Margin Notes

I’ve been a long-time fan of author Mindy McGinnis, and her most recent publications, The Initial Insult and The Last Laugh left me an even bigger fan. This YA thriller duology features fast paced, plot driven page-turners that many readers will devour in a single read. Allusions to many Edgar Allan Poe stories are found in both titles, adding another layer of allure for many readers.

The Initial Insult

Tress Montor wants answers and she’ll stop at nothing to get them, including killing her (ex) best friend Felicity Turnodo. When the girls were in grade 4, Tress’ parents were driving Felicity home late one night…and were never seen again. Felicity was found wet and unconscious and alone on the riverbank and claims to have no memory of what happens. Tress has a plan to “help” Felicity re member. It’s Halloween and the teens of Amontillado are celebrating in an old, abandoned house. Tress lures Felicity to the basement, ties her up, and brick by brick begins to build a wall that will be the last thing Felicity sees if she can’t give Tress the answers she is so desperately searching for. Add to all of this the fact that there is a black Panther on the prowl, making the situation more tense and dire.

Told in alternating viewpoints, we learn both the girls’ histories and their current realities, all while wondering, is Tress actually capable of killing her former best friend?

The Last Laugh

The story continues in The Last Laugh immediately following the final event in The Initial Insult. There is a search party organized to find Felicity, which Tress joins (even though she obviously knows where Felicity is). But Tress is barely hanging on. Her injury from the tiger is infected and she fears she is losing both her arm and her mind. She also knows there is no way she can tell a doctor what happened. Her best friends charm that she shared with Felicity suddenly seams to have it’s own heart beat and Tress is finding it more and more difficult to tell what is real. Her 18^th birthday is approaching, and another twist comes into play. Tress’ cousin Ribbit simply cannot have her be alive for the occasion. As some secrets get revealed, many more are just coming into play. Prepare for some major twists and turns in the plot. Where The Initial Insult had readers wondering if there is any way Felicity could make it out alive, in The Last Laugh it is Tress’ life on the line.

Mindy McGinnis does not hold back for her audience of YA readers. There are dark and twisted plot lines, family secrets, and lives are lost. Readers who enjoy a good thriller are going to love this duology.

I’ve always been a fan of Rainbow Rowell. She’s recently been back on my radar for her compilation of short stories, Scattered Showers, due to be released in fall 2022. While her readers await the new release, it is a perfect time to recommend the Simon Snow series finishing last summer with the third book, Any Way the Wind Blows. This trilogy begins with Carry On which introduces readers to the world of Mages and Normals, magic and darkness, along with, in true Rowell fashion, a cast of characters that will keep the pages turning.

The exposition from several perspectives sets the stage to help the reader understand Simon, his best friend Penny and how they got to be at Watford School of Magicks. Simon’s nemesis, Baz, is mentioned often and missing in action. The pace of the story picks up when his absence is explained, and his voice is added to the narration. The three realize they have a common enemy and begin the challenge of working together instead of trying to kill each other. Woven into the plotline is a subtle political debate between the old vs new ways and parental influence in belief systems – bringing a contemporary twist causing reflection on who the “good” people are.

Sure, the book deals with magic, ghosts, vampires and monsters; but it also deals with human emotion. The reader sees characters battle their family history, their peer relationships, their sense of belonging and their sexual identity. The fantasy element will satisfy those looking to escape reality and the connections in the novel will appeal to those wanting to see themselves. This book has something for everyone; but don’t expect to leave completely satisfied because there are two more in the series to read after you finish Carry On!

From Jasmine Warga, the author of Other Words from Home, comes another must-read middle grade novel. The Shape of Thunder takes place months after a horrific tragedy and is told from alternating perspectives by former best friends Cora and Quinn. Cora’s sister, Mabel, was shot and killed by Quinn’s brother, Parker, in a school shooting. Both families are reeling from the loss, while Cora and Quinn are now also dealing with the breakdown of their friendship. Quinn, in a desperate attempt to make things right with her friend, comes up with an idea to try and prevent the violence of that unspeakable day. Neither wants to believe that things cannot be changed, so they embark on a seemingly impossible journey to make things right. Through their journey, they discover that confronting their pain may be easier than changing the past. This is an excellent middle grade story about the aftermath of a school shooting and how two former friends cope with guilt, loss, racism, and grief.

Right off the bat, one of the only things I can say is wow. What a heart-wrenching, yet hopeful book. This may be one of the best portrayals of loss and grief in a middle grade book. Cora and Quinn are both struggling in their own ways, but they often find themselves grappling with the same questions fueled by their grief. The dual perspective is a great insight into how two people can be dealing with the same situation in completely complex and different ways. Jasmine Warga does a great job of writing this book with care. There are no detailed scenes of the tragedy that took place for those who may be sensitive to the subject matter, instead only the emotional aftermath of the events and the people who are left to deal with them. Despite this, she remains honest in her storytelling, with her characters never shying away from asking the big questions, and the adults admitting they don’t always have all the clear answers.

This is an important book to have for educators, librarians, and children alike. I would highly recommend this one for grades 5-9. This book will help kids find their way through dealing with tragedy, grief, and anger. Warga takes some heavy issues and makes them manageable and understandable for middle grade readers and ultimately provides a message of hope and understanding. There are many things in this book that would also make for great mentor texts, such as the dual perspective, some in-story letter writing, the descriptive nature of the writing, and the ways in which the author integrates flashbacks. This has quickly become one of favourite middle-grade novels to date and it will have a place on my shelf for a long time.

Lauren Sieben is a Grade 8 ELA teacher at Perth-Andover Middle School. Her favourite activity is reading books. Her second favourite activity is talking about them.

If you teach Grades 9-12 in our district, this news is for you! To support LGBTQI2S+ inclusive education, the ASD-W Education Support Services Team has sent a combination of some of the following titles to all High Schools. If you haven’t seen them, reach out to your Administration Team. Many of these titles and others are also available on SORA.

We are happy to share some wonderful news to Grades 6-8 teachers in our district! To support LGBTQI2S+ inclusive education, the ASD-W Education Support Services Team has sent a combination of some of the following titles to all Middle Schools. If you haven’t seen them, check with your Administration Team. Many of these titles and others are also available on SORA.