date: July 1, 2012
Number of Pages: 240
Source of Book: ARC from IRA Convention

Three kids get caught up in an adventure of historic proportions!

Anna,
José, and Henry are complete strangers with more in common than they
realize. Snowed in together at a chaotic Washington D.C. airport, they
encounter a mysterious tattooed man, a flamboyant politician, and a
rambunctious poodle named for an ancient king. Even stranger, news
stations everywhere have announced that the famous flag that inspired
“The Star-Spangled Banner” has been stolen! Anna, certain that the
culprits must be snowed in too, recruits Henry and José to help catch
the thieves and bring them to justice.

But when accusations start
flying, they soon realize there’s more than justice at stake. As the
snow starts clearing, Anna, José, and Henry find themselves in a race
against time (and the weather!) to prevent the loss of an American
treasure.

I absolutely adore Kate Messner’s writing. I really enjoyed EYE OF THE STORM and CAPTURE THE FLAG was no disappointment either. One of the things I like most about Kate Messner’s books is that she writes smart, honest, real characters. In this book they read, they write, one is a genius at video games, but they all have many layers to their characters without getting overly emotionally involved as would happen in more young adult books. Her cast of characters is also multicultural allowing more kids to relate to the teens they’re reading about in the books. I also appreciate that although there is a main female character, there
are two male characters in prominent roles also, so there is
gender-neutral appeal to this book.

Another great thing about her books is the cross-curricular connections she makes. Especially in CAPTURE THE FLAG where there are many social studies/history ties to be made. In this book she has written a multilayered story with an intriguing mystery. I figured it out early on, but it is written for 3rd-7th graders, and I think it will appeal to them-especially if they’re fans of heist stories. It’s a fun story as the group is stuck overnight in an airport and as the kids band together to try to find the stolen flag, scene after scene builds up tension and humor as they find their way into all sorts of hidden places within the airport. It also has an exciting secret society aspect to it. I could see this turning into a great series. I know there’s a sequel, but I hope there will be more than just one more book in this series. These could be characters who could solve these National Treasure (the movie) type mysteries in all different kinds of situations and meet other members of the society.

Kate Messner just has great writing. There are wonderful descriptions of things and exciting scenes/action, but still written at a level that middle schoolers will easily understand. CAPTURE THE FLAG has a great title and cover design sure to appeal to the intended audience. If you haven’t read a Kate Messner book yet, and you’re interested in middle grades books, I encourage you to do so soon, and CAPTURE THE FLAG would be a great start!