Middle Grade Review: London Calling

 

* Book 6 in the City Spy series * 

Cairo, the newest member of the City Spies, takes the lead when his sister disappears in Istanbul. Determined to save the family of one of their own, the team risks discovery as their search leads them to Rome. Meanwhile, there’s been intel that seems to threaten the royal wedding about to take place in Westminster, bringing the team back to the UK on an official case for MI6. With so much security all over the city, it’s harder than ever for the City Spies to go unnoticed. Will their skills be up to the task? - Summary from the Publisher.

My Thoughts: I don't want to say too much about this book because SPOILERS. But...

Questions are answered

 Stakes are Higher

All the Action

Family Drama

Royal Wedding

I LOVED it!

Here's my favorite line:

* Book sent for review

Review: Away

 

* companion novel to Alone * 

In the middle of the night, people in Colorado are rounded up and told to evacuate. They are loaded up on buses after gathering one bag to take with them. They're not told why they're being forced to leave.

They're bused to former camp, not in use since the Cold War.  They're forced to give up their cell phones and electronics. There a journalist meets a film maker meets a future doctor meets a teen who grew up on a ranch. The four teens form a bond between them. They interview people in the camp. 

Time passes. They still haven't been told the reason behind their evacuation, only that it's not safe for them. Their homes are in the contamination zone. But to the teens, nothing makes sense. They start questioning what they know - but more importantly what they don't know. Could there be something more to the story?

* While this is a companion novel, readers who pick up this book first won't miss out on any story. There is a nod to ALONE, that readers will enjoy if they have read that book.

** There is a cow that dies after giving birth, but all the other animals are fine.

My Thoughts: I loved this book. The formatting was different - poems, media announcements, newspaper write-ups, letters, and screenplay. While this book is long, it's a short read. First because of the format and second because of the tension. I'm so glad Megan Freeman wrote this book - it's all about friendship, big government, and uncovering the truth. I love how these characters gravitated towards each other and became friends. I love how they helped each other through the tough moments and didn't back down. Popcorn is adorable! Make time to read this one!

Cover Thoughts: Awesome

Source: ARC sent for review

Library Recommendation: A must have middle grade novel for your school or public library collection

Release Date: February 11, 2025

Author Interview: James Ponti

I'm thrilled to be chatting with James Ponti today!

About the Book:

In the tradition of Nancy Drew, four kids and one grandfather in Miami tackle a decades-old mystery in this first book in the action-packed and funny Sherlock Society middle grade series from New York Times bestselling, Edgar Award–winning author James Ponti! Siblings Alex and Zoe Sherlock take their last name as inspiration when choosing a summer job. After all, starting a detective agency has to be better than babysitting (boring), lawn mowing (sweaty), or cleaning out the attic (boring and sweaty). Their friends Lina, an avid bookworm, and Yadi, an aspiring cinematographer, join the enterprise, and Alex and Zoe’s retired reporter grandfather offers up his sweet aquamarine Cadillac convertible and storage unit full of cold cases. The group’s first target is the long-lost treasure supposedly hidden near their hometown Miami. Their investigation into the local doings of famed gangster Al Capone leads them to a remote island in the middle of the Everglades where they find alarming evidence hinting at corporate corruption. Together with Grandpa’s know-how and the kids’ intelligence—plus some really slick gadgets—can the Sherlock Society root out the conspiracy?

I was lucky enough to get an ARC. You can read my review here. 

(I loved it!)

And I got to meet James at a local(ish) bookstore for the City Spies tour. You can read about that meeting here. 

About the Author:

James Ponti is the New York Times bestselling author of four middle grade book series: The Sherlock Society following a group of young detectives; City Spies, about an unlikely squad of five kids from around the world who form an elite MI6 Spy Team; the Edgar Award–winning Framed! series, about a pair of tweens who solve mysteries in Washington, DC; and the Dead City trilogy, about a secret society that polices the undead living beneath Manhattan. His books have appeared on more than fifteen different state award lists, and he is the founder of a writers group known as the Renegades of Middle Grade. James is also an Emmy–nominated television writer and producer who has worked for many networks including Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, PBS, History, and Spike TV, as well as NBC Sports. He lives with his family in Orlando, Florida. 

Interview:

Did Al Capone really bury one million dollars somewhere in Florida?

 

My understanding is that he actually buried keys to safety deposit boxes. (I eliminated that step to make it just the money so that it would be more immediate.) I also made up the treasure map; but the rest of it is true including the niece having him hypnotized and digging up all the land on the estate. (Funny side note – I planned to include the Capone house as part of the story, but the day I went there to scout and research, it was literally being torn down. It was more than one hundred years old, but they picked that day to make me rewrite the plot. Instead, I have they come there as it’s being torn down)

 

What was your first summer job?

 

My very first one was selling food at Sea World. (I worked at the Snack Encounter, which was right next to the Shark Encounter.) But every summer after that, I worked at Walt Disney World on the Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes. I would stand in the front of a giant canoe, dressed a coonskin cap and tell bad jokes to guests paddling through the summer heat. (“You see that burning cabin over there? That’s where my girlfriend lives. Well, actually we broke up, so she’s just my old flame. She used to work her but she got fired. It burns me up to think about it.”) It was a great job that taught me a ton about comedy writing. I’m still friends with many of my fellow canoers and we greet each other with the call “Yip-yip-yow,” which played on a recorded loop in the back of the Rivers of America.

That's too funny. I love the "Dad" jokes.

 

What fun tidbits of research didn't make it into the book?

 

I hung out with a marine biologist at the University of Miami because the father in the book is a marine biologist at the University of Miami. Late one night, we were with his grad students at the nursery where they try to grow coral and they played Marvin Gaye over loudspeakers to get the coral “in the mood.” I could not figure out a way to work that into the plot.

 

There was another one that I couldn’t figure out, but have since added it to book two. The Bee Gees lived in Miami Beach and when they drove over the Tuttle Causeway, the sound of their tires going over the seams in the road created a rhythm that inspired the beat of the song Jive Talkin’. Originally, it was even title Drive Talkin’ because of where they first heard it.

 

I can't wait for book 2!

Do you have a favorite fictional detective/story?

 

So, so many. My first was Encyclopedia Brown, whose stories inspired me greatly. My favorite author is Michael Connelly and I love his main character, Harry Bosch. My wife and I are addicted to British mystery shows and my favorite detectives there are Christopher Foyle from Foyle’s War, Jimmy Perez from Shetland, and Vera Stanhope from Vera.

 

Which W would you choose to research?

 

I am fascinated by character and personality, so for me it would always be Who.

Thanks for chatting with me! I really loved the first book in The Sherlock Society and I'm looking forward to more. 

 

Author Interview: Gayle Foreman

 

Not Nothing comes out next week and believe me, you're going to want to clear some space in your schedule to read this one!

ABOUT THE BOOK 

To say Alex has had it rough is an understatement. His father’s gone, his mother is struggling with mental health issues, and he’s now living with an aunt and uncle who are less than excited to have him. Almost everyone treats him as though he doesn’t matter at all, like he’s nothing.

So when a kid at school actually tells him he’s nothing, Alex snaps, and gets violent. Fortunately, his social worker pulls some strings and gets him a job at a nursing home for the summer rather than being sent to juvie. There, he meets Josey, the 107-year-old Holocaust survivor who stopped bothering to talk years ago, and Maya-Jade, the granddaughter of one of the residents with an overblown sense of importance.

Unlike Alex, Maya-Jade believes that people care about what she thinks, and that she can make a difference. And when Alex and Josey form an unlikely bond, with Josey confiding in him, Alex starts to believe he can make a difference—a good difference—in the world. If he can truly feel he matters, Alex may be able to finally rise to the occasion of his own life.

My Thoughts: I started this book and couldn't stop reading. I tore through this novel. It made me cry. It made my heart ache. I felt terrible for Alex and all that we went through. I liked how the narrative worked: we learned things slowly. I wasn't expecting the twist at the end, but the set-up of the book tugged at my feelings. I enjoyed the moments between Alex and Maya-Jade. The moments of Shady Glen were rough at first, but lovely as time went on. I enjoyed hearing all the stories of the residents. They all had something to share, especially Josey. This is a must read novel for everyone! 

