The One Who Watches by Chris von Halle

Anyone ready for a little chills and thrills? Today's read comes from a horror author, who I've been following for several years. This book is his 8th and latest addition to the middle grade series, Between Dark and Light. The books I've read so far remind me a bit of the beloved Goosebumps series, but Between Dark and Light carries a darker and more true-horror edge. So far, they've fit nicely to the age group...and I know there are quite a few horror fans out there in the middle grade range...and I'm assuming this one will be just as fitting and entertaining...

And chilling.

Grab those flashlights, blankets, and maybe something to snack on because this should be a quick-paced, spooky ride.

THE ONE WHO WATCHES

Between Dark and Light 

by Chris von Halle

Middle Grade Horror

112 pages 

ages 10 and up

Some legends hide in the dark. Others watch from it.

Twelve-year-old Molly Thompson doesn’t believe in sasquatch—not really. Sure, the Bluehorn Mountains near her Michigan hometown are full of strange rock piles and creepy stories. But Molly is a science kid. Logical. Grounded.

Until one night changes everything.

While camping with her parents, Molly stumbles on something impossible. Something wild. Something that shouldn’t exist. What happens next will challenge everything she thinks she knows—about monsters, myths, and even herself.

Because some bonds can’t be explained by science.

And some creatures aren’t meant to be found.

Haunting, heartfelt, and unforgettable, The One Who Watches is a horror-laced mystery about what hides in the woods…and what happens when it follows you back.

Perfect for fans of Small Spaces by Katherine Arden and Doll Bones by Holly Black—creepy, character-driven middle grade horror with heart.

Bonus story included: Enjoy an additional original middle grade horror story included with this edition.

Between Dark and Light is a series of nonconnected children’s horror books featuring strange, eerie, supernatural events. Ages 10 and up!

GOODREADS    /    AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

Myth meets a middle schooler's dreams of friendship and warps into a deadly game, where the true monster hides in unexpected places.

Molly's camping with her parents in the woods, and her parents are playing their usual game of sasquatch 'reality' by pointing out signs of their existence. She knows they do it for fun but wishes they'd realize a 12-years-old is no long a child. When she hears an odd noise during the night, takes her flashlight, and heads into the trees, her idea of what is real changes instantly. But monsters aren't always what they seem, and she's about to learn where true beasts roam.

This latest addition to the series takes a huge twist to the normal monster direction and steers into the world of big foot/sasquatches in an unique way. The scene comes across familiar but with the right touch of suspense as the family camps in less-visited woods. This beginning sets the tone and holds the underlying sense of threatening possibility even when Molly returns home...and even when everything should normally lighten up as she finds new friendship. Of sorts. While the monster lurks in the background after those first pages, the more familiar world of school hallways and long-time friends rolls in to add middle school drama. But the author takes exactly this aspect, the normal, and melds it in unexpected ways. The result is a well-woven, tense adventure.

Even reluctant readers won't mind diving into this read. The pacing stays steady the entire way through to keep those pages turning. The entire tale is less than 60 pages, and the chapters are kept relatively short. So, the entire thing isn't overwhelming but rather, offers a quick, enjoyable read. TRIGGER WARNING: While short, this isn't a tale for younger or more sensitive readers. It does involve murder and death involving that age group. I'm definitely keeping this one as recommended for ages 10 and up because of this. But this also isn't a gore story or murder just for thrills. Rather, the author builds in plenty of food-for-thought as a side dish. 

As a special bonus, there's a second tale following the first, which also promises twists, turns, and thrills. Fans of horror are sure to enjoy this quick dive into a chilling realm of eerie possibilities.

And here he is...

Chris von Halle has always been fascinated with the dark edges of life and the light that always seems to be trying to prick through. Between Dark and Light represents the war that’s constantly raging between the two forces. Chris lives in Morristown, New Jersey, and enjoys watching tennis, playing video games, and creating the occasional comic strip.

