The Messy Meerkat

Zoe loves living at her uncle’s rescue zoo because there’s always something exciting going on. And Zoe also has an amazing secret…she can actually TALK to the animals!

Max the meerkat loves to dig tunnels and go exploring, and so do his baby brothers and sisters. With the big treasure hunt coming up, can Zoe find a way to keep the messy meerkat family out of trouble?

The story focuses on Zoe and her family’s zoo. Zoe is a likable character who isn’t afraid of hard work. When Zoe takes Max the meerkat to her house, Max rips up her mother’s flowerbed. Instead of complaining, Zoe and her friend replant the flowers and clean up Max’s mess. As Zoe gets to know Max, she also learns interesting facts about meerkats.

Cute black and white illustrations show Zoe’s adventures. The large illustrations appear every 2 to 4 pages and show many of the animals in the zoo. The illustrated picture book uses some difficult vocabulary that will be hard for emerging readers. However, the story would be a fun choice to read aloud to a child.

Even though Max is a meerkat, readers will relate to his desire to have fun instead of watching his younger siblings. In the end, Max learns the importance of being more responsible. With a cheerful protagonist and funny meerkat mischief, The Messy Meerkat will delight animal lovers. And parents will appreciate a book that has a positive protagonist who works hard without complaining. With 20 books in the series, Zoe’s Rescue Zoo will keep readers entertained for a long time. However, animal-loving readers may also want to check out The Rescue Princesses Series by Paula Harrison and The Critter Club Series by Callie Barkley.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • None

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • None

Supernatural

  • None

 

Spiritual Content

  • None

Arctic Freeze

Dev knows his dad wanted him to spend his summer at science camp. His dad’s disappointment hampers Dev’s enjoyment of competing in The Wild Life. But on the third leg of the competition, Dev can’t let his team down. The red team must work together as they race through Alaska’s wilderness. Both the animals and nature are dangerous and the red team needs to focus if they are going to win. After all, they are now in second place!

Artic Freeze uses the same format as the first two books in the series. While the story is fast-paced, the plot and characters are underdeveloped. Dev and his team easily find the required artic animals; however, much of the action takes place from an airplane. In addition, the red team is able to solve the clues and get pictures of the animals without much effort. Even though the story lacks suspense, readers will learn interesting animal facts.

The story focuses on Dev’s conflict with his father, who wanted Dev to spend his summer at science camp. During the race, Dev wants to hide the fact that he’s knowledgeable about science. “His whole goal for the summer—his goal for the race—was to be normal, to be someone other than the nerdy science kid.” This conflict doesn’t add much to the story, especially because his teammates are all exceptionally smart in different areas.

The story begins with Dev’s dream about dogsledding and his father. As the team completes their task, Dev uses the dream to make decisions. While several of the events match his dream, in the end “no part of Dev’s dream made sense to him anymore.” Since the story spends so much time on the dream, the ending seems rushed and incomplete. While Dev doesn’t understand the significance of his dream, he does learn the value of science. The team’s adult supervisor tells Dev, “Races prompt hasty decisions. That’s their nature. But the quick thinking you did here was far more essential. You have an engineer’s mind and it saved this dog.”

The Race the Wild Series would interest younger readers who are interested in animals. However, readers may struggle with the advanced vocabulary. More advanced readers will realize that many of the events are unrealistic, such as when the team dogsleds a glacier even though they had no previous experiences. Unfortunately, the third installment in the Race the Wild Series is disappointing. Despite this, Arctic Freeze teaches about animals and highlights the importance of respecting and protecting the wild world.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • A sled dog falls into a crack in the glacier. “Just ahead of the sled, the ground had opened up. Dev crawled on hands and knees to look over the edge of the ice. There, dangling from his harness, was the gray and white husky. When the dog saw him, he whimpered.” Dev is able to save the husky.
  • Dev read a book about “early science expeditions in the Arctic and Antarctic. When the dogs had been sick or injured, the explorers had to shoot them.”

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • None

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content

  • None

Maggie and the Flying Horse

Eight-year-old Maggie isn’t like other girls who live in the Enchanted Forest. She notices magical animals around her that no one else does—like unicorns, griffins, and even talking horses.

One day, Maggie stumbles upon a tiny, injured flying horse. The only way to help the horse is to take it to a kindly stableman her grandmother once told her about. But in order to do so, Maggie must journey through the forest, which is full of dangerous trolls and goblins. Will Maggie reach the stable in time to save her new friend?

Fans of fairytales will fall in love with Maggie and the magical animals that live in the Enchanted Forest. Similar to Cinderella, Maggie has a mean stepmother who makes her do all of the work. She also has a mean stepbrother, who blames her for everything. Despite this, Maggie is always cheerful and kind to others. In addition, she is willing to help the injured horse even though she knows it will displease her stepmother.

Maggie and the creatures who live in the Enchanted Forest appear in black and white illustrations. The cute illustrations appear every 2 to 7 pages. Even though the trolls and the goblins are dangerous, they look cartoonish instead of frighteningly scary. One of the characters shares his journal with Maggie. The illustrated journal gives information about the magical animals and their habits. Readers who are not fluent will need help with some of the vocabulary. However, with short paragraphs, large text, and a simple plot, Maggie and the Flying Horse is accessible to readers ready for chapter books.

Maggie and the Flying Horse is the first in the Magic Animal Rescue Series and sets up the background for many adventures to come. With plenty of suspense, magical animals, and a hungry troll, Maggie and the Flying Horse will keep young readers entertained until the very end. Parents will appreciate Maggie, who is a kind protagonist and doesn’t complain despite her stepmother’s harsh treatment. The story is perfect for readers who love animals and fairytales. Readers will be eager to read the next book in the series, Maggie and the Wish Fish.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • A griffin tries to peck Maggie. “Maggie picked up a small stone and threw it. . . The next stone grazed its wing. Startled, the griffin flew back into the forest.”
  • Maggie is hiding from goblins when a flying horse lands on her. “Soon, an entire herd of little horses landed on Maggie. Some nipped her with their tiny teeth. Others kicked her with their tiny hooves.” When a horsefly begins tickling her, Maggie “moved her hand just enough to brush it off. The tiny horse fell to the ground and looked up at her with terrified eyes.” Maggie takes the horse to someone who can fix its wing.
  • A troll chases Maggie in the hopes of eating her. Maggie climbs up a tree and the troll follows. “And then he was there, drooling as he stretched his arm toward her.” When sunlight touches the troll, he turns to stone.

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • None

Supernatural

  • Maggie lives near an enchanted forest that has magical creatures. One day she talks to a frog, who tells her, “I’m a human prince. A wicked witch turned me into a frog, and I need a human princess to kiss me so I can become my old self again.”
  • Maggie sees a cabbit. Maggie’s friend says, “A witch combined a cat and a rabbit. She thought they’d be extra cuddly. She was right.”

Spiritual Content

  • None

Masterminds #1

Eli Frieden has never left Serenity, New Mexico…why would he ever want to? Then one day, he bikes to the edge of the city limits and something so crazy and unexpected happens, it changes everything.

Eli convinces his friends to help him investigate further, and soon it becomes clear that nothing is as it seems in Serenity. The clues mount to reveal a shocking discovery, connecting their ideal, crime-free community to some of the greatest criminal masterminds ever known. The kids realize they can trust no one — least of all their own parents.

Masterminds has a slow start as it introduces the many characters and the town of Serenity. However, the story also has some heart-stopping moments, which all revolve around the kids trying to figure out the secret that all of the adults have been hiding. Many of the story’s events and explanations are far-fetched. Because of the unbelievable nature of the plot, readers will have to suspend their disbelief in order to enjoy the story.

The story revolves around five characters—Eli, Malik, Hector, Tori, and Amber—and each chapter changes between these characters’ points of view. The constantly shifting point of view is confusing, especially since the characters’ voices are all similar to each other. However, the changing point of view allows readers to understand some of the individual choices that the characters make. Despite this, when the kids discover the answer to the mystery, some of the characters’ reactions still seem extreme and inconsistent.

Readers who enjoy conspiracy theories and mysteries will enjoy Masterminds. The story has a unique premise and will leave readers debating the scientific question of nature vs. nurture. While not all of the events are believable, the suspense and mystery make Masterminds an interesting story. The conclusion doesn’t wrap up all of the story’s threads, but leaves many unanswered questions which will be explored in the next book, Criminal Destiny. While Masterminds has some slow moments, Criminal Destiny picks up the pace in an exciting sequel. If you’re a mystery fan that would prefer a more logical mystery, the Theodore Boone Series by John Grisham would be a better choice.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • While trying to get out of town, a guard grabs Malik. Eli swings “his shovel around and I catch Alexander the Grape between the shoulder blades. He drops like a stone. . .” When another guard named Bryan comes after them, Eli tries to drive away. “There’s a thump on my running board. An indigo-sleeved arm reaches for me. The hand grabs my hair. It hurts.” One of the kids hits Bryan in the head with a hoe and he falls down.
  • Eli’s friends jump from a speeding truck before the truck goes over the edge of a mountain. They are not sure if Hector also jumped or died when the truck went over.
  • The kids catch a ride in a train car. When the cars stop, workers see the kids. When a worker grabs Tori, “Malik springs into action. He snatches up a full Gatorade bottle and bounces it with deadly accuracy off the side of the man’s jaw. The blow knocks him backward into the wall, and he releases Tori.” The kids run. Malik gets stuck under a pallet. Amber “leaps into the cab of the forklift, dislodging the driver.”

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • As Eli tries to leave town, he gets sick and has to stay home for two weeks. During his time at home, Eli is given pills. He thinks the pills are supposed to make him forget what happened.

Language

  • There is some name calling including, loser, idiot, moron and stupid. The name calling happens infrequently.
  • After reading a note from Randy, Malik says, “Hardaway was always a wing nut. . .What a doofus.”
  • Eli thinks his dad is a doofus.
  • Eli calls Harold “stupid.”
  • “Oh my God” is used as an exclamation once.
  • When Eli discovers he has been cloned from a criminal, he hopes his DNA didn’t come from a bonehead.
  • The kids call some of the factory workers the “Purple People Eaters.” Someone makes names for them like “Alexander the Grape.”

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content

  • During a thunderstorm, Malik is “praying that it would be over.”
  • When there is a plumbing emergency at Eli’s house, he prays that Hector’s dad can fix it.
  • Eli and his friends discover a scientific research project called Osiris. “Osiris is the Egyptian god of the afterlife.”

Manatee Blues

Brenna, Maggie, Zoe, and Dr. Mac fly to Florida to visit a manatee rescue center. The center is run by Dr. Mac’s friend, Gretchen. Because running the rescue center is expensive, the center is in danger of closing. Brenna is immediately drawn to the endangered, gentle giants, and wants to do whatever she can to help them and the center.

Brenna is passionate about helping manatees, but her impulsive actions put both Brenna and the manatees in danger. While at the center, Brenna and her friends help with a fundraiser, but will the center get enough funds to stay in business? Can Brenna find a way to help the animals?

Anyone who has ever dreamed of being a marine biologist will enjoy Manatee Blues. Brenna’s personality and passion for manatees is inspiring. Told from Brenna’s point of view, the story focuses on her desire to help injured manatees. However, Brenna doesn’t always think before she acts, which gets her into trouble. Readers will relate to Brenna, who wants to make an impact but isn’t sure what she can do to help.

Manatee Blues blends action, internal conflict, and information about manatees into an interesting story that highlights the importance of keeping animals wild. Gretchen says feeding wild animals is “being selfish, thinking about what we want, not what’s best for them.” Readers will learn about the dangers that manatees face as well as other interesting information about the animals. The end of the book has more facts about manatees as well as information about how readers can adopt a manatee.

At 119 pages, the plot is not well developed. However, the story is educational, interesting and will keep the reader’s interest. The happy ending is slightly unrealistic; however, the conclusion shows that one person can make a difference. The short chapters, interesting plot, and relatable characters make Manatee Blues a book that will appeal to readers of different ages.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • A boat injures a manatee. Gretchen and the group go to help the animal and see “horrible gashes that have opened up the skin on the manatee’s back—seven deep, straight lines, four of them curving around her side.” The animal is given pain killers and antibiotics.
  • The rescue center has an injured manatee that “had some jerk’s initials carved into its back with a knife.”

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • The rescue center has an injured sandhill crane that was “run over by a drunk driver.”

Language

  • Darn is used once.
  • Brenna dives into the ocean to help a trapped manatee. When Gretchen scolds her, Brenna thinks, “You idiot! What did you think she was going to do—pat you on the back?”
  • A baseball player named Ronnie Masters was speeding on his boat. “Maggie thinks he’s the biggest jerk who ever lived in the history of the universe.” Maggie also thinks he’s a loser.

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content

  • None

The Sound of Danger

Mac heads to England on a special mission for the Queen of England. Someone has been stealing the famous Stradivarius violins. In order to discover the culprit, Mac will have to go into a deserted museum in the middle of the night where he meets a mummy. With the Queen’s corgi, Freddie, Mac also travels to Italy where he scales the walls of the Tower of Cremona. A guard imprisons Mac so the President of Italy can question him.

After escaping Italy, Mac travels to Russia where he faces a dangerous showdown with the Russian Red Army Choir. In the end, Mac is able to return the violins to their rightful owners. However, the KGB man tries to get even with the Queen of England by playing the Tetris song. Unbeknownst to him, Mac had changed the boom box’s tape and the KGB man blasts a New Kids on the Block song instead. (Once you read the book, you will understand the ending’s humor.)

Whether you have read all of the books in the Mac B Kid Spy Series or are a first-time reader, The Sound of Danger is sure to tickle your silly bone. When Mac goes on another mission for the Queen of England, the interplay between Mac and the Queen is laugh-out-loud funny. While the villain—the KGB man—is the same in all of the books, readers will still have fun guessing when the KGB man will show up and try to thwart Max.

The Sound of Danger is humorous, and it is also packed full of history. For example, the Queen of England says, “The Cold War is called a cold war because it was not fought with bullets. . . It is about which side has better spies. Which side has better stories. Which side has better ideas.” The story also teaches readers about the different parts of an orchestra, the Stradivarius, the Tetris game, and the ’80s. Some of the facts seem far-fetched, which Mac acknowledges when he writes, “It’s true. You can look it up.” Readers can trust Mac’s facts because they are true — but it’s still fun to look them up.

The Sound of Danger uses short chapters, easy vocabulary, and interesting characters to appeal to even the most reluctant readers. Every page has large illustrations that have pops of turquoise and yellow. Many of the illustrations are funny, especially the ones with the Queen of England and her “not amused” facial expressions. The illustrations also show different musical instruments, geographical locations, and historical people.

The Sound of Danger uses a humorous story and interesting characters to teach about history. Both the text and the illustrations work together to create humor and explain the historical facts. Even though The Sound of Danger is a really quick read, all of the mystery’s threads are explained. Readers looking for more humorous mystery books will also enjoy the Two Dogs in a Trench Coat Series by Julie Falatko.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • The Queen of England tells Mac about Marie Antoinette. “But in 1789 things in France began to go wild. There was a revolution! And in 1793 they cut off the queen’s head.”
  • A Russian soldier tries to capture Mac. “He swung a balalaika at my head—at my head!—but I ducked. The instrument made an awful song as it shattered against a stone pillar. Freddie (the Queen’s corgi) hopped out of the front of my shirt. He tugged at the man’s pant cuff with his teeth, which gave me the chance to escape.”
  • Mac gets thrown into a USSR prison.

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • The Queen of England says poppycock, balderdash, and rubbish.

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content

  • None

Great Reef Games

Round two of the race takes the teams to the Great Barrier Reef. In order to answer the clues, the teams must become underwater explorers. Sage is determined for her team to stay in first place. The team will meet dangerous sea creatures—scorpion fish, a blue-ringed octopus, and other sea dangers. As Sage bosses her team around, she becomes pushy and argumentative.

