BAT AND THE BUSINESS OF FERRETS by Elana K. Arnold

 

As a fan of the BAT series, I'm thrilled to review #4 BAT AND THE BUSINESS OF FERRETS. Bat is starting 4th grade. He isn't thrilled to have a new teacher and even less excited to find out his new teacher has students sitting and small groups instead of individual seats. He's also extremely disappointed to learn there is no class pet.

When Bat's mother stops off at her vet office one day after school, Bat wishes she would just go straight home. She tells him there's a surprise, so he feels a bit better about the stop. What he discovers inside is amazing! There are 4 baby ferrets in a box. Bat has never seen ferrets in person, but he does know that a group of ferrets is called a business.

One of the ferrets is pure white and according to his mother's assistant, it is deaf. Bat immediately thinks it would be a great classroom pet since it wouldn't be bothered by a noisy classroom. Bat and his friend Israel begin planning how they will get their teacher to change his mind about having a class pet.

Author Elana K. Arnold shows readers Bat's difficulties in interpreting people's emotions and feelings. As a person on the autism spectrum, Bat needs reminders to think about how he should interact with others. Bat has plenty to teach all of us when it comes to being caring to both people and animals.

AWAY by Megan E. Freeman

 

If you read ALONE by Megan E. Freeman, you will want to check out her newly released book AWAY. She listened to all her fans wanting to know what happened to the people who left the area in the evacuations that left Maddie behind, alone. Now you can read about those others and what happened to them.

An imminent threat warning pulls folks from their beds with a call to evacuate immediately. Four young people, Ashanti, Teddy, Grandin, and Harmony, pack bags as their families join the evacuees. They end up in a relocation camp who knows how many miles away from their Colorado homes.

Ashanti has dreams of becoming a doctor like her mother. Teddy lives with his theater loving grandmother who encourages his love of film and movies. Grandin's life has been centered on a ranch where he helps his father with the livestock. Harmony's mother is a preacher for a small congregation.

When they meet in the relocation camp, they discover they are all curious about the exact nature of the imminent danger threat that has gotten them here.

Harmony, with a goal to become a journalist, immediately starts keeping a notebook about the happenings around the camp. Teddy is ever attentive with his camera, filming this new group of friends and anything else of interest. Ashanti pays close attention to the folks who visit her mother for medical care, and Grandin plots his escape ever since his father snuck away from the compound.

The more the kids notice about their surroundings and the behavior of the adults in charge, the more they become suspicious. There seems to be evidence that their former homes have not been contaminated by a life-threatening substance, but who can they trust and how can they prove their theories?

AWAY is written in a combination of verse, news articles, and film scripts to give it a truly adventurous flair. If you've read ALONE, you'll definitely want to get ahold of a copy of this one soon.

WILL'S RACE FOR HOME by Jewell Parker Rhodes

 

Will lives with his parents and his grandfather. The Civil War is over, and they are living as free former slaves. However, as sharecroppers, it doesn't seem like they are free. Working on land that isn't theirs for money they end up turning over to the landowners, makes it seem like they are still slaves.

News of the Oklahoma land rush gives Will's father the hope of owning his own land and being truly free. Leaving his mother and grandfather behind, Will and his father set off to travel by wagon in hopes of getting to Oklahoma by the April 22 deadline. On that day the land rush is on to claim a piece of the two million acres open for settlement. If they are successful, they can claim 160 acres. If they work the land for five years, it will become theirs.

Will is excited to be traveling with his father, but he doesn't understand how difficult it will be. There is rough terrain, snakes and other wild animals, and towns with criminal elements out to take advantage of naive travelers. In one town they are rescued by a former Union soldier who agrees to help them along on their journey. This partnership makes life a bit easier, especially when they must cross the dangerous Red River. 

Can they make it by the deadline? If they do, can they claim the land that will change their lives? Author Jewell Parker Rhodes brings to life an exciting time in history readers will remember long after they turn the last page.

THE BIG BOOK OF BARF by Vicky Lorencen

 

THE BIG BOOK OF BARF: A Spewnami of Sick Science, Hurled History, and Body Oddities by Vicky Lorencen is an awesome new book the kids you know will love! At a recent author event Lorencen explained the book started as a mere pamphlet of information but then took on a life of its own, ending in this volume of barf knowledge that could be shelved among encyclopedias.

Three quirky characters take readers on a tour of everything vomit. Chuck (UpChuck), Queezy, and Professor Anita Puke provide definitions, explanations, history, funny stories, jokes, and even recipes and crafts centered around barf.

Organized in what they call Ralphabetical order, THE BIG BOOK OF BARF can be read in just about any order. Being a creature of habit, I started at page one and read it from start to finish, however, readers looking for adventure can open to any page or search for any letter in the ralphabet to find something fun to read and learn. 

Filled with fun and colorful illustrations by Remy Simard, this book begs to be read and reread and showed off to anyone you want to gross out with vomit related information.

POPCORN by Rob Harrell

 

POPCORN by Rob Harrell is inspired by Harrell's own struggles with anxiety. It should definitely be part of every middle school collection. It will help countless kids better understand their own feelings and emotions, as well as those of others.

Andrew is having one of the worst days ever. He has always struggled with overwhelming feelings of panic and what is no doubt OCD. His mother is busy trying to make ends meet and trying her best to help Andrew, but it seems that help usually falls short. 

It's picture day at school. Andrew is proud of the brand-new shirt his mother got him. Brand-new isn't usually something she can afford. Things begin to go wrong almost immediately. On the bus, in homeroom, in math, in language arts, in science, in art, and in gym class. It's one tragic event after another. His best friend Jonesy even seems to abandon him when he needs her the most. To top things off, Andrew's grandmother has wandered off who knows where.

Thanks to his art teacher and the school nurse Andrew ends up dealing with his anxiety and learns some coping skills that he hopes will help in the future.

TRUE GRETCH: Young Adult Edition by Gretchen Whitmer

 

The cover states, "Lessons for anyone who wants to make a difference." This young adult edition of TRUE GRETCH does convey Gretchen Whitmer's desire to make a difference in the lives of others, especially for those who live in her beloved state of Michigan.

Governor Whitmer relates stories about her childhood, her grandmother and grandfather, her parents, and her siblings. Experiences and lessons learned early on have stayed with this honest, straightforward leader of the state of Michigan. 

Readers will be treated to Whitmer's ever-present sense of humor even as she tells of the difficult times in her personal and political life. Whitmer tells about her frustrations during the COVID pandemic and the decisions she made to hopefully keep the residents of Michigan as safe as possible. She shares her fears, especially for her family, when threatened by people violently disagreeing with her decisions. Whitmer also tells stories about her campaigns and the team she credits with her successes.

TRUE GRETCH (young adult edition) is perfect for high school readers interested in learning more about a current female politician and her path to success.

KAREEEM BETWEEN by Shifa Saltagi Safadi

 

 A huge Chicago Bears fan, Kareem would love to play on the seventh grade football team. Unfortunately, his name doesn't show up on the final roster after tryouts. There might be a second chance though, when the popular coach's son tells Kareem he might be able to get him another tryout. The only catch is he expects Kareem to do his homework for him. 

Kareem's life seems to bounce from one mess to another. He tries to welcome a new Syrian kid with a heavy Syrian accent, but that just acts as a reminder to everyone that Kareem is Syrian-American. He gives up finding a table in the cafeteria, so he heads to the library most days. It's easier for his daily prayers there anyway.

Things at home become complicated when Kareem's mother must return to Syria to help his grandparents escape from the war-torn country and come to the United States. His grandfather is sick and needs the care he can get here in the states. Just after his mother arrives in Syria to help them, President Trump declares a Muslim ban that restricts people from certain countries from entering the U.S. Will Kareem's family ever be together again?

In KAREEM BETWEEN author Shifa Saltagi Safadi brilliantly portrays an example of living in the U.S. as a Syrian-American during the first Trump administration. Kareem experiences the fear of having his mother kept from the family as she attempts to bring her own parents to safety. Kareem describes the protests at the airport in Chicago where thousands marched against the Muslim ban.

SAME PAGE by Elly Swartz

 

As the school year begins, all Bess wants is to be elected class president. She has some awesome ideas that will help make Nettles Middle School a great place. 

Bess is successful, plus her friend June is elected vice-president. The first change they make is to get a book vending machine. With the help of the PTO, they get the machine and books to stock it. Everyone seems excited until just weeks later someone complains about some of the books, and they are removed. Bess can't believe someone would think books are inappropriate. They had selected the books with the help of the school librarian. These were books she thought kids should get a chance to read.

When Bess discovers the person who complained is June's mother, she confronts her friend who refuses to make any excuses for her mother. Now the fight is on to get these books back into the vending machine and into the hands of kids who need them. Bess can't believe someone she thought she knew and cared for could be so different. 

Author Elly Swartz tackles the topic of book bans in SAME PAGE. This relevant topic provides a platform for younger readers to learn about the challenges and how to take a stand to protect their rights. Just as Bess learns, it isn't easy when disagreements happen that pit one friend against another.

THE ONE AND ONLY FAMILY by Katherine Applegate

 

The tale of the One and Only Ivan comes to a close in THE ONE AND ONLY FAMILY by Katherine Applegate. Fans of the series will be pleased as the story concludes.

Ivan now lives in a proper zoo along with his mate Kinyani and his friends Ruby and Bob. The gorilla habitat has recently been enlarged making room for some other gorillas and a huge surprise - Kinyani is pregnant.

Ivan never really thought about being a dad, but now it's all he thinks about. As the resident silverback, he is the protector of his new troop of gorillas, and that will soon include a little one of his own. 

As the zoo vet and keepers carefully follow Kinyani's pregnancy, it is discovered that she is expecting twins. Ivan couldn't be more excited but also more nervous than ever.

Applegate weaves another wonderful tale as she describes Ivan's excitement and concerns and the reactions of all his friends. Ruby's helpful advice and Bob's annoying predictions give readers plenty of humor and thoughtfulness just like the other books before it. Ivan's fans will surely find this final book to be a perfect ending they will want to read and reread for years.

SAIL ME AWAY HOME by Ann Clare LeZotte

 

SAIL ME AWAY HOME by Ann Clare LeZotte follows the story of Mary Lambert, a deaf girl living on Martha's Vineyard. Mary was born deaf as many on this island community. The hereditary deafness of many on Martha's Vineyard resulted in the development of a unique sign language that allowed the residents, whether hearing or deaf to communicate.

Mary is the local schoolteacher. She is proud of her ability to educate the numerous deaf children that many normally dismiss as unable to learn. She dreams of visiting a well-known deaf school in Paris to learn even more about education. When a group of missionaries offers to let her travel with them to Europe, she is thrilled that her dream may come true.

After much convincing, Mary gets her parents to agree to this distant voyage. A two-month journey by ship ends in Mary's arrival in England where she visits a school there. Their welcome isn't exactly warm and generous, but Mary does see how another educational program works.

When she arrives in Paris, she is more warmly welcomed at the school there. Although, there are uncertain times and a fear that the missionaries will be forcing her to stay with them on their journey on to Asia, Mary is able to connect with people who help her fulfill her dream of learning more about deaf education.

Ann Clare LeZotte's other books are SHOW ME A SIGN and SET ME FREE.

SLOUCH by Christina Wyman

 

If you are looking for a book packed with great discussion topics, SLOUCH by Christina Wyman is for you. Aimed at a middle grade audience (but could be used for high school as well), SLOUCH takes on multiple topics top of mind for many teens and even their parents and teachers.

Stevie Crumb is the tallest in her class. She's taller than the girls and also the boys. Everyone expects her to play sports, especially basketball, but she's not interested at all. Her brother Ryan is a basketball player with dreams of playing in college with a full scholarship. Their parents are also hoping for that since it will be the only chance he'll have to go to college.

Money is always tight, but Stevie notices that Ryan has whatever he needs for basketball - new shoes, new shorts, whatever he needs. At the same time, Stevie must wear Ryan's hand-me-downs if she wants pants that aren't too short or too tight. She's growing, but when she points this out to her mother, she is told she'll have to wait until there is some extra cash in a few weeks.

