Dear Sweet Pea

Dear Sweet Pea
by Julie Murphy

From the publisher:
"The first middle grade novel from Julie Murphy, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Dumplin’ (now a popular Netflix film), is a funny, heartwarming story perfect for fans of Rebecca Stead, Ali Benjamin, and Holly Goldberg Sloan.

Patricia “Sweet Pea” DiMarco wasn’t sure what to expect when her parents announced they were getting a divorce. She never could have imagined that they would have the “brilliant” idea of living in nearly identical houses on the same street. In the one house between them lives their eccentric neighbor Miss Flora Mae, the famed local advice columnist behind “Miss Flora Mae I?”

Dividing her time between two homes is not easy. And it doesn’t help that at school, Sweet Pea is now sitting right next to her ex–best friend, Kiera, a daily reminder of the friendship that once was. Things might be unbearable if Sweet Pea didn’t have Oscar—her new best friend—and her fifteen-pound cat, Cheese.

Then one day Flora leaves for a trip and asks Sweet Pea to forward her the letters for the column. And Sweet Pea happens to recognize the handwriting on one of the envelopes.

What she decides to do with that letter sets off a chain of events that will forever change the lives of Sweet Pea DiMarco, her family, and many of the readers of “Miss Flora Mae I?”

This is a very sweet and heart-warming book and I enjoyed it. The characters are so well drawn and vary from eclectic to mainstream and from popular to bullied, but are always relatable. I loved the voice of Sweet Pea, who had some really big things to deal with and sometimes made stupid decisions, but who had many nuggets of wisdom to share with the reader.

"My mom always says that sometimes the best thing you can do to show a bully that they're in the wrong is to live your very best life."

"Sometimes it's easy to forget that quiet moments mean just as much as the loud ones, because it's not always about moving. Sometimes it's about sitting perfectly and quietly still."

I really appreciated the fact that although Sweet Pea's parents got divorced, they tried very hard to do what they thought was right for Sweet Pea. Not everything they did turned out right, but they worked hard and amicably to make the change as easy as possible for their daughter.

I also appreciated matter-of-fact way the author dealt with several issues. Sweet Pea's weight, her father being gay, the diversity of the characters... those things were just a part of the whole story and not the main focus or thrown in your face as politically correct.

Oh, the friend drama of middle school! There are many of my students who will relate to this story and who might actually learn something from it.

Areas of concern:
*Bullying (for a variety of reasons)
*Divorce
*Dishonesty with friends
*A couple of minor swear words

Suggested Ages:
Booklist - Grades 4-8
Publisher's Weekly - Ages 8-12

Begone the Raggedy Witches

Begone the 
Raggedy Witches
by Celine Kiernan

From the publisher:
"When witches kidnap her dad, Mup is swept up in a wild tide of magic that carries her to another world. Can she reunite her family and find her way back?

On the night that Aunty dies, the raggedy witches come for Mup's family. Pale, cold, and relentless, the witches will do anything for the tyrannical queen who has outlawed most magic and enforces her laws with terror and cruelty -- and who happens to be Mup's grandmother. When witches carry off her dad, Mup and her mam leave the mundane world to rescue him. But everything is odd in the strange, glittering Witches Borough, even Mam. Even Mup herself. In a world of rhyming crows, talking cats, and golden forests, it's all Mup can do to keep her wits about her. And even if she can save her dad, Mup's not sure if anything will ever be the same again. First in a new trilogy by Irish author Celine Kiernan, this tale of family and forbidden magic charts a fresh path through the landscape of beloved fantasy tradition -- and promises to bewitch any reader in search of stories to love."

It took me a while to get into this book, but once I did I enjoyed it. It had a kind of A Wrinkle In Time vibe to it. The main character, Mup, was incredibly courageous and loyal - just how I like my main characters to be. Her little brother, Tipper, was adorable. I enjoyed the world that the author created and all the different variations of magic in that world. Actually, this book brings to mind a number of different classic children's books because the evil queen is very reminiscent of the White Witch of Narnia. I found the evil queen in this book even more disturbing, though, because this queen is a mother and grandmother trying to kill her own offspring. I had a student tell me she really loved this book, so I hope the word spreads, because I'm not sure the cover will sell this well.

Areas of concern:
*I only noticed 2 uses of the "d" word, but another reviewer said there were 6 instances of cussing.
*There are two really awful mothers who hurt their own children and try to or do kill their fathers. 

Suggested Ages:

Booklist - Grades 6-8

Kirkus Reviews - Ages 8-12

The Luck Uglies

The Luck Uglies
by Paul Durham

From the publisher:
"The Luck Uglies is the first in a tween fantasy-adventure trilogy brimming with legends come to life, a charming wit, and a fantastic cast of characters-and is imbued throughout with the magic of storytelling.