Grandma, Cho Cho and Me by Morgan Christie

Today's read screams grandmother goodness and cooking. In other words, a potentially awesome combination. Add the Jamaican direction, and I'm looking forward to diving in. I'm expecting a warming, family atmosphere with care and security. I'm also hoping for some cultural insights on ingredients or a dish. Maybe, we'll be lucky enough to get a recipe that kids can prepare with their grandparents, parents, or caregivers, too? 

We'll find out...and hopefully, leave with the desire to hit the kitchen with our grandmothers, too.

GRANDMA, CHO CHO AND ME

by Morgan Christie

Illustrated by Paulica Santos

Groundwood Books

Picture Book

32 pages

ages 3 to 6

COMING MARCH 6th!!!

Some families gather for big dinners, but in my house we feast at breakfast! As Grandma and I cook our favorite Jamaican dishes, I learn why that is.

The girl in this story and her grandmother are making breakfast for the whole family! Jamaican favourites like ackee and saltfish, fried dumplings and delicious cho cho are on the menu today. As they chop and stir, and the food simmers and sizzles, the girl has one big question for Grandma – why does their family eat such BIG breakfasts?

Through the process of cooking traditional foods, and through Grandma’s stories of life in Jamaica before their family emigrated to Canada, the girl learns more about the historical, economic and social reasons for their big breakfasts — and she explores her culture as someone not born in Jamaica, but still connected to the island.

Tasting Cho Cho is inspired by the author’s childhood experiences born to Jamaican migrant parents, and beautifully illustrated by Paulica Santos. Memories of tropical landscapes, garden-fresh greens, and mouthwatering meals overflow in Paulica Santos’s lush, mixed-media illustrations.

GOODREADS    /    PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

The importance of family and the wonderful feeling of togetherness beam as delicious foods will have readers wishing they could try a dish or two, too.

While many families come together at dinner time, this little girl's family treats breakfast as their most important meal. Every morning, Grandma gets up early and heads to the kitchen, and the little girl joins her. They cook all sorts of yummy, Jamaican foods. At the same time, the little girl asks her grandmother why they always eat such a huge breakfast, and each time Grandma gives a slightly different answer. Maybe, the little girl will understand how it all comes together at the end.

These pages open the door for young listeners/readers to take a peek at a small part of the Jamaican culture. Not only various, new foods are introduced, but the grandmother explains how the families would head out every day to harvest and work outdoors until late in the evening. There are even light glimpses at some reasons behind it. These pages do a good job at bringing this life aspect across in an understandable way for young readers. 

The text flows nicely and works well as a read-aloud for ages 4 to 8...I'm shifting up from the book's recommendation due to the difficulty of the text and insights it carries. It works nicely for beginning readers, who are pretty sure of their words as well. The illustrations are beautiful and bring these pages to life while making the various points clear. Every moment comes across with vibrance and a fitting atmosphere, while visually bringing across some of the cultural aspects. 

I recommend this one for groups, who are taking a look at Jamaica, or for anyone, who already has a connection to it. For other readers, the various foods mentioned might not be recognizable. While this is great for introducing new foods, there isn't really enough offered in these pages to make it clear what these foods are like (taste, texture, purpose). So, it would be helpful if young readers had a chance to see, at least. one of them themselves...otherwise, it looses meaning. I was hoping for an easy recipe for listeners/readers to create with help (if necessary), but this isn't included. Which is fine and just my own, little thought. The book does end on a very warming note, which gives a strong sense of family, warmth, security, and community...all wonderful things kids can never experience enough.

And here they are...

MORGAN CHRISTIE is the author of the picture book I, Too, Am Here, illustrated by Marley Berot; four poetry chapbooks; a short story collection and a collection of essays. She has won the Arc Poetry Poem of the Year Contest, the Prairie Fire Fiction Prize, the Puerto del Sol Fiction Prize and a silver National Magazine Award for poetry. Morgan is based out of Toronto, Ontario.

PAULICA SANTOS is a designer, illustrator and visual artist based in São Paulo, Brazil. The picture books she has illustrated include A coragem de Danso, written by Kiusam Oliveira; and A rosa e o poeta do morro, Nós de Axé and O Fuxico de Janaína, all written by Janaína de Figueiredo.

Relic of Thieves by Shana Targosz

I accidentally got my hands on today's read and am glad I did, since it looks amazing. And I did enjoy the first book in the series, which came out about a year ago (see my review HERE). I'm excited to see where this adventure goes next and hope this second book in the series is as good as the first. Or even better?

Let's dive in and find out!

RELIC OF THIEVES

The Underwild #2

by Shana Gargosz

Aladdin

Middle Grade Fantasy

464 pages

ages 8 to 12

COMING MARCH 24th!!!

For the first printing only! This hardcover features sprayed edges while the special edition supply lasts.

An ordinary girl’s longing to return to the way things were sets off a chain of events that lands her and her best friend in the Underwild in this second book in the New York Times bestselling middle grade fantasy series The Underwild—perfect for fans of Greenwild and Rick Riordan.

The best ways Anya knows how to cope with the struggles life throws her way is to keep her head down, stay invisible, and stick close to her best friend, Lizzie. Lizzie has been Anya’s rock since second grade. Together, they pretend the world away. But when Lizzie moves out of state, Anya is left adrift and desperately lonely.

One day, Anya follows a strange girl home from school and is shocked to see her go into the home of the woman who everyone in town swears is a witch. As Anya spies on the pair, she realizes the woman really does have magic—including a set of magical keys that can deliver you anywhere you want to go…keys that could reunite Anya with Lizzie. Anya has seen all she needs to; as soon as she has the chance, she steals the keys.

But magic always has a price. The keys do bring Anya to Lizzie, but then the girls are transported to the dark and chaotic world of the Underwild. Before long, Lizzie is snatched away by a terrible creature! Now wracked with guilt and paralyzed by fear, Anya has no choice but to trust the girl from school, Senka, when she unexpectedly shows up and offers to help. But can Anya find the bravery locked away deep inside herself in time to rescue her friend?

GOODREADS    /    AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

Tons of adventure packs these pages, while friendship glistens and shines.

Anya spends most of her life trying to keep everything in her life quiet. Her brother makes sure to dominate and not in the nicest way. The only light Anya sees in her life is her best friend, Lizzie, but she suddenly moves away and leaves Anya alone. Things take a strange turn as a new girl appears in school, and Anya accidentally discovers that the girl lives at the neighborhood's witch's house (or so Lizzie and Anya named the woman). While ease-dropping near the house's window, Anya hears that the witch is real, and she has magical keys, which take the user anywhere they want to go. Determined to see Lizzie again, Anya steals the keys...and they work. While she can't believe she gets to see her best friend again, the joy is short lived. Unknowingly, Anya has broken the laws of the Greek gods and is now being hunted down by the most terrible beasts to pay the price...which will be her life.

While this tale is on the longer end...and the 400+ length for middle grade makes me swallow..., the story is worth the deep dive for those who take in on. Anya is a fun character to follow and adore. She makes mistakes but does the best she can in a very tough situation. After all, being thrust into the world of Greek mythology when it shouldn't even exist and being immediately marked as a massive criminal isn't an easy spot to be in. Anya's problems balancing her fears and emotions give her a realistic touch and make her easy to root for. She has a heart of gold when it comes to her friends, and her despair at losing Lizzie to the beasts adds grabbing edge. There's the developing friendship with the new girl, which inserts needed hope and light.

To say that there are many tense, action-packed scenes is an understatement. There are plenty to keep the pages turning, but there are also many moments where things slow down a small notch, too. Anya has a lot to learn and meets many characters. The Greek mythology flows in seamlessly and even those readers, who aren't mythology gurus, will have no trouble sinking in. Of course, knowers gain a little more food-for-thought thanks to some unexpected twists. Some of the most dangerous Greek personalities held a bit of a surprise and offer more assistance than a reader might first think. Others remained true to themselves. There's also an interesting bend in the Persephone end. So, there are unique aspects to keep the mythology feeling fresh and not repetitive.

