Where the Dead Sit Talking by Brandon Hobson (2018) was a finalist for the National Book Award. The is adult fiction.
The main character, Sequoyah, teWhere the Dead Sit Talking by Brandon Hobson (2018) was a finalist for the National Book Award. The is adult fiction.
The main character, Sequoyah, tells his story and in doing so, the reader learns about the issues he faced in the 80s of: poverty, having Native American blood, having a parent in prison, living in someone else’s home as a foster child, emotional and physical scarring, his androgynous identity, his friendship with two other foster kids: George and especially Rosemary, and living with trauma.
Hobson said in an interview with Electric Lit in February 2019 that this book was written to explore the big questions that teenagers ask, “Who am I?” and “What is my identity?” He explained more about his main character by saying, “I basically didn’t want it to be just a stock Native character that falls into stereotypes.”
Hobson has created a complex protagonist and narrator in Sequoyah who is telling us, as a man in his forties, his story - recalling his childhood and especially the year when he was 15. Hobson’s writing is clear, inviting and full of nuance and intrigue.
Here is a passage where Sequoyah is watching/witnessing/discerning Rosemary. “She was concentrated on whatever she was writing, but I didn’t ask her about it. I listened to her breathing and found myself imagining she was in a cage, and I was in an observer who could free her. The cage I imagine, was a glass cage with a glass door, and I had the key to set her free. Somehow the image felt absurd as I stood there, watching her write in her notebook, but I couldn’t help feeling I wanted her to look at me and say something. She was too invested in her letter or note or whatever she was writing to look up. I turned and walked away.”
Here is a passage where Sequoyah describes a his experience of briefly being with his mother after not see her in a long time. “It was raining when we got to the courthouse in downtown Tulsa. Inside, I was able to meet with my mother before the hearing. They brought her into the room, where I sat with Liz (Liz his caseworker). I was irritated by everything there – all the people in the courthouse, the procedures, the deputy’s mean stare. She had gotten thin since I visited her last, and her hair was longer and pulled back. Her eyes were bloodshot. But worse than that, it occurred to me how much she had lost her freedom. She wasn’t able to have a private conversation with her own son, not until a court of law, allowed it. The deputy scratched at his crew cut and stood with his arms crossed.”
I appreciated how well I got to know Sequoyah and his early life. ...more
Gather by Kenneth M. Cadow (2023) is a YA novel for readers 13 and up and was a National Book Award Finalist for 2023.
Early in the story Gather, a stGather by Kenneth M. Cadow (2023) is a YA novel for readers 13 and up and was a National Book Award Finalist for 2023.
Early in the story Gather, a stray dog who Ian named Gather, wanders into his life, and stays. A bond between Ian and Gather develops which is a positive and powerful “anchor” in Ian’s life.
This is the story of a dirt-poor, rural Vermont boy Ian Gray who doesn’t much like school learning and is doing his vey best to be a good son. Ian lives with his mom. She has deep issues with drugs. She is struggling to be a responsible adult. She loves Ian and Ian loves her. There is rarely heat in their ram shackled farmhouse. Ian carries the responsibility of keeping things afloat for him and his mother. He earns a little money but how could a high schooler earn enough?
His father – who had abandoned Ian and his mother and is a negative force in Ian’s life - now wants Ian to come live with him. Ian begrudgingly goes. His father really does not show Ian any caring. Soon Ian runs away from his father.
This is, in many ways, a harsh and realistic novel about the kinds of lives some young people face. Moreover, there are caring loving people who help Ian along the way and some step forward dramatically to provide even more of an “anchor” than Gather ever could.
I believe this is a National Book Award Finalist because Cadow tells this story through plots lines and well-developed characters that reflect the values of perseverance, community, empathy, courage and the potential of good in humanity in a realistic family situation that displays severe challenges.
