Haphaven by Norm Harper

Title: Haphaven
Author: Norm Harper
Illustrator: Louie Joyce
Genre: Graphic Novel, YA
Publisher: Lion Forge
Date: March 19, 2019
Length: 160 pages

Review copy from NetGalley

Ever-superstitious Alex Mills will do anything to avoid a jinx. Picking up pennies, knocking on wood, collecting rabbit's feet . . . you name it. That is until she steps on a crack and it actually does break her mother's back. To save her mom, Alex must follow Hubbub Caskside, a trusty leprechaun, on a journey through the end of a rainbow to Haphaven, the world where all of Earth's superstitions draw their power.
All she needs is a rabbit's foot to save her mom, but she soon discovers the lucky article won't be so easy to retrieve. Not only is the rabbit's foot guarded by Haphaven's most formidable creature, the Jinx, there's also a forest full of trees that knock back if you don't knock on wood, people named Penny who do not like to be picked up, and a particularly vindictive black cat who will not be crossed.
As Alex finds herself desperately searching for a way to save her mom, she learns of a mysterious connection between her family's fate and the rulers of Haphaven. With her mother's life on the line and her own fate at stake, Alex must find the strength within herself to unlock the mystery and take back control of the superstitions that have controlled her life, even if it means crossing the Black Cat once and for all.

Description from NetGalley

Haphaven's cover caught my eye and I immediately clicked on it. This confident girl striding through the world ready for trouble and being shadowed by a monster was someone I wanted to read about. Turns out that she wasn't confident at all in the beginning, and I had totally missed that she was walking through a four leaf clover farm and towering over leprechauns. The plot couldn't really keep up with the pace of the story, but I laughed out loud a few times and my 9 year old was really into it.

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Leave a Comment 4.0, Children's Books, Graphic Novel, Middle Grades books

The Raft by S.A. Bodeen

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Title: The Raft
Author: S.A. Bodeen
Genre: Realistic Fiction, Survival Fiction, Action/Adventure
Publisher: Feiwel Friends
Date: August 21, 2012
Length: 231 pages

I ordered this book out for my school library

Robie is an experienced traveler. She's taken the flight from Honolulu to the Midway Atoll, a group of Pacific islands where her parents live, many times. When she has to get to Midway in a hurry after a visit with her aunt in Hawaii, she gets on the next cargo flight at the last minute. She knows the pilot, but on this flight, there's a new co-pilot named Max. All systems are go until a storm hits during the flight. The only passenger, Robie doesn't panic until the engine suddenly cuts out and Max shouts at her to put on a life jacket. They are over miles of Pacific Ocean. She sees Max struggle with a raft.
And then . . . she's in the water. Fighting for her life. Max pulls her onto the raft, and that's when the real terror begins. They have no water. Their only food is a bag of Skittles. There are sharks. There is an island. But there's no sign of help on the way.

Description from Goodreads

The challenge: demand for action adventure stories has increased BUT the stories cannot have any fantasy elements. At. All. Not everybody enjoys fantasy and I have a large group of reluctant readers who enjoy realistic adventure but need something faster paced to keep their interest. Do you know how hard it is to find an action/adventure book for the MG/YA crowd that does not have zombies, gods, or sorcerers? It's hard. The Raft is an older book but has remained a popular library pick since 2012.

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Leave a Comment 4.0, Action/Adventure, Middle Grades books, S.A. Bodeen, Young Adult

Dream Magic by Joshua Khan

Title: Dream Magic
Series: Shadow Magic, book 2
Author: Joshua Khan
Genre: Middle Grades, Fantasy
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Date: April 11, 2017
Length: x pages

This book was free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

A fabulously exciting sequel to the fantasy adventure SHADOW MAGIC. 
People throughout Gehenna are disappearing, even the feared executioner Tyburn. Many of the nobles believe the kidnappings to be the work of the northern trolls, raiding south for the winter, and when Baron Sable and others head off to fight them, Castle Gloom is left guarded by only the squires.
Lily is struggling with her growing necromantic powers. The castle fills with ghosts, drawn like moths to a flame by the brightness of her magic. Zombies roam the country, some left over from those raised in SHADOW MAGIC, others awakened by Lily. Families are troubled by the returning dead, so Lily tries to incorporate them into day-to-day life, much to the resentment of the living.
Then Lily is attacked in her own castle by a mysterious sorcerer known as Dreamweaver, a young man determined to conquer Gehenna using jewel-spiders, strange crystalline creatures whose bite doesn’t kill, but sends victims to sleep. Lily soon discovers that Dreamweaver is harvesting dreams to fuel his magic.
Lily enters the realm of sleep known as the Dream Time, in an attempt to awaken all the captive dreamers. Instead she finds herself trapped within a dream, one where her family is still alive. With the help of Thorn and the ever loyal Hades, she must somehow overcome the evil Dreamweaver by using his own magic against him – and reclaim her kingdom.

Description from Goodreads

The world of Dream Magic is like a junior version of Game of Thrones set in Halloween Town. Replace dragons with zombies and Lily would be Khaleesi fighting to save her kingdom with magic and possibly a political marriage.

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1 comment 4.0, Fantasy, Flights of Fantasy Reading Challenge, Joshua Khan, Middle Grades books

Come On In, America: The United States in World War I by Linda Barrett Osborne

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Title: Come On In, America: The United States in World War I
Author: Linda Barrett Osborne
Genre: Middle Grades Non Fiction, Military History
Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers
Date: March 14, 2017
Length: 176 pages

Free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

On April 6, 1917, the United States declared war on Germany and joined World War I. German submarine attacks on American ships in March 1917 were the overt motive for declaring war, but the underlying reasons were far more complex. Even after the United States officially joined, Americans were divided on whether they should be a part of it. Americans were told they were fighting a war for democracy, but with racial segregation rampant in the United States, new laws against dissent and espionage being passed, and bankers and industrial leaders gaining increased influence and power, what did democracy mean? Come On In, America explores not only how and why the UnitedStates joined World War I, but also the events—at home and overseas—that changed the course of American history.

Description from Goodreads

This book was great! Where was it in 2014 when all of my students were writing about WW1 because of the centenary? It's absolutely perfect for a school library, and a good pick for budding history buffs.

What I liked

Covers different aspects of the war: Barrett Osborne provides information regarding the front lines, the home front, the roles of women and African Americans, weapons used, whether or not the US was actually neutral, and much more. Information on propaganda was mixed throughout the book. I really like that it covers violations of civil rights and the impact of the Espionage and Sedition Acts. It's a fairly detailed overview of the war for a 176 page book.

Good attempt at showing the viewpoints of the different sides involved: By presenting the point of view of other countries, Barrett Osborne gives a balanced and well rounded history lesson for middle school readers.

African Americans and Women: While there is only one chapter for each of the these topics, they are not ignored through the rest of the book. It's always been difficult to find quality age appropriate material on African Americans and women's life/rights/roles during this time period.

Pictures & propaganda posters: While I wish that there were more propaganda posters included, this book does use some great images that help readers connect with the time period.

Rating: 5

This isn't a book that most families or kids will pick up for leisure reading, but it is an excellent book for libraries or teachers to pick up to support their curriculum. Middle Schoolers interested in military history, or this topic in general, will find this a great selection. I also recommend that any homeschooling family covering WW1get this book up from their local library. This is a great resource and tries to give a well rounded view of events and points of view in under 200 pages.

2 comments 5.0, History, Linda Barrett Osborne, Middle Grades books, Middle Grades Non Fiction, Non Fiction, Review, Young Adult

Undefeated: Jim Thorpe and the Carlisle Indian School Football Team by Steve Sheinkin

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Title: Undefeated: Jim Thorpe and the Carlisle Indian School Football Team

Author: Steve Sheinkin

Publisher: Roaring Book Press

Date: January 17, 2017

Length: 288 pages

Genre: Non Fiction, Sports

I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Jim Thorpe: Super athlete, Olympic gold medalist, Native American
Pop Warner: Indomitable coach, football mastermind, Ivy League grad 

Before these men became legends, they met in 1907 at the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Pennsylvania, where they forged one of the winningest teams in American football history. Called "the team that invented football," they took on the best opponents of their day, defeating much more privileged schools such as Harvard and the Army in a series of breathtakingly close calls, genius plays, and bone-crushing hard work. 

This is an astonishing underdog sports story—and more. It’s an unflinching look at the U.S. government’s violent persecution of Native Americans and the school that was designed to erase Indian cultures. Expertly told by nonfiction powerhouse author Steve Sheinkin, it’s the story of a group of young men who came together at that school, the overwhelming obstacles they faced both on and off the field, and their absolute refusal to accept defeat.

Description from NetGalley

I am not a football fan, but this underdog story sucked me in with its mix of great sports writing, painful history, and the indomitable spirit of the Carlisle Indian School players. The game sequences were well written and the history and social issues facing the students (and all Native Americans) were clearly explained. With humor thrown in at appropriate times, Sheinkin has written an engaging story that will appeal to readers who enjoy sports, history, or non fiction books in general. This is also a great option for reluctant readers if you can get them past the intimidating page length.

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Leave a Comment 5.0, Biographies, History, Middle Grades books, Middle Grades Non Fiction, Non Fiction, Review, Sports, Steve Sheinkin