10/30/24 Kareem wants to play football, but can a Syrian American boy be good enough for the team? Perhaps, befriending the coach's son will make it e10/30/24 Kareem wants to play football, but can a Syrian American boy be good enough for the team? Perhaps, befriending the coach's son will make it easier. Then Fadi, another Syrian moves in and Kareem is asked to help him adjust to school and life in the United States. Will befriending Fadi help or hurt his chances of making the team? Which means more to Kareem, being American enough to make the team or being Syrian enough for Fadi? Set at the end of 2016 and early 2017, the plot thickens when Kareem's Mom returns to Syria to bring her father back to the United States. (view spoiler)[While away, then President Trump issues an executive order banning citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries from traveling to the United States. Even those who had already entered the United States legally with green cards or visas. (hide spoiler)] Kareem's mother isn't able to return. Is there anything Kareem can do to help her return? He quickly figures out if family or football is more important to him. Football fans and those feeling stuck between two cultures will appreciate this novel-in-verse for tweens and young teens. *A 2024 National Book Award nominee for Young People's Literature. *11/20/24 Now the 2024 National Book Awards winner for Young People's Literature!...more
A memoir about Dan Santat's first trip to Europe as a teenager in the late 1980s as part of a student group led by one of his junior high teachers. WhA memoir about Dan Santat's first trip to Europe as a teenager in the late 1980s as part of a student group led by one of his junior high teachers. What would it be like to be a young teenager and be mostly on your own for three weeks in Europe? (view spoiler)[Dan meets a girl, goes to a nightclub and sneaks into Wimbledon(!) to name only a few of his experiences. (hide spoiler)] As Dan alludes to in his author's note at the end of the book, the world was a different place. There are no cell phone and the internet as we know it today did not exist. People took photos with cameras that required film. Unless you wanted to use up your film quickly, you didn't take second photos of moments & landmarks. Instead, you simply hoped for the best. School trips weren't filled up with itineraries and scheduled activities. Instead teens were given time and freedom to explore on their own for much of the day (view spoiler)[without adults(!) (hide spoiler)]. Young teens who like graphic novels, especially one like Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood , Vera Brosgal's Anya's Ghost, Jennifer L. Holm's Sunny series, Parachute Kids: A Graphic Novel, or Pumpkinheads should enjoy this 2023 National Book Award Finalist for Young People’s Literature. ...more
2019 NBA (National Book Award) winner for Young People's Literature. I love that it's a nonfiction winner. Learn about some of the major events of 1912019 NBA (National Book Award) winner for Young People's Literature. I love that it's a nonfiction winner. Learn about some of the major events of 1919 including the Red Scare, labor strikes, the passing of woman's suffrage and the start of prohibition. Author Martin Sandler connects these events and more to what's happening in our country today through his own commentary and timelines at the end of each chapter. Connecting the battle for prohibition to the fight about gun control in the current day was brilliant. Scattered throughout the book are double-spread informational pages (kind of like sidebars or text boxes) and photos. Give this one to the history and nonfiction buffs....more
I read this over 10 years ago, so it may be time for a reread before reviewing. A magical (not that kind of magic, more of an old fashioned feel in theI read this over 10 years ago, so it may be time for a reread before reviewing. A magical (not that kind of magic, more of an old fashioned feel in the modern day) story about the adventures of a family of 4 girls (Rosalind, Skye, Jane and Batty) and their widowed father who stay at a cabin in Maine for the summer. ...more
At its essence, this is a story about family; bio and real, those we are tied to through blood and those that we are not. Three teens; Joaquin, Grace At its essence, this is a story about family; bio and real, those we are tied to through blood and those that we are not. Three teens; Joaquin, Grace and Maya who are total strangers meet for the first time. In the midst of their own personal trials and dramas, they bond over a shared birth mother and learn the true meaning of family. Fans of stories like Everything, Everything and other drama filled YA books will enjoy this one....more
Told through drawings and chapters that alternate between reality and the not quite real, this story explores Caden Bosch's world. Based on the life oTold through drawings and chapters that alternate between reality and the not quite real, this story explores Caden Bosch's world. Based on the life of the author's own son, Brendan; this is a story that is told with love and compassion. It is a story that gives a voice to those who battle varying degrees of mental illness from day to day. This book is for anyone who is interested or knows someone with schizophrenia or mental illness....more
An autobiography of Jacqueline Woodson's childhood from toddler to tween. It is the first children's book that I have read that is told from the pointAn autobiography of Jacqueline Woodson's childhood from toddler to tween. It is the first children's book that I have read that is told from the point of view of a Jehovah's Witness. Along with memories of various family members and school days, Jacqueline shares what is was like to grow up as a Jehovah's Witness. The reason for only 3 stars and my only wish is that this book would have continued into her teen years. Perhaps, Jacqueline is planning/writing another memoir as I type this....more
For readers who enjoyed The Invention of Hugo Cabret for the story as much as the illustrations. For fans of Cornelia Funke's The Thief Lord or her InFor readers who enjoyed The Invention of Hugo Cabret for the story as much as the illustrations. For fans of Cornelia Funke's The Thief Lord or her Inkworld series. For young readers who are curious about steampunk. William Alexander's Zombay may be the fantasy world for you....more
November 2020 - Excited to be reading this for a third time for a tween/teen book club!! Read to the end for my updated review on 12/17/20. What if yoNovember 2020 - Excited to be reading this for a third time for a tween/teen book club!! Read to the end for my updated review on 12/17/20. What if you were a clone? Are you a human? Are you an animal? Do you even have a soul? All these questions and many more are asked by our protagonist Matteo Alacran aka Matt in this story set in what might be the not-so-distant future. Matt is the clone of the original Matteo Alcaran aka El Patron who is almost 150 years old. This is the story of Matt's sheltered yet privileged youth as a member of the powerful Alcaran family. This is fiction at its best; a cast of many, adventure, romance and betrayal, this coming of age story has it all. As I came to the conclusion of this story, I was left with two questions: 1) Why hasn't this book been made into a movie? 2) is there a sequel*? Why not? This book was published over 10 years ago. This book is deserving of one. I want to read more about what happens next to Matt. *Good news - A sequel is expected later this year! 12/17/20 This one never disappoints. Imho, it is destined to become a classic....more
Another child of war story. This is the true story of Arn Chorn-Pond, who loses his childhood in Cambodia while the Khmer Rouge ruled from 1975-1979. Another child of war story. This is the true story of Arn Chorn-Pond, who loses his childhood in Cambodia while the Khmer Rouge ruled from 1975-1979. Sad and haunting, like watching a bad accident, I kept turning the pages to see how the story would end. Thankfully, the story ends with Arn being able to choose living. Now instead of choosing between fighting, surviving, or dying; he chooses to live by speaking out against what happened in Cambodia....more
What would it be like to leave the only home you have ever known to live in Alabama? What would it be like to be smart in your home country and dumb iWhat would it be like to leave the only home you have ever known to live in Alabama? What would it be like to be smart in your home country and dumb in your new one? That's ten-year-old Ha's story. In 1975, she and her family flee Saigon, Vietnam to immigrate to the United States to escape a war. Will things ever get better?...more