Graphic novel spotlight: Brobots

 

BroBots by J. Torres and Sean Dove

First, a word of warning: if you find excessive use of the word "bro" annoying, this is not the book for you. Expect a "bro" in most every panel. That minor annoyance aside, this is a fun collection of stories. It's not deep but if you like quirky team adventures (think Fry Guys, Narwhal and Jelly, Rutabaga the Adventure Chef) then give BroBots a read. The stories are simple and easy to follow with a dose of accessible humor. They can be enjoyed by both small children and adult companions. And since it is a collection of stories, it can be read in small doses.

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Non-fiction book review - History Comics: Hip-Hop

 

Hip-Hop by Jarrett Williams

I'm a known fan of the Science Comics series, so when I saw a history themed comic series I was intrigued. And this book does not disappoint. This is no surface history. It digs deep into the musical and cultural influences. It looks at influential figures and how the social climate affected the development of hip-hop. It is quite text heavy, so this isn't a lazy read by any means. But if you have even a passing interest in hip-hop or in the changes in musical genres over time, this is well worth the effort to read. 

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Book review - The Thirteenth Circle

 

Title: The Thirteenth Circle

Author: Marcykate Connolly and Kathryn Holmes 

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: The Bigfoot Files by Lindsay Eagar 

                      Nessie Quest by Melissa Savage

Rating: 

 

just right

Summary (provided by publisher): Cat knows aliens are real, and she’s determined to prove it. By studying the Weston Farm Circles, her town’s legendary crop circle phenomenon, she’ll not only demonstrate the existence of extraterrestrial life, but also win the grand prize in the McMurray Youth Science Competition—a feat she’s sure will impress her distant NASA scientist father.
Dani most certainly does not believe in aliens. How can she, when they go against every scientific principle she’s been taught? So when Dani is paired with Cat to enter the McMurray Youth Science Competition—which she has to win to avoid going to her parents’ artsy summer camp—she knows she’s at a disadvantage. Her solution? Disprove Cat’s theory, of course . . . without telling her partner her true intentions.
But as the girls bond over science, it becomes clear that there is something strange about the Weston Farm Circles. And when Dani and Cat’s project is threatened by suspicious forces, they’ll have to work together to expose the truth, once and for all.

My opinion: This book uses diverse elements to strong effect. It balances personal issues (primarily that of parental expectations and social challenges in middle school) with science, belief, and skepticism. Cat and Dani may be of different opinions when it comes to aliens but their approach to their experiment is always grounded in good science. Readers will recognize the elements and steps of a good study in their exploration of their topic. While the conspiracy elements go pretty far afield, the heart of the book is grounded and realistic and makes for compelling reading.

More information: The Thirteen Circle releases January 30.

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Non-fiction book review - Tasty

Tasty by Victoria Grace Elliott

This book promises to explore the history of common foods and boy does it deliver. We get a deep dive into the development of cheese, bread, pickles, and more. Exploring history is more than just a bare bones timeline of the food itself. No, Elliott digs into societal influences, the growth of agriculture, the need to preserve food, even how climate influences the development of certain foods. Where appropriate, this means looking at parallel experiments in different cultures. This could be quite dry but Elliott has managed to keep it light and entertaining. The illustrations style is very cartoony and adds to the humorous tone.

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Graphic novel spotlight - Ink Girls

 

Ink Girls by Marieke Nijkamp

This is a book that doesn't shy away from big ideas while remaining accessible for a middle grade audience. Nijkamp explores power, public perception, social stratification, and freedom of the press. It's a narrative that encourages the reader to think critically about government and what we're allowed to say. As a graphic novel it's a bit text heavy but has an excellent sense of movement and setting. It's the sort of book you'll want to give to fans of the Princeless series and budding dystopian fiction readers.

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Book review - Tagging Freedom

Title: Tagging Freedom

Author: Rhonda Roumani

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: Escape from Aleppo by N. H. Senzai

                      Wishing Upon the Same Stars by Jacquetta Nammar Feldman

Rating:

 

well written with an important message

Summary (provided by publisher): Kareem Haddad of Damascus, Syria, never dreamed of becoming a graffiti artist. But when a group of boys from another town tag subversive slogans outside their school, and another boy is killed while in custody, Kareem and his friends are inspired to start secretly tag messages of freedom around their city.
Meanwhile, in the United States, his cousin, Samira, has been trying to make her own mark. Anxious to fit in at school, she joins the Spirit Squad where her natural artistic ability attracts the attention of the popular leader. Then Kareem is sent to live with Sam’s family, and their worlds collide. As graffitied messages appear around town and all eyes turn to Kareem, Sam must make a choice: does she shy away to protect her new social status, or does she stand with her cousin? 

My opinion: Most middle grade fiction actually centers on a single message: how important is it to fit in? When you add in characters from other cultures, especially refugees, this question escalates. This novel adds some nuance by doing more than just presenting us with the culture clash. Its asking good questions about who has the right to be involved in a situation, the difference between being a good friend and being completely honest, and where our loyalties lie. With a timely topic its a good book to get kids thinking more globally as well.

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Book review - Light and Air

 

Title: Light and Air

Author: Mindy Nichols Wendell

Genre: historical fiction

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Rating:

 

an interesting approach to a familiar element

Summary (provided by publisher): When Halle and her mother both come down with TB, they are shunned—and then they are sent to the J.N. Adam Tuberculosis Hospital: far from home, far from family, far from the world.
Tucked away in the woods of upstate New York, the hospital is a closed and quiet place. But it is not, Halle learns, a prison. Free of her worried and difficult father for the first time in her life, she slowly discovers joy, family, and the healing power of honey on the children's ward, where the girls on the floor become her confidantes and sisters. But when Mama suffers a lung hemorrhage, their entire future—and recovery—is thrown into question....
Light and Air deals tenderly and insightfully with isolation, quarantine, found family, and illness. Set in the fully realized world of a 1930s hospital, it offers a tender glimpse into a historical epidemic that has become more relatable than ever due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As Halle tries to warm her father’s coldness and learns to trust the girls and women of the hospital, and as she and her mother battle a disease that once paralyzed the country, a profound message of strength, hope, and healing emerges.

My opinion: Tuberculosis is an element that shows up often in historical fiction. We've all seen the wan character coughing into a handkerchief and known that their days were numbered. But this book goes beyond the trope. It is a more detailed exploration of the social climate at the time, the ways that the community might ostracize a family struck with TB. It's also a close look at the communities that form around an illness. When people are isolated together, they form connections and support one another. While the ultimate conclusions of the book are pretty straightforward, the careful journey to get there is a surprisingly gentle read.

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