Gertie Milk & the Keeper of Lost Things by Simon Van Booy

Recommended for fans of adventure, science fiction, and fantasy

I happened upon this title while browsing in a bookstore.  Having never heard of the author or the title, I was immediately drawn in by the cover.  After reading the blurb, I was more than intrigued.

What a wonderful tale Simon Van Booy has created!

When Gertie Milk wakes up on the shore of the island of Skuldark, she doesn't remember anything about herself.  She soon discovers that she is the next chosen Keeper of Lost Things.  Along with the help of Kolt, a fellow keeper, Gertie is off on one adventure after another to return important artifacts in history to those who have lost them.  

Trying to stand in their way are the Losers who are trying to destroy all that Gertie and Kolt must accomplish.  In an unexpected twist, Gertie discovers something about herself that she never imagined and is forced to decide upon which side her loyalty lies.

Usually when I get to the end of a book and realize there could be a sequel, I am disappointed because I like good strong endings where everything is neatly resolved. That is not the case here, however.  I am so, so delighted that Van Booy left this open for a possible sequel.

One of the most clever stories I have ever read!   Congratulations, Simon Van Booy!  Now, when can we expect a sequel?!?!

Race to the Bottom of the Sea by Lindsay Eagar

Recommended for readers who enjoy adventure, mystery, pirates, and strong characters

I first fell in love with Lindsay Eagar's writing when she released Hour of the Bees.  I was so blown away by the depth of her characters that I found myself thinking of them way beyond the pages of the book.  With Race to the Bottom of the Sea, Eagar has accomplished the same experience for the reader.

Fidelia Quail thrives working alongside her marine scientist parents; however, when her parents are killed in an accident that causes Fidelia to be overcome with both guilt and grief, she must find her new place and discover her new path.  

When Fidelia is kidnapped by the pirate Merrick the Monstrous, she is forced upon an adventure that just may help her work through her grief and guilt--if she can survive the danger.

This is a story of love, loss, regret, and triumph--a roller coaster of emotion that will leave the reader feeling exhilarated and thankful for the ride.

Lindsay Eagar--You are officially one of my faves.

Little Bigfoot, Big City by Jennifer Weiner

Little Bigfoot, Big City is the second novel in Jennifer Weiner's Littlest Bigfoot series.

It wasn't until I got to the end of The Littlest Bigfoot that I realized that it wasn't a stand alone novel.  I truly enjoyed the book, but I had my doubts about it being a series.  After reading this latest installment, I can honestly say that I should never have doubted the author's vision for the story.

Little Bigfoot, Big City continues the story of Alice Mayfair who has never felt that she belonged--not to her family, not with her peers, not anywhere...until she meets Millie, a tiny Bigfoot who shares Alice's feelings of not belonging.  Together, they form a friendship that will be tested by big dreams and big truths.  As Alice begins to learn more and more about who she really is, she learns that the truth also comes with danger, but she may not be as alone as she once thought she was.

I absolutely adore both Alice and Millie.  When the story ended with a cliffhanger, there were no doubts in my mind this time.  There was only the hope that Jennifer Weiner is a speedy writer!

By the way, I have a long list of students waiting for this book!

The Care and Feeding of a Pet Black Hole by Michelle Cuevas

Having just finished Confessions of an Imaginary Friend as a read aloud with my fourth grade class, I was so excited to read this new book by Michelle Cuevas.  I am even more excited now that I have finished reading it because I will be adding it to my read alouds for the the second half of the school year.

When a black hole follows Stella Rodriguez home from NASA one day, Stella soon realizes that the black hole is a great way to get rid of any items she doesn't want in her life or any memories that are too painful to remember.  When the black hole consumes more than Stella is ready to give up, Stella must embark upon an adventure that will teach her about love, family, loss, time, patience, and healing.

Told with humor, sensitivity, and honesty, this story touched my  heart.  I laughed, cried, and,  sometimes, did both simultaneously.  

As a side note, when I read the last pages of  Confessions of an Imaginary Friend to my class, I had students with tears flowing beautifully down their cheeks and a few boys who even excused themselves to shed their tears privately in the restroom.  It was an experience that brought us all closer together--I know this book will do the same for our classroom.

Thank you,  Michelle Cuevas, for writing beautiful stories.

Keeper of the Lost Cities (Books 1-6) by Shannon Messenger

Recommended for fans of Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings

With over 2,000 books in my classroom library, I consider myself to stay pretty current on middle grade titles.  I am always on social media and in book stores looking for books to add to my collection and/or books with specific students in mind.  I read a minimum of five books a week.  I KNOW BOOKS!  With that being said, I am not sure how this series was not known to me until a few months ago.

While conferring with one of my students, he asked me if I had ever read Keeper of the Lost Cities.  I told him that I had never read or even heard of it.  He assured me that it is a GREAT book, we finished our conference, and I continued on with my day.  Later in the afternoon on the same day, a former student who is now in middle school stopped by to visit me.  During our conversation, she mentioned a series that she was reading that she thought I would really enjoy.  Can you guess what that series was???  Keeper of the Lost Cities!  With it being mentioned to me two times in the same day, I knew I had to read it.  I immediately ordered the first book, read it, and ordered the rest of the series.

Now that I have finished the first six books, I feel compelled to tell everyone I know about this series (including our school librarian who had also not heard of it).  Shannon Messenger has created a world of elves, goblins, trolls, and almost every other magical creature of which you can think.  With a plot that dips, curves, loops, and never fails to surprise, readers are taken on an adventure of epic proportions.  The cast of  characters is large; however, they are all written with depth, humor, and courage. 

The only complaint I have is that Ms. Messenger seems to end each book with a cliffhanger that is literally a CLIFFHANGER.  Some of us can't deal with that kind of stress!

The Song from Somewhere Else by A.F. Harrold

I don't do scary or creepy--my students know this about me, so they know a book must be amazing for me to step into that world.  I read The Imaginary by A.F. Harrold last year.  I described it as what would happen if Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate and The Nest by Kenneth Oppel had a baby. As much as it completely creeped me out, it also pulled me into a world of magic, mystery, and terror.  The Song from Somewhere Else did the exact same thing for me.

Frank is used to being bullied by the group of neighborhood boys, but it can only make matters worse when the school weirdo, Nick, rescues her from them.  This rescue leads to a friendship unlike anything Frank and Nick have experienced.  While visiting Nick's house, Frank uncovers magical secrets that Nick has never shared with anyone.  Secrets that, while wondrous, are also very dangerous.  When the secrets get out, the tables are reversed, and it is up to Frank to figure out how to help save Nick, his family, and possibly the world.

While A.F. Harrold is an amazing storyteller, the illustrations by Levi Pinfold definitely play a huge role in setting the tone for this story.  One of A.F. Harrold's strengths is partnering with illustrators who truly understand his stories, as apparent in both The Imaginary and The Song from Somewhere Else.