Eight-year-old Obioma plays soccer, never letting her wheelchair slow her down. She even has a special stick to help her score goals. After getting inEight-year-old Obioma plays soccer, never letting her wheelchair slow her down. She even has a special stick to help her score goals. After getting in trouble at school for being somewhere considered off limits, she arrives home to some more bad news. Her family is moving, and by the time she turns nine, she's in a brand-new school where her classmates aren't as accepting as her previous ones. They seem to see her wheelchair as something exotic and something that will prevent her from playing football. Eventually, though, one girl extends the hand of friendship, and Obioma gets the chance to show off her soccer abilities, leading to acceptance and acclaim from the others. This empowering story, told from Obioma's perspective, is complemented with artwork depicting several lively scenes on the soccer field at both schools. It might be a good picture book to share to encourage empathy and raise awareness in youngsters....more
It took the author twenty years to write this particular story focusing on a little-known part of Holocaust history--the Nazi Lebensborn program. ThisIt took the author twenty years to write this particular story focusing on a little-known part of Holocaust history--the Nazi Lebensborn program. This effort to insure abundant future generations of Aryans with "pure" bloodlines involved women, some of whom volunteered to become pregnant for the honor it would bring, but it also had a cruel consequence since babies who weren't perfect were often killed. In this particular book, the protagonist, Allina Strauss is taken to Hochland Home after her family and village are destroyed and she is assaulted. She works there as a nurse, eventually tending to the children who are deemed slower or more flawed than the others and initiating a program to help develop the skills they've lost through neglect. (This part of the story is fictionalized.) Allina meets a high-ranking SS officer, Karl, who turns out to be nothing like she expects. His involvement in helping some of the Jewish children and families escape is part of his efforts to atone for his blind involvement in the Nazi Party when he was younger. While Allina and Karl might be considered ordinary or little cogs in the big picture, their actions are, indeed, heroic, and demonstrate that it is possible to stand up for one's beliefs and act against the wrongs that are in the world, even though those actions may come with a heavy price. Readers will be deeply invested in this story, told from the points of view of Allina and then of Karl as well as being bookended by another character's thoughts. The characters are complex, the setting unique, and the descriptions of people, places, and events carefully detailed. This is one of those books that will stay with readers for some time, prompting reflection about choices, sacrifice, and the power of love in the midst of impossible circumstances. I thoroughly enjoyed it, appreciating the author's attempt to bring to light this horrible practice of eugenics. I've read a couple of books about this topic so this one is unique in its focus. ...more
Colorful Photoshop artwork set against plentiful white space and rhyming lines make this charming and inclusive picture book child-friendly. While it'Colorful Photoshop artwork set against plentiful white space and rhyming lines make this charming and inclusive picture book child-friendly. While it's not necessarily clear if this family is being reunited briefly for or after a vacation or if it's a permanent move--well, as permanent as possible when a parent is in the Navy--it's clear that the journey is long and arduous. Leaving the destination mysterious at first gently builds tension. The illustrations depict many of the steps in flying, including checking in and being scanned or having carry-ons scanned, and a long night flight. Once the little family arrives in Japan, it becomes clearer what's been going on. If readers are still uncertain, those lines of "Goodbye, goodbyes, / Hello, hugs" (unpaged) on the final page and the smiling family of four, including two women, one in a sailor suit, will definitely end any confusion. With so many military families moving all across the globe, this picture book might help ease some of their anxiety and uncertainty about when all family members will be reunited. ...more
I love the way the author builds suspense in this middle-grade horror story. While readers familiar with this genre will quickly realize the true idenI love the way the author builds suspense in this middle-grade horror story. While readers familiar with this genre will quickly realize the true identity of Mal, who befriends the protagonist, seventh Sadie Rivera, it's still entertaining, er, maybe haunting is a better word, to watch. For those who are just starting to read horror, this one is a solid introduction. Sadie seems pretty clueless, partly because her mother abandoned the family years ago, but also because she's spent most of her life without friends, trying to keep a ghost at bay. After she and her father move from Arizona to small-town Idaho, Sadie keeps to herself as much as possible despite the friendly entreaties that others extend to her. After all, she knows the cost of friendship for anyone who gets close to her. All that changes when Mal starts hanging out with her, somehow silencing the ghost. But there's something that isn't right with Mal. She loves pranks, which escalate in intensity, and aren't as harmless as Mal claims they are. As Sadie falls under Mal's spell and then begins to question her actions and her identity, she unwittingly puts others in danger. ...more
This middle-grade novel is a 3.5 for me. Thirteen-year-old Ingrid is a lot like many of us. She stays way below the radar at school, overshadowed by hThis middle-grade novel is a 3.5 for me. Thirteen-year-old Ingrid is a lot like many of us. She stays way below the radar at school, overshadowed by her friend Rachel, who often treats her as a charity case and is in need of constant validation. But at home, under the care of Grandma, who has taught her to knit and has a popular podcast, and online during a roleplaying adventure game, she's a beast. She also has an account called Bye Forever, which is popular. When Rachel tells Ingrid's new neighbors, Alyx and Oliver, about the death of Ingrid's parents, Ingrid has had enough and liberates herself from Rachel. But Rachel's not finished with her, and as the book's plot unfolds, readers will realize just how devious she is. Ingrid responds to a text that she thinks was sent to her mistakenly, and begins a friendship with a boy called Traveler, who wants to play the online game with her and her friend Lorren, who lives 500 miles away. There are all sorts of moments of misunderstanding between Oliver and Ingrid and Traveler and Ingrid even while she wonders if there might be a chance for something other than friendship somewhere in the future. Growing up isn't easy; nor is it easy to find one's group, making Ingrid's struggles so relatable for the book's intended audience. Her fondness for a certain fantasy series and its author are charming, providing some of the book's best moments when she actually gets to meet the author and give her a present. This one was heaps of fun, highlighting a niche of teens often ignored in books for middle graders. ...more
I'm not sure that I understand this picture book featuring dogs and a somewhat suspicious young neighbor, who is the narrator. When they first move inI'm not sure that I understand this picture book featuring dogs and a somewhat suspicious young neighbor, who is the narrator. When they first move in, the girl is eager to befriend them, but things get off to a bad start when the five dogs of different breeds gobble up all her bacon and aren't appreciative of her baked goods offering of welcoming. They seem to work hard and play hard, and she's drawn to their carefree nature and spends time with them. But when she sees a Wanted poster containing their images, she wonders if they are actually bad dogs. Determined to get to the bottom of things, she sneaks into their house to look for evidence. Finding nothing except the banjo one dog loves to play, she is caught in her tracks. Although they promise to explain everything after one more night's festivities, they disappear in the night, never to be seen again. She decides that they weren't bad dogs, after all, just dogs that "like to play" (unpaged). Who knows? ...more
This futuristic novel might appeal to teen or middle grade readers who think they don't like science fiction. As other reviewers have said, reading itThis futuristic novel might appeal to teen or middle grade readers who think they don't like science fiction. As other reviewers have said, reading it really is downright scary since the events described in it due to climate change or global warming and the poor stewardship of humans seem increasingly likely. Don't be fooled by the book's title. The story is nothing like what most folks will have read before. Tasmania, where the story is set, is in bad shape. The narration shifts between two girls who have never met but have quite a lot in common. Both are about to be displaced, one due to impending ecological disaster and the other one due to bullying and the need to start fresh. Readers won't realize at first that the girls are separated by decades: It's 2093 in Nyx's story, and 2023 in Bea's vows, When Nyx pours out her anguish about the future on a scrap of paper that she hides in a tall pine tree near her home, her words are read by Bea, who responds through a notebook. Improbably, a friendship forms between the two girls, and Bea is determined to somehow help Nyx even though she knows that others will doubt her and make fun of her. For such a short book, this one packs quite an emotional wallop and will make many readers think how close this sort of a future may be. I liked it much more than I expected to....more
