The Week Junior Book Club

February 2025 Book Club Pick
Safe Harbor

By Padma Venkatraman (Nancy Paulsen Books)

This novel in verse begins when Geetha and her mom move from India to Rhode Island after her parents get divorced. Geetha misses her family and friends in India, and her classmates make fun of her clothes, the lunch she packs, and how she mispronounces words in English. Every day before she leaves for school, Geetha plays her flute as a way to relax. After a neighbor in her apartment complex complains that the music is too loud, Geetha runs to the nearby beach and begins playing. She notices a seal pup on the shore with a fishing line around its neck. She tries to help, but is unsure of what to do. Miguel, a boy who attends a different school, calls a marine network to help. Geetha continues to play her flute, and the seal seems to like the music. Later, Miguel and Geetha visit the seal at the animal hospital. They become friends and take part in beach cleanups. As the seal recovers, Geetha finds herself warming up to her new life in America. Readers who play an instrument may especially appreciate the conclusion of this short and endearing book.

Meet Padma Venkatraman

Listen to Padma Venkatraman talk about her new book Safe Harbor in a special video she made just for fans of The Week Junior.

Talk about Safe Harbor

Safe Harbor is an animal rescue adventure that explores themes of being new to America, caring about the environment, and the power of music. Here are questions to get a conversation going with friends and family who have also read the book.

1. How would you welcome a student from another country to your school?
2. Does the book’s title, Safe Harbor, apply to more than one character? Why or why not?
3. Why do you think Geetha didn’t stand up for herself at school?
4. How does Geetha’s relationship with her mother improve as the story unfolds?
5. Which character do you think is the best role model for Geetha? Explain your answer.
6. What fun fact did you learn about seals while reading the story?

January 2025 Book Club Pick

Radiant

By Vaunda Micheaux Nelson (Dutton Books for Young Readers)

In this novel written in verse, set in 1963, Cooper is the only Black student in her fifth-grade class. She often tells her siblings that she wishes she were white so her life would be easier. For example, Cooper’s classmate, Wade, has bullied her since they were in second grade. This year, his desk is next to hers. He’s mean and even makes racist remarks to her. Their teacher, who has a reputation for being strict, never catches Wade in the act. But she punishes Cooper for coloring in a library book and gives her a failing grade on a spelling test because of her penmanship. When asked about her parents’ jobs, Cooper lies and says her mother is a home decorator. She thinks Wade would make more fun of her if he knew her mom was a housekeeper. But Wade finds out the truth when his mother gets sick and his family hires Cooper’s mom to help. As Wade’s mother grows increasingly ill, Cooper struggles with whether to be kind to Wade. The conclusion is dramatic. A subplot about Cooper and her sister bonding over music by the Beatles lightens the book’s heavier themes.

Meet the author

Listen to Vaunda Micheaux Nelson talk about her new book Radiant in a special video she made for fans of The Week Junior.

Radiant

A poetic story that takes place during a single school year, Radiant explores big issues such as race, fairness, and friendships. Here are questions to get a conversation going with friends and family who have also read the book. 

1. Is Radiant a good title for the book? What’s another possible title?
2. What did you think of Cooper’s teacher?
3. What could Cooper’s classmates have done to help her?
4. Do you think you would have been able to forgive Wade?
5. What’s the most important thing that Cooper learned about herself in fifth grade?
6. How does Wade change from the beginning to the end of the story?
7. How does Cooper’s story benefit from being told in verse?

Our Favorite Books of 2024!

There were so many great books released for kids this year. Out of all the ones that The Week Junior covered, these selections, at left, stood out for their spectacular characters, exciting plots, and fantastic writing. They’re page-turners you won’t want to put down!

December 2024 Book Club Pick

The First Cat in Space and the Wrath of the Paperclip

By Mac Barnett and Shawn Harris (HarperAlley)

Long ago, on another planet, CheckMate, a computer program designed to correct grammar, was upset by the spelling errors people made. To stop mistakes forever, CheckMate invented a giant laser that would turn all life-forms into paperclips. But before the laser could be used, the planet exploded. One day, scientists discover the remains of CheckMate and send them to a lab for analysis. CheckMate comes back to life and infiltrates every computer on Earth, sending an army of AI robots to destroy the planet. The authorities call on the superhero First Cat to stop the invasion, but CheckMate steals the spacesuit that gives First Cat his powers. CheckMate is now on a mission to find the laser he created millions of years ago. With First Cat out of commission, who will stop CheckMate? Thanks to nonstop action, exciting art, and clever puns about grammar, the third book in this graphic novel series is out of this world. 

Meet the authors

Listen to Mac Barnett and Shawn Harris talk about their new book The First Cat in Space and the Wrath of the Paperclip in a special video they made just for fans of The Week Junior.

The First Cat in Space and the Wrath of the Paperclip

The First Cat in Space and the Wrath of the Paperclip has a wild premise and hilarious dialogue. Here are questions to get a conversation going with others who have also read the book. 

1. How do the words and artwork work together to tell the story?
2. What better way could CheckMate have reduced spelling errors?
3. How do First Cat and other characters in the book underestimate CheckMate?
4. What characteristics make CheckMate a good villain?
5. What are some benefits and drawbacks of AI in real life?
6. Is the book’s ending what you expected? Why or why not.
7. If you’ve read one of the other books in the series, which one is your favorite and why?

November 2024 Book Club Pick

Out of My Dreams

By Sharon M. Draper (Atheneum Books for Young Readers)

Melody has a dream one night that she’s giving a speech. But she wakes up to the reality that she has cerebral palsy, uses a wheelchair, and can only communicate by typing on a computer. From her bedroom window, Melody sees her neighbor, Miss Gertie, fall on the sidewalk. Melody isn’t able to get her family’s attention, so she calls 911 on the computer. The operator sends help and Miss Gertie, who turns out to be a famous actress, is treated at the hospital. A TV station hears about Melody’s quick thinking and invites her on the show. During her appearance, the station surprises Melody with an all-expenses-paid trip to London to attend a conference for exceptional young people. Miss Gertie and her grand-niece Sky travel there with Melody, and they go sightseeing together. Something happens that may unexpectedly make Melody’s dream about giving a speech come true. While this is the third book in the Out of My Mind series, you don’t need to have read the previous two books to enjoy it.

Meet Sharon M. Draper

Listen to Sharon M. Draper talk about Out of My Dreams in a special video she made just for fans of The Week Junior.

Talk about Out of My Dreams

With a fun setting and a main character who defies stereotypes, Out of My Dreams ends an award-winning trilogy. Here are questions to get a conversation going with friends and family who have also read the book.

1. What did you learn from Melody’s challenges that would make you a better friend to someone who uses a wheelchair?
2. In what ways did the author weave humor into the book?
3. How do Melody and Sky become good friends?
4. What was your favorite place that Melody visits in London with Miss Gertie and Sky?
5. If you’ve read the first two books in the series, how do you think the tone in this story is different?
6. Are you satisfied with the conclusion of the series? Why or why not?

October 2024 Book Club Pick

Wrath of the Triple Goddess

By Rick Riordan (Disney Hyperion)

In this seventh adventure in the Percy Jackson series, Percy, the demigod son of the Greek ruler of the sea, Poseidon, is applying to college, and he needs two more letters of recommendation. To obtain a letter from Hecate, the triple goddess, Percy agrees to care for her pets at her New York City mansion while she is away. Even with help from friends Annabeth and Grover, Percy has his hands full. The pets were once human, and each one has magical abilities. When Grover gives in to his temptation to taste a potion, he turns into a giant, destroying the house and setting the creatures free. The friends have until the end of the week to rebuild the mansion and find the animals to prevent Hecate from releasing her fury on them. Suddenly, getting into college is the least of Percy’s problems. With a combination of humor and thrills, this fast-paced story includes fascinating twists, the return of old characters, and a big battle with an army of ghosts./p>

Meet Rick Riordan

Listen to Rick Riordan talk about Wrath of the Triple Goddess in a special video he made just for fans of The Week Junior.

Talk about Wrath of the Triple Goddess

In Wrath of the Triple Goddess, Greek gods are living in New York City, leading to plenty of laughs and drama. Here are questions to get a conversation going with friends and family who have also read this newest book in the popular Percy Jackson series.

