Reading Level: Junior High

Pippa Park Raises Her Game

Pippa Park’s seventh-grade year is looking bleak. With her failing math grade, Pippa’s older sister Mina is thinking about restricting her from trying out for the basketball team. However, a scholarship allows Pippa to reinvent herself by transferring to the prestigious Lakeview Private (as long as she keeps her grades up).  

At first, everything seems to go smoothly; she makes new friends, establishes herself as a star player on the basketball team, and even improves her math grade through tutoring sessions with the school’s resident jock, Eliot Haverford. Pippa has officially invented herself as “cool.” But the cost of her newfound popularity is her family and former friends. Pippa starts to ignore her best friend Buddy, who is “uncool” by her new friends’ standards. Most of her friends come from privileged backgrounds, so Pippa feels pressure to hide the fact that she’s being raised by her sister, Mina, who owns a laundromat. In addition, Pippa absolutely can’t let anyone know about her crush on Eliot Haverford, or that she hails from Victoria Middle School, the public school that is Lakeview Private’s number one enemy.  

Soon, Pippa’s lies start to catch up with her, and an anonymous cyberbully starts to send her threatening messages online, exposing the truth of Pippa’s past. Her friendship with Buddy is ruined, her new “friends” turn against her due to her interest in Eliot, and her scholarship falls into jeopardy when her math grade plummets. Additionally, her desire to learn more about Eliot has caused a rift in his family.  

Overnight, Pippa’s life falls apart. Pippa says, “I got caught up in this idea that I could be someone different . . . I kept thinking that if I just made myself into someone else, then one day I would become [popular]. I would be Eliot’s girlfriend. I would belong at Lakeview. But I never will. It’s not my world.” Mina’s husband, Jung-Hwa, reassures Pippa by saying, “Everyone makes mistakes. . . This will pass eventually.” This advice, though simple, helps Pippa reassess the situation and start to make amends for the things she can change, like apologizing to Buddy. Soon, she is able to embrace her past, repair her friendships, and start anew – this time, as her true self – at Lakeview Private. 

Pippa Park Raises Her Game is a story about self-acceptance. Middle school is a trying time – both an opportunity to reinvent oneself and a challenge to figure out who you are. Pippa believes that trying to be cool will make her happy. But she discovers that accepting herself, her background, and her flaws gives her more happiness than trying to fit the mold of a typical Lakeview Private student. Pippa is a relatable character because she’s similar to middle school kids who are trying to find their identity, and caving to societal pressures. Pippa is a bit impulsive, which gives the story more action than a typical middle school novel. The overall plot is simple but has enough layers to be interesting and keep readers guessing until the end. Pippa’s love for basketball (and her knack for getting into trouble) makes this story entertaining.  

Pippa is also Korean American, and her family occasionally speaks in Korean, which is Romanized from the Korean alphabet in the book. The language makes sense in context and is paired with Pippa referencing Korean cultural touchpoints, like snacks, Kpop, Kdramas, and Chuseok, which Pippa explains is like a Korean Thanksgiving. Other characters do occasionally commit microaggressions against Pippa, making comments on various aspects of her Korean identity. For instance, one of Pippa’s teammates smells the kimchi that Pippa brings for lunch. When Pippa explains what it is, the girl says, “I was wondering what that smell was.” In the text, it is not meant kindly, and it deters Pippa from bringing her family’s leftovers for lunch in the future. Although these moments aren’t the focus of the text, they present a real battle that Pippa must deal with at her new, upper-crust, and presumably white school. 

Pippa’s shame and acceptance of her culture is another point of contention with her Lakeview identity. She says, “The shame I’d felt about Jung-Hwa’s homemade lunches, irritation at his clumsy gestures of affection, and embarrassment at his grimy clothes – they all sent a wave of guilt over me. He was the kindest man I’d ever known. Why did any of the rest of it matter?” Pippa thinks that being cool means not associating herself with her family or her origins, but ends up wondering why she should have to be ashamed of her family to fit in. Overall, Pippa ends up being a layered, yet relatable narrator who learns that embracing her identity – not running from it – leads to more genuine happiness.  

Pippa Park Raises Her Game is good for basketball fans and students who are looking for a novel that doesn’t only focus is basketball. Pippa’s story is not uncommon, and it’s important that young readers learn to recognize and empathize with these themes. Although the dialogue sometimes feels a bit young for middle schoolers, the story doesn’t lose impact because of it. Young readers will be able to take away many lessons from this book, especially about staying true to oneself and improving self-esteem. If you’re looking for a book with similar themes, check out I’m Ok by Patti Kim and The Comeback: A Figure Skating Novel by E.L. Shen. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • Eliot’s grandfather and grandmother died in a car accident. Eliot’s grandparents’ car “ran off the road” leaving “their little baby son an orphan.” It’s described once briefly, “some maniac ran their car off the road.” This is mentioned a few times. 
  • Mina is Pippa’s older sister who raised her. In many ways, Mina is like Pippa’s parent. Mina is angry at Pippa one day and says, “I have half a mind to really bring you up by the hand . . . The tips of Mina’s fingers twitched, like she was thinking about giving [Pippa] a good slap.” 
  • Jung-Hwa, Mina’s husband, brings news that Pippa’s mom has been in a car crash in Korea. Jung-Hwa says, “She’s in the hospital, in critical condition.” Mina explains later that, “She ran a stoplight. Another car slammed right into her. After it hit the passenger side, her car spun out of control, and she had a head-on collision with a light pole.” Pippa’s mom survives the crash. 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language    

  • Pippa calls herself an “idiot” for telling her name to a stranger, “Oh man! I definitely wasn’t supposed to tell him my name. I wanted to hit my palm against my forehead. Idiot!”  
  • Light language is used occasionally throughout the book. Terms include lousy, stupid, and jerk. 
  • Pippa is Korean American, and some of the people she meets are openly racist towards her. For instance, Pippa struggles with math and one student in class says to her, “Aren’t Asians supposed to be good at math?”  
  • Pippa mentions other backhanded racist comments that people often say. For example, Pippa is talking about Disney movies and mentions that most people think that Mulan is her favorite because they say, “You look just like her!” 
  • A classmate of Pippa’s, Caroline, comments on Pippa’s skin tone, inadvertently being racist. Caroline says to Pippa, “You do look a little sick. Or maybe you’re always this washed-out.” The other girls reprimand her, but don’t address why what Caroline said was rude. 
  • Another girl comments on the medical care that Pippa’s mom is receiving in Korea. She says, “I’m sure there are really good doctors in Seoul. My dentist is Korean —  he’s great.” 

Supernatural  

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

Dungeon Academy: No Humans Allowed!

Welcome to Dungeon Academy, where monsters and creatures train for the dark world that awaits just beyond the dungeon walls! But Zellidora “Zelli” Stormclash is a bit—different. She’s the one thing monsters and creatures of the Forgotten Realms fear the most: Zelli is a human!  

Knowing she’ll never be accepted, Zelli’s parents disguise her as a minotaur in hopes she’ll blend with the academy’s monstrous surroundings. Zelli does her work, keeps to herself, and becomes “invisible” to everyone.  

While in History of Horrible Humans class, Zelli learns of the great human adventurer, Allidora Steelstrike, who oddly resembles her. Could Zelli also be a Steelstrike? Seeking answers to her true lineage, Zelli embarks on a dangerous adventure.  

But she won’t be alone. A vegan owlbear, a cowardly kobold, and a shapeshifting mimic will join Zelli on her quest for truth in a world that holds no place for them. And who knows? Perhaps these monstrous misfits may discover some truths of their own.  

Dungeon Academy: No Humans Allowed! is told from Zelli’s point of view. Like many middle-grade readers, Zelli wonders where she belongs. At first, she tries to isolate herself from others. But when she stops a bully, Zelli gains a group of unlikely friends. Each creature in the friend group goes against the usual stereotype for their species. For example, Hugo is an owlbear who is kind and has no desire to use his strength to defeat others. This allows the author to reinforce the importance of embracing each other’s differences.  

Readers who are not familiar with the world of Dungeons & Dragons may have difficulty understanding Zelli’s world. In addition, some readers will struggle with the book’s advanced vocabulary such as rudimentary, vambrace, begrudgingly, baldric, surreptitiously, and necromancy. The book also uses made-up words which at times can be confusing. For example, “The goblins ate with goblins, the oozes slorped with the oozes, and the myconids multiplied with the other myconids.” 

Since the story takes place in a fantasy world full of strange monsters and creatures, the book includes illustrations that are black and white with pops of orange. The illustrations, which appear every two to five pages, give readers a visual of all of the strange creatures as well as the battle scenes. Even though the battle scenes are described in detail, the illustrations do not show any gory details.  

Dungeon Academy: No Humans Allowed! is best suited for readers who are already familiar with Dungeons & Dragons. The unique characters highlight the importance of accepting yourself, even if you’re different than others. In addition, the story makes it clear that everyone makes mistakes—the important part is to learn from those mistakes. While the story has positive life lessons, the book’s long descriptions slow down the book’s pacing which breaks up the action and suspense. In addition, most of the action begins in chapter 11, which makes some of the adventure unexciting. Despite this, readers who are familiar with Dungeons & Dragons will enjoy entering the world where monsters, creatures, and humans come together to defeat evil. Readers who enjoy Dungeon Academy: No Humans Allowed! should also read the Dungeoneer Adventures Series by Ben Costa & James Parks. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • While in the forest, Zelli and her friends are surrounded by a pack of wolves. The group believes they are doomed, but Zelli’s friend Bauble transforms into a tambourine. “Zelli couldn’t believe what she was seeing—the banging and the noise actually worked. The wolves shied, showing their teeth, yellow eyes glowing with hungry intent, but gradually their shaggy gray heads bowed. . .slinking back toward the edge of the forest. . .” 
  • Zelli’s classmates are put under a spell and walk mindlessly into a deep cave. Zelli and her friends follow and discover a human, Allidora Steelstrike, fighting a necromancer. Steelstrike is cornered and “five skeletal warriors dove at Allidora Steelstike, overwhelming her, slamming her to the ground . . . Steelstrike’s sword tumbled out of her grip, spinning away uselessly, lost under a tide of skeletal feet.” The battle is described over four chapters. 
  • Zelli and her friends jump in to help Steelstrike. Zelli’s “sword collided with the nearest skeleton, and the impact hit her not as a human, but as a minotaur. Swinging her weapon, throwing her weight around, she felt strong and sturdy. . . she bowled [the skeletons] over easily while [Zelli’s friend] lashed out with his shield at any that managed to get by.” 
  • Soon, Zelli and her friends are surrounded by skeletons. Then Bauble [a mimic] turns into a ball and bounces through the skeletons. “Flash [a blink dog] popped out of Hugo’s bag, appearing the next instant inside the rib cage of the skeleton. . . making the skeletal minion explode in a shower of bone fragments.” The fight against the skeletons continues for a page.  
  • A necromancer, Lord Carrion, creates a fire, but Zelli’s friend, Snabla, who is a kobold, uses his shield to get through the flames. “Lord Carrion turned on the kobold, striking with the end of his staff. . . the heavy wooden weapon connected hard with Snabla’s shield, sending him flying to the floor. Dazed, Snabla tried to rise again, but Lord Carrion’s skeletons descended. . .”  
  • Lord Carrion uses a spell to freeze Steelstrike and others. Then, Lord Carrion puts the owlbear, Hugo, under his spell. Hugo’s eyes, “Suddenly filled with hatred. . . Hugo gnashed his beak and lashed out at [Nelli and her friends] with lethal claws, gouging a long scratch into Snabla’s mighty shield. His eyes flashed purple, his claws elongating, glowing like otherworldly dangers. . . Again and again, Hugo’s glowing claws beat against the shield, and Snabla did his best, but he was just a young kobold . . .”  
  • Zelli attacks Hugo with her sword, but “the owlbear’s crushing grip landed around her upper arm and with ease, he hoisted her into the air, opening his beak wide to tear out her throat. Zelli kicked and punched but to no avail . . . She thrashed and hoped he would at least miss her neck and land somewhere less vital.” 
  • When Hugo attacks Zelli, his “sharpened beak came down with a snap on her shoulder joint, and she heard the crunch of bones and felt the hot splatter of blood against her chin as the owlbear took the first bite.” The taste of flesh brings Hugo to his senses and he stops his attack on Zelli. 
  • The fight with the skeletons continues. “Hugo, now enraged in his own right, bashed [the skeletons] with his heavy fists . . . Minion after minion flew across the cave, crumbling as their frail bodies hit the stone.” The blink dog “popped up just in time to catch a broken leg bone before it could reach the floor.” 
  • Once the skeletons are defeated, Snabla goes after the necromancer. “Snabla slammed right into his legs, sending the necromancer end over end and into a dusty, musty corner. . .” The necromancer begins a speech, “But Bauble had heard enough. . . The mimic changed rapidly into an iron pan, and Zelli had the strength left. . . knocking the necromancer out of his wits before he could finish his vile spew.”    

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • There is some name calling including sneak, slimeball, fart breaths, dummy dumb, fiend, and witless worm. 
  • “By Bane’s Black Hand” is used as an exclamation once. 
  • After Zelli and her friends leave the school without permission, one of the teachers says, “By all the gods and oaths, what were you four thinking?”

Supernatural 

  • The world has magic and many monsters and other creatures. 
  • Bauble is a mimic that can change shapes. For example, when it gets scared, “the mimic shrank down into a small box with a lid and enameled handles, a miniature dancer turning behind a glass pane, gentle, tinkling music drifting out into the icy cold dungeon. Then it transformed again, this time into a quill; then it returned to its initial book form.” 
  • One of the instructors is “undead” and he is “merely a floating bespectacled skull engulfed in blue flames.”  
  • When Zelli and her friends run away from the school, they go through the Endless Forest. “The forest recognizes those who are welcome and allows us passage but anyone else will wander and wander for days until, well. . .” 
  • Part of the story deals with necromancy, which is communicating with the dead. 
  • Zelli and her friends find a blink dog, which can disappear and reappear someplace else. 
  • The necromancer opens a portal and sends monsters and creatures through it where his master will turn them into his army.  
  • Zelli is given a Steelstrike emblem that is “enchanted with powerful magic. They call to each other. . .” Her biological mother says, “Should you need me, simply hold the emblem tight and speak the words, ‘By sword and by light, Talos guide my sight, summon my kin, call the Steelstrike.’” 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

Who Was Roberto Clemente?

Growing up the youngest of seven children in Puerto Rico, Roberto Clemente had a talent for baseball. His incredible skill soon got him drafted into the big leagues where he spent 18 seasons playing right field for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Who Was Roberto Clemente? tells the story of this remarkable athlete: a twelve-time All-Star, World Series MVP, and the first Latin American inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. 

Through this biography, children will learn about Roberto Clemente’s life in twelve, easy-to-read chapters. The book explains how Roberto’s early life living in Puerto Rico shaped him. Right from the start, readers will be amazed at Roberto’s dedication to baseball and his desire to help his community. However, when Roberto arrived in the United States, he faced many obstacles including segregation and loneliness. Despite this, Roberto persevered to become one of the greatest players in Pirates history. 

Who Was Roberto Clemente? focuses on Roberto’s baseball career as well as his dedication to the people of Puerto Rico. “Whenever he could, Roberto talked about Puerto Rico. He was enormously proud of his island home.” Despite his fame, Roberto continued to help others. He helped younger players improve their baseball skills, answered fan mail, and donated money to the Pittsburg Children’s Hospital. Throughout his life, Roberto was motivated to help others. So, it was no surprise when Roberto helped collect supplies after a hurricane hit Nicaragua. In order to make sure the supplies made it to the people who needed them most, Roberto decided to travel to Nicaragua. Unfortunately, he died when his airplane crashed into the sea.  

After his death, Roberto’s passion for helping others continued to inspire others. Roberto’s wife wanted to fulfill Roberto’s dream of opening Roberto Clemente Sports City in order to help young people improve their baseball skills. Because of the sports center, Roberto is still helping the youth of Puerto Rico, even after his passing. Roberto continues to influence others because his experiences show that men from the Caribbean can succeed in baseball. “Roberto was not the first Latin American ballplayer to make it, but he was the best. He led by example. His hard work, courage, and generosity continue to impact Puerto Rico, baseball, and the world.”  

The book includes information that will help readers understand more about Roberto’s experiences. For example, one page gives information about Puerto Rico and another explains what spring training entails. To help readers understand the times that Roberto lived in, there is a timeline of Roberto’s life and a timeline of the world.  

Who Was Roberto Clemente? will delight all readers — not just baseball fans. Roberto shows the importance of perseverance, hard work, and kindness. Even though Roberto’s fame comes from his baseball career, readers will be encouraged by Roberto’s dedication to helping others. Even now, Roberto’s words encourage people to help others. “If you have a chance to accomplish something that makes things better for people coming behind you, and you don’t do that, you are wasting your time on earth,” Roberto said. To learn more about Roberto, read Baseball’s Best: Five True Stories by Andrew Gutelle.  

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • When Roberto was young, his sister died. “She was burned in a kitchen accident and never recovered from her injuries.”  
  • When Roberto comes to America, he is exposed to segregation. Black players “were not allowed in the nice hotels. White players enjoyed trips to golf clubs and swimming pools; black players were not invited.” 
  • Roberto died while on an airplane. When the plane took off, “one engine made a loud bang. . . the airplane was over the ocean. It could not turn back. The airplane crashed in the sea.”  
  • Roberto witnessed an accident and “helped pull an injured person from a fiery car accident.” 
  • Roberto and his brother, Luis, were in a car accident. “Roberto hurt his neck and back. . . Luis passed away after the next day.” 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

Get a Grip, Vivy Cohen!

Vivy Cohen is determined. She’s had enough of playing catch in the park. She’s ready to pitch for a real baseball team.

But Vivy’s mom is worried about Vivy being the only girl on the team, and the only autistic kid. She wants Vivy to forget about pitching, but Vivy won’t give up. When her social skills teacher makes her write a letter to someone, Vivy knows exactly who to choose: her hero, Major League pitcher VJ Capello. Then two amazing things happen: A coach sees Vivy’s amazing knuckleball and invites her to join his team. And VJ starts writing back!

Now Vivy is a full-fledged pitcher, with a catcher as a new best friend and a steady stream of advice from VJ. But when a big accident puts her back on the bench, Vivy has to fight to stay on the team. 

Many readers will relate to Vivy, who often struggles with understanding other people. Because she is autistic, Vivy often feels stupid, worthless, and weird. Even though it is difficult for her to discuss her feelings, she tries to use positive communication skills. However, when Vivy joins the baseball team, one of the players, Kyle, often makes mean comments to her. Even though the comments are hurtful, Vivy doesn’t tell her coach or her parents. Unfortunately, VJ Capello is the only person she confides in, and despite his advice to tell an adult, Vivy refuses to do so. 

Much of the story revolves around baseball practice and games. In addition, the story also includes some interesting baseball facts. Vivy’s love of baseball is clear and her determination to play despite her mother’s protest is admirable. Through baseball, Vivy becomes more confident and is also able to make a friend. Despite the baseball action, some readers may have a difficult time navigating through Vivy’s inner dialogue. Readers will gain insight into autism and understand Vivy’s emotions, but sometimes Vivy’s feelings are described in great detail which makes the story drag. 

Get a Grip, Vivy Cohen! is a must-read for any reader who wants to understand autism. However, the story will also appeal to any reader who loves baseball as well as those who feel different. Through Vivy’s experiences, readers will learn the importance of perseverance. In addition, the story highlights the importance of talking to a trusted adult. However, one of the most impactful lessons is not to make assumptions about other people. At one point, Vivy’s dad reminds her, “Don’t assume things without talking to someone about it first.” A Boy Called Bat would be an excellent book to pair with Get a Grip, Vivy Cohen! if you want to learn more about autism. However, if you want a winning baseball book, Soar by Joan Bauer hits it out of the park. 

Sexual Content  

  • Vivy’s brother reveals that he is dating another boy. Afterward, Vivy thinks, “I don’t think my parents are bigots. One of my dad’s friends from work is gay, and our rabbi is married to another woman.” Her inner dialogue goes on for half a page. 

Violence  

  • During practice, Kyle grabs Vivy’s ponytail, and “he tugged it. HARD.” Vivy starts yelling. “Everything was bad. I felt Kyle’s slimy hand on my hair long after he pulled away. It oozed from the tips of my hair down to the base of my spine.” The coach calms Vivy down. However, Vivy doesn’t tell him about Kyle’s bullying.” 
  • After practice, Vivy “finds a note in my duffel bag. . . It was written on yellow notebook paper in black Sharpie: GO AWAY, FREAK.” 
  • During a game, one of the players puts “a gigantic wad of already-been-chewed gum right in the middle of the webbing.” 
  • During a baseball game, Vivy is pitching when “the ball rocketed straight off the bat. Toward me. . . I froze. The big white boulder roared right toward my head, filling up my sight. . . It hit me in the forehead.” Vivy has to go to the hospital and has a concussion.  
  • After Vivy’s accident, she tells her parents, “There’s only ever been one person who got killed by a baseball. That was a hitter, not a pitcher. In 1920 Carl Mays hit Ray Chapman with a pitch and he died later that day.” 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • In her inner dialogue, Vivy often calls others names such as jerk, stupid, coward, buffoon, loser,  
  • When Vivy joins the baseball team, her teammate Kyle bullies her. At school, Kyle says, “I thought my father got a regular girl for our team, but it’s even worse. We have ourselves a monkey-girl. She can’t even eat a sandwich. Or talk like a real person.” Another boy from the team, joins the group and calls Kyle and his friends “losers.” 
  • Kyle calls the catcher on his team “shrimpy.” 
  • Klye makes fun of Vivy saying, “I’m Vivy and I can’t pitch to the big scary boy because I had mush for brains even before I got hit in the head.” Later, he continues to harass her by saying, “Hey, monkey-girl . . . I thought for sure you’d switch to softball. Or the Special Olympics.” 
  • In a letter to Vivy, VJ Capello writes: “There’s no excuse for such cruelty and I know too well how much it hurts. Even if the people hurling the insults are utter buffoons like Kyle. . .”  
  • After a bad game, Vivy thinks, “I totally sucked.” 
  • Heck is used five times. 
  • Freaking is used twice. 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • Vivy’s dad “always says that he has two religions—Reformed Judaism and baseball.” 
  • Vivy’s family is Jewish and occasionally she talks about a religious holiday. 

Life in the Balance

Veronica Conway has been looking forward to trying out for the All-Star softball team for years. She’s practically been playing softball since she was a baby. She should have this tryout on lock. Except right before tryouts, Veronica’s mom announces that she’s entering rehab for alcoholism, and her dad tells her that they may not be able to afford the fees needed to be on the team.

Veronica decides to enter the town talent show in an effort to make her own money, but along the way she discovers a new hobby that leads her to doubt her feelings for the game she thought she loved so much. Is her mom the only one learning balance, or can Veronica find a way to discover what she really wants to do with her life?

Life in the Balance takes a close look at how alcoholism affects Veronica, as well as her family and friends. When Veronica’s mom goes into rehab, Veronica is embarrassed so she doesn’t tell anyone. This, in addition to softball tryouts, adds a lot of stress to Veronica’s life. Since the book is written from Veronica’s point of view, readers get an inside look at her struggles. Often, Veronica worries that her behavior may hurt her mother and force her to revert to drinking alcohol. Readers who know someone who has been affected by alcoholism will learn positive ways to cope. However, because most of the story revolves around Veronica’s inner turmoil, there is little suspense or action.

Readers who want a fast-paced sports book will be disappointed by Life in the Balance, which has no play-by-play softball action. While Veronica says that she loves playing softball, trying out for the All-Star softball team only brings her stress. This is partly because Veronica’s family has a history of playing softball. This includes Veronica’s mom, her grandmother, and her great-grandma, who played in the All-American Girls Softball League during World War II. Unfortunately, Life in the Balance’s only softball action is when Veronica goes to practice, but even none of the scenes are described in detail.

Readers affected by alcoholism will be able to relate to Veronica’s struggles and gain insight into the importance of getting professional help. Readers who aren’t interested in the topic of alcoholism will have a hard time finishing the book because of its singular focus and slow pace. If you’re looking for a more exciting book that deals with alcoholism, check out The Secret Sheriff of Sixth Grade by Jordan Sonnenblick. For a fast-paced softball story that also deals with middle school angst, catch a copy of Much Ado About Softball by Rajani LaRoca and Out of Left Field by Ellen Klages.

Sexual Content  

  • During a “Growing Up” lesson at school, the teacher “didn’t separate the girls and the boys because he wanted to make sure kids questioning their gender would be comfortable.” 
  • One of Veronica’s friends’ “parents kiss a lot in public, which makes us blush and avert our eyes.” 

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • Veronica’s mother is an alcoholic who enters rehab after she goes to work drunk. Veronica’s mom says, “I drank a bit too much during my lunch meeting. I hadn’t quite, um, gotten back to normal, and the client I was meeting with noticed what was going on. She, uh, told my boss.” 
  • Veronica and her dad go to the rehab center to visit. While taking a tour, Veronica’s dad says, “This reminds me of the dorm room I had senior year of college. . . The kitchen was such a mess, too, always covered in empty beer bot—” Veronica thinks her dad looks upset, “like just mentioning the word beer he’ll get in trouble.” 
  • Veronica takes Tylenol for a headache. 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • One of Veronica’s friends gets a psychic reading from her aunt, who says, “The future is looking bright and the people [she] loves won’t let me down.” 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

The Hero Two Doors Down

This book is based on the true story of a boy in Brooklyn who became neighbors and friends with his hero, Jackie Robinson. 

Stephen “Steve” Satlow is an eight-year-old boy living in Brooklyn, New York who cares about only one thing: the Dodgers. Steve and his father spend hours reading the sports pages and listening to games on the radio. Aside from an occasional run-in with his teacher, life is pretty simple for Steve. 

But then Steve hears a rumor that an African-American family is moving to his all-Jewish neighborhood. It’s 1948 and some of his neighbors are against it. Steve knows this is wrong. After all, his hero Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in baseball the year before. 

Then it happens — Steve’s new neighbor is none other than Jackie Robinson! Steve is beyond excited about living two doors down from the Robinson family. He can’t wait to meet Jackie. This is going to be the best baseball season yet! How many kids ever get to become friends with their hero? 

Steve’s childhood is chronicled in the first five chapters of The Hero Two Doors Down. While this allows readers to understand Steve’s behavior, the story has a slow start. Much of the story focuses on Steve’s inner thoughts and lacks actions. Despite that, anyone who admires Jackie Robinson will enjoy the story.  

Since Jackie Robinson is the main character in The Hero Two Doors Down, readers might expect a story about baseball. However, there is little baseball action because the story focuses on Steve’s relationship with Jackie. This gives readers an inside look into Jackie’s personal life and highlights his positive attributes. Jackie’s influence changed Steve from an angry boy who used his fist to solve problems to a boy who understood that “punching someone who has verbally attacked you will only make things worse.” 

The Hero Two Doors Down illustrates important life lessons including the importance of self-control. At times the adults are preachy, but this makes the message impossible to miss. By reading the book, readers will learn positive ways to interact with others, even when they both disagree. Jackie helped Steve learn that “You’ll become your best self if you stay focused, set goals, and don’t let anyone stop you from making your dreams come true.” While the story lacks baseball action and has a slow pace, the book’s message makes it worth reading. Readers who want to learn more about Jackie Robinson should also read Play Ball, Jackie! by Stephen Krensky. Readers looking for more baseball action can find it in The Contract Series by Derek Jeter and Prime-Time Pitcher by Matt Christopher. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • Steve gets into trouble after school. He hears that his teacher, Miss Maliken, plans to make a home visit. Steve and his best friend, Sena, try to stop her. “Sena’s hand reached toward Miss Maliken, but I followed her lead. Together we pushed Miss Maliken, then watched in shock as she toppled over the hedge. The air filled with her screams. . . Women scrambled to help her.” Steve is suspended from school. 
  • Steve’s grandparents “fled Russia, along with two million other Jewish families, hoping to find freedom to practice their religion . . . In Russia, Jews were treated very badly. . . There was a lot of violence against them, and many men, women, and children were hurt or killed simply because they were Jewish.” 
  • Some players are upset that Jackie is playing baseball. “He’s been hit six times by pitchers and been insulted plenty just because he’s a black man in a previously all-white game.” Some of the players also tried to “slide into second base with their cleats pointing forward. It was dangerous and could lead to a serious injury for the second baseman.”  
  • When Jackie was in school, he joined a gang. He said, “We didn’t do anything really bad. . . stole some golf balls and sold them back to the golfers. . . took fruit from stands.”  
  • During a pick-up game, Steve drops a ball. Afterwards, “Several boys on our team ran over to me.” When they started calling Steve names, he “jumped up from the ground. . . and got in their faces. . .” Sena tried to drag Steve away, but Steve “pulled [his] arm away and jammed it into the belly of one of [his] attackers instead of retreating. The boy punched [him] hard in the gut. [He] dove into the other boys.” Sena and Steve finally run away. 
  • Steve has some anger issues and he “was sent to the principal’s office because [he] bloodied a classmate.”  

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • Some boys call Steve a sissy and a liar. 
  • Someone calls Steve a chicken. 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • Steve and his family are Jewish and occasionally pray, but no actual prayers are included. 
  • Steve’s family celebrates Hanukkah. On the first night, “when your father lights the first candle, he will say a special prayer asking for peace in Israel . . .” 
  • Jackie gives Steve a Christmas tree. Steve’s parents want to return the tree because “it is a symbol of a Christian holiday. Like Hanukkah, Christmas is part religious holiday and part tradition.” 
  • Steve’s favorite part of Hanukkah is “watching my father pray for peace, understanding, and friendship . . . I learned that whether you are Christian or Jewish, we both pray to God.” 

The Rhino in Right Field

Nick wants to change his life. For twelve years, he’s done what his hard-working, immigrant parents want him to do. Now he’s looking for his own American dream and he thinks he’s found it. The local baseball team is having a batboy contest, and Nick wants to win.

But the contest is on a Saturday—the day Nick has to work in his father’s shop. There’s one other tiny—well, not so tiny—problem. A 2,000-pound rhinoceros named Tank. Nick and his friends play ball in the city zoo—and Tank lives just beyond the right field fence. Nick’s experience getting the ball out of Tank’s pen has left him frozen with fear whenever a fly ball comes his way. How’s a lousy fielder going to win the contest?

Nick practices every day with his best friend, Ace, and a new girl who has an impressive throwing arm! But that’s not enough—to get to the contest, Nick has to lie to his parents and blackmail his uncle. All while dodging the school bully, who’s determined to win even by playing dirty. Nick will need to keep his eye on the ball in this fast, funny story about a game that can throw you some curveballs—just like life! 

Nick, the protagonist in The Rhino in Right Field, is a likable and relatable protagonist, who deals with relatable conflicts. Like many middle-grade readers, Nick is frustrated with his mother who still treats him like a baby. Nick is also upset that his father makes him work in the family shop, every Saturday. His father’s uncompromising ways lead Nick to lie to his family in order to participate in a baseball contest. Even though Nick wins the contest, his joy is tampered because he can’t share the news with his parents. In the end, everyone in the family—Nick, his mother, and his father—sneak off to watch the same baseball game. While the scene is funny, Nick and his family come to a new understanding—that fun should also be a regular part of their life.

Although baseball plays a major part in the story, no actual baseball games are described. Despite this, The Rhino in Right Field is still engaging enough to please sports fans. Nick and his friends play baseball at the zoo, which adds interest and humor to the book. A batboy contest, a bully, and an unusual baseball-throwing girl help propel the story to an unexpected conclusion that shows the importance of hard work and having fun.  

Dekeyser takes readers back to the 1940s when both women and men played professional baseball.  However, the time period is a little fuzzy because there are few context clues as to the time period. The use of terms such as “holy cow” and “knucklehead” are clues that the story takes place in the past. In addition, Nick occasionally mentions the price of items. For example, Nick says a baseball cost ninety-eight cents which is three weeks’ worth of tip money. While these give clues that the story doesn’t take place in the present, readers likely will not be able to identify the time period.   

The Rhino in Right Field has many positive aspects that will appeal to middle-grade readers including a well-intentioned, humorous protagonist. While the supporting characters are not well-developed, they add suspense and interest. In addition, the book’s short chapters and fast pace keep the action hopping until the very end. Readers will also be introduced to the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League and can learn more about girls in baseball by reading Out of Left Field by Ellen Klages. Readers interested in more humorous middle-grade stories should also read The Secret Sheriff of Sixth Grade by Jordan Sonnenblick. 

Sexual Content  

  • Penny’s sister, Josie, played professional baseball. Penny says, “One lady told Josie that if she kept playing ball, she’d never be able to have babies.” 
  • After talking to Penny, Nick thinks “I’m not too swift on the female anatomy, though you can’t say I haven’t tried. One time I happened to find a cheesecake magazine in Uncle Spiro’s room, but I only got a peek at a leg and some garters before he walked in and hollered at me to get out of his room forever.”

Violence  

  • While in second grade, Pete, the school bully, “actually punched a kid for calling him Taki to his face.” Taki is a nickname for Pete’s Greek name which is Panagiotakis. 
  • Nick sees one of his classmates, Penny, crying. She wasn’t able to enter the contest because she is a girl. While at the contest, Pete yells, “How did that hairy monkey get in here, anyway? That’s right—go back to the zoo!” 
  • While at church, Pete tries to punch Nick. Pete “swung at me. . . My survival skills kicked in, and I ducked out of the way just in time. With nothing for his fist to land on, Pete was thrown off balance. He spun around on his heels, and when his face came into view again. . . I punched him right in the nose.” The punch caused a “trickle of blood” to drip from Pete’s nose. 
  • When the doorbell rings, Nick opens the door and sees Pete. “And before I knew it, he [Pete] hauled off and slugged me. I dropped to the floor like a sack of marbles. . . Then he stomped down the porch steps and out into the night.” After being hit, Nick’s “left eye was throbbing, and it was already hard to see out of it.” Nick’s mom puts a cold piece of liver on Nick’s eye and the swelling goes down. 
  • The zoo puts some animals in cages and they ride in a parade. A zookeeper has an elephant gun with him that has tranquilizers in it. The gun is never used.

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • A secretary who works at the ballfield smokes. When her boss sees her with a cigarette, he says, “Miss Garble, how many times have I told you? That stuff’ll kill you.”  

