Fast Break, by Anjali Joshi

     Fast Break is one of the newest releases by Orca Publishing Company out of Canada. For as long as this pup has been reading, Orca has provided what I refer to as Hi-Lo books - high interest to teen readers of all ages, with a low time commitment needed to finish each book. In other words, Orca books are written for kids that want to read good stories at their age level but without having to finish a super long book, like a Harry Potter, for instance. The stories usually take on some sort of social issue which makes them interesting to readers like you, too! I find most of them to be really good, and the kids who I've known that read them usually have positive things to say!

    Fast Break is the story of Arjun, who has just started a new middle school as a 7th grader, and his friend Demar. The school has experienced an amazing upgrade over the summer, as a company called OmniBoost has poured several thousands of dollars into all aspects of the school - new cafeteria, new sports jerseys, high tech screens everywhere and more. In return, the company gets to exclusively determine the food and drinks served in the cafeteria and through all of the school's vending machines. The food and drinks are being sold as "healthy" and "energy boosting", but Arjun and Demar are discovering this might not be the whole story. Will they risk their place on the basketball team, and their enrollment at school, to uncover the truth?

    Unlike most chapter books you may read, this books comes in at slightly over 100 pages - low time commitment, right? The story flows pretty nicely, and if you are not used to Orca books, or others like them, you might notice the lack of deeper details throughout the story. But the story is interesting, even if the details are thin. The dilemma these two boys face is a timely one, perhaps even for you at your school, and it's fun to make decisions with them about what to do, if anything, about this OmniBoost "problem".

    Orca books probably are not going to get my 5 paw rating often, if ever, because of the lack of details I find in the really exceptional books I read. But they do serve a really nice purpose in a library. And they may be books you already look for and read? If not, give Fast Break a try, or another Orca hi-lo book. They are good reads, just a bit thinner on details than books many of you are used to reading. 4 paws!

The October Girl (Book One), by Matthew Dow Smith

     I had my human pick this up at the local public library because I was in the mood for a graphic novel, and he thought this one looked interesting. I have not read anything by author/illustrator Matthew Dow Smith before, but it seems he also does some DC Comics work, which makes some sense, as his artwork in The October Girl is really interesting and cool! 

    Main character Autumn is 18 years old, and although she used to believe in magic and fairy tales, now she is wondering if there is anything more to her boring life than school and her part time job. She misses her childhood imaginary friend, Barnaby...until Barnaby appears again! The story then dives into a fantasy world of magic and characters beyond belief...even her family is involved! Another world exists right around her, and has all this time...but what is her role in it?

    A short book, and some very clever lines in it. Definitely written for older middle and high school readers, although there isn't anything questionable in the story, just a healthy dose of teen angst that 8th graders and older will totally understand. There is a Book Two that was just released, although I have not seen it yet, but might check it out if I happened across it someday. A lot less dark feeling than Halfway There was, and I liked it a bit better because of that. Not a must read, but if angsty graphic novels and/or fantasy stories appeal to you, I think you'd like this. 4 paws!

Diamond Fever! by Steve Sheinkin & Jon Chad

     Yahoo for the newest book by my favorite non-fiction author Steve Sheinkin! And a nice bonus to have some comics added throughout by artist Jon Chad.  Diamond Fever! A True Crime Story in the Wild West tells the real story of a giant diamond discovery that happened in the western United States beginning just after the Civil War, in the late 1860s. The transcontinental railroad had just been completed, allowing cross-country travel in about a week for the first time ever. This allowed the stories two main characters to do what they did in a very believable way. Of course, there was no Internet, nor television, so traveling and communicating long distances was very new, or not possible, at least not in the ways we are used to today, and this also played into the story - the setting was almost its own character in this tale!

    According to this book, two men claimed to have found a diamond field in the western part of the country, a wide range of barren land full of diamonds and rubies...although they wouldn't tell anyone exactly where it was. At this time in history, the gold rush was not terribly old yet, so many people had high hopes of getting rich quickly, by traveling west and finding gold, mostly. But what if a diamond field actually existed? How rich could someone get from such a discovery? In the course of a few years, many people would try to find out.

    Sheinkin is the author of many non-fiction stories, several of them award winners, and every single one of them exciting to read! I know, because this literate pup has read every single one! His books read like some of the best fiction books I have read, with an added bonus of learning a lot about a particular subject, usually embedded in United States history somewhere. Diamond Fever! is no exception - I got it from my local library Saturday and finished reading it today - Monday! I couldn't wait to read the next page! I hope you find it as enticing as I did...I recommend it (or any Sheinkin book)! 5 paws!

A Hero's Guide to Summer Vacation, by Pablo Cartaya

     The newest release by author Pablo Cartaya, author of Marcus Vegas Doesn't Speak Spanish, as well as a few others, most of which, it seems, I have also read! I think he is one of my go-to authors, even though I didn't realize it until writing this review! A Hero's Guide to Summer Vacation is a really cool idea as far as stories go; protagonist Gonzalo is pushed by his mom to accompany his grumpy grandfather across the United States in an old car to promote the elder's fantasy book series. Gonzalo doesn't really know his grandfather, and doesn't really want to go. Grandad doesn't want to do a book promotion tour, because he mostly doesn't like people, he says. Gonzalo's mom wants him to travel with his grandfather anyway, and wants Gonzalo to read the book series as well - something he hasn't done. In fact, Gonzalo has invited his grandad to his school a few times to speak about his books, but Grandad always says no, which is one reason Gonzalo doesn't want to travel with him. Why should he, right?

    The main character in the highly popular book series is named Gonzalo, too, which makes a book tour weird for the real Gonzalo...is the series about him? But as the trip begins, Gonzalo begins to unravel the connections in the books to his family, and it brings up a lot of unanswered questions for everyone involved. This is what I enjoyed about the book - a book about a book, where the book's main character is named the same as the other book's main character, and everyone is looking for answers, although the real characters don't really know that yet. Confused? Don't be! 

    A Hero's Guide is easy to follow and well written. A couple of times I thought some plot twists were too easily solved, but it didn't happen a lot, and didn't really take away from the overall book. Cartaya is a good writer, and consistent, although I think his books usually fall just short of 5 paws for me - I'll have to double check that, though! A good story, a clever idea, and easy to read from start to finish - enjoy! 4 paws!

Halfway There, by Christine Mari

     In Halfway There, the debut graphic novel memoir by author and illustrator Christine Mari, she decides to spend a year studying Japanese in Japan, trying to complete herself as a "hafa" -  someone who is half American and half Japanese. But she finds it isn't as easy as she hoped, nor does it make her feel more complete. In fact, it makes things for Christine even worse as she tries to embrace her Japanese roots but finds she is still a hafa in Japan, too.

    The artwork is simply wonderful, with a great use of color (and the absence of it) throughout. I love how Mari draws herself and others when they are feeling low or confused - I won't describe it, and it's a simple technique, but when you see it you'll know what I mean, and it's very effective. More effective than words, I think. As the author of this story, as well as its main character (it is an auto-biography, after all), you'll feel Mari's confusion, sadness and loss as she tries to figure out who she is, and what she is.

    The sentiment will speak to many teens, especially older ones, I think. I do think that she really expressed her feelings throughout the story, even when I, as the reader, wanted her to find a way to see her own light before she actually started to. In other words, the story got pretty heavy and dark, and took a long time to recover. Maybe too long for some of you readers, but for those who relate to her trouble, it will probably seem exactly right.

    I love the idea of dual culture and identity in a teen and following along as she tries to figure out where she belongs in all of it. I felt for her as she got stuck in depression but I also kept hoping she could find her way out of it. Spoiler alert: she does, but it takes some time and hard work. Again, the artwork is the star here, and Mari seems like a wonderful person all around. Her writing was good but it didn't tell her story like the artwork did. 4 paws. 

A Sea of Lemon Trees, by Maria Dolores Aguila

     This book started out as a picture book, but according to author Aguila's notes, someone convinced her to make it a chapter book instead. Written in verse, A Sea of Lemon Trees: The Corrido of Roberto Alvarez is the story of Roberto Alvarez, who, as a young person, helped to end an injustice in his San Diego town in 1931. As the nation experienced economic depression, people looked for someone to blame, as they will do in times of crisis, and Mexicans and Mexican-Americans living in San Diego at that time became targets of anger. Some people in the community decided that "brown" kids should not be going to school with White kids, so a barn was turned into a school and the Mexican students were told to start attending the other school. Not everyone agreed with this direction, and the story behind A Sea of Lemon Trees was born!

    I'll say again that I generally love books written in verse. I think that writing a book would be challenging on its own, but to tell a good story using fewer words on a page would make it that much harder. Some of my favorite authors over the years - Kwame Alexander, Karen Hesse, Sharon Creech - have written one or more books in verse, and I find them wonderful! So I liked that Aguila's first chapter book is written in that style, and until I finished the book I didn't know that it had started as a picture book. This book was also awarded a Newbery Honor and a Pura Belpre Honor - both very high praise! I liked the book and enjoyed learning about this part of our nation's history that I didn't know before. But I wasn't sure, while reading, why the author chose to write this book in verse...it just seemed to be because she didn't have enough words, as odd as that sounds. It made more sense learning that it began as a picture book, because it seemed like it might have been a better picture book, in a way.

    All that said, the last 30 or 40 pages of the book makes the entire story, so if you start this book, please finish it! The reward comes at the end! It's an important story as well, one we should all know, and isn't a lot different than what is happening in our nation today. So what can we learn from this, and how can we live differently moving forward? All told, I give this 4 paws, which is high praise, especially for the first chapter book by an author. The ending really made the whole story, and the writing style was promising, just not quite hitting the mark entirely.

All Better Now, by Neal Shusterman

     It's been a long time since I've read a Neal Shusterman book, but there are not many authors better at writing YA science fiction and fantasy. In fact, I think Scythe was the last book of his I read, and I remember loving it! Cool, dark idea, very well written, engaging...very fun! He has written so many books at this point, for teens and adults alike, that I won't list all of them here. Just know that when you choose one of his books, you are reading someone who knows how to create and write a good, long story!

    That said, I'll honestly admit I did not finish this, his latest release, All Better Now. The premise of the story is cool - a post-Covid pandemic, where the people who don't die from it seem changed completely - very happy, no cares left in the world, positive...all better now! But 200 pages into this 500 page book was...boring. I still liked the premise of the story, but I didn't care at all about any of the characters. As Shusterman weaved the story around the world and made connections between characters and situations, I wanted to be drawn into the story, and feel for someone - anyone! But it didn't happen, so like all good readers, I made the decision not to continue the book. If you've ever wondered about not finishing a book you've started, remember that you don't have to finish every single book you start! You should finish most of them, but now and then it's okay to let one go, unfinished. Life's too short to read a book you don't like (says a dog who lives seven years for every one of yours!). 

    I still recommend the Scythe series, which is now at 4 books, and would still read more from Shusterman. But I didn't love this one...and that's okay. On to my next favorite book! 3 paws.

Winging It, by Megan Wagner Lloyd & Michelle Mee Nutter

     From the author and illustrator of the books Squished and Allergic comes Winging It, a graphic novel that is simply wonderful to read! Main character Luna, named after the illusive luna moth, is uprooted by her father to move from California to Northern Virginia to live with her grandmother. Grandma is strict, and doesn't seem to want the new family moving in. On top of that, Luna has to make new friends while missing her old friends terribly. Luna's mom died when Luna was a baby, so she counts on her mom's nature journals to get to know her, and slowly Luna becomes enamored with nature and the outdoors. Not surprisingly, Luna makes new friends, tries new things, and begins her search to see, in person, her first luna moth!

    The story flows very easily, and is believable without being too simple or too choppy. The artwork is also simple, but so perfect for the story! Any fans of newer graphic novels from author Reina Telgemeier, or titles and series like Babysitters Club, Lumberjanes and New Kid will really love this release, I think! I was sad when I finished it, but immediately asked my human to add Lloyd and Nutter's other two books to the school library collection. A real treat, and you'll simply adore Luna! 5 paws!

At Last She Stood, by Erin Entrada kelly

     Only 7 authors have won the prestigious Newbery Award - given to the best in children's books every year since 1922 - twice. Erin Entrada Kelly is one of them. So when she writes a new book, you should read it! I do, for sure! At Last She Stood is her latest offering, but a change for Kelly, as this new book is non-fiction. A biography, in fact, of a Filipino woman named Josefina Guerrero, someone I had never heard of, but like most people written about in biographies, someone I am glad to know now!

    "Joey" Guerrero was a guerrilla fighter during World War 2, when Japan attacked the Philippines. She became a war hero. She also had the disease then known as leprosy (now called Hansen's Disease). She was a teacher, a peacemaker, and activist. She would go on to live in the United States, until there was a movement to have her deported back to the Philippines. In short, she lived an incredible life, and was responsible in her bravery for saving the lives of many, many people. As you'll find when you read this book, her life was not easy - in fact, I would describe it as remarkably difficult. Yet she stood...she persevered!

    That said, this is maybe my least favorite Kelly book. I love the main character and learning about her, someone I never knew about before. But unlike Kelly's award-winning fiction books, At Last She Stood was a bit...clunky. Several times facts were repeated from one paragraph or page to the next. Maybe she meant to do that as a way to really imbed the facts into the reader's mind, but I found it to be messy. I don't need the same piece of information over and over again, especially not in the same chapter or in the same few pages. I doubt you need that, either. On occasion the story also seemed to jump forward or to another location without explanation or obvious tie-ins. A few times a new name appeared with no explanation of who this person was, or why they were suddenly part of the story.

    Not a terrible book, because I don't think Kelly could write a terrible book, with all of her talent! But as much as this dog loves non-fiction, historical fiction and biographies, this was not a favorite. It made me want to see if author Steve Sheinkin has anything new to read, one of my favorite non-fiction writers! I don't want to say this is a bad book, because it isn't, and if you are interested in biographies like I am you might enjoy learning about this amazing woman! But if you are simply looking for your next favorite book, Kelly's other books are better, although fiction, or for non-fiction someone like Sheinkin is much better organized. I'll give this one 3 paws and wag, because of the importance of the subject matter, and I will continue to read everything Kelly writes...but hoping the next one is stronger.

El Nino, by Pam Munoz Ryan

     From the wonderful and talented storyteller who brought us Esperanza Rising, Paint the Wind, The Dreamer and more comes the newest book by author Pam Munoz Ryan, El Niño. This is the story of Kai Sosa, swimmer, surfer, brother to younger sister Abby and older sister Cali. Cali dies two years before this story takes place, never returning from the ocean after surfing out one day, and Kai and his family are still grieving the loss. But what exactly happened to Cali, a master swimmer, to have her apparently drown at sea? Ryan weaves mythology with reality to create a page-turning story of the mythical island of California and the Library of Despair and Sorrow. Meanwhile Kai struggles with his emotions, his attempts to live up to his sister's legacy, and the dreams he continues to have that seem to be a link to Cali...and she's alive!

    Ryan is truly a master storyteller, as you know if you have read any of her other books. She writes in such a hypnotic, poetic style that I don't even realize an hour has passed and I'm one hundred pages into the book! Her vocabulary is accessible yet challenging, with the perfect introduction of new words that feel as though I've known them all the time. In this book, artists Joe Cepeda provides some artwork, which is nice but doesn't really add much to the story. I will also mention that this book is marketed to late elementary grades, and Kai is supposed to be in elementary school, which I think may be Ryan's only miscue. His actions, thoughts, and emotions are much more middle grade than elementary - I was surprised that this was his written age in the story.

    But those are small hiccups in what I found to be an otherwise solid story. If you enjoy mythology there is enough of that here for you to "dive into", even though Kai's real life is the bulk of the story, especially early on. Fans of Ryan will love this, one of her stronger books! Fans of realistic fiction where sea life is part of the setting will also love this...I did! 4 paws and a wag!