Book Party: Home

Reviewed by: Beth Larter, Walt Disney Elementary School Title: Kimchi, Kimchi Every Day Author: Erica Kim Publisher: Soaring Kite Books Year: 2022 Good for Grades: K-1 Genre/Type of Book: Picture Book Content Warnings: None

Published Summary:

Whether round and crunchy like a kimchi pancake or pinched and plump like a kimchi dumpling, there are so many ways to enjoy this Korean traditional dish.

Explore the different ways to eat kimchi in this fun, rhyming tale that also teaches the days of the week. Korean-American author-illustrator Erica Kim shares her pride in her delicious cultural food through her cut paper art technique. The Hanji paper that is used to illustrate the book comes from a paper mulberry tree native to Korea.

This beautiful reflection of culture will inspire children to take pride in their cultural foods, too.

Review:

The book depicts a young Asian girl talking about her love of kimchi and all of the different ways it can be prepared and served. It is similar to an Eric Carle book in art style and the bright, stylistic illustrations. The book also goes through the days of the week with each page showing a way she eats Kimchi on each day. The illustrations are rich and kid-friendly and include many details that students can connect to their own lives. This book was recommended by KiBooka as positive representation of Korean and Korean American culture. I like this book because it could be easily integrated into existing kindergarten and pre-k curriculum about learning the days of the week, while also spotlighting Korean foods in a very fun and positive way.

Favorite Line: 

"Sunday: I like kimchi, all the kinds! I like kimchi's little lines!"

Reviewed by: Beth Larter, Walt Disney Elementary School Title: We Were Dreamers: An Immigrant Superhero Origin Story Author: Simu Liu Publisher: William Morrow Year: 2022 Good for Grades: 8-12, Adult Genre/Type of Book: Biography Content Warnings: Some swearing throughout, some recounting of racial slurs and stereotypes

Published Summary:

In this honest, inspiring and relatable memoir, newly-minted superhero Simu Liu chronicles his family's journey from China to the bright lights of Hollywood with razor-sharp wit and humor.

Simu's parents left him in the care of his grandparents, then brought him to Canada when he was four. Life as a Canuck, however, is not all that it was cracked up to be; Simu's new guardians lack the gentle touch of his grandparents, resulting in harsh words and hurt feelings. His parents, on the other hand, find their new son emotionally distant and difficult to relate to - although they are related by blood, they are separated by culture, language, and values. 

As Simu grows up, he plays the part of the pious child flawlessly - he gets straight A's, crushes national math competitions and makes his parents proud. But as time passes, he grows increasingly disillusioned with the path that has been laid out for him. Less than a year out of college, at the tender age of 22, his life hits rock bottom when he is laid off from his first job as an accountant. Left to his own devices, and with nothing left to lose, Simu embarks on a journey that will take him far outside of his comfort zone into the world of show business. 

Review:

The book is the autobiography of the Chinese- Canadian actor, written shortly after he was cast to play Shang-Chi for Marvel. He shares the story of his life from living in rural China, to moving to Canada at a young age, his sometimes contentious relationship with his parents and his identity, and his journey from trying to be an accountant to trying to make a career out of acting. His story is very candid and relatable, while also giving a look into the sometimes confusing world of professional acting and the movie industry. I would recommend this book to high school students or adults as an interesting look at how overlapping identities and life experiences shape us and the hard work (as well as luck) that it takes to achieve a dream.

Favorite Line: 

"It seems like such a paradox to me that human beings are both great adaptors to change and terrified by it at the same time. So often we drift through life bound by the poor decisions we've made in the past, too afraid of the uncertainty that comes with challenging our status quo."

Reviewed by: Becky Hibbert, East Irondequoit Middle School Title: Sea Change Author: Gina Chung Publisher: Pan Macmillan Year: 2023 Good for Grades: 11-Adult Genre/Type of Book: Contemporary Fiction Content Warnings: Heavy drinking/light swearing

Published Summary:

Review:

This book follows Ro, a Korean American woman who is feeling like she has nowhere else to go in life. Her boyfriend was unexpectedly picked to go on a mission to Mars, her father has been missing for years, her relationship with her best friend Yonhee (with whom she also works) is unraveling, she's almost-but-not-quite estranged from her mother, and the one thing to bring her joy is about to be sold to the highest bidder.

What's Ro's joy? A Giant Pacific Octopus named Dolores with whom she's forged a relationship; she might know Dolores better than anyone else. Ro works at the mall aquarium where Dolores currently resides, and besides Dolores, Ro's world is fairly small and she drinks too much at night to drown her sadness. When a private collector wins the sale of Dolores, it's a wake-up call to Ro, and this is when her character arc starts to truly flourish.

This is an emotional, poignant, and humorous story about grief, loss, immigration, soul-searching, familial relationships, self-awareness, and so much more. If you're a fan of octopuses, you'll enjoy this even more.

Favorite Line:

“I’ve often wished that human bodies were as clever as those of octopuses. If we could divvy up the work of one heart among three, if we could have a semiautonomous brain in each of our appendages, perhaps we’d be more efficient with our time, less likely to waste it on grudges and hurts and all the things we feel we can’t say to one another.”

Reviewed by: Becky Hibbert, East Irondequoit Middle School Title: Your Guide to Not Getting Murdered in a Quaint English Village Author: Maureen Johnson and Jay Cooper Publisher: Ten Speed Press (Imprint of Penguin Random House) Year: 2021 Good for Grades: Adult Genre/Type of Book: Humor Content Warnings: n/a

Published Summary:

Review:

If you're a fan of a good old-fashioned British mystery set in a country home, this is the book for you. This is written as a helpful guide for those wishing to stray from the bright lights of London and veer off the well-beaten path to trek to a charming little countryside visit for the locals, the manors, and...maybe murder? Travelers, beware. This is broken up into two main sections: the village and the manor. Each section has sub-sections designed to help the future visitor to the village, and each section ends with a murder quiz for the reader to self-assess how much important knowledge they've acquired. (I would have been murdered in the manor. Oops.) This is a short read, but one definitely worth having in your collection. The text is witty and sport-on, but the illustrations are what make it truly special. This is an absolute gem of a book.

Favorite Line:

“Villagers love to remember the glorious old days, when they used to skewer one another with sticks, fire muskets into one another’s faces, and cut off their neighbors’ heads in the name of king or country or whatever they were into back then.”

Reviewed by: Becky Hibbert, East Irondequoit Middle School Title: Immortality: A Love Story Author: Dava Schwartz Publisher: Wednesday Books (Imprint of Macmillan) Year: 2023 Good for Grades: 9-Adult Genre/Type of Book: Historical Fiction, Gothic, Mystery Content Warnings: Some references to murder

Published Summary:

Review:

This book is the sequel to Anatomy: A Love Story and is set in Edinburgh, Scotland in the 19th century. Immortality picks up with the main character Hazel Sinnett not knowing where her partner Jack has ended up after the events of the first book, so she is alone and feeling lost. She continues to disappoint her family by rejecting her role in society and continuing to practice medicine, which is unheard of for a female, all while trying to keep the family manor afloat. Soon, one of her medical decisions lands her in prison, where she is sure she'll perish...until rescue comes in the form of the Royal Court. Hazel is released from prison to care for Princess Charlotte, granddaughter of King George III, who has been suffering from an unknown ailment. As she tries to care for Charlotte, complications arise in the form of a potential new love interest, drama with the princess, a secret society with sinister intentions, and the possible return of Jack. This was a worthy ending to the Anatomy Duology!

Favorite Line:

“It was an impossible situation, a trick of society as a whole: force women to live at the mercy of whichever man wants them but shame them for anything they might do to get a man to want them.”

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Reviewed by: Becky Hibbert, East Irondequoit Middle School Title: Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide Author: Rupert Holmes Publisher: Avid Reader Press (Imprint of Simon & Schuster) Year: 2023 Good for Grades: Adult Genre/Type of Book: Contemporary Fiction/Mystery Content Warnings: Some swearing, mentions of violence, suicide, but nothing gratuitous; just serves the plot

Published Summary:

Review:

This was highly enjoyable! The premise is that that there is a highly elite school - location unknown - where people are trained to "delete" others who are considered terrible human beings for any variety of reasons. The only requirement for submitting a person for deletion is that the world will be a better place without them in it. The length of time each student is at the college depends on their thesis; in other words, their plan to remove their respective nemesis. This is written as a handbook by the Dean of the college and follows three "case studies" as they come to the school, take special classes designed to strengthen their skills and ensure that their theses/deletions are successful. It's written as part academic text with excerpts from the Dean about the three cases, journal entries from one character, and two other storylines that all tie in together at the end. This was such a cleverly written book with unforgettable characters, fantastic wordplay, and a plot that is so unique and so much fun. I highly recommend!

Favorite Line:

“After all, it’s difficult to obtain a student loan for a school that not only denies its own existence but teaches its students how to deny other people theirs.”

Published Summary:

Review:

The Thirteenth Cat is a novel that follows Zoey through her summer staying at her aunt’s house. Upon arrival Zoey is warned about the old woman who lives nearby and to stay off her property. When Zoey encounters the smallest cat, who she learns is called Thirteen, she decides to take her in and keep her. The old lady, Miss Dupree, is very unhappy about this, trying to get her cat back. All of the cats have some very odd behaviors. Zoey and her friend, Lila, get caught snooping around Miss Dupree’s and are captured. There they learn the secrets of the cats and Miss Dupree. This is where the book got a little off the rails for me, personally, but I could see many of my students enjoying it. The story follows Zoey and Lila’s attempt to escape and return to their normal lives. For the elementary horror/thriller reader this might provide enough of the suspense and witchcraft that likely would keep them on the edge of their seats.

Favorite Line:

“Cats are usually wary of strangers, but this one has fallen in love at first sight! You should be honored!”

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Published Summary:

Review:

I decided to read this book because the cover immediately caught my attention. The concept of the book definitely piqued my interest and I find it easy to pitch to students for that reason. In this world, eating is the key to success… and our main character is a picky eater. Minerva is placed into the lowest level of eating class and is devastated to be separated from her friends. However, over time she learns the “weird” kids in her new class might not be as weird as she thinks. It is a solid friendship story with all the elements that engage the reader along the way. I found myself laughing out loud at some points with the different aspects of this world, such as Minerva’s class, consisting of the “worst” eaters, being nicknamed “RETCH”.

Favorite Line:

“Lie down and hold those bowls on your chest, just like you are furry, adorable, hungry widdle sea otters swimming on your backs and holding a scallop shell you scooped up for your din-din!”

Published Summary:

Review:

Ella is a conjuror who is going to become one of the first conjurors to attend the Arcanum Training Institute. When Ella arrives at the school she is met with a large number of people who are unhappy with her joining the school program due to her background. She forms some allies that end up helping her defend herself as she is suspected of a major crime. I think students could find many parallels to Ruby Bridges’ life, especially in her early days integrating the school. I decided to share this story because the world was very rich and well developed. It could easily be handed to fans of Percy Jackson and Harry Potter. I am looking forward to the sequel!

Favorite Line:

“Many things that are misunderstood are labeled dangerous.”

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Reviewed by: Jessica Dubois, Northside Elementary School Title: Odder Author: Katherine Applegate Publisher: Fiewel and Friends (imprint of MacMillan Publishing Group, LLC) Year: 2022 Good for Grades: 2-6 Genre/Type of Book: Animal Fiction/Novel in Verse Content Warnings: Animal death

Published Summary:

Meet Odder, the Queen of Play:

Nobody has her moves.
She doesn’t just swim to the bottom,
she dive-bombs.
She doesn’t just somersault,
she triple-doughnuts.
She doesn’t just ride the waves,
she makes them.

Odder spends her days off the coast of central California, practicing her underwater acrobatics and spinning the quirky stories for which she’s known. She’s a fearless daredevil, curious to a fault. But when Odder comes face-to-face with a hungry great white shark, her life takes a dramatic turn, one that will challenge everything she believes about herself—and about the humans who hope to save her.

Inspired by the true story of a Monterey Bay Aquarium program that pairs orphaned otter pups with surrogate mothers, this poignant and humorous tale told in free verse examines bravery and healing through the eyes of one of nature’s most beloved and charming animals.

Review:

Odder is a novel in verse told from an otter’s perspective. I listened to the audiobook which gave the novel in verse a little bit of a different feel than I believe reading the physical book would. It is another delightful animal story written by Katherine Applegate. After a shark attack, Odder finds herself in a rehabilitation aquarium. While healing, Odder becomes a surrogate parent for an orphaned pup. Odder’s observations about the human world are lyrical and fun to read. I appreciated that the novel touched on the environmental impacts on otters and the ecosystem and included information at the end of the book to provide more context.

Favorite Line:

“Be proud. After long months, know you’ve done your best, that teaching and loving are different words for the same thing. Be hopeful. Imagine them as the cages open, as they leap into the wild water to use what you have shared, to take chances and make mistakes, to be lonely sometimes, and lost, but always, to know that the world is not meant to be feared, and that water, beautiful water, will always mean play.”

Published Summary:

Review:

Amari has been underestimated and bullied at her school when she receives a mysterious message from her missing brother. This message leads her to an entire world filled with supernatural elements that she had never learned of before. Amari goes to the school and against many odds, succeeds. There is mystery, deception, suspense, and adventure weaved all throughout this story. I decided to share this book because I am excited to read the sequel! I have found readers of Rick Riordan's work and Harry Potter to enjoy this book as well.

Favorite Line:

"That's not true about me anymore. I'm not the girl who gives up. I'm the girl who tries. The girl who fights. The girl who believes."

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Published Summary:

Review:

I absolutely love this book. It is told from a Mars rover's perspective as it observes and learns about humans, human emotions, and life on earth…and space! Our Mars rover wakes up in the lab and learns about the important task it will be faced with for its mission on Mars. Our rover is unique though… Res slowly picks up on human emotions and is able to apply them to their life and their mission. It is such a heartwarming story of human emotion, perseverance, and friendship. I cried multiple times throughout the story and cannot recommend it enough. It has been one of my favorite reads this year.

Favorite Line:

“Remember. That is the word my system repeats over and over when I hit the ground. That is the word that comes before the blank: Remember”

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Published Summary:

Review:

Jordan is in a wheelchair after an injury but is still a very active young girl. She was part of the basketball team prior to her injury and is looking for another way to be active and finds water polo. When she is dealing with the isolation of not being able to be part of her basketball team she finds a baby white elephant on the way home from practice, Marshmallow. Marshmallow makes Jordan a pool in the backyard (some magical realism) and that is when Jordan gets the idea to participate in water polo. Throughout the story, there is a drought that is impacting the local community and as Marshmallow accompanies Jordan on her water polo journey we learn a secret about Marshmallow and where this mysterious white elephant came from.

Favorite Line:

I don't have a favorite line but my favorite image of this graphic novel is on page 353 as they say goodbye to Marshmallow.

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Published Summary:

Review:

While Harriet loves spending time with her grandmother on Marble Island she is unhappy she is being sent there for the summer because her mother is pregnant. The island has a fun cast of characters coming in and out of Harriet's grandmother's bed and breakfast. While Harriet is at the bed and breakfast she discovers a mysterious old key that leads her on an adventure to discover a mystery on the island. I found Harriet to have great character growth throughout the story as she comes to realize just how much the adults in her life really care for her, through her stubbornness and occasional lying. Matzo Ball (the cat) and Moneypenny (the dog) are fun additions to the storyline and the illustrations throughout are adorable.

Favorite Line:

"Nanu said that the other kids hadn't always understood my dad. That made me think about how I sometimes thought that he didn't understand me. It occurred to me that maybe I didn't understand my dad as well as I thought I did. Maybe parts of my dad were a mystery too."

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Published Summary:

Review:

This book was unlike much I have read before. The story is told through the perspective of Shovel, Zach's imaginary friend. Shovel has been there for Zach through the death of his father but as Zach ages and "should" grow out of his imaginary friend, Shovel doesn't want to fade away. As they grapple with this throughout the novel, the chapters often grow shorter or longer depending on Shovel's experiences or emotions. The very short chapters made me want to keep reading and were quite effective in portraying the emotions throughout the story. The unique storytelling and character growth is what made me want to share it.

Favorite Line:

"It's true what you said earlier. We've had some incredible adventures together. And you still have so much to look forward to. The real world is a huge place, full of happiness and heartbreak, beautiful sights and scary monsters. But I know you can handle it. You're the bravest hero I've ever met."

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Published Summary:

Review:

I love Dan Santat's work so I was excited to read this graphic novel. Sophia's father dies in an accident working at sea and is being raised by her uncle. Four sea creatures work together to man the aquanaut's suit in order to try and save her dad's research and the aquarium. I loved this book because Santat's typical illustration style was very enjoyable to see in longer form. While tackling the tough topic of grief, there was also a lot of comedy throughout the story.

Favorite Line:

"The loss of my brother left a huge hole in my heart. Aqualand was our home, and I tried hard to preserve it. So much that it consumed me. But I learned that home isn't a place. It's the people around you."

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Published Summary:

Review:

This graphic novel follows the struggles of a group of high school girls who are part of their schools first women’s basketball team. They experience sexism through not having access to the same gym facilities, sports equipment, jerseys, etc as the boy’s team at their high school. The girls on the team persevere and are quite determined to overcome those obstacles together. The team elements and what they did to overcome those obstacles were illustrated wonderfully in the graphic novel. It was exciting to watch their fan numbers visually grow over the course of the story. All graphic novels are popular in my library and this book reminded me a bit of Swim Team which has also been very popular among my students.

Favorite Line:

“Man, these girls can really play!” “You’re darn right they can!”

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Published Summary:

Review:

I love novels in verse, which is one of the reasons I picked this book in the first place. I was also curious to read a novel that tackled translating the COVID-19 experience. In this novel, our main character, Malian, is visiting her grandparents on their reservation when she has to isolate there due to Covid. During her time there a rez dog starts regularly visiting her and keeping her company. Her grandparents share their ancestral histories of survival throughout her time with them. I found the look into another perspective during the quarantine and time at home to be interesting and the comparisons throughout history to be interesting parallels to discuss.

Favorite Line:

“Some of the most loyal folks I’ve ever known have been dogs.”

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Published Summary:

Review:

This book is about a young boy, Trevor, who loves to hear his great-grandfather’s war stories from WW2. G.G., his great-grandfather, is going to be honored in France for his actions during the war. Trevor, his father, and his grandfather end up following GG’s journey through France on the way to the ceremony. The book alternates between their present day journey and GG’s experiences in the past. Throughout the novel the reader learns there is more to GG’s heroism than might meet the eye. I picked this book to share because I enjoyed the alternating perspectives and the suspense of what GG’s secret might be. Gordon Korman is a very popular author in my library and this book has been popular as well.

Favorite Line:

“War makes a better video game.” his father agreed. “But if you’re looking for a way to live, I’ll take peace every time.”

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Published Summary:

Review:

This book follows an orca whale, Vera, who is separated from her family with her younger brother. Vera has to care for her brother while not knowing all of the survival techniques or the way back to her pod. I picked this book to share because animal fiction is very popular in my library. My students really enjoy stories that are from an animal’s perspective, and so do I! I found it really interesting to learn more about the environment and journeys of orca whales. The environmental impacts on orca whales and other animals in this environment are very apparent through the storytelling which could make for great follow up activities or conversations.

Favorite Line:

“I know every living thing sinks in the end. There is something magnificent about the way a greatmother sinks, by the light of the round moon, in the hushed moment between Push and Pull, with her kinship gathered around her, chanting her name. No, I’m not afraid of sinking. But to forget things - how to hunt, how to speak. That’s a terrible end. I shiver and huff out a sharp breath to send the thought out of my head.”

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Reviewed by: Becky Hibbert, East Irondequoit Middle School Title: In the Lives of Puppets Author: T.J. Klune Publisher: Tor Books (Imprint of Macmillan) Year: 2023 Good for Grades: 9-Adult Genre/Type of Book: Science Fiction/Fantasy Content Warnings:Humorous sexual innuendo courtesy of the robots

Published Summary:

Review:

The story tells the adventures of Gio (an elderly android), Victor (the human rescued by Gio), Rambo (an extremely anxious vacuum desperate for love who constantly worries about dying), and Nurse Ratched (a sadistic and highly medical nurse robot). They live their lives in a home among the trees and keep to themselves; it's clear from the beginning that Gio is hiding, but from who or what, the reader doesn't know. Everything in their lives changes when Victor, Rambo, and Nurse Ratched - unbeknownst to Gio - find a still-active android in a scrapyard and repair him. Upon his repair, the new android, named Hap, inadvertently flags their location. Doing so brings "the big bad" directly to the found-family's hiding spot and Gio is eventually taken hostage. In a bid to save him, Victor, Hap, Rambo, and Nurse Ratched go on a journey full of twists and turns that will lead them to the City of Electric Dreams, where the main goal is to rescue Gio. This story is on par with The House in the Cerulean Sea, Klune's debut novel, in the incredible emotional response that his stories and characters evoke. The characterization brings the main characters to life in such a way that it's hard not to love them and want the best for them. The story has strong echoes of Pinocchio and references to Swiss Family Robinson, The Wizard of Oz, and Frankenstein. In the Lives of Puppets is a gorgeous story about what love truly means and how important it is to be surrounded by the ones who love and support you.

Favorite Line:

[The Coachman] "Your flaws are what make you superior, in all ways. No matter what machines can do, no matter how powerful we become, it is the *absence* of flaws that will be our undoing....Our only flaw is that we've condemned ourselves to spend eternity mimicking that which we deemed unfit to exist."

Reviewed by: Kathy Jaccarino, High School Librarian Title: Improbable Magic for Cynical Witches Author: Kate Scelsa Publisher: Balzer and Bray (Imprint of Harper Collins) Year: 2022 Good for Grades: 10-12 Genre/Type of Book: "A witchy, atmospheric lesbian contemporary romance" Content Warnings: Drug use/sales and underage drinking

Published Summary:

Review:

The topic intrigued me, and I have been trying find more books that represent the gay community in common place stories. This books takes place in Salem, MA and centers around a group of YAs who are practicing witches. The author blends the culture and history of Salem into the story of a high school senior, Eleanor, a recent transfer to Salem. Eleanor struggles to fit in at her new high school as she explores her sexuality. She has an experience with a popular girl who befriends her. This relationship ultimately goes awry and forces Eleanor to leave school...the story of this happenstance unfolds as the story progresses and Eleanor tries to fit into her new situation and leave the past behind. There are also references to Tarot card readings which become symbolic of Eleanor's journey. And, a back story of Eleanor's mother who suffers from the extreme side effects of Lyme Disease, gives the story another dimension. I like that Eleanor realized that although she made mistakes and demonstrated poor judgement, it was not the end of the world, and that hopefully you learn from your mistakes and can move on. I just think it took her a long time to realize this! While I enjoyed this book, it was not one of my favorites, but it certainly fits a niche for those students interested in witchcraft.

Favorite Line:

"You can only fix what you decide is worth fixing." Advice from Gillian to Eleanor.

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Reviewed by: Kathy Jaccarino, High School Librarian Title: Some Girls Do Author: Jennifer Dugan Publisher: Putnam (Imprint of Penguin Random House) Year: 2021 Good for Grades: 9-12 Genre/Type of Book: Queer Romance Content Warnings: Some sexual promiscuity

Published Summary:

Review:

This book was selected by our GSA club for their annual book discussion book. I am glad they selected it and am glad I read it! The story is told from two perspectives, Morgan and Ruby, two very different girls who have an immediate attraction to each other. Morgan is an elite track athlete being recruited by D1 colleges. However, she needs to transfer from her Catholic High School during her senior year for coming out as queer...which according to the school, violates their code of conduct. This also jeopardized her college eligibility. She meets Ruby, a beauty queen and mechanic, who is not out. Both girls are struggling with their identities, and their future plans. Morgan's family is trying to sue her former school, which is an interesting story line, but it was frustrating to see how oblivious Morgan is about the financial implications this has on her very supportive family. But, it was wonderful to read about a family that supports their gay child. Ruby is not so lucky. I like the character of her stepfather, who steps up to the plate to help Ruby. A well-done YA novel that speaks to all the different struggles teens face in finding their place and being accepted for who they are, queer or not.

Favorite Line:

“I’m not spending my life pretending I’m something I’m not, or making myself smaller and quieter, just because someone else thinks I should."

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Published Summary:

Review:

Elliott is a sixth grader who is struggling to manage his ADHD symptoms, which are impacting his self esteem, friendships, and relationships with his divorced parents. His best friend is now homeschooled and his "lunchtime friends" aren't really interested in extending that friendship beyond the cafeteria. When all students are required to do a long term group project, he ends up paired with an extremely popular girl named Maribel. The book follows Elliott through the duration of the project, during which he processes his step-mother's pregnancy, his changing friendships, and his emotions.

I enjoyed reading this! It was easy to relate to and felt contemporary and realistic. I liked that Elliott and Maribel's friendship never veered towards a budding romance. Cooking being a major interest of Elliott's is a bonus, as cookbooks and anything else cooking related are super popular in my library.

Favorite Line:

"I think about... how my family doesn't all live together or all have big parties together, but maybe my family is okay anyway. not for any real reason in particular, but just because it is mine."