This is the second book in the series, but it reads fine as a stand-alone...although reading the first would offer a little more insight on some aspects. This second tale is as grabbing (if not more so) than the first and offers a rich, enjoyable world for fantasy and adventure fans alike.

And here she is...

Shana Targosz writes about magical girls, budding friendships, ghosts who may or may not be friendly, and fiercely held hope. She is an Oregon Literary Fellow and the 2021 recipient of the Edna L. Holmes Fellowship in Young Readers Literature. Shana is the author of The Underwild series, the first book of which was an instant New York Times bestseller. When not writing or reading through a stack of books, she spends her time playing Zelda with her son, designing solo journaling games, walking her domesticated monster disguised as a Labradoodle, and dreaming up different worlds.

The Story of Ice by Jon Nelson and Sam Nelson

It's time for some nonfiction goodness! I'm always on the look out for engaging and informative nonfiction reads in the kidlit realm. Nonfiction was my favorite section as a kid, and it was and still is a favorite of my own kids. It's even better when it hits STEM topics. Today's read looks at everything surrounding weather and ice. Now, this was not my favorite topic at school, thanks to a teacher who could have approached the theme better, and I'm hoping this read does a great job.

So, it's time to head outside and discover what ice has to offer!

THE STORY OF ICE

Exploring Weather, Chemistry & Physics with Nature's Most Common Crystal

by Jon Nelson

Illustrated by Sam Nelson

Children's Nonfiction

56 pages

ages 6 to 10

Discover here how ice can grow into myriad beautiful forms while greatly influencing our weather and environment.

This 56 page book, richly illustrated with diagrams and photographs, takes you on journeys to visit many forms of ice, telling their stories. Perhaps you have heard of glaciers and icebergs, but have you visited the inside of a thunderstorm or a snowstorm? And have you ever seen needle ice, cat ice, hoar frost, or many other distinctive forms of ice? Let this book be your tour guide.

The authors, including a cloud-ice physicist who also co-wrote the popular The Story of Snow, clearly explain how these examples of ice relate to weather, chemistry, and physics. Everyone will learn something new about nature here.

Each page combines accurate science with real-world observations, helping young readers understand how ice affects us and our Earth.

The book includes fun facts and a parent/teacher guide that make learning about ice even more engaging.

Perfect
– A gift to give a curious kid of age 6 and up
– Classroom teachers seeking a fun way to teach kids about the physical sciences
– Parents wanting to stimulate their child’s interest in science and nature
– Anyone interested in nature or winter activities

GOODREADS    /     AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

These pages explore the realm of ice and offer quite a bit of information, and that in an easy-to-understand way.

Before this book gets started, the authors give a quick run-down of ice versus water and vapor with an overview of the very basic molecular differences (super basic) and how these states change (again, in super basic form). Then, there's a type of Table of Contents, which lists the various forms of ice and on which pages they can be found on. After that, it begins with a switch to a picture book feel, which works great to build a more relaxed atmosphere and reel readers into their own experiences with finding ice outside. From there, each page offers a look into a different form of ice and how it is formed. From needle ice to cat ice to black ice to glaciers, well over a dozen different forms are mentioned. This book also explores ice and it's relation to rain, lightening, rainbows, and more. All of this is kept short and easy to keep boredom at bay. To round everything off, there are six easy experiments in the back of the book as well as an observation food-for-thought section. 

I'd recommend this one more for the 8 and up age range due to understanding level. However, younger science gurus will enjoy it, too. The text does fit well to the middle grade level and comes across with a normal, conversational flow while offering facts and explanations in an understandable way. The real-life photos make sure that each type of ice mentioned is identifiable. There are illustrated diagrams, which are clear and easy to follow, when longer explanations are presented...such as in the forming of ice crystals to rain in clouds. The experiments at the end of the book are no problem to complete and only use basic items found in most households. 

