Michelle Mulder

This book, which seems best suited for the preteen age group, is a charming story about a girl who gets to know her grandfather after moving to Vancouver from Montreal. While dealing with the distress of leaving her best friend and dealing with her parents' separation, she starts helping with her grandfather's garden full of heirloom vegetables. She finds that her grandfather is like a museum curator, keeping the memories associated with each plant alive and preserving the seeds for future show more generations. This is a lovely story that might possibly get readers more interested in eating vegetables! show less

This is an informative nonfiction title best suited for children in the upper elementary and intermediate grades. (Although to be honest, I still found it incredibly interesting as an adult.) The author talks about the important role water plays in every living thing's life and then goes on to discuss creative ways people have used water all over the world and throughout the ages. This includes collecting water as well as cleaning water, running the gamut from natural wetlands to full-scale show more water treatment facilities. And for those kids who love bodily functions, there's quite a lot about different ways people have disposed of their feces, from public toilets in ancient Rome to compost toilets in modern-day Mexico City. While I felt the book was light on everyday things we can do to save water, it does touch upon that somewhat with a few suggestions and resources to explore further. But the look at how other cultures use water in ways that impact daily life was absolutely fascinating. These are often peppered with vignettes from the author's life as she traveled the world from Argentina to the Dominican Republic to Germany and many other locales. Her writing style throughout is very accessible, almost conversational. Combine this with the eye-catching fonts and many lush full-color illustrations, and you have a very appealing book on your hands. show less

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was absolutely surprised by how much I loved this book! I didn't expect much from it, but boy, once I sat down and read, I was pulled into this story by so many heartstrings.

Okay, this book is well crafted, and enjoyable enough to deserve a four, or five star rating even without the reasons I love it so much- but what really REALLY made me love this book so much, was how much I could relate to it. The grandpa reminded me of my father show more SO much. He kept a garden, too. It was the only thing he really did, after work. I could also relate to the sad circumstances in the book. The grandpa was basically my dad, in this story. You bet I cried.

I also laughed. I love Nikko! He's such an adorable little oddball. Everyone needs a best friend like him.

There were parts of the story that were predictable, but they happened at unexpected times in the story. So, I was still surprised.

I have one criticism. The end of the book seems rushed - like an editor told her to cut down the word count, and wrap it up. I would have appreciated to read a plot line, where the children discover the thing I'm talking about (no spoilers from me), on their own. That would have added a lot more to the story.

Still, I loved it!!! I have the ARC, but I want to buy a hardcover of the book - and all of Michelle Mulder's books! show less

I’ve recently had friends tell me that they’ve been a little disenchanted with middle grade. I have to admit, I don’t read a ton of middle grade. I stick mostly to YA and sometimes read an adult book or a tween novel here and there. Which is why I picked up Michelle Mulder‘s OUT OF THE BOX — it has that perfect tween-ness to it, with thirteen-year-old Ellie right on that line that straddles the innocence of childhood and the angst of growing up. I love that kind of story. And OUT show more OF THE BOX blew me away.

Ellie is super close to her family — her mom and dad always taught her that families talk about everything, so she always knows what’s going on in her parents’ heads. Sometimes that’s not such a good thing. Ellie struggles to be supportive of her mom when she’s feeling depressed, or when her dad hides out in his office for a super long time. She’s excited, though, to be spending the summer with her eccentric Aunt Jeanette in Victoria, helping to clean out her basement. While Ellie’s mom is sad to see her go, Ellie can’t wait to spend time with Jeanette sorting through all the junk and looking for gems to sell in a yardsale to benefit the local homeless shelter.

It’s not long before Ellie finds a gem of her own — an Argentine instrument similar to the accordion called a bandneon. Ellie secretly loves tango music, even though her dad loathes the accordion he was made to play as a kid. When Aunt Jeanette tells Ellie she can have it, she’s beyond excited. She doesn’t tell anyone about it, though, but her new friend Sarah, the pretty girl next door who has surprised Ellie with her sweet and welcoming nature. Of course, everything isn’t peaches and cream with Ellie. Sure, she’s having a fun time with Sarah and going on regular adventures with her aunt, but things at home aren’t exactly spectacular, and Ellie’s mom calls every day to tell her how much she is missed. Plus, Ellie has found a secret sewn into the lining of the bandoneon case — both Canadian and Argentine money, and identification that Ellie traces back to people who went missing in the 70′s. In fact, she’s about to find out a lot about Argentine history that puts her on the hunt for the original owner of the bandoneon, even though it means she might have to give it back.

OUT OF THE BOX has so many elements — the nature of family and friends, loss, politics, mystery, music, and even mental illness — but everything is tightly knit together, creating a story that is both compelling and beautifully written. I felt like I knew Ellie by the time I finished this book. I was rooting for her every time she got a tough call from her mother, I cheered her on while she researched Argentine history, and I held my breath when she was having a tough time with her friends. For everyone who feels like there’s something missing in contemporary middle grade, I’m telling you, you’ve got to hunt this title down. You won’t be sorry. show less