Characterization

Educators’ Guide for Dream by Barbara O’Connor

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Dream
Author: Barbara O’Connor
Published: August 26, 2025 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

Summary: Dream follows a small town girl with big aspirations of becoming a songwriter. Turns out anything is possible with your best friends and an adorable pup by your side!

The sky is the limit.

Idalee Lovett is content with her life in small-town Colby, North Carolina, living in her family’s huge house with rooms for rent. But she has big dreams, just like her mama. While Mama is on tour for the summer with her cover band, Lovey Lovett and the Junkyard Dogs, Idalee decides to hone her craft as a songwriter—since her truest wish is to hear her country songs on the radio one day.

When the local radio station announces a songwriting contest with the winning song being recorded by an up-and-coming singer, Idalee is determined to win. It would definitely be possible if only she could buy the shiny blue guitar in Asheville’s music shop. Idalee doesn’t have much money, but she knows exactly how to get it—the long-lost treasure her late granddaddy hid somewhere in their house. With the help of her friends Odell, Howard, Charlie, and an adorable little dog named Wishbone, Idalee is going to search in every nook and cranny until she finds it. But little does she know, the biggest treasure of all is only discovered when you believe in yourself with your whole heart.

In this standalone companion to the #1 New York Times bestseller Wish, nothing is impossible as Idalee learns the power of chasing your dreams one guitar strum at a time.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation and Discussion Questions: 

Please view and enjoy the educators’ guide I created for Dream:

You can also access the educators’ guide here.

You can learn more about Dream on its MacKids page.

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The Aftermyth by Tracy Wolff

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The Aftermyth
Author: Tracy Wolff
Published February 3rd, 2026 by Aladdin

Summary: In a world ruled by the tenets of Greek mythology, one girl’s fate is more than it appears in the first book in a new dark academia fantasy middle grade series from #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Crave series Tracy Wolff.

What’s your myth?

Penelope Weaver has spent her whole life preparing to attend Anaximander’s Academy, where students learn how to bring to life the stories of Greek mythology as well as discover the Greek god whose principles they most embody. Penelope knows she’s an Athena—all smart, practical, and rule-following girls who take part in stories that matter are Athenas.

But when Penelope and her twin brother Paris arrive at Anaximander’s, it appears fate has other plans. Penelope isn’t placed with Athena but with students who are anything but practical and who prefer parties to rules. And that’s just the beginning. She’s given the world’s worst muse, her assigned tasks feel impossible, and the magic of Anaximander’s is overwhelming. Not to mention, there are two very different boys making her new life even more confusing.

But as things go from bad to dangerously worse, one thing becomes in a world where everything is fated to happen a certain way, some stories need to be rewritten. As the world around her shifts and cracks, Penelope is asked to forget everything she thought she knew to help create a better story…even if that changes every plan and breaks every rule.

About the Author: Tracy Wolff is the #1 New York Times, #1 internationally, #1 Wall Street Journal, and USA TODAY bestselling author of the Crave series as well as many other novels. A lover of mythology, vampires, and getting lost in a great book, she’s spent her whole life asking “what if” and “what happens next”—questions being a writer has helped her answer again and again. At six, she wrote her first short story—something with a rainbow, a unicorn, and a shapeshifting prince—and at seven, she forayed into the wonderful world of middle grade literature with her first Judy Blume novel. A one-time English professor, she now devotes all her time to writing fun, action-packed, romantic stories with fantastical worlds and characters who leap off the page. She has written all her seventy-plus novels from her home in Austin, Texas, which she shares with her partner, her sons, and their three adorable dogs.

Review: There is so much that go on in this book, but I love that the author started directly with character development of Penelope followed by a wild event that helped the reader get to know the protagonist while also devleoping the plot. And this trend continues–each event allows the reader to get to know Penelope more while also moving along the plot simultaneously. It keeps the reader wanting to turn the page. The book has a quote: “Sometimes the goal isn’t really the point. Sometimes it’s how you get there that’s important.” This encompasses the book and Penelope’s journey.

This book is the exposition to a series that I look forward to following. I do have a lot of questions still about what is going on and why the mythology is how it is, so be ready for an open ended ending and so many questions swirling around in your head!

Educators’ Tools for Navigation: There is so much I wanted to do with this book!

  • Each god/goddess’s building has a banner, and it would be so much fun to have students make banners (after sorting them, of course!).
  • There are so many myths mentioned in the book: Hercules, Pandora, Muses, and Prometheseus specifically, so the parts that mention these would be great to look at when also reading the myths.
  • One main point of the book is looking at the point of view of myths, specifically Pandora in this book. Who is telling the myth? Who were those in power when the myth was written? How could the myth have been different when from another’s point of view?
  • The book also looks at how there are different versions of myths which is a great opportunity to talk about oral tradition and how stories were passed around before text.
  • I love the focus on constellations in the book and would be a fun way to have a science/oral tradition lesson!
  • Lastly, Fifi’s muse has pun-y muse shirts, and it would be so much fun to have students make their own.

Discussion Questions: Provided by Simon & Schuster (this is just a sample of the discussion questions on the reading guide; visit The Aftermyth page on Simon & Schuster):

  • 1. Describe Penelope’s family and background. What are her parents like? What is her social life like before the book opens? Why do she and Paris end up going to Anaximander’s Academy?
  • 2. Why is Penelope uncomfortable when Fifi starts to call her Ellie? What is Penelope’s image of herself and why is it important to her? Why is she anxious when Fifi wants to decorate the apple in front of Aphrodite Hall?
  • 3. How does Penelope grow throughout the story? Contrast her self-image and her values at the beginning of Aftermyth to how she is at the end.
  • 4. What is Penelope’s relationship like with her twin brother, Paris? In what ways are they close? How are they alike, and how are they different? How does their relationship change during their time at Anaximander’s? Who is Rhea, what is she like, and what role does she play in the changes between Penelope and Paris?
  • 5. What are some examples of Penelope’s courage and leadership? How does she deal with the eagle in Dr. Minthe’s class? Later, during that class, how does she help others when her group is looking for the key to the door? (Chapters 27–37)
  • 6. What is the purpose of Anaximander’s Academy? Describe the five halls, the gods to which they are each dedicated, and how the halls are different in spirit. Which hall does Penelope hope and expect to join? Which one does she end up in?
  • 7. On the way to Anaximander’s, Penelope and her family meet PT. What is he doing? How does he respond to Penelope blowing out the lantern fire? Who does PT turn out to be in Greek mythology? What is his role in the story about Pandora’s box? What effect do Penelope’s actions have on him and his story?
  • 8. How does Penelope initially feel about Fifi? Why does Fifi become, according to Penelope, “the best friend I’ve ever had”? (Chapter 41) What do they have in common? How are they different? How do they help each other?
  • 9. Describe Fifi’s personality and style. Discuss her statement about herself, “‘I’m not good at much except directions and people.’” (Chapter 20) What are examples that show she is right about her strengths? What else is she good at? When does she show leadership? Explain why Penelope thinks, “I’ve learned that Fifi is a force of nature.” (Chapter 38)
  • 10. What role do muses serve at Anaximander’s? What is Fifi’s muse, Frankie, like? How do they get along? Contrast Frankie with Penelope’s muse, Calliope. What is Calliope like? What is her role in Greek mythology? When do the muses help their students?

Flagged Passages: Read a sample of this book on its Amazon page.

Read This If You Love: Greek mythology

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**Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy for review!**

Author’s Guest Post: “Teaching Dual Perspectives Through Adventure Stories”by Sarah Branson, Author of For the Love of Glitter & A Pirates’ Pact

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“Teaching Dual Perspectives Through Adventure Stories”

One of the quiet joys of writing for middle-grade readers is witnessing how fully they step into a story. Young readers don’t hover at the edges—they immerse themselves. They imagine what they would do, what choices they might make, and how differently those choices might turn out.

This becomes especially powerful when a story offers more than one perspective.

In my middle-grade novel, A Pirates’ Pact, twin brothers Kik and Mac navigate challenges that stretch them—sometimes together, sometimes apart. Although the story is written in close third person, readers are given a front-row seat to how differently each boy interprets the same moment. Kik tends to observe, reflect, and question, while Mac leaps, tests boundaries, and charges ahead. Their contrasting instincts reveal not only who they are as individuals, but how perspective shapes story.

For teachers and librarians, this contrast is an opportunity: dual perspectives naturally spark conversations about point of view, empathy, voice, and character motivation.

Why Teach Dual Perspectives?

It deepens empathy.

Students begin to understand that even people who care deeply for one another experience the world differently. This opens doors to discussions about intention, impact, and the many ways identity shapes perception.

It strengthens comprehension.

Comparing two interpretations of the same event helps students practice inference, identify bias, and attend to textual clues—skills essential as they progress toward more complex texts.

It supports writing craft.

Once students see how worldview shapes voice, they begin to use it intentionally in their own writing. They hear the difference in pacing, tone, and vocabulary when they slip into another character’s skin.

Mini-Lesson: How Would the Other Character Tell This Scene?

Choose a short, high-tension moment from A Pirates’ Pact—for example, when the boys break a treasured family heirloom and uncover a hidden piece of a map.

After reading together, ask students:

  • What does Kik believe just happened?
  • How does Mac interpret it?
  • What assumptions does each brother make about the other?

Then invite students to rewrite the scene from the other brother’s perspective.

As they write, students quickly discover:

  • how word choice shifts with personality,
  • how pacing reflects impulsiveness or caution,
  • how emotional tone changes the entire moment.

