A Race Around the World: The True Story of Nellie Bly and Elizabeth Bisland by Caroline Starr Rose, illustrated by Alexandra Bye

December 14, 2019 ~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Albert Whitman and Co.

Summary: In 1889, reporter Nellie Bly declared she could travel around the world in 75 days. She convinced her boss at the New York World to let her try, and on November 14, she set off from New Jersey. When Elizabeth Bisland’s boss at Cosmopolitan magazine read about her trip, he convinced her to take a train to San Francisco that night and try to beat Bly back to New York. The two women, traveling in opposite directions, took trains and ships from one destination to the next, as readers followed their adventures. Nellie returned on January 25, 1890, to cheering crowds and a ten-cannon salute. Elizabeth made it back on January 30 to a much smaller crowd. But both women had made it in under 80 days, breaking the previous record. Elizabeth, who had been something of a homebody before, traveled and wrote for the rest of her days. Includes an author’s note and three additional sources. 32 pages; grades K-4.

Pros: My daughter loved Nellie Bly when she was younger. Come to think of it, I wrote in my eighth grade diary that I wanted to be a reporter like Nellie after reading how she went undercover to report on insane asylums. So I know Nellie’s story is captivating to kids. I didn’t know about Elizabeth Bisland, but it makes a great tale to follow both women’s adventures as they hurried around the world.

Cons: Photos and/or more research material would have made a nice addition, so here’s one for you now. Elizabeth is on the left, Nellie on the right.

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Torpedoed: The True Story of the World War II Sinking of the “The Children’s Ship” by Deborah Heiligman

November 7, 2019 ~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Henry Holt and Co.

Summary: On September, 1940, the ship SS City of Benares left England, bound for Canada. On board were 90 children traveling as part of the Children’s Overseas Reception Board (CORB) program, which evacuated British children to safer countries. A few days into their journey, the ship was torpedoed by a German submarine, and sank in about half an hour. Of the 90 children, only 17 survived. Most were picked up the next day, but due to a miscalculation, Lifeboat 12 was missed by the rescuers and was adrift for eight days before finally being spotted by a plane (a story told in verse by Susan Hood in 2018’s Lifeboat 12). The survivors returned to England, and CORB suspended operations after this tragedy. Includes a list of all those who died, as well as a lengthy bibliography and index. 304 pages; grades 5-8.

Pros: I started reading this with trepidation, as I’m not crazy about reading about disasters at sea (no more Titanic books, please). I kept flipping between the narrative and the list of those who died, and I could tell the outlook for most was not good. Once the torpedoes hit, though, I couldn’t put the book down. The storytelling is masterful, following the narratives of so many different children and the adults who traveled with them. I saw this on a Newbery prediction list. I’d be surprised if it got a Newbery, but I could definitely see a Sibert award.

Cons: As mentioned above, reading about the drowning deaths of 73 children isn’t really my favorite pastime.

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Just Ask! Be Different, Be Brave, Be You by Sonia Sotomayor, illustrated by Rafael López

November 3, 2019September 9, 2021 ~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Philomel Books

Summary: Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor begins the book by telling her own story, how she was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes at the age of 7. She sometimes felt self-conscious when she had to give herself insulin injections around others. Although she felt like other kids were curious, no one ever asked her about what she was doing. She encourages readers to ask questions if they want to know about something they don’t understand. The book then looks at kids planting a garden; just like the plants in the garden, each child is different in some way: one is blind, one is in a wheelchair, two have different forms of autism, and so on. Each child tells a little about himself or herself, then asks a question like, “Do you ever take medicine to be healthy?” or “How do you use your senses?” Sonia finishes up by celebrating everyone’s abilities, and how all the differences make the world a more interesting place. Her final question is, “What will you do with your powers?” Also available in a Spanish-language edition, ¡Solo Pregunta! 32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros: This is a great introduction to a wide range of conditions that affect many different kids. The tone is accepting and celebrating, and it’s a nice way to encourage children to talk to each other about differences in a respectful way. The illustrations are gorgeous, showing a diverse group of children frolicking around a beautiful garden.

Cons: I wish there had been more specifics about how a child (or adult) should ask someone about a physical difference.