This is a lovely book to add to group settings or even for homeschoolers. General science fans will also gain quite a bit of information while enjoying the experiments at the end.

Jett Cooper by MAC Hill

Today's read heads into the beloved sports direct...there never seem to be enough sport books for young readers. Better yet, this one even takes on a sport rarely seen in the kidlit realm—sport flying! When we lived in Germany, we would often head over to the little, local airports and watch the various flyers do their weekend training. Now, that I think about it, there always seemed to be a team of flyers no matter where we lived in Germany. I wonder if it simply more popular over there??? Guess I'll have to do some research to find out.

Anyway, today's read promises excitement and action, especially since it's sold as a Top Gun for kids. Let's see if this one lives up to that comparison or not.

JETT COOPER

by MAC Hill

Middle Grade Adventure  /  

Sports Fiction

308 pages

ages 8 to 14

High speed. Low altitude. No room for error.

Jett Cooper lives to fly.

When his father announces the first-ever Blue Wolf Junior Air Competition, held at their outback air show, Jett knows this is his moment. Win the race, earn a scholarship to the elite Flying Academy, and take one step closer to the sky he loves. There’s only one problem. After a devastating accident, Jett’s mum bans everything flying.

Grounded and grieving, Jett refuses to give up his dream. While his mum struggles to hold the family together and quietly sells the flying school to a mysterious buyer, Jett sneaks off to the Flying Club, risking everything. If she catches him at the air show, she’ll send him straight to boarding school.

With the help of his fearless, slightly unhinged Aunt Allie, Jett makes a dangerous choice. He’ll fly anyway.
Thrown into the brutal world of competition flying, Jett must battle gravity, survive razor-thin margins, earn the respect of a tough-as-nails team leader, and face his fiercest rival, his former best friend Ella Tao. Every race is faster, lower, and riskier than the last. One mistake could cost him far more than a trophy.

As the pressure mounts, Jett learns a hard truth. Gravity always wins. The question is whether he can outfly his fears, his rivals, and the limits placed on him before it’s too late.

Jett Cooper is Top Gun for kids. Packed with high-speed aerial action, humor, heart, and real emotional stakes, this thrilling adventure puts readers in the cockpit for loops, rolls, and white-knuckle races they won’t forget.

GOODREADS    /     AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

High flying adventure mixes with loss, determination, and following dreams.

Jett Cooper loves to fly and can't wait until his dad finally lets him join the competitions. So when he discovers that his father has suddenly signed him up for one, he can't believe his luck. Well, if he can get his mother to agree. She already doesn't know that his father sneaks him out of school to practice flying. When a tragic accident occurs, Jett's world changes, and he's not sure his mother will ever let him fly again. But he doesn't want to give up on his dreams, and that includes attending a prestigious flying academy. All he has to do is win a competition, but first he has to find a way to fly.

The world of sport flying comes to life in a way that even those, who don't know anything about the sport, will understand...and wish they had the chance to fly, too. Jett's passion for flying beams from the page and that while still bringing him across as an ordinary kid. While Jett might have a talent and love for flying, he doesn't have a passion for school and has troubles on that front. He's fine on the friend end and finds support from that side to achieve his dreams. Even when disaster strikes, he tries his best to balance sympathy for his mother with his own desire to chase his dreams. He makes some bad and daring choices, and while it's clear that things aren't going to go smoothly, it's still easy to see why he chooses the directions he does. It makes him relatable, likeable, and easy to root for until the end.

The flying terminology comes across smoothly and is helped by a glossary. It's no problem to sink right into the story and wish to be on Jett's side the entire time. The grief and loss come across clearly, while not dragging down the action and tension. Rather, it creates a balance with heart.

The text fits well to the middle grade age group and works nicely for even the lower end. It's a steady-paced story with grabbing moments and a character to enjoy.