K. E. Ormsbee

Remember

K.E. Ormsbee writes an original adventure about friendship, acceptance, and forgiveness. Avery Miller and her mom move from the loud bustle of California to the seemingly boring Texas suburb of Strange Street on Cedar Lane. She meets new friends Danielle (Dani) Hirsch, as well as twins Bastian and Lola Gils. Where they race glowboards fueled by a mysterious substance called Component G aka. glow. When strange things start happening to them, they find out they are a part of a bigger plan.

Midnight on Strange Street is a Middle Grade Sci-fi mystery focused on the racing sport of glowbording. The point of view in this book bounces between each friend as they practice glowbording, come to terms with abilities that make them different, and family problems. Dani is the competitive leader who is determined to prove to her parents glowbording is a real sport. Avery is the reader, who struggles to have a relationship with her father. Bastian is a talented artist who hides his art, afraid the bullies will take what is most important to him. And the compassionate Lola who sees the best in everyone, who has to learn to see the best in herself. Their friendship is a very important part of this book, as they work to understand each other, and work as a team.

As this team of friends, the Sardines, must figure out the purpose of their new mysterious powers. Avery, Dani, Bastian, and Lola all notice a blue flame growing inside them, giving them “tele-whatever” powers such as telepathy and telekinesis. But each team member reacts to their new abilities in different ways. Together they must work as a team to win the Glow in the Park race, and solve the mysteries surrounding Glow. There is a strong theme of bulling, and facing bullies in this book. As the Sardines have to accept themselves as they are, and stand up to those who cannot recognize that.… (mehr)

Kathryne Ormsbee fictionalizes her childhood as a home-schooled child who struggles with anxiety and OCD. Like a lot of middle school graphic novels nowadays, it is a bit too long and meandering and spends too much time on BFF strife, but it is a good depiction of OCD to have available for kids. I really liked the use of bees to symbolize her intrusive thoughts.

(Another project! I'm trying to read all the picture books and graphic novels on the kids section of rel="nofollow" target="_top">NPR's Books We Love 2022.)… (mehr)