This book is a part of a series of standalone books. The novel, Playing for Keeps, by Lee Heart, is an excellent read for students entering or attending middle school. The story follows Aaliyah, a girl in middle school, who develops unreciprocated feelings for her best friend. As she navigates the ups and downs of tween life, she discovers the importance of maintaining strong relationships and the journey of self discovery. Although the book is intended for a middle school audience, it is still an exceptional comfort read for those at a higher reading level. The novel is an excellent addition to the growing Spotlight Sprinkles series.
The novel Finding Lost is another excellent novel from Holly Sloan, and an extraordinary read for students struggling with grief or loss. The story follows a young girl named Cordy who is battling difficult feelings following her father’s death and finds solace in a stray dog she names “Lost”. The book uses specific dialogue to describe Cordy’s complex emotions, focusing on specific details or memories that may remind her of her father. Holly Sloan has written an excellent story about friendship and resilience for all ages.
In How to Free a Jinn, Insyirah has just moved to Malaysia when she discovers that her family has the ability to control jinn, powerful spirits from Islamic tradition. As strange events begin occurring around her new home and school, she learns that an evil jinn is threatening those around her, and in order to protect her family and friends, Insyirah must embrace her unique abilities and learn more about her heritage, faith, and herself.
Before reading this novel, I had not read many fantasy novels that centered on Muslim characters and Islamic traditions. What stood out to me about this novel was how naturally it incorporates Muslim life into the story. Insyirah’s faith is an important part of who she is, but it is not treated as something unusual or something that needs to be explained to the reader. She prays, learns about her religion, and relies on her family for guidance while also dealing with challenges that many young people face, such as fitting in and finding confidence in themselves.
The novel also does a great job of exploring themes of identity and belonging. As Insyirah adjusts to life in Malaysia, she learns to appreciate both her cultural heritage and her unique abilities. The inclusion of Malaysian culture and Islamic mythology makes the story feel authentic and gives a perspective that is not seen in many other fantasy books.
The writing is a good fit for middle level readers, and the themes of self-acceptance, family, and faith make it meaningful for everyone, and I would highly recommend it.
Running Back to You tells the story of Millie, a girl who values honesty above everything else after her mother’s affair hurt her family. When a classmate unexpectedly asks if she has ever been kissed, Millie panics and lies. Determined to make her lie come true before anyone finds out, she sets out to get her first kiss and a date to the spring dance.
The writing is engaging and relatable, capturing the awkwardness and emotions of middle school life. This is the perfect middle grade romance book, and reminded me a lot of rom-coms like “10 Things I Hate About You” and other movies. Beyond that, it conveys important messages about honesty and learning from mistakes, highlighting how, when you try and fix a lie with more lies, things get worse before they get better. I especially liked how the track and field element was tied in as an athlete. Sarah Henning mixes sports and romance wonderfully, and I would highly recommend this book for middle level readers looking for a funny and romantic coming-of-age story.
The Last Ember is the first book of a series, and begins when twelve year old Eva accidentally becomes the owner of the last aerimander egg, placing her at the center of a dangerous conflict. Alongside Dusty, a young thief tasked with stealing the egg, Eva must navigate corruption, betrayal, and long buried secrets while protecting the last aerimander. The novel explores friendship and trust, highlighted through Eva and Dusty working together despite their different backgrounds and personalities. Additionally, it unpacks fear and prejudice, as the kingdom’s treatment of aerimanders was driven mainly by fear rather than understanding.
The story is a thrilling tale of how loyalty, friendship, and trust can combat evil and betrayal. I thought the world building in this book was fantastic, but it left me wanting more depth from the plot. There were many chapters that felt askew from the overall narrative, but it did have a lot of action, which I appreciated. Also, this book felt written for an audience older than middle school because of its vocabulary and flow of the story. The villain in the story, Eoin, is portrayed as purely sadistic, and mentions of kidnappers and murderer’s guilds could make it slightly inappropriate for a younger audience.
Readers who enjoyed dragon books like Wings of Fire by Tui T. Sutherland or fantasy readers who enjoy books like Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger might like reading this book, although it is a bit more mature.
In A Most Perilous World, award-winning author Kristina Gaddy invites readers to walk in the shoes of four famous abolitionists’ descendants. George Garrison, son of William Lloyd Garrison, Lewis Douglass, son of Fredrick Douglass, have well-documented fatherly figures. Lucy Kim, daughter of Miller McKim, a state presidents of an anti-slavery association, and Charolette Forten, granddaughter of a successful businessman in the free and living in the free state of Massachusetts, would make a name for themselves in this time. Gaddy sets the stage with over 50 historical documents and imbues the pages with life by interweaving first-hand accounts from personal journals and letters as these young adults share what they witnessed and felt between 1854 and 1872. Readers are rewarded with four behind-the-scenes passports, each chapter jumping to a different voice, in a chronological journey of the events leading up to, during, and after the Civil War. This is a fictional account that has endnotes, a bibliography, and an index of a nonfiction text. Kristina Giddy clearly wrote this as a work of love for the truth of the time period, bringing the unique and authentic voices of George, Lewis, Lucy, and Charlotte to life. Not only is this a great read for teens, but it would make an amazing text for a U.S. History class. Highly recommended for school and public libraries.
Chloe Gong’s newest novel delves into a dystopian and not-so-distant future where the physical planet has been decimated by global sea rise and deadly epidemics.I found the concept of a virtual world that is mainly occupied by the rich and a physical, gritty real world that is occupied by the poor, to be fascinating and ultimately believable (even though this is a fantasy read). The story involves two girls, one from each world, getting pulled into special ops for warring virtual nations in different planes of reality. Gong races back and forth between the storylines and planes of reality, and while it is full of riveting action and epic twists and turns, it can get confusing. I think this is a book to read on a rainy weekend, from start to finish. Otherwise, if you’re like me and reading in installments, you’ll likely have to go back several chapters to follow the frenetically-paced thread. I do think Coldwire has potential for an epic cinematic experience if it’s ever adapted for the big screen. I rate it a 4 out of 5 stars.
In this fantasy novel by Mari Lowe, a Jewish boy named Ezra learns he is the Nivchar, or chosen one, who is destined to battle a dangerous fiery creature called the gurya during his bar mitzvah. If he wins, the world remains in a peaceful “Beinoni time,” free from war and suffering. But as strange events begin happening and the balance of the world starts falling apart, Ezra realizes something is wrong. Along with new friends, he uncovers secrets and conspiracies that challenge everything he has been taught about destiny, courage, and justice. The book is a little slow when it starts but is truly inspiring. The book is told with a first person narrator. This seems to either irritate readers or helps pull them in, depending on the reader. I did not mind it! For students willing to stick with the opening world building, it will be an enjoyable read. The book includes a glossary at the end of Jewish terminology that the reader might not be familiar with. It helps to add meaning to a book with a Jewish cultural background.
Reviewed by parent volunteer, Esperanza B.D. for Komachin Middle School
The autobiography tells the story of Ida B. Wells’s life as a fearless Black journalist, educator, and civil rights activist who fought against racism and lynching in the United States. She was born into slavery in Mississippi and became a teacher, she later became a newspaper writer who exposed racial violence and injustice. After the lynching of three Black businessmen in Memphis, she elevate a powerful anti-lynching campaign, risking her life to speak the truth. The book highlights her courage, investigative journalism, advocacy for women’s rights, and lifelong crusade for equality and justice. This was a very readable non-fiction – informative and flowed well. If you’re looking for a good, diverse biography, this is recommended.
The book includes a book written by Ida B. Wells in 1892, Southern Horrors Lynch Laws in all its phases. This was included after the book written about her by Erica Armstrong Dunbar & Candace Buford and adds to the page count, but more importantly, to the authenticity of getting to hear from Miss Wells herself.
Reviewed by parent volunteer, Esperanza B.-D. for Komachin Middle School Library
A combo book with a graphic novel spread throughout showing one school year and 6 middle school students. Three become very addicted to their phones and all the features that become time sucks. The other 3 either have old flip phones or phones without apps. You see a contrasting year where the ones NOT addicted to their phones actually get better at friendships, activities and life. The 3 addicted become more & more lonely and isolated until they make some changes by the following summer. The sections of the fictional story are separated by lots of non-fiction graphic information about the dangers of becoming addicted to technology and the benefits of finding balance. I was blown away by the chart on page 71 about how much of your life you ”lose” based on how many hours a day you get sucked into screentime. Just 4 hours a day of “time-suck” on a screen is as much as 2 whole months of your life. Yikes! The book is for teens, but it sure made me reflective of my own use. The book is filled with suggestions of how to make choices that enhance one’s life, instead of wasting it in a false sense of reality. I liked the bio. blurbs of older teens who reflected on their younger selves use of technology and how they use it now. It helps readers understand what real friendship, real freedom, and real fun looks like vs. the imitation that is often used in a manipulative way online. I read this wondering if it would feel too “preachy” or super anti-tech, but it didn’t really feel that way. It was empowering to the “rebels” who were able to make different choices with their tech so they could still be authentic in their day-to-day interactions.This felt like an important book for middle school students to pick up and read. I think the graphic-novel feel to it will help pull students in. Hopefully the message will resonate with them and empower them to make choices to better themselves. The book includes 4 specific steps a reader can take to become a rebel, notes and sources, a Learn more section, and an index at the end of the book.
