Waiting on Wednesday: Read at Your Own Risk by Remy Lai

Image: Macmillan

Read at Your Own Risk by Remy Lai. 160 p. Henry Holt and Co (BYR)/ Macmillan, August 13, 2024. 9781250323354.

Happy Wednesday! And happy first day of break to our school community! Whether you're headed to camp, a family trip, or just chilling at home, be sure to make a stack of books for summer reading!

Waiting on Wednesday features Read at Your Own Risk by Remy Lai. Ms Lai's illustrated novels, Pie in the Sky and Fly on the Wall, along with her graphic novel, Pawcasso, are very popular with my students. Mark your calendars for August 13, when her latest illustrated notebook with be published.

Here's the publisher synopsis: Read at Your Own Risk is the spine-chilling illustrated sketch diary of a kid who is being haunted after a game goes terribly wrong and an evil spirit starts conversing with her on the page.

"The journal format of The Diary of a Wimpy Kid meets the thrills and chills of R.L. Stine in this middle-grade horror." —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Hannah and her friends were just having a bit of fun when they decided to play a game to communicate with spirits of the dead. Little did they know something would answer their call and crawl its way into the pages of Hannah’s journal. What started out as a game has turned into something much more evil. With dire, horrifying consequences.

Is there any way to escape the curse?

Read at Your Own Risk sounds deliciously creepy! I've ordered a copy for our library collection because I always have fifth and sixth graders asking for horror. What books are you looking forward to being published? 

Middle Grade Monday: Diper Överlöde (Diary of a Wimpy Kid #17) by Jeff Kinney

Image: Abrams Books

Diper Överlöde (Diary of a Wimpy Kid #17) by Jeff Kinney. 224 p. Amulet Books/ Abrams Books, October, 2022. 9781419762949. (Review of finished purchased copy.)

Happy Monday! Middle Grade Monday features Diper Överlöde (Diary of a Wimpy Kid #17) by Jeff Kinney. Roderick wants to make his band, Diper Överlöde big and he thinks that by winning the upcoming Battle of the Bands will do it as it also launched the career of his favorite band. Greg isn't all that interested in being Roderick's roadie, but on the off-chance he does become famous, Greg wants in. Fans of the series will not be disappointed. There's a wait list for it. 

Middle Grade Monday: Rowley Jefferson Books 2 & 3 by Jeff Kinney

                

Rowley Jefferson's Awesome, Friendly Adventure by Jeff Kinney. Abrams Books, 224 p. Abrams Books, 2020.

Rowley Jefferson's Awesome Spooky Stories by Jeff Kinney. 224 p. Abrams Books, March, 2021. (Review of finished books borrowed from public library.)

Happy Monday! My break is going well, though I would wish for better weather. Middle Grade Monday features two books from a series. When I came across Rowley Jefferson's Awesome Spooky Stories recently, I realized I missed book two of this Diary of a Wimpy Kid spinoff, Rowley Jefferson's Awesome, Friendly Adventure. So this Middle Grade Monday recommendation is a two-fer, or a three-fer if you missed the first.

If you're a fan of the Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney, you know all about Rowley Jefferson, Greg's long-suffering best friend. In Rowley Jefferson's Awesome, Friendly Adventure, Rowley wants to write a story. He has no plans to become famous for his book. He just wants something for his parent to read to him at night. Greg has other plans though. He has visions of movie rights and merch.

In Rowley Jefferson's Awesome Spooky Stories, Rowley reveals his dark side with stories of vampires, werewolves and zombies and such. Most are humorous with a side of gross. Fans will devour both books and ask for more.

Middle Grade Monday Review & Giveaway: Timmy Failure: Mistakes were Made by Stephan Pastis

Image: Candlewick Press

Timmy Failure: Mistakes were Made by Stephan Pastis. (Movie Tie-in Edition) Timmy Failure series #1. 293 p. Candlewick Press, February, 2020.  9781536209075. (Review of finished paperback courtesy of publisher.)

Middle Grade Monday features Timmy Failure: Mistakes were Made by Stephan Pastis. Our narrator, Timmy Failure runs a detective agency, Total Failure, which he hopes will soon become a Fortune500 company. The only problem is, he's a clueless, inept detective. His partner, a polar bear named Total, is only interested in garbage and not much help to Timmy. Still, he soldiers on. School is a nuisance. He has no use for Scantron tests, except to create dot-to-dot pictures, which of course, causes him to fail, much to the consternation of his group. His single mom is caring but trying hard to stay afloat financially and probably doesn't pay enough attention to Timmy. Then, there's the new boyfriend.

There's a lot of humor in this illustrated novel/ hybrid graphic novel, some of it is kind of sad. There's depth too, along with the hijinks. One might believe that Timmy's delusions are a sign of mental instability. I submit that they are a survival mechanism. Thank goodness for the humor! Just as I would melt with sympathy, Pastis lightened the mood. I haven't felt this much emotional whiplash since... Hm, since watching Charlie Chaplin movies.

Adding to the appeal, there's plenty of visual humor in the copious spot art, featuring round-eyed characters. Mistakes were Made was originally published in 2013. My library's copy hasn't been checked out in a while. Perhaps the Disney movie will re-ignite interest in the series. I hope so. Timmy Failure endears.

Thanks to Candlewick Press, I am hosting a giveaway. Comment on this review by Wednesday morning, April 1 and you're entered for a chance at winning a movie tie-in edition of Timmy Failure: Mistakes were Made! U.S. & Canada only and no P.O. Boxes. I can give away two copies. Please understand that delivery may be delayed slightly.

#tbt: Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life by Rachel Renée Russell

Image: Simon & Schuster

Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life by Rachel Renée Russell. 352 p. Aladdin/ Simon & Schuster, June, 2009. 9781416980063.

#tbt features Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life by Rachel Renée Russell. This jaunty diary format book was first published in June of 2009 and is still going strong with fourteen books out. The fifteenth, as yet untitled, is due in October. The series has definite Wimp appeal and features fourteen-year-old Nikki Maxwell as she navigates being a scholarship student at a tony prep school. Her father is the school's exterminator and she lives in fear that her secret will be revealed. It doesn't help that the school's alpha mean girl's locker is right next to hers. 

Middle Grade Monday: Max and the Midknights by Lincoln Peirce

Image: Penguin Random House

Max and the Midknights by Lincoln Peirce. 282 p. Crown Books for Young Readers/ Random House Children's Books, January, 2019. 9781101931080. (Review of purchased copy.)

Max is apprenticed to an uncle who is an untalented bard. Max would rather be apprenticed to a knight but this is the Middle Ages (presumably) and children are destined to follow in the family line of work. When Uncle Budrick is captured by an evil king, Max gathers a posse of helpers interested in doing good and plans a rescue.

This humorous adventure moves apace and has a few cool surprises in store for readers. Fans of the author/ cartoonist won't be disappointed. 

Just last week, as I surveyed my collection of nearly destroyed Big Nate books, I wondered if Peirce had anything new. Low and behold, I missed this January release. More and more of my students are asking for graphic novel hybrids, so it's great to have something new to add to the shelf. If it's the beginning of a series, even better. Max and the Midknights should have wide appeal. Definitely worth adding to any school, public and classroom library.

Middle Grade Monday and Review: Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid: Rowley Jefferson's Journal by Jeff Kinney

Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid: Rowley Jefferson's Journal by Jeff Kinney. 218 p. Amulet/ Abrams, April, 2019. 97819740275. (Review of purchased finished copy.)

Middle Grade Monday features Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid: Rowley Jefferson's Journal by Jeff Kinney. Greg Hefley's long-suffering best friend gets his own book but not the spotlight because of course, Greg is mad and jealous. He tries to convince Rowley to make his journal a biography of Greg. Rowley tries. He naively relates stories of memorable times he had at the hands of with his best pal. Fans of the series already know how long-suffering Rowley is. They won't be disappointed with this spin-off.

I've always had mixed emotions about this series. I knew from book one, this would be a hit with my students and am thrilled that they love the books literally to pieces. I love that students who identify as non-readers are faithful fans. I think that Kinney really nails middle school drama. I also think Greg is a bit of a, um, jerk. (That wasn't my initial word of choice.) That said, there are jerks in middle school, so kudos to Kinney for depicting them. Greg also seemed to mature a tad as the series went on. In this book, he's back in jerk-mode. Instead of thinking it humorous, I found it somehow sort of sad and was sadder still at Rowley's naiveté. But, I'm an old fart and the kids won't notice. They are reading! A win.

Waiting on Wednesday: Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid: Rowley Jefferson's Journal by Jeff Kinney

Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid: Rowley Jefferson's Journal by Jeff Kinney. 224 p. Amulet Books/ Abrams, April 9, 2019. 9781419740275.

Publisher synopsis: Get ready for a whole new look into Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid! Introducing the newest Wimpy Kid author—Rowley Jefferson! Rowley’s best friend Greg Heffley has been chronicling his middle-school years in thirteen Diary of a Wimpy Kid journals . . . and counting. But it’s finally time for readers to hear directly from Rowley in a journal of his own. In Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid, Rowley writes about his experiences and agrees to play the role of biographer for Greg along the way. (After all, one day Greg will be rich and famous, and everyone will want to know his life’s story.) But Rowley is a poor choice for the job, and his “biography” of Greg is a hilarious mess. Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid: Rowley Jefferson’s Journal offers readers a new way to look at the Wimpy world—one fans won’t want to miss!

This should be fun! 

ETA: I scheduled this post two Wednesdays ago. Later that day, a newsletter from Abrams popped into my email with a link to this cute trailer. 

The Popularity Papers 7: The less-than-hidden secrets and final revelations of Lydia Goldblatt & Julie Graham-Chang

The less-than-hidden secrets and final revelations of Lydia Goldblatt & Julie Graham-Chang by Amy Ignatow. Popularity Papers series #7. Amulet Books/ Abrams, September, 2014. 9781419712708. (Finished copy courtesy of publisher for review.)

As BFFs Lydia and Julie near the end of seventh grade, disasters of all shapes and sizes roll in. A nearby school has a fire and students from there need to attend Hamlin Junior High. With the student body nearly doubled, initial excitement gives way to resentment over crowds and locker sharing and body odor. Julie and Lydia organize a dance to try to unite the students but their journal goes missing and soon photocopied pages plaster the hallways causing everyone to get mad at them and endangering their plans for the dance and their popularity.

I'm so sorry to see this series end. While I haven't read each installment, I didn't need to as it is a popular series at my school. It rises above Wimpy kid and its knockoffs in quality both for the writing and illustrating. Ignatow has a keen ear for authentic dialogue and relatable middle school angst. Her cast of characters are diverse and endearing. She keeps things gentle, opting to avoid snarky cynicism. Her use of tons of color and a variety of fonts keep the eye engaged. The books really do look like notebooks created by two different girls.

I'm eager to see what's next for Ms. Ignatow.

Katie Friedman Gives Up Texting (And lives to tell about it) by Tommy Greenwald

Katie Friedman Gives Up Texting (And lives to tell about it) by Tommy Greenwald. 227 p. Roaring Brook Press, February 17, 2015. 9781596438378. (Review from arc courtesy of publisher)

Charlie Joe Jackson's best friend, Katie Friedman gets her own book because she has a story to tell. Don't worry, CJJ fans, Charlie Joe is involved. It was a text that Katie thought she was sending to Charlie Joe and inadvertently sent to Nareem that started all the drama. 

Readers of Charlie Joe's earlier books will already know that his best friend, Katie has been dating Nareem. She likes him enough, but doesn't think she like-likes him anymore. When she tries to discuss the problem with her friends at lunch, they are all so involved with texting and instagramming and updating social network statuses that no one pays attention. This totally annoys her, but when she tries to call them out on it, they point out that she's a huge offender as well. 

Later, during math, she decides that she'll break up with him during study hall even though she's very tempted to do it via text. She sends Nareem an illegal text saying that she needed to tell him something and is surprised to receive one from him saying the same. Wait a second. Katie wonders if he's going to break up with her!

One look at his face in study hall tells her that he's not. It turns out he has tickets to Plain Jane, only Katie's favorite rock band. On top of that, his dad has arranged for back stage passes! How can she break up with him now? 

So she doesn't. And she goes to the concert and it's amazing and Nareem is amazing. She gets to meet Jane backstage and Jane is amazing. So, where does this errant text fit in? What drives Katie to part with her precious phone for a week? Will she be able to convince her friends to do so as well? Sorry. You've got to read this fast-paced exploration of being hyper-connected to find out.

This one requires a willingness to suspend a bit of belief, something young readers will have no difficulty doing. I stuttered for just a moment before diving right in. Tommy Greenwald has a keen eye for tween life, a flare for dialogue that rings true and a knack for creating gently humorous situations reflecting a variety of issues kids face without heavy-handed messaging. He respects his audience and trusts they will draw their own conclusions. This is why the shelf containing multiple copies of his books in my library is always empty from September through June. It's why I've had to replace stolen copies. His books make non-readers readers. His books make all readers laugh as they recognize themselves or friends within the pages. I can't wait to booktalk this.

Return of the Padawan by Jeff Brown

Return of the Padawan by Jeff Brown. Star Wars: Jedi Academy #2. 176 p. Scholastic Inc., July, 2014. 9780545621250. (Finished copy courtesy of publisher for review)

Roan Novachez is really looking forward to returning the Jedi Academy for his second year. He is so over his initial reluctance to attend this school instead of flight school and is looking forward to pilot training at Jedi Academy. Indeed, he complains to his older brother that his new friends get him in a way his home friends no longer do. So it is with newfound confidence that Roan returns and it isn't long before things begin to backfire on him. One by one, his friends distance themselves as misunderstandings pile up. His teachers are hard on him, especially Mr. Garfield, his flight instructor. The only thing that seems to be going Roan's way is the fact that the class bullies aren't picking on him much. In fact, they seem to think he's kind of cool. Could they be leading Roan to the Dark Side?

Book one of this clever and entertaining series is already wildly popular at my school, especially among fifth graders. Return of the Padawan has wimp appeal, appeal for graphic novel fans, appeal for fans of Star Wars and appeal for anyone who wants a quick and funny but satisfying read. The art is black and white and the diary is hand-lettered. The situations mirror middle school - bad food at lunch, a grumpy librarian, group projects, crushes, wrong conclusions, missing class pets, and a Wookie gym teacher. Star Wars fans will enjoy the riffs on the Star Wars characters. Expect patrons to return this with the question, "Is book 3 out yet?" I'm looking forward to it.

The Long Haul by Jeff Kinney

The Long Haul by Jeff Kinney. Diary of a Wimpy Kid series #9. 217 p. Amulet Books/ Abrams, November 4, 2014. 9781419711893. (Finished copy courtesy of publisher for review.)

Well, it's finally here and, just about ten days after pub date, there are only 3 copies out of 186 available in my public library cooperative catalog. There's already a fairly long waiting list for the two copies my library will have available. So does this book really need to be reviewed? Even if Mr. Kinney dialed the book in, it's pretty much an automatic multiple-book purchase for most school and public libraries. While a bit more over-the-top than previous installments, this one was definitely not dialed in.

Greg Heffley is looking forward to the freedom of summer vacation when dreams of doing nothing are dashed by his mother. Inspired by an article in Family Frolic magazine, Mrs. Heffley announces that the family will be going on a road trip. She wants the family to bond. Greg hopes that his dad will put the kibosh on the plans but no such luck. As quick as you can say, "Road trip!" hilarity and chaos ensue. The family sets out in a van packed to the gills, towing a leaky boat for fun and adventure misery and torture. 

I think I laughed out loud more while reading this one than all of the others combined. Don't get me wrong. I smiled a lot in earlier volumes, but rarely laughed. This one tickled my funny bone. There were quite a few familiar and relatable moments in all the mayhem. There's even a salute to another juggernaut author, Dav Pilkey, as well as an acknowledgement that with said fame, fans don't exactly get personal responses to fan letters (wink, wink).

I need to switch out of review mode and into editorial mode for a moment. I guess I've got the heart of a ten-year-old boy since I'm a sucker for a good (any) fart joke. In a previous job at a K-8 school, I read aloud Walter the Farting Dog to a kindergarten class to the subversive delight of the five and six year olds and the horror to the adults in the room. Indeed, I found myself defending my choice later. My libraries have always been stocked with books with appeal for reluctant readers. So if potty humor and hijinks are going to lure kids into reading, I'm all for it. Thank you, Jeff Kinney, for luring millions of kids into reading. Thank you Amulet Books, for providing the book for review.

Frank Einstein and the Antimatter Motor by Jon Scieszka

Frank Einstein and the Antimatter Motor by Jon Scieszka. Frank Einstein series #1. Illustrated by Brian Biggs. 180 p. Amulet Books/ Abrams, August 19, 2014. 9781419712180. (Review from arc courtesy of the publisher.)

Young Frank Einstein is a science guy. His interest in science is nurtured by his Mr. Fixit grandpa, Al. He loves to hang out at grandpa's shop with his pal Watson. He's trying to invent a robot to enter into the annual science fair. After his attempt at assembly fails, Frank leaves the parts and a fortuitous bolt of lightning provides just enough juice for Klink and Klank to come to life. Klink is a bit of a stick-in-the-mud and Klank just wants a hug and some good beats to boogie to. 

Frank has an arch-nemesis who is not above performing some industrial espionage in order to make sure that Frank doesn't win the science competition. T. Edison and his simian sidekick, Mr. Chimp, who communicates using American Sign Language will stop at nothing in their quest to win the science fair and ultimately dominate the world. (Insert evil laugh here.)

Scieszka rolls up real science and riffs on pop culture in a fast-paced plot packed with humor. Brian Biggs' illustrations add to the fun. For Scieszka's legions of fans, young and old, this will be an automatic purchase even without the blurbs by Tom Angleberger and Jeff Kinney. This is definitely one to give to your fans of both Origami Yoda and Wimpy Kid. Heck, give it to any kind of reader.

Check out this video of the author talking about the book. TMS students should check out the dedication page because you know Bob and Mary Brown. They are the owners of Books, Bytes and Beyond. It is thanks to them that we've had some fantastic author visits. They brought us Tim Federle, Kenneth Oppel, and Scott Westerfeld, among others in the past. This October, George Hagen will visit fifth and six grades. I can't wait to get back to school and share this with you!

Poop Fountain! The Qwikpick Papers #1 by Tom Angleberger

Poop Fountain! The Qwikpick Papers #1 by Tom Angleberger. 134 p. Amulet Books/ Abrams, May 20, 2014. 9781419704253. (Finished copy courtesy of publisher for review)

Leave it to Tom Angleberger to riff on sewage treatment in all its potty humor glory and allude to a literary classic at the same time. The story is set in the year 2000 according to a note from Tom Angleberger. Lyle Hertzog is the narrator/ compiler as this story is told in typed and handwritten pages, doodles and photographs. Kyle's a bit of a loner and a bit sensitive about the fact that he lives in a trailer park. He makes the best of the fact that he received a typewriter for Christmas instead of the computer he was hoping for. About a year earlier, he found two unlikely friends in Marilla Anderson and Dave Raskin. The three found the Qwikpick Adventure Society, so named since the three often spend time chilling in the break room at the Qwikpick, where Kyle's parents both work.

Their first adventure arose when the three realize that they don't have much to do on Christmas Day since both of Kyle's parents work and neither Marilla nor Dave celebrate it. Marilla is a Jehovah's Witness and Dave is Jewish. They want to do something momentous but can't figure out what until a little item in the local paper about improvements at the local sewage treatment plant are underway. They learn about the the sludge fountain, which is about to get an upgrade and decide then and there that they must see the POOP fountain.

Not many authors are as slyly wry observers of the middle school jungle as Mr. Angleberger. It's also nice to see that he incorporated a diverse cast of characters both racially and economically. There's humor here low-brow and high. Give to your reluctant readers or fans of potty humor. Fans of the author's Origami Yoda series will be all over this new series. Well, I assume this is a new series. My one or two bits of criticism: it is a bit slow and the adventure part is a bit tame.         

Princess Labelmaker to the Rescue by Tom Angleberger

Princess Labelmaker to the Rescue by Tom Angleberger. An Origami Yoda Book (#5). 184 p. Amulet Books/ Abrams, March 4, 2014. 9781419710520. (Review copy courtesy of publisher.)

This hilarious, yet deep series continues to surprise and delight. Even though the initial stories can kind of stand alone,* this book continues the story started in book 4, The Surprise Attack of Jabba the Puppett. The Rebel Alliance took on the principal, school board and Fun-Time, a state test prep company and learned of a surprise ally in their quest. Principal Rabbski left the students under the impression that something would be done about all the boring test prep at the end.

Now, it's several weeks later and Tommy and the gang are still stuck with Fun-Time and each time they approach the principal, she puts them off. The rebel forces are trying to stay strong, but they are losing support. Even Tommy admits that it's scary trying to attempt to sabotage test results by not doing his best. 

It seems that someone has stolen the case files and has given them to the principal. Has someone gone over to the Dark Side? The subversive fun continues as everyone weighs in on the goings on at McQuarrie Middle School. 

This is a great series to give to any reader, but kids looking for funny or Wimpy Kid read alikes will find much to laugh about here. 

*I recommend starting at the beginning. Really.

Zero Tolerance (The Odd Squad #2) by Michael Fry

240 p. Disney/ Hyperion, September 3, 2013. 9781423170990. (Arc obtained from publisher at ALA Annual)

Nick, Karl and Molly find themselves a bit at a loss after having solved their bully problem (Odd Squad: Bully Bait). Instead of being the heroes of the school, they find themselves a bit bored with the mundane duties of Safety Patrol, hallway crossings and warning against the dangers of Jello-meat. When a new girl arrives, she and Molly become instant bffs. This upsets and threatens Nick, after all, Molly whacked his back. And, Simone doesn't believe in Emily, the ghost/ protector/ whatever of the school.

When Nick decides to TP himself and then dump himself in a trash can, instead of flushing out Emily, he prompts the school board, led by his mother's current "perfect" boyfriend, to institute an Zero Tolerance policy on bullying. Then, Nick is accused of bullying Simone, and finds himself on the receiving end of the ZT policy and kicked off the class trip. But he just knows that Simone is not who she says she is.

I actually found myself laughing out loud quite a bit with this second installment. I also must admit to initially not liking the first. I received it at Annual in 2012 and read it pretty quickly, before leaving Anaheim, I believe. I was fairly meh about it at the time, so I put the arc aside to revisit. But I forgot about it. In January, I attended a Disney preview and Stepanie Lurie read aloud from it. Wonderfully. I totally changed my mind, reread the thing when I got back and became a fan.

This endearingly funny book will appeal to fans of the wimp and diary/ notebook type books.

This Journal Belongs to Ratchet by Nancy J. Cavanaugh

307 p. Sourcebooks/ Jabberwocky, April 2, 2013. 9781402281068. (Purchased)

Eleven-year-old Ratchet, decides to start a brand new notebook to start a new school year. Of homeschooling. She has never been to school and she kind of wonders what she's missing, especially in the friend department. It has just been Ratchet, well, Rachel and her dad since her mom died. Since her dad likes to move into junky houses and rehab them instead of paying rent, they move a lot. It's just easier to homeschool than to continually change schools.

And, yeah, even though Ratchet's dad supposedly checks her work, she's really on her own to do it and finds that she's interrupted most days when her dad needs help repairing cars anyway. She's his right-hand gal, hence the nickname. 

Each journal entry is a writing response to an assignment in her homeschooling kit. There are quick-writes, poems, dialogues, essays, and life events journal entries, among other forms. Through these we get glimpses of Ratchet's lonely life and her attempts at making a friend.

Ratchet is the first to admit that her environmental-activist father is a bit of a nut-job. He's always embarrassing her by attending city council meetings to suggest ways of saving the environment. He insists on recycling everything, which means that Ratchet never has new clothes. She shops at thrift stores but would so love to have something new to wear. He also steadfastly refuses to discuss her mother with her. But, he's her "important person" and really, without a mother, where would she be without him?

Ratchet found a place in my heart pretty quickly. Her voice is engaging and sincere. She's bright and mechanically inclined, open-minded and observant. She just aches for a friend and to somehow fill the spot where her mother used to be. The structure of her journal is unique, allowing for the glimpses into her life to come together in a satisfying way. The cover is appealing. The notebook style will appeal to fans of that format, but though there is humor, they will find depth as Ratchet asserts herself.

This is a lovely debut.