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: Zero Degree Zombie Zone

The Zero Degree Zombie Zone
by Patrik Henry Bass
Scholastic (Aug. 26, 2014)

Summary:

Fourth-grader Bakari Johnson is having a really bad day--class bullies Tariq and Keisha are mad at him, his best friend Wardell has nominated him for hall monitor, a pack of ice zombies from a frozen world are demanding he return the magic ring that Keisha has, and somehow he has to find a way to save the school.

Why You'll Love It:

• Kids will enjoy this school story that includes familiar details such as class elections and library time, while offering an exciting sci-fi twist.
• A fun middle-grade fantasy featuring African American characters.
• Zombie-fighting action will keep readers engaged.
• Jerry Craft’s expressive, bold-lined illustrations complement the story.

Who Should Read It:

Great for grades 3-6.

What Else You Should Read:

• For more great chapter books with diverse main characters, try the STAT series or the EllRay Jakes series. 
• For great zombie fantasy, try Zombie Baseball Beatdown.