middle grade Archives - Page 327 of 363

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl: Squirrel Meets World
by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale (Authors)

Booktalk: Fourteen-year-old Doreen Green moved from sunny California to the suburbs of New Jersey. She must start at a new school, make new friends, and continue to hide her tail. Yep, Doreen has the powers of . . . a squirrel! After failing at several attempts to find her new BFF, Doreen feels lonely and trapped, liked a caged animal. Then one day Doreen uses her extraordinary powers to stop a group of troublemakers from causing mischief in the neighborhood, and her whole life changes. Everyone at school is talking about it! Doreen contemplates becoming a full-fledged Super Hero. And thus, Squirrel Girl is born! She saves cats from trees, keeps the sidewalks clean, and dissuades vandalism. All is well until a real-life Super Villain steps out of the shadows and declares Squirrel Girl his archenemy. Can Doreen balance being a teenager and a Super Hero? Or will she go . . . NUTS?

Snippet: In the distance, Squirrel Girl could hear sirens.

“Um . . k, bye!” she said. She leaped from the car to the treetop and from there onto a roof. Tippy-Toe was a streak of gray beside her. As they jumped to another roof and out of sight, Squirrel Girl could hear cheering behind her. And a low chant that began to rise. It sounded like “Squirgle, Squirgle. . .”

On second thought, they were probably chanting, “Squirrel Girl, Squirrel Girl,” but “Squirgle” was nice too.

Garvey’s Choice
by Nikki Grimes (Author)

Booktalk: Garvey’s father has always wanted Garvey to be athletic, but Garvey is interested in astronomy, science fiction, reading–anything but sports. Feeling like a failure, he comforts himself with food. Garvey is kind, funny, smart, a loyal friend, and he is also overweight, teased by bullies, and lonely. When his only friend encourages him to join the school chorus, Garvey’s life changes. The chorus finds a new soloist in Garvey, and through chorus, Garvey finds a way to accept himself, and a way to finally reach his distant father–by speaking the language of music instead of the language of sports.

Snippet:
ASSEMBLY
Single file, we march
on stage for our recital.
Louder than a zoo
the kids watching point and laugh,
hyenas in human skin.