This often opens into a personal reflection:
How do you see events differently from your siblings, friends, or classmates—and what value lives in those differences?

Classroom Project: Two Voices, One Story

Have students write a short narrative (1–2 pages) from two viewpoints—siblings, teammates, rivals, or even two sides of the same protagonist (the brave self vs. the uncertain self).

Encourage them to explore:

  • what each voice wants,
  • what each misunderstands,
  • how the conflict shifts when both perspectives matter.

This project helps reluctant writers focus not on inventing an entire story, but on exploring interpretation. The heart of the work lies in how each character experiences the moment.

Why Adventure Stories Enhance Perspective Work

Adventure applies pressure—and pressure reveals character.

When students watch two characters navigate the same storm, literal or metaphorical, they begin to understand that perspective is not an ornament; it is the engine of story. Kik and Mac model how two people can move through the same world and come away with entirely different truths.

This is fertile ground for literacy learning, SEL conversations, and writing craft exploration.

Classroom Connections

A Pirates’ Pact can be used to support discussions about sibling dynamics and interpretation, point-of-view analysis, comparing character motivations, writing voice exploration, empathy, and social–emotional learning. It also pairs well with books like Wonder (multiple perspectives & empathy), Because of Mr. Terupt (group POV), and The View From Saturday (interwoven voices).

Final Thoughts

Stories give students a safe place to practice perspective—one of the most essential skills they will ever learn. Over and over, young readers tell me how much they love slipping between Kik and Mac’s viewpoints, and how those shifts help them better understand their own lives.

If you bring A Pirates’ Pact into your classroom or library—or if you’d like discussion guides or additional activities—I’m always happy to share. I hope your readers find their own unexpected connections as they explore these two voices, one story.

Published February 20, 2024 by Sooner Started Press

About the Book: Two brothers, a hidden secret, and an adventure of a lifetime.

On the pirate island of Bosch, almost eleven-year-old twins Kik and Mac are facing a storm of changes. With a father from Edo and a Bosch mother, the brothers navigate the challenges of identity, friendship, and family in their own unique ways.

Mac, daring and mischievous, finds himself in a whirlwind of trouble as he strives to impress new friends. Meanwhile, Kik, quiet and observant, grapples with his heritage and a heartfelt secret he’s not ready to share.

When a ball thrown in anger fractures a family heirloom, a hidden piece of a pirate treasure map emerges, setting them on a quest that will shake up their relationship and reshape their understanding of family.

A Pirates’ Pact is a tale of friendship, self-discovery, and the enduring strength of family ties. Will Kik’s and Mac’s pact withstand the challenges ahead? Embark on this middle grade adventure where bonds are forged, secrets are unveiled, and treasures go beyond gold and jewels.

Published September 29, 2025 by Sooner Started Press

About the Book: A rebellious heart. A tempestuous romance. A plot that could bring down a nation. In Bosch, loyalty isn’t just earned—it’s tested.

Grey Shima has her future all planned graduate, enlist, and follow in the footsteps of her fearless mother, Master Commander Kat Wallace. But when Grey meets the magnetic and passionate Edmund Sinclair, her world tilts.

He’s not just another boy with good hair and dangerous ideas—he’s a revolutionary, dead set on exposing the ugly truth behind the glittering power that fuels Bosch. Caught between love and legacy, Grey finds herself questioning her training, her purpose, and her heart.

But she’s not alone. Sy Mercer, Grey’s best friend, has stood by her side throughout her childhood. Smart, steady, and secretly in love with her, Sy sees the danger Grey can’t—or won’t—acknowledge. As Grey spirals deeper into a movement that may not be what it seems, Sy must confront his own fears and decide how far he’s willing to go to protect her… even if it means losing her.

Because love, like revolution, is rarely without sacrifice.

In a postapocalyptic world rebuilding from ruin, For the Love of Glitter is a YA speculative romance about betrayal, resistance, and finding your true north—even when everything else is falling apart.

About the Author: Award-winning author Sarah Branson was a midwife for close to thirty years, helping families welcome their little ones into their arms in the hospital, at a birth center, and at home. Now she writes feminist speculative fiction with plenty of action, adventure, revenge, and romance. Her stories are firmly rooted in the strength and resiliency of the human spirit.

Sarah first started conjuring stories of pirates when her family hopped a freighter to Australia when she was seven. As a child and as an adult, she traveled extensively across the US and the globe. Her children grew up in Northern Michigan, swimming in Sturgeon Bay and Little Traverse Bay. Over the years, she has worked as a receptionist, retail clerk, writing tutor, business owner, and certified nurse midwife. She also taught science and history to middle school and high school students in the U.S., Brazil, and Japan. Through these myriad experiences, Sarah developed a deep appreciation for people’s strength and endurance.

Her debut novel, A Merry Life, has been honored as the 2022 Connecticut Adult Fiction winner by the Indie Author Project, and was the 2022 Kindle Book Award winner for science fiction and was named a 2022 Book of the Year finalist in the action/adventure and science fiction categories by the Independent Author Network. It is the first book in the four-book new adult series Pirates of New Earth. The second book in the series, Navigating the Storm was a finalist for The Eric Hoffer Award. The series was followed by a young adult spin-off, Unfurling the Sails, a finalist for the 2023 Foreword Indies Award and for the 2024 Independent Author Network in both action/adventure and young adult categories. In 2024, A Pirates’ Pact, her first middle-grade book, was released and garnered a Best Book Cover Page Turner Award. A stand-alone novel North Country, A Kat Wallace Adventure, was released in January 2025. Her latest book For the Love of Glitter was released in September 2025.

Readers can connect with Sarah Branson on Facebook, Instagram, and Goodreads.

To learn more, visit SarahBranson.com

Thank you, Sarah, for this lesson!

Educators’ Guide for A Universe of Wishes Edited by Dhonielle Clayton

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A Universe of Wishes
Editor: Dhonielle Clayton
Authors: Tara Sim, Natalie C. Parker, Libba Bray, Anna-Marie Mclemore, Kwame Mbalia, V.E. Schwab, Rebecca Roadhouse, Nic Stone, Jenni Balch, Dhonielle Clayton, Mark Oshiro, Samira Ahmed, Tessa Gratton, Zoraida Cordova, Tochi Onyebuchi
Published: December 8th, 2020 by Random House Children’s Books

Summary: From We Need Diverse Books, the organization behind Flying Lessons & Other Stories, comes a young adult fantasy short story collection featuring some of the best children’s authors, including New York Times bestselling authors Libba Bray (The Diviners), V. E. Schwab (A Darker Shade of Magic), Natalie C. Parker (Seafire), and many more. Edited by Dhonielle Clayton (The Belles).

In the fourth collaboration with We Need Diverse Books, fifteen award-winning and celebrated diverse authors deliver stories about a princess without need of a prince, a monster long misunderstood, memories that vanish with a spell, and voices that refuse to stay silent in the face of injustice. This powerful and inclusive collection contains a universe of wishes for a braver and more beautiful world.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation and Discussion Questions: 

Please view and enjoy the educators’ guide I created for We Need Diverse Books for A Universe of Wishes:

You can also access the educators’ guide here.

You can learn more about A Universe of Wishes on We Need Diverse Book’s page.

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Educators’ Guide for Ferris by Kate DiCamillo

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Ferris
Author: Kate DiCamillo
Published: April 1st, 2025 by Candlewick Press

Summary: It’s the summer before fifth grade, and for Ferris Wilkey, it is a summer of sheer pandemonium: Her little sister, Pinky, has vowed to become an outlaw. Uncle Ted has left Aunt Shirley and, to Ferris’s mother’s chagrin, is holed up in the Wilkey basement to paint a history of the world. And Charisse, Ferris’s grandmother, has started seeing a ghost at the threshold of her room, which seems like an alarming omen given that she is also feeling unwell. But the ghost is not there to usher Charisse to the Great Beyond. Rather, she has other plans—wild, impractical, illuminating plans. How can Ferris satisfy a specter with Pinky terrorizing the town, Uncle Ted sending Ferris to spy on her aunt, and her father battling an invasion of raccoons? As Charisse likes to say, “Every good story is a love story,” and Kate DiCamillo has written one for the ages: emotionally resonant and healing, showing the two-time Newbery Medalist at her most playful, universal, and profound.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation and Discussion Questions: 

Please view and enjoy the educators’ guide I created for Ferris:

You can also access the educators’ guide here.

You can learn more about Ferris on its publisher’s page.

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Student Voices: Looking At Characters from Favorite Books from Omayma H., Abigail D., Cassie W., Ethan S., and Gabriela T.

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Looking at Characters from Favorite Books

“Top Ten Favorite Book Couples” by Omayma H., 8th grade

Romance in books is special. Readers feel connected to characters as they experience love and challenges. Whether it’s enemies to lovers or friends to lovers, here are my top 10 favorite book couples. (Note: These couples are NOT in order.  I can’t pick!)

Powerless – Kai and Paedyn
Trope: Enemies to Lovers

Kai and Paedyn come from two different social classes. Kai, the prince and the future Enforcer of Illya, and Paedyn, an illegal ordinary, who lives in the slums. They aren’t supposed to meet, not when Peadyn is supposed to be hiding from Kai and his job as the enforcer to get rid of all ordinaries. But when Kai gets into trouble in the slums, Paedyn saves him without really knowing who he is, and that results in her getting chosen for the purging trials, all because she saved the prince. Now, Kai and Paedyn have to compete in the trials against each other. But instead of becoming rivals and hating each other, they form a relationship of teasing, pretend hatred, and care. They help each other through the trials, slowly falling for each other at the same time. Despite a small problem that happens in their relationship, Kai and Paedyn grow to trust and love each other through the trilogy. Facing challenges to be with each other, but always caring for each other.

