The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

 

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

4 Stars

Book 1 in this series 

This is a powerful story that uses a gentle voice of animals to explore captivity, friendship and small acts of kindness. This book is narrated by Ivan, who is a silverback gorilla who has spent most of his life in a shopping mall enclosure. He considers himself an artist and a survivor.....because his past is tragic with how the humans have treated him and the family he loved. 

Ivan becomes friends with a young elephant named Ruby and older one named Stella. Ruby starts to change what he thinks about where he is and their purpose. He is also friends with a stray dog named Bob that adds warmth and humor to the story. 

Ivan is thoughtful and he really carries the books. Ruby is young and the emotional presence of the book. Ivan is protective of her. Stella is also wise.

This book asks the reader to see the world through Ivan's eyes and to realize the importance of treating animals humanely and importantly. 

While this had some emotional, heartbreak moments of animal abuse, it will spark conversations about animal respect and how to be empathetic to those situations and the difference between right and wrong.

Content warnings: death of parent recounted, animal death, animal abuse explained 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8390987763
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4cPiLCh
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The Memory Stone by Bryan Davis

 The Memory Stone by Bryan Davis 
Book 2 in the Dragons of Camelot Series
3.5 Stars 

This continues Bryan's dragon-filled Christian fantasy series world with high stakes, fast-paced action and faith elements. Set in a medieval, King Arthur-inspired world, the story follows Sabina, Hawk, Merlin and their allies as fear spreads through the kingdom via a mysterious toxin poisoning the water supply. The use of portals, memory stone and dragons add such an adventure for this book, continuing right where we left off in book 1.

There is a lot to enjoy here, epic battles, suspenseful rescues, emphasis on good versus evil. I think a lot of teen readers would enjoy this and really, any of Bryan's books.

That said, I personally struggled to connect with this installment. I think it was the shifting perspectives and multiple characters, as that is something I seem to always struggle with. I was not as engaged as I was in book 1 for some reason but I still enjoyed the story and would recommend.

As I mentioned in my review of book 1, please be aware this is a fantasy story with Christian allegory but that it is important to discuss the elements of the story with your child so they are aware of the biblical aspects and what is real versus fantasy. I love how this blends fantasy and the Christian faith together but I think since it had parts with Hades and certain things with the afterlife, magical moments, Merlin etc., discernment from the parent is always warranted in these type of books, regardless of Christian allegory, just to be aware of what your child reads so you can have those biblical conversations if needed.

Overall, solid continuations and looking forward to more by Bryan. Thank you to the publisher for a complimentary gifted copy of the e-book to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8206748676
Amazon:  https://amzn.to/4jyHts5
Baker Book House:  https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/9798400504280_the-memory-stone

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The Prince Warriors by Pricilla Shirer

 The Prince Warriors by Pricilla Shirer
4 Stars
Book 1 in this Trilogy 

This is a very engaging, spiritually rich adventure that pulls young readers and even adults into a vivid unseen world with an epic action packed adventure. A great Christian fantasy.  

We follow Xavier and Evan with so many high stakes. The mysterious creature Ruwach introduces them to Ahoratos - the true realms where spiritual battles are fought.....the story goes on from here with these ordinary kids as Prince Warriors in battle. 

The message is clear. You have everything you need. God equips us with the armor and strength we need for the battles we face. The allegory in this had some great spiritual parallels. 

The worldbuilding was really good, enjoyed the pacing - very fast and included themes of courage, identity and faith woven into a very adventurous story. Definitely a page turner!  

I think if you like Narnia, Pilgrim's Progress...or stories like that, this would be for you!

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8070677847
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3X9n0zI

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Three Blue Hearts by Lynne Kelly

 

Three Blue Hearts by Lynne Kelly
4 Stars

This is a beautiful, heartfelt story about courage, empathy, and helping animals. I loved Song for a Whale and this was another great middle grade book by Lynne.

Max is our main character, a young 12 year old boy you will instantly connect with. He is trying to figure out who he is outside of his father's shadow. People always liked making plans or him when he was standing right there. His Dad wants him to play sports, but he doesn't have any interest in that. He has a lot of pressure put on him from his Dad. His parent split when he was 4 years old. His Mom is a high school history teacher and he goes to spend time with her at the beach during the summer. 

He finds an octopus with a missing arm and in need of help. He takes it upon himself to help it and finds purpose in doing so. 

We see themes of family pressure, friendship and self-discovery here as Max finds what he enjoys and is passionate about. 

If you like middle grade books with a heavy focus on animals, wildlife or the ocean, this is one to read! Would recommend, especially for 4th - 7th graders. No language or explicit content.

Thank you to the publisher for a copy to honestly read and review. All thoughts are my own.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7572178367
Amazon: https://amzn.to/47vDiss

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Dream by Barbara O'Connor

 

Dream by Barbara O'Connor

3.5 Stars rounding up to 4

I loved Wish by Barbara last year and was so excited to see the Dream audiobook available on NetGalley! Suzy Jackson does such a great job narrating. As a southern Tennessee gal, I love her accents for the characters and it feels like home. 

As a follow up to Wish, Dream follows Idalee Lovett, who lives in the small town of Colby, North Carolina. Idalee's Mama is going on tour for the summer with her cover band and Idalee works on her songwriting skills. There is a local radio songwriting contest and Idalee is determined to win with her songs. Idalee needs a new guitar and there is supposedly long-lost treasure for her and her friends to find hidden somewhere in their house from her late grandfather... the friends spend their time helping Idalee trying to find it, while sneaking around. 

We see Howard, Charlie and Wishbone from Wish helping out in this book - loved seeing them again. You can technically read this outside of reading Wish, but I think you best enjoy it after reading Wish.

I liked this one in general. We have quirky characters who rent out rooms in the house, great friendships, a sweet dog and a sweet ending. Wish is still my favorite, but this was a good companion. 

However, while I enjoyed the book, I wasn't a fan of a side character portrayed as a pet fortune teller/psychic with orange "aura". She acts kind of weird around pets pretending to be a pet fortune teller and the kiddos talk about her being convincing and think she really may be one. There is also a brief mention of tarot cards and general fortune tellers. It wasn't anything overboard, brief mentions, but I didn't love those parts. I also wish we had a bit more of Wishbone in the story as the cover indicates.

Loved her song and the ending, so very sweet.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for a complimentary copy of the audiobook to honestly read and review. All thoughts are my own.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7783105553
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4olbzBp

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

The Sacred Scales by Bryan Davis

The Sacred Scales by Bryan Davis
4 Stars
Book 1 in the Dragons Of Camelot Series

OK Y'ALL I need to read all of Bryan's books, this was so great! As a lover of middle grade books and stories such as Narnia, The Hobbit, LOTR....This reminded me of those type of epic stories! Perfect for middle school kiddos and really people of all ages because I had SO much fun reading this. The ending has me needing the next book ASAP too!

This is a Christian Fantasy with mentions of Jesus as their Lord and savior, praying to God and standing for truth but also has mixed in fantasy elements with Arthurian legends -- like Merlin, King Arthur, dragons...etc. It's a great opportunity to remind those reading it that while the faith in the story is real and powerful, the magical elements are just part of the make-believe world. I loved how Bryan tied all that together as he really invites you in to this fun fantasy world.

We follow Hawk and Sabina as they team up to protect dragons from a sinister plot that threatens their very existence. Lots of wild rides, escapes, riddles, twists - overall a good read with themes of faith, courage, the power of prayer and friendship.

I would recommend this for older middle school kids and up as there are themes of battles, some characters being burned, mentioned of death etc. 

🐉 Read If You Like:

• Dragons, danger, and daring rescues

• Faith-filled fantasy adventures

• Arthurian legends and dragon lore

• Stories about standing up for what’s right

• Action stories with strong Christian themes

Thank you to Tyndale Publishers for a copy of this book to honestly read and review. All thoughts are my own.

 
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7602185603
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4k61eGO
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/617741

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

 

Mary Anne Saves the Day by Ann M. Martin

Mary Anne Saves the Day by Ann M. Martin
Book #3 in the Baby Sitters Club Graphic Novel Series

5 Stars

This was great! A favorite. I love Mary Anne and Dawn being a new girl to the group. Love seeing Mary Anne step up to her Dad and let him know how she was feeling and the stuff the girls uncovered from her Dad and Dawn's mom - super sweet. The Baby-sitter club girls got into a huge fight so Mary Ann eats alone in the cafeteria and finds a new friend in Dawn.

Mary Anne's mama passing away when she was little and her father as a single father is a great layer that many kids could relate to. 

This is all about a shy girl who saves the day -- and shows kids how important it is to forgive, apologize and help others. We also saw an emergency arise and how the kids handled it was great.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7410440008
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3FBBOl1
*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Odder by Katherine Applegate

Odder by Katherine Applegate - 5 Stars
A Beautiful Middle Grade Story

From what I have understood, Katherine Applegate has a gift for writing emotionally compelling animal stories, and Odder is no exception. This was my first book by this author and I am looking forward to reading more. 

This is a beautiful book written in verse and it tells the story of a playful and curious sea otter who finds herself in a life-changing situation. This book is inspired by real-life otter rescue and rehabilitation efforts and she blends facts with a deeply moving story about survival, resilience, and the connection between humans and wildlife.

I think the verse format works well for this story because it keeps the story light with Odder's joyfulness but also delivers a powerful emotional story. This is a must-read for animal lovers and anyone who enjoys crafted storytelling with an important message.

 
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5385195840
Amazon:https://amzn.to/41pMkDj

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Aggie Morton Mystery Queen - Peril at Owl Park by Marthe Jocelyn

  Aggie Morton Mystery Queen - Peril at Owl Park by Marthe Jocelyn

3 Stars 
Second Book in the Aggie Morton Mystery Queen Series

This is a pretty fun middle grade series! This would be great for 12-13 year olds who enjoy mysteries, historical settings and smart, curious characters. While this is a very age-appropriate for middle grade readers, there are a few sentences or moments that might teeter the line for sensitive readers. Since it is a mystery, there are discussions of crimes, descriptions of blood, along with suspicions about characters and death. However, there is no graphic violence, nothing too scary in a horror sense and no inappropriate language or themes in my opinion. The tone stays light and adventurous, in line with classic detective stories like Nancy Drew. As with any book though, parents might want to read through this series a little first to see if it aligns with their comfort level for their child. 

All of that said, I have enjoyed being back with Aggie and Hector in another fun mystery. We have a charming historical setting, as always and classic mystery elements as you would in an Agatha Christie style mystery book. I do feel some of the pacing is a bit slow though for me and sometimes I found myself tuning out a little or not as engaged as I was in the first book.

In this installment, we are at Christmastime with our characters where a holiday gathering quickly turns for the worst when someone is found murdered in the library. It's one of the traveling actors there dressed in their pirate costume. We have people missing, jewel theft and lots of adventure. Aggie is 12 years old and goes to Owl Park, her sister Marjorie's new home. Hector, Aggie's friend, goes with her, along with Grannie Jane. We also see their cousin Lucy along with them. 

Overall, this series is atmospheric and has a cozy feel to it but I wasn't always connected as I wanted to be. Either way, I am looking forward to continuing it.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6294834862
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4i2Ehn5

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

A Wolf Called Wander by Rosanne Parry

A Wolf Called Wander by Rosanne Perry
Book 1 in the Voice in the Wilderness Series
but can be read as a standalone
🌟🌟🌟🌟

4 Stars

This middle grade is a beautifully written and deeply immersive survival story, following Swift, a young wolf, on his 1,000-mile journey through the wild after getting lost from his family pack. The book does a great job capturing the dangers and wonders of nature, from forest fires to hunters, and Swift’s resilience makes for an inspiring read. The fact that it’s based on a true story adds more depth.

I don't always connect with animal POVs but I really enjoyed Whale of the Wild by this author and wanted to try this one next! I think she does a great job pulling you in and making you feel like you are right there with the animal along the journey and what it might feel like in the animal's thoughts if you could see it.

This is a fantastic read for anyone who loves animal stories, survival adventures, or beautifully descriptive writing. 

I think my little boy would love this one day.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7317711044
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3XlHbuE

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchase from these links.

Wish by Barbara O'Conner

 

Wish by Barbara O'Conner 
5 Star Favorite

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

This book touched my heart in the best way. This is one of those rare stories that quietly sneaks into your heart and refuses to let go. Charlie is a character I won’t forget. We open the story with her sadness of longing for a family after her mother walked away from her when she was younger and her father is in jail, so she is living with her Aunt and Uncle - it's really like a foster situation from the child's POV. She has such longing for a family and to be home in Raleigh, NC and she is not happy to be alone, without her parents and older sister, in a "hillbilly small town". 

We see her navigate a new home, form an unlikely friendship with Howard (the sweetest boy!), and open her heart to a stray dog (beagle!) named Wishbone. Your heart breaks for her but you also see her growth and it's beautiful. She continues to make "wishes" along that way and where things end is not where she thinks...

I teared up a few times in this one! Her journey of realizing that love, family, and belonging don’t always look the way we expect hit RIGHT IN THE FEELS YALL! 

If you love stories about resilience, found family, and wishes that come true in unexpected ways, then Wish is a must-read. I’ll be thinking about this one for a long time. ❤️🐶✨

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7139639737
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4kkcJel

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

The Baby-Sitters Club Graphic Novel - Ann M. Martin

 

The Baby-Sitters Club Graphic Novel - Ann M. Martin - Book 1 (4 Stars)

What a fun middle grade graphic novel! I loved this. Very nostalgic for me. I love this adaptation with the things of the times like writing in journals back and forth and the corded home phones. I love how the characters work through problems together and apologize when they have a disagreement.

This shows also what each girl is going through directly in their own personal lives at home and how they are processing through it all together. It wasn't just about the baby sitter's club, which I liked learning about each girl and their own lives. Great themes of friendship and family.

So cute and I can't wait to get to the next one.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vJ4zaM

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Ember and the Island of the Lost Creatures by Jason Pamment

                                Ember and the Island of the Lost Creatures by Jason Pamment

3.5 Stars Really cute graphic novel!

This has some really cute illustrations and facts about different creatures! Fitting in can be hard for a tiny boy like Ember, living along in the city of giants. One day, he meets a kindly sea turtle, Lua, who escorts him across the ocean to a school for little creatures on this fun, adventurous island.

Ember starts to make friends, even though at first they really aren't interested in being friends. He struggles to adapt but as things would have it, the island may have an otherworldly mystery itself that Ember starts to uncover....

Overall, I enjoyed this and the themes of friendship and starting anew in a fresh place and just being who you are!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/43MJvwL

The Wild Robot by Peter Brown

  

The Wild Robot by Peter Brown - 4 Stars 

When Roz the robot is in a shipment and a hurricane sinks her cargo ship - she is the only robot to wash up on shore. The wildlife on the island are not too thrilled to see a robot show up but once she adopts a goose after its parents die, she becomes a mother and learns to speak to and interact with the animals, building a relationship with them along the way. 

This book was such a delight to listen to. It really teaches us about nature, technology, family, friendship, and love. At first, you don't really connect to the robot Roz but by the end, she is somewhat personable after all she goes through while trying to raise her "son" the goose.

It's a bit like a story of survival too, reminiscent of a story like Hatchet. What I love most about this story is the theme that family doesn't have to be blood. A mother doesn't have to be blood related to be a mother. 

The ending was emotional! I definitely want to read the next one.

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6329490792
Amazon: https://amzn.to/43xuz5s

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Star Knights by Kay Davault

 

Star Knights - Kay Davault - 5 Stars 

First of all, let me start by saying how much I love the colors and illustration art in this graphic novel - absolutely beautiful. I am so glad I read this as I don't read a ton of graphic novels right now but want to try and dip my toes into reading some this year and this one was a HIT! 

This is about a simple frog who wants to become a legendary knight and he finds himself on this unexpected magical journey. The characters in this are so much fun and the sweet themes of being true to yourself and the importance of friendship - so great. 

Highly recommend. 

Content for parents since this is technically a middle grade story: There are mentions of spirits, some mild fights/magic, and one character who is a witch but it wasn't anything I was uncomfortable with personally. It was just part of the fantasy world/story to me. Just want to mention for parents who may want a content note if needed.

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6310196424
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3x1xNC4

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on item purchased from these links.

A Whale of the Wild by Rosanne Parry

 

A Whale of the Wild - Rosanne Parry - 4 Stars

This was a really great middle grade story told from the POV of a young orca whale that leads her brother on a tumultuous journey to be reunited with their pod. It was very interesting to read a book from an animals POV and I really enjoyed the descriptions under the sea and what it could have been like from the whale POVs. The themes of adventure, family bonds, survival and an ever changing seascape were great.

Vega and her family eat salmon so she is trying to learn how to be a salmon finder. Her and her brother get separated though from the pod when an earthquake and tsunami leave their area under the sea in shambles. As they face hunger and the unknown, will they make it back? Will she be the leader she needs to be? 

Overall, I really enjoyed this with the family bonds especially and learning about orca whales as I didn't really have much knowledge about them previously. The only thing I didn't love was how it ended but still recommend!

Goodreads Review:  https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6364887761
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3xfOpGe

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Lost in the Caverns by Kathryn Butler

 

Lost in the Caverns by Kathryn Butler - Book 3 in The Dreamkeeper Saga - 4 Stars

In this book we continue our adventure with 12 year old dream keeper Lily McKinley as she embarks on a dangerous journey through the Desert of the Forgotten to regain her ability to dream and spread Pax's message. This book continues the themes of fantasy, Christian themes and allegory with mystery throughout the series. The allegory shown relate to the Gospel of Jesus and other theological conversations surrounding sacrifice, salvation and evangelism. This was quite the adventure once again! I had so much fun being back in this world with our characters, as I have had quite the break since book 2. 

I love the allegory message of the Gospel of Jesus in this story. We see characters who represent satan as well and the message of what the Lord has done for us is beautifully depicted in this series. If you like stories like Narnia, good versus evil and great Christian allegorical themes - pick this series up. So many great biblical messages where our characters learn from their mistakes, display courage and find the truth.

I will link the series down below! Excited to get into the next book sometime.

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6294768744
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4a4tTHf

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

It's Boba Time for Pearl Li! by Nicole Chen

 

It's Boba Time for Pearl Li! - Nicole Chen 4.5 Stars

We follow a big hearted Taiwanese American girl - Pearl Li - who has a heart for crafting amigurumi dolls, her favorite boba tea shop - Boba Time, her friends, family and Boba Time's owner - Auntie Cha.

Pearl learns that Boba Time has financial troubles and decides to sell her amigurumi dolls to raise money to help the shop. She starts to navigate the ups and downs of running a business and Pearl realizes that its a bit more complicated than she originally thought....

What a cute middle grade book! I loved learning about Pearl's crafts, the Boba Tea shop, seeing her relationships with her friends and family! It also made me SO hungry for good food and a tasty boba drink!

I loved seeing Pearl realize her mistakes, come into her own as a young girl and see why its important to talk to your parents about what you truly love in life. For a while, I kept saying girl, just talk to them LOL - and loved how it all turned out. I think seeing her stubbornness can be an eye opening lesson for kids reading this book.

Auntie Cha was also super sweet. I love how close she was with her and involved in the It's Boba Time shop. 

Her sister Jade was also a great character and I loved seeing her sister relationship and how supportive she was to Pearl. 

Overall a solid middle grade story with an uplifting ending! Bonus points for BOBA!

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5393313471
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3TwH11W

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Fish in a Tree by Lynda Hunt

 

Fish in a Tree - Lynda Hunt - 5 Stars 

"Fish in a Tree" by Lynda Hunt is a heartfelt and inspiring middle-grade story that celebrates the power of resilience, empathy, and the importance of embracing differences. Our main character, a 6th grader named Ally, navigates the challenges of dyslexia, showing us her every day struggles in her learning differences. We see her being bullied by others, along with being frustrated and embarrassed by her inability to read. Yet, amidst these challenges, Ally's resilience shines through. She is determined to success, despite her challenges. Things really change when we see Ally start to accept her differences through the interactions with her friends Albert and Keisha, and her teacher Mr. Daniels. One of the greatest strengths in this book is through the portrayal of the teacher-student relationship between Ally and Mr. Daniels. He is truly patient with Ally and approaches her to help her overcome her academic struggles and instills a newfound belief in herself. Loved seeing this shine through because it really made the story!

Albert was also an AMAZING friend in this book and I loved seeing him stand up for his friends and himself. He was also hilarious and didn't let the bully's get him down. 

Overall, this story really brought me back to my childhood through some of the struggles and bullying situations I had in my own elementary/middle school days because of my learning differences and extra help I received with my ADHD diagnosis. Ally's journey will resonate with readers of all ages. This is a must read for anyone seeking an uplifting middle grade story that celebrates learning differences and the power of perseverance and friendship.

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5398447589
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3v1KfRP

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Refugee - Alan Gratz

 

Refugee - Alan Gratz - 5 Stars 

Wow, this was such a powerful and important story of 3 families in search of refuge. We follow 3 perspectives.

Josef - a Jewish boy in 1930s Nazi Germany and his family trying to escape to be free from the Nazis.

Isabel - a Cuban girl in 1994 and her family trying to find refuge away from riots and unrest in Cuba.

Mahmoud - a Syrian boy in 2015 and his family trying to escape their homeland torn apart by violence and destruction.

All 3 journeys are incredibly impactful and unimaginable what they went through. There was hope. Sadness. Death. Betrayals. But each day they were just trying to survive for their own safety for the love of their families.

The way the author tied in each family together in the end of this story made me cry. This is a heartbreaking but important historical read with glimmers of hope in each timeline. Highly recommend.

*Content: This book has descriptions of PTSD from concentration camps, attempted suicide, loss of a child, abuse, death. Not in full detail but it is explained some so want to mention so parents are aware since this is a middle grade story.

📚Amazon Link: Refugee - Alan Gratz: https://amzn.to/4bQTogw

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.