Recent Read: The Nest

The Nest by Kenneth Oppel, illustrated by Jon Klassen

Steven worries a lot. He especially worries about his new brother, who was just born with a host of health problems. Soon after the baby’s birth, an angelic creature visits Steve in his dreams, promising that she can fix the baby. Her vists soothe Steven, and even when he finds out she is the wasp queen building a nest on his roof, he feels good, like everything is going to be all right. But can he really trust the wasp queen? Is she as benevolent as she seems? What does she mean when she refers to the “new” baby? Or is she a figment of his imagination, conjured in a time of anxiety?

The Nest captured me from the very first page. I knew nothing about it. If you would like a similar experience, you may want to stop reading. It’s a hard novel to talk about without giving things away. I’m not including spoilers, but if you want to know less rather than more (I recommend it), now’s the time to go get this excellently crafted horror novel for middle grader readers, and start reading.

The Nest is a trip—an eerie, horrifying trip. This is not the kind of horror that involves gore, murders, or monsters. This seemingly gentle, benevolent wasp queen has offered to help Steven and his family, keep them safe. This is especially appealing to Steve, who has had therapy for his anxiety. And yet something sinister seems to lurk somewhere beneath the surface. The reader is left to infer the wasp queen’s true nature from little details. As Steve warmly thinks about how the wasps are repairing his baby brother, the wasp queen tells him he’ll be even happier when he sees the baby in the crib. “He’s already in the crib,” Steve says, confused. “Not your new baby,” she says in reply. And just like that, Steve’s (and perhaps the reader’s) comfort is replaced by concern and dread. Little by little, Oppel builds on this sense of foreboding until Steve must make crucial decisions about who he trusts and what he values in a nail-biting climax.

Recent Read: The Thing About Jellyfish

The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin

Zu used to talk a lot—she would fill up empty spaces with scientific facts and explanations of the natural world. But after the death of her best friend, Franny, Zu doesn’t say a word. She doesn’t believe that Franny could have drowned like they say. There must be an explanation. And so, as her parents take her to therapy, and she goes to school and works on homework, Zu ponders how Franny must have been killed by a deadly jellyfish sting. Zu’s mission to prove the real cause of Franny’s death is mixed with recollections of Franny—how they became friends, what their friendship was like, and how it started to crumble.

These memories were my favorite part. They were so vivid and real. They sparked memories of my own. As the Zu’s past with Franny unfolds we begin to understand the motivation behind her drive to prove the “true” cause of Franny’s death. it's heartbreaking. The Thing About Jellyfish is the very definition of lyrical. It sometimes felt like a painting, blending thoughtful descriptions of the natural world with recollections of the past and contemplation about our place in the universe. Lovely, but I also think not for everyone.

The Thing About Jellyfish releases September 22

Recent Read: The Thickety: A Path Begins

The Thickety: A Path Begins by J. A. White

As the children of an executed witch, Kara and her little brother Taff are shunned by their small, secluded island community, for there is nothing more evil than witchcraft. Kara knows and believes this too, until a mysterious bird guides (or lures?) her to a grimoire, full of magic, power and, perhaps, ties to her mother.

The title refers to the black forest that rules a significant portion of their little island. The Thickety is home to nightmarish creatures, black trees, dark magic, and the evil Sordyr. The Children of the Fold, as the island people call themselves, follow the teachings of Timoth Clen, a man who eradicated magic from their world many years before. By strictly adhering to the cardinal rules of his cult-like religion, the villagers can protect themselves from evil (and each other). The rules are: 1. Never use magic. 2. Never enter the Thickety.

In one fell swoop, Kara violates both of these rules and opens a sort of Pandora’s box in the form of an insidious and magical grimoire.

Sinister. That’s the word to describe this gripping children’s novel. Despite the size, format and illustrations, this is a dark story, not for the feint of heart. White does not shy away from pure, unadulterated evil in this tale of power, addiction, and truth. But this is one of the reasons it’s so good. It’s a unique and complex story, full of excitement. The language is both evocative and concise. As the title suggests, the path begins here, and I was left both shocked and eager to see what happens next. One of my favorites of 2014.


Book 2, The Thickety: The Whispering Trees, comes out March 10, 2015.

Recent Read: Counting By 7s

Willow Chance is a girl who doesn’t fit in. She’s strange, and she knows it. She has three obsessions: medical conditions, plants, and the number 7. And she’s a legitimate genius. She’s always had difficulty making friends. And it’s when she makes her first friend and things really start looking up that her world falls apart. She comes home to find policemen at her house, saying, “There’s been an accident.”

The writing here is great. Holly Goldberg Sloan's Counting by 7s is heartbreaking, but more than that, it’s uplifting, and funny and heart-warming. It’s a story of loss, but also of belonging and friendship and family and service. Willow is odd, yes, but she’s also thoughtful, kind, and sympathetic. She’s observant, and it’s fun to see the world through her intellectual and rational point of view. A motley crew collects around her. We get to know all of them, and we come to care about each of them (sometimes in spite of them). One of the things I loved about this was how they rally around her, and in caring for her, they improve themselves. They become better people because she was in their lives.

Recent Read: Jinx

  In the Urwald you grow up fast or not at all. By the time Jinx was six he had learned to live quietly and carefully, squeezed into the spaces left by other people, even though the hut he lived in with his stepparents actually belonged to him. He had inherited it after his father died of were wolves and his mother was carried off by elves.

And thus this imaginative adventure through the dangerous forest called the Urwald begins. In this place where trolls, witches, and werewolves abound, the only safe place to be is on the path or in a clearing. So when Jinx's stepfather takes him off the path, into the depths of the Urwald, Jinx knows why--he's to be abandoned and left to the creatures who live there. But a wizard named Simon interrupts them, offering to purchase Jinx. And though Jinx has heard nothing but dark tales of evil wizards, Simon feeds him and keeps a roof over his head. Living with Simon, Jinx starts to learn about his own magical powers--his ability to see thoughts and listen to the trees of the Urwald. But when Simon performs a particularly powerful spell on Jinx, he feels completely betrayed and strikes out on his own to search for what was stolen from him.

What an imaginative world Sage Blackwood has created in his middle-grade debut, Jinx. Ok, let me give you one detail of this book to start: The witches travel by butter churn. The sound of a witch traveling by butter churn? "Ker thump, ker thump." Jinx "could just make out the hopping motion of a legless barrel-shape--thrusting a long, straight stick at the ground..." This cracked me up--a pogo stick-like butter churn (which we later find out is custom built to fit around the witch, and has to be replaced as they outgrow them).

This was such an enjoyable read. It was entertaining and humorous. The characters were colorful, appealing and oftentimes a bit eccentric. The story contained many familiar elements, creatures, and characters, but each with a unique and fresh spin. It did not at all feel like something I had seen before. Jinx's magical powers in particular are new and intriguing. Many places and people are introduced but not fully explored, leaving room for many more adventures in sequels to come.

Recent Read: The Unfortunate Son

Set in 16th century France, this story is about Luc, a boy born with only one ear. His father rejects him, as do many others who see his deformity. But when he meets a fisherman named Pons and his sister and niece, Luc is embraced and loved as part of the family. He's gifted at fishing and becomes an apprentice. But his happiness is short lived. At sea one day, a ship of pirates kidnap Luc and sell him as a slave in North Africa. Villagers think of the boy as terribly unlucky--one ear, a drunkard father, stolen by pirates--but Pons always called Luc his good-luck boy. Will Luc survive and overcome the misfortune that's befallen him, or will his life prove unlucky as the villagers say?

The Unfortunate Son by Constance Leeds was wonderful. The writing is top-notch. The historical setting is meticulously researched, and Leeds gives the reader an interesting look into 16th century France. But it's not an exciting swashbuckling tale, as the kidnapped-by-pirates part might suggest. He doesn't even get kidnapped until almost 100 pages in. That's not to say that it's boring. There's a little bit of a mystery involving Luc's parentage, there's the hope/effort to reunite Luc with his adopted fisherman family, there's the quest for survival in a new place as a slave, etc. Leeds creates meaningful relationships with fully fleshed-out characters. I became invested in these people and their stories--I didn't want to say goodbye. I also loved the themes Leeds delved into (and how she addressed them)--destiny, luck, attitude, perception, as well as forgiveness. Does Luc's ear make him lucky or unlucky? Is Luc's fortune determined by exterior circumstances or his own attitudes and decisions?

(There is a mention of eunuchs--it's for a purpose, but I would imagine that some parents would not want to explain the what and why to their children.)

Recent Read: Smile

Raina is going about her everyday life as a sixth grader--school, girl scouts, friends, etc--when she trips and falls, knocking out her two front teeth. She must then visit various dental specialists to figure out how to get her teeth back to normal. She endures painful surgeries and orthodontia, all while going to school, experiencing puberty, dealing with boys and transitioning from middle school to high school.

I never knew a book about dentistry could be so delightful. It was wonderful! Raina Telgemeier (very deservedly) won an Eisner Award for Smile which is based on her own experiences (that includes the teeth, the earthquake, and the pantsing). I love that it centers around dentistry, orthodontia, and surgery. These kinds of experiences have become pretty prevalent these days, and I think there's a lot for young people to relate to (I sure did, having had many years of my own dental nightmares). As I read, I sometimes laughed aloud as I saw her perfect depiction of things like having a mold of your teeth made, getting your braces tightened, and attaching rubber bands to them. It's infused with humor throughout despite the trauma of it all. And it's not just about her teeth--it's about getting older, figuring out where you belong, finding friends, gaining confidence in the right aspects of yourself, and overcoming trials. Telgemeier is so good at capturing the emotions of this age (the boy-centered daydreams cracked me up). All around excellent.

Telgemeier recently posted a sketch from her next graphic novel called Sisters. I can't wait.

Recent Read: Bomb

The making of the atomic bomb is one of history's most amazing examples of teamwork and genius and poise under pressure. But it's also the story of how humans created a weapon capable of wiping our species off the face of the planet. It's a story with no end in sight.

And, like it or not, you're in it.

Simply put, this is the story of the atomic bomb. German chemist Otto Hahn's 1938 discovery that atoms could be split became supremely important in the context of a growing world war. Germany and the US were soon racing to use this discovery to create the ultimate weapon (and sabotage their enemy). But they weren't alone—the Soviet Union, in its quest to become a superpower, decided they needed atomic warfare. And wouldn't it be easier to steal the American's atomic plans rather than develop their own? This is the thrilling story of scientific genius and brainstorming, spying, deceit, sabotage, war, and a weapon that has forever changed the world in which we live.

In the first pages of Steve Sheinkin's Bomb: The Race to Build--and Steal--the World's Most Dangerous Weapon, the author throws the reader into a thrilling spy narrative. In the pages that follow, his skillful use of primary resources, key details and narrative style combine to paint clear pictures, bring people to life, create scenes of suspense, and keep the pages turning. He explains complex scientific concepts and issues simply and clearly enough for anyone to understand and includes photographs for visual support. Not as in-depth as adult nonfiction, but very well-suited to the audience, and very readable. In the epilogue, Sheinkin explains the long-lasting aftermath of the creation of such a weapon--the cold war, the growing prevalence of nuclear warfare in the world, reminding readers of how relevant this story is to their lives now. Fascinating, well-done, highly recommended.

*This book was recommended to me by a great Macmillan publicist at ALA. Here I was a clueless newbie asking about Monstrous Beauty, and she really talked to me as if I mattered (this was not the case at every publisher). Even though she didn't have galleys of this book to give out, she totally sold me on it, and I've been on the lookout ever since. I will forever have a positive impression of Macmillan thanks to her.

Recent Read: Wonder

August Pullman is accustomed to being gawked at. The facial deformities that he was born with have not only meant that we would be in and out of surgery 27 times during the first ten years of his life, they've set him apart, eliciting all sorts of reactions from people who don't know him. Now that he's approaching fifth grade, his parents decide it's time to send him to school outside the home. Can August overcome the challenges he faces at school? Will his classmates be able to see him and not just his face?

R. J. Palacio's Wonder was a joy to read. I loved it. Even though it's a book dealing with serious subjects, it's funny--charming and sweet funny, as well as laugh-out-loud Diary of a Wimpy Kid funny. The style was refreshingly direct and matter-of-fact. With the aid of that style and short chapters, the pace moves quickly.

Perhaps the best part of the book--the thing that elevates it to another level--is the excellent characterization and the way Palacio tells the story from different perspectives. The characters (Auggie in particular) are well-drawn, very human and so appealing. We get to see Auggie and the story through the eyes of Auggie himself, his sister, two of his friends/classmates, his sister's boyfriend, and his sister's friend. This added such depth and perspective. And I think it gives the book an all-ages appeal--I would recommend it to teens and adults as much as I would recommend it to children. I thought Palacio's take on each point of view was spot-on, as was her depiction of the behavior of the children around Auggie.

There are a few of things that could be criticized. I don't see the point of having a section written from the perspective of Justin (the sister's boyfriend). The pop culture references may date it at some point (they already show the author's age). And the quotes that start sections are bordering on didactic (quoting Christina Aguilera? really?). But when it comes down to rating the book I didn't care much about those things. Wonder is great not because of the "important" subject, it's great because of the real, irresistible characters and wonderful story. It may make you cry, but it will also lift your spirits.

Also, read the explanation of where the idea for the book came from in Palacio's words:

About five years ago I took my kids to visit a friend of mine who lives out of town, and at some point during the day we found ourselves sitting next to a little girl who looked the way Auggie looks in the book. We were in front of an ice cream shop, and she was sitting next to us with her mother and a friend. My younger son was only about three at the time, and he reacted exactly the way you might think a three-year old would react when seeing something that scared him: he started to cry—pretty loudly, too. And though my older son, who was ten at the time, knew better than to stare, his expression said it all despite his best efforts: he looked like someone had just punched him. It was terrible, on all counts, and I got up as quickly as I could to remove us from the scene—not for their sakes, of course, but to spare the little’s girl’s feelings. As I pushed my younger son’s stroller away I heard the little girls’ mom say, in as sweet and calm a voice as you can imagine: “Okay, guys, I think it’s time to go.” And that just got to me. 

On the drive home I couldn’t stop thinking about how that scene had played out. It occurred to me that they probably went through something like that dozens of times a day. Hundreds of times. What would that be like? What could I be teaching my children so they could understand how to respond better next time? Is “don’t stare” even the right thing to teach, or is there something deeper? All this stuff was flying through my head on the long car ride home while my boys slept in the back seat of the car. I was literally obsessing about it, so after a while I turned on the radio just to keep myself from thinking about it and the first thing that started to play was Natalie Merchant’s "Wonder." It was so amazing because that song had always been one of my absolute favorites—but that night the words really hit me, almost like I was hearing them for the first time. "People see me—I’m a challenge to your balance. I’m over your heads, how I confound you and astound you, to know I must be one of the wonders of god’s own creation…" It was like the song had been written for this girl I had just seen. 

The book kind of wrote itself in my head on that drive home. I would write the story from the child’s point of view. It would help people understand—not pity. I’m just like you, the child would say. I’m an ordinary kid—except for this one thing. And I would call the book Wonder because this child is a wonder. 

Recent Read: Drama

Callie thinks her crush is finally in a position to sweep her off her feet when he goes back to his ex-girlfriend. As annoyed and hurt as Callie is, she has lots of friends in her middle school drama department and lots to keep her busy as she designs awesome set pieces for the upcoming musical. Soon Callie meets a couple of twins who, in addition to becoming involved in theater with her, present some interesting romantic possibilities. Drama unfolds both on stage and off in this fun, light-hearted graphic novel.

Drama by Raina Telgemeier is a fun, entertaining read. Telgemeier's illustrations are colorful and humorous. I'm sure current and former theater kids will enjoy it. The "drama" was great and very typical of this time of life I thought--crushes and gossip and the school play. And perhaps best of all, Telgemeier handles the discovery of self and sexual orientation really well. It reminded me of something that happened between two people in my own 9th grade class. The lgbtq aspect of the book is handled in an age-appropriate (middle grade), positive, and almost innocent way.

Releases September 1


Based on NetGalley uncorrected proof.