A POTPOURRI OF MIDDLE YEARS TITLES: Fall 2024

The dozen  books listed below can fall into different categories (e.g., Tough Topic Themes or  genres).  I have decided to present these new titles as representatives of publications from 4 different countries (Canada, UK, U.S. Australia). Most titles have been released in 2024.

A few titles that I’ve recently read tell stories of children who have been abandoned by their irresponsible mothers (e.g., And Then, Boom by Lisa Fipps),  and three of  which are listed in this posting: Not Nothing by Gayle Foreman and The Outsmarters by Deborah Ellis and Tig by Heather Smith), This premise sets up story that builds empathy  for characters needing to be resilient in the face of a parent who experience mental health or addiction. 

 

CANADIAN


BIRDS ON THE BRAIN by Uma Krishnaswami; illus. Julianna Sweeney (Activism)

This story takes place in contemporary India. The central characters are Reeni (bird lover) Yasmin (book lover), and Anil (karate lover).  When a school project requires the three friends to conduct survey’s, Reeni gets excited about the possibilities of finding out about the Bird Count of India, a major event where thousands of birdwatchers will be counting birds as part of a global movement. Reeni is supported by her good friend Yasmin and her Book Uncle who offers the girls some books about birds.  The girls come to discover that people are not as dedicated to the cause as they are and encounter several glitches: 1) Their friend Ani decides to embark on a project of his own (solar panels) 2) the local authorities are not supporting the event 3) the girls do not have a phone to help them conduct research. Reeni, Yasmin and Anil are strong advocates for both human and non-human inhabitants of their communtie. Birds on the Brain is a terrific novel to help young people understand the importance of fighting what you believe for.  This novel is a sequel to Book Uncle and Me but can be considered a stand-alone title.

THE OUTSMARTERS by Deborah Ellis (Mental Health) / ages 11+

Kate is a troubled twelve year old, who’s erratic behaviour issues has had her suspended from school. Her mother has abandoned her and for the past three years she was assigned left to live with her grandmother, a stubborn, strong-headed character (much like Kate)  Gran is a “hard-hearted old broad” a  true specimen of ‘tough love’, not letting her granddaughter get away with anything and encouraging her to take responsibility around their junk shop residence. Eager to make money, Kate sets up a philosophy booth business  providing answers and lessons to any customers who come her way. As the novel unfolds, we learn more about the young girl’s traumatic past and the troubles of her mother who was addicted to drugs. Kate dreams that one day her mother will return to her and she that life will be better without getting into fights with Gran. Kate is an angry, friendless girl who is strong enough to take matters into her own hands to get what she wants and needs. Kate would find good companionship in  Paterson’s Gilly Hopkins and Smith’s Tig (see below).  There’s not doubt that award-winning author, Deborah Ellis, is at the top of the heap of Canadian novelists for young people,The Outsmarters is a gem of a  book y about trauma, mental health and resilience. 

Excerpt

Should I mind my own business, or is it my business to mind? The more I think,  the more I’m not sure. That’s the trouble with thinking. Once you get started, it’s damn hard to stop. (p, 73)

TIG by Heather Smith (Mental Health)

I am very fond of Heather Smith’s work (Ebb and Flow, Barry Squires: Full Tilt; The Agony of Bun O’Keefe), and was excited to see a new novel by her. Tig’s mother has flown the coop and she  and Peter are invited to live with her Uncle Scott and his partner Manny in a somewhat idyllic setting.  Tig is not happy with the arrangement and is resistant to accept any help and affection that is offered. Scott and Manny are aware of the Tig’s troubled past (How could a mother just disappear from her child’s life?*) but slowly and patiently provide positive parenting, buying clothes, letting Tig play freely in a nearby park and buying her the pet bulldog (Guten Morgen) that she desperately wants.  Tig prepares a list of goals for herself and at the top of the list is to outrun a wheel of cheese and of course, wanting to be reunited with her mother. Heather al cleverly sprinkles unfamiliar vocabulary throughout and provides a definition and uses that word in a sentence that offers rhyming words (e..g. ‘Druthers: a person’s preference in a matter. If I had my druthers, I’d have no more mothers’ (p.35). Heather Smith brilliantly offers readers metaphors for Tig’s life (e.g. renovating a doll house) and expertly presents a whammy suprise towards the end of the novel, a surprise that makes sense and reveals much about Tig’s mental health. Tig is described as being ‘cheeky’ child. Like Katherine Patersons’ Gilly Hopkins, Tig is a character that readers will root for and care for and hope will move forward from a traumatic past. Heather Smith you write good books. Thank you, thank you for Tig.

 

 

AMERICAN


ARE YOU NOBODY TOO? Tina Cane (Asian Identity)

Eight grader Emily Sofar, a Chinese girl who had been adopted is enjoying her life as the only Chinese student at a private middle school. When COVID hits, her father loses his job and she is transferred to I.S. in New York’s Chinatown, and discovers that she is in a community where she looks like everyone else. Emily, however, struggles to fit in and establish friends. She is always looking in herself to figure out who she is and feel comfortable with her past and present circumstances. It is the poetry of Emily Dickinson “I’m nobody! Who are you? Are you – Nobody – too?”)that provides Emily  a window and a mirror to her identity. Are You Nobody Too? offers readers a very introspective, reflective character who tries to find a place of belonging (as many adolescents do).  The free verse style is especially suitable for this story about the importance of poetry. Encountering words by the lonely Emily Dickinson throughout this book offers a special read for students who enjoy grasping the meaning of poems. 

BUFFALO DREAMER by Violet Duncan (Indigenous Culture)

Twelve-year-old Summer head to Canada to spend time with her mother’s family on a Cree reservation. Summer, her brother and her brother enjoy spending time with family and the joys of nature. This year, however, the young teenager learns about  the Sixties Scoop where children were forced to erase their Native identities when the Elders in the community speak up about their past traumas. Interspersed throughout the narrative, are descriptions of Summer’s vivid dreams about two young girls who are running away from Residential schools. At 99 pages organized into thirty short chapters, Violet Duncan presents an important novel about Indian identity and stories of scoop survivors.  In the author note, Violet book and give Duncan writes “I’ve aimed to breathe life into this book and give their (survivors) stories the credence and recognition they deserve by illustrating the strength of the human spirit” (page 103). Mission accomplished!  This is a beautiful specimen of historical fiction  about generations, healing, reconciliation and TRUTH.  Buffalo Dreamer provides an accessible and heartfelt document of  the historyIndian residential schools. 

NOT NOTHING by Gayle Forman (The Holocaust/ Mental Health)

Twelve year old Alex’s life is troubled. After moving around fourteen times, his mother has abandoned him and he is now living with an aunt and uncle who haven’t welcomed him with open arms. Alex did something very very  bad and a judge has sentenced him to volunteer in a retirement home. At first, Alex stubbornly does not cooperate with what is being asked of him but a meeting with a girl his age aned Maya-Jade gradually softens his approach to duties. A special relationship develops witha 107 year old man named Josey who has refused to speak until he meets Alex and he  recounts stories of surviving a ghetto and escaping a concentration camp. At the heart of Josey’s stories was his devotion to Olka who taught Josey how to sew. This relationship has opened up a world of trust and emotion for Alex and the need to confront the terrible incident that he was responsible for. The novel is presented in alternative narratives about Alex’s life and Josey’s memories. Not Nothing is a story of memory, hope, compassion and forgiveness. It can proudly sit on the shelf with other stories about surviving the trauma of The Holocaust. 

 

BRITISH


ASTROCHIMP by David Walliams

David Walliams does not t disappoint. He faithfully releases at least one new novel title each year. He writes funny stories. He takes readers on comical (rather preposterous) adventures. Astrochimp might  have the ‘look’ of his two dozen or so previous titles (Billionaire Boy, Gangsta Granny, Mr. Stink, The World’s Worst Children x3) with wild fonts and explosive illustrations Quentin Blake, Tony Ross) but along with his recent creative companion, illustrator Adam Stower,  he continues to write fantastic books for middle age readers who like to embark on fantastical journeys with quirky characters. In Astrochimp, we have Chump the monkey, Dimtri, the dog, Bardot, the cool cat, Choti the Gerbil, giant fruit flies, two old tortoises. These characters have blasted off into space. Will they survive? Will they kill each other? Will they save the planet? Will they return to Earth?Each character is based on real animals that were blasted into space over the past 80 years. (Fruit Flies / U.S, 1947); Monkey /U.S. 1949; Dog/ Russia, 1957); Cat / France 1963).  Chump was insprired by Ham the chimpanzee who was given the responsibility in piloting his Mercury spacecraft. Funny stuff!

A KIND OF SPARK by Elle McNicoll, (2020) (Autism; Bullying)

This novel won several British book awards including Waterston’s Children’s Book Prize (2021).  . Addie lives in a small village in Scotland and she sees and feels things that others do not. When her teacher informs the class about the witch trials that happened in their community centuries ago, Addie becomes intrigued and is keen on  having a monument erected for those witches who were different – like Addie.  Those differences are by some in her classroom and Addie which leads to some terrible bullying by a jealous classmate and a terribly mean, bigoted teacher. Luckily Addie has found friendship with a new classmate and continues to have a strong bond with her older sister who is also autistic and is experiencing new demons as she begins university. Addie is fiercely determined to let others know what is going inside of her “There is nothing wrong with me. I will not let people use my difference as a stick to beat me with” (p. 166). A Kind of Spark is a very special novel for digging into the behaviours, the mind and the spirit of those who are autistic. (the main character often reminds us that she is not a girl ‘with autism’. She is autistic). Elle McNicoll is a neurodivergent Scottish writer who lives in London. She has gifted young readers and adults  with a gutsy story sure to inspire understanding and compassion for those who are considered to be different. The book deserved its awards.

Excerpt (page 104)

“The last thing these women new in this world, the last thing they felt was fear. Fear and pain. Looking out at people who didn’t understand them, and who had accused them of something they weren’t.” I feel the unfairness of it building up inside me. “You have no idea what it is like to be punished for something you cannot control.

MILLIONS by Frank-Cottrell-Boyce

British author, Frank Cottrell-Boyce was known for writing scripts. In 2004 he wrote his first children’s novel, Millions, which ws an adaption of his screenplay for film and since that publication the author hasn’t looked back. He claims that writing for kids is now where he wants to put all his creative energy. Millions was the winner of the 2024 Carnegie Medal. Since then,  Cottrell-Boyce has published at least one novel every other year. Some titles include Framed, Sputnik’s Guide to Life on Earth and The Great Rocket Robbery and sequels to Ian Fleming’s Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The author was recently  given the honour of being Children’s Laureate *2024-2026).  Despite their huge popularity in the UK, I had never come across any of Cottrell-Boyce  titles and a salesclerk at Waterstone’s suggested I start with Millions which was his claim to fame.  

Damian and his brother Antony whose mother had recently died,now live with their single-parent loving father who patiently gets through each day. As luck would have it (and as appealing fictional adventures would have it), Damian is surprised when a bag stuffed with money literary falls from the sky. What could two young boys do with all that money?  How are they going to spend it in only seventeen days before the th fictional takeover of the Euro. The two brothers are able to keep their hidden treasure a secret – for a while. Damian is an interesting gifted boy’ who is obsessed with the lives of saints. We are provided with facts about saints throughout the novel Damian even has visions of meeting some saints. I’d say that this book has a particular ‘British’ flavour and which would certainly engage boys and girls across the UK. I’m only going by this novel, but I’m not sure who appealing it would be to North American youngsters and perhaps that is why I haven’t come across the author’s name, despite his success. I will dig into some other titles by this popular, funny author. 

Excerpt (p, 198)

They had Nelson Mandela  talking for them.. “The only wealth is life.” What do you think of that? He said money can be a prison just like, you know, no money. The only wealth is life… You’ve got each other, got a place, got your health. Life. Everything else is a disappointment.”

PUPPET by David Almond

Silvester, an aging puppeteer, is filled with memories of good times he and his wife delighted others with their puppet presentations. When the artifacts of his life as a puppeteer are taken off to a museum, Silvester decides to make one last puppet. And thus, Puppet (aka Kenneth) is born, giving Silvester a new lease on life as he introduces the human-like ‘boy’ to  the world and to a loving cast of characters that includes a butcher, a pastry chef, a barber, and a busker. Eventually, the Puppet and Puppeteer meet up with Fleur who is so enamoured with the world of puppets that she longs to create her own and so Silvester guides her into creating puppets and put on a show in the town square. Puppet  is an engaging  narrative about creation and the circle of life.  There are no evil characters.  It is a novel about memory, about bonding, about artistry, and about the importance of storying.  Throughout the book, black and white illustrations by Lizzy Stewart depict story events with clarity and joyfulness. Like Charlie Mackesy’s, The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and the Horse, David Almond weaves in philosophical statements to warm the heart and inspire reflection. 

Excerpt (pages 99-100)

“That’s a baby,” whispered Silvester. It came from a mother and father. It will grow into another child.”

Puppet swayed.

“Then it will become a teenager,” said Silvester. “Then an adult. And it might have children of its own. Then it wil become an old person like me. And then…”

He shook his head. ‘So much magic, Puppet!” he cried. “So many stories. Such an astonishing world!”

He opened his eyes and his heart and his imagination wide. 

 

AUSTRALIAN


GRACE NOTES by Karen Comer (YA) Verse Novel

This novel was shortlisted for a number of book awards and was the winner the 2024 Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Book Prize for older readers. It is the story of two teenagers who are each talented and dedicated to their art form, despite the discouragement and lack of support from their parents. Karen Comer presents alternating narratives in free verse style.  Grace Dalfinch is passionate about playing the violin and James Crux aspires to be a noteworthy street artist. About halfway through the novel, their lives converge as they find solace and understanding and love with each other. Noteworthy, is the fact that this story is set in 2020 when the Pandemic hit the world. Throughout the novel the author provides facts about the growing number of Corona cases with snippets of postings from citizens who were dealing with the pandemic.  Readers will likely recall their own experiences of COVID-19. Teenagers will likely identify with Grace and Crux in their pursuit of their dreams, smothered by the  expectations of their parents. Grace Notes was an engaging, relatable read. 


SHOUT OUT

CHOOSE LOVE by Nicola Davies; illus. Petr Horacek (Poetry) (2022) (The Refugee Experience)

Award-winning British author, Nicola Davies has written over 80 books for children. Her staggering book The Day War Came shines a light on the refugee experience by telling the story of a child fleeing war having lost family, home, education and safety. Choose Love grew from a remarkable charity Help Refugees.  Choose Love, the publication is a series of poems digs deep into the soul and plight of real-life refugee experiences, the lives they left behind to face an unknown future.  The book is divided into three sections: ‘Departure’, ‘Arrival’, ‘Healing’. Czechoslovakian illustrator, Petr Horacek creates stirring abstract art images to accompany each poem. the artist writes “my illustrations are not pretty. They are expressive and heavy with texture… Colour seeps through the paint just as love and hope seeps through Nicola’s poems… Love and Hope, the two most important things in our lives, because… what else?”

Sample: from “The Trials” (p. 23)

First the trial of escape:

Leaping from the monster’s mouth while its jaws snap;

felling with the flames and famine licking at your heels;

nights of terror wondering about the ones

you had to leave behind.