Teen Tuesday: The Leaving Room by Amber McBride

Image: Macmillan

The Leaving Room by Amber McBride. Unabridged downloadable audiobook, ~3 hours. Read by the author. Macmillan Audio, October, 2025. 9781250411440. Review of audiobook borrowed from public library.

Gospel is the Keeper of the Leaving Room. She guides young souls onward, but first she collects memories, for the young are reluctant to move on. She doesn't know how she knows these rules, but she does. One day, Melodee enters the Leaving Room, and it turns out that she is a Keeper as well. Two keepers? How can that be? 

I picked this up last December because I wanted to read all the NBA finalists in Literature for Young People. I read and enjoyed two of Ms. McBride's earlier novels. This was a bit hard to get into, but blossomed into a fascinating take on the afterlife.

Young adult readers who enjoy verse novels or books that explore the afterlife like Gabrielle Zevin's Elsewhere, or Jennifer Yu's Grief in the Fourth Dimension, or Gabby Noone's Layoverland will enjoy this. 

2025 National Book Award Finalists and Audiobook Review: The Teacher of Nomad Land: a World War II Story by Daniel Nayeri

Image: Levine Querido

The Teacher of Nomad Land a World War II Story by Daniel Nayeri. Unabridged downloadable audiobook, ~3 hours. Read by the author. Listening Library, September, 2025. Review of audiobook borrowed from public library.

I have been a bad blogger. I read this back in the fall with the intention of reading all the National Book Award Finalists for Young People's Literature. I absolutely loved it and was thrilled when it was given the National Book Award. Did I blog about it then? No. It also garnered a Newbery Honor on 1/26. Did I blog about it? Nope, nope, nope. Bad blogger.

Daniel Nayeri is a masterful storyteller. I wrote on Goodreads, "I can't think of too many children's authors who can spin an enthralling tale with such economy of words." It is a treat to hear him narrate as well. 

I was totally unaware of the fact that Iran was occupied by both the British and Russians during WWII. The tale Nayeri spins of the trials of the two orphans, from despicable relatives who take them in only to exploit them, to the endearing British soldier who befriends them, to the Jewish refugee they feed is suspenseful. I was rapt. I laughed and cried. Truthfully, it is that rare middle school reader who will appreciate this; but it's wonderful to have it to share with that lucky reader. 

2025 Reading

 I need to get my reading mojo back. I resolved to do so on January 1. I wanted to read more and blog more about what I'm reading. Let's see how this first year of retirement shakes out.

January
1. Urban Coyotes by Mary Kay Carson (1/1)*
2. Call the Bee Doctor! How Science is Saving Honey Bees by Sandra Markle (1/2)
3. Clever Crow by Chris Butterworth (1/3)
4. When the World Tips Over by Jandy Nelson (1/6)

5. Evidence: How Dr. John Snow Solved the Mystery of Cholera by Deborah Hopkinson (1/11)

6. Narwhal: Unicorn of the Arctic by Candace Fleming (1/11)

7. Alebrijes by Donna Barba Higuera (1/22)

8. So-Hee and Lowy by Anna Kang (1/23)*

9. Everywhere Beauty is Harlem: the Vision of Photographer Roy DeCarava by Gary Golio (1/24)*

10. Heir by Sabaa Tahir (1/25)*

11. Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt (1/29)*

February (10)

12. Bruce Saves the Planet by Ryan T. Higgins (2/5)

13. Magnolia Wu Unfolds it All by Chanel Miller (2/7)

14. Run Away with Me by Brian Selznick (2/9)

15. On Call: a Doctor's Journey in Public Service by Dr. Anthony Fauci (2/9)

16. Popcorn by Rob Harrell (2/14)*

17. That's Not Funny, David! by David Shannon (2/16)*

18. The Second Chance of Darius Logan by David F. Walker (2/17)

19. Anteaters, Bats & Boas: the Amazon Rainforest from the Forest Floor to the Treetops by Roxie Munro (2/20)*

20. First State of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly (2/21)

21. The Secret of Honeycake by Kimberly Newton Fusco (2/23)*

March (9)

22. Grief in the Fourth Dimension by Jennifer You (3/2)*

23. How It All Ends by Emma Hunsinger (3/5)

24. Skyhunter by Marie Lu (3/10)*

25. Spelling It Out by Margaret Finnegan (3/11)

26. Not Quite a Ghost by Anne Ursu (3/15)

27. Afia and the Land of Wonders by Mia Arajuo (3/18)

28. Steelstriker by Marie Lu (3/25)

29. The Night Visitor by Hildur Knútsdóttir (3/27)

30. The Right Call by Tommy Greenwald (3/30)*

April (3)

31. Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins (4/10)*

32. Three Days in June by Anne Tyler (4/13)*

33. A Day at the Beach by Gary D. Schmidt and Ron Koertge (4/14)

May (6)

34. A Queen's Game by Katherine McGee (5/1)

35. Not Nothing by Gayle Forman (5/7)

36. Soul Food Sunday by Winsome Bingham (5/7)

37. Careless People: a Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed and Lost Idealism by Sarah Wynn-Williams (5/18)*

38. Rebellion 1776 by Laurie Halse Anderson (5/ 24)*

39. Don't Cause Trouble by Arree Chung (5/ 26)*

June

40. One Step Forward by Marcie Flinchum Atkins (6/1)

41. Lover Birds by Leanne Egan (6/5)*

42. Prequel: an American Fight against Fascism by Rachel Maddow (6/7)*

43. Together, United by Tami Charles (6/9)*

44. The Gift of Words by Peter Reynolds (6/9)*

45. Everything is Tuberculosis: the History and Persistence of our Deadliest Infection by John Green (6/13)*

46. Outside by Jennifer L. Holm (6/28)

47. Amelia, If Only by Becky Albertali (6/30)

48. One Alley Summer by Annie Ylvisaker (6/30)*

July (4)

49. The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride (7/5)*

50. Under the Same Stars by Libba Bray (7/13)

51. Miss Liberty by Erin Moonyeen Haley (7/21)

52. Blood in the Water by Tiffany D. Jackson (7/26)

August (12)

53. Here is a Book by Elisha Cooper (8/5)*

54. New Shoes for Leo by Lauren Agra Deedy (8/5)

55. Baa Haa by Audrey Perrott (8/5)

56. Ruby Bridges: a Talk with My Teacher by Ruby Bridges (8/5)

57. I Hate You Fuller James by Kelly Ann Blount (8/7)

58. A Hero's Guide to Summer Vacation by Pablo Cartaya (8/10)

59. Faker by Gordon Korman (8/12)

60. Snoop by Gordon Korman (8/14)*

61. Harboring Hope: The True Story of How Henny Sinding Helped Denmark's Jews Escape the Nazis by Susan Hood (8/17)*

62. El Niño by Pam Muńoz Ryan (8/21)

63. Lifeboat 5 by Susan Hood (8/23)

64. Lifeboat 12 by Susan Hood (8/25)

September (4)

65. Soundtrack by Jason Reynolds (9/5)*

66. War Games by Alan Gratz (9/10)

67. Love is a Revolution by Renee Watson (9/20)

68. (S)Kin by Ibi Zoboi (9/27)

October (6)

69. The Extraordinary Orbit of Alex Ramirez by Jasminne Paulino (10/2)

70. The Redemption of Daya Keane by Gia Gordon (10/12)*

71. One Wrong Step by Jennifer A. Nielsen (10/16)

72. Dream by Barbara O'Connor (10/17)*

73. Dive by John David Anderson (10/27)*

74. The Teacher of Nomad Land: a World War II Story by Daniel Nayari (10/30)*

November (3)

75. All Ears by Stuart Gibbs (11/5)

76. The Correspondent by Virginia Evans (11/11)*

77. I am Made of Death by Kelly Andrew (11/12)

December

78. A World Worth Saving by Kyle Lukoff (12/5)

79. First Love Language by Stefany Valentine (12/9)

80. Coach by Jason Reynolds (12/10)

81. A Snow Day for Amos McGee by Philip Stead (12/

82. 107 Days by Kamala D. Harris (12/20)

83. The Leaving Room by Amber McBride (12/21)

84. We Fell Apart by E. Lockhart (12/22)

Middle Grade Monday: One Wrong Step by Jennifer A. Nielsen

Image: Scholastic Inc.

One Wrong Step by Jennifer A. Nielsen. 336 p. Scholastic Press/ Scholastic Inc. March, 2025. 9781338275865. Review of finished copy courtesy of publisher. 

Middle Grade Monday features One Wrong Step by Jennifer A. Nielsen. For the last three years, it has been just Atlas and his dad. His dad is a map-maker and mountaineer and the two have been climbing together for most of Atlas' life. In fact, they were away climbing when Atlas' mother died, something Atlas can't quite forgive his father for. 

In 1939, Atlas and his father join an expedition to Mount Everest. Atlas has brought along a scarf his mother knit for him, hoping to place it at the top of the world and also hoping to find some peace. His hopes are dashed when he's informed that he's not going to leave advance base camp. The organizer of the trip was not happy that he's tagging along and puts his foot down.

When Atlas sees an avalanche near where the climbing party would be and then loses radio contact with them, he decides to mount a rescue. How can he, a sherpa and the inexperienced daughter of a researcher scale the most dangerous part of Mount Everest? 

Major suspension of belief is required here, but the intended audience will buy in. Each chapter begins with a mountaineering definition and a map showing where Atlas is. The chapters are short and suspenseful. 

Fans of Ms. Nielsen's books will not be disappointed.

ARC Review: War Games by Alan Gratz

Image: Scholastic Inc.

War Games by Alan Gratz. 368 p. Scholastic Press/ Scholastic Inc., October 7, 2025. 978225000257. 

Any book by Alan Gratz was an automatic purchase for me until I retired as a middle school librarian recently. I continue to read books for middle and young adult audiences and will continue to read whatever Mr. Gratz publishes. My students adore his novels and I ordered multiple copies of most of his titles. 

Twelve-year-old Evie Harris hopes to help her "Okie" family out of poverty by winning gold in the 1936 Olympics in Germany as part of the U.S. Olympics gymnastics team. She thinks this is her ticket to Hollywood stardom, like her idol, equestrian and movie star, Mary Brooks. Unfortunately for her, her teammates ostracize her and she fails the qualifying rounds. Since her Olympic dreams are dashed, she considers joining the shady Solomon Monday with his plans to rob the Reichsbank of its gold. As Monday says, this is one way for Evie to bring home the gold. Only, she has to ditch the ever-present Hitler Youth guide, Heinz.

This layered, plot-driven heist novel illustrates the behind the scenes story of the 1936 Olympics. The main characters are fictitious, as is the heist, but the political precariousness of those Olympics are factual. A detailed Author's Note separates fact from fiction for the reader. 

Fans of the author and fans of heist novels will gobble this up. Due out on October 7. 

Middle Grade Monday: Rebellion, 1776 by Laurie Halse Anderson

                                                        

Image: Simon & Schuster

Rebellion 1776 by Laurie Halse Anderson. 416 p. Atheneum Books for Young Readers/ Caitlyn Dlhouy Books/ Simon & Schuster, April 1, 2025. 9781416968269. Review of a finished copy borrowed from the public library. 

Middle Grade Monday features Rebellion 1776 by Laurie Halse Anderson. Thirteen-year-old Elsbeth works for a crotchety, old, loyalist judge in Boston, and feels lucky to have that job. She and her father recently moved to Boston from Philadelphia after her mother and siblings died from smallpox. Her father is a sailmaker and she is tall for her age, so she works for the judge and puts up with his abuse. But then, the Redcoats are routed from Boston and loyalists are evacuating. What will happen to Elsbeth? Her father wants her to evacuate, but she wants to stay. 

This first-person narrative drew me in from the start. Elsbeth is plucky, smart and feisty. Through Elsbeth, Anderson conveys the danger and uncertainty of the seige of Boston. As if the battle between the colonists and British was not enough, smallpox is rearing its ugly head in Boston. The resistance to vaccination is eerily similar to modern day antivaxers. 

Anderson is a masterful researcher, but also skilled in making her characters relatable. I loved this. 

ARC Review: Afia and the World of Wonders by Maria Araujo

Image: Scholastic

Afia and the World of Wonders by Maria Araujo. 304 p. Scholastic Press/ Scholastic Inc., April 15, 2025. 9781338856736. Review of arc courtesy of publisher.

Afia and her identical twin sister have a few moments of freedom at the market the evening before their coming-of-age ceremony. Aya is looking forward to the ceremony and taking her place in the family business. Afia, not so much. When she meets a mysterious wood carver, she is intrigued by his wares, but her sister intervenes, but not before he injects some doubt in Afia.

During the ceremony, Afia decides to run away, away from the protection of her village and into the land of the unknown, guided by this mysterious wood carver. She is introduced to the queen of the realm and is entranced, but a pesky cat-faced being pesters her.

This Alice in Wonderland retelling, set in West Africa is just familiar enough and different enough to be beguiling. The art in the arc was unfinished, but intriguing. This was so much fun!

The Right Call by Tommy Greenwald

Image: Abrams

The Right Call by Tommy Greenwald. 272 p. Game Changers series. Amulet Books/ Abrams, April 15, 2025. Review of finished copy courtesy of publisher. 

Cal Klondike was a middling to bad baseball player until he wasn't. Even he can't explain where his arm came from. One day, he just started getting better, throwing harder, throwing faster. This earned him an invitation to join Waltham Baseball Academy as their rising star. Cal is fine with the pressure. He has his best bud, Luis to pitch to and loves the game; but with each win, rumors of scouts - not just college scouts, but pros - rise and his dad starts to get a little weird. He's more intense. He starts arguing with umpires and even Cal's coach. 

This important story is told in multiple formats - texts, emails, transcripts of Cal's sessions with his guidance counselor and a trial, sports news articles and Cal's own free verse poetry. The reader's attention is grabbed by a news article about an umpire who was seriously injured after a disputed call, then flashes back. Cal is likable and relatable. He's a kid who has raw talent and a love of baseball. Unfortunately, expectations rise too high, too fast. This situation is so relatable in this day and age of focusing on one sport all-year-round in elite and expensive travel leagues. Instead of learning other sports at a recreational level, many student athletes are not developing well-rounded skills and may be asking too much of their growing bodies. I was totally drawn into this story from the first page and seriously did not expect to finish it in a puddle of tears.

On a personal note, when sons # 2, 3, and 4 were coming up, there were travel teams and rec teams and they were all on both for soccer, and just rec for basketball and baseball. They were better at soccer, but enjoyed the other sports. Then, came an elite travel soccer league and time got tight. Suddenly there was indoor soccer in the winter and spring soccer. They also attended music school and were good musicians. Oy.

Son #2 got to play at Carnegie Hall with his orchestra, but had to change into his baseball uniform in the car and rush to a game afterwards. Another time, there was a conflict with soccer that couldn't be resolved and my husband got mad and told me that he wasn't going to be Itzhak Perlman. When I relayed this message to his violin teacher, she responded with, "He's more likely to be Itzhak Perlman than Pele." This stuck with me. He's now a neurosurgeon who specializes in minimally invasive spine surgery. Sorry, proud mom moment.

The point is, it was getting out of hand almost thirty years ago and the pressure cooker has only gotten worse. Many of my former students were very busy with school teams, and elite teams and often had trouble getting homework done and sometimes even had trouble staying awake in class. And, this competitiveness is not just relegated to sports. Elite music students are often exhausted from hours of practice and music competitions. 

So, this book hit home for me as a parent, and I'm sure it will resonate with student athletes. I have enjoyed Tommy Greenwald's books ever since a fifth grade teacher read Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to (Not) Reading to her class. I found out about the book because when her class came into the library for the first time and I asked what their favorite book was, most of them shouted that title. I was unfamiliar with it and they were more than happy to tell me all about it. 

The Right Call hits a slightly older audience and it's part of a series of companion books called Game Changer. They are all told in multiple formats and explore the impact of high expectations and rising violence in sports. This might be Tommy Greenwald's best book yet. 

The Right Call belongs in every school, classroom and public library. 

Teen Tuesday and Audiobook Review: Grief in the Fourth Dimension.by Jennifer Yu

Image: Tantor Media

Grief in the Fourth Dimension.by Jennifer Yu. Unabridged audiobook, ~8 hours, 45 minutes. Tantor Audio. Read by Tim Lounibos and Raechel Wong. July, 2024. Review of audiobook downloaded and borrowed from public library.

Kenny Zhou and Caroline Davison may have been classmates, but they existed in two completely different orbits. He, an introverted science nerd, worked in his immigrant parents' restaurant. She, an extroverted, popular athlete came from a life of privilege. When Kenny ends up in a stark, white room containing a chair and a huge, wall-mounted flat screen tv, any doubts that he has died are put to rest when the television broadcasts his funeral. 

Caroline, on the other hand, believes she's suffering from a fever dream, until the television shows her otherwise. Then, she believes the two are in purgatory - purgatory with a sense of humor as the room sends them cryptic notes and seems to grant them wishes. Of course, the two wish to communicate with their respective families, but communication is garbled. 

This intriguing speculative fiction made me think of a favorite book of mine called Layover Land, with its unique view of the afterlife, redemption and grief. Oh, and its snarkiness was quite amusing, but soon gave way to poignance as details unfold. 

The shifting POV between Kenny and Caroline kept me engaged and guessing. Supporting characters are beautifully rendered, especially Kenny's friend, Iris. 

Mr. Lounibos' narration gave Kenny such an achingly real vulnerability and Ms. Wong's portrayal of Caroline's journey from confident to angry to contemplative was well wrought. Many themes are explored here from privilege to mental health to justice through this story. 

Thoughtful teen fans of speculative fiction and the afterlife will adore Grief in the Fourth Dimension.

Middle Grade Monday: The Secret of Honeycake by Kimberly Fusco Newton

Image: Penguin Random House

The Secret of Honeycake by Kimberly Fusco Newton. 368 p. Knopf Books for Young Readers/ Random House Children's Books, January, 2025. 9880593121771. Review of finished copy courtesy of Blue Slip Media. 

Middle Grade Monday features The Secret of Honeycake by Kimberly Fusco Newton. This historical fiction is set in 1930 and is narrated by Hurricane, a quiet tween who is familiar with loss. She lives with her nineteen-year-old sister, since her mother died of tuberculosis. Her father died in the Great War. She hates school and is convinced her teacher hates her as well, but she confides all this in her journal. She takes comfort in running with her dog along the beach and the fact that her sister, Bronte, will speak for her. Only Bronte has TB and needs to go to a sanatorium to recover and Hurricane must leave her beloved dog and beach to live in the city with great Aunt Claire. She is fussy and her house is unforgiving, but her chauffeur is kind and gets her. 

Hurricane's voice is achingly relatable as she navigates the uncertainties in her life. I highly recommend this gentle, first-person novel for tween readers. Absolutely lovely.

Middle Grade Monday and Audiobook Review: The First State of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly

Image: HarperCollins Publishers

The First State of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly. Unabridged audiobook download. ~ 5 hours. Read by Ramón de Ocampo. HarperAudio/ HarperCollins, March, 2024. 9780063337343. Review of e-audiobook borrowed from public library.

Middle Grade Monday features The First State of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly. This time travel story alternates between the year 2199 and 1999. Ridge, the genius son of a scientist perfecting a time travel device in 2199, decides to test it out without authorization, to visit his favorite year in history, 1999. The 2199 parts are transcripts of conversations between Ridge's mother and his siblings as they frantically try to return him to there time and worry about the repercussions of Ridge's actions in the past. 

Most of the book takes place in 1999. Ridge ends up in the Fox Run apartments and catches the eye of twelve-year-old Michael Rosario. Michael is bi-racial (Filipino/ white) and lives with his single mother in the apartment complex. He has a crush on his babysitter, Gibby. He's also anxious and obsessed with the doomsday scenarios around the turning of the century, and has been stealing supplies. When he finds out the Ridge is from the future, and also has a book that maps the next twenty years, Michael is torn between helping Ridge to return to his time and finding out what happens. 

Time travel stories are not my favorite. This one was engaging and featured interesting, fleshed-out characters. It also fleshed out some provocative themes. Ramón de Ocampo's narration moves seamlessly between times and characters. 

The First State of Being won the 2025 Newbery Medal and was a National Book Award finalist last fall. It will appeal to fans of the author as well as fans of time travel books. Happy reading! 

Middle Grade Monday: Popcorn by Rob Harrell

Image: Penguin Random House

Popcorn by Rob Harrell. 288 p. Dial Books/ Penguin Young Readers Group, September, 2024. 9780593697924. Review of book borrowed from public library.

It's picture day for seventh grader, Andrew Yaeger and he's anxious. It doesn't take much for Andrew to feel anxious. He even has a scale of anxiety, with a kernel of popcorn as the barometer for how anxious he feels. His mom is anxious as well. She wants a good school picture and has even gotten Andrew a new shirt. She's also starting a new job that day as well, one that pays better. Maybe the family will even be able to move to a larger apartment. Things have gotten a bit cramped since G., Andrew's grandmother moved in. He loves G., but sometimes she doesn't recognize Andrew and now he has to sleep on the couch.

This charming, touching, often hilarious novel is told from Andrew's POV and accompanied by spot art and comic panels that add humor to the narrative. It takes place during one school day. Andrew's voice is authentic and immediately relatable. His best friendship with Jonesy is changing, thanks to her being a star on the basketball team, but they are trying to keep things going. Thankfully, he has teachers and the school nurse around who notice and care. 

I can't think of a reader who wouldn't love this book. Popcorn won the Schneider Family Book Award for Middle Grade Fiction this past January. I think it will begin showing up on many state book lists soon. Highly recommend!

Picture Book FNG Review: That's Not Funny, David! by David Shannon

Image: Scholastic Inc.

That's Not Funny, David! by David Shannon. 32 p. Orchard Books/ Scholastic Inc., March 4, 2025. 9781546123187. Review of fng courtesy of publisher.

It's hard to believe that it will be 27 years this September, since boisterous, rambunctious little David burst on the scene in all his triangular-toothed glory. Has he grown either physically or emotionally? No. Is he still a perpetual motion machine? Yes. As the author/ illustrator notes in his introduction, humor is subjective. David definitely goes for low-brow and provocative. His antics will delight his fans.

Teen Tuesday and ARC Review: Run Away with Me by Brian Selznick

Image: Scholastic

Run Away with Me by Brian Selznick. 320 p. Scholastic Press/ Scholastic Inc., April 1, 2025. 9781339035529. Review of arc courtesy of publisher.

It is the summer of 1986, and our narrator is a sixteen-year-old lonely young man forced to move, yet again due to the nature of his single mother's rather esoteric job as a rare books expert. After wandering sullenly around Rome, he takes refuge in a cathedral to get out of the heat and falls asleep. When he awakens, he is struck by paintings of two angels seemingly staring at each other across the room. Haunted by these images, he resumes wandering and, at an intersection comes across a statue, which, unlike the many others in Rome, lacks beauty. As he turns away, he hears someone shout, "Wait!" and thinks for a moment that it is the statue. He finds a folded piece of paper jammed into the statue and upon unfolding it, finds that it is a map with a location circled. He makes his way to an elephant obelisk and meets the creator of the map, who looks exactly like the angel he just saw, and this angel speaks perfect English. Suddenly, Rome has become interesting. This mystery person names our narrator Danny, short for Dante, the sculptor of the elephant and Danny names his guide, Angelo, for the angel in the church. 

The next weeks unfold dreamily for Danny as he aches to reunite daily with Angelo, who is filled with anecdotes about Rome, not all of which Danny can believe. Angelo is secretive, but so is Danny, especially with his mother. 

Lies and truths intermingle in this intense story of first love, and identity. There are stories within the story that are utterly enchanting and heartbreaking. The narrative feels occasionally forced, especially when Angelo disappears and the cause is revealed. Sorry, the nurse in me is especially critical of medical stuff. This will not be noted by intended audience. 

The narrative is bookended by Selznick's signature pencil drawings that are so incredibly detailed they feel architectural and dreamy at once. 

Run Away with Me publishes on April 1. Mr. Selznick's YA debut is impressive. 

Teen Tuesday and Audiobook Review: Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt

Image: HarperCollins Publishers

Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt. Unabridged audiobook, ~ 3 hours. Read by Zachary Roe. Clarion Books/ HarperCollins Publishers, December, 2021. Review of audiobook borrowed from public library.

Teen Tuesday features Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt. I first read this with my eyes back in August of 2016. It was published in fall of 2015. I was still giving stars to my GR posts and gave five with the comment: Okay, officially gutted. I swear, there are not many authors who can do what Gary D. Schmidt does in so few words. The economy, beauty, imagery and heart in his writing is astonishing.

After I read Jupiter Rising, I realized that I couldn't really remember the details of Orbiting Jupiter. It was, after all, about 2500 or so books ago, so I decided to reread it with my ears. 

This is the first-person narration by Jackson Hurd. A sixth grader who lives on a dairy farm with his parents, who have agreed to foster Joseph Brooks, a thirteen-year-old who has fathered a child, spent time in a juvenile detention facility and doesn't like to be touched or approached from behind. Jackson and his parents give Joseph the space and time he needs, but also chores, such as milking the cows, which he also needs. Unfortunately, other adults in the community, have prejudged Joseph, starting with the school bus driver, so Joseph and Jackson walk to school in the bitter cold.

As Joseph slowly thaws with the Hurds, they learn his story and are more committed than ever to helping him. All Joseph wants is to see his baby, who is in foster care since her mother, Maddie, has died.

This emotionally intense, character-driven novel packs a punch. Have tissues handy. The narrator was different than the one for Jupiter Rising. He was measured and fine, except he mispronounced the name of a character several times, which annoyed me. 

Orbiting Jupiter was named a Publishers Weekly Best Book, an ALA Notable as well as quite a few state award lists. It has become a TMS favorite over the years and a book I highly recommend. Happy reading.

Teen Tuesday and Audiobook Review: Heir by Sabaa Tahir

Image: Penguin Random House

Heir by Sabaa Tahir. Unabridged e-audiobook. ~18 hours. Narrated by Vidish Athavale, Esme Lonsdale, Joe Pitts, Marco Young, and Rachel Perladwala. Books on Tape/ Recorded Books/ Penguin Random House, October, 2024. Review from e-audiobook borrowed from public library.

Teen Tuesday features Heir by Sabaa Tahir. This duology picks up 20 years after the events of Ms.Tahir's propulsive debut trilogy, An Ember in the Ashes. While it is a stand-alone, I enjoyed seeing where Elias, Laia and Helene ended up. 

Heir is told from three points of view and the timeline is nonlinear, which I found a bit confusing at first, but made for quite the plot twist later on. Quil is the reluctant heir to the empire. He is Helene's nephew and she has trained him well. Sirsha is an exiled Jaduna, who has been forbidden to use her magic on the pain of death. She has been hired to track a child killer and reluctantly binds herself to the job, increasing the chance that her people will find her. Aiz is an orphan living in extreme poverty, but under the gentle care of clerics devoted to Mother Div. She's a storyteller, entrusted by the clerics to tell the eight tales and she half-believes Mother Div will come and rescue the Kegari people.

As in the Ember series, the world building is rich and vivid and the characters are well-drawn. There's plenty of violence left in the empire, and the serial killings are quite brutal. The romances were a miss for me. They didn't feel organic. They felt convenient. Also, the detail and frequency of couplings made this series more appropriate for a high school, rather than a middle school audience. Still, it's a nit, which will not bother the intended audience, and I will definitely be reading the conclusion of the duology. 

I'm glad I read this one with my ears as the pronunciation of names and places wouldn't have been what I chose and was happy for knowing how the author intended them to be pronounced. The narrators all gave well-paced performances. 

Happy reading!

Miiddle Grade Monday and Audiobook Review: Alebrijes by Donna Barba Higuera

Image: Recorded Books

Alebrijes by Donna Barba Higuera. Unabridged e-audiobook, ~10 hours. Narrated by Cisco Fernandez and Frankie Corzo. Recorded Books, October, 2023. Review of e-audio borrowed from public library. 

Thirteen-year-old Leandro and his nine-year-old sister, Gabi are Cascabeles, living in extreme poverty and at the mercy of the Pocateles, the ruling elite in what seems to be California in a post-apocalyptic world. What little food that can be farmed from the once fertile land, goes to the Pocateles. But, Leandro has grown up with stories about the once fertile lands and has a plan to get out with his sister. Unfortunately, that involves pickpocketing, and when Gabi gets caught, Leandro steps up to take the fall. Judgement is swift and severe - banishment outside the city, where wyrms burst from the soil to swallow any who walk there. But, Leandro has been given a reprieve, of sorts. If he agrees to leave his body behind, a doctor will remove his essence and implant it into the body of a hummingbird drone, leftover old-tech from the before-times. She wants Leandro to find and return her daughter. 

This dystopian adventure grabs you by the throat, lets up from time to time, but doesn't let go. Vivid world building and sympathetic characters kept me listening. The narrator sounded convincingly youthful and I appreciated the fluent shift to Spanish words that I would've butchered had I read with my eyes. I will reread it with my eyes soon, though. The physical book, which I have/ had in my library is utterly gorgeous, with its  intriguing die-cut cover and illustrations. 

Alebriges was a "Best of the Year" book for Kirkus, Booklist, New York Times and the Chicago Public Library. It was also named a Pura Belpré Honor Book. Happy reading!