Early Reader Review: Pumpking Apocalypse by M.D. Payne

Source: From the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review. 

Pumpking Apocalypse by M.D. Payne

Publisher:  Penguin Workshop
Publication Date:  July 28, 2026 

 

Format: Paperback 

Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

Get pumped for Pumpkin Fest! It's Friday Night Fright Night, and Adam's worst fear is about to come to life…

Halloween is a big deal in Little Pine, but newcomer Adam Gibbons doesn't get the hype. In fact, he's actively anti-Halloween—and you would be, too, if you were deathly afraid of pumpkins! Yeah…don't ask.

When Adam is tasked to team up with pumpkin fanatic Molly to plan Friday Night Fright Night, the middle school shut-in event before Pumpkin Fest, he's forced to confront his greatest fear head…er…jack-o'-lantern-on.

But it soon becomes clear that there is something strange and supernatural brewing in Little Pine. Mind-controlling pumpkins are possessing people and taking over the town, and it's up to Adam and his small group of friends to smash the infestation and save the world!

Review: 

This was an enjoyable middle grade read. It was an interesting plot/premise and I think middle grade readers will really enjoy it this Halloween/ Fall season.

The story follows Adam, who has a really horrible fear of pumpkins, as he tries to survive life in a town that's completely obsessed with its annual pumpkin festival. Adam could be a bit whiny at times, but Molly was a fantastic counterpart. Her enthusiasm for the festival, humor, and determination to help Adam overcome his pumpkin fear made her a great partner in this book and added some comic relief and chaos into the mix.

The plot, which was a combo pumpkin takeover and zombies vibe, was creative and a lot of fun. I think middle grade readers, especially those looking for a spooky seasonal read, will have a great time with it. It strikes a nice balance between creepy and fun, making it a perfect pick for Halloween. For some, this might be a bit too scary though.

The pacing was solid overall, although I felt it took a while to understand why Adam has a fear of pumpkins. There were also quite a few characters introduced in a short amount of time. As an adult reader, I also found it a little hard to believe that Adam's parents didn't realize just how over-the-top the town was about its pumpkin festival (or maybe they knew and since it is told in Adam's POV, we just aren't in on that point). That said, Adam's anxiety felt authentic, and I appreciated the way it was handled throughout the story. I think that could be helpful for readers as they learn more about themselves.

Overall, this was a fun, spooky adventure with an imaginative plot. I think it's one that middle grade readers looking for Halloween thrills and laughs will really enjoy.

Recent Reads: Reach by Celesta Rimington

Source: From the Publisher in Exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review. 

Reach by Celesta Rimington 

Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books
Publication Date:  January 27, 2026

 

Format: Hardback


Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

Wishtree meets Song for a Whale , in this beautifully moving story about a boy whose wish for his family to return to the way it used to be, teaches him the real meaning of roots and the new ones that can grow if we let them.

Ever since getting a little stepbrother named Harlan, Denver hasn’t felt like he fits into his own family. Lots of people find Harlan charming, but not Denver. His pesky stepbrother tags along everywhere Denver goes, breaking things and wanting Denver’s attention every. single. second. After an especially disastrous morning, Denver escapes to the forest, experiencing a whiff of ancient magic when he meets an old and dignified but lonely tree named Spiro. When Spiro offers to turn Harlan into a tree for a few hours, Denver jumps at the chance—only to realize he’s made a mistake when nobody, including his mom and stepdad, seems to remember Harlan existed. And now Spiro isn’t certain he can reverse the transformation.

To save Harlan, Denver will need to find out what happened to Spiro to make him so disconnected from the other trees in the forest . . . but to do so the change he might have to make first is within himself.

Review: 

The story follows Denver a young boy who is learning how to be a part of a new family with his step-father and brother, and his dad and step-mom have a baby too, so everything has changed pretty suddenly for him.

This was such a magical and emotional middle grade read. Denver felt so relatable, especially as he struggled with suddenly having to adapt to new family dynamics without really getting the support or understanding he needed. The sibling and family relationships felt very realistic, and you could genuinely feel Denver’s frustration, jealousy, and loneliness through the story.

The fantasy elements were wonderful. I loved the idea of the trees being able to communicate with people, and Spiro was such an interesting tree. He was wise, lonely, and mysterious all at once... The magic in the forest felt enchanting, but there was also a tension that kept the anxiety building. 

One of the strongest parts of the book was how well the themes were handled. Denver’s journey toward understanding both himself and the people around him felt natural and meaningful, even though he figures it all out through helping Spiro and Harlan. It all felt very heartfelt.

The pacing was excellent and the tension built surprisingly well as Harlan became more tree-like and people stopped remembering him. For a middle grade story, there were moments that felt genuinely unsettling, which made the emotional payoff even stronger.

Overall, this was a beautifully written story with magic, heart, and real emotional depth. Definitely one of my favorite middle grade reads lately.

Recent Reads: The Amazing Generation: Your Guide to Fun and Freedom in a Screen-Filled World by Jonathan Haidt

Source: From the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review. 

The Amazing Generation: Your Guide to Fun and Freedom in a Screen-Filled World by Jonathan Haidt
Publisher: Rocky Pond Books
Publication Date: December 30, 2025

 

Format: Hardback


Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

Inspired by The Anxious Generation, this new book for kids and tweens is a comprehensive guide for living a happy and exciting life that isn’t hijacked by a smartphone.

Whether or not kids already have smartphones or social media accounts, this guide is packed with surprising facts, a graphic novel, interactive challenges, secrets that tech leaders don’t want kids to know, and real-life anecdotes from young adults who regret getting smartphones at a young age and want to help the next generation avoid making the same mistakes.

But this isn’t just a book about what not to do. It’s a bold, optimistic, and practical guide to growing into your most authentic, confident, and adventurous self. Readers won’t just discover how to avoid becoming the next Anxious Generation. They’ll learn how to become amazing.

Review: 

This was an informative and engaging read that tackles smartphone and social media use in a way that feels both realistic and fantastical enough to keep younger readers interested. I thought the book did a great job explaining what social media and constant phone use can do to the brain, but in language that kids and t/weens can actually understand without feeling overwhelmed.

One of the strongest parts of the book was how practical the advice felt. Rather than simply telling kids that phones are “bad,” it focuses on helping them build confidence, independence, and healthier habits. The tone walks a good line between cautionary and empowering, but there are definitely some times where it comes off a bit preachy as well (at least that is how it felt to me).

The graphic novel elements were also a lot of fun and helped break up the more informational sections. I liked the storyline, which focused on kids feeling left out. I think it will resonate with readers on both sides: kids who already have phones and social media, and kids who don’t. It encourages empathy while also showing how complicated these experiences can feel at that age.

What stood out most to me was that the message didn’t just feel relevant for kids. Even as an adult, it made me reflect on my own phone habits, which feels like a strong sign that the book’s ideas are meaningful and well presented overall. 

Early Reader Review: When You're Brave Enough by Rebecca Bendheim

Source: From the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review. 

When You're Brave Enough by Rebecca Bendheim
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Publication Date:  April 7, 2026

 

Format: Ebook

Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

A heartfelt, gorgeously written debut middle grade novel about best friends, first crushes, and coming out—perfect for fans of Kyle Lukoff and Jake Maia Arlow.

Before she moved from Austin to Rhode Island, everybody knew Lacey as one half of an inseparable duo: Lacey-and-Grace, best friends since they were toddlers. Grace and her moms were practically family. But at school, being lumped together with overeager, worm-obsessed, crushes-on-everyone Grace meant Lacey never quite fit in—and that’s why at her new middle school, Lacey plans to reinvent herself. This time, she’s going to be cool. She’s going to be normal.

At first, everything seems to go as planned. Lacey makes new friends right away, she finds a rabbi to help her prepare for the bat mitzvah that got deprioritized by her parents in the chaos of the move, and she even gets cast in the lead role of the eighth-grade musical. Which is when things start to get stressful, because it turns out the students at her new school have a long-standing, unofficial tradition: No matter what the show is, in the final performance, the leads always kiss for real.

Lacey’s never kissed anyone before—she’s not even sure she’s ever had a crush. And in Bye, Bye, Birdie, there are a few different co-lead kiss possibilities for Lacey to choose from. There’s confident, cocky Andre. There’s sweet, friendly Jaden. And then there’s the other new girl at school: dryly funny, impossibly cool Violet.

But while her new friends and older sister create whiteboard wall charts and botched field trip schemes to help her decide, suddenly Lacey can’t stop thinking about Grace, who she was so sure she wanted to leave behind. When Grace comes back into her life, Lacey needs to decide if she's brave enough to be who she really is, in front of the person who matters most.

Review: 

This was such a beautiful, thoughtful book about growing up, understanding yourself, navigating religious identity, and dealing with the pressures of middle school.

Lacey is a fantastic main character. She feels incredibly real. She’s in that in-between space so many kids experience: trying to fit in at a new school, with an eagerness but nervousness, while still holding onto pieces of who she truly is. I loved how her self-awareness is always present, through her thoughtful reflections of her interactions and her afterthoughts when emailing Grace. Even when she’s caught up in social dynamics and uncertainty, there is still that underlying expression of self-discovery. There’s this sense throughout the story that she could rise above the drama and pressure and she just has to figure out how.

The pacing works really well. Starting with the move and new school gives the story immediate momentum, and everything that follows feels natural and well-developed. The school’s theater culture adds so much personality to the setting, and Lacey’s excitement about it, mixed with her anxiety about its traditions, creates a interesting internal conflict.

One of the most interesting aspects of the book is how it draws parallels between different kinds of traditions. The pressure-filled expectation of kissing someone in the school musical contrasts so meaningfully with Lacey’s desire to reconnect with her Jewish identity and prepare for her bat mitzvah. Both are rites of passage in very different ways, but also in the ways of getting older. The way they intertwine adds such emotional depth to her journey.

Overall, this is a heartfelt and nuanced story about identity, friendship, and finding the courage to be honest about who you are. I loved Lacey and her self-discovery and without spoilers ... it make me happy sob in the end. Such a lovely story of self-discovery and getting older. 

About the Author

Rebecca Bendheim is an author and middle school teacher. She holds her MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts and types poems across the country with the Typewriter Rodeo poetry troupe. She lives in Austin with her partner, an orange cat, and a chorgi (chihuahua-corgi) puppy. Rebecca has bungee jumped, skydived, and swam with sharks, but the bravest thing she’s ever done is put all her deepest and gayest emotions into books. Rebecca can be found online at RebeccaBendheim.com and on social media @RebeccaBendheim.

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Spotlight: Landslide by Betty Culley

Just in time for Earth Day in April comes a "gripping middle grade novel and conversation starter about environmental peril and familial love."

 

Landslide by Betty Culley 
Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books
Publication Date: March 10, 2026

Pages: 208 pages

 

About the Book:

Nathan Savage has always been fascinated by anything that moves, and he sees movement others don’t usually notice. But what he sees now out of his living room window sets off major alarm bells. The massive landfill across the road is gradually shifting and moving every day and could be heading toward a catastrophic landslide. The more Nathan watches the landfill, the more worried he becomes. As his dad continues to go to work driving the compactor that squishes the garbage into smaller piles, Nathan begins to wonder what will happen to his father if he doesn’t act soon. But how does a ten-year old boy stop the force of nature? In this fascinating and fast-paced story, Culley exposes kids to plenty of garbage, and the natural and environmental impact country landfills have on local towns.

Inspired by the true events of the 1989 Norridgewock, Maine landfill collapse, this gripping narrative delivers thrilling action, sheds light on the environmental hazards posed by landfills and the impact of human waste. Perfectly timed for Earth Day, LANDSLIDE is a powerful conversation starter on climate anxiety, and environmental conservation. Drawing on her extensive research and deep Maine roots, Betty Culley brings authenticity and urgency to this compelling story. 

About the Author

Betty Culley is the award-winning author of young adult and middle grade novels. 
As a child, she was in foster care and then adopted and read everything she could get her hands on. Before becoming an author, she worked as an obstetrics nurse and as a pediatric home hospice nurse. She lives in a small town, where she tends a garden and a growing crabapple orchard and floats in her farm pond during Maine’s brief summers.

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Early Reader Review: Goodbye, French Fry by Rin-rin Yu

Source: From the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review. 

Goodbye, French Fry by Rin-rin Yu  

Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books
Publication Date:  February 17, 2026 

 

Format: Ebook


Rating:

Goodreads Synopsis: 

A sparkling debut novel featuring a Chinese American girl doing her best to stay true to herself in a world that often judges

Some days Ping-Ping feels like she just can’t win. She was born in the US, so it’s frustrating when people are surprised by how American she is, but her Chinese relatives feel she’s not Chinese enough. But the things bugging her the most lately are her classmate Lee Beaumont, who has taken to calling her “French Fry” because of the tofu sticks she eats at lunch, and the possibility that her family will have to relocate to Kenya for her father’s UN job. Of all the things Ping-Ping loves, her home and best friend are at the top of the list, and she’d hate to have to leave them. What’s a girl to do when she can’t be in as much control as she’d like to be? Well, good thing Ping-Ping is a wiz at taekwondo—she’s learning how to kick her frustrations away, and there’s almost nothing she can’t master if she puts her mind to it. Rin-rin Yu has written a warm and funny family story that will have kids rooting for Ping-Ping—a girl who is ready to kick all the assumptions made about her aside! 

