Waiting on Wednesday: Linked by Gordon Korman

Image: Scholastic Inc.

Linked by Gordon Korman. 256 p. Scholastic Inc. July 20, 2021. 9781338629118.

Waiting on Wednesday features Linked by Gordon Korman. Mr. Korman is a favorite author for many of my students. This one seems to be more serious than his usual fare. I'm intrigued.

Publisher synopsis: Link, Michael, and Dana live in a quiet town. But it’s woken up very quickly when someone sneaks into school and vandalizes it with a swastika.

Nobody can believe it. How could such a symbol of hate end up in the middle of their school? Who would do such a thing?

Because Michael was the first person to see it, he’s the first suspect. Because Link is one of the most popular guys in school, everyone’s looking to him to figure it out. And because Dana’s the only Jewish girl in the whole town, everyone’s treating her more like an outsider than ever.

The mystery deepens as more swastikas begin to appear. Some students decide to fight back and start a project to bring people together instead of dividing them further. The closer Link, Michael, and Dana get to the truth, the more there is to face — not just the crimes of the present, but the crimes of the past.

With Linked, Gordon Korman, the author of the acclaimed novel Restart, poses a mystery for all readers where the who did it? isn’t nearly as important as the why?

Teen Tuesday and Audiobook Review: The Desolations of Devil's Acre by Ransom Riggs

Image: Penguin Random House

The Desolations of Devil's Acre by Ransom Riggs. Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children series #6. Unabridged e-audiobook, ~15 hours. Narrated by Kirby Heyborne. Listening Library, February, 2021. 9780593415306. (Review of downloadable e-audiobook borrowed from the public library.)

Teen Tuesday features The Desolations of Devil's Acre by Ransom Riggs. This sixth book of Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children is the series finale. It is absolutely imperative that the books get read in order. Book five, The Conference of Birds, ended in a cliffhanger and book six picks right up. There will be no spoilers here, except to say that the pace is fast, furious and fairly violent. Fans of the series will absolutely need to read this finale because all of Peculiardom is in jeopardy and chances are, they've come to care about Jacob Portman and his friends.

The audiobooks have been narrated by Kirby Heyborne, who performs an impressive array of voices and imbues energy and emotion into the tale. 

Middle Grade Monday: Ghost Squad by Claribel A. Ortega

Image: Scholastic Inc.

Ghost Squad by Claribel A. Ortega. 256 p. Scholastic, April, 2020. 9781338280128. (Review of finished copy courtesy of publisher.

Happy Monday! There are just four Middle Grade Monday posts left in this school year! I've already added a sheet for summer through the next school year. 

Middle Grade Monday features Ghost Squad by Claribel A. Ortega. Twelve-year-old Lucely Luna is not afraid of ghosts. Not only does her father run a ghost tour business, but she lives with them. Her extended family dwell in the willow tree in her backyard as fireflies or cocuyos. Sometimes they manifest in their human form. When the spirit of her grandmother dims, she and her best friend, Syd perform a spell to revive her. They accidentally unleash evil spirits, who threaten their town of St. Augustine, Florida.

This action-packed story is filled with humor, best friendship and suspense as our adorable tween ghostbusters try to kick some serious spirit butt. Ghost Squad is the author's debut and will appeal to middle grade readers who like horror that's just scary enough to thrill.

Picture Book Review: The Rock from the Sky by Jon Klassen

 

Image: Candlewick Press

The Rock from the Sky by Jon Klassen. 96 p. Candlewick Press, April, 2021. 9781536215625. (Review of finished copy courtesy of publisher.)

This extra-long picture book is told in five chapters and is as darkly humorous and delightfully deadpan as we have come to expect from Mr. Klassen. Turtle is standing in his "favorite spot" and invites Armadillo(?) to stand with him*. Armadillo has a bad feeling about the spot and moves to a different spot. Only, it's a bit difficult to carry on a conversation with Turtle from the long distance. Turtle leaves his spot in order to hear Armadillo just before the rock falls.

Chapter two is called, "The Fall," and shows Turtle on his back under the rock. Armadillo asks if he fell. Stubborn Turtle insists he did not, that he doesn't need help and he certainly does not wish to take a nap, as Armadillo plans to do.

In the third chapter, Turtle and Armadillo contemplate the future complete with a forest that has grown up around the rock and a space alien. Chapter four might be the most hilarious as Snake and Armadillo enjoy a sunset and in the final chapter, Turtle gets jealous. 

The artist's signature muted palette and bleak and dreary landscape allow the reader to focus on the characters and anticipate what is about to come next and also allow the character's eyes to pop. Much of the dry humor comes from the eyes. 

The book begs to be reread immediately, not just because it is still hilarious the second (and third) time around, but to savor the depth of storytelling and to ponder the enigmas. I know. This is heady stuff for young ones, but never underestimate them. This is definitely a picture book to share with older readers as well. 

The Rock from the Sky is a first-purchase. 

*I don't know why I choose to make these characters him. I tried using "it," but that didn't feel right. 

Fact Friday and Picture Book Review: Orangutan Hats and Other Tools Animals Use by Richard Haynes

Image: Candlewick Press

Orangutan Hats and Other Tools Animals Use by Richard Haynes. Illustrated by Stephanie Laberis. 48 p. Candlewick Press, April, 2021. 9781536200935. (Review of finished copy courtesy of publisher.)

The front flap of this informative picture book declares, "Move over, humans!" Our species is not the only one to utilize tools to improve life. Thanks to careful observations by scientists working in the field, we now understand that a variety of animals employ tools. 

The introduction defines what a tool is and explains the age old belief that only humans were intelligent. That is, until Charles Darwin noted tool use among primates while on his voyages in the 1800s. Twenty animals from around the world are highlighted in this well-organized book, which begins with a world map and thumbnail illustrations of each animal. The information is organized by what the tool is used for-tools for staying neat and clean-for health and healing-for defense-for hunting, harvesting and eating-for comfort-and joy!

Straightforward, accessible text details how the animals adapt materials at hand to protect or make life a bit easier. The digital full-page and spot art illustrations are realistically drawn, but also contain bits of humor. Back matter includes a glossary, suggestions for further reading and an index. 

There are plenty of fascinating tidbits for fact hounds to feast on here! Be ready to steer readers to titles such as The Dolphins of  Shark Bay or Crow Smarts by Pamela S. Turner to read more about how scientists study the intelligence of these incredible animals. What a fun addition to any library!

#tbt: 11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass

Image: Scholastic Inc.

11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass. 272 p. Willow Falls series #1. Scholastic Inc., January, 2009. 9780545052399. (Own)

#tbt features 11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass. This entertaining time-loop story is a TMS favorite and was published in January of 2009. It is the first book in the Willow Falls series and has won a number of State books awards.

Amanda and Leo were born on the same day and, for the first ten years of their lives, celebrated their birthdays happily together. But on her tenth birthday Amanda overhears Leo saying terrible things about her. Her eleventh birthday party does not go well and she goes to bed sad and disappointed. When she wakes up the following morning, she finds it's still her eleventh birthday and gets to do the day again.

This Groundhog Day for kids is an entertaining story featuring a relatable main character and a great deal of humor and affection. The following books in the series feature other main characters who live in the town of Willow Falls. 

Waiting on Wednesday: Spy School at Sea by Stuart Gibbs

Happy Wednesday! For some reason, I woke up yesterday and today thinking it was Friday! Wishful thinking? 29 school days left!

Image: Simon & Schuster

Spy School at Sea by Stuart Gibbs. Spy School #9. 352 p. Simon 7 Schuster Books for Young Readers, August 31, 2021. 9781534479432.

Waiting on Wednesday features Spy School at Sea by Stuart Gibbs. This series shows no sign of slowing down as the ninth book is set to sail into book stores on August 31!

Here's the publisher's synopsis: Thanks to the evidence Ben uncovered in his investigation of the Croatoan, the CIA has tracked his nemesis, Murray Hill, to Central America, where they believe he is boarding the world’s biggest cruise ship, The Emperor of the Seas, on its maiden voyage around the world.

His mission: Pose as part of a family, with Alexander and Catherine Hale as his parents, Erica as his sister, and his best friend Mike as his brother, to find out what Murray is plotting.

At first, it sounds exciting to have a mission on the most glamorous ocean liner on earth, but as usual, nothing goes according to plan. There is action, danger, and plenty of surprises as Ben and his team quickly find themselves in hot water.