The choice of chalk pastels to create the artwork in this picture book is the perfect one since it lends an emotional, atmospheric quality to the storThe choice of chalk pastels to create the artwork in this picture book is the perfect one since it lends an emotional, atmospheric quality to the story while allowing the bright pink of the protagonist to stand out. The size of this small, very small, unicorn is made evident through those images--overwhelmed by the steps leading to the family's palace, smothered by the size of the food, almost the size of a knight on a chessboard, and the difficulty of playing with its siblings--Fancy Annie and Prince Butterscotch. Frustrated, the teeny-weeny unicorn runs away but quickly getting lost in the grass in the yard. But as small as the little one is, as it turns out, the tiny unicorn meets a gnome who is much smaller than him, and he's somehow damaged the gnome's vehicle. There's a bit of a twist at the end, but the message that "we are all just the right size"(unpaged) comes through quite clearly. It's evident that from some perspectives, each of us is quite small, but from others, we are enormous. It all depends on who's looking and who's doing the comparing as the text and images make clear. This picture book is a good choice for sharing with youngsters at the start of a school year so that they understand that size and other types of measurement are all relative. ...more
As happens with many individuals when they reach a certain stage of life, Nora Seed reflects on her 35 years on Earth and concludes that there's just As happens with many individuals when they reach a certain stage of life, Nora Seed reflects on her 35 years on Earth and concludes that there's just no point to going on. She has no one or nothing in her life and is full of regrets. Nothing has played out the way she thought it might, and after various disappointments mount up, she decides to die. The opening chapters of the book are very short with each one beginning with events that occur at different points ["Twenty-seven hours before she decided to die" (p. 5), "Nine and a half hours before she decided to die" (p. 8), "Nine hours before she decided to die" (p. 12), and "Eight hours before she decided to die" (p. 13)] so that readers can follow her line of thinking and just how desperate and done with everything Nora is, what with her pet cat dying and losing her job. But Nora doesn't die; instead, she awakens in the Midnight Library, curated by her school librarian, Mrs. Elm, who tells her that she can choose books that will allow her to live different versions of her life, ones that would have been possible had she made different choices in her life. This allows her to face up to her regrets and find a way forward. But when Nora chooses various books, she finds that some of those choices did not play out the way she expected. The plot of this book is intriguing and Nora's unhappiness and confusion palpable, but mostly readers will be caught up the process of asking themselves what they would have done had they, like Nora, been allowed to visit the Midnight Library. What paths would they take? What changes would they make? What sort of lives would they live if they were fortunate enough to have a second or third shot? And what is that makes someone happy and content with his/her/their lot? I loved every single word of this book and was sad to see if come to an end. If nothing else, it's a great reminder to live life to the fullest and to stop trying to please or live for others....more
Ami Oswald is excited to spend time in the Escape, a challenging escape room that requires the solving of puzzles and problems in order to leave. But Ami Oswald is excited to spend time in the Escape, a challenging escape room that requires the solving of puzzles and problems in order to leave. But she and the other four youngsters who join her--Adjoa, Min, Oscar, and Ibrahim--quickly realize that this is much more than just a game and that finding the Answer, whatever that may be, is more important than they ever dreamed. Fans of AI, chess, and novels with a futuristic slant will enjoy this one, filled as it is with hair-raising adventure and challenges at every turn. Most readers will feel just as frustrated by the fact that they don't even know what the question is, much less any answers, as are the Five Mind, the name the youngsters choose for themselves. The descriptions of the various rooms are fascinating and quite imaginative and will make readers think. And as is often the case with games and escape rooms, there's a surprising twist at the end. This science fiction novel is a fast read that holds readers' attention all the way through. ...more
Based on a shameful part of the history of Tacoma, Washington, in 1885, this historical novel is a 3.5 for me. Although there are some grammatical errBased on a shameful part of the history of Tacoma, Washington, in 1885, this historical novel is a 3.5 for me. Although there are some grammatical errors and too many instances of fortunate happenstances, I still enjoyed reading this book, published by the Chinese Reconciliation Project Foundation, and would strongly urge middle grade readers, especially those living in Washington, to read it and learn more about their history and the wrongs rendered against Chinese immigrants. It's impossible to read this book and not wonder what one's own actions during those times might have been as well as to feel a sense of pride that it was mostly the youngsters in the book who seemed to lead the way toward fair treatment. Readers' hearts will break at the living conditions of the book's protagonist, eleven-year-old Ty Ritter, whose abusive, alcoholic father, barely does anything to earn the title of father. Ty's learned to stay out of his father's way and to avoid the attention of his classmates. He is unable to read and is dirty and unkempt. When Eva Doyle, a new classmate who has moved to Tacoma from New York with her mother, befriends him and sees something in him that others have not, his life begins to change. She gives him a feisty street cat to go along with the friendly three-legged dog, Minus, that Ty has recently adopted, and love comes into his life as he and his pets sleep in his father's barn. Ty crosses paths with Mr. Low, a Chinese restaurant owner, who saves his life, and his pregnant wife. But business isn't good for the restaurant as xenophobic white men become determined to drive out all the Chinese living and working in the town. Even the mayor of Tacoma seeks to remove them by force and intimidation, and it's clear that the laws and promise of this new land don't hold true for Chinese immigrants. It's impossible to ignore the fact that it is these "foreigners" who treat Ty far better than his own family. While I wished to know even more about each of the characters, I came to care about them deeply and to hope for the best for them even while realizing that ignorance makes it easy to blame others in times of trouble. It happened back in 1885, and it continues to happen in 2020, 2021, and 2022. Perhaps books like this one will help readers realize that mistakes have been made in the past and there is little use in blaming or demonizing a particular part of the population. ...more
Taking literary license with some of the events in and around Leningrad as Adolph Hitler's troops threaten the Soviet Union during WWII, this historicTaking literary license with some of the events in and around Leningrad as Adolph Hitler's troops threaten the Soviet Union during WWII, this historical fiction is riveting and packed with action. Twelve-year-old twins Viktor and Nadya Danilov lead a privileged life in the city but are sent away for safety as the Germans approach Leningrad in 1941, attempting to surround the city and lay siege to its residents. Their father is conscripted into the army, and their mother remains behind to pack up the contents of the museum where she works. But the siblings are separated when they are assigned to different trains. Viktor is, of course, determined to find out his sister's whereabouts, and even though newspapers report that her train has been destroyed, he knows that this cannot be the case since the bond between them is so strong that he would know if she had died. Both youngsters face perilous situations as they try to survive amid challenging conditions but also with the help of some newfound allies. There is a mystery at the heart of the story that will keep readers turning the pages. With its unusual format, including notebook or journal entries, photographs, maps, flyers, and news clippings, the book is unique enough to stand out from others focused on this particular period of history. Everything is framed as being part of a dossier about the twins' actions, a dossier that contains their notebooks--Nadya writing in black ink and Viktor writing in red--a dossier being read by Colonel Valery Smirnoff to determine whether they are guilty of various crimes. Smirnoff's written annotations and observations reveal Soviet thinking at that time and add another layer to the narrative. The siege of Leningrad resulted in the death of at least 650,000 individuals. Readers in search of something different from the typical fare for young readers will find it in this book. ...more
This one is a 3.5 for me, and while I expected it to be light and frothy, that certainly wasn't the case. the protagonist, sixth-grader Leah Nevins isThis one is a 3.5 for me, and while I expected it to be light and frothy, that certainly wasn't the case. the protagonist, sixth-grader Leah Nevins is dealing with a lot of issues that will be familiar with middle grade readers. Since her family has moved to be near her elderly great-grandfather, Leah is discombobulated because her friends are back at her old school and she isn't sure about where she fits in at her new school. A trio of girl she calls the Three D's because of their first names might be possible friends, but Leah often feels that she's an outsider to their jokes and history. She longs to be accepted by the uber-popular Isabella Lynch who is confident and has a great fashion sense. But Leah's also worried about her Zaide since her parents want to move him into assisted living as his Alzheimer's makes it hard for him to live alone safely. Leah is close to Zaide, and she simply cannot allow that to happen. After hearing his stories about making a golem back in Poland, Leah stumbles on the remains of one and decides to try her hand at doing so in order to provide assistance for him at home. She is successful, but Elsa, her creation, turns out to be quite a handful, mistreating Zaide and coming to school, and hanging out with the popular crowd. Leah quickly begins to question her own actions and how much control she has over Elsa. As for Elsa, she doesn't appreciate being denied anything, and she gets back at Leah whenever she can. Eventually Leah realizes that she put her own insecurities about her looks, her nose, her family, and her place at school into her golem, and that her motivation wasn't as pure as she claimed it to be. And while she is taken into isabella's inner circle, she also discovers that Isabella has many false beliefs about Jews and only plans to use her. The final 25 pages of this book are particularly strong as Leah realizes that she's good enough just the way she is and that true friends will accept her as she is, a great message for all readers, no matter their age. ...more
This novel is a 3.5 for me. I'll read anything Francisco X. Stork writes because he chooses his words so carefully and allows tension to build, momentThis novel is a 3.5 for me. I'll read anything Francisco X. Stork writes because he chooses his words so carefully and allows tension to build, moment by moment, as he crafts his stories, including this one. Undoubtedly, there will be many adolescents with whom this story will resonate, and high school sophomore Hector Robles may remind them of themselves and others they know. Hector lives with his older brother, Fili, his younger sister Aurora, and his Mami in the projects of El Paso. Drugs and gangs abound in the nearby streets, but Hector considers college a way out. Plus, his brother has plans to move the family to a safer neighborhood similar to the one in which they lived before their father's death. Everything changes when Fili is killed during an argument with Chavo, a gang leader, and Hector reacts impulsively. He's sent to reform school, but that's exactly where Joey, his brother's killer, is. Hector is given good advice by several of the inmates, but his anger keeps him determined to exact revenge on Joey. Slowly, he starts to realize that he may never to make things okay again, but he still has a future. The comparison between the two boys and the characters in The Old Man and the Sea is quite interesting since no matter the outcome of the fight between the two, both will be marked in some way. The book's pacing is spot-on, and I read quickly to see how everything would unfold even though I was pretty sure about the outcome. I also appreciated having a friendship and not a romance between Hector and Azi, who also has ambitions for the future and loves chess just as much as Hector does. In fact, I missed her presence in the last part of the book. ...more
This one is a 3.5 for me. I enjoyed its strangeness that was blended so carefully with the ordinariness of a teen boy trying to fit in after moving frThis one is a 3.5 for me. I enjoyed its strangeness that was blended so carefully with the ordinariness of a teen boy trying to fit in after moving from Germany to rural Alabama. But I also wondered about some of the characters and what made them behave as they did. While I grew up in the South--not Alabama, but definitely, the rural South--I never encountered snake-handling evangelicals or others of that ilk. I'm not denying that individuals like this exist. I suppose I continue to be concerned that the South and Southerners are often portrayed in such an exotic and negative light. Nevertheless, the author captures some of the essence of Southern ways--the football and hunting cultures, the drinking parties, the importance of religion--and the humid days and nights that leave one feeling lethargic. When Max arrives in Delilah, a small town not far from Tuscaloosa, he's still reeling from the loss of his first love and confused about his unique ability to bring dead things to life. Haunted by his earlier fears about death, he tries to hold back his powers. But when he meets Pan, who has aspirations of being a witch, he falls in love again and shares his secret with Pan. But Pan toys with Max since he is still involved with another boy. I was impressed with how complex these characters and their feelings are and how Max is embraced by the football team and its leader, Davis. This acceptance paves the way for Max to fit in to the rest of the high school more readily, and readers will surely be aware just how tenuous that acceptance might be should Max veer from the norm. While he's different from his peers, those differences that he shows aren't so markedly different as to result in his being shunned. But inside Max, there are many aspects that veer from societal norms. If nothing else, this book reminds readers of the price of fitting in and being untrue to oneself while capturing the delights of finding a kindred spirit in a most unlikely place and then feeling unsure about that love. While I didn't completely buy Max's fascination with the Judge, I could relate to his need to seek and find answers through religion. This is powerful, meaningful writing with a story that won't leave readers' hearts soon, lingering the way the heat of an August day does even when night falls. The book explores in several interesting ways the concept of masculinity and what it means to be a man. And that ending, oh, my!...more
Another strong offering from Elizabeth Acevedo, this novel in verse charts the path toward understanding and forgiveness between two girls, literally Another strong offering from Elizabeth Acevedo, this novel in verse charts the path toward understanding and forgiveness between two girls, literally sisters from two different mothers and the same father. While one teen, Yahaira, lives in New York City, the other one, Camino, lives in the Dominican Republic with her aunt. Both girls have strong relationships with their father, who visits the Dominican Republic every summer, and they have no idea that the other daughter exists. The past year has seen fractures in the relationship between Yahaira and her father after she discovers that he has another wife, a secret that she keeps. But the double life he's been leading is revealed when he dies when a plane bound for the Dominican Republic crashes. Yahaira is assailed by regret and disappointment as she tries to navigate grief, gutted by this enormous loss and yet confused by the complexity of her father and the part of his life he kept from her and her mother. Camino experiences some of the same emotions, but she always worries about her future and how she will afford the tuition at the school she attends or imagine a future that included the career goals she has set for herself. She also contends with the unwanted advances of El Cero, a sexual predator who preys on vulnerable young girls and regards her as ripe for the plucking. Since the narration shifts from one girl to the other for most of the book, it allows readers to understand both perspectives and consider the challenges of loving someone who isn't perfect but still deserves love and what might prompt someone to behave rashly. The relationship between Yahaira and Dre, her girlfriend, is also an important part of the story as is the title (Clap When You Land) itself. I've noted that there are times when fellow passengers clap for the pilot or plane or whatever deity allowed us to land safely when I've been flying, but I also liked the idea of both girls landing on their own two feet and thriving as they build their relationship. Interestingly, although the two girls' perspectives are separated during most of the book, the final section blends their voices in different sections. It can be challenging to discern which girl is speaking since the voices become similar, but perhaps that's the point. This title speaks to many teen readers who are coping with their own losses and life challenges while also touching delicately on the short attention span many of us and our media outlets have for disasters or world events, quickly moving on to the next big story or concern. ...more
Just as she did so successfully in Braced, which examines physical challenges, Alyson Gerber does a marvelous job of taking readers into the thoughts Just as she did so successfully in Braced, which examines physical challenges, Alyson Gerber does a marvelous job of taking readers into the thoughts behind the behaviors of someone with ADHD. The title is actually perfect for this book because that's precisely what the narrator's problem is--a lack of focus. Seventh grader Clea Adams has every intention to complete her homework and stay focused on her tasks, but lately, it’s becoming increasingly challenging. When her poor academic performance jeopardizes her involvement on the school chess team, something that she values highly, she also struggles with her friendships, her parents, her teachers, and herself, even denigrating her own intelligence. After she has been tested and identified as having ADHD, Clea is finally able to understand why her attention is often scattered and her best intentions aren't enough. Clearly, it isn't for a lack of trying. With the help of medication and counselling as well as support from her friend, Sanam, she develops some coping mechanisms. Still, hers is not an overnight success story since she continues to revert to old behaviors at times, sometimes blurting out inappropriate or thoughtless remarks and being easily distracted by certain noises. Readers’ hearts will hurt for this well-intentioned girl as she tries to navigate unexpected challenges. The author presents a likeable, if imperfect, character here, one who is desperate to change but doesn't know how to do so. All the drama with her friend Red, who is dealing with his own stuff and whose patience eventually runs thin, and the budding romance with Dylan, another classmate, add even more layering and authenticity to this story. I also liked Mr. Lee and Henley and the issues that Clea has with Quinn since readers will realize that just because Clea now has a diagnosis and coping mechanisms, not everything or everyone will fall in line. That's part of life--accepting what life has to offer, good and bad, and learning to stand up for oneself and what one needs. Not only should future teachers read this book in order to understand ADHD, so should the parents of those with it. It will certainly make them understand how someone like Clea thinks and feels. I'm so glad I read this one. ...more
In this sequel to The Fourteenth Goldfish, Ellie is thrilled to have her beloved grandfather Melvin living with her, even if he acts and looks like a In this sequel to The Fourteenth Goldfish, Ellie is thrilled to have her beloved grandfather Melvin living with her, even if he acts and looks like a teenager. He even attends school with her and helps her with her science experiments. When they seem to have discovered the secret to youth while experimenting with fruit flies and axolotl, Ellie is sure that she has the winning science fair project. But as it turns out, their experiment doesn't have the results Ellie expects, and her grandfather begins aging again. As Ellie ponders if the substance could save her cat, Jonas Salk. Middle grade readers will be touched by this story and relate to the many changes in Ellie's life--not only through the loss of her cat but also through her fledgling attempts at dating Raj who seems to be a better friend than a romantic interest while she also sees the possibilities in an old friendship. There's even romance in the wind for her grandfather, and readers won't be surprised when they see those connections between him and someone who seems perfectly suited for him. I love books featuring girls who are into science like Ellie and confident enough not to change at the whiff of a romance or to catch a boy's eye. I also appreciated the author's inclusion of a girl who likes chess and how some of life's most important lessons are learned from failures and mistakes. I also love the names of those cats--Jonas and Herschel and their namesakes. Jennifer L. Holm does it again, and does it very well, capturing all the joys and struggles of being thirteen and not being a clone of every other thirteen-year-old out there. ...more
This YA novel starts off with a strong premise, but it loses momentum three-fourths of the way through. There are plenty of twists and turns that willThis YA novel starts off with a strong premise, but it loses momentum three-fourths of the way through. There are plenty of twists and turns that will keep teens reading to see how things turn out, but I wish the ending had been a bit more solid. As another reviewer mentioned, while it might be comforting to some to simply say that the act of suicide is selfish, that seems to be a simplification of a complicated decision. Parts of the plot made me think of recent headlines and events at various schools, of course, and the use of a flawed narrator in Eli, a sophomore, makes the story more interesting to read. After the one-year anniversary of the suicide of freshman Jordan Bishop at Haver High, two of Jordan's friends enlist Eli's hacking services for an online competition, which turns out to be more of an attempt to wreak vengeance on all those who did wrong to Jordan and contributed to his death. Eli has secrets of his own about some of his own online actions, but as he watches some of those who disparaged Jordan when he was alive be brought to their knees by embarrassing online videos and materials, he finds himself feeling sorry for some of them. As he is drawn further and further into the plot, he's also dealing with keeping everything a secret from his best friend, a budding romance, and with an overprotective woman who's come into his father's life. But how far can he trust his new friends? After Jordan's suicide, the school gained access to students' online activity, a move that I would have liked to have seen explored even more. There is always a way around those sorts of controls and attempts to thwart the free exchange of ideas, just as there will most likely always be those who will want to basically spy on others. But how legal are those sorts of actions? Did no one express concern about them? Examining these questions would have given the book additional heft, and make it even more timely. As things stand, I sometimes felt as though I was reading a book set in today's world and sometimes one in the very near future. Teens might enjoy debating whether school or government officials can behave as they did in this book and what the consequences of posting certain materials might be for them and for others....more
In the fourth book featuring the Brewster triplets, seventh grade ends up being quite a turning point and nothing like the girls expected it to be. InIn the fourth book featuring the Brewster triplets, seventh grade ends up being quite a turning point and nothing like the girls expected it to be. Instead of being in all the same classes and in Color Guard, they have different schedules and share only one class. Readers will enjoy watching the girls grow in different directions even while remaining steadfastly loyal to each other even though they face some rocky road along the way. I laughed at Dawn's attempts to expand the scope of cheering so that other athletic endeavors and clubs got an injection of school spirit even when it distracted the participants. Their older sister Lily has a surprise for them, which I saw coming from the start, but still, reading this was entertaining and served as a reminder that everyone is unique, even twins and triplets. Having the story told from three different voices gives readers a chance to get to know each of the girls' personalities and is an impressive writing feat since Darby, Dawn, and Delaney have very different voices. Middle graders will enjoy this series and look forward to more as the girls grow up. ...more
I wasn't sure what to make of this story since there were so many characters and so much happening in its early pages that it took a little while befoI wasn't sure what to make of this story since there were so many characters and so much happening in its early pages that it took a little while before I started to see all the connections. I'm not sure that having a mountain goat living on the top of a high-rise apartment in New York City is the best idea, but after reading the book, I understood how something like that could happen. The goat is the thing that brings several of the residents of the building together in a quest to find out if he really exists or is just an urban legend. When Kid's family comes to stay there while her mother is in a play, leaving her cat behind with her grandmother, she isn't particularly eager for the experience, especially since she herself is quite shy and doesn't take to new folks very easily. But she forms a fast friendship with Will, a boy who is dealing with his own fears and losses and loves to spend time in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. There are also a dog named Cat, a blind skateboarder, and an understandably overprotective grandmother as well as a grieving son featured as part of the book's plot and characters, all of them in need of a little luck and understanding. As for that goat, all it wants to do is reach the alluring green of Central Park. Although I did like the story, there were quite a few very quirky individuals with whom to contend as I read it, and I felt as though New Yorkers in general were depicted as eccentric when most of them are about as normal as the rest of us. They just happen to live in a well-known urban setting. ...more
This honest and straightforward memoir shares the story of its author's formative years and his incarceration at nineteen for second-degree murder. ShThis honest and straightforward memoir shares the story of its author's formative years and his incarceration at nineteen for second-degree murder. Shaka Senghor grew up in a middle class neighborhood in Detroit, and as his parents' marriage imploded, the young boy felt increasingly isolated and alienated and lost sight of his life goals. Conflicts with his mother prompted him to leave home for the streets where he stumbled upon a quick and easy way to make money--selling drugs at 14. The allure of the thug life with its quick cash for luxury items and readily available sex was tempered by the constant threat of arrest and violence. More than once, Senghor found that he had smoked up his profits and that it was impossible to trust anyone. Not only was he shot as a teen, but he eventually killed a man in his neighborhood when a deal went awry. The story Senghor tells here is a familiar one to many, especially those that have watched their beloved cities and neighborhoods changing due to a drug culture, but is also one told with hope and full awareness of the wrongs that he did as well as the wrongs that were done unto him. Just as Malcolm Little (X) discovers once he's in prison, Shaka finds solace and redemption through reading and social activism, serving as a mentor to others. He even begins writing in a journal and fashioning his own novels, providing readers with a ready example of how writing can save lives and allow us to understand our own actions more deeply upon reflection. This might be familiar territory, but it is also important territory when one considers the numbers of men and women who are incarcerated today and the way the prison system seems designed to break them down without offering much hope for the future. The wonder of it all is that Shaka has survived years of solitary confinement, disappointment, betrayal, and anger, and willingly shares his story with others. One reviewer mentioned that he doesn't explain how the change in him occurred, but I tend to disagree. His was a gradual change, brought on by years of reading, soul-searching, forgiveness on the part of others, and his promise not to let his son down. As I finished reading the book with its clever title, I couldn't help but think about how many others just like this man who are lost in our prison system with little hope for the future. I am grateful for his having told this story, especially without glorifying his street life. Because he has years of perspective on those years and those actions, he seems them quite differently now than when he first experienced them. This is an important book that reminds us of the humanity that lies within those that our society locks away. While I'm not foolish enough to think that everyone can be saved, the book prompts me to think that there must be a better way than what we are doing right now. ...more
Like many readers, I adored this book's predecessor, Sunny Side Up with its interesting characters. This graphic novel picks up right where that one lLike many readers, I adored this book's predecessor, Sunny Side Up with its interesting characters. This graphic novel picks up right where that one left off, dealing with some of the previous book's unresolved issues. Sunny Levin tries to keep her chin up even while middle school leaves her confused and her older brother Dale is absent, sent to a reform school to deal with his behavioral and drug-related issues. Sunny loves her brother, but he is still angry and resentful, and even when he comes home on a break for the holidays, it's clear that he isn't okay. Sunny worries that the brother she loves so much is gone for good. But life goes on for her, nevertheless, and thanks to the kindness of a new neighbor, she learns how to twirl flags and figures out how to navigate the rocky path that her life seems to have taken. Not only did I love the sections featuring her grandfather and his Florida home, but the sections with Dale and her best friend, Deb. And as another reviewer has remarked, the cultural references from that time period--1976--are so spot-on that I felt as though I'd traveled back in time to my own late adolescence. Jaws, General Hospital, the Six Million Dollar Man, the Brady Bunch, Gilligan's Island, Donnie and Marie Osmond, and even pet rocks--ah, they are all here, much to my embarrassment, palpable evidence of the strangeness of those times, which become even stranger when viewed from the distance of several decades. Young readers will be clueless as to what any of these mean unless they do some searching for themselves or have some conversations with the older members of their family. Once again, Jennifer and Matthew Holm have delivered a moving and authentic book that depicts the struggles many teens face while growing up and trying to find themselves. ...more
Twelve-year-old Marcel loves riding his bicycle everywhere he goes and dreaming of competing in the Tour de France. For the most part, WWII has left hTwelve-year-old Marcel loves riding his bicycle everywhere he goes and dreaming of competing in the Tour de France. For the most part, WWII has left his small town of Aucoin unscathed, but as the Germans infiltrate the area, his blissful rides are often interrupted due to increased security at various checkpoints. Still, he manages to move around town and even outside of town without too much trouble. His parents even have him deliver loaves of bread and cakes with his mother being careful to tuck in a tempting spice cake to distract anyone who stops him. The author captures Marcel's innocence perfectly as well as his dismay when he realizes that the baked goods he has been carrying contain secret messages and that his parents are part of the Resistance. Their involvement is fortunate since his new classmate, Delphine, and her family are going to need all the help they can get to leave the area as it becomes increasingly dangerous for Jews. There are parts of the story that will make readers' hearts race as Marcel must push himself harder than he ever has before in order to save his friend's life. The trickery with the yummy cakes as distractions or delicious bribes to look the other way was very clever too. I'm not sure how willing most parents would be to put their offspring at risk in this way, but I certainly came to admire Marcel's spirit and his determination to do what he could to help someone important to him. I also liked how he ended up adopting the family cat left behind when Delphine escapes. ...more
After twelve-year-old Stevie Grace Tanner is orphaned, she is sent to live with her grandfather in Little Esther, Texas. She knows very little about tAfter twelve-year-old Stevie Grace Tanner is orphaned, she is sent to live with her grandfather in Little Esther, Texas. She knows very little about the place or the man since her parents never told her about him and kept secrets about their lives before coming to live in Taos, New Mexico, where they sold flowers and fruits. Not only does Winston, her grandfather, not meet her at the bus station, but when she arrives at the rundown motel he runs, he hasn't prepared a hot meal for her at all; instead, he opens and warms a can of Campbell's soup for her meal. Readers will realize quickly that his distance from his granddaughter must hide some secrets and pain, and they will fall quickly in love with Stevie with her positive attitude and determination to brighten up the motel. When she enlists several of Winston's employees in planting a garden in the front of the hotel, everyone's on board with her project except her grandfather, who cannot abide any changes whatsoever. When she accepts an invitation to stay with her father's sister in Alexandria, Louisiana, she finally feels the sense of love, belonging, and family that she's been missing so desperately. Nevertheless, she still decides that home is back in Texas where she has planted seeds and plants that must surely be flourishing, just as she herself might be if she gives things a chance. Readers will find it interesting to note how many secrets have been kept by both sides of her family and marvel at her resilience and positive nature as well as the connection she makes with the soil and growing things. This title makes a great read aloud as the voice of Stevie is strong and hard to forget. ...more
Given the large number of men and women incarcerated in the United States, it is shocking that there are so few books for teens featuring protagonistsGiven the large number of men and women incarcerated in the United States, it is shocking that there are so few books for teens featuring protagonists whose parents are in prison. This book makes up for that lack. Seventeen-year-old Riley Beckett loves her father and believes in his innocence even though he is on death row, awaiting execution. Time and time again, she and her mother have had to move because of the reactions of others when they hear that are the family members of the murderer of three women in the Houston area. Ever since she was six, Riley has looked forward to visiting her father in prison as well as reading the letters he sends her. With his execution only a month away, he confesses to the crimes for which he has been incarcerated, a confession he immediately retracts. Riley teams up with Jordan Vega, the son of the police chief who put her father away, in a last-ditch attempt to find an error in the legal strategies or some clue as to who committed those crimes. Riley is isolated and vulnerable and has been subject to quick judgment on the part of others who learn the identity of her father, which makes her slow to trust anyone. As they sift through the evidence, Riley learns that neither of her parents is particularly honest, and that both have held onto secrets or deceived her at some point. The author provides clues that take readers down one path and then another as they try to figure out what's going on. I was sure I had a good suspect, but I turned out to be wrong. Still, when the book concludes, I couldn't help asking myself why in the world Riley's father went to all that trouble to be free from his marriage? Why didn't he simply get a divorce and start fresh somewhere else? The passages in which Riley ponders the honesty of her parents and whether she even knows her father or mother at all were particularly interesting to read. In many ways, Jordan was too good to be true, but I'm glad Riley had someone on whom to lean during her trials. Most of all, though, the book reminded me to always make note of the types of games someone likes to play since there are clues as to his/her behavior and choices based on those games. In the case of Riley's father, life seemed to have been a long game of chess with pawns being sacrificed so that he could eventually have what he wanted. I enjoyed this thriller even though it left me with unanswered questions. ...more
Like so many middle graders looking for a way to avoid trouble during those particular years, sixth grader Charlie Burger thinks he might have a foolpLike so many middle graders looking for a way to avoid trouble during those particular years, sixth grader Charlie Burger thinks he might have a foolproof plan. He'll just stay out of the way of any bullies and fly way beneath the radar so that no one will notice him. But unfortunately, bullies aren't that easy to thwart, and he gets in trouble simply for eating a sandwich that's different from the norm. When his very odd science teacher encourages him to write in his journal, Charlie is doubtful that writing will have any use at all in protecting him. But to his surprise, his writings about Dude Explodius, his imaginary superhero alter ego, start coming true, and life becomes a little bit more bearable. As his written words silence his pesky little sister, his bitter and verbally abusive coach, and his nemesis Boomer Bodbreath, though, Charlie begins wondering just how far he should go with his writings and imaginary adventures. In this, her very first book, the author takes readers back to middle school with well-written scenes of humiliation as well as those changing emotions between boys and girls, and has created a likeable character in Charlie. Middle grade readers will also love his best friend, Franki, who is dealing with a tough home life and a stepfather who is out of control while somehow managing to have the courage to face off the bullies at Gatehouse Middle School. While there is quite a lot going on in this humorous book, which interchanges the main storyline with Charlie's journal writings, and musings about his own grandfather, much of it will appeal to readers who see themselves in Charlie or Franki and recognize that friendship is its own reward. While there are hints of romance in the future, I prefer to let the relationship play out as loyal friends who have each other's back. ...more
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