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

Image: Simon & Schuster

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!

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!

Book Mail

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

Image: Simon & Schuster

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.

Arc Review: The Witching Wind by Natalie Lloyd

Image: Scholastic

The Witching Wind by Natalie Lloyd. 368 p. Scholastic Press/ Scholastic Inc. September 17, 2024. 9781338858600.

I can't believe we are staring down the end of July and August begins tomorrow! I hope you are enjoying every moment of your summer.

I featured The Witching Wind by Natalie Lloyd for Middle Grade Monday in my Library Links group in our school's learning platform and forgot to post here. This dual narrative is told by eleven-year-old Roxie, who was looking forward to starting middle school and Grayson, who has moved in with yet another foster family and about to be the new girl yet again. 

Roxie was humiliated at the sixth grade swim party and is thrilled when her beloved grandmother offers to take her on tour with her folk band. Grayson uses a walker due to the fact that her bones are brittle and she is prone to fractures. She thinks that this newest placement, as nice as they are is just temporary, since her beloved sister, Beanie, promised to become her legal guardian when she turns eighteen, which is soon.

Then, the witching winds come and boy, they are fierce this year! They take what folks love most, so when both Granny and Beanie go missing without a trace, Roxie and Grayson team up to track them down, even if it means facing the witch who sends the winds.

This work of magical realism is filled with endearing, quirky characters, a lush southern setting and mystery. Fans of Natalie Lloyd will not be disappointed. I loved this and just might reread it with my ears if it's released in audio format. 

Middle Grade Monday and Audiobook Review: Ferris by Kate DiCamillo

Image: Candlewick Press

Ferris by Kate DiCamillo. Unabridged e-audiobook, ~4 hours. Read by Cherry Jones. Listening Library, March, 2024. (Review of e-audio borrowed from the public library.)

Happy Monday. Middle Grade Monday features Ferris by Kate DiCamillo. The summer between fourth and fifth grades is an eventful one for Ferris. Her real name is Emma Phineas Wilkey, but she's called Ferris because she was born at the bottom of a ferris wheel. She lives in a small community, in a home with her parents, her beloved grandmother, her six-year-old sister, Pinky and Boomer her dog. Uncle Ted has recently left his wife and moved into the basement to paint the history of the world. She likes things predictable, but that summer there's a lot of change. In addition to Uncle Ted, Ferris receives an unfortunate perm from Ted's hairdresser wife, and her headstrong sister decides she wants to become an outlaw complete with a "Wanted" poster. Oh, and her grandmother is being visited by a ghost.

In typical DiCamillo fashion, each character in this slim novel springs to vivid life. She has a knack for capturing mundane moments and making them shine with beauty and possibility. This is a beautiful story of family bonds, best friendship, ghosts and raccoons. At turns heartfelt and hilarious, fans of Kate DiCamillo will feel right at home. The performance by Cherry Jones is pitch perfect. 

Here's  a link to a short video of Ms. DiCamillo discussing the book.

Happy reading!

Teen Tuesday: Louder Than Hunger by John Schu

Image: Candlewick Press

Louder Than Hunger by John Schu. 528 p. Candlewick Press, March, 2024. 9781536234206. (Review of arc courtesy of publisher.)

Happy Tuesday! Today is the final day of the school year and the heat wave is settling in. Best bet is to stay inside and read! Teen Tuesday features Louder Than Hunger by John Schu.

Jake is a lonely, miserable eighth grader. He has been relentlessly bullied by his peers for years and his only friend is his beloved grandmother and an angel he sometimes talks to. Jake's tormentors are not just classmates though. He has a voice inside his head that tells him he's not good enough, and it's getting loud and scary. He finds comfort in volunteering at a nursing home and it is one of his favorite patients who notices Jake's weight loss. She alerts Jakes parents and he is admitted to a residential treatment facility. He definitely does not want to be there following a schedule, getting weighed daily and, ugh, eating. He is resistant to treatment, but makes some friends. 

This verse novel is Jake's journal. It's a compelling, heartbreaking, yet hopeful read. The book is based on the author's own struggles with being bullied, and suffering from OCD and disordered eating. Back matter contains an author's note with organizations that can help. I started out reading Jake's story with my ears and the performance was fine, but I realized that there was much I was missing (line breaks, angry scribbles and such) by not reading it with my eyes, so I switched. This book helped me get out of my reading slump. Highly recommended.

