Grounded: the Adventures of Rapunzel
by Megan Morrison
This is a clever, entertaining, and thoughtful retelling of the Rapunzel tale. A happy and innocent Rapunzel resides in her tower where Witch takes good care of her, protecting her from the real world. This innocence is threatened when Jack, Jack of the beanstalk fame, shows up in the tower. So begins an epic adventure, as Rapunzel ventures out into the world, with all that hair in tow. Beneath the humour of Rapunzel learning everything she has been sheltered from, is the struggle of coming to terms with who Witch really is, and what Rapunzel has missed out on. I am looking forward to more adventures for Rapunzel and Jack. An excellent read, recommended for grades 5 and up.
Goodbye Stranger
by Rebecca Stead
This is true and honest middle grade fiction. At its centre is a group of three friends – Bridge, Emily, and Tab. Three girls starting the seventh grade in New York City, three girls who are all growing up in different ways, and at different speeds. Bridge is still dealing with the aftermath of a horrific accident which made her miss the entire fourth grade. Emily discovers what it means to be popular, and the pressures involved in being noticed by boys. Tab doesn’t really want anything to change. These are interesting and realistic characters, dealing with real issues, everything from divorce to sexting. We also get glimpses of what is to come, as we see what their older siblings are going through. Stead's writing is compelling and beautifully structured. Recommended for grade 6 and up.
George
by Alex Gino
George’s fourth grade class is doing production of Charlotte’s Web. The class is excited to be putting on a play, and almost everyone wants to be involved, including George. George really wants to play Charlotte. The problem is Charlotte is girl part, and everyone thinks George is a boy. Only George knows the truth, she knows she is a girl. The draw of Charlotte, the support of a good friend, and a lot of courage, help George to start to tell the people in her life who she really is. This is a sensitive, powerful, and timely novel. Gino gently and honestly approaches the struggles of a transgender child trying to figure out the complexities of gender identity. Recommended for grades 4 – 6, but it should really be read by older kids and adults too!
The Nest
by Kenneth Oppel
***Coming Soon***
The new Kenneth Oppel novel will be released later this month. I read an advanced reading copy, and have been thinking about the book ever since. Wah. You don’t read a lot of children’s fiction that is this creepy, scary even. Steven is the oldest of three; there is a new baby boy in the family. There is something wrong with the baby, and Steven’s parents are distracted, stressed, and exhausted. This brings out Steven’s anxieties, anxieties he has clearly struggled with for a long time. In a dream (is it a dream?), Steven meets an angel (is she really an angel?) who says she is going to help fix the baby. So begins a nightmarish saga that Steven is alone is sorting out. I can’t say more without giving it all away. All I can say is READ THIS BOOK. Oppel’s skill shines through this book; it is so well structured, with layers and layers to be peeled away. Recommended for grades 5 and up.
Kenneth Oppel will be reading from The Nest at Word on the Street, Saturday, September 26: http://thewordonthestreet.ca/kitchener/events/what-if/