“ My Teacher doesn’t like me. That’s why she gave me a D.”

“Middle school is TOO HARD. I can’t do it.”

” All the (books, teachers, kids, whatever) here are dumb. I liked my old school better.”

Well, ladies and gentlemen, this year I have a solution for you. Success in Middle School: a Transition Road Map by Carol Carter (LifeBound Books) is a great book to guide kids through the terrifying, tumultuous path know as grades 6-8.

This book was sent to me by the publisher for review, and I have to say I was highly impressed. Success in Middle School takes the mystery out of this transition by explaining what to expect in plain English.  The author goes over logistical basics, like schedules, teacher expectations, and organizing all those notes, and explains social issues (there is nothing on the planet more complicated or traumatic than friendship dynamics at this age). She also goes over important aspects of maturing into a scholar, like taking risks, looking for talents, and taking responsibility for yourself in a way that is accessible to these already overwhelmed kids. The book is woven through with personal narratives from kids who have survived middle school (particularly valuable because, of course, none of us grown ups understand).

I’ll be adding this book to our school library, and will be encouraging students to take a look. Ideas on how to work with that teacher? Covered: chapter 2. How can you make friends? Got it: chapter 3. Is throwing that water balloon at lunch really such a great idea? Chapter 8–that’s the one on taking appropriate risks.

Other LifeBound resources for kids about managing school, being a scholar, and growing up:

Gifts and Talents for Teenagers: Discovering Your Unique Strengths by Carol Carter

People Smarts for Teenagers: Becoming Emotionally Intelligent by Carol Carter

photo: Nathan Olsen

Next to me in this picture is my Dad, Gordon Ghareeb, noted Maritime Historian and co-author of From Hollywood to Honolulu: The  Story of the Los Angeles Steamship Company. We attended a wonderful lecture given by him and co-author Martin Cox detailing this fascinating chapter in nautical history (with all the juicy bits left in)!

This book tells a story of fame and fortune, glitter and gossip, as the Los Angeles Steamship Company ferried movie stars and millionaires to the Hawaiian Islands in the 1920′s and 30′s. 

According to Mr. Cox, this is one of the few well-researched examinations of this particular bit in west-coast maritime history. The authors used family interviews, pictures taken by senior crew members at the time, and spent hours combing through every edition of the Los Angeles Times on microfilm to gather a complete picture of not only how these ships ran, but also how the LOSSC impacted society around it.

The Honolulu Star Bulletin has called this book a “must read for steamship enthusiasts.” If you’re a librarian of any Nautical Collection, of Maritime History, or of Los Angeles/ California history, give me call. This is a book you’ll want to include. 

Seriously, folks, Generation Dead  is some of the most remarkable science fiction I’ve read in a a good long while. The set-up is simple and timeless, but at the same time strangely amusing and ridiculous. For some unknown medical reason, teens who die are becoming zombies, and many are attempting to return to thier old lives in this new state. These “living impaired” kids, (it is extremely rude to use the Z-word) are just trying to be kids, but face intense amounts of hatred and discrimination from other students and from society in general. 

Here’s why I loved it. The characters are hilarious. The whole idea of the latest  social group to need societal awareness being teenage zombies left me chucking all the way through it. Now, there are major issues to be dealt with here, people: with the new pale skin what lip gloss goes best, how do you kiss a zombie if she’s all cold and stuff, does it count as being dumped if he’s already dead. . .the list goes on and on.

But at the same time, there is a very serious, and unfortunately accurate picture being painted of human behavior towards anyone who’s different; they are deeply contemptuous (along the lines of the ugliest racism or homophobia) of anyone who associates with the “worm eaters,” and one character actively terrorizes and abuses them (after all, it’s not illegal to harm someone who’s already dead). Everyone in the book has to face up to the one unifying question: am I brave enough to stand up for those who can’t stand up for themselves, even if I’m scared of them myself? Doen’t everyone deserve the same chance at life and happiness?

