Shaken by James Preller - ESSENTIAL

Shaken by James Preller, 240 pages. Feiwel (Macmillan), 2024. $18

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ESSENTIAL, HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

13yo Kristy may only be in middle school, she already plays on the high school’s varsity soccer team - and she is their first good hope to win the playoffs. A bad move and kick to the head later and Kristy can barely get out of bed, let alone face a soccer ball. No one seems to understand the state her concussion left her in - she can’t just shake it off and “get back out there”. Her teammates, her parents, most of the kids at school (when she can make it to school) are all putting pressure on her. Only her doctor and her psychologist are actually listening, it feels. 

Wow - Preller dissects another important issue.  If you haven’t read his YA works, you really should. And I not only have a lot of soccer girls at my school, but I remember a teacher who daughter played soccer and received a severe concussion several years ago and Preller feels like he talked to this mother and daughter to write this book! Would be great for any coach of any sport to read.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Fall by James Preller - ESSENTIAL

Preller, James The Fall, 196 pages.  Feiwel & Friends, 2016.  $17.  Langauge: PG (12 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG-13 (cyberbullying); Violence: G.

Morgan threw herself off the top of the water tower and Sam knows that he played a part in her choice.  Now he is going back and writing down what he remembers in order to come to grips with what he enabled - from the first signs of the angry ex-friend who started the cyberbullying, through Sam’s own twisted feelings about Megan – the girl he likes, but he wants no one to know they are friends - to the aftermath of Megan’s tragic choice.

Preller’s latest book is painful to read and an excellent companion to Jay Asher’s Thirteen Reasons Why – or it might even overtake that book as the must read book about teen suicide.  While this is told from Sam’s point of view, I would love to read the same circumstances from Athena’s point of view (read the book to find out who she is).  It would be so great if teens would actually read this and learn from it.

MS, HS – ESSENTIAL. 

FYI – I was leafing through the book while I was working on this review and I couldn’t stop the tears from flooding my eyes from reliving the experience.

Blood Mountain by James Preller - OPTIONAL

Blood Mountain by James Preller, 230 pages. Fiewel and Friends (Macmillan), 2019. $17.

Language: PG (4 swears); Mature Content G; Violence: PG

BUYING ADVISORY: MS – OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL:  AVERAGE

Grace, 13yo, and her little brother Carter, 11yo, are hiking up Blood Mountain with their father and dog.  As they race ahead of their father, the unthinkable happens and they become lost.  To make matters worse, Grace falls, leaving Carter to go for help alone, though alone may be safer than what else is out there.  The mountain holds many dangers including an erratic loner living in the wilderness as well as an escaped mountain lion. 

The premise, while not new, has been well researched.  The story was engaging, but the use of present tense was a little off-putting for me.  There’s no violence, but the section on gutting a squirrel was fairly graphic, so hold on to your lunch. 

Michelle in the Middle

Home Sweet Horror (A Scary Tales Book) by James Preller -OPTIONAL

Preller, James Home Sweet Horror (A Scary Tales Book) 112 pgs.  Feiwel & Friends, 2013. $5.99.  Content: Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG.

Liam is moving into an old house with his dad and his older sister Kelly. They are trying to have a fresh start after the death of their mother. But this house isn’t very welcoming, with tons of horrible noises, a skeletal hand and more. But when Kelly and her friend stir up things with a Bloody Mary chant to the bathroom mirror, Liam must save his sister from a horrible fate. Then a mysterious message from a  friendly ghost might just save the entire family from disaster.

This is an odd book, it’s like a second grade reading level, but a fear factor for upper elementary. I think students might enjoy this, but sleepless nights/nightmares later, the parents won’t be thanking me. I think I might just stick with spooky, rather than horror, and pass on this book.

EL –OPTIONAL Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian & Author.

The Case from Outer Space by James Preller - ADVISABLE

Preller, James. The Case from Outer Space, illustrated by R. W. Alley.  85 pages.  Feiwel and Friends, 2017.  $15.99.  Language: G.  Violence: G.  Sexual Content: G.

Jigsaw Jones is back!  And for a dollar a day, Jigsaw Jones can make your problems go away.  Danika and Joey find a note from outer space in a book called Messages from Mars.  They got the book from a Little Free Library, where you take and book and leave a book.  At school, their teacher, Ms. Gleason, announces that they are going to have a surprise visitor from far, far away.  Three different clues lead them to Ms. Gleason.  She fesses up to writing the note from outer space, but won’t tell them who the special visitor is until tomorrow when they come to school. 

The mystery guest is the perfect ending to this light Jigsaw Jones Mystery book.  Young readers will enjoy following the clues and trying to figure out who wrote the mysterious message and whether or not they were from outer space.  The illustrations are fun and frequent, and out of this world.    

EL-ADVISABLE.  Samantha Hastings, MA, MLS. 

Before You Go by James Preller - ADVISABLE

Preller, James Before You Go, 199 pgs. Feiwel and Friends, 2012. Language - PG-13 (53 swears, 0 "f"), Sexual Content - PG; Violence - PG; 

Jude is living life the best he knows how, he gets a job, hangs with his buddies, and gets close with Becka. Becka starts making Jude's life look up, until the accident. After the accident, thought, Jude reaches a new low. Can he get out of this one? 

The suspense in Before You Go killed me. From page one you know about the accident, this fact makes every ride in the car almost unbearable. The story is so light hearted in the beginning when reading about Jude and his friends joking around. I almost stopped reading so that the bad times wouldn't come, but it was worth it to keep reading to the end. 

MS, HS - ADVISABLE. Reviewer: CCH

The Case of the Buried Treasure by James Preller -OPTIONAL

Preller, James The Case of the Buried Treasure, 92 pages. Feiwel and Friends, 2013 (2017 reprints).  $5.  Language: G (o swears); Mature Content: G; Violence: G.

When a boy in Jigsaw’s class finds a clue to a treasure inside the leg of his chair, everyone in the class wants to help find it! But Jigsaw is the one who is used to solving puzzles and he gets right on the case. But everything in the puzzle isn’t quite as it seems and Jigsaw is determined to solve it –with an ending that surprises him the most.

This book felt like I was jumping in mid-series; just a boatload of characters, which would be off-putting for younger readers. Since the books aren’t numbered, I felt like I needed at least one intro book to really set the stage. I thought the language was fairly dated for how students talk today. But the killer for me was the dated looking cover and illustrations –you should see the amazing chapter book covers and art this book has to compete with. Even though its wholesome and sweet, I wouldn’t add this book or series to my library –no matter how popular it once was because it just wouldn’t see circulation.

EL (K-3) – OPTIONAL Stephanie, Elementary School Librarian & Author

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The Case of the Smelly Sneaker by James Preller - ADVISABLE

Preller, James The Case of the Smelly Sneaker, 76 pages.  Feiwel and Friends (Macmillan), 2001.  $5.  Language: G; Mature Content: G; Violence: G.

BUYING ADVISORY: EL-ADVISABLE

KID APPEAL: MEDIUM

The boys are going playing a football game against the girls right before Thanksgiving and Jigsaw Jones is going to be the referee. Before the game, Bigs Malone’s stinky sneakers have been stolen. Jigsaw and his partner, Mila, are on the case; showing that boys and girls working together make an amazing team on and off the field.

Jigsaw Jones mysteries are great for early chapter book readers. There’s a good mix of boy and girl characters and there’s just enough mystery to keep the reader guessing. A perfect introduction to the mystery genre for young readers.

Samantha Hastings, MA, MLS.

A Pirate’s Guide to the First Grade by James Preller - ESSENTIAL

Preller, James A Pirate’s Guide to the First Grade, illustrated by Greg Ruth.  Feiwel and Friends, 2010.  $16.99.  PICTURE BOOK.  

EL (K-3) – ESSENTIAL.

A young boy is eager to start the first day of school – and with his vivid imagination and some phantom pirate buddies, it looks to be a rip-roaring time.  

If you want your students to spend the next few hours speaking and acting like pirates – this is exactly the right book for you.  What a fun way to start the school year – ending with a trip to the library to find the buried treasure!  

Cindy, Library Teacher

The Case of the Disappearing Dinosaur by James Preller -ADVISABLE

Preller, James The Case of the Disappearing Dinosaur, 77 pages. Feiwel and Friends, 2013 (2017 reprints).  $5.  Language: G (o swears); Mature Content: G; Violence: G.

This book starts with Jigsaw and Mila looking at the contents of a purse lost at the park in order to solve the mystery of finding its owner. Next they attend a birthday party, where their friend Danika performs an amazing magic show –but a trick goes wrong. Now the birthday boys favorite toy has really and truly disappeared. Will Jigsaw be able to solve the mystery before the party is over and all the clues and suspects are gone?

Like I have said for the other books in this series that I have already reviewed:  dated artwork, just enough dated language to be jarring, and a boatload of characters –so this book (series) could be a hard sell for its target audience of younger readers to choose and read on their own. A teacher read-a-loud could get students liking this wholesome and sweet mystery solving series and you may have requests after that.  

EL (K-3) – ADVISABLE Stephanie, Elementary School Librarian & Author

The Courage Test by James Preller - OPTIONAL

Preller, James The Courage Test, 212 pages.  Feiwel and Friends, 2016.  $17.  Content: G (mild danger).

Will may want to play with his All-Star baseball team, but instead he is forced to accompany his estranged father on a camping trip along the Lewis and Clark Trail.  Yes, Will maybe named after the explorers, and he likes camping and rafting, but that doesn’t mean he wants anything to do with his father, who left him and his mother behind for a new girlfriend.  But the lure of the wilds also helps Will bring his own life and resistance back into focus and allows the two the reconnect despite their differences. 

Will and his father have adventures and problems enough to interest an adventure fiction reader.  A good optional choice to beef up your boy book collection.  

EL, MS – OPTIONAL.  Cindy, Library Teacher

The Case of the Best Pet Ever by James Preller -OPTIONAL

Preller, James The Case of the Best Pet Ever, 72 pages. Feiwel and Friends, 2013 (2017 reprints).  $5.  Language: G (o swears); Mature Content: G; Violence: G.