Language  

  • Heck and darn are used occasionally. 
  • Dang is used a few times. For example, when Pete threatens Nick, Nick says something to him in Greek. When Pete replies, Nick explains, “But I wasn’t going to explain what I’d said, and I dang well knew Peter wouldn’t either.” 
  • Frequently, the kids call each other names such as chicken, idiot, punk, and weasel.  
  • Both the children and the adults frequently call people knuckleheads.  
  • Holy cow, holy moly, holy smokes, and similar exclamations are used frequently. 
  • Nick is mad at his uncle so he calls him a “shifty freeloader.” 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • Nick and his family go to church. During service, Pete “kept giving [Nick] the stink eye which I hope is a sin if you do it in church.”  
  • While at church, Nick falls asleep. When he wakes up, his mother “gave [him] the stink eye, which probably isn’t a sin if your mother does it, even in church.” 
  • After the church service ends, Nick is impatient to leave. He thinks, “I’d already spent two hours in church. Not even God could expect me to hang around longer than that.” 
  • After church, a woman asks Nick’s uncle. Nick thinks, “I happened to know that Uncle Spiro was a shameless heathen who avoided church religiously.” 

Force Out

Joey and Zach have been best friends since forever. As two of the best players in their baseball league, they’ve always dreamed of playing together on the Center State select team, and they will do anything to help each other get there. 

So when Zach is forced to go on an extra-credit field trip that could ruin his chances of being picked for the all-star team, Joey comes up with a risky plan to bail him out. As long as no one finds out what they did, all will be fine. Then the unthinkable happens: They learn there’s only one spot left on the team. Suddenly Joey and Zach go from being best friends to fierce rivals, and Joey must figure out his next move. He has two options: play the biggest game of his life or use their secret to force Zach out. But is Joey really willing to put everything on the line to win? 

Since Joey and Zach have been best friends forever, they don’t even consider the possibility that they won’t be picked to be part of the Center State team. However, to make their dream come true, Joey and Zach come up with crazy schemes in order to force other players out. While Joey feels guilty for his bad actions, Zach never shows remorse. When it becomes clear that only one of them will advance, Zach begins to ignore Joey. In addition to their drama revolving around baseball, the two also have girl drama. Joey is trying to navigate his crush on Leah, but in a surprise twist, Zach steals her. In the end, all is forgiven and Joey and Zach are best friends again. However, readers will be left wondering why Joey would want to be friends with Zach. 

Many middle-grade readers will relate to Joey’s conflicts—friendship trouble, girl trouble, parent trouble, and baseball trouble. However, the story’s message is cloudy and the boys’ bad behavior is never punished. To make matters worse, Joey’s parents do not emulate positive attributes. Joey’s mom is a police officer who believes that bad people belong in jail because they can’t be rehabilitated. Because of her strong beliefs, she is often preachy and pushy. This leaves Joey’s father in a difficult position of trying to smooth over difficulties between Joey and his mom. Unfortunately, Joey’s family dynamics are not healthy and readers will easily understand why Joey was dishonest until the very end. 

Despite the story’s flaws, Force Out’s baseball action will entertain sports-loving readers. Baseball games are expertly interwoven into the story and the games highlight the pressure that many players are forced to endure. While Joey makes some bad decisions, he is eaten up by remorse and eventually tells the truth. Readers will relate to Joey who often struggles with problem-solving, yet he is still a good kid who tries his best. If you’re looking for a baseball book with a more positive message check out Change Up by Derek Jeter, Soar by Joan Bauer, and Heat by Mike Lupica 

Sexual Content  

  • While at the playground, Joey talks to Leah, whom he has a crush on. “. . . He dared to touch his lower leg against hers. She didn’t take it away, and the thrill of the contact poured through him like a molten liquid.” 
  • Joey and Leah go for a walk. When they return, a girl asks, “What took you so long? You didn’t stop to kiss, did you?” 
  • Zach says, “Girls like to be kissed.” The narrator explains: “Everyone knew Zach had kissed Sheila Tibioni in the entrance to the food court at the mall. She was in eighth grade. Zach did it on a dare and had grown famous for it.” 
  • After school, Joey leaves and Leah follows him. “Before Joey even knew what happened, she kissed him. As she moved toward him, he turned his head just a bit so their lips brushed before the kiss landed squarely on his cheek.” Then Joey runs away.

Violence  

  • Joey and Zach sneak out of the house late at night. They ride their bikes to a teacher’s house and put a clamp around his fuel line so he can’t get to school the next day. In order to do this, Joey puts Valium in a meatball and feeds it to the dog; the dog is uninjured but goes to sleep. The teacher is late to school and must cancel a field trip. 
  • Joey’s mother has a difficult time dealing with her brother Martin’s death. Joey’s dad explains that, as a kid, Martin was bullied by other kids. One day, the other kids were jumping off a bridge. “Martin had no business being up there. . . they were all jumping off the bridge into the river. He didn’t want to, but they tormented him. . . He jumped and then tried to change his mind and ended up hitting his head.”  
  • Zach thinks about putting human poop in a kid’s food. Zach hopes that this makes the kid sick enough that he can’t play baseball, and then Joey would be able to take his place.  

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • Joey’s mom takes Valium for headaches. Joey steals one of her pills and puts it into meat so a dog would eat it. 

Language  

  • There is some name calling such as bonehead, butthead, dork, jerk, freak, and witch. 
  • Oh my God is used as an exclamation twice. 
  • Joeys says, “This is the crappiest day of my life.” 
  • Joey gets an email that says CRD. Joey tells his mom that it means “Caucasian rhythmic disorder, CRD. It’s because I can’t dance.” The book doesn’t say what CRD really means. 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • During a game, Joey “prayed for all he was worth not to get pulled.” 
  • Before meals, Joey’s family says a blessing; however, no specific blessing is said in the book. 
  • When Joey and his family go to church, “The message he got there didn’t leave him feeling warm and fuzzy. There was a bit too much teeth gnashing, burning of chaff, and choked-off vines planted among weeds and thistles for Joey’s liking, and he found himself silently asking, ‘Where is the love?’” 
  • Before dinner, his mother prayed and “ended with a special addition, asking God to give Joey the strength of character he needed to do well.” 

Sliding Into Home

It’s not fair! Thirteen-year-old Joelle Cunningham is passionate about baseball. When her family moves to the small town of Greendale, Iowa, she quickly discovers that there are strict rules preventing her from playing on the school team.

At Hoover Middle School, only boys play baseball. Girls play softball. Joelle tries to tell everyone they’re not the same sport. But no one is listening. Not Coach Carlyle, the baseball coach, who doesn’t want her on his team, even though they’re at the bottom of the league. Not Ms. Fenner, the softball coach, who wants Joelle to use her big-league swing on the girls’ softball team. Not even Jason, her older brother, who is too busy at college to be of much help.

Through some creative problem-solving and surprising alliances, Joelle finds a solution to her dilemma that brings the disputing sides together . . . and baseball to the girls of Greendale. 

When Joelle discovers she can’t play on the baseball team because of a school policy, she is determined to find a way to change the rules. While Joelle’s parents are supportive, Joelle doesn’t rely on them to solve problems for her. Instead, she comes up with a plan and follows it through to the end. Readers will admire Joelle’s courage and determination. However, like some of the supporting characters, readers may wonder why Joelle doesn’t join the softball team instead. 

The majority of Sliding Into Home’s plot revolves around Joelle’s attempt to change the school policy so she can join the boys’ baseball team. When she realizes that the policy is not going to change, she switches gears in order to organize a girls’ baseball league. This plot thread is reinforced through a school project; Joelle and her classmates put on a trial where Goldilocks is accused of crimes. Through this project, Joelle learns that “Sometimes, in the courtroom and in life, all you can do is present your argument and see what happens. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. And sometimes it doesn’t seem fair.” 

Although Joelle is a well-developed character who displays personal growth, the supporting characters are one-dimensional and forgettable. Despite this, the easy-to-read text, fast-paced plot, and realistic dialogue will keep readers interested. However, readers who want play-by-play baseball action will be disappointed, since the story only describes one baseball game. Readers who want a well-rounded story that highlights the importance of standing up for yourself will enjoy Sliding Into Home. Baseball fans who want an entertaining story that weaves in important life lessons should also read Mascot by Anthony John. 

Sexual Content  

  • When Joelle wants to join the school’s baseball team, the principal says, “And what is it exactly that you like better about it? The boys?” Joelle is upset and thinks, “Did the principal think she was some stupid, boy-crazy girl?” 

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • Several times, a boy from school calls Joelle a “space case.”  
  • The kids at school, including Joelle, call others names such as losers, jerk, weird, and idiot.  
  • Darn is used once. 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

You Throw Like a Girl

Gabby’s summer vacation isn’t shaping up to be that great. Her dad was just deployed overseas, and Gabby is staying at her grandmother’s house with her mom and baby sister until he returns.

The one bright spot is that Gabby plans to sign up for the local softball league—her greatest love and a passion that she shares with her dad who was a pitcher in college. But when Gabby goes to sign up for the summer league, she discovers there isn’t enough interest to justify a girls’ team this year. And to top it off, a horrible miscommunication ends with Gabby signing up to participate in the Miss Popcorn Festival—the annual pageant that Gabby’s mom dominated when she was younger.

Besides not having any interest in pageant life, Gabby made a promise to her dad that she would play softball for the summer. Since her pitching skills rival any boy her age, Gabby creates a master plan: disguise herself as a boy and sign up for the boys’ baseball team instead—while also trying to win the pageant to make Mom happy. Can Gabby juggle perfecting her pageant walk and perfecting her fastball? Or will this plan strike out? 

Told from Gabby’s point of view, You Throw Like a Girl revolves around Gabby’s deception. This creates suspense because there is always the possibility that others will find out her secret. Through much of the story, Gabby tries to justify her behavior. For example, Gabby wonders, “Maybe I had lied to people and fooled them, but was it so wrong when the reason was for someone else?” Gabby’s lies begin to pile up, but she never considers how her deceit will affect those around her. After one of the pageant contestants threatens to reveal Gabby’s secret, Abby finally confesses her wrongdoings. Despite this, Gabby doesn’t show regret or much personal growth. 

You Throw Like a Girl has a simple plot that makes the story easy to read and understand. In addition, the story has a positive message: “It’s a lot better to be yourself than someone you’re not.” Gabby’s experiences also explore the theme of friendship through the supporting characters Owen and Erin. While Owen and Erin are good friends, Gabby is not because she is too focused on herself and lacks empathy. In addition, when Gabby’s secret is finally revealed, everyone forgives her quickly and she receives no punishment, which is unrealistic and downplays Gabby’s bad behavior.  

Despite the story’s flaws, many middle-grade readers will enjoy You Throw Like a Girl because of the funny situations Gabby experiences. Readers will also relate to Gabby’s conflict with her mother and her desire to please her parents. Through it all, Gabby’s family is shown in a positive light and the adults display healthy communication. Readers who are drawn to the story because of the cute cover of Gabby pitching may be disappointed by the lack of baseball action. However, readers who are looking for a lighthearted story that doesn’t delve into heavy issues will find You Throw Like a Girl entertaining.  

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • Heck is used four times. 
  • Darn is used twice. 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • One of the baseball players’ father picks Gabby up for a game. He thinks about introducing himself to Gabby’s mothers, but she talks him out of it. Gabby, “said a silent prayer that he wouldn’t decide to get out of the van.” 
  • When she is dressed like a boy, Gabby goes into the girl’s bathroom. Two little girls scream and Gabby “prayed their parents weren’t outside and about to come racing in to find out what was wrong.” 

Shoeless Joe & Me

When Joe Stoshack (“Stosh”) hears about Shoeless Joe Jackson — and the gambling scandal that destroyed the star player’s career — he knows what he has to do. If he travels back in time with a 1919 baseball card in his hand, he just might be able to prevent the infamous Black Sox Scandal from ever taking place. And if he could do that, Shoeless Joe Jackson would finally take his rightful place in the Baseball Hall of Fame. 

But can Stosh prevent that tempting envelope full of money from making its way to Shoeless Joe’s hotel room before the big game? 

Shoeless Joe & Me describes historical baseball events in an interesting story that baseball fans will love. Readers will not only learn about Shoeless Joe and the Red Sox scandal of 1919, but they will also get a glimpse of Shoeless Joe’s everyday life. Shoeless Joe hated that people believed he was stupid because he couldn’t read or write; however, this didn’t stop Shoeless Joe from living his baseball dream. Even though Shoeless Joe’s dream came to an end when he was banned from baseball because of his part in the scandal, Shoeless Joe & Me presents evidence that proves that Shoeless Joe was not part of the gambling scheme. In addition, the back of the book encourages readers to write letters asking that Shoeless Joe be inducted into the Hall of Fame. 

The story is told from Stosh’s point of view. Many readers will relate to Stosh, who loves baseball and travels back in time to help a friend. While in the past, his behavior is not always likable. Stosh is impulsive and doesn’t think about his words or actions. Plus, he’s not always respectful of others. Despite this, Stosh’s motivation for traveling to 1919 is honorable – he’s hoping to save Shoeless Joe from being banned from baseball. 

One negative aspect of the book is that Stosh and some of the adults show unsportsmanlike behavior. Stosh yells at an umpire for making a bad call. In addition, when one of his teammates misses catching a ball, Stosh yells, “C’mon, Barton! What do you think you’ve got a glove for?” After a game, the losing team’s “players and parents were all over Mr. Kane [the umpire], screaming at him, cursing him out, threatening him, and telling him that he was blind as a bat.” 

Scattered throughout the book are historical news clippings and pictures, such as an advertisement that Shoeless Joe posed for. Not all of the pictures are historical, but the back of the book explains which photographs aren’t the actual people described in the book. In addition, the back of the book includes other facts and myths regarding Shoeless Joe. 

Baseball fans and history fans alike will enjoy Shoeless Joe & Me because the story gives a new perspective of the Red Sox scandal. Many people know about the Red Sox scandal but Shoeless Joe & Me focuses on one player’s version of the events which allows readers to understand how the gamblers impacted everyone—players, coaches, and fans. For more engaging baseball stories that will be a hit with readers, check out The Brooklyn Nine by Alan Gratz, Babe Ruth and the Baseball Curse by David A. Kelly, and Out Of Left Field by Ellen Klages. 

Sexual Content  

  • When Stosh is stuck in a closet, he unscrews the backing and enters another hotel room. “A woman, about twenty-five, was standing in front of me. She was totally naked.” When she screamed, a man appeared and “waved the bat around menacingly.” The man yells, “Just say the word, Katie, and Ah’ll split his head like a melon!” Stosh ends up befriending the man and woman. 

Violence  

  • When a group of gamblers discover Stosh spying on them, two men grab him. After they interrogate Stosh, the thugs take him to a hotel and lock him in a closet. 
  • A teammate, Chick Gandil, tries to convince Shoeless Joe to purposely lose the World Series. “Joe took a swing at Chick with Black Betsy [Joe’s bat]. Gandil bailed out like it was a high, inside fastball. The bat missed his head by less than an inch.” Chick throws money on the bed and leaves. 
  • When Eddie Cicotte pitches badly, he is taken out of the game. “The Cincinnati fans hooted and threw fruit at him.”  
  • After losing the first World Series game, Gleason (another player) and Gandil were laughing. “Even though Gandil was about six inches taller and fifty pounds heavier, Gleason suddenly leaped toward the first baseman and wrapped his hands around his throat.” The two are broken apart, but then “Ray Schalk, the catcher, attacked Eddie Cicotte and had to be pulled off him.”  
  • While leaving the World Series, two men grab Stosh. “Another guy grabbed my arms and twisted them behind my back. It hurt, and I was scared.” The men drag Stosh to a billiard parlor where he meets two thugs, Abe and Billy, and their boss, gambler Rothstein. 
  • Stosh is pushed onto a chair by the thugs. Abe and Billy “wrapped the rope around me again and again until I was just about covered to my chest, arms, and legs. Then they pulled tight and knotted it in several places.” Stosh is interrogated. “Billy pulled a revolver out of his belt and started sliding bullets into it.” Stosh jumps back to his current time period before he can be shot. The scene is described over five pages.  

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • When explaining the Red Sox scandal, Stosh’s mom says, “But gambling is like cigarettes, alcohol, and drugs. It can be addictive. Some people – like your father — start doing it and they can’t stop.”  
  • Several times, adults smoke cigars and cigarettes.  
  • When Stosh goes back in time, he appears in a basement. When he peeks through a hole in the wall, he sees three men counting cash. Stosh thinks, “I didn’t think these guys were drug dealers. I wasn’t even sure if there were drugs in 1919. They must be crooks. . .” 
  • When Stosh goes to the World Series, “near the ticket booths, six men wearing army uniforms were standing in a group, drinking whiskey. . . Everyone, it seemed, was holding a bottle in their hand. A lot of them looked like they were already drunk.”  
  • Wilber, a thirteen-year-old boy, smokes cigarettes.  
  • After getting sick, Stosh takes Tamiflu. While in the past, he gave Tamiflu to a boy, which saved the boy’s life. 

Language  

  • When Stosh dresses in 1919 clothes, he protests because “I’ll look like a doofus.” 
  • Heck is used several times. 

Supernatural 

  • Stosh holds a baseball card and thinks about going into the past. “It wasn’t long until I began to feel the tingling sensation in my finger. . . I closed my eyes and thought about Cincinnati in early October 1919. . . The tingling moved from my fingertips to my hands and then up my arms. . . And then, like a movie screen fading into white, I felt my body slipping away.” 

Rivals

Cooperstown! Josh is thrilled when his hard training pays off in a big way and his team, the Titans, makes it to a national tournament. The tournament is in Cooperstown, home of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. But more is on the line for Josh than just a trophy. Winning would mean everything to his dad—who is now Josh’s coach. Winning could mean a major endorsement deal for the Titans and the attention of big league scouts! 

After a dirty play and a brutal injury threaten to sideline Josh, he spies suspicious activity at the tournament. He tries to tell his friend Jaden about what he’s seen, but she’s too busy spending time with the L.A. Comets’ star player, Mickey Mullen Junior. Jaden says she’s doing research for the newspaper . . . but is she?  

Rivals’ fast-paced plot is centered around Josh, who clearly loves baseball, and his family. Because of this, Josh is willing to put himself in danger if it benefits his team or his family. For instance, when a speeding pitch smashes Josh’s eye, he does not want to sit out the rest of the game. When Josh’s parents disagree on the best course of action, they let Josh make the final decision, which is to finish the game. After the game, Josh goes to the hospital where he has to have surgery to repair the bone around his eye. Josh’s reason for continuing to play despite the dangers is admirable. However, his family’s reaction is disappointing. Josh’s father seems to care more about winning than about his son’s well-being. 

While the story revolves around baseball, mystery is added when Josh discovers a possible link between another team’s coach, Mickey Mullen, and an umpire who routinely makes bad calls that favor Mickey’s team. Now Josh has a rival—both on the field and off—as he swings for the fences in a game that quickly becomes more dangerous. 

Josh and his friends, Benji and Jaden, investigate in order to try to find proof that the umpire is being paid to make sure that Mickey’s team wins. When the kids finally find proof of the cheating conspiracy and share their evidence, the adults are unwilling to believe them. In the end, Mickey gets away with rigging the games. This thread of the story shows how cheating is wrong, but it gives an unclear message because no one is punished.  

Sports-loving readers will enjoy Rivals because of the realistic baseball action and the cheating mystery. It also addresses how not making it to the big leagues, does not make a sports player a failure. This example is shown when some people say Josh’s father is a failure because he only played in the minor leagues. But Josh’s father says, “Someone who does his best, goes as far as he can, and isn’t ashamed or frightened of the things he didn’t do? That’s a winner.”  

Sexual Content  

  • Benji thinks he’s a lady’s man. When Josh’s mom compliments Benji’s manners, he says “See? I’m like a magnet for women.” Josh groans, but Benji replies, “You can’t turn it on and off—you’re either suave or you’re not.” 
  • Benji sees Jaden and Mickey about to kiss. Benji says, “I’m telling you. You don’t look at each other standing there like that all smiling and everything when some serious kissing isn’t just around the next bend. Trust me. I know about these things.”  

Violence  

  • During a game, the pitcher intentionally throws a beanball at Josh. “The pitch struck him in the face. Josh saw stars and felt his body spin for just a split second before everything went fuzzy.” Josh finishes the game with a swollen eye. Afterwards, he is admitted to the hospital and has surgery to fix the injury. 
  • After a series of bad calls, a coach “ran right at the umpire. The coaches from both teams swarmed home plate, grappling with the head-coach-gone-crazy and fending him off the umpire. . . The umpire didn’t back down. In fact, he went after the Tallahassee coach — who was being restrained — and nearly got a punch off before two of the Comets’ assistant coaches got hold of him and dragged him away.” 
  • Josh spies on Myron, a movie star’s bodyguard. When Myron finds out, he confronts Josh. “Myron reached out with a long arm and snatched a handful of Josh’s T-shirt. He yanked him forward. . . Josh tried to pull away . . but Myron’s grip only tightened and Josh could feel the collar of his T-shirt cutting into his skin.” Myron takes Josh on a ride and threatens to destroy the boy’s family if he talks. 
  • Benji, Jaden, and Josh spy on Seevers, an umpire who they think is being paid to cheat. When the umpire sees the kids, he points a shotgun at them. “Josh didn’t think, he jumped, and when his feet hit the ground, they took off like three jackrabbits running for cover. The blast of the shotgun only made him run faster. He felt the hot rush of pellets swooshing overhead and hissing on through the night.”  
  • In order to get away from Seevers, the kids take a boat. Seevers follows them. “A shotgun blast roared and a spray of pellets thrashed on the side of the boathouse. Benji flew to the bottom of the boat.”  
  • The kids land the boat on a hotel’s lawn, where a party is taking place. Myron grabs Josh. “Josh felt Myron’s other hand grip him by the collarbone and probe beneath the bone for a jujitsu pressure point, Josh saw stars when Myron hit the nerve and he crumpled to the grass, paralyzed with pain.”  
  • To help his friend get free from Myron, Benji grabs a hot sauce bottle and squirts Myron in the eyes. “Myron screamed and pawed at his eyes. . . spinning and tripping and going down hard on the grass.” A reporter jumps in and threatens Myron: “Let him go or you’ll all be front-page news.” The kids are safe. This scene is described over 14 pages.  
  • During the championship game, Benji runs towards home plate. When the catcher turned to tag Benji, he “dipped his shoulder and plowed straight through the catcher. His shoulder caught the catcher in the chest and he drove upward. The catcher flew into the air, twisting as he fell.” The catcher drops the ball and Benji is safe. 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • The book makes several references to a steroid scandal from the first book of the series, Baseball Great. 
  • In the past, Josh’s father had a “Novocain shot directly into his shoulder joint.” 
  • While in the hospital, Josh is given an IV and pain medication. 
  • Jaden approaches a couple and asks for a ride to New York. The woman asks her, “Are you on drugs?” 
  • An adult smokes menthol cigarettes. 
  • Josh sees two men at a restaurant drinking beer. Later, one of the men is at home “cradling a whisky bottle against the fur on his naked chest.” 
  • Jayden calls someone a “phony cheating rat.”  

Language  

  • Occasionally, the characters call each other names including goofball, screwball, fathead, meathead, and various other names. 
  • Benji calls a shuttle driver a “crazy old bat.” In reply, the woman calls Benji and Josh brats. 
  • Heck, crap, and crappy are used occasionally.  
  • Darn is several times. 
  • When an umpire calls a player out, the coach yells, “You’re blind! You’re a moron! You’re a crook!” 
  • Benji calls Mickey Jullens, a rival player, “mullet head, maggot-face Mullens.” 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • While in the hospital, Josh’s parents need to decide what treatment Josh should receive. When discussing the options, Josh gives his opinion. His mom says that “God made parents” to decide what’s best for their children. 

Heart of a Champion

From the day Seth Barham first learns about earning run averages, slugging percentages, and walks-to-strikeouts ratios, he and Jimmy Winters are best friends. Over the years they eat and breathe baseball, and it seems as if nothing can ever break their bond. But as Seth discovers, gifted athletes like Jimmy are rarely perfect idols but rather complex, unpredictable people in their own rights. Here is a heartfelt tribute to those friends who come but once in a lifetime – the kind that change one’s life irrevocably and can never be forgotten. And here, too, is a moving testimony to the strength and courage that grow out of loss.  

Seth and Jimmy first connect over baseball and are soon inseparable friends. However, Heart of a Champion is told strictly through Seth’s eyes. This point of view allows the reader to see Seth’s insecurities and his inability to stand up for what he believes. Although Seth is a sympathetic character, his self-deprecating attitude becomes annoying, especially since Seth often reflects on how an athlete can be hardworking and dedicated but still “never amount to anything.” Seth doesn’t believe he can be a great player because he does not have natural talent. This allows Seth to put Jimmy on a pedestal, even though Jimmy is not always a good friend. 

Baseball fans will be entertained with the play-by-play baseball action as well as the discussions about famous baseball players like Babe Ruth. The story also focuses on the father-son relationship. Seth’s father died when he was a young child, and his death has left a deep hole in Seth’s life. Even though Seth doesn’t remember his father, he misses having a father in his life. In comparison, Jimmy sometimes wishes his father was dead because his father is an alcoholic who makes promises he can’t keep. Even though the story doesn’t go in depth about the psychological effects of having a broken father-son relationship, readers will relate to both boys who desperately need a strong father figure in their life. 

Heart of a Champion also shows the dangers of alcohol. Others talk Seth into drinking, and at first, Jimmy has the strength of character to keep sober. As the book progresses, Seth realizes that when it comes to moral issues, such as drinking, “You don’t decide anything important once. . . What really happens is that you have to decide again and again, every day, every hour, every minute.” Jimmy eventually dies after he gets drunk and drives into a tree. But since the reader doesn’t see Jimmy’s struggle with alcohol, his death doesn’t have a strong impact.  

Sports fans will enjoy Heart of a Champion because of the sports action as well as how Seth and Jimmy connect over baseball. Because the story describes many of the boy’s baseball games, Heart of a Champion is best suited for readers who have a general understanding of baseball. The well-written story weaves in important life lessons about honesty, friendship, and the dangers of alcohol. While the story’s conclusion is tragic, it reminds readers that one decision can lead to unintended consequences that affect everyone around you. Baseball-loving readers who want more baseball action should read The Brooklyn Nine by Alan Gratz and Heat by Mike Lupica. However, if you want a sport-related book that deals with hard-hitting issues like depression, drinking, and difficult family life, grab a tissue and the Hazelwood High Trilogy by Sharon M. Draper. 

Sexual Content  

  • When Jimmy and Seth try out for the baseball team, the coach says, “I want you here — on the baseball diamond — not out drinking or getting your girlfriend pregnant.” 
  • Jimmy’s father begins dating a string of young women. 

Violence  

  • Jimmy and his mom move to another town. Jimmy explains, “Two nights ago my father pounded on the door about midnight. When my mother opened it a crack, he shoved his way in. He screamed that she had a guy with her, and that he was going to kill them both. . . Then he grabbed her and started shaking her. She has bruises on both her arms.”  
  • During the summer, Jimmy and Seth play baseball at the park. A kid named Dayley begins playing with them. The other players were afraid of Dayley because “he was big and strong and mean. Everyone said that in a fight he once pounded a guy’s head into a wall and knocked him unconscious.”  
  • During a game, Jimmy intentionally runs into Comin, another player. Seth describes the incident: “I can still see Comin pivot. I can still see Jimmy barreling in on him. And I can still see Comin pinwheeling into the air. But most of all I can remember Comin landing, and the weird way his knee bent under him, and the sound it made, a popping sound I’ve never heard before or since. . .” Medics arrived and “lifted him onto the stretcher, his lower leg flopping like a strand of cooked spaghetti.” Comin has to have surgery, but the readers don’t learn if Comin has lasting injuries.  
  • A car full of teenagers hits a dog. “The spaniel was thrown fifteen, twenty feet in the air. . . the driver burned rubber as he tore away. . . [the dog] was lying on his side, panting heavily, blood trickling from his mouth. . . He blinked a few times, closed his eyes, opened them once more. Then the breath went out of him for the final time.” The dog’s owner assumed the driver was “some drunk high-school kid.” 
  • During a game, Franks, one of the players, intentionally runs into the catcher. “Instead of sliding, Franks put his shoulder down and barreled into the catcher. When the dust settled, the catcher was rolling around in the dirt holding his shoulder and moaning.” The coach benches Franks. 
  • Todd, another one of the baseball players, confronts Jimmy about his drinking. In response, Jimmy calls Todd names. Then, “Todd took a swing at Jimmy, catching him on the top of the head and knocking him back over the bench.” Two other players break up the fight. 
  • During a game, Seth is batting and he lets a ball hit him. “I took the fastball square in the back. The pain roared up my spine, and filled my brain, bringing me to my knees. I don’t know what it feels like to be shot, but it can’t feel a whole ton worse than being hit by a ninety-mile-an-hour fastball.”  
  • Jimmy and some of the guys from the team go out drinking. Jimmy left first. Later, two guys, “were driving home when we saw his Camaro piled into a tree. . . The police were there. . . but the Camaro didn’t look all that smashed up.” Jimmy dies. 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • Jimmy’s father, Mr. Winter, is an alcoholic, who often drinks beer around Jimmy and Seth. For example, when Seth visits Jimmy, “Mr. Winter was stretched out on the sofa, a beer in his hand and a slew of empties on the floor.” Despite this, Mr. Winter drives Seth home. 
  • Tustin, a high school student, takes Jimmy and Seth to his hideout in the woods. When he offers the boys a cigarette, Seth takes one. Then, “Tustin reached behind him, opened up an old box, and pulled out a six-pack of Budweiser.” Seth drinks the beer, but Jimmy refuses to drink.  
  • While at the hideout, Tustin says, “Sometimes, I come up here in the afternoon and take off my clothes so that I’m nice and cool and comfortable. Then I lie back on this mattress and drink a few beers and flip through those [pornographic] magazines.” 
  • One of Seth’s teammates invites some of the guys to his house. “Todd kept asking Jimmy if he wanted a beer. The more Jimmy said no, the more Todd pushed.” Eventually, both Seth and Jimmy get drunk. Afterward, Seth pukes all over himself and has a terrible hangover; however, the players begin drinking together every week or two. 
  • Jimmy’s father eventually goes into “some alcohol treatment program” and stops drinking. 
  • Jimmy and Seth go to a wedding. As they leave, Jimmy takes “a couple of bottles of champagne.” The boys drink the champagne, get drunk, and then Jimmy drives Seth home. 
  • Jimmy begins drinking regularly and skipping school. One of Jimmy’s teammates says, “Jimmy’s found some hole-in-the-wall grocery where he can buy beer. He’s been hounding guys to go drinking with him.” 

Language  

  • In order to play on the same team, Jimmy asks Seth to lie about where he lives. When Seth’s mom refuses, Jimmy says, “Your mother is a total bitch.” 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • During a game, Seth prays that a pitcher would be yanked from the game.  
  • During Jimmy’s funeral, “the minister started by talking about what a tragedy it was. . . and how God might have had Jimmy die so other kids might learn, and how it might actually be for the better.” 

Throw Like a Girl

When softball star Liv Rodinsky throws one ill-advised punch during the most important game of the year, she loses her scholarship to her fancy private school, her boyfriend, and her teammates all in one fell swoop. With no other options, Liv is forced to transfer to the nearest public school, Northland, where she’ll have to convince their coach she deserves a spot on the softball team, all while facing both her ex and the teammates of the girl she punched. . . Every. Single. Day.

Enter Grey, the injured star quarterback with amazing hair and a foolproof plan: if Liv joins the football team as his temporary replacement, he’ll make sure she gets a spot on the softball team in the spring. But it will take more than just a flawless spiral for Liv to find acceptance in Northland’s halls, and behind that charismatic smile, Grey may not be so perfect after all. 

Readers will instantly connect with Liv, who is a hard-working, spunky protagonist worthy of admiring. When Liv is forced to change schools, she is determined to prove that she will be an asset to the softball team. Even though Liv joins the football team to impress the softball coach, Liv doesn’t slack or complain. Because of her competitive nature, Liv gives the football team 100% and proves to the players and the coaches that she is an integral part of the team. While Liv’s work ethic and athletic ability are admirable, Liv’s loyalty to her family and friends makes her lovable. However, Liv is not portrayed as a perfect person; teens will relate to Liv’s flaws and insecurities. Plus, Liv’s lively personality makes Throw Like a Girl incredibly fun to read.  

Liv is surrounded by well-developed and likable supporting characters. Liv’s family is an important part of the story and her little brother is adorable. While Liv’s family don’t always agree with each other, they (usually) don’t hide secrets from each other. The family’s healthy dynamics make it easy to fall in love with them. However, Grey steals the show with his winning smile, his charismatic personality, and his confidence in Liv’s football skills. There are plenty of swoon-worthy moments that will have the reader’s hearts melting.  

Throw Like a Girl has the perfect amount of football action, teen drama, and romantic moments. In addition, the story has a positive message because Liv learns that “standing up for yourself doesn’t mean walking away.” Readers will cheer for Liv when she’s on and off the field and by the end of the book, Liv will feel like a favorite friend. Throw Like a Girl is so charming that it will appeal to both sports fans and romance enthusiasts. For more sports and swoon-worthy moments read Defending Taylor by Miranda Kenneally and Better Off Friends by Elizabeth Eulberg .

Sexual Content  

  • When Liv first begins playing football, she is nervous about being a quarterback. During practice, Liv is uncomfortable because “for the eighth time in so many minutes, my hands are hovering near the rear-end seam of his pants. Like, right underneath his junk. Big, bulgy, manly junk.” 
  • Before a football game, Grey meets Liv outside the girl’s locker room. Grey’s “fingertips graze my cheek, moving down until they gently tip up my chin. My pulse stutters. . .” Before they can kiss, a friend interrupts them.  
  • When Liv drives Grey home, they sit in the car and talk. Then, “Grey closes the space between us, his lips warm against mine. They’re softer than I imagined, but the scrape of stubble pressing into my chin is 100 percent rough-and-tumble boy.” They stop when the porch light comes on. 
  • Grey and Liv kiss often. However, most of the kisses are not described. For example, Grey shows up at Liv’s house to check on her and her “arms lock his neck, lips to his.” 
  • During one conversation, between Liv and Grey, she thinks “We’ve made out and I’d love to do it again rightthehellnow. . .” Later in the conversation, Grey asks Liv to be his girlfriend. Liv “answer[ed] him with a kiss. Hard and full.”  
  • When his parents are away for the weekend, Grey invites Liv in and takes her to his bedroom. Then he tells Liv a secret. Liv “close the distance between us, twisting to push up onto my knees, draping my arms over his shoulders. . . I’m looking down on him, my chest touching his, the end of my hair pooling against his collarbone. . . And then I kiss him.” The scene ends here. 
  • Liv and Grey have an argument. A few days later, at football practice, they make up. “Even with the eyes of our teammates on us, he dares to touch my face, his strong hands cupping my cheeks, rough thumbs dusting my mouth in the breath before his lips crash into mine. Immediately, I wrap my arms around his waist. The hard planes of his chest conform to my curves. . . The wolf whistles start. . . It’s only by sheer, indoctrinated willpower that I’m able to pull myself out of the kiss.” 

Violence  

  • Liv’s sister, who is a lesbian, is the softball coach. During a softball game, a member of the opposing team, Kelly, says, “Does it bother you? Your sister being paid to check out your teammates?” When the game is over, Liv attacks Kelly. Liv describes, “The knuckles of my hand smack her straight across the ski jump of her obnoxiously pert nose, and we tumble to the infield dirt. I have her pinned, my butt across her kidneys, knees on either side of her squirming stomach.” When the girls are torn apart, Kelly has a bloody nose and Liv has a black eye. The fight is described over three pages.  
  • During a football game, the opposing team is unnecessarily rough. One of the payers, Jake, gets tackled and afterwards he does not move. The coaches go out to check on him and call for a medic. Liv “exhale[s] as I realize that though they’re keeping him steady, not a single one is gripping him like he’s not moving under his own power. I can see Jake’s mouth moving. Blood streaming down from a cut over his left eye.” Jake is not seriously hurt.  

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • During dinner, Liv’s adult sister drinks wine and her father “pops open a beer.” 
  • Grey takes Tylenol for a headache.  
  • After Liv goes on a date, her dad waits up for her. When she arrives, he has a “beer in hand.” Another time when Liv gets home, her father and sister are waiting for her and they both are drinking beer. 
  • Before the story begins, Grey was driving drunk and crashed into a tree. The accident isn’t described.  

Language  

  • Profanity is used profusely. Profanity includes ass, asshole, bastard, bitch, crap, damn, dick, freaking, goddammit, hell, and shit. 
  • God is frequently used as an exclamation.  
  • Christ and Jesus are used as an exclamation several times. 
  • After fighting the opposing team, Liv thinks, “Maybe all the soccer players in Kansas City are smart enough to know that gay people aren’t pedophiles.” 
  • When a football player flips someone off, the coach says, “Put down that hand, Rogers, or I’m taking that finder as a sacrifice to the god of high school football. Might take that senior captain title, too, for good measure.” 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • While talking about sports, Liv’s best friend says, “God did not make you a volleyball player, that’s for sure . . .” 

Nic Blake and The Remarkables: The Manifestor Prophecy

Nic Blake has a secret to keep from the rest of the world—she has a magical power called the Gift. This makes her, like her father, a Remarkable. Nic explains her life as a Remarkable in an Unremarkable world, “an Unremarkable . . . doesn’t have the Gift or any supernatural ability.” Nic knows that the majority of people in her town are Unremarkables and that “a majority of Unremarkables don’t know about the Gift or know that Remarkable creatures exist. Though Nic knows she has these powers, she still does not know how to use them. As she is about to have her twelfth birthday, Nic is excited that, “My dad’s gonna teach me how to use the Gift so I can finally be a real Manifestor.” Nic reveals, “Although we Manifestors are born with the Gift inside of us, we still have to learn how to use it, and there are lots of ways to use it, too.”

In Jackson, Mississippi, Nic is happily living with her father, Calvin, and hanging out with her best friend, JP. Her world is about to change, however, when Nic’s mother, who Nic has not seen since she was a baby, suddenly reappears in her life—along with a twin brother, Alex, whom Nic didn’t know she even had. Nic’s twin brother Alex and Nic’s mom reveal that they had to find Nic because her father has been accused of stealing a magical weapon by the Remarkable government. Nic’s mom and her brother have come all the way from the land they call home, Uhuru, a super technologically advanced city where only Remarkables live, to find Nic.

When Nic’s dad is accused of stealing a dangerous, magical weapon, Nic, JP, and Alex must set out on a quest to find the magical weapon and prove that Nic’s father is innocent. Along the way, Nic shows herself to be an extremely insightful Manifestor, even though she doesn’t know how to control the Gift. Throughout the novel, Nic learns more about her powers as well as how they connect with her ancestry. For instance, Nic recalls a story about how some of her ancestors who were caught by slavecatchers were freed by a Manifestor who “whispered ancient words to them, and they remembered who they were . . . They flew off like birds to freedom.” Nic recognizes that the Gift “helps us when we need it,” and gradually learns how to use her powers.   

Nic is an extremely empathetic character, who struggles to comprehend having a mom and brother enter her life unexpectedly. Nic explains, “It feels like my world was made of sand and I didn’t know it, and a gigantic wave has crashed in, wiped it out, and left me with something that doesn’t resemble my life.” Readers will appreciate the sacrifices Nic makes to prove her father’s innocence, even though her family dynamic is completely uprooted. Nic thinks, “I never would’ve thought that my dad would be a wanted criminal . . . it’s hard to believe this is my life.” Nic’s father admits his mistakes in keeping secrets from her. Nic’s dad says, “No matter my reasoning, I kept you from an amazing mom and brother.”  

Another reason readers will love Nic is that she is a very open-minded character and treats each new person she meets with respect, Remarkable or not, because her father has taught her that “some Manfestors like to make sure other Remarkables know that [Manifestors] are the most powerful Remarkables. Dad says it’s silly; that as Black folks we’ve seen people like us get treated as inferior and we shouldn’t do that to others.”

A major theme in Nic Blake and The Remarkables is reconnecting with estranged or lost family. Nic is dealing with a lot: “finding out I was kidnapped, that my dad may be a criminal, and that I have a mom and a twin brother.” Throughout the novel, Nic has to learn to trust and rely on Alex to help her navigate through Uhuru. Alex shows Nic how to use Uhuru’s technology. But Nic also helps Alex by demonstrating bravery, such as when she approaches a dragon for help, while “Alex whimpers.” In this way, both Nic and Alex bring something to the table and help each other on their journey. Alex and Nic’s relationship adds a great deal of heart to the story, as they realize that they actually have a lot in common, they even begin to call this “twin telepathy.”

Nic Blake and The Remarkables ends on a cliffhanger, with Nic receiving a threatening message from an anonymous source because she has found and returned the magical weapon. The threat tells Nic, “You think you’re gonna get away with finding what I hid?” This ending will certainly keep readers on their toes and excited to read the next book. Readers who enjoy stories with fantasy, action, and family will find this book absolutely delightful. Nic’s journey leaves readers with an amazing message about trusting in your own abilities. As Nic says, “The power to save myself, it lies within me.” 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • Nic’s powers accidentally knock out her Uncle Ty. Nic explains, “Our hands touch, and everything happens in a flash. Uncle Ty’s Glow goes out like a fire doused with water, and a jolt shoots through my palms, making my own aura glow so bright, it blinds me . . . [Uncle Ty] hits the ground with a thud.” Uncle Ty recovers quickly, but Nic feels extremely worried that she accidentally hurt someone.  
  • Nic and her dad visit a Civil Rights Museum when her dad tells her what happened to Emmett Till. Nic explains what her father taught her about the event, saying, “[Emmett] was accused of whistling at a woman. I didn’t think it was that big of a deal, but Dad said that back then because Emmett was Black and the woman was white, some people did think it was a big deal. The woman’s husband and brother-in-law kidnapped Emmett in the middle of the night and killed him. [Emmett] was fourteen; a kid like me.” 
  • Nic and JP encounter a Boo Hag, which Nic explains is like a vampire except that these creatures “live off breath instead of blood. They climb on victims at night and suck the oxygen from their bodies, and sometimes they steal the person’s skin.” 
  • Nic and her friends encounter a ghost-like creature called a haint. JP asks the haint how he died: “[the haint] points at a tree, hangs his head, and holds his hand up as if it’s a rope. ‘Oh,’ JP murmurs. ‘You were lynched.’” 
  • Based on his interpretation of a prophecy, Uncle Ty believes that he is meant to defeat Nic and attacks her. Nic says, “My brain doesn’t process what he’s said until the lightning bolt whizzes straight for me.” Nic is able to escape Ty with her mom and dad’s help.  

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • Nic’s father gets her a hellhound as a birthday present: “The woods dissolve, revealing my backyard, and that fire-breathing, gigantic hellhound is a tail-wagging little hellhound pup.” 
  • Nic explains the difference between the Gift and magic. “The Gift is an innate power that lives in us Manifestors. Magic, on the other hand, is a corrupt form of the Gift. It’s hard to control and super destructive. Also, magic in real life can only be performed with a wand, and the magic in wands runs out after a while. We Manifestors don’t need wands.” 
  • While Nic is in the kitchen, “a deep growl rattles the door to the basement.” Nic asks, “Is that the demon you caught at the governor’s mansion?” Nic’s dad explains that it is a demon, saying, “I swear, demons can’t stay away from that place.” 
  • Nic can identify other Remarkables. Nic says, “the Remarkables light the place up a bit thanks to the Glow, different-colored auras that tell you the kinda Remarkable they are.” 
  • Nic’s dad creates an illusion of stars on her ceiling. “With the wave of his hand, my ceiling disappears and a night sky takes its place.” 
  • Nic’s father’s best friend, whom she calls Uncle Ty, gives Nic a G-Pen. Uncle Ty explains that the “Gift-Infused technology” can only be bought in Remarkable cities. The G-Pen allows Nic to “write to any [Remarkable person] with it, and they’ll see it wherever they are . . . You simply think about the person and write to them in midair.” 

Spiritual Content  

  • JP has very religious parents. JP’s parents tell him, “Phones are quick access to the Devil.”  
  • Nic’s neighbor, Mr. Zeke, takes a trip to “a Remarkable city or historic site” each year, and this year “he went to Africa to see the Garden of Eden.” 
  • Nic and her friends encounter a woman named DD, but they realize something about her real identity. Nic says, “You’re the Devil’s daughter,” and then Nic hears, “Countless voices wail as a cackle echoes in the distance, sounding as evil as the Devil himself. That’s because it is the Devil himself.” 
  • JP saves Nic from the Devil’s daughter by chanting “Jesus” and “holding a cross made of forks, spoons, and rubber bands like a shield. [JP] points it in DD’s direction. ‘Jeeee-suuus!’ The skeletal hands explode into dust, freeing [Nic].” 

Ruin and Rising

Following his successful attack on the Grand Palace, the Darkling now rules Ravka from his shadowy throne. Alina, Mal, and what remains of the Second Army escape through Ravka’s underground tunnels, which are controlled by the Apparat. The Apparat, formerly the King’s spiritual advisor, now leads the cult that has formed around those who consider Alina the Sun Saint. But Alina’s light summoning powers are useless so far underground, and she fears the Apparat will attempt to use her as a puppet for his own gain. Even though Alina and her friends are safe, Alina feels uneasy, and is determined to escape the Apparat’s clutches and return aboveground to defeat the Darkling. 

Eventually, Alina and her friends manage to make it out. They reunite with old allies and set off on a harrowing journey to obtain a powerful tool that just might be the key to finally defeating the Darkling: the firebird, the third and final of Morozova’s legendary creatures that, once killed, can serve as powerful amplifiers. Although Alina already possesses two of Morozova’s amplifiers, more than any other Grisha has, it has not been enough to match the ancient Darkling, who has had centuries to hone his powers. 

But nothing in the world of Grisha is ever straightforward. Alina is entering completely uncharted territory and attempting to stretch her powers to unprecedented lengths. The more she discovers about the firebird and Morozova’s history, the more she begins to doubt her plan. In the end, Alina must decide if saving her beloved country is worth the immense sacrifices she would have to make. Only one thing is certain – no matter what Alina does, neither she nor Ravka will ever be the same. 

Ruin and Rising is a stunning conclusion to the Shadow and Bone Trilogy. This book is full of twists and turns and epic battles that will have readers on the edge of their seats. Nothing and nobody are ever what they seem to be, and the surprises will elicit plenty of gasps throughout the story. There will be tears, too – the losses and anxiety of war lead to heartbreaking revelations between characters who had fought as one. Betrayals abound and rivalries form, and nobody emerges from battle quite the same person they were before. 

Between the action-packed scenes, there are plenty of heartwarming interactions between characters that keep Ruin and Rising from getting too dark and remind readers of the humanity behind these otherwise ruthless soldiers. Every single character is complex and experiences tremendous character growth. Alina is by no means a perfect heroine, but it is in how she addresses her mistakes and strives to fix them that makes it impossible for readers not to root for her. Even the Darkling, by the end, is not meant to be looked at as pure evil, but rather as an overambitious child who let his hunger for power get the best of him in adulthood. This story, and these characters, will stay with readers long after they finish the last page. Readers interested in exploring another unique world with magic should also read the Legacy of Orïsha Series by Tomi Adeyemi and the Something Dark and Holy Series by Emily A. Duncan. 

Sexual Content  

  • When Nikolai, Alina’s friend and ally, asks Alina about her time underground, Alina says, “There’s not much to do underground besides train.” Nikolai jokes, “I can think of a few more interesting ways to spend one’s time.” 
  • Genya, Alina’s friend and former servant to the Ravkan King and Queen, describes how she poisoned the King. “‘I poisoned my skin, my lips. So that every time he touched me–’  She shuddered slightly and glanced at David. ‘Every time he kissed me, he took sickness into his body.’” In the first book, Genya confirmed that the King treated her as if she was a prostitute.  
  • The Darkling and Alina visit each other in dreams due to the connection between their powers. During one of these dream scenes, the Darkling kisses Alina. “He leaned in. I felt his breath against my neck, then the press of his mouth against my skin just above the collar, almost a sigh. ‘Don’t,’ I said. I drew back, but he held me tighter. His hand went to the nape of my neck, long fingers twining in my hair, easing my head back. I closed my eyes. ‘Let me,’ he murmured against my throat. His heel hooked around my leg, bringing me closer. I felt the heat of his tongue, the flex of hard muscle beneath bare skin as he guided my hands around his waist. ‘It isn’t real,’ he said. ‘Let me.’” Alina pushes him away soon after. 
  • When Alina goes to wake up David, she opens the door to David’s room to find “a very bleary Genya and David [blinking] up at [her] from beneath the covers of a single narrow cot.” 
  • When Alina and Mal talk to each other about their shared childhoods in the Keramzin orphanage, Mal sheepishly tells Alina, “‘I had some very . . . distracting thoughts about you. And I felt guilty for each one of them. You were supposed to be my best friend, not . . . ’ He shrugged and turned even redder.”  
  • Alina and Mal sleep together for the first time. “I drew him to me, felt him shudder as our bodies came together, skin against skin, felt the heat of his lips, his tongue, hands moving until the need between us drew taut and anxious as a bowstring waiting for release. He clasped his hand to my wrist and my mind filled with light. All I saw was Mal’s face, all I felt was his body –  above me, around me, an awkward rhythm at first, then slow and steady as the beat of the rain.”  

Violence  

  • In order to escape the underground tunnels, Alina and her friends fight the Apparat and his followers. “Mal had gotten hold of a sword, and his blade flashed as he cut through one guard, then the other. They toppled like trees. Two more advanced, but Tolya and Tamar were there to stop them. David ran to Genya’s side. Nadia and Zoya flipped another guard in the air. I saw Priestguards on the periphery raising their rifles to open fire.” This scene occurs over four pages. Several people are injured, but the only deaths are described above.  
  • Alina and her friends are ambushed by members of the First Army who want to take Alina back to the Darkling. Nikolai and his flying ship come to Alina’s aid, and they manage to escape, but Nikolai claims all the First Army soldiers have to die; he doesn’t want information of Alina’s whereabouts or allies to return to the Darkling. “Tolya and Tamar followed, cutting through the remaining ranks of militia while Nikolai and his crew tried to lend cover from above. I saw one of the militiamen break free and run for the woods. Tolya put a bullet through his victim’s back, and before the body had even hit the ground, the giant was turning, his hand forming a fist as he crushed the heart of another knife-wielding soldier looming up behind him.” This scene occurs over two pages. 
  • Baghra, Alina’s tutor, explains her family history and connection to Ilya Morozova, the famous Grisha who created the amplifiers Alina seeks. When she was a child, Baghra accidentally killed her sister using the Cut, a special power that severs anything in two, after she broke Baghra’s favorite toy. “Remember, if you can, that I was just a child, a lonely child, with so few treasures of my own. I lashed out at my sister. With the Cut. I tore her in two.”  
  • The Darkling kills Sergei, one of Alina’s allies. “In one movement, the nichevo’ya ripped Sergei’s limbs from his body and severed his head from his neck. [Alina] had the briefest glimpse of the shock on his face, his mouth open in a silent scream, then the pieces disappeared beneath the cloud bank.” 
  • Although Ravka is a safe haven for Grisha, other countries view Grisha as abominations. Harshaw, one of Alina’s allies who did not grow up in Ravka, says that “when [his] brother’s power showed itself, they cut his throat and hung him upside down to drain like a pig in a slaughterhouse.”  
  • Alina and her team attack the Darkling and his army. “The first shot struck one of the Darkling’s oprichniki [personal guard soldiers]. He toppled over the skiff’s railing. Then the shots came in a rapid patter, like raindrops on a rooftop at the start of a storm. Grisha and oprichniki slumped and fell against one another as confusion broke out aboard the glass skiff. I saw more bodies fall.” Many of the Darkling’s soldiers die or are injured, but Alina’s team remains unharmed.  
  • The Darkling brings in reinforcements, turning the tide of the battle. Alina describes, “I heard screams, shouting, our soldiers returning fire. A red stain appeared in the sand and with a lurch I realized that one of our people was bleeding.” Several, including Alina, are injured.  
  • When it becomes clear that the Darkling’s forces are too powerful, Mal convinces Alina to sacrifice him in order to take down the Darkling. “With Mal’s fingers guiding mine, I shoved the knife up and into his chest. The momentum jerked me forward, and I stumbled. I pulled back, the knife falling from both our hands, blood spilling from the wound, but he kept his hold on my wrist. ‘Mal,’ I sobbed. He coughed and blood burbled from his lips. He swayed forward . . . He gasped, a wet rattle. His full weight slumped against me, dragging me down, fingers still clenched, pressed against my skin as if he were taking my pulse.” 
  • Alina stabs and kills the Darkling. “With one swift movement, I drove the shadow-wrapped blade deep into the Darkling’s heart. He made a soft sound, little more than an exhalation. He looked down at the hilt protruding from his chest, then back up at me. He frowned, took a step, tottered slightly. He righted himself. A single laugh burst from his lips, and a fine spray of blood settled over his chin. ‘Like this?’ His legs faltered. He tried to stop his descent, but his arm gave way and he crumpled, rolling to his back.” 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • Alina and her allies occasionally chew jurda, a stimulant used to stay awake (its effects are similar to coffee).  

Language  

  • “Saints” is used frequently as an exclamation, much like “Oh God.” 

Supernatural 

  • This book involves a magic system known as the Small Science, a way of manipulating matter in a way that appears supernatural or magical. Those who can wield the Small Science are known as Grisha; many of the main characters in this novel are Grisha.  
  • The Grisha are split into three orders: Corporalki (the Order of the Living and the Dead), Etherialki (the Order of Summoners), and Materialki (the Order of Fabrikators).  
  • The Darkling and Baghra are Shadow Summoners, while Alina is a Sun Summoner; these are unique abilities that no other known Grisha possesses. For example, Alina summons light for the first time since going underground. Alina “felt the light, miles above me – so tentative, barely a whisper. Panic gripped me. The distance was too great. I’d been foolish to hope. Then it was as if something within me rose and stretched, like a creature that had lain idle for too long. Its muscles had gone soft from disuse, but it was still there, waiting. I called and the light answered with the strength of the antlers at my throat, the scales at my wrist. It came to me in a rush, triumphant and eager . . . The light slammed through me and burst over the room in a blinding cascade that illuminated the almost comical expression on the Apparat’s face.” 
  • Alina describes some of the contents of Morozova’s journals. Ilya Morozova was one of the first known Grisha, famous for his inventions, his dedication to studying the Small Science, and his creation of the three amplifiers. “His early journals chronicled his experiments: the blacked-out formula for liquid fire, a means of preventing organic decay, the trials that had led to the creation of Grisha steel, a method for restoring oxygen to the blood, the endless year he’d spent finding a way to create unbreakable glass. His skills extended beyond those of an ordinary Fabrikator, and he was well aware of it.”  

Spiritual Content  

  • Many Ravkans worship Saints, and some consider Alina a living Saint, and call her Sankta Alina (Saint Alina) or Sol Koroleva (Sun Queen). 

Serena Says

Serena Says follows a sixth-grade girl named Serena as she navigates a changing friendship dynamic with her former best friend, JC. Now that she’s in middle school, Serena struggles to balance her many assignments and projects while watching her former best friend become closer with another girl. In addition, Serena must navigate meeting a new friend, Harrison, and opening up to her mom about her friendship struggles; but the main focus of the book is Serena’s emotional growth as she recognizes how she can be a better friend to others.  

Serena is a character that readers will relate to, as she tackles issues many readers will face in middle school—such as changing friendship dynamics. Serena admits to feeling upset that she becomes distanced from her best friend, and when JC chooses to hang out with Leilani, Serena desperately wants to “make JC like me as much as she had before.” Serena’s best friend, JC, is also empathetic, and though Serena’s feelings are hurt when JC starts spending more time with another friend, it is important to consider JC has faced a very difficult surgery and her life has changed drastically. After having a kidney transplant, JC has to take a lot of medication and limit her exposure to other people in order to keep her healthy. JC explains how she hates having to keep returning to the hospital: “I hate this room. I hate this place. I hate everything. I want to go home, but Mom and the doctor are making me stay here.” This helps Serena begin to understand why JC has been acting differently since her kidney replacement. Eventually, both girls are able to be friends again and even if their friendship is different than it was in the past, this shows readers that people grow and change, and sometimes people are struggling with things you don’t know about that affect their emotions and everyday life.   

Another theme in Serena Says is mental health, as Serena finds out that her friend Harrison’s brother is in a mental health hospital called New Vista. Serena initially is afraid to ask Harrison about his feelings about this, but eventually, she learns to be an empathetic listener. Serena explains that her mom works in New Vista and says, “At our house, the word ‘crazy’ is worse than a swear. Mom says it’s a term people use when they’re too lazy to do the hard work of understanding and empathy.” Serena is extremely sympathetic to Harrison and offers him support and ideas of how to reconnect with his brother after his stay in the hospital, advising him to do activities they enjoyed when they were young—like hiking.

The book has excerpts of Serena filming herself discussing her everyday life for her sister’s YouTube channel; however, these sections might be distracting for some readers because Serena goes on a lot of tangents during them. The overall message of showing empathy towards others, even when people we think are our best friends hurt our feelings, still permeates throughout the novel and is important for readers to see. Furthermore, younger readers who enjoy faster-paced novels or action stories may find this novel hard to get into, as the majority of the novel simply follows Serena at home or school, living her everyday life.  

An important message for young readers in this novel is that though Serena is sad about her changing relationship with JC, Serena is able to come to a mature conclusion about their friendship: “Even if we weren’t best friends, I was glad we could still be friends.” Serena also realizes that JC is struggling with her health in ways that Serena cannot truly understand. For instance, JC explains to Serena, “I’m the one who has to have blood tests and all of these pills, all the time, for weeks and months and years…I’m the one who can’t go outside, or my nanay [Mom] freaks and wants to make me wear a mask—even if I’m just walking in the YARD by MYSELF.” This helps Serena to understand why JC may be acting differently and leaves readers with an important message of showing empathy toward others, especially when you may not understand what it is like to be in their shoes.  

Though younger readers may have trouble getting hooked on Serena Says, the messages surrounding friendship, empathy, and personal growth are clear and vital for young readers. Serena and JC’s friendship is explored in-depth, but from Serena’s point of view, which may make it hard for some readers to sympathize with JC at all. Overall, readers around age twelve, like Serena, will likely be able to relate to her struggles with balancing school, work, and friendship.  

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • Serena’s friend wonders if Harrison’s brother abuses substances. The friend says, “I wonder if [Harrison’s] brother did drugs, and that’s how he got put at New Vista.” Harrison’s brother is in fact a patient at New Vista, but it is not because of substance abuse. Serena learns that Harrison’s brother has “mixed-features bipolar disorder” and his doctors were struggling to find the right medication to help him feel better.  
  • Serena tells a story about a time when she was little and became extremely upset when she thought her grandfather was drinking a beer, but it was actually a root beer soda. Serena says, “Eventually, [Grandpa] gets us straightened out, and I understood that there’s a difference between an ADULT beverage and a root beer.” 
  • Serena talks with Harrison about their Red Ribbon Week which raises awareness about the negative impacts of drugs. Serena says, “I know people shouldn’t do drugs . . . some drugs are legal though.” Harrison exclaims, “Not all of them . . . The point is that drugs destroy lives.” 

Language  

  • Rarely, Serena and her friend, Harrison, call each other “dorks” endearingly.  
  • When discussing Harrison’s brother being a patient at a hospital, JC says, “Harrison Ballard’s brother is a psycho?” Serena immediately tells her that word is not appropriate to use.  

Supernatural 

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Treasure Island: Runaway Gold

Three kids. One dog. And the island of Manhattan laid out in an old treasure map.  

Zane is itching for an adventure that will take him away from his family’s boarding house in Rockaway, Queens—and from the memory of his dad’s recent death. Some days it seems like the most exciting part of his life is listening to his favorite boarder, Captain Maddie, recount her tales of sailing the seven seas. 

But when a threatening crew of skater kids crashes the boardinghouse, a dying Captain Maddie entrusts Zane with a secret: a real treasure map, leading to a spot somewhere in Manhattan. Zane wastes no time in riding the ferry over to the city to start the search with his friends Kiko and Jack, and his dog, Hip-Hop.  

Through strange coincidence, they meet a man who is eager to help them find the treasure: John, a sailor who knows all about the buried history of Black New Yorkers of centuries past—and the gold that is hidden somewhere in those stories. But as a vicious rival skateboard crew follows them around the city, Zane and his friends begin to wonder who they can trust. And soon it becomes clear that treasure hunting is a dangerous business . . . 

Treasure Island: Runaway Gold reimagines Robert Louis Stevenson’s iconic book Treasure Island. While the books have a similar plot line, many of the original story’s details are changed. Treasure Island: Runaway Gold revolves around Zane and his three friends, who are searching for a lost pirate treasure. Along the way, they meet Captain John, who claims that he wants to help the kids find the treasure but doesn’t want a share of the prize for himself. Right from the start, many red flags show that Captain John cannot be trusted, and Captain John eventually betrays Zane’s trust. However, Captain John was clearly a villain from the start, so his betrayal feels anticlimactic.  

The first chapter jumps right into action and there is never any lull. Fast-paced action scenes dominate the book. Despite this, the book finds time to shine a light on how Black slaves were used to build Wall Street and other important Manhattan buildings. In death, many were buried in a graveyard. However, “colonists didn’t care about a Black cemetery. For centuries, folks kept building over and through their graves.” This historical information blends seamlessly into the story, creating a cohesive mystery that is tied to the pirate treasure.  

Readers who want a story with plenty of action and suspense will quickly be swept away by Treasure Island: Runaway Gold. However, the story’s fast pace doesn’t leave a lot of room for character development, the ending is rushed, and readers will be left with many questions. Despite these flaws, Treasure Island: Runaway Gold uses an interesting premise to teach about Black history.  

A few black-and-white illustrations are scattered throughout the book, which helps bring the events to life. In addition, the back of the book has a glossary of Zane’s skateboarding tricks and an Afterword that explains “how the [enslaved] Black people contributed to New York becoming the economic heart of the world,” as well as how “Thomas Downing, the son of enslaved people,” used his wealth to fund the Underground Railroad. Readers who want to learn more about the Underground Railroad should also read The Underground Abductor: An Abolitionist Tale about Harriet Tubman by Nathan Hale and Some Places More Than Others by Renée Watson. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • Zane has a friend named Jack, who has an abusive father. Zane explains, “Since second grade, I’ve known the pattern. Dad home, Jack had accidents. Bruises, sprains. A black eye.” Later it is revealed that his father once broke Jack’s arm. 
  • Jack shows up at the skate park with “his body tilting left while his hand holds his side. Kiko says, ‘His dad still thinks he’s a punching bag.’ ” The conversation stops there. 
  • Zane gets home and finds, “it looks like a bomb has hit the dining room. Broken plates, shattered glasses, oatmeal, soft eggs, and crushed toast are on the floor. . .” Zane runs upstairs to find Captain Maddie “passed out cold.” Zane’s mother explains that skater kids and “that nasty boy came in frightening our guests, tearing up the place. Demanding to see Captain Maddie.” 
  • When the doctor comes, Captain Maddie, “is upright, flailing a small knife, slick with blood.” Captain Maddie dies. The doctor says, “The shock was too much for her. Probably an aneurysm.”  
  • During the night, the skater kids come back to Zane’s house. “Six skaters dressed in black, canvassing the house . . . Hip-Hop dives, racing across the grass, and bites someone. A scream. Jack is right behind Hip-Hop, punching right, left. . . Zane and his friends begin throwing baseballs at them . . . Some boys try blocking with their skateboards. Others limp away. Another runs. . .” 
  • Zane, Jack, and Kiko go to Manhattan to look for treasure. The skater crew swarms them. “Brave, ready for a fight, Jack sails into the gang, his board sideswiping other boards, his hands shoving, unbalancing the skater. . . A kid pulls Jack’s arms behind his back. . . [Zane] pull[s] the kid off Jack while Jack punches back at three kids trying to get a hit.” 
  • As the fight continues, “Jack gets pinned, his face against asphalt. I tug one kid off before I’m pounded in the gut and taken down.” At the end of the fight, “bloodred bruises cover his [Jack’s] face and arms. More, I know, are hidden beneath his shirt. He took the brunt of the beating. . .” The fight is described over five pages. No one is seriously injured.   
  • Zane and his friends are on a boat driven by John when the skater boys begin to “tail our boat, edging closer and closer, gunning, then leveling the engine. Almost like he’s going to ram us.” The skater boys’ boat gets so close that “a wall of water rises, slaps, and [Zane] topple[s] overboard.” 
  • John, Zane, and his friends sneak under a restaurant that was used to hide slaves. When men hear them, the men give chase. Zane describes, “The men are closer. Close. I’m not going to make it. . . I kick. The man grunts, stumbles back. . . Jack, beside John, is furiously pitching oyster shells. With a grunt, he throws his weight against a shelf filled with dusty jars, and jugs. The shelf falls, crashing, shattering glass and ceramic.” John, Zane, and his friends slip under the restaurant and escape. 
  • Zane and Kiko sneak into the old Woolworth’s building. A guard sees them entering an elevator and the guard gives chase. Zane shouts, “startling the guard, using my skateboard to whack his hand away.”  
  • One of the skater boys, Findley, grabs Hip-Hop and puts him in a sack. Matt, another boy, grabs Zane. Zane describes how Matt “twist[s] my arm. My knees buckle. He punches, kicks me. I crumple.”  
  • Kiko tries to help Zane. She grabs a cane and “like lightening, the cane flashes down on his arm, swings sideways—whack—slamming into [Matt’s] side. . . [Matt] dashing forward and back. Hopping left, then right. Feigning a punch. . .” Kiko uses the cane to smack Matt who “gasps, drops to his knees. He’s not unconscious, but it’s still a knockout . . .” The scene is described over three pages. 
  • In a multi-chapter conclusion, Jack reveals that when his father beats him, his mother “doesn’t defend me. Never did. Even when I was little, she said, ‘A boy needs to learn how to defend himself.’ When Dad started whaling on me, she left the mobile home.” 
  • John reveals that he is the lead of the skater boys’ gang, and takes Zane and Kiko to his secret hideout. John’s “first mate” Rattler makes sure Zane and Kido can’t escape. “Taunting, Rattler faces me as two pirates pin my arms beneath my back, roping my hands together.” Kiko is also tied up. Afterwards, Zane is hit occasionally. 
  • John’s secret hideout is under the city in an old, abandoned tunnel system. To search for treasure, John has his crew begin dynamiting the ceiling of a tunnel. “Gunpowder with wicks are driven into the tunnel’s sides, its unfinished ceiling.” Petey, who is about eight years old, is tasked with lighting the dynamite. When the dynamite goes off, “Petey tumbles. The torch arcs, twirls like a giant sparkler, landing on Petey’s back. . . Jack’s on it. Kicking aside the torch, he drops, patting Petey’s shirt, smothering flames. . . Petey groans. Beneath his shirt’s jagged burnouts, his skin is red, blistering.” Petey passes out and Kiko administers first aid. 
  • As the skater crew continues to set off explosions, the bones of the people buried there begin to fall. The kids are “tossing skeletons like ordinary sticks. . . ‘Look at this.’ A kid holds a skull and happily throws it to his mate.” Zane is upset that John and his crew are “disturbing graves.” 
  • John taunts Zane by saying, “Zane, a mama’s boy. Worse, a weak, whiny boy missing his dad.” Zane goes “berserk. I’m hitting, kicking, punching John. . . I fall flat, seeing stars. John slapped, shoved me.” When Zane and Kiko refuse to join John’s crew, they make them “walk the plank.”  
  • While in an underground abandoned subway, Zane and Kiko are forced to “walk the plank” which is an old pipe that is dangerously high. Kiko goes first and the crew begin throwing bones at her. “Findley lets a rib bone fly. Others throw rocks. Kiko wabbles, tries to duck low. Arms protecting her head, she shifts forward and back, side to side.” Kiko makes it across the pipe. 
  • As Zane walks the plank, “stones, skeletons fly. Rocks sail wide, especially from younger boys. Others bruise my shoulder and arm.” Zane makes it across the pipe. 
  • Zane and Rattler, one of the skater boys, duel it out by skating. After Zane has a good run, “Rattler leaps toward me, swinging his board at my head.” Kiko jumps in, “Knocking it out of his hands.” The fight ends. 
  • While in an underground tunnel, Zane, Kiko, and Hip-Hop find “hundreds of rats. Rats squeaking, running, crawling over one another. . . In his jaws, Hip-Hop snaps rat after rat. Shaking his head, he breaks their necks. He’s an efficient, killing machine. . . Hip-Hop has made a path—but it’s gross. Limp rats, blood. . .” 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • Jack’s father spends his money on alcohol instead of food and bills. 
  • John tells Zane that his “best mate” was a woman who would “drink gallons of rum and never spend a day hungover.” 
  • While talking about the history of slaves being used to build Wall Street, John says, “I need a swig. . .Rum helps set the mind straight.”  
  • Jack says, “Alcohol turns my dad into a wild man. . .” 
  • At one point, John is “sauntering off-balance” because he’s drunk. He offers Zane a flask and says, “Rum cures a lot of ills.” 
  • When a young boy is burned, Kiko gives him ibuprofen. 

Language  

  • Occasionally, there is name-calling such as brat, loser, failure, jerk, and traitor. 
  • John opens an old trunk expecting to see treasure. When the trunk is empty, he yells, “Aargh. Damnation.” 
  • John calls one of the skater boys a “gutless swine.” 

Supernatural 

  • Zane sees visions of the past. “Images like photographs. Now they seem like a silent movie. Figures move, stumble. I see a long line of shackled people, some stumbling, some wailing . . .” During the three-page vision, Captain Maddie shows Zane how slaves were used to build Wall Street.  
  • Occasionally Captain Maddie appears, but Zane is the only person who can see her ghost.  
  • Zane has a vision of Thomas Downing, a wealthy Black man who helped hide people who were escaping slavery. The vision guides Zane to the underground room where Thomas hid slaves.

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

The Siren Song

Charlotte Mielswetzski and her cousin, Zachary “Zee” Miller, may appear to be typical middle-school students, but their lives are far from ordinary. Only the realm of Greek Gods is aware of their extraordinary adventures. After successfully saving the Underworld from a coup by a god named Philonecron and restoring the lost shadows of their peers, they are forced to return to their mundane existence. Despite their heroic acts, Charlotte is faced with an indefinite grounding, while Zee is treated with extreme caution as if he is fragile. This lack of recognition for their bravery leaves them feeling unappreciated and misunderstood. However, they find solace in each other as they navigate the complexities of the hidden world they have become part of, and they form a bond that grows stronger with each passing day. 

But their newfound sense of normalcy is disrupted when Zee starts dating her best friend and seems to forget every aspect of their adventures. Charlotte becomes perplexed by her cousin’s sudden change in behavior and struggles to make sense of it all. Meanwhile, she must also contend with the challenges of being grounded, which leads to her feeling trapped and restricted in her everyday life.  

Just when it seems like things couldn’t get more complicated, Charlotte’s parents announce that they will be going on a special cruise for spring break. Initially, this appears to be a haven for Charlotte, a place where she can finally escape from the clutches of Philonecron. However, Charlotte doesn’t know Philonecron is the descendant of Poseidon, a powerful god of water who does not take kindly to being made a fool of. As Charlotte sets sail on the cruise, she unknowingly becomes the target of Philonecron’s and Poseidon’s wrath. The open sea that once seemed like a place of safety now becomes a battleground where Charlotte must face new challenges and dangers. 

While Charlotte is off on the cruise, facing her personal battles and grappling with the repercussions of her recent heroic act, Zee falls victim to a nefarious plot orchestrated by Philonecron and Proteus, a cunning and shape-shifting god. Proteus, in his quest to deceive and manipulate, assumes the form of Zee, ensuring that no suspicions are raised about the true nature of his absence. Under this guise, he cunningly delivers Zee into the clutches of Philonecron. Once in the clutches of Philonecron, Zee is immobilized on Poseidon’s luxurious yacht, a vessel that serves as a symbol of the god’s power. Unbeknownst to Zee, his fate intertwines with that of Charlotte’s, as she unexpectedly stumbles upon the captive duo during her final, climactic showdown with Poseidon himself. 

In a twist of fate and a convergence of destinies, Charlotte must confront not only the wrath of Poseidon but also the treacherous plans of Philonecron, all while navigating the tumultuous waters of her personal struggles. As the tension reaches its peak and the stakes grow higher, Charlotte’s path intersects with that of Zee, leading to a high-stakes battle that tests their courage, resilience, and the depth of their bond. 

If readers didn’t fall in love with Charlotte in the first novel, The Shadow Thieves, they will undoubtedly find themselves deeply enamored with her by the conclusion of The Siren Song. Throughout the story, Charlotte’s character shines as a remarkable embodiment of determination and strength, showcasing unwavering resolve and unyielding fearlessness in the face of adversity. Her unwavering determination and indomitable spirit make her an irresistible character that readers will surely cherish and admire. One of her greatest lines in the novel is when she addresses Poseidon before their final battle and says, “I’m afraid you’re just not that powerful, and now everyone here knows it. I mean, really, you’re all scared of him, but I beat him and I’m only in eighth grade.” 

The Siren Song is a captivating read that seamlessly continues the story of Charlotte and Zee’s thrilling and unforgettable adventures within the mythical world of Greek Gods. With its vivid and descriptive prose, the book effortlessly transports readers to a realm where ancient legends come to life, where the lines between reality and mythology blur, and where the power and allure of the Siren’s song beckons. Whether you are a fan of Greek mythology or simply looking for a captivating and immersive reading experience, The Siren Song is an absolute must-read that will leave you craving for more.   

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • Charlotte has recurring nightmares of dying in the River Styx. “Charlotte felt a shuffling around her, and before she could react she was being pushed toward the Styx. She wanted to fight back, to turn, to run, but she had no strength, no will. She could do nothing. She found herself on the banks, the heat from the river hitting her face . . . Charlotte stared at [Hades] as she fell into the River Styx.” 
  • Zee, similar to Charlotte, also is plagued by nightmares from the things they saw in the Underworld. “You would think that after the tenth time you dreamed that Harpies were attacking your family while you were chained to a cliff and forced to watch, it would become less upsetting — but, Zee could tell you, it had not.” 
  • Two men kidnap Zee, but he doesn’t go down without attempting to fight. “As panic welled up inside him, Zee kicked his left foot back as hard as he could toward the knee of the man on his left. Instead of making hard contact, his foot kept going past the plane of the leg, plunging right into the watery body. He heard a rippling sound and felt a strange vibration on his arm, and for a moment, the man’s grip loosened. Zee wrenched his body forward violently, bracing himself to kick the other man, when his eyes caught some sort of strange shifting in front of him. Suddenly the man in the aqua suit was gone, and Zee found himself face to face with — himself. Zee’s whole body went slack, his vision blurred, his stomach turned, his skin turned to ice.” 
  • Poseidon displays his rage by killing or torturing anyone who defies or questions him. A waitress that works for him asks him a question and he becomes enraged. “‘I’ll show you,’ he boomed, lifting the trident. The waitress screamed, and in one fluid motion, Poseidon pointed it directly at her. As Charlotte watched, frozen, a stream of green light came shooting from the trident and hit the women.” Poseidon turned her into a goldfish and left her struggling for air, but Poseidon made all his wait staff immortal so she couldn’t die.
  • Charlotte steals Poseidon’s trident which proves a struggle as she tries to harness the power of one of the strongest gods. It also enrages Poseidon causing a fight between him and Charlotte. Poseidon “stopped and, raising his arms above his head, summoned a spinning column of water from the choppy sea. The column moved rapidly toward Charlotte, who took a single step back, clutching the trident to her chest. Then a tremendous force slammed her into the wall of the ship. Her head hit the wall hard, and that was when everything went black. Charlotte awoke to find the trident lying next to her and a cackling Poseidon galloping toward her… Then a tentacle swopped down and crashed into Poseidon’s chariot . . . While Poseidon’s attention was diverted, Charlotte got up groggily and ran around to the stern to make her stand against the Ketos [another god], clutching the trident.” She is aided in her fight by a giant squid named Sir Laurence and Zee. Together, the three defeat Poseidon and take his trident to save Charlotte’s parents who are trapped on the cruise ship.  
  • The cruise ship that Charlotte’s parents were trapped in drifts off course and the damage to the ship causes a gas leak that renders everyone unconscious. Afterward “the ship’s doctor began examining everyone immediately and discovered that everyone seemed to survive the experience unscathed — everyone except one thirteen-year-old girl [Charlotte]. She had suffered a concussion and a lumbar sprain in her back. She also had big black and green bruises all over her body, tiny lacerations on her face, a sprained wrist, small cuts in her hands and knees, blisters on her hands, and bruised ribs. When questioned, she had no memory of what had happened to her — no one could press her, because they didn’t remember what had happened to them, either.” 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • The beginning of the book explains how Charlotte and Zee are tied to the world of Greek mythology through their last adventure in the Underworld. “The thing is, a few months before, in order to save all the sick kids, Charlotte and Zee had to sneak down to the Underworld — the Underworld as in the Greek mythology Underworld, which is actually real. In fact, as Charlotte learned last fall, much to her surprise all of Greek myths are real — Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, the whole bit . . . Hades is the god of the Underworld, and a minor god named Philonecron tried to overthrow him, and to make an army he’d stolen and enchanted kids’ shadows.” 
  • Charlotte steers a small lifeboat towards Poseidon’s yacht but encounters the monsters Scylla and Charybdis. Poseidon positioned them to prevent mortals from finding the boat.  “The water was moving, at first slowly and then in a rush, into the cave on a the right, and as Charlotte steered the boat away, she saw that there was a smaller cave inside the first. No, no, not a cave, but a mouth. A huge, gaping mouth, rimmed with pointy yellow teeth. There was a monster in the cave — green and around and the size of a house, with pink eyes on six wavering tentacles and an open mouth that seemed to take up its whole body.” Charlotte escapes death with the help of a friend. 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

A Soft Place to Land

Janae Marks’ novel follows twelve-year-old Joy as she and her family move from their house into a much smaller apartment building. After her dad loses his job, their family can no longer afford a lot of things that they previously were able to, and this only adds to Joy’s sadness and confusion about living somewhere new. Joy admits that she feels “sad that my family had to move.” 

One of the major themes in this book is families facing financial struggles and how children perceive it. Because of their new financial difficulties, Joy notices that her parents are arguing a lot. When Joy overhears her parents arguing, Joy becomes extremely upset and she feels she needs to reassure her younger sister, Malia, that her parents are not going to separate.  Joy’s parents continue to argue, and after her father spends the night away “to get some space,” Joy worries that they will get a divorce.  

Because of how open she is about her feelings and struggles with change, Joy is an extremely empathetic character. At first, Joy is focused on how much she misses her family’s previous home. Joy explains, “I wish we were back in our real home, where Mom and Dad got along . . . I wish I’d known that last Christmas would be our last in the house.” However, through making friends with Nora, another girl who lives in the building, Joy is able to make new memories. For instance, Joy and Nora meet up with other kids who live in the apartment complex to play board games in a place they call “the Hideout;” this time with other kids makes Joy feel included. Joy says, “I’m so glad I have the Hideout now, too, and these four friends.” 

Joy learns an important lesson about how even our closest friends can secretly be going through a rough time. For example, Nora appears to be fine on the surface, and Joy tells Nora, “I told you what was going on with me, and I thought you’d talk to me about your stuff, too.” Nora reveals, “I miss my dead mom, okay? I wish she was here, but she’s not, and she’s never going to come back.” Joy realizes after their fight that, “It was wrong of me to expect you to tell me about your problems, just because I told you about mine . . . I promise I’ll be there for you, but if you don’t want to talk about something, we won’t.” This important realization makes both girls feel more confident in their friendship. Nora and Joy’s friendship leaves readers with a positive outlook on new environments and the possibility of making friends in a new place. 

Overall, Marks’ novel excellently showcases Joy’s changing perspective on her family’s move. Initially admitting that she is frustrated with their move to the smaller apartment, Joy explains, “I hate that so much is out of my control.” This allows many readers to sympathize with Joy, even if they have not gone through a similar situation. Plus, many young readers will relate to the overwhelming feelings that come with big life changes.  

The ultimate focus of this novel is the importance of family and friendship. As Joy says, it is important to recognize that even when you are struggling, “You are not alone.” Joy’s growing friendship with Nora is central to the book and highlights how readers can find happiness and friendship in new situations. Joy’s realization at the end of the novel leaves readers with an important message: “I still miss our house, and our memories there, but what made it feel like home were my parents and sister.” Joy recognizes that friends and family are what shape her happy memories, not necessarily the specific place where she is.  

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • While walking her neighbor’s dog, Ziggy, Joy loses her grip on his leash, and he runs away. Ziggy is lost for several days and is ultimately found, but not in good health. “There is Ziggy, lying down on a bean bag chair next to the bookshelf. He looks weak, and like he can’t get up . . . he’s dehydrated.” Ultimately, Ziggy is brought to the vet and gets the treatment he needs to get better. 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

On Air with Zoe Washington

Marks’ novel follows fourteen-year-old Zoe as she begins her summer job working at a local bakery, where she and her biological father, Marcus, begin to bond over their love of baking. Marcus has recently been exonerated, after being previously incarcerated for most of Zoe’s childhood. Zoe and Marcus decide to open a barbecue food truck together, but first, they have to reckon with the systemic obstacles facing Marcus as an exoneree. Though Marcus is entitled to compensation from the state as an exoneree, Zoe quickly realizes that this process often takes a very long time. Marcus explains, “My lawyer is already working on it, but he told me not to expect compensation anytime soon,” as the state can make obtaining this compensation difficult.  

Because Marcus was in prison for so long, he does not have credit in the eyes of the bank and thus he is denied a loan to open a business. After this setback, Zoe begins researching how the lives of exonerees are affected after they are released from prison. Zoe finds that for many exonerees, “the original conviction was still on [their] record, and [they] had a hard time getting a job.” Zoe believes that “it didn’t seem fair. Was it really justice if [exonerees] couldn’t get back to living a regular life?” This realization motivates Zoe to start a podcast, which she calls “On Air with Zoe Washington.” For her podcast, Zoe interviews exonerees and lawyers who frequently work with them. Zoe hopes to help amplify exonerees’ voices on how being incarcerated affects their lives.  

Zoe is a determined, hard-working, loveable character that readers will be drawn to immediately. She not only wants to help her biological father open his business, but she also wants to help raise awareness for the systemic obstacles that affect formerly incarcerated individuals. Zoe uses her podcast as a platform to bring attention to the fundraising page she and Marcus created for their food truck business, and how they intend to hire previously incarcerated people to work with them. Throughout the book, Zoe learns from the people she interviews on her podcast, as well as from Marcus, the importance of not making assumptions and judgments about individuals. Marcus reminds Zoe of the people he met in prison and the importance of second chances, especially when it comes to finding work after incarceration.  

Marcus is also an extremely empathetic character. He helps Zoe become more open-minded towards the idea of hiring previously incarcerated people. Marcus explains that he met many people in prison who “weren’t innocent of their crimes but served their time and are ready to do better.” However, prisoners struggle to find jobs after their release because “people on the outside judge. They think ‘Once a criminal, always a criminal.’ But if they were more open-minded, they’d see that’s not the case for a lot of folks.” Marcus helps Zoe realize that “previous offenders were like many of us—worthy of another chance.” Zoe learns that if she wants things to be better for Marcus, she also has to try to make things better for others.  

Overall, On Air with Zoe Washington emphasizes the importance of not being judgmental towards others. Marks maintains the familiar characters from the first book in this two-part series, From the Desk of Zoe Washington. Though this second novel could be read as a stand-alone book, Zoe’s journey in reconnecting with Marcus and helping him prove his innocence is central to From the Desk of Zoe Washington, and frequently referenced in this novel as well.  

The book also raises awareness about the stigma and systemic obstacles facing formerly incarcerated individuals. This is highlighted through Marcus as he struggles to use new technology, and he isn’t “able to get exoneree compensation from the state, or any other assistance or loans.” The key takeaway of this novel is best exemplified by what Zoe explains: “I learned so much from all of [the people Zoe interviewed], and in the end, I was happy the panel topic had shifted to include prior inmates who had committed their crimes. Because they deserved grace, support, and a better life, too.”  

Readers who are interested in social issues such as the ones discussed in On the Air with Zoe Washington, should also read A Good Kind of Trouble by Lisa Moore Ramee and Clean Getaway by Nic Stone. 

Sexual Content  

  • Zoe’s best friend, Maya, tells Zoe about how she kissed her boyfriend, Trevor, for the first time. Maya says, “Trevor and I . . . we finally kissed.” Maya says the kiss was “kind of awkward the first few seconds, but it got way better after that.”  

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • Zoe talks with Hannah, a girl whose mom is incarcerated. Hannah says her mom’s “crimes are all drug-related like she got caught with drugs. Usually, she ends up in prison for a while, and when she gets out, she’ll agree to go to rehab . . . But then she ends up back on drugs, gets arrested again, and it’s this whole horrible cycle.” 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • Marcus leads Zoe and the rest of her family in prayer before their dinner. “Marcus closed his eyes and thanked God for the food and this opportunity to be together.” 
  • Zoe explains, “My parents and Grandma weren’t religious, so I hadn’t grown up going to church. Praying wasn’t usually something we did before eating. It felt right, though, to give thanks in that moment.” 

Always Isn’t Forever

J.C. Cervantes’ novel follows Ruby and her long-time boyfriend, Hart. When Hart suddenly passes away in a drowning accident, Ruby struggles to figure out her new plans for the future—a future without the love of her life. Unbeknownst to his friends and family, Hart experiences a miracle, as his soul comes back to life in the body of someone else. Unfortunately for Hart, his new body is that of Jameson Romanelli, a football player at his school that Ruby describes as “arrogant, selfish, [and] obnoxious.” Because Jameson is in a coma after a car crash, an angel named Lourdes is able to put Hart’s soul into Jameson’s body. Lourdes explains to Hart that Jameson’s soul is about to pass on, and this is what allows her to put Hart’s soul into his body.  

Hart must try to reckon with his new body and he can’t tell anyone who he really is. This allows him to grow and experience new things. For instance, Ruby describes Hart as a bit of a “worrywart. . . when we were kids, he wouldn’t climb the monkey bars or anything more than four feet off the ground, he started a petition for seat belts on the school bus.” In addition, Hart is “a stickler for the rules.” But that changes when Hart has to learn to convincingly do things that Jameson would normally do, in order to not clue anyone in about his divine intervention. For instance, Hart needs to learn a lot about football, as Jameson is a top athlete at their school and he is under a great deal of pressure from his father. Being in Jameson’s body allows Hart to understand that people face pressures we have no way of knowing about from surface-level encounters. Hart explains, “I’ve only lived in Jameson’s body a day and I already feel like shit. Imagine how bad he felt living his whole life under this kind of pressure.” 

Because Hart (referred to as Hart/Jameson later in the book), now in Jameson’s body, is not able to tell Ruby what happened, Ruby feels completely confused as to why Jameson is suddenly reaching out to her and being nice. Eventually, as Ruby spends more time with this “new” Jameson, she starts to feel that “I couldn’t stand [Jameson] and then he woke up from a coma and I felt this weird connection and then I hung out with [Jameson] and to be honest he wasn’t that bad; he was nice.” Ruby feels conflicted about enjoying her time with Jameson, but says, “I felt like . . . like we’re connected by something bigger.”  

Always Isn’t Forever switches points of view at the start of each chapter, which will help readers relate to each of the characters individually. Though Hart initially judges Jameson, Hart grows as a character because he can feel Jameson’s emotions. For example, Hart discovers that Jameson had a serious girlfriend who “had a rock-climbing accident and died.” Hart is able to feel Jameson’s grief: “I feel an ache deep between my ribs that shoots into my heart.” Hart recognizes that this grief is what drove Jameson to alcohol. Hart learns about how the pain of grief can affect people who may seem hardened on the outside, like Jameson.  

Even though the book’s characters are extremely empathetic, the situation regarding what happens to Jameson’s soul when Hart’s soul is put into his body is not explained in detail. This causes confusion especially because Jameson’s memories begin taking over Hart. For instance, Hart lost some of his memories. He explains, “I have no idea how to sail this boat that evidently, I bought and fixed up and don’t remember a damn thing about.” However, Hart regains all his memories at the end, and though this leaves a happy ending for Ruby and Hart, the reader might be confused as to why the angel did not just give Hart all of his memories to begin with.  

Overall, the theme of processing grief is extremely pertinent in Always Isn’t Forever. Readers will empathize greatly with Ruby as she explains how she feels after Hart’s death: “At first, I let [grief] have at me. I knew the grief was eventually going to swallow me up. And I wanted it to.” Later in the novel, Ruby recognizes that her grief has caused her to give up things she used to enjoy. She reflects that she’s “given up what I love: the water, my dreams to travel—even myself. I guess a part of me is terrified that if I let myself want again, it’ll just be one more thing ripped away. But how is a life without desire worth living?” Eventually, Ruby is able to open up to Jameson and share her feelings, which allows her to refocus on her dreams of travel and college that she had put aside in the depths of her grief.  

Sexual Content  

  • Hart and Ruby share a quick romantic moment. Hart says, “[Ruby] gives me a kiss, meant to be a peck, but I’m greedy, and in a nanosecond the kiss is deeper, our bodies pressed so close I think we could melt into this mattress.” But the kiss ends abruptly, with Hart saying, “Sometimes I wish we had never agreed to wait to have sex until college.”  
  • To test her theory that “a part of Hart is inside Jameson,” Ruby approaches Jameson and kisses him. Hart/Jameson describes, “[Ruby] pulls me closer, opens my mouth with her own. Every nerve in my body is on fire. I let go. I deepen the kiss, feel its heat, its desire, and all the questions it’s asking . . . our erratic breathing matches the rhythm of the kiss now, frantic, out of control. As if this is the last kiss we’ll ever have. I want more of [Ruby]. All of her.” 
  • Ruby and Hart/Jameson spend a romantic evening together. Ruby says, “Each kiss more urgent than the second before, the longing growing, growing, growing.” 
  • Ruby asks Hart/Jameson if he wants to be intimate with her. Ruby explains, “We’d sworn we’d wait until college. But now. . . if this is my only chance. It was always going to be Hart. It was, is, and forever will be—Hart.” But they stop before they go any further than kissing because Hart/Jameson says, “No, not like this.” 

Violence  

  • When a little boy accidentally falls overboard during a storm, Hart goes out into the dangerous waters to rescue him. Even though the boy is saved, as Hart attempts to get to the boat’s ladder, “My fingers trace its edges just as a colossal swell sucks me under. The waters are dark . . . violent. I fight my way to the top, but it’s not there. I have no idea which way is up.”  
  • Hart’s drowning is described over a page, including Hart’s feelings about dying: “They say our life passes before our eyes right before we die, but it isn’t true. I think two things in that moment: I should have spent that extra minute with my dad. I should have chosen to spend tonight with Ruby. The water closes in . . . Water rushes into my nose and mouth, floods my lungs.” 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • It is briefly mentioned that Jameson’s car accident was caused because he was driving under the influence. Later, Hart explains that Jameson’s long-time girlfriend passed away. “That’s why [Jameson] started drinking.” 

Language  

  • Ruby refers to Jameson as a “two-faced son of a bitch”  because he cheated off her schoolwork and toilet-papered her house.
  • Occasionally, characters use words like asshole, shit, and damn.  
  • Rarely, characters use the word fuck.  
  • When frustrated, Ruby exclaims, “I swear on the baby Jesus that I am not a violent person.”  
  • Gabi, Ruby’s sister, exclaims, “Holy Santos,” when she discovers “a part of Hart is somehow inside of Jameson.” 

Supernatural 

  • Lourdes, an angel, explains to Hart that he “can go back to a human life; you can live out your days until your actual scheduled time to die . . . All we have to do is find a body that is on the verge of death.” 
  • As Hart’s soul enters Jameson’s body, Hart explains, “I stare out of Jameson’s eyes. The world looks different . . . I thought [Jameson] might tell me to get the hell out of his body. But no. You want to know what he said? What his last words were before he checked out for good? ‘Don’t waste it, man.’” 
  • Gabi, Ruby’s sister, tells Ruby that she has a theory about Jameson. Gabi says, “What if . . . [Jameson] has a message from the other side, from Hart . . . because he was so close to death?” 
  • Initially, when Lourdes uses her angel powers to put Hart’s soul into Jameson’s body, she explains that Hart will not be able to tell anyone exactly what happened to his soul. Lourdes explains that in order for Hart to be able to explain the truth of what happened to his soul to Ruby, Lourdes will “use the only power I have that is great enough . . . I will give up a single wing.” Lourdes’ sacrifice allows Hart to be able to explain what happened to his soul, so that Ruby can understand what happened to his soul after he drowned.  
  • Lourdes tells Hart, “When the death angel came for me . . . I asked to use my last wing to give you back your memories.”

Spiritual Content  

  • Lourdes tells Hart that she used her abilities as an angel on him. “You’re not in heaven, and you’re not exactly dead . . . I saw you struggling and I knew [drowning] was going to be painful, so I pulled your soul out early to save you from all of that.”  
  • Ruby’s sister, Gabi, does a card reading for Ruby. The cards that have been passed down through generations in their family. Gabi says the cards are “a special gift from the ancestors.” Gabi “takes the World card in her hands, closes her eyes, and meditates for as long as necessary until she gets that ‘message’ from our ancestors.” Gabi explains that she “heard a single whisper; it said, ‘message?’” 

Stand Up, Yumi Chung!

On the outside, Yumi Chung suffers from #shygirlproblems, a perm-gone-wrong, and kids calling her “Yu-MEAT” because she smells like her family’s Korean barbecue restaurant. On the inside, Yumi is ready for her Netflix stand-up special. Her notebook is filled with mortifying memories that she’s reworked into comedy gold. All she needs is a stage and some courage.

But instead of spending the summer studying her favorite YouTube comedians, Yumi is enrolled in test-prep tutoring to qualify for a private school scholarship, which will help in a time of hardship at the restaurant. Then one day after class, Yumi stumbles on an opportunity that will change her life: a comedy camp for kids taught by one of her favorite YouTube stars, Jasmine Jasper. The only problem is that the instructor and all the students think she’s a girl named Kay Nakamura — and Yumi doesn’t correct them.  

As this case of mistaken identity unravels, Yumi must decide to stand up and reveal the truth or risk losing her dreams and disappointing everyone she cares about. 

Middle-grade readers will instantly connect to Yumi, who struggles with typical conflicts such as self-doubt, feeling inadequate, making friends, and trying to make her parents happy. Yumi’s humor and honesty make her instantly likable. Many readers will relate to Yumi’s desire to reinvent herself into a more confident and popular person. With the help of new friends and the comedian Jasmine Jasper, Yumi is encouraged to challenge herself and to do things that make her uncomfortable. Along her journey, Yumi learns the importance of being her true self instead of trying to change herself to meet others’ expectations. 

One of Yumi’s main conflicts is that her parents do not understand her desire to be a comedian. Instead, they focus on the importance of earning good grades in school. This problem is compounded by Yumi’s sister, who graduated high school two years early and is currently in medical school. This conflict is further exasperated when Yumi begins lying to her parents. At one point, Yumi wonders, “What does it mean to follow my heart, anyway? What if pleasing my parents and comedy are both pieces of my heart?” 

Yumi reveals her secret to a friend, who says, “You have to speak if you want people to hear you.” When Yumi’s secret is finally revealed, she is forced to have an honest discussion with her family. This discussion allows Yumi and her family to understand and support each other even if they don’t necessarily agree on everything. Yumi’s experiences highlight the importance of being honest as well as the importance of forgiveness. 

Stand Up, Yumi Chung! will resonate with readers because of the likable protagonist and the relatable conflicts. While there are many humorous moments, the story also teaches important life lessons about self-acceptance and open communication. In the end, the story reminds readers that making mistakes is an unavoidable part of life and that “there is no such thing as failure. Just a chance to pivot and try something different.”  

Sexual Content  

  • None

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • After her family has the grand reopening of their restaurant, Yumi finds her father in the alley smoking a cigarette. “He only smokes when he’s really stressed out.” 

Language  

  • The kids in school call Yumi “Yu-meat, Wet Poodle, and Top Ramen.” 
  • Heck and dang are used occasionally.  
  • Fricking is used twice.  
  • OMG is used once. 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

Flirting with Fate

Ava Granados’s family has a magical secret. Ava explains, “All the women in the Granados family had this keen, odd, otherworldly ability to pass along blessings to their female descendants. But here was the catch: they could only do so from their death beds.” When her grandmother is dying, Ava and all her sisters rush to their grandmother’s bedside. Unfortunately, due to a flash flood, Ava gets into a car accident and is too late to receive her Nana’s blessing. While her sisters receive their blessings, including an extremely detailed memory and the ability to persuade others, Ava is devastated to not have received her grandmother’s parting gift.  

When Ava attends the celebration of Nana’s life, she looks up and suddenly sees her recently deceased grandmother looking at her. Ava describes, “A figure emerged from the orchard a mere thirty feet away. Wide-eyed, dimple-cheeked, perfect auburn coif. Nana?” When Nana lay dying, she accidentally gave Ava’s blessing to someone else, but because she is now a ghost, she has no memory of what happened. Nana asks Ava to help her restore the blessing to its proper recipient or Nana “will remain a ghost . . . until this is made right.”  

Ava realizes that Nana’s blessing must have accidentally landed on the boy whose car she crashed into. For guarded Ava, befriending some random boy is the last thing she wants to do. Desperate to help Nana reach peace, Ava must find a way to connect with this mysterious boy, Rion, in order to be able to recapture her Nana’s blessing. Nana encourages Ava to open up to Rion and to look within herself. Nana says, “You can always recognize the love when it belongs to you.” Over the course of the novel, Ava learns to trust in herself and her feelings for Rion.  

Many readers will be able to relate to Ava because she is afraid of being hurt or rejected. Ava begins to spend more time with Rion, all the while trying to figure out how best to get her Nana’s blessing back. Nana encourages Ava to look within herself. Nana says, “You can always recognize the love when it belongs to you.”  

Ava and Rion end up connecting over the loss of a parent. Rion’s parents died in a car accident while Ava’s mom left. However, they both blame themselves for their parents’ absence.  Because Rion is able to share his emotions, Ava is able to truly open up about her feelings. Ava explains, “I used to blame myself for my mom leaving too. She left when I was seven, and I used to think if I had been better, nicer, more, then she would have stayed.” Ava is able to comfort Rion by sharing what she has learned. She tells Rion, “We can’t blame ourselves for things we had no control over.” Ava and Rion’s relationship is extremely impactful as it allows them both to share feelings about things that they previously kept inside.  

Overall, Ava’s journey to opening up her heart and embracing things she never thought possible is extremely compelling. Similar to Cervantes’ other work, Enchanted Hacienda, Cervantes continues exploring the theme of magic being inherited through female descendants. Though there is a romantic relationship brewing between Ava and Rion, there is also a major focus on the importance of family, as Ava’s relationship with her Nana is central. Nana encourages Ava to open her heart, saying, “I gave you the gift of an open heart . . . you keep people at arm’s length; you don’t trust. I don’t want you to go through life closed off from love.” This wonderful novel leaves readers with an important message: trust yourself and open your heart to possibilities.  

Sexual Content  

  • Ava’s sister, Carmen, sees a cute guy at a party. Carmen tells Ava, “Look, there are a lot of boys to kiss in this world.”  
  • Ava explains her negative history with relationships. “Relationships always ended badly, with a goodbye and a broken, unmendable heart . . . at least for someone. But last year [Ava] did kiss Bryce Wellington on the Haunted Mansion ride at Disneyland just to get it over with . . . Sadly, it felt unimpressive.” 
  • Ava’s sisters are watching The Notebook in the living room, and Ava remarks, “Clothes were flying off [the characters] and the last thing Ava wanted to do was stand there with her grandmother’s ghost and a fifteenth-century saint while a monster sex scene played out ten feet away.” 
  • Ava believes she and Rion are having a romantic moment, when suddenly, she realizes she is actually kissing his twin brother, Achilles. Ava says, “His lips brushed against hers. She felt a jolt, an alarm that screamed wrong, wrong, wrong.” After realizing she is actually kissing Rion’s brother, Ava “jerked free, horrified, as she wiped her mouth on the back of her hand.” 
  • After pushing Rion out of the way of a falling tree, they kiss. “She felt her body yielding, falling deeper into Rion. And then their mouths met. And Ava was no longer falling. She was dissolving. The forest and the sky fell silent. The world evaporated. There was only this moment.” 
  • Ava kisses Rion at a party. Ava “reached up, bringing his lips to hers. Allowing herself to be swept away in his trust, his warmth, his love.” 

Violence  

  • When Achilles tricks Ava into kissing him, Rion finds out and tackles Achilles. “The brothers rolled across the dirt, all grunts and curses and years of unspent anger.” They finally stop when Ava yells at them. 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • Characters occasionally use moderate language like shit, damn, and ass.  
  • When Nana suddenly appears as a ghost, Ava exclaims, “Jesus Christ!” 
  • Nana, in her ghost form, splashes water at Ava’s sisters who exclaims, “Holy Mary, Mother of God!” 

Supernatural 

  • Ava explains an example of a blessing in her family. “Ava’s great-grandmother had graced Nana with an angel’s voice. Before that, Nana couldn’t even sing off-key . . . After the death-bed blessing? It was like listening to a Mexican Pavarotti [Opera star] when [Nana] opened her mouth to sing.” 
  • Ava’s sister, Viv, is given the blessing of persuasion by her grandmother. Viv explains, “It’s not like I can go around making people do anything I want them to. Nana said I would just be able to help others see my side of things.”  
  • Ava’s other sister, Carmen, received the blessing of memory from Nana. Carmen says, “I got the blessing of memory, which I guess means that I can recall details, read or hear or see something once and remember it verbatim . . . it’s weird—like having a camera in my head.” 
  • Ava’s Nana appears to her one last time at the end of the book. Ava explains, “And then, as if by magic, the mist parted, just enough for Ava to see Nana . . . [Nana] was young, beautiful, beaming with joy.”  

Spiritual Content  

  • As Ava drives to get to her grandmother’s bedside, Ava prays that she will make it there in time to say goodbye. Ava says, “Listen, God . . . If you get me home with enough time, I’ll go to confession for. . . I’ll go for a whole week.” 
  • Nana is guided in her ghost form by Saint Medardus. Medardus introduces himself as, “I am the patron saint of weather, vineyards, brewers, captives, prisoners, and teeth . . . I hail from the fifteenth century and am [Nana’s] guide, here to help her.” 
  • Ava attends confession, as she promised to do on the night of her Nana’s passing. Ava is nervous about it and says, “What if I see someone I know? What if the priest laughs at me? What if I get it all wrong?” But she ultimately speaks to the priest and after she confesses, the priest says, “Your penance is to say six Our Fathers and three Hail Marys.” 
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