Review: The Sherlock Society: Hurricane Heist by James Ponti

Blogger's Favorites, Book Review and Content, Middle Grade 8-12, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, , , , , , , ,
The Hurricane Heist by James Ponti

The Sherlock Society: Hurricane Heist (The Sherlock Society #2)
James Ponti
Aladdin
Published September 2, 2025

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About The Sherlock Society: Hurricane Heist

When a hurricane uncovers new information in a cold case, the Sherlock Society investigates a decades-old heist in this second book in the action-packed and funny New York Times bestselling Sherlock Society middle grade series from Edgar Award–winning author James Ponti!

When a category three hurricane hits Miami Beach, it uncovers a body buried at the renowned Moroccan Hotel. The body is identified as the man who served as the hotel’s bell captain sixty years ago…and the presumed culprit of the million-dollar jewel heist that took place just before his disappearance.

Since the bell captain clearly didn’t take off with the goods as had been long believed, the Sherlock Society sets their sights on uncovering the real culprit of the theft. But when the thief may also be implicated in the bell captain’s murder, even sixty years later, there are people who want the truth to stay buried.

My Review

I read the first book in the “City Spies” series earlier this year, and I enjoyed it. Going from that book to this one, I couldn’t help noticing how much tighter the writing is in Hurricane Heist. Like, City Spies was good. Hurricane Heist was so smooth. The pacing is quick, the shifts between timelines are well-managed, the characters are consistent and engaging. I probably could have read the whole book in a single sitting without even noticing the passing of time. (I got interrupted and had to stop.)

As a Floridian myself, I’m always a little nervous about books that include hurricanes. I’ve read some hurricane descriptions that truly made no sense in other books, but Hurricane Heist seemed pretty accurate. I think the author also lives in Florida, so I’m not surprised. It was also interesting that the hurricane doesn’t happen at the most intense parts of the story (in terms of plot). I like that Ponti did that– I think a lot of authors would have tried to orient the whole story around the storm, which gets tricky when you’re talking about a mystery that requires people, especially kids, to be out investigating.

The story handles the mystery elements and young characters really nicely, too. They’re involved in the actual investigation, and things get a little tense a few times, but it stays very appropriate to the middle grade audience.

I like that the characters of the Sherlock Society each have specific talents and niche interests, too. That makes them each valuable to the story in a different way.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book. I loved the first one, too, and I’m already eager to read the next installment in the series.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. References to murder and theft.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday

I’m sharing this post as a part of a weekly round-up of middle-grade posts called Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday. Check out other blogs with posts about middle-grade books today on Marvelous Middle-Grade Mondays at Always in the Middle.

Banned Book Review: Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret. by Judy Blume

Blogger's Favorites, Book Review and Content, Contemporary, Historical, Middle Grade 8-12, , , , , , , , ,

Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret.
Judy Blume
Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Published February 28, 2023 (Orig 1970)

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret.

Margaret shares her secrets and her spirituality in this iconic Judy Blume novel, beloved by millions.

Margaret Simon, almost twelve, likes long hair, tuna fish, the smell of rain, and things that are pink. She’s just moved from New York City to Farbook, New Jersey, and is anxious to fit in with her new friends—Nancy, Gretchen, and Janie. When they form a secret club to talk about private subjects like boys, bras, and getting their first periods, Margaret is happy to belong.

But none of them can believe Margaret doesn’t have religion, and that she isn’t going to the Y or the Jewish Community Center. What they don’t know is Margaret has her own very special relationship with God. She can talk to God about everything—family, friends, even Moose Freed, her secret crush.

Margaret is funny and real. As you read her story, you’ll know why this book has been the favorite of millions of readers. It’s as if Margaret is talking right to you, sharing her secrets with a friend.

My Review

My elementary school teachers read books like Superfudge out loud to us, but I largely missed out on the books Judy Blume wrote for girls. An aunt gave me the book Tiger Eyes when I was in high school, which I read but didn’t like at the time. So, this is my first time reading Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret.

I can see the reason why so many people love and appreciate this book. It centers girls and speaks frankly about the pressure that girls feel during adolescence as their bodies change in ways that their peers notice. I love that. To have a space that normalizes the awkwardness, the questions, and the shifting landscape in relationships between girls is so important.

I also appreciated the exploration of faith and religion, though I suspect that some of the issues might be less relevant today maybe? Margaret’s dad is Jewish, and her mom was raised in a Christian family. Because of this, they’ve decided not to participate in any organized religion and to let Margaret decide what she believes as an adult. This is complicated by the fact that Margaret’s grandparents and some friends want her to choose between Judaism and Christianity, as if she has to pick a side in an argument.

I suspect that community pressure to join a particular faith is probably less now than it was in the 1970s, but that might really depend on where you live and family circumstances. So maybe it’s still super relevant for some young readers!

It’s always fascinating to me to read a novel that would have been classified as “contemporary” when it was written which essentially then is read as historical fiction. Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret. was first published more than fifty years ago.

Yet the importance of safe spaces where girls can talk frankly about their experiences is just as important now as it was back then. I’m really glad I was finally able to read this book.

Why Has Are You There, God? It’s Me Margaret Been Banned?

The open discussion about Margaret’s experience with puberty has prompted its being banned. She and her friends can’t wait to get their periods and develop curves. Margaret also questions whether she’d like to participate in religion. Her family is nonreligious, but she feels left out of the ceremonies and rituals that many of her friends experience, which makes her curious about religion. She goes to services and offers a kid’s view of the experience.

Margaret’s experience will resonate with a lot of readers, especially those experiencing pressure about growing up or asking questions about religion. I’m glad there are books that reinforce that it’s normal to have those kinds of questions around Margaret’s age.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 10 to 14.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
Margaret wonders when puberty will begin. She discusses her growth (or lack of it) with girl friends. Margaret and her friends do exercises where they flex their chest muscles, hoping this will help them develop their figures.

The girls talk about starting their periods. They also talk about a curvy girl in their class and spread rumors that she’s had sexual experiences with boys. They don’t say anything overt, and, in fact, when someone asks Margaret to explain what she thinks the girl has done, Margaret herself isn’t sure. She only knows it’s something that’s bad or shameful and has to do with boys. It highlights the ignorance and shaming surrounding relationships and sexuality at the time.

Margaret attends a birthday party where the kids briefly play Spin the Bottle and Two Minutes in the Closet. It’s mainly awkward approaching cringey. One boy politely asks Margaret for permission to kiss her. Another makes it clear he’s going to do what he wants (he kisses her on the mouth more than once).

Spiritual Content
Margaret’s grandparents disowned her mother when she married Margaret’s dad because he is Jewish and they are Christian. Margaret’s family is nonpracticing, and her parents want her to choose what, if any, faith she’ll practice when she grows up. She prays to God privately, not sure her whether her family would be supportive of the habit. She visits a synagogue with her grandmother to see if she would like to practice Judaism, and follows a friend to the local Catholic church where she walks into a confessional. At one point, adults argue about whether religion is something you choose for yourself or whether you’re born into it. The conversation makes Margaret uncomfortable.

Margaret includes prayers spoken directly to God as part of the narrative.

Violent Content
Margaret’s dad injures himself while using a lawn mower. She goes looking outside to see if he’s lost a limb, but he just ends up needing stitches. Margaret repeats a hurtful rumor to someone and upsets them. She feels bad about it later and knows she was wrong.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. All opinions are my own.

Review: I Wish I Didn’t Have to Tell You This by Eugene Yelchin

Blogger's Favorites, Book Review and Content, Graphic Novel or Adaptation, Memoir, Nonfiction, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , ,

I Wish I Didn’t Have to Tell You This
Eugene Yelchin
Candlewick Press
Published September 16, 2025

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About I Wish I Didn’t Have to Tell You This

In a stunning sequel to The Genius Under the Table, Eugene Yelchin’s graphic memoir depicts his harrowing journey from Leningrad’s underground art scene to a state-run Siberian asylum—and to eventual safety in the US.

No longer the creative little boy under his grandmother’s table, Yevgeny is now a young adult, pursuing his artistic dreams under the constant threat of the KGB’s stranglehold on Russia’s creative scene. When a chance encounter with an American woman opens him up to a world of romance and possibility, Yevgeny believes he has found his path to the future—and freedom overseas.

