I quite liked this start to a new series. Rip loves basketball and his best friend Red. Red has some quirks, but Rip rolls with them and helps Red adjust to changes in his life. There are a lot of them, too: a new 5th grader teacher is in town, with lots of different ideas including no test prep. 5th grade is also the year that you can play basketball on a team too. Very heartwarming--I might have teared up at the end.

I read this one in one go last night. Very adorable, great story about art vs science (and even how fights get started but no one remembers how!) as well as the politics of middle school.

Another adorable story! For some reason, I got this mixed up with "Meet the Dullards," so I was a little confused for the first portion of the book. But I loved this story about the Helmsleys, which immerses you in their world yet leaves you with questions. The other thing I noted about this book was that I had a distinct narrator in my head, sort of a British accent. I loved Archer's quest for adventure in improbable ways, and how Oliver and Adelaide support it. I also hope that we get another book in this world, to answer some of the threads left hanging.

I feel like I must be getting braver in my old age because I'm finding scary books easier to read than I used to. This one I read in an afternoon, and I enjoyed it! I don't know that I'll be looking at dolls the same way again, but it was creepy in all the right ways for those who like creepy stories.

I've been a fan of this series since the Donner Dinner Party entry (to be fair, that was the first one I read) and this is another great one! I think that it's a great introduction to the Underground Railroad for kids, as well as informative for those that already know a bit. I think there's something for everyone in this one.

I loved this one! It will definitely be embraced by your Raina Telgemeier fans. It covers roller derby and the changes that happen in middle school friendships. Astrid is a very likable character who tries hard at something she loves, even if she isn't that great at it. An excellent choice.

Cynthia Lord writes another beautiful story, this time set in the blueberry barrens of Maine. Growing up here, I had never really thought about how blueberries were picked, and only very recently learned that migrant workers often did the hard work of raking. Learning a bit about their lives, combined with a story about loving a dog and it's a winner for me!

A light, fluffy fantasy about kids with "wonky" magic. In this world, magic is divided into five categories, and if you don't exactly fit, then you're weird. This book is about kids trying to adjust to being the "weird" ones. I enjoyed it.

What is this book? It is creepy and captivating. Steve just wants his younger brother to be okay, for life to go back to normal. He thinks the mysterious angel of his dreams will help him get there. However, their offer to fix his little brother might be more than meets the eye. Klassen's illustrations enhance the story, bringing it to life. Comparing it Coraline feels apt.

Magical. Two people of marginalized cultures come together in friendship. I loved it.