FLYING OVER WATER
By S. Hitchcock & N. H. Senzai

Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This page-turning dual point-of-view middle-grade novel tells the stories of Noura, a Syrian refugee, and Jordyn, the student ambassador who welcomes Noura and her twin brother to their new school in Tampa, Florida. 

As the girls become better acquainted, they realize they are both battling demons and set about helping each other. But bigger issues are going on around them. There is unrest in the community. The mosque Noura and her family attend is burnt by arsonists and the U.S President has announced a Muslim ban. Other minority groups are suffering, too. 

This is a wonderful, much-needed novel for introducing middle-graders to the important concepts of immigration, what it means to be a refugee, prejudice/racism, and discrimination. It also provides readers with a deeper understanding of the Syrian refugee experience. Read and share widely—with increased tolerance and understanding the world will move closer to becoming a better place for all.

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SING LIKE NO ONE'S LISTENING
By Vanessa Jones

​Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Set in London, this turbulent young adult novel features Nettie, a talented singer/songwriter who is accepted into a top performing arts school but grapples with finding her voice while grieving the death of her ballerina mother.

Nellie's character is distinct and the backdrop of the school is rich with detail and provides a fascinating peek behind the curtain's of the theater world. Plot twists and turns, including an intense love interest, bullies, and pressure from the teachers to perform and overcome her voice hurdles, keep the book steaming along. An enjoyable read!

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FOCUSED By Alyson Gerber

Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

​From the author of Braced, which sheds light on scoliosis, comes Focused - a middle-grade novel about ADHD.

The main character, chess-obsessed Clea, has been struggling with school and her relationships with others. When she is diagnosed with ADHD, her life slowly begins to change as strategies are implemented to help her find ways to concentrate and manage her school work and daily tasks.

Clea is a well-crafted character whose seventh-grade challenges (homework, friendship issues, bullies, and first crushes) are relatable and believable. The first-person narrative gives the reader unique insight into her thought processes as she struggles with her ADHD, and juggles academic and social pressures. Readers will become cheerleaders - wanting Clea to try, try, and try again to strive for her goals and dreams. 

This is an ideal read for ADHD sufferers and anyone interested in learning more about it. A helpful author's note follows to supplement the informative details included in the story.

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GOOD ENOUGH by Jen Petro-Roy

Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This middle-grade story about Riley, a twelve-year-old anorexic, will tug at your heartstrings.

The journal format allows the reader the privilege of seeing into Riley’s head - a head filled with changing thoughts and feelings, both helpful and dysfunctional, as she journies through inpatient treatment for her disordered eating. Insights into the experiences of other patients (ones who Riley forms friendships with) are also included. It's an emotionally difficult read but worth the reader heartache.

The accompanying guide You Are Enough: An Inclusive Guide to Body Image and Eating Disorder Recovery is a helpful add-on book for those who want more in-depth support and information on eating disorders beyond the scope of the novel.

This is an ideal read for body-conscious pre-teens, eating disorder patients, and anyone wanting to learn more about eating disorders, their impact, and treatment.

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Where The Watermelons Grow By Cindy Baldwin 
 
Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Where The Watermelons Grow takes us on a journey with twelve-year-old, North Carolina girl, Della Kelly who tiptoes from her bed one steamy summer night only to discover her mother hearing voices that aren’t there. As the days progress, Della watches her Mama fall deeper under the veil of an acute episode of schizophrenia. Initially it’s just small things like her mother fearing watermelon seeds are toxic and air conditioners are bad for your health. But these irrational concerns and non existent voices become stronger until Della can no longer recognize her mother in the body of the woman who stands before her. 

Desperate to prevent her mother’s downward spiral, which has previously ended in a hospitalization, Della takes it upon herself to shoulder an increasing amount of responsibility - from household chores to caring for her eighteen month old sister, and helping her daddy on the struggling, drought-ridden farm. And when that doesn’t work, she seeks some medicinal honey from the legendary, local Bee Lady- who, much to Della’s despair, advises Della to heal her own aching heart and let the medical professionals care for her mother.

Throughout the book, Della’s journey continues to be heart achingly sad but Cindy Baldwin’s beautiful writing gently wraps around your heart and mesmerizes, compelling you to read on like only a master storyteller can. And Baldwin’s secondary characters are just as rich and alive as her heroine. Especially Della’s exhausted but loving father, her loyal best friend, Arden, and new neighbor, Miss Lorena.

Where The Watermelons Grow is a must-read story full of love and hope despite the seriousness of the mental illness portrayed. Grab an ice cold plate of watermelon, a patch of summer sun, a box of tissues, and get ready to walk in Della’s shoes. It’s an experience not to be missed.