The second installment of the Race to the Wild Series focuses on Sage. The story continues to hint that Sage has a secret that motivates her to win and to be protective of Mari. Throughout the adventure, Mari is ill, which reminds Sage of her sister’s accident. When Mari helps Sage, Sage gets defensive and says, “You don’t look out for me. That’s not your job. I can take care of myself.” The conclusion never explains why Mari was sluggist, and Sage’s big secret is anticlimactic. However, Sage does realize that it isn’t her job to always look after everyone. Instead, each team member has their own special talent and all of them need to have each other’s backs.

The Great Reef Games is crammed full of facts about the Great Barrier Reef and the animals that live there. In one scene, Mari finds a sea turtle that is wrapped in a net. Mari and her team stay with the turtle until someone from the animal rescue center comes to help. While most of the story focuses on the kids and the race, they still rely on adults when they need additional help.

In Rain Forest Relay, Russell discovers that his friends are cheating, but he doesn’t turn them in. The second book of the series doesn’t address this issue. Even though Race the Wild is a competition, the red team has no interaction with other teams. Despite this, readers will enjoy the fast-paced story that highlights the importance of teamwork. One positive aspect of the story is that several of the characters are “unusually intelligent,” which is a huge advantage for the team. However, as the red team learns more about each other, the boys team up and are often snarky.

Great Reef Games is very similar to the television show The Amazing Race. Because the characters are in a competition, the characters spend very little time in the same place. While the race is interesting, a lot of animal information is thrown at the reader. Occasionally, the story seems more like a textbook than an adventure story. Great Reef Games incorporates Sage’s secret into the story, but this part of the story seems forced. Despite this, readers will enjoy trying to solve the race’s clues as well as learning about sea life. With nine short chapters, black and white illustrations every 3-6 pages, and interesting facts about the Great Barrier Reef, proficient readers will enjoy the underwater adventure. Older readers who love sea life should add Dragged from Under: The Bull Shark by Joseph Monninger to their must-read list.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • None

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • None

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content

  • None

InvestiGators Take the Plunge

Investigators Brash and Mango go undercover in order to intercept a rocket that carries the stolen code for the Combinotron—a device that can stick any two things together. Instead of destroying the code, the investigators accidentally download the code into a robot that has been programmed to hug people. After a freak accident, the robot is able to travel through electricity. And every time the robot hugs someone, that person combines with whatever they are touching.

When Crackerdile learns about the Combinotron, he is determined to steal the code. In his current state—being part cracker and part alligator—Crackerdile is in danger of being dissolved or eaten. Crackerdile hopes to use the Combinotron to merge with metal. Will Crackerdile be able to steal the code, or can Brash and Mango thwart him off?

Investigators Take the Plunge is an imaginative graphic novel that is laugh-out-loud funny. The combination of human and animal characters blend to mix into a ridiculous story that uses wordplay to add humor. Even though some of the humor revolves around Brash’s need to go to the bathroom, the bathroom humor is never gross. As Brash and Mango work the case, they use fun spy gadgets, compete against a team of badger agents, flood the sewers, and are responsible for unleashing an evil villain.

The imaginative story comes alive in brightly colored artwork that shows the characters’ wide range of emotions. The text is large and uses different font sizes, which help emphasize the characters’ emotions as well as important aspects of the story. Similar to superhero comics, the story contains onomatopoeias such as crash, bwonk, and foosh. Another positive aspect is that the human scientists are a diverse group of characters who have a wide range of skin tones.

The illustrations and the unique storyline with Brash and Mango will appeal to even the most reluctant readers. Each page has 3 to 11 sentences per page. The sentences range from one word to more complex sentences. The varied sentence lengths add to the humor while keeping the story accessible to all readers.

Investigators Take the Plunge will appeal to many readers because honestly, who doesn’t want to see two alligator investigators wreak havoc? The story is unique, full of slapstick humor, and contains a non-frightening villain. Readers who enjoy humorous graphic novels that border on the ridiculous should add Mac B. Kid Spy by Mac Barnett and Two Dogs in a Trench Coat by Julie Falatko to their reading list.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • A doctor is upset when “the robot ghosts! It came out of my TB and then lunged at me! There was a flash of light and I must have passed out. When I came to, the Robot Ghost was gone, but I discovered I had. . .banana hands!”
  • A doctor is “combined with the salad I was eating for dinner” when “the Robot Ghost came out of my lamp and attacked me!”
  • When two members of the S.U.I.T—who are badgers—try to stop the Robot Ghost, the ghost zaps them and the badgers are turned into “badger badges.”

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • The villain’s mission is “the Total Annihilation of Idiot Law-doers!”
  • A scientist yells, “Get ya butt in here!”
  • Drat is used as an exclamation once.

Supernatural

  • A scientist changes “from mild-mannered brain surgeon Dr. Jake Hardbones into the Action News Now helicopter in the sky.”
  • The Combinotron is a device that can “stick any two things together!” The Combinotron’s code accidentally gets downloaded into a robot that likes to hug. When the robot hugs someone, the person is combined with whatever they are touching. The robot can move through electrical outlets.
  • After being hugged by a robot, a plumber combines with a snake, making the anaconda his arm.
  • The Crackerdile is an alligator that has been combined with a saltine cracker.

Spiritual Content

  • None

Remarkables

One minute, they’re laughing and having fun at the house next door. The next minute, they’re gone. Like magic. Marin can’t believe her eyes. Who are these teenagers, and how are they able to appear and disappear?

Marin spots the mysterious neighbors the first day after moving to a new house, in a new town. She wonders if she’s the only one who can see the teenagers, but then she meets a boy named Charley, who reluctantly reveals that he knows about them too. He calls them “Remarkables.”

Charley warns her to stay away from the Remarkables—and to stay away from him. Life hasn’t been kind to Charley, and Marin can’t stop thinking about something that happened in her old town. Could the Remarkables help? Or. . . is she supposed to help them? Maybe Marin and Charley can fix everything if they can work together long enough to figure out the mystery of the Remarkables.

Full of mystery, Remarkables is a story about family, friendship, and forgiveness. Readers will relate to the protagonist Marin, who is insecure and wonders if she will be able to make friends in her new town. Because of past friendship drama, Marin wonders if there is something wrong with her. However, by the end of the story, she realizes the importance of communication and forgiveness.

Haddix expertly weaves several plot lines into an easy-to-understand, engaging story. Marin’s family is funny, caring, and a bit overwhelmed with all the changes in their lives. When Marin meets Charley, she learns about a tragic accident that happened in the past and how it still impacts Charley’s present. This connects with an incident that happened to Marin before her move. The conclusion of the story merges all of these subplots and shows that “You can have a good future because the past is over. All you can do is learn from it.”

Remarkables will make readers consider the questions: If you could go back in time and change an event, what would it be? Both Marin and Charley consider the question, and they realize that changing the past could cause unintended consequences. When Marin looks at a past tragedy, she realizes the tragedy ended up inspiring others to do good in the world. The relatable characters, mystery, and message all combine to create a story that is entertaining and thought provoking. The story ends on a positive note as it highlights that despite a past mistake, the future still holds the promise of happiness.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • During a party at the neighbor’s, Charley’s dad put food in the oven and it began to smoke. He didn’t want the fire detector to go off so he removed the batteries. Later that week, a fire broke out and Charley’s friend died. The death is not described.

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • Charley and his brothers live with their grandmother because his parents are on drugs. His dad “started using drugs. And then my mom did, too. Because he made her unhappy, too. And they wouldn’t stop.”

Language

  • None

Supernatural

  • Marin and Charlie see a group of teens. Charlie thinks the teens are time travelers from the past. Marin thinks the teens are from the future.
  • At one point, Marin wonders if “it was a message from God—a vision, like the kind Marin heard about in church.”
  • Charlie “decided that [a dead girl’s] psychic energy lingered in the place where she’d died. . . Her way of haunting people was to show them good things they needed to see.”

