Middle Grade Monday and Arc Review: Spelling It Out by Margaret Finnegan

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Spelling It Out by Margaret Finnegan. 208 p. Atheneum Books for Young Readers/ Simon & Schuster, May 13, 2025. 9781665969673. Review of arc courtesy of Blue Slip Media.

This story takes place in 1985, but is narrated by an adult Ben Bellini, who reminisces about his summer of freedom spent in San Francisco with his grandmother. After twelve-year-old Ben wins his sixth grade spelling bee, then his school's bee without much preparation or worry, he finds himself disappointed to lose the regional bee. He worries that liking spelling might get him labeled a nerd, but he really likes the adrenaline rush of competing. 

He lives in Southern California with his older sister and younger brother and rather overprotective parents. When his grandmother, a retired maverick architect, calls with the offer of having Ben stay for the summer so that a friend of hers can coach him, his parents are appalled and Ben is intrigued. This friend of Gran's actually won the National Spelling Bee some time ago! 

After his parents secure promises that Ben will be well supervised, Ben is placed on a plane to San Francisco. Only, his Gran isn't at the gate, and doesn't arrive for quite a while. This is just the first of many little slips to come.

And Gran's friend, Roger? He is nasty and abusive and doesn't seem interested in coaching Ben at all. When he finds refuge at the public library, he meets a kindred spirit. Asha spends her days there studying for the spelling bee!

I'm not sure why this coming-of-age novel had to be narrated by adult Ben, but readers who enjoy character-driven, gentle novels will find him very relatable. He's insecure, but smart and perceptive. He wants to do the right thing, but it takes him a while to realize what that is. He needs to learn to stand up to Roger. He needs to learn how to be a good friend. Most of all, he needs to realize that something is truly wrong with his grandmother. 

Contemporary readers' minds may be blown by Ben's freedom in a big city as much as by life before cell phones and gps. They will also appreciate the humor and heart. 

Spelling It Out will be released on May 13. Happy reading!

Book Mail

Receiving book mail is always exciting! Thanks to Blue Slip Media for sending me this.

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Spelling It Out by Margaret Finnegan. 208 p. Atheneum Books for Young Readers/ Simon & Schuster, May 13, 2025. 9781665930116.

Publisher synopsis: A rising seventh grader visits his grandmother in San Francisco for a whirlwind summer of spelling bee training, only to begin suspecting she has Alzheimer’s, in this witty and compassionate middle grade novel for fans of Al Capone Does My Shirts.

Ben Bellini didn’t mean to become a champion speller—after all, he’s not a nerd—but he sure does like spelling bee glory now that it’s found him. He might even be good enough for the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, DC! And what better way to prepare than to train with a professional spelling coach in San Francisco, where his nan lives?

Through his adventures, Ben gets to know the city—and competitor Asha Krishnakumar, who’s equally determined to spell her way to victory. But Ben also starts having odd interactions with his nan that leave him feeling like he’s missing something. Where is Nan’s forgetfulness coming from? And will anyone even believe him if he tries to get help?

Between showing up for his loved ones and pursuing his own dreams, Ben will need to spend this summer figuring out what he owes others…and what he owes himself.

I've enjoyed Ms. Finnegan's four titles for young readers and looking forward to reading this one.

#tbt: Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson

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Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson. 336 p. Seeds of America #1. Atheneum/ Simon & Schuster, October, 2008. 9781416905851. Own.

#tbt features Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson. This is the first book in the author's Seeds of America trilogy. Isabel is looking forward to being freed along with her disabled sister upon her mistress' death. Unfortunately, the woman's heir has other plans. He sells them to the Lockton family of New York City. They are Loyalists during the beginning of the American Revolution. Isabel meets Curzon, who is enslaved to a Patriot family. He wants her to spy for the Patriots. Isabel agrees, but does not agree with Curzon's belief that fighting for the Patriots will result in liberty for them.

This layered, character-driven novel has a strong sense of place and explores the multifaceted reasons behind the colonists' fight for freedom juxtaposed against the enslaved people's desire for freedom. 

Chains was a National Book Award Finalist and won the Scott O'Dell Historical Fiction Award. It was named an ALA Notable Book as well as a YALSA Best book and many state book awards.

The trilogy continued with Forge in 2010, and concluded with Ashes in 2016. 

Waiting on Wednesday: Rebellion, 1776 by Laurie Halse Anderson

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Rebellion 1776 by Laurie Halse Anderson. 410 p. Atheneum/ Caitlin Dlouhey/ Simon & Schuster, April 1, 2025. 9781416968269.

