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.

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. 

Middle Grade Monday: Dinged by Tommy Greenwald

Image: Abrams Books

Dinged by Tommy Greenwald. 288 p. A Game Changer companion novel. Amulet Books/ Abrams, September, 2022. 9781419755156. (Review of finished copy courtesy of publisher.)

Happy Monday! It is a wet and dreary Monday here in northern NJ. The pups were miserable plodding through the dark and the rain to do their business, but they sure do love to be towed-dried at the end. 

Middle Grade Monday features Dinged by Tommy Greenwald. Freshman Caleb Springer has it made. He not only made the varsity football team, but is its quarterback. His whole life has been all football all the time, and he's a rare natural talent that is expected to go all the way to the pros as his father did. Only his dad is showing some disturbing signs - forgetfulness and explosive anger, and Caleb is concerned after having his bell rung twice during the season.

This first-person novel is interspersed with text messages and color commentary by a bantering duo of high school sports journalists. Caleb is instantly appealing as he thoughtfully leads a team of boys that are older and bigger than he. The football action is crisp. The romance between Caleb and Nina is sweet. The ever-present danger of traumatic brain injury and the effects of repeated head injury are ominous, and will hopefully cause readers to reflect. They will root for Caleb as he ponders his path.

Dinged should have wide appeal among middle school readers, not just fans of sports novels. Mr. Greenwald's writing is consistently crisp. His plots move briskly, but also contain depth and his characters are engaging and relatable. And, that cover sure is arresting! Back matter includes an author's note and a list of resources about traumatic brain injury. Highly recommended!

Middle Grade Monday and Audiobook Review: Pony by R.J. Palacio

Image: Penguin Random House

Pony by R.J. Palacio. Unabridged e-audio book, ~7 hours. Read by Ian M. Hawkins, with Author Note read by the author. Listening Library/ Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group, September, 2021. 9780593505410. (Review of e-audio borrowed from public library.)

Middle Grade Monday features Pony by R.J. Palacio. Ms. Palacio steps outside the world of Wonder in this genre-blender of historical fiction, mystery and ghost story. It is 1860 and Silas lives in the woods in Ohio with his inventor father. Silas narrates and admits that he's not your twelve-year-old. He's at once naive and wise beyond his years. His mother died when he was born. He was struck by lightning and survived and his best friend is a ghost named Mittenwool. When his father is kidnapped by three men on horseback, he tells Silas to stay put and that he would return within the week. 

The following day, one of the rider's white-faced pony returns to Silas and though he has never ridden a horse, he decides to ride the pony in search of his dad. The journey involves trekking through mysterious woods where many ghosts, some not as friendly as Mittenwool reside, but he soon meets up with a cranky, old U.S. Marshall who is tracking some counterfeiters and reluctantly brings Silas on since there might be a connection between them and Silas' dad's kidnappers. 

Some degree of suspension of belief is required here, but Pony is a satisfying read all-in-all with some surprisingly emotional moments. The narration was leisurely paced and introspective. It did take me a little while to become fully invested in the story. I am eager to hear what young readers think. The extensive author's note, read by Ms. Palacio was quite interesting. Since I read with my ears, I missed the old-timey photos that headed each chapter in the print edition.

Middle Grade Monday: Kingston and the Echoes of Magic by Rucker Moses and Theo Gangi

Image: Penguin Random House

Kingston and the Echoes of Magic by Rucker Moses and Theo Gangi. 296 p. G.P. Putnam's Sons/ Penguin Young Readers, October, 2021. 9780525516897. (Review of finished copy courtesy of MBCommunications.)

Kingston and his crew are back in a second installment that begins on a subway ride back from a Nets game a few days before Christmas. As King surveys the scenery, his cousin V, his best pal, Too Tall and his uncle, Crooked Eye, he realizes that they are stuck in a time loop. Their Brooklyn neighborhood has been transformed by gigantic black stones and power outages. After consulting with Sol and Sula, King realizes that their father, Maestro has them reliving the same 26 hours as he jumps time echoes in search of the power that will enable him to take over the world. 

I won't say more so as not to spoil the delight of this fast-paced, exciting story or the first book, if you haven't already read it. I love the voice. Kingston is an endearing, earnest character surrounded by great friends and family. I loved the banter and the history. I was especially tickled by one particular scene and another really choked me up. Read the book to try and figure out which ones. While this installment can stand on its own, why would anyone miss Kingston and the Magician's Lost and Found? This duology* is perfect for readers interested in magic and magicians, especially Black magicians. 

*I was actually a bit disappointed that there are only two books!

Teen Tuesday and Arc Review: Polo Cowboy by G. Neri

Image: Candlewick Press

Polo Cowboy by G. Neri. Illustrated by Jesse Joshua Watson. 288 p. Candlewick Press, October, 2021. 9781536207118. (Review of arc courtesy of publisher.)

Happy Tuesday! And Happy Lunar New Year! I am looking forward to our assembly at school today. The Korean Parents' Association always puts together a wonderful, enriching experience each year. Today is the beginning of Black History Month and, though I try to feature diverse literature all year long, not just in the "designated" months, the emphasis this month will be on works by Black authors.

Teen Tuesday features Polo Cowboy by G. Neri. This is a companion/ sequel to Ghetto Cowboy, which I featured on a #tbt a while back. Cole's mom agrees to let him stay in Philadelphia with his dad. Cole's happy not to leave his horse, Boo and looking forward to spending more time riding. Harp bursts that bubble by insisting that Cole get a job grooming polo ponies at a tony military academy outside the city. Polo ponies! Now Cole needs to contend with substandard conditions at his inner-city high school and take a bus after school to groom polo ponies for rich stuck-up white boys. They are arrogant and treat Cole and one team member terribly. Ruthie is the only girl not only on the polo team, but at the military academy. She's also Black, but Cole has a hard time looking at her. While she's pretty and an excellent polo player, she has a skin condition that affects her pigmentation and makes for an easy target for her teammates. Cole is also trying to resist the lure of easy money that his cousin is offering. Cole is a cowboy through and through, but when he takes Ruthie up on her offer to teach him how to play polo, he's intrigued.

As in Ghetto Cowboy, there are beautiful black and white illustrations that enhance this compelling story of grit, determination and staying true to oneself. While the story can stand alone, I highly recommend reading both books to appreciate Cole's growth as well as the arc of his relationship with Harp. 

Waiting on Wednesday: Polo Cowboy by G. Neri

Image: Penguin Random House

Polo Cowboy by G. Neri. Illustrated by Jesse Joshua Watson. 288 p. Candlewick Press, October 12, 2021. 9781536207118.

Publisher synopsis: How does a Black kid from North Philly wind up playing polo? The much-anticipated sequel to Ghetto Cowboy, now a major motion picture starring Idris Elba and Stranger Things’s Caleb McLaughlin.

When Cole moves in with his dad, Harp, he thinks life will be sweet—just him and his horse, Boo, hanging out with Philadelphia’s urban cowboys. But when Harp says he has to get a job, Cole winds up as a stable hand for the polo team at George Washington Military Academy, where the players are rich, white, and stuck-up—all except Ruthie, the team’s first and only girl, who’s determined to show the others she can beat them at their own game. As Cole and Ruthie become friends—and maybe more—he starts imagining his future, maybe even at the academy. But between long workdays, arrogant polo players, and a cousin trying to pull Cole into his dangerous business, that future seems remote. Will Cole find the courage to stand and be seen in a world determined to keep him out? With striking illustrations by Jesse Joshua Watson, celebrated author G. Neri’s novel weaves themes of tenacity and community into a rousing sports story inspired by Philadelphia's real -life urban cowboys and polo players.

Teen Tuesday and Audiobook Review: Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas

Image: HarperCollins Publishers

Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas. Unabridged e-audiobook, ~ 8 hours, 17 minutes. Read by Dion Graham. Balzer + Bray/ HarperCollins Publishers, January, 2021. 9780063043817. (Review of e-audiobook downloaded from the public library.)

Teen Tuesday features Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas. This is Ms. Thomas' third novel and is a prequel to her New York Times bestselling debut, The Hate U Give. Fans of THUG, will be thrilled to meet seventeen-year-old Maverick Carter. 

