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The Undercover Book List
He's known as the class troublemaker. She's known as the bookworm. But when every note they send is anonymous, identity is suddenly what they make it.
Between her father's posting overseas and her best friend Sienna's move to the other side of the country, seventh grade is looking lonely for Jane MacDonald. But Sienna has left her with one last trick: a hidden message in a library book—the perfect plot to start a secret club and find Jane a new book-loving friend.
Tyson Flamand has problems of his own. Since the fourth grade he's had a reputation as a bad kid, and there's no point fighting it when teachers always think the worst. So when he finds an anonymous note in the library looking for a nerdy new friend, he knows he's the last person in the world it could be meant for. But something makes him answer it anyway, and Tyson finds himself pulled into a secret book club where being hidden may be the first step to being truly seen.
With the insight of a veteran middle-school teacher, Colleen Nelson, author of the award-winning Harvey Comes Home and Sadia, weaves together two stories of identity, expectation, and the courage to challenge both. As their paths move ever closer, Jane and Tyson both discover their own self-reliance and their ability to overcome obstacles that seemed insurmountable.
Between her father's posting overseas and her best friend Sienna's move to the other side of the country, seventh grade is looking lonely for Jane MacDonald. But Sienna has left her with one last trick: a hidden message in a library book—the perfect plot to start a secret club and find Jane a new book-loving friend.
Tyson Flamand has problems of his own. Since the fourth grade he's had a reputation as a bad kid, and there's no point fighting it when teachers always think the worst. So when he finds an anonymous note in the library looking for a nerdy new friend, he knows he's the last person in the world it could be meant for. But something makes him answer it anyway, and Tyson finds himself pulled into a secret book club where being hidden may be the first step to being truly seen.
With the insight of a veteran middle-school teacher, Colleen Nelson, author of the award-winning Harvey Comes Home and Sadia, weaves together two stories of identity, expectation, and the courage to challenge both. As their paths move ever closer, Jane and Tyson both discover their own self-reliance and their ability to overcome obstacles that seemed insurmountable.
264 pages, Hardcover
Published October 5, 2021
7 people are currently reading
401 people want to read
About the author
Colleen Nelson
31 books131 followersColleen Nelson is the author of YA fiction books Finding Hope (2016), 250 Hours (2015), The Fall (2013) and Tori by Design (2011). 'The Fall' and 'Tori by Design' both won the McNally Robinson Book of the Year Award. 'The Fall' was also nominated for the White Pine Award. Currently living in Winnipeg with her husband, two young sons and three grown step-children, Colleen manages to eke out time to write everyday, but usually in the early morning after a strong cup of coffee. A junior high school teacher for ten years before having children, Colleen is familiar and comfortable with the tricky phase of life called 'adolescence'. Now a Teacher-Librarian in Winnipeg, Canada, Colleen is constantly on the look-out for books that will catch the attention of her reading-reluctant sons.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
August 28, 2021
Thank you to the author and publisher for an advanced copy of this book.
I love the author’s writing, particularly the Harvey stories, and I was immediately drawn in by the idea of an undercover book club. Told from the dual perspectives of Jane and Tyson, this is a story about an unlikely friendship between two very different kids sparked by a secret message left in a book.
Jane’s best friend, Sienna, is moving away, but she has a final surprise for Jane. She’s left a note in a library book hoping to help Jane start an undercover book club and find her a new book-loving friend. But the class troublemaker, Tyson, accidentally discovers the letter and decides to play a prank on Jane to see her reaction. He pretends to be “Y”, someone who loves to read and secretly starts corresponding with Jane. Jane is delighted to have a new friend with whom to share book recommendations. Tyson quickly discovers that maybe reading isn’t such a bad thing and surprises those around him with his newfound interest. Jane invites Y to fill Sienna’s vacant spot on the Kit Lit Quiz team, but Tyson decides to join without telling Jane that he’s her secret pen pal. Things get complicated when a crisis jeopardizes the team’s attendance at regionals, and Tyson needs to decide if he’s brave enough to defy everyone’s expectations and admit his identity to Jane.
I loved the idea of two kids getting to know each other through notes left in books. Tyson had a reputation as a prankster and poor student, and watching his transformation was my favourite part of the story. I also loved Jane’s willingness to stay connected with Sienna and how they supported each other through their transitions. Both Jane and Tyson have challenges at home that ring true to middle-grade experiences and add depth to the character’s stories. There are some excellent ideas to use in the classroom, such as the Other Words for Me board and starting a Kid Lit Quiz team. The short chapters and overall book-length of 258 pages will appeal to a wide range of readers, and I would recommend this story for Gr. 4-7.
I love the author’s writing, particularly the Harvey stories, and I was immediately drawn in by the idea of an undercover book club. Told from the dual perspectives of Jane and Tyson, this is a story about an unlikely friendship between two very different kids sparked by a secret message left in a book.
Jane’s best friend, Sienna, is moving away, but she has a final surprise for Jane. She’s left a note in a library book hoping to help Jane start an undercover book club and find her a new book-loving friend. But the class troublemaker, Tyson, accidentally discovers the letter and decides to play a prank on Jane to see her reaction. He pretends to be “Y”, someone who loves to read and secretly starts corresponding with Jane. Jane is delighted to have a new friend with whom to share book recommendations. Tyson quickly discovers that maybe reading isn’t such a bad thing and surprises those around him with his newfound interest. Jane invites Y to fill Sienna’s vacant spot on the Kit Lit Quiz team, but Tyson decides to join without telling Jane that he’s her secret pen pal. Things get complicated when a crisis jeopardizes the team’s attendance at regionals, and Tyson needs to decide if he’s brave enough to defy everyone’s expectations and admit his identity to Jane.
I loved the idea of two kids getting to know each other through notes left in books. Tyson had a reputation as a prankster and poor student, and watching his transformation was my favourite part of the story. I also loved Jane’s willingness to stay connected with Sienna and how they supported each other through their transitions. Both Jane and Tyson have challenges at home that ring true to middle-grade experiences and add depth to the character’s stories. There are some excellent ideas to use in the classroom, such as the Other Words for Me board and starting a Kid Lit Quiz team. The short chapters and overall book-length of 258 pages will appeal to a wide range of readers, and I would recommend this story for Gr. 4-7.
November 22, 2023
This is the newest book added to the Book’s I’ve Hugged list in my book journal. =) If you love books and the power they have to help you discover who you really are and to connect with others, then this book is for you. In it, we meet Jane and Tyson. Jane is a bookworm seeking new friendships after her best friend moved away. Tyson is a jokester who always seems to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. This unlikely pair comes together through the Undercover Book Club, a secret club where readers recommend books to each other through notes left inside the pages of a book. Told in alternating chapters, we get an inside look into Jane and Tyson’s lives as they navigate their own challenges and find comfort in each other’s books. Plus, you’ll learn about the Other Words for Me project and want to join in the Kid Lit Quiz, too. Not only will you love reading this book, but you’ll love reading the books from the Undercover Book List next. This is a must-read middle grade novel.
June 6, 2022
My nerdy friend Steph McHugh recommended this one to me, and I’m so glad she did!
Told from the perspectives of Jane and Tyson, this middle grade novel shares the story of how two very different kids form a friendship of chance after a secret message is left in a book.
As a classroom teacher, I loved the idea of an Other Words for Me year-long activity and all the book nods to middle grade titles and characters, and I appreciated that the author provided a list of mentioned titles at the end of the book. I also think student readers will enjoy the short chapters and relatable characters.
Themes of family, friendship, teamwork, and identity are present and lend themselves to discussion throughout the novel.
Originally borrowed the library’s copy, but ended up buying a copy from an indie bookstore for my middle grade classroom library!
Told from the perspectives of Jane and Tyson, this middle grade novel shares the story of how two very different kids form a friendship of chance after a secret message is left in a book.
As a classroom teacher, I loved the idea of an Other Words for Me year-long activity and all the book nods to middle grade titles and characters, and I appreciated that the author provided a list of mentioned titles at the end of the book. I also think student readers will enjoy the short chapters and relatable characters.
Themes of family, friendship, teamwork, and identity are present and lend themselves to discussion throughout the novel.
Originally borrowed the library’s copy, but ended up buying a copy from an indie bookstore for my middle grade classroom library!
January 1, 2025
What a great way to start my 2025 Reading Challenge. A five-star read by an author I greatly admire. I have enjoyed every one of her books I have read so far. This book was a CBC Best Book of 2021 and the holder of many other award finalist titles.
Told in alternating chapters we meet Jane and Tyson the two protagonists. Along the way we meet a full realized and believable cast of characters as the story of learning to be seen, bravely owning up to yourself and finally believing in yourself, unfolds.
Colleen infuses her characters with depth of feeling. She "gets" the age group she is writing about in all their emotional turmoil and brings them through their trials and tribulations in a most satisfying way.
"Tyson had given the next thing he wanted to say a lot of thought. He'd never admitted before and putting it on paper had felt like a leap...I can always rip up the note he thought. But once he'd started writing, it felt like a hundred-pound weight had been lifted off his shoulders."
I have come to expect finely tuned writing from Colleen and that is just what she delivers again and again. A middle grade book I can highly recommend and I thoroughly enjoyed in one sitting.
Told in alternating chapters we meet Jane and Tyson the two protagonists. Along the way we meet a full realized and believable cast of characters as the story of learning to be seen, bravely owning up to yourself and finally believing in yourself, unfolds.
Colleen infuses her characters with depth of feeling. She "gets" the age group she is writing about in all their emotional turmoil and brings them through their trials and tribulations in a most satisfying way.
"Tyson had given the next thing he wanted to say a lot of thought. He'd never admitted before and putting it on paper had felt like a leap...I can always rip up the note he thought. But once he'd started writing, it felt like a hundred-pound weight had been lifted off his shoulders."
I have come to expect finely tuned writing from Colleen and that is just what she delivers again and again. A middle grade book I can highly recommend and I thoroughly enjoyed in one sitting.
October 10, 2022
Colleen Nelson knows kids and that really shows in this sweet and engaging story about a video game addicted underachiever who reinvents himself as a nerd with the unintended help of a classmate whose best friend has just moved away. While this is a quick read, Nelson still beautifully develops her broad cast of characters and plays them off one another with expert storytelling. Readers will gobble this up.
#netgalley
#netgalley
February 1, 2022
This is a sweet, well-written book about middle school friendships, family, and identity. It isn't doing anything new or groundbreaking with the material, yet is is always nice to have new books to hand to kids who love these types of stories.
May 30, 2022
I would reallllllly like to be on an adult Kid Lit Quiz team - any other takers? :-)
I do have to figure out where this goes in the library due to the penis drawings mentioned throughout a chapter, but I’ll make it happen cause kids have to get this into their hands! All the book trivia made me SO GIDDY!
I do have to figure out where this goes in the library due to the penis drawings mentioned throughout a chapter, but I’ll make it happen cause kids have to get this into their hands! All the book trivia made me SO GIDDY!
August 31, 2023
I loved this book! It was such a sweet and lighthearted book about friendship.
March 11, 2023
WRITTEN BY A 5th GRADER: this book was SPECTACULAR because it had some of my favourite books. I also kinda relate to Tyson because he said he said doesn't like reading but when he started to read a book after a long time he became OBSESSED with it. He also said that he liked Holes, my teacher read it as a read-out-loud and it was SOO AWESOME! I like how the author writes too, a narrative and also some perspective in a book is cool. When X and Y started writing to each other, the Kid Lit quiz tournament and when Jane's dad retired from the military were all SUPER COOl parts! The best characters (in my opinion) are Mrs. Chin, Grampa, Jane, Jane's Dad, Minju, and Tyson. One more thing before this review ends, the book cover is very pretty, it's half the reason I wanted to read this book!
characters
characters
February 10, 2022
I really adored this book. It really works with some really relatable themes, brings a lot of tension to the story without the stakes being too high, and then wraps up in a way that is feel good and realistic. The characters are going through some things that could be considered "normal problems" but they are still things kids struggle with all the time. As an ADHD kid, I really identified with Tyson. And as a huge book nerd and all around sensitive kid, I identified with Jane. I think these two characters can be hooks for many types of kids going through tough things. This is just an all around lovely story, and easy read, and one I think kids should have in their hands! I highly recommend for all public and school libraries (and home ones too!)
August 1, 2022
I loved this book that is a kid version of the adult book. Reading List. This book does a great job of capturing the thoughts and feelings of most 6th graders. What I enjoyed that was the cherry on top, what one of the main characters is a military child. I was a military brat and there aren’t many books out that that represent me. Overall a great book!
Thanks to Pajama Press for an E-copy of the book via NetGalley.
Thanks to Pajama Press for an E-copy of the book via NetGalley.
April 23, 2023
A really great read. It approaches the challenges that pre-teens have in a thoughtful way and engages the reader in the lives and experiences of the two main characters. Suggestions for other books worth reading are woven through the story which creates a sense of curiosity about the books. In the acknowledgements the other shares that her website has a larger list of book suggestions that is updated ofen. It also introduced to me something called Kids Lit Quiz an actual international competition.
August 4, 2022
This book is already dated as Kids Lit Quiz has been cancelled in Canada. Other than that readers will love the alternating chapters and recommended books (and some trivia) in this book. This may be the book I use to kick off my Student Book Club this year. A lot of fun and engaging. A very fast read.
June 3, 2023
Sweet little story that trips along at a good pace. Definitely a book for kids who like books
May 8, 2022
“A middle grade story about a girl in need of a friend, a boy in need of a second chance, and the secret book club that brings them together. “
While Tyson is waiting outside the principal’s office for yet another detention, he’s sent to the library to get a library book to keep him busy. The anonymous note that he discovers is the beginning of a mysterious club where being hidden may be the first step to being seen.
This book had all the things I love to see in middle grade books: second chances, friendship, and books. I am looking forward to adding this to our library.
While Tyson is waiting outside the principal’s office for yet another detention, he’s sent to the library to get a library book to keep him busy. The anonymous note that he discovers is the beginning of a mysterious club where being hidden may be the first step to being seen.
This book had all the things I love to see in middle grade books: second chances, friendship, and books. I am looking forward to adding this to our library.
July 30, 2022
This is of the best middle-grade novels that I have read in a long time. The story is told from two points of view, Jane and Tyson's. Jane is a military child who deeply enjoys reading and is a member of the Kid Lit Quiz Team. Tyson is an Xbox-loving student who is constantly finding himself in the principal's office. When these two connect, unknowingly to Jane, they begin to enhance book titles to read back and forth with short descriptions of the books. In the back of the book, Colleen Nelson includes an appendix where she lists each book title that was mentioned in the book. This story is a very quick read and I believe will be well-received by the students in my classroom. My hope is that after reading this book, they will choose another book to read based on Jane and Tyson's descriptions.
September 7, 2021
Author: Colleen Nelson
Narrator/Illustrator:
Publisher: Pajama Press &Ingram Publisher Service
Release Date: September 14/21
Audio/Page Length: 264 Pages
Reviewer: Laurie
Thank you to Edelweiss+ and the publisher Pajama Press for a digital ARC. I am very grateful for the hardcopy arc sent by author Colleen Nelson to enjoy. I will pay it forward.
What do you do when you are moving away from your best friend, Jane? You find her a new best friend by sharing two of her passions, reading and mysteries discreetly. What does Tyson do when he is sent to the library to get a book as he waits to see the principal for pulling yet another prank and see the nerdy girl slip a secret message into a book? You prepare the ultimate practical joke by writing back. What happens when Jane and Tyson start writing and exchanging notes and book suggestions? An unexpected friendship and a deeper understanding of themselves.
I love the way Colleen has tackled a friend moving away. The unique way in which Colleen Nelson sets this up is a breath of fresh air. Instead of focusing on the friend who moves away, the author focuses on the friend who isn't moving. Ms. Nelson reminds us that the friend staying behind also faces challenges and periods of difficulty, things that sometimes we may overlook.
Readers also meet a familiar character. We all know someone like Tyson Flamand. The clever individual who acts one way because they are not confident to show us their true selves. In The Undercover Book List, readers see the growth of Tyson as he gains confidence and realizes he can contribute and doesn't need to hide behind the elaborate pranks. I appreciated the honesty of showing how Tyson knows how to suggest relevant and current books for Jane to read when he doesn't consider himself a reader. Some individuals will see themselves and make connections to both Tyson and Jane. What a great way to talk about how we can get around from working to fake read and know excellent books to recommend to finding books that will engage those individuals who see themselves as nonreaders.
Using the duo perspective, readers get to know Jane and Tyson individually while speculating how they will become friends without the characters knowing they will be friends. Kids will enjoy this aspect of the story and will be able to connect and share with their personal stories. Writing from this dual perspective keeps readers engaged and wanting to learn more about each character and the storyline moving.
When an author uses specific books within the story itself that are engaging and suitable for the intended audience, I'm all in. Colleen Nelson cleverly blends older titles with newer titles that will also stand the test of time and will peak the curiousity of readers in the future to check out the books mentioned in her novel. I know readers (like myself) will appreciate the list of books mentioned by Jane and Tyson. As a bonus, readers receive an invitation to the books the author would have suggested.
Yes, I am excited for this title to get into the hands of readers; it celebrates readers and books, but more importantly, The Undercover Book List celebrates being true to yourself and recognizes that everyone has a path to become a reader. Release date September 14, be sure to add this one to your collections!
First Line
I didn't want to be late.
Narrator/Illustrator:
Publisher: Pajama Press &Ingram Publisher Service
Release Date: September 14/21
Audio/Page Length: 264 Pages
Reviewer: Laurie
Thank you to Edelweiss+ and the publisher Pajama Press for a digital ARC. I am very grateful for the hardcopy arc sent by author Colleen Nelson to enjoy. I will pay it forward.
What do you do when you are moving away from your best friend, Jane? You find her a new best friend by sharing two of her passions, reading and mysteries discreetly. What does Tyson do when he is sent to the library to get a book as he waits to see the principal for pulling yet another prank and see the nerdy girl slip a secret message into a book? You prepare the ultimate practical joke by writing back. What happens when Jane and Tyson start writing and exchanging notes and book suggestions? An unexpected friendship and a deeper understanding of themselves.
I love the way Colleen has tackled a friend moving away. The unique way in which Colleen Nelson sets this up is a breath of fresh air. Instead of focusing on the friend who moves away, the author focuses on the friend who isn't moving. Ms. Nelson reminds us that the friend staying behind also faces challenges and periods of difficulty, things that sometimes we may overlook.
Readers also meet a familiar character. We all know someone like Tyson Flamand. The clever individual who acts one way because they are not confident to show us their true selves. In The Undercover Book List, readers see the growth of Tyson as he gains confidence and realizes he can contribute and doesn't need to hide behind the elaborate pranks. I appreciated the honesty of showing how Tyson knows how to suggest relevant and current books for Jane to read when he doesn't consider himself a reader. Some individuals will see themselves and make connections to both Tyson and Jane. What a great way to talk about how we can get around from working to fake read and know excellent books to recommend to finding books that will engage those individuals who see themselves as nonreaders.
Using the duo perspective, readers get to know Jane and Tyson individually while speculating how they will become friends without the characters knowing they will be friends. Kids will enjoy this aspect of the story and will be able to connect and share with their personal stories. Writing from this dual perspective keeps readers engaged and wanting to learn more about each character and the storyline moving.
When an author uses specific books within the story itself that are engaging and suitable for the intended audience, I'm all in. Colleen Nelson cleverly blends older titles with newer titles that will also stand the test of time and will peak the curiousity of readers in the future to check out the books mentioned in her novel. I know readers (like myself) will appreciate the list of books mentioned by Jane and Tyson. As a bonus, readers receive an invitation to the books the author would have suggested.
Yes, I am excited for this title to get into the hands of readers; it celebrates readers and books, but more importantly, The Undercover Book List celebrates being true to yourself and recognizes that everyone has a path to become a reader. Release date September 14, be sure to add this one to your collections!
First Line
I didn't want to be late.
July 9, 2022
Tyson annoyed me at the start of the book but then he got better.
August 26, 2021
One of my favorite kind of books are books about books...and this one did not disappoint! By the end I wanted to join both an Undercover Book Club and a Kid Lit Quiz team. I particularly enjoyed the unlikely friendship and how their story revealed the power of books.
Also, this quote..."flexing their intellectual muscles by firing off the names of the Newbery Award winners in chronological order,"...I am OBSESSED with it! It's the answer to the prompt, "Tell me you're a reader without telling me you're a reader."
Also, this quote..."flexing their intellectual muscles by firing off the names of the Newbery Award winners in chronological order,"...I am OBSESSED with it! It's the answer to the prompt, "Tell me you're a reader without telling me you're a reader."
February 1, 2022
I read a lot, but this is my new favorite middle grade novel. I read it in one sitting tonight.
Jane’s best friend moves across the country. Her dad is stationed away from home. She feels lonely. Then, Tyson, the school prankster finds a note inside a book. What starts as a joke becomes the beautiful story of a blossoming friendship, teamwork, the importance of academics, kindness, self-discovery, and second chances. This is a must read, must purchase, read over and over kind of book! I am so glad this book was shared and I had the opportunity to review it as a #BookPosse member.
Jane’s best friend moves across the country. Her dad is stationed away from home. She feels lonely. Then, Tyson, the school prankster finds a note inside a book. What starts as a joke becomes the beautiful story of a blossoming friendship, teamwork, the importance of academics, kindness, self-discovery, and second chances. This is a must read, must purchase, read over and over kind of book! I am so glad this book was shared and I had the opportunity to review it as a #BookPosse member.
October 11, 2022
Jane is devastated that her best friend, Sienna, is moving away. But Sienna has a great idea for how Jane can find some new friends- leave a note in their favorite library book inviting whoever finds it to join the Undercover Book Club. The club members' identities will be secret, and they will leave anonymous notes recommending books to each other.
Tyson is always in trouble at school. He doesn't turn in his homework. He plays mean pranks on people. He is constantly in the principal's office. When Tyson sees Jane leaving a note in the library, he gets curious and joins the club! For the first time, he is reading and it opens up his world. Can these total opposites really become friends through the Undercover Book Club?
I like this book a lot! I loved the characters of Jane and Tyson. Jane is sweet and kind and bookish. She's an adorable nerd! But she has a lot of heartache in her life, and she turns to books to help her manage her stress. Tyson is a slacker who feels like there is no point in trying to follow the rules or do well in his classes, because everyone expects him to fail and make trouble. He lives up to those low expectations, but on the inside he is capable of more. He just needs the courage to break out of the labels, and be his true self. He has such amazing character development! His character gives me hope for some lost kids I know.
The writing style is wonderful, but it has a slightly odd structure. There are two POVs from Jane and Tyson, and I liked that each character's POV is written in separate chapters, so that it is easy to tell who we are following. They each have distinct voices, which is so important with multiples POVs. However, Jane's chapters are told in first-person, and Tyson's are told in third-person omniscient. I will say that this fits so seamlessly with their personal voices that I didn't even notice it until chapter 5. So I didn't mind the changes in style, but I thought it was a bold choice, and I'm not sure why the author chose it. It seems unnecessary.
I loved the positive messages in this book! There are some really deep themes that are explored, like death, illness, war, bullying, and trust. There is one incident where some boys draw rude pictures onto a school poster. The book says explicitly what they drew. They are punished for it, and the incident is used as a growing moment for some of the characters.
The best part of this book is all the books! Half the story takes place in the library, and the characters are preparing for a Kid Lit Quiz competition, so they are studying their fiction trivia. There is a list at the back of the book showing all the books that the characters read, and then you can read them too!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
Tyson is always in trouble at school. He doesn't turn in his homework. He plays mean pranks on people. He is constantly in the principal's office. When Tyson sees Jane leaving a note in the library, he gets curious and joins the club! For the first time, he is reading and it opens up his world. Can these total opposites really become friends through the Undercover Book Club?
I like this book a lot! I loved the characters of Jane and Tyson. Jane is sweet and kind and bookish. She's an adorable nerd! But she has a lot of heartache in her life, and she turns to books to help her manage her stress. Tyson is a slacker who feels like there is no point in trying to follow the rules or do well in his classes, because everyone expects him to fail and make trouble. He lives up to those low expectations, but on the inside he is capable of more. He just needs the courage to break out of the labels, and be his true self. He has such amazing character development! His character gives me hope for some lost kids I know.
The writing style is wonderful, but it has a slightly odd structure. There are two POVs from Jane and Tyson, and I liked that each character's POV is written in separate chapters, so that it is easy to tell who we are following. They each have distinct voices, which is so important with multiples POVs. However, Jane's chapters are told in first-person, and Tyson's are told in third-person omniscient. I will say that this fits so seamlessly with their personal voices that I didn't even notice it until chapter 5. So I didn't mind the changes in style, but I thought it was a bold choice, and I'm not sure why the author chose it. It seems unnecessary.
I loved the positive messages in this book! There are some really deep themes that are explored, like death, illness, war, bullying, and trust. There is one incident where some boys draw rude pictures onto a school poster. The book says explicitly what they drew. They are punished for it, and the incident is used as a growing moment for some of the characters.
The best part of this book is all the books! Half the story takes place in the library, and the characters are preparing for a Kid Lit Quiz competition, so they are studying their fiction trivia. There is a list at the back of the book showing all the books that the characters read, and then you can read them too!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
February 2, 2022
Review originally published 31 January 2022 at Falling Letters.
At last, a middle grade book I read this month that isn’t a speculative fiction finalist for Cybils so I can review it before February 14 and get some more MG on the blog for January! 😜 A diversion from the kind MG that I prefer (that is, secondary world fantasy), I’m pleased January’s meeting of #MGLit Book Club motivated me to give this a shot. I found myself enamoured by the story, reading the book in a single sitting.
Jane and Tyson
This book focuses on two characters that don’t often star in novels. Jane is an avid reader and a key member of her school’s Kid Lit Quiz team. As Laurie @ Bit About Books notes, she’s also the friend who has been left behind – rather than the friend who’s moved and facing a new school situation. Tyson doesn’t consider himself a reader and spends too much school time joking around. The way these two develop a friendship through sharing notes and book recommendations was pretty heartwarming.
Tyson is surrounded by adults who have essentially pegged him as a lost cause when it comes to reading. Seeing him find books that he actually enjoys is so meaningful. There are a lot of kids who may see themselves reflected in these two. Jane and Tyson make this a book I’d recommend both to kids who love reading and kids who feel discouraged by the prospect.
Realistic Relationships
What stood out to me early on is how realistically student behaviour and classmate relationships are portrayed. This applies to all the characters, even minor ones, and is a strength that carries through the entire book. I love how the kids generally support each other. Examples include: No one bullying Jane for being into books. Tyson realizing his joking around isn’t always funny and pressing his other jokester friends to be better. A friendship developing naturally between Minju (who originally has a crush on Tyson’s brother) and Tyson (who secretly had a crush on Minju).
Additional Notes
There are a few different elements that keep the story alive and moving along. One I haven’t mentioned yet is that a significant part of the book involves Tyson becoming involved with the Kid Lit Quiz team when he knows Jane writes the notes but Jane doesn’t know he’s the one writing back. Whether the Kid Lit Quiz team will get enough members and a coach to actually participate in the competition is a key part of the plot. Jane’s family relationships with her grandparents and her father (currently stationed overseas) also add depth to the story.
I’ve written an entire post without mentioning the list itself??? (The list being the books Jane and Tyson recommend to each other.) Well, the list is great and diverse and full of titles that I’d call contemporary classics. There you go.
The Bottom Line 💭: At first glance a perfect story for those who love reading middle grade (kids and adults alike), The Undercover Book List has broad appeal as a story about opening up and finding new friends in middle school.
At last, a middle grade book I read this month that isn’t a speculative fiction finalist for Cybils so I can review it before February 14 and get some more MG on the blog for January! 😜 A diversion from the kind MG that I prefer (that is, secondary world fantasy), I’m pleased January’s meeting of #MGLit Book Club motivated me to give this a shot. I found myself enamoured by the story, reading the book in a single sitting.
Jane and Tyson
This book focuses on two characters that don’t often star in novels. Jane is an avid reader and a key member of her school’s Kid Lit Quiz team. As Laurie @ Bit About Books notes, she’s also the friend who has been left behind – rather than the friend who’s moved and facing a new school situation. Tyson doesn’t consider himself a reader and spends too much school time joking around. The way these two develop a friendship through sharing notes and book recommendations was pretty heartwarming.
Tyson is surrounded by adults who have essentially pegged him as a lost cause when it comes to reading. Seeing him find books that he actually enjoys is so meaningful. There are a lot of kids who may see themselves reflected in these two. Jane and Tyson make this a book I’d recommend both to kids who love reading and kids who feel discouraged by the prospect.
Realistic Relationships
What stood out to me early on is how realistically student behaviour and classmate relationships are portrayed. This applies to all the characters, even minor ones, and is a strength that carries through the entire book. I love how the kids generally support each other. Examples include: No one bullying Jane for being into books. Tyson realizing his joking around isn’t always funny and pressing his other jokester friends to be better. A friendship developing naturally between Minju (who originally has a crush on Tyson’s brother) and Tyson (who secretly had a crush on Minju).
Additional Notes
There are a few different elements that keep the story alive and moving along. One I haven’t mentioned yet is that a significant part of the book involves Tyson becoming involved with the Kid Lit Quiz team when he knows Jane writes the notes but Jane doesn’t know he’s the one writing back. Whether the Kid Lit Quiz team will get enough members and a coach to actually participate in the competition is a key part of the plot. Jane’s family relationships with her grandparents and her father (currently stationed overseas) also add depth to the story.
I’ve written an entire post without mentioning the list itself??? (The list being the books Jane and Tyson recommend to each other.) Well, the list is great and diverse and full of titles that I’d call contemporary classics. There you go.
The Bottom Line 💭: At first glance a perfect story for those who love reading middle grade (kids and adults alike), The Undercover Book List has broad appeal as a story about opening up and finding new friends in middle school.
October 27, 2023
Jane is not having a good year. Her best friend Sienna is moving far away, their Kids Lit Quiz team is falling apart, her father is already far away on yet another deployment, and she's worried about her beloved grandfather's health. But Sienna left her a gift--the idea to find a new friend by leaving a note in a book she loves, hoping that another book lover finds it.
Tyler feels out of place in his high-achieving family; all his achievements involve school pranks and video games. When he finds the note Jane left, he knows it's not for him. Books? He hates reading! He's not a nerd! But...well, when you're stuck in detention with no devices, you have to do something, right? So he reads the book that Jane recommends. And digs a book out of his memory to recommend to her. And so it begins.
This was delightful! It earns high marks from me not just because it's about books and reading, but because the books mentioned are actually MODERN books, not books from the author's childhood that she uses because she can't be bothered to stay current with children's literature (a pet peeve!). And they're all good books, too! I thought Jane's situation was a good one to depict, as it's not often you get books about kids with deployed parents, or military parents in general. And I liked that with her friend situation, she recognized when she hadn't been paying her best friend enough attention, and was able to help after listening. With Tyler, his change is a bit didactic/aspirational, but I'm sure there are kids who discover their inner nerd and learn to stand up for themselves about it--about being who they truly are, and not the person their friends want them to be. I hope there are kids like that, anyway! Overall, a fun, quick read. My only quibble is, oddly enough, the font used in the hardback version. The letter Q has such a long tail that it extends under other letters, and looks like a mistake--it kind of threw me off, and there were lots of Qs because of the quiz team. But that's a small thing.
Tyler feels out of place in his high-achieving family; all his achievements involve school pranks and video games. When he finds the note Jane left, he knows it's not for him. Books? He hates reading! He's not a nerd! But...well, when you're stuck in detention with no devices, you have to do something, right? So he reads the book that Jane recommends. And digs a book out of his memory to recommend to her. And so it begins.
This was delightful! It earns high marks from me not just because it's about books and reading, but because the books mentioned are actually MODERN books, not books from the author's childhood that she uses because she can't be bothered to stay current with children's literature (a pet peeve!). And they're all good books, too! I thought Jane's situation was a good one to depict, as it's not often you get books about kids with deployed parents, or military parents in general. And I liked that with her friend situation, she recognized when she hadn't been paying her best friend enough attention, and was able to help after listening. With Tyler, his change is a bit didactic/aspirational, but I'm sure there are kids who discover their inner nerd and learn to stand up for themselves about it--about being who they truly are, and not the person their friends want them to be. I hope there are kids like that, anyway! Overall, a fun, quick read. My only quibble is, oddly enough, the font used in the hardback version. The letter Q has such a long tail that it extends under other letters, and looks like a mistake--it kind of threw me off, and there were lots of Qs because of the quiz team. But that's a small thing.
June 5, 2024
You know what's the best part about books? When they come with a hidden stash of book recommendations inside! It's like finding a treasure chest in a treasure chest—talk about a win-win situation!!! 💫 Reading this novel has introduced me to so many wonderful books that I can't wait to binge-read soon (you can check out the list inside the book).
Agent's report on The Undercover Book List:
This book is easily a 5-star read for me! ❤️
Oh, how I love The Undercover Book List by Colleen Nelson! The friendship between Jane and Tyson is beautifully crafted and heartwarming. Jane's journey of coping with the loss of her best friend Sienna, who moved away, is deeply moving. Sienna, despite being far away, holds the motion of Jane and Tyson's friendship beautifully. Her IDEA of creating an undercover book list to help Jane find a new friend is 👏 simply 👏 brilliant 👏
Tyson's character development is 🤌🤌🤌 From being a misunderstood class clown to revealing his true self and forming a genuine connection with Jane, his growth is inspiring. The anonymous book club notes exchanged between Jane and Tyson serve as a unique and touching medium for their evolving friendship 🌻❤️ Sienna's role, though distant, is pivotal in bringing Jane and Tyson together, showcasing the enduring impact of friendship.
The novel masterfully explores themes of friendship, loss, the POWER of literature, and personal growth. This is a delightful read that celebrates the magic of books and the profound connections they can foster. Colleen Nelson has crafted a story that is not only engaging and heartwarming but also a testament to the transformative power of friendship and literature! ♥️
P.S., I'd really love it if this has a sequel or maybe, continues as a series 🕊️
Mission status: Highly recommended! Over and out.
I think you can guess what my next read is going to be! 😂
Agent's report on The Undercover Book List:
This book is easily a 5-star read for me! ❤️
Oh, how I love The Undercover Book List by Colleen Nelson! The friendship between Jane and Tyson is beautifully crafted and heartwarming. Jane's journey of coping with the loss of her best friend Sienna, who moved away, is deeply moving. Sienna, despite being far away, holds the motion of Jane and Tyson's friendship beautifully. Her IDEA of creating an undercover book list to help Jane find a new friend is 👏 simply 👏 brilliant 👏
Tyson's character development is 🤌🤌🤌 From being a misunderstood class clown to revealing his true self and forming a genuine connection with Jane, his growth is inspiring. The anonymous book club notes exchanged between Jane and Tyson serve as a unique and touching medium for their evolving friendship 🌻❤️ Sienna's role, though distant, is pivotal in bringing Jane and Tyson together, showcasing the enduring impact of friendship.
The novel masterfully explores themes of friendship, loss, the POWER of literature, and personal growth. This is a delightful read that celebrates the magic of books and the profound connections they can foster. Colleen Nelson has crafted a story that is not only engaging and heartwarming but also a testament to the transformative power of friendship and literature! ♥️
P.S., I'd really love it if this has a sequel or maybe, continues as a series 🕊️
Mission status: Highly recommended! Over and out.
I think you can guess what my next read is going to be! 😂
July 31, 2022
*I received a free ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review*
I loved this book right from the beginning. As an educator I wanted to reach out and offer help to Tyler rather than just constantly reprimanding him. He was obviously covering up his own insecurities with his constant joking and pranks. It made me so happy when Jane told Tyler she believed in him - he deserved to have someone tell him he was worth believing in. The best part of the book was Tyler's transformation - I loved watching him go from video game addict to book nerd. The most realistic part was that he didn't give up his video game completely, just learned to balance it with other activities. I also really liked seeing Tyler's family get behind him and support him once they noticed the positive changes he was making. Jane's story of having her best friend move away is one I think other young readers can relate to - whether they had a friend move or just join a new friend group without them. Readers may also find something to relate to with her storylines involving her father being deployed and her grandfather's health emergency. I did chuckle a little when Hilman's nervous stomach turned out to be a food sensitivity, especially after Emily's comment about that in a previous chapter. I was so glad Hilman was invited to be a part of the team - I felt bad for him when Jane almost didn't let him because he was a new kid looking to be a part of a group. As an avid reader myself, of course I love a book that both encourages young readers but also offers book suggestions to them. Tyler's note to Jane about how books didn't save his life, but made it better was so sweet and I think summarized the book's overall message. This is a must-have for all classroom and school libraries!
I loved this book right from the beginning. As an educator I wanted to reach out and offer help to Tyler rather than just constantly reprimanding him. He was obviously covering up his own insecurities with his constant joking and pranks. It made me so happy when Jane told Tyler she believed in him - he deserved to have someone tell him he was worth believing in. The best part of the book was Tyler's transformation - I loved watching him go from video game addict to book nerd. The most realistic part was that he didn't give up his video game completely, just learned to balance it with other activities. I also really liked seeing Tyler's family get behind him and support him once they noticed the positive changes he was making. Jane's story of having her best friend move away is one I think other young readers can relate to - whether they had a friend move or just join a new friend group without them. Readers may also find something to relate to with her storylines involving her father being deployed and her grandfather's health emergency. I did chuckle a little when Hilman's nervous stomach turned out to be a food sensitivity, especially after Emily's comment about that in a previous chapter. I was so glad Hilman was invited to be a part of the team - I felt bad for him when Jane almost didn't let him because he was a new kid looking to be a part of a group. As an avid reader myself, of course I love a book that both encourages young readers but also offers book suggestions to them. Tyler's note to Jane about how books didn't save his life, but made it better was so sweet and I think summarized the book's overall message. This is a must-have for all classroom and school libraries!
December 19, 2021
When Jane’s best friend moves away, she leaves Jane a book scavenger hunt to find a new friend who loves to read as much as she does. There was a note left in the book Liar and Spy, with the start of the Undercover Book Club for Jane to start with someone else. Tyson sees Jane with the note, and decides to play along with the secret book club to play a trick on Jane. However, when he starts reading the books she suggests, he realizes that he actually likes to read. Jane tries to solve the mystery of who’s leaving notes for her in the Undercover Book Club, while Tyson tries to adopt a more serious attitude towards school and reading.
In this book, the kids compete in a Kid Lit Quiz, which is a trivia competition about books. I don’t think that was around when I was a kid, but I would have loved it. I haven’t read many of the books mentioned in this story and I’m curious to read them now. I loved that the book club and quiz in this story turned Tyson, a reluctant reader, into a book lover. Whenever someone tells me they don’t like reading, I just say that they haven’t found the right book yet. That was true for Tyson in this story.
This story had two narratives, a first person narrative from Jane and a third person narrative about Tyson. It wasn’t obvious to me why Jane told her own perspective while Tyson’s narrative had a third person narrator. Jane had a more complex storyline, so maybe that’s why, but I’m curious why they didn’t have the same kind of narrator.
The Undercover Book Club is a fun middle grade story!
