Stuntboy, In The Meantime

Stuntboy, In The Meantime

by Jason Reynolds

Stuntboy, in The Meantime is a heavily illustrated novel that also includes some comic strip sections, and the writing and the art are both bursting with vibrant energy and fun. Portico Reeves is ten and lives in an apartment building that he considers a castle, which he loves because there are all kinds of different people with different stories living behind all of the doors. His best friend, Zola, lives there, as does his nemesis, Herbert Singletary the Worst, who constantly verbally attacks Portico and Zola. Portico has a lot of anxiety, mainly because his parents have decided to take two new apartments, one upstairs and one downstairs, and are fighting a lot about what items each will take. Portico is a sweet, anxious kid who desperately wants to protect other people from pain (his secret superhero identity is "Stuntboy," who takes the dangerous falls for all the people around him), but right now, his parents' marriage is imploding and he can't stop it or take away their pain. Stuntboy, In The Meantime is silly and funny and sweet.

Witches of Brooklyn

 Witches of Brooklyn

By Sophie Escabasse

When 11-year old Effie’s mother dies, she moves in with her two strange aunts who live together in a Brooklyn brownstone. Montreal-based author illustrator Sophie Escabasse delivers vivid images for this feelgood story. In the middle of one of her first nights staying there, Effie’s favourite singer and idol, Tilly Shoo, shows up at the house. Tilly has come for her aunts healing powers and at first Effie believes her aunts, Carlotta and Selimene, are acupuncturists and herbalists, but soon enough she realizes there may be magic at play. Is Effie magic, too? This is a delightful and warm fantasy graphic novel for ages 8-12.

When Stars Are Scattered

When Stars Are Scattered

By Victoria Jamieson and Omar Hassan

When Stars Are Scattered is a warm and welcoming graphic novel that introduces us to two brothers, Omar and Hassan, who are from Somalia but staying in a Kenyan refugee camp after their father dies in the Somalian Civil War and they are separated from their mother. This is based on a real-life story that the author, Victoria Jamieson, wrote after collaborating with one of the brothers, Omar. Omar is the one who takes care of his younger brother because Hassan has special needs, and their story continues on for years in this novel until Omar is nearly an adult. Through Omar’s narration, we find out how traumatic their lives have been, and how he wants to have hope for the future, enough for both brothers. Ages 9-12.

Kerry and the Knight of the Forest

Kerry and the Knight of the Forest

By Andi Watson

Kerry’s parents are very sick and he is their only hope. So Kerry leaves their family farm to retrieve their lifesaving medicine.  As he skirts the forest on the way back, he is led astray by what appears to be a little girl.  But this girl isn’t what she seems.  As Kerry follows her into the woods, he quickly becomes lost.

The forest itself is filled with dangers.  From one-eyed monsters to mystical weed-filled swamps to captive children, Kerry finds peril wherever he runs.  He is desperate to find his way home, but every turn in the forest seems to take him further into darkness.

But on his travels, Kerry also meets an old forest creature called Waystone.  With his one eye and rock-like appearance, Waystone seems rather menacing.   But Kerry quickly learns that Waystone is the Knight of the Forest, a trustworthy fellow who is willing and able to lead Kerry back to his farm.

Even with Waystone on his side, moving through the dark forest is not easy.  But as danger closes in, Kerry unexpectedly finds friends too.  His open heart allows him to trust some of the forest dwellers, despite Waystone’s warnings.  Will Kerry’s faith in the goodness of the world be his ultimate downfall?

Kerry and the Knight of the Forest is a beautifully illustrated graphic novel that leads readers down the path of the old-fashioned lost-in-the-woods fairy tale.  By turns frightening and hopeful, Kerry will keep you hooked from beginning to end.

El Deafo

El Deafo

By Cece Bell

At age four, Cece loses her hearing and must start wearing hearing aids.  The hearing aids help, but Cece must still learn to lip read in order to understand what people are saying.  Much of the time she struggles to make sense of what's going on.  This makes school and friendships challenging.

Cece just wants to be like everyone else and in many ways, she is.  She goes to sleepovers, goofs off at school and develops a crush on Mike Miller.  But Cece also has to learn to become comfortable with her own deafness.

At school, Cece must wear special hearing aids while her teachers wear a microphone.  Cece discovers that she can hear her teachers clearly while they wear that microphone, no matter where they are in the school.  She often hears her teacher gossiping in the staff room and going to the bathroom.  Her ability to hear these things seems like a superpower to her, and soon Cece gives herself the superhero name El Deafo.

When Cece’s classmates learn about this power, she really becomes popular.  Now the students can have a party every time their teacher leaves because Cece can always warn them when she’s coming back!

El Deafo is a heartwarming graphic novel that celebrates what it’s like to be a little different.

 

Stargazing

Stargazing

By Jen Wang

Christine comes from a strict Chinese-American family.  She plays the violin, goes to church and belongs to a Chinese language study group.  When Moon and her mother move in next door, Christine begins to open up and see the world in new ways.  

Moon loves K-pop, dancing and having lots of fun!  She convinces Christine to do crazy things like paint her toenails.  She also has “fantasies” about her “real family” in outer space.  

But Moon also comes with a lot of baggage.  She and her mother don’t have a lot of money and they have often struggled.  It’s even rumoured that Moon likes to beat people up, but that doesn’t seem to be true… at first.  Moon initially gets along with everyone, but it soon becomes clear that she won’t tolerate injustice or disloyalty.

Just as Christine is trying to figure out how she really feels about her new friend, Moon has a crisis that goes far beyond schoolyard friendships.  Christine is challenged to stand up and be the supportive friend that Moon really needs.  Can she do it?

Heartwarming and readable, this graphic novel will appeal to any kid who has ever faced difficult choices in friendship.  Stargazing is also funny and inspiring.

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!