Spy Kids meets Marvel and XMen in this new middle grade/middle school novel from Meredith Davis!
Seventh grader Noah Minor made headlines as a baby wheSpy Kids meets Marvel and XMen in this new middle grade/middle school novel from Meredith Davis!
Seventh grader Noah Minor made headlines as a baby when he miraculously survived a fall from a sixteen story building, but other than ‘The Cling’ (which activates in moments of high emotion & involves his clothes or blankets/sheets clinging to him like shrink wrap) he’s been basically ordinary ever since. Just like his best friends, trumpet-playing Rodney and planner-at-the-ready Haley. He loves comic books and superheroes though, so he’s initially ecstatic to learn that he can actually manipulate gravity and that a top-secret government agency wants to train him to use his powers to help save the world. Being a superhero/spy isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, though, and Noah faces a lot of hard work and several startling surprises too!
This is a great book for young readers who love graphic novels, thanks to the comic-style illustrations from Billy Yong and the bolded/enlarged onomatopoeia in the text. Which also means if you’re a teacher/librarian or parent who wants to help your student transition from strictly graphic novels to longer chapter books, The Minor Miracle fits the bill nicely. Along with the fun story, middle grade & middle school kiddos will encounter truth about friendship, integrity, perseverance, self control, and living bravely. I also enjoyed how the superpowers that Gravitas harnesses are a mix of science & imagination, and I can easily see how that could encourage the reader to explore further knowledge in physics and space sciences on their own.
Bottom Line: Humor, heart, and super heroics – along with some great life lessons – await young readers on the pages of The Minor Miracle by Meredith Davis. Noah, Haley, and Rodney are a terrific trio of friends, and they navigate some crazy things in the most important way – together. The scattered illustrations from Billy Yong add to the comic book vibes and I thought they were really fun. Boys in particular will enjoy the middle school humor, but this story will appeal to girls too, especially those who dream of being Carmen Cortez or Storm or even Hermione Granger. I am excited to hear that a second book is on the way, and I hope for a variety of reasons that Rodney gets his own adventure (that he’ll remember) this time.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
Don’t let the ‘middle grade’ designation for More Than Grit by Gretchen A. Carlson fool you. This is a book that older teens and adults will4.5 stars
Don’t let the ‘middle grade’ designation for More Than Grit by Gretchen A. Carlson fool you. This is a book that older teens and adults will enjoy as well. I know I did!
Twelve-year-old Sissy Grumme feels the burden of knowing her family can’t afford the $5 deposit to be connected to electricity when it comes to their rural Kansas town. So she makes a deal with grumpy Old Man Morton – a neighbor that most people avoid – to do farm chores for him in exchange for eggs to sell. This compelling thread in the overall story had me feeling all the feels for so many different reasons. The author crafts Morton’s character with deep layers, and my emotions became more fully involved with each layer that is revealed. I also was just moved to tears at the earnestness of this little girl, working so hard to earn a few cents here and there for her family. It reminded me that we take so much for granted these days, including the value of a dollar and the accessibility of electricity.
For all of Sissy’s good intentions though, several other grave concerns compete for her attention besides her secret deal with Mr. Morton. Bullying, war, prejudice, wild animals… along with other responsibilities and characters. I felt my tension rise in sympathy for poor Sissy as these burdens just keep piling up, burdens she was never meant to carry alone or even carry at all. She’s such a likable character, and I wanted to reach inside the pages and wrap her up in a big hug. I absolutely loved the spiritual lessons on the power of friendship & community, on not making judgments based only on what we see … and that God is always working behind the scenes on every detail of our lives. Even when we can’t see evidence of it. So important for all of us to grasp, no matter how old we are, but especially as a tween or teen.