Waiting on Wednesday features Rebellion 1776 by Laurie Halse Anderson. I'm a huge fan of Ms. Anderson. Her contemporary realistic fiction books are gripping and intense, but her historical fiction novels are as well. I can't wait for this.

Publisher synopsis: From New York Times bestselling author Laurie Halse Anderson comes an eerily timely historical fiction middle grade adventure about a girl struggling to survive amid a smallpox epidemic, the public’s fear of inoculation, and the seething Revolutionary War.

In the spring of 1776, thirteen-year-old Elsbeth Culpepper wakes to the sound of cannons. It’s the Siege of Boston, the Patriots’ massive drive to push the Loyalists out that turns the city into a chaotic war zone. Elsbeth’s father—her only living relative—has gone missing, leaving her alone and adrift in a broken town while desperately seeking employment to avoid the orphanage.

Just when things couldn’t feel worse, the smallpox epidemic sweeps across Boston. Now, Bostonians must fight for their lives against an invisible enemy in addition to the visible one. While a treatment is being frantically fine-tuned, thousands of people rush in from the countryside begging for inoculation. At the same time, others refuse protection, for the treatment is crude at best and at times more dangerous than the disease itself.

Elsbeth, who had smallpox as a small child and is now immune, finds work taking care of a large, wealthy family with discord of their own as they await a turn at inoculation, but as the epidemic and the revolution rage on, will she find her father?

Middle Grade Monday: Time to Roll by Jamie Sumner

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Time to Roll by Jamie Sumner. Roll with It #2. 224 p. Atheneum Books for Young Readers/ Simon & Schuster, April, 2023.

Middle Grade Monday features Time to Roll by Jamie Sumner. I finally got to this sequel to Roll with It, which I loved!

It's the summer and Ellie's mom married her gym teacher. Yay! They are off on a month-long honeymoon in an RV and since Ellie's grandparents now live in a home, Ellie's dad steps up to spend the month in the trailer with his wife and sons. Boo! Ellie feels so weird around him because he treats her weirdly, plus, he's always on his phone!

Coralee decides to enter the Miss Boots and Bows pageant and Ellie and Bert go along for the ride. The pageant organizer takes one look at Ellie and wants her to sign up as well. Oddly, so does Coralee. Ellie doesn't think this is a good idea, but borrows the entrance fee from her grandmother. As expected, the pageant organizer treats Ellie as a commodity and tensions arise between the girls. 

As in the first book, Ellie's voice is unique and entertaining. This book continues exploring themes of disability awareness and rolls friendship issues, father-daughter issues and elder care issues seamlessly. Now, on to Rolling On, which released in October. Happy reading!

Waiting on Wednesday: Maid for It by Jamie Sumner

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Maid for It by Jamie Sumner. 240 p. Atheneum Books for Young Readers/ Simon & Schuster, Sept. 5, 2023. 9781665905770.

Happy Wednesday! I hope you have plans to spend some time outdoors today! It looks like a great one here in northern NJ. Waiting on Wednesday features Maid for It by Jamie Sumner. Many TMS Readers are fans of Ms. Sumner's 2019 debut, Roll with It, which had a sequel, Time to Roll released earlier this year. Maid for It will be published on September 5. 

Here's the publisher synopsis: Now that Franny and her newly sober mom have moved to a cozy apartment above a laundromat, Franny’s looking forward to a life where her biggest excitement is getting top grades in math class. But when Franny’s mom gets injured in a car accident, their fragile life begins to crumble. There’s no way her mom can keep her job cleaning houses, which means she can’t pay the bills. Franny can’t forget what happened the last time her mom was hurt: the pills that were supposed to help became an addiction, until rehab brought them to Mimi’s laundromat and the support group she hosts.

Franny will not let addiction win again, even if she has to blackmail a school rival to help her clean houses. She’ll make the money and keep her mom sober—there’s no other choice. But what happens if this is one problem she can’t solve on her own?

Middle Grade Monday: New Kids and Underdogs by Margaret Finnegan

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New Kids and Underdogs by Margaret Finnegan. 288 p. Atheneum Books for Young Readers/ Simon & Schuster, October, 2022. 9781534496408. (Review of finished copy courtesy of Blue Slip Media.)

