Rutabaga's Reads 2023: Part 13

It’s not a competition, but I think middle-grade (MG) is winning. It’s almost year-end, but I’m back with the third MG compilation post of this year!

It’s Showtime, Kavi (July 1, 2023) by Varsha Bajaj.

   Parvati Pillai, illustrator.

Where her eight-year-old brother, Rishi, wants to be an aspiring doctor, diagnosing everything by ending it in –itis, Kavi Sharma has a passion for music and performing. Kavi and her best friends, Pari and Sophie, sign up to perform in their school’s revue. To participate, students must be in good academic standing, so it’s not a good sign when Kavi receives her first tardy ever (the day their mom returns to the workforce) and flunks a pop quiz in science class the following day because she didn’t do her homework (because she forgot her textbook at school). As Rishi would say, Kavi’s got a bad case of Broadwayitis. When Kavi wants to quit, Rishi wonders if she has quitteritis. When it all comes out in the open, and she knows it’s okay to ask for help, things turn around and scholaritis sets in. Kavi isn’t the most organized person, but she’s definitely determined. Her family’s behind her, including Scamper, their dog, and the show must go on!

            This is an illustrated middle-grade novel marketed for what I’d consider younger middle-grade readers. However, Girl of the Year (GOTY) 2023 Kavi is older than most of the characters at 12 years old (they’re typically around nine or ten). She’s American Girl’s first GOTY of South Asian descent, and I love the cultural flair the story has. Pillai’s illustrations are bold and colorful, but the ones featuring Indian dress are what pull me in the most. It also feels real, from the weight of juggling schoolwork with extra-curriculars and/or lessons to feeling so overwhelmed that quitting seems like the best option. The story flowed well and didn’t feel contrived. It has me wanting to eat samosas and Dadima’s cookies (dadima is your dad’s mother in Hindi), learn a Bollywood dance and own a sari.

Never After: The Broken Mirror (Dec. 6, 2022) by Melissa de la Cruz.

<This is the third novel in a series.>

Their loads are light as they trek to Snow Country, but only because Robin Hood and his band of thieves have stolen their possessions. Robin Hood robs from the poor to give to the rich. Yes, that’s correct. Filomena Jefferson-Cho, Jack the Giant Stalker, Alistair Bartholemew Barnaby (Ali Baba), Gretel the Cobbler’s Daughter, Byron Bessley (formerly Beast) and [Princess] Beatrice are off to Snow Country after a detour to aid Princess Jeanne of Northphalia by rescuing Lord Sharif (Riff) of Nottingham. They must also find her crown before King Richard (not a real king) can take her head and her crown. New lines of the prophecy state that “Only the League of Seven can save the lands” from the ogres. Who’s the League of Seven? Are they seven DWARVES (actually giants; it’s an acronym for Dwayne’s Army of Really Very Extra-Large Soldiers)? Are they seven swan brothers? Whoever they are, they must be fearless, and they are needed. Hortense’s Prince Charlie has been turned into a frog, the fairy Colette’s whereabouts are unknown, and word comes that the fairy, Zera (Scheherazade), has been captured by one conspiring with Olga (the ogre queen) and Cinderella (her evil ogre daughter). Filomena is also wrought with worry over her adoptive mom back home in North Pasadena, California, as she’s fallen sick, and the doctors can’t figure out what’s wrong with her. They make new friends along the way, namely, Rose Red (Rosie), daughter of Snow White/Colette. With the ogres and their evilness spread far and wide, perhaps even into the mortal world, how can Filomena and her friends save Never After?

            de la Cruz’s third fractured fairy tale in The Chronicles of Never After is another win. The story is engaging and delightful with high-spirited adventure and young heroes navigating feelings of helplessness and fear as they’re also trying to save a land they love. There’s magical enjoyment and emotional depth in this absorbing middle-grade fantasy. Real world and the fantasy world don’t collide so much as segue from one to the other, and the author has a knack for making it read seamlessly. It contains racially diverse characters with casual mentions of food and drink which may not be familiar to all readers, like when Hortense wants to drink dohwa-cha or peach blossom tea (a traditional Korean tea). Entertainment value is high, but it isn’t without intense scenes, as death does happen in Never After. It’s a land I’d love to visit, perhaps live in part-time, thus becoming biportal, but I’ll wait to visit until after Filomena and her friends defeat the ogres.

            P.S. This is a small thing, but the part that niggles at me are her poems. I didn’t like their flow. Like, I’m reading it in my head and get into a rhythm, a tempo, but the lines (verses) don’t match up. The poems are like puzzle pieces that should fit together but don’t quite.

            Book One: The Thirteenth Fairy

            Book Two: The Stolen Slippers

Winston Chu vs. the Whimsies (Feb. 7, 2023) by Stacey Lee.

<This is the first novel in a duology.>

Shenanigans arise for 12-year-old Winston Chu when he inadvertently halts a robbery and winds up with a broom and dustpan as a reward from Mr. Pang’s Whimsies, an oddities shop in San Francisco’s Chinatown that smells like popcorn. He might’ve first touched the KICK-ME BOOTS, FAR-SEEING EYEBALLS or the EGGS OF TRUTH. Even the HOVERING PIZZA SWAT (CAUTION: HOT) would’ve been far more significant than a broom. And dustpan. Feeling defeated, Winston takes his two-for-one “reward” to the home he shares with his crotchety older sister, Philippa, his “threenager” little sister, Coco, and their hard-working mom, Willa, single since their military-translator dad, Philip, was killed in a friendly fire incident in Iraq. It’s after the broom and dustpan return home with him that beloved possessions go missing, from Philippa’s Babar the Elephant to Lucky (Winston’s goldfish) and even his only soccer jersey. Coco’s different, too; she’s now Not-Coco. Winston only has five days to find the changeling Chang-Ah-Ling and switch them back. Winston won’t be alone. He has his soccer mates and friends: Maverick (Mav) McFee, Cassa Kowalski and Bijal (last name unmentioned). He might even have Dani Kim, the cute and talented niece of his cooking instructor, who wears a seemingly magical cocktail umbrella behind her ear. Answers may come from the cloud weaver and her husband, the cowherd, if they’re willing to work as a team. Warning: a dance-off seems imminent. Prepare to avoid the object’s sharp and poisonous needles. No pressure.

            East and west collide in this contemporary middle-grade novel that re-imagines a Chinese folktale full of magic, mayhem, a go-to boba shop and friendship. The tale has middle-school smart-mouthing, but it’s also heartfelt. Themes of family and friendship and working through grief help bind the cleverly-written, fast-paced, action-filled story. I appreciate that Lee has created a racially diverse cast (Bijal cues as South Asian, Mav has some Senegalese ancestry, Dani’s name hints as Korean and Cassa interprets as Caucasian). This adventure from the Rick Riordan Presents imprint is a win, and I look forward to more magical mischief and mirthful hijinks in the next installment. Look out for the Fire-Weiler and the Were-Bear. The mustache is up to mischief, but may come in handy, too. For anyone who ventures into this story, keep a weather eye open for all of those whimsically wicked objects!

            P.S. I could use a Brain Strainer. It will “seep stress away.”

            Also by Stacey Lee: Luck of the Titanic (YA)

Rutabaga's Reads 2022: Part 3

Am I a grown woman? Yes. But that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate the American Girl (AG) brand. (This post is NOT sponsored by AG or anyone affiliated with AG. Books were purchased by me.)

            This post features AG’s Girl of the Year (GOTY) for 2022: Corinne Tan. Corinne is Asian American (specifically, Chinese). As someone who’s also an Asian American (specifically, Korean), I love that AG is featuring an Asian doll of color!

Corinne (Dec. 30, 2021) by Wendy Wan-Long Shang.

There’s a lot of newness going on in 10-year-old Corinne Tan’s life. She and her younger sister, Gwynn, are about to gain a stepfather. His name is Arne, and when their mom marries him, they all move into his spacious, professionally-designed home in Aspen. There are certain perks, like a fabulous bedroom for the sisters to share and getting a rescue pup, Flurry, from the local shelter, but Corinne is uncomfortable. She hides the truth of her new privilege and living in wealth from her best friend, Cassidy, including when Gwynn begins private skating lessons, because Cassidy thinks all who pay for private lessons are snobs. Then there’s the mean boy who makes xenophobic remarks and the two grown men who say equally bigoted things, making seven-year-old Gwynn cry. Arne seems to want to sweep the negativity under the rug, rather than discuss it. When truths and frustrations come out in a disastrous way, Corinne flees to her home outside of home. But will her survival skills kick in when it becomes clear that she’s lost?

            Props to the author for crafting such an authentic, current story. The COVID-19 pandemic has, unfortunately, brought a lot of xenophobia toward Asians and Asian Americans to light. I appreciate that the author wrote the story as she did. Corinne needs to be able to discuss the hurtfulness of being a racial target, and it annoyed me terrifically when she wasn’t getting that support from her new stepfather. It’s an intensive topic for all ages, but young people are far more observant than adults often give them credit for, and they need to know that open discussions should always be encouraged. I love the addition of Flurry, a rescue pet, one that’s going to be trained to be a search and rescue dog, and the “sister brain” dynamic shows a closeness between the two sisters that I wish all siblings had. This book, aimed at a 3^rd-4^th grade reading level (according to the book), is written with depth while remaining easy to understand and is a fast read.

Corrine to the Rescue (Dec. 30, 2021) by Wendy Wan-Long Shang.

With no snow now that summer’s here, Corrine worries about keeping up with Flurry’s search and rescue training. Fortunately, with advice from Kim, a dog trainer, Corinne learns that there are things Flurry needs to be comfortable doing for summer searches, such as be able to hop into an all-terrain vehicle, climb onto Corinne’s back (to carry one’s dog so the dog conserves strength and energy) and learn to ride in a canoe (if there were snow, it’d be learn to ride in a sled). Corinne is determined to get Flurry up-to-snuff so that Kim will become Corinne’s mentor, but these tasks are harder than expected due to interference from Gwynn. Corinne thinks that having her own bedroom will fix that issue until their mom shares huge news that will change their family forever. Corinne banks her training hopes on their annual camping trip instead, though Arne’s not easily convinced. When disaster strikes during their trip, their training time becomes a real rescue mission. Her family’s safety is at stake!

            As expected of all AG stories, this is another cute tale with a good message. Life can bring big changes no matter the age, as Corinne experiences in this story with her mom’s news. She’s also written with a good head on her shoulders when she seeks out aid with Cassidy and Flurry with her, though she isn’t 100% brave 100% of the time, making her character more realistic and believable. It’s an adventure-turned-rescue-mission with a sweet bundle of joy at the end. For anyone who follows AG stories, these aren’t to be missed, and I would hope libraries would add them to their collections, especially if they already carry AG books.

Rutabaga's Reads 2021: Part 5

You know I couldn’t go through this year without talking about American Girl 2021’s Girl of the Year (GOTY), Kira Bailey. While I do believe these books are now marketed as middle-grade, they also read as chapter books. In other words, for intermediate readers, where much of the book contains prose, but also contains occasional pictures to accompany what the reader’s read.

Kira Down Under (Dec. 26, 2020) by Erin Teagan.

Summer vacation has arrived, and Kira is excited to travel with her mom to a wildlife sanctuary in the Australian bush run by her Aunt Mamie and her wife, Auntie Lynette. Mamie is a veterinarian, which is what Kira wants to be when she’s older, as she loves caring for animals. She falls instantly in love with Bean, an orphaned koala joey, but she soon learns that rehabilitation involves releasing animals back into the wild, hard as that is when one grows attached. Kira meets the Curry family: Alexis is almost 11, her mom is the vet nurse at Bailey Wildlife Sanctuary, and her dad is the ranger. Kira regards Alexis as a quick friend, but she envies that Alexis is living the life she wishes she were living. When the two of them wind up in a spat around the same time she puts the wombats in danger with an unknown predator on the loose, while Mamie’s in the hospital with an emergency health issue, Kira feels she can do nothing right.

            Remembering that we were all 10 years old once is helpful when it seems a character is being too dramatic or immature, and because of that, I believe that Teagan represented the character’s age well. There are many people of all ages, the young included, that have passion projects, and caring for animals is obviously Kira’s. I appreciate that she’s portrayed as having a nurturing nature and educates herself, but is presented with the struggle of having to let the wildlife they care for go. It feels authentic. As all American Girl stories do, they celebrate all girls. I hope this story encourages others to be active responders in any “do-something situation” and ignites a flame for traveling (if one doesn’t already enjoy traveling)!

Kira’s Animal Rescue (Dec. 26, 2020) by Erin Teagan.

How far would you go if you thought you’d found an animal widely believed to be extinct? Kira and, begrudgingly, Alexis, team up with PhD student Evie to attempt to track the paradise parrot. Unfortunately, bushfires are threatening the sanctuary. Evacuating the wilderness vet clinic is daunting enough, but it’s downright overwhelming to Kira to include evacuating all of the wild animals, too. The sanctuary has a roundabout number, but 200 acres is a lot to cover, especially when all of the animals must be evacuated. Kira becomes desperate to save a wallaby joey who jumps out of his mother’s pouch and rushes off. During this time, Evie has become practically obsessed with finding proof of the paradise parrot. She goes out to the parrot’s habitat despite the threat of the bushfire. When Kira discovers something disturbing, will she have the courage to speak up?

            Of the two, I liked this story even more. I’ve never been to Australia (or New Zealand, but someday, hopefully) and so cannot truly fathom the intensity of what it would mean to have to evacuate because of bushfires or even the threat of one. When Kira, others at the sanctuary and volunteers in the area arrive to help evacuate the animals, the reader can feel the gravity of the situation and the fluttering fear at the thought of not saving the wildlife. Yes, there is sweetness to the tale – it’s an American Girl book, after all – but there is weight to it. It’s not all bouncing kangaroos and inquisitive wombats, but drought-fueled bushfires and catching a lie, too. This story encourages action against climate change and highlights some young ladies who are global changemakers.

Rutabaga's Reads 2020: Part 5

American Girl’s Girl of the Year line has previously included three stories for that year’s doll. Lately, it’s been two. If they happen to start up the third story again, I will add it to this post, but sadly, I don’t see that happening.

            I don’t think there’s any question, but I am in no way associated with American Girl or Mattel. I am simply a long-time fan of the American Girl brand. I purchased these books myself.

Joss (Dec. 26, 2019) by Erin Falligant.

Living in Huntington Beach, California, it’s no surprise that Jocelyn Elizabeth (Joss) Kendrick is a surfer girl, and she’s all in like her surfing idol Tina Hart. When the waves are good, Joss pops out her hearing aid (she’s completely deaf in her left ear and uses a hearing aid in her right), grabs her hand-me-down board once belonging to her 14-year-old brother Dylan and paddles into the waves with her Surf Sister Sofia Goto. Her oldest brother, 18-year-old Liam, can often be spotted surfing, and even the family dog, Murph, rides the waves in down at Dog Beach. Joss and Sofia are super stoked to enter a surfing video contest to win a chance to meet Tina Hart. Sofia is all-in with her recycled beach art (using shells, kelp, discarded trash left haphazardly on the sand), knowing Tina will appreciate it, but Joss thinks the only way to capture Tina’s attention and win the contest is by mastering a killer move like the frontside air, which her idol first achieved when she was 10 years old like Joss. Now they need Dylan’s masterful video-recording skills, but he tells her he won’t record them unless she makes the cheer team. What? No way. Joss is 100% surfer girl, and there’s no way she’s wearing a ginormous hair bow. But if it’ll help her win the video contest, then it’s worth it. Right?

            I was impressed with this latest from American Girl’s Girl of the Year (2020) line. It isn’t only a story marketed for 8-12-year-olds to enjoy with an active, athletic girl working to routinely balance fun, friends, responsibilities and trying new things. It’s also a story with a wealth of jargon – surfing, cheer and skateboarding – and features a character who cannot readily hear like so many can, even with the invaluable assistance of a hearing aid. “Joss” is lively and fun and as dramatic as the concerns of many a 10-year-old can be.

Joss: Touch the Sky (Dec. 26, 2019) by Erin Falligant.

Talk about a balancing act. Joss has discovered how to be all in 100% in more than surfing. She enjoys being on the Team Shine cheer team, and her athleticism courtesy of surfing and skateboarding helps her athleticism in cheer and vice versa. When the opportunity arises to become one of the team’s new flyers, Joss is excited. Move over thigh stands; bring on the elevators! The elevator combined with Mila’s lib is sure to give some stiff competition to Team Fury, the rival competitive cheer team in Huntington Beach. But when the act that Joss, Sofia, Brooklyn Tillman (Joss’ cheer teammate) and Murph perform for the talent show is a “dogtastrophe” and a scary wipeout occurs at Shadow Rock, Joss loses confidence. Now she doesn’t trust her teammates not to drop her, but that stems from the trust she’s lost in herself to perform the skill. If she can’t perform the stunt out of fear, will Coach Kara boot her from her position as a flyer?

            The second installment in 2020’s Girl of the Year line from American Girl is as sound as the first. Joss has accepted that she can do more than one thing, giving her all to whatever she’s working on at the time, be it surfing, cheer, skateboarding, etc., and know she isn’t any less by having multiple interests. But in this story, Joss shows us how debilitating a fear can be and how it can affect us, not only how we may lose trust in ourselves, but others around us that we’ve before trusted implicitly. This story is not only entertainment geared for middle-grade readers and fans of the American Girl brand, but a learning tool in story form. Believe in yourself. Trust yourself. Trust your team. Work hard. Be confident. Be you and be all in. 100%!

Rutabaga's Reads 2019: Part 19

In this easy-reading, middle-grade novels post, you’ll see stories featuring 10-year-old Blaire Wilson, American Girl’s Girl of the Year for 2019. She’s a chef, crafter, farmer and overall creative girl full of “idea-sparks.”

Blaire (Dec. 26, 2018) by Jennifer Castle.

Welcome to Pleasant View Farm Bed-and-Breakfast! Blaire Wilson and her family own and operate the farm-to-table family business. Her mom runs the restaurant, her dad runs the business and marketing side of the farm + other projects, her grandpa manages the check-in desk and greets guests, her younger brother (Beckett) helps with the chores, and Blaire does all of the above. She also creates recipes with her mom and posts them on the farm’s website. Unfortunately, she’s been hesitant to cook, as she’s had a recent lactose intolerance diagnosis. She’s embarrassed to think she’s singled out for her intolerance, such as having replacement snacks if a classmate brings a birthday treat she can’t eat. Blaire tries to ignore it by diving into other projects. Her dad has been renovating a barn, making it into an event venue. It happens to be that one of the staff, who’s like family, gets engaged (Caterina “Cat” Minardi), and Blaire suggests they be the first to get married in the barn. Trouble is, it’s a-ways away from being finished. Blaire pushes her best friend, Theodora “Thea” Dimitriou, into helping, but her friend quits coming to help. When Blaire is called out on all the time spent on “wedding stuff” and shirking other responsibilities and her friends, will her epic plans turn into epic fails?

            Blaire learns a lot in this story that translates to our everyday lives as well, be you a youth or adult, from time management skills to working hard and being responsible to not forgetting about your friends. It’s also a story that encourages us to not be embarrassed by new situations in our lives (like a food allergy) that affect how we live (and eat). Blaire isn’t without the occasional dramatic display, which I think is an honest representation of most youth. I appreciated this story that promotes teamwork amongst family and how difficult it can be to have something different about oneself. It shows that what may seem like no big deal to one person has a profound effect on another. While the story is light fare, it isn’t fluffy, but like a rich custard, full of the flavors of personalities, busyness, learning and growing.

Blaire Cooks Up a Plan (Dec. 26, 2018) by Jennifer Castle.

Living on the family farm where they all pitch in with the farm-to-table bed-and-breakfast means that life is never boring for Blaire or her family in fictional Bluefield, New York, near the Shawangunk Ridge in a corner of New York’s Hudson Valley. This is evidenced  when Marco Gonzalez shows up of an early morning, and Blaire greets him … in her pajamas after a tenting sleepover with her best friend, Thea. Marco is her favorite designer with a very successful online video channel called “Room Revolutions.” He’s working on a project in the area, and Blaire, much to her awed delight, gets to be involved! But timing will be tricky, as she and her class also have the 5^th Grade Community Service Challenge to think about. Blaire wants to do something awesome, but what? She befriends a young girl, Abby, at the local food pantry, and discovers that she knows what she wants to do to make a positive difference in her community. As it were, it’s a project that’s too big for herself. She’ll need the help of her entire class, including Eli Carr, the reserved new kid. All of the extra hands mean extra help, but will all the extra feet spell catastrophe in the kitchen?

            Blaire’s lactose intolerance isn’t the horror it was to her in the first story, but it hasn’t fully ebbed, either. She remains reticent to share it with her entire class, but she’s always got plenty on her plate to keep her distracted. I liked to watch her grow from someone who wanted to do an awesome project so it’d be displayed in their school’s All-Stars case to someone who just wants to make a difference for the better. In so doing, she doesn’t only empower herself, but her classmates and all she meets at the food pantry, especially young Abby. This story is sweet-as-pie, and I love the story’s focus on volunteerism.

Rutabaga's Reads 2019: Part 16

Being more up on my blog this year has cemented that I read a lot of middle-grade stories. I knew that, but this fourth compilation of 2019 helps put it in perspective. Anyone else reading books geared for 8-12-year-olds? If so, what are you reading? Which authors have you discovered?

A Crystal of Time (Mar. 5, 2019) by Soman Chainani.

*This is the fifth in a series / second in a related trilogy.*

It’s all falling apart. A false king sits upon Camelot’s throne. Its true king, Tedros, has been sentenced to death. Agatha has escaped (barely), but does not know where she can go to find even one ally. Sophie is caught in King Rhian’s trap. Japeth is more twisted in the head than probably his own brother realizes. Merlin is missing. Clarissa Dovey is amongst the captured. Secrets long-buried are being unearthed, and the group learns more about the Storian, though Rhian has Lionsmane, a golden pen of his very own, which is actually a scaly black scim. Still, that won’t stop him from creating his own tales told by the pen, except the pen doesn’t choose the tale; Rhian does. Friends are freed, reunited and separated again. Lives are lost, though on the side of good, they are lost valiantly. But Agatha, Tedros, Sophie and company seem to be fighting a losing battle. So many are turning to Rhian’s false promises of protection because of his lies. As people turn away from Camelot’s true king, they destroy their rings, which are inexplicably linked to the Storian. What happens if every single ring is destroyed?

            Due to the sheer size of this novel (624 pages), I did as I had with the previous book and read one chapter a day until I finished it. Although I read one chapter at a time, it read as swiftly as a dramatic waterfall plummeting over a steep cliff. The landscape of the entire novel is generally very serious, as danger lurks most everywhere. The lives of all of the protagonists are fraught with peril, and death can be intense. Middle-grade though this is, it’s not for the tender of heart. Sometimes the death is written almost beautifully, violent as it is: “I shatter to a million crystals,” but oftentimes it’s just violent. I suspect the author is gearing readers up for an epic conclusion, and I hope we aren’t disappointed. Or we’ll find our own pens!

Luciana: Braving the Deep (Dec. 26, 2017) by Erin Teagan.

*This is the second book in AG’s Girl of the Year series for 2018.*

For a girl wanting to be the first female to go to Mars, attending youth astronaut training camp as one of the “Fail Smart” kids is perfect. Luciana Vega is one of six youth in the astronaut training portion of the camp, but only three will be chosen to dive to Cetus, an underwater habitat where astronauts train for life in space. Her other teammates in the program will be the mission control group. Luci passes each of the three skills tests on the first round. Her chances of making the dive team seem bright until she accuses one of her teammates of sabotage in front of the entire group. Suddenly, even her good friend and fellow teammate is treating her like the problem, and Luci begins to wonder if that’s true. When an underwater crisis seems to affect Luci negatively, can she conquer her fears? Or will Luci’s dream to be the first female to Mars end before it’s barely begun?

            As with any American Girl (AG) story, this is a sweet story with a good message. In this story, the main character isn’t only overcoming a fear, but also wading through a tough situation with a best friend. She might have always thought trust was an untouchable core of their friendship until it’s rocked by a newcomer who’s like a bright, shiny new phone (and also has a world-renowned dad whom the friend is a fan of). When it comes to the astronaut training camp, the author’s research appears thorough, as all aspects of the camp – from learning to snorkel to descending with a tank to hydroponics – were believable and specifically-detailed. For the 8-12 age set who prefer less complex stories, who are fans of American Girl or who want an uncomplicated read featuring empowered female youth, these stories from American Girl may be for them.

Red: The (Fairly) True Tale of Red Riding Hood (Apr. 12, 2016) by Liesl Shurtliff.¹

*This is the third book in an unofficial series.*

When Granny gets sick, Red fears she is dying and takes it upon herself to find a cure. Granny is known as The Witch of the Woods and is adept at anything from everyday cure-alls to complex spells and curses. One would expect Red to be as adept, but Red actually fears using magic. Her most spectacular fail could’ve once killed Granny, and since then, she’s avoided the simplest magic. Even to save her grandma, she prefers a cure which doesn’t require her to incant a spell. So she sets off into the Woods. An annoying human-turned-friend named Goldie (yes, like that Goldie, but not actually that Goldie; however, names have power) comes along on her quest, even though Goldie loses her most recent memories at one point, and she befriends an unexpected tagalong in a wolf who, forlornly, has no pack because of the huntsman called Horst (he is that huntsman). “Monster!” the wolf communicates. They meet an angry bear, a witch with a youthful face but no memories, a grumpy dwarf name Borlen (he’s young, only 276 years old) and a Beauty-turned-Beast. The one person they can’t seem to ditch is Horst. Does he sense the wolf is with them? Can they protect each other and cure Granny?

            Although not part of a named series, this is the third middle-grade story by Shurtliff revolving around the same Woods. Red and Rump are actually good friends. The thing I like about Shurtliff’s fairy tale mash-ups, including this one, is that they can be read by a wide audience without worrying about content or a mature reading level. Additionally, the story is not long and can be swiftly read. Red finds she is braver than expected, and Goldie is as brightly innocent as sunlight glinting off her bouncy golden curls. Good magic and bad magic alight in this sweetly clever and sassy story, where danger may come in a beautiful red rose and friendship in an intimidating wolf.

¹To dispel any confusion, there is a minor difference in the titles based on whether one reads the hardcover or paperback versions. The title you see above is on the paperback version; the hardcover’s title is: “Red: The True Story of Red Riding Hood.” I have previously read “Rump” and “Jack,” and their titles reflect the hardcover versions, though they were paperbacks that I once purchased through Scholastic.

Rutabaga's Reads 2019: Part 7

If you read middle-grade, have you paused to consider how it can vary so drastically? Within YA, themes of violence or romance are common. But how about looking at a light middle-grade novel versus something more intense? Two of the books in this second middle-grade compilation post of 2019 are bookends representing this. Though both geared for the 8-12 age range, “Gabriela” is soft and light compared to “Quests for Glory.” The latter includes violence and terrible death. I don’t think reading one over the other makes you soft or brutal; I’m simply recognizing the light-years-apart difference in content.

Gabriela: Time for Change (Sept. 26, 2017) by Varian Johnson.

*This is the third book in an AG Girl of the Year series.*

Dreams aren’t limited to one Big Dream, which is good, because Gabriela McBride has more than one. She’s passionate about poetry and is looking forward to her first poetry slam. She’s a newly appointed co-ambassador for her 6^th grade class at Kelly Middle School and is determined to do well. She’s been dancing since forever, primarily tap, but she’s started training to go en pointe, which is such a milestone! With all of those Big Dreams comes more work, more responsibility and more time needed. Gabriela has to make two Halloween costumes, one of which is her themed costume idea with her best friend, Teagan (a “social” butterfly), but she also has two poems to fine-tune (a solo and a duet) and ballet homework on top of regular schoolwork. There isn’t enough time in the day! With getting pulled in many directions, certain things move to the bottom of the totem pole. When it negatively affects those around her, how can she hone her time management skills and bridge the hurts on both sides?

            Like other American Girl (AG) stories, this one shows growth and learning of the character, while also empowering her. It isn’t a fluffy story; Gabriela learns a hard lesson in time management, which, let’s be honest, isn’t exactly a cakewalk when you’re an adult, either. To add to the stress, Gabriela’s relationships with her closest friends suffer, and she doesn’t at first understand why her best friend is put out with her. It’s easy to say that the problem is with the other person, so it’s a huge accomplishment to be able to assess the incidents and conclude that you yourself have been a part of the problem, too. The woe-is-me mentality can be grating, but not unexpected for her age range. Overall, a sweet story of lessons learned, growth of responsibility and figuring out how to have more than one close friend.

Quests for Glory (Sept. 9, 2017) by Soman Chainani.

*This is the fourth book in a series / first in a related trilogy.*

Contrary to what Sophie believed, their quests are all failing. Every. Single. One. Someone claiming to be King Arthur’s son – who is not Tedros of Camelot – is causing mayhem, destruction and death in the surrounding realms. This unknown character has even gotten to the Lady of the Lake, which was believed to be impossible. Their current quests all changed when they realized other questers weren’t checking in with Professor Dovey, Dean of the School for Good and one of their classmates was killed. Murdered. Slain. Sophie, Dean of the School for Evil, does not want to participate in a quest when she cannot find how it revolves around her. But she changes her stance when she’s reunited with her best friend, Agatha, who’s also Tedros’ fiancée, even though she has ignored all of Sophie’s letters regarding wedding plans. There are others on the quest as well, including Hort, who has a ridiculous infatuation with Sophie, and Nicola, a first-year from Gavaldon who has a ridiculous infatuation with Hort. They locate the body of their classmate and eventually end up captured by pirates.

            The situation turns even more intense whence they congregate at the Four Point. They now know where all of their fellow questers are. It’s dire. They could all die, and not everyone makes it. While everyone is looking to Sophie and Agatha and Tedros and Camelot to save them, it’s not any of them who comes to the rescue. Instead, it’s a handsome newcomer named Rhian who saves the day with fearlessness, litheness and skill. He claims only to be a humble servant of Camelot. But who is Rhian? He’s in no records that Professor Dovey can find. What will Merlin discover?

            Honestly, I was okay with The School for Good and Evil  trilogy as a trilogy. But since I’d read the first three, I felt I should see what’s in store for The Camelot Years. Looking at the sheer size of the middle-grade novel (the hardcover version is 568 pages), there is a lot going on. The story did not need to be that long. Length aside, “Quests for Glory” is another wedge in this inventive fantasy pie. There is nothing whimsical about this tale. Any moment that might look like marshmallow fluff can turn to poison or a bloody death in an instant. As learned in the first trilogy of the series, appearances can be deceiving. The Lion could be the Snake. And the Snake might be the Lion.

Secrets and Scones (Nov. 6, 2018) by Laurel Remington.

*This is the first book in a series.*

Life has handed her lemons, and Scarlett is not making lemonade. Once outgoing, a member in clubs and activities and a willing participant in class, Scarlett has become as boring and solitary as a wall in order to give her mom as little ammunition as possible. Apparently, everything that is embarrassing or that can be twisted to embarrass Scarlett is fair game to her mom, a rising superstar in the blogger-verse whose shtick is parenting advice. But Claire’s advice is callous, bordering on cruel, even driving away Scarlett’s best friend in her post “Psst…Want to Know a Secret? My Daughter’s Best Friend Is Really Dull.” When her neighbor, Rosemary Simpson, is unexpectedly hospitalized, Scarlett steps in to take care of her cat, Treacle. She encounters a gorgeous kitchen fully stocked with fresh produce and an army of ingredients. Although she’s never baked before, she undertakes the challenge of making scones. Baking triggers a surge of confidence, is a highlight of her life (albeit a secret one) and introduces her to a new friend in new classmate Violet Sanders. Scarlett is almost manic about keeping the baking a secret, though. The last thing she wants is to give her mom more material to twist against her. But how long can a secret last when their neighbor’s politician nephew (Emory Kruffs) knows they’re there and their Secret Cooking Club is shared with others?

            The intergenerational rapport Scarlett and her friends build with Rosemary, folded into the discovery of a thrill for creating homemade food from a carefully handmade cookbook, easily makes this into an uplifting middle-grade story. I like the detail of all of the recipes, which, considering it’s the first book in the Secret Recipe Book Series, is to be expected, but I was disappointed by the lack of actual included recipes (there’s only one). The book could use any diversity (all of the main and supporting characters appear to be Caucasian; someone please comment below if you know that to not be the case), but its absence doesn’t take away from the story’s pleasant vibe. For younger readers overwhelmed by stories with action-heavy sequences or too much violence, this tale is a temptingly sweet and refreshing break. “Secrets and Scones” is as heartwarming as a homemade scone right out of the oven.