Kat's Greek Summer by Mima Tipper

With Spring fully underway, thoughts of Summer are slowly simmering toward the front of the mind. I'm beginning to mentally lay out a list of the places we might visit. Short weekend and day trips. Like last year, I'm going to have to skip on a larger vacation for now. Farm life makes longer trips hard (animals like to eat and be cared for), and my oldest is moving from Kansas to the Virginian coast in a few months, which will require whatever time I can squeeze out to help him. But I am looking forward to seeing Virginia even if it won't be for leisure.

Anyway, today's read is perfect for summer vacation dreamers, especially those who might love to travel abroad. I'm expecting cultural goodness, a bit of self-discovery, maybe a little tensions, and since this is a romance...well, romance.

Let's see if anyone else will want to visit Greece after reading this one!

KAT'S GREEK SUMMER

by Mima Tipper

SparkPress

YA Romance

248 pages

COMING...

MAY 13th!!!

For fans of Jenna Evans Welch and Barbara Dee, a timely and uplifting contemporary YA story of a young girl risking all for self-truth, family, and first love over one sun-drenched Greek summer.

Ready—set—look out, world! Kat Baker is about to explode . . . onto the high school scene, that is. All she has to do? Spend July and August training with New Canaan High’s cross-country team, become a running goddess and, come fall, claim her place as the team’s star freshman runner.

When her mom shocks her with the unwelcome news that the family will spend the summer exploring their roots in the rustic Greek village of Paralia, Kat’s sure her high school popularity plan is toast. Once in Paralia, punishing heat and cultural clashes force her to launch a risky and covert training strategy to keep her running-star dreams alive. And it is during these hidden sessions that Kat is swept into late-night encounters with Theofilus Zafirakis, a beautiful but off-limits Greek boy.

As Kat’s lies mount, her secret odyssey spirals out of control, finally putting one of her cousins in danger. In the end, it takes the unexpected meddling of a village full of crazy, wonderful—and not so wonderful—Greeks for her to open up to her Greek side and stand strong, discovering at last that the key to belonging anywhere is belonging first to herself.

GOODREADS     /     PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

Reaching goals clashes with family expectations to allow secrets, romance, and bitter-sweet moments to flood in.

Kat is about to start high school, and thanks to a guy on the team, she's determined to become the next track team goddess. As she's ramping up her training to, hopefully, impress and catch her heart's attention, her mother drops a bombshell and the family heads to Greece for the entire summer...which means no team summer training for Kat. Worse yet, Yiayia, the grandmother, lives in the most remote fishing town possible, where there's no internet, no real door to the bedroom, and the most old-fashioned expectations ever. Not only does Kat's running outfit constantly catch attention and Yiayia's criticism, but she's soon seen as a bad influence on her cousins. Especially when she constantly seeks to meet a fisherman, who has caught her interest. A possible relationship between her and the handsome teen isn't catching anyone's approval, which means they need to meet in secret. In other words, the entire summer is turning into a huge mess. 

This is a wonderful read for fans of high school romance, who enjoy forbidden love and a character who's trying to find her way. The family life of Kat is already in a bit of an upset thanks to the divorce, and her mother's desire to reconnect with her family in Greece rocks everything a bit more. Kat's disappointment at having to give up of her plans of training with the team during the summer are understandable as is her disappointment and irritation at spending months in a foreign atmosphere under somewhat rustic circumstances...especially when she doesn't speak Greek and few speak English. She does carry some sass, especially in the beginning, which makes her a bit prickly, at times. Yet, there's enough family love shining through to draw in sympathy. Her decisions aren't always great, but it's fitting for her age...and readers will see that, maybe, things could go a bit differently if she'd just step back from her emotions for a moment.

While readers get a feel for the culture, landscape, and lifestyle of the town and people, the descriptions never weigh down. Rather, there's just enough to create the scenes and give a little depth as the tale flows along. The culture differences are also reflected in the relationships between Kat and her family members. These aren't always easy, and there are more than a few hurdles to smooth out, while other moments are touching and inspiring. Even the romance displays the cultural differences as the father of Kat's crush disapproves right along with Kat's own family. This leads to more bad decisions as Kat allows herself to be driven by the moments. 

Fans of high school romance are sure to want to pick this one up as a summer read because it doesn't disappoint...if you enjoy characters, who make mistakes, and lessons about life, which need to be learned. I especially see tweens enjoying this one (the younger end of the young adult audience), and it should be noted that there is light intimacy in the romance, which upper middle graders, who are peering at this one, might want to be aware of.

And here she is...

Mima Tipper is half Greek and half American, and her writing reflects her heritage—a little bit old-country, a little bit rock and roll; one foot wandering through the dreamy realm of myths and faerie tales, the other running on the solid ground of fast-paced, contemporary story. She earned her MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts, and has published YA fiction in Hunger Mountain and Sucker Literary magazine. When not working on her own writing, she is committed to promoting literacy and to supporting the writing community. Mima lives in Vermont.

Pepper Masalah and the Kashmiri Princess by Rosanne Hawke

Today's read is one of, so far, five adventures surrounding a character named Pepper Masalah. From the covers and titles, this series is set in the Middle East/Egypt area, but the main character lives in Australia. So, there's quite a bit of cultural aspects, I'm guessing. Plus, it involves a flying carpet...so a touch of magic? i have no doubt there will be plenty of adventure. So, let's dive in!

PEPPER MASALAH AND THE KASHMIRI PRINCESS

by Rosanne Hawke

Illustrated by Jasmine Berry

Wombat Books

Chapter Books

62 pages

ages 5 to 8

The carpet flies Pepper and Zam to Azad Kashmir where there has been an earthquake. When Pepper is kidnapped, they meet Princess Jani who lives in a houseboat on a lake. She knows a secret and is in great danger. Can they solve the mystery of the stolen animals and keep everyone safe? Will they ever return home to Australia?

GOODREADS     /     AMAZON    /     B&N

MY TIDBITS

Adventure with a touch of magic allows travel through time and space to create a lovely read and fun mystery.

Pepper (a cat) is still underway with Zam (a human boy) on a magical carpet, which leads them to various places as it drags them along on its quest...whatever that might be. They're hoping that it will return them home, at one point. This time, the carpet takes them to a town, which has just been through an earthquake. Buildings are destroyed and everyone is trying its best to recoup from the disaster. The two friends meet a princess, who lives in a houseboat, and wants to introduce them to other town members, who might be able to help them with their journey. But then, Pepper gets animal-napped!

This is book five in a series, and it works best if the entire series is read, one after the other. The adventures are part of a journey and build on Pepper and Zam's hope to return home to Australia one day. The author does, however, give a quick summary of the adventures up to this point, so readers, who haven't visited the series yet, won't feel completely lost. And this works well enough, too.

There's a lot of goodness in this read. First off, Pepper makes a lovely main character, especially with Zam right on the side. Zam understands her, and the two work together very well. Both are curious and help where they can, but the longing to return home is what pulls at the heart strings. Still, they are very open to the culture and people they meet. This allows historical and cultural goodness to flow in through the story as readers discover everything right along with the pair. I also enjoyed the addition of an earthquake struck area, since this adds an original aspect not often seen in chapter book literature. So, there is tons of information slipped into the scenes, which flows naturally right into the story.

The text is fitting to those readers, who are sure of their words, but simply need more practice before diving into larger reads. The vocabulary not only supports growth but also adds some foreign language knowledge along the way...just a little bit. The font is larger to add to reading ease, and the illustrations support readers as they discover they tale.

It's a quick-paced read, which keeps things flowing. Despite the cultural goodness, the descriptions are actually kept at a minimum. So, boredom isn't really a danger. There's a nice mystery aspect and enough tension with a little danger to make it exciting. Plus, with an adorable cat as the main character, this is a tale to be enjoyed...oh, and let's not forget the touch of magic carpet fun.

And here they are...

Rosanne Hawke is a SA author of 30 books for young people. She has been a teacher, a lecturer in creative writing at Tabor Adelaide, and worked with a mission agency in Pakistan & UAE. Her books explore cultural and social issues, Cornish folklore, history, mystery, family and faith. She often writes of displacement, belonging and reconciliation and tells stories of children unheard. Taj and the Great Camel Trek won the Adelaide Festival Award for Children’s Literature and was highly commended in the 2012 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards. Rosanne is the recipient of the Nance Donkin Award for a woman author who writes for children. She writes in an underground room near Kapunda.
 For more information about Rosanne, visit her website and Facebook page.

Jasmine Berry grew up in beautiful Albany, Western Australia. She has been drawing to impress the other kids, since she was old enough to hold a colouring pencil. But lately, she crafts these exciting and magical worlds with her computer, iPad and many coffees. She lives in Perth with her husband and with two adorable cats, and a rather large collection of succulents.

Jasmine's books with Wombat | Rhiza include:

Mila & Ivy

Pepper Masalah and the Flying Carpet 

Vanishings by Catharina Steel

 Happy Wednesday, everyone! And happy Australian Days! Australian Days? Nope, this isn't a national holiday (as far as I know). Rather today's and tomorrow's read both happen to have characters, who live in Australia. And this is totally fate! While I knew tomorrow's read was from Downunder, I blinked twice when I flipped through the first pages on this one quickly and caught a phrase about a kangaroo jumping out of the brush. A second, closer glance let me know that it is Australia! So happy dual-Australia read days!

This one is the first in a brand new series, which heads into the fantasy direction. After reading the title, I'm going to go out on a limb and say it revolves around a mystical...aehm, wythical forest. And mysteries. I'm curious to see how it plays out... dark? scary? high fantasy? another realm? Romance? Two are holding hands on the cover, but with this being for the middle grade audience, that'd be a bit odd. Unless it's for upper middle grade and sliding into YA? 

So many questions!!! Best way to answer them is to simply open the book and dive in.

VANISHINGS

The Wythic Wood Mysteries, Book One

by Catharina Steel

Sparkpress

Middle Grade Fantasy

272 pages

ages 8 to 12

COMING...

MAY 20th!!!

For fans of Amanda Foody and Debbie Watson comes a magical adventure story about an eleven-year-old girl who will do anything to help a friend—but could use a lesson or two in looking before she leaps.

Tilly’s friend Michael disappeared from Wythic Wood a year ago, and he’s still missing. Convinced that no one’s searching for him, Tilly convinces her gran to allow her to spend the summer with Opa, their family’s magical teacher and wizard, at his home in Clayton Forest—which just so happens to be right next to Wythic Wood.

In Clayton Forest, alongside her twin cousins, Jess and Zach, Tilly meets magical beings like fairies and gnomes, gets lessons in potion-making and a goblin style of martial arts called Gobight fighting, and starts to understand her own magic better. But none of this excitement distracts her from her real goal, and with Jess and Zach at her side, she soon embarks on a perilous journey to uncover the truth about Michael’s vanishing. But as usual, impulsive Tilly doesn’t exactly think ahead—and she and her cousins soon find themselves hunted by the Witch of Wythic Wood and the creatures under her command.

An enchanting escapade perfect for fans of Percy Jackson and The Wingfeather Saga, Vanishings is a tale of friendship and teamwork in a realm where magic can be wielded for both good and evil purposes.

GOODREADS

MY TIDBITS

Whimsical creatures and powerful villains with dark intentions lay the foundation for a group of cousins, who are making their first steps into the world of magic.

Tilly's grandma has always refused to admit it, but magic is real. The most magical person of all, Opa, has invited Tilly to his place for the summer to begin her training...much to Grandma's annoyance, since the woods near his home harbors something evil. Two relatives have already disappeared in the forest, the last was Tilly's dearest friend. With the secret intention to try to save her friend, Tilly arrives at Opa's along with a set of distant cousin twins. The wonder that awaits them is beyond what Tilly ever dreamed, and the magic inside of her is blooming fast. Or somewhat. There's something dampening her talents, and with the evil witch of the forest taking special interest in her and her relatives, this isn't good news. Still, Tilly's determined to save her friend, even if she disappears into the forest like the others did.

Although the surmise holds dark and dangerous tones, this read also takes on quite a bit of whimsical fun, especially in the beginning. The good side of the forest, where Opa lives, holds adorable details and enjoyable creatures. These invite into the world and will have readers imagining the amazing things, wishing they could be there with Tilly to see them too. Still, this book is set in modern day Australia to give it a very slight, realistic hint. The forest is a hidden oasis of magic, and it feels like stepping into another world but with characters, who are easy to identify with thanks to their origins. The fantastical aspects are magical and imaginative, and yet, they don't seem over the top, either. The wonderful personalities of each creature adds to the atmosphere to build a lovely world and set off the series nicely.

As the book goes on, the scenes and plot darkens. At first, the evil witch comes across with a touch of child-like personality but this turns more evil as the tale continues. It's nothing past what works for the age group but offers the needed tension to keep those pages turning and the reader wondering what will happen next. The fight does involve an entire group of characters, who support Tilly directly, and each of these uses their talents to harmonize into a group effort. The goodness surrounding this cooperation adds a wholesome, warming touch and makes the entire group to cheer for. It will be interesting to see what they come up against next and root for them again.

Anjali Can! by Sheetal Sheth

Today's read is the third in a three-book series. Nope, I didn't read the first two, so this comes with a fresh surprise. But I believe these books don't really build on each other. Rather, they should make nice read-alones. Maybe, I'm wrong, though.

Anyway, Anjali seems to have done well, and I'm excited to meet her and her gang. I'm not sure what to expect, but we'll find out!

ANJALI CAN!

Always Anjali

by Sheetal Sheth

Illustrated by Lucia Soto

Random House Books

Picture Book

40 pages

ages 4 to 8

Anjali is back and ready to prove there’s nothing she can’t do, in this third book in the Always Anjali series! When a beloved community center is threatened with shutting down, Anjali must quickly find a way to save the space or risk losing it.

The local community center is a second home to Anjali. It's where she met her best friends; it's her favorite spot for game and movie nights; and it's where she learned to play tabla.

Anjali has so many happy memories there, but now the community center is closing! Unwilling to let the center shut down for good, Anjali is determined to keep the place open. Some people may say there's nothing she can do, but Anjali knows better--she can and must take action! There is no stopping her.

From actor, author, and activist Sheetal Sheth comes the third book in the Anjali series and a reminder of the power of one and to always fight for what you believe in.

GOODREADS    /    AMAZON   /    B&N

MY TIDBITS

With vibrant illustration and energy, this book inspires young readers to let their ideas be heard.

Anjali can't believe her eyes, when she sees that the community center is going to shut down. The city no longer can fund it, which means her neighborhood looses a special place. After speaking to her parents, she decides to organize a protest with flyers and everything. But when the day comes, it's more like a little fizzle than an explosion of voices. Anjali, however, isn't about to give up.

Anjali is a character to root for. Her joyful attitude and big heart make her a girl to get behind. Her parents offer the support and guidance, as do several other adults, which I found to be a nice touch. The neighborhood might support her, but this also shows that nothing comes easily. Life is a magical spell, and despite Anjali's hard work, things still don't go quite as hoped. This realistic angle grounds the tale, and yet, doesn't forget to inspire as time goes on. There's a lovely sense of community and friendship, too, and of course, diversity doesn't fall short, either. So, it's goodness front beginning to end.

The text flows smoothly and the colorful illustrations support each scene, giving added clarity and zest. Young listeners will be able to flip through these on their own to enjoy the tale that way, and beginning readers can pick this one up on their own with a little help, too. 

There are several messages in these pages. Community, family, and friendship come across with wholesome goodness and inspire. But it's the idea that a person can make a difference if they try...not always and not immediately, but it can pay off. There are also some general ideas on how to organize a protest and collect signatures but this is kept light and sticks well to the age group.

All in all this is a energetic read with several points to enjoy.

And here she is...

Sheetal Sheth is an acclaimed actress, producer, author, and activist. She has starred in more than feature films and TV shows. Sheetal supports marginalized communities through her work as an actor and by appearing at workshops and panels to speak directly to issues facing those communities. She is an outspoken advocate, and has delivered talks and keynotes at festivals and charity galas. She has had op-eds published on CNN, the Daily Beast, and Thrive Global. She served in President Clinton’s AmeriCorps and is currently on the advisory board of Equality Now and an ambassador for the Representation Project, founded by Jennifer Siebel Newsom, the First Partner of California. Sheetal is also the author of Always Anjali and Making Happy.

Happy Book Birthday, The Barking Puppy by Lori Lobenstine!

It's time to celebrate another book birthday! This one is the first in a brand new series for middle grade readers and is said to hit themes such as friendship, community, and working together. So, I'm expecting a bundle of wholesome goodness with touching moments, which readers will be able to identify with.

Plus, I'm hoping that there will be quite a bit of puppy antics to shoot the cute factor up high. Maybe some humor along with the heart? Well, let's find out!

Another note: It's Monday, which means the Marvelous Middle Grade Monday list is up for the week. For all of those who enjoy middle grade reads, you'll want to head over HERE and discover what books middle grade knowers and fans are suggesting today.

THE BARKING PUPPY

by Lori Lobenstine

Illustrated by Il Sung Na

Levine Querido

Middle Grade Contemporary

248 pages

ages 8 to 12

When Sophie and her two Jack Russell terriers move to Boston, she's excited not to be the only brown kid in the neighborhood anymore. She instantly likes the quirky teenager named Juno next door and her pug, Bonney. But not everything's easy. Her classmates make fun of her Vermont overalls. The upstairs neighbor hates barking. And Bonney needs surgery that Juno's family can't afford.

So Sophie and Juno invent the Barking Puppy, the first ever newspaper written “by dogs” and “for dogs.” Will anyone else get how funny it is? And more importantly, can they sell it to raise enough money in time to save Bonney? Will the landlord kick Sophie and her mom out before they even get started?

Don't miss this first edition of a doggone great series and find out for yourself!

GOODREADS   /    AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

Change is always challenging, but with cute dogs involved, it's bound to be an enjoyable adventure.

Sophie, her mother, and their two dogs move from a quieter part of Virginia to Boston, which means a change in many aspects. One of those includes having a much more diverse group of kids around her, some are like her but there are many others, especially at school. While it's going to take some settling in before she finds her spot in the larger student body, she hits it off immediately with a neighbor, Juno, and her pug. While the two bond and find more friends in the neighborhood, Sophie has an idea for the newspaper project at school. Instead of interviewing people, she wants to interview dogs. While this starts as a simple, fun idea, it soon gains more meaning as Juno's pug requires an expensive surgery and the newspaper might offer a way to raise funds to help out. But that will mean convincing the teacher and school. Plus, one of the other neighbors is making Sophie's life difficult thanks to her dislike of barking dogs. In other words, Sophie is up against a lot.

This is a fun tale surrounding friendship, learning to deal with new situations, family goodness, and reaching out to try something new. Sophie is an energetic character with tons of ideas and determination, but she also tends to feel a little uncertain in her own skin. Her mother is supportive, but then, many of the characters around her offer encouragement in different ways. Not everything runs smoothly, which leads to a few humorous situations as well as some more sticky hurdles. This keeps the story interesting, especially since some problems really aren't easy to solve. But this book also shows the power of working together to achieve goals.

While Sophie is a character to root for, it's the dogs which give this read zest. Not only are dogs a main part of some of the  characters' lives, but the author drops in a few facts here and there concerning breed attributes, care, behavioral aspects, and more. This flows in so naturally that it's hardly noticeable. Plus, the dogs (although not directly part of the character list) hold fun quirks and personality to add extra life to the tale. 

The story has a steady pacing and works especially well for the middle and lower ends of the age group. The font and spacing makes it easier to read, and the illustrations add a nice touch. There's a bit of a more traditional feel, at times (Sophie and her friends aren't carrying around phones or anything). I was surprised that the school allowed sales like this one (none of my children's schools would have done that). Still, the message is inspiring and shows that some difficult things can be achieved with community and help.

It's a great beginning to further adventures, and it will be fun to see what Sophie and her pups will be up against next.

And here she is...

Lori Lobenstine and her goddaughter, Sophie Canon, have been collaborating on the original Barking Puppy newspaper since Sophie was ten years old. The Barking Puppy (Levine Querido, 2025; Il Sung Na, illustrator) is Lori’s first children’s book, and Sophie was her creative consultant, contributing her lived experiences, as well as her keen ear for youth dialogue and uncanny blend of human and dog humor.

Lobenstine’s other passions include being a co-founder of the Design Studio for Social Intervention (DS4SI), member of the Hot Flashes basketball team, and founder of the website femalesneakerfiend. Her previous nonfiction books include Girls Got Kicks (Levellers Press, 2011; Amanda Lopez, photographer) and Ideas, Arrangements, Effects: Systems Change and Social Justice (Minor Compositions, 2020; Kenneth Bailey and Ayako Maruyama, co-authors). She lives in Boston, MA and has her BA in American Studies from Wesleyan University.