It's MMGM with a review of The Ghosts of Nameless Island by Carly Anne West, illustrated by Teo Skaffa

The Ghosts of Nameless Island by Carly Anne West, illustrations by Teo Skaffa
Publisher:  Andrews McMeel Publishing
Format Read:  Paperback
Number of pages:   302 pages
Published:   July 23rd, 2024
Source:  Purchased

Opening Line: "I don't know the cat's name, but this much I did know:  If she was snuggling up to me, there was a ghost with us."

At seven years old, Gus saw his sixth ghost, a white-haired former ballerina in a house his parents were restoring.  He helped her to move on by listening to her story and returning her lost locket.  Now, at twelve, Gus and his mom are moving again for her latest renovation project on the mysterious and remote Nameless Island.  But this time, Gus is worried because he can't find the protector items that keep ghosts from hurting him, like the lucky penny that his dad gave him before he disappeared.

Once Gus and his mom arrive at the historic Rotham Manor, they discover the eerie Nameless Island cemetery at the edge of the property, filled with unmarked graves.  Gus even catches a glimpse of a ghostly boy at the gate.    Rotham Manor has been abandoned for years, and though his mom knew the project would be an undertaking, she never expected the devastation waiting inside.  The manor is a disaster zone, riddled with holes, busted plumbing, and missing half of the staircase leading to the second floor. Gus's mom poured everything into restoring the manor, even embellishing her skills to secure the job.  What are they to do now?  And what of the mysterious ghost lurking in the cemetery? 

The Ghost of Nameless Island is the first book in a new trilogy from Carly Anne West.  The illustrations by Teo Skaffa add to the creepy vibes of the story and I adore that cover.   I also love stories set in old houses or mansions-they conjure images of ivy creeping up the walls, rooms with hidden closets and endless opportunities for exploration.  Gus is a very responsible young man, and I love how supportive he is of his mom.  He plays a crucial role in helping her regain control of her breath when she suffers a panic attack after seeing the manors interior.  He constantly tries to make her smile and is deeply concerned about keeping her stress level down, or at least not adding to it.  That's why he never tells her about the ghost in the cemetery.  His dad was the one who believed in paranormal encounters, while his mom would likely dismiss his experience and take him back to his therapist.

Nameless Island makes for a wonderfully spooky setting.  With the manor, cemetery, lighthouse, rainstorms, and the need to take a boat to reach it, the island exudes eerie and isolated.  Along the way, Gus gets help from two local children, Miles and Tavi.  They run the Nameless Fameless vlog and are looking for intel on the Manor's previous owner, Karl Rotham- a suspected bootlegger. Together they hunt for answers about the manor's mysterious owners and search for clues to the identity of the broken ghost boy.  I love how these two mysteries provide twists and turns, creating just the right amount of tension in the story-especially when the broken boy ghost is able to injure Gus, something that never happened when he had his dad's penny.  While some answers about the manors past emerge, the story ends on a cliffhanger.  Luckily, The Boy Who Could Fly releases in September!

  

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

For MMGM a review of Lost Evangeline (The Norendy Tales) by Kate DiCamillo , illustrations by Sophie Blackall

Lost Evangeline A Norendy Tale by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Sophie 

Publisher:  Candlewick Press
Format Read:  Ebook
Number of pages:   160 pages
Published:  January 1st, 2025 and hardcover releasing 9/30/25
Source:  Edelweiss +

Opening Lines: "There was once a boy who longed to go to the sea."

One day, a cobbler finds a child as small as a mouse in an old boot.  The shoemaker's wife fears that this is a mistake, a magic gone wrong to take the young girl, but the shoemaker doesn't listen and names the young girl Evangeline, vowing to raise her as their own.  As the years pass, Evangeline grows older, but never taller in size.  The shoemaker's wife begins to become increasingly worried as the two are always side by side, dreaming of one day going to the sea and exploring distant places.   The wife tries various means to separate her husband and Evangeline.  Eventually even doing the unthinkable, selling her to Mrs. Pennith-Smith.  Now far from her adopted father, Evangeline is determined to find her way back to him.  And once the shoemaker finds out what his wife has done, he in turn searches for her too.  

Lost Evangeline is the third book in the Norendy tales, which includes The Puppets of Spellhorst and The Hotel Balzaar. It's a story filled with wonder, love, dreams and determination. Evangeline is a very resourceful and brave young girl.  Not only does she sneak away at night, she's going out into the dark and unknown.  And who does she encounter first but a "huge, marmalade colored cat." Yikes!  Evangeline has many adventures while searching for her father and is put into quite a few precarious situations.  At one point she is even imprisoned in a cage by an unscrupulous man who wants her to perform in his oddities and curiosity show.  Yet, she never seems to get down during these moments.  Instead she begins to tell stories and sings to the people and animals that she encounters, emboldening them to overcome their own fears or misgivings, and to search out their own dreams.  The CODA  finds Evangeline and the shoemaker sailing upon separate ships, which felt incomplete to me.  It made me sad but also hopeful with them both having lit lamps at their side.  As if they'd search for each other forever.  The story includes wonderful black and white illustrations by Sophie Blackall.  Read this if you enjoy Kate DiCamillo's books or if you're looking for a unique fairytale. 

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

It's MMGM with a review of A Sky Full of Dragons (The Wand Keepers #1) by Tiffany McDaniel , illustrations by Ayesha L. Rubio

A Sky Full of Dragons (The Wand Keepers #1) by Tiffany McDaniel, illustrations by Ayesha L. Rubio
Publisher:  Simon & Schuster
Format Read:  Paperback 
Number of pages:   352 pages
Published:  September 24, 2024
Source:  Purchased

Opening Lines: "Aunt Cauldroneyes made pointed hats covered in bright green warts for witches, large floppy hats covered in crystal eyes and moonlight for werewolves, and hats that had an edge of mist and a ribbon for the ancient trees in the forest."

On a stormy night, Aunt Cauldroneyes found a baby at the bottom of a purple cauldron and named her Spella De-Broom.  Since then, Spella has lived in the Hungry Snout Forest with her aunt, her mischievous enchanted hats and their mummified cat, Egypt.   When Spella turns eight, she is to receive an invitation to Dragon's Knob, a school for wand magic.  But on the day she is meant leave, a wizard appears at the door, requesting a repair of a growling hat-only for her Aunt Cauldroneyes to be sucked into the hat and vanish.  Fearing for her aunt, Spella heads to Dragon's Knob in search of answers.  But upon her arrival, she finds protesters gathered at the gates, bullies furious over the school's recent changes, and amid the chaos a new friend, Tolden who vows to help Spella solve the mysterious disappearance of her aunt.  

In the first ninety pages, the reader is introduced to Spella's world- a place of love and comfort.  I love how it established Spella and her aunt's strong bond, and introduced their enchanted home in the forest.  Their home is truly magical with its window glass made of wild grapes and raspberries, doors that smell of chocolate, where thread is spun from sugar and buttons taste like caramel.  It reminds me a little of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, where the little details make it all the more enchanting. I loved that Spella's aunt is a milliner that creates all of these wonderful hats imbued with unique personalities.  They're chaotic and whimsical and staunchly loyal, making them all one big happy family.   Each chapter begins with a gorgeous illustration by Ayesha L. Rubio and there are footnotes for the various magical terms.  

Spella's world is then disrupted when her aunt is taken by an unseen enemy, leading her to a school for wand magic.  There, conflicts arise between two factions: Dragon Knob, which has started to teach only plant-based magic, and a group of witches and wizards determined to continue using animal-based magic.   Woven throughout the story are themes of deforestation, animal endangerment, and activism, highlighted by Spella's aunt's involvement in W.O.L.V.E.S (Witches Oath to Love and Value the Environment for Spellwork).  At first, it might seem like these elements wouldn't fit together, but McDaniel blends them seamlessly into the story.  A Sky Full of Dragons will appeal to readers who love magical schools, dragon-filled stories, or immersive worlds rich with detail and adventure.  Book 2, The Mummy Snatcher Curse releases on 9/30/25, can't wait.    

It's MMGM with a review of Seeker Society by Jana Tropper and Kyle Higgins , illustrated by Zack Giallongo, colorist Whiney Cogar

Seeker Society by Jana Tropper and Kyle Higgins, illustrated by Zack Giallongo, colorist Whiney Cogar
Publisher:  Andrews McMeel Publishing
Format:  E- ARC
Number of pages:   176 pages
Publishing:  June 3rd, 2025
Source:  Edeweiss +

Opening Lines: "Stay calm, children!  Everyone just stay calm."


Seeker Society opens with Dr. Adichie, Fern, Zack and Jordan aboard their schools' boat when it is rammed by The Keepers, leading the students to fall overboard.  Then the story skips back two months with the trio arriving at Shackleton's School for Seekers.  Each of them having been selected for their special gifts.  Fern can hear voices from the past, Jordan can see the past when he touches an item and Zack, the youngest is a polyglot and can read ancient texts.  Their new school is a place for exploration and preservation, where the past is discovered but also honored.  The school's motto is "either find a way or make one." 

Seeker Society shifts between past events in each of the student's life, at school or to their present predicament of being thrown overboard.  The trio soon find themselves on an island where they encounter the Keepers, a group of people who have been at odds with the Seekers and want to take advantage of the student's gifts and the map that they've discovered on the island.  Roy, a former teacher with Dr. Adichie and his daughter Shay lead the Keepers, and they're consumed with deciphering the map to find the treasure of the Lost Island.  Shay has the power of navigation and soon revolts against her father in order to help Fern, Zack and Jordan.  She disagrees with her father on selling the treasure and doesn't believe that everything should be for sale.  The children soon begin canvasing the island to try and find the treasure before the Keepers, while trying to evade Roy and his team.  

The Seeker Society is a beautifully illustrated graphic novel, and I loved the way the illustrator and colorist play with color on their full-page illustrations.  How each illustration is a glimpse of what's to come.  Where one page is for example colored blue and the illustrations almost appear black and white, and then the next page shows the same illustrations but in full color.  With all the different colors on the page you start to pick up on things that maybe didn't catch your eye on the blue colored page.  I found this quite interesting.  I also really enjoyed that the story emphasizes friendship, trust and teamwork.  How each student had an opportunity to use their skills and that their skills were evolving to include new ways that they could be used.  How Jordan learned that he doesn't always pay attention and that he needs to work on thinking before acting.  I also especially liked the school's motto and how each of the student's gifts were powers that help them to locate historical artifacts.  There's a really nice reveal at the end of the book, that I don't want to spoil, but I'm fond with the idea that it's tied to the heart of the island.  Seeker Society has received 3 million + reads on the Epic! platform and I'm glad that it is being published in a graphic novel format.  I can see this appealing to 8–10-year-olds who enjoy magical schools and the idea of outsmarting adults.  

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

River of Spirits The Underwild#1 by Shana Targosz

River of Spirits The Underwild#1 by Shana Targosz
Publisher:  Aladdin
Format:  Hardcover
Number of pages:   432 pages
Published:  March 25th, 2025
Source:  Purchased

Opening Lines: "The river is the color of death."

Senka and Charon reside at the boundary between the realm of the Living and the realm of the Dead.  Charon, the Ferryer of the Underworld, carries souls to their afterlife, while Senka is his ward and assistant.  Though eager to become an official Ferryer, Senka is still learning Charon's strict rules and hopes to prove herself worthy to be put in charge of ferrying souls on her own. 

One day, during Charon's absence, a living girl named Poppy enters the Underworld.  Poppy pleads for help to find her recently departed brother, Joey's ghost.  Senka does everything in her power to dissuade Poppy, while trying to remain true to Charon's rules.  However, Poppy's story has peaked her interest and compels her to break with her beliefs and offer to help.  As their voyage begins, tragedy hits when Poppy falls into the river and is swept downstream.  Fearing for Poppy's safety, Senka makes a daring decision and dives into the river to save her.   

The two find themselves trapped within the Underwild and must ban together to survive the myriad of dangers that lurk within.   As their journey unfolds, Senka grows increasingly worried about the toll that the realm of the dead is taking on Poppy, realizing the longer Poppy remains, the less likely she will be able to return to the realm of the living.

As Senka and Poppy venture deeper into the Underwild, they encounter angry demigods, hungry wraiths and chimera's.  Senka also discovers shocking secrets that Charon has kept hidden from her.  With time running out, Senka must summon every ounce of strength and determination to save Poppy.  But when Senka learns that her own existence is at risk, can she truly protect Poppy, or will they both succumb to the dangers of the Underwild?

The River of Spirits is one of those books that piqued my interest right away.  The cover was the first thing that caught my eye with Senka on a boat, the lovely purple shade and the sparkling gold butterflies.  Next was the purple feathers sprayed along the edges, I love how they complement the purple cover.  Then I started to read the inside flap and oh my!  As soon as I saw the word Charon and started to think about the ferryman of the dead and the River of Styx, yep, I knew this would be a book for me.  Greek mythology reimagining, yes please.   

Senka is defiantly the highlight of reading the River of Spirits.  Her desire to adhere to Charon's rules while struggling with whether or not to help Poppy, makes her a compelling character.   Her act of self-sacrifice by jumping into the river took great courage and put her into uncharted waters.  Senka had never disobeyed Charon before.   She'd lived a happy peaceful life with Charon, yet something had always felt off.  I was immersed in learning her backstory and discovering how she came to be his ward.  

Senka's world is so well imagined and immersive.   I loved all the wonderful rich details, interesting creatures and the compelling plot.  It has everything under worldly that I would expect in a middle grade fantasy.    If you've ever read a Rick Riordan book or enjoy Greek mythologies, River of Spirits has a similar feel.  There's snarky comments and a reimaging of how the god's act, almost humanizing them.   I really want to re-read this so that I can further explore the characters I'm less familiar with like the Goddess Melinoe.  

The other vibe I got while reading was The Spindlers by Lauren Oliver.  It too involved a girl going into the underground in search of her brother's soul.  In Poppy's case, she lost her brother after he passed away from an illness, while Liza feels her brother's soul was taken by spiderlike creatures.  Yet, both girls have this great determination, love and hope guiding them on their quest.  Poppy is really struggling over Joey's death; she can't fathom going on without him.  Then to see Senka develop an empathy for Poppy's story.  It's easy to get caught up in the emotions, loss and grief.  River of Spirits is a wonderful debut and is perfect for fans of the Percy Jackson series and Greek mythologies.  I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series. 

Favorite lines:  "Sometimes nightmares are parts of ourselves we try to run from, but they are parts of us, nonetheless...

To understand them, we must face them and learn what makes us fear them." 

It's MMGM with a review of I Am Rebel by Ross Montgomery

I am Rebel by Ross Montgomery
Publisher:  Walker Books Ltd
Format:  E-ARC
Number of pages:   240 pages
Publishing:  May 27th, 2025
Source:  Banholzer PR

Opening Lines:  "The day begins exactly as it should."

Rebel wakes up at the first signs of dawn, while his human, Tom is still trying to shake off the cobwebs before breakfast.  Rebel's been with Tom since he was a pup and has never left the farm.  He loves everything about their life together and wouldn't change a single thing. Outside the farms fence, the king's guardsmen patrol the roads collecting taxes and imprisoning offenders.   Usually, they don't bother Tom and his family.  

Then one day, two guardsmen enter the families home demanding a double payment of their taxes, if they don't pay they wont receive a permit to travel on the king's roads, cutting off their path to take their sheep to market to sell, thus putting Tom's family at risk to starve.  Tom knows that there is no way that his family has the means to pay the king's men, but angering the guardsmen only seems to make things worse.  Once there were the Reds that fought against the Imperial rules, but they've all but been killed off or have disappeared. 

Tom tires to convince his parents to refuse to pay the increased taxes, thinking that they can't arrest everyone or bleed them dry, but his parents have a very different point of view.  They've lived through the previous rebellion and are only trying to keep Tom safe, but Tom isn't willing to back down.  So, in the middle of the night he runs away with a stranger, Rider, who he meets along the farm fence.  Rider tells Tom that a new revolt against the king has started and this time they'll remove him from High Castle so everyone will have a stable future.  Rider claims that they've organized a thousand men and hope to recruit more, Tom's drawings will become posters on display in every village and tell people how to resist and join in the fight.  But in order to come with Rider, Tom must first agree to leave Rebel behind.  The last thing that Tom gives his beloved Rebel before sneaking away is his red neckerchief.   Rebel is a good dog and tries to adhere to Tom's command to stay, but with Tom now headed toward a war where he might die, Rebel can't leave him unprotected and alone so he too runs away to find him.  

From the author of The Midnight Guardians and The Chime Seekers comes his latest book I Am Rebel, the story of the strong devotion between a human and a dog.  Rebel just wants to be considered a good dog.  As I said before, he's more than happy to be on the farm helping tend to the sheep.  He loves all the smells and sights of farm life.  I smiled as I was reading the descriptions of Rebel coming down for breakfast and catching a whiff of Tom's dads clothing.  The mix of "sheep's wool, sour milk and mud."  I spent a couple of years in college near Monfort's, a meat packing plant in Northern Colorado and let me tell you that's not the smells I think of when I think of cattle.  There was one day of the week that was always especially ripe all across campus.   

The story is an adventure filled with setbacks, triumphs and an interesting mix of side characters.  There's Jaxon a big dog who is proud of being a stray, master less, free to roam wherever he wants, Seamus a pig whom Rebel and Jaxon save from becoming sausages and gather valuable information about routes that go through the mountains.  Rollo a pub dog who has questionable allegiances to Rebel's cause, Pearl a hard working donkey and even Felix a dormouse searching for his wife.  The two primary characters would be Jaxon and Rebel who head through the wilderness, crossing a huge river to follow Tom's lingering scent to bring him home.

I love how Rebel's exploration of the wilderness opens him up to how expansive the world outside of his little farm is, how he realizes things like the air and water are fresher and cleaner.  But this new world also comes with new dangers that he's never experienced.  How to find safe food, make your first kill and even how to stay protected when they find wolves in the area.  I love how Jaxon and Rebel learn from each other.  Jaxon has had a world of experiences in the wild and is willing to teach Rebel, while Jaxon learns that companionship or having a human comes with benefits too. Jaxon at first feels really gruff and set in his ways and it really is a beautiful thing to see him open up to new possibilities.  The resolution of the story is very satisfying and filled with tear inducing moments again highlighting that love between human and dog.  

Favorite line:  "Small nothings can move mountains if you let them."    

  

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

It's Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday with a review of The Tontine Caper by Dianne K. Salerni , illustrations by Matt Schu

The Tontine Caper by Dianne K. Salerni, illustrations by Matt Schu
Publisher:  Holiday House

Format:  Hardcover ARC
Number of pages:   208 pages
Published:  April 22nd, 2025
Source:  Publisher

Opening Lines: "It was the wrong time of year to expect guests at the Precipice Inn."

It's November 1901, in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania, at the Precipice Inn.  Typically, rooms weren't fully booked this time of the year, yet Gunter Hogg, the innkeeper, was buzzing with excitement as all five rooms were soon to be occupied by the guests of Arnold Hawes, a lawyer.  Eleven-year-old Nicodemus Lombardi has been working at the inn since the sudden death of his grandfather, Nonno five years ago.  Gunther insisted that Nonno owed rent for their stay prior to his passing, and forced Nico into a life of indentured servitude to pay off the debt.

The first guest to arrive was Mr. Beauregard Ames, accompanied by his granddaughter Beatrice.  Due to his impressive height of six and a half feet, he had to switch rooms with the Von Trapp brothers, Edgar and Raymond and their grandmother Diana.  Lastly, the Deetlebaum's arrived, consisting of Mabel, her daughter-in-law Carleen, and her  granddaughter Lottie.        

Meanwhile, Nico busied himself carrying the guest's suitcases to their rooms, but his curiosity got the better of him when he caught site of a letter addressed to Mrs. Deetlebaum, with the intriguing word "finalist."  It wasn't long before Nico learned the purpose behind the gathering:  Mr. Hawes who had not yet arrived, had summoned the guests to the inn to discuss the dissolution of a long-standing tontine.  Years ago, they had invested in shares of the Carbon County coal mine, forming the tontine.  The agreement originally dictated that the accumulated wealth would go to the last surviving member.  However, a provision allowed for the final three members to vote on dissolving the tontine early, splitting the fortune equally among them.  

Unfortunately the guests reached an impasse over dissolving the tontine agreement, leading tensions to simmer, and greed to cloud their judgment. Thoughts of betrayal and conspiring to eliminate rivals even became a tempting prospect.  The quiet inn soon became a place of suspicion and deceit, where it was best to question everyone's motives and hidden agendas.

The Tontine Caper has been described as Clue meets Knives Out, and it really is a lovely blend of mystery and suspense, with a quirky cast, and the perfect setting for intrigue.  I love old manors they always make me think of dark halls, hiding spots, and multiple rooms to search.  The heirs were entertaining with their scheming and sneaking around at night, and their underhanded tactics to try and gain the fortune for themselves.  The dynamics between Nico and the innkeeper added an emotional layer to the story, and the painting added a nice element of mystery too.  The black and white illustrations by Matt Schu depict the various characters from the story, I just wish there were more of them.  Included at the back of the book is a quiz to determine which character you resemble, and an author's note explaining that the inspiration for the book was an episode of The Wild Wild West that included a tontine.  Read this if you enjoy mysteries, old houses, books like Winterhouse or you enjoyed the authors Carrefore Curse.    

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

Blog Tour With Review and Guest Post by Donna Galanti author of Loon Cove Summer, Unicorn Island and Joshua and The Lightning Road series

I'm really excited today to be a part of the blog tour for Donna Galanti's latest book, Loon Cove Summer.    Be sure to check out all the other tour stops at the bottom of the post and Donna's link to her tip sheet for the book.  There's also a giveaway and my review.  

Loon Cove Summer by Donna Galanti
Publisher:  Wild Trade Press
Format:  E-ARC
Number of pages:   286 pages
Publishing:  May 6th, 2025
Source:  Author in exchange for an honest review
Reading level: middle-grade, 8 - 12 years

Book Tip Sheet to Download 

Where book is available:  Amazon, Barnes and Noble,  Bookshop, On Goodreads  

Donna’s website

Keywords:
friendship, grief and loss, environmental causes, family, Appalachian Trail, lakes, camping, nature, adventure, coming-of-age, bird conservation

Audience:

·   Nature and science lovers

·   Outdoor adventure seekers

·   Readers of survival stories

·   Fans of environmental causes

·   Youth in bereavement

Opening Line: "My first Monday of summer vacation was a total fail."

 Here is the summary of Loon Cove Summer:

Thirteen-year-old Sarah Richardson is determined that her life will finally get unstuck this summer. She just knows it. Her to-do list? Brave the lake again. Save the loons. Stop missing Mom. Her one bright spot: volunteering at the local wild bird rehabilitation center.

 

The summer looks even brighter when Sarah meets Theo, the boy staying at her family’s Maine lakeside campground who cares about protecting the loons just like she does. But when Sarah’s family may have to move, she adds a new to-do item: save their home. And when she suspects Dad is dating Theo’s aunt, the naturalist helping research environmental dangers to the loons, Sarah is caught in a new world of grief.

 

With the looming reality of losing her dad, her home, and the loons, Sarah must make a big statement to take control of her life. Capturing inspiration from her late mother’s Appalachian Trail hiking journal, she boldly plans a solo wild adventure. But as her challenges mount, she wonders if her courage will earn her the voice she seeks—or if she’s made a reckless choice that just might claim her life.

Guest Post:  The Twisty Journey of Getting a Book Published by Donna Galanti

I love writing fantasy, as made evident by all my other books. With writing fantasy, there’s a freedom to create any world you want—a world without boundaries. I hadn’t planned to write a contemporary, yet my newest novel, Loon Cove Summer, called to be written in the real-world. It’s a love letter to a magical part of my childhood where I lived, in a New England lakeside campground. For me, it wasn’t a challenging transition from fantasy to writing this contemporary story as it flowed out of me from personal experience.

The book began as a young adult for teens as I explored a romantic element in it, but the story soon morphed into middle grade for younger audiences. I struggled with a teen voice and realized it wasn’t working for me because I love to embrace the wonder of being a tween. Being a tween is a time in our lives when we straddle two worlds, one foot grounded in the magic of childhood and one foot stepping into young adulthood. This time as a youth is about having many new adventures for the first time. These ‘first’ experiences are threaded throughout Loon Cove Summer and reflected in Sarah, the main character.

Most authors I know have several creative projects in the works. I’m no different. I still have my first (practice!) novel sitting in a shoe box that will never be published. I also have seven completed books that all need various stages of revising, three novels to finish drafting, and five novels in a series outlined with the first book begun.

When one project feels stalled, I move to another. I started Loon Cove Summer way back in 2013. After many years of stalling on it, cheating on it with writing other books, working on it with my former agent and several editors, and rewriting it, I finished the story in 2024. Finally, 12 years later it’s being released on May 6th!

There’s a dedication required to getting a book to print—draft it, rewrite it, revise it (multiple times), then figure out the path to publication (which includes more rejection than acceptance). At times, it seems like an impossible mountain to climb!

Loon Cove Summer was no different … here’s a 17-part snapshot of the journey:

1. Began writing it in 2013.

2. Finished a polished draft in 2019.

3. Let my current agent go (amicably) to acquire a new literary agent for it.

4. Had a Big 5 publisher interested. Made edits with them. Added in more emphasis on the loons and conservation, per their request.

5. Got turned-down from this Big 5 publisher as they had a similar title recently released.

6. Changed the book title and went on submission again to publishers via my new agent.

7. Rewrote again and re-submitted to Big 5 publisher above as the editor wanted to give it one more try. Nope.

8. Got rejected by other publishers on submission because it’s “too quiet”, “needs more conservation in it”, “we don’t do middle-grade books that have a crush in it” (seriously).

9. Changed the title again and went on another round of submissions to publishers via my agent.

10. In the meantime, I got a 2-book deal for my paranormal suspense Element Trilogy for adults, wrote it, and had it release with a publisher.

11. In the meantime, I was hired to write a 3-book series, Unicorn Island, for another publisher and wrote all 3 books and had them all release.

12. Had an imprint with a Big 5 publisher super excited about Loon Cove Summer! “This is the best thing I’ve read in so long! I couldn’t put it down. I laughed, I cried!”

13. Revised the first 5 chapters with the editor of this imprint.

14. Get the revised version to an acquisitions meeting. Rejected by Sales and Marketing as my book sales (20,000) of my most current book was not enough to take a risk on this

next book of mine. :(

15. Had differences with my second agent and let her go. Queried new agents. Several requested the manuscript of Loon Cove Summer. Ultimately, they all echoed the same

reasons above for choosing not to take it on.

16. August 2024. Decide no more agents. No editors. No more gatekeepers. No more squelching my creativity and passion as a storyteller. I’m 55 years old and taking control of my own publishing destiny. I don’t want to be remembered for dozens of books written just sitting in a shoebox! So … I created Wild Trail Press and produced Loon Cove Summer on my own, the first title of 15 books to publish (and counting).

17. The End (or really, just the beginning!)

 

My Review: 

I really enjoyed Loon Cove Summer's focus on nature and Sarah's desire to bring a loon expert to her lake and research why the loon's were disappearing.  The story shows what the determination and perseverance of one person can do.

Having the story centered at a campground was also a real highlight for me as it's one of my favorite pastimes over the summer.  There's something about being outside in the woods, near a lake that is comforting, and bringing Donna's book along for a re-read would be perfect.

Sarah makes for a lovely main character, she's so full of emotions the nervousness and excitement of meeting Maggie, the new to her, warm cozy feelings she feels with Theo.  Even her jealousy when her dad begins to show an interest in Maggie.  The kind of big feelings that a reader can easily relate to.  Sarah is so sweet and sparks this instant connection with Theo and Maggie, a connection that she isn't ready to share with her dad. 

There's the difficult topics of the death of a mother and possible moving away from a place that you love, but it is written from a place of great sensitivity.   I love how Sarah is given time to process her feelings about her mom's death and to come to terms with all the changes happening around her.  How she is able to use her mom's trail journal not only to read about her mom's experiences but also to write back to her to express her own thoughts.    

This is a beautiful, feel good, heart warming story that I enjoyed reading immensely.  The idea of being "custodians" for the loons really resonated with me.  It makes me want to read more adventure stories and books about environmental activism and reminded me a lot of Terry Lynn Johnson's books, like Rescue at Lake Wild.  The after thoughts from Donna were much appreciated and I especially loved how she explained why she chose to write a contemporary book and talked about her shared lived experience. I highly recommend Loon Cove Summer to readers interested in animal activism, or any animal/nature enthusiast.  

**A huge thank you to Donna Galanti for visiting my blog today, and providing me with a review copy of her book.  ***          

Praise for Loon Cove Summer:

“A warm-hearted novel that balances profound loss with humor and hope.”
– Kate Allen, author of The Line Tender

“As sparkling, refreshing, and mysterious as a Maine lake in summertime.”
– Cathy Carr, author of 365 Days to Alaska

“An original and fun read from start to finish … unreservedly recommended.”
– Midwest Book Review

“A page-turning read set in the wilds of Maine.”
– Paul Greci, author of Surviving Bear Island

“The cast of unforgettable characters and tender relationships stays with you.”
– Jessica Rinker, author of The Dare Sisters  

$50 Barnes & Noble Gift Card Giveaway: Runs 5/6/25 – 5/13/25

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About Donna: 

 Donna Galanti is the author of two middle-grade book series, Unicorn Island and Joshua and the Lightning Road, and the paranormal suspense Element Trilogy for adults. She has lived in fun locations including England, her family-owned campground in New Hampshire, and in Hawaii where she served as a U.S. Navy photographer. Donna is an avid outdoor adventurer and nature lover. She volunteers for the Old-Growth Forest Network and the National Audubon Society. When Donna’s not wandering the woods seeking magic and wonder, you can usually find her biking or kayaking. For more information on her books, school visits, and events, visit her at: www.donnagalanti.com.

 

 

It's MMGM with a review of Spelling It Out by Margaret Finnegan

Spelling It Out by Margaret Finnegan
Publisher:  Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Format:  E-ARC
Number of pages:   208 pages
Publishing:  May 15th, 2025
Source:  Blue Slip Media

Find Margaret Finnegan:

            Instagram:

Margaret Finnegan: @finneganbegin

Atheneum/S&S: @simonKIDS

Blue Slip Media: @blue_slip_media 

                 Facebook:

Margaret Finnegan: @Margaret Finnegan

Atheneum/S&S: @SimonKIDS

Blue Slip Media: @blue-slip-media 

                   Bluesky:

Margaret Finnegan: @finneganbegin

Atheneum/S&S: N/A

Blue Slip Media: @blueslipmedia.bsky.social

Opening Lines: "Picture it: 1985.  There I am: Ben Bellini.  Sixth grade, but probably looking closer to fifth. (why? because my parents threw me into kindergarten when I was four and a half years old, and I was a shrimp to boot.)" 

Ben really enjoys competitive spelling, it gives him a jolt to stand on stage and visualize each word before spelling it out.  He doesn't even mind that he has to answer quickly; it prevents him from getting tongue-tied when there's a time restraint.   However, competitive spelling is not something that Ben feels comfortable sharing with his friends because he worries about getting teased, laughed at or called a nerd.  Especially after placing twelfth at the Southern California Regional Spelling Bee.  Ben feels it's one of the hardest things that he's ever done, but his friends still wouldn't understand.

Ben is all but ready to abandon spelling competitions until his grandmother proposes he spend the summer at her place in San Francisco, where he can be coached by the former national spelling bee winner, Roger Nott.  Initially, Ben's parents aren't up for the idea but with some persuasion they eventually agree to let him go.

Upon Ben's arrival in California things get off to a rocky start when his grandmother is not at the gate to meet him.  After a short while, Nan finally arrives, and they return to her house. As he gets settled, Ben begins to notice some changes around Nan's house. It is a little unkempt, and a few things are broken. However, Ben pushes these troubling thoughts aside and plans for his first meeting with Nott's.  Once again, Nan is nowhere be found when it's time for Ben to leave.  He takes it upon himself to find the bus route to Nott's bookstore but arrives late for his appointment and is convinced that he has ruined his chance with Nott.

Disgruntled with his bad luck, Ben wanders into a nearby library where he meets Asha who proceeds to tell him jokingly that she's going to beat him in the next spelling bee.  He takes this to mean he doesn't have a chance, but Asha says that doesn't mean he should give up.

Nott finally agrees to train Ben, and they begin by learning about prefixes, suffixes and the origins of words.  Ben also continues to meet up with Asha at the library where they practice reciting flash cards.  Ben finally feels like he has met someone who understands him.  However, strange things take place at Nan's and Ben and Asha have a minor falling out.  Nan has forgotten the deal that she made with Nott's and her once scattered thoughts are becoming more memory lapses, frightening Ben.  In order to better help his grandmother, Ben ultimately makes the difficult decision to ask his mother for help.

Spelling it Out is set in 1985 and includes enough references to movies and music to evoke the 80's vibe that I so enjoy. Ben is a wonderful main character; he's grappling with his identity and the kind of person he wants to become. He finds being a competitive speller to be isolating, as it's something that no one else seems to understand or is interested in. He questions the idea of what it means to be a "real man" and is self-conscious about others' perceptions.  Not being perceived as a nerd is important to him.  Asha helps him understand that he can fit into more than one category and the importance of pursuing one's passions.  Ben, in turn, helps Asha understand that she should not let someone's racist views prevent her from playing basketball, an activity she loves doing.

Finnegan wonderfully fleshes out each of her characters and I love all the little details that make each one of them stand out, from Mrs. Sunabe's translucent pink glasses to the specific details about the design of Nan's house.  Nott's character on the other hand really began to frustrate me to no end.  How he felt so belittling and bullying.  Was he trying to get Ben to persevere?  Did Nott even realize that he was making things worse? He really made my blood boil, until Ben happily stated that "my power is mine to give."  I so rallied with him in that moment.  A lovely story that emphasizes believing in yourself, following your passion and asking for help and support when you need it.  Spelling it Out is very timely as this year is the 100th anniversary of the Scripps National Spelling Bee   Margaret Finnegan has also created a series of activities to help celebrate Spelling and her books release.  I hope you'll check them out.  

Finally, I really enjoyed the inclusion of the Memory Palace technique, something that I used before in working with individuals who sustained a brain injury.  If you're not familiar with it, it's a way of connecting something that you want to remember to a pre-existing memory.  We used to say it's like walking through the rooms of your house where each room holds an item that you want to recall.  If the room to item pair is strong, it helps the person recall the information. I'm glad I was reminded of this technique again.  

**A huge thank you to Blue Slip Media for the E- ARC 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