Last Seen Blogs
geek-gem
GeekGem
janitorjuliann
i think this used to be a podcast blog
heybeyby
[lets it rip cutely] ♥
heard-in-gotham-city
Riddler's Y/N
dysonant
DYSONANT
Text
Book Reviews
K-6th grade books
When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller
Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston
Lucky Broken Girl by Ruth Behar
Drama by Raina Telgemeier
The Stuff of Stars by Marion Dane Bauer, illustrated by Ekua Holmes
Kyoshi's Walk by Mark Karlins, illustrated by Nicole Wong
Inside Cat by Brendan Wenzel
A Friend for Dragon by Dav Pilkey
Hello Lighthouse by Sophie Blackall
Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear by Lindsay Mattick, illustrated by Sophie Blackall
7th-12th grade books
We Are Okay by Nina LaCour
White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson
Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo
More Than Just a Pretty Face by Syed M. Masood
The Dire Days of Willowweep Manor by Shaenon K. Garrity, illustrated by Christopher J. Baldwin
0 notes
Text
The Dire Days of Willowweep Manor by Shaenon K. Garrity, illustrated by Christopher J. Baldwin
The Dire Days of Willowweep Manor by Shaenon K. Garrity and illustrated by Christopher J. Baldwin is a young adult graphic novel. It’s about a teenager named Haley who loves reading Gothic romance novels. Her teacher tells her that she cannot write her upcoming book report about a book from this genre, much to Haley’s dismay. As she is on her way home and deep in thought about what she’ll do for the school assignment, she sees a young man in danger of drowning in the river. Her experience from reading Gothic novels makes her realize that this is her chance to be the heroine, so she jumps in to save him. Something goes wrong, and Haley ends up waking up on the banks of Willowweep Manor. She soon learns that this place has many of the things that are in the books she loves: three brooding brothers, a ghost that only she can see, a mysterious monk who seems to be up to no good, and a menacing housekeeper. She must help the three brothers save their beloved home, the alternate universe it sits in, and the rest of the world from a looming evil that wants to do extreme damage. Is Haley the Gothic heroine they need?
Haley is the ultimate “I’m not like other girls” girl, but in a good way. Her love of Gothic romance novels reminded me a lot of myself when I was in middle school and high school, a time when I would constantly read famous classics because I thought it made me look cool. I don’t think Haley reads the Gothic novels to look cool. She truly enjoys them. I also enjoyed the classics I read, but they were definitely read more for a “wow, I’m so well-read” type of persona I wanted to possess. If I was to criticize anything in this book, it would be that some parts seemed a little rushed. The big conflict was introduced quickly, and the small problems that resulted because of it were resolved within a couple of pages. I do appreciate that the story was quick, light, and fun, but there were some parts that could have been drawn out a little more to make the plot more interesting.
I enjoyed this graphic novel so much. The illustrations were done by Christopher J. Baldwin and he did a fantastic job. I have never read anything by Shaenon K. Garrity, but her writing was humorous and clever. The characters had great personalities and meshed well. Overall, I had a lot of fun reading this novel and it had me laughing out loud during many parts. I chose this book by looking at the YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens list. I love graphic novels, especially manga, so I knew I wanted to add something like that to my young adult reading list. This work immediately caught my eye because of the Gothic romance aspect of it. I also liked that it was described as “meta.” I always enjoy when authors make their characters self-aware, it’s so fun! I give this book four out of five stars.
Garrity, S. K., & Baldwin, C. (2021). The Dire Days of Willowweep Manor. Adfo Books.
0 notes
Text
More Than Just a Pretty Face by Syed M. Masood
More Than Just a Pretty Face by Syed M. Masood is a young adult romance novel that follows a Muslim teenager named Danyal. He’s trying to survive his senior year of high school and catch the attention of the beautiful and popular Kaval, a girl he has been infatuated with for years. He is looked down on by his father because he wants to own a restaurant someday, which is not exactly the most respectable career in his eyes. His classmates think he’s not the smartest, especially because he repeated a grade and is now a nineteen-year-old who still may not graduate because of his failing history grade. When he is chosen for Renaissance Man, a school-wide academic championship, he knows that this is his chance to prove to everyone, especially Kaval, that he is smart and more than just a good-looking young man who loves to cook. He prepares for the competition with Bisma, a potential arranged marriage candidate his parents introduced him to. While he has no intentions to be with her (because, hello, Kaval), Danyal notices that he really enjoys his time with Bisma and feels a sense of pride when he makes her laugh or smile. When the competition approaches and his time with her draws to a close, he finds that it may be time to rethink everything he’s wanted up to this point.
I loved this book for many reasons, but I especially enjoyed learning about the different aspects of Islam and the Muslim way of life. Reading the descriptions of food, social gatherings, and the different beliefs they learn from the Quran was fascinating and helped broaden my knowledge about this religion. I also related to the main character, Danyal, because he was at a point in his life when he had to make some important life decisions. Would he go to college and fulfill his parents’ wishes, or would he follow his dream of becoming a chef? I remember being in his shoes when I was his age, feeling scared about all the choices before me and worrying that I would choose the wrong one as I entered the next stage of my life. I also loved the other main character, Bisma, because she was unapologetically herself from the beginning to the end. I think it’s important for people to stay true to who they are, or it will be hard for them to find happiness in life, and she was a great example of that. She had a few hardships that she had to face in her life, but her love of science and superheroes kept her going. Every time Danyal met up with her she would be wearing a different superhero shirt, which caused them to strike up a conversation that brought her a lot of joy as she would explain to him the different aspects that made the hero special to her. Because he could see how much superheroes meant to her, Danyal never made fun of her and listened intently to what she had to say. I think we can all learn from Bisma to be unapologetic about the interests we hold near and dear to our hearts.
My overall reaction to this novel was that it was different from anything I’ve ever read, mainly because I’ve never read anything that highlighted the Islamic faith. In fact, that is the main reason I chose this novel. I found it when I did a Google search looking for young adult romance books, and I was drawn to it because of the diversity. While it included a culture that I was unfamiliar with, Masood did a great job of writing his characters in a way that felt very relatable. Danyal was a funny main character who narrated the story in an engaging way. I am a big fan of romance, and I found this one to be adorable and left me wanting more. The book is an amazing stand-alone, but I would not be upset if Masood decided to expand it into a series that focused on the love story of Danyal and Bisma or even some of the other side characters. I give this book five out of five stars.
Masood, S. M. (2020). More Than Just a Pretty Face. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.
0 notes
Text
Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo
Clap When You Land is a young adult novel written in verse by Elizabeth Acevedo. It first introduces the reader to Camino Rios, a teenager living in the Dominican Republic who is awaiting the return of her father. He lives in New York City but flies over to spend the summer with her and Tia Solana, the sister of her deceased mother. Camino’s world is shattered when she arrives at the airport to find out that her father’s plane has crashed into the Atlantic Ocean and there were no survivors. As she and her aunt try to figure out how to move on from the tragedy, emotionally and financially, she learns a dark secret: that her father had a secret second family, which includes a daughter named Yahaira who is the same age. As the girls deal with the death of their beloved father, they are forced to reflect on who the man truly was. They also have the chance to connect with each other and share the hurt they both feel.
This book reminded me how important it is to be around others who understand your grief when you lose someone important. When I lost my grandfather while I was in high school, I felt like my pain was understood when I was with my family and cousins. This happened when Camino and Yahaira were finally able to meet after learning about each other. While there was a lot of pain that they had to sort through first, due to the fact that their father kept them a secret from one another for so long, they were able to form a meaningful relationship that allowed them to find solace in their grief. This book also deals with the subject of infidelity and the effects it can have on others, not just the people who are committing it. It was kept secret from Camino and Yahaira, but Tia Solana and Yahaira’s mother were aware of it all along. I have always felt that infidelity of any kind is inexcusable and should not be tolerated, but the older women made it clear that they were silent about it because they did not want it to affect the girls. This makes sense, and I can see where they’re coming from, but I cannot imagine myself being involved in a similar situation. Since I don’t have an experience like this, that is possibly why I feel so strongly against it, but I may feel differently if I found myself in Yahaira’s mother’s place. She knew her husband had a second wife and daughter, but since she had a daughter of her own, she didn’t want Yahaira’s world to shatter because of her father’s actions. Her mother’s choice seems like it would be hard to follow through with, but I admire her for her strength.
This novel also addressed an idea that I feel strongly about, which is that family needs to support each other. It took a while for them to get there, but Yahaira and Camino eventually formed a sisterly bond in the face of tragedy. It took some more time for Yahaira’s mother to come face-to-face with her step daughter, but she eventually came around and offered support for Camino when she saw that she was going through a tough situation in the Dominican Republic. While they were reluctant to become a family, the bond was still there and the story of how it came about was sad and beautiful. This book is truly a work of art in my eyes. Acevedo’s writing is beautiful and poetic, and she describes things in a way that I would never think about. At the beginning she even makes mud sound pretty, by writing “& mud got a mind of its own. Wants to enwrap your penny loafers, hug on your uniform skirt. Press kisses to your knees and make you slip down to meet it. ‘Don’t let it stain you,’ Tia’s always said. But can’t she see? This place we’re from already has it prints on me.”
After seeing that we were required to read a novel in verse, I did a Google search to see what I could find since I wasn’t familiar with this form of writing. It has been a very long time since I’ve read anything like this. I found a reading blog with a good post filled with recommendations for young adult novels written in verse. This book, as well as another one written by Acevedo called The Poet X, were included on the list. I decided to choose this one because I had heard of it when it was first published, and even then I thought it sounded intriguing. I’m glad I gave it a chance because it gave me a reading experience filled with beautiful language, loss, grief, and the journey of dealing with these emotions. I will definitely be checking out this author’s other works. I give this book five out of five stars.
Acevedo, E. (2020). Clap When You Land. Quill Tree Books.
