Marvelous Middle Grade Monday - Horton Halfpott

Author: Tom Angleberger
Publisher: Amulet Books (May 1, 2011)
Audience: Ages 9 to 12
Source: ARC from Midwinter ALA
Mystery * Humor

Description from GoodReads:
Tom Angleberger's latest, loopiest middle-grade novel begins when M'Lady Luggertuck loosens her corset (it's never been loosened before!), thereby setting off a chain of events in which all the strict rules of Smugwick Manor are abandoned. When, as a result of "the Loosening," the precious family heirloom, the Luggertuck Lump (quite literally a lump), goes missing, the Luggertucks look for someone to blame. Is it Horton Halfpott, the good-natured but lowly kitchen boy who can't tell a lie? Or one of the many colorful cast members in this silly romp of a mystery.

I was excited to hear that Tom Angleberger, author of Origami Yoda, had a new middle grade book coming out, and then fortunate enough to snag an advanced reader's copy at ALA Midwinter.  After finishing it, within days of picking it up, the book was already making the rounds starting with my niece and then select students at school.  The verdict - one very funny book.  Horton Halfpott: Or, the Fiendish Mystery of Smugwick Manor; or, The Loosening of M'Lady Luggertuck's Corset or just Horton Halfpott, as I call it, is part Dickens, part Victorian mystery, and part Fractured Fairy Tales.  (For those of you too young to remember these cartoons, YouTube has a number of them.  Click here to watch one.) 

One morning, M'Lady Luggertuck's Corset is loosened unleashing a series of events around the Luggertuck's estate (Smugwick Manor).  Readers quickly learn that the Lord and Lady of Smugwick Manor are very unpleasant and their son Luther is quite spoiled.  There is no mistake about this.  When items go missing, the Luggertucks hire Portnoy St. Pomfrey to get to the bottom of it all.  As in most Victorian mysteries, things aren't always as they seem.  Is St. Pomfrey really such an amazing detective or just taking advantage of free food and housing?  Is the Luggertuck's lump really such a fabulous diamond?  Is Horton truly just a lowly kitchen boy who cannot lie?  Will Celia Sylvan-Smythe marry the conniving Luther, or his spineless cousin Montgomery, or will some other boy catch her eye?  And what does a gang of pirates have to do with this whole story?

Angleberger does a masterful job at getting the voice just right which is critical to the success of the story.  The short chapters, colorful characters, goofy antics, play on words, and twists and turns will engage readers.  The narrator reveals just enough information where the reader feels like s/he is in the know but not so much as to spoil the surprises.  Additionally, the book appears to appeal to both female and male readers.  It has been fun to see that both girl and boy readers sharing how much they have enjoyed the story too. 

Though vastly different from Origami Yoda, Horton Halfpott continues to show Angleberger's skill with writing humor and quirky characters.  Fortunately fans of Angleberger's won't have long to wait for another book, Darth Paper Strikes Back coming out in September 2011.   

For more information about Horton Halfpott, check out the official website.  I picked up a final copy recently (yes, it was spotted in the wild three weeks before the release date) and the windows on the front cover actually glows in the dark!

For more information about author Tom Angleberger, check out the following websites:  Berger & Burger or The Strange Case of Origami Yoda.

You can also follow Tom Angleberger on Twitter: @origamiyoda

* Marvelous Middle Grade Mondays were started by Shannon over at Ramblings of a Wannabe Scribe. You can check out her Marvelous Middle Grade Monday choice and Giveaway Post here.

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday - Squish #1: Super Amoeba

Authors/Illustrators:  Jenni Holm & Matt Holm
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers (release May 10, 2011)
Audience:  Ages 9 to 12
Source: Advanced Reader Copy from ALA Midwinter 2011
Graphic Novel * Humor

Description from GoodReads:
Introducing SQUISH—a new graphic novel series about a comic book-loving, twinkie-eating grade school AMOEBA trying to find his place in the world (or at least trying to make it through a school day). Inspired by his favorite comic book hero, SUPER AMOEBA!, Squish has to navigate school (bullies! detention! Principal Planaria!), family (dad: Hates to wear a tie. Secretly listens to heavy metal in the car), and friends (Peggy-rainbows! happy all the time! and Pod . . . who's . . . well, you just have to meet him). Can Squish save the world—and his friends—from the forces of evil lurking in the hallways? Find out in Squish: Super Amoeba—saving the world, one cell at a time!

As a big fan of the Babymouse series by sister and brother team, Jenni & Matt Holm, I was very excited to see that they had a new series.  It was probably one of the first books I read out of the pile of ARC's that I picked up from ALA Midwinter 2011 back in January.  Though I held off my review until now, that hasn't meant that I haven't been sharing my love for Squish with students and booksellers that I know.  

Similar to Babymouse, Squish primarily takes place in a school setting.  Of course there are the daily challenges that he must navigate around and figure out how to survive.   Those pesky challenges include lunch options (which I found interesting considering the book is about a one-celled organism), a tendency to daydream in class, avoiding detention, dealing with bullies, and Principal Planaria.  Squish has a couple of good friends, and supportive parents.  The combination of characters led by the day-dreaming Squish is entertaining and filled with a lot of laughs.  The format and illustrations are reminiscent of Babymouse.   Also, where as some boys might avoid the very pinkness of Babymouse, Squish's color theme is bold and fluorescent.  

Since I brought my copy of Squish to school, it has been passed around and around.  I am not even sure what child has it anymore and I mean this in a good way.  It moves from one child to the next without ever spending too much time back with me.  I am excited to know that Squish #2: Brave New Pond will be out at the end of September.  

My niece wrote up a shelf-talker for Squish for our local Indie Bookstore.  Here is what she wrote on her shelf-talker:

"The book is very funny, and it is a lot about school.  Squish (the amoeba) is smart, but daydreams a lot.  He has 2 best friends.  In the book, Squish has to stand up to a bully.  The book shows that you can talk to your parents about school.  I liked the way the authors ended it.  Read and enjoy!" - Jackie, age 10

Below is the book trailer for Squish, watch and enjoy -



For where to find the creators of Squish:

Jennifer Holm's Webpage:
http://www.jenniferholm.com/

Matt Holm's Webpage:
http://www.matthewholm.net/ 

On Twitter:
Matt Holm can be found @mattholm
Jennifer Holm can be found @jenniholm


* Marvelous Middle Grade Mondays were started by Shannon over at Ramblings of a Wannabe Scribe. You can check out her Marvelous Middle Grade Monday choice and Giveaway Post here.

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: The Fourth Stall

Author:  Chris Rylander
Publisher:  Walden Pond Press (February 8, 2011)
Audience:  Ages 10 to 13 years
Source:  Copy for Review 
Fiction * Mystery 

Description from GoodReads:
Chris Rylander delivers a funny Ferris Bueler-style middle grade novel with The Fourth Stall.

Do you need something? Mac can get it for you. It's what he does—he and his best friend and business manager, Vince. Their methods might sometimes run afoul of the law, or at least the school code of conduct, but if you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can pay him, Mac is on your side. His office is located in the East Wing boys' bathroom, fourth stall from the high window. And business is booming.

Or at least it was, until one particular Monday. It starts with a third grader in need of protection. And before this ordeal is over, it's going to involve a legendary high school crime boss named Staples, an intramural gambling ring, a graffiti ninja, the nine most dangerous bullies in school, and the first Chicago Cubs World Series game in almost seventy years. And that's just the beginning. Mac and Vince soon realize that the trouble with solving everyone else's problems is that there's no one left to solve yours .

Every once in awhile, I pick up a book and I am really struck by the writing.  I need to admit this doesn't happen to me a lot.  I may like or enjoy a lot of books, but there are fewer books that make me envious.  This happened to me as I read through Chris Rylander's debut novel The Fourth Stall about two sixth graders who run a business out of a bathroom in the east wing of their school.  Mac, along with his best friend and business partner, Vince, help other students with their problems - for a price.  Business is booming until one day trouble arrives in the form of a 8 year old bookie who wants out but his "employer" has other ideas.  Can Mac and Vince help Fred and still maintain their business and friendship? 

Rylander has created a story for Middle Graders that is part Godfather and part Film Noir with some humor thrown in for good measure.  And he is successful.  Rylander has nailed the essential tropes that fans of Noir expect but not in a way that seems trite.  With a cast of well-developed supporting characters, and just enough twists and turns, both children and adult readers will find themselves eagerly flipping pages to discover how Mac is going to solve this problem. And of course, when you arrive at the end of the book, you will want to find out what further trouble Mac & the gang will face.  (Glad to hear that there will/should be a sequel.)

In addition to a well-written story, a great cast of characters, and humor, Rylander has managed to capture boys and male friendship in his book.  Mac and Vince have been friends since kindergarten.  There is certainly a strong bond between them, but what happens when certain things arise that seeks to threaten that relationship?


For as much as I love this book, the educator in me feels the need to voice one word of caution - because of the style, there is some violence (kids do get roughed up) and some questionable behaviors (most principals/teachers will frown on a business being run on campus by students) on the part of Mac and his buddies.  However, when I find a story I love, and want to share it with students, I remind them that we need to "respect the story" and that "I trust that the antics such as the ones from the book won't be re-enacted out on the playground".   Most children are then able to sort through acceptable behaviors to behaviors written to make the story more exciting. 

Overall, I love this initial offering from Rylander, and I am very excited to see how his work develops and grows in the future. 



To check out The Fourth Stall Blog Tour Week 2, head on over to the Walden Pond Press blog here. 


For more information on Chris Rylander, check out his website here. 


Thanks to Kellie and Walden Pond Press, I have a hardcover copy of The Fourth Stall by Chris Rylander to giveaway.  This contest is open to readers in the U.S. or Canada only.  To enter to win, please complete the form below.

* Marvelous Middle Grade Mondays were started by Shannon over at Ramblings of a Wannabe Scribe. You can check out her Marvelous Middle Grade Monday choice and Giveaway Post here.

Rules for the Contest:

1. Please do not enter any personal information in the comments section, you must complete the Entry Form to officially enter the contest.  Comments with personal information will be deleted.
2.  The Contest runs from 12:00 a.m. PDT on April 11, 2011 to 11:59 p.m. PDT on April 18th.
3.  You DO NOT need to be a follower of this blog to enter.
4.  You must be 13 or older to participate in this contest.
5.  If you are selected as a winner, I will notify you by e-mail.  If you do not respond within 48 hours, I will select a new winner.
6.  Only US and Canadian participants may enter the contest.

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday - Zita The Spacegirl

Author/Illustrator:  Ben Hatke
Publisher: First Second (February 1, 2011)
Pages: 192
Ages: 9 to 12 years
Source: Personal Copy
Rating: Buy multiple copies - This one won't stay on the shelf for long.

Description from GoodReads:

Zita’s life took a cosmic left turn in the blink of  an eye.

When her best friend is abducted by an alien doomsday cult, Zita leaps to the rescue and finds herself a stranger on a strange planet. Humanoid chickens and neurotic robots are shocking enough as new experiences go, but Zita is even more surprised to find herself taking on the role of intergalactic hero. Before long, aliens in all shapes and sizes don’t even phase her. Neither do ancient prophecies, doomed planets, or even a friendly con man who takes a mysterious interest in Zita’s quest.

Zita the Spacegirl is a fun, captivating tale of friendship and redemption from Flight veteran Ben Hatke. It also has more whimsical, eye-catching, Miyazaki-esque monsters than you can shake a stick at.


When I first heard about Zita The Spacegirl, I knew I wanted to read it.  Then I made the connection that Ben Hatke had contributed to the Flight series, and I really wanted to read it.  Fortunately for me, my 10 year old niece wasn't home when it arrived or we would have had a tug of war over who got to read it first.  (Yeah, I know an adult fighting with a child about who gets to read a book first is kind of childish.  I assure you that I do let her win.) Once the book was in my hands, I sat down and devoured it immediately.  

Hatke's first foray into the world of full-length middle grade graphic novels is quite a success.  The story follows Zita and her friend, Joseph.  After an meteoroid hits the earth, Joseph is abducted into space and Zita follows to rescue him.  Confused and alone, Zita encounters a myriad of space creatures - some friendly and some not so friendly.  With the help of her new friends and some quick thinking, Zita finds herself in the role of hero.  However, being a hero usually means that a lot goes wrong first. 

Though the transitions felt a little clunky in the beginning, Hatke finds his groove and leaves the reader wanting more by the end.  Zita and her friends will delight middle grade readers and fans of Flight, Flight Explorer, or The Amulet Series will have a new series to clamor after.  Now if Ben Hatke and Kazu Kibuishi (The Amulet Series) can just keep alternating release dates of their graphic novels, I (and my niece and students) might just be able to wait for the next book.   

For more information about Zita and her creator, Ben Hatke, check out his website here. 

To read an excerpt from Zita The Spacegirl, click here.

Check out the Official Book Trailer below:

* Marvelous Middle Grade Mondays were started by Shannon over at Ramblings of a Wannabe Scribe. You can check out her Marvelous Middle Grade Monday choice and Giveaway Post here.

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday - The Trouble With Chickens (A J.J. Tully Mystery)

Author: Doreen Cronin
Illustrator: Kevin Cornell
Publisher: Balzer & Bray (Harper Collins)
Release Date: March 1, 2011
Pages: 128
Ages: 7 to 10 years
Source: ARC from ALA Midwinter
Rating: Buy multiple copies...1 won't be enough for your school or library.

Description from GoodReads:
J.J. Tully is a former search-and-rescue dog who is trying to enjoy his retirement after years of performing daring missions saving lives. So he’s not terribly impressed when two chicks named Dirt and Sugar (who look like popcorn on legs), along with their chicken mom, show up demanding his help to track down their missing siblings. Driven by the promise of a cheeseburger, J.J. begins to track down clues. Is Vince the Funnel hiding something? Are there dark forces at work—or is J.J. not smelling the evidence that’s right in front of him?

Doreen Cronin is well known for her numerous picture books - Click, Clack, Moo; Duck for President; Rescue Bunnies; and The Diary of a Fly are just a few of her titles.  With The Trouble With Chickens, Cronin is making a leap into the world of chapter books or what I might refer to as early Middle Grade.  Though the book's marketing page indicates that the book is for Grades 3 to 7 (or ages 8 to 12), I would suggest that the book will appeal the most to children 7 to 10.  This actually excites me because where I can find numerous books that are perfect for children 9 to 12 there seems to be a void of excellent stories geared for that more diverse range of reading abilities that you may find in younger children.  However, I believe Cronin has nailed it with The Trouble With Chickens, and with a subtitle of "A J.J. Tully Mystery" I am hoping that it means there will be future books with J. J. 


In The Trouble With Chickens, Cronin has developed a story around a former search and rescue dog named J.J.  who is currently in retirement and living on a farm.  J.J. is not particularly happy about this and even less happy when a "crazy chicken" named Millicent or whom he nicknames Moosh appears in his dog house.  Adults familiar with the 1940's-1950's film noir style and format will immediately pick up on the similarities between the book and a Philip Marlowe/Humphrey Bogart movie. Children may miss the style reference but they will enjoy the banter between J.J. and the chickens and J.J.'s narrations.  The story has great dialogue, humor, wonderful characters, and even a villain in Vince the Funnel, the dog living in the big house.  The sense of mystery and the fact that not everything is always as it seems lends just enough twists to keep children guessing as to what will happen to J.J. and the chickens.


Kevin Cornell's playful illustrations add a great touch to the book and bring the characters to life in a new way. 


I'm excited to have this book to share with students.  I already know that I will have a list of children waiting in line to check it out.  


For more information about Doreen Cronin, check out her website here.  For more information about illustrator, Kevin Cornell, check out his work here. 

Below is the official booktrailer for the book.  Listen to Doreen speak in detail about the film noir aspect of the book.

* Marvelous Middle Grade Mondays were started by Shannon over at Ramblings of a Wannabe Scribe. You can check out her Marvelous Middle Grade Monday choice and Giveaway Post here.