Lost on Doll Island by Cassandra Ramos-Gomez

How many of you remember or have read Doll Bones by Holly Black (published in 2013)? That was the first thing that came to mind when I saw this cover...although it doesn't give quite the same feel, does it? The blurb compares this one to a mix of Rick Riordan and R.L. Stine, which definitely sounds interesting, but I also am skeptical when such huge names are used, since those are some pretty big shoes to fill. 

I have mixed feelings about diving into this one. There are quite a few doll-horror movies out there and such, so it's not a new direction, by any means. Plus, my two sons are not fans of clown horror, animatronics, or anything doll-like which leans to spookiness. My daughters have no problem with it, which makes me wonder. Anyway, I know horror is always a big genre, which never seems to have enough for readers, so I decided to give this one a chance. And that doll on the cover is creepy!

So, let's take a peek and see if this read is chill-worthy or not.

Also, it's Monday, which means it's time for the weekly MMGM list. Middle grade literature fans and knowers get together to give their recommendations for the weeks or other thoughts on the middle grade realm. So, if you're looking for reads for this age group, head on over HERE and see what's what on that front!

LOST ON DOLL ISLAND

by Cassandra Ramos-Gomez

Simon & Schuster

Middle Grade Horror

192 pages

ages 8 to 12

COMING...

AUGUST 26th!!!

Rick Riordan meets R. L. Stine in this fast-paced debut middle grade horror packed with adventure about a Mexican American boy who starts hearing the voice of a haunted doll while visiting family in Mexico City.

Diego feels trapped. He’s confined in an arm cast, stuck with his tía and tío for a week in Mexico City, and smothered with the sickening fear that he’s the one who really caused his parents’ divorce. But most of all, he’s trapped in his own secret. Because ever since he got to Mexico City, he’s started having strange dreams of a doll calling his name.

Then Diego learns of La Isla de Muñecas, an island full of legendary magic that can make children’s wishes come true. If Diego can harness the power there, maybe he could fix everything that has gone wrong in his life. Maybe he doesn’t have to move to Mexico City, his parents don’t have to separate, and he could even reunite with one of his oldest friends who’s still visiting him in his dreams…

So, with the help of two new friends, Diego takes a boat to the legendary island. From the moment the kids step ashore, nothing is as it seems—with dolls disappearing and reappearing in the blink of an eye. Suddenly, Diego is more trapped than ever before, and as the night goes on, he’s not sure he can escape.

GOODREADS    /     PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

Creepy dolls hanging from trees, the silent call of a doll in the mind, and a myth about making dreams come true meld and mold to form an eerie tale.

Diego's been sent to Mexico City by his mother, while she and his father work through marital issues. Since Diego has always lived in Texas, this is anything but thrilling. When he gets lost in the city, an antique store owner informs him that his school will probably be taking a trip to the La Isla de Munecas, an island filled with dolls. But it's not the real island. The true island is nearby and hides a doll, which can fulfill any wish. With the desire to return to Texas and make his problems disappear, Diego makes a plan to sneak off to the true island during the field trip, but the doll he seeks isn't what he hopes it will be. It demands a price.

First off, I do appreciate the shorter length of this read. At less than 200 pages, it works well for a fun, spooky dive which won't scare more reluctant readers away quite as much. The story remains quick-paced and doesn't spend much time on background information or deeper thought swirls. It offers just enough to get the story going and make Diego's situation clear, while adding a familiar problem surrounding parental issues to inject sympathy and a little bit of depth and drive. There's also friendship goodness and loyalty, which inspires.

As for horror, the island and dolls make it a chilling read. The eeriness builds the moment Diego meets the antique owner and, shortly thereafter, hears a voice in his head, but the dolls on the island notch it up to creepy. His bad decisions driven by his emotions are understandable and add those moments to make readers hope things work out. The antique store owner, who slides in another level of secrets, builds up a mysterious undertone along the way. Even as the stakes rise, the tale never leaves the middle grade level and works well for the lower end of the group thanks to the lighter writing depth. Sensitive readers might be uncomfortable, though.

All in all, it's a quick-paced read, which keeps the plot going . Readers, who want a shorter, direct read with chills and thrills, are sure to find exactly that.

And here she is...

Cassandra Ramos-Gomez is a Mexican American writer focused on creating middle grade and young adult fiction that centers Latinx experiences. She has a master’s degree in education and an undergraduate degree in art history and has taught middle school language arts and social studies. She currently lives in Texas with her husband and two kids. Her hobbies include painting, collecting animal bones, and playing Minecraft with her kids. Lost on Doll Island is her middle grade debut.

Detective Beans: Adventures in Cat Town by Li Chen

Who's ready for a cute mystery? I know I am! Today's read will, hopefully, be an adorable adventure, which gives a fun twist on detectives and cats. At least, those are the vibes I'm getting from this cover and the blurb. There are already two books in this collection, and I'm pretty sure these are stand-alones, since there doesn't seem to be a specified order to them (no 1 or 2 anywhere to be seen).

Plus, these are cats. So, cat lovers are sure to smile, right? Let's just dive into this graphic novel for beginning readers and see what it holds.

DETECTIVE BEANS:

Adventures in Cat Town

by Li Chen

Andrews McMeel Publishing

Children's Mystery

Graphic Novel

208 pages

ages 6 to 9

COMING...

SEPTEMBER 9th!!!

The world's cutest cat detective is back on the case in this indie bestselling series. Li Chen's newest Detective Beans adventures are a must-read for anyone who loves mystery stories, cute animals, and hilarious original storytelling.

Detective Beans is back on the case! In this series of mysteries and adventures, the world's cutest cat detective comes to the aid of her fellow villagers, searching for a cooky thief (with surprising results!), aiding a deceptive duck in the recovery of lost goods, and even doing his best to help a confused bear prove that the moon is made of cheese. In addition to these small capers, Adventures in Cat Town features behind-the-scenes footage of the crime-solving documentary directed by Beans best friend, Biscuits, as well as comics, stories, and even horoscopes illustrated by Beans himself. Called a "must-read" by School Library Journal and "absurdly funny and clever" by Kirkus, it's no mystery why this new series is such a hit!

GOODREADS    /    PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

Small capers and adventures pack these pages to keep boredom far away.

When I saw the length of this book and the intended audience age group, I wondered if it might be a bit on the heavy side, but it's a smorgasbord of short adventures, which can be read in any order with as many pauses in between as desired. There are thirty-three short stories, each one around 3 to 6 pages. These are lined out in the Table of Contents at the beginning of the book to make it easy to find favorites or jump back in where readers left off. While the overall theme sticks with Detective Beans' mystery solving skills, some of the stories head in other directions, too, such as a day at the beach. The variety keeps monotony far away and lets readers really get to know Detective Beans well...and he is a kitten with tons of energy and ideas.

While there is mystery involved and clue-sleuthing goodness, it always stays very age appropriate. From following a ketchup trail to helping an elderly cat find her missing bag, there's a large range of cases for Detective Beans to solve. Many of the tales end with an interesting twist of humor, which is sure to bring a smile or two. There's also friendship goodness and family warmth as well. But then, everyone in Cat Town seems to be kind...even if a bit odd like the ice cream cat.

The illustrations are bright and hold details to draw in. The bring the situations to life, while the text lets the stories flow. Readers, who are sure of their words but not ready for larger reads or tons of words in one go, will feel at home in these pages. It works the word skills a bit but never pushes too hard, either. The shortness of the tales makes it nice for reluctant readers or those with shorter attention spans.

At the very end of the book there's a word search, crossword puzzle, and humorous horoscope for a last dab of fun. It's an entertaining read with a very adorable main character and constant dabs of sweet humor. It's sure to be enjoyed by more than just mystery fans. 

And here she is...

Li Chen is the creator of the internationally popular ExtraOrdinary Comics. She lives in New Zealand. 

The Voyage That Changed the World by Thekla Priebst

We're back in the nonfiction realm with today's read and taking a peek at the age of exploration. Today's read visits the historic voyage of Captain Ferdinand Magellan. If I understand everything correctly, while it takes a close look into the exciting and dangerous journey of Magellan and his crew, it will also include a deeper dive into the expedition's guide, a Mayan man forced to join the crew named Enrique de Malacca. 

And that's about all I know so far. So, let's open this book up and see what historical goodness it holds.

THE VOYAGE THAT CHANGED THE WORLD

by Thekla Priebst

Wide Eyed Editions

Middle Grade Nonfiction

80 pages

ages 7 to 11

COMING OCTOBER 7th!!!

Welcome to a bold new telling of Captain Ferdinand Magellan’s famed but ill-fated voyage, including the incredible tale of Enrique de Malacca, probably the first of the crew – and maybe the first person ever – to complete the circumnavigation of the globe.

Written and lavishly illustrated by Thekla Priebst, The Voyage That Changed the World will sweep you along on a globe-spanning adventure exploring the triumphs, dangers, betrayals and tragedies that marked this epic voyage.

This is a story of an expedition across oceans in search of precious treasure –not gold or other gems, but rare and sought-after spices! Spices that flourished far away from Europe. Spices that rival European countries wanted to trade. The race was on to find them. But this expedition, led by Ferdinand Magellan, would change the course of history. Through engaging storytelling and fabulous illustrations, you can discover what happened at each stage of the where the crew stopped, what happened, who they met . . . and who continued on!

You'll also meet the Indigenous leaders who encountered the crew, and discover the story of Enrique de Malacca, the Malay guide and translator who was forced to join the expedition, and who shaped the voyage in many ways. 


Of the five ships that first set sail from Spain, only one completed the voyage. The few men left onboard had survived the humid jungles of Central America, the hostile arctic landscapes of South America, the misleading “peace” of Moananui-a-kiwi (later named the Pacific Ocean), as well as danger and mutinies both on and off their ships. 

These men returned to Europe with more than the spices they’d first gone in search of. They carried home tales of faraway lands and people, and a powerful piece of their voyage confirmed that the Earth is round.

It was a voyage that changed their lives – and it also changed the world. 

GOODREADS    /     PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

Tension flows with facts to bring across Magellan's expedition in an exciting way.

The first pages lay out the importance of the spice trade and interests of the time period before heading into Ferdinand Magellan's background, information surrounding the crew members, and details about the ships. This also includes cultural attitudes as well as political differences, which highlight basic problems Magellan faces before the journey even begins. After the ships set sail, the tension builds and the first mutiny hits. With that, the pacing remains high. The crews face one danger after the other as they discover they've truly journeyed into the unknown.  

The author makes sure to keep the text grabbing and concise as possible, while still letting the importance of various aspects of the journey come across clearly and understandably. This makes it an interesting read and showcases how much these men were up against. And how many died. While the readers will root for the crews and feel each moment, the mistakes and questionable actions of these men aren't forgotten, either. This adds extra food for thought and opens up the door to ethical discussions...and that without overshadowing the amazing sacrifices and hardships the men faced. The main point never shifts from Magellan's original hopes to find a new trade route to the Spice Islands by sailing in the opposite direction on the hope that the earth is truly round. The huge importance of his journey is made clear at the end in a respectful and inspiring way.

The facts swirl around the adventure with finesse. The main text is placed in short paragraphs, which are spread throughout the colorful illustrations. Colored boxes hold side information and facts about various aspects of the journey, including political aspects, vegetation, culture, geography, and so much more. The colorful illustrations add to the understanding by not only bringing everything across visually, but often highlighting certain plants, cultures, climates, ship details and more. These carry tags and descriptions as required. At the end of the book, there's a glossary for important terms.  

It's a well-written dive into Magellan's journey and delivers the importance of the journey and the challenges faced in an exciting way. The text is kept concise and fits snuggly in the middle of the middle grade realm. Not only history buffs will enjoy this one, but readers who enjoy tense adventure...and wouldn't expect it from a nonfiction read...will want to give this one a go.

And here she is...

Thekla Priebst, born in Weimar in 1990, studied visual communication at Bauhaus University Weimar and Berlin Weissensee School of Art. Since 2017, she has been living with her small family on the west coast of Portugal, where she works as a freelance art director and illustrator. With her flair for composition and color, as well as a typographic sensibility, Thekla designs books from the first to the last page. The glorious The Voyage That Changed the World is her debut as author-illustrator. She has the ability to hold her breath for a long time because she likes to surf big waves.

Indu's Time to Shine by Yasmine Naghdi

Today's read is one of three books, which each take a look at one of three friends. It shines into the world of ballet and heads toward those beginning readers, who have a good grip of their words, but aren't quite ready for full-fledged middle grade novels, yet. It promises tons of friendship, some drama, and lots of ballet.

Let's take a peek and see if this one has us searching for our ballet slippers or not.

INDU'S TIME TO SHINE

Ballet Besties

by Yasmine Naghdi

with Chitra Soundar

Illustrated by Paula Franco

Candlewick

Children's Fiction

225 pages

ages 6 and up

COMING...

SEPTEMBER 9th!!!

Whether they’re devoted dancers or in it just for fun, kids of all kinds are invited to the Shimmer and Shine studio! In this second book in a series, Indu overcomes some stage fright with the help of her ballet besties.

Indu loves learning ballet at her local community dance school, but unlike her friends, she doesn’t want to be a principal dancer when she grows up. While she’s a bit afraid of being on stage, dancing is still one of her favorite hobbies. When the class has the chance to see the ballet Cinderella put on professionally, Indu realizes the other way she’s different—her mom can’t afford the ticket. Indu figures out a way to go, but it makes her think: Aren’t there other kids out there who want to learn ballet and can’t? Shouldn’t ballet be for everyone? From a principal dancer with the Royal Ballet and an award-winning children’s author comes an engaging story of friendship, responsibility, and teamwork, with back matter explaining the various dance techniques and more. Black-and-white illustrations bring a diverse group of characters to life.

PUBLISHER    /     GOODREADS

MY TIDBITS

With tons of heart, these pages swirl through the joy of dance, fears of performing, and learning to embrace who you are to help others.

Indu enjoys dancing but isn't exactly fond of standing at the center of attention. With her friends, she attends a ballet school and wonders if this will really help her get past her stage fright. Everything at the school is wonderful, and she's enjoying the time with her friends. She does know that, unlike many of the others, her mother is struggling to make ends meet. So, when the class takes a trip to watch a performance of Cinderella, she's not surprised that her mom can't afford to pay for the ticket. This gets her thinking, and soon ballet becomes more than a class for her as she realizes others, who might want to take part, don't even have money for that.

These pages are packed with several themes, each holding goodness and lessons for life. While Indu feels a little different thanks to her mother's financial situation and often has to work things differently than other girls in her class do, she's never bitter or resentful. Rather, she understands her mother's situation pretty well, and instead, has empathy for those around her. Which also makes her a great friend. That's where the friendship tones come in to create a group of girls to giggle with, worry with, and enjoy. Also, there's some family goodness with Indu and her mother, an understanding teacher, and support in general. Add her battle with stage fright, and there's a lot, especially considering this is intended for readers, who aren't quite ready for middle grade novels.

Ballet sits at the heart of this book, and the author works in terminology and dance positions smoothly. The scenes are described just enough for readers to picture the surroundings but never weigh down the text. There's quite a bit of drama and heart, but the tale also proceeds along quickly enough to keep the pacing steady and strong. It's easy to enjoy the characters and wish to jump right in and join them. There's a very diverse scope of characters, and these deliver individual goodness as well.

This book is on the longer side for beginning readers and the vocabulary does exercise the word skills. Add the longer chapter length and heavier theme base, and I think it'd almost be a better fit for the lower end of the middle grade audience than for the chapter book side. The font is larger, the spacing generous, and there are little illustrations sprinkled throughout to lighten the mood and draw in. Ballet fans, who enjoy joining characters and dealing with familiar, life situations, will want to pick this one up.

Peekaboo Dinosaur by Camilla Reid

PEEKABOO

by Camilla Reid

Illustrated by Ingela P Arrhenius

Nosy Crow

Board Book

10 pages

ages 0 to 4

A new dinosaur-themed title in the hit novelty series with multiple sliders!

Easy-to-use peekaboo sliders, a funny rhyming text and surprise mirror ending combine in this stylish and interactive board book for babies and toddlers! With a total of 10 smooth mechanisms to push, pull or turn on every spread this beautiful book is packed full of fun! From Camilla Reid and Ingela P Arrhenius, the award-winning team behind the bestselling Felt Flaps Where's Mr? series.

Connecting with faces and playing peekaboo is one of the first games that babies play. It's why the very youngest of children will love this cute dinosaur-themed book - and want to read it again and again.

GOODREADS      /      AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

Short and sweet, this little board book is sure to bring some smiles to the youngest reading audience and even a giggle or two.

This is a very short book and perfect for the intended audience. The illustrations are simple, bright, and bold. The dinosaurs are easy to identify and these are placed in simple surroundings. Each page holds a dinosaur, which is partially or completely hidden until a little flap is pulled or a lever is moved. Then, the smiling dino comes out. 

There's a very short text on each page with only two words, the first always peekaboo. The second works with things such as small, tall, and the like. These also form a cute, simple rhyme, which adds even more reading fun.

It's an adorable book for dinosaur fans and for those young readers, who like moving something to discover a surprise underneath. 

And here they are...

Camilla Reid has written, conceived and edited children’s books for over twenty years. Her titles for Nosy Crow as an in-house author include the Pip and Posy series (illustrated by Axel Scheffler), the Bizzy Bear series, (illustrated by Benji Davies), and the Felt Flaps series, (illustrated by Ingela P Arrhenius). Her titles for other publishers include The Littlest Dinosaur and the Naughty Rock (illustrated by Michael Foreman, Bloomsbury), the Seriously Cute series (illustrated by Katherine Lodge, Bloomsbury) and the Lulu series, (illustrated by Ailie Busby, Bloomsbury).

Ingela P Arrhenius graduated from art school in the early 90s and has been working as an illustrator ever since. At first, she worked in advertising and magazines, but her focus over the past ten years has been on products and books. Ingela has created patterns for fabrics, wallpaper and stationery, as well as packaging and home accessories. She has also collaborated with several toy producers around the world and her love of retro style, typography and colour is reflected in all her work. Ingela lives in Stockholm with her husband (an author) and two sons.