This is not a light read. It is a worthy read. I recommend this book. ...more
Not all sequels build on the strengths of the first book. Momentous Events in the Life of a Cactus (2019) by Dusti Bowling is an excellent sequel to BNot all sequels build on the strengths of the first book. Momentous Events in the Life of a Cactus (2019) by Dusti Bowling is an excellent sequel to Bowling’s first book, Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus (2017) which received multiple highly positive reviews. Aven Green, the main character of both books, was born with no arms and does everything she can with her feet. Everything from writing to eating. This is not a fictional condition. This specific limb difference does occur. In fact, as I mention in my review of the first book, Dusti Bowling asked two women who have lived with this specific limb difference to read her book before it was published to let her know if she had accurately portrayed her character Aven Green. Both assured her she had. Momentous Events in the Life of a Cactus is an authentic next step for Aven, who is now fourteen years old and beginning high school in a building of over 2000 students. High school is a challenge for many and, as Kirkus writes in their review, “Those preparing to ‘slay the sucktastic beast known as high school’ will particularly appreciate this spirited read.” I agree. Once again, Bowling doesn’t dodge tough and realistic topics. Among them are the awkwardness of adolescence, disability, adoption, aging and death, friendship, targeted humiliation from schoolmates, family, self-confidence, and self-acceptance. As in her first book about Aven . . . Bowling masterfully has created a story that doesn’t become a sterile textbook of how to handle the trials and challenges of adolescence. The plot, subplots, characters, and pacing all ring true. Both books, Momentous Events . . . and Insignificant Events . . . are written to be accessible to and appeal to middle school audiences – even with the setting of Momentous Events . . . is a high school. I wholeheartedly recommend this book....more
The Turtle of Michigan by Naomi Shihab Nye (2022) was honored as a Michigan Notable Book. This is a contemporary novel for 8- to 12-year-olds about ArThe Turtle of Michigan by Naomi Shihab Nye (2022) was honored as a Michigan Notable Book. This is a contemporary novel for 8- to 12-year-olds about Aref’s (pronounced R-F) move from the Arabian country of Oman to Ann Arbor, Michigan and how he and his parents (who came to attend graduate school) adjust to their new life. It is a big adjustment for Aref. He misses his grandfather, who stayed in Oman. The Kirkus Review says it best – this is “a humorous, sensitive, and poignant family centered take on coming to a new county”. My impression of this excellent story is that it would be a wonderful family read aloud book. The story has all kinds of possible topics for conversation for the family. There could be many gentle probing questions around the new experiences of traveling to America, the small new apartment, Aref starting third grade in Ann Arbor, and the new surroundings. Plus, just thinking about Aref’s feelings of being eager and unsure as he learns about Michigan and makes new friends. Aref wants a turtle. The turtles in Michigan are small compared to the turtles of Oman. Things are different in America. And Aref embraces the difference. He meets his neighbors, makes friends at school, and experiences a new climate. And he still misses his grandfather who stay in Oman. This is a stand alone second book about Aref. The first is The Turtle of Oman also by Naomi Shihab Nye (2014). The first book is the story of Aref learning about his parents’ upcoming 3 years of study in America and preparing for the move to America. Kirkus says in its starred review, “A warm and humorous peek at the profound and mundane details of moving from one country to another—a perfect pick for kids...” I recommend this book to young independent readers and/or as a great read aloud with lots of room for discussion. ...more
The Words We Keep by Erin Stewart (2022) is a YA novel for readers twelve and up. This is a beautiful story that realistically and sensitively addressThe Words We Keep by Erin Stewart (2022) is a YA novel for readers twelve and up. This is a beautiful story that realistically and sensitively addresses the topic of mental health in young adults as they live their lives. This novel has earned starred reviews from the School Library Journal, Kirkus Review, and Publishers Weekly. The School Library Journal writes: “Stewart authentically presents the subject matter and isn’t afraid to address the negative, including self-harm and the stigma facing those with mental illness. This book’s message—that people with mental illnesses are still human and trying to deal with their own problems of friends, family, and romance—is thoughtfully handled.” The main character is Lily, a high school junior. Two other important characters are Micah, Lily’s partner for an English project and Alice, Lily’s older sister. Each of these characters have mental health issues that range from bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, to obsessive compulsive disorder. The secondary characters of parents, siblings, friends, and teachers all add to this realistic tone of the content. Mental health is an issue for many young people. This is an exceptionally well written story that the Kirkus Review states: “. . . there’s an overpowering sense of hope underlined by an achingly sincere message: Speak up and get help if needed.” Truthfully, even though this book’s characters are middle class, these health issues are America’s challenge and impacts young people from all backgrounds. The current statistics in America are startlingly dramatic in the numbers of young people who need help. The Mental Health America 2023 Key Findings (https://mhanational.org/issues/2023/m...) reports that:16.39% of youth (age 12-17) have suffered from at least one major depressive episode in the past year. And that “59.8% of youth with major depression do not receive any mental health treatment. Further that, “6.34% of youth in the U.S. reported a substance use disorder in the past year.” ”No one would ever say that someone with a broken arm or a broken leg is less than a whole person, but people say that or imply that all the time about people with mental illness.” ~ Elyn R. Saks who is an associate dean and Orrin B. Evans Professor of Law, Psychology, and Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences at the University of Southern California Gould Law School, an expert in mental health law, and a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship winner. The Words We Keep by Erin Stewart is an outstanding book. I recommend it to young adults, parents, grandparents, and teachers. I hope it generates conversation and action to expand mental health services for all youth across the country. ...more
The Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat (2022) is fast moving, intriguing fantasy for 9 to 13-year-olds. This well plotted action escapade that takeThe Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat (2022) is fast moving, intriguing fantasy for 9 to 13-year-olds. This well plotted action escapade that takes place in a world much like ours in a time long time ago. Sai is our 12-year-old unlikely, practical and resourceful heroine. If you like books with well-developed characters who are learning about their integrity and the integrity of others, The Last Mapmaker is rich in such characters. Plus, the plot involves: mentorship, adventure, growing up privileged vs non privilege, colonization, exploring, strong female characters and the wondrous power of maps and map making. I recommend this book!...more
You’d Be Home Now by Kathleen Glasgow (2021) is an excellent work of realistic fiction. It is a YA novel for 14 to18 year-olds and anyone wanting to rYou’d Be Home Now by Kathleen Glasgow (2021) is an excellent work of realistic fiction. It is a YA novel for 14 to18 year-olds and anyone wanting to read a truthful story about the complexity drug dependency brought on by the current opioid catastrophe in America. The main character is Emory Ward is a 16-year-old in a family of five. She is the younger sister to a sister in college and to a 17-year-old brother, Joey. Emory is seen as the good daughter, and she is the stories narrator. Joey is addicted to heroin and oxycontin. He is in crisis. Thus, the family is in crisis. In its starred review the Kirkus Review writes that this is “a gut-wrenching look at how addition affects a family and a town”. The Wards are a wealthy, privileged family that live in a relatively small town, so their status is, in a sense, a “character” in the story. Glasgow creates characters: in the family, at the high school, in the community, and in the rehabilitation community who are strong and believable. Emory’s point of view really sheds light on the impact of addiction on others. Yes, it effects the individual and it effects the systems the individual is directly or indirectly involved in. This is a powerful book. Glasgow presents a truthful, complicated, heartbreaking story of a real part of the current American experience. Far too many families are affected by the opioid crisis. I recommend this book. ...more
Never Saw You Coming (2021) by Erin Hahn was a recipient of one of this year’s Michigan Notable Book Awards. Newer Saw You Coming is a well written, rNever Saw You Coming (2021) by Erin Hahn was a recipient of one of this year’s Michigan Notable Book Awards. Newer Saw You Coming is a well written, rich in characters, serious, and funny YA novel set in Michigan. It tells the story of two recent high school graduates, Meg, and Micah. They both have had a serious (not casual) Christian upbringing and they are falling in love with each other. These are first loves. So, it is a romantic novel. In addition, the effect that their Christian rearing has had on each of them also is ever present and becomes a major lens that each Meg and Micah view the world through. So, it is a romantic first love story with Christian religious issues ever present throughout. The Kirkus Review of the book explains that “The characters affirm a belief in God and love of Jesus as the nuanced narrative includes their frank questioning of their religious communities’ treatment of the vulnerable and stances on modesty and purity culture, abstinence education, and homosexuality.” This is a good book for someone who appreciates that for young people like Mag and Micah – each of them will likely have deep questions around the religious education they have had so far in their lives. Again, Erin Hahn has written an engaging novel that may speak volumes to some readers while helping them to think about themselves and their path own path through their religious and romantic development, and on the other hand, this novel may be more religious than the reader was looking for in a “first love” romance....more
Planet Earth Is Blue by Nicole Panteleakos (2019) is a middle-grade novel. It is set in 1986 and is about Nova, a 12-year-old girl on the Autistic SpePlanet Earth Is Blue by Nicole Panteleakos (2019) is a middle-grade novel. It is set in 1986 and is about Nova, a 12-year-old girl on the Autistic Spectrum Disorder who has lived in eleven foster homes in seven years and who hardly ever speaks and when she does her words are few and often mispronounced. Kirkus Review gave it a Starred Review – calling it “Stellar!” Nova lived in the first ten foster homes with her older sister Bridget. Now Nova, for the first time, is placed in a foster home without her Bridget. Nova desperately misses her sister and knows her sister will come be with her on the day that the Challenger is going to be launched. She knows this because Bridget and Nova were very close and one of their bonds was their love of space travel. And Bridget had told Nova they would watch the Challenger take off together. Panteleakos has written a captivating and powerful story that reveals what is going on in Nova’s mind as she: learns to live with her eleventh foster family, misses Bridget and their shared love of astronomy and the history and future of space travel, begins to go to and figure out yet another school, misses the time when she and Bridget lived with their mother, and is excited that the first teacher in space is part of the Challenger’s crew. In the eighties teachers knew much less than they do know about the autistic spectrum and as a result, Nova is misunderstood and her potential for learning was underestimated. Nova’s foster parents in this eleventh home, can see her potential. So, her future, as a learner, is bright as the story ends. As the book nears it ending, Nova is watching the Challenger take off while at school. Bridget is not there. Nova has not been in touch with Bridget. Nova cannot imagine why Bridget hasn’t been with her in this new foster home and especially for the launch of the Challenger. On the day of the launch, with her teachers and classmates, Nova watched the Challenger explode in mind air. The Space Shuttle Challenger disaster was a fatal accident in the United States space program that occurred on January 28, 1986, when the Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart 73 seconds into its flight, killing all seven crew members aboard; it was the first fatal accident involving an American spacecraft in flight. (From Wikipedia) The reality of watching the explosion helped Nova remember the reality of what happened to Bridget. This is an excellent, hopeful, and loving story. Panteleakos has written with compassion and truth about life. She is sensitive to the delicate nature of the topics and delivers a masterfully written book for middle readers. Her afternotes about autism and the Challenger’s launch are also excellent. I recommend Planet Earth Is Blue! ...more
Born Behind Bars by Padma Venkatraman, 2021 is a gripping novel for kids 10 and up. It would also be fine for younger children as a read aloud with a Born Behind Bars by Padma Venkatraman, 2021 is a gripping novel for kids 10 and up. It would also be fine for younger children as a read aloud with a parent or grandparent to talk with them about the story.
The book is a work of the author’s imagination. She came across a BBC story in 2013. The content of that story left Padma Venkatraman with these facts in her mind: “A boy had been born in jail, and when he was set free, he fought to free his mother, who had languished in jail because she was too poor to post the bail.”1 This news article combined with memories she had have been born in India, led her to create this work of fiction for your readers.
