Margaret Nevinski

Photo: Susan K. Hylen

Art by Alyssa L., age 11

What I'm Reading

Any time Erin Entrada Kelly comes out with a new middle-grade novel, I'm right on board. Her latest, Those Kids from Fawn Creek, was an absolute joy to read.

Not much changes in the tiny town of Fawn Creek, Louisiana. The twelve kids in the sixth grade have known each other forever, and everyone has their role. The boy nicknamed Slowly is "slow." Greyson is called "Gayson." Shy Dorothy is a dud. That's just the way it is. Always has been.

Then the new girl arrives. Orchid is not only new. She's been places - Paris and New York City. When Greyson and Dorothy, who feel like misfits in their own families, befriend Orchid, they experience hope that Fawn Creek won't define them their whole lives. Influenced by Orchid's kindness, they begin to express their true personalities.

But when popular girl Janie does the bidding of bully Renni, the friendship that Greyson and Dorothy have formed with Orchid threatens to unravel. Who is she really, and will the kindness she's shown to the kids of Fawn Creek finally make things change?

Working with a cast of thirteen characters, Erin Entrada Kelly manages to give each a distinct personality. She taps into kids' emotions so deeply, it's as if she enters a zone where she's twelve years old herself, with all the pains and triumphs of sixth grade. Highly recommended for ages 8-12.

With sisters Meg as Maryam, Jo as Jameela, Beth as Bisma, and Amy as Azeela, author Hena Khan treats us to a middle-grade retelling of Little Women with a charming Pakistani-American family in Atlanta.

Thirteen-year-old Jameela Mirza dreams of becoming a journalist. Her plan is to be editor-in-chief of her school's paper next year. For now she's the features editor, but she's frustrated by the lack of hard-hitting stories that make a difference. She wants to write journalism that wins awards, not stories about library fines.

When Ali, the nephew of a family friend, arrives at her school from London, Jameela prints a story about his experiences in the US. When that goes awry, it jeopardizes Jameela's relationship with him--and her crush? Worse, Bisma is diagnosed with a serious illness, throwing the Mirza family into disarray. Jameela asks herself: are there more important things than winning awards?

Jameela is a believable, flawed character that readers will root for. Hena Khan's is an important voice for kids, and her retelling of Litttle Women brings up issues that Louisa May Alcott didn't have to think about. Highly recommended for ages 8-12.

I absolutely loved We Dream of Space by Erin Entrada Kelly, author of Hello, Universe. Her newest middle-grade novel earned her a 2021 Newbery Honor Award.

Set in January, 1986, the story takes place against the backdrop of the Challenger launch. As NASA prepares for the historic mission with a teacher on board, three siblings in Park, Delaware - 13-year-old Cash and 12-year-old twins Fitch and Bird - navigate their own orbits in their unpredictable and chaotic household.

Bird dreams of being NASA's first female shuttle commander, but feels invisible. Fitch wants to control his fiery temper, but instead lashes out. Cash just wants to be good at something - anything. He's been dropped from the basketball team and flunked 7th grade.

Their enthusiastic science teacher, Ms. Salonga, provides a stable setting where dreams have room to grow and launch. When the fated day arrives for the Challenger, the events that follow change all three siblings, and their family orbit.

We Dream of Space is an introspective novel. It's a fast read, but you won't want to read it quickly. Instead, savor lines like these: "Fitch had found a quarter and a new outlook." Highly recommended for ages 9 and up.

In Ernesto Cisneros's debut novel, Efrén Divided, Efrén Nava believes his Amá is Soperwoman, just like the Mexican sopes she makes for him and his younger siblings, twins Mia and Max.

Apá works hard, and Efrén does what he can to help his undocumented family in southern California. At school, his best friend, unpredictable David, is running for school president, and Efrén tries to help him, too.

But when Amá is deported to Mexico, Efrén has bigger problems. With Apá working overtime to hire a coyote to bring Amá back, it's up to Efrén to care for the twins and get them and himself to school.

After Apá gets the money, they realize it's safest for Efrén to cross the border to Tijuana to meet with Amá, because he's an American citizen. Efrén's journey to find his mother and try to bring her back is also a journey of the heart, and full of surprises.

Meanwhile, Efrén considers running for school president himself, to make a difference. But can he, in his family and at school?

Zoe Washington has a dream: to become a professional pastry chef. But on her 12th birthday, something happens that changes her life. Zoe discovers a letter from her dad, Marcus.

It's not unusual to get a letter from your dad. But Marcus is in prison for murder, and Zoe hasn't heard from him before. Zoe's mom wants her to have nothing to do with her father.

With the help of her grandma, Zoe begins a secret correspondence with Marcus. When he claims he's innocent of the murder he's accused of, Zoe, along with her best friend, Trevor, sets out to find the one witness who can prove the truth.

In the meantime, Zoe has to show her mom and stepdad she can handle an internship at a local bakery and apply for the Kids Bake Challenge on TV.

When Zoe learns about the Innocence Project, an organization dedicated to helping the falsely accused, she hopes they can help clear Marcus of the crime he didn't commit.

From the Desk of Zoe Washington, a debut middle-grade novel by Janae Marks, shows the tenacity of one girl to make things right in the world - while she purses her dream to become a star baker. For ages 9 and up.

This is The Odyssey as you've never experienced it.

In Homer's Excellent Adventure, P.J. Hoover humorously reimagines the tale of Odysseus as penned by 12-year-old Homer, a less than studious schoolboy in ancient Ionia.

Homer must write an epic story, one that will last "for all the ages," or he'll be expelled. His familly will lose their farm, too. And his story has to be in Dactylic Hexamater. No pressure, right?

Enter the Greek god Hermes, who places Homer inside a miniature Trojan horse, along with Homer's friend Dory, a slave who runs a falafel stand. And they're off on their adventure!

The sly P.J. Hoover teaches us about the Trojan War; introduces us to a buff Odysseus; instructs us about the art of writing; and reminds us how vicious (and hilarious and petty) the Greek gods can be. And all the while, we have no idea we're learning - we're having too much fun.

Highly recommended for readers who appreciate a good yarn or who love to laugh - preferably at the same time. Any book that includes a recipe for hardtack has my vote. For ages 10 and up.

Eleven-year-old Yumi Chung wants to be a stand-up comedian.

Only two problems: she's super shy, and her Korean immigrant parents think her comedy is a waste of time. They want Yumi to ace the SSAT and win a scholarship to her private school. Problem number three: Yumi hates her school, where she doesn't fit in as the shy Asian girl.

Stand Up, Yumi Chung! by Jessica Kim follows the determined Yumi as she suffers through a Korean hagwon, or summer school, lies to her parents, wanders into a comedy workshop in her LA neighborhood, and doesn't correct the instructor about a mixup in identity.

Yumi knows it's wrong, but as Kay, her new identity, her shyness disappears. She practices her comedy routines with more confidence, too. What can go wrong?

Plenty, as things spiral out of control. Her parents' restaurant is failing, her sister wants to join the Peace Corps, and Yumi lies to her new comedy friends. As she struggles to save her parents' restaurant, Yumi wonders if she'll ever learn to perform as herself.

This is a fantastic #ownvoices story about embracing your identity and following your dreams. For ages 9 and up.

Arianne Costner's debut middle-grade novel, My Life As a Potato, is hilarious.

When seventh-grader Ben Hardy's family moves to Idaho, a state famous for its potatoes, Ben just knows he's jinxed by the starchy vegetable. It all started when he was five, and there's no sign of the jinx letting up.

Because of an unfortunate "accident" in the middle-school cafeteria when Ben throws a hot dog, the principal gives him a choice: suspension, or being the school mascot - a potato named Steve the Spud.

Suspension is never a good choice, so Ben finds himself inside a dorky potato costume in front of the very kids he wants to impress.

All Ben wants is to be popular in his new school. Sure, he might be making some bad choices. But when the final basketball game comes around, Ben has to make a bigger choice: please the popular kids, or do what is right. Will Ben stick by the friends who've stood by him?

Besides being laugh-out-loud funny with potato puns galore, this novel is filled with kindness and heart. Get some French fries and enjoy the read! For ages 8 and up.

What the Stars Are Made Of, Sarah Allen's debut middle-grade novel, is uplifting, funny, and warm.

Seventh-grader Libby has Turner syndrome. That means she's missing an X chromosome, and she's not quite like other girls. She has special challenges, but they just make her more determined.

One of Libby's challenges is knowing how to talk to people; she can't always read how they react, which can make it hard to make friends at the lunch table.

When her history teacher, Ms. Trebky, gives the class an assignment to showcase a person they admire—someone who's not in their textbook—Libby chooses Cecilia Payne, the first scientist to discover what stars are made of. Libby dreams big, so she also enters a contest at the Smithsonian with a cash prize.

When Libby's pregnant sister, Nonny, comes home while her husband works in another state, Libby worries the baby will be born with complications. She makes a deal with the universe; if she wins the contest, the baby will be fine, and Libby will give the money to her sister.

Libby also acquires a new friend, Talia, showing her that every family has challenges. How you handle them, and how you handle winning or losing a contest, depends on what you're made of.

This is an #ownvoices story. The voice and the writing sparkle, just like Libby's determined personality. For ages 10 and up.

I was lucky to get an advanced reading copy of Pam Muñoz Ryan's forthcoming middle-grade novel, Mañanaland, being released on March 3, 2020.

Twelve-year-old Maximiliano Córdoba lives in the village of Santa Maria with Papá and Buelo, his grandfather. Max is obsessed with making the village soccer team, but there's one problem: Max needs a birth certificate to prove his age, and he doesn't have one.

Papá is vague about why, but it has to do with Max's mother disappearing when he was a baby. Gradually Max learns about his background. His family are guardians, those who help the "hidden ones" escape from dangerous places in the south, to the north, or Mañanaland.

One night, when Buelo and Papá are away, Max is called on to become a guardian himself. Can he make the risky trip to help a little girl, Isadora, escape her situation back home? Max agrees, hoping he will find his mother when he gets to Mañanaland, not knowing it is a place in the mind, not a geographic location.

Along with Isadora, Lola the dog, and Churro the kitten, Max sets out on a journey to answer the questions about his family's past. Some questions may never be answered. But for now, Max sees a chance to prove himself to his protective Papá.

The gorgeous cover by artist Paola Escobar depicts La Reina Gigante, a stone tower that dominates Santa Maria, where the hidden ones are secretly held until their escape to the north can begin.

Mañanaland is a master work from the great Pam Muñoz Ryan. As we struggle with immigration in this country, the novel shows us a path of hope and compassion. I can't wait until young readers discover it. For ages 8 and up.

Padma Venkatraman's middle-grade novel, The Bridge Home, is a moving story about love, family, friendship, and loss.

Runaway sisters Viji and Rukku escape from their Indian village to the city of Chennai, where they must find food, work, and somewhere to sleep. Rukku is developmentally disabled, and Viji has always felt responsible for her.

When the sisters meet Arul and Muthu, two homeless boys, they join forces to form a family.

With the boys, Viji becomes a "ragpicker," toiling in the city's garbage heaps, while Rukku makes bracelets. Though life on an abandoned bridge is hard, Viji, who dreams of being a teacher, tells stories to brighten their circumstances. A tiny spark inside Viji still glows, promising a future when she can help children like Rukku.

The sights, sounds, and smells of Chennai are vivid, adding to this beautiful novel's appeal. It's deservedly garnered several starred reviews. For ages 10 and up.

This extraordinary middle-grade novel by Sara Nickerson, Last Meeting of the Gorilla Club, is on my "personal best" list for 2019. This layered novel is a coming-of-age tale, a friendship story, a novel about death and loss, and a ghost story.

Eleven-year-old Josh's family has moved to the Pacific Northwest. Unfortunately, his imaginary friends, including Big Brother, have moved with him. Josh had a big brother who died before he was born, but his family won't talk about that. Dad is gone on a business trip and Mom unpacks boxes of old photographs. That leaves Josh with his imaginary friends to navigate his new world on his own.

In a separate point of view, classmate Lucas Hernandez struggles with the death of his best friend, Maxie Moon. When Maxie appears to Lucas, and Big Brother appears to Josh, the two boys at first deal with the apparitions on their own. Later, their sense of being "different" draws them together.

Beautifully written, the novel takes its time to let both boys' emotions play out. The title comes from a savvy teacher's video involving a gorilla, another "apparition" only Josh and Lucas can see, and something that bonds them.

Last Meeting of the Gorilla Club is about the ability to see things right in front of us, and sometimes things that only appear to be. I loved this. For ages 10 and up.

Shakespeare meets Julia Child.

In Rajani LaRocca's debut middle-grade novel, Midsummer's Mayhem, eleven-year-old Mimi learns that in baking, just like in life, the savory goes with the sweet.

Mimi dreams of being a baking star like her idol, Puffy Fay. When Mimi sees a sign for a kids' baking contest in a new local cafe, she immediately signs up. Turns out the While Away Cafe isn't all that it seems. The owner, Mrs. T, is decidedly weird.

LaRocca blends A Midsummer's Night Dream with Mimi's own dream to find fame and fortune as a baker. Mimi also wants to prove that as the youngest in her talented Indian-American family, she has talents, too.

When a mysterious Indian boy named Vik appears in the beloved woods behind Mimi's house, they become a place of magic. There's mayhem, mix-ups, and little bit of madness.

Sit back for a thoroughly enjoyable read. BYOS.*

Recommended for ages 8-12, Shakespeare fans, or anyone who still believes in the power of dreams.

*Bring your own sweets.

When 11-year-old Edgar and his neglectful mother move from Toronto to Dawson City, Yukon, the only bright spot in Edgar's life is Benjamin, the elderly dog he will be caring for.

Alan Cumyn's middle-grade novel, North to Benjamin, takes us on Edgar's journey as his mom's behaviors threaten to upend the new life they're building in the north.

Benjamin becomes Edgar's only confidant, so close that Edgar speaks to Benjamin and understands his dog language. Edgar turns part-dog himself, becoming mute and barking when he tries to talk to humans.

As Edgar embarks on a dangerous trek across ice, he counts on Benjamin to save them. What Benjamin gives to Edgar makes for a riveting, compelling, compassionate tale.

I loved this novel. Beautiful iimages abound, and emotions are close on the page. Anyone who has felt a need of love and protection--and who hasn't?--will find a life raft in Edgar's story.

A starred review in Kirkus reads, "This gripping, suspenseful read with compelling characters and a spellbinding setting lures readers into the deep-cold night even as they long for a life-affirming sunrise." I agree. Highly recommended for ages 10 and up.

Kekla Magoon's new middle-grade novel, The Season of Styx Malone, is on my favorites list of 2018.

Ten-year-old Caleb and his year-older brother, Bobby Gene, have the summer ahead of them in boring Sutton, Indiana.

Caleb longs to expand his world, to get out of Sutton and prove he's not ordinary. But Dad insists they stay in Sutton, where it's safe and where they know everyone. A frustrating rule for Caleb, but sensible advice for African-American boys.

When Caleb and Bobby Gene meet 16-year-old Styx Malone, new boy in town and a foster kid, they get more than they bargain for. Caleb gets drawn in by Styx's charisma and his Great Escalator Trade scheme, while Bobby Gene is more guarded. The bond between the brothers is one of the themes Kekla Magoon explores beautifully.

Full of great writing, convincing characters, and twists I couldn't predict, The Season of Styx Malone is one of those books I want to reread as soon as I've read the last page. For ages 9 to 12.

In Jacqueline Woodson's poignant middle-grade novel, Harbor Me, six students, 5th and 6th graders, meet once a week in their school's ARTT room - "A Room to Talk" - without their teacher.

There's Haley, whose mom has died and whose dad is in prison. Esteban, whose father was taken away by ICE. Amari, who loves to draw. Holly, Haley's best friend, who blurts before she thinks. Ashton, who's being bullied by 8th graders. And Tiago, who gets hassled in the street for speaking Spanish.

As the six talk and become friends, Haley confesses she's worried about her dad's return from prison. The only father she's known has been her uncle. Will she know how to talk to her real dad?

A year of sharing in the ARTT room leads to the discovery that it's important to harbor each other.

Debut novelist Celia C. Perez writes in a fresh, new voice in her middle-grade novel, The First Rule of Punk.

Twelve-year-old Malu (or Maria Luisa, as her mom insists on calling her) is forced to move to Chicago for two years when her mom gets a visiting professorship. Malu misses her dad. He’s the cool one (he owns a record shop) who understands her love of punk.

Malu makes zines that explore punk and her identity—half white, half Mexican, a "coconut." She's never Mexican enough for her mom, who wants her to be a senorita with traditional clothes and hair. Malu likes to create her own outfits, and her Spanish sucks.

When she starts at her new school, Malu is sure she won't fit in. But she starts a punk band called the CoCo's, challenging the school's authority on what's allowed. She also finds a mentor, Mrs. Hidalgo, one of her friend’s mom.

The CoCo's music might not be the most polished, but the band helps Malu form her own Mexican-American identity, punk style. She learns an important rule of punk, too: be yourself.

Malu’s zines are printed throughout, which visually tell her story. Readers will be tempted to get out their scissors, magazines, and glue sticks to create their own zines. The author even shows you how. For ages 10 and up.

Aven is a typical 13-year-old. Oh, except she has no arms. She was born that way, and was adopted when she was two.

In the debut middle-grade novel Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling, Aven has just started a new middle school after her dad takes a job running Stagecoach Pass, a failing theme park in Arizona.

Aven's now faced with kids who either ignore her or who ask dumb questions like, "Is it contagious?"

Aven is spunky and independent, determined to show the world she is abled, not disabled. When she meets Connor, a boy with Tourette syndrome, and Zion, an overweight classmate, the three form a friendship that helps them accept who they are--and helps others accept them, too.

The three also solve a mystery about the absent owner of Stagecoach Pass, a mystery that leads to self-discovery for Aven.

Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus is funny and inspiring, with a unique setting that made me feel the desert sun and dust. For ages 9 and up.

I loved Victoria Jamieson's graphic novel, Roller Girl. I love All's Faire in Middle School even more.

Sixth-grader Imogene and her family work at the Florida Renaissance Faire. She's been homeschooled. But not anymore. Imogene is about to launch into the epic adventure of middle school.

With humor and love, Jamieson perfectly captures what it’s like to go from comfy extended family to the emotional maze of middle school. Imogene finds friends, and at first they seem nice. Then not so nice.

The rules are confusing, too: how to dress, talk, and act. And then there are boys. The Renaissance Faire didn't prepare her for this!

Imogene’s relationship with her younger brother, Felix, is touching and true. A subplot about Felix’s stuffed squirrel, Tiffany, is worth reading the book alone.

For those brave enough to join this quest, you won't regret it. For ages 10 and up.

Ali Standish's debut middle-grade novel, The Ethan I Was Before, brings up interesting moral questions, just the kind of book I love to read.

Twelve-year-old Ethan carries a heavy guilt inside him. He dared his best friend, Kacey, to climb a tree, and the branch broke. Ethan is sure he killed her, but the truth turns out to be more complicated.

Ethan's parents move the family from Boston to the small town of Palm Knot, Georgia, so Ethan can get over "the incident." Ethan's grandpa lives in Palm Knot, and they form a complicated relationship.

Because of "the incident," everything in Ethan's life is complicated. Nothing is easy, especially his relationship with himself.

Ethan meets Coralee, a girl with secrets of her own. She tries to smooth Ethan's way in school, but she's taunted by classmates for telling untrue stories. But is there a kernel of truth in them?

Ali Standish gets to Coralee's and Ethan's truths through a winding path involving a mystery, a hurricane, and some lost wolf pups.

Before Ethan and Coralee can move forward, they have to deal with their pasts. The Ethan I Was Before takes us forward with them. For ages 9-12.

For pure fun factor, Molly Booth's debut young adult novel, Saving Hamlet, scores a perfect 10.

Sophomore Emma Allen is the assistant stage manager for her high school’s production of Hamlet.

So far so good, until the stage manager moves to Australia and Emma is put in charge - for a job she's never done before.

Add a best friend, actor Lulu, who falls in love with a girl, and is cast as Ophelia instead of the part she craves–Hamlet.

Add a crush on the director, Brandon, and confused feelings about the boy playing Hamlet—Josh, a popular soccer player who doesn’t know the first thing about acting.

Just when Emma’s life reaches peak turmoil, she falls through the stage trapdoor and finds herself in the Globe Theatre, where the very first production of Hamlet in 1601 is about to take place.

With her new pixie haircut, Emma is mistaken as a boy, “Master Allen." I won't reveal more, will just say that being part of the Globe both saves and complicates Emma's life in unexpected ways.

Molly Booth is a terrific writer. The plot of Saving Hamlet is delicious, and the characters nicely high-schooly and realistic. Booth reaches for fresh and original language, not the tried and true. Just like Shakespeare. For ages 12 and up.

Take a contemporary novel, mix in a historical tale--in this case, the Civil Rights era--and add a mystery. The result is Susan Vaught's multilayered middle-grade novel, Things Too Huge to Fix by Saying Sorry.

The summer after eighth grade, in Oxford, Mississippi, twelve-year-old Dani has a lot to contend with: her beloved grandma is dying of Alzheimer’s, her dad suffers from PTSD, and her mom is working too many hours.

Also the boy Dani likes, Mac, tells her he can’t hang out with her anymore. Their grandmothers are having a feud because of something that happened during the 1960s. The "what" has been a mystery for years. When Dani's grandma gives her a key to a missing lockbox, Dani becomes involved in the feud, too, and sets out to solve the mystery.

Dani is biracial, which gives her an excellent viewpoint to study the past and present of race relations in Mississippi. Vaught deftly weaves past and present together as Dani works to find out what drove her grandma and Mac's apart.

Dani discovers that the feud stems from the riot that occurred after the young African-American student, James Meredith, enrolled in the segregated University of Mississippi. What happened to her grandma at the riot gives Dani a personal stake in the story.

William Faulkner famously said, "The past is never dead. It's not even past," which is the perfect epigraph for this novel.

Things Too Huge to Fix by Saying Sorry also brings up the issue of appropriation: who is authorized to tell a story? The novel explores friendship, betrayal, and hard truths learned when events happen that you don't expect. For ages 10-14.

What better way to impart history than a graphic novel. The power-ful book March: Book Three does just that.

U.S. Representative John Lewis teams up with cowriter Andrew Aydin and artist Nate Powell to tell the story of his involvement in the Civil Rights movement.

March: Book Three is the last book of a trilogy. This volume covers the years 1963 to 1965, ending with the famous march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama.

The movement comes alive in Congressman Lewis's words. He was there. He was young, only in his 20s. In this story, he doesn't hold back. He tells about the beatings, the intimidation, the deaths as young and old African-Americans fought for their constitutional right to vote.

Behind-the-scene details about tensions within the movement, FBI actions, and pressure on President Johnson to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 made me feel as if I was there. Nate Powell's art conveys the power and action of the movement.

March: Book Three deservedly won this year's National Book Award for Young People's Literature. For middle-school and up.

I was excited to read that Jason Reynolds has a new series for middle-grade readers.

Ghost, the first novel in the Track series, follows 7th-grader Castle Cranshaw (nickname Ghost) as he discovers running. As a sport, that is.

Ghost always knew he could run. But not officially, on a team. Ghost has run from the bad things that happened in his life, bad things that still haunt him.

Then, at a local park, he happens upon his city's track team, the Defenders. Ghost has a chance to work with an Olympic medalist track coach, a man who coaches him in more than the 100-meter dash.

Question is, can Ghost keep the anger inside him from exploding long enough to prove himself?

Ghost had me cheering, wincing, and laughing out loud. I can't wait for the next book in the series. For ages 10 and up.

When 12-year-old Jaime's cousin Miguel is killed by a gang in their Guatemalan village, the only way to keep Jaime safe is to send him to the United States. Illegally.

The wonderfully titled The Only Road, a new middle-grade novel by Alexandra Diaz, shows how the journey north is the only road open to Jaime if he wants to stay alive.

Along with Miguel's sister, 15-year-old Angela, Jaime starts the long, dangerous trek through Guatemala and Mexico toward safety. His brother Tomas lives in New Mexico, and that is their destination.

Tension fills this story as Jaime and Angela live in fear of being caught by la migra. They encounter other children traveling to freedom, and make two friends. They also rescue a dog from cruel dogfighting.

Jaime's determination to reach El Norte kept me turning pages. We see the entire journey through his eyes, and watch him grow.

The Only Road puts a human face on the migration crisis worldwide. It is a tribute to family. In telling one boy's story, Alexandra Diaz has told the story of millions. I'm hoping for a sequel. For ages 9 and up.

Three children--William, Jeanne, and Jacob, along with their very special dog, Gwenforte--take us on an adventure in France in 1242.

The Inquisitor's Tale by Adam Gidwitz is one of the most original novels for children I've read.

To begin, there are the main characters. William, a young monk, is biracial (his mother was a Saracen, or North African Muslim). Jeanne is a poor peasant girl. Jacob is Jewish. In the world of 13th-century France, they are powerless people. And they should hate each other.

Which they do, at first. Then, when they are flung together due to events, they see beyond the superficial divisions among them, and become fast friends.

Those events? William, Jeanne, Jacob, and even Gwenforte, have performed miracles. But the powers that be in Catholic France don't like the idea of a holy, sainted dog, much less a Muslim, peasant, and Jew.

So the children flee King Louis IX and his powerful mother, while the inquisitor sets down their tale. This tale is told by many voices: a nun, a brewster, a librarian, a butcher, a jongleur, and so on, with a nod to Canterbury Tales.

The end? I can't give it away, but it involves book burning, quicksand, angels, and bonds of friendship and love. The "illuminations" by Hatem Aly give this novel the feel of a medieval manuscript. Recommended for ages 10 and up.

If you like to laugh, and need a good book for summer, look no further than Justin Case: Shells, Smells, and the Horrible Flip-Flops of Doom by Rachel Vail.

Justin Krzeszewski (Justin Case for short) will be in fourth grade in the fall--if he can make it through the summer. Instead of safe, familiar Science Camp, he's going to Camp GoldenBrook.

Camp GoldenBrook is the kind of place where the runny-aroundy kids go. Not kids like Justin, who worry. About everything. Though he's trying to get better about that.

At Camp GoldenBrook, Justin has to wear flip-flops that hurt his toes, take swimming tests, play horrible games like Knuckles and Color War (which are not like playing), deal with a mean kid named Cash, do obstacle courses, and try not to be last at everything, like Penelope Ann Murphy.

And then there's Justin's little sister, Elizabeth, who insists that animal doctors are called vegetarians, and his dog, Qwerty, who's flunking out of Obedience School.

Will Justin make it through the summer? He finds a perfect seashell, which helps. And he gets to see his grandma, Gingy, and his grandpa, Poopsie, who teaches him the Super Dooper Big Boogie Boondoggle Splashmaster Cannonball in the pool.

Sounds like fourth grade will be a rest for Justin! Until he finds out who his teacher will be….

Justin Case: Shells, Smells, and the Horrible Flip-Flops of Doom is best enjoyed with a popsicle. Not lime, which is Justin's least favorite flavor. For ages 7 to 10.

Chicago. 1968. Summer. A time of upheaval and change.

This is the explosive time and place author Kekla Magoon explores in her upper middle-grade novel, Fire in the Streets, a companion to her award-winning The Rock and the River.

Fourteen-year-old Maxie desperately wants to be a full member of the Black Panthers. But everyone thinks she's too young.

Everyone but Maxie. She's seen a lot on the streets already, and her rocky home life has prepared her for a lot. She works hard in the Panther office, even bringing along her best friends, Emmalee and Patrice, but the adults in charge keep giving her trivial chores.

No one takes Maxie seriously. Not the adults. Not her former boyfriend, Sam. Everything's been shaky between them since his brother was killed. Not even her brother Raheem takes her seriously, and they share everything.

Or do they? When a traitor infiltrates the Panther office, everyone is a suspect, even those closest to Maxie. Will she discover who the traitor is? What will she do if she does?

Kekla Magoon's writing brings the 1960s to life. The words on the page are tense and taut, but also tender and poetic. For ages 10 to 14.

If you need a great business idea, look no further than Cleo Edison Oliver, CEO.

Cleo is the heroine of Sundee T. Frazier's new middle-grade novel, Cleo Edison Oliver: Playground Millionaire.

Fifth-grader Cleo's not a millionaire--yet. But only because the world doesn't totally appreciate the new businesses she's constantly starting. Like selling avocados from the trees in their yard. It's not her fault their dog, Barkley, gobbles them all up.

Cleo has her own heroine: Fortune A. Davies, the TV star with her Persuasion Power (trademarked) and other steps to success. Cleo longs to meet Fortune, and even wonders if she could be Cleo's birth mother.

In the meantime, Cleo shares her business ideas with her best friend, Caylee. But one day Caylee tries to share something with Cleo--her sadness about her dad leaving the family--and Cleo's too busy talking business plans to really listen.

This novel is about friendship, family, adoption, and steps to success that lead to more important things than money. For young entrepreneurs ages 8 to 12.

I picked up Ally Condie's middle-grade novel, Summerlost, because it takes place at a Shakespeare Festival. (I am a huge Shakespeare fan!) The novel does revolve around the festival, but it's also about so much more.

One year before the story opens, Cedar’s dad and brother were killed in a car accident. Now, 12-year-old Cedar, her mom, and her younger brother, Miles, are still grieving when Mom moves them to her hometown in Utah for the summer.

One day, Cedar follows a boy on a bike—a boy dressed in a strange costume. Turns out he works the concession stand at the nearby Shakespeare Festival. Soon Cedar’s working there too, as well as volunteering in the costume department.

Cedar and Leo become friends, and find they have more in common than seemed obvious at first. They become involved in a mystery about an actress who died young, while Cedar works through her memories of her dad and brother. Leo, who’s different from everyone in his family, has his own obsession--to raise money for a trip to England to see Hamlet.

Together, Cedar and Leo navigate the summer. I was drawn in by Cedar's quiet voice, by her family's raw feelings, and by her friendship with a boy who isn't a boyfriend, but who understands her better than anyone.

This tender novel is about life's truths, and death's truths, too. It's about being different, and how that's okay. And then there's the Shakespeare Festival, like icing on the cake. For readers 10 and up.

Twelve-year-old Peter’s mom has died, and he finds solace in his pet fox, Pax. He's raised Pax since the fox was an abandoned kit, and the two are inseparable.

Sara Pennypacker's powerful middle-grade novel, Pax, is told from the point of view of the boy and the fox in alternating chapters, set in a near future world at war over water.

One day Peter’s dad must leave for the war. Peter will live with his grandfather 300 miles away, with no room for a fox. Peter’s dad forces his son to leave the pet fox in the woods, arguing that Pax is a wild animal and will be able to survive.

When Peter gets to his grand-father’s, he realizes he's made a huge mistake in abandoning Pax, and determines to go back to find his fox. His journey on foot takes him to a remote cabin owned by a wise woman, Vola, who may be able to help Peter, but who needs help herself.

Together, Peter and Vola negotiate their way through the maze of hurt and grief, in a world that seems to care more about winning than it does taking care of living creatures.

Pax, with illustrations by Jon Klassen, is a novel that brings up different ways of viewing life. Through Pax's point of view, we learn about fox habits and lore.

Following Peter's journey, and learning what happens between him and Pax, kept me reading late into the night. I also want to find out much more about foxes. Recommended for ages 10 and up.

It's November, 1939 in Krakow, Poland, and seven-year-old Anna finds herself alone after her father, a linguistics professor, doesn't return from a meeting.

That's the startling premise of Gavriel Savit's debut young adult novel, Anna and the Swallow Man.

What is Anna to do? She's too young to know that her father is part of an intellectual purge by the Nazis. All she knows is that no one is willing to care for her.

As she stands on the street, she meets a strange, tall person she comes to call the Swallow Man. Like Anna and her father, he knows several languages, and he also has the ability to talk to birds.

Anna and the Swallow Man embark on a walking journey that will take several years and hundreds of miles through war-torn Poland. They struggle to skirt danger, the war on the eastern front, and, most importantly, discovery of the Swallow Man's identity.

Who is the Swallow Man? He is a mystery, but Anna knows she must stay with him in order to stay alive.

When they meet a fellow traveler, Anna learns some hard lessons about friendship and about war.

Written in an allegorical style with hints of magical realism, coupled with the brutal reality of their daily lives, Anna and the Swallow Man is a novel that begs to be discussed with other readers.

Despite Anna's dark wartime journey, the end hints at hope and a new life. Recommended for high school students and older.

In Teresa E. Harris's debut middle-grade novel, The Perfect Place, we learn that twelve-year-old Treasure has moved around. A lot.

That’s because Treasure's restless dad can’t settle down. This time it's different, though. This time he leaves without them, and it seems to be for good.

When Mom decides to go looking for him, she drops off Treasure and her seven-year-old sister, Tiffany, with their Great-Aunt Grace (GAG for short), in Black Lake, Virginia.

Eccentric GAG smokes, she makes the girls do chores, and her ancient house is packed with piles of stuff—and a big furry cat—setting off Treasure’s allergies. Dad has always promised that someday they’ll move to “the perfect place,” and that promise keeps Treasure going.

She follows her rules of not making new friends and not getting attached to anyone—including GAG. But when Mom has no luck finding Dad, and Treasure meets an interesting boy who seems determined to be friends, the rules fall apart. She takes matters into her own hands.

Treasure learns a troubling truth about Dad and finds herself reassessing Black Lake and Great Aunt-Grace. Maybe the perfect place is closer than she realizes.

With the heat and humidity of Black Lake, Virginia as a backdrop, The Perfect Place is a great read for summer. But don't wait till then. Immerse yourself in a beautifully written story about a girl's search for that special place--perfect or not. For ages 9 to 12.

I was excited to see that a graphic novel, Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson, was chosen as a Newbery Honor Book this year. I loved this book.

Roller Girl is about being a best friend, learning how to skate, dying your hair blue, putting on your war face, falling down and getting up again, and mostly, about navigating the changes before junior high.

Astrid and Nicole have been best friends since fifth grade. They do everything together. When Astrid's mom takes them to a roller derby competition, Astrid is hooked. She signs up for roller derby camp and assumes Nicole will, too.

But Nicole takes ballet camp instead with their archenemy, Rachel. In the words of the book's jacket flap, "and so begins the toughest summer of Astrid’s life.” It turns out she’s horrible at skating, but that’s not the painful part. That would be Astrid's growing distance with Nicole. Can this friendship be saved?

Over the summer, Astrid learns more than skating and roller derby moves—she learns what being a friend is really about. As I cheered for and cried with Astrid, I was in awe of the author/illustrator for capturing perfectly a twelve-year-old girl's heart.

Sometimes things change and you can do something about it. But sometimes you can't. Roller Girl explores one girl's way of coping with both. For ages 10 and up.

The teen novel All American Boys is unique for two reasons.

First, it's written by two authors: Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely. Second, it's told in a back-and-forth narration by two boys, Rashad and Quinn.

Sadly, the situation the novel explores is not unique: Rashad, who is black, is beaten by a white cop. And not just any cop--he's Paul, Quinn's best friend's brother, a man who took care of him after Quinn's dad was killed in Afghanistan.

The beating takes place at the start of the novel, when Rashad is involved in an innocent mishap in the grocery store. But Paul assumes Rashad is guilty of stealing.

The bulk of All American Boys deals with the aftermath of the beating, when Rashad lands in the hospital and Quinn, who witnessed what actually happened, struggles with whether he should speak up. How can he be disloyal to Paul and his best friend?

It's impossible not to take sides after students at their school plan a protest. Quinn is forced to confront his deepest feelings about race. Rashad is forced to see his family, especially his father, a former cop, in a new light.

With Jason Reynolds writing Rashad's character, and Brendan Kiely writing Quinn's, this is tight, authentic writing. The voices of both characters are spot on. The novel will make you ask, What would I do if faced with police brutality?

For ages 12 and up.

Gordon Parks is one of my heroes and inspirations.

Born in 1912, he was a multi-talented photographer, film director, musician, and writer, one of the most influential artists in the 20th century. (He died in 2006.)

Carole Boston Weatherford presents his amazing life in her picture book biography, Gordon Parks: How the Photographer Captured Black and White America, with illustrations by Jamey Christoph.

Beginning with Parks's birth in Kansas, the youngest of 15 children, Weatherford shows how the times Parks lived in shaped who he became.

His white teacher told her all-black class, "You'll all wind up porters and waiters." There were few opportunities for young black men, but Parks was a groundbreaker, fighting stereotypes and vowing to "lay bare racism with his lens." With his camera, Parks became a witness to the inequality and segregation all around him.

Also inspiring, Parks expanded his talents to other arts, refusing to be pigeon-holed.

"About Gordon Parks" at the end of the book fills in more detail, with samples of his powerful photographs. This award-winning biography is for anyone, of any age, who wants to learn more about this American master.

In my quest to read all the Newbery Award books, I went back to one of the earliest, the 1924 winner.

The Dark Frigate by Charles Boardman Hawes is a swashbuckling pirate adventure set in 1600s England during the reign of King Charles.

I admit, the language was a bit challenging at times. But only at first. Hawes uses authentic 17th-century speech and accurate ship terms to lend the story realism, and once I got into the rhythm, the story held me to the end.

The hero is 19-year-old Philip Marsham, an orphan, who must flee London after a skirmish that's not his fault. Philip is the son of a seafaring man from a good family. But now, with no family or friends on land, Philip must make his own way in the world.

On the road he meets up with a dubious companion and signs up as crew on the Rose of Devon, a merchant ship bound for Newfoundland. That is, until the ship is taken over by the "Old One," a complicated "gentleman of fortune" who murders the ship's captain and commandeers the vessel.

Philip faces submission to his new pirate captain, or death. He chooses to stay on board, but makes his escape only to land in even worse trouble.

With details of life on the ocean and in the new world of America, The Dark Frigate offers a good read for those willing to immerse themselves in the language and times. You'll meet a fascinating and colorful cast of characters.

In the introduction, Lloyd Alexander, himself a Newbery Award winner, writes, "What emerges from these lights and shadows, from [the author's] view of the world as a rather hard place to live in, is an impression of surprising, almost startling, modernity."

I agree. The novel is modern in its portrait of life and adventures with all their complexities. Ages 12 and up.

"Be who you are," states the back jacket of George. That's the theme of this middle-grade novel by Alex Gino.

To the outside world, fourth-grader George is a boy. George is sure she’s a girl. She thinks of herself as "she" and longs to reveal who she really is--a girl stuck inside a boy's body.

George decides to audition for the role of Charlotte in the school play of “Charlotte’s Web." She's convinced that when Mom sees her in a female role, she'll finally understand that George is transgender.

Things don't go as planned until George's best friend, Kelly, comes up with an ingenious idea to help George. (We all need a best friend like Kelly, who is a quirky character worthy of her own novel.)

Alex Gino (who is transgender) doesn't shy away from showing George's pain--teased by her brother, punched by the school bully, and misunderstood by her mom. Fourth grade can be traumatic enough without worrying that someone will discover your secret--at the same time wanting to tell your secret.

George is an important book. It stands up for those who want to be who they are. For ages 9 and up.

Along with her parents and brother Nick, seven-year-old Holly goes to Padgett Lake to visit Gram and Gramp as usual—only Mom and Dad aren't staying, which isn't usual. Holly’s parents need time alone to work out their problems, which worries Holly. What if they get a divorce?

Mary Atkinson's lovely middle-grade novel, Owl Girl, perfectly captures Holly's worries. Gram is bossy, and Gramp does more things with Nick because he's older. Their dog Bonk is sick, too.

One night Holly hears an owl in the woods. She knows it's lonely, just like her. She knows she shouldn't disobey Gram, but she just has to find the owl. Through following her own heart, Holly learns about nature and herself. She grows up just a bit this summer.

Beautiful, poetic writing pulls us right into the story, like this description of a Maine rainstorm:

All that dark night, the rain came down in torrents. It splattered and pinged and bounced off the screens in Holly's windows. It coursed down her skylight like a raging river. It drummed against the metal roof like thousands of galloping horses. Between the booming thunder and crackling lightning, the rain was everywhere and all the time.

Owl Girl is for anyone who wants to hear the call of the owl.

In Jack and the Wild Life by Lisa Doan, the sequel to the hilarious Jack the Castaway, Jack’s parents have learned their lesson. Or so they say.

Richard and Claire Berenson have a plan—surprise!—for a new moneymaking scheme that’s sure to be a success. They’ve even followed the Family Decision-Making Rules, as established by seventh-grader Jack.

So what could go wrong with their plan to open a rustic (to say the least) tourist camp in Kenya, where you can live like the Maasi, build your own hut, and milk a cow named Princess?

Plenty, as Jack finds out. He gets chased up a tree, fights off honey badgers (who aren’t as sweet as they sound), and runs from an angry bull elephant. Worst of all, his parents have lost him again! Surviving on Chips Ahoy and oranges may be fun for an hour, but try several days.

Jack needs all his ingenuity and every piece of duct tape in his backpack to get through this one. Oh, and did I mention the stuffed monkey his (maybe) girlfriend Diana makes him take along? He’s not only lost, he’s the laughingstock of Africa.

Jack and the Wild One is a wild ride, with zany illustrations by Ivica Stevanovic. Bring along your own Chips Ahoy, and hope you survive. Ages 9 to 12.

Some of My Work

Birches

When sixth-grader Becca gets a school assignment to visit the local senior care facility, she wonders, Why me? But when she meets Olivia Browne, a painter who sees life her own way, Becca begins to see things differently, too.

The Eve of St. Agnes

Seventeen-year-old Courtney dreams about her future husband on January 20th, the Eve of St. Agnes. One problem: he's the geekiest guy at her school. Can St. Agnes help?

Animal Acrostics

Whimsical poems about a salamander, squirrel, coyote, snake, and more!

Floating

Elena discovers friendship, trust, and forgiveness as she learns to float.

Rainbow Wings

Iris—not your typical Greek goddess—dreams of flying to the sun.

Remembering Minidoka: A Journal from an Internment Camp

Nine-year-old Lily must move to an internment camp with her family during World War II.

Ruby Bridges

In 1960, first-grader Ruby Bridges faces an angry mob when she starts school.

My Favorite Links

Raven Quill Literary Agency

"Where your words take flight." The literary agency I'm proud to say represents my work

Vermont College of Fine Arts

Where I earned my MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults

Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators

Our Grade A writing organization

Bainbridge Island Metro Park & Recreation District

Where I get inspired teaching creative writing workshops for kids

The Authors Guild

The writer's advocate

BARN - Bainbridge Artisan Resource Network

A place to take classes and connect with writers and other craft workers

The Writing Barn

Retreat. Create. Celebrate.

Highlights Foundation

Workshops and retreats for children's authors and illustrators

From the Mixed-Up Files of Middle-Grade Authors

The latest on everything middle grade

Writing and Illustrating

Information and news about writing and illustrating children's books

Cynsations

Cynthia Leitich Smith and friends help us keep up with the children's book world

Publishing Insights

Writer's Digest provides interviews and industry news

Hedgebrook

A writing retreat for women on Whidbey Island, WA

Twitter

Find me on Twitter

Facebook

Chat with me on Facebook

IndieBound

Support independent bookstores!

Elliott Bay Book Company

Seattle's legendary bookstore on Capitol Hill

Eagle Harbor Book Company

Bainbridge Island's community bookstore

Library of Congress

For kids and families

Polish Home Associaton

The place to study Polish and eat pierogi in Seattle

Welcome!

I write for children, with an emphasis on stories that

connect kids with nature and reflect social justice themes.

I'm also a writing teacher, reader, walker,

bird lover, islander, and Shakespeare fan.

I'm thrilled that my middle-grade novel manuscript, Zach Hammerkop and the Summer of Doom, was a finalist for the Katherine Paterson Prize for Young Adult and Children's Writing.

Eleven-year-old Zach Hammerkop dreams of being like his namesake, the powerful hammerkop shark--also known as the hammerhead. After he's forced into a summer Shakespeare acting camp and discovers that a hammerkop is actually a dumb, clumsy bird—just what he feels like most of the time—he’s doomed. When disaster strikes on opening night, it's up to Zach to rescue the play, but only if he can find his true hammerkop power inside him.

Books about Writing for Kids and Teachers

Some books that have inspired my teaching.

Have Fun with Poetry!

Poetry is a great way to encourage kids

to play with language.

Don't Forget to Write for the Elementary Grades: Ages 5 to 12 by 826 National, edited by Jennifer Traig

Don't Forget to Write for the Secondary Grades: Ages 11 and Up by 826 National, edited by Jennifer Traig

Guy-Write: What Every Guy Writer Needs to Know by Ralph Fletcher

How Writers Work: Finding a Process That Works for You by Ralph Fletcher

The Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg

Mythology by Edith Hamilton

Our Stories: A Fiction Workshop for Young Authors by Marion Dane Bauer

Rip the Page! Adventures in Creative Writing by Karen Benke

Spilling Ink: A Young Writer's Handbook by Anne Mazer and Ellen Potter

What's Your Story? A Young Person's Guide to Writing Fiction by Marion Dane Bauer

Writer to Writer: From Think to Ink by Gail Carson Levine

A Writer's Notebook: Unlocking the Writer Within You by Ralph Fletcher

Writing Magic: Creating Stories That Fly by Gail Carson Levine

The Young Writer's Companion by Sarah Ellis

The Barefoot Book of Classic Poems compiled by Jackie Morris

A Crow Doesn't Need a Shadow: A Guide to Writing Poetry from Nature by Lorraine Ferra

Falling Down the Page: A Book of List Poems edited by Georgia Heard

A Kick in the Head: An Everyday Guide to Poetic Forms selected by Paul B. Janeczko

Poetry Everywhere: Teaching Poetry Writing in School and in the Community by Jack Collom and Sheryl Noethe

A Poke in the I: A Collection of Concrete Poems selected by Paul B. Janeczko

Seasons by Warabe Aska, with poetry selected by Alberto Manguel

Some Gems Especially for Teachers

From Reader to Writer: Teaching Writing Through Classic Children's Books by Sarah Ellis

How to Teach Your Children Shakespeare by Ken Ludwig

No More "I'm Done!": Fostering Independent Writers in the Primary Grades by Jennifer Jacobson

Show Me a Story: 40 Craft Projects and Activities to Spark Children's Storytelling by Emily K. Neuburger

What It Is: Do You Wish You Could Write? by Lynda Barry