My Book Reviews

Category: Middle Grade

This category contains any posts published in reference to books of middle grade genre.

  • My Life in Smiley (Book 1 in Smiley series): It’s All Good by Anne Kalicky

    My Life in Smiley (Book 1 in Smiley series): It’s All Good by Anne Kalicky

    Smiley

    My Life in Smiley (Book 1 in Smiley series): It’s All Good by Anne Kalicky
    Release: April 3rd 2018
    Format: Ebook
    Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing
    Source: NetGalley

    Smiley



    My Life in Smiley Synopsis:

    Follow the middle school misadventures of Max, as recorded in his hilarious Diary of a Wimpy Kid–style journal that is unconventionally illustrated with the internationally recognized emoticons of the SmileyWorld brand.

    Warning: Do not read before 2126! My Life in Smiley: It’s All Good is meant strictly for people of the future, chronicling the life and times of Max, an average eleven-year-old. Annoying siblings, stage fright, love at first sight—can you believe what kids in the 21st century had to deal with? Follow his illustrated diary as has embarks on a great journey—the first year of middle school in France. Max’s journal entries, humorous drawings, and colorful smileys recount his adventures in making new friends, dealing with bullies, and surviving a ruthless P.E. teacher. Along the way, Max starts to figure out how to interact with his peers, and he realizes that at the end of the day, no matter what life throws at him, it’s all good!

     

    Review:

    A BIG Thank You to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing me a copy of “My Life in Smiley (Book 1 in Smiley series): It’s All Good” by Anne Kalicky in exchange for my review. This is a book similar to the “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” series where it covers the adventures of an average boy over the period of one year in middle grade. However, I felt this book did not have the same charm or humor that the Wimpy Kid series has.

    Here are the reasons that brought down my rating for this book. Firstly, there are some scenes where I felt that the humor is lost in translation. There’s a scene where Max and his English pen pal Conrad share jokes on how they imitate each other’s accents. According to Max, Conrad asks “Where is the Cantine?” with an English accent. Okay, so what? I didn’t understand what was funny. There’s another scene where Max’s dad wants to practice his English on Conrad and asks him “Where is the fromaidge”. What’s that? Perhaps the author should have made a few edits on the jokes for English language readers to enjoy.

    Furthermore, there were some scenes that I just couldn’t connect to. For instance, Max’s mom sends him a text message to come for dinner, even though they are in the same house. Is this a new age trend that people follow by texting their children while staying under the same roof? Then there were other scenes that were just repetitious and annoying. Ironically, Max doesn’t even realize how annoying HE is when repeatedly describes how annoying his sister Marion is.

    However, the main important reason why I didn’t enjoy this book was due to the illustrations. I felt most of the illustrations were mediocre and done in a hurry. The illustrations in the Wimpy Kid series are very neat, with bold outlines that are consistent and strike the reader. The illustrations in this book were squiggly, scratchy, and had a lot of rough shading that looked very haphazard. Perhaps it was to done to show that it is a journal of an actual 11 year old, but I didn’t enjoy it. The author over uses smileys at times and I started skipping them entirely in an attempt to finish the book.

    The only reason I am giving this an average rating is because parts of the book were fun to read. I enjoyed the scenes where Max decides to get coupons as Christmas gifts for his family, and when he sings for the retirement home. In addition to that, I also liked Lisa’s character a lot! I laughed out loud when she obsesses over ‘Ben Didji” and loves receiving appendages as gifts for her birthday. Maybe this book would have been more fun if Lisa was the main character.

    Overall, I didn’t enjoy this book as I thought I would and give it 2.5 out of 5 stars.

  • Ludlow Lost (Osgoode Odyssey #1) by Kate Robinson Dunne

    Ludlow Lost (Osgoode Odyssey #1) by Kate Robinson Dunne

    Ludlow

    Ludlow Lost (Osgoode Odyssey #1) by Kate Robinson Dunne
    Release: October 10th 2017
    Format: Ebook
    Publisher: Two Pigeons Press
    Source: NetGalley

    Ludlow



    Ludlow Lost Synopsis:

    If you’re reading this, you’ve probably never had the bad fortune to be kidnapped and held captive by creatures human beings don’t believe in.

    Ludlow Osgoode has not been as lucky as you.

     

    Review:

    A BIG Thank You to NetGalley and Two Pigeons Press for providing me a copy of “Ludlow Lost (Osgoode Odyssey #1)” by Kate Robinson Dunne in exchange for my review. I had mixed feelings about “Ludlow Lost”. There are some aspects of it that I really enjoyed and some aspects that made me disappointed in reading it.

    Let’s start with the negative aspects. There are a few reasons why I gave this book only a three star rating. Firstly, the book gets a little monotonous towards the middle when Ludlow, Raghnall and Harry are lost at sea. Nothing really happens for a while, except for Ludlow meeting strange mythological creatures along the way. Furthermore, the author initiates about some really interesting subplots but it never materializes in the story. For example, what is the weejy weejy bird and why did it appear at times? Perhaps the author will explain all this in book two, but it still made me frustrated in not knowing.

    Secondly, I did not find any of the characters to be engrossing. Most of the characters only reveal a bit about themselves, and as it is a short book, it’s hard to get invested in them. Also, I felt like Ludlow was boring and Harry was very annoying. The mermaid and Storey were somewhat interesting, but were hardly present in the book to be memorable. The only character I felt was complex and interesting was Raghnall. In fact, I would have loved it if this trilogy was about Raghnall’s life instead of Ludlow. It would have been so exciting to read about how Raghnall gets trapped in Morag’s clutches and becomes a goblin. Speaking of Morag, I didn’t find the villain to be someone who was scary, and at times she was comical.

    Now to talk about the positive aspects. I loved the author’s style of writing. She has written this book in a very matter of fact way but with a whimsical touch. She has the perfect style for writing children’s stories and I would definitely love to read her future books. The author has also included some cute illustrations that add well to the chapters.

    I also loved the concept of the book. True, it didn’t turn out the way I had expected, but it’s still a charming plot. It reminds me a lot of “Alice in Wonderland”, or the movie “Spirited Away”. Moreover, I really liked the way the book ended. It had a very surreal effect that made me want to look forward to book two coming in 2019. Overall, I liked “Ludlow Lost” but I felt that it could have been so much better! I am looking forward to reading book two when it releases.

  • The Orphan Band of Springdale by Anne Nesbet

    The Orphan Band of Springdale by Anne Nesbet

    orphan

    The Orphan Band of Springdale by
    Release: April 10th 2018
    Format: Ebook
    Publisher: Candlewick Press
    Source: NetGalley

    orphan



    Orphan Band of Springdale Synopsis:

    With the United States on the verge of World War II, eleven-year-old Gusta is sent from New York City to Maine, where she discovers small-town prejudices — and a huge family secret.

    It’s 1941, and tensions are rising in the United States as the Second World War rages in Europe. Eleven-year-old Gusta’s life, like the world around her, is about to change. Her father, a foreign-born labor organizer, has had to flee the country, and Gusta has been sent to live in an orphanage run by her grandmother. Nearsighted, snaggletoothed Gusta arrives in Springdale, Maine, lugging her one precious possession: a beloved old French horn, her sole memento of her father. But in a family that’s long on troubles and short on money, how can a girl hang on to something so valuable and yet so useless when Gusta’s mill-worker uncle needs surgery to fix his mangled hand, with no union to help him pay?

    Inspired by her mother’s fanciful stories, Gusta secretly hopes to find the coin-like “Wish” that her sea-captain grandfather supposedly left hidden somewhere. Meanwhile, even as Gusta gets to know the rambunctious orphans at the home, she feels like an outsider at her new school — and finds herself facing patriotism turned to prejudice, alien registration drives, and a family secret likely to turn the small town upside down.

     

    Review:

    A BIG Thank You to NetGalley and Candlewick Press for providing me a copy of “The Orphan Band of Springdale” by Anne Nesbet in exchange for my review. I loved reading this story from the get-go! Omg, is there anything this book didn’t have? Magic coins? Check. Carrier pigeons taking photographs? Check. Family secrets, scandal and intrigue? Check, check and check!

    Okay, don’t get fooled from my previous remark thinking that this is some kooky story of pigeons taking photographs of magic coins. The story is actually very heart-warming and fast paced with wonderful characters. Firstly, my heart went out to Gusta as her father leaves her in the bus to Springdale. Since her arrival in Maine, Gusta adapts many changes like getting used to a new town and a new family. She also overcomes obstacles of being teased in school and getting into a feud with a prominent figure.

    In addition to the main character, the supporting characters are extremely charming and each one of them have a trait that you can root for (except the villain). In fact, I pictured the cast of Little House on the Prairie to the characters in this story. This is how I pictured the cast in my mind:
    • Gusta is Mary Ingalls
    • Josie is Laura Ingalls (an older version with the same personality)
    • Georges is Albert
    • Molly is Nellie (well, a brainier version of her)
    • Miss Hatch is Miss Beadle
    • and Mr. Kendall is the male evil version of Mrs. Olsen.

    Furthermore, the author sets the story line during the time of World War II, but doesn’t get too preachy on the history facts. There are some references to the Nazis, and even a shout out to Amelia Earhart. Significantly, the pacing was good, and the story lines remained fresh without a dull moment. Moreover, the story not only has a consistent theme, but a lot of quirky subplots to it. My favorite part was when Gusta tries on her new glasses and sees the world as brand new. I also loved her scenes with Josie and how they support each other during the tough times.

    So why did I give it only 4 out of 5 stars? Honestly, it is all because of that dastardly Mr. Kendall! In general, this man is so despicable, he makes Nelly Olsen look like sweet Snow White. After the way he horribly treats Gusta and her family, I was so furious that nothing unfortunate happened to him. Undoubtedly, it made me angry and feel like bad people do get away with everything sometimes. I would have given it 5/5 stars if there had been repercussions on Mr. Kendall to make him a better person.

    Overall, this is a charming book that I encourage you to read (if you haven’t done so already).

  • The Door to the Lost by Jaleigh Johnson

    The Door to the Lost by Jaleigh Johnson

    Door

    The Door to the Lost by Jaleigh Johnson
    Expected Release: July 3rd 2018
    Format: Ebook
    Publisher: Delacorte Press
    Source: NetGalley

    Door



    The Door to the Lost Synopsis:

    From the New York Times bestselling author of The Mark of the Dragonfly comes a thrilling fantasy adventure about two magical friends living as refugees in a world that doesn’t trust magic. Perfect for fans of Serafina and the Black Cloak and the School for Good and Evil series!

    There was no warning the day magic died in Talhaven. It happened with a giant explosion and the arrival of a skyship full of children, all with magic running through their veins and no memory of home.

    Rook and Drift are two of those children, and ever since that day, they’ve been on the run, magical refugees in a world that doesn’t trust magic. Because magic doesn’t die right away–it decays, twists, and poisons all that it touches. And now it’s beginning to poison people.

    Try as they might, Rook and Drift can’t remember anything about their lives before Talhaven. But it’s beginning to look like they’re the only ones who can save their adopted world . . . if that world doesn’t destroy them first.

     

    Review:

    A BIG Thank You to NetGalley, Delacorte Books for Young Readers and Random House Children’s for providing me a copy of “The Door to the Lost” by Jaleigh Johnson in exchange for my review. Before I begin, I would like to say that I’m not a fantasy reader in any way. It’s not that I don’t enjoy it, but it takes quite some time for me to finish a fantasy novel. I prefer to read realistic fiction for the most part. Having said that, I selected this book in NetGalley because I LOVED the cover design! I am glad I selected it because Wow, this was a roller coaster of a read!

    Let’s start off with the characters. For a fantasy adventure, the characters are down to Earth that we can relate to. All the three main characters, Rook, Drift and Fox have endearing qualities that make them naive and charming. I loved that we directly jump into the adventure and learn about the characters, instead of getting a proper introduction. My favorite character was Fox. He’s so adorable the moment he bumps into Rook and Drift! Even though he doesn’t have much of a dialogue, his ardent support throughout their journey makes him very memorable. I also loved the other exiles that the team meets in the ship, and wished they also had a backstory. The author has also written Dozana very well and you cannot help despise her for the crooked villain she is.

    Now let’s talk about the story-line. From the get go, we travel with Rook as she tries to survive in the land of Talhaven. The whole book is action packed and there is never a dull moment in the story. There are some great suspenseful moment like when Rook and Drift hide in Mr. Baroman’s attic, or when Rook hears knocking on the other side of the door or when she gets trapped in the giant spider web. I really couldn’t predict what was going to happen next, and was completely engrossed in the book till the climax.

    This is the first book I have read by Jaleigh Johnson, and I really like her style of writing. She beautifully blends the progression of the characters while keeping the fast pace of the story. My only question is, is this a standalone book or part of a series? The only part that could have been better was if the author provided more details of the characters and the history of the land. As much as I loved the story, I felt that the author cut down a lot to keep it in pace with a middle grade novel. Perhaps that is why I would love to read about more of these characters and hope there is a continuation. I want to pick out her “World of Solace” Series to see if that is equally good.

    Overall, I completely enjoyed this book and give it 4.5 out of 5 stars.

  • The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani

    The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani

    Diary

    The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani
    Release: March 6th 2018
    Format: Hardcover
    Publisher: Dial Books
    Source: Amazon

    Diary



    The Night Diary Synopsis:

    It’s 1947, and India, newly independent of British rule, has been separated into two countries: Pakistan and India. The divide has created much tension between Hindus and Muslims, and hundreds of thousands are killed crossing borders.

    Half-Muslim, half-Hindu twelve-year-old Nisha doesn’t know where she belongs, or what her country is anymore. When Papa decides it’s too dangerous to stay in what is now Pakistan, Nisha and her family become refugees and embark first by train but later on foot to reach her new home. The journey is long, difficult, and dangerous, and after losing her mother as a baby, Nisha can’t imagine losing her homeland, too. But even if her country has been ripped apart, Nisha still believes in the possibility of putting herself back together.

     

    Review:

    I loved the concept of “The Night Diary”! Veera Hiranandani has done a wonderful job in portraying how the Indian Independence affected the lifestyles of an average family. She realistically depicts the hardships that someone would have faced to move from Pakistan to India during this period. When we read about our leaders in history books, we read only of their struggles faced prior to independence. However, this book opened my eyes to show how Nehru and Gandhi also faced a lot of issues post-independence. An example being this mass movement between the Hindus and the Muslims with the split of India and Pakistan.

    I loved the way the author writes the story through Nisha’s diary entries during the time of Independence. It made the book feel more personal and felt like I was with them during their journey. There are some very gripping scenes that I don’t think I would ever forget. Some of these are:

    • When Nisha and her family get on the train and start seeing people killing each other.
    • The time a stranger seizes Nisha and threatens to kill her
    • When Nisha experiences how hostile some of the students in school are to her and Amil

    However, there are two aspects that disappointed me. The first was the pacing. I found the first half of the book to be a bit dragging and slow. Nothing really happens except for Nisha and Amil going on about their daily activities with their Papa, Dadi and Kazi. Nisha repeatedly talks about her mother, her brother’s lack in schoolwork, and cooking with Kazi. The story gets interesting only when they start moving towards their new destination, which is around halfway into the book. From then on, the story kept me on my toes and I kept wondering what was going to happen next.

    Secondly, I found Nisha’s character to be annoying after a while. I hoped that the girl would gain some courage during her adventure, especially after the traumatic incidents she faced. However, the whole journey seemed to make her more quiet and secluded. As Nisha admits, rather than making things better, she only gets into trouble for trying to be friends with Hafa. She decides to remain quiet when she is scolded at, and doesn’t show any positive change after the whole experience. I wish the author had portrayed her as a stronger character.

    Also, there are some minor incidents that I wish the author had given some closure on. For instance, as Amil shows symptoms of being autistic, I wanted details on how their Papa dealt with the issue. Moreover, their uncle Rashid seemed like a very interesting character and I wished that there was more details about him and his bond with their mother.

    Overall, I actually loved the Night Diary and it is an unforgettable book in many ways. If the pacing and the characters had been slightly better, I would have given it 5/5 stars. Nevertheless it is really good and worth reading!

  • Like Vanessa by Tami Charles

    Like Vanessa by Tami Charles

    vanessa

    Like Vanessa by Tami Charles
    Release: March 13th, 2018
    Format: Hardcover
    Publisher: Charlesbridge
    Source: Amazon

    vanessa


    Like Vanessa Synopsis:

    In this semi-autobiographical debut novel set in 1983, Vanessa Martin’s real-life reality of living with family in public housing in Newark, New Jersey is a far cry from the glamorous Miss America stage. She struggles with an incarcerated mother she barely remembers, a grandfather dealing with addiction and her own battle with self-confidence. But when a new teacher at school coordinates a beauty pageant and convinces Vanessa to enter, Vanessa’s view of her own world begins to change. Vanessa discovers that her own self-worth is more than the scores of her talent performance and her interview answers, and that she doesn’t need a crown to be comfortable in her own skin and see her own true beauty.

    Review:

    This was such a beautiful and inspiring book to read. It talks about how a girl overcomes all odds to achieve her goals, be accepted and feel beautiful. The first thing that made this book stand out was its backdrop setting. When a dark skinned girl wins a beauty pageant these days, we don’t give it a second thought as it has become a norm. However, the author strikingly portrays how historic it was when Vanessa Williams won it back in 1983. She show cases how it was a turning point for girls of any color to dream big and be hopeful of achieving their goals. Tami Charles’s style of writing is smooth and fluid and keeps the story energetic and fresh in this 80’s backdrop.

    Secondly, the characters are down to Earth with many flaws that the reader can connect with. Vanessa is a delightful character that you just want to hug and root for from the first page. I cheered for her when she had a friend in Mrs. Walton and felt for her when she found out about her mother. I hated Beatriz to the core for how she manipulated Nessy. It brought back horrid memories of a bully who used to humiliate me in school in a similar manner. I still don’t understand how there are people like this in the world who seek to hurt others to attain self-satisfaction.

    My favorite character of course was TJ. He is filled with positivity and continues to shine for his family while facing his own demons. I also loved Mrs. Walton as she is not the stereotypical preachy white teacher who wants to make a difference. I adored how TJ and Mrs. Walton genuinely supported Vanessa during her highs and lows because they had also been through tough times.

    Another aspect that I enjoyed was how this book highlighted other prominent issues and blended it with the story. It talks about the repercussions of substance abuse, bullying and struggling with one’s sexuality amongst other things. The author doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of life in these communities even though it’s a middle grade novel. However, I was conflicted during some passages as it was too brutal to be mentioned for the target audience. While I truly appreciate the author’s efforts for keeping this book real, I wish she would have toned down on the language a little bit. It’s a little shocking to read words like ‘gangbanger’ and ‘maricón’ mentioned repeatedly.

    Overall, this is truly a special novel that I urge everyone to read. In today’s world where people are more into appearances and rating people based on their looks in social media, this is a story that emphasizes that you can be beautiful no matter what size or color you are.

  • The Serpent’s Secret (Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond #1) by Sayantani DasGupta

    The Serpent’s Secret (Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond #1) by Sayantani DasGupta

    kiranmala

    The Serpent’s Secret (Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond #1) by Sayantani DasGupta
    Release: February 27th, 2018
    Format: Hardcover
    Publisher: Scholastic
    Source: Amazon

    kiranmala


    Kiranmala – The Serpent’s Secret Synopsis:

    MEET KIRANMALA: INTERDIMENSIONAL DEMONSLAYER (But she doesn’t know it yet.)

    On the morning of her twelfth birthday, Kiranmala is just a regular sixth grader living in Parsippany, New Jersey… until her parents mysteriously vanish later that day and a rakkhosh demon slams through her kitchen, determined to eat her alive. Turns out there might be some truth to her parents’ fantastical stories—like how Kiranmala is a real Indian princess—and a wealth of secrets about her origin they’ve kept hidden.

    To complicate matters, two crush worthy Indian princes ring her doorbell, insisting they’re here to rescue her. Suddenly, Kiran is swept into another dimension full of magic, winged horses, moving maps, and annoying, talking birds. There she must solve riddles and slay demons all while avoiding the Serpent King of the underworld (who may or may not want to kill her) and the rakkhosh queen (who definitely does) in order to find her parents and basically save New Jersey, her entire world, and everything beyond it…

    Book Trailer:

    [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJDRgjgRBG8[/embedyt]

    Review:

    This was such a fun book to read! It’s so refreshing to see a girl of Indian heritage be the protagonist and kick-ass in this adventure novel.

    What’s great about “The Serpent’s Secret” is in its story line and pacing. The story keeps you hooked from the get go and never gets boring. I finished this book in one sitting and couldn’t put it down. As Kiran and her friends go on their quest, they come across different adventures, whether it be from the mountains, in the sea or in a serpent’s lair. The adventures themselves range from serious edge of your seat moments like stealing a jewel from a Python, to hilarious escapes from demonic-cheerleaders. I loved how some of popular Indian folk-tales like the Rakkhosh and the thirsty crow were incorporated into the story line.

    The characters are adorable and you can’t help but like something about almost all of them. Kiran is a cool heroine with a snarky sense of humor. Neel is the brooding hero who is frustrating at times but has good intentions. Tuntuni is annoying but his jokes and rhymes are fun to read. The Raja came across as a jolly fellow even though he makes bad decisions. Even the Rakkhosh baby and the khokkosh demons made me laugh with their personality and dialogue. My favorite character in this story was Ai-ma. She is so creepy but has charming grandmother qualities, and the terms of endearment she uses on Neel is hilarious.

    The author has also put in her thoughts of Philosophy and Astronomy that make it stand out. Some of the dialogues (like the below) really made me reflect on our connection as human beings and how everyone is connected in someway.

    “My Baba always tells me we’re all connected by energy-trees, wind, animals, people, everything. He says that life energy is a link of river flowing through the universe. And that our souls are just a bit of that river water held inside the clay pitcher of our bodies. When our bodies give out, that’s just the pitcher breaking, pouring what’s inside black into the original stream of universal souls.”

    Overall, I devoured this book like a hungry Rakkhosh and cannot wait for the next one! The small preview at the end proves that it will be equally awesome as the first. The illustrations by Vivienne To are lovely and whimsical. If you haven’t read “The Serpent’s Secret” yet, don’t be such a 2-D duckweed, pick this up and read!