Reading Level: Elementary

The Throne of Fire

Following the events of book one in The Kane Chronicles, Carter and Sadie are facing a new danger: the serpent of chaos, Apophis. Carter gives the reader a very brief overview of what happened in the previous book, saying, “The Egyptian gods are running around loose in the modern world; a bunch of magicians called the House of Life is trying to stop them . . . and a big snake [Apophis] is about to swallow the sun and destroy the world.” However, Carter and Sadie now have several new magician trainees who can help them fight Apophis.  

Carter and Sadie discover that they must work with the gods to defeat the serpent of chaos, Apophis, as his rise threatens both mortals and gods. Sadie explains it well as she says, “Apophis can’t imagine that anyone could unite the gods and magicians . . . He thinks the return of [the sun god] will weaken us even further. We have to prove [Apophis] wrong. We have to make order from chaos.” After their mom passed away, Carter was sent to live with his dad, and Sadie was sent to live with her grandparents, and throughout the book, we get to see them really bond and reconnect with each other as siblings as they learn to understand their magic. Readers with siblings are likely to find Carter and Sadie very relatable, as they do not always get along, but when they are facing danger, they support each other no matter what. 

The Throne of Fire’s theme focuses on Carter and Sadie strengthening their friendship as siblings. In the first book, the readers learn that Carter and Sadie have lived far away from each other for most of their lives, but now they spend every day together learning more about magic and working together to save the world. Readers with siblings will likely empathize with Carter and Sadie as they worry about each other’s safety. For instance, Sadie says, “Seeing Carter hurt was the final insult . . . My friends had been attacked, and my birthday ruined. But my brother was off-limits. No one was allowed to hurt my brother.” Sadie and Carter stand strong and have each other’s back in the face of constant danger.  

Sadie and Carter face a new struggle—their friend, Walt, is dying of an ancient curse that they cannot stop. Walt explains that his curse is connected to King Tut’s bloodline. Walt says, “[The] curse runs in my family . . . Kind of a genetic disease. Not every generation, not every person, but when it strikes it’s bad. [King Tut] died at nineteen. Most of the others . . . twelve, thirteen. I’m sixteen now . . . My dad was eighteen. I never knew him.” Sadie and Carter desperately try to come up with solutions to help Walt, but he explains, “This curse has been defying healers for three thousand years.” Carter and Sadie feel guilty that they still cannot cure Walt, and this unresolved issue will continue in the next book.   

The Throne of Fire has one impactful lesson: do what feels right even when another option seems easier. For example, when Carter and Sadie fight Apophis, the serpent of chaos, he tries to bribe them to join him. Carter thought, “Chaos can also be appealing. It tempts you to believe that nothing matters except what you want. And there was so much that I wanted.” However, Sadie and Carter decide that the most important thing is to restore order. The Throne of Fire will appeal to readers who love mythology, magic, and being kept on the edge of their seats.   

Sexual Content  

  • One of the new magicians that Sadie and Carter are training, Jaz, gives another trainee, Walt, a kiss on the cheek before trying a difficult spell. “[Jaz] pulled her wand and then—much to [Sadie’s] shock—gave Walt a kiss on the cheek.”  
  • Sadie thinks about her friend Walt and realizes she has feelings for him: “I wasn’t at all interested in how handsome [Walt’s] face looked in the moonlight, or his muscular arms in that sleeveless tee . . . Sorry. Lost my train of thought.”  
  • Sadie discusses her interactions with the god of funerals, Anubis. “I had a bit of a crush on Anubis. I know how ridiculous that sounds . . . [Anubis] was a god. We had absolutely nothing in common. I hadn’t heard from [Anubis] since our adventure with the Red Pyramid.”  
  • Sadie is briefly transported to the Land of the Dead where Anubis advises escaping some monsters. “Anubis said. ‘I’m sorry I can’t do more. But happy birthday, Sadie.’ [Anubis] leaned forward and kissed [Sadie] on the lips.”  
  • Walt reveals that he is dying of an incurable curse, “I’m going to die anyway, Sadie. I want my life to mean something. And . . . I want to spend as much time as I can with you.” Sadie doesn’t know how to respond and reveals to the reader, “I think I might have kissed [Walt].”  
  • Sadie performs a spell to get herself and Walt out of a cavern. Afterward, “Walt leaned down and kissed me.” 

Violence  

  • Carter receives a vision in which he has to fight several monsters. “Horrible faces rose up—a sea dragon with feline eyes, a crocodile with porcupine bristles, a serpent with the head of a mummified man. Each time one rose up, I raised my sword and cut it down, or speared it with my javelin.”  
  • A three-headed serpent attacks Carter and some of his magician trainees. “The serpent opened its mouths, blasting out three columns of flames.” Luckily, Carter and his friends can protect each other, and “[Carter] raised a green shield of magic to deflect the fire.”  
  • Carter describes how his magician trainees defend themselves against the three-headed serpent attacking them. “Julian’s sword sliced off one of its heads. Felix’s shoe bounced off another. The blast from Walt’s wand turned the third to dust. Then Alyssa’s statues slammed into it, smashing the monster under a ton of stone. What was left of the serpent’s body dissolved into sand.” 
  • A monster with deadly venom bites Carter. “The creature sank its fangs into Carter’s left shoulder, and he dropped to the ground.” Sadie destroys the creature with magic. She “unleashed a beam of golden light that hit the monster with the force of a sandblaster. The [creature] crumbled to bits.” Luckily, healing magic saves Carter.  
  • Sadie, Carter, and their friend Bes play a game in the Land of the Dead with the moon god, Khonsu, in exchange for a few more hours of time so that they can complete their quest. If they lose, Khonsu threatens to, “Erase part of our souls . . . take our memories, our identity.”  
  • The magician Desjardins has to fight one of his own friends, whom Apophis possesses. Desjardins tells his fellow magician, “You toy with something much worse than death, my old friend. Pray that I kill you before you succeed.” Desjardins uses his magic to banish Apophis to the duat, a realm between our world and the underworld, and succeeds. However, the spell requires so much magic that Desjardins passes away afterwards.  

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • Characters occasionally use words like stupid, shut up, and idiot.  

Supernatural 

  • Carter explains that the god, Horus, is able to speak to him in his mind. Horus gives Carter advice on finding an artifact Carter is looking for. However, Horus warns Carter about the artifact at the last possible minute. Horus speaks to Carter, “You’ll have five days to figure out how to use [the artifact], or we’re all doomed. Good luck!”  
  • After talking to Horus, Carter says, “I could’ve screamed at [Horus] for not telling me sooner, but it wouldn’t have made any difference. Gods only talk when they’re ready, and they don’t have a good sense of mortal time. I knew this because Horus had shared space in my head a few months ago.”  
  • Carter and Sadie see their friend Jaz perform a spell to protect them all from evil spirits of chaos. Carter “turned just in time to see a flash of blinding red light. The entire vortex collapsed inward, sucking all six [spirits] into Jaz’s circle. The light died. Jaz fainted, her wand and the Sekhmet statue both crumbling to dust in her hands.”  
  • Carter channels the power of the god Horus to give him strength while fighting some demons. “I awoke in a different body . . . My arms were bronze and muscular, circled with bands of gold and lapis lazuli. I was dressed for battle in leather armor.” Carter describes, “I felt strong and powerful like . . . well, a god.” 

Spiritual Content  

  • Before doing a spell, Jaz takes out a goddess statue to bring her strength. “From [Jaz’s] bag, she produced a small statue of Sekhmet, [Jaz’s] patron goddess, and held it aloft.”  
  • Like the previous book, the gods in this book are not worshipped but interact with others. The gods have strengths and powers. For instance, Carter discusses his thoughts about the god Horus. “[Horus] didn’t want [another god] coming back to challenge his authority. Gods tend to be selfish. Even when they’re helpful, they always have their own motives. That’s why you have to be careful about trusting [gods]. 

The Boy Who Could Draw

Ramses is an orphan with a strange skill. He has a magical talent for drawing. His pictures of the gods are so real that they appear to breathe with life. The sight terrifies Ramses’ evil caretakers, who call him cursed and punish him for his unique powers. But not everyone thinks he’s cursed. When Ramses’ parents were alive, they loved him and called his talent a gift. He doesn’t know who or what to believe anymore. Then, famous craftsmen come looking for an artist to paint the walls of King Tut’s tomb. Ramses longs to win the apprenticeship. If he does, he might just find where he belongs. But if he fails, he’ll never escape his cruel caretakers. 

Neferet, the daughter of chief scribes, continually gets into trouble for sneaking out of the Place of Truth, but that doesn’t stop her from exploring the world outside of her village. During her excursions, she meets a vile boy who threatens to curse her community if she doesn’t help him win the apprenticeship. Before the craftsmen see anyone else’s artwork, the boy wins the favor of the city leaders. Can Neferet convince her father not to give the apprentice to the evil boy? 

From the very first page, readers are drawn into Ramses’ life in Ancient Egypt, and the compelling story is impossible to put down. After his parents’ deaths, Ramses’ aunt and uncle treat him as a slave. Despite this, Ramses works hard, treats others kindly, and strives to do what is right. When villainous men try to blackmail Ramses, the boy is willing to give up his hopes of winning the apprenticeship in order to stay true to himself. Ramses’ positive character traits make him a likable protagonist worthy of admiration.   

The addition of Neferet’s story gives an inside view of the historical Place of Truth, which was isolated from other communities. Neferet’s explorations outside of her village add suspense because she meets both Ramses and another boy, who both want to win the apprenticeship. Using Neferet’s point of view allows readers to understand the conflict that arises when the craftsmen choose the new apprentices. In addition, Neferet’s desire to make her father proud while also quenching her curiosity makes her a relatable character that readers will connect with. 

The Boy Who Could Draw has two well-developed protagonists who readers will root for. The fast-paced story also has plenty of action and adventure to engage readers. In addition, the villains are easily recognizable and add conflict to the story. In the end, the villains are justly punished, and the characters who did what is right receive their just reward. The conclusion highlights the importance of doing what is right, even when it is difficult. In the end, Ramses gets the apprenticeship because “he has more than a gift; he is smart. He doesn’t rely on the whim of the gods. He puts a method to work, a reliable method that nothing can foil. [He is] a farmer. . . And farmers are stubborn, determined people.”  

The Boy Who Could Draw is ultimately a story about a boy who is trying to find where he belongs. The struggles and misfortunes he endures along the way make for a compelling story. Magic is mixed in with interesting historical facts that allow readers to understand how the Ancient Egyptians lived. The relatable conflicts, likable characters, and realistic villains will appeal to any readers who want to jump into a fast-paced story where good wins against evil. Readers fascinated with Ancient Egypt should also read the TombQuest Series by Michael Northrop and The Curse of King Tut’s Mummy by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • Ramses’ Aunt Zalika is abusive. When she finds Ramses’ drawing, she “pulled her hand back, raising his drawing stick overhead. Then she brought it down fast. . . The stick slammed into his back. It tore away a layer of skin.” Ramses has “two blazing welts on his back.”
  • Aunt Zalika accuses Ramses of trying to hurt her son, Sepi. When Ramses tried to give Sepi water, Aunt Zalika “backhanded him hard. Her rings drew blood. . . She grabbed Sepi’s walking stick. Ramses ducked as she brought it down on his head; it slammed his shoulder. He stumbled sideways as she hit him again.” Ramses runs out of the house.  
  • When Aunt Zalika finds one of Rames’ drawings, she makes him put his hands on a rock. “Aunt Zalika cracked the whip across his neck. . . Aunt Zalika forced him to kneel and open his hands. . . Then the lash came down and tore away a layer of flesh. He couldn’t breathe; his chest froze in a gasp. Down the lash came again. . . flaying the skin.” A farm worker stops Zalika’s attack. Despite Ramses’ injuries, he is still forced to cut grain with a scythe.  
  • While Neferet collected plants, a boy “lunged and snared her by the wrist.” He demands information; she “kicked at his shins; he dodged sideways. She tried to wrestle so that they both landed on the scorched earth.” He threatens Neferet and then lets her go. 
  • Aunt Zalika takes Ramses’ drawing and throws it in the oven. “Swinging the hot poker at Ramses, she caught him in the chest. He fell back, the burnt smell of singed skin filling his nostrils.” 
  • A man tries to blackmail Ramses. The man’s “fist shot out and slammed Ramses in the jaw. The ground rose up fast. Razored stems broke his fall.”  
  • One of the blackmailers named Denger ties up Ramses and forces Neferet to walk. “Ramses kicked hard and slammed him in the gut. Muscled as a bull, the man just laughed. . . He crushed [Ramses] to the ground, snaked the rope around Ramses’ neck and wrists, and bound his hands together.” Later, Denger presses a sword “to Ramses’ throat, then slid the blade lightly across the skin.” Denger threatens to kill Ramses.  
  • Neferet tries to run away from Denger. When she falls, “Denger was on her—he caught her hair in his fist. . . Denger wrenched her head to look at him.”  
  • Ramses tries to escape Denger, but they fall over a bridge. Denger hits a boulder. “A sickening crunch sounded as the man hit the stone. . . The rope wrenched them both to a halt. . . Denger made a low whine—eerie and frightening.”  
  • When Denger fell, he fell on his sword. “Buried in the man’s stomach, all the way to the worn leather hilt, was the sentry’s own sword. Worse, it wasn’t a clean cut. The blade had gored him badly, exposing his gut.” The physician tries to save Denger’s life by working “to remove the blade, pulling it carefully from his ruptured belly. They tried to stitch the gore back together. They tried to stop the blood, the oozing blood that poured over everything.” Denger dies. 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • When Ramses’ father is ill, he is given a “potion.” 
  • Neferet collects plants that the village physician uses to make medicine. A girl who is jealous of Neferet tampers with the herbs, replacing helpful herbs with a deadly belladonna berry. Luckily, the berry is found before anyone is harmed. 
  • A woman ordered “two jars of beer.”  
  • When Ramses goes into a temple, he passes out because he “fell under the spell of drugged incense.” 
  • Occasionally, the adults drink wine. For example, Rames passes a group of people who “sang as they walked, the litters swinging drunkenly on their shoulders.”  
  • One of the adults “drank too much beer and dealt with his problems by shouting.”  
  • When a man is injured, he is given a sleeping draught.  

Language  

  • Ramses’ aunt and uncle call him names including “flea-bitten farm boy,” “little flea,” “grubby little rat,” “scrounge-brains,” and “river scum,” as well as other demeaning names. 
  • “By the gods” and “flea-dung” are used several times as an exclamation.  
  • “By the beard of Ptah” is used as an exclamation once. 
  • When Ramses tries to help a girl who fell into an animal trap, she calls him “jackal-breath!” 
  • A man calls someone a “lout.” 
  • A mean girl tells Neferet, “Maybe it’s a good thing your mother died. . . So she didn’t have to see what a pathetic excuse for a daughter you are.” Later, the mean girl calls Neferet “dirt-face.” 

Supernatural 

  • When Ramses draws, the pictures move. For example, when Ramses drew a picture of the god Osiris, “Osiris’s eyes—eyes made of sand—were moving. . . They flicked up to stare at the acacia stick in the boy’s hand. Locking onto it, the god’s eerie sand-eyes studied the simple tool that had drawn his huge form on the riverbank.”  

Spiritual Content  

  • The Greek gods, such as Osiris, the king of the underworld, play a role in the character’s lives. 
  • When Ramses’ father died, a priest chanted “magic spells over his sick father.” The priest implies that Ramses’ drawing caused Ramses’ father’s illness. The priest said, “What that boy does is unholy. . . He was barely out of swaddling clothes. Yet there he was sketching his dark magic on the ground. No god meant him to have such power.”  
  • One of the story’s conflicts revolves around Ramses’ ability to draw—is it a curse or a gift? 
  • After his father dies, Ramses draws Horus, “the god of the sky, whose eyes were the sun and moon. Ramses didn’t know what he’d do if Horus came to life. Demand answers? Ask him if Osiris killed his father as punishment? Was it all Ramses’ fault, like the priest said?”  
  • Ra, the sun god, is mentioned often, especially when night falls. Ra “would drop below the horizon and begin his nightly voyage through the underworld.” 
  • Ramses tries to free a bird that is caught in a trap. When the bird dies, Ramses “prayed to Osiris to care for the bird’s everlasting soul.” 
  • To steal Ramses’ inheritance, his uncle had Ramses’ “birth wiped off the records. . . In one stroke, Uncle Hay had made him no one. Not only in the eyes of humans, but worse, in the eyes of the gods. Without a birth record, when he died, he’d be lost to wander the darkness forever. Unable to rest. Stuck in limbo. The ultimate horror.” 
  • Ramses draws Ptah, the patron god of craftsmen.  
  • Someone gives Ramses an amulet that is “a carved figure of Maat, goddess of justice and truth.” 
  • Several times, Ramses encounters a cobra he believes is Meretseger, “the snake goddess who protected the craftsmen of the Valley of the Kings.” 
  • When Neferet meets a mean boy, she “prayed fate would not carry him through the village gates and into her life.” 
  • Needing an isolated place to practice his drawing, Ramses goes to a shrine to Hathor. “Fruits and flowers lay piled at the goddess’s feet, along with a stew pot, strings of beads . . .” Rames thinks, “Hathor wouldn’t demand an offering for passing her shrine, but the gods he planned to visit were a different manner. . . No one in their right mind visited the gods without a gift. There would be a price to pay. There was always a price to pay. . .”  
  • When Ramses enters a temple, he worries about what will happen. “Elaborate spells, carved into their surface, warned intruders against entering. All of Egypt knew that only priests were allowed to cross the threshold. . . Any prayers or wishes had to be made outside.” 
  • Ramses draws a picture of Meretseger. When a group of men look at the picture, “Either a breeze was moving the page, or the goddess’s chest was rising and falling of its own accord. . . As if in response, Meretseger’s eyes flashed. . . The figure of the cobra shimmered, bulging up from the page. . . Meretseger was rising, a frightful goddess made of gold.” Some of the men “fell to their knees and covered their faces.”  
  • When a boy is being disrespectful, he is reminded, “As it says in the sacred texts of the Ke’gemni, ‘comfortable is the seat of the man of gentle speech—but knives are prepared against the one that forces a path, that he does not advance, save in due season.’” 
  • When a man dies, several people say, “Maat protect him.” 
  • The craftsmen who built the pharaoh’s tomb “make the magic that carries Pharaoh to the underworld, that ensures his safety, that keeps him for all eternity.” 

You Wouldn’t Want to Be a Pyramid Builder!

You are living in Egypt around 1500 BC. When a pharaoh dies, he joins the hawk-headed sun god Ra and travels the sky in his boat. To ensure his eternal life, the pharaoh’s corpse must not decay. So, each pharaoh gets his subjects to build him a gigantic tomb—a pyramid—which will preserve his body forever. Thousands of Egyptians are forced to work on it, including you.  

You Wouldn’t Want to Be a Pyramid Builder! immerses the reader in the story, making the interactive book fun to read. Readers will learn about the difficult work required to build a pyramid fit for a pharaoh. Much of the work was completed by unskilled workers who mined in a granite quarry or cut stone with a very hard rock. Skilled carvers and painters were also necessary to complete the inside of the pyramid. While most of the book discusses pyramid building in detail, it also incorporates the Egyptians’ belief in many gods and how the gods were vital to everyday life. 

Even though building a pyramid was serious work, the book uses humor to engage and educate readers. The text and full-color illustrations give accurate technical detail and give readers a vivid understanding of what life was like as an Egyptian pyramid builder. The book’s format is perfect for reluctant readers since each page has larger and several smaller illustrations. On each two-page spread, a large paragraph explains what is happening. Along the edges, more information about a pyramid builder’s life is given. For example, “On payday, your wages come in various useful forms, such as grain, oil, or fine linen cloth. 

Anyone who wants to understand how the pyramids were made will find this easy-to-read book fascinating. The nonfiction book includes informative captions, a complete glossary, and an index. While some readers may not understand all of the words, context clues and illustrations will help them decode their meaning. Readers don’t have to watch for scorpions or crocodiles to learn more about ancient Egypt. Instead, they can head to the nearest library to check out Mummies and Pyramids by Mary Pope Osborne or The Curse of King Tut’s Mummy by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • Tax collectors “always have ways of showing how wrong you are.” The illustration shows a man on the ground being beaten with a stick.  

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • When creating the decorations in a tomb, “It is very important to know the exact stance and gestures the figures should portray and what symbols and written spells should accompany them. . . If you get any of them wrong the decorations will lose their magic power of ensuring the pharaoh’s safe journey to the gods.”  
  • To keep evil spirits away, “place the god Bes in a shire set in the wall of one of your rooms. He protects homes.” 
  • Some days are considered unlucky, “when it is believed evil forces are particularly strong. . . On those days, it is best to avoid bathing, making a journey, killing an ox, a goat, or a duck. . . Illnesses are caused by evil spirits too, so doctors prescribe spells as well as medicine.” 
  • It is important to carry an amulet such as the eye of the Sun God, Ra.

Spiritual Content  

  • The Egyptians believed in many gods and that the pharaohs were gods. “The Egyptians think the gods look after them because their rulers, the pharaohs, are gods themselves. When a pharaoh dies he joins the hawk-headed sun god Ra and travels to the sky in his boat.”  
  • The Egyptians believed the gods controlled everything. “You must bring offerings of your best produce to the temples for them. . . when the crops fail or when the hot wind blows blinding sandstorms from the desert, the gods are angry.” An illustration gives an example that shows a man getting eaten by a crocodile.  
  • It is important to preserve a body because “if it decays your spirit will perish. In the case of a pharaoh, these arrangements are important because the well-being of Egypt relies on his union with the gods. . . The head embalmer wears the mask of Anubis, the god of the dead, and recites appropriate spells.”  
  • When a body is preserved, “lucky amulets are bound in wrappings and the mummy is completed by a face mask portraying the person within.”  
  • When burying a pharaoh, “sacred rites, performed by the temple priests daily, will keep his spirit alive forever.” 

The Spin

Everyone knows Marcus Stroman as a baseball player. He loves the sport, and yes, he probably has a shot at the pros. But “baseball player” doesn’t totally define him. Why won’t anyone also see him as a basketball player or a musician? While he loves being known for what he does well, he’s struggling because people are trying to limit him to just one thing.

Literally how high up a mountain does Marcus need to climb to be completely free of what everyone else sees? How can he protect himself from the online zings, the chatter, and the opinions? When you walk out on the field or that court, how much criticism is fair play? With some perspective from a new view, Marcus realizes that no matter what field, court, or classroom he’s in, he has to block some shots.  

Marcus’ story rotates between Marcus’ family life, school life, and counseling sessions. The Spin reflects on the importance of words—both written and spoken. This topic is reinforced when Marcus’s class discusses a newspaper article and whether the reporter used any biased words. The teacher says, “The difference in reporting may seem minor, with just a few different words or phrases, but how things are reported has major implications.” Marcus gets first-hand experience when he is mentioned in a school newspaper article—Marcus feels that the article doesn’t portray him accurately. During class, with the teacher’s help, Marcus and the reporter discuss how the articles’ words affected the information conveyed. The class discussions allow the reader to understand how word choice can affect how readers interpret biased words differently.  

Marcus meets with his therapist, Gary, several times. During one session, Gary reminds Marcus that he can’t just assume that his parents know how he feels. Instead, “I have to tell people what I need from them instead of leaving them guessing.” With Gary’s help, Marcus finds a way to discuss his love of basketball with his parents. Gary also helps Marcus when some students write mean online comments. Gary says, “The instant sting or hurt? That’s real. That happens, and you process it. But then you can decide how much sticks and how much you shake off. You could also ignore it altogether.”  

The Spin includes many life lessons that are relatable to middle-grade students. However, some conversations, especially those between Marcus and his peers, aren’t authentic. Furthermore, Marcus’s parents are extremely agreeable and patient, but this behavior will not seem genuine to many readers. Besides students’ snarky comments online, the characters work through their disagreements using healthy communication skills.  

The Spin focuses on Marcus’s frustration with people classifying him as “just a baseball player.” Many readers will relate to Marcus’ conflicts, especially the difficulty discussing their emotions. However, the long conversations with Marcus’ parents and therapist slow the action, and many will be disappointed that there are few play-by-play sports scenes. While The Spin isn’t action-packed, the story includes relevant lessons about communication, friendship, and choosing your words wisely. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None

Language  

  • Freaking, dang, and heck are each used once. 
  • In one of Marcus’ classes, the teacher discusses a newspaper article. A kid asks, “Someone was a bonehead about setting the fire?” 
  • Marcus thinks that one of the players on his team is a jerk. 
  • An adult uses “Good Lord” as an exclamation once. 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

Gymnastics Challenge

Harper is a parkour extraordinaire. Nothing brings her more joy than “packing in the fun” at the park with her friends Cici and Lily, where they “move over, under, and around obstacles” with grace and agility. However, when Harper is unexpectedly invited to join a local gymnastics team, she fears that her decision could rupture her friendship with Cici and Lily. Can Harper maintain her friendship without sacrificing her opportunity to compete in gymnastics? 

Gymnastics Challenge is a captivating graphic novel that showcases the importance of friendship in sports, especially when new opportunities threaten to tear apart existing relationships. The book is told through the eyes of Harper, a spunky, energetic girl who wants to use her parkour skills to succeed in gymnastics. Her determination to overcome the difficulties in the new sport, such as the uneven bars, is evident throughout the story, and her ability to recognize her own faults and train to get better is admirable and inspirational. Of course, the story also makes Harper’s character feel realistic, emphasizing how she makes mistakes and wobbles during her routines. She overcomes her fears of making mistakes and learns that “we all wobble sometimes . . . in parkour, in gymnastics, and in friendships.” 

The book presents a positive outlook, relaying the importance of telling the truth and supporting one another in friendships. Conflicts arise when Harper is dishonest with her friends, but she learns to apologize and admit her faults, repairing her struggling relationship with Cici and Lily. Conversely, Cici and Lily learn to support Harper in her new opportunities. For instance, during Harper’s big competition, they shout, “Go Harper! You got this!” These events teach readers that the strongest friendships require honesty and support. 

Gymnastics Challenge presents its tale in a captivating graphic novel format. Each page contains two to four panels in a simplified art style, where the characters, movements, and dialogue are easy to read and follow. The book also uses a combination of graphic novel aspects, such as page-covering panels and pictorial elements like facial creases or sweat drops, to enhance its illustrations, making the scenes look and feel believable. Although the number of speech bubbles per page might be slightly overwhelming for younger readers, each bubble typically only contains one to two sentences with simple vocabulary. 

Gymnastics Challenge is part of the Jake Maddox Graphic Novel series, which focuses on inspiring lessons in sports and competition. Alongside its colorful illustrations, the book also contains additional content, such as a glossary, “Learn More About Gymnastics,” and “Visual Discussion Questions,” which ask the reader to identify how the art style represents the feelings and emotions in each scene. Although older readers may find the plot slightly cheesy, Gymnastics Challenge wins a perfect score with its illustrations, characters, and action sequences. 

Sexual Content 

  • None 

Violence 

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol 

  • None 

Language 

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content 

  • None 

In The Red Zone

Alex Summers and Oscar Han have always been the “dynamic duo” for their school’s football team, the Bobcats. With Alex as the star quarterback and Oscar as the wide receiver, the boys expected another fantastic football season with their friends. However, when Oscar unexpectedly quits the team, Alex is thrown into a frenzy of sadness, confusion, and betrayal. More alarmingly, Alex’s performance begins to drop in Oscar’s absence, and his team starts losing game after game. Can Alex right his relationship with Oscar before his season spirals out of control? 

In The Red Zone is an engaging graphic novel that explores the importance of friendship in the context of football. Told from Alex’s perspective, the book presents him as a lovable yet determined football player who wants to lead his team to a championship. His friendship, care, and support for his teammates are evident throughout the story, making him an admirable and inspirational protagonist. However, the story also highlights his weaknesses, such as his inability to appropriately understand Han’s reasons for leaving football; these flaws make his character realistic and genuine.  

The book presents an important lesson on honesty, communication, and supporting the differing interests of others. Much of the story’s conflict comes from the miscommunication between Alex and Han. Alex can’t comprehend that Han “didn’t even like playing football anymore.” However, through an honest conversation, both boys realize that their differing interests shouldn’t drive a wedge between them. Instead, they learn to understand and support each other. In The Red Zone teaches readers that they can avoid misunderstandings through proper communication, honesty, and love for one another.  

In The Red Zone delivers its story in an engaging graphic novel format. Each page contains two to three panels in a simplified art style, making the character movements and dialogue easy to read and follow. Although the art style lacks common graphic novel aspects like splashes or bleeds, its variety of colors and onomatopoeia make its illustrations captivating and enjoyable. Large speech bubbles also quickly identify the speakers and typically contain one to two sentences with simple vocabulary and sentence syntax.   

In The Red Zone is part of the Jake Maddox Graphic Novel series, which focuses on uplifting lessons in sports and competition. Alongside its enjoyable illustrations, the book contains additional content, such as a glossary, football history facts, and “visual questions,” which ask the reader to identify how the art style represents the feelings and emotions in each scene. While the plot can be too simplistic and slightly cliché for older readers, In The Red Zone’s charm lies in its illustrations, making it an exciting read for graphic novel enthusiasts and football fans alike.  

Sexual Content 

  • None 

Violence 

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol 

  • None 

Language 

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content 

  • None 

The Bravest Dog Ever: The True Story of Balto

It is one of the worst storms ever—it’s been snowing for days and is 30 degrees below zero. But somehow Balto must get through. He is the lead dog of a sled team carrying medicine to sick children in Nome, Alaska. He is the kids’ only hope. Can Balto find his way through the terrible storm? Find out in this exciting true story! 

Follow this suspenseful tale as Gunner (Balto’s owner), Balto, and his team travel through a terrible blizzard. These dogs never give up, even as “snow blocked the trails. The dogs sank up to their necks in the snow. They could not move. Some began to panic.” Balto stays calm, which helps the other dogs wait as Gunner digs them out. But this is just one obstacle that Balto helps Gunner navigate. Readers will wait in anticipation as they watch Balto navigate this terrible storm and will cheer when Balto finally makes it to Nome. 

While the majority of the story focuses on Balto, readers will also see how many people had to work together to get the medicine to Nome. The illustrations will help readers understand why medicine could not be delivered any other way. For instance, one illustration shows a train stuck in the snow while another shows a map of the trip, giving readers a clear visual of the vast distances involved. The illustrations compliment the dire tone of the story, using light blues and browns on white backgrounds. These muted colors allow the snow to take center stage. 

The True Story of Balto is part of the Step into Reading Level Three Series, which targets readers in first grade through third grade. With three short chapters, Step Three books are longer and slightly more difficult than Step Two books. Each page has three to seven sentences and a large illustration. This level includes some more challenging vocabulary and concepts, though the meanings are made clear through context and illustrations. 

The True Story of Balto brings history to life with suspense and drama that will make the book hard to put down. While Balto’s bravery is highlighted, the book doesn’t leave out the other people who helped along the way. This story shows the importance of working together and persevering in difficult times. Any reader who loves dogs will enjoy learning more about the true story of Balto. Learn about more animal heroes by reading Pigeon Hero by Shirley Raye Redmond.  

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • On the trip, “In one team, two dogs froze to death.”  

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None

National Geographic Kids Why?: Over 1,111 Answers to Everything

The concept is simple. Got a question? Well now you have an answer! 1,111 of them, in fact. Want to know why your snot is yellow? Flip to the human body chapter. What’s on the inside of a turtle shell? The animal section has you covered. What’s in the deepest part of the ocean? And why doesn’t Earth just float off into space? Check and check. With hundreds of topics ranging from silly to serious, we’ve got expert information in a fun and entertaining format that will keep kids digging for answers. Answers include all kinds of fascinating extra info like top ten lists, weird-but-true facts, explorer profiles, and cool activities. Now, go stump your parents! 

National Geographic Kids Why? has seven chapters that cover the following information: 1) Your Body, 2) Our Planet, 3) The Universe, 4) History, 5) Technology, 6) Animals, and 7) Pop Culture. The wide range of topics includes many interesting facts about the Big Bang, global warming, ancient Egyptians, mummification, the Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch, why we can’t teleport like in Star Trek, why animals play, and why some people are mean on the internet. Boyer uses examples from the Guinness Book of World Records to put some facts into perspective. In addition, many lists break items down, such as the steps ancient Egyptians used to make mummies, how castles were conquered, how to avoid getting bit by a shark, and how search engines work.  

While the book’s information is extensive, Boyer acknowledges that we don’t know much. For example, people do not know what’s in the Earth’s core. However, several theories are discussed, such as “In 2014, geologists found what might be a reservoir of water larger than all the planet’s oceans combined deep in the Earth’s mantle.” The section about the earth includes several diagrams labeling the parts of the Earth.  

Along with facts, National Geographic Kids Why? has sidebars that showcase eleven people of interest. These people include theoretical physicist Albert Einstein, theoretical physicist Stephen Hawkings, scientist and mathematician Sir Isaac Newton, explorer Leif Eriksson, civil rights activist Martin Luther King, Jr., Polish mathematician Nicolaus Copernicus, electrical engineer Ralf Baer, blacksmith Johannes Gutenberg, author J.K. Rowling, video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto, and singer Micheal Jackson. 

National Geographic Kids Why? uses a fun format with large, full-color pictures and illustrations on every page. Each topic is put in the form of a question, such as why there are different languages. Each question is answered anywhere from one to three paragraphs. While the book’s reading level is advanced, the information is formatted in easily digestible segments. National Geographic Kids Why? will appeal to any curious reader, and since none of the topics are discussed in detail, the book may inspire readers to further research many of the topics found in the book.  

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • The Neanderthals “died out, possibly because humans hunted them for food or started families with them.”  
  • While trying to conquer a castle, the attacking army used starvation and devices designed to batter the castle and its defenders. “Catapults hurled stones that smashed walls and the people hiding behind them. . . The castle’s garrison of knights and soldiers, meanwhile, mounted a furious defense, raining arrows and boiling water on the attackers and shoving siege ladders away from the walls.” 
  • Before a squire was knighted, he prayed through the night. “He knelt before his lord or the knight who trained him. This man then delivered a punch to the squire’s cheek—in some cases with enough force to knock the would-be knight to the ground—to help him remember his oath.” 
  • Gladiators were slaves or prisoners of war who were forced to fight “for the bloodthirsty crowd’s amusement.” The gladiators often fought exotic animals, and the fights were often “gory.”
  • The ancient Mayans and Aztecs played a brutal ball game. “The solid rubber balls left players bruised and bloody. Games sometimes resulted in broken bones and even death as players dove to the stone court to keep the ball from touching the ground.” 
  • Knights entered jousting tournaments, and “many knights were permanently injured or killed in jousts. King Henry II of France died in a joust when a lance pierced his visor.” 
  • During the witch trials in 15th-century Europe, “suspected witches were rounded up, tortured into confessing any number of crimes, and then burnt alive at the stake. By the 1700s, as many as 60,000 suspected witches had been tried and executed in Europe.” 
  • Africanized bees were made in a lab, and “they’ll pursue any threat until it drops—and then continue stinging and stinging and stinging! A swarm chased a Texas man and nailed him more than a thousand times!”

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • None

Supernatural 

  • The Hope diamond may be cursed and is “best known for its history of unhappy owners. King Louis XVI lost his head in the French Revolution. More than a hundred years later, a woman who wore the diamond became convinced it was cursed after her husband, eldest son, and daughter all died.”  
  • Legends say, “a ninja could fly, walk on water, and vanish. Two of these powers were real, sort of. (Ninjas wore special wooden shoes to tread on water and explosive powers to disappear in a cloud of smoke.)” 

Spiritual Content  

  • Nicolaus Copernicus, a Polish mathematician, said the Earth orbited the sun. “It was a dangerous theory that went against the teachings of the Catholic Church, so Copernicus didn’t publish his big idea until his final days.” 
  • Some men who played the ancient Mayan and Aztec ball games played for religious reasons. “The games were thought to represent the battle of good against evil. Some games may have ended in sacrificial rituals to appease the gods.”  
  • In the 1500s, church officials linked “the practice of witchcraft to the devil.” 

The Secret of the Kelpie

Flora is playing with her brothers and sisters by the loch when she notices a stunning white horse. While her siblings demand a chance to ride the beautiful animal, Flora is worried. Where has this strange horse come from? And why are its hoof prints wet? 

Too late, Flora realizes this is no horse! It’s a kelpie: a shape-shifting water horse from Scottish folklore known to steal children. Can Flora reveal the secret of the kelpie in time to save her family?  

The Secret of the Kelpie introduces young readers to the kelpie, a creature of Scottish mythology. This engaging tale shows how the shape-shifting water horse tricks kids into jumping onto its back. Once the children are on the Kelpie’s back, they become entangled in its mane. Unlike her siblings, Flora does not ride the beautiful horse because she wonders why the horse leaves watery footprints. Flora then recognizes the horse for what it is: “It’s a kelpie! Remember the old stories? It’s tricked you onto its back, now it’s taking you into the loch to drown you and eat you!” 

The Scottish landscape and loch appear in stunning full-page illustrations that use muted browns, while the children’s clothes are soft blues and browns. The Kelpie grows as each child gets on its back, and the illustrations excellently show its increasing size. When the kelpie returns to the loch, Flora bravely faces the angry sky, violent waves, and the kelpie itself. The kelpie’s beauty will transfix readers; however, the ending shows the kelpie transform into a dragon-like creature that is “huge and ugly and hungry. Steam swirled from its nostrils, waves swirled round its hooves.”  

The Secret of the Kelpie is not a book for the easily frightened, as the kelpie’s desire to drown the children and its dramatic change may scare some readers. Most of the book pairs one page with a picture, while the other page contains oversized text. Each page has five to 15 sentences with complex sentence structure and advanced vocabulary such as spluttering, flank, snickering, and daft. Because of this, younger readers may have difficulty sitting through a reading of the book. 

The story of the kelpie reminds readers of the dangers that lurk in a loch, waiting for children to come close. However, Flora uses her power of observation to determine that the “pretty princess’s horse” is a kelpie in disguise. Flora also uses runes on a stone to discover the kelpie’s weakness. Ultimately, Flora’s curiosity and bravery help save her siblings from “the dark, cold depths of the loch.” The Secret of the Kelpie mixes a variety of Scottish traditional tales into a story that will give young children shivers of fear and delight. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • The kelpie’s secret weakness is metal. One of the children stuck on the kelpie’s back, Magnus, uses this knowledge to get free. Magnus “swung the key on its chain and hit the horse’s flank. The kelpie screamed and reared high in the air.” Magnus and two of his siblings fall off the kelpie when it rears.  
  • Flora uses a knife to free her brother. She “jumped up and slashed at the kelpie’s mane. The horsehair sizzled when the iron blade touched it. Fergus ripped his hands free and fell into the water.”  

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

A Trip to the Country for Marvin & James

Marvin the beetle and his best friend James Pompaday, a human, embark on yet another delightful adventure in this heartwarming fifth book. In this installment, James invites Marvin and Marvin’s cousin, Elaine, to accompany him on a captivating journey to visit his father in the serene countryside. Along their enchanting expedition, they come across a charming train, playful yo-yos, graceful sailboats, and even find themselves in a thrilling, albeit slightly perilous, encounter with a toy sailboat and a frog. Join Marvin, James, and Elaine as they navigate through a series of delightful escapades, making cherished memories along the way. 

This heartwarming story takes readers on a journey filled with excitement and wonder. Through simplistic yet descriptive storytelling, readers can immerse themselves in the world of Marvin and his friends. The easy-to-read writing style makes this book accessible to readers of all ages, including young children who are transitioning to chapter books. Additionally, the green, white, and black illustrations that accompany the text enhance the visual experience, allowing readers to fully visualize the enchanting scenes and characters. While the book can be read as a standalone piece, it is also a part of The Masterpiece Series. This means that readers can enjoy it independently, without having read the other books in the series. However, for those who have followed the series, this book offers a deeper understanding of the overall storyline and the characters involved. 

Marvin, a small and tenacious beetle with a shiny black exoskeleton and delicate wings, serves as a remarkable and inspiring example to readers of all ages. Through his courageous actions and unwavering determination, Marvin shows us that true character and strength of will can surpass any limitations imposed by physical attributes. His unwavering spirit and resilience in the face of challenges inspire readers to embrace their inner strength and strive for greatness, proving that size and appearance are not the sole measures of one’s worth. 

The adorable story teaches readers an important lesson about the value of trusting your friends and the importance of persevering through various obstacles. It emphasizes the idea that when we encounter challenges, it is our friendships that give us the strength and support to overcome them. Additionally, the story encourages readers to never give up, even when facing difficult situations, as it is through persistence that we can achieve our goals and find success. With its delightful escapades and cherished memories, A Trip to the Country for Marvin & James is sure to captivate readers and leave them longing for more adventures with Marvin, James, and Elaine. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • As Marvin, Elaine, and James take off for their trip to the countryside, Elaine becomes nervous about being in James’ pocket. She is quick to remind Marvin to be careful while inside it. Elaine warned, “Be careful you don’t fall out or you will be smashed flat as a pancake.” 
  • When riding a toy sailboat, Marvin and Elaine get stuck in tall grass on a small stream. While stuck they encounter a frog who seems determined to have them for lunch. “They tumble into the water just as the hungry frog tries to eat them again.”  
  • While Marvin and Elaine have escaped the frog, they now face the issue of being in the water. Elaine cannot swim and relies on Marvin to save her. “She crawls on Marvin’s head again and now Marvin nearly drowns. Finally, he gets Elaine to wrap her front legs over his shoulders. Now he can swim.”  

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural  

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

Batter Power-Up!

Zack is a young, aspiring baseball star for his team in Leeville. Known for his defensive plays in the outfield, Zack wants to help his team win every game. However, there’s one problem: Zack can’t hit. Every time he goes to the plate, he ends his at-bat with a pop fly or a strikeout. And with the strikeouts mounting, Zack fears losing his spot in the starting lineup. 

However, everything changes when Zack’s friend, Jamie, gives him a Gamer Gear headset with virtual baseball. Using the pitch recognition of the batting game, Zack begins to see encouraging results. But, one day, when the headset unexpectedly breaks, Zack fears that he has lost his only chance to improve his hitting. Will Zack learn to hit without the headset and save his season? 

Batter Power-Up! is an exciting graphic novel that effortlessly blends action-packed sequences with heartfelt moments. Told from the perspective of Zack, the book portrays Zack as an enthusiastic young boy who finds joy in video games and baseball. Although he initially struggles to overcome his inability to hit, his journey to trust in his own abilities instead of other things, such as the Gamer Gear headset, makes him an inspirational character. After all, most readers will relate to Zack’s experience of learning to believe in himself and overcoming difficult challenges. 

The book provides a positive outlook on the theme of believing in oneself. Despite Zack’s Gamer Gear headset malfunctioning and costing him valuable training time, Zack’s recognition that he doesn’t need the headset emphasizes the book’s message about trusting one’s abilities. It teaches readers that many obstacles can be overcome through mental fortitude. This theme is reinforced when Zack exclaims, “I just had to trust my instincts.” 

Batter Power-Up! brings the story to life in a delightful graphic novel format. The panels and characters feature a detailed art style with lots of color, dialogue, and onomatopoeia. The detailed style enhances the action sequences during baseball games, where each panel provides insights about the characters’ thoughts and movements in a structured, organized way. Meanwhile, the text appears in big white bubbles that easily identify the speaker and contain one to two sentences with intermediate vocabulary and sentence structure. 

Overall, Batter Power-Up! presents an encouraging story about a young baseball player learning to believe in himself. Although the plot may be too simplistic for older readers, Batter Power-Up! is a must-read for graphic novel enthusiasts and baseball fans alike.  

Sexual Content 

  • None 

Violence 

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol 

  • None 

Language 

  • After repeatedly swinging and missing, Zack throws his bat on the ground and shouts, “Why can’t I hit the blasted ball?” 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content 

  • None 

Crush at First Sight

Pippa Park is no longer the new girl at Lakeview, but that doesn’t mean she can get comfortable. With Christmas approaching, Pippa’s friends – nicknamed “the Royals” – are preparing for the biggest party of the year! Pippa is determined to use the party as a chance to show that she truly belongs with the Royals. She needs a great dress and a great date (neither of which she has). Nevertheless, she’s determined: Everything about this Christmas has to be absolutely perfect.  

Unfortunately, perfection is not in the cards. Literally. A tarot reading Pippa receives from her neighbor, Mrs. Lee, warns Pippa that her future holds a disaster. Pippa isn’t sure what to think about the reading until she learns that her mother, who lives in Korea, won’t be able to make it to America for Christmas. If that wasn’t bad enough, Pippa was put in charge of organizing the Royals’ Christmas party. Making the best party ever is a little difficult in a small apartment, not to mention the cost of all the food and decor. Pippa is stretched thin between babysitting gigs, tutoring sessions with her crush, Eliot, and volunteering at the church. Plus, her friends, Buddy and Helen, are too obsessed with their new relationship to offer her any support. The only escape in this growing mess is a boy named Marvel, whom Pippa meets during her volunteer work. But even things with Marvel are rocky – after all, doesn’t she have feelings for Eliot?  

A week before the party, just about everything Pippa worked for has been destroyed, just like Mrs. Lee warned. Her sister Mina needs the money Pippa earned from babysitting. Then, Mrs. Lee gets in an accident and moves into the Park’s living room, robbing Pippa of a venue. Pippa snaps at Buddy and Helen, putting her friendships in jeopardy. Finally, she’s caught with Eliot when she’s supposed to meet Marvel, taking her date options for the party from two to zero. It seems like things can’t get any worse. Then, Pippa remembers Mina’s advice: “Pippa, there is only one person responsible for your future. And that’s you.”  

Pippa comes clean and restores her relationships. Mrs. Lee even gives Pippa the key to her place so she can host her party there. When Pippa admits she’s struggling, the Royals don’t laugh at her like she thought; they rally behind her and help create the best party ever. Pippa learns that asking for help isn’t a bad thing – her friends and family are there to support her however they can.  

Pippa is a great character for middle school girls because everything in Pippa’s life is realistic. She deals with a multitude of issues at the same time, which makes her seem more relatable. Between her home life, school life, romantic feelings, and friendships, she becomes a well-rounded individual that girls can relate to since they will often experience these same troubles in middle school — wanting to fit in, having their first romantic relationship, and struggling to manage new responsibilities. Despite all these conflicts, the plot is straightforward and easy to follow.  

Crush at First Sight is a good, lighthearted read with a positive message showing the importance of relying on others. Pippa wants to seem like she can do everything herself, but in reality, when she struggles, she needs the help of others. Through Pippa’s experience, readers will learn to share their struggles with their friends and family. Instead of asking for help, Pippa says, “[I] buried my insecurities deeper and deeper until my feelings morphed into resentment. I had kept waiting for things to go back to normal, but I refused to take the initiative to make that happen.” When Pippa admits to the Royals that she’s having a hard time, they show her understanding and offer help instead of turning against her. As a further sign of their support, the book ends with Pippa getting a golden scrunchie from the Royals – a sign that they accept her, even if she isn’t perfect. For more holiday fun, grab a cup of hot cocoa and snuggle up with the Celebrate the Season Series by Taylor Garland and Hot Cocoa Hearts by Suzanne Nelson. 

Sexual Content  

  • Buddy and Helen, two of Pippa’s friends, are dating. Pippa sees them kiss once. “I watched as Buddy stepped forward. I watched as Helen brought her face closer to his. And I watched as their lips met.” 

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None

Language    

  • None 

Supernatural  

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • Pippa volunteers at her local Korean Baptist Church. While not religious herself, the church is putting on a play about Jesus’s birth. Pippa is a shepherd.  
  • Pippa’s family sets up a nativity scene for Christmas with wise men and camels.  

Through Time: Pompeii

Follow the story of a house in the center of a famous Roman city. Illustrations retell the lost story of Pompeii―the life of its people, its conflicts and disasters, and the changing fortunes of a house at the center of it all. Beginning in the sixth century B.C., a simple hut becomes a farmhouse, and gradually, the farmhouse is swallowed up by the expanding new city of Pompeii. The house grows as the city and its inhabitants prosper. But finally, it suffers the devastating effects of the natural disaster that swallowed up the city―the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. This is the story of the growth and destruction of a house, a city, and an empire. Further, it is a tale of discovery and revelation that tracks the extraordinary archaeological work involved in unearthing and interpreting Pompeii’s remains. 

Through Time: Pompeii uses full-colored illustrations to recreate Roman life and the fall of the great empire. By focusing on one house, readers can see how history shaped Pompeii and its people. Each page has one to three short paragraphs in addition to labels that explain the illustration. The labels also give information about life in Pompeii. For instance, two men are building a wall, and the caption reads: “Laborers rebuild the city wall, replacing soft lava blocks with sturdy limestone.”  

Readers will want to study each detailed illustration and track the changes that take place, such as a family “adding new rooms to the house.” In addition, the book explains how Pompeii flourished, allowing new businesses. For example, in 300 B.C., there was a “store selling luxury fabrics imported from Egypt, in Africa, and from Phoenicia and Syria to the east of the Mediterranean lands.” Through Time: Pompeii concludes with an illustration of Pompeii’s ruins and the tourists who visit it every year. 

Since each page uses so little text, some descriptions are not well-developed, leaving the reader with questions to ponder. For example, when showing a classroom, the description reads: “Slaves do the hardest work in Pompeii. Some of them are foreigners who have been captured in wars. Many of them are slaves because their parents were. Slaves are expensive to buy, so their masters take care of them as well as they would care for a valuable horse. The servants in the house are treated like a part of the family.”  

Even though Through Time: Pompeii may interest young readers, they will not be able to read the book independently because of the difficult vocabulary. Even though a glossary appears at the back of the book, some readers will have difficulty understanding words such as ballista, cenacula, cistern, and hypocaust. Sensitive readers may find the volcano’s eruption upsetting since people die. While excavating the ruins, archaeologists find the bodies of the dead. “The body casts show where people fell as they tried to escape or protect themselves.” There are several illustrations of the body casts.  

Through Time: Pompeii will appeal to anyone interested in history, archeology, or survival stories. Readers will truly feel as if they have stepped back in time to when Pompeii was a prospering city. The unique format blends illustrations with facts in a way that makes learning fun. Anyone who wants to research Pompeii will find Through Time: Pompeii a compelling book to use as a starting point to learn more about history.  

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • In 100 B.C., children were taught by slaves. “Misbehaving children are hit with canes across the hands or whipped over the back.” According to Aristotle, “all learning is painful.” 
  • In 89 B.C., “the Roman army is well trained, with the best weapon and equipment. They soon surrounded Pompeii and demanded that the citizens surrender. Their catapults smash buildings; flaming missiles start fires.” Families flee the city. 
  • When the volcano erupted, “people take cover inside of the closest building, hoping that they will be safe . . . By dawn they are dead, killed by falling roofs, poisonous gas from the mountain, or the fiery cloud that rolls over the city.” 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • At a banquet, there was “free-flowing wine [that] has made the guests very relaxed.” 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None

Spiritual Content  

  • In 10 A.D., the Romans brought their religion and added “new temples dedicated to their gods and goddesses.”  
  • Some families have shrines. “Home shrines have paintings and statues of the gods and plates to hold offerings.”  
  • When Pompeii was rediscovered, “the salvage workers find the bones inside of body-shaped hollows at the bottom of the ash. They shudder and offer a quick prayer to Vulcan, the Roman god of fire.”  

Lost in the Storm

Welcome to Dolphin Island. Hurricane season is here, and Abby can’t help but worry about the danger it may bring to the resort and the dolphins who live in the cove. If the wind gets any stronger and the waves grow any wilder, everyone might have to evacuate! Hurricane season doesn’t stop Abby from introducing a new guest named Delaney to her dolphin friends. But when the storm hits, and Delaney’s dad gets stranded in open water, it’s up to Abby and her dolphin friends to lead the rescue! 

Abby befriends Delaney, but the friendship isn’t healthy. For example, Delaney’s father goes out in a kayak even though a hurricane is coming. Delaney and Abby see him leave. Abby wants to tell her parents but doesn’t because Delaney says her dad “would be really mad if he thinks we tattled.” Soon, the girls discover that the stormy weather knocked Delaney’s father out of the kayak, and he’s in the open ocean! After he is rescued, he apologizes and acknowledges, “I put myself in danger, and worse, I put all of you in danger, too.”  

Abby wants to be a good friend but is too willing to go along with others. As a result, Abby keeps secrets from her parents. But Delaney’s secret endangers Delaney’s father as well as the people who have to rescue him. Later, one of the workers at the resort scolds Abby by saying, “It’s not tattling if someone’s life could be in danger.” Abby promises that she learned her lesson and the issue is quickly forgotten. 

Lost in the Storm’s plot is easy to understand, but readers may struggle with the advanced vocabulary. Black-and-white illustrations appear every eight to nine pages. The illustrations focus on the characters and give the reader a visual of the island’s habitat.  

Lost in the Storm builds suspense by speculating about the hurricane hitting the island. In addition, when the storm gets near, Abby’s parrot flies out of its cage, causing Abby and her friends to search for the bird. However, the plot lacks excitement, the characters are underdeveloped, and there is no life lesson. Young ocean-loving readers should leave Lost in the Storm on the shelf. Readers can find a more exciting story that teaches a positive lesson by reading the Purrmaids Series by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen.  

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • Delaney sneaks onto a boat that is searching for her father. When the adults see something in the water, Delaney tries to leave the boat’s cabin, but Abby stands in front of her. Delaney was “shoving at her.” 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • An adult says, “I’m sorry I acted like a jerk.” 
  • A parrot uses “Great Ceasar’s ghost” as an exclamation once. 

Supernatural 

  • None

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

The Grip

Young Marcus Stroman is determined to make it to the highest playing level he can, despite every coach telling him he’s not tall enough to become a “real” pitcher. He’ll show them…with some struggling and a whole lot of learning.

It’s easy to forget that for every professional sports player there was a kid learning the sport, dealing with nerves during try-outs, dropping the ball when all their teammates were counting on them, and learning how to stay friends with someone who doesn’t make the team. These hard lessons are universal whether in the majors or on a school playing field, as are teamwork, competition, and believing in yourself. 

The Grip rotates between Marcus’ home life, practice with his father, and “assessments” for the baseball team. This allows Stroman to incorporate many important life lessons. However, there is very little action, and there are no baseball games. Despite this, many of the conflicts are relatable.  

Marcus feels a lot of pressure to perform well on the baseball field. His dad is convinced Marcus will make it to the big leagues, but Marcus wonders if his future could look different. He thinks, “It would be really cool to be a video game designer or musician. . .” In addition to worrying about his future, Marcus also worries that he’s short and won’t make the baseball team. While these are concerns that many middle graders have, Marcus’ worry is over the top, especially because he practices every day and is really good. This may leave some readers thinking that if someone like Marcus can’t make the team, then there’s no way they can.  

When Marcus gets stressed, he calms down by using breathing techniques that his mom taught him. While the breathing exercises help, Marcus’s mom also makes an appointment with a “mental-health coach” who gives more advice on ways to cope with stress. When Marcus sees one of his teammates struggling, he says, “It doesn’t matter what I say or how I play or even what the coaches say. It matters that you think you can do it. Block everything out, man. But don’t block out the voice in your head that tells you that you have this.” All readers will find this advice helpful, no matter what difficult situation they are facing. 

The Grip takes an overly optimistic view of facing difficulties and resolving conflicts. For example, Marcus’s parents are divorced, but they never argue, fight, or disagree with each other. The only indication that the parents don’t agree on everything is when Marcus’ mom lets him skip baseball practice and go to the pool instead. Since Marcus’ father wouldn’t agree with this decision, Marcus’ mom decides not to tell him. In addition, a mean boy named James is a thorn on Marcus’s side. Despite this, when James is having a difficult time, Marcus gives him good advice that cheers James up.   

The Grip encourages readers to find healthy ways to deal with stress as well as encourages them to believe in themselves. While the positive message will resonate with teens, neither Marcus nor the supporting characters are very memorable. Nevertheless, The Grip will appeal to sports players who want tips to improve their game. Readers looking for more baseball-inspired stories with positive lessons should also read The Hero Two Doors Down by Sharon Robinson and Mascot by Antony John. However, if you’re looking for more baseball action, step up to the plate and read Fast Pitch by Nic Stone and Much Ado About Baseball by Rajani LaRocca. 

Sexual Content  

  • None

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • Marcus thinks one of his teammates is a jerk.  

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

In the Deep Blue Sea

Jack and his genius siblings, Ava and Matt, embark on an adventure with Dr. Hank Witherspoon. They are off to the remote Hawaiian island home of Ashley Hawking, a technology billionaire. Hawking and engineer Rosa Morris have built a revolutionary electricity plant that harvests energy from the ocean’s depths, but someone has sabotaged the project.

In his search for the culprit, Jack ventures 2,000 feet below the ocean surface in a homemade submarine. He, Ava, and Matt attend the world’s strangest birthday party, face off against an arrogant young genius, and find themselves lost at sea. The three siblings have to use all their brainpower and cunning to find out who’s behind the sabotage . . . and to survive.

Maya, a Native Hawaiian, is an interesting addition to the cast of characters. While trying to solve the mystery, Jack, Ava, Matt, and Maya are swept into the ocean on a boat that Maya made. The boat is “an exact re-creation of the boats the ancient Polynesians used to cross the Pacific and populate all these islands.” Maya’s knowledge of her ancestors helps her navigate to safety. She says, “My ancestors didn’t just use the stars. They also figured out where they were on the ocean based on the direction of different swells and currents and whether they’d been bent around an island.” Even though Ava and Matt are geniuses, Maya’s ancestors’ knowledge saves the group.   

In the Deep Blue Sea is an exciting book with many suspects that Jack and his siblings investigate. The two suspects, Steven and his bazillionaire mother, are despicable humans who prove that being rich doesn’t equal being happy. Steven’s mother isn’t concerned about harming the island or its wildlife; her lack of concern reinforces the importance of respecting and preserving nature.  

The Jack and the Geniuses Series is perfect for readers who love mysteries, action, and adventure. While the book has plenty of suspenseful and exciting scenes, they are broken up with humor and interspersed with cool science facts. Each book in the series can be read as a stand-alone novel because every book takes place in a new location with a new mystery. In the Deep Blue Sea is an entertaining story that encourages readers to think outside the box, just like Jack and the other kids do in order to survive and solve the mystery. After following Jack and his siblings into the deep blue sea, readers will be eager to read the next book in the series, Lost in the Jungle, where the siblings face dangers lurking in the Amazon Jungle. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • A saboteur blows up an electrical plant. No one is injured.   

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • Steven, the son of a millionaire, calls Jack and the geniuses “ignorant fools” and “imbeciles.” 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • One of the characters refers to the Hawaiian fire goddess, Pele. 
  • Before a storm, Maya sees little ripples on the surface of the ocean that she calls “the breath of Paka’a, the god of wind. . . The first whispers of a powerful wind—the signs of a coming storm.”  

Snow One Like You

Mia can’t wait for the Winter Festival—it’s what her hometown of Flurry, Vermont, is famous for. Plus, maybe she can work up the courage to show the cute new boy, Yoshi, how much fun snowball fights can be. There’s just one problem: the weather forecast isn’t predicting a single snowflake before the big day. And what is a Winter Festival without snow?  

Canceling the festival would spell disaster for the local businesses, including the cozy inn that Mia’s family runs. With the town in chaos, Mia is suddenly at odds with Yoshi and her best friend, Lark. Can Mia save the festival in time . . . or is she in for a wintry mix of troubles? 

Snow One Like You is a playful book that focuses on Mia’s first crush. Since Yoshi is new to Flurry, Mia has the opportunity to introduce him (and the reader) to the fun snow-filled Winter Festival. However, with no snow in the forecast, Mia and Yoshi will have to jump into action and find a way to save the festival! 

While the book focuses on Mia and Yoshi’s relationship, her family also plays a significant role. Mia’s parents are divorced and have remarried, but all of the adults are cordial to each other. This is one of the reasons that Mia is so upset when she overhears a conversation about her mother being forced to sell the inn and move away. Mia worries about moving and not being able to see her father or her half-sisters. Mia’s fear increases the stakes involved in making sure the Winter Festival doesn’t get canceled.  

Snow One Like You has a diverse cast of characters that includes Mia’s best friend Lark, who has cerebral palsy. Lark is an admirable character because she isn’t afraid to answer questions about her cerebral palsy and she doesn’t let cerebral palsy stop her from being an athlete, who can rock climb and swim. Unfortunately, Snow One Like You misses the opportunity to incorporate any cultural identity into the characters.  

Snow One Like You is a cute romance that is perfect for middle-grade readers. Middle-grade readers will enjoy the flirtatious romance that concludes when Yoshi kisses Mia, but only after Yoshi asks for permission. The book also shows the importance of honest communication and empathy for others. For example, Mia’s stepfather tells her, “Everyone is dealing with their own heartaches and their own trouble, and just because they’re smiling doesn’t mean they’re okay.” This theme is reinforced through several of the characters and there is a brief mention of an adult seeing a therapist. 

Snow One Like You introduces readers to the romance genre by focusing on Mia’s crush in a way that is appropriate for younger readers. The character-driven plot is easy to follow; however, the book has a slow start. Neither the plot nor the characters are unique, but readers will enjoy seeing how Mia deals with her first crush and other friendship problems. Snuggle up with more winter-themed books by reading Secret Snowflake by Taylor Garland, Cold As Ice by Sarah Mlynowski, and Kat Wolfe On Thin Ice by Lauren St. John. 

Sexual Content  

  • Mia talks about her first crush. For example, after talking to Yoshi, Mia thinks, “Flirting is . . . kind of fun. In addition to being terrifying.”  
  • Yoshi asks Mia if he can kiss her. Mia “lean[s] forward, his words propelling me, and my lips brush against his. . . He smiles that tiny, hidden smile that I like so much, and then he leans forward until his lips hover over mine again.” The kiss is described in a paragraph. 

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • Heck is used occasionally. 
  • OMG, oh my God, and other variations are used occasionally. 
  • Several times, Mia calls herself a dork, a dolt, and an idiot. One time, she thinks, “I’m so dumb.” 
  • After Mia calls herself an idiot, one of her sisters starts screaming, “Idiot! Idiot!” 
  • When Lark gets angry, Mia texts, “That was kind of crappy of me. I’m a terrible friend.” 

Supernatural 

  • None

Spiritual Content  

  • Mia thinks of her parents (mom, dad, step-mom, and step-dad) all getting along. “For the millionth time, if there is any weirdness between [her parents] . . . they push it out of sight. 
  • While babysitting her three young sisters, Mia is exhausted. “I’m personally praying that I can get through their bedtime before I face-plant into my own bed.”  
  • Mia’s stepmom, Shannon, “would wear yoga pants if she were the churchgoing type.” 

Time Cat: The Remarkable Journeys of Jason and Gareth

Gareth is definitely not an ordinary cat. For one thing, he can talk. For another, he’s got the power to travel through time. The instant he tells Jason this, the two of them are in ancient Egypt, on the first of nine amazing adventures that Jason will never forget! 

From ancient Egypt to Rome, from Japan to the American Revolution, Jason is taken on a whirlwind adventure with Gareth. Together, they meet friends, escape enemies, and learn how different cultures view cats. Some, like Egypt, worshiped cats. Others thought cats were magic creatures and either praised or feared them. But everywhere they go, one thing is the same: Jason and Gareth always discover an adventure.  

Time Cat takes readers on a brief yet lively journey through nine different cultures. The book is exciting and fun because it features fights, kings, witch burnings, and revolutions. While each culture is explored over two short chapters, Lloyd Alexander creates such a vivid picture of each place that readers will feel as if they’ve traveled to these time periods alongside Jason and Gareth.  

Jason is a likable protagonist whom readers will enjoy getting to know. He isn’t perfect and sometimes gets into trouble, but he is earnest and always willing to help others. The author portrays Jason’s cat, Gareth, in a realistic way that captures cats’ behavior. Gareth is amusing and aloof, as cats usually are, and will steal readers’ hearts away.   

Each time period and place are given equal coverage—two chapters. Jason and Gareth start their travels in ancient Egypt and go on to meet many interesting people, such as King Miliuc of Ireland, the Old Cats of Caesar, and German witch hunters. While readers may not understand all the historical references, this does not make the book less enjoyable. Along the journey, Jason teaches others about cats, and people learn life lessons such as the importance of curiosity and confidence. Time Cat is perfect for anyone who enjoys action and adventure sprinkled with humor. And, of course, it will appeal to all cat lovers, young and old. If you want to snuggle up with additional books featuring cats, check out the Warriors Series by Erin Hunter, Random Acts of Kittens by Yamile Saied Méndez, and Storm Rescue by Laurie Halse Anderson.  

Sexual Content  

  • When Jason leaves Ireland, “the princess hastily kissed him on the cheek.” 

Violence  

  • While on the march with the Romans, there is a battle between the Romans and the Britons. “Arrows sang through the air. The legionaries hurled their spears. Howling and shrieking, the Britons poured across the beach.” Jason and Gareth run away before they see any more of the battle.  
  • A wildcat attacks Gareth. “The animal began a long whine, ending with a snarling, toothy kind of cough. Then it leaped. Gareth grappled with the animal in mid-air. Two bodies thrashed on the ground and turned into a spinning, spitting ball. One screamed—Jason could not tell which.” Gareth gets a few scratches but ends up okay.  
  • A man holds “a long, ugly spear pointed at Jason’s throat” and forces Jason to come to his village. He does not hurt Jason.  
  • Gareth kills a snake before it can strike. “Gareth caught it behind its flat skull. The serpent’s tail lashed out and wound around Gareth’s body. Over and over, the fighters rolled across the floor. Gareth was on his back now, his hind paws furiously kicking.” The fight is described over a page.  
  • A woman warns Jason about witch hunters, who think “[cats are] poor little things. They say devils hide in them. Two days ago, the witch hunters drowned fifty—and burned another fifty. Poor suffering animals. My little tabby was with them.”  
  • Jason and his cat are accused of being demons in disguise, and a judge declares, “You will be burned at the stake in the morning.” They escape. 
  • In America, Jason sees the British fight the Minutemen. “The sword of a British officer flashed downward; the snick of flintlocks rattled along the scarlet line. Jason saw the flash and then heard the musketry crack like a giant whip. The Minutemen raced through the drifting smoke toward the Regulars, firing, reloading, crouching behind hillocks and large clumps of grass.”  

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language    

  • None

Supernatural  

  • Gareth is a cat who can talk to Jason. 
  • Gareth does not have nine lives, but he can travel to nine different historical places. “I’ll tell you a secret. I only have one life. With a difference: I can visit . . . I can visit nine different lives. Anywhere, anytime, any country, any century.”  
  • In Ireland, they think Jason and his cat are magicians. King Miliuc says, “That’s what we need. Some new magic from afar.” He says the spells of his court magician “are a little worn at the edges.”  
  • The Irish think “spirits live under the hills. They call them the Little People.”  
  • Jason meets the man who will become Saint Patrick. The man says, “We have the Christian faith in my land . . . but there is none of that in Erin, only magic and superstition and the Little People under every blade of grass.”  
  • In old Germany, Jason sees a man trying to summon a spirit. “‘By the spirit of Zazamonkh!’ the man exclaimed, picking up a long rod and tracing a circle at his feet. He went tramping around the circle . . . ‘Asmodeus! Ahriman! Beelzebub!’ the man cried. ‘Appear! I command you!’” 
  • The witch hunters in old Germany think that “cats bring on hail storms, they say, and winds. Cats have the evil eye, to bewitch whatever they look at. They can turn themselves invisible or fly through the air. They take the shape of a witch and a witch takes the shape of a cat.”  

Spiritual Content  

  • When Gareth and Jason travel to ancient Egypt, Gareth says, “The Egyptians worship us, you know . . . They have all kinds of sacred animals, but the cat—ah, the cat is most important. We’re sacred to the great goddess Ubaste of the Sun and Moon.”  
  • The Pharoah Neter-Khet of Egypt is a young boy. He tells Jason, “All my subjects worship me—I’m a god, you know—my slaves are building the finest pyramid in Egypt, so things will be comfortable for me in the Other World.”  
  • A Roman soldier asks for an omen. “O Mars, god of battles, mighty Jupiter, father of the gods, or whatever it is the regimental augur says. Shall this boy and this cat march with us?”  
  • Gareth meets some druids who believe in spirits. One man says that they “pray to the spirit of the catamountain.” 

Jasmine Toguchi, Flamingo Keeper

Jasmine’s best friend, Linnie, has just gotten a puppy. And now Jasmine wants a pet of her own—a flamingo! So, when her grandmother sends Jasmine a daruma wishing doll as a surprise gift, Jasmine colors in one doll eye and wishes for a flamingo to keep.

Next, Jasmine tries to convince her parents that she’s responsible enough for a pet. She cleans her room, brushes her teeth, takes out the trash, and, most importantly, researches everything she can about flamingos. But soon it becomes clear that her wish may never come true! Will Jasmine’s Daruma doll ever get its second eye? Luckily her big sister, Sophie, has a surprise planned that fulfills Jasmine’s wish beyond her wildest dreams. 

When Jasmine, the spunky protagonist, receives a daruma—a wishing doll—she thinks her wish of a pet flamingo might come true. But Jasmine’s grandmother tells her that in order to make the wish come true, Jasmine has to work hard. At first, Jasmine is disappointed, but then she realizes that she has worked hard to make other wishes come true. For example, “For our school talent show, I wished to have a great talent to show off and I learned how to play the taiko drum.”  

After this realization, Jasmine does extra chores to show that she is responsible enough for a pet and researches how to care for a flamingo. However, she soon realizes that her backyard wouldn’t make a good home for a flamingo. In the end, Jasmine’s mom helps her finds a unique solution that allows Jasmine’s wish to come true. While Jasmine doesn’t get a pet flamingo, her sister gives her a sweet surprise that gives the story a realistic and happy conclusion.   

The story is accessible to fluent readers who are ready for a book with multiple plots. Black and white illustrations appear every two to three pages and show Jasmine’s daily life. Many of the illustrations show the characters’ facial expressions, which will help readers understand the characters’ emotions. For more fun, the back of the book has directions on how to make a Daruma doll craft. Even though Jasmine Toguchi is a series, the books do not need to be read in order because each book focuses on a new storyline.   

Jasmine Toguchi, Flamingo Keeper will appeal to a wide range of readers because of the relatable conflicts and likable characters. While the story revolves around Jasmine’s wish to have a pet flamingo, the story also showcases Jasmine’s traditional two-parent family. Jasmine’s family has healthy communication skills and positive interactions. Readers will also learn the importance of having a “thinking spot” where they can go and quietly sit as they try to sort through their emotions. Overall, Jasmine Toguchi, Flamingo Keeper teaches positive life lessons with an engaging story that young readers will love. If you’d like to meet another kind protagonist with an interesting story to tell, check out the Diary of an Ice Princess Series by Christina Soontornvat.  

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • Jasmine’s grandmother sends wishing dolls called darumas. Mom explains, “You make a wish and color in one eye. When the wish is fulfilled, you color in the other eye.”  
  • Jasmine wishes for a flamingo and then wonders, “Was the daruma like Santa Claus, and he would bring the flamingo to me down the chimney? Or was it magical like wishing on birthday candles?” 

Spiritual Content  

  • The back of the book explains the tradition behind the daruma doll. “The daruma doll is based on a real person, a Buddhist monk who sat in meditation for many years. It is his perseverance that is embodied in the daruma doll.” 

Grandma Elephant’s in Charge

Elephants are the biggest animals on land, and they live in big families, too. So who can possibly keep them in line? Grandma! 

Every elephant in the herd looks to Grandma to tell them how to find the best watering holes, gather the tastiest food, and sniff out danger. And you better be certain that when Grandma lays down the law, everybody pays attention.  

Teach young readers about elephants by reading Grandma Elephant’s in Charge, an entertaining and educational book about the everyday life of a family of elephants. The book uses a conversational tone to tell the story of an elephant’s family. Readers will learn how Grandma Elephant helps her family. Fun facts are also interspersed throughout the book. For example, when Grandma leads the herd “up the cliff to the salt lick,” a different font underneath the story text reads, “Salt licks are places where the earth is full of minerals. Lots of animals eat the salty earth there, which helps to keep them healthy.”  

Each page uses the soft colors of brown, green, and blue. The elephants are the focus of each picture and the landscapes fade into the background. Several pictures emphasize Grandma’s large size compared to the other elephants in the herd. Each page also has three to five complex sentences with some difficult vocabulary such as boisterous, scolding, and investigate. Even though Grandma Elephant’s in Charge 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. 

Grandma Elephant’s in Charge is the perfect book for readers interested in the day-to-day life of an elephant. The full-page illustrations are awe-inspiring, but some text-heavy pages may be daunting for young readers. If you’d like to rumble through the savanna and meet Grandma Elephant, then step into the book Grandma Elephant’s in Charge. Readers interested in learning more fun facts about animals should also read the What If Series by Sandra Markle. 

Sexual Content  

  • None

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

Free Throws, Friendship, and Other Things We Fouled Up

After her parents separated, Rory March chose to move to Cincinnati, Ohio, with her dad. Rory’s dad was recently hired as the men’s basketball coach for the University of Cincinnati, a role that previously belonged to his own father. Naturally, Rory is a huge fan of basketball. As she enters eighth grade at a new school, she plans to join the school’s basketball team and become good friends with her teammates. Although Rory is terrific at basketball, she has very little experience making friends. With her dad constantly moving between colleges, Rory has never stayed in one place long enough to form a close friendship.  

On her first day at school, Rory meets Abby Allenbach, a funny and talkative classmate who feels like an outcast. The two girls connect since Abby shares Rory’s love for basketball, and Abby’s dad is also the men’s basketball team coach at Xavier University. Although Rory and Abby support rival teams, they become fast friends. When Abby’s father hears about this, he tells her to stay away from the March family for her own good. Rory and Abby soon discover their fathers’ rivalry extends beyond the court. They were best friends until some mysterious falling out in eighth grade. Not wanting to keep their friendship a secret, Rory and Abby work together to uncover the cause of their dads’ split, hopeful that they will be able to repair their broken friendship. 

Although the girls’ investigation initially provides a fun way for Rory and Abby to bond, fractures in their friendship begin to show as Rory repeatedly spends her time with her basketball team and Abby finds friends and a sense of belonging at a nearby school. Will these two fix the mistake that drove their dads apart, or are they bound to repeat it themselves? 

Free Throws, Friendship, and Other Things We Fouled Up is a heartfelt middle-grade novel with an intriguing mystery and a pair of likable protagonists. Each chapter switches between Rory’s and Abby’s points of view, allowing the reader to understand each character’s perspective and follow the thought process that leads to each misunderstanding and miscommunication. While the story is centered on interpersonal conflict, at no point does the drama feel inauthentic or forced for plot progression. Bishop writes Rory and Abby like realistic tweens, each with unique strengths, flaws, and insecurities. By following each character’s perspective, the reader gains a strong understanding of both Rory and Abby and sees each side of the argument.  

Along with its emotional maturity and humor, the book has an excellent command of mystery. Chapters set in the 1990s are interspersed throughout the book to show the friendship and eventual split of Rory’s and Abby’s dads. This non-linear story structure allows the reader to uncover the mystery along with Rory and Abby. Following the perspectives of two rocky friendships, the book shows readers the importance of openness, communication, and being supportive.  

Overall, Free Throws, Friendship, and Other Things We Fouled Up is sure to delight any reader with a passion for basketball or a familiarity with Cincinnati’s landmarks and customs. As a local Cincinnatian myself, I especially enjoyed the many city-specific references in the book. However, readers outside of Cincinnati will not feel lost. If anything, they will likely become all the more attached to Rory’s character, relating to her confusion around such oddities as chili on top of spaghetti.  However, if you belong to neither group, there is still plenty in the book to enjoy. In her afterword, Bishop explains that she did not grow up in Cincinnati and played little basketball in middle school. Her main intention was to tell a heartfelt story that would show the importance of friendship, forgiveness, and surrounding yourself with people who accept and uplift you. Free Throws, Friendship, and other Things We Fouled Up is certainly that story. 

Sexual Content 

  • Rory and Abby play a game called “Kiss, Marry, Kill.” 
  • Abby walks in on her brother, who is kissing a girl.   

Violence 

  • None   

Drugs and Alcohol 

  • None 

Language 

  •  “Asshole” and “jackass” are used sparingly. 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content 

  • None 

The Buccaneers’ Code

Hilary Westfield is now a freelance pirate. After trying to prove herself to the Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates (“VNHLP”), she realized that many members of the league weren’t all that honorable—not even very nearly.   

Captain Blacktooth is in cahoots with the Mutineers, putting the kingdom of Augusta—and all of its magic—at risk. What the League needs now is a very honorable pirate to be their new president. So with the help of her friends, Hilary challenges Blacktooth to a High Seas battle. Winner takes all. Loser will be exiled. 

In The Buccaneers’ Code, Hilary is thrust into a battle to defeat the Mutineers, a group of villains who want to overthrow the queen. However, in order to defeat Captain Blacktooth, who is in cahoots with the Mutineers, Hilary must find 200 pirates who will fight by her side. But Captain Blacktooth isn’t afraid to use threats and blackmail to keep others from joining Hilary’s crew. As Hilary and her friends—Miss Grayson, Jasper, Charlie, Claire, and Alice—soon discover, they will have to find non-traditional pirates who are willing to fight.  

Readers will quickly become caught up in Hilary’s newest adventure. The spunky protagonist stays determined despite the various obstacles—including her father—that stand in her way. Along the way, she meets some unconventional people who are willing to become pirates and fight at Hilary’s side. This mixture of brave pirates, high society girls, and a swimming team shows that anyone can fight against evil.  

The epic battle between Hilary and Captain Blacktooth has several surprises. And while the battle has plenty of action-packed fighting, the scene also uses humor. Readers will love seeing girls in petticoats fight alongside seasoned pirates, and they will cheer when Hilary’s friends save the queen.  

Caroline Carlson has created a world where magic is currency, pirates are more charming than alarming, and a girl can choose a life as a pirate instead of a life in petticoats. And she once again delivers a story of high stakes, high seas, and high society in the hilarious and charming conclusion to the Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates Series. 

While the conclusion of The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates Series ties up all the loose ends, Hilary’s sense of adventure remains. In the end, the evil Mutineers receive their punishment, leaving the other pirates to honorably sail the seas. At the end of the story, readers will feel as if Hilary’s friends are their friends, leaving readers wishing the adventure would continue. Those ready for another epic journey can find more magic by reading The Emblem Island Series by Alex Aster and Lintang and the Pirate Queen by Tamara Moss. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • Hilary and her pirate crew find Captain Wolfson’s pirate ship under attack by a navy ship. “A cannonball splashed down only a few yards from where the captain was standing, drenching him and his crew. . .”  
  • While trying to help Captain Wolfson’s crew, Hilary asks a magic gravy boat to, “‘Please bring something that will stop that ship from firing on us. . .’ The gravy boat shook in Hilary’s hands and drew strength from her limbs.” A huge white pitcher full of molasses appears. Then the pitcher “rose up from the deck and floated slowly, but with great determination, towards the navy ship. . . A thick stream of molasses poured out of the pitcher, covering the cannon, the ammunition crates, and . . . the boots of the naval officer.” Hilary saves Captain Wolfson’s crew before their ship sinks. 
  • Hilary and her friends, Charlie and Alice, are hiding in a tree trying to spy on a young girl named Philomena. When Philomena finds them, she says, “Magic, if there are any other spies sneaking around Tilbury Park, please bring them here at once…Then the wind shook the branches of the pine tree, its trunk swayed like a ship’s mast during a storm, and Alice flew from the treetop, tumbling curls over petticoats.” Alice’s arm breaks with a snap. 
  • Hilary is walking down the street when someone grabs her from behind. Hilary “raised her right leg in front of her, swung it backward as hard as she could, and kicked him squarely in the knees. With a shout, the gentleman let go of Hilary’s arms, lost his balance, and tumbled into the path of stinging nettles.” Hilary is not injured.  
  • Hilary challenges Captain Blacktooth to a duel. On the day of the battle, Hilary’s father, Admiral Westfield, captures Hilary and her crew. Admiral Westfield’s men “tied her to [the ship’s mast] with a long coil of rope. . . he pulled a knot tight around Hilary’s middle, and she clenched her fist.” Other members of Hilary’s crew are also tied to the mast. Then Admiral Westfield sinks Hilary’s ship, the Pigeon.  
  • Captain Blacktooth had a replica of Hilary’s pirate ship built in secret. His men use the replica to attack the queen’s ship, the Benevolence. “An earsplitting bang drowned out the roar of the crowd, and a cannonball sailed from the false Pigeon’s deck, tracing a long, lazy arc across the sky before it smashed into the Benevolence.” 
  • During the battle, the two pirate crews fight each other. “Hilary dodged the pirate’s sword, hurried around behind him, poked him in the breeches, and watched with satisfaction as he jumped several feet into the air. When he crashed back down on deck, she stood over him, holding her cutlass to his nose.”  
  • Hilary’s friend Alice was “chasing several more pirates . . . Most of the pirates Hilary faced were handy with a sword, so it was fortunate that the gargoyle had offered to bite their ankles whenever she found herself in a tight spot.” 
  • During the fight, Philomena uses magic to conjure “a tiny whirlwind, a respectably sized crocodile” and a “flurry of regretfully declined party invitations fell on Mrs. Westfield and her High Society friends.” Hilary’s friend Claire is able to reverse Philomena’s magic. 
  • A pirate tries to take Philomena’s magic coins, so she “conjured up a swarm of hornets to sting his ankles.” The pirate jumps into the ocean to escape.  
  • When the Mutineers send another cannonball towards the queen’s ship, Hilary touches the gargoyle and asks him to protect “Queen Adelaide from the Mutineers—and protect the rest of us, too. The pirates, I mean, and Admiral Curtis, and all the spectators on shore.” To give the gargoyle enough power, several of Hilary’s friends also touch the gargoyle. “The cannonballs reversed their course and curved back toward the Renegade, picking up speed as they flew.”  
  • In the multi-chapter final battle, no serious injuries or deaths occur.  

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • There are references to pirates drinking grog. For example, Hilary and her friends “weather the storm around the grog barrel.”  
  • A woman gives her guard a “cup of tea mixed with sleeping powder” so she could escape from her home.  

Language  

  • A parrot exclaims “knucklebones!” 
  • Hilary’s friend exclaims “horsefeathers” several times. 
  • Blast is used as an exclamation often. 
  • Hilary’s friend Alice refers to her brother as a “bilge rat.” 
  • Pirates are referred to as scallywags.  
  • Drat is used several times. 
  • A naval officer calls Hilary and her crew “lawless hooligans.”  
  • Someone calls Admiral Westfield a “pickle-hearted scoundrel!” 

Supernatural 

  • One of the main characters is a magic gargoyle who has been “living on a wall for two hundred years.” The gargoyle is supposed to use his magic to protect people. 
  • Magic items are made from a substance “similar to gold” and “when a piece of magic is held in the hand, it obeys the holder’s spoken request. It is said to draw its power from the user herself, and only a few individuals are powerful enough to use it in great quantities. . .”  
  • The Enchantress, Miss Pimm, is kept young by magic. “Magic, fresh air, and more than a pinch of stubbornness had kept her in good health for two hundred and forty years.” 
  • Philomena uses magic to transport people to different locations. Philomena says, “‘Magic, we five Mutineers would like to leave this uncivilized island before we all catch a chill.’ One moment Philomena was there, and the next she simply wasn’t.” 
  • Someone uses magic to fill a pirate ship with haddock. “The poor fish were floppin’ about in the wash buckets and cooking pots. . .” 
  • One of the Mutineers, Nicolas, uses magic to transport himself but accidentally ends up in the ocean. Nicolas explains, “I asked my magic piece to transport me here, but I wasn’t strong enough to travel all the way to land, so it dumped me in the sea instead.”  

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

The Secret Room

Now that the ghost, Kaz, can finally pass through walls, he is excited to explore Beckett’s secret room at the back of the library. In it he finds an envelope, some empty soda bottles, and a ghostly doll. Are any of these things connected? Kaz wants to return the doll to the ghost it belonged to, but that may be harder than he thinks. 

With the help of his living friend Claire, Kaz and the other ghosts travel to various locations, looking for an older person who may remember more about the house that Kaz haunts. During their journey, the story often refers to ghosts who have been blown away in the wind. In previous books, Kaz and his siblings were blown away from their family. In The Secret Room, they are finally reunited with their grandparents, but the reunion doesn’t last long because Kaz and his siblings return to the haunted library so they can “be with people their own age.” 

The Secret Room revolves around the mystery of who built the secret room and why. To talk to other people who might know more about the house, Claire interviews several people. However, to do this, Claire lies to her mother. Secrecy seems to permeate Claire’s family — both Claire’s mother and grandmother can see ghosts, however, they never talk about their experiences. In the end, the family members finally share their ghost-seeing experiences, which allows them to understand each other better. 

Because of the ghost terms and lack of background information, readers who want to jump into The Haunted Library Series should begin with book one, The Haunted Library. The story includes black-and-white illustrations that will help readers visualize the characters and actions. However, the complicated plot includes a huge cast of characters that may be overwhelming for some readers. While Kaz and the other ghosts are good friends to Claire, Claire’s mom discusses a childhood experience with a mean ghost who caused quite a scare.  

Readers who want a ghost story with a simple plot will enjoy A Good Night for Ghosts by Mary Pope Osborne and The Blue Ghost and The Green Ghost by Marion Dane Bauer. Plus, curious readers can learn more about real haunted places and famous ghosts by reading Magic Tree House Fact Tracker: Ghost by Mary Pope Osborne & Natalie Pope Boyce.  

Sexual Content  

  • None

Violence  

  • When Claire’s mom was a child, she could see ghosts. She lived in a house with a ghost named Annie. Claire’s mom says, Annie “was a nasty, nasty ghost.” When Molly, another ghost, made Annie angry, “she pushed Molly through the wall. I ran outside to try to help Molly, but there was nothing I could do. I never saw her again.” The wind blew Molly away.  

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • The story includes several ghosts who can shrink in size and travel through walls.  
  • Kaz discovers that he has the power to transform objects that are solid objects into ghostly objects. “A ghost is either born with the ability to transform an object or he’s not.” 
  • To transform solid objects into ghostly objects, Kaz has to “touch the very tip of your thumb and your second finger to whatever it is you want to transform, and then quickly pull your hand away.”  

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

The Lurking Lima Bean

Wolver Hollow is not a normal town. The adults are too busy shuffling off to work at the old coffin factory to notice or care, but the kids know all about the monsters, ghosts, and strange lights in the sky. Strange things happen in Wolver Hollow. Creepy things.

Madeline Harper does not like lima beans and she’s not afraid to make that clear. But when she gets sent to bed for not eating her vegetables, she’ll find something far worse than her mother’s frustration. A lima bean scorned is a terrible thing, and it will not stop until Madeline Harper eats her vegetables!  

The second installment of the Night Frights Series moves away from a spooky mystery and instead tells an outrageous story with all new characters. The Lurking Lima Bean has no mystery to solve; however, the kids have to use some creative thinking to defeat the lima beans. While trying to conquer the lima beans, Madeline spends a lot of time running from zombies, which may cause readers to get bored.   

The story’s format will appeal to young readers because it uses large text, short paragraphs, and simple dialogue that make the story easy to read. In addition, black and white illustrations appear approximately every five to nine pages. The illustrations add humor as well as help readers visualize the characters, who are a diverse group.  

The entertaining ending will leave readers with a smile, as well as frighten them away from eating lima beans. While Madeline isn’t a very interesting character, the librarian makes a repeat (albeit short) appearance, leaving readers wondering how she is connected to the creepy happenings in Wolver Hallow. Readers looking for a humorous zombie book will find The Lurking Lima Bean entertaining. But mystery-loving readers will be disappointed by the lack of clues to solve. Young readers looking for another silly zombie story should read Night of the Zombie Zookeeper by Andres Miedoso. However, readers who are ready for a more involved plot with more monsters should read The Last Kids on Earth Series by Max Brallier.  

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • The zombies chase Madeline and her friends. For example, “Grandma was only a few feet away, reaching for Madeline with handfuls of lima-bean paste. It seemed like half the town was behind Grandma, all staggering toward Madeline with bean paste and green eyes.” 
  • To free people from the lima beans, Madeline and her friends throw snowballs at them. Gilbert “pulled back his arm and let a snowball fly. It hit Grandma right in the shoulder. Grandma shivered for a second, and hesitated. . .” 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • When two kids begin following Madeline, she yells, “Back off, weirdos!” 
  • Heck is used twice. 

Supernatural 

  • Somehow, lima beans convince people to eat them. Afterwards, the people change into zombies with green glowing eyes. Madeline’s grandma turns into a zombie who tries to get Madeline to eat lima beans. When Madeline is ready to leave for school, her grandma comes “running down the hall after Madeline, green eyes boring into hers and a toothy grin still plastered across her face.” Madeline runs away. 
  • In Wolver Hollow, “everyone knew that a troll lived under the bridge, and if you didn’t spit [while crossing the bridge], he would eat your toes in the night.” 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 
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