The Curse of the Silvan Oaks by Georgia Channon

It's been a bit since I picked up a true, middle grade fantasy...as in one that heads into another world with magical creatures and the like. Today's read takes two characters from very different worlds and places them in...if I understood this correctly...a possible war between worlds. This book released in paper format last year but is, now, coming out in ebook and audiobook formats. The reviews have been pretty good, so far, so I'm curious to see how exciting it truly is.

Settle back into those chairs because we're heading into adventure pure! (I hope)

THE CURSE OF THE SILVAN OAKS

by Georgia Channon

Pushkin Children's Books

Middle Grade Fantasy

223 pages

ages 8 to 12

COMING SEPTEMBER 1st in Ebook and Audio Versions!!!

All is not well in the kingdom of Silvanland. An ancient feud between Queen Titania and King Oberon has turned into a merciless war, and a deadly curse festers in the sacred woods.

When young Prince Cory is kidnapped by Oberon's ruthless soldiers, the Silvan forces think all hope is lost. But fate has other plans. In the mortal world, hidden away in an old oak tree, there lies a portal. And through this portal a girl called Oli will soon fall. Her arrival in the magical land will change everything...

Thrown together unexpectedly, Oli and Cory find the fate of the Silvan kingdom now rests on their shoulders. Together they must escape the clutches of the wicked Queen Hellebore and travel to the very ends of the magical kingdom on a dangerous quest. They will face ruthless monsters and old, wicked magic, and will find help in the strangest of places.

The Curse of the Silvan Oaks is the sensational debut novel from author Georgia Channon, inspired by Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. It is a richly imagined, multiple perspective fantasy novel, set in the opulent fairytale world of Sacromund. With echoes of the great fantasy classics such as The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, this feast of a novel is sure to delight any reader looking for a magical new read.

GOODREADS    /    AMAZON    /     PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

With the atmosphere of epic fantasy, this tale dives into danger and magic with two characters to root for.

Oli is as normal as normal can be, so when she falls through a portal in a tree to find herself in a magical land, it's the last thing she expected to have happen to her. Then, there's Prince Cory who has been kidnapped by enemy forces as his kingdom faces the wrath of an evil queen. Together, the two set out on a quest to save Prince Cory's kingdom. But with dangerous monsters, evil intentions, and magic involved this is going to be more than just a difficult task. 

If I had to compare this to a tale, I'd say it carries whispers of Narnia...but I say this with a broad reach. The world building in this book is rich. Very rich. The author adds details to bring the scenes and characters to visual life. This isn't done in a information drop, either, but rather filters in as necessary to create a smooth connection with the story flow. There are also quite a few characters and aspects involved. While Oli and Cory are the main characters and heroes of the tale, they are by no means alone. There's a huge wealth of personalities, creatures, and individuals, who play a role in the adventure and quest. From this side, the book leans toward the higher end of the intended age group and will delight fantasy fans with the imagination, intrigue, and world details. At the same time, other aspects run lighter. The magic and other rules aren't well laid out in comparison, and the vast amount of characters in less than 300 pages means that there is less development on that end. This side snuggles in nicely to the middle grade audience and leaves space for the adventure to unfold.

Oli and Cory draw in with their determination, forming friendship, and heart. Both are easy to root for as they try their best to overcome the impossible task. Readers get to know both as the chapters flip between their points of view. Other characters, however, aren't forgotten as the chapters switch to other perspectives as well. This helps the tale gain needed insight and stay compact, but also takes away from needed time with Oli and Cory, leaving them feeling a bit light, at times. The tale moves along quickly to keep readers in the pages and speeds toward the end. It will be interesting to see if a book two since there are enough open strings to latch onto, but this ending satisfies as well.

Fans of rich world building are sure to enjoy this one. 

So Many Questions by Belen Medina

Today's read caught my attention because it's a theme which sits close to home. It's simply a topic all families discuss, when an immigrant member is involved. I've always wondered what the test looks like because I've never really done the research to see, but I know there is one. So, this is going to be informative for me, too. 

Will young readers enjoy it? Well, that depends on how it's done. And that's why I'm curious to take a peek and see what's inside!

SO MANY QUESTIONS

Abuelita Becomes a US Citizen

by Belen Medina

Illustrated by Heidi Moreno

Quill Tree Books

Picture Book

32 pages

ages 4 to 8

Inspired by the author’s own abuelita, this tribute to becoming a US citizen follows a young girl who helps her grandmother prepare for America’s citizenship test.

Anita’s abuela is taking a very important test soon: the exam to become a US citizen! If Abuelita passes, she’ll finally be able to achieve her life-long dream. Anita and her abuela review the questions everywhere they go: at the tiendita, at the open mercado, all around the barrio. But will Abuelita pass the test?

This ode to immigrants, beautifully brought to life by illustrator Heidi Moreno, will fascinate and educate readers about what it takes to become a US citizen.

• Includes the full list of questions for the US citizenship test – with answers
• Inspired by the author’s grandmother’s path to citizenship

GOODREADS    /    AMAZON     /     PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

With grandparent-grandchild warmth, these pages present the tension and hard work needed to pass the US citizenship test.

Anita's abuela has lived in the US for a long time and is about to take her test to become a US citizen. There are so many questions she needs to know the answers to. Luckily, Abuelita has always been known to have a great memory. Still, she studies the questions and answers rigorously, taking them with her everywhere she goes.

The book begins with an illustration presenting the questions of the US citizenship test listed on pages of paper. So, listeners/readers know right away what Anita's abuela is learning. Abuelita is then introduced as she sits at a kitchen table, studying away. Each page presents her learning in various places as Anita accompanies her through daily activities and constantly quizzes her. The scenes are familiar and add a lovely backdrop as the questions hit, one after the other. It's never boring, lets the nervousness come to life, and lets readers gently connect with Anita and Abuelita. Both come across as kind and cheerful, making it easy to hope that Abuelita can pass the test.

The text allows the questions to seep in with a sense of fun and flows nicely for the age group. It creates a lovely read-aloud, which should even hold reluctant listeners' attentions. There's a sense of playfulness to keep everything from growing serious or boring, and a littl tension grows the entire way through. The questions at the beginning of the book add a bit of fun as listeners/readers can see how many answers they know themselves. The answers are listed at the end of the book which I appreciate, too.

It's a touching read, which raises respect for those immigrants who took the path to US citizenship, while bringing in family goodness as well.

Boogy & Tee and Twinkle & Hew by Kathy Stinson

Today's read caught my attention due to the illustrations style on the cover. Plus, it involves two pairs of main characters, which could be kind of fun, too. This should surround a tale in which both pair takes a very different boat to sea, and their experiences are very different because of that. I'm ready to see what it's about, so let's just open it up and jump right in.

BOOGY & TEE AND TWINKLE & HEW

by Kathy Stinson

Illustrated by Mark Hoffmann

Groundwood Books

Picture Book

40 pages

ages 4 to 8

COMING SEPTEMBER 1st!!!

Two boats at sea, struck by a storm, are impacted very differently — a tale about economic inequality and climate change, patterned on a classic poem.

Four characters go to sea in two very different boats with two very different reasons — Boogy and Tee set off in a luxury yacht for a vacation, while Twinkle and Hew set out in a tiny fishing dory in search of their next meal. When a storm blows up, the fishing dory soon breaks apart, casting Twinkle and Hew into the sea. The yacht hits a large rock, and as water pours into the hold, Boogy can do nothing but wail about losing his precious possessions. Then Tee spots Twinkle and Hew clinging to the remains of their boat and insists they go to the rescue — a decision that saves them all.

Inspired by Edward Lear’s “The Owl and the Pussy-Cat,” Kathy Stinson’s story-poem with its rollicking, sea-faring rhythm and sprinkling of invented vocabulary combines with Mark Hoffmann’s quirky, playful art to create a funny tale that speaks to urgent issues.

Includes as afterword a brief quotation adopted and retweeted by Greta Thunberg: “Stop saying that we’re all in the same boat. We’re all in the same storm. But we’re not all in the same boat.”

Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.2

Retell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of their central message or lesson.

GOODREADS    /     PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

With sing-songy rhyme, these two adventures come together to form an interesting meeting.

Boogy and Tee decide to take a trip out on the ocean  with their yacht. At the same time, Twinkle and Hew want to go fishing and hope to find some food with their small, well-worn boat. Twinkle and Hew find themselves in dire straights as their boat is destroyed in the waves. Boogy and Tee have their own troubles as a hole threatens to end their boating pleasure, too. Luckily, Twinkle and Hew just happen to be stranded on the same rock that causes the hole in Boogy and Tee's yacht. So, the two pairs find a way to work together.

This includes a quote from Greta Thunberg, "Stop saying that we're all in the same boat. We're all in the same storm. But we're not all in the same boat." And that sums up this tale very nicely. The difference in how the two pairs approach the ocean is like night and day, and yet, they run into similar problems. There's a message about social class differences as well, but this is very subtle and won't be recognized by young listeners or readers. Older ones will take notice, though, and be lead on a path of thought. 

The entire thing is written in rhyme with repeating phrases at the end of each verse. This holds a playful touch while describing the adventure well. For some reason, I found myself stumbling on the tact at times, but it makes a cute read-aloud which invites listeners to join in. The text has been carefully planned for readers to pick up on their own as well and offers word building skills and some reading practice.

The illustrations have a lovely, layered style which works very well with the plot. It's original and catches the eye, while giving each character unique personality. Each scene makes it clear what is happening and helps listeners and readers along. 

It's a fun story with original flair and plenty of reading goodness, too.

And here they are...

KATHY STINSON, best known for her picture books, has also written children’s novels, short stories and poems. Her classic picture book Red Is Best, illustrated by Robin Baird Lewis, has been in print for more than forty years; The Man with the Violin, illustrated by Dušan Petričić, won the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award; and The Rock and the Butterfly, illustrated by Brooke Kerrigan, was a finalist for the Governor General’s Literary Award. Kathy lives in Rockwood, Ontario.

MARK HOFFMANN is an author/illustrator of children’s books, editorial illustrator and artist who has won many awards for his illustrations. He is also a professor at Montserrat College of Art. Mark’s picture books include Explosion at the Poem Factory by Kyle Lukoff; The Note Who Faced the Music by Lindsay Bonilla; Soren’s Seventh Song by Dave Eggers (starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Booklist) and Dirt Cheap. Mark lives in southern New Hampshire with his family, two cats and two dogs.

Wish You Well by Jamie Sumner

Today's read heads toward the deep thought and heart direction...at least, that's the vibe I"m getting. If I understood things correctly, this centers around three children with three difficult diseases. And they are on a mission to make sure each of them gets their wish from a foundation granted. I'm a bit confused on how they think they can scam a foundation or what exactly their wishes are, but I'm intrigued enough to want to find out. I'm hoping this is an entertaining read and not too serious (that's just a personal thing with me), but it sounds promising.

So, let's open in up and take a look!

WISH YO WELL

by Jamie Sumner

Atheneum Books

Middle Grade Contemporary

288 pages

ages 8 to 12

COMING SEPTEMBER 1st!!!

From the acclaimed author of Roll with It comes a luminous, sharply funny novel about three kids with big diagnoses, bigger personalities, and one outrageous plan to team up and scam a wish-granting foundation.

Violet Marino doesn’t want sympathy. And she definitely doesn’t want friends. She just wants to play soccer and deal with the whole slowly-going-blind thing on her own terms.

Then she witnesses a boy choke on a hot dog at a hospital picnic. Enter dangerously charming and full of terrible ideas, especially for a kid with a newly transplanted heart. Add sharp-as-a-blade Noor, who is always armed with excellent snacks she can’t eat, thanks to chemo. Other than their illnesses, the three don’t have much in common—except for the fact that a wish-granting foundation keeps calling.

Ever the optimist, Wyatt has a team up to game the foundation, even if it means faking friendship. One wish is fine, but three sick kids on three epic adventures? That’s history-making. The scheme starts off as a distraction. But soon the stakes feel real. Because when you finally let someone in, there’s more to lose.

GOODREADS    /    PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

When three kids with difficult and deadly diseases meet, expect anything but a pity-party because these three have something bigger planned.

Violet is going blind, which is causing all sorts of problems with her mom, who insists she find friends and attend events with other kids suffering from illnesses. Violet just wishes she could be left alone and play soccer. When a kid, Wyatt, at one of the events chokes and needs to be saved, Violet ends up talking to him and the daughter of the nurse, Noor. Wyatt is a bit too perky and wants to be instant friends, and Violet goes along for the ride to be left alone...which doesn't work because the three start getting closer, but not for friendship reasons.Since Wyatt suffers from a bad heart and Noor is battling cancer, all three of them have been receiving flyers from a wish foundation that won't seem to leave them alone. But Wyatt sees this as a sudden opportunity. They should each make a wish and claim they need their lifelong, best friends with them to make the event perfect...a little lie. That way, each of them receives three fun events. Now, they just have to figure out what they want to do and how to weave this to trick the foundation.

Placed with three main characters with three serious illnesses, this book had me wondering if it was going to hold too heavy of a dark cloud to make it fun, but the author finds a nice balance. All three kids pack personality and none of the three are dwelling in depression. They want to live their lives and take things on as best they can. At the same time, the author doesn't underplay the seriousness of the situations. All three are struggling in their own way, and the tale allows each one growth, discovery, and learning to let others in even if they've built their walls. Not everything is sunshine and roses, but this is a fun adventure with a group who is out to scam a huge foundation. Plus, Wyatt's computer skills add a tiny hint of spy feel to add spice. Also, the three don't get along right away, and the forming friendship despite friction is inspiring and puts a smile on the face.

The tale runs along smoothly and allows the reader to sink right in. There's just enough tension to keep the reader wondering if they can pull off their scam, while subtle humor keeps things light. There is a wonderful dose of mother-daughter discord, which brings across the warmth and love but by no means seamless and, at times, even frustrated relationship between Violet and her mom. As an action girl, this did slow down a bit much for me here and there, but those who enjoy spice for life and heartfilled reads with thought won't have any trouble with those few moments. 

It's a read which digs into difficult themes but it doesn't weigh down. Instead, it inspires, strengthens awareness, and leaves a little food for thought.

And here she is...

Jamie Sumner is the author of the Roll with It trilogy, Tune It Out, One Kid’s Trash, The Summer of June, Maid for It, Deep Water, Please Pay Attention, Schooled, Glory Be, and Wish You Well. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and other publications. She loves stories that celebrate the grit and beauty in all kids. She is also the mother of a son with cerebral palsy and has written extensively about parenting a child with special needs. She and her family live in Nashville, Tennessee. Visit her at Jamie-Sumner.com. 

Happy Book Birthday, The Snazzy Jazzies by Kristin Blakely

I, finally, get to shoutout a book birthday again! Today's read hits the shelves in two days and promises to carry fruity, musical fun. I find the mix of musical fruit and jazz imaginative and am curious to see how this combination plays out.

Snuggle back because we're going to see what these fruits are up to.

THE SNAZZY JAZZIES

by Kristin Blakely

Illustrated by Lauren Austin

Notable Kids Publishing

Picture Book

ages 5 to 8

32 pages

Through jazzy wordplay and vibrant illustrations, a day at the market becomes a toe-tapping musical feast for the senses.

Harvey just wants to play his trumpet, yet he reluctantly goes with his Mom to the 'boring' Farmer's Market. But in the car, he hears the jazz classic, "Cantaloupe Island" which inspires Harvey to dream up a rainbow fruit band while shopping at the market. Harnessing his imagination, Harvey shows how to find musical fun anywhere in this bebopping book. "The Snazzy Jazzies" introduces jazzy cats to musical instruments and their families (brass, woodwinds, percussion, strings, and keys) and is packed with jazzy wordplay, lyrical alliterations, and vibrant illustrations.

GOODREADS

MY TIDBITS

Music and, especially, jazz fans will enjoy this quirky little tale ,which adds music to even mundane situations.

Harvey loves playing his trumpet, and he's got a huge love for jazz. When his mother makes him put his trumpet down to join him on a trip to the market to grab some veggies and fruits, he's frustrated but has no choice but to do as she asks. At first, the market is dull, but then, the jazz song Cantaloupe Island comes up and sparks an idea. His imagination takes over as he sees the fruits around him exploding into rhythmic goodness.

This is an up-beat read, which opens up the world of jazz to young listeners/readers. While Harvey grabs immediate sympathy and connection to the listener as his mother forces him to go with her to the market, it's his bubbly personality which makes him so likable. He might be down, at first, but he lets himself ride on the joy of life and music, making the best of the situation to turn things around. The illustrations pop with color, letting the positive atmosphere come from every page which the fantastical elements play along to add pizzazz. It is clear, however, that the fruits are fantasy, so it stays with both feet in reality.

While there's a cheerful tone to the book, there's also musical knowledge being slid in with purpose. Harvey mentions jazz terms along with a quick definition that flows right into his dialogue. He introduces things such as timing, terminology, and alliterations. All of this is visited again at the end of the book in a glossary of terms.

This book will work for themes surrounding music and jazz, and can be used in groups or smaller settings to add a playful touch. Otherwise, it's more for listeners/readers who enjoy jazz or want to know more about it, since there is more than a little musical knowledge built into this tale. Harvey mentions various songs as well, and of course, playing these songs would also be helpful so listeners/readers know what he's talking about. 

It's a cute, upbeat read for jazzy moments.