Review: 

This book was a warm, engaging slice-of-life middle grade story. The plot has a strong focus on identity, belonging, and growing up. We follow Ping-Ping, a Chinese American girl born in the US who constantly feels caught between two worlds. Strangers might be surprised by how American she is, while her Chinese relatives often note that she isn't Chinese enough. On top of her struggles with identity, she is also being bullied at school and has a lot of anxiety around a possible move out of the US for her dad's job.

The book captures Ping-Ping's anxiety and emotional uncertainty well. Her fears of losing things she has known and giving up more control, all feel very authentic and relatable to this age group. I thought that her taekwondo lessons were a nice parallel to her emotional growth, and gave her some confidence in herself. 

All that said, I felt that the chapters tended to jump from one problem to the next versus flowing naturally though Ping-Ping's life, this made it feel choppy and disjointed at times. While this is probably a norm in Middle Grade books to ensure they stay on the shorter side, it pulled me out of the story a bit. 

Despite that, the book and story were a thoughtful one. I liked Ping-Ping and I think that she deals with some important themes and young readers will like this book and relate to it well. It was realistic and I think parents and young readers will have a fun time reading about Ping-Ping and her life.

Early Reader Review: Alice with a Why by Anna James

Source: From the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review. 

Alice with a Why by Anna James 
Publisher:  Flamingo Books
Publication Date:  January 6, 2026

 

Format: Paperback ARC

Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

England, 1919. Alyce – with a Y – lives with her grandmother, the original Alice, having lost her father during the Great War. When a mysterious invitation to a tea party hits her square in the face, Alyce realises her grandmother’s strange stories of a place called Wonderland might have some truth to them after all.

But the land Alyce finds herself in feels different from the Wonderland of her grandmother’s stories – for it is trapped in its own war. The Sun King and the Queen of the Moon are fighting over a stolen hour, and soon Alyce is tasked with setting it right. With the help of the Hatter, the Cheshire Cat and a Sailor Fox, Alyce will have to solve Wonderland’s problems and, eventually, find her way back home.

Enter an enchanting adventure through Wonderland. Starring new characters and old favourites, Alice With a Why is both a celebration of Lewis Carroll's beloved original story, and a modern masterpiece.

Review: 

Alice with a Why follows Alyce,  Alice’s granddaughter, who is staying with her for a bit after her father’s passing. While she is there, she receives an invitation to Wonderland.

This was a delightful reimagining of the wonderful world of Wonderland and its familiar characters. We are reunited with the Mad Hatter, the Door mouse, and March Hare as well as Cheshire cat. We are also introduced to some new characters as well, like Captain Fox, Queen Moon, and King Sun. The plot follows Alyce as she is brought to Wonderland to help the residents convince the King and Queen to stop fighting and end their war with each other. 

The story is still full of nonsense at times, which I loved, as it captures the Wonderland vibe. I thought that the characters were creative and fun but probably not as unique as the originals. 

The adventure was beautifully written and very much as charming as its original. That said, I think I wanted more whimsical though and a greater sense of danger… there is no feeling of urgency or peril to the adventure (which some might enjoy).  

Overall, it was a great story, charming and enjoyable that offers a fresh take on a classic.

Early Reader Review: Brume, Volume 1 by Jérôme Pélissier

Source: From the Publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

Brume: The Dragon Awakens by Jérôme Pélissier
Series: Brume, Volume 1
Publisher: Astra Publishing House | Hippo Park
Publication Date:  September 30, 2025

 

Format: Ebook


Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

Brume, a feisty wannabe witch, is on a quest to learn magic in the first volume of this enchanting graphic novel series for kids ages 7–11—perfect for fans of the Hicotea, Hilda, and Sorceline series.

Brume is a tiny but mighty heroine with plenty to prove to the people of her small village. With her newly discovered spellbook and two sidekicks in tow, she'll try her hand at spells, mess up sometimes, and discover magical adventures along the way.

The great witch Naïa has always protected the village—but where has Naïa gone? Enter Brume, a plucky and spirited witch-to-be, who dreams of being able to cast spells. When Brume's father hands her a secret spellbook, she tries out her wand and cauldron--and manages only to cover the whole village in fog! But is the fog a result of Brume's first spell, or is it smoke from a fire breathing dragon who has awakened?

