In a Nutshell Reviews: Middle Grades Edition

In a Nutshell Reviews are my version of mini-reviews, because sometimes, you just want the highlights.

Checked
Cynthia Kadohata
Series: n/a
Genre: Middle Grades, Contemporary, Sports
Publisher: Atheneum
Rating:  3.5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads

From Newbery Medalist Cynthia Kadohata comes a brilliantly realized sports novel about a hockey player who must discover who he is without the sport that defines him.

Hockey is Conor’s life. His whole life. He’ll say it himself, he’s a hockey beast. It’s his dad’s whole life too—and Conor is sure that’s why his stepmom, Jenny, left. There are very few things Conor and his dad love more than the game, and one of those things is their Doberman, Sinbad. When Sinbad is diagnosed with cancer, Conor chooses to put his hockey lessons and practices on hold so they can pay for Sinbad’s chemotherapy.

But without hockey to distract him, Conor begins to notice more. Like his dad’s crying bouts, and his friend’s difficult family life. And then Conor notices one more thing: Without hockey, the one thing that makes him feel special, is he really special at all?

I don't read a lot from this age range, so it was such a nice change of pace to get into the head of a younger protagonist. I am happy to say, I was pleasantly surprised by what I found there.

• Pro: Conor was so ernest. I just wanted to grab him and give him the biggest hug. He touches upon these feelings of abandonment and guilt that brought a tear or two to my eyes. I was happy he was able to see and appreciate those who didn't leave. His love for his father, aunt and his best friend was so obvious. I just adored him and his big, beautiful heart. 
• Pro: You would think a boy with a cop and ex-hockey player for father, who also played this manly-man sport himself would fall into that jock stereotype, but he doesn't. Connor, his dad, his friends, and even the neighbor are all portrayed as human. They feel things, they cry, and they grieve. Kadohata showed it's ok for males to have a sensitive side, and I think that is something really great to show to the target age group. 
• Con: I felt like the book may have been a little long, and there were parts that could have been trimmed without sacrificing the story. 
• Pro: How could I not love a story that revolves around a boy and his dog. There was so much buried in that relationship alone. Being kind, adopting strays, believing that abused animals can heal, caring for the sick, unconditional love, and being responsible are all lessons I gleaned from Conor and Sinbad's relationship. 
• Pro: Conor and his father had such an incredible bond. I loved that his father had real and honest talks with him. He shared things with his son, and didn't hide his struggles with loneliness, his job, and money. He didn't overwhelm the child with these issues, but he didn't deny there were problems when Conor asked. 
• Pro: It was such an in-depth look at the sacrifices athletes at the elite level make. Connor's dedication was unreal for someone that young, but I know there are so many young people out there like him. I also liked that Kadohata explores the sacrifices the families of these elite athletes make, as well as the negative impact it can have on the family unit. 
• Pro: Connor faced some tough choices in this book, and he handled them with a wisdom beyond his years. He struggled through some personal crises, which made him examine who he thought he was and what he wanted, and I felt Kadohata approached it in a thoughtful way. 

Overall: An honest and heartwarming story of growing up. It was quite interesting being inside the mind of a 12 year old boy, as he grapples with some issues in a rather thoughtful and mature way.

** ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

Flipped
Wendelin Van Draanen
Series: n/a
Genre: Middle Grades, Contemporary
Publisher: Knopf
Rating:  4.5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads

The first time she saw him, she flipped. The first time he saw her, he ran. That was the second grade, but not much has changed by the seventh. She says: “My Bryce. Still walking around with my first kiss.” He says: “It’s been six years of strategic avoidance and social discomfort.” But in the eighth grade everything gets turned upside down. And just as he’s thinking there’s more to her than meets the eye, she’s thinking that he’s not quite all he seemed.

This is a classic romantic comedy of errors told in alternating chapters by two fresh, funny new voices. Wendelin Van Draanen is at her best here with a knockout cast of quirky characters and a hilarious series of misunderstandings and missed opportunities. But underlying the humor are two teens in transition. They are each learning to look beyond the surface of people, both figuring out who they are, who they want to be, and who they want to be with.

This has to be one of the most precious books I have ever read! I am so glad I stumbled upon it at the library and selected it for my reading challenge, because this book was a near perfect read for me.

• Pro: This story was so sweet and adorable and I could not stop smiling the whole time. 
• Pro: I am such a fan of stories that span several years, and this one took us from 2nd to 8th grade. The bulk of the story was set in 8th grade, but I really enjoyed seeing the very beginning of Juli and Bryce's relationship. 
• Pro: I always enjoy dual perspective narration, but this was my favorite type of dual POV. I loved the way Van Draanen overlapped the POVs. We would hear an event from Bryce, and then we would experience the event from Juli's POV. It really allowed me to get to know each of them better, and I was also impressed that the author accomplished this without it becoming repetitive. 
• Pro: The two POVs were so distinct. Juli and Bryce both had crystal clear voices.  
• Pro: Watching them grow and change was such a delight. As Juli matured, she started to appreciate the world so much more. As Bryce matured, he started to see the flaws in his world. I just loved the way Van Draanen showed their changing world view. It was beautifully done. 
• Pro: Juli's family was so wonderful, but the real standout was her dad. The relationship he maintained with his daughter was so special. I just adored that doting dad and his big beautiful heart. 
• Pro: There was a lot of lessons on compassion and empathy in this story, and I was touched often by the story. 
• Con: That ending made me happy and nuts! The con is for the very open ended ending. I like closure. I like loose ends dealt with. This ending leaves me wondering about quite a few things, and that's just wrong.  
• Pro: I never thought I see it, but we got a grand romantic gesture in a middle grades book. I must say, it was wonderful. 

Overall: An utterly adorable and very special story of love, life, and growing up. My heart soared as I read this story, and I shed a multitude of happy tears.

NOTE: I watched the film adaptation this week, and it was very well done. If you have an hour to spare, you might want to check it out.

Dear Isaac Newton, You're Ruining My Life
Rachel Hruza
Series: n/a
Genre: Middle Grades, Contemporary
Publisher: Sky Pony Press
Rating:  3.5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads

As if seventh grade isn't hard enough, Truth Trendon learns she has to wear a back brace to help her worsening scoliosis. She decides gravity is to blame for curving her spine and ruining her life. Thanks for nothing, Isaac Newton!

Truth's brace is hard plastic, tight, and uncomfortable. She has to wear a t-shirt under it and bulky clothes over it, making her feel both sweaty and unfashionable. She's terrified that her classmates are going to find out about it.

But it's hard keeping it a secret (especially when gym class is involved), and secrets quickly turn into lies. When Truth's crush entrusts her with a big secret of his own, it leads to even more lying. Add to that a fight with her best friend, a looming school-wide presentation, and mean rumors, and it's a recipe for disaster.

As Truth navigates the ups and downs of middle school, can she learn to accept her true self, curvy spine and all?

I used to be a teacher, and we always talked about how tough middle school is. It's such an in-between age, with the kids experiencing so many of those "growing up" changes. Truth had to not only deal with growing up, boys, and complicated friendships, but she had to deal with a physical deformity that was possibly irreparable.

• Pro: I found Truth to be very thoughtful, and I appreciated her inner struggles with who she thought she was and who she thought she was becoming. I think a lot of people would be able to related to her insecurities and her struggles. 
• Pro: There were a lot of positive adults in this story. Truth's parent were quite wonderful, as were some of her teachers, and the doctor who made her brace. 
• Pro: Oliver was fabulous. I liked that he was included, because it allowed Truth to have some perspective on her situation, and besides that, I absolutely loved him!
• Con: In fact, I loved Oliver so much, I wish he had been given more page time. 
• Pro: Hruza did a good job incorporated many of the normal issues school aged children experience. These every day worries combined with Truth's health concerns painted a complete picture of Truth for us. 
• Con: There was some friction between Truth and another girl that escalated a little bit.
• Pro: BUT, I did like the way Hruza resolved the situation. 
• Pro: Truth grew quite a bit over the course of this story, and realized that the things she thought were important really weren't. She matured in her understanding of the world and herself. 

Overall: A charming #OwnVoices tale of middle school woe, where a back brace leads to some self discovery. 

** ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

Have you read any of these books?

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