Adventure

Two brave girls

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

The Freedom Seeker by Ruchira Gupta (Scholastic Press, released August 5, 320 pages, grades 4-8). Simi has a happy life in Northern India, where she’s surrounded by friends and family who celebrate her accomplishments at school and on the hockey field. But when a right-wing group comes to power, her Sikh father and Muslim mother become targets. After her father is badly beaten, he’s able to illegally immigrate to the United States, where he’s granted asylum and starts working as a taxi driver in New York. By the time he’s saved enough to send for Simi and her mother, though, immigration policies have changed in the US. The two of them have to make a dangerous desert crossing in Mexico, and they wind up getting separated. Simi makes it to a detention center but has to endure weeks of crowded, prison-like conditions and the agony of not knowing what has happened to her mother. Drawing on her experience as a leader in school and in sports, Simi finds ways to help herself. She’s eventually able to connect with her father, and the two of them work together to find her mom. Simi’s courage and kindness to others helps her to survive and finally bring her family together again.

This book puts a face on the phrase “illegal immigrant,” showing how families must make the difficult decision to leave their homelands, friends, and extended families to escape violence, and the incredibly harsh conditions that they endure in their quest to find a place where they can live in safety. Simi’s voice is compelling, as are the stories of others she meets on the journey, and once I got to about page 100, I had to keep going until I knew she and her family were going to make it. While advanced fourth and fifth grade readers would enjoy this, I think middle school kids would perhaps get more from the story. Thanks to Scholastic for providing me with an advance copy.

The Burning Season by Caroline Starr Rose (Nancy Paulsen Books, 256 pages, grades 4-7). On Opal’s twelfth birthday, she starts her training with Gran, continuing the tradition of women in her family who have served as fire lookouts deep in New Mexico’s Gila National Forest. Although Opal loves her life with Gran and Mom and their small home in a lookout tower, she yearns to move to town and go to middle school like other kids. She also guards a deep secret–she’s afraid of fire, which killed her dad and almost took the rest of the family during a huge wildfire a few years back. When her mom gets stranded in town after a fierce storm and Gran gets injured in the woods, Opal comes face to face with a fire that threatens Gran and their home. Despite her own injuries, she must overcome her fears and fight the fire alone. Opal discovers that sometimes bravery means doing the very thing you’re afraid of and that protecting those you love can give you courage. Includes a seven-page author’s note with additional information about wildfires and the history of fire management.

This novel-in-verse kept me riveted from the first page with its unusual setting and strong characters living a happy if somewhat bare bones life in the middle of the wilderness. The action really picks up when Mom leaves for supplies and they don’t hear from her for several days, then continues when Opal accidentally breaks their only pair of binoculars and Gran gets hurt. Opal’s favorite books are Gary Paulsen’s Brian series, and this story is an homage to their combination of nail-biting survival story and wilderness setting.

Graphic novels with a STEAM theme

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Very Bad at Math by Hope Larson (HarperAlley, 240 pages, grades 4-8). Verity “Very” Nelson is an athlete, musician, popular eighth-grade class president, and ace student…except when it comes to math, which she is failing miserably. When she’s told she has to bring up her math grade to stay on student council, Very starts working with a tutor. Despite her hard work, her progress is slow, and when Very makes a costly mistake at a class fundraiser, her tutor realizes she’s transposed two numbers and diagnoses her with dyscalculia. He starts to work with her on learning strategies to help her with this disability, and by the end of the book, Very’s back on top and on her way to being successful at math. But Very is something of an activist, and she’s determined to make school a better, more just place for students with disabilities, and the last few pages show her talking to her favorite local politician about ideas she has to do just that.

I’m always happy to see a new graphic novel by Hope Larson, especially one for elementary readers, since most of her books are for young adults. This one is sure to be popular with both elementary and middle school, particularly those who are dealing with some sort of learning issue. Very is resilient and persistent in her efforts, but she also has to learn how to deal with setbacks and not making progress even with hard work. I hope we’ll see a second book to find out how she brings her fight for justice to her school.

Space Chasers by Leland Melvin and Joe Caramagna, illustrated by Alison Acton (First Second, 240 pages, grades 3-7). Five middle school students are chosen to be part of NASA’s new STEAM team program, undergoing rigorous training to prepare them for a mission into space. When that mission goes awry, three of the kids wind up on a space station with no adult supervision and must figure out what to do to save the mission…and themselves. Each of the participants brings unique skills to the program but also their own insecurities that sometimes get in the way of solving problems, particularly under pressure. When everyone’s safely back on Earth, the powers-that-be deem the program too dangerous, but the kids manage to convince them otherwise, opening the door for book 2. Includes some work-in-progress art and an author’s note.

Former astronaut Leland Melvin has written a fun space adventure with five endearing kids who get the opportunity of a lifetime. I haven’t been so nervous about the outcome of a space adventure since I watched Apollo 13, which made it hard for me to put the book down. I’ll admit it took some suspension of disbelief to believe that NASA would send middle school kids into space, but heck, if you had told me a few months ago that a 19-year-old nicknamed “Big Balls” would be a senior advisor at the State Department, I would have been pretty skeptical of that as well.

Family secrets

~ Janet Dawson ~ 2 Comments

Wrong Way Home by Kate O’Shaughnessy (Knopf Books, 336 pages, grades 5-8). Fern loves the community she and her mother moved to six years ago. Although her memories of her first six years of life are vague, she knows that she and her mom moved a lot and didn’t have much stability. At the Ranch, Dr. Ben teaches them his ideals and how to do the things they need to survive when the world inevitably falls apart. There are signs that things aren’t as rosy as Fern sees them, such as her recollections of a teenage boy who died during a coming of age ritual that she herself is slated to go through soon, but she’s sure if she trusts Dr. Ben, all will be well. So it comes as a shock when her mother wakes her in the middle of the night and sneaks the two of them away from the Ranch to a new home in California, on the other side of the country. At first, all Fern can think about is getting back, but as time goes on and she starts to learn more about the world outside of the Ranch, she begins to have doubts. Ultimately, when Fern is forced to make a difficult and dangerous decision, she realizes she must trust her own instincts about what is right and wrong.

I’ll admit that I find cults fascinating, so I was swept into this book from the very beginning. There are lots of interesting characters and subplots, and once you reach the final 100 pages, it’s difficult to put the book down. I’d love to see this considered for a Newbery. It’s a pretty complex story with a less than totally reliable narrator, so it may be a better choice for middle school than elementary, which is kind of unfortunate since Fern is 12. It would make a great book club selection with lots of interesting topics to discuss.

The Bletchley Riddle by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin (Viking Books for Young Readers, 400 pages, grades 5-9). 19-year-old Jakob and his 14-year-old sister Lizzie wind up together at Bletchley Park in 1940. Jakob has been recruited from his mathematical studies in London, while Lizzie escaped a trip forcing her to stay with her American grandmother. Their mother, Willa, is missing, presumed to have been killed during a mysterious trip to Poland that took place on the eve of the Nazi invasion. Both siblings have inherited their mother’s courage, sense of duty, and knack for breaking codes, and as the story unfolds, they start to suspect that their mother may still be alive. When a series of mysterious letters arrives for them, Jakob and Lizzie piece together a message from their mother to meet her in London. Jakob knows from his work with Enigma, the German code breaking machine, that Germany could invade England at any minute. As the truth about Willa unfolds, the siblings find themselves in danger as fighter jets roar overhead. Includes an author’s note and photos of people and places from the story.

Two young adult masters of nonfiction and historical fiction have combined their research and storytelling talents to produce an amazing adventure story that will appeal to World War II fans as well as those who enjoy elaborate codes. There are many characters, but each one is drawn so memorably that I had no trouble remembering who was who. I did find Lizzie’s unwavering feistiness a bit unbelievable given the circumstances, but ultimately I was won over by her courage and sense of humor. Sure to be a contender for some awards, add this to the list of outstanding World War II books published this year.

Captain America: The Ghost Army by Alan Gratz, illustrated by Brent Schoonover

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Graphix

Summary:  Captain America and his sidekick, 15-year-old Bucky, take on an army of ghosts during World War II.  The ghosts are attacking villages, and Captain America and Bucky are tasked with figuring out how they are being created, then destroying the machinery.  The evil goes even deeper than they first suspect, and they need the help of others that they meet: British fighter “Dum Dum” Dugan; Japanese American soldier Jim Morita who’s a master at creating illusions to trick the Germans; and local resistance fighter Andrei and his granddaughter Sofia, who has a bit of a clean-cut romance with Bucky.  At the end of the day, the good guys squeak out a victory, but the villain escapes, setting up the possibility of a sequel.  176 pages; grades 4-8.

Pros:  A superhero graphic novel is going to be wildly popular no matter what I say about it, and Alan Gratz has already proven himself a master of suspenseful historical fiction.  Readers will appreciate the excellent artwork and the non-stop action.

Cons:  The plot seemed kind of ridiculously far-fetched to me, but I am the first to admit this is not my favorite genre.

The Prisoner of Shiverstone by Linette Moore

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Published by Harry N. Abrams

Summary:  Helga Sharp, an 11-year-old inventor, accidentally makes contact with Erasmus Lope, who’s been trapped on an island where “mad scientists” are exiled away from the mainland.  When Helga is found unconscious on the island, she’s housed with a brother and sister who work as island guards, but who have a few secrets of their own.  With the help of the sister’s robot butler, Helga gets to work trying to free Erasmus.  The secrets of both Helga and the island characters are gradually revealed, as Helga carries out her mission and ultimately finds a new home on the island.  160 pages; grades 3-7.

Pros:  A fast-paced graphic novel with lots of fun characters and plenty of adventure.  The end is somewhat open-ended, and readers will no doubt hope for a sequel to learn about what’s next for the plucky Helga.

Cons:  There was a lot of world-building and plot to cram into 160 pages.

Out of Range by Heidi Lang

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Published by Margaret K. McElderry Books

Summary:  Sisters Abby (14), Emma (12), and Ollie (9) have been sent to Camp Unplugged for two weeks by parents who are frustrated by the girls’ constant fighting.  The story opens with the three on a disciplinary hike with camp counselor Dana.  When Dana leaves them briefly to scout the area, Abby decides to turn around and head back to camp.  Soon the girls are lost and have to survive a series of life-threatening events, including Emma’s near-drowning, Abby’s bear attack, and Ollie’s ankle injury that makes walking nearly impossible.  The story alternates among the three girls’ perspectives and switches between the past and present to gradually show the reader the difficulties a move to a new home has caused them and the ensuing cruel prank war that has driven them apart.  Forced to work together to survive, the girls begin to realize that their differences are petty compared to the love they have for each other.  Includes an author’s note about her own wilderness survival story that inspired this book.  320 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  Part survival adventure, part family story, this is a book that’s sure to appeal to a wide audience.  Heidi Lang does a masterful job of weaving together the different points of view and slowly revealing how events and insecurities in the past have led the girls to their current dire situation.

Cons:  I had to occasionally suspend my disbelief a bit, particularly in the miraculous rescue of Mr. Snuffles.

Spy School: The Graphic Novel by Stuart Gibbs, illustrated by Anjan Sarkar

~ Janet Dawson ~ 2 Comments

Published by Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers

Summary:  Ben Ripley has always dreamed of being a spy, but he’s still pretty shocked when he suddenly gets recruited to a school that’s secretly training young CIA operatives. The school is similar to a regular middle school in some ways: bad food, boring classes, and pompous administrators, but the attempted assassinations and hidden bombs put a new spin on things.  It appears that someone has brought Ben to the school for their own nefarious purposes but trying to figure out who that is and why proves to be both challenging and dangerous.  Fortunately, Ben is aided by Erica, the smartest (and coolest) girl in the school.  The enemy is foiled at last, but a letter at the end promises a sequel, and fans of the non-graphic Spy School series know that Ben’s adventures are just beginning. 296 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  There are already legions of Spy School fans, and the graphic novel will undoubtedly recruit many more.  I haven’t read the original, so I don’t know how this compares, but there’s plenty of action and humor which is always a winning combination for upper elementary and middle school.

Cons:  The artwork lacked much background detail and was a bit flat.


Escape: One Day We Had to Run by Ming & Wah, illustrated by Carmen Vela

~ Janet Dawson ~ 2 Comments

Published by Lantana Publishing

Escape: One Day We Had to Run . . . by Wah, Ming &, Vela, Carmen - Amazon.ae

Summary:  “Escape (verb) – To avoid a threatening evil”: that’s the definition given on the title page.  Each spread has another verb–cling, defy, swim–with a story of refugees escaping danger.  Yusra and Dara Mardini cling to their boat as  they escape from Syra; Yusra goes on to swim for the Refugee Olympic Team in 2016.  Chinese diplomat Dr. Feng Shan Ho defies orders and issues over 4,000 visas to Jews escaping Germany during World War II.  Chan Hak-chi and Li Kit-hing swim for six hours through shark-infested waters in a typhoon to make it from mainland China to Hong Kong.  Each story is accompanied by a somewhat abstract illustration showing the escape.  Includes Articles 13 and 14 from The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and a link for more information.  40 pages; grades 2 and up.

Pros:  Each story is brief and compelling, making it a gripping read-aloud for older elementary or middle school kids.  The brief text, abstract illustrations, and even slightly mysterious authors (identical twins known simply as Ming & Wah) add an air of suspense that is perfect for the topic.

Cons:  I definitely wanted to know where I could find out more information about every one of the stories.

Wild River by Rodman Philbrick

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Published by Scholastic Press

Amazon.com: Wild River (9781338647273): Philbrick, Rodman: Books

Summary:  A whitewater rafting trip turns into a survival nightmare for five middle school students when a dam breaks and they barely escape the floodwaters.  With their adult leaders gone, the group breaks into two factions, starting a war over who will lead until they are rescued.  When this conflict results in tragedy, the kids realize they have to put aside their differences if they are going to survive.  Facing wild animals, injuries, and a dwindling food supply, they learn each others’ secrets and vow that their friendship will last if and when they are rescued.  Includes tips for surviving in the wilderness.  193 pages; grades 3-7.

Pros:  The short chapters, non-stop action, and cliffhanger chapter endings will keep even the most reluctant readers engaged.  Narrator Daniel’s secret about his father’s mental illness adds an interesting dimension to his character.

Cons:  Due to the short length of the book and the focus on the action, the characters weren’t all that well-developed, particularly Tony, who had a pivotal role in the story.

The Canyon’s Edge by Dusti Bowling

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Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

The Canyon's Edge: Bowling, Dusti: 9780316494694: Amazon.com: Books

Summary:  Nora and her dad are going for a hike on her birthday.  It’s the first time they’ve gone hiking since her mother was killed by a gunman exactly a year ago when the family was celebrating Nora’s birthday at a restaurant.  Her father was also injured, but the greater trauma to both of them was psychological.  Nora’s ready to return to school, but her dad’s afraid to let her out of his sight.  The two of them argue about it as they start their hike; seconds later, there’s a rumbling sound, and a flash flood sweeps into the canyon, washing her father away.  Nora’s left on her own to survive two nights in the desert, battling snakes, scorpions, heat, thirst, and her own demons.  Determined to find and rescue her dad, Nora draws on inner resources and discovers she is stronger than she’s believed for the past year.  320 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  Warning: once you pick up this novel in verse, it’s hard to put down. It’s equal parts survival tale and a story of healing from a horrific trauma, told in flashbacks as Nora grapples with nightmares and other reminders of her mother’s murder.  Although it may not sound so from this description, this is a book appropriate for upper elementary kids, who will undoubtedly find it as difficult to put down as I did.

Cons:  If you’re seeking a little light reading, you should probably look elsewhere.

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