Middle Grade Monday features New Kids and Underdogs by Margaret Finnegan. Robyn Kellen is preparing to be the "new kid" yet again. Her mom's a biology professor and they have moved around for her job a lot. This move to San Luis Obispo promises to be permanent though. Still, Robyn creates ten rules for being the new kid and decides to follow them. Things at her new school start out okay. She's befriended by two girls, Lulu and Marshan, who warn her away from Alejandra, who wears purple every day. She also seems to catch the attention of a blond haired boy who reminds Robyn of a snake and makes snide comments. 

When she and her mom pass by an agility training class while on a walk in a nearby park, Robyn is intrigued enough to ask about lessons for her two special needs rescues, Sundae and Fudge. The trainer abruptly nixes the idea and Robyn is disappointed. But the trainer's grandson, Nestor, is in her class at school, and he's willing to train her dogs, for a price. Both Robyn and Nestor need help with math and Alejandra, who skipped a grade volunteers to tutor them if she can join the training and Robyn brings the snacks. Can Robyn keep this a secret from Lulu and Marshan? 

There's a lot to like about this book. The dog training angle adds a fresh twist to the moving house theme. The dogs, especially Robyn's rescues, Sundae and Fudge are engaging characters with distinct personalities. I love the fact that they were not only rescues, but also had special needs. The dog training/ care was seamlessly woven into the narrative. I also appreciate that Robyn's parents were friendly and equally committed to raising their daughter.

The dialogue and school situations ring true. Readers will ache for Robyn as she navigates her rules, some of which contradict each other. Tween readers who enjoy gentle stories with realistic relatable issues will embrace New Kids and Underdogs. 

Waiting on Wednesday: Time to Roll by Jamie Sumner

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Time to Roll by Jamie Sumner. 208 p. Atheneum Books for Young Readers/ Simon & Schuster, April 4, 2023. 

Waiting on Wednesday features Time to Roll by Jamie Sumner. I really loved Roll with It and am really looking forward to visiting Ellie again.

Publisher synopsis:

In the eagerly anticipated sequel to Jamie Sumner’s acclaimed and beloved middle grade novel Roll with It, Ellie finds her own way to shine.

Ellie is so not the pageant type. They’re Coralee’s thing, and Ellie is happy to let her talented friend shine in the spotlight. But what’s she supposed to do when Coralee asks her to enter a beauty pageant, and their other best friend, Bert, volunteers to be their manager? Then again, how else is she going to get through this summer with her dad, who barely knows her, while her mom is off on her honeymoon with Ellie’s amazing gym teacher? Ellie decides she has nothing to lose.

There’s only one problem: the director of the pageant seems determined to put Ellie and her wheelchair front and center. So it’s up to Ellie to figure out a way to do it on her own terms and make sure her friendships don’t fall apart along the way. Through it all, from thrift store deep dives to disastrous dance routines, she begins to form her own definition of beauty and what it means to really be seen.

Teen Tuesday: Talk Santa to Me by Linda Urban

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Talk Santa to Me by Linda Urban. 280 p. Atheneum Books for Young Readers/ Simon & Schuster, September, 2022. 9781534478831. (Review of finished purchased copy.)

Happy Tuesday! Teen Tuesday features Talk Santa to Me by Linda Urban. Frankincense Wood, call her Francie, is fifteen-year-old and lives in Hollydale, Indiana. She's still grieving the death of her beloved grandfather, who was the patriarch of her family's Christmas-themed store and Santa school. The business isn't doing very well and her wretched Aunt Carole has moved back home to try to change the business model. Francie's trying to stay connected to her best friend, Alice Kim, who still attends the parochial high school she used to attend. That's getting hard. Francie is also dealing with vicious teasing by the school's hockey team due to an unfortunate kissing situation from two years earlier. While she has no interest in remedying the memory of that disastrous first kiss, she can't stop noticing Hector Ramirez, who has great shoulders and other intriguing attributes.

Francie's first-person narrative sparkles with humor both self-deprecating and sly. She unabashedly loves Christmas and all things Santa. She's awkward and angsty and totally relatable. This gentle rom-com is comfy and warm like your favorite flannel pjs.

Waiting on Wednesday: My Nest of Silence written and illustrated by Matt Faulkner.

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My Nest of Silence written and illustrated by Matt Faulkner. 384 p. Atheneum Books for Young Readers/ Simon & Schuster, October 18, 2022. 9781534477629.

Happy Wednesday! It's a lovely day out there! I should've turned the AC off and opened windows last night as the temps did dip into the lowish 60s. Opportunity lost. I hope you are able to get outside and enjoy the weather! 

Waiting on Wednesday features My Nest of Silence written and illustrated by Matt Faulkner. A true student of history studies the mistakes that were made and can be critical of injustices committed while still loving their country. That includes reading well-researched historical fiction. Japanese American citizens had their property confiscated and were imprisoned after Japan attacked the U.S. Mr. Faulkner's graphic novel hybrid will release this October. 

Here's the publisher synopsis: Told in a brilliant blend of prose and graphic novel, this unforgettable middle grade story about a Japanese American family during World War II is written and illustrated by Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature winner Matt Faulkner.

Manzanar is nothing like home. Yet the relocation center is where Mari and her family have to live, now that the government has decided that Japanese Americans aren’t American enough. Determined to prove them wrong, Mari’s brother Mak has joined the army and is heading off to war. In protest, Mari has stopped talking for the duration of the war. Or at least until Mak comes home safe.

Still, Mari has no trouble expressing herself through her drawings. Mak, too, expresses himself in his letters home, first from training camp and later from the front lines of World War II, where he is fighting with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. But while his letters are reassuring, reality is not: Mak is facing danger at every turn, from racism within the army to violence on the battlefield.

In turns humorous and heartbreaking, Mari and Mak’s story will stick with readers long after the last page.

#tbt: The Underneath by Kathi Appelt

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The Underneath by Kathi Appelt. illustrated by David Small. 336 p. Atheneum Books for Young Readers/ Simon & Schuster, January, 2020. 9781416950592. (Own.)

#tbt features The Underneath by Kathi Appelt. The only thing worse than a dog dying in a book is a dog that is mistreated. The setting in this emotionally intense debut novel is, literally, the underneath, as in the underneath of the beat up shack in the bayou that a nasty man named Gar Face inhabits. 

Ranger, his old hound has been chained up there as an alarm of sorts, since he can no longer go out on hunting trips. The reason Ranger can't hunt is because he was accidentally shot by Gar Face. Gar Face is obsessed with tracking the Alligator King. When a pregnant calico cat shows up underneath the shack, Ranger is fearful that Gar Face will use the cat and her eventual kittens as gator bait. He urges them to leave, but when they insist on staying, he's not disappointed because he is lonely. He warns the mama cat and her two kittens that they must never, under any circumstances, leave the safety of the underneath.

But kittens, are by nature, curious and Puck ventures out. There will be tears. The story unfolds slowly through three strands, which also includes the story of ancient bayou denizens. 

The Underneath won a Newbery Honor, was a National Book Award Finalist and was added to many "best" lists, including ALA Notables and NY Public Library's Best list.

Middle Grade Monday: Stuntboy, In the Meantime by Jason Reynolds.

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Stuntboy, In the Meantime by Jason Reynolds. Illustrated by Raúl the Third. 272 p. Caitlyn Dlouhy Books/ Atheneum/ Simon & Schuster, November, 2021. 9781534418165. (Review of finished purchased copy.)

Middle Grade Monday features Stuntboy, In the Meantime by Jason Reynolds. Portico Reeves has an active imagination and a lot of anxiety about things he has no control over. His parents are arguing, he's dealing with a bully and cares immensely for the residents in his apartment building aka the castle. The pace of this graphic novel hybrid is fast, with the action broken into ten "episodes" of his life as a superhero along with "commercial breaks" which offer sage advice. 

There's plenty of heart and humor in both the prose and the illustrations. Fans of the author & the illustrator will be delighted by this collaboration. More please. 

#tbt: Words to My Life's Song by Ashley Bryan

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Words to My Life's Song by Ashley Bryan. Photographed by Bill McGinness. 64 p. Atheneum Books for Young Readers/ Simon & Schuster, January, 2009. 9781416905417. (Own)

Beloved author/ illustrator Ashley Bryan died last weekend at the age of 98. The children's lit world is in mourning and the tributes that poured in all noted how gentle, kind and joyous the man was. #tbt features Words to My Life's Song by Ashley Bryan. This picture book autobiography gives the reader an up-close-and-personal glimpse into the life of Mr. Bryan, his art and his studio on his treasured Little Cranberry Island in Maine. He overcame many obstacles, including interrupting his art studies at Cooper Union College to serve in the segregated military during WWII. Throughout it all, he maintained his joyful exuberance. This book brings me joy. Rest in peace, sir. And, thank you.

Middle Grade Monday and Arc Review: Susie B. Won't Back Down by Margaret Finnegan

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Susie B. Won't Back Down by Margaret Finnegan. 272 p. Atheneum/ Simon & Schuster, October, 2021. 9781534496361. (Review of arc courtesy of Blue Slip Media.)

