THE MISFITS: A ROYAL CONUNDRUM by Lisa Yee & Dan Santat

 

As a huge fan of Lisa Yee, I was excited to read THE MISFITS. It didn't disappoint! Dan Santat's illustrations add just the right amount of eye-catching art to add to the action and adventure of what promises to be an excellent middle grade series.

Olive is used to being on her own and fending for herself. Her parents' constant traveling leave her doing a lot on her own. When her mother shows up at her school unannounced, Olive is shocked to find that she is going to be leaving this school and heading off to a strange new boarding school. She isn't given much information about it from her mother who just drops her off and proceeds to head off on another of her mysterious trips.

Olive soon learns that this "reforming arts school" is like nothing she has ever experienced. She is partnered up with four other students supervised and taught by an odd husband and wife duo. It turns out they are part of an elite group of crime fighters being trained to go undercover into situations where kids won't be noticed.

Creative thinking, athletic skills, and computer/gaming knowledge are among the talents Olive and her classmates possess. They are trained in disguises, martial arts combat, and more at this crazy school. Olive finds herself fitting right in as she makes new friends and feels part of a "family" like she never has before.

THE HONEST TRUTH by Dan Gemeinhart

 

Mark is a regular kid. He has a dog named Beau and a best friend named Jessie. Life was great until a phone call from the doctor reveals Mark has cancer. Mark suffered through treatments and battled the disease, and seemed to beat it, but now it's back again, and according to the doctor things aren't looking good.

After suffering and watching his family and friends suffer from their side of the disease, Mark has made a decision. He plans to hike to the top of Mt. Rainier like he and his grandfather had planned years ago. His grandfather may not have lived to make the climb, but Mark vows to do it. He will probably die on the mountain, but that is better than having his family and Jessie watch him die in some hospital bed.

Mark and Beau set off on his last adventure. Jessie knows about the plan but has promised to keep his secret. If the pieces all fall in place, Mark will achieve his goal before cancer stops him.

Author Dan Gemeinhart's first book published in 2015 is a heartbreaking story of love, pain, and courage. Told in alternating chapters by Mark and Jessie, readers will follow Mark's travels as he lives life according to his plan. 

GONE WOLF by Amber McBride

 

Author Amber McBride's latest book is an education on what it means to be a young Black person in our controversial society. 

It is 2111 and Inmate Eleven, a twelve-year old girl, is learning what it means to be Blue in the Bible Boot of the United States. She lives in a small room with her pet wolf Ira. Most of the time she is alone. Her visitors are medical staff who take her blood for testing, and a woman who educates her on how to behave and about facts deemed important for Blues to know.

One day she meets Larkin, and her life broadens. She is given a larger room. She is taken to meet Congress and President Tuba. She is allowed to go outside for the first time. According to what she is learning, the United States went through a second Civil War in 2016 splitting the country in two. The Bible Boot governed by President Tuba uses Blues as slaves or in Inmate Eleven's case, as DNA matches for important Elites. 

After meeting Inmate Eleven and seeing life in 2111, readers are transported back to 2022. Imogene, a twelve-year old, is adjusting to life after a pandemic. Her active imagination and fears created by isolation during the pandemic have her fighting to overcome trauma that almost paralyzes her. With the help of her mother and a new friend, Imogene begins to understand her place in the world as a young Black girl and how she can conquer the sadness she insists makes her "blue."

Amber McBride's unique style and voice come through this new story as she takes readers on an adventure that connects in sometimes frightening ways to our present and future. Definitely worth the read.

MASCOT by Charles Waters & Traci Sorell

 

It is a school divided. It is a community divided. Some believe the school mascot, the Braves, is evidence of strength and tradition. Others believe the Braves represent oppression, racism, and insensitivity. Is it possible for a thing to represent both? Authors Charles Waters and Traci Sorell team up to create a powerful novel in verse that reflects an argument happening in many locations around our country. 

Told in the perspective of six students and one teacher, MASCOT presents the voices of those both for and against a difficult subject. Fictional Rye Community Schools in Virgina has used the Braves as their mascot for as long as most residents can remember. During pep rallies and at sporting events the colors of red and yellow, the face of a Native American, and the tomahawk chop have been part of what many call a Rye tradition. Some students are speaking up about the fact they see it as racism, and they want change.

Callie, a Black Cherokee Nation citizen and new resident, is seeing this for the first time. Others like Priya whose grandparents were born in India, and Tessa, formerly homeschooled, has heard stories from her grandparents who marched with MLK, Jr. are also thinking it is time to change the school's mascot. Franklin, a huge sports fan, doesn't see a problem at first, but he begins to understand the anti-mascot side once he listens to the arguments and sees how it relates to his Black heritage. 

Sean's Irish family background goes back generations. He doesn't see anything wrong with the Braves as a mascot. Luis also doesn't see what all the fuss is about. 

An English project assigned by their 8th grade teacher has all these students facing off against each other as they passionately research and argue about a community tradition. Old friendships will suffer while new friendships are forged as the battle for and against rages over the course of a school year. Will the Braves still be the school's mascot when the dust settles or will there be a change?

MASCOT is a sure winner for middle and high school aged readers. It could easily be used in the classroom to inspire research and debate about a current sports related topic. 

THE MONA LISA VANISHES by Nicholas Day

 

THE MONA LISA VANISHES is packed with information. Readers will not only learn that the Mona Lisa was stolen from the Lourve in 1911, but that the museum was protected by laughable security guards and the Paris police presence was nothing short of a mess. There is a ton of information about Leonardo Da Vinci and his many interests besides painting. Spanning from 1452-to the present, this non-fiction book is a true adventure. It is perfect for grades 8+ or anyone interested in art and history.

Author Nicholas Day writes with detail and humor as he takes readers through history. Artist Brett Helquist adds his art to enhance the book's appeal. I highly recommend this one.

GOOD DIFFERENT by Meg Eden Kuyatt

 

Selah has felt at home at Pebblecreek Academy, but now that she is entering seventh grade, things seem to be different. Selah is filled with feelings and words that she has been taught should stay hidden inside her. Her mother tells her she must be "normal" until she gets home. Lately, that is becoming harder and harder.

As seventh grade begins, those who have been Selah's friends are acting differently. Her best friend is hanging out with new friends and doesn't have time for Selah's talk about dragons. Other kids have started making fun of Selah like they never have before.

Selah knows she is different but doesn't know how to explain it or communicate how she feels. She keeps hearing people mention autism, and when she does some research, she thinks there might be something to it. When she reacts to her friend Addie attempting to braid her hair by flailing out, hitting Addie, and giving her a bloody nose, the principal of Pebblecreek suspends her and tells her she'll have to leave if she breaks another rule.

Author Meg Eden Kuyatt takes readers into the mind of Selah as she struggles to fit in and still be herself. Readers will better understand autism as they witness Selah, her mother, and her grandfather. GOOD DIFFERENT, a novel in verse, is a fast-paced read sure to touch readers' hearts and help them recognize the differences in all of us.

TWO TRIBES by Emily Bowen Cohen

 

Mia is pulled in two directions. She lives with her mother and step-father and attends a Jewish day school. Her father lives in Oklahoma and is a member of the Muscogee Nation. Recently, a boy at school teased her by saying she is adopted because she doesn't look like her Jewish parents. She corrects him by telling him that she looks like her father who is Native American.

After a dinner when the local Rabbi makes an upsetting comment referring to Native Americans, Mia begins to question her heritage. Since her parents divorced when she was only three years old, she hasn't spent time with her father. She begins to plan a trip to visit him and his new family.

With the help of a friend Mia decides to purchase a bus ticket and sneak away to Oklahoma. She tells her mother she is attending a Jewish weekend field trip, but instead heads off to get some answers from her father.

Mia's visit to Oklahoma is amazing. She begins to understand more about her Muscogee heritage, and she makes plans to learn more. When her secret trip is discovered, she has a lot of explaining to do. Will she be able to explain her reasons for tricking both her parents? Will they understand enough to allow her to keep learning about her Native American background?

Author Emily Bowen Cohen uses her own Jewish/Muscogee background to create Mia's story. Written as a graphic novel, it allows readers to see as well as read about Mia's struggles. TWO TRIBES is perfect for classrooms and libraries looking to share diversity with teen readers.

SKY ROPES by Sondra Soderborg

 

Breanna has a reputation to uphold. She is known for her guts and toughness. Planning and playing pranks have earned her respect from friends and classmates. Now that she will be in sixth grade in a school that combines kids from a bunch of elementary schools, she'll have to make new friends and make sure they recognize her talents.

All summer she has been dreading the teambuilding camp that takes place the week before school starts. Informational pamphlets have been arriving in the mail. As long as her mother doesn't know about it, she won't be forced to attend so she has been gathering the pamphlets and burying them in the backyard. When the final week of summer vacation approaches, her mother mentions shopping for camp supplies. Oh no! How did her mother know? How will she get out of it?

Now she is at camp faced with new people, uncomfortable situations, and worst of all, the prospect of having to tackle the Sky Ropes. Breanna's fear of heights is all twisted up with the most terrifying event of her life. It involves her father who now has a restraining order that prohibits him from getting anywhere close to her, but that doesn't keep her from nightmares about him and what happened.

How will she keep up her rep as a tough, brave, prankster if she is constantly worried about the Sky Ropes? The camp counselors keep preaching that the camp challenges are by choice, but what if she is the only one who chooses to say "no" to the frightening Ropes?

Author Sondra Soderborg's debut book SKY ROPES explores personal challenge, bullies, and trauma in a way that will have readers connecting to Breanna and her friends. With breath-taking adventures, quirky characters, and fun camp moments SKY ROPES is sure to keep readers turning pages from start to finish.

PLAN A by Deb Caletti

 

Ivy didn't even know you could get pregnant that way. Now she is trying to figure out who to tell and how to deal with the problem. Living in the state of Texas means her options are basically non-existent. If she tries to get an abortion, even by traveling to another state, she could be prosecuted.

With the help of her mother and a boy she's only been in a relationship for a month, Ivy's plan is to travel from Paris, Texas, to the state of Oregon where choice is still an option. Her grandmother has made an appointment at a clinic for her. Thus begins a road trip that could end with both Ivy and Lorenzo in jail.

Before they leave, Ivy learns just how opinionated her supposed friends and community members are about the topic, but she knows it is the right choice for her. As they plan and then begin the trip, Ivy and Lorenzo try to enjoy the adventure even though the dark nature of their trip hangs over each mile. They get to know each other more, as well as the choices and sacrifices so many others have made. 

Author Deb Caletti taps into current struggles over a woman's choice to manage her own health care. The Texas restrictions are clearly contrasted with those of more liberal opinions. Readers will experience Ivy's fears and reservations as they also learn about how many women through the centuries have dealt with choice or lack of choice in the decisions they have had to make. PLAN A is a powerful book that speaks to an important issue our country faces. Reading it may or may not change minds, but the experience will make at least one position known.