Middle Grade Book Review: My Not-So-Great French Escape by Cliff Burke

Thank you to netgalley for providing me with a free digital uncorrected proof of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Title: My Not-So-Great French Escape

Author: Cliff Burke

Publisher: Harper Collins Children’s Books, Clarion Books

Publication Date: April 25, 2023

Book Description:

When Rylan’s best friend ditches him for the cool kids, Rylan thinks a summer spent working on a French farm will be the perfect chance to reconnect. But he doesn’t count on his long-lost father showing up. This funny, touching novel is perfect for fans of Gary D. Schmidt and John David Anderson.

Rylan O’Hare has been drifting apart from his best friend, Wilder, for months. Wilder’s family became mega-rich when his mom invented an app that reminds people to drink water, and now he barely has time for Rylan. So when Wilder invites Rylan to join him at a summer farming program in France (all expenses paid), Rylan see it as a chance to repair the friendship. Not only that, but he’ll get to learn French, milk goats, and eat lots (and lots) of cheese.

But before they take off, Rylan’s mom drops a bomb: His dad (whom he hasn’t spoken to since he was three) lives in France, too, and he wants to meet.

Between being swarmed by bees, pooped on by pigeons, and sprayed with goat milk, Rylan’s great French escape isn’t quite what he thought it would be. Even worse, Wilder ditches him for some cool French kids he meets along the way. And Rylan still can’t decide whether or not he should actually meet his father.

But somewhere in all the chaos, Rylan begins to find his way, and he realizes that sometimes you have to release old expectations to discover new destinations.

My Thoughts:

The premise of this story is not new. A kid reluctantly is sent away for a summer program and gets a new outlook on life. A couple of things make this story unique, though. First, I thought it was a realistic portrayal of adolescent behavior and how their friendships evolve. Second, the message differed from the usual themes of second chances and forgiveness. While there was an element of that, it emphasizes that you should surround yourself with the people that will support you. This is a message I don’t think young people hear enough. I did feel that the plot was a little rushed, and plot points could have been more developed in some spots. But, as a whole, it is an excellent middle grade read.

3.5 stars

March 7, 2023

Picture Book Review: The Little Books of the Little Brontes

Thank you to netgalley for providing me with a free digital advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Title: The Little Books of the Little Brontes

Author: Sara O’Leary

Illustrator: Briony May Smith

Publisher: Penguin Random House Canada, Tundra Books

Publication Date: October 17, 2023

Book Description:

Many years ago, the four motherless children of the Brontë family — Charlotte, Branwell, Emily, and Anne — lived in a windswept house by the moors with their father. Although their lives were often filled with sadness and their world was only as large as the distance they could walk, their INNER worlds were bound only by their imaginations. Hungry for stories, these children devoured novels and poetry, history, and fables. And with the gift of a group of toy soldiers, they were inspired to make their own stories and their own tiny books . . . a passion that would last them a lifetime.

A moving and atmospheric story about the power of imagination, the joy of storytelling and the love of books, The Little Books of the Little Brontës will enchant both those who love these literary sisters and those who are learning about them for the first time. Includes an author’s note, timeline of the Brontës’ lives and a fun craft with instructions on creating your own little book.

My Thoughts:

This tells the story of the Bronte siblings before they were famous writers. Kids do not need to know their work (Jane Eyre is one of my favorite books, but I won’t be recommending to any 5-7 year olds) to appreciate the story. The siblings lose their mother and two older sisters at a very young age. This book is the story of how the power of storytelling helped them deal with the tragedies surrrounding them. The siblings shared stories and created their own little books. The end of the book also includes directions for kids to make their own little books. I am a firm believer that picture books are not just for kids. Any adult who likes classic literature would love this book.

The illustrations give the book a classic feel and reminded me of the works of Chris VanAllsburg.

March 7, 2023

Picture Book Review: The Most Important Animal of All

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a digital advance reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Title: The Most Important Animal of All

Author: Penny Worms

Publisher: Jolly Fish Press

Publication Date: June 6, 2023

Description:

Seven children champion an animal for the top spot.

Is it the ELEPHANT or the BEAVER, who both create habitats where other creatures can live and thrive?

Is it the TIGER or the SHARK, who are both top predators, or the BAT, who keeps insect populations down?

Is it the tiny KRILL, a food source for many sea creatures, or the BEE, the master pollinator?

Join the children to find out how special these creatures are in this very first introduction to ecosystems.

My Thoughts:

On the first day of school the students discover the classroom has been transformed to reflect nature. The teacher informs them that they will be learning all about animals. Their assignment for the end of the semester is to determine which animal is the most important animal of all. Seven different students make strong arguments for very different animals: elephants, beavers, tigers, sharks, bats, krill and bees. Pages are filled with factual information about how each animal contributes to the ecosystem. In the end, the message is clear that all animals are important and contribute to the world.

This book would be great for a science class, and could generate multiple lessons. I could easily see it sparking a research project where students pick different animals and justify why they are the most important.This book would also appeal to any animal or fact lover outside of the school setting. With an engaging combination of illustrations, photographs and fact captions kids will keep coming back to this book to learn about their favorite animals.

February 28, 2023

Middle Grade Book of the week: Heroes Like Us: Two Stories by Onjali Q. Raúf

This week I was fortunate to receive an eARC copy of Heroes Like Us: Two Stories by Onjali Q. Raúfroes from NetGalley. This review is based on my own personal opinions.

Summary

Heroes Like Us is a collection of two stories in which children make a difference and become heroes.

The first story, The Day We Met the Queen, takes place after the events of Raúf’s previous novel, The Boy at the Back of the Class. After a group of friends help their refugee friend, Ahmet stand up for other refugees, the Queen of England wants to meet them. Not everyone is happy about this, including politicians and Brendan-the-bully, who aren’t above sabotaging the kids’ big day.

The second story, The Great Food Heist is about a boy whose family is struggling to make ends meet after his father leaves. His mom works hard and does everything she can to make the best of a difficult situation but putting food on the table is a constant struggle. They’ve been getting by with programs at school and using the local food bank. But, when someone starts stealing from the local food bank, Nelson and his friends are determined to catch the thieves.

My Thoughts

These stories send a great message to kids about how anybody can become a hero, if they are willing to stand up for what is right. Sometimes books with these themes can become a bit preachy and are more appealing to adults than kids. However, these stories have a lot of humor and action that engage kids. What kid wouldn’t love reading about stink bombs being set off in the middle of an assembly?

I had not read The Boy at the Back of the Class but was still able to follow the story with no problem. I intend to read it now because I want to know more about these characters. I think it would’ve made it a little more meaningful, so I would recommend reading it first.

July 24, 2022

Book Review: Mud Puddle Early Reader by Robert Munsch

Thank you to netgalley for providing me with a complimentary uncorrected proof. All opinions are my own.

Details:

Title: Mud Puddle

Author: Robert Munsch

Illustrator: Dušan Petričić

Publisher: Annick Press

Publication Date: 9/6/22

Summary:

This is an early reader print format of a Robert Munsch classic. Wherever Julie Ann goes a mud puddle jumps on her. Then, she runs back home where her mom drops her into the tub. A clean Julie Ann returns outside, only to be attacked by the muddle puddle once again. At last, she is able to defeat the mud puddle with a smelly bar of yellow soap.

My thoughts:

This is a delightful story that kids and parents will love. The idea of a child constantly getting dirty is relatable and the humorous illustrations add to the story. As a reading teacher, what I love most is that this imprint includes lots of good reading information to make the experience more beneficial to early readers. Included are simple bulleted lists of phonics skills, pre-reading ideas and tips for read aloud. This is so helpful for teachers and parents who want to make the reading meaningful for early readers. This would be a great addition to any primary classroom or home library.

Rating

July 14, 2022