A Field Guide to Getting Lost

A Field Guide to Getting Lost

Joy McCullough

Atheneum, 2020 210 pages

Grades 3-7

Realistic Fiction

Alternating points of view relate the experiences of two kids who are thrown together when their parents start dating. Sutton is a homeschooled science nerd who socially quirky. She is working on coding a robot for her robotics club and it is giving her some trouble. Even more frustrating, her mother is staying in Antarctica, where she studies penguins, for a longer period than initially planned. Sutton is happy with her Dad, but missing Mom is leaving a hole in her heart. Meanwhile, Luis is desperate for a social life, yet his many allergies tend to always spoil the fun. His overprotective mother is fearful of letting him out into the world, yet Luis is determined to prove to both of them that he can handle a bit of independence and new challenges. When Sutton's Dad and Luis's Mom begin to date and all indicator point to serious, the young people start to get to know each other. The first trip to a local Seattle museum proves disastrous, but for both of their parent's sakes they pledge to try again. This time they land on a family hike, putting both young people out of their comfort zones. When a secret shortcut lands them lost in the woods, panic begins to set in. How will they ever find the way back to the path? Can they cooperate and not lose their heads? Most importantly: will Luis get stung by a bee?

 

Young adult author and playwright, McCullough switches gears in this middle grade debut. Readers will enjoy spending time with Sutton and Luis: two fully realized and completely relatable characters. Kids will understand their social fears and reluctance to family change, even though they want their parents to be happy. What is nice about this book is that although Sutton and Luis have some reservations and growing pains in their relationship, they are both willing to get to know each other and never behave like brats. The parents are kind and supportive and readers will wish them happiness right along with Sutton and Luis. The Seattle setting is integral to the story and it will give kids an idea of what it is to live in this western city. Both kids experience character growth throughout the pages of the book and tap into their inner strength. While lost on the hike they learn to cooperate and put their talents to good use. At some point they both save the day managing to reach safety only through both of their efforts. Best of all, by book's end the two unrelated children manage to form an unlikely friendship that brings out the strengths in each other. McCullough demonstrates to readers the importance of community, accepting each other's differences, giving new things a chance, and weathering change and disappointment. Sutton and Luis discover friendship, home, and compromise in this new novel, while readers will discover their next great read and an armchair adventure.

The Pathfinders Society: The Mystery of the Moon Tower

The Pathfinders Society: The Mystery of the Moon Tower
Francesco Sedita & Prescott Seraydarian
Steve Hamaker, Illustrator
Viking/Penguin, 2020 176 pages
Grades 3-7
Graphic Novel
The Pathfinders Society series #1

Kyle moves with his mom to her childhood hometown in rural Pennsylvania. The first thing he notices is how foul air is randomly emitted from the cracks in the rocks of the landscape and the second thing is sudden rainfall at weird times, making the town less than promising. Mom enrolls him in Camp Pathfinder, where he is placed in a team of five kids challenged to solve a treasure hunt. The team is made up of three boys and two girls, all with different skills to contribute to the endeavor. The camp was established a long time ago by Henry Merriweather and the search leads them first to a trail and beautifully crafted tiles connecting sites of historical significance throughout town. Eventually they land at Merriweather's old mansion, which has fallen on hard times. Through exploring secret passageways of the mansions and following the clues, the explorers experience supernatural events, which blend the present with the future, revealing some of the secrets behind the mysterious town and Merriweather's mission. Eventually the team discovers a treasure chest, which contains clues to lead them to the next leg of the journey--and, hopefully, the real treasure. This cliff-hanger will lead readers to the next installment, yet to be released.

Ever since discovering The Westing Game as a young person, I have loved scavenger hunts conceived by eccentric millionaires. Readers will enjoy this adventure with secrets, clues, and mysterious happenings. The multicultural cast of both boys and girls will welcome everyone to the party and give all sorts of readers someone to identify with. Since it is a fast-moving adventure/mystery, character development is not at the forefront, so I appreciate that the authors added a cast of characters at the beginning of the volume with names and personality strengths. The book is in full color and the illustrations are well-drawn and scan well. Much of the mystery is left unsolved by the book's end, leading readers to the next installment, which may prove frustrating to kids, especially since the next one is not out yet. There is a bit of fantasy and time travel, which I like, and the town's paranormal qualities will intrigue young readers. This new series could encourage kids to look for secrets in their own towns and maybe even encourage them to check out some local landmarks or historical museums. A fun new graphic series that will appeal to young readers that is slightly creepy and mysterious and may lead to local adventures, especially in a summer where kids are searching for something low-key and close to home to occupy their time.

The Mysterious Messenger

The Mysterious Messenger
Gilbert Ford
Holt/Macmillan, July, 2020 320 pages
Grades 4-7
Mystery/Fantasy

Maria lives a solitary life with her medium mother, Mom's burly boyfriend, and a talking parrot. Supposedly homeschooled, Maria is left to her own devices, hanging out in the local library and sleeping in a walk-in closet with Madame Destine's fur coats. Attention is paid to her only when help is needed with a séance, designed to trick elderly widows out of their money. Maria has a secret of her own, though. Although Madame Destine is a huge fraud, Maria's only friend is a ghost named Edward, who communicates with her while she holds a pen and he uses her hand to write messages. When Mrs. Fisher appears at the apartment desperate to connect with her late husband, Edward communicates to Maria that there is a treasure to be found in the elderly lady's apartment. Maria makes a new friend in the building and she and Sebastian cross the city to pay Mrs. Fisher a visit. They do not find any treasure there, but they do discover that the old lady is more interesting than what appears at first glance. She and her husband were part of the Greenwich Village Beat-scene of the 1950's/early 60's. Maria and Sebastian follow clues that lead them around the city to discover more about Mrs. Fisher's past and, eventually, to the treasure. What will happen when Madame Destine discovers what Maria is up to? Will Maria be forced to stay in this dysfunctional home forever? And who exactly is Edward, anyway?

I love a book with layers that is actually more than one thing. The Mysterious Messenger is such a book. At first glance it is a mystery. Actually there are several mysteries: What and where is the treasure, who is Edward, and what is behind Madame Destine's complete lack of parental attention. The story also falls within the realm of fantastic realism, where magical things happen in a contemporary setting in a believable way. Maria and her relationship with Edward the ghost is both compelling and completely palpable. The book will also appeal to fans of contemporary "problem novels", which are still so popular. Maria has a terrible life and for some reason kids love to read about orphans and fellow-children overcoming terrible physical or emotional odds. Beyond all of these things, readers will be exposed to Beat culture, which is rare in books for young people. After reading this story kids may be compelled to read some Beat poetry or listen to some jazz. I know I was. I also love that the book is intergenerational and demonstrates the importance of community. Although contemporary in setting, the story feels a bit gothic, maybe because of the over-the-top living conditions Maria endures. Illustrations contributed by the author introduce the events to happen in the next chapter, which will add interest to readers, yet add little to the story. Give to fans of Lemony Snicket, the Greenglass House series, and the Mysterious Benedict society.

Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy: a Graphic Novel

Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy: a Graphic Novel
Rey Terciero & Bre Indigo
Little Brown, 2019 256 pages
Grades 5-8
Graphic Novel

The four March sister live with their mother in contemporary New York City. Dad is overseas with the military and Mom works double shifts to make ends meet. The sisters must all pitch-in to take care of the house-and each other. Oldest, Meg, is obsessed with fashion and hates being poor. She socializes with high society and longs to be part of that world. Jo is the opposite of Meg, caring nothing for physical appearances or social status. She is highly political, ethical, and loves to write in her journal. Beth is the sensitive sister. When Jo's new friend, Laurie's Grandfather gives her a guitar, her whole world blooms as she finds making music and song writing the best way to express herself. Youngest, Amy, is sassy and impetuous. She loves video games, art, and having fun. The story traces a pivotal year in the life of the family as Beth becomes deathly ill, Dad gets injured in action, Meg falls in love, Jo discovers who she really is, and all of the girls grow and mature in unexpected ways. The year takes many twists and turns, but the family remains close and the March sisters rely on each other for support and help at all times.