Strange things are happening in Village Drowning, and a terrifying encounter has Rye O'Chanter convinced that the monstrous, supposedly extinct Bog Noblins have returned. 
Now Rye's only hope is an exiled secret society so notorious its name can't be spoken aloud: the Luck Uglies. As Rye dives into Village Drowning's maze of secrets, rules, and lies, she'll discover the truth behind the village's legends of outlaws and beasts...and that it may take a villain to save them from the monsters.

The first in a series, The Luck Uglies is an altogether irresistible cross of Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain, Stefan Bachmann's The Peculiar, and Chris Healy's The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom, overflowing with adventure, secrets, friendship, and magic."

I know I'm late to the ballgame on this one because all three books are already out, but better late than never. I found this to be a fun and magical start to a series. There were certain times it seemed to drag just a little, but for the most part it was exciting and riveting. I liked the main character, but sometimes got frustrated with her for making stupid decisions that endangered other people.

“In her long history of bad decisions, even Rye had to admit this one might be her worst.” 

I loved her family dynamic - her strong, loving mother, her adorable little sister (I can't wait to see what happens as she grows.... will she ever be potty-trained?), the mysterious stranger, Harmless, and the family pet, Shady (Nightshade Fur Bottom O'Chanter). I also loved her loyal friends, Folly and Quinn. The world building was very well done. I appreciated the humor that was laced throughout the book and that lightened up some very tense moments. There was action, suspense and intrigue, with evil antagonists and fantastic monsters. This is a great series for middle schoolers who love fantasy. 

Areas of concern:
*Violence and fighting, but nothing terribly graphic. If your child can handle Harry Potter and Percy Jackson, they can definitely handle the violence in this one.
*No cussing, but there are made-up words that are very bad in their society and the one word is used by the children several times - with mention that their mothers would kill them if they heard them use it.

Suggested Ages:
Publisher's Weekly - Ages 8+
School Library Journal - Grades 5-7

The Charmed Children of Rookskill Castle

The Charmed Children
of Rookskill Castle
by Janet Fox

From the publisher:
"Something is not right at Rookskill Castle, a rundown Scottish manor shrouded in mystery. The castle is a temporary boarding school for children escaping the Blitz, but soon it’s clear there is something terribly wrong. There are clues hinting that a spy is in the house, and there are undeniable signs of a sinister magic. When the children in the castle’s temporary boarding school begin disappearing one by one, it’s a race against the clock for twelve-year-old Kat Bateson, her two younger siblings, and their new best friend."

It took me a while to get into this one, which concerns me for my middle schoolers. You have to grab them and hold on with both hands to get them to read sometimes, so I'm not sure how this one will go over. Eventually the plot became very exciting and even creepy, so I think if they just keep going it will win them over. It also attempts a lot of plot lines, which might be hard for some of my students to keep track of and understand.... WWII and the Blitz, boarding school, magic, spying and mechanical things. The main character is a little annoying at times, but she has a lot on her plate. All in all, I mildly enjoyed it but was annoyed at the open ending and no sequel. 

Areas of concern:
*Some pretty gruesome magic goes on including trading fingers and limbs for special charms.
*Really evil person stealing the souls of children.
*A parent in grave danger from the Nazis

Suggested Ages:
Publisher's Weekly - Ages 10+
School Library Journal - Grades 6+

Love, Life and the List

Love, Life and the List
by Kasie West

From the publisher,
"Seventeen-year-old Abby Turner’s summer isn’t going the way she’d planned. She has a not-so-secret but definitely unrequited crush on her best friend, Cooper. She hasn’t been able to manage her mother’s growing issues with anxiety. And now she’s been rejected from an art show because her work “has no heart.” So when she gets another opportunity to show her paintings Abby isn’t going to take any chances.

Which is where the list comes in.

Abby gives herself one month to do ten things, ranging from face a fear (#3) to learn a stranger’s story (#5) to fall in love (#8). She knows that if she can complete the list she’ll become the kind of artist she’s always dreamed of being. But as the deadline approaches, Abby realizes that getting through the list isn’t as straightforward as it seems… and that maybe—just maybe—she can’t change her art if she isn’t first willing to change herself.

This is the first in a set of three standalone books with crossover characters."

I love this author (Kasie West) for middle school students who love romance and like to read up in age. The characters are always upper high school, but she avoids things like bad teenage behavior and graphic making out. They are fun and frothy to read, with romance, humor and heart. That being said, I have noticed that almost all of her contemporary books remind me of other author's books. This one reminded me of Morgan Matson's Since You've Been Gone, which I loved. Kasie and I have had a little slump lately, and although this one wasn't my favorite, it was definitely a step above some of her others that I have read lately. 
Things I liked:
*The main character was snarky and funny.
*A loving, supportive, albeit slightly dysfunctional family unit.
*Cooper and Abby and their friendship.
*The main character experienced a lot of growth throughout the book.
*Deep emotions towards the end that were written so well I felt every emotion right along with Abby.

Things I didn't like:
*Abby and Cooper were amazing as best friends, but I didn't feel any chemistry between them.
*Cooper could be a real jerk. 
*The list played an important role and then just sort of petered out.
*I didn't love the ending and was actually rooting for it to end a completely different way. 

Suggested Ages:

Kirkus Reviews - Ages 12+

School Library Journal - Grades 7+

Counting by 7s

Counting by 7s
by Holly Goldberg Sloan

From the publisher:
"In the tradition of Out of My Mind, Wonder, and Mockingbird, this is an intensely moving middle grade novel about being an outsider, coping with loss, and discovering the true meaning of family. 

Willow Chance is a twelve-year-old genius, obsessed with nature and diagnosing medical conditions, who finds it comforting to count by 7s. It has never been easy for her to connect with anyone other than her adoptive parents, but that hasn’t kept her from leading a quietly happy life... until now.

Suddenly Willow’s world is tragically changed when her parents both die in a car crash, leaving her alone in a baffling world. The triumph of this book is that it is not a tragedy. This extraordinarily odd, but extraordinarily endearing, girl manages to push through her grief. Her journey to find a fascinatingly diverse and fully believable surrogate family is a joy and a revelation to read. "

Holly Goldberg Sloan knows how to tell a story. Characters may be quirky, plot holes may exist, but still you want to read. I very much enjoyed this book, and the students at our middle school really enjoy it, it gets checked out a lot. But to compare it to Wonder is going a little too far. Things are a lot less believable and real in this book. That doesn't mean it wasn't incredibly entertaining and heartfelt, just not that realistic. And, once again, I have to take exception to the way public school employees were treated. A teacher, principal and school counselor who are incredibly stupid is kind of a slap in the face to all the wonderful teachers, principals and counselors we have in the public school system. Really? NO ONE realized that Willow was gifted? So in a way this felt a little farcical, like a Lemony Snicket book. And if you just let it flow and not worry about it being unrealistic, then it is a wonderful, fun read. I loved Willow's voice! She was quirky, annoying, innocent and wise. Her brain doesn't work quite like anyone else's, but because of that she has many amazing thoughts. 

The average teenager was willing to wear very uncomfortable attire. From my observation, the older you get, the more you like the word cozy. That’s why most of the elderly wear pants with elastic waistbands. If they wear pants at all. This may explain why grandparents are in love with buying grandkids pajamas and bathrobes. The outfits worn by my fellow students were, in my opinion, either way too tight or way too loose. Apparently having something that actually fits was not acceptable. 

So put aside the many improbable circumstances and behaviors and just enjoy the storytelling.

Areas of concern:
*A 12 year old dealing with the death of her parents.
*A public school system that fails horribly, over and over again.
*Bullying of main character (only at the beginning of the story).

Suggested Ages:

Booklist - Grades 7-10
Publisher's Weekly - Ages 10+
School Library Journal - Grades 5-8

(An interesting range.  I would say it is very appropriate for all middle schoolers.)

The Mostly True Story of Jack

The Mostly True Story
of Jack
by Kelly Barnhill

From the publisher:
"Enter a world where magic bubbles just below the surface. . . .

When Jack is sent to Hazelwood, Iowa, to live with his strange aunt and uncle, he expects a summer of boredom. Little does he know that the people of Hazelwood have been waiting for him for quite a long time.

When he arrives, three astonishing things happen: First, he makes friends -- not imaginary friends but actual friends. Second, he is beaten up by the town bully; the bullies at home always ignored him. Third, the richest man in town begins to plot Jack's imminent, and hopefully painful, demise. It's up to Jack to figure out why suddenly everyone cares so much about him. Back home he was practically, well, invisible.

The Mostly True Story of Jack is an eerie tale of magic, friendship, and sacrifice. It's about things broken and things put back together. Above all, it's about finding a place to belong. "

Enter a world where magic bubbles just below the surface. . . .

When Jack is sent to Hazelwood, Iowa, to live with his strange aunt and uncle, he expects a summer of boredom. Little does he know that the people of Hazelwood have been waiting for him for quite a long time.

