Reading Level: Elementary

Megan Rapinoe: Athletes Who Made a Difference

When Megan Rapinoe retired from professional soccer in 2023, she left behind one of the most extraordinary careers in the sport. Rapinoe won an Olympic gold medal, two FIFA Women’s World Cups, and the FIFA Player of the Year award. These accomplishments coincided with victories off the field as well. An advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights and equal pay for female athletes, Rapinoe inspired countless people who may not have felt welcome in professional sports. In this book, readers will follow Rapinoe’s illustrious career, from her beginnings as a promising junior athlete to her many achievements as an Olympic athlete.

Megan Rapinoe: Athletes Who Made a Difference is divided into three short chapters, and the last four pages are filled with a glossary, citations, and an index. Chapter One describes Rapinoe’s childhood, where she discovered her passion for soccer and joined her first team. Readers will learn how Rapinoe’s love for the sport persisted through numerous obstacles. Her family lived two and a half hours away from where her team practiced, and the round trip was 350 miles. Although the journey was difficult for Rapinoe and her family, her team made it to the finals of the US Youth Soccer National Championships – the first of many accomplishments for Rapinoe.

Chapter Two follows Rapinoe’s college career. In her first season with the Portland Pilots, Rapinoe scored seven game-winning goals, helping the team win the NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship. This victory led to a life-changing phone call: Rapinoe was invited to join the US Women’s Senior National Team.

Chapter Three follows Rapinoe’s professional career. At this time, Rapinoe discovered that she and many of her teammates were gay, but they hid their identities from the press and their fans. Rapinoe soon made her identity public and became an advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights. “[Coming out] can be a difficult, emotional process,” Anderson writes. “Megan hoped that coming out would set a positive example for others.”

The book is presented as a comic book, with one to three brightly colored panels per page. The characters’ dialogue appears in word balloons, but most of the information is presented through captions in the corner of the page. The information is spread over the pages, so young readers are not overwhelmed by the text. Each caption contains one to three sentences. The syntax is simple and accessible, though the book uses several soccer terms such as “cross” and “penalty kick.” Readers unfamiliar with soccer can consult the book’s glossary for the meaning of each term.

Megan Rapinoe: Athletes Who Made a Difference is a thoroughly researched introduction to a monumental figure. Casey Ella Fredrick’s kinetic illustrations of Rapinoe’s many games will excite soccer fans, but the book is a valuable read for any reader. Rapinoe’s story demonstrates to young readers the importance of standing up for what is right and speaking out when they are being treated unfairly.

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • None

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

Shadow Fox

Shadow the fox does not trust humans. Well, except for Nan, who feeds her chunks of fish behind a lakeside motel every night. When Nan goes missing, a man from the mysterious Whistlenorth Island comes ashore to seek the aid of Nan’s granddaughter, Bee, whom he thinks is destined not only to help Nan, but also to save Whistlenorth from the greedy and destructive Night Islanders.  

The plans go topsy-turvy when it becomes obvious that Bee does not have the magic powers of a chosen one — but Shadow does! Can a fox really rescue an island of people? As Shadow grudgingly comes to trust her new human companions, she and Bee develop a mystical bond, a special connection between human and animal that might be the key to driving the Night Islanders from Whistlenorth for good.  

The story is told from Shadow’s point of view, offering a unique perspective and allowing readers to understand how environmental destruction impacts wild animals. Shadow was hunting when a group of men cleared an entire swath of forest and killed Shadow’s mother and sister. Afterwards, Shadow doesn’t want to “like” anyone, especially humans. Shadow’s quest isn’t just about saving the people of Whistlenorth; the fox also has to accept her family’s death and allow others into her heart.  

Shadow and Bee discover they have a special magical bond that allows them to hear each other’s thoughts. Bee often comments on Shadow’s thoughts and helps her understand the human world. In addition, Bee gives Shadow confidence by saying, “Don’t you ever doubt yourself! I used to think that being wild was a bad thing, but being wild is the best thing.” In the end, Shadow realizes that she doesn’t need to act human to defeat the Night Islanders. Instead, she needs to think like a fox. This reinforces the idea that Shadow does not need to become a tame pet in order to save Whistlenorth.  

Shadow also has a special bond with a bird that she helped hatch. At first, Shadow does not want to care about the bird, but the bird refuses to leave Shadow’s side. Shadow notices the bird is “gazing at me as if I am his everything. I am the sun and the moon and the fish and the stars. Yes, he is just a bird, but he is everything worth fighting for, all wrapped up in feathers.” Shadow’s relationship with the bird and Bee helps Shadow overcome her grief and allows others into her heart. In addition, it is these relationships that give him the ability to save Whistlenorth. In the end, Shadow is motivated to save the isle because it’s the only way to save her friends. 

Shadow Fox has a strong environmental focus that helps readers understand the importance of caring for everything “wild.” The death of Shadow’s family highlights what happens when natural areas are destroyed to make room for progress. The environmental focus is seamlessly integrated throughout the book, without being overwhelming or preachy. Bee’s grandmother warns: “‘Make no mistake. If the foxes disappear, if the birds disappear, humans are next. We might still be breathing, we might still be alive, but inside, in here—’ She taps her heart with two fingers. ‘It’s all over.’” 

By telling the story from Shadow’s point of view, Sorosiak creates an endearing protagonist that readers will fall in love with. Shadow’s thoughts and actions are consistent with a wild fox, which often brings humor into the story. Shadow often thinks about food—including her favorite food, fish—and this leads to some silly moments. In addition, Shadow makes many references to fish. For example, Shadow describes the wind saying, “It pelts my face like a dead trout. Or a cold, stiff sturgeon.”  

Shadow Fox begins by describing the magical islands of Whistlenorth and the dangers presented by the Night Islanders. The worldbuilding is essential; however, it lacks action and suspense. When Shadow and Bee get to the island, the story becomes more interesting and intense. However, the large cast of supporting characters, the complicated plot, and the detailed fight scenes will require readers to pay close attention to the text. Despite this, animal-loving readers will be drawn into Shadow’s adventure and cheer when Shadow not only defeats the Night Islanders but also defeats her fears. For more stories that teach about the importance of caring for our environment, check out Spark by Sarah Beth Durst, Out of My Shell by Jenny Goebel, and the Wild Rescuers Series by Stacy Plays. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • Shadow is in a barn when a groundkeeper appears. “One of his gloved hands grips my neck alongside the metal loop, and he lifts me straight into the air.” The man tells Shadow, “I was going to turn you into the wildlife authorities, but maybe I should turn you into a hat.” Shadow uses magic to escape. 
  • Bee sees bed birds. “They are a famous species. Little blue birds. They sneak through cracked-open windows at night and bite humans, sleeping in their beds.” 
  • Shadow’s mother and sister were killed when humans took “down a swath of the forest in a day,” and sliced down the trees. Afterwards, Shadow felt “a feeling [she]’d never felt and never want[ed] to feel again. The total loss, that emptiness, the knowledge that nowhere—nowhere out there—were [her] sister and mother breathing. Their breath was smothered out.” 
  • The Night Islanders are killing everything—plants and animals—to extract magic. A Night Islander wears a “metal cage that’s around his face, just two little holes cut out for eyes, and wearing . . . a beaver hat. The tail dangles along his neck. The matted pelt shrouds his head.” 
  • Two Night Islanders travel to Whistlenorth with the intent of kidnapping the chosen one. Shadow calls one of the men “the Hunter.” Shadow realizes that the Hunter and other Night Islanders are the ones that killed her family. “The ones with the metal and the smoke and the saws. . . They were Night Islanders!” 
  • The Hunter grabs Bee. Shadow attacks and “clamp[s] the second attacker’s leg in my jaws. He lets out a single yelping note, louder than a fox, before kicking, kicking, flinging me against the nearest tree. Arching through the air, I hit the bark with a thwomp. . . The blow has me seeing tiny bees, buzzing above my ears. One of my ribs bends inward, bruising but not breaking.”  
  • To escape the man’s grasp, Bee “opens her mouth and bites the Hunter’s mitten—hard. Another shriek escapes him, voice dark and blooming like blood. . .” Bee is unable to escape, and the Hunter kidnaps her. 
  • To free Bee, a pack of snow foxes attacks. “Advancing forward, all one hundred of them pounce, paws first, tongue second. Spit flies. Tongues reach out. . . The foxes lick ears. They lick toes. They lick fingers and noses and palms, slurping-slurp.” The foxes’ spit numbs the Night Islanders so they are unable to move.  
  • Shadow finds Bee. “The sleeve of her sweater is tied around her mouth and nose, blocking her breath. . . her wrists are bound with a strip of fishing net.” The snow foxes surround the Hunter, and he is “pinned in all directions by snouts and teeth.” 
  • The Night Islanders use their magic to make “spikes rise from the earth. . . They’re taller than the tallest oaks, sharper than thorns.” Shadow, Bee, and the bird are “hemmed in on all sides, like an ice cage.” 
  • To trap some of the Night Islanders, Shadow uses magic to summon “the canoes from the lakeshore. . . Falling to the earth, they trap a few Night Islanders beneath them.” 
  • The Night Islanders combine their magic to create a mound of snow that traps Bee, Shadow, and others. “Under the snow-flood, my body wiggles and flits. Thrashing, flaying! . . . And my breath has nowhere to go! The snow is packed so tightly. . . The Hunter and the Night Islanders. . .. They’ve summoned all the snow from the island to bury us alive.” Everyone escapes.  
  • The only way to defeat the Night Islanders is to take their magic. The bird uses magic to make a flock of birds out of snow. The birds disappear and reappear inside of the Night Islanders’ stomachs. “The Hunter shrieks, hippity-hopping on his toes. Now the other Night Islanders are clutching their stomachs, massaging their throats, beating their chests.” 
  • Once the birds have collected all of the magic from the Night Islanders’ stomachs, “the birds reappear as a flock. . . a little bit melted at the tips of their feathers but roughly intact. Their bellies bulge with magic. . . waddling calmly away.” The Night Islanders return to their isle.  

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None

Language  

  • A man calls Shadow a “good-for-nothing.” 
  • When learning that the fox and Bee don’t swim, a man yells, “Fish sticks almighty.” “Fish sticks” is used as an exclamation four times. 
  • Bee uses “jeez” as an exclamation twice.  
  • Shadow uses magic, causing a dining room table, table settings, and hundreds of fish to appear suddenly. Nan exclaims, “Oh, holy herring in cream sauce.” 
  • When a Night Islander wakes up to the smell of fox urine, he yells, “What the—.” 

Supernatural 

  • Magic is prevalent throughout the book, so not every instance is listed below. Some people have magic that allows them to summon things. Shadow can “change smoke into tiny foxes and summon cans of pudding. Not so intimidating. Unless, I suppose, you’re afraid of pudding. Or aluminum.” 
  • Some people are cultivators. “We make things grow. Or shrink them. Some can even take an object and reshape it into something else. . . Like pudding cans into teaspoons.” 
  • Bee reads a book of predictions written by a woman who “had a knack for predicting the future, but she didn’t get it right all the time.” There are several general predictions. One says that Beatrice Shadowen from Minnesota, US, “will be chosen by nature to save the island from the magical extinction.” 
  • Nan explains where magic comes from. She says, “The magic comes from nature: the trees, the rivers, the soil. Think of it like oxygen. We breathe in magic, then breathe it out—intentionally—to make something happen.” 
  • Magic allows Bee and Shadow to hear each other’s thoughts and allows Shadow to understand human speech. Bee tells Shadow, “It’s not like I asked for this power. . . You got most of the magic, but—somehow—I got the power to understand you.” It also allows Shadow to read human books. 
  • After the groundkeeper captures Shadow, the fox becomes warm. “My belly prickles with the heat.” The fox becomes so hot that the “groundkeeper shrieks, his hand unclenching. . .” Somehow, Shadow had turned the groundkeeper’s gloves into pumpkin soup. Afterwards, “the groundkeeper is murmuring, examining his hands, which are slick with hot orange goop.” Both Shadow and the groundkeeper are confused about how the gloves changed.  
  • Shadow has a habit of taking people’s shoes. While in the barn with the groundkeeper, “one of my shoes is hovering in the air. . . Then another one. A bright-blue flip-flop, suspended like a hummingbird.” The groundkeeper runs away before seeing the shoes “circling the air before stacking all around [Shadow], a tower on four sides. With a flip-flop roof!” 
  • A swarm of bed birds surrounds Shadow, making her skin tingle. “Tiny sprigs of fur are beginning to sprout. Midnight-black tufts grow and rush over the paw. On my belly, too, is a feeling. A feeling like lying in the sun.” When the birds leave, Shadow’s fur is full and healthy. 
  • When Shadow thinks of fish toast, it appears. “A slice of white bread, smothered in lake-trout paste. It just. . .appears, right by my paws. Without thinking, I shove the toast in my mouth. . .” 
  • Shadow helps a bird hatch, and the bird imprints on the fox. Later, Shadow discovers that the bird has magic. The bird can disappear and reappear somewhere else. The bird can also transport others.  
  • While practicing her magic, Shadow makes a spoon grow. The spoon gets so big that “soon, it’ll be punching a hole in the houseboat. . . The houseboat creaks again, this time from the pressure of the spoon. It’s bending, metal thrusting against the rafters. . .” With Nan’s help, Shadow shrinks the spoon to its normal size. 
  • To help fight the Night Islanders, Shadow conjures dozens of foxes made of snow. Some are “spikier, with pine needles sticking from their snow like hackles.” To get to the Night Isle, the bird transports Shadow and the snow foxes.

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

The Gladiator’s Victory

Travel back to ancient Rome with time-traveling brothers Arthur and Finn as they try to convince a powerful gladiator to escape certain death in the Roman arena. Will the boys manage to persuade the gladiator to break free, escape the clutches of the powerful and evil lords, and avoid being caught by the unforgiving Roman soldiers?  

The Gladiator’s Victory explores the brotherly bond and begins with the introduction of Marcus, a gladiator who regrets not joining his brother in fighting for freedom. When Arthur and Finn go back in time to help Marcus, their bond is tested. When Senator Lucius discovers Arthur and Finn’s bond, he uses it to manipulate Finn. If Finn doesn’t poison Titus, Lucius’ rival, the senator will murder Marcus. Despite his conflict, Finn is determined to save both his brother’s and Titus’ life. As readers continue reading the Warrior Heroes Series, they will discover that while Arthur and Finn have different personalities, they are devoted to each other and willingly jump into battle to protect each other. The brother’s bond and their desire to help the restless ghost gives the story heart.  

Short sections interspersed throughout the book provide more historical information, including descriptions of life in Rome, life as a gladiator, the types of gladiators, and how the games worked. One section describes the origins of gladiators. “The Greeks did it and so did the Etruscans who lived near Rome in the early days. They used to get people fighting to the death as a sacrifice at funerals, and the Romans picked up the idea and ran with it.” Eventually, the funeral games became a big business so the gladiators “weren’t expected to kill each other anymore. . . Of course, people still wanted to see some blood, so the Romans would execute prisoners or get prisoners of war to fight to the death. . .”   

Even though The Gladiator’s Victory is part of a series, the books do not have to be read in order because each book focuses on Arthur and Finn going back to a different time period and each book wraps up the storyline.  

The Gladiator’s Victory is another action-packed adventure that leads Arthur and Finn into the dangerous world of Rome. In a world ruled by rich senators, the boys discover death lurks around every corner. Senator Lucius magnifies the ruthlessness of the wealthy and the vulnerability of slaves. The Gladiator’s Victory will leave readers reflecting on Finn’s situation—is killing an innocent man worth saving Arthur’s life? Despite this question, Finn displays admirable strength of character and a willingness to trust others with the truth. This leads to a surprising and satisfying conclusion that asks: What is worth dying for?  

Readers interested in jumping back into time but want to avoid intense battle scenes have many opinions, including Time Cat: The Remarkable Journeys of Jason and Gareth by Lloyd Alexander, Time Travel Adventure Duology by Elvira Woodruff, and the Tangled in Time Series by Kathryn Lasky. 

 Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • Spartacus, a gladiator, recruited “an army of highly trained solider-slaves who wanted to be free.” Spartacus and his army were defeated. “And most of them were crucified to set an example to other slaves.” 
  • When Arthur travels through time, he appears in an alley. Festus, a bully who leads a gang of homeless boys, finds Arthur. Festus says, “Now get up and tell me why you’re here, or by Jupiter, I’ll crush your skull before you say another word.”  
  • Arthur convinces Festus to fight with no weapons. “Festus hurled his club to the floor and charged at Arthur without warning. . . Arthur stepped to one side, leaving a foot trailing so that Festus tripped and tumbled to the ground. . . Festus stepped forward, feigned as if to punch Arthur in the stomach and then dropped to one knee, grabbing hold of Arthur’s ankle and giving it a vicious twist. Arthur tumbled to the ground, and Festus pounced, pinning him with an arm across his chest and punching him hard on the chin.” 
  • As the fight continues, Arthur escapes Festus’ grasp and stands up. Arthur “grabbed Festus’ wrist in both hands and twisted as the punch carried the older boy forwards and past Arthur. . . [Arthur] standing behind Festus and twisting his arm up behind his back. He curled a foot in front of Festus and pushed, sending him crashing to the floor.” Festus admits defeat. One illustration shows Festus getting ready to punch Arthur. 
  • When Festus’ gang surrounds Arthur, an older group of men who watched the fight step in. When the men approach the boys, “the gang’s circle disintegrated, and a brawl broke out as fists and boots and knees and heads connected with each other.”  
  • Festus goes after Arthur with a club. Finn helps his brother by “leaping onto Festus’ back. Festus staggered backwards and then fell forward to the floor yet again. Arthur rushed forwards and stomped on Festus’ arm. He dropped the club and roared in pain.” The fight ends after four pages. An illustration shows Festus preparing to punch Arthur. 
  • Arthur and Finn are taken to a gladiator school. Finn is recruited to be a spy for Senator Lucius. The senator threatens Finn with punishment if Finn is unable to carry out his mission. Lucius “gestured toward the slave . . . The slave grimaced and opened his mouth. . . it seemed that the slave was missing his tongue.” 
  • Lucius wants Finn to use poison to kill his rival, Titus. 
  • Finn meets Lucius’ niece. She says, “If I could kill him without getting caught, I would. He is very, very careful. He kills anyone who gets in his way yet no-one can kill him. He poisons people . . . He poisoned my parents.”  
  • Arthur is ordered to spar with Ajax. Arthur is given a net “to ensnare” his opponent and a trident, while Ajax has a spear and shield. “Arthur spang into action, taking a step forward and jabbing with the trident, which clattered into Ajax’s shield and glanced off . . . Arthur switched the trident to his right hand just as Ajax lunged forward, holding his shield out before him like a battering ram and crashing into Arthur, who fell heavily to the floor. . .” 
  • Arthur believes Ajax is going to kill him. “Arthur slashed out with the dagger in the direction of Ajax’s feet and felt the blade jar against something hard as his opponent howled in pain, dropping his sword and falling to the floor.” Because Arthur injured Ajax, Arthur is ordered to fight in the gladiator’s ring in Ajax’s place. The fight is described over one page and has one illustration.  
  • Two gladiators, Marcus and Achilles, fight each other on horse. “Again and again they charged . . . at last Marcus caught Achilles with a glancing blow to the shield arm, drawing blood from his opponent . . . Achilles was knocked back in his saddle but stayed on his horse and wheeled around immediately.”  
  • As the gladiators charged again, Marcus’ horse reared, and “Marcus fell heavily onto the sand of the arena. . . Both men drew their swords and rushed to clash again, this time on foot. . . Achilles was down on one knee, fending off overhead blows until his sword was smashed from his grip by a particularly savage strike.” Achilles surrenders. The match is described over three pages.  
  • Unable to poison Titus, Finn lies. When Lucius finds out, he “screamed, lashing out and slapping Finn hard across the mouth. . . Lucius roared, leaping forward and grabbing Finn by the throat.” Lucilla jumps in to help before Lucius kills Finn. 
  • Enraged further, Lucius grabs Lucilla by the throat with the intent to kill her. “Marcus could hold back no longer. He leapt at Gaius [who oversees the gladiator’s school] and with one vicious punch laid him out cold. . .” Lucius mocks Marcus for being a slave, but Lucius’ “words turned to a high-pitched groan as Marcus lunged and thrust forward savagely, burying his sword in Lucius’ back. The girl fell gasping to the floor while Marcus stood behind the senator and pushed him away, causing him to topple forward off the sword.” Lucius dies. 
  • Finn, Arthur, Lucilla, and Marcus must flee Rome. They get help from Festus and his gang. To hide the fugitives, Festus has Lucilla and Marcus crawl into a cart filled with dead bodies.  
  • When guards discover the ruse, a fight ensues. Marcus “leaped down with a cry, punching the hold of his sword into one man and knocking him into the other so that both collapsed to the ground. Two quick thrusts followed, and moments later, Marcus was dragging the bodies down the steps and flinging them in the river.” A boatman takes the fugitives out of the city.

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • Arthur calls Festus and his gang cowards. 
  • A man calls Arthur an idiot. 

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 it is that keeps the ghost from resting in peace.” 
  • When the boys travel through time, “the air in the room shifted, and seemed to fill with mist, drifting at first and then whirling faster and faster around them until the study could not be seen, and it felt to the boys if they were spinning through the sky.”

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

Inside the Park

Pumpsie needs a win. Or to be more precise, he needs the Nashville Wildcats to win. Pumpsie’s been waiting his entire life—twelve whole years!—for his favorite team to make it to the playoffs. And this year—finally!—they’re just one win away. 

But when Pumpsie accidentally gets trapped in Lookout Field the night before the last game of the season, with only a lost dog named Campy for company, he may have accidentally stumbled into the best night of his life. For a baseball fan like Pumpsie, using the pro batting cages, running the bases, playing with the public address system, eating all the concession-stand junk food he can find is a dream come true . . . until he realizes he’s not alone in the stadium. Foul plots are brewing beneath Lookout Field, and now it’s on Pumpsie to swallow his fears, gum up his courage, and swing for the fences if he wants to save the Wildcats’ postseason chances. 

Readers will instantly be drawn into Pumpsie’s conflict and feel empathy for the boy who feels like all four of his siblings are loved more than he is. Pumpsie is upset because he never gets his parents’ undivided attention. This is reinforced when he is accidentally trapped in a baseball stadium, and none of his family realizes he’s missing. Pumpsie’s emotions swing from fear of being alone to the joy of exploring the stadium. Pumpsie’s explorations feel like a great adventure full of fun, fear, and a little bit of peril. 

Similar to the movie Home Alone, Pumpsie uses slapstick violence, such as coating the stairs with ketchup and mustard, to keep himself and the stadium safe. Since the story is told from Pumpsie’s point of view, readers will understand his reasoning as well as his emotional swings. Although some of the plot points are a bit outrageous and unbelievable, the story is so much fun that it’s easy to overlook the story’s flaws. However, one negative aspect of the story is that the two bad guys are arrested, but the man behind poisoning the Wildcats isn’t punished, and he gets “to keep his reputation intact.” Allowing the man behind the poisoning to go without punishment shows that the rich are allowed to do anything—even break the law—without consequences.

Inside the Park is a fast-paced, suspenseful story that throws in a dash of humor to create a story that hits it out of the park. Pumpsie is an extremely likable protagonist, and anyone who has ever felt overlooked will relate to Pumpsie’s conflict. Inside the Park will have readers rooting for both the Wildcats and Pumpsie, and the story’s conclusion is so perfect that it will have them smiling. Middle grade readers who enjoy humorous baseball stories should also read The Rhino in Right Field by Stacy Dekeyser. 

Sexual Content  

  • None

Violence  

  • Pumpsie is locked inside the stadium with two bad guys, Jordan and Travis. When Jordan sees Pumpsie, “Jordan [puts] a giant hand on my shoulder, pushing me so hard against the wall it knocks the wind out of me.” Pumpsie kicks “him in the shins as hard as I can.” 
  • To get away from the bad guys, Pumpsie shoots them with a T-shirt launcher. “The first baseball zips across the room, hitting Travis in his left leg with a smack. He immediately grabs at the spot and grits his teeth . . . The last ball crashes into Jordan’s forehead, just above his right eye, and his skin splits open like a cracked sidewalk.” Jordan is bleeding but otherwise uninjured. The scene is described over two pages. 
  • Jordan and Travis walk into another trap that Pumpsie created. Pumpsie yanks “the string, and all the wooden bats I took from the equipment room and batting cage tumble out of the net and onto Jordan and Travis. . . Travis curls up in a ball, clutching one swollen knee to his chest and then switching to the other. 
  • Pumpsie sprays hair spray at Jordan and Travis. “A fog of hairspray floats over Jordan’s and Travis’s heads and settles in their noses, in their mouths, on the tips of their fingers.”

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • Jordan and Travis put Salmonella bacteria into the Wildcats’ food, which caused most of them to get sick, but they recovered. 
  • After winning a tournament, the Wildcats have champagne. 

Language  

  • Pumpsie’s older brother calls him names such as Poopsie, Poo-Poo, and other mean names. 
  • Dang is used once. 
  • Crap is used twice and crappy is used once. 
  • One of the bad guys asks Pumpsie, “What the heck are you smiling at, you little punk?” The bad guy also calls Pumpsie a brat.  
  • Pumpsie calls the bad guys idiots. 
  • An adult says, “Brothers can be jerks sometimes.” 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • Pumpsie’s grandfather told him, “First is important, but sometimes last is more significant. . . And you know what God says. . . The last should be first.” 
  • When Pumpsie realizes he’s locked inside the stadium, he prays, “God, if you get me out of this, I promise to never be mean to [my sister] again.” 
  • Occasionally, Pumpsie says a prayer. For example, Pumpsie sent “up a quick prayer that Jordan and Travis don’t try to use the elevator while I’m getting everything ready.” 
  • An adult baseball player tells Pumpsie, “And from personal experience, I can tell you that even when you’re the one doing the wrong, God’s got a way of fixing that too.” 
  • After Pumpsie’s family finds him, his baby sister says, “Thank you, God, for making Pumpsie come back quick.” 

Aaron Judge

Any fan of the New York Yankees is sure to know the name Aaron Judge. Beginning his first major league season with thirty home runs — the most of any Yankee rookie since the legendary Joe DiMaggio in 1936 — Judge went on to secure such accolades as the 2017 Home Run Derby trophy and the Rookie of the Year award. He quickly became a favorite among Yankees fans. Anyone with a ticket to a Yankees game during the 2017 season would see a large group of fans crowded in the right field of the Yankee Stadium. These seats – nicknamed the “Judge’s Chambers” – were filled with fans wearing judge’s robes and cheering Judge’s name. During one game, this passionate crowd even included US Supreme Court justice Sonia Sotomayor – a longtime Yankees fan. 

Although Judge’s rookie season featured the success most baseball players aspire to, it was the product of years of hard work. In this book, Jon M. Fishman details the life of Judge, from his beginnings as a promising high school athlete to his fantastic achievements as a major league player.  

Aaron Judge is five short chapters, with the last five pages comprising a glossary, index, and citations. Chapter One briefly introduces Aaron Judge’s career. Chapter Two recounts Judge’s high school years, during which he played several sports before focusing on baseball. Chapter Three provides a detailed account of Judge’s typical training routine. Although he is a player for the MLB – and one of the strongest in the league’s history – he still trains regularly. Fishman explains Judge’s workout routine, while defining terms readers may not know, such as “cardio” or “pilates.” Fishman uses this chapter to communicate an important message to the reader: being good at something does not mean you should stop working to learn and improve. In Chapters Four and Five, Fishman writes about Judge’s achievements with the Yankees. 

Each page features a photo from Judge’s career – from high school yearbook pictures to action shots of Judge striking a home run. Each chapter is meticulously researched and filled with information. With one to thirteen sentences per page, this book will be a challenge for beginning readers.  

Aaron Judge is an excellent study of Judge’s impressive career. It is a thorough introduction to readers unfamiliar with Judge. Readers who are already fans of Judge are sure to learn something new from Fishman’s extensive research. If you enjoy this book, be sure to check out Aaron Judge vs. Babe Ruth: Who Would Win? by Josh Anderson and the other books in the Sports All-Stars Series. Like Aaron Judge, each book describes the life and career of a famous American athlete playing today.

Sexual Content  

  • None

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • None

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

Rick Kotani’s 400 Million Dollar Summer

Rick Kotani is looking forward to spending the entire summer playing baseball. Sure, his team never wins, but he’s been practicing a special pitch he knows is going to land him a 400-million-dollar major-league contract . . . someday. That all changes when his mother throws a curveball of her own: Instead of playing ball in California, Rick will be heading to Oregon to help keep an eye on Grandpa Hiroshi while they move him to a retirement home. Trading no-hitters to be a babysitter? Rick is beyond bummed. 

But once there, Rick discovers Grandpa is actually pretty cool, and the two bond over a Japanese folktale about a fisherman, Urashima Taro, who trades his life on earth for the riches of an underwater kingdom. And like the fisherman, Rick soon forgets about his team back home when he joins a supercompetitive local league that only cares about being the best—at any cost.  

As the team racks up the wins and Grandpa makes his final move, Rick must decide which ending he wants for his story: Will he fall in line with his ruthless teammates and their victory-obsessed coach in his own “underwater kingdom,” or will family, true friendship, and integrity lead him back to shore? 

When Rick meets Toni, a girl his age who loves baseball, he is excited for the opportunity to play ball. However, the coach and players don’t care about having fun, they just want to win. The baseball coach is truly despicable because he belittles the players and doesn’t follow the rules. Even though it’s against the rules, the coach allows Rick to play, which requires Rick to lie so he can take the place of another player. Rick explains, “Technically, I wasn’t allowed to be part of the team since I lived outside the area and the team roster had already been finalized.” To make matters worse, the coach encourages Rick to throw a curveball, eventually leading to an injury. In the end, Rick acknowledges that he will never play for the MLB. While the realization is heartbreaking, the story ends on a hopeful note, hinting that Rick could continue to love baseball and shift his focus to being a referee.  

Rick’s relationship with his teammates is superficial, and his only true friend is Toni. However, Toni’s role is confusing. Plus, her parents’ sole focus is on her brother, and the coach wouldn’t allow her to play on the team because she is a girl. Toni’s situation is reminiscent of older times when gender roles were more rigid. This dynamic makes Rick’s relationship with Toni feel one-sided. Despite this, Toni plays an important role and demonstrates the qualities of a good friend. In the end, Toni reminds Rick, “You can’t change what happened. But what happens next is up to you.” 

Rick Kotani’s 400 Million Dollar Summer revolves around baseball and is interspersed with Rick’s family life and Japanese folklore. The combination allows the story to have a fast pace as it weaves between topics and explores the difficulty of divorce and dealing with an aging relative. The realistic conflicts will draw readers into the story as well as teach them the importance of sharing your feelings with others because “If you keep it in, it will eat you up.” Rick Kotani’s 400 Million Dollar Summer will entertain middle school readers who dream of playing for the MLB and remind them that winning isn’t the most important thing in baseball or in life.  

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • Profanity is used occasionally. Profanity includes crap, dang, darn, fricking, heck, and hell. 
  • The word ass is implied but is spelled “a$$”. 
  • After throwing rocks at turtles, a boy says, “What about this bonehead tortoise?” 
  • There is some name-calling, including jerk and dingbat. 
  • “Good god” is used as an exclamation. 
  • While talking to a boy, the coach uses the word “goddamn.” 

Supernatural 

  • In the tale of Urashima Taro, magic is used several times. For example, when Urashima opened a box, “a plume of smoke wafted out, followed by a cloud that billowed around him.” After opening the box, Urashima turns into an old man. 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

Shark Night

Alone in a giant water tank, Liam, holding a camera, watches as a twenty-foot-long hammerhead shark is about to be lowered in with him. This is not where he thought his day was going. 

Liam is helping his mom film a documentary for the Danger Channel. A twelve-year-old battling a shark! It’ll be a sensation! But don’t worry, the hammerhead is the gentlest of sharks. And this one is old and nearly toothless, so Liam will be fine. 

But Liam is paralyzed with fear. And as the shark is lowered into the tank, he realizes something’s not right! 

In the story, Liam shares his shocking account of being locked in a tank with a shark with the readers. This allows the reader to glimpse Liam’s thought process and understand why he makes crazy decisions. While Liam believes he is in mortal danger, he tells his story outrageously and humorously that makes the adventure more suspenseful than scary. The book’s tone pulls the reader into the story and has you hooked from page one.  

With its fast-paced narrative, Shark Night will captivate readers, including those reluctant to read. In addition to being full of action, suspense, and surprises, the book’s short paragraphs and black-and-white illustrations help move the story along. Liam’s sister, Rosa, plays an integral role and enjoys pushing Liam into silly situations such as singing karaoke and climbing a tree to save a cat. This relationship adds humor to the story, and readers will eagerly await to see what Rosa will do next.  

Shark Night combines danger and humor with interesting secondary characters to create a fast-paced story that will engage readers of all types. The slapstick humor is perfect for readers who love pranks and over-the-top situations. While some readers will find Shark Night shallow because it doesn’t teach a moral, middle school readers will gobble up each page and likely grab another book written by R.L. Stein. Readers eager for another adventure should grab a copy of Shark Bait by Justin D’Ath and The 13th Floor: A Ghost Story by Sid Fleischman. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • While in a tank with a shark, the shark attacks Liam. “The shark bumped me hard from behind. . . I spun around. The shark’s jaw was wide open, and I saw two perfect rows of sharp, pointed teeth. . . the shark struck again. It lowered its head and rammed my chest. A powerful blow.” The shark hits the tank, breaking it, and both the shark and Liam are washed out to sea. 
  • While in the ocean, a huge octopus “monster” attacks Liam. Liam “screamed as a hard tentacle bumped my shoulder. Another tentacle wrapped around my neck. . . I squirmed and struggled, but it was too strong. The tentacles wrapped around me. And the claws clamped shut on my arms and legs.” The octopus drops Liam onto the sand, and he escapes. 
  • Liam, his sister Rosa, and an actor named Swan are in a canoe in the ocean. The same octopus “monster” attacks Swan. “The ugly monster moved with surprising speed. The tentacles reached straight out now as the creature closed in on him.” The canoe flips over, and when Liam pops up, Swan is gone. Later, Liam discovers that Swan is fine. 
  • Liam is lowered into the ocean with sharks. “The shark made a wide circle—and attacked again. I could see jagged teeth as it snapped its jaws. It plowed into the cage bars again. A hard jolt that sent the cage swinging back on its teeth.” Liam is frightened but uninjured. 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

Whales! The Gentle Giants

Whales are beautiful creatures known for their massive size. Seeing a whale in the wild is a memorable nature experience. These amazing animals live in the oceans of the Antarctic to the west coast of California and eastern coast of Australia, and they migrate over many thousands of miles each year. Find out what scientists are discovering about whales, what whales tell us about our planet, and the efforts being made to protect these magnificent animals. 

Whales! The Gentle Giants introduces readers to the different types of whales and explains why some whales are critically endangered. Each two-page spread has one page of text and one page with pictures, maps, and infographics. The text is broken into small, manageable sections that won’t overwhelm readers with too much information. In addition, some pages have QR codes that will take readers to a video about whales.  

Readers interested in learning more about whales and their lives will find all the facts in Whales! The Gentle Giants fascinating. The book also shows how humans can help whales in realistic ways, such as doing simple things like talking about whales to friends and posting online comments. It is a great introduction to the different types of whales and is a good starting point for readers who want to learn more about the magnificent ocean creatures. Readers interested in learning more about helping ocean animals in need should also read Odder by Katherine Applegate. You can also learn about scientists who study the ocean by reading Shark Lady by Jess Keating, Life in the Ocean by Claire A. Nivola and Manfish: A Story of Jacques Cousteau by Jennifer Berne. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • One page discusses how some people hunt whales and shows men preparing to harpoon a whale. 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

Will’s Race for Home

It’s 1889, barely twenty-five years after the Emancipation Proclamation, and a young Black family is tired of working on land they don’t get to own.
 
So when Will and his father hear about an upcoming land rush, they set out on a journey from Texas to Oklahoma, racing thousands of others to the place where land is free—if they can get to it fast enough. But the journey isn’t easy—the terrain is rough, the bandits are brutal, and every interaction carries a heavy undercurrent of danger.
 
And then there’s the stranger they encounter and befriend: a mysterious soldier named Caesar, whose Union emblem brings more attention—and more trouble—than any of them need.
 
All three are propelled by the promise of something long denied to them: freedom, land ownership, and a place to call home—but is a strong will enough to get them there?  

Twelve-year-old Will longs for adventure and wants to prove to his father that he’s no longer a child. Reluctantly, Will’s father takes the boy on a journey to claim land in Oklahoma’s land rush. Will struggles to understand his father but still wants to make his father proud of him. As the two travel together, Will fights rattlesnakes, racism, and thieves. He also gains insight into the discrimination that exists despite the Emancipation Proclamation. Along the way, readers will empathize with Will’s fight for survival and his hope of finding a better future — a future where he is free. 

Will’s Race for Home shines a light on the history of the land rush as well as the Civil War. Will and his father meet Caesar, a Black man who fought in the war. Meeting Caesar allows Will to understand the effects of war on soldiers. Despite fighting for a noble cause — freedom — killing a man leaves a wound that is difficult to heal. Will’s father relates this to his own experience of killing a man; he says, “It’s wrong to kill. Wrong to enslave people. Some call the Civil War a ‘just’ war. But everyone deserves to live. Shooting a man, even in self-defense, even by accident, damages your soul.” After Will claims his land, he is confronted by a “gunslinger” who tries to steal the land claim. Will, like others before him, must decide if he is willing to kill in order to keep the land he has fought so hard to claim.  

Will’s Race for Home mixes historical facts with action and adventure to tell the compelling story of the Oklahoma land rush. While owning land is one step toward freedom, Will demonstrates that loyalty and friendship are more important than land. The short chapters keep the story moving quickly while still having moments of quiet where Will reflects on the past and the future. This allows the reader to see Will grow from a child seeking adventure to a man capable of protecting what he loves. To learn more about the struggle for freedom, readers should add Charlotte Spies For Justice by Nikki Shannon Smith and The Underground Abductor: An Abolitionist Tale about Harriet Tubman by Nathan Hale to their reading list.  

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • While traveling through Texas, a rattlesnake threatens the family’s mule. Will hits the snake with a branch. “I dart, trying to wound it. . . Hit again and again. Some hits are wide. Some glance off the snake’s scales. . . I slam the log down, crushing the snake’s head, its tan jaws bursting.” 
  • While in town, Will’s father goes into a store and leaves Will to protect the wagon. Three men attack Will. One man “grips my waist, trying to pull me down. I kick, hitting his chest again and again.” Another man pushes “Will right into the thief’s arms. I squirm, slap, trying to batter his face. . . The second man tries capturing my hands.” 
  • As Will struggles, he is thrown into the dirt. “A boot lands on my back. I moan. My arms and legs twitch, flail. I can’t get up.” A Black man finally intervenes by pointing a gun at the men and threatening them. 
  • When Will’s father comes out of the store, he “punches the man holding our rifles. Then the mustached man, too.” The thieves give back the money and rifle and leave. Will is angry that the sheriff won’t put the white men in jail. 
  • The thieves find Caesar and attack him. Will runs for help “hearing hits, thrusts, and moans. . . The mustached man shoves Caesar. Arms flailing, he falls forward. The other two men flip and hold him down. . . The mustached leader stomps on his hand.” The fight stops when the sheriff fires a gun and orders Caesar and Will’s father to leave town. Caesar’s hand is broken. 
  • Caesar goes into town again, and the three thieves ambush him. “The first bullet misses; the second flies overhead. The third hits his shoulder, spinning him ninety degrees. He collapses. His gun skitters in the dirt.” Will lies on Caesar, protecting him with his body. The doctor tries to help Caesar, but the sheriff prevents him. A man drapes the unconscious Caesar over his horse, and the sheriff orders Will to leave town. 
  • Will and his father remove the bullet from Caesar. Will holds Caesar down while “Father’s knife tip presses deeper. Caesar groans, the sound whistling up from his chest, through his teeth. Both legs kick out. His hands clench.”  
  • After the Civil War, Will’s grandfather, Pa, and Will’s father leave the plantation. “An overseer attacked us. . . Pa stepped in front of me, telling me to run. I couldn’t . . . Any shot would most likely pierce us first.” Pa and the overseer fight over a gun, and the overseer is shot. Pa tried to save the man, but he died.  
  • People had to forge a river to get to Oklahoma. When Will gets there, he sees “dead horses, men, women float in the churning, muddy brown river.” 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • Will and his father go into town, where they see some drunk men enter the saloon. 
  • Caesar agrees to travel with Will and his father. To celebrate, Caesar takes out a flask of brandy. There is enough for each man to have “one good swallow.”  

Language  

  • After Will kills a snake, his father grabs him and repeats, “Oh, Lord. Oh Lord.”

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • The Samuels family has a Bible with an incomplete family tree. 
  • Will struggles to get along with his father. Will thinks, “The Bible teaches me to respect my father. I try. I do.” 
  • When the Civil War ended, Will’s grandfather was freed. “Seeing people free themselves from slavery made him happy. Made him feel he was an instrument of God’s justice.” As Will’s father tells the story, he says Deuteronomy 32:10 and explains its meaning: “Though they may be enslaved, even struggling with faith, God never stops watching over his people. The promised land is real.” 
  • When forging the river, Will prays “for all of us.” 
  • While waiting for the land rush to begin, Will meets a preacher who says, “The Lord promised our people a promised land. This is it.” 
  • When a gunslinger tries to force Will to leave his land, Will refuses. He wonders, “If I’d killed the gunslinger, would it have been the right thing? Father would say, ‘No. Exodus Twenty Thirteen, ‘Thou shall not kill.’”  
  • During Christmas, Will reads the family bible. “[Mary] brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.” 

Animal Superstars: And More True Stories of Amazing Animal Talents

“Opee: The Motocross Biker Pup”: Mike was surprised when his dog Opee jumped on his motorcycle. At first, Mike tied Opee to him so he wouldn’t fall off the motorcycle, but Opee did everything right. He crouched closer to the bike and when the road curved Opee leaned into the turns. After a lot of practice, Mike and Opee signed up for the Baja 500 race that takes place in the desert. Would Mike and Opee be able to finish the race or would the noise and teeth-rattling ride be too much for the adventurous dog? 

“Sidewinder: Groundhog Weather Wonder”:  When Bob got home, he found a wicker basket on his doorstep. Inside was an injured groundhog that had been shot in the head. Determined to help the animal, Mike cleaned the animal’s wounds and fed him every three hours. Because of the injury, Sidewinder had difficulties standing up. When she finally learned how to walk, she could only walk in a circle. Someone asked Mike if Sidewinder could participate in Groundhog Day. Mike said yes, but he wondered, would Sidewinder be able to pop out of a hole and predict the weather? 

“Tuna: Kitty Rock Star”: Tuna, a white kitten, was born to purr-form. She wasn’t afraid of bright lights, noise or people. Tuna’s person, Samatha, knew Tuna could be a big star in the movies, so she began training Tuna and other animals to do tricks. It wasn’t easy and sometimes the animals didn’t perform well, but Samantha learned how to use humor to keep the audience engaged. Soon, Tuna, a chicken, and other animals had their own rock band. But will Tuna ever star in a big movie? 

“Sidewinder: Groundhog Weather Wonder” is an interesting story that shows the power of determination. In addition, Sidewinder went to Boby’s classroom. “In Bob’s class, all of the kids had special needs. It set them apart. Sometimes they felt left out.” Sidewinder helped the students feel important. “In one way, she and they were alike. She also had disabilities that made it hard for her to learn. Bob explained how Sidewinder kept trying. She never gave up. Her story gave the kids hope.”  

Based on the hit feature in National Geographic Kids magazine, National Geographic Chapter Series features three true stories about amazing rescues. Each story is broken 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, “Did You Know? When scared, groundhogs give a high whistle. That’s why they’re also called ‘whistle pigs.’” 

While reading each story, readers will learn more about animals. One page is about helping your dog when it’s hurt, another page gives a list of amazing things groundhogs can do. The interesting facts, and short sentences make the stories easy to read. Despite this, emerging readers may need help pronouncing difficult words, such as custodian, Candlemas, disappointment. And while the stories are easy to understand, adults will need to read the book to beginning readers. 

Animal Superstars isn’t just about the amazing things animals can do, it highlights the power of practice and determination. Each story shows how the animals—Opee, Sidewinder, and Tuna—practiced new skills and surprised everyone. Each story will amaze readers and encourage them to use determination to learn new skills of their own. Readers who want to learn more animal facts should race to the library and check out the nonfiction book What If You Had Animal Hair!? by Sandra Markle. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • While racing, Mike went into the sand, and “the back end of the bike spun out. It crashed to the ground. Both Mike and Opee flew through the air. Mike landed on his face in the dirt with his arms straight out in front of him. . .” Mike checked out Opee and found “a scrape on his nose another on his paw. . . Only then did he notice the blood. It was running into his boot from a cut on his calf.” 
  • When Bob was ten, he found an injured groundhog. “Someone had shot it. . . Bob taped bandages over the groundhog’s wound.” The groundhog recovered and was released into the wild. 
  • When he was older, someone left an injured groundhog on Bob’s doorstep. It had been shot in the head. A vet said, “The damage she had suffered had jumbled the signals in her brain. The plucky little groundhog could only walk in circles.”  
  • While in a public place, a big dog came close to Tuna, and “before Samantha could stop her, the cat leaped onto the dog’s back. EEEYOW! She dug in her claws. . . Fur flew as Samantha stood then in shock. Then, as suddenly as everything started, it stopped.” 
  • When someone becomes homeless, they may not be able to care for their cats. When the cats go to the animal shelter, “many cats are put to death.”  

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • Mike helped many different animals by giving them medicine. 

Language  

  • None

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • While training Tuna, “Samantha prayed that their big break would come soon.”  

Temple of Secrets

Plum is facing the most difficult test of her Guardian powers yet. Lotus Island is in danger, and there’s not much time to save this special place. 

Power-hungry Councilor Yurn is headed to the island with a ship full of hoverbots and a devious plan in mind: he means to take over Lotus Island and build a new city there. His plan will destroy the fragile ecosystem, including the island’s precious lotus plants. When the Guardians learn that their unique powers are dependent on the lotus flowers, they realize just how much is at stake if Yurn succeeds. Plum must rely on her smarts, her Guardian powers, and most importantly—her friends—to save Lotus Island and all it stands for. 

In the last installment of the Legends of Lotus Island, Plum and several friends set out on a boat to travel to a mysterious island. Once there, Plum and her friends discover everyone on the island is a Guardian. At first, Plum is excited and pleads for help; however, the isolated island wants to protect their anonymity and refuses to let Plum’s group leave. Neff, a boy who seeks adventure, helps the group escape and battle Councilor Yun.  

Temple of Secrets reunites the core group of novice Guardians from the first installment of the series.  

The book also incorporates people from other islands, including Plum’s grandparents, showing the community’s importance. However, readers may be disappointed that the book doesn’t give more details about the mysterious island. For example, Neff plays a pivotal role in the beginning of the book, but then he fades into the background, leaving readers to wonder what he and his island are like. In addition, Neff helps the Guardians read the inscriptions of the Temple of Secrets, but little is revealed about what the secrets are or why they are important.   

The Legends of Lotus Island Series must be read in order because each book’s plot builds on the previous story. One of the enjoyable aspects of the story is seeing the characters’ growth from novices to confident Guardians willing to go against others to do what is right. 

Readers who have read the previous books in the series will enjoy seeing the novices reunite and finally defeat Councilor Yurn. The story allows Rella to redeem herself and she learns that her past mistakes do not have to define her future. Overall, the Temple of Secrets does not take an in-depth look at the people and places of the book, but is still an entertaining story with positive lessons about forgiveness, helping others, and standing up to protect the places you love.  

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • Power-hungry Councilor Yurn sends hoverbots to take over Lotus Island. Some of the Guardians prepared traps, “but the net traps that they had set up didn’t stop every bot. An elk-bot broke free. . . [Plum and the bot] clashed, antler to antler, wrestling for control.” The bot runs away. 
  • One of the Guardians, Rella, “attacked the leopard-bot with such ferocity that she had it pinned to the ground in seconds.” 
  • While Rella was holding the leopard-bot down, Councilor Yurn pressed buttons on a control panel. “A thick trickle of some strange dark substance spilled out of the leopard-bot’s open mouth. It pooled up on the ground and then began oozing uphill, towards us . . . They seemed to swallow up everything they touched.” The shadowy substance kills the plants it touches.  
  • The shadows surround Rella. “She reared up on her back legs. She raised both paws and shouted, ‘HA!’ Her burst of power created a boom like a thunderclap. Dark shadows went flying in all directions.” 
  • To save her friends, Rella absorbs the shadows into herself. “She was absorbing them like a cloth blotting up ink. Once the shadows soaked into her, they didn’t escape.” Rella becomes unconscious and “underneath her skin, the shadows swirled like dark rivers.” 
  • When the shadows kill the last lotus plant, Plum puts her hands into the pond’s mud. To gain more power, Plum chants the names of her friends. Then, “I left it in my fingertips, soft as an earthworm’s heartbeat. A thrum, a stirring. It grew. . .The shadows had shrunk away. . .” The dormant lotus seeds grew until “they sprouted buds that popped open in full bloom.” 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • A girl uses “holy shrimp tails,” “holy linchens,” and “holy barnacles” as exclamations. 
  • When Councilor Yurn runs away from the shadows he created, someone calls him a coward.

Supernatural 

  • The students learn how to turn into mythical creatures, such as a fox bat and a gillybear. When they’re in their Guardian form, they have special powers. For example, one girl can control shadows and use them to disappear.  
  • Plum and her companions go to an isolated island where everyone is a Guardian. While there, she meets a boy who can turn into a moss badger. He used his power to manipulate rocks, and “algae-covered stones slowly rose up from the deep, filling the empty space in the walkway. They fit perfectly together like puzzle pieces.”  
  • One of Plum’s powers is to strengthen the other Guardians’ powers.  
  • Hoverbots say ancient chants that turn them into Guardian forms. 
  • The lotus flowers are beginning to die. The Guardians’ powers are connected to the flowers. 
  • One of the Guardians is “a Breath Guardian. My power is bestowing the gift of slumber.” He uses his power to put guards to sleep so Plum and her companions can return to Lotus Island. 
  • Plum rubs an eggplant’s leaf and talks to it. Then, “The stalk of the eggplant thickened and rose higher. Yellow flowers burst out all over the tips of the plant. . .  The seedling was now full grown and heavy with hanging eggplants.”  

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

Lifeboat 5

When Nazi bombs begin to destroy Bess Walder’s hometown of East London, Bess convinces her parents to evacuate her and her younger brother, Louis, to Canada aboard the SS City of Benares. On the journey, she meets another evacuee, Beth Cummings. Bess and Beth have a lot in common—both strong and athletic, both named for Queen Elizabeth, both among the older kids on the ship, and both excited about life in Canada.

On the fifth day at sea, everyone starts to relax, but trouble is right behind them. That night, a Nazi U-boat torpedoes the Benares. As their luxury liner starts to sink, Bess and Beth rush to abandon ship aboard their assigned lifeboat. Based on true events and real people, Lifeboat 5 is about two young girls with the courage to persevere against the odds and the strength to forgive. 

When Bess boards the Benares, she doesn’t expect to find a friendship that will last a lifetime. Despite the dangerous situation, Bess and Beth instantly connect and enjoy being aboard a luxury ship where the crew treats them kindly. The two girls like to share secrets and imagine their life once they get to Canada. Bess is a relatable character who finds her brother annoying, enjoys flirting with the crew, and desperately wants to find a place where she belongs.  

Even though the story is mainly told from Bess’ point of view, readers also get a glimpse of the people who impacted Bess’ life, such as the boys’ escort Michael Rennie. Michael showed kindness to the children, and when the ship sank, he did all he could to save the boys from the freezing water. Michael died before being rescued, but those who knew him remembered his kindness and heroism.  

The story of Lifeboat 5 is told through prose, and the text is often shaped to emphasize emotions. However, the prose does not allow space for character development, keeping readers emotionally distant from the events. Several aspects may make the book confusing for readers. The characters use colloquial language. For example, Bess says, “We’ll settle in and have us / a jolly good chin wag.” In addition, some of the story is told from different characters’ and the ocean’s point of view. This requires readers to pay attention to the chapter titles that are labeled with the narrator’s name. 

Lifeboat 5 educates readers about the devastating sinking of the Benares and the kindness and heroism of the adults who tried to save the children. In the end, Beth and Bess’ friendship allowed them to survive a harrowing nineteen hours in the ocean. As an adult, Bess learned: “Forgiveness / can be. . . beneficial to the soul . . . / helpful in healing deep wounds / of the mind.” Since most of the ship’s crew and passengers died, Lifeboat 5 may be a difficult book for some readers. However, for readers who want to learn more about World War II, Lifeboat 5 is a must-read book that reflects on the destructive nature of war. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • There are references to the violence in England. For example, Bess’ family goes to a bomb shelter. “Huddling inside, / we hear the drone / of the airplanes— / a low thunder, / then the pop-pop-pop / of the antiaircraft guns, / then the whistle / of the bomb drop.” 
  • A girl talks about why she is fleeing the country. “I didn’t have much left after / the Volendam [a ship] was torpedoed / and my house was bombed. / All my stuff was wrecked.” 
  • The ship’s departure was delayed because “the Germans / have dropped mines / in the mouth of the Mersey, / blocking our path.” 
  • The SS City of Benares is torpedoed. “Whoosh! / A cold, hard missile / rockets / through the sea’s sleep. . . Sound explodes in [Bess’] ears. / The dresser smashes into / the cabin door. / The whole ship / shudders / beneath me.” 
  • As the ship is evacuated, a crewman has to chop through the door to Bess’ room. “The crewman reaches / in again and pulls Ailsa out, / but she’s wounded / by the ragged woodwork.” 
  • The evacuation is chaotic. People jump into lifeboats and rafts, and “some just jumping / straight into the sea— / children and adults alike.” 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • After being rescued, a sailor gives Bess “cool sugar water and rum.” 

Language  

  • Bess tells her friend, “You’re a cheeky one! / Don’t be daft!” 
  • While in the ocean, Bess “wees” and then thinks, “Who knew taking a piss / could feel so good?” 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • While traveling to Canada, the children are gathered to say morning prayers. For example, Reverand’s hands “lift to God / fold in prayer / lead a hymn / embrace the world / bless us all.”  
  • When the Benares sinks, Bess holds on to a capsized lifeboat and thinks, “God help me.” 
  • While hanging on to the lifeboat, Bess thinks about the bullies back home and thinks, “I thank God / Beth and I are/made of stronger stuff.” 
  • Two Lascars are also hanging on to the lifeboat. When she hears them speaking, Bess thinks that they are praying. Later, “[Bess] hear[s] a voice calling to Allah. / It’s one of the Lascars / on the end of our lifeboat.” Bess says the Lord’s Prayer. 
  • Bess believes that her brother is dead and thinks, “Oh God. / It will break [her parents] / And it will be all my fault.” 
  • Three of the rescued boys die and are given a sailor’s funeral. “Officers, sailors, stewards, / escorts, and children / stand together to / sing hymns, / whisper prayers, / and weep. / We grieve for / the three boys / who died last night / and for all who were lost.”
  • A man tells Bess’ father, “Your children are safe.” Her father says, “Thank God.” 

Rock ’n’ Goal

Robby Madison’s life hit rock bottom when his older brother and idol, Ricky, died after a tough battle with sickness. Without his brother by his side, Robby spends his days in sadness, where “everything reminded [him] that Ricky was gone.” However, when Robby’s school counselor, Mrs. McDaniels, encourages him to join the soccer team, Robby fears it won’t improve his attitude. Even worse, he doesn’t think he’s good enough to help the team win games. Will Robby discover the courage to play soccer and find peace with his brother’s death? 

Rock ’n’ Goal is an emotionally captivating graphic novel that explores the importance of never giving up while also painting a realistic portrayal of the effects of a significant death. From Robby’s perspective, the story accurately represents Robby and his journey after Ricky’s death, highlighting Robby’s inability to find happiness in friendships, school, or hobbies. His character experiences immense development throughout the book, especially during the soccer season, when he learns the importance of perseverance and acceptance of his past. However, the story shines in its genuine characterization of Robby and the difficulty of death, making it highly relatable to readers who have experienced the same hardships. 

The story presents an important lesson on perseverance and never giving up. Much of the book’s conflict arises from Robby’s inability to play goalkeeper well, and he nearly quits the team after dismal performances. However, by playing the memories and music from his brother Ricky, he finally accepts his brother’s passing and finds joy in playing soccer, especially with his brother’s song “NEVER GIVE UP” playing in his head. Robby’s experience teaches readers that despite life’s difficulties, they can overcome their trials through hard work, accepting the past, and finding what best helps them. 

Rock ’n’ Goal is written in an exciting graphic novel format. Each page contains one to six panels in a simple, colorful art style, helping readers visualize the characters and settings easily. The text boxes are also clear and straightforward, utilizing two to three sentences and changing color to differentiate dialogue and narration. Although the graphic novel remains relatively simple concerning its layout, omitting more advanced aspects like “splashes” or “bleeds,” its variety of color and easy readability fit perfectly with its basic story. 

Rock ’n’ Goal is part of a series called the Jake Maddox Graphic Novel series, which focuses on essential lessons in sports and competition. Alongside its illustrations, the story includes supplementary content, such as a glossary, a section about goalkeepers, and “visual discussion questions,” which ask the reader to identify how the art style coincides with its specific scene. While the book has inviting illustrations and a simple story, it also touches on some deeper themes, such as the death of a family member, which may invite good discussions between readers and adults. Overall, Rock ’n’ Goal tells an uplifting soccer tale with an invitation to explore deeper themes and characterization.  

Sexual Content 

  • None 

Violence 

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol 

  • None 

Language 

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content 

  • None 

Medusa

Ava Baldwin has always tried to keep her anger in check, just like her mom taught her. But when know-it-all classmate Owen King tries to speak over her yet again, Ava explodes . . . and Owen freezes, becoming totally unresponsive. 

Although Owen recovers, Ava’s parents whisk her off to her mother’s alma mater, the Accademia del Forte, a mysterious international boarding school in Venice. There, Ava and her brother, Jax, discover that the Olympian gods founded the Accademia to teach the descendants of mythological monsters how to control their emotions and their powers and become functioning, well-adjusted members of society. 

But not everything at the Accademia is as it seems. After her friend Fia is almost expelled for challenging a teacher, Ava realizes the school is hiding a dangerous secret. To uncover the truth, Ava and her new friends embark on an adventure that could change the way they view history, mythology—and themselves—forever . . . or end their lives.  

Everyone is secretive about Ava’s ancestry, heightening Ava’s dread of finding out the mythological monster from which she is descended. Despite the school motto, “Ancestry is not destiny,” Ava is upset when she discovers that she is descended from the worst monster of all—Medusa. At first, Ava keeps this secret because she doesn’t want others to judge her based on her lineage. But a teacher tells her, “Just because you are descended from a monster, doesn’t mean you will become one. The choice is yours.” Despite being a granddaughter of Medusa, Ava is a relatable character to whom readers will connect because of her insecurities and her desire to have friends. 

Ava has a small group of friends—Fia, Layla, and Arnold—who notice how women, including the goddesses, are treated unfairly. For example, when Fia is too outspoken, a teacher curses her, causing her to lose the ability to speak. To save their friend, the group travels to an island to find Medusa, who has also been cursed. Medusa says, “Stories are powerful. That’s why the male Olympians shaped the myths to celebrate and protect themselves. Look at those stories carefully. They either transform women into objects that have no voice—like a tree or a spider—or else they turn them into monsters.”  

At first, Ava relies on the Greek Myths to teach her about the gods and goddesses. However, she soon realizes that many of the myths have multiple versions. Ava has the opportunity to meet many of the goddesses and monsters, and she witnesses firsthand how the gods manipulate history in order to retain power. The interactions between the gods and goddesses amplify the mistreatment of women, and warn readers to question history since “history is the story the powerful tell. It’s not always the true story.” 

Ava’s story takes the Greek gods and goddesses off of Mount Olympus and puts them in a modern-day setting, creating a fast-paced and exciting story full of danger and adventure. As the story unfolds, readers will see the gods, goddesses, and monsters in a new light. To help bridge the two worlds, the story includes references from both modern-day sources, such as Twilight and ancient texts such as The Odyssey. The story reinforces the importance of liking yourself and using your voice. In the story’s conclusion, Ava says, “When you’re afraid to speak out and be yourself, it’s almost as lonely as being stuck on an island.” While Ava and her friends learn the importance of speaking up, Medusa reminds them, “You can’t change the world by force.” 

Sexual Content  

  • While discussing Medusa’s lineage, Ava thinks, “Perseus had survived only by looking at Medusa in reflection, but that seemed like a tough way to conceive a child.” 
  • The kids try to find out who fathered Medusa’s child. They find a love letter between Artemis and Orion. Ava reads the letter. “Thinking about Artemis snuggling up to Mr. Orion made her shut the drawer in a hurry.”

Violence  

  • Odysseus is referred to several times. Ava’s mom tries to teach her how to stay calm. Ava thinks, “All she’d done was teach her some breathing exercises, as if counting breaths had ever stopped Scylla from snacking on Odysseus’s men, as if all the Minotaur needed wasn’t yearly human sacrifice and a little yoga.” 
  • One of the teachers reads a letter from a past student. “I am writing you from an asylum for the criminally insane. I could not control my powers and killed a man.” 
  • In class, a “saw kicked up and landed on Arata’s forearm, chopping it clean off.” There was no blood because Arata is a Hydra, which can regrow limbs.  
  • Ava’s classmates talk about “how Perseus had lopped off Medusa’s head.” 
  • Ava’s friend Fia gets angry and “smoke billowed out of Fia’s mouth. . . Everyone dove to the floor as the fire shot up, scorching the ceiling.” 
  • When Fia begins bellowing fire, the teacher calls on Poseidon. “The windows of the classroom blow out as a wave of water poured in. Fia screamed as the wave sped straight for her, dumping itself over her head, and extinguishing her.” Fia learns that she is the descendant of a Chimera, “which was part lion, part goat, and part serpent.” 
  • A bully sees a boy crying, so “he hung me upside down out the window again…I really thought he was going to drop me this time.” 
  • Ava and her friends go to an abandoned island, Poveglia. It’s a “medieval plague island where victims were left to die. Then it became the site of a really horrible insane asylum where the patients were tortured. It’s supposedly haunted.” 
  • The kids travel to Tartarus to talk to Hecate. Along the way, “bolts of greenish lightning illuminated giants chained to the walls, iron collars around their necks. . . The Titans thrashed against their chains cursing Zeus.” 
  • In Tartarus, Ava and her friends see a forest of trees. The trees “begun to writhe, and Ava realized they weren’t ordinary trees either but the twisted forms of women and girls. The tortured screams and cries were coming from inside them.” Hecate says, “They are woman and girls who disobeyed the gods and have been transformed.”  
  • While in Tartarus, a Cerberus appears. “A head rounded the corner. It was as large as a bull’s, with glowing red eyes, a thick neck and enormous jaws.” The Cerberus attacks Ava. She “concentrated her stare on the pair of red eyes closest to her own. The first head lurched back, then froze in midair. . . [the third head] darted forward and bit her thigh. . . Ava felt something warm and wet, and when she looked down, she realized she was standing in a pool of blood.”  
  • To save Ava’s life, her brother Jax “jabbed something into his arm, and when he pulled it out, he was bleeding too. . . His blood dripped onto her—she could feel its warmth as if it were real.” Since Jax is a descendant of a Gorgon, his blood has healing powers. 
  • Athena turns into an owl and attacks Ava. “The owl dug its talons into Ava’s shoulders. Ava screamed in pain as it yanked her up off the ground. [Ava’s friend] Fia lunged just in time to grab Ava’s feet before she could be carried away.” 
  • Ava tries to freeze Mr. Orion, but Zeke, a school bully helping Mr. Orion, “rushed Mr. Orion like a football player, knocking him backward with such force that the headmaster toppled onto the floor, dropping his club.” Later, Ava discovers that Zeke was Layla in disguise. 
  • When the kids learn too much, Poseidon sends a flood to the school. “The pressure of the water on the glass had to be dangerously strong. . . With a smash of glass, the windows blew out. A torrent of cold seawater slammed into them, knocking them over and tumbling them around.” This is when the kids learn that they can breathe underwater. 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • To stop Dionysus from voting in line with Zeus, “Hestia poured too much wine for Dionysus, then changed his vote after he passed out.” 

Language  

  • Ava calls a boy a jerk. 
  • Athena calls a student “pathetic, a monster, and a loser.” 
  • Athena calls the goddess of the hearth an “old fool.” 
  • Zeke, the school bully, says, “Shut up, bird boy. . . You tried to make a fool out of me too! I should have dropped you on your stinky face long ago.” 
  • Zeke calls another student “goat girl.”

Supernatural 

  • In Ava’s world, the Greek gods, goddesses, and monsters are real and still alive. Since all of them have powers, only some are listed below. 
  • Ava gets angry at Owen, a boy in her class. Unintentionally, Ava freezes him. “He stayed silent. Ava studies his face for a twitch of his lip or a flutter of his eyelid. In response. . . A trickle of drool ran down his chin.” He is taken to the hospital and recovers. 
  • Ava and the other kids at the Accademia are at dinner when “coils of water sprang into the air from every goblet and pitcher in the room and combined to form shapes—dolphins leaping over waves, a herd of flying horses, a whirling ring of dancers.” 
  • When the kids start to clap, “the swirls of water combined into waves and scooped up the applauding students. . . they were carried high over the tables on the foamy swells.”  
  • Hermes cast a spell on the students so their “native tongue” could be understood by anyone.  
  • Layla, one of the students, is “a descendant of an Empusa—a shape-shifting vampire.” Layla can shape-shift and uses this power to pose as a teacher and get Ava out of trouble. 
  • Athena, in disguise, appears in the Great Hall. “The little old man leaped to his feet, transforming into an enormous horned owl that circled the Great Hall with an angry screech. The owl swooped down over the student’s heads with its sharp talons bared, making them flinch. . .” She also transformed into a soldier, and finally a young woman. 
  • After Fia is disrespectful, a teacher curses her so she can’t speak or communicate by writing. One of the teachers says, “She’s lucky it’s not worse: having her liver eaten every day like Prometheus or forced to spend eternity in a state of hunger and thirst like Tantalus.” 
  • Ava is given Hades’s helmet of invisibility, which she uses to steal a boat. When Ava takes the boat, the captain yells, “My boat! A spirit has taken my boat!” 
  • Poseidon tries to stop Ava and her friends from reaching Poveglia. A wave “barreled toward them growing larger and larger—twenty feet, fifty, one hundred—as it sucked up the water of the lagoon. . . Ava could make out the barest outline of the sea god’s craggy face and some wisps of a long white beard in the wall of water.” Ava’s friend, Arnold, turns into a harpy and flies the kids to safety. 
  • A student uses a spell to open a terrarium with a goddess trapped inside. “Open case, open glass / The strength of gods will let me pass / This seam unseal, this spell undo, / By Zeus’s power, let me through.” 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

Simone Biles vs. Nadia Comaneci: Who Would Win?

Simone Biles is the most popular and accomplished Olympic gymnast active today. She has competed in three Olympic Games, won 32 medals, and inspired countless athletes around the world. In Simone Biles Vs. Nadia Comaneci: Who Would Win?, Anderson compares Biles to another gymnastic titan: Nadia Comaneci, the first Olympic athlete to score a perfect 10. By reviewing each athlete’s accomplishments and career, readers are left to wonder who would win in a hypothetical competition.  

The book is divided into four short chapters. The first chapter recounts each athlete’s beginnings as a gymnast, from Nadia becoming the youngest gymnast to win the Romanian National Championships at only nine years old to Biles discovering a passion for gymnastics at the age of six. The second and third chapters describe each athlete’s greatest accomplishments, like Comaneci making Olympic history at only 14 and Biles winning an unprecedented four gold medals at the 2016 Olympics. 

Although the book is nonfiction, Anderson engages the reader with dynamic and conversational prose. For example, he describes one of Comaneci’s flips with vivid detail. “Comaneci ran toward the uneven bars,” he writes. “She leaped over the lower bar and switched directions before moving several times between the two bars. Comaneci then performed a flawless headstand.” Through this, Anderson creates a gripping and suspenseful sequence that fully captures the magnificence of Comaneci’s difficult flip. 

Since the book has 1-17 sentences per page and a small font, the book will be more inviting to advanced readers. Each page features a photograph of Biles or Comaneci at different points in their careers, as well as a “fast fact” about each athlete. For example, a black and white photograph of a young Comaneci in the 1975 World Championships includes the fact that Comaneci was already one of the greatest gymnasts in the world before she was even a teenager. 

Simone Biles vs. Nadia Comaneci: Who Would Win? is an informative and compelling book that energetically describes two incredible careers. Readers with a passion for gymnastics are sure to be inspired by Biles and Comaneci’s stories. However, the determination and accomplishments present in both athletes’ careers will awe any reader. 

If you enjoy this book, be sure to check out the other books in the All-Star Smackdown series. Each book compares the careers and accomplishments of different athletes from around the world.  

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • None

Supernatural 

  • None

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

Swimming with Spies

It’s February of 2014 in the seaport city of Sevastopol in Crimea. Sofiya Oleksandrivna only wants two things: to figure out a way to get Ilya Ilyich to stop bullying her, and to convince her mother to come back home. But as battleships come to populate the waters around their city and Russian forces, including Ilya’s father, start to make their presence known, an even greater threat takes over Sofiya’s life. 

Sofiya’s only escape is the dolphinarium where her father is a trainer at the forefront of teaching sign language to a pod of dolphins. And now the Russian military has ordered the dolphinarium to hand over its animals for military use. As armed Russian troops invade Crimea and conflict and tension continue to rise, Sofiya will do everything she can to keep her pod safe. And what she knows better than any of the soldiers occupying her city, is that the most powerful force is communication. 

Sofiya’s world is forever changed when the Russians take over Crimea. As the daughter of a Ukrainian father and a Russian mother, Sofiya doesn’t want to choose sides. But when Sofiya is forced to work with Ilya, she is forced to look beyond Ilya’s public persona. Sofiya’s grandmother gives her sage advice, saying, “I told you to listen with your eyes, not only your ears. Everyone wants to be understood. Never doubt that. Most of all, though, we have to listen with our heart.”  

Swimming with Spies highlights the complicated conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Often, Sofiya’s teacher, Miss Yvette, discusses the conflict with her class. One concern is that Russia will try to erase Ukraine’s culture because, before Ukraine became independent, “Ukrainians could not learn or work in their language. They had to function in Russian. And language as a weapon is something I overheard over and over since I was a kid.” Ukraine’s conflict is a central component of the book; Sofiya’s relationship with Ilya and the dolphins also highlights the importance of communication and working together. 

Since the story is told from Sofiya’s point of view, the events focus on how the annexation of Crimea affects her and her friends. Sofiya grieves when the people she cares about decide to leave the peninsula. She’s frightened when her friend’s brother is arrested, and people begin losing their jobs. Using Sofiya’s point of view gives younger readers an understanding of the Russian and Ukrainian conflict without showing military conflict or violence. While most readers will not relate to the country’s conflict, they will empathize with the children and adults impacted by the annexation.  

Swimming with Spies uses a unique premise to show readers the power of communication and the importance of using one’s voice. The book poses the question—are you Russian or Ukrainian—without giving an answer. In the end, Sofiya learns that “people can only decide—in the end—what’s best for them.” In addition, the book shows the power of forgiveness and not blaming others for life’s disappointments. Swimming with Spies is a powerful story that will give readers a new understanding of what it means to be Ukrainian.  

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • After Ilya and his friends use racial slurs, Sofiya’s friend Cedric and Ilya fight. “Ilya is a blur, and when I turn around, he and Cedric are tumbling on the ground. . .” One of the teachers breaks up the fight. Cedric has a slit lip but is otherwise uninjured. 
  • Sofiya thinks about a Ukrainian protest where “some protesters were shot at.” 
  • Ilya, a boy in Sofiya’s class, lost his mother in a boating accident. When he was four, his family was on a boat, and Ilya fell overboard. “Ilya was in the water, with a life jacket, thank God. But. . . well, Elena—his mother—jumped in after him. There was a large wave that crashed over her. They searched and searched, but no one could find her after that.” 
  • Sofiya overhears a conversation about “peaceful protesters, with Ukrainian flags, went to the parliament building, and a swarm of ‘pro-Russian’ protesters got into a fight with them. Two people were killed. Others were arrested. Not Russians, though.” 
  • A Russian military leader, Major Chaban, wants to use the sea animals for military purposes. While at the dolphinarium, Sofiya sees “the shape of Major Chaban. Six men with rifles are marching behind him straight to our front door.” The dolphinarium’s staff is forced to get Russian passports or be fired. 
  • One of Sofiya’s friends is upset because her brother was arrested after “he posted a video of himself and his friends driving around Sevastopol the other night, singing the Ukrainian anthem.” 
  • While at school, Sofiya gets angry and takes it out on Ilya. “The next thing I know, Ilya is under me, and I scramble onto my knees, and I feel a sharp pain. But I just start pummeling. . . I hardly land a couple of punches when I’m ripped off him.” Ilya gets a black eye. 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • Sofiya thinks that talk shows have “a lot of older people standing around and shouting. It’s like listening to the homeless men in the park when they’ve drunk too much vodka.”

Language  

  • Sofiya refers to a group of Russian classmates as “Ilya and the Idiots.” 
  • Sofiya overhears a conversation where two men are talking about Russians who harass Ukrainians. A man said, “Rashist—a term, he said, that is cooked up from the words Russian, racist, and fascist.”  
  • In another overheard conversation, a man uses the Russian word “Russkyi mir.” Sofiya thinks, “It’s not a nice thing to say. It means violence, and blood, and criminality, and corruption. Miss Yvette once said Russkyi mir involves having our Ukrainian language, our culture, our traditions all taken away, along with our land.” 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

The Only Game

Jack Callahan is the star of his baseball team and seventh grade is supposed to be his year. Undefeated season. Records shattered. Little League World Series. The works. That is, until he up and quits.

Jack’s best friend Gus can’t understand how Jack could leave a game that means more to them than anything else. But Jack is done. It’s a year of change. Jack’s brother has passed away, and though his family and friends and the whole town of Walton think baseball is just the thing he needs to move on, Jack feels it’s anything but.

In comes Cassie Bennett, star softball player, and the only person who seems to think Jack shouldn’t play if he doesn’t want to. As Jack and Cassie’s friendship deepens, their circle expands to include Teddy, a guy who’s been bullied because of his weight.

Time spent with these new friends unlocks something within Jack, and with their help and the support of his family and his old friends, Jack discovers sometimes it’s more than just the love of the game that keeps us moving forward—and he might just be able to find his way back to The Only Game, after all. 

Readers will sympathize with Jack, who blames himself for his brother’s death. As penitence, Jack gives up baseball. However, Jack’s grief isn’t explored in depth; instead, the story focuses on Jack’s unwillingness to tell anyone why he quit the team. His friends and family are even more confused when Jack begins to help coach Cassie’s team, and teach Teddy how to play baseball. While his new friends give Jack the courage to talk to his parents about his guilt, the conflict is resolved too quickly without showing any of Jack’s grieving process. While this allows the story to focus on baseball, it minimizes the story’s emotional impact. 

When Jack quits the team, Cassie and Teddy immediately step in to take the place of Jack’s other friendships. However, the friendships don’t seem genuine. For instance, Jack soon teaches Teddy how to play baseball, even though Teddy has little interest in the game and the boys have nothing in common. In addition, Cassie is a braggart, and her arrogance may annoy some readers. Unfortunately, the supporting characters are not very likable, and their interactions with Jack do not feel authentic.  

Even though Jack quits the baseball team, The Only Game still contains enough baseball action to keep sports-loving readers entertained. The book doesn’t delve into the many emotions of the grieving process, which allows the story to focus on Jack’s friendships and the importance of supporting each other in difficult times. The Only Game’s strength lies in showcasing the joy of competition and how baseball brings people together.  

Sexual Content  

  • None

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None

Language  

  • Some of the kids call others idiots. 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • One of Jack’s friends “and their parents usually went to church at nine.” 
  • After Jack and his best friend Gus stop talking, Jack goes to Gus’s house. Gus’s mom says, “I’m going to leave you alone to talk to your friend Jack now and also pray to the Lord that you remember your manners while you do.” 

Second to None

In it to win it. Every school has their number ones: the class president, the first chair in band, the spelling bee champion. And behind every high rolling high achiever? A kid in second place. 

Twelve-year-old DJ has a reputation for being the go-to kid for solving just about any problem. Need help getting an unfair teacher or bully off your back? DJ is your guy. He knows the social order of Ella Fitzgerald Middle School like the back of his hand. So when the usual winners start losing ― all at the same time ― he knows something is wrong. Very wrong. 

With the help of his usual crew, Audrey, Monty, and Connor, DJ is determined to get to the bottom of what’s happening. Maybe it’s all in his head. Or maybe there’s a conspiracy at work. DJ and his friends will have to figure it out ― before the school saboteur comes for them. 

Second to None is told from DJ’s point of view and uses a conversational tone that makes readers feel as if they are part of DJ’s crew. While at his previous school, DJ used his powers of observation and his ability to plan to take advantage of others. Now, in an attempt to relieve his guilt, DJ is using his skills to help others. DJ’s transformation from a criminal to a champion allows readers to see how a person’s actions have far-reaching consequences. DJ is an innovative, likable protagonist who makes readers want to hang out and hear his story. 

DJ’s crew, while not well-developed, are unique, interesting characters who are unlikely friends. DJ’s best friend, Connor, is impulsive and often has to be reined in by DJ. While DJ only wants to use his skills to help others, Connor enjoys manipulating others. Even though it’s against the school rules, Connor plays in a gaming tournament where cheating is expected, and Connor is a master cheater. In addition, Connor bets on any school event involving a competition, including the spelling bee, and who will be the captain of the Quiz Bowl. The contrast between DJ and Connor adds interest to the story, but Connor’s behavior shows that cheating and gambling are acceptable behavior. 

Any middle schooler (especially those who have older siblings) will relate to the events in Second to None because it focuses on students who have been in second place repeatedly. Anyone who feels as if they have been overshadowed by someone else will understand the hurt that causes. A group of second-place students plot to sabotage those who always come in first. The book acknowledges the frustration and pain of those who have lost while showing that sabotaging others is wrong. When the group’s leader is revealed, the person receives just punishment and is given mandatory counseling. Second to None would make an excellent discussion starter about honesty, integrity, and the importance of communication.  

Readers first meet DJ and his crew in High Score; however, Second to None gets readers up to speed by summarizing the main events in High Score. Nevertheless, Second to None will be more enjoyable for those who have read High Score. Second to None is an entertaining read that explores the social hierarchy of middle school. The story features three different groups that use their power to manipulate others. While the events are a bit outlandish, middle-grade students will enjoy the story’s mystery and humor, as well as the friendship between DJ and his crew.  

Howell does an excellent job of creating characters with a unique voice and highlighting the difficulties of being in middle school. Readers looking to add more mystery to their lives should also read the Spy School Series by Stuart Gibbs and the Jack and the Geniuses Series by Bill Nye & Gregory Mone. However, readers who love unique and humorous stories should read The Magical Reality of Nadia by Bassem Youssef & Catherine R. Daly and Lost in the Mushroom Maze by Ben Costa & James Park.  

Sexual Content  

  • None

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None

Language  

  • Heck is used a few times. 
  • Dang is used once. 
  • A few of the students call a classmate an idiot. 

Supernatural 

  • None

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

Legends: The Best Players, Games, and Teams in Baseball

Baseball, America’s pastime, is a sport of moments that stand the test of time. It is equally a sport of a new generation of heroes, whose exploits inspire today’s young fans. This combination makes for a winning debut in Legends: The Best Players, Games, and Teams in Baseball.

This is no traditional almanac of mundane statistics but rather a storyteller’s journey through baseball’s storied game. Told in short chapters and accompanied by iconic photos, a slew of “Top Ten” lists for kids to chew on and debate, and a timeline of the “40 Most Important Moments in Baseball History,” this collection covers some of the greatest players from Babe Ruth to Hank Aaron; the greatest teams to take the field and swing the bats; the greatest social triggers, such as Jackie Robinson’s breaking of the color barrier; the greatest playoff rivalries, including the 2004 showdown between the Red Sox and Yankees that turned into an instant classic; and, of course, the edge-of-your-seat World Series moments that left some cheering while others wept.  

The book begins with a note from the author encouraging people to read his book and “disagree with it, debate it, change it, have fun with it, decide for yourself” who is the greatest player and the greatest team. Bryant gives statistics and stories to help readers understand each player’s contribution to the sport. “Spring,” the book’s first section, discusses the greatest players, starting with Babe Ruth. This section is entertaining enough to keep all readers engaged. However, this changes in the book’s next two sections, which focus on specific teams such as the Yankees and the Red Socks.  

The last two sections of the book include exciting play-by-play actions of specific games that will entertain baseball fans. Readers will feel the disappointment when a team loses a game and the excitement for the winning teams. In addition, Bryant helps readers understand how baseball changed through the years, as well as how baseball changed society.   

Legends: The Best Players, Games, and Teams in Baseball highlights all the reasons that baseball is our national pastime and why people still debate who is the greatest. Bryant uses interesting facts, anecdotes, and play-by-play baseball action that will thrill baseball fans. However, the pages use advanced vocabulary, and all the pictures are at the back of the book. Even though the chapters are short, the text-heavy pages may overwhelm struggling readers. However, baseball fans will find Legends: The Best Players, Games, and Teams in Baseball enjoyable because it is packed with baseball history that will help them understand the sport and the players that shaped it. 

For readers who want to learn more about baseball, Legends: The Best Players, Games, and Teams in Baseball knocks it out of the park. Readers who want to delve deeper into baseball’s greatest legend should read Babe Ruth and the Baseball Curse by David A. Kelly and Babe & Me: A Baseball Card Adventure by Dan Gutman. Readers looking for a fiction book that revolves around baseball should read The Batboy by Mike Lupica or the Baseball Genius Series by Tim Green & Derek Jeter. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • When Henry Aaron was a child, his mother would hide him and his siblings under the bed whenever she heard the Klu Klux Klan outside her window. “It was the 1940s, and the Klan targeted Catholics, Jews, and especially African Americans, intent on scaring them and often killing the ones who did not fear them, to keep them in their place.”  
  • While playing in the major leagues, Henry Aaron received “terrible letters, the ones in which anonymous people threatened to kill him or members of his family. . . One letter was so serious that the FBI removed his daughter from college for her protection.” Aaron had to hire a security guard to protect him. 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • Sandy Koufax had severe pain in his left elbow and was given cortisone shots. The drug “eased some of the hurt, but left Sandy feeling uncomfortable.” Koufax decided to put his health first and retired from baseball. 
  • Mark McGwire was being interviewed when a reporter “noticed a bottle of pills in McGwire’s locker. . . The pills were called androstenedione, and they were considered to have similar effects to steroids.” Later, it was discovered that Sammy Sosa and other players were also taking the pills. The scandal marred both McGwire’s and Sosa’s careers. 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • Despite anti-Semitism, Sandy Koufax “was true to his Jewish faith . . . Koufax was proud of his heritage. He did not hide from it.” When his team played in the World Series, one game was on Yom Kippur, “the holiest day of the Jewish calendar.” Koufax “refused to pitch.”

Aaron Judge vs. Babe Ruth: Who Would Win?

Babe Ruth may be the most famous name in baseball. Among the several feats in his historic career, Ruth was a member of seven World Series championship teams, one of the inaugural members of the Baseball Hall of Fame, and a winner of the MLB single-season home run record. Understandably, Ruth is regarded by many as the best baseball player in the history of the sport. Although Ruth’s skill and legacy cannot be contested, countless new talents emerge every year with the potential of becoming an icon.  

One such talent is Aaron Judge, a fellow New York Yankee who, in 2017, became the first rookie to win the Home Run Derby with 52 home runs. Judge is regarded as one of the greatest living baseball players. But does his record mean that he is a better player than the famous Babe Ruth? In Aaron Judge vs. Babe Ruth: Who Would Win, Josh Anderson compares the careers of Ruth and Judge to explore the difficult question: who is the better player? 

The book is divided into four chapters. In the first chapter, Anderson explores the upbringing of each player. Readers will learn facts such as how George “Babe” Ruth discovered his baseball talent and earned his iconic nickname.  On the other hand, Aaron Judge went from a star athlete on his high school baseball team to the star of the New York Yankees. In the second and third chapters, Anderson details the incredible accomplishments of each player. For example, readers will learn how Babe Ruth held the record for the most home runs with sixty home runs in a season, a record that Aaron Judge later surpassed with 62 home runs. Readers will also learn about the accolades each player has received, such as Ruth’s seven World Series championships and Judge’s Rookie of the Year award in 2017. In the fourth and final chapter, Anderson summarizes the players’ careers so the reader can determine who they believe to be the better player.  

Each page of the book features pictures of Ruth and Judge during their careers, from black-and-white photos of Ruth’s childhood to full-color shots of Judge hitting a home run. Although Anderson maintains a simple vocabulary for young readers, newer readers may be overwhelmed by the plethora of statistics and facts. Each page features 1 – 13 sentences of small text. Although the book uses baseball terminology like “outfielder” and “innings,” Anderson includes a glossary for readers unfamiliar with baseball terms. 

Overall, Aaron Judge vs. Babe Ruth: Who Would Win is an informative and approachable book that passionately describes two incredible careers. Regardless of readers’ knowledge about the sport, they will be captivated by Judge and Ruth’s many accomplishments. The book is an excellent choice for young baseball fans and an effective introduction of the two players for readers unfamiliar with the two baseball stars. Readers can learn more about Babe Ruth’s historic career by reading Babe Ruth and the Baseball Curse by David A. Kelly and Babe & Me: A Baseball Card Adventure by Dan Gutman. 

Sexual Content 

  • None 

Violence 

  • None

Drugs and Alcohol 

  • None 

Language 

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None

Spiritual Content 

  • None 

Rascally Rabbits: And More True Stories of Animals Behaving Badly

“Sniffles and Babbity: Rascally Rabbits”: Babbity lived alone in a cage and looked sad and lonely, so Finley asked the neighbors if she could have the rabbit. When they said yes, Finley was super excited and created a home for Babbity in a rabbit hutch. But when Finley saw how much Babbity loved being outside, she made a hole so the bunny could come and go. But when the rabbit left its cage, he fought with the goats. Will this fuzzy bunny find a new home where she can roam? 

“Yellow-Yellow: Bandit Bear”: Many people called Ben, a wildlife biologist, to complain about Yellow-Yellow, who kept stealing human food. To find out more about Yellow-Yellow, Ben began studying her travels. Ben wanted to teach Yellow-Yellow and campers how to stay safe. When campers began using bear boxes to store their food, Yellow-Yellow learned how to open them. Would Ben be able to teach the bear to stay away from humans?  

“Moose: Problem Pup”: Aline and Neil found a puppy alone in the woods. They took the puppy home, but when they couldn’t find its owner, they kept him and named him Moose. Aline and Neil would put Moose in the backyard and connect his leash to a cable. But Moose kept getting loose. One time, Moose even followed Aline and Neil into the grocery store. Aline and Neil had a huge problem—how could they give Moose freedom without him causing problems? 

Based on the hit feature in National Geographic Kids magazine, National Geographic Chapter Series features three true stories about animals causing mischief. Each story is 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, “Black bears love sweets and sometimes get cavities.”  

While reading each story, readers will learn more about the mischief animals get into and teach how to care for animals properly. For example, one page explains how to hold a rabbit properly. “Yellow-Yellow” also educates readers on staying safe from bears in the forest. The interesting facts, dialogue, and short sentences make the stories easy to read. Despite this, emerging readers may need help pronouncing difficult words like scruff, sensitive, and platform. And while the stories are easy to understand, adults will need to read the book to beginning readers. 

Rascally Rabbits: And More True Stories of Animals Behaving Badly will have readers at the edge of their seats, waiting to find out what the adventurous animals will do next. Each animal will capture readers’ hearts, making learning about animal safety fun. The full-colored pictures add more fun to the book and will help keep readers engaged. Anyone who loves animals will enjoy the National Geographic Chapters Series, which educates as well as entertains. Read more true stories about amazing animals by reading Pets to the Rescue Series by Andrew Clements. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • When Babbity the rabbit got into the goats’ pen, “the angry goat charged. She flung her head. Bam! The battered bunny flew through the air. Thump! He crash-landed in the dirt.” Babbity wasn’t injured.  
  • Callie was cleaning the goat pen when “she saw Buddy the rooster—with its claws raised. Callie staggered backward. . . Callie had to kick Buddy to drive him away. And the minute she did, Flopsy [the goat] came running. Bam! She head-butted Callie’s other leg.” 
  • After tranquilizing Yellow-Yellow and putting a GPS tag on her, Ben waited until she could run again, and “he shot her in the behind with rubber pellets. Ouch! It didn’t harm her, but Ben hoped that little ‘spanking’ would make her want to avoid people.”  
  • Once Yellow-Yellow “surprised some hunters. . . They threw things [at the bear]. She didn’t leave. At last, they swatted him with their hiking sticks. That finally drove him away.”  
  • Red-Green, a bear who roamed the area, kept getting into people’s food, so “the rangers had to put Red-Green down so he couldn’t be a danger to humans.” 

 Drugs and Alcohol  

  • A wildlife biologist wanted to keep track of Yellow-Yellow, a bear, so he trapped her and put a GPS collar on the bear. To do this, he “shot a drug-filled dart into her. The drug made her unable to move for a while, but she could hear and see. Ben blindfolded her to keep her calm.”  
  • When Yellow-Yellow lost her collar, Ben “fitted a drug-filled syringe into the end of a long pole. Then he poked the pole through the trap window and stuck the doughnut thief in the rump. Yellow-Yellow slumped over, unable to move.”

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None 

 Spiritual Content  

  • None 

The Viking’s Revenge

Travel back to the days of Vikings with time-traveling brothers Arthur and Finn to retrieve the stolen sword called Blood Hunter and rewrite the past. The two brothers plan to help the Viking leader Hallvard and his village from being killed by raiders. However, Arthur and Finn are accused of being spies. Some of the villagers want to kill the two boys immediately, while Hallvard wants to give the boys a chance to prove themselves. Will the boys escape the grip of the powerful Vikings and succeed in changing the course of history?  

Arthur’s impulsive behavior led to his capture twice. Luckily, Finn is an intelligent, quick thinker who pays attention to history and is used to getting Arthur out of difficult situations. The two brothers are forced apart when Viking raiders take Arthur and Hallvard’s son prisoner. Arthur is absent for much of the action, which allows Finn’s loyalty and bravery to shine. Despite the risk, Finn doesn’t hesitate to fearlessly fight with the Vikings. While readers won’t relate to Finn’s dilemma, they will cheer when he frees his brother and helps return Blood Hunter to its rightful owner. 

Short sections are interspersed throughout the book, giving more historical information, such as how Viking longships were used, the Vikings’ belief in many gods, the types of Viking weapons, and how raiders and berserkers fought. The detailed information explains the Vikings’ views of crime and punishment. If you stole from someone, “the person you had stolen from had every right to kill you.” The Vikings often trafficked slaves, who they called thralls. “They captured thralls in battles, kidnapped them on raids, or created them by condemning criminals to slavery . . . If you escape and get caught, you’ll be killed instantly.” While historically accurate, the descriptions of battles and death may upset younger readers. 

Even though The Viking’s Revenge is part of a series, the books do not have to be read in order because each book focuses on Arthur and Finn going back to a different time period and each book wraps up the storyline. 

In The Viking’s Revenge, danger in the first chapter and the non-stop action makes the book impossible to put down. Readers will instantly be drawn into the Viking’s world, where they will learn many interesting facts about the time period. Even though the focus is on Finn, he is surrounded by fascinating characters, including a Viking leader and a slave girl. The combination of diverse characters, fierce battles, and nail-biting danger make The Viking’s Revenge perfect for readers who hunger for adventure.  

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • When Arthur travels back in time, he appears in the woods. Brand, a Viking boy, decides to capture Arthur and turn him into a slave. Brand shoots arrows at Arthur.   
  • Brand’s friend, Olaf, tries to grab Arthur. Olaf “clenched his fists and pulled his arm back to punch Arthur in the stomach. . . Arthur stepped back, and Olaf staggered forward with the force of the punch. . . Arthur dropped his shoulders and crunched it into Olaf’s chest driving him back.” 
  • Brand shoots another arrow at Arthur, but it hits Olaf instead. “Olaf screamed in pain and stumbled backwards clutching at the arrow that was now lodged in his arm, spilling blood onto the forest floor.”
  • Brand and Arthur begin to circle each other, “and then Arthur felt an explosion of pain in the back of his head. The world tipped over as his head erupted into tiny points of light and his legs gave way from beneath him.” Arthur wakes up locked in a room. 
  • A warrior’s ghost appears and tells his story. The warrior says, “They came in the night. They killed us and they took Blood Hunter. My sword . . .” The warrior needs help returning Blood Hunter to his family. 
  • Finn opens the shed that Arthur is locked in. “Without warning, a fist connected with [Finn’s] chin, and he fell to the ground. Somebody jumped on him and grabbed his throat.” 
  • When the Vikings find Arthur and Finn, some want to kill them, and others want to wait. The boys are tied to a tree. A Viking says, “Well, you have a dangerous night ahead of you boys. You will need Odin’s protection from the bears and wolves tonight. . .” 
  • In the middle of the night, Viking raiders crept closer to the longhouse. “Two of the men at the back of the group fell to the ground with arrows sticking out of their necks. Finn fired his first arrow and a third raider went down.” 
  • The Viking leader Hallvard “smashed the edge of a shield into the raider’s face and lunged forward with his sword, burying it in the man and then kicking him backward. . .” 
  • To save Hallvard, Finn “fired another arrow, and it whistled past Hallvard and into the chest of one of his attackers, who fell to the ground.”  
  • A raider throws an ax at Finn but misses. As the raider advances, “his body slapped face first into the ground once again just as the raider reached him. . . the huge man tripped and fell directly on top of Finn. . . Just as the raider began to lift his weight off Finn he grunted and collapsed back on top of the boy. Finn felt a warm liquid flowing down his neck.” Two of Hallvard’s men die. The battle is described over five pages. 
  • Thorfinna, a teenage girl, tells the story of how she became a slave. A man who wanted power, Moldof, murdered one of her kinsmen. “Moldof stabbed the man in the back—it was no honorable fight—it was murder.” 
  • When Thorfinna’s father sent men to arrest Moldof, “Moldof overpowered them. He bound their hands and feet and tortured them horribly. . . their bodies were unrecognizable.” 
  • Later that night, Moldof and his men attack Thorfinna’s village. “They killed everyone except for those they could sell as slaves. . . I saw the men kill my father and mother. . .” 
  • Hallvard takes a group of Vikings, Thorfinna, and Finn, to attack the raider’s village. While looking for movement in the village, Moldof captures Finn. “a cloth was stuffed into Finn’s mouth to gag him, his hands were tied behind his back, and a rope was looped around his waist.” 
  • Finn is forced to watch the battle in the village. “There were . . . huge warriors slaughtering and being slaughtered. . . Men that Finn did not recognize began to turn and run, pursued by men he did recognize from the ship.”   
  • When Hallvard sees his son in Moldof’s grasp, he cries out. “As he stood staring up at his son, his axe and shield fell from his hands. His legs crumbled and he fell to his knees. He did not see the injured man beside him bring out the knife. He did not feel it as it slid into his back. . .” Hallvard eventually dies from his wound. 
  • Finn sees Maldof “grinning insanely as he put his hands around Brand’s neck and lifted him off his feet to dangle over the drop. Brand kicked frantically. . .” Brand is not injured. 
  • One of Maldof’s men, “Ulf staggered forward and toppled over the edge of the cliff with an axe protruding from his back.” 
  • Thorfinna surprises Moldof when she attacks him. He drops his sword. “Thorfinna drove her sword into Moldof’s chest and let go. With a look of shock, Moldof fell backwards off the cliff and plunged down to the rocks below.” 
  • After Hallvard’s men win the battle, “Moldof’s men had either fled or been killed, while several of Hallvard’s men lay dead also.”  

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • During a meal, ale is served. 

Language  

  • Several times, someone is called a coward. 

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 it is that keeps the ghost from resting in peace.” 
  • The ghost of a Viking warrior appears, and he “will only be laid to rest when his sword is returned to him or his son. Find the sword, and he will find peace.”

Spiritual Content  

  • When Arthur hears a noise in the forest, he prays “that he will see Finn.”  
  • To explain how he knows a raid will happen, Finn tells the Vikings, “Odin is our mater. He shows me things—he showed me your sword, Blood Hunter, and he showed me the raid that is coming.” 
  • Two and a half pages explain the Vikings’ belief in gods and goddesses, but the passage mainly focuses on Odin, the God of magic, poetry, and war, and his son Thor, the god of thunder. 
  • After the raiders attack, Hallvard tells Finn, “Odin gave an eye to gain knowledge and see the truth. Maybe if his boy gives an eye he too will see the truth. Call to Odin. Speak to him. Do whatever it is you have to do, and tell me who these men are!” Luckily, someone else recognizes the raider’s leader. 
  • Hallvard tells someone, “None of us know what the Gods have in store for us.” 
  • When Hallvard goes to save his son, Hallvard’s wife says, “May Thor give you strength in battle. And may Odin guide you to victory.”   
  • The Vikings believed anyone who died in battle would “be taken by the Valkyries to feast in Valhalla.” 
  • After his father is fatally wounded, Hallvard’s son prays, “Odin, hear me! Give me the strength to wield his sword and bring these men victory in his name and yours. Give me the wisdom to lead as he did.”  
  • Some believed that Viking warriors known as berserkers were “Odin’s own warriors and that he gives them this superhuman strength.” 

Paris

Is any city as beloved as Paris? People who live here revel in a culture that is both ancient and yet has changed with each wave of new arrivals. People who don’t live here have made it one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations, with beautiful buildings, romantic vistas, and a one-of-a-kind sense of place. Inside, read how Paris has changed over the centuries, how the city shapes modern France and Europe, and how visitors can make their Parisian dreams come true. 

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: Paris 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 Paris best suited for strong readers. 

Anyone interested in Paris will find Major World Cities: Paris 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 describing Paris’s culture, religion, education, architecture, and other interesting topics. In addition, there is a map of the city, a timeline, and a glossary. 

Major World Cities: Paris is the perfect book for anyone who wants to research Paris’s past and present. Because the book covers so many topics, readers will find other fascinating topics to explore. For example, Parisians are diverse people who enjoy designer clothes, fine foods, and wine. Paris was also the home of many important historical people, such as Marie Curie, Napolean I, and Edith Piaf. Major World Cities: Paris will expand readers’ knowledge about this city known for its romance. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • In the 19th century, “murderers and other major criminals were executed in this square.”  
  • The Vikings “repeatedly attacked Paris, killing people, looting, and burning homes.” There is a black-and-white illustration of a raid, but no people are shown. 
  • The Roman Catholics and Huguenots fought in the Wars of Religion. Henry IV “had to become a Catholic before he was allowed into Paris in 1594, but he was later assassinated by a Catholic.” 
  • A two-page spread explains the French Revolution that started when “a mob stormed the Bastille prison in Paris. . . Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were guillotined in 1793. The following year became known as the Reign of Terror when opponents of the new government were killed.” 
  • When Attila the Hun was heading to Paris, a nun named Genevéve “urged the people of the city to pray for help. According to legend, she then had a vision in which Attila turned away from Paris. He really did so, and the amazed Parisians believe that Genevéve’s prayers had saved them.” 
  • In 2015, “a group of Islamic terrorists committed a series of attacks that in a few days terrorized the city. They stormed into the offices of a French satirical magazine. . . and killed eight people. Then they killed a police officer. . . Four hostages died, as did the gunmen.” 
  • In 2015, a terrorist attack “took the lives of more than 120 people. Gunmen and suicide bombers sent by the ISIS group. . . carried out multiple attacks on the city, including strafing restaurants, setting off explosions near a soccer match. . . and capturing a concert hall and killing nearly 100 people, some execution-style.” 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  •  “Parisians drink wine, often French wine, with most meals.”

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • After the Franco-Prussian War, Roman Catholics built the Sacré-Coeur Church “as a token of thanks to God that Paris was not totally destroyed.” 

Stay

Piper’s life is turned upside down when her family moves into a shelter in a whole new city. She misses her house, her friends, and her privacy—and she hates being labeled the homeless girl at her new school.  

But while Hope House offers her new challenges, it also brings new friendships, like the girls in Firefly Girls Troop 423 and a sweet street dog named Baby. So when Baby’s person goes missing, Piper knows she has to help. But helping means finding the courage to trust herself and her new friends – no matter what anyone says about them—before Baby gets taken away for good.  

Stay is written in alternating perspectives, with each chapter switching between Piper’s and Baby’s point of view. Piper often reflects on life before her family became homeless. She misses her friends, her Firefly group, and her grandmother, who died. As Piper meets more homeless people, she learns to look past their appearance and circumstances and see their value. However, this causes conflict between others who only see the homeless as problems.  

Piper meets Jewel and her dog, Baby. Jewel suffers from a mental illness and has stopped taking her medication. Her mental illness skews her perspective of everything and makes her dependent on Baby. The little dog and homeless woman have become a “pack of two” and are utterly devoted to each other. When Jewel gets pneumonia and is hospitalized, Baby is sent to an animal shelter. The separation leaves both Jewel and Baby lost and confused.  

When Piper hears about Jewel’s hospitalization, Piper and her friends jump in to learn more about Jewel so they can help her. Through this experience, Piper has to overcome her embarrassment of being homeless. Piper and her friends’ willingness to help motivates others in the community to come together and help Jewel as well. Even though Piper loves Baby and wishes he was her dog, Piper does what is best for Jewel and finds a way to reunite them. Through these experiences, Piper learns the power of friendship and community. 

Piper’s experiences reinforce many positive lessons, including not judging people by their appearance or life circumstances. The book allows people to step into a homeless person’s world and see their struggles with finances, mental illness, and drug abuse. Each person became homeless for different reasons, which puts a spotlight on the person and allows the reader to feel empathy for them. When Piper jumps in to help Jewel, she shows others the power of words and storytelling.  

The chapters told from Baby’s point of view are short and written in free verse, which allows Baby’s emotions to take center stage. Baby often uses his sense of smell and touch to explain his emotions. When separated from Jewel, Baby’s confusion and fear are obvious. However, these chapters slow down the plot, and the descriptions of Baby’s emotions may confuse younger readers.  

Readers who have lost a loved one or have experienced homelessness will instantly connect with Piper and Baby. Throughout the story, Piper is reminded to look at the doughnut rather than the hole; this helps Piper see the good in small things—the sun on your skin, time with your family, and the kindness of others. Even though Stay has a powerful message about hope and the meaning of home, some readers may struggle to complete the book because of its slow pace. If you’re looking for another book on homelessness, consider reading How to Steal a Dog by Barbara O’Connor, Almost Home by Joan Bauer, and Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • When Baby’s owner, Jewel, gets sick, paramedics load her into the ambulance. She gets upset and starts crying for Baby. “Baby hurls himself toward his name. A man kicks the little dog away. Baby yelps in pain and frustration.” 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • Jewel stopped taking her meds. Piper finds a bag with Jewel’s meds: “Lithium. Zyprexa. Klonopin.” These are used to treat mental illness. 
  • A homeless woman “goes to the clinic to get her meds.” 
  • Noah lives with his brother because his “mom’s in jail for possession.” 
  • A homeless woman smokes cigarettes. “The woman tosses her cigarette to the ground and stubs it out with the toe of her boot.” 
  • A homeless person is an ex-drug addict. 

Language  

  • Crud and holey moly are used once. 
  • Dang is used twice.

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • Jewel, a homeless woman with a mental illness, refers to people who help as “angels,” and she sees wings on them. When the people give the homeless blankets, gloves, and hats, she says they are “Warm. Like God’s love.” 
  • Jewel wrote in a notebook, “God is everywhere and in everyone.” 
  • Jewel says, “God bless you.” 
  1. Pages:
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