The Fog Diver by Joel Ross

Summary:  In an attempt to eliminate pollution, humans created nanites, tiny robots built to destroy it.   The robots discover that the humans are responsible for creating pollution and turn against them.  They ban together, creating a poisonous fog that humans cannot survive in.  The humans are forced up the mountain where they can stay out of the fog.  The upper class, led by evil Lord Kodoc, live at the top of the mountain and the poor live in the slum located lower on the mountain.  Four slum kids Hazel, Chess, Swedish, and Bea fly the skies searching for items they can salvage for money to buy food to stay alive.  Chess, the tetherboy, dives into the fog looking for these items.  Chess has a secret that allows him to stay in the fog longer and travel it more effortlessly than others. He was born in the fog and part of it is trapped in his eye which has given him these abilities.  If Lord Kodoc finds out, he will work him to death.  Will the crew be able to find something big enough to save their lives?  Will Chess be able to stay hidden from the evil Lord Kodoc? 

Impression:  I loved this book.  It is very entertaining.  I couldn't put it down until I was down.  This Texas Bluebonnet Nominee comes highly recommended.  It does use one bad word, but content of the book is appropriate for readers 3rd grade and up.

Reading Recommendations:  Readers will also love last years blubonnet nominee Sky Jumpers by Peggy Eddleman; Surviving Antarctica: Reality TV 2083 by Andrea White; The City of Ember by Jean DuPrau;The Chronicles of Egg by Geoff Rodkey and The Giver by Lois Lowry

Reviews:

Adult novelist Ross (White Flag Down, 2007, etc.) makes his middle-grade debut with a boy's desperate search to save himself and his crew from a horrible fate in a post-apocalyptic future. Scientists didn't realize the nanites they invented to eat smog would decide humans were a sort of pollution too, pushing them to the mountaintops and covering the rest of the land with a white fog. After hundreds of years, the highest heights are now controlled by the Five Families, with everyone else consigned to the slums below. Chess and his scavenger crew patrol the margins of the Fog by airship, "diving" to retrieve anything of value within reach of his tether. They've managed to scrape by, but Lord Kadoc has heard about his abilities to dive into the Fog and wants to enslave Chess to scavenge only for him...for as long as Chess can last. Ross wastes no time with his worldbuilding, establishing Chess and his crew as a misfit found family working the Fog by day and sharing stories by night. Readers will chuckle at the garbled remnants of their times in such tales as "Skywalker Trek," in which the Klingons battle the Jedi when they are not fighting Tribbles and Ewoks. It's a fresh approach, convincingly delivered, with overtones reminiscent of Dickens...the only thing missing is a sequel, which readers will hope won't be far behind. (Science fiction. 8-12)

"Fog Diver." Rev. of Fog Diver by Joel Ross. Kirkus Reviews. 15 March 2015. Web. 30 May 2016.

Lethal fog covers the earth, forcing humans to live in the skies. Among them are four young scavengers on an airship desperate to save their guardian from a deadly illness but without money to do it--until they find a diamond. Despite its neat futuristic setting, the plot feels charmingly nostalgic (think The Goonies). The crew's banter is amusing if sometimes hokey.

"Fog Diver." Rev. of Fog Diver by Joel Ross. Horn Book Guide. Fall 2015. Web. 30 May 2016.

Harriet the Invincible by Ursula Vernon

Summary: Harriet Hamsterbone is cursed by the evil fairy Ratshade.  On her 12th birthday she will prick her finger on a hamster wheel sending her into a deep sleep that can only be broken by the kiss of a prince.  Her parents prepare the castle and already have a prince on hand, but Harriet has a plan of her own.  The only way the curse can be fulfilled is if Harriet remains alive so she discovers that the curse has made her invincible until her 12th birthday.  She decides to embark on a journey fighting ogres.  Will she be able to evade the evil curse?  Read to find out!

Impression:  Don't be fooled by the pink, purple, and glitter on the cover.  This book will appeal to all readers.  Fairy tale lovers, adventure seekers, graphic novel gurus, this book has a place for everyone. It is a fun quick read and also on the 2016-2017 Texas Bluebonnet Nominee list.  Ages 8+

Reviews:

Grades 3-6. Princesses don’t cliff-dive. They don’t joust, they don’t slay monsters, and they don’t rescue anyone. But Princess Harriet Hamsterbone (yes, she’s a hamster) is a princess, and, “If I do it,” she says, “it’s got to be something princesses do! Who makes these rules?!” Not content to wait around to prick herself on a hamster wheel on her twelfth birthday—she was cursed at birth, Sleeping Beauty style—Harriet makes the curse work for her. Curses, she reasons, are specific, and this one will keep her alive until she’s 12, making her all but invincible for the time being. And so off she goes, riding her faithful quail and ignoring her parents’ dry commentary, saving princesses from dragons (and dragons from princesses), and maybe finding the skills to save herself in the process. And, oh yeah, she’ll do anything to avoid having to kiss some stuck-up prince. The spunky, slightly bonkers Harriet is a delightful heroine who turns this fairy tale on its head, and the book is peppered with clever two-color cartoon illustrations that will attract even the more reluctant readers. It’s a joy to read, and we can only hope that Harriet—long may she reign—will return in later installments.

Hamster Princess. Rev of Hamster Princess: Harriet the Invincible. Booklist. July 2015. Web. 30 May 2015.

This new series from Dragonbreath's Vernon puts a wild spin on "Sleeping Beauty." A droll opening introduces Harriet Hamsterbone ("who, as her name indicated, was a hamster"), an adventurous princess chafing against deportment, the requirements of her role, and other limitations imposed by her parents. When they reveal the source of their overprotectiveness (the "Sleeping Beauty" curse, with a hamster wheel on her 12th birthday substituting for the spinning wheel), Harriet takes a seemingly counterintuitive stance: since the curse requires her to be alive on her fateful birthday, until then she must be invincible. She gallivants around as an unstoppable hero before returning home for her birthday--to discover that her mother has prepared for the curse by picking a wretched, male-chauvinist prince to kiss and wake her once the curse sets in. Before it can, the evil fairy shows up to gloat, and a hilarious sequence leads to the backfiring of the curse, leaving Harriet the castle's only hamster still awake. Now she must find a prince willing to kiss every last sleeping creature in the castle. Vernon deploys the same winning elements found in her Dragonbreath books, a mix of boldly drawn, two-tone cartoons, occasional speech bubbles, and a boisterously humorous text. Harriet is her own hamster, but she takes her place proudly alongside both Danny Dragonbreath and Babymouse. Creatively fresh and feminist, with laughs on every single page. (Graphic/fantasy hybrid. 8-12)

Hamster Princess. Rev. of Hamster Princess: Harriet the Invincible. Kirkus Reviews. 1 May 2015. Web. 30 May 2016.

The Girls of August

Summary:  This is for my mom readers.  Maddy, Rachel, Barbara and Melinda were destined to be friends forever.  Their bond began when their significant others where in their residency.   As they began to move away from one another, they began a summer tradition of spending one week together at a remote beach house.  When one of the marriages ends in divorce and another in death, will the girls be able to keep their bond strong?  After a few years break from their August get away, they give it one more shot to see if they can keep their frienships strong.

Impression:  This was not the best book I have ever read, but it is definitely worth putting on your list of books to read at the beach or poolside.  It was quick, light, fun and worth the read.

Reading Reviews:  

Maddy, Rachel, Barbara, and Melinda met when their husbands were in medical school and started a tradition of spending a week at a beach house every August that lasted until Melinda died in an automobile accident. Years later, when Melinda’s husband remarries, they invite his new wife, a ditzy twentysomething nicknamed Baby, to join them and end up at her family’s home on the South Carolina coast. Petty jealousy is the reigning emotion, and Baby makes a point of flaunting her youth and beauty and playing up the fact that the other women are old enough to be her mother. Making matters worse, each of the women has a life-changing secret. Their anguish boils over during a storm, and all four must come together to survive. Siddons’ (Burnt Mountain, 2011) latest is a thoughtful portrait of women in crisis, the three older of them faced with an all-too-vivid reminder that they’re aging while the youngest matures, thanks to their shared experience, and all recognize that friendship is a sustaining force. Siddons’ many fans will feel right at home with this emotionally gripping, beach-themed read. --Nanette Donohue

Donohue, Nanette. Rev. of The Girls of August. n.d. web. 30 May 2016.

Diva and Flea by Mo Willems

Summary:  Diva, dog of a Parisian gardienne, lives her life helping watch over the grounds of 11 avenue La Play.  When she meets Flea, a large cat, she realizes there is so much more to the world.  Will she ever find the courage to step beyond the gates and out into the streets of Paris?

Impression:  This is a cute, sweet, fun, family read.  It doesn't make the top of my list but there are definitely kids out there who will enjoy this book.  I do love the unlikely friendship that is formed and how the characters transform.  It is also a fun way to spark interest in travels and other countries.  I read it with my 5 year old and he enjoyed it!

Reading Recommendations: Down Girl and Sit series by Lucy Nolan; Mercy Watson series by Kate DiCamillo

Reviews:
Booklist starred (September 1, 2015 (Vol. 112, No. 1))

Grades 1-3. Diva is a tiny white dog who lives in a grand, old apartment building in Paris, France. As the pet of the building’s gardienne, she patrols the courtyard, making sure that all is well. Flea, on the other hand, is a large cat who roams Paris’ streets. He is a great flâneur—“someone (or somecat) who . . . has seen everything, but still looks for more, because there is always something more to discover.” One day Flea’s flâneur-ing takes him past Diva’s courtyard, and the two strike up a friendship. Diva, who is skittish and has never traveled, loves hearing of Flea’s adventures, particularly the one about the “tower so tall and so pointy that it could cut a cloud in half.” Eventually, Flea suggests that Diva go wandering with him, and after some gentle encouragement, Diva takes her first brave steps beyond the courtyard. In return, Diva takes Flea inside her apartment, introducing him to a friendly broom that won’t swat cats and the miraculous occurrence known as breakfast. Willems has written a story with winning characters and bursting with tender charm, which is further amplified by DiTerlizzi’s expressive, vintage-style illustrations. Humor and sincerity walk paw in paw through this simple chapter book, inspiring exploration, bravery, and making friends. Be warned: excessive smiling may occur while reading. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Willems and DiTerlizzi are a children’s book dream team. Stock up!

 

"Diva and Flea." Rev. of The Story of Diva and Flea. Booklist. 1 September 2015. Web. 18 May 2016.

Read all 5 full-text reviews …

Horn Book Guide (Spring 2016)

Willems's amiable chapter book introduces us to the sweet friendship between Diva, a tiny "guard" dog in a Paris apartment building, and Flea, a wandering city cat, or flbneur. DiTerlizzi's bright, expressive animal faces and elegant rendering of Paris, combined with an attractive, refined book design, elevate this simple but appealing story of bravery and trust. Author and illustrator notes are appended.

 

"Diva and Flea." Rev. of The Story of Diva and Flea. Horn Book Guide. Spring 2016. Web. 18 May 2016.

Kirkus Reviews (August 1, 2015)

A large cat and a small dog strike up an unlikely friendship in this early chapter book.Set in Paris--a setting charmingly brought to life in DiTerlizzi's illustrations--the book introduces readers to Flea and Diva. Flea is a large cat who is also a flaneur: "someone (or somecat) who wanders the streets...of the city just to see what there is to see." Flea's flaneur-ing is how he chances to discover Diva, a very small dog who guards the courtyard of the grand apartment building where she lives. At first Diva is afraid of Flea (as she is most things) and yelps and runs away. This makes Flea laugh, and he visits the courtyard daily. Eventually Diva strikes up the courage to ask Flea if he enjoys hurting her feelings, and Flea feels ashamed. The two become friends. Clever plot twists are woven into the storyline, as is the occasional French word, including the chapter headings. Willems' adroit storytelling is on display as Flea encourages Diva to try flaneur-ing herself and helps her overcome her fear of feet, while Diva encourages Flea to try indoor living complete with regular Breck-Fest--a novelty in Flea's scavenging street life--and helps him overcome his fear of brooms. The message--about the value of trying new experiences and learning to trust--lies lightly on this lively tale. (author's note, illustrator's note) (Animal fantasy. 6-8)

 

"Diva and Flea." Rev. of The Story of Diva and Flea.  Kirkus Reviews. 1 August 2015. Web. 18 May 2016.

Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson

Summary: Astrid's classmate saves her from being humiliated by a bully and instantly becomes her best friend for life, or so she thinks.  12 year old Astrid faces many changes as she loses her best friend to the very bully that used to torment her and she embarks on a new summer adventure alone......roller derby.  Her initial excitement about roller derby is crushed when she soon discovers her roller skating skills are not up to par.  Will she be able to improve her skills and make new friends at roller derby?  Read, Roller Girl!

My Impression:  This graphic novel teachers young girls a great lesson about finding themselves and appreciating other despite their differences.  I would recommend this for 5th grade and up.  Astrid refers to childhood nickname, "Ass-turd."  Fellow students ask her if she is on drugs because she colors her hair to take on the roller derby role, and the girls are boy crazy (awaiting a kiss on a ferris wheel).  That being said, I enjoyed this book and think it is great for students who are mature enough to handle the content.

Recommendations: Any  Raina Telgemeier graphic novel, Dork Diaries by Rachel Russell

Reviews:

Booklist (March 1, 2015 (Vol. 111, No. 13))

Grades 4-8. Almost-middle-schooler Astrid (“Ass-Turd” to the mean girls) just isn’t interested in the kinds of things everyone else is. Her BFF Nicole likes boys and ballet and the color pink, but Astrid’s new obsession is tough, fast-paced Roller Derby. She thinks she and Nicole can spend their summer together at junior Roller Derby camp, but Nicole opts instead for ballet camp with Astrid’s archnemesis. And when it turns out that Astrid isn’t quite the Roller Derby prodigy she had hoped to be (she can barely master falling!), it seems both her summer and the impending start of junior high will be disasters. The bright, detailed, and colorful illustrations convey Astrid’s scrappy personality while also focusing on the high-contact aspect of Roller Derby: the girls hip check and elbow one another right out of the panels. While learning the game, Astrid learns how to be a friend and, maybe, that not all friendships are forever. A touching look at the ups and downs of following one’s dreams, in addition to introducing readers to a relatively unknown sport.

 

"Roller Girl." Rev. of Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson. Booklist. 1 March 2015. Web. 16 May 2016.

Horn Book Magazine (March/April, 2015)

When Astrid's best friend Nicole starts harping on ballet, fashion, and dating, Astrid is left behind (read: not interested). She's behind on the roller derby track, too, where she's signed up for summer boot camp even though she can't do a crossover to save her life or skate five seconds without disaster. Practice makes better, and Astrid's skills and cred build with every bruise and scrape. Coaches, teammates, and celebrity roller Rainbow Bite cheer Astrid on as she faces the challenges of derby as well as tweendom -- including mean-girl moments, changing friendships, and the worst of the worst: clothes shopping with Mom. When the time comes for her big end-of-summer bout, "Asteroid" is blue-haired, brimming with confidence, and ready to roll. This graphic novel also serves as a surprisingly informative derby primer. Jamieson's dialogue captures coming-of-age within a subculture so authentically that readers will forgive the art's occasional inconsistencies in draftsmanship. The comics format is used resourcefully, with the artist occasionally placing Astrid before exaggerated, out-of-this-world backdrops (a desert on a long, hot walk home, for instance) and pausing action to address readers directly. Tweens and young teens will identify with Astrid's journey to find her unique voice in the world and derby name on the track. Have it at the ready for Telgemeier fans racing to find something new. elisa gall

 

Gall, Elisa. Rev. of Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson. March/April 2015. Web. 16 May 2016.

 

Kirkus Reviews starred (December 15, 2014)

One summer changes everything for two 12-year-old girls whose friendship is tested when their interests--and attitudes--diverge.Astrid and Nicole have been BFFs truly forever. When the girls go to the roller derby one night, Astrid is immediately hooked and jumps at the chance to attend a roller-derby camp, skating alongside the tough, dyed girls. Nicole, however, who's passionate about ballet, decides not to follow along with Astrid, creating the first real rift the girls have known. The two quickly make new friends in their new circles: Astrid with her roller-derby cohorts and Nicole with the popular ballet crowd. As Astrid navigates the rough-and-tumble sport she's fallen in love with (and the bumps and bruises that come with it), she must also deal with what happens when friends just stop being friends and grow apart. Jamieson captures this snapshot of preteen angst with a keenly decisive eye, brilliantly juxtaposing the nuances of roller derby with the twists and turns of adolescent girls' friendships. Clean, bright illustrations evince the familiar emotions and bring the pathos to life in a way that text alone could not. Fans of Raina Telgemeier or Jimmy Gownley's Amelia series should certainly skate on over to this gem. Full of charm and moxie--don't let this one roll past. (Graphic fiction. 9-13)

 

"Roller Girl." Rev. of Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson. 15 December 2014. Web. 16 May 2015.

The Terrible Two by Jory John and Mac Barnett

Summary:  Have you every wished that you could pull the biggest prank on a friend or even on your school?  Instead of facing a heap of trouble, I suggest you join Miles as he attempts to prank his new school. Let him take the heat. 

Miles is a pranking genius.  Just when he has all his pranks lined up for his new school, he has to move across the country to boring Yawnee Valley.  A place known for having lots of cows.  Ready to make his mark as a prankster at his new school, he arrives to find that someone has beat him to it.  His new principal's car is parked in front of the school's main entrance.  In a panic, the principal forget they have a back entrance and instructs the students to crawl through his car to enter the school.  He notices the new kids, Miles, and instantly accuses him of the prank.  Will Miles make his mark as a prankster at his new school or has someone else already filled this identity?  Read The Terrible Two to find out.

My Impression:  I loved this book. This book is full of exciting twists and turns.  Kids that like Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Big Nate are sure to be fans of this new series.  Great for students 3rd grade and up.  I would even suggest this to a 2nd grader with a high reading level.  This is bound to be a library favorite.

Suggestions:  If you like The Terrible Two you should try the Tapper Twins series by Geoff Rodkey and P.I.C.K.L.E. by Kim Baker.

Reviews:
Booklist (January 1, 2015 (Vol. 111, No. 9))

Grades 4-6. Miles Murphy isn’t happy about moving to small Yawnee Valley (Welcome sign: “Come look at our cows”) or leaving his friends, but he is determined to be Yawnee Valley Science and Letters Academy’s number one prankster, the title he proudly held at his old school. He is facing serious competition, however, when an anonymous—and, Miles admits, inspired—trickster delays the first day of school by somehow blocking the school’s entryway with the principal’s car. Worse, aptly named Principal Barkin blames Miles and pairs him with goody-two-shoes Niles Sparks; then he is targeted by bully Josh. Undaunted, Miles focuses on achieving premiere prankster status, but he is continually thwarted. Thus begins a rivalry of pranking one-upmanship, but perhaps an alliance is better—and ultimately rewarding in multiple ways. With plenty of humor, quirky characters, interspersed drolly related cow factoids, and fantastical, over-the-top pranking, this entertaining, enjoyable read will especially appeal to Wimpy Kid aficionados. Throughout, lively black-and-white cartoon illustrations depict characters, scenarios, and sundry ephemera with witty details. Readers will be anticipating the prankster pals’ further escapades.

 

"The Terrible Two." Rev. of The Terrible Two, by Jory John and Mac Barnett. Booklist. 1January 2015. Web. 16 May 2016.

 

Horn Book Guide starred (Fall 2015)

Forced to leave behind his proud reputation as class prankster, Miles Murphy dreads starting over in a new town. Miles finds himself paired up with do-gooder Niles at Yawnee Valley Science and Letters Academy and is disappointed to discover that an impressive, anonymous prankster already attends the school. Miles must either out-prank this character...or join forces. Punchy line drawings magnify the text's well-timed comedy and clever details.

 

"The Terrible Two." Rev of The Terrible Two by Jory John and Mac Barnett. Horn Book Guide. Fall 2015. Web. 16 May 2016.

 

Kirkus Reviews (November 1, 2014)

Miles used to live near the sea. Miles had friends. Miles was his school's greatest prankster...how will he survive a move to Yawnee Valley? Yawnee Valley is famous for one thing: cows. All new students at Yawnee Valley Science and Letters Academy receive a booklet of 1,346 interesting cow facts from fussbudget fifth-generation principal Barry Barkin. On the first day of school, when Principal Barkin's car is found mysteriously parked on the school's steps, Barkin suspects Miles and assigns Niles Sparks to be Miles' buddy. Miles can't think of anything more awful than spending every moment of every day with smiling, officious, king-of-the-obvious Niles. On top of that, Barkin's son, Josh, has decided Miles is a good bullying target. To make life interesting, Miles plans a perfect prank in his pranking notebook, but it's foiled. That's followed by an invitation to join forces in pranking from an unexpected source...no way! Let the prank war commence! Barnett and John launch their cow-resplendent illustrated series with the humorous origin story of the pranking duo who lend the series its name. Characters may be stock; however, the pranks are anything but, and it's peppered with cow facts. Cornell's goofy cartoon illustrations (especially the blase cows) add giggles aplenty. Fluffy, fast, fun reading for fans of Clueless McGee and the Wimpy Kid. (Fiction. 7-11)

"The Terrible Two." Rev. of The Terrible Two by Jory John and Mac Barnett. Kirkus Reviews. 1 November 2014. Web. 16 May 2016.