Author: Janet Dawson

Maizy Chen’s Last Chance by Lisa Yee

~ Janet Dawson ~ 2 Comments

Published by Random House Books for Young Readers

Summary:  When Maizy’s grandfather gets sick, she and her mother return to her mom’s childhood home in Last Chance, Minnesota.  Maizy’s not excited at the prospect of spending an entire summer with grandparents she barely knows, but Last Chance proves to be surprisingly interesting.  Her grandfather, Opa, tells her stories about Lucky, their ancestor from China who unexpectedly wound up in Last Chance and owned the Golden Palace restaurant that Maizy’s grandparents still run.  Lucky encountered hatred and racism in America, but also kindness, and Maizy has some similar experiences.  When the restaurant is targeted in a racist incident, Maizy is determined to find the culprit.  Her grandfather’s tales lead her to dig deeper into the story of the Paper Sons whose pictures hang on the walls of the Golden Palace, and she starts to connect with other Chinese American people around the country.  The whole community comes together when Maizy and her family need them the most, and she learns that there is more to many of her neighbors than meets the eye.  Includes a 10-page author’s note with lots of photos telling of her own Chinese American family’s story.  288 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  There’s a lot packed into this fast-paced story, and Lisa Yee does an excellent job of tying up many different threads in a heartwarming final scene.  Opa’s stories about Lucky are well-integrated into the text, each one just a page or two long so that it doesn’t feel like an interruption to the main narrative. 

Cons:  The fact that I loved the short chapters (some just a page long) probably doesn’t speak well for my diminished attention span.

Powwow Day by Traci Sorell, illustrated by Madelyn Goodnight

~ Janet Dawson ~ 2 Comments

Published by Charlesbridge

Summary:  Waking up on powwow day is usually exciting, but this year River has been sick and has to watch from the sidelines.  She dresses up and goes with her family, watching as her friend gets ready to dance.  She tries to dance the Grand Entry but can’t feel the drumbeat and ends up getting led back to her seat by her older sister.  Finally, it’s time for the jingle dance.  As River watches the girls dance, she starts to feel stronger and is finally able to stand, filled with a sense of certainty that she will be dancing at next year’s powwow.  Includes two pages of information about the powwow, a brief author’s note, and a list of sources.  32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  Another beautiful book by Traci Sorrell who masterfully weaves details about the powwow into River’s story and includes lots more information at the end (the history of the jingle dress dance and its connection to healing was particularly interesting).  The illustrations perfectly capture the colors and movement of the dancers.

Cons:  I can always enjoy a photo or two in the back matter.

Apple and Magnolia by Laura Gehl, illustrated by Patricia Metola

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Published by Flyaway Books

Summary:  Britta loves Apple and Magnolia, two trees who grow side-by-side, and is sure that they are friends.  Dad tells her kindly that he doesn’t think that’s possible, and big sister Bronwyn not-so-kindly agrees.  But Nana says that unusual friendships can be the most powerful.  When Magnolia starts to droop, Dad says she probably won’t make it through the winter, but Britta is sure that Apple can help Magnolia survive.  She encourages their friendship by knitting a long scarf to connect them and stringing lights in their branches so they can always see each other.  As winter turns to spring, Britta thinks that their branches are growing closer together, and Gran helps her create a chart to track this theory.  Magnolia is late to flower, but when the beautiful blooms finally appear, Britta is ready to celebrate.  Predictably, Dad and Bronwyn remain certain that Apple had nothing to do with Magnolia’s recovery, but Gran restates her position that unusual friendships are the most powerful of all.  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  This beautiful story includes friendship, a wise grandmother, and a nice dose of science, starting with an author’s note stating that scientists are just beginning to understand how trees communicate with each other.  Those wanting to learn more can read Lita Judge’s The Wisdom of Trees.  

Cons:  I was hoping for a little more of a change of heart from Dad.

Just Harriet by Elana K. Arnold

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Published by Walden Pond Press

Summary:  Harriet gets an upsetting surprise on her last day of third grade: her pregnant mother has been ordered to go on bed rest until the baby arrives, and Harriet will be spending two months at her grandmother’s bed and breakfast on Marble Island.  On the ferry trip, her father, who grew up on the island, makes a few cryptic comments about treasure and a gingerbread house that arouse Harriet’s curiosity.  After she gets to Nanu’s house and her dad leaves, though, Harriet is miserable for the next few days and expresses her misery by being surly and unpleasant to those around her.  Fortunately, Nanu is understanding, and as the days go by, Harriet begins to make some discoveries that help her to get to know her dad as a boy and that lead her to unlocking the mysteries of the treasure and the gingerbread house.  By the end of the book, Harriet has discovered her own strength and feels much more confident about her abilities to get through the summer on her own.  208 pages; grades 2-4.

Pros:  I love how upfront Harriet is about her shortcomings: on the first page she tells the reader that she lies, is plagued by nightmares, and sometimes wets the bed.  She covers up her homesickness with grumpiness and occasional fibs but grows in a way that’s realistic and that will resonate with many readers.  The mystery is a fun part of the story, but somewhat secondary to Harriet’s development. I’m always happy to see a “real” chapter book written for this age group.

Cons:  I liked the somewhat eccentric woman called the Captain and was hoping there would be more revealed about her character.

Sadiq and the Gamers by Siman Nuurali, illustrated by Christos Skaltsas

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Published by Picture Window Books

Amazon.com: Sadiq and the Gamers: 9781663921918: Nuurali, Siman, Skaltsas, Christos: Books

Amazon.com: Sadiq and the Gamers: 9781663909824: Nuurali, Siman, Skaltsas, Christos: Books

Summary:  Sadiq is excited to be part of a new video game club, along with his friends Manny and Zaza.  They meet in the school library with librarian Mr. Kim, who reminds them that part of being in a club is finding a way to help others.  Sadiq often goes with his mother when she volunteers at the local assisted-living home, and he’s seen Mr. Soto, a new resident who seems lonely.  When Mr. Soto tells Sadiq he used to be a racecar driver and gives him some tips for getting to the next level of Screech Master 7000, Sadiq has the idea that the gamers’ club can visit the older people.  Before long the club is meeting weekly at Harmony House, and new friendships are growing.  The wisdom that the residents share helps the club win their first tournament.  Includes a glossary, discussion questions, extension activities, and Somalian facts and terms.  64 pages; grades 1-3.

Pros:  I just discovered this series when I visited a bookstore this weekend and was excited to see an early chapter book series with a Somali main character (there are a number of Somali students at my school).  It’s a straightforward story with an emphasis on family and friends helping each other and plenty of illustrations.  The first four books were published in 2020.

Cons:  I found it a little confusing to have the Somali terms defined at the beginning of the story and the glossary at the end.

Omar Rising by Aisha Saeed

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Published by Nancy Paulsen Books

Omar Rising - Kindle edition by Saeed, Aisha. Children Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

Summary:  Omar is on his way to the prestigious Ghalib Academy, an honor celebrated not only by him and his mother, but by his entire community.  He knows he’ll have to work hard, but he’s unprepared for the reality of what it means to be a scholarship student: no clubs or sports, five hours of chores each week, and a good possibility of being expelled if he doesn’t maintain an A-plus average.  Omar grows close to some of the other boys on scholarship, and they work together day and night to try to keep their grades up.  When Omar and his friend Naveed find out they’ve been “weeded” at the end of the first year, they are desperate to find a way to stay at the school.  Omar discovers that his kindness and work ethic have not gone unnoticed. He finds allies in unlikely places as he and the other students become activists to change the rules, not only for Omar and Naveed, but for the boys who will come after them. 224 pages; grades 5-8.

Pros:  Omar, a friend of Amal’s from Amal Unbound, will inspire readers with his determination and social activism.  Learning about the class differences in Pakistan and how they affect the lives of those in every class may cause readers to take a closer look at differences in their own cultures.

Cons:  Don’t make the mistake that I did and read the last few chapters of this book in a public place with no tissues in the immediate vicinity.

Because Claudette by Tracey Baptiste, illustrated by Tonya Engel

~ Janet Dawson ~ 2 Comments

Published by Dial Books

Because Claudette: Baptiste, Tracey, Engel, Tonya: 9780593326404: Amazon.com: Books

Because Claudette – Books of Wonder

Summary:  “Because fifteen-year-old Claudette Colvin didn’t give up her seat on the bus for a white person on March 2, 1955, she was arrested.”  Thus begins a chain of events that leads Claudette to become friends with Rosa Parks, get involved with the Montgomery bus boycott, and to testify in court when her lawyer challenged the segregation laws.  Claudette was inspired by Black activists from the past as well as her contemporaries like Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, and other women who refused to give up their bus seats.  When the Supreme Court ruled that bus segregation was unconstitutional, Claudette read about it in the newspaper.  “On December 21, 1956, anyone could sit wherever they liked on the bus.  And all of it happened because of Claudette.”  Includes a brief author’s note, and a list of two books and three websites for further research.  32 pages; grades K-3.

Pros:  The simple text and beautiful illustrations (I love that cover) show how one young person can make a big difference.  This would be an inspiring book to read to younger kids for Black History Month.

Cons:  The lack of back matter was a real missed opportunity: there could have been photos, a lot more biographical information on Claudette, as well as more about the the others pictured in the text.

The Supervillain’s Guide to Being a Fat Kid by Matt Wallace

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Published by Katherine Tegen Books

The Supervillain's Guide to Being a Fat Kid: Wallace, Matt: 9780063008038: Amazon.com: Books

Summary:  Max hopes that middle school will give him a new start, but an hour into his first day, he’s already had a humiliating interaction with some eighth-grade bullies.  In desperation, he writes to Master Plan, a famous villain who’s in jail after defeating a beloved superhero.  The two start exchanging letters, and Master Plan, who was a fat kid like Max, offers advice on how to be cool and outsmart your enemies.  Max is thrilled with his new image, but occasionally troubled that his new personality doesn’t always correlate with being a good friend and a kind person.  When a showdown with his tormentors results in disaster, Max realizes that Master Plan has been using him and makes a decision to follow his own heart and sense of what’s right.  The story ends with a bit of a cliffhanger, but also with the knowledge that Max knows himself and will be okay whatever the outcome.  272 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  An inspiring story about learning to be yourself set in a fun world populated by superheroes and villains.  It’s refreshing to see a message about body positivity aimed at boys.

Cons:  I wonder if kids who feel the embarrassment and shame Max experiences at the start of the book would be hesitant to be seen reading a guide to “being a fat kid”.

Tía Fortuna’s New Home: A Jewish Cuban Journey by Ruth Behar, illustrated by Devon Holzwarth

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Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers

Tía Fortuna's New Home: A Jewish Cuban Journey: Behar, Ruth, Holzwarth, Devon: 9780593172414: Amazon.com: Books

El nuevo hogar de Tía Fortuna: Una historia judía-cubana (Spanish Edition): Behar, Ruth, Holzwarth, Devon: 9780593381069: Amazon.com: Books

Summary:  The narrator loves visiting her tía Fortuna’s casita at the Seaway.  But now the Seaway is being torn down, and tía Fortuna is moving.  The girl helps her aunt pack a small suitcase, bake some warm borekas, and say goodbye to the beach.  As they work, tía talks a little about their ancestors who came from Spain and traveled to Turkey, Cuba, and finally, Miami.  Then Mommy arrives to take them to La Casa de los Viejitos, where they help tía get settled in her room.  She immediately starts handing out borekas and making new friends. Tia gives the girl a key from the Seaway that she can wear around her neck to remember the home they both loved.  Includes an author’s note with additional information about Sephardic Jews and her connection to them, and a glossary of words from the story in other languages.  32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  A warm story of a loving intergenerational relationship with information woven in about a culture I knew nothing about.  The illustrations do a great job of showing some of the items mentioned that kids may not be familiar with, and the colors evoke Miami and Cuba.  The author’s note is helpful in understanding the story better.

Cons: La Case de los Viejitos isn’t translated, so kids will have to use some inference skills to figure out that tia Fortuna is moving to a retirement home.

Big Ship Rescue! by Chris Gall

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Published by Norton Young Readers

Big Ship Rescue! (Big Rescue): Gall, Chris: 9781324019251: Amazon.com: Books

Summary:  Mayday! Mayday! The Goliath is in trouble when its engines quit, and it starts taking on water.  After the crew is rescued by helicopters, Salvage Master Miley arrives in her tugboat, the Mighty Mackerel, to see if the Goliath can be saved.  She and her crew inspect the ship underwater, pump its fuel onto a barge, and offload the cargo.  The Mighty Mackerel and two other tugboats successfully get the Goliath back to port, where it looks like it can be repaired to travel the world again.  Salvage Master Miley heads back to her home port just in time to give her baby a bath, complete with toy boats.  Includes a diagrammatic of the Goliath on the endpapers.  48 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  Here’s a book for all the vehicle fans who love to learn how things work.  The explanations and illustrations are clear and understandable, even for readers like myself who don’t usually toss around phrases like “pump fuel onto a barge” and “offload cargo”. This is a companion to last year’s Big Rig Rescue.

Cons:  I was hoping for a little more back matter.