While the romantics among us already know it, even cynics will believe that love can happen anywhere, even in a library in an internment camp during WWhile the romantics among us already know it, even cynics will believe that love can happen anywhere, even in a library in an internment camp during WWII, after reading this picture book. Based on true events and the author's own grandparents' experiences in Minidoka, the book describes the conditions at the camp and the slow blossoming of a relationship between Tama, who worked at the library there, and George, who patronized it, checking out book after book. But while literacy and getting lost in the stories was Tama's motivation for reading, George had other motives. Tama made note of George's constancy and his many positive attributes, and they fell in love and eventually married despite the bleakness of the camp and the unfairness of their situation. This beautifully written, tender story of hope amid despair and injustice unfolds slowly like a fresh spring blossom. These lines are particularly moving: "To fall in love is already a gift. But to fall in love in a place like Minidoka, a place built to make people feel like they weren't human--that was miraculous. That was humans doing what humans did best" (unpaged). If readers can keep in mind the optimistic attitude that this couple had that things would get better and that there is always hope, what a better world this would be. The gouache and watercolor illustrations depicting the camp are exquisite, filled with detail and somber colors offset by bright touches such as the plaid in George's shirt or the pink blush that spreads across Tama's face. I appreciate how the text and illustrations don't romanticize the camp conditions or make excuses for how the Japanese-Americans were treated during this time, raising important questions for readers who may see similarities between then and now. This is an excellent addition to a classroom library about racism, prejudices or American history. ...more
Today many of us take getting from here to there, no matter the distance, for granted. After all, we have various road signs and maps to get us to ourToday many of us take getting from here to there, no matter the distance, for granted. After all, we have various road signs and maps to get us to our destinations in efficient ways. But it wasn't always so. With handsome digital artwork, this informational picture book takes readers back in time to the earliest cartographers and attempts at mapping the world, then moving forward to showcase various advances. The text is clear, concise, but interesting, and there is even a timeline ranging from 25,000 BCE when the world's oldest map was engraved on the tusk of a mammoth to present day maps made by orbiting satellites. It's hard to read this book and not feel amazed and impressed, and for those of us like me who tend to be directionally challenged, grateful. ...more
The elegant, lyrical text in this picture book biography about an influential picture book illustrator soars above present-day circumstances, somehow The elegant, lyrical text in this picture book biography about an influential picture book illustrator soars above present-day circumstances, somehow lifting readers' spirits as they consider life's possibilities and the importance of leaving the world more beautiful. In today's tumultuous, fractured times, what could be more important? How wonderful to have such a visually stunning homage to this talented storyteller and winner of two of the early Caldecott [1959, 1980] prizes! I wish the students in my previous years' Children's Literature courses could have had this tribute to hard work, respect for all living things, and being true to oneself, even in one's artistic endeavors. Interestingly, as with Frida Kahlo, it is when she is ill and bedridden that some inspiration comes. The biography also functions as a brief glimpse into the history of picture books and publishing since it was only when she was creating the images for Chanticleer and the Fox that she is allowed to use five different colors for her work. It's noteworthy just how stunning those images are, even compared with modern printing techniques and liberal use of color. The author often refers to her love for color even while describing how necessity forces her to "scratch away in black and white" (unpaged) and uses evocative phrases such as "a landscape that looks like a lullaby" (unpaged) to describe what she sees when she travels to faraway places. And oh, that sumptuous, beautiful double-page spread filled with blues, purples, and greens as water and land meet as she looks on! Preceded as it is by those powerful lines on the previous page, it takes on even more emotional power, leaving readers to contemplate their own brief times on earth: "A life is more than a timeline, dates set down in black and white. There are harsh winters and soft springs, tides that follow the moon, rivers that flow to the sea.... Books close, then open again. We do not always know the next story" (unpaged). The illustrations in this particular book, created with gouache and brimming with nature's beauty, capture her love for art, light, and color. This is an impressive and essential collection for any collection devoted to artists or storytellers. ...more
Almost thirty years after the events described in this particular book, the narrator reflects on the year [1972] she spent in Ashiya, Japan, while herAlmost thirty years after the events described in this particular book, the narrator reflects on the year [1972] she spent in Ashiya, Japan, while her mother works and studies back home in Tokyo. Twelve-year-old Tomoko, the narrator, is impressed by her new dwelling place--a mansion with many rooms--and a pygmy hippopotamus named Pochiko, the beloved pet of her cousin, Mina, once part of a local zoo with a train that transported passengers throughout the area. Mina has asthma and often becomes sick, and the girls become quite close, sharing secrets, dreaming, and weaving stories. Mina collects matchboxes with unique artwork on the cover, from which she draws inspiration for unique stories. Tomoko envies her in many respects as she is far more intellectual, philosophical, and well read than she is but also much less worldly. The author includes many details about the family's simple pleasures and their unique personalities, and over the months, Tomoko starts to wonder about her handsome uncle's frequent absences and her aunt's obsession with finding errors in text, including the coverage of the 1972 Olympics. The girls are preoccupied by volleyball, a sport neither one can play, and root for the Japanese team to take the gold medal. It's interesting to note that while much of what I've described seems rather commonplace, there's a mesmerizing quality to this author's writing and so many abundant details that readers feel immersed in this place and time, coming to care about these girls and their family, even while noting hints of unease and a looming sense that all is not as well as it might seem. Other reviewers have called this a "jewel box of a story," and I would agree since it presents various tiny treasures for readers' senses, nestled in small velvet partitions of their own, some more delectable than others. Certain objects from our past--a hair ribbon, a photo, a note--may have little significance to others, but to us, as we sift through them from the perspective of time passed--remind us of what once was and who we ourselves once were, a concept captured beautifully here. Minutes, hours, days, and years pass, and as this story demonstrates, nothing stays the same, no matter how much we may wish that to be so, and no matter how hard we try to make it so. To say much more would only spoil readers' appreciation for this book, whose pleasures deserve to be discovered on their own. ...more
When Aliya and her family move from Tampa, Florida to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to be close to her paternal grandparents, she's understandably less than thWhen Aliya and her family move from Tampa, Florida to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to be close to her paternal grandparents, she's understandably less than thrilled. But the city and her diverse high school actually have charms of their own as she soon discovers. Finding her place takes time, but when she joins the basketball team, she meets others with whom she connects. The team is terrible, but her teammates try hard, and Aliya, a freshman, hones her own game while developing leadership skills and clashing with the co-captain, a senior. After grueling practices and some game time, the team starts to come together. The fact that the girls all are Muslims and wear hijabs while playing for Peace Academy makes their story newsworthy, and media attention--and some wins--attracts the interest of their community while opening some hearts and minds. Fans of Gene Luen Yang's Dragon Hoops and Matt Tavares' Hoops will love this graphic novel, which reminds readers that while the score in basketball matters, there are far more important things at work on and off the court. WHOOSH! With the distinct voice of Aliya and the skillfully drawn moves as the girls play basketball, this one is a slam dunk that pushes against stereotypes. ...more
This one is a 3.5 for me, and it was quite delightful to read. In this, the fourth of the popular detective series, Jackson Brodie is on the case agaiThis one is a 3.5 for me, and it was quite delightful to read. In this, the fourth of the popular detective series, Jackson Brodie is on the case again, trying to learn the origin of a client's birth family. But the closer he seems to get to the truth, the more obstacles that are placed in his way. As he sorts through clues, Tracy Waterhouse, a newly retired police officer working security, finds herself in possession of a small child, and as she seizes the moment and decides to keep the child for her own, she also follows a trail of bodies somehow linked to the girl. As usual with books by this author, the characters are nuanced, and the focus moves from one person to another in almost dizzying fashion. For those who prefer their stories told in linear fashion, this technique may be frustrating, but it only made the resolution that much more satisfying for me. Plus, I'm glad to see that Jackson now has a canine company, and that he might be ready to pick up where he left off with some of his own complicated relationships. ...more
This gifted storyteller takes readers back in time to Tehran, Iran, to the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, and then, briefly, to 2022. Those readers who onlyThis gifted storyteller takes readers back in time to Tehran, Iran, to the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, and then, briefly, to 2022. Those readers who only know about the revolution in Iran from news stories or concerns about hostages will have their eyes opened to the effects of political events and change on various individuals, particularly two young women. While clearly the Shah of Iran was problematic, his successor, Ayatollah Khomeini, and his followers instituted draconian restrictions on women. Through the eyes of two unlikely friends, readers are given a glimpse of this turmoil and the protests against both leaders. Ellie, a privileged child whose mother claims to have descended from royalty, meets Homa, when she and her mother are forced to move to a seedy neighborhood after the death of Ellie's father. Ellie is drawn to the warmth and comfort provided in Homa's home, and the two girls have a strong connection that seems unlikely to break. But fate intervenes, Ellie's financial situation improves, and they drift apart, only to be reunited during their senior year of school. Homa is politically active, involved in fighting for the rights of women while Ellie remains on the sidelines, interested in other pursuits. A careless comment or two leads to Homa's betrayal and arrest for her activities, something about which Ellie feels guilty for decades. This story of friendship, loyalty, betrayal, and forgiveness contains several reflective passages that will prompt readers to question some of their own decisions as well as being suffused with rich descriptions of the foods, scents, and sounds of Tehran. So vivid are these that readers' mouths will be watering for a taste of what's being described here. It's hard not to think about those individuals such as Homa who are willing to speak truth to power and stand up for what's right, no matter the cost. I loved every word of this important story. Pair this one with the excellent Only This Beautiful Moment by Abd Nazemian, which covers similar terrain. ...more
This one is a 3.5 for me. As is the case for many individuals, I have long been fascinated by serial killers and what makes them tick. I'm not particuThis one is a 3.5 for me. As is the case for many individuals, I have long been fascinated by serial killers and what makes them tick. I'm not particularly interested in the gory details of their crimes but more intrigued by how they manage to pull off those crimes and how they get caught. Since the moniker "serial killer" itself is fairly new, I often find myself wondering if this is a modern phenomenon or if there have always been serial killers out there. Plenty of books about these criminals abound, but rare, indeed, are those titles that tell the stories of those innocents who were unaware just how close they themselves may have come to death, brushing arms with these killers. Moving back and forth from memoir to a true-crime narrative, this book tells the story of Liza Rodman, whose mother left her in the care of charismatic Tony Costa among others while she partied and enjoyed herself on Cape Cod. Young Liza was lonely, confused, and felt unloved by her mother, who worked at and then eventually owned a motel in Provincetown. Tony, who drifted from job to job, seems to have been something of a Pied Piper, attracting a cadre of young teens to whom he supplied drugs and a place to hang out. While Liza was too young for that sort of activity, she rode with him all over the place, even to the Truro woods in Massachusetts, the girl was certainly vulnerable, and anything could have happened to her, especially when one considers that Tony's victims were women who were known to him, not strangers. Liza's story is haunting as is the description of Tony's actions and personality and how so many locals refused to believe that he was culpable, even lying to police to protect him. Both sections of the story ["Liza" and "Tony"] are well-written, immersive, and troubling as one considers what might have happened, especially when considering that Liza's mother left her with Tony without a second thought. This one will make readers' skin crawl and keep them awake at night, thinking about the dangers faced by young women then [late 1960s] and now. ...more
This short story collection is a 3.5 for me. As much as I read, I'm always taken aback when I realize that I've missed the work of an author that has This short story collection is a 3.5 for me. As much as I read, I'm always taken aback when I realize that I've missed the work of an author that has been writing for decades and whose books are celebrated by so many. Thus, after seeing the New York Times list 100 "Best" books of the Twenty-first Century and marking the ones I'd read, I figured I should check out this title, which had received acclaim. Published in 2004, the book's stories--eight in all with three focusing on one woman--have both a dated and a timeless quality about them. Some are slightly stronger than others, and the endings of some leave readers asking questions and wondering what might happen next; other stories introduce characters at a particular point in their lives and then follow them to later points. But really, at their hearts, each one is a character study of a woman looking toward the future, sometimes taking risks, often facing disappointments or deluding herself that all is well and that she can survive what comes her way, even when it's at a high cost or when it's not the fate she had envisioned for herself. Each short story has a one-word title, which makes the reading and appreciation of the story itself that much more enjoyable. There are so many elegant turns of phrase within these stories as to leave most readers like me quite impressed. While I wish that I'd read her work when it was first published, I'm pleased to start exploring it now. ...more
Although reviews about this historical novel [4.5 for me!] are mixed with some readers considering the whole thing boring and others falling in love wAlthough reviews about this historical novel [4.5 for me!] are mixed with some readers considering the whole thing boring and others falling in love with the characters, I have to side with the positives. Just like the movie, Sliding Doors, does in pondering what might happen if a character chose one sort of life or another, only far more complex because there are many options and fates on offering here, this book follows Ursula Todd, born in the midst of a snowstorm in 1910, as she dies, lives again, dies again, lives again. Jumping back and forth in time, touching on WWI and WWII, the book offers so many possible fates for Ursula, including being raped, meeting Hitler, marrying a physically and emotionally abusive man, and helping to rescue survivors or dig out those who have died during the bombings of WWII, as to leave readers positively dizzy. In the opening pages, death is described as "darkness fell," which seems to me the perfect way to describe it. Ursula herself, in whatever iteration, could be one of us, and it fascinated me to note how she was portrayed over the years. Often, though, just as I came to care about her, the story shifted, and she was gone, only to appear somewhere else or at some other time. As much as Ursula is the centerpiece of this story, there are also reflective passages about various topics, including war, relationships, personalities, and being able to see into the future, that add an interesting layer to an already intense and original premise. All of the characters, especially members of Ursula's family, are complex and well-drawn, and even though I spent a great deal of time with them, I wanted to know more. And goodness, who isn't fascinated by the thought of what might have been or those paths not taken? This book offers glimpses into several fates. ...more
I've read several books focusing on the Civil War era and the trauma of war, most notably Charles Frazier's Cold Mountain, but I'd never heard of the I've read several books focusing on the Civil War era and the trauma of war, most notably Charles Frazier's Cold Mountain, but I'd never heard of the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, where part of this story is set, or considered what might happen to those individuals, typically war widows, who were unable to surmount the trauma of war and loss. As the book opens, the narrator, twelve-year-old ConaLee and her fragile mother, Eliza, to be called Janet, are being left behind near he asylum by Papa. For reasons not made clear at the start, he's already divested himself of his other three children and aims to rid himself of Eliza and ConaLee as well with Eliza posing as a wealthy, upper-class woman and ConaLee her maid. Because the book begins in 1874, almost a decade after the Civil War ended, it is effective in showing the present condition of rural West Virginia, before moving backward in time to 1864 when a sharpshooter, perhaps Papa, perhaps someone else, is in the midst of the conflict. Truly terrible things happen to him as well as to Eliza even while a mysterious woman named Dearbhla tries to intercede when it's possible. To say much more would give away too much and spoil the pleasures of reading this well-researched historical novel, which moves around more than some readers will like. As for me, I learned quite a lot from reading it and being challenged by its structure as well as pondering the effects of racism and violence. While I might have included some transitions and made a few other changes, overall, this one kept me guessing and deeply engaged. It isn't for the light-hearted, however. ...more
Progress often spells the demise of certain species as the needs of humans seem to come before the needs of animals. And even when caring individuals Progress often spells the demise of certain species as the needs of humans seem to come before the needs of animals. And even when caring individuals try to move those animals to another area in order to save them, those efforts often fail. This fascinating story of one man's clever solution to the conflict between beavers and the burgeoning human population in McCall, Idaho, in 1948 is an example of success. Idaho Fish and Game Warden Elmo Heter knew that the humans and beavers would conflict, and the beavers would lose so he transported 76 of them in boxes attached to parachutes and airlifted them to what would become the River of No Return Wilderness where the beavers flourished. Readers will be amazed at the lengths Heter went to insure the beavers would thrive, trying other modes of transportation, including pack mules, before hitting on the idea of flight. The text is lively, engaging, and just different enough ["Bonk! Bonk! Bonk!"] to intrigue youngsters interested in the environment, and the Adobe Photoshop illustrations lovingly portray this innovative conservationist, the beavers, and the rugged terrain as well as the effects beavers have on wetlands. It's interesting to ponder what those flying beavers thought once they were in their new home. This picture book makes a good read aloud choice as well as an excellent addition to a science classroom library. ...more
It's an emergency, and four different vehicles, including a fire engine, a police car, an ambulance, and a helicopter arrive to help. The different moIt's an emergency, and four different vehicles, including a fire engine, a police car, an ambulance, and a helicopter arrive to help. The different modes of transportation are accompanied by labels for their different parts, a description, and a small track along which readers can move small replicas of each vehicle, some moving around town while others head back to their departure point or a hospital. The tracks and pieces are sturdy enough to withstand plenty of use. There are even questions that require closer examination of the pages in this sturdy board book....more