I wish this book [4.5 for me!] had received more attention than it did since it's important, moving, and insightful. The author, a journalist who workI wish this book [4.5 for me!] had received more attention than it did since it's important, moving, and insightful. The author, a journalist who works for the New York Times, spent several months in and around Chinle, Arizona, following the high school basketball team and its coach, Raul Mendoza, as he tries to shape his players as basketballers but also as human beings with a bright future. Naturally, there are many challenges to these tasks--sometimes even the young men themselves and the long, wearisome road trips necessary to reach some of the teams they'll play. While basketball is the focus here--or the excuse to publish the book--this is so much more than a book about a basketball team. Author Michael Powell conducted many interviews with individuals living on the Navajo Nation, including families of the team, fans--and basketball is SERIOUS business in Chinle--educators, even a ranger. While Powell acknowledges the isolation, poverty, abuse, addiction, and suicide that are so often a part of the boys' lives, he also celebrates their tenacity, determination, and spiritedness that they possess. Several parts of the narrative are downright poetic as Powell soaks in the culture, the awe-inspiring beauty of the land, and the warmth of his welcome even as he ruminates on what he's observing and feeling. The connection to this place is strong even while many of its residents, especially the youth, dream of a different, not necessarily better, life. Fans of those Netflix docudramas about basketball and football should love this one with its insight into a place and its inhabitants. ...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
Although this book [2.5 for me!] wasn't my cup of tea, I'm sure its intended audience will gobble it up and wish that they too could dine on dinosaur Although this book [2.5 for me!] wasn't my cup of tea, I'm sure its intended audience will gobble it up and wish that they too could dine on dinosaur pie. The plot concerns Rory, whose mother purchases dinosaur pie for him at the local supermarket. The dish has a strange side effect as Rory and anyone else who eats it transforms into--you guessed it--a dinosaur. This might seem great fun at first, but as Rory and his two friends, Oleg and Daria, discover, it's also quite convenient when it comes to going to school, using the toilet, and just walking down the street. There are several moments that will prompt giggles from readers as Rory's mother endeavors to hold the store accountable, and as the youngsters search for an antidote. I confess that I giggled at Oleg's need for online validation and Rory's nickname for their teacher. There are several illustrations accompanying the text, making this a quick read that some fans of dinosaurs may enjoy. ...more
I liked this middle-grade science fiction story [3.5 for me!] a lot. I wasn't sure about its contents, based on the cover, but it drew me in from the I liked this middle-grade science fiction story [3.5 for me!] a lot. I wasn't sure about its contents, based on the cover, but it drew me in from the first page when Michael Rosario is stealing peaches from the grocery store in preparation for Y2K. Not only does Michael worry about what will happen then, but he worries about how hard his mother works. Twelve-year-old Michael is so relatable as he's small for his age, quiet, helpful, and picked on by others. He also has a caring heart as he feeds the stray cats in his apartment complex in Delaware and enjoys spending time with Mr. Mosley, who works in the complex. When he spots a strange boy, Ridge, hanging out nearby, Michael and his babysitter Gibby introduce themselves and are puzzled by his odd use of slang and strange clothing. As it turns out, Ridge is from the future, and he's traveled back in time to 1999 to see what the world is like. The way the story is told is interesting since part of it is straight narrative, and other parts are audio transcripts from 2199 as his mother and siblings try to bring him back. All this is interesting enough, bringing to mind at times Rebecca Stead's When You Reach Me, but what might resonate most with readers is Ridge's advice that Michael learn to live in the present and being fully engaged in the now rather than worrying constantly about the future or bemoaning the past. The notion of "the first state of being" is that present. This one is a fast read with interesting characters and a protagonist with flaws but good intentions as well as hints about what the planet's future will be like--no bees, no tigers, for instance. Some readers will feel cheated because Ridge doesn't explain a great deal about life in 2199, instead, simply saying that "it's complicated," which may make them feel cheated. Readers won't want to miss the Additional Excerpts at the back of the book. ...more
