A Net in Time

Curriculum and book reviews, faith, homeschooling and more!

Books for Upper Elementary

Archer and Zowie

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DISCLAIMER. I received this complimentary product through the Homeschool Review Crew.

Archer and Zowie, by Hans Bluedorn tells the story of two intrepid explorers.  Two friends, who are quite different from each other, go on an amazing, imaginative journey into space.  Told in dialogue form you get to “go along for the ride” seeing the world through their eyes.  How much more fun could middle school readers ask for?  What will they learn of friendship and self-esteem as they follow along with Archer and Zowie?

archer and zowie

The Basic details of Archer and Zowie

Archer and Zowie is written by Hans Bluedorn and is all about friendship and self-esteem.  You can hear parts of it being read on the Archer and Zowie page.  These two children are the best of friends, even if they are quite different from each other.  Throughout Archer and Zowie you can observe them using their skills as they imagine a variety of scenarios and extricate themselves from trouble.   They are carefree and very imaginative, and the story is told in their voice…. as if they are talking with the reader.   Written for youth 7-12 years old, and covering 234 pages, most middle school students will have no trouble finishing this book.  Hans Bluedorn has published and illustrated this book himself!  (and he won’t refund your money if you don’t like the illustrations). 

archer and zowie

Archer and Zowie comes in three formats: Kindle, audio and paperback.  I received a paperback copy and found it well made with a glossy cover.  It feels like a book that will last the most voracious reader. 

What do you get?

Mr. Bluedorn’s illustrations fit the theme and characters of Archer and Zowie fantastically. 

You’ll find 18 short and sweet chapters.  Some chapter headings are illustrated, most are not. 

archer and zowie chapter heading with illustration

The dialogue would be about what you expect from 10 year olds.  Funny, quirky, occasionally with some potty talk, and the odd insightful comment.   But that’s children right?  They talk about anything and everything that pops into their heads.  This makes the story real don’t you think? 

It’s not all dialogue though.  It would be difficult I think to write a story that was completely dialogue, you need to have context and description to round out a book well. 

Character development…watching characters grow and develop new thinking patterns, or discover new things about themselves, is fantastic!   Seeing the changes in Archer and Zowie between the first few chapters and the last is part of the fun of reading this story.   Even through imaginative play, children can learn and grow and become something more.  Simply wonderful that. 

Conflict happened.  Children get offended with each other. Danger threatens.  But they get through it. 

archer and zowie

Should you get Archer and Zowie?

Honestly, I initially struggled with reading Archer and Zowie.  The style of writing didn’t suit me.  So I did what I often do with books that aren’t working for me, read the ending first.  That got me intrigued!  Reading through the entire book probably took me an hour once I had the motivation to do so.  🙂   I had to see how they got from point a to b! 

I did hand it over to my lad to get his opinion as he’s 40 years younger than I am. 🙂   So… he’s closer to the target audience. 🙂   So far he says that he likes it. I will update when he is done. 🙂

 Is it my style no?  Do I want to read it again?  No.  But that doesn’t matter… what matters is this: is it suited for the audience it is intended?   Does it have a good story to tell?   Is there meaning to be found?   Do the characters learn anything about themselves or others and become more than they were at the beginning of the book?   If there’s conflict, do they find a way to resolve it? Can they figure out solutions to difficulties they find themselves in?

The answer to all these question is YES!  Resoundingly so.   

So, if your children like quirky, fun reads.  If they enjoy being immersed into the lives of other children’s imaginations, Archer and Zowie will be a fun read for them. 

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Social Media Links

For the Fallacy Detective (also a Hans Bluedorn book)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fallacydetective

For Hans Bluedorn
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hansbluedorn/

Read the Reviews!

27 members of the crew either reviewed Fallacy Detective or Archer and Zowie. I urge you to check out their reviews.

Hans Bluedorn Brings us Fallacy Detective and Archer & Zowie

The One Thing You’d Save

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Disclosure: I received this complimentary product (The One Thing You’d Save) through Raincoast Books.  Affiliate Links will be used, thank you for your support of my blog, costs you nothing to do so.  🙂

What a fun assignment.  Imagine there’s been some sort of catastrophe.  Your family, friends, and pets are safe. Now… pick one thing, doesn’t matter the size, shape, or even it’s weight, that you would save.  What would that one thing be?    This is the question in “The One Thing You’d Save”. Newberry Medalist Linda Sue Park brings us this question  inspired by the Korean poety form sijo. 

The One Thing You'd Save

The Basic Facts

The One Thing You’d Save by Linda Sue Parks takes a singular question and allows many different voices to answer it.  Voices raised in discussion and thought about what they deem most important to save.   This 3-7th grade read is published by Clarion Books, a division of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Encompassing 72 pages of lively discussion found in carefully written verse.  You can almost hear the students talking with each other. 

More Details on The One Thing You’d Save

Oh, I laughed at times.  Kids bantering with each other, pushing each other a bit, and learning from each other.  It was just so real!   It wasn’t all laughter though, sometimes hard things happen when you’re a child and even fun exercises like this can bring that out. 

The teacher’s words are always in a different font as well as darker in colour.   

Just are the words of the children affected me, they also affected her.  The things we learn about each other influences what we think and feel doesn’t it? 

Simple grayscale pencil drawings highlight the thoughts of the children.  Sometimes joining the words on the page, and sometimes following after, letting you absorb the words spoken. 

All in all, such a well done book.  

Add it to your bookshelf?

Oh, this is a hard one to answer.

I think as a one time read I’d rather borrow from the library.  BUT if I wanted to keep it to share with multiple children, or use it in a co-op class, or a classroom situation, then I’d definitely want to have my own copy.  It would be an exercise I think would be well worth doing several times with different classes/groups.   

I really enjoyed reading The One Thing You’d Save and would happily read it again. Part of that is I love books that encourage the reader to think.  I’ve been pondering all night, what would I save if my house was on fire?   And I still don’t know, but I have ideas…. 

I wonder what yours might be?

Oh My Gods!

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Disclosure: I received this complimentary product (Oh My Gods) through Raincoast Books.

When I first saw this title I thought, I can’t review something called Oh My Gods!  Then I realized what this graphic novel was all about and saw it for the humour-filled story that it was.  I still can’t say I like the title or the OMG’s used throughout the book, but the story itself is rather fun. 

Affiliate links will be used in this review.  No cost to you and helps to support my blog.  Thank you. 🙂

oh my gods!

Learning the facts about Oh my Gods!

Stephanie Cooke who also wrote ParaNorthern gives us Oh My Gods!   This book is a quirky, and unexpectedly fun read.  A bit of mystery, myth and fantasy tied up into one graphic novel.   Produced by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and running at 208, youth aged 8-12 will find this graphic novel a quick fun read. 

Written by Stephanie Cooke and Insha Fitzpatrick, and illustrated by Juliana Moon.  Stephanie Cooke has written a large number of books particularly focused for ages 8-12.  She uses humour in every book I have read. 

From the cover:

Karen is just an average thirteen-year-old from New Jersey who loves to play video games with her friends and watch movies with her mom. But when she moves to Greece to live with her eccentric, mysterious father, Zed, suddenly everything she thought about herself-about life-is up in the air.

Starting a new school can be difficult, but starting school at Mt. Olympus Junior High, where students are gods and goddesses, just might take the cake. Especially when fellow classmates start getting turned to stone. Greek mythology . . . a little less myth, a little more eek! And if Karen’s classmates are immortal beings, who does that make her?

Looking Deeper

I love the brilliant colours found throughout. Juliana Moon has done an excellent job of bringing this book to life, showcasing the work of Ms Cook and Ms Fitzpatrick.  The cement colour of the victims is startling against the vivid colours of the rest of the characters. 

You’ll find the text easily read, with clear printing that follows along in a good story like fashion.  Karen’s dad is a bit “out there” in mannerisms and style.  A bit behind the times so Karen needs to help him update a bit. 

Themes of friendship and problem-solving are found throughout as we watch Karen adapt to her new school. It’s a fairly straight forward story with Karen struggling in the new school, helpful people go assist her and a growing mystery.   What’s with all the stone people?  Is Karen to blame? 

Should You Get Oh My Gods!?

 Hmmm… okay, Oh My Gods! is a fun read!  It’s an interesting take on the expletive OMG, and while I dislike encouraging people to use God’s name in vain, this book isn’t about GOD, it’s about Greek gods.  And imagining those gods as highschool students!

Just like in the Greek myths these gods are self-absorbed and quick to figure humans are to blame.  It was great to find a quick synopsis of the gods at the close of this read.   

I look at Oh My Gods! and think it would be either a good introduction to a study on the Greek gods or as a close to the study to see if the gods characteristics can be picked out.   At the close of Oh My Gods! we are given a teaser for the next book in the series entitled In the Maze. 

ParaNorthern and the Chaos Bunny A-Hop-Calypse

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ParaNorthern and the Chaos Bunny A-hop-calypose by Stephanie Cooke is a graphic novel about life for four youngsters in the supernatural town of North Haven. It’s fall break so no school.  And they have a problem to solve, the question is… can they solve it before Chaos destroys all they know?

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Paranorthern and the bunny a-hop-calypse

The facts about ParaNorthern

Mari Costa put together the artwork for ParaNorthern and the Chaos Bunny A-Hop-Calypse, her artwork fit the narrative written by Stephanie Cooke.  The story is about supernatural youth living in North Haven where a portal to a not so good world has opened.  Four youth need to figure out how to close the portal.  Can they do so while remaining friends and can they develop new skills and abilities while doing so. 

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt are the publishers, and I am reviewing on behalf of Raincoast Books.  My advanced reader’s copy is a trade paperback and it comes in kindle, hardcover and paperback versions.  Running at 240 pages, this fictional work is geared for 8-12 year olds. 

Since I received an ARC copy the version I received was done in grayscale.  One page of colour was provided to show what the pages will look like in full colour.  Look at all those reds and purples, fits the theme of the book so well doesn’t it? 

You’ll find well-developed characters throughout.  A close-knit family with a hard-working mom, a big sister (Abby) who helps her mom and keeps a close watch on her younger sister.  Friends, who can be downright annoying, also provide light-hearted humour that show depth to their character. 

Small heads up, I”m not entirely but there might be a girl-girl budding relationship, but they just might be good friends.  It’s difficult to tell since I didn’t read the whole story. 

Should you get ParaNorthern and the Chaos Bunny A-Hop-Calypse

I don’t know.  This is indeed a mixed review for ParaNorthern and the Chaos Bunny A-Hop-Calypse.

I want to say no.  Because I don’t do magic and witchcraft well, and doing seance to call the dead doesn’t sit well as it can be bad to do these things. I am particularly alert to this in books for youth under the age of 14. 

But at the same time… not everyone believes as I do.  Not everyone has the same sensibilities that I have.   There were parts that were funny!  I laughed aloud more than once. I loved the theme of friends learning to understand each other better.  Of those same friends sticking together and helping each other.  Absolute enjoyment with how family deliberately stuck together. 

BUT!  I didn’t read the whole book.  I skipped a good 1/3 of the book since I don’t engage in what I consider evil as much as I can. 

The ending was good, the beginning was good, the middle left me feeling out of sorts.  So in the end, it all depends on your own personal sensibilities. I think most middle schoolers would enjoy it as the parts I read were enjoyable and made sense.   

I would not wish to recommend it to faith-based readers because really… we don’t need to delve into such matters. 

Alone in the Woods

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Are you looking for a classic middle school read?  One that takes in the angst of starting to grow up, and the stresses that can cause in friendships and families?   Alone in the Woods brings an element of danger, middle school angst, family love, and in the end, some resolution. 

Affiliate links will be used in this review, which as always, cost you nothing, but help support my blog. 

Alone in the woods

Alone in the Woods, basics

Written by Rebecca Behrens, Alone in the Woods tells the story of Jocelyn and Alex.  The first half of this middle school read switches back and forth between the girls perspectives much like in Teacher Griefer.  The last half of this good middle school read was a shared experience for the girls. Could they find a way to work together to survive being Alone in the Woods?   Jocelyn and Alex are friends but having trouble with that friendship.  They go on their yearly trip to the woods where they get separated from their families.  Can they work their way past their differences to get back to safe quarters and with their families again? 

Published by Sourcebooks young readers, this is a 320 page chapter with occasional full-page images.  Rebecca Behrens has written a fair number of upper elementary/middle school reads which you can check out.   You’ll find themes of survival, friendship, family, middle school, action and adventure all centred around the lives of two young ladies. 

I am reviewing an advanced readers copy for Raincoast Books. 

Finer Details

Many of the chapters were introduced with grey scale illustrations.   Not every chapter, I found them mostly scattered.   Simple illustrations that occasionally repeated but showed landscapes from the story. 

alone in the woods

Occasionally page dividers would be these little branches which I thought were very cute.  They suited the nature of the book wonderfully. 

The language was very suited to the audience of youth aged 8-12 years.  

You really get to know the main characters well.  You get to understand the hurt felt and the mistakes made by both girls.  

I found it ever so interesting that both girls were able to use their abilities to help them get out of their dire straits.  

My only quibble is that the cover doesn’t match the story.  In the story the girls were wearing bathing suits, on the cover they are wearing full outfits and good shoes.  

Should you get Alone in the Woods?

Alone in the Woods is a good story about a friendship gone awry and how two girls figured out a way through to the other side.  Friendships change as one grows up and sometimes, with some work, they can be salvaged.  I was thrilled to see these two girls put the work into salvaging their relationship.

If you are looking for a middle school read with a good dose of encouragement to keep trying when friendships are hard and that has a well-done adventure as part of it.  Get this book.  If you want to see girls using their own skills, even in occasionally an unlikely manner… Get this book.   It’s not a hard or complicated read, but should be enjoyable by most upper elementary and middle school students. 

The Way Past Winter

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Grit, determination, and just a little bit of magic fill the pages of The Way Past Winter.  An old enemy plays his hand.  Can the survivors find a way to put an end to it all? Affiliate links will be used in this review, held on behalf of Raincoast books. 

the way past winter

The Basic Details

Kiran Millwood Hargrave is the author of this Chronicle books published middle school read entitled The Way Past Winter.  Youths grade 5 and up will be delighted with the bravery of Mila as she faces her greatest foe.   A mage Rune helps her along the way.  It is a page-turning adventure the shows the resilience of family, magic and friendship.   Will it be enough to see them through the end?   Will it see them past to the end of winter?    I received an advanced reader’s copy of this 284-page book.

The Way Past Winter

Based on Slavic folktales, this children’s sibling book from Chronicle books is a fast paced novel guaranteed to keep the reader interested in what will happen next.  As an adult reader I finished it in about an hour (mind, I am a fast reader).  

You’ll find five different images delineating each chapter heading, they show the progress in the story.  Scattered art work also help introduce the different sections of this tome based in fantasy and magic.  Since I received an ARC copy I don’t know if the images will be in greyscale in the final copy.

sample page, the way past winter

Font size was larger, making it an easy fast read.  Very comfortable for a youth 10 and up to engage with. 

the way past winter

I really liked the variety in the girls characters, so very different from each other and yet very focused on helping each other. It was in essence… family being family despite their differences.  This makes for a good read.  🙂   

Should you get it?

Yes.  I think so. 

I enjoyed it although the story went in a different direction than I thought it would.  My thought was it would all be about respecting the earth and the things of the earth. It was less about that, and more about family and combatting the things which made life difficult. 

The Way Past Winter shows the resilience of family and friendship. A determination from three unremarkable girls to make things right again. 

It would be interesting to use it as a character study as each of their girls, their brother and the mage are quite different.  Or as a way to jumpstart a conversation about how to care for the earth, or looking into Slavic folklore and how it influences different genres of books.   It’s a good story to just stand on its own as a fantasy novel. 

 

The Nightmare Thief

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Nicole Lespereance has put together a book that honestly.. I’m going to give you a mixed review on.  The Nightmare Thief gave me the willies when I started reading but I found myself compelled to read on until I saw a good solution coming about.  I’ve learned to do this with books so I don’t get bad dreams!  Mind…I am easily put on edge by books and this one did a good job of doing that for me, yet… it contained good themes and for the right reader would be an excellent fit.   Affiliate links will be used. 

the nightmare thief

Themes I Liked

I loved the quirkiness of the parrot, the family connectedness, the love of family, the willingness to reconnect with old friends, and the alertness to potential danger in people.  LOVED those aspects.   I loved the determination of Maren (the female protoganist) to solve her problem and not be beaten by a very creepy antagonist.    Those aspects, for the right reader, make this a very doable middle school reader.  

Sourcebooks is the publisher of Nicole Lespereance’s read, The Nightmare Thief.  Running at 288 pages, the intended audience are children 8-14 years old, though I see it better for youth 10+.  I am reviewing an advanced readers copy for Raincoast. 

What Do you Get?

A novel!  That’s what you get!  🙂   Yes I know, stop being silly. 

But seriously, in The Nightmare Thief, you’ll find the characters are well-protrayed.  With a very creepy villain who couldn’t let go of her past and clung to her hurt.   Who gave the protagonist a reason to rethink some of her thoughts.  Our protagonist has a love of family and developed a willingness to reconnect with old friends (letting go of the hurt).

sample page, the nightmare thief

Very little art work grace the pages.  It gives a great image of what a dream packet might look like eh?

Such an interesting concept presented.  Using dreams both to heal and to be a weapon.  Could you imagine such a thing?  And the nasty villain had such a unique way of delivering them.  NOPE.. no spoilers in this post! 

Should you get?

As I said when I started this review, a mixed opinion.  

I don’t get why people read books to scare them. I definitely wouldn’t understand someone wanting to buy a scary dream.  Not my thing.  

But I do get that people like to read and do and live with some fright in their lives.  I suppose it’s good to get the old heart pumping eh?  

With that in mind, I would say older elementary students through middle school just might enjoy reading The Nightmare Thief.  Enjoy a creepy villain, be delighted by a girl discovering her courage, and using her skills.