"Styx and Stones" by Gary D. Schmidt and Ron Koertge

Title: STYX AND STONES: The Real World vs. the Underworld

Author(s): Gary D. Schmidt, Ron Koertge

Illustrator: Ron Koertge

Cover designer: (if anyone knows this info, please comment/reply and it will be inserted here -- thanks!)

Publisher: Clarion / @harpercollins.bsky.social

ISBN13: 9780063380974

Recommended audience: ages 8-12

Link to publisher book page: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/styx-and-stones-gary-d-schmidtron-koertge?variant=44049435426850

About Julie Damerell:

In my younger days, back in the late 20th, I was a reading teacher for grades 7-12, and became addicted to reading middle grade and young adult lit. I became a parent then, too, and a poet. I read adult books as well, but I’m still drawn to kidlit.

Also see Julie's other guest post, How I Discover Books.
You can find Julie in the Atmosphere at @mellendamerell.bsky.social.

What I liked about the book:

I finished filled with gratitude for the strength of kindness and friendship, with my faith renewed that these will save us. That’s heavy lifting for any book, and to get there via such a delightful and surprising story is a joy. I loved how the characters grew in understanding and coping methods, loved the interplay of what we think of as myth with middle school life, and the changes kindness wrought in both. I hope I can discover the Simon and Zeke in my life, as surely I have people in my circle with their traits. As a result of the multitude of joys (and despair) in the book, I am also reflecting on the essential role joy plays in changing and lifting the clouds around us. I love that what I feel upon turning the last page is hope.

How I discovered this book:

Vicki Palmquist @vpalmquist.bsky.social recommended it in Reading Ahead https://vickipalmquist.substack.com/p/styx-and-stones. As I often do, I put in a library request as soon as I read her review. It is really an ages 8 and up book. Because I so liked what co-authors Schmidt and Koertge created, I put in a request for another book on which they collaborated, A DAY AT THE BEACH, a title I discovered by reading @fuse8.bsky.social / Betsy Bird's interview with the authors https://fuse8.substack.com/p/creating-the-third-artist. Books and author interviews often help me find other titles.