Middle Grade Monday and Audio Review: The Mysterious Disappearance of Aidan S. (as told by his brother) by David Levithan

Image: Penguin Random House

The Mysterious Disappearance of Aidan S. (as told by his brother) by David Levithan. Unabridged e-audiobook,~4 hours. Read by Everette Plen. Books on Tape/ Listening Library/ Penguin Random House, February, 2021. 9781984885517. (Review of downloadable e-audio borrowed from public library. Own the hc.)

Happy Monday! One week of summer break is in the books! How many books have you read so far? I've read five. I'm still a bit short of trying to get back to my book-a-day, but they were good books, and I spent lots of time in my garden, with my dogs and practicing yoga.

Middle Grade Monday features The Mysterious Disappearance of Aidan S. (as told by his brother) by David Levithan. In this first-person narrative, Lucas tells the story of finding his brother, Aidan in the attic six days after Aidan's disappearance. The attic had been searched several times. The entire town was out looking for Aidan and everyone wants to know what happened. Aidan says simply that he entered a world called Aveinieu through the doors in an old dresser. No one believes him, especially Lucas, because Aidan has a reputation for fooling him over and over. But Aidan sticks to his outlandish story despite the fact that everyone thinks he ran away and despite the fact that he's being bullied about it at school.

David Levithan, an award-winning author of YA books, makes his middle grade debut in this thoughtful, leisurely-paced mystery, which, at its heart, is a story about brotherhood and listening.

New-to-me narrator, Everette Plan sounded appropriately youthful and he delivered a thoughtful, well-paced performance. 

Middle Grade Monday and Arc Review: Tornado Brain by Cat Patrick

Image: Penguin Random House

Tornado Brain by Cat Patrick.304 p. Penguin Young Readers Group, May, 2020. 9781984815316. (Review of arc courtesy of publisher.)

Middle Grade Monday features Tornado Brain by Cat Patrick. Our thirteen-year-old narrator, Frankie, lives in Long Beach, a Washington State seaside town, with her twin sister in an inn that her mother runs with her boyfriend. Frankie is autistic and has ADHD. In order to avoid taking medication, she's working very hard to control her emotions. But it's difficult and she's not always successful. She recently lost her only friend, Colette, to her sister, Tess. Tess is the nice one, the easy one. Frankie can be prickly.

Ever since a tornado touched down near her school when she was five, Frankie has been obsessed with them and a show about tornado chasers. She relates to them as she feels her brain often twists around like a tornado. When Colette goes missing, Frankie learns that she may've been the last person Colette saw. Frankie is determined to follow the few clues Colette left behind even if it gets her in trouble with the police and her family.

It's sometimes hard to follow Frankie's logic and her roundabout way of speaking. Readers will grow to appreciate her tenacity as she persists in seeking answers even when the adults around her insist that she's wrong. 

Tornado Brain is available to borrow through Inter-Library Loan (ILL) and is available through ebccls in an e-book format. The e-audiobook is available to place on hold. I might reread this one with my ears because it's narrated by a favorite audiobook reader of mine. 

Arc Review: Every Missing Piece by Melanie Conklin

Image: LBYR

Every Missing Piece by Melanie Conklin. 284p. Little, Brown and Company, May 26, 2020. 9781368048958. (Review of arc courtesy of publisher ALAMW.)

Normally, a review for a book like this would go in a "Middle Grade Monday" post. Those are scheduled through June and this sweet book is publishing next month. Given that marketing events like book tours and school visits are cancelled, I wanted to spread the word about another 2020 MG favorite and encourage you to pre-order the book, preferably from an indie. (Rec below.)*

Eleven-year-old Maddie Gaines is very aware that tragedy can strike at any time. This happened to her three years ago when her father died. Since then, Maddie is ever-vigilant, always searching for ways accidents can happen. Her mom indulges her weekly safety checks but has to draw the line at calling the police. After a few panicked calls to 911, the sheriff insisted that they stop except for a true emergency. But what about the mysterious boy who's setting booby traps in the woods? The one that looks suspiciously like the boy who went missing six months ago?

That's not all Maddie's worried about. There's Stan, her mother's new husband. Stan is perfectly nice. Maddie acknowledges he is trying hard. But what about her dad? Stan is a puzzle piece that does not fit and her dad is a missing piece that can't be found. Maddie keeps his picture by her bed and texts him each night. She knows he won't answer but it helps.

Maddie's voice charms from the start when she misses the bus due to tornadoes. Well, potential tornadoes drove her to hide in the culvert and her bus driver has a reputation for being tough. She's surrounded by a community of appealing characters and a vivid southern setting. It is very easy to get folded into the warmth of this book and not want to leave. There's laughter, mystery, longing, friend drama, a potential tragedy, and a few tears. Something for everyone.

There are quite a few TMS students who are fans of the author's debut, Counting Thyme who are very eager for Every Missing Piece. I can't wait to introduce them to Maddie Gaines.

*I'm pretty sure Ms. Conklin was planning a launch at Words in Maplewood. I've trekked to this treasure of store for quite a few launches and would've for this one. If you are in the north Jersey area, it's an easy hop off the NJ Turnpike, for when the quarantine is lifted. In the meanwhile, they are filling online orders: https://store.wordsbookstore.com/pre-order-signed-copy-every-missing-piece

Middle Grade Monday: Feathers by Jorge Corona

Image: Simon & Schuster

Feathers written and illustrated by Jorge Corona. Colors by Jen Hickman. Letters by Deron Bennett. Feathers series #1. 176 p. Archaia/ Simon & Schuster, February, 2019. 9781684153077. (Review of finished purchased copy.)

Middle Grade Monday features Feathers written and illustrated by Jorge Corona. Eleven-year-old Poe is a shadowy figure in the slums of the Maze. His over-protective foster father, Gabriel forbids him to leave their dwelling for fear he will be kidnapped, or worse. He found Poe as an infant, abandoned and covered in black feathers. But the children of the slums are disappearing and Poe feels it's his duty to try and protect them. 

On the other side of the wall that surrounds the slums, the rich live in splendor. One little, rich girl named Bianca is bored though, and seeks adventure. She convinces her father to take her with him on a trip into the Maze and disappears in search of adventure at the first opportunity.

This debut graphic novel is the beginning of a series that rewards readers with rich art and plenty of action and suspense. It was originally published as a series of magazine installments. I cannot wait for book two.

Teen Tuesday and Audiobook Review: Monday's Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson

Image: HarperCollins

Monday's Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson. Unabridged e-audiobook, ~10 hours. Read by Imani Parks. HarperAudio, May, 2018. q. (Review of e-audiobook borrowed from public library.)

Teen Tuesday features Monday's Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson. This unnerving mystery portrays the lengths to which a best friend will go to get a straight answer. When Claudia returns home from her annual summer visit with her grandmother to start eighth grade, she's anxious to reconnect with Monday, who hasn't been answering her phone. The two besties are like sisters who insulate themselves to protect them from bullies at school and Monday's scary mother. But Monday doesn't answer her phone. Nor does she show up at school and Monday never misses school. When Claudia investigates, she receives conflicting stories. Her parents suggest that perhaps the friendship is over, but Claudia knows something is terribly wrong. The first-person account zig-zags, leaving the reader disoriented as Claudia discovers why Monday's not coming.

Taut writing and a fascinating community of characters keep the reader engaged and reluctant to do anything but rush to the end. The inner city social and economic dynamics are vividly portrayed as are the social skirmishes and pecking order of high school. Imani Parks delivers a performance equal to the writing. 

Monday's Not Coming is a resonant, powerful book that will stick with the reader for a long time. Highly recommended!