THE LAST HEIR TO BLACKWOOD LIBRARY by Hester Fox

 

The Last Heir to Blackwood Library by Hester Fox

Mystery, Ghosts, Gothic, Romance
Grade 8 and up

2023; 331 pages

Description

"With the stroke of a pen, twenty-three-year-old Ivy Radcliffe becomes Lady Hayworth, owner of a sprawling estate on the Yorkshire moors. Ivy has never heard of Blackwood Abbey, or of the ancient bloodline from which she's descended. With nothing to keep her in London since losing her brother in the Great War, she warily makes her way to her new home. The abbey is foreboding, the servants reserved and suspicious. But there is a treasure waiting behind locked doors: a magnificent library. Despite cryptic warnings from the staff, Ivy feels irresistibly drawn to its dusty shelves, where familiar works mingle with strange, esoteric texts. And she senses something else in the library too, a presence that seems to have a will of its own. Rumors swirl in the village about the abbey's previous owners, about ghosts and curses, and an enigmatic manuscript at the center of it all. And as events grow more sinister, it will be up to Ivy to uncover the library's mysteries in order to reclaim her own story--before it vanishes forever"--Provided by publisher.

My Comments

A great, shivery, gothic, romantic story. Highly recommended for a fun high school read.

SIMON SORT OF SAYS by Erin Bow

 

Simon Sort of Says by Erin Bow

Realistic Fiction, Mental Health, Grief, PTSD, Humor

2023; 305 pages

Newbery Honor

Description

Booklist (March 15, 2023 (Online))

"Grades 5-8. Author of Stand on the Sky (2019) Bow delivers another middle-grade page turner. Seventh-grader Simon O’Keefe moves with his parents to the small town of Grin And Bear It, Nebraska. Hoping to help their son forget a traumatic event, his dad, a Catholic deacon (and sackbut player), and mom, an undertaker, help Simon adjust. Though the townspeople are thirsty to find out more about the O’Keefes, Simon wants to get through the school year by remaining incognito. That plan becomes moot when he befriends a girl named Agate and a boy named Kevin. All seems normal until the reason for the O'Keefes' move is exposed, causing anxieties to flare in Simon that result in conflicts among the trio. Bow diffuses the story's serious topics, ranging from parental and social issues to mental and emotional health, with humor and a silly scheme. Middle-grade students will resonate with the worries and pressures attached to making friends and meeting one another’s families. A tale of healing that serves as an excellent reminder to never assume we know what plights another friend is going through."

My Comments

This is a tough subject but author, Bow skillfully entwines trauma with humor and suspense. Unfortunately, school violence can be too close to home these days, so the topic won't be a surprise to students no matter how much we want to protect them. Most young people can relate to Simon's insecurities about being the new kid and making a place for himself. In that way, Bow helps the reader be sensitive to the fact that families may be dealing with more than meets the eye.

THE EYES & THE IMPOSSIBLE by Dave Eggers

 

The Eyes and the Impossible by Dave Eggers

Fantasy, Animals, Adventure, Friendship

2023; 249 pages

Description

Booklist starred (February 15, 2023 (Vol. 119, No. 12))

Grades 4-7. Johannes has always lived his life as a free dog in a vast park by the sea. Three captive elderly bison are the Keepers of the Equilibrium and overseers of the land, and they’ve dubbed Johannes “the Eyes,” as his agility and observant gaze allow him to notice the park’s happenings and report back to the bison. An assortment of wild animals assists Johannes on his daily intel gatherings, and he’s content in his dear friendships and freedom. But change is afoot: an enormous building containing mesmerizing rectangles is being built, a herd of mysterious creatures has set up shop in a field, and a heroic act brings Johannes intense human scrutiny that impedes his duties as the Eyes. It will require all of Johannes’ ingenuity, kindness, and speed to navigate the new developments while maintaining his precious independence. The utterly delightful book is narrated by a distinctly canine voice similar to the narrator’s in Eggers’ short story “After I Was Thrown in the River and Before I Drowned,” and though Johannes is prone to matter-of-fact bragging and hilarious exaggeration, he’s also capable of profound introspection and appreciation of life’s wonders. Eggers touches on deep topics with a light hand, effortlessly building suspense and a wonderful sense of adventure. A merry reminder to face the truth about the world and ourselves with compassion, curiosity, and joy.

My Comments

One of the BEST books I've ever read. Johannes is the embodiment of joy, curiosity, passion, creativity, and loyalty. He is pure love and innocence. There are so many wonderful parts, but one special thread is his obsession with artwork. He becomes hypnotized whenever he looks at the rectangles in the park and new museum (his word for artwork). The story is heart wrenching, but thankfully the plot ends with an unexpected new opportunity. This would be a special read aloud for elementary level kids and a magical read for ALL ages. A wonderful gift. I am still under the spell. Sequel, please!

I AM THE WALRUS N.O.A.H. Files (Book 1) by Neal Shusterman and Eric Elfman

 

I Am the Walrus by Neal Shusterman and Eric Elfman

Science Fiction, Humor, Animal Defenses Fiction, Genetic Engineering Fiction, Survival, Alien Contact

2023; 392 pages

Description
Horn Book Magazine (March/April, 2023)
Fourteen-year-old Noah Prime is late for school and collides with classmate Sahara on his way in, although he can’t remember how it happened. But that’s not the only strange thing that happens that week. He suddenly freezes up and topples over when confronted by bullies, embarrasses himself on the dance floor with Sahara, and performs a difficult gymnastics routine with ease on the first try. Noah’s best friend, Ogden, gradually works out that when Noah is stressed, he exhibits the defense mechanisms of various animals: bird, possum, penguin, chimpanzee, and -- when he is accidentally trapped with Sahara in a refrigerated meat locker -- walrus. Early in the novel, the reader is given teasing glimpses into further mysteries. A boy named Noah Tercero is captured and killed in Argentina, as is Noah Secundus in England. Do they have similar abilities? And does the same fate await Noah Prime -- or can he figure things out with the help of Ogden and Sahara? With brisk pacing, offbeat humor, and endearingly quirky characters, the plot grows more outlandish with each chapter, which is perhaps fitting for a book whose title alludes to a famously nonsensical Beatles song. Shusterman and Elfman (co-authors of the Accelerati trilogy) deliver the goods in this entertaining science fiction romp, leaving readers eager for the next installment. Jonathan Hunt March/April 2023 p.80

My Comments
Still reading!

ALEBRIJES by Donna Barba Higuera

 

Alebrijes by Adonna Barba Higuera

Dystopian, Science Fiction, Fantasy and Magic, Survival, Hispanic-Latino

2023; 404 pages

Description

Booklist starred (August 2023 (Vol. 119, No. 22))
Grades 5-8. Upon a desolate Earth, an enclave of humans has established a society amid hostile surroundings, including a wyrmfield inhabited by subterranean monsters straight out of Tremors. A harsh caste system has landed orphaned 13-year-old Leandro and his little sister, Gabi, in the Pox (Pocatel’s slum) with the other Cascabeles, who work the potato fields each day under the watchful eye of the Pocatelan guards. Longing for a better life, Leandro has planned an escape, but everything is ruined when he is arrested for stealing and sentenced to three years’ exile. Curiously, it will only be his mind that is held captive—uploaded into a tiny piece of Old-World tech called a spark. The physician performing the procedure secretly offers Leandro a deal in which she will place his spark into a hummingbird drone if he will search for her missing daughter, who is also in drone form. He accepts, knowing he and Gabi can leave Pocatel should he succeed. The high-stakes adventure awaiting Hummingbird Leandro is enthralling and studded with surprises that spur the narrative onward. Beautiful, imaginative writing fills this dystopian sf novel. Though it exposes cruelty and corruption, it raises up storytelling, culture, and kindness as stronger yet, giving a satisfying nod to Higuera’s Newbery Award–winning The Last Cuentista (2021) in the process. A wondrous addition to any collection.

My Comments

Still reading!

WINGS OF FIRE (Series) by Tui Sutherland

 

Wings of Fire (Series - 15 Books)

The Dragonet Prophecy (Book 1) by Tui Sutherland

Fantasy, Dragons, Survival, Adventure, Friendship, Courage

Text and Graphic Novel formats

2012; 304 pages

Description

Booklist (May 15, 2012 (Vol. 108, No. 18))

Grades 4-7. One stormy night on an island of warring dragon tribes, five eggs from five separate tribes are stolen from their nests. The eggs hatch in a secret location, and the dragonets are raised to fulfill a destiny they neither understand nor wish to face. They tire of the secrecy that has dictated their lives at the behest of the shadowy organization the Talons of Peace, and they look for any opportunity to break free. When that opportunity finally comes, it has ramifications they could never possibly imagine. As the first title in a multiple volume series, this gets down to the business of introducing readers to the key players in what is set to be an epic saga. While a lot happens in this first book, Sutherland has taken time to flesh out the characters and make each vital to the story, rather than simply overwhelming in their numbers. Dramatic battle scenes, double-crosses, and one seriously deranged queen makes Wings of Fire a series that should have broad appeal for middle-grade fantasy fans.

My Comments

I am hooked! Literally binge listening and reading to this series. Absolutely wonderful. Good for upper elementary (there are some really mean dragons and some violence), but the little dragonets offer counterpoints of peaceful resolution to conflict, loyalty, kindness, and bravery. A winner for kids (and adults like me) who like dragons and action!

CITY SPIES (Series) by James Ponti

 

City Spies (Book 1-Series) by James Ponti
Spies Fiction, Adventure, Foster Children, Relationship Skills

2020; 378 pages

Description
Booklist (December 15, 2019 (Vol. 116, No. 8))
Grades 4-7. Caught hacking into the NYC juvenile justice system's computers, 12-year-old Sara Martinez faces years in detention centers, but a British secret agent rescues her and takes her to Scotland. There she joins his small, top-secret team of gifted young spies, each recruited from a different continent. Sara, renamed Brooklyn, trains with Paris, Rio, Kat, and Sydney for a few short weeks before joining the team for a mission in Paris. They are realistically wary of their newest member until she earns their trust. Working undercover as students attending a summit on the environment, they plan to break into a secret research facility and outwit an evil genius. A television writer and producer as well as the author of Framed (2016) and its sequels, Ponti writes a well-paced story laced with suspense, wit, and entertaining dialogue. Events unfold within colorful Parisian settings that include the Eiffel Tower, the Catacombs, and a deceptively shabby-looking hotel run by British Intelligence. Laying the groundwork for a new series, this brisk adventure features mysteries, intrigues, and five clever young heroes.

My Comments
High action, page-turner. A lot of fun interlaced with introspection and emotional growth. This is not a difficult read although almost 400 pages.

REZ DOGS by Joseph Bruchac

 

Rez Dogs by Joseph Bruchac

Realistic Fiction, Native Americans, Abenaki Indians, COVID-19, Dogs, Grandparents, Novels in Verse

2021;184 pages

Description

Horn Book Magazine (September/October, 2021)
In this verse novel, Malian, a Penacook girl, is visiting her grandparents on the Penacook reservation when shelter-in-place orders are given due to COVID-19. Malian misses her parents and friends, but she spends time with a dog that has mysteriously appeared, and she enjoys listening to her grandparents' retellings of traditional stories. They also tell her about some of the more difficult parts of their history that have affected their nation, such as boarding schools and forced sterilizations, all touched on by Bruchac (Peacemaker, rev. 7/21) in an accessible and age-appropriate way. Ultimately, Malian's grandparents remind her that their people have survived pandemics before, through caring for one another. Young readers will be able to understand Malian's situation, including technological struggles in connecting to her remote classroom. The book's ending -- in which Malian waits eagerly but with mixed emotions for her parents to pick her up -- raises relatable questions of home, friendship, and belonging. Nicholl Denice Montgomery September/October 2021 p.90

My Comments

Upper elementary-middle school. A gentle story that keeps moving despite the quiet life on the Reservation during COVID. The grandparents' stories, the dog, remote school, and Malian's Penacook friends add richness to this deceptively simple book. This is the kind of story that stays with you.

