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Make Way for Monarchs by Carolyn Armstrong

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Make Way for Monarchs
Author: Carolyn Armstrong
Published September 12th, 2025 by Climate Kid Adventure Books

Summary: Make Way For Monarchs, the third installment in the multi-award-winning Eco Warriors series, takes readers on a climate change–themed adventure with a girl who talks to animals.

Millions of orange-and-black monarch butterflies, exhausted after their long migration from the USA and Canada, are resting in the oyamel trees in the heart of the Sierra Madre Mountains in Mexico. As tween twin sisters Sydney and Sierra explore this unique high-elevation forest habitat, the butterflies, a trio of horses, and a cute little dog warn Sydney about the bad guys who are cutting down trees and endangering the monarchs.

Naturally Sydney seeks the advice of her science-savvy sister on how to assist the monarchs here in Mexico. However, Sierra wants to focus on projects that help the butterflies once they’ve migrated back into the USA. With mysterious drones and danger around every corner, the twins must figure out how to save the butterflies’ winter home and the migration route before it’s too late.

About the Author: Carolyn Armstrong is the author of Climate Kid Adventure Books. A former educator and now an imperfect environmentalist, she blends her love of travel and animal well-being into her middle grade stories. She encourages everyone to become advocates for Planet Earth. It’s as easy as refusing a plastic drinking straw (and telling others to do the same)! Head to www.ckabooks.com for free activities, monthly newsletters, and blogs about writing, books, and sustainability.

Educators’ Tools for Navigation: This title is not only written for reading; it is made for classroom/library/school use!

Just start on Carolyn Armstrong’s website!

On there, you fill find so much, starting with the MONARCH WATCH KIDS ZONE where there is so much for kids to explore, alone or in a class/library!

There are also:

After reading, I was looking for some other ideas for how to incorporate this book, and I found this fantastic lesson from Inspired Teaching called “Make Way for Monarchs.”

  • This yearlong study of monarchs is definitely cross discilinary.
    • The sties shares that the lesson covers so many standards including ELA Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening; Social Studies State Standards; Math; SEL Competencies; and, although not listed, I am sure fits science standards as well.

Discussion Questions: 

Recommended For: 

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

Author Guest Post: “Why Middle Grade Readers Need Gothic Stories” by Melanie Dale, Author of Girl of Lore

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“Why Middle Grade Readers Need Gothic Stories”

In second grade I discovered a new book in my school’s library, In a Dark, Dark Room. Inside this little book was a story of Jenny, who always wore a green ribbon around her neck, and spoiler alert, it ended with her taking off the ribbon. I felt a delicious shiver down my spine at the last line: “and Jenny’s head fell off.”

WHAT!

In a world of Laura Ingalls Wilder, Carolyn Keene, and The Babysitter’s Club, this was new for me, and I knew I needed more. I immediately retold the story to my friends, one of whom was named Jenny and didn’t appreciate the nightmares. I couldn’t get enough.

Through stories with ghosts and candlesticks and billowy nightgowns and grand staircases and cobwebs dangling from chandeliers I discovered the power of gothic tales to delight and terrify. While the monsters are fun and fantastical, the themes are deadly serious.

The first time I read Bram Stoker’s Dracula I remember setting down the book and wondering how his original audience, who knew nothing of vampires, would have reacted. The story had a seemingly innocent core wrapped in gore: nineteenth-century propriety blushing at the intimacy of a bedside vigil. I was mesmerized by the gruesome terror juxtaposed with the purity of good versus evil. I rooted for the heroes to work together to defeat the demon.

When my son was in middle school I gave him a copy and he gamely tried to plow through but petered off when Jonathan Harker was still trapped in the castle in Transylvania. I thought, “What if I could make this story more accessible for him? What if these characters were teens living in Georgia?” So I did. Girl of Lore introduces my favorite gothic characters to the group of readers who maybe need them most of all.

Middle grade readers need gothic stories. Perhaps no other type of story resonates more with the unease and turbulence of burgeoning adolescence, a time when the world feels strange, we question our sanity, and we struggle with the creeping suspicion that something is wrong with us. Characters in gothic literature deal with outside forces like ghosts and the undead while battling inside struggles like “what if I’m crazy” and “what if things aren’t okay.” Through the pages of gothic books, readers can process death, mortality, and the darker side of human nature in a safe, healthy way.

Gothic literature creates an atmosphere of mystery and suspense, a threatening feeling, and fear of the unknown. You know, kind of like navigating friend group drama, changing schools, test anxiety, and unrest at home. Often there’s a feeling of isolation, maybe physical isolation or internal isolation. In Girl of Lore, my main character, Mina, struggles with maintaining friendships, feeling different, and the longing to connect with family. She processes all of this in the mysterious, spooky, gothic setting of her hometown.

I had a blast creating Mina’s town of London, Georgia, and now it’s your turn!

Gothic writing exercise: turn your hometown into a gothic setting

Step one: Pick a building or area of your town and describe it like a gothic novel would.

Often you’ll hear that in gothic literature, the setting is a character in the story. The places the characters live and work can feel alive and menacing. They often are filled with decay, overgrown cemeteries, crumbling castles or estates. Architecture details are important, with gables, eaves, maybe even a turret or gargoyle. Secret passageways abound.

When I created my fictional town of London, Georgia, I spent time in the communities around where I lived, exploring cemeteries, walking around lakes and town squares, and touring Victorian houses with sprawling porches, gingerbread trim, and dormer windows. As I began to describe the setting for Girl of Lore, I pulled in shadows, draped cobwebs, and enhanced the spooky details to give London a Southern gothic feel.

“They stared at [SPOILER ALERT] from a safe distance, noticing its peeling paint and steep roof plunging down. The rickety porch looked rotted through, with weeds growing up between the spaces of the boards. The house was dark, but Mina thought she saw a curtain flutter.”

Step two: Picture the flora and fauna in your town.

Describe how the animals creep or slither, how the plants and trees decay. In what ways are they sinister or threatening?

My London for Girl of Lore is set in Georgia where I live, so I thought about how my own backyard spills into a marsh filled with wildlife like snakes and armadillos. I noticed the way vines entangle the trees, choking them. Where I live is lovely, but when I saw it through a gothic lens, it became the perfect setting for a ghoulish tale, with skittering, creeping animals and arachnids.

“Arthur let out a whimper when he nearly walked into the three-dimensional web of a massive Joro spider, her delicate legs perched in the middle of her creation, waiting for dinner.”

Step three: Add a supernatural or psychological element.

Is there a ghost lurking somewhere? A town legend? A tragic element? Is someone wailing?

Supernatural elements like ghosts, family curses, and shadowy monsters often show up in gothic stories. Sometimes the power of nature itself threatens danger. The monsters aren’t always vampires or creatures of the night. They can also come in the form of psychological trauma like mental illness, obsession, and manipulation.

“As she hurried home past the church, past the cemetery, she heard a growl in the bushes along the sidewalk. Mina turned on her phone flashlight and shined it toward the growl. Three shadows loomed in the cemetery, watching her. The hair on the back of Mina’s neck stood up.”

The concept for Girl of Lore began when I wondered what it would be like if characters from Bram Stoker’s Dracula went to high school in small town Georgia. Make your own gothic story. Turn your town into a gothic setting, add the monsters of your choice…and see what happens!

Publishing April 21st, 2026 by Aladdin

About the Book: A girl who’s used to battling the monster of her own mind discovers there’s a sinister evil lurking in her small town in this atmospheric paranormal novel that’s perfect for fans of Tracy Wolff and Maggie Stiefvater.

Stories of dark magic and even darker creatures have always swirled about Mina Murray’s town of London, Georgia. Mina knows they aren’t true—and are likely perpetuated only to drive the quirky tourist-trap ghost tours of downtown—but that doesn’t stop her from collecting the stories and drawing them in her sketchbook. Something about the possibility of real monsters helps her deal with the monster in her own head: her OCD, which convinces her danger lurks everywhere.

But when a body is found drained of blood and a classmate goes missing, Mina is thrust into a tangled web of London secrets…that she seems to be at the center of.

