MEENA MEETS HER MATCH by Karla Manternach

MEENA MEETS HER MATCH is a cute early middle-grade novel about friendship and life in the third grade. The protagonist (Meena) jumps off the page and her love of recycling trash into art and craft projects is refreshing and fun. 

While this book is largely an exploration of a falling out between friends, Meena also experiences a medical issue—seizures. She is diagnosed with epilepsy during the course of the story and experiences seizures and attends tests such as MRI scanning. An author's note provides more information on this condition and also relates Meena's medical issues to that of the author's daughter. 

A great transition book for readers stepping up from chapter books with an interesting and unique subplot of epilepsy. Follow reading with your favorite recycled craft activity for the complete 'Meena' experience. Enjoy!

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A Drop of Hope by Keith Calabrese

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

If you've been searching for a middle-grade read full of inspiration and the power of small kindnesses, this is it. Set in a struggling small town, the story follows multiple sixth graders and their interactions with an old well said to grant wishes. Each character is as unique and memorable as the next and the way their stories and experiences interweave is brilliantly crafted. 

This is a page-turning read told from multiple points of view. Suitable for grades three and up. Get ready for intrigue, tension, adventure, and your heart to fill with hope and happiness.

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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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​Captain Superlative By J. S. Puller

A mysterious cape, mask, and wig wearing middle-school student is changing the mood at school one good deed at a time. Quiet, friendless Janey is intrigued...

This middle-grade novel full of heart is sure to leave the reader inspired to be a better person and let their inner superhero shine.

The protagonist, Janey, is well characterized and the emotional journey she travels during the story feels genuine and believable. Her inspiration for change, a fellow student with leukemia who prefers to be known as Captain Superlative, is an equally strong character. Even the school bully, Dagmar, is complex and well crafted.

This is a great story for all middle graders- for bullies, the bullied, those dealing with loss or the prospect of loss, and anyone struggling to fit in.  

Get ready for happy tears, sad tears, and change-the-world inspiration. Enjoy!

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

GOAT'S COAT
By Tom Percival (Illustrated by Christine Pym)

Release date: 12/4/18

In Goat's Coat, we meet a caring and resourceful goat who uses parts of his coat to help others in need. Percival's cleverly rhymed text pairs brilliantly with Pym's brightly colored illustrations. The power of kindness shines in this fun story. Perfect for small and large group story times, this book is sure to become a read-again favorite with children everywhere.

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Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
 
Release date: 4/30/19
 
THE LIBRARY OF EVER By Zeno Alexander
 
This story is a librarian and book lover’s dream! A young girl, Lenora, with aspirations of becoming a librarian, is employed in a magical library. She swears to answer any question, no matter the challenge and so begins a wild adventure involving space and time travel, shrinking and unshrinking, and assisting a variety of library patrons from robots to ants.
Lenora is a well-crafted character full of spirit and warmth. The library patrons are unique, memorable and colorful. The intensity is well paced and the evil ‘Forces of Darkness’, who seek to destroy all libraries and sources of knowledge, are just the right amount of scary.
This page-turning adventure full of facts, twists, and turns is perfect for reader’s eight years and up. Additionally, teachers will love the endless project inspiration stemming from the interesting facts Lenora accumulates during her adventures. This a must read and will certainly be flagged as a kid lit classic in years to come.

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Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
 
Publication date: 11/6/18
 
INKLING By Kenneth Oppel (Illustrations by Sydney Smith)
 
A middle-grade novel about an inkblot might sound uninspiring but this novel is far from it! The blot, Inkling, is full of warmth and loyalty and arrives just at the right moment for a struggling single-parent family.
Oppel’s wonderfully crafted cast from Inkling to the depressed comic artist father jump off the page and straight into your heart. Even the ‘bad guys’ are multi-dimensional and layered.
Family dynamics and friendships are well portrayed and the cascade of events that follow the inkblot’s sketchbook escape are engaging and page turning.
Moral and ethical questions are also raised during the course of the book, encouraging readers to think and ponder right from wrong and everything in between.
Grab your favorite inky pen and sketchbook and enjoy!

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

YOU DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING JILLY P
By Alex Gino

This new middle-grade title filled with heart, the latest from the awarding-winning author of George, is jam-packed with action, tension, and important social issues. It follows the story of Jilly, a book-loving hearing white girl (with hearing parents) in California whose baby sister is born Deaf. As well as journeying with Jilly and her parents as they navigate how best to support and raise the newest member of their family, the reader also sees Jilly dealing with race discrimination between members of her own extended family and also toward a friend she cares about.

The complex social issues raised in this story including Deaf culture, racism, and police violence make it an important read for middle-schoolers as they mature and begin to learn about the world around them. Hopefully, the book will provide a platform for caregivers, teachers, and peers to delve deeper into these subjects and ensure open-dialogue and conversations (even if uncomfortable) continue.

Gino's Author Notes at the end of the book are an important addition, providing more background and context for readers and educators.

Your heart might feel heavy with worry after reading this book but you'll be glad you did. 

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Operation Rescue Dog by Maria Gianferrari (Illustrated by Luisa Uribe)
 
Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Operation Rescue Dog is a sweet story about a lonely young girl who journeys with her Abuela to meet and adopt a rescue dog. Told from both the point of view of the girl and the dog she rescues, it is a wonderful story of the transformative power of friendship and love.
 
The language such as, “Can a dog feel like a hug?” is poetic and beautiful and the soft hues of the illustrations are a perfect compliment.
 
The story is followed by an author’s note which discusses pet rescue and even includes a glossary of Spanish words used in the text.
 
Beautiful language, illustrations, and a wonderful message make this a clear picture book winner but beware- you may end up welcoming a furry friend into your life at the end!

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