Spiritual Content

  • Marin goes to church with her family. When they go to a new church, Marin is afraid no one will like her. She prays, “Please, God. Please, please, please don’t let me start crying here in front of everyone. . .”
  • During church, the pastor starts “reading a Bible passage, one about Jesus being tempted in the desert. ‘So I’m going to hear about even Jesus messing up?’ Marin thought.”
  • Marin’s father prays that the baby begins to sleep through the night.
  • Marin and her friends were having a sleepover. The girls had a fight so Marin went to sleep in the guest room. While there, she prayed, “Please let someone come and I’ll apologize. Please.”
  • One of Marin’s friends was sick. When Marin asked, “Did she have cancer?” Her father replied, “Thank God, no.”
  • Marin’s father has a difficult time finding a job. He tells Marin, “I will quit whining about how my life isn’t going the way I planned it, and I will get back out of bed and try something new! And. . . I’ll accept that God is maybe trying to send me a sign that he needs me in a different place than I thought, and I’ll quit fighting that message. . .”

Maybe He Just Likes You

For seventh-grader Mila, it started with some boys giving her an unwanted hug. The next day it’s another hug. A smirk. Comments about her body. It all feels weird. According to her friend Zara, Mila is being immature and overreacting. Doesn’t she know what flirting looks like?

But it keeps happening, despite Mila’s protests. On the bus and in the school halls. Even during band practice—the one place Mila thought she could always escape to; her happy “blue sky” place. It seems like the boys are everywhere. And their behavior doesn’t feel like flirting—so what is it?

Mila starts to gain confidence when she enrolls in karate class. But her friends still don’t understand why Mila is making such a big deal about the boys’ attention. When Mila is finally pushed too far, she realizes she can’t battle this on her own, and she finds help in some unexpected places.

Maybe He Just Likes You tackles the difficult topic of consent, boundaries, and sexual harassment in a way that middle school readers will understand. When boys on the basketball team begin sexually harassing Mila, she isn’t sure what to do. Her friends think she is overreacting and being immature. At one point, Mila’s friend Zara tells her, “Look Mila, there’s got to be a reason why they’re picking you. Those boys are super awkward and stupid sometimes, but they aren’t monsters, right? So maybe if you think about what you’re doing—” However, the book makes it clear that Mila’s behavior is not responsible for the boys’ behavior.

Many readers will relate to Mila, who struggles to understand her changing body and the changing social structure of junior high. Soon, the boys’ behavior escalates and begins to cause problems in other aspects of Mila’s life. Like Mila, many readers may struggle with who to turn to in times of need. However, Mila’s story highlights the importance of speaking up and getting an adult’s help. Through Mila’s story, readers will learn that if someone’s touch makes you feel helpless, weird, annoyed, or embarrassed, you need to speak up.

Even though Maybe He Just Likes You does an excellent job showing what sexual harassment looks like, the conclusion is unrealistically hopeful. In the end, the boys apologize to Mila and the harassment stops. However, the story doesn’t show the lasting effects sexual harassment can have on a victim. Instead, Mila and one of the boys continue to sit next to each other in band, and when the boy begins taking karate, Mila gladly helps him.

Maybe He Just Likes You uses short chapters, easy vocabulary, and plenty of friendship drama to keep readers engaged. Being told from Mila’s point of view allows the reader to understand the confusing emotions that Mila battles. Maybe He Just Likes You is an engaging story that highlights the importance of finding your voice. Both boys and girls will benefit from reading Mila’s story because it gives clear examples of sexual harassment and explores the complicated nature of bullying.

Sexual Content

  • A group of boys play a game to see who can touch Mila the most. They also get points if they tell her something about her body. The group corners Mila in the band room, and pressure her to hug Leo because it’s his birthday. Mila thinks, “they haven’t moved from the door. I’ll need to pass them to get out of here. This isn’t a choice. . . I walk over to Leo, throw my arms around him and squeeze once.”
  • Tobias wants Mila to hug him because, “Yesterday when we all hugged you, the guys who touched Mila’s sweater scored a personal best. So we decided that Mila’s green fuzz was magic.” Mila holds her arm out so Tobias can touch the sweater. “But then, before I knew it was happening, he threw his arms around my chest and squeezed so hard that for a second I lost my breath.”
  • On the bus ride home, Dante sits too close to her. Mila “could feel Dante’s shoulder bump against mine. This definitely felt wrong and unfair. . .his bare legs kept brushing against my jeans. . . But when the bus hit a giant pothole, his arm flew across my chest.” Mila asks him to move over, but he doesn’t.
  • A boy tells Mila, “You changed your outfit. Your butt looked nicer in that green sweater.”
  • Mila realizes that her friend Max “likes this new boy. As in, likes.” Later Max starts spending time with the boy.
  • When Mila is getting into her locker, “someone’s hand grabbed my butt.” When Mila confronts the boy, he says, “It’s probably your imagination.”
  • While walking onto stage for a performance, a boy says, “Hey Mila, I can see right through your shirt.”
  • During summer, Liana was helping babysit a little girl. They would often go to the pool. “Daniel and Luis and this other boy I didn’t know started playing this game. . . They kept bothering me underwater. Blocking me so I was trapped, yanking my swimsuit.” When she told the girl’s mother that the boys were bothering her, the mother said, “Well, honey, you know I’m paying you to watch Skyler, not to interact with boys.”

Violence

  • During band, a boy grabs Mila’s arm. Mila “yanked my arm away. And when I side-kicked him in the shin, Callum went sprawling, knocking over two chairs and three music stands on his way to the floor.” Mila is given three days of after-school detention and Callum is given one day of detention.

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • Dang is used once.
  • Twice, during a stressful time, Mila thinks “crap.”
  • Omigod is used as an exclamation 5 times. For example, before singing tryouts Zara says, “Omigod, I’m so nervous I could puke.”
  • A boy calls his friend a moron.
  • The girls occasionally say that someone is a jerk. A girl says that a classmate is “a total jerk to me in band.”
  • In the past, one of Mila’s friends was teased “when Hunter Schultz called him ‘gay’ and ‘Maxipad’ and a bunch of other things.”

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content

  • None

Tooth Fairy’s Night

The Tooth Fairy wakes up and prepares for a night collecting teeth and leaving money under pillows. First, she enters a little girl’s room and gets the tooth but she has a hard time wiggling it free from under the pillow. Then, she flies to a little boy’s room, where she has to use fairy dust to put the dog to sleep. The Tooth Fairy takes a break for a cup of tea and some cake.

The Tooth Fairy goes to another house, where a cat takes a swipe at her. It’s a good thing that the fairy can fly so fast. At the last house, the Tooth Fairy has to squeeze between a zoo of stuffed animals. When the job is done, the Tooth Fairy flies home, brushes her teeth, and goes to bed.

Tooth Fairy’s Night is intended for children who know the alphabet and are eager to begin reading. With large text, easy words, and full-page pictures on every page, Tooth Fairy’s Night is a quick story to read. Each page has 2 to 7 words and many of the sentences only have one word.

Younger readers will enjoy both the story and the cute illustrations that fill every page. While the Tooth Fairy is magical, she is also very similar to every child—she packs a lunch, feeds her pet, and brushes her teeth before bed. Conflict is built when the fairy has to struggle to open a window, watch out for a pet, and stay out of a cat’s paws. The fairy is adorably cute, dances through her work, and when she takes her wings off, she looks just like other little girls.

The story is perfect for preschool and kindergarten readers who are ready to learn to read. Parents will enjoy reading the story aloud, especially because it’s such a quick read. Readers will enjoy looking at the pictures that are packed with fun details such as a child’s drawings hanging on the wall and the pretty flowers outside of the window. After reading Tooth Fairy’s Night, younger readers just might want to put on their own wings and pretend to fly around the house.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • None

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • When the tooth fairy enters a house with a dog, she uses “sleep dust” and soon the dog is “out like a log.”

Language

  • None

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content

  • None

You Wouldn’t Want to Work on the Brooklyn Bridge!

