Shadow Weaver by MarcyKate Connolly

I remember, as a child, making shadow puppets with a flashlight. My brothers and I, usually while camping in a tent, would twist our hands and fingers into various shapes and shine the light on them to amaze each other with shadows that mimicked animals and other creatures. Emmeline, in Shadow Weaver by MarcyKate Connolly, has an uncanny ability to control shadows that extends beyond simply making shadow puppets. She can weave shadows into almost anything she can think of, use them for her own protection, and even communicate with her own shadow.

Emmeline is proud of her shadow weaving, but not everyone appreciates her magic. Her parents decide to send her to Lady Aisling, who promises to cure Emmeline so she will no longer have her magical abilities. Emmeline and her shadow, Dar, run away into the woods where they meet a boy, Lucas, with his own form of magic. Not only are Lady Aisling's guards looking for Emmeline, but Dar wants to become a real girl and needs Emmeline to help her. Emmeline becomes torn between her shadow friend, Dar, and Lucas and his family who have helped her to escape danger.

The plot of Shadow Weaver is both mysterious and thrilling as Emmeline and her new friend Lucas must defend themselves from those who want to harm them. In the midst of Emmeline's fight to keep her magic, she also struggles with decisions she has to make about where her loyalties lie. Emmeline also learns an important lesson: friends may not always be well-intentioned. With magic and the juxtaposition of light versus dark and good versus evil, this fantasy is a little creepy, but also enchanting. This is an intriguing book for readers looking for an imaginative and magical story that will give them a bit of a chill. There is a second book planned as the ending leaves readers anticipating a sequel. 

I thank the author, MarcyKate Connolly, for providing me and my book review group, #BookExcursion, with an advanced reader copy of the book. The book publishes in January.

Creepy Pair of Underwear! by Aaron Reynolds

There is no kid I know that is not thrilled to discover the word "underwear" in a book. As I read Creepy Pair of Underwear, I thought about how much it would please kids to read a book in which underwear is a main part of the plot. The dedication, in which Aaron Reynolds dedicates the book to kids at an elementary school and "the one kid who asked for a story about scary underpants," further highlights kids' fascination with the undergarment. 

Kids will be fascinated with this book, for sure. Jasper Rabbit spots a pair of glorious, but creepy underwear and his mom agrees to buy them for him. While Jasper insists he is a big rabbit, the ghoulish, green glow of the creepy underwear frighten him while he tries to sleep at night. Jasper tries and tries to get rid of his creepy underwear, but they keep turning back up. Jasper's attempts to rid himself of the underwear are amusing. Although he is a clever problem solver, the underwear seems to have a mind of its own. Readers will root for Jasper to win out over the underwear, but will also be satisfied with the ending in which Jasper conquers his fear and also puts the underwear to good use.

Creepy Pair of Underwear will definitely give kids a good laugh. They will also be entertained by the spookiness of the story and the illustrations. The illustrator, Peter Brown, has artfully created a pair of creepy underwear that appears to be glowing. This book is the perfect combination of fun and fright.

The Losers Club by Andrew Clements

Like Alec in The Losers Club, I could spend the entire day reading. I've been a reader my entire life and find reading to be a wonderful escape to a world beyond my own. Alec loves getting lost in a book so much that it often gets him sent to the principal's office because he's reading rather than completing the schoolwork his teacher has assigned.

Less than an hour into the first day of school, Alec is sent to the Hot Seat outside the principal's office for reading. The principal informs him and his parents that he must pay more attention in class and do less reading or he will be required to attend a six week summer school. In order to focus on his schoolwork and still get in reading time, he starts a reading club. He doesn't really want others to join the club so he picks a name, The Losers Club, that will discourage others from joining. Running his club gets complicated when others want to join, he's subject to endless teasing about being a bookworm, and a girl he's starting to like is also a part of the club.

Alec's love of reading will speak to any book lover's heart. There are references to many well-known books throughout the story. The Losers Club is more than a book about a kid who loves to read. Alec is dealing with challenges related to friendships, bullying, and school that will be familiar to middle grade readers. The book provides readers insight into how to handle the difficult situations of growing up. The positive relationships within the book also show how kids can support one another. With realistic characters, humor, and a satisfying ending, this is a book that will appeal to middle grade readers.

This review is based on the advanced reading copy of the book which I received from the publisher, Random House Books for Young Readers.

Jasmine Toguchi, Mochi Queen by Debbi Michiko Florence

Making sugar cookies at Christmas with my grandmother was a family tradition when I was growing up. Making the cookies was a long process, but it was fun to transform cookie dough into mini snowmen, trees, and Santas with frosting and candy pieces. Sharing this tradition with my grandmother made it all the more special and memorable. In Jasmine Toguchi, Mochi Queen, Jasmine's family's tradition is eating mochi, a Japanese dessert made from sticky rice, to celebrate New Year's.

Jasmine's family is preparing for their New Year's celebration by making mochi together. Jasmine is not old enough to help, but her older sister, Sophie, is. Jasmine is tired of Sophie always getting to do things she can't and she would much rather help make mochi than get stuck babysitting. Jasmine comes up with a plan that she hopes will convince her family to let her help with the mochi, but also participate in the part of the process that is traditionally reserved for the males in the family.

Jasmine is very determined and shows readers that you can achieve something if you put your mind to it. I enjoyed reading about Jasmine, but also her family who are very close and supportive of one another. Even Jasmine's bossy sister and annoying cousin help her to realize that she is stronger than she thinks. There are short chapters and many illustrations throughout the book which make this a good one to recommend to readers transitioning to chapter books. The story is fun to read, but also provides insight, for those who are unfamiliar, into a Japanese-American tradition. This is the first book in a series so those who enjoy Jasmine can read more about her. The second, Jasmine Toguchi, Super Sleuth, is also available and there are more to come.

I thank the author, Debbi Michiko Florence, for providing me with the first two books in the Jasmine Toguchi series.

Lucy and the Rocket Dog by Will Buckingham

As a child, the thought of traveling into space was fascinating to me. Watching live television coverage of a space shuttle filled me with wonder about what was beyond Earth's atmosphere and what it would be like to explore the outer realms of the universe. In Lucy and the Rocket Dog, the main character, Lucy, has a similar fascination, but it is her dog, Laika, who takes a journey into space.

Lucy builds her very own spaceship, the Prototype 1, in her backyard. One night, Laika enters it and accidentally launches himself into space. The book alternates between the stories of Lucy, who is heartbroken, and Laika, who, being a dog, is unsure what is happening to him. The story is both an exploration of space and the love that exists between human and pet.

There is a lot of science integrated into this book that will interest those who are curious about space. For girls, especially, Lucy is a role model with her love of science and dedication to her passion. This book is also for those who love a good dog story and one with a happy ending. The author provides an author's note at the end of the book explaining a true fact about a dog in space that influenced him in his writing. Lucy and the Rocket Dog is a story with adventure and heart.

This review is based on an advanced reader copy acquired from the publisher, Random House.

Slider by Pete Hautman

David can not only eat a lot, but he can eat very quickly. When he accidentally charges $2,000 to his mother's credit card, he enters a pizza eating contest to win the money he will need to pay her back. Winning the contest is not the only challenge in David's life. His friends, HeyMan and Cyn, are spending more time with one another and not always including David and much of David's time is consumed with caring for his younger, autistic brother.

The topic at the heart of the plot of this book, competitive eating, is a unique one for a middle grade novel. David's fascination with competitive eating is interesting and many young readers will be intrigued by the topic. This book is also a relatable one as it explores the family dynamic that David wrestles with as he is the middle child. His older sister is the perfect one and his younger brother is the one who needs constant care and attention. The book is also engaging because David is a personable character. Like many kids, at times he's responsible and at other times irresponsible. David's heart shines through, especially, in the interactions he has with his brother. This is a novel that readers will find funny, as well, as David has the ability to bring humor to even tense situations.

Slider is a unique, funny, and thoughtful book. David is a character readers won't want to let go of.

This book will be available in September. Thank you to Candlewick Press for providing my #bookexcursion group with an advanced reading copy of the book.

Beatrice Zinker, Upside Down Thinker by Shelley Johannes

Beatrice is an out-of-the box thinker who does her best thinking when she is hanging upside down. She has planned a secret mission, Operation Upside, with her best friend, Lenny. On the first day of third grade, clad in her ninja suit, Beatrice is ready to put her plan into action, but Lenny has a new friend and is less than enthusiastic about Operation Upside. Beatrice, it seems, will go to any lengths to keep her friend and carry out her mission.

There are many qualities to love about Beatrice. She is determined, but also unique, imaginative, and humorous. Although Beatrice's actions are sometimes frowned upon, especially by her teacher, her intentions stem from kindness. Beatrice remains true to herself even when others aren't accepting of her uniqueness.

There is both humor and warmth in this book. Beatrice is a fun character who finds herself in a predicament that will amuse young readers. Beatrice can also show young readers something about kindness, friendship, and accepting others in spite of their differences. Anyone who has ever felt a little different will be able to relate to Beatrice. The illustrations, mostly black and white with a splash of color, are charming. This is a great book to recommend to those who enjoyed books such as Dory Fantasmagory, Piper Green and the Fairy Tree, and Hazy Bloom and the Tomorrow Power.

Thank you to the author, Shelley Johannes, for sharing an advanced reader copy of this book with my #bookexcursion group. She also shared a lovely illustration of Beatrice.

