It's Marvelous Middle Grade Monday with a review of The Book of Four Journeys by Veronica Del Valle

The Book of Four Journeys by Veronica del Valle
Publisher:  Silverwood Books
Format Read:  Paperback
Number of pages:   240 pages
Published:  May 18th, 2021
Source: Author Marketing Experts

Opening Lines: "I have a story to tell you.  A story about a well-kept secret." 

Alfalfa Spooly is very proud of being a postman, especially on the day when the Milner approaches him about delivering a yellow hat to Phineas in the bluest of blue houses in Blue.  His journey takes him across spiky hills, along a forsaken road through a tornado and across a river.  Once he reaches his destination, Alfalfa is given the opportunity to receive his own yellow hat, a thing of wonder and magic. Yet Alfalfa can't decide whether he should take the gift.   

The second story is about Mumik Opipok, not the most confident person in the world he is always filled with doubt, even over the simplest of things.  But on the day of the story, he makes his first choice, a wish to know something.  Yet, he did not know that his simple wish reveals he has a sibling he didn't know that he had.  A twin who he was separated from at birth.  One who lives in the south while the other is in the northernmost region.  Both chanters for their parts of the world.  Meanwhile, Pimnik, who has never doubted herself for one moment, always confident in her choices has her first instance of indecisiveness.   Pimnik still ventures in a ballon in search of her brother, who unbeknownst to her is traveling at the same moment to her by boat.  The story alternates between the two as they attempt to reunite.  

Neboo McCloudy sits in the white clouds of Floccusville, where he stands out because he is the only stormy grey cloud among the fluffy white ones.  Neboo is a very grumpy individual but luckily, he finds a scroll with a tale promising to lead him to a Great Treasure.  But finding the treasure may pose to be difficult as he must enter a formidable forest. 

The final story is of Lincoln Jax.  A young girl living in an orphanage who is visited by a crane bearing an invitation for her to venture toward a kingdom.  Before reaching it, however, she will have to pass three trials.  Lincoln is curious but impatient can she be truthful and rightful in answering the questions posed to her at each door?   As Lincoln enters each new doorway, she is faced with exploring her feelings and gains a better understanding of herself.  

The Book of Four Journeys takes four travelers on four incredible journeys.  Each story is filled with adventure, whimsy and surprisingly is very introspective.  My favorite tale is Neboo McCloudy's as he learns of kindness, selfishness, generosity and wisdom.  He learns about happiness and it's such an uplifting message.  The stories address friendship, exploration, and self-reflection.    The illustrations of each of the characters added to the reading experience.  An overall fun story with beautiful messaging.  

 I hope you'll check out all the other Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday posts at Greg Pattridge's blog HERE      

 **A huge thank you to Author Marketing Experts for the review copy in exchange for an honest review**         

It's Marvelous Middle Grade Monday with a review of Secrets of the Broken House by Taryn Souders

Secrets of the Broken House by Taryn Souders
Publisher:  Sourcebooks for Young Readers
Format Read:  Paperback ARC 
Number of pages:   272 pages
Publishing:  January 6th, 2026
Source:  Publisher  

Opening Lines:  "I stopped my bike across the street from the run-down house and answered the question I knew Clemmie was about to ask."

In the small town of Everson, everyone suspects that Miss Geraldine's run-down house is haunted.  Even the old rowboat leaning against the siding has seen better days.   The place is in such bad shape that the mayor has threatened to have it condemned.

Tucker has his eye on the rowboat, hoping to fix it up so he can continue his passion for fishing.  So, when his friend Clemmie is asked to help clean up Miss Geraldine's property and prepare it for an auction, Tucker agrees to help in exchange for the rowboat. 

But when Tucker returns to collect it, he instead finds Miss Geraldine dead at the bottom of the stairs.  As an amateur sleuth, Tucker quickly recognizes that what everyone assumes is an accident might be a murder instead.  Although Miss Geraldine was considered mean by the town, and referred to as Miss fussy gussy, she didn't deserve to be murdered.

After speaking with his father, the chief of police, Tucker gets permission to examine the scene for clues.  With help from Sadie and Clemmie, he begins to interview the townspeople and track down leads, determined to uncover the truth about what really happened.

Everson has that small-town charm I absolutely adore.  Quiet streets, and a coffee shop and beauty salon serving as the town's hub for gossip. With Clemmie and Sadie's parents working in these two locations, it's easy to gather pieces of information listening in on the townspeople as they speculate on motives and reveal secrets.    It's the perfect backdrop for a classic detective mystery, plenty of suspects, quirky townsfolk, and a free-range for curious kids to explore.  I'd love to see more adventures with these kids. Ideal for younger mystery fans.   

I hope you'll check out all the other Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday posts at Greg Pattridge's blog HERE      

 **A huge thank you to Sourcebooks for the review copy in exchange for an honest review**      

Tiny Worlds: A Story About Appreciating the Small Things by Brittany Cicchese

Tiny Worlds by Brittany Cicchese
Publisher:  Candlewick Press
Format Read:  E-ARC
Number of pages:   32 pages
Publishing:  January 1st, 2026
Source: Edelweiss +

Opening Lines: "I'm staying with grandma again."

A young boy visits his grandmother where he builds tiny worlds from scraps of ribbon, a pocket watch and popsicle sticks.  These are intricate constructions made with lovingly care and attention to detail.  Sometimes grandmother helps, like providing a pie tin, but other times she encourages him to go outside with her to the playground.  He instead prefers quiet spaces.  Grandmother tries a nature hike, a petting zoo and a trip to the beach, but he finds secret spots, away from the noise and bustle.  Secret places for him to explore.  Eventually, grandmother begins to join him in exploring his tiny worlds. 

Tiny Worlds is an adorable story with gorgeous illustrations.  The young boy has a large imagination and thinks in creative ways.  He notices all the beauty of nature and how it houses many things to explore.  I love how he sees the smallest of details and is content to be still and enjoy what he finds.  The illustrations are soft pastel watercolors with lots of color and convey a lot of emotion.  The stunning loudness of the playground with all the children bustling around versus the peace of a pond with a turtle on a rock and dragonfly flittering.  My favorite is his inquisitive look while viewing mushrooms growing on a mossy log.  This is a beautiful picture book that encourages children to look closer at the nature around them and to create their own special worlds.    

The Black Market by Jed Alexander

The Black Market by Jed Alexander
Publisher:  Union Square Kids
Format Read:  Paperback ARC
Number of pages:   272 pages
Published:  September 9th, 2025
Source: Bookmark Communications

Opening Lines: "My great-aunt Gabby always comes to visit once a year."

Martin's great-aunt Gabby is a seasoned world traveler who never arrives without bringing him a unique gift.  This year, she surprises him with a pair of rare foovaloos shoes, an item thought to be extinct.  Martin's great-aunt explains that she acquired them at the mysterious Black Market, immediately sparking Martin's curiosity.  She tells Martin that the market never appears in the same place twice and surfaces only on Halloween.  It's said to sell countless illegal treasures, but unlike ordinary markets, "you don't seek it out, it finds you."  Entry even requires a secret password. Martin's great-aunt makes him promise to keep the market a secret, but naturally he shares it with his best friend, Jess.

Later at the library, Martin and Jess meet up to work on their Civil War project, but Jess is far more interested in his new shoes.  She convinces Martin that they should search for the Black Market together, hoping to uncover an unusual treasure.  Sneaking out at night, the two manage to find the hidden entrance.  Jess, however, is denied entry, while Martin slips inside in his Headless Horseman costume, which allows him to pass as an adult.  Once inside the market, Martin discovers a Bag of Dirty Tricks and trades his shoes for half a bag and a book of instructions.

Back at home, Martin and Jess eagerly explore the dirty tricks housed in the bag.  Some can make everything taste like pickles, others cause your hair to fall out or leave you perpetually puzzled.  Deciding to start small, Martin tests a bar of trick soap on his dad, intending to turn his hands red for a week.  But when his dad showers with it, his entire body turns red.  Martin's next target is his neighbor, Mr. Murphy whom Martin suspects of stealing his dog.  Mr. Murphy falls victim to the Creeping Arborialis trick, sprouting sapling branches from his fingertips and ears. 

As the pranks escalate, Martin and Jess begin to realize the tricks are changing them, twisting their personalities and making them cruel.  Alarmed, they bury the bag and book under the cover of night.  But the following day, chaos erupts across town.   Random people suffer suspicious, bizarre aliments and fall prey to dirty tricks.  Horrified, Martin and Jess set out to track down the thief who unearthed The Bag of Dirty Tricks and stop them from unleashing any more.

I've never been a huge fan of pulling pranks on people.  Well not since that one time that a family friend put salt into my soda as an April Fool's Day prank.  That's why I really appreciate how Martin and Jess question whether their tricks are turning them into bad people.  At heart, they're good kids who recognize that their pranks can seriously harm someone if taken too far.  I especially enjoyed the concept of the Black Market, with its shadowy stalls and suspicious wares.  It adds a wonderfully mysterious atmosphere.  The true highlight of the book is Jess and Martin's friendship.  Included are these lovely illustrations that heighten kid appeal.  Altogether, this would be a delightful story to read aloud.  

I hope you'll check out all the other Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday posts at Greg Pattridge's blog HERE      

**A huge thank you to Bookmark Communications for the review copy in exchange for an honest review**      

Love Wars: Clash of the Parents, A True Divorce Story by Matthew A. Tower , illustrated by Tsuneo Sanda

Love Wars:  Clash of the Parents, A True Divorce Story by Matthew A. Tower, illustrated by Tsuneo Sanda
Publisher:  Raja Media LLC
Format Read:  Hardcover
Number of pages:   370 pages
Published:  October 17th, 2025
Source: Books Forward 

Opening Lines:  "As I listened to my father read my favorite bedtime story, I curled up against his chest and felt the comforting rise and fall of his breathing."

The story begins with Matt around the age of three watching Star Wars six times across two days as his younger brother, Thomas was born.  The film left a huge imprint on his life.  Meanwhile, tension grows at home with an escalation of arguments between his parents.  Angry voices, send him to his room and his mother becomes increasingly absent.  At the age of six, Matthew's parents begin the process to divorce, and he and Thomas live primarily with their mom while splitting time with their father. 

Hoping to repair their relationship, his parents move the family from the city to the country, but the change only deepens their divide.  What follows is a painful tug-o-war, with Matt and Thomas caught in the middle.  Their mother disparages their father calling him horrible names like "cretin" and "bastard," often urging Matt to join in.  The boys are shuttled back and forth, each parent vying to appear as the better caregiver.  The conflict reaches a breaking point when Matt summons the courage to shout for them to stop fighting.  Stuck in the middle of their custody battle, Matt copes with the chaos by turning to the teachings of Luke Skywalker, using Star Wars as a guide to navigate his parent's battles.  

Love Wars chronicles the author's childhood memories of his parent's bitter divorce. It reveals Matt's sadness, confusion and longing to see his father.  Early on, it becomes clear that his mother struggles with mental illness, and her relentless criticism of his father deeply scars him.  She places Matt and Thomas at serious risk, leaving them in a motel with a babysitter on Christmas Eve, wages a "Violin War" over lessons, and even sues Matt for refusing to take Hebrew classes.  Matt is overwhelmed by anger and frustration, and he even lashes out at his younger brother, treating him cruelly.  

This heartbreaking memoir underscores how divorce should never place children in the middle of parental conflict.  Children should not be pressured to spy or forced to carry insults between parents.  I deeply appreciate that the author chose to share his story, despite how painful in must have been to relive.  By doing so, he offers a voice to children who are caught in similar situations, reminding them that they are not alone.  I hope that young readers whose parents are in the middle of a divorce will find comfort and strength from reading this book.  Love Wars is accompanied by stunning black-and-white illustrations by Tsuneo Sanda.  I can't fully express how powerful and detailed they are, but they are not to be missed (There's a sample in the video below).  The Star Wars references and Luke Skywalker's presence throughout the narrative add depth and resonance.  It is a powerfully moving story that I would highly recommend.

**A huge thank you to Books Forward for the hardcover review copy in exchange for an honest review**

I hope you'll check out all the other Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday posts at Greg Pattridge's blog HERE   

The Picasso Curse by Dan Gutman

The Picasso Curse by Dan Gutman
Publisher:  Holiday House
Format Read:  E-book
Number of pages:   192 pages
Published:  September 2nd, 2025
Source: Publisher via Edelweiss +  

Opening Lines:  "It was a Saturday back in October when I found the doodle."

While shopping with his parents at a flea market, Edwin Hodge spots a signed poster of Kobe Bryant, priced for a mere ten dollars.  Hoping to beat out his classmate, Vinnie, who's also eyeing the poster, Edwin quickly buys it.  Back home, he discovers a hidden doddle tucked behind the frame.  The next day at school, during show-and-tell, Edwin's art teacher notices the drawing's distinctive style resembles the work of Pablo Picasso.  She urges Edwin and his parents to have it professionally appraised.  The story then shifts to 1911, recounting the infamous theft of the Mona Lisa.  Picasso was detained and questioned in connection with the crime, and according to legend, he even sketched a doddle during that time.

The story then returns to Edwin as news of his discovery goes viral.  Soon he's bombarded with interview requests, strangers show up at his door asking for money, and the original seller from the flea market reappears offering $10,000 to buy back the poster.  Hoping to get the artwork appraised, Edwin and his parents travel to Chicago, where they find an art auction house interested in selling the piece.  But, as things spin out of control, Edwin devises a bold plan to stage a public shredding of the artwork and sell access to the livestream, even offering pieces of the shredded remains for purchase.  As the final moment arrives and Edwin prepares to feed the artwork into the shredder, the story ends on a cliffhanger.  This leaves the reader with one burning question, what would you do?  

The Picasso Curse was such a fun read! At first, it feels like Edwin won the lottery, but the discovery of a valuable piece of art brings unexpected pressures and complications.  It truly feels like he's been cursed.   I really appreciated how Edwin remained cautious and questions people's motives, even though his family could use the money.  I especially enjoyed the back matter at the beginning of the book, which dives into the historical theft of the Mona Lisa.  I was also stunned to learn about the recent heist at the Louvre Museum where thieves stole $102 million in jewels from the early-to-mid-19th century.  Gutman enriches the story with real-life examples of people who've stumbled upon hidden treasures and there are historical photographs, reproductions of the Mona Lisa and other fascinating illustrations.  Overall, this was a wonderful blend of fact and fiction.  

I hope you'll check out all the other Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday posts at Greg Pattridge's blog HERE      

  

**A huge thank you to the publisher for my review copy in exchange for an honest review.**

Eating to Save the Planet: How Veganism Helps Fight Climate Change by Anne Broyles , illustrated by Hannah Li

Eating to Save the Planet by Anne Broyles, illustrated by Hannah Li
Publisher:  Holiday House
Format Read:  E-book
Number of pages:   128 pages
Published:  August 26th, 2025
Source: Publisher in exchange for an honest review

Eating to Save the Planet opens with a thought-provoking question: "When you walk down the aisles of a grocery store, do you think about all the steps it took for each item to get on the shelf?"  This compelling, jam-packed book explores the benefits of adapting a plant-based diet and the broader implications of our food choices. 

The book begins by examining how the foods we eat reflect our cultural backgrounds.  The book highlights the diversity of meal preparation and explains that people choose their diets based on what kind of an eater they are, whether they are carnivores, omnivores, vegetarian or pescatarians.  Each type of eater is described with clear examples and descriptions of the foods they would typically enjoy.

The discussion also delves into the history of food shortages, emphasizing that what we eat is a global issue.  It addresses legislative changes being made to promote healthier food options and explores the growing use of regenerative agricultural as a sustainable solution.  The book emphasizes the advantages of a plant-based diet and introduces meat alternatives that are currently being used in other countries, like insects as a potential meat substitute.  Real life suggestions are made for children to try out, including Meatless Mondays and gradually incorporating new vegetables into their meals.  

Overall, Eating to Save the Planet is an informative, and thought-provoking book about what we put onto our plate and how it impacts our environment.  The full-color illustrations will enhance the appeal for younger readers, and I especially enjoyed the impactful graph showing the amount of water that is needed to produce a pound of various types of food.  At the back of the book, readers will find a helpful list of sources, websites, and resources for transitioning to a plant-based diet, along with various stories of well-known individuals who have made the switch.  This would make a lovely resource for a school or public library.    

I hope you'll check out all the other Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday posts at Greg Pattridge's blog HERE     

   **A huge thank you Holiday House for access to the e-book in exchange for an honest review**