The story: A fire. A hurricane. The possible extinction of polar bears. Akira is suddenly caught in a wildfire that destroys thousand-year-old sequoiaThe story: A fire. A hurricane. The possible extinction of polar bears. Akira is suddenly caught in a wildfire that destroys thousand-year-old sequoias and separates her from her father. A Miami teen is washed away in a flood, as a hurricane known as the Big One wreaks havoc in Florida. Owen and George are hunted by a relentless polar bear who has moved into human territory, seeking food that is becoming scarcer and scarcer. It's the end of the world as they know it. If they survive--what can they do to make sure climate change doesn't destroy anyone else's life? The answer surprises even them.
June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG; Violence and danger PG-13; Sexual content P; Nudity G; Substance abuse G; Magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; overall rating PG. Good for grades 4-up.
Liz's comments: Alan Gratz takes on a timely issue--climate change--with three examples of how it affects different communities planet-wide. As always, his clear prose and action-packed sequences of adventure will appeal to both boys and girls, and as he commonly does, he adds a little twist at the end that shows just how closely our lives are intertwined with people living thousands of miles away....more
The story: Five kids--four old friends, one new hanger-on--find the world's best fort deep in the woods. Designed by a millionaire who was also slightThe story: Five kids--four old friends, one new hanger-on--find the world's best fort deep in the woods. Designed by a millionaire who was also slightly wacko, its existence has been completely forgotten until the boys lay claim to it, and everyone's sworn to secrecy. It has EVERYTHING! Except...the solution to Mitchell's OCD, to Evan's delinquent older brother, to CJ's abuse at the hands of his stepfather. But still! Can they all keep their mouths shut long enough to enjoy it to the full? Or will Janelle's police officer dad be shutting them down sometime soon?
June Cleaver's ratings: Language G; Violence PG (parental abuse); sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse G; Magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; Adult themes (abuse, delinquent behaviors, OCD--none of them graphic) PG; overall rating PG.
Liz's comments: Since Mr. Korman himself sent me this signed copy, the least I could do is read it! If you're a fan of GK's books, this is a good one--true to his MS audience, but not afraid to tackle some of the hard problems facing that group of readers with his signature brand of humor. Good for all libraries serving grades 4-8....more
The story: The people in Walthorne love basketball--especially when their two middle school teams are battling it out. So when the season begins, two The story: The people in Walthorne love basketball--especially when their two middle school teams are battling it out. So when the season begins, two star players are feeling the heat: Austin Chambers, captain of Walthorne North, worries that he's not good enough to live up to his father's legacy, while across town, talented Carter Haswell, captain of the less-wealthy South team, is already under pressure to get a scholarship to help with college costs. As the season progresses, Alfie Jenks, a school sports reporter, discovers that behind-the-scenes scandals are just as much a part of youth sports as on-the-court action. When she blows the story wide open, the whole season is jeopardized. Now what?
June Cleaer's ratings: Language PG; Violence PG; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse G; Magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; Adult themes (family pressures, cheating) PG; overall rating PG.
Liz's comments: I like Tom Greenwald's sports stories because rather than having everything be "rah-rah" all the time, he acknowledges that there are both good and bad sides to sports. Hand this one to readers who liked "Game Changer", as well as kids who like Carl Deuker's books (although Greenwald's are admittedly easier to read).
The story: Golden Maroni has big plans for this year: become the captain of his school's soccer team. Keep his best friend from moving away. Help his The story: Golden Maroni has big plans for this year: become the captain of his school's soccer team. Keep his best friend from moving away. Help his dad beat ALS. He's heard that if you spend 10,000 hours practising something, you can become perfect at it. He's just got to get his dad, the rest of his family, and his team on board with the program. But Lucy's stepdad is proving resistant to the anti-moving campaign, sometimes the kids on the team act like losers, and worst of all...sometimes it seems like his Dad is just giving up. How can you master your universe when it's spiraling out of control?
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June Cleaver's ratings: Language G, Violence G; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse G; Magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes PG (terminal illness of a parent, bad choices) PG; overall rating PG.
Liz's comments: Everyone knows I'm not a big fan of sports novels, but I did have to make an exception wih this one. Golden is a positive thinker and has a hard time dealing with accepting the fact that his dad isn't going to get better, that his best friend really is going to move, and that his captaining of the team is flawed. A series of poor decisions and a little bad luck could put him out of the game for good, but Golden makes it through and learns a lot on the way. I skipped the descriptions of soccer games and enjoyed the rest. Hand to MS sports fans!...more
The story: Something awful happened last year, and best friends Cora's and Quinn's lives will never be the same. They haven't spoken since, and the frThe story: Something awful happened last year, and best friends Cora's and Quinn's lives will never be the same. They haven't spoken since, and the friendship appears to be doomed--until Quinn reads an article about the possibility of time travel, and realizes that this is a way that she can travel back and prevent her brother from committing the crime. She enlists Cora's help (Cora is the scientist of the two, after all) and together, the girls come to a wary detente as they try to figure out how to make the "impossible"happen.
Liz's comments: Although this is really a story about friendship and grief and not about time travel at all, the fact that we're being asked to believe that a couple of 7th grade girls (and one of them a budding scientist) think they can open a wormhole and travel back in time just by virtue of their deep longing is simply a step too far on my suspension-of-disbelief-o'meter. Sorry. Can't do it. This one would not have made my "best of" list for 2021....more
The story: Will Levine loves turtles. But that's not why the bullies call him Turtle Boy--that's because of a facial condition known as micrognathia, The story: Will Levine loves turtles. But that's not why the bullies call him Turtle Boy--that's because of a facial condition known as micrognathia, which means he has a non-existant chin, and which makes him keep his hoodie zipped all the way up to his mouth. Now that it's time for the dreaded service project for his bar mitzvah, the rabbi has found him a doozy: visit RJ, an older kid with a mitochondrial disease that's eating him alive on a cellular level. RJ won't be getting better, and as their friendship stutters forward, he convinces Will to act as a surrogate for him in finishing all the things on his bucket list: things like going to a punk concert, attending a school dance, riding a roller coaster--things Will would NEVER do on his own. Things that require Will to enlist the aide of some sort-of friends to accomplish. Can Will cross the finish line before RJ does?
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June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG; Violence G; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse G; Magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes (terminal illness in the young; absence of a parent due to death, bullying) PG-13; overall rating PG.
Liz's comments: A touching story about going beyond your comfort zone to help someone else, even when your own motives aren't exactly pure. Too bad it has such an awful cover, because that alone will steer possible readers away. Good in the same way as Jordan Sonnenblick's "Notes From the Midnight Driver", but for a somewhat younger audience....more
The story: Felix and Benji return a wallet after "borrowing" $20 from it. They don't feel bad, because the wallet belongs to billionaire Laura FriendlThe story: Felix and Benji return a wallet after "borrowing" $20 from it. They don't feel bad, because the wallet belongs to billionaire Laura Friendly. In response to their excuse that she has all the money in the world, she offers them a challenge: team up to spend $5 million in one month, and if they can do it, they'll win even more. But...they have to keep it secret, and they can't buy big-ticket items like houses, cars, or artwork. Can they do it? Hand over that debit card, because the boys are willing to find out!
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June Cleaver's ratings: Language G; Violence G; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse G; Magic & the occult G; GLBT content PG; adult themes (absent parent, deceit) PG; overall rating PG. Good for grades 4-7.
Liz's comments: A fun story about two boys who don't seem to have much in common, but who can team up for a common cause. And although it turns out to be a lot harder to spend $5 million than they expected--and to keep it secret from their parents--they learn some important life lessons, not least about money....more
The story: When a state of national emergency arises, the town of Millersville, Colorado, is abruptly evacuated. Everyone is gone...except for Maddie,The story: When a state of national emergency arises, the town of Millersville, Colorado, is abruptly evacuated. Everyone is gone...except for Maddie, who had sneaked over to her grandma's empty apartment for an illicit night alone. But now, she's REALLY alone, relying on break-ins and scavenging to keep herself and the neighbor's dog, George, alive. How long before someone comes to find her? And what's the worst that could happen?
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June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG; Violence PG; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse G; Magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes (abandonment; tense survival situations) PG; overall rating PG. Good for grades 5-8.
Liz's comments: Good for kids who liked Hatchet, this is a story about survivial in the urban wilderness. Boys might squirm a bit over the couple of pages where Maddie describes getting her period for the first time, but otherwise readers of both genders will enjoy this one....more
The story: On the run from a drug cartel that wants them dead, Sara and Emiliano have made the dangerous crossing into the US. But Sara ends up in a dThe story: On the run from a drug cartel that wants them dead, Sara and Emiliano have made the dangerous crossing into the US. But Sara ends up in a detention center, while Emiliano is able to connect with his long-absent dad, now living in Chicago. But there are seriously bad people after them, and after the cell phone they stole from the leader of a human-trafficking ring, and the teens don't realize just how easy it will be for the criminals to track them down. Separated by thousands of miles and by a huge criminal network that goes right up into the highest levels of the US government, can Sara and Emiliano somehow use what they know to free those being held in slavery, while at the same time avoiding death themselves?
June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG-13; Violence PG-13; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse PG; Magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes (human trafficking, drugs, criminal activity) PG-13; overall rating PG-13. Best for good readers grades 8-up.
Liz's comments: Although this is a sequel to Stork's previous novel "Disappeared", it also works as a stand-alone. Stork excels at telling an exciting story while at the same time pointing out serious issues in society. Here he examines reasons why people cross illegally, as well as things that can happen in a supposedly "safe" government installation. The unfairness will upset some; the social issues will be of more interest to older readers....more
The story: Winston and Louise's father, football player Lenny Volpe, disappeared two years ago. The kids know he had Alzheimer's from traumatic brain The story: Winston and Louise's father, football player Lenny Volpe, disappeared two years ago. The kids know he had Alzheimer's from traumatic brain injury, and that he didn't wander off on purpose--but that doesn't make it feel better. Louise has gone uber-science-geek, while Winston comforts himself by playing the tuba. But now, Louise's brain-regenerating science experiment has gone wrong, and someone has thrown Winston's tuba off the roof of the school. Can a daring attempt to free a trapped football mascot bring them healing and closure...or will they just end up getting eaten by a bear?
June Cleaver's ratings: Language G; Violence G; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse G; Magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes (disppearance of a parent; breaking and entering) PG; overall rating PG. Good for grade 4-8.
Liz's comments: Although billed as "hilarious" in the blurbs, this is really a thoughtful exploration of grief with some funny moments thrown in. The kids are trying to work their way through a terrible, unexplained absence with little help from their mother, who is also dealing with her own pain. Put this one in Realistic Fiction....more
The story: Junie is the target of racist bullying, and racism is a problem at her middle school, too. But when her friends decide to take a stand, shyThe story: Junie is the target of racist bullying, and racism is a problem at her middle school, too. But when her friends decide to take a stand, shy Junie is too afraid to stand up with them. Instead, she tackles her English project: interviewing her grandfather about his experiences during the Korean War. It's only as she sees how bad life can really be when people are too afraid to stand up to wrong-doing that she's able to summon up the courage to speak up for herself and those around her--even when it's really scary, and that bully is really, really big.
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June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG; Violence PG; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse G; Magic & the occult G; LGBT content G; adult themes (racism, bullying, depression) PG-13; overall rating PG. Good fro grades 5-8.
Liz's comments: Ellen Oh is good at everything. Her fantasy series Prophecy is amazing, her Spirit Hunters books are creepy, and her first foray into realistic fiction for MS is really good too. Especially moving are the stories of her grandparents, interwoven with Junie's fight with her depression and her difficulty in standing up for herself and others, and her embracing her family's experiences to help her determine to make her own experiences better....more
The story: Efren's family works hard to keep food on the table, and hard to keep off the radar with ICE. But when Ama goes to apply for a new job, sheThe story: Efren's family works hard to keep food on the table, and hard to keep off the radar with ICE. But when Ama goes to apply for a new job, she's picked up and deported without even being able to say goodbye to the family--and now she's in Mexico until Apa can scrape up enough money to hire someone to smuggle her back across. Efren is tasked with taking care of his two younger siblings so Apa can work a second night job to raise money--and suddenly, his good grades take a hit and the anxiety just makes things worse. Now everything he took for granted is gone, and no one knows when anything will get back to normal...
June Cleaver's ratings: Language G; Violence G; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse G; Magic & the occult G; LGBT content G; adult themes (illegal immegration and the plight of the undocumented) PG; overall rating G.
Liz's comments: An important read about how children are affected by their parents' immigration status. Not sure it will grab kids who don't have this problem, but as a Pura Belpre winner, I think it will end up on curriculum lists and they'll be exposed to it that way....more
The story: Lupe Wong really needs to get straight A's this report card, so she can meet her baseball hero Fu Li. He's a "Chinacan" (or is that "MexineThe story: Lupe Wong really needs to get straight A's this report card, so she can meet her baseball hero Fu Li. He's a "Chinacan" (or is that "Mexinese"?) just like her, and a major league pitcher, just like she plans to be someday. But standing in her way is PE--because of the dreaded SQUARE DANCING unit. She tries everything she can to get out of this dumb dance class, but ends up not only torpedoing her own chances, but wrecking her friendship with BFF Andy and even risking her own starting pitcher status on the school team. But she can't help it, because that do-si-do is do-si-DUMB!
June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG; Violence G; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse G; Magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; Adult themes PG (racism, death of a parent); overall rating PG. Good for grades 4-7.
Liz's comments: This was a fun enough book, although Lupe's hatred for square dancing seems forced, and honestly? If you were really an athlete and needed the grade, you'd just suck it up and twirl your partner. So my suspension-of-disbelief-o'meter had a bit of trouble with this one....more
The story: EDDIE WHATEVER, by Lois Ruby (grades 4-7) - Eddie needs a service project for his upcoming bar mitzvah, and his mom isn’t taking “no� for aThe story: EDDIE WHATEVER, by Lois Ruby (grades 4-7) - Eddie needs a service project for his upcoming bar mitzvah, and his mom isn’t taking “no� for an answer when she signs him up to do twice-weekly visits to the oldsters...ahem, “seniors�...at the Silver Brook residential facility. He never expected to actually develop friendships with the inmates...ahem, residents...or run into gangsters, hear stories of the Holocaust, or be searching for ghosts. But once he recruits Tessa, the girl he wishes was his girlfriend, to help so she can get bat mitzvah hours, he’s in it for the long haul. At least, until he’s accused of being the thief who’s making off with the residents� valuables and then banned from the premises. What can he do to clear his name and get his senior friends to trust him again?
June Cleaver's ratings: Language G; Violence PG; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse G; Magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes (abandoned seniors) PG; overall rating PG. Best for grades 4-7.
Liz's comments: Lois Ruby has come up with a winning, although unexpected, combination of mystery, intrigue, and social commentary, interlaced with wisecracks and school woes. Eddie’s middle-school voice is spot on, his love of baseball will appeal to sports fans, and his bar mitzvah preparation will enlighten younger readers who’ve never actually known a Jewish person. Although there’s a lot crammed into this fun and funny story, the frenetic pace of Eddie’s life will appeal to readers of the target audience, and his good heart and eventual friendship with the seniors at Silver Brook are heart-warming....more
The story: Fresh off his win at the Great Barber Battle in book 1 of the series, J.D. has been working at the barber shop for a couple of months now aThe story: Fresh off his win at the Great Barber Battle in book 1 of the series, J.D. has been working at the barber shop for a couple of months now and is feeling like things are getting stale. After all, how many other 8-year-olds spend every Saturday working a job? When his sister Vanessa proposes that they start a YouTube channel so she can become a Hair Influencer, J.D. is willing to quit his day job and give it a try. But almost immediately, the unthinkable happens and it seems he and best friend Jordan will be in debt for payback on a certain expensive camera until they’re in high school. Can “The Southeast Star’s Summer Vacation Showdown� provide them with a win, new subscribers, and a cash prize, or will they just end up as also-ran wannabes?
June Cleaver's ratings: Language G; Violence G; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse G; Magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes G. Best for grades 3-5.