Jigsaw and sidekick Mila have been hired to do detective work by untrustworthy school bully Solofsky. He was accused of stealing a prize medal from a pet shop –its needed to a pet talent show later that week –then he is banned from the store. He wants his name cleared so he can go visit a puppy that is for sale at the shop. Jigsaw and Mila get to work –both on the mystery and on training Jigsaw’s dog Rags to have a talent.

This book (the 4^th I have reviewed in the series) actually had a little intro –rather than just jumping right into the story. Since the books aren’t numbered, this helped a bit. I am still of the opinion that no matter how wholesome –students will judge this book by its dated cover with muted colors and it won’t see a whole lot of circulation. Best for 1-2 grade readers. 

EL (K-3) – OPTIONAL Stephanie, Elementary School Librarian & Author

The Whispering Pines by James Preller - HIGH

The Whispering Pines (EXIT 13 #1) by James Preller, 188 pages.  Scholastic. 2023 $8.

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

11yo Ash and 13yo Willow check into the Exit 13 Motel with their parents when the fog gets too bad to continue their trip.  The dump of a motel looks sinister and the woods out back of the motel seem to hold a dangerous mystery.  Ash and Willow have to figure out what’s really going on or leaving the motel might prove impossible. 

Appropriately creepy, the book is just right for younger readers.  This is a fast read and will keep readers engaged.  The ending implies that this is the first in a series as the mystery deepens.

Michelle in the Middle

Dr. Z’s Adventure Park (I Scream, You Scream Scary Tales) by James Preller –NO

Preller, James  Dr. Z’s Adventure Park (I Scream, You Scream Scary Tales) 112 pgs. Feiwel & Friends, 2013. $5.39.  Content: Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG.

Sam loves amusement park rides, the scarier the better. When she wins a ticket to the newest ride, Dragon’s Tooth, she is over joyed. But its only 1 ticket, so her parents must stay behind as she goes off with a scared little boy in a mine car, down into the earth. Things start to go gravely wrong, and Sam tries to protect the boy. Turns out nothing is what it seems.

This was more horror than anything. I think it was cold, dark, and didn’t have much to redeem itself. I wouldn’t want my students reading this. There is some very descriptive injuries and terror that isn’t great for Elementary. But the plot would be a bit too childish for older students. 

EL –NO Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian & Author. 

The Case of the Million-Dollar Mystery by James Preller - OPTIONAL

Preller, James The Case of the Million-Dollar Mystery, 92 pages. Feiwel and Friends, 2013 (2017 reprint).  $5.  Language: G (o swears); Mature Content: G; Violence: G.

When Jigsaw’s classmates all start receiving cryptic notes stating ‘I saw what you did’ –he and Mila take the case, well numerous cases. On top of that, his class has been studying inventors and one of his classmates claims to have a really amazing top secret idea –when the sealed envelope for that idea goes missing –Jigsaw lands another case. Even the principal lands on the list of suspects this time and Jigsaw has a lot on his plate.

Dated cover art, dated language, and a boatload of characters –this book (series) could be a hard sell for its target audience of younger readers. But that being said the story is wholesome and the mystery never gets scary. I think if a teacher did a read-a-loud to get students liking this series, you might see some circulation.
EL (K-3) – OPTIONAL Stephanie, Elementary School Librarian & Author

The Case of the Bicycle Bandit by James Preller - ADVISABLE

Preller, James. The Case of the Bicycle Bandit, illustrated by Jamie Smith.  74 pages.  Feiwel and Friends, 2001 (reprint).  $4.99.  Sexual Content: G.  Language: G.  Violence: G.

In this Jigsaw Jones Mystery, Ralphie Jordan’s bike, Old Rusty, is stolen.  Don’t worry, Jigsaw Jones and Mila are on the case.  The inspect the scene of the crime (the library) and interview witnesses.  They ask Geetha to help with the case, she draws a picture of the suspect.  They make posters and offer a reward.  Jigsaw Jones receives a phone call, someone has identified the suspect.  Jigsaw spies on Snarky Smithers and learns the truth about who really took Ralphie’s bike. 

This is a clever, age-appropriate mystery with several plot twists.  The illustrations help tell the story and the facial features on the characters are very expressive.   This book is a perfect introduction to the mystery genre for elementary school readers.  Recommend to fans of "A to Z Mysteries" and "Calendar Mysteries."

EL-ADVISABLE.  Samantha Hastings, MA, MLS. 

Bystander by James Preller

Preller, James Bystander, 223 pgs. Feiwel and Friends, 2009. Language - PG (7 swears, 0 "f"), Sexual Content - G; Violence - G; Eric, his little brother, and his mom are moving to Long Island. Eric meets Griffin and his group before school starts, so when it does start he hangs out with them. As life goes on, Eric discovers that David is the butt of jokes for Griffin. Griffin and his group pick on David all the time, but Eric doesn't participate in it. Then why does he feel so bad? Eric is a good example of "new bee pressure." When you move someplace new it's hard to fit in, so you go where you're first accepted. I like that Eric has the courage to stand up to his friends and change them when they won't stop doing what he knows is wrong. ES, MS - ADVISABLE. Reviewer: CH