0 notes
Text
White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson
White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson is a horror young adult novel that focuses on Marigold “Mari” Anderson, a teenaged girl who is moving with her blended family from their California beach town to middle-of-nowhere Cedarville. She sees this move as a fresh new start after running into trouble with drugs and mental health in the months before. As she, her brother, mom, step-dad Alec, and step-sister Piper settle into their new, free home (paid for by the Sterling Foundation, who hired her mom to write a book), they soon find out that things are not what they seem. Mari learns that something sinister is living in her home, and it leaves her family in constant fear. As she works to understand what is going on, she figures out that things in her new town are not what they seem. She uncovers years’ worth of racial divide, drug problems, and the fact that the Sterling Foundation has their hand in all of it. Mari must work against the clock to bring these issues to light, or else the Foundation will erase the town’s history and rebuild it with their own agenda in mind.
This book serves the Black community and highlights the importance of standing up for one’s race and community. When Mari moves to Cedarwood and begins attending her new high school, she finds that a majority of the population is Black and makes a few friends who are the same race. She feels a sense of belonging that she didn’t feel in California and felt more of a connection to her neighbors when it came time to do something about the racial divide that had been happening for years thanks to the Sterling Foundation. This book also made me feel more empathy for people involved in drugs. A couple of characters named Yusef and Erika were mentioned as children of drug lords. Their fathers were put in prison because of their involvement with selling weed, which left their son and daughter without parental figures. The effects of their absence are evident as the two characters describe how hard it is to go through an important stage in their life, their teenage years, without their fathers. I’ve always thought of drugs as a bad situation for people to get involved with them, but I’ve honestly never given much thought on the effect they can have on the sellers’ family.
This book also addresses one thing that I find to be very important, and that is second chances. Mari is looking to turn over a new leaf in Cedarville after getting involved in drugs after an ex-boyfriend led her down the wrong path. Throughout the story she is constantly struggling with herself internally, telling herself that she’s messed up too badly and there’s no turning back. She learns the important lesson that everyone deserves a second chance, no matter how serious their actions were. With the right outlook and support, anyone can become stronger and learn from their mistakes, which is exactly what Mari does with the help of those closest to her. Overall, I thought this book was entertaining and focused on great themes of family, standing up for what you believe in, and learning from your mistakes. For most the story, Mari is very self-centered and harsh towards her family, mainly lashing out because of the negative feelings she harbors due to her past mistakes, but it’s rewarding to witness her change for the better.
I chose this genre of young adult writing because it was October when I was making my choices for the second round of blogging. I wanted to fit the Halloween atmosphere and read something that would be a little scary. Admittedly, I don’t think I found the most reputable list when I chose this book. There is not really an award that recognizes young adult horror novels, so I ended up doing a Google search to find some popular titles in this genre. Tiffany D. Jackson’s name came up in a lot different lists I found on reading blogs, and I thought the book synopsis sounded interesting. I also liked the fact that it featured characters of color and focused on the struggles of racial division. At first, I was afraid the book would be a little too scary for me (because I’m a baby when it comes to things like that), but I found it to be very enjoyable and suspenseful. I give this book four out of five stars.
Jackson, T. D. (2021). White Smoke. HarperCollins.
0 notes
Text
We Are Okay by Nina LaCour
We Are Okay by Nina LaCour is a Printz Award winning young adult novel that follows Marin, a college freshman who is trying to escape her past. The summer before she began her new chapter in life was very eventful, and there are things she is trying to forget and move on from. This is hard to do when her best friend, Mabel, comes to visit her at her dorm during Christmas break. During their time together, memories of the past summer come back, like her grandfather’s death and the reason why the girls’ once close relationship is now strained. Mabel’s visit may bring up events that are hard to discuss, but it also proves to provide healing for Marin in ways that she didn’t know she needed.
I was able to relate to this book because of Marin’s college experience. She wanted to start with a clean slate, where she could reinvent herself and leave her past behind. I can’t say that I wanted to leave my past behind, but I was definitely excited to start an experience that was different from the one I had in high school. Marin was able to meet new people and separate herself from the person she was in her hometown of San Francisco, which I can relate to. The book also agreed with my view about how it’s important to have supportive people in your life. At first, this type of person for Marin was her grandfather. He took care of her after her mother died and paid for her to attend a prestigious Catholic school. When she met Mabel in school and got closer to her and her parents, they also became her supporters. They often let her come over and treated her as one of their own children. Things got a little rocky for Marin when her grandfather died and she started college, but without giving too much away, Mabel and her parents proved that they were still there for Marin when she needed them most.
This novel also addressed how important it is to feel a sense of belonging, which is something that I strongly believe in. I think this feeling helps create motivation in life and contributes greatly to our happiness. Marin was struggling to find this in the beginning since she felt so disoriented from the tough events that happened before she left for college, but as the book switched from events that happened during the summer to her present visit with Mabel, the reader was able to see how Marin felt a sense of belonging when her grandfather was still alive and how that all quickly went away when she lost him. It was beautiful to watch her gain it back through the hard conversations she has with Mabel when she comes to see her. The switching back and forth from past to present was also one of my favorite parts of the novel. It helped unravel the mystery of what happened to Marin and how she ended up in the sorry state she was currently in. It kept me on the edge of my seat, always wanting more.
