Marsh & Me

November 15, 2018
Twelve-year-old Joey's discovery of a treehouse in his favorite wooded hideout has an unexpected outcome in this Australian import.Joey feels practically invisible to his classmates and worries that his lack of athletic prowess disappoints his dad--he is most comfortable playing guitar alone "on the hill." While his deepest wish is to be in a band, he feels too shy to make it happen. Joey, who presents white, has an encyclopedic knowledge of male historical figures, to whom he often compares himself: "Landing on the moon...on behalf of all mankind [is] deadly important and a million times more glorious and triumphant than being nice or sensitive." Yet his outlook expands after meeting Marsh (his nickname for her since her treehouse resembles a Martian spaceship) and accepting their shared connection to "the hill." Territorial resentment gives way to curiosity and empathy as he learns that Marsh built the treehouse to feel closer to her dead mother; that her Serbian parents moved here, to Australia, before her birth; and that her real name, Ruzica, makes her a target at school. Joey's observations about Marsh and her father (first perceived as an unwashed drinker of beer) at times seem rooted in stereotypes, and his continuing use of a nickname that is based on that of a literal alien to refer to his friend sounds an off note. However, Joey and Marsh's deepening friendship (and daring entry into the Battle of the Bands) rings true.A quietly moving exploration of identity, friendship, and family that encourages facing one's fears. (Fiction. 8-12)

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Gr 4-8-Joey has a secret: he wants to play the guitar. He has been teaching himself in his bedroom and practices when he is alone on a hill in his neighborhood. Then someone else enters his world on the hill and starts building a tree house that resembles a rocket ship. Joey calls her Marsh, short for Martian, because she won't tell him her name or anything real about herself. They begin to spend time together on the hill and Joey learns that Marsh is the daughter of Serbian immigrants and that her mother has recently died. This short, contemplative story is an Australian import and is told through first person present tense. Joey narrates his thoughts as he struggles with feelings of inadequacy. Readers will cheer for Joey as he finds his voice and Marsh as she comes out of her shell. Give this to fans of Wonder looking for a short read. VERDICT A sweet middle grade story about friendship that doesn't stand out from the pack; an additional purchase for most collections.-Allison McLean, Elkhart Public Library, IN

December 15, 2018
Grades 4-6 Feeling awkward at home and at school, Joey has one place where he is fully himself, a hill where he can be alone and play his guitar inexpertly but with abandon. When he discovers an amateurish tree house there, it's a blow. Its occupant, the enigmatic girl he calls Marsh, seems happiest when singing or talking of the Plains of Khazar, an imaginary world. Offering food and companionship, he gains her trust but risks it by secretly following her home and talking with her father, a grieving widower. Eventually, Marsh confides her anger and fears related to losing her mother. The story builds toward the local Battle of the Bands, where Marsh and Joey perform. This Australian chapter book has a sympathetic first-person narrator in Joey, who freely confesses his insecurities while finding the courage to move beyond his comfort zone, taking small steps in pursuit of what matters to him. While the closing chapters wrap up loose ends rather neatly, events earlier in the story support its hopeful conclusion.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)