Awkward by Svetlana Chmakova

Author: Svetlana Chmakova
Original title: Awkward

Pages: 224
Edition Language: English
Series: Berrybrook Middle School #1
Format: Paperback
Genres: Middle Grade, Comics
Goodreads

Blurb:    
   On her first day at her new school, Penelope Torres trips into a quiet boy in the hall, Jaime Thompson, she's already broken the first rule, and the mean kids start calling her the "nerder girlfriend." How does she handle this crisis? By shoving poor Jaime and running away.  Falling back on rule two and surrounding herself with new friends in the art club, Peppi still can't help feeling ashamed about the way she treated Jaime.

My thoughts: 
    My final book for Middle Grade March 

    It was a cute and fast read with manga-like drawings. I could not give it more that 3 stars as I was not touched or driven by the story. Apart from cuteness, it does not bring much on the table. Though, Peppi's awkwardness and character growth are vivid and appealing.

    I liked the picture of Mr R and miss Tobin, they are great. The two ideal driven types of teachers, who can influence your life choices and help you to carry interest and love for the subject for years.

   
Altogether, I highly recommend the comics, I just was not for me, and I will not read the rest of the series.

 Rating:  

    3/5  

The Terrible Thing That Happened to Barnaby Brocket by John Boyne

Author: John Boyne
Original title: The Terrible Thing That Happened to Barnaby Brocket

Pages: 197
Edition Language: Russian
Series: no
Format: e-book
Genres: Middle Grade
Goodreads

Blurb:    
   Barnaby Brocket is an ordinary 8-year-old boy in most ways, but he was born different in one important way: he floats. Unlike everyone else, Barnaby does not obey the law of gravity. His parents, who have a horror of being noticed, want desperately for Barnaby to be normal, but he can't help who he is.

My thoughts: 
    My second book for the Irish Readathon and 4th for Middle Grade March 

Not the best read, I confess. This is my second John Boyne's children's book, and I do not find both of them either captivating or educating.

The main topic is the gap between parents' expectations and children's desires. How it breaks up the families, pulling relatives apart. And it seems that there is no family in the world that would not have a disappointed parent and a child driven to a point of negation.

I would not try any John Boyne's books for children. I would probably try an adult novel and see if I enjoy it.

 Rating:  

    3/5  

Middle Grade March Announcement and TBR 2021

 

It's the most wonderful time of the year....#middlegrademarch​ is here. This month long readathon celebrates the amazing category of books that many times we forget about as adults. I hope you will choose to participate in all the fun with us this 4th year of MGM.  

HOSTS:
Katie @Life Between Words​
Amanda @The Curly Reader​
Krista @BooksAndJams​
Don't forget to use the hashtag #middlegrademarch

CHALLENGES (optional, of course):

Group Read:
The Brave by James Bird

Prompts:

    1. A Book with SILHOUETTE on the cover
    2. A Book with a strong FAMILY (or found family)
    3. A Book featuring a JOURNEY or ADVENTURE
    4. A RETELLING (or book with a fairytale vibe)
    5. A Book written (or set) in the DECADE YOU WERE BORN

      I will not read the group read, unfortunately, as I could not get the book. The libraries are still closed. And I decided not to restrict myself with the prompts, though I hope to fulfill them anyway. I combined the ultimate list of middle grade books I have so far and will pick from it. Thus, I could keep track of the progress during the year as I would like to read at least one middle grade book a month.

1.  The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips by Michael Morpurgo
2.  The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
3. Curse of the Night Wolf by Paul Stewart
4.  Varjak Paw by S.F. Said
5.  The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
6.  East by Edith Pattou
7.  The Giver by Lois Lowry
8.  Wishtree by Katherine Applegate
9.  The Railway Children by E. Nesbit
10. The Ickabog by J.K. Rowling
11. Coraline by Neil Gaiman
12. Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate
13. Little Johannes by Frederik van Eeden
14. Little Lord Fauntleroy by Frances Hodgson Burnett
15. The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier
16. Меня удочерила горилла by Frida Nilsson
17. Pax by Sara Pennypacker
18. The Ice Sea Pirates by Frida Nilsson
19. Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes by Jonathan Auxier
20. Rooftoppers by Katherine Rundell
21. The Haunted House Project by Tricia Clasen
22. Five Children and It by E. Nesbit
23. Born to Run by Michael Morpurgo
24. Hans Brinker, or the Silver Skates by Mary Mapes Dodge
25. Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan
26. The Dollhouse Murders by Betty Ren Wright - 5th prompt
27. Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend
28. Of Foster Homes and Flies by Chad Lutzke
29. Undercover Princess by Connie Glynn
30. The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

Middle Grade March Announcement and TBR 2020

One of my favorite month long challenges is happening again. Middle Grade March is a month long readathon happening March 1-31. It will be hosted by Katie @ Life Between Words  and Krista from BooksAndJams.
Katie's Announcement Video
Krista's Announcement Video
Don't forget to use the hashtag #middlegrademarch

CHALLENGES (optional, of course):

1. A book with illustrations 
2. A book about books or stories 
3. A mystery 
4. A book set in another country 
5. A book to screen adaptation

  I do not read too many so I put up quite a big TBR list so I can choose from.