The Cruel Prince – Cardan and Jude
Trope: Enemies to Lovers

Fae and mortal, prince and outcast. Carden and Jude were enemies from the beginning, ever since Jude and her sisters were brought to faerie when they were small. Carden, the youngest and meanest of the kings’ children, had always seemed to have something against Jude. Though during the progression of the series, Jude and Carden get closer as they work together and fall in love. Their relationship is filled with heartfelt words, filled with adorable nicknames, confessions, and teasing. Not to mention supporting each other all the time. Their sharp banter hints at a growing attraction. Cardan’s harshness hides sensitivity, while Jude’s strength draws him in. Their journey shows that love can develop even in rivalry.

The Selection – Maxon and America
Trope: Friends to Lovers

Maxon and America’s relationship starts as a friendship. They get to know each other during the Selection competition. America enters the Selection for other reasons, but begins to have real feelings for Maxon. Maxon is kind, understanding, and supportive. America struggles with her feelings and her past. They share sweet moments and face challenges together. They learn to trust each other. Their relationship is built on friendship, respect, and a growing romantic bond as they navigate their world. Both of them face hard challenges, but are always there for each other. Filled with sweet first times and love like no other.

The Inheritance Games – Jameson and Avery
Trope: Friends to Lovers

Jameson and Avery’s relationship begins as a friendship. They work together to solve puzzles and uncover secrets in a game set by Jameson’s grandfather for Avery’s inheritance. As they spend time together, they develop a strong connection and trust. Jameson is protective and supportive of Avery, while she brings out his softer side. Their bond grows as they face challenges, leading to deeper feelings for each other. No matter what challenges they face, both of them stay by each other’s side and help each other no matter what. 

Percy Jackson and the Olympians – Percy and Annabeth
Trope: Friends to Lovers

Percy and Annabeth’s relationship begins as a friendship, but it slowly develops into something deeper. They face many adventures and challenges together as demigods, supporting and protecting each other along the way. Their bond is built on trust, loyalty, and mutual respect. They also share a lot of playful banter, which adds a fun dynamic to their connection. Over time, their feelings grow, and they become a strong couple, always there for one another through thick and thin. 

Shatter Me – Aaron and Juliette
Trope: Enemies to Lovers

Aaron Warner and Juliette’s relationship is intense and complicated. At first, they are enemies, with Warner being a powerful figure who represents the world Juliette is trying to escape. However, as they spend more time together, they start to understand each other’s struggles. Warner reveals his softer side, showing he cares for her deeply, while Juliette learns to trust him. Their relationship evolves from hatred to a deep emotional connection, filled with passion and support as they face challenges together. At the end, they become a strong couple who help each other heal and grow.

Once Upon a Broken Heart – Jacks and Evangeline
Trope: Enemies to Lovers

Jacks and Evangeline’s relationship starts with them as enemies. Jacks is mysterious and often manipulative, while Evangeline is strong and wants to protect herself and her loved ones. As they spend time together, they begin to understand each other. This leads to unexpected feelings between them. Despite the tension and challenges they face, their connection grows stronger. They learn to trust and care for one another, turning their rivalry into a romantic relationship.

Caraval – Julian and Scarlet
Trope: Enemies to Lovers

Julian and Scarlet have a strong friendship that grows into a romantic relationship. They start by supporting each other and face challenges together. As they spend time together, their trust in each other deepens, and they develop romantic feelings. Throughout their journey, they help each other grow and overcome obstacles. Even though their relationship has some problems like lies and hidden secrets, they learn to trust each other.

Keeper of the Lost Cities – Keefe and Sophie
Trope: Friends to Lovers

Keefe and Sophie are close friends with a complicated relationship. They start as friends and build a strong bond based on trust and support. Keefe is playful and brings fun to their friendship, while Sophie is serious and focused on her tasks. Their differences balance each other. They understand one another and help each other with challenges. As they go on adventures together, their feelings for each other deepen. Overall, their relationship includes friendship, loyalty, and growing emotions. Keefe had feelings for Sophie from the beginning, and even so, Sophie was oblivious to it all and had her own crush. And despite it not being him (and also feeling all her emotions, which makes it harder), Keefe always supported her and was happy for her no matter what. And when she finally realized her feelings for him, Sophie did not wait to tell him, hoping he still felt the same, which started this relationship.

