Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster by Jonathan Auxier

Nan Sparrow sweeps out chimneys in London. The year is 1875, and ever since her caretaker, Sweep, disappeared, she has been an indentured servant for a cruel man who puts children to work with no regard for their safety. In a terrifying and mystical turn of events, a lump of char from her pocket comes to life and saves Nan from death in a chimney. From that point on, Charlie, who is actually a golem, and Nan, become an inseparable pair, even though Nan learns that for a golem there will be no good end. Like many classic children's books, this is a story of deep love and friendship, sacrifice, and saying goodbye. The historical facts about chimney sweeps, child labor, and Judaism, are seamlessly woven in, and readers will empathize with the sweeps and be horrified that middle and upper class people so easily watched the children suffer and even die to keep their houses from catching fire. I loved the history and the mysteries that are woven in, but mostly I loved the bond between Nan and Charlie, which you find out in a touching author's note was inspired by E.B. White's Charlotte's Web. I was entranced by this book and recommend it to readers of all ages--not just young people. It is a gem.

Go with the Flow by Lily Williams & Karen Schneemann

This is a friendship story about girls who see a problem and take action. When Sasha gets her period at school the girls can't find any pads or tampons in their school bathrooms. Led by Abby, their artistic friend who tenaciously leads the fight, the girls go to the administration and write letters, but gentle tactics aren't working in a school that values football above the needs of female students. I love the diversity of the four friends and the storylines about their everyday struggles and relationships. I was afraid this would be an issue book, but was pleasantly surprised to enjoy it as an all-around entertaining story as well as an honest and positive normalization of menstruation and the corresponding troubles it can cause. My own 6th grade daughter recoiled from this book due to the topic, but I am sure that middle school readers will be checking this book out and recommending it to their friends. In spite of the main characters being high school sophomores, this book is totally appropriate for tweens and middle schoolers. Highly recommended for middle school libraries.

The Voting Booth by Brandy Colbert

Marva and Duke are both 18 years old and eligible to vote for the first time. Marva has been waiting her whole life for this chance, and is determined to also help others vote as well. At the election site she meets Duke, also Black and 18 years old. Duke is told he is not registered in that precinct, so Marva offers to drive Duke to another polling location. Casting a vote turns out to be an all-day ordeal, and the two teenagers get to know a lot about each other during that day. Duke is still reeling from the death of his older brother, who was a strong advocate for racial justice. Marva is dealing with a long-term boyfriend who has decided not to vote and her Instagram-famous cat who is missing. The entire story takes place in one long day (much like The Sun is Also A Star by Nicola Yoon). Great characters and an intriguing premise and also a serious look at voter suppression. I predict that my middle school readers will love it. Recommended for grades 7-up.

Admission by Julie Buxbaum

This story is taken straight from the headlines about the 2019 college admission scandals. Chloe is an average student who struggles with her SAT scores and college prospects. Her best friend (a Nigerian American who studies and works hard) and her boyfriend (more of a privileged golden boy) both have their sights set on Harvard. Chloe definitely doesn't have what it takes to get into Southern California College, which her TV actress mother wants her to attend. The book begins with Chloe's mother being arrested at gunpoint. Through flashbacks we find out how the cheating took place and what Chloe knew and didn't know. The story sticks closely to the truth as it was reported in the papers, but adds a sister who is aware of the injustice and a best friend who is directly hurt by the cheating. I found it to be an engaging story and an intriguing glimpse into how the "one percent" justify their own privilege. I think there are middle schoolers who will be very intrigued by this book. Publication was delayed--this book will be published in December 2020. ARC provided by netgalley. Recommended for grade 7-up.

Resistance by Jennifer Nielsen

Chaya Lindner is a Jewish teen who joins the resistance during World War II. She is a courier and is adept at moving through the ghettos with food and weapons and sometimes even people. Like all Polish Jews, she has suffered devastating loss, but she channels her anger and pain into action. She is frustrated to be paired with Esther, another Jewish girl who makes mistakes and doesn't seem cut out to be a courier. However, once the their resistance cell is shattered, Chaya and Esther take on a mission to go to the Warsaw Ghetto where armed resistance is underway. The characters are nuanced and real, and the decisions they make are made in the context of their Jewish faith. This is not an easy book to read but it is a fine story of courage in the face of terrific evil. It also may serve as a first look at Polish ghettos and the Warsaw uprising for young readers. This is a natural follow-up for students who have read Alan Gratz's books (Allies, Grenade, Prisoner B-3087) and  The War that Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley.

Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee

This action-packed space adventure features a shape-shifting family of fox spirits who live on a dusty, dried up planet called Jinju. Min, the thirteen-year-old daughter, takes off on a quest to find her older brother Jun who is accused of deserting the Space Forces to go in search of the powerful Dragon Pearl. Min has spent her life hiding her fox powers, but must use Charm and shapeshifting as she roams the thousand worlds in search of Jun and the Dragon Pearl. The combination of science fiction and Korean mythology makes this a unique and exciting book. My book club students were hooked and had a lot to talk about when discussing how the Korean mythology compared to other cultures mythologies in Rick Riordan's universe. I would have preferred fewer well-developed characters and more depth to the references to Korean mythology, but sci fi space operas are not written for me. I did appreciate the presence of a gender non-conforming character who uses they/them pronouns. This book got a solid 8 out of 10 stars from 6th and 7th graders who love fantasy and sci fi books.

Imposters by Scott Westerfeld

This dystopian action adventure revolves around identical twins. Rafi is the heir to the first family, the daughter of the ruler. Her twin Frey serves as her body double, trained to kill and to prevent assassination attempts. The story revolves around Frey, who is sent to Victoria in Rafi's place. She is sent as collateral, and the first family, the Palafoxes, believes she is Rafi. Frey meets the first family's son, Col, and trusts him, but finds she is in a situation she couldn't have anticipated and must escape. It's a story that relies on action and plot twists rather than character development and world building. My middle school book club liked it but didn't love it, and I found it to be forgettable. Readers who like dystopian books may enjoy it but it does not have the complexity or character development of series books such as Warcross and Legend, both by Marie Lu.