Stevie stumbles across a meeting of the school's debate team. She is immediately interested in joining the group. Maybe her parents will like the fact that she is competing in something, even if it isn't a sport. 

Staying after school for debate practice means taking the train home later than usual and often without her best friend. Stevie becomes uncomfortable when older boys and even men start making comments about her physical appearance. Several of them even touch her as they pass her to leave the train. Keeping this information to herself doesn't feel right, but her parents are so focused on Ryan's basketball and their money problems, she can't find the right time to bring it up.

SLOUCH is full of Stevie's problems - bullying, family dynamics, social media issues, best friend dilemmas, and scary threats to her physical safety. Readers will take an instant liking for Stevie and root for her to find all the answers she needs.

THE ART OF BEING NORMAL by Lisa Williamson

 

David has spent most of his life wishing he was a girl. When he is home alone, he tries out being who he wants to be by dressing up and practicing the YouTube make-up video tips he watches. At school he tries to be normal, but only his two best friends treat him kindly.

Leo is starting at his new school. He hopes no one knows what happened at his old school. If they find out, he definitely won't be able to pretend to act normal. When he meets Alicia, the most popular girl in school, he can't believe she likes him. As their relationship becomes more serious, Alicia pushes things physically. That's when everything falls apart. 

David and Leo are both trans. David wants to come out to his parents as Kate, but he isn't sure how they will react. Leo is already out to his mother and siblings. They haven't thought of him as Megan for quite some time. The person he wants to tell is his father who left long ago. Searching for him has been challenging, but Leo has made a breakthrough. He hopes his father will welcome a son instead of a daughter.

Author Lisa Williamson tackles a difficult subject bravely and deftly. David and Leo are confronting what can often be a cruel world. Through their stories, Williamson offers trans teens an inspiring approach with hope for a positive future.

NOT NOTHING by Gayle Forman

 

Alex is twelve years old. He is trying to adjust to the new normal of living with his aunt and uncle. He isn't sure if he will see his mother again or not.

Josey is 107 years old. He lives in Shady Glen, an assisted living facility. He doesn't speak because he doesn't see any reason to communicate anymore.

Alex and Josey meet when Alex is assigned volunteer work at Shady Glen. Alex is under court supervision because of a terrible thing he did. He doesn't want to be around these old people, but it's either that or the judge will send him to a juvenile detention facility.

This is not the way Alex wanted to spend his summer, and it gets even worse when he meets Maya-Jade. She also volunteers at Shady Glen, and it turns out she is Alex's boss. She has him washing everything with bleach and helping with activities for the old people Alex describes as zombies. It isn't until he is sent on an errand to Josey's room that he begins to see the value of his time with the elderly.

Author Gayle Forman's new middle grade novel is a book that should be read by everyone. The parallel stories of Alex and Josey are sure to touch hearts and convince all readers that everyone has something to contribute to the world. NOT NOTHING will stay with readers long after the last page is turned. 

THE ENIGMA GIRLS by Candace Fleming

 

Author Candace Fleming gives readers yet another great nonfiction book. THE ENIGMA GIRLS tells the story of ten teenagers during WW II. These girls ranging from 17-20 years old enlisted in the WRENS and served as code breakers. 

They worked at Bletchley Park, a secret location in England. Beginning in 1940, their work was to break the ciphers used by the German to follow their movements and uncover their battle plans. Ciphers were changed on a daily basis so the girls had to work quickly to determine the meaning of the coded orders and report them so action could be taken to prepare for and defeat the enemy. In 1945 alone, more than 6,000 women worked to decode and translate information from the enemies.

The work was tiring and stressful. Everyone was sworn to secrecy. They didn't even discuss these secrets among themselves for fear of revealing critical information that could result in the death of troops or civilians. These girls later married and had families who didn't even know what contributions they made for the war effort.

Some thirty years after the war ended, facts began to surface about the Enigma girls' significant efforts to direct the paths of British and Allied forces during the war. Author Candace Fleming's research into these brave individuals is presented in THE ENIGMA GIRLS.