It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey as a way to share what you have read and/or reviewed in the past week. It's also a terrific way to find out what other people are reading.

Jen Vincent, of Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee Moye of Unleashing Readers have given this meme a children's literature focus: picture books, middle grade novels, etc. They "encourage everyone who participates to support the blogging community by visiting the other bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.

This has been such a rough week for so many people. Right here in Central Ohio there was an outpouring of love and support for fallen Westerville Police Officers Eric Joering and Anthony Morelli, who bravely died in the line of duty. And then we saw the horrible events unfold in Parkland, Florida where 17 people died in a mass shooting at a high school. Both are stark reminders that we are indeed walking through the wilderness. As I think about this, I just pray for healing, comfort, and strength for all of those who are hurting, heartsick, and experiencing so much pain and anguish. It's also a reminder that, while reading can certainly be a comfort, it should also help young people see better examples of what this world can be in terms of kindness, wisdom, and seeing people "heart first." Here's what I've been reading this week:

Middle Grade Fiction

A Side of Sabotage: A Quinnie Boyd Mystery (Quinnie Boyd Mysteries #3) by C.M. Surrisi

I had the opportunity to read a digital ARC of this middle grade mystery novel courtesy of NetGalley. A few years ago, I read the Maypop Mystery, and really enjoyed it. This is the third installment of the Quinnie Boyd mystery series, and it is fun to see the characters I like getting a little bit older. Fourteen year old Quinnie is enjoying the summer in Maiden Rock, Maine with her friends. Dominic is a little bit more than just a friend, but he’s getting ready to move away. Quinnie’s childhood BFF, Zoe, is returning to Maiden Rock after spending over a year in Scotland with her parents.

In the midst of adjusting to Zoe’s return, preparing to say goodbye to her boyfriend, and helping out at her father’s restaurant, there is something sinister happening in Maiden Rock. A fancy new restaurant has opened in town, and is threatening to take away Gusty’s customers. When a friendly food competition between the two restaurants begins, suddenly all sorts of misfortune falls upon Gusty’s. Each new problem threatens to ruin her father’s business, and Quinnie is pretty sure the owner of the new restaurant is behind all of the trouble. But in order to find proof, Quinnie and her friends will need to dust off their detective caps.

I like that this mystery has enough adventure and tension to make it a compelling read. But like its predecessors, it’s not too scary or violent for middle grade readers. I kind of wish Quinnie would trust her mother to help her more when she finds clues or discovers new evidence. Quinnie’s mom is also Maiden Rock’s sheriff. And while Quinnie wants to solve things on her own, she frequently compromises evidence or creates new problems that only complicate efforts to find the culprit in the restaurant mischief. That frustrates the grownup in me, but I’m sure this book will be a popular mystery among young readers.

This book will be released March 1.

The Problim Children by Natalie Lloyd, Júlia Sardà (Illustrator)

I had the opportunity to read an Advanced copy of this book that was shared with me by my #BookRelays group. I loved Natalie Lloyd’s book, A Snicker of Magic, so I was excited to get a chance to read her latest middle grade novel. This book is the first in a series that follows the treasure-hunting adventures of a peculiar family of seven siblings. Each child was born on a different day of the week, and has a unique personality to match their birth day.

When disaster strikes their home in the swamp, they show up in the town of Lost Cove to claim their grandfather’s abandoned mansion. There is a next door neighbor who wants the place for herself and works tirelessly to see that these children are forced to leave. There are clues throughout the house that lead to a treasure, and the race is on to see who finds it first.

The family in the book reminds me of a cross between the Herdmans in Barbara Robinson’s The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and the title character in Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren. I love that middle grade kids have a quirky, fun group of kids that, for the most part, try to see people “heart first.” One of the attendees of Wendell and Thea’s birthday party describes them as “Funny and really weird but in a good way. And when you’re around them, you feel like it’s okay to be weird too.”

I really enjoyed this book. Fans of Natalie Lloyd will also appreciate the cameo appearance her own dog, Biscuit, makes in the story. This book would be appropriate for kids in grades 3-7.

Picture Books

Rabbit Moon by Jean Kim

This beautifully illustrated picture book was inspired by Korean folklore and tells a sweet story about the rabbit on the moon. According to the legend, there is a rabbit on the moon with a mortar, who receives all of the wishes and turns them into stars. But the rabbit is lonely and wishes for friendship. Young readers will be captivated by the lovely trip this rabbit takes and the friends he makes. The digitally colored drawings support the story nicely, as well as the gently rhyming text.

Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut by Derrick Barnes, Gordon C. James (Illustrations)

Anyone that knows the feeling of walking out of a barbershop or a beauty salon with a fresh new hairstyle will definitely be able to relate to the young man’s trip to the barber in one of 2018’s Caldecott and Newbery Honor Books. The narrator uses such wonderful descriptive detail to capture the way he feels, the way he looks, and his boosted self-confidence after his weekly visit to the barbershop. In the shop, he’s given the royal treatment and he has the pleasure of being in the presence of other important grownups getting their weekly touch-ups. Beautifully painted illustrations really help capture the story. This would be awesome to share with young readers of all age groups. It also could serve as a terrific mentor text to help young writers when they’re describing similar personal experiences.

City Moon by Rachael Cole, Blanca Gomez (Illustrations)

The loving relationship this mother shares with her little boy as they take a bedtime stroll around the neighborhood to see the moon makes this beautiful picture book perfect for sharing with young readers during story time. As the two walk with their eyes on the sky, the little boy asks questions and the mother gently answers them. The illustrations, rendered digitally, show the scene in welcoming tones with a nice contrast between the nighttime darkness and the brightness of the moon. My favorite part of these scenes is peeking in the various windows to get glimpses of others’ evening routines.

The author visited New York City as a child and was so impressed, he dreamed of living there one day. Now he does, and he’s written this cool picture book that tells young readers all about this special place. I think this would be a neat mentor text for young writers interested in describing a place for an informational report. The book is organized as an account of his day in the city, detailing all of the places he stopped. The author includes New York City sketches and note on the endpapers of the book and an extensive list of resources on the the final pages. I’ve never been to New York City, but if I ever do, this book would e a helpful resource.

First Snow by Emily Arnold McCully

This adorable Caldecott winning picture book captures the joy of excitement of a snowy day excursion to go sledding. The little mice are excited to load up the sleds in their grandparents’ truck and head up the hill. Once there, everyone goes down the hill except the youngest, who is scared. Young readers will enjoy taking in the scene, especially with the gorgeous illustrations.