Middle Grade – Page 4 – Jill's Book Blog

Review: PetWizards

Title: PetWizards
Author: Kirk Scroggs
Genre: Graphic Novel, Middle Grade
Publisher: Union Square and Co.
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback arc
Release Date: August 6, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Perfect for animal lovers and fans of Lumberjanes, here is a hilarious graphic novel about a boy named Finch with the not-so-secret ability to control animals, and his mission to save the school musical and win the heart of his crush. Finch Eaglehawk may seem like an average oddball with a taste for the dramatic and glam-rock musical numbers, but he has a secret. Finch is a PetWizard, with the ability to control the animal kingdom—well, the “et cetera” category of the animal kingdom. Though he loves his naked mole rats, bearded dragons, and boa constrictors, Finch yearns for more. With the help of his best friend, Aberdeen, a mysterious new kid named Erica, and an ancient PetMaster manual, Finch tries to learn how to own his powers and use them to help those in need, protect the vulnerable, and, most important, impress his crush, Ken Chu, the star of the upcoming school musical.

Review:

Seventh grader Finch Eaglehawk is a petwizard, which means he can control animals. The group of animals he can control is referred to as “etcetera,” which includes naked mole rats, boa constrictors, and bats. When Finch is asked to provide a grand finale of the school play with birds, he agrees to impress his crush, Ken Chu. However, Finch can’t control birds. Along with he’s sidekick Aberdeen and the new girl Erica, Finch must figure out a way to fulfill his promise of birds at the play.

This was such a fun graphic novel. I laughed out loud a few times while I was reading it. I loved the quirky characters. They had to do some creative problem solving to try to give Finch the ability to control birds. Aberdeen was my favourite character. She was funny and adorable. I hope there will be a sequel because I would love to see these characters again!

Petwizards is a great middle grade graphic novel!

Thank you Union Square and Co. for sending me a copy of this book!

Have you read PetWizards? What did you think of it?

Review: Alterations

Title: Alterations
Author: Ray Xu
Genre: Middle Grade, Graphic Novel
Publisher: Union Square and Co.
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback
Release Date: January 30, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

For fans of Gene Luen Yang’s American Born Chinese and Svetlana Chmakova’s Awkward , this funny yet poignant middle-grade coming-of-age story highlights the struggle of feeling invisible while yearning to be seen by all.

Kevin Lee is having a really bad week. Although he lives in a crowded Toronto apartment above the family’s alterations and dry-cleaning store, he mostly goes unnoticed. School isn’t exactly an oasis either—being one of the few Asian kids makes for some unwelcome attention. But when Kevin’s class plans a trip to Thrill Planet, a spectacular theme park, will he finally have a chance to turn his life around, or will it just be another day for Kevin Lee?

Review:

Kevin Lee is having a bad week. His mom is always wanting him to help in her dry cleaner shop, he gets teased at school about his lunch, and he gets in trouble for hitting another student with a basketball in gym. He’s also always fighting with his older sister, who wants her own bedroom. The week ends with Kevin going on a class trip to the new theme park Thrill Planet, which he’s so excited about. Kevin must decide on that trip if he’ll continue to let the teasing by his classmates get him down, or if he’ll take a chance to show them how brave he really is.

This was such a great graphic novel! It’s set in the early 90s in Toronto. I love reading books set in my hometown because everything is so familiar. I especially liked the Thrill Planet theme park, which resembled Canada’s Wonderland! This story would be relatable for many young readers. Kevin’s family were immigrants to Canada. His parents were divorced and his mother had to work constantly to make ends meet, which made Kevin and his sister feel like they didn’t get enough attention from her. I’m sure many young readers will relate to this story!

Alterations is a great middle grade graphic novel!

Thank you Union Square and Co. for sending me a copy of this book!

Have you read Alterations? What did you think of it?

Review:Halfway to Harbor (The House on Sunrise Lagoon #3)

Title: Halfway to Harbor (The House on Sunrise Lagoon #3)
Author: Nicole Melleby
Genre: Middle Grade, Contemporary, LGBTQ
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback
Release Date: May 7, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

If you want to get to know Harbor Moore, you need to know three things:

1. Sometimes she signs her name Harbor Ali-O’Connor to match her siblings.
2. She misses her dad a lot, but she doesn’t want to be away from her moms and siblings, either.
3. She just might have her first crush.