About the Author: Before embracing her love of monsters and sneaking into Mina’s fictional world, Melanie Dale published a bunch of nonfiction books, shambled around as a zombie on TV, and survived cancer. She’s written episodes for the anthology horror television series Creepshow and over a decade of essays for Coffee + Crumbs. While she has won no awards for literature, she won a Halloween costume contest one time and still feels pretty stoked about it. When she’s not writing, she’s teaching yoga or battling her own brain. She lives in the Atlanta area.

Thank you, Melanie, for this wonderful writing activity as well as the plea for middle school dark(er) books–I know many of my middle schoolers would agree with you!

Author Guest Post: “What Post-Apocalyptic Fiction Can Teach Us about Humanity, Resilience, and Critical Thinking” by Magda Mizzi, Author of Tyranny of Tomorrow and Dawn in Ruins

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“What Post-Apocalyptic Fiction Can Teach Us About Humanity, Resilience, and Critical Thinking”

Post-apocalyptic fiction often gets dismissed as “just survival stories,” but in fact, stories like The Tyranny
of Tomorrow and Dawn in Ruins offer rich opportunities for deep classroom discussion and learning.
Whether students are in middle school, high school, or a reading group, these narratives invite readers
to explore crucial skills: ethical thinking, empathy, resilience, and critical analysis.

1. Exploring What It Means to Be Human

At the heart of these novels is the question: What does it mean to be human when the structures of
society fall apart? In the ruins of Sydney, young protagonists must make choices that test their values
and force them to consider the humanity in themselves and others — even when “others” are different or
damaged.

In the classroom, teachers can use post-apocalyptic scenes as prompts for discussions or essays on
compassion, judgment, and identity:
● When is survival instinct, and when is it moral compromise?
● How do characters define who is worthy of help?

These questions help students connect literature to empathy and ethical reasoning.

2. Resilience as a Skill, Not Just a Theme

Resilience isn’t something characters just “have.” It’s something they develop particularly through loss,
failure, connection, and re-engagement with their world. Students read about how Madeline in The
Tyranny of Tomorrow pushes through grief and fear to protect those she loves — and they see resilience
modeled in action.

Classroom activity idea: Resilience Journals

After reading a chapter, students write about a time they faced difficulty and identify the traits that helped
them persevere. This connects the text to students’ own lives, encouraging self-reflection and growth.

3. Critical Thinking Through World-Building Analysis

Post-apocalyptic worlds require readers to question “Why this world?” and “What caused this collapse?”
In Dawn in Ruins, the mystery of the virus and its effects on characters like Jude pushes readers to think
beyond plot into cause/effect, systems, and unintended consequences.

Teachers can ask:
● How does the author build tension through setting?
● What real-world issues echo in the fictional collapse?

This develops analytical skills crucial for literature and other subjects like science or social studies.

4. Empathy Through Others’ Perspectives

Stories about survival inevitably involve diverse types of people reacting in different ways. Through
character comparisons and point-of-view exercises students can deepen their empathy and
understanding of motivation.

Classroom discussion prompt:
How might you respond differently than Annie, Jude, or Michael in a crisis? What does your answer reveal about your values?

Post-apocalyptic fiction isn’t just about the end of the world; it’s about the survival of ideas, hope, and
connection. When teachers bring texts like The Tyranny of Tomorrow and Dawn in Ruins into their
curriculum, they give students a space to consider ethics, resilience, and critical thinking in a way that is
both imaginative and deeply relevant to real life.

About the Book: In the heart of Sydney’s Western Suburbs, a devastating virus has unleashed a wave of unprecedented violence, leaving the town in chaos.

As the government struggles to regain control, the contagion spreads with alarming speed, triggering a global crisis. Amid the turmoil, Madeline, a quiet teenage girl, and Michael, the boy who captures her heart, are unexpectedly thrust together.

Now they must navigate the treacherous landscape, racing against time to secure a safe haven for their families and friends. Faced with the relentless onslaught of the virus, they’ll have to rely on their wits, courage, and the unbreakable bonds they forge in this high-stakes race for survival. `

The Tyranny of Tomorrow’ is a fast-paced and thrilling first instalment in a gripping series that explores the resilience of youth, the imposition of responsibility and the meaning of humanity in the face of an unravelling world.

About the Book: The world ended in silence. The fight for what’s left will not.

Ten months after the collapse, teenager Annie’s world has shattered, and with it, everything she once believed about monsters. They don’t always lurk in shadows. Sometimes they wear uniforms. Sometimes they wear the faces of those you love.

In the ruins of Sydney, Annie finds an unlikely ally in Jude—a half-infected boy marked by virus and twisted science. His strange, dangerous abilities make him both a threat and their best hope. But the line between abomination and saviour is thinner than either imagined.

Haunted by what was done to him, Jude carries scars deeper than flesh. Meanwhile, Annie’s younger brother, Lucas, remains a prisoner, infected and altered. If she doesn’t reach him soon, Lucas will face the same fate that nearly destroyed Jude—experiments that don’t just scar flesh but twist what it means to be human.

As secrets unravel and the origin of the virus comes to light, Jude learns a devastating truth: his connection to the outbreak is deeper, darker, and far more personal than he ever imagined.

Together, Annie and Jude race through a city where every shadow hides a threat. When they are torn apart, survival becomes more than a mission—it becomes a promise: to endure, to protect, and to bring each other back from whatever hell awaits.

From the shattered edges of the Fractured Reality universe comes a story of desperate hope and fierce loyalty—because in a world this ruined, some things are lost forever. But some are worth risking everything to save.

About the Author: .Magda Mizzi spins tales of shattered worlds and fierce survivors. A lifelong fan of post-apocalyptic fiction, she sets her stories in the haunting beauty of Western Sydney’s riverbanks and the rugged Blue Mountains—landscapes she grew up exploring.

When she’s not teaching English or encouraging young writers, she’s crafting her next dystopian twist.

Thank you, Magda, for this insight into how post-apocalyptic stories can help lead our students to critical thinking!

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.

Recommended For: 

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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!**

The Case of the Scarlet Snakebite by Christyne Morrell

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The Case of the Scarlet Snakebite
Author: Christyne Morrell
Published February 24, 2026 by Delacorte Press

Summary: In this middle-grade mystery, a twelve-year-old obsessed with Agatha Christie suspects every guest at her mother’s bed-and-breakfast of hiding secrets. That is until a real crime rocks the quaint B&B, and her mother is framed for it.

When the wealthy Willoughby family checks into her mother’s bed-and-breakfast for the weekend, Amber Adler is certain a crime is going to be committed right under their roof. And she should know—she’s read every Agatha Christie novel in the library and her father is a world-famous detective. Sure, Amber has made a few false accusations (and once got the SWAT team sent to her math teacher’s house), but this time, she’s positive that one of their guests is up to no good.

So it comes as no surprise to Amber when someone steals a priceless ruby belonging to the crotchety Willoughby patriarch. But what she didn’t expect was for her mother to be framed for it. Now, Amber must call on everything she knows about solving mysteries to find the stone and catch the real culprit before the family checks out—and learn that sometimes, people are the greatest mystery of all.

About the Author: When she’s not writing for kids, Christyne Morrell is busy raising one. She is a corporate attorney, and in her spare time enjoys reading, baking, and watching House Hunters marathons. She lives with her family in Decatur, Georgia. Kingdom of Secrets is her debut novel. Visit her online at christynewrites.com and follow her on Twitter and Instagram @christynewrites.

Review: Amber is always looking for crimes to solve, even when there is no true crime, but when she overhears a phone conversation about a crime by someone staying at her bed and breakfast, she knows this time there is truly a crime, and she is going to be the one that solves it. But this crime is different than she guessed but still full of twists & turns.

My middle schoolers are always looking for murder mysteries, but so many of them are teen; I am so glad that there are more and more middle school ones coming out, including this one. A truly fun middle grade mystery!

Educators’ Tools for Navigation: This book has so much that educators can use to expand on it!

First, I love that the author/publisher included a suspect tracker in the end. I WISH I had noticed it at the beginning because I would have loved to have utilized it, so I want to make sure educators know about it because it would be so much fun to take notes along with Amber.

Second, there are so many fun word play times throughout the book. For example, Amber would hear “betrayal” when it was actually “bee trail.” There would be some fun word games that you could do with this.

Lastly, with Amber being obssessed with Agatha Christie, there were definitely allusions to Christie’s work throughout.

Discussion Questions: 

  • What predictions did you make while reading? What clues made you make these predictions? Were your predictions correct?
  • Do you think Amber’s mom has justification to be upset with Amber throughout the book?
  • What do you think is the biggest mistake that Amber made throughout her investigation?
  • Why do you think Amber didn’t want a sidekick?
  • Why do you think E.B. trusted Amber so much?
  • Do you think Amber really thought her father was a investigator like Sherlock Holmes or do you think she had tricked herself into believing it?

Flagged Passages/Spreads: 

Chapter 1
Friday, 12:00 p.m.
(16 hours earlier)

I nudge the door open, and it releases a long, slow wail. This building is hundreds of years old, and it acts its age—­everything creaks and moans and rattles. Everything makes a fuss. But all that racket makes my job easier, so I can’t complain.

I’m wearing all black, down to my ballet flats. The only glint of color comes from the gold name tag pinned to my shirt with Amber Adler etched in block letters. I creep silently into the room and flit from place to place, my toes barely grazing the floor as my eyes dart around, taking in every detail—­the disheveled bed, the damp towels strewn on lampshades, the bottles littering the desk, leaking sticky puddles of who-­knows-­what onto the antique wood.

I unzip the black faux leather pouch around my waist and remove a pair of latex gloves. I slide them onto my hands one at a time, snapping them at the wrists to make sure they’re good and tight. They release a puff of sterile powder into the air. I run a fingertip over every surface—nightstands, doorknobs, windowsills—­then examine the residue in the light. Messy, yes. But not criminal.

I make my way into the adjoining bathroom. Like the rest of the place, it’s in disarray. I shake my head, and as I do, something near the floorboards catches my eye. The light spilling out of the vintage sconces glints off a shard of metal.

“Well, well, well,” I mutter to myself. “What do we have here?”

I crouch down for a closer look. The object is small but incredibly sharp. I count four blades jutting from its squat handle, each one angled and gleaming. I know I shouldn’t smile—­not in the midst of an active crime scene—­but I can’t help myself. From my pouch, I remove a plastic evidence bag with a ziplock top. I carefully pluck the weapon from the floor and drop it inside. “Gotcha.”

I rise and spin on my heel, prepared to disappear as silently as I’d arrived. But first, for a split second, I’m confronted by my own reflection in the bathroom mirror—­reddish-­blond hair scraped back into a messy bun, with escaped strands waving around my face like Medusa’s serpents; an all-­black ensemble designed to escape notice; and permanently narrowed eyes overshadowed by two thick brows known to have a life of their own. It’s a good thing I work in the shadows.

And then I see something else in the reflection—­or rather, I don’t see something in the reflection—­and my eyes grow wide as I realize what’s missing. “Eep!” I squeal louder than I should. But that doesn’t matter now. The time for sneaking around has passed. On to my favorite part: the big reveal.

I burst out of the room and onto the landing at the top of the stairs. My entrance gets everyone’s attention, as it’s meant to. At the bottom of the staircase, three heads turn to face me, all wearing matching looks of confusion. I barrel toward them, not caring anymore if the decrepit wood snaps, crackles, and pops with every step.

“Amber?” says Mom. Her brief moment of confusion has passed. Now she’s giving me a silent warning with her eyes. Not again, she’s saying without saying it.

Excerpted from The Case of the Scarlet Snakebite by Christyne Morrell. Copyright © 2026 by Christyne Morrell

Read This If You Love: Secrets of the Broken House and all books by Taryn Souders, The World’s Greatest Detective by Caroline Carlson, Undercover Latina bby Aya de León, Shirley and Jamila Save Their Summer by Gillian Goerz

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**Thank you to the author 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!