Game Face

/ Kathie MacIsaac / Leave a comment

Author: Shari Green

Publisher: Groundwood Books

Pages: 376

Release Date: 5/Sep/23

Reviewer: Kathie

Happy book birthday to GAME FACE by Shari Green!


This excellent upper middle-grade novel in verse by one of my favourite Canadian authors looks at how a 13-year-old hockey player experiences anxiety both on and off the ice. Jonah and his best friend have big dreams of playing professional hockey, but Jonah already gets sick to his stomach from the pressure. When Ty has a life-threatening medical emergency during a game, Jonah’s “what ifs” and fears escalate. Unable to talk to his dad, who struggles with his own anxiety following Jonah’s mom’s death, Jonah befriends the girl next door and eventually realizes that some problems are too big to handle alone.

I love that this story talks about the anxiety many kids experience playing amateur sports and the stigma that can accompany it, but this is so much more than just a “sports book.” There’s the relationship between Jonah and his father (which, as a parent with anxiety issues, really hit home for me) and his Oma, changing and new friendships, and how school and family life impact, and are impacted by, mental health issues. I think this story is an important addition to the books aimed at older middle-grade readers, and its format and length would make it an excellent class read-aloud to discuss with students.

The Nightmare House

/ Kathie MacIsaac / Leave a comment

Author: Sarah Allen

Publisher: Farrar, Straus & Giroux

Pages: 272

Release Date: 8/Aug/23

Reviewer: Kathie

Happy book birthday to THE NIGHTMARE HOUSE, and thank you to Edelweiss+ and Farrar, Straus & Giroux for an eARC of this book.

It’s not often the words “psychological thriller” come to mind when discussing a middle-grade book, but that’s exactly what I thought as I went on the emotional roller coaster ride of THE NIGHTMARE HOUSE. The Fear Maker has haunted Penny since she first encountered him when she was seven. Her anxiety has progressively worsened, and the blank-eyed people have started appearing more frequently. After her grandma suffers a heart episode, the fear quickly spreads, and Penny realizes she has to face the Fear Maker in his own house if she wants to save her family and those she cares about. Although Penny has a new friend to help her and finds courage from The Gardener, she must draw on her inner strength to face her nightmares and the Fear Maker before he destroys her world.

I most enjoyed the prominent role that poetry plays in this story. Penny shares several poems throughout the book, which help root the story in Penny’s mind. The lyrical writing is something I’ve come to love from this author, and though this book is very different from her previous ones, her keen understanding of the Fear Maker and his power is clearly reflected by it. Despite the dark aspects of the story, there is enough hope and light to keep the reader walking toward it, and Penny’s grandma and her friend Aarush provide a counterbalance to the fear. I love a book that has the power to mess with my own mind, and I think readers who experience fear and anxiety in their lives will relate to so many aspects of it. As some of the story takes place on Halloween, it’s a fantastic book to add to your collection for the upcoming spooky season.

Favourite quote:

“Do you think monsters are real? I ask quietly. I’ve talked to her about monsters many times before, but never asked her this question so directly.

Grandma considers, closing the book she has in her hands. Hmm, she says. I’m not sure. Possibly. But I do know that fighting the monsters is very real.”

I Am Kavi

/ Kathie MacIsaac / Leave a comment

Author: Thushanthi Ponweera

Publisher: Holiday House

Pages: 272

Release Date: 19/Sep/23

Reviewer: Kathie

Thank you to Edelweiss+ and Holiday House for an eARC of this book.

I love reading books that take place in countries not frequently seen in middle-grade fiction. I Am Kavi is a historical novel in verse set in Sri Lanka in 1998 during the civil war. Kavi moves from a small village to the city of Colombo to go to school, where she desperately wants to fit in with her new classmates. She pretends her family has money and takes on a new persona, aided by the daughter of the wealthy family for whom her aunt cleans. Kavi knows she’s living a lie, and when she goes too far to impress her new friends, everything backfires, and she’s faced with the harsh reality of who she is and who she wants to be.

