UPSTANDER by James Preller

 

According to the Author's Note, author James Preller never intended to write a sequel to BYSTANDER, but never say never. UPSTANDER is a prequel/sequel of sorts. Some characters return, but the focus is on Mary, a lesser character who gains momentum of her own in this important story.

Mary's older brother dropped out after a year in college and due to an injury requiring pain medication has become an addict. He's not able to hold a job and spends his time getting high with friends. His behavior is taking a toll on the family. Mary's mother keeps tabs on him constantly, hoping to prevent him from doing something dangerous. Their house is filled with endless arguments that only serve to irritate everyone rather than solve any of the family's problems.

Thankfully it is summer so Mary can escape to her friend's backyard pool. She worries about her brother, but knows their mother's nagging isn't going to change him. Now her friends are acting strangely and suggesting she not hang out with one of the other girls. With seventh grade looming on the horizon, Mary doesn't want to make waves so she goes along with the crowd.

One welcome relief comes when Griffin Connelly seems to be interested in spending time with Mary. She finds him easy to confide in, but there's something off about his concern. When she observes him reverting to the bullying behavior he is known for, she decides to rethink spending time with him. Instead she begins talking to Eric the new boy in town. 

Author James Preller captures the upheaval caused by substance abuse in families. Realistic characters interact in honest, believable situations that ring true to life. Readers will learn much about the destructive forces that accompany drug addiction and it side effects. UPSTANDER is a stand alone read, and be sure to check Preller's BYSTANDER, too.

SHOW ME A SIGN by Ann Clare LeZotte

 

SHOW ME A SIGN by Ann Clare LeZotte is the 2021 Middle Grade winner for books about disabilities. Author Ann Clare LeZotte herself is deaf, and she writes about a young girl living in the early 1800s.

Martha's Vineyard has a history of hereditary deafness. Many of the immigrants who settled there were from the County Kent area of England also known for its large number of deaf residents. A recessive trait results in deafness with no other abnormalities. The deaf in the Vineyard developed their own local sign language that allowed residents both deaf and hearing to communicate effectively.

Mary and her father were both deaf while her mother was hearing. The family was still reeling from the accidental death of Mary's brother George. Mary feels guilty for the accident and feels that her mother blames her for his untimely death.

When a stranger arrives on the island claiming to be interested in studying the deaf in the community, he is received with mixed emotions. Meeting a scientist interested in studying people like her fascinates Mary. That is until the man kidnaps her and hauls her away for her beloved island to Boston. He threatens to harm her family if she tells anyone what he's done. 

Mary's world is turned upside down as she experiences a place where no one signs and where everyone treats her deafness as an illness making her less than everyone else. She must find someone she can trust to help her escape her captor so she can return home.

The author includes end notes about interesting historical facts about Martha's Vineyard, the development of sign language, and the Wampanoag Tribe native to the islands. SHOW ME A SIGN is an intriguing read about a little known bit of history.

JUNK BOY by Tony Abbott

 

Bobby has long carried the guilt for his mother leaving. At least that's what he hears on a daily basis from his father. When his father isn't drunk, he is hobbling around on his bum leg and adding to the junk that surrounds their house in the woods. 

Even though they live in the woods, everyone knows about the mess that surrounds their place. Bobby was nicknamed Junk Boy by his classmates long ago. He's skinny and scrawny with a face he avoids looking at in the mirror at all costs. Teachers have let his father know Bobby is not dumb, just extremely quiet, and they extend their encouragement that he join some sort of after-school activity. Bobby's father just laughs.

The day he witnesses a classmate named Rachel being slapped by her mother, he starts to compare his life at home with this artsy girl he also saw kissing another girl. When Rachel asks Bobby to help her hang some artwork, he discovers her amazing talent. She shares that she hates her mother and is hoping to be accepted at an art school in the city where she can live with her father.

Both Bobby and Rachel long for less complicated family situations as they search for their own versions of peace and acceptance. Author Tony Abbott's spare verse tears at the heart yet provides hope that these two deserving young people can find ways to connect with the grownups who have so often let them down. JUNK BOY is a fast read that provides relatable issues for readers looking for their own ways to connect.

JACKPOT by Nic Stone

 

All Rico Danger wanted when she was in 2nd grade was to go to Space Camp. It took until she was in high school to realize that was probably never going to happen. Now she's seventeen, trying to finish high school and working full time at the Gas n' Go to help her family make ends meet. When she sells two mega-million lotto tickets to an elderly woman who lets her have one of the tickets, she feels hope for the first time.

Of course, the ticket Rico picks is not the big winner, but maybe the elderly woman has the winner and might share a little with Rico. Now the problem is finding the little lady before time expires to cash in the ticket.

Because the winning ticket was sold at Gas n' Go, Rico's boss gives her a $5000 bonus. That will come in handy for emergencies so she squirrels it away in her mattress. In the meantime she still wants to locate the lady to see if her ticket is the winner. With the help of Alexander "Zan" Macklin one of the popular, pretty people at her high school, Rico is hoping to hack the store's video surveillance system to identify the elderly woman. What Rico isn't planning for is making a real connection with Zan that has her thinking about more than lotto tickets and money.

Author Nic Stone known her hit DEAR MARTIN, writes about what is it like to struggle. Rico's life is so filled with needs that she loses sight of some of the most important things like friendship and love. Rico is a feisty character guaranteed to have readers rooting for her and her plight.

WHAT GOES UP by Christine Heppermann

 

Coming in at less than 200 pages, this slim novel in verse certainly packs a punch. Author Christine Heppermann lets readers know that love can be like mushrooms - sometimes filled with hidden poison.

Jorie knows her mushrooms. She has been fascinated with them for as long as she can remember. She loves the hunting and the gathering, and she's learned their names and uniquenesses. She has also discovered the art she can create through magical spore prints.

Using her beloved mushrooms, words, and art she relates her feelings about love. She contemplates her own breakup with Ian and the revenge she believes she must seek. She also searches for the best way to deal with the frustration of her father's infidelity and her mother's seeming lack of emotion regarding the situation. Inspired by the combination of science and art, Jorie begins to find some complicated answers to human relationships and how they may resemble those she observes in nature.

MOMENTOUS EVENTS IN THE LIFE OF A CACTUS by Dusti Bowling

 

Aven is back. She is about to start high school and the fear is real. For all the confidence she gained in her new Arizona middle school, high school will be filled with 3000 students probably all staring at her and watching her every move. Born with no arms, Aven has conquered a lot of obstacles, but she worries that high school will be a huge fail for her.

Her friend Zion is still by her side, but her best friend Connor is attending another high school so she has to rely on infrequent phone calls and seeing him sometimes on the weekend. High school will be about getting used to eating in the cafeteria again and meeting all sorts of new people who aren't used to her uniqueness.

Things are also changing at Stagecoach Pass. Her newly discovered grandmother, Joe, has left to live at a nearby retirement home. Aven visits her frequently, but it is strange to not have her right downstairs in the steakhouse. Henry is also having some difficulties. His Alzheimer's is advancing so he has to be reminded of things more and more. Some of shops at Stagecoach Pass have been leased to new owners, but overall that's a good thing since it means business in looking better.

Aven is learning to deal with bullies, wanting to know more about her biological parents, as well as love and loss. There are times when her confidence wains and her determination to do whatever anyone else can do falters, but Aven was raised to carry on and face whatever stands in her way.

Author Dusti Bowling takes readers from smiles to tears and back again in MOMENTOUS EVENTS IN THE LIFE OF A CACTUS. It is a sequel that definitely does NOT disappoint.

INSIGNIFICANT EVENTS IN THE LIFE OF A CACTUS by Dusti Bowling

 

Aven was born without arms. A wonderful couple adopted Aven when she was two years old, and their philosophy was Aven could do anything. Her armlessness did result in stares and awkward questions, but as a feisty redhead with much to prove, Aven learned to be independent and confident.

A recent event has threatened to derail that confidence. Aven's father lost his job and announced he and her mother would be taking over the management of Stagecoach Pass, an old amusement park in Arizona. That meant leaving her friends and the comfort of her small school in Kansas. What would it be like to adjust to a new place and people who might not understand her?

Aven's positive attitude helps her take in her new surroundings and become comfortable at Stagecoach Pass. They live in an apartment above the steakhouse restaurant on the property. She explores the rundown park and gets to know the quirky employees who are barely keeping the doors open. 

Starting school offers the usual challenges. Aven is worried about making friends until she meets Connor. He gets her attention when she hears him barking. Turns out Connor has Tourette syndrome. He doesn't have the confidence Aven possesses, but a fast friendship develops that might just benefit them both.

Author Dusti Bowling throws together unique characters in a one-of-a-kind setting to create a novel filled with determination and inspiration. I fell in love with Aven in the first chapter and laughed and cried along with her. I'm excited that my next review will be the sequel titled MOMENTOUS EVENTS IN THE LIFE OF A CACTUS. Aven's new adventures promise to be just as inspiring. 

ALL OF ME by Chris Baron

 

Ari's life has it's ups and downs. His mother is a talented artist, and she tries to be an ok mom, but her mind is more occupied by her art than her son Ari. His father was around for awhile, but in recent years, he has found many excuses to be absent most of the time.

Ari has always been big. Lately, he has been the target for bullies because of his weight and his confidence is badly shaken. In a rare moment his mother shows concern and takes him to see a doctor who suggests a keto type diet. She puts her energy into help Ari for the first time in his memory. 

School is out for the summer vacation so Ari and his mother move into an old nursery which becomes a studio for her art creations. With his mother's full support, he begins Level 1 of his diet. Another big change is having a girl named Lisa come to stay with them when her mother enters rehab. Ari has known Lisa from school, but they form a fast friendship as the summer unfolds. With Lisa and his friend Pick there to distract him, Ari begins to slim down and feel comfortable with himself for the first time.

ALL OF ME by author Chris Baron explores the ageless question "Who Am I?" as Ari seeks to make positive changes in his young life. Through Ari's summer journey, readers will learn that change isn't easy and it is definitely not instantaneous. Ari's struggle is real and at times frustrating, but his determination is inspiring. Written in verse, ALL OF ME is a fast read with plenty for everyone.

THE BEST AT IT by Maulik Pancholy

 

Rahul is wondering how to fit in as he starts seventh grade. As one of only a couple kids of Indian heritage in his small town, he deals with bullies who don't understand his brown skin and the traditional Indian food packed in his lunch every day. It is expected that he is good at math and not much else.

When he seeks advice from his grandfather, he is told to find something he is good at and become the best. Sounds easy, but Rahul is finding it a daunting challenge. Becoming a muscle-bound football star or landing a role in a local commercial sure to skyrocket him to international fame are proving more than he bargained for. What is he good at and will that be the answer to all his problems?

Well, Rahul does excel at math so he eventually joins the Mathletes with the goal of earning them a spot at states for the first time ever. His goal definitely seems achievable, but the stress it creates is much more than he anticipated. Now Rahul's OCD is threatening to get out of control and his secret crush on the amazing Justin is about to leak out with more than its share of issues.

Debut author Maulik Pancholy may just be the "best at it" when it comes to demonstrating the ups and downs of middle school and dealing with cultural differences. Rahul is just one of the quirky characters that will make this fast-paced middle grade novel connect with readers from all sorts of backgrounds. I was rooting for Rahul from page one to the end.