More of a story inspired by the classic Little Women than a straight modernization, Terciero and Indigo take some key plot points, characterization, and the enviable relationship between the March sisters and package it to a new audience. Although events from the original are included in a modern way within this retelling, the outcome is often different, which is fine, yet making this a whole separate product. The main difference is that the story takes places within the framework of one year, so we never see what happens after the girls grow up. Instead, the story ends at the Women's march, which all the sisters participate in, making this book one of feminism instead of matrimony. The authors/artists present the family as blended, which will resonate with many of today's readers, and the entire cast is diverse. Gender is also explored and acceptance demonstrated for being true to yourself. The art is great and will attract readers, as will the attractive cover and fully-colored interior. Emails to Dad end every chapter, helping to flesh out the plot and fill in the blanks where comic speech bubbles are not up to the job. With the movie of the classic story freshly out to critical acclaim, there will be a built in readership for this graphic novel. As a great fan of the original, I shied away from this new title. One of my young readers loved it so much and insisted that I buy it for the library and read it myself. I have done both and am so glad that I did! (Thank you, Lucy!) Not quite your grandmother's Little Women, but one that will be enjoyed by today's readers and lovers of graphic novels.

Gold Rush Girl

Gold Rush Girl
Avi
Candlewick, 2020 320 pages
Grades 5-8
Historical Adventure

Fourteen-year-old Victoria (Tory) hates her conventional life. When her father catches "Gold Fever" and choses to take her younger brother on a long boat trip around the horn to the Diggings, Victoria dresses like a boy and stows away on the ship. After many months they arrive in San Francisco and the reality of the chaos that was the Gold Rush becomes apparent. Goods and services are greatly inflated, folks live in tents, and the streets are muddy ruts. Father leaves brother Jacob in Tory's charge with a little cash to survive and a tent to live in and takes off for the Diggings. Tory must learn to keep herself and her brother alive in this untamed city. She continues to dress like a boy and finds a job with a carpenter building houses. Meanwhile, Jacob is bored and lonely. When her brother disappears, Tory realizes her worst fears: he was kidnapped to work as a cabin boy on a ship about to leave port and father is expected back any day. What will happen if he returns and Tory lost her brother? She works with two of her friends to retrieve Jacob, encountering danger, roguish characters, and obstacles. Will Tory retrieve her brother before the ship departs? Will father ever return? What will become of Tory and her friends in this uncivilized place during this crazed time?

Avi is the king of historic adventure. This new title will expose readers to the crazy time of the California Gold Rush. I felt that this book was similar to Avi's Newbery honor winning title, The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, maybe because it featured a spunky female protagonist and spent much of the plot aboard ships. For being a book about the Gold Rush, it should be noted that Tory never actually goes to where folks are digging for gold. The setting is entirely either in Rhode Island, on a ship, or in San Francisco. Life in Gold Rush San Francisco is interesting enough for any book. It is untamed, dirty and populated with desperadoes sick with gold-fever. Readers will enjoy seeing how Tory makes her way in this environment and survives while independently caring for her younger brother. Avi keeps the language appropriate to the time and place and transports the reader to this important chapter in history. The challenges of living within this culture as either a person of color or as a woman is explored, giving readers something further to ponder and discuss. Perfect for historical fiction book reports or simply pleasure reading, this new title will be enjoyed by a variety of readers looking for a good yarn.

Artemis Fowl

Artemis Fowl

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Eoin Colfer
Hyperion/Disney, 2001 270 pages

Grades 4-Up
Fantasy/Adventure
Artemis Fowl series #1

Twelve-year-old Child prodigy, Artemis Fowl, is determined to restore the family fortune. With his father missing and his mother no longer quite right, it is up to him to fix things. Together with his bodyguard "Butler", he travels to Vietnam, where he connects with a damaged sprite, who is willing to trade her Fairy Book for a cure. Artemis manages to translate the Gnommish language to discover the secrets of the magical creatures who have long since disappeared underground. Meanwhile, fairy captain, Holly Short, of the LEPrecon Unit is on a mission in Italy cleaning up when a rogue troll escapes and wreaks havoc, after which she must travel to Ireland to restore her magic. It is here that Artemis kidnaps Captain Short and takes her back to Fowl Manor. Holly's gruff fairy supervisor, Commander Root, is determined to get her back, even if it means coughing up an exorbitant amount of fairy gold. Root tries various tactics to retrieve his agent, including eliciting the help of a ne’er-do-well dwarf, only to fail at every turn. Finally, the mission is taken away from him-with disastrous results. Will Holly ever be rescued? And will Artemis acquire the ways and means to save his home and family?

I love this series and have since it first came out. It ticks a lot of boxes; appealing to lovers of fantasy, as well as kids who don't think they like the genre. Reluctant readers get sucked into the never-stopping action and suspend belief as the fairy agents and boy genius go toe-to-toe. For twenty years kids have been enjoying this series. Now with the movie being released in May (through Disney Plus since theaters are closed due to Covid19) and a new companion series about Artemis' younger brothers titled The Fowl Twins, there is resurging interest in the original book. After re-reading I find that it has indeed stood the test of time and is still as exciting and fresh as it was upon release. The only complaint I have is that the chapters are way too long, but there are plenty of breaks within the chapters where the scene changes to give readers a chance to catch their breaths. Much like a James Bond film with magic thrown in, the action, gadgets, and plot twists are non-stop, making it impossible to put the book down. Gnommish characters run along the bottom of the pages with a key to the alphabet in the back of the volume, which bright kids will enjoy cracking. A great book sure to appeal to a wide range of readers that serves as a great escape to today's troubled world.

Here in the Real World

Here in the Real World
Sara Pennypacker
Balzer & Bray, 2020 320 pages
Grades 3-7
Realist Fiction

Ware is a dreamer. He is often lost in his own world and has trouble relating to other kids. Spending the summer at is Grandmother's retirement community while his parents work extra shifts in order to purchase the house they have been renting, Big Deal (grandma) takes a fall that lands her in the hospital--and then rehab. The summer must now be spent at dreaded Rec camp, where the kids are wild and noisy and the teenage councilors force everyone to participate in sports and cheers. While hiding from the other campers, Ware spots an old church that has been abandoned and investigates further. Here he meets a girl his age named Jolene, who is growing produce to sell. The two kids make a tentative deal: Jolene will work on her garden and Ware will help her out in addition to working on the crumbling church-turning it into a medieval castle. Ware is fascinated with knights and the age of chivalry. As the summer progresses, he continues to skip camp, unbeknownst to his parents, and he and Jolene slowly become friends. A new girl who is interested in nature, joins their crew, adding a new environmental mission to the building. Summer cannot go on forever and foreclosed properties are eventually sold. What will happen to the castle, garden, and fledgling friendship? And what will happen when Ware's parents discover what he really spent his summer doing?

Veteran author, Pennypacker, focuses her attention on the dreamers of the world and helps one in particular to find his place. Being a dreamer can be very lonely, especially if you live with pragmatic parents who don't get you and want you to be more like them. At almost twelve years old Ware finds the courage to walk his own path and discovers his true nature along the way, as well as learning that what makes him different makes him wonderful. For many kids going to camp during the summer is fun. For other kids it is torture. My kids both hated going to Rec camp, but they had no choice since I had to work during the day all summer long. If given the chance, both of my girls would have loved an unstructured summer to dream, meet a like-minded friend, and contribute in a positive way to the greater world. I am sure that many young readers out there feel the same way and will find a kindred spirit in Ware. Pennypacker spins a well-written and entertaining story filled with gentle humor, slight mysteries, some tension, an interesting supporting cast, and lots of character growth. Beyond this, she has layered an environmental message, as well as one of understanding the differences in each other and embracing your true nature. Through the guidance of a kind uncle, Ware realizes that he is not a freak, he is an artist. This revelation changes his entire life and he gains the confidence to follow his path. Also, it is refreshing to see kids exploring life independently and unstructured. Many readers will be inspired-and a little jealous.