Middle Grade Monday: Home Away from Home by Cynthia Lord

Image: Scholastic Inc.

Home Away from Home by Cynthia Lord. 224 p. Scholastic Inc. April, 2023. (Review of a purchased copy.)

Happy Monday! I am enjoying this break in the heat and HUMIDITY! It was a brisk 60 degrees here in northern NJ at 5:30 AM this morning as compared to 80 at the same time on Saturday! Crazy.

Middle Grade Monday features by Cynthia Lord. Eleven-year-old Mia is looking forward to spending her summer in Maine with her grandmother. She needs a break from her parents, who each have new partners and she can't wait to get out in nature and bird. She finds changes at grandma's house though. First, there's a stray cat named Miss Agatha, then, there's a boy, named Cayman. He's a little too chummy with Mia's grandmother and she's jealous. When the two set out to view the eagle's nest, they spy a large white bird of prey attacking the nest that they can't identify. Mia takes a picture of it and posts it to an online birding community, and soon their quiet village is inundated with birders eager to see the rare gyrfalcon. Some of the birders are less than ethical and actually endanger the bird and Mia realizes that her actions have put the bird in jeopardy. She also alienates Cayman and needs to set things right.

This thoughtful coming-of-age story features well-developed characters who struggle realistically with changes that life sometimes brings. The descriptions of the flora and fauna of the Maine coast are also vivid. Fans of the author will not be disappointed. Some readers might be inspired to grab some binoculars and head out to do some birding!

Arc Review: House of Marionne by J. Elle

Image: Penguin Random House

House of Marionne by J. Elle. 432 p. Razorbill/ Penguin Young Readers, August 29, 2023. 9780593527702. (Review of bound manuscript courtesy of publisher.)

Happy Tuesday! I hope you are enjoying the sunshine and relative cool this morning! Boo and I were finally able to get in a nice long walk this morning. Teen Tuesday features House of Marionne by J. Elle. This is a fantasy series starter and will release in late August.

Seventeen-year-old Quel is used to life on the run with her mom. Quel possesses a dark magic she calls Toushana and an elite band of assassins called Draguns are tasked with hunting down anyone with this forbidden magic and killing them. So far, Quel's mom has been successful in keeping her hidden by moving frequently, but Quel messed up and now she's separated from her mom and the safe spot they were to meet in turns out to be not-so-safe. She turns to the one person her mother has forbidden, her grandmother. Turns out, her grandmother is headmistress of House Marionne and is delighted to reunite with Quel and determined to have her hone her magic and debut.

Quel is relieved to be safe, eager to learn magic that she hope will tame her toushana, but not too thrilled about the wardrobe, curtseying and etiquette lessons. She's also terrified of Jordan. He's been assigned to mentor her, but he's also a Dragun. What will happen if he finds out who she really is? And why is he so hot? It's distracting and dangerous.

Sinister and gothic with a steamy, slow-burn romance and plot twists galore. This was fun. Look for it August 29. Apparently, there's a limited edition first printing available for pre-order. Happy reading!

Teen Tuesday: Abuela, Don't Forget Me by Rex Ogle

Image: Norton Young Readers

Abuela, Don't Forget Me by Rex Ogle. 204 p. Norton Young Readers/ W.W. Norton & Company, September, 2022. 978132409954. (Review of finished, purchased copy.)

Teen Tuesday features Abuela, Don't Forget Me by Rex Ogle.  Mr. Ogle recounted his traumatic childhood in two memoirs, Free Lunch and Punching Bag. He had an absent father, a mentally unstable mother who was frequently unemployed and verbally and physically abused him and a stepfather who did the same. The one bright spot in young Rex's life was his Abuela, who loved him unconditionally and provided a safe space for him when she could. This third memoir, written in verse was born when Mr. Ogle realized his grandmother had forgotten him while having a conversation with him. This moving tribute is powerful and painful, but important. Thank goodness Rex had his Abuela. She helped her grandson survive and ultimately thrive. Both are remarkable people.

Middle Grade Monday and Audiobook Review: When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller

Image: Penguin Random House

When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller. Unabridged e-audiobook. ~ 6 hours. Read by Greta Jung. Listening Library/ Penguin Random House, January, 2020. 9780593155455. (Review of downloadable e-audiobook borrowed from public library.)

Happy Monday! I enjoyed the wintery sunshine this weekend and took lots of walks with Boo! I hope your weekend was fantastic.

Middle Grade Monday features When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller. Lily's widowed mother has decided to move the family of three from California to Sunbeam, Washington to care for Lily's grandmother, whose health is declining. Lily loves Halmoni, especially her stories, but she wants to stay in California for seventh grade, not start all over in Washington. Lily has a superpower though. She can become invisible - the QAG - quiet Asian girl. She's so unlike Sam, who is outgoing and can make friends anywhere.

When Lily sees a tiger at the side of the road near Halmoni's house and the tiger seems to be watching Lily, she knows Halmoni will understand the meaning. Instead, Halmoni tells Lily that the tiger is after her because she stole something from her long ago and now the tiger is back to reclaim what was stolen. Lily and her new friend, Ricky set out to trap a tiger.

Fans of magical realism will adore this exquisitely written story-within-a-story. If you loved Where the Mountain Meets the Moon or The Girl Who Swallowed the Moon, you will love When You Trap a Tiger. Warning: I was a weeping mess near the end, so make sure there are tissues handy. There has been a bit of Newbery buzz around this one and deservedly so.

The narrator's performance was well-paced and she had distinct voices for the different characters as well as for the tiger folk tale that interspersed the narrative. My only question has to do with her pronunciation of Halmoni. It sounded like Harmony and when I looked up the pronunciation online, each source pronounced it the l. 

Teen Tuesday: I Love You So Mochi by Sarah Kuhn

Image: Scholastic Inc.

I Love You So Mochi by Sarah Kuhn. 314 p. Scholastic Press/ Scholastic Inc., 2019. 9781338302882. (Review of finished copy courtesy of publisher.)

Teen Tuesday features I Love You So Mochi by Sarah Kuhn. Seventeen-year-old Kimi Nakamura's future seems set. Poised to be accepted into a prestigious art institute, she just needs to finish her portfolio and she's stuck. Her mom's been nagging and for the first time in her life, she has no inspiration because secretly, she doesn't want to go to art school. Fashion is her passion. She deconstructs old clothes and remakes them adding textiles and textures into Kimi Originals. When a letter arrives from her estranged grandparents in Japan offering airfare for a visit, Kimi jumps at the opportunity to get away from her problems and meet her grandparents for the first time and explore Japanese culture. 

Upon her arrival, she's greeted warmly by her grandfather, but rather coldly by her grandmother, who reminds Kimi of her own disapproving mother. She soon loses herself in the beauty of Kyoto and meets a cute boy who dances as a mochi mascot for his uncle's mochi shop. He offers to show her around and romance blossoms. 

This adorable romance goes down sweetly but has some subtle depth as Kimi muses about racism, micro-aggressions and cultural belonging. I Love You So Mochi is a must-read for romance fans.

#tbt: The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z by Kate Messner

Image: Bloomsbury

The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z by Kate Messner. 224 p. Bloomsbury USA, September, 2009. 9780802721730. (Own.)

#tbt features The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z by Kate Messner. Gianna Zales is an excellent cross country runner. She lives for it. Unfortunately, she's also an excellent procrastinator. She has to collect twenty different leaves for a science project in less than two weeks or she's off the team. Of course, her best friend, Zig, did his early and has been gently reminding Gee. to start her project. Gee. has other worries too. Her beloved grandmother is becoming more and more forgetful, sometimes dangerously so. And, what could be worse that your dad driving you to school in his hearse?

The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z was Ms. Messner's debut novel. It won the 2010 E.B. White Read Aloud Award for older readers; was a Bank Street Best Book for 2009 and was named to quite a few State Award Lists. She was a seventh grade language arts teacher at the time. I reviewed it on my less-than-a-year-old blog, here. Her second book, Sugar and Ice was released a year later and that book was my first review assignment for School Library Journal!

Ms. Messner has written over 50 books since 2009 - from picture books to novels to works of nonfiction. You might recall a Fact Friday post for a book called Tracking Pythons. That was a fascinating informational book written by her.
Since then, Ms. Messner has written fifty books from picture books to easy readers to early chapter books to nonfiction to professional titles. You can follow her on Twitter, @KateMessner, and check out her website, where she also blogs regularly.

Middle Grade Monday: Chirp by Kate Messner

Image: Bloomsbury

Chirp by Kate Messner. 232 p. Bloomsbury, February, 2020. 9781547602810. (Review of arc courtesy of publisher.)

Middle Grade Monday features Chirp by Kate Messner. Most children might experience anxiety or even anger at moving house, especially during the summer between seventh and eighth grades. Mia doesn't mind moving from Boston to Vermont. She'll be able to see her grandmother whenever she wants now and she's ready for a fresh start. She packed a big secret along with her gymnastics uniforms and trophies into the moving boxes. She's eager to learn all about her grandmother's cricket farm, especially when she learns that someone has been sabotaging the business. A mystery to solve is just the ticket to keep her mind from going where she doesn't want it to go. But keeping her secret affects Mia in big and small ways. As she recovers from an injury that allowed her to quit gymnastics without needing to explain why, Mia tries new activities, meets new friends and eventually finds her voice. 

This middle grade novel helps tweens understand consent in an age-appropriate way. Chirp joins a growing list of excellent mg fiction dealing with child sexual assault. This topic should not be relegated to the YA shelves because sexual assault, grooming and abuse occurs to children at any age and those victims need to know that they will be believed and that they are not alone. 

Ms. Messner excels at creating vivid communities peopled with interesting characters and supportive adults. She spins a good mystery too! And, I might be convinced to try eating crickets. Chirp belongs in all school, classroom and public libraries. 

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: Clean Getaway by Nic Stone

Clean Getaway by Nick Stone. 223 p. Crown Books for Young Readers/ Random House Children's Books, January, 2020. 9781983892973. (Review of arc courtesy of publisher.)

Middle Grade Monday features Clean Getaway by Nic Stone. Stone makes her middle grade debut here after making a splash with her YA debut, Dear Martin. William "Scoob" Lamar's spring break trip has been cancelled in the wake of being suspended from school for fighting. His strict, no-nonsense, single dad is constantly drilling into Scoob about his responsibility. So when his beloved G'Ma rings the doorbell and asks Scoob to join her for a short trip in her brand new Winnebago, Scoob jumps at the chance. He soon learns that his white grandmother is recreating a trip through the south that she made with her husband in 1963, a time when interracial marriage was not acceptable. Scoob never met his grandfather. He died before Scoob was born. While the story is often hilarious, on this trip, he learns about important landmarks in the Civil Rights movement as well as family secrets. 

There is much to appreciate here. I loved Scoob's easy relationship with his G'Ma. The conflict he begins to feel when he realizes that she's not being totally straight with him is well drawn. Stone also vividly depicts the danger that Scoob's grandparents faced as they pursued their dream south.


Hand to fans of road trip books and fans of stories featuring grandparents as well as historical fiction fans. 

#tbt: Chicken Boy by Frances O'Roark Dowell

Image: Simon & Schuster

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.

Picture Book Review: Freedom Soup by Tami Charles

image: Candlewick Press

Freedom Soup by Tami Charles. Illustrated by Jacqueline Alcántara. unpgd. Candlewick Press, December10, 2019. 9780763689773. (Review of finished copy courtesy of publisher.)

It was a happy accident that this review of Freedom Soup ended up being published today - on New Year's Day. It was one of the last books read during my push to complete my GR goal yesterday.

It is a snowy New Year's Day in Ti Gran's house and she has decided that her granddaughter, Belle, has a "heart made for cooking." Belle is going to help Ti Gran make Freedom Soup, a Haitian traditional soup that is made each New Year, which also happens to be Haitian Independence Day. Ti Gran is a storyteller and history-keeper. Even though Belle has heard the story before, she relishes hearing it again. Ti Gran's words paint painful pictures on the way to triumph. Illustrations pop off the pages as Belle and Ti Gran bounce to the rhythm of Haitian music as they chop and stir. Little details draw the eye and invite lingering. The text has its own subtle rhythm. 

The best picture books transport readers so much so that they inhabit the book. They can feel the warmth and love and can smell the aromas. Freedom Soup is a feast for the eyes and soul. Don't read this book hungry! Even if you're not, you will get hungry reading about how this delectable dish is created. I am so making Freedom Soup this year. A recipe follows at the end along with an author's note. There is just so much to love and celebrate about Freedom Soup - a grandparent's love, cooking and storytelling as tradition and memory, history, and community. Highly recommended!

Middle Grade Monday: White Bird by R. J. Palacio

Image: Wonderthebooks website

White Bird by R. J. Palacio. 224 p. Knopf/ Random House Children's Books, October, 2019. 9780525645535. (Review of finished purchased copy.)

Middle Grade Monday features White Bird by R. J. Palacio. Did you know that Palacio is also a artist? She was an art director before she wrote Wonder and all its companion novels. She illustrated her picture book, We are All Wonders and makes her debut as a graphic novelist in, White Bird. Julian now attends a new school and must interview someone for a homework assignment. He chooses his beloved grandmère and asks her to tell him about his namesake, Julien. He was a classmate of Sara's who was afflicted with polio and a cruel nickname, "Tourteau," for the crab-like way he walked with crutches. 

Even Sara was complicit in this awful treatment of Julien. While she felt badly for him, she never stood up for him. In fact, she never learned his real name despite sitting next to him in class for years. That doesn't stop Julien from saving Sara when the Gestapo arrive at their school to round up the Jewish children. Julien's parents hid Sara in their barn at great peril to their own safety. 

If you loved Wonder, you will enjoy this graphic novel. Graphic novel fans looking for more serious fare will also enjoy White Bird.

Middle Grade Monday and Arc Review: Shouting at the Rain by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Shouting at the Rain by Lynda Mullaly Hunt. 276 p. Nancy Paulsen Books/ Penguin Young Readers Group, May 7, 2019. 9780399175152. (Review of arc courtesy of bookseller hosting author visit.)

Middle Grade Monday features Shouting at the Rain by Lynda Mullaly Hunt. Fans of the author's first two books, One for the Murphys and Fish in a Tree will not be disappointed. Shouting at the Rain is set on Cape Cod. Delsie, lives on the Cape year-round with her grandmother. She wants to learn more about her mother, but Gran always changes the subject. Her best Cape friends are busy with a summer production of Annie and she's looking forward to the arrival of her best summer friend, Brandy. But Brandy has changed and the arrival of a new girl, Tressa makes Delsie feel like a third wheel. Then, there's the appearance of a mysterious boy who dresses all in black. Some say he's bad news but Delsie is intrigued.

Hunt excels at creating heartfelt characters. Delsie is compelling. Her ache over being parentless, especially missing her mother, is heartbreaking. She loves her grandmother and her neighbors are like an extended family, but she can't help wondering, missing and feeling it's her fault. The story nicely depicts the lives of year-round residents of beach resort towns - folks who love the place, brave it through hard winters and tolerate the summer invaders upon whom their livelihoods depend.

Hand to fans of the author's and readers who like gentle problem novels.

FNG Review: Thank You, Omu! by Oge Mora

Thank You, Omu! by Oge Mora. Unpgd. Little, Brown and Company, October 2, 2018. 978031643218. (Review from arc courtesy of publisher via SLJ Basecamp.)

There is a note to the reader on the front end-pages that explains the pronunciation of "Omu," (AH-moo) and the fact that it is the Igbo term for queen. Take a closer look at the collage of a neighborhood and you see that the story actually begins there. A ribbon wafts out of a window at the top floor of a building. The title page shows a white-haired lady toting shopping bags in front of a building where a black pot sits in a top floor window. 

Omu is making red stew. When she tastes it, she proclaims it the best she ever had. With the aroma of her stew drifting out the window, she goes to read a book while the stew simmers and thickens.

Someone knocks on the door. She opens it to find a little neighbor boy drawn by the delicious smell. She shares it with him. Once he is on his way, she returns to her book only to hear another knock at her door. It is a police officer. The stew is large, so she shares. And shares. And shares as one neighbor after another knocks.

At dinnertime, Omu finds her stew pot empty. But then there is another knock at her door.

This exuberant debut is sure to be a favorite read aloud. It's sort of a reverse Stone Soup. The crisp collages help propel the story of a generous soul. There's a lot to like here from the multicultural cast of neighbors to the small details in the collage work to the heartwarming story. Thank you, Omu! is not to be missed!