Thank you Pajama Press for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
In this book, the kids compete in a Kid Lit Quiz, which is a trivia competition about books. I don’t think that was around when I was a kid, but I would have loved it. I haven’t read many of the books mentioned in this story and I’m curious to read them now. I loved that the book club and quiz in this story turned Tyson, a reluctant reader, into a book lover. Whenever someone tells me they don’t like reading, I just say that they haven’t found the right book yet. That was true for Tyson in this story.
This story had two narratives, a first person narrative from Jane and a third person narrative about Tyson. It wasn’t obvious to me why Jane told her own perspective while Tyson’s narrative had a third person narrator. Jane had a more complex storyline, so maybe that’s why, but I’m curious why they didn’t have the same kind of narrator.
The Undercover Book Club is a fun middle grade story!
Thank you Pajama Press for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 11, 2022
I liked the idea of this book - making a new bookish friend through secret messages left in a book. Though it seems like a story that might happen among adults not kids - not sure the kids in my school could relate to it. I think it is lacking the drama it needs to draw middle years students in and keep them interested. The action was rather limited. Though there was a scene about boys drawing penises all over a poster which I am sure the students would find entertaining. As a writer and a reader, myself, I understand why the author included it, but the book won't be in my school library because of that scene.
The different type of POV for each character's narrative (Jane and Tyson) was odd, I wondered why the author did that. There were also some family scenes that I wondered about as well, were they necessary? The author gave an accurate description of the characters and their personalities just from their school interactions so those additional details perhaps weren't needed.
It is a lovely premise for librarians and teachers to believe that a non-reader can be transformed into a passionate reader and become a changed person - the potential for that is always there with reading - so I liked that the book offered that outcome.
The different type of POV for each character's narrative (Jane and Tyson) was odd, I wondered why the author did that. There were also some family scenes that I wondered about as well, were they necessary? The author gave an accurate description of the characters and their personalities just from their school interactions so those additional details perhaps weren't needed.
It is a lovely premise for librarians and teachers to believe that a non-reader can be transformed into a passionate reader and become a changed person - the potential for that is always there with reading - so I liked that the book offered that outcome.
January 2, 2023
"The Undercover Book List" is truly a middle-grade masterpiece. From the moment I picked it up, I couldn't put Colleen Nelson's story down! Jane MacDonald feels like all the people she loves are leaving her. With her best friend Sienna moving far away, and her military dad stationed farther than ever, the people she cares about seem to be drifting farther and farther away. Though Sienna and Jane couldn't part without some book surprises for each other. After meeting in the library, it was best friends at first sight for them. So Sienna starts an undercover book list, so Jane will discover her next "book mate." She led Jane, through bookish clues, to Rebecca Stead's "Liar and Spy," and placed a note, leading to the start of the Undercover Book List where kids share their book recommendations and a message in hopes to meet more kidlit lovers. When our other protagonist Tyson who's the class prankster and can never live up to his siblings, discovers the club, a secret bond is formed. What starts as a joke to Tyson, otherwise known as "Y" to Jane, becomes a book bond! If you're looking for a heartfelt tale full of amazing book recommendations for your to-read list, THE UNDERCOVER BOOK LIST is perfect for you! 20/10 story!
May 7, 2023
This is a book for middle grade to middle school readers who like books. It includes other topics like having a parent who is away from home a lot, having a friend move away or being an underachiever at school, but all of them are covered pretty superficially. The main focus is on Jane, who loses her best friend and a teammate on the school's Kid Lit Quiz team. Jane refuses to let the team fold, and that combined with a secret book club her friend set up, drives the story forward. The chapters move back and forth between Jane and Tyson, the school joker who sometimes lets things go too far and doesn't take school seriously.
This story was fine, but it could have been a lot better if it had tried to cover fewer issues, but looked at them more honestly and in depth. Books for kids this age can be fun and still cover life topics realistically. Think of Charlotte's Web, for instance, which can tell a good story but deal honestly with friendship and death. In this story things bother Jane, but she gets over them quickly and everything turns out hunky-dory in the end. Without a strong plot, characterization or even humor, it turned out to be merely OK. I'm pretty sure that's how I would have felt about this even when I was a book-loving kid myself.
This story was fine, but it could have been a lot better if it had tried to cover fewer issues, but looked at them more honestly and in depth. Books for kids this age can be fun and still cover life topics realistically. Think of Charlotte's Web, for instance, which can tell a good story but deal honestly with friendship and death. In this story things bother Jane, but she gets over them quickly and everything turns out hunky-dory in the end. Without a strong plot, characterization or even humor, it turned out to be merely OK. I'm pretty sure that's how I would have felt about this even when I was a book-loving kid myself.
July 8, 2023
This title is nominated for the 2024 Hackmatack Award in the English Fiction category. Told from the alternating points of view of Jane, a book loving girl who is desperately hoping to make a new friend, and Tyson, the class slacker and troublemaker. When Jane leaves an anonymous note in the school library's copy of her favourite book, she has hopes of finding another kindred spirit. Meanwhile, Tyson the prankster finds the note and decides that it would be funny to respond. At first Tyson just wants to mess with Jane, but then he loses his video game privileges, and with little else to do he tries reading Jane's recommendation - only to discover that he actually likes it!
This is a really nice story that explores the fraught time in our lives when we are learning about who we want to be, and shaking off labels that do not serve our true selves. Learning that not every "friend" has our best interests at heart. I liked the vulnerability that is shown by both Jane and Tyson, the growth that they both show, and the way their friendship developed. It was heartwarming to read. I would recommend this to any kid grades 4-6.
This is a really nice story that explores the fraught time in our lives when we are learning about who we want to be, and shaking off labels that do not serve our true selves. Learning that not every "friend" has our best interests at heart. I liked the vulnerability that is shown by both Jane and Tyson, the growth that they both show, and the way their friendship developed. It was heartwarming to read. I would recommend this to any kid grades 4-6.
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