For Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: Ferris by Kate DiCamillo

Ferris by Kate DiCamillo
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Format:  E-ARC
Number of pages:  240 pages
Publishing:   March 5th, 2024
Source:  Edelweiss+

Opening Line: "It was the summer before Emma Phineas Wilkey (who everyone called Ferris) went into the fifth grade."

This was going to be no ordinary summer for Ferris.  Her little sister, Pinky to everyone's chagrin had vowed to become an outlaw.  Uncle Ted left Aunt Shirley and moved into the Wilkey basement to complete his masterpiece, a painting of the history of the world.  Although, he really spends most of his time in his robe, which infuriates Ferris's mom to no end.  And Ferris's beloved grandmother, Charisse has started to see a ghost standing on the threshold of her bedroom with an unhappy expression.  Ferris is very concerned that the ghost has appeared to take her grandmother to the Great Beyond, and she'll stop at nothing to prevent this from happening.  Yet it appears that the ghost has a very different plan for her sudden appearance which entails the chandelier hanging in the dining room.    

There truly hasn't been a story that Kate DiCamillo has written that I haven't liked.  The Tale of Despereaux will always hold a special place in my heart and is my favorite book of hers.  I'm always excited when she has a new book being released and Ferris went to the top of my TBR pile.  

Ferris is a lovely main character; I especially enjoyed the story of how she got her nickname.  The most important person to Ferris is her grandmother.  They play cards together, and because she hasn't been feeling well lately Ferris even reads aloud to her.  They have beautiful conversations, that help Ferris to process her feelings.  Ferris has a big vocabulary, using words like gilded, and ludicrous, and really likes her teacher, Mrs. Mielk.  Her best friend is Billy Jackson, who she met on the very first day of kindergarten when he told her that he hears piano music in his head all the time and then asked if he could hold her hand.  They're a cute duo and it reminded me of my childhood friend, Craig.  The Wilkey's are quite amusing and quirky.  Uncle Ted gave up his job and wife to paint in the basement but sends Ferris to spy on her to see if her aunt is mad at him.  Even Ferris's dad is occupied by trying to catch the racoons that have invaded the family's attic.  Then there's Pinky, Ferris's little sister who is up to such antics.  Not only does she get arrested, for trying to rob a bank, she bites a nurse and steals to get herself on a wanted poster.  Quite silly.  

Overall, the story has a small town feel to it, is warm hearted but also sad. There's a deep expression of love and community.  While the plot involves some supernatural aspects, I think the reader can sympathize with Ferris's big feelings.  With its quirky characters and strong emphasis on family and friendships it made for a very enjoyable read. 

  

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

Closet of Dreams by Mark Ukra and Tara Mesalik MacMahon Illustrations by Donna Dyer

Closet of Dreams by Mark Ukra and Tara Mesalik MacMahon, and illustrations by Donna Dyer
Publisher:  BookLogix
Format:  E-ARC
Number of pages:   203 pages
Publishing:   March 26th, 2024
Source:  NetGalley following recommendation from Books Forward

Opening Line:  "Child! Child! Child! Yup, I'm reading it, you're reading it, -we're all reading it right."  

Nine -year-old Child has always dreamed of playing baseball for his local little league team.  He's determined to not let anything get in his way, despite Eddie and his gang of bullies taking his application and the team not having enough baseball players, so they might have to disband or postpone the entire season.  After consulting with his Gamma, Child develops a plan to have the animals from the Pet Adoption Center and Hilda (his newly adopted dog) join his team so that he can make his dream come true.

I was first intrigued by the Closet of Dreams based on the title and cover.  It alluded to the idea of a boy wanting to play baseball and the fears that were getting in his way.  As well as a bully who tries to intimidate him from being able to play.  Closet of Dreams is a short chapter book that does read on the younger end of middle grade, and I thought it was both entertaining and somewhat silly in an endearing way.  Child adds a dog, and circus animals to include an elephant, bear and hippo (who can speak) to the roster of his baseball team. The illustrations added appeal and I especially liked the full page one of the baseball field and thought it could interest kids who enjoy the sport.

I guess the main thing that bothered me about the story is that the two main characters didn't have names besides "Child" and "Gamma." Although, I get that this was intentional as they were characters from the world that the authors created as kids, it just made it difficult for me to connect with Child somehow.  Purely a me thing.  Overall, I thought the highlight of the book was the messaging of overcoming one's fears so that one's dreams can come true.  Child ultimately developed the courage he needed to succeed.  I also really liked that Child showed empathy toward Eddie when he witnessed Eddie's mother yelling at him and felt this was a special moment that helped him develop a better understanding for why Eddie behaved the way he did and the amount of pressure that he was under at home.  Overall, a nice story that shows a little kindness toward others can go a long way.  

                                                                           About the Authors

Co-authors Mark Ukra (Child) and Tara Mesalik MacMahon (Gamma) are brother and sister and lifelong best friends. Mark is the author of The Ultimate Tea Diet (HarperCollins), and Tara is a Pushcart Prize–nominated poet and award-winning author of Barefoot Up the Mountain (Open Country Press). Her poems appear widely in literary journals and anthologies, including those from Red Hen Press, Nimrod International Journal, Poet Lore, Jabberwock Review, among many others. 

Mark and Tara based Closet of Dreams upon their own childhood Closet of Dreams, where the make-believe world of Child and Gamma came to life. Mark was “Child”; Tara was “Gamma.” Book II is already in the works, where Child and his friends race to rescue Starr, a magical baby elephant in Botswana. Learn more at: www.childandgamma.com 

**A huge thank you to Books Forward for the recommendation**

The Princess Protection Program by Alex London

The Princess Protection Program by Alex London
Publisher:  Greenwillow Books
Format:  Hardcover
Number of pages:   224 pages
Published:   February 13th, 2024
Source:  Blue Slip Media

Opening Line:  "Once upon a time, there was a young princess, as kind and curious as she was clever, who a witch cursed into a deep and endless sleep."

Cursed by an evil witch, Princess Rosamund lies sleeping within the castle when suddenly she is awakened by a prince leaning in for a kiss.  Startled by his brazen actions, not to mention his powerful stench and chapped lips, she quickly dashes away and hides in the water closet.  Then suddenly, Rosamund finds herself standing outside the Orphan's Home Educational Academy (HEA), with no idea how she got there.  

Soon she is approached by two girls wearing blazers with a crest on it and a plaid skirt.  They introduce themselves as Sirena and Rana and accompany her to meet Verna the headmistress of HEA.  Verna explains that Rosamund has joined a long line of princesses, with one prince, Charlie, at HEA with the goal of the academy to keep them safe and help them adjust to their new "reality," via classes in taking selfies, learning the latest viral dances and teaching them how to use social media.  Lurking outside the walls of their academy are Uponatimes, hideous monsters whose only purpose is to consume their princess, thus returning them to their story.

While Rosamund is relieved that she won't be kissing any prince soon, she's also mildly disoriented and full of questions about her new world.  Like why were they brought to this school, and what happens when they graduate?  Yet, no one seems to know the answer.  Just as Rosamund begins to settle in, she observes Sirena and Rana sneaking out, curious she follows them, and they have their first encounter with the Uponatimes when Sirena is attacked and disappears.  Upon Rana and Rosamund's return to the academy they're given the punishment of cleaning the school, which is when Rosamund begins to notice something peculiar, she can't figure out what she did that got her in trouble and as the effects of her perpetual cleaning wear off she even recalls that Serena is gone.  Faced with this new realization, Rosamund and Rana vow to find the answers they need to bring their friend back.  

The Princess Protection Program takes all the timeless fairy tales that you thought you knew and possess the question what if the princesses in these fairytales weren't happy with their story and what if they instead wanted to change it?  It's a super fun twist that shows the importance of choosing your own path.  The princesses learned that they didn't need the protection of the school, what they needed instead was the opportunity to make a choice, to figure out who they wanted to be and not be constrained by their stories.  It's a really humorous story, filled with moments like waking up to a sweaty prince who's trying to kiss you or having to kiss a frog.  Quite fun.  I enjoyed all the nods to fellow middle grade authors and especially loved the idea of the Doors of Opportunity.  It was also interesting to think about what happened to the characters that were left behind when the princesses left their story.  Like what the prince did after Rosamund disappeared from the water closet.  Yes, quite an entertaining read.                                 

  

For Marvelous Middle Grade Monday, A review of I Am, I Can, I Will: A Guided Journal of Self-Discovery for Black Girls by Dr. Cynthia Jacobs Carter & Ruth Chamblee Illustrations by Steffi Walthall

I Am, I Can, I Will: A Guided Journal of Self-Discovery for Black Girls by Dr. Cynthia Jacobs Carter & Ruth Chamblee
Publisher:  Workman Publishing Company
Format:  Hardcover
Number of pages:   176 pages
Published:   January 16th, 2024
Source:  Publisher via Media Matters Publicity

Opening Line: "You're about to go on a serious trip."

I Am, I Can, I will:  A Guided Journal of Self-Discovery for Black Girls was co-written by Dr. Cynthia Jacobs Carter from the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture and Ruth Chamblee from the National Geographic Kids Books.  The full color illustrations are by Steffi Walthall.  The journal was designed to "inspire and introduce black heroines from the past and present to young girls of African descent, in the hopes that they will embrace and celebrate their rich heritage and use it as a springboard to realize their own dreams."  

The journal is divided into three signposts or sections, I Am, I Can and I Will.  The first section or I AM; provides a positive affirmation and quote from a historical or contemporary Black women.   For example, the first entry in the book is about Loïs Mailou Jones and comes with the affirmation, I Am What I Create.  The quote includes "The wonderful thing about being an artist is that there is no end to creative expression.  Painting is my life; my life is painting."  Next there is a brief synopsis of Loïs Mailou Jones life as a painter and highlights her significant contributions to the Harlem Renaissance art movement.  Emphasis is made on her determination and perseverance in having her art shown in American museums.  Following each important historical figure are a few blank pages in which the reader is encouraged to discuss a subject or activity they love, to draw a picture of a person or place that inspires them or even to write their own poetry.  Thus, encouraging the reader to reflect and make comparisons to the historical person's unique qualities, beliefs or experiences and how these traits make an individual who they are. 

The next section is titled, I Can and includes such historical figures as Wilma Rudolph, an Olympic gold medalist in sprinting, Bessie Coleman a daredevil stunt pilot and many more famous women.  This section reflects the challenges that these Black women overcame in order to be successful, be it illness as a youth, finding opportunities when prevented from realizing their dreams, or exceeding everyone's expectations through hard work and perseverance.  The flow of the story pages follows the one above with an aspiration, quote and background information about the person referenced.    Again, there are prompts with blank pages so that the reader can explore any obstacles that might be standing in their way, or what challenges they've faced or had to overcome themselves.  There is also lots of space to discuss their opinion about the various topics presented in this section.

The last section is titled, I Will and is designed for the reader to think about what their dreams, goals and aspirations are.  Some of the women discussed include an author, marine aviator, a published author, poet, and even a noble prize winner.  The written prompts encourage the exploration of the readers personality traits, what others think of them, their uniqueness, and accomplishments.  The very end of the book closes with a prompt to write about what the reader learned from reading these thirty-five women's incredible stories, to create a list of declarations of things that they will do, space to discuss an important or special woman in their life that inspired them and to finally write out an empowering I AM, I Can and I Will statement.

I know this is a very brief synopsis of the book, but I hope it gives you an idea of its content.  I really liked that the reader could skip around completing whichever writing prompts that they wanted and could come back later to add more information or to complete those that were skipped.  The emphasis is entirely on how they would like to use the journal and not that each page has to be filled in.   There are so many wonderful and inspiring women in this book covering many different professions, ages and time periods.  From Ancient pharaohs to women from all walks of life.  Be it athletes or activists, significant historical figures like Michelle Obama or Harriet Tubman.  I think a young Black girl could draw courage, strength or inspiration from these women, and that they could feel a connection to these women's stories and a sense of a shared history.  I can see this as a wonderful book celebrating Black History Month and especially as a mother and daughter read, that could open up discussions and provide a place to share their thoughts and reflect on the writing prompts together.  Defiantly provides for a bonding experience and an opportunity for self-discovery.  I personally learned about so many incredible women who I've never heard about before.  Women like "Stagecoach" Mary Fields, who was a sharpshooter and protected her wagon to deliver mail in Cascade, Montana (my home state).  Overall, an inspiring an empowering book.   

   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 Media Matters Publicity for the hardcover copy which will be donated to my local little free library.**       

NOT THE WORST FRIEND IN THE WORLD by Anne Rellihan Blog Tour with Excerpt and Giveaway

Today, I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the NOT THE WORST FRIEND IN THE WORLD by Anne Rellihan Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

                                                                                About The Book:

Title: NOT THE WORST FRIEND IN THE WORLD
Author: Anne Rellihan
Pub. Date: February 6, 2024
Publisher: Holiday House
Formats: Hardcover, eBook
Pages: 272

Find it:   Goodreads, https://books2read.com/NOT-THE-WORST-FRIEND-IN-THE-WORLD

Can Lou Bennett keep a secret? She’ll do just about anything to prove herself to her new friend—and the best friend she betrayed—in this debut novel that is a modern-day Harriet the Spy with high emotional stakes.

It’s the thirty-fourth day of sixth grade at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School in Missouri, and eleven-year-old Lou wishes she could rewind time.

Lou wants to go back to the ninth day of sixth grade—the day before she fought with her best friend Francie and said the terrible, horrible things she can’t unsay. Or better yet, she would go back to fifth grade when Francie was still the Old Francie.

Then the new girl, Cece Clark-Duncan, passes Lou a mysterious note. It says she was kidnapped. (!) If Lou can help Cece, maybe she can prove she’s not the world’s worst friend.

But as observant Lou uncovers the complicated truth about Cece’s family, she starts to panic. Can she help Cece without hurting her? Or will Lou end up losing another friend instead?

Anchored by an outstanding voice and a page-turning mystery, this remarkable debut novel honors the powerful middle school friendships that can both break and heal a tender eleven-year-old heart. Perfect for fans of Fish in a Tree and My Jasper June.

                                                     Not the Worst Friend in the World
                                                                By Anne Rellihan

Excerpt for Rockstar Book Tours

 Excerpt from Not the Worst Friend in the World / Text copyright © 2024 by Anne Rellihan. Reproduced with permission fromHoliday House Publishing Inc. All rights reserved.

 

 

1

 

Cece Clark- Duncan passed me a note on the thirty- fourth day of sixth grade.

                If she had passed it twenty-five days earlier, I might have ignored it. Or worse, showed it to Francie.

 

At first, I didn’t believe the note was meant for me. Yet there was my name, plain as day, carefully written across the front in bubbly print— Louise. She’d even put a heart above the i.

 

My name is Louise Bennett, but the fact that she’d written “Louise” revealed her newness. Only teachers and my grandmother call me Louise. Everyone else calls me Lou. Francie shortened it the day I met her in kindergarten. She said Louise sounded like a grandma name, so she made it better. I liked Lou more, too. Louise held on to her mom’s leg at the playground because she was scared of the slides and the big kids. Lou was brave and smart and funny. 

She had to be. Francie Fitzpatrick was her best friend.

 

Emphasis on was. Past tense. Because then sixth grade happened. And Tommy Maguire happened. And the dumb fight happened. And just like that, I became invisible.

 

So there I was, trying to pretend I didn’t care about any of it, when I got a note from the only sixth grader who was a bigger outsider than me.

 

It happened during our first geography quiz of the year. The end of September and it was still blazing hot in Mayfield, Missouri. I sat at my desk sweating through my white uniform shirt. Sweat pooled under my arms and my legs stuck together underneath my plaid skirt. My dark

hair hung in clumps on my neck and frizzed around my freckled face. But being invisible made it easier to forget the frizz and focus on my plan.

 

My plan had one step.

 

Step 1: Get Francie to talk to me.

 

It was written on a clean page of my leather- bound notebook. I had underlined Step 1 about a million times, drew doodles all around it, but was no closer to accomplishing it. A plan isn’t much of a plan with only one step. I was stuck remembering those text messages and hearing myself say the terrible, horrible things I couldn’t unsay over and over again. It had been more than three weeks, and that day kept replaying in my mind like a movie. I about threw up

every time I watched it.

 

I didn’t blame anyone for hating me. If I’m being honest, I hated me, too.

 

 

 

                    About Anne Rellihan:

Anne Rellihan is a former elementary school teacher and an alumna of Teach for America with a master’s degree in education from Columbia University. She lives in Kansas with her husband and four children. When she’s not writing, Anne volunteers as a Court Appointed Special Advocate. This is her debut novel. Find her online @AnneRellihan and annerellihan.com.

 

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of NOT THE WORST FRIEND IN THE WORLD, US Only.

Ends February 20th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

                                                    Tour Schedule: Week One:

2/5/2024	A Dream Within A Dream	Excerpt/IG Post
2/5/2024	Log Cabin Library	Excerpt
2/6/2024	YA Books Central	Excerpt/IG Post
2/6/2024	Fire And Ice Reads	Excerpt/IG Post
2/7/2024	@darkfantasyreviews	IG Post
2/7/2024	#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog	Review/IG Post
2/8/2024	Kountry Girl Bookaholic	Excerpt/IG Post
2/8/2024	Kim's Book Reviews and Writing Aha's	Review/IG Post
2/9/2024	@paws.read.repeat	Review/IG Post
2/9/2024	@evergirl200	IG Review
2/10/2024	Callisto’s calling	IG Review
2/10/2024	Avainbookland	IG Review

                                                   Week Two:

2/11/2024	@dana.loves.books	IG Review/TikTok Post
2/11/2024	Review Thick And Thin	Review/IG Post
2/12/2024	One More Exclamation	Review/IG Post
2/12/2024	GryffindorBookishnerd	IG Review
2/13/2024	@dharashahauthor	IG Post
2/13/2024	Lifestyle of Me	Review
2/14/2024	PopTheButterfly Reads	Review/IG Post
2/14/2024	Country Mamas With Kids	Review/IG Post
2/15/2024	@anitralovesbooksanddogs	IG Review
2/15/2024	More Books Please blog	Review/IG Post
2/16/2024	@stargirls.magical.tale	IG Review
2/16/2024	Two Points of Interest	Review/IG Post