Everything Sad Is Untrue by Daniel Nayeri, a book review
In this book, Everything Sad Is Untrue by Daniel Nayeri, the author channels his twelve-year-old self, an immigrant living in Edmond, Oklahoma.
Book reviews
The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart, a book review
A middle-grade book review: Twelve-year-old Coyote Sunrise and her dad, Rodeo, wander America in their retrofitted school bus, with no plans, no schedule. Well, there is one scheduled item–a weekly call to Coyote’s grandma. In a call to Coyote in Florida, Grandma casually tells her that the park down the street is going to be dug up for development in four days.
His Gift by Joan C. Benson, a review
His Gift by Joan C. Benson tells the inspirational story of a gifted teenage concert pianist. Molly has entered a competition sponsored by the Detroit Symphony in the fateful fall of 1929.
Echo Mountain by Lauren Wolk, a review
When her father is struck by a falling tree and lies in a coma, Ellie wants nothing more than to heal him. He’d taught her some of the woodsy healing arts, and she sets out to try them first on a seemingly stillborn puppy, then on her helpless father, and on an injured neighbor everyone thinks is a witch.
Save Me a Seat by Sarah Weeks and Gita Varadarajan, a review
Save Me a Seat by Sarah Weeks and Gita Varadarajan is a novel that pairs the points of view of two fifth grade boys, Ravi, a recent immigrant from India, and Joe, a local guy. Both have to deal with the same bully.
Chirp by Kate Messner, a review
Chirp by Kate Messner, published in 2020, tells the tale of Mia, a twelve year old former gymnast who’s just moved from Boston to Vermont. Her family moved there to support her grandmother, whose unpredictability makes everyone wonder what’s going to happen next. Gram’s business, raising crickets for people food, is languishing.
Ranger in Time: Night of Soldiers and Spies, by Kate Messner
Kate Messner’s Ranger in Time series features a rescue dog, Ranger, who who magically is called to other times and places to help save people. In this tale, Soldiers and Spies, Ranger helps a young black soldier in the Continental Army of George Washington. It’s winter, and battle is coming.
A Place at the Table by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan, a review
Authors Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan team up to tell a middle-grade tale with two points of view: one a Muslim Pakistani-American girl who just wants to fit in at her big new school, and the other a Jewish girl whose best friend has dumped her.
Liar & Spy by Rebecca Stead, a review
Georges, that’s with a silent s, moves into a Brooklyn apartment building and meets Safer, another twelve-year-old who starts a
Wanted: A Superhero to Save the World by Bryan Davis, a review
Bryan Davis, author of thirty successful young adult books, wrote this middle-grade tale and published it last year. It’s a
Ghost by Jason Reynolds, a Review
Jason Reynolds’ award-winning middle-grade novel Ghost tells the story of a boy who joins a track team. But he’s not just any boy; he’s one ran with his mother for their lives from his father, who was shooting at them.
Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt, a review
Sometimes I stray from my core mission of reviewing middle grade novels. This novel is almost a middle-grade novel. After