Category Archives: Contemporary

Review: Nothing But the Truth by Avi

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Nothing But the Truth by Avi

Nothing But the Truth
Avi
Scholastic
Published January 1, 2010 (Orig. 1991)

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About Nothing But the Truth

When Philip Malloy starts humming along to his school’s daily playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner”, his insistence on continuing to do so even after his teacher, Miss Margaret Narwin, asks him to stop sets in motion a chain of events that will soon ripple out beyond anything Phil or Miss Narwin could have imagined. Phil’s friends, his teachers, and the school administration are soon swept up in the controversy…and that’s just the beginning!

Distinctions and Praise For Nothing But the Truth: A Newbery Honor Book; A Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Honor Book; An ALA Notable Book; An ALA Best Book for Young Adults

“The story of Philip Malloy, his family, friends, teachers and school, shouts to be shared.” — The New York Times

“It is clear that Avi is attuned to the modern high school scene. With frankness and remarkable insight, he conveys the flaws of the system while creating a story that is both entertaining and profound.” — Publishers Weekly

My Review

I had several holds that were all about to come in at the library, so I was looking for a short book that I could read in the meantime when I discovered this one.

This whole story is told through transcripts of conversations, memos, news stories, letters, and diary entries. The lack of cell phones and computers or social media as well as how the characters speak makes the story feel a bit dated. (It was written in 1991, after all.)

Despite that, the theme– the truth so easily getting lost in the telling of events that engage emotions– resonates deeply today.

Philip reports to his parents that his problems at school are because his teacher doesn’t like him. His parents assume the issue is personal. When they learn the school asked him to stop singing the national anthem, they encourage him to stand up for his rights.

Suddenly what began as Phil’s attempt to get kicked out of his English teacher’s class becomes this huge media firestorm. It paints him as this humble youth whose school is suppressing his patriotism.

It was weird reading a book that so clearly encapsulates this kind of situation. Yet it was written before the rise of social media and our current “fake news” media conspiracy-minded cultural moment.

At the back of the book, Avi shares how often educators would come up to him at school visits and ask if he wrote the book about their situation. At first I found this shocking. But as I started to think about it, I considered my experiences in which parents and schools operate in an adversarial relationship. So little trust exists between these parties. It doesn’t take much to unravel it.

Conclusion

Nothing But the Truth is a deeply thought-provoking read. The writing style may not appeal much to today’s readers, but the message resonates all the same.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 10 to 14.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Brief profanity used twice.

Romance/Sexual Content
References to a romantic crush.

Spiritual Content
Brief reference to prayer/church.

Violent Content
None.

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 public library. All opinions are my own.

Review: Linus and Etta Could Use a Win by Caroline Huntoon

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Linus and Etta Could Use a Win
Caroline Huntoon
Feiwel & Friends
Published

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About Linus and Etta Could Use a Win

Linus is the new boy at school, and he’s trying to keep it quiet. After coming out as trans last year and managing the attention that came with it, he’s more than happy to fade into the background of his new middle school.

Etta isn’t like other kids at school, and she’s proud of it. The class misanthrope and the owner of the greenest hair at Doolittle Middle School, she’s still reeling from a painful friendship breakup, making her more than happy to burn middle-school bridges before she heads off to the local alternative high school next year.

When Etta’s over-it-all attitude sparks a challenge from her ex-best friend, Marigold, to get Linus elected student body president, Linus is thrust back into the spotlight. But what started out as a bet quickly turns into a true friendship between Linus and Etta, one that could be in jeopardy if Linus finds out the real origins of his and Etta’s connection. Can Linus and Etta’s friendship withstand the betrayal of the bet?

My Review

This is the first book by Caroline Huntoon that I’ve ever read, but I can tell you it won’t be the last! This was so readable, and it’s short, too. I think it’s about 214 pages. The banter between Linus and Etta is fabulous. Puns and jokes abound. As a former 90s kid, I loved the 90s jokes that made it into the book, though mostly they leave Linus and Etta staring at one another in utter confusion. Honestly, I found that even funnier.

I also have to say that it was glorious to read a book about a transgender character that wasn’t about them being outed (though there was a near miss) or having to defend or explain his identity. Linus knows who he is, his parents accept him, and so does Etta, when he tells her. There’s absolutely space for stories exploring coming out and how people respond, and I’m grateful for those. But it was so great to read a story that primarily celebrated Linus’ existence without question and let him be lots of other things, too: funny, kind, and a strong leader to name a few.

The friendship between Linus and Etta was also charming. She’s a prickly cactus in the opening pages, but it doesn’t take long for him to win her over with his humor and sincerity. I also loved seeing a student council race in a middle grade novel.

Overall, I’m adding a new favorite author to my list! I’ve already found a copy of Huntoon’s next release, Going Overboard, which came out earlier this year. Can’t wait to read it!

If you enjoy quick, uplifting middle grade novels, definitely put this one on your list. It’s such a fun read.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
One instance of mild profanity.

Romance/Sexual Content
One brief kiss on the lips.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
A relative misgenders Linus. Other adults in the room don’t correct this person. Eventually, the person apologizes and tries to do better.

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

Today is Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday! MMGM is 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.

Why are the comments off?

So… my website host is currently experiencing a problem and has suspended access to comments on WordPress sites. Since I use WordPress, this affects me. Please know I miss your comments, and as soon as this issue is resolved, I’ll turn comments back on. Special gratitude to Rosi Hollinbeck for alerting me to the problem. Check out her blog and leave a comment there for me! 🙂

Review: Monster by Walter Dean Myers

Book Review and Content, Contemporary, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , ,

Monster
Walter Dean Myers
HarperCollins
Published May 1, 2001 (Orig. 1999)

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Monster

This New York Times bestselling novel and National Book Award nominee from acclaimed author Walter Dean Myers tells the story of Steve Harmon, a teenage boy in juvenile detention and on trial. Presented as a screenplay of Steve’s own imagination, and peppered with journal entries, the book shows how one single decision can change our whole lives.

Fade In: Interior: Early Morning In Cell Block D, Manhattan Detention Center.

Steve (Voice-Over)
Sometimes I feel like I have walked into the middle of a movie. Maybe I can make my own movie. The film will be the story of my life. No, not my life, but of this experience. I’ll call it what the lady prosecutor called me … Monster.

My Review

I’ve had this book on my reading list for probably ten years, which feels surreal. I read On a Clear Day by Walter Dean Myers back in 2015, and after that, I looked up more of his books for my reading list. So here I am, finally circling back for Monster.

I read this book as an audiobook with a full cast, which I think helped me imagine the story as a movie. It’s a really quick read. I believe the audiobook runtime is less than three hours.

Powerful storytelling fills the pages of this book. I felt immediately connected to the characters and especially the plight of Steve as he prepares for a trial that will determine whether he spends decades in prison. It was easy to read between the lines of dialogue in the scenes, though, and feel like I understood what was going on in the characters’ heads or between the lines.

The story gives readers space to think about what makes someone a monster as each witness appears or each lawyer speaks. Though the author limits the content, keeping the story appropriate for its intended audience, he doesn’t flinch from hard truths about life in prison. The juxtaposition of Steve’s youth and inexperience against the harsh reality of prison life is shocking. I couldn’t help but think of real-life teens in similar situations as I read.

The ending really got me, too. I won’t spoil what happens, but I was impressed with the nuance and the impact of the scene in which the jury delivers its verdict. That scene will replay in my head for a long time.

I recommend this book for anyone interested in fiction about incarcerated teens, especially for younger teens.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 13 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Two uses of mild profanity.

Romance/Sexual Content
One scene very briefly mentions sexual assault. Some characters reference assault or a fear of being assaulted.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
References to gun violence (happened off-scene). References to and brief descriptions of fighting. Reference to domestic violence (happened off-scene). References to sexual assault. References to cutting someone with a knife (happened off-scene).

Drug Content
References to smoking cigarettes.

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’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm by Mariama J. Lockington

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I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm
Mariama J. Lockington
Farrar, Straus, & Giroux
Published October 14, 2025

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm

When snow falls, sparks fly in this irresistible queer romance from Schneider Family Book Award and Stonewall Honor winner Mariama J. Lockington—for fans of She Gets the Girl and Jennifer Dugan.

High school senior Lyric has always found Christmas to be the hardest season. While other kids got presents and family time by the fire, she was in and out of foster care. An up-and-coming make-up influencer and aspiring cosmetology student who loves a bold lip, Lyric definitely isn’t looking for romance—not when opening up to someone feels a lot like asking to get hurt.

Christmas is Juniper’s favorite time of year. At least, it was, until her moms’ separation. They’re back together now, and Juniper hopes they’ll stay that way. Because if they’re happy, that means Juniper can leave for her gap-year trip after graduation (the one she has yet to tell her parents about, and can’t really afford without their help).

When a chance meeting brings these two opposite personalities together, they should clash . . . only they don’t. Instead Lyric strikes a deal with Juniper: pose as her fake girlfriend in a series of holiday-themed social media posts and they can split the money from her beauty sponsorships. But soon the lines between what’s real and what’s not start to blur. Could it be that sparks are flying both in front of the camera and behind it?

Told from dual perspectives, one in prose and one in verse, I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm is a cozy and modern love story from acclaimed author Mariama J. Lockington that’s perfect for the winter holidays or all year round.

My Review

This festive holiday romance hit all the right notes to start my Christmas season. I love the contrast between Lyric and Juniper as characters. Lyric is closed off and has difficulty trusting others, but she takes great care of her grandmother and works hard at her online beauty-influencer gig, saving money for her future. Juniper is sweet and more down-to-earth, though she’s quiet and reserved. She loves the holidays and romance. Her chapters appear in verse, which supports the romantic feel of her character.

Both girls have painful elements in their pasts that they don’t really want to talk about or acknowledge. For Lyric, it’s her history with her mom, who’s unwell and living unhoused. Juniper’s moms have recently reunited after a troubled relationship and separation. Both have dreams for the future that they’re not sure their families will support.

The girls begin fake dating because their photos and videos gain a lot of clicks on Lyric’s social media, generating some new sponsorship opportunities and income for both of them. They keep insisting they’re just friends and business partners, but sparks will not stop flying when they’re together, and it seems like everyone sees the relationship possibilities before they do.

I really like the balance of characters calling out issues with the main characters and the characters realizing things for themselves. Lockington leaves plenty of room for Lyric and Juniper to come to their own conclusions, but also shows the value of supportive relationships for helping us realize when we’ve missed the mark.

This is the first of Mariama J. Lockington’s books that I’ve read, but she’s won some huge awards for her other work in middle grade and young adult fiction. I’ll definitely be adding more of her books to my reading list.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used fairly frequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing. References to sex. (Not shown on scene.)

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
Lyric recalls a time when she was a small child, and she had a high fever and a seizure. Some of the things her mom did to try to address the fever don’t align with current medical advice. References to anger outbursts when Lyric was younger. In one scene, someone punches a locker and regrets it.

Drug Content
An adult references a time she got in trouble because unbeknownst to her, her date was selling drugs, got caught, and got her in trouble, too. Teenagers sipped vodka from a flask before entering a school dance. (Happens off-scene.) In one scene, two teen girls swipe alcohol from a parent’s liquor supplies and get drunk. They have a rough time the next day.

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: Going Overboard by Caroline Huntoon

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Going Overboard
Caroline Huntoon
Feiwel & Friends
Published May 27, 2025

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Going Overboard

From author Caroline Huntoon comes a sparkling new middle grade novel, Going Overboard, a reverse-Parent Trap story where tweens Piper and Colton must force their parents to break up, or their lives will change forever.

Piper Shapiro has the best mom in the world: Noura, a single parent by choice who always has a plan, whether it’s for a spontaneous Saturday adventure or helping Piper navigate middle school as a nonbinary kid. They’re a package deal, and they tell each other everything. At least, they used to. But then Noura invites Piper out to dinner with her girlfriend Gwinny… and Gwinny’s son, Colton—a boy Piper knows, and doesn’t exactly get along with. Piper panics when the realization Noura and Gwinny are serious about each other. Suddenly, Piper’s life as half of a duo has an expiration date, and ze is horrified.

To put a stop to any potential wedding bells, Piper makes a plan to break up the parents and keep things the way they are—the way they should be. When Gwinny surprises everyone with a getting-to-know-each-other cruise for spring break, Piper’s game is on—and Colton is in on it. The two of them work hard to make it clear that they are not one big happy family, even though it turns out that Colton might not be so bad after all. But when things with Operation Break Up go a bit too far, Piper starts to question everything… and realize that maybe a little change isn’t a bad thing.

My Review

I read Linus and Etta Could Use a Win, another book by Caroline Huntoon, earlier this year, so when I saw a review copy of this one up for grabs, I jumped at the chance to read it. Going Overboard is the first novel I’ve read in which the main character uses neopronouns. Piper uses the nonbinary pronouns ze/zir/zem. Piper’s pronouns don’t come up as often as you’d think in the story. At one point, a salesperson in a store misgenders zem, but someone immediately corrects the clerk, and she switches to the correct pronouns. Piper’s pronouns simply aren’t the focus of the narrative beyond the support that Piper feels from zir mom and others around zem.

The real focus of the story is the attempt to break up Piper’s mom and her girlfriend, Colton’s mom. The narrative does a great job showcasing the shift in Piper’s feelings about the relationship despite the commitment to the breakup project. While Piper is certain Colton is a jerk and Gwinny is too perky, ze begins to see qualities ze enjoys and admires in both of them.

The cruise creates a close-proximity environment in which Piper really only has Colton to talk to, and an artificial deadline (return to port) in which to accomplish zir mission. Both of those things drive the story forward and keep the narrative from drifting too far from the central plot.

Piper and zir mom’s relationship is really sweet. I think it borders on maybe too enmeshed at some points, but I loved seeing a mom of a middle schooler so engaged and supportive.

Going Overboard feels like the perfect read for someone needing a slightly aged-up Alex Gino book.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 9 to 12.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Mild profanity used very infrequently (twice, I think).

Romance/Sexual Content
Reference to Piper’s best friend’s crush on someone. Colton also has a crush on someone.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
A group of older kids make fun of Piper and Colton, who are dressed similarly at the dance.

Drug Content
Adults drink alcohol socially on a vacation.

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.

MMGM Review: Setting the Stage by Lindsay Champion

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

Setting the Stage (Cast vs Crew #1)
Lindsay Champion
Pixel+Ink
Published October 21, 2025

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Setting the Stage

SERIES LAUNCH! The full story of a junior high musical production, told exclusively from the POV of the kids backstage. It’s High School Musical, from behind the scenes…without the high school.

Every cast depends on its stage crew. But what happens when they hate each other? SETTING THE STAGE is the first act in a trilogy that tells the whole story!

Eighth grader Ella Amani has been waiting her whole life to be the stage manager of the middle school musical, and this is her year!

Somehow she’ll have to find jobs for Willow, who’s doing stage crew instead of detention, and Sebastian, a shy sixth grader whose sister is the star of the show. She’ll have to wrangle Kevin, the clumsy new kid who was homeschooled on a boat, and Levi, her best friend, who used to tell her everything.

Still, Ella’s pretty sure she can handle the crew. The cast? That’s a different story. They’re ungrateful, they treat the crew like servants, and when Ella finally pushes back, they start playing pranks!

Setting the Stage is a behind-the-scenes look at the drama of drama club from the crew’s point of view.

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

My Review

The story alternates through four different points of view: Ella, the stage manager, Willow, the unwilling stage crew member serving out a dentention sentence, Sebastian, the younger brother of the musical’s star, and Levi, the technical lead who’s dealing with a challenging family situation.

Having all those points of view pulls the reader deeper into how the crew prepares for the musical while showing different perspectives on each of the characters. For example, Willow thinks of organized, committed Ella as being bossy and uptight at first. What she doesn’t realize is that Ella is good at finding ways for people to use their strengths as part of her team, and this helps Willow invest in her role backstage.

Showing both Levi and Ella’s points of view helps readers see that Ella’s perception of what’s happening with her best friend (a showmance) isn’t the full story. It makes sense that Levi would leave certain things about his past unsaid because of how his relationship with Ella works, and that when the pressure on those parts of his life increases, that leaves him in a hard place.

I feel like readers who are theater-curious will enjoy the behind-the-scenes look at how a stage crew works on putting together a show. It’s also a great middle school relationships story with a dash of romance. The romance angle shows one crush coming to a disappointing end and another ending with plans to go on a date, so even there, the story offers some different experiences.

At under 200 pages, this book is also a nice, short read. The story also includes some less common representation. One character has dyslexia and another lives with relatives in a foster placement.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
One brief kiss.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
Kids play (generally harmless) pranks on one another.

Drug Content
Vague reference to Levi’s mom having had some past issues with alcohol.

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.