LIA AND BECKETT'S ABRACADABRA by Amy Noelle Parks

 

Lia and Beckett's Abracadabra by Amy Noelle Parks

Realistic Fiction, Romantic Comedy, Magicians

2022; 296 pages

Description

Kirkus Reviews starred (May 15, 2022)

Two teens from rival families fall for each other during a stage-magic competition. Seventeen-year-old Lia Sawyer has just dumped her latest short-lived boyfriend when her eccentric Grandma Matilda, who has been missing, invites her and her older sister, Emma, to compete in a summerlong contest in Mirror Lake, Wisconsin, a lakefront resort town known for its magic shows and as the headquarters of the Society of American Conjurers. Her first day there, Lia has a meet-cute with Beckett Blackwell, the handsome, college-bound grandson of Henry Blackwell, a legendary local magician who’s also Matilda’s first husband and former stage partner. Despite their instant chemistry, the two must balance their attraction with their individual desires to win. The romance sizzles with slow-burn longing. The story also explores the sexist nature of the male-dominated magic industry that historically relegated women to being glamorously outfitted assistants in ways that will be interesting even to those unfamiliar with the culture of this community. Lia is a clever and delightful protagonist, and Beckett is a brooding and selfless love interest. The author crafts captivating descriptions of the various magic acts and ensures that even the supporting characters have fleshed-out storylines. Most characters are White; Beckett’s mother is from India. An enchanting enemies-to-lovers romance. (Romance. 12-18)

My Comments

Fun romance! An interesting look into the magic industry and magic tricks.  Appropriate for middle schoolers as well a good bet for high schoolers looking for a light read.

PERSEPOLIS by Marjane Satrapi

 

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

Graphic Novel, Autobiography, Iran, Iranian Revolution 1979, High School

2000-2003

Description

 Persepolis is the story of Satrapi's unforgettable childhood and coming of age within a large and loving family in Tehran during the Islamic Revolution; of the contradictions between private and public life in a country plagued by political upheaval; of her high school years in Vienna, facing the trials of adolescence far from her family; of her homecoming--both sweet and terrible; and, finally, of her self-imposed exile from her beloved homeland. It is the chronicle of a girlhood and adolescence at once outrageous and familiar, a young life entwined with the history of her country yet filled with the universal trials and joys of growing up.

Edgy, searingly observant, and candid, often heartbreaking but threaded throughout with raw humor and hard-earned wisdom, Persepolis is "a dazzling singular achievement" (Salon) from one of the most highly regarded, uniquely talented graphic artists at work today. (The publisher)

My Comments

A powerful and engaging historical perspective on the Islamic Revolution. A classic.

CLUES TO THE UNIVERSE by Christina Li

Clues to the Universe by Christina Li

Realistic Fiction, Astronauts & Space, Comic Books, Art, Friendship

292 pages

Description

School Library Journal (January 1, 2021)

Gr 4-7-Twelve-year-olds Ro and Benji are both having a rough start to the school year. Ro's father recently died, and her mother can no longer afford her private school tuition. Transferring to a school where she knows no one proves difficult, and overhearing conversations of students trying to guess her biracial ethnicity (she is white and Chinese) is painful. Benji, who is white, is lonely and aimless because his best friend, Amir, moved across the country. When Ro and Benji begin working on a science fair project together, an unlikely friendship is formed. While the two are very different in terms of personality and interests, they bond over the shared experience of not having a father. The combination of Ro's aptitude for science and logic and Benji's artistic talents and laid-back personality results in a good team. Soon the two are working on more than a science fair project. They are helping each other fulfill a dream that will bring them closer to their absent fathers-building the rocket Ro and her dad were going to work on together and tracking down Benji's comic book creator father. Since the story is set in the 1980s, before use of the internet was widespread, finding Benji's father is no easy task. The novel feels contemporary, so the setting may be somewhat confusing for readers who don't understand the technological limitations. Ro and Benji alternate narration, which helps the reader see their evolving perspectives of each other and provides a mechanism for telling their backstories. The book would have benefited from a stronger distinction between the two voices, though a heading at the beginning of each chapter indicates which character is speaking. It is refreshing to see a strong friendship between female and male characters depicted in a middle grade novel; it's the authenticity of this relationship that drives the heart of the story. VERDICT The message of resilience, courage, and friendship will resonate widely with young readers. Themes touched on include grief, fears, bullying, and identity, making the work highly discussable and a good candidate for classroom use.-Juliet Morefield, Multnomah Cty. Lib., Portland, OR © Copyright 2021. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

My Comments
Intriguing and creative. I think it could have been a bit shorter, but still a wonderful story. Grade 4-5 seems a bit young.

 

CHASING VERMEER by Blue Balliett

Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett

Mystery, Art, Math

254 pages

Description

Kirkus Reviews starred (May 15, 2004)

Art, intrigue, and plenty of twists and turns make this art mystery a great read. Petra Andalee and Calder Pillay set out to find the connection between their teacher (a freewheeling constructivist teacher), the eccentric woman in their neighborhood, the bookstore owner, and an international art thief. Balliett intersperses fascinating information about Johannes Vermeer and his paintings throughout the two friends' quest to solve the mystery-a mystery layered with pentominoes (a mathematical tool consisting of 12 pieces), puzzling clues, and suspicious strangers. Helquist's detailed black-and-white chapter illustrations hold hidden messages, clues related to the pentominoes, and more puzzles. Fans of E.L. Konigsburg's From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler or Ellen Raskin's The Westing Game will find equal pleasure in this debut by a talented writer. (Fiction. 11-14)

 My Comments
Timeless, fun, quick-paced mystery. It would be great to pair this with a biography of Vermeer as well as a book of his paintings. A good choice for sixth graders.

THE GILDED ONES by Namina Forma

 The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna

Fantasy, Human Rights, Women's Issues, Women Soldiers, Mythical Creatures, High School

418 pages

Description

Booklist starred (December 1, 2020 (Vol. 117, No. 7))

Grades 7-10. Deka lives in a society where women are intended to be pure and serve those around them. So when she bleeds impure gold during the coming-of-age ritual for girls at age 16, her life’s presumed purpose—the care and keeping of a husband and family—is destroyed. Left to decide between death or dedicating herself to the protection of Otera from the ghastly deathshrieks, Deka joins the ranks of girls deemed impure, known as the alaki. Soon she realizes that even among them she’s different, leading Deka to question who and what she is, and what she’s fighting for. The world building here takes some time to get used to, but Deka’s entrancing character development is so wrapped up in these systems that they are quickly understood. The action and intensity are relentless as Forna builds not only Deka’s character but also those of a kick-butt posse of fellow alaki, whose histories speak to various ways Otera’s patriarchy has weighed women down. While elements of action and social justice are strong, there is also mystery, as readers journey to understand just what is at stake in the heat of the war. At the close of the first of what is rumored to be a trilogy, readers will find themselves awestruck with satisfying revelation, leaving both a clean ending and desire for more.

My Comments

Fast paced plot with lots of suspense and twists and turns. I enjoyed seeing how Deka comes into her power. There are a lot of ethical dilemmas in this book, but good triumphs! The torture scenes lead me to recommend it for grade 8-12 depending on the reader.

DRY by Neal Shusterman

 

Dry by Neal Shusterman

Realistic Fiction, Horror, Survival, High School

390 pages

Description

Horn Book Magazine (November/December, 2018)

A major drought in Southern California has been going on long enough for people to adjust, with everyone conserving as much water as possible. But one day Alyssa turns on the faucet in her suburban home, and nothing comes out. Suddenly, with this new stage of the drought (which the media calls the Tap-Out), everyone is scrambling, and Alyssa’s neighborhood becomes more dangerous. Alyssa’s neighbor Kelton McCracken, a “weirdo” teen who lives with his family of doomsday preppers, has always wanted to have a reason to interact with Alyssa, but the Tap-Out creates a scenario he could never have imagined. As people become increasingly desperate for water and institutions begin to break down, the thread between selfishness and survival begins unraveling as ethical dilemmas present themselves around sharing water, selling water, and deciding who is worthy of saving. Alyssa, her brother Garrett, and Kelton wind up on a road trip to survive, picking up strangers along the way who may or may not be allies. Throughout this compulsively readable and unnerving tale, the authors present a dystopia that is all-too-close to our current world, leading readers to realize just how tenuous our societal norms are and raising important questions about how we will handle the crises we have created. christina l. dobbs

My Comments
I immediately stocked up on water after reading this book. It makes you think. What if....This was an addictive read that has stayed with me. I will never forget it. Powerful is an understatement. There are some extremely disturbing gun violence episodes that lead me to recommend it to high school students, not middle school. That said, I think it's one of my top picks this year.

OTHER WORDS FOR HOME by Jasmine Warga

 

Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga

Realistic Fiction, Novels in Verse, Syrian Immigration, Multicultural, Family

342 pages

Description

Publishers Weekly (February 25, 2019)

Written in first-person free verse, this timely book traces the internal journey of a young Syrian refugee adjusting to a new home and culture in the U.S. When violence erupts near their seaside city, Jude and her pregnant mother flee to Cincinnati to stay with Jude's uncle and his family while her shopkeeper father and activist brother ("He is always talking about change") stay behind. In the U.S., Jude is warmly welcomed by her aunt and uncle but treated with cool indifference by her cousin, who abandons her at school, leaving Jude to navigate seventh grade in a new environment on her own. Jude struggles to fit in among students who "don't look like me," but she remembers her brother's parting words-"Be brave"-and finds comfort with her new friend Layla, whose parents are from Lebanon. Rhythmic lines distill Jude's deepest emotions-homesickness, fear when her brother enters a war zone, shock over prejudice in the U.S., and a sense of victory when she receives a speaking role in the school play. Warga (My Heart and Other Black Holes) effectively shows, as she writes in an author's note, that "children who are fleeing from a war zone... want the same things all of us do-love, understanding, safety, a chance at happiness." Ages 8-12. Agent: Brenda Bowen, Sanford J. Greenburger Assoc. (May) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

My Comments

A book that will help people of all ages to understand how it feels to be new in a country, to be lonely, homesick and the target of prejudice. It is a book that inspires bravery and kindness.

An accessible read for middle school. Excellent! Highly recommended.

THE EPIC FAIL OF ARTURO ZAMORA by Pablo Cartaya

 

The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora

Realistic Fiction, Hispanic Latino, Adventure, Family, Community, Humor, Friendship, Romance

236 pages

Description
Booklist starred (April 1, 2017 (Vol. 113, No. 15))

Grades 4-7. Arturo is looking forward to a Miami summer filled with friends, ice cream, and working at his family’s popular restaurant, La Cocina de la Isla, but his plans get derailed from the start. Carmen, his mother’s goddaughter, comes to visit, and Arturo doesn’t understand why his stomach can’t settle down around her. His job at the restaurant is harder than he thought, and worst of all, his family’s plan to expand into an adjacent empty lot seems hopeless when flashy real-estate developer Wilfrido Pipo comes to town with plans of his own. Arturo hopes the community his abuela and abuelo loved for so long will support them, and with the help of his family, friends, and the work of Cuban poet and revolutionary hero José Martí, Arturo finds the strength to fight for what he believes in. Cartaya’s lively debut, filled with kind, dynamic characters and interspersed with letters, poems, and Twitter messages, offers a timely tale of a community steeped in tradition and multiculturalism, working together against encroaching gentrification, and Arturo’s inviting first-person narrative is the perfect entry point for middle-grade readers. Unitalicized Spanish phrases appear throughout, always with enough context clues that non-Spanish speakers will have no trouble following along. At turns funny, beautiful, and heartbreaking, this engrossing story will get kids cheering.

My Comments
A good choice for all middle school students. Family chaos with love, community values, and love. Funny and tender. A lovely read.

LET THE SKY FALL by Shannon Messenger

Let the Sky Fall (Skyfall Trilogy, Book 1) by Shannon Messenger

Fiction, Supernatural, Romance

404 pages

Description
Booklist (April 15, 2013 (Online))

Grades 7-12. When Vane Weston was seven years old, a category-five tornado killed his parents but inexplicably spared his life. Ten years later, he lives in California’s blistering hot Coachella Valley with his foster parents, normal teen angst, and childhood memories of a dark-haired girl. In Messenger’s refreshingly clean paranormal debut, the alternating voices of Vane and Audra, the dark-haired girl, narrate the rising action. Audra is a sylph, an air elemental, and she finally reappears in Vane’s life with astounding news: the world is in danger, Vane is the only one who can save it, and he is not human at all—he is also a sylph. With barely a week to master skills most sylphs need a lifetime to grasp (if he is to successfully fight off his unknown enemies), Vane responds to Audra’s hardened guardian ways with a mixture of rebellion against and attraction to the girl who secretly has been watching over him since the tornado. While the romance may be predictable, unusual paranormal entities and strong writing should interest genre readers in search of a fresh new series.

My Comments
I love this book! Not sure why the reviews say that it's slow. I totally disagree. This is a great choice for middle schoolers who are looking for more of a high school read that's also appropriate for middle school.

