Book review - Simon Sort of Says

 

Title: Simon Sort of Says

Author: Erin Bow

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: Repairing the World by Linda Epstein

                     Pay Attention, Carter Jones by Gary D Schmidt

Rating:

 

perfectly balanced

Summary (provided by publisher): Simon O’Keeffe’s biggest claim to fame should be the time his dad accidentally gave a squirrel a holy sacrament. Or maybe the alpaca disaster that went viral on YouTube. But the story the whole world wants to tell about Simon is the one he’d do anything to forget: the story in which he’s the only kid in his class who survived a school shooting.
Two years after the infamous event, twelve-year-old Simon and his family move to the National Quiet Zone—the only place in America where the internet is banned. Instead of talking about Simon, the astronomers who flock to the area are busy listening for signs of life in space. And when Simon makes a friend who’s determined to give the scientists what they’re looking for, he’ll finally have the chance to spin a new story for the world to tell.

My opinion: We'd expect this to be a real heavy story but it is surprisingly light hearted. The deep moments, where characters face their trauma or express their needs even though it's hard, are rare. Their scarcity makes them all the more impactful given that the bulk of the book is goat births, rampaging emus, a dog that helps himself to beer, and a plot to fake an alien signal. Tying the whole thing together is a cast of characters who feel real. Sure their interests are weirdly specific and obscure (like playing the sackbut) but their interactions are dynamic and their voices distinct and honest. The details are a bit intense (we are talking about the trauma of surviving a school shooting after all) so exercise caution but know that it's worth the read.

More information: Simon Sort of Says releases January 31

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Graphic novel spotlight - Tidesong

 

Tidesong by Wendy Xu

At face value, this is a fairly standard magic story. We have a young witch who is frustrated by the slow methodical way she is expected to train. Her impatience causes trouble when a spell has unintended consequences involving a water dragon. Sophie learns magic and patience, etc. But it's also more than that. It's a tale of the expectation and disapproval of adults and how it influences a child's behavior. It is the way children can flourish if given the chance. And it is a collection of beautiful dynamic artwork on top of that. The marketing for this book compares it to the films of Studio Ghibli and the comparison is well earned.

 

Non-fiction book review - The Real History of Angel Island

 

The Real History of Angel Island by Carol Kim

I was much older than I care to admit before I realized that Angel Island as a thing and that the picture I had of immigration, of hopeful people waiting in a bright room to be admitted into the country, was a far cry from reality. Reading this book will give young readers a complete picture not only of Angel Island but also of the cruelties and discrimination of American immigration policy. The writing and vocabulary here are simple and easy to follow. Its probably a good idea to read this along with your child so you can discuss the policies, cultural norms, and racism that come along with the information.

Book review - Promise Boys

 

Title: Promise Boys

Author: Nick Brooks

Genre: mystery

Similar books: One of the Good Ones by Maika Moulite

                     Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi

Rating:

 

elements worth discussing

Summary (provided by publisher): The Urban Promise Prep School vows to turn boys into men. As students, J.B., Ramón, and Trey are forced to follow the prestigious "program's" strict rules. Extreme discipline, they’ve been told, is what it takes to be college bound, to avoid the fates of many men in their neighborhoods. This, the Principal Moore Method, supposedly saves lives.
But when Moore ends up murdered and the cops come sniffing around, the trio emerges as the case's prime suspects. With all three maintaining their innocence, they must band together to track down the real killer before they are arrested. But is the true culprit hiding among them?

My opinion: There are certainly things that I like about this book. I like the way that it discusses perceptions. The messages are pretty obvious, of course. We're looking a lot at how Black teens, especially boys, are viewed by the world. And how treating teens like criminals encourages criminal behavior rather than discouraging it. We're looking at the corruption of power and how well intentioned ideas can turn out badly. But a lot of the messaging is pretty obvious and heavy handed. There is little in the way of nuance. Still, it raises enough interesting ideas to make it worth a read.

More information: Promise Boys releases January 31.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Cap-sleeved no more

 What do you do when you have the sleeves left over from a dress? You find a shirt with sleeves that you hate and do some surgery. I had these cool unicorn sleeves begging to be used and a mostly comfortable v-neck shirt with cap-sleeves that I kind of despised. It was a quick matter of clipping off the old sleeves leaving a half inch or so for seeming, pinning in the long sleeves, and sewing them down. The new sleeves were a tiny bit bigger around than the armholes, so I just cut down the side seem of the shirt an inch or so until the diameters matched. 

Book review - Jiu-Jitsu Girl

 

Title: Jiu-Jitsu Girl

Author: Jennifer Dutton

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: Swim Team by Johnnie Christmas

                      Bump by Matt Wallace

Rating:

 

solid combination of elements

Summary (provided by publisher): What’s more terrifying than being forced into a coed combat wrestling martial art by your own mother? Sixth grade.
Angie Larson hates Jiu-Jitsu. Like many twelve-year-old girls, she fails to find the glamour in a martial art that embraces zero personal space and choking as an end goal. Seriously, people choke her, drip sweat on her face, and even wrap their legs around her neck. It’s the worst. Instead, she idolizes the seemingly perfect kids at her school who do “normal” activities like dance or soccer. But just when it seems like Angie is about to be accepted by them, her mom enrolls her in a Jiu-Jitsu tournament and begins a relationship with the sweatiest coach on the planet. And to make things more complicated, Angie develops a close friendship with a boy who is definitely not part of the “cool” crowd.
Angie must decide who she is while making some painful decisions both on and off the mat. Is she a dance girl, a soccer girl, a nothing girl . . . or a Jiu-Jitsu girl?

My opinion: At heart, this book is like a lot of novels for middle grade girls - an exploration of popularity and becoming the "right" kind of teen. Jiu-Jitsu aside, Angie's story is a familiar one. Given the chance to reinvent herself, she does everything in her power to ingratiate herself with the popular girls, to become one of their fringe members. So we get the obvious examples of the ways girls can be cruel to each other and the betrayal of your real friends in the name of popularity. It's the Jiu-Jitsu that makes the difference in this book. Yes, Angie hates it. She has valid complaints about being made to practice it. But it is also a vehicle to explore our relationship with our bodies. This is the age where girls become critical of their bodies and of other people. A large portion of this novel is devoted to Angie's increasing awareness of how bodies look. Jiu-Jitsu becomes, then, not only a method of learning to defend herself but also to appreciate what her body is capable of, to celebrate it's power. While the conclusion is entirely expected and there are some painfully embarrassing scenes, it's overall well worth reading.

More information: Jiu-Jitsu Girl releases January 24.

Advance Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Picture books for everyone

 

Waiting on Mr. Sloth by Katy Hudson

No one likes waiting. And most children will relate to the idea of waiting for someone who seems to be taking an exceptionally long time. The text is straightforward and easy to follow. More than that, the illustrations deftly depict Sasha's growing frustration until she looses her cool. What follows is not only a lesson in patience but also an introduction to mindfulness as Mr. Sloth appreciates everything that is going on around him and Sasha acknowledges how much better experiences are when she is in the moment and with a friend. This book would work well one-on-one or in a larger group setting, especially if you followed it up with a little mindfulness practice of your own. 

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley