Review: Hello, Universe ✭✭✭✭✭

Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It's no surprise that this book recently won the 2018 John Newbery Medal ("for the most outstanding contribution to children's literature.") This is a wondrous story about four children with very different backgrounds who cross paths in a unique way. Virgil, the lead character, is a sweet, sensitive boy who doesn't seem to quite fit in with his athletic family. However, he does seem to share a very special bond with his grandmother. As Virgil is walking to a friend's house, a bully causes him to become tangled up in a very dangerous situation. Will the other quirky characters be able to come to his rescue in time? The writing of this original story has a satisfying way of achieveing balance between breathtaking suspense and reflective calm. Hello, Universe should appeal to just about any young reader; it would also make a great read aloud or book club book.

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A New Treehouse Adventure by Lisa Graff ✩✩✩✩

Kids will love The Great Treehouse War, a story of a parents vs. kids treehouse standoff. Winnie is a fifth grade student and an only child who is having a tough time finishing her school assignments due to distractions at home. Ultimately, Winnie's exacting parents decide to divorce and come up with an extremely precise visitation schedule. Part of the schedule includes one night in the treehouse between the parents' homes, and Winnie looks forward to "treehouse Wednesday" every week.

This book is filled with devices such as post-its, drawings and email letters by both the kids, parents and teachers in the story. Because of this format, it's a great book to recommend to both strong and reluctant middle-grade readers. Kids who zip through this story wanting more will love the clever and funny 43 Old Cemetary Road series and Regarding the Bathrooms series by Kate Klise.

The Missing Dog is Spotted

Jessica Scott Kerrin is the author of this sweet book about a vertically challenged (short) boy named Trevor, and his super-tall classmate, Loyola. Trevor's family moves frequently because his parents are pilots: due to this, Trevor has decided to never become too attached to anyone or any place. In fact, he is due to move again at the end of the school year. But, before his big move, the sixth graders have been assigned jobs for a local service project. Trevor awkwardly dismisses an opportunity to work with a crotchety graveyard groundskeeper in favor of a job walking dogs for senior citizens. What he doesn't realize is that Loyola is signed up for the same job. Initially, they are extremely self-conscious about walking next to each other. Fortunately, the dogs keep them busy and they soon forget about their own height-related issues. On their daily route, they meet a sweet old man who is looking for his lost dog. Or is he? Trevor and Loyola take it upon themselves to solve the case of the missing spotted dog. Readers who have outgrown the A-Z Mystery series will enjoy this book.

Can Lightning Strike Twice? ✩✩✩

I just opened a big box of new books for our school library, and the engaging cover of Lucky Strike really stood out and said "read me next!" So I did. In the story, Nate Harlow is a boy who could possibly be the world's unluckiest kid. He even has bad luck with his toaster! So, you can probably surmise what happens when Nate is struck by lightning just after playing a round of mini-golf for his birthday. What does come as a surprise is what happens to Nate's personality and his relationships with his schoolmates and residents of his coastal Florida town. Will Nate dump his best friend Gen to hang out with the more popular kids? Did Nate's grandfather really win a new boat because of Nate's luck? This "grass is always greener" story is great for fifth grade level readers and will leave the reader anxious to read more by Bobbie Pyron.

A Kate DiCamillo Gem ✩✩✩✩

Keep your tissue box handy. After Kate DiCamillo wrote Because of Winn-Dixie, she wrote this tender novelette, titled The Tiger Rising. In the story, 12-year old Ron Horton is trying to keep his emotions "locked in a suitcase" after the death of his mother. When Ron stumbles upon a caged tiger in the Florida backwoods, he is not sure whether he is dreaming. With his new friend Sistine, he discovers what the plans are for this very real tiger.

Will Ron end up setting the tiger free?.There are lots of meaty (sorry!) discussion themes in this book, from the symbolic tiger to Ron's difficult father. Fans of The One and Only Ivan will devour (sorry again!) this book.

Nutty for Squirrels

Squirrel lovers, rejoice! If you are nutty for Scaredy Squirrel, and chuckled over the fate of the poor squirrel in Flora and Ulysses, you have a new book to relish. Nuts to You (not to be confused with Lois Ehlert picture book) by Newbery award winning Lynne Rae Perkins is a warm, funny novel that follows the adventures of three squirrel buddies. One review of the book I read called it an "incredible journey" of squirrels. Ms. Perkins also illustrated the book, and there are illustrations on every page of the quirky characters. Wait until you find out what squirrels really think. This book will satisfy both young and old readers of adventure, animals and humor.