I most enjoyed watching Kavi grow from a girl with stars in her eyes to one who values who she is. There’s great material to discuss the theme of economic inequality as we see Kavi straddle two very different worlds and how to find the courage to stand up to those who have a higher social standing. Kavi also struggles to accept her mother’s new partner, and his presence affects Kavi’s relationship with her mom. The verse format works well for this story, and I would hand it to readers who enjoy stories such as Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed, Orange for the Sunsets by Tina Athaide or Girl of the Southern Seas by Michelle Kadarusman.

The Gray

/ Kathie MacIsaac / 2 Comments

Author: Chris Baron

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Pages: 288

Release Date: 13/Jun/23

Reviewer: Kathie

THE GRAY was one of my most anticipated books of 2023, but I needed to wait until I was in the right headspace to read it because books that focus on anxiety can be triggering for me. I knew I was in excellent hands with this author, though, as his writing about tough topics is honest, sensitive, and heartfelt. After a difficult school year of bullying and overwhelm, Sasha’s parents want him to regroup by disconnecting from his phone and video games. They send him to stay with his aunt in the country for the summer, but The Gray, one way Sasha experiences anxiety, follows him. Not only is Sasha faced with the absence of his uncle, who passed away a couple of years ago, but he makes an enemy of one of the local kids and faces more bullying. Fortunately, Sasha also makes new friendships, including with a horse named Duke and a boy facing his own inner struggles. He also discovers Krav Maga, which gives him new coping strategies for his emotions. Sasha’s supportive network accepts him for who he is, which also helps him learn to accept himself.

I most enjoyed how the author vividly describes Sasha’s experiences with anxiety and the practical tips he shares and reiterates throughout the story. Whether or not a reader has experienced something like The Gray, they will walk away from this book with a better understanding and empathy for those who do, which is a priceless gift to those of us who struggle with anxiety and how others see it.

This book deserves all the buzz and praise it’s received, and I highly recommend you add it to your TBR lists, classrooms and libraries.

The Bellwoods Game

/ Kathie MacIsaac / Leave a comment

Author: Celia Krampien

Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Pages: 400

Release Date: 1/Aug/23

Reviewer: Kathie

I’m very glad I read this gripping #MGLit horror book by Canadian author Celia Krampien during the daytime! Set in the woods of Fall Hollow, Bailee and her classmates are (sort of) ready for the traditional Bellwoods Game that takes place each Halloween for three randomly chosen kids from the sixth grade. It’s well known that Abigail Snook, a girl who went missing several years ago, haunts the woods that night, but if one of the kids can race to the bell and ring it, they’ll protect the town from Abigail’s wrath for another year. Bailee is selected to play, but she’s more interested in the wish that the winner supposedly gets to make, and with her recent status as a social outcast, she would like to make things go back to how they used to be. No one can remember what evil has happened in the woods in years past, but none of the kids will leave them the same as they went in…if they leave at all!

I most enjoyed the numerous illustrations in this book by the author, a highly accomplished illustrator who also created the book’s cover, as well as others such as The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeihart, The Gray by Chris Baron, and Those Kid From Fawn Creek by Erin Entrada Kelly. Not only did the visuals add to the story, but they helped to break up the text and make the book feel shorter than its 305 pages. I also enjoyed Bailee and her classmates becoming unexpected allies and confronting their issues while facing the sinister force working against them.

I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy spooky stories set in haunted woods with sinister twists around every corner.

July 2023 Reading Recap

/ Kathie MacIsaac / 4 Comments

Hi there!

I know it’s been quite a while since I posted on our blog, but with the gradual collapse of Twitter, I’ve noticed several authors struggling to connect and get the word out about their books. I decided it was time to up my reading game in August and help promote new and upcoming middle-grade titles, so I requested several eARCs to read and review in the coming weeks. I’ll try to share many of them here, but you can find me on Twitter and IG at @kathiemacisaac if you want to stay up to date on what I’m reading.

As many of you know, I left my position at the library in the fall, so this is my first summer without organizing and running a summer reading program in 13 years! Although I miss many things about the library, including my young patrons, I’m finally settling into a new position in the aviation industry and enjoying something completely different. My reading life is busy and fulfilling without the summer burnout I usually experience in late July/early August.

I’ve been very busy reading for the Bit About Books Summer Reading Challenge. I completed five boards (some of the titles I read before the challenge), with others just short of completion by two or three books. I decided not to worry too much about the mystery/adventure, historical, and debut boards but to go “Off the Grid” and create a Canadian board, which I just started and I’ll be sharing soon.

