Review: Becoming Jinn

Becoming Jinn by Lori Goldstein
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Azra gets the enviable ability to turn quite attractive when she turns 16. However, there is a downside--it now means that she is a full-fledged Jinn, and she is now bound to grant human wishes and lose some control over her life. In her struggle to come to turns with this, she reconnects with a neighbor (whose sister used to be her best friend) and also connects with a lifeguard at her job. Additionally, she gets lots of support from her mother and her mother's Zar, a group of women born around the same time who are her sisters. Azra has her own Zar, all daughters of her mother's Zar. Azra has to deal with a lot of extra things--her powers seem to be a bit more than the ordinary, and she's a bit impulsive.

I think this is a great book for the middle school set in the YA section. There's a little bit of heavier stuff, but it doesn't stray too far into drugs and sex. Fair warning: there is a bit of underage drinking (but it's not seen as a good thing) and some dating situations with kissing, but nothing too graphic.

I am definitely looking forward to the next one. A great read!

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Storytime: Winter Solstice and Christmas

One of my New Year's Resolutions is to blog more often about my storytimes. This is a professional one for me, and I also think it will be helpful for any of my patrons if they ever find or know about this blog.

So here goes:

Winter Solstice/Christmas storytime: All ages

Opening Song: "Can't Wait to Celebrate" from Jim Gill's Irrational Anthem



First Book: The Shortest Day: Celebrating the Winter Solstice by Wendy Pfeffer


(I read selections from this book. It's too long for the group that I have.)


Second song: "Jingle Bells" from Laurie Berkner's holiday album (complete with jingle bells for the kids to play with, which they kept through the next three items.)



Second Book: Christmas Parade  by Sandra Boynton


Third Song: "Jingle Bell Rock" from the Kidz Bop! Christmas album

Third Book: Hurry Up, Santa! by Megan Durand

Fourth Song: "Reindeer Pokey" (put your hooves/antlers/tail/red nose in)

Fourth Book: The Little Lost Reindeer by Gail Herman

Craft: Ornament kits (snowman, penguin, polar bear). The children could choose to make them as ornaments or glue them to paper and create a winter scene. I had a little of everything going on.

Overall, this story time went over well. The jingle bells were a big hit. I'm glad I cut the solstice book short, because it was definitely hard for my two three year olds to sit through. That's the hard part about the all ages storytime--if you have a mix of three year olds and six year olds, it's a delicate balance. I was pleased with it.

Review: The Octopus Scientists

The Octopus Scientists by Sy Montgomery
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I think I would have enjoyed this book more had I read it before reading "The Soul of an Octopus." Montgomery's affection for these animals comes across so strongly in that book, and I didn't get quite the same feel in this one. It's not to say this book isn't excellent, or worthy of consideration. When I finished "Soul of an Octopus," I wanted to go out and find one and have its suckers on my arms, despite screaming at the touch of a stingray in aquariums before. I didn't have the same reaction here.
The pictures are gorgeous, although I would have appreciated captions on every photo. Still, it's a worthy entry in the "Scientists in the Field" series. If you're able, I would recommend the adult title over this one.

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Review: The Shrunken Head

The Shrunken Head by Lauren Oliver
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Thomas, Pippa, and Sam all live at Dumfrey's Dime Museum. The museum is kind of like a Ripley's Believe It or Not!: there are lots of strange artifacts and a show every night with bearded ladies, giants and mentalists. Thomas, Pippa, and Sam are all part of the show. One night, the mysterious Max shows up and is added to the group. Around the same time a mysterious shrunken head is added to the museum. Murders and misdeeds soon follow. Will the kids find out who is behind the attacks before the museum goes under?

I like the start of Oliver's new series. Each character has their own unique talent, and there are reasons for that. It wasn't knock-your-socks-off, stay-up-all-night reading, but I did enjoy it and will be interested to see where the story goes from here.

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Review: Child Soldier: When Boys and Girls Are Used in War

Child Soldier: When Boys and Girls Are Used in War by Michel Chikwanine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A powerful graphic novel about one person's experience being a child soldier. One day Michel stays too late at school and is kidnapped into the army. He is given cocaine, and forced to do a horrible deed almost right from the start. He eventually finds the strength to escape, and to forgive himself for what happened at that time. The back matter discusses the problems survivors face when trying to go back to their own community.

I would say it's definitely appropriate for 4th-5th graders, as most violence happens off-page.

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Review: The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness

The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness by Sy Montgomery
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

So good! Montgomery's affection for octopuses is contagious. Even I, who was scared of the sting rays at the Mall of America aquarium, wanted to touch one.

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Review: The Nest

The Nest by Kenneth Oppel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What is this book? It is creepy and captivating. Steve just wants his younger brother to be okay, for life to go back to normal. He thinks the mysterious angel of his dreams will help him get there. However, their offer to fix his little brother might be more than meets the eye. Klassen's illustrations enhance the story, bringing it to life. Comparing it Coraline feels apt.

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Review: A Nearer Moon

A Nearer Moon by Melanie Crowder
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a beautiful story of magical realism. I unintentionally gobbled it up in an evening. I love Luna as a character: full of fire and love for her home and her family in a place that is "cursed." If you drink the water it makes you sick. One day her sister Willow accidentally drinks the water, and Luna sets off to figure out a way to save her. Chapters of Luna's story alternate with a story of sprites getting ready to leave this world for a place that humans have not ruined.

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Review: Shadowshaper

Shadowshaper by Daniel José Older
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

There were a few moments where the narrator discovered things that I didn't really follow her process, but overall, this is an excellent fantasy book that isn't dystopian, has mostly nonwhite characters, and I love the setting. An excellent choice.

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Review: Winter

Winter by Marissa Meyer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I'm glad there will be a collection of short stories coming out, because I'm not ready to leave this world yet.

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Review: The Sword of Summer

The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I quite enjoyed this one. I can't wait to see where the series goes, and to learn more about Norse mythology from Riordan's perspective.

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Review: Who Do You Love

Who Do You Love by Jennifer Weiner
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Rachel and Andy meet by chance in a hospital when they are eight years old. Life cycles them together and apart over the next few years. It's pretty good. I thought the ending was a bit abrupt but happy.

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Review: Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High

Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High by Kerry Patterson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this one, and think it's an essential read for everyone. I want to hand it out like Oprah hands out cars.

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Review: The Amazing Age of John Roy Lynch

The Amazing Age of John Roy Lynch by Chris Barton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is an important book. How often do we read about former slaves who went from that status to Congress in ten years? I can't remember any. This book explains a time in America's history that we like to forget/ignore/gloss over well. Barton clearly did a lot of research about his subject.

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Review: The Royal We

The Royal We by Heather Cocks
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I liked it. Felt a little long to me in places, but overall, I loved this glimpse into a Kate Middleton-like life.

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Review: The Golden Braid

The Golden Braid by Melanie Dickerson
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

For me, I put this book down because I was tired of the constant focus on marriage, but the real kicker was Rapunzel's almost instant ability to read. At a time when I'm trying to read for MSBA, I can't see myself recommending a book where someone seems to go from not recognizing letters to reading words in less than an hour. I might return to it later, but at the moment, I'm letting it go.

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Review: Circus Mirandus

Circus Mirandus by Cassie Beasley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a book about a magical circus, which Micah's grandfather found years ago and is owed a miracle. However, it doesn't seem to be happening, so if Micah can find it, that would hopefully cause the debt to be repaid. He has a time limit though, because his grandfather is dying. Can Micah find the Circus Mirandus and save his grandfather?

This story is beautifully told and will hit you in the feels. The only character I found slightly unbelievable was Micah's great-aunt. Would she really have been so cold? And I did have a few questions about the ending, but I'm not interested in typing spoilers here, so I'll have to go search those out somewhere else.

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Review: Bone Gap

Bone Gap by Laura Ruby
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Seriously, everyone ever should read this book. I have been very impressed so far with this year's National Book Award Nominee list for young people. Not many books lead me to jump around with excitement upon finishing, but this one did. Ruby's backlist is definitely one I'm going to check out when MSBA is over.

Finn is seen as dreamy by most of the town of Bone Gap. His brother, Sean, is his guardian after his mother ran off with that orthodontist. There was a girl, Roza, who lived with them, but she was kidnapped, and no one seems to believe Finn about it. People leave Bone Gap for all sorts of reasons. Finn is convinced that what he saw is truth. Can he make anyone else believe it?

That's all I want to say about this beautiful bit of magical realism. The less you know going into this story, the better.

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Review: X: A Novel

X: A Novel by Ilyasah Shabazz
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book is an examination of Malcolm X's life, focusing mostly on late adolescence/young adulthood. It jumps back and forth in time, and his life slowly unfolds in front of you. I was not someone who knew a lot about Malcolm X, and this book, written by his third daughter, has definitely inspired me to learn more. I was intrigued by how this hustler would turn into the leader I think of him as. This book didn't do quite as well as I would have hoped in that regard. His prison transformation is glossed over at the end. I wish there had been maybe...five more pages further explaining why Honorable Elijah Muhammad and the Nation of Islam appealed to this man so much. Still, it's a worthy addition to the National Book Award list.

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Review: Nimona

Nimona by Noelle Stevenson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Why did this book have to end? I immediately went online to see if I could find more, but alas, this appears to be it. I want more Nimona adventures.

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Review: The Zodiac Legacy: Convergence

The Zodiac Legacy: Convergence by Stan Lee
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I liked this one. It didn't move me as much as I would have liked. It definitely felt like reading a comic in novel form. I'd give it another book before I gave up on the series overall.

I guess my biggest complaint was that I felt like there wasn't a lot of backstory or fleshed out characters. The two epilogues made me feel like there might be hope in the future, but we'll see.

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Review: Challenger Deep

Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Are you part of the one in three Americans whose family has been affected by mental illness? Then this book is for you. And even if you aren't, this book is for you. Shusterman has written a book that takes us down into the abyss with the narrator, Caden, and we stare at it, and wonder how we get back. If this wasn't MSBA reading season, I would start this book again, to follow Caden down and connect even more pieces. It is very deserving of it's place on the National Book Award Nominee list, and I will be thinking about it for years to come. I sat down and read it today, which was not necessarily what I was intending to do.

My own experience looking into that abyss is much, much milder than Caden's. I have seen it, and I have come back. Many of my friends have stared with me, and come back. I just, I want to pass this book on to so many people. I just felt it.

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Review: George

George by Alex Gino
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is an important book, and it needs to be in libraries across the country. I love everything about George, to how she uses female pronouns even though they don't match the gender she was born with, how she has a name picked out that fits her better, how she has friends but is also picked on. I still see a long road ahead of George, but I have hope that she has a great support system to get her through. A must-read.

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Review: The Boys Who Challenged Hitler: Knud Pedersen and the Churchill Club

The Boys Who Challenged Hitler: Knud Pedersen and the Churchill Club by Phillip M. Hoose
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the take of Knud Pedersen and his friends, who stood up to Hitler and the Nazi regime after Denmark peacefully let them occupy their country. Their tale of sabotage and standing up for what you want will resonate with kids, particularly because they were quite young when they started. I love the Hoose includes that he was able to interview Pedersen for the book, and that he wasn't able to write it right away due to publishing constraints.

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Review: Nightbird

Nightbird by Alice Hoffman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Twig lives with her mother on the edge of Sidwell, Massachusetts. Her family mostly keeps to themselves due to their secret. When a new family moves in next door, the younger daughter, Julia, wants desperately to be Twig's friend. Can she balance having a new friend with respecting her mother's wishes?

I'm not familiar with Hoffman, other than having seen movie adaptations of her work. I know this is Hoffman's first book for the middle grade audience, and it is a wonderful fairy tale. This is another book where I felt like the ending came on suddenly, but I was sort of racing at the end to beat sleep. I think this book will be excellent for your reader that prefers a bit of magic with their realistic fiction.

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Review: The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #1

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #1 by Ryan North
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Who doesn't love Squirrel Girl, and if so, why?

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Review: The Scorpion Rules

The Scorpion Rules by Erin Bow
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

For my fellow Maine Student Book Award reviewers-- This book will not be like the Hunger Games, which can be YA and still fall on the list.

That aside, I feel this is an excellent start to a new YA series. Wars fought over lack of water seems very logical to me, especially with the melting of the polar ice caps. That children are kept as hostages by the UN so that war is prevented and there's a evil AI overlord is just icing on the cake. I personally was a big fan of Greta, our narrator, and her entire arc (from realizing the facade she's built for herself, to her romantic not-quite-a-triangle arc.) I am especially intrigued by the ending, which I will not spoil here. Definitely a sequel to look forward to!

I received a copy of the book from NetGalley in return for my review.

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Review: Yoga for Healthy Knees: What You Need to Know for Pain Prevention and Rehabilitation

Yoga for Healthy Knees: What You Need to Know for Pain Prevention and Rehabilitation by Sandy Blaine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I wouldn't recommend this book for anyone who hasn't already had their problems diagnosed by a professional. However, for me it was exactly what I wanted: a book that had pictures of poses that would be beneficial for healthy knees along with ideas of whole series that might help.

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Review: Took: A Ghost Story

Took: A Ghost Story by Mary Downing Hahn
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I feel like I must be getting braver in my old age because I'm finding scary books easier to read than I used to. This one I read in an afternoon, and I enjoyed it! I don't know that I'll be looking at dolls the same way again, but it was creepy in all the right ways for those who like creepy stories.

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Review: The Bamboo Sword

The Bamboo Sword by Margi Preus
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was, for me, a welcome return to form for Preus. I very much enjoyed Heart of a Samurai and her other historical fiction work. This is a companion to that named title, although it is not necessary to have read that book to enjoy this one. You learn about Yoshi, a boy who wants to be a samurai, and Jack, a ship's boy from America, as the countries meet for the first time to talk about ending Japan's isolation. I loved reading each boy's perspective, and I think it's an excellent title to remind ourselves that different people aren't really that different from us. I also really enjoyed the author's note and bibliography.

I received an advanced reader's copy for free from the publisher in return for a review.

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Review: The Terrible Two

The Terrible Two by Mac Barnett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Miles is starting over at a new school, meaning his reputation as a prankster will go away! He hopes maybe he can be known for that at his new school, but his hopes are dashed when he reaches his new school and there's a car blocking the path! There is also his new buddy, who happens to be the school's goody-two-shoes, and the intense principal who seems to have it out for him since day one.

This story made me chuckle a lot, and I think it will be popular with kids. I hope there are more in the series to see what antics the terrible two get up to next!

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Review: The Glass Gauntlet

The Glass Gauntlet by Carter Roy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ronan and his friends are now staying with the Blood Guard to ensure their safety. They are bored and trying to escape until Jack enrolls them in the mysterious Glass Gauntlet contest. He thinks it will just be test-taking, but nothing goes that smoothly in the Blood Guard world! Favorite characters from the last book reappear, as well as some great new characters. Can't wait to see the next one in the series.

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Review: The Blood Guard

The Blood Guard by Carter Roy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ronan Truelove (don't call him Evelyn) has just discovered that his mother is part of a secret society that, for some reason, is after him as well. He is instructed to take a particular train and there he meets Jack Dawkins, one of the Blood Guard. What is the Blood Guard and who is after Ronan and his mom? Read the book to find out!

Lots of action and humor, this will be quite popular!

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Review: Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales: The Underground Abductor

Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales: The Underground Abductor by Nathan Hale
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I've been a fan of this series since the Donner Dinner Party entry (to be fair, that was the first one I read) and this is another great one! I think that it's a great introduction to the Underground Railroad for kids, as well as informative for those that already know a bit. I think there's something for everyone in this one.

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Review: Rutabaga the Adventure Chef: Book 1

Rutabaga the Adventure Chef: Book 1 by Eric Colossal
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This one is for all the burgeoning foodies out there! Rutabaga goes on adventures looking for exotic foods to include in his recipes, to eventually go into his restaurant. Boy, does he get into adventures! Dragons, cook-offs, and following around Norse-ish figures. I enjoyed this one a lot, and I'm hoping to read more of them.

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Review: Cody and the Fountain of Happiness

Cody and the Fountain of Happiness by Tricia Springstubb
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Cody is so excited for summer vacation. It's going to be great! Nothing to do but hang out with her older brother, who only pretends to be annoyed by her. Things are a little different this summer though. Mom is up for a promotion at work, which leaves her with a case of the whim-whams at times. Her brother is moping over a girl, which Cody doesn't entirely understand. And she has a new friend who she has convinced that she has hypnotized his cat. This story is adorable and great for those ready to move on from a story like Magic Tree House but aren't ready for something too hard yet.

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Review: Little Robot

Little Robot by Ben Hatke
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is another great story from Ben Hatke. It's the story of a lonely girl engineer who meets a robot and become friends. The robot is being chased by the company that made him, however. Can they stay friends despite the odds?

There are few words in "Little Robot," so you are really relying on the pictures to tell you the story. I never felt confused or misguided, and would love to read more adventures between these two.

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Review: Echo

Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is beautiful. It's beautiful in appearance and beautiful writing. I loved this one so much. It's intimidating in size and historical fiction, which is generally appealing to me, but not necessarily the general public. However, they should all pick this one up! It's the story of four people: Otto, Friedrich, Michael, and Ivy. Their stories end up connected by a harmonica and a love of music, eventually ending with most of the characters meeting. There's also a fairy tale aspect with three sisters interacting with Otto. Each story is heartbreaking. Friedrich is in Germany while the Nazi party is rising in power. Michael is an orphan trying to stay with his brother and find a family. Ivy is trying to deal with her brother being away in WWII and also being segregated from the local school due to her race.

This was a book I had a hard time putting down, and also a book that made me want to pick up my instrument and play again (or get a ukelele, or get a harmonica.)

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Review: The Island of Dr. Libris

The Island of Dr. Libris by Chris Grabenstein
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this one quite a lot. Billy is spending the summer in a cottage on a lake with his mom. His dad is staying behind in New York. Little does he know that Dr. Libris has been plotting to get Billy to this house to test out his experiment--an island where things you read come to life!

I definitely enjoyed this read. It was quick, fun, and there's a cast of characters to enjoy. I did think it wrapped up a little quickly and sloppily, but to be fair, I was speed reading and tired at the time, so others may enjoy the ending more than I did.

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Review: We Are All Made of Molecules

We Are All Made of Molecules by Susin Nielsen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this story so much. I was way more into Stewart's story than Ashley's. It took a while for me to catch up to Ashley. I wondered how her parents, while being so nice, could create such a self-centered, popularity-obsessed child. Stewart was so much easier for me to love. I felt like he was doing the right thing so often and Ashley was too obsessed with the way she looked and getting with Jared. However, she came around at the end. I really liked the dual story perspectives, because it did humanize both of them, even if I liked one of them better. I think kids will appreciate the perspectives of two different kids at the same school getting along, and I think the blended family aspect will speak to a lot as well.

It does contain scenes with underage drinking, and some talk about bras and sexual activity.

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Review: Listen, Slowly

Listen, Slowly by Thanhha Lai
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Much like Lai's last book, I was captivated by this one. Mai (or Mia in school) is being forced to go to Vietnam with her father and Ba (her grandmother). Ba has been separated from her husband since THE WAR and has finally decided to go back to get closure. A detective has told her that he has had contact with someone connected to her missing grandfather. Mai is not excited about this trip at all. She's supposed to be on the beach with her friend, possibly interacting with the boy she likes (HIM). On the trip, though, she begins to learn more about where she is from, and what's important to her.

I thought Mai was pretty believable, with her devotion to family but also her desire to be on the beach and be a typical American teen. I also understood why she stopped speaking Vietnamese after going to school. Her growing acceptance and discovery of the land her parents came from and the culture she is connected to was believable as well. I think it had just the right amount of references to THE WAR. As an adult, I wished for a bit more about what had been happening in Vietnam, but I think for kids who might not have any background about the Vietnam War at all, it was the right amount. A beautiful story.

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Review: Nnewts: Escape from the Lizzarks

Nnewts: Escape from the Lizzarks by Doug TenNapel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Once I got past my initial dislike of the double n in "nnewts," I really enjoyed this book. Hurk wants so badly to have strong legs and be able to be on land and water. His dad is a magician, who gets called away on a hunting raid. While he is gone, the lizzarks attack. Hurk escapes, but has no idea where to go. There's a lot of interesting points, some of which feel a bit expected to this avid fantasy/sci-fi reader but will surprise kids. I'm excited to see where this story goes.

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Review: Francine Poulet Meets the Ghost Raccoon

Francine Poulet Meets the Ghost Raccoon by Kate DiCamillo
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Another entry in the Deckawoo Drive series by Kate DiCamillo and illustrated by Chris Van Dusen. This time it focuses on the animal control officer Francine Poulet, whose confidence is shaken by a screaming raccoon. I loved this story of her getting her confidence back, which I think will resonate with children.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in return for a review.

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Review: The Question of Miracles

The Question of Miracles by Elana K. Arnold
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Heartbreaking. Iris has moved to Corvallis, Oregon after the death of her best friend Sarah. She's gone from sunny California to rainy Oregon, and she's not happy. She sits with Boris at lunch one day, and slowly begins to become friends with him. She discovers that he is a medical miracle, and starts to wonder if she too can get a miracle, or why some people get miracles and others don't. My heart broke for Iris, who was there when her friend died, and her struggle to let others in. I enjoyed that she did befriend Boris and tried some new things that he liked, before moving on to teaching him things. I think this one will stay with kids for a long time.

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Review: The Great Good Summer

The Great Good Summer by Liz Garton Scanlon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

For some reason, I kept expecting this book to come down very hard on religion, but it didn't. I thought religion and science were presented as being able to coexist well in this book.

Ivy's mother is devastated when fires sweep across Texas, burning down the church where Ivy's grandfather preached. She finds a preacher that speaks to her and she runs off with him, leaving her family behind. Eventually Ivy and her new friend, Paul, decide to go off to find her.

I really liked this story. Some of the plot elements seemed a little too tame, but I think that's okay. Sometimes things happen and they aren't as horrible as you thought they might be. Or maybe you just don't need to know it yet.

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Review: The Invasion of the Tearling

The Invasion of the Tearling by Erika Johansen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Almost as good as the first one. I was still drawn along by the story, and I had some questions based on the initial premise. Still, I'll be anxiously waiting for the next one!

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Review: Reawakened

Reawakened by Colleen Houck
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Did I like this one? Yes! It's a story of Egyptian mythology, intrigue and a lot of romantic tension. I was pulled along on plot enough to keep reading, because I wanted to see how the story of Amon and his brothers work out. I wanted to know if they would make it, and how. I also liked seeing the Egyptian stories retold, and I appreciated the ending, which leaves me waiting for the next book.

However, I should note some things that may be issues for others:
-white rich protagonist, who of course doesn't care for the trappings of her penthouse life but lives by them anyway
-three brothers all seeming to care for the same girl, instantly upon meeting her.

I think it's worth giving a shot.

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Review: The Jumbies

The Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Oooh I loved this one! Corinne lives on an island with her father, hearing the stories about jumbies but not believing them. She follows an agouti in the forest one day, and senses something but can't see it. The jumbies are real...and they found her.

I was especially a fan of the alternating perspectives in this story. It's not always a device I enjoy, but I think it worked well here. I also appreciated learning more about what kinds of stories are native to the Caribbean, and enjoyed this fairy tale based on one.

It will pair well with Little Man for you Maine Student Book Award readers.

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Review: School for Sidekicks

School for Sidekicks by Kelly McCullough
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I found this one to be very slow starting, to the point where I almost gave up on it. However, once some weird things started happening to Evan Quick, I began getting into the story. With the introduction of Foxman, I was much more interested.

Two things I especially liked about this story: the view of a recovering alcoholic with Foxman, and the fact that the issue of consent is addressed, even with something as innocent seeming as a kiss. It doesn't turn out to be a big deal, but the kiss-ee stands up for their own bodily autonomy and the kisser realizes that it's not cool to do that. Amazing to see that in any novel, but especially a middle grade.

I received my copy as a galley from NetGalley in return for my honest review.

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