Trapped in a never-ending loop of escape rooms, Elyse and seven other captive teens work tirelessly to solve the harrowing puzzles that await them inside each new room. Their captor remains unseen, monitoring their progress and failures through an intricate surveillance system that also prevents them from devising a plan to truly escape. But that doesn’t keep them from trying, and as Elyse begins to unravel their captor’s true motive, her trust in the other teens begins to waver. Unsure exactly who she can rely on, Elyse must face her captor head on to discover the truth behind their captivity and the torturous rooms. But the more entagled she becomes in her captor’s web, the less likely she is to ever make it out alive.
An upper middle grade fantasy set in a world where Guardians–sovereign creatures who protect the land–have allied with humans to fight against an army of fallen creatures. The special bond between Guardians and the humans they mark allows access to elemental powers, something thirteen-year-old Elli never expects. But when she’s chosen by a Guardian that rules above the rest, her bond allows her to manipulate all the elements, a vital skill in the fight against the creatures ravaging the land. But Elli isn’t sure she’s up for the task. She’s already lost too much–her best friend, her father, and her home. In order to protect what little she has left, she must embrace her fate and venture into the realm where the fallen creatures dwell.
Kisses and Croissants by Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau | Young Adult
Kisses and Croissants is a sweet, YA romance, set in Paris where Mia is attending a summer ballet program. Having grown up a dancer myself, I was instantly drawn in by the author’s seamless descriptions of life in a ballet studio. I could feel myself living the story through Mia’s experiences, feeling the pain of her intense training, and holding my breath as she waited to hear whether or not she was picked for one the top roles in the upcoming performance.
I wish the same magic was woven into the romance in the book. There wasn’t enough build up for Mia and Louise to gain a place in my heart and make me root for their relationship. I wanted to be invested, but the emotion was lacking for me and left me wanting to skip ahead.
The author does an amazing job at describing Paris and weaving French into the story, but as someone who doesn’t know French, I occasionally found the extensive use of it distracting from the story, as well as the long, drawn out setting descriptions. However, there is a hint of mystery woven into Mia’s connection to the culture and it kept me turning the pages, wanting to uncover the secret.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and feel like it would be a great fit for young adult readers interested in Paris and/or the art of dance!
Ariella winters has worked tirelessly to gain entry into the Program—a government-run boarding school tasked with restoring their broken world and poisoned soil. But once she’s accepted, she discovers a disturbing fact—most of the students who graduate the Program are never heard from again. As she unravels the corruption, she gains the help of a fellow classmates with his own motives to derail the prestigious school. Together they discover that the Directors are searching for something hidden within the souls of their students, forcing them to complete tasks that leave more than physical scars.
The Monster Missions by Laura Martin | Middle Grade The Monster Missions follows Berkley and Garth who find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time and face to face with a giant sea monster. This sets off a series of events that ends them with a group of people who research and track sea monsters.
It’s refreshing to see a female lead in a middle grade fantasy novel and the author definitely gives her a shining role. I can see this being a hit for that reason alone. But while the beginning sets a strong foundation for an exciting premise, the book ended up feeling more like a series of disconnected events revolving around a central topic instead of a fully developed plot. I think it would still be compelling and interesting for middle grade readers (I mean, what kid doesn’t love sea monsters), but some of my students may have a hard time staying engaged and invested through all the research and chores around the submarine. For those who love ocean life, mythology, and/or monsters of legend and lore, this would be a great read. This book doesn’t lack in cool, weird, quirky, and scary monsters.
There is one part in particular that young readers may struggle with–a scene revolving around a sea monster’s nest. The characters are a bit careless in this scene and things are done for the benefit of science that may leave a few kids upset (I myself was bothered by it). Especially after giving such fun characterization to one of the sea monsters aboard their ship.
Overall, I think this book will appeal to older readers in the middle grade demographic and the action packed ocean scenes will have them wanting to read more!
How to Promenade with a Python (And Not Get Eaten)
How to Promenade with a Python (And Not Get Eaten) | Rachel Poliquin Age Range – Elementary and Middle Grade Science
How to Promenade with a Python is a hilariously delightful, non-fiction story written by a cockroach as a how-to book. The cockroach, Celeste, walks you through how to survive a night stroll with a python, all while giving you facts about pythons in a way that you don’t even realize you’re learning.
The full-color illustrations are fantastic and add to the laugh-out-loud nature of this story. My six-year-old, who LOVES snakes, peeked over my shoulder, and begged me to read the book to him. Not only did it keep his attention, but we were BOTH roaring with laughter.
It also does an amazing job teaching vocabulary. There are a lot of large words in this book, but the author doesn’t shy away from using them. Instead, she provides a description in a fun and engaging way. I was impressed by the extensive use of science terms and the ease with which they are described.
This is, hands-down, the best non-fiction book for kids that I have ever read. It is a great way to introduce a topic and non-fiction reading in general. I highly recommend this book for every elementary classroom and even middle grade science classrooms. For younger kids, it would be a great read-aloud. For older kids, it is a great resource for animal units, and perfect to fulfill non-fiction requirements.
Ancient curses and island legends were not the vacation Sitalee bargained for. But when she accidentally summons a man from the sea, she’s forced to make a life-altering decision: become a creature of the deep or be claimed by the ocean.
These are a few of my favorite books for upper elementary students. Not only have my students thoroughly enjoyed them, but they’ve become some of my favorite reads as well!
The Sisters Grimm | Michael Buckley (Ages 10+) A new twist on fairy tales through the eyes of young detectives. Sabrina and Daphne are shipped off to live with their grandmother when their parents mysteriously go missing. But their expectations for a boring household are turned upside down when they discover they are descendants of the Brothers Grimm and all the creatures from their favorite stories are real. What’s more…the creatures need their help solving mysteries.
This nine-book series is fun and full of action. Kids will love seeing characters they grew up with in a new light. Snow White is an elementary school teacher, the Queen of Hearts is the town mayor, and Little Red Riding Hood turns out not to be so sweet. There is some violence in regards to the mysteries/crimes the girls solve which increases later on in the series. This might not be the best fit for sensitive groups, but the average reader will love the action, adventure, magic, and mystery this series offers.
Note: I read these books to my fourth grade students as a read-aloud but we didn’t make it through all nine. I became so invested in the series, I ended up finishing the books on my own over the summer.
Fablehaven | Brandon Mull (Ages 9+) I absolutely ADORE this series! This is a series I rarely recommend as a “children’s book” because it’s loved just as much by adults. I originally read this book because so many of my students were reading it, but then I couldn’t put it down and devoured the whole series!
Fairies, witches, imps, and trolls–Fablehaven has it all. Set on a reserve for creatures, Kendra and Seth’s eyes are opened to a magical word when they’re forced to stay with their grandparents for the summer. They’re warned not to go into the woods, but Seth’s curiosity gets the better of him and he finds himself in the clutches of a witch. Seth continues to push the boundaries of this new and exciting world, unintentionally releasing a monster that threatens them all.
Although this series is recommended for children as young as 8, I have had a few who were frightened of some of the creatures (especially the witch), so recommend with caution.
George’s Marvelous Medicine | Roald Dahl (Ages 6 – 11) This one is an easy read and is great for struggling readers.
George gives his cranky grandma a dose of her own medicine, quite literally. When she won’t stop giving him a hard time, he replaces her medicine with his own concoction (a hilarious combination of items around the house), and the side-effects are shockingly funny!
This is one of the funniest book written by Roald Dahl. It will have your students laughing and begging for more.
