Four Recent Reads

Four Fabulous Middle Grade Titles

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Welcome to another episode of Happy Reading, a podcast that spotlights excellent middle grade fiction. I’m Sarah Threlkeld, an elementary school library, former 6th grade reading teacher, and self-proclaimed book nerd. In the previous seasons I chose a theme for each episode, but this season I am going to share books with you that I straight up love. Three of the books I’ll read from today are ones that I tore through in the last two weeks; I didn’t want to put them down. The other book is one I read a few months ago and can’t get out of my head. So, without further ado, here are four fabulous books aimed at readers ages 8 to 12.

The Unteachables by Gordon Korman

The Unteachables, Gordon Korman’s latest novel, might be my favorite of his, which is saying a lot because I adore his books. It’s the story of one burnt out middle school teacher named Mr. Kermit and a class of seven eighth graders who have been labeled ‘unteachable’ by previous teachers, administrators and other students. Kiana is the newest addition to the class, but she isn’t actually supposed to be there. In fact, she isn’t even enrolled at the school! Mr. Kermit is so checked out that he doesn’t realize Kiana isn’t one of his students. He never checks the roster and doesn’t bother to learn anyone’s name. Then something happens during Spirit Week that changes the teacher’s opinion of his class and the shift will affect not just the unteachables, but the entire school. Told from multiple perspectives, this funny and fast-paced story will have fans of realistic fiction laughing out loud and cheering for this group of forgotten kids. Here’s part of a chapter written from Parker’s point of view.

Good Enough by Jen Petro-Roy

I tore through the next book in about 24 hours; it is intensely honest and heartbreaking, but also manages to feel hopeful. Good Enough by Jen Petro-Roy is the journal of Riley, a 12-year old who has just checked in to a residential treatment program for eating disorders. For the last year she has been eating as little as possible and running everyday in order to lose weight and avoid taunts from her classmates about her size. Anorexia has enabled Riley to meet her goal, but at a terrible price. She is hungry all the time, she can’t concentrate, she skips social events because she’s terrified of eating, and she’s lost her parents’ trust. Will Riley commit herself to healing and fully participate in the program or will she relapse into her old habits until she loses everything that matters? Here’s an excerpt from Riley’s second day in the program.

The Unsung Hero of Birdsong, USA by Brenda Woods

My favorite part about the next book is the narrator’s voice, which is funny, introspective and oh-so southern. The Unsung Hero of Birdsong, USA is a historical fiction story that takes place in a small South Carolina town in the early 1940s. Gabriel Haberlin receives a brand new Schwinn Autocycle Deluxe for his twelfth birthday and can’t wait to show off his new wheels to his best friend. What he doesn’t  expect is almost being run down by Mrs. Babcock’s yellow Buick Roadmaster and having a stranger save his life, which leads to an unexpected friendship with Meriweather Hunter, an African American man who served in the army’s all-Black 761st Tank Battalion in World War II. Over the course of a few weeks Gabriel’s eyes are opened to the racial inequality that is rampant in the south at the time and he starts to question societal norms and expectations. Here is chapter two of this fast-paced and thoughtful story.

after zero by Christina Collins

Growing up, I didn’t talk much at school. Well, at least not during classes. I’m pretty sure every teacher wrote something like “Sarah needs to participate more” on every progress report I ever received in middle and high school. It wasn’t that I didn’t have anything to say; rather, my brain took awhile to sort through everyone else’s comments and then figure out what I wanted to contribute and by the time that happened the conversation had already moved on to a different topic. In after zero by Christina Collins, Elise is so nervous to speak up at school that she actually makes a tally mark in her notebook for every word she speaks out loud. The best days are when she doesn’t make a single mark in her notebook. What happened to make Elise choose silence over personal connection and what happens if she goes so long without talking that no words come out of her mouth when she finally has something important to say? This story kept me on the edge of my seat and I never quite knew if I could believe Elise’s version of the truth. I have recommended this to several 5th graders and all of them said the same thing - they couldn’t put it down. Here’s an excerpt from chapter one.

Well, middle grade fans, that wraps up another episode of Happy Reading. Thank you so much for taking time out of your day to celebrate some truly marvelous books with me. I hope you discovered something new that you are dying to read. If you enjoy this podcast and want to help spread the word, it would be amazing if you left a review on iTunes. I would love to know which middle grade titles you are currently enjoying! You can always find me on twitter as WordNerd153 and contact me through my website at happyrdng.blogspot.com. Whatever else you do today, I hope you get to spend time with a good book. Until next time, Happy Reading!

Happy 2019!

Season 3, Episode 1 - Recent 5-Star Reads

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Welcome to Happy Reading, a podcast that spotlights fabulous middle grade fiction. I’m Sarah Threlkeld, a K-5 librarian outside of Seattle and a former 6th grade reading teacher. Middle grade is, hands down, my favorite type of book to read and it is a privilege to geek out with you. Whether you’ve listened to every episode or this is your first time, I really appreciate you devoting a chunk of your day to finding out about books aimed at kids ages 8 through 12.

The previous two seasons I chose a theme for each episode and talked up titles that fit the theme. Between working full-time, raising a toddler, and trying to be a responsible adult (which is highly overrated), I’m finding it pretty challenging to produce this podcast as often as I’d like, so I am going to try something new. Yes, I know change can be painful and terrifying, but I think it will be good for us. Instead of picking a theme for each episode, I am simply going to tell you about books that make me happy or deserve some attention and then read excerpts from them. I hope you enjoy the new format and that I end up releasing new episodes more than once every three months. So, without further ado, here are four books I read in the last month that earned 5-star reviews.

Right as Rain by Lindsey Stoddard

Sometimes procrastination pays off. I put off writing this episode for so long that I managed to read another incredible book to spotlight. I finished Right as Rain by Lindsey Stoddard last night after staying up way past my usual bedtime. This is a beautifully-written, complex realistic fiction novel about grief, family, friendship, and finding strength in unexpected places. Rain has recently moved to New York City from a small town in Vermont because her family needs a fresh start after a tragic accident. Despite there being only a handful of days left in the school year, Rain is forced to enroll in 6th grade, where she sticks out like a sore thumb among Spanish speaking city kids, none of whom are white. Through running, poetry, and community service, Rain starts to feel more at home, but will she ever move past the secret she’s been hiding for almost a year? This book doesn’t come out until February of 2019, but I highly suggest you pre-order it or put a library hold on it immediately. Here’s an excerpt from Right as Rain.

Pages 20-21

The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacy McAnulty

When she was eight, Lucy was struck by lightning. As a result, she is a math savant who struggles with anxiety and social interactions, so she has been homeschooled by her grandmother for the past four years. But that is about to change. Lucy is attending 7th grade at a public school and she is less than thrilled about it; she’d much rather enroll in college. If Lucy can survive an entire school year, make at least one true friend, and join one school activity, her grandmother will rethink the situation. Will Lucy survive or will she be stuck eating lunch in the bathroom while counting down the minutes until summer vacation? This book is funny, thought-provoking, and full of authentic and entertaining characters. It made me laugh out loud and cry my eyes out. Here’s chapter four, Lucy’s first day of 7th grade.

Pages 24-30

Property of the Rebel Librarian by Allison Varnes

If you love books (and I bet you do since you are listening to this podcast), you are going to adore Property of the Rebel Librarian by Allison Varnes. June is a library-loving, rule-following, book-devouring middle schooler who has never gotten in trouble, but when her dad confiscates a fantasy book that she’s reading because he deems it to be too scary, June thinks it may be time to push back against the rules. Before she knows it books are being weeded willy-nilly from the school library and the incredible librarian is placed on leave, all because a group of parents are appalled by some of the titles on the shelves. As if Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book is going to turn kids into murderers. Sheesh. When June stumbles upon a Little Free Library she has an epiphany - maybe she can supply her classmates with banned books on the down low. In no time at all books that are supposed to be off limits are being passed from student to student, but how long can they get away with such anarchy? Much like Ban This Book by Alan Gratz, Property of the Rebel Librarian will have readers cheering on the protagonist’s budding librarianship and shaking their fists at the idiotic adults who are terrified when young people think for themselves. Here’s an excerpt from chapter 3 when June comes home to a terrible surprise from her parents.

Pages 29-31

It Wasn’t Me by Dana Alison Levy

Six middle schoolers, two acts of vandalism, one week spent in a Justice Circle trying to get to the truth. When Theo’s self-portraits are defaced and his pinhole cameras are trashed, the school principal wants to suspend the five students who were found at the scene, but Ms. Lewiston convinces her to try something different - have the five kids and Theo meet in her classroom over Spring Break to repair the damage that has been done and build trust amongst the classmates. Through daily reflection sheets filled out by each participant, as well as traditional prose, readers learn bits and pieces about each character and how they are involved in the destruction of Theo’s artwork. Clues about the truth are dropped like breadcrumbs, until everything clicks into place. Much like John Hughes’ masterpiece The Breakfast Club, It Wasn’t Me explores concepts of truth, forgiveness, judgement and friendship between people who have more in common than they realize. This is a brilliant portrayal of middle school life that tweens won’t want to put down. Here is each student’s answer to the first reflection question on the first day of the Justice Circle.

I hope you enjoyed hearing about these marvelous middle grade titles and that you pick up one or all of them in the near future. I’d love to know what you have read lately that you couldn’t put down. You can find me on Twitter as WordNerd153 and you can message me through my website, www.happyrdng.blogspot.com, where you can also find a transcript of every episode. Until next time, happy reading!