Carval – Donatella and Legend
Trope: Enemies to Lovers

Donatella and Legend have a complicated relationship that changes throughout the story. At first, they seem like enemies because they have different goals and backgrounds. As they spend more time together, they start to understand each other better. Tella sees that Legend is more than just mysterious and manipulative, and Legend appreciates Tella’s strength and determination. Their relationship has tension and challenges, but they learn to trust and care for each other despite their differences.

“Thoughts on Characters from my Favorite Graphic Novels” by Abigail D., 7th grade

The Tryout by Christina Soontornvat

I’m making my thoughts on  Christina because I love her story and how much of a good impact she made in this book. She’s the kind of girl with confidence in everything she does which I admire so much.

Ghost by Raina Telgemeier

I’m making my thoughts on Catalina because I love how much she inspired her little sister. I’ve noticed this in every book but this one is my favorite yet. I enjoy their relationship and how Raina was the best role model she could be.

Logan Likes Mary-Anne! by Ann M. Martin

I’m making my thoughts on Mary-Anne because at first in the story she was really shy around new people but as the story went on she progressed to be herself more and even when she would be embarrassed she always had someone by her side and Mary-Anne wasn’t afraid.

The Squad by Christina Soontornvat

I’m making my thoughts on Megan because when Christina was going through a really hard time in this book, Megan stood by her side and never left. She was an amazing friend toward Christina which I love most about Megan.

Drama by Raina Telgemeier

I’m making my thought on Cassie because I love how she has a love and passion for theater/drama because it suits her incredibly well which makes the story so much better, In my opinion when you can see that in a story the actually have a passion for what they do, it makes the story 10x better.

Sisters by Raina Telgemeier

I’m making my thoughts about Amara because while they were on a road trip they all got to spend quality time with each other and even though it got to a point where they got tired of each other, Amara was always making the story more and more interesting for me.

Smile by Raina Telgemeier

I’m making my thoughts on Raina because when her teeth got ruined, she thought that she didn’t look pretty and she was in a lot of pain but later in the story she learns that she’s pretty no matter what and doesn’t let that define who she is. Meanwhile her teeth end up looking so much better in the end!

Guts by Raina Telgemeier

I’m making my thoughts about Raina’s mom because in this book Raina was so afraid of sickness and she was very overwhelmed but her mom was by her side attempting to make her feel better and was really trying to the best of her abilities for her daughter.

Real Friends by Shannon Hale

I’m making thoughts on Jen because I feel like her perspective on things is real and genuinely takes things seriously. She has a whole group of friends but doesn’t know if some of them could be real or not is a big determination that is important to realize.

New Kid by Jerry Craft

I’m making thoughts on Jordan because when he moved to a whole new place and school he was very shy and didn’t have any friends but soon enough he made friends. I love how he also had an amazing passion for drawing and how much he admired it.

“10 Characters I’d Be Friends With in Real Life” by Cassie W., 8th grade

Percy Jackson from Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan

Percy would do absolutely anything for his friends, he is very funny, and his mom is arguably the best book mom out there. Who wouldn’t want to be friends with him?

Molly Frost from Dress Coded by Carrie Firestone

Molly stands up and does something when her friends aren’t being treated right. I want to be more like Molly and speak up more.

Apollo/Lester Papadopoulos from The Trials of Apollo by Rick Riordan

Lester is dramatic and sassy,(I mean when you get cast down to Earth from Mount Olympus, who wouldn’t be?) which is a lot like me, so I think we would have fun together.

Marlee Tames from The Selection by Kiera Cass

Marlee is a very fun and happy person to be around. She knows how to turn a bad situation into a good one. I really like being around people that are happy, so me and Marlee would have lots of fun together.

Taylor Jewel from The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

Taylor is a very good friend to Belly. Even when they are fighting, Taylor still loves Belly and helps her through her problems. I would love to have Taylor as a friend.

Hazel Levesque from The Heroes of Olympus

Hazel is very sweet and she has been through a lot, so I really want to be her friend and comfort her.

Annabeth Chase from Percy Jackson and the Olympians

Annabeth is very smart and she likes designing things. I also like design, so we could talk about design and she could help me with Geometry.😭

Bianca Di Angelo from The Titan’s Curse

Bianca is someone who would do anything for her brother, and I would also do anything for my family. I think our brothers would get along well because my brother likes Pokemon and Nico likes Mythomagic.

Bronwyn Rojas from One of Us is Lying

Bronwyn would not give up until she found out how Simon died. I also like investigating things and figuring out how things happen.

Harper Lancaster from 12 to 22

Harper is a big fan of Taylor Swift and likes makeup. I also like those things, so I think we would have a good time together.

“Books That I’d Want to Be the Main Character In” by Ethan S., 7th grade

The Wild Robot Protects by Peter Brown

The main character in this book is so interesting, she was able to lead a whole group of fish and whales and basically the whole ocean to destroy a ship that was producing a lot of pollution which was killing a lot of sea life. I would want to be Roz (the main character) in this because I would want to know how it would feel when your whole family is dyeing and you had to do something to stop it. 

