The World Ends in April by Stacy McAnulty Adventure Funny Realistic Fiction Suspense Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) I loved this book! This book is about Eleanor, a middle schooler who is like most middle schoolers. She has been best friends with Mack since kindergarten. Even though Mack is blind and way more social than Eleanor, they will most likely survive the end of the world. When they figure out the … Read more
The List of Things That Will Not Change by Rebecca Stead Juvenile Fiction Realistic Fiction * * * * Stars (Great!) Bea’s biological parents are divorced, but she’s accustomed to going between their two households and following a schedule that allows her to spend time with both of them. She keeps a list in her notebook of the “Things That Will Not Change,” and one of them is that her parents still love her and … Read more
Pay Attention, Carter Jones by Gary D. Schmidt Realistic Fiction Tween * * * Stars (Pretty good) Carter Jones and his family have been left the service of a butler in his grandfather’s will (and also an eggplant colored Bentley). Just in time to help them whip their household into order, too. The butler is unforgivingly English and his attempts to instill English ways and sensibilities into the family occasionally meet with some resistance. But, … Read more
Pawcasso by Remy Lai Graphic Novel Juvenile Fiction Realistic Fiction * * * * Stars (Great!) While Jo is in town she sees a dog carrying a basket and follows him, curious about what he’s doing/where he’s going. In the basket are a list and some money, and at each shop the dog gets a few items and lots of pets and treats from proprietors. At the bookstore, Jo is mistaken for the dog’s owner, … Read more
A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus Historical Fiction Realistic Fiction Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Why is a book with a loving family in it more enjoyable to read? In a place to hang the moon by Kate Albus, there are three siblings named William, Edmund, and Anna who live in London, England. When their grandmother dies, they have to come up with a plan to find someone … Read more
Allergic by Megan Wagner Lloyd and Michelle Mee Nutter Graphic Novel Realistic Fiction Tween * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Maggie is super excited that she’s going to be allowed to pick out a puppy for her birthday. But instead of a dog, she comes home congested and covered in hives. It turns out she’s allergic to dogs (and cats and probably other furry creatures, too), and this breaks her heart – she loves … Read more
My Brigadista Year by Katherine Paterson Historical Fiction Juvenile Fiction (grades 5-8) * * * * Stars (Great!) It’s 1961 and Lora, who has grown up in Havana, Cuba, wants to become a brigadista, and teach people in faraway rural communities how to read and write. Her parents want to refuse (she’s too young, it’s too dangerous), but her grandmother persuades them to let her go, even though Lora is only thirteen. Lora receives training … Read more
The Return of Zita the Spacegirl Zita the Spacegirl #3 by Ben Hatke Adventure Graphic Novel Science Fiction * * * * Stars (Great!) Zita’s exploits seemed heroic, but now she’s being imprisoned for her crimes. Thrown into a dungeon and forced to work in the mines, she’s desperate to escape, but only if she can take her friends with her. A mysterious benefactor helps her break out and they have to work together to … Read more
The Big Break by Mark Tatulli Graphic Novel Realistic Fiction * * * Stars (Pretty good) Best friends and middle schoolers, Andrew and Russ are in the process of filming a documentary about a local cryptid – the Jersey Devil – which they plan on entering in a contest. They’re trying to figure out how it should end and add some special effects when Russ gets distracted by a new friendship. With a girl – … Read more
Far from Home Zita the Spacegirl #1 by Ben Hatke Adventure Graphic Novel Science Fiction * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Zita and her friend Joseph find a meteor crash site and within the meteor is a device with a big red button that Zita can’t resist pressing. It opens up a gate to another world and Joseph promptly gets sucked in. Zita follows him shortly thereafter, but discovers that Joseph has already been … Read more