* Book sent for review

I'm so excited to chat with Gayle Foreman:

Would you rather be flattered or told something in brutal honesty?

 

One of my favorite sayings is, “The truth will set you free but first it will make you miserable.” Maybe that’s why I don’t trust flattery as much as I do criticism? Though I do enjoy flattery, too.

It is so much easier to trust criticism. 

 

What point in history would you like to live through?

 

That’s such a hard question because our understanding of historical times is so very limited because it’s all conjecture. I think I’d like to hopscotch through a bunch of eras, less to experience say the Jazz Age or Enlightenment than to test the hypothesis I’ve developed while writing books with historical elements that people are people are people, with similar desires and traits and flaws, no matter where and when they live.  

I like the idea of going to different eras. I would love to travel to Regency England or Renaissance Italy. 

 

What is a fond memory of your grandparent?

 

My grandparents all died by the time I was a teenager, and I deeply regret that I didn’t get to know them as fully-rounded people, which is maybe why I set my latest novel Not Nothing, in an assisted-living facility and chose a 107-year-old man to narrate it. The memories I do have tend to be small moments: having Shake-and-Bake chicken and Pepperidge Farm cake for Shabbat Dinner at my grandparents’ Hollywood apartment or the news clippings my grandmother would send to me.

Ha! My grandmother would cut out articles of my accomplishments. She created a photo album for me. Some of those are in there. It was very sweet. I had very fond memories of my grandparents. 

 

What is your best thing you've accomplished?

 

My family first. Next is something I don’t talk about publicly, which is maybe what makes it the most profound. Sorry to be so vague but to quote Taylor Swift, “I’m only cryptic and Machiavellian because I care.”

Ha! You will tell everyone if the time is right. It's a very important question and makes me want to be a better person. 

 

If you could interview anyone - who would it be and why?

 

My grandparents. I have befriended and interviewed several elderly people throughout the years—I think I’m drawn to old folks to fill my grandparent gap—and the stories they tell, the history they’ve lived through, blows my mind. But so does the realization that even though things were very different in, say, the 1930s or 1950s, the human experience was very much the same. I take comfort in that.

Yes! You capture this beautifully in the book! 

Author Interview: Chris Lynch

Walkin' the Dog comes out tomorrow.

ABOUT THE BOOK
In a family of strong personalities with very strong points of view, Louis is what his mother lovingly calls “the inactivist,” someone who’d rather kick back than stand out. He only hopes he can stay under the radar when he starts high school in the fall, his first experience with public school after years of homeschooling. But when a favor for a neighbor and his stinky canine companion unexpectedly turns into a bustling dog-walking business, Louis finds himself meeting an unprecedented number of new friends—both human and canine. Agatha, a quippy and cagey girl his age always seems to be telling two truths and a lie. Cyrus, a few years his senior, promises he’s going to show Louis how to be a better person, whether Louis wants him to or not. And then there are the dogs: misbehaving border terriers, the four (possible stolen) sausage dogs, the rest of Louis’s charges, and a mysterious white beast who appears at a certain spot at the edge of the woods. 

Dogs and human alike all seem to have something they want to teach Louis, including his menacing older brother who keeps turning up everywhere. But is Louis ready to learn the lesson he needs most: how to stop being a lone wolf and be part of a pack?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Chris Lynch is the award–winning author of several highly acclaimed young adult novels, including Printz Honor Book Freewill, Iceman, Gypsy Davey, and Shadow Boxer—all ALA Best Books for Young Adults—as well as Killing Time in Crystal City, Little Blue Lies, Pieces, Kill Switch, Angry Young Man, and Inexcusable, which was a National Book Award finalist and the recipient of six starred reviews. Chris is the author of middle grade novel Walkin’ the Dog. He holds an MA from the writing program at Emerson College. He teaches in the creative writing MFA program at Lesley University. He lives in Boston and in Scotland.

And I'm lucky enough to be chatting with Chris Lynch today! 

 What are you afraid of? Rats. I don't know how it started, but for as long as I can remember I have found rats deeply unsettling. I would rather encounter an angry dragon in my garden than a calm rat.

