The List of Things That Will Not Change

The List of Things That Will Not Change

By Rebecca Stead

Divorce brings a wave of change to families, so Bea is dealing with her parents’ divorce by creating a list with them -- a list of things that will never, ever change. They create the list and tell Bea that even though their family may look different in the future, it will still be her family. One change she is actually looking forward to is that her dad is engaged to be married to his boyfriend. Bea loves Jesse! She’s even more exhilarated by the thought of having a new sister, and is sure Sonia will feel the same way, but Bea discovers not everybody experiences the same emotions. Fortunately her trusty green notebook with its list may just help her find her way.

Tornado Brain

Tornado Brain

By Cat Patrick

Thirteen-year-old Frankie is different from the other kids in her life.  She can’t stand loud noises and doesn’t always understand social cues.  She’s been labelled “neurodivergent” – in other words, her brain works differently.  Frankie is also fascinated by tornadoes, hence the term “tornado brain”.

Frankie has always had two best friends – her twin sister Tess, and Colette.  But lately Tess and Colette haven’t wanted to hang out with her at all – they only want to be with mean Mia.  When Frankie overhears the three of them talking behind her back, she is devastated.

But everything changes when Colette goes missing.  Students from their middle school, including Frankie and Tess, are called to the police station to talk about the last time they saw Colette.  Both Frankie and Tess saw her on the night she went missing but have no idea where she went.

Although Frankie is mad at Colette, she desperately wants to help find her.  She begins to do some investigating herself and discovers some interesting details about Colette’s last known whereabouts.  She also finds clues in some of Colette’s recently-posted videos.  Frankie soon gets completely wrapped up in solving this mystery, and even puts herself and Tess in some danger to solve it.  Along the way she learns that she is a very capable human being and that sometimes, being different is a good thing.

Tornado Brain is a story about finding your own strengths.  It is also a story of friendship and a riveting mystery all rolled into one.

Highly recommended!     

New Kid

New Kid

By Jerry Craft

Jordan Banks is in grade 7 and has been sent to a new school.  But instead of going to art school, as he’d hoped, he is attending a very prestigious private school called Riverdale Academy Day School. 

 

Jordan’s parents want the best for him, but he doesn’t exactly fit in at Riverdale (known as RAD).  Unlike most students, Jordan travels to school from his apartment by city bus.  Some RAD students even have their butlers drop them off!  For Jordan, hanging out with rich kids takes a bit of adjustment.

But Jordan is also different in another way.  He is black, and the vast majority of students are white.  While there are other people of colour at RAD, he constantly feels like he is being singled out as different.

But Jordan does make new friends at school, including Liam who is rich and white.  Liam’s family has so much money, in fact, that Liam worries that Jordan will judge him for being different. 

New Kid is a very readable graphic novel that deals with the challenges that many kids face when they are new to a school.  Author Jerry Craft even includes some of Jordan’s own art in the book.  New Kid is a fantastic middle grade graphic novel!

 

Roller Girl

Roller Girl

By Victoria Jamieson

Twelve-year-old Astrid has been best friends with Nicole since grade 2.  Nicole loves ballet and is starting to like boys, and Astrid just isn’t interested.  But when Astrid’s mom takes them to see roller derby, Astrid knows exactly what she wants to do.  

Immediately, she signs up for roller derby camp.  Much to her chagrin, Nicole does not, and Astrid must face this challenge on her own.  

Believing she will blow the other girls away with her skills, Astrid is surprised to discover that skating is hard, and working out for hours at a time is exhausting.  Walking home afterwards isn’t much fun either.  But she aspires to become the star of the roller derby like her hero, Rainbow Bite, and she keeps working away.

As Astrid struggles along at camp, she also drifts further and further away from Nicole. She wonders how two people can suddenly not be friends anymore.  Luckily, she meets Zoey at roller derby camp, but even their relationship can be a little rocky at times.  Meanwhile, Astrid hides all her feelings from her mother, and even lies to her.  She is becoming more and more unhappy. 

But when Astrid learns that the girls at roller derby camp will compete in a “bout”, complete with spectators, Astrid has to muster all her strength.  Can she do it without her best friend and her mom supporting her?

Roller Girl is a graphic novel about a girl who’s trying to figure out who she is and where she “fits”.  It’s also tonnes of fun!  Watching the girls race around trying to bump each other out of the rink is super exciting!  And learning the roller girl names like Braidy Punch, Draculola and Scream Soda is fun too.  If you like to read stories about friendship and tough girls who love to compete, try Roller Girl.

Highly recommended!

 

See You In The Cosmos

See You In The Cosmos

By Jack Cheng

Alex is only eleven years old but already he’s very independent.  He has to be.  He lives with his mom, but she can hardly get out of bed most of the time.  Alex makes all the meals, gets himself to school, and takes on much more responsibility than most kids his age.

Because he basically takes care of himself, he sees no problem in taking a trip on his own.  Alex loves learning about space and he plans to attend an event called SHARF, where regular people attempt to launch rockets into space.  Alex has built his own rocket and filled a “golden iPod” with recordings of himself talking about life on Earth.  He plans to launch both and hopes to connect with alien life forms.

So he sets out with his dog, Carl Sagan, on the adventure of a lifetime.  Along the way, he meets a series of people who take him under their wings and look out for him on the road.  In fact, his trip takes him much farther than expected and he even meets family members he never knew he had.

Throughout the book, Alex remains incredibly positive in the face of adversity.  He encounters many obstacles and must face some hard realities about his life.  But Alex cannot be beaten and learns never to let him dreams die.

Incredibly touching and inspiring, See You In The Cosmos is a must read!

Howard Wallace, P.I.

Howard Wallace, P.I.

By Casey Lyall

Howard Wallace is a twelve-year-old middle schooler.  He’s a bit awkward and doesn’t have many friends.  However, Howard does have skills that bring people to him; he is a private investigator – one of the best.  And although he is often hired for rather minor investigations – such as locating little Kevin’s Spaceman Joe – Howard is about to be pulled into the investigation of his career.

Luckily, he is not alone.  Much to his chagrin, the new girl in town, Ivy Mason, is determined to become Howard’s partner.  After accosting him several times in his “office” and while on a stakeout, Howard reluctantly agrees to take Ivy on.

The two P.I.s are faced with a serious case.  Meredith Reddy, treasurer of the Student Council, has had the school cheques stolen from her and is now being blackmailed.  Threatening notes are found, and if Meredith can’t clear her name, all the power on the Student Council will go to Lisa Grantley, a girl whose family runs the whole town.

Howard starts receiving threatening notes too, but he and Ivy can’t be stopped.  Although they risk getting in trouble with their parents, teachers and the school principal, they persevere.  Can Wallace and Mason solve this case, making a name for themselves along the way?

Despite its middle school subject matter, Howard Wallace, P.I. is a riveting mystery.  Kids will identify with both Howard and Ivy’s shortcomings and enjoy their creativity in turning day-to-day life into a passion and a potential career.