Month: August 2020

Class Act by Jerry Craft

~ Janet Dawson ~ 2 Comments

Published by Quill Tree Books (Released October 6)

Class Act - Kindle edition by Craft, Jerry, Craft, Jerry. Children ...

Summary:  The kids from New Kid are back for their second year at Riverdale Academy Day School, a.k.a. RAD.  This time, the focus is on Drew, who along with Jordan, is one of the few black kids in the school.  Drew lives with his grandmother, who still works long hours to support him, and he struggles with the unfairness of his situation when he’s invited to Liam’s house.  Liam, who is white, lives in a mansion with servants, a pool, and a stay-at-home mother.  When Drew starts hanging out with some older black RAD students, his friends have trouble understanding.  Ultimately, though, he’s drawn back to his original group, and finds a way to get past his pain and mend his friendship with Liam.  A visit from Liam to both Jordan’s and Drew’s neighborhoods highlights the warm community that is somewhat lacking in Liam’s life.  While the focus is on Drew, the story begins and ends with Jordan, who concludes that life is a lot of things, but perfect is not one of them.  And it’s time to draw some comics.  256 pages; grades 3-8.

Pros:  Just when I was ready to give up on 2020, I discovered an upcoming sequel to New Kid, and was able to snag an advance reader copy.  I am happy to report that it is every bit as good as the Newbery Medal-winning first book.  Appropriate to the new eighth graders, this book deals with slightly more mature themes, and the questions about race and racism are for the most part left as questions–no easy answers.  Let’s hope we get to follow Drew, Jordan, and the rest of the group all the way through high school.

Cons:  No easy answers is right, as I found myself feeling frustrated at how difficult it is for Jordan and Drew to find their places at RAD.

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A Game of Fox & Squirrels by Jenn Reese

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Henry Holt & Co.

A Game of Fox & Squirrels: Reese, Jenn: 9781250243010: Amazon.com ...

Summary:  Samantha and her older sister Caitlin have recently been moved from their parents’ home to live with their Aunt Vicky and her wife Hannah.  Although the reason is unclear at first, it has to do with Caitlin’s broken arm.  Caitlin seems happy to be there, but Sam misses her parents and her best friend and wants to go home.  When Aunt Vicky gives Sam her favorite card game, A Game of Fox & Squirrels, the characters begin to come to life for her.  Ashander the fox is charming and handsome, and promises her he’ll get her home if she can successfully complete a series of challenges before the next full moon.  Maple, Birch, and Cedar are three squirrels who help and encourage her.  Sam is eager to do what Ashander asks, but as the challenges continue, his rules start to change, and he begins to show a more frightening side.  Before long, Sam is in over her head, and isn’t sure where she belongs.  Aunt Vicky and Hannah are kind, and between bouts of homesickness, she starts to recall more troubling aspects of her life at home.  Ashander still holds out the promise of home, but is Sam willing to pay the price he is demanding?  224 pages; grades 5-8.

Pros:  This seems to be the year for books that examine child abuse, and this one does it in a way that blends fantasy with reality.  Sam starts to see her father’s traits in Ashander, with just the right amount of tension bordering on horror.  I hope this will be considered for some awards.

Cons:  There’s a lot of inferencing required to understand what has happened to Sam and Caitlin; that along with the blurry line between reality and fantasy may be confusing for some readers.

If you would like to buy this book on Amazon, click here.

How to Solve a Problem: The Rise (and Falls) of a Rock-Climbing Champion by Ashima Shiraishi, illustrations by Yao Xiao

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Published by Make Me a World

How to Solve a Problem: The Rise (and Falls) of a Rock-Climbing ...

Ashima Shiraishi's Book Shows Kids 'How To Solve A Problem' Like A ...

Summary:  Rock climbers call boulders problems.  They also call problems problems.  Rock-climbing champion Ashima Shiraishi shows readers how she figures out a boulder problem, using techniques that can be used by any kind of problem-solver.  She maps out a plan before starting.  She doesn’t get it right the first time, which means falls…lots of falls.  But she learns from each fall, adjusting her plan.  Finally, she makes it to the top: “I waved hello at the memory of how hard the problem was.  And looked for one problem more.”  Includes a letter from publisher Christopher Myers about Ashima Shiraishi and a timeline of Ashima’s accomplishments to date (she’s 15 years old).  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  This would make an excellent introduction to problem-solving, giving kids the opportunity to brainstorm ways to solve their own problems using Ashima’s techniques.  Readers will connect with Ashima, whose climbing career began at age 6.  The illustrations are gorgeous and may inspire future climbers.

Cons:  I would have loved more information on rock climbing with maybe a photo or two.

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Rescuing Mrs. Birdley by Aaron Reynolds, illustrated by Emma Reynolds

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Published by Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers

Rescuing Mrs. Birdley | Book by Aaron Reynolds, Emma Reynolds ...

Books — Emma Reynolds

Summary:  Miranda watches Nature Joe Animal Show every day, and considers herself an expert on nature.  So when she sees her teacher Mrs. Birdley in the grocery store, she’s prepared to capture her and send her back to her natural habitat, which, of course, is school.  First she digs a hole, lines it with pillows, and camouflages it with leaves, just the way Nature Joe caught a sick Bengal tiger.  Unfortunately, Mrs. Birdsley steps right over the hole, while the grocer, who is chasing after her to return her purse, isn’t so lucky.  A trap involving blueberry yogurt (which Miranda has observed Mrs. Birdsley eating) doesn’t work either, but the third time’s the charm, and Miranda gets her teacher locked safely back in school for the weekend.  She’s ready to move on when she sees Mr. Canklestout, the school principal, at the home improvement store….40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  Aaron Reynolds never fails to get the kid humor just right.  I can’t wait to try this as a read-aloud with some actual children.  Sure to get plenty of laughs.

Cons:  Kids, don’t try this at home.

If you would like to buy this book on Amazon, click here.

 

Nonsense! The Curious Story of Edward Gorey by Lori Mortensen, illustrated by Chloe Bristol

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Published by Versify

Nonsense! The Curious Story of Edward Gorey: Mortensen, Lori ...

Summary:  Growing up in Chicago, Edward Gorey was an avid reader, enjoying books as different from each other as Alice In Wonderland and Dracula.  A solitary child who skipped three grades and moved a dozen times, he loved passing hours writing and drawing.  After a stint in the army and four years at Harvard, Edward moved to New York City where he worked in the art department of a publisher.  After work, he wrote his own stories filled with ghastly silliness.  A group of mothers found his book The Beastly Baby so disturbing that they ripped it up and mailed the pieces to him.  But Edward was rarely influenced by what other people thought, and went his own way to achieve his own form of success.  Includes an author’s note with additional information, a photo, and additional sources of information.  40 pages; grades K-5.

Pros:  Any fan of Edward Gorey’s work will appreciate this homage, written and illustrated in a very similar style.  Try introducing Gorey to young Lemony Snicket fans.

Cons:  Those not familiar with Gorey’s works, including most of today’s kids, may not fully appreciate this book. 

If you would like to buy this book on Amazon, click here.

Show Me a Sign by Ann Clare LeZotte

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Published by Scholastic Press

Show Me a Sign: LeZotte, Ann Clare: 9781338255812: Amazon.com: Books

Summary:  11-year-old Mary Lambert lives in Chilmark, a community on Martha’s Vineyard, where, in 1805, many of the residents are deaf.  Mary and her father are deaf; her mother is hearing, as was her brother George, who died recently in an accident that Mary feels she caused.  Their community is somewhat uneasily intertwined with the Wampanoag and black freedmen, and Mary is aware of the racism expressed by some of the people closest to her.  Everyone in Mary’s life communicates through a sign language that has evolved on the island making the community distinctive enough to draw the attention of scientists.  One of them, Andrew Noble, arrives from Boston to stay with the local minister and study the population in hopes of better understanding the cause of deafness.  When Mary accidentally discovers a letter to Andrew asking him for a live specimen, she doesn’t realize that she is soon to become that specimen, kidnapped and taken to Boston for further study.  Mary awakens to the fact that most of the deaf population outside of Martha’s Vineyard are treated as less than fully human, and she becomes desperate to find a way to communicate and get help.  The story concludes with healing for Mary and her family, and with a vision of a brighter future for the deaf community.  Includes six pages of notes about the history of Martha’s Vineyard, deaf education, sign language, and the Wampanoag.  288 pages; grades 4-8.

Pros:  This is honestly a masterpiece of historical fiction that tackles so many different topics and doesn’t shy away from difficult topics.  Mary’s mother and best friend both have racist beliefs that don’t change by the end of the story, yet also have qualities that Mary loves.  This would make an excellent book club selection.

Cons:  I found the beginning a little slow going as there was so much to introduce.

If you would like to buy this book on Amazon, click here.

The Fabled Life of Aesop by Ian Lendler, illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski

~ Janet Dawson ~ 2 Comments

Published by HMH Books for Young Readers

The Fabled Life of Aesop: The extraordinary journey and collected ...

Summary:  Aesop was born a slave in ancient Greece over 2000 years ago.  He learned that speaking out could be dangerous in his position, so he learned to talk in code, telling stories about the powerless and the powerful through his fables.  Following an introduction to Aesop’s life, the book presents ten fables.  Each telling is only a few paragraphs, with an illustration or two, and the moral in gold type at the end.  The final few pages recount how Aesop was freed, and how his fables were told for many years before they were finally published in book form.  Includes an afterword that explains more about what we do and don’t know about Aesop and which parts of his story in this book are true; also, a bibliography.  64 pages; grades K-5.

Pros:  An excellent introduction to Aesop’s fables, giving some context  about how they are not only lessons about morality, but give advice on “how to survive in a world in which some have power and some do not.”  Caldecott honoree Pamela Zagarenski will surely get some additional consideration for her beautiful illustrations here.

Cons:  I would have preferred that the afterword were a foreword, so readers would be aware of the uncertainties around Aesop’s history before reading the pages about his life.

If you would like to buy this book on Amazon, click here.

Twins by Varian Johnson, illustrated by Shannon Wright

~ Janet Dawson ~ 4 Comments

Published by Graphix (Released October 6)

Twins (Twins #1) (1): Johnson, Varian, Wright, Shannon ...

Summary:  Twins Mauren and Francine are starting middle school.  Maureen, who’s the narrator, is known as the thinking twin, while Francine’s reputation is as the talking twin.  Francine, now calling herself Fran, seems to be reinventing herself with tons of friends and not much time for Maureen.  Although Maureen excels in her classes, she struggles to connect with other kids and ends up eating lunch in the library.  Everything changes, though when the twins decide to run against each other for class president.  Although their parents try to keep things civil, emotions run high as each twin assembles a campaign staff and decides on a platform.  The tension finally leads to a heart-to-heart conversation where each girl is able to share her own insecurities and see what her sister is going through.  256 pages; grades 3-7.

Pros:  Another fun graphic novel from Graphix, this one written by Coretta Scott King honoree Varian Johnson.  A fast-paced middle school story, excellent artwork, and a multicultural cast of characters will make this a popular choice for sure.  This book is billed as book 1, so we can hope there will be more to come in the Francine/Maureen saga.

Cons:  Although Shannon Wright did a commendable job of giving Francine and Maureen distinctive characteristics, it was sometimes a little difficult telling the identical twins apart in the illustrations. 

If you would like to buy this book on Amazon, click here.

Echo Mountain by Lauren Wolk

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Published by Dutton Books

Echo Mountain by Lauren Wolk: 9780525555568 | PenguinRandomHouse ...

Summary:  Ellie’s family has moved to a farm on a mountain in Maine after losing almost all their money in the Great Depression.  Ellie and her father love the self-sufficiency of the farm, while her mother and older sister Esther hate it.  When their father is hit by a falling tree and lapses into a coma, it falls on Ellie to do much of the work he did.  Feeling alone, she wanders up the mountain to the home of a legendary “hag”, who turns out to be an ordinary old woman named Cate with a life-threatening leg injury.  Ellie learns some occasionally stomach-turning healing techniques (maggots, vinegar poured into the wound) from Cate as she works to save her.  Cate’s grandson, Larkin, becomes a good friend, and Ellie is finally able to tell someone her secret: she didn’t cause her father’s accident, as her family thinks, but she’s letting them believe it to protect Esther and her younger brother Samuel.  While Ellie’s mother is suspicious of Cate, Ellie finds her friendship with the older woman and her grandson a lifeline, and is certain they can help wake up her father and restore him to health.  368 pages; grades 4-8.

Pros:  Lauren Wolk has crafted another beautifully written historical fiction novel featuring a strong girl protagonist with a unique perspective and set of talents.  This is sure to be considered for a second Newbery (like Wolf Hollow) or Scott O’Dell award for historical fiction (like Beyond the Blue Sea)

Cons:  Usually I am a big Lauren Wolk fan, but this one didn’t grab me as much as her previous two.  I found Cate, with her endless store of sage wisdom, a little too good to be true.  It’s gotten starred reviews in journals and lots of 5-starred ones on Amazon, though so clearly I’m in the minority.

If you would like to buy this book on Amazon, click here.

Federico and the Wolf by Rebecca J. Gomez, illustrated by Elisa Chavarri

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Published by Clarion Books

Amazon.com: Federico and the Wolf (9781328567789): Gomez, Rebecca ...

Federico and the Wolf by Rebecca J. Gomez

Summary:  Federico heads off in his red hoodie, ready to shop from Abuelo’s grocery list for the ingredients to make the perfect pico.  After he leaves the market, he takes a shortcut through the woods to get to his grandfather’s store.  There he encounters a hungry wolf, but manages to escape on his bike.  When he gets to la tienda, it’s mysteriously closed with pawprints outside the front door.  Abuelo, waiting inside, seems to have grown an extra-thick beard and some hefty biceps, and acquired a new set of dentures.  When Federico realizes it’s the wolf, he fends him off with quick thinking, chili pepper, and an extra hot habanero.  The wolf runs off, and Abuelo is found inside a locked box.  None the worse for their experiences, Federico and his grandfather work together to cook up a new treat: Wolf’s Bane Salsa.  Includes a recipe for the perfect pico, and a list of Spanish words with their location in the story.  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  This clever rhyming retelling of Little Red Riding Hood includes a fun Mexican twist that extends to the bright, colorful illustrations.  This reminded me of Corey Rosen Schwartz’s rhyming fairy tales, and a little investigation revealed that Rebecca J. Gomez was the co-author of one of these.

Cons:  Seemed like Abuelo and Federico should have made Wolf’s Bane pico, not salsa.

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