This is not a quick or easy read. But it is well worth it with some wonderful passages. The book is one of those that keeps expanding spirals of ideasThis is not a quick or easy read. But it is well worth it with some wonderful passages. The book is one of those that keeps expanding spirals of ideas and events into a deeper and deeper understanding. What is it to be an immigrant, what is it to be part of a diaspora of a nation that is collapsing, what is it to be the daughter in a failed marriage. What is it to be human and accept and understand the fallibilities of family and the people around you. How do you respond to a culture that is and isn't yours - by staying and staying and living it and coming to grips with yourself and what you witness. ...more
There's a lot going on in this book - coming out, multi-cultural life in Ireland, a queer romance, reconciling identities (muslim and queer); culturalThere's a lot going on in this book - coming out, multi-cultural life in Ireland, a queer romance, reconciling identities (muslim and queer); cultural appropriation. This is definitely a book showing different lives and ways of being muslim ...more
Interesting insights into a-romantic a-sexual orientation set in last days of high school and first year of university. Learnt quite a bit including tInteresting insights into a-romantic a-sexual orientation set in last days of high school and first year of university. Learnt quite a bit including the Durham university concept of "marriages" and "parents" which is a real thing! Thanks to audiobook sync for the free audiobook....more
Jane Austen meets Huda Fahmy - another hilarious contribution to global understanding of (a perspective) on life as a muslim woman. Must have for everyJane Austen meets Huda Fahmy - another hilarious contribution to global understanding of (a perspective) on life as a muslim woman. Must have for every library....more
This is just the perfect book for young teen boys about having a best friend that has your back through thick and thin. A huge number of gender and racThis is just the perfect book for young teen boys about having a best friend that has your back through thick and thin. A huge number of gender and racial stereotypes are tackled as subtext in a non-obvious way that can lead to excellent discussions. All the scenarios are so typical of the first year of middle school that readers will be nodding along in recognition Love that the school band / orchestra gets front seat in this novel. ...more
Kelly Yang does it again with a dramatic ride of the "left behind" daughter joining her family (who is not doing as well as their letters suggested) iKelly Yang does it again with a dramatic ride of the "left behind" daughter joining her family (who is not doing as well as their letters suggested) in the USA. At first I was a little confused on the age of the protagonist vs. the topics being dealt with - I can get making her in G5 would work as that's when kids have one homeroom teacher and don't have the issues of middle school but at times I thought the type of things she's dealing with would be hard for the typical 10 year old to understand and make a meaningful contribution / connection, but then again 1000s of kids are "dealing" with so much.
I like the fact that Pete was never redeemed and they all walked away. Sometimes that's the best solution to someone who just refuses to change. A tiny quibble - it's very hard to know the gender of a fetus at 10 weeks. ...more
Sweet inclusive book about a group of boys finding themselves and trying out the futures the envisage for themselves separate from family and the presSweet inclusive book about a group of boys finding themselves and trying out the futures the envisage for themselves separate from family and the pressures to conform to ideals. Light romance that is school appropriate and a few themes of exploitative internships and trying to work out friendship vs. affection. Thanks to Libro.fm for the arc....more
This is one awesome book - it gradually sucks you in until you can't put it down to find out what happens at the end. I liked the amazingly strong proThis is one awesome book - it gradually sucks you in until you can't put it down to find out what happens at the end. I liked the amazingly strong protagonist - the sports (ice hockey) with tough girl players. the insight into a different culture.
My only beef is that (like all YA at the moment) it could have done with a bit of editing for length and repetition....more
A hard book about hard things - racism violence do-gooders, and the cycles that perpetuate themselves until people have the strength to face the past A hard book about hard things - racism violence do-gooders, and the cycles that perpetuate themselves until people have the strength to face the past & present. No excuses are made on any side & each examine their part in what happened. A must read. ...more
A most enjoyable read as I prepare to move to the middle east - there's a lot happening - death of a mother, murder of grandmother, multiple sclerosisA most enjoyable read as I prepare to move to the middle east - there's a lot happening - death of a mother, murder of grandmother, multiple sclerosis, falling in love, dealing with islamophobic teachers, friendships, international schools, muslim conversion 3CK, and romance in a muslim context - all very well done...more
A beautifully written book that takes you from despair to hope and back again as you read of the greed and folly of mankind only to find those who tryA beautifully written book that takes you from despair to hope and back again as you read of the greed and folly of mankind only to find those who try to redeem things. Key takeaways - take only 50% and teach our children restraint - diversity of views, backgrounds and context in our education and scientific endeavours is critical to our survival...more
I loved everything about this book - from the very cheeky title to the way she deals with identity issues in a new school, to the relationship with heI loved everything about this book - from the very cheeky title to the way she deals with identity issues in a new school, to the relationship with her mother and sisters. At first the title made me think it may be a little more mature than it actually is - but it's totally suitable for students from middle grade up with a very clever sense of humour - love the mother's constant "are you on drugs?" every time her grades slip but then totally goes to battle for her when she divulges it's the result of teacher racism. ...more
Continuing in the best-selling format - here are the smaller specialist books - this one focusing on Women protecting the earth - including some youngContinuing in the best-selling format - here are the smaller specialist books - this one focusing on Women protecting the earth - including some younger girls as well.
As always impeccably illustrated with just enough information to keep your interest and provide an overview on the topic.
A new feature is the "scan me" for some of the stories which leads to a downloadable "Rebel Girls" app with snippets of the stories - in order to get the full stories you need to pay which is a little deceptive.
Thanks to #NetGalley for the arc #RebelGirlsClimateWarriors #NetGalley ...more
I sometimes wish I was back in ES surrounded by picture books, reading aloud to students multiple times a day - particularly when I read books like thI sometimes wish I was back in ES surrounded by picture books, reading aloud to students multiple times a day - particularly when I read books like this one! We have a pretty robust picture book collection in Middle School and I spent some time this morning picking books with a fellow picture book fan and took a few minutes to read this - and realised it fits perfectly with our G7 unit on consumption and production. Sometimes a beautifully illustrated picture book can say more than all the statistics and infographics on very weighty topics. I need to spend more time reading picture books....more
This is a book that brought tears to my eyes a couple of times - it's so raw, so recent, and in fact ongoing. It is the story of many of us living in This is a book that brought tears to my eyes a couple of times - it's so raw, so recent, and in fact ongoing. It is the story of many of us living in Hong Kong or China who left as the pandemic started thinking we'd be back in a month or so. Separated from family and consistently frustrated by an external world that initially ignored the threat of Covid completely and refused to take any precautions and then moved to blame and persecution while still not taking the necessary steps to protect their populations.
But more than that, it's the story of the pandemic at the micro level - in a family where the parents lose their jobs or have their hours cut. Where relationships occur over chats and screens.
and then we get to the ADHD bit. When my ADHD son was growing up, beside Joey Pigza - there were NO books with ADHD characters, and even that one was totally non-relatable to him with unsympathetic family members and teachers and only medication as an option, plus the whole socio-economic matters that were important but an added complication that he luckily didn't encounter. In this book ADHD is shown for what it is - something that is truly beyond the control of the child. Something that makes them behave in ways that have sometimes terrible consequences, not just for themselves, but for their whole family. The dilemma of helping such a child to manage their neuro-diversity in a positive and proactive way, while buffering for when things go (horribly) wrong. The misunderstandings of everyone around and the blame. Then constant blame and finger pointing. And the impact on the siblings. I hope that Kelly Yang writes more about this topic.
A fun light read about how a book list and a library near closure bring a disparate group of people together.
The issue of children looking after parenA fun light read about how a book list and a library near closure bring a disparate group of people together.
The issue of children looking after parents with mental-health issues is sensitively dealt with. Nice choice of books for the list and woven in nicely with the stories of the protagonists and what their emotional needs are. ...more
Read it. Listen to it, access it in any way possible because this is just one amazing book. It is a book for people who love stories and the stories uRead it. Listen to it, access it in any way possible because this is just one amazing book. It is a book for people who love stories and the stories unfold and interweave and fold back into each other. And inside the stories are little nuggets of pain. It all unravels and you wonder how much you know and don't know about the lives of others. And there is a teacher. A wonderful teacher in a classroom, listening and asking. Definitely one to read and re-read. And to read aloud...more
There is no end to the fabulousness that the "Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls" movement has created. Each time they surpass the last with the gorgeThere is no end to the fabulousness that the "Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls" movement has created. Each time they surpass the last with the gorgeous images, great design and ability to encapsulate the life of someone in just one page.
This book (and series) is such a great starting point for my students when they're looking at biographies, as they can quickly understand the role someone has played and then later read a more in depth biography once they've oriented themselves on the person.
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