After tallying my June stats, I realized my numbers were down significantly in the areas of nonfiction, underrepresented authors, and Canadian authors, so I challenged myself to read a minimum of 6 titles in each of these areas this summer. I’m really pleased with my progress so far.

Here’s a look at my reading stats for July. A couple of stand-out titles included The Wishing Season by Anica Mrose Rissi, The Beautiful Something Else by Ash Van Otterloo, The Great Texas Dragon Race by Kacy Ritter, and The Bellwoods Game by Celia Krampien.

How was your reading month? I’d love to hear what titles have stood out for you.

The Great Texas Dragon Race

/ Kathie MacIsaac / Leave a comment

Author: Kacy Ritter

Publisher: HarperCollins

Pages: 400

Release Date: 1/Aug/23

Reviewer: Kathie

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for an eARC of this book coming out on August 1st.

This fast-paced dragon adventure will keep young readers speeding through its pages beside the riders in the annual perilous five-leg race across Texas. Following in her mother’s footsteps, Cassie sneaks away to join The Great Texas Dragon Race against her father’s wishes. She is determined to save her family’s dragon sanctuary and expose the powerful FireCorp as a corrupt, money-hungry corporation that cares little for its dragons. The unsponsored riders like Cassie face not only the dangerous challenges of the race course, such as deadly creatures, powerful storms, and brutal conditions but also have to deal with the FireCorp team of riders who will stop at nothing to come out on top. There are definite Hunger Games vibes in this upper middle-grade story where Cassie and her dragon, Ranga, figure out who they can trust and how to use their wits to stay alive.

I most enjoyed the non-stop action with a moral dilemma; Cassie needs to choose between what she wants and what’s in the best interest of her new allies. The description of the dragons and their characteristics was also excellent and really brought them to life, and they are illustrated in the front of the book.

I highly recommend this book to fans of the Battle Dragon series by Alex London and readers who enjoy an underdog story with high stakes. I look forward to reading more stories from this talented debut author.

Favorite quote: “You, Miss Drake, are not the brightest star in the sky.”
I raise my chin and glare back at him. “You’re right – I’m the ever-loving sun.”

Summer Reading Challenge 2023

/ Laurie / 2 Comments

We’re Back !

Welcome to our third Bit About Books Summer Reading Challenge. Kathie and I loved Hike the Reading Trails last summer, so we decided to do it again, revising and building based on feedback. For anyone new here, you may be asking, “What does this mean to hike the reading trails with us?” Read on, and we will explain it all along with the changes we have made.

What are the Reading Trails?

We have included six trails from last year and add six more trails to explore. Below is the list of twelve popular genres/themes in #MGLit. Each reading trail consists of eight books; four suggested titles (which we may have read or want to read) and four for you to add to the list. Books are listed in alphabetical order but do not have to be read in order.

Familiar Trails

Action & Mysteries

Diversity & Multicultural

Family & Friendships

Fantasy & Sci-Fi

Social Issues

Trail Mix

New Trails to Explore

Debuts

Graphic Novels

Historical Fiction

Nonfiction

Novels in Verse

Pandemic Promotion

How Does the Hiking the Reading Trails Work?

The most important part is that You decide. Please adapt and make it work for you so that it is enjoyable. That being said, there are three ways to complete the trails.

Scout the Trails

Choosing this path, you will read one book from different trails. Of course, you can do more than one book on any of the paths – you can venture as far done a path as you like or even come back to it after trying a different hike.

Take in the View

Choosing this path will have you walk the entire trail, giving you eight books after completing the hike. Travelling this way may allow you to enjoy a favourite theme/genre or allow you to take in the view of a theme/genre new to you.

Off the Grid

In this scenario, you create your own trail – a trek you wish to explore and share with others about great middle-grade titles, not on the other hikes. 

Below is access to all the images as PDF files.

trails-and-listsDownload
trails-2023Download

So we hope you will join us, find some new titles and share some familiar ones released this year or the past year or two. For the challenge, we did our best to include titles released in May – July, but we did include titles published earlier this year that we have read and enjoyed. Please note this is our starter list, and we recognize there are many fabulous books to read, and we look forward to seeing what you have read this year! So let’s start today (May 15th), hike through summer, and end on August 31st. Please tag us when you are sharing on social media, ( Laurie (hnatiukl_turningthepage on Instagram and @lhnatiuk on Twitter and Kathie (@kathiemacisaac on Instagram and Twitter) so we can encourage your progress.

How to create a reading life you love

/ Kathie MacIsaac / 1 Comment

Do you have any reading goals for 2023? I chose not to set specific goals, but I knew I wanted to get more enjoyment from my reading life. The problem was – I didn’t know how to achieve it. I spent quite a bit of time fleshing out what a happy reading life meant to me, and I thought I’d share my process and findings in case it helps you on your reading journey.

Anne Bogel of Modern Mrs. Darcy’s has a Reading Life Challenge Kit you can request via email with some excellent questions to get you thinking about your reading life and how to tailor it to your current wants and needs. She lists 21 words to help you decide what you want more of to make your reading life vibrant and fulfilling. I whittled the list down to four words I chose to use as my guiding words for the year. They are:

  • Escape
  • Replenishment
  • Learning
  • Enjoyment

I then looked at each word and figured out what actions to take to have more of it in my life. What does “escape” in my reading life look like? For me, it’s reading fantasy. I want to immerse myself in magical worlds and go on adventures, quests, and journeys, unlike anything I’d experience in real life. But a necessary part of escape is staying immersed in that world, so I need to find ways to limit distractions that pull me out of the story. Escape happens best when I have a chunk of uninterrupted time alone or wearing noise-blocking headphones.

After reflecting on all four words, I discovered my vibrant reading life looks like this:

This is my map to keep leading me back to the reading life I want, a balance of all four intentions. When I do my reading reflection at the end of each week, I want to see that what I read falls into one of these categories. Looking back at the books I’ve read in 2023, the titles I didn’t enjoy were ones I knew early on that I should DNF but stuck with anyway. These guiding words remind me to abandon what isn’t working and move on to something else because life is too short to spend time reading books we don’t enjoy!

I’d love to know – what does a vibrant reading life mean for you?

Aerating a stagnant TBR pile

/ Kathie MacIsaac / 3 Comments

by Kathie

Bear with me for a moment while I talk to you about stagnant water.

The definition of stagnant water is water that is not flowing; it’s motionless and has been left sitting for long periods. It can be a problem for several reasons, including becoming a breeding ground for waterborne diseases. Getting rid of stagnant water involves cleaning filters, flushing lines, and aeration, which gets the water moving again. By circulating air through it, trapped gases are released, and balance is restored.

My TBR pile had become stagnant.

There were books that I purchased several months ago but never read. There were titles I bought because of the buzz, even though they didn’t really sound like something I’d enjoy. And I had ARCs that I hadn’t read that made me feel guilty whenever I looked at them.

It needed some air.

I haven’t made many goals for 2023, but rejuvenating my reading life is one of them. When I did my year-end recap, I realized I’d let it fester and breed dis-ease (see what I did there?) with obligations and “shoulds” that led to feeling overwhelmed and burned out. I had to make some changes to create a reading life that provided me with escape, learning, enjoyment, and replenishment, which are my four intentions for this year.

I decided to let go.

This is my physical TBR pile. Yes, it’s only one book that I purchased a couple of weeks ago.

I’ve spent the past few weeks reading the books I wanted to read, and then I donated the ones that no longer interested me or that I had access to through the library to a teacher for her classroom library. I created movement again by removing what was heavy and weighing me down, allowing room for my reading life to flow and become something new.

It feels amazing.

I know some of you are cringing right now. It was an extreme move that many book lovers wouldn’t make because they love to be surrounded by options and new stories to read at their fingertips. But I wanted to make a significant change: hit the restart button and allow books to flow in and out of my life again. Since I no longer work in a library, I want to reduce the number of physical books I purchase this year (sorry, McNally Robinson) and read what grabs me right at this moment. I plan to read more library ebooks with a new Kobo and better digital access. I don’t plan to give up reading ARCs and eARCs entirely, but I want to read them immediately instead of letting the backlog pile up.

It sounds good on paper.

It feels different this time to say I’m now reading for pleasure.

I’m excited to restore balance and see where things flow.