Book review - Drawing Deena

 

Title: Drawing Deena

Author: Hena Khan

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: Front Desk by Kelly Yang

                     Iveliz Explains it All by Andrea Beatriz Arrango

Rating:

 

well balanced

Summary (provided by publisher): Deena’s never given a name to the familiar knot in her stomach that appears when her parents argue about money, when it’s time to go to school, or when she struggles to find the right words. She manages to make it through each day with the help of her friends and the art she loves to make.
While her parents’ money troubles cause more and more stress, Deena wonders if she can use her artistic talents to ease their burden. She creates a logo and social media account to promote her mom’s home-based business selling clothes from Pakistan to the local community. With her cousin and friends modeling the outfits and lending their social media know-how, business picks up.
But the success and attention make Deena’s cousin and best friend, Parisa, start to act funny. Suddenly Deena’s latest creative outlet becomes another thing that makes her feel nauseated and unsure of herself. After Deena reaches a breaking point, both she and her mother learn the importance of asking for help and that, with the right support, Deena can create something truly beautiful.

My opinion: There are a lot of aspects of this book that we can talk about and praise: the importance of creativity; perceptions of other people; family dynamics and the immigrant experience. But what I really want to focus on is Deena as a character. Khan has found the perfect balance in Deena, making her a universal character while keeping her Pakistani culture an essential element. Many kids will relate to her anxiety and fear, not knowing how to advocate for herself and needing to put up a front of being okay. While the specifics of the expectations upon her are defined by her experience, the general themes will be understood by a wider variety of readers.

More information: Drawing Deena releases February 6.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Listen with me

 

One Night in a Thousand Years by Craig Cunningham

I selected this one on the strength of the comparison to Dead Poets Society, but I had my doubts from the start. A story about young men finding a mentor and discovering truths about themselves and the world can be inspiring. It can also be a bit pretentious and self-aggrandizing. And I'm afraid this one leans in the latter direction. I'm all for teaching people to think for themselves, to ask questions and find their own path. There's just something about scenes of teenagers smoking pipes and writing inspirational quotes under an overpass that feels forced. And when you have white guys passing out samurai swords it's a bit cringy. I certainly understand what this book was trying to say. And it says it. There's no masking the intent of the novel. Perhaps that's part of what I don't like about it. There's no interpretation, no art to it. While Van Der Beek's narration suits the narrative, I can't say that I'd recommend the book on the whole.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Picture books for everyone

 

Not My Circus by Janet Sumner Johnson

A picture book is a great way to explore the meaning of an idiom with a group of kids, especially when you can do so with humor. While this book is built on a phrase that is a bit less common, it serves it's purpose well. Not to mention, it's quite entertaining. The tone falls somewhere between Imogene's Antlers and Click Clack Moo. Of course the scenario is silly (a little girl buys a collection of circus animals) and chaos ensues. But Olivia's systematic approach to problem solving serves as a good example to young readers. The messaging will work better with older kids than the very young.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Non-fiction book review - Ancient Ice

 

Ancient Ice by Golriz Golkar

If you've ever wondered why glaciers matter, this is the book to read. It gives a succinct introduction to the roles of glaciers in our world and the ways that scientists are studying them. The text is quite accessible, with a kid friendly vocabulary. Pages emphasize photographs more than text, so it's a quick read that provides a quick introduction to the concepts. This is a good choice for elementary age readers.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Stash buster hat

 I've been working to use up some of my extra yarn this winter. I had a variegated skein that I bought somewhere on sale but didn't have a plan to use. So I made this hat with attached scarf from a pattern I found in an old magazine. The last section (dark blue) came from another skein after the first ran out to make the scarf long enough to be usable.

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.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

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.