Book review - Dream, Annie, Dream

 

Title: Dream, Annie, Dream

Author: Waka T. Brown

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: Dara Palmer's Major Drama by Emma Shevah

                      Violets are Blue by Barbara Dee

Rating:

 

a good thinker for middle graders

Summary (provided by publisher):As the daughter of immigrants who came to America for a better life, Annie Inoue was raised to dream big. And at the start of seventh grade, she’s channeling that irrepressible hope into becoming the lead in her school play.
So when Annie lands an impressive role in the production of The King and I, she’s thrilled . . . until she starts to hear grumbles from her mostly white classmates that she only got the part because it’s an Asian play with Asian characters. Is this all people see when they see her? Is this the only kind of success they’ll let her have—one that they can tear down or use race to belittle?
Disheartened but determined, Annie channels her hurt into a new dream: showing everyone what she’s made of.

My opinion: I think what I like best about this book is that it doesn't over-simplify race relations. Does Annie face racism? Absolutely. But she see it in different forms. It's less about slurs and discrimination than it is about micro-aggression. Annie isn't allowed to be a "normal" kid when it seems like everyone points out her racial heritage at every turn, usually in a negative way. And the realizations of her community's unhealthy racial attitudes are focused more on how other adults treat her parents than on how her peers treat Annie. It's a great book to read with your kid or in a group discussion, to help them interpret what they have read.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Wooden box

 I was given one of these little wooden boxes with an image pressed into the top from the dollar store. While the plain box was kind of cute, it's even better with a little brightly colored paint.

Book review - Wayward Creatures

 

Title: Wayward Creatures

Author: Dayna Lorentz

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: House Arrest by K.A Holt

                      Trash Mountain by Jane Yolen

Rating:  

 

well integrated elements and a clear theme

Summary (provided by publisher): Twelve-year-old Gabe doesn’t know where he belongs anymore. His family is caught up in their own lives and his friends barely have time for him now that they’re stars on the soccer team. In a desperate plea for attention to impress his friends after school, Gabe sets off fireworks in the woods near his house and causes a small forest fire that destroys several acres of land.
In the chaos of the destruction, a coyote named Rill—tired of her family and longing for adventure—finds herself far from home. Already on animal control’s watch for wandering into a backyard and snapping at a child, Rill crawls into a cave, where she nurses her wounds alone.
Gabe and Rill’s paths irrevocably cross when Gabe is tasked with cleaning up the forest through the court's restorative justice program. The damage to the land and both their lives is beyond what the two can imagine. But together, they discover that sometimes it only takes one friend to find the place where you belong.

My opinion: I don't always like books with animal characters. They can give the animals too much human personality. Lorentz has kept Rill fairly true to her animal reality. While she "talks" with other animals, most of her behavior is true to her species. and her story is mostly meant to reinforce the messaging we see in Gabe's plot, how a single bad decision made in a moment of frustration can send us down a spiral of bad behavior. And how when people see that "bad" thing, it colors all future interactions. It's compelling reading and is well balanced with ideas of true justice.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Listen with me

 

You Truly Assumed by Laila Sabreen

I've been trying, recently, to read more challenging books with a special focus on narratives that present a life experience different from my own. So my next listen is this book about Muslim teens and the online community.

Non-fiction book review - Jubilee

 

Jubilee the First Therapy Horse and an Olympic Dream by KT Johnston

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. 

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Book review - The Mermaid in the Millpond

 

Title: The Mermaid in the Millpond

Author: Lucy Strange

Genre: historical fiction/fantasy

Similar books: Ophie's Ghosts by Justina Ireland

                     The Hired Girl by Laura Amy Schlitz

Rating:

 

deceptively simple

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.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Duct tape belt

 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.