Rutabaga's Reads 2023: Part 10

This is a compilation post featuring a historical American Girl character. Here, readers get to know nine-year-old Claudie Wells. The year her stories take place is 1922.

Meet Claudie: An American Girl (Aug. 23, 2022) by Brit Bennett.

   Laura Freeman, illustrator.

<This is the first of two books in a series.>

It’s Harlem in NYC during the Roaring ‘20s. Claudie Wells is a nine-year-old girl with her feet stuck on the ground when she’d prefer to be one whose imagination soars. She and her family – Mama, a dedicated reporter; Daddy, an artistic baker and WWI veteran; and Jody, her six-year-old brother – live at Miss Amelia’s boardinghouse. She’s surrounded by talented people who are singers or musicians or artists. Her best friend, Nina, is a terrific dancer, but Claudie is not. Everyone has an obvious talent except for her! When she learns that the boardinghouse has been served with an eviction notice, she comes up with an idea that might bring in the extra funds they need. One of the boarders tells Claudie she’ll help on the condition that Claudie participates in the show. Why? “Because art is about taking risks,” Gwen says (p. 59).

            I realize that American Girl as a Mattel product has been far more commercialized in comparison to its humble beginnings, but I really wish that more people would recognize the importance of the historical characters, both the founding and the much more recently released. These stories celebrate girls. No matter a person’s color, these stories encourage resilience, confidence and kindness. They promote education, even when it’s not fun to read. After all, plenty of history is not fun to read about, but that doesn’t mean we ignore it or watch cat videos instead (though they are understandably distracting). Bennett’s writing is strong, her storytelling strengthening the illustrator’s skilled artwork.

            NOTE 1: There is a message before the story begins that informs readers there are terms used in the stories that are not appropriate today, but are included in the story as “an accurate reflection of how people would have thought and spoken during this time.”

            NOTE 2: I see that there is a third book releasing in January 2024 called “Claudie Finds Her Talent.” It’s a Step 3 Step Into Reading book, so I’m uncertain if it’s considered part of the Claudie series. I’m treating it as separate since it’s a leveled book, and it’s also releasing from a publisher that is not American Girl Publishing.

Adventures With Claudie (June 6, 2023) by Brit Bennett.

   Laura Freeman, illustrator.

<This is the second of two books in a series.>

Traveling from Harlem to Shellman, Georgia, is an adventure for Claudie, for before this trip, she’d only seen a small slice of New York City. This trip is over 1,000 miles with the Model T’s tank holding 10 gallons of gas and able to travel up to 17 miles per gallon. They travel about 30 miles an hour, and it takes Claudie, her mom (Gloria) and Cousin Sidney almost 30 hours of driving time to get there. She’s meeting Grandmother and many other relatives for the first time, including Ross and Mavis, her 11-year-old twin cousins. It will also be a first-time experience for her visiting a farm. Claudie’s looking for inspiration from her family so she can write a sketch for the variety show she’s planning. She’s trying to help the boardinghouse, where her family lives in Harlem, raise money so it can stay open. Claudie’s grandmother tells her a legend from slavery times called The People Could Fly. Is this the inspiration Claudie’s looking for? Or will she be too distracted by Mama, a dedicated newspaper reporter who “never leaves anything alone?”

            Over the decades, I have read a multitude of American Girl books featuring historical characters, and I love the research and care that each of the authors puts into their stories. Through Bennett’s words, my pulse would pound at the tense moments, and I’d feel riled at the condescension. This intensity should not deter young readers from learning of Claudie’s world. I would hope they’d read them and gain historical knowledge they may not have had before. I want readers to have a care for others from a young age, to know how to be compassionate and understanding, to see beyond the color of someone’s skin. These stories are understated, but so important. Please read them!

            P.S. For another story inspired by The People Could Fly, I highly recommend reading the fantasy adventure, middle-grade novel “Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Manifestor Prophecy” by Angie Thomas.

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 8

The newest historical character from American Girl is Courtney Moore. She’s an 80s child; her stories take place in 1986. Although American Girl is currently owned by Mattel, I remember when it was under its original owner, the Pleasant Company. And considering that the American Girl brand came into existence by featuring historical character dolls, all of the historical characters hold a special place in my heart. I continue to maintain that these stories can be marketed as chapter books or lower middle-grade novels.

Courtney Changes the Game (Oct. 1, 2020) by Kellen Hertz.

When it comes to the arcade, Courtney Moore is an ace gamer, but it isn’t always so easy to reach the next level in real life. Nine-year-old Courtney lives with her mom (Maureen), stepdad (Mike D’Amico), stepsister (Tina) and half-brother (Rafi). She normally visits her dad (Bruce) on the weekends, but every weekend will turn to one weekend a month. Since her dad’s promotion, he’s moving to a city further away. This creates friction with Tina, whom she already shares a room with, who balks at having to share her room with Courtney most weekends. And the fact that Courtney’s guinea pig, Parsley, is also moving into their room? The worst. Add in that Courtney’s mom is running for mayor (if elected, she’d be the first female mayor of Orange Valley, California), and their blended family has even more to work around. In school, Courtney and her classmates are readying to watch the Challenger launch. It inspires her to invent her own female superhero video game featuring Crystal Starshooter. Now, Courtney wishes she could be as brave and confident as her imaginary superhero.

            Ah, the 80s. Leg warmers. Side ponytails. Caboodles. Scrunchies. Give me all the scrunchies. While people now may question the fashion of that decade – or show renewed enthusiasm for it – it was more than the clothes they’re known for. The 80s introduced a new president in Ronald Reagan and the early 80s found many Americans struggling financially. Family life was different. Like with Courtney’s family, more families were blended or single-parent families. Many of those two-parent families found that they needed two incomes to keep up with the bills. There was the Challenger disaster. But there were also rad things like Cabbage Patch dolls and the launch of MTV. As a youth in a blended family, Courtney works to figure out her own family-school-life balance. Life isn’t usually easy for adults, and it isn’t always easy for kids, either, as Hertz’s story shows. The first book in Courtney’s duology is adorable and also tubular, but it’s not without turbulence.

Courtney – Friendship Superhero (Feb. 16, 2021) by Kellen Hertz.

Fourth grade is a step up, because now Courtney and her best friend, Sarah Barrett, can perform in show choir together. Courtney is continuing her adventures with her made-up superhero Crystal Starshooter, and she has the full support of Sarah and their other good friend Kip Tomatsu (who’s also into gaming like Courtney). New to the arcade is Isaac Wells, as he recently moved to California from Ohio. He’s an epic gamer, and they form an epic friendship. She includes him in Crystal Starshooter’s game world, as it seems only natural, and he gets along great with Sarah and Kip. Crystal and Isaac end up with the same fourth grade teacher, Ms. Markarian, and she’s so happy to have one friend in the same classroom. When Courtney learns that Isaac is fighting HIV, Courtney is quick to support him, even when the people around them say mean things because of their lack of knowledge on the subject. Those people are afraid and lashing out. But Sarah is one of those who’s very afraid and believes the rumors, and it affects their friendship. Courtney wants to be bold and brave like Crystal, but that is scary and complicated to Courtney. How can she reassure Sarah that they are still best friends, and she doesn’t like one friend more than the other, it’s just that Isaac needs her more right now? How can she help educate the uninformed?

            Without a doubt, this story felt more weighted than the first. For those unaware, HIV was first reported in 1981, though it didn’t yet have a name, nor did researchers yet know that HIV was the virus that caused AIDS. Ryan White was 13 years old in 1984 when he was diagnosed with AIDS after receiving a contaminated clotting agent to help manage his hemophilia. He was told he’d live for six months, but lived for six years, passing away in April 1990. Like with the storyline created for Isaac, Ryan and his family were treated so horribly that they moved away.

            I am fortunate to have grown up in a household where my parents expected my brothers and me to treat others well, no matter what. I would’ve been like Courtney, befriending Isaac and supporting him. Reading the story of Isaac’s maltreatment – and even Courtney’s – is heartbreaking and maddening, but it makes the story all the more powerful. Being bold and brave like Courtney doesn’t mean never having vulnerable moments. It’s just part of being human, and that’s an okay thing. Like, totally.

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.