Readers, get ready to pretend you are the son of a famous engineer who is about to be thrown into the deep end! When your father dies as the result of a nasty accident, it’s up to you to build the Brooklyn Bridge.

The project will take you 14 years to complete. You will need to work at great heights and great depths. Twenty-seven men will die while building the bridge. But the bridge will open and thousands of people will line up to walk across it.

You Wouldn’t Want to Work on the Brooklyn Bridge uses short snippets, timelines, quote boxes, and handy hints to explain how John Augustus Roebling’s design of the bridge became an enormous project that seemed impossible to build. Much like a picture book, each page is full of illustrations. The brightly colored illustrations are educational and humorous. Many of the illustrations are caricatures of the people involved in building the bridge. Even though the illustrations will make readers laugh, they also pack in a lot of information and have detailed drawings of the bridge’s design, such as the base of the tower, the suspension cables, and the steel wire used to suspend the bridge.

Anyone who has ever wondered how anyone builds a bridge over water will find You Wouldn’t Want to Work on the Brooklyn Bridge fascinating. Each page has 1 to 3 paragraphs written in large text. Even though some of the vocabulary is difficult, readers will be able to use context clues to understand the reading. Plus, a glossary appears at the end of the book.

The fun format, funny illustrations, and short explanations make You Wouldn’t Want to Work on the Brooklyn Bridge good for reluctant readers. Whether you’re working on a research project, interested in history, or curious about construction, You Wouldn’t Want to Work on the Brooklyn Bridge is a great book to dive into.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • Working on the bridge was dangerous. “A suspender cable snaps. It recoils with such force that it kills two men instantly and seriously injures two others.”

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • None

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content

  • None

Chocolate Dreams

Life in Sugar Valley is deliciously fun! Cocoa the chocolate fairy is so excited. The fairy princess picked her to watch over the special chocolate eggs for the spring Egg Parade. But right before the parade, the eggs are missing from the nest!

Cocoa and her friends discover that the troll under the bridge ordered the Chuchies to bring the eggs to him. With the help of her friends, Cocoa finds the courage to tell Princess Lolli that the eggs are missing. Princess Lolli and Cocoa devise a trick to get the chocolate eggs back.

Chocolate Dreams is a super sweet story that has many candy references that readers will find cute. For example, one fairy has a “huge chocolate mess” and the troll who lives under a bridge is “a salty old troll” who lives in the Black Licorice Swamp. Readers will wish that they could visit Sugar Valley and enjoy some of the sugary snacks.

When the chocolate eggs disappear, Cocoa’s desire to find the eggs provides enough suspense to keep readers entertained. The predictable villain and his minions aren’t scary. His minions are “Chuchies” who are “sneaky creatures” who live in the swamp. Chuchies have “pom-pom bodies” and “short, thin legs.”

Chocolate Dreams begins with a map of the Candy Kingdom. The Peppermint Grove and other elements will remind readers of the game Candy Land. Black and white illustrations appear every 2 to 3 pages and show the fairies wearing pretty dresses. Although most of the fairies look similar, one fairy is African American. The story is best suited for proficient readers who are ready for chapter books.

The fairies’ friendship is super sweet and they emulate positive traits. For example, when the chocolate eggs are stolen, Cocoa’s friends encourage her to tell the truth. In addition, when Cocoa is in trouble her friends “dropped everything” to help her. Chocolate Dreams takes readers into an imaginative world that will engage readers as it teaches important lessons about honesty and friendship.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • None

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • The fairies say exclamations such as “peppermint sticks,” “Holy peppermint” and “bittersweet chocolate.”

Supernatural

  • The fairies have magic. “Chocolate Fairies had chocolate magic. They could create chocolate candy with a simple touch.”

Spiritual Content

  • None

Valentine’s Day Disaster

Geronimo Stilton was excited to have all of his friends over for a Valentine’s Day party. He sent valentines to all of his friends and family members. But when he opened his mailbox on February 14th, it was empty! Have his friends forgotten about him? Is he destined to spend the year alone in his mouse hole, sobbing into a box of chocolate cheesy chews?

Even though Geronimo didn’t receive any valentine cards, he prepares for his party. But the clumsy mouse has a string of bad luck. Thankfully, he meets Cheesy Lou Sweetsnout, a rodeo gal, who has a solution to every problem. Geronimo’s new friend reminds him that, “Life is beautiful, the world is marvelous, and I love everyone!” Can Cheesy Lou Sweetsnout help save the Valentine’s Day party?

As Geronimo prepares for his party, he has accident after accident. While Geronimo’s bad luck is funny, Valentine’s Day Disaster doesn’t have the adventure of the other books in the series. However, readers will still enjoy seeing Cheesy Lou Sweetsnout save the day over and over. In the end, Geronimo realizes that “friendship really is a treasure.”

Valentine’s Day Disaster’s layout will draw the reader in with large, full-color illustrations that appear on every page. In addition to the often humorous illustrations, the large text has a graphic element that makes the words look fun. Some of the keywords are printed in a larger, colored print. For readers who still struggle with reading, Valentine’s Day Disaster would make a great book to read aloud while letting the child read the words that are in the colored print.

Whether you are a Geronimo Stilton fan or a first-time reader, Valentine’s Day Disaster is a fun book. The beginning of the book has a two-page, illustrated list of Geronimo’s friends and the back of the book has a map of Mouse Island. There is also a short introduction of Geronimo’s enemy, Sally Ratmousen, and Cheesy Lou Sweetsnout. While some of the characters appear in different books in the series, the series does not need to be read in order.

Mixed into the story are short passages about the history behind Valentine’s Day and how pizza was invented. There is also information about cupid and instructions on how to line dance. Readers who want to host a Valentine’s Day party can use Cheesy Lou Sweetsnout’s How to Organize a Valentine’s Day Party Guide. You can make your guests laugh by telling the jokes that appear at the end of the book.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • None

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • None

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content

  • None

Mango Moon

One day Maricela’s father doesn’t come home. With her father in a detention center awaiting deportation, Maricela’s whole life changes. Her mother has to work two jobs, her family had to move in with Maricela’s aunt, and she has to change schools.

Maricela misses her father so much that it makes her stomach hurt. And everywhere she looks, she’s reminded that her father is gone. She misses him pushing her on the swings. She misses him coaching her soccer team. And she misses him whenever she sees the moon, the bright orange moon that is just like the mango Maricela was eating the last time she and her father looked at the night sky together from their porch.

Mango Moon tackles the difficult topic of deportation by focusing on one girl’s struggle. Maricela and her brother were born in the United States, and her mother has a visa. But Maricela doesn’t understand how her father can be sent to a dangerous county because “Papi never did anything wrong; he just didn’t have papers.”

Beautiful illustrations show Maricela’s range of emotions—confusion, loneliness, fear, and sadness. Her father’s absence is felt in every picture. On one page, Maricela hugs her father’s picture, and on another, she reads her father’s letters. The most touching picture is when both Maricela and her father are looking up at the same moon, but Maricela is in her backyard and her father is in a detention center. In the illustration, her father is holding a card that Maricela made for him. The illustrations highlight Maricela’s emotions, which often contrast with the bright illustrations. Most of the illustrations have mango color, which helps remind the reader of Maricela’s last night with her father.

While Mango Moon doesn’t talk about the political aspect of immigration, the story does show the devastating effects of families being separated. Unlike many stories, Mango Moon doesn’t end on a happy note. Instead, Maricela expects her father to be sent to another country, alone. Like many children of undocumented immigrants, Maricela is teased at school which only adds to her worries. Maricela’s story is heartbreaking because it shows how Maricela’s life is shattered.

Any parent who wants to broach the subject of immigration should read Mango Moon with their child. Even though the story is a picture book, young readers will need help understanding the difficult subject. De Anda writes about immigration’s hardships in a child-friendly manner that shows it is “all right for us to cry.” Many children may face similar hardships to Maricela, and Mango Moon can help them process the confusing emotions of having a parent deported. Even if you are not in a similar situation, Mango Moon can help kids grow empathy and understand the pain of losing a parent.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • None

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • None

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content

  • None

Efrén Divided

Efrén Nava’s Amá is his superwoman—or Soperwoman, named after the delicious Mexican sopes his mother often prepares for the family. Both Amá and Apá work hard all day to provide for the family, making sure Efrén and his younger siblings, Max and Mia, feel safe and loved.

