Category Archives: Middle Grade 8-12

Review: The Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna by Alda P. Dobbs

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Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna by Alda P. Dobbs

The Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna
Alda P. Dobbs
Sourcebooks
Published September 14, 2021

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About The Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna

It is 1913, and twelve-year-old Petra Luna’s mama has died while the Revolution rages in Mexico. Before her papa is dragged away by soldiers, Petra vows to him that she will care for the family she has left―her abuelita, little sister Amelia, and baby brother Luisito―until they can be reunited. They flee north through the unforgiving desert as their town burns, searching for safe harbor in a world that offers none.

Each night when Petra closes her eyes, she holds her dreams close, especially her long-held desire to learn to read. Abuelita calls these barefoot dreams: “They’re like us barefoot peasants and indios―they’re not meant to go far.” But Petra refuses to listen. Through battlefields and deserts, hunger and fear, Petra will stop at nothing to keep her family safe and lead them to a better life across the U.S. border―a life where her barefoot dreams could finally become reality.

My Review

I read this book in one sitting, both because it’s a pretty easy read, but also because I couldn’t stop. Petra is bright and full of curiosity and determination to keep the promise she made to her father to care for her family. She makes sure they stay together, helps them when they’re weak, and stays focused on what matters, no matter what comes across her path. Her relationship with her grandmother is complex– there are levels where they just don’t get each other, and others where they deeply connect. I loved that.

The descriptions of the places Petra travels are vivid and gripping. I felt like I could almost taste and smell the food sometimes. And the hot dry desert and its affect on them as they traveled felt so real.

Though there’s some violence, it mostly happens off-scene, with some one-line references to what’s happened. In the author’s note, the author talks about how she learned about these events from her own family’s history rather than at any point in school. I didn’t learn about these events in school either, so I was really moved by the history in which THE BAREFOOT DREAMS OF PETRA LUNA takes place. It made me want to learn a lot more about Mexican history.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book. The characters really resonated with me, especially Petra and Marietta, a captain in the rebel forces. I think readers who enjoy historical fiction or stories about strong female heroes will love this book.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Representation
Major characters are Mexican.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
Petra and her family seek refuge in a church. Petra’s grandmother has taken them to mass only rarely.

Violent Content
Soldiers force boys and men to join their ranks, executing them by firing squad if they refuse. (That’s referenced, but not explicitly shown.) Soldiers tear apart Petra’s home looking for her cousin. They burn the village, and Petra and her family flee. They threaten to kill civilians.

Drug Content
None.

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

Review: The Captain’s Daughters by Doreen Berger

Book Review and Content, Middle Grade 8-12, Sci-Fi, , , , ,

The Captain’s Daughters
Doreen Berger
Published April 16, 2021

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About The Captain’s Daughters

For most adolescents, growing up is hard enough when one has both feet planted firmly on the ground. But for mischievous, twelve-year-old sisters Diane and Robin, life is complicated further by the fact that their father, Captain William Marsh, is the commander of the Starship Polaris. Living among the stars provides a never-ending realm of creative possibility for the free-spirited girls’ pranks and adventures.

When aliens bent on profit and revenge kidnap Diane and Robin, only their indomitable spirit, ingenuity, and a common love of trouble allow the pair to escape the alien vessel. Finding their way home seems assured until the sisters realize they have been taken further from home then they could ever have imagined, and that they must evade an enemy who will stop at nothing to get them back into his evil clutches. Blocked by interstellar battles, malevolent creatures, and overwhelming obstacles, the sisters fear they may never find a way to return to their own universe and to the father they love.

“A cozy family adventure…” — Kirkus Reviews

My Review

I liked that the two girls, Diane and Robin were quirky and fun and full of mischief. The relationship they share with their dad, Captain Marsh, is really sweet, too. Though they’re close with their dad, they’re also pretty independent and free-spirited.

The writing style really fits middle grade literature, so I felt like that was really spot-on. One thing I struggled with, though, was that there were not that many scenes from Robin and Diane’s perspective. I think the majority of the scenes were from Captain Marsh’s perspective, and after a while it felt more like his story to me.

I also struggled with a couple of the plot elements– one is difficult to describe without spoilers, but based on the story’s setup, I don’t think one of the critical information-gathering moments would have been possible. So that hung me up a bit, too.

On the whole, though, I thought it was really cool to see a sci-fi story for middle grade readers. That’s something I haven’t seen done very often, so I think that’s super cool. Apart from the hiccups I experienced, I enjoyed reading THE CAPTAIN’S DAUGHTERS. The writing style and the fun characters made it a pretty easy read.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 10 to 14.

Representation
Not a lot of race details given.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
The story explores the idea of parallel universes.

Violent Content
Some brief descriptions of physical altercations. Situations of peril. Descriptions of children being kidnapped. Vague reference to a man who wants children for unsavory reasons.

Drug Content
None.

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

Review: Stolen Science by Ella Schwartz

Biography, Book Review and Content, Middle Grade 8-12, Nonfiction, , , , , , ,

Stolen Science
Ella Schwartz
Illustrated by Gaby D’Alessandro
Bloomsbury
Published August 31, 2021

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About Stolen Science

Over the centuries, women, people from underrepresented communities, and immigrants overcame prejudices and social obstacles to make remarkable discoveries in science-but they weren’t the ones to receive credit in history books. People with more power, money, and prestige were remembered as the inventor of the telephone, the scientists who decoded the structure of DNA, and the doctor who discovered the cause of yellow fever.

This book aims to set the record straight and celebrate the nearly forgotten inventors and scientists who shaped our world today.

My Review

I devoured this book. Seriously, I couldn’t get enough of these stories of men and woman who did these incredible things. Some of them knew that they could not (under current racist or sexist systems) receive credit for what they’d done. Others never stopped fighting for the recognition they deserved. I loved getting this opportunity to learn some of the real history of different scientific advancements, some of which I’d heard of or learned about in school, and learning that there was so much more to the story, and often someone I’d never heard of behind it all.

You don’t have to go back very far in my family to find my Italian relatives who emigrated to the US, so the story of Antonio Meucci, the true inventor of the telephone really struck a deep chord with me. I found myself online reading articles and looking for more information about him.

The beginning of the book points out how there are few women scientists that most people can name off the top of their heads. You know, besides Marie Curie. I loved reading about these women who overcame steep prejudices to even get access to the field of science. While it was awful thinking about these people who were taken advantage of by their colleagues or a deliberately racist and/or sexist system, it was also inspiring to read about people who had such a passion for their work.

Some of the stories in STOLEN SCIENCE are about inventors who, because they were slaves, could not legally apply for or be listen on a patent, and therefore couldn’t be given credit for their work. This shouldn’t have surprised me, given what I know about that period in history. I wasn’t surprised exactly. I guess it just reinforced the gross wrong that slavery and racism was and is.

Reading STOLEN SCIENCE made me want to find other books like this. I want to read more books that celebrate little-known or overlooked scientists or inventors and to learn more about them. If you like nonfiction that explores the less well-known contributions that people have made to our world, check out this list celebrating Women’s History on Bookshop. You might also be interested in THE BOY FROM BUCHENWALD by Robbie Waisman or GIRL WARRIORS by Rachel Sarah.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 10 to 14.

Representation
Features biographies of white, Black, Jewish, and Chinese inventors.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
Brief mention of men insulting a woman’s appearance.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
Mentions of slavery, Nazi rule, and internment camps.

Drug Content
None.

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

Review: The Other Side of Luck by Ginger Johnson

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The Other Side of Luck
Ginger Johnson
Bloomsbury Children’s Books
Published August 10, 2021

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About The Other Side of Luck

Follows two children from opposite circumstances as their fates cross and change both their lives forever.

Ever since her mother’s death, Princess Una has suffered through years of loneliness in the royal palace, where girls are treated as an afterthought. She yearns for a different life but is unsure how to make anyone notice her. Then her father announces a special contest: Whoever finds the rare Silva Flower can present it to Una for her twelfth birthday and receive a reward. Frustrated by her father’s grand but empty gesture, Una decides to take her fate into her own hands.

Julien, a young pauper, has tried his whole life to make something of nothing, alongside his hardworking Baba. When Baba is arrested by terrifying debt collectors, Julien’s only hope to save his father is to win the palace contest–to find the elusive Silva Flower. Little does he know that Una has decided to embark on a journey to find the prize, as well. As Una and Julien search for the flower, their destinies intertwine and offer a reward greater than anything either could ever hope for.

My Review

This book. My heart.

When I see a book that’s being promoted as having a lyrical or poetic style, I’m always drawn to that. Sometimes it’s a bit of a two-edged sword, though, because sometimes I get excited and expect something specific, and then end up disappointed. This time was not one of those times, though!

From the very first page, I loved this book. The writing is definitely more poetic and lyrical. Because both main characters have one really strong sense (smell in one case and hearing in the other), the descriptions for those characters major on their strong sense. I felt like this created a really immersive story. Even though some of the scenes had a little bit of a bird’s-eye-view type feel, the sensory details kept the story feeling really close and personal, super emotive.

In other words, all things I like!

And the themes. Oh goodness. Grief and estrangement. Fear and anxiety. Loneliness. Those were all so deep and well done. Best of all, though, was the exploration of the healing power of friendship and found family. Those all wove together and created such a moving, soothing story. I love it so much.

Every year as I read, there are a few books that I hold on to as possible Christmas gifts for family and friends. This one will be at the top of that list. I think readers who like whimsical, sweet and deep stories like THE FIREBIRD SONG will love this one.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Representation
Julien is white and Una is described as having brown skin.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
Some magic. Julien can hear leaves unfurling and other sounds that plants make. A woman makes a special soup that has healing properties.

Violent Content
A man lies to authorities so than an innocent man is arrested of a crime he didn’t commit. A band of robbers kidnap and tie up victims, threatening to kill them. Children face situations of peril.

Drug Content
None.

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

Review: The Magic and Mystery of Trees by Jen Green

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The Magic and Mystery of Trees
Jen Green
Illustrated by Claire McElfatrick
DK Publishing
Published March 5, 2019

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About The Magic and Mystery of Trees

Discover how they communicate and warn each other of predators, how they nurture their networks, record the past, and anticipate the future to ensure their survival. There’s so much more to trees than meets the eye.

Learn about the amazing natural science of trees in this nature and science children’s book. From the highest branches, all the down to the complex wood wide web of roots, every part of a tree plays an important role. Not only in its own growth but that of the whole ecosystem of the forest or woodland. Did you know that trees take care of each other and that a whole forest is connected?

A truly delightful non-fiction read that is suitable for all ages – each page of this nature book is nothing short of astonishingly beautiful. Enjoy a mixture of real images, vibrant illustrations, and patchwork-layering, making each page feel like a nature scavenger hunt.

You’ll learn unbe-leaf-able tree facts, see extraordinary trees from around the world, and the animals that call them home. Find out what trees do for us and how we are damaging them with pollution and deforestation. This book will show that it’s not too late to do something about it, and you’ll find out how you can help with instructions on how to plant your very own tree!

When you get to know these silent giants, you’ll never look at trees the same way again.

My Review

I first got a discount copy of this book as an e-book, but once I read it, I knew I needed a hard copy. It’s packed with information that’s presented in such a fresh, engaging way. The illustrations are bright and beautiful, and really add a lot to the text.

You might notice that I recommended this book for ages 8 and up, which is unusual and a large age range. Obviously older readers will be capable of reading above the reading level here, but the book contains so much great information and so many things that I had never even heard of before that I feel like anyone could read it.

I only have two complaints about the book. One is that I wish it contained a bibliography and a recommended reading list. I would love to know where the information came from and to know if there are other books, especially any written for kids, available to buy or borrow.

The only other negative thing I can say is that while I really appreciate the emphasis on planting a tree or recycling as things we can do to contribute to helping the planet, I wish there had been mention or emphasis on the fact that doing those things isn’t the same as saving acres of rainforest. A tree planted in our front yard or a local park doesn’t equal one in the Amazon for the biodiversity it supports. I know that as a reader, I was thinking about that, but I wish it had been included somehow in the text.

On the whole, though, I love THE MAGIC AND MYSTERY OF TREES. I think it would be a great addition to any home, school, classroom, or community library. It’s inspiring and informative and truly an engaging read.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 up.

Representation
No specific humans mentioned in the book.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None. (I mean, I guess unless you count plant pollination?? Ha.)

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
None.

Drug Content
None.

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

Review: Kingdom of Secrets by Christyne Morrell

Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Middle Grade 8-12, , , , , , ,

Kingdom of Secrets
Christyne Morrell
Delacorte Press
Published August 3, 2021

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Kingdom of Secrets

Prismena’s father is the hot air balloonist in the peaceful kingdom of Oren. She assists him by mending torn balloons, but she yearns to build and fly the complicated machines herself. One day, a waif named Abi steals Prissy’s only remaining memento of her deceased mother – a silk scarf – and promises to return it only if Prissy smuggles a mysterious box onto one of her father’s flights. Since balloon travel is strictly regulated in Oren, that single act of rebellion results in her father’s arrest and kicks off a spiraling series of events that will yank Prissy out of her predictable life.

Along the way to free her father from jail, she’ll get caught up in a bar fight, nabbed by a sadistic schoolmistress, tossed into a home for unwanted children, schooled in the art of stealing, and thrust into the center of a brewing rebellion. On her journey through Oren – with its glitzy neighborhoods and its seedy underbelly – Prismena will uncover secrets that change the way she views her family, her kingdom, herself, and even her beloved hot air balloons. She’ll have to break a few rules – and even forge metal – to save the people she loves, but she may also get a chance to soar.

My Review

I love books featuring main characters with unusual interests, so when I learned about Prismena’s love for hot air balloons, I already loved this book. I had a lot of fun reading it. It’s a sweet story, but it does have some darker moments. Some chapters are written in Italics and tell a story from the past, and that has a lot more tragedy than the chapters from Prismena’s perspective.

The story really centers around Prismena and Abi. At first Prismena is hesitant to get involved in the revolution with Abi, but as she learns more about what’s truly happening in the kingdom as well as some new things about her own past, she begins to feel like fighting may be her only option. I felt like that transformation was well done and felt true to her character. I also really enjoyed the way that her interest in inventing things and flying hot air balloons were worked into the story.

I think readers who enjoyed THE DRAGON WITH THE CHOCOLATE HEART by Stephanie Burgis or THE UNICORN QUEST by Kamilla Benko will love this book.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Representation
Prismena is white but Abi is Black.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
A woman runs away to marry the man she loves.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
References to and some descriptions of child abuse. Soldiers murder a man in front of his wife.

Drug Content
None.

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