Bottom Line: In More Than Grit, Gretchen A. Carlson seamlessly combines fiction and fact with heartfelt characters and tender faith lessons to engage all your emotions. The story’s compelling layers don’t shy away from the hardships of rural life in the late 1930s, or the common struggles of life and faith that we still face today. At the same time, it crescendos with hope, resiliency, and the reminder of God’s faithfulness even when life is hard. More Than Grit might be officially listed as a novel for tweens & teens, but this adult was so charmed & touched by it, too. Knowing that it’s based on a true story in the author’s family history made it even more meaningful to me. I loved the whole thing, from my first encounter with Sissy to the author’s note at the end. Get this for a tween/teen in your life, but get a copy for yourself too because it’s enjoyable from ages 11-111!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
Isn’t that cover great?!! As I read Phooey Kerflooey by Kristen Joy Wilks, I could imagine all the giggles that would be coming from my eight and six Isn’t that cover great?!! As I read Phooey Kerflooey by Kristen Joy Wilks, I could imagine all the giggles that would be coming from my eight and six year old nephews if I was reading it to them. (Something that I hope will be reality very soon!) The battle to rid their home of a truly crazed squirrel (amid several other upheaval-bringing life events) gets more chaotic by the minute, and as an adult my stress levels rose at the same pace. Oh the cringe-worthy disaster haha! Plus, I was stressed at how much stress Marcus was taking on himself lol. But to the age group this is written for, the antics of Rasputin (the squirrel) – and Marcus, Conner, and Nia’s attempts to stop him – are pure laugh-out-loud gold. Then, when you add an adorable and easily-terrified Newfie puppy named Princess Foo-Foo Bear (aka Phooey Kerflooey) into the mix, things just get more chaotic (and girly) instead of the guard-dog calming effect Marcus was hoping for.
They’d lived in all-out pandemonium for so long. What would perfect peace even look like?
Tucked in between the hilarity and the catastrophes that will delight middle grade readers (and younger if they’re being read to), there are some very important truths about peace and God and ourselves. “Could peace have been his, all this time, if he’d just turned his eyes away from the chaos and focused on his Master?” That’s something we can all take to heart, no matter our age. The world right now is full of chaos and peace can seem elusive. But if we keep our thoughts fixed on Jesus, He will keep our hearts in perfect peace, regardless of what’s going on around us or in us (Isaiah 26:3). I loved how the author wove this truth so naturally through the story and into Marcus’s heart, and I thought Marcus’s journey toward embracing it as a personal truth to change his life was so meaningful. The difference is almost tangible – in his stress levels and mine lol – when he learns to fix his eyes on Jesus instead of his circumstances… and I absolutely loved how the author shows his change of focus and subsequent peace even when the circumstances haven’t really changed. Another important lesson for readers of all ages to take away from Phooey Kerflooey.
Bottom Line: Phooey Kerflooey showcases a comedy of errors involving a holy terror of a squirrel, an injury-prone daredevil, and an endearing scaredy cat of a dog … and one boy’s impossible quest to correct them all in his own ability & strength. Until an important Bible verse and that same dog teach him a valuable lesson about peace. Author Kristen Joy Wilks knows how to write a story that middle grade readers will find hilarious, entertaining, and meaningful and that parents will love for all those reasons plus the spiritual lessons it teaches and discussions it can prompt. I adored Marcus and Conner and Nia – and Phooey! – and I hope there are more adventures to be had with them in the future. A fun and insightful read for boys and girls and the adults who love them!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
The Book Bandit starts a chapter book prequel series, of sorts, to Caron Pescatore’s middle grade Kids’ Court series. The two series feature the same The Book Bandit starts a chapter book prequel series, of sorts, to Caron Pescatore’s middle grade Kids’ Court series. The two series feature the same characters a few years apart, the chapter book series of course covering the younger elementary years. I thought this was a neat concept, particularly for families that have children spanning multiple grade levels. The early elementary ages can enjoy the Phoebe Chen Mystery series and grow into their older siblings’ Kids’ Court middle grade series while getting to stay in the same universe with the same characters.
The feel and cadence of The Book Bandit reminded me of the Encyclopedia Brown books that I loved reading as a child. The mystery involves a missing book – an autographed book, no less – so nothing too dark or scary for young readers, but it’s clearly important to their friend so it makes sense for Phoebe & Luana to be on the case! The two eight-year-olds have different personalities, different cultural backgrounds, different strengths, and different approaches to investigating, but I loved the sweet friendship they share. The world would be a better place if more adults would emulate Phoebe & Luana, and the focus on empathy in this story is an important reinforcement for today’s children.
Bottom Line: The Book Bandit by Caron Pescatore is a sweet story with a light mystery and diverse characters. Themes of friendship and empathy give the plot layers (without coming on too strong) and provide opportunities for meaningful discussion. This would make a great read-aloud at home or in school, but it’s a fun story for kids to read on their own too.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
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