Diane Stanley

When cute-as-a-button Sweetness - the youngest orphan at slave-driving Mrs. Sump's home for unwanted children - runs away, the local sheriff sets out to track her down, concerned that she might come to harm. With outlaws like Coyote Peter roaming around, you never know what might happen! Unfortunately, the sheriff (who is also the narrator) isn't quite as prepared as he thinks he is, and Sweetness has to rescue him a number of times, coming to his aid with water, food, and a timely show more intervention in his confrontation with Coyote Pete.

Told in a highly colloquial style, Saving Sweetness is an amusing tale whose humor rests on its role reversal - it is the child who must rescue the adult, and who must shepherd him to an understanding of how he could really rescue her - and on its narrator's generally clueless misreading of his role in the story. The sheriff remains convinced, throughout, that he is indeed saving Sweetness, something that young readers will undoubtedly find funny, as they witness the way that the actions of the two protagonists, as well as the illustrations, belie this. The artwork itself is very interesting, combining painted elements with old photographs. All in all, Saving Sweetness is an engaging tale, one I would recommend to young readers who enjoy silly stories, and/or orphan tales with happy endings. I'll have to see if I can track down the sequel, Raising Sweetness, to see what happens next with this spunky young heroine! show less

Quick and satisfying read. I love how even the bad guy is a full-on person. Even the lawyer is a good guy. No cliches. Any questions a modern reader might have about the tropes of genies & magic (such as slavery & consequences) are answered. Joplin does seem a bit too empathic and wise, but then she's had an upbringing (and genes, if you believe they have an effect) that lend credence to her precocity. I thoroughly enjoyed this impulse grab from the library.

"The time by the lake is everything perfect about a childhood summer. And maybe, these nights also hold the answers Max is looking for..."

SECOND SLEEP is a very sweet middle grade book with an original magical premise that I enjoyed. When Max's mother disappears, his grandmother takes him and younger sister Rosie to the family's cabin by the lake, a special place where their mom spent her childhood summers. There Max and Rosie find themselves in an alternate dream world filled with kids who show more share a unique connection. Max soon realizes that his new friends may help him solve the mystery of his missing mother.

I think middle grade readers will have fun with the magical realism in this book. The dream world is never explained, it just is. I loved the friendships that were formed there, between kids that wouldn't even know each other in the real world (you'll find out why!).

There were two things that bothered me in this book. One was how formal the dialogue seemed, even with the younger characters. This may be in part because I listened to a synthetic voice galley, and the delivery made it seem stiff. Second was the story behind the mystery and a certain character's decisions that made me so mad, though a young reader would probably see it differently. I'm glad Max was ultimately able to express his feelings about the situation.

SECOND SLEEP is a lovely story of friendship, dealing with unavoidable change, and holding onto childhood magic for as long as possible. It will leave readers with a lot to think about.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. show less

Stanley is the author of a number of picture book biographies of great figures of world history. Her detailed illustrations add helpful visual context while still feeling accessible to younger readers. This is an overview of Peter the Great's life in which we glimpse a fascinating monarch and a pivotal point in Russia's history. Stanley highlights Peter’s desire to make Russia more progressive and more like Europe, and includes the costs of his single-mindedness. (I had no idea that St. show more Petersburg was constructed so recently and so hastily!) I like how Stanley presents a historical narrative that seamlessly includes meaningful context, and provides plenty of “captain ideas” and food for thought for readers of all ages. show less