Book review - Magic at Midnight

 

Title: Cinders and Sparks - Magic at Midnight

Author: Lindsey Kelk

Genre: fantasy/retelling

Similar books: Moldylocks and the Three Beards by Noah Z Jones

                     The Spell Thief by Tom Percival

Rating:

 

a fairly inventive version of a familiar tale

Summary (provided by publisher): Cinders isn’t supposed to know how to do magic. Her dog, Sparks, isn’t supposed to talk. And they’re definitely not supposed to go to the fancy palace ball....
But with a fairy godmother named Brian, do we really think that’s going to stop them?

My opinion: I'll read most any re-imagining of a fairy tale, so I've read countless versions of Cinderella. Most of them don't stray as far from the original story as this one does. Kelk has made a few seemingly simple changes, but they have significant effects on the plot. Cinders is not the perfect picture of femininity we typically see. She's fond of playing outside, often messy and dissheveled. It is this tendency that has cause her stepmother to mistreat her. The bigger change, though, is the magic. Because Cinder doesn't just wish. She makes magic happen. As a result, the plot extends well beyond the ball and being reunited with the prince. Her ability to do magic opens up the plot to discussing societal and inter-generational prejudice. It's not too serious, rooted far more in humor than in serious exploration of messaging. Still, a fun read.

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Non-fiction book review - We Are Still Here

 

We Are Still Here by Traci Soreil

 We tend to be taught about Native Americans not as a part of living culture but as history. We learn about treaties, "sales" of land, and a few key battles, but little else. This book takes the form of a few key terms, what they mean in history, and how they are still affecting people now. This is by no means a comprehensive exploration of Native American cultures. It could easily serve as a starting point for a more in depth conversation or study of history and modern culture.

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Book review - It Doesn't Take a Genius

 

Title: It Doesn't Take a Genius

Author: Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: Just Like Me by Nancy J Cavanaugh

                     The Only Black Girls in Town by Brandy Colbert

Rating:

 

a good one to start a discussion

Summary (provided by publisher): Emmett and his older brother Luke have always been "Batman and Robin," though they're quick to bicker about who's who. Spending the summer at a historic Black summer camp seems like a wonderful adventure for the two to share, but since Luke is there as a junior counselor, he seems to spend all of his time being everyone else's big brother, and ignoring Emmett.
As Luke seems to be moving on to new adventures, Emmett struggles in unexpected ways, especially in swim class and the "It Takes A Village" entrepreneurship class. Without his brother to turn to for support, Emmett works to build a new crew of "superfriends," who'll help him plan something spectacular for the end-of-camp awards night and celebration. Along the way, Emmett learns that no matter what, there can be many ways to define family.

My opinion: At the start, I was not much of a fan of this book. I found Emmett's self-centered and self-aggrandizing behavior hard to swallow, even if it is typical of middle grade kids. We can see how his choices are making his situation much worse than it needs to be. As the plot went on, though, I began to see how Emmett was going to grow, the realizations that were ahead for him. He learns to define himself outside of Luke, outside of being a debater and a "genius". He has to risk ruining everything to move forward. That's all pretty standard middle grade messaging. It doesn't stop there, though. Through the camp setting, Emmett and his peers have real conversations about race, the expectations of Black exceptionalism, the views of their own families and of society. Their conversations aren't oversimplified and don't give easy answers. These conversations aren't about coming up with answers but rather about being willing to have the discussion at all, to think critically about society.That alone makes this an excellent choice for book clubs, environments where readers are open to sincere discussion and deep critical thinking.

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Book review - Red, White, and Whole

 Title: Red, White, and Whole

Author: Rajani LaRocca

Genre: verse novel

Similar books: A Thousand Questions by Saadia Faruqi

                      Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai

Rating:

 

a solid read

Summary (provided by publisher): Reha feels torn between two worlds: school, where she’s the only Indian American student, and home, with her family’s traditions and holidays. But Reha’s parents don’t understand why she’s conflicted—they only notice when Reha doesn’t meet their strict expectations. Reha feels disconnected from her mother, or Amma, although their names are linked—Reha means “star” and Punam means “moon”—but they are a universe apart.
Then Reha finds out that her Amma is sick. Really sick.
Reha, who dreams of becoming a doctor even though she can’t stomach the sight of blood, is determined to make her Amma well again. She’ll be the perfect daughter, if it means saving her Amma’s life.

My opinion: For the average reader, this books starts out with two strikes against it: an historical setting and the verse novel format. With both of these elements we have to ask ourselves if they're really necessary. Regarding the format, it's a largely emotional journey. Reha's story is one of finding her place in the world. She's between cultures, doesn't completely fit in with her American peers but too far removed from her parents' culture to feel like she truly belongs there. Trying to live up to their expectations and understand their influences. Since most of the plot is focused on her emotions, the verse format is the best one for this book. Now, it's set in the 90's. With an historical setting that recent it can feel unnecessary. The differences are subtle but important, mostly related to connections. Reha's family is divided by distance. Communication takes time, making them more isolated from literal family and thus crating family and community wherever they can. For this particular story the 90's setting makes sense, though it may be harder for young reader to understand. This may be a tough read for middle graders but it's worth the effort.

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Graphic Novel Spotlight - Save it For Later

 

Save it for Later by Nate Powell

Most of us will be familiar with Powell from his work on the March trilogy. This book is certainly different from March, though it shares some of the same bones. Best described as a collection of personal essays, Save it for Later has Powell reflecting on politics and parenting in the modern era. He struggles with how to explain what is happening in the world to his young children, balancing honesty with allowing them the innocence of childhood, teaching them to become responsible citizens. And he does not claim to have any answers. Each chapter is as much about his dilemmas as it is about what he and his wife told their daughters. The heavy use of darkness and shadow in the art reflects his personal struggles. It's not a casual read but definitely one worth visiting. 

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Non-fiction book review - Wilderness Adventure Camp

 

Wilderness Adventure Camp by Frank Grindrod

I like that these directions aren't reduced in the name of excess caution. The idea is that a kid who is old enough to look for these sorts of directions is old enough to be trusted to use a knife and safely start a fire. Not that thees directions are given haphazardly. There are copious safety warnings. It's just better to give a kid complete, safe directions, than to leave them to experiment unaided. While not every subject is covered in depth, Grindrod gives primary focus on basic survival skills: recognizing and carrying what you need, finding clean water, building a survival shelter. Give this book to kids who want to go camping beyond a campground.  

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Book review - Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry

 

Title: Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry

Author: Joya Goffney

Genre: romance

Similar books:  This Train is Being Held by Ismee Amiel Williams

                      The Infinite Moment of Us by Lauren Myracle

Rating:

 

substance behind the obvious

 

Summary (provided by publisher): Quinn keeps lists of everything—from the days she’s ugly cried, to “Things That I Would Never Admit Out Loud” and all the boys she’d like to kiss. Her lists keep her sane. By writing her fears on paper, she never has to face them in real life. That is, until her journal goes missing . . .
Then an anonymous account posts one of her lists on Instagram for the whole school to see and blackmails her into facing seven of her greatest fears, or else her entire journal will go public. Quinn doesn’t know who to trust. Desperate, she teams up with Carter Bennett—the last known person to have her journal—in a race against time to track down the blackmailer.
Together, they journey through everything Quinn’s been too afraid to face, and along the way, Quinn finds the courage to be honest, to live in the moment, and to fall in love.

My opinion: Let's be honest: I don't exactly love this book, though I do like it more than I expected. The love story element is exactly what we expect. Quinn and Carter hate each other but that hatred is built on assumptions and is covering up attraction. Having to work together forces them to face their true feelings, etcetera etcetera. The mystery of the blackmailer is pretty straightforward as well. And I found Quinn to be not entirely sympathetic. She's pretty self-centered and her lies are stressful (not to mention hard to believe - how was she going to explain away her fake acceptance letter?). Two things make me give this book a second thought. 1) The resolution isn't all smooth and happily ever after. It's a way forward, the notion that once you face the things that have troubled you there is a potential for things to get better. 2) There are bigger issues addressed. Race and financial privilege are interwoven into the plot. They don't get a lot of page space but they are essential elements that affect the love story and the character's friendships.

More information: Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry releases May 4.
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