So while our art cannot, as we wish it could, save us from wars, privation, envy, greed, old age, or death, it can revitalize us amidst it all.
Ray Bradbury
Author: Susan Uhlig
City Spies
Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
City Spies, Book 1 of 7, (Aladdin, 2020) by James Ponti is a fun romp with kid spies. It’s also an award winner: Florida Sunshine State Young Readers Award 2021.
12-year-old Sara Martinez hacked into the New York City foster care system to expose her abusive foster parents, but she’s the one arrested in jail. Ready to be convicted a man shows up saying he’s her new lawyer, but really he’s recruiting her for his MI6 spy team in Scotland. Sara says yes and is flown to meet the other four kids on the team with a mission only three weeks away. Can she fit in and learn the ropes before they go to Paris?
It’s very fun that the kids in the story are mostly from different countries.
The author has several other series–see them here. Read about James here.
At Night, They Danced
Perfect Picture Book Friday
At Night, They Danced (Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2025) by Victoria Scott-Miller and illustrated by Toni D. Chambers is a sweet story with a touch of humor. It reminded me of how our children practically pushed us out the door when we had a babysitter.
Date night for their parents makes for a fun night for the kids. Langston and Emerson look forward to helping their parents get ready and their favorite babysitter arriving. Then there’s cheese pizza, popcorn, and fruit leather. No bedtime and pillow fights, and even jumping on the couch. But tonight, their parents are staying home. Has a monster disaster happened? Emerson and Langston come up with a master plan–their parents must go out.
Read about the author here. She also has another book out: Miss Edmonia’s Class of Wildfires.
I envy those writers who outline their novels, who know where they’re going. But I find writing is a process of discovery.
Jay McInerney
I envy those writers who
The Outlaws Scarlett and Browne
Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
The Outlaws Scarlett and Browne (Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2021) by Jonathan Stroud was a fun and harrowing adventure story. This is book one of the trilogy (Although it definitely stands on its own.)
Red-headed Scarlett McCain is an outlaw in a dystopian Britain. After robbing a bank, she accidentally saves skinny and weak Albert Browne from a horrific bus accident and the Tainted. Both have secrets and are the run (The Brothers-Scarlett, and people from Stonemoor-Browne).
Albert is especially a sympathetic character. Though aimed at younger audience, I think many YA readers would enjoy this book too.