This Librarian's Quick Picks: All's Faire in Middle School

All's Faire in Middle School

by Victoria Jamieson
Dial Books (2017)
Graphic Novel

What It's All About:

Homeschooled by Renaissance Fair enthusiasts, eleven-year-old Imogene has a hard time fitting in when her wish to enroll in public school is granted.

Why You'll Love It:

• Jamieson masterfully taps into the voice and concerns of middle-schoolers, and the offbeat setting of the Renaissance faire adds some lively texture.
• Jamieson’s appealing, naturalistic artwork, full of warm tones, realistic-looking characters, and saturated colors, playfully incorporates medieval imagery along with Imogene’s more mundane homelife, particularly when Imogene fears that her misbehavior at home, thanks to frustrations at school, makes her more of a dragon than a knight.
• Jamieson portrays a diverse cast of expressive, naturally posed figures occupying two equally immersive worlds.

Who Should Read It:

Perfect for 4th-8th graders...and here's the book trailer!



What Else You Should Read:

• Drama by Raina Telgemeier
• Chiggers by Hope Larson
• Sunny Side Up by Jennifer Holm

This Librarian's Quick Picks: The Sand Warrior (5 Worlds)

The Sand Warrior
by Mark Siegel
illustrated by Ianthe Boume
Random House (2017)
Graphic Novel

What It's All About:

The Five Worlds are on the brink of extinction unless five ancient and mysterious beacons are lit. When war erupts, three unlikely heroes will discover there's more to themselves--and more to their worlds--than meets the eye...

Why You'll Love It:

• The three illustrators work seamlessly together to place Oona, a thick-bodied but graceful, pale-skinned strawberry blonde, in exotic, elaborately envisioned settings and surround her with a notably variegated cast of green-, blue-, brown-, black-, and pink-skinned allies and adversaries. 
• Adorable, cartoonish illustrations bring color and life to this action-packed story that's reminiscent of the animated TV series Avatar: The Last Airbender.
• With sensitive writing, gorgeous artwork, and a riveting plot, this is a series to keep an eye on.

Who Should Read It:

Perfect for 4th-7th graders.



What Else You Should Read:

• Red's Planet by Eddie Pittman
• Time Shifter by Chris Grine
• Future Quest by Jeff Parker

This Librarian's Quick Picks: Real Friends

Real Friends
by Shannon Hale
Illustrations by LeUyen Pham
First Second Books (2017)
Graphic Novel (Memoir)

What It's All About:

Shannon and Adrienne have been best friends ever since they were little. But one day, Adrienne starts hanging out with Jen, the most popular girl in class and the leader of a circle of friends called The Group. Everyone in The Group wants to be Jen's #1, and some girls would do anything to stay on top . . . even if it means bullying others.
Why You'll Love It:

• Pham’s brightly colored panels are the perfect complement to Hale’s nuanced story, particularly when she zooms in on reactions, subtle gestures, and facial expressions that add captivating emotional depth.
• It's bound to resonate with most readers, especially kids struggling with the often turbulent waters of friendships and cliques.

Who Should Read It:

Perfect for 3rd-6th graders...and here's the book trailer!



What Else You Should Read:

• Smile by Raina Telgemeier
• El Deafo by Cece Bell

This Librarian's Quick Picks: Unbound

Unbound
by Ann E. Burg
Scholastic (2017)
Novel in Verse/Historical Fiction

What It's All About:

The day nine-year-old Grace is called to work in the kitchen in the Big House, everyone warns her to to keep her head down and her thoughts to herself, but the more she sees of the oppressive Master and his hateful wife, the more she questions things until one day her thoughts escape--and to avoid being separated she and her family flee into the Dismal Swamp, to join the other escaped slaves who live there.

Why You'll Love It:

• I've discovered that there's a big niche for novels in verse at my school. Kids love the format and the quick pace of the writing. 
• The cadences offer excellent choral reading possibilities and a glimpse into the little-known existence of covert slave communities in the Great Dismal Swamp of Virginia and North Carolina during slavery years.
• Providing strong suspense and vivid imagery, the survival tale conveys the terror and dehumanization of slavery, a girl’s courage and growing sense of self amid terrible odds, and a family’s binding love and unyielding spirit. 

Who Should Read It:

Great for 4th-8th graders.

What Else You Should Read:

• Serafina's Promise by Ann Burg
• Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales: The Underground Abductor
• Full Cicada Moon by Marilyn Hilton

This Librarian's Quick Picks: Legends by Howard Bryant

Legends: The Best Players, Games, and Teams in Basketball
by Howard Bryant 
Philomel Books (2017)
Sports Nonfiction

What It's All About:

Giants of the game like Steph Curry, LeBron, and Michael Jordan have transcended the sport to become cultural icons and role models to young fans. From the cornfields of Indiana and the hills of North Carolina, to the urban sprawl of New York City, Chicago and L.A., love of the game stretches from coast to coast. Featuring Top Ten Lists to chew on and debate, and a Top 40-style Timeline of Key Moments in Basektball History, this comprehensive collection includes the greatest dynasties, from the Bill Russell-era Celtics, to the Magic Jonson-led Lakers, to the Jordan-led Bulls, right up to the Tim Duncan-led Spurs.

Why You'll Love It:

• This is an easy hook for serious sports fans seeking an exploration of the history of basketball.
• Alternates among overviews of each decade since the 1960s, profiles of particular players or accounts of high-profile matches, themed “Top 10” lists, and lends itself well to browsing.
• Rather than present a rigidly systematic chronicle or an indigestible barrage of names and statistics, he begins chapters with highlight reels of each era’s leading players and teams.

Who Should Read It:

Great for 5th grade and up.

What Else You Should Read:

• The rest of the Legends series, also by Howard Bryant
• The Final Four: The Pursuit of College Basketball Glory by Matt Doeden
• Crossover by Kwame Alexander

Books By Theme: You're In Luck...

Luck Uglies 
by Paul Durham

Strange things are happening in Village Drowning, and a terrifying encounter has Rye O'Chanter convinced that the monstrous, supposedly extinct Bog Noblins have returned. 
Now Rye's only hope is an exiled secret society so notorious its name can't be spoken aloud: the Luck Uglies. As Rye dives into Village Drowning's maze of secrets, rules, and lies, she'll discover the truth behind the village's legends of outlaws and beasts...and that it may take a villain to save them from the monsters.

A Whole Lot of Lucky
by Danette Haworth

Hailee Richardson never realized how much she hated her Salvation Army life and Goodwill accessories until the night her family wins the lottery. All of a sudden she's no longer the only girl at school without a cell phone or a brand-new bike! And the newfound popularity that comes with being a lottery winner is just what she's always dreamed of. But the glow of her smartphone and fancy new clothes wears off when Hailee is transferred to Magnolia Academy, a private school. All of a sudden, her best friend and parents seem shabby compared to the beautiful Magnolia moms and the popular bad-girl Nikki, who seems to want to be her friend.

Lucky Strike
by Bobbie Pyron

Nate Harlow would love to be lucky, just once! He'd like to win a prize, get picked first, call a coin toss right, even! But his best friend, Genesis Beam (aka Gen), believes in science and logic, and she doesn't think for one second that there's such a thing as luck, good or bad. She doesn't care what names the other kids call them. She cares about being right, about saving the turtles of Paradise Beach, and she cares about Nate.

The Junction of Sunshine and Lucky
by Holly Schindler

August “Auggie” Jones lives with her Grandpa Gus, a trash hauler, in a poor part of town. So when her wealthy classmate’s father starts the House Beautification Committee, it’s homes like Auggie’s that are deemed “in violation.” Auggie is determined to prove that she is not as run-down as the outside of her house might suggest. Using the kind of items Gus usually hauls to the scrap heap, a broken toaster becomes a flower; church windows turn into a rainbow walkway; and an old car gets new life as spinning whirligigs. What starts out as a home renovation project becomes much more as Auggie and her grandpa discover a talent they never knew they had—and redefine a whole town’s perception of beauty, one recycled sculpture at a time.

Three Times Lucky
by Sheila Turnage

Rising sixth grader Miss Moses LoBeau lives in the small town of Tupelo Landing, NC, where everyone's business is fair game and no secret is sacred. She washed ashore in a hurricane eleven years ago, and she's been making waves ever since. Although Mo hopes someday to find her "upstream mother," she's found a home with the Colonel--a café owner with a forgotten past of his own--and Miss Lana, the fabulous café hostess. She will protect those she loves with every bit of her strong will and tough attitude. So when a lawman comes to town asking about a murder, Mo and her best friend, Dale Earnhardt Johnson III, set out to uncover the truth in hopes of saving the only family Mo has ever known.

This Librarian's Quick Picks: Overturned

Overturned
by Lamar Giles
Scholastic (2017)
Mystery Fiction

What It's All About:

Nikki Tate's father has been on death row for killing his best friend in a gambling dispute, but he has always maintained his innocence, and now his conviction has been overturned and he is back at the casino, where high school junior Nikki has been operating illegal poker games in the hopes of saving enough money to get out of Vegas after graduation--and now he is determined to find the real killer, and Nikki is inevitably drawn into his dangerous search for the truth.

Why You'll Love It:

• A fast-paced, compelling mystery and memorable characters and relationships make this selection a first choice.
• The mystery never feels forced and seems to flow naturally, gaining momentum as Nikki peels away each layer until everything is ultimately revealed.
• Racial elements at play - the Tates are black while their rivals, the Carlinos, are white - hover in the background, adding another layer to Giles's murder mystery.

Who Should Read It:

Perfect for 7th grade and up.



What Else You Should Read:

• Endangered by Lamar Giles
• Con Academy by Joe Schreiber
• Scarlett Undercover by Jennifer Latham

This Librarian's Quick Picks: Well, That Was Awkward...

Well, That Was Awkward
by Rachel Vail
Viking (2017)
Middle Grade Fiction

What It's All About:

Gracie has never felt like this before. One day, she suddenly can't breathe, can't walk, can't anything and the reason is standing right there in front of her, all tall and weirdly good-looking: A.J. 
It turns out A.J. likes not Gracie but Gracie's beautiful best friend, Sienna. Obviously Gracie is happy for Sienna. Super happy! She helps Sienna compose the best texts, responding to A.J. s surprisingly funny and appealing texts, just as if she were Sienna. Because Gracie is fine. Always! She's had lots of practice being the sidekick, second-best. It s all good. Well, almost all. She's trying.

Why You'll Love It:

• This modern, middle-school retelling of Cyrano de Bergerac is heartwarming, funny, and tender, offering a story of young love and loyalty, friendship and family.
• This tween romance proves that some stories stand the test of time, even with modernization.
• Gracie's breakneck narration is presented in and out of text messages, folding in an effortlessly diverse cast, including Latina Sienna and Filipino-Israeli Emmett.
• Readers will see themselves in Gracie and her friends, root for them, and likely figure out who is actually texting whom before the characters do, even if they haven't read the source material.

Who Should Read It:

Great for 5th-8th graders.



What Else You Should Read:

• Goodbye Stranger by Rebecca Stead
• Finding Ruby Starling by Karen Rivers
• A Year in the Life of a Complete and Total Genius by Stacey Matson

This Librarian's Quick Picks: Hidden Figures

Hidden Figures
by Margot Lee Shetterly
Harper (Nov. 2016)
Narrative Nonfiction

What It's All About:

Before John Glenn orbited the earth, or Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, a group of dedicated female mathematicians known as “human computers” used pencils, slide rules, and adding machines to calculate the numbers that would launch rockets, and astronauts, into space. This book brings to life the stories of Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christine Darden, four African-American women who lived through the civil rights era, the Space Race, the Cold War, and the movement for gender equality, and whose work forever changed the face of NASA and the country.

Why You'll Love It:

• In any context, these women’s contributions to science and aerospace technology would be impressive, but the obstacles imposed by the norms of their society make their achievements all the more impressive.
• There's already lots of interest generated from the movie in theaters right now.
• Shetterly's book offers up a crucial history that had previously and unforgivably been lost. We'd do well to put this book into the hands of young women who have long since been told that there's no room for them at the scientific table.

Who Should Read It:

Great for 5th-8th graders.




What Else You Should Read:

• Breakthrough! How 3 People Saved "Blue Babies" & Changed Medicine Forever by Jim Murphy
• Radioactive! How Irene Curie & Lise Meitner Revolutionized Science and Changed the World by Winifred Conkling
• Sally Ride: A Photobiography of America's Pioneering Woman in Space by Tam O'Shaughnessy

This Librarian's Quick Picks: Nothing But Trouble

Nothing But Trouble
by Jacqueline Davies
Katherine Tegen Books (Nov. 2016)
Humorous fiction

What It's All About:

Odawahaka has always been too small for Maggie's big scientific ideas. Between her stuck-in-a-rut mom, her grumpy grandpop, and the lifetime supply of sludgy soda in the fridge, it's hard for Maggie to imagine a change. But when Lena moves in with her creative spirit and outrageous perspective, middle school takes off with a bang. Someone starts pulling the kind of pranks that send their rule-loving new principal into an uproar—complete with purple puffs of smoke, parachuting mice, and a scavenger hunt that leads to secret passageways. Suddenly the same-old football games, election for class president, and embarrassing stories feel almost exciting. And for the first time in her life, Maggie begins to wonder if there might be more to Odawahaka than she ever saw coming.

Why You'll Love It:

• This series starter, full of unapologetic girl power and complete with appended activities based on Maggie’s interest in physics and Lena’s in Dadaism, might especially appeal to lonely studious-and-creative types, with its reassurance that they’re not as alone as they may think.
• A vividly realized present-day setting, distinctive, believable characters, subversive humor, and a satisfying ending give this title solid kid appeal.
• The story's high entertainment value is balanced by more serious moments when the girls reflect on tricks that backfired or cope with family problems.

Who Should Read It:

Great for 5th-8th graders.

What Else You Should Read:

• Homework Strike by Greg Pincus
• Revenge of the Green Banana by Jim Murphy
• Slacker by Gordon Korman

This Librarian's Quick Picks: How Things Work

How Things Work
by Tamara Resler
National Geographic Kids (2016)
Middle Grade Nonfiction

Summary:

Explains the science behind a variety of objects, such as erasers, hoverbikes, microwaves, and more.

Why You'll Love It:

• Revealing looks at the science behind over two dozen vehicles, household appliances, technological gadgets, and recreational challenges.
• Additional nuggets of information are included in “Tell Me More” and “Fun Facts” sections, while “Try This” invites kids to solve challenging experiments and ponder hypothetical questions.
• Profiles of scientists, engineers, and innovators responsible for these cool technologies are also found in this full-color book with plentiful photos, graphics, varied fonts, a glossary, further reading, and an index.

Who Should Read It:

Grade for 5th-8th graders.

What Else You Should Read: 

• The Way Things Work Now by David Macaulay
• The Case of the Soda Explosion and Other True Science Mysteries by Darlene Stille
• Super Cool Tech from DK

This Librarian's Quick Picks: Snow White by Matt Phelan

Snow White
by Matt Phelan
Candlewick Press, 2016
Graphic Novel

Summary:

The scene: New York City. The dazzling lights cast shadows that grow ever darker as the glitzy prosperity of the Roaring Twenties screeches to a halt. Enter a cast of familiar characters: a young girl, Samantha White, returning after being sent away by her cruel stepmother, the Queen of the Follies, years earlier; her father, the King of Wall Street, who survives the stock market crash only to suffer a strange and sudden death; seven street urchins, brave protectors for a girl as pure as snow; and a mysterious stock ticker that holds the stepmother in its thrall, churning out ticker tape imprinted with the wicked words "Another . . . More Beautiful . . . KILL."

Why You'll Love It:

• Phelan punctuates his fittingly noirish palette of smoky, shadowy grays with bursts of pink and red—soft, aqueous patches for cheeks and lips with more saturated tones for apples.
• Phelan masterfully shifts a tale heavily reliant on magic and fantasy into a realistic and historical setting without compromising plausibility. 
• Themes of class are also explored here, making this a title worth sharing and studying at multiple levels.

Who Should Read It:

Great for 5th-8th graders...and here's the teacher guide!

What Else You Should Read:

• Fairy Tale Comics ed. by Chris Duffy
• Golden Compass: The Graphic Novel by Philip Pullman
• Baba Yaga's Assistant by Marika McCoola

This Librarian's Quick Picks: Level the Playing Field

Level the Playing Field 
by Kristina Rutherford
Owl Kids Books (2016)
Middle Grade Nonfiction

Summary:

Level the Playing Field examines the root of these issues by taking readers through the history of women's pro sports, exploring how far we have come in a relatively short time and exposing what ground is left to gain. The book provides first-person insight through exciting interviews with professional female athletes, including Canadian hockey player Cassie Campbell, American MMA fighter Miesha Tate, and WNBA star Elena Delle Donne. Along the way, author and sports journalist Kristina Rutherford covers important topics like opportunity, female role models, and stereotypes.

Why You'll Love It:

• In an engaging, conversational tone, Rutherford lays out the state of women in professional sports before Title IX was passed and mandated equal opportunities for women in federally funded schools, how it has changed since, and where women’s sports leagues are headed.
• Big, full-color action photos of a diverse array of women from a broad range of sports adorn each page, and brief interviews offer tidy glimpses into the life of a professional athlete.
• Young girls especially will be inspired by this volume and the bright future for women’s sports it portrays.

Who Should Read It:

Great for 5th-8th graders.

What Else You Should Read:

• Breakaway: Beyond the Goal by Alex Morgan
• Babe Conquers the World by Rich Wallace
• Annaleise Carr: How I Conquered Lake Ontario to Help Kids Battling Cancer by Annalise Carr

This Librarian's Quick Picks: Bleed, Blister, Puke, and Purge

Bleed, Blister, Puke, and Purge: the Dirty Secrets Behind Early American Medicine
by J. Marin Younker
Zest Books, 2016
Middle Grade Narrative Nonfiction

Summary:

Riots over the medical use of cadavers. Public access to institutions for the insane. And full-blown surgeries without the aid of anesthetics or painkillers. Welcome to the middle ages of American medicine. Bleed, Blister, Puke, and Purge exposes the extraordinary practices and major players of American medical history, from the Colonial era to the late 1800s. It's hard to believe that today's cutting-edge medicine originated from such crude beginnings, but this book reminds us to be grateful for today's medical care, while also raising the question: what current medical practices will be the horrors of tomorrow?

Why You'll Love It:

• Readers learn about a variety of early American oddities as well as incremental medical advancements, such as the proliferation of freak shows, the practice of grave robbing for dissection of cadavers, medical quacks, and the emergence of the first hospital and medical school.
• Numerous sidebars chock-full of fascinating anecdotes coupled with Younker's sarcastic commentary peppered throughout add interest.
• It's gruesome -- need I say more??

Who Should Read It:

Great for 6th grade and up.

What Else You Should Read:

• An American Plague by Jim Murphy
• Bubonic Panic by Gail Jarrow
• Fatal Fever by Gail Jarrow