Rutabaga's Reads 2023: Part 17

Instead of trying to read every Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) in its entirety, I am doing “quick glances.” While this is my first Quick Glance ARCs compilation, it’s my fourth overall featuring ARCs. I am only featuring half of what was in the box, as I’ve had them for over one-and-a-half years and didn’t want to re-read the first chapters in all 10 ARCs.

            Disclosure: I’ve NOT been asked to provide reviews by the publishers, authors or the local Children’s Librarian. All opinions are expressly my own.

1. Barb and the Ghost Blade (May 31, 2022) by Dan Abdo and Jason Patterson.

Middle-grade fiction. Graphic novel.

The adult Berzerkers (a.k.a. Zerks) have all been captured. Barb, a Berzerker, must get to Maug Horn with her ragtag group of would-be Zerks. Maug Horn is the monster capital, so Barb and her little gang are not allowed. That won’t deter her in the least.

            While I’m not big on graphic novels, this one strikes me as a popular series (this is Book 2). The battles and mishaps look to be fairly comedic. Also, there’s a yeti named Porkchop. Who doesn’t appreciate a yeti in a story?

2. The Clackity (June 28, 2022) by Lora Senf.

Middle-grade fiction.

In Blight Harbor, the seventh most haunted town in America, shadows hide many things, including The Clackity. This creature lives in the shadows of the slaughterhouse, the one place that Evie Von Rathe’s Aunt Desdemona, the local paranormal expert, has forbidden her to go. When Des goes missing, to the slaughterhouse Evie goes.

            I surpassed the first few chapters of this ARC, such was my interest in it. It’s a fantasy horror for the middle-grade set. While there’s a creep factor, I doubt it’s one that’ll cause nightmares. For the youth you know who love scary stories or thriller novels, this (the first in a series) will hopefully sate their book thirst.

3. Eden’s Everdark (Sept. 6, 2022) by Karen Strong.

Middle-grade fiction.

There is a place called Everdark, a parallel world where the sun never rises, spirits linger between death and the afterlife and Eden’s late mother’s drawings are too real. The Witch of Everdark, beautiful and terrifying in equal measure, wants to make Eden her eternal daughter, thus keeping her in Everdark indefinitely.

            While I don’t know if it’s based on any specific mythology, reading the first two chapters already gives me folkloric vibes. It has fantasy, light horror and characters who know grief. I’m confident that it’s absolutely a book I’d enjoy.

4. Hither & Nigh (Oct. 18, 2022) by Ellen Potter.

Middle-grade fiction.

Join the Last Chance Club or be expelled from school. This is Nell Batista’s last chance. Strangely enough, the group is nothing like she imagines it will be, for their teacher starts giving them lessons in magic. Nell’s got street smarts, all the sharper since her beloved big brother went missing three years ago. It turns out that magic is real, and there’s a parallel NYC called the Nigh. Nell’s hoping the Nigh will hold the key to finding her brother.

            A story doling out magic, fantasy and adventure is absolutely one that I will read. My local library ordered this one in per my request. I would’ve happily read this ARC in its entirety, but I’ll check it out from the library instead.

5. What the Fact‽ (Sept. 20, 2022) by Dr. Seema Yasmin.

Teen (YA) nonfiction.

Real news. Fake news. Clickbait. The viral spread of information. Conspiracy theories. Your own biases and those of others. What is fact and what is fiction? How does one find truth in all the noise?

            It appears this book is to encourage the target age group – teenagers – to be freethinkers. And maybe it does, but I only made it through the Introduction, because it felt a lot like being talked at and not talked to. I do hope this book is actually quite insightful.

Rutabaga's Reads 2022: Part 17

This compilation of K-authors exists because the books were one order. I didn’t go into it planning on only ordering books by authors of Korean descent, but sometimes life is coincidental that way. Only the middle-grade author is familiar to me. One of the books was actually free, which is the sole reason I ordered three books instead of two.

The Last Fallen Moon (June 14, 2022) by Graci Kim.

*This is the second book in a trilogy.*

*Spoilers from the dust jacket included.*

Hero. Riley Oh doesn’t care for that word. She’s saved the Mortalrealm, but now the Gom clan (Healers) are powerless, many of them hate her to the point of cursing her, and her closest family and friends have no past memories of her after her deal with a dokkaebi (demon). Fortunately, her sister, Hattie, remembers her, but she falls into comas, and each of those sleeps are becoming concernedly longer than the last. When Riley reads of Saint Heo Jun, she is encouraged, thinking he’ll become the Gom’s new patron god (he has honorary god status), and all will be well. She must journey to the Spiritrealm (where Cheondang is heaven and Jiok is hell; there are seven hell prisons), which is having restructuring issues of its own, and Riley’s course is made more challenging since she’s undocumented. She meets Danny Zuko-loving Dahl (“with hair the color of pearls”), who’s got a big secret of his own, but he’s such a confident, helpful, unofficial tour guide that she accepts his help. Dahl grew up in the Spiritrealm at the Home for Heavenborns (like an orphanage), so he dreams of seeing the Mortalrealm and experiencing everything from the food to the toilets. Dahl is like the eum to Riley’s yang, but she struggles to let friendship in. Riley is carrying around much guilt after what happened a couple months back. She is adamant that she needs to fix everything on her own, but she’ll find that there is strength in accepting help from others.

            Like being 13 years old isn’t hard enough, Riley delves deeper into Korean mythology in this second of the Gifted Clans novels. Kim creates wonderful word pictures, making the story very current from the king/mayor of the underworld (or Spiritrealm) looking like actor Lee Minho to naming seven of the imugis after the members of BTS (“Watch out for Jungkook, though, won’t you? He may be the youngest, but he’s got the biggest bite.”). Her world-building is detailed and rich, filled with magic, creatures of myth and [sometimes corrupt] divine beings all being tackled by a Korean-American girl just trying to figure things out. There is a nice balance of frustration and fun, seriousness and sass, trying hard and tangled feelings. This Korean mythology fantasy story is a nonstop rollercoaster of adventure with multiple Korean terms and cultural references. It’s enthralling and is the type of magical world within a contemporary society that I’d want to be included in!

            P.S. I want access to an edible food forest!

            P.P.S. Imugis are creatures that are part snake, part yong (dragon). They have “creepy, scaly skin,” “teeth like sharks” and “forked tails as sharp as blades coated with acid. Makes skin melt like butter.” Now imagine if you had one as a pet!

            Book One: The Last Fallen Star

The Noh Family (May 3, 2022) by Grace K. Shim.

*Standalone or first in a series??*

When 18-year-old Korean-American Chloe Chang’s best friends, Hazel and Seb (Sebastian), gift her a 23andMe test as a gag, Chloe has no expectations, though she desperately wants to know more about the father she never knew. It’s always been Chloe and her overworked mom, who often takes extra nursing shifts at the hospital to make ends meet, and even then, finances are tight. Chloe loves fashion, but fashion is something her mom sees as a hobby. Chloe gives new life to used clothing, selling the items on Etsy. In an unexpected turn of events, Chloe has a message through the 23andMe app, alerting her of a possible first cousin, someone named “Noh, Jin Young.” He states he and his family are excited to meet her, so suddenly, within a week after her high school graduation and against her mom’s wishes, she’s trading in “same old” Tulsa, Oklahoma, for bustling Seoul, Korea. And not only that, but the Seoul associated with the ultra rich. From flying first class to staying in a spacious guesthouse, to expensive dinners and even more expensive clothing, from healthy-food-conscious Mrs. Na (personal cook) to always-carries-an-umbrella Mr. Kim (private secretary). It turns out that Chloe’s dad’s family is chaebol, and they own Sam Won Department Store, which houses the top tier of high-end brands. Her halmoni (grandmother) is the intimidating matriarch (Chairwoman) who runs (rules) Sam Won with an iron fist. Her father’s family also includes two glamorous cousins, Jin Young and Soo Young, their mom, two uncles - one deceased and one who’s very ill and in need of a liver transplant - and Lady Cha, Chairwoman’s fortune teller (and she pays a fortune for her services). Chloe has finally found what she’s been wanting, possibly even more than her acceptance into FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology): a bigger family. But Chloe should be asking herself why the Nohs want her in Seoul in the first place. And in her haste to be accepted as a Noh, will she obliterate her relationship with her own mother?

            For viewers who love K-dramas, “The Noh Family” is a K-drama in literary form for those viewers who are also readers. There’s the expected drama and elitism, complete with willful jabs and downright rudeness. The novel explores classism, taking advantage of someone (albeit a naïve someone), finding acceptance with the family one has and what is, to the main character, primarily an unfamiliar culture, down to the knowledge that Korea remains a vastly patriarchal society (oh boy, that Bum Soo disgusts me). The novel does contain solid friendships, a kindred spirit (Miso) and a lot of heart. There’s glitz and glam, and the mentions of Korean food and their descriptions are absolutely *chef’s kiss*. It’s compelling and dazzling, worthy of a K-drama comparison, but I didn’t care for Chloe. I admit that I can’t empathize. I don’t know anyone from my birth family, but I have always been a part of a two-parent family with siblings I get along with, grandparents I am/was close to and aunts, uncles and cousins that I saw regularly growing up. I know I’m well-loved, and despite being the only non-Caucasian, I’ve not gone through an identity crisis. It also drives me batty how she doesn’t question the Nohs’ motive for wanting her in Korea so quickly. Hello?! No matter that there’s shared DNA, they are still complete strangers! But perhaps I’m too cynical.

Once Upon a K-Prom (May 17, 2022) by Kat Cho.

*This is a standalone novel.*

When they were 10, Elena Soo and Robbie Choi promised to go to prom together. They’re 17 now, and it’s been seven years since Elena has seen Robbie. Elena isn’t anti-prom; she’s “alterna-prom,” wanting students to donate to the West Pinebrook Community Center instead of spending exorbitant sums for prom tickets, dresses, etc., but the fact remains that she has no intention of attending prom. One day, Robbie shows up on her doorstep asking her to prom, which she declines. When Robbie shows up at her school the next day and drops an extravagant “promposal” on her, she’s mortified and flees. You see, in the years since Robbie’s family moved from Chicago to Korea, he’s become one-fifth of WDB, the biggest K-pop group on the planet. And Elena is just Elena. She’s the teenager always feeling like the invisible girl that people are always leaving behind. She’s always in someone else’s shadow, too. She never feels like she’s Elena Soo, but always “Ethan’s twin” or “Sarah’s/Esther’s/Allie’s sister.” With her own parents, her mother especially, she’s the castoff kid, the one relegated to the rickety stool at family gatherings. Robbie truly wants to reconnect with his childhood best friend, the person he could trust with all of his secrets, and his first crush, but the two don’t really know how to talk to each other anymore. Can the reserved, spotlight-avoiding Elena find a way to reconnect with pink-tinge haired, stylishly dressed, K-pop megastar Robbie despite the constant presence/threat of WDB managers, passionate fans (Constellations), online haters and relentless paparazzi?

            To lead, one does not need to have prior K-pop knowledge to read this story, but one should arrive ready to journey into a story with a varied cast of diverse characters, a blend of flirty banter and serious conversations balanced with a semi-frothy storyline that contains a crushing secret if it gets out, likeable lead characters, a K-pop group that’s easy to adore (like BTS, yep, I said that) and a backstage pass to the thrilling-but-tightly-regulated world of K-pop. The teenage world of finding your own voice and mean girls lends the story credible realism, though the K-pop connection can seem indulgent, but in a plausible and pleasing way. What bothers me the most is Elena’s frequent comparison of herself to others and always feeling like the forgotten, left out individual. In a real-life situation, I’d be questioning Elena’s relationships with family and friends to know why she has such strong emotions related to that mindset. Unfortunately, in the story, she can come across as a selfish brat (especially when Tia shares news that is awesome for Tia and her son). However, don’t let that put you at odds with this story. It remains a swoony, charming, clean romance that may make you want to go to prom again!

            P.S. I would like to see someone create a LEGO boutonniere worthy of a K-pop-centric prom. *finger hearts*

Rutabaga's Reads 2022: Part 14

This is the third ARCs post overall. Again, what I’ve read for this post have been unfinished proofs. I will avoid providing any quotes, as nothing has been checked against final copies. The previous ARCs posts may be found here and here.

            Disclosure: I’ve NOT been asked to provide reviews by the publisher, authors or the local Children’s Librarian. All opinions are expressly my own.

Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians (May 3, 2022) by Brandon Sanderson.

Previously published Feb. 16, 2016, as Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians in hardcover.

   Hayley Lazo, illustrator.

   Genre: Middle-grade, illustrated fantasy fiction

   Type: Chapter book

            He’s getting kicked out of yet another foster home, but that’s the least of his worries. The newly 13-year-old Alcatraz Smedry has met someone who claims to be his grandfather, the Sands of Rashid that arrived on his birthday have been stolen, Hushlanders (i.e. those living in the United States) and Free Kingdomers (i.e. those from Mokia and Nalhalla, etc.) are a thing, and his ability to break most anything is an impressive Talent. Alcatraz, Leavenworth (that’s Grandpa), Sing (a cousin), Quentin (another cousin) and Bastille (a Crystin, which is a Knight of Crystallia, and she’s 13) must retrieve the Sands of Rashid before they’re forged by the evil librarians and put to nefarious use. A witty, action-packed romp that’s fantastical in a real-world setting, this re-published story (for the first time in paperback) is conversational and chaotic, wily and wild. Although the story is entertaining, I did find Alcatraz’s frequent references that readers don’t know what’s really true and his recurrent interruptions to be redundant and noisome. It all grated on my nerves partway through.

            P.S. I was told that my local library used to carry the original versions of the series. Unfortunately, they didn’t circulate well and were withdrawn, but they remain available for checkout amongst other regional libraries through ILL.

For the Record (Mar. 15, 2022) by Monique Polak.

   Genre: Middle-grade, realistic fiction

   Type: Chapter book

            Two sisters live in two places, daughters of divorced parents Alain and Lisa. 12-year-old Justine feels important because her mom depends on her to watch over four-year-old Beatrice and to collect “evidence” of their dad’s neglect so that their mom can get full custody. Her mom bought her a journal and everything! Justine only details what their father does wrong, never noting how much he loves her and Bea. Justine also never records what her mom does wrong. She says her mom never does anything bad … but what about all of the times she’s blamed her for things that are her mom’s doing and not hers? Surely, most other 12-year-olds don’t feel like they have to be the ones to fix everything? In this well-written tale, Polak impresses me with her thoughtful portrayal of divorce and a jarring fictional reality that may happen. It’s one in which Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS) is clear early on, even if one is unfamiliar with the term, one the DSM-V now labels a form of child psychological abuse. I am also impressed by how the author writes both parents in a nonjudgmental way. Both are flawed, but both clearly love their daughters, even if their child-rearing appears clashingly different. Children of divorced parents may connect with this story, but it’s not a fun one. However, it is assertive and frank, and that works for this story.

Hazard (May 10, 2022) by Frances O’Roark Dowell.

   Genre: Middle-grade, coming-of-age fiction

   Type: Verse novel

            When you’re a star athlete, you don’t play dirty, but Hazard Stokes makes a bad hit, and Coach bans him from the team until the therapist gives the okay. Haz doesn’t believe he needs to see the therapist. Sure, his dad’s leg got blown off by an IED. And yeah, Haz and his brother, Ty, have had to temporarily move in with their grandma so their mom can be with their dad. And, okay, he feels like he’s gotta take care of Ty. But that’s it. No problems here, not with Haz. To the reader, it’s clear that Haz has things to process. There are things going on that would be overwhelming for anyone to contend with, no matter the age. In this relatively slim tale, there is a lot of anger and frustration, and it’s an uneasy path to forgiveness and understanding. The story is told through emails, documents and a couple interviews; it’s considered a novel in verse. While it may resonate with readers who’ve gone through similar experiences or like to read fiction that grapples with realistic tough stuff, I struggled with this. Despite Haz’s struggle, I didn’t like his snide, snarky attitude and so didn’t connect with him. I didn’t find the empathy that I expected that I should have. I also didn’t care for the format. All of the “emails” and “documents” make for a non-cohesive tale. But perhaps that is what the author’s aiming for. Life isn’t cohesive 100% of the time. It’s disjointed, too.

The Mirrorwood (Apr. 12, 2022) by Deva Fagan.

   Genre: Middle-grade fantasy fiction

   Type: Chapter book

            All Fable wants is her own face, but of her entire family – Da, Mum, Allegra (her twin sister), Indigo (they/them), Sonnet (a sister), Thespian (a brother) and Gavotte (another sister) – she’s the only one who’s blighted. To be blighted is to be hunted. There are blighthunters in their world, and Vycorax is one. Her dad, Telmarque, is another. When the two of them breach the thick, thorny hedge that borders the Mirrorwood, they strike a tentative agreement (that Vycorax won’t kill Fable). Eventually, they become something like friends or at least allies in ending the blight. Fable’s blighted cat, Moth, is with them, too. Moth’s blight enables Fable to hear his voice in her head, though no one can hear Moth except her. The Subtle Powers, specifically, Mirachne and the Bannon, seem to have different ideas of what Fable should go about doing. Fable and Vycorax aim to retrieve a tooth from the Withering, a creature that devours anyone and anything in its path, creating oblivion and turning that part of the landscape gray. Fable’s been told to kill the demon prince, Lyrian, but what if it’s Rylain that’s the horrible one? I like this ARC. It is riddled with magic, but it’s not big like the magic in Harry Potter or The Marvellers. This magic is quieter, but still powerful. For middle-grade readers looking for fantasy that isn’t frightful or too deep-themed, this may be a good choice. By saying it isn’t “too deep-themed,” I don’t mean that there’s no depth at all, just that the plot is straightforward and not complicated. There’s the one character perspective, not two or more, and there’s still a choice to be made that doesn’t have an easy answer.

Trigger (Mar. 29, 2022) by N. Griffin.

   Genre: Young-adult, psychological thriller fiction

   Type: Chapter book

            Somewhere on the outskirts of town lives Didi Riev and her domineering father. Even at age five, she must conduct early-morning runs around the homestead, always aiming to be faster. Her dad also decides she must learn chess and win, even against older kids and adults. To lose, to come in fourth place, means punishment from the trouble stick. The story jumps to ages eight and 11 and 15, each of the years showing Didi’s mental fragility with the only source of goodness being her kindly neighbor, Lynn Li, and her son, Devin. This story is awful, not because the author’s writing lacks brilliance, but because Didi’s everyday living with her egotistical, abusive, tyrant-of-a-father is harrowing and psychologically destructive. It is jarring and not a story for the faint-hearted. I didn’t want to keep reading it, but it takes a lot for me to stop reading a book before reaching The End. The ARC contains no trigger warning, but it should. Possibly the most disturbing part of all? The story is drawn from the author’s own experiences.

Rutabaga's Reads 2022: Part 13

While I’ve received many books over the years from a publisher or two to read and review, they’ve always been finished books. This is the first time I’ve read ARCs, and I was given the box to read per the Children’s Librarian. This is actually the second ARCs post, though I received this batch first (the first ARCs post only contains three). I split this batch into two posts.

            Considering the amount of reading I do outside of work and regular life stuff, these are being posted well after they’ve all released.

            Please note: I won’t provide any quotes, as what I’ve read have been unfinished proofs.

            Disclosure: I’ve NOT been asked to provide reviews by the publishers, authors or the local Children’s Librarian. All opinions are expressly my own.

Belle Morte (Apr. 5, 2022) by Bella Higgin.

   Genre: Young-adult vampire fiction

   Type: Chapter book

            At Belle Morte, in England, Irene “Renie” Mayfield is no Vladdict, but she’s applied to be a donor to the vampires of this house, one of five in the U.K. alone, because she’s searching for her sister. June went in five months ago and was sending letters … until she suddenly wasn’t. Those that have the answers – like Ysanne Moreau, Lady of the House, and Edmond Dantés, Ysanne’s longtime friend – aren’t readily open with Renie. But Renie is determined, and she will find the truth. She won’t be like those Vladdicts who treat vampires like gods; they’re her enemy, though there’s something about Edmond. She could get lost in him ... Admittedly, my first reaction was, “Oh great, another vampire novel.” They are overdone, but I was pleasantly surprised by the story’s arc. Yes, insanely gorgeous vampires inhabit the story, and none of the donors sound like they’re anything less than attractive, but there was grit to this story. If you’re a vampire novel enthusiast, this one may be your type.

Isla to Island (Mar. 15, 2022) by Alexis Castellanos.

   Genre: Middle-grade historical fiction

   Type: Graphic novel

            Cuba is a vibrant country with people, flowers and food that Marisol Alabarce loves, but when Fidel Castro comes into power in 1959, parents are afraid their children will be taken from them and send their kids to the United States in an exodus that becomes known as Operación Pedro Pan (or Operation Peter Pan). Nothing in Brooklyn, NY, is familiar to Marisol – not the language, her Caucasian foster parents or even the flora. School isn’t engaging; life looks cold and gray until she discovers the library. Text within this graphic novel is sparse, and what’s present is sometimes English, sometimes Spanish. Despite it being mostly wordless, this graphic novel shows Marisol’s alienation in an unfamiliar environment. It is impactful and encourages empathy. Though a work of fiction, it is inspired by the author’s family’s experiences, making the story authentic.

Once Upon a Tim (Mar. 1, 2022) by Stuart Gibbs.

   Stacy Curtis, illustrator.

   Genre: Illustrated middle-grade fantasy fiction

   Type: Chapter book

            The start of a new series, this once-upon-a-time is the story of Tim. Tim is a peasant, and he has the opportunity to better his station by going on a quest with his best friend, Belinda (posing as a boy), to save Princess Grace, who’s been snatched by a nefarious monster. This story is a witty romp in a medieval setting that will find an audience with kids who want a quirky, funny read. They may not notice the lessons on unconscious bias and stereotyping, but the madcap adventure will draw them in. I enjoyed the inclusion of IQ Boosters, enhanced words the readers may find challenging. This isn’t a regular once-upon-a-time story: the prince isn’t courageous, the wizard can’t do more than card tricks, the stinx isn’t so nefarious, the village idiot may actually be intelligent, and there’s really no happily ever after. Are you ready for the Kingdom of Wyld?

            P.S. I recommended this one to the local Children’s Librarian, and it’s now in circulation!

Rima’s Rebellion: Courage in a Time of Tyranny (Feb. 15, 2022) by Margarita Engle.

   Genre: Young adult historical fiction

   Type: Verse novel

            Spanning a decade from 1923, when Rima Marín is 12, until 1933, Rima looks toward a better future in Guanabacoa, Cuba. During that time in Cuba, females have zero right to vote, and Rima will have even fewer rights, as she is a natural child, an illegitimate one. She is bullied and shunned, including by the church. She knows her father. Rima, her mother and abuela (grandmother) live on property owned by her father, but he does not give her his last name. That’s why Rima only has one last name. She loves to ride her horse, Ala, and rides alongside las mambisas, fierce women who fought during Cuba’s wars for independence. She wants to see the day where there’s no fear or shame in being a woman, nor in being natural, and the Adultery Law is abolished. This YA novel is told in verse, but not of the rhyming variety. Though much of the story is turbulent, there is hope and even falling in love. It’s a feminist tale and a worthy read, though with the verse design and the decade that passes in around 200 pages, the fast-paced plot did move too quickly.

The Summer of June (May 31, 2022) by Jamie Sumner.

   Genre: Middle-grade realistic fiction

   Type: Chapter book  

            11-year-old June Delancey is a wonder to behold. It's the top of summer. She's shaved her head, which she later regrets and winds up with an electric blue wig. She plans to beat her anxiety. She meets poetry-loving, soccer-playing Homer Juarez going about her volunteering at the library where her single mom works as the young adult librarian at Columbia Public Library (Columbia, Tennessee) and learns from Luis Silva about how to care for plants, finding that her secret garden brings respite from her extreme anxiety. She impulsively stops taking her meds and continues to get little sleep at night with disastrous results. Sumner creates a vivid piece of fiction that gives a realistic portrayal of the weight an extremely over-anxious mind can have. It encourages openness about and discussion around the topic of mental health and highlights the power of friendship. It isn't a story all about anxiety; it is a hopeful story, too. 

The T. rex Attack (Apr. 12, 2022) by Rex Stone.

   Louise Forshaw, illustrator.

   Genre: Children’s dinosaur fiction

   Type: Middle-grade chapter book

            The first in the Dinosaur Club series, this story follows Jamie (who’s new to Ammonite Bay) and Tess as they discover a secret cave that leads them into a world of dinosaurs, some carnivorous (like the Tyrannosaurus Rex) and others herbivorous (like the Wannanosaurus). While some of the dinosaur names may be difficult for emergent readers without assistance, the chapter book appears to contain fun “Dino Data” facts at the end, and the story itself is adventurous without being scary. I expect my nephew will like this book when he reaches chapter book level. (P.S. I thought this might be considered an early reader book, but the libraries in the region classify it as middle-grade/juvenile fiction.)