Liz's comments: This early-reader chapter book has lots of heart and lots of fun, black-and-white illustrations; there are plugs for college, hard work, honing your talents, and even Vacation Bible School. While J.D. and his multi-generational family are African-American, their culture and community provide the backbone, rather than the drama, for this story. Perhaps the only stumble is that J.D. reads older than his supposed age of eight, as does his sister, who at age 10 sounds like she could be starting high school. Even so, this book will work well both for better lower-grade readers and as a read-aloud. Everyone will root for J.D. and his mad barbering skills....more
The story: The whole town steps up when Liam's brother Aidan disappears and stays missing for six days. But the real trouble starts when Aidan returnsThe story: The whole town steps up when Liam's brother Aidan disappears and stays missing for six days. But the real trouble starts when Aidan returns from...wherever he was. Was he really in a mysterious alternative world called Avienieu, or was he kidnapped? Or did he run away? No one wants to believe Aidan's truth after it slips out, and it's getting harder and harder to keep their parents, their school friends, and even the police, happy with the other explanations they're making up. But a mysterious land with a green sky is just to much to believe. Isn't it?
June Cleaver's ratings: Language G; Violence G; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse G; Magic & the occult PG; GLBT content PG; adult themes (an unexplained disappearance) PG; overall rating PG. Good for grades 4-7.
Liz's comments: Now here's a strange little story. Liam tells things the way he sees them, and doesn't apologize for the strangeness of those things. His outlook changes as he comes to believe Aidan's story, and to understand that you don't have to be able to explain unusual things for them to be true. This one will appeal to a select group of fantasy lovers; most other kids will find it very weird, and will turn it back in about halfway through....more
The story: Zoe Washington has never met her biological dad--he's in prison for murder. On her 12th birthday, she gets a letter from him, followed by aThe story: Zoe Washington has never met her biological dad--he's in prison for murder. On her 12th birthday, she gets a letter from him, followed by a big surprise: he claims he's innocent. Zoe has big dreams for her summer...she's going to intern at a bakery and hopefully qualify as a contestant on a reality cooking show...but she had no plans to become a detective trying to prove Marcus's innocence. Especially when she's been forbidden to write or talk to him. But if Marcus is telling the truth, how can Zoe stand by without helping?
June Cleaver's ratings: Language G; Violence G; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse G; Magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes PG (parental incarceration, lying); overall rating PG.
Liz's comments: A good story with realistic consequences, and a basic introduction to The Innocence Project and its work freeing those who are wrongfully imprisoned. Good for grades 4-7....more
The story: The island has been Clara’s lifelong home, but what others might see as a tourist’s heaven holds frightening, submerged memories for Clara.The story: The island has been Clara’s lifelong home, but what others might see as a tourist’s heaven holds frightening, submerged memories for Clara. Ever since the accident last summer, Clara has lost clear memory of what happened…it just seems like everyone, and everything, is different now. Even her best friend Gaynah seems to have turned away from her. When new girl Rudy arrives, things start to change—Clara reconnects with her estranged uncle, lives through a category 5 hurricane, and finds the courage to remember what happened between her and Gaynah and figure out a ways to start to fix it.
June Cleaver’s ratings: Language G; Violence G; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse G; Magic & the occult: G; GLBT content G; adult themes PG (trauma-based amnesia); overall rating: G. Good for grades 4-7.
Liz’s comments: A tropical setting serves as an interesting background for Clara’s struggle to deal with the painful experiences in her past. Hand to fans of Kate Messner’s stories....more
The story: ZJ has always been proud of his pro-football player dad—not only do millions of fans cheer for him on game day, but the neighborhood kids lThe story: ZJ has always been proud of his pro-football player dad—not only do millions of fans cheer for him on game day, but the neighborhood kids love him every bit as much. Still, it doesn’t feel like there’s much to cheer about at ZJ’s house these days…his dad forgets things, acts angry all the time, and seems to have lost the biggest thing that made him special: the ability to think fast and perform on the field. Is there some way for the doctors to fix what’s wrong with ZJ’s dad, or will his family be stuck forever in the Ever After?
June Cleaver’s ratings: Language G; Violence G; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse: G; GLBT content: G; Adult themes (traumatic brain injury, painful family changes): PG; overall rating G. Good for grades 4-7.
Liz’s comments: Woodson skillfully handles the issues and the pain of families dealing with TBI. Good for all libraries serving tweens....more
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