Accompanied by her pig, Hubert, and her best friend, Hugo, Brume sets off to find out what happened—and to save the village one step at a time. Here is a funny, charming, and accessible graphic novel—the first in a series—that is just as heart-warming as it is hilarious.

Review: 

Brume is a young girl obsessed with Naïa a witch known for her greatness from the past. So, she is determined to be a witch as well, even though she is often told that witches don't exist anymore. 

Brume is brave, determined and very stubborn - so she accidently puts a fog over the town in an attempt to be a witch. Now she has to slay a dragon for the items needed to create the solution. 

Our little witch is hilarious. She is so sure of herself in the best way that you are rooting for her even after things get messy and on her adventure to possibly slay a dragon she is still so excited and chill about the situation. The plot is cute and funny as it is mostly Brume making mistakes and her friends -- Hugo and a pig cleaning up after her. 

The artwork was great, cozy and charming with a lovely sense of Autumn and spooky-season vibes. I think that middle grade readers will enjoy it, it is pretty short and I appreciate the show versus dialogue telling that some graphic novels have fallen into. 

Overall, a cute read for this Halloween season... or year round.

Early Reader Review: North of Tomboy by Julie A. Swanson

Source: From the Publisher in exchange for an honest review this in no way alters my opinion or review.

North of Tomboy by Julie A. Swanson 

Publisher: SparkPress
Publication Date:  September 2, 2025

 

Format: Paperback ARC

Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

For fans of Kacen Callender, Lin Thompson, and Kyle Lukoff, comes a middle grade novel set in 1973 about a child who feels more boy than girl and is frustrated that people act blind to that when—aside for her stupid hair and clothes—it should be obvious!

Shy fourth grader Jess Jezowski turns the tables on her mom when she’s given yet another girly baby doll for Christmas. This time, instead of ignoring or destroying it, she transforms it into the boy she’s always wanted to be—a brave, funny little guy named Mickey. Making him talk, Jess finally lets the boy in her express himself.

But when Mickey evolves to become something more like an alter ego whose voice drowns out her own and the secret of him escapes the safety of her family, Jess realizes Mickey’s too limited and doesn’t allow the boy part of her a big enough presence in the world. She must find a way to blend him into her—so she can be that side of herself anywhere, around anyone.

Jess tries to wean herself from the crutch of Mickey’s loud, comical persona, and to get her family to forget about him, but she struggles to do both. What will it take for her to stop hiding behind Mickey and get people to see her for who she truly is? Based on the author’s experience growing up on Michigan’s rural Leelanau Peninsula in the ’70s, North of Tomboy includes artwork throughout.

Review: 

North of Tomboy is a moving coming-of-age story about nine-year-old Jess, a child growing up in the 1970s who feels out of place in the body and role others expect of her. Gender norms were especially rigid during that time, and Jess struggles to express her frustration at being forced to dress and act “like a girl” without having the words to explain her feelings to her parents.

When she receives yet another doll for Christmas, Jess transforms it into a boy named Mickey and becomes her bold, funny alter ego who finally allows her to express the part of herself that feels most true. Through Mickey, she gains a sense of voice and agency, even as she struggles with how to bring that self into the world openly.

This book is contemporary middle grade, though the 1970s setting underscores just how difficult it was to exist outside traditional expectations. It can be a challenging and sometimes frustrating read, as Jess cannot fully articulate who she is, and the family dynamics may be difficult or even triggering for some readers. Still, the story is impactful and meaningful, showing the power of self-expression and the complicated journey of identity.

Overall, North of Tomboy is a thoughtful and emotional exploration of what it means to grow up feeling different, taking the old idea of “tomboy” and revealing the deeper truths behind it. Young readers who connect with stories of identity, resilience, and self-discovery will likely find it powerful and validating.

Early Reader Review: Welcome to the Forest: The Harvest Party by Katie Risor

Source: From Edelweiss and the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review. 

Welcome to the Forest: The Harvest Party by Katie Risor  
Series: Welcome to the Forest
Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing
Publication Date:  August 5, 2025

 

Format: Ebook


Rating:


Synopsis: 

A group of quirky forest creatures embark on heartwarming adventures in this graphic novel series opener featuring original gouache art. Perfect for beginning readers and graphic novel fans, especially those who love the Studio Ghibli films and Tove Jansson's Moomin. Includes nonfiction information at the back of the book​ about the autumnal season.

Deep in the heart of the Forest lives a handful of monsters. The Forest is home to many creatures, big and small, like:

boisterous Mossman, who is much kinder than he looks;

cautious but cheerful Wallace; 

carefree, kind Grumpkin;

and a sweet, mysterious entity named Shadow. 

The creatures prove that every day is an adventure as new discoveries draw them closer together.

In this book, readers will get a glimpse at the woodland creatures' lives and discover three bite-sized stories, perfect for the autumnal harvest season. In Welcome to the Forest: The Harvest Party, Mossman and Wallace decorate pumpkins, Grumpkin meets a new friend, and the creatures celebrate fall with a lively Harvest Party.

Review: 

This was such a cute and cozy graphic novel about a group of forest friends: Mossman, Wallace, Grumpkin, and Shadow who are planning a harvest party. Each short story within the graphic novel focuses on themes of friendship, with the tales building toward the big celebration. The bite-sized chapters make it easy for younger readers to take breaks if needed, which I felt was a thoughtful touch.

One feature I really appreciated was the use of a dyslexia-friendly font. It was easy to read and makes the book more accessible to a wider audience. The illustrations were absolutely lovely—full of rich, warm color and charming fall vibes that perfectly captured the spirit of the season.

The storytelling is well-balanced between the visuals and the text, and I especially liked that it wasn’t overly text-heavy, which works well for a graphic novel format. This is a heartwarming and visually engaging read that both kids and adults will enjoy—and there’s a good chance every reader will see a bit of themselves in at least one of these delightful characters. 

Overall, I think this will be a great fall/ autumn read for all ages.

Blog Tour: The Shrinking of Grin by J. Edwin Skinner

The Shrinking of Grin by J. Edwin Skinner 
Publisher: CAAB Publishing Ltd
Publication Date:  February 23, 2025

 

About the Book:

While Grin’s scientist father is disturbed by the unexplained disappearance of his research institute’s director, Magnus G. Musselman, Grin is more interested in emulating his father and sets his mind to conducting a series of crazy experiments: on flies. 

He cannot imagine the trouble this will land him in. 

Literally cut down to size when he is faced down by a big fat bluebottle, he finds himself prey to a gigantic wasp and is only saved at the last minute by a huge frog that takes pity on him when he lands on a lily pad in the garden pond. 

Guiding Grin down through the depths of this pond, the frog takes him to a fabulously weird world called Quilibria with the promise of a quick fix for his situation. Yet the fix is not as quick as he would hope in this strange new dimension, where nothing is quite what it seems.

But it is the only place where Grin can hope to find the solution to his sadly shrunken state and get back to his normal size. 

As he travels through Quilibria in search of the solution, he is met with one obstacle after another thrown in his way by a succession of weird creatures.

Will he find what he’s looking for? 

If he does, will he be able to take it with him or will he stay this size forever? 

And what does Magnus G. Musselman’s disappearance have to do with any of this?

Rating: 

Review: 

This was such a strange but interesting read. Grin (short for Peregrine) is a young boy who is constantly trying to please his father, a scientist obsessed with precision and perfection. Grin plays piano to make his father happy, and in his own time, collects flies to study, seemingly mirroring his father's research on insects and rodents. But when Grin suddenly finds himself shrunken down to bug size, he’s forced to embark on a bizarre and dangerous adventure to return to normal.

The story felt like a mix of Honey, I Shrunk the Kids and Alice in Wonderland, with a little bit of science, but mostly whimsical and odd. While the pacing was solid and the adventure kept moving, I often found myself confused by the world-building and the characters/bugs that help and hinder his journey. The strange dimension of Quilibria had some creative moments, but I felt it could have benefited from more explanation and development to fully immerse the reader. There were times when I felt like we were time-warping through zones. The ending also felt quite abrupt.

Overall, this was a quick, adventurous read with plenty of whimsy that I think younger middle grade readers will likely enjoy more than I did. It’s imaginative and fast-paced, even if at times it left me scratching my head.

About the Author:

A native of Exeter, J. Edwin Skinner studied at Newcastle, London and Bristol. He worked briefly as a teacher of English in Germany and a translator in the UK, before moving with his young family to work for a multinational company in Switzerland, where he eventually set up his own translation business. Under the pen name A.B. Decker, he has also published Flowers from the Black Sea (2024), The Dark Frontier (2021) and is working on another book set mostly in Austria around the time of World War 2.

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