1. I want to check Serafina series by Robert Beatty: Serafina and the Black Cloak; Serafina and the Twisted Staff; Serafina and the Splintered Heart; Serafina and the Seven Stars. There are four books so far and quite chunky, so it will be good to start and see if it's any good. I do not have the 4th book, so my aim here is read at least first 3 that I have.

2. For challenge #2 I have not found a book that grabbed my attention.

3. For challenge #3 I have Murder Is Bad Manners by Robin Stevens. It is the first book in Murder Most Unladylike Mystery series, which has at least 9 more books. I am not sure about this one, as this book will be out of my comfort zone, I do not read many middle grade mysteries.

4. For challenge #4 I have Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery. I would like to continue in the series as I loved the first book. So I hope it will be the same good.

5. For challenge #5 I am thinking about The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan. There are 5 books in the series and I am not sure if I would like those books as a grown up. My nephew loved another series by Rick Riordan - Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, and I want to check this series before him, so I can be sure to recommend it or not.

Apart from the challenge prompt, I want to read below books which I have for a long time, but never picked up.

• The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente
• The Giver by Lois Lowry 
• The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend
• Die magische Gondel by Eva Völler - still not translated into English
• The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
• The Distance Between Me and the Cherry Tree by Paola Peretti

So altogether it is 10 mandatory books, which is quite ok. So I am quite hopeful that I will be able to read through many series during the month and find new favorites.

Middle Grade March Announcement and TBR 2019

Middle Grade March is a month long readathon happening March 1-31. It will be hosted by Katie @ Life Between Words  and Krista from BooksAndJams.
Katie's Announcement Video
Krista's Announcement Video
Don't forget to use the hashtag #middlegrademarch so we can follow your reading!

CHALLENGES (optional, of course):
In order to help you choose books for the month we have five challenges or guides.
1. A nonfiction or book based on true events
2. Book with a nonhuman main character
3. A fantasy
4. Book written in verse
5. A diverse read

    I do not read too many so I put up quite a big TBR list I can choose from depending on the mood.

1. I want to check Jo Nesbo's series about Doctor Proctor. Doctor Proctor's Fart Powder, Bubble in the Bathtub, Doctor Proctor Who Cut the Cheese?, The Great Gold Robbery are the four books so far and quite chunky, so it will be good to start and see if it any good.

2. For challenge #2 I have a book sitting on my TBR for some years The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

3. For challenge #3 I have Inkspell by Cornelia Funke. It is sitting on my shelves for more then a year.

4. Additionally I have 6 books by Michael Bond about bear called Paddington. I guess it does not fall under middle grade rules, but I need to read it someday, so why not during March.

Challenges #1,3,5 are quite difficult for me as do not read much children books, so I will wait for recommendations from the hosts.

Middle Grade March Announcement and TBR 2017

Middle Grade March is a month long readathon happening March 1-31. It will be hosted by Katie @ Life Between Words  and Krista from BooksAndJams.
Katie's Announcement Video / Instagram 
Krista's Announcement Video /  Instagram

CHALLENGES (optional, of course):
1. Read an award winner
2. Read a book to movie adaptation
3. Read a children's classic
4. Read a childhood favorite
5. Read a diverse book

Instagram Lives:
February 28 @ 8:30 pm (CST) - What is Middle Grade
March 7 @ 8:30 pm (CST) - Our TBRs and Book Recommendations
March 28 @ 8:30pm (CST) - Girl Who Drank the Moon discussion

    I do not read too many so I put up quite a big TBR list so I can choose from depending on the mood.
1. First of all I would like to read The School for Good and Evil and A World Without Princes by Soman Chainani. I will start with the first book in the series and see if I like it enough to pick up the second one. I do not think I will read more the two books from this series, even if I would love it.

2. I want to check Jo Nesbo's series about Doctor Proctor. Doctor Proctor's Fart Powder, Bubble in the Bathtub, Doctor Proctor Who Cut the Cheese?, The Great Gold Robbery are the four books so far and quite chunky, so it will be good to start and see if it any good.

3.  I would like to start A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. I have heard so much about the series but never read it, so it is a big opportunity to begin. This books will also be a reply to challenge #2

4. For challenge #3 I will read a book by Frances Hodgson Burnett:  A Little Princess, The Secret Garden or Little Lord Fauntleroy

5.  For childhood favorite (challenge #4) I will re-read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling and for an award winner (challenge #1) I will most probably read Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets in this gorgeous Illustrated Edition.

I have not decided on last challenge and see what recommendations others will have.