It’s Spring Break, and Zara and her brother are spending the weekdays with their grandparents. Naano recently retired and Zara is worried that he won’It’s Spring Break, and Zara and her brother are spending the weekdays with their grandparents. Naano recently retired and Zara is worried that he won’t find stimulating hobbies and stay busy. Nana seems to just want them to do chores all week. Zara decides this is her chance to step up - does her best to make the week fun and exciting for everyone involved.
This is the third book of the series, however it was easy to pick up on the diverse array of characters and setting that populate Zara’s life, even without having read any of the preceding titles. Occasionally the illustrations did not match the descriptions in the text, but this is a minor complaint. Khan’s writing reflects Khan’s Pakistani-American background and will engage the target audience. Recommended for Elementary and Public Libraries....more
The cover here, with the roses and ribcage, made me think it was going to use visual metaphor a lot. Like Laura Lee Gulledge, and other cartoonists oThe cover here, with the roses and ribcage, made me think it was going to use visual metaphor a lot. Like Laura Lee Gulledge, and other cartoonists of that ilk. But this is a pretty realistically told story of one kid's struggle with disordered eating, her overbearing mother, a parental death, and other trauma. There's a crush, there's a trip to Paris, there's the struggle of comparing yourself with your best friend. Many things I've seen before in other stories. Although the way things develop with the best friend was less familiar than I expected.
The illustrations mostly follow the cover, minus the vibrant pink/red of the flowers. Very fine lines, limited pastel palette. Heartbreaking, based on the author's life experience (according to the Afterword). Includes a short but well-rounded list of resources in the back matter....more
Priya loves planning parties and wants to save the Quokka, so when her mom's best friend asks her to plan a birthday party, it's a great opportunity tPriya loves planning parties and wants to save the Quokka, so when her mom's best friend asks her to plan a birthday party, it's a great opportunity to earn money to save the cutest animal on earth!
I loved how this story took the engaging style I first saw in The Owl Diaries and used it for a human kid who's part of the Indian global community (I honestly can't remember if it ever indicates where Priya's family lives in the world). The predictable structure (diary entries every day for a week leading up to a climactic event on the weekend) and myriad illustrations are extremely effective.
I took this out to local schools and used the Quokka as a hook. I think lots of kids will enjoy it!...more
Something about that subtitle made me think this was going to have some instructional/nonfiction content. But it's very much a narrative/fiction storySomething about that subtitle made me think this was going to have some instructional/nonfiction content. But it's very much a narrative/fiction story. Also a good example of "New Adult," if we're still using that term.
Molly has grown up in a small southern town where an Art College is the main attraction. Her moms own the local hardware store. She's always wanted to attend the school, and won a scholarship that will give her a full ride. Heart-breakingly, when she shows up for orientation, there has been an error, and the scholarship is no more. So she finds a loophole in a different scholarship fund and concocts a plan to create a softball team that should result in the members of the team getting financial aid. It doesn't matter if the team is good, so she just needs to recruit a coach and enough players to show up and win at least one game.
Omigosh, I didn't do a great job of articulating the basics of the plot, and it still took so many words. It doesn't feel that convoluted in the telling. Effective, engaging, full-color illustrations, easy to follow. Variety of panel layouts. I enjoyed getting to know the cast of characters, who all use different art mediums. Liked the commentary on small town economies and the preservation of community institutions.
Incidentally edgier than it might look from the cover - some cussing and one of the artists draws (always obscured in the reader's view) porn. ...more
Maya loves fashion. She’s studying to be a fashion designer at Guatemala’s most prestigious fashion training program. Her passion is working with uncoMaya loves fashion. She’s studying to be a fashion designer at Guatemala’s most prestigious fashion training program. Her passion is working with unconventional and recycled materials. One day, Maya’s best friend and classmate introduces her to a new guy. What follows is a devastating series of events that lead to Maya and her mother seeking to cross the Mexico-United States border seeking asylum. Maya’s choices and coming of age are heart-wrenching to watch. She has a close relationship with her mother and that relationship is tested as the plot develops. Recommended for older middle schoolers and high schoolers. //proreview
You wouldn't know it to look at what I wear every day, but I know a little bit about fashion. My partner is a fashion designer/textile artist, who had a successful business making clothes out of other, upcycled clothes for years prior to the pandemic. We've watched most of the fashion design-focused reality shows we've been able to get ahold of. So I was excited to see how much of this focused on Maya's fashion passion. It did surprise me how long it took to get to the border, considering the title of the book. The events focused on in the summaries I'd read don't occur until I'd gotten about two thirds of the way through the pages. That slight mis-sell besides, though, I found this very engrossing. The life she describes in Guatemala reminded me a lot of the times I've visited Mexico. I loved reading about the town where her mom grew up. And I appreciated the nitty-gritty details given to the border crossing and process.
I'll be thinking about Maya for a long time, I think....more
Aaliyah and her friends can’t wait to see their favorite K-Pop band live in concert. Tragically, when the day finally comes, a terrorist attack targetAaliyah and her friends can’t wait to see their favorite K-Pop band live in concert. Tragically, when the day finally comes, a terrorist attack targets the concert. Aaliyah and her close friends aren’t physically harmed, but the bombing still has major effects. Aaliyah’s family is Muslim, and White supremacy soon raises its ugly head. One of the major threats to Aaliyah’s family comes in the form of her best friend’s brother. In response to the increasing hostility towards Muslim folx, Aaliyah decides to start wearing a hijab, as way of increasing the visibility of positive representation of Muslims. Then, the school administrator bans students from wearing religious symbols.
Dassu’s story is a heartfelt demonstration of advocacy. Although this story is based in England, many of the principles of activism apply in the USA. The supporting cast is diverse and distinct, and backmatter addresses allyship and the author’s lived experience that is relevant to the story. ...more
I took this out to local middle schools in late 2023, and we talked about different ways that humans change their minHave you ever changed your mind?
I took this out to local middle schools in late 2023, and we talked about different ways that humans change their mind. Sometimes it's personal preference, sometimes it's a matter of zeitgeisty trends, sometimes it's a cataclysmic paradigm shift, sometimes it's just your vibe from a person.
People change their minds all the time. And I think it's easy to forget that in today's polarizing world.
During my talk with the middle schoolers, I asked if any of them have ever had to argue for an opinion opposite from what they topic, and basically everyone raised their hand. It's a very common assignment in school. This is a novel in verse depicting that experience, focusing on six diverse students. I appreciated the very intentional layers and nuances the authors put in.
Relateable, on top of covering an important, relevant, ripped-from-the-headlines topic for our time.
Merged review:
Have you ever changed your mind?
I took this out to local middle schools in late 2023, and we talked about different ways that humans change their mind. Sometimes it's personal preference, sometimes it's a matter of zeitgeisty trends, sometimes it's a cataclysmic paradigm shift, sometimes it's just your vibe from a person.
People change their minds all the time. And I think it's easy to forget that in today's polarizing world.
During my talk with the middle schoolers, I asked if any of them have ever had to argue for an opinion opposite from what they topic, and basically everyone raised their hand. It's a very common assignment in school. This is a novel in verse depicting that experience, focusing on six diverse students. I appreciated the very intentional layers and nuances the authors put in.
Relateable, on top of covering an important, relevant, ripped-from-the-headlines topic for our time....more
Historical bc it's the late 00s, yo. (wild) Not-Amerika bc all the characters and the author are originally from Toronto (though the author's lived in Historical bc it's the late 00s, yo. (wild) Not-Amerika bc all the characters and the author are originally from Toronto (though the author's lived in the US for many years now).
Interpersonal drama of a very familiar kind. Friend #1 visits Friend #2 in NYC. Friend #2 brings Friend #3, who's never met Friend #1 before. The trip doesn't turn out the way any of the three friends intend or like.
This is squarely New Adult - about college students doing adult things for some of the first times in their lives. The title refers to cell phones, among other things - whether or not to use Roaming minutes is big thing in the plot, since (like I said) the characters are from Canada.
Jillian Tamaki's gorgeous illustrations are in black and white with beige and gray-blue accents and shadowing throughout. She's magical.
They stay in a hostel. They like to do museums differently. It's one of those formative experiences where you Find Out Who You Are.
Brought back some memories. Even though I'm over five years older than these characters must be....more
It's been a WHILE since I enjoyed a non-comic book this much. As all the summaries say, this is Gossip Girl/Mean Girls crossed with Dear White People.It's been a WHILE since I enjoyed a non-comic book this much. As all the summaries say, this is Gossip Girl/Mean Girls crossed with Dear White People. Dark academia mixed with a serious conscience. A lot of pretty scenery and clothing descriptions AND an opportunity to really dig into Blackfishing and why it's bad (among other things). I got the men mixed up early on, but that's pretty typical for me.
It was smart of Omotoni to tell this story from two perspectives. Two cousins, each with totally different ways of confronting the fact that they're two of the only Black folx who go to fancy Wodebury Hall. I appreciated that parts of the story happen off campus, and that we got a chance to see some of the cousins Nigerian cultural roots.
Oh, I should mention the hook: One Monday morning, students arrive on campus to find that some one has left photographs of everyone lying around. And on the back of each photo is a secret about the person in the photo. Finding out who did it and why pushes estranged cousins Iyanu and Kitan into a shared mission.
Fluffy, smart, engrossing. It feels like a high school book, but doesn't have anything I wouldn't give to a middle schooler.
All that said, this book absolutely suffers the plight of forgettable title....more
Reading this book feels like watching the Heartstopper TV series. That's all I need to say to get some of you to read it, I'm sure.
It’s never fun beinReading this book feels like watching the Heartstopper TV series. That's all I need to say to get some of you to read it, I'm sure.
It’s never fun being in love with a straight friend. Especially when you’re not out! The main character, Cat, is fixated on the zodiac – she’s the one all her friends turn to when they want a horoscope. She’s stuck in a secret crush on a friend when she meets someone new... and sparks fly.
Woolf wrote this book to be fun and romantic, as an alternative to heavier, issue-led books about queer life that have dominated in the past. Excerpts from chat threads and other ephemera are included at the beginning of each chapter.
Really sweet story about two kids meeting at a Con. I reviewed the Proof edition, which was only colored through page 16. That said, the color work inReally sweet story about two kids meeting at a Con. I reviewed the Proof edition, which was only colored through page 16. That said, the color work in those 16 pages was really distinctive and vibrant.
Warm and fuzzy, cute and sweet. Love the depiction of limb difference and queer representation. ...more
Evelyn and Allie both feel like outsiders. Evelyn is struggling to pull her robotics team together. Allie keeps getting in trouble at school and is onEvelyn and Allie both feel like outsiders. Evelyn is struggling to pull her robotics team together. Allie keeps getting in trouble at school and is on the brink of being expelled. When Allie is forced to join the robotics team, it starts to look like a disastrous combination. The story is told in alternating chapters between Evelyn and Allie’s perspectives.
While Evelyn and Allie both cue White, all of the remaining members of the robotics team are cued POC and have a variety of abilities and sexual identities. Evelyn is Autistic, and Allie is starting to realize that she may be Asexual. They both learn lessons about teamwork and friendship as they get ready for a big robotics tournament.
Pretty great realistic stuff for middle school....more
Kid's dance crew is thirsty to win the break dancing competition this year, because they're all in 8th grade and will split up to go to different highKid's dance crew is thirsty to win the break dancing competition this year, because they're all in 8th grade and will split up to go to different high schools next year. Then kid's parents see his grades and ground him - AND insist that he get a tutor, who happens to be his annoying science lab partner.
Spoilerish (though it's on the cover): She's a great yoyo-er! He gets into a new hobby!
Fun J Graphic Novel that will appeal to Raina Telgemeier/realistic GN fans (with a little more edge and action). Galligan took over the Babysitter's Club GNs after Telgemeier moved on, so there's legit DNA crossover. Planning to take this out to middle schools next time I go....more
TBCD Jennifer Jones was convicted of killing her friend at 10 years old. She served 6 years in jail. Now she's trying to live a normal life. How could TBCD Jennifer Jones was convicted of killing her friend at 10 years old. She served 6 years in jail. Now she's trying to live a normal life. How could she possibly do that?
Great TBCD with riveting characters - the "model" mom, the obnoxious friend, the slimy boyfriends and male associates of her mother, the boyfriend, the mother figure. Great psychological examination and addresses the drama of living under an assumed name with the media always searching for you. Nice attention to detail, you really come to feel for our heroine. Good high school booktalk, although it's pretty heavy.
Merged review:
TBCD Jennifer Jones was convicted of killing her friend at 10 years old. She served 6 years in jail. Now she's trying to live a normal life. How could she possibly do that?
Great TBCD with riveting characters - the "model" mom, the obnoxious friend, the slimy boyfriends and male associates of her mother, the boyfriend, the mother figure. Great psychological examination and addresses the drama of living under an assumed name with the media always searching for you. Nice attention to detail, you really come to feel for our heroine. Good high school booktalk, although it's pretty heavy....more
Mai has felt betrayed by Zach for years - ever since she overheard that conversation he had in town. Mai and Zach's families spend summers together aMai has felt betrayed by Zach for years - ever since she overheard that conversation he had in town. Mai and Zach's families spend summers together at a vacation house - until recently, that is, when Zach's family moved to Japan. Now they're back, and Mai's ready to take her revenge.
Florence uses the capsule location of the vacation house to focus on just a few relationships in Mai's life. Sometimes Mai's mental gymnastics are a little hard to believe, but she's a middle schooler, and I know that tracks with teen development. I appreciated the inclusion of KPOP fandom and bird watching as a hobby.
The tagline on this is "There are three sides to every story--his, hers, and the truth," so I thought we might get multiple perspectives, but it's really just through Mai's lens. Also, the whale illustrated on the cover is nothing like the whale sculpture that's described in the book.
Light, and yes - sweet. I'll probably take this out to middle schools, as Mai's squarely in middle school....more
Ayo's mom runs a Black Lives Matter-type activist movement in Harlem. Ayo wants a chance to do something else. Then, tragedy strikes, and Ayo has toAyo's mom runs a Black Lives Matter-type activist movement in Harlem. Ayo wants a chance to do something else. Then, tragedy strikes, and Ayo has to re-examine her life. One unique thing about this is that Ayo follows a treasure hunt around Harlem to various Black icons, places, and people's stories.
Good secondary characters (the lgbt2q tag is for a couple of those). I also love that cover....more
Illuminating look at what it's like to live on the border.
Twin siblings make different choices for where to go to middle school, and their lives sudIlluminating look at what it's like to live on the border.
Twin siblings make different choices for where to go to middle school, and their lives suddenly become starkly different.
One twin goes to school in Mexico, where they live and meets a new friend who introduces them to weed. The other carpools across the border to the US, where they struggle to learn the language and keep up with their schoolwork.
This schism affects their relationship with each other, and with their parents, as well.
Engagingly illustrated in full-color. A great window into an experience very different from mine!...more
Ugh, I hate it when I don't get around to reading a book until four years after it was published. This one has stayed on my list because I just love tUgh, I hate it when I don't get around to reading a book until four years after it was published. This one has stayed on my list because I just love that cover. Even though the title is one of those generic phrases that is ubiquitous in a certain sector of YA. It had been so long since I put this on hold that I'd completely forgotten what it was about.
This book is about grief. And it is about music.
Three characters, three perspectives. All of them have recently lost someone IMPORTANT to them.
They're all connected to this one band, in different ways, but those connections aren't all revealed until pretty late in the book.
The voices of the three characters aren't particularly distinct, but the characters themselves are.
It took me a while to read, but that's partially because I needed to put it down after every chapter or so to get a break from the grief.
When I was young, swimming was one of my passions. I was in swimming lessons as an infant, and kept taking lessons until I transitioned onto a synchroWhen I was young, swimming was one of my passions. I was in swimming lessons as an infant, and kept taking lessons until I transitioned onto a synchronized swimming team when I was 6 years old. I stayed on that team until my freshman year of High School, when we went to Nationals across the country. Swimming regularly was a large part of my identity in my early life.
Bree does not share my experience. Bree recently moved from NYC to Florida, and she's about to start middle school. She quickly learns that the big sport in her new region is swim team. But Bree doesn't know how to swim! One thing follows another and she ends up needing to change that. Christmas includes information about the history of Black culture and swimming. See this article for some context, but there's lots of information and documentation of this phenomenon if you do a search. A lot of this story, though, is about Bree's very specific experience. Her friendships with other members of the team, their rivalry with another school, her relationship with her dad and his connection to swimming, and her relationship with an elderly neighbor.
I loved the way the author showed the character trying something new, and the community supports around that experience. I also appreciated how Bree has to choose between Math Club and Swim Team. As a parent of a middle schooler, I'm freshly aware that middle schoolers have to make some potentially life-altering decisions about how they're going to spend their classtime. Having to choose what skills you're going to cultivate is a very realistic struggle of middle school.
At first, I didn't love the illustrations of this book - Bree's face, in particular, feels younger than her 6th grade age to me, and reminded me a little of a kewpie doll or something similarly dated. But the story drew me in, and the cover and full-color illustrations should draw the JGN crowd.
Extra star because of the importance of representing this topic, alongside repping single dadhood....more
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