Set in Chicago during 2016-2017, this middle-grade novel in verse is structured like a football game with a preseason section, quarters, headings thatSet in Chicago during 2016-2017, this middle-grade novel in verse is structured like a football game with a preseason section, quarters, headings that are pertinent to the sport, and football tidbits. At first those tidbits seemed unnecessary to someone who has followed the game since she was a young girl, but eventually, I realized how they were meant to work and were woven into the plot itself. Perhaps this structure and the subject matter itself--the Muslim ban during President Donald Trump's presidency [Executive Order 13769]--captivated the judges for the National Book Award since this one won the prize for Young People's Literature. Kareem, the seventh-grade narrator, wants nothing more than to play quarterback for his school team. When Austin, the current QB, promises to help him get on the team in exchange for "help" on an assignment, Kareem is conflicted, but he also wants that acceptance and a chance to show what he can do on the field. As Austin leans on for even more help, Kareem grows increasingly uncomfortable, betraying himself, his culture, and Fadi, a newly arrived refugee. As often happens in these sorts of circumstances, his behavior grows erratic, and he tries to cover up some of his deceits. But actions have consequences, and the results of his actions have a domino effect on his whole family, particularly since his mother has traveled to Syria to bring back his ailing maternal grandfather and grandmother. Parts of this story filled my heart with emotion and with hope that things can and will get better, and the book clearly has value for class discussions about xenophobia, prejudices, and social activism, all topics that are nestled within the middle-school drama and humorous moments. ...more
Scaredy Squirrel is all set for Halloween. Because he is scared of many of its aspects, including ghosts, vampires, and monsters, he thoroughly preparScaredy Squirrel is all set for Halloween. Because he is scared of many of its aspects, including ghosts, vampires, and monsters, he thoroughly prepares by surrounding himself with garlic, inviting his friends to carve friendly pumpkins--definitely not scary ones--and planning a costume that will shield him from harm three months ago. Could the promise of delicious candy apples convince him to join his friends for trick-or-treating? Fans of this series will want to find out? With zombie pumpkins and a character that keeps insisting that everything "needs more ketchup," how can this one miss? The graphic novel format fits this character and his phobias quite well as the book contains small panels, medium-sized ones, large ones, and ones that fill two pages, allowing the facial expressions of Scaredy and his friends to be on full display. Youngsters will also love the Halloween Quiz for Readers that they need to take before starting to read the book. While Scaredy Squirrel may or may not be "scared silly," readers certainly will be. ...more
In this the follow-up to the two previous popular titles featuring Gertie, the Littlest Yak, Gertie is less than pleased when warm temperatures promptIn this the follow-up to the two previous popular titles featuring Gertie, the Littlest Yak, Gertie is less than pleased when warm temperatures prompt Mummy Yak to move the herd elsewhere. Although her mother tells her that things don't make a place a home, Gertie doesn't listen, overloading her sled with all her books and favorite objects as well as her baby sister, Dot. Readers will be in awe at just how much stuff she piles on that sled, and they'll know that it won't be easy to haul all that stuff to the yaks' new home. Distracted by hauling the heavy load and gathering pinecones to help her remember her old place, Gertie doesn't notice when Dot disappears. Once she realizes this, she frantically unloads the sled to see if Dot is there. Someone else was watching out for Dot so all is well, and the book's positive, affirming message is summed up perfectly by Mummy: Home, she says, isn't "about what is around or above you, home is the herd that you love...and who loves you." Created with pencil and ink, scanned and digitally colored, the artwork is so child-friendly with all those long-haired yaks in their cuddly knitwear. While yaks might seem unlikely animals to feature in a children's picture book, they clearly have widespread appeal....more
Ah, what a better world we'd have if more of us remained quiet for a few moments and listened to the trees! Written in haibun, which combines haiku anAh, what a better world we'd have if more of us remained quiet for a few moments and listened to the trees! Written in haibun, which combines haiku and prose, this picture book biography describes the formative years, the inspiration, and the career of George Nakashima, a talented woodworker, eschewing a career in architecture for one involving making furniture. Having traveled widely, Nakashima, a Nisei who was born in the United States, had barely returned to the United States and opened his own shop, when paranoia prompted the U.S. government to incarcerate George and his young family during WWII. But even there, despite the unpleasant conditions, Nakashima continued to hone his craft, learning from others. After the war, they moved to Pennsylvania, where they built their own home and started George's business. The text and illustrations beautifully depict the respect Nakashima had for trees but also for timber, the wood from cut trees. This admiration for the grains of the trees led him to embark on an ambitious project to build massive peace altar tables. As if his life weren't interesting enough, the back matter, which includes descriptions and sketches of the time-consuming woodworking process, also contains photographed examples of his work, leaving readers such as I in awe at the patience, attention to detail, and imagination of this talented man, who clearly listened to the trees throughout his live. The author's text is nimble, expressive, and reflective, and the digital artwork is filled with large shapes and colors, both a stunning tribute to Nakashima whose work is clearly unique. ...more
Reading this folktale [3.5] was a hoot. Twelve-year-old Mendel Schlotz is certainly well meaning, but for some reason--perhaps because he was cursed bReading this folktale [3.5] was a hoot. Twelve-year-old Mendel Schlotz is certainly well meaning, but for some reason--perhaps because he was cursed before birth--his good intentions always go awry. Even the simplest tasks such as setting the table for a meal or responding to questions in class end up causing a mess. Mendel just can't help it. But when Cossacks threaten the village of Lintvint, it's his quick thinking that saves the villagers. I won't spoil how this happens since there are several twists and turns as well as unexpected moments that make all the difference in the world. Middle grade readers will be familiar with the adage that sometimes our weaknesses can become our strengths. which makes Mendel's experiences all the more relatable, but they won't expect some of the events in this story or how that adage plays out. And ugh! a drink made from goat sweat! Even the thought of such a beverage will make readers shudder. The artwork and text fit together in an engaging way, making this read a delight from start to finish with plenty of humor, some pathos, and lots of suspense. There are surely plenty of Mendels out there who will see themselves in this one. ...more
The message of empowerment in this picture book [2.5 for me], written by a celebrity, is more attractive than the digital artwork. There are plenty ofThe message of empowerment in this picture book [2.5 for me], written by a celebrity, is more attractive than the digital artwork. There are plenty of readers to need to hear the words describing the different narrators' feelings and experiences. Being true to oneself and not worrying about trying to be like everyone else, leads to a healthy, happy life, according to the author, and it also means embracing yourself and your own unique qualities. The illustrations feature a diverse cast of youngsters, some who are struggling while others are self-confident. ...more
Oh, this picture book with its memorable illustrations, created with pen and ink and watercolor, and important message, is such a delight. Snake and LOh, this picture book with its memorable illustrations, created with pen and ink and watercolor, and important message, is such a delight. Snake and Lizard have an up and down relationship although they remain friends even through challenging times. That friendship is tried, though, when Lizard decides that their shared desert home needs some embellishment in the form of their names across the entrance. He collects twigs, twists them into the appropriate shapes for the needed letters. Snake, who can't see very well, is impressed with the size, and all is well until a blustery wind blows some of the letters down. Lizard fixes them, but Snake is not pleased with the result since her name has been rearranged in an uncomplimentary way. When Lizard dismisses her concerns, she takes her revenge with a missing letter or two from his name. While both animals' names now seem to be statements on their characters, Snake and Lizard decide that they don't need those twigs or names, after all. This story is told in such an engaging way so that the two animal characters come to life, no doubt reminding readers of some individuals that they know. ...more
What a clever way to handle tough topics! In this graphic novel with a variety of sizes of panels and different colored text for different speakers, mWhat a clever way to handle tough topics! In this graphic novel with a variety of sizes of panels and different colored text for different speakers, middle grader Lonnie is struggling to accept his parents' divorce and having two different homes as well as issues of identity, being different from classmates whose parents live together, and how to deal with conflict. These are hard topics, often shunned by parents and their offspring, and after his father picks him up after school each day, Lonnie buckles up for the ride and broaches some of those issues. Many readers will be familiar with the experience of being trapped in the car with a parent and how that affords them the chance to talk things out or simply remain silent and ignore any issues that might be troubling them. Kudos for Lonnie for holding his father accountable for his words and actions, including careless, dismissive remarks about a classmate's two moms and about therapy and mental health. The facial expressions of the characters speak volumes, and this book could serve as a starting place for other families such as Lonnie's as they have those challenging conversations. This is a fast but important read, easily enjoyed by its intended young audience but the adults in their lives as well. I loved how Lonnie's mother reprimanded her son and daughter, Nicole, for calling each other stupid, instead insisting that they are "young, gifted, and Black" (p. 10), and how they pick up on her assessment. While the conversations with Mom driving her children to their destinations aren't as deep as those Lonnie has with his father, they're still important as well. ...more
High schooler Calvin Greene and his parents have fled Chicago for the Pennsylvania suburbs after violence and a tragedy disturbed their quiet lives. SHigh schooler Calvin Greene and his parents have fled Chicago for the Pennsylvania suburbs after violence and a tragedy disturbed their quiet lives. Since the Greenes are white-skinned, they are able to pass for white, even buying a house in a white-only neighborhood, and having Calvin attend the local white school. But his passing comes at a price. As time passes, Calvin becomes increasingly uncomfortable pretending to be someone he isn't, having to rebuff the attentions of a determined neighbor girl, hiding his love for jazz, and watching in horror as Lily, a local Black girl, enters the school and endures systematic bullying. Since the story is set in 1955 after the murder of Emmett Till, who Calvin knew as Bobo back in Chicago, the fictionalized portion has even more resonance, emotion, and relevance, particularly when read through the perspective of today's political climate. The dangers of traveling through certain towns after sundown, the helpfulness of the Green Book, and the fears that caused others in Calvin's circle to remain silent are all covered in this page-turner. There's even a subplot concerning Calvin's older brother, Robert, and the small community he's cobbled together. Calvin is relatable because of his honesty, his mistakes, and how he often fails to realize the consequences of his actions for others. But he's also heroic for those same things. Anyone trying to understand parts of American history and the intricacies of being true to oneself and putting oneself and others in jeopardy and living a lie that promises safety yet means denying part of one's identity will find answers--and some questions--in this engaging, well researched historical fiction title. ...more
Fans of adventure and survival stories will love this one [3.5 for me!], which features three cousins who must fend for themselves in the Sequoia NatiFans of adventure and survival stories will love this one [3.5 for me!], which features three cousins who must fend for themselves in the Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park in California. The youngsters, Owen, Vivian, and Amy are spending the night all on their own near a lake while their parents--his father and their mother--are camping on the other side of the mountain. What begins as a small step toward independence after the family's hike ends up becoming a struggle for survival after an earthquake closes off the trail. With little food and water but plenty of determination, the youngsters take the long way around the park, facing various challenges, including rugged terrain and a bear, as well as some of their own demons about life back home. While some of the nicknames and encounters grew a bit tiresome, most of the text was riveting, keeping readers guessing about whether the cousins would be able to make it to safety--and at what price? It's a good thing that they knew more than the usual facts about surviving in the wilderness or else the ending could have been quite different. The author's decision to focus on their journey and not go back and forth between the youngsters and the adults makes the book even more suspenseful and appropriate for its intended audience. The inclusion of a map of the area allows readers to see just how treacherous their trek was. ...more
This middle-grade novel [3.5 for me!] has so many quotable passages or golden lines as well as three characters that will touch readers' hearts with tThis middle-grade novel [3.5 for me!] has so many quotable passages or golden lines as well as three characters that will touch readers' hearts with their individual plights. The way the book is structured reminds me in many respects of Louis Sachar's classic Holes although there is no work camp for kids or incarceration or unrequited love in this one. But as is the case with Holes, there are parts of the narrative that seem at first to have no connection until suddenly, they do. Tildy has lost the amber necklace her mother gave her, and fears that her mother will leave once again. Leon fears losing his grandmother after his grandfather died, and he's desperately trying to communicate with the man's spirit to lift her out of the Depths of Despair. (I love how this is capitalized throughout the narrative.) And Nell is on an impromptu road trip with her mother after their house in Florida was destroyed by a hurricane. Nell wants to go home where she has happy memories of times with her other mom. Beneath all these different kinds of losses are raw emotions and complex feelings about safety, belonging, and family as well as attachments to things that seem terribly important. Parts of the story are stronger than others, but this one is certainly worth a read as even older readers will find themselves thinking about what matters most in their own lives. The author effectively balances humor and heartache, and readers will miss these characters and the small town where all this takes place once all the loose ends are tied up. ...more
I'm pleased that youngsters will have the chance to continue to get to know third grader Bibsy Cross while maybe learning more about themselves and hoI'm pleased that youngsters will have the chance to continue to get to know third grader Bibsy Cross while maybe learning more about themselves and how to navigate life's challenges through this chapter book series for young readers. Fans of Junie B. Jones and Clementine will dive right into this, the second book in the series, and feel at home as Bibsy learns to ride a bike, finds out that winning isn't everything, and that sometimes classmates who seem to be mean also deserve a helping hand. The Photoshop illustrations endearingly depict Bibsy, her family, and those around her. The text and scenarios she encounters are relatable for the book's intended audience, similar to those that some of them have faced or will face in the future. Her battle with her teacher, Mrs. Stumper, continues in some respects as Bibsy simply can't help asking questions or sharing. As someone who had a similar predilection when I was growing up, I can certainly identify with Bibsy urges, her love for books and reading, and her competitive nature. And her parents' habit of having her share the sweet and sour of her day is simply precious, allowing the events of the day to be reviewed in perspective. ...more
