Molly and crew are back for the second installment in the Trouble at Table 5 early chapter series. This time, it’s Simon at the center of the story. When Simon gets excited about something, he simply cannot stop talking about it. The more he talks the faster and louder he gets, and when this happens in school, sometimes he gets in trouble. In order to try to smooth things over with his parents, Simon, Rosie, and Molly hatch a plan to clean up the garage, but when things don’t go according to plan, can they get it all done in time?

Much like the first book in this series, this book celebrates neurodiversity in all of the main characters. This plot line isn’t as compelling as the first, and there’s a bit of humor at the expense of an older character. It is still a good book, and I look forward to seeing subsequent books from this series. Recommended for 2nd-4th grade readers.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

Molly and her friends Simon and Rosie share Table 5 in their classroom, and they’re also best friends. Molly spots a jar of Skittles in the office one morning, and she needs to know how many Skittles are in the jar. Other kids may feel like they want to know, but for Molly, numbers and other things stick with her. It isn’t a want to know situation, she needs to know. Molly, Simon, and Rosie hatch a plan to count the Skittles in the office without getting caught, but will they do it?

The story of this book is good, but the best part of it is the neurodiverse representation of the characters in the book. Molly is the real focus of the book, and she has clear obsessive compulsive tendencies. Her friends and family understand her and support her. The vocabulary is age-appropriate with a few more difficult words. The black, white, and red illustrations are appropriate for the age of the readers and help to break up the text. Recommended for 2nd-4th grade readers.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME