Category: Middle Grade

Posted in Animal Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction, Graphic Novels, Middle Grade, Teen, Tween Reads, Young Adult/New Adult

STOP THE PRESSES! NEW MOUSE GUARD INCOMING!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Holy cow, was this a great announcement to read. Mouse Guard is an Eisner and Harvey Award-winning graphic novel and comic book series; it’s a fantasy setting similar to Brian Jacques’s Redwall books. The Mouse Guard was formed to protect mice against predators. It’s a great series; my son (now in his mid-20s) was a tremendous fan when he was a kid, which naturally got me reading it. We were both hooked!

Anyway, the great news from BOOM! Studios: in honor of Mouse Guard’s 20th anniversary, we are getting a NEW Mouse Guard adventure! Here’s the scoop from BOOM!:

LOS ANGELES, CA (December 19, 2024) – There are few series as lauded and beloved as David Petersen’s Eisner Award-winning and New York Times bestselling Mouse Guard. Now, in celebration of the 20th anniversaries of both Mouse Guard and BOOM! Studios, David Petersen, along with Eisner-nominated artist Gabriel Rodríguez (Locke & Key), bring a brand new chapter to life in this sprawling saga with MOUSE GUARD: DAWN OF THE BLACK AXE.

The origins of the legendary Black Axe are revealed in this prequel story set in the earliest point in the Mouse Guard history. Adventure with the ancient weapon’s first mouse wielder and champion, Bardrick, as he sets off on an epic quest of good versus evil!

“Getting to write this Mouse Guard lore of the forging of the Black Axe and it being handed to Bardrick (first of eleven wielders) while getting to do so with the brilliant Gabriel Rodríguez drawing Dawn of the Black Axe has been a thrill,” said Mouse Guard creator David Petersen. “He’s going above and beyond with his inked pages and storytelling while I’m just trying to keep up coloring them and still do them justice. Gabe was top of my list when we started pitching names for this spin off project, and I postponed it for a long time until his schedule opened up––I didn’t want to do this first one with anyone else.

“I’ll continue to work on the next volume in the main Mouse Guard series: The Weasel War of 1149, but I also hope this is first of many more Mouse Guard books like this one, where I get to explore the other past wielders of the Black Axe with exciting and extremely talented collaborators like Gabe.”

“I’ve been a fan of David Petersen’s work since the first time I saw a volume of his astonishing Mouse Guard books. We became friends as soon as we met,” said Eisner-nominated artist Gabriel Rodríguez. “Almost a decade ago we started daydreaming about working together on the story of the first wielder of the mythical Black Axe. That dream finally came true, and I’m humbled, grateful and excited to share it with the faithful legion of Mouse Guard readers.”

MOUSE GUARD: DAWN OF THE BLACK AXE #1 features main cover art by series artist Gabriel Rodríguez, and variant covers by Mouse Guard creator David Petersen, and celebrated artist Goñi Montes (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers).

MOUSE GUARD: DAWN OF THE BLACK AXE is the newest release from BOOM! Studios’ award-winning Archaia imprint, home to inspiring graphic novels such as Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut, Ryan North, and Albert Monteys; The Sacrifice of Darkness by Roxane Gay, Tracy Lynne-Oliver, and Rebecca Kirby; Big Black: Stand at Attica by Frank “Big Black” Smith, Jared Reinmuth, and Améziane; The Killer by Matz and Luc Jacamon; We Served the People by Emei Burell; New World by David Jesus Vignolli; Eighty Days by A.C. Esguerra; Better Angels: A Kate Warne Adventure by Jeff Jensen and George Schall; The Short While by Jeremy Sorese; About Betty’s Boob by Vero Cazot and Julie Rocheleau; Flavor Girls by Loïc Locatelli-Kournwsky; I’m Still Alive by Roberto Saviano and Asaf Hanuka; and licensed series including Sabaa Tahir’s An Ember in the Ashes; Lev Grossman’s The Magicians; and Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, The Storyteller, and Labyrinth.

MOUSE GUARD: DAWN OF THE BLACK AXE #1 will be available in comic shops March 19, 2025. It is available for pre-order at your local comic shop. Digital copies can be purchased from content providers, including Kindle, iBooks, and Google Play.

For continuing news on MOUSE GUARD: DAWN OF THE BLACK AXE and more from BOOM! Studios, stay tuned to www.boom-studios.com and follow @boomstudios on X.

About David Petersen:

David Petersen is the creator of the New York Times Bestselling and critically acclaimed Graphic Novel series Mouse Guard.  He was the 2007 Russ Manning Award recipient for Most Promising Newcomer and has since gone on to win three Eisner Awards and two Harvey’s for his continued work on the Mouse Guard series. David has done covers for Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, Jim Henson’s Storyteller, Star Wars, TMNT, and Usagi Yojimbo as well as recent work for Magic the Gathering: Bloomburrow.

David and his wife Julia live in Michigan.

About Gabriel Rodríguez:

Gabriel Rodríguez is a Chilean comic book artist and writer. He’s the author of Sword of Ages and co-creator Locke & Key, Onyx, and the Eisner Award-winning Little Nemo: Return to Slumberland at IDW. He’s also drawn titles such as Adventures of Superman for DC Comics, Locke & Key/Sandman: Heaven and Hell for IDW/DC, Le Gouffre Des Resurrections for Les Humanoïdes Associés, and illustrated for Marvel, BOOM! Studios, Skybound, Oni Press, Heroic Signatures and Clover Press. He has also contributed illustrations for novels by Stephen King and Joe Hill. He lives and works in Santiago, Chile. You can find Gabriel on Instagram at @gr_comics.

Posted in Fiction, Fiction, Intermediate, Middle Grade, picture books

Holiday Shopping Suggestions!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

I’m back with more holiday book shopping ideas! Let’s see what we have today:

For the young entrepreneur:

Ryder K The Mini Boss: The Littlest Hands, Yet the Biggest Dreams, by Cheyenne Davis, Margaret Bowdre, & Ryder K Wharton/Illustrated by Niles Britwum, (Nov. 2024, Kingston Imperial), $16.99, ISBN: 9781954220782

Ages 5-9

Many will recognize 7-year-old entrepreneur and her mother, Cheyenne Davis, from MTV’s Teen Mom series. Here, Ryder tells the story of how she created her own nail polish line. The book features Ryder’s mom, Cheyenne, and her family, all who support Ryder in her efforts. With messages of empowerment and creativity, Ryder K The Mini Boss shows positive images of children and families of color. Ryder’s mom guides her through the process of becoming a “mini boss” with keywords written on a whiteboard: “Passion! Patience! Persistence! Play!” and Ryder still comes across as a playful child, pondering the upsides of abeing a “mini boss”: “Can I buy all the toys I want? I am a mini boss. Can I have candy every day? I am a mini boss”. An additional purchase.

 

 

For the middle grader who loves crafting:

The Best Friend Bracelet, by Nicole D. Collier, (Oct. 2024, HarperCollins), $18.99, ISBN: 9780063326163

Ages 8-12

Zariah (“like Mariah Carey, but with a Z”) has a tidy little business making best friend bracelets for classmates at Hurston Middle School. She puts a lot of thought into the process; her customers fill out a profile on their best friend so that Zariah can choose the right beads and make the perfect bracelet. The irony is, Zariah has no best friend: she suffered a best friend breakup that she’s still reeling from, but she hopes to have a bestie again one day. After inspiration strikes on a trip to the bead store, Zariah creates a stunning bracelet that goes viral on her school’s social media platform, but this bracelet is different: everyone who tries on the bracelet becomes Zariah’s best friend! Zariah uses this as the opportunity to audition new best friends, but her parent aren’t as thrilled with her bracelet as everyone at school is: her grades have been dropping and her mom lays down the ultimatum: pull those grades up, or lose the beading supplies. Zariah turns to a school loner for help… but could she be the best friend that Zariah’s needed? A fun story about best friends and learning that one size doesn’t fit all, readers will love Zariah’s voice and creativity.

The Best Friend Bracelet has a starred review from Publishers Weekly.

 

For the fantasy reader:

Princess Betony and the Unicorn (Princess Betony, Book 1), by Pamela Freeman/Illustrated by Tamsin Ainslie, (Aug. 2023, Kane Miller), $6.99, ISBN: 9781684647156

Ages 7-10

Princess Betony is a young princess surrounded by overbearing courtiers. The daughter of a human king and a dryad who retains a human form, Betony’s governess, Lady Pineal, complains and berates her and her father’s chancellor is rude and blustering. Betony longs to learn more about her mother’s Wild Magic, much to Lady Pineal’s and the Lord Chancellor’s chagrin. When Princess Betony sees her mother heading toward the forest one morning, she runs after her, afraid her mother has left her; she discovers other dryads who set her on a quest – catch a unicorn! – to prove she has the Wild Magic; then and only then will she be able to find her mother. With a seemingly impossible task against her, Princess Betony relies on her determination and her legacy as a child of a tree spirit. Storytelling has fantasy elements and black-and-white illustrations throughout and readers will quickly find themselves fans of Betony, who has a strong sense of who she is, a love of family, and a curious streak. Princess Betony and the Unicorn is the first in a series of four adventures, originally published in Australia from 2012-2014.

 

For the lovable and mischievous book-lover:

Nibbles the Very Hungry Book Monster, by Emma Yarlett, (Sept. 2024, Kane Miller), $17.99, ISBN: 9781684647897

Ages 5-8

Nibbles has long had a place in my heart – my middle schooler was a big fan as a little guy, and I’ve never grown tired of this goofy little book monster’s escapades. Nibbles is up to his usual silliness in this latest book, which is chock full of flaps and die-cuts as Nibbles chomps his way through a series of books, leaving holes in hilarious spots: a cookbook sports a peek a Nibbles’s bottom sticking out of a cake pan; a Hansel and Gretel cover has been chewed away to show Nibbles running at full speed; Old Macdonald Had a Farm shows Nibbles’s head peeking out atop the cow’s body. The little yellow monster gorges himself until he comes to the book’s close and his little crate: but will he go in, or will he eat his way through that, too? Great for an interactive readaloud or a scavenger hunt (just print a few Nibbles coloring pages here and set them around!), Nibbles is an enduring character whose antics always make for fun.

 

 

 

Posted in Fiction, Middle Grade, Science Fiction, Tween Reads

Native American Heritage Month Books Worth Reading: The Flicker

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

The Flicker, by H.E. Edgmon, (Sept. 2024, Feiwel & Friends), $9.99, ISBN: 9781250873965

Ages 9-12

A year after a solar flare – The Flicker – scorched the Earth and ended life as we know it, step-sisters Millie and Rose are orphaned. Millie, convinced her grandmother – a Seminole elder – is alive, convinces Rose to join her and their baby half-brother, Sammy, on the journey. Rose isn’t sure about how she feels, but joins Millie and Sammy, hoping to find the location of the rumored Sanctuary she hears codes from over the radio. They meet a group of kids called The Lost Boys and their leader, Ben, who was their counselor at theatre camp when the flare hit; Ben agrees to give them a lift to Millie’s grandmother’s home, but the land is full of terrors. Aside from the scorching heat and risk of wildfires, there’s The Hive: a shadowy corporation that militarized during the flare. The Hive’s soldiers hoard supplies so their people can live as if nothing ever happened, and they’ll go to any lengths to keep their people comfortable. Edgmon excels in his middle grade debut, exploring Indigenous identity through Millie and her memories of her grandmother, who has strong ties to the land. Edgmon introduces us to fully realized characters that readers will want to spend time with; Millie, though outwardly strong, is tender and vulnerable, locking all her feelings “deep inside her belly”; Rose wears her feelings on the outside for everyone to see, much to Millie’s aggravation. Sammy unites the two in their determination to protect him. Touching on themes of climate change, gender identity, and survival, The Flicker is unputdownable. An essential for middle grade collections, especially where survival fiction is popular. I loved this book.

The Flicker has starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and School Library Journal.

Posted in Middle Grade, Middle School, Non-Fiction, Non-fiction, Teen, Tween Reads

Native American Heritage Month Books Worth Reading: Stealing Little Moon

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Stealing Little Moon: The Legacy of The American Indian Boarding Schools, by Dan Sasuweh Jones, (Sept. 2024, Scholastic Focus), $19.99, ISBN: 9781338889475

Ages 9-12

As we move into Thanksgiving week, I find myself thinking of Native American Heritage Month and what that means. Yes, it’s a celebration of Native American culture, contributions (like keeping colonists alive), language, and traditions. It’s also a time to reflect on what the First Nations’ generosity cost them. Stealing Little Moon is my foray into learning more about the American Indian boarding schools. Four generations of Jones’s family attended one of these schools: Chilocco Indian Agricultural School in Oklahoma. Created in the 1880s as a way to indoctrinate Native children into white society, the schools were initially populated through force, as armed agents and soldiers would show up without warning to Native homes, grab the children – sometimes, handcuffing or hog-tying them – and load them onto wagons. Sometimes, the children never returned home. Jones’s great-grandmother, Little Moon There Are No Stars Tonight, was four years old when she was torn away from her family and sent to Chilocco, where she and the other students were removed from their culture and forbidden to speak their language; their names were changed, their punishments were brutal, and the conditions were inhumane. The goal of the schools were to “Kill the Indian in him, and save the man”; those in power seemed to relish their duties too much, as stories from survivors relate physical, emotional, and sexual abuse.

Jones writes with a passion and sadness that communicates the horror of the schools, noting the schools’ responsibility for generational trauma, as some students went on to abuse their own families as they were abused. He also discusses key figures in the American Indian fight for reparations, including Clyde Warrior, Russell Means, and Dennis Banks. Jones goes further into Chilocco’s evolution into a school for American Indians, run by American Indians, with his own family working there until the Bureau of Indian Affairs determined in 1980 that running the school was too expensive for so few students. As superintendent C.C. Tillman wrote in the school’s last yearbook that “Chilocco is another in a long list of broken promises”. Extensively researched and containing interviews and photos, Jones creates a testament that all students should read and discuss. Back matter contains a comprehensive bibliography.

Stealing Little Moon: The Legacy of The American Indian Boarding Schools has starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Booklist, and is designated a Book of Special Distinction by the The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books.

Posted in Animal Fiction, Fiction, Fiction, Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction

Elephant Touch is about healing and resilience

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Elephant Touch, by Susan R. Greenway, (Sept. 2024, SparkPress), $14.99, ISBN: 9781684632688

Ages 9-13

Animal lovers and fiction readers will immediately know there’s something special about this meditation on grief, loss, and healing. Quinn is a girl grieving her mother’s loss; she and her aunt visit a Thai elephant sanctuary in hopes that helping care for elephants will bring them some healing. Quinn initially resists the experience, but bonds with an abused elephant, Sumana, who lovingly rests her trunk on the girl. The sanctuary welcomes a baby elephant, Lee Lawa Dee, who witnessed her mother’s death at the hands of poachers and has stopped eating. Quinn, desperate to help save the elephant, insists that Sumana can help Lee Lawa Dee, but is rebuffed by the staff. Using her connection to the elephants and powered by her grief and desire to save a life, Quinn takes matters into her own hands – which may bring consequences for Quinn and her aunt. Greenway writes with empathy and feeling that will leave readers rooting her Quinn, Sumana, and Lee Lawa Dee. It’s an emotional read: Quinn’s reactions to the abuse endured by the elephants before arriving at the sanctuary are a stand-in for the reader. Readers invested in the characters will rejoice at the story’s end. A sweet crush on another volunteer, a boy named Hunter, adds interest. Animal fiction readers who loved books like Ali Benjamin’s The Thing About Jellyfish (2015), and Alina Chau’s Marshmallow & Jordan (also about elephants, 2021). Get this one on your shelves!

Posted in Middle Grade, Non-fiction

Explore America’s Wildlife with Bailey and Jazynka

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Explore! America’s Wildlife, by Kitson Jazynka/Illustrated by Hannah Bailey, (May 2023, Kane Miller), $18.99, ISBN: 9781684644711

Ages 7-11

Armchair travel was never so much fun. Travel all over the States and discover the diversity of American wildlife, from Arctic wolves and snowshoe hares of the Alaskan Peninsula’s Katmai National Park to the bald eagles and great blue herons of the Western Maine mountains. Full-color illustrations and photos pair with informative text and fun facts; labeled drawings help readers identify flora and fauna in each region, and close-up areas of the U.S. map help place readers geographic areas of the U.S. Travelers and nature lovers will love the facts boxes that tell them what to find, hear, discover, and spot. Organized into five areas – The West and Alaska; The South; Midwest; Northeast, and Wild Animals in Your Backyard – Explore! provides an overview of the area and and illustrations on the region of the U.S. map. Fully indexed, this is an excellent companion to Explore! America’s National Parks (2011) and will be a welcome addition to natural resource collections.

Explore! America’s Wildlife has a starred review from School Library Journal.

Posted in Middle Grade, Middle School, Non-Fiction, Non-fiction, Tween Reads

Borderlands and the Mexican American Story: The new Race to the Truth book

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Borderlands and the Mexican American Story (Race to the Truth), by David Dorado Como, (Aug. 2024, Crown Books for Young Readers), $8.99, ISBN: 9780593567753

Ages 10-14

The newest book in the nonfiction Race to the Truth series couldn’t have been released at a more necessary time. The middle grade/middle school series takes an unvarnished look at marginalized communities in American history; Borderlands and the Mexican American Story examines the history of relations between Mexico and America. As with Exclusion and the Chinese American Story, the reality is different from what many readers may know to be true. Borderlands examines how Mexican culture has enriched and shaped American culture; how white colonizers sought to suppress Mexican settlers, and how systemic racism still plays a part in how Mexican immigrants and Mexican-American people are seen today. Como provides an intelligent overview of Mexican history and uses primary source information to interest readers. The Race to the Truth series has been a vital addition to nonfiction shelves and is an essential purchase for middle grade and middle school nonfiction collections.

Borderlands and the Mexican American Story has a starred review from Kirkus.

Posted in Fiction, Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Tween Reads

Invisible Isabel wants to be seen

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Invisible Isabel, by Sally J. Pla/Illustrated by Tania de Regil, (July 2024, Quill Tree Books), $19.99, ISBN: 9780063268852

Ages 8-12

Isabel Beane is an introverted girl lost in the chaos of her home: her two younger siblings are “toddler tornadoes”; her teenaged older sisters chase her away, and her middle schooler older brother just wants to play video games and have his stinky friends over. It isn’t much better at school: her militaristic teacher doesn’t understand the “worry-moths” that cause Isabel to freeze up during class, and new girl Monica has managed to get all Isabel’s former friends to ignore her. Isabel’s parents don’t really hear or see her, either; waving away her fears as normal kid blues. Abandoned by her friends, ignored by her family, Isabel yearns to find her voice, but her fears threaten to overpower her. A sensitive story in verse with soft black and white illustrations, Isabel’s story unfolds as a journey of discovery. The reader gets clues to Isabel’s neurodiversity with mentions comforting routines like rocking, or her sensitivity to sound and scent. Mean girl Monica, Isabel’s antagonist, has reasons for her behavior and has a father who tries to steer his daughter in a better direction. Readers will spend a good part of this book frustrated with everyone around Isabel as they continue ignoring or disregarding her; Pla creates a feeling of responsibility in the reader – we want to protect her! Pla and de Regil create a story of kindness and discovery for all. An excellent choice for realistic fiction and books in verse collections.

Posted in Fiction, Middle Grade, Middle School, Tween Reads

Hannah Edwards and the Secrets of Riverway!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Hannah Edwards: Secrets of Riverway, by Ashley Hards (Sept. 2024, Fabled Films Press), $16.99, ISBN: 9781944020910

Ages 9-12

Hannah Edwards has a LOT on her mind: first and foremost, her dad, the Canola King, who has been missing for months. She’s also got her creepy Uncle Fergus hanging around more and more, with his awful food and his constant “lessons”. Thank goodness she has her best friend, Sam, and her Journal to turn to with her thoughts. When Sam tells her he thinks he saw Hannah’s dad’s ghost at the Old Mill, she decides it’s up to her to find her dad and prove that he is NOT a ghost – because being a ghost would mean that he’s no longer alive. And she can’t think that way.

A moving story about self-discovery, Hannah brings us on her grief journey while discovering that she is neurodivergent. Hards gives Hannah a strong, upbeat voice that refuses to give up or give in. A smart reimagining of Hamlet – with a much lower body count – this is a great mystery for  middle graders and middle schoolers.