The main character in Born Behind Bars is Kabir, a nine-year-old boy. The setting is in India and begins in a jail in the city of Chennai. Kabir’s mother, Amma, and she is in jail for being accused of crime she did not commit. Amma is poor and has no way to fight for her freedom. Months after being put in jail she has a baby, Kabir. The only home Kabir has ever known was the jail with. That is until the jailers decided he needed to leave because he turned nine. His mother remained in jail. Kabir is freed and is basically alone. He meets another child who is alone, a girl a little older then he is and the two of them embark on a journey with the hope of somehow being able to free Amma.
Already, I am sure there are readers of this review who are thinking that this kind of story is not likely to be accessible to young children. Venkatraman is a gifted with a talent to write remarkably interesting books for young readers. Her topics, pacing and language that keeps readers wanting to know what is going to happen next. Her chapters are short and always provide new information. And, while this is a unplayful tale - it is also a tale of: friendship, resourcefulness, and the love of a son for his mother. The Kirkus review states - “it is a gritty story filled with hope and idealism.”
This book also opens the realities of life in India for poor people, children alone and a judicial system that can keep people locked up without a trail for years and years. Having visited India, I have seen the poverty, the orphans and the systems of government still under development.
I highly recommend this book!
Further, I also recommend another excellent book for this age of reader is The Bridge Home, written by Padma Venkatraman (2019) and also set in India and focusing on homeless children. ...more
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, 1999, is an important book. It was a National Book Award finalist.
I just read it, now 22 years after it was published,Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, 1999, is an important book. It was a National Book Award finalist.
I just read it, now 22 years after it was published, and it still is important. Especially, for pre-teen and teenage girls, teenage boys, parents and teachers of preteens and teens. Important because the issues of rape are relevant today.
Anderson does a terrific job of showing the traumatizing effects on Melinda of being raped. Melinda is a 13-year-old who is about to start high school when the assault happens. Her friends don’t know what happened to her and they, her friends, back away from her because they don’t know about the rape and don’t understand her actions just after the rape. She becomes isolated and avoided by others. She doesn’t confront the boy. She retreats socially, she doubts herself, she is losing her self-confidence. She does not tell her secret. She holds it and it is a terrible burden to her.
Anderson takes us through the freshman school year and in the end, Melinda does stand up for herself and uses her voice.
This is a book to read and talk about with others.
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson (2019) is a popular YA murder mystery with a 17-year-old senior girl (Pip) attempting to uncover the trA Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson (2019) is a popular YA murder mystery with a 17-year-old senior girl (Pip) attempting to uncover the truth about criminality that occurred five years prior in her community. Pip is on this journey because she believes the truth of who is responsible for a murder has yet to be discovered and she is committed to finding the truth. Seniors in her school are required to do a ‘capstone project’. Pip has chosen to do her ‘capstone’ on the crime(s) that occurred in her community five years ago. Jackson has written a fast-paced novel. Full of details and possible suspects. YA mystery appreciators will find a lot to like in this book. It is suspenseful. It is shadowy, bleak, and alarming. These are not happy words because it is about a murder/suicide. Motives are examined. Secrets are uncovered. And, in its True Crime kind of style, the story continues to twist and turn to the last pages. If you are looking for a fast-moving dark mystery, this may be for you.
