Non-fiction book review - Freedom Summer 1964

 

Freedom Summer 1964 by Ngeri Nnachi

Early education about the Civil Rights Movement tends to focus on MLK, Rosa Parks, and school integration. Voting rights are mentioned but typically only in passing. This book sets out to give young readers more information. While the text is simple and succinct, it gives a clear picture of the state of voting before Freedom Summer, the dangers and methods faced, and why voting matters. While none of the topics are explored in much depth, it does lay out the facts in a way that is easily understood.

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Listen with me

 

One Night in a Thousand Years by Craig Cunningham

No joke, I was one of those kids who found the experience of watching "Dead Poets Society" deep and transformative, so when a book is billed as the modern version of that film I'm going to be there reading it. So let's give this one a listen and see if the story of a teenage boy finding a college mentor lives up to the hype.

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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