When Maverick is told he's a father as a result of a one-night stand, he cannot believe it. No sooner did the paternity test results come back identifying Mav as the father of Iesha's son, then Mav found himself the sole care taker of him. He has been dealing drugs in order to help his mother make ends meet, but stops at the behest of his cousin, Dre. This adds tension to his already fraught relationship with King. Iesha is King's on-again-off-again girlfriend and presumed he was Iesha's son's father. 

He takes his responsibility seriously and has the support of his mother. He's offered an after-school job working at Mr. Wyatt's grocery story, but the pay is peanuts compared to what he was earning slinging and babies are expensive! Keeping up with schoolwork is really hard as well, what with the baby keeping him up at night. And, he has to come clean with Lisa. They were broken up at the time of the one-night stand, but she dumps him anyway and he'd do anything to get her back.

Like Ms. Thomas' previous novels, her characters brim with personality and her Garden City setting is vivid. Families struggle and are often beset with tragedy, but they offer support and unconditional love. Mav's father has been in prison for most of his childhood, but he still calls regularly to check in and is there to listen. Mav's voice is compelling. He may not be book smart, but he is intelligent, wryly observant, fiercely loyal and wants to do right.

Concrete Rose was narrated by Dion Graham, one of my favorite narrators. He utterly embodies Maverick and his performance is well-paced and nuanced. Read it with your eyes. Read it with your ears. Maverick's story is gripping.

Middle Grade Monday and Arc Review: Kingston and the Magician's Lost and Found by Rucker Moses and Theo Gangi

Happy Monday! Sunday's snow was manageable removal-wise and all my trees look like they're iced with frosting. It sure was pretty! I kept the bird feeders stocked and watched some happy birds feast all day.

Image: Penguin Random House

Kingston and the Magician's Lost and Found by Rucker Moses and Theo Gangi. 288 p. G.P. Putnam's Sons/ Penguin Young Readers Group, February 16, 2021. 9780525516866. (Review of arc courtesy of publicist.)

Middle Grade Monday features Kingston and the Magician's Lost and Found by Rucker Moses and Theo Gangi. Twelve-year-old Kingston James and his Ma are returning to Echo City in Brooklyn. They are still grieving the disappearance of Kingston's magician dad four years earlier, but the family brownstone has gone into foreclosure and family is family. Kingston's Ma wants to turn the brownstone into a coffee shop and scrub all evidence of magic out. The neighborhood is declining since magic left. The Majestic Theater is boarded up. Kingston's uncles are at sea. It's almost too much to bear, but Kingston's cousin, Veronica is cool and he reconnects with his best friend, Too Tall. The two agree to help King investigate some mysterious clues that he can't ignore. His uncles say, King's dad can't be retrieved from the Realm, which is the universe he ended up in after he jumped through a portal in a mirror. King can't help but feel that he can.

This fast-paced mystery is twisty and atmospheric. The fictional Brooklyn setting is so vividly drawn that readers might try to look for it on a map. King is smart and gutsy and his longing for his dad is palpable. His banter with his cousin and best friend is endearing. The suspense is high as the menaces mount. These include a gang of gray-skinned kids who are after the same thing King is, only for differet reasons. And there's magic! There's talk of a variety of tricks and performance, as well as references made to prominent Black magicians of the past.

Kingston and the Magicians Lost and Found releases next week and might just be the perfect book to read on your winter break.

Teen Tuesday and Audiobook Review: Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

Image: Macmillan Publishers

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas. Unabridged e-audiobook. ~13 hours, 48 minutes. Read by Avi Roque. Macmillan Audio, September, 2020. 9781250619129. (Review of downloadable e-audiobook borrowed from the public library.)

Teen Tuesday features Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas. Sixteen-year-old Yadriel is a transgender boy who lives in a cemetery with his extended family of brujas and brujos. He is determined to become a brujo, even though his father does not acknowledge him as his son. He held a secret initiation ceremony with his best friend, Maritza. After his cousin is brutally murdered, the brujos set out to find his ghost in order to set him free. Yadriel hopes to find his cousin in order to prove himself to his father. Instead, he accidentally summons Julian, a bad-boy classmate who was also murdered around the same time. Julian has unfinished business and no idea who killed him. He teams up with Yadriel and Maritza to find out. 

This deeply nuanced and sparkling debut was such a surprise to me - suspenseful and laugh-out-loud funny as well as tear-inducing! I loved this book and highly recommend it to mature teen readers. The East LA Latinx community is vividly drawn. The magic is oh-so-believable. The characters are unique and memorable. I really did not want this story to end. I was happy to learn that the author might be working on a sequel of sorts. 

I must admit that I had to get used to the narrator's staccato delivery. I thought that I inadvertently upped the speed of audiobook. I soon got used to it. There's an absolutely adorable interview/ love fest between the narrator and the author at the end of the audiobook. 

The Cemetery Boys is a first-purchase for any collection serving teen readers. 

November is Picture Book Month! Review: The Boy and the Gorilla by Jackie Azúa Kramer

Image: Candlewick Press

The Boy and the Gorilla by Jackie Azúa Kramer. Illustrated by Cindy Derby. unpgd. Candlewick Press, October, 2020. 9780763698324. (Review of finished copy courtesy of publisher.)

Don't be too quick to flip past the title page in this exquisite picture book. The story starts there, followed by two wordless, double-page spreads. The first depicts a gorilla following a group of people who are following a boy and his father. The second depicts a scene inside a living room where the father and son sit alone among a crowd of people dressed in black while the gorilla sits quietly in the middle of the room. 

Eventually, the boy wanders out to his mother's garden and the gorilla follows. The story is told in dialogue, with the gorilla's words italicized. He tells the boy, "Your mothers garden is beautiful. May I help?" While the two quietly work the garden, the boy opens up because the gorilla gave him room. The boy is filled with questions he cannot ask his father; such as how someone knows a person has died or whether we all die. The gorilla answers each question simply and honestly. The gorilla reminds the boy that his mom is always with him. When the boy misses his mom reading to him, the gorilla suggests that his dad might enjoy the story. He allows the boy to be alone and, most importantly, listens. Eventually, the boy connects with his father. Once that happens, the gorilla's job is done and the story ends with a final wordless spread.

I don't know why I love books about grief. I can't stop reading this one. It has to be my favorite ever. The text is reassuringly simple and the illustrations are utterly mesmerizing. The watercolors are somber and blurry, as if viewing through tears (and I was viewing through tears at times). The palette is filled with grey and purple but little pops of color draw the eye. 

The best way to convey difficult concepts to young children is simply and honestly and as concretely as possible. The Boy and the Gorilla is a godsend for any adult who needs to comfort a child, or, even themselves. I cannot recommend this book enough.

November is Picture Book Month! I Talk Like a River by Jordan Scott

Image: Holiday House 

I Talk Like a River by Jordan Scott. Illustrated by Sydney Smith. 40 p. Neal Porter Books/ Holiday House, September, 2020. 978823445592. (Review of book borrowed from the public library.)

A boy awakens each morning dreading having to speak. He stutters and school, as well as the letters, P, C, and M are torture. His dad calls these days, "bad speech" days and he takes his son to the river, where they walk companionably. The quiet and alone time work their magic. His dad tells him that he talks "like a river." As the boy contemplates this, the reader opens a stunning gatefold. 

This first-person picture book caught me by surprise. I was unprepared at how emotional I got. The spare, evocative text is utterly heartbreaking and just when you feel you might be crushed, Dad comes quietly to the rescue. This was such a beautiful depiction of a father-son relationship - so comforting and hopeful. 

In the author's note that follows, readers learn that the author stuttered and the book is autobiographical. His dad took him to the river on bad speech days. 

I Talk Like a River belongs in all school and classroom libraries. I am gifting it to each young person in my life and will probably read it aloud to my fifth and sixth graders! I think it will be a perfect read aloud to tie in figurative language as well as a bit of SEL (social-emotional learning.) It's also a wonderful antidote to the vicious unkindness that has flourished the last four years and a celebration of hope for the next four.

Visit the publisher website to view a short video of both creators talking about the book. There's also a terrific discussion guide.This is definitely high up on my faves list. Too bad the book can't be considered by the Caldecott Committee. It's not to be missed. 

Middle Grade Monday: Before the Ever After by Jacqueline Woodson

Image: Penguin Random House

Before the Ever After by Jacqueline Woodson. 268 p. Nancy Paulsen Books/ Penguin Random House, September, 2020. 9780399545436. (Review of purchased copy.)

Happy Monday TMS readers! I hope you had a fantastic weekend. Running a bit late with posts again. I'm sorry. Middle Grade Monday features Before the Ever After written by Jacqueline Woodson. This is Ms. Woodson's latest novel for middle grade and it's a verse novel, meaning the story is told in a series of mostly blank verse poems by our main character ZJ. 

Twelve-year-old Zacharaiah was named after his dad, who is a football star. ZJ gets attention wherever he goes mostly because of his dad, but he has a tight crew of friends who like him for himself. The story takes place in the early 1980s before the effects of multiple concussions was widely known. ZJ's dad has had many concussions and now he's changed. Sometimes his memory is off and it hurts ZJ when his own dad doesn't know who he is. Sometimes it's scary, like the times his dad goes into violent rages and the police need to be called. The scariest part is that the doctors don't know what's happening with his dad or whether he will be fixed. 

Woodson's poems evoke the myriad of emotions ZJ experiences in this brief, heartfelt novel in verse. If you're a fan of verse novels, then read this book. If you're a fan of football, you must read this book.

Teen Tuesday and Arc Review: The Bridge by Bill Konigsberg

Image: Scholastic

The Bridge by Bill Konigsberg. 400 p. Scholastic Inc. September 1, 2020. 9781338325034. (Review of arc courtesy of publisher.)

Teen Tuesday wishes a happy book birthday to The Bridge by Bill Konigsberg. This uniquely structured book will not be everyone's cup of tea, but it addresses important issues that many teens face - bullying, isolation, depression and suicide. Two New York City teens in crisis go to the George Washington Bridge with the intention of jumping. Both are suffering from severe depression and both have recently suffered humiliation.

Aaron is lonely largely due to self-isolation. He has dreams of becoming an internet sensation with his singing and songwriting. He may or may not be much good. His parents are divorced. His mom is largely absent but his dad is attentive and worried about him. Tillie is bullied relentlessly at school about her weight. She was adopted from Korea when her parents learned they couldn't have biological children. She remembers a time when she felt her father loved her, but since her "miracle" sister was born, she feels isolated and unloved by him.

There are four possible scenarios on the GWB and the author explores them all in four parts. In part one, Tillie jumps and Aaron doesn't. In part two, Aaron jumps and Tillie doesn't. In part three, they both jump and in the final part, neither jumps and they form a tentative friendship. The psychic pain each teen is suffering is exquisitely portrayed as is the aftermath of each choice on the survivors.

Make no mistake, this is a very difficult read. But it's an important one. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among fifteen to twenty-four-year-olds. Back matter contains information about depression and mental health along with resources.

Mature teens who read The Bridge might find themselves more empathetic to others and learn to lean towards kindness and compassion instead of cruelty. Adults may be less apt to write off teens having difficulty coping as "teen angst."

Teen Tuesday and Audio Book Review: Darius the Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorram

Image: Penguin Random House

Darius the Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorram. Unabridged e-audiobook ~7.5 hours. Read by Michael Levi Harris. 9780525638667. (Review of e-audio downloaded/ borrowed from public library.)

Excepting for Waiting on Wednesday posts, which are all about book that are coming and #tbt posts, which are all about books ten years or older that should not be forgotten, the remaining posts are mainly inspired by what I have recently read. Teen Tuesday usually features books for seventh and eighth grade readers that have slightly more mature content. The majority of my reading is of books that anyone can read. The last two YA books I read this summer, while quite entertaining, are a bit too mature for middle school and more appropriate for high school readers. So I reached back to 2018 in my reading archives to find one I loved, but curiously did not feature on Teen Tuesday.

Teen Tuesday features Darius the Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorram. Darius Kellner is a very depressed high school student who is obsessed with artisanal tea, all things Star Trek and Tolkien. He's overweight, not athletic and bullied at school. He also feels like he doesn't fit in at home. He calls himself a "fractional Persian" from his mom's side and thinks his "ubermensch" white father hates him. The family travels to Iran to visit his grandparents. Babou is terminally ill. Darius worries about his grandfather's judgment of him. He's worried because he doesn't speak enough Farsi. He's worried that Babou will think him weak because he takes medication for his depression. But Iran is a wonder to Darius. He finds himself accepted. He loves the culture and the food. He even makes a friend in Sohrab, who calls him Darioush, the Persian variation of his name. 

I often use the phrase, "heartbreaking and hilarious" in my posts. Though depression is a disease with serious consequences, there is an unfair stigma associated with it. In this heartbreaking and hilarious first-person narrative, Darius paints an intimate portrait of pain, of needing to belong and of learning to love oneself. Darius became a character of my heart. I may find characters endearing and memorable; but very few take up residence in my heart. 

I was so happy to have read this with my ears. When words and phrases in foreign languages are part of the narrative, I either skip over them completely or stop the flow to mangle them phonetically. New-to-me narrator Michael Levi Harris did a lovely job of portraying Darius in all his uncertainty, but also brought the melodic Farsi to life, adding to my enjoyment. 

Darius the Great is Not Okay was Mr. Khorram's debut novel. It won the William C. Morris Debut Award; the Asian/ Pacific American Award for Young Adult Literature; was a Lambda Literary Award Finalist and was named one of TIME magazine's 10 Best Young Adult and Children's Books of the Year. Tune in tomorrow for some news about Darius!

Arc Review: Brave Like That by Lindsey Stoddard

Image: HarperCollins

Brave Like That by Lindsey Stoddard. 266 p. Harper/ HarperCollins Publishers, June 2, 2020. 9780062878113. (Review of arc courtesy of publisher.)

Eleven-year-old Cyrus Olson grapples with courage in this gentle, first-person narrative. Eleven years earlier, he was left at the door of the fire house as an infant. The fire chief found him, brought his to the hospital and decided to adopt him. Cyrus has grown up at the fire house and loves all the firemen, but worries because he knows he isn't brave enough to run into a fire. His dad was a star football player as a kid. Cyrus loved peewee football but now that it's tackle, he no longer does. He is afraid to disappoint his dad. On the day of his eleventh birthday, a stray dog is left at the firehouse, but Cyrus' dad says no to the dog - only Cyrus has already fallen in love. 

If you are a fan of Ms. Stoddard's Just Like Jackie, you know that you're in for a treat. She excels at creating vivid, relatable characters. And, as in Just Like Jackie, there is an wonderful grandparent/ grandchild relationship. Cyrus' grandmother has recently had a stroke and lives in an assisted care facility. She took on much of Cyrus' care while his dad was at work. Now, though she can't speak due to the stroke, Cyrus tries to understand what she's saying in other ways. 

Tween dynamics and dialogue are spot-on as well. She absolutely nailed the portrait of the emerging alpha athlete. Something happens between fifth and sixth grades that causes seismic friendship shifts. With boys, it's usually sports and with girls it's harder to define. Yet, it's classic fodder for middle grade novels because it's real and primal and hurts so much! You can't have too many of these books on the shelves because they are balm to injured souls, to those left behind.

While Brave Like That is a gentle coming-of-age story, there's some real suspense surrounding the web of Cyrus' lies as well as a dangerous fire and, of course, what's going to happen to the dog. Brave Like That hits all the right notes.

Middle Grade Monday and Arc Review: War Stories by Gordon Korman

Image: Scholastic

War Stories by Gordon Korman. 234 p. Scholastic Press/ Scholastic Inc., July 21, 2020. 9781338290219. (Review of arc courtesy of publisher.)

Middle Grade Monday features War Stories by Gordon Korman. Twelve-year-old Trevor is a bit of a history buff - well, World War II history. This might be because he's an avid video gamer and he's an ace at his WWII game. More likely, it's because his beloved great-grandfather, Jacob, is a WWII war hero. Trevor is his best fan and never tires of G.G.'s war stories. Trevor's dad, on the other hand, worries about Trevor's obsession with war and war games. Daniel was raised by his grandfather and, while he loves and respects his grandfather, he is anti-war. 

G.G. receives a invitation from the town that he helped liberate. They want to honor him, the only surviving soldier, with a parade for the 75th anniversary. Trevor's dad doesn't think travel is a great idea for a man his age. G.G. not only wants to go, but he wants to retrace his steps from 1943 by first traveling to Georgia, where he did his basic training before heading to Omaha Beach, where he landed and then take a road trip through the French countryside, where he fought. And, he wants to bring Trevor with him!

The chapters shift in time between Trevor's trip with his dad and G.G. in the spring of 2020 and 1943, when Jacob dropped out of high school, lied about his age and enlisted. 

War Stories is a bit more serious than Korman's usual fare. He has a lesson to teach, but he does so with a deft hand. The scenes from WWII are gripping and vivid. The tension of G.G.'s secret gradually builds as he revisits each site. Trevor's love and admiration for G.G. is palpable. I felt that the revenge subplot was a tad weak and distracting until the end, where it made for quite the climactic scene. Young readers won't notice. 

One other quibble for me was the math. My husband's uncle served in WWII. He's four years older than G.G. He never married but his great-nieces and nephews range in age from 50 to 28. For me, it's more likely that Trevor would be a great-great-grandson. Again, the kids won't notice.

If you have readers who chew through your collection of war stories and ask for more, War Stories is just the ticket. 

Middle Grade Monday: Strike Zone by Mike Lupica

Image: Penguin Random House

Strike Zone by Mike Lupica. Unabridged e-audiobook. ~6 hours. Read by Anthony Rey Perez. Listening Library/ Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group, September, 2019. 9780593106228. (Review of e-audiobook borrowed from public library.)

Middle Grade Monday features Strike Zone by Mike Lupica. There are quite a few Lupica fans at TMS. They sure do have plenty of titles to choose from! Strike Zone is a companion/ sequel of sorts to High Heat. You need not have read High Heat to enjoy Strike Zone, but it is wonderful to know Michael Arroyo's backstory. Strike Zone is about another pitching ace in Bronx, New York. Nick Garcia is pitching for the Blazers this summer He's preparing for the Dream League championship and hoping to pitch well enough to earn MVP. The league MVP gets to throw out the first pitch at Yankee Stadium. He's also worried about his father being deported by ICE. ICE has been making a lot of raids in his neighborhood and his dad has an outstanding warrant. 

As usual, Lupica serves up fantastic baseball action along with timely topics. There is true suspense around Mr. Garcia's situation. Though there's quite the "after-school-special vibe" here*, especially the ending, middle grade fans will eat this up.

*That is not necessarily a bad thing during these weird times.

Arc Review: War is Over by David Almond

Image: Candlewick Press

War is Over by David Almond. 120 p. Candlewick Press, May 12, 2020. 9781536209860. (Review of arc courtesy of publisher, ALAMW)

Young John cannot remember his father's face, he has been fighting in France for so long. His mother works long hours in a munitions factory. His war-hawk teacher has planned a trip to visit that very same factory. On the walk there, John and his class pass an older man speaking out against the war in the park. He showers them with photographs of German children and exhorts the crowd to protest the war. Adults respond by beating the man while vilifying him as a coward. John pockets the photo of Jan, a boy not unlike himself, who lives in Dusseldorf. 

Most books by David Almond look quite simple, but do not rush your way through any of them because there are depths to be plumbed. This novella digs deep. The imagery is stark and disturbing. It is beautifully illustrates the confusion and uncertainty of a child attempting to make sense of the world. 

One quibble: there was no author note in the arc, nor a page designated that one was to come. A young reader trying this alone probably won't understand it without background knowledge, making it better suited to a shared reading. Still, I cannot wait to reread the finished book and add it to my collection of WWI stories. Devastating and relevant. 

Teen Tuesday: Ghetto Cowboy by G. Neri

Image: Candlewick Press

Ghetto Cowboy by G. Neri. 224 p. Candlewick Press, August, 2011. 9780763649227. (Own)

Teen Tuesday features Ghetto Cowboy by G. Neri. Twelve-year-old Cole is in danger of repeating seventh grade thanks to his habit of skipping school. His mom has had it, so she packs up his things and drives from Detroit to north Philadelphia to dump him with the dad he never knew. The last thing he expected was to come face-to-face with a horse. His father is a horse whisperer who owns a stable right in the middle of the city. This illustrated novel is fiction but based on a real stable in Philadelphia called The Fletcher Street Riding Club. Ghetto Cowboy was optioned for film by Idris Elba and is in production under the title, Concrete Cowboy.