It’s not a perfect book, nor is it entirely harmless; there are a few drinking scenes, swear words, and the boys talk to each other like boys tend to do: with touches of  sexual context. But the message of this novel, which I cannot help but align with the current attitudes stirred up by California’s gay marriage debate, along with the wonderful balance of zany-creepy and reality makes this one worth considering for you library.

Skeleton Creek by Patrick Carman. This is a creepy ghost mystery that has me reminiscing about  being in High School and seeing the Blair Witch Project. Ryan and Sarah are convinced there’s a secret to e found in the death of an old gold miner, but Ryan is not going anywhere after one of their stunts lands him in the hospital. Sarah continues the search, filming what she finds and posting the videos online for Ryan to follow along with. The two use email, video clips, texting, and a range of other things to keep chasing Old Joe Bush, and to keep Ryan’s parents from finding out.

The really cool part? Kids can go online and watch the videos along with Ryan. The websites and passwords are sprinkled throughout the book, so not only do you get a fun story, you get a secret search and a spooky video too. This would be great for reluctant readers or kids who are struggling (they have to read the book to get the passwords, and the videos give visuals to support comprehension). I realize this is extremely clever marketing and not really an altruistic attempt to support literacy, but it’s a whole lot of fun wither way. 

Gamer Girl by Mari Mancusi. Maddy is having enough trouble dealing with her parent’s divorce and having to move back in with her Grandma, but when kids at her new school start making fun of her, calling her “Geek Girl,” “Goth,”  and “Freak,” she just can’t take it anymore. She retreats into a MMOG (massive multiplayer online game, similar to World of Warcraft). There she finds some safe company, some friends, a major crush, and surprisingly, her father (who cancels weekend visits to play online). As she grows a little braver, she starts a Manga club at school and discovers she’s not the only one the cheerleaders call “Geek Girl.” She finds a plenty of kids who are just like her. 

This was an excellent book for two reasons. It has a wonderful character who is going through exactly what every other middle school kid is: she just wants to have people like her for who she is. Maddy is spunky and sassy, but is has very human reactions to some of the things that happen to her.  The second reason I like this book is that is completely de-mystifies all this techno-junk, like MMOGs, IMing and a host of other acronym adjectives. The kids are using online social networks, they “Wikipediaed” things and they are texting and tweeting all over the place. The author does a brilliant job of having some character explain all this stuff (usually to some lost grown-up) so no one gets lost. There are great conversations about cyber bullying and avatars vs. IRL friends (that’s “in real life” friends, for those who don’t speak IM, and that’s “Instant Messenger” for . . .this thing could get way out of hand!). I would recommend Gamer Girl as a great introduction to modern adolescent communication; it’s a way for parents and librarians to get and idea of what all this stuff is that kids are talking about, and how it’s become a huge part of their everyday lives.

This is a cute picture book I always wind up reading to some poor kid (there’s been a few teachers too) during testing season. Testing Ms. Malarkey tells the story of a regular old school and regular old kids, who go a little nuts as they approach testing. Kids have to eat only  brain-friendly fish in the cafe, parents give out worksheets with bedtime stores, Teachers cut in front of the Nurse’s line,  and a Principal becomes more than adamant about No 2 pencils. This is one story one we can all laugh over together.

The White Gates by Bonnie Ramthun. This was a wonderful novel that I think will hit our “top ten” list in no time. When Tor moves to Colorado with his mom (she’s divorced, and a new doctor) he immediately figures out that to fit in here, you’ve got to snowboard. In between lessons, he and a friend discover a Native American curse, a rare river otter, and uncover a plot to illegally enhance the school’s snowboard team’s performance. Tons of snowy-surfy action as Tor snowboards his way through the book. Well written, great characters, lots of fun!