Happy Monday! I hope you had a wonderful weekend! Middle Grade Monday features Susie B. Won't Back Down by Margaret Finnegan. Susie B. is a fifth grader with definite opinions about her classmates. First off, she's upset to be Susie B. because there are two Susans in her class. Second, "the usual geniuses" are so annoying because they get all the advantages and attention, just because they're perfect. They do things like raising their hand instead of shouting out, studying and handing in assignments in on time. These are some of the things Susie struggles with.

The class has started the Fifth Grade Hero Project and Susie has chosen Susan B. Anthony as her hero. Part of the project involves writing a journal/ letters to the hero, which makes this novel epistolery - told through letters. Fifth grade drama and dynamics are accurately portrayed as Susie navigates best friendship struggles with her campaign to be president of the student council. Additionally, readers learn a bit about Susan B. Anthony, the suffragist who tirelessly campaigned for the right for women to vote, but who also held racist beliefs. The idea of flawed heroes is seamlessly woven in, making this a perfect read aloud/ discussion book. 

Susie is equal parts endearing and annoying, but oh-so-familiar. Readers will groan over her impulsive decisions, laugh at her wry observations and ultimately cheer for this irrepressible fifth grader.

Arc Review: Once Upon a Camel by Kathi Appelt

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Once Upon a Camel by Kathi Appelt. Illustrated by Eric Rohmann. 326 p. A Caitlyn Dlouhy Book/ Atheneum Books for Young Readers/ Simon & Schuster, September 7, 2021. 9781534406438. (Review of arc courtesy of Blue Slip Media.)

Zada is an elderly camel who lives in the desert in Texas with her found family headed by kestrels, Pardo and Perlita. She's awakened abruptly one morning by a hysterical Perlita babbling about an approaching mountain. Turns out, that mountain is a dust storm, a haboob (Yes, I had to look that up), and it's heading toward the cottonwood tree the family have made their home. What's more, Pardo and Perlita have two unfledged chicks in their nest that need protecting! 

The frantic kestrel parents entrust the care of Beulah and Wims to Zada before they are blown upwards into the windstorm. The two chicks nestle down into the hair on top of Zada's head and the trio sets off to the Mission. While Zada has made the trip to the mission many times, never has she done so in the middle of a windstorm and never on such achy legs and certainly not with two fidgety chicks balanced on her head! But she is an honorable camel and a fine auntie and will not Pardo and Perlita down. But what to do to keep Wims and Beulah occupied? She tells them stories.

This is when the narrative flashes back from 1910, West Texas to Smyrna, Turkey in 1850. Do the math, Zada is old! Together with Asiye, Zada was born into the Pasha's racing stables and are destined to race for him. Under the tutelage of gentle Teodor, the two camel best friends thrive and strive to be their very fastest in service of the Pasha. How then, does Zada end up in America? You'll need to read this luscious, atmospheric story-within-a-story to find out. 

And, did you notice in the publication information up top that the book was illustrated by Eric Rohmann? This was the whipped cream and cherry on top of your favorite sundae! Here's a photo of one particularly arresting bit of art among many:

I'm a huge fan of Ms. Appelt. Her books are basically automatic purchases for me. I love her unhurried storytelling. It's rich and lyrical and perfect for reading aloud. She must've done a tremendous amount of research. I spent a fair amount of time looking up unfamiliar words, including the pronunciation of Asiye's name. Young readers' vocabulary will be enriched as Ms. Appelt steeps the reader in two countries/ cultures. 

There are moments of danger and suspense. There will be tears but there are many moments of humor, much of it laugh-out-loud. I closed the book with a satisfied sigh and cannot wait to reread it with my ears. 

#tbt: To Dance by Siena Gershon Siegal

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To Dance: a ballerina's graphic memoir by Siena Cherson Siegal. Illustrated by Mark Siegal. 88 p. Atheneum Books for Young Readers/ Simon & Schuster, October, 2006. 9781416926870 (Own)

#tbt features To Dance: a ballerina's graphic memoir by Siena Cherson Siegal. Illustrated by Mark Siegal. To Dance is the author's memoir of her journey from six-year-old girl dancing on the beach in Puerto Rico through her acceptance to the School of American Ballet to her debut with the New York City Ballet. It was published in October of 2006 and was named to many "Best" lists, such as ALA Notables. It also won a Sibert Honor. You don't need to love or study ballet to enjoy this memoir. It is the story of dedication to an art and is beautifully illustrated by the author's husband.

#tbt: Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

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Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. 144 p. Atheneum Books for Young Readers/ Simon & Shuster, September, 1991. 9780689316142. (Own)

#tbt features Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. Shiloh, published in 1991 was Naylor's 65th book! It won numerous state book awards as well as the Newbery Medal. The story centers on Marty, an eleven-yer-old boy living in Friendly, West Virginia who finds a stray beagle, who was obviously abused. The dog is owned by Judd Travers, Marty's neighbor and town grump. Marty has to return the dog, but he's not happy about it. The story was inspired by Naylor's encounter with a real beagle while visiting friends in Friendly, West Virginia. Shiloh was followed by three sequels, Shiloh Season, Saving Shiloh, and Shiloh Christmas. I have to say, though I adored the book, I was never a fan of the cover, so I didn't choose an image of the original cover, but of a reissue edition.

#tbt: Chicken Boy by Frances O'Roark Dowell

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Chicken Boy by Frances O'Roark Dowell. 202 p. Atheneum Books for Young Readers/ Simon & Schuster, 2005. 9780689858167. (Own.)

#tbt features Chicken Boy by Frances O'Roark Dowell. Published in 2005, this first-person narrative by Tobin McCauley opens with one of the more memorable first lines in children's literature. "You might have heard about the time my granny got arrested on the first day of school." Tobin lives in a dysfunctional family. His father never really recovered from the death of his wife and his older siblings have a bad reputation in town as delinquents. Tobin flies mostly under the radar, preferring not to call attention to himself. At turns hilarious and heartbreaking, Chicken Boy is one of my favorites. While the cover I found on the publisher website is fine, I prefer the cover of my first edition book.

Middle Grade Monday and Arc Review: We Could be Heroes by Margaret Finnegan

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We Could Be Heroes by Margaret Finnegan. 256 p. Atheneum Books for Young Readers/ Simon & Schuster, February 25, 2020. 9781534445253. (Review of arc courtesy of Blue Slip Media.)

Middle Grade Monday features We Could Be Heroes by Margaret Finnegan. Hank Hansen isn't a fan of his teacher. She's reading a really, really sad book aloud to the class and it stirs up lots of emotion in Hank, who has some trouble processing strong feelings. When Hank gets into trouble for trying to set the book on fire in the boys' bathroom, his classmate, Maisie thinks that maybe Hank has the "meatballs" to help her on her mission - to free her neighbor's dog, Booler. Booler has seizures and spends his days tethered to a tree in the backyard of her elderly neighbor. Hank likes rules and doesn't like lying. But he also has no friends and Maisie offers the possibility of friendship. Plus, her mom and dad are geologists who keep cool rocks around their house and Hank's favorite thing is choosing three rocks from his collection to carry around in his pocket each day. 

There's a lot to like in this debut. Quirky characters? Check. Dog possibly in need of rescue? Check. Grumpy old neighbor? Check. Misunderstandings? Humor? Warm hearts? Check. Check Check. I just loved the dynamic between Hank and Maisie and found myself laughing out loud frequently. 

If your students like a great friendship story with humor and a small adventure, they will enjoy We Could be Heroes. One of the fifth grade LA teachers is always looking for read alouds that feature a hidden disability. I am passing this on to her. There is much to like here and I can imagine rich classroom discussion. 

Look for We Could be Heroes on February 25, 2020.

Middle Grade Monday and arc review: Roll with It by Jamie Sumner

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Roll with It by Jamie Sumner. 256 p. Atheneum Books for Young Readers/ Simon & Schuster, October1, 2019. 9781534442559. (Review of arc courtesy of publisher.)

For most of her life, it has just been Ellie and her mother living in Nashville, dealing with wheelchairs, cerebral palsy and IEPs. Her mom successfully advocated for an aide for Ellie, but she occasionally finds a way to escape. Ellie is not your typical sunshine and roses kid in a wheel chair. She has an edge and a dream. She loves to cook and bake and aspires to be a celebrity chef. Life is pretty good in Nashville; but then Ellie's grandad's Alzheimer's disease begins to worsen, Ellie's mom decides to move the family to Oklahoma. This means living in a trailer where Ellie can't navigate without help. It also means attending a school that is not quite equipped to handle Ellie's special needs as well as being the new kid - in a wheelchair. 

Well, I swallowed this one whole. I loved the voice from page one. Terrific writing. Great characters. Realistic issues. Kids are going to adore this, especially if they enjoyed Out of My Mind! Impressive debut! Looking forward to Ms. Sumner's sophomore novel.