I became aware of this book after I looked at the official list of Printz Award winner and honor books. It immediately caught my eye because of the author, Nina LaCour. I remembered reading a book by her while I was in high school titled The Disenchantments. In all honesty, I was not a fan of that one, but once I saw We Are Okay on the official list of award winners, I figured that this one must be exceptionally better. I was absolutely right; this novel has become one of my favorites I’ve read this year. It was an emotional, heartbreakingly beautiful story about love, loss, and the importance of found family. Marin is a character that will stick with me for a long time. I give this novel five out of five stars.
LaCour, N. (2017). We Are Okay. Dutton Books for Young Readers.
0 notes
Text
Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear by Lindsay Mattick, illustrated by Sophie Blackall
Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear is an informational picture book by Lindsay Mattick and illustrated by Sophie Blackall. It tells the story of the real black bear that inspired the famous Winnie the Pooh series by A.A. Milne. The author of the book, Lindsay Mattick, is the great-granddaughter of Harry Coleburn, the man who bought a black bear and named him Winnie after his hometown of Winnipeg. He took the bear with him as he tended to horses during World War I and eventually found him a home at the London Zoo before Coleburn was sent to a station overseas. While Winnie lived a happy life in the zoo, he befriended a young boy named Christopher Robin, whose father decided to write a series for children based on his son’s interactions with the bear.
I found out about this book after a quick Google search for informational picture books. I found this title on many lists for outstanding nonfiction picture books. It immediately caught my eye because I loved watching Winnie the Pooh when I was growing up. I had no idea that there was a real bear that inspired the stories, so I instantly wanted to know more. I was delighted even further while I was reading when I found out that the author was the great-granddaughter of the man who owned the original Winnie! I’m glad that she’s keeping the story alive, and that the beautiful illustrations were even awarded a Caldecott medal.
The accuracy of this book is evident. It speaks volumes that the author is the subject’s owner’s great-granddaughter, but it also mentions in her biography in the back of the book that she has been involved in radio documentary and spearheading an exhibition about the story of the real Winnie. She also includes real photographs of her Harry Coleburn and Winnie at the end of the book.
The author’s choice of writing style is a great touch. She writes the story like she is telling it to her son Cole at bedtime. This creates a cozy feeling for any reader because it’s reminiscent of when our own parents would settle down with us and read us a book before bed. Throughout the story her son Cole also asks questions about what is going on, which is a great representation of what they young readers may be thinking themselves.
The illustrations by Sophie Blackall are gorgeous as always. I loved her color choice, which were mostly muted, light colors. I thought they fit the cozy feel of the book very nicely. She also included small illustrations of Lindsay and Cole on each page, depicting them in bed as Lindsay told Cole the story. Her art style is simple yet says so much, I look forward to seeing her future work.
I thought this book was very well done and brings a story to light that not many people may be familiar with. Winnie the Pooh has been beloved for many generations, so it was cool to learn about the origins of the famous bear. Mattick’s choice to tell the story like a bedtime story makes it easy to understand for young readers. I give this book four out of five stars.
Mattick, L., & Blackall, S. (2015, October 20). Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear (1st Edition). Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.
0 notes
Text
Hello Lighthouse by Sophie Blackall
Hello Lighthouse is a Caldecott Award winning picture book written and illustrated by Sophie Blackall. It tells the story of a lighthouse’s last keeper. The book shows his day-to-day job and the different tasks he does to keep the light going for boats out at sea. As time progresses, the lighthouse keeper starts a family of his own and faces challenges as the technology of lighthouses evolves.
I found this book on the official list of Caldecott Award winning books. I’ve always admired the artwork of Sophie Blackall, and I didn’t know that she’d authored a book, so I definitely wanted to give this one a try. The story was sweet and her artwork was beautiful as always.
Blackall creates depth in her illustrations with the details of the ocean. It feels like the waves are jumping off the page during one part when there is a bad storm. In another part, Blackall gives the reader an overhead shot of the lighthouse and ocean that surrounds it as the keeper and his family leave for the last time. It’s evident that she studied images in oceans in order to create her own. I also thought the illustrations had almost a vintage feel to them.
The bookmaking of Hello Lighthouse is clever. The book is long and skinny, like an actual lighthouse. I found that this helped the illustrations of the lighthouse because the shape matched the image. I thought this was a nice touch that added new meaning to the pictures. This care to bookmaking did not go unnoticed by me.
The plot of this story is a little slow and uneventful. To be honest, I don’t think it would be very interesting to children. It mainly talks about the keeper’s job, the trials he must face to keep the lighthouse running, and then his eventual departure due to new technology that keeps the lighthouse running without supervision. This may be interesting to people who are older, but I can’t see kids being very interested in this. It does introduce them to an old career that they may have not been familiar with before.
My favorite parts of this book were the beautiful illustrations and the opportunity to learn about an old career that isn’t really around anymore. It’s evident that Blackall did some research for this book. I give this book four out of five stars.
Blackall, S. (2018, April 10). Hello Lighthouse (Illustrated). Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.
0 notes
Text
A Friend for Dragon by Dav Pilkey
A Friend for Dragon by Dav Pilkey is an easy reader book about a friendly blue dragon named…well, Dragon. He is lonely and would like a friend, so he goes on a search for one. While he is sitting under a tree, an apple falls into his lap. A sneaky snake decides to play a trick on Dragon and pretends to be the voice of the apple, telling him that he wants to be friends. Dragon is overjoyed to find a new friend, but will it be possible to be friends with an apple?
I have to admit, I am not very familiar with popular easy readers these days, so I once again looked at a teacher’s blog for some suggestions. The Dragon series was highly recommended by several blogs, so I decided to give the first one a try. The story was simple yet enjoyable.
Like I said, this is a simple book, and that goes for the plot as well. It’s almost predictable at times, but I think it’s one young readers will really enjoy. The storyline is humorous and will keep readers laughing as Dragon tries to get his apple friend to participate in activities he thinks good friends take part in. The simplicity is what makes it perfect for children who are in their early stages of reading. The plot doesn’t take a lot of thinking, they can just sit back and enjoy.
The main character, Dragon, is also a delight. I would describe him as being a little dense, but that doesn’t make him any less loveable. There are moments where I wanted to hit the palm of my hand on my forehead because of some of the choices he made, but these silly choices also made the story more humorous. I think readers will have no choice but to support Dragon in all his antics.
Pilkey’s illustrations have signature style that I don’t know how to describe, there are just a certain way his pictures always look. The illustrations did a great job of reinforcing the text he wrote. Like during the part where Dragon makes a meal for himself and his apple friend, he is dismayed when the apple doesn’t eat its share. After feeling sad, his feelings quickly change to longing for the apple’s portions. The reader can easily see the look of desire on Dragon’s face as he stares at the heap of food.
This is a fun and entertaining book that is sure to be a favorite among young readers. I know reading the first book in the series left me wanting more, so I can see children feeling the same way. Dragon is a sweet character that kids are sure to feel many emotions for. I give this book four out of five stars.
Pilkey, D. (2019). A Friend for Dragon: An Acorn Book (Dragon #1). Scholastic Incorporated.
0 notes
Text
Inside Cat by Brendan Wenzel
Inside Cat by Brendan Wenzel was chosen for the 2022 2x2 reading list. It follows Inside Cat, who is exactly as it sounds: a cat who stays inside. As it wanders through its home, Inside Cat sees the outside world through an assortment of windows. It thinks it has the outside world figured out, but the cat soon realizes that the world is much bigger than it originally thought.
I found this book when I looked on the official 2x2 reading list on the Texas Library Association website. I thought the book looked really cute since I love anything that has to do with cats. I have an inside cat of my own, so that played a big factor into adding this book to my list. I also thought this book seemed humorous just by looking at a few sneak peeks of the illustrations online.
First and foremost, the illustrations of this book are what really made me enjoy this fun story. The colors were the first thing I noticed. Inside Cat’s world in the house is seen in whites and greys while the outside world is in color. This represented the cat’s wonder about the things outside that they were only able to experience while looking through the windows. The reader’s eyes are instantly drawn to the things going on outside because of the colors, which gives us a little insight into the thoughts of Inside Cat. When the cat is thinking about things outside, their thoughts are also seen in color, just like the things out the windows.
The lines of each illustrations are also distinct. The inside furniture is created in various sized lines that are just dark enough for the reader to make out what they are against the white backdrop. Inside Cat itself is created using messy scribbles of brown, black, and tan. There is a slight outline of the shape of the cat, but then the inside is filled with the messy strokes, which make it easy to find Inside Cat on each page.
My favorite thing about this book was how the illustrations showed Inside Cat’s different viewpoints about the outside world, which were usually far from the truth. A lot of them were not explained in the writing, so the reader will have to study the illustrations to find out this information. One example of Inside Cat’s wrong perceptions of the outside was how it thought snow fell outside. One page shows the cat observing salt falling from an overturned saltshaker, so later on in the book when there is snow falling outside, Inside Cat thinks the snow is coming from a large saltshaker. Wenzel really added a lot of fun details to his illustrations that will be engaging for young readers to try and find.
This is one of my favorite books that I read for this project, which surprised me because the concept of the story is so simple. I think this book is a great example of the power great illustrations can have. This is a perfect choice for younger readers to pick up. I give this book five out of five stars.
Wenzel, B. (2021, October 12). Inside Cat. Chronicle Books.
0 notes
Text
Kiyoshi's Walk by Mark Karlins, illustrated by Nicole Wong
Kiyoshi’s Walk by Mark Karlins and illustrated by Nicole Wong is a picture book that features poetry. It begins by introducing the main character, Kiyoshi, who asks his poet grandfather where poems come from as he watches him write a poem in Japanese calligraphy. Eto, his grandfather, decides to take him out for a walk to show him where he gets inspiration for his haikus. As they venture out, Kiyoshi learns that ideas can be found all around, if one only pays attention to their surroundings.
To be honest, I didn’t know many children’s books that involved poetry, so I did a Google search. I found this book on a list on a teacher’s blog post about good books to use to teach poetry. I have always enjoyed reading haikus and attempting to write them, so I chose to add this book to my list to read and review. I’m glad I chose it because it was a very sweet read.
I enjoyed the theme of the story, which was to always be open to the world around you and to notice what it’s trying to show you. The book also touches on being open to the emotions you feel and being able to recognize them. Kiyoshi learns that these are the things he needs to be aware of to inspire great poetry.
The point of view was also a nice touch. The story is told in a limited third person point of view, where the reader mostly knows about Kiyoshi’s thoughts and feelings. I enjoyed this because we get to see the neighborhood walk through his eyes and experience everything he does. His eyes are opened to his surroundings, like the sights and sounds that he notices as he watches his grandfather write haikus while they’re on their walk. It feels like the reader is also learning an important lesson of being open to the world around them in order for creativity to strike.
The illustrations do a great job of developing Kiyoshi as a character. The reader can easily see looks of observation and wonder on his face as he treks through his seemingly normal neighborhood with Eto. As time goes on, Kiyoshi’s opinion changes and he can see and feel everything his grandfather does. I also enjoyed the colors of the illustrations. For the most part they are more subdued, but there are random bursts of bright colors, like from the cherry blossom trees, that catch the reader’s eye.
This is a sweet and pretty book that would serve as a great introduction to haikus for students. Kiyoshi is a great character that children can relate to, and he serves as a great guide for this story. The illustrations are simple but beautiful and can entertain children with all the details they can study. I give this book four out of five stars.
Karlins, M., & Wong, N. (2021, March 9). Kiyoshi’s Walk (Illustrated). Shen’s Books.
0 notes
Text
The Stuff of Stars by Marion Dane Bauer, illustrated by Ekua Holmes
The Stuff of Stars by Marion Dane Bauer and illustrated by Ekua Holmes is a Coretta Scott King Award winning picture book about how the universe formed. Each picture explores the different steps that took place to create the universe we know and live in today. It also explores how each child is also made of stardust.
I found this book on the official list of winners for the Coretta Scott King Award. I chose it because the illustrations looked beautiful and unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. The award was won for the illustrations alone, and after reading the book I can easily see why. This book also has many rave reviews, for both the art and the writing, which I think are all deserved.
The colors of the illustrations are beautiful. Holmes chose to use darker reds, blues, and purples with hints of lighter colors like white, yellow, and orange. It’s almost mesmerizing to look at how the colors swirl together. I am no art expert, but it looked like she used the pour method with acrylic or some other type of paint, which gives the illustrations a marbled effect. The colors mesh without mixing. Sometimes pictures are formed in the marbled colors, like butterflies or the skeleton of a dinosaur.
Because of the marbled effect of the illustrations, the lines are curved, swirling, and flowing. Movement is evident in the pictures and made me feel like I could stare at them for hours and still discover things I hadn’t noticed before. I can see children being in a trance as they look at the illustrations, pointing out things they see in the swirled paint.
The style of Bauer’s writing is poetic and light. She uses a lot of repetition to describe the Big Bang theory. For example, on page five she writes, “And then, the beginning of the beginning of all beginnings went BANG!” There are a few words that are also made larger than the rest on the page, like bang and exploded.
In my opinion, the best thing about this book is the illustrations. Holmes’ creativity really shines and allowed her to create gorgeous images that children will love looking at. The writing is nice too and reminded me a lot of poetry, since it was basically arranged in verse. The book does expound on a touchy subject, but the writing and illustrations are so pretty that people may not mind. I give this book four out of five stars.
Bauer, M. D., & Holmes, E. (2018, September 4). The Stuff of Stars (Illustrated). Candlewick.
0 notes
Text
Drama by Raina Telgemeier
Drama is a graphic novel by Raina Telgemeier. It follows a seventh grader named Callie, whose passion is scenic design, which she gets to do for her school’s production of Moon Over Mississippi. During preparation for the play, she meets twins Justin and Jesse. Justin wants to try out for a part while Jesse wants to help behind the scenes. As work begins, Callie and her friends navigate middle school crushes and, for some, sexual orientation. Drama ensues as feelings are realized but sometimes not returned.
This book has been on my radar since I wrote a research paper for one of my summer classes about the censorship of graphic novels in school libraries. One of the scholarly articles I used mentioned this book because it is frequently challenged in elementary and middle school libraries because it includes conversations about sexuality and depicts two boys kissing during the play. I wanted to read this book so I could personally lay eyes on these things that have been upsetting parents all over the country.
Since this is a graphic novel, the story is basically told in illustrations and dialogue. I thought the conversations of the characters seemed very natural and age appropriate. The things the characters said helped reveal their personalities, quirks, and humor. The dialogue wasn’t fancy or over-the-top, it was simple but still moved the story along and relayed important plot points to the reader.
The illustrations do a great job of developing the plot. The characters are well-designed and consistent. The pictures easily depict what’s happening and how the characters are feeling. The story takes place over several months, and the characters are seen wearing different outfits. I know this seems like a small, silly detail, but I think it’s so easy for illustrators to draw their characters as “outfit repeaters,” so it was a nice touch to see them in different clothing each day. Each illustration is also colored, which makes them eye catching and engaging for young readers.
The illustrations also reinforce the written text. The dialogue matches the pictures perfectly and the reader can see the expressions of the characters to get a full understanding of how they’re feeling. There are also simple text boxes with writing that’s not dialogue to help move the plot along that goes along nicely with the illustrations.
Overall, I thought this book was a fun read. Telgemeier did a great job of depicting characters in middle school, they really captured that awkward time in a teenager’s life. As for the concerns that get the book banned from school libraries, like the character’s discussions about sexuality or the depiction of two boys kissing, I didn’t think they were the main focus of the story. They were very brief moments in the plot and not an overpowering presence in the story. I don’t think this book should be removed from school library shelves. If parents are worried about their children reading it, they should have that conversation with them. I give this book four out of five stars.
Telgemeier, R. (2021, December 7). Drama: A Graphic Novel. Scholastic Inc.
0 notes
Text
Lucky Broken Girl by Ruth Behar
Lucky Broken Girl by Ruth Behar is a Pura Belpre Award winning autobiographical novel with fictional elements that follows the author as a young girl during a time she was called Ruthie by her friends and family. The reader meets her in the 1960s, when had been living in New York City for a few years after her family moved from Havana, Cuba. She is excited because she is finally moving from the “dumb” class to the “smart” class because she finally has a good enough grasp on English. Things have been going well for Ruthie and her family. She has made new friends, her father just bought a new car, and they were enjoying the freedoms of the United States. This all changes when Ruthie and her family get into a very bad car accident. There are fatalities, but most of the family only suffer from cuts and bruises; that is, except for Ruthie, who has a bad broken leg, which requires her to be kept in a nearly full-body cast for a whole year so the leg can heal properly and not cause complications for her later on. During the year Ruthie is confined to her bed, she learns many important lessons and hears stories from bedside visitors. She also learns that life is a precious thing that needs to be cherished and never taken advantage of.
I found this book while looking at the official Pura Belpre Award novel list. Before perusing this list, I had never heard of it before, but after seeing the pretty cover and reading the synopsis for it, I decided that it would be a good choice for reading. I’m so glad I picked it up and gave it a chance because it was amazing. Ruth Behar’s true story is heartbreaking and beautiful, and it made me feel like I was there sharing her hardships.
One of my favorite things about this book was the style and language. Behar is a talented writer who tells stories in a way that is poetic, so I wasn’t surprised to find out later, after some research, that she is mainly a poet. She has published a few collections of her original poetry and she has also released a few books about her experiences in leaving Cuba. This is her first book written for children, which I was a surprised to learn. I thought the way she chose to write this book was so delicate and beautiful. She told it from little Ruthie’s point of view, which made me feel like I was having a conversation with the young girl herself. Behar also uses great examples of figurative language in ways that helped create pictures in my mind of what was happening. Sometimes I even felt I was in the story thanks to her descriptions.
This story included some of my favorite characters in children’s literature. Ruthie herself was so sweet and thoughtful, but I also loved everyone who came to visit her while she was in her body cast. Her teacher Joy teaches her to look at life with an open mind, her neighbor Chicho teaches her to unlock her creative side and helps her believe she can achieve anything she sets her mind to, and her nurse Amara is firm but filled with love as she helps her learn to walk after she is released from her cast. Every character in this book makes a huge impact in Ruthie’s life and I loved how Behar described the characteristics and actions of each one. It almost felt like I knew them personally.
Ruthie also realizes many unexpected insights throughout the plot. It was amazing to see her grow from a bitter young girl when she was put in the cast and confined to bed for a whole year to someone who valued life and everything it had to offer when she was released by her doctor. She takes every lesson she learned from her beside visitors to heart and vows to live a life that is worth living. One of my favorite quotes happens at the end of the story, when Ruthie says, “is this what it feels like to receive a blessing? It must be. For I was once a broken girl. And I’m not broken anymore. I am lucky, after all. One day I may even go on the journeys I dreamed of. People will say, ‘Look at her, she spent a year in bed, and now she travels far and wide.’ But wherever I go, I know I will feel most at home with the wounded of the world, who hold their heads up high no matter how broken they may seem.”
I think this book is great for any child in the upper elementary grades. Ruthie’s point of view is easy to follow and sounds very child-like, so I think kids will really resonate with what she has to say. The poetic language Behar uses makes reading very easy and almost dream-like. This would also be a great book to use for teaching figurative language. I give this book five out of five stars.
Behar, R. (2018, April 10). Lucky Broken Girl. Nancy Paulsen Books.
0 notes
Text
When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller
When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller follows a young girl named Lily who is moving from California with her mom and older sister, Sam, to live with her ailing halmoni. Lily’s grandmother always warned her to never make a deal with a tiger. However, when Halmoni becomes sick, a magical tiger makes Lily an offer: find the stories that Halmoni stole years ago, or lose her forever. She must learn to be brave, face the scary stories head-on, and shake the Quiet Asian Girl stereotype that she’s always felt she’s represented. Along the way, Lily learns important family history, makes friends, and finds out that she’s capable of more than she initially believed.
This book was my choice for the Newbery Medal. I picked this one because it has Korean folktale elements. I have become interested in Korean culture in the past couple of years, but I have never looked into any of their folktales, so I thought this book would be the perfect introduction for that. Also, when I’ve looked at lists of quality children’s or middle grade fantasy, this title is always included.
Something that I really loved about this book was the growth of the main character, Lily. The reader watches her (or in my case, listens to her) grow into a stronger, more confident person as she navigates through the various conflicts throughout the story. There are moments where she learns to face fears and stand up for herself. She also learns how to repair relationships that she felt were strained, like the one with her older sister. The story takes place the summer before Lily begins middle school, and it’s cool to see her gain maturity and insight before she embarks on a new chapter of her life.
Another great aspect of this book is the Korean folklore and culture elements. Before listening to the audiobook, I was not familiar with any of the stories. I loved the way Keller wrote them, they sounded whimsical and other-worldly. It was fun to pick out the parallels between the folklore stories and the plot of the novel. Descriptions of Korean food were also presented in a way that made me crave kimchi whenever the characters were eating it in the story.
While I thought Lily and her halmoni were very strong and loveable characters, I also felt that the background characters fell a little flat. Sam, the older sister, seemed like any other moody teenager that was unhappy because of uncontrollable change. The mother was constantly busy because of the move and taking care of her sick mother. The new friend Lily made, Ricky, felt like a character who was only present for comic relief or to move important plot points along. I still enjoyed these characters, but I think they could’ve had a little more personality.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story. I think it’s perfect for any kid in the middle grade age range, especially ones who enjoy different cultures and fantasy. Keller’s writing is descriptive and easy to read. The growth of Lily throughout the story will make the reader feel proud and may even inspire them to tackle some of their own fears. I give this book four out of five stars.
Keller, T. (2020, January 28). When You Trap a Tiger. Random House Books for Young Readers.
0 notes
Text
Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston
A world filled with magic is unraveled in Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston, one of the picks for the 2022-2023 Bluebonnet Awards. The story follows twelve-year-old Amari Peters, a young girl who is actively searching for her older brother who disappeared under mysterious circumstances. When she receives an invitation to interview for a spot at the prestigious summer camp her brother attended every year, she jumps at the chance to hopefully find out more information about what happened to Quinton. But as Amari dives into a magical world that her brother was involved in, and that she didn’t even know existed, she finds out that things are not always what they seem. It’s up to Amari to help bring down an evil force that is putting the magical world in danger, all while trying to desperately to bring her Quinton back safely.
I chose this book because I love fantasy and I’ve heard great things about it. I’ve also been wanting to read more books with characters from different backgrounds than my own, and this book is a great candidate for that. I thought this book offers great representation for the Black community and Amari proves to be a character that young Black girls can look up to or relate to.
One of my favorite things about this book was the pacing. There was a lot going on, but in a good way. It didn’t drag and I never felt bored while listening to the audiobook. The story was fast paced, which I think is perfect for kids since their attention spans are not as long as adults. Magical elements were constantly being introduced, which helped move the plot along.
I also loved the characters in the story. So many different personalities were introduced, like the smart and critical thinking Elsie, the mean and popular Lara, and the brave and headstrong Amari. The characters balanced each other out and their differences was a nice touch to the plot. I don’t like it when characters are hard to tell apart or blend together, but that wasn’t the case here. Each character brought something different to the table and really helped Amari on her quest to save the secret magic world.
Finally, the point of view really made this book for me. These days representation is very important, and that’s exactly what B.B. Alston did when he wrote this novel. Amari Peters brings a breath of fresh air to the middle grade fantasy genre. I think I can count on one hand the number of popular series I know of that include a Black child as the main character. There are many moments where Amari shares the struggles she’s grown up with, like living in the projects or having close friends that have chosen to go down the wrong path by joining gangs. This type of perspective is usually never shared in the fantasy genre. Some may argue that it’s not necessary, but I think it is if we want children who come from this background to see themselves in the books they read.
I thought this book was amazing and cannot wait to read the second in the series. The plot is filled with action, magical elements, humor, and drama. As a fourth grade reading teacher, I feel compelled to recommend this book to all my students as I think it’s perfect for their age group. I give this book five out of five stars.
Alston, B. B. (2022, January 4). Amari and the Night Brothers (Supernatural Investigations, 1). Balzer + Bray.
0 notes