When he arrives, three astonishing things happen: First, he makes friends -- not imaginary friends but actual friends. Second, he is beaten up by the town bully; the bullies at home always ignored him. Third, the richest man in town begins to plot Jack's imminent, and hopefully painful, demise. It's up to Jack to figure out why suddenly everyone cares so much about him. Back home he was practically, well, invisible.

The Mostly True Story of Jack is an eerie tale of magic, friendship, and sacrifice. It's about things broken and things put back together. Above all, it's about finding a place to belong. 

I liked this, but I didn't love it. The writing is excellent (as usual with Kelly Barnhill), and the story is unique and interesting, but it just didn't have that magical feel of both The Witch's Boy and The Girl Who Drank the Moon by the same author. Which is kind of unusual because it contained a lot of magic. I didn't connect with the characters very much, in fact there isn't one that stands out in my mind that I really loved. And some of the plot line was quite confusing. However, it kept my interest and I can recommend it to my middle schoolers - not as highly as the other 2 our library has by this author, but I think there are quite a few who will like it. 

Areas of concern:
*Good vs. evil abounds. Children are taken from their families and eventually forgotten.
*One of the taken children is returned with many scars and unable to talk.
*Some bullying takes place.
*One very quick, tame kiss between kids that I think were 12 years old?

Suggested Ages:

Publisher's Weekly - Ages 8-12 (I can't imagine an 8 year old following this complicated story, and I think older than 12 can still enjoy it.)

School Library Journal - Grades 5-8

The Girl Who Drank the Moon

The Girl Who
Drank the Moon
by Kelly Barnhill

From the publisher:
"Every year, the people of the Protectorate leave a baby as an offering to the witch who lives in the forest. They hope this sacrifice will keep her from terrorizing their town. But the witch in the forest, Xan, is kind and gentle. She shares her home with a wise Swamp Monster named Glerk and a Perfectly Tiny Dragon, Fyrian. Xan rescues the abandoned children and deliver them to welcoming families on the other side of the forest, nourishing the babies with starlight on the journey. 

One year, Xan accidentally feeds a baby moonlight instead of starlight, filling the ordinary child with extraordinary magic. Xan decides she must raise this enmagicked girl, whom she calls Luna, as her own. To keep young Luna safe from her own unwieldy power, Xan locks her magic deep inside her. When Luna approaches her thirteenth birthday, her magic begins to emerge on schedule--but Xan is far away. Meanwhile, a young man from the Protectorate is determined to free his people by killing the witch. Soon, it is up to Luna to protect those who have protected her--even if it means the end of the loving, safe world she’s always known.
 
The acclaimed author of The Witch’s Boy has created another epic coming-of-age fairy tale destined to become a modern classic."

I loved this book! I could take everything I said about Kelly Barnhill's The Witch's Boy and use it for this book as well (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...).   The Girl Who Drank the Moon is also a magical, lyrical fairy tale that promotes love, family, courage and forgiveness. There were parts of this book that sang, there were parts that wept, and there were parts that made my heart pound with excitement. I want to turn around and start reading it all over again. 

The characters were all so alive and real. There are quite a few that are intrinsically important to the story, but we don't know why until things all get wrapped up in the end. I loved them all so much and for such differing reasons. Fyrian was hysterical; Xan was loving and kind and good; Luna was adorably mischievous but spread such love; Antain was wise beyond his years; the poor, mad mother was so tortured; Glerk, the wise poet of the swamp, reminded me of Aslan. Around all of these characters were magic, sorrow, love and hope, all swirled together in a delicious way.

As with  The Witch's Boy, this one would make a wonderful read-aloud as a family or classroom. I highly, highly recommend it for middle grade on up through adults. 

Areas of concern:
*Babies are taken away from their families and "sacrificed" to the witch (nothing bad actually happens to the babies - they are given to good families who love them).
*There is a villain who is quite evil, but masks it with supposed goodness.
*A character is disfigured during an attack by magical creatures.

Suggested Ages:

Booklist - Grades 5-8
Publisher's Weekly - Ages 10+

The Lie Tree

The Lie Tree
by Frances Hardinge

From the publisher:
"Winner of the Costa Book of the Year 2015, The Lie Tree is a dark and powerful novel from universally acclaimed author, Frances Hardinge. 

It was not enough. All knowledge- any knowledge - called to Faith, and there was a delicious, poisonous pleasure in stealing it unseen.

Faith has a thirst for science and secrets that the rigid confines of her class cannot supress. And so it is that she discovers her disgraced father's journals, filled with the scribbled notes and theories of a man driven close to madness. Tales of a strange tree which, when told a lie, will uncover a truth: the greater the lie, the greater the truth revealed to the liar. Faith's search for the tree leads her into great danger - for where lies seduce, truths shatter . . ."

I'm at a loss as to what to say about this book. It was weird, it was dark, it was beautiful, it was enthralling. It gave me a Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children kind of vibe, but don't ask me to explain why. Maybe the wonderful weirdness of both. This is not a feel-good book. It is uncomfortable, maddening, and bewitching. I didn't really like any of the characters, but I was drawn into Faith's descent. I don't know that this is actually a children's book - possibly more young adult. I'm not sure how many of my students will be drawn into it, even though it is quite gripping. Overall it is beautifully written and magically crafted.

Areas of concern:
*Murder of an important character.
*A young girl placing herself in very dangerous situations.
*An overarching darkness.

Suggested Ages:

Publisher's Weekly - Ages 13+

School Library Journal - Grades 7+

Interference

Interference
by Kay Honeyman

From the publisher:
"I will not get involved…I will not get involved…I will not get involved…

As a congressman’s daughter in Washington, DC, Kate Hamilton always pushes to make things right. But when a scandal sends her family to Red Dirt, Texas, she decides to step back for a while. She’ll take pictures for her portfolio. She’ll volunteer at her aunt’s animal shelter. And most of all, she’ll stay out of politics (including her father’s latest election) and away from guys (especially after her ex’s betrayal).

But…

If Kate’s political skills can be useful in Red Dirt, should she really let them go to waste? After all, her friend Ana Gomez and quarterback Kyle Stone would be a perfect match. Her dad’s campaign could benefit from a teenage perspective. The irritatingly handsome Hunter Price should learn he doesn’t know everything…When Kate’s plans backfire, she must find the soul beneath her DC spin, and risk her heart—the biggest involvement of all."

The front cover of this book says, " Friday Night Lights meets Jane Austen's Emma ...", and that is a pretty perfect description. This is a very fun book that I read in practically one sitting. Even though the main character does a lot of stupid things, she is still likeable (so reminiscent of Emma ). It is interesting to see her progression and growth throughout the story. 
One of the questions I ask my students when they are book talking with me is, "Does the setting enhance the story, and is it important to the plot?". The answers for this book are yes and yes. I could feel the West Texas sun and dirt, and nowhere on earth is high school football as important as West Texas. 
I also enjoyed seeing the growth of the family as they came together after some hard times. The political aspect was intriguing and added to the tension of the storyline. 
I loved the secondary characters from Hunter (the slow buildup to a romance), Ana (the nice girl who helps the main character become a better person), the new campaign manager (who adds a lot of humor), to the protagonists who were spot-on.
I thought this was a really fun book, and I appreciated the lack of bad language (even from the jocks!) .

Areas of concern:
*The main character's ex-boyfriend causes a scandal by posting pictures of her on the internet. In one of the pictures she appears drunk, but in reality she was just imitating a fellow party-goer who WAS drunk. 
*At a party after a football game, a drunk player tries to force his attentions on a character. She gets away.
*An ex-boyfriend spreads ugly rumors about a girl and how far she went (the rumors aren't true) and she is bullied throughout the book.
***I thought it was a pretty clean read. No bad language and just a couple of sweet kisses***

Suggested Ages:
Kirkus Reviews - Ages 13-17
School Library Journal - Grades 9+
*Mrs. Duke thinks that because of the absence of bad language and the very light, slow-building romance, it is okay for older middle schoolers.*

Going Vintage

Going Vintage
by Lindsey Leavitt

From the publisher:
"When Mallory’s boyfriend, Jeremy, cheats on her with an online girlfriend, Mallory decides the best way to de-Jeremy her life is to de-modernize things too. Inspired by a list of goals her grandmother made in1962, Mallory swears off technology and returns to a simpler time (when boyfriends couldn’t cheat with computer avatars). The List:
1. Run for pep club secretary
2. Host a fancy dinner party/soiree
3. Sew a dress for Homecoming
4. Find a steady
5. Do something dangerous
But simple proves to be crazy-complicated, and the details of the past begin to change Mallory’s present. Add in a too-busy grandmother, a sassy sister, and the cute pep-club president–who just happens to be her ex’s cousin–and soon Mallory begins to wonder if going vintage is going too far. "

A fun, albeit slightly forgettable book about one girl's decision to go offline after catching her boyfriend cheating on her with a "cyberwife". The main character, Mallory, is a normal high school girl who has kind of lost herself because of her complete involvement with her boyfriend. After discovering he was cheating on her, she decides that life was way easier for teenagers in her grandmother's time so she decides to give up all electronics and starts to live by a list her grandmother wrote back in 1962. Mallory is very close to her sister, Ginnie -  my favorite character - who is 2 years younger than her. After an argument, Ginnie takes away everything pre-1962 from Mallory's room so she can't cheat. It was pretty amusing to think about all of the things in our rooms that post-date 1962 :) . I really loved their relationship. 