Wings of Fire: The Dragonet Prophecy by Tui T. Sutherland

I’d love to be the main character in Wings of Fire because getting to be Clay, a dragon with a big heart and hidden strength, sounds amazing. He’s brave even when he’s scared, and he cares deeply about his friends, which I really admire. Being part of a secret prophecy and going on wild adventures would make life so exciting. I think it would be incredible to discover who I really am while helping save the world. Plus, flying and breathing fire? That’s just awesome.

The Liars Society by Alyson Gerber

I’d like to be the main character in The Liar Society because Kate is fearless, clever, and never gives up, even when the truth is buried deep. She’s willing to risk everything to solve a mystery and stand up for her best friend, which I really admire. Being in her shoes would be intense, but also thrilling—I love the idea of uncovering secrets and outsmarting people who think they can get away with lies. Kate’s loyalty and determination make her someone I’d want to be. Plus, who wouldn’t want to wear a pink hair ribbon and take down a secret society?

A Rover’s Story by Jasmine Warga

I’d love to be the main character in A Rover’s Story because getting to explore Mars and learn new things every day sounds incredible. Even though I’m a robot, I start to feel emotions, which makes me unique—and I think that’s something really special. I’d get to help people by sending back important information, and that would give my journey a real purpose. It might be lonely out there, but I’d still feel connected to the humans who believe in me. Being curious, brave, and learning what it means to care—that’s the kind of adventure I’d want to have.

“Top 5 Best Book Characters” by Ethan S., 7th grade

While reading books, there is always that one character that gets you attention. Whether it’s for their good acts and intentions, or even for their sense of humor, these characters are often loved by all. Here are my top 5 favorite book characters:

  1. Celeste Newsome – The Selection series

Although Celeste is one of the main “villains” in the first book, she has grown a lot throughout the series. She has shown guilt by what she has done wrong, and changed to be a better person after the selection, even though life had other plans for her.

  1. Cammie Morgan – Gallagher Girl series

Cammie is a brave, smart character, who is determined to do everything for what she believes in. She and her friends use what they learned to protect their sisterhood and investigate Cammie’s first love.

  1. Lina – Love & Gelato

Lina shows how good her heart is by attending to her deceased mother’s last wish, even though it was something she did not want to do. By moving to Tuscany with her long lost father and visiting Italy with her new friend ren, she shows bravery to end up discovering a secret that will change everything she knows.

  1. Melody Brooks – Out of My Mind (series)

Melody is the definition of bravery and determination, after everything she went through. Diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, her life started out as a challenge since the beginning. It was hard for her to make friends because of her disability, but even then, she was able to prove herself into making a national TV competition. She says that although her body might be broken, she is not.

  1. Paedyn – Powerless

Paedyn is brave and fights for her survival everyday. Being an ordinary, she has to live in the shadows and steal in order to survive. After making a good deed, she is given the place in the Purging trials, a deadly battle that could make her rich, or dead. She sacrifices everything and goes to these trials, where unexpected things happen.

Thank you so much to my student voices today and their look at characters in books they love!

Werewolf Hamlet by Kerry Madden-Lunsford

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Werewolf Hamlet
Author: Kerry Madden-Lunsford
Published February 18th, 2025 by Charlesbridge Moves

Summary: Humor, heart, and Shakespeare abound in this middle-grade novel about Angus, a 10-year-old theater fanatic, his struggling family, and his changing relationship with big brother Liam.

Perfect for fans of books that handle difficult subjects and family dynamics in a sensitive way, like Better Nate Than Ever and Rule of Threes.

10-year-old Angus is unique. He quotes Shakespeare and wants to stage a Werewolf Hamlet play for his 5th grade legacy project. Angus’s 17-year-old brother, Liam, is like a werewolf now—Angus never knows if he’ll be nice or mean or when he’ll sneak out to get drunk or worse.

Meanwhile, tension continues to build for Liam’s family in Los Angeles. Mom and Dad are going to default on the mortgage. Older sister Hannah is fed up and ready to move herself to Maine, and little sister Sidney doesn’t really get what’s happening. Then Liam goes missing, and Angus decides he has to find him.

A realistic, heartfelt look at the complexities of family relationships and struggles. Along with Angus’s loveable charm, sense of humor, and desire to stage his original play, Werewolf Hamlet is sure to win its audience—on and off the page—over.

★“A story that is rich in wise insights.”—Booklist (starred)

About the Author: Kerry Madden-Lunsford has been a regular contributor to the LA Times OpEd page. For several years, she directed the creative writing program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where she is still a professor, and she taught in Antioch University’s MFA program in Los Angeles for a decade. She is the author of the picture book Ernestine’s Milky Way. She also wrote the Maggie Valley Trilogy, which includes Gentle’s Holler, Louisiana’s Song, and Jessie’s Mountain. Her book, Up Close Harper Lee, was one Booklist’s Ten Top Biographies for Youth. Her first novel, Offsides, was a New York Public Library Pick for the Teen Age. Kerry is the mother of three adult children, and she now lives full-time in Birmingham, Alabama. Visit her at kerrymadden.com.

Check out Kerry Madden-Lunsford on social!
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Review: As an educator, I have over the years sadly heard about so many different tough situations that my students were dealing with: being unhoused, divorce, death in the family, mental health struggles, etc. Too often, middle grade books stay away from tough topics because they are “too mature,” but anyone who has worked with middle graders has wished at different times that there was the perfect book to give to students at a certain moment of time but couldn’t find it–this book is going to be the perfect book at one of those times.

What an interesting mix within this book: Shakespeare, classic movies & movie stars, Los Angeles, growing up, foreclosure, runaway, pet wellness, friendship, and more. It seems like a lot, but it just works in this book because all of it is what makes Angus and his story come to life. Parts were hard to read, such as descriptions of Angus’s brother spiraling into addiction; Angus and his friends making more choices to find his brother; Angus’s families financial struggles and eviction; Angus’s dogs illness; and Angus’s struggles at school, but the author does a great job with including enough for emotional response and plot/character development and keeping the story developmentally relevant.

Educators’ Tools for Navigation: The publisher has created an amazing supplemental page for Werewolf Hamlet which will be perfect to use if teaching the book as a whole or if students are reading it in groups or independently! Visit https://www.charlesbridge.com/pages/werewolf-hamlet for resources about:

  • Insulting like Shakespeare
  • Geography and landmarks around Los Angeles
  • Classic films
  • Heroes of the silver screen
  • Hamlet

I also think that the book could be a great introduction to one-man plays, and students could take a story and transform it like Angus did with Hamlet.

Discussion Questions: 

There is a Reader’s Group Guide found on the publisher’s resource page, too!

Flagged Passages/Spreads: 

The Tar Feeling

Anybody can forget to wear shoes to school. Well, almost anybody. It’s an innocent mistake. And I didn’t forget my trumpet. Why doesn’t that count?

“Mom,” I say as she needles her way through crazy Los Angeles traffic to make it to the bus stop on time with all four of us kids in the car.

“People, I’m trying to sleep,” says my brother, Liam, who is seventeen and always sleeps on the way to school. That’s because he sneaks out at night. I’m not supposed to tell, and I’m going to make him quit doing it.

“We’re going to be late,” Hannah warns. She’s sixteen and thinks life would be perfect if only she’d been born in a hippie commune in the 1960s in Maine, the farthest state from California. She also loves sunflowers and paints them on her ceiling and makes us tiedye shirts. Mom and Dad call her a sunflower girl. She also loves an old-time singer, Joni Mitchell, and she plays her music loud to drown us out sometimes.

Sidney and I are who get dropped off at the bus stop first because we go to a magnet school far away. Sometimes we miss it, making Mom and Liam and Hannah late, and that means Mom grits her teeth and races to the next bus stop in hopes of still catching our bus. Those are not good mornings. After she drops us off, Mom drives to the high school where Liam and Hannah go, where she is the assistant girls’ volleyball coach and PE teacher. Their mascot is a tiger, so they are the Lady Tigers. Roar!

“Mom!” I yell again.

“What, Angus?” She blasts through a yellow light, eyes on the prize of the bus.

“I forgot my shoes at home.”

“We’re not turning around!” yells Hannah. “I have a test first period.”

Liam says, “Show some respect. I need to sleep. Geez.”

“Did you hear me, Mom?” I ask her.

Stony silence. From the look on her face in the rearview mirror, flaring nostrils like a bull and her fingers gripping the steering wheel, she hears me all right. But instead of turning around, she pulls up to the bus stop and says in a low voice, “Out. Now. Have a good day.”

“But Mom! I’m wearing only socks!” I stick a foot in the air.

Mom growls. Maybe more wolf than Lady Tiger, but for sure a growl.

My little sister, Sidney, tugs my arm. “Better forget it, Angus.”

“Fine! I’ll go shoeless! Who cares?” I climb out of the van, and then it happens. Mom yanks off her tennis shoes and hurls them out the window at my head while I’m standing in my socks on the curb with Sidney.

BAM! BAM!

Good thing I duck. Isn’t it against the law to throw shoes at your own children?

Read This If You Love: Sunny Side Up by Jennifer L. & Matthew Holm, The Seventh Wish by Kate Messner

Recommended For: 

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**Thank you to Blue Slip Media for providing a copy for review!**