Although this mystery starts very, very slowly, and it took a while for it to hold my interest, in the end, the read was worth it, and I appreciated hAlthough this mystery starts very, very slowly, and it took a while for it to hold my interest, in the end, the read was worth it, and I appreciated how well plotted it actually was. There are references to and quotes from famous mystery writers embedded in the narrative, which made it fun to compare this one to those other ones, but I had to be patient and tell myself to keep pushing through, especially since this author has the penchant of using some vocabulary words that even those of us who are bibliophiles and consider ourselves word lovers won't recognize. The plot concerns the last months of life of Sebastian Trapp, a famous mystery writer who has been corresponding for years with Nicky Hunter, a fan and expert in detective fiction. Trapp invites her to stay in his San Francisco mansion to help tell his life story--and maybe solve the mystery of the disappearance of his wife, Hope, and son, Cole. But of course, all is not as it seems, and there are secrets being kept by various characters, of course. While there are quite a few twists and turns as well as eye-raising surprises, this one won't be for everyone. Mystery fans, especially those who prefer the classics along with splashes of humor along with their crime, are more likely to be enthralled by this outing than those who like the newer kinds of mysteries. ...more
Although the romantic intrigue in this novel is resolved pretty handily and predictably--yes, readers who have read this sort of YA title before won'tAlthough the romantic intrigue in this novel is resolved pretty handily and predictably--yes, readers who have read this sort of YA title before won't be surprised at how the book's protagonist finds love in a (to him) surprising place-the idea of hosting an immersive Victorian murder mystery is unique enough to hold readers' attention the whole way through. Finn Turner, the main character, has grown up in a family of actors, but try as he might, he struggles in being able to remember his lines in the play. Still, he rises to the occasion and pitches in wherever he can, even if it means being the chef for the final night's performance. There's quite a lot going on in this novel, including misplaced affections, family drama, identity, and belonging. Several of the characters aren't fully developed, but readers will certainly root for Finn to find his heart's desire as he helps his two mothers with their plan to save the Beauregard, the mansion they have always called home. But as so many others like Finn have come to realize, a house isn't necessarily a home and even though family dynamics may be messy and complicated, they offer unbreakable bonds. Drama kids and those who march to their own drums may enjoy this one. ...more
The final book in The Riverman trilogy left me somewhat bewildered and with several unanswered questions. Because this one is told by Alistair's sisteThe final book in The Riverman trilogy left me somewhat bewildered and with several unanswered questions. Because this one is told by Alistair's sister Keri Cleary, readers are treated to her growing discomfort with Alistair's explanations about what's happening and about Aquavania and all those missing characters. Could what he's telling her possibly be true? Or could Alistair have been lying all along and betraying her? Keri vacillates between belief and disbelief while writing stories of her own. These stories, inserted between the main narrative, were so original and populated by interesting individuals and even animals like the wombat, that I couldn't help but read on. I actually liked them, weird though they were, more than the main storyline, which prompts readers to reflect again upon the possibility of multiverses and infinite possibilities, something I hold to be possible theoretically but don't necessarily believe to be likely. While Keri is the writer in this book, it is the talented Aaron Starmer who is the storyteller, weaving a spell over all of us with this original offering. This is one that might be appreciated even more after a second or a third read. ...more
While some reviewers have remarked that this book isn't "necessary" and were critical of the fact that much of the book isn't about Dante, I'd respondWhile some reviewers have remarked that this book isn't "necessary" and were critical of the fact that much of the book isn't about Dante, I'd respond by saying that it is necessary and important to follow this relationship as it grows and changes. After all, it's pretty impossible to hold onto that first blush or romance and desire. And yes, Dante is still present in the story, even at its heart, but there is more growing that Ari needs to do. I loved having these glimpses into his life and the inevitable losses, the aging process of his dog Legs, and his slow unfolding as his love for Dante and Dante's love for him opens him up to the possibilities of other kinds of love. The book picks up right where the previous one, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe left off with the two teen boys [Aristotle Mendoza and Dante Quintana] spending time together, deepening their love, and exploring the emotions that swirl through their hearts and bodies. There is much discussion of desire, as is appropriate for 17-year-olds, and readers will feel as though they are inside Ari's head throughout the narrative. But as the title indicates, their attempts to dive into the waters of the world are often fraught with fear and concerns about how they will be judged. Viewed from the perspective of 2021 and 2022, those fears and the (almost) self-loathing that is expressed at times by both Ari and Dante are problematic and hard to understand. But this book is set in 1988 and 1989 amid the AIDS pandemic and (perhaps) a more judgmental period. Although I winced every time Ari or Dante would express a wish not to be gay or for Dante's newborn brother to be straight, such remarks were no doubt more prevalent then than now. If anything, there were times when both sets of parents seemed far more accepting and understanding than might have been expected, and as I read this book, I kept hoping that Ari and Dante would decide to take that risk, chart those new courses, and not give a fig about what others might think about their love. And perhaps, in the end, they will. That said, I loved the short chapters and entries from Ari's father's journal and the way their relationship grew as both father and son became honest with each other. If nothing else, this is a book about forgiveness, understanding, and hope, and I'm glad that I read it. I wasn't in love with the impulsive trip to Paris because I'm not a fan of romantic gestures, and I am still baffled by the scene where Ari visits his brother Bernardo in prison. There just seemed to be nothing redeemable about Bernardo, and I found it hard to understand him, his actions or his words. Surely, there will be many readers who will be delighted to plunge into this book and the world of Ari and Dante once again, drawing courage from their tentative steps into the wider world. ...more
Although it took me a few pages to get into the rhythm of this book, which I would rate 3.5, eventually I did and found myself flying through the pageAlthough it took me a few pages to get into the rhythm of this book, which I would rate 3.5, eventually I did and found myself flying through the pages to see what might happen next. Plus, it almost goes without saying, given the history curriculum taught in most schools, that I learned a lot about our nation's history and Reconstruction through the book's pages. Reconstruction was not a topic covered thoroughly or respectfully, if at all, in the history curriculum used in the Southern schools I attended. I had often wondered why it took so long for the changes that seemed so promising after slavery ended to occur, and I found some of the answers here. The plot concerns sixteen-year-old Malcolm Williams who lives in Washington, DC with his mother. After incidents of violence come close to home, she sends him to Mississippi to spend the summer with his paternal relatives. Aunt Carol and Uncle Leroy are welcoming, of course, but they expect him to do some chores around the farm. Although Malcolm is bored and restless at first, eventually he comes to appreciate their way of life, especially when he stumbles upon the diary of Cedric Johnson, one of his ancestors, who recorded his thoughts and experiences from the 1860s and 1870s during Reconstruction. Reading the diary enables Malcolm to understand history in a way he never has, and the way he shifts into Cedric's shoes and travels back in time allows him to meet many of the important Black figures of that time and appreciate their efforts to make the nation live up to its promises. At times, Malcolm isn't sure whether he is coming or going, but he creates sketches of some of what he is seeing. He has help in modern times [2015] from Jasmine, a neighbor's daughter, and from a white ally, Jason, who started out as an enemy. Although I'm not convinced that a ruling on naming a place as a conditional site for the National Register of Historic Places could be accomplished so quickly, I was pleased to see Malcolm achieve a victory and have his efforts rewarded. Clearly, he returns home a changed man and one eager to work for change. Although parts of the book are dense and require readers to piece together various events and individuals, it is filled with information not found in today's history books and history well worth knowing. The author's inclusion of some of the actual words of some of those historical figures might make the read more challenging than the typical YA fare, but it's certainly worth the time and effort. It's hard not to look at today's events without also looking at what happened more than a century ago and asking questions. ...more
It would be hard to argue that Nicholas Winton, the subject of this picture book, was not a hero. While in Prague, Czechoslovakia, in late 1938 and eaIt would be hard to argue that Nicholas Winton, the subject of this picture book, was not a hero. While in Prague, Czechoslovakia, in late 1938 and early 1939, Winton became involved in efforts to transport almost 700 Jewish children (669) out of the region into London. He raised funds for the project, found places for them to stay, and forged the necessary documents to allow them to travel, all at great risk to himself. He returned home, lived a quiet life, and never spoke about what he had done. None of this would have become public had it not been for his wife stumbling upon the records he had kept. A British television show arranged for him to appear and meet the now-grown children he had rescued. Vera Gissing was one of those children. In this picture book Peter Sis tells their briefly-intertwined stories with understanding and a sense of urgency and amazement. The illustrations cover each page with interesting shapes and colors, showing the tranquility of Vera's home before the arrival of the Nazis and her fondness for cats. The use of rich colors on certain pages contrasts vividly with the soft, almost misty quality of other pages as time passed. The last double-page spread with children standing on one side of a river across from a tree whose branches are in a heart shape is my favorite. For youngsters who think that one person cannot make a difference or that everything worth doing must be boasted about, this picture book provides evidence to the contrary. I remember seeing a clip from the program on which Winton and several of those he rescued appeared and being blown away by the story. I was equally blown away by it in this iteration. The world needs more individuals like Winton. ...more
Moving back and forth in time before and after the death of the narrator's older brother, Ethan, this novel seems to have been torn from the heart of Moving back and forth in time before and after the death of the narrator's older brother, Ethan, this novel seems to have been torn from the heart of its writer. So much raw emotion spills onto its pages that at times it can be hard to read just as grief and loss can be so hard to experience. As the narrator, Liam (Lee) Cooper turns to music and friends for solace, it's clear that even the best of friends often don't know what to say, how to cope or how to offer what the mourner needs. And the well-meaning individuals who mouth platitudes such as "Everything happens for a reason" only serve to infuriate Liam even more. While it might be expected that the loss of the golden boy of the family might bring them together, that isn't the case, and Liam who is nonbinary feels even more alienated because they feel that their parents don't see them as special in any way. When Liam reaches out to Marcus, Liam's best friend, secrets are revealed about Ethan and Liam realizes that they never really knew their brother. There are moments of despair, anger, and even points at which Liam isn't sure that going on is worth the effort, but eventually, it becomes clear that he can and must choose to live and keep Ethan alive through stories and memories. This book is ultimately uplifting although hard to read so keep a box or two of tissues nearby. ...more
The seventh and eighth grade years are challenging for anyone, but when the Twin Towers in New York City fall in September 2001, what has seemed imporThe seventh and eighth grade years are challenging for anyone, but when the Twin Towers in New York City fall in September 2001, what has seemed important in the past is suddenly much less important. As the priorities of diarist Alyssa Bermudez shift, she questions her future and is grateful that both of her parents survived the terrorist attack. There's a lot for middle grade readers to like in this memoir, including Alyssa's crush on a new classmate, her struggles with her unibrow, her interest in fashion, especially shoes, her grades and concern about letting her parents down, wanting more freedom but then making mistakes that prompt restrictions. The illustrations and diary entries over the course of two academic years will resonate with many youngsters because her voice is so authentic and Alyssa seems so very real in how she anticipates Valentine's Day or a school dance. The only disappointment in all this for me came with the realization that the entries about 9/1/1 weren't hers but based on those of a friend since she didn't write about the terrorist attacks in her own journal. I wish there had been more entries about this event and its aftermath and that they'd been hers. Other readers may not feel the same way. ...more
This one was a 3.5 for me, and I really enjoyed watching the protagonist, seventh-grader Callie Feldmuth, come into her own after her family moves froThis one was a 3.5 for me, and I really enjoyed watching the protagonist, seventh-grader Callie Feldmuth, come into her own after her family moves from San Diego to live in Scotland. They have inherited a castle and lands from an elderly woman who was the Feldmuths' landlord when they attended the university there years ago. Callie is thrilled to live in a castle even though it needs many repairs before its facilities can be rented out, but mostly, she is happy to have left all the drama associated with her friends. Over the course of the main narrative and through a series of flashbacks readers learn about what went wrong. Callie is tired of not fitting in or having to be false to herself in order to do so, making her grateful for this chance to reinvent herself. When her parents agree to allow her to be homeschooled, it's with the condition that she engage in some sort of extracurricular activity that requires her to socialize with others her age. She ends up joining a birding club, but she is kicked out of it when the adult leader sees her as a troublemaker. But birding seems to be her thing, and along with Sid (short for Cressida), the granddaughter of a handyman working for her family, she ends up finding several different birds on the property. Callie is also inspired by the notes and journal entries from the family's benefactor, writings from a difficult time in the life of the family's benefactor, Philippa. This book tackles several important issues related to self-esteem and friendship, and while the transitions from present time to the journal or to Callie's fractured relationships back home are a bit abrupt at times, it's certainly worth reading. There is plenty of humor, and it's perfectly clear that home isn't really a place but more the individuals with whom someone feels most comfortable or at home with....more
Covering 20 years in the life of an oak, this picture book follows a talkative acorn as it appears on the parent tree and then eventually falls to theCovering 20 years in the life of an oak, this picture book follows a talkative acorn as it appears on the parent tree and then eventually falls to the ground, is carried to another location, and sprouts. Over the years it grows layers and bark, and the text describes how the tree finds nourishment, growing straight and tall. The double-page spread showing the change in the tree from its sixth year to its ninth is pretty impressive, giving hope to those who plant trees in their yards and then wonder if they'll ever grow tall enough to offer much-needed shade. There aren't many picture books that explain this process as simply as this one. Back matter includes information on the different parts of a tree as well as a diagram of its layers, including heartwood, sapwood, cambium cell layer, inner bark, and outer bark. There is also a page that shows the lifespan of this oak tree in a nutshell, flourishing in its hundredth year and past maturity with nary a leaf after three centuries. The story itself is told in a diary format, and the digital illustrations add character to this oak tree's tale. As a lover of puns and word play, I appreciated the book's title. Young readers will surely come to appreciate the trees that they often take for granted after reading this book. ...more
This one is a 3.5 for me, and it's delightful on several levels. As he has done in his previous three Nature Diaries books (My Awesome Summer, My HappThis one is a 3.5 for me, and it's delightful on several levels. As he has done in his previous three Nature Diaries books (My Awesome Summer, My Happy Year, and My Stinky Summer), the author/illustrator describes a year in the life of a Ruby-Throated Hummingbird from mid-May when it emerges from its egg to early May the next year when it returns home after a long migration and finds a mate. What makes this book and series so special are the impressive illustrations, created with watercolors, acrylics, and gouache, as well as the unique point of view for such a book. Each day's adventures are described by Ruby T. Hummingbird in his diary, and readers watch as he learns to fly in many different directions and then sets forth to find food. Since hummingbirds are drawn to nectar, especially when it is easily accessible through hummingbird feeders, there are several scenes in which the narrator is sipping from one or fighting with others of his species for a space. Readers will probably love the double-page spread showing him zooming in the air, fending off another bird and then a later one in which he tries to fend off two birds. Eventually, as the temperatures begin to cool, he heads South for several month before starting for home. The trip is not without challenges, especially for such a tiny creature. Additional information about hummingbirds, including a list of their predators, food preference, and range can be found on the endpapers. Readers interested in enticing hummingbirds to their own back yards will find a recipe for nectar there as well. Elementary science teachers will want to add this book and the others in the series to their classroom library because it prompts curiosity and appreciation for the natural world in an unusual way. ...more
I'm not sure why this book hasn't received more attention, given that its protagonist has so many relatable experiences and emotions. Twelve-year-old I'm not sure why this book hasn't received more attention, given that its protagonist has so many relatable experiences and emotions. Twelve-year-old Julia records the things that matter to her in her diary over the course of a year that sees many changes in Julia and in her life. The book starts off with an incident that reveals much about life in Juarez, Mexico, where she lives with her parents and brother Willy. While the family is watching a movie at the movie theater, someone steals their car. Julia is understandably upset because the thief also took the things she valued, including her own diary. Over the course of the pages Julia writes, it becomes increasingly clear that Juarez is a tough city in which to live and that the violence and crime are escalating. Eventually, Julia comes to live in El Paso, Texas, just across the border, with other family members while it becomes clear that her father is also involved in the crime and violence. Julia faces several of the usual challenges of someone who has crossed the border--fitting in, language issues, cultural dissonance, and a longing for the life she once led. Indeed, there are points in the book in which it seems as though she's lost everything, especially when she learns the truth about her father and feels as though her mother has abandoned her. I was impressed with the raw emotion expressed here as Julia comes of age, but there were parts that seemed almost too vague, leaving readers to draw many conclusions for themselves. Perhaps some back matter with statistics on crime or death in Juarez might have helped fill that need for me. Still, I came to care about Julia and hope that her life turns out to be exactly what she has dreamed it to be. There are parts of this book that sound exactly like someone her age would. and I would expect her story to resonate with many middle grade readers....more
Jamie Kelly continues to share her innermost thoughts in her diary as she and her best friends Isabella and Angeline seek a measure of fame and fortunJamie Kelly continues to share her innermost thoughts in her diary as she and her best friends Isabella and Angeline seek a measure of fame and fortune at Mackerel Middle School. In addition to ruminating on various family issues, Jamie focuses primarily on food here and ways to get rich since her friend Angeline is worried about her family's economic situation. In an effort to earn extra credit from Mr. Henzy and give Angeline hope, the girls come up with a paper plate project, which sounds promising but doesn't really get off the ground. But Jamie wants to encourage Angeline so she weaves a set of lies about a company interested in marketing those plates. Eventually, in a most unlikely way, the girls come up with a salad dressing based on some odd ingredients, including soft drinks, and the product blows up--in a good way. I don't know why anyone would consider Jamie or her ideas to be dumb at all. Nor are these books dumb. Even in this food-related title, real problems such as the high cost of college are explored in meaningful ways. ...more
This one is a 3.5 for me, and like other reviewers, I continue to be astonished at the realization that this is the FOURTEENTH book in the series and This one is a 3.5 for me, and like other reviewers, I continue to be astonished at the realization that this is the FOURTEENTH book in the series and that I've been reading them for as long as I've been teaching college classes full time. There have been moments when I've wondered if author Jeff Kinney's creative well has run dry since he has covered some of the same topics all too often in some of the books. But I was pleasantly surprised to see some new territory explored here. Many of us have wished for an unexpected inheritance and pondered what we might do with an infusion of cash, which makes the book's central storyline quite relatable. After Greg's mother's Aunt Reba dies and leaves her money to the family, they argue about what to do with this windfall. Eventually, Mrs. Heffley wins out, and the money is earmarked for home improvement, including a nicer kitchen and an addition to the house. But renovation does not go as planned, and the Heffleys find out that their house has some unsavory features, including mold, rotten wood, and mice. After a design error means the addition will need to be torn down, Mrs. Heffley decides that the family should just move to a nicer neighborhood. They find a place, attract a buyer for their old home, but yet another mishap causes a change of plans. In addition to this main plot, Greg must reassure Rowley that they will always remain friends and Greg hatches plans to make money from his old stuff through a yard sale. There were plenty of scenes that amused me as Greg continued on his self-absorbed and self-serving ways. The author knows his times of the year too since this one begins in March, which is typically the time for spring cleaning and home-buying. There are no big ah, ha! moments here, but there is plenty of humor for fans of the series as the author takes readers in some surprising new directions with Greg contemplating the advantages of moving and starting afresh, something many of us have surely considered....more
While this book didn't speak to me as powerfully as it might for others, I did enjoy reading it. Sixteen-year-old Nevaeh Levitz hasn't really thought While this book didn't speak to me as powerfully as it might for others, I did enjoy reading it. Sixteen-year-old Nevaeh Levitz hasn't really thought much about her biracial identity since she's spent her growing up years sheltered in a New York City suburb. But after her parents split and she and her mother move in with her maternal grandfather in Harlem. Since Nevaeh looks white and can pass for white, through no efforts of her own, her cousins don't take her seriously and regard her as something of a wannabe. While trying to learn more about her family, she begins reading her mother's diary, which provides insight into her relationship with Nevaeh's father and her own traumatic experiences with a young man and sex. It's a long journey for Nevaeh as she resists her father's efforts to make her accept his new girlfriend and have a bat mitzvah rather than a sweet sixteen party. In the end, readers will realize once again that relationships are messy, families are complicated, and prejudice can be found in many different forms. This is an eye-opening period in Nevaeh's life, and I was surprised that her mother had not tried to teach her more about her roots earlier. Judging from the diary she kept, she had plenty of dreams of her own that never came to fruition, and I longed to have had more of her story, which I found more interesting than Nevaeh's. Although I tried to keep an open mind about him, I simply could not stand her father and his various strayings. It's too bad Naveah's mother didn't see the writing on the wall a little earlier. Ah, but as we all know, love is blind. I did like the gentle and quiet unfolding of a romance between Nevaeh and Jesus and all the antics associated with her grandfather and his new female friend, Miss Clarisse. There just seemed to be so many interesting individuals whose stories were barely touched upon, including Rabbi Sarah, that I finished the book feeling a bit incomplete and wanting to know more about them. In the end, Naveah does realize that finding one's voice and place should never mean taking someone else's voice or space away from them. Life won't suddenly get easier for her or for her father, for that matter, but at least now she knows where she belongs....more
This one is a 3.5 for me, and I am pleased to have a picture book about this unsung hero from the Holocaust. Many individuals know the story of Anne FThis one is a 3.5 for me, and I am pleased to have a picture book about this unsung hero from the Holocaust. Many individuals know the story of Anne Frank and have read at least parts of her diary, but the story of how that diary came to be saved is less known. Relying on the autobiography of Miep Gies, the author describes some of the thoughts and feelings of this woman who helped hide the Frank family and others in a secret area in a business for more than two years. Readers' hearts will race as along with Miep, they ponder their own fate, and then hope against hope that Anne and her family will survive the concentration camps. Her quick action in saving the diary and some other personal items insured that Anne would never be forgotten. The text and luminous illustrations are heart-wrenching at various points as readers ponder how painful it must have been for Otto Frank, Anne's father, to read the diary, and yet, how important it is to have her story told. This would be a nice introduction to the Holocaust or an example of the difference one person can make in the world around her. Teachers who are requiring that their students read Anne's diary might consider sharing this picture book with them since it further humanizes Anne and this period in history. ...more
I'd give this one a 3.5 because the author is telling an important and much-needed story, but a lot of the dialogue felt forced and awkward at points.I'd give this one a 3.5 because the author is telling an important and much-needed story, but a lot of the dialogue felt forced and awkward at points. There certainly aren't a lot of books featuring gay Muslim teens available for readers, and this one does a good job of describing the struggles Rukhsana Ali faces as she tries to live her own life and yet please her parents. Somehow she's managed to pull off this balancing act, mostly because she has kept her relationship with Ariana hidden. She figures she will be free to be herself once the two of them graduate, leave Seattle, and move to California for college. While her parents have high expectations for her and are rather conservative, Rukhsana has no idea the lengths to which they will go once they find out that she's in love with another woman. They quickly book a flight to Dakka, Bangladesh, to visit her ailing grandmother. But that isn't the real purpose. They've actually returned there to find her a match and arrange a marriage. The change in her parents from those opening scenes in the book to the later ones is pretty shocking and shows how fear and intolerance can prompt desperate actions and provoke thoughtless remarks. As Rukhsana becomes essentially a prisoner and isolated from her friends, at least she has allies in her cousin and her grandmother whose diary reveals her own long-hidden secret pains and her determination to never let someone else choose her path. Rukhsana makes several mistakes, but eventually she concocts and elaborate escape plan. When her co-conspirator dies, I was taken aback and couldn't believe that something like that could happen. But a quick online search revealed that such atrocities have actually happened, and LGBTQ activists in Bangladesh have been killed because of their words and deeds. From the standpoint of own safe perch here in the United States, I will confess that I had no idea something like this still happened. I'm grateful to the author for raising my awareness, and even though this book has too much of a fairy tale or Bollywood ending, I'm still glad I read it. ...more
In this, the third book in the series, protagonist Max is riding high after a solid finish to his seventh grade year. He even has a girlfriend. But hiIn this, the third book in the series, protagonist Max is riding high after a solid finish to his seventh grade year. He even has a girlfriend. But his parents throw him for a loop after they send him off to summer camp. Max is totally not into the idea of camping and spending time with strangers, and he uses a calendar to keep track of the days until he will be free once more. But of course, as most readers know from their own personal experiences, camp can grow on someone, and before Max knows it, he's dreading having to leave. There are the usual camp songs and pranks and a budding romance with Clara, another camper, as well as some bad news from the folks back home. There is much use of yellow, smiley emoticons, and simple drawings, and the lessons imparted here are important for middle grade readers. It all goes down smoothly because of the humor and the voice used to tell the story through Max's journal. ...more
Middle grader Charlie loves playing the violin and dreams of becoming concertmaster of her school orchestra. Charlie is talented enough and practices Middle grader Charlie loves playing the violin and dreams of becoming concertmaster of her school orchestra. Charlie is talented enough and practices quite often, but she also gets nervous at times, especially during auditions. When she begins to research the life of her great-aunt, Lottie, her namesake, she learns some fascinating facts about the violin virtuoso, who presumably died during the Holocaust. Charlie's own grandmother has valuable information and a diary to share that just might solve the mystery of Lottie's whereabouts. But the more Charlie learns, the more convoluted everything becomes. I liked this story, based in part on the author's own family history, but there are quite a few moments that seemed too good to be true--that her friend's grandmother could read the old German script, that Nana Rose had never shared any of her stories about the Holocaust with Charlie's mother, and that the gruff neighbor she fears, Dr. Szemere, is from Hungary, where Lottie spent some time. The last chapter, set in Budapest in 1944, was intriguing, and I so wish the author had chosen to tell more of that particular story or woven more of it into the central narrative. The idea of engraved pendants and chains for a certain group of the Resistance against the Nazis is fascinating and deserved more attention. Still, many middle grade readers will be drawn to this story because of its modern setting. ...more
Sixth grade and summer vacation are behind him, and Max is ready to tackle seventh grade. He's contending with the usual challenges middle school has Sixth grade and summer vacation are behind him, and Max is ready to tackle seventh grade. He's contending with the usual challenges middle school has to offer, his unrequited crush on Nais, his best friend's preoccupation with a new girlfriend, and his mother's meddling. It's hard to believe, but she actually signed Max up for a book club. But maybe he can turn that reading club into an advantage for him since the grandmother of the girl of his dreams is a member. Readers from across the globe will relate to many of the mishaps that occur in the book, his letter to his future self, and see that in many respects schools in France, where Max goes, are not all that different from those in their own country. Despite all his plotting and deception, Max has a good heart and ends up doing some good deeds. The book lightly touches on the physical disability of a new classmate, Lena, who has to put up with a good deal of bullying from the clueless Raoul who gets his just desserts in the end. Fans of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series will enjoy this one just as much. ...more
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