Top Ten Hidden Gems of 2016

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This week's Top Ten features Underrated/Hidden Gem Books I've Read In The Past Year Or So

 



See which books other bloggers are listing

for January 17, 2017 

Bingo Summer

1. Bingo Summer, by Dawn Malone

Dawn Malone's books are self-published, but she is every inch a writer. The writing in Bingo Summer was mature and well-developed. Malone is obviously dedicated to her craft. Her main character is likable and her family relationships interesting. This is a rare gem amid the culm.

You can read my Goodreads review here
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1590689713

Squashed

2. Squashed, by Joan Bauer

Joan Bauer is a popular author, but her first book about a girl who raises prize pumpkins is a hard sell. The main character is as good as any of Bauer's other heroines. She struggles with her weight, her relationship to her widower dad, and the ever-present stress of blue ribbon competition.

You'll find my Marvelous Middle Grade Monday review here
http://bookish-ambition.blogspot.com/2016/11/mmgm-squashed.html



Evangeline Brown
and the Cadillac Motel

3. Evangeline Brown and the Cadillac Motel, by Michele Ivy Davis

This book may have been published before its time, because there are dozens of book of this ilk on shelves today which are far inferior, yet this one remains largely undiscovered. Evangeline (Eddie to her friends) and Farrell are genuine characters with realistic problems. The Cadillac Motel in Paradise, Florida is the perfect setting, with its anomalous inhabitants. The plot is by turns sweet and bittersweet. The best thing about underrated books is you can usually find a secondhand copy for pocket change. If you're planning to read the new Welcome to Wonderland series by Chris Grabenstein, maybe you should give this a try.

Read the glowing review on KidsPages
http://www.kidsreads.com/reviews/evangeline-brown-and-the-cadillac-motel

A Coalition of Lions

4. A Coalition of Lions, by Elizabeth Wein

Almost twenty years before Wein wrote Code Name, Verity, she penned a version of Arthurian legend which would take readers across two continents. A coalition of Lions is the second in the series, but works as a standalone novel. This book takes place in Askum, also known as Ethiopia. It introduces a host of exciting characters , brimming with political intrigue, reading like a well-played chess game.

You can read my Goodreads review here
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1627377754

Eon

5. Eon, by Alison Goodman

My son loved this book, but it took me a while to get around to it. It was truly worth the wait. If you like high fantasy and spunky heroines, martial arts movies and feudal China, you are going to love Eon. Whether tackling gender identity, disability, love, or duty, the author hurtles forward and leaves the reader breathless with anticipation of the next installment. You might know this book as Rise of the Dragoneye or The Two Pearls of Wisdom, depending which continent you hail from.

I thought Jessica Harrison's review summed it up nicely
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705273247/Eon-not-your-average-dragon-fantasy.html?pg=all

When You Reach Me

6. When You Reach Me, by Rebecca Stead

No one should be surprised at the quality when reading a book by Rebecca Stead, but I was blown away. I didn't think it could possibly live up to the hype, but if anything, the praise fell short. I didn't think I'd ever read another of Rebecca's books which I liked as much as Liar & Spy. Now it's a toss up. So while this gem may not be hidden, it was certainly an unexpected delight.

You can read my Goodreads review here
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1544074363

So B. It

7. So B. It, by Sarah Weeks

Another book I was sure was overrated. While Sarah Weeks's books are always entertaining and skillfully written, this one layers in so much more. It is poetic in its honesty. The voice, the humor, the irony leave me nearly speechless.

You can read my Goodreads review here
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/455489650

The Human Body

8. The Human Body: The Story of How We Protect, Repair, and Make Ourselves Stronger, by H. P. Newquist

Though I love non-fiction, I wasn't holding out hope for this book. The title lacks any draw and the cover promised a read as interesting as Grey's anatomy. What I found instead was a fascinating compendium from an unusual viewpoint, the history of man's efforts to repair and improve the human body. Sometimes gruesome, sometimes incredible, The Human Body is well-researched and well-organized, the kind of book in which kids can graze and ruminate, and even learn something.

You'll find my MMGM review and additional resources here
http://bookish-ambition.blogspot.com/2016/11/mmgm-human-body.html

Poop Detectives

9. Poop Detectives, Working Dogs in the Field, by Ginger Wadsworth

I had to include this book. I don't know if Poop Detectives will get the attention it deserves, but the book was a fascinating account of dog-training in environmental studies which will engage readers of all ages. I would never have believed I would recommend a book with that title. I still think it is both a shameless solicitation and an unfortunate misnomer. However, Wadsworth so skillfully covers her subject, making it entertaining and informative, that I am willing to forgive her anything. A hefty 80 pages, packed with photos and personal accounts of these lovable rescued dogs, this book is perfect for every classroom. And that's not a load of poop.

Jennifer at the Jean Little Library highlights more to love in her review
http://jeanlittlelibrary.blogspot.com/2017/01/poop-detectives-working-dogs-in-field.html

The Great Leopard Rescue

10. The Great Leopard Rescue, by Sandra Markle

Lastly, I've included a stunningly beautiful picture book. Again, it's not the type of book I would have expected to be riveting, but the subject and treatment are outstanding. The book follows the complex efforts of conserving an entire species, using the specifics of the Amur Leopard rescue to illustrate the various methods and obstacles. Educational and fascinating, this book is an eye-opening read for both adults and kids.

You can see my review for Perfect Picture Book Friday here
http://bookish-ambition.blogspot.com/2016/11/ppbf-great-leopard-rescue.html

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish in June 2010. Everyone is welcome to join. Simply link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post and add your name to the Linky widget on that day's posts. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

MMGM: Squashed

Today's Marvelous Middle Grade Monday pick

Squashed, by Joan Bauer

Squashed
Written by Joan Bauer
Speak, Imprint of Penguin, 1992
Ages 8-12, 194 pages, Lexile 930
about 48,400 words


Opening:
I was preparing my secret booster solution of one part buttermilk, two parts Orange Crush, and about to inject it into the thick stem of my world-class Big Max—technically a variety of squash, but often the winner in giant pumpkin contests. I called him Max for short. He was the biggest squash I had ever grown— 107 inches wide around his middle—which put him over three hundred pounds, approximately. Awesome was the only word for it, especially since this was only August. We had forty-six days to go until the Rock River Pumpkin Weigh-In and Harvest Fair, where I, at sixteen years of age, am the only teenager ever to enter the adult growing division. I was facing heavy competition for the blue ribbon from Cyril Poole, four-time Weigh-In champ and a deeply despicable person. If I didn't win, I was sure I'd die, which was why I couldn't bother with anything else right now."


Thoughts:
All Ellie can think about is her prize pumpkin, Max. He's her confidant and security blanket in a way. Though Max is just a vegetable, Ellie goes to him for comfort and refuge from her teenage troubles. Sometimes, it's like he's taking care of her. Her dad doesn't understand her. She's awkward and nerdy, in a growers-kind-of-way. She is smitten with Wes, the new boy in school, and she is constantly at war about her desire to weigh less and her desire for comfort food.

Everything in Ellie's life is a dichotomy. She is driven and absolutely sure of herself, and yet she struggles with self-image and others' perception of her. Ellie says she can't bother with anything else, but the book is about just the opposite. She takes pains to build a relationship with her dad, she wants to impress Wes, she diets on and off again, and she spends precious time despising her rival pumpkin grower, Cyril Poole.

Ellie's strong voice, genuine teen-age mutability, and penchant for comparing life to a vegetable patch make this a book I couldn't put down. I just had to review it here because, while it was the first and probably not the best of Joan Bauer's amazing novels, it is largely unsung. Thankfully, Speak has put the story back in print with a new cover and a new chance at popularity. It's hard to get readers excited about a story where the MC grows a prize pumpkin (trust me, I've tried) but I am convinced they will see a part of themselves in her inner struggles, whether they live in the city or the heartland.


Bonus: 
1. If you enjoyed Squashed, I recommend anything else by Joan Bauer, particularly Hope Was Here or Rules of the Road, which are even better. But don't take my word for it, read reviews by other MMGMers.



Rules of the Road, by Joan Bauer

Hope Was Here, by Joan Bauer

Soar, by Joan Bauer

Hope Was Here
Reviewed by The Paige Turner

Close To Famous
Reviewed by Jenni Enzor, Shannon Messenger, That's Another Story, and Mrs. Yingling Reads.

Soar
Reviewed by Always in the Middle

Almost Home
Reviews by The Hopeful Heroine and Mrs. Yingling Reads.


 

 

2. Feeling the need for comfort food? Joan Bauer includes a pumpkin bread recipe on her site. Bake some up and cuddle up for a cozy read. Or make a Beef and Pumpkin shepherd's pie for dinner, courtesy Nestle Very Best Baking.


3. The crux of what Joan's books represent is encapsulized in these ten short video clips from AdLit.

Have you reviewed a Marvelous Middle Grade Book along this theme? Please leave the link in the comments below. Thanks!

Check out all the Marvelous Middle Grade Monday recommendations for November 28, 2016.

MMGM started way back in 2010 by Shannon Messenger, author of Keeper of Lost Cities. Each week, participating bloggers review our favorite books for ages 8-12. Why not join us?

YA Recommendations

My son and daughter are both in their teens. Here are a few reads they passed along for ALA's Teen Read Week. These are books they've turned to often, and I've enjoyed them too. Why not share them with the young adults in your life?

Eon, by Alison Goodman

The Ruins of Gorlan, by John Flanagan

Dealing With Dragons, by Patricia Wrede

Peeled, by Joan Bauer

Which books are in your teen's library bag?

Middle Grade Dreams 2015

Don't miss the buzz at SLJ's Teen Librarian Toolbox.

How is that middle grade novel coming?  Did you promise yourself this would be the year you'd write it? Have you plotted, researched, or drafted anything yet?

Deafening silence?

If you are serious about putting that book on paper, here are some resources to light the motivational fires.

CHAPTER BOOK CHALLENGE

March means another ChaBooCha is on its way. Join this dedicated group of authors who'll support you through 31 days of drafting your manuscript, start to finish. Writing tips, inspiration, and giveaways are the icing on top.
This year young authors can be eligible for giveaways by signing up for ChaBooCha Jr.

WRITING WORKSHOPS
If you live in the northeast United States, visit the historic Moland House for a day of writing and critiques with Debbie Dadey, Kay Winter, and Marie Lamba, at the Spring Into Writing Workshop.

You may know Nancy I. Sanders from her free online non-fiction tutorials. Nancy is a working author with useful tips on how to start a project and finish it, with the focus on making a living as a writer.
She has an audio workshop available, titled Writing A Middle Grade Novel in ONE Month.


READ READ READ
Nothing motivates me to sit and write like reading.
Win a copy of Jennifer Jacobson's Paper Things From The Mixed-Up Files of Middle-Grade Authors, or enter the Tricia Springstubb's Moonpenny Island giveaway on The Write Stuff.
A Fantastical Librarian has generously gathered highly anticipated MG for 2015. Ask your local librarian for more suggestions or pick up one of my recent favorites.

Savvy, by Ingrid Law

Hope Was Here,
by Joan Bauer

Liar & Spy,
by Rebecca Stead

The Mouse With the
Question Mark Tail,
by Richard Peck

GETTING STARTED
Still don't know where to start?
Gather ideas with Gail Carson Levine's Writing Magic.
Use Shannon Abercrombie's 21 writing prompts from Start the Year Off Write.
Zero in on a killer plot with the Paper Lantern Lit video series.
Learn 4 keys to making the manuscript "un-put-down-able" on Writers Digest.
Revise your current work with Janice Hardy on Fiction University.


If you are more of a picture book person, don't miss last Wednesday's post, Picture Book Goals 2015.