Middle Grade Review: Written in the Stars and Playing for Keeps

Quinn's excited to go back to camp this summer. Maybe people won't look at her with such sad eyes because her father died. Plus, she's excited to see her best friends again. But camp in a little different this year. On the first day, she meets a cute boy. He's new to camp.

Soon the other girls in her bunk are getting up early to make sure their hair looks good and they have time to put their make-up on. Quinn's confused. She likes Harry - but what are they supposed to do together besides hang out during free time. One of her bunkmates has a LOT of opinions about the subject.

My Thoughts: This was a cute story about all kinds of drama: family, friendship, relationship.  I enjoyed the camp drama. This is a short book with lots of drama making it very accessible to read. And it's part of a series, giving readers who like this one more options. This book is marketed as a romance, but it's not quite. It's *almost* a romance. I don't want to spoil the ending.

Aaliyah didn't get to see her best friend Travis much over the summer; they were both busy with camps and vacation. He doesn't respond to her texts the night before school starts. When she first sees him in the hallway, he's grown. Everyone's talking about how cute he is and that he has a girlfriend. 

Aaliyah doesn't know what she never found him cute before. She certainly thinks so now, but it's too late. She isn't a huge fan of his girlfriend Harper and she isn't a fan of Travis anymore. He never seems to want to hang out. Everything's changed.

Can they ever be the same?

My Thoughts: This one is a romance and it's super cute. There's a lot of miscommunication and listening to gossip. I enjoyed the friendship drama. Middle school is hard and these characters found their way through it.

Source: Books sent for review

Library Recommendation: Great for your middle grade school and public library collection

Hand this one to readers: who are ready for a little bit of romance

Secret Easter Egg: Love is Taylor Swift

 

@yabooknerdlibrarian An easter egg of Mel's Downtown Creamery in this Love is Taylor Swift Book? #icecream #easteregg #swifties #taylorswift ♬ original sound - Jennifer @YA Book Nerd 📚📚📚

Thoughts?

Mel's Downton Creamery (just in case you want to check it out.)

Campfire S'mores is my favorite flavor! 

Peanut Butter Dayz is my favorite sundae 

* Book sent for review

Review: Snow Day

 It's been super cold here and we sadly have no snow.

Nina loves the snow. She's been playing in the snow all winter, but they haven't had a snow day yet. But one April, her teacher says snow is on the way. Will there be enough snow to have a snow day?

My Thoughts: This is a cute story about a little girl's love for snow.  She has so much fun playing in the snow. This is a fun series.

* Book sent for review

What do you like to do when it snows? I like to drink hot chocolate! 

Middle Grade Review: Cupcake Diaries

I haven't read the book series, but these graphic novel adaptations are delightful. Of course, they make me want to bake cupcakes. This would be a club I want to join. But these books also have a serious side dealing with: friendship drama, blended families, navigating divorce, moving to a new place, money issues, and learning how to bake. Through it all, the girls can count on each other. I'm looking forward to reading more of these. 

Review: Pizza for Pia

It's meal time and Pia's family is making pizza. They think she loves pizza.

But she doesn't.

What does she love instead?

This is a funny book about cooking together and meal-time. It's a great book to talk about pizza toppings. Everyone is happy.

What's your favorite pizza topping? 

Mine changes often but I make a white pizza with ham and mushroom. 

* books sent for review

Gift Idea: Reindeer in Here

 

Share a new holiday tradition

Gift this box (book and studded reindeer) to your child in the beginning of December. Santa wants your child to bond with their reindeer. And after a month of sharing moments together, you'll send your reindeer back to the North Pole for Christmas Eve with Santa. 

(where the reindeer will tell Santa you child's Christmas wish) 

I think this is a really cute idea. I love how the reindeer talk about differences in reindeer and in people as something to celebrate. 

* items sent for review 

I Can Read Books (2)

Another set of fun Junior Reader Books 

Parker loves the roses in her Nana's garden. Maybe she should grow them too?

Gardening is hard work - you have to be patient, but it can be very rewarding too. A great story about hard work, rewards, and the seasons.

The bunnies have a very busy day at the bookstore. They help everyone - and everyone has different reading tastes. This funny story is great for sharing and asking what books everyone likes to read best. 

This is a cute story - all about books. Great for readers who love the Stanley Books. 

Teddy and Otter want jobs - but it's hard finding the perfect job. Luckily, they have someone to offer up some suggestions.

Another adorable book about these two best friends. 

Spooky Read: Truth or Dare

At a sleepover with four of her friends, during a game of truth or dare, Abby confesses that she has a crush on Jake. Then in the middle of the night, she receives a creepy text. Someone doesn't like her crush.  It's just the first of several creepy things that happen to Abby over the next few weeks. Could it be Sara - the girl Jake was dating who died? Is she being haunted by a ghost?

My Thoughts: This graphic novel begins the series adaptation The Creepover. The friendships are great. The spooky factor is just enough. The ending leaves you eager for the next book. The artwork shines through - equal parts normal and creepy. A great October read. 

Cover Thoughts: Creepy

Source: Book sent for review

Library Recommendation: A great addition to your graphic novel section 

JR Books: Parker Books

 

I love the Parker picture books. I was really happy to see Parker JR (junior reader) books.

Parker Dresses Up: What happens when your siblings and their imagination hijack dress-up. It becomes even better!

Your Friend, Parker: Parker and her family go on vacation. She sends letters back to her friend to keep her updated about all their adventures. 

These books are lots of fun - about friendship, family, imagination, and sharing. 

I do hope there are more Parker books in the works!

Library Recommendation: Highly Recommended for your school and public libraries.

Review: Donut Dreams

* First Book in a new series *

Lindsay's world is rapidly changing. She's about to start middle school. She's learning to live without her mother, who died two years ago. She's starting to work at her family's donut shop. Lindsay's learning to create a balance in her life. She might be just like a donut, with a hole in her middle, but her friends and family are doing to do their best to help fill it.

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book. I liked learning about Lindsay's big family - and getting to know everyone who worked in the family business. With such a big family, I can't wait to read more about them in the next few books. I loved reading about the donuts, they made my mouth water. I enjoyed the tight bonds of friendship and family. This was a fun start to a new series.

Cover Thoughts: Cute - and it makes my mouth water
Source: ARC sent for review
Library Recommendations: Grab this book for your school and public libraries, especially where the Cupcake Diaries and the Sprinkle Sundays series are popular.

Picture Book Roundup: Easter Books

Just a few new Easter books that were given in exchange for review. Both are fun books for Easter celebrations.

No Rest for the Easter Beagle (I can read book)

Snoopy has so much to do before Easter. His friends are worried for him, so they try to help him out. Everyone has talents that are perfect for getting the jobs done. A sweet book with a great message about talents, friendship, and helping each other.

Easter Makes Me Feel Robin Blue Egg (board book)

A board book about colors and feelings. The feelings coincide with Crayola colors, which is fun. I love that this book is shaped like an egg.

Review: Franken-Sci High

In the first book in the series, What’s the Matter with Newton?, Newton Warp is a mystery, even to himself: He wakes up one day in the library with no idea of who he is, how he got there, or where he came from. Newton is quickly assigned to a dorm and makes a friend: Shelly Ravenholt, who creates living, breathing monsters for fun. He’s eager to find out who his family is, but this is high school after all, and he soon has other problems: Newton has to create a last-minute project for the Mad Science Fair and Shelly’s friend Theremin (a robot) is really jealous of him. And that’s not all: the other students at Franken-Sci High soon realize that Newton has a few useful, but surprising quirks. Wherever Newton came from, they start to suspect that he’s not entirely human! (Summary from the publisher)

n the second book in the Franken-Sci High series, Monsters Among Us, Newton Warp’s friends notice he’s being followed around by a strange new professor, Dr. Flubitus, but have no idea why. Newton wonders if it has something to do with the barcode on his foot. He doesn’t have much time to dwell on it, though, because soon there are reports of a giant monster loose on campus! Shelly assumes a school for mad scientists would have top-notch security against monsters, nosy tourists, and other invaders, but soon she and her friends Newton and Theremin discover a gaping loophole in the system. If a marauding monster can find its way to the school’s secret location in the Bermuda Triangle and figure out how to open a portal to the campus, anyone else could get in, too! Then Shelly finds out she might be the reason the monster is there in the first place… (Summary from the publisher)

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed these books. I felt terrible for Newton as he had no memories of his life. I liked how Shelly took him under her wing and showed him the school. I loved the school - it's very inventive. Especially the locker licks. The classes seem fun too. Both books contain friendship, monsters, and a mystery. There are questions that readers want answered like: Who is Newton? Why is he at the school? Where is his home? Why does Shelly need protection? Will Theremin ever be happy? These questions and more will keep the reader turning the pages and looking forward to the next book to uncover more information. Artwork's mixed in with the story.

Cover Thoughts: Both are great.

Source: Book sent for review

Library Recommendation: A fun series for kids about friendship and monsters - a great series for both school and public libraries.

Also this series is perfect for Halloween.

Up Next: April 28, 2020 

Review: Sunday Sundaes

* First in a series *

When Allie gets back from camp, she notices things are different at home. Over dinner, her parents tell her that they are getting a divorce and that she's moving to a new school. Allie isn't happy with this news - although she will be happy that her parents aren't fighting all the time.

Allie's moving with her mother and her brother to the nearby beach town - where her mom plans to open up an ice cream store. It helps having somewhere to hang out, especially when Allie has trouble making friends at her new school.

Luckily, her old friends are close by. They come up with the perfect solution - to take a Sunday shift together at the ice cream store so they will see each other at least once a week. But can you still be BFFs with someone you only see once a week?

My Thoughts: I really liked this book; I've been wanting to read it for ages. And I'm glad I did. Although it did make me crave ice cream! I liked how Allie's parents became more relaxed and more friendly with each other. I liked Allie trying to find new friends and dealing with the mean girls. I loved how the girls got together at the ice cream shop. I loved how they tried to help people chose flavors. I loved the ideas for the shop, especially the marketing ones. Of course I loved the moments with Allie in the library and her conversations with the librarian. I loved how the book fair turned out. Looking forward to reading more about these friends.

Cover Thoughts: Charming
Source: My library
Library Recommendation: A great middle grade read about bullies, friendship, and family drama. Perfect for school and public libraries.