Do you have a favorite dog book? The Call of the Wild, by Jack London. From the time I first encountered it as a kid, I think I understood that a lifetime of dealing with people would make me want to go feral.

What's your favorite pet dog story? My German Shepherd, Sheba, bit me in the face one hot, dog day of summer. And it was my fault. I refused to heed the ample leave-me-alone signs she was giving off. There were absolutely no lingering hard feelings on either side, however.

What was your first job? I was a paper boy, delivering The Boston Globe in the days when it had the greatest sports section on Earth.

Are you more of a lone wolf or part of a pack? Lone wolf may be a bit strong, but I am simply not a pack creature by nature.

Thanks for chatting with me today!  Enjoy the book everyone! 

Review: Sweet & Bitter Rivals

 

* First in a new series *

Abby St. Clair can’t wait to start another season with her elite riding team at her boarding school. She has something to prove after literally falling on her face during the biggest competition of the year the previous season. And she could really use a win after her mom left her family, her dad remarried, and Abby’s new stepsister, Emery, proved to be a strong rider and stiff competition.

Abby wants to return to some semblance of normal but is hiding a secret: she accidentally cost her biggest rival, Selly, a chance at team captain. Then Abby begins to receive anonymous messages, threatening to expose her unwitting sabotage and a video that makes it look like she’s trash-talking Emery. With an important competition on the horizon and the knowledge that someone in her circle knows way too much about her, the pressure is on.

Abby tries to put on blinders and have the perfect meet with her horse, Beau, but she’s about to find out the hard way that secrets don’t make friends at Saddlehill Academy. - summary from the publisher

My Thoughts: As soon as Jessica Burkhart announced this, I was SUPER excited! I LOVED the Canterwood Crest series. I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book. It was everything I wanted it to be - it had all the classics from the Canterwood Crest books - friendship drama, family drama, crushes, and of course horses. I loved the horse moments in this book. I felt bad for Abby as she struggled with the changes in her family on top of going back to school and trying to keep a secret. I loved the easter eggs from Canterwood Crest and learning more about our favorite characters. And of course, that cliffhanger ending makes me NEED the next book immediately. Luckily, I only have to wait less than two months!

Cover Thoughts: Adorable

Source: Book sent for review (I asked the publisher for this one, which is rare for me)

Library Recommendations: A must have book for your school and public libraries!

5 Things: Stellarlune

 

It's hard to talk about this one without spoilers, so I made a Five Things Post

Already looking forward to the next book in the series. 

Blog Tour: City of the Dead

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the CITY SPIES: CITY OF THE DEAD by James Ponti Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 About The Book:

Title: CITY SPIES: CITY OF THE DEAD

Author: James Ponti

Pub. Date: February 7, 2023

Publisher: Aladdin

Formats: Hardcover, ebook, audiobook

Pages: 400

Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/CITY-SPIES-CITY-OF-THE-DEAD 

In this fourth installment in the New York Times bestselling series from Edgar Award winner James Ponti, the young group of spies go codebreaking in Cairo in another international adventure perfect for fans of Spy School and Mrs. Smith’s Spy School for Girls.

Codename Kathmandu, better known as Kat, loves logic and order, has a favorite eight-digit number, and can spot a pattern from a mile away. So when a series of cyberattacks hits key locations in London while the spies are testing security for the British Museum, it’s clear that Kat’s skill for finding reason in what seems like randomness makes her the perfect candidate to lead the job.

And while the team follows the deciphered messages to Egypt and the ancient City of the Dead to discover who is behind the attacks and why, Kat soon realizes that there’s another layer to the mystery.

With more players, more clues, and involving higher levels of British Intelligence than ever before, this mission is one of the most complex that the group has faced to date. And it’s also going to bring about a change to the City Spies…

 

Grab the rest of the CITY SPIES BOOKS now!

 My Thoughts:

Ok, I love this series - for so many reasons. Check out my past reviews. The fourth book in the series was better than ever! I loved going to Egypt with the gang. I loved the addition to the family - although that ending freaking me out a bit. I loved seeing the team together again in action. Lots of action, danger, and plot twists here. I can't wait to see where this series goes next. This is one of my favorite middle grade series and I recommend it at the library a lot! 

