The Fabled Stables

The Fabled Stables: Willa the Wisp

Jonathan Auxier

Olga Demidova, Illustrator

Amulet, 2020 89 pages

Grades 2-4

Fantasy

The Fabled Stables series #1

Meet Auggie, a boy with the unique job of caring for the creatures in the Fabled Stables. All of the mythical animals on the island are fantastical and unique. This would be the best job in the world, except Auggie is lonely and longs for a friend. He is the only boy on the island, belonging to the mysterious Professor Cake, and has no one to play with. Auggie attempts to bond with the curmudgeonly magical stick who assists him in his work, but Fen doesn't want to get attached. He then turns to the kind and mysterious Miss Bundt, but she is far too busy. Suddenly, a magical path appears in the stable to a forest and Auggie must get to work. Upon investigation he discovers a baby Willa the Wisp, who is being tracked by hunters. Willa and Auggie find themselves trapped and the situation looks hopeless. Will anyone come to their aid? And if so, can Willa's life be saved beyond the one day life expectancy? And who are these mysterious hunters anyway? All will be revealed in this exciting new series opener.

A writer of longer fantastical stories, Auxier tries his hand at a new chapter book series. This new series is highly illustrated in full color, resembling the Branches line of books and will certainly appeal to new readers. The story is exciting and fast paced. Who wouldn't want to live on an island full of magical creatures? Kids will relate to Auggie's desire for a friend, especially during these days of isolation, and will instantly bond with this likable protagonist. For some reason Auxier's writing always feels British to me, including this series opener, and I'm not quite sure why. The author is Canadian/American, yet writes with a folkloric quality that feels like a story from yesteryear. This story felt a bit like The Little Prince and if it was not for the full color I would believe that it was a classic from long ago. A fine choice for fantasy-loving new chapter book readers, this title will also serve as a great family read-aloud. The attractive book design will ensure that it will find an audience and I am confident that it will circulate well in my library.

The Smartest Kid in the Universe

The Smartest Kid in the Universe
Chris Grabenstein

Penguin, 2020 304 pages

Grades 5-8

Science Fiction/Humor

Jake is the typical student in his middle school: lazy and unmotivated. A new principal seems to prefer the students that way, but why? It turns out that a pirate treasure was buried beneath the school many years before and the principal and her uncle, a real estate tycoon, want the school razed in order to secure the treasure and build a gigantic condominium in its place. The district wants to close and sell one middle school and this seems like perfect timing. Meanwhile, Jake stumbles upon jelly beans at his mother's work place and helps himself. The beans turn out to be a scientific creation by a budding inventor to grant instant intelligence. Suddenly, Jake finds himself the smartest kid in the world. The media instant grabs ahold of him and he becomes famous, drawing the attention of the US federal government. Only the inventor and Jake's best friend know the truth behind his amazing transformation. How long will this gift last? Hopefully long enough to win the state-wide quiz competition and save the middle school. Unfortunately, evil forces are at work and will not give up so easily. Jake's very life becomes endangered. Will he be able to save himself and the day?

Grabenstein is one of those authors, like his sometimes writing partner, James Paterson, who knows what kids like to read. This new book is no exception. The title and cover are sure to attract readers and the clever storyline and characteristic humor will keep them going to the end. The fantasy of being the smartest kid in the universe certainly is a lure and if only there were scientifically formulated jelly beans that could make it so! I know that my book club kids will enjoy this story and there is much to discuss within its pages. Seemingly for entertainment purposes only, Grabenstein includes science, math, and history within the plot, making this book a great choice for schools. Ethical questions are raised as well, adding to the books value. At its heart, though, it is simply a fun read that will attract kids of all genders and abilities. The adults are a mixed bag, some who can be trusted and some who cannot, yet the day is saved by pure kid-power. There are unbelievable elements to the story, yet it never goes fully off the rails and readers will suspend disbelief as they journey along with Jake and his pals. The story ends with a surprising cliff-hanger, hinting at a new adventure and, perhaps, a series. Certain to be a hit, recommended for all middle-grade readers.

Twig and Turtle: Big Move to a Tiny House

Twig and Turtle: Big Move to a Little House
Jennifer Richard Jacobson
Paul Franco, Illustrator
Pixel Ink, 2020 100 pages
Grades 2-4
Realistic Fiction
Twig and Turtle series #1

Its only October and Twig and her little sister Turtle are experiencing their third first day of school. The family decided to simplify by building and moving into a tiny house in a small town in Colorado. While the house was being build they had to stay with Grandma, where Twig fell in puppy-love with her uncle's dog, who was also a new resident. Now Grandma must relocate the dog and Twig wants him for her very own. But how do you fit a great dane into a tiny house? Meanwhile, Twig is having a hard time making friends. It seems that some of the other kids are making fun of her and she sits alone at lunch. Turtle is more outgoing and seems to be having an easier time, but is she really? Twig's teacher recommends her for a before-school social skills club, which sounds horrible. Her parents make her attend, where surprises await. Allies emerge for the campaign to "Save Bo" and a brilliant plan is concocted. Can Twig and her team save Bo before it's too late?

Jacobson ventures into chapter book territory with this new series start. Tiny houses are trending and though I know of a picture book, this is the first work of longer fiction featuring characters who reside in one of which I am aware. Readers will be fascinated about life in the tiny house and the accommodations the family must endure to make it work. Kids will also relate to Twig and her anxieties about change and fitting in and the struggle to gain some control over her life. She proves to be a supportive big sister, loyal friend, and terrific brain-stormer. The quest to "Save Bo" doesn't happen exactly the way Twig planned, but is satisfying all the same. The adults in this book are caring and supportive and help Twig to better fit in and solve her problems. The vocabulary in this chapter book for emerging readers and plot arc are right on target for the audience. Black and white illustrations, sometimes full-paged, are captivating and plentiful. This is a fun and loving family with whom young readers will enjoy spending time. Any family that "hurkle-durks", and "snugabugs" is okay in my book. The second installment in the series Toy Store Trouble was released last month with a third projected for release in the near future.

They Went Left

 

They Went Left
Monica Hesse

Little Brown, 2020 364 pages

Grades 10-Up

Historical Fiction

Zofia is released from a hospital immediately following WWII and into the care of the Russian soldier who rescued her from the concentration camp where she was held a poisoner. Her rescuer takes her back to the Polish town of her youth, only to find it changed and unwelcoming. Her main goal is to find her younger brother: the only family member thought to have survived and much beloved. Abek is not there, yet Zofia learns of a refuge camp in Germany that is likely to be hosting him. Zofia travels by train to the camp, where she is invited to stay as a refugee. After making inquiries about Abek, Zofia gets settled in and makes a few friends. One such friend is set to get married in a matter of days to a fellow refugee and Zofia rediscovers her sewing skills as she helps to prepare the wedding dress. Meanwhile, Yosef, a young man who tends to the horses, catches Zofia's attention. Is she too broken to start a relationship? And will she ever locate her long-lost brother? Dreamy interwoven chapters slowly relate Zofia's experiences in the camps. Is her memory reliable? Will she ever find healing?

What a book! I was reluctant to pick this title up, knowing that it was a holocaust book and not feeling up to THAT topic this year. This book is different from most holocaust books in that it doesn't center on the camps, but traces a survivor's experience after the war ends. This was an interesting perspective and one that is not common in books for young people. I am a big fan of Hesse and read her two previous teen titles. They Went Left is written as carefully and beautifully as the other two. I love the author's work and consider her a great writer. Unfortunately, her books are not as popular with teens, who may not be drawn to historical fiction or have preconceptions about the genre. There are major plot twists and developments-some which I figured out and some which completely surprised me, and I was not sure how the book was going to end. I was most satisfied with the hopeful ending and young readers will be as well. I would not recommend this book to younger teens in that there are sexually explicit scenes. That said, I would suggest it to twenty-somethings, the protagonist being 22 years old in her own right. Another great title from the teen-queen of historical fiction. Give this book to fans of Elizabeth Wein and Ruta Sepetys.

