Middle Grade Review: Dare You to Dance

 

Gracie's excited to dance at a fancy ballet school in New York City for the summer. But she's not sure she has what it takes. She decides to start a rivalry with the best dancer in the class - Sariah in hopes that she will push herself. But at what cost?

My Thoughts: I love reading ballet books - and this graphic novel was great. It takes during the entire summer - from class to final showcase. Of course there are mean girls in the class, but there are also friendships formed. Sariah's aunt used dance and that pushes Sariah forward. By the end of the summer, the two girls form a friendship. I loved how they challenged each other. I hope there's another book featuring next summer.

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: A fantastic graphic novel for your school or public library collection - perfect for sporty girls. 

Graphic Novel Review: Lovely Recipe

Sofia's struggling with her future. It's her last year of high school and her friends are excited to leave home for college. Sofia doesn't have the grades for it. She's sad at the idea of missing her friends, especially since her mother works all the time and never has time for her. Ever since her grandmother died, Sofia and her mother haven't been close. 

Sofia comes up with the idea to cook something from the family cookbook. Maybe the memories will bring her mother back to her. The only problem? She can't cook. 

Sofia stumbles across her classmate working at restaurant and has a brilliant idea. Maybe Anna Marie can teach her how to cook. It's worth a try!

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this graphic novel. I felt badly for Sofia as she struggled to find connections. I loved the cooking moments - the disasters, the successes, and the family recipes. I really liked Anna Marie's family - especially her grandfather. I appreciated how college wasn't an immediate conclusion for either Sofia or Anna Marie. It's hard to know what you want to do at such a young age. I think it's realistic not to know. I liked how the book included the senior year moments. I loved how the relationship between Sofia and Anna Marie evolved. And that ending was fantastic.

Cover Thoughts:
Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: A great graphic novel that's perfect for those kids not sure of their future. 

Middle Grade Review: Sugar Shack

* Book 3 in the Peapod Farm trilogy * 

Winter is here. There are a lot of chores that need doing around the farm, especially bringing in wood for the fireplace. There's so much wood to bring in. Luckily Jen has her half-sisters at times to help her. Jen still isn't sure of her place within the family. There are moments of happiness and sharp moments that make her heart ache. Will she ever get things right?

My Thoughts: This was such a fun trilogy and I'm sad that the trilogy has ended. I would have read so many of these stories. I love the moments on the farm. Winter is such fun. I loved the moments in the snow - like snow living. I used to love spending time playing in the snow as a kid. We don't get too much snow now anymore. The syrup part was cute. I love that they tapped the trees the old fashioned way and that they had a party when they had enough. The families started this trilogy fractured and getting used to each other blended well by the end. 

Why I Read This: I loved the first two books in the trilogy

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: Highly recommended trilogy for your school and public library

 Hand this to: readers who love drama and the outdoors

** I interviewed Lucy a few months ago, check out our conversation here. 

Author Interview: Lucy Knisley

 

I'm super excited today to be chatting with Lucy Knisley. 

I love her Peapod Farm graphic novel trilogy.

The next (and last) book in the trilogy comes out next week!

And while it's the heat of summer, I'm ready to read about the snow.

Let's get chatting:

I love this trilogy. As the creator, is it sad saying goodbye to the characters? 

I'm not sure I'll ever really say goodbye to these characters! There's always a possibility I will return to Peapod Farm, but I do feel like I'm leaving them in a good place. Stepping Stones was about finding your footing in a new situation, Apple Crush was about figuring out how to navigate a new stage of friendship, and Sugar Shack is really about settling in to yourself. I think Jen, Andy and Reese have run the gauntlet of adolescence and step-sisterhood in a way that makes me feel like I did right by them, at least for now.

I can't wait to read Sugar Shack. 

Have you lived on a farm? What's the best part?

Yes! Just like Jen, I moved to the country with my mom when my parents split up. I'd been born and raised in the city up until then, so it was a big change. We didn't have a huge farm, but we had chickens for eggs, and we grew flowers and vegetables and sold them at the farmer's market. I also grew up working on larger farms in the area, milking cows and mucking manure and knocking bugs off organic produce. Obviously, there were parts I preferred over others. The best part of all was learning about where my food comes from-- the people that grow it and the land that produces it. Fresh food is delicious, and taking part in the making of it makes it even tastier! 

 

Do you have a favorite season? Favorite food(s) with that season?

I love summer-- best produce. Cherries and peaches and tomatoes and corn! But there are wonderful parts of farm life in every season. I tried to showcase those in the Peapod trilogy through the changing seasons-- even in the wintertime, when almost nothing grows, farming still continues and there's hard work and delicious treats.  

I do love all the berries of the summer. And the apples of the fall.

Do you have a favorite comic/graphic novel from childhood? 

I didn't grow up with the abundance of kids comics that we have now! But I was lucky enough to come up at the height of Calvin and Hobbes. Those were always my favorites. 

 Calvin and Hobbes are fun; I loved reading the comics from the newspapers. There were so many great ones. 

What's the best part about creating graphic novels?

I love it when a reader finds something in my books that I'd forgotten or that I'd done unintentionally, and tells me about it! Connecting with readers through my work-- making them feel less alone, or creating a kinship or appreciation for something, is my absolute favorite thing. I also like the part when I'm inking, because it's when I get to listen to an audiobook and watch the lines flow out without a lot of thought--writing and penciling takes a lot of focus and problem-solving, but inking is the part that, for me, let's me just enjoy drawing without a lot of concentration.

That does sound relaxing. 

Anything you'd like to share that I didn't ask?

Nope! I hope this book brings you coziness and makes you crave pancakes!

Middle Grade Review: On Guard

Grace isn't excited about 7th grade, especially since she and her BFF ended their friendship. She's also stuck between her parents' divorce. Grace doesn't know how to connect to her mother. She lives most of the time with her father, but she's forced to spend time with her mother too.

Her father asks her to join a club. Grace isn't sure what club to join, but she has been watching the fencing club for a week while she eats lunch. There she meets a friend. Could she have found her place?

My Thoughts: This was a great graphic novel; I read it in one sitting. I felt so bad for Grace and the situation with her mom. I did like how things turned out. Her Dad was sweet and kind. I really liked Ash. This was a great sports graphic novel with lots of drama.

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: ARC sent for review

Library Recommendation: A must have book for school and public libraries

Hand this to: readers who like sports books and books about drama.

* This book comes out tomorrow

Middle Grade Review: Speak Up Santiago

First in a new graphic novel series

Santiago is spending the summer with his grandmother. Everyone on that side of the family speaks Spanish, but he's just learning. His grandmother doesn't speak English that well. He's nervous that they will have trouble communicating. 

Santiago loves playing soccer and found a group of friends. Together, they hope to enter a tournament at the end of the month. But they all speak Spanish too. 

Santiago does pretty well for most of the summer, but he worries about being enough. When he overhears people talking about him and his language barrier, he shuts down. Will it cost him his happiness over the summer?

My Thoughts: I really loved this graphic novel. I love how Santiago was nervous in the beginning, but he found his footing. I loved the moments between him and his grandmother. This graphic novel had a lot of Spanish and English together. It's not an entire bilingual graphic novel, but it's close. I felt bad for Santiago and wanted to wrap in him up in a hug when things went sideways for him. But I did like how everything turned out. I also love that this series is continuing with one of the friends as the main character next. I can't wait to read what happens. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: Highly Recommended for your school and public library

Middle Grade Review: Sink or Swim

Ty's headed off to camp with his best friends. His cast just came off his arm and it should be a great summer. But it's not because:

1. Anxiety rears its ugly head

2. Body Issues - not being able to swim changed his body

3. Friendship drama 

But there's also:

1. Building a Boat

2. Making new friends

3. RPG moments

This graphic novel has a lot to unpack, but it's also really good. I loved how there are good moments and bad moments. I liked the depiction of anxiety. And it was really brave of Ty to ask for help. I love that the counselor didn't know what to say, but came back with more information. I think that's an important piece - everyone's learning and now one has all the answers. 

Middle Grade Review: Buckle Up

 

This week, I'm talking about:

Lonnie's parents are recently divorced. He's not happy about all the changes. Car rides with his parents allow them to have hard conversations. He requests that his parents drop him off at the corner - not in front of the school. Lonnie's embarrassed about the divorce and doesn't want the other kids to tease him. He also doesn't feel at home in his dad's new place. All these changes are making him emotional. Will these car conversations help?

My Thoughts: I really love this idea - most of the book takes places in the car. A few scenes take place within the two homes. Lonnie doesn't know how to express his feelings. With all the changes, he's left feeling uncomfortable. I like how he and his dad talk - his father calls him out for his bad behavior. HIs father also says some questionable things and Lonnie calls him out on it. The back and forth is between them is nice. I think it's important when Lonnie's dad says that he's still learning to talk about his feelings and that he says the wrong things sometimes. We're all still learning.

Cover Thoughts: Cute

 Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: A great graphic novel for your school or public library's collection.

BookTok: Sweet Valley Twins

I used to love the Sweet Valley High books, so I was happy to see this graphic novel adaptation.

And it was mostly good...

 

@yabooknerdlibrarian What happens when you grow apart from your twin and start to become your own person??? #sweetvalleyhigh #sweetvalleytwins #graphicnovels #nostalgia #booktok #librariansoftiktok #twins ♬ original sound - Jennifer @YA Book Nerd 📚📚📚

BookTok: Apple Crush

I forgot to share this booktok with you for the graphic novel Apple Crush

It's a middle grade graphic novel that's perfect for fall vibes. And I really hope there are more books coming in this series!

@yabooknerdlibrarian Talking about Apple Crush! #middlegradebooks #graphicnovel #librariansoftiktok #booktok #fall #hauntedhayride ♬ original sound - Jennifer @YA Book Nerd 📚📚📚

Graphic Novel Review: Just Roll with It

Maggie's starting middle school. Everything seems strange. She's not sure if she'll be able to make new friends or find the perfect club to join. But she does have a d20 - and she uses it to help her make decisions. But are the decisions really right for her?

My Thoughts: I like how this graphic novel handled the mental health aspect (OCD and anxiety) with respect. I liked Maggie and her new friend group. I love the RPG moments and the geeking out over book moments. New schools can be hard, so I'm glad Maggie had friends and family to turn to when things got tough. I admired her determination and how she stood up to the bully boys. Monsters might not be real, but there are monsters in the world. The illustrations were cute.

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: A great mental health graphic novel for your school and public library's collection. Highly Recommended.

Hand This Book Out to: D&D or RPG players

Graphic Novel Review: Donut Feed the Squirrels

Two squirrels spot a donut truck and they want to try those amazing smelling treats. How can they get their paws on them?

I really enjoyed the way these squirrels problem solved their way into tasting donuts. Who wouldn't want to taste the donuts? A really fun graphic novel that's perfect for summer reading theme. And it looks like this will be a new series! Happy to read more about these funny determined squirrels. 

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: Highly recommended for schools and public libraries.

Graphic Novel Review: Stepping Stones

When Jen and her mom move from the city to the country, everything changes. It's not just the move. Now they're living with her mom's new boyfriend. And his kids will spend weekends with them. 

Life on the farm is different. There are so many chores - plus there's selling their goods at the market. Jen's awesome at art, so creating a great looking sign is right up her alley. But she's terrible at math, so helping run the cash register gives her anxiety. 

Jen's having a hard time learning where she fits in...