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  • Sydney Porter: Dog Girl

    by L.G. Reed

    Rating: 8.25

    Plot: The premise behind this touching middle grade story--a girl who turns into a dog in order to better connect with her PTSD-suffering father--is certainly compelling, with definite appeal to young readers. However, Reed's storyline would benefit from additional development leading up to her character's transformation.

    Prose/Style: Reed writes in a basic (at times overly so) and humorous prose style that clearly conveys the unusual circumstances. Sydney's lively, frank narrative voice will appeal most strongly to younger middle grade readers who have ever wondered what their parents would do if they disappeared.

    Originality: A child heroine seeking peace and solace for her troubled family is not a new concept, especially in middle grade and YA fiction, but the path that Sydney follows in order to arrive at a resolution (and the book's focus on a parent's PTSD) is fresh and unexpected.

    Character Development: Sydney is a strong, well-rounded character with relatable emotional struggles, while others--notably, Fred--are equally endearing. Family members are realistically flawed and provide the story of a girl-turned-dog, with gravity.

  • Boy from Berlin

    by Nancy McDonald

    Rating: 8.25

    Plot: The book is compelling and well-plotted. Although the author hints at a sequel in the acknowledgments, the book's abrupt ending cuts the story early which may puzzle readers desiring a concise ending.

    Prose/Style: McDonald’s prose is thoughtful and engaging. The book is easily readable and similar to others in the genre.

    Originality: Although the book is based on a true story, McDonald’s fictionalized portrayals are respectfully done. Readers will find the book informative.

    Character Development: The characters are layered and nicely depicted. Readers will root for the crafty young protagonist, Käfer and his family.

    Blurb: This thoughtfully-written story provides an informative look at a tragic and challenging time in history.

  • Hidden Scales

    by A. M. Robin

    Rating: 8.25

    Plot: The book flows at a nice pace, providing a satisfying, adventurous saga that will keep readers hooked. Though the ending feels slightly abrupt, the story is otherwise engaging.

    Prose/Style: The author provides beautifully written, often creative descriptions, particularly of villages in the book’s fantasy setting.

    Originality: The world building is well done. Consistent with expectations in the genre, the book’s magical realm is depicted nicely. The author aptly provides unique fantastical elements to bolster the details of the world.

    Character Development: Readers will enjoy reading about Mira, the eleven-year-old protagonist as she grapples change, hardship and high-stake adventures.

    Blurb:
    A well-written and engaging saga for a middle-grade audience.

  • System programmer: The Maiden and The Madman

    by Jean-Philippe Janssens

    Rating: 8.25

    Plot: “System Programmer: The Maiden and the Madman” is a fairly standard fantasy novel with adventurous quests and an evil that must be defeated, but adding Joshua as a spirit from the 21st century gives it a unique edge.

    Prose/Style: Jean-Philippe Janssens presents a fun, easy-to-read style filled with lots of dialogue quips.

    Originality: Janssens takes the standard fantasy plot and tweaks it by having the summoned soul be a boy from the 21st century, lending a relatable and contemporary feel to the storyline.

    Character Development: The characters in Jean-Philippe Janssens' fantasy novel are quite unique. The main character, Joshua is a reincarnated soul summoned by Catherine, a summoner from a less technologically advanced world.

  • The Art of Being Remmy

    by Mary Zisk

    Rating: 8.25

    Plot: The "coming-of-age" theme and junior high setting of this tale will be familiar to middle grade readers. With its briskly paced plot and strong voice, the story will hold readers' attention well until the last page.

    Prose/Style: Although sometimes the narrator uses words or phrases which don't fit the 1965 setting, by and large the writing here is crisp and vivid. The narrator's often sarcastic tone will appeal to middle grade readers.

    Originality: This coming-of-age story is enhanced by its mid-60s setting. Readers will have no trouble identifying with both Rosella and Bill and the challenges they face. Character Development: The story allows room for readers to follow an intriguing spectrum of character growth, from the narrator to her family and friends. Middle grade readers will easily identify with the protagonist and her friends.

    Blurb: It's 1965 and seventh-grader Rosella "Remmy" Rinaldi--Remmy is short for Rembrandt--wants to be a world-famous artist. But working on her art means disobeying her dad, competing with an annoying male rival, and possibly losing her best friend in this lively coming-of-age story.

  • The Enchanted Sonata

    by Heather Dixon Wallwork

    Rating: 8.00

    Plot: A great adventure with a little romance for readers who appreciate music. Based loosely on “The Nutcracker” and “The Pied Piper,” readers who enjoy fairy tales will find this book a good option to pick up around the holidays. The plot moves at a fast pace and quickly draws the reader into the adventure. The author has done a good job of helping the reader navigate the enchanted land and given the reader a satisfying ending.

    Prose/Style: Lots of imagery adds to the charm and takes the reader into the world with the main character. The writing is simple for younger readers, yet can be enjoyed by adults as well. Because the story reads like a fairy tale, readers will feel like they are part of the unique world that has been created.

    Originality: The author has taken two known fairy tales as inspiration and created a charming story. With many references to music, music lovers will find this one to enjoy. Readers who are not familiar with one or more of the stories will still find this story enjoyable and may be led to read these original, cherished tales.

    Character Development: The main character is sweet and often bewildered, with a sidekick who is funny and trying to help and stay out of trouble. The villain needs to be a bit more developed, as readers want him to be a more convincing menace.

    Blurb: A whimsical tale for the holidays to be enjoyed by all ages.

  • Fear Justice (The Fear Chronicles Book 1)

    by C.C. Bolick

    Rating: 8.00

    Plot: This book is very much X-Men for teens meets Twilight, as there are supernatural powers, a budding romance and strong family ties included in the foundational elements of the plot. The first half of the book is very entertaining, as things aren’t at all what they seem.

    Prose/Style: Though there is not a unique style, the YA writing style is satisfactory and the plot and characters are what compels this book. We do, however, get the occasional line that says volumes about the characters’ lives in few words.

    Originality: The father-daughter storyline was enjoyable and some of the powers the team has are unique, like the heroine’s nuclear abilities.

    Character Development: The first-person narrator really resonates as describing a typical teenage girl facing very atypical problems. Her love interest is very well fleshed out, even though his flesh is deadly to the touch.

  • The Real Education of TJ Crowley

    by Grant Overstake

    Rating: 8.00

    Plot: With muted riots following the assassination of Martin Luther King in the background, Overstake's story of seventh-grader TJ Crowley of Wichita shaking off his racist upbringing to begrudgingly bond with his black neighbors is both authentic and deft. 

    Prose: The novel's young narrators come across as real kids, squabbling one day and back to being best friends the next. They’re realistically brought to life by the author's crisp, age-appropriate prose.

    Originality: Novels about kids from clashing cultures and classes thrown together are common-enough YA tropes, but Overstake's lesson about the destructiveness of stubborn bigotry manages to be both fresh and illuminating.

    Character Development: Through the emotional growth of adolescent TJ and his evolving connection to his schoolmates, his racist mother and her KKK-affiliated boyfriend are central to the story. Each of the supporting characters is gifted with a distinctive personality.

  • Awakening (Hells Champion Book 1)

    by C.M. Aitken

    Rating: 8.00

    Plot: With its graphic battle scenes, its well-wrought physical setting and its vivid storytelling style, Aitkin's series debut--the novel ends with an obvious cliffhanger--is a brisk and engaging future-world romp. 

    Prose/Style: Though occasionally too florid for its own good, the writing overall is fluid, rhythmic and natural, perfectly-pitched for teen readers. One caveat: an over-reliance on spell-check has resulted in distracting instances of homonyms; a light copy edit and proofreading pass would alleviate this issue.

    Originality: Teenagers selected to become a "Protector" class; a plucky young girl exceeding her expectations; a future Earth overwhelmed by world-altering disaster; fierce monsters roaming the land beyond the walls... there are all familiar fantasy-genre tropes, but rendered here with gusto.

    Character Development: One indication of the author's skill at stretching beyond stereotype is that when a secondary character dies--and many do--there's a moment of, "Why him?" The story arc for core characters Sky and sidekick Summer, from immature neophytes to battle-scarred survivors, is unforced and riveting. 

  • Plot:  IGIST: New Stars is more than just a decent introduction into this science fiction series for younger readers. Its action-adventure plot and coming-of-age story are sure to enthrall young audiences.

    Prose/Style: Larson has well written and easy-to-understand prose that fits the genre well, replete with an extensive description of characters’ backstories, motives, and actions.

    Originality: By pairing the book with a free app, Larson not only provides an added and somewhat futuristic experience to the standard reading journey but also truly emphasizes the wonder of space exploration.

    Character Development: The characters in L.S. Larson’s science fiction series are a fascinating and broad-ranging menagerie. Emi is a relatable young girl who is determined to attend the elite IGIST school in space. While the concept is not entirely new, the book offers exciting and uncommon  adventures and misadventures along the way.

  • Rune's Folly (Tower of Shells Book 1)

    by Garen Glazier

    Rating: 7.50

    Plot: The quest is fun, as are the characters who embark upon it, but the pacing could be structured a bit better to improve the book. The lack of a true setup and explanation of certain concepts can hinder the immediacy of many of the actions in this storyline.

    Prose/Style: Technically, this book is very well-written. Detailed descriptions and a steady flow make this a breezy read.

    Originality: In some ways, this is a standard fantasy quest; however, the dynamics between several of the characters, as well as the relationship between the "real" world and the Otherworld, give this book its own place in the genre.

    Character Development: The primary characters are well-rounded, with properly explored motivations, but the supporting characters would benefit from more exposition about their origins and motives.

    Blurb: “Rune's Folly” is a well-conceived adventure tale with an entertaining main cast and some exciting twists, but a lack of development in key areas of the plot and in the supporting cast keep this book from achieving its potential.

  • Plot: The plot is paced well and never slows down. There are a lot of engaging and well developed scenes here, though the protagonists face little real difficulty in their various tasks, which blunts the impact of their victories.

    Prose/Style: This novel is engagingly well-written, with appropriate language for the target audience. The prose is easy to follow and great fun to read.

    Originality: Despite the inventive premise and gratifying story arc, many aspects of this novel align with genre conventions. Nevertheless, this sequel broadens the narrative premise established in the first book; those familiar with the previous work will be particularly eager to see where the fantasy adventure takes them next.

    Character Development: The characters have distinct personalities and abilities. They are well defined, though they come across as somewhat older than they are in terms of tone and language usage, an incongruity that can impact the work's authenticity.

  • Fairday Morrow and the Talking Library

    by Jessica Haight

    Rating: 7.25

    Plot: The second book in this bookish adventure series again stars the middle grade members of the Detective Mystery Squad as they uncover a portal within a Victorian house that leads them to another dimension and enigmatic secret library. 

    Prose: Haight and Robinson vividly capture the world of preteen detectives through lively descriptions, a gentle building of tension, and witty dialogue.

    Originality: This work certainly carries threads reminiscent of other middle grade stories featuring intrepid kid detectives, but the authors create a novel hidden world with unexpected conflicts and playfully labyrinthine twists. 

    Character Development: Central characters Fairday and Lizzy are especially charismatic and effectively developed. Both child and adult characters demonstrate distinctive characteristics and share notable chemistry on the page. 

  • The Black Fox of Beckham

    by David L Heaney

    Rating: 7.25

    Plot:This book’s storyline picks up the pace about four chapters in, when Silviana meets the mysterious Benton. The plot takes on unexpected, but positive, twists with Angus implying that Silvania may be evil and a badger being mistaken for the famed black fox. 

    Prose/Style:Changes in point of view within the same paragraph can be a bit confusing for readers to follow, and the style would benefit from more “showing rather than telling.”  

    Originality:The story is an informative and entertaining introduction to the world of fox hunting and the Roma culture, and it also brings some awareness to the topic of autism.

    Character Development:Silviana is the most developed character here, while the other humans would benefit from delving into their origin stories or motives. The references to Fiona being on the spectrum bring awareness to autism, but because of the range of traits, someone familiar with her condition may not find the descriptions wholly realistic. Of the animals, Benton is the most interesting, as it’s apparent that he has the power to alter his form and transform into animal or human shapes.

  • Trygg the Dinosaur

    by Paula Louise Salvador

    Rating: 7.25

    Plot: “Trygg The Dinosaur” is a sweet story of unexpected friendship, peppered with facts about the dinosaur age.

    Prose/Style: The author’s prose is fairly simplistic, which is great for the age group the author’s book targets.

    Originality: Salvador’s book is very unique and it's perfect for readers on the cusp of adolescence who are still interested in dinosaurs, or who might be experiencing their first challenges in friendships.

    Character Development: The characters in Salvador’s middle grade novel are unique, since they are anthropomorphic dinosaurs who defy human societal expectations.

  • Frank Vaughn Killed by His Mom

    by D. Krauss

    Rating: 7.00

    Plot: Krauss' novel successfully takes us on a journey through an unforgettable, darkly fantastical summer in Butch's life after his mother and father announce their impending divorce.

    Prose/Style: Krauss' prose is minimalist, but it gets the themes and main concepts across very well, while also maintaining a child's point of view.

    Originality: Krauss' book has all of the hallmarks of a coming-of-age drama set in the 60’s, as Butch’s eyes are slowly opened to the real (and less-than-real) world around him.

    Character Development: The characters in Krauss' young adult tale are nuanced, with many twists to them, and an evident commitment to emotional exploration, growth and development.

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