An important, appropriate novel for young readers in a rapidly changing world.
In debut author Mechael’s middle-grade series starter, a team of fifth graders use their aptitude for science to keep their families, friends, and others safe.
Marylander Girgis “Gir” Orenson-Gobrial is a whip-smart, headstrong boy with his marine biologist father’s knack for science. Gir starts to be concerned when his talkative dad is eerily quiet one morning before asking Gir about an important-sounding missing research notebook. After his father mentions that dangerous plastic-eating bacteria are releasing toxins into Chesapeake Bay, Gir becomes very concerned, and so does his classmate Izi, a timid girl who recently moved to the United States from Japan. Together, the pair found the Antidotes, a team of passionate kids who all got through a recent unspecified pandemic and who swear to do all they can to keep anything similar from happening. They find creative ways to raise awareness and stop the spread of illness. Over the course of this novel, the characters, both children and adults, feel sympathetic and real, and readers of all ages will find someone who’s relatable in these pages. Mechael’s timely, poignant, and urgent novel grapples with familiar issues that have plagued the entire planet in the past few years as well as serious problems that may lie ahead. It comes complete with pictures, maps, charts, as well as accessible explanations of potential solutions to environmental issues. The novel also effectively touches on other serious themes, including gender bias and corporate greed. Mechael seems to understand what it was like to be a concerned preteen in recent years—although, notably, neither Covid-19 nor a specific year is ever named in the novel. Overall, though, the story provides cautious hope for the future.
An important, appropriate novel for young readers in a rapidly changing world.Pub Date: Sept. 20, 2022
ISBN: 9781954805248
Page Count: 242
Publisher: Bold Story Press
Review Posted Online: Nov. 16, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2023
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
More fun antics to satisfy returning fans and snag new ones.
Not even the arrival of autumn can cool down this impetuous squirrel.
Although Squirrel is skeptical about Bird’s vegetable patch (“Nothing is HAPPENING!”), Bird does produce five (count them) lovely pumpkins. Squirrel picks out a favorite: “The enormous orange one.” Bird hints that Squirrel might want to help out; Squirrel sets out to fetch some work gloves and returns to find only four pumpkins. The frequently distracted Squirrel notices more gourds disappearing and leaps to the conclusion that a thief is near. And where’s Bird?! Has Squirrel’s pal also been taken? Diligently detecting, Squirrel finds clues—peck marks, footprints, and more—and produces a sketch of the suspect. As readers will guess, each clue turns out to point to one of Squirrel and Bird’s friends. Turns out Bird was delivering pumpkins to their pals while saving the big one to give to “my very best friend,” Squirrel. But why does Squirrel haul it up a tree? “So the Pumpkin Thief can’t find it, of course!” A page of pumpkin facts provides the learning component common to all titles in this series. Once more, readers will enjoy the pleasure of prediction and repetition, Squirrel’s silly persistence, Bird’s generosity, and the vibrant color illustrations, balancing orange with green.
More fun antics to satisfy returning fans and snag new ones. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: July 28, 2026
ISBN: 9781464268076
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: Aug. 11, 2026
Broccoli: No way is James going to eat broccoli. “It’s disgusting,” says James. Well then, James, says his father, let’s consider the alternatives: some wormy dirt, perhaps, some stinky socks, some pre-chewed gum? James reconsiders the broccoli, but—milk? “Blech,” says James. Right, says his father, who needs strong bones? You’ll be great at hide-and-seek, though not so great at baseball and kickball and even tickling the dog’s belly. James takes a mouthful. So it goes through lumpy oatmeal, mushroom lasagna and slimy eggs, with James’ father parrying his son’s every picky thrust. And it is fun, because the father’s retorts are so outlandish: the lasagna-making troll in the basement who will be sent back to the rat circus, there to endure the rodent’s vicious bites; the uneaten oatmeal that will grow and grow and probably devour the dog that the boy won’t be able to tickle any longer since his bones are so rubbery. Schneider’s watercolors catch the mood of gentle ribbing, the looks of bewilderment and surrender and the deadpanned malarkey. It all makes James’ father’s last urging—“I was just going to say that you might like them if you tried them”—wholly fresh and unexpected advice. (Early reader. 5-9)
Pub Date: May 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-547-14956-1
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Clarion Books
Review Posted Online: April 4, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2011
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
