Awkward by Svetlana Chmakova

After shunning Jaime, the school nerd, on her first day at a new middle school, Penelope Torres tries to blend in with her new friends in the art club, until the art club goes to war with the science club, of which Jaime is a member. – description from NoveList.

What an awesome middle grade graphic novel! The book has wide appeal and is diverse in many ways, including cultures, body types and abilities. Svetlana manages to cover common middle grade issues like: friendship (boys and girls can be friends too!), bullying, and teamwork with fantastic manga-like artwork. I loved the colourful over-exaggerated panels of Peppi. Hands-down my favourite image is Peppi’s face (page 22) when her teacher holds up her mermaid drawing. It really conveys her reaction!
I loved this book so much I chose it to be featured booktalk for my middle grade school visits. I will definitely be picking up the rest of the Berrybrook Middle School series (Brave and Crush). Be sure to also check out Chmakova’s drawing process included after the story. Readers learn how much effort and thought goes into designing and drawing the characters.

Shouting at the Rain by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Delsie loves tracking the weather, living with her grandmother, and the support of friends and neighbors, but misses having a “regular family,” especially after her best friend outgrows her.

Having read Fish in a Tree, I sort of knew what to expect with Hunt’s newest middle grade novel, Shouting at the Rain. Hunt again proves she can deliver on providing realistic situations and challenging themes–like how friendships change and evolve.
Even many years later, I can remember the feelings associated with a crumbling friendship.  As a middle grader, I would have loved having access to a book that demonstrated how to navigate that difficult time. I’m glad that Delsie was able to find acceptance with other friends, including Ronan; and that their relationship remained platonic. There were too many themes explored to also introduce crushes and romantic feelings.

Although many serious themes were explored, the book never felt dark. It ended with a great message about family, friends and remaining optimistic. A great choice for a classroom read aloud.

“I feel silly for having shouting at the rain, complaining about living under a cloud. Thing is, the sun is always in the sky-it just gets hidden sometimes.”

No Fixed Address by Susin Nielsen

From beloved Governor General Literary Award–winning author Susin Nielsen comes a touching and funny middle-grade story about family, friendship and growing up when you’re one step away from homelessness.

As I was preparing to do outreach at a temporary housing shelter, I came across the middle grade read by Susin Nielsen.  I was ecstatic because not only is she Canadian and a wonderful writer; it’s also hard to come by books that feature kids experiencing homelessness.

This story features 12 year old Felix, who is “between places” and living in a van with his mom. Readers learn how quickly circumstances can change and the lengths people go to survive.  Living in the van was supposed to be a temporary fix, but Felix’s mother falls into a “slump” and the months go by.  As a result, his realistic experiences like hiding his poverty, and using the school bathrooms to do cleansing wipe downs are heartbreaking.   Speaking about realistic experiences—I’m sure it does happen every now and again, but I could have did without the public sex act (masturbation) at the public library.  As a librarian, the public library already deals with enough misconceptions.  We want to encourage the public (especially low income individuals) to utilize the library’s resources and space- not scare them away.

Overall, an honest, important and sensitive read regarding homelessness and mental health.  Although the TV game show storyline does feel far-fetched, I’m glad Felix’s story ends on a hopeful note.

Nightbooks by J.A. White

Imprisoned by Natacha, a witch, in a New York apartment, Alex must tell her a new scary story every night in order to stay alive.

This dark middle grade read is perfect for readers looking for that creep factor.  Just listen to these chapter titles: “A Pair of Red Eyes”, “What Grows with No Light”, and “The Other Prisoner”. Many times, Nightbooks has been compared to Grimm’s Fairytales and Neil Gaiman stories. I’d have to agree; it definitely reminded me of a Hansel and Gretel retelling. In this book, the main character Alex (a fan of all things scary) gets trapped in a witch’s magical apartment and must read chilling stories to stay alive. These short stories (in Alex’s handwriting) were a neat addition, and were totally frightening! I still think about the short story about Mr.Boots, a boot-wearing revengeful teddy bear that kidnaps a baby. In the end, I liked the message of being true to yourself, even if it does make you a bit of an outsider.

The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw

Three sisters, drowned as witches in Sparrow, Oregon, in the 1800s, return each summer for revenge but Penny, seventeen, is determined to stop them to save the boy she loves.

It’s been a while since I’ve been compelled to pick up a young adult book. Although I’ve been really into adult psychological thrillers, this captivating stand-alone book kept showing up on my radar. It also doesn’t hurt that it has a gorgeous cover and Netflix recently required the rights.

Ernshaw does a fantastic job at setting up the atmospheric tale set in Sparrow, Oregon. The story continually flashes from present day, back to 1823, but I found myself equally invested in both (a rare feat!)

On the down side, I did not enjoy the romance aspect between Penny and Bo. Their insta-love connection felt far-fetched as they had little chemistry. Luckily, the multiple plot mysteries kept me engaged from start to finish (even if I figured out the biggest plot twist early!) Overall, a solid read. Be prepared to be bewitched by the Swan sisters’ chilling tale of murder and revenge.

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

I was saddened to learn that this fictional story of Ivan the gorilla was based on a true story.  I can only imagine the public outcry after learning of Ivan spending 27 years locked up in a mall, away from other primates.  In this story, Ivan narrates his own story of heartbreak, friendship and hope.  However, readers will also be introduced to other memorable animals, such as: Bob (dog), and Stella/Ruby (elephants).

The One and Only Ivan is a quick read, broken down by short chapters. I listened to the audiobook and wonder if reading the physical book would have been a better experience. Although the narrator did a great job at imagining Ivan’s voice (deep, strong), I found that the short chapter titles affected the flow of the story.

This book has won many awards, including the prestigious 2013 Newbery.  I’m clearly late to the party, but so glad I finally read it. The topic of animals in captivity is not always an easy read-especially for children, but this one is done extremely well. Applegate has even written a book for the youngest of readers in picture book format.  Clearly, Ivan’s story is a crucial one to tell and will very likely inspire young animal advocates. His story will continue to reach audiences as The One and Only Ivan is currently in filming, and features the voices of Angelina Jolie and Bryan Cranston.

The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacy McAnulty

Lucy Callahan was struck by lightning. She doesn’t remember it, but it changed her life forever. The zap gave her genius-level math skills, and ever since, Lucy has been homeschooled. Now, at 12 years old, she’s technically ready for college. She just has to pass 1 more test–middle school!

Lucy’s grandma insists: Go to middle school for 1 year. Make 1 friend. Join 1 activity. And read 1 book (that’s not a math textbook!). Lucy’s not sure what a girl who does calculus homework for fun can possibly learn in 7th grade. She has everything she needs at home, where nobody can make fun of her rigid routines or her superpowered brain. The equation of Lucy’s life has already been solved. Unless there’s been a miscalculation?

I read this book as an ARC from the publisher and I cannot wait until it hits our library shelves in May so I can start recommending it to kids.  Lucy and her savant brain navigate the challenges of middle school that almost all readers can relate to: friendships, fitting in, and group projects. Her special mathematical ability (from being hit by lightning!), along with her OCD make Lucy stand out from other middle-school female protagonists.  Even though I’ve never been particularly fond of math, I enjoyed how math concepts and numbers were so integrated in the story. As an animal lover, the community improvement project was a fun addition and I too fell in love with the pup, Pi. Speaking of Pi, the book devotes a few pages to explaining the mathematical concepts featured for those interested in learning more.

You can count on (ha-ha) McAnulty for a quick yet memorable read. The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl continues to receive well deserved starred reviews and praise.  I can totally see teachers using this book in the classroom to generate discussions and encourage their own local service projects.

Ebb & Flow by Heather Smith

…poignant story, told in free verse, of eleven-year-old Jett. Last year, Jett and his mother had moved to a new town for a fresh start after his father went to jail. But Jett soon learned that fresh starts aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. When he befriended a boy with a difficult home life, Jett found himself in a cycle of bad decisions that culminated in the betrayal of a friend – a shameful secret he still hasn’t forgiven himself for. Will a summer spent with his unconventional grandmother help Jett find his way to redemption?

It’s clear to see how Smith’s east coast roots have inspired this heartbreaking middle grade read.  It brought me back to my many visits to Nova Scotia and hunting for sea glass.

Told in poetic form, I read about Jett’s “rotten bad year” in one sitting. I admired how sparsely-worded pages were able to cover such a wide range of serious topics: bullying, incarceration, abuse, and more. There were so many beautiful passages that I had to restrain myself from dog-earring all the pages. As a librarian, I especially loved the passage:

I said,

I only read comics.

She said,

What’s a comic if it’s not a book?

Jett’s betrayal slowly unfolds and his courage and responsibility ultimately turn this sad story into one of forgiveness and hope. Ebb & Flow has such a powerful impact that it may take some readers some time to fully process the story.

From Ant to Eagle by Alex Lyttle

When 11-year-old Calvin’s younger brother, Sammy, is diagnosed with cancer, Calvin is stricken with guilt for all the times he has ignored his brother.

I never intended to read back-to-back middle grade books dealing with a child’s serious and life-threatening diagnosis. This one was recommended by my colleague who is working her way through the 2018 Silver Birch nominees and believes this is the stand out winner.

I find books based on real-life personal experiences are always best. Clearly, the author’s background working in the pediatric oncology unit made the novel heartbreakingly realistic. The text was difficult to read at times, as it never hid the symptoms and effects of cancer (both on the individual and loved ones). Although medical terms were included, the author did a great job at explaining them in an easy to understand way.

Overall, this emotional book is more than just cancer and sadness. There’s family, friendship and hope. After all– “The only thing worse than dying is living without hope.”

Mustaches for Maddie by Chad Morris and Shelly Brown

Inspired by the true story. Maddie is a normal twelve-year-old, but when a CT scan reveals she has a brain tumor, it will take all her imagination, courage, and support from her friends and family to meet this new challenge.

I think School Library Journal summarized the book best with “…good read-alike for fans of R.J.Palacio’s Wonder.” However, unlike Wonder, Mustaches for Maddie is based on the true story of the authors’ daughter, who was diagnosed with a brain tumor.  Information regarding the real Maddie’s story is included in the acknowledgements, author’s note, and letter from Maddie herself.  Like the fictional character, Maddie thinks mustaches are hilarious so you can actually send her a mustache photo using the hashtag #MustachesforMaddie.

I liked how the story included not just Maddie’s physical challenges but social as well.  It included family dynamics, and friendships.  The perspective of 12-year-old Maddie is completely believable- especially when she uses her imagination to make things an adventure.  She frequently uses mustaches for courage and humor to deal with life’s challenges.

Many readers will be able to relate and the heartwarming story serves as a reminder to be kind to everyone.  Most of us are battling some sort of issue, perhaps some more visible than others. To access a reader’s guide featuring discussion question and kindness/compassion activities visit http://www.mustachesformaddie.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Mustaches-for-Maddie-Readers-Guide_spreads.pdf