Sometimes I read a book, and I even enjoy it, but I don't have much to
say about it. I jot down a few thoughts and then I move on. When these start to pile up, I put them together in one post.
Here are some Realistic MG books I have read recently with my thoughts.
33 Minutes by Todd Hasak-Lowry
Todd
Hasak-Lowy gets middle school for sure. His descriptions of the school
and Sam's response to it were hilarious and true. He also got the MG boy
voice down perfect. Maybe a little too perfect for me to love the book.
It is very stream of conscious with Sam changing subject and going into
flashbacks with little to no warning then zooming back again. Reading
it reminded me of listening to my daughter or one of my students with
this type of personality tell a story. After a while you just have to
say, "Please stop so I can give my brain a rest and you can breathe.
Thanks." It's an entertaining story though and I think kids will enjoy it
for sure. (I was amused by the wise and understanding art teacher. Why
in books is it always the art teacher?)
Hound Dog True by Linda Urban
This
is a quick, sweet, warm-hearted read. Mattie's voice is so engrossing
that even though this is a quiet book without a lot of action the reader
stays engaged in the story, interesting in what is happening. This is a
wonderful book for seeing what the inner workings of other people's
minds might be like, the secrets they guard, and the struggles they
have. Even when they seem inconsequential to us, they may mean a major
obstacle to someone else. I also thoroughly enjoyed the characterization
of all the adults in the novel. Definitely my favorite of Urban's
books.
Moxie and the Art of Rule Breaking by Erin Dionne
I usually enjoy Erin Dionne's
books more than I did this one. I think my disappointment was magnified
because I had my hopes rather high for this one and was mostly
unimpressed. I can see kids loving it though. It has that sort of kid
adventure movie feel to it. Kids versus the mobsters, and the kids
actually have a chance of winning. The danger never materializes quite
like it would in reality. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I
could have liked Moxie herself, but I was rolling my eyes by the end of
the first chapter. I'm so tired of main characters who are supposed to
be unique and special because they like older music and buy vintage
clothes. This is so overused that there is nothing unique or special
about these characters. It feels like slapping a vintage t-shirt on a
character and giving her a playlist her parents would have listened to
are acceptable replacements for actual character development. I do like
that she was a Math lover though.
One Plus One Equals Blue by M.J. Auch
For
the most part this is a fairly typical MG realistic fiction. Anyone who
reads often from the genre will recognize all the plot elements and
characters. There will be no surprises. That is not to say this isn't a
lovely book and a good read. It's just not breaking any new ground nor
is it written in a way that will make you take a second look. One new
and interesting thing about it is that the two main characters have
synesthesia, which is an interesting condition most people probably know
nothing of.
Here are some Realistic MG books I have read recently with my thoughts.
33 Minutes by Todd Hasak-Lowry
Todd
Hasak-Lowy gets middle school for sure. His descriptions of the school
and Sam's response to it were hilarious and true. He also got the MG boy
voice down perfect. Maybe a little too perfect for me to love the book.
It is very stream of conscious with Sam changing subject and going into
flashbacks with little to no warning then zooming back again. Reading
it reminded me of listening to my daughter or one of my students with
this type of personality tell a story. After a while you just have to
say, "Please stop so I can give my brain a rest and you can breathe.
Thanks." It's an entertaining story though and I think kids will enjoy it
for sure. (I was amused by the wise and understanding art teacher. Why
in books is it always the art teacher?)Hound Dog True by Linda Urban
This
is a quick, sweet, warm-hearted read. Mattie's voice is so engrossing
that even though this is a quiet book without a lot of action the reader
stays engaged in the story, interesting in what is happening. This is a
wonderful book for seeing what the inner workings of other people's
minds might be like, the secrets they guard, and the struggles they
have. Even when they seem inconsequential to us, they may mean a major
obstacle to someone else. I also thoroughly enjoyed the characterization
of all the adults in the novel. Definitely my favorite of Urban's
books.Moxie and the Art of Rule Breaking by Erin Dionne
I usually enjoy Erin Dionne's
books more than I did this one. I think my disappointment was magnified
because I had my hopes rather high for this one and was mostly
unimpressed. I can see kids loving it though. It has that sort of kid
adventure movie feel to it. Kids versus the mobsters, and the kids
actually have a chance of winning. The danger never materializes quite
like it would in reality. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I
could have liked Moxie herself, but I was rolling my eyes by the end of
the first chapter. I'm so tired of main characters who are supposed to
be unique and special because they like older music and buy vintage
clothes. This is so overused that there is nothing unique or special
about these characters. It feels like slapping a vintage t-shirt on a
character and giving her a playlist her parents would have listened to
are acceptable replacements for actual character development. I do like
that she was a Math lover though. One Plus One Equals Blue by M.J. Auch
For
the most part this is a fairly typical MG realistic fiction. Anyone who
reads often from the genre will recognize all the plot elements and
characters. There will be no surprises. That is not to say this isn't a
lovely book and a good read. It's just not breaking any new ground nor
is it written in a way that will make you take a second look. One new
and interesting thing about it is that the two main characters have
synesthesia, which is an interesting condition most people probably know
nothing of.
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