Book Review: Waylon! One Awesome Thing

WAYLON! ONE AWESOME THING by Sara Pennypacker is the first book in a new chapter series featuring a fourth grader with a passion for science.

A spin-off from the popular Clementine books, this series focuses on the friends and family of a science-loving boy named Waylon Zakowski. While Waylon wants to keep his class together, others want to pigeonhole friends into cliques. Waylon looks for a way to bring the diverse class together.

Librarians will find the balance of charm and humor just right for chapter book readers. Fans of Sara Pennypacker will be thrilled to find another series to explore. Teachers will find this intelligent, quiet, and thoughtful male lead character refreshing.

To learn more about the author, go to http://www.sarapennypacker.com/.

Published by Disney-Hyperion on April 5, 2016. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

Book Review: The Great Pet Escape

THE GREAT PET ESCAPE by Victoria Jamieson is a hilarious graphic fantasy about what class pets do at night.

When hamster, inventor, and class pet GW (George Washington) escapes from his cage in the second grade classroom, he sets off to free his friends. However he soon finds out that many of his peers like being class pets. Along the way, GW and his friends discover an evil plot by the Harriet, the fourth-grade mouse and must save their school.

Designed for beginning chapter book readers, the simple, colorful panels and engaging storyline will appeal to the target audience.

Although some of the humor may be “over the heads” of younger readers, they’ll “get” the general sarcastic tone. Librarians will find children asking for a sequel. Until then, connect this book with the many other beginning graphic chapter books published the past couple years. Readers of this title are likely to enjoy the Toon Books early chapter books too.

To learn more about the author, go to http://www.victoriajamieson.com/.

Published by Henry Holt on February 16, 2016. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

Book Review: Spirit Week Showdown

SPIRIT WEEK SHOWDOWN by Crystal Allen is the first book in the new Magnificent Mya Tibbs series for middle grade readers.

Mya and her best friend Naomi plan to win the Spirit Week partners competition. However when Mya is reluctantly paired with Mean Connie Tate, her hopes for winning VIP tickets to the Fall Festival quickly disappear. This authentic, endearing story explores many kinds of friendships and what it means to be a friend.

Librarians will find this charming and often humorous book to be a hit with fans of the classic Ramona books as well as more recent series such as Ivy and Bean. What makes this book timely is the way it handles the topic of diversity. Rather than being a focus of the story, Mya just happens to be a black girl in a diverse cast of characters living in Texas.

Middle grade readers will be clamoring for the next book in what is sure to be a popular friends and family series.

To learn more about the author, go to http://www.crystalallenbooks.com/.

Published by Balzer & Bray, an imprint of HarperCollins on January 26, 2016. ARC courtesy for the publisher.

Book Review: This is Where It Ends

THIS IS WHERE IT ENDS by Marieke Nijkamp is the gripping fictional account of a school shooting.

Told in “real-time” from the perspective of friends, family, and classmates of the teen shooter, this quick read takes place in one harrowing hour. The tragic story immerses readers in the thoughts, reflections, and actions of people facing the unimaginable horror of a gunman in their high school auditorium.

The author’s use of time stamps for each chapter, flashbacks, text messages, and other literary techniques adds interest for teen readers.

Librarians will find that students are attracted to this timely topic and drawn to the universal themes of revenge, heroism, and hope.

To learn more about the author, go to http://www.mariekenijkamp.com/

Published by Sourcebook Fire on January 5, 2016. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

Book Review: Dream On, Amber

DREAM ON, AMBER by Emma Shevah is an authentic, humorous story for middle grade readers.

Entering middle school is tough enough for most children, but Amber is a half-Japanese and half-Italian with an absent father making life even more difficult. When her younger sister begins writing letters to their father asking for him to attend her birthday party, Amber decides to answer the letters. Subplots related to art, puppy love, and earning money bring the story to life.

Filled with cute doodles and other illustrations, librarians will find this poignant novel to be popular with young readers. The combination of humor and typical middle school problems will appeal to many readers. Themes related to an absent father and multicultural identity with resonate with many readers.

To learn more about the author, go to http://emmashevah.com/.

Published by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky on October 6, 2015.

Book Review: First & Then

FIRST & THEN by Emma Mills combines teen romance, football, and blended families for an engaging, contemporary novel.

Devin leads a typical teen life. She has a crush on her best friend and is uncertain about life after high school. However when Devon’s cousin Foster joins the family, he shakes things up. Although he’s social inept, Foster’s talent as a kicker has drawn interest from the star football player. Devin soon learns that there are many ways to experience love.

Whether examining the fine line between friendship and romance or exploring the anguish of parental abandonment, Mills skillfully reflects the issues facing today’s teens.

Librarians will find a large audience for this book among lovers of realistic fiction. While some readers will be drawn to the Jane Austen references, others will be attracted to sports connections.

Although this is Emma Mills’ debut novel, she’s well-known for her vlog Elmify.

Check out the vlog at https://www.youtube.com/user/elmify.

Published by Henry Holt and Co. on October 13, 2015. ARC courtesy of Edelweiss.

Book Review: Secret Coders

SECRET CODERS by Gene Luen Yang and Mike Holmes combines an appealing action adventure with concepts related to computer programming.

When Hopper arrives at Stately Academy, she has a tough time fitting in until she meets a boy who shares her passion for solving the school’s mysteries. Together, they use binary numbers and beginning computer programming to unlock secrets kept by the school’s custodian.

Written for middle grades students, the graphic novel seamlessly weaves mathematics and computer science concepts into a witty school story. The attractive illustrations contribute both to the engrossing tale, as well as understanding of the math concepts.

Librarians will find that this book appeals to children who enjoy smart school stories. It also provides librarians with the chance to promote nonfiction books related to codes, computer programming, and robotics. Connect the book with makerspace activities related to STEAM. Mystery lovers will also enjoy the story’s unusual cast of characters.

Teachers will find this new series to be a wonderful way to help young computer scientists learn programming concepts. The memorable stories provide a meaningful context for remembering key ideas.

To learn more about this amazing new series, go to http://www.secret-coders.com/.

Published by FirstSecond, an imprint of Macmillan on September 29, 2015.

Book Review: Ms. Rapscott's Girls

MS. RAPSCOTT’S GIRLS by Elise Primavera is a quirky middle grades boarding school fantasy.

A group of reluctant 8-year-old girls arrive at the Great Rapscott School for Girls of Busy Parents to find one child missing. While in search for their missing classmate, they learn important lessons about bravery, self-reliance, and friendship. Although the premise is absurd, some readers will empathize with the characters who have absent parents. Although the clever, sophisticated humor will be lost on some younger children, older readers will find the humor appealing.

Primavera’s interesting characters, easy-to-read writing style, and balance of descriptive versus dialogue segments were just right for lower, middle grade readers.

The book begins and ends with beautiful illustrations showing the isolated, but fascinating lighthouse setting. Numerous black-and-white drawings are then woven throughout the story.

Intended to be the first in a new series, librarians will find this to be a pleasing addition to the collection. With mostly female characters, it’s likely to appeal to young girls rather than boys.

Learn more about the author at http://www.eliseprimavera.com/.

Published by Dial on March 10, 2015.