I’m going to try to be a bit more consistent with posting reviews, since I’ve been so bad about it lately.
One thing that I thought might help is if I joined up with the IT’S MONDAY! WHAT ARE YOU READING? kid-lit edition, hosted by Unleashing Readers. This way, hopefully I’ll get at least one or two reviews posted each week – I have lots of books I’ve loved lately to share with you!
So, today I’m sharing reviews of two middle-grade contemporaries. Hope these bite-sized reviews are enough to feed your fiction addiction!
The Mystery of Locked Rooms by Lindsay Currie Published by Sourcebooks Young Readers on April 2, 2024
Genres: Action & Adventure, Middle Grade, Mysteries
Pages: 256
Source: Purchased
Cover Artist: David Dean
My rating:
Crack the codes. Find the treasure. Escape the house. From the acclaimed author of Scritch Scratch and What Lives in the Woods comes a action-packed adventure novel about three friends who team up to find a hidden treasure in an abandoned 1950's funhouse. Twelve-year-old Sarah Greene wants nothing more from her seventh-grade year than to beat the hardest escape room left in her town with her best friends, West, and Hannah. But when a foreclosure notice shows up on Sarah's front door, everything changes. Since her father became ill two years ago, things have been bad, but not lose your house bad...until now. Sarah feels helpless until the day Hannah mentions a treasure rumored to be hidden in the walls of an abandoned funhouse. According to legend, Hans, Stefan, and Karl Stein were orphaned at eight years old and lived with different families until they were able to reunite as adults. Their dream was to build the most epic funhouse in existence. They wanted their experience to be more than mirror mazes and optical illusions, so they not only created elaborate riddles and secret passages, but they also claimed to have hidden a treasure inside the funhouse. Once in, Sarah, West, and Hannah realize the house is unlike any escape room they've attempted. There are challenges, yes, but they feel personal. Like the triplets knew who would get in. It seems impossible, but so does everything about the house. As soon as they're in she immediately worries that attempting the funhouse is a bad idea but Sarah has no choice but to continue, since her future is at stake.
My family absolutely loves escape rooms, and I’m a big fan of Currie’s writing, so I was excited to read this one. It did not disappoint. The main characters end up navigating a crazy abandoned house full of puzzles. Because they’re on their own, the stakes are really high and there’s a true sense of danger. The kids’ personal stakes and stories are also compelling, so the story will appeal to fans of both adventure and regular contemporary. A fantastic story!
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via Edelweiss for review (but I also bought myself a copy). No compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
Free Period by Ali Terese Published by Scholastic on March 5, 2024
Genres: Contemporary, Middle Grade
Pages: 272
Source: NetGalley
Cover Artist: Steffi Walthall
My rating:
This middle-grade Moxie centering period equity is Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret for the next generation! Helen and Gracie are pranking their way through middle school when a stinky stunt lands them in the front office -- again. Because nothing else has curbed their chaos, the principal orders the best friends to do the care about something. So they join the school’s Community Action Club with plans to do as little as humanly possible. But when Helen is caught unprepared by an early period and bleeds through her pants -- they were gold lamé! -- the girls take over the club’s campaign for maxi pads in bathrooms for all students who menstruate. In the name of period equity, the two friends use everything from over-the-top baked goods to glitter gluing for change. But nothing can prepare them for a clueless school board (ew), an annoying little sister (ugh), and crushes (oh my!). As Helen and Gracie find themselves closer to change and in deeper trouble than ever before, they must decide if they care enough to keep going . . . even if it costs them their friendship.
This hilarious contemporary uses humor to talk about the important topic of period equity. It’s about a pair of prankster best friends who decide to use their troublemaking skills for good instead of evil when they find a cause they truly care about. Some of their methods are a bit misguided at first, and it takes them a while to figure out how they can actually make a difference, but for once their hearts are in the right place. The book has a powerful and straightforward message about period equity, laying out the facts for readers as the kids fight to get period products in bathrooms, but it’s not boring or overly preachy because it’s so funny! I recommend this for books who are interested in activism, but also for any kid who likes a good laugh.
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley (and I also won a physical copy). No compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
What I’m currently reading:
Right now I’m reading The Secret Language of Birds by Lynn Kelly. I loved Song for a Whale, so I was super excited to read this one, and so far it’s definitely living up to my expectations!
Free Period became instantly dated when our state decided to provide products in school. I always like Currie’s work, though. Glad you did, too.
So glad your state is one of the ones that already mandates this! Kids would probably still relate to the idea of activism within their schools and being passionate about a cause, but I can definitely see that the issue itself might not resonate with them. And, yes, I’ve always loved Currie’s work. Scritch Scratch might be my favorite MG horror book, and it was really fun to read something different from her!
I would have loved Mystery of Locked Rooms when I was a kid. I dreamed of such adventures.
I know, right? Lindsay said she was inspired by adventure movies from the 80s like The Goonies, so I think that’s another reason I loved it – it brought me right back to my childhood dreams of adventure (and treasure!).
I haven’t read either one, but do have Currie’s book and Kelly’s, too, on my list! Free Period is new to me, though many schools in Colorado already do provide feminine products. Still, it may be a good one for protesting, which is in the news now! Thanks!
Yes, I think the book can resonate with any kids who feel a pull toward activism, even if this particular topic isn’t an issue in their schools. Plus, I think many kids will just enjoy the humor!
These sound so fun! <3 It's been sooo long since I read MG. The Mystery of Locked Rooms in particular seems up my alley — I've tried escape rooms twice (or thrice?) and never managed to get out in time lol.
My family loves escape rooms! We’ve done them probably ten or twelve times, and we usually make it out, but we often end up using hints. Since there are six of us, it’s a great family activity that we can all participate in together.
Can’t wait to read The Mystery of Locked Rooms but I’m having a hard time finding it in bookstores. Hopefully that just means people are devouring it as you did!
Yes, I hope that is the reason! It’s hit the bestseller lists, so I’m guessing most bookstores will be carrying it.
It’s great to have you on #IMWAYR, Nicole!! Both of these books sound excellent—I keep seeing praise for The Mystery of Locked Rooms, and the escape room-connected premise is so unique. And Free Period reminds me of an excellent graphic novel, Go with the Flow, that is also about friends fighting for period equity! Thanks so much for the great reviews, and enjoy your week!
I’ve been meaning to read Go with the Flow for a long time now. Definitely need to check that one out!
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