Midnight on Strange Street

October 21, 2019
Ormsbee (The House in Poplar Wood) sets her latest story in Callaway, Tex., where a mysterious substance called Component G—“glow”—was discovered decades earlier to commercial success. It powers glowboards (for one application), and allows the four Sardines, a glowboard team from Cedar Lane (called “Strange Street” following the appearance of an unexplainable phenomenon), to compete against their obnoxious and well-funded rivals whose sponsor, the head of Gloworks, keeps them well-supplied with the newest in glow technology. When the Sardines discover that they possess telekinetic powers and can hear each other’s thoughts, they feel sure they can win an upcoming glowboard competition, but a government agency plans to use them as weapons to end a terrible war being fought around the world. Though the complicated plot and multiple third-person narratives slow the lengthy story’s pace, the four protagonists have compelling challenges: controlling their newfound abilities, training for their upcoming race, and navigating familial issues. The tale picks up toward the end, when the kids use their collective powers to stop the real enemies, and the idea and execution of glowboarding is great fun. Ages 8–12. Agent: Beth Phelan, Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency.

January 1, 2020

Gr 5-8-This original sci-fi novel for middle-graders introduces the Sardines, a team of four friends who must deal with their newly discovered telekinetic powers as they practice "glowboarding" for the annual Glow in the Park competition. Their Texas town is where the mysterious substance Component G (commonly referred to as "Glow") was discovered, and though it isn't believed to be powerful enough to use as a weapon in the ongoing global war, it fuels their glowboards and the town's economy. Glow's connection to their powers, and to alien beings who attempt to communicate with them, drives the story's action. The point-of-view shifts among Dani, newcomer Avery, and twins Bastian and Lola as they navigate common problems (strict parents, estranged family members, bullies, crushes) while also working to master their powers, save themselves from exploitation by the government, and-in the end-rescue the planet itself from the "light beings" who believe Earth should be destroyed. VERDICT Readers who enjoy getting lost in alternate worlds will appreciate this lengthy novel. Recommended for libraries seeking to bolster their science fiction collection.-Laurie Slagenwhite Walters, Brighton District Library, Brighton, MI

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 2019
Four kids with inexplicable powers have a close encounter in a near-future Texas. The Sardines just want to ride their glowboards, hang out in their clubhouse, and be left alone by the class bully. It's been years since Component G--glow--was discovered in Callaway, and on the coasts the Global War is raging, but Callaway is just a regular American suburb. Regular, that is, except for the Sardines: Dani, Avery, and the twins, Bastian and Lola. The four best friends and passionate glowboarders discover something else they have in common: They can all hear one another's thoughts and move things with their minds. The telekinesis and telepathy (or, as Dani says, "tele-whatevers") are scary, but maybe it can help them win the big glowboarding championship! But the Sardines start to receive terrifying messages from outer space. Are aliens coming to destroy the Earth? Faux typescript interludes from the point of view of an unnamed stranger working with the government introduce a different menace, one the kids only slowly become aware of. The Sardines, from a variety of white ethnic backgrounds, need to win the race, escape the government, and prevent the destruction of the Earth. Easy peasy. The setup is so compelling that kids will keep going even though the pace doesn't always live up to the page count. Telepathic kids on futuristic skateboards fleeing G-men; a little too long but totally fun. (Science fiction. 12-13)

COPYRIGHT(2019) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

September 1, 2019
Grades 4-7 Avery, Bastian, Lola, and Dani make for an interesting team. The four neighbors live on Cedar Street (sometimes called Strange Street), and they glowboard together on a team called the Sardines. Every week, they meet to play games and discuss how to beat their rivals, the Grackles. But as the biggest glowboarding event of the year approaches, strange things start happening to the Sardines: they've discovered they can communicate telepathically with one another and can move things with their minds. These powers, which are out of control at first, slowly become manageable and seem to have come from some alien force. But are these aliens peaceful or dangerous? The story, interspersed with government reports from a mysterious group called the DGE, serves up adventure and intrigue in a near-future world. Equal parts Animorphs and Jake Maddox Sports Stories, this is a fine contemporary middle-grade sf story. Recommend it to sports lovers and fantasy readers alike.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)