I’m pretty sure I’m about to die in space. And I just turned twelve and a half. Blast off with the four winners of the StellarKid Project on a trip to the International Space Station and then to the Gateway outpost orbiting the Moon! It’s a dream come true until space junk collides with the ISS, turning their epic trip into a nightmare of survival. Alone aboard the Aether starship, the kids have to work as a team to save the adults before the ISS is destroyed. Suit up, cadet, and launch into adventure with One Giant Leap!
I chose to read this book after receiving a free e-copy from the author. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.
I had read Sol Invictus and The Eye of Ra by Ben Gartner and they were good middle grade stories, so I was looking forward to reading One Giant Leap. It’s my favorite of his so far!
This futuristic science fiction story is sure to be a hit with middle grade readers. It’s full of action and suspense and the dream coming true of going into space. I’m sure many kids dream of going to space one day like I did. When the US landed on the moon in 1969, I was 8 years old and thought we’d be much further along in space travel by now.
Each of the four kids chosen for the StellarKid Project has their own strengths and weaknesses, but they are all super smart in their area of expertise. They are as different as you would expect when you get four kids from different lifestyles together. They learn to work together, and inevitably, their teamwork saves the adults and one of their own.
There’s a lot of interesting information about space and NASA programs that kids will enjoy and even more information in the epilogue about the author’s research.
This is definitely a book that middle schoolers and older readers will enjoy with its mix of space adventure, suspense, and even a mystery.
About the Author
Ben Gartner is the award-winning author of adventure books for middle graders. His stories take readers for a thrilling ride, maybe even teaching them something on the journey. Ben can be found living and writing near the mountains with his wife and two boys.
Life has changed for eight-year-old Merel. Since the birth of her sick baby brother, her parents seem to have forgotten she exists. But when she finds a tiny silver violin in her bedroom rug, things take a turn for the worse. Merel learns that her sleep has abandoned her and that she must embark on a perilous journey to recover it or stay awake forever. Together with her devoted toy sheep, Roger, tired Merel sets out in search of Lullaby Grove and, before long, is haunted by a scary stranger.
Follow Merel into a surreal world. Meet a sleepy king with an obsession for feathers and a transparent old man on a night train going nowhere. Discover why the moonfish cry, why you should never walk across the Great Yawns, and whether Merel can escape her pursuer, win back her sleep, and realize what matters most.
Sleep, Merel, Sleep is a sweet and wistful tale about treasuring those closest to us.
My Review
I chose to read this book after receiving a free copy. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.
Merel is having a terrible time sleeping since her sick baby brother came home. She’s also feeling neglected because her parents are having to spend all of their time with him. Finally, her personal sleep gives up and quits, which means she’ll never be able to sleep again.
Merel ends up in another world. The descriptions are weird but they’re ones that middle grade readers will most likely enjoy. For example, there’s purple grass and a giant named Lollipo whose hair is cotton candy, and his freckles are different colors.
At the end of Merel’s journey, she has learned that maybe her baby brother isn’t so bad. The story did end quite abruptly, and a little more at the end would be helpful. Overall, though, I definitely recommend Sleep, Merel, Sleep for middle grade readers.
About the Author
Silke Stein is a graphic designer and author. Silke currently lives at the west coast of Canada, where she combs the shores of the Pacific Ocean and tends to her ever-growing sea glass collection. When she is not at the beach, or writing, she designs book covers for fellow authors.
What if you suddenly met someone who’s you–only better? That’s what happens in this hilarious new series for fans of Stuart Gibb’s Moon Base Alpha and quirky sci-fi animated shows like Rick and Morty and Regular Show.
It all starts with a note folded into the shape of an origami octopus: “Hi, Me. Yes, you. You’re me, and I’m you.” If you believe this and the other origami notes that follow–which middle schooler Meade Macon absolutely, positively does NOT–the concept of parallel dimensions is true, and there is a convention full of alternate versions of Meade waiting for his RSVP. It’s got to be a joke. Except . . . the octopus is an origami fold Meade thought he invented. And the note writer has a lot of intel on him that nobody else should know. I mean, he’s told his best friend Twig a lot about himself, but he’s definitely kept mum about that time he sleepwalk-peed into his Lego container when he was six. Could Me Con be a real thing? And why does the origami stalker want him to go so badly anyway?
I chose to read this book after receiving a free e-copy. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.
This is a great book for young readers! Meade is your everyday kid whose family members are overachievers so he feels like he’s always letting them down. All of a sudden, he’s not so normal anymore. He is invited to Me Con where everyone there is the same as him, except from a different universe.
Each world is a bit different, so each Me is different, but their conversations can be interesting. Every Me knows who Mom and Dad and Twig (his best friend) and Nash (a bully) are, so no explanations are needed. It’s a little difficult to get used to at times! But why has he been invited to Me Con now? It’s been going on for a while and this is the first he’s heard about it. What he finds out could change the multiverse as he knows it!
This is a page turner that children will definitely enjoy. There are funny parts guaranteed to tickle a kid’s funny bone. It also has excitement and suspense. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the Me vs. the Multiverse series soon.
About the Author
Alternate versions of S.G. Wilson from parallel Earths have worked a number of jobs: robot nursing home manager (Earth 10), flying carpet weaving instructor (Earth 56), Third Gondolier for Warlord Thud of the TransAmerican Waste (Earth 456), and chief strategist for the 2020 reelection campaign of President Martin Van Buren’s clone (Earth 132).
But the S.G. Wilson of this Earth has mostly been content to write stuff for magazines and spend time with his family in Austin, TX. He likes walking around, watching opening credit sequences for sitcoms from the 70s and 80s, and winning cats over to his side. He also co-hosts the THIS WEEK IN THE MULTIVERSE podcast.
The one thing eleven-year-old Jake Lupo loves more than anything else is baseball. However, despite his father being a professional pitcher, Jake’s fear of failing has kept him from competing against children his own age. When his father, who has recovered from a serious arm injury, is invited to pitch for an independent team, Jake and his parents move to Pine Barrows, a far flung forested mountain outpost. Jake is excited about his father’s chance at a comeback, but he soon learns that he is not the only one in Pine Barrows who loves baseball. Goblins love to play baseball, too, and Pine Barrows happens to be chock full of them. Then Jake discovers that the region is occupied by two factions of warring goblins.
Seeking to take control of the goblin kingdom, the leader of the evil goblins kidnaps Jake’s mother and bans baseball, a game which itself is a natural source of power for the goblins.
It turns out that Jake has a secret kinship with the legendary beings, and he is the only one who can save them, their kingdom and his mother. However, Jake must believe in himself and play a winner-take-all game against the best goblin players in Pine Barrows.
I chose to read this book after receiving a free e-copy from the author. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.
The Goblin Pitcher is a fantasy that children will enjoy reading. Jake can see goblins! And the reason he can see them is because both of his parents have just a little goblin blood from their ancestors. Unfortunately, the goblins are at war and the leader of the evil goblins kidnaps Jake’s mom!
This story is a page-turner and kids will love the nonstop action. The characters are well-described and their images are still stuck in my head, especially of Garbhan, a monster of folklore who “possessed a single set of body parts.” So, he’s pretty much an 8-foot tall leg!
Everything hinges on a baseball game and it all depends on Jake. Will he be able to save Pine Barrows and his mom? Whether they win the game or not, the book has a great ending.
About the Author
I have authored both fiction and nonfiction books in a variety of genres. As a freelance writer, I often collaborate with individuals on their biographies or memoirs, as well as ghostwrite.
Before I began writing, I studied filmmaking and screenwriting at Columbia College – Hollywood, earned an A.S. in Mortuary Science from Mount Ida College and a B.A. in English from the University of Rhode Island.
Title: GUINEVERE TRILOGY Author: Cheryl Carpinello Publisher: Silver Quill Publishing Pages: 371 Genre: Middle Grade / Teen / Young YA
GUINEVERE: ON THE EVE OF LEGEND
Princess Guinevere dreaded her upcoming thirteenth birthday. It signaled the beginning of her official role as the Lady of her father’s castle. No more adventures in the forest with Cedwyn. No more explorations outside the castle walls. No more excitement. No more danger. No more fun. Cedwyn—her companion for as long as she remembered—viewed her circumstances differently. A Medieval coming-of-age story relevant today.
GUINEVERE: AT THE DAWN OF LEGEND
Ancient Stones. Mystical Stones. Autumnal Equinox. Down upon a wide plain the yellow orb shines strong. Racing side by side, the two laughingly ride. A mist descends. The laughing stops. A dangerous Medieval tale of two friends. Of a loyalty not often seen.
GUINEVERE: THE LEGEND
Fiercely loyal, Cedwyn always rushes to Guinevere’s defense. Stubborn to a fault. Always there for her. A future Knight? His one and only hope. A hero? Not what Cedwyn strove for, but it sought him.
Guinevere rarely thinks with her head. Just the opposite. Thinking with one’s heart: a recipe for trouble. And trouble finds Guinevere, all too often. Stubborn, she refuses to abandon those depending upon her. Even when ordered by her father, the king.
And so these two—both on the edge of Legend—barrel forth in this deadly dangerous and riveting Arthurian adventure.
I chose to read this book after receiving a free e-copy. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.
The characters in this coming of age story are ones that most people are familiar with but this is about Guinevere before she marries Arthur and after Arthur became king.
In Guinevere: On the Eve of Legend, it is obvious that she is stubborn and doesn’t listen to authority. Everyone knows this and it’s mostly tolerated but her father and Merlyn keep warning her that she’s going to have to grow up because she will be queen one day. On her thirteenth birthday, she finds out that she’ll be queen sooner rather than later because her father has promised her hand to King Arthur. I can understand why she is upset when they tell her this, but it was the custom back then so she shouldn’t have been too surprised.
Book one is mostly a fun read, and Guinevere even gets to meet a unicorn! I liked the relationship that Guinevere has with Cedwyn. It’s a close relationship that continues throughout the books.
After the first book is a short story titled Guardian of a Princess about Seren Brenin, Arthur’s warhorse who became Guinevere’s horse and guardian after he was injured in a battle. The injury is described in enough detail that I cringed and cried, and I wonder about younger middle grade readers reading it.
In Guinevere: At the Dawn of Legend, she is 15 but not married because they are at war. She and Cedwyn continue to make questionable decisions and end up putting several children in danger and possibly causing the deaths of some monks. This book has a lot of action and although Guinevere and Cedwyn want things to stay the same, they are realizing that war has changed their lives forever.
The last book, Guinevere: The Legend, is as much about Cedwyn as it is about Guinevere. He’s such a brave young man and takes watching over the children very seriously. It’s full of action, children living in horrible conditions, and has a touch of magic. The trilogy has a good ending but, of course, it’s just the beginning of Arthur and Guinevere’s story.
At the end of the second and third books is more about places and things that were mentioned in the books. It’s obvious that the author did a lot of research and some of that is shared. I learned quite a bit and young readers will enjoy the information as much as I did, I’m sure. There is also a helpful glossary at the end of each book.
At the end of the trilogy, King Arthur’s legend is shared. This I knew but it goes well with the trilogy and it’s worth sharing with those who may not be as familiar with King Arthur. This is definitely a trilogy worth reading for young adults or even old adults like me.
About the Author
Cheryl Carpinello taught high school English for 25 years. During that time, she worked with numerous students who didn’t like to read for a variety of reasons. However, she discovered that even the most reluctant readers became engaged in the classroom and in reading when she introduced units on King Arthur and the works of ancient world writers. Upon retiring, she set out to write fast-paced, action-filled stories in these setting to encourage young readers to read more. When not writing, you can find her reading, spending time with family, and traveling.
Cheryl’s books:
Guinevere: On the Eve of Legend (1)
Guinevere: At the Dawn of Legend (2)
Guinevere: The Legend (3)
Guinevere Trilogy ebook only
The King’s Ransom (Young Knights of the Round Table)
Guinevere: The Legend is the concluding entry in the Guinevere trilogy by Cheryl Carpinello, a compelling Arthurian tale with strong characters and a story that explores the themes of friendship and loyalty against the backdrop of a society rocked by a crisis. The little children have been kidnapped, and Cedwyn is with them. Guinevere has made a vow to rescue Cedwyn and she leaves home without telling her father, an act that fills her with guilt. But she doesn’t know her bravery might put Cedwyn in harm’s way. She is just fifteen. And eleven-year-old Cedwyn trusts her absolutely, considering her as his queen. He is certain that she’s coming for him and the children. Can she save them from the renegades who hold the children captive? Traveling across the dark waters to the land beyond, Gaul, is perilous. In spite of the grim tales she’s heard from the old wizard Merlyn, will she continue?
This is a beautifully written story with fascinating characters, set in medieval England, and featuring characters of legend like the legendary King Arthur and Merlyn. In this novel, the author deftly develops a tale of adventure that revolves around Guinevere as a young girl and her loyalty to those she loves. The reader encounters her at the very start of the story, poised and on the go, determined to save her friend. Cedwyn is a richly developed young character as well and I enjoyed the way the author develops his friendship and devotion to the protagonist. The writing is filled with strong imagery, including elements of the setting like the rugged landscapes. The author’s unique ability to unveil the strong emotions of the characters and to keep the story realistic is a great addition to the strengths of the novel. The medieval era is reflected in the unique style of conversation and in the beliefs of the characters. Guinevere: The Legend is a gripping tale that keeps the reader turning the pages until the very last one…Reviewed by Christian Sia for Readers’ Favorite
Excerpt
Guinevere: On the Eve of Legend
Chapter 1
Hunting
Guinevere stared into the shadows along the edge of the forest. She could hear Cedwyn shifting from foot to foot beside her, unable to stand still. She sighed, the bow of sturdy pine in her hand growing heavier like her heart. Her thirteenth Birth Day was in a few days, but she wasn’t excited. Birth Days were supposed to be fun, but not this year. Not for her, not for a princess.
Sixteen-year-old Beth Meyer has three guilty pleasures: nineties sitcoms, crosswords, and—most embarrassing of all—the Lucy Hutchinson book series. They’re silly novels about Lucy’s adventures at a secret school for magic, but they help Beth imagine an exciting life from a safe distance.
That is, until the day Lucy shows up at Beth’s door.
Lucy claims that Beth’s older brother Tim is going to be murdered. She says she wants to help Beth prevent his death. Which should be doable, seeing as she’s a wizard.
Beth is sure all those Netflix binge-sessions have finally gone to her head. She locks the door on Lucy and pretends the whole bizarre visit never happened. Then Lucy starts popping up everywhere—waiting for Beth in the school parking lot. Levitating Beth’s cup at Starbucks.
Beth is terrified of putting herself in danger for the troubled brother she knows doesn’t want her help. But when Tim starts behaving strangely, Beth realizes Lucy might just be right. And if she wants to keep Tim alive, she’ll have to work with Lucy to solve a murder that hasn’t happened yet.
I chose to read this book after receiving a free e-copy from the author. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.
The author’s idea for Beth & Lucy intrigued me. Beth leads a “normal” boring life until Lucy shows up. It’s difficult for Beth to believe, but Lucy is the main character in Beth’s favorite book series…and vice versa! Lucy is there to save Beth’s brother Tim and maybe Beth.
Beth doesn’t have any friends that she spends time with outside of school, and it’s easy to see why. She prefers to be alone, but she also speaks her mind whether she should or not. Lucy is from a secret magical island, she dresses in bright mismatched colors, and is there only because she wants to help.
Beth and Lucy aren’t nice to each other most of the time. They’re both rude, but Lucy seems to just respond to Beth’s hatefulness. Once in a great while, they’re nice to each other, but it’s hard to see how they can consider each other friends, except for what they’ve gone through together.
I liked the way that the book was narrated. Beth often speaks directly to the reader. For example, at the end of Chapter 3: “But just for a few minutes, let me be. Here, alone, in this car. Let me slip away from the page for just a few lines.”
The ending had quite a twist that was totally unexpected. It didn’t seem to fit with the light-hearted fantasy up until that point. If it had been a darker fantasy, it would have been great!
About the Author
Katherine Shade lives in Southern California. When she’s not engaged in imaginary conversations with fictional characters or reading nineteenth-century literature, you can find her wandering the world, playing piano, or baking cookies.
Siblings John and Sarah barely made it home last time, but in their next time traveling adventure the challenge really heats up. Surrounded by clashing cultures on the ancient Roman frontier, they must fulfill their quest to unite the emperor with his enemy, an Alemanni barbarian, or risk being stuck in time forever.
An action-packed fantasy full of sword fights, chariot chases, fearsome wild animals, and high mountain survival. For graduates of the Magic Tree House looking for a thrilling middle grade page-turner, read Sol Invictus, book two of The Eye of Ra series!
I chose to read this book after receiving a free e-copy from the author. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.
John and Sarah recently moved to Maryland, and they’re handling it okay. Sarah seems a lot moodier though, and she doesn’t want to spend much time with the family. It sounds like typical growing pains at first, but is there more to it?
When their parents decide to take John and Sarah to a museum, they end up in the ancient Roman frontier! This time, it is no accident. The gods are sending them on a mission, but they don’t want to time travel again. When they get there, they try using the Eye of Ra to return, but it doesn’t work! They decide that they probably have to complete the mission, but that seems impossible. They’re smart but I couldn’t see how they could complete this mission to get home.
John and Sarah make several friends while they’re in the ancient Roman frontier. I was hoping for more action in this second book, and I got it! I’m impressed with how the author incorporated a lot of history in Sol Invictus without it feeling like a history lesson. It didn’t slow down the story at all.
Sarah is having more and more trouble figuring out how to deal with the conflicting emotions she’s feeling and tends to walk off to be alone, forgetting how dangerous that could be. She made me so nervous running off like that! I enjoyed watching them grow throughout the book.
Sol Invictus is full of adventure that middle grade readers (and adults) will enjoy. It contains a lot of action and is a page turner. This time that John and Sarah are in is more dangerous than where they were in ancient Egypt, and they have to be on guard at all times. I’m looking forward to reading more books in The Eye of Ra series.
About the Author
Ben Gartner is the award-winning author of The Eye of Ra adventure series for middle graders (ages 8-12). His books take readers for a thrilling ride, maybe even teaching them something in the meantime. Ben can be found living and writing near the mountains with his wife and two boys.
Exploring a mysterious cave in the mountains behind their house, John and his sister Sarah are shocked to discover they’ve time traveled to ancient Egypt!
Now they must work together to find a way back home from an ancient civilization of golden desert sand and a towering new pyramid, without parents to save them. The adventures abound—cobras, scorpions, a tomb robber, and more! The two kids have to trust each other, make friends who can help, and survive the challenges thrown at them . . . or be stuck in ancient Egypt forever.
For readers graduating from the Magic Treehouse series and ready for intense action, dive into this middle grade novel rich with meticulous historical detail.
I chose to read this book after receiving a free e-copy from the author. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.
John and Sarah live in Colorado and are moving to Maryland soon, and of course, they’re not happy about it. When on a hike with their parents, they find a cave and magically end up in ancient Egypt. Although they want to go right back home, it’s not possible. They’re going to have to stay in this time and place until they can figure out how to get home.
Luckily, they meet a boy whose family takes them in. During the weeks that John and Sarah are in ancient Egypt, they (and the reader) learn a lot about it. I found the information interesting, but there may be a little too much detail for middle grade readers.
Sarah has a bit of an attitude which I thought was funny because that’s typical for her age. John not only learns a lot about ancient Egypt, but he now knows the he will be okay when they move. If he can make friends in another time, surely making friends in Maryland will be a piece of cake!
The Eye of Ra is an adventure that middle grade readers will enjoy. It doesn’t have as much action as I thought it would, but it gets pretty intense near the end of the book. I’m looking forward to reading Sol Invictus, the next book in the series.
About the Author
Ben Gartner is the award-winning author of The Eye of Ra adventure series for middle graders (ages 8-12). His books take readers for a thrilling ride, maybe even teaching them something in the meantime. Ben can be found living and writing near the mountains with his wife and two boys.
Book Title: It’s Me by Jeff Kubiak Category: Middle-Grade Non-Fiction (Ages 8-12), 57 pages Genre: Children’s/Middle Grade, Non-fiction, own voices Publisher: EduMatch Publishing Release date: November 14, 2020 Content Rating: PG. Although the book reads like a graphic novel, it does contain topics dealing with racism and other social issues.
Book Description:
It’s Me is dedicated to every person who has ever felt less about who they are or want to be because of someone else’s opinion, feelings, or prejudice. Let’s ditch the prejudiced labeling, and embrace our Human Race for the diversity, inclusivity, equity, and individuality we all deserve.
I chose to read this book after receiving a free e-copy. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.
It’s Me is an amazing book that teaches children that we are all individuals and that it’s okay to be different. Whether it’s a medical condition such as ADHD or autism, having a different skin color, speaking a different language, or anything else that makes someone “different,” that’s okay. We’re all people with feelings, and we all want to be accepted and loved.
Each person in the book has two pages. The first page has a picture with their name and what makes them different. The second page has text about what makes them different and what they want:
I definitely recommend It’s Me. Accepting people for who they are with all of their differences is important and something that our culture is finally (slowly) recognizing. For those who, like me, think they’re alone in their uniqueness, this book is wonderful confirmation for them that they’re not alone!
About the Author
Jeff loves children’s literature , “One Drop of Kindness” is Jeff’s first published children’s book. It’s Me reads like a fun graphic novel, but it is entirely non fiction. Every character in the book is a real student, or educator. It is so important for us to give access, equity, inclusion, and compassion to all those we meet. “Seeing” each other and embracing our differences are jewels to life! Jeff taught for ten years as an elementary school teacher in grades 4, 5, and 6 and has seven years of administrative experience. He’s always looked at education from a different lens: from someone who hated and struggled with school. Jeff vows to always do his best to help increase opportunities for all students to feel heard, noticed, celebrated, challenged and safe. Jeff works hard to push back against the old model of “Industrialized Education” and fight compliance. There is not a day that goes by that he is not looking ahead to improve teacher pedagogy, student engagement and digital access for all. Being a former world class swimmer and coach and looks at education from perspectives that others don’t. Jeff knows what it takes to fail, struggle, win and go through the daily challenges that we all face. Jeff is based in California and can be found at jeffkubiak.com, Twitter at @jeffreykubiak and https://jeffkubiak.blogspot.com/.
Book Title: Dear Brave Friend by Leigh Ann Gerk Category: Middle-Grade Non-Fiction (8 to 12) , 49 pages Genre: Self-Help Publisher: Golden Harvest Publishers Release date: August 2019 Content Rating: This non-fiction, self-help book is rated G. Appropriate for all audiences
This gentle and heartwarming story captures the love between a boy and his dog, and the sadness that follows after his cherished dog passes away. Written in the form of a letter from the dog to the boy, the letter shares relatable, real life examples of how the boy (and therefore anybody who has lost a dear pet) may be feeling and suggestions on what he can do to help himself get through this most difficult time. The letter also touches on simple acts of kindness that can follow the reader throughout his or her lifetime. The message in this story is applicable to young and old, girl or boy, and to any family pet that has stolen your heart. Story starters, drawing pages, and a place to add pictures of your own beloved pet are also included in the back of the book.
Dear Brave Friend is written for middle grade readers to help them deal with the loss of a pet. It shares all of the stages of grief and explains that these feelings are okay. It’s beautifully illustrated and is a great book for anyone of any age who is dealing with losing their pet.
At the end of the book are pages to draw pictures, prompts for writing to your pet, and places to put pictures of your pet with an area to explain the picture. These encourage the reader to deal with their grief by writing about their pet. The book also encourages talking to someone about their feelings.
I definitely recommend Dear Brave Friend for anyone who is grieving the loss of a beloved pet.
About the Author
Leigh Ann Gerk MA, LPC has been in the counseling field for over eleven years. She is certified in Pet Loss & Grief Companioning and the founder and owner of Mourning to Light Pet Loss providing individual and family counseling for anyone grieving the loss of a pet. She currently offers 3 free pet loss support groups in Northern Colorado and is excited to branch out and offer more. Having grown up on a farm, Leigh Ann’s childhood playmates included baby calves, horses, bunnies, dogs, and 32 cats that set up house in a boxcar that also served as her playhouse. This upbringing introduced her, at a very young age, to the human-animal bond and instilled in her a deep understanding of, and love for, this extraordinary relationship. Leigh Ann and her husband, Andy, live in Loveland, Colorado, and are the proud parents of identical twin daughters, Heather and Heidi. Their family is made complete by their first grandchild and their cherished therapy dog, Gracie. Visit Leigh Ann online at MourningToLightPetLoss.com.
Bound 4 Escape 