March 22, 2023 |
Wave by Diana FaridAva loves to surf. Growing up in 1980s Southern California, Ava's days are full of the beach and music. And racism. Ava's identity as a Persian American girl and the daughter of divorced parents causes her to question where she belongs. Music and surfing help ease her complicated feelings and with her grief. Her best friend has cancer and he could die. This is freaking Ava out.
There are so many reasons I love this book! The illustrations and text made it feel like I was surfing with Ava. The poetry helped me recognize her emotions and to wonder if she was going to be ok. Will her friend be ok? Will she have to leave her mom's house and move in with her dad? This book is truly heart-felt. Details:
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October 13, 2022 |
Everything Sad is Untrue [a true story] by Daniel NayeriYes, we all judge books by their covers. This cover is amazing and uplifts (get it? uplifts? cyclone) so many aspects of this book. Persian culture. Oklahoma. Suitcases. Chocolate bars. And a lone boy on a roof.
This is Daniel's story. He tells us a grand story about his new life in the United States after immigrating from Iran. Yet, it is not always an easy story to follow and that is one of its strengths. Daniel uses a different type of storytelling to let us in on his secrets and how difficult it was for him to grow up in a country that was not his. He moved from rich to poor. He left his father and his favorite foods. He struggled to make friends. He relied on his mother. If we want to understand what it can be like for immigrants to adjust to a new life in the US, this book can help. We can't help but grow in empathy and love by reading this book from Daniel's perspective. "I don't know how my mom was so unstoppable despite all that stuff happening. I dunno. Maybe it's anticipation. Hope. The anticipation that the God who listens in love will one day speak justice. The hope that some final fantasy will come to pass that will make everything sad untrue. Unpainful. That across rivers of sewage and blood will be a field of yellow flowers blooming. You can get lost there and still be unafraid. No one will chase you off of it. It's yours. A father who loves you planted it for you. A mother who loves you watered it. And maybe there are other people there, but they are all kind. Or better than that, they are right with each other. They treat each other right. If you have that, maybe you keep moving forward." (pp. 346-347) Details:
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October 4, 2022 |
The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera |
Science Fiction isn't always my jam, so I wasn't sure what to expect from The Last Cuentista. I do make it a priority, though. I read all the Newbery winners and this book won in Jan. 2022.
We learn that the earth has been destroyed and that Petra is the only one girl remaining who can remember it. The Collective has erased all the memories of those on board a ship heading to a new planet. I really liked the way that the author wove Hispanic culture and folktales into this story. There are snippets of Spanish sprinkled throughout and I developed a real respect for the main character. And this quote? Wow. “Suma's eyes are still closed, and I can't tell if she's trying to forget, or to remember. Maybe stories are there to help us do both. I know stories can't always have happy endings. But if there are chances for us to do better, we have to say out loud the parts that hurt the most.” Details:
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September 19, 2022 |
Anne Frank's Diary: The Graphic Adaptation Adapted by Ari FolmanI read Anne Frank's diary when I was in middle school and only recollected major details from her story. So, reading this graphic novel adaptation was eye opening and heart wrenching.
The pictures let me really imagine the emotions that Anne was grappling with during the time she was in hiding:
I highly recommend this book and appreciate how this story connects with our lives today. You may also wonder: why would people today want to ban this book? Read it and find out. Details:
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September 12, 2022 |
Bad Girls Never Say Die
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April 2022 |
Seven Clues to Home by G. Polisner
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March 2022 |
The Blackbird Girls by Anne BlankmanThis story was heartbreaking on so many levels -- especially as we read about the current events in Ukraine. This tells us the story of how an explosion at a nuclear power plant created dangerous and deadly consequences. Even more devastating? This a true story about the disaster in 1986 Chernoybl, Russia.
This story is full of hardship -- grief, loss and destruction. It is also a powerful story of friendship and true community. How do we come along side people when they are suffering? This book points us in the right direction. Details:
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February 2022 |
The Legend of Auntie Po by Shing Yin KhorI've read a lot of historical fiction but I can never remember ever reading a story from this perspective. This is a Chinese immigrant story and we learn what it may have been like to live in a logging camp in 1885.
Such a great read with bits of fable, fantasy and adventure. This book also shows how stories can be comforting and nurturing when life gets stressful. Details:
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January 2022 |
American Royals SeriesWhat if ... George Washington was America's first king and not our first president? ...America was ruled by a young Queen?
These novels imagine a world where royalty rule the U.S. And just like many other royals, their lives are far from perfect. As celebrities, we don't often get access to their inner lives and thoughts. These books offer a sneak peek into how fraught fame can be, even with fortune. Details:
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December 2021 |
Millionaires for the Month
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How would you spend $5 billion in one month? What if it cannot be spent on houses or gifts. Nor can you tell your family that if you spend the $$ you will get $10 million with no strings attached?
This story shows us how Felix and Benji approach this problem. There's lots of luxurious fun to be had and... the money doesn't solve all their issues. In fact, it creates more conflict than they bargained for. This story helps us think about issues of privilege, power and the impact money has on our relationships. I highly recommend this fun title. Details:
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November 2021 |
Hearts Unbroken
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October 2021 |
Star Fish by Lisa FippsIt sucks when your friends move away. Ellie is struggling to find some happiness. Bullies are making it tricky and shaming her for being overweight. Her mom is also mean about her weight and Ellie just wants to be loved for who she is. Not for how much she weights.
I really like how this book helps us think about, "Who deserves to be seen?" Why do we put people down or think less of them when they are overweight? Reading Ellie's story will help you learn about what it's like to struggle with self-acceptance, friendship and fat shaming. Details:
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September 2021 |
Flight of the Puffin by Ann BradenAnn Braden knows how to make you care. She writes about characters that live complicated lives and often wrestle with problems we have (friendship, family and money issues). In Flight of the Puffin, Braden tells the story of 4 middle schoolers and how a written note can arrive at just the right time.
She also writes about bullying, in this story. She writes about loneliness and how helpless we can feel when we struggle to know who are our people. She says, "...if somebody gets bulled...and they're feeling alone, then maybe this can help them remember that the bully isn't always right." She reminds us that we have the power to lift others up. Details:
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Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae CarsonDo you know what magical realism is yet? These types of books are amazing. They feel like realistic fiction and yet there are elements of magic that pop up. These stories can be really excited and surprising. Like fairy tales, these books blur the line between fantasy and reality.
In the 1800s, the Gold Rush swept through the American West as people flocked to CA in order to find gold. What if you could find gold? Your life would be forever changed! This means the Lee Westfall is America's Most Wanted. She can sense gold in the world around her. Can she stay safe in a world where money-hungry humans are everywhere? Who can she trust? Details:
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The Truth App by Jack Heathfind it here @theLibrary
Do we always want to know what people are thinking? When can hearing the truth make things more difficult? Jarli, a high school student, makes a Truth App and his life is thrust into fame and danger. Everyone wants to download the app but no everyone wants their secrets exposed. Even his own parents. This book left me on the edge of a cliff. I liked how fast-paced it was and how the plot kept me asking questions. I wanted to keep reading to find the answers! Why would someone want him dead? Who can he trust? Details
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Pixie Pushes On by Tamara Bundyfind it here @theLibrary
Set on a farm in the 1940s, we get a glimpse into the life of Prudence (Pixie). She lives with her grandparents and father after the loss of her mother. She continues to struggle with more loss as her sister Charlotte contracts polio and is hospitalized. This book does answer some questions for me, like: How did people catch polio? What was it like for children who had to be hospitalized because of polio? Do people ever recover from polio? It also prompted me to think about the connection between COVID and polio. When it hits communities, it makes life really hard. All in all, I liked this book just fine. I liked learning about the personal struggles that families had with polio in the 1940s. It just didn't capture my heart. I felt like I was "watching Pixie from a distance" rather than being wrapped up in feeling loss and sorry with her. Details:
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One Way or Another by Kara McDowellThis book was a fun wintry read. We follow Paige as she navigates her huge crush on Fitz. She and Fitz have been best friends for years and... she can't continue to watch him choose other girlfriends over her. It's too heartbreaking.
So, in a crazy accident, two destinies play out in this book. Down one path is a trip to a snowy cabin with Fitz and his family. Down another path is an adventure to New York City with her mother. Which one should she choose? Did I mention that choices are very difficult for her to make? I really liked how the author puts us in Paige's heart and brain. When Paige feels the anxiety of making a decision, we feel it as well. Good choice if you're looking for a romantic comedy with depth. Details:
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Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontefind it here @theLibrary
I studied English Literature in college and read all of the Jane Austen books that I could get my hands on. Weirdly, I never read any Bronte books! I've been missing out. Jane Eyre has it all: orphans, schools, England, romance and mystery. (Most likely, if a book has these components, I'm going to love it). While this book is really old (it was first published in 1847!!), Jane Eyre appears as a modern woman. Rather than follow many of the traditional expectations for 19th century women, Jane determines to set her own course and forge her own path. She's a hero. So, if you are a reader who is ready for a lengthy, classic novel, I highly recommend Jane Eyre. Details:
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Murder is Bad Manners by Robin Stevensfind it @theLibrary here
I'm a sucker for any book that is set in a school Go figure. I'm also a big fan of books set in England. So, when I heard that this was a mystery series set in a boarding school in England? Woo-hoo! Elation! 7th Graders, Daisy and Hazel, use their Detective Club to solve a murder that takes place at their school. They work together using their investigative skills to uncover the murderer -- before the police. While I enjoyed the setting, I didn't feel attached to these characters. Daisy is not always nice to Hazel and that bugged me at times. Would I recommend it? Sure! Solving mysteries is a fun way to use your brain power. If you read it with a friend, like I did, it was fun to deduce together. Details:
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The Field Guide to the North American Teenager by Ben Philippefind it @theLibrary here
For fans of... To All the Boys I Loved Before, Look Both Ways, and Clap When You Land Norris lives in Canada and loves to play high school hockey. Until his parents split and he moves to Austin, TX with his mom. Not only does he have to get used to the heat, Norris has to navigate his senior year of high school. In a new school. In a new country. Going to prom, getting a job, hating the haters: it's all here. Norris also has to deal with being a black Canadian boy at a mostly white high school. How do friendships happen? What can we do when we feel lonely? What does it matter if you label people? These are all questions that Norris faces. After reading this book, I'm looking forward to reading other books that Ben Philippe writes. Details:
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The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle by Leslie ConnorFind it @theLibrary here
For fans of... The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise, Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus and The Honest Truth. This book reminded me how dangerous secrets are. It also showed me how the affection from pets can uplift us. This is also a story of loss. Mason Buttle lives a hard life with his grandmother and uncle. They are losing their farm to developers. Mason has also lost his best friend in a tragic accident. Yet, Mason is not destroyed by his losses. In fact, this story ends in a way that shows us just how strong Mason is. The loyalty and courage he shows us that his losses of strengthened him. His life is slowing being put back together with honesty and love. I highly recommend this big-hearted book. Details:
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The Voting Booth by Brandy ColbertFind it @theLibrary here!
For fans of... The Hate U Give, Long Way Down and Internment. I just finished The Voting Booth and completing my ballot for the 2020 election. As I read Marva and Duke's story, I felt similarly to them. Voting is important. Friendships are tricky. Crushes are crushing. This is a fast paced novel that tells the story of two high school seniors over the course of one day. While trying to cast their ballots, they face barrier after barrier. I like how resilient the characters are and that it is told from both of their viewpoints. Details:
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Free Lunch by Rex OgleFind it @theLibrary here!
For fans of... "A Child Called It," "Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl," sad and true stories. I just finished Free Lunch and remember what it felt like to be in middle school. For me, that was about 40 years ago. This book, though, made me feel like I was Rex. Rex is a 6th grader in Texas who has a really hard life. It's most difficult because of how hard it is for his parents to earn money. They are in a lot of a debt and this causes a lot of stress. His family argues a lot and Rex is ashamed to get free lunch at school. I like how Rex told this true story in a way that felt like a novel. It also opened my eyes to how difficult it is for kids when families have hard times. Rex often came to school hungry and afraid. I'm grateful that he told his story so that I can have compassion for those around me who are struggling. Details:
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Stargazing by Jen WangFind it @thelibrary here!
For fans of... graphic novels by Raina Telgemeier, realistic fiction, friendship drama. I just finished the graphic novel, Stargazing. I loved it for so many reasons: the drawings, the friendship, the family, Asian-American culture. It really gave me a small glimpse into what it would be like growing up as an Asian-American girl. It also reminded me of the many friendship questions I've had: why is she better friends with her? Why doesn't she want to be my friend? How can I show my friends how much I care? I also liked that it was based off a true story. At the end, Jen Wang (the author) tells how writing Stargazing helped her understand her own story. Details:
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Bloom by Kenneth OppelFind it @theLibrary here!
For fans of... science fiction, action, horror. I just finished this book and was hoping for some relief from the pandemic pressure we're in. You know what? This book did make me feel a little better. It made me sigh with relief because we're not living in a world where human-eating plants are taking over. I liked that it was set just north of Bellingham on Salt Spring Island in Canada. I usually like a book where I learn more about the characters -- their thoughts and personalities. This book is very plot (action) focused. This will make you flip the pages! Details
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