Gamerville is a graphic novel with clear, crisp art and a definite gamer theme even though the bulk of the story takes place at a summer camp where noGamerville is a graphic novel with clear, crisp art and a definite gamer theme even though the bulk of the story takes place at a summer camp where no electronics are allowed. Friendship, life changes, bullying and making amends are prominent themes although they are not explored in great depth, exactly as a video game would handle these issues, in fact. I would have enjoyed the book more if the rule breakers had suffered some sort of consequence, however....more
Magnolia knows lots of people, but has never had a best friend. Then, her mom's best friend and her daughter Iris move to New York City. One comment fMagnolia knows lots of people, but has never had a best friend. Then, her mom's best friend and her daughter Iris move to New York City. One comment from Iris about Magnolia's dog, Mr. Pants, named after his role at the family laundry service, and Magnolia is drawn in. Iris makes everything better, even an ugly incident when a woman yells at Magnolia's mom about ruining her blouse. Iris decides that she and Magnolia will go on a journey to return all of the single socks left at the laundry. Magnolia takes Iris on a journey to discover the people and places in New York. They become real friends, until the argument. Magnolia has to decide whether to make things better or let Iris go. This simple book about friendship, messing up, and making up was engaging and fun to read....more
Weatherford weaves together lyrics from the songs of Robeson's childhood with biographical information, paired together with Valasquez's stellar art tWeatherford weaves together lyrics from the songs of Robeson's childhood with biographical information, paired together with Valasquez's stellar art to provide a comprehensive account of how Robeson rose to fame and to infamy, influenced by family, national attitudes and events, and international attitudes and events. Weatherford managed, within a short scope to encapsulate a life dedicated to advancement, both his own, and that of disadvantaged people from all walks of life. I would have liked to hear a bit more about how Robeson's wife responded to her husband's choices that led to both his fame and infamy, but perhaps the subtitle of the book "A One-Man Show" says it all. ...more
Viktor lives in the small town of Nowhere, a state of affairs that he enjoys, despite having only one friend in town. He lives a normal life with a moViktor lives in the small town of Nowhere, a state of affairs that he enjoys, despite having only one friend in town. He lives a normal life with a mother who volunteers at the blood bank and a dad who designs and makes custom coffins, a bit unusual, to be sure, but he is happy to play video games with his friend Damon. He worries about the beginning of seventh grade, especially since his mom signed him up to work every day in the school library to support her friend who took the job. However, that opportunity leads him to a friendship with the new girl in town, Alys, who likes all of the things that Viktor likes. There are strange happenings in his family, though, and Viktor begins to wonder if he knows his parents at all. And is Alys actually his friend, or is something more sinister going on? I enjoyed the character development in the story line, with glimpses for the reader into both Viktor and Alys. The revelations were not completely unexpected given the build up, but were interesting. The most interesting part of the story was Lilith, and the author set up well for a sequel there....more
Ayla's best friend Kiri is away, but Ayla hopes they will return for their 11th birthday. Ayla waits in her tree for Kiri to return, but the summer paAyla's best friend Kiri is away, but Ayla hopes they will return for their 11th birthday. Ayla waits in her tree for Kiri to return, but the summer passes and Kiri doesn't return. Instead, an old-fashioned rotary telephone appears in Ayla's river birch tree. The first person to use the tree is a small boy whose gecko died. And then, a teenager who delivers pizza calls his father about how they would have worked out their disagreement if they had had time. And then, a man and his little girl, who calls his deceased wife to update her on their child's life. Finally, Ayla is ready to call Kiri and revisit the day they died. This book is a moving story of how one grandfather helps his granddaughter deal with the death of her best friend in her own time and in her own way, and also helps others who are grieving....more
I enjoyed the sequel to Space Case. It is always interesting to me that the author is on the money about people's behavior, even people who have been I enjoyed the sequel to Space Case. It is always interesting to me that the author is on the money about people's behavior, even people who have been specifically chosen to live together in harmony! I was intrigued to discover that an alien race believes that Earth is in danger, not from aliens, but from the actual people of Earth. Naturally, this is a view of the author himself, but I find it hard to disagree. I look forward to the third installment....more
A sidekick teaches three kid superheroes about multiplication and division so that they can defeat arch-villain Null Void and save their city from desA sidekick teaches three kid superheroes about multiplication and division so that they can defeat arch-villain Null Void and save their city from destruction. I found the story entertaining and I'm sure some kids might read the chapters on the many ways to think about multiplication and division that intersperse the adventure....more
Asgardians: Odin tells the story of the beginning of the Norse gods and their mythology. Along the way, the author poses some questions about characteAsgardians: Odin tells the story of the beginning of the Norse gods and their mythology. Along the way, the author poses some questions about characters who may, or may not, appear in later books in the series, and ends the volume with something of a cliff-hanger mystery. This graphic novel condenses, in a very readable and visual way, the basics of Norse mythology....more
Coyote thought about her journey: "At first, I thought this was a story about going on a journey to scatter some ashes. Then I thought it was a story Coyote thought about her journey: "At first, I thought this was a story about going on a journey to scatter some ashes. Then I thought it was a story about going on a journey to track down a book. And for a little while there I thought it was a story about cleaning up messes. And a story, maybe, about growing wings. But maybe, a story, like a person, can be more than one thing." Whatever the story, I enjoyed travelling with Coyote, meeting new people along the journey, and experiencing the ways Coyote and her father Rodeo were able to move to a new form of grieving for Coyote's mother and sisters. Although I have not read the first book about Coyote, I definitely will now!...more
Sunny is used to bringing the sunshine and blue skies for her dad, manager of the Del Mar Garden Apartments, but this summer might prove to be an exceSunny is used to bringing the sunshine and blue skies for her dad, manager of the Del Mar Garden Apartments, but this summer might prove to be an exception. The summer before seventh grade becomes a time for Sunny to wrestle with the idea that adults don't always mean what they say. When the community begins a debate about the use of a no-longer-used school site, most people take one of two routes: campaign against building affordable housing to avoid having their lifestyles disrupted, or, hide from the issue in the hopes that the Del Mar Garden Apartments, an affordable housing complex, will remain under the radar. Sunny, however, took to heart the mayor's words that kids' voices matter. Against her father's wishes, Sunny engages in a campaign to create affordable housing, because if the community believes that people who live in affordable housing are bad people, that means they think Sunny is bad, too. Along the way, Sunny learns about adults not wanting to get involved in domestic abuse situations, and how to help in a way that is respectful and safe. She also begins to learn how to talk to her dad about her thoughts and feelings. ...more
Cruzita's dream is to be a pop star and her best friend Kelli seems all in with her plans. However, starting on the first day of summer vacation, everCruzita's dream is to be a pop star and her best friend Kelli seems all in with her plans. However, starting on the first day of summer vacation, everything changes. Instead of planning her trip to Encore Island Hollywood where she will win a singing competition that will catapult her to fame, Cruzita is stuck at the family bakery in Pacoima learning how to roll round tortillas and watching her grandmother, parents and aunt fight about how to save the business. If all of that weren't bad enough, she is grounded from music for the whole summer. Except, her Mama Vicente signs her up for violin and mariachi lessons, hoping Cruzita will learn enough to perform for her on her birthday. Cruzita almost flunked Spanish, though, and lacks confidence in her ability to learn it. All of these pressures would be bad enough, but her relationship with Kelli is also in trouble. In the end, Kelli forces her to choose between her heritage and her summer friends and Kelli's glam lifestyle. As a middle school grades English as a Second Language teacher for many years, I found the themes very relatable, especially the question of how cultures form and change and how people within a certain culture accept or judge others by their own standards of whether they are enough or how much others need to change to match their standards of belonging. Overall, I enjoyed the story and Cruzita's growing appreciation for a different type of music. I was a little taken aback at how quickly Cruzita's disillusionment with Kelli happened, although I suppose it added to the drama of the final chapters. I was also confused about whether Kelli and Cruzita's differences were based on Kelli's attitudes toward wealth, lifestyle, heritage, or all three. I would have liked more reflection about that aspect of their relationship....more
Delilah Peteharrington is not happy. On the surface, her life is wonderful--she lives with her mother in a mansion and has everything she could ever tDelilah Peteharrington is not happy. On the surface, her life is wonderful--she lives with her mother in a mansion and has everything she could ever think of wanting. Everything, that is, except the freedom to have adventures. She misses her grandfather, too, who recently passed away. In response to her father's death, perhaps, Dally's mother has regimented her life to prepare Dally for her future with the family businesses. One day, in a rebellious move against her regimented life, Dally breaks into the family safe, reads the letter her grandfather left for her, and finds a map. The map leads to a magical place, a library of secrets. Dally discovers adventure after adventure as she travels into her family's past and discovers so much she never knew. Does Dally dare to use her knowledge to go against her mother's wishes, change her life and have the adventures she desires? I found the story a bit hard to get into, but I persevered through several chapters and found some quite surprising plot twists that kept my attention....more
