Ghosted: A Funny and Heartwarming Story About Seventh Grade Friendship for Children written by Michael Fry and reviewed by Rebecca Lowe

Summary: Main character Larry has been best friends with Grimm since fourth grade. Now in seventh grade, Grimm dies after being struck by lightning. But Larry discovers that friendship doesn't die that easily, as Grimm continues to haunt Larry! Larry is determined to help his friend cross over and believes the answer lies in their bucket list. Together Larry and Grimm embark on a series of wild misadventures in their pursuit of helping Grimm move on. 

Straight Talk for Librarians: Ghosted holds much in common with the beloved Diary of a Wimpy Kid series -- wild hijinks and the same illustrated text format. While the story at first is lighthearted and silly, seriousness creeps in as secondary characters express concern for Larry and acknowledge his grief. Larry also meets with a psychologist and has a conversation about how people talk to the dead all the time, how that can feel quite real, and also guilt. The reader becomes aware that Grimm was, in fact, not always a nice person, and Larry is struggling with how to make amends to some of the people Grimm hurt. The over-the-top escapades keep the story light hearted and funny even while dealing with serious topics like grief, guilt, and bullying. In the drawings, Larry is white and Grimm is black.

Digital Red: A Modern Fairy-Tale Series written by Kimberly Delude, illustrated by Jan Dolby and reviewed by Klaudia Janek

Summary: Digital Red is the third book in the Modern Fairy-Tale series, offering a clever, contemporary twist on the classic Little Red Riding Hood story. Instead of a red cloak, Digital Red is obsessed with her red phone, constantly texting, taking selfies, and posting on social media. When Fairy Godmother asks her to deliver healing soup to Granny's house, Digital Red can't resist sharing her plans online. A mysterious new "friend," @TBBW (The Big Bad Wolf), begins messaging her with seemingly helpful suggestions about where to go. However, this online interaction takes a dangerous turn when Red realizes she's shared too much personal information. Through witty dialogue and vibrant illustrations, this fractured fairy tale teaches an important lesson about online safety and the risks of communicating with strangers on the internet. 

Straight Talk for Librarians: Digital Red is an excellent addition to school libraries, offering both entertainment and educational value. The story addresses the critical topic of digital citizenship in an age-appropriate, engaging format that resonates with young readers. The book includes discussion questions that spark meaningful conversations about internet safety, critical thinking, and decision-making. Teachers and librarians can use this resource to facilitate lessons on online safety, stranger danger in digital spaces, and responsible technology use. The snappy dialogue and vibrant illustrations make it engaging for read-alouds, while the important messaging makes it suitable for both classroom instruction and independent reading. If you happen to be in an IB PYP library you can easily connect this to the Learner Profile, particularly the attributes of being "principled" and "knowledgeable." The story encourages students to think critically about digital citizenship, make ethical choices online, and understand the consequences of sharing personal information. Through this fractured fairy tale, students develop awareness of global issues in our technology-driven world.

Curriculum on author's website!

The Oregon Trail #1: The Race to Chimney Rock written by Jesse Wiley and reviewed by Debra Gantz

Summary: This Choose Your Own Adventure in the Oregon Trail series took me right back to the early 90's and playing this game with students in public schools where I was a substitute teacher. (The game had everything and I wanted to know how this book series could capture that excitement, dread, wonder, and risk taking.) Jesse Wiley must have played the game, as well as this book has it all! Backmatter guides you to how to problem solve issues that affected Westward settlers. (A foreword reminds readers to read the backmatter before making their first decision.) There are short sections/chapters of only a few pages and then you face a choice. Choose right and your journey continues. Choose wrong and you may die or be lost or be without supplies including that wagon that is your chance for a better future. I chose well for a bit, but then there was an impossible choice that I did not like at all and I did die. I went back to where I had chosen wrong and made a new choice. This time I finished the journey and ended at Chimney Rock. I did go back and read more with different choices to see what would have happened. In short, this is a fun book and I think my students will like it. 

Straight Talk for Librarians: Note to teachers- If your district requires Westward Expansion knowledge, read on! I have never been a fan of Choose Your Own Adventure books, but this series was a connection for me to my younger years in teaching. If my students do like this series, I will add more for them. I like the connections to history, geography, and life skills (fixing wagons, managing money and supplies, caring for the ill or injured, and hierarchy of the wagon train) for the characters that students may gain more insight from. I played both Oregon Trail and Amazon Trail with my students and their knowledge of locations and animals were directly boosted by these games. I also discovered at my local library that the Oregon Trail game is available on a couple of different game systems. (My library had it!)

The Oregon Trail #7: Gold Rush! written by Jesse Wiley and reviewed by Debra Gantz

Summary: This series that replicates the subject of a game I taught my earliest classes to allow us to better understand the problem solving needed during Westward Expansion was quite the hit. I hope this series will do the same for my current students. Each book in the series explains where the wagon train is at, the dangers of the next section of the trail, as well as some tips for avoiding those dangers. The path has a divide to reckon with: head to California or to Oregon. There are friendships to be made, hard decisions to be made, and animals to hunt or care for in order to move your wagons safely on that trail. Some may be trustworthy that you meet on the trail, but others have no good intentions. Reading the notes in the backmatter allows you the best chance to complete this story with success. Some endings will be loss of oxen to pull your wagons, loss of other humans, or your own life. Sickness is prevalent along the trail and you have to have your wits about you to stay well. This series and this book are a lot of fun. I hope my students will also have fun with the rest books. 

Straight Talk for Librarians: I think this series is worth book talks as historical fiction is studied in my schools and the short chapters may engage my less motivated readers. Westward expansion is part of the curriculum and the issues of the 1800's might be fascinating for today's generation.

The Oregon Trail #8: The Oregon Trail: Calamity in the Cold written by Jesse Wiley and reviewed by Debra Gantz

Summary: Moving from Florida to Oregon is no easy feat in 1845. Unusual weather also makes the trail more difficult. Many hazards await. Will teaming up with a Cherokee family you meet along the way increase your chance of success? I made more mistakes in this book than in The Race to Chimney Rock. I realize that the game I used to play with students early in my career allowed me not to walk away. I saw the words The End, returned to my choice and continued the story. When I finally reached Oregon City, I felt that same rush. This book did not have to be read specifically before or after the last. It stands alone with its own challenges. I look forward to sharing this with students next year. 

Straight Talk for Librarians: Some students like short chapters and a Choose your adventure book may be just what engages them. I will have to book talk these to explain how to check the back of the book notes, Guide to the Trail, before beginning the story. I will allow students to think about how to manage an early death due to the dangers on the Oregon Trail. I will likely also prep them that there used to be an enormously popular game that engaged students in Westward Expansion in wonderful ways. Though I don't think many of my students will find this series on their own, they may respond well to it once I talk about it.

Ten: A Soccer Story written by Flint Shamini and reviewed by Debra Gantz

Summary: Maya is 11 years old and obsessed by soccer. In Malaysia where she lives, soccer is for boys. Maya is not okay with that. She knows the national teams. She watches all the games, not just the World Cup games. She has a favorite player. Yes, Zico, her favorite player does not make a penalty shot that could have kept his team playing, but she still thinks he is the best. Maya and her brother Rajiv know something is amiss at home with their parents. They are terribly sad when it becomes clear they were right. So, Maya now has to create a girls soccer team, get them the support they need for uniforms and field time, and save her family. 

 

Straight Talk for Librarians: First up is the soccer fanaticism which will appeal to many students since we just had another World Cup in 2026. Secondly the race/cultural issue: Maya lives in Malaysia in a very small town. Her town is very patriarchal, she goes to a religious school where she stands out, her parents are a mixed race/culture marriage, and her grandmother is always going on how the kids and that marriage embarrasses her. Books including many races and cultures can be quite appealing to students wanting to understand others around them. Finally teen angst: both Maya and Rajiv have feelings of duty to their families, but Maya also has a strong frustration with her place in society. She does not want to stay quiet and meek as her grandmother seems to want her to be. She wants to be a soccer player, though she has only watched it on TV. She wants to learn to speak up for her dream, encourage others to join her, and find a way to be taken seriously. That is very much the thinking process in middle grade books. How can kids be true to themselves despite family, school, and society norms? Maya finds herself in this story and it is lovely to join her on this ride.

Lizzy Longlegs written by Kai Lüftner, translated by Tim Mohr and illustrated by Wiebke Rauers, reviewed by Klaudia Janek

Lizzy Longlegs comes from a stern musical family that insists on playing every note the same way, without smiles or dancing. Lizzy, a punk-spirited little spider, longs to feel music in her body and to improvise and move. Tired of rote performances, she secretly organizes a lively music festival that fills her family home with diverse instruments, dancing, and joy. At first her relatives are shocked, but the contagious energy of the festival opens their hearts. By the end they loosen up and discover that music can be both precise and full of feeling. The story, told in playful rhyming verse and quirky illustrations, celebrates individuality, creativity, and the many ways people can experience music. 

I loved this book as a reader and a musician! Lizzy’s yearning to improvise and to feel the beat resonates with anyone who’s wanted to move beyond strict interpretation. The festival scene captures the transformative power of communal music-making and shows how diverse musical approaches can coexist and enrich one another. In a school library setting this book supports IB PYP transdisciplinary inquiry by connecting who we are (identity, creativity), how we express ourselves (arts), and how we organize ourselves (community events). It prompts open-ended questions and opportunities for student-led investigations into cultural music practices, improvisation, and performance etiquette. Music teachers can use the book to launch units on improvisation and listening by comparing strict vs. expressive performances. They can facilitate ensemble activities where students experiment with style, tempo, and movement. All teachers can encourage interdisciplinary projects—designing a class “music festival” that integrates art, language, and social studies. Promote social-emotional learning: empathy, respect for different musical tastes, and collaboration. The illustrations blend vintage, Regency-inspired settings with a playful punk aesthetic, using bold colors and quirky details that give each insect character clear personality. The lively, textured artwork enhances the book’s humor and emotional beats, inviting readers to linger on expressive faces and inventive costume choices.  I think most readers will enjoy this book!  A great choice for any library serving elementary aged readers.

My Friend the Paintbrush: The Colorful World of Marcus Pfister written and illustrated by Marcus Pfister , Translated by David Henry Wilson, reviewed by Bethany Bratney

Summary: My Friend, the Paintbrush is a sweet, rhyming book that describes the possibilities and opportunities when creating art with a paintbrush. The pages include images of many different animals, and showcase many textures that can be achieved with different shapes and sizes of brushes. A few pages include information and images about additional forms that can be created with paintbrush, including calligraphy and cubist designs. An author’s note at the end of the book captures Pfister’s love of creating with a paintbrush, and explains that most of the animals featured in the book have appeared in his other published books, including, most notably, The Rainbow Fish. Four pages of detailed back matter showcase one image each from the author’s other books, along with the title of the book, the medium(s) that he used to create the art in each book, a few short notes about those mediums and techniques he used to apply them, and a short summary of the book itself. 

Straight Talk for Librarians: My Friend, the Paintbrush shares a love of art, specifically painting, is an accessible and fun way. The rhyming text and the colorful images make this a delightful book for a read aloud for younger students in early elementary. The information shared about art techniques could make this a nice instructional or anticipatory book for slightly older elementary students as they begin a painting project, or start learning about texture in art. These components would lend themselves nicely to a collaboration between the school library and the art teacher. Young readers will be delighted to see characters that they know from other books, including The Rainbow Fish books and the Milo series, which may encourage further reading as they reminisce. The writing style, which breaks the fourth wall a bit as the reader speaks directly to the audience, is unique and may appeal to kids who have not read a book with a similar style in the past. My Friend, the Paintbrush would make a charming addition to any elementary school library, especially one where collaboration with the art department is strong or where Pfister’s other books are popular.

Fabulous Creatures: Legendary Animals from Around the World by Cornelia Funke , translated by Anna Schmitt Funke and illustrated by Ruby Warnecke, reviewed by Klaudia Janek

Summary: This is a beautiful picture book by Cornelia Funke, featuring vibrant illustrations by Ruby Warnecke. This book introduces young readers to 19 mythical creatures from diverse cultures. The book starts off with a Qilin "that reveal themselves where things are just and peaceful."  It follows with an Egyptian Phoenix, a Balinese Barong, a Aotearoa (New Zealand) Tumu-Rai'i Fenua who is tasked with teaching humans to live in peace and harmony.  My favorite is the Thunderbird, which might be the most North American mythological creature. Each creature is brought to life with anecdotes and colorful, imaginative illustrations. The book fosters curiosity by providing cultural and historical context without overwhelming detail, making it an engaging read for children aged 4-12. The illustrations, with their whimsical and vibrant style, enhance the storytelling, allowing readers to explore the enchanting world of mythical creatures. 

Straight Talk for Librarians: This book is perfect for fostering global connections. The book’s approachable style and vivid imagery make it both educational and entertaining. Young readers will enjoy discovering new creatures and learning about different cultures, sparking their imagination and encouraging further exploration into mythology and folklore. The book aligns with the IB Learner Profile by encouraging students to be "Inquirers." It fosters curiosity and promotes exploration of global cultures and myths. 

All teachers can use this book to discuss diversity, cultural understanding, and the art of storytelling, creating opportunities for students to develop critical thinking and appreciation for different traditions. It's a great addition to any library's mythology section and sure to be popular. This book could kick off a larger cultural research project, where each student would get a different mythical creature from a different culture/country to research.  Students could also have fun with a Creature Comparison Chart (and learn a research skill).  Finally, all ages could have fun with a Mythical Creature map, where students could utilize a large world map to locate where each mythical creature is said to originate.  This can help them visualize the global diversity of myths.  So many ideas from this one book!  As an adult, I enjoyed the collaborative process outlined in the notes at the end of the book.  So fun to have the insight as to how to book came to be.

This book's expected publication date is March 31, 2026 by NorthSouth Books.  Thank you to the publisher for a advance review copy.

This Is How You Know written by Kirsten W. Larson and illustrated by Cornelia Li, reviewed by Klaudia Janek

Summary: "This Is How You Know: How Science Happens" by Kirsten W. Larson, with illustrations by Cornelia Li, is a beautifully illustrated picture book that celebrates the wonders of science and discovery. It encourages children to embrace curiosity, imagination, and perseverance. Through lyrical text and vibrant illustrations, the book guides young readers on a journey of exploration, emphasizing that science is a process of inquiry filled with unexpected discoveries and joyful learning. The diverse cast of characters and engaging visuals make science approachable, showing that mistakes are part of the learning journey and that curiosity leads to understanding the world around us. 

Straight Talk for Librarians: This is a great book to inspire a love for science in students! The book can be a wonderful read-aloud choice, sparking discussions about scientific inquiry and encouraging students to ask questions and explore their natural curiosity. Librarians can create engaging displays featuring the book alongside related science resources, offering students additional opportunities to dive into STEM topics. The book’s emphasis on diverse characters and real-world applications provides a platform to discuss the importance of inclusivity in science. With its cute illustrations and thoughtful backmatter, it can also serve as a valuable resource for collaborative projects with teachers, integrating science into reading and literacy programs to enhance interdisciplinary learning. This is a great way to introduce the process of scientific inquiry. There is also an easy connection with visual arts and what the illustrator created, to what the author wrote about science. Talk about interdisciplinary! While this would be a great choice for any school library, it is particularly well suited for a IB PYP library. This would be a great addition to an exploration about Inquiry. Students familiar with words from the IB Learner Profile and Approaches to Learning will be able to make thoughtful connections. This book can also easily align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals in a few different ways.

The Baby-Sitters Club Graphic Novels #4: Claudia and Mean Janine adapted by Raina Telgemeier and reviewed by Debra Gantz

Summary: I had to read one of the most popular series in my graphic novel collection. I was surprised how much I liked this book. The story is easy to follow of the club and and the work they do for their community in babysitting and now play groups. The meat of this story, though, is really about the importance of family. Claudia and her very smart, very studious sister do not get along. Claudia does a lot to help around the house, but her sister is always studying. When their grandmother has a stroke and needs help, the tension increases. I like the way Raina Telgemeier (originally Ann M. Martin) handles this family tension and allows both girls to grow and change in their relationships with their family. I also like how the summer play group interactions allow for this dynamic to change for the better. The pace, graphic format, and club and family depictions are well done. So, the story is about communication all said and done. Communicating is not the same as reacting to things and making time to communicate changes perspectives most of the time. Janine and Claudia are very different and rather than talk through the differences, they allow them to fester. One of the kids the club sits for has a new baby sister and he is allowing his frustrations to get in his own way of celebrating his new sister that he already loves so much. When Mimi, the grandmother of the family is diagnosed with a stroke, she has to relearn communication and Claudia learns quite a bit from that experience enabling her a chance to try connecting with Janine differently. 

Straight Talk for Librarians:  I have a very mixed reaction to the book series from students and parents in my building. Kids love the series and will also read the Little Sister versions. Parents feel the girls in middle school and what they deal with at their age is too much. I had to divide and conquer with graphic novels. I have a very small budget. When I started my collections, I made a section for only 4th and 5th and put Babysitter's Club books there and the younger section is where the Little Sister books are located. Having read this one, there is no reason I can see that it cannot be read by younger students, but my families have grown used to what I did when I did not have enough graphic novels, so I keep that system. I would recommend that Elementary Librarians be ready for discussions with parents. I read over 500 books a year, but if you cannot keep up with that much reading, join our Libres Blog (https://libresbooksmi.blogspot.com/) and read about the books or use NovelList or Titlewave to get reviews. Most parents just want to be heard and know you are thinking carefully about your collections in your school library.

Scientists in the Field: Eclipse Chaser: Science in the Moon's Shadow written by Ilima Loomis and reviewed by Debra Gantz

Summary: Amanda Cowan's illustrations will bring in the readers for this amazing book about eclipse scientists and how they accomplish the gathering of information to better understand eclipses. Ilima Loomis' 5 chapters filled with details about the planning and execution of eclipse studies over decades and chock full of absolutely breathtaking photo illustrations with captions and maps or sketches to break up the details of scientific study. 

Straight Talk for Librarians: The Scientist in the Field series is consistently so very good at engaging my students in what they could do in the field of their choice. There is so much diversity in this series and so many fields of science to discuss with eager young science lovers. I am very happy to add this one to my collection.

The Puppet's Payback and Other Chilling Tales written by Mary Downing Hahn and reviewed by Debra Gantz

Summary: These 10 short stories have something for every horror reader. The suspense, the triggers (dolls, ghosts), and the main characters' choices will reach those who like scary stories. Some of them are rooted in irresistibly eerie situations: the undead, hide and seek in cemeteries after midnight, and witches. This book is for those who like to write scary stories to get some great ideas from Hahn's afterward and for those who really don't want to be terrified, but like suspenseful stories. Most of these characters live through these stories which made it better for more of my students. 

Straight Talk for Librarians: My students say they love scary books. They always ask for more. (I fear they are not truthful when they swear they don't get scared. I bet parents will tell me a different tale.) I use reviews to add horror to my libraries as the genre it is not my jam. I had not seen this one before and though I despise being scared, I thought a short story collection was more attainable for me. I am glad I did. This is a great addition to a school collection in elementary or middle schools. Mary Downing Hahn is a consistent writer of horror for kids. I like that in this collection of short stories, she also adds a bit about why she got into this line of work.

The Frog Book written and illustrated by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page, reviewed by Klaudia Janek

Summary: The Frog Book offers an engaging exploration of various frog species through vibrant illustrations and intriguing facts. It introduces readers to the unique characteristics, habitats, life cycles, and behaviors of frogs, including the alarming fact that many species are endangered. Organized into sub-topics like "What is a frog?" and "Finding a mate," the book invites curiosity and wonder. A table at the end provides additional information about the frogs discussed, making it a valuable resource for young learners. With its combination of art and science, this book captivates readers while educating them about the fascinating world of frogs. 

Straight Talk for Librarians: The Frog Book is a great book to fit into a variety of library programming. It is a good book for themed storytime sessions, focusing on environmental awareness and biodiversity. Interactive activities such as scavenger hunts can help students find specific information within the text, enhancing their research skills. Additionally, librarians can encourage students to create KWL charts to track their prior knowledge and new learnings about frogs. This book can also serve as a springboard for informational writing projects, allowing students to delve deeper into their favorite frog species and present their findings creatively. Overall, it’s an excellent book for fostering curiosity and learning about nature.

Dear Dumb Diary (Deluxe) #19 Dumbness is a Dish Best Served Cold written by Jim Benton

Summary: Jamie Kelly returns in this super-deluxe, full-color edition of the "Dear Dumb Diary" series, bringing her trademark humor and quirky observations to life at Mackerel Middle School. In this installment, Jamie, along with her friends Isabella and Angeline, embarks on a mission to make money through a food-related venture. Despite their initial struggles with ideas like smart nutrition plates, they eventually strike gold with a unique salad dressing that captures attention and earns them some cash. The book is filled with Jamie's hilarious thoughts, colorful illustrations, and relatable middle school drama, including themes of friendship, financial awareness, and overcoming challenges. 

Straight Talk for Librarians: Middle school students will enjoy this book for its humor, engaging illustrations, and the relatable antics of Jamie and her friends. The lighthearted narrative tackles real-life issues, such as financial struggles and the importance of creativity in problem-solving, making it both entertaining and educational. The diary-style chapters, though presented in a novel format, maintain a fun and easy-to-read flow, appealing to fans of similar series like "Dork Diaries" or "Diary of a Wimpy Kid." The vibrant illustrations enhance the storytelling experience, capturing the attention of young readers. Overall, Jamie's adventures and her humorous take on middle school life resonate with students aged 10 and up, encouraging them to embrace their own challenges with laughter and creativity.

Everything Awesome About Space and Other Galactic Facts! written by Mike Lowery, reviewed by Debra Gantz

Summary: If your students like facts about space, jokes about space, and learning in a very visual way this book is for them. Each brightly colored page with a comic book feel offers all of the above items. Teachers will still have the non-fiction book parts of Table of Contents and Fact Boxes to showcase, but the delivery in this book is geared toward the readers in a delightfully appealing way that is like none other in my collection. Lowery also includes drawing guides as one of his chapters. 

Straight Talk for Librarians: This series is so visually appealing that many of my students want to read them all. (I have not bought them all yet, but I will!) From reading this series I have added some graphic novels by Mike Lowery to my library collection. I have added Everything Awesome about Sharks already and plan to add Everything Awesome about Dinosaurs in both of my elementary schools.

Animals by the Numbers: A Book of Infographics written by Steve Jenkins, reviewed by Klaudia Janek

Summary: "Animals by the Numbers: A Book on Animal Infographics" by Steve Jenkins is an engaging illustrated nonfiction book that combines captivating visuals with fascinating zoological facts. The book explores numerous questions about animals, such as their species diversity, collective weight, and travel distances. Using his distinctive cut-paper illustrations and computer graphics, Jenkins presents an array of statistical data in an accessible format, making complex information easy to understand for older children. The book covers various aspects of animal life, including weight comparisons, speed, extinction rates, and migration distances, illustrating the significance of numbers in understanding biology and zoology. 

Straight Talk for Librarians: This is a great non-fiction book. This exposure encourages independent reading and enhances students' comfort with diverse texts. Additionally, librarians can collaborate with teachers to use the book as a reference for animal research projects. Students can select an animal to study and present their findings using data and infographics similar to those in Jenkins' book. This approach not only enriches their research skills but also incorporates math and science concepts through graphical representation. By providing students with engaging resources like this book, librarians can foster a deeper interest in animals and data interpretation while supporting interdisciplinary learning.

Baby Monkey, Private Eye written by Brian Selznick and David Serlin, reviewed by Debra Gantz

Summary: This chapter book for all ages has bold black text and a hilarious main character working as a private detective. (Baby Monkey, Private Eye will be as endearing for adults who may notice the nods to films of years past in the illustrations.) Baby Monkey will search for clues, eat a snack, take notes, and solve the case. (Take careful note of the paintings and newspapers in the illustrations for more connections.) So, in short this is a picture book read aloud in the form of an early chapter book. (Don't miss the back matter, if you book talk this one.) Selznick and David Serlin have created a masterpiece in this sweet and funny book. Teachers who need to teach mystery books really need to consider this one. Librarians who teach back matter in their books will have much to discuss with the index and bibliography after the story. Even art teachers will find joy in the paintings on the wall and how they connect to each story. This book is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for all libraries! (I read this one before I received this book to review and have hoped for a sequel from this pair ever since.) 

Straight Talk for Librarians: This may be the single hardest book to place in a school collection. I put it in chapter books with a label that alerts my readers that it has more white space and picture support. I could see some choosing picture book locations, especially if they want parents to see this charming and unique book. It is possible we will continue to have this confusion with Brian Selznick as he continues to push the definition of picture book and chapter book to extremes. (To my great joy!)

The 39 Clues: Doublecross #3 Mission Hurricane written by Jenny Goebel, reviewed by Debra Gantz

Summary: It has been a while since I read one of the 39 Clues books, but I had a class last year asking for more. I am receiving this book for an honest review. Mission Hurricane is in the Doublecross series. This one is where the kids figure out that there are two needs to solve the next mystery. One is to get a clue from a facility in one of the tallest mountains in the world and the other is to save a town that is likely to have a flood. Figuring out which town and how the hurricane will be triggered since there were no weather events predicted. Splitting up meant less manpower at each location, but the decision was best to stop a tragedy and to put together the clues needed to make the right choices along the way. The series in gripping, the characters are very relatable, and there is enough history within the text that i did not feel lost though I have not read the first two books in the Doublecross series. I have been most impressed with this series, each book written by different authors, and remaining consistently incredible. Studying setting, characters, and vocabulary building would be done easily for upper elementary and middle school teachers with this series and specifically with this book! I highly recommend this series and I hope my students will agree. 

Straight Talk for Librarians: It is often hard to find complex stories for elementary students who read well and want more from their books. I especially like recommending this series as there are some big name authors my students know and the series is long and consistently well done! I feel strongly that this series of books has helped me keep some of my higher reading students satisfied since the first group of books in 2008.

Boxcar Children: Legend of the Irish Castle by Gertrude Werner and reviewed by Debra Gantz

Summary: On a trip to Ireland, the Alden family stays at Duncarraig Castle near Dublin. Since they all love legends, they are very excited about this trip and the exploring they will get to do there. On the first night they head to bed early as they have not yet adapted to the time zone change. Benny awakens to a noise and when he and his siblings look out the window they see what may be a banshee, just like the legend they were reading earlier. The next day they notice that one of the staff, a caretaker, seems especially grumpy about the family visiting the castle. Then a book Jessie was reading disappears and the Alden family has a mystery to solve, a lost book and a shadowy figure in the night! 

Straight Talk for Librarians: Gertrude Chandler Warner created this series to provide simpler mysteries for her students. This book is much like the ones written by Warner and continue to provide shorter mysteries for young chapter book readers. My students in 2nd - 4th still like these mysteries and since we study the genre, they circulate every year. I very much appreciated the back matter in this book about Ireland, Irish Food, and St. Patrick's Day.