Category Archives: Middle Grade 8-12

Review: The Plentiful Darkness by Heather Klassner

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The Plentiful Darkness by Heather Kassner

The Plentiful Darkness
Heather Klassner
Henry Holt & Co.
Published August 3, 2021

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About The Plentiful Darkness

In Heather Kassner’s spine-chilling fantasy novel, reminiscent of Serafina and the Black Cloak, an orphaned girl chases a thieving boy into a magician’s land of starless, moonless gloom where other children have gone missing before her.

Though the darkness is indeed plentiful, this book gleams with an eerie magic, its characters burning bright and fierce. A visual treat of a tale. –Stefan Bachmann, international bestselling author of Cinders and Sparrows

In order to survive on her own, twelve-year-old Rooney de Barra collects precious moonlight, which she draws from the evening sky with her (very rare and most magical) lunar mirror. All the while she tries to avoid the rival roughhouse boys, and yet another, more terrifying danger: the dreaded thing that’s been disappearing children in the night.

When Trick Aidan, the worst of the roughhouse boys, steals her lunar mirror, Rooney will do whatever it takes to get it back. Even if it means leaping into a pool of darkness after it swallows Trick and her mirror. Or braving the Plentiful Darkness, a bewitching world devoid of sky and stars. Or begrudgingly teaming up with Trick to confront the magician and unravel the magic that has trapped Warybone’s children.

My Review

THE PLENTIFUL DARKNESS is one of those books that I wouldn’t have guessed to be the gem it is. I love the writing– it’s a bit spare but also super emotive. The grief Rooney and the magician experience gave me chills. I love that both light and darkness have physical form in the story and the way those two things play out. I also love Rooney’s relationship with the little rat that comes with her and the fact that she calls the whole group of rats from her alley “the Montys”. So cute.

It didn’t take me long at all to read this book. The story moves pretty quickly, and there were definitely moments I didn’t expect. The characters drew me in, and right away I wanted to know what was happening with the magician. I love the direction her story took.

On the whole, I think this might be one of my favorite middle grade reads this year. I wouldn’t have guessed that from the cover copy, but I think it has the perfect balance of unforgettable characters, intriguing story, and just a hint of creepiness. I think fans of dark fantasy like SHADOW MAGIC by Joshua Khan will love this one.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 10 to 14.

Representation
Not enough character details to say.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
Some characters have magic. Rooney and other children collect moonlight in special mirrors and sell it. Moonlight and starlight can be used to light fires do other things.

Violent Content
Rooney and other children are caught in a place where darkness has physical form and the trees can attack them. Rooney’s parents and some others from her village have died from a flu epidemic.

Drug Content
None.

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

Best Books I Read in Fall 2022: Reading Recap

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Best Books I Read in Fall 2022 – Reading Recap

This is a relatively new thing I’ve been trying out. I’ve been posting most-anticipated reading lists for the season, with my most looked-forward-to new young adult and middle grade releases and why I’m excited about them. Then at the end of the season, I post a look back at the list following up. How many books from the list did I actually read? Which were my favorites? So. Here we are with a list of the best books I read in fall 2022. Let’s get to it!

How many books from my Most-Anticipated Fall Reading List did I actually read?

I created two separate posts to talk about upcoming fall books, one for middle grade and one for young adult with 37 books total. This time, I managed to read all the books on my most-anticipated lists plus about 15 others that are a combination of last-minute requests or books from earlier in the year that I finally managed to read. Here are a few highlights from those 15.

Victory. Stand!: Raising My Fist for Justice by Tommie Smith, Derrick Barnes, and Dawud Anyabwile

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads | Review to Come

What you need to know: This graphic novel was longlisted for the National Book Award and tells the story of Olympic Medalist Tommie Smith as he lifted a black-gloved fist to protest the treatment of Black athletes in the United States.

Hell Followed with Us by Andrew Joseph White

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads | My Review

What you need to know: I’m not usually a horror girl, but so many things about this book hooked me. The post-apocalyptic setting. The escape from a traumatic, abusive cult. Love in the midst of pandemic and disaster. I loved it. Though I was eagerly looking forward to this one, somehow it didn’t make it onto my most-anticipated list.

The Ghosts of Rose Hill by R. M. Romero

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads | My Review

What you need to know: This has been a great year for me with reading novels in verse, but this one is my favorite of all. I loved the magical Prague setting. The sweet, slow burn romance. It was all beautiful and fantastic.

Best Books I Read in Fall 2022: Favorites by Familiar Authors

In the last few months, I read 15 books by authors I’d read before. Brigid Kemmerer (9 books) and Courtney Summers (6 books) are the authors I’ve read most. For most of the other authors on the list, I’ve only read one book by them before this fall.

Here are my favorite YA, MG, and nonfiction titles from all the books I read by familiar authors.

The First to Die at the End by Adam Silvera

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads | My Review

What you need to know: Honestly, I liked this one even more than THEY BOTH DIE AT THE END. I think it perfectly celebrated its predecessor and brought entirely new ideas and characters into the Death Cast world. This was a total win for me.

The Other Side of the River by Alda P. Dobbs

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads | My Review

What you need to know: I really enjoyed Dobbs’ debut novel and the first book about Petra Luna, but this one is even better. I loved the community she weaves around her and the surprises those connections bring.

The Antiracist Kid by Tiffany Jewell

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads | My Review

What you need to know: I think this is the only nonfiction title by a familiar author that I read this fall. I love that this book makes justice and activism accessible to kids. It was a very easy read and very encouraging.

Best Books I Read in Fall 2022: Favorites by a New Author or Author New to Me

The majority of the books that I read this fall were by authors who were new to me. Some of them were debut authors, which is always exciting. You never really know what you’re going to get with a debut, so I feel like when a debut is amazing, it’s all the more awesome to feel like you’ll get to follow that author’s writing right from the beginning.

Some of the authors who are new to me are authors I’ve really wanted to try for a long time. For the first time this fall, I read books by Crystal Maldonado, Justina Ireland, Dean Atta, and Susan Dennard. All of them are authors I’ve heard amazing things about and just hadn’t managed to read yet. My reading list only gets longer the more great authors I discover!

At any rate, here are my favorite books by authors I’d never read before this fall. I chose one each for YA, MG, nonfiction, and backlist books.

The Luminaries by Susan Dennard

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads | My Review

What you need to know: I don’t know what I expected going into this book, but I was completely blown away. The forest is creepy and the small community feels so real with its prejudices and complex connections. And… ugh Jay. (I loved Winnie and Jay!)

Ravenfall by Kalynn Josephson

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads | My Review

What you need to know: I adore this book with its cat-who-is-not-a-cat and its sentient inn filled with a magic-wielding family. And the boy on his own looking for answers. This was the book I didn’t know I needed.

Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads | My Review

What you need to know: I had heard really great things about the adult version of this book, so when I saw that there was a young adult version, I jumped at the chance to read and review it here. I loved the introspective questions, the history and ecology lessons woven together in perfect harmony.

The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads | Review to Come

What you need to know: A beautifully written novel in verse following a biracial gay boy as he comes of age in London and discovers drag.

Book that Surprised Me the Most

Reading a lot of new authors gives me a LOT of room to be surprised by a book, and I love that. I do enjoy the security of reading a book by an author I’m familiar with and having a really high likelihood that I’ll enjoy the book. But I also like to gamble and see what other voices are bringing to the book world. This season, I’d say that gambling more than paid off because several books completely blew me away in ways I couldn’t have predicted.

It Looks Like Us by Allison Ames

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads | My Review

What you need to know: Did I mention that I’m not usually into horror? I couldn’t get enough of the Antarctic setting. The tenuous friendships disrupted by an alien or infection. Also, there’s a wildly rich, rocket launching, electric car manufacturing guy named Anton Rusk. Lol.

Lotus Bloom and the Afro Revolution by Sherri Winston

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads | My Review

What you need to know: Another title longlisted for the National Book Award– and so deservedly! Lotus is vibrant and talented. I loved the way she heard music in everything.

Odd Girl Out by Rachel Simmons

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads | Review to Come

What you need to know: This one had been on my TBR for years. A journalist puts together a series of interviews and research on indirect aggression and bullying between girls. It’s a bit of a harrowing but necessary read.

What are the best books you read this past fall?

Now I’ve shared all the best books I read in fall 2022. What are your favorite books that you read this fall? Tell me about your favorites so I can check them out, too. Did you read any of the books on my lists? What did you think of them? Leave a comment and let me know what you thought.

Review: Ironhand by Charlie Fletcher

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Ironhand (Stoneheart #2)
Charlie Fletcher
Hodder Children’s Books
Published October 1, 2007

Amazon | Audible | Goodreads

About Ironhand

Now that George Chapman has upset the fragile truce between the warring statues of London, he has been drawn into a war that will test his mettle. He and Edie, a glint who can see the past, may have succeeded in their quest to find the Stoneheart, but their journey is far from over.

Edie and the Gunner, a statue of a World War I soldier, have been captured by the Walker, and it’s up to George to save them. But first he must deal with the three strange veins, made of marble, bronze and stone, that have begun to grow out of his hand and curl around his wrist. Legend has it that unless he successfully completes three challenges, the veins will continue up his forearm, and eventually pierce through his heart.

As George struggles to find the strength within to face the choice he has made, to take the Hard Way, he is determined to use his power for good—even as others wish to harness it for its great potential for evil.

My Review

It looks like IRONHAND is out of print, which is really sad, because I liked it a lot. I listened to the audiobook version, which is narrated by Jim Dale. His performance is, as always, fantastic.

The story begins with a section that kind of reminds readers what happened in the first book, which was perfect for me, since I read STONEHEART more than a year ago. I’ve thought about continuing the series a bunch of times since reading STONEHEART, which is usually a pretty good indicator that I’ll actually do it. If a book sticks with me the way this one has, I feel like it’s worth the investment.

I really enjoyed getting back into the London with living statues and following George, Edie, and the Gunner through a new adventure. I love Edie’s indomitable courage. She is fierce and never gives up. The thing that really struck me this time about George is the way he has the power to change things.

For example, he winds up befriending a gargoyle, whom he calls Spout. Only certain human statues are supposed to be George’s allies. Gargoyles should be working against him, but perhaps because he helps this one and gives it a name, it changes its allegiance. It begins trying to help and protect him. There was something about that relationship that struck deep for me. I loved both the story of the friendship between the two of them, but also then Spout’s role in the story. He helps George understand who he is and what he can do.

And, yet again, I love the Gunner. He’s loyal and protective and smart. Edie doesn’t really have anyone in her life she can count on. So, I feel like that makes her relationship with the Gunner even more incredible. He never stops fighting for her. I love his story in the book so much, too.

I might have liked IRONHAND better than the first one? I’m not sure. I liked it a lot, and I’m really excited to read the third book in the series now. If you like magical adventure stories like THE STORM KEEPER’S ISLAND by Catherine Doyle, you definitely need to check out this series.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 10 up.

Representation
George and Edie are both white. Most other characters are statues.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Mild profanity used infrequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
Statues come to life and are either working to help George and Edie or harm them, depending on the nature of the statues. George is a Maker. He can magically create things from stone, but if he doesn’t fulfill his promises, he will die. Edie has the ability to see history or memories witnessed by stone or statues.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. Brief but scary battle violence.

Drug Content
None.

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

Review: City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab

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City of Ghosts (Cassidy Blake #1)
Victoria Schwab
Scholastic
Published August 28, 2018

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About City of Ghosts

Cassidy Blake’s parents are The Inspecters, a (somewhat inept) ghost-hunting team. But Cass herself can REALLY see ghosts. In fact, her best friend, Jacob, just happens to be one.

When The Inspecters head to ultra-haunted Edinburgh, Scotland, for their new TV show, Cass—and Jacob—come along. In Scotland, Cass is surrounded by ghosts, not all of them friendly. Then she meets Lara, a girl who can also see the dead. But Lara tells Cassidy that as an In-betweener, their job is to send ghosts permanently beyond the Veil. Cass isn’t sure about her new mission, but she does know the sinister Red Raven haunting the city doesn’t belong in her world. Cassidy’s powers will draw her into an epic fight that stretches through the worlds of the living and the dead, in order to save herself.

My Review

This is the first book by Victoria Schwab that I’ve ever read, and I don’t know WHY it has taken me so long to finally read something by her. I really enjoyed the writing of this one. It’s an odd story, but kind of sweet and full of adventure. I loved the banter between Cassidy and her best friend Jacob– especially all their references to rules about friendship and the way they look out for each other. As soon as fellow in-betweener Laura entered the book, I felt like it got even better. Her character adds a kind of snarky energy that I loved, too. Also, side note: Cassidy has a cat named Grim. So cute. So right on for a cat owned by a family like hers.

I didn’t realize this book was the first in a series, probably because when I bought it, it was the only book currently released, but I’m really glad there’s more. I love the idea of traveling with Cassidy to Paris in book two and New Orleans in book three. I’m excited about reading those.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 10 to 14.

Representation
Major characters are white.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
Cassidy’s best friend is a ghost, and she sees other ghosts around her. She learns to help ghosts move on. She carries a light inside her that represents her life when she visits the ghost world.

Violent Content
Situations of peril.

Drug Content
None.

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

Review: Finally Something Dangerous by Doug Cornett

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Finally Something Dangerous
Doug Cornett
Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
Published November 22, 2022

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Finally, Something Dangerous

The mystery-solving trio, the One and Onlys, from Finally, Something Mysterious is back with another whodunit. Robot crows, a poetry-slash-wrestling Club, and a hamster infestation? This looks like another case to tackle!

As the excitement from the last mystery the One and Onlys solved is starting to dwindle, Shanks, Peephole, and Paul worry that their town is back to being boring old Bellwood. But as plans for a shiny town makeover get underway, they realize that the old Bellwood is anything but.

The glee over New Bellwood is palpable, and it’s hard not to get swept away by the flashy new milkshake joint and other developments that are quickly making their small town unrecognizable. But the One and Onlys can’t deny that something nefarious seems to be afoot–especially if the robot crow they stumbled upon is any indication.

Strange? Yes. Dangerous? Hopefully! Shanks doesn’t know how these things are connected, but she’s determined to find out–with the help of the One and Onlys.

My Review

I had a lot of fun reading the first book in this series, FINALLY SOMETHING MYSTERIOUS, so when I saw that the One and Onlys were back with a new sleuthing adventure, I knew I had to check it out.

FINALLY SOMETHING DANGEROUS is packed with the same goofy humor and absurdity that the first book has. As the team chases down a new mystery, they encounter more odd small town personalities and off-the-wall situations.

I feel like the first book make me literally laugh out loud, and I didn’t get that this time, but I did find myself smiling a lot at the antics and circumstances. This is the perfect mystery book for readers who love the storytelling of mystery but aren’t ready for darker or uncomfortable themes sometimes explored in that genre.

The small town setting is packed with both new and familiar characters. It captures that everybody-knows-everybody vibe for sure.

If you haven’t read the first book, I think you could still read and follow this story without any issues. Readers who enjoyed DOUBLE THE DANGER AND ZERO ZUCCHINI by Betsy Uhrig will not want to miss this one.

Content Notes for Finally, Something Dangerous

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Representation
Main characters are white kids.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
A couple instances of cartoonish violence in which a character tackles another character who is trying to escape or something equivalent.

Drug Content
None.

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

Review: Looking for True by Tricia Springstubb

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Looking for True
Tricia Springstubb
Margaret Ferguson Books
Published November 1, 2022

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Looking for True

When two unlikely friends bond over shared compassion for a bereft but lovable dog, they learn what it truly means to find a sense of belonging and identity.

11-year-olds Gladys and Jude live in the same small, rust belt town, and go to the same school, but they are definitely not friends. Gladys is a tiny, eccentric, walking dictionary who doesn’t hesitate to express herself, while Jude likes to keep his thoughts and feelings to himself. But they both agree that a new dog in the neighborhood is being mistreated by its owner.

Gladys would like to do something to help while Jude is more resigned to the situation until the dog (who Gladys has named True Blue) disappears. They hatch a plan to find her and once they do, realize they have a problem: Gladys’s father is allergic and Jude’s mother hates dogs. There is no way they can bring her home. They hide True Blue in an abandoned house on the edge of town, but as their ties to the dog–and to one another–deepen, so does the impossibility of keeping such a big secret. Yet giving True up will break all three of their hearts.

Told in alternating voices set in a small, rust-belt town, LOOKING FOR TRUE is a story about family, identity, and finding friends in unexpected places.

My Review

Last year I read THE MOST PERFECT THING IN THE UNIVERSE by Tricia Springstubb, and absolutely adored it. So when I saw that she had a new middle grade title coming out this year, I immediately added it to my to-be-read list.

LOOKING FOR TRUE is different than I expected. In a couple of scenes the story hints at animal abuse. It’s heartbreaking to read the scenes where True (or Pookie) cowers, expecting to be hit. There are no scenes showing her being harmed, though, which I appreciated.

I liked the way that Gladys and Jude’s friendship developed. It’s halting and sometimes strained, but ultimately, they find ways to connect. And as that connection strengthens, they begin building the kind of friendship that can see you through all sorts of disasters. Which is great, because there are definitely some disasters they face in this book!

The story has a small town vibe, which I love. I also liked that both Gladys and Jude had complicated relationships with their parents. Gladys loves a lot of things about her mom, but she’s beginning to see some hard truths, too. I liked that while the story isn’t about those relationships, they aren’t simple or canned.

On the whole, I enjoyed reading this book a lot. If you are a fan of sweet dog stories, definitely add LOOKING FOR TRUE to your reading list.

Content Notes for Looking for True

References to and hints about animal abuse.

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Representation
Gladys is adopted out of foster care.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
In a couple scenes, adults threaten to hit a dog. It’s clear from the dog’s reaction that she’s been abused. Jude’s mom is hyper critical of him in some scenes, shaming him for not performing better at school or for not keeping a closer eye on his brother.

Drug Content
One characters smokes cigarettes. Jude’s mother drinks beer.

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