Book Reviews
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Holes
This groundbreaking classic from 2000 is now available in a special anniversary edition with bonus content. Winner of the Newbery Medal as well as the National Book Award, HOLES is a New York Times bestseller and one of the strongest-selling middle-grade books to ever hit shelves! This is a Must Read, no matter what your age is.
Stanley Yelnats is under a curse. A curse that began with his no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather and has since followed generations of Yelnatses. Now Stanley has been unjustly sent to a boys’ detention center, Camp Green Lake, where the boys build character by spending all day, every day digging holes exactly five feet wide and five feet deep. There is no lake at Camp Green Lake. But there are an awful lot of holes.
It doesn’t take long for Stanley to realize there’s more than character improvement going on at Camp Green Lake. The boys are digging holes because the warden is looking for something. But what could be buried under a dried-up lake? Stanley tries to dig up the truth in this inventive and darkly humorous tale of crime and punishment—and redemption.
Special anniversary edition bonus content includes: A New Note From the Author!; “Ten Things You May Not Know About HOLES” by Louis Sachar; and more!
For Readers 9-adults from author Louis Sachar.
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The Gymnast
Fourteen-year-old Riley lives for gymnastics. The beam and vault are her very breath. So when a setback causes her to lose her spot as a level eight gymnast on the Stick Squad team, she does what she has to―she finds another gym.
Fitting in at the new gym feels impossible, but at least she can still tumble and train for the upcoming Regional Gymnastics Championships. Unfortunately, a former teammate will stop at nothing to keep Riley from competing.
Can Riley ignore the hate and prove that she deserves to be at the meet?
For Readers 8-12 from author Joanne Slazyk.
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The Great White Bear (The World’s Deadliest School Trips)
Some school trips can turn out to be deadly dangerous—like this one.
Six young teens visit the Canadian wilderness to view polar bears. They become snowbound in a castle with its terrifying owner, Mr. Lagrave. With escape attempts thwarted, Lance and his schoolmates must find the courage to face Lagrave and the massive polar bear which terrorizes the estate.
This thriller contains references to alcohol and moments of violence which are unsuitable for children under 10. Such activities are brief and not glamorized.
For Readers 10-15 from author Jame DuBern.
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The Boring Days and Awesome Nights of Roy Winklesteen
According to nightlifer (night owl) Roy Winklesteen, daylifers have no idea what they’re missing. So, when a 2 a.m. glance out his bedroom window reveals a neighbor is hiding a secret of mythic proportions, Roy’s summer break looks a lot more exciting.
Seeking a cure for being the most ignored kid in all of fifth grade, Roy knows an awesome adventure will surely get him noticed in middle school. He watches and waits for the perfect time to move in for a closer look at the mysterious man who lives one street over. Roy’s spy mission doesn’t go as planned. Still, he manages to gain access into his neighbor’s world–where mind-blowing inventions are more common than furniture and fighting crime involves transforming criminals into bumbling fools smothered in questionable goo.
Every night with the neighbor brings Roy one step closer to the most daring adventure of his life. But even if he survives, he can never tell anyone about it.
For Readers 8-12 from author Sally Dill.
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Patrick Picklebottom Everyday Mysteries: Book One: The Case of the Brazilian Vase
Patrick Picklebottom is out in the neighborhood and on the case – can YOU help him solve 10 different mysteries?
Patrick Picklebottom has a knack for critical thinking. So, it’s not too surprising that he and his best friend, Claire, keep coming across everyday mysteries. In school, at the local ice cream shop, during a history fair – even in his own house – Patrick constantly comes across new cases to crack.
Can you help him solve these confounding mysteries:
- The Case of the Brazilian Artifact
- The Case of the Stolen Bicycle
- The Great Mountain Rescue Mystery
- The Puzzle Behind the New Employee
- The Baking Contest Caper
- The Mystery of the History Fair
- The Case of the Broken Trophy
- The Mystery of the Missing Donut
- Who Shattered the Window?
- The Case of the Acorn and the Oak
Join Patrick and his friends in 10 short stories where YOU help solve the mysteries. Can you figure out the solutions based on the clues provided? Think carefully before checking the answers in the back!
For Readers 8-12 from author Mr. Jay and illustrator Erin Wozniak.
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A Really Short History of Nearly Everything
Did you know that:
• Every atom in your body has almost certainly passed through several stars and been part of millions of organisms on its way to being you?
• If you are an average-sized kid, you have enough potential energy inside you to explode with the force of several hydrogen bombs?
Plus—What happened to dinosaurs? How big is the universe? Why are oceans salty? Is a meteor going to hit us?
Explore the mysteries of the universe without ever leaving your home! Author Bill Bryson takes on the world of science and answers questions big and small, perfect for curious readers looking to learn outside of the classroom!
For Readers 8-12 from author Bill Bryson.
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The Presidents Did What?
Step right up for a spooky tour of the White House! A long dead, but still charismatic, Millard Fillmore will serve as your ghostly guide as you make your way through the Executive Mansion.
Learn about the history of each room you visit from ghosts of presidents past-arguably the worst presidents in US history. Discover how they ended up there, cursed for all eternity to haunt the rooms of the White House, and find out why it’s so important for us to learn from their mistakes.
This is a short fun book for Readers 8-12 from author Wag Harrison and illustrator C. Rod Unalt.
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The Marvellers
Eleven-year-old Ella Durand is the first Conjuror to attend the Arcanum Training Institute, a magic school in the clouds where Marvellers from around the world practice their cultural arts, like brewing Indian spice elixirs and bartering with pesky Irish pixies.
Despite her excitement, Ella discovers that being the first isn’t easy―some Marvellers mistrust her magic, which they deem “bad and unnatural.” But eventually, she finds friends in elixirs teacher, Masterji Thakur, and fellow misfits Brigit, a girl who hates magic, and Jason, a boy with a fondness for magical creatures.
When a dangerous criminal known as the Ace of Anarchy escapes prison, supposedly with a Conjuror’s aid, tensions grow in the Marvellian world and Ella becomes the target of suspicion. Worse, Masterji Thakur mysteriously disappears while away on a research trip. With the help of her friends and her own growing powers, Ella must find a way to clear her family’s name and track down her mentor before it’s too late.
For Readers 9+ from author Dhonielle Clayton and illustrator Khadijah Khatib.
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A Mermaid in Middle Grade: Book 1: The Talisman of Lostland
A young mermaid. A sea witch out for revenge. Can Brynn Finley become a sea guardian and help humans in danger when she just barely started the sixth grade?
Brynn is the only mermaid in school who hasn’t been able to learn magic. Until she can unlock the secret to magic spells, she can’t become a sea guardian like her parents and friends. On her quest to solve this mystery, Brynn and her best friend encounter a loveable sea turtle, a pair of selkie sisters, and Phaedra, the great and terrible sea witch. But soon Brynn is over her head in trouble. She must learn to ask for help, do her best, and follow the merfolk oath if she wants to become a guardian of the sea!
For Readers 8-12 from author A.M. Luzzader.
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A First Time for Everything
This middle grade graphic memoir is based on bestselling author and Caldecott Medalist Dan Santat’s awkward middle school years and the trip to Europe that changed his life.
Dan’s always been a good kid. The kind of kid who listens to his teachers, helps his mom with grocery shopping, and stays out of trouble. But being a good kid doesn’t stop him from being bullied and feeling like he’s invisible, which is why Dan has low expectations when his parents send him on a class trip to Europe.
At first, he’s right. He’s stuck with the same girls from his middle school who love to make fun of him, and he doesn’t know why his teacher insisted he come on this trip. But as he travels through France, Germany, Switzerland, and England, a series of first experiences begin to change him―first Fanta, first fondue, first time stealing a bike from German punk rockers… and first love.
Funny, heartwarming, and poignant, A First Time for Everything is a feel-good coming-of-age memoir based on New York Times bestselling author and Caldecott Medal winner Dan Santat’s awkward middle school years. It celebrates a time that is universally challenging for many of us, but also life changing as well.
This wonderful book from award-winning author-illustrator Dan Santat is the winner of the 2023 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature and is for Readers 10-14.
