Book review - Call Me Al

 

Title: Call Me Al

Author: Wali Shah and Eric Walters

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: Wishing Upon the Same Stars by Jacquetta Nammar Feldman

                      Yusuf Azeem is Not a Hero by Saadia Faruqi

Rating:

 

a decent balance of elements

Summary (provided by publisher): Between the pressure from his immigrant parents to ace every class, his crush on Melissa, who lives in the rich area of town while he and his family live in a shabby apartment complex, and trying his best to fit in with his friends, he feels like he’s being pulled in too many different directions.
But harder still, Ali is becoming increasingly aware of the racism around him. Comments from his friends about Pakistani food or his skin color are passed off as jokes, but he doesn’t find them funny. And when Ramadan starts, Ali doesn’t tell anyone he’s fasting because it just seems easier. Luckily he finds solace in putting his feelings into words—and poems. But his father is dead set against him using art as a distraction when he’s got schoolwork and a future career as a doctor to focus on.
Ali’s world changes when he, his mom and his little brother are assaulted by some racist teens. Ali must come to terms with his roiling feelings about his place in the world, as a Pakistani immigrant, a Muslim and a teenager with his whole life ahead of him. With help from his grandfather, an inspiring teacher and his friend, Ali leans on his words for strength. And eventually he finds his true voice.

My opinion: The intent of this book is pretty straightforward, even from the beginning. It could easily become over-simplified and trite. But Shah and Walters do a solid job of blending in other elements to keep this from becoming just an exploration of casual racism. We look at both blatant racism and microaggressions, and all of the avenues they can come from. Blend in parental pressures and the impact of trauma and we have a more complex narrative at play. This is a quick and clear read that should facilitate some conversation with young readers.

More information: Call Me Al releases March 12

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Picture books for everyone

 

This Book is Banned by Raj Haldar

If you're looking for a way to discuss book banning with kids, this fun picture book is a solid starting point. The reasons for banning content explored in this book are silly, of course. Elementary aged kids will giggle along as the book bans all sorts of innocuous things, leaving very little to talk about. This allows you to talk about access to information and who gets to decide what's allowed in books in a relaxed and playful manner. While the messaging won't land with very small children, they'll still enjoy the playful illustrations and interactions with the text.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Cowl

 My stash-busting continues. I had a skein of sock yarn that I bought super-cheap somewhere. I actually have a ton of knitted socks so I decided to do something different with this one. I found this pattern for a sock yarn cowl/hood which can easily be used with any brand of sock yarn. 

 

long enough to pull up over the top of my head but not too bulky to leave around my neck

Of course, I finished it up as the weather is warming, but this might be nice for those spring days that still have a cold edge.

WWW Wednesdays return

 My recent blogiversary had me looking back and I rediscovered a prompt I gave up back in 2015: WWW Wednesdays. The idea here is to take a snapshot of your reading life by answering these three questions.

What are you currently reading?

The Mysterious Life of Dr. Barry by Lisa Williamson - a fictionalized account of the life of James Barry who was born Margaret Buckley and lived as a man in order to become a renowned surgeon in Great Britain in the 1800s.

What did you recently finish reading?

Call Me Al by Wali Shah - the story of a Pakistani youth in Canada coming face to face with prejudice and learning how to respond to it without hatred

What do you think you'll read next?

Strong Like You by T.L. Simpson

Book review - Kyra, Just for Today

 

Title: Kyra, Just for Today

Author: Sara Zarr

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: Falling Short by Ernesto Cisneros

                      Violets are Blue by Barbara Dee

Rating:

 

a sensitive, honest portrayal

Summary (provided by publisher): Krya has always felt like she’s a bit too much. Too tall. Too loud. Too earnest. But she’s okay with that, because she’s got her mom. Ever since Mom got sober about five years ago, she and Kyra have always been there for each other—something Kyra is thankful for every week when she attends her group meetings with other kids of alcoholics. When Mom is managing her cleaning business and Kyra is taking care of things at home, maybe, she thinks, she’s not too much. Maybe, she’s just enough.
Then seventh grade starts, and everything Kyra used to be able to count on feels unsure. Kyra’s best friend, Lu, is hanging out with eighth graders, and Mom is unusually distant. When Mom starts missing work, sleeping in, and forgetting things, Kyra doesn’t dare say “relapse." But soon not saying that word means not saying anything at all—to Lu or to her support group. And when Kyra suspects that her worst fears might be real, she starts to question whether being just enough is not enough at all.

My opinion: There are some books out there about kids dealing with the realization that their parent has a problem with addiction. This may be the first I've read where the parent is an acknowledged addict in recovery. It takes the standard narrative of a single mother and child struggling to get by on their own, the tight budget and extra responsibility on the child, and adds a new element. Kyra is a strong character and a realistic one. She's a middle grade kid. She takes on responsibilities and craves independence but remains desperate  for approval and love. She has fears that she doesn't know how to articulate. This all comes together in a narrative that is at times uncomfortable but ultimately affirming.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Listen with me

 

The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise

A joyous, heart-breaking story. This book could have been an absolute disaster. It is filled with all kinds of weