I’m not even sure where to begin …
Readers will move through time and space, both literal and figurative. They’ll meet characters with whom they will feel a kinship – and others who will draw out other emotions they may not know how to unpack.
Big themes, big emotions, and still lots of joy, laughter, adventure, and brave new worlds. And yes, that includes our nonfiction selection, too, which, as Hilary points out is filled with “eccentric characters and great stories.”
Summary excerpted from Goodreads. Click book cover to see full summary and more reviews.
Andy Zhou is used to being what people need him to the good kid for his parents and now grandparents visiting from Shanghai, or the helpful sidekick to his best friend Cindy’s rebellious plans and schemes.
But between feeling out of place with the dancers, being hassled by his new science partner Jameel, and sensing tension between his dad and grandfather, Andy feels all kinds of weird. No matter how much Andy cares about his friends and family, it’s hard not to feel pulled between all the ways he's meant to be, all the different faces he wears, and harder still to figure out if any of these masks is the real him.
Katy @ A Library Mama – There’s a lot going on, yet all of it feels real, without the complexity of real life stripped down to focus on just one big problem. It deals with several weighty topics, including bullying, discrimination, eating disorders, and family health problems while still having many threads of joy, laughter, and connection. I also loved and recognized the distinctive metro Detroit setting, with its landmarks, snack foods, and ethnic mix. Also, the movement teacher goes unremarked by the prefix Mx., which is awesome. This is just all-around good, and reminds me a little of 2021 CYBILS Finalist Thanks a Lot, Universe by Chad Lucas.
NextGen Librarian @ Goodreads – Fans of The Stars Beneath Our Feet will love this MG book by Jack Cheng. Andy is a sweet and sensitive child and the storyline about friends changing is so relatable. CW: racism, microaggressions, anxiety, trichotillomania (hair pulling disorder), bullying, parental death, anorexia
Middle-Grade Nonfiction
An intriguing and fact-filled look at how the mail has been delivered in the United States since before the Constitution was even signed. In the United States, the spread of the postal service went hand in hand with the spread of democracy and transportation.
Full of eccentric characters, great stories, and technological achievements, this fun middle-grade narrative nonfiction celebrates one of our oldest and strongest institutions and is a true testament to the spirit of American democracy.
Hilary @ Goodreads – I really enjoyed this history- and fact-filled account of the mail system in America. You might think this is a rather banal topic, but it’s really not! I actually learned a great deal about our country’s history, and found the way it was written to be very engaging and animated. The book does a nice job of highlighting the important experiences of different minority groups, and at the end, also framing the current state of the U.S. Postal Service and it’s future direction. The colorful layout is engaging as well, with Osborne including many historical photos throughout to entertain and engage the middle grade reader.
Middle-Grade Speculative Fiction
Prince Jin is running out of time. He must find a monster companion before his thirteenth birthday or lose the throne completely, and that means travelling to the only place where monsters still live: the legendary, dangerous Whisper Island. But untold perils await Jin there. The magical creatures he seeks are not so easily swayed, and an even greater threat looms on the horizon--one that could threaten everything Jin hopes to achieve.
Deb @ The Book Search – Cindy Lin’s Creatures of the In Between is an exciting adventure, and one of my new favorite books. This is a really fun book to read. The descriptions of the magical creatures are clear enough that even if you have no background knowledge of them, you can visualize what they look like. Jin and the rest of the characters are well developed and such kind and interesting people, I was sorry to finish the book. There are big themes of building and earning trust, good versus evil, pushing back against rules that are unjust, and kindness. This is going to be a fun one to use as a read aloud because the kids are not going to let you stop reading!
Middle-Grade Graphic Novel
Donají is a fearless Zapotec girl who, even though she's only fifteen, is heralded as a hero by her village. In Codex Black, Donají sets out on an adventure--accompanied by the god that lives inside of her poncho--to find her missing father. Along the way, she meets an 18-year-old winged Mexica warrior named Itzcacalotl.
The search brings the pair closer to danger and deeper into mystery than either could have predicted. What exactly was Donají's father involved with? And how did a simple search for a missing relative lead Donají and Itzcacalotl into a fight with a terrifying bat monster to defend an entire village?!
Tamara @ Bookish Things – I really enjoyed this book! Not only was the story a great read, but I learned a bit about the culture of the Mesoamerica area. I also loved the artwork and the outfits of all of the characters. There’s a name glossary in the back to help you pronounce the names and places that are throughout the pages, as well as information about the gods and mythical creatures that show up. It was quite a long graphic novel, packed with laughs, adventure, and more, so I was surprised that this was a volume 1. Can’t wait to pick up the next one.
Poetry Novel in Verse
Ruby’s story picks up a few months after the events of The One and Only Bob. Now living in a wildlife sanctuary, Ruby’s caretaker from the elephant orphanage in Africa where she grew up is visiting. Seeing him again brings back a flood of memories - both happy and sad - of her life before the circus, and she recounts the time she spent in the African savannah to Ivan and Bob.
Sondy @ Sonderbooks – Katherine Applegate has done it again! She’s written a third book about The One and Only Ivan and his friends. I’m not quite sure how Ruby’s vocabulary got so big, but her story was moving. And we did come to understand how mixed her emotions would be about growing up. Once again, this will motivate young animal lovers to want to help, while entertaining them in the company of long-time friends.
NextGen Librarian @ Goodreads – Honestly just when I think Applegate can’t top her previous books she writes a gem like this. Ruby’s story, told in first person POV, is from the eyes of a child who’s been through so much in her short life. I teared up throughout the entire MG novel and the Author’s Note is not to be missed. We need to do more for our animals on this planet. CW: parental death, trauma