But the threat of being drafted into the military and sent to fight in Afghanistan changes everything in a terrible instant, and he takes drastic measures to decide his fate, leading to unthinkable consequences in a mental hospital.

With bold art bringing a vivid reality to life, National Book Award Finalist and Newbery Honoree Eugene Yelchin’s sequel to the acclaimed memoir The Genius Under the Table returns to Yevgeny’s saga, balancing the terror and oppression of Soviet Russia with the author’s signature charm and dark wit. I Wish I Didn’t Have to Tell You This shines a stark spotlight on history while offering a poignant, nuanced, and powerfully resonant look at growing up in—and ultimately leaving—Cold War Russia in the early 1980s.

My Review

I have not read The Genius Under the Table, so if there are references to that book in I Wish I Didn’t Have to Tell You This, then I missed them. Despite that, I followed the story just fine as I read this memoir. I don’t know that I realized it was a sequel as I was reading it.

The story can be grim, which won’t surprise anyone familiar with Russian history in the early 1980s. Yelchin does a wonderful job incorporating art, joy, and humor into the story, though. Yevgeny’s relationship with Libby is halting and sweet. I loved watching them figure out how to communicate with each other and the jokes they developed. For instance, they would ask each other if the other was “mixed up” about them, meaning did they have romantic feelings for one another.

It was easy to feel the tension Yevgeny felt as an artist. He knew he could be imprisoned, or worse, for making art. Late in the book, he is confined to a mental institution. At one point, a scene sort of fades to black, with Yevgeny in pretty dire straits. When the narrative resumes, we learn that he still carries the trauma of his experience, but has been freed.

Throughout the story, the narrative stays appropriate to the audience. The illustrations don’t show gratuitous violence, though the characters reference a murder that happens off-scene. The story also notes Russia’s invasion of Afganistan, and the high cost to human life the war creates.

At 432 pages, this graphic memoir is a little longer than other similar books, but it’s so worth reading. I loved the expressions on the characters’ faces. The illustrations are brilliant. Readers interested in European or Russian history will not want to miss this one.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 12 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing. Yevgeny’s grandmother inquires that he and his wife will not have privacy while they sleep if she moves in with the family.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
References to political assassination and bullying. References to antisemitism. At one point, Yevgeny is in a medical facility, and the scene sort of fades to black with a vague reference to torture and mistreatment.

Drug Content
Yevgeny goes to a party and possibly gets drunk? He falls down dancing and then walks home alone. It’s hard to tell if there was alcohol involved. If so, it’s not pictured. Characters smoke cigarettes in some scenes. Someone injects medication into a person’s arm without their consent.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: Trans History: From Ancient Times to the Present Day by Alex L. Combs and Andrew Eakett

Blogger's Favorites, Book Review and Content, Nonfiction, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , ,

Trans History: From Ancient Times to the Present Day
Alex L. Combs and Andrew Eakett
Candlewick Press
Published May 13, 2025

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Trans History: From Ancient Times to the Present Day

An essential introduction to trans history, from ancient times to the present day, in full-color graphic nonfiction format. Deeply researched, highly readable, and featuring a broad range of voices.

What does “trans” mean, and what does it mean to be trans? Diversity in human sex and gender is not a modern phenomenon, as readers will discover through illustrated stories and records that introduce historical figures ranging from the controversial Roman emperor Elagabalus to the swashbuckling seventeenth-century conquistador Antonio de Erauso to veterans of the Stonewall uprising Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera.

In addition to these individual profiles, the book explores some of the societal roles played by trans people beginning in ancient times and shows how European ideas about gender were spread across the globe. It explains how the science of sexology and the growing acceptance of (and backlash to) gender nonconformity have helped to shape what it means to be trans today. Illustrated conversations with modern activists, scholars, and creatives highlight the breadth of current trans experiences and give readers a deeper sense of the diversity of trans people, a group numbering in the millions. Extensive source notes provide further resources.

Moving, funny, heartbreaking, and empowering, this remarkable compendium from trans creators Alex L. Combs and Andrew Eakett is packed with research on every dynamic page.

My Review

I’m so impressed with this book. The authors do a wonderful job presenting historical information and clarifying the trustworthiness (or lack of trustworthiness) of their sources. Each chapter ends with a few questions in thought bubbles that invite readers to further digest the content and/or add context. For example, at the end of the first chapter on the ancient world, one thought bubble poses the question, “Why do certain stories from history get repeated over and over, while others are not remembered at all?” At the end of chapter two, which explores information about gender nonconforming people in European history, a thought bubble asks, “Why are some people given more freedom to transgress gender norms while others are given less?”

Throughout the book, the authors carefully qualify and contextualize the biographical information they share. An authors’ note at the beginning of the book clarifies that neither of the authors is a historian, so they stuck to the most well-known and documented research. They are careful to note that the individuals profiled in the book may not have identified themselves as transgender, but they focus on highlighting the ways that these people subverted or defied the gender norms of their time. The life stories they highlight are extremely compelling. The book well-establishes the truth that people have existed outside a rigid gender binary throughout the world and all of human history.

It might be tempting to think that because this book uses a graphic novel format that the information is thin or scattered throughout the pages. Combs and Eakett do a fabulous job creating dynamic panels packed with information. I sometimes went back and read a section multiple times. The information was clear, but there was so much that I wanted to remember.

Conclusion

Whatever topic this team takes on next, I’m absolutely here for it. They’ve cracked the code on creating well-balanced, informative and entertaining nonfiction in a graphic novel format. The book will be extremely accessible to teens both because of the age-appropriate way the authors present the content and the compelling presentation.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 12 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
A few of the statements in the last chapter include swear words with an asterisk replacing some of the letters.

Romance/Sexual Content
References to romantic relationships. Reference to sex workers. Some information on the historical advancements of gender-affirming medical care.

Spiritual Content
References to a faith leader. References to spiritual beliefs.

Violent Content
References to political assassination. Reference to homophobia and police violence directed at LGBTQIA+ people. One interviewee in the last chapter makes a reference to murder (Specifically, reference to the fact that members of the trans community are more likely to experience violence/murder.). References to a person’s death by suicide. (Not shown in any way.)

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: Witchwood by Kalyn Josephson

Blogger's Favorites, Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Middle Grade 8-12, , , , , , , ,

Witchwood (Ravenfall #3)
Kalyn Josephson
Delacorte Press
Published October 1, 2024

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Witchwood

The third book in the “spellbinding” (Kirkus Reviews) Ravenfall series follows Anna and Colin, two kids with supernatural powers, into the magical town of Witchwood, where local witches have gone missing—and Anna might be next.

Everything is changing at Ravenfall, the magical inn that best friends Anna Ballinkay and Colin Pierce call home. The leaves are turning golden, the air is as crisp as a harvest apple, and Anna’s older twin sisters are leaving for college… but at least Anna and Colin have finally reunited after a summer apart, just in time for a new magical mission.

When their mission is interrupted by a mysterious attack that forces them to seek shelter, Anna and Colin head to Witchwood, a spooky lakeside town where magic doesn’t have to be hidden. Anna is excited to reunite with her aunt and cousin, who she hopes might teach her more about Jewish magic—except her cousin seems to hate her. Especially once Anna realizes that she’s a witch, just like them.But rude cousins are the least of their problems, because they soon discover that witches are going missing in Witchwood. And if Anna and Colin can’t stop whatever sinister force is making them disappear, Anna could be the next target…

My Review

I’ve had a great time reading this series. Witchwood is the third book in the Ravenfall series, and the first one in which most of the story takes place away from Anna’s sentient house/inn. This time, she and Colin end up visiting Anna’s aunt and cousin who live in an entirely magical town called Witchwood.

Anna has a lot to learn about the traditions and magic from her dad’s side of the family. Learning these things helps her make sense of her identity in a new way, but it doesn’t always come easily. Her relationship with her cousin is especially challenging, and it takes Anna a long time to understand the reasons why.

The story alternates between Anna and Colin’s perspectives, so we also learn more about Colin’s fear of being on his own and his uncertainty about his abilities, especially the life magic that sets him apart from other members of the Ravenguard.

The story emphasizes having confidence in one’s abilities and balancing that with building and depending on a supportive community. I loved the way the story balanced those two elements and the humorous moments between Max (the cat who is not a cat), Anna, and Colin kept things light.

I’m really excited to read the fourth book in the series, Ravenguard, which comes out this September.

Readers who enjoy contemporary fantasy that’s heavy on the fantasy elements will find lots to love here. Bonus if you love books with cats in them.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
It’s clear that two characters have a crush on one another.

Spiritual Content
Anna learns more about her Jewish heritage, including holiday celebrations and traditions. Some characters have the ability to perform magic. Magical creatures, such as jabberwockies and kelpies exist in the story.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. Brief battle scenes. Kidnapping of a parent.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I borrowed a copy of this book from the library. All opinions are my own.

Review: Shadow Apprentice by Linda Browne

Blogger's Favorites, Fantasy, Middle Grade 8-12, , , , , ,

Shadow Apprentice (The Garrison Chronicles #1)
Linda Browne
Crooked Mile Media
Published May 8, 2024

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Shadow Apprentice

FINALIST, THE WISHING SHELF BOOK AWARDS 2024

13-year-old Ermin is a gifted mechanic and the worst student at St. Anselm’s Training School for Orphans. She’s just failed her exams for the third time—something nobody’s ever done. Worse, Ermin’s been running her own repair business for money, something that’s expressly forbidden. If the headmistress finds out, Ermin will go to prison. Her future will be over before it’s even begun.

But that’s not her only secret.

Her best friends, Colin and Georgie, are wizards in a world where magic is strictly controlled. Ermin worries that her friends will be captured, drained of their power, then banished. When Georgie’s caught aiding the Wizard’s Resistance, Ermin repairs a broken flying carpet so all three of them can escape.

Hesitant to join the Resistance because of her lack of magical power, Ermin steals an experimental device from a wizard hunter that could destroy every wizard in the Creek. She’s faced with a choice: either smash the device or convert it into a different kind of weapon—one that not only helps wizards but just might get her an apprenticeship at the prestigious Guild Academy.

Ermin’s got one chance to get it right. If she fails, she risks losing her two best friends… and her dreams.

My Review

I read this book as a total impulse/mood read. I have a pretty structured review calendar, but I needed a break, so I browsed my Kindle app for something that would grab my attention. Initially, I planned to read the first page of the book and see what happened. The next time I looked up, I had read 25% of the story, and it was past bedtime. Ha!

Shadow Apprentice is a lean fantasy with memorable characters and a fast-paced plot. I loved the steampunk elements in the book. Ermin has a natural ability and intuition for fixing mechanical problems. What she doesn’t have, though, is a gift for working out complex spell equations, something she’ll need to continue with school and have a career fixing things.

The connection between magic and math through spellwork equations was a fascinating one. It made perfect sense in the story, and I’m sure many readers who struggle with math will identify with Ermin’s feelings about it.

Ermin and her two best friends are the central characters, although the story is told from Ermin’s perspective. I loved the way they look out for each other, even when they have different ideas about how to solve a problem they face.

The story world has a lot going on. At the beginning, Ermin is a student at a boarding school. Wizards, people with natural magical ability, are hunted, arrested, and stripped of their magic. Street gangs (made up mostly of kids) recruit other unhoused kids and press them into working for them. A resistance group opposes the treatment of wizards and fights against their unjust treatment.

Ermin and her friends find themselves caught between these warring factions. Figuring out who wants her help versus who plans to take advantage of her or her friends isn’t easy.

Conclusion

The plot gripped me all the way until the final pages of the book. I would absolutely read more of this series. I think fans of magic school type stories will like this one. It reminds me a little bit of The Hunt for the Hollower by Callie C. Miller.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 9 to 14.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
A few references to characters having crushes on other characters.

Spiritual Content
Some characters have the ability to perform magic.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. Ermin and her friends face threats from street gangs who would press them into working for them or banishment for those found to have magical ability.

Drug Content
Passing reference to pubs.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I purchased a copy of this book and enjoyed it so much I wanted to share my review. All opinions are my own.