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. 

Middle Grade Monday: The Wild Robot Protects by Peter Brown

Image: Hachette Book Group

The Wild Robot Protects by Peter Brown. 288 p. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, Sept. 2023. 9780316669412. (Review of finished purchased copy.)

Sorry for this late posting. Too much going on health-wise. It'll all settle out eventually. Middle Grade Monday features The Wild Robot Protects by Peter Brown. Roz is busy protecting her island home and its denizens and awaiting the return of her son, Brightbill, when news reaches the island of a new menace, the poison tide. When Roz not only learns that she is waterproof, but immune to the poison tide, she sets out north on a treacherous journey to the source of the poison.

The first two books in this trilogy are TMS favorites and this installment was much anticipated. So far, I've received mixed reviews from fans, some love it and some are a bit disappointed. I personally loved it. I adore Roz and her unconditional love for all things. Either way, if you've read the first two books, do yourself a favor and finish the trilogy. Happy reading!

Middle Grade Monday a Day Late: Moonflower by Kacen Calendar

It has been a minute since posting and while I posted this to my school's learning platform yesterday, I didn't get around to the blog until today. Beginning-of-year craziness, I guess. 

Image: Scholastic Inc.

Moonflower by Kacen Callender. 272 p. Scholastic Press/ Scholastic Inc., September, 2022. 9781338636598. (Own)

Middle Grade Monday features Moonflower by Kacen Callender. Twelve-year-old Moon is non-binary and selectively mute. In fact, they feel like an alien, not born of this world, but of the stars, where they escape to each night. When they tell their Earth mother that they don't want to be in this world any longer, she puts Moon into therapy.

This first-person narrative is a riveting, heartbreaking, and ultimately hopeful depiction of adolescent depression.

Middle Grade Monday: Buzzing written by Samuel Sattin and illustrated by Rye Hickman.

Image: Hachette Book Group

Buzzing written by Samuel Sattin and illustrated by Rye Hickman. 224 p. Little Brown, Ink/ Hachette Book Group, July, 2023. 9780316628419. (Review of finished purchased copy.) 

Middle Grade Monday features Buzzing written by Samuel Sattin and illustrated by Rye Hickman. Middle school student, Isaac has been recently diagnosed with OCD, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and is seeing a therapist to try and control his impulses, such as ear tugging and negative self-talk. His thoughts constantly buzz, distracting him from school work. He takes refuge in his art and when a classmate notices how well he draws, they invite him to join their RPG, but his helicopter mother worries that fantasy games will worsen his OCD. Meanwhile, his sister feels ignored and resentful of all the attention Isaac gets.

The art reflects Isaac's outlook. The personified bees are bright yellow. School and home life are in blues and greys, but his happy times, such as when he's with his diverse group of friends are colorful. This is a relatable depiction of a mental illness that might be difficult for young people to understand. I know my students will love it. It's a terrific addition to your graphic novel collection.

Fact Friday: Choosing Brave: How Mamie Till-Mobley and Emmett Till Sparked the Civil Rights Movement by Angela Joy

Image: Macmillan

Choosing Brave: How Mamie Till-Mobley and Emmett Till Sparked the Civil Rights Movement by Angela Joy and illustrated by Janell Washington. 64 p. Roaring Brook Press/ Macmillan Publishers, September 2022. 9781250220950.

Happy Friday! I have enjoyed the first week of summer break, taking it easy with lots of Boo time and garden time. Sorry that I'm posting Fact Friday is a bit late today. It features Choosing Brave: How Mamie Till-Mobley and Emmett Till Sparked the Civil Rights Movement by Angela Joy and illustrated by Janell Washington. This picture book biography of Mamie Till Mobley opens in August of 1955. Mrs. Till has just been informed of the death of her only son Emmett in Mississippi, hundreds of miles away from her Chicago home. The double-page spread depicts the silhouettes of two men standing near a river. The page turn introduces Mamie as a young child, a "child of the great migration." Spare, lyrical prose provide readers with an understanding of this woman who was remarkable for her time and the unconditional love she showered on her equally remarkable son, Emmett.

She insisted that her son's body be returned to her in Chicago. It arrived locked and with instructions barring the casket from being opened. She defied the instructions and held an open casket wake to show the world what happened to her son, thereby sparking the civil rights movement.

The cut paper collage art is primarily black, tan and white with pops of red and blue. Little details, such as the red ribbon heart connecting mother and son as she sent him off on his fateful train ride are especially powerful. Plentiful back matter includes a note from both the author and illustrator, a soundtrack, glossary, time line and sources.

Middle Grade Monday: Hands by Torrey Maldonado

Image: Penguin Random House

Hands by Torrey Maldonado. 138 p. Nancy Paulsen Books/ Penguin Random House, January, 2023. 9780583323793. (Review of a finished purchased copy.)

Happy final Monday of the school year! Middle Grade Monday features Hands by Torrey Maldonado. The last time twelve-year-old Trev saw his stepfather was two years earlier after his mom called the police to have him arrested for assault. He threatened her as he was put in cuffs and taken away. Trev has good hands and a good heart. He's a talented artist who does well at school because that's what's going to get him a good life. With the imminent release of his stepfather, Trev wonders if he should use his hands to protect himself and his family and decides to begin training to box. The problem is, the trainers at the rec center made a promise to Trev's uncle not to train him. Once Trev starts to train himself, he finds it harder to keep up in school and keep his anger in check.

This slim book tells an intense story fast. Trev is thoughtful and likable and his situation seems dire. Thankfully, there are many in the community to help. Readers will root for Trev. Recommended! 

Middle Grade Monday and Audiobook Review: Efrén Divided by Ernesto Cisneros

Image: HarperCollins Publishers

Efrén Divided by Ernesto Cisneros. Unabridged e-audiobook. ~3 hours, 35 minutes. Read by Anthony Ray Perez. Quill Tree Books, April, 2020. 9780062971852.

Middle Grade Monday features Efrén Divided by Ernesto Cisneros. Efrén, our twelve-year-old narrator lives with his undocumented parents in a tiny apartment with his five-year-old twin siblings, Mia and Max. His parents work hard to support the family and are loving and involved. Erfén enjoys school and does well. All this changes when ICE raids his Amá's workplace and she is deported. Now Efrén's Apá has to take on more work and Efrén is tasked with increased responsibility while the family explores ways of bringing Amá home, for the U.S. is really home.

This timely and touching book is the author's debut and it has been getting a fair amount of award buzz. I wouldn't be surprised if it wins something next Monday. Mr. Cisneros paints a vivid picture of a working-class, poor immigrant family rich in culture and love who are hopeful and striving for a better life. Readers will empathize with Efrén as he attempts to balance school with caring for his twin siblings, one of whom has some attention and behavior issues and relate to his grief and fear for the well-being of his family. There are moments of heart-melting mushy joy that somewhat leaven the moments of tension and sheer terror.

Narrator Anthony Ray Perez paces his performance well and beautifully conveys Efrén's love and worry for his family. This is a book that belongs on all library shelves. Timely, relevant, important. 

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. 

Middle Grade Monday: Turtle Boy by M. Evan Wolkenstein

Image: Penguin Random House

Turtle Boy by M. Evan Wolkenstein. 293 p. Delacorte Press/ Random House Children's Books/ Penguin Random House, May 5, 2020. 978059312573.

Middle Grade Monday features Turtle Boy by M. Evan Wolkenstein. Twelve-year-old Will Levine's receding chin isn't the only thing causing him to retreat to his room. Sure, there's that jerk, Jake, who never misses an opportunity to grab his chin and call him "Turtle Boy." And his best friend, Shirah is spending more time with her volleyball team, leaving him with Max, his super-hyper friend who's super into parkour. His turtles need him. His room is filled with terrariums and each one has a turtle he found in the marsh behind his school and "re-homed," including one he knows for sure is endangered. 

Will is also missing his dad, who died eight years earlier. He went into the hospital for a simple hernia operation and never came out. Will has been avoiding hospitals ever since. Now, his mom wants him to see a surgeon for a possible operation on his chin, which is causing some medical and dental issues. No way! As if it couldn't get any worse, Rabbi Harris has given him his Bar Mitzvah community service project - he has to visit a sick, possibly dying boy in the very same hospital where his dad died! 

It's basically dislike-at-first-sight when the two boys meet; but Rabbi Harris, who, is absolutely the best rabbi in the world, by the way, won't change his assignment. So R.J. and Will are left to work it out.

In addition to the bullying, friendship drama and community service disaster, is the fact that his beloved marsh is being eyed for development. If it seems there's a lot packed into this novel, don't worry. It works. Will's first-person narration endears. Sure the "help a dying child" thing has been done and done and done to death in children's literature. For some reason, I set my cynicism aside and was delighted. Maybe it was Will's voice; perhaps it was Rabbi Harris' comforting presence; perhaps it was his mom's support and tough love. I really don't know. It just worked.

It has been a while since I read a book through freely flowing tears. Turtle Boy gutted me in the best possible way. What an impressive debut!  I cannot wait to get this into the hands of my students. Turtle Boy should have broad appeal. It releases in May. Don't miss it!

Picture Book Review: Hey, Dog! by Tony Johnston

Image: Charlesbridge

Hey, Dog! by Tony Johnston. Illustrated by Jonathan Nelson. unpgd. Charlesbridge, June, 2019. 9781-58089-877-5. (Review of finished copy courtesy of publisher.)

Full-disclosure: I am an unabashed dog lover. There isn't a meme or video featuring a dog that I will ever not view. Those vids of dog rescues are especially compelling to me. So it goes without saying that I adore this book. 

An earnest bespectacled boy spies a stray dog shaking with fear in the bushes near his house. When he attempts to approach, the dog darts away. Thinking the dog might be thirsty, the boy fills a frisbee with water and places it near the spot in the bushes where he first saw the dog. Later, the water is gone. Thinking the dog must also be hungry, he leaves food along with more water. Later, he thinks that the dog might be cold and brings a blanket out to the bushes. He is the perfect model for compassion and empathy as he constantly tries to anticipate what the dog will need. His relationship with his mother is lovely. He feels comfortable sharing his concerns and she quietly supports him.

The spare writing is very child-centric, simple and direct and works well with the black-lined, cartoon illustrations which are also quite spare. Teachers and parents searching for a non-didactic read-aloud to teach attributes such as empathy, patience and kindness will love sharing Hey, Dog.

Middle Grade Monday and Arc Review: Mascot by Antony John

Mascot by Antony John. 330 p. Harper/ HarperCollins Publishers, September 11, 2018.9780062835642. (Review from arc courtesy of publisher.)

Happy Monday from Boston, TMS Readers! I'm here to attend a two-day library conference. On the way up yesterday, I stopped at one of my favorite places in the entire world, The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art! There are three galleries, one devoted to the art of Eric Carle and two rotating exhibit spaces. Paddington Bear turns 60 this year, so the exhibit had lots of art from all the Paddington books and other fun facts. And the other room had art from Leo and Diane Dillon - who won back to back Caldecott Awards. 

Middle Grade Monday features Mascot by Antony John. I will tell you right off that I just loved this book! It's one of my favorites of 2018 - great opening lines, great voice, memorable characters, brilliantly funny dialog, cringeworthy moments, surprises and a tear or two.* 

Seventh grader Noah Savino has an attitude problem. It stinks. It's understandable though, because Noah is confined to a wheelchair as a result of a car accident that killed his father. Last spring, he was playing catcher on his Little League team; this fall, his teammates barely talk to him, except for Logan, who seems to relish humiliating Noah. He's trying to negotiate seventh grade, PE and missing his dad and it's pretty hard. Before you turn away saying, I don't want a sad book, let me say that I laughed through most of it. Noah is funny both intentionally and not. So is the new kid. His name is Ruben Spencer Hardesty, who makes an impressive entrance to class on his first day. 

Now, I will throw you a bit of a curveball and say that Mascot is not yet published. Sorry! It's coming September 11, so you don't have to wait too long! In the meanwhile, you can try his dystopian, Elemental or his YA realistic fiction, Five Flavors of Dumb. 

Mascot will be a book with wide appeal. Great for fans of baseball, sad books, humorous books, books with a possibility of romance, school stories, friendship stories. Really, any sort of reader should love this one. It won't sit on the shelf!

*Most of this review appeared on my TMS Reads group page and copied here instead of me writing a more formal review. I did want to add that John got the medical stuff spot on. Many of you may know that I am a stickler for that. I thought he did a fantastic job conveying the frustration, grief and anger that any person recovering from a catastrophic injury would experience. 

Arc Review: The Secret Sheriff of Sixth Grade by Jordan Sonnenblick

The Secret Sheriff of Sixth Grade by Jordan Sonnenblick. 193 p. Scholastic Press/ Scholastic Inc. August 29. 2017. 9780545863223. 

To say that sixth grader Maverick Falconer has it tough is an understatement. He misses his dad, who died a hero in Afghanistan and his alcoholic mom can't seem to hold onto a job or attract a stable boyfriend - or at least one who doesn't hit her. He has lived in a series of awful apartments, wears old clothes that he usually launders himself and his sneakers are falling apart. Oh, and he's been bullied mercilessly at his elementary school and has little hope that things will be different in middle school. But, he soldiers on. He has a pet hamster he loves despite being allergic to him and a supportive aunt he adores. Plus, he has the plastic sheriff's star his father gave to him before his last deployment.

I must repeat what I wrote on Goodreads: Classic Sonnenblick M.O. He sucks you in with a winning, earnest, imperfect narrator; then breaks your heart while making you laugh out loud; zings education and some educators; and gently imparts his message of kindness without didacticism. Love!

Maverick is such an endearing character. He's a roiling mixture of sarcasm, cynicism and hope. Despite the trauma in his life, he remains kind. Like many survivors of trauma, he is hyper-observant - constantly assessing the mood of adults around him and seeking to protect his secrets. Despite his mother's alcoholism and failings, he protects her and covers for her and beats himself up when he can't protect her from abusive boyfriends.

Another endearing character is Vice-Principal Overbye, or the "Bee." His reputation precedes him and Maverick is terrified. He wants to avoid him but, of course, ends up in his office on the first day of school.

While all of Sonnenblick's main characters in all of his books face tremendous challenge such as serious illness, injury or anger, Maverick's problems are grittier and more difficult to identify and help. His is a situation of neglect and poverty and loss. He's the kind of kid who could very easily fall through the cracks. Even his doting aunt was unaware of how dire his situation was. What I especially liked here was the fact that on two separate occasions, just as I was about to mentally insult a character, Sonnenblick revealed an insight that brought me up short and reminded me not to be too quick to judge. 

This world we live in needs books that help young (and old) readers build empathy now more than ever. The Secret Sheriff of Sixth Grade is such a book. Read it, read it aloud to your students, and recommend it widely.

Audiobook Review: The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner

The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner. Unabridged audiobook on 8 compact discs; 9 hours. Performed by Michael Crouch, Ariadne Meyers, and Ethan Sawyer. Random House/ Books on Tape/ Listening Library, March, 2016. 9780147521316. (Review from copy borrowed from public library)

Dill (Dillard Early Junior) is about to start his senior year of high school and is dreading it for all the usual reasons plus one. He knows his best friend Lydia is blowing their small town of Forestville, Tennessee for college - probably in New York City. So each ritual they have is either a last, or counting down to life without Lydia. He also has a best friend in Travis and Travis isn't going anywhere; but he loves Lydia with all his heart and knows his life will be dimmer without her. 

The three are an unlikely trio bound together because none of them fit in to the small town mindset. Lydia is a free spirit and independent thinker who questions and challenges the status quo constantly. She is lovingly raised by two doting parents. Travis is a gentle giant. He could easily be mistaken for a football player (like his older brother, Matt) due to his size but he'd much rather hunker down to reread his favorite fantasy series than throw a football. He lives in fear of his abusive father, who grieves the loss of his older son and favorite. Matt was killed by an I.E.D. while deployed overseas. And Dill lives with his mother in a rundown house, works many hours to help his mother pay the bills and rarely makes eye contact with people so as not to witness the spark of recognition in their eyes when they connect his name to that of his father's. Dillard Early Sr. is currently serving time in the State Penitentiary for possessing child pornography.

Each chapter switches third-person point-of-view and narrator. The three narrators were spectacular! This is the second audio in a row for me where Michael Crouch was the narrator. I am becoming a real fan and am planning a blog post about him in an effort to prevent birdwalking off this post. I have enjoyed performances by Ariadne Meyers as well. I do believe she and Kirby Heynborne made All the Bright Places a better book than it actually is. Ethan Sawyer is a new-to-me narrator but I sure will look for more.

I am sorry that it took so long to get to read this luminous debut. The age was pegged at high school and I'm way behind with my YA reading. And, truth-be-told, I don't gravitate toward books featuring religion, let alone evangelical religion. But I do read as many award winners as I can and this one won plenty. Deservedly so. The writing is gorgeous. And those three characters! Each one is portrayed so vividly, they leap from the pages. I feared for each one for different reasons. Each one was capable of being the "tragedy" alluded to in the summary.

When it finally happened, on disc 6 of 8, I happened to be gardening and I kneeled in my garden and wept and wept. It was gut-wrenching. I continued on to the next disc with trepidation. I was ironing by then and had to stop, not breathing through the next crisis. Give this to your students/ patrons who adore literary novels that also make you weep. It's not all sadness and gloom though. There is some humor and realistic hope.

This book gave me a book hangover. I did not want to move right on to the next book as is my usual habit (especially during summer). I actually wished I had a print copy to revisit passages. Were I reading with my eyes, multiple sections would be highlighted, Post-It Noted and quoted here. The Serpent King is not to be missed. The hype is real. I can't wait to read the author's sophomore effort, The Good-bye Days. It's available at my library in print version. Michael Crouch narrates the audiobook and I'm debating splurging for it as my library cooperative doesn't own it.

Non-Fiction Monday: Ugly by Robert Hoge

Ugly by Robert Hoge. 200 p. Viking/ Penguin Random House LLC., September 6, 2016. 9780425287750. (Review from arc courtesy of publisher.)

Wonder by R.J. Palacio is a perennial favorite at my school. If I had a nickel for every time a student asked for a "book like Wonder," I could buy a lot of books for the library. I have a few books that fill the bill but none so perfect as this one.

"I'm the ugliest person you've never met." These words are featured prominently on the back cover of this memoir, which has been adapted for young readers from one of the same name for adults. 

In 1972, Robert Hoge was born in Australia. He was the fifth child. His mother's pregnancy was normal. His birth was supposed to be routine. Only, he had a tumor the size of a tennis ball between his eyes and "mangled" legs. With heartbreaking honesty, he writes that his mother refused to even look at him. She did not visit him in the nursery. She left him in the hospital and returned home to her four children. A doctor told her to institutionalize her newborn. Instead, she and her husband explained the situation to Robert's siblings and asked them if they should bring the baby home. 

Once he was brought home, his mother became his fiercest advocate and strived to make life as normal as possible for her son. He spent a lot of time in hospitals having multiple, sometimes life-threatening surgeries. Despite his loving home life, life outside was often daunting.

Young readers will be captivated by Hoge's compelling story, punctuated with humor and a dash of mischievousness. The chapters are short, with occasional pencil illustrations (Art was not complete in arc). The style is episodic. The tone is conversational. 

This is a worthy addition to the memoir unit and a must-purchase for school and public libraries where those Wonder fans want more. I can't wait to share this with my students come September.