A FORGERY OF ROSES by Jessica S. Olson

 

A Forgery of Roses by Jessica S. Olson

Murder Mystery, Fantasy, Painting

377 pages

Description

School Library Journal starred (February 1, 2022)

Gr 7 Up-Olson's newest offering is a satisfying dark fantasy of art, science, romance, and murder. Myra Whitlock is an art Prodigy like her mysteriously disappeared mother. In her world, Prodigies are an aberration to the Higher Power (called Artist), because of their ability to heal physical injury through the act of painting. Myra has been secretly called to bring the Governor's heir back to life by painting his portrait. She accepts the assignment for the money it will bring, which will pay for a doctor to diagnose her dying sister. Myra's inability to heal her sister reveals the intricacies of Prodigy magic: one can only fully heal another when the cause of the injury or illness is known. What follows is Myra's journey to find a murderer and a motive in the Governor's manor, and to fulfill her destiny. Olson weaves intense action and tender emotion in her multifaceted work. Descriptions of what a Prodigy feels when the magic overtakes them-experiencing everything the subject felt in injury/death-pierce with anatomical precision. Secondary characters such as pale red-haired August (the Governor's other son), the charismatic Forger, and Myra's spirited sister are as vibrant as the protagonist herself, allowing readers to hope for different outcomes throughout. The time period is perplexing, as there are carriages and corsets but also telephones and a hospital ICU, but it doesn't detract from the seamless storytelling and unexpected climax. Characters' race and ethnicity are not specified. VERDICT A triumphant second novel, Olson's not-to-be-missed tale of intrigue has something for everyone.-Jane Miller © Copyright 2022. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

My Comments

Loved, loved, loved! Give this to avid readers! The description of painting, the type of paint, the layering and a myriad of other details make this book truly special. Highly recommended

THE SCREAMING STAIRCASE (LOCKWOOD & CO. BK #1) by Jonathan Stroud

 

The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Lockwood

Horror, Ghosts, Supernatural

390 pages

Description

School Library Journal (September 1, 2013)

Gr 6-9-Lucy Carlyle relates the exploits of the teenage ghost-hunting agency, Lockwood & Co. The world is still reeling from an infestation of malevolent, deadly ghosts that can only be detected by Talented youngsters with rare psychic sensitivities. Anthony Lockwood heads his three-person team, including Lucy and George Cubbins, in their efforts to defeat the evil spirits-and remain solvent. A minor haunting that turns into a major problem leads Lockwood & Co. to a brooding mansion that has already claimed the lives of more experienced ghost hunters. Combe Carey Hall is "the most haunted private house in England. an ugly oppressive mongrel of a building," and the trio quickly realizes that the dangers they face have human as well as supernatural sources. Authentically spooky events occur in an engagingly crafted, believable world, populated by distinct, colorful personalities. The genuinely likable members of Lockwood & Co. persevere through the evil machinations of the living and the dead and manage to come out with their skins, and their senses of humor, intact. This smart, fast-paced ghostly adventure promises future chills.-Janice M. Del Negro, GSLIS Dominican University, River Forest, IL (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

My Comments

Fast paced, witty, scary (but just enough)!

A RIP THROUGH TIME by Kelley Armstrong

A Rip Through Time by Kelley Armstrong

 Time Travel, Mystery and Detective Story, High School

Description

Booklist (March 1, 2022 (Vol. 118, No. 13))

Popular fantasy novelist Armstrong (the Darkest Powers series; the Rockton novels; Tales of the Otherworld) launches a new series with this time-travel mystery. Mallory, an American homicide cop, is in Scotland, visiting her grandmother. After she’s viciously assaulted, she awakens feeling . . . different. Turns out she’s now 150 years in the past, in another woman’s body. The woman whose body she now inhabits works as an assistant to an undertaker who doubles as a medical examiner, and soon Mallory finds herself on the trail of a murderer. But how to solve the bigger mystery and find the time-traveler’s way back home? Readers who enjoy a good time-travel mystery might notice similarities to Julie McElwain’s A Murder in Time (2016) and its sequels (in which a modern-day FBI agent finds herself catapulted back to the mid-1800s), but Armstrong’s fans can be assured that this is no imitation: Armstrong has her own voice, and this is a promising start to a new series.

My Comments
Great page turner for grades 8 and up.