One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus (2017) is a Young Adult (14 and up) murder mystery. Mysteries can be very appealing to a Young Adult audiences,One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus (2017) is a Young Adult (14 and up) murder mystery. Mysteries can be very appealing to a Young Adult audiences, especially when the plot weaves many suspects into such a tight web - so that readers turning the ‘next page’ of the book becomes the only way to confirm or negate the readers’s suspicions. One of Us Is Lying is tight and intriguing. Karen M. McManus has created four suspects and the victim from the same high school. The suspects don’t have a lot in common. We learn about them and the victim and this becomes a strong ‘who-done-it’ with of shifting and complex information coming in at a fast pace. The topics are obviously serious. The police are investigating a murder. This would be a great novel for YA readers to discuss with teachers, parents or friends that have read the book. There are important, real life, topics ripe for discussion - there is: bullying, social status issues, rumors, secrets, eating disorder issues, kids drinking, kids being offered drugs, mental health issues and more. Thoughtful discussions can come from many directions given the wide array of provocative situations this work of realistic fiction presents. This book is popular: McManus has written sequels. Plus, One of Us Is Lying has been made into a TV series and will begin streaming in October of 2021 on Peacock....more
Sadie by Courtney Summers (2018) is young adult fiction. Readers from 14 on up (including adults) are likely to get a lot out of it. It is a suspensefSadie by Courtney Summers (2018) is young adult fiction. Readers from 14 on up (including adults) are likely to get a lot out of it. It is a suspenseful, mystery about revenge. It received both the Edgar Award for Best Young Adult literature and the Audie Award for Young Adult literature. Summers writes with such skill she takes this brutal story with themes of rape, pedophilia and drug abuse and authentically presents Sadie on her quest for revenge. This book begs to be discussed. Many issues. Many possible reactions from readers. This is a serious and realistic story. I recommend this book. ...more
Turtle Boy by M. Evan Wolkenstein (2020) is a YA work of realistic fiction for anyone 10 and up. Will is a seventh grader and he is having a rough yeaTurtle Boy by M. Evan Wolkenstein (2020) is a YA work of realistic fiction for anyone 10 and up. Will is a seventh grader and he is having a rough year. His father died when he was a preschooler. He is being raised by his mom. He has trouble making friends and he loves turtles. Will is being helped to prepare for his Bar Mitzvah by Rabbi Harris and Rabbi Harris assigns community service to visit a boy, RJ, who is dying. Will becomes friends with RJ and helps him with his bucket list. This novel is a journey of a seventh grader in self-awareness and awareness of others. The story is tight. It is a moving journey. ...more
A Sitting in St. James by Rita Williams-Garcia (2021) is a YA work that has earned starred reviews from Kirkus and Horn Book and the 2021 Boston GlobeA Sitting in St. James by Rita Williams-Garcia (2021) is a YA work that has earned starred reviews from Kirkus and Horn Book and the 2021 Boston Globe-Horn Book Fiction award. This book is critically acclaimed. I found it to be a terrific read!
Willams-Garcia transports the reader to a slave plantation in Louisiana in the 1860’s. We learn about forced servitude through the perspective of white southerners. The white owner family (three generations are characters) has nearly bankrupted this sugar plantation. The matriarch of the family is determined to leave an exalted legacy of herself and the family at all costs. The slaves are controlled, demeaned, and worked as if they were animals and there is hardly a white character who sees anything the least bit wrong about this.
Yes, this is a work of fiction: Historical fiction. And, fiction can provide real opportunities for learning about history and points of view important to our country’s heritage.
This is a book about the real inhumane conditions of slavery in America’s South. Williams-Garcia ‘shows’ rather than ‘tells’. The stories and characters are complex, compelling and human. The characters individual motivations, desires and needs interact and entangle with the realities of slavery, white privilege, false pride, control, supremacy, and inhumanity.
I recommend A Sitting in St. James to young people, parents, teachers, librarians and anyone wanting to be exposed to a masterfully written story which can increase awareness and understanding of the ugly and systemic realities that of part of our history.
Moreover, I really recommend finding buddy or group of buddies to read and discuss this book with. That might be a family read, a class read, a book club selection or you and grandma reading and discussing it together.
In it’s June 15, 2021 edition, The Horn Book’s Paulette Brown Bracy sums up this book by writing, “In this sweeping, richly researched, and powerfully delivered tale of privilege and exploitation — often a difficult read — Williams-Garcia’s storytelling is magnificent; her voice honest and authentic.”...more
Indivisible by Daniel Aleman (2021) is a YA novel about a family in the middle of America’s painful and serious immigration dilemmas. And, through DanIndivisible by Daniel Aleman (2021) is a YA novel about a family in the middle of America’s painful and serious immigration dilemmas. And, through Daniel Aleman’s abilities as a storyteller this family’s set of circumstances are rendered with authentic love and resourcefulness.
The family consists of a father and mother who came to America from Mexico over fifteen years ago. They have two American born children. A girl who is seven and a boy who is sixteen. The sixteen year old, Matt, is our narrator.
The family lives in New City. The time is close to the present.
Both the mother and father are picked up by ICE and jailed. This sends Matt and his sister into deep desperation. Their futures, immediate and long term, are spilt asunder by the disruption of the ‘deportation tornado’ that has scattered their lives.
This novel explores one family’s tormented journey. It is realistic, relevant, and riveting! It is also rich in humanity and hope. I recommend it....more
I loved this book! It grabbed me and held on. The author presents authentic characters, an intricate and believable plot and writing that both caused I loved this book! It grabbed me and held on. The author presents authentic characters, an intricate and believable plot and writing that both caused me to stop and appreciate a beautiful sentence while also being eager to read the next one. This realistic fiction effectively presents a snapshot of the responsible/messy/ugly complexity of, at least parts of, today’s world.
Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley (2021) is a YA novel for 14 year olds and up. Our narrator is Daunis, an 18 years old who was on her way to be a freshman at the University of Michigan to be to study medicine when circumstances in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, her home town, become a serious mess. She stays home to provide support for her mother.
Daunis has a white mother and a deceased Native American father. This book is about many things while always being about Daunis. She is the narrator.
This compelling story involves elements: the schools, the tribe (the Ojibwa), a hockey league, drug use in the upper Peninsula, privilege and stereotypes (cultural, economic and/or gender related), serious crime, an exploration of current Ojibwa culture and traditions, the FBI is involved, many lives are lost while others have been forever changed, and so many more sensitive ingredients.
Angeline Boulley writes with compassion, clarity, potency and reverence for her material and her reader. The results are that the reader is in very good hands.
This is a great read. I recommend it highly....more
The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise, a novel by Dan Gemeinhart (2019) is delightful. Coyote (not her real name) is the name her father calls her The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise, a novel by Dan Gemeinhart (2019) is delightful. Coyote (not her real name) is the name her father calls her by. She is almost thirteen. And, as the title proclaims, she is on a journey. She is on a journey to know more about herself, herself with others and herself trying to achieve a goal. And she is on a journey in an old school bus. This is a captivating and engrossing tale. Gemeinhart is a gifted writer. He knows how to create characters and twists and turns overflowing with intrigue. This is an excellent book for 9 years olds on up. Enjoy!...more
The Inside Battle by Melanie Sumrow was published in March of 2020 with an intended audience of middle schoolers/young adults. From my point of view, The Inside Battle by Melanie Sumrow was published in March of 2020 with an intended audience of middle schoolers/young adults. From my point of view, having read just this book months after January 6th, 2021- is that the current realistic audience is anyone who wants to explore the complexity of “othering” and think deeply about the possible impacts on family members of white supremacist as well as the potential motivations of those who get involved in groups of white supremacist.
Sumrow, in this work of fiction, brings the reader to know a 13 year old boy, Rebel Mercer, whose father has served in the military and is suffering from PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). The father has joined a racist and an anti government militia. And Rebel is also grieving a major loss.
This story is told by Rebel. He is a student that is successful in the school’s robotics club. He is not real outgoing. He has a good school friend, Ajeet. He wants to understand his father. He is deeply trouble by his father’s hate of others. He wants to be in a normal relationship with his Dad. He wants to find his voice so he can talk about what is on his mind.
This story brings so many current issues to the surface, including: white supremacy, violent dissent, and targeting groups of “others” - while also exploring the possible personal impact felt by those close to those who have chosen an anti-government path. Additionally the realities young people face regarding per relationships, school expectations and loss are also explored.
Melanie Sumrow’s work has the potential to stimulate readers to think with and discuss their reactions and wonderments about Rebel’s experience and the general experience in America at this time (especially January 6, 2021) with peers, parents, teachers and/or others. I recommend this book....more
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