“My mother makes up for all shortcomings because she birthed Ginnie. I might not have loads of friends, but Ginnie is enough. More than enough.”

One of the things I really liked about the book was the close family connections. Mallory and Ginnie are the best of friends and sisters, they have kind of weird, but united parents and a greatly loved and admired grandmother who unknowingly provides the catalyst for Mallory's decision to "go vintage". It was good to see Mallory find herself while working through her list of things to accomplish during her junior year. And I totally approved of the new boy interest. He was a great character and their interactions were always entertaining.

"“Because I like being around you.” He’s still looking out the window, and I wonder if he’s focusing on one object when he says this and what that object is. “I probably shouldn’t, but I do. And I can’t say why. I mean, I can think of a bunch of reasons why.”
Like? Like?
“But given … the obvious roadblock, I’m not sure how much we can get to know each other.” He rushes on. “As people, because you’re an interesting person and I value that in friendship. That’s seriously what I’m after, not that I’m after you and I’m not talking about, you know, ‘knowing’ each other. Like in a biblical way or anything, although you’re obviously pretty. I mean, very pretty and totally worth knowing both ways … Okay, shut it, Oliver. Shut it.”

And finally, I liked how it all came together at the end and culminated with another list - this time one that she made for herself. I don't want to spoil anything, but I appreciated where the author took the characters at the conclusion of the book. All in all, it was a fun book to read.

Areas of concern:
*I don't remember any cussing, there may have been one or two mild words.
*There was a lot of talk of making out and hooking up. Teenagers were seriously kissing in one of the characters bedrooms - nothing else happened.
*While there wasn't anything too graphic in this, I wouldn't call it a squeakly clean read. 

Suggested Ages:

Publisher's Weekly - Ages 12+

School Library Journal - Grades 7+

Counting Thyme

Counting Thyme
by Melanie Conklin

From the publisher:
"When eleven-year-old Thyme Owens’ little brother, Val, is accepted into a new cancer drug trial, it’s just the second chance that he needs. But it also means the Owens family has to move to New York, thousands of miles away from Thyme’s best friend and everything she knows and loves. The island of Manhattan doesn’t exactly inspire new beginnings, but Thyme tries to embrace the change for what it is: temporary.

After Val’s treatment shows real promise and Mr. Owens accepts a full-time position in the city, Thyme has to face the frightening possibility that the move to New York is permanent. Thyme loves her brother, and knows the trial could save his life—she’d give anything for him to be well—but she still wants to go home, although the guilt of not wanting to stay is agonizing. She finds herself even more mixed up when her heart feels the tug of new friends, a first crush, and even a crotchety neighbor and his sweet whistling bird. All Thyme can do is count the minutes, the hours, and days, and hope time can bring both a miracle for Val and a way back home."

Things I liked: 
* This book has an unusual premise with the main character (whose name is Thyme), earning alone time from her parents by doing things around the house to help. She is saving up her time slips in a jar she calls her Thyme Jar in the hopes that she will one day earn enough to be able to go home to San Diego to see her Grandma and best friend. Their family has been uprooted from San Diego to Manhattan in order for her little brother to be a part of a clinical trial for children with neuroblastoma.
* The family in this book is not perfect, and the parents, in trying to protect their children, keep a lot of secrets from them. However, they are loving and supportive parents who are just trying to keep their heads above water while dealing with their son's horrible disease. I love Thyme's parents!
* I LOVE Manhattan, so I really enjoyed all of the descriptions of life in the city. 
* The portrayal of friendship in this book is very strong and real. Friends have fights, but they get over it. And it's okay to make new friends when you leave your old ones behind. 
* The secondary characters are very well drawn. How can you not totally picture Mr. Lipinsky in his purple robe with Sylvie on his shoulder? How can you not love Mrs. Ravelli? Celia and Delia in their matching outfits? And on and on. 
* Val! Oh how I loved that little guy! He was so strong and loving while going through something no child should ever have to go through. 

Things I wasn't too fond of: 
* I hate reading about kids with cancer! Just like holocaust books, I can't take the feelings of hopelessness and depression. I will have to say, though, that this book and Jordan Sonnenblick's Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie treat childhood cancer with gentle hands. While understanding the dark, dark cloud of cancer that is always hanging over our characters, this isn't a sob fest out to gratuitously make you feel miserable. It is a story of lives that are going on while dealing with the unthinkable.
* I wasn't too happy with the ending. I like closure in my books and this one left too much unresolved. 

