Middle Grade Review: The Steps

 

Ruby doesn't feel safe. Her mother and aunt died in a car accident a few years ago. Her father and his wife fought so viciously that they forbade their daughters to talk anymore. Sterling was Ruby's best friend. Ruby doesn't feel safe in her own house after her father married again. 

One night Sterling appears at Ruby's window begging for her help. Apparently, their grandmother's dog is barking up a storm, and he likes Ruby better than anyone. When Ruby goes in to subdued him, they find their grandmother tied up and her ring stolen.

Everyone in the family wants the family fortune. And they are willing to do almost anything to get their hands on it. Is someone out to get her?

My Thoughts: A younger YA novel/older upper middle grade. Ruby is 14 and I just wanted to wrap her up in a hug. She's not had an easy life and could use a friend. It's hard to know who to trust in this book. I loved Ruby's chess friends - they added humor and friendship to the story. I loved the police officer. The last bit of the book was lots of action and danger, which kept me turning the pages quickly. 

Why I read this book: The tagline

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: Highly recommended thriller/mystery for your middle grade or YA collection

Middle Grade Monday: Trouble at the Tangerine

Simon's family moves around - a lot. He's tired of moving and would love to stay in one place. He wants to put down roots, make some friends, and not worry about being perfect all the time. Simon's family runs a social media page. Simon doesn't mind social media, but it doesn't share real life. It doesn't talk about the loneliness he feels or leaving friends behind or not letting people know the real him. 

But on the first day they move it, a necklace is stolen. Because of the circumstances, the thief has to be someone inside the building. Simon's parents aren't thrilled with the theft and his father is already talking about their nect adventure. Simon teams up with his neighbor Amaya to discover the thief. He hopes that in they do, his parents will stop thinking about moving already.

My Thoughts: I really loved this mystery. I felt badly for Simon: 

1. His leg is broke and he's having a hard time getting around. 

2. He's hiding himself if order to make friends

3. He doesn't stay in touch with any of this past friends

I loved how Amaya and Simon investigated the people in the building. There's quite a cast of characters. I liked how things ended - especially with Simon making new friends. I love how social media tied inot this book. I hope this is the start of a series. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: Book sent for review

Library Recommendation: A fun middle grade mystery, highly recommended for your school and public library collections. 

Middle Grade Review: Framed

* first book in a trilogy *

Florian has just moved to Washington D.C. and finds a new friend in the neighborhood. He teaches his new friend Margaret TOAST (The theory of all small things). They use this theory to impress the FBI when paintings go missing at a museum. Can they solve the case?

My Thoughts: I've been meaning to read this for years and my co-workers been pushing me to read it for just as long. James Ponti is a favorite author of mine. Our copy is frequently checked out of the library, but I grabbed it one day. And I'm so happy I did. I really enjoyed this book; I couldn't put it down. I love the friendship between Florian and Margaret. I love TOAST. I can't wait to read what happens next! 

Cover Thoughts: Fantastic

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: A must have trilogy for your school and public library.

Blog Tour: The Liars Society

 

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the THE LIAR'S SOCIETY by Alyson Gerber Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

About The Book:
Title: THE LIAR'S SOCIETY
Author: Alyson Gerber
Pub. Date: February 6, 2024
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook
Pages: 304
Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/THE-LIARS-SOCIETY

 The Inheritance Games and One of Us is Lying for middle grade -- beloved author Alyson Gerber's new series is an unforgettable mystery featuring a secret society, a mysterious island, and dangerous family secrets.

Weatherby is a fish out of water. When she lands a scholarship to the prestigious Boston School, she’s excited to be in the same world as her dad, whom she’s never met, and make real friends. But Weatherby has a secret she’ll risk everything to protect, one that could destroy her new life.

Every member of Jack’s wealthy and privileged family has made their mark at the Boston School. Everyone, that is, except for Jack, who is entirely mediocre. He’s desperate to prove his worth to his influential father. But Jack has a secret of his own . . . one with the power to ruin everything.

When the money for their school trip to a private island―exclusive to Boston students―is stolen, Jack and Weatherby are invited to play a high-stakes game and solve the mystery of the missing money. If they win, they’ll be selected to join the oldest, most powerful secret society in the world―and they’ll be Boston royalty forever. If they lose . . . well, they better not lose.

Beloved author Alyson Gerber crafts an unforgettable mystery that asks―are some secrets and lies impossible to overcome?

My Thoughts: This is the start of a new series and I really enjoyed it. I loved watching Weatherby adjust to a new school and new friends. I enjoyed her banter with Jack - especially as it grew to friendship. I loved the sailing moments. I enjoyed watching the family secrets unfold. I'm so looking forward to the next book in the series! 

 

About Alyson Gerber:

Alyson Gerber is the author of The Liars Society series and the critically acclaimed novels Focused, Braced, and Taking Up Space. A former marketing director, Alyson earned her MFA in creative writing at the New School. She grew up in New England and now lives in New York City with her family. Follow her @AlysonGerber and at alysongerber.com

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

Follow the Tour:

2/18/2024	@enthuse_reader	IG Review/TikTok Post
2/19/2024	YA Book Nerd	Review/IG Post
2/20/2024	The Momma Spot	Review
2/21/2024	@thepagelady	IG Review
2/22/2024	Country Mamas With Kids	Review/IG Post
2/23/2024	Kim's Book Reviews and Writing Aha's	Review/IG Post
2/24/2024	@katherinebichler	TikTok Post

Giveaway Details:
1 winner will receive a finished copy of THE LIAR'S SOCIETY, US Only.
Ends March 7th, midnight EST

a Rafflecopter giveaway

On Your Radar: Midnight at the Barclay Hotel (44)

Title: Midnight at the Barclay Hotel

Author: Fleur Bradley

Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers

Release Date: August 25, 2020

Reasons It Should Be On Your Radar:

* Ghost Hunting

* Unique Invitation

* Haunted Hotel

* Friendship

* Secrets

 * Fun Librarian

* Family

* Murder

* The hotel's Library

* Murder Mystery Weekend

* Detectives

** ACR sent for review 

Library Recommendation: An excellent choice for your middle grade mystery section - both for school and public libraries.

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:

Mysterious Saturday Review: Tiara on the Terrace

 *Book 2 in the Young and Yang series *

Sophie and Grace are helping out at the 125th annual Winter Sun Festival - a town tradition. Sophie's a little worried that Grace is over their big adventure and maybe her interests are turning. On the first day of preparations, the festival president turns up murdered.

Young and Yang are back on the case, only the death is ruled as an accident. These two aren't fooled and with the help of Trista, they realize they might be the ones interested in solving the murder.

In order to have access to all the suspects, the three friends volunteer as pages for the Royal Court. Sophie isn't thrilled with the idea, but even she admits that it's for a good cause.

As more people connected with the festival have accidents, including the three of them, Sophie and Grace are convinced that someone means business and these accidents were planned. Can they figure out who is behind everything before it's too late?

My Thoughts: I really love this duo -they're smart, determined, and quick on their feet. I liked seeing the behind the scenes of the royal court with learning decorum, photo opportunities, and making themselves beautiful for their big moment. I liked how the older girls bonded with the three friends, despite the forced bonding activities. I'm not a fan of forced bonding, but I really liked how these girls came together. 

I love Trista. She's terrible at spying but she's crazy smart.

I love how everything happens in the span of a few days, it heightened the tension for me.

I like how friendships are tested and the younger girls make mistakes in order to appear popular, but that they realize their mistakes. 

I like the almost romance plot.

Cover Thoughts: Love the action of this cover
Source: ARC sent for review

Final Thoughts: A great middle grade mystery! I hope to see much more of Young and Yang in the future.