Harbor is excited to spend the summer working on her jump shot in an elite basketball league. But the games take place near her dad’s house—hours away from her beloved Sunrise Lagoon. Suddenly, she’s spending every weekend at her dad’s and getting to know Quinn, a girl whose smile makes her feel warm inside. Still, Harbor can’t help wondering what’s going on at home. Why is Sam hanging out with Harbor’s best friend? Has Marina’s friend Boom taken her place in the house? What have the twins “borrowed” this time for one of their disastrous scientific experiments?

When it comes time to decide whether Harbor will stay and play basketball with her team—and Quinn—all year round, or continue to live on Sunrise Lagoon, Harbor thinks she knows what to do . . . but is it the right decision?

Review:

Harbor is the oldest of the Ali-O’Conner sisters. She is the only one who has a dad, who she visits on alternating weekends. When her dad asks her if she wants to join a basketball league for the summer, which would mean her spending every weekend at his house, Harbor is eager to join. Staying at her dad’s house would give Harbor a room of her own and some peace and quiet from her four sisters. However, while Harbor is getting some quiet time at her dad’s house, the excitement at the Ali-O’Conner house continues without her. Harbor must decide if she’d like to live with her dad and have her own space or stay with her siblings in Sunrise Lagoon.

I loved seeing Harbor’s story in this book! In the previous two books, which were about Harbor’s younger sisters, both girls viewed Harbor as the oldest sister who had a lot of privileges they didn’t have. However, in this book, Harbor felt just as left out at times just like her sisters. Harbor was growing into a teen and beginning to feel romantic feelings, so she was questioning who she liked. She had some good conversations with both of her parents about these feelings and the way they made comments that made her uncomfortable. I really love reading about the Ali-O’Conner family, so I hope there will be more books in this series!

Halfway to Harbor is a great middle grade story!

Thank you Algonquin Young Readers for sending me a copy of this book!

Content warnings: death, funeral, homophobia

Other books in the series:

Have you read Halfway to Harbor? What did you think of it?

Review: Marina in the Middle (The House on Sunrise Lagoon #2)

Title: Marina in the Middle (The House on Sunrise Lagoon #2)
Author: Nicole Melleby
Genre: Middle Grade, Contemporary, LGBTQ
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback
Release Date: May 9, 2023
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

The second book in Nicole Melleby’s Sunrise Lagoon series follows Marina, the middle child, in a beautiful, heartfelt exploration of what it means to be brave and how a big family means you never need to be lonely.

If you want to get to know Marina Ali-O’Connor, you need to know three things:

One, despite her name, Marina is secretly afraid of the ocean.

Two, she wanted to be one of the Oldest Siblings, but is stuck smack dab in the middle.

Three, she’s pretty certain she’s the Extra Ali-O’Connor kid, the forgotten one.

When Boom, a budding filmmaker exactly Marina’s age, moves in across the lagoon, she decides that Marina’s quest to become someone’s favorite Ali-O’Connor would make a perfect documentary. So they get to work, coming up with ways to calm Marina’s anxiety. But when each plan goes a little bit wrong, Marina begins to wonder if she’ll ever feel like she belongs or if she’ll always be lost in the middle.

Review:

Marina is the middle child in the Ali-O’Conner family. She’s suddenly become scared of the water and boats, which is a problem since her family lives on Sunrise Lagoon and her mom has a boat repair business. Marina feels like the forgotten sibling. Her two older sisters look like her mom and they like boats just like her too. Her mama gave birth to her two younger sisters, which bonded them together. Marina wants to be someone’s favourite person in the family. Her new friend Boom suggests that Marina spend time with each family member to see if they would pick Marina as their favourite. Marina tests each of her family members, but she ends up in some dangerous situations.

This was a great story in the House on Sunrise Lagoon series. Like the first book, this one was about one of the sisters who doesn’t feel like she belongs in the family. They have some complex dynamics, since two of the girls are adopted and three are biological daughters of their moms. I love the well developed characters in this series. The third book, which is about Harbor, the oldest sister in the family, was just published this week!

Marina in the Middle is a great middle grade summer story!

Thank you Algonquin Young Readers for sending me a copy of this book!

