Margaret K. McElderry Books

Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun is Potter Wakanda-tastic

A book series doesn’t exist unless the first book is any good and merits a sequel. Gone are the days when that was the modus operandi for books, not to mention those manuscripts that were lucky enough to become film. Now umpteen streaming services need content and that content must come from somewhere. Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun is the first in a series of books by Tola Okogwu that was optioned for Netflix before the book was even released. Its story is perfectly summarized by the publisher’s blurb ‘Black Panther meets X-Men’, as a book that is 100% and this is mglit that knows its target.

Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun is a book series that’s tailor-made for Black girls in upper elementary, Potterheads and superhero people.

Fans of Potter, Wakanda and MGlit will dig this

Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor, too focused on sequels to be enjoyable

I taught ESL to Chinese students for two years. This is important because it introduced me to more Chinese myths than the average middle-grade reader. Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor by Xiran Jay Zhao has the goal of building a book series that’s aimed at middle school readers.

Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor has lots of potential, but puts too many cooks in the kitchen and fails to keep its eyes on the prize.

One great book, is better than trying to build a world

A Dinosaur Named Ruth, old soul, patient story telling with charm

I wanted more. That is not something that you think to yourself after many books. A Dinosaur Named Ruth brings up that thought as soon as you read the last word on the final two pages that show a young girl, and a dinosaur, looking wistfully into the prairie. It’s also not the story that you know. The dinosaur was called Sue, wasn’t it? Well, a dinosaur was called that, however, this story has more numerous subjects, and one that plays out in a more patient manner. It’s also worth noting that Ruth (the dinosaur) was discovered by its more famous T-Rex dinosaur who was found just down the road.

A Dinosaur Named Ruth is the story that you think that you know, but instead is patient tale about knowing what you have.

A dino tale that elementary, illustrated book fans haven’t heard

Hardcourt, the sweet spot of making kids want to read with art and sports

“Do you know Trae Young?” I get that a lot at school. And no, elementary school students- a person with an uncommon first name does not necessarily know all other people with that same name. However, the fact that most any kid in an elementary school knows that sports figure speaks leagues about the popularity of the NBA. Hardcourt is by Fred Bowen with illustrations by James E. Ransome. They’re the same duo that produced Gridiron, an oversized book that’s this one’s sibling in the best of all possible ways.

Hardcourt is a must-own for any elementary age fan of basketball. It’s approachable and tells stories from the first 75 years of the game that will hook readers eight and up.

Smart, approachable, and one that grades 4 and up want to drive into

The Weeping Tide, misfires in its second entry in the Wilderlore series

Sometimes I co-teach a lesson on fantasy reading. It’s good to experience it from this perspective because it reminds me what separates the good from the great; as well as those that didn’t measure up to the levels of their predecessor. The Accidental Apprentice was the first book in the Wilderlore series, which we were big fans of. The Weeping Tide is the second book in the series and as the name and cover image would imply, it mainly takes place around the water. This is where our fantasy lesson planning came in, because I was reminded that fantasy books typically have a large number of characters.

The Weeping Tide is the second book in the Wilderlore series that slows down the story with longer chapters and drama that mglit fans might not dig.

The second verse is not the same as the first

Cranky Chicken, early reader graphic novel that levels up for some

A child’s first graphic novel and those graphic novels that speak to reluctant, young readers are two different things. If the latter category addresses the book as being too young or does them in such a manner that mid-elementary kids would find them babyish then they’ll be exiled to the first grade classroom. Conversely, if the content is too much then those younger readers see too much text, or the words are too big, then they’ll get psyched out. If a graphic novel is aiming for the nebulous category then it has to be funny, but not too silly, have some attitude, but not too much, in addition to having a story kids want to read, with enough pictures and length to make it worth their while, so, no pressure. Cranky Chicken is a graphic novel that’s not a kid’s first graphic novel, but many first grade students will want to read it. It’s also a graphic novel the sublimely hits the Jell-O people who make up reluctant readers.

Cranky Chicken is a young enough for a kid’s first graphic novel, but has the intelligence that will also be attractive to reluctant readers.

Oh Cranky chicken, you had us at Cranky

The Dire Days of Willowweep Manor, a graphic novel that upends its cover

The Dire Days of Willoweep Manor is a delightful surprise. As the adage goes, don’t judge a book by its cover, and this graphic novel gives a very self-aware wink to what people might be thinking when they see this book. The cover has a young girl with a sword, a young man with a small knife, and a swarm of rabbits with glowing green eyes all of whom are in front of a Victorian-era castle. If you’re an older reader and don’t like genre switching ploys your radar will go off. If you’re not a fan of Victorian or romantic era graphic novels-even if they have a twist, you’ll be on edge too. If you have those expectations then rest easy because The Dire Days of Willowweep Manor subvertsboth of them and is a fabulous graphic novel for ages nine and up. It’s a graphic novel that playfully goes between humor and science-fiction with ease and one that will satisfy girl readers, as well as boys.

The Dire Days of Willowweep Manor tweaks the stereotypes of what you think it will be resulting in a relentlessly entertaining read.

A graphic novel that ages 9 and up will go bonkers for

Wilderlore The Accidental Apprentice, a book series with quick hooks

On its surface, Wilderlore, The Accidental Apprentice seems like a book that you’ve read before. For me, it’s because I recently read Fartquest, a book whose tone is quite different but does share an overarching theme in common with it. Those older readers might even find threads of How to Train your Dragon, Nevermoor, or LOTR in the book. As you might have guessed, The Accidental Apprentice involves a quest that has monsters, beasts, and kingdoms. The mglit angle is firmly hit by the book because it’s one that middle school readers will enjoy due to the fact that it’s fun, has a very quick pace, and a pair of teen characters who will ride their imagination.

Wilderlore The Accidental Apprentice is the first in a series of books that hooks readers in fifth grade and up.

This book plants roots for future stories