You might not think that making a batch of hummus would make an interesting topic for a book but this one works surprisingly well. It's pretty basic - the characters stand at a counter and make hummus, detailing each step. There's a heavy dose of humor and the illustrations are quite expressive. It's a book that will be appealing for kids just starting to read independently.
Rumi is a relatively new figure to me. While I was familiar with the name and could perhaps have told you he was a poet, I didn't know much beyond that so this was an excellent introduction. While the text is aimed at a young audience, it remains informative. With charming illustrations reflecting the text, filled with patterns and details, its as lovely to look at as it is to read. It stands well on it's own but could also be used as a lead-in to reading some of the poetry in a group setting.
More information: Rumi Poet of Joy and Love releases March 5.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.
This book is going to be visually appealing to a certain kind of young reader. You look at the cover and it exudes "gross". This is no collection of stomach turning factoids, though. Montgomery digs into the details of animal diseases, how they affect humans, and what scientists have learned from them. The tone and vocabulary remain accessible for kids while not shying away from science. Parents and kids alike will learn from this text.
More information: Sick! releases February 20.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley
Author: Jennifer Killick
Genre: horror
Similar books: Scarewaves by Trevor Henderson
Finch House by Ciera Burch
Rating:
.JPG)
Summary (provided by publisher): When classmates Hallie, Angelo, Gustav and Naira are forced to come to school on a Saturday, they think things can’t get much worse. But they’re wrong. Things are about to get seriously scary.
What has dragged their teacher underground? Why do the creepy caretakers keep humming the tune to Itsy Bitsy Spider? And what horrors lurk in the shadows, getting stronger and meaner every minute . . .? Cut off from help and in danger each time they touch the ground, the gang’s only hope is to work together. But it’s no coincidence that they're all there on detention. Someone has been watching and plotting and is out for revenge . . .
My opinion: Giant spiders are, of course, a bit of a believability stretch. Killick does a good job of explaining their existence without over-doing it. We get just enough to accept their existence and to keep the plot moving. There's a decent balance between action and character development for a middle grade novel. None of it goes very deep but it maintains the reader's interest. It's exciting and creepy without going over the top, so it's well suited to the average middle grade reader.
More information: Dread Detention releases February 13
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley
Author: Amie Darnell Specht and Shannon Hitchcock
Genre: realistic fiction
Similar books: Hidden Truths by Elly Swartz
Fight & Flight by Jules Machias
Rating:
.JPG)
Summary (provided by publisher): Kate’s life in Baton Rouge, full of friends and family, gymnastics and Girl Scouts, is just plain great. But then, at the age of twelve, she suddenly develops a mysterious shoulder pain that won’t go away . . . and that will change her life forever. It turns out that Kate has one of the rarest genetic disorders in the world, Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva. FOP causes bone to form in places in the body where it shouldn’t, and there’s no cure yet. Kate will need to learn how to live with this difficult new reality, helped by those close to her and by a new pen pal named Amie, who has been living with FOP for years.
My opinion: I think this book is well-intentioned. Not only is it informing the reader about a rare disorder, it also digs into reality for a disabled kid. It looks at how a diagnosis changes everything. Kate's friendships and relationships with her family are changed. She has to learn to advocate for herself. All good things to look at and discuss. The problem is it's a bit stiff and unnatural. Kate doesn't read like a real kid. She's a bit too perfect, too well balanced. She doesn't have flaws, doesn't make mistakes. It walks us through her journey but there's no real conflict.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley
I am a big fan of pockets. I have to really like a pair of pants to buy it if it is lacking in functional pockets. And when you get a pocket-free pair, you still need a place to put your things. Sure, you can carry a bag but sometimes you need your hands free. So I crocheted myself a pocket out of some soft cotton yarn. It's big enough to hold my phone and a few other things and attaches to a belt And since it was a little plain, I attached a couple of buttons.
Title: Lost Kites and Other Treasures
Author: Cathy Carr
Genre: realistic fiction
Similar books: The Lost Whale by Hannah Gold
When Sea Becomes Sky by Gillian McDunn
Rating:
Summary (provided by publisher): Twelve-year-old Franny Petroski never lets anyone know how often she thinks of the charismatic, troubled mom who left her years ago—any more than she talks about the unaccountable things Mom did while she was still in the picture. Life with Nana is safe and secure, and Franny’s innovative art projects fill in any lonesome times.
But when Nana has an accident and Franny’s estranged uncle comes home to help out for a while, some long-guarded family secrets come to light. Franny has to use all of her courage, as well as all of her creativity, to come to terms with the discoveries she makes about her mother—and herself.
My opinion: We sometimes get the idea that for a kid in an unstable home, putting them in a different home will fix all of their problems. They get out of the chaos and everything is good. This book calls that into question. There's no denying that life with her Nana is better for Franny than life with her mom. But she still has questions and her family is full of secrets. The plot becomes about Franny expressing what she needs, finding her truth and becoming a complete person. It tells us a story of a family with all kinds of troubles, all of the fall out from mental illness. While the cast of characters is more adult than child, they are realistic and complex and make for compelling reading.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley