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Published Summary:

Review:

Reminiscent of The Breakfast Club, this book centers around a group of five middle schoolers, forced to spend time together. Their school requires community service hours, which none of them have done, so they're forced to do them together in the school cafeteria. Pitted against a villain of a cafeteria monitor, the five of them band together to get their hours done and to help someone in need. The cast of characters is diverse in looks, heritage, language It's the kind of book that makes you think!

Favorite Line:

My copy is checked out, so I can't grab a specific quote, but I appreciated that a side plot involving a homeless family was handled with tact and dignity.

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Published Summary:

Review:

Zara is a self proclaimed "queen of the neighborhood," but when a new family moves in, that all starts to change. New girl Naomi is full of big ideas that the other kids like too - including Zara. However, Zara has a hard time accepting that other people also have fun ideas and refuses to participate in them with the rest of the kids, instead trying to break a world record to bring the attention back to her. The characters are realistic and this book could serve as a nice bridge between illustrated chapter books and middle grade fiction.

Favorite Line:

"And just like that, I realize I'm sharing the crown. But surprisingly, it makes me feel a lot lighter than I expected."

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Published Summary:

Review:

This is the true story of a bear named Wojtek, who was adopted by a supply company of the Polish army in Iran during World War 2. It is illustrated, with an author's note with photographs after the story. It is narrative nonfiction and tells the story of Wojtek as he becomes part of the military. The author does a good job distinguishing which parts of the story are true, versus which parts may just be legend. I stumbled across this while adding new books, and was immediately engrossed in the story! It's super engaging and would appeal to a wide variety of ages, although the text is fairly complex for primary students to read independently. Because of the narrative structure, it would work well as a read aloud.

Favorite Line:

My favorite part of the book was the photographs and information at the end. This book really reads as a picture book, and I enjoyed seeing the actual photographs of Wojtek.

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Reviewed by: Ashley Poulin, Brooks Hill Elementary School Title: Frizzy Author: Claribel A. Ortega Publisher: First Second (an imprint of Macmillan) Year: 2022 Good for Grades: 4-9 Genre/Type of Book: Graphic Novel/Realistic fiction Content Warnings: Bullying and racism

Published Summary:

Marlene loves three things: books, her cool Tía Ruby, and hanging out with her best friend, Camila. But according to her mother, Paola, the only thing she needs to focus on is school and “growing up.” That means straightening her hair every weekend so she could have “presentable,” “good hair.”

But Marlene hates being in the salon and doesn’t understand why her curls are not considered pretty by those around her. With a few hiccups, a dash of embarrassment, and the much-needed help of Camila and Tía Ruby―she slowly starts a journey to learn to appreciate and proudly wear her curly hair.

Review:

Frizzy is a graphic novel loosely based on the author's real life. It all centers around her hair. Marlene is Black and Dominican, and spends every Saturday at the hair salon having her hair straightened. She hates the salon and longs to wear her hair more naturally, however, her mother refuses. Her "cool aunt" teaches how to care for her natural hair, much to her mother's chagrin. However, eventually come to a compromise where Marlene better understands her mother's reasons for having her straighten her hair, and her mom relinquishes some of the control she was exerting over it. It was interesting AND disheartening to read about social pressures Black women face over their hair. I think this book is a great conversation starter and really makes the reader think about the assumptions made about people based on appearances, and models some healthy, but tough, conversations between family members. The story felt contemporary and honest.

Favorite Line:

"I didn't want to tell you because I didn't think I could. I never realized I could talk about how I felt, because... we don't do that much." - Marlene is explaining to her mother why she didn't talk about this with her sooner.

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Published Summary:

Review:

This book centers around Katie and her various friendships. She has a long term best friend named Kacey from her homeschool co-op. As Katie expands her friend group, Kacey quickly feels threatened and lashes out at Katie for no longer being a good friend to her. As a reader, I found Kacey frustrating, as she clearly was trying to control Katie and isolate her from any potential new friend. I enjoyed the book, and it was interesting to read a book from the perspective of a homeschooled student.

Favorite Line:

"I didn't want Kacey to feel alone. But I also thought she was being mean." - I liked seeing Katie finally realize that it was okay to have more than one good friend, and that she wasn't doing anything wrong.

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Published Summary:

Review:

Squished is about Avery Lee, who is one of 7 kids in the Lee family. She sometimes feels like she needs space away from her crowded house, hence the title of the book. I read this book because it's from the same team that wrote and illustrated Allergic, which is super popular at my library. However, compared to Allergic, I felt Squished fell a bit flat. There were too many plot lines, and none of them went into enough depth that I was actually invested in them as a reader. There's some friendship drama, a potential family move, issues between her and her siblings, and a failed pet sitting business. That being said, most kids will probably enjoy it as it's a light read and one of those coveted chapter book length graphic novels.

Favorite Line:

It wasn't a specific line, as this spread was largely wordless, but I did enjoy watching how Avery reacted when her brother was being bullied on a family trip to a skating rink. Sometimes it's satisfying to see bullies get what they have coming.

Find this video and other resources for Squished at Teachingbooks.net

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Reviewed by: Kathy Jaccarino, High School Librarian Title: Home After Dark Author: David Small Publisher: McClelland & Stewart, Imprint of Penguin Random House Year: 2018 Good for Grades: 11-Adult Genre/Type of Book: Graphic Novel, Coming of Age Content Warnings: Brief exposure to a sexual encounter

Published Summary:

Review:

I decided to review this book after I discovered it was on a couple of challenged lists. It is an Alex Award winner and received starred reviews from Kirkus and Booklist. As indicated by the Alex Award, this is considered an adult novel. One reviewer compares it to Lord of the Flies.

David Small crafts a dark and ominous Coming of Age graphic novel set in the 1950s. He tells the story of Thirteen-year-old Russell Pruitt who is abandoned by his mother and moves with his Korean War Veteran father to Marshfield, California. They arrive penniless with no job. They are turned out by Russell's aunt and are ultimately taken in by a Chinese immigrant couple who help them get on their feet. Russell does not adjust well to this town and struggles to fit in, a band of bullies harass him. The dilapidated town has a ring of animal abusers on the loose, and his father spirals into depression, fueled by alcohol use. He too abandons Russell. Russell struggles with his identity and his place in this world. He makes some bad decisions and goes to a dark place. Seeing him try to make things right is heart-wrenching. However, the novel ends on a note of hope and tenderness as the Chinese couple take Russell in, rescuing him.

Favorite Line:

"Supper is ready." Mrs. Mah...on the last panel, calls this out to Russell. Her face is kind and smiling. Those three words bring the story to close on a hopeful, human note.

*As this is considered an adult novel by the publisher, this is not available in SORA.

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Reviewed by: Jennifer Costello, Laurelton-Pardee Intermediate School Title: The Floating Field: How a Group of Thai Boys Built Their Own Soccer Field Author: Scott Riley Publisher: Millbrook Press, an Imprint of Lerner Year: 2021 Good for Grades: K-5 Genre/Type of Book: Non-Fiction Content Warnings: N/A

Published Summary: 

On the island of Koh Panyee, in a village built on stilts, there is no open space. How will a group of Thai boys play soccer?

After watching the World Cup on television, a group of Thai boys is inspired to form their own team. But on the island of Koh Panyee, in a village built on stilts, there is no open space. The boys can play only twice a month on a sandbar when the tide is low enough. Everything changes when the teens join together to build their very own floating soccer field.

This inspiring true story by debut author Scott Riley is gorgeously illustrated by Nguyen Quang and Kim Lien. Perfect for fans of stories about sports, beating seemingly impossible odds, and places and cultures not often shown in picture books.

Review:

This is a true story of a group of boys in Koh Panyee, Thailand that would play soccer each afternoon on the sandbar by their village. Once the tide returned, though, soccer was over as they had nowhere to play. While watching the 1986 World Cup, the boys decided they needed to form a soccer team. For weeks they collected materials and built a floating field. "With fishnet goals at each end, it teetered in the waves." They played and played until one day they entered a tournament, and the Panyee Football Club was formed.

Favorite Line: 

No longer needing the moon to tug at the tides, Prasit and his friends headed straight to their field each day after school.

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Reviewed by: Becky Hibbert, East Irondequoit Middle School Title: Ain't Burned All the Bright Author: Jason Reynolds Publisher: Atheneum (Imprint of Simon & Schuster) Year: 2022 Good for Grades: 7-12 Genre/Type of Book: Novel in Verse/Poetry/Contemporary Fiction Content Warnings: References to racism and the deaths of George Floyd and Eric Garner; nothing explicit.

Published Summary: 

A Caldecott Honor winner!

Prepare yourself for something unlike anything: A smash-up of art and text for teens that viscerally captures what it is to be Black. In America. Right Now. Written by #1 New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Jason Reynolds.

Jason Reynolds and his best bud, Jason Griffin, had a mind-meld. And they decided to tackle it, in one fell swoop, in about ten sentences, and 300 pages of art, this piece, this contemplation-manifesto-fierce-vulnerable-gorgeous-terrifying-WhatIsWrongWithHumans-hope-filled-hopeful-searing-Eye-Poppingly-Illustrated-tender-heartbreaking-how-The-HECK-did-They-Come-UP-with-This project about oxygen. And all of the symbolism attached to that word, especially NOW.

And so for anyone who didn’t really know what it means to not be able to breathe, REALLY breathe, for generations, now you know. And those who already do, you’ll be nodding yep yep, that is exactly how it is.

Review:

I keep finding more and more reasons to love Jason Reynolds, and this book is no exception. It's three sentences long, and each sentence has its own section in the book. The book is told from the viewpoint of a young boy and each fragment of his sentences has a corresponding image created by the phenomenally talented Jason Griffin. The boy is musing about the pandemic and how it has affected his family, especially his father, and the outbreaks of racial violence. The thread that really binds the story and gives it a power all its own is the connection - or disconnect - between what is going on and the the ability to breathe freely, whether it be health-wise or societally.

This book had a huge impact on me. It's small on the text but mighty on the themes, and the images truly boost the effect of the story. I felt all the feels while reading this and I've passed it around to multiple colleagues. Highly, highly recommend.

Favorite Line: 

"...and she wipes weary from her eyes still glued to the no-good glued to the high-definition glare of low-definition life..."

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Reviewed by: Ashley Pouin, Brooks Hill Elementary School Title: Finally Seen Author: Kelly Yang Publisher: Simon & Schuster Year: 2023 Good for Grades: 3-8 Genre/Type of Book: Realistic fiction/Middle grade novel Content Warnings: Racism and racist acts

Published Summary:

Review:

Finally Seen is a new book by Kelly Yang, best known for Front Desk. This is a contemporary novel, set shortly after the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Lina's family (sister, father, brother) all moved to the United States from China 5 years earlier, leaving Lina to stay in China with her grandmother. After waiting so long, Lina's dream of moving to the United States finally comes true, although once she gets there, the truth is not exactly like she imagined. There are financial issues, language barriers, and social issues to navigate. Lina experiences blatant racism, which is discussed openly and honestly in the book, along with smaller microaggressions, which are also addressed.

I chose to read this book because Front Desk has gained a lot of traction at my library now - more so than when it was originally published, so this looked like a good option for kids who were hoping there was another in that series. Because it is SO contemporary, it felt like I was reading about a regular day at school. Some of the conflict at the end of the book wrapped up a little TOO easily, but that's typical in a middle grade book.

Favorite Line:

This line hit close to home with me, as I'm sure it will with many of you. These are Lina's internal thoughts, as she overhears adults discussing a fictional book called Flea Shop, which the main character has had a life similar to Lina's - "Flea Shop is the most relatable thing I've ever read. As for appropriate, if she thinks Flea Shop's not appropriate, I hate to think of what she thinks about my life."

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Reviewed by: Becky Hibbert, East Irondequoit Middle School Title: Love from Mecca to Medina Author: S.K. Ali Publisher: Salaam Reads/Simon & Schuster for Young Readers Year: 2022 Good for Grades: 7-12 Genre/Type of Book: Contemporary young adult fiction Content Warnings: n/a

Published Summary:

Review:

This book is the sequel to Love from A to Z and follows the continuing love story of Adam and Zayneb. Unlike the first book, however, there's tension and discord between the two. They're living separately and navigating their ways through their respective - and seemingly insurmountable - troubles, which drives a wedge between the two as they don't want to burden the other. In an effort to reconnect, the young couple decides to journey to Mecca and Medina as a way to both reconnect and to reap the spiritual benefits of their holy journey. Of course, trouble pops up along the way in the form of a former flame, and jealousy and miscommunication threaten to damage the trip *and* their relationship.

I love S.K. Ali's books because they're a window into another culture and she writes characters and stories that are so heartwarming that you can't help but love them. I've learned so much about contemporary Muslim culture through her books and she's an author who's a "no-brainer": when I see she has a new book out, I'm buying it regardless! I also met her at ALAN three years ago and she was such a gentle spirit and has this amazing warmth around her. It's easy to see where her characters get their life from.

Favorite Line:

"Okay, so you know what the most profound thing I've learned this year has been? That I still struggle with, but I'm making peace with? .... "That we're not tasked with the outcome of anything. A lot of my anxiety in life came from thinking that it was all in my hands." She paused. "But only the effort is in our hands, Adam. We can't force or focus on what the end looks like; that's in Allah's hands."

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Reviewed by: Lisa Rice, A.D. Oliver Middle School Title: Big Tree Author: Brian Selznick Publisher: Scholastic Press Year: 2023 Good for Grades: 4-8 Genre/Type of Book: Fantasy, Adventure, Environment/Nature Content Warnings: Death, grief, loss

Authors note from the Publisher's site:

The five-year journey Big Tree has taken to reach your hands has involved many unexpected twists and turns, as well as a huge amount of change. I've written about the specifics of this journey in the Afterword; but since you are the first people in the world to read this book, I wanted to talk to you about the idea of change. Every moment of every day, the world around us is changing. This has been true forever, but lately this change has felt particularly terrifying and unrelenting. Even those of us lucky enough to be healthy, safe, and not currently living in a war zone feel the effects of the trauma around us. What does hope look like when there is so much darkness? Big Tree is about a kind of hope that can be found in nature. It's about surviving by working together to create a community. It's about moving forward, planning for the future, and growing—even in the face of destruction. The natural world also offers so many beautiful metaphors to help us live. Trees seem to be optimistic by design. Planting a seed is intrinsically an act of hope. Trees can't un-grow. And even when they die, they make way for more trees. One of the most moving things I learned while making this book involves the idea that forests are not a collection of individual trees, but rather a community where everything is connected. Trees need one another to survive in the same way people need one another to survive. And like nature, we need to be adaptable as we grow. We need to figure out, like forests, how to survive danger together, and how to change for the better as we move forward into the future. This is what I believe books have the power to help us understand, and this is why I love writing and illustrating for children.

Thank you for reading Big Tree.

Review:

Two little sibling sycamore seeds, Merwin and Louise, experience the loss of their mother due to a stampede of dinosaurs trying to escape a fire. They must find a way to way to survive on their own, with only each other and the advice of their mother for help. The brother and sister siblings go off together in search of light, water, and good soil in order to thrive. The siblings don't always agree on what the best place to thrive in is. There are definitely some sad parts in this book but uplifting and hopeful parts as well.

Science is woven into all parts of this book and would be great to use in a science class when studying the environment. There are themes of listening to the earth, sources of life on earth, and interdependence of all life forms. Although the book explore themes of life and death, the sycamore seeds show us that together we can change the world for the better, and offer a more hopeful future. In the Afterward, Selznick explains additional science topics and connections between fungi and trees and the "wood-wide web." The bibliography has additional science books for children to explore.

Selznick is known for his illustrations that don't add to the story, they are the story! This book too is short on text, and has lots of beautiful illustrations! The simple text may appeal to our students who think they don't like to read. We get to zoom in and out of the illustrations to see things up close and see all the details on the drawings. I loved this book for many reasons! There is humor, science, adventure, mystery, dinosaurs, and gorgeous illustrations! I love the idea of this book being used in collaboration with science and ELA teachers. I loved the sibling relationship in the book- so many times in middle school books, the siblings are at odds with each other and in this book, we get to see siblings working together, which can lead to some good discussions. And the ending of this book!

This book is a Common Sense Selection for families, and Meryl Streep narrates the audiobook (although you can't miss all those illustrations!!).

Favorite Line: 

From page 168: "But what good are facts if they are interpreted wrong?"

Also : "A good parent always gives their children roots and wings. Roots to settle down, and wings to bravely go where you need to go."

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Reviewed by: Ashley Poulin, Brooks Hill Elementary School Title: Nat for Nothing Author: Maria Scrivan Publisher: Scholastic Graphix Year: 2023 Good for Grades: 3-8 Genre/Type of Book: Graphic Novel, Realistic fiction Content Warnings: None

Published Summary:

It's a best friend battle!

Natalie is having a rough start to the school year. Each student has been asked to join an extracurricular activity, and Nat's two best friends have no trouble finding activities that interest them. Flo tries her hand at puppetry, and Zoe makes the volleyball team... with Nat's ex-BFF, Lily! So now Zoe and Lily are always together, and Nat's over it! Nat's feeling betrayed, and she still hasn't found a club to join. But when Nat meets a new student who's having the same difficulty choosing a club, they decide to create one together. Could this be the solution to her problems?

Review:

Nat for Nothing is the fourth book in a graphic novel series about a middle school aged girl named Natalie. Natalie is definitely not in the "cool crowd" and struggles to find herself and where she fits in. This title focuses on her attempts to join a club in middle school, and how to handle it when her friends find new interests and new friendships more easily than she does.

I read this book because I like to be aware of the content in middle grade books, particularly graphic novels, as they can sometimes be much more mature than one would assume. This series does a great job at presenting a realistic view of middle school, while still being completely appropriate for elementary school students. It's a popular series in my library and I know students will be excited to see there's a new title available!

Favorite Line: 

I enjoyed when Nat and her friend Luca were discussing their "doubt gremlins," which are those nasty little thoughts in your head that make you think you're not good enough and can stop you from trying new things. Luca tells Nat that everyone gets them and "drawing them makes them seem less scary," which is followed up by a two page spread of cartoon doubt gremlins and their mean thoughts. I thought it was a clever way to let readers know they're not alone with having those types of thoughts in their head.

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Reviewed by: Lisa Rice, A.D. Oliver Middle School Title: You Are Here: Connecting Flights Author: Edited by Ellen Oh, cofounder of We Need Diverse Books Publisher: Allida (Imprint of Harper Collins) Year: 2023 Good for Grades: 3-7 Genre/Type of Book: J Short Story Collection Content Warnings: Racist remarks and behaviors

Published Summary:

Review:

This book was written by award winning and best selling East and Southeast Asian American authors, including Traci Chee, Mike Chen, Meredith Ireland, Mike Jung, Erin Entrada Kelly, Minh Le, Grace Lin, Ellen Oh, Linda Sue Park, Randy Ribay, Christina Soontornvat, and Susan Tan. Each author wrote a chapter and you don't know who wrote which chapter until the end of the book.

It is a book of interconnected stories with young Asian American characters from different cultural backgrounds who are at the Chicago International Airport with severe weather on the horizon. There is an incident at the TSA security check point that causes problems and chaos and affects twelve Asian Americans in the busy airport where people are already stressed and impatient due to the poor weather forecast. As in all airports, there are some fellow travelers that are helpful and some, not as much. The stories highlight the discrimination and microaggressions that people face on a daily basis, however, we also see how people care for and support each other as well. Many characters in the book question whether it is best to "just blend in" or should you speak your truth? People want to fit in as Americans, but also feel the pressure to fit in. A busy airport seemed like the perfect setting for this book.

The book also shows real strategies to use when faced with racism and empowers the character (and the reader?). I think it is a great read aloud and perfect to have discussions about. I personally loved how the stories unfolded throughout the book, in different parts of the airport, and in different characters' stories. This book is a JLG selection, and an Amazon Editor's Pick. It represents LGBTQ+, Asian Americans, neurodivergence, and transracial adoption. I highly recommend it for middle school libraries, and I enjoyed it as an adult reader as well!

Favorite Line:

From page 102: "Did you know that tea originated in China, probably more than six thousand years ago? So, every time you drink tea, just remember: it was brought to you by 'cultural differences."

I also loved: "My face is not a costume."

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Reviewed by: Lisa Rice, A.D. Oliver Middle School Title: Loyalty Author: Avi Publisher: Clarion Books (Imprint of Harper Collins) Year: 2022 Good for Grades: 5-8 Genre/Type of Book: U.S. Historical Fiction, Adventure, Friendship Content Warnings: Death of a father, Death due to war, Violence

Published Summary:

Review:

The year is 1774 and Noah is just a young boy (ages 13-15 in the book) when he sees his father killed for being a loyalist to the king. Knowing the rest of the family is also in trouble, they leave for Boston for the hope of safety. In Boston, Noah acts as a spy for the British. As the story and the war progresses, Noah questions his beliefs, and ultimately, where his loyalties lie. His Black friend Jolla raises awareness of British and American commitment to slavery. The story is told through dated journal-like entries and is historically accurate. As always, Avi is great at introducing multiple viewpoints in his books. This book provides an interesting take on key events of the Revolutionary War from the perspective and point of view of a Tory living on American soil that we don't usually get to hear about. There is a theme of "think for yourself," and some great discussions between Noah and Jolla.

This is a great book to read along with a unit on the Revolutionary War, as it gives a lot of information about the war (sometimes maybe too much?). At times it can seem "timeline-ish." Noah experiences key events in the war, and it is cool to hear about them through his story, such as when he experiences "the shot heard around the world" while in Lexington.

This book, while about the Revolutionary War, draws a lot of parallels to today's world: a deadly pandemic, economic boycotts, civil unrest, the government restricting voting rights, hypocrisy on both sides of an issue- a lot of food for thought and a lot to discuss with a class that is learning about this war. Avi shows the complexities of war and how one side is not 100% correct. What makes a person a traitor? A patriot? Right? Wrong? Also interesting was the concept of "fake news" and how facts are distorted to get one side riled up against the other side. We can see the contradictory information and how each side interprets information for their own gain.

I really enjoyed this book, although I didn't think it was one of his best. It is an Amazon's Editor's Pick book. I thought the lesson of being loyal to yourself and to think for yourself were good messages for this book's target audience.

Favorite Line:

From p. 120: "[John Hancock is] always talking about liberty isn't he? Well, he enslaves Black people. And he's not freeing them."

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Published Summary:

Review:

Wicked Stepmother? Check. Two stepsisters? Check. Dashing young man from the palace? Check. Party at the Palace? Check. Happy Ending? Not a chance.

I just love a fairytale retelling and Robin Benway did not disappoint. In this take on Cinderella, "Ella" is a minor character. Drizella and Anastasia take center stage and their sad stories are revealed. Drizella is a budding scientist and Anastasia is falling in love. They both live under the fear and oppression of their mother, who is just as evil to them as she is to Ella. Their father has left them, and they struggle with feeling abandoned. It's a mess for everyone in the house, not just Ella. The creativity of the twists in this version will leave you with emotions you never thought you would have about Ella, Drizella, Anastasia and Lady Tremain.

Favorite Line:

Lady Tremain is rather enjoying hearing them fight, much better than the alternative where they become friends, share secrets, and work together. She smiles to herself, so pleased with how everything has worked out. She will not have these three girls allying against her. If there is going to be any mutiny in this house, it will be from Lady Tremain and not those stupid, simpering children.

Published Summary:

Review:

This book has 100 cool maps and infographics, most pretty easy to quickly glance at and come away with new information about the world we live in. Some maps are better than others. Some are interesting, some are amusing, some are for pure trivia, and some are seriously important, like the one on climate change, so there is something for everyone. Maps are described as "time machines," bringing alive the past and helping us see the future. Maps are divided into sections; Ancient History, Out & About, The Watery World, Using & Abusing Nature, Extreme Earth, Planet in Peril, and The Final Frontier. There are maps and infographics like "Imagine All the Oceans as a Single Body of Water," "The 70 Trees That Have Been to the Moon," and "The Tiny Creek That Connects the Atlantic and Pacific" and "Where Do All the Turkeys Live?" Also, "Who Are the World's Cat People?" (spoiler alert: Russia!) Some maps were not as helpful, for example on page 30-31 is "Where to Live if You Hate Snakes." Everything is colored in the same color except for the north and south poles.

Some maps take some time studying them and others seem to need more information to be helpful. For this reason, I think this would be a good book to use in a social studies classroom critiquing maps. The maps on climate change are great for discussion. There are some very scary and eye-opening maps and infographics on "A Rapidly Warming World" (p. 144) and "North America's Summers Are Getting Longer" (p. 146) and "Winter is Getting Shorter" (p. 147). Sometimes a picture is worth a 1,000 words. I would also use this book to teach inferencing and critical thinking skills. The Ancient History section is great for showing a map and having students make a prediction or inference to start a unit on early people, for example "The Retreat of the Hunter-Gatherer" map on page 12-13.

I love browsable nonfiction and looking at maps and enjoyed most maps in this cool book.

Favorite Line:

From the Introduction: "We often hear that we live in a globalized world. Perhaps that's why we increasingly turn to maps of the world to better understand the planet and its occupants."

Published Summary:

Review:

I picked up this book because the cover was sweet (I know, don't judge a book by its cover, but....) and it had an unusual narrator, a house.

This is the story of three young adults who, over the course of 3 decades, all live at number 8 Sunflower Street, Lagoa Pequena - a small city in Brazil, beginning New Year's Eve 2000, through the years of the pandemic in 2020. All three narratives are woven together, and we go back and forth among them to learn that despite the year, people are always struggling to stay connected, and in the case of Ana, Greg, and Beto, questioning their sexuality and relationships. All three character are gay, so not only does the book explore their relationships under this umbrella, but it is also a look at how things change, and how they stay the same.

An interesting social commentary. It was interesting to read about our isolation during those first months of the pandemic! It seems so long ago, but it was just a short 3 years ago. It brought back many visceral memories. The house is an interesting narrator, with a very dry sense of humor, and it was a very clever and unusual way to tell the story. At the end the three generations do come together in a satisfying conclusion.

Favorite Line:

About Beto, in the 2020 narrative, the house states, "Beto does that to diminish his happiness a little, because he has this complicated habit of thinking that feeling good is a sign that soon everything will get worse" (174-175). I read this and completely related, as I always expect the worse! And I loved the last line of the book, "It's up to us to turn a house into a home" (303).

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Published Summary:

Review:

This is a mysterious and moody book where you want to be careful not to give away any spoilers! While the plot can be a bit ridiculous and unrealistic, it is a fun read if you go along for the ride! It is a ghost story after all, and the book has lots of action and surprises along the way! I like the mystery element combined with some spookiness. The chapters are short and have lots of cliffhangers, which I think make it a great book for middle school and a fun read aloud.

Windydown Vale is an isolated mining town that has a lot of secrets! The entire town is surrounded by muddy quicksand swamps that suck people under. And there's a ghoul who lives there and haunts the area. The story begins when Annabelle gets dragged into Windydown Vale by her runaway horse and claims that the local ghoul attacked her and her dad and now her dad is missing. However, someone knows that that story cannot possibly be true, that the ghoul of Windydown Vale was in fact not out at all that evening- so who then was doing the attacking? And so the mystery begins when Copper Inskeep sets out to get some answers.

I love the spooky world the author created, I love Liza, the blacksmith's daughter, who is strong and fierce, and I loved the plot twists and surprises that kept coming.

The cover of the book is worth a second glance, too, especially if you can remove it and look at the front and back together!

Favorite Line:

"The Rhyme of the Ghoul:

The Ghoul of Windydown Vale, some say
Is a nightmare invented to frighten away
The children from places they oughtn't to be
Like boglands and quicksands as deep as the sea.
But if it's not real, then how do they know
Of its terrible wail? The way its eyes glow?
Or the curve of is teeth, jutting out of the jaw,
All bloody and dripping as it eats your flesh raw?
And how to explain the bones that we find?
The corpses of animals, ones left behind
With wounds made by claws, sharp as new knives...
Are all of these false? The tales of old wives?
We suppose, in the end, there's just one place to learn;
We'll remember you kindly when you don't return."

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Published Summary:

Review:

This book ticked so many boxes for me! I loved it. I picked it up because it was a hockey story and the author is from Buffalo, and a Sabre's fan! What's not to love! However, it was SO MUCH MORE.

This was a story of a young man, Mickey, starting college while being a hockey phenom, with a grandfather and father who were serious NHL stars. Third generation hockey player...no pressure there! Mickey has not only a famous hockey-star father, but an Olympic winning skater for a mother, and five uber talented sisters! I loved his sisters and Mickey's relationship with them. Mickey is not only under pressure to become a first-round draft pick for the NHL, but he also suffers from depression and anxiety, and is struggling with his attraction to his main competitor, now his teammate, Jaysen. The author takes us through the first semester of their freshmen year as Jaysen and Mickey come to terms with their feeling for each other, become part of a team, and navigate the world of college.

The author explores the reality of homophobia in sports, but I wonder if she paints too rosy of a picture of teammates' acceptance. I would love to give this book to some members of my high school hockey team to see what they think. Are things improving?! I hope so. I thought the author realistically portrayed the relationship between Mickey and his father and was glad for the growth Mickey has as he accepts/forgives his father and comes to terms with his bi-sexuality, and his depression. The ending of the book brings things together nicely, I am impressed with Mickey decisions, even if we don't know who the first-round pick will be! Darn!!! Overall, an unusual portrayal of the hockey world which deals frankly with mental health issues and sexuality.

Favorite Line:

I think for me, the best line was the dedication: "To everyone who's had to tuck away a bit of themselves every time they laced up their skates."

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Published Summary:

Review:

I loved this book. Typically, I would not share an adult title...but this book could easily be in a high school library. It is a story of a kickass woman, Elizabeth Zott, who is a brilliant scientist in a time when women were not acknowledged or appreciated in this field. She flounders in her career because of the misogynistic men who abuse her, steal her work and otherwise prevent her from reaching her potential. The other women/colleagues in her life are no better. She meets another brilliant scientist, Calvin Evins, and they have a real "chemistry" between them. They agree to live together, but Elizabeth refuses to get married. Three years later, after Calvin's untimely and tragic death, Elizabeth is a single mother (in the 60s!). She is fired from her work for having a child out of wedlock. Through a series of events, she ends up staring on her own cooking show, whereas she uses chemistry and a no-nonsense approach to cooking that endears her to her audiences and gives them a sense of empowerment. Along the way we get to know her neighbor, her daughter, her boss, and her dog...six thirty...who, in my opinion steals the show!

Wonderfully developed characters that make Elizabeth's story even more heartwarming. And a great ending that will satisfy! A humorous, but thought provoking look at what life was like for women during this time in our recent history.

Favorite Line:

At the end of every show Elizabeth says the audience, "Children, set the table. Your mother needs a moment to herself."

As the publisher has classified this as "Adult" this book is likely unable to be purchased for SORA. There are also no resources available in TeachingBooks for it. However, Knopf Doubleday does have a Book Club Kit.

Published Summary:

Review:

I know this book is a few years old. But it came to my attention when I was looking for a book to use for our April Book Discussion group. As April is Neurodiversity Month, I was looking for a title in which the main characters were neurodiverse. In this book, the main characters are Lily (who struggles with ADHD and dyslexia) and Abelard, who is on the spectrum (not sure if that is still correct to say, but it is how the author calls it.)

This is a tender and moving story about two neurodivergent teens who connect over detention and the medieval text, The Love Letters of Abelard and Heloise. These are two smart, funny kids who find each other, struggle to navigate the world of relationships, and to find their own "normal." Lily struggles with school and the medication she is prescribed for her ADHD, and Abelard struggles with overcoming social isolation to connect with Lily.

The secondary characters are also strong- Lily's best friend, her mother, sister and Abelard's parents (who are a bit overbearing, I thought!). I struggled with Lily's decision to have an experimental brain surgery to "control" her ADHD. But the author handles it in a realistic way, that illustrates the real struggle of teen with ADHD would face under these circumstances. The ending frustrated me! Open ended! Aaargh. I like thing wrapped up with all the answers. But, nonetheless, a good book that represents teens that are not typically represented in literature, so it fills a void. But, 5 years later, are the terminology/labels still correct? I am sure the students in my book discussion will let me know! LOL!

Favorite Line:

This book is rich in literary references and lines from the medieval text, The Love Letters of Abelard and Heloise. So there are some wonderful passages from this original work that Abelard and Lily text each other. However, towards the end of the book Lily states, in her own words, "When we are together, we become even more than what we please. We become ourselves." Hear, Hear Lily!

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Published Summary:

Review:

What Beauty There Is is a beautifully written debut novel and, although I classified it as realistic fiction, it has elements of a thriller, a survival story, mystery, horror, and romance.

Jack's father is in prison and his mother just died, leaving him with his young brother Matty. They have nothing, but Jack is determined to keep Matty with him. Jack's father is in prison for old sins including taking an unauthorized cut of money from a drug ring. The money has never been found, but Jack is certain he knows where it is and sees that money as his way of surviving and providing for his brother. Unfortunately, the drug dealers are still looking for that money as well. When they find out that Jack is close to finding it, they stop at nothing to deter him.

A seriously injured Jack and Matty find themselves on the run when the mysterious and devoted Ava arrives on the scene. She nurses Jack back to health and cares for Matty even though she knows they are both in great danger. Jack cannot understand her loyalty. This is because Ava does not reveal who she is and the connection she has to Jack, his father, and the past. I loved this book. The characters are unforgettable and although it is dark, the narration is such high quality, it is compulsively readable. I hope more is coming from Cory Anderson!

Favorite Line:

"Sometimes you block a thing that hurts. You lie to yourself and say it isn't there, but the whole time you know it is. It's like a piece of metal you swallowed. It bothers you, but you've sort of gotten used to it. This thing inside you. You've been swallowing it for years."

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Published Summary:

Review:

This book is about Mona, a high school student working through her depression, which she calls "The Matter". I was drawn in from the very first page. The book starts with Mona's best friend moving away. As he is leaving, he asks her to promise to get help. The reader is allowed into the first therapy session to hear Mona and her therapist's conversation. I loved that the reader could get a taste of what therapy looks and sounds like. Mona's honesty about her emotions and her feelings of being an outsider are affirming.

Many young (and older) readers will identify with how her depression feels, what triggers her depression, and how it affects her relationships. Although the beginning of the book was promising, after the first few chapters the book became disjointed and veered off in many directions that took away from the great focus at the beginning. An underdeveloped story about Mona having an intestinal blockage and a school wide art installation that ended in an unrealistic "everybody feels good now" ending were weak story lines that took away from the momentum at the beginning of the book. I was so hopeful, but ultimately did not enjoy the later parts and ending of this story.

Favorite Line:

Dr. Vega: I'd love to help you study your Matter this summer as a personal research project. What do you think?

Mona: I dunno Dr. Vega...

Dr. Vega: What's the alternative...to go on feeling miserable?

Mona: I guess I have two options. I can implode or I can evolve. Imploding feels tempting but I think I really do want to evolve.

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Review:

Lily, her sister Sam, and their mother move suddenly to live with their Halmoni (grandmother) as she battles late stage brain cancer. Lily begins seeing a tiger that no one else can see and she believes that if she is able to return stolen stories to the tiger, her grandmother will be healed. As she tries to trap the tiger and return the story, she learns more about her family's history, both in Korea and in the United States, and begins to understand herself and her place in the story of her family. She also makes friends with a boy named Ricky and they navigate how to build a friendship even as they both deal with their own family struggles.

Favorite Line:

“As you get older, you collect more information and you see things from different perspectives. So, naturally, sometimes the stories you tell yourself…can change.”

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Reviewed by: Colleen Woods, Martha Brown Middle School Title: The Lost Year Author: Katherine Marsh Publisher: Roaring Brook Press (An Imprint of MacMillan) Year: 2023 Good for Grades: 4-7 Genre/Type of Book: Historical fiction/Realistic fiction Content Warnings: None

Publisher Summary:

Review:

The Lost Year by Katherine Marsh is part contemporary/part historical fiction, and it's one of the best middle-grade books I've read this year.

We first meet 13 year-old Matthew in Leonia, NJ, 2020. He's stuck at home during the early days of the coronavirus pandemic with his divorced mom and 100 year-old Ukrainian GG (great-grandmother), who recently moved in with them in an effort to keep her safe from the germs and illness at her nursing home. Forced to help unpack GG’s boxes, Matthew finds a photo that sparks questions and ultimately uncovers a long-hidden history about GG’s childhood in Stalin-ruled Soviet Ukraine. What unfolds is alternating perspectives between Matthew and GG’s cousins when they were young girls, connecting 1930s Brooklyn to Communist Ukraine during its devastating, man-made famine, the Holodomor.

This book was incredible. The historical context was both fascinating and heartbreaking. It chronicles a little-known event in history, the Holodomor: a famine that killed millions of Ukrainians in the 1930s and was covered up by the Soviets. It was only decades later that the stories of brave survivors and their families helped bring the truth to light. Inspired by the author's own family history, this is a must-read for all fans of Ruta Sepetys, Jennifer A. Nielsen and Alan Gratz.

Favorite Line:

"Isn't that what reporting is, telling people's stories?"

"People's stories matter."

"Stories were powerful, but what was even more powerful was sharing them."

"The caring part makes you a writer, not the being good part."

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Published Summary:

Review:

This book is a compilation of thought provoking fairy tales reimagined and retold for an older audience. The book consists of twelve short stories that may seem familiar and vaguely remind you of your childhood, but these fairy tales go off in interesting directions! Mermaids, princes, and a sea witch tell stories about racism, abuse, consent, and romance- definitely a darker turn from childhood fairy tales, and more gory! Some titles are completely different and others have a few details changed. Common tropes are challenged, some ask interesting questions, and some reverse roles. There are diverse characters and interesting settings, and there are characters we know- Red Riding hood, Snow White, Rapunzel, Sleeping Beauty, and Beauty and the beast, to name a few. It's always fun to read to get a new twist on stories that we grew up with so that we get to enjoy them in new ways. There are also cool illustrations throughout the book by Julia Iredale, and I love the cover too! it is an Amazon Editor's Pick book.

Favorite Line:

"So the men of Bagha Purana did what men do when they're well beaten by a woman and can't find a way to fight fair. They pointed their fingers at her and screamed, 'Witch!"

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Reviewed by: Beth Larter, Walt Disney Elementary Title: Other Words for Home Author: Jasmine Warga Publisher: Balzer + Bray (Imprint of Harper Collins) Year: 2019 Good for Grades: 4-8 Genre/Type of Book: Realistic Fiction Content Warnings: There are some references to periods.

Published Summary:

Review:

This book follows Jude, a Syrian middle schooler, from Syria to her uncle's home in the United States while her father and brother, who is fighting against the government, stay in Syria. Jude expresses her feelings about being in a new place and feeling like an outsider for not speaking the language as fluently as she wants to and practicing her Muslim faith when those around her don't share her beliefs. The book is thoughtful and centers Jude's lived experience, but touches on ideas of prejudice, English language learners, what it looks like to accept a whole person, resistance to oppressive governments, and how to be authentically who you are, while still learning to fit in with your peers.

This book would be a good resource for late elementary and middle school students who want to better understand the experience of refugees and immigrants, while not diving too deeply into the worst situations. It would also be a good resource for ELLs, immigrants, and Muslim students who may find the main character relatable. The format of being written in verse also make the book more accessible for students who feel overwhelmed by large blocks of text.

Favorite Line:

"It is lovely
to be a part of something
that feels bigger than you"

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Reviewed by: Lisa Rice, A.D. Oliver Middle School Title: Last Night at the Telegraph Club Author: Malinda Lo Publisher: Dulton Books for Young Readers (Imprint of Penguin) Year: 2021 Good for Grades: 10-Adult Genre/Type of Book: YA romance, LGBTQ+, historical fiction, Coming of Age novel Content Warnings: racism, homophobia, microaggressions, uses words now considered offensive to Chinese Americans and African Americans

Published Summary:

Review:

The setting of this novel is 1950s San Francisco and the red scare paranoia is rampant. Lily Hu is the teenage daughter of Chinese immigrants and she is worried that her father will be deported. The U.S. government has started looking for Communists, Lily is very concerned for her family. Throughout the book, we also get to visit with Lily's mother in the 1930s and Lily's father in the 1940s, as well as see the societal racism that existed in the 1950s. This novel begs the question, "Where do we fit in the world?"

This book has a cast of diverse characters and I wish there were more character development. Some characters were well rounded and others felt a bit flat and I wanted to know what their motivation was. There are women in this book who love science and math and I thought that was refreshing!

There is an "Author's Note" section at the end of the book which includes pictures and additional information, something I always appreciate.

I loved this award winning novel! I loved the romance and the history. I wish things were tied up more in the end, but that's just me as a reader. I think that parts of this novel could use additional editing. I really hope there is a sequel!

This novel is an NPR Best Book, Publisher's Weekly Best Book, SLJ Best Book, NYPL Best Book, Goodreads Choice Finalist, YASLA Best Fiction for Young Adults, Kirkus Best Book, National Book Award in Young People's Literature, Stonewall Book Award, Teen Book of the Year, and more!

Favorite Line:

"Haven't you ever wondered what it would be like to have nothing keeping you attached to the ground?"

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Reviewed by: Colleen Woods, Martha Brown Middle School Title: Eight Nights of Flirting Author: Hannah Reynolds Publisher: Razorbill (Imprint of Penguin) Year: 2022 Good for Grades: 8-12 Genre/Type of Book: Realistic fiction Content Warnings: Underage drinking

Published Summary:

Review:

Eight Nights of Flirting by Hannah Reynolds is a holiday YA romcom set during the Hanukkah season on Nantucket island. Our main character, 16 year-old Shira Barbanel, receives a crash course in flirting from her neighbor and arch nemesis, Tyler Nelson, in an effort to impress her crush, and great-uncle's assistant, Isaac.

Not only did I love the wintery setting and snowy adventures that filled the pages, but this book (a companion to the author's first YA novel, The Summer of Lost Letters) reunites readers with the loud, lovable Barbanel family and their beautiful estate on Nantucket island, Golden Doors. I loved getting to share in their Hanukkah traditions, and enjoyed the small seaside mystery that Shira and Tyler tackle as a side-story. While there aren't any major surprises in how things turn-out, the story is full of heart and cozy wintery-vibes.

Favorite Line:

"What if we all did that? Burst through the confines of other people's expectations and just grabbed what we wanted."

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Reviewed by: Jennifer Costello, Laurelton-Pardee Intermediate School Title: Frizzy Author: Claribel A. Ortega Publisher: Scholastic Year: 2023 Good for Grades: 3-6 Genre/Type of Book: Graphic Novel/Realistic fiction Content Warnings: No

Published Summary:

Marlene loves three things: books, her cool Tía Ruby, and hanging out with her best friend, Camila. But according to her mother, Paola, the only thing she needs to focus on is school and “growing up.” That means straightening her hair every weekend so she could have “presentable,” “good hair.”

But Marlene hates being in the salon and doesn’t understand why her curls are not considered pretty by those around her. With a few hiccups, a dash of embarrassment, and the much-needed help of Camila and Tía Ruby―she slowly starts a journey to learn to appreciate and proudly wear her curly hair.

Review:

Frizzy is about a middle school girl named Marlene who has beautiful, curly, but unruly hair. She is being raised by her Mami after her Papi passed away. Mami used to do Marlene's hair each weekend while Papi made her laugh, but since Papi passed, she takes her to a salon every Sunday. The salon straightens her hair to make her 'beautiful' and 'presentable.' This is a cute story about wanting to fit in, relationships and accepting/appreciating who you are.

Favorite Line:

"But if you want to get by in this world when you look the way we do, you have to try fit in."

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Reviewed by: Becki Truelson, Eastridge High School Title: In the Shadow of the Fallen Towers Author: Don Brown Publisher: Harper Collins Year: 2021 Good for Grades: 6-12 Genre/Type of Book: Nonfiction Graphic Novel Content Warnings: It is about horrors of 9/11, so sensitive content, but no adult language or situations

Published Summary:

A graphic novel chronicling the immediate aftermath and rippling effects of one of the most impactful days in modern history: September 11, 2001. From the Sibert Honor– and YALSA Award–winning creator behind The Unwanted and Drowned City.

The consequences of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York City, both political and personal, were vast, and continue to reverberate today. Don Brown brings his journalistic eye and attention to moving individual stories to help teens contextualize what they already know about the day, as well as broaden their understanding of the chain of events that occurred in the attack’s wake.

Profound, troubling, and deeply moving, In the Shadow of the Fallen Towers bears witness to our history—and the ways it shapes our future.

Review:

Many of my students are interested in researching 9/11. It is always a challenge to know where to start with them. They know from their parents and grandparent's stories that it was a turning point for the US and changed us forever, but they did not experience it first-hand. This 107-page graphic novel does an extremely impressive job of covering so many of the essential events of 9/11. It includes experiences of individuals who were in or near the towers, perspective of police from that day, the Pentagon, the President's response, Osama bin Laden, Newfoundland accepting and taking care of people on diverted flights, former military personnel who snuck into the search and rescue areas to help, the role of rescue dogs, the effects on Muslim Americans, the design of the memorials, and the war in Afghanistan.

These are all told through excerpts from interviews, recordings of 911 calls, and radio transmissions from emergency workers. The end of the book has statistics and an extensive bibliography. I learned a few things I did not know about 9/11 from reading this book. It is a very good overview and a great starting point for any students who are interested in researching further.

Favorite Line:

Despite the labor and hopes of the searchers at The Pile, only dead people are recovered. "There was a pervasive sadness and even tears when everyone knew....it changed from a rescue effort to a recovery effort...no one spoke."

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Reviewed by: Kathy Jaccarino, Brockport High School Title: Loveless Author: Alice Oseman Publisher: Scholastic Year: 2021 Good for Grades: 9-12 Genre/Type of Book: Realistic fiction Content Warnings: Sex and gender questioning

Published Summary:

From the marvelous author of Heartstopper comes an exceptional YA novel about discovering that it's okay if you don't have sexual or romantic feelings for anyone . . . since there are plenty of other ways to find love and connection.

This is the funny, honest, messy, completely relatable story of Georgia, who doesn't understand why she can't crush and kiss and make out like her friends do. She's surrounded by the narrative that dating + sex = love. It's not until she gets to college that she discovers the A range of the LGBTQIA+ spectrum -- coming to understand herself as asexual/aromantic. Disrupting the narrative that she's been told since birth isn't easy -- there are many mistakes along the way to inviting people into a newly found articulation of an always-known part of your identity. But Georgia's determined to get her life right, with the help of (and despite the major drama of) her friends.

Review:

I purchased this book for the collection based on a student recommendation and knowing that Oseman is popular in our library, her Heartstopper series is always checked out. A review from Kirkus stated, "A messy, imperfect, and necessary portrayal of a drastically underrepresented identity." The underrepresented identity being asexual. I purchased it knowing that it might contain some graphic sexual content, but I agree wholeheartedly with the review...there are few (none?) other fiction books on the topic of identifying as asexual, a topic I believe should be represented in our collections. I just finished the book and will keep it in our library collection.

Georgia is a first-year college student in the UK who is struggling to understand her sexuality. I think, given the internet and social media, it is unusual that she didn't know that asexuality was part of the sexuality spectrum. But her struggle to understand and find her place is real for all teenagers, and very relatable. The same Kirkus review states, "...making this an incredibly validating mirror, an eye-opening window, or, for some, a read where the pain may outweigh the gain." Ultimately she identifies as asexual/aromantic (aro-ace). The supporting characters vary in their sexual identities, making this book a mirror for many YAs. Georgia struggles to find her identity and to love herself as she is, while realizing the value and importance of her friendships. She realizes that you don't need sex and romance to have love!

There is a very brief description of sexual encounter in the beginning of the book, at an after-prom party. And there is a section that discussion masturbation, but it is not graphic. Neither of these would cause me to keep the book off the shelf. I would be curious to see what anyone else thinks who read the book.

Favorite Line:

There is a line that resonated with me, which occurs after the five friends come together after a struggle and some drama..."We didn't have to say it, but we all knew. We all knew what we'd found here. Or, I did, at least. I knew. I found it. And this time there was no big declaration. No grand gesture. It was just us, holding each other" (387).

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Reviewed by: Kathy Jaccarino, Brockport High School Title: I Must Betray You Author: Ruta Sepetys Publisher: Thorndike Press Large Print Young Adult Year: 2022 Good for Grades: 8-12 Genre/Type of Book: Historical Fiction Content Warnings: There is some violence, the abuse of victims of the communist regime is graphic in several instances

Published Summary:

Review:

I picked up this book to read because I loved Sepetys's other historical fiction book, Between Shades of Gray. Both books explore and tell the stories of life in Eastern Europe under communist regimes. Between Shades of Gray explores life in Lithuania under Stalin during WWII. I Must Betray You tells the story of people living in Romania in 1989, also under a communist leader. I knew very little about either of these situations, even though my family is from Eastern Europe, both are lesser taught parts of our history curriculum.

I Must Betray You centers around a student, Cristian, who is struggling with the oppressive conditions his family and friends are enduring. Vivid images really give the reader a strong sense of the struggles and abuses they face under communist leader, Ceausescus and his wife, Elena. What struck me was the fact that this was going on in the late 1980s and we knew so little about it...and conversely, the Romanian people were kept in such a vacuum that they had no idea that life in other countries was so different than what they were experiencing. The political party and the military kept these people living in fear, in the dark and pitted them against each other, forcing them to betray each other in order to save family members (hence the title). Emotional blackmail was the specialty of the secret police. Sepetys does a great job drawing the reader in and creating/developing characters that are relatable and human- the lines they need to wait in for scraps of food, the listening devices that are everywhere, the lack of heat, electricity, etc...all make the reader feel the pain they are suffering on a daily basis. The regime is overthrown by a student-lead revolution in which Cristian gets swept up. Several twists happen at the end of the book that I did not see coming! I loved the epilogue. I always like to know what happens to characters later...this epilog threw another twist into the mix.

The author provides background information, historical context, actual photographs from the time period, and a list of references for further reading, all of which are fascinating. You can tell the book is well-research. Sepetys is known for her attention to historical detail. Overall, I was left with a hopeful feeling, the famous quote from Margaret Mead resonated with me after reading this book, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

Favorite Line:

There were so many beautiful lines in the book as Cristian is writer and poet and he expresses himself in a hidden journal throughout the book. However, I would have to say my favorite line is the last line of the book (excluding the epilogue): "The twinkies weren't spectacular, but in that moment, sitting in the hallway next to Liliana on Christmas Day, they tasted like something we had never experienced: Spectacular hope."

See also Lisa Rice's review of this same title

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Reviewed by: Ashley Poulin, Brooks Hill Elementary School Title: The Tryout Author: Christina Soontornvat Publisher: Scholastic Graphix Year: 2022 Good for Grades: 4-8 Genre/Type of Book: Realistic fiction Content Warnings: Racism, racist language

Published Summary:

Thai American Christine lives in a small, predominantly white Texas town, where her parents run a Chinese restaurant. Christine’s start-of-seventh-grade anxieties about finding her place and fitting in aren’t necessarily eased when her best friend, Iranian American Megan, suggests they try out for the cheerleading squad. Christine’s excited at the prospect of becoming a cheerleader, but tryouts will culminate in a performance in front of the entire school, with the final decision coming down to a vote by the student body. One of the many pleasures of this spirited, often funny graphic novel is that it smartly avoids tropes, instead offering complexity and nuance and balance. The cheerleaders aren’t mean girls; the candidates are generally supportive of one another; and when Megan partners with someone other than Christina for the tryouts, it isn’t the beginning of the end of their friendship. The talk Christina and Megan eventually have is deep and genuine, revealing Christina’s hurt but also Megan’s hope that partnering with white girls would give them each a better chance of making it. Christina is making new friends and trying new things outside of cheerleading, too, as well as asking questions about who she is (what does it mean to be both Buddhist and Presbyterian—is that even possible?). So many thoughts and feelings flow through this story, all of them genuine. As for the tryouts: The tension is real as the story builds to its climax. This fictionalized account is inspired by author Soontornvat’s seventh grade year.

Review:

The Tryout is a graphic novel loosely based on the author's experience beginning middle school, having moved from Dallas to rural Texas. Major themes throughout the book include her trying out for the cheerleading squad and navigating new and existing friendships. Christina is Thai and her best friend Megan is Iranian, and both of them experience racism (comments from adults and peers) and the book openly talks about challenges that children of immigrants can face.

I chose to read this book because it is recommended for grades 4 to 7, and I work in a K-5 school. I try to read a lot of books that bridge that upper elementary-middle school age range. Given how appealing the cover and graphic novel format were, I knew it would fly off the shelves! My school also serves as the ENL magnet school for the district, so we have many students who have newly arrived in the United States. I think there are many students who will see themselves mirrored in this book, and it will be an age appropriate window for their classmates. I think the content is a bit sophisticated for younger students, who will likely be drawn to the colorful cover and think it's a book about cheerleading. While cheerleading occurs throughout, the experience of trying out for the team is really used to foster conversations about friendship and belonging. Students who love books like Sunny Side Up, Allergic, Smile, Click, etc. will really enjoy this book.

Favorite Line: 

This book is already checked out to a student, so I don't have a specific line to share! My favorite parts were when Christina and Megan finally resolved their conflict in the book, as it wasn't as "pretty" as these things often are in children's books. The two characters were honest with each other and both recognized mistakes made.

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Reviewed by: Lisa Rice, A.D. Oliver Middle School Title: Wish You Were Here Author: Jodi Picoult Publisher: Random House Publishing Year: 2022 Good for Grades: 11-12, Adult Genre/Type of Book: Contemporary fiction, realistic fiction Content Warnings: Covid-19/pandemic trauma, self-harm

Published Summary:

Diana O’Toole is perfectly on track. She will be married by thirty, done having kids by thirty-five, and move out to the New York City suburbs, all while climbing the professional ladder in the cutthroat art auction world. She’s an associate specialist at Sotheby’s now, but her boss has hinted at a promotion if she can close a deal with a high-profile client. She’s not engaged just yet, but she knows her boyfriend, Finn, a surgical resident, is about to propose on their romantic getaway to the Galápagos—days before her thirtieth birthday. Right on time.

But then a virus that felt worlds away has appeared in the city, and on the eve of their departure, Finn breaks the news: It’s all hands on deck at the hospital. He has to stay behind. You should still go, he assures her, since it would be a shame for all of their nonrefundable trip to go to waste. And so, reluctantly, she goes.

Almost immediately, Diana’s dream vacation goes awry. Her luggage is lost, the Wi-Fi is nearly nonexistent, and the hotel they’d booked is shut down due to the pandemic. In fact, the whole island is now under quarantine, and she is stranded until the borders reopen. Completely isolated, she must venture beyond her comfort zone. Slowly, she carves out a connection with a local family when a teenager with a secret opens up to Diana, despite her father’s suspicion of outsiders.

In the Galápagos Islands, where Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection was formed, Diana finds herself examining her relationships, her choices, and herself—and wondering if when she goes home, she too will have evolved into someone completely different.

Review:

Did you miss out on any big plans due to Covid? Diana is about to miss out on her dream trip to the Galapagos, along with her boyfriend, maybe soon to be fiancée after the trip. Up until this point, her life has been going perfectly- her career has been going well, she is about to be engaged, and life is good. Her boyfriend is a surgical resident, and when Covid comes to NYC, he is not allowed to leave, and he tells Diana to go enjoy the trip to the Galapagos alone. Diana leaves for her dream trip by herself but when she gets there, she realizes that Covid is everywhere. The hotel is shut down due to the pandemic, her luggage is lost, there's no wi-fi, and she is stranded on the island until the quarantine is lifted. There's no turning around and going home. Perhaps as many people did over the pandemic, she reexamines her life and the choices she has made while exploring the island. She considers what really matters in life- forgiveness, love, bravery, and resiliency.

There are some big surprises in this novel that I didn't see coming (much like Covid-19) that made it a game changer! I loved the description of the Galapagos and what it must have been like to be on your dream vacation, only during a pandemic. Exploring the Galapagos on your own, and enjoying the stillness that the quarantine demanded but also worrying where your next meal was coming from made me think about where I would have liked to be during the pandemic.

The book shows the dark sides of Covid, especially for the medical profession in NYC, but it also shows the many different angles of Covid and how lives were affected.

This book is an Amazon's Editor's Pick: Best Literature & Fiction, #1 New York Times Bestseller, She Reads: One of the Best Books of the Year, a Goodreads Choice Award, and the rights have been sold to Netflix for adaptation as a feature film.

Favorite Line: 

"You can't plan your life, Finn," I say quietly, "Because then you have a plan. Not a life."

Reviewed by: Becki Truelson, Eastridge High School Title: The Q Author: Amy Tintera Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers Year: 2022 Good for Grades: 9-12 Genre/Type of Book: Dystopian/Science Fiction Content Warnings: There is a fair amount of adult language, teenagers who are armed and not afraid to use their weapons.

Published Summary: 

Review:

The Q is set in a post pandemic future. The US still exists, but so does "The Q", a quarantine zone that was annexed from the US. The virus in this story has no cure and no vaccine. Once infected, residents can be infected over and over. The infected are kept in The Q and receive shipments of goods from the US, but these shipments are not always reliable.

One day an outsider is dropped from a plane into The Q. It is discovered that he is the kidnapped son of the president elect of the US. Will he become infected with the virus? Will he ever be allowed back into the US? Will the residents of The Q be hostile toward him? You will have to read to find out!

I enjoyed this "teens save the world" story. Adults and their influence are present, but the adults themselves never appear in the story allowing the teens to navigate the social and political fallout from the unexpected visitor. Maisie is the main character, and she is a force to be reckoned with. She is a fierce leader both physically and mentally. The other characters are well developed and believable. This story is an exciting adventure with just enough humor and romance to make it interesting to a wide audience. The ending is satisfying and forces the reader to consider what they value in a society and community.

Favorite Line: 

Maisie: Can they just do that? Just kill us all?

Hadley: We do have US history books in here. They've bombed a lot of people throughout they years.

Maisie: Crap.

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Reviewed by: Angelina Brodie, Gates Chili High School Title: The In-Between Author: Katie Van Heidrich Publisher: Simon & Schuster Year: 2023 Good for Grades: 4-8 Genre/Type of Book: Memoir in Verse Content Warnings: Homelessness, Depression, Divorce

Published Summary: 

For fans of Enchanted Air by Margarita Engle and Life in Motion by Misty Copeland, this middle grade memoir in verse chronicles a young girl and her family who must start over after losing their home.

In the early 2000s, thirteen-year-old Katie Van Heidrich has moved more times that she can count, for as long as she can remember. There were the slow moves where you see the whole thing coming. There were the fast ones where you grab what you can in seconds. When Katie and her family come back from an out-of-town funeral, they discover their landlord has unceremoniously evicted them, forcing them to pack lightly and move quickly.

They make their way to an Extended Stay America Motel, with Katie’s mother promising it’s temporary. Within the four walls of their new home, Katie and her siblings, Josh and Haley, try to live a normal life—all while wondering if things would be easier living with their father. Lyrical and forthcoming, Katie navigates the complexities that come with living in-between: in between homes, parents, and childhood and young adulthood, all while remaining hopeful for the future.

Review:

In this memoir in verse, thirteen-year-old Katie is stuck in-between. In-between her divorced parents, in-between childhood and adulthood, and in-between houses. After an unexpected eviction her mother moves her and her two younger siblings into an extended stay motel funded by the generosity of a friend while she tries to find a job. Katie grapples with the sudden change, another move on top of a dozens throughout her life, and while her Mother says it will only be for a few days weeks pass with siblings trying to find some consistency in their new circumstances. Throughout the book we see Katie struggle in ways that many of our students may struggle. Katie tries to be the mender in her family, smoothing over her siblings conflict, placating her Mother's often blue moods when jobs fall through, and bottling up her feelings of being a "guest" in the spacious home he shares with his new wife. Inevitably Katie's emotions "erupt" and we see her learn how advocating for herself can give her some control and peace during this in-between time.

I recommended this book because homelessness is underrepresented in literature for young people. Katie's story is likely relatable for many children living in-between. The format is accessible and Katie's voice speaks to the authors authentic experience. End pages include pictures of Katie and her family and friends featured in the book.

Favorite Line: 

"Words, after all have power, and there are so many I've still yet to discover, which excites me and gives me hope that there will always be new ways of knowing and understanding, and being'" (42)

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Reviewed by: Lisa Rice, A.D. Oliver Middle School Title: The Natural Genius of Ants Author: Betty Culley (award winning author) Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers (Imprint of Penguin) Year: 2022 Good for Grades: 3-7 Genre/Type of Book: J fiction, coming of age story, contemporary fiction Content Warnings: Deals with death and dying

Published Summary: 

Review:

Ever make a mistake at work? Haven't we all? What if you are a doctor and there are serious consequences for the decisions made on the job? To escape a decision he made and the consequences, Harvard's dad leaves his job and brings the family back to where he grew up. Harvard helps his dad deal with his grief (he tries to keep his dad away from anything sad, including mistakes made with the ants), makes a new friend, Nevaeh, and together they learn to take care of an ant farm. The main characters include Harvard and his little brother Roger, Harvard's new friend, Neveah, and dad.

There are so many great lessons in this book. There are lessons about ants (I learned a lot about ants!), friendships, mistakes and how we deal with them, dealing with grief, and the fact that grownups make mistakes too. This book would make a great read aloud with lots of things to discuss. It takes place in rural Maine, and I can see discussing nature and ants and how we make friends. I can see touching on the relationships we have with parents and siblings. The book deals with grief and gentle ways to deal with it. There is sadness but it also has humor and wit and many insights. There is a lot of fun banter between the characters. I liked that a book about grief, sadness, and dying weirdly, was not a sad book. I also really liked the cover of this book- who doesn't judge a book by its cover?!

Favorite Line: 

Didn't have a favorite line per se but there is a lot of fun with word play (trying to figure out why some words are one compound word and others are broken into two words), and I did learn a lot about ants, which generally I despise. After reading this book, I still despise them, but a little less!

From p.53: "Cool facts about carpenter ants:

1. They have no eyes or legs when they are born.
2. They are more active at night.
3. They use their antennae to figure out if someone is a friend or an enemy."

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Reviewed by: Kathy Jaccarino, Brockport High School Title: Ain't Burned All the Bright Author: Jason Reynolds Publisher: Atheneum (Imprint of Simon & Schuster) Year: 2022 Good for Grades: 7-12 Genre/Type of Book: Novel in Verse, Contemporary Fiction Content Warnings: Deals with issues related to systemic racism and emotional issues related to being quarantined during the pandemic. But nothing overt.

Published Summary: 

A Caldecott Honor winner!

Prepare yourself for something unlike anything: A smash-up of art and text for teens that viscerally captures what it is to be Black. In America. Right Now. Written by #1 New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Jason Reynolds.