Lockdown by Diane Tullson (Orca Soundings Series). This is the story of Josh, a boy who is bullied and teased, then tragically brings a gun to his school. The story is told by Adam, a student who gets stranded in the hallways when the school is under emergency “lockdown.” As he and a friend hide, they talk about what drove Jost to this act.

This is a rather mature subject, but it is dealt with very tactfully and compassionately. All of our kids have heard about this kind of thing happening, and I feel that Lockdown tells a needed story about how tragic this whole situation really is. There is some death, but nothing overly graphic or too unsettling.

Death by Latte by Linda Gerber. This is the eagerly awaited sequel to Death by Bikini (there’s a sizable waiting list already). Aphra is somewhat of a reluctant spy: her parents are long time CIA operatives and when things go wrong, she always gets swept up in the action. In the book, her boyfriend, Seth’s, father has been kidnapped, and the demands are for a special ring Aphra was given as a gift. As the plot unfolds, plane crashes, parental drama, and secret messages line the path to rescuing Seth’s dad, only to discover perhaps he wasn’t really “kidnapped” in the first place. This is a very fun read with a great narrative voice. Definitely a high-interest series!

Project Sweet Life by Brent Hartinger. Dave is 16, and his parents decide it’s time for him to have a summer job. Dave and his friends concoct Project “Sweet Life,” a plan to make money while only pretending to work. This involves a range of schemes: combing garage sales for antiques, entering contests, and solving crimes for reward money. They discover that fake-working is much harder than working at McDonald’s ever would be. Good life lesson for kids: nothing comes for free, there’s hard work involved if you want to be successful. Funny narrative voice and lots of  silly scheming makes this book a good selection for middle school.

Between Mom and Jo by Julie Ann Peters. This story may be too controversial for some libraries, but I think this is an important point of view to represent.  

Nick has two moms. He is the natural child of one parent, raised by her and her partner, Jo. Like any family, there are problems. Jo has had trouble keeping a job, and has turned to drinking. She does not always make the best parenting decisions. When the family splits up, Nick finds himself in the middle of a painful custody dispute, and experiences depression as he loses one of his moms.

Nick sums it up well when he declares “I don’t care what people think, I love my moms.” Gay marriage is  hotly debated issue right now, and coming form Long Beach, many of my kids know someone (are are someone) who comes from a non-traditional family. What this book does well is it illustrates that all families, whether traditional or not, have problems to work out, and that love between a parent and a child is no less powerful when the bond is not biological. Other issues worth discussing are brought up, including adoption, legal rights for gay partners, legal rights for children in these families, and attitudes towards a child raised by gay partners.

Peeled by Joan Bauer. Hildy is a lead reporter for her high school newspaper, and she’s determined to break a huge story. When rumors of a mysterious curse surface in her town, strange people start arriving, and the local grown-up paper starts running sensationalist headlines, Hidly knows something is up. She gets to work and discovers a coordinated plot to profit from the town’s hysteria. Great story for a range of readers!

As this is the only the latest in a long line of wonderful Bryson books I have recommended to others, he now joins Gary Paulsen and Jared Diamond in my personal literary “Hall of Fame.”

Other books by Bill Bryson (that Ms. G has read and LOVED!):

Short History of Nearly Everything
The Lost Continent : Travels in Small Town America
The Mother Tongue : English & How It Got That Way

There has been much discussion in our district about where boundaries are between middle school and high school fiction. It’s true; these are grey areas. Kids generally want to read about characters who are  older and more mature then they are; this is what makes it so thrilling and exciting! But there’s a huge difference between what a 12 year old understands about the world and what a 15 year old understands. Sure, Breaking Dawn may be extremely high interest, but can a sixth grader reasonably handle the “marital relations?”

On the other hand, can words on a page really hurt them, anyway? 

There are even more variables at work. Each site is different, as well. I know my kids are WAY grown up when it comes to things like gang affiliation, teen pregnancy, and drug use (a sad reality, but it’s true). Hate to say it, but Misty of Chincoteague is not so relevant to their experience. Many other school librarians completely disagree with me, and are determined to present a spotless, sanitized reading collection for their students. 

