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: 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.

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: 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!

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!

Title: KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES
Author: Shannon Messenger
Publisher: Aladdin (a Simon & Schuster imprint)
Release Date: October 2, 2012
Number of Pages: 488
Source of Book: ARC from publisher at ALA

In this riveting debut,
a telepathic girl must figure out why she is the key to her brand-new
world–before the wrong person finds the answer first.

Twelve-year-old
Sophie has never quite fit into her life. She’s skipped multiple grades
and doesn’t really connect with the older kids at school, but she’s not
comfortable with her family, either. And Sophie has a secret–she’s a
Telepath, someone who can read minds. But the day Sophie meets Fitz, a
mysterious (and adorable) boy, she learns she’s not alone. He’s a
Telepath too, and it turns out the reason she has never felt at home is
that, well…she isn’t. Fitz opens Sophie’s eyes to a shocking truth,
and almost instantly she is forced to leave behind her family for a new
life in a place that is vastly different from what she has ever known.

But
Sophie still has secrets, and they’re buried deep in her memory for
good reason: The answers are dangerous and in high-demand. What is her
true identity, and why was she hidden among humans? The truth could mean
life or death–and time is running out.

*I was going to hold off on this review until a little bit closer to the release, but I’m so excited to share my love of it that I just couldn’t wait! And, since it’s my first Marvelous Middle Grade Monday post, it’s only appropriate that it’s Shannon Messenger’s book. It could have all just been gush, gush, gushing recommendation, but I tried to format it in a little bit more productive way.

A few months from now you’ll be able to get this book, and you should (especially if you live or work with middle schoolers in any capacity)! KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES blew me away. I knew I really liked Shannon Messenger from following her on twitter and on her blog, and then when I heard she had a middle grades and a young adult book coming out as her debut, I was really looking forward to reading them-especially when I read the summary of each. As a middle school teacher, I was hoping I would like KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES, and I am happy to say that I loved it! I would definitely recommend this middle grades magical fantasy to fans of HARRY POTTER and THE UNWANTEDS. It is a long book, but as it is written so well for the middle grades level, it isn’t overwhelming. There is something just so engaging and fun and entertaining in Shannon Messenger’s third person, descriptive, writing style, and I devoured this book in two days and didn’t want to stop reading until I knew what would happen to these characters and world I wanted to be a part of.

Let’s talk about Setting: Shannon Messenger has created an astoundingly creative fantasy world within KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES. I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect from the summary alone, and I never expected the “place that is vastly different form what she has ever known” to be so well-developed and thought out. As I was reading an advance reader copy, it was missing the map artwork, so I look forward to getting a finished copy to enhance the reading experience even more. The world of the elves (and not what you ever pictured elves to be) is filled with fantastical creatures (especially love Iggy!), magically evolved elements, and cities built with beyond-this-world materials. This parallel world is such a discovery, not only for Sophie, but for the reader as well. The way it is described made me want to go live there as well. Beyond the Lost Cities within the elven world themselves, there is also Foxfire, which is the school for the nobility that Sophie ends up in. It is a school where she will be trained in her special ability and where she discovers people, places, things, strength, and friendships beyond what she ever would have imagined, and what I would have imagined as well.

We have to talk about Characters: KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES is full of interesting, multidimensional characters. The only thing that threw me a little bit as I read this book was the
number of characters because their names are not ones we’re used to
hearing, so it did take awhile to keep track of who was who in the
beginning. Not only do we get Sophie who has to make some tough decisions and look for people to support her, but we also get Fitz and his family, along with a multitude of other characters throughout the elf world. We see some of the most interesting jobs as Sophie meets these characters which adds to our understanding of how this world works. As she goes to school, we also meet Dex and Keefe among other classmates, and these two become some of the most entertaining characters to interact with Sophie. I kind of adore Keefe myself. He is the snarky guy who brings the humor that Sophie so desperately needs as she adjusts to her new life, and deep down, he is a really good, caring boy. We get some hints as to deeper things going on with Keefe, and I hope we get more of him in the next book. I also really adore Sophie. She has core values that I admire and fights for what she believes and knows is the right thing, even if it means she might get into trouble. I rooted for her as she is a young girl with so much strength and determination to do the right thing and help those she cares about. She is a strong character for the audience of this book.

Talking about Family is important: Sophie has to leave her family to join this hidden world where she actually belongs, and that means she is in a new place, realizing everything she thought she knew is not the way the world actually works, and has no family to rely on and call her own. When she gets placed with guardians to take responsibility for her, she has a whole new set of relationship dynamics to work on. In the end, the storyline with Sophie searching for family and her understanding of loss, adds such depth to the character and the overall book, and adds a dimension that I think many kids will relate to. I know these elements of searching for family to love her and support her and call her own brought some of the most poignant moments of the story for me. Because what child doesn’t want a family to feel safe with and loved by? There was much more of an emotional element to this book than I expected going into it, and that’s a great thing.

Now let’s talk about Plot: While all of the subplots going on in this book add depth and interest to the story, the overall conflict at hand is a mystery as to why Sophie was living in the human world. Unfortunately, as Sophie is so young, the adults looking into things don’t want to include her in the search, but as the clues build up, Sophie has to take it upon herself to try to find out what’s happening and why and who is behind it. Messenger has written a novel with a tightly woven plot strongly balancing small elements, character development, descriptive details, world-building information, and enough action to keep things moving at an engaging pace.

I want to talk Sequel: I know a sequel is coming, and I can’t wait to read it! Although I knew there would be a book following this one, I still feel that this book wrapped up its storyline in a satisfying way. There are no major cliffhangers here, but it still sets up where the second book will go for the next school year. I appreciate this so much because I don’t feel like I’ve been left hanging, but I’m left with enough of a love for this book/world/characters that I definitely want to get my hands on the next book asap, and I hope you’ll feel that way about this one, too!

I think this book will be a big middle grades hit for those who like fantasy and mystery books. From the Preface at the very start, I was hooked on the story as I was instantly pulled into what would have happened to get Sophie to this point. As the story wound it’s way toward that time near the end, it became even more engaging. I think if you are a teacher or librarian or parent of middle school age kids, you and they will feel the same. I absolutely recommend you get KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES in October.