Things That Surprise You by Jennifer Maschari

Emily Murphy is starting middle school with her best friend Hazel, but their friendship seems to be changing. Emily and Hazel have always been fans of the Unicorn Chronicles book series, but Hazel is not showing as much interest anymore and Emily isn't fitting in with Hazel's group of field hockey friends who care more about clothes and boys than unicorns. Emily's home life is also presenting it's own set of challenges. Her parents are recently divorced and her father has a new girlfriend and is trying too hard to make them a new family. Emily's also feeling a little uneasy about the changes that will occur now that her sister is returning home after getting treatment for her anorexia.

Middle grade readers will be able to relate to Emily's struggles as she navigates life and friendships. The portrayal of middle grade friendships is quite realistic. Emily is an endearing character whose journey will make you grin at times and tear up at others. Throughout the book, she strives to "be the best you," something that she can teach readers how to do, as well.

Jennifer Maschari's book is wonderful for its engaging, realistic plot, but also for her lovely style of writing. From lines, such as the opening, "Glitter is everywhere" to descriptions like, "Everything about Hazel is loud and clattery - like a cymbal clashing" she pulls the reader into the story. Then there are lines like this that hold so much truth: "Maybe this is the thing to know about growing up: There are some things in life you've got to hold on to. And there are other things you've got to let go. The key is knowing the difference."

Middle grade books like Things That Surprise You are the kind we need more of because they are the kind that young readers can relate and learn from.

I thank Jennifer Maschari for providing an advanced reader copy of this book to read and share with my #bookexcursion group. The lines quoted in this post were taken from this advanced reader copy.

Kat Greene Comes Clean Book Review

Life isn't so easy for eleven-year old Kat Greene. Her mother is always cleaning, to the point where Kat is beginning to get frustrated and worried. Her mother's habits, such as her obsessive hand washing and the need to wipe down canned goods at the grocery story, do not seem normal to Kat. On top of this, Kat has been assigned a less than desirable role in the school play and her best friend's obsession with a crush threatens their friendship.

Kat is not always sure how to navigate these challenges in her life, but she works through them the best she can, always keeping the feelings of others in mind. Kat has many traits to love. She is sweet, humorous, and a good friend. Her character is true-to-life, making her the story a believable one. I think middle grade readers will relate to her and see themselves in many of the moments that Kat experiences.

This is an engaging and readable book. I wanted to keep reading to make sure everything would work out for Kat. There were also parts that made me chuckle. I think young readers will be interested in reading about Kat and how she copes with the challenges of her life. She can teach young readers much about understanding, acceptance, and forgiveness.

Saving Marty by Paul Griffin

Renzo keeps the runt piglet that has been left on his farm after his mom has taken the mother and the rest of the litter to be auctioned off. He names the piglet Marty after his father who died, before Renzo was born while serving overseas in a war. Marty, who acts more like a dog than a pig, becomes Renzo's loyal and lovable companion. Inevitably, Marty grows quite a lot in size and having him as a pet becomes quite challenging, especially in the eyes of Renzo's mom. Renzo's determination to keep Marty plays a role in his journey of self-discovery as he learns about friendship, family, and heroes. Renzo's relationship with his friend, Paloma, also brings sweetness to the story. Some of the content of the book is heavy as Renzo learns the truth about his father that has been kept secret. This book is recommended for the higher end of middle grade. As did Paul Griffin's previous middle grade book, When Friendship Followed Me Home, Saving Marty is a book that will touch readers' hearts.

I thank the publisher, Dial Books for Younger Readers, for an ARC of the book. This book is currently being circulated among the members of my #bookexcursion group. Check out the hashtag on Twitter to find out other's thoughts and what else we are reading.

A Boy Called Bat Book Review

A Boy Called Bat has been on my to-be-read list since last fall. Walden Pond Press is currently highlighting the book on a blog tour, which piqued my interest even more. I was absolutely delighted to win a signed copy of the book through a giveaway on one of the tour stops, the Bluestocking Thinking blog. I read the book the same night it arrived. The book is certainly a wonderful middle grade read.

In the book, Bat's mother surprises him with a baby skunk that has been orphaned and is need of care until it can be sent to an animal rescue center. Bat, an animal lover, immediately bonds with the skunk who he names Thor. Bat is determined to convince his mom to let him keep Thor as a pet, even writing to a skunk expert in order to seek his approval. Bat's adoration for Thor is heartwarming. The interaction between boy and animal will be appreciated by readers who feel a similar love for animals. 

From the beginning of this book, Bat's behaviors indicate that he is somewhat different from his peers. Although not stated in the book, Bat appears to be a child with autism. Through his relationship with his sister and classmates, the challenges Bat faces with fitting in and making friends becomes clear. The story tells about a slice of Bat's life, showing that it's possible to walk one's own unique path in life. Bat's story can help young readers to understand and empathize with others who may be different from themselves. 

A Boy Called Bat is a book about friendship that conveys a gentle message to be oneself. Bat is a sweet, funny character and it was hard to close the book on him. Although the ending was positive and satisfying, it was not all neatly tied up so maybe the future will bring more engaging and charming stories about Bat.