Author Archives: Annette Wells

The Forgotten Magic of Zoey Turner by Erin Stewart

Posted on by

This upper elementary/middle grade novel is perfect for many readers: anyone managing an anxiety disorder, anyone who loves to write fanfiction or fantasy, anyone who’s been bullied, anyone who’s lost a parent, anyone receiving support from a therapist, or anyone who worries or fixates on worst case scenarios.  Zoey Turner lost her father to a bus accident and now struggles with debilitating anxiety. Her fears include but aren’t limited to buses, germs, crowds, cars, the deep end of the pool, and she spends her time googling worst-case scenario facts. She is obsessed with Raven M. Wells, author of her favorite fantasy series about a hero’s journey. Cleverly, this is exactly what Zoey finds herself embarking on after she obtains what she believes to be a “magic pencil” at the author’s signing event because when she proceeds to write with it, her stories come true. Readers will ponder what they would write if they had a magic pencil. Zoey’s quest includes: a supportive mother; book store owner, Jada; Derek, a boy bullied by others; and best friend, Lena, who loves and supports her, but who is also being pulled into a new circle of not-very-nice girls. During the course of her quest, Zoey learns that it’s okay to need others, courage means acting in spite of fear, “bad things…happen to all of us, be we decide how those things change us” (298), the magic is in us, and we can’t just be the hero; rather, we have to become one. All powerful and necessary messages. The twist at the end will delight readers while they cheer Zoey on during the final stages of her hero’s journey.

With Just One Wing by Brenda Woods

Posted on by

Reviewed by North Thurston High School student, Michelle E.

This is an exquisite middle-grade novel that sensitively explores identity, belonging, and the intricacies of adoption. Readers are transported into a heartfelt coming of age story through nearly twelve-year-old Cooper “Coop” Garnet’s eyes, who finds himself needing to rescue an injured mockingbird. Coop, who was adopted at infancy, struggles with questions about his birthmother and where he fits into his beloved, yet adoptive family. Coop and his buddy, Zandi, find an orphaned fledgling, who only has one wing; it won’t be able to fend for itself. They choose to take care of the bird, and name it Hop. As Coop pours his energy into Hop’s care, he starts to notice parallels between the bird’s plight and his own abandonment and acceptance issues. This experience teaches him about love, sacrifice and the complexities of his own adoption. Woods uses straightforward, conversational language to enliven Coop’s first-person narrative, helping to explain complicated feelings to young readers. Ideal for fans of… The Year of the Book by Andrea Cheng; Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan Readers who enjoy tales of personal transformation, family relationships, and the redemptive power of tending to another’s needs will especially resonate with With Just One Wing, a warm, approachable family story with believable conflicts and satisfying resolutions. The complexity of Woods’ story mirrors the intricacies of relationships woven among those we love, the sense of responsibility we have for families we choose, and how to balance that with the hard realities of life. More than a heartwarming book, this is a great addition to middle-grade literature because it reads like a love letter mixed with life lessons.

Sing It Like Celia by Monica Mancillas

Posted on by

Reviewed by North Thurston High School Student, Michelle E.

A moving, middle-grade novel about identity, resilience, and the power of music. The main character is twelve-year-old Salvadora “Salva” Sanchez, whose life is turned upside down when her mother vanishes from the family store without a trace. Salva wrestles with abandonment and insecurity when she is reluctantly uprooted to live with her estranged investigative journalist father at an RV campground. The plot reveals broader social issues through Salva’s personal struggles. The subplots add dimension to the narrative, drawing attention to the struggles of immigrant families. Salva’s involvement in a band creates group dynamics, including friendship, jealousy, and identity, along with personal growth, particularly in her confrontation with the original lead singer of the band. The narrator’s yearning moments arise as Salva discovers the truth about her mother’s disappearance, forcing Salva to reckon with harsh realities and find strength within herself. Mancillas treats complex topics with sensitivity and age-appropriate concepts. The mix of Jeronimo Pretto and Celia Cruz’s legacy adds a rich cultural layer celebrating music and the importance of role models. Ideal for fans of… The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart and Merci Suarez Changes Gears by Meg Medina. If you enjoy reading stories about growth and family and music as balm, you might find Sing It Like Celia especially enjoyable. This is an impressive novel that will encourage children to embrace their identities and use music as a source of solace and expression.

Camp Twisted Pine by Ciera Burch

Posted on by

Review by North Thurston High School student, Michelle E.

This intriguing middle-grade novel brings together mystery, adventure, and self-discovery. Set at a summer camp in New Jersey’s Pine Barrens, the story follows 11-year-old Naomi, a nature lover who likes to learn about the outdoors through books rather than experience. Naomi is drawn into a suspenseful adventure when fellow campers start disappearing in later episodes under mysterious circumstances. The story follows Naomi, a girl whose parents have separated and who is sent to Camp Twisted Pine with her younger twin brothers as their parents try to navigate this new stage in their lives. Impressed by the activity-heavy camp experience, Naomi finds comfort in her friendship with Jackie, whom she meets at camp and who is hard of hearing. The two bond over sign language lessons and skepticism of camp traditions. Things take a sinister turn when campers begin to go missing, including Jackie. Desperate to get to the bottom of things, Naomi uses her scientific knowledge and logical reasoning to combat the strange forces while embarking on a personal journey of courage. This book is ideal for fans of… Small Spaces by Katherine Arden and Whispering Pines by Heidi Lang and Kati Bartkowski, as well as those who enjoy spooky campfire tales. Ultimately, Camp Twisted Pine is a delightful combination of spooky adventure with heartfelt storytelling. Burch’s story inspires readers to venture out of their comfort zone, to appreciate the power of friendship, and to face life’s unknowns with curiosity and bravery. It’s a MUST READ that teaches about life, while also being part of a suspenseful plot—definitely one for the middle-grade literature “A” list!

Unstuck by Barbara Dee

Posted on by

Reviewed by North Thurston High School student, Michelle E.

This is a terrific middle-grade read that explores writer’s block, how friendships aren’t linear in their growth, and family expectations. By seeing it all through the eyes of seventh grader Lyla, readers get an authentic view of young writers trying to work through these struggles so they will enjoy it and possibly be inspired by it as young authors and middle schoolers. The story follows Lyla, who is excited when her English teacher gives her a daily creative writing assignment. While she spent the last year mentally building an elaborate fantasy novel, this is now her chance to put her story on paper. While trying to work through writer’s block, Lyla also deals with changing dynamics with her best friend, Rania, and the buildup of pressure to do well in a town writing contest. Dee captures that sensation of middle school – the bittersweetness of shifting friendships, the burden of academic (and personal) expectations – perfectly. Lyla’s internal conflicts about perfectionism and self-doubt, in addition to the practical writing advice embedded into the narrative itself, offers useful lessons to young authors dealing with such obstacles. This novel is ideal for fans of   Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary and Front Desk by Kelly Yang. All in all, Unstuck is a tender, comical meditation on making your way through life as a young writer on and off the page. Barbara Dee is a fabulous storyteller, and the lessons in this book empower readers to feel comfortable expressing their creative passions, while also dealing with adolescent trials with empathy and resilience. This novel is a welcome addition to middle grade literature.

Not Nothing by Gayle Forman

Posted on by

Reviewed by North Thurston High School student, Michelle E.

This heartwarming and deeply moving middle-grade novel should be required reading for everyone who has ever grappled with guilt, redemption, or finding their voice in an unlikely setting. Forman tells such a lovely story of an unlikely friendship formed between a troubled twelve-year-old boy and a 107-year-old man who has had no voice for years. This novel is a tender and evocative novel about forgiveness, resilience, and healing. The plot centers around Alex, a boy who winds up doing community service at a retirement home after a mistake leaves him in some hot water. Although he’s reluctant at first, he changes when he meets Josey, an elderly Holocaust survivor who has been rendered unable to speak. As Alex starts to spend more time with him, he gradually unravels his past and learns the true cost of silence. Their connection deepens and urges them both to face bad memories and believe in the present. Not Nothing is both a funny and nakedly honest story of second chances and how we connect, and Forman juggles those emotions with grace. This book is ideal for fans of… The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, Restart by Gordon Korman, and The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate. It is a beautifully written and deeply moving novel, and is a significant read for all. Highly recommended!


Deep Water by Jamie Sumner

Posted on by

This verse novel is perfect for anyone who finds solace in swimming, or knows a loved one dealing with mental health challenges. Tully Birch feels responsible for her mom leaving without explanation. The novel subtly explores her complicated feelings around her mom’s battle with clinical depression, including Tully’s hope that if she becomes the youngest person at twelve to complete the 12.1 mile “Godfather” swim across Lake Tahoe, her mom will see the news and come home. The chapters are organized around her hours in the water (hour 1 – hour 6)  and though most poems are free verse,  I was delighted to see that some are concrete poems. As readers, we simultaneously grieve her mom’s absence with her, while also cheering for Tully, hoping she doesn’t give up on her goal, despite the storm that moves in. The metaphor of the storm will resonate with readers, both “the one out here/ and the one inside me./” (203). Tully’s positive self talk of “…I am a winner/ and I can do HARD THINGS./”(127) and “…I am HERE and I am ALIVE/ and I’m worth/ showing up for./” (108) is juxtaposed with her complex feelings like “If you are dead/ I can miss you more/ and hate you less./” (169) and “‘You… did not cause your mother’s depression,/ and you are not responsible for fixing it.’” (164).  Tully is a character to grieve with and cheer for with both compassion and empathy. For fans of Dusti Bowling’s novels. 

A Planet is a Poem

Posted on by

 

This book is the perfect fusion of poetry, planetary facts, and illustrations, with a bonus fold out feature on every page. It will speak to all types of readers, and be a source of inspiration for teachers looking for ways to introduce poetry.  Each poem is a different style; the book includes a sonnet, ode, villanelle, ballad, concrete poem, and an acrostic, to name a few. The first is a sonnet for the solar system, followed by an ode to the Sun. Then,  each planet poem is introduced in order of how it appears in the solar system, a clever way to structure the collection. I particularly enjoyed reading each poem and then opening the foldout to learn more about each planet, including facts I didn’t know.  Did you know that we named craters on Mercury in honor of Earth’s artists, musicians, writers and dancers, like Shakespeare, Picasso and Dr. Seuss? Or, that Venus spins in the opposite direction as Earth? Or that Uranus is a sideways planet, making scientists believe that a rock the size of Earth knocked it sideways billions of years ago, causing it to spin like a barrel? I don’t love that the foldout pages don’t tuck back in very easily; I’ve already bent one page. Readers will need to be reminded to be careful. Overall, a very accessible, inspirational book, whether you want to read all the poems/facts, or choose one poem for a library/classroom lesson. Highly recommended. 

 

Telephone of the Tree

Posted on by

This upper elementary/middle grade novel is perfect for anyone navigating loss and grief, especially early stages of this circuitous journey. 10 year old Ayla uses various coping strategies, including denial, to deal with the loss of her nonbinary best friend, Kiri. Ayla’s neighborhood plants trees for people when they’re born or when they die. The tree metaphor is woven throughout the story, how roots reach for each other across distances, how trees share resources. Readers, even younger ones, will easily see how we are also like trees.  Early on, a rotary phone is placed in a tree and neighbors take turns calling and talking to loved ones who’ve passed on. (This book is inspired by a phone booth in Japan nicknamed “phone of the wind”, detailed in the author’s note.) Who hasn’t wished they could talk to a loved one, just one more time?  One of the characters, a 5 year old, calls his gecko, which young readers will relate to if they’ve lost a pet.  Ayla’s family and neighbors give her space to move toward a place of acceptance. This is a sparse, heartfelt story about a community watching out for each other. Ayla takes the time that she needs to accept her friend’s passing, while bearing witness to how others around her deal with their grief. The author dedicates this book to “all readers missing the voices of their loved ones.” It’ll speak to readers of all ages. Highly recommended.