Middle Grade Monday: Things in the Basement by Ben Hatke

Image: Macmillan

Things in the Basement by Ben Hatke. 240 p. First Second/ Macmillan, August, 2023. 9781250909541. Review of finished, purchased copy.

Middle Grade Monday features Things in the Basement by Ben Hatke. Milo has just moved to a new house and is bored and lonely. There are boxes everywhere, no friends and his mother's time and attention is monopolized by his twin baby sisters. When his mom asks him to find his sister's favorite sock in the basement, the simple trip downstairs turns into an odyssey, because a rat has stolen the sock and retreated into the dark recesses of the basement. Stalwart Milo follows, and follows and follows this rat into deeper and more mysterious sections of the basement. Will he ever return? 

The art in this evocative tale is truly mind-blowing; subtle, sinister, and yet, occasionally oddly soothing. Read it through for the story, but reread it for the art! TMS students love Mr. Hatke's Mighty Jack and Zita stories. This is totally different style-wise. I hope his many fans love Things in the Basement as much as I. Highly recommend! Happy reading and happy snowy day! It's a gorgeous day here in northeastern NJ. 

Fact Friday: A First Time for Everything by Dan Santat

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A First Time for Everything by Dan Santat. 320 p. First Second/ Macmillan, February, 2023. 9781626724150. (Review of finished copy borrowed from public library.)

Fact Friday features A First Time for Everything by Dan Santat. Years before becoming a Caldecott Medal-winning author/ illustrator, Dan Santat was an introverted middle school student doing his best to fly under the radar of teachers as well as classmates. He is the only child in his family and his parents want him to spread his wings a bit. Their answer is to send him to Europe on a class trip the summer after his eighth grade year.

He really doesn't want to go and is dismayed to learn that some of his female tormenters are in the group. He learns some lessons the hard way, such as unwittingly eating an entire basket of delicious French bread only to find that he was getting charged for each! He discovers Fanta and revels in the art at the Louvre. 

The art is just gorgeous. Landmarks and cityscapes are brought to glorious life and flashbacks are done in muted blues and add context. At turns hilarious and poignant, readers will relate to the angst and ache while also marveling over life before smart phones and social media. 

#tbt: Zeus: King of the Gods by George O'Connor

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Zeus: King of Gods by George O'Connor. Olympians #1. 80 p. First: Second/ Macmillan, January, 2010. 9781596434318. (Own.)

Happy Thursday! #tbt features Zeus: King of Gods by George O'Connor. In book one of an ambitious twelve-book series featuring the twelve gods of ancient Greece, Mr. O'Connor begins by depicting the ancients' view of the beginning of the cosmos. The Titan Kronos ate each of his children to prevent a prophecy from coming true. Unfortunately for Kronos, Zeus did not stay eaten.

The artwork is gorgeous. There's extra information in the back matter as well as a family tree of the ancient Greeks. This series is quite popular at my school and my students were psyched to learn about the author/ illustrator's upcoming new series beginning with Odin.

Waiting on Wednesday: Odin by George O'Connor

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Odin by George O'Connor. Asgardians #1. 96 p. First Second/ Macmillan, November 14, 2023. 9781250760760.

Happy Wednesday! Waiting on Wednesday features some good news for my student fans of George O'Connor's graphic novel series, "The Olympians." It seems he has turned his talents to retelling Norse mythology. Odin is set to release on November 14, 2023!

Here's the publisher synopsis: Welcome to the Nine Worlds, home of Gods, Valkyries, Dwarves, Jotnar, and more! Travel the burning rainbow bridge to Asgard where Odin, king of the Aesir, surveys his realm. His thirst for knowledge drives him ever onward, but nothing is learned without sacrifice...

In Asgardians, George O’Connor’s highly kinetic illustrations bring these gritty and astonishing tales of war, betrayal, and the quest for enlightenment at any cost to vivid and startling life and provide the perfect companion to his Olympians series.

Waiting on Wednesday: Frizzy by Claribel A. Ortega

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Frizzy by Claribel A. Ortega, with art by Rose Bousamra. 224 p. First Second/ Macmillan, October 18, 2022. 9781250259639.

Happy Wednesday! Well, it wasn't as beastly hot when I took the hounds out for their early morning walk! Phew! It has been hot. Waiting on Wednesday features Frizzy by Claribel A. Ortega, with art by Rose Bousamra. I learned about this graphic novel when author Varian Johnson posted about how much he liked it to his social media feeds. Frizzy releases October 18, and it's in my book order for our library. I can't wait.

Publisher synopsis: A middle grade graphic novel about Marlene, a young girl who stops straightening her hair and embraces her natural curls.

Marlene loves three things: books, her cool Tía Ruby and hanging out with her best friend Camila. But according to her mother, Paola, the only thing she needs to focus on is school and "growing up." That means straightening her hair every weekend so she could have "presentable", "good hair".

But Marlene hates being in the salon and doesn't understand why her curls are not considered pretty by those around her. With a few hiccups, a dash of embarrassment, and the much-needed help of Camila and Tia Ruby—she slowly starts a journey to learn to appreciate and proudly wear her curly hair.

Teen Tuesday: Himawari House by Harmony Becker

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Himawari House by Harmony Becker. 384 p. First:Second/ Macmillan, November, 2021. 9781250235565. (Review of finished copy borrowed from public library.)

Happy Tuesday! I think we will get a bit of a break from the heat here in the northeast today, so please enjoy the day. Teen Tuesday features Himawari House by Harmony Becker. This beautifully rendered graphic novel follows Nao as she spends her gap year in Japan at a Japanese language immersion institute and tries to reconnect with the culture she insisted on shedding when she moved to the U.S. with her white father and Japanese mother. She shares space at HImawari House with four other teens who are studying in Japan. Hyeyoung is from Korea, Tina is from Singapore and two brothers, Shinichi and Masaki.

The novel covers the entire year as Nao navigates feelings of isolation in her search for cultural identity. Her Japanese language immersion classes are exhausting, but that is the language that allows her to connect with her roommates as they bond over meals, sightseeing and long talks about life. The text is mostly bi-lingual, though there are occasions when there is no translation, leaving the reader to figure it out. The art is rendered mostly in blues and the panel placement keeps things fluid.

While the teens in the novel are college age (my students are in middle school), mature teen graphic novel fans will enjoy Himawari House.

Middle Grade Monday: The Leak by Kate Reed Petty

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The Leak by Kate Reed Petty and illustrated by Andrea Bell. 240 p. First: Second/ Macmillan, March, 2021. 9781250217967. (Review of finished copy borrowed from public library.)

Yes, I am going to write it because I get to do so five time every school year! Happy penultimate Monday of the 2020-2021 school year! 

Middle Grade Monday features The Leak by Kate Reed Petty and illustrated by Andrea Bell. Twelve-year-old Ruth Keller is an aspiring journalist who questions everything. She is especially peeved by the state of her teeth and the fact that her dentist accuses her of not flossing, when she does so several times a day! She writes an online newspaper and usually covers the middle school beat, featuring articles about grafitti. When she and her friend discover a bunch of dead fish and black slime in a lake in her neighborhood, Ruth decides to investigate. Her muckraking leads to some scary consequences and Ruth must decide how far she's willing to go to uncover the truth.

This colorful, engaging graphic novel walks readers through what a real investigative reporter does while maintaining suspense. The book is dedicated to the residents of Flint, Michigan, who were being poisoned by contaminated drinking water some years ago. By the way, one of the most prominent social justice activists in the Flint Water Crisis was an eight-year-old girl. Mari Copeny wrote a letter to then President Barack Obama inviting him to visit Flint, Michigan to observe first-hand what the residents were faced with.

I'm excited to add this to my school library's collection. It's never too early to encourage youth activism. 

Middle Grade Monday: Snapdragon by Kat Leyh

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Snapdragon by Kat Leyh. 240 p. First: Second/ Macmillan Publishers, February, 2020. 9781250171113. (Review of finished purchased copy.)

Happy Monday! Break is over and the hybrid students & teachers are back in school. I am back on Zoom with hybrid student on their virtual day. I enjoyed/ needed this break. I read a lot, cooked a lot, ate a lot, cleaned out some closets and enjoyed long walks with my dog. 

Middle Grade Monday features Snapdragon by Kat Leyh. If you love magical realism, feisty, curious characters and graphic novels, then Snapdragon is the book for you!

Snapdragon Bloom, Snap for short, lives with her single mom in a trailer park. Her mom recently kicked out her abusive boyfriend, but he left his dog, Good Boy. When Good Boy goes missing, Snap finds him near the home of the town's witch, Jacks. He's missing a leg and Snap believes the witch had something to do with it. Turns out, Good Boy was hit by a car. Jacks rescued him and nursed him back to health. Snap agrees to help Jacks with her admittedly creepy but non-magical work of collecting road kill to reconstruct skeletons to sell online. In exchange Jacks will help snap care for a litter of orphaned opossums. As the two grow close, Snap realize that Jacks and she may have a connection and Jacks does, indeed, have magic.

This graphic novel was such a delight! The art is gorgeous and the characters are so quirky and memorable. A bit of humor, a bit of creepiness, and a bit menace all add up to a unique, refreshing read. Snapdragon is definitely a first-purchase!

Fact Friday: Dragon Hoops by Gene Luen Yang

Dragon Hoops by Gene Luen Yang. 448 p. First: Second/ Macmillan Publishers, March, 2020. 9781626720794. (Review of finished purchased copy.)

Fact Friday features Dragon Hoops by Gene Luen Yang. Again, astute observers will recall that I featured Mr. Yang in a Friday Focus post and book talked the book there along with some of his other books. Dragon Hoops is part-autobiography and part-history of basketball and totally fantastic. Mr. Yang taught for seventeen years at Bishop O'Dowd High School in Northern California. Gene Luen Yang, a self-professed nerd had no interest in basketball, rarely set foot in the athletics building on campus and rarely crossed paths with Lou Richie, the storied coach of Dragon basketball. He himself is an O'Dowd alum and went to state with his much beloved coach and mentor. But as much as the Dragons dominated California basketball, the team never clinched a title. Gene Yang was looking for a story idea for his next graphic novel when he heard a rumor that the 2014 team had a great chance at going all the way. He began shadowing Richie and his team and grew to appreciate the game, its history and the players. 

Dragon Hoops is hefty, weighing in at over 400 pages. They do fly by thanks to great storytelling and superb art. If you are a fan of basketball, check this book out. 

Middle Grade Monday: Stargazing by Jen Wang

Image: Macmillan

Stargazing by Jen Wang. 224 p. First Second/ Macmillan, September, 2019. 9781250183880. (Review of finished purchased copy.)

Middle Grade Monday features Stargazing by Jen Wang. Christine is a perfectionist. She plays the violin, goes to Chinese school, follows the rules and gets great grades, but there is always someone who is better than her. Moon is unconcerned with grades or rules. She's a vegetarian Buddhist who settles scores with her fists. Christine is fascinated. When Moon and her single mom fall on hard times and move into a cottage on Christine's property, the two form an unlikely friendship. It isn't always smooth, but Moon helps Christine loosen up and live a little. 

Stargazing is such a beguiling friendship story! Spot on dialogue and social interactions are gently depicted in words and with subtle and slightly muted artwork. It's a great choice for readers desiring #WNDB, friendship stories or graphic novels. Fans of Shannon Hale, Kayla Miller and Kristen Gudsnuk will eat this up and ask for more. Certainly a first-purchase!

Waiting on Wednesday: Dragon Hoops by Gene Luen Yang

Image: Macmillan

Dragon Hoops by Gene Luen Yang. 448 p. First Second/ Macmillan, March 17, 2020. 9781626720794.

Publisher synopsis: In his latest graphic novel, Dragon Hoops, New York Times bestselling author Gene Luen Yang turns the spotlight on his life, his family, and the high school where he teaches.

Gene understands stories—comic book stories, in particular. Big action. Bigger thrills. And the hero always wins.

But Gene doesn’t get sports. As a kid, his friends called him “Stick” and every basketball game he played ended in pain. He lost interest in basketball long ago, but at the high school where he now teaches, it's all anyone can talk about. The men’s varsity team, the Dragons, is having a phenomenal season that’s been decades in the making. Each victory brings them closer to their ultimate goal: the California State Championships.

Once Gene gets to know these young all-stars, he realizes that their story is just as thrilling as anything he’s seen on a comic book page. He knows he has to follow this epic to its end. What he doesn’t know yet is that this season is not only going to change the Dragons’s lives, but his own life as well.

I just love Yang's graphic novels and cannot wait for this one!

Fact Friday: Science Comics: Rockets: defying gravity by Anne Drozd and Jerzy Drozd

Science Comics: Rockets: defying gravity by Anne Drozd and Jerzy Drozd. 128 p. Science Comics Series. First Second, June, 2018. 9781626728257. (Review of finished copy borrowed from public library.)

Fact Friday features Science Comics: Rockets: defying gravity by Anne Drozd and Jerzy Drozd. In this latest entry in the Science Comics series, a duck, a rooster, a sheep and a bear walk the reader through 2000 years of history explaining things like Newton's Laws and concepts like thrust and introducing the scientists who calculated, designed, experimented and eventually succeeded. The repartee is witty and the art is vivid in this slim volume. Backmatter includes a timeline, a glossary and suggestions for further reading.

Middle Grade Monday: Real Friends by Shannon Hale

Real Friends by Shannon Hale. Illustrated by LeYeun Pham.224 p. First Second, May, 2017. 9781626727854. (Review from purchased copy.)

Middle Grade Monday features Real Friends by Shannon Hale. This graphic novel memoir tells the story of young Shannon and her best friend, Adrienne. Shannon was always content with one best friend. When Adrienne branches out and joins a group of friends, Shannon finds herself isolated despite Adrienne's efforts to include her. Of course, it doesn't help that some of the girls in the clique are mean to her, but Shannon just doesn't get the "rules" of group friendship and suffers for it. Things aren't great at home either. Her older sister, Wendy, is quite the ogre, well, bear, actually, as she's portrayed, and when she's left in charge of Shannon and her siblings, Shannon usually hides. Of course, it doesn't help that Shannon isn't above provoking her sister. 

Hale is honest about her faults, she's anxious and perhaps wrestling with OCD. She does grow as the novel progresses and is basically kind. Fans of her work will note the young writer's imaginative and creative process. The palette of this graphic novel is bright. Panels are easy to follow and the universal story of trying to fit in is so relatable. 

Give this poignant memoir to any reader really; but fans of Hale's work will love this. So will fans of Raina Telgemeier and Victoria Jamieson.