Prankster and social media star Tommy Harding has arranged for his senior class to have access to Sunny World, a Florida theme park, after it closes fPrankster and social media star Tommy Harding has arranged for his senior class to have access to Sunny World, a Florida theme park, after it closes for the day. It's hard to see what his followers--not to mention the girls he's stringing along--find attractive about him since he seems self-centered, impulsive, cruel, and dishonest, as painted in this novel. Every move he makes is calculated, intended to gain more likes, followers, and attention, while keeping his longtime girlfriend, Kiara, in line. But when all the romantic balls he's been juggling unexpectedly come down on his head, his deceitfulness is revealed online, Tommy ends up dead, and suspicion falls on the three girls with whom he's been involved. Honestly, it's hard to care about his death since he seems to have betrayed everyone around him. Since the story is told from multiple points of view [the three girls: Kiara, Priscilla, and Nevaeh, readers are treated to each of their perspectives and their possible motivations for doing him in. But this doesn't save the book since the girls are stereotypes, and readers aren't afforded much insight into their personalities or what drew them to Tommy or in the case of two of them, what kept them hooked. The book cover and teaser were quite promising, but the actual story didn't live up to its billing. Too bad since there are surely plenty of teens and older folks out there who have fallen for a Tommy or two in their time and could have used a lifeline for how to escape his clutches. Because parts of the narrative bounce around too much and the three girls are all too quick to point the finger of suspicion at one another, the entire thing became too predictable and parts of it all too unbelievable, at least for me. ...more
This one is a 2.5 for me, simply because a lot happens in too little time. Big problems follow the accidental breaking of a special Egyptian cat treasThis one is a 2.5 for me, simply because a lot happens in too little time. Big problems follow the accidental breaking of a special Egyptian cat treasure in an antique shop in this, the fifth title in the series. Siblings Theo and Ellen Pincher find their roles reversed with Theo behaving like his sister, and vice versa. Fans of this series, originally published in Sweden, will enjoy following the protagonists as they look for a solution to the curse that seems to be haunting them. The idea of a criminal family will appeal to many youngsters, and the ease of the text, accompanied by artwork created with pencil and then digitally colored, will make the reading go quickly. Readers unfamiliar with the series will have little trouble catching up as the family members and their unique criminal talents, tools, and mottoes are introduced at the very start. ...more
Junior Eugene Guterman loves doughnuts and the good things in life. A budding script writer, he's struggling with writing a promised play and nursing Junior Eugene Guterman loves doughnuts and the good things in life. A budding script writer, he's struggling with writing a promised play and nursing a crush on new girl, Daisy. But he's decidedly NOT in the top echelon at school, and it's doubtful she'll give him the time of day even though they seem to have things in common. All that changes when he tackles the school's star quarterback, injuring him but also leaving the coach impressed with his size and possibility as a linebacker. Although Eugene is reluctant to join the squad, given their previous and current treatment of him, including the belittling nickname of Pudge, he becomes a member of the team. Suddenly, his popularity soars, and Daisy seems interested in him. But his friends feel betrayed, and he's letting down his theatre peeps. This humorous, insightful exploration of the other side of popularity and those left behind as well as the untrustworthiness of some individuals--even those dream girls, is a quick, relatable read, especially for those of us struggling with excess weight, body dysmorphia, or a fondness for doughnuts. Eugene's imperfection is so endearing, and many teen readers will see themselves in him. This one is a 3.5 for me. ...more
Too Small Tola isn't without resources as readers of this unique series come to realize. Fans of the previous three books in the series will enjoy watToo Small Tola isn't without resources as readers of this unique series come to realize. Fans of the previous three books in the series will enjoy watching this young girl solve problems for herself in three different chapters or stories. Not only does she find a way for elderly and frail Mrs. Shaky-Shaky to stay connected to the rest of the community, changing her grandmother's opinion of the boys her brother, Dapo, hangs around with, but she also takes a trip to the beach with her grandmother and realizes that some rules are meant to be broken and some fears can be overcome. Even though the beach is filthy and littered, there's still love to be found with Grandmommy. In the third story Tola loses track of the baby for whom she's caring and gets acclaim for having a song written about her. All the stories are connected in some way and originate in Grandmommy's apartment in Lagos, Nigeria, and Tola's pride and self-confidence are evident in each story, particularly since she is supported by her family and neighbors. The digital artwork allows readers to get to know the characters and setting even better. This is a quick read featuring characters that many readers will love. I look forward to the next installment of Tola's adventures, which, while they may seem small, are surely meaningful. ...more