Areas of concern:

* The stress and strain on a family dealing with childhood cancer.

* The older sister exhibits some rebellious behavior (nothing very bad at all), and she gets suspended from school.

Suggested Ages:

Publisher's Weekly - Ages 10+

School Library Journal - Grades 4-7

The Start of You and Me

The Start of You and Me
by Emery Lord

From the publisher:
"It’s been a year since it happened—when Paige Hancock’s first boyfriend died in an accident. After shutting out the world for two years, Paige is finally ready for a second chance at high school . . . and she has a plan. First: Get her old crush, Ryan Chase, to date her—the perfect way to convince everyone she’s back to normal. Next: Join a club—simple, it’s high school after all. But when Ryan’s sweet, nerdy cousin, Max, moves to town and recruits Paige for the Quiz Bowl team (of all things!) her perfect plan is thrown for a serious loop. Will Paige be able to face her fears and finally open herself up to the life she was meant to live?"

So many things to love about this book!  It didn't tick any of my YA pet peeve boxes, and that is really saying something.  Some of my favorite things about this book:
*No insta-love! 
That's right, these characters get to know each other and become good friends before anything else happens. What?! Does that really happen in life?! I loved their friendship and the fun they had together.
*Loving, over-protective parents. 
So often in YA, authors further the story by having completely absent parents (one character had that, but the main character definitely had involved parents). Paige's parents are divorced but both very involved in her life. I was also glad to see her grow closer to her little sister by the end of the book. 
*Supportive, fun, and loving girl friends. 
I'm so over mean girls. It was very refreshing to read about a close group of friends who were always there for each other. A favorite quote from the book:

“In friendship we are all debtors. We all owe each other for a thousand small kindnesses, for little moments of grace in the chaos.” 

*A loving, albeit forgetful-because-of-Alzheimer's grandmother. 
I loved that Paige was so close to her grandmother and told her everything. Her grandmother was a role model for her because she had continued to live a full life even after losing her husband. How important that was to Paige who had lost her first boyfriend and was struggling to move on with her life.
*The eventual love interest is not an amazing athlete, definitely not the coolest kid in school, is always compared to his much cooler cousin.... He is a Quiz Bowl nerd and I loved that!
*Caring and inspiring teachers. 
I hate books that have teachers ignoring bad behavior, or even encouraging it. I know so many good and wonderful teachers who have made differences in lives, so that is good to see portrayed in a YA book.
*I love that Paige is a goal-setter. 
She knows what she wants and knows what she needs to do to accomplish it (although she was mistaken about some things), so she makes her list of goals and sticks to it.
*This is my nerdiness coming out, but I loved the Pride and Prejudice references. 
Paige and Max's argument over who the better character was - Jane or Elizabeth - was perfect, and actually made me rethink some of my views on the subject. 
*And oh, so many good quotes in this one! Here are a few of my favorites:

“In books, sometimes the foreshadowing is so obvious that you know what’s going to happen. But knowing what happens isn’t the same as knowing how it happens.  Getting there is the best part.” 

In speaking of why we reread books we know don't end well ( Romeo and Juliet ,Wuthering Heights ... ):

“The point is that we already know it doesn’t work out, but we reread them anyway, because the good stuff that comes before the ending is worth it.” 

And one last one on friendship:

“Because with true friends, no one is keeping score. But it still feels good to repay them – even in the tiniest increments.” 

I'm sure I could come up with many more lovable things about this book, but the ones I've listed should convince anyone to read it. I enjoyed it immensely! I will definitely be recommending this one to my middle schoolers, and look forward to more from this author.

Areas of concern:
*A small amount of bad language. 3 uses of the *s* word, 1 of *bs*, and one of *h*.
*Some talk of teenage partying, but nothing inappropriate by the main characters.
*Death of 2 people very important to the main character.
*Main character sneaks out at night to go help a friend.
*A couple of sweet kisses.

Suggested Ages:
Publisher's Weekly - Ages 12+
School Library Journal - Grades 7+

Jack & Louisa: Act 1

Jack & Louisa: Act 1
by Andrew Keenan-Bolger
&
Kate Wetherhead

From the publisher:
"Twelve-year old Jack Goodrich was a Broadway star, with two shows under his belt and a third in rehearsals. But when his voice changes suddenly, Jack and his parents leave the spotlight and move from New York City to Shaker Heights, Ohio. While Jack hopes to leave his Broadway past behind, his new neighbor refuses to let him off the hook. Louisa is a self proclaimed "musical theater nerd" and can hardly believe when an actor moves to town. What’s more, the local theater has announced auditions for her favorite show, “Into the Woods.” As the audition date looms nearer, the two are faced with difficult choices. Should Jack risk humiliation and return to the stage? Will Louisa have confidence to go it alone? And can their friendship survive all those complicated octave leaps? "

This book may not be for everyone because of all of the musical theater references that most won't get, but oh, how I loved it! If  Better Nate Than Ever, with its bad language and sexual references is too edgy for you (like it is for me), than this is the musical theater-themed book for you. I will admit to being slightly obsessed with the authors' web series Submissions Only , which is why I wanted to read Jack and Louisa, Act 1 , but even if you have never heard of authors/Broadway veterans Andrew Keenan-Bolger and Kate Wetherhead, this is still a fun read. And if you are a confirmed Musical Theater Nerd (MTN) like myself, what are you waiting for?! 

I wasn't thrilled by the characters' infatuation with Stephen Sondheim's Into The Woods . In fact, if you mention that musical to anyone in our family we start singing in atonal voices, "Into the woods, into the woods, into the woods, into the woods". And yes, I do know that brands us as Broadway plebians because only the truly cultured "get" Sondheim, but I did bond with Louisa's dad in the book when they were discussing Sondheim.

"You just don't appreciate the complexity of Sondheim," I muttered.
Dad looked at me, eyebrows raised. I could tell my big words had impressed, or at least surprised him. Still, he wasn't about to give in.
"I 'appreciate the complexity' of a turbine engine," Dad said with a smirk. "THAT is complexity worth appreciating. This Sondheim stuff sounds like a record skipping." 

Amen, brother.

Aside from not liking  Into the Woods , I loved everything else about this book. The story is fun, the main characters are very likable, and the Broadway and New York references spoke to this poor, New York-deprived Colorado girl. I am lucky enough to have taken a couple of trips to New York, and this next quote from the book reminded me so much of a girl's trip I had with 2 of my daughters last year at this time. We just wanted to blend in and not look too touristy - so to accomplish that we had my son-in-law take a picture of us standing nonchalantly in Grand Central Station reading the paper and messing with our phones - mission accomplished! In this quote, Louisa just found out that her new neighbor, Jack, moved to her neighborhood in Shaker Heights, Ohio, from New York City. She got excited about that and he asked her if she had ever been there.

"To New York? Yeah, a couple times," I replied, like going to the cultural capital of the world was no big deal. Like I hadn't squealed with delight the first time I walked through Times Square, or practically fainted when I got a picture with Tony Award-winner Norbert Leo Butz in front of Schmackary's Cookies. Exposing my inner geek was a delicate process. I needed to at least attempt to be cool." 

Or maybe it reminds me of last summer when I flew to Long Island on a Tuesday for the birth of my granddaughter, told my daughter not to have the baby for another day and took the train into the city by myself on Wednesday (the baby obliged and didn't come for another couple of days). I walked from Penn Station to the Shake Shack on 8th Avenue, stood in the long line on a hot July day (while pretending to talk to someone on the phone so I looked like a "real" New Yorker), got my shake and fries and walked to the St. James Theater just down the street to go to the matinee of Something Rotten! . I was incredibly early, and as I was standing in front of the theater all by myself with a fry halfway up to my mouth, Tony Award-winner Christian Borle walked right in front of me. I'm pretty sure I stood with my mouth open and my hand holding the fry frozen in the air just watching him walk to the stage door... but it is all kind of a blur :) . So you can see why I connected to Louisa in that moment. I try not to expose my inner geek as well - and I'm not a 12 year old girl! (And yes, we are planning another girls trip to New York in the fall and Schmackary's is definitely on the docket, along with Magnolia Bakery and 16 Handles. Not that I obsessively watch broadway.com's backstage shows like The Princess Diary or Renaissance Woman - where they talk about the wonder of those places - or anything.)

So, do you have to be a Musical Theater Nerd to like this book? No, it is a sweet and fun story even if you don't get all thrilled and tingly at the Broadway/New York references. However, if you ARE an MTN, you will absolutely love it like I did. I can't wait to read Act 2! And now I have to find out which of my middle schoolers will love it as much as I did. (I do have one student named Sutton, and the first time she checked out a book I told her one of my favorite Broadway performers was named Sutton and she knew who I was talking about - that bodes well.) 

Areas of concern:
Nothing, really.  I don't remember any bad language.  Both main characters had loving, supportive families, there are no sexual references.

Suggested Ages:
Publisher's Weekly - Ages 8-12
School Library Journal - Grades 6-8