Scout explains to her pal Skunk how earthquakes and tsunamis happen in this well-illustrated graphic novel. I found the information helpful, but had tScout explains to her pal Skunk how earthquakes and tsunamis happen in this well-illustrated graphic novel. I found the information helpful, but had trouble with the pacing since the explanations were shoehorned in between reminders of the dire peril the characters were in as Scout stopped to explain how everything works and what to do instead of seeking safety and explaining later!...more
Winnie Nash has been holding everything in for a long time, afraid that her mother will stop smiling again, afraid that she will lose out again on beiWinnie Nash has been holding everything in for a long time, afraid that her mother will stop smiling again, afraid that she will lose out again on being a big sister. And now, shuffled off to spend the summer with her grandmother, her parents have told her to hold in even more, everything about Winnie herself and about Winnie's mom and what life at home is like. Over the course of the summer, though, she learns that she can trust new friends AND her grandmother with her true self and her fears. Winnie's story is told with compassion and understanding, but I feel as though more could have been done with her relationship with her parents, particularly her father, and their reasons for having Winnie hold in her story....more
Maple's one goal in life is to meet astronaut Jackie Grand. Until the day she and her best friend Sunny are at the actual location where they can stanMaple's one goal in life is to meet astronaut Jackie Grand. Until the day she and her best friend Sunny are at the actual location where they can stand in line to meet Jackie Grand. When the opportunity goes horribly wrong, Sunny accuses Maple of being unfun and Maple starts to think it might be true since clearly her mother and older sister believe the same. Maple embarks on a scientifically based experiment to become fun in an effort to win back her best friends, but the results are completely unexpected. I found the sly humor of the book and Maple's effort to learn how to be funny completely relatable and funny and appreciated how Maple's efforts both worked and failed spectacularly. ...more
Roxie can't wait to start sixth grade...until an incident at the pre-school year pool party shows her that she is not ready in the ways that the otherRoxie can't wait to start sixth grade...until an incident at the pre-school year pool party shows her that she is not ready in the ways that the other girls are ready. As though that weren't bad enough, her grandmother whose memory is starting to slide disappears, and Roxie suspects the Witching Wind, a local legend about a type of wind that many people believe steals what people love most. At the same time, Grayson, another girl beginning sixth grade, is counting the days until her older sister Beanie's 18th birthday, the day Beanie will come for her, take her out of foster care, and begin a new life for her in New York City. However, Beanie never arrives. Roxie's and Grayson's lives intertwine in their efforts to retrieve what they love from the Witching Wind. Both girls, with the help of their new friends Ameerah and Eli, are determined to outwit the Witching Wind to retrieve what they both love. This story is about making real friends and helping each other during difficult times. I predict that many middle grades readers will hope they can fashion a friendship group like the one in this book....more
Freddie Lo has struggled with finding her place ever since she left her family in Vietnam when she was five years old. Now that her Vietnamese mother Freddie Lo has struggled with finding her place ever since she left her family in Vietnam when she was five years old. Now that her Vietnamese mother and American father are separated, she somehow thought that returning to Vietnam would put paid to the feelings of only part-belonging, but being surrounded by people who spoke a language she only imperfectly understood did not help. She thought she could count on her cousin Lien, but that relationship has changed in ways Freddie doesn't understand. Still, when she finds herself living out the consequences of an ancient Vietnamese tale, Freddy soon finds who her real family and friends are. I really enjoyed the feel of both ancient and modern Vietnam in this story and found the glossary moderately helpful....more
The experiences of four generations of one family and the broader history of Indian boarding schools are chronicled in this book, set in a context of The experiences of four generations of one family and the broader history of Indian boarding schools are chronicled in this book, set in a context of American government policies toward indigenous peoples and pushback from indigenous peoples at various times and places. This book should be read by all who seek to begin to understand the complex history of the United States....more
Dale really wants to pursue art, but all the adults around him seem to believe that he can't make a living at it. Even when he tries to start an art cDale really wants to pursue art, but all the adults around him seem to believe that he can't make a living at it. Even when he tries to start an art club at school, the vice principal puts it on a paying basis--make money or lose the club. As Dale works to make the club viable, he also learns to negotiate friendships and business contracts. This graphic novel was fun to read and crisp, clean, easy-to-follow art added to the story line....more