Review of It Came From the Trees by Ally Russell

 

When her best friend is taken by a creature in the woods, Jenna is determined to save her in this scary story perfect for fans of Daka Hermon and Claribel A. Ortega!

The wilderness is in Jenna’s blood. Her Pap was the first Black park ranger at Sturbridge Reservation, and she practically knows the Owlet Survival Handbook by heart. But she’s never encountered a creature like the one that took her best friend Reese. Her parents don’t believe her; the police are worthless, following the wrong leads; and the media isn’t connecting the dots between Reese’s disappearance and a string of other attacks. Determined to save her friend, Jenna joins a new local scout troop, and ventures back into the woods.

When the troop stumbles across suspicious signs: huge human-like footprints near the camp, scratch marks on trees, and ominous sounds from the woods, Jenna worries that whatever took Reese is back to take her too. Can she trust her new scout leader? And will her new friend Norrie—who makes her laugh and reminds her so much of Reese—believe her?

After the unthinkable happens, the scouts, armed with their wits and toiletries, band together to fight the monster and survive the night.

Available on Amazon

(affiliate links included)

**My thoughts**

I can't remember how I stumbled upon this middle grade horror book, but downloaded it via my Libby app to try. I read the whole thing over an extended dinner period on a quiet weekend. 

It's totally the kind of book I would have loved back in my late elementary and junior high years. I was alternating between middle grade titles like this one and Stephen King books at the time. This one has elements of both. There's definitely that spine-tingling creepy factor that will have readers keeping an extra close eye out the next time they are outside in the woods. And fans of Stephen King should recognize a nod to one of his classics about a group of kids standing up to an evil monster.

The narrative is done so well that I could envision the entire story playing out in my head. It would be a great one to adapt to the screen, a la Goosebumps. I'm looking forward to reading more stories from this debut author.

Review of Melissa (Previously published as George) by Alex Gino

 

BE WHO YOU ARE.

When people look at Melissa, they think they see a boy named George. But she knows she's not a boy. She knows she's a girl.

Melissa thinks she'll have to keep this a secret forever. Then her teacher announces that their class play is going to be Charlotte's Web. Melissa really, really, REALLY wants to play Charlotte. But the teacher says she can't even try out for the part... because she's a boy.

With the help of her best friend, Kelly, Melissa comes up with a plan. Not just so she can be Charlotte -- but so everyone can know who she is, once and for all.

Available on Amazon

(affiliate link)

**My thoughts**

I had been hearing about this book since it came out, so it had been on my list for a while. I grabbed it on sale and finally had some time to sit down and read it. I was blown away and applaud the author for putting this book out there, even more so for recognizing that the book needed to be renamed to Melissa instead of George.

George may be young, but he knows he doesn't fit into the mold that his surroundings have created for him. He knows that he feels the most comfortable as a girl. Therefore, he is a she and she is Melissa. Only it's a secret that she is hiding from the rest of the world. You can feel the pain she feels when people mislabel her or tell her that she can't do something that she knews she can. (For example, portraying Charlotte in the play of Charlotte's Web at school.) You get a sense of her discomfort as she keeps playing pretend on the outside when it conflicts who she really is on the inside.

It's hard enough trying to figure out who you really are. It has to be even harder to know who you really are, but feel societal pressure to be someone else. Yes, we all go through some of that, but for people who are transgender, it is significantly more difficult. This book touches on some of those struggles and could make some children feel like they are not alone. They may finally actually see themselves in a book, giving them some validation. As Alex Gino says in the interview at the back of the book, they wrote a book that they would have loved to have had as a kid.

Other children can read this book and figure out how to be supportive and how to not be a jerk. Actually, the same is true of grownups. It can give you a starting point for conversations with loved ones.

I love Melissa's determination to be true to herself and to start getting what she wants out of life, even at such a young age. I feel like the younger generations are stronger than we ever were and love seeing characters who demonstrate that strength, even in the face of adversity. I'm so grateful that she has Kelly as a best friend, someone who loves her for who she really is. I respect the adults who are willing to step out of their own comfort zones for the good of others. Yes, everything feels like it gets tied up nicely with a big bow in this story. But isn't that what we are all striving for? 

This is a book that I hope makes it into the hands of all people who need to read it, especially the younger ones. It's a great example of a book to read with your child, to start discussions. I was fortunate enough to have parents who did that for me. There's a great Q&A section in the back of the book that can help facilitate those conversations. We need more discussion of these important topics and less banning.

Looking forward to reading more of Mx. Gino's work in the future!

Review of Blubber by Judy Blume

 

Blubber is a good name for her, the note from Wendy says about Linda. Jill crumples it up and leaves it on the corner of her desk. She doesn't want to think about Linda or her dumb report on the whale just now. Jill wants to think about Halloween.

But Robby grabs the note, and before Linda stops talking it has gone halfway around the room.

That's where it all starts. There's something about Linda that makes a lot of kids in her fifth-grade class want to see how far they can go -- but nobody, least of all Jill, expects the fun to end where it does.
A New York Times Outstanding Book of the Year

Goodreads * Amazon

(affiliate links included)

**My thoughts**

Judy Blume's books were a staple of my childhood reading. Her books were so relevant to us at the time and she was actively publishing during my childhood. I remember reading Blubber when I was in about the 4th grade and really felt like I related to Linda because I was that chunky girl in my class. In fact, the title of this book likely did encourage some of the kids to give me the same moniker, though I somewhat ignored them. And I also sort of related to Jill and her friends, because I know I was a part of making fun of other children as well.

Fast forward to me being a middle-aged adult. I almost cringe reading this now. Narrator Jill is much nastier about Linda than I remember reading when I was a kid. If that isn't bad enough, I can hear her words in my own voice, reminding me of how mean I could also be as a kid. [I feel like we all had our moments.] And I don't think it hit me as hard back then how bullied Jill was as well, particularly for not following along with Wendy and her crew all the time. I'd like to think that in the past several years, we've been working on teaching children to act better. But the problem continues to persist, at least as bad as depicted in this story.

For the first time, I realized that this book also tackles children bullying adults, as they go after their neighbor, Mr. Machinist, on Halloween. This is something that we don't often think about when we are talking about kids and how they treat others.

And then there is my teacher side. I've been an educator my entire adult life. It also hurts me to see teachers portrayed as not noticing the bullying going on. And yet, I know that's a sad fact of life, even today. I like to think that I'm more on top of it than my peers in the field. But I also work with younger children, so it's different. Even worse is how some of the teachers are also doing some of the bullying. I know everyone would like to think that teachers don't do that, but I continue to witness some appalling behavior and comments out of teachers to this day.

But I'm glad that it hurts and has an impact on me, even as an adult. It just proves to me that this book is still important. Bullying is sadly an ongoing issue among children [and adults], and something that I'm not sure we'll ever completely eradicate. But reading a book like this could easily provoke some good conversations between adults and children. Some children may recognize themselves in the story, which is also important. My hope is that they would be more aware of their own words and actions and make the appropriate adjustments. 

 

Tales of the Forgotten Founders by C.W. Allen

 

Middle grade books are the best ones for fantasy! Check out an excerpt from this final installment in the Falinnheim Chronicles and then download your own copy of Tales of the Forgotten Founders. And then take a sneak peek into the author's next project! It sounds like another good one! Then follow the tour for even more. Best of luck entering the giveaway!

Read an exclusive excerpt from Elvia and the Gift of Passion

 

Today I have a treat for our young fans of science fiction and fantasy! Take a peek inside of Elvia and the Gift of Passion by Ruthy Ballard with this exclusive excerpt. Follow the tour to read even more. Best of luck entering the giveaway!

Review of Mansa's Little Reminders: The Money Workbook for Kids Part 1 by AD Williams and Kendal Fordham

  

Children learn about financial literacy, wealth creation, and money management in this easy-to-follow workbook developed as a second step to Mansa’s Little Reminders book. In this workbook, children will learn the tools to normalize wealth and financial freedom. Learning is easy and long-lasting through the use of interactive exercises and fun assignments.

Parents, families, and educators can support their children in developing foundational skills to responsibly earn and retain money. Together, we can create a generation of future wealth builders.

This workbook will:

• Teach children about budgeting & saving money
• Introduce kids to the role of an entrepreneur
• Have them run through real business scenarios appropriate for their age
• Encourage them to interact with elders to seek guidance and mentorship

Goodreads * Kindle * Paperback

(affiliate links included)

**My thoughts**

I love this workbook for kids. It goes into a lot more detail than the original book did - as it should - and gives a lot of real world advice to help children be more financially savvy, including becoming young entrepreneurs. There are comprehensive defnitions of important terms as well as numerous exercises that really break down how to create your own little business (like the childhood favorite lemonade stand) and to save money for financial success. These exercises are linked to the website, so you can still easily work through this as a Kindle copy or as a paperback workbook. I especially love the reflection questions that help you troubleshoot problem areas and evaluate what has worked well on a regular basis. I think even some adults could learn a little from going through this book!

I received a requested review copy from the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Check out the book Mansa's Little Reminders here. 

About the authors:

A.D. Williams learned early on how powerful representation is in books. Ensuring that kids can see and feel success through the lens of characters that look and face many of the same challenges they do. When I was growing up no one talked about investing, wealth, business plans or how to acquire real wealth,” said A.D. His underlying motivation is that this book will ignite discussions around finances in households across the world and be a seed that blossoms until wealth equity for our children. In addition to his writing, A.D. is a children hospital administrator, private investor, and entrepreneur.

Kendal Fordham is a mother, a Wealth Manager, business owner, real estate investor, and now author. She is passionate about her growing faith in Jesus Christ, financial literacy, and creating a legacy that supports and inspires her family.

Review of #GrowYourCircle (Mila on Purpose Book 1) by Professor Stork

   

Mila is a young girl with a strong sense of purpose. She also listens and pays attention to the words and thoughts of wise advisers, like her parents and teachers. Through everyday actions imbued with kindness and consideration, Mila is intent on fostering positive change in her community and across the globe.

#GrowYourCircle is a trailblazing graphic novel for children 6-10, their parents and teachers. The book nurtures children’s innate sense of purpose and helps build strong, positive leadership skills.

On Amazon

Kindle * Paperback * Hardcover

(Affiliate links included)

**My thoughts**

This book has a great message for kids about how doing one small thing can actually lead to something tremendous. Mila is fascinated by the new girl in class, but isn't sure how to approach her. She has a wonderful conversation with her mother, strategizing about how to reach out and to "grow her circle" of people in her life. It's something that we all need to learn how to do - get to know other people outside of our comfort zone of the usual suspects. And the two girls learn a lot about becoming friends, their similiarities and differences. The intertwining of their worlds makes their worlds grow and thrive. Parts of their story reminds me of my own childhood, meeting new people from diverse backgrounds and having our families get to know each other.

The story really does seem to come from a young girl, as the accompanying illustrations are more juvenile than you usually see in books. It makes me feel like a child actually did the bulk of it. I think that could inspire children to maybe make their own friendship stories and books.

There's also the social media aspect where the kids come up with the hashtag #GrowYourCircle. If appropriate, it could turn into a class project to see if they could create their own special project to fulfill this hashtag and its ideas. At the very least, there are activities at the end of the book that could be used in the classroom or even at home.

I received a requested review copy from the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

About the Author

Professor Stork is on a mission to write and publish books that help children build and nurture self-worth, creativity, compassion, leadership skills and a sense of purpose. He believes children are catalysts for positive change, and that reading is a way for them to begin the journey leading to a fulfilling, purposeful life.

Mansa's Little Reminders: The Money Workbook for Kids Part 1 by AD Williams & Kendal Fordham

 

Children learn about financial literacy, wealth creation, and money management in this easy-to-follow workbook developed as a second step to Mansa’s Little Reminders book. In this workbook, children will learn the tools to normalize wealth and financial freedom. Learning is easy and long-lasting through the use of interactive exercises and fun assignments.

Parents, families, and educators can support their children in developing foundational skills to responsibly earn and retain money. Together, we can create a generation of future wealth builders.

This workbook will:

• Teach children about budgeting & saving money
• Introduce kids to the role of an entrepreneur
• Have them run through real business scenarios appropriate for their age
• Encourage them to interact with elders to seek guidance and mentorship

Goodreads * Kindle * Paperback

(affiliate links included)

About the authors:

A.D. Williams learned early on how powerful representation is in books. Ensuring that kids can see and feel success through the lens of characters that look and face many of the same challenges they do. When I was growing up no one talked about investing, wealth, business plans or how to acquire real wealth,” said A.D. His underlying motivation is that this book will ignite discussions around finances in households across the world and be a seed that blossoms until wealth equity for our children. In addition to his writing, A.D. is a children hospital administrator, private investor, and entrepreneur.

Kendal Fordham is a mother, a Wealth Manager, business owner, real estate investor, and now author. She is passionate about her growing faith in Jesus Christ, financial literacy, and creating a legacy that supports and inspires her family.

I was compensated for sharing this post. I only share those books that I feel will be of interest to my readers.

Review of Bobby's Story (Mr. Grizley's Class) by Bryan Patrick Avery, illustrated by Arief Putra

 

When Bobby learns more about homelessness, he wants to tell his classmates and help make a difference. But everyone is busy and distracted by their own activities. Can he find a way to tell this important story?

Goodreads * Amazon * BN

(affiliate links included throughout)

**My thoughts**

This is a very short chapter book about a boy named Bobby who writes his own comic series about the Purple Potato. One day he literally runs into a high school girl named Ashley who is sharing flyers to raise awareness about homelessness. Bobby wants to help spread the world to his classmates, but has to find a clever way to get their attention.

What I like about this book is it is a call to action for kids to get involved in causes that are important to them. They learn how to make a flyer to support their cause. They are also encouraged to think of other ways to spread their message.

I was left wanting a bit more, though. A couple of facts about homelessness are included in the story. The kids get excited to help do something. I think it would have been a great time to introduce at least one actionable thing they could do to put on the flyer. And I think even showing us what Ashley's flyer looked like may have helped fuel that want. But this does provide a great foundation for more discussions with kids about important topics.

I did love the illustrations. They are very vibrant and show off the diverse classmates and captures their personalities. 

I received a reuqested review copy from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This series is available on Amazon Kids+.

Click on a cover below to find out more about the Mr. Grizley's Class series by Bryan Patrick Avery.

The Mermaid and the Unicorns by LT Getty

 

I don't know about you, but when I was in the middle grades, unicorns and mermaids were all we needed! If you or someone you know feel the same, check out this excerpt from The Mermaid and the Unicorns by LT Getty. You can also read her thoughts on making her character Daphne both flawed and likeable. Be sure to let her know what you think in the comments as you follow the tour for more! Best of luck entering the giveaway!