MMGM and a #MiddleGradeMay Check-in

It's May! It's Marvelous Middle Grade Monday (brainchild of the fab Shannon Messenger) AND it is time for our first #MiddleGradeMay Reading Challenge Check-in. So, this post is doing double duty.

My reading is coming along. Here is where I am at so far.

Never Girls # 1: In a Blink by Kiki Thorpe

From Good Reads:

The smell of salt water, a gust of seabreeze, and the bell-like ringing of a fairy's laugh are the only hints that something magical is happening to Kate, Mia, Lainey, and Gabby. In a blink of an eye, the four friends are whisked out of their ordinary lives to the most wonderful place of all—Never Land, home to fairies, mermaids . . . and now four lost girls. The girls don't want to leave right away, but Queen Clarion and Tinker Bell have figured out a way for them to get home. 



What I thought:

For the younger middle grade set. It is in fact a chapter book series, but one I can see kids up to grade four being interested in. Might be especially good for those who are struggling some with their reading. Love the portrayal of the sibling relationship and how that plays out. Loved the realness of the world created and oh my the details are captivating as is the adventure. Now, what is really interesting is my grandson and husband really enjoyed this, too! My grandson (8) even put down his game of minecraft to listen to this one. Yes. You heard me right. The book was on my kindle so needless to say it didn't look girlie to him. I wonder if I could have convinced him to check it out if I had pulled it from the shelve? I am thinking not, but it is hard to say. Must test this out. Needless to say he settled right in and enjoyed every bit of this book! Also, I must add that I love this cover. Looking forward to the rest of the series and being able to place it in the hands of young readers.

Heck Where the Bad Kids Go by Dale E. Basye 

From Good Reads:


WHEN MILTON AND Marlo Fauster die in a marshmallow bear explosion, they get sent straight to Heck, an otherworldly reform school. Milton can understand why his kleptomaniac sister is here, but Milton is—or was—a model citizen. Has a mistake been made? Not according to Bea “Elsa” Bubb, the Principal of Darkness. She doesn’t make mistakes. She personally sees to it that Heck—whether it be home-ec class with Lizzie Borden, ethics with Richard Nixon, or gym with Blackbeard the Pirate—is especially, well, heckish for the Fausters. Will Milton and Marlo find a way to escape? Or are they stuck here for all eternity, or until they turn 18, whichever comes first?

What I thought:

Oh my oh my I really enjoyed the darkly grimmly-ness of this. The humour was spot on and witty. That is, however, the adult me who loves it when dark and humour are mixed together. I do believe it's called black humour. For some middle graders, though, the dark funny might be too much and be just too scary. It is vivid and so incredibly well done my writer hat is definitely off.  I would say pick and choose your young readers for this one. Fans of Coraline would really enjoy this, I think. Skullduggary Pleasant fans also come to mind.  One thing is for sure, I'm a grown up fan! Why did I wait so long to start on this series? Not sure, but glad I finally got that start.

Oh My God Mother-The Glitter Trap by Barbara Brauner and James Iver Mattson 




From Good Reads:

Middle school is far from a fairytale for adorkable misfit Lacey Unger-Ware. When Lacey ends up with popular girl Paige Harrington's smart-mouthed fairy godmother, Katarina, trapped in her hair, life gets more magical--just not in a 'prince charming' kind of way. 
Katarina's wings are too damaged to continue her fairy duties, and Lacey must take over as Paige's fairy godmother. Distracted by her new responsibilities, Lacey's in danger of losing her best friend, Sunny. Can Lacey get the hang of magic, make Paige's dreams come true, and survive middle school? 

What I thought:

Great cover and the insides to deliver the promise it makes. Surviving middle school and the up and downs of friendship is something many a tween girl can relate to and as I read this I thought the authors did a wonderful job of showing the humour, the heartache, the fun, the growth that today's middle grader/tween experiences. The authors know who they are writing for. Add in some magic and the MC having to become her arch nemesis's new fairy godmother you have a series that is going to gain and keep a following. On a personal not this definitely spoke to the tween that still takes up residence in my head. Do add this to your to read list.

Have a couple more to share but am going to save those for later in the week.

NOW, on to the check-in part that gets you even more entries into the prize packs. All you need to do is let me know in the comments section for this post what you read or if you have a blog post leave the link so we can all go check it out!

And, if you are here from Shannon's blog, here is the link to head on back and do feel free to join in the Middle Grade May Reading Challenge...read one book, read ten or more, it is entirely up to you.

Happy Reading!