Jason Reynolds and his best bud, Jason Griffin, had a mind-meld. And they decided to tackle it, in one fell swoop, in about ten sentences, and 300 pages of art, this piece, this contemplation-manifesto-fierce-vulnerable-gorgeous-terrifying-WhatIsWrongWithHumans-hope-filled-hopeful-searing-Eye-Poppingly-Illustrated-tender-heartbreaking-how-The-HECK-did-They-Come-UP-with-This project about oxygen. And all of the symbolism attached to that word, especially NOW.

And so for anyone who didn’t really know what it means to not be able to breathe, REALLY breathe, for generations, now you know. And those who already do, you’ll be nodding yep yep, that is exactly how it is.

Review:

I selected this book to read because, first, I love Jason Reynolds, and second, it was a Caldecott Honor Award winner...which surprised me as Reynolds is typically a YA author. I knew this would draw some controversy. This book fits squarely in the YA realm, but it is beautifully illustrated, so I get the reason behind the award.

It is a novel in verse that is told in three parts or breaths (indeed, as stated on the flap, "Three looooooong sentences!"). These verses tell the experiences of a young black boy during the pandemic, when the racial issues were spiraling out of control in our country. There is a parallelism (duality) between his struggling to breathe because of anxiety, and George Floyd's inability to breathe when the officer had his knee on his neck. Very powerful stuff.

I love the obvious closeness of the family and how the simple things are used to illustrate the power of just breathing in and out! Smelling a flower and blowing our a birthday candle. In spite of the emotional nature of the topics (systemic racism and the pandemic/quarantine) the book seems hopeful. I think I got that from his relationships with his family and the mundane things in everyday life.

Favorite Line: 

The repetition of the phrase: "breath...in through the nose...out through the mouth"

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Reviewed by: Lisa Rice, A.D. Oliver Middle School Title: Dig Author: A.S. King Publisher: Penguin Books Year: 2020 Good for Grades: 8-Adult Genre/Type of Book: YA Fiction, Fantasy, Magical Realism Content Warnings: Drug use, sexual content, adult themes, use of profanity

Published Summary:

Review:

Winner of the Michael L. Printz medal and a finalist for the 2020 Los Angeles Times Book Prize, School Library Journal Best Book, a YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults title.

This book is about a Pennsylvania family that has a lot of secrets and the story is told through multiple viewpoints. At times, the story line can be hard to follow and can seem like a puzzle. There were times I was confused, and yet, I really liked this book.

The title and the cover refer to potato farming, which is how the Hemming family made their money and then proceeded to cut off their children, who they wanted to be able to make it on their own. The children are bitter about this. The book goes on to tell the story the five teenagers- the Shoveler, the Freak, "Can I Help You," Loretta the Flea Circus Ring Mistress, and First Class Malcolm, and their dysfunctional family. It is interesting how their stories relate.

This book is about generational divides, racism, abuse, white privilege, the reality of American society, and teen struggles. It is definitely relevant in today's world. The storyline can be confusing and it can be uncomfortable at times but it is definitely worth the read. I'd like to go back and read it again. I was not expecting the ending.

Favorite Line:

"Wish I could have raised you in a place where history books don't lie, but pretty much all history books lie." There really are a lot of passages in this book that will make you stop and think.

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Reviewed by: Lisa Rice, A.D. Oliver Middle School Title: I Must Betray You Author: Ruta Sepetys Publisher: Philomel Books, Imprint of Penguin Random House Year: 2022 Good for Grades: 6-11 Genre/Type of Book: Mystery, Thriller, Historical Fiction, Historical Thriller Content Warnings: Death of a parent, emotional abuse, physical abuse, genocide, violence, war

Published Summary:

Review:

Cristian wants to be a writer but is blackmailed by the secret police to become an informer. It is hard to know who to trust in Romania in 1989, even your family and closest friends.

I had no idea what living in Romania in 1989 was like, and I learned a lot from this historical thriller. I found myself researching the Ceausescu family and wondered why I did not know about them before this book.

It is definitely a page turner and I didn't want to put it down! Crumbling Communist regimes, blackmail, informants, secret police- and also humor! Cristian's grandfather brings an element of much needed humor to the story. You will learn a lot about Romania and will want to enjoy a Coke, chocolate, and bananas while you read this book!

It is a #1 New York Times and national bestseller.

Favorite Line:

"Good luck comes at a price. Bad luck is free."

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Reviewed by: Becki Truelson, Eastridge High School Title: The Island Author: Natasha Preston Publisher: Delacorte Press, Imprint of Penguin Random House Year: 2023 Good for Grades: 9-12 Genre/Type of Book: Mystery/Thriller Content Warnings: Just a couple of instances of swearing, murder but not super descriptive

Published Summary:

Review:

I was instantly drawn to this book. The cover is eerily beautiful, and the description is irresistible. A brand-new amusement park is opening soon on its own island. The gothic park also provides a luxury hotel for guests. The owner decides to invite a group of teenage social media influencers to be the first to spend the weekend there. As they share their experiences with their followers, everyone will want to come to The Island. The teens do not meet until they arrive at the island.

The teens excitement turns to terror the first night when one of them goes missing and turns up dead. Sadly, that is where the allure ended for me. I never became invested in the details of the story. The characters were not developed enough in the beginning for me to care enough about their plight. The story was disjointed and there were many references to current social media trends that I do not see aging well. It was just OK for me.

Favorite Line:

People listen to someone online they've never met more than they do to their parents, teachers, doctors....it's tragic really.

Reviewed by: Lisa Rice, A.D. Oliver Middle School Title: The Extraordinaries Author: T.J. Klune Publisher: Tor Teen, Imprint of Macmillan Year: 2021 Good for Grades: 7-11 Genre/Type of Book: Superhero fiction, YA Contemporary fantasy, LGBTQ+ Content Warnings: Grief, parent death in the past, some self harm, some violence, mental illness, abandonment

Published Summary:

Some people are extraordinary. Some are just extra. New York Times bestselling author TJ Klune's YA debut, The Extraordinaries, is a queer coming-of-age story about a fanboy with ADHD and the heroes he loves.

Nick Bell? Not extraordinary. But being the most popular fanfiction writer in the Extraordinaries fandom is a superpower, right?

After a chance encounter with Shadow Star, Nova City’s mightiest hero (and Nick’s biggest crush), Nick sets out to make himself extraordinary. And he’ll do it with or without the reluctant help of Seth Gray, Nick's best friend (and maybe the love of his life).

Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl meets Marissa Meyer's Renegades in TJ Klune's YA debut.

Review:

This is a sweet, funny, gay fantasy romance with lots of humor! It reminded me of The Incredibles. It has lots of diverse characters. I don't normally love superhero books, but the characters sold me with their every day and not-so-every day struggles and how they coped with them. I loved the growth they showed, the romance, and the honesty. They are imperfect characters trying to make a difference in their world. It could be edited some and the ending is somewhat predictable but that didn't stop me from quickly picking up the next book in the series to see what these characters were up to next.

Nick Bell is a main character and a fan fiction writer who would like to be a super hero. His mom died a few years ago and he struggles with his ADHD. His father is a cop who is busy with his job, until he gets hurt on the job, and then tries to get back into his son's life.

This book is an Indie Bestseller, Indie Next Pick, Gold Nautilus Book Award Winner, Goodread's 'Most Anticipated YA Novels of 2020' book, and Book Page's 'Most Anticipated YA Summer Reads.'

Favorite Line:

"No one who started a sentence with 'well, well, well,' ever wanted something nice."

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Reviewed by: Colleen Woods, Martha Brown Middle School Title: Better than the Movies Author: Lynn Painter Publisher: Simon & Schuster BFYR Year: 2021 Good for Grades: 8-12 Genre/Type of Book: Realistic Fiction Content Warnings: Loss of a parent (past-tense), some under-age drinking

Published Summary:

Review:

Liz Buxbaum has high hopes for her senior year. Her childhood crush Michael Young has moved back to town. She is convinced that fate has brought him back into her life to make all her romantic dreams come true. But she needs help inserting herself into his group of friends. Enter Wes Bennett. Annoying neighbor. Arch nemesis. Person least likely to help Liz. However, Wes might be the only hope Liz has of reconnecting with her long lost love.

This book was such a fun read. One might criticize its predictability, but knowing where it was headed did not detract from the good stuff: the witty banter, the slow burn, the hilarious inner dialogue, the character depth of all those involved in Liz's story, and the way each chapter begins with a classic romcom movie quote. This book will have you reminiscing about first loves, proms, pep rally's and all the nostalgia of being young and in love <3

Favorite Line:

"It seemed to me that because of things like car accidents and lost loves, life and death and broken hearts, we should grab every moment and absolutely devour the good parts"

"I miss your clothes and curly hair. You look best when you're you."

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Reviewed by: Colleen Woods, Martha Brown Middle School Title: This is Our Story Author: Ashley Elston Publisher: Hyperion Year: 2016 Good for Grades: 8-12 Genre/Type of Book: Mystery Content Warnings: Main plot involves a murder; some references to drugs, alcohol, gambling. Some profanity.

Published Summary:

Review:

Five best friends from an elite prep school go out for an early morning hunt and only four of them return. The four remaining friends become the prime suspects, but they all have the same story: it wasn't me.

Senior Kate Marino works at the district attorney's office where her mother is a secretary. The Assistant DA they work for gets assigned the case, and Kate finds herself drawn into the plot as it begins to thicken. She also has her own reasons for wanting to determine the killer.

The narrator goes back and forth between Kate and the killer. In doing this, bits and pieces of the story are revealed slowly, helping to build the suspense. You will find yourself racing through the last one hundred pages to find out who's telling the truth... and who is not.

Favorite Line:

"A ten-point buck and a dead body make the same sound when they hit the forest floor." (first line)

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Reviewed by: Becki Truelson, Eastridge High School Title: Unretouchable Author: Sofia Szamosi Publisher: Lerner Publishing Group Year: 2022 Good for Grades: 9-12 Genre/Type of Book: Graphic Novel Content Warnings: None

Published Summary:

Review:

It is the summer before Olive goes to college. She lives in NYC with her mom who works for a golf magazine. Olive's mom is able to get her a summer internship with Fash magazine in the editing department. As Olive discovers what goes on behind the scenes to create content for the magazine, she realizes that so much of the media we consume every day is not realistic. Olive begins to examine her own relationship with media and how it affects her self-image. She questions her own desire to become an artist. The themes explored in this book are not new, but the characters give fresh perspectives on how to navigate unrealistic expectations of ourselves and others. Social media addiction and morality when it comes to editing images is explored. This book leaves room for a sequel as Olive goes off to college and starts her journey as an artist.

Favorite Line:

I have two.

#1: "Are we all just fake, superficial, validation-seekers? The influencer I had been idolizing wasn't even a REAL PERSON...."."

#2: " I could have left the internship telling myself that retouchers were all maniacal women-haters preying on women's insecurities to get rich...but I knew in my gut that wasn't quite right. They were real people, working to pay their rents and make their art...and grappling with the same conundrums we all face in an image-obsessed culture"

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Reviewed by: Beth Larter, Walt Disney Elementary School Title: Swim Team Author: Johnnie Christmas Publisher: Harper Collins Year: 2022 Good for Grades: 3-8 Genre/Type of Book: Graphic Novel Content Warnings: None

Published Summary:

Review:

This book is a middle grade graphic novel about a Black middle school student named Bree who moves from Brooklyn to Florida. When she falls into the pool at her complex and is rescued by her neighbor, Etta, she confides in her that she doesn't know how to swim and Etta volunteers to begin teaching her. The story follows Bree as she makes new friends, joins the swim team, and as the swim team tries to qualify for the state championship. The story also reveals that Etta was a swim champion at the same school who faced discrimination as more of the public pools became private pools in order to prevent integration. The characters are dynamic and change throughout the course of the book, with growth towards greater understanding of each other being a main theme. The artwork is joyful and detailed and adds to the story. The book very thoughtfully handled telling the story of Etta and the discrimination she faced, and how she felt let down by her white teammate who didn't speak up when they were kept out of a neighborhood pool. As well as the stereotype voiced by Bree that Black people aren't good at swimming, which is answered by Ms. Etta with a story about segregated pools and the lack of access to public pools for Black Americans who live in urban areas of the country. The book also touches on issues of inequality when comparing their public school to the well-funded private school who they compete against, without turning Bree and her classmates into victims or making their story all about oppression. Bree is a likable character who grows in confidence, while remaining true to herself. The book also includes several positive adult characters. I would recommend this book to any students who are fans of Raina Telgemeier, the Babysitter's Club, or The New Kid series.

Favorite Line:

"I didn't make Bree a good swimmer. It was already in her. It's in all of your girls. I can see it. But you need to believe it so they can too."

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Reviewed by: Kathy Jaccarino, Brockport High School Title: The Assignment Author: Liza Wiemer Publisher: Random House Year: 2020 Good for Grades: 9-12 Genre/Type of Book: Realistic Fiction Content Warnings: No

Published Summary: