Extra Normal by Kate Alice Marshall

 

Last week, I finished reading Extra Normal by Kate Alice Marshall. This horror novel is about Charlie Greer, a twelve-year-old girl who is the only one of her siblings who isn't supernatural. Her eleven-year-old brother, Mateo, is a werewolf and Deaf, her eight-year-old brother, Gideon, has telekinetic powers from being the product of experimentation, and her younger sister, Opal, is a ghost. Not to mention, her parents work for the Division of Extranormal Research and Investigation, dealing with strange and inexplicable things. Just before her parents go on a vacation to take a break from their jobs, a new family, Mr. and Mrs. Weaver and their son Peter, moves in across the street. The Weavers seem like a nice, normal family, but when they don't let Charlie come inside, she grows suspicious of them and decides to investigate with the help of her siblings. As they uncover the Weavers' plans, they must find a way to stop them.

This book was so deliciously creepy and I enjoyed reading it a great deal. I loved how Charlie and her siblings worked together as a team to solve the mystery of the Weavers and prevent them from carrying out their plans. It's definitely one of the more interesting middle grade horror novels I've read because the villains weren't anything I've really read about in fiction before. There was just one plot twist I didn't really like, but I probably should have seen it coming because it's a trope I've definitely read in one too many books at this point. Anyways, the suspense was fantastic and the action during the climax was awesome. I really liked how brave Charlie, Matty, Gideon, and especially Opal were. What they went through brought them closer together and I really appreciate that. On that note, I'd definitely recommend Extra Normal to any kid who likes a family story that incorporates horror.

Jennifer Chan Is Not Alone by Tae Keller

 

On Saturday, I finished reading Jennifer Chan Is Not Alone by Tae Keller. This mystery is about Mallory Moss, a girl who worries about following the rules of middle school and fitting in. When Jennifer Chan moved in over the summer, Mal befriended her, but she was always concerned that her friends, Reagan and Tess, wouldn't accept Jennifer because of her belief in aliens and interest in finding them. After the Incident at school and Jennifer runs away, Mal decides to search for her with the help of Jennifer's journals and the only two members of the Science Club, Kath and Ingrid. As the three girls come across possible signs of aliens and Jennifer's whereabouts, Mal must confront the truth about her role in the Incident and the guilt she feels.

This book was such an unexpectedly compelling read. I especially enjoyed how it alternated between "Now" and "Then" because the story gradually revealed the events that led to Jennifer running away. I also loved how the story used the real science behind the search for extraterrestrial life. Even though the consequences of bullying are at the core of this novel, all of the main characters are three-dimensional and I understood where they were coming from even if I didn't approve of all their actions. Mal, Tess, and Reagan did come across as mean girls at first, but I think it came from deep misunderstanding of Jennifer. Even Kath and Ingrid weren't completely innocent, although I mostly think Ingrid was trying to do the right thing and the least to blame. The story definitely made me feel deeply sad about how girls sometimes treat each other, but I think that shows how important female friendship really is. The climax was excellent and the author did an amazing job of building to it because I was a little nervous that maybe something bad did happen to Jennifer. Jennifer Chan Is Not Alone is a fantastic choice for middle school girls and I also think it would be good for some middle school boys to read it, especially ones with sisters.

The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest by Aubrey Hartman

 

Over the weekend, I finished reading The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest by Aubrey Hartman. This animal fantasy is about Clare, the undead fox of Deadwood Forest, a place where leaves grow in a constant state of fall. When he was a kit, he was struck by a car and given the choice to either move on into the Afterlife or become an Usher to guide wandering souls. He chose the latter to avoid the realm of Pain. When he meets Gingersnipes, a badger soul, he can't usher her into the Afterlife and she is unable to leave Deadwood. Clare is astounded by this dilemma because it's never happened before, so he and Gingersnipes go on a dangerous journey to find the visionary grouse named Hesterfowl and learn more about a prophecy that could be fulfilled on All Hallows' Eve. What Hesterfowl reveals leaves Clare devastated and furious and he conspires with Nine, a trashrat, to rid Deadwood of Gingersnipes on All Hallows' Eve when all four realms are open until midnight. As Deadwood Forest becomes less stable, he grows fond of Gingersnipes and begins to consider her a friend. Soon, he becomes reluctant to carry out his plan and wonders if changing his fate is really what's best for himself, Gingersnipes, and Deadwood.

I absolutely adored reading this book because it deals with death, grief, redemption, and loss of purpose in a kid-friendly way. I loved Clare and Gingersnipes and thought they were wonderful main characters, flaws and all. I especially enjoyed the adventure and magic of Deadwood Forest. Because Clare is undead, he can interact with both living and dead animals and it definitely leads to some wild events. Although his appearance reflects his death, he's not really the monster that the human children sing about. He also shows a great deal of growth from the beginning of the story to the end when he has to make a big decision and do the right thing. Additionally, I really liked that he helped Gingersnipes see that she's not really useless like her father called her, especially because he saw her as annoying at first. Gingersnipes's kindness really shines throughout the story and I'm happy that she grew on Clare. The ending was bittersweet, but it felt right. Finally, I was curious about the identify of the narrator, so the narrator's note was a pleasant surprise afterwards. All in all, any kid who has dealt with loss or simply enjoys animal stories should real The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest.

And Then, Boom! by Lisa Fipps

 

Yesterday, I finished reading And Then, Boom! by Lisa Fipps. This realistic fiction novel in verse is about Joseph "Joe" Oak, an eleven-year-old boy who lives with his grandmother because his mom leaves him whenever she gets "the itch" and copes with his feelings by drawing and making references to comic book characters. After Joe and Grandmum lose their house, Joe's friend, Nick, helps them find a home in his trailer park. When tragedy strikes, Joe's mom is suddenly in his life again. Joe is hopeful that maybe this time will be different and she'll stay, but soon she leaves again and he is left to fend for himself. Keeping his circumstances a secret because he's afraid of foster care, he rescues a dog and her two puppies. Although he's less lonely, it becomes increasingly harder for him to survive as his home's utilities are shut off due to bill's not being paid and he briefly resorts to dumpster diving for food. With the arrival of a storm after his twelfth birthday, Joe must make quick decisions to save himself and his dogs. While things seem lost afterwards, a new opportunity is presented to Joe.

Although this story is heavy at times, it was engaging and inspirational. I was truly devastated when Grandmum passed away and tears may have been shed, but I cared so much about what happened to Joe as he struggled from poverty. I enjoyed his friendships with Nick and Hakeem and he had some amazing adults in his life who looked out for him, including his sixth grade teacher, Mrs. Swan, and the owner of the mobile home park, Uncle Frankie. I also liked how Joe took care of a family of dogs even though he could barely take care of himself. The story definitely reminded me a lot of the book I read just two weeks ago, The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman, because the two books have similar themes. Joe and Hank even have one of the same interests: playing basketball. The climax of And Then, Boom! was absolutely terrifying, but Joe showed a lot of courage and I loved the ending so much, even if it left me with the question of where his mom went. I'd definitely recommend this book to any kid experiencing poverty and those who like stories of found family.

The Partition Project by Saadia Faruqi

 

Over the weekend, I read The Partition Project by Saadia Faruqi. This realistic fiction novel is about Mahnoor "Maha" Raheem, a twelve-year-old Pakistani American girl who loves journalism. Over winter break, Maha's grandmother, Dadi, comes from Pakistan to move in with her and her family. At first, Maha hates the idea of spending time with Dadi after school and at the senior activity center on Saturdays. She's also struggling to come with a topic for her documentary for her media studies class, but as Dadi begins talking about her own childhood and how she had to move with her family from India to Pakistan after the Partition in 1947, Maha is fascinated by the Partition and decides to use the topic for her documentary. As the weeks go by, making the documentary starts to take over her life and she has to learn how to balance family, friendship, and school work.

Overall, I thought this book was fantastic. I enjoyed learning more about the Partition, a lesser known historical event here in the U.S., and following Maha's progress for making a documentary about it. I loved her passion, but not how it distracted her from her best friend, Kim Hoang, and their book report for English class. I also found her unlikable at times because of how dismissive she was of fiction, particularly fantasy. On the other hand, I did like how she befriended Ahmad Mirza, the new boy in her grade who moved from Pakistan. I think they had a lot in common because of their shared cultural background. Additionally, I appreciated how her media studies teacher, Mr. Goode, pushed her to think about media studies in new and different ways. He was definitely a great teacher. I'd be remiss if I didn't mention her relationship with Dadi, though. Although Maha is initially reluctant to hang out with Dadi, it was beautiful how they connected as Dadi told Maha stories from her childhood when she was the same age as Maha. Because the stories are tragic, painful, and scary at times, I did wonder a bit about how Dadi would feel about Maha sharing the stories in her documentary, but I figured it would work out even if there was some conflict. Finally, it was nice how Dadi moving in brought Maha closer with her parents and older brother, Talha. In conclusion, The Partition Project is an excellent choice for anyone who enjoys family and friendship stories that demonstrate the links between the present and the past.

The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman by Gennifer Choldenko

 

Last week, I read The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman by Gennifer Choldenko. This realistic fiction novel is about Hank Hooperman, an eleven-year-old boy whose mom often leaves him in charge of his three-year-old sister, Boo. Hank hates making mistakes, but when his mom doesn't come back after several days and the apartment manager lets them know they're being evicted the next morning, he decides to take a bus with Boo to find Lou Ann Adler, the woman listed as an emergency contact on his field trip form. Although Hank finds it hard adjusting to Lou Ann's rules at first, Boo thrives while they're living with her. Hank is also anxious about what will happen if Lou Ann decides she doesn't want them anymore, but their time with Lou Ann goes from days to weeks and Hank begins making friends and getting involved at his new school and connects with Lou Ann's neighbor, Ray. Hank desperately misses his mom, so he tries to find her with Ray's help. His search isn't initially successful, but soon he has a breakthrough and must decide if living with his mom is the right thing or a huge mistake for himself and Boo.

This novel deals with some tough stuff, like child neglect, but I enjoyed reading it. I thought Hank's relationship with Boo was adorable and felt so bad that they have a mom who just can't keep it together. They definitely deserved a better life, but I wasn't sure if it would be with their mom, Lou Ann, or someone else. As I read the story and Ray became like a father figure to Hank, I began to realize that he might be a good option for them, but things got pretty tense and I definitely wasn't positive where Hank and Boo would find a home or if they would even be able to stay together. I also liked Hank's new friends, especially Ana Lopez because I thought their crushes on each other were sweet. On the other hand, I found Lou Ann to be a difficult woman to like because of her skepticism about Hank even though she was what Boo needed at the time, helping her learn to go to the bathroom consistently and write her name. Besides that, I thought it was cool that Hank discovered that he was good at basketball and wanted to try out for the team. I hoped that would work out for him because it was a way he could just be a kid after all he's been through. The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman is an excellent story about what it's like to experience neglect, homelessness, and the foster care system as a kid, and I would recommend it to anyone, especially those who are having a rough time at home to let them know that they're not alone.

365 Days to Alaska by Cathy Carr.

 

Last week, I read 365 Days to Alaska by Cathy Carr. This realistic fiction novel is about Rigel Harman, an eleven-year-old girl who loves living in the wilderness of Alaska. After her parents, Bear and Lila, divorce during the summer, Lila takes Rigel and her two sisters, Willow and Izzy, to Baldwin, Connecticut, to live with their grandma. Before they leave, Bear promises Rigel that she can return to Alaska in a year as long as she keeps it a secret from everyone else until he can talk to Lila about it. Rigel hates living in Connecticut at first, especially because it's challenging making new friends and the food isn't as good, but she finds joy in taking care of an injured crow outside her new school by feeding it whenever she can. As the months go by and Bear's communication with her and her sisters decreases, she wonders whether or not Bear will really keep his promise and if she'll have adjust to living in the suburbs more permanently.

I was really looking forward to reading 365 Days to Alaska because its main characters are from Alaska, so I wasn't surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Although I've never had to move as far from home as Rigel, I could relate to her struggles because I moved from Ohio to Illinois at a similar age. My favorite part of the whole book was her friendship with the crow whom she named Blueberry. This friendship was definitely the emotional core of the story for me and I got a bit teary-eyed near the end knowing it couldn't last. It also felt poignant how her relationship with her dad, Bear, changed as time went on and she began to realize that not going back to Alaska the next summer was a real possibility. I love that Rigel eventually found some friends among her classmates, though, because she was having a rough go of it before she received a surprise Christmas gift. 365 Days to Alaska is a wonderful story about truth, belonging, and discovering beauty anywhere and anyone who enjoys family and friendship stories should read it.