We Are All So Good at Smiling

We Are All So Good at Smiling
Amber McBride
Feiwel and Friends/Macmillan, 2023
283 pages
Grades 9-Up
Fantasy/Narrative Poetry

Narrative poems trace the account of teenager Whimsy, who begins her story back in the hospital to treat her clinical depression. She is obsessed with fairytales and knows that she is magic. It is with surprise when Whimsy encounters the new resident in her therapy group: a fae boy with hidden wings named Faerry. The two share a connection, through she tries to keep him at arm's length. Upon release the teens are reunited when Faerry moves to Whimsy's neighborhood and they strike up an unlikely friendship. At the end of the street is a forest that draws both teenagers to it, though they are also scared of it. Whimsy hasn't entered the forest since an incident years ago that her family has tried to bury in the past and make her forget. Of course they go into the forest to face the past that is calling to them. Once inside they enter a magic garden and meet Sorrow, as well as other fairytale characters. It is up to Whimsy and Faerry to outsmart Sorrow and follow the quest along the Yellow Brick Road in order to encounter the truth of their shared past and find peace and healing.

This is the sophomore effort of the author of Me (Moth), a title from 2021 which was critically acclaimed. McBride crafts another work of art, still within the themes of depression and overcoming trauma, yet now within the framework of fairytales. I personally love fairytales and enjoy seeing traditional characters reworked in new settings and situations. The fairytale elements serve as metaphors and honestly sometimes went over my head. It is never entirely clear if the story was fully what happened or part of the main character's mental illness, though it doesn't really matter. Much like Dorothy's trip to Oz, the point is the journey, the people encountered and lessons learned along the way. The writing is startling beautiful and I reread certain passages to savor them longer. I think that this book, though wonderfully crafted, will prove to be a bit artsy for the target audience, who may not have a background in fairytales or the patience to to savor the writing. That said, it reads quickly and never strays from the basic plot or swirly dark mood. Reminiscent of Neil Gaiman's work, the best audience is nerdy adults. Information and resources for clinical depression, a glossary of fairy tale characters, brief summaries of the stories referenced, and--best of all--a playlist are included at the end of the volume. A lovely and moving book that may have to work to find it's readership.

The Area 51 Files

The Area 51 Files
Julie Buxbaum
Delacorte, 2022
289 pages
Grades 2-6
Science Fiction/Humor/Mystery

The Area 51 Files series #1

Sky Patel-Baum must leave her California home and move out to the desert and in with an uncle, who she has never met, when her grandmother moves to a retirement community. This is no ordinary desert town. There is high security and Sky learns that she will NEVER be allowed to leave. Yikes! The reason for all of the secrecy is that Area 51 is the only place in the world housing real aliens and their existence must remain unknown to the rest of the world for privacy and safety reasons. With only Spike, her pet hedgehog, for company Sky is not sure what she is getting into. Luckily, right off the bat she meets a friendly next door neighbor, who also happens to be an alien. She and Elvis are instant friends and he shows her the ropes. There are many "breakthroughs" or aliens in Area 51 and they all present themselves in different ways. School is an interesting endeavor with all of the different species and non-traditional subjects to study. When a group of Zdstrammars turn up missing (coincidentally the same moment as Sky's arrive) fingers point to Sky's Uncle Anish. Sky is pretty sure that her uncle is innocent. It is up to Elvis and Sky to get to the bottom of the mystery and find the missing aliens. Danger lurks behind every corner and helps comes from unexpected places. Do the new friends have what it takes to save the day?

This is a new series that is already proving to be popular with young readers. Heavily illustrated with comic drawings by Lavanya Naidu, the format will appeal to the Wimpy Kid crew. What sets the illustrations slightly above the norm is that they participate in moving the plot forward and are an integral part of the story and not just reader eye candy. Reluctant readers will have no trouble plowing through the 289 pages and find much to enjoy. The alien premise is interesting and original. There is a lot of humor infused throughout the book and a few gross jokes, groaning puns, and low-hanging fruit. The rollicking plot will encourage kids to keep turning pages, as they try to figure out who is the culprit. The mystery is get-able and kids will pat themselves on the back once they figure it out. The characters are likable and readers will learn from them not to judge based on appearances, give new people a chance, and to be kind to each other. Sky and Elvis pick up an unexpected new friend along the way who was formally an enemy, demonstrating the power of second chances. After the mystery is wrapped up the author throws in a coda cliff-hanger, leading readers straight to the second installment in the series, The Big Flush, which is already available.

Control Freaks

Control Freaks
J.E. Thomas
Levine Querido, 2023
297 pages
Grades 4-7
Realistic Fiction

Multiple first person narrations tell the story of a week in the life of an advanced STEAM oriented magnet middle school made up of super-high achievers. Principal Yee announces a weeklong STEAM competition and the students are stoked!  Not so much when they realize that they must break into teams, which gets complicated. Out main hero, Frederick Douglas Zezzmer (Doug), knows that he MUST win this competition. He needs to go to GadgetCon this summer to perfect his skills at inventing, but needs the principals endorsement in order to be accepted. To make matters more complicated, Doug's biological father is back on the scene and insisting that he participate in an intense summer sports program of which he has no interest. The other misfit members of Doug's team (TravLiUeyPadgeyZezz) have their own reasons for wanting to win and the need to prove themselves. We see the points of view of the other members of the team, plus that of the principal, Doug's sportster step-brother, as well as other characters to round out the story. Because of family pressures, Doug makes a bad decision with terrible consequences. The competition rolls along with surprising, and sometimes hilarious, results and ends just where it should with all participants changing for the better.

This is a perfect story for high-reaching kids, who will find much to relate to in the characters within the pages--and wish that they could go to a school like Benjamin Banneker College Prep. The competition provides a framework for the character development and subplots involving the individual situations of the students. Readers will see that every family is complicated, problems can be worked out in time, don't give up on making a friend, and we all have something within us that makes us special. Oh-and cheating is bad. They will also see that grown-ups are human (including principals) and even though we don't always have everything figured out, we love our kids. The first person multiple points of view are all written distinctly with labeled characters at the chapter heads in order to know who is speaking. I was never confused and enjoyed the changing perspectives. The book runs long, but stays interesting and kept me going until the end. The story doesn't read as entirely realistic (for one thing there aren't enough teachers present), but kids won't care and will enjoy the simplified proceedings. Readers will eagerly watch the competition play out and cheer for the misfit team. The real prize is friendship, which our heroes all come out as winners. A fun story with something to say that may help overachievers see themselves and encourage them to take a breath.

Ranger in Time: Rescue on the Oregon Trail

Ranger in Time: Rescue on the Oregon Trail

Kate Messner

Scholastic, 2015

125 pages

Grades 2-5

Historical Fiction/Animal/Fantasy

Ranger in Time series #1

Alternating points of view tell the tale of a time traveling dog and the boy he comes to love-if only temporarily. Ranger the Golden Retriever loves his life with Luke. He may have flunked out of Search & Rescue school because of his squirrel chasing habit, but his family loves him just the same. One sunny summer afternoon, Ranger uncovers an old first aid kit. The kits seems to shine brightly. Before Ranger knows it, he is back in time on the Oregon Trail. He gets involved in a search and rescue mission to find a three-year-old girl. Success! After locating Amelia, he bonds with his new friend's older brother Sam and decides to accompany the family until he can return to present day--and Luke. Life on the trail in 1850 is tough and everything happens to this group of settlers. They encounter buffalo stampedes, disease, near drownings, poisonous snakes, and death.  New friends are made along the way and good-byes exchanged when folks part ways. Through it all, Ranger never leaves Sam's side, saving the day on more than one occasion. Will Ranger ever return to his own time and Luke or is he destined to stay with this new family in the deep past?

The first in a popular series written by an eclectic children's author, this series works double duty. It serves as a great choice for historical fiction book reports for kids who are not strong readers, as well as offering an alternative to Puppy Place for dog lovers. Best of all, it involves time travel, which is always fun. The reading level is perfect for kids new to chapter books with a large font, short chapters and generous margins. There is a full-page black and white illustration per chapter that will keep kids moving along. This inaugural adventure feels almost like playing the classic Oregon Trail game. The family starts out packing up, hits the trail, and must make choices and avoid troubles. Literally everything happens to these people from almost fatal river crossings to cholera (alas, not dysentery). The adventure will further suck kids in and other tales featuring Ranger will bring them to Pearl Harbor, Ancient Rome, and Hurricane Katrina among other pivotal moments in world history. The alternating points of view give readers a glimpse into the dog's thought process and move from one to the other seamlessly. Perfect for reluctant readers, this is a great suggestion for kids not quite ready for I Survived by finished with Magic Treehouse. An author's note offering factual information, source notes and a bibliography round out the volume.

Mexikid

Mexikid
Pedro Martin
Dial, 2023

309 pages
Grades 3-6
Graphic Memoir

Meet Pedro-or Peter-depending on where he is. Pedro is of Mexican heritage with immigrant parents, but was born in the US where he goes to school, watches TV, reads comics, and collects dolls (ahem, action figures). Pedro, his parents, and his eight brothers and sisters are squished into a small California house in the middle of the 1970's. Now Abuelo must move in, but where will they put him? Abuelo is super old and took part in the Mexican Revolution, so he is a tough guy. Pedro's family hops into the camper van and travels down to Abuelo's Mexican town to bring him back stateside. Abuelo has many loose ends to tie up, including relocating his late-wife's body after the cemetery floods. The older kids travel in the family's pickup truck and enjoy a bit of freedom. Pedro is stuck in the camper with his parents, boring food, and three rambunctious brothers. Is there a way for Pedro to make a name for himself within his busy family besides being "the round one"? Towards the end of the story a situation presents itself to help make Pedro shine, but is he up for the challenge? Will his family ever take him seriously?

Martin, a long time graphic artist, finally breaks through to children's graphic novels in this hilarious full-color debut. The 1970's setting is fully realized and I related to the story even though I grew up on the other coast in a much different household. Cultural references, such as Happy Days and the Fronz, will go over contemporary children's heads. Kids in big families will relate (do we still have those?) and those without will wish they were part of this unruly mob. There are a lot of characters, but a helpful guide at the beginning tells us who is who. The artist helpfully gives our hero a bad haircut early on in the novel, which helps him stand out. As one would expect from a book featuring a Mexican family, many words are spoken in Spanish. Martin adds clues when the character is speaking in Spanish (but leaves the words in English) or leaves translated footnotes at the bottom of the page. Will the 1970's setting put off today's tech savvy readers? Maybe, but readers will appreciate the freedom and danger afforded Pedro and his siblings. These young boys hang out alone on the top of the camper, set off fireworks, and eat copious amount of junk food. There are many gross-out bits that will appeal to the target audience, but may put some parents off. Actual photos at the end of the volume show the reader the whole cast of characters and lend authenticity to the proceedings. At times laugh-aloud funny, kids will both relate to Pedro and be entertained by the outrageousness of his family and times. And any author that can slip in Shipoopi (a past favorite ditty in my household) in a winner in my book!

The Puppets of Spelhorst

The Puppets of Spelhorst
Kate DiCamillo
Candlewick, 2023
149 pages
Grades 2-5
Fantasy

Written in a series of acts, this is the story of a trunk of puppets and the lives they touch. A long time ago an old sea captain at the end of his life spots some puppets in a toy store window and one of them remind him of past regrets. He purchases the lot and takes them back to his small room. At night we hear the conversations of the various puppets: a king, a wolf, an owl, a girl, and a boy, as they try to make sense of their world. A series of events takes them to the home of two girls, where the puppet's adventures continue and the girls become inspired to create a show. They perform this show for a special audience to great acclaim. Lives are touched by the message of the theatrical, bringing the tale back to the beginning. One participant becomes inspired to make a serious change, leading the puppets on yet another chapter of their adventurous lives.

This is a sweet and simple story set in the past and told within the framework of an old tale. In typical DiCamillo fashion, not one word is wasted, yet much is conveyed. The main themes of the story are living your life to your full potential with no regrets and to put love first. Similar in format to the author's The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, the reader experiences the events through the eyes of puppets, who can feel and have personalities, even though they need human hands and voices to make them work. Placing the plot within acts gives the story the mood of an actual puppetshow and adds dimension to the story. Haunting pencil illustrations by Julie Morstad give the tale an extra layer of depth and convey the final thought at the end of the tale. I personally am a fan of puppets, believe in the power of story and performance, and love DiCamillo's writing style, making this one of my favorite books of the year. Will it resonate with kids? I don't know that they will read it on their own. That said, it would serve as a great read aloud for a classroom or a family. A beautiful story for a cold winter's night that is sure to touch many hearts and will invite kids to look at their beloved toys a bit sideways.

Something Like Home

Something Like Home

Andrea Beatriz Arango

Random House, 2023

246 pages

Grades 4-6

Realistic Fiction/Narrative Poetry

Laura's life blew up when she called 911 to report her parent's nonresponse condition. Now they are stuck in drug rehab and she is stuck living with an aunt she never met. Laura must start a new school, where she hopes that no one finds out about her situation. Titi Silvia is not easy to live with. She is a doctor at a hospital and works unusual hours. Titi has a lot of rules and is not very huggy or seemingly happy to have her niece living with her. Where was she all of those years when Laura and her parents were struggling financially? After a bumpy start at school, Laura finally makes a friend. Benson is kind and a great listener, but he has a secret just like Laura and really could also use a friend right now. One afternoon after school Laura finds a puppy left out to die and brings him home. Puppy Sparrow changes Laura's life by giving her something to love who loves her back unconditionally. Laura gets a great idea: if she trains Sparrow to be a therapy dog they can go to the rehab center where Mami and Papi are and visit. Of course the plan does not go as planned and Laura must, with the help of an understanding therapist, learn how to forge ahead with her life as it is now.

Laura's story, told through narrative poetry, is much like the author's Newbery honor winning book this year Iveliz Explains it All in that it is written in the same format, features a Puerto Rican protagonist and has it's main character working through a big life-changing problem. Laura learns how to adjust to her new life and let go of the guilt behind that 911 call with the help of her therapist and understanding family and friends--and of course a wonderful canine companion. This is a book with a lot to say. Readers learn about the dangers of drug addiction, dysfunctional families, sickle cell, and the therapy dog certification process. Representation happens in the form of race and gender and Laura's family's heritage is an integral part of the story. I love that the author demonstrates that families come in all shapes and sizes. Having been personally touched by drug addiction in my own family, I know what it can do to the children left behind and also know that other family members can step in and create an unconventional, yet just as powerful, unit. Because of the format this book reads quickly. It is the perfect choice for kids who are always looking for suggestions after reading Out of My Mind or Front Desk. The story ends predictably neatly with a message of hope, which will satisfy the target audience.

The Lost Year

The Lost Year
Katherine Marsh
Roaring Brook Press, 2023
338 pages
Grades 5-8
Historical Fiction

Three narrators tell the story of three cousins during the 1930's experiencing famine in Ukraine in different ways. Matthew is our main narrator who pulls all of the stories together. He is stuck sheltering in place during the early days of the COVID pandemic with his mother and elderly great-grandmother. Matthew misses his father, who is trapped in Paris, very much and is struggling with the isolation. Conversations with GG, his ninety-nine year old great-grandmother, lead to her sharing the story of her past. We slowly hear the tales of the three cousins. Helen lives in Brooklyn with her Ukrainian immigrant parents. A letter from a Ukrainian cousin, who she has never heard of, alerts her to the struggles of Ukrainian farmers suffering from hunger at the hands of the Soviets. Nadiya is the starving cousin. After the death of her mother and brothers, she travels to the city to find another brother of her father's who may be able to help. This uncle is a Soviet higher-up and is the only family to whom she can turn. Mila is the Soviet official's daughter. She has lead a sheltered and privileged life in Kiev and is shocked when a cousin of whom she has never heard lands on her doorstep starving. She is even more shocked when her beloved father sends the cousin away. Mila is determined to help, even if doing so is dangerous and leads to deadly consequences. Matthew pulls together all of the strands of his family history's braid to create a tale, offering truth and solace to his beloved GG.

This National Book Award nominee is a true winner. Historical fiction at it's best, it explores a lesser-known chapter of world history, the Holodomor-or great Ukrainian famine of the 1930's, while still offering a thrilling story. Marsh further draws in a contemporary audience by telling the tale through the eyes of a contemporary boy living through the pandemic, which is history in the making. I love that Matthew lives in a nearby town to where I work in New Jersey, further making the book relatable to my young readers. The different narrators and time periods are always made clear at the start of the chapters and I was never confused as to where we were or who was talking. The plot is compelling and readers will be at the edge of their seats. Dangers lurks behind many corners and there is a huge twist to the plot that completely took me unawares. The author includes historical information at the end of the volume, including her own family history, that will plug readers into the fact behind the fiction. This book was a little long for me, but it reads quickly and I couldn't wait to get back to it. Marsh does not waste words, but is very intentional in her writing. A perfect fit with contemporary events, young people will see that history can repeat itself and this volume offers a cautionary tale to pay attention to the past. Another plus: kids may be encouraged to talk to their own relatives about their stories and write down the histories. A true gem of a book with many relevant connections.

The Apartment House on Poppy Hill

The Apartment House on Poppy Hill

Nina LaCour

Sonia Albert, Illustrator

Chronicle, 2023

128 pages

Grades 2-5

Realistic Fiction

Three separate, yet connected, stories describe life in an apartment house on a hilly street in San Francisco. Ella has lived at 1106 Wildflower Place her whole life, so when new tenants move into one of the five apartments, she is ready to help. Who better to tell them the rules of the garden, show them around, describe the glitches in their oven and lights, and warn them of the strange noise coming from the apartment across the hall every evening at sunset. Eventually the reader gets to know the other neighbors: the eccentric tea drinking Matilda, the busy dog-loving newly married couple Jacques and Merland, and Ella's moms Abby and Livy. The neighbors the reader does not get to know are the Robinsons, the mysterious recluses who live on the top floor. In fact Ella has never seen them, though not from lack of trying, and evidence of their presence can be found from their marvelous roses in the garden to their mail disappearing. Finally, one fateful day, Ella gets an invitation to the top floor. She will finally get to meet the mysterious neighbors. What will they be like?

Printz winning teen author, LaCour tries her hand at a chapter book in this departure from her usual style. Ella is a likable and jaunty protagonist, who is sure to resonate with readers. She is blessed with a need to be helpful and a can-do attitude. The book never strays from the apartment house setting and the reader gets the impression that it is Ella's whole world. I like that LaCour has included queer characters naturally as part of Ella's world and not as a big issue of the story. The simple conflicts arise from interactions with Ella and her family, both her actual family and her larger apartment family. The identity of the mystery neighbors was a fun plotline and added a bit of drama. It is nice to see a book that includes friendships across generations, though I would have liked to see Ella interact of talk of at least one other child. The design of the story will serve new chapter book readers well with large font size and margins and plenty of cheerful illustrations. There is nothing too overwhelming about this book and children will enjoy the cozy easy read. I can see more adventures for Ella and her gang ahead. Maybe then she will make a friend her own age.