I've enjoyed making #middlegrademonday posts the last few years, and in 2023 when I popped back down to Grade 1 I started some #picturebookoftheweek posts since I was lost in the world of picture books. Now that I'm back in 3 again, I think a nice blend of both types of books is a great way to move forward. My 8 year old friends still enjoy a good picture book, and they can be a great way to introduce new ideas in bite sized packages, but a nice chapterbook is also a nice option for shared reading and (when ready) independent reading experiences.
MGM - And Then, Boom
By: Lisa Fipps
I recently read And Then, Book by @authorlisafipps and loved it. This Middle Grade novel in verse tells the story of 11 year old Joe Oak whose life just seems to keep exploding. The story begins with Joe and his Grandma facing homelessness and living in their car. While things do turn up for Joe when they move into a trailer, life with an absentee mother and unknown father, surviving on foodstamps, and living with an elderly hardworking grandmother is not easy. Throughout the story Joe faces a series of life-altering catastrophes all while trying to avoid being taken into care through the foster system.
This book makes an understanding of poverty accessible for young readers. There are emotional moments for sure, and some challenges that are definitely on the more sensitive side (grief, abandonment, severe poverty, food insecurity, foster care, neglect, abuse...) but they are offered in small doses and the author's message is that kids shouldn't have to face these big challenges on their own. I love that the view of the foster care system is eventually depicted in a very positive way. While I know that it definitely can be a horrific experience and the thought of being taken into care is terrifying for young people, but in Joe's case, and potentially for some young readers, it is absolutely necessary and the only option, so showing that it can be somewhat positive is a really valuable perspective to share.
I'm not a huge fan of novels in verse, but I actually really enjoyed the writing style for this one. I am hoping to share this one with my students as I think it is a fantastic option for a read aloud. I would definitely recommend it!
MGM - The Science of Being Angry
I LOVED this Middle Grade book by @nicolemelleby!
The Science of Being Angry tells the story of a very special family, with a focus on Joey, an 11 year old girl who is a triplet. Joey's family includes her two mothers, her triplet brothers, and her older (non-biological) half brother from one of her mom's first marriage, and his dad at times. Joey's class is learning about genetics and nature vs. nurture, which is adding to Joey's anxieties, frustrations, and discomfort around being conceived through a sperm donor. Joey is also facing some significant challenges around anger management and lashes out often without being able to control it. As part of her science project she decides to search for her sperm donor to determine if her anger issues run in that part of the family. She also begins to worry that her (non-biological) mother and brother will abandon her if she does not behave appropriately since they have no (genetic) ties to her. The story also focuses on bullying, gender norms in hockey, Joey questioning her sexuality and developing a crush on a girl in her class, house insecurity (eviction), therapy/mental health, and emotional regulation.
As a teacher, it was easy to connect with Joey, as I have worked with kids who are angry, often tied to other challenges like anxiety, trauma or a disability. She wants so desperately to be able to control it, but the adults in her life are not able to adequately support her, which is sadly so common and something I've experienced as well. I think kids in this age group will be super interested in the genetics stuff, as well as some of the typical middle grade issues of bullying/friendships, personal discovery, crushes, and wanting to solve things more independently without adult support. The lessons that come with it are fantastic, especially that getting support from a loving adult is necessary, as well as the representation and unique family dynamics. I would recommend this for the older half of the middle grade range, 11-14 ish, but wouldn't be opposed to a younger middle grade reader accessing it. It is definitely one that schools, classrooms and libraries need to pick up!
Thanks to @netgalley and the publisher @littlebrownyoungreaders for giving me the chance to read and review this excellent book!
PBTW - Emily Was SO Embarrassed
This is a super cute book with a great message. Emily Was So Embarrassed by Michelle Olson follows a young button named Emily who loves to do ribbon dances alone in her room. One day, her friend Becky (also a button) asks her to join the talent show and do her ribbon dance. Emily is afraid to perform in front of people, but Becky encourages her. While on stage, Emily makes a mistake, but she doesn't give up and in the end, everyone tells her how great her dancing was and how much they want her to teach them. In the end, Emily learns that dancing can be fun to do with others, not just alone in your room, and that if you make a mistake, there is no need to be embarrassed, just keep doing what you love!
I love that the illustrations are all made of real photos. The characters and props/backgrounds are all made up of things you'd find in a craft/junk drawer which is so adorable. As an art teacher, I feel this would be a great mentor text/inspiration for a book or art piece made out of a variety of items. I also think that the message is a good one for young readers. I think kids would enjoy the images and could spend quite a bit of time exploring the pictures in the book. There is a good amount of text on a page, and it is a good size, and slightly bolded. It is black or white text on a photograph background, so there are times where it is slightly more difficult to read, but the size and colour aids in legibility. There are also some speech bubbles which are quite easy to read and would be a good introduction to speech bubbles in text prior to young readers moving on to graphic novels.
It is really well done, professional looking, and a great story. I would definitely recommend this book and plan to purchase a copy for my classroom library. Thanks to the author, Michelle Olson, for sending me an advance digital copy, in exchange for an honest review.
PBTW
Ping's Perfect Pot
by Helen H. Wu, Ills: Zihua Yang
This beautiful children's book tells the story of Ping, a young girl, who desperately wants to make a special pot for the tangerine tree she and her grandfather bought for their lunar new year celebration. Ping tries many different materials for her pot, but none seem to turn out just right. Her grandfather reminds her that the perfect pot takes time, trial and error, practice, love and effort. In the end, she realizes that all of her pots are special and have an important use for their lunar new year celebration, even if they are not-so-perfect.
I love that Ping ends up drawing, planning and taking her time on the very last pot. As an art teacher, I often have to remind students that taking their time and planning things out is important. I also like the messaging from the grandfather about not giving up, and how all of the pots are perfect because of the love and effort she put in. There is no need to be over critical of your art, as long as you try your best and put your love and creativity into it!
The illustrations are well done, and the content of the story, especially with the added information specific to Lunar New Year celebrations and traditions is fantastic. I love that the story is more than just a "what is lunar new year" book, it focuses on one aspect of the celebration and teaches readers about other things as well, such as the art aspects and not giving up. That makes it a book you could read anytime of year, not just around Lunar New Year, and is an own voices book with Chinese representation.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read and review an advance copy of this book. I look forward to purchasing a copy for my classroom library now that it has been published!
Today's #middlegrademonday is a fantastic book about homelessness by @onjalirauf the amazing author of #boyatthebackoftheclass I loved this book and am thinking of reading it to my class as our next read aloud.
In this story, Hector, a boy in about the Grade 5/Year 6 ish range is well known as a school bully. He enjoys the role, even though it comes with a lot of detention, and feels that it is his duty to ensure that younger students and classmates are in line and giving him their lunch money. One day, he and his friends decide to pick on a unhoused person, which leads to Hector pushing the man's shopping cart into a pond, and destroying his belongings. Throughout the story, Hector begins to learn more about homeless people and shelters, and starts to develop an age-appropriate understanding of the systemic issues related to homelessness. Meanwhile, the unhoused population in London have recently become suspects in a chain of graffiti and theft. Hector soon learns the truth about who is (or is not) causing this trouble and decides he needs to help get the truth out to his community.
I am looking forward to some great conversations with my grade 3/4 students about this book and the concepts discussed including bullying and kindness, as well as homelessness and poverty.
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