We soon realize how much Ava and her family relish palindromes and other types of word games. I appreciate that Ava, as I found with many kids in this middle grade age group, ponders whether her family is nutty; more nutty than other families, or, possibly it is that all families are a bit nutty.

Ava is deeply upset with her older sister Pip's diffidence.  Ava knows that Pip was a preemie, and while older; is smaller than Ava and at times it seems that Pip may be getting more than her fair share of their parents attention.

School is an enjoyable place and activity, most of the time, for the outgoing Ava who does well in most classes, has loads of friends, and spends her lunch time with a group of friends; while Pip sits alone at another table, is plagued at times by a group who call her pipsqueak and make squeaking sounds.

Following an obdurate disconcerting situation accidentally perpetuated by Ava; Ava is happy to find a surprising and unforeseen collaborator in her mission to help her sister.

The pages of Ava’s diary permits The Reader to shadow along as Ava learns some essential life and societal schoolings; as she embark upon her first steps away from her role as little kid and begins the maturing progression that will lead to achievement for her future as an older kid and at last as an adult.

During my long, 36+ year, tenure as a public school educator I did spend most of my classroom time in the K 1 setting. Nevertheless, after a lull following our move from California to Oklahoma I again entered the public school setting; and this time as a fourth grade teacher for two years, prior to returning to K 1.
 

Carol Weston's previous Melanie Martin series was very popular with my two fourth grade classes. Each day I read a chapter after lunch before the books were made available for students to take home, I was a little surprised, and pleased as well, that the boys in class also opted to take Melanie home to share with sisters and Moms.

I like this new series every bit as much as, if not more, than the Melanie series.  And was pleased that again the books were popular with the older students who came by to say Hi and borrow a book to take home to read.

The chronicle style of writing, the palindromes and the circumstances Ava finds herself sprinting impetuously into are all very persuasive for the 9 - 12 age group. Were I still teaching today, I would be introducing Ava during an after lunch reading period, and, am confident that students would find them as captivating and charming as did my first students here in Oklahoma.

Middle grades tends to be a period of emotive ups and downs, mood swings and, at times, tilting at windmills. This age leans toward seeing everything as right or wrong, good or bad, and why, how, when.

I like palindromes, and have found students; whether 9-year-olds, or 6-year-olds, to be quite as intrigued with them as am I.  I particularly like that Writer Weston provides in a good bit of just plain enlightening learning as well as excellent and remarkable writing and a narrative worth the writing and the reading on the pages of A va and Pip'.

In point of fact; I read the second book in the series first, but when I realized Ava and Pip was first, I went back and read before beginning the reviews. While the series can be picked up at any point, I believe, reading Ava and Pip first does set the scene for future books in the series; I would introduce Ava and Pip first in the classroom.

I find Ava and Pip to be a fine tome for encouraging student dialogue concerning commonplace activities, and the drama and excitement as seems to be part and parcel of the middle grades.   Ava and Pip will permit students scrutiny regarding their own behaviors and perhaps promote additional awareness that working toward problem solving may be  likely to be more beneficial than leaping to assumptions and perhaps triggering more grief to self and others.

I like this series and have every anticipation that middle grade students will as well.

Happy to recommend Ava and Pip for classroom, public and school libraries and as a gifting edition for middle grade students, or an end of third grade ready for, the fourth grade.

Engrossing Read ... Warmly Recommended ... 5 stars 

Available Amazon  paperback, hard cover, kindle

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Reviewed by Molly Reviews Books       molly martin

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Internet search reveals Weston bio including: Carol Weston is an American writer. The author of sixteen books, both fiction and non-fiction, she has been the "Dear Carol" advice columnist at Girls' Life since the magazine's first issue in 1994.

Weston is the daughter of writers. Her father, William Weston, was a writer, director, and producer of documentaries.  Her late mother, Marybeth Weston Lobdell, was an author and the garden editor of House & Garden. Her brothers are Eric Weston and author Mark Weston.

Weston and her husband, playwright Rob Ackerman, met in Madrid, Spain, and have lived in Manhattan since 1985. They have two daughters and one cat.