Blog Tour book review - Hurricane Summer

Title: Hurricane Summer

Author: Asha Bromfield

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: Darius the Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorram

                      The World on Either Side by Dianne Terrana

Rating:

 

a challenging, complex read

Summary (provided by publisher): Tilla has spent her entire life trying to make her father love her. But every six months, he leaves their family and returns to his true home: the island of Jamaica.
When Tilla’s mother tells her she’ll be spending the summer on the island, Tilla dreads the idea of seeing him again, but longs to discover what life in Jamaica has always held for him.
In an unexpected turn of events, Tilla is forced to face the storm that unravels in her own life as she learns about the dark secrets that lie beyond the veil of paradise—all in the midst of an impending hurricane.

My opinion:It doesn't take more than a few chapters to realize that this is more than just a simple culture clash story. It could easily have been a story of Tilla realizing that she is sheltered, coming to understand the culture that her parents came from. Instead it's a complex exploration of both Jamaican culture and of Tilla's own relationship with her parents. It takes a hard look at racism, classism, and sexism, the opportunities that are denied to people based on the circumstances of their birth, and the stigma and double-standards around abuse. It is by no means a comfortable read. Some chapters will tear at your heart or make you squirm but they're absolutely worth reading as they'll raise important topics of discussion and consideration for teen readers.

More information: Hurricane Summer releases May 4. As a part of the blog tour, I'm pleased to also be able to provide for you an excerpt from this compelling novel.

 

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Garden gnome

 I have a fondness for off-kilter decor. The weirder the better, as far as I'm concerned. And that tends to mean that I am gifted with weird decor kits. Like this garden gnome I got for Christmas.

With warmer weather on the way, it felt like the perfect weekend to paint my gnome. This is the color scheme I came up with.

 
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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.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

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.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

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.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

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.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

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. 

 Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley