Reading Level: Elementary

The Jumbies

Young Corinne La Mer isn’t afraid of anything, especially things that go bump in the night. While all the other kids in her small island village are scared of the creatures in the forest, Corinne lives on its edge and has seen nothing to validate her friends’ fears. After her mother passed, Corinne refused to be afraid of anything anymore.  

A practical and shrewd protagonist, Corinne is suspicious of a new woman who arrives on market day. The other children avoid her like the plague, whispering that she reeks of the forest, and their murmurs intensify when she approaches the witch’s table. Yet this mysterious figure intrigues Corinne. When the stranger stops at Corinne’s fruit stand, Corinne greets her politely. The woman, who introduces herself as Severine, raves about the oranges and insists they possess an almost magical quality. Soon, Severine seems to be everywhere in Corinne’s life—seducing her father and attempting to mother her. The longer Severine stays, the more strange phenomena occur.  

Strange incidents begin plaguing the village: Corinne’s friend Bouki nearly drowns while playing by the river, the local witch grows increasingly on edge with ominous warnings about Corinne’s family, and an unnatural stench fills Corinne’s house whenever Severine attempts to cook. As an accomplished cook herself, Corinne refuses to let her father eat anything Severine prepares. But one evening, she returns home late to find her father in a strange trance, staring at a bowl of Severine’s soup. 

Severine then reveals her true nature as a jumbie—a supernatural, hideous forest creature who claims to be Corinne’s aunt. She insists that Corinne is half jumbie herself, which explains her extraordinary talent for growing divine fruit. Severine demands that Corinne join her in reclaiming the village and island for the jumbies. When loyal, honest Corinne refuses, Severine uses magic to banish her from her own home and begins controlling the villagers one by one, starting with her father. 

Left with no resources and shaken by questions about her origins, Corinne recruits several friends to defeat Severine and protect their village—because failure means none of them will have a home to return to. 

The Jumbies is a wonderfully macabre story with a straightforward plot and accessible language, perfect for younger readers. However, readers averse to horror may want to avoid it due to some heavy, scary elements. The adult characters, aside from the witch, play disappointingly weak roles—Corinne’s father succumbs to Severine’s influence with little resistance, which feels somewhat lazy. Despite this flaw, the novel proves inspiring and creative, expertly weaving Caribbean folklore themes into well-crafted worldbuilding that remains descriptive without becoming overly complicated. 

The Jumbies offers a creepy atmosphere, imaginative monsters, and youthful wit that will captivate readers. The book features supernatural creatures ranging from evil to good, and Corinne discovers that many are simply seeking a better home in a world that has banished them to the forest. While some use horrifying methods to reclaim their territory, Corinne proves to be a kind and intelligent protagonist who recognizes that monsters like Severine don’t represent all of her kind. Ultimately, this beautiful story delivers a sweet message: blood doesn’t define family, and home can always be found elsewhere. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • When Corinne first meets brothers Bouki and Malik, they steal her necklace, tie it to an animal, and giggle as Corinne runs into the forest to retrieve it. When she returns with her necklace, she finds one of them “[holding] a small frog in his hands over the top of the well. It was struggling, but he held it firmly. Their next victim, Corinne thought. Corinne let [her necklace] dangle from her fingers. Its smooth surface gleamed. The smile slid off the boy’s face.” The boys run away, though they later become friends with her. 
  • When Corinne sets up her food stand, a woman insists that Corinne stole her spot. “‘Go somewhere else, darling,’ the seller said. Her lips smiled, but her eyes were as hard as pebbles.” Corinne decides it isn’t worth fighting and sets up elsewhere.  
  • To get back at Bouki and Malik, Corinne sets a trap for them, making them fall into a pit of scorpions. Bouki “barely noticed the small insect that scrambled up the rope and out of the well. Soon there was another and another. Bouki jumped back. ‘Scorpions!’ he cried out. Malik dropped the rope and ran to his brother. There was a scorpion hanging onto Bouki’s tattered shirt.” Nobody is hurt, and this settles the score between Corinne and the brothers. 
  • While Corinne swims in the river with her friends, Severine attacks them. The witch notices Severine trying to drown Bouki and dives in after Severine. “[The witch] knocked [Severine] away from the children. The jumbie turned and dug her bony fingers into the witch’s flesh. She bore down hard. The witch raised her right arm and struck mightily at the jumbie’s chest. At the same time, she felt a sharp pain as her other arm snapped in two.” The children are fine, but the witch loses her arm. The scene is one page.  
  • After Corinne kicks Severine out of her house, Severine storms into the forest. In her anger, she kills an animal. “[Severine’s] hand shot out and grabbed a small furry creature by the neck. It wriggled as Severine squeezed tighter and tighter with her thumb and forefinger until the small bones snapped and the creature became still.” 
  • When Severine cooks a trance-inducing dinner for Corinne and her father, Corinne refuses to eat it. “Severine pushed the bowl of stew toward Corinne. Corinne jerked away, causing Severine to slop stew onto the floor. Severine grabbed Corinne’s wrist and shoved her to the ground, right into the foul-smelling stew. ‘You can’t resist me!’ Severine shrieked.” The stew burns Corinne. 
  • There is a brief mention of slavery as Severine recounts her history with her sister. “I had a sister. She pitied people. She went inside the ships and saw that some of the people were chained below. She helped them escape and swim to the island while I dealt with the others. Some of the people [on the ship had] chained up others and left them to rot in the bottoms of their ships. My sister felt sorry for them. I never did.” 
  • Corinne tries to escape from Severine with her father, Pierre. “Corinne grabbed her papa around the waist and tried to hoist him out of the chair. He was much too large and heavy and they both fell on the floor. She got up and began to pull him away, but Severine grabbed his other hand and pulled Pierre back into his chair. Then she picked Corinne up by the neck. Corinne struggled and kicked at the air as Severine’s fingers began to squeeze tighter and tighter around her throat.” Corinne escapes with minimal bruising. 
  • Frustrated with Corinne, Severine decides to call all the monstrous creatures of the forest to her aid. One of them, a soucouyant, attacks Bouki and Malik. “As they crawled back toward the fighting, they picked up several stones and shoved them into their pockets. When they were finally at the side of the road, they loaded up their slingshots and started to shoot. The soucouyant backed up at first, but then it barreled toward them in a blur of flame. Just as it was about to engulf the boys, an oar smacked it to the ground.” The boys and Hugo, the baker who saves them with the oar, are unharmed. 
  • In the aftermath of the creatures attacking their village, Corinne describes the bloody scene. “Every now and then, the children stepped over gory tracks where the wounded had been dragged off into the woods. Whether the victims were human or jumbie, they could not tell. The island had never been so quiet.” This is the only part of the battle described.  
  • However, the jumbies soon come back for Bouki and Malik, kidnapping them and dragging them to the forest. “A little jumbie man was right behind Malik. Bouki grabbed Malik’s arm quickly, but the [jumbie] caught Malik’s other arm and Bouki’s leg in a vicious grip. It dragged the brothers back between the trees. The fighting adults never noticed. In seconds, all that was left of the brothers was one fake coconut husk foot and the small straw hat.” The boys are recovered unharmed.  
  • Corinne’s friend Dru has to fend off a jumbie alone when she gets separated from her friends. She sets her attacker on fire. “The smell of burning fur filled the air. The lagahoo rushed forward and fell against the bush that had entangled Dru. The force of the crash freed Dru. Only torn bits of her shirt and a few strands of hair were left behind.” Dru is unharmed; however, she loses most of her hair. 
  • When Corinne confronts Severine, Corinne’s father is under Severine’s control and restrains Corinne. “Pierre put his hands over Corinne’s mouth. She stamped on his feet and struggled to get free but it was no use. Fishing out on the sea had made her father a strong man, and now that Severine had changed him, he was even stronger. Corinne looked at the fallen oranges. She brought her foot down on a large one and turned her face away as the juice flew right up into Pierre’s face. He howled again and loosened his grip long enough for Corinne to pull away. Corinne grabbed another orange and threw it right at her father’s face.” Corinne’s father gains control of himself, and no one is harmed.  
  • After Pierre frees himself, Severine accidentally falls off a cliff. “Severine flailed and managed to grab onto the rock face, but her green cloth snagged in the branches of the tree. She tugged at the cloth. The tree tipped again and tore away from the cliff. A branch swept her hand off the rock, and Severine spiraled down, down, down with the tree toward the sea far below.” There is no description of her beyond this, and the story implies that Severine is dead.  

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • The story features magical potions, though characters only reference them rather than actually drinking them. While advising Corinne, the witch explains that “everybody wants a fast, easy solution. Maybe if you took care of your skin, you wouldn’t have gotten the boil in the first place. Maybe if you worked harder, you would make more money. Maybe that person isn’t the right one for you. Maybe if you found a better way to farm, your crop would come up better. But nobody wants to hear those things. They want a bottle. Instant success! Something to drink, or sprinkle, or spill on the ground. They want magic from nothing.” 
  • In an effort to kidnap Corinne, Severine drugs Pierre. “Severine leaned in to make sure every single drop went in. She watched him intently as the liquid went down his throat, and something in his eyes began to change. They became cloudy, as if a storm was swirling right in his eyes. She watched Pierre scoop more of the stew into his mouth. Then he dropped the spoon and attacked the bowl like a greedy animal.” 

Language  

  • Language is tame, but words like stupid, idiot, and hell appear frequently. 

Supernatural  

  • This novel uses Caribbean folklore and references to the supernatural on nearly every page. Corinne and her friends have many interactions with magic, mostly through magical creatures called jumbies and potions, though Corinne does have abilities of her own.  
  • For example, Severine is a jumbie. Before obtaining human form, Severine cries about her missing sister, and as her tears hit the ground, “they turned into centipedes that scattered over the graves.”  
  • The villagers have many stories about jumbies. Corinne explains that the villagers talk about “creatures with backward feet, and women who could shed their skin, and women with hooves for feet. Even though her papa told her these stories were not true, there must have been a reason no one ever came this far into the forest.” 
  • While saving Bouki from drowning, the witch notices Severine “turn herself invisible.” 
  • When Corinne figures out that Severine is a jumbie, Severine lets her façade fade. “Severine came closer. As she did, her body shrank down a little. Corinne could see insects were crawling up and around Severine’s body. Hundreds of millipedes and centipedes, cockroaches, and beetles crawled in and out of the crags of her body. They dashed in and out of the fine fur and bored their way through her chest, so that Corinne could see straight through it like an old rotten tree.” 
  • Severine studies Corinne’s necklace and notes that “it was Forming Magic, an ancient power that was created at the same time that the very earth was made. It was bigger and more powerful than she herself — more powerful than anything she had ever known.” This is why Corinne can grow oranges unnaturally well.  
  • When Bouki and Malik defeat the soucouyant, they describe her. “She was a soucouyant — a malicious fireball that would suck the lifeblood out of anyone, even a baby. Her skin pooled around her, leaving Bouki holding the empty shell of her hand. He shuddered and let it fall with a slap against the rest of the discarded skin while the flame-body gathered up into a ball and hovered a few feet above the ground.” 
  • Standing a ways away from where the jumbies are attacking her village, Corinne spots a jumbie who has clearly broken away from the fight. “When Corinne looked up, the woman smiled, then shed her skin and burst into yellow flames.” 
  • In her final confrontation with Severine, Corinne cries out of hopelessness. However, “The tears that streamed down Corinne’s cheeks had formed a tiny, muddy pool around [a] seed. The seed trembled. Then it split open at the bottom and a tiny shoot of the palest green emerged from it and rooted itself into the ground. Corinne blinked. This was not the witch’s magic. It was her own.” The tree grows and tempts Severine to climb it.  
  • In the aftermath of Severine, Corinne and the witch heal the village by planting new orange seeds. “‘Grow,’ [Corinne and the witch] said together. The seeds began to sprout. A few people in the crowd gasped. The orange trees curved upward. They hardened and turned brown as they grew into each other and formed a solid wall that reached far into the sky. The trees looked beautiful, but more than that, they smelled delicious. The people in the village couldn’t resist picking the fruit and eating it on the spot.” 

Spiritual Content  

  • The book begins on All Hallows’ Eve. While walking with her father, Corinne overhears villagers talking about how “the spirits are out tonight,” and the children whisper about wanting to stay inside for fear of jumbies and the spirits.  

by Kate Schuyler

Can We Keep a Bigfoot?

When the Creepy Critter Keepers find a baby Bigfoot inside their clubhouse, they want to keep her as a pet. But then the Boggy Brothers come to town on a hunt to find Bigfoot themselves. The kids know they need to get their new buddy back to her mother soon. Can they take their furry friend home in time? Or will the Boggy Brothers catch up with them first? 

Anyone who has ever dreamed of meeting a mythological creature will love reading Can We Keep a Bigfoot? Right from the start, the kids know they must keep the Boggy Brothers, two comical villains, from finding Baby Bigfoot. The Creepy Critter Keepers disguise Baby Bigfoot, and readers will giggle at the illustration of Baby Bigfoot dressed up in one of the kids’ mothers’ clothes and makeup. However, as the kids search for Mama Bigfoot, they must protect the baby from both the Boggy Brothers and a teenager who dreams of being on TV. The author employs both humor and suspense to craft an engaging story that portrays Bigfoot as a loving, caring animal who looks out for one another. 

Can We Keep a Bigfoot? will entertain independent readers who are ready for longer texts and more complex storylines. To aid in comprehension, black and white illustrations appear every two to four pages. Many of the pictures show the characters, who are a diverse group. The books in the Creepy Critters Keepers Series can be read in any order because each book focuses on a different “creepy” critter. The book begins with a “Fact File” on Baby Bigfoot, which includes basic information such as abilities, weaknesses, likes, and dislikes.   

The four friends in Can We Keep a Bigfoot? are each unique and have different interests, but they all believe that protecting the Bigfoot is more important than money or fame. While much of the book is silly, it also shows that “there’s so much mystery in the world.” Instead of being fearful of Bigfoot, the kids show curiosity and compassion toward him. However, in the conclusion, Mama Bigfoot uses magic to give each kid a magical gift. The magic is a little off-putting because it is the only magic in the book. Additionally, it detracts from the kids’ kindness because it implies that a gift should only be given to someone who has helped. 

Can We Keep a Bigfoot? is an imaginative book that gives readers a picture of what Bigfoot might be like. With relatable characters, a comedic villain, and an adorable baby Bigfoot, the story is sure to delight readers. Readers who enjoy humor and monsters should also read The Adventures of the Bailey School Kids Series and the Notebook of Doom Series.  

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • After the kids help Mama Bigfoot reunite with her baby, Mama Bigfoot gives each kid a gift. To do this, Mama uses magic. Mama Bigfoot takes Mia’s hairbrush. Mama Bigfoot “rubbed the brush against her belly. Her wrists went in a circle. As she moved the hairbrush, it disappeared!” When Mama opens her hand, the hairbrush has changed to a “thick paintbrush. It held a faint glow. . . She swirled it over a page in her notebook. As she did, sparkling colors appeared on the sheet.” 
  • Mama Bigfoot changes a stone into a “silvery frog.” 
  • Mama Bigfoot changes a piece of tree bark. “Mama Bigfoot spun the bark around. When her magic was done, she showed Pablo his present. It was a small carved figure of a Bigfoot.”  
  • Mama Bigfoot takes Mia’s favorite pencil. “Mama Bigfoot stared at the pencil. As her round eyes gazed into the woods, it began to split. Pieces of the pencil turned into stems. Gold and silver flowers bloomed and burst forward. They sent showering sparks into the air.” 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

Heidi Heckelbeck Has a Secret

Heidi is not excited to go to school for the first time. While her 5-year-old little brother, Henry, is thrilled to be transitioning from homeschooling to Brewster Elementary, Heidi is terrified to be entering second grade in a public school. What if the teacher is mean to her? What if her classmates are gross? Heidi spends her morning in a very grumpy mood, thinking about how much she wants to stay home with her mother. 

Heidi remains grumpy when she gets to school and enters Mrs. Wellington’s second-grade classroom. A girl sitting next to her, named Melanie, makes fun of Heidi for being smelly, and it makes Heidi feel even more like an “alien” outcast. Still, Heidi’s day improves when her classmate Lucy Lancaster is nice to her and sits next to her at lunch. The two quickly become friends. Later, though, Melanie puts Heidi in an even worse mood by ruining Heidi’s self-portrait in art class. The bully ends up going to the principal’s office, but Heidi is left feeling miserable. 

Melanie returns to class when Mrs. Wellington’s second-graders are in the auditorium rehearsing for The Wizard of Oz. Heidi would rather not participate in the play, but much to her dismay, Melanie (who plays Dorothy) tells the drama teacher that Heidi should play the part of the “scary apple tree.” When the teacher agrees, Heidi is furious. As the school day comes to a close, Heidi thinks of ways to get back at Melanie. At home, Heidi gets an idea. Melanie might be a bully, but Heidi is something better. Heidi is a secret witch! Back in her room, Heidi pulls out her favorite book, her Book of Spells. She finds a spell for memory loss, gleefully planning her wicked scheme against Melanie. 

Heidi Heckelbeck Has a Secret is told through third-person narration and follows 8-year-old Heidi’s first day of public school. Heidi’s “secret” remains a secret for the audience until the very end, adding a minor twist that sets up the fantastical elements of the next books. This installment focuses less on Heidi’s life as a witch and more on slice-of-life issues that children could face, such as bullying and isolation. 

Despite Heidi’s grumpy mood, she is a very compelling protagonist. She is very smart and ahead of her class, but she doesn’t come across as a know-it-all. Melanie’s harsh treatment of Heidi is inexplicably cruel, and readers will feel empathy for Heidi. Heidi’s feelings of anger, sadness, fear, and confusion are depicted realistically, and children of all ages can relate to her struggles. 

Heidi Heckelbeck Has a Secret is ideal for children navigating life changes or those who feel different from their peers. It teaches that, while things may be difficult at first, there are always friends to be made. Heidi’s method of dealing with Melanie’s bullying is retaliation (through painting Melanie’s smock, planning to throw apples at her in the play, and planning to cast a spell on her). The implicit lesson is one of self-reliant retribution, but the book does depict multiple adults intervening on Heidi’s behalf. School administration, however, is unable to effectively stop Melanie’s teasing. 

Heidi Heckelbeck Has a Secret features a large, spaced-out font, making it an ideal early chapter book for children to read independently. The book also includes illustrations on every page that are both aesthetically pleasing and helpful in understanding the story. Illustrator Priscilla Burris effectively conveys the characters’ emotions and actions, as well as the various settings and objects, through her simple yet effective drawings.

Children who enjoy reading about Heidi Heckelbeck may also enjoy the Lucy Lancaster Series, another magical series set in Heidi’s world. Between homework assignments and elementary school bullies, a little bit of witchcraft can go a long way. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • When Melanie paints a zig-zag over Heidi’s self-portrait in art class, Heidi retaliates by wiping her paintbrush “across Melanie’s smock.” Melanie tries to do the same to Heidi, but the art teacher, Mr. Doodlebee, grabs Melanie’s arm before she can get paint on Heidi. 
  • Melanie is playing Dorothy in the school play, The Wizard of Oz, and Heidi is playing the evil apple tree. Heidi imagines throwing apples at Melanie, and the scene is illustrated. 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • Heidi’s favorite “growly word” is “merg,” and she says it every time she feels annoyed. She even writes it on the car window on the way to school. 
  • Heidi thinks that a “winter wonderland mural” in her school’s hallway looks “dumb.” 
  • Melanie is cruel to Heidi, calling her “smelly” in front of the whole class. 
  • Heidi and her classmates practice writing homophones, and Heidi writes: “School is a big, fat bore. Melanie is a mean, nasty boar.” 
  • Heidi teases her little brother Henry, calling him “a total Froot Loop.” 

Supernatural 

  • Throughout the day at school, Heidi feels like an alien compared to the other children. In art class, Heidi is told to draw a self-portrait, and she thinks, “Should I draw my alien self or my regular self?” 
  • Heidi’s secret is that she is a witch. After her rocky first day of school, Heidi pulls her Book of Spells out from a keepsake box in her room. In the book are the signatures of “The Witches of Westwick.” She opens a page that says, “How to Make Someone Forget,” and plots to use it against Melanie during the play to make her forget her lines. The spell is not cast in this book. 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

by Gabrielle Barke 

Class President

It’s time to pick a class president, and Mindy really wants to win—and she’s basing her entire campaign on snacks and being kind, so how could she NOT be chosen?

But there is one big thing that Mindy is not sure she can do—make a speech to her class about why she would be the best pick for president. Can Mindy face her fears and show the class—and herself—that she can be the best class president ever? 

The story’s protagonist, Mindy Kim, is a realistic and kind third grader with a relatable conflict—speaking in front of the entire class. Mindy’s fear is described in kid-friendly language that leaves readers empathizing with Mindy’s fear of public speaking. For example, when Mindy tries to give her speech to her babysitter, Mindy’s, “face felt really hot like I had a fever. I was holding the speech-planning sheet, but my hands were shaking so much that I couldn’t read what it said.” Mindy has a supportive network of people who advise her on overcoming her fear. For example, before giving her speech to anyone, Mindy practices speaking to her stuffed animals.  

Mindy’s struggle with public speaking highlights the importance of preparing and practicing before a big event. Even though Mindy didn’t win the vote to be class president, she is happy for the winner and doesn’t complain. Plus, Mindy’s father is proud of her for trying. Her father says, “I think you still deserve a prize for working so hard on your speech. You improved so much, and that’s a really big accomplishment!” 

After Mindy loses the election, her father reminds her that “the things that you promised in your speech—being everyone’s friend, being nice to everyone, and giving out snacks—those are all things you can do on a day-to-day basis. You don’t have to be class president to do all three!” Mindy’s story encourages readers to be kind, even when it’s difficult. Parents will want their children to emulate Mindy’s positive behavior and kindness.   

Class President is intended for readers who are ready to read chapter books. The story has fourteen short chapters, easy vocabulary, and illustrations approximately every four pages. The pages have oversized text and some complicated sentence structure. The black-and-white illustrations will help readers visualize the characters and understand the plot. Even though Class President is the fourth book in the Mindy Kim Series, the book focuses on one event that is concluded at the end of the book, allowing readers unfamiliar with the series to enjoy Class President as a stand-alone book.   

Class President introduces readers to the voting process, gives advice on overcoming the fear of public speaking, and includes fun Halloween scenes. The mixture of home and school life blends into an entertaining story that will help readers navigate through their own conflicts and disappointments. Readers who want to learn more about running for class president should also read Jada Jones Class Act by Kelly Starling Lyons. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • None

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None

Language  

  • Mindy’s friend, Sally, calls a mean boy a jerk. Later, Sally says, “He’s such a big baby!” 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None

Crocodile Encounters!: And More True Stories of Adventures with Animals

Crocodile Encounters follows National Geographic explorer Dr. Brady Barr as he comes face to face with crocodiles and learns more about their behavior. Crocodile Encounters has four short stories, each broken into three short chapters.  

“Undercover Crock”: To catch a crocodile, Dr. Barr usually snares it with a rope, wrestles with it, jumps on its back, and then ties its mouth and legs. It’s difficult and dangerous. While visiting a school, a student asked, “Dr. Brady, why don’t you dress up as a crocodile and join the club?” So, Dr. Barr did just that. Scientists and artists made a strong crocodile that Dr. Barr could climb into. When Dr. Barr used the suit, he got an eye-to-eye view of a crocodile. 

“Toy Story”: While visiting a school, Dr. Barr asked students for ideas on how to catch a crocodile. One student suggested using a remote-controlled toy car with a camera attached. Dr. Barr thought the idea was great. He waited until the crocodiles were basking in the sun and drove the toy car into the area where the crocodiles were sunning. Unexpectedly, a big old crocodile jumped out of the water and ate the toy car. Months later, another scientist found the toy car and the camera. The camera had recorded the crocodile’s stomach.  

“Deep Dark Den”: In Costa Rica, 13 big crocodiles lived in a lake near humans. Dr. Barr was hired to move the crocodiles to a safer place, but first, he had to catch them. Since finding crocodiles in a lake is difficult, Dr. Barr drained the lake. When the lake was empty, the crocodiles had disappeared. Another scientist found a large hole. When Dr. Barr climbed into the hole, he heard a hiss. When he turned on his flashlight, crocodile eyes stared back at him! 

“Croc in a Box”: A very large and very smart crocodile lived close to a village in Uganda. The crocodile had to be moved. Dr. Barr wanted to move the crocodile to a zoo in the United States, but first, he had to catch it and find an airliner to fly it to the U.S. Dr. Barr caught the croc and put it in a large box. Dr. Barr didn’t think the crocodile would escape, but it did! Luckily, that was before it was put on an airplane. 

Crocodile Encounters takes a deep dive into the world of crocodiles from Dr. Barr’s point of view. Readers will be amazed as they learn facts about crocodiles and how to keep them safe from humans.  

Based on the hit feature in National Geographic Kids magazine, National Geographic Chapter Series features true stories that are divided into three short chapters. The book is packed with full-color photography, lists, and infographics. Some pages also include orange boxes that contain additional facts about the animals. For example, “Humans only have two sets of teeth, but crocs lose teeth and grow new ones throughout their lifetime.”   

Readers who are fascinated by crocodiles will find Crocodile Encounters entertaining and educational. The pictures will help readers understand how crocodiles see at night and other interesting facts. Dr. Barr’s love of crocodiles comes through on every page, but readers who don’t already love crocodiles will quickly become bored. Crocodile Encounters is an excellent book to use for crocodile research. If you love crocodiles, you may also want to read the Ancient Animals Series by Sarah L. Thomson. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • In Costa Rica, crocodiles in a lake were labeled problem crocs. “They were upsetting human neighbors by attacking dogs, cats, and even cows!”  
  • In most countries, when crocodiles are labeled problems, they are killed.  

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • Darn is used once. 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

Pokémon Adventures: X•Y Vol. 1

Pokémon trainer X was once a child prodigy but now stays locked in his house to avoid the paparazzi. His friend and fellow trainer Y tries to get X out of his shell. But when an evil organization called Team Flare and two legendary Pokémon destroy their hometown, X, Y, and their friends Tierno, Shauna, and Trevor must journey into the region of Kalos to defeat Team Flare. 

In this volume, X begins to discover the secrets of Mega Evolution, while Y tries her best to protect her friends from being attacked by Team Flare. Both X and Y realize they need to become stronger in the face of the mysterious, sinister team. As the volume progresses, X slowly comes out of his shell, and Y dedicates more time to developing her skills as a Pokémon trainer, each for the purpose of protecting the friends they love.  

This book is a manga series, which is a Japanese form of comic book. It is read right to left instead of left to right. All of the illustrations are in black and white, with clear font and endearing manga-style art. The drawings of the characters are cartoonish and stylized, featuring large eyes, and the panels are often slanted or irregularly shaped to create a bombastic reading experience. Onomatopoeia is often used, and the speech bubbles are designed for the Japanese language, which is read up and down, so occasionally the text can get a little cramped. 

The characters of Pokémon Adventures: X•Y are sympathetic, but sometimes a bit frustrating. X is dealing with increased anxiety after his many run-ins with invasive paparazzi, but as a result, he refuses to emerge from a mobile tent when his friends are traveling. He often is cold or quiet, and he forces one of his friends to take care of his Pokémon during his absence. That being said, these flaws are deliberate, and X is meant to be a hard person to like due to his traumatic experiences. Furthermore, X begins to learn that even though he feels alone due to his trauma, he has a network of people who care about him. 

In contrast, Y is incredibly bubbly and joyful and always keeps her energy up. Sometimes she irritates her friends, such as Shauna, and she may even irritate the readers. However, she chooses to be energetic to try to encourage her friends, particularly X, as she recognizes that everyone is going through a scary and difficult time. Y’s confidence, initiative, and charisma come together to make her an effective leader of the group.  

Pokémon Adventures: X•Y is an exciting, action-packed manga with plenty of subplots about friendship and bond-building. Any fan of the Pokémon games Pokémon: X and Pokémon: Y will enjoy seeing the game characters recreated in manga form, as well as dialogue from the game being used in the manga itself. However, readers who have fully played through the original games will still find enough new content and major plot differences in the manga to be entertained and genuinely surprised. Furthermore, readers who are unfamiliar with Pokémon or have not played the games will still find this volume gripping and fun. However, they might be slightly confused by some of the details of Pokémon’s lore.  

Pokémon Adventures: X•Y is a fantastic introduction to the series. Each character clearly explains their backstories and motivations for journeying through Kalos, and the side characters are well-developed and sympathetic. The world of Pokémon is vibrant and thrilling as it is recreated in the manga, with the illustrations elevating the narrative by making each experience visceral through visual stimulus. Readers will not only learn important lessons about stranger danger, but also about supporting friends through tough times. This fast and entertaining read effectively sets up the main characters and world. It is sure to get any reader hooked on the full series.  

Sexual Content  

  • A member of Team Flare notices that Y is coming to protect X, and wonders who Y is. She says, “Maybe she’s his girlfriend. Or just a friend. A friend that’s a girl.” 

Violence  

  • Pokémon battles are a very common phenomenon. Two or more Pokémon are pitted against each other to battle using their “moves,” which are sometimes physical and other times magical. The loser of a battle usually faints and can be revived at a Pokémon Center. The battles can sometimes endanger the Pokémon trainers (the people who own the Pokémon), but the Pokémon are never in danger of dying. 
  • Two large, powerful Pokémon of legend destroy X and Y’s hometown as they fight each other. “Aaaaah! The hill! It’s been blown away!. . . What is that? A Pokémon? Whatever it is, we’d better run for it!” yell two bystanders. 
  • Team Flare burns down X’s house in order to get an important tool called the Mega Ring. “We’ll break down the door and get in before those legendary Pokémon destroy the house.”  
  • Team Flare’s Houndoom (a dog-like Pokémon) bites Y instead of one of Y’s Pokémon. The team Flare member cries, “Whoever she is, she’s in our way . . . Houndoom!”  
  • A lion-esque Pokémon called Pyroar drags X by his collar. The Team Flare trainer says, “Bring him to us, Pyroar!”  
  • A Team Flare trainer threatens her Pokémon, implying that she might physically hurt it if it does not perform to her standards in battle. The Team Flare trainer says, “Give it your biggest punch! Or else . . . you know what’ll happen . . . ” Unfortunately, the Pokémon performs poorly. They are not harmed, but the trainer implies they will be later saying, “I’ll have to teach him a lesson, then.”  
  • A Team Flare Pokémon named Sliggoo fires acid at Y’s head, endangering her. “If you don’t hurry, your friend’s head . . . is going to melt into sludge with Sliggoo’s slime,” declares a Team Flare member. Fortunately, everyone avoids bodily harm. This battle spans over six pages. 
  • In a flashback, two paparazzi manhandle X’s Pokémon, including Kangaskhan, who are already tired from their previous battle. This worries X. “Come out, come out, little baby Kangaskhan!” exclaims one of the journalists. 
  • When hypnotized, Shauna tries to attack Y with a sword. Another character named Viola jumps in the way but gets knocked out. “Stealing the stone . . . and getting rid of the gym leader . . . it was all simple after that,” says the Team Flare member by way of explanation. No one else is injured. This battle spans over four pages. 
  • When Trevor refuses to show a sinister man named Lysandre a photo, Lysandre brings out his powerful Pokémon and surrounds Trevor and his friends, threatening them. He says to the Pokémon in a sinister manner, “Lunchtime! What would you like to eat?” Though he is threatening, there is no battle, since another master trainer named Dianthe comes in and tells Lysandre to stop. 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language    

  • None 

Supernatural  

  • In this world, strange beasts called Pokémon exist. They are animal-like creatures that often have special powers, whether that is incredible strength and physically attack, or the power to harness the elements and make magical attacks.  
  • Shauna is hypnotized into believing she is trimming a Pokémon’s fur. The Pokémon Aegislash uses its hypnotic power to do this. “She’s being controlled by that sword thingie!” Y exclaims. 
  • A Pokémon named Lucario emits a psychic aura that protects the characters from Aegislash’s hypnotic power. “I see . . . the aura rising from Lucario is protecting those brats,” the Team Flare trainer realizes. 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

by Mia LaBianca 

Wildfire

Flames race toward Sam Castine’s summer camp as evacuation buses are loading, but Sam runs back to get his phone. Suddenly, a flash of heat blasts him as pine trees explode. Now a wall of fire separates Sam from his bus, and there’s only one thing to do: Run for his life. Run or die. 

Lungs burning, Sam’s only goal is to keep moving. Drought has made the forest a tinderbox, and Sam struggles to remember survival tricks he learned from his late father. Then, when he least expects it, he encounters Delphy, an older girl who is also lost. Their unlikely friendship grows as they join forces to find civilization. 

The pace never slows, and eventually flames surround Sam and Delphy on all sides. A powerful bond is forged that can only grow out of true hardship—as two true friends beat all odds and outwit one of the deadliest fires ever. 

In the first chapter, fire surrounds Sam, threatening his survival. At first, Sam is alone in the wilderness, giving readers a close look at Sam’s personal struggles. Not only is he grieving the loss of his father, but he is also worried about his mother, who is in rehab for opioid addiction. While Sam is trying to find his way through the wilderness, he often reflects on his parents, which gives him the strength to persevere. Additionally, his father’s wisdom and teachings enable Sam to make informed decisions and stay safe. 

When Delphy suddenly appears, lost and injured, Sam doesn’t think twice about helping her. Even though both want to survive, they don’t always agree. This, as well as their secrets, builds suspense. Both Delphy and Sam are likable characters, whom readers will connect with. Although the main conflict is surviving the fire, each character faces personal problems that middle grade readers will relate to. For example, Delphy believes that others won’t like her because she’s not pretty enough.  

Wildfire is a fast-paced story that draws readers in from the first page. Told from Sam’s point of view, the story is action-packed while allowing Sam’s character to be fully developed. The short chapters and straightforward plot make Wildfire an engaging, easy read. At the end of the novel, information about wildfires and practical safety tips enhances the reader’s understanding of one of the world’s most devastating natural disasters. Readers who enjoy Wildfire should also read I Survived the Great Chicago Fire by Lauren Tarshis and Hatchet by Gary Paulsen. 

Sexual Content  

  • None

Violence  

  • The wildfire “quickly engulfed hundreds of acres, cutting off power to his corner of the country.” The fire was caused by arson. A radio announcer says, “Hard to believe there’s someone out there angry enough, or evil enough, or stupid enough, to deliberately start a fire in a tinder-dry forest.”  
  • During the fire, a “team of volunteer firefighters from Belfast. . .died trying to evacuate” people. 
  • Two brothers started the fires. Delphy and Sam are sleeping in a cabin when they see the brothers. “They’ve discovered the lanterns and are scattering oil and lighting the place on fire. . . the flames spread quickly.”  
  • Delphy and Sam try to sneak away without being seen, but the brothers spot them. The two friends get in a jeep and speed off, but the brothers follow them on bikes. “When the first biker catches up and starts screaming . . . she suddenly leaps up, swings her stick, and wham! slams him so hard he flies off his bike, and rolls along the trail like a rag doll.”  
  • The other brother continues to pursue Delphy and Sam. “The remaining rider edges in, gets a gloved hand on the side of the Jeep. . . Delphy grabs a gallon jug of water, and in one smooth motion, slams it upside his head. He goes over backward, landing hard in the dirt. . .” The kids escape. The brothers are not seriously injured.    
  • Sam thinks about when his father was killed. “The Hummer hit his truck in Afghanistan. How the gasoline tanker he was driving rolled off the shoulder of the road, turning the rig upside down. How he was trapped in the cab as the gas poured out and then exploded.” 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • After a car accident, Sam’s mother was prescribed “meds for the pain.” She quickly gets addicted to them.  
  • Sam came home from school and “found [his mom] passed out on the floor, barely breathing.” Sam called 911, and “they took her to the hospital and pumped her stomach and tested her blood for opioids.”  
  • Sam’s mom is in rehab. Sam is afraid that “my mother is going to die of an overdose.” 

Language  

  • Several times, Sam calls himself an idiot. 
  • Two boys intentionally set fires. Delphy calls them creeps and jerks. 
  • Delphy calls Sam a dummy. 
  • Sam has pledged not to swear, so when he’s upset, he says, “Double darn rat puke.” 
  • The radio announcer says he made a “bonehead move” by not leaving the area.

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • Sam prays that his mom stays in rehab. “No more pills, no more pills, no more pills. Pray for no more pills.” 
  • After the fire breaks out, a radio announcer says, “So we’re praying for rain! We’re dancing for rain!” 
  • Sam prays “that the wind will change and blow the fire out like a candle on a birthday cake.” When Delphy and Sam appear out of nowhere, the radio announcer says, “Oh my Lord! You sent me two angels in a jeep!” 

Dodsworth in London

Dodsworth, a distinguished mouse, and his mischievous friend—a white duck known only as “the duck”—are visiting London. Join this charming duo as they tour the city and take in the familiar landmarks of a fictional early 20th-century England, bustling with a menagerie of impeccably dressed animal characters who go about their days and speak in proper British accents. 

Their first stop is a pub, and almost immediately, the duck’s shenanigans land the friends in trouble. After attempting to join a city tour on a red double-decker bus, a crowded station separates the pair, setting off a comical series of events that brings as much distress as they do delight. From losing his duck friend to a case of mistaken identity, Dodsworth is left feeling utterly devastated. Will Scotland Yard solve the case of the missing duck—and will these two friends find a way to reunite? 

In this chapter book, Egan’s themes of friendship, loss, and perseverance run through a simple narrative that is sure to keep young readers in suspense. Picking up where Dodsworth in Paris left off, the duo arrives in England by hot air balloon, and the duck immediately causes havoc. Dodsworth is constantly trying to ensure his friend behaves appropriately, while the duck—driven by earnest curiosity—seeks mischief at every turn. Spotting the pub’s darts and dartboard, Dodsworth warns, “Don’t even think about it.” You can guess what happens next! The two friends have a lighthearted way of coexisting, and ever-practical Dodsworth decides the best way to tour the city is by bus, so he can keep an eye on his friend and avoid losing him in the fog. But the plan backfires. 

What comes next steers the story toward a spectacular final twist. Young readers will relate to the heartbreak Dodsworth feels when he realizes he’s lost track of his friend, but that realization doesn’t come right away. Playfully, Egan introduces another duck into the story, and through a case of mistaken identity, Dodsworth meets a “Royal Duck.” A series of hilarious exchanges soon makes it clear that this duck, who speaks “with a British accent,” isn’t his duck. Fortunately, the Royal Duck proves to be a soothing and empathetic presence, becoming a pivotal ally in the search for Dodsworth’s missing friend. 

The story is suitable for fluent readers who are ready for a book with multiple plotlines. Cheerful watercolor and ink illustrations appear on every page. Many of the illustrations depict the characters’ facial expressions, which will help readers understand their emotions more clearly. Additionally, readers can use context clues and illustrations to understand the meanings of unfamiliar words, such as pub. The story subtly introduces British English vocabulary, such as crumpets and tea, as well as landmarks including Buckingham Palace and Big Ben. Although Dodsworth is a series, the books do not need to be read in order, as each focuses on a distinct storyline. 

Reminiscent of the Shakespearean play Much Ado About Nothing, this lighthearted story unfolds as readers try to discover where the duck actually is. This all unfolds against Dodsworth’s unwavering perseverance to find his friend. With help from the Royal Duck, Scotland Yard, the Buckingham Palace guards, and the Queen herself, the story concludes on a happy note sure to satisfy young readers and parents alike. The story concludes when “Dodsworth laughed and hugged the duck again. And this time, as the night fell on London, the duck actually hugged him back.” 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

Diana and the Island of No Return

Twelve-year-old Diana has always wanted to be a warrior. She has spent her childhood growing up on the magical island of Themyscira among Amazons—powerful, female warriors—where men are forbidden. Now that she’s twelve, Diana is convinced it’s time for her to start training to be a warrior, but her mother, the Queen of the Amazons, refuses to let her. Diana is a natural with weapons and footwork and she sees no danger in training.  

But Diana knows her mother is hiding something, which frustrates her to no end. So, when the annual Chará festival comes to Themyscira, bringing boatloads of fearsome women from around the world, Diana watches them train and socialize with envy. Diana’s best friend, Sakina, helps distract her. When Diana goes looking for Sakina’s missing pet, she hears someone in need. Venturing all the way down to the waterfront, Diana sees something she’s never seen before—a boy, named Augustus, bruised, battered, and starving.  

Diana is a fierce, intelligent, and curious protagonist. When she finds Augustus, she approaches the situation rationally and, though she doesn’t trust him, she wisely gives him the benefit of the doubt.  Diana promises to return with food and to hear his story. Back at the palace, she discovers all the festival-goers in magic-induced comas. Panicked, she returns to the boats and finds Sakina interrogating Augustus. Together, the girls use Diana’s Lasso of Truth to compel the boy to tell them about what happened to their families. Augustus explains that a demon has hypnotized everyone on his island and blackmailed potion-expert Augustus to fetch Princess Diana for the demon. Without any other options, the girls take pity on Augustus and swear to save his family, and their own, regardless of the danger. They courageously leave Themyscira on a flying chariot to confront a demon all by themselves.  

The novel features fantastic and inspiring young heroes who drive the story and develop beautifully as characters. However, the demon is a flat and generic villain who lacks a backstory. The novel gives very little description of the demon, which makes him seem weak and diminishes Diana’s triumph. The rest of the story is well-constructed, using simple language and an easy plot that will keep the average reader entertained. The settings of Themyscira and Sáz (Augustus’s home island) are magically and wonderfully described. In addition, the Amazons serve as a great example of women empowering each other, and the community in Sáz is kind and tight-knit. Regardless of the book’s flaws, it’s a sweet and creative read.  

Readers will love the strong warriors, independent young protagonists, and intricate mythology and magic of Diana and the Island of No Return. Diana and her friends encounter all kinds of challenges and traps, from pits of spiders to flying chariots to hypnotized prisoners, which makes for inspiring entertainment. Diana is a sweet and spirited character who grows when challenged, leads by example and stands by her own moral principles. Overall, Diana and the Island of No Return is a beautiful story with moments of magical wonder, unwavering self-confidence, and lovely, budding friendship.  

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • While all the guests of Themyscira, Diana’s home island, party at the palace, Diana wanders down to the waterfront, where she discovers a boy—which is strange since boys are forbidden on Themyscira. He is visibly bruised and injured. It takes some time to get the answers, but he eventually confesses that a demon had blackmailed him to kidnap Diana. “‘I’m sorry,’ the boy said. His eyes brimmed with tears. ‘I tried to refuse. First I pretended I’d done it and made a fake potion; but when he tested it out and saw that it didn’t work, he beat me.’ The boy waved at his bruises. ‘When he threatened to kill my father then and there, I buckled.’”  
  • As Diana, Sakina, and Augustus confront the demon, their plan to capture the demon fails, and Diana attacks him unsuccessfully. “Diana glanced about for something—anything—to throw at [the demon] and noticed a boulder, loosened from the fence. Gripping it, she heaved it up and hurled it at the demon. The rock flew through the air, whizzing toward him—and passed straight through the demon’s torso and out the other side, landing with a sharp crack on the street beyond the bonfire.”  
  • When Diana’s attack on the demon fails, the demon reacts, and “one arm clamped around Diana’s neck and she was lifted into the air by her throat. Diana coughed and wheezed, her breathing growing strained. The hold pressed tighter against her windpipe. Stars began to dance in and out of Diana’s vision. She scrambled against the grip, her nails scratching into flesh.” She breaks free and makes it out largely unscathed. 
  • After regrouping and coming up with another plan, Diana and her friends confront the demon. While Diana distracts him, he is violent. “In a split second, the demon darted forward. He grabbed Diana’s wrist. Sparks of pain shot up Diana’s arm.” Diana gets free, and they get rid of the demon, so no further harm is done. The whole confrontation scene is only about five pages. 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • During Themyscira’s annual festival, Diana returns to the palace to find all the partygoers asleep. “The first thing Diana noticed once she stepped inside the guest hall was the scent filling the room: bittersweet, like the rind of an orange. She clasped a hand to her nose; her eyes watered.” Diana discovers that everyone had been drugged. Diana and her friends find the antidote and eventually wake everyone. 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural  

  • While not a superhero yet, Diana has special abilities and grows up surrounded by magical happenings on a magically hidden island. This book has many references to magic on almost every page. An example of Diana’s abilities appears when she breaks free of the handcuffs the demon put on her. “The reality of what she’d done settled in on her. It should have been impossible to break out of those cuffs. And yet—she’d done it.” 
  • Diana also carries a family heirloom called the Lasso of Truth. She uses it multiple times against suspicious people. Diana says, “[The Lasso of Truth] shines a light on the truth. And you can’t break free of it. May as well stop trying.” Once ensnared by the Lasso, whoever Diana captures is compelled to tell the truth to any question posed to them.  
  • Diana’s friend, Sakina, also possesses special abilities that she frequently utilizes. Diana describes Sakina as “a Scholar, but [Sakina] also had a special ability to speak with animals.” Sakina has multiple pets that she converses with daily, and she often uses their help to set traps for the demon.  
  • Diana meets a new friend, Augustus, who comes from an island that makes magical, flying chariots. When Diana first meets him, he explains, “I brought a chariot with me. Uh, snuck it in the hull so no one would discover it. Thought I’d visit my family while I was here.” Diana asks, “It can fly all on its own?” Augustus responds, “with a certain potion, yes.” Augustus often uses magical potions to solve their problems, like protecting Diana and Sakina with force fields and defeating the demon. 
  • The demon also has several magical abilities that he uses for nefarious purposes. He hypnotizes Augustus’s loved ones to make Augustus do the demon’s bidding. “It’s hard to see them like that,” Augustus says, “They’re good people. There’s a ninety-nine-point nine percent probability that not one of those people hunting for us would hurt so much as a fly. But now they have clubs. And their eyes. . . It’s scary to see them so blank. Like the lights are off and no one is home.” 

Spiritual Content  

  • Diana is the child of an Amazonian warrior. Therefore, she often references the Greek gods and Greek mythology. An example of this happens when she describes the palace of Themyscira, which has “columns with marble statues of the goddesses Athena, Artemis, and Hera [gazing] down on the Amazon warriors [who are training].” They do not interact with any gods in this novel.  

by Kate Schuyler 

Fuzzy Mud

Fifth grader Tamaya Dhilwaddi and seventh grader Marshall Walsh walk home from school every day, but recently, school has been stressful for them. Tamaya feels like she misses out on quality time with her friends because she splits time between her divorced parents, who live in different towns. Plus, all of her friends think she’s a goody two-shoes. Life has also been difficult for Marshall, who is being bullied by Chad Hilligas. Worst of all, Chad says he’s going to beat up Marshall after school today. 

To avoid Chad’s wrath, Marshall forces Tamaya to take a shortcut through the woods, but they get lost quickly. When Chad catches up to them and attempts to attack Marshall, Tamaya throws strange, fuzzy mud in Chad’s face. Tamaya and Marshall both escape, but the next day, Chad has disappeared.  

Now, Tamaya has a painful rash on her hand because of the fuzzy mud, and she’s worried that Chad might be suffering even more. After Chad is absent for two days, the school becomes increasingly concerned about his whereabouts, and Tamaya decides she must find Chad, despite everything he’s done. When Tamaya also disappears, Marshall must decide if he can stand up to Chad in order to help his friend. 

The narration alternates between the third-person limited point of view of the two main characters, Tamaya and Marshall. Tamaya struggles to determine her values as her classmates begin to mature and change in preparation for middle school. Readers will empathize with Tamaya’s relatable conflict and be impressed by her bravery as she chooses to listen to her moral compass rather than outside trends. On the other hand, as a means of venting his frustration, Marshall is becoming meaner to Tamaya. However, he feels immense guilt for this and believes he is a coward for not standing up to Chad. Though Marshall is at times difficult to like due to his cold treatment of Tamaya, his reaction to his bullying is grounded and therefore sympathetic. Despite the characters’ flaws, readers will feel sympathy for Marshall and Tamaya because each wants to change and improve for the sake of the other. 

Interestingly, Chad’s backstory and reasons for bullying are also revealed. He bullies Marshall because he feels that his parents neglect him and don’t truly care about him. Plus, Chad is jealous of Marshall, whose mom often demonstrates her love. Sachar’s choice to give Chad a sympathetic backstory makes him a realistic, grounded bully rather than a caricature of evil. Furthermore, Chad’s narrative demonstrates that people can change for the better and find people who truly care for them. 

The fuzzy mud serves as an intriguing sci-fi thriller element, heightening the stakes and eventually throwing the town into disarray. Ultimately, the fuzzy mud serves as an effective plot device to not only create physical danger for the characters but also kickstart moments of character growth, including Tamaya’s commitment to helping Chad and Marshall’s determination to stand up to what scares them. Furthermore, the fuzzy mud parallels the conflicts the characters face: it is revealed that the fuzzy mud was actually meant to help people, and only began creating harm when it started mutating against outside threats. Similarly, Chad and Marshall did not start out as cold or heartless people, but became meaner when they experienced outward harm and tried to defend themselves. When people like Tamaya call out their harmful ways, they try to change for the better. This is similar to how Tamaya’s ability to alert the authorities about fuzzy mud helps protect people. 

Fuzzy Mud is not only an effective thriller but also a genuinely empathetic exploration of the struggles of three middle school kids. The characters’ interactions with the fuzzy mud allow readers to understand each character’s fears and worries. Though this book is at times almost horror-esque, its unique thriller elements are still fairly tame and make for a tense rather than outright frightening read. It is perfect for young readers who want to begin dipping their toes into sci-fi, thriller, and horror elements. Furthermore, its grounded characters and realistic interpersonal conflicts make this a great read for a wide range of readers. Fuzzy Mud is not only thrilling but also emotional, empathetic, and ultimately hopeful for a better future. Readers who want to read books that show the power of kindness should also read The Secret Sheriff of Sixth Grade by Jordan Sonnenblick. 

Sexual Content  

  • Marshall doesn’t allow Tamaya to be friendly with him at school, because he doesn’t want anyone to think they are “boyfriend and girlfriend,” which they are “definitely not.” 
  • Tamaya’s mom makes a joke that Tamaya has to do her own laundry or else “she’d have to go to school naked.” Tamaya is embarrassed that her mother said this around Marshall and finds herself blushing. 
  • After he defeats Chad in his fantasy scenario, Marshall imagines two pretty girls from class kissing him. 
  • Tamaya has a crush on her teacher, Mr. Franks. “Tamaya could feel her face get warm, and she tried very hard not to blush. All her friends agreed that Mr. Franks was movie-star handsome.” 
  • Tamaya has a crush on the doctor who takes care of her in the hospital. “With soft brown eyes and curly hair, he was even cuter than Mr. Franks.” 

Violence  

  • The older boys at Tamaya’s school discuss a hermit who may or may not exist, saying that he has a long beard “splotched all over with blood.”  
  • An older boy also discusses an exaggerated story about being in the woods, saying, “A wolf snapped at my leg just as I was climbing back over the fence.”  
  • Chad finds Marshall and Tamaya in the woods and attacks Marshall. “With sudden ferocity, Chad lunged at him. He slugged Marshall in the face, then in the side of the neck.” In an attempt to protect Marshall, Tamaya takes some fuzzy mud and shoves it into Chad’s face. “She reached into the fuzzy mud and grabbed a handful of the thick and gooey muck. She ran at Chad, and as he turned towards her, she shoved it into his face.” 
  • After Chad’s attack, both Tamaya and Marshall are hurt. “Her knees were scraped and bloody, and her left wrist hurt from where she’d fallen, but she didn’t think there was anything seriously wrong. Besides, Marshall was a lot worse. Dried blood and snot were caked beneath his nose.” 
  • Marshall fantasizes about defending Tamaya from Chad. Marshall imagines, “Tamaya is on the ground, crying. Chad is about to hit Tamaya again, but Marshall grabs his arm.”  
  • To convince Marshall that Chad might be in danger, Tamaya shows him the rash. “Huge blisters, bleeding and crusted over, now covered the entire area, from the tip of her fingers down past her wrist.” 
  • In the woods, Tamaya sees a dead animal that the mud killed. “Just ahead lay some kind of dead animal, half covered in muck and fuzz.” 
  • Tamaya slips into a gully and is bruised. “She noticed the pain from all the bruises on her hands, arms, knees, and legs. Her shirt had rolled up a bit during her slide, and she had scratches and scrapes on her stomach as well.” 
  • Chad’s face is incredibly damaged by the mud. “His face was a mass of blisters, crusted with pus and dried blood, and so badly swollen, she could hardly see his eyes.” 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language    

  • Tamaya’s friends tease her in a light-hearted way, though it hurts Tamaya’s feelings. Her friends call her a “goody two-shoes” and a “goody-goody.” 
  • Tamaya feels confused that her girlfriends refer to the boys as “disgusting and gross,” but this seems to be a positive thing. 
  • In one of the Senate hearing excerpts, one doctor refers to another as “crazy.” 
  • Chad calls Marshall names such as “Buttface” and “thumb-sucking coward.”  
  • After a surgery that grafts skin from Chad’s butt to his face, he refers to himself as “Buttface.”

Supernatural  

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

by Mia LaBianca 

Hidden Truths

Dani and Eric have been best friends since Dani moved next door in second grade. They bond over donuts, comic books, and camping on the Cape. Until one summer when everything changes.

Did Eric cause the accident that leaves Dani unable to do the one thing in the world she most cares about? The question plagues him, and he will do anything to get answers about the explosion that injured her. But Dani is hurting too much to want Eric to pursue the truth—she just wants to shut him out and move on. Besides, Eric has a history of dropping things he starts. Eric knows that and is determined that this will be the one time he follows through.

But what if his pursuit brings him into direct conflict with another friend? Where does Eric’s loyalty really lie? 

Hidden Truths follows two middle school students dealing with the aftermath of an accident. Eric struggles with guilt, unsure whether he caused Dani’s injury, while Dani must abandon her baseball dreams after finally making the junior high boys’ team. Their friendship becomes strained as both characters navigate difficult emotions and personal challenges. 

Eric will resonate with any reader who has experienced guilt after a mistake. Unsure if he was responsible for the accident, Eric wants to do something to help Dani. However, he wasn’t expecting Dani to reject his offers of help. To make matters worse, Eric struggles to remember things, and he doesn’t process information in the same way as most of his peers. Despite this, Eric realizes that this is actually his “superpower” because he “see[s] stuff differently” and “[doesn’t] give up on stuff or people.” His attempts to help Dani are repeatedly rejected, yet he persists with remarkable determination. 

Eric’s experience with bullying provides insight into how cruelty affects victims. When Dani dismisses his struggles, he reflects that “she’s never been on the receiving end of mean. She doesn’t know how it scrapes your insides hollow and sticks to the layers of your skin.” This perspective highlights how different people process trauma and adversity. 

Dani’s anger over losing her baseball dreams is understandable, but it leads her to mistreat Eric and befriend Meadow, a thoroughly unlikable character who lies and bullies others. Through this friendship, Dani grapples with moral complexity, realizing that “people were either good or bad. I didn’t think there were in-betweeners. Meadow is definitely an in-betweener.” 

However, Dani fails to recognize that she, too, is an “in-betweener.” Her dismissive attitude toward Eric’s bullying experience reveals her own moral blind spots. She believes her situation is uniquely difficult and does nothing to stop Meadow’s cruel behavior toward Eric. 

The novel explores several meaningful themes. Most prominently, it examines moral complexity, showing how people aren’t simply good or bad but fall somewhere in between. The story also addresses the lasting impact of bullying, revealing how cruelty leaves emotional scars that others may not understand. Additionally, the book emphasizes perseverance as both characters learn to persist despite setbacks. Dani and Eric both learn two valuable lessons: “We all make mistakes” and “the truth matters.” 

Dani finds inspiration in baseball player Mo’ne Davis. She uses this role model to fuel her determination during physical therapy. The story’s conclusion reinforces the theme of personal choice, as Dani’s physical therapist reminds her, “You may not get to choose what sport you play or when you get to play it, but you get to choose who you are. And in the end, that’s what matters most.” 

Hidden Truths succeeds in several important ways. The characters are relatable and flawed, allowing readers to connect with them authentically rather than seeing them as perfect heroes. The book addresses significant themes, including bullying, friendship conflicts, and personal growth, in a meaningful way that will resonate with middle-grade readers. The characters’ internal struggles feel genuine and age-appropriate. At the same time, the realistic resolution avoids tying everything up too neatly—Dani’s future in baseball remains uncertain, reflecting how real life doesn’t always provide clear answers.  

Hidden Truths alternates between Dani’s and Eric’s points of view, which allows the reader to see how one event affects each person. Each chapter starts with either a picture of a baseball with Dani’s name on it or a picture of a crossword with Eric’s name on it; this visual cue makes it easy to transition between the two characters’ points of view.  

However, the novel has some limitations. The heavy emphasis on internal conflict means some sections lack action, resulting in slower pacing that may not engage all readers. Additionally, those expecting a fast-paced sports story will likely be disappointed by the book’s introspective focus. Expand your reading list by adding other books that explore the topic of friendship and sports, including The Academy by T.Z. Layton, Free Throws, Friendship, and Other Things We Fouled Up by Jenn Bishop and Rick Kotani’s 400 Million Dollar Summer by Waka T. Brown. 

Sexual Content  

  • Eric has a crush on a classmate named Rachel. They start spending time together, holding hands several times. One time, when they hold hands, Eric tries “to walk like a normal person while every neuron in [his] brain’s firing.” 
  • After Eric makes a good presentation at school, “Rachel leans over and kisses [his] cheek.” Eric thinks, “Best meeting ever.” 

Violence  

  • Dani is sleeping in an RV when it blows up. A cabinet falls on Dani and knocks her unconscious. Eric goes inside to save her. “I cough. Bang into something. Gasp. Run out the door to grab air. . . Blood trickles down my leg. I dart into the camper again.” Dani is hospitalized with major injuries and needs physical therapy for nerve damage. 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • While in the hospital, Dani is given pain medication. 

Language  

  • Occasionally, someone is referred to as a jerk or an idiot. 
  • A bully calls Eric an idiot. Afterward, Eric prays, “God, if you’re there, a little help would be great.” 
  • Dani calls a boy a “brainless idiot.” 
  • A girl says Eric is “being a brat.” 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • When Dani is injured and taken to the hospital, Eric pleads with God. He prays, “I’ll do anything, please let Dani be okay. . . I’ll set two alarms in the morning. Never oversleep again. Clean my room. Remember stuff. Anything.” Since Eric continues to pray like this throughout the book, not all of the prayers are listed below. 
  • Before Eric goes into the chapel at the hospital, he wonders if he “need[s] to be more religious to go inside.” 
  • While in the chapel, a woman says, “Bless you, my child.” Eric isn’t sure what to do, so he says, “Bless you, too.” 
  • Eric prays that Dani is okay. He prays, “I promise to stop drinking the milk straight from the half-gallon carton in the refrigerator.” He continues to pray intermittently throughout the book. 
  • Eric is Jewish. When he goes into the hospital’s chapel, he mentions the Torah. He also thinks, “I don’t feel strange or out of place, which is weird. Not that I go to Shabbat service every week, but I thought I’d feel like an outsider in this chapel. But I don’t.”  
  • When Dani and Eric stop talking to each other, Eric prays, “God, I’m not sure if it’s possible to ask for too much. Or if a new prayer cancels out the ones that came before. Or if there are rules I should be following. Because if there are, that would be helpful to know.” 
  • Dani faints at school and is taken to the hospital. While Eric waits to hear about Dani’s condition, he goes to the chapel and prays. “I’m back. I’m sorry for anything I’ve ever done wrong. . . I’m sorry I stink at remembering. But, I promise, I’ll do anything for Dani to be all right.” The prayer is a paragraph long. 
  • When Eric sees his crush, “I pray she can’t tell I’m a horrible human just by looking at me.”  
  • Eric’s aunt says, “I’m putting it out in the world to heal Dani.” Eric goes on to explain, “Aunt Josie believes if you say your wish out loud—put it into the world—it’ll come true.” 
  • Eric’s aunt tells Dani, “I told the world to heal you.” 
  • Several times, Dani feels her dead grandmother’s presence. The second time this happens, Dani talks to her grandmother. 

Baker’s Magic

After running away from her abusive foster family, the protagonist, Bee (short for Beatrix), finds herself in Zeewal, a small village in the struggling kingdom of Aradyn. After failing to steal baked goods, Bee quickly earns an apprenticeship with the town’s baker, Master Bouts. Bee learns all there is to know about baking, and she soon discovers that she has the magical ability to infuse her treats with her emotions, causing customers to experience her happiness, pain, and annoyance. Her skills lead Master Bouts’ bakery to be summoned to deliver pastries to Master Joris, the kingdom’s head mage and de facto ruler. This allows Bee to begin an unlikely friendship with the orphaned Princess Anika, Joris’ ward, who will soon inherit the kingdom of Aradyn.  

However, when Bee learns of Joris’ plot to marry Anika off to a neighboring kingdom and steal her throne, Bee devises a plan with her friend, Willem (Wil), to take Anika away from Joris. Wil, Anika, and Bee go on a journey to find the Island of the Mages, hoping that the mages’ council can protect Anika and put a stop to Joris’ reign. On their adventure, they encounter the Tulip Pirates of the ship the Egbertina-Henriette, thieves who steal the lucrative tulips that Joris grows in Aradyn. With help from the pirates, a wizard named Bartholomew, and a few tree spirits, Bee and her friends learn just how harmful Master Joris has been to Aradyn. This causes Bee to grow ever more determined to rid the kingdom of the mage once and for all. 

Bee is an inquisitive and caring protagonist whose self-assurance and sense of identity grow throughout the book. She begins as an orphan with a lonely and miserable past, but through her own determination and kindness, she unites her past and present and finds a true family. Despite being only twelve years old, Bee displays a strong moral compass that propels her to do everything she can to help her friends and her kingdom. Bee’s friendship with Wil quickly develops into a strong connection, marked by laughter and selflessness. Their loyalty to each other contributes to the heartwarming atmosphere of the novel. 

Princess Anika is sheltered and naive about the outside world, but she never displays the haughtiness expected of her. The unlikely friendship that the three of them form exemplifies the book’s message that our differences are less than our similarities, and heroes can come from anywhere. Another central idea of Baker’s Magic is the importance of trees. Joris uses his magic to banish all of Aradyn’s tree life before the book begins, and this results in flooding and food shortages. The characters gradually learn the importance of trees, educating audiences along the way. 

Come along for Bee’s exciting adventure across land and sea. Each stage of the journey brings new twists and turns, from the humorous Council of Mages to the lonely floating islands. Audiences seeking minimal interpersonal conflict will appreciate the good-natured characters. The central antagonist, Master Joris, is the source of every problem and the only irredeemable figure, so his defeat solves every conflict. This results in a clean, yet simple narrative that is best suited for younger readers. The stakes are high, but the book is ultimately low-stress.  

Lighthearted, comedic characters like the Tulip Pirates serve to counteract the looming threat of Master Joris, and there are helpful figures around every corner that aid the central trio on their journey. However, Bee’s history of abuse may be disturbing for some readers, and the young protagonists are often in life-or-death situations. The back of the novel contains a recipe for the most popular baked good in the story, the “Bouts Bun,” which adds a unique participatory aspect to the book. Overall, Baker’s Magic is an uplifting and entertaining read that puts a fantastical spin on the world of baking. Readers can take another magical adventure by reading The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates Series by Caroline Carlson and The Grimmelings by Rachael King. 

Sexual Content  

  • There is no explicit sexual content or mentions of sex, but there are minor references to romance and attraction. For example, Wil, the loyal son of the Zeewal blacksmith, kisses “Anika’s limp hand” before going into battle alongside the pirates. 
  • Princess Anika kisses Captain Zay, a pirate and the leader of the ship called the Egbertina-Henriette (Egg Hen), on the cheek. 
  • Anika and Wil form a relationship by the end of the novel – “the princess, in love with the blacksmith’s son!” 

Violence  

  • After attempting to steal from Master Bouts’ bakery, Bee is tripped and falls to the ground. “She landed on the hard stones with a bone-jarring thump.” Bouts grabs her “in a painfully tight grip.” 
  • Long before the story begins, Bee’s mother drowned in a shipwreck that nearly killed Bee as well. 
  • After opening the closet in the palace kitchen, Bee’s shoulder is injured by a falling broom handle. “A broom handle popped out, smacking her hard on the shoulder.” 
  • The kingdom of Aradyn is threatened by large storms that destroy houses and drown civilians. Past storms have given Master Bouts a fear of floods and drowning. 
  • Wil is apprenticing as a blacksmith, so he has many burn scars. “He held out his hands, and Bee noticed, for the first time, the scars on nearly every finger, the back of his hands, his wrists.” 
  • Bee confides in Anika about her former foster family. “The master shouted and threw things. And the mistress beat me.” 
  • Master Bouts attempts to save a burning omelet but forgets “to use a cloth,” resulting in his hand burning. 
  • To escape an arranged marriage, Anika runs away from Master Joris, the conniving head mage of Aradyn. He sends magic after them, but they escape unharmed. This tense escape scene lasts two and a half pages. 
  • Master Joris uses his magic to send rocks after Bee, Anika, and Wil as they try to escape him on a boat. “Then, all at once, splashes surrounded them, and something crashed against Bee’s temple, so hard that the night sky spun before her eyes.” Bee’s injury causes her to bleed from her head, and Wil is bruised. 
  • Bee nearly drowns when her boat sinks, but pirates save her. “Something grabbed her by her cropped hair and yanked, pulling upward. Oh, it hurt!” Wil and Anika are also saved from drowning. 
  • The pirates go into battle with a Zeewal merchant ship to steal their supply of tulips. Bee and Anika watch as a merchant’s sword nearly slices Wil. “The blades flashed as Wil bent backward over the rail, his sword raised against the oncoming steel that threatened to slice down onto his neck.” Captain Zay saves Wil by cutting the sailor, and the blood makes Wil vomit. No lives are lost in the battle, and the scene lasts for two and a half pages. 
  • Bartholomew, a hedge wizard and Bee’s long-lost father, uses magic to turn the entire tree island clockwise. He loses control of it, and Bee is nearly tossed off the island by the centrifugal force. The spinning only ceases when Bartholomew is thrown from his feet due to the force of the spinning. 
  • Bee, Wil, and Bartholomew are attacked by Joris’ taxidermy collection. A fox, a mole, a rabbit, and a mouse attack first, and Bee is bitten by the mouse. Birds then peck at them from above, and the next wave is a horde of flying, stinging, and crawling bugs. This scene lasts for three pages. 
  • When Bee is trapped in one of Joris’ snow globes, Bartholomew sends rocks to break the glass of her prison. “The glass showered down over Bee, and she rolled into a ball to try to protect herself from the bombardment of shards and stone. One ricocheting rock hit her in the ribs, and she gasped with the pain of it.” 
  • Master Bouts is being kept in the palace prison when Joris’ magic causes it to flood, and Bee momentarily thinks that he has drowned. Anika also almost drowns, but Captain Zay saves her. 
  • Pepin, Anika’s pet hedgehog, bites Joris’ leg to prevent him from escaping Bee, Anika, and the pirates. “Master Joris let out a shout and tried to shake Pepin off, but he hung on, his sharp teeth embedded in the mage’s calf.” 
  • Joris is ultimately defeated by anthropomorphic trees that return to Aradyn from exile. The trees use their roots to grab him and take him underground. “The mage let out a shriek of terror and tried to kick and twist free. But the roots held him tight as he struggled. Slowly they pulled him downward into the mire.”

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • Alcohol is mentioned sparsely throughout the book. For example, Master Bouts and Wil mention a cooper whose wine “tasted better than the palace’s own vintage.” 
  • Master Bouts smokes a pipe, but tobacco is never mentioned by name. 
  • Wil’s father, Master Weatherwax, drinks a “tumbler of ale” after dinner. 
  • On the pirate ship, Bee bakes cookies with “sugar, flour, and rum.” She later uses beer to make the Bouts Buns’ dough rise on the ship. 
  • Captain Zay puts rum in her and Bartholomew’s coffee, but she refuses to give any to Bee, Wil, or Anika due to them being underage. 

Language    

  • Bee and Wil often call each other names, either jokingly or out of anger. When Wil calls her baking “off,” Bee angrily responds, “It’s you who’s off!” 
  • Wil angrily shouts to Bee and Bouts, “The cursed door’s locked!” 
  • When Joris figures out that Bee is hiding in the castle, he demands, “Come out of there this minute, you sorry wench.” 
  • The pirate Limmo tells his crewmates, “It ain’t suppertime yet, you feckless oafs.” 
  • The pirate Haleem mentions a parrot that “used to curse a blue streak.” 
  • One of the members of the Council of Mages calls their fellow mage an idiot. 
  • The pirate Filmon says that, when Captain Zay was under Bee’s truth spell, “She told us we were rogues and rapscallions and should go to the devil. . .” 

Supernatural 

  • Hedge wizards and witches are regular people who “have some magic.” With practice, they can increase their skills and become mages. 
  • Bee has the power to infuse her baked goods with her emotions, causing her customers to feel her feelings. As Master Bouts puts it, “I think your pastries make people feel the way you do.” She inherited this magic from her father, a hedge wizard. 
  • Master Joris is “the mage of all Aradyn,” a powerful magic-user who can control every aspect of the environment but has no sway over water. Each kingdom has a head mage appointed by the Council of Mages. 
  • Joris creates sparks when he walks. “Bee noticed, to her astonishment, that as his heels struck the ground, small sparks flew upward.” Joris can also create elaborate firework displays. 
  • While staying on the island of the Council of Mages, Bee, Wil, and Anika are able to ask for what they want, and it magically appears. Bee loudly yells for water, and a tiny storm cloud appears to rain into a water basin. 
  • The “moss maidens” are spirits connected to trees. When Joris banished Aradyn’s trees to a floating island, the moss maidens were trapped with them. The maidens can communicate with their trees, and with Bee’s guidance, they use tree roots to paddle their island prison toward Zeewal. These trees later grab hold of Joris and imprison him underground. 
  • After being called a murderer by Bartholomew, Joris stamps his foot in rage and creates a large crack in the earth. “The crack in the ground became a cleft and then a crevice, and it widened with every passing second.” 

 Spiritual Content  

  • None

by Gabrielle Barke 

Red Scarf Girl: A Memoir of the Cultural Revolution

This memoir by Ji Li Jiang details her experience as a young girl in China during the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution. She and her family are living under the influence and rule of Mao Zedong, a communist leader. Her red scarf is an emblem of the Young Pioneers of the revolution.   

Ji Li was 12 years old in 1966 and lived with her mother, father, grandmother, and two younger siblings. She grew up believing that her life was nearly perfect, but that was about to change. At school, Ji Li is selected to audition for a dance training class for the Liberation Army. When she tells her parents, they urge her not to go to the audition. Her father doesn’t think the family would be able to pass the political background check, and her auditioning could cause social issues for her family. This is her first glimpse into the more nuanced reality around her. Articles are written about Ji Li in the paper that critiques her identity as a communist, and those same newspapers are used to cover the door of her grandfather’s bookstore. Ji Li’s world is changing.  

She starts to uncover truths about her family and their class status. She discovers that her grandfather was a landlord. This is against the Red Party’s code of ethics. More events like this pile on, and soon after Ji Li’s home is searched, and her father is detained. She begins to worry about her family.  Later, Ji Li finds a letter her mother wrote to the comrades of the municipal party committee about the torture the Red Guards inflict on those who oppose the Red Party. Her family’s house is searched, and the guards find the letter. The memoir is a frightening example of how quickly things can change.  

All of the events in Ji Li’s memoir occur when Ji Li is between the ages of 12 and 14, which makes the book’s pace fast. Ji Li goes from thinking her family and government are perfect to discovering that both have their flaws. This realization leaves her confused about how the world works. Young readers may relate to Ji Li’s constant mental battle between doing what she believes is right and what is wrong. She overcomes bullying by believing in herself, which may encourage young readers to be brave and believe in themselves.   

Overall, Red Scarf Girl is an engaging and informative book that provides insight into China’s Cultural Revolution of the 1960s. Ji Li’s story is an emotionally charged tale that will linger with readers for a long time to come. Through her personal journey from innocence to awareness, Ji Li demonstrates how political upheaval can shatter individual lives and force young people to confront difficult truths about loyalty, family, and survival. The memoir serves as both a historical document and a universal coming-of-age story that reminds us how resilience and love can endure even in the darkest of times. 

Sexual Content 

  • None

Violence 

  • Ji Li is visited by her father’s friend Fan Wen-Chong, who was beaten up by the Red Guards. Ji Li “stopped when [she] saw his face, it was swollen, bruised and bloody. Standing in the dark doorway he looked like a monster.” 
  • The family is interrogated about a letter to the municipal party committee. A Red Guard slaps her grandmother. “Thin face slapped her with all his strength. Grandma staggered into Mom’s arms.”  

Drugs and Alcohol 

  • None 

Language 

  • Ji Li’s classmates bully her about her name and her family. She thinks to herself, “No, I do not want to have this damned name anymore.” 
  • Kids call Ji Li’s family a black family, which means they oppose the Red movement.  

Supernatural 

  • None

Spiritual 

  • After Ji Li’s father is detained, her grandmother prays, “May Allah protect my son.” 
  • When the family finds out Ji Li’s father is okay, “Grandma was in tears and she could not stop thanking Allah for his blessing.” 

Kayleigh Doyle

The Pharaoh’s Charioteer

Visited by the restless ghosts of warriors past, Arthur and Finn must travel back in time and rewrite history to set the ghosts free. Will the boys be able to gain the trust of a prince and princess caught up in dangerous rivalries? Even if they do, will they be able to prevent a war? 

Join Arthur and Finn as they travel back to ancient Egypt and find out if the boys have what it takes to survive a kidnapping and make it home alive. 

In The Pharaoh’s Charioteer, Arthur and Finn arrive in Ancient Egypt in separate parts of the city. Arthur finds himself in the Nile River, where the pharaoh’s son, Thami, fishes him out of the water. The two arrive on the edges of a city just in time to see Finn and Thami’s sister, Nefi, running from a group of men. Thami and Nefi take the two brothers to their home, allowing the reader to understand the life of a pharaoh’s child who was born from one of his secondary wives. While the pharaoh’s children’s lives are luxurious, they are also dangerous.  

Filled with adventure and suspense, the story has many exciting scenes—a lion hunt, a kidnapping, and a cunning high priest—that propel the plot forward. Suspense is created because Thami’s and Nefi’s lives are always in danger. Their mother explains some of the dangers facing a pharaoh’s child, “The palace is full of plotting between the queens, all of whom secretly hope that a son of theirs will be pharaoh one day. All I want is for Thami and Nefi to make it out of the palace, grown up and alive.” In this adventure, Arthur and Finn get an intimate view of the dangers of palace life, which makes the surprising conclusion satisfying. 

Even though The Pharaoh’s Charioteer is part of a series, the books do not have to be read in order because each focuses on Arthur and Finn going back to a different time period and wraps up the storyline. Each book in the series follows a familiar pattern, but there are enough differences to make each story unique and exciting.  

The Pharaoh’s Charioteer is a wonderfully engaging adventure that uses a unique angle to showcase the lives of the children of the pharaoh’s secondary wives. Neither Thami nor Nefi dreams of one day being the pharaoh, which allows them to have a caring sibling relationship. Even though Thami and Arthur are kidnapped, The Pharaoh’s Charioteer feels like a daring adventure with interesting characters, power-hungry villains, and unexpected developments that will keep readers reading late into the night. Readers can learn more about Ancient Egypt by reading these fast-paced adventures: Kid Detective Zet Series by Scott Peters, and TombQuest Series by Michael Northrop.   

Sexual Content  

  • None

Violence  

  • Finn goes into a tavern where a girl cheats at a game. When the men discover the con, Finn grabs the girl, and they flee. The girl disappears into a courtyard with multiple exits. “But before he could begin to think about which route to take, he felt cold metal at his throat.” The men find the two kids and begin shouting at them. 
  • Finn’s brother, Arthur, and the girl’s brother, Thami, hear the commotion and come to their aid. Thami throws a fishnet over some of the men. “Two of the men went down, cursing in the tangle. . . Arthur swung the boathook through the air and knocked [one of the men] out with a blow to the head.” 
  • Arthur and Thami are kidnapped. “When he and Thami cried out for help, they were swiftly knocked unconscious.” The two kids are bound, blindfolded, and taken to the enemy’s country.  
  • Finn and Nefi help Arthur and Thami escape prison and return to Thebes. Finn and Thami are hiding when soldiers find them and give chase. “The first guards grabbed each boy by the shoulders, and the next thing Finn knew was the nasty sensation of a hood being pulled over his eyes, followed by a sharp blow to the head, and complete darkness.” 
  • The high priest finds two men he claims are spies. The high priest says, “And when we had tortured them, only yesterday, before we made them swim with Sobek, the great crocodile god, did they not reveal that the queen, also, is a spy?” 
  • Thami’s father, the pharaoh, realizes the high priest is plotting against him. The pharaoh decides they will let the crocodile god decide if the high priest is innocent or guilty. The high priest is taken to the pool. “Two guards brought forward a long, thin beam. . . they placed on either side of the pool so that it spanned the middle of the water. . .” The high priest is ordered to walk across the board. 
  • When the high priest refuses to walk across the plank, “the pharaoh brought his wipe down again, causing the priest to lurch forwards. . . The crocodiles’ head emerged from the water. . . With a sudden surge, the crocodile powered up and thrust the upper part of its body out of the water, huge jaws gaping. . . The priest screamed. The crocodile’s jaws snapped closed and there was a loud splash.” The crocodile kills the high priest.

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • The Nile River allowed the Egyptians to grow “a lot of barley, which they used/ to make beer.” 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • Arthur and Finn’s grandfather created a museum about warriors throughout history. The museum is haunted, and when the grandfather died, “he started haunting the place too. He felt guilty about the trapped ghost warriors and vowed he would not rest in peace until all the other ghosts were laid to rest first.” 
  • When one of the ghost warriors touches the boys, “we get transported to the time and place where the ghost lived and died. And we can’t get back until we’ve fixed whatever keeps the ghost from resting in peace.” 
  • When the boys travel through time, “the room began to spin, and the firelight turned into a belt of light acceleration around them, until it vanished completely.” 

Spiritual Content  

  • In Egypt, the pharaoh “was believed to be a living god, in touch with the other gods who controlled the universe and who decided when the Nile would flood. . .” 
  • After being kidnapped, Arthur and Thami are imprisoned. They hear footsteps, and “Arthur prayed that it would be the prince returning with a plan. . .” 
  • Before going to war, the high priest “would conduct sacred rites in the palace temple in Thebes before blessing the pharaoh and his army.” 
  • Before giving the pharaoh his blessing, the high priest gives a speech saying, “The gods have spoken to me of VICTORY! VICTORY! VICTORY!. . .And the gods have decreed that your pharaoh will lead the army himself!” 
  • The high priest was plotting against the pharaoh. During the high priest’s blessing ceremony, the pharaoh and Thami discuss who is the messenger of the gods. Thami says, “No, Father, YOU are their messenger, just as YOU and not the high priest will one day become a god yourself.” 
  • When the high priest begs for mercy, the pharaoh says, “Pray to Sobek for mercy!” 
  • Two and a half pages explain who some of the Egyptian Gods were. For example, Amen-Ra “was really a combination of two gods—Ra, the great sun god, and Amen, the local god of Themes.”  

My Life as a Meme

Derek is a tween navigating life and the social playground that is the internet. And he loves making memes! His mom is a veterinarian who was hired to care for a rich client’s dog, Poufy. Poufy is an Instagram-famous Pomeranian who is a little bit of a Diva. When Derek’s family arrives at Poufy’s house in Malibu, they are greeted with a big binder of instructions on how to care for the dog. Derek has brought his friends Matt, Carly, and Umberto to Malibu with his family. Even with all these people, the task of tending to Poufy falls on Derek, which frustrates him.  

Soon after their arrival, a fire breaks out in Malibu, forcing Derek and his crew to head to an evacuation center, where Poufy is a star! The famous Pomeranian helps take people’s minds off the fire that is sweeping Malibu. But then Derek finds himself on the other side of an embarrassing meme when a picture is taken of him with Poufy on his lap. Because Poufy is so well-known, the meme spreads quickly. When Derek returns to school, he decides to confront the creator of the hurtful meme, Brian. 

Derek exhibits significant character development as his worldview expands. He learns the importance of communication and learning people’s stories and perspectives. This is shown in his conversations with Brian and Poufy’s owner, Darcy. She is so high maintenance with Poufy because her last Pomeranian was hit by a car and killed. Brian learns that most people have reasons behind their actions, even though he may not understand their reasoning. This character arc teaches not to make assumptions and snap judgments. Readers will likely relate to Derek as he navigates the internet and potential cyberbullying. His story shows the impact that even one meme can have on someone’s life.  

The book is great for reluctant readers because it’s written in oversized text with humorous cartoon-style doodles around the edges of the pages. Even though a wildfire is presented, it is used as a tool to move the story along and get Derek and his friends to the evacuation center. Although it is a fun read, the narrative jumps around and has a strangely paced structure, which makes the moral of the story confusing. Although My Life as a Meme is part of the My Life Series, it can be read as a standalone. 

My Life as a Meme has a relatable protagonist and other quirky characters that will appeal to middle-grade readers. Since the book delves into the world of social media and internet fame, it will have a broad appeal. In addition, the book offers several positive life lessons, including how online behavior can impact real-life situations. Janet Tashijan employs metaphors to reinforce themes about the rapid dissemination of information on the internet. For example, the motif of things “spreading” is prevalent throughout the novel, as seen in examples such as fire, memes, and lice. My Life as a Meme is a quick and enjoyable read that prompts readers to consider the perspectives of others.   

Sexual Content 

  • None

Violence 

  • Darcy explains how she lost her last dog. “I had a Pomeranian as a kid, Fluffy. She never liked to fetch but I kept trying to train her. I threw her a tennis ball, and she ended up getting hit by a car”.  

Drugs and Alcohol 

  • None 

Language 

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual 

  • While the fire is sweeping through Malibu, Derek’s mom prays. Derek thinks, “It’s not often Mom talks about praying, so the seriousness of the situation definitely sinks in.”  

The Desert Challenge

Sophie loves camp – except for all the creepy crawlies. Getting trapped in the tent with a Daddy Long Legs is terrifying, and spiders make her scream. It’s so embarrassing. But then a mysterious compass transports her to a fiercely hot desert, where Bear Grylls, her guide, is waiting. The sun is beating down, and together they must trek to find water and overcome the dangers of lurking in the dunes.

Sophie’s fear of all bugs is extreme. When she sees a bug in her tent, she thinks, “Insects just made her feel sick, and there was nothing she could do about it. She hated them all. Spiders, wasps, bees, beetles, caterpillars, earwigs. . .” While readers may not relate to her fear of bugs, she remains a likable character because she openly admits to her fear and never complains about it. When Sophie is transported to the desert, she eagerly learns about the dangers lurking in the desert as well as how to survive.

During her adventure, Bear shows her how to survive, including how the desert provides food. Sophie discovers that eating a scorpion isn’t as disgusting as expected, and she overcomes her fear when she sees “an enormous snake, coiled, and staring right at her.” Instead of panicking, she is “strangely calm. [The desert] was changing her for the better, making her tougher. She was learning to deal with shock and trauma like someone who could handle the pressure of the desert.”

The Desert Challenge has large text and illustrations that will appeal to readers and help readers visualize the story’s events. Because the book is written in the UK, some of the terms will be unfamiliar. For example, the zipline is referred to as a zipwire, and a flashlight is called a torch. Additionally, some of the desert terms may be new to readers, but the context clues make it easy to understand the meaning of unfamiliar words. For example, Bear explains that a wadi is “a dry riverbed.”

The Bear Grylls Adventure Series books can be read as a standalone and do not need to be read in order. Each book focuses on a different child at the outdoor activity camp. Once the camper is given the magical compass, they meet the adventurer, Bear, in an amazing place and learn new skills and facts they can take with them back to their real life. Each book aligns with Common Core Standards, making it suitable for educational purposes. Plus, the book is printed “in a reader-friendly font and design” to help those with dyslexia. Three pages of additional information about deserts are included at the end of the book.

The story’s conclusion is abrupt, making it feel as if Sophie’s journey was cut off too quickly. However, readers familiar with the Bear Grylls Adventure Series will enjoy the familiar format and the easy-to-understand plot. The Desert Challenge teaches important lessons about overcoming your fears. The engaging format, the simple plot, and the encouraging message make The Desert Challenge a good choice for readers who aren’t ready to tackle longer, more complex books.

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • Bear kills a scorpion in order to eat it. “He pulled out his knife and killed it calmly and quickly, then cut off the stinger on its tail and put the scorpion in his pocket.” 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • When Sophie falls off a zipline, she thinks, “What kind of idiot can’t even sit on a zipwire?” 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

Wrath of the Triple Goddess

Percy Jackson has fought monsters, titans, and gods. But now he faces his greatest challenge yet: college admissions. In order to attend New Rome University, Percy needs to earn three recommendation letters from Greek gods. After earning his first letter by finding the cupbearer Ganymede’s missing chalice, Percy was enjoying living a quest-free life. But as the son of Poseidon, Percy rarely gets a break from being a hero. When Hecate, the goddess of magic and crossroads, promises to write a recommendation letter for Percy in exchange for a week of pet sitting, he can’t refuse.  

With the help of his girlfriend Annabeth, and his best friend Grover, Percy hopes that looking after Hecate’s hellhound and polecat will be a piece of cake. But Hecate’s mysterious mansion is filled with temptations, and her mischief-minded pets are eager to cause trouble. When Grover’s appetite gets the better of him and he drinks one of Hecate’s potions, chaos is unleashed. And so are Hecate’s pets. As Grover tears through the house in a potion-induced frenzy, Hecuba the hellhound and Gale the polecat escape to romp around New York City.   

Percy, Annabeth, and Grover must find Hecate’s missing pets and repair her mansion before she gets home, or they will face the goddess’s wrath.  

Percy Jackson is a witty, strong, and heroic character. As the narrator, he guides the reader through the story in a way that is engaging and humorous. Throughout the novel, Percy proves himself to be a compassionate and capable leader. He learns from his mistakes and uses the knowledge that he has gained from previous experiences to ensure that he keeps his friends safe. He also maintains a positive outlook, despite the challenging circumstances. 

Percy is joined by Annabeth and Grover, who are both strong and inspirational characters. Annabeth, the daughter of Athena, is a fierce warrior and strategist. She often uses her wisdom and intelligence to think her way out of situations, and she uses her skills to protect her friends. Grover is a selfless satyr with a big heart. He is in tune with nature and his emotions, using these skills to advocate for the natural world.   

While Wrath of the Triple Goddess is the seventeenth book in the Percy Jackson universe, it is still understandable and enjoyable for readers who are unfamiliar with Rick Riordan’s previous works. The main details are summarized for new readers, and the plot is straightforward. Readers also do not need to be familiar with Greek mythology to enjoy this book. Longtime fans will appreciate reading about the adventures of familiar characters and will enjoy many references and callbacks to the previous books.  This novel contains Rick Riordan’s recognizable style and humor but differs from Riordan’s previous works since the conflict is less high-stakes, and the overall tone is more whimsical.    

This story contains themes of friendship, perseverance, and compassion. Throughout the novel, Percy and his friends succeed because of the faith they place in each other. They are stronger as a team and work together to solve their problems. The trio also faces many different challenges, but they are determined to keep on fighting. They don’t give up on each other or their goals. Ultimately, the characters are compassionate and forgive one another for the mistakes they make. Rather than blaming Grover for the pets going missing, Annabeth and Percy reassure him that it wasn’t his fault and work with him to find a solution. Wrath of the Triple Goddess is a light-hearted and entertaining addition to the world of Percy Jackson.  

Sexual Content   

  • Before parting ways, Percy and Annabeth kiss goodbye outside Annabeth’s school. “She gave me a big wet kiss.”  
  • Percy and Annabeth kiss after eating an antidote, which helped them recover from a magical gas that gave them animal features. “I kissed Annabeth, though my breath probably smelled like cinnamon and bug shells.”   

Violence   

  • Percy discovers a hellhound puppy with a wound on its back. Percy suspects the puppy was attacked by some type of monster. “His black fur was matted with gunk. Flies buzzed around his cherry-red eyes. His ears were back, and he trembled with fear. A nasty-looking cut zigzagged across his back, like he’d been attacked by something with claws.” The puppy recovers.  
  • Zombies attack Percy, Annabeth, and Grover. Percy “cut down the first reanimated corpse, then sliced another two undead into dust. Meanwhile, Annabeth launched herself at another dead guy, driving her dagger into his face, while Grover goat-kicked one right through the windshield of a parked Toyota.” The trio defeats the zombies. 
  • A bear-monster attacks Percy, Annabeth, and Grover. Percy “got to the bear before she could claw Annabeth and [he] slashed with [his sword]—cutting clean through [the monster’s] right paw. The paw went flying.” The bear-monster recovers.  

Drugs and Alcohol   

  • Percy and Annabeth drink nectar to regain their strength. “Percy gulped it down. A surge of warmth washed through [his] organs. [He] recognized the sensation. It was nectar—the drink of the gods.”  

Language     

  • Percy learns that he will be picked up from school by a family member, rather than taking the subway by himself. When he learns this, he thinks “it made me look like a doofus. . .”  
  • Animals called “hellhounds” are referred to frequently. 
  • Characters rarely say expressions such as “Oh, gods.”  
  • Percy jokingly calls his friend Leo a doofus twice.    

Supernatural   

  • Hecate is referred to as the “goddess of ghosts.” 
  • Percy thinks he sees a ghost while walking towards a park. Percy “thought [he] saw a glowing blue apparition—the figure of a child on a bicycle, pedaling away from us in terror. When [Percy] blinked, it was gone.”  
  • Percy communicates telepathically with three eels in Hecate’s mansion. The eels lie to Percy to try to get him to feed them extra fish. “The eels were telling me all about it telepathically. Their thoughts chiseled their way into my skull like ice picks.” Percy occasionally communicates with the eels throughout the novel.  
  • Grover drinks a potion from Hecate’s laboratory that turns him into a giant goat. Percy discovers him sleeping on the floor in Hecate’s ruined mansion. “And in the middle of all this chaos was a mountain of hairy flesh, snoring with gusto, its two massive shaggy legs propped against the kitchen island, its moose-size hooves pointing towards the ceiling.” Grover recovers and goes back to normal after letting out a large belch.  
  • During a battle against zombies, a zombie touches Percy, and he has a vision of the Siege of Troy. “When I looked up, I was no longer in Queens. I knelt on a barren, battle-scarred hillside. To my right, the city of Troy was burning.” Percy wakes up from this vision and continues fighting.    
  • Grover goes into a trancelike state and summons a large number of squirrels. “Then the squirrels began to arrive. Three scrambled down the nearest tree trunk and hopped onto Grover’s back. Another raced out of the bushes and leaped onto his shoulder. Two more tunneled through the leaves and skittered up Grover’s legs. Within a minute, there were dozens, maybe hundreds.” Grover speaks with the squirrels, and they help him find Hecate’s missing pet polecat. After communicating with Grover, the squirrels leave, and Grover recovers. 
  • Percy shadow-travels with Hecuba, the pet hellhound. Shadow-travelling is a type of teleportation that hellhounds are capable of. Percy “was pulled off [his] feet. A dark portal whirled at the edge of the roof, and as Hecuba jumped through it [he was] sucked into the shadow-world.” Percy and Hecuba shadow-travel across the world for seven pages and stop when they get back to Hecate’s mansion.  
  • Percy is sprayed in the face with a potion that paralyzes him. “The [potion] got in my nostrils, my eyes, my mouth. . . Then my mouth stopped working. My arms turned into sandbags. My legs crumpled. I crashed sideways to the floor, completely paralyzed.” Percy recovers after being revived by Grover.  
  • A magical gas hits Annabeth, Percy, and Grover, which transforms them. Annabeth’s head turns into an owl’s, Percy’s arms turn into octopus tentacles, and Grover’s goat legs turn into human legs. “Where [Annabeth’s] face had been a second before, two huge black eyes stared out over a hooked golden beak. Her head had turned into a heart-shaped expanse of white plumage, rimmed with speckled brown feathers. From the neck up, [Annabeth] was a barn owl. . . Where my arms used to be were eight thick purple tentacles lined with pink suction cups. . . [Grover] was staring down at his legs and weeping. Where his furry goat hindquarters had been, there was bare skin, forward-articulating knees, and instead of hooves. . . feet.” They all return to their normal selves after eating a magical antidote.  
  • Percy makes a magical antidote to return himself and his friends to normal after the magical gas transformed them. “Annabeth tore into the second [antidote] with her sharp, hooked bill. . . She doubled over, breathing heavily. When she straightened again, she was normal Annabeth – human face, human hair, with the scent of her usual apple shampoo.” The antidote is effective, and they return to normal.  
  • Percy, Annabeth, and Grover summon ghosts in a graveyard to help them repair Hecate’s mansion. “The dark silhouette deepened, peeling itself from the bricks and taking on a smoky form like a cloud of coal dust.” They take the ghosts to the mansion, and once it is repaired, they release the ghosts.    

Spiritual Content   

  • This novel is centered around Greek mythology and contains frequent depictions of and references to Ancient Greek gods.  

by Kelly Barker 

Gravity Falls: Lost Legends

Four new short, illustrated stories from the Gravity Falls universe explode from the page in this exciting graphic novel! Shmebulock, the gnome who is cursed to only speak his name—except for one night every 1,000 years—spills the beans on four thrilling new stories! After each story, he presents a witty joke or a brief epilogue, concluding each story in a satisfying manner. 

In Face It, Pacifica Northwest comes to her friends, Mabel and Dipper Pines, hoping for some magic to make her ageless. Against their wishes, she summons the monster Mr. What’s-His-Face, who steals Mabel’s face! Dipper and Pacifica must travel to an underground monster market to get it back. Pacifica overcomes her vanity when she realizes that beauty is not the most important aspect of a person. 

In Comix Up!, Stanley Pines (Dipper and Mabel’s grand-uncle) accidently curses a comic book and then gets sucked into it. Dipper, Mabel, their friends Soos and Wendy, and their other grand-uncle Stanford, all must travel through various comic book styles to save him. Stanley Pines initially makes fun of comic books but later reveals that he actually loves comic books and is jealous because his comic book series never took off. 

In Don’t Dimension It, Mabel gets transported to an alternate dimension where everyone is another version of her! As her grand-uncles try to save her, she must work together with her other selves and learn a valuable lesson about the dangers of selfishness.  

Finally, in The Jersey Devil’s in the Details, Stanley and Stanford Pines flashback to when they were kids, solving the mystery of who stole their dad’s gold chain. They encounter a rival set of mystery-solving twins, as well as the Jersey Devil itself. Then they confront their relationship difficulties with their father and each other.  

The graphic novel format of this book will appeal to many readers because of how bright and vibrant the illustrations are. Each story has a new illustrator, meaning the styles slightly change depending on the story—for example, Don’t Dimension It, which is about Mabel, is drawn in a slightly more cutesy style. Furthermore, Comix Up! uses comic book illustration style in an incredibly fun way—the style of illustration regularly changes from manga to Peanuts-influenced to superhero-esque! Each page of each story has numerous speech and thought bubbles, so readers get lots of chances to read real dialogue rather than only looking at pictures. 

The main characters of each story are humorous and entertaining, but also often overcome a flaw in an admirable fashion. Because the characters learn more about themselves and how to be kinder people, their journeys are truly charming, and it is easy to fall in love with them. Furthermore, highlighting each characters’ flaws portrays them as realistic, three-dimensional characters rather than perfect heroes.  

Despite the light-hearted tone of the book, the stories deal with serious topics such as vanity, self-esteem, selfishness, and more. Pacifica’s aforementioned issues with vanity are one, but Stanley Pines’ self-consciousness as the “dumb twin” is also addressed in The Jersey Devil’s in the Details. Furthermore, Mabel must confront how, despite her intentions, she can be unwittingly self-centered and not think about what anyone else wants. She learns a valuable lesson about being more aware of others. These lessons are articulated quite gracefully, without feeling out-of-place or preachy. 

The graphic novel is a lot of fun, but it might not be very fulfilling for readers who have not seen the original show Gravity Falls. Gravity Falls is a cartoon on Disney Channel about twins Dipper and Mabel moving to the supernatural town of Gravity Falls and discovering its mysteries. There are numerous references to the show, and readers unfamiliar with it will likely be confused. However, for readers who are familiar with the show, this book is a fantastic addition because it further develops the characters’ traits while maintaining the same tone as the source material. 

Gravity Falls: Lost Legends is a fantastic addition to the original show Gravity Falls, and a truly entertaining comic book in its own right. The illustrations are vibrant and entertaining, and the book boasts a surprising depth, as it develops the characters into full-fledged individuals and empathetically addresses their flaws. The quality of this book and the richness of its storytelling raise the bar for TV show novelizations. You can find more humorous, action-packed fun by reading the Hilo Series by Judd Winick and the InvestiGators Series by John Patrick Green. 

Sexual Content  

  • In Face It, it is revealed that Stanford Pines dated a siren.  
  • Pacific insults Dipper by saying, “Just like how you care about kissing aliens or whatever!” Dipper responds, “I’ve never kissed an alien! I’ve never kissed anyone!” 
  • Pacifica gives Dipper a hug. Later, she texts him, claiming that the hug wasn’t on purpose and that Dipper shouldn’t “get the wrong idea or anything.” Unfortunately, she accidentally texts Mabel, who gets excited and thinks Pacifica likes Dipper romantically. Mabel asks, “WHEN’S THE WEDDING LOLLLLLL” and sends kissy emojis.  
  • In Comix Up, there’s a brief visual gag where the characters are illustrated in a romantic manga style. Mabel is attracted to many of the characters, including an attractively-drawn sink, and a boy named Gideon, who tells Mabel, “Help me collect the seven crystal sailor angel capture cards, and then we can finally kiss!” Mabel refuses. 

Violence  

  • In Face It, a vendor in the underground monster market, called the Crawlspace, sells, “Severed hands! Straight from a wet cave!” 
  • When Dipper and Pacifica trespass, monsters capture them in a net, sell them, and then put them in a sack. “Sold! Hope you like burlap!” declares a monster vendor. 
  • To protect Dipper and Mabel, Pacifica sets Mr. What’s-His-Face on fire using some magic pills. Mr. What’s-His-Face yells, “Aughh!! My face! My beautiful flesh-tornado of a face!”  
  • Mr. What’s-His-Face threatens to kill Pacifica, Dipper, and Mabel. Mr. What’s-His-Face yells, “When I get my hands on you, they’ll never find your faceless bodies!” 
  • Dipper and Mabel’s grand-uncle Stanford uses a sci-fi ray gun to freeze Mr. What’s-His-Face in a block of ice. “Prepare to be destroy—ack!” 
  • In Comix Up, there is an extensive amount of humorous, comic violence. The characters dodge obstacles such as anvils, dynamite, and swinging logs, which make comedic sounds like “Zoip!” “Poomp!” or “Brak!”  
  • There is a zombie who rises from the grave. He has an eyeball hanging out of his skull. He is only in one panel. There is no dialogue about his decomposed state, but the zombie says, “Nyaaaaaargh.”  
  • Mabel breaks the fourth wall, grabbing the speech bubble and attacking a superhero with it. When she does, the comic superhero cries, “Augh!! My one weakness!”  
  • The characters all gain comic superpowers and defeat the superheroes—their powers include “Telekinervousness,” “Cutting blades and cutting sarcasm,” “Growing bigger every time [Soos] says ‘dude,’” and using a rainbow as a weapon. 
  • Out of frustration and resentment, Stanley Pines threatens to poison a character’s food. Stanley Pines says, “I’ll poison your lasagna, Sarcasti-pup!” after Sarcasti-pup makes fun of him. 
  • In Don’t Dimension It, Mabel travels to the Nightmare Realm and a giant hand with a mouth in the palm tries to eat her but fails. She cries, “This can’t be happening! I’m too adorable to die!”  
  • A Cthulhu-esque monster tries to eat Stanley’s head. Stanley emerges from another dimension with the monster on top of him. Stanley says, “Keep looking.”  
  • All of the Mabel versions wield grappling hooks.  
  • An evil version of Mabel sticks Stanley and Stanford to the floor with a sticky gun and attempts to throw them out of the spaceship they’re in. The evil Mabel says, “Sounds like you two need some space. Endless space!” 
  • The good versions of Mabel have a comical fight with the evil version of Mabel. Evil Mabel glues a bunch of Mabels to the ground and severely wounds Military Mabel (who ultimately survives). Good Mabel punches Evil Mabel and sends her into space. “This is for Military Mabel,” declares Good Mabel. 
  • In The Jersey Devil’s in the Details, Stanley ties a knife to a possum in hopes of turning him into a violent, protective pet. Stanley tells his brother, “Say hello to my associate . . . Shanklin the Stab Possum!”  
  • Stanley pushes two rival twins off a small hill after they make fun of him and his brother. Stanley shouts, “Oh my god! We killed the Sibling Brothers!” They are fine and just passed out. 
  • The Jersey Devil, some sort of dinosaur-esque monster, attempts to eat all of the twins, and also breathes fire. It does not harm anyone. Stanford yells, “I think this is the end!”  

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • In Face It, Pacifica purchases pills “guaranteed to cure your wrinkles and make you a stunning queen, girl.” 

Language    

  • In Face It, Pacifica refers to homeless people as hobos.  
  • Pacifica refers to the monster Mr. What’s-His-Face as a “freak show.” 
  • In Comix Up, it is revealed that, as a kid, Stanley wrote a comic book with swear words in it. Later, a boy picks it up and says, “A book for kids that has swears in it! Cool!” 
  • In Don’t Dimension It, Evil Mabel calls Good Mabel an idiot. When Stanley and Stanford discover Evil Mabel is pretending to be Good Mabel, Stanford exclaims, “Dang it, Stan! You got the wrong one!” 
  • Evil Mabel calls Good Mabel a “giggling punch line” as an insult.  
  • In The Jersey Devil’s in the Details, Stanford and Stanley debate the existence of ghosts’ crotches. Stanford says, “I’m not sure ghosts have crotches.” 
  • After being accused of stealing, Stanley exclaims, “Darn, Pa!”  
  • The circus performers insult Stanford and Stanley for being normal. “Yeah, we ain’t got time for average jacks in freak-town!” says a heavily-tattooed circus player.

Supernatural  

  • This book is almost entirely supernatural. Each story involves the main characters interacting with a supernatural world or element. 
  • In Face It, Pacifica, Dipper, and Mabel encounter a monster called Mr. What’s-His-Face who steals people’s faces. Mr. What’s-His-Face refers to himself in the third-person, declaring, “Mr. What’s-His-Face can fix anything you don’t like about your face for a price.” 
  • Pacifica and Dipper travel to the Crawlspace, an underground paranormal market for monster vendors. Humans are not allowed. Dipper exclaims, “It’s a paranormal black market under the town!”  
  • In Comix Up, Stanley puts a bunch of comic books in a treasure chest, which turns out to be cursed and sentient. “Stan, that chest is cursed!” Stanford cries in horror. 
  • The characters jump into the comic book world, often breaking the fourth wall and experiencing different styles of comic illustration. Stanford warns the group about the dangers of the world, saying, “This world is subjective and unstable and could change styles at any moment!”  
  • In Don’t Dimension It, Dipper, Mabel, Stanford, and Stanley are in the woods trying to clean up damage from a past event that was almost apocalyptic. “We’re searching for leftover multidimensional rips from Weirdmaggedon to patch with aliens adhesive,” explains Stanford. 
  • Mabel gets transported to the Mabel dimension. “Razzle my dazzle, it’s a Mabel bonanza! There’s every possible version of me…” Mabel says in wonder. 
  • In The Jersey Devil’s in the Details, Stanley and Stanford encounter the Jersey Devil, a flying dragon-dinosaur type monster that breathes fire. “Legend has it that this cloven-hooved weirdo of the night hides by the boardwalk and pilfers gold and jewels to add to its collection,” Stanford informs Stanley. 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

Figure it Out, Henri Weldon

Seventh grader Henri Weldon is transferring from a special education school to a new school, where she’ll be “mainstreamed.” At her new school, she doesn’t know anyone, and she is already behind in her classes. While the rest of Henri’s family excels in school, she struggles with math and needs the help of a tutoring program to pass her classes. 

Henri’s older sister, Kat, offers to help Henri find friends and survive the seventh grade. That is, until Henri befriends the Morgans. The Morgans (Lily, Ana, Vinnie, and Drew) are a group of foster children that Kat dislikes because Lily used to bully her. However, two of the other Morgans, Ana and Vinnie, are incredibly nice to Henri. Ana convinces Henri to try out for soccer, and Vinnie becomes Henri’s math tutor. 

Henri’s friendship with the Morgans creates a rift between Henri and the rest of her family. Henri’s parents don’t want her to play soccer because they want her to focus on school. To make matters worse, Kat won’t talk to Henri because Henri’s friends with Lily. Henri just wants to be accepted for who she is. She tries to be a good student and a good family member. Henri tries to juggle these new aspects of her life, but she needs the support of her family and friends.  

Henri is an incredibly likable character who always tries her best to please everyone. Henri’s conflicts are realistic and showcase the difficulties of navigating relationships in a way that wins her parents’ approval. Many students will relate to Henri as she wants to try new things and create her own path.  

As Henri becomes closer to Ana and Vinnie, she realizes that families are chosen. Even when Henri’s family has disputes, they still choose each other. Throughout the various characters’ dynamics, Davis creates vivid examples of different types of families. Some families are bound together by blood, while other families are formed through unconventional relationships. Henri realizes that families are meant to love and support each other. Henri compares families to a team, saying, “Each member is the glue that makes a team stick, all for one, together.” Like family members, each player has a different set of strengths and weaknesses. While the members of Henri’s team are all different, Henri’s team sticks together just like a family should. 

Figure It Out, Henri Weldon is told from a third-person perspective. This allows readers not only to see Henri’s struggles firsthand but also to gain a broader understanding of the other characters’ feelings.  Henri wants to maintain her friendship with the Morgans, but Kat believes “sisters [are] supposed to have each other’s backs, or at least be on the same team.” By using the third person, readers understand that Kat thinks sisters should always support each other, even if that means Henri has to give up her friendship. This highlights the complicated nature of relationships and shows that people are not always good or always bad.  

Henri’s relationship with the Morgan family creates an interesting contradiction. While Henri lives in a stable two-parent household, the four Morgans come from different backgrounds and are being raised by a foster parent named “Grandma Dot.” However, they choose to be a family, loving and supportive of each other. The Morgans sit together at lunch, support each other’s hopes and dreams, and go to all of Ana Morgan’s soccer games. On the other hand, Henri’s family does their own thing and often seems cold. Henri’s family doesn’t attend her soccer games or understand the type of love Henri needs to be successful. Figure It Out, Henri Weldon shows that traditional households do not create the mold of a true family.  

Henri’s seventh-grade struggles will be incredibly relatable to readers who have faced similar challenges, including family expectations, friendship drama, and change. Readers seeking genuine friends will connect with Henri’s struggles. Like Henri, all readers want to be accepted, and no one wants to be an outcast; however, no one wants to give up who they are just to be accepted. Henri isn’t like the rest of her family, but she still deserves their love and support. Everyone in this story learns what a true family is: a choice to support the ones you love.  

Sexual Content  

  • None

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language    

  • There is some name-calling and hurtful teasing. For example, while Henri and Kat ride the bus to school, Lily Morgan picks on Kat, calling her “My Little Pony” and “Rainbow Pony, ” and saying, ” got that Big Bird sweater going on today. I like it.” 

Supernatural  

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

The Football Fumble

The flag football season is in full swing for Franklin Elementary School, and the MVP Club, which comprises five best friends, is preparing for a major showdown against their rival school, Hamilton Elementary School. For the past several years, Hamilton has dominated Franklin’s flag football team, and it always seems like “their players are bigger and better.” However, the MVP Club is determined to change their school’s fortune, and its members have dedicated themselves to practice, teamwork, and super-secret football plays. Will they finally bring home a resounding victory? 

The Football Fumble is an action-packed book about the power of teamwork in the face of difficult challenges. Told from a third-person perspective, the story focuses on the five members of the MVP Club—Max, Alice, Nico, Luke, and Kat—and their roles on their elementary football team. While the book attempts to give each member of the club adequate attention and development, much of the conflict and difficulty revolves around Max, who struggles to complete football plays. Max also faces opposition from Hamilton football team’s bully, Logan, who makes his life more difficult with constant teasing and taunting. Nonetheless, each of the five kids displays exemplary character and fortitude in their ability to work as a team. In addition, their optimistic attitude despite tough times will be inspiring for many readers. Add in the charm of flag football and fun rivalries, and the book and its characters become relatable for readers who have competed in team-dependent sports. 

The book presents a positive outlook on the themes of teamwork and self-belief. Early on in the big game against Hamilton, the MVP Club struggles to execute plays and work well together. However, after leaning into each other’s strengths, such as Kat’s football intelligence and Max’s speed, they turn a disappointing start into an unbelievable victory—something that Kat reiterates after the final whistle: “We didn’t give up when we were down, and we believed in ourselves enough to come back and win the game!” The story reminds readers of the importance of working towards a goal and demonstrates that teamwork and the right mindset can accomplish mighty tasks. 

The book also wraps up Max’s struggle with Logan by having the two characters admit their shortcomings to each other after the game. For example, Logan recognizes his unkind behavior by telling Max that he “should have focused on football instead of teasing you. Sorry. Sometimes I try so hard to be tough.” Through Max and Logan’s repaired relationship, the story teaches readers that bullying can be solved through honest conversations and acknowledgment. 

The Football Fumble is divided into eight small chapters, with each chapter typically comprising eight to twelve pages and containing a couple of hand-drawn illustrations. Although the story doesn’t use advanced diction, its paragraph-oriented structure and longer sentences might be challenging for emerging readers. At the end of the book, a small section provides real-life facts and definitions for key football terms and plays. It also includes a sneak peek of the next MVP book to keep readers interested. Overall, The Football Fumble is a fabulous book that utilizes the sport of football to highlight the importance of teamwork, friendship, and self-belief. Although the characters and plot can be enjoyed by a broader audience, this book will appeal more to football and sports fans alike. 

Sexual Content 

  • None 

Violence 

  • Logan, a mean bully from Hamilton’s football team, makes fun of the opposing teammates. Kat, the kid coach of Franklin’s football team and one of the MVP kids, gets angry and “Kat smooshed her cone right into Logan’s forehead! The cone stuck to Logan’s head for a moment. It made Logan look a little bit like a unicorn.”  

Drugs and Alcohol 

  • None 

Language 

  • After Max, one of the main characters in the story, fumbles the football during practice, his friend Alice teases him by shouting, “Butterfingers! Max has butterfingers!” 
  • Logan bullies one of his smaller teammates because he doesn’t run fast enough. Logan says, “My grandmother runs faster than that! You’re out for the next five plays.” 
  • Logan makes fun of Max, calling him names and comparing his small stature and personality to a bunny. Logan says, “Look at this one! He’s small and has big ears, just like a rabbit.” This teasing scene lasts for four pages.  
  • During the coin flip, Logan teases Max, referencing his earlier bunny joke. Logan says, “‘Aww, its Hopper! The wittle bunny came to play football.’ Then, Logan stuck out his upper teeth and made rabbit sounds at Max. ‘Tuc-tuc-tuc!’” 
  • After Logan stops Max from reaching the end zone, he teases Max and references his bunny joke again, saying, “Oh, wook at the poor wittle bunny wabbit. He slipped and messed up. Why don’t you get up and hop along back to the other baby bunnies?” 
  • When Max approaches Logan with the football during a play, Logan mocks Max by pretending to cry and again calling Max a bunny. Logan says, “Aw, wook at the wittle bunny. He can’t go weft and he can’t go wight. Poor wittle bunny is going to cry!” 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content 

  • None 

Dodsworth in Paris

Dodsworth, a distinguished mouse, and his hilarious friend — a white duck known only as “the duck”—are visiting Paris for the first time. Join this charming duo as they explore the city streets and familiar landmarks of a fictional early 20th-century France, bustling with a menagerie of impeccably dressed animal characters going about their days. 

There is never a dull moment as they dine in a café and visit the Eiffel Tower, bicycling through town, admire the Mona Lisa at the Louvre, and sail over Paris in a hot air balloon. A few days in the City of Light provide a charming backdrop for a series of comical missteps and surprising twists for these two complementary characters. After losing their money due to the duck’s whimsy, getting caught up in a chance mishap, and crashing their bicycle—only to end up penniless on a park bench—will these two friends find a way to recover their funds? 

In this chapter book, Egan presents themes of humor, friendship, and resilience through a simple narrative that is sure to delight young readers. Dodsworth and the duck arrive in Paris by sea. Immediately after disembarking the ship, the duck comically picks up an acorn cap and wears it on his head to resemble a beret. Dodsworth is constantly trying to ensure his friend behaves appropriately, while the duck — driven by earnest curiosity — seems to seek mischief at every turn.  On their first morning, a spontaneous desire to scale the towering clock tower leads the duck to climb out of his hotel window and make his way “all the way up” the structure, while Dodsworth is still fast asleep. 

Young readers will relate to the lighthearted setbacks and moments of serendipity that unfold throughout this Parisian holiday. One scene that highlights forgiveness between friends occurs when the duck accidentally loses all their money, leaving Dodsworth furious. Sensing his friend’s anger, a tear “fell onto the duck’s beak.” Dodsworth instantly feels remorseful and reassures him, saying, “Everyone makes mistakes. Don’t cry.” Comically, Egan reveals that the duck wasn’t really crying. “He just had something in his eye for a second.” Readers are left to interpret the moment themselves, knowing the duck’s mischievous nature. Similarly, after a bicycle crash, Dodsworth fears the worst, but after a tense pause, the duck dramatically opens one eye and declares, “Bonjour.” 

The story is suitable for fluent readers who are ready for a book with multiple plotlines. Cheerful watercolor and ink illustrations appear on every page. Many of the illustrations depict the characters’ facial expressions, which will help readers understand their emotions more clearly. For example, after losing all their money, Dodsworth and the duck are seen bicycling down the street, with Dodsworth wearing a furrowed brow of frustration and the duck shedding a tear from his downcast eyes. Another positive aspect of the story is that most of the French words are explained within the text. Additionally, readers can use context clues and illustrations to understand the meanings of unfamiliar words, such as Monsieur and magnifique. Although Dodsworth is a series, the books do not need to be read in order, as each focuses on a distinct storyline. 

Resilience in the face of misfortune, along with the deep bond of friendship between these two characters, brings the story full circle. A chance visit to the Louvre sparked a creative idea that ultimately fell flat, but the characters never gave up. “The duck did not like his friend to be sad. He had an idea.” The idea was a well-intentioned effort to earn money, although it initially failed. What followed was a final twist that will charm young readers and parents alike. Animal-loving readers who are always ready for a little mischief should also read The Great Pet Escape by Victoria Jamieson. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

Lucy Lancaster Has a Secret

Lucy Lancaster is a bright young student who loves her parents, her friends, and her school. She is always the first to enter her second-grade classroom, saying hello to her teacher, Mrs. Welli, and feeding the classroom fish. Her two best friends, Heidi Heckelbeck and Bruce Bickerson, sit next to her in class. 

One morning, Lucy’s teacher announces that the class will be raising caterpillars and watching them turn into butterflies. To Lucy’s dismay, she gets paired with Bryce Beltran instead of Heidi or Bruce. Bryce calls Lucy “boring” for wanting to name one of their caterpillars Tony, and then something strange happens. Lucy’s toes start tingling, and she hiccups! Suddenly, Bryce is no longer opposed to naming the caterpillar Tony. What changed? 

Lucy’s hiccups persist, and strange things continue to happen. One day, Lucy hiccups after seeing her caterpillars become butterflies, and the rest of the class’s caterpillars suddenly transform and escape from their containers. The class erupts into chaos, so Lucy hiccups again, and all of the butterflies gather to safely land on Lucy. Ms. Egli, the visiting librarian, takes Lucy aside and tells her to come see her at the library. Lucy is very nervous. Is Lucy in trouble for the butterflies? 

As it turns out, Ms. Egli is a witch, and Lucy is one too! Lucy’s hiccups show the beginnings of her powers. Ms. Egli leads Lucy to a magical part of the library where Lucy can learn spells to control her powers. Lucy returns to school the next day feeling different but excited for her future as a young witch. 

Told in the third person, Lucy Lancaster Has a Secret follows the magical mishaps of a young girl as she learns that magic does exist. Since readers follow Lucy’s point of view exclusively, their understanding of magic evolves alongside hers as she gradually discovers who she is. Small, strange occurrences become signs of a larger, magical power that will be expanded upon in later books, making for an immersive journey into the life of an almost ordinary second-grader. Even though Lucy must keep her magic a secret, there is no overarching moral or commentary provided on keeping secrets. 

Lucy herself is a relatable and realistic child. She is smart, eager, and friendly, enjoying school and diligently completing her homework. This makes Lucy a likable protagonist whom children can aspire to emulate. When faced with Bryce’s unkindness, Lucy does not respond with cruelty. Instead, she chooses to stand up for herself without putting him down. Parents and children can discuss Lucy and Bryce’s interactions as an introduction to the topic of early childhood bullying. 

Children interested in stories of everyday magic will appreciate the quick and humorous tricks that Lucy manifests with her hiccups. Despite the supernatural quality of her powers, the magic in the Lucy Lancaster Series is very grounded. Lucy’s spells are simple; the first entry in her spellbook is “The Call-It-Back Spell,” an incantation that reverses mistakes. 

Lucy Lancaster Has a Secret is a fun book suitable for independent readers. Large black-and-white illustrations appear on almost every page. The illustrations are charming and highly expressive, effectively highlighting key details of every scene and visually conveying the characters’ emotions. Illustrator Priscilla Burris also drew the page of Lucy’s spellbook containing “The Call-It-Back Spell” in its entirety, adding to the story’s immersion. Other short pieces of text, like the words on Lucy’s magical library card, are included in the illustrations. Each chapter begins with a full-page illustration that seamlessly transitions readers into the next section, picking up where the previous chapter left off. The Lucy Lancaster books can be read as individual stories because each book focuses on a new adventure. 

Lucy Lancaster Has a Secret primarily serves as an introduction to Lucy Lancaster and her magical powers. Readers who enjoyed the Heidi Heckelbeck books will appreciate the familiar characters in Lucy Lancaster, including Heidi herself. The story’s end offers readers a comforting lesson: even if you change as a person, your friends will remain by your side. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language    

  • Lucy’s partner for the butterfly project, Bryce, calls Lucy boring for naming a caterpillar. Bryce says, “Only a BORING person would choose a BORING name like Tony.”
  • Lucy’s teacher, Mrs. Welli, exclaims, “Oh my!” when the butterflies are let loose in the classroom. 

Supernatural 

  • The first time Lucy uses her powers, Bryce magically changes her mind about naming a caterpillar. Lucy lets out “a big, loud hiccup,” and her toes start tingling. Immediately afterwards, Bryce calls the caterpillar Tony, signifying that he has suddenly agreed on the name.
  • Lucy wonders to herself if she should let her best friend, Heidi, win their game of Super Flag Tag. In that instant, she hiccups, and her toes tingle. The ensuing spell causes Heidi to find “EXACTLY where [Lucy] was hiding.” 
  • Lucy and Bryce’s two caterpillars become butterflies, and Lucy is so mesmerized by their beauty that she hiccups. Her magic causes all the butterflies in the classroom to hatch at once, their containers popping open. Lucy worried that they would never catch all of the butterflies, and she hiccups again. “One by one, the butterflies landed on Lucy’s arms, shoulders, and even the rim of her glasses, until she was covered from head to toe!” 
  • The librarian, Ms. Egli, takes Lucy to a corridor in the library that has a painting of a witch. Lucy holds up a “golden library card,” and the wall disappears to reveal a hidden entrance to “the magical library.” In this hidden room, books magically fly. 
  • Ms. Egli asks Lucy, “Have you ever thought you might be a witch?” Lucy is astonished by the question, causing her to hiccup and send “a whole shelf of books” flying around the room. One flying book turns into a cat, and Ms. Egli uses a magic key to turn it back into a book. 
  • In the library, a blank “Book of Spells” chooses Lucy to be its next reader. Lucy decides that the first spell she wants to learn is an undoing spell, and the incantation magically appears in the book. 
  • Ms. Egli uses her magic key to make many books fly around the library, and Lucy chants the words to the new “Call-It-Back Spell” in her spellbook to return the books to their piles. 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

by Gabrielle Barke 

Sydney

Australia’s largest city benefits from its place “Down Under,” as Sydney has grown into one of the most exciting and booming cities in the world. Inside, see how “Sydneysiders” and other Australians have carved their own identity from a mold created by Great Britain in the 1800s. Read about how today’s new waves of arrivals and visitors are adding diversity and growth to Sydney, while it continues to revel in its sunshine and enthusiasm for life.  

Major World Cities travels the globe to bring readers the up-close story—from yesterday to today—of the people, sights, sounds, and achievements of key urban centers. This series is the ultimate city travel guide. 

Major World Cities: Sydney takes an in-depth look into the city’s history by breaking down information into super-short sections. Each page has blocks of information typed in large font and placed into different-colored boxes to help readers distinguish when a topic changes. In addition, each page has one or more full-color graphic elements, including artwork and photographs. Each page has two to four paragraphs; however, the wide variety of topics may overwhelm some readers. Some words appear in bold text and are defined in the book’s glossary. Nevertheless, the complex sentence structure and advanced vocabulary make Sydney best suited for strong readers. 

Anyone interested in Sydney will find Major World Cities: Sydney an interesting nonfiction book with a pleasing format. To show a change of topic, each page uses white and yellow boxes with large headlines. Most illustrations also have a one or two sentence caption that gives additional information. The book contains 18 two-page spreads that describe Sydney’s culture, entertainment, education, and industry, as well as other interesting topics. The book also has a map of the city, a timeline, and a glossary. 

Major World Cities: Sydney is the perfect book for anyone who wants to research Australia’s past and present. Because the book covers so many topics, readers will find other fascinating topics to explore. For example, many don’t know that Great Britain used Sydney as a penal colony or that “a dynamic Scot called Lachlan Macquarie become Governor of New South Wales. . . By the end of his 11-year rule, Sydney was a true city.” Readers will enjoy learning how Sydney has a diverse population and a laid-back lifestyle. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • When Captain Cook and his crew arrived in Australia, “the Aborigines threw spears at the strangers, then ran off into the bush.”  
  • A two-page spread discusses crime and punishment. “By the late 19th century, gangs of thugs known as larrikins roamed the city, terrorizing its inhabitants. They committed many serious crimes, including murder.” There is one illustration of criminals waiting to ambush people on a road.  
  • One illustration shows Aborigines and their supporters protesting. One person has a sign that reads: “Police killed our brothers where is our equal rights for justice.” 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • Organized gangs “arrange crimes and run illegal businesses such as drug dealing and gambling.” The Chinese Triads “are mostly involved in drug trafficking, financial crime, or money laundering.” 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None

Spiritual Content  

  • A short paragraph tells what religious groups live in Sydney, but no religious practices are described. “Most early Sydenysiders were Christians: either British Protestants or Irish Roman Catholics . . . Today the city contains many other Christian groups, too, including a large Greek Orthodox community.”  

The Eyes and The Impossible

Johannes, a free dog, lives in an urban park by the sea. His job is to be the Eyes—to see everything that happens within the park and report back to the park’s elders, three ancient Bison. His friends—a seagull, a raccoon, a squirrel, and a pelican—work with him as the Assistant Eyes, observing the humans and other animals that share the park and ensuring the Equilibrium is in balance.

But changes are afoot. More humans arrive in the park. A new building, containing mysterious and hypnotic rectangles, goes up. And then there are the goats—an actual boatload of goats—who appear, along with a shocking revelation that changes Johannes’s view of the world. 

The park, nestled by the sea, is a vast, lush sanctuary that is “green and windblown.” The park provides a protected sense of rugged mystery that draws the reader into this story about animals and their relationships. But it’s so much more. This story follows the comical, emotional, and philosophical observations and dilemmas that come when alliances are formed and tested between friends and communities. The day-to-day experiences of the protagonist, Johannes, reach a tipping point when he begins crafting an “impossible” plan that could change the course of his fate and that of those around him. Meanwhile, a heroic act is misunderstood, and new activity in the park places Johannes in danger, threatening both his life and the delicate ecosystem that protects the park’s inhabitants.  

As the narrator, Johannes invites the reader into his world where they meet a collection of memorable characters—his closest friends. The animals are humorous and share emotionally rich, interpersonal bonds that deepen the story. Time is comically exaggerated, much to the reader’s delight. From the start, and woven throughout the narrative, the theme of nature serves to guide, comfort, and amuse Johannes as he navigates the ups and downs of survival. Known for his speed and for running the perimeter of the park, Johannes is proud to be “unkempt and free.” 

Interspersed spiritual themes convey a reverence for nature. The animals express an appreciation for harmony and beauty in the natural world. Johannes perceives God as the sun—he delights in its warmth but also seems to understand it on a biological level, as a vital force behind all life and existence. “God is the sun. Clouds are her messengers. Rain is only rain.” This phrase becomes Johannes’s mantra, and its meaning is open to interpretation, allowing readers to draw their own connections. 

A sequence of exciting and revealing events propels Johannes to uncover his origin story. As plans for the “impossible task” unfold, the reader is drawn into a journey filled with lessons of love, loss, and friendship, resulting in an intelligent and heartwarming read. The story accelerates as Johannes attempts to carry out his plan, sweeping the reader up in a cascade of events that lead to a dramatic and satisfying conclusion. 

Eggers taps into deep emotions, the kind that make readers connect with a character and root for them. Themes like success, fear, and happiness are woven into the story in a way that feels universally relatable. In addition, the story features illustrations by Shawn Harris every 30 pages, in the style of classical landscapes from old-world painters. With surprising depth for adults and plenty of charm for kids, The Eyes & The Impossible makes a perfect addition to a child’s reading list. Johannes takes great pride in his friendships and responsibilities: “I have been entrusted with seeing and reporting.” Much like our own lives, his mission is shaped by the relationships he forms, and ultimately, his love for others. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language 

  • In one scene, park rangers yell, “Oh my God” in response to raccoons causing chaos.  

Supernatural  

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • The animals show reverence for nature. Johannes perceives God as the sun—he delights in its warmth but also seems to understand it on a biological level, as a vital force behind all life and existence. 
  • One storyline addresses the loss of purpose and, ultimately, death by depicting a ritual called “coda.” When injured or aged, seagulls take flight and then drop into the sea, signaling the end of life. 
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