Book Trailer:

About James:

JAMES PONTI (he/him/his) is the New York Times bestselling author of three middle grade book series: City Spies, about an unlikely squad of five kids from around the world who form an elite MI6 Spy Team; the Edgar Award–winning Framed! series, about a pair of tweens who solve mysteries in Washington, DC; and the Dead City trilogy, about a secret society that polices the undead living beneath Manhattan. His books have appeared on more than fifteen different state award lists and he is the founder of a writers group known as the Renegades of Middle Grade. James is also an Emmy– nominated television writer and producer who has worked for many networks including Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, PBS, History, and Spike TV, as well as NBC Sports. He lives with his family in Orlando, Florida. Find out more at JamesPonti.com.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon

Giveaway Details:

1 lucky winner will receive a finished copy of CITY OF THE DEAD, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow the Tour:

1/23/2023	Mythical Books	Excerpt/IG Post
1/23/2023	A Dream Within A Dream	Excerpt
1/24/2023	YA Books Central	Excerpt
1/24/2023	Kait Plus Books	Excerpt/IG Post
1/25/2023	Log Cabin Library	Excerpt
1/25/2023	Kim"s Book Reviews and Writing Aha's	Review/IG Post
1/26/2023	Blog Write. Read. Live	Excerpt/IG Post
1/26/2023	Lifestyle of Me	Review
1/27/2023	YA Book Nerd	Review/IG Post
1/27/2023	onemused	IG Post

 

James's Tour Schedule

 I'm super excited because he's making at stop at one of my favorite bookstore: RJ Julia's. I can't wait to meet him! I only wish I was moderating the event (if only!)

BookTok: The Jasmine Project

This debut novel was amazing!

 

@yabooknerdlibrarian My new favorite YA book that I could not put down! #YAbooks #fivestars #booktok #librariansoftiktok #amreading #debutnovel ♬ original sound - Jennifer @YA Book Nerd 📚📚📚

Review: Made in Korea

 

Valerie Kwon loves her school based business selling Korean beauty products with her cousin. Even though her parents don't see the value in it. She wants to take her grandmother to Paris and prove them all wrong. 

But she's stunned when the new boy at school makes a splash selling the K-Pop's beauty products. The students start choosing between Valerie's products and their favorite boy band's products. Valerie's not about to go down without a fight.

So she decides to make a little friendly wager with Wes Jung. Competition never hurt anyone right?

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this dual POV and dual narrative. I like how both main characters created a business. And I liked learning more about Korean Beauty products. I loved how they both had a secret from their family - about their future. I admired their determination. While I didn't love the wagers, I did appreciate the high stakes for both Valerie and Wes. And I loved their moments together. I always love a good grandmother character, so I really loved the moments between Valerie and Halmeoni. I also enjoyed that Valerie's business partner was her cousin - and their banter was fun. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: ARC sent for review

Library Recommendation: A great romance book to add to your public and school library collections.

Review: Amelia Six

Millie's about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime. She's won a coveted spot to spend the night at Amelia Earhart's childhood home with five other girls. Millie doesn't have any friends and since her mom left, it's just been her and her dad.

Mille's excited to explore the house. When looking for a place to sleep, she accidentally stumbles into the wrong room where she sees Amelia Earhart's famous goggles. Unlucky for her, the housekeeper spots her and yells at her.

Later in the night, during the scavenger hunt, someone notices the goggles are missing. Fingers point towards Millie as she was one of the last people to see them. The girls scramble to find the goggles. The snow outside becomes a blizzard, leaving everyone cut off from the rest of the world. There's something strange happening in the house and the girls come together to solve the mystery.

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book - for the history of Amelia Earhart, for the friendships formed, for the nerdy smart girls, for the scavenger hunt, and for all the action and the danger. I love reading about smart, nerdy girls. Especially when they all become friends. I loved how the girls came together to solve the mystery. I really want to visit Amelia Earhart's family home now. I loved hearing about all the nooks and crannies. Lots of twists and turns in the plot - which kept me turning those pages to find out what happened.

Cover Thoughts: Cute
Source: ARC sent for review
Library Recommendation: Highly recommended - grab this one for your mystery/history readers, they will enjoy it!

Recommendations: