Rutabaga's Reads 2024: Part 7

Hello, fellow readers! In this post, you will find my second middle-grade compilation post. It’s a variety of … fantasy. All right, so all three fall within the same genre, but they each offer something different. There’s a Nigh that’s like NYC, but also not really. There’s a genius-recluse with a Willy Wonka-esque imagination. And there’s a house with a girl in the wallpaper.

The Golden Imaginarium (Oct. 10, 2023) by Ellen Potter.

<This is a sequel novel.>

<No spoilers outside of what may be on the dust jacket.>

Weeks have gone by since Nell Batista and the other members of the Last Chance Club, Crud Butterbank and Annika Rapp, were in the Nigh. Mr. Boot continues to act as though the lot are hopeless, though Vanessa Habscomb is helpful. A visitor clearly not of the Hither shows up – he refers to a hamster as a “little animal thingy” – and informs the three that they’re being fast-tracked to become Watchers, skipping right over the Level Cs and going straight to the Initiation Trial. This is alarming, as they have neither the experience nor the practice. They will be armed with their very own briefcase of Fates, creatures from the Nigh. Nell’s case is disappointingly small and contains only two. Neither seems particularly useful. The more useful one is the Willaweeper called Winston, which Vanessa gave her, and is now hiding in her braids. Nell’s first trial is a success, as she disrupts a Flooper: “an unexpected choice that will alter important events in the future.” Tom comes to find her and brings her back to the Nigh, where Nell encounters Katerina, Abiba and Samuel. They are ghosts ... but they weren’t ghosts when Tom brought them from the Hither to the Nigh. Nell also meets Lysander, an Imp who wants nothing more than a home and a family (even if he won’t readily admit it). They’ll see Finfolk (mermaids), who likewise despise Magicians, and spot a Grubble (a Sasquatch). Folk don’t like the latter because they dig up gardens and smell like garbage (they’re pests). Now more than ever, Nell needs to excel at chopsticks-assisting spell work. Rumor has it that the small and wicked Minister is coming after them. If Nell fails any of her trials, the Umglick Spell will be performed, and she’ll lose all memories of magic, the Nigh and the brother she’s so desperate to return to the Hither.

The middle-school protagonists are easy to root for against the evil, children-stealing Magicians in this fast-moving fantasy adventure. There is comic relief, including a budding Girl-Imp relationship that teeters on comically romantic in its awkwardness. The youth all have varied backgrounds, but most characters appear to cue Caucasian. Nell, Crud and Annika have developed a tight-knit bond through the Last Chance Club, and the creature cast is ample and contains all manner of docile-to-vicious creatures. The ending felt rushed, but is a happy one, so I don’t know if this ends at a duology or if the saga will continue. At any rate, this is a duo that has entertained me, and I’d happily read more stories. Remember that the Nigh is just like home, right up until it isn’t. And if you hear a Wickle-wickle-feee! at your ear, know that danger is way too near!

            Note: In this story, dogges is said to be pronounced as DOWGS, but, if you’ve read my post for the first novel, you’ll notice it’s pronounced differently. I don’t know if it’s an oversight or if the author purposely changed it, but I’m noting it as-is for its respective book.

            Book One: Hither & Nigh

Not Quite a Ghost (Jan. 16, 2024) by Anne Ursu.

<This is a standalone novel.>

The house on 1664 Katydid Street sat silent and alone for a long time, but now Violet Hart’s family has moved into the house in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Change is everywhere for Violet. There’s the big move, for their old home became too small for their family of five (mom, stepdad, older sister Mia and younger half-brother Owen). Violet’s entered middle school, and she isn’t on the same team as her best friends, Paige and Ally. With the start of middle school, Paige now wants their pod to become a squad with Quinn and Kennedy. Okay. Fine. Change is healthy, right? She manages to make a new friend named Will. She meets him in the school’s library. Healthy! But what about this attic bedroom that Mia didn’t want, despite it being the bigger room? The walls are a drab yellow, “somewhere between mustard and vomit,” the floor looks like it’s “been attacked by several angry bears,” it smells like “a malodorous moat” and has walls covered in a chaos of vines, leaves and flowers that look like eyes. Is the wallpaper watching her? It’s creepy. Lately, she’s spending too much time in her creepy bedroom when she falls mysteriously ill. No one can pinpoint her invisible illness. Is she making herself sick? And is that ... an outline of a girl in the wallpaper?

            It’s middle school drama meets a medical mystery and the paranormal in this page-turning tale highlighting changing friendships, balancing schoolwork and navigating an invisible illness amidst being haunted. This middle-grade novel is insightful, sometimes intense and creepy in a way that gives one not-too-scary shivers down the back. It’s a story featuring a blended family and diversity of race and sexual orientation. Despite the twisty paranormal element, there is realism to the story, not only contending with the mayhem of middle school or COVID, but being invisibly sick. The story explores what it’s like to be sick in a way no one seems to understand and is therefore dismissed. It’s effortlessly empathetic yet haunting, vulnerable yet fierce.

            P.S. At least Violet finally got a cat! (Her name is Trixie.)

The (Super Secret) Octagon Valley Society (Sept. 5, 2023) by Melissa de la Cruz.

<This is the first novel in a series.>

Only eight answered the 108th question on the Octagon Valley Assessment for the Extra-Ordinary (OVAEO) and so only eight were invited to the Octagon Valley Institute. It’s an exclusive weekend with the mysterious, high-tech genius-recluse Onasander Octagon. 11-year-old Edwin Edgefield, a boy who’s small for his age and young for his grade, hopes to meet intelligent kids like him who’ll also accept him for all of his quirks and his eidetic memory. But the other students are so different that it makes them wonder if they’re all in the right place. There’s amateur rapper Eun-Kyung “Li’l Kimmy” Kim, skateboarding surfer Dilip Aggarwal, 12-year-old violin/conductor prodigy Julie Carter, mean girl Maureen Pearson, teacher’s pet Anabelle “Ting-Ting” Costanza, gamer fanatic Anton Chesky and spoiled rich boy Harold Postman Jr. VIII. How did Harold even get invited? (It’s a legitimate question, as Onasander wonders, too.) Their introduction to the Institute isn’t what they expected. Instead of a fulfilling weekend of lectures and rumored new tech, they’re blindfolded and thrown into a labyrinthine scavenger hunt. From an escape-room challenge to attacking piranhas to abductor ninjas, the weekend is getting weirder by the moment. They’ll have to utilize their inner weird and work together to discover the true secret of the Institute. It’s part of what makes them EXTRAordinary!

            This opener in the Octagon Valley series is a fast-paced, page-turning, action-adventure that’s part mystery and part dangerous obstacle challenge with humor, mischief and, it turns out, a healthy dose of scheming. The cast is ethnically diverse: Edwin is Black, Li’l Kimmy is Korean, Dilip is Indian and Ting-Ting is Filipino. There is representation to be found in characters who struggle with things like anxiety. A story with emotional intelligence, a Willy Wonka-esque imagination and high entertainment value, it will appeal to a wide range of readers. A few words to the wise: Don’t get YAK-ed.

Rutabaga's Reads 2024: Part 6

It surprises me, too, that I have enough for a third chapter books compilation. While it’s true that they read very quickly, I don’t typically focus on them like I have this year.

Astrid & Apollo and the Happy New Year (Aug. 1, 2020) by V.T. Bidania.

   Dara Lashia Lee, illustrator.

<This is part of an unnumbered series of books.>

Twins Astrid and Apollo are excited to attend the Hmong New Year Festival in their home state of Minnesota. The celebration, complete with entertainment and vendors selling food and gifts/souvenirs, is noisy and crowded. When they let dancers pass in front of them, they lose their parents and Eliana, their little sister, but they find a lost little boy and help him to find his family. They may have to approach one of the stages and ask the host to announce that they’re lost, even if it means being mistaken for performers in their special Hmong New Year attire.

            This story showcases that the wonderful cultures and traditions of others can be found right here in the U.S., and Lee’s illustrations are vibrant and expressive. The story and pictures have me wanting to attend a Hmong festival to experience new things, eat new foods and learn! Emergent readers will likely need help with the Hmong words, but there is a helpful glossary of those words before the first chapter begins. This is another delightful story from the Astrid & Apollo series.

Escaping the Fire (Aug. 1, 2019) by Emma Bland Smith.

   Mirelle Ortega, illustrator.

<This is the first book in a series.>

With his parents taking a sabbatical year, Gavin McNally’s family is taking the year to travel around the country in an RV. Gavin has four goals to accomplish as set by his teacher. (1) Change someone’s life; (2) Get to know a family member better; (3) Be a friend to nature; (4) Seek treasure. This annoys him, because who likes homework? Chloe probably does. His older sister. The family thinks they’re settled in for the night at a California campground when Gavin notices smoke and the red glow of fire. Haste is a must to reach safety, but Gavin strays from his family when he hears a dog. Her owner isn’t home. Rescuing the dog is a no-brainer, but how will they escape the fire?

            I flew through this first in the Gavin McNally’s Year Off series. It is a hi-lo book (high-interest, low readability), meaning it’s designed to engage struggling readers. It’s a chapter book, in which there is mostly prose with illustrations, but it features simple sentence structure, controlled vocabulary, a lower page count and very short chapters. The theme is potentially complex and the story age-appropriate, but the reading level is lower. This would be a good option for emergent chapter book readers who are, perhaps, hesitant in their reading abilities.

Mindy Kim, Big Sister (Aug. 6, 2024) by Lyla Lee.

   Dung Ho, illustrator.

<This is the eleventh book in a series.>

There’s a pint-sized addition in the Kim family, and it’s Mindy’s newborn brother, Min-jae Wei. His American nickname is going to be Charlie, because her stepmom (Julie) thinks it’s cute. Mindy’s Korean name is Min-jung, and in Korean culture, it’s common for siblings to have similar names. Mindy’s worried about being a good big sister, for she’s never been a big sister before. When sleepless nights take a toll on all of them – even Theodore, the puppy – Mindy’s determined to find a way to help her dad and Julie get some much-needed rest.

            As if Lee’s Mindy Kim stories didn’t already bubble over with cuteness, she added an adorable addition to the family. She also focused on the harder parts of having a newborn, like those sleepless nights affecting all members of a household, but she tells it in a way that’s easy to understand and thus is an accessible story for young chapter book readers. The story shines with authenticity, and Ho’s accompanying illustrations continue to be top-notch complements to Lee’s word pictures.

Rutabaga's Reads 2024: Part 5

The year is streaming on by, but here is the first picture books compilation of 2024. Better late than never, as the saying goes. It features three books I own and two library checkouts.

Baker and Taylor and the Mystery of the Library Cats (Oct. 4, 2022) by Candy Rodó.

Meet Baker. He’s serious, quiet and enjoys reading about history and faraway places. He reads to learn. Meet Taylor. He’s silly, outgoing and enjoys adventure stories. He reads for fun. Their cat friend, Flora, encourages them to visit other libraries, so they adventure to the main branch of the New York Public Library (NYPL). They arrive in Pennsylvania Station (over 650,000 people travel through Penn Station daily, making it the busiest transportation station in the Western Hemisphere), excited to meet two other library cats, but they can’t find them. With Baker’s trusty guidebook and Taylor’s keen sense of adventure, this book-loving feline duo are about to solve the mystery of NYPL’s Library Cats. They’ll take the subway, partake of a slice of NYC pizza and visit one of the city’s many bodegas.

            This first in a newly independent reader series contains thorough but simple digital illustrations complementing an unfussy adventure picture book featuring two bookish cats. It’s a light storyline that is uncomplicated and easy to follow. The pictures do not capture the constant movement and energy of NYC, but as that’s not the focal point of the story, that is a small thing. Still, I’ll admit that I found the factual tidbits and the factual back matter to be more engaging than the story itself. I picked up the book, not because I’m a cat-loving bibliophile (even though I am), but because I’ve visited the main branch of the New York Public Library!

            Note 1: For those who don’t know, Patience and Fortitude are the “library cats.” They’re actually lion statues. They’ve been guarding the main building of the NYPL since 1911.

            Note 2: The NYPL is the largest public library system in the country. It has 92 locations throughout the different neighborhoods in the city. The main branch is on 5th Avenue, between 42^nd and 40^th Streets. It was founded in 1895.

            Note 3: There are more than 10,000 bodegas (small grocery stores) in NYC. Many have a pet cat to keep mice away, but they greet customers, too.

            Note 4: Besides housing millions of books, the NYPL has also been home to the original toys of Christopher Robin, Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends, Eeyore, Tigger, Piglet, and Kanga since 1987.

Eyes that Speak to the Stars (Feb. 15, 2022) by Joanna Ho.

   Dung Ho, illustrator.

A Chinese American boy feels the hurtful sting of seeing his eyes represented as two slanted lines when all of his friends have big, round eyes. His Baba (dad) reassures him that “Your eyes rise to the skies and speak to the stars. The comets and constellations show you their secrets, and your eyes can foresee the future. Just like mine.” The boy’s eyes are like Agong’s (Grandpa’s) and Di-Di’s (younger brother’s). His eyes are “visionary.” “And they are powerful.”

            This story is as mesmerizing and lyrical as its predecessor. It is lovingly validating and the young boy is quickly and beautifully reassured with eyes in his family that look like his. For me, growing up adopted in a family of Caucasians, this would’ve been a tough one for me as a young child. The only eyes in my family to compare to were all big, round eyes. Fortunately, as an adult, I appreciate the necessity for stories like this, that celebrate family, diversity and the splendor in our differences. Dung Ho’s illustrations complement Joanna Ho’s writing to perfection and not only depict the story as it moves along, but includes icons recognizable in Chinese culture like dragons, a Chinese street market and Kongming (Chinese sky) lanterns. Heritage should be embraced no matter where someone’s landed in the world, and this book showcases that.

            Companion to: Eyes that Kiss in the Corners

Jan Brett’s The Nutcracker (Nov. 16, 2021) by Jan Brett.

It’s Christmas, and Uncle Drosselmeier has brought mysterious boxes. Marie is enthralled by the Nutcracker who she declares “looks like a real boy who has traveled from a place far away.” Her brother, Fritz, wanting to see how the Nutcracker works, breaks him, prompting Marie to check on the Nutcracker in the night. She feels magic and gets involved in a battle between invading mice and Fritz’s toy soldiers led by the Nutcracker. The Mouse King is vanquished, and Marie and her Nutcracker visit a wintry wonderland. Is it real? Or is it all a dream?

            In true Brett fashion, the story is filled with vignettes alongside the picture spread. Normally busy, I felt like it was too busy. It didn’t deter me from liking the story that follows the well-known arc from E.T.A. Hoffman’s famous story. The language is descriptive, and the illustrations are vivid and incredibly detailed. The story incorporates familiar moments from the ballet. However, animals are the cast in the second act. Dancing bears perform the Russian Trepak, and elegant foxes perform the Danse Arabe. Wildlife in the vignettes are dressed in winter wear playing flutes and other instruments. It is a feast for the eyes and a dreamland of wonder with an Old World feel. It is a Christmas confection.

There’s a Ghost in This House (Nov. 2, 2021) by Oliver Jeffers.

A young, unnamed girl lives in a supposedly haunted house, but has she seen a ghost? No. “Perhaps you could help me?” she asks. She’s heard that they “are white with holes for eyes” and adds that they’re very hard to see. She says she’s looked all over – in the library, in the attic, behind all the wardrobes, under the bed (TWICE!) and even up the chimney – but she’s still never spotted one. Will you help her find the ghosts?

The girl lives in an 18th-century mansion with long hallways, quiet rooms and plenty of dark corners, but far from being spooky, this picture book is charming. Does it have eerie vibes? Sure, but they’re unthreatening in this story that reads rather like a seek-and-find. The ghosts on the vellum papers are Casper-adorable and have playful senses of humor. It’s a lighthearted treat to read.

P.S. My nephew LOVED this story. He read it first with his grandma (my mom, to me), and when I read it with him, he remarked with glee when I pointed out two ghosts that he’d missed the first time he read the story! Hands down, it’s a 10/10. How can it not be, when it’s nephew-approved?

We Are Water Protectors (Mar. 17, 2020) by Carole Lindstrom.

   Michaela Goade, illustrator.

“Tears like waterfalls stream down.” A black snake threatens to destroy Earth and poison her people’s water, so one young water protector takes a stand to defend Earth’s most sacred resource. In Ojibwe culture, “women are the protectors of the water and men are the protectors of the fire.” Water is the first medicine, we come from water, and we all depend on water. The water protectors stand “With our songs / And our drums. / We are still here.” As long as water protectors exist, the black snake is in for a long fight. We are all related. TAKE COURAGE! WE STAND!

            Anishinaabe/Métis author Lindstrom and Tlingit descent illustrator Goade are a powerhouse team whose story isn’t only telling the readers to be observant. It’s a call to courageous action to care for our planet home, Earth. We stand not only for ourselves and our loved ones, but for all the creatures of the land, sea and sky who don’t have voices. It’s a passionate picture book with subtly bold, gorgeous illustrations. It’s inspiring and empowering. It’s educational without the weight of a class lecture, but the call to environmental stewardship is nonetheless impactful.