Twelve-year-old Alex is grieving for his father and finding it hard to fit in to the town of Orchard, Maine, where his mom moved the two of them after his dad’s accident. The one piece of furniture that feels like home to him is his dad’s old desk, where he kept his magician’s tools. But when Alex finds a hidden deck of magical cards, he learns unexpected things about his dad and himself.
Misadventures of a Magician’s Son by Laurie Smollett Kutscera is a story that delves into issues of grief, friendship, self-confidence, and more. Alex must figure out who to trust in his new environment, and how to honor his father’s legacy while being true to himself. I recommend it as a fun read for ages 9 to 12.
The publisher provided me with a copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.
Hank knows that different is not less. It’s
one of the things his parents taught him to help him get through moments when
it’s clear that he’s different than his classmates. Like when he set fire to a
book because it made him sad. Or how he still likes to play games that his
friends lost interest in. Or how his feelings bubble up and make him feel anxious
when he doesn’t know how to handle social situations.
When his classmate Maisie wants to be his
friend, at first Hank is happy. Then he feels she is just using him to save Booler,
the dog next door, from being tied up all the time. After the two of them forge
a true friendship, they decide on a plan that will make them heroes, just like
the words in their favorite David Bowie song.
We Could Be Heroes by Margaret Finnegan is a sweet story about
two kids who think of themselves as misfits, Hank because he has autism, and
Maisie because of a condition that’s revealed later in the book. They are both
lonely, and they want to help Booler because they perceive him to be similar to
them in many ways. Through their time spent together, they learn a lot about
themselves and each other, and they grow in the way they see the world around
them.
We Could Be Heroes is a great story for anyone who has ever
felt misunderstood or at a loss to understand the right thing to do in
confusing situations, which is most of us. I highly recommend it for
mother-daughter book clubs and readers aged 9 to 13.
Here’s a little bit of info about the
author if you’d like to find out more:
Margaret Finnegan’s work has appeared in FamilyFun, the Los Angeles Times, Salon, and other publications. She lives in South Pasadena, California, where she enjoys spending time with her family, walking her dog, and baking really good chocolate cakes. Connect with her at MargaretFinnegan.com.
The Stars We Steal by Alexa Donne is set during a time in the future, long after another ice age has made Earth uninhabitable. Princess Leonie lives on a spaceship with her family, hanging onto their fading fortunes and doing her best to avoid an arranged marriage to boost their finances. They are part of a society created when humans had to flee Earth, and they are trying to survive and thrive until the time comes when they may be able to return. But there are complications.
Leo still pines for Elliot, a rejected
suitor from the past whom she still loves, although she knows he’s keeping
secrets from her. And she has to juggle her father’s decline since her mother’s
death, her sister’s love of an unsuitable man, and a controlling aunt who wants
to manipulate them all. The story feels in many ways like a futuristic
adaptation of Jane Austen’s Persuasion, with its rejected love,
family agendas, and proscribed expectations.
The Stars We Steal is fun to read and will keep readers entertained until the last page. I highly recommend it for ages 14 and up.
The publisher
provided me with a copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.
Twelve-year-old Rory and his mom have
trouble making ends meet even though she has two jobs. So when he gets the
chance to work at a mansion for the reclusive Lord Foxglove he takes it. But
there’s something strange going on in Foxglove Manor, something sinister that
Rory will need to discover before it endangers everyone in his seaside village.
Gloom Town by Ronald L. Smith is a mystery with a delightful touch of creepiness. Despite his fears, Rory braves through strange happenings along with the help of his friend, Isabella, a girl who tells fortunes and has special powers she’s only just figuring out. As the two get deeper into solving the mystery, they elude danger, fight off unusual creatures, and make a discovery that changes Rory’s life forever.
I recommend Gloom Town for readers aged 9 to 13.
The publisher
provided me with a copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.
Zatanna would love to be a magician, like her dad. Then maybe things wouldn’t be so difficult with the kids at school, who don’t think she’s cool enough to hang around with. One fateful day several things happen in a row: Zatanna gets mad at some boys being mean to her and turns their skin red; her dad disappears; a Witch Queen appears; and suddenly Zatanna is not sure at all about who has powers and who doesn’t.
Zatanna and the House of Secrets by Matthew Cody and Yoshi Yoshitani is a
graphic novel full of twists and turns and adventure. Once Zatanna discovers a
strange set of circumstances, she has to figure out how to solve the dangers
coming her way if she wants to save her dad. She also makes a discovery about
her long-dead mom, the mystery of the house where she lives, and finds an unexpected
ally. The graphics are appealing and fun to look at and the story moves along
at a fast clip. I recommend it for readers aged 9 to 13.
The publisher
provided me with a copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.
Before she became Wonder Woman, Diana was a
young princess on her hidden isle, longing for someone to play with. Her mother
and the other Amazons were always so busy training, that they didn’t have much
time to pay attention to her. So when she finds an unexpected playmate in a
piece of clay come to life, she can’t believe her luck…until her new friend
Mona leads her into serious trouble.
Diana: Princess of the Amazons is a graphic novel written by Shannon Hale
and Dean Hale and illustrated by Victoria Ying. It imagines what life for young
Diana would be like as an energetic and playful young Amazon who is also lonely
for a friend. It’s a cute story and sure to appeal to readers 9 to 13.
The publisher
provided me with a copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.
Up on Bob with words and pictures by Mary Sullivan
is a cute picture book that captures the relationship between a good-natured wiener
dog and the kitten that just won’t leave him alone.
Bob loves his nap. But before he can get to
sleep he’s got to create the perfect setting: a fluffed pillow, a scrunchy
comforter, and a sunny spot next to the window. Just when everything is
perfect, though, he feels Someone watching him. If he pretends to sleep, he reasons,
maybe Someone will go away. Instead, Someone pounces and begins to knead and
prod Bob until he’s the perfect setting for a nap.
Bob and Someone are adorable in the
emotions they show, their facial expressions, and their relationship with each
other. Anyone with a cat or dog or both or none will fall in love with this
cute duo.
The publisher
provided me with a copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.
Tai lives with his parents and grandmother
in the apartment above the family store, which seems to be getting vandalized
more and more often. Tai’s family thinks about selling out, to avoid the violence.
But a strange thing happens to Tai when his grandma dies. He ends up with her
green jade ring. He soon discovers he has inherited more than a ring when he
discovers special powers passed from his grandma to him, and that he is now
part of group of space cops called the Green Lanterns.
Green Lantern Legacy by Minh Lê and Andie Tong is a graphic novel with a young superhero learning about his special powers and the responsibility and danger that come with them. With the help of his two best friends and his new superhero mentor, he figures out how to recognize the bad guys and fight for what’s right.
Green Lantern Legacy is a fun read full of action; I recommend
it for ages 9 to 13.
The publisher
provided me with a copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.