But Efrén worries about his parents; although he’s American-born, his parents are undocumented. And according to the neighborhood talk, families like his are in great danger. Sure enough, Efrén’s worst nightmare comes true one day when Amá doesn’t return from work and is deported across the border to Tijuana, Mexico.

Now it’s up to Efrén to be brave and figure out how to act soper himself. While Apá takes an extra job to earn the money needed to get Amá back, Efrén struggles to look after Max and Mia while also dealing with schoolwork, his best friend’s probably-doomed campaign for school president, and his fears about what might happen to his family next.

When disaster strikes, Efrén is faced with crossing the border alone to see Amá. More than ever, he must channel his inner Soperboy to help him keep his family together.

Efrén Divided shows the struggle of undocumented workers from a middle schooler’s perspective. Efrén’s story does not discuss the politics of immigration, but instead focuses on Efrén’s struggles. Efrén worries about his parents being deported because they live in a country that does not want them. When Efrén’s mother is deported, Efrén feels shame and confusion. However, Efrén’s story doesn’t just focus on his family life. The reader also gets a glimpse of Efrén’s school life, which gives the story additional depth and shows how being in the country illegally affects many people.

While the story is engaging, readers may have a difficult time understanding some of the dialogue. When characters speak in Spanish, there are not always context clues to help readers understand the words’ meanings. However, the back of the book contains a glossary of Spanish words. Additionally, the conclusion has several events that seem out of place because they are not natural extensions of the story.

Efrén Divided uses an engaging story to shine a light on the difficulty that American-born children face when their parents are undocumented. The story makes many references to The House on Mango Street, which may make readers want to also read that book. The story highlights the importance of family and friends, as well as the need to “surround yourself with good people. People who will bring out the good in you. Not the bad.” Readers who enjoy Efrén Divided should also check out New Kid by Jerry Craft and When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • Efrén’s brother, Max, pees on his clothes. Efrén tries to put him in the bathtub, but Max “pulled on Efrén’s hair and swung his legs wildly. One of his kicks nailed Efrén in the jaw, causing him to bite his lip.”

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • Efrén’s friend, David, now lives with his grandmother because his mom drank a lot.
  • When Efrén goes to Mexico, he follows signs advertising beer.
  • In Mexico, Efrén meets a man who tells him about the drug cartels.

Language

  • “Oh my God” is used as an exclamation 6 times.
  • Heck is used once.
  • Some of the kids call David “El Periquito Blanco” which means the white parakeet.

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content

  • Efrén and his family bless themselves.
  • When Efrén and his father are going to San Diego, they have to pass a checkpoint. Efrén prays, “Please, God, . . . let it be it closed. Let it be closed.”
  • When they pass the checkpoint, Efrén “bless[es] himself—this time thanking God for everything He’d given him.” Then, Efrén lists what he is thankful for.
  • Efrén and his father talk about going to mass to give thanks. The next morning, they go to mass, which “felt a bit more special than usual.” The family prays, but the specific prayer is not mentioned.

Caterflies and Ice

Zoey is excited when an unexpected spring snowstorm covers the ground in snow. Then Zoey learns that the snow is causing trouble for some of the magical creatures of the forest. Zoey and Sassafras come to their rescue. But their first attempt to save trapped caterflies eggs results in a big mistake. Can they figure out a way to fix things before the baby caterflies hatch?

Like the previous book in the series, Zoey uses science to solve problems. Her mom gives a demonstration showing what salt does to plants. This demonstration would be easy for readers to recreate. When Zoey tries, and accidentally hurts the plants that the caterflies babies will need to eat, Zoey’s mother doesn’t scold her. Instead, she says, “We all make mistakes.” Then her mother helps Zoey find a workable solution. Zoey documents her experiences in her science journal, and when Zoey writes in the journal, the font changes to large, kid-like font. Instead of telling Zoey what to do, her mom asks Zoey questions in order to guide her to a workable solution.

Younger readers will love the cute caterflies that look similar to kittens with wings and will love when Sassafras jumps in and helps keep the caterflies safe and warm. As Zoey helps the caterflies, the reader will learn about plants, caterpillars, and how they change into butterflies. Zoey’s adventure is shown through large black and white illustrations that appear on almost every page. Readers who are not fluent will need help with some of the vocabulary. However, with short paragraphs, plenty of dialogue, and a simple plot, Dragons and Marshmallows is accessible to most readers.

Caterflies and Ice will appeal to younger readers as well as parents. With her mom’s help, Zoey is able to come up with creative solutions to problems. For example, when Sassafras doesn’t like the wet snow, Zoey makes protective feet covers. In addition, Zoey is a relatable character who loves exploring, bugs, and using science to solve problems. Her cat Sassafras adds some humor to the story. In addition, her parents are portrayed in a positive manner and encourage Zoey to continue trying new things, even when she makes a mistake.

Zoey and Sassafras show the fun of science and the importance of taking care of the environment. The story ends with a glossary. Even though Zoey and Sassafras is a series, the books do not need to be read in order. Caterflies and Ice is an entertaining story that has a little bit of magic and a whole lot of important lessons. Readers who love science should also add The Data Set Series by Ada Hopper to their must-read list.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • None

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • None

Supernatural

  • Zoey and her mom are the only people that can see and talk to the magical creatures that live in the forest.
  • When Zoey takes a picture of a magical creature, “every photo saves a bit of magic with it.”

Spiritual Content

  • None

The Baby Firebird

Talia lives in a tropical rain forest that is home to a flock of magical firebirds. She meets a baby firebird, Riki. The firebird is curious about the human world. As Riki explores Talia’s house, Lord Fortescue appears. He’s determined to imprison all of the firebirds. When Lord Fortescue finds out about the Cave of Wonders, he’s convinced he can capture the birds and find treasure. Riki, Talia, and her friend Lucas go into the rainforest so they can warn the firebirds to hide.

The firebirds are able to hide from Lord Fortescue, but the evil man and his soldiers put huge boulders in front of the Cave of Wonders. Without the heat from the magical waters, the firebirds become weak. The stones are too large for Talia and Lucas to move. Even though it may be dangerous, the two friends go to wake up a sleeping dragon, who reluctantly agrees to help the firebirds.

The Baby Firebird quickly draws readers into the story and keeps them in suspense until the very end. Even though Lord Fortescue and his soldiers are dangerous, the kids only have one interaction with them. For the rest of the story, they are either spying on Lord Fortescue or hiding from him. However, the evil man adds a non-fighting villain to the plot.

Talia and Lucas are likable, brave characters. Even though humans are not allowed into the forest, Talia and Lucas break the rule because it was the only way to warn the firebirds about Lord Fortescue. Later, the dragon agrees to help the firebirds, but only if Talia gives him her sparkly rock. Even though the Speaking Stone is special, Talia puts the firebirds’ needs first and gives the stone to the dragon. In the end, Talia recognizes that Lord Fortescue and his soldiers, “wanted to find gold, but they missed the real treasure that’s already here—the animals!”

The first book in the series, The Sky Unicorn, introduced Sophy and the magical stones. Even though Sophy makes an appearance in all of the books, readers do not need to read the stories in order. Each book focuses on a new main character, which adds interest to the series. The story uses easy vocabulary, simple sentence structure, and black and white illustrations to make The Baby Firebird accessible to readers. Illustrations appear every 2-4 pages and help readers understand the plot.

The Baby Firebird is a fast-paced, suspenseful chapter book that has wide appeal. Young readers will admire Talia for her kindness, bravery, and selflessness. Talia’s behavior shows the importance of protecting animals, including staying out of animals’ habitats. Readers who enjoy animal stories should also add Rainbow Magic Series by Daisy Meadows and the Enchanted Pony Academy Series by Lisa Ann Scot to their reading list.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • None

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • None

Supernatural

  • Talia meets a baby firebird. “Talia knew the flames must be magical, as they never scorched the flowers or leaves.”
  • Firebirds get their magic from the Cave of Wonders, which is a “magical fire pool.” Talia “touched the golden surface with her fingers and drew back her hand immediately, surprised by the tickly feeling in her fingers.”
  • Talia is given a magical Speaking Stone that allows her to talk to magical creatures.

Spiritual Content

  • None

 

Valentine’s Day Secret

It’s Valentine’s Day, but things are not all hearts and flowers for Nancy! While she and her best friends, Bess and George, are making their own stuffed animals at Farmer Fan’s Barnyard Buddies, someone slips a mean valentine into Bess’s animal’s pocket. What’s worse than a mean valentine? Even worse, Bess thinks it came from George! Now the two are in the worst fight ever—and Nancy’s caught in the middle! How can she sew Bess and George’s friendship—not to mention the Clue Crew—back together?

Pink hot chocolate, dressed-up stuffed animals, and sharing cards all combine to make an interesting mystery. The friendship drama is integrated into the mystery, and the two topics combine to highlight the importance of forgiveness. While looking for clues, Nancy’s dog chews Colette’s new cow slippers. Nancy offers to save her allowance to buy Colette another pair. Even though Colette is upset, she forgives Nancy and says, “Dogs will be dogs. That’s why I like cows.” The story concludes when the culprit is discovered, and the three friends quickly forgive the valentine writer and each other.

Valentine’s Day Secret has many positive aspects that parents will appreciate. Like all children, Nancy and her two best friends squabble but eventually resolve their problems and remain best friends. In addition to using the powers of observation, the three friends are polite, ask permission before they jump into action, and show kindness to others.

Young mystery fans will not only enjoy the mystery but also the wordplay that appears in Valentine’s Day Secret. Readers will relate to Nancy, who is caught in the middle of her friends’ fight. Even though the three main characters are friends, they are unique individuals who have different interests. Black and white illustrations appear every 2 to 5 pages, which break up the text and help readers visualize the events in the plot. The last page of the book gives directions for making a charming Valentine pencil. This modern version of Nancy Drew will entertain today’s readers who will want to analyze the clues to see if they can determine who wrote the mean valentine.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • A girl grabs George’s stuffed cow and runs off with it.

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • None

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content

  • None

I Survived the Nazi Invasion, 1944

When Nazi soldiers occupy Poland, Max and his family are taken to a ghetto. Soon, Max’s father is taken away in a cattle car. Left on their own, Max and his sister Zena must rely on each other in order to survive. With barely enough food to eat, the siblings make a daring escape from Nazi soldiers and hide in the nearby forest.

By luck, Max and Zena meet a group of Jewish resistance fighters, who take care of them. After the resistance fighters blow up a train, the Nazis begin bombing the forest. Can Max and Zena survive the fallout of the Nazi Invasion? Will they ever see their father again?

I Survived the Nazi Invasion focuses on how the resistance fighters helped defeat the Nazis. Tarshis uses kid-friendly descriptions to show the Nazis’ brutality. Even though the descriptions are not graphic, the story shows several people dying, which may upset younger readers. In order to survive, Max remembers the Biblical story of David and Goliath, which gives him bravery and hope.

When the Nazis arrive in Max’s town, Max is surprised that some of the townspeople begin to treat the Jews badly. Max’s father tries to explain the townspeople’s behavior by saying, “They have small minds… Jews are different. And some people are suspicious of what they don’t understand.” However, the story doesn’t only show the ugly side of humanity. Instead, it also shows people’s kindness.

Even though Max and his family are able to go to America after the war, Max realizes that “The Nazis had wounded him in other places, too, places he couldn’t see. In his heart. In his mind. He had scars there, too. And he would carry those scars with him for his whole life.” Even though the Holocaust was a time of suffering, Max’s story also shows that some people risked their lives to help Jews as well as the bravery of the partisans. Most of all, Max’s message is to never lose hope.

The story is accessible to all readers because Tarshis uses short paragraphs and simple sentences. Realistic black and white illustrations are scattered throughout the story and will help readers visualize the events. The story also shows people working together to defeat the Nazis. While the story weaves interesting facts throughout, the book also ends with more facts about the Holocaust. The I Survived series gives readers a glimpse into deadly situations without including scary details. Each book is told from a young person’s point of view, which will help readers connect with the narrator.

The conclusion shows Max’s family reuniting during the war, which is unrealistic. While some of the events are too convenient to be believable, the suspense will keep readers turning the pages. Readers who want to learn more about World War II should read Survival Tails: World War II by Katrina Charman. Older readers who are ready for a more in-depth World War II story should read Resistance by Jennifer A. Nielsen.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • While Max and Zena were hiding in the forest, “German planes road through the sky, dropping 1,000-pound bombs that fell with shattering explosions. Kaboom! Enormous trees became flaming torches. Sparks showered down like burning snowflakes…” Another explosion sent Max “flying through the air. His body twisted and turned.” Max lands in a ditch.
  • When Max leaves the ghetto to find food, a soldier drags Max away from the camp. Max’s sister secretly follows them. When the soldier sees Zena, he points a gun at her. “Max’s body seemed to move on its own fueled by a mix of terror and fury. With all his might, Max threw himself against the man. The soldier teetered for a second, and then fell.” The soldier accidently shoots himself in the leg, and Max and Zena run into the forest.
  • A group of Jews blows up a train filled with Nazi supplies. “A bomb exploded in a massive ball of fire. In a flash, the bridge crumbled, its wooden supports snapping like toothpicks. The train’s locomotive seemed to hang helplessly in the air for a moment. And then it started its plunge into the rocky valley hundreds of feet below.”
  • When Max sees a Nazi soldier holding a gun at two people, Max yells at the soldier. “That boiling rage Max had felt earlier came back to him, powering his muscles. He gripped the rock, and with all of his might, he hurled it at the sneering soldier’s head… Thwack. It hit the soldier squarely on the forehead. The man stood in shock, and then stumbled backwards.” One of the Jews shoots the soldier.
  • Max sees a Nazi soldier. “He was small and skinny, and he looked very young… He looked as terrified and confused as Max was.” Before Max can intervene, a Jew shoots the boy, and “the bullet hit the soldier in the chest. And as he fell dead to the ground, his arm jerked. His pistol fired. A split second later, the bullet tore into Max’s side with a searing, blinding pain. Max stared down in shock as blood gushed from a gaping wound.” Max recovers.

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • A soldier says, “We will find those filthy Jews who destroyed our train.”

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content

  • The Biblical story of David and Goliath is retold. When David fights Goliath, “David lunged forward and grabbed Goliath’s sword and—whack—he chopped off Goliath’s head.” David’s story gave Max hope.
  • When Max is trapped under a tree, as he finally frees himself, he prayed, “he’d see Zena and Aunt Hannah and Martin and Lev waiting for him.”
  • When Max is shot, several people pray that Max would survive.

Peril in the Palace

Beth and her cousin Patrick go to China in 1271 where they have to find the golden tablet of Kublai Khan. Once in China, the cousins are kidnapped by Mongol warriors, who think they are evil. Only the friendship of fellow traveler Marco Polo saves them from harm.

At the Shangdu palace, Kublai Khan dislikes Beth’s and Patrick’s gifts and the message about Christianity. Next, the Mongol magicians challenge the cousins to a spiritual power showdown. The cousins are again locked up. But then they meet Genghis Khan’s great-great-granddaughter. However, Beth and Patrick are not safe, so they escape from the palace.

Before the cousins are able to make it safely away from the palace, two giant birds swoop down and grab them. The birds take them to their nest where hungry chicks wait for a meal. A mysterious knight appears and helps the kids make it back to the Imagination Station.

Peril in the Palace is the third book in the Imagination Station Series. Each book’s plot builds on the previous book so the stories must be read in order. Like the previous books in the series, history is incorporated into the story. However, Peril in the Palace’s plot is not as well developed and the conclusion has several events that are unrealistic.

Despite this, readers will appreciate the fast-paced plot which shows the importance of sharing the Christian faith. When the Mongol shamans use “magic,” Beth is able to show how the shamans are really using magnets to perform the magic. While the religious message is not as strong as the previous books, the story of Jesus is incorporated into the story.

The large text and illustrations make the story accessible to readers ready for chapter books. Black and white illustrations of varying sizes are scattered throughout the book. Parents who are looking for a wholesome book that incorporates the Bible into the story will find the Imagination Station Series a good choice. Readers who want more time traveling fun should check out the Time Jumpers Series by Wendy Mass.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • Beth and Patrick are kidnapped. “A horse came alongside them. The rider leaned sideways and grabbed Beth under the arms. He pulled her up onto the saddle.” The cousins are saved by Marco Polo.
  • A wounded warrior comes to report to Kublai Khan. “Koke’s tunic was soaked in blood. An arrow had been shot through the man’s shoulder.”
  • Giant eagles called rocs pick up Beth and Patrick and take them to their hungry chicks. “One of the beaks grabbed Beth. . . The bird caught the edge of her dress.” Beth’s leg is injured. A Knight appears. “Suddenly a silver sword slashed the air above them. The sword hit the bird’s claws, and the bird cried out.”
  • The adult rocs swoop down and try to swallow the kids. “The knight turned just in time. He swung the sword with both hands. Bam! The sword hit the roc’s beak—and bounced off. The kids are able to escape.

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • None

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content

  • Kublai Khan asks a group of foreigners, “Why doesn’t your God help the Christians? Why doesn’t the Christian God smash your enemies?” Patrick explains, “Jesus Christ destroyed death. He rose from the grave! Those who believe in Him will live forever.”
  • Kublai Khan believes that he will “go to the afterlife as a warrior. The Mongols will bury him with arrows and horses.”
  • Beth gives a young girl a Bible.

Candy Kisses

There’s no holiday like Valentine’s Day according to JoJo Siwa—candy hearts and frilly tutus are two of her favorite things! This year she’s hosting a Valentine-themed sleepover with BowBow and her friends. (Party time!!!) Best of all, JoJo has a new dance workshop to look forward to, with a big performance at the end. When the news breaks that only one dancer will get to shine in a solo, the snarky Queen Bs—Bree, Bahi, and Bell—begin to stir up trouble.

In Candy Kisses, JoJo continues her message of being kind. Unfortunately, JoJo’s sweetness and over-confidence don’t ring true. Most of the story focuses on a dance workshop that JoJo is taking. All of the dancers are older than JoJo and some of them dance professionally. Despite this, JoJo has no problem learning the dance moves and some of the other dancers are awed by JoJo’s dancing skills and fame.

When Bell begins talking badly about the others, the dance instructor and the other dancers don’t know how to address the problem. Despite this, JoJo comes up with a creative way to get Bell to stop bullying. JoJo “doesn’t believe in excluding anyone” and encourages others to believe in themselves. The unrealistic conclusion has all of the girls becoming friends. However, JoJo’s constant self-praise overshadows the story’s positive lessons.

While Candy Kisses is intended for girls six or older, the vocabulary will be difficult for younger readers. Readers who enjoy illustrated chapter books will find the text-heavy pages of Candy Kisses a little overwhelming. Each chapter starts with a cute black and white illustration, but they are the only pictures that appear in the book. Another negative aspect of the story is that BowBow rarely appears, even though he is on the cover of the book.

Instead of being an imperfect person who makes mistakes, JoJo is portrayed as a perfect person who has a solution for every situation. The self-promoting narration makes Candy Kisses difficult to enjoy. Even though JoJo is a dancer, singer, actress, and YouTube personality, parents and some readers will be annoyed by her lack of humility. The JoJo and BowBow Series is one that is best left on the library shelf. If you’re looking for an illustrated series that promotes friendship, add the Purrmaids Series by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen to your reading list. Older readers who want an action-packed animal story should read the Wild Rescuers Series by Stacy Plays.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • None

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • None

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content

  • None

Golden Threads

When a storm sweeps Emi’s beloved stuffed fox away from their mountain home, he ends up tattered and alone on a distant shore. A kind old man finds the fox and gives it to his granddaughter, Kiko. As she recovers from an injury of her own, Kiko mends the fox lovingly with golden thread.

As the seasons pass, Kiko cares for the fox as her own. While the fox is with his new friend, Kiko sews him with golden thread. After discovering his origins, she sets out with her grandfather’s help to bring the fox back to its original home. Once together, Emi and Kiko piece together the fox’s journey and find delight in their newly forged connections.

Told from the stuffed fox’s point of view, readers will relate to the fox who is lost and misses his friend, Emi. The fox worries that because of his “tattered paws and matted fur” that Emi will no longer want him. The illustrations depict Kiki’s injury and imply that both Kiki and the fox will be better than before after they heal. The story shows how the fox brings Emi and Kiki together and helps them form a friendship.

Golden Threads is inspired by the Japanese art form of kintsugi, or golden joinery, where broken pottery is repaired with resin painted gold. Kintsugi values repairing, rather than replacing, believing that the cracks give the broken item its story. This book is also a warm celebration of wabi-sabi, the Japanese idea that there is beauty in things that may be incomplete or imperfect.

Any child who has a favorite stuffed animal will love Golden Threads and understand the themes of getting lost, healing, and coming home. The sweet story has beautiful paper-cut illustrations with depth and warmth. Even though Golden Threads is a picture book, the story is intended to be read aloud to a child, rather than for the child to read it for the first time independently. The alliterations and descriptions make the story fun to read aloud. However, younger readers may have difficulty with the complex sentence structure and the vocabulary. Each page has 1-4 sentences, which makes Golden Threads perfect to read aloud. Golden Threads beautifully conveys the message that people and stuffed animals do not need to be perfect in order to be loved.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • None

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • None

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content

  • None

Mae Jemison: Awesome Astronaut

The Woman in Science Series introduces readers to Mae Jemison, who is a doctor, scientist, and astronaut. Born in 1956, Mae broke gender and racial stereotypesm because when Mae was young, science was considered man’s work. Despite this, Mae was determined to be a scientist. Watching the Gemini space mission and Star Trek encouraged Mae to dream big. On Star Trek, “the crew came from all over the world. Mae liked that Lieutenant Uhura was a woman from Africa. Uhura helped Mae believe she could someday travel to space, too.”

Mae’s curiosity caused her to spend a lot of time in the library reading. She also conducted her own science experiments. Mae’s parents encouraged her to keep experimenting and keep learning. Mae knew she wanted to know more about science, but she also wanted to learn more about her culture, so she studied both chemical engineering and African-American studies.

Mae continued to work hard and eventually became a doctor. She served in a refugee camp, joined the Peace Corps, and became the first African American woman to be accepted into the NASA training program. Eventually, Mae spent eight days on the space shuttle Endeavour. Mae also founded her own company, the Jemison Group, which seeks to encourage a love of science. “Mae Jemison hopes her work will take some of the mystery out of science for children of color and all girls. Anyone can be a scientist, Jemison says. All it takes is curiosity.”

 Mae Jemison: Awesome Astronaut shows how curiosity and hard work allowed Mae to become an astronaut. However, it’s Mae’s dedication to helping others that really shines. Her story is told using simple vocabulary, short paragraphs, and pictures of Mae in action. Fourteen vocabulary words are bolded in the text and defined in the glossary at the end of the book. The book ends with a timeline of Mae’s life and an experiment for readers to try.

Mae Jemison: Awesome Astronaut isn’t just for readers who want to be an astronaut. Her story will motivate everyone to reach for the sky and make their dreams come true. Mae’s story highlights how hard work and knowledge combined to help her reach her goals. Even today, Mae continues to help others find their love of science. Mae Jemison: Awesome Astronaut is an easy-to-read biography that everyone should read. Not only does it chronicle Mae’s life, but it also shows the importance of serving others.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • None

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • None

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content

  • None

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