I guess I've wondered in the past how horse therapy became a thing. I never would have guessed that the history went back so far. It's pretty cool to read about their appearance in the Olympics as well, breaking two barriers at once. This is a simple but inspiring story, suitable for young readers. The illustrations aren't terribly refined but they do support the text well.
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Author: Lucy Strange
Genre: historical fiction/fantasy
Similar books: Ophie's Ghosts by Justina Ireland
The Hired Girl by Laura Amy Schlitz
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Summary (provided by publisher): Bess has left the London workhouse behind for a job at a rural cotton mill. But life at the mill is hard and cruel– a far cry from the fresh start Bess hoped for. The only way to survive is to escape, but the mill is like a prison with no way out.
Meanwhile, rumours are spreading about a vicious creature that lurks in the millpond. Bess is sure it’s all nonsense, until one night she sees something stir in the murky water.
But is it really a monster that lives in the depths of the pond? Or a creature trapped and alone, just like Bess, desperate to escape …
My opinion: At first glance, this book is quick to read and easy to follow. The parallel between Bess's situation at the mill and the fate of the creature in the pond is an obvious one. Of course, being a simple metaphor means it's a solid choice for teaching young readers about symbolism. The language is sparse and efficient but the atmosphere it creates is strong. We get a clear picture of the reality of life for impoverished children forced into work. And the future that Bess is looking towards is a realistic one. She doesn't anticipate a life of leisure, of being rescued from toil. She simply wants a job where her life will be respected. This is the sort of book that could be read several times and that you may draw different things from each time.
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While cleaning out some craft supplies recently my mother found a rainbow belt buckle. Since I had a woven belt that needed repair I thought I could use it. Turns out, the buckle is far too narrow for the belt. But I don't give up easily. I made a new belt instead, using some colored duct tape.
Author: Nancy Tandon
Genre: realistic fiction
Similar books: Sidetracked by Diana Harmon Asher
The Swag is in the Socks by Kelly J Baptist
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Summary (provided by publisher): Rory still can't say his r's, but that's just the beginning of his troubles. First Rory's ex-best-friend Brent started hanging out with the mean lacrosse kids. But then, a terrible accident takes Brent out of school, and Rory struggles with how to feel.
Rory and his new speech teacher put their heads together on Rory's r's (as well as a serious love of hard rock and boxing legend Muhammad Ali), but nobody seems to be able to solve the problem of Rory's complicated feelings about Brent. Brent's accident left him with a brain injury and he's struggling. Should Rory stand up for his old friend at school--even after Brent failed to do the same for him?
My opinion: A few years ago, we saw an influx of books about kids who stutter. Tandon is doing the same here with speech impediments. Rory may have problems with speech but he is otherwise a regular middle schooler. He isn't morally superior. He's a typical kid, facing fear, social pressure, bullies, resentment, jealousy. He's constantly confronted with a kid who betrayed him. It's his conflict with Brent that really makes this book, a subtle exploration of justice and what a person "deserves". While some of the plot points are overly convenient, accelerated or portrayed in an unrealistic manner, it's overall pretty solid and teaching us a degree of compassion.
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Picture books are a great way to explain a concept or a bit of history to a young audience. In the case of this book, Duncan is doing more than just explaining the history of Juneteenth to the audience. While the exact bit of history that the holiday recognizes is certainly a part of the story, the larger part of the book is focused on Opal Lee herself and exploring the experience of freedom. It looks at protest and social movement, the efforts people go through to have struggle and history recognized. In that way Juneteenth becomes more than an historical event. It's a symbol of the desire for social change. This book that will grow with young readers, reaching them at different levels as their social awareness changes.
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If your school experience was anything like mine, you heard just a few stories about the Civil Rights Movement every February: Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., school integration, and that was about it. I certainly was never taught about the movement to make Martin Luther King Day a holiday. Kirkwood presents her own experience with activism throughout her childhood and into her adulthood. Her story is presented in narrative form using the verse novel format. This means that it tends to be more about emotions and impressions than actions and may help young readers connect with these ideas on a more personal level. The text is accompanied by photos from the time period, adding to the atmosphere.
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Author: Gill Lewis
Genre: realistic fiction
Similar books: Rescue at Lake Wild by Terry Lynn Johnson
Music for Tiger by Michelle Kadarusman
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Summary (provided by publisher): Times are tough for Cari and her mum. A violent storm has flooded the valley where they live, destroying their home and café business.
Things seem bleak – but hope appears in the form of a plan to reintroduce beavers into the area, as the changes that these amazing animals make to the waterways might prevent another flood.
Cari knows that she has to get involved. But with the project facing resistance from locals, can she convince them to give the beavers a chance – and will it be enough to save her home from being destroyed for a second time?
My opinion: This is a construction we see sometimes in fiction: a family completely uprooting their life in the midst of grief. They make a drastic move, taking emotional upheaval and compounding it with practical upheaval, forcing everything to come to a head. In this book, Cari is furious while her mother is fixedly optimisitc. The ecological issues they face force them both to look beyond themselves. The story is pretty simple but includes a few interesting details about keystone species. A decent choice for kids gaining confidence in independent reading.
More information: Song of the River releases February 3.
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