Posts by Janie Cheaney
What Elephants Know by Erick Dinerstein
Lowland Tibet is the exotic setting for this coming-of-age story featuring an 11-year-old boy and the elephants he loves. What Elephants Know by Erick Dinerstein. Disney Hyperion, 2016, 268 pages Reading Level: Middle Grade, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-14 Nandu Sindh was only a baby when he was found by Devi Kali and the…
Read MoreTalking about Books That Talk about Race
Not a “Newbery Buzz” post because these titles were published before 2016 and are already award winners! But, for similar posts in which Janie and Betsy discuss books, check out our Newbery Buzz series. Janie: Earlier this week, we reviewed two novels about what might be called “the black experience.” One of them, When I Was…
Read MoreWhen I Was the Greatest by Jason Reynolds
A black teen in the ‘hood struggles to maintain his focus when his best friend takes a wrong turn with potentially serious consequences. When I Was the Greatest by Jason Reynolds. Atheneum, 2014, 230 pages. Reading Level: Young Adult, ages 12-15 Recommended for: mature teens, ages 15-18 Even though Allen (Ali) and his little sister…
Read MoreHilo: Saving the Whole Wide World by Judd Winick
The exuberant boy-robot Hilo is back from “the void,” pursuing his mission to destroy his arch-enemy Razorwark and discover his own origin and purpose. Hilo Book 2: Saving the Whole Wide World by Judd Winick. Random House, 2016, 193 pages Reading Level: Middle Grade, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 6-12, especially boys In this second…
Read MoreThe Mother-Daughter Book Club by Heather Vogel Frederick
In this series opener, four sixth-grade girls discover that reading the classics can change contemporary attitudes.
Read MoreThe Mother-Daughter Book Camp by Heather Vogel Frederick
The Mother-Daughter Book Club series wraps up with all five members of the club serving as camp counselors together before launching their adult lives. The Mother-Daughter Book Camp by Heather Vogel Frederick. Simon & Shuster, 2016, 321 pages Reading Level: Middle Grade, 10-12 Recommended for: ages 11-16 (especially girls) Emma, Jess, et al., take one…
Read MoreThe Revolutionary War by Mort Kunstler
Key events of the American Revolution are celebrated by one of our nation’s preeminent historical painters. The Revolutionary War 1775-1783 (See American History Series) by Mort Kunstler, text by Alan Axelrod. Abbeville Press, 2016, 45 pages including appendix. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 5-12 Mort Kunstler is perhaps best known…
Read MoreThe Big Dark by Rodman Philbrick
A small England Community fights for survival when a solar flare wipes out all sources of power, in this taut thriller with a 12-year-old hero. The Big Dark by Rodman Philbrick. Scholastic, 2015, 176 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 12-15, especially reluctant readers The whole town of Harmony, NH, is…
Read MoreThe Double Cross by Jackson Pearce
A 12-year-old spy trainee proves his calling in spite of obvious physical drawbacks, in this entertaining middle-grade adventure. The Double Cross, and Other Skills I Learned as a Superspy by Jackson Pearce. Bloomsbury, 2015, 291 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-14, especially boys Hale Jordan is, well, fat—a factor that…
Read MoreThe Magic Mirror by Susan Hill Long
A few language cautions aside, this medieval fantasy tale illustrates some profound truths about finding oneself in the journey. The Magic Mirror: Concerning a Lonely Princess, a Foundling Girl, a Scheming King, and a Pickpocket Squirrel by Susan Hill Long. Knopf, 2016, 308 pages Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-up…
Read MoreThe Goblin’s Puzzle by Andrew S. Chilton
This lively tale combines a fairy-tale plot and likeable characters—even a likeable dragon—with philosophical musings. The Goblin’s Puzzle: Being the Adventures of a Boy with No Name and Two Girls Called Alice, by Andrew S. Chilton. Knopf, 2016, 279 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-15 The Boy has nothing, not…
Read MoreLittle Dee and the Penguin by Christopher Baldwin
Sunny and warm, this graphic novel combines a wildly implausible plot with distinct personalities—and lots of laughs. Little Dee and the Penguin by Christopher Baldwin. Dial, 206, 128 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: 8-up Little Dee, who appears to be about 5, lives happily with her park-ranger dad until the night…
Read MoreThe Eye of Midnight by Andrew Brumbach
A thrilling tale set in 1920s New York pits three children against a foe that bears an uncanny resemblance to modern-day Islamism. The Eye of Midnight by Andrew Brumbach. Delacorte, 2016, 234 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-14 New York City, 1929: Cousins William and Maxine barely remember their grandfather, with…
Read MoreAstrotwins: Project Blastoff by Mark Kelly
Solid science fiction is delivered by an author who knows his stuff, though the materialist worldview is worth talking about. Astrotwins: Project Blastoff by Mark Kelly and Martha Freeman. Simon and Shuster, 2015, 201 pages Reading Level: 8-10 Recommended for: 8-12 If the name Mark Kelly sounds familiar, it’s because he’s a former astronaut married…
Read MoreFrank Einstein and the Anti-Matter Motor by Jon Schieszka
Though not to be taken at all seriously, this wacky series by Jon Schieszka threads some real science into its far-out storylines. Frank Einstein and the Anti-Matter Motor (Frank Einstein #1) by Jon Schieszka. Amulet, 2015, 180 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 8-12, especially boys While his parents are traveling…
Read MoreThe Terrible Two by Mac Barnett and Jory John
A fifth-grade prankster meets his match, joining forces with his rival to pull off the greatest fifth-grade prank of all time. The Terrible Two by Mac Barnett and Jory John. Amulet, 2015, 217 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 8-12, especially boys Miles Murphy, age 11, is not happy about moving…
Read MoreTerror at Bottle Creek by Watt Key
In a fast, thrilling read, a 13-year-old boy must display courage, ingenuity, and persistence in extremely dangerous circumstances. Terror at Bottle Creek by Watt Key. Farrar Straus and Giroux, 2015, 224 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 12-15, especially boys Life on the Alabama coast isn’t so bad, especially if your…
Read MoreSoar by Joan Bauer
In this cozy sports story, Jeremiah has learned through difficulty, but may not be able to pass the lessons on to his teammates. Soar by Joan Bauer. Viking, 2015, 237 pages Reading level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-14 Jeremiah Lopper has an unusual origin story: At the age of nine months or…
Read MoreSunny Side Up by Jennifer Holm
In this graphic novel with a bittersweet twist, Sunny’s disappointing “vacation” in her grandfather’s retirement community conceals some family secrets. Sunny Side Up by Jennifer Holm, illustrated by Matthew Holm. Scholastic Graphix, 2015, 216 pages Reading Level: 8-10 Recommended for: 8-12 Sunny, age 10, was anticipating a classic beach vacation with her best friend, but…
Read MoreMy Life in Pictures by Deborah Zemke
Bea Garcia learns to deal with disappointment and make the most of her artistic gifts in this first cartoon-illustrated installment of a series. My Life in Pictures (Bea Garcia #1) by Deborah Zemke. Dial, 2016, 134 pages Reading Level: Chapter Books, ages 4-8 Recommended for: ages 6-10 It’s bad enough when your best friend moves…
Read MoreSweet Home Alaska by Carole Estby Dagg
Sweet Home Alaska by Carole Estby Dagg. Penguin, February 2016, 296 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-14 Bottom Line: An 11-year-old discovers the pioneering spirit in the last frontier, in this entertaining historical adventure that echoes Laura Ingalls Wilder. Terpsichore Johnson’s family is down to their last pumpkin. Mr. Johnson…
Read MoreTru and Nelle by G. Neri
Tru and Nelle by G. Neri. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2016, 336 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 8-12 Bottom Line: Based on the childhood friendship of Harper Lee and Truman Capote, this middle-grade novel highlights the experiences that shaped an American classic. Tru (short for Truman) is a fussy little clothes-horse…
Read MoreRaymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo
Three 10-year-old girls cope with life’s ups and downs by learning to rely on each other, in a story with “magical” elements. Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo. Candlewick, 2016, 263 pages Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 8-12 Raymie Clarke, age 10, has one goal: by winning the Little Miss Central Florida…
Read MoreBible Review: *The NLT Jesus-Centered Bible
*NLT Jesus-Centered Bible. Group Publishing, 2015, 1440 pages. (Available in hard- and soft-cover editions.) Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 12-17 Bottom Line: The NLT Jesus Centered Bible is a serious attempt to revel Christ as the centerpiece and main character of both Old and New Testaments. The New Living Translation (see…
Read MoreBible Review: NIV Bible for Teen Girls: Growing in Faith Hope and Love
NIV Bible for Teen Girls: Growing in Faith, Hope and Love. Zondervan, 2015, 1728 pages. (available in hard- and soft-cover editions) Reading Level: Middle Grades, 10-12 Recommended for: ages 11-16 Bottom Line: The NIV Bible for Teen Girls is physically attractive and encouraging, but the added features are not as deep and thought-provoking as other…
Read MoreBible Review: NIV Big Dreams, Big Prayers Bible
NIV Big Dreams, Big Prayers Bible. Zonderkidz, 2016, 1344 pages. (Soft- and hardcover editions available) Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: Middle grades, ages 8-12 Bottom Line: The prayer-focused goal of this Bible is laudable, but the execution leaves something to be desired. As advertised, the focus of this Bible is all about…
Read MoreBible Review: NKJV Courage Bible/NKJV Faith Bible
NKJV Courage Bible/NKJV Faith Bible. Holman Bible Publishers, 2014, 1568 pages Reading Level: Young Adult, ages 12-15 Recommended for: ages 10-15 Bottom Line: An accurate, readable translation, comfortable text size and helpful inserts make this a good choice for reading along in family devotionals and church. “Courage” is a red cover with a blue star…
Read MoreBible Review: NKJV Study Bible for Kids
NKJV Study Bible for Kids. Thomas Nelson, 2015, 1536 pages. Reading Level: Young Adult, ages 12-15 Recommended for: ages 10-12 Bottom Line: The movie-themed features can be a bit distracting, but the study notes and supplements are sound and the rainbow colors appealing. This is a “themed” Bible, and the theme is the wonderful world…
Read MoreBible Review NIrV Faith Builders/ NIrV Under the Sea
We’re back!! Thanks again for your patience while we cleared up our site hack problems. You’ll notice a rather stripped-down version of RedeemedReader, but be aware we’re working on some big improvements for the future. This week, we’re back with our annual crop of children’s Bible reviews–two today, three more throughout the week, and next…
Read MoreBible Review: NIrV Study Bible for Kids
NIrV Study Bible for Kids. Zonderkidz, 2015, 1789 pages. Available in hardcover, soft cover and ebook editions Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 6-10 Bottom Line: Though it’s a sizeable chunk for a young child, the NIrV Study Bible contains some helpful features appropriate to the recommended age group. Unlike other NIrV…
Read MoreHow Dark is Too Dark?
The Michael J. Prinz medal is awarded every year by the ALA for excellence in YA literature. “Excellent,” to the ALA, often means edgy, trendy, or outright grim: it’s a sure bet that at least one title in each year’s selection (of one winner and 2 or 3 honor books) will be seriously depressing. This…
Read MoreWho’s Your Daddy?
Of all the charges hurled against Christianity in the modern age, one of the most potent is “paternalistic.” Christianity, it’s said, has kept women in the kitchen and society in the dark ages; I recall listening to a radio program long ago in which a caller insisted that the whole point of the faith was…
Read MoreGood Reading for Teens–Except for One Thing . . .
Lately I read two books for teens, one fiction and one nonfiction, that conformed to time-honored, even classic, storylines. The novel, A Step toward Falling, follows a comedy-of-manners pattern that goes all the way back to Pride and Prejudice. In fact, P&P plays a significant part in the story. Granted, the premise is a bit edgy:…
Read MoreThe Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson
Though probably the most honored children’s writer of her generation, Katherine Paterson hasn’t seen many of her books translated to film. This weekend will be only the second time, which makes today a good time to talk about it: At the close of the Vietnam war, John and Katherine Paterson of Barre, Vermont agreed to…
Read MoreReading Aloud to Teens, Part Two
Last week I set forth some reasons why older children (ages 12-18) have not outgrown the benefits of reading aloud. If you’re convinced about the why’s, you may be wondering about the how’s. Here are a few ideas along that line: Start early. If you’ve read to your kids as preschoolers, and after, they’ll be…
Read MoreReading Aloud to Teens, Part One
The last time I talked to my daughter on the phone, she said, “Guess what Adriel is doing now.” That’s my nine-year-old granddaughter, and of course I always want to know what she’s doing now. Since they live 800 miles away, I don’t get to see them very much, but it so happened that the…
Read More*Retro Reads: North to Freedom by Anne Holm
North to Freedom (I Am David) by Anne Holm. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1963 (first edition), 256 pages. Reading Level: 10-12 Appropriate for: ages 12-up Bottom Line: After escaping from the soviet prison camp that comprised his whole world, a 12-year-old boy must come to terms with what it means to be free. The Danish journalist,…
Read MoreThe 5th Wave by Rick Yancey
In most science fiction, technological advances are not shown to advance humanity. However, it would be tough to find a more negative view of a future world than The 5th Wave, which chronicles an alien attack on our weak and vulnerable planet. Depressing as it is, the story raises some vital questions about humanity,…
Read MoreThe 2016 ALA Youth Media Awards–What happened??
As we were saying last Saturday . . . you just can’t predict what the Newbery committee is going to do. Trends have been toward diversity, disability, and difficulty; books that show children in adverse, even desperate circumstances often get Newbery nods. (That’s why I was so sure The Thing about Jellyfish would be on…
Read MorePrognosticating the Newberys
On Monday, the American Library Association will announce the winners of their annual Youth Media Awards. The oldest and most prominent of these is the John Newbery medal, given “to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.”* I’m not sure why the ALA words it this way,since the award is…
Read MoreNewberry Buzz: Orbiting Jupiter by Gary Schmidt
Today wraps up our discussion of middle-grade novels being touted as possible contenders for the 2016 Newbery Award. The awards will be announced early this year: January 11. So on Saturday Betsy and Janie will post their highly-anticipated predictions. Check back next week to see how we did! Betsy: Gary D. Schmidt is yet another…
Read More2016 Newbery Buzz: Gone Crazy in Alabama by Rita Williams-Garcia
Continuing our series of discussions on contenders for the 2016 Newbery Award, Janie and Betsy turn their attention to a previous honor winner . . . Betsy: The Gaither sisters are back in a third installment: Gone Crazy in Alabama. Rita Williams-Garcia took home a 2011 Newbery Honor and a Coretta Scott King Award for…
Read MoreNewbery Buzz: The Thing about Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin
Betsy and Janie are continuing their discussion of possible 2016 Newbery Award winners. On deck today is a novel by a debut author which has already been honored as a National Book Award finalist. Janie: I heard someone mention lately that most of the children’s books getting the rave reviews this year seem to be…
Read MoreNewbery Buzz: The Nest by Kenneth Oppel
Continuing our series of middle-grade fiction touted as possible Newbery winners: Janie: Kenneth Oppel is best known for light-hearted steampunk fantasy, like the Airborn series and The Boundless. He showed us a bit of his dark side with This Dark Endeavor and Such Wicked Intent, the first two volumes of a trilogy about young Victor…
Read MoreNewbery Buzz: Most Dangerous by Steve Sheinkin
It’s that time again! Less than a month before the American Library Association announces their Youth Media Awards, and chief among them is the coveted Newbery medal. The speculation has begun, and for the next few weeks, Betsy and Janie are going to be talking about some of the leading contenders. Please note: our discussion…
Read MoreWhat Makes a GREAT Novel?
When was “The Novel” as a literary form invented? The answer is, it wasn’t. The type of long-form fiction we call a novel was not invented but developed over time with many steps along the way. Epic poetry like Homer’s, satires like Ovid’s, and royal romances like The Tale of Genji (from Japan) have been…
Read MoreHave an Awesome Thanksgiving
In honor of this week’s holiday, a book review post from a few years back: *Sarah Gives Thanks: How Thanksgiving Became a National Holiday, by Mike Allegra, illustrated by David Gardner. Whitman, 2012, 32 pages. Age-interest level: 4-up As our story opens, Sarah Hale is gathered with her five children around the Thanksgiving table. No…
Read MoreFlying Ponies and Dump Trucks
Do little kids love fantasy? NPR recently reported on a study done by three academic psychologists on the subject of children and fiction. They asked a group of 4-to-7-year-olds what choose between two stories they might like to read or listen to: one story about a child who found a treasure, and another about a…
Read MoreTempest in a Mixing Bowl
As a book reviewer, I have stars in my eyes. That is, I watch for stars when scanning book review journals, because they are an indicator of what someone finds excellent. Often, what others value is not what I would value, but if a book collects a lot of stars (six is the absolute gold…
Read MoreWhen Is a Story More Than a Story? Thoughts about The Marvels by Brian Selznek
We live in the Age of Narrative. And increasingly, novels stop telling stories and become about story, gazing at themselves with calm adoration. This is nowhere more true than in the celebrated children’s novels of Brian Selznek. Selnek began as an illustrator who, over time, developed a distinctive, detailed, textured style built on shades of…
Read MoreThe Uses of Terror
Yesterday I made a distinction between “terror” stories and “horror” stories—the latter based squarely on our elemental fear of death, often with buckets of blood thrown in. (Suspense is a sub-category of the horror genre, built on the same fear factor but not so brutal). The horror genre lumps together all stories that could be…
Read MoreScary Stuff
In honor of the holiday this week that celebrates spooks and skeletons, here’s a post from a few years ago. Everybody has their favorite C. S. Lewis quotes. Here’s one of mine: “Almost the whole of Christian theology could perhaps be deduced from the two facts (a) That men make coarse jokes, and (b) That…
Read MoreThe Doll People by Ann Martin and Laura Godwin
The Doll People Series, by Ann Martin and Laura Godwin. Disney/Hyperion Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 7-12 (mostly girls) Bottom Line: The Doll People series, rolling out in a leisurely way with four titles since 2003, offers a winning set of “living dolls” and an ideal transition from chapter books to…
Read More“The book is a lot better than the movie” – Usually
I’ve been thinking a lot about movies lately–perhaps because my latest novel, published this month, is set in the early days of the silent film industry. Next week we’ll publish my interview with Betsy about that novel in particular. But on the general theme of movies, and looking forward to the big holiday film season…
Read MoreMatthew Muddles Through by Glenda Mathes
Matthew Muddles Through (Matthew in the Middle #1) by Glenda Mathes. CreateSpace, 2014, 220 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 8-12 Bottom Line: The everyday adventures of a small-town preacher’s kid acquire eternal significance in this low-key series for middle graders. Matthew Vos belongs to a shrinking culture: the church-going, catechism-learning,…
Read More13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Since its publication in 2006, 13 Reasons Why has become the go-to novel on the subject of teen suicide, but it’s more sensational than useful. 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher. Razorbill, 2006. 336 pages Reading Level: Young Adult, ages 12-15 Recommended for: ages 15-up Suppose, when you get home from school one day, there’s…
Read MoreLaid-Back Homeschooling: a Word of Encouragement for the Year Ahead
I’m not quite ready to retire to a rocking chair in front of the general store, bending the ear of hapless passers-by: Yessir, it was rough back in them early homeschoolin’ days . . . But still, it’s fun to off-handedly mention that when we decided to take our third-grader and first-grader out of public…
Read MoreReflections on Selections
It’s not easy being selective, especially when perusing book titles for the honor of World Magazine Children’s Book of the Year. For last year’s pick, The Warden and the Wolf King, the committee assembled a bit late in the process, meaning a rush to scan the field (books published between May 2013 and May 2014),…
Read MoreThe Winners’ Circle
World Magazine has chosen a “book of the year” for at least twenty years. In 2013, the magazine diversified a little and chose three books in different categories. And last year, what should come along but a Children’s Book of the Year, chosen by committee with some (ahem) ties to RedeemedReader.com. Last week, World rolled…
Read MoreLilliput by Sam Gayton
Lilliput by Sam Gayton, Illustrated by Alice Ratterree. Peachtree, 2015. 252 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 10-12 Bottom Line: Lilliput is an entertaining (alternative) window into Gulliver’s Travels, but may be too violent for sensitive readers. Lily’s world turned upside-down when the giant waded out of the sea and snatched…
Read More*The Boys Who Challenged Hitler by Phillip Hoose
*The Boys Who Challenged Hitler: Knud Pedersen and the Churchill Club by Phillip Hoose. Farrar Straus Giroux, 2015. 198 pages including appendices Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12Recommended for: ages 10-14 Bottom Line: The story of how a handful of schoolboys sparked the Danish Resistance makes thrilling reading for middle-graders interested in WWII history. In…
Read MoreRanger in Time series by Kate Messner
Ranger in Time: Rescue on the Oregon Trail and Danger in Ancient Rome by Kate Messner. Scholastic, 2015. About 125 pages, plus author note. Reading Level: Chapter books, ages 4-8 Recommended for: ages 6-8 Bottom Line: The “Ranger in Time” series is a fun way to introduce early readers to history, as a loveable search-and-rescue…
Read More*Circus Mirandus by Cassie Beasley
*Circus Mirandus by Cassie Beasley. Dial, 2015, 304 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, age 10-12 Recommended for: all ages Bottom Line: Circus Mirandus, a magical tale for middle-graders, avoids sentimentality and can easily be adapted to a Christian understanding of the Kingdom. Micah Tuttle is swiftly approaching a crisis: Grandpa Ephraim, who raised him from…
Read MoreSIX by M. M. Vaughan
SIX by M. M. Vaughan. Simon & Shuster (Margaret K. Elderberry Books), 2015. 361 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: Ages 10-14 Bottom Line: SIX, a science-fiction novel for middle-graders, offers likeable characters and the intriguing possibility of teleportation. Parker Banks has had a lot of adjusting to do over the last…
Read MoreFort by Cynthia DeFelice
Fort by Cynthia DeFelice. Farrar Strauss Giroux, 2015. 200 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 10-12 (especially boys and reluctant readers) Bottom Line: Sweet-but-rough justice is served up in this boys-only summer tale that pits three losers against two bullies. Wyatt Jones, age 11, is enjoying the last of his summer…
Read MoreThe Chosen Prince by Diane Stanley
The Chosen Prince by Diane Stanley. Harper, 2015, 357 pages. Reading Level: Young Adult, 12-15 Recommended for: ages 14 and up Bottom Line: A prince is chosen from infancy to reunite two warring kingdoms and bring peace to his people, but at great cost to himself. At his birth, Prince Alexos is chosen by the…
Read MoreThe Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba
William Kamkwamba’s own story of his efforts to bring reliable electrical power to his impoverished African village makes fascinating reading, especially for mechanically-minded middle-graders. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (Young Reader edition) by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer. Dial, 2015. 292 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-up, especially boys…
Read MoreThe Founding Fathers! by Jonah Winter
The Founding Fathers! Those Horse-Ridin’,Fiddle-Playin’, Book-Readin’, Gun Totin’ Gentlemen Who Started America, by Jonah Winter, Illustration by Barry Blitt. Atheneum, 2015. 40 pages Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 7-12 Bottom Line: The Founding Fathers! profiles fourteen men who featured prominently in our country’s birth, using a generally fair but perhaps too casual…
Read MoreThe Fog Diver by Joel Ross
The Fog Diver by Joel Ross. Harper, 2015. 323 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-16 Bottom Line: The Fog Diver imagines a dystopian world of Haves and Have-nots, with plucky heroes, a wealth of detail, and a dash of humor. Hundreds of years ago, mankind proposed to meet a crisis…
Read MoreWoof by Spencer Quinn
Woof (a Bowser and Birdie Novel) by Spencer Quinn. Scholastic, 2015. 293 pages Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 9-13 Bottom Line: Bowser, a loveable mutt, gets to tell his own story about how he and his “off the charts” owner, Birdie, started their crime-solving partnership. Two humans stood outside my cage,…
Read MoreHammer of the Huguenots by Douglas Bond
Hammer of the Huguenots by Douglas Bond. P&R, 2015. 215 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades,ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10 and up Bottom Line: Douglas Bond’s latest fictional excursion into church history focuses on the struggles of the French Protestants during the mid-seventeenth century. Philippe had no idea when he apprenticed to the shipbuilder, Monsieur…
Read MoreFleabrain Loves Franny by Joanne Rocklin
Fleabrain Loves Franny by Joanne Rocklin. Amulet Books, 2015. 268 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 8-12 Bottom Line: After Franny is stricken with polio, an erudite flea becomes her best friend in this quirky fantasy for middle-grade readers. During the summer of 1952, 10-year-old Franny Katzenback became a statistic: one…
Read MoreFallout (Lois Lane) by Gwenda Bond
Fallout (Lois Lane) by Gwenda Bond. Capstone, 2015. 202 pages Reading Level: Young adults, ages 12-15 Recommended for: ages 12 and up Bottom Line: Fallout introduces Lois Lane as a hard-charging teenage reporter with a passion for justice, in this fun, clean YA adventure. Lois, 16, daughter of the famous General Sam Lane, arrives at…
Read MoreStella by Starlight by Sharon Draper
Stella by Starlight by Sharon M. Draper. Atheneum, 2015. 320 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-12 Bottom Line: Stella by Starlight dramatizes the personal and social challenges of an African American girl growing up in the rural south of the 1930s. One dark summer night in Bumblebee, North Carolina, Stella’s…
Read MoreEllie’s Story by W. Bruce Cameron
Ellie’s Story: a Dog’s Purpose Novel by W. Bruce Cameron. Tom Doherty Associates, 2014. 205 pages, including notes and classroom discussion guide Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: Ages 8-12 Bottom Line: Ellie’s Story takes us along with a search and rescue dog as she learns her job and enjoys a successful career.…
Read MoreWilder Boys by Brandon Wallace
Wilder Boys by Brandon Wallace. Aladdin, 2015. 220 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-14 (especially boys) Bottom Line: Questionable premises aside, Wilder Boys is a fast-paced adventure novel for middle-graders and reluctant readers. Jake, 13, and his younger brother Taylor are looking forward to summer break—or would be, if it…
Read More*Mikis and the Donkey by Bibi Dumon Tak
*Mikis and the Donkey by Bibi Dumon Tak, illustrated by Philip Hopman. Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2014. 89 pages Reading Level: Chapter Books, ages 4-8; Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 6-12 Bottom Line: Mikis and the Donkey is a gentle story for younger middle grades about learning to care for a gentle,…
Read MoreThe Whisperer by Fiona McIntosh
The Whisperer by Fiona McIntosh. Knopf, 2014. 390 pages Reading level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-14 Bottom line: The Whisperer spins a prince-and-pauper tale into swashbuckling adventure told in a classic style. Young Griff is content to work behind the scenes at the traveling carnival that features his contortionist twin brothers. But…
Read MoreThe Cottage in the Woods by Katherine Coville
The Cottage in the Woods by Katherine Coville. Knopf,2015. 389 pages Reading Level: Young adult,ages 12-15 Recommended for: Ages 12 and up (especially girls) Bottom Line: This clever fairy tale/Jane Austen mashup retells the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears from the point of view of an ursine governess. Ursula Brown, an unassuming young…
Read MoreMy Near-Death Adventures by Alison DeCamp
My Near-Death Adventures (99% True!) by Alison DeCamp. Crown, 2015. 252 pages Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-12 (especially boys) Bottom Line: Stanley Slater’s 99% true adventures in a Michigan logging camp, ca. 1880, are a bit short on plot but long on laughs. “I’m a whiz at not dying, I…
Read MoreThe Map to Everywhere by Carrie Ryan & John Park Davis
The Map to Everywhere by Carrie Ryan and John Parke Davis, illustrated by Todd Harris. Little, Brown, 2014. 433 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-14 Bottom Line: The Map to Everywhere offers an action-packed fantasy quest in which protagonists must find and assemble the pieces of a map. Fin, formerly…
Read MoreThe Well-Gifted Grad
Our favorite graduation gift is, of course, books—whether timely, practical, inspirational, or scholarly. We would never recommend sending a young person off to college (or even out the door to start a career) without some heart-and-head grounding in the essentials of the faith. Ideally, most of this takes place before graduation day, in ordinary conversation…
Read MoreStory Thieves by James Riley
Story Thieves by James Riley. Simon & Shuster (Aladdin), 2015. 383 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-14 Bottom Line: This action-packed fantasy-within-a-fantasy puts characters into their favorite stories, but also raises questions about authorship, fate, magic, and science. The only excitement Owen has in his life is breathlessly following each…
Read More*Finding Truth by Nancy Pearcy
*Finding Truth: Five Principles for Unmasking Atheism, Secularism, and Other God Substitutes by Nancy Pearcey. David C. Cook, 2015. 383 pages Reading Level: Young Adult, ages 15-18 Recommended for: ages 16-up Bottom Line: Finding Truth offers a way for older teens to examine the presuppositions and errors of the intellectual culture around them and strengthen…
Read MoreMasterminds by Gordon Korman
Masterminds by Gordon Korman. Balzer & Bray, 2015, 336 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 12-15 Bottom Line: Masterminds raises some interesting ethical questions in the midst of a fast-moving thriller that pits kids against grownups. Who would want to live anywhere but Serenity, New Mexico? Yes, it’s small, and kind…
Read More*Red Butterfly by A. L. Sonnischen
*Red Butterfly by A. L. Sonnischen. Simon & Shuster, 2015, 392 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 12-15 Bottom line: In Red Butterfly, a Chinese girl raised by American parents must figure out who she really is after discovering she has no official identity. Kara, age 11, speaks English as well…
Read MorePaper Things by Jennifer Jacobson
Paper Things by Jennifer Richard Jacobson. Candlewick, 2015, 376 pages Reading Level: Middle grades ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-14 (especially girls) Bottom Line: The protagonist of Paper Things struggles to be loyal to her brother and her guardian as she endures a season of homelessness. For four years, ever since Arianna’s mother died, Ari…
Read MoreYou Have a Brain by Ben Carson, M.D.
You have a Brain: a Teen’s Guide to THINK BIG by Ben Carson,M. D. (with Gregg and Deborah Lewis). Zondervan, 2015. 281 pages Reading Level: Young Adult, ages 12-15 Recommended for: ages 13-18 Bottom Line: Ben Carson has achieved an amazing resume of accomplishments in his lifetime, but he claims anyone can accomplish much, if…
Read MoreWhere Does the Magic Come From?
In 2008, a middle-grade novel called Savvy swept numerous awards lists and was anointed with the silver medallion of Newbery runner-up. The first-time author, Ingrid Law, soon followed up with a well-received sequel (Scumble, 2010), and is certain to make a splash with Switch this September. Savvy has certain elements of a particular genre: a…
Read MoreLucky Strike by Bobby Pyron
Lucky Strike by Bobby Pyron. Scholastic (Arthur Levine), 2015. 263 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 8-12 Bottom Line: A “lucky” lightning strike changes a lonely boy into a celebrity, with results no one would have predicted. Nate Harlow figures he’s the unluckiest boy on the whole Gulf Coast, starting when…
Read MoreA Snicker of Magic by Natalie Lloyd
A Snicker of Magic,by Natalie Lloyd. Scholastic, 2014, 311 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 8-12 Bottom Line: A Snicker of Magic is the folksy tale of a girl who needs a home, but it may rely too much on “magic” as a cure-all. Felicity Juniper Pickle just wants to settle…
Read More*Bible Review: ESV Following Jesus Bible
*ESV Following Jesus Bible. Crossway, 2015. 1401 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-14 Bottom Line: The features of Following Jesus Bible point young readers to the presence of Christ in all scripture in a way that’s accessible to middle grades. In recent years, much welcome attention has been paid to…
Read MoreThe Only Game by Mike Lupica
The Only Game by Mike Lupica (Home Team series, #1). Simon & Shuster, 2015. 321 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 8-10, especially boys Bottom Line: Character values and the drama of baseball itself take the field in The Only Game, while character development and plot remain on the bench. Walton…
Read MoreLegends by Howard Bryant
Legends: The Best Players,Games, and Teams in Baseball by Howard Bryant. Philomel Press, 2015. 228 pages, including index. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-14 Bottom Line: Legends is an enjoyable compendium of baseball’s greatest players and games, written with the middle-grade reader in mind. “This is not a perfect book,” the…
Read MoreChasing Lincoln’s Killer by James Swanson
Chasing Lincoln’s Killer by James L. Swanson. Scholastic Press, 2009. 194 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-14 Bottom Line: The young reader’s version of the author’s best-selling Manhunt offers all the drama of Lincoln’s assassination and the ensuing search for John Wilkes Booth. One hundred and fifty years ago, on…
Read MoreGuts & Glory: The American Civil War by Ben Thompson
Guts & Glory: The American Civil War by Ben Thompson. Little, Brown, 2014. 317 pages, including index. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-14 (especially boys) Bottom Line: The Guts & Glory overview of the Civil War is as readable and as “not boring” as promised, though the casual slangy style may be…
Read MoreAudacity by Melanie Crowder
Audacity by Melanie Crowder. Philomel, 2015. 389 pages, including historical notes. Reading Level: Young Adults, ages 12-15 Recommended for: Young Adults, ages 15-18 Bottom Line: Audacity tells the story of union organizer Clara Lemlich from her point of view, in a way that communicates her strength and her vulnerability. In 1904 Clara Lemlich reached New…
Read More10 Ultimate Truths Girls Should Know by Kari Kampakis
10 Ultimate Truths Girls Should Know by Kari Kampakis. Thomas Nelson, 2014. 197 pages. Reading Level: 12-15 Recommended for: 15-18 Bottom Line: Blogger Kari Kampakis frankly and warmly addresses teen girls about what’s most important for personal growth, relationships, and a life centered on Christ. This book grew out of a speech leading to a…
Read MoreFaithgirlz! Big Book of Quizzes
Big Book of Quizzes: Fun, Quirky Questions for You and Your Friends (Faithgirlz!) Zonderkidz, 2014. 127 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages: 12-15 Bottom Line: Faithgirlz! Big Book of Quizzes can be useful for helping preteen girls figure out who they are but comes with some cultural baggage. Around the ages of…
Read More*What’s Up? by Jack Klumpenhower
*What’s Up?: Discovering the Gospel, Jesus, and Who You REALLY Are (Teacher Guide), by Deborah Harrell and Jack Klumpenhower. New Growth Press, 2015. 228 pages. Bottom Line: What’s Up? offers an excellent presentation of the gospel that encourages middle-schoolers to explore their own need for Christ. Fans of Jack Klumpenhower’s Show Them Jesus appreciate how…
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