This world isn’t as complex as that of Witchlings (it’s an urban, not high, fantasy, so it makes sense there’d be less world building3.5, rounded up.
This world isn’t as complex as that of Witchlings (it’s an urban, not high, fantasy, so it makes sense there’d be less world building). But this one is spookier, while still being delightful! I love the friendship at the heart of this book. Their banter is so fun and cute.
Kids in MG have to deal with so much! I always feel bad for them.
Sometimes I do feel like Ortega’s writing style makes the actual fights/supernatural plot stuff feel kind of anticlimactic? I don’t know how to explain it. But I loved all the character stuff here, and the amount that adults were involved. It was a very sweet and slightly spooky debut MG that I’d def still recommend to kids. ...more
I like that there’s a tiny bit of time for regular old middle school vibes in this (the second book was great but a little bleak). Elle talking to herI like that there’s a tiny bit of time for regular old middle school vibes in this (the second book was great but a little bleak). Elle talking to her aunt and uncle about a potential crush is extremely cute and funny. I’ve never get over the casual way parents/guardians ask just like “who is she? He? They?” and protagonists think that they’re not sure if they like “boys or girls or both or neither” in a middle grade fantasy these days, it’s so ...more
This is a lovely, Small spaces-esque, heavily illustrated MG horror story. The writing is (or at least starts out) slightly more on the fanc4.5 stars
This is a lovely, Small spaces-esque, heavily illustrated MG horror story. The writing is (or at least starts out) slightly more on the fancy/classical side for a MG horror, but I think kids who like that style will love it, and more will be intrigued by the illustrations and get pulled in. Also I love (and book banners/republicans must HATE) how there are casual queer/trans side characters in so many middle grade books these days.
Scare level is pretty high for a MG, maybe 4/5. The illustrations definitely added to the creepiness, and they were also lovely.
Thanks so much to Atheneum for the ARC! It’s out now. ...more
Is there anything better than a really magical middle grade fantasy? This has strong Owl House vibes, and I love it so much. It’s so casually Latine &Is there anything better than a really magical middle grade fantasy? This has strong Owl House vibes, and I love it so much. It’s so casually Latine & queer in such a delightful way. The main character (Seven) is relatable and just the right amount special/Chosen One without becoming too perfect. She’s followed around my a pack of raccoons!! Their names are things like Cheese and Breadstick and Tostone and they love her!!
There are so many great lines in this. “You never know when you’ll need an evil-detecting rat” — so true!!
This sequel does a good job of reminding readers what happened in the first book (there was a lot!). It makes things a tiny bit clunky in the beginning, but overall I think it’s really well-done. I definitely put this down a bunch of times — it wasn’t something I read through all in one go, for whatever reason. I think maybe because the intensity doesn’t really ratchet up in a typical way — it’s more episodic with cute and intense moments interspersed throughout. Which is actually very nice and cozy! But also makes it feel less like you *have* to keep reading.
Thanks to Scholastic for this book!! They sent me an ARC AND a finished copy, which is just so nice. I have no idea what I did to deeerve it....more
3.5. This is good fun with great art and will be very popular with kids/young teens. For me it was a bit TOO fast-paced (is that a thing? I lowkey had3.5. This is good fun with great art and will be very popular with kids/young teens. For me it was a bit TOO fast-paced (is that a thing? I lowkey had whiplash), but still a great time....more
Honestly, what a dark story!! Without the goofy covers you notice it even more. I’m glad this is getting an update/adaptation for kids today. They alsHonestly, what a dark story!! Without the goofy covers you notice it even more. I’m glad this is getting an update/adaptation for kids today. They also lean into some of the humor of morphing, so it’s not JUST serious child soldier stuff. But, whew!!...more
Cute middle grade Buffy!! It’s not a direct retelling (I guess more like an AU revoot?) — aside from Buffy, all the characters are different, but it hCute middle grade Buffy!! It’s not a direct retelling (I guess more like an AU revoot?) — aside from Buffy, all the characters are different, but it has the same shape and vibe. There are still Scoobies, a watcher, a wannabe Cordelia, and a Big Bad. It’s fun!...more
This is a lovely and all-too-relevant book about book banning & censorship in a small town, all centering around one girl who dares to read a book aboThis is a lovely and all-too-relevant book about book banning & censorship in a small town, all centering around one girl who dares to read a book about a witch. Things snowball from there, and it is *incredibly* infuriating & upsetting, especially if you’re an educator, librarian (or probably an actually-good parent). I wish I could help the kids in this book, especially June.
I think a lot of kids will like this — it manages to get into censorship in a way that’s really engrossing and exciting and doesn’t feel pedantic, at least to me.
I could’ve done without some of the dating stuff, lol, but that’s just me (and I know it was just another way to show how controlling the parents are and to show June changing). ...more
This is a really fantastic, and at times very hard to read, depiction of depression. One of my students said that she liked it but “never wa4.5 stars
This is a really fantastic, and at times very hard to read, depiction of depression. One of my students said that she liked it but “never wanted to pick it up” and I def get that. I cried a lot. It’s also charming and funny in moments though. Overall, I highly recommend it, but def expect to maybe feel very seen. ...more
This is delightful. So funny, creative, and absolutely wild. It also made me tear up at times!
I like that the adults are knowledgeable and cool in thThis is delightful. So funny, creative, and absolutely wild. It also made me tear up at times!
I like that the adults are knowledgeable and cool in this — so rare in a middle grade book, especially MG SFF.
The audiobook is great, especially for all the Spanish and accents (and the robot/AI voices!).
It was def more slice of life than I expected from the title — the level of action kind of stays the same throughout. I was initially disappointed, but I ended up liking that. It felt really unique. That said, it sort of made it feel like an incomplete story? Like it was building up and then sorta just stopped. Overall though I really enjoyed it. ...more
This is a really fun middle grade mystery/horror — like the Babysitters club gone spooky. The actual plot is mostly about the girls coming together anThis is a really fun middle grade mystery/horror — like the Babysitters club gone spooky. The actual plot is mostly about the girls coming together and the stories they tell (including the titular thumb one, which is honestly horrifying), with a bit of overarching mystery about the Big Bad. It ends on a cliffhanger, and kind of feels like just when you’re really getting into it (after a big and frankly frustrating red herring), it’s the end, but I know that it’s setting up a series. Overall I’d definitely recommend it, especially to girls who like the interpersonal drama in realistic/relationship fiction and are looking for some fun scares. ...more
This is a great middle grade fantasy — very imaginative and engrossing. It’s a great readalike for HP, with a little bit of Doctor Who and the Addams This is a great middle grade fantasy — very imaginative and engrossing. It’s a great readalike for HP, with a little bit of Doctor Who and the Addams family mixed in. I definitely want to continue the series. Highly recommended.
(Spoilers) TW/CW: there is one character who is sort of faking a disability (for internally coherent magical reasons). It didn’t bother me too much personally as the reason makes sense, but I know it’s a damaging trope....more
4.5 stars (maybe?). I don’t think this is quite as good as When You Trap a Tiger, but it’s still really really good. I cried a whole lot. The negative4.5 stars (maybe?). I don’t think this is quite as good as When You Trap a Tiger, but it’s still really really good. I cried a whole lot. The negative: I don’t love dual timelines, especially when they’re structured around revealing an Incident, and that definitely slightly dragged down what was otherwise a really fantastic book. On the other hand, this book isn’t supposed to be easy and comfortable to read, so the sense of dread kind of supported the message. The positive: I’ve never seen a depiction of bullying like this. And, in general, the way that Keller depicts and *takes seriously* kids’ feelings and existential questions is just so rare. It’s so nuanced and fascinating and feels like it *sees* kids and their thoughts and feelings as really complex and important, without making them into tiny little adults. This still somehow reads as a book for kids, and not even so much an Issue Book, which is a really incredible accomplishment. Then, to read in the author’s note that she was bullied? And to have still written this novel? Whew, incredible. So brave and, idk, emotionally mature? Thoughtful? I’m going to be thinking about this book a lot (especially because I interact with 12 year olds daily.) Idk that I think it’ll win the Newbery, but I do hope it wins something. ...more
I might be rating this book unfairly low bc of how hard it was to read. How did all my middle school students read this like it was no big deal to relI might be rating this book unfairly low bc of how hard it was to read. How did all my middle school students read this like it was no big deal to relive the beginning of Covid?? Kids are so resilient, idk. I def would have avoided this book if it weren’t a finalist for our Mock Newbery club.
Anyway, this is a really well-done, clearly grounded in truth (it seems like a fictionalized version of Yang’s real story) story of a family moving from Hong Kong to the Bay Area, trying to escape the pandemic, but having to not only deal with the pandemic in the US but also anti-Asian racism and being separated from their dad/husband. There were also lots of funny (and realistically cringey) hijinks and schemes, just like in Front Desk, which helps a bit with the intensity of what’s going on....more
This was a lovely, clearly well-informed/researched, empathetic, at times heartbreaking depiction of two children living in a family shelte4.5 stars.
This was a lovely, clearly well-informed/researched, empathetic, at times heartbreaking depiction of two children living in a family shelter in NYC. Yan Glaser worked in a shelter for years, and you can really tell that she has hands-on experience. I like that she included some actually competent (bordering on too perfect) adult figures, but didn't overly romanticize Huey House or make it seem like a perfect place.
I've seen some complaints that the end is unrealistic, and, sure, but it is still a children's book, and things didn't completely wrap up -- there was just *some* hope at the end. I think it actually struck a good balance between being realistic/cynical and hopeful/showing how change can happen. If anything, it just felt a bit abrupt and rushed. Considering that the book was on the longer side, I think working up to the kids' big plan could have been stretched out a bit.
I loved this Asian-inspired historical middle grade fantasy/seafaring adventure story. The world was so rich from the very beginning, but i4.5 stars.
I loved this Asian-inspired historical middle grade fantasy/seafaring adventure story. The world was so rich from the very beginning, but it’s also very accessible. There aren’t really overt fantasy elements until quite far in, which helps it not feel info-dumpy.
This book has such interesting things to say about class, poverty, colonialism, and “exploration,” and it does it all in a way that feels clear but also gentle. It never feels pedantic.
The end was a little bit rushed, but I loved how it was all wrapped up. It was satisfying while also being a little cheeky!
This is for sure a 2023 Newbery pick for me....more
There was a point in reading this (maybe 75% of the way through) when I got a little tired of this story and felt like it was just way too di4.5 stars
There was a point in reading this (maybe 75% of the way through) when I got a little tired of this story and felt like it was just way too didactic, but the end charmed me so much that it’s back up towards the top of my Newbery picks.
Do I think kids will like it? Depends on the kid, but it def seems more like something adults love and foist on kids.
But the message is lovely, and inspiring, and pretty damn socialist, so I can’t be *that* mad at it. A story about terrible leaders (cough Trump) and racism/xenophobia shouldn’t be able to be so soft and sweet and delightful (and maybe that’s a problem, because the pitchfork-carrying villagers are let off pretty easily here), but somehow it is. Maybe some kids will read it and get really into like mutual aid and community gardens — that would be great.
Overall, as much as I may have critiques, it genuinely touched me and feels very memorable, and I *want* it to be true, you know?...more
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