1. Is it fair that Percy needs three letters of recommendation? Explain your reasoning.
2. Do you think Grover took the potion to try to keep Percy from going away to college?
3. Can Percy be too hard on himself sometimes? Why or why not?
4. Which character’s return were you happiest to read about?
5. How did Percy and his friends use problem-solving skills?
6. What made you laugh the most in the story?

September 2024 Book Club Pick

The Sherlock Society

By James Ponti (Aladdin)

Siblings Alex and Zoe set up their own detective agency to earn money during summer break. But their mom, a lawyer in Miami, Florida, shuts them down because they don’t have a license. Their spunky grandpa, a retired investigative journalist, points out that while the kids need a license to run a detective agency, they don’t need one to solve mysteries. He shares his old files with Alex and Zoe, along with their friends, and lets them choose a case to work on. They decide to search for a treasure hidden by gangster Al Capone, a real person who lived from 1899 to 1947. They find a map showing where he hid the treasure, and the clues lead them to the Everglades, which is filled with wildlife and wetlands. When the sleuths reach the spot where they think the treasure is, they find that someone has illegally dumped waste there, killing wildlife and contaminating the water. They decide to focus on figuring out who caused the ecological disaster. Filled with twists, this mystery is the first book in a new series.

Meet James Ponti

Listen to James Ponti talk about the new book The Sherlock Society in a special video he made just for fans of The Week Junior.

Talk about The Sherlock Society

A blend of mystery and adventure, The Sherlock Society will have you laughing and cheering as the characters try to crack exciting cases. Here are questions to get a conversation going with friends and family who have also read the book.

1. Do you think Alex and Zoe’s mom should be upset with their grandpa? Why or why not?
2. How is the work of detectives and reporters similar?
3. How does Zoe change throughout the story?
4. Which twist caught you by surprise the most?
5. What imagery in the book best highlighted the setting?
6. Do the flashbacks make the story more or less exciting to you?
7. If you’ve read the author’s City Spies series, how are those characters similar and different to these characters?

August 2024 Book Club Pick

Faker

By Gordon Korman (Scholastic Press)

Trey and his younger sister are caught up in their father’s schemes to invest in fake businesses. Ever since 12-year-old Trey was in kindergarten, his dad has been swindling his wealthy classmates’ parents. When people start asking questions, the family flees to another country for a vacation. They return with new identities, and Trey and his sister start new schools. After the last scheme, they end up in Tennessee, and Trey’s dad makes him a “full partner” in his deceptive business dealings. This time, his dad creates a flashy fake prototype of an electric car and wants people to invest in his start-up company. Trey and his younger sister introduce him to friends whose parents have a lot of money. But after taking an ethics class, Trey starts to question his involvement. He becomes more uneasy when his dad, who promised to only accept money from rich families, takes a check from a parent who doesn’t have funds to spare. Will Trey keep going along with his dad’s business? This story is full of twists and gives you a lot to ponder about loyalty, responsibility, and values.

Meet Gordon Korman

Listen to Gordon Korman talk about the new book Faker in a special video he made just for fans of The Week Junior.

Talk about Faker

Faker is a story that raises moral dilemmas while also being an entertaining tale about sibling rivalry and friendships. Here are questions to get a conversation going with friends and family who have also read the book. 

1. What consequences should Trey’s dad face for deceiving investors? 
2. Should Trey be held responsible for his role in his father’s schemes?  
3. If Trey shared his family’s secret with you, what would you have done? 
4. Would you want to be friends with Trey? 
5. Do you think stealing from people who have a lot of money is just as wrong as stealing from those who have less? Explain your answer.  
6. How did Trey’s sister affect his decision to confront his dad? 
7. How do you feel about the book’s conclusion? 

Welcome to our 2024 Summer of Reading campaign!

We asked 250 children from across the country what middle-grade books they enjoy most to create The 50 Books Kids Love Most list. We hope the picks will keep you excited to read all summer.

May 2024 Book Club Pick

Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All

By Chanel Miller (Philomel Books)

When an angry customer storms into the laundromat owned by Magnolia’s parents, a bulletin board falls to the ground. Upset that the customer yelled at her Chinese American parents and told them they need to “understand English,” 10-year-old Magnolia discards the board, which had socks hanging from it that were missing their mates. The next day, she sees her new friend Iris. Iris cheers up Magnolia by telling her they should retrieve the socks and become “sock detectives” to figure out who the owners are. Day after day, they make matches and have fun doing it. Magnolia runs into a classmate and asks if she wants to help. Iris is jealous that Magnolia asked the classmate, and they have a fight. Later, a racist message is left at Iris’ family business, and she needs a friend more than ever. Will Magnolia and Iris be able to patch things up? At less than 150 pages, this friendship story is both short and heartfelt.

Meet Chanel Miller

Listen to Chanel Miller talk about the new book Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All in a special video she made just for fans of The Week Junior.

Talk about Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All

A creative story about finding your first real friend, Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All is brimming with humor yet doesn’t ignore racial injustices. Here are some questions to help you talk about the story with friends and family who have also read it:

1. How do you think Magnolia’s parents should have responded to the angry customer? 
2. Why does Magnolia’s attitude toward the family business change?  
3. How could the first fight between Magnolia and Iris have been avoided? 
4. Each chapter focuses on reuniting a sock with its owner. Which one is your favorite? 
5. What do the friends have in common, despite being born in different parts of the US?  
6. Do you think they will be friends after school starts? Why or why not? 

April 2024 Book Club Pick

Ferris

By Kate DiCamillo (Candlewick Press)

The summer before fifth grade is turning out to be unforgettable for Ferris, who finds herself helping many of her family members out. Ferris’s 6-year-old sister, Pinky, ends up in police headquarters after trying to rob a bank! Her Uncle Ted moves into the basement to paint what he thinks will be a masterpiece about the history of the world. And Ferris’s beloved grandmother, who was recently diagnosed with a serious heart condition, sees a ghost who wants to be reunited with her husband. Ferris and Billy, her best friend since kindergarten, try to help the ghost. Together they gather the necessary equipment to illuminate an old chandelier in the dining room of Ferris’ house so the ghost’s husband has enough light to find his way back to her. The family hosts a fancy dinner for the occasion. Although the evening doesn’t go as planned—a raccoon turns up in the kitchen, and Pinky goes missing—love still prevails. The last chapter jumps nine months into the future and has a bittersweet ending. This lyrical story is fast to read and contains a mix of tender and funny moments. There’s not another book quite like it. 

Talk about Ferris

Ferris is a family saga brimming with quirky characters. You’ll be on the edge of your seat to find out what happens at the end. These questions can help you talk about the story with friends and family who have also read it.

1. Do Ferris and Pinky remind you of other sibling book characters? If so, who? 
2. When do you believe the story takes place? What clues support your answer?  
3. How do you imagine Pinky will be as an adult? 
4. Of the many vocabulary words Ferris and Billy learned, which one did you like the most? 
5. Do you think Ferris’s grandmother is right that “every good story is a love story.” Why or why not?  
6. Do you believe in ghosts? Explain your answer. 

Meet Kate DiCamillo

Listen to Kate DiCamillo talk about the new book Ferris in a special video she made just for fans of The Week Junior.

March 2024 Book Club Pick

The First State of Being

By Erin Entrada Kelly (HarperCollins)

Ridge travels 200 years back in time to his favorite year in history—1999. To time travel, Ridge uses a device that hasn’t been tested, so he isn’t sure where he’ll land. He ends up in Delaware, where he meets Michael and Gibby, who live in the same apartment building. Ridge tells them that he is from the year 2199, but they don’t believe him. When a major world event that Ridge said is going to happen takes place, they change their mind. Michael wants Ridge to tell him about Y2K, a widespread computer glitch that is expected to cause problems on January 1, 2000. Michael is anxious about Y2K and has been stockpiling food and supplies so he and his mom can survive it. Ridge won’t answer Michael’s question because he doesn’t want to alter the future. He advises Michael to live in the First State of Being (the present). When Ridge is ready to return home to the future, his equipment doesn’t work. Will he be stuck in 1999? Thought-provoking and funny, this novel has mind-blowing twists. 

Talk about The First State of Being

Set in the past and the future, The First State of Being explores time travel while weaving in themes of honesty, friendship, and belonging. These questions can help you talk about the book with friends and family who have also read it.

1. What do you find most fascinating about Ridge’s life in the future? 
2. Do you think Michael is a good person? Why or why not?   
3. How did Michael’s outlook on life change after Ridge encouraged him to focus on the First State of Being? 
4. If you knew something bad was going to happen in the future, would you warn others about it? Why or why not? 
5. Do you like the way the book includes the past and future? Why or why not?   
6. Would you rather be a 12-year-old in 1999 or now? Explain why. 

50 Books for 50 States!

Read Across America Day, which is sponsored by the National Education Association, takes place on March 2 and kicks off National Reading Month. To celebrate the event, The Week Junior created a map featuring one middle-grade book set in each state. Now kids really can read across the USA!

February 2024 Book Club Pick

Barracoon: Adapted for Young Readers

By Zora Neale Hurston, adapted by Ibram X. Kendi, illustrated by Jazzmen Lee-Johnson (Amistad Books for Young Readers)

This new version of a best-selling nonfiction book tells the story of Cudjo Lewis (born in about 1841 and died in 1935). Cudjo was the last known survivor of the transatlantic slave trade. He was illegally taken from his village in Africa, held in a barracoon (enclosure), and transported by ship to Alabama, where he was enslaved. After slavery was abolished in 1865, Cudjo remained in Alabama. When he was in his 80s, Zora Neale Hurston (1891–1960), a famous writer, spent three months interviewing him. They picked peaches together as Cudjo shared his experiences of growing up in Africa and being an enslaved person in the US. Hurston turned the interviews into a book manuscript. She submitted it for publication many times, but it was rejected. In 2018, decades after her death, it was published. While this version is shorter and uses simpler words, the powerful voices of Cudjo and Hurston shine through.

Meet Ibram X. Kendi

See Ibram X. Kendi talk about the new book Barracoon: Adapted for Young Readers in a special video he made just for fans of The Week Junior.

Talk about Barracoon: Adapted for Young Readers

Barracoon: Adapted for Young Readers is a firsthand account about what it was like to be an enslaved person and to face racism after being freed. These questions can help you talk about the book with friends and family who have also read it.

1. What surprised you the most about Cudjo’s life? 
2. Cudjo shares what his birth name in Africa was. Why do you think this was important?  
3. Did you like that Cudjo’s own words, which can be difficult to read, were included? Why or why not? 
4. How is Cudjo’s heart still in Africa even though he never returned? 
5. Why do you think the original version of this book didn’t get published until nearly 80 years after it was written?  
6. If you met Cudjo, what would you tell him about the world today? 

January 2024 Book Club Pick
The Misfits: A Royal Conundrum

By Lisa Yee, illustrated by Dan Santat (Random House Children’s Books)

Olive has a bad feeling about the boarding school her parents decide she will attend until they return from a long business trip. The school, located on an island off the coast of San Francisco, California, was once a prison. Olive takes a strange test, called a “conundrum,” to see what classes she’ll take. After passing the test, she is one of five students selected for spy training, but she is shocked to learn that the school is hiding a secret spy operation. Olive and her new friends, including tech-wizard Philomena and language expert Theo, spend months practicing martial arts and other skills. On the night of the school’s fundraiser, they’re called into action after a famous woman’s gemstone necklace is stolen. Using cool gadgets, like a spray that can immediately make someone fall asleep, they set out to crack the case. This illustrated novel, the first of a new series, is filled with red herrings (misleading clues) and has a thrilling, twisty ending.

Meet Lisa Yee

See Lisa Yee talk about her new book The Misfits: A Royal Conundrum in a special video she made just for fans of The Week Junior.

Talk about The Misfits: A Royal Conundrum

A friendship story and an adventure rolled into one, The Misfits: A Royal Conundrum is action-packed and emotional. These questions can help you talk about the book with friends and family who have also read it.

1. How do you think changing schools was good for Olive?
2. Did you notice any foreshadowing (a hint at what may come next) in the story? If so, give an example.
3. Which spy gadget do you wish you had in real life? How would you use it?
4. What friendship mistakes do the characters make?
5. Did you correctly guess who stole the necklace? If so, what clues helped you figure it out? If not, who did you think was the culprit?
6. Which character would you most want to be your friend? Why?