Throwback

Throwback

Peter Lerangis

HarperCollins, 2019 340 pages

Grades 5-8

Contemporary Fantasy

Throwback series #1

Its Halloween and Corey is expected to go to the school dance with his friend Leila. While he waits in her upper west side apartment he thinks he spots his grandfather across the street in Central Park. This wouldn't be too weird-except that Grandpa has been missing for quite some time. Corey learns, quite by accident, that Grandpa is a time traveler and that he is a long-time member of the Knickerbocker Club: a group of individuals who can hop through time or "Throwback". Corey discovers that he shares this ability. By holding metal from a certain time period he can travel to that time in the exact location in which he is standing. Does this mean that he can travel back to September 11, 2001 and save his grandmother from the bombing of the World Trade Center? Grandpa says it's impossible and that he has tried, but Corey is determined to give it a go. After a failed attempt Corey finds himself in 1917, where he gets robbed by a gang and may be forced to stay. Meanwhile, Leila discovers interesting things among her missing great-aunt's belongings. Could she be a throwback as well? Is it truly impossible to change history? Will Corey ever return to the present? All of these questions and more are answered within the pages of this exciting series opener.

I love me a time travel book. In fact, I think it is my favorite genre, although they often make my head hurt--in a delicious way. The interesting questions in my mind when I pick-up a time travel story is: through what means will the characters travel through time and will they be able to change the past? In this case, both questions are answered in a realistic and satisfying way. I fell into this story and found the time travel conceivable. Readers will enjoy the time jumping and will walk away knowing a bit about past New York City, reminiscent of Time and Again, the adult classic by Jack Finney,--light. There is plenty of action, excitement and plot twists to keep readers turning pages. The narrative switches between Corey and Leila's points of view with chapters ending at a cliff-hanger and then switching narration, encouraging readers to plow through the next chapter to pick up where the previous arc left off. The friends are eventually reunited and the world is in no way the same as it was before. The main plot points are neatly sewn up, yet some over-lining mysteries remain, which are sure to be explored in the second installment in the series released this past May. The third is set for a March, 2021 release.

The Magic Fish

 

The Magic Fish

Trung Le Nguyen

Random House Graphic, 2020

229 pages

Grades 6-8

Graphic Novel

Set in the recent past, Tien lives with his immigrant Vietnamese parents as an only child. He and his mother are very close. They go to the library together and select their favorite kinds of books: fairy tales. Back at home, Tien reads out loud, while his mother sews. Three different tales, twists on the familiar stories of Cinderella and The little Mermaid, are shared throughout the book and parallel what is happening in real life. It is not easy fitting in when you are the child of immigrants and to further complicate his situation, Tien has a crush on his friend, Julian. He is afraid of what Julian would do should he find out, and has no idea how to tell his parents that he is Gay; the words simply don't exist in Vietnamese. Meanwhile, the homecoming dance is approaching and Tien's friends want him to go. Will it be weird? And what should he wear? Right before the big dance, Grandmother in Vietnam dies and Mom must return to her birth country to take care of business. While she is gone, school administrators discover Tien's secret and plan on "reconditioning" him. What will Mom say when she comes home and finds out?

Debut graphic novelist, Nguyen, offers a beautiful and unusual coming of tale about a boy's struggles and the tales that shape and color his life. The story is lyrical and quiet, yet moves along at a clip and never lags. Nguyen thoughtfully alternates between purple and pink shading to clue readers into whether we are in the real world or that of the fairy tale. The artwork has a manga sensibility and is ethereal in nature. Empty panels allow the reader to breath in places of emphasis and some illustrations take up multiple panels, adding interest. The story has a lot to say. The characters that count accept Tien for who he is and love him unconditionally. Unfortunately, some of the adult characters are not so accepting. One would hope that this attitude is left in the past, yet hard to say in our current social climate. We also get a glimpse of Tien's parent's harrowing journey, escaping Vietnam on a boat, adding an extra layer to the narrative. Readers will root for Tien and be that much more sensitive to the struggles of others in similar situations. Those that can personally relate to his circumstances, will find companion-ability and inspiration in his successes. A beautiful book, carefully crafted, with some important messages.

Armstrong & Charlie

Armstrong & Charlie

Steven Frank

HMH, 2017

298 pages

Grades 4-8

Historical Fiction

Multiple points of view tell the story of a small group of inner-city Los Angeles sixth graders busing to an all-white elementary school in Laurel Canyon in the 1970's. Charlie is from a progressive Jewish family who is still mourning the death of his older brother a year ago. Even though many of Charlie's friends have been pulled out of the school because of "the changes", Charlie's parent's feel that is important for him to stay. Armstrong lives in a housing project with too many sisters, a hard working mother, and a disabled veteran father with a missing leg and PTSD. His friendship with an elderly neighbor has helped to keep him on the right path and into a handyman business. At first the boys do not trust or like each other, seeing the other guy as a threat. Eventually, a tentative friendship is born. When some of Charlie's former classmates want him to chose between loyalties, he is faced with a tough choice. Can two very different boys from completely different socioeconomic backgrounds find enough in common to become friends? And will the greater world allow the friendship?

An important book written a few years back, set over forty years ago, that still speaks to our present society. It is an excellent choice that I somehow missed when it came out. Set in the 1970's in hippy California, it is clearly part of it's place and time, yet relevant to today's cultural climate. A lot is happening in this story. Charlie's family is recovering from the death of his brother. Armstrong's father is clearly battling PTSD and the family lives in poverty. The elderly neighbor/mentor passes away within the pages of the book, giving Armstrong something in common with his new friend. In fact, the boys discover that they have as much in common as different, a realization that they must share with their suspicious parents. Charlie discovers first love and there is some spin-the-bottle action, but it all remains fairly innocent. Charlie must face moral dilemmas as prejudice stares him right in the face and sometimes the answers are not that easy. The adult figures are prominent in the lives of these children and are both supportive and realistically flawed, yet demonstrate the willingness to walk on the roads with these kids and figure it all out together. All of the characters experience growth and a big graduation scene at the end of the story brings a happy, yet not unrealistically perfect, resolution. This would be a great choice for school use and book discussion. A story set in the past with problems we are still trying to figure out in the present.

Goldie Vance: The Hotel Whodunit

Goldie Vance: The Hotel Whodunit

Lilliam Rivera

Little Brown, 2020

254 pages

Grades 4-8

Mystery

Goldie Vance series #1

Based on the comic series by Hope Larson & Brittney Williams. The irrepressible Goldie gets wind of a major star coming to the Crossed Palms Hotel to film a movie. As an inspiring detective, she immediately offers her services to the head of security, the all-suffering Walter, who is no match for the teenager's tenacity. As a resident of the hotel (Dad is the manager), Goldie is in the perfect position to greet the famous movie star Delphine Walters and makes a connection as she saves Delphine from tripping. Accompanying her new friend to the film-shoot at the Mermaid Club, where Mom works, Goldie catches sight of the very valuable diamond studded swim cap known as "The Bejeweled Aqua Chapeau". Many suspicious characters linger around the set, including a nosy reporter. The power keeps flicking off and the Chapeau is not cooperating, constantly falling off the star's head and interrupting filming. After many stalls and breaks the frustrated director is ready to get back to business, only the precious cap is missing! Who could have taken the Chapeau? Is someone trying to sabotage the set? Goldie is on the case, interviewing suspects and searching for clues. Eventually, the culprit is smoked out and Goldie saves the day, all while making new friends and strengthening the old.

Meet Goldie Vance, amateur detective extraordinaire, Florida native, and all-around likable person. I was unfamiliar with the comic books when I picked up this fictionalized version. I was attracted to the colorful cover and bold looking protagonist. I thought that the series had a STEM connection, Goldie reminding me of Rosie the Riveter. Instead, it is an old-fashion pot-boiler, set in the 1950's in a time before the internet at a glamorous Florida resort. Goldie is older than the intended reader, yet so was Nancy Drew. I loved that Nancy drove a car and had a boyfriend, seeming so sophisticated. Readers will appreciate Goldie's independence as a teenager and be inspired by her confidence. Goldie has a crush on a girl who works at a local record store, yet it all remains innocent and will go over the heads of younger readers. The Chapeau does not go missing for over one-hundred pages, yet the story really requires a lot of set-up and character introduction. Once the mystery gets going, it is fun to try to solve. The answer is getable-with many red-herrings clouding the way forward. Action, eccentric characters, an interesting setting, an old-fashion mystery, and a likable protagonist make this series a winner. The second volume The Hocus-Pocus Hoax is set for a January release.