Other books in the series:

Sam Makes a Splash (The House on Sunrise Lagoon #1)
Halfway to Harbor (The House on Sunrise Lagoon #3)

Have you read Marina in the Middle? What did you think of it?

Review: Sam Makes a Splash (The House on Sunrise Lagoon #1)

Title: Sam Makes a Splash (The House on Sunrise Lagoon #1)
Author: Nicole Melleby
Genre: Middle Grade, Contemporary
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback
Release Date: May 9, 2023
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

From acclaimed author Nicole Melleby comes a cheerful, uplifting story of family and belonging, the first in new series perfect for fans of the Vanderbeekers and the Penderwicks.

If you want to get to know eleven-year-old Samantha Ali-O’Connor, you need to know three things:

One, she isn’t the only one of her siblings who is adopted, but she is the only one whose name isn’t inspired by the ocean.

Two, she and Harbor always compete with each other to be the best Oldest Sibling—and just about everything else.

And three, she is determined to prove she’s a real Ali-O’Connor by taking over the family business, repairing and chartering boats.

Except there’s a Capital-P Problem: Her mothers have been Serious Whispering about selling the business before summer’s end! Sam needs to come up with a plan, quick, before Harbor finds out. And before Sam loses her chance to inherit the business and be an Ali-O’Connor forever.

Review:

Eleven-year-old Samantha Ali-O’Conner doesn’t feel like she belongs in her family. She’s one of two adopted siblings, but all of the other kids have names that are related to the ocean. She’s always competing with her sister Harbor, who is four months older than her and also has one of her mom’s boats named after her. Samantha thinks that the one way she could really belong in the family is to take over her mom’s boat repair business when she’s older. However, that may not be possible when she overhears her moms talking about closing the business. Samantha needs to come up with a plan to save her family’s legacy so she can finally belong.

This was such a great middle grade novel. I loved the character development. There were eight members of the Ali-O’Conner family, as well as many neighbours in the story, but they all felt like distinct, real people. Samantha’s story was relatable. Every child feels like they don’t belong somewhere at some point in their life, just like Samantha felt in her family.

Samantha Makes a Splash is a great middle grade story!

Thank you Algonquin Young Readers for sending me a copy of this book!

Other books in the series:

Marina in the Middle (The House on Sunrise Lagoon #2)
Halfway to Harbor (The House on Sunrise Lagoon #3)

Have you read Sam Makes a Splash? What did you think of it?

Review: Finally Seen (Finally Seen #1)

Title: Finally Seen (Finally Seen #1)
Author: Kelly Yang
Genre: Middle Grade, Contemporary
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers
Source: Library
Format: Ebook
Release Date: February 28, 2023
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

From the New York Times bestselling author of Front Desk comes a “involving, realistic” (Booklist, starred review) middle grade novel about a young girl who leaves China to live with her parents and sister, after five years apart, and learns about family, friendship, and the power of being finally seen.

My sister got to grow up with my parents. Me? I grew up with postcards from my parents.

When ten-year-old Lina Gao steps off the plane in Los Angeles, it’s her first time in America and the first time seeing her parents and her little sister in five years! She’s been waiting for this moment every day while she lived with her grandmother in Beijing, getting teased by kids at school who called her “left behind girl.” Finally, her parents are ready for her to join their fabulous life in America! Except, it’s not exactly like in the postcards:

1. School’s a lot harder than she thought. When she mispronounces some words in English on the first day, she decides she simply won’t talk. Ever again.
2. Her chatty little sister has no problem with English. And seems to do everything better than Lina, including knowing exactly the way to her parents’ hearts.
3. They live in an apartment, not a house like in Mom’s letters, and they owe a lot of back rent from the pandemic. And Mom’s plan to pay it back sounds more like a hobby than a moneymaker.

As she reckons with her hurt, Lina tries to keep a lid on her feelings, both at home and at school. When her teacher starts facing challenges for her latest book selection, a book that deeply resonates with Lina, it will take all of Lina’s courage and resilience to get over her fear and choose a future where she’s finally seen.

Review:

Ten-year-old Lina Gao lives with her grandmother in Beijing, since her parents and younger sister moved to the U.S. five years ago. Lina has always felt like she was left behind while her parents have a wonderful life without her. When her mom finally says Lina can join them, their life isn’t what she expected. Lina has trouble speaking English in class and gets embarrassed and teased by classmates. Her parents are struggling to make enough money to pay for their back rent from the pandemic. And Lina is missing her grandmother who is now alone in Beijing. The librarian introduces Lina to some graphic novels so that she can finally see herself represented in stories, which gives Lina the confidence to make changes in her life.

This was such a powerful middle grade story. There were many parts that brought tears to my eyes. Lina struggled with being bullied because she couldn’t speak English perfectly. She experienced racism from children and adults. Her parents were really struggling with money, and Lina was doing her best to help them make ends meet. Lila also had to deal with her favourite book being banned because it had a similar immigrant experience to hers, but she was strong and confident and fought it. I wish a book like this was around when I was a kid, because it would have allowed me to understand my friends’ experiences with immigration.

Finally Seen is an important story! The sequel, Finally Heard, comes out on February 27.

Content warnings: death of grandparent, abuse, cancer, racism, bullying

Have you read Finally Seen? What did you think of it?

Review: The Fall of the House of Tatterly

Title: The Fall of the House of Tatterly
Author: Shanna Miles
Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Contemporary
Publisher: Union Square Kids
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback
Release Date: October 10, 2023
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Twelve-year-old Theo Tatterly’s ability to see ghosts is a useful skill in a house full of dead relatives, but it makes him a loner at school and everywhere else, where ghosts eternally pester him for help. For Theo, life is easier on the periphery. When his first failed exorcism portends an end to the Tatterly line, Theo must bring together his entire family—living and dead—to save the home they’ve lived in for generations . . . and maybe the world.

Author Shanna Miles’s story of magical modern-day Charleston crackles with unforgettable characters and pays homage to the city’s rich culture, folklore, and history.

Review:

Twelve-year-old Theo Tatterly can see ghosts, which is useful in his family full of witches. He can communicate with his dead ancestors who live in their house, but he doesn’t have friends outside of the family. When he fails at an exorcism, everything starts to fall apart for his family. The Tatterly family must work together using their unique magical skills to save their family home.

This was an exciting paranormal story. I love ghost stories, especially middle grade ones. They were my favourite when I was a kid. Theo came from a big family with many aunts and a few cousins, but they each had distinctive powers. He was able to see some older ancestors so he was in a unique position to get their help with problems too. Though Theo didn’t have many connections outside of the family at the beginning of the story, when he started playing basketball, he made some friends. The ending of the story was action packed and a little creepy too.

The Fall of the House of Tatterly is a fun paranormal middle grade story!

Thank you Union Square and Co for sending me a copy of this book!

Content warning: death of parent, parental abandonment

Have you read The Fall of the House of Tatterly? What did you think of it?

Review: The Secret in the Tower

Title: The Secret in the Tower
Author: Andrew Beattie
Genre: Middle Grade, Historical Fiction
Publisher: Sweet Cherry Publishing
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: September 8, 2022
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

1485. Richard III is King of England. Henry Tudor’s invasion looms.

Jack Broom thinks that war and politics have nothing to do with him. He is a simple apothecary’s boy dreaming of becoming a surgeon – until soldiers mistake him for a boy of noble birth.

Narrowly avoiding being dragged to the Tower of London, Jack sets out on a perilous mission to find out who he truly is. With the help of his new friend Alice, he uncovers conspiracies, treason, and the deadly lengths people will go to for power.

Review:

1485: Jack Broom is just an ordinary boy who works at his aunt’s apothecary shop. He dreams of being a surgeon one day, so he studies hard at school. When he meets a soldier from the Tower of London who could introduce him to the famous surgeon, Dr. Argentine, Jack goes against his gut feeling and follows the soldier. However, Jack is in danger when he gets to the Tower. The Tower holds conspiracy, treason, and secrets about Jack’s past.

This was a thrilling children’s novel about the Tower of London. In the 15th century, when Richard III became King, he imprisoned two boys, who were the rightful heirs of the crown, in the Tower of London. They were never seen again, so they were thought to be murdered. This story imagines what happened if they were living in secret in the Tower. I loved the suspense of the secrets in Jack’s past, that even he didn’t know about. It kept me guessing until the end. I loved this reimagining of history.

The Secret in the Tower is a great middle grade historical story!

Thank you Sweet Cherry Publishing for providing a digital copy of this book.

Content warnings: child death, parental abandonment, death of parent, blood, vomiting

Have you read The Secret in the Tower? What did you think of it?

Review: Patience, Princess Catherine (Young Royals #4)

Title: Patience, Princess Catherine (Young Royals #4)
Author: Carolyn Meyer
Genre: Middle Grade, Historical Fiction
Publisher: Clarion Books
Source: Purchased
Format: Paperback
Release Date: May 1, 2004
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

England anxiously awaits Prince Arthur’s betrothed—the Spanish princess who will be its future queen. But when Arthur dies not long after the wedding, Catherine of Aragon’s fate becomes uncertain. Will the king and Catherine’s parents arrange a marriage with Arthur’s brother, Henry, or will she return to Spain a widow? Through all this turmoil, the young princess’s resolve remains unshaken. She will one day be England’s queen . . . no matter how long it takes.

Review:

Spanish Princess Catherine was sent to England to marry Princess Arthur Tudor, the future King. A few months after their wedding, Arthur died, but Catherine stayed in England. For many years, her future remained uncertain. Will she go home to Spain or marry Arthur’s younger brother Henry? Catherine must be patient while she waits, determined to one day be Queen of England.

This is a great middle grade adaptation of Catherine of Aragon’s life. It told her story leading up to her marriage to Henry VIII. Each chapter began with a passage about what Henry was doing at the time and what his feelings were towards Catherine. The story focused on the big events that happened over the eight years that Catherine was left waiting to be Queen.

Patience, Princess Catherine is a great middle grade story for readers interested in history.

Other books in the series:

Mary, Bloody Mary (Young Royals #1)
Beware, Princess Elizabeth (Young Royals #2)
Doomed Queen Anne (Young Royals #3)
Duchessina: A Novel of Catherine De Medici (Young Royals #5)
The Bad Queen: Rules and Instructions for Marie Antoinette (Young Royals #6)
The Wild Queen: The Days and Nights of Mary Queen of Scots (Young Royals #7)

Have you read Patience, Princess Catherine? What did you think of it?

Review: Duel

Title: Duel
Author: Jessixa Bagley, Aaron Bagley (illustrator)
Genre: Graphic Novel, Middle Grade, Contemporary
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback arc
Release Date: November 7, 2023
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Sixth grader Lucy loves fantasy novels and is brand-new to middle school. GiGi is the undisputed queen bee of eighth grade (as well as everything else she does). They’ve only got one thing in fencing. Oh, and they’re sisters. They never got along super well, but ever since their dad died, it seems like they’re always at each other’s throats.

When GiGi humiliates Lucy in the cafeteria on the first day of school, Lucy snaps and challenges GiGi to a duel with high sisterly stakes. If GiGi wins, Lucy promises to stay out of GiGi’s way; if Lucy wins, GiGi will stop teasing Lucy for good. But after their scene in the cafeteria, both girls are on thin ice with the principal and their mom. Lucy stopped practicing fencing after their fencer dad died and will have to get back to fighting form in secret or she’ll be in big trouble. And GiGi must behave perfectly or risk getting kicked off the fencing team.

As the clock ticks down to the girls’ fencing bout, the anticipation grows. Their school is divided into GiGi and Lucy factions, complete with t-shirts declaring kids’ allegiances. Both sisters are determined to triumph. But will winning the duel mean fracturing their family even further?

Review:

Lucy is just starting middle school, where her eighth grader sister GiGi is one of the most popular girls. They never really got along, and since their dad died, they fight all the time. The only think they have in common is that they like fencing, which their father taught them. After an argument in the cafeteria on the first day of school, Lucy and GiGi decide to have a fencing duel to end their fighting. They have to keep the duel a secret from their mom, who doesn’t want them to fight anymore. The whole school gets in on the duel, supporting one sister or the other. Since both sisters are determined to win, this duel may completely destroy what relationship they have left.

This is the first book I’ve read about fencing, and it was so fun. Each chapter began with defining a term used in fencing. I didn’t know much about fencing before reading this story so I really enjoyed learning about it. Lucy and GiGi were sisters who fought all the time about everything. I find in a lot of books, sisters are best friends, so it was a different, and realistic, take to see sisters who didn’t get along.

Duel is a great middle grade graphic novel!

Thank you Simon and Schuster Canada for providing a copy of this book.

Content warnings: death of parent

Have you read Duel? What did you think of it?