Outsider Kids by Betty C. Tang

 

Last week on Sunday, I read Outsider Kids by Betty C. Tang. The sequel to Parachute Kids, this historical fiction graphic novel is about the Lin siblings after they have spent seven months as undocumented immigrants and adjusted to their new lives in California. While Jia-Xi (Jesse) has a new job and Ke-Gāng (Jason) has a new crush, Feng-Li (Ann) is looking forward to her birthday and enjoys hanging out with her new friends and playing flute in band. Although they're still waiting for their parents to receive visa approval in Taiwan, they try to help each other out and avoid the attention of immigration authorities. When their stuck-up cousin Josephine, who is a violin prodigy, moves in with them, she gives them all a rough time, but Feng-Li is especially disappointed because she and Josephine used to be friends. As things become tumultuous once again, they wonder if they'll have to give up the lives they have built.

This sequel was fantastic. I enjoyed spending more time with the Lin siblings and seeing Feng-Li go trick-or-treating with her new friends at the beginning. It was also a lot of fun when the three siblings celebrated different American holidays for the first time. Because they're undocumented immigrants, I suspected that their stability wouldn't last, but I could have never predicted how chaotic their lives became after Josephine was left with them when her mom went back to Taiwan because of Wai Gong being deathly sick. Even though she is given some depth late in the book, Josephine was a complete brat and there are no excuses for how she treated Feng-Li. I definitely wanted her to be gone. It's just unfortunate how much damage she did in the time she lived with the Lin siblings. On the other hand, I really liked that Ke-Gāng had a positive romantic experience in this book. I just felt very bad for him by the end. I also had mad respect for Jia-Xi retaking the S.A.T. to raise her score so that she could improve her chances of going to Harvard. The ending is bittersweet, but there is going to be a third book, so I'm not too sad. I would recommend Outsider Kids to anyone who enjoyed the first book in the series.

Warrior Girl by Carmen Tafolla

 

During winter break, I also read Warrior Girl by Carmen Tafolla. This realistic fiction novel in verse is about Celina Guerrera, a girl who celebrates both Mexican and American traditions and is proud of her Mexican American identity. When she started first grade, it always felt like her teachers were trying to erase the Mexican part of her identity. Eventually, she moved, but the hurt lingered and even her fourth teacher ignored her thoughts about the history of the Alamo. Thankfully, she always had the support of her gramma, who taught her to use joy as a shield. When she moves once again before starting middle school, her dad is suddenly deported again like he was shortly after she was born. Although she is feeling down, she makes three new friends, who help her fight the ignorance at her new school, and begins writing poetry. She and her friends even decide to plan a school program that celebrates all cultures for April. Then, the pandemic hits in March, closing their school and imposing the practice of social distancing, and Celina wonders when her dad will return and if he is even okay.

This novel in verse was absolutely wonderful. It was clear from the beginning that Celina had a challenging life from the time she was born, but I loved her relationship with her gramma and how Celina took her gramma's advice to have a positive outlook on life, despite the hardships, like moving multiple times and not being respected at school. Everyone has their breaking point, though, and I could totally understand when she was worried about her dad after he was deported and wondering when he would be back. I could also relate to her feelings during the beginning of the pandemic when the last third of the book took place. It was definitely a stressful time and Celina didn't know what was going on with her dad, along with the fear of her gramma becoming sick with COVID. I also enjoyed Celina's friendship with Liz, Cata, and Chato. They each brought something different to their group and I liked how they worked together to plan a culture celebration for their school. Towards the end, something sad does happen and there is a moment that is quite intense, but all in all, the ending is happy. I really appreciated the message that knowledge and courage are your shield and your power. Warrior Girl shows how strength can come from our differences and anyone should read it.

What Happened to Rachel Riley? by Claire Swinarski

 

Over winter break, I finished reading What Happened to Rachel Riley? by Claire Swinarski. This mystery that features passed notes, emails, text messages, interview transcripts, and other documents is about Anna Hunt, a recently turned 13-year-old eighth grade girl who is new at East Middle School. When she is assigned an un-essay for her Social Issues class, she decides to make an investigative podcast about how her fellow classmate, Rachel Riley, went from being the most popular girl to the most hated. It is not easy convincing the other eighth grade students to share what they know, though, and she realizes that the story is more complex than she could have imagined. After she becomes the target of Trevor Frey for the boys' game of harassing girls, she must rely on her sister, her mom, and the school staff to help her make East Middle a better place for all.

With its innovative format of telling Anna's story, I was intrigued by this mystery from the beginning and it reminded me a lot of Maybe He Just Likes You by Barbara Dee as I got deeper into the story. I thought it was relatable that Anna was struggling to find her place at a new school and I really liked that she cared about why Rachel was a social outcast even if her interest could be considered nosy because she wasn't there the previous school year. I admired Anna's persistence as she discovered a variety of clues and some of her classmates eventually opened up to her to be interviewed. I was surprised at how complex the mystery really was, especially upon learning who all was actually involved in the accidental fire at the Kincaid Farms Event Barn during the spring. I also felt really bad for Anna when she became a part of the boys' game. I was anxious about Anna being targeted from the moment I learned about the game, but it still broke my heart when the harassment happened to her. Rachel herself was also one of my favorite characters by the end of the book. I really liked learning more about her and why she did what she did, risking her own social status. I thought she was very brave and was really rooting for her to be accepted into the Moorland Academy of the Arts to attend their music school as a violinist. Additionally, I enjoyed the ending. I especially thought the final lines were profound. As a social commentary on the cycle of harassment in schools, What Happened to Rachel Riley? is an exemplary choice for any middle school student, not just those who like mysteries.

World Made of Glass by Ami Polonsky

 

Last week, I finished reading World Made of Glass by Ami Polonsky. This historical fiction novel taking place in 1987 is about Iris Cohen, a seventh grade girl who recently learned that her father is dying of AIDS, a disease that people avoid talking about. At school, she tries to act normal and her friends don't even know that her father is sick, but inside she is full of grief and turmoil. She is especially angry at her dad's partner, J.R., and blames him for her dad's illness. Then everything changes after her dad passes away and she decides to give J.R. a chance, following her dad's dying wish. From J.R., she gets to know a side of her dad that she never knew before. He also encourages her to speak out against the widespread fear, misinformation, and prejudice surrounding AIDS by taking her to an ACT UP protest with her new friend and crush, Julian, who just moved to New York City from Indiana. As she goes to more ACT UP  events, including a meeting and another protest, she becomes more confident in using the power of her voice.

This novel was absolutely devastating, but also uplifting at the same time as Iris grows from her grief into a confident ally and activist. I knew going into this book that the ending would be bittersweet, but it didn't stop my heart from breaking for Iris. At the beginning of the story, I could totally understand her fury at J.R., but I began to love him just as she did when she got to know him better and it truly made me even more sad as his health began to deteriorate like her dad's. There were glimmers of hope, though. Even though they had just met, I loved that Julian was comfortable enough to go to ACT UP protests with Iris, especially because she was unsure how her friends, Will and Toby would react to the news about her dad if she told them. Iris hadn't mentioned anything to other friend, Mallory, either, who moved to Philadelphia over winter break. What was frustrating is that some of the adults in Iris's life had misconceptions about AIDS. For example, I don't think her English teacher, Mr. Inglash, realized how hurtful he was being when he overreacted to Iris getting a splinter from a slingshot that Will made. Most of all, I enjoyed learning about Iris's relationship with her dad. The acrostic poems they wrote to each other were wonderful and I liked that they each had their own binder to preserve them. Additionally, the imagery in this novel was poetic, especially regarding the glass paperweights that Iris and her dad picked out at the Corning Museum of Glass. As a metaphor, they were a poignant reminder of how life is both beautiful and fragile. Finally, there is an author's note after the end of the story that explains some of the real life history of the AIDS epidemic. I would recommend World Made of Glass to anyone because it shows the power of hope and community in the midst of tragedy and injustice.

The Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinn by Sally J. Pla

 

On Sunday, I finished reading The Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinn by Sally J. Pla. This realistic fiction novel is about Maudie, a 13-year-old girl who is autistic. Although she lives with her mom and new stepdad, Ron, in Texas for most of the year, she is excited to be spending another summer with her dad, who lives in a cabin that he built himself in Molinas, California. As they're coming back from breakfast at Rosie's Diner, Maudie and her dad have to evacuate to an emergency shelter due to a wildfire. After speaking with her mom, Maudie's dad decides that they will go to Conwy, a small beach town in southern California where he grew up. The first morning, when she goes to the beach and watches a surfer, Etta, she decides that she wants to learn how to surf. She even gets the idea to enter the beginner's competition at the Surf Bash, which takes place at the end of the summer, to win a $1000 prize after reading a poster. While making new friends and learning to surf from Etta, a secret weighs heavily on her. She wants to tell her dad about Ron's harsh treatment of her, but her mom made her promise to never tell anyone. As the Surf Bash approaches, she must find the courage to reveal the truth before it's too late.

As I read this book, I thought it was wonderful. I loved rooting for Maudie and admired her courage to try surfing and even enter a competition despite the fact that it was something that she had never done before. Although she does face challenges because she is autistic, she has the determination to work through her issues. I absolutely adored her relationship with her dad and thought she would be happier if she lived with him as the story went on. His situation with losing his home and having to find work because of the wildfire isn't ideal, but it was clear how much he cared about Maudie and understood her needs. On the other hand, Maudie's mom was so disappointing. I know the reasons for why she would chose to stay with someone like Ron (security, wealth), but it broke my heart that she would pick him over her own daughter because he was truly awful when he would take his anger out on Maudie to the point of being abusive. Maudie deserved better than that, and by the end of the book, I was really hoping she wouldn't have to go back to Texas with her mom and Ron. I also enjoyed all the friendships Maudie made while in Conwy. Etta was a great surfing coach and it was nice that Maudie had so many people, like Max, Begonia, Naldo, and Dr. Shakti, looking out for her, while her dad worked. I like that she befriended Paddi, Dr. Shakti's daughter who goes to a school for kids with special needs, as well. Even though Paddi is a little younger than Maudie, both of the girls are neurodivergent (Paddie has ADHD), so they were able to find plenty of common ground. The climax of the story was incredibly intense, so the ending felt like a huge sigh of relief, but I was also very happy for Maudie at the same time. Although this book is mostly prose, there is verse scattered throughout. The Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinn is an outstanding example of how those with disabilities are vulnerable to becoming victims of abuse and anyone should read it.

Flame in the Mist Series by Renée Ahdieh

 

Last week, I finished reading the Flame in the Mist duology by Renée Ahdieh. This fantasy series, set during Feudal Japan, is about Hattori Mariko, the seventeen-year-old daughter of a prominent samurai. In the first book, on her way to the imperial city of Inako to marry Minamoto Raiden, the son of the emperor and his consort, she is attacked in Jukai forest. She believes that the Black Clan, a dangerous group of bandits, is responsible, so she disguises herself as a boy to infiltrate their ranks and find out who exactly wanted her murdered. As she earns the trust of their leader, Takeda Ranmaru, and his second-in-command and best friend, Ōkami, she begins to question her suspicions and preconceived notions about the Black Clan. She is also increasingly drawn to Ōkami as they spend more time together. Meanwhile, Mariko's twin brother, Kenshin, is searching for her. In the second book, Smoke in the Sun, Mariko and Ōkami have both been captured and taken to Heian Castle by Raiden and his younger brother, Roku, who is the new emperor. As her wedding to Raiden approaches, Mariko pretends to be a dutiful bride-to-be while she tries to come up with a scheme to rescue Ōkami, who is being tortured by Raiden and Roku. With Roku increasingly paranoid about maintaining power and eliminating traitors, a mysterious sickness spreads across the empire, threatening its safety if nothing is done to stop it.

There are also two short stories in this series. Ōkami focuses on Ōkami's thoughts during the journey to Heian Castle. Although he could free himself and escape, he is unsure if he would be able to save Mariko and doesn't want to risk the emperor having his men killed. Yumi is about Yumi, a maiko that Takeda Ranmaru and Ōkami introduced to Mariko in Hanami. After she receives news of the Black Clan being discovered and Ōkami's capture, she decides that she must start making her own decisions and take meaningful action, even if it means going against her brother's desire to protect her.

Flame in the Mist was another spectacular series by Renée Ahdieh, and I feel like she really excels in writing duologies. After reading Flame in the Mist, I enjoyed how the two short stories helped set the stage for Smoke in the Sun. It felt vital to gain more insight into Ōkami's and Yumi's motivations for their decisions leading into the plot of the second book. I also liked how the books reminded me of Mulan. Mariko is brave and strong, like Mulan, and her character development was amazing as she began to recognize her privilege during her time with the Black Clan. Most of all, though, I loved her enemies-to-lovers romance with Ōkami. I can't say much more without spoiling key events of the story, but the prologue, "The Beginning," was a great tease as the catalyst for the story and I figured that the boy in the chapter had to be important to Mariko's story. There were so many side characters that I liked from the moment I met them, like Takeda Ranmaru, Yoshi (the cook), and Haruki (the metalsmith), and Yumi, but I was most surprised by Raiden and how he grew in the second book because originally I didn't want to like him. I definitely did not expect the ending, but it was satisfying after all the twists and turns that kept me on my toes. I'm still wondering about a couple of minor things, but they don't take away from my enjoyment of the series. All in all, this duology is an outstanding choice for fans of fantasy, adventure, and romance.

D&D Dungeon Club Series by Molly Knox Ostertag & Xanthe Bouma

  

Last week, I read the D&D Dungeon Club series by Molly Knox Ostertag & Xanthe Bouma. This graphic novel series that combines realistic fiction and adventure is about Jess Descheene and Olivia Aguilar, best friends who have loved making up stories since they were little kids and now enjoy playing the fantasy roleplaying game, Dungeons & Dragons, as eighth grade students. In the first book, Roll Call, when Olivia wants to create a club and add new players to their group, Jess struggles with the idea of sharing her best friend and their game with Tyler Rubio, the boy who decides to join the club. In the second book, Time to Party, although she loves being the Dungeon Master, Olivia begins to stress out about their game after they add two more players, Sam Geller and Sammi Mitchell, and the plotlines gets more complicated. It doesn't help matters when her sister, Lu, suggests that D&D isn't important when she's home from college, making Olivia doubt her hard work. In the third and final book, Final Face-off, Tyler still has an imaginary friend, Sunny, who is also his character when he plays D&D. After Sunny pushes Tyler into confessing his feelings to Sam, his crush since they had a moment at the Halloween Dance, through a letter that goes missing from his backpack, Tyler demands that Sunny leave him alone. Without Sunny, Tyler must stand up to his bully, Kelly Bruler, and learn to trust that his friends will have his back.

This series was a quick read and I had a lot of fun reading it, even if there was a moment in Final Face-off that nearly made me cry. Although I've never played D&D myself, I definitely found the characters' everyday problems relatable because I've been through the hardships of middle school. I loved how Jess, Olivia, and Tyler grew through the challenges that they faced: friendship conflict, identity questioning, managing priorities, bullying, and more. I also liked the different dynamics between the characters, including Olivia and Jess's friendship of five years, Sam and Sammi's friendship, and Tyler's developing connection with Sam. My favorite part, though, was actually being able to see the story they created with their D&D campaign. It was interesting how Sir Corius was almost a perfect reflection of Jess, while Sunny was the complete opposite of Tyler and someone he strove to be more like even when it got him into trouble. Additionally, I enjoyed Sammi's character, Snowball, and Sam's character, Leumas, because they were absolutely hilarious and delightful. The D&D story itself was amazing, too, with Sir Corius looking for his sister, Corinth, and realizing that she had betrayed him, only for Corinth to need rescuing after after she opened the portal to the abyss and Prince Graz'zt imprisoned her. Sir Corius going from being a lone wolf to having a group of a friends on which he could rely was another great development. As for the Dungeon Master, I thought it was cool how sometimes Olivia was inspired by their real lives, like when the club's characters went to a ball after they went to the Halloween Dance in their real lives. The D&D Dungeon Club series is both versatile and heartwarming with vibrant illustrations, and I recommend it to those who love fantasy adventures, especially D&D fans, and friendship stories.