Fiction opens a door for the reader into life for other people. It helps us to understand the ways that we are all the same and the unique struggles some people face. Over the years I've tried to pay attention to the representation of various minority groups in youth fiction. The list I've curated this month includes protagonists with disabilities.
Six new books about disabled characters published in the past six months:
- The Christmasaurus by Tom Fletcher
- Last Pick by Jason Walz
- Love Like Sky by Leslie C Youngblood
- Sincerely, Harriet by Sarah Winifred Searle
- Song for a Whale by Lynne Kelly
- Squint by Chad Morris
Extreme Abilities by Galadriel Watson
Total read in March thus far: 14
Can You Crack the Code? by Ella Schwartz
At the surface, this book walks the reader through the difference between a code and a cipher. We are given, first, a very simple example of each and then are introduced to increasingly complex types of codes and ciphers with extra emphasis on the latter. That will be interesting to most middle grade readers all on it's own. Then Schwartz introduces cipher wheels and the Enigma machine. It's an important turning point. Enigma taught the world a lot about cryptography and code breaking. And the study of Enigma leads directly into modern encryption. While this is a basic introduction to the concept, it's clear and accessible. I'd recommend it not only to kids with and interest in codes but also to adults who want to start understanding encryption.
More information: Can You Crack the Code? releases March 26.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley
Geek and Ye Shall Find by Ellen Elliott
Total read in March thus far: 13
Title: XL
Author: Scott Brown
Genre: realistic fiction
Similar books: Noggin by John Corey Whaley
Nick and June Were Here by Shalanda Stanley
Rating:
 |
| thought-provoking |
Summary (provided by publisher): Will Daughtry is a late bloomer--at least, that's what everyone tells him. On his sixteenth birthday, Will is just shy of five feet, and he is bitterly resigned to being tiny forever. His only comforts are his best friend and stepbrother, Drew (6'3"), and their pal Monica (5'10"), the girl Will's been quietly pining for since fifth grade. Everyone else literally overlooks him. But with them, he feels whole. That is, until things take an unexpected turn, and he realizes he's really and truly on his own.
That's when he starts to grow. And grow fast. Astonishingly fast. For the first time, Will's happy with his stature, and the world's at his feet (for a change). People see him differently; more important, he sees himself differently. But the highest heights come with some low, low lows, and his most precious relationships suffer excruciating growing pains. Will has to figure out what to do with himself--and all of this new "himself" he never expected to have.
My opinion: At first blush, it seems like the vehicle for change Brown is using is a simple one: Will begins to grow and it changes his relationship with is brother and his best friend. But as the plot progresses, we realize that the issues that come to light have been simmering for years, things they've all been pushing down and his change in stature causes them to reevaluate the balance of power between them and address those old issues. It's an intriguing exploration that is clearly paralleled in the gorillas. In both situations, Brown shows how a small change can have a devastating impact on an environment. The ending is somewhat ambiguous, creating a source for discussion and potentially for frustration.
More information: XL releases March 26.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.
The Center of the Universe by Ria Voros
Total read in March thus far: 11
Socks are one of my favorite craft supplies. My stock is a combination of feet from unused socks (left over from doll clothes) and whole socks with worn spots. I was sorting through them and found a couple of pieces that coordinated rather well.
I had in mind to make a snail and this seemed like a good combination. I cut the top of the foot and front of the leg from the striped sock and a narrow strip above the heel of the purple sock and stitched them into pillows, coiling the striped one as I went.
A pipe cleaner and some pompoms gave the snail eyes. I wanted a practical use for the snail, so I've tucked a small sewing kit into the snail shell and use the top as a pincushion. It sits on my desk at work, decorating it and storing supplies at the same time.