 So, I am pretty liberal with my approvals, and finding three in a row that failed to make it past my review card is unusual. Here are some of the things I keep in mind when deciding what is OK for middle school readers;

1. Bad language is not a deal-breaker. I know there are plenty of librarians who would yank a book if even one swear word was found. Like it or not, that is, in fact, the way kids talk to one another. I hear it every day, and if you’re anywhere near a public school, so do you. If the dialogue in a book is not realistic, then it’s not believable, and that makes it an inferior book. Now, I am NOT advocating that all books should have swearing included, or that there’s something wrong with the book if it does not, but many of the novels I approve focus on developing these characters in a way kids will understand, mirroring the modern child’s own experience. A quality novel can stand to have a few bad words. 
2. Drug use is also not a deal breaker. I actually feel very strongly about this one. Drugs are a big issue in today’s youth, and “Just Say No” only goes so far. Kids should be able to read realistic depictions of what happens when drug addiction becomes a part of someone’s life. In almost every case I’ve seen, the drug use is followed by some realizations that it was a bad choice, and the conflict become getting past it. On another very depressing note, many of our kids have family members and parents who may abuse drugs, and are struggling to understand the consequences. I think it’s important for that experience to be acknowledged
3. Sex, however, is another story. This one is the toughest one for me. I am not one of these who believes that not one of my eighth graders could possibly know anything about sex, but there is a developmental thing in play here. Kids perceive romantic or sexual feelings very differently depending on their physical and emotional maturity. When I read about any sexual issue in a book, it’s all about how it is presented. Are the characters experimenting, wondering about things, etc, or are they completely OK and open with having sex. Do they discuss it like grown-ups, or like kids? 
4. That’s the key issue: Context. You have to consider the appropriateness of how the appears in the book; this remains the basis of any rejection or approval. 

A few disclaimers: Long Beach has a very thorough review procedure (as well as a good complaint procedure), so none of this is ever just one person’s opinion anyway. I can argue my case all I want, but unless two other middle school librarians agree with me, I’m outta luck. 

Just because a book is OK’d, it does not mean every library or every reader should have it. That’s why we’re considered experts. Librarians should evaluate the needs of their own students. If I don’t think a kid can handle a certain book, I will re-direct them. (But whatever you do, do not tell them it’s because the book is “too mature for them.” There is no faster way to get that kid to decide they absolutely MUST read it).

Last thing: if you are a parent reading this, please know that you are the only one who can utimately determine if something OK for your child. Likewise, you cannot decide that something is not OK for everyone else’s child. We have a very wide variety of books avable for a very wide variety of readers; I am confident we can find books that aligns with your family’s expectations.

This is a must read for anyone who may find themselves tearing their hair out over that one little boy who will just not sit still, whether you’re a parent, teacher, or school administrator.  As I was reading the descriptions of all the bad boy behavior, I could put a face one each one, some 12 year old from my past classes who has driven me nuts and kept me from teaching the way I think I should be able to.

The Trouble With Boys, written by award-wining Newsweek writer Peg Tyre, does two very important jobs: first it explains some of the science and social factors behind why these little ones act the way they do. One of the best points she makes about this involves looking at how the modern school system, with its testing focus, super-structured time, and no-tolerance mandates sets up a pretty awful place for boys to develop a love of learning. Statistics show that boys show up to school every bit as smart and ready to learn as girls, but they steadily become less and less successful, even if they are from rich communities and attend “the best” schools. This trend goes all the way up; far more females are tackling college these days than men.

The book also, and perhaps more importantly, looks at strategies, models, and best practices that have been demonstrated to make learning more accessible for boys. Some of these are as simple as starting high school later in the day, to more involved instructional methods like using building projects to teach math, to encouraging male presence at school through a “Dad’s Club” of fix-it men.

The Trouble With Boys is not only a fun book to read (Tyre has a great narrative style and lots of anecdotes) but the emphasis on data to drive her arguments makes this a valuable resource for educators. Next time you think about picking up the phone because little Timmy is “climbing excessively,” try picking up this book first. Find it in the LB Public Library catalog.

Download list as PDF:

Recommended Reading for Middle School (PDF: 132k)

Ms Ghareeb’s Top Picks for Middle School:

Novels:

Estrella’s Quinceañera by Malin Alegria.

• Estrella just wants to have a normal Quinceanera, but when her mother brings out the bright orange dress that she has to wear, Estrella knows she’s in for trouble. She as to find a way to make her mom happy, her father proud, and her friends included without giving up her special day.

Twilight (Series) by Stephanie Meyer.

• Now a hit movie, Twilight tells the dramatic love story between human Bella and Edward, the hunky vampire who has redeemed himself by abstaining from drinking human blood. Packed with all the beautiful, aching, obsessive emotion teenagers know as falling in love.

Kiki Strike (Series) by Kirsten Miller.

• Kiki and Ananka explore NYC through a mysterious series of underground tunnels, finding all sorts of trouble along the way. Lots of action, tips on fashion, and fun teen attitude.

Gym Candy by Carl Deuker.

• Mick, A high school football player has dream of playing for the NFL, and decided he has to take steroids to get there. This book shows the effects steroids can have on your health as well as your family, and in the end, Mick realizes how big of a mistake he has made.

 The Lighting Thief (Series) by Rick Riordan.

• Percy Jackson just doesn’t fit in, then he discovers why: he is descended directly form the Greek gods, and retains traces of their power. Along with a group of similarly powered friends, Percy takes on monsters, evil deities, and sticky camp counselors.

 Peak by Roland Smith.

• Peak is a bad kid, but is up for any adventure, from the opening scene, where Peak gets nabbed by the US Air Force climbing to the top of a NYC skyscraper, the action keeps right on going as Peak and his shady father attempt to climb mount Everest.  Great survival tale, but with complex characters and relationships.

 Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick.

• For the kid who isn’t so into dragons, wizards, or vampire love stories, this story will make ‘em cry. Steven is a normal teenager, until his annoying younger brother is diagnosed with leukemia and his family falls apart. A wonderful book that will pierce even the toughest teen ‘tude.

Great Series!

           These are must have series for any urban library. Relevant settings, characters the kids can identify with, and very accessible reading levels make these books among our most popular.

• Bluford High (Various Authors). Titles include A Matter of Trust, The Bully, Blood is Thicker, and Brothers in Arms. Features both male and female high-school characters, mainly African American and Hispanic.

• Orca Soundings (Various Authors). Titles include Lockdown, Grind, and Juice. Features both male and female characters of varying ages and ethnicities. Some books in this series may be for more mature readers; please review content for your library.

Graphic Novels:

 Kids all ask for them, but many librarians just don’t know where to start! These series are appropriate for middle school readers and extremely popular, without being literary “junk food.”

·      Runaways from Marvel Comics. Who doesn’t love a beautifully drawn story about superhero teens on a mission to take down their evil villain parents?

·      Usagi Yojimbo by Stan Sakai. Affectionately called the Samurai Bunny in our Library, this is a meandering tale about a young warrior in feudal Japan. There may be some violence, as he is, after all, a Samurai.

·      The Dreaming (Series) by Queenie Chan.  A mysterious set of twin girls haunt a dark and creaky private school, appearing to the newly arrived students.

·      Amulet by Kazu Kibuishi. Volume one was a huge hit; we’re eagerly awaiting the second installment of this beautifully drawn story about two kids who move into an eerie new house and fall into mystery, monsters and dangerous mission.

·      Bone (Series) by Jeff Smith. A goofy set of characters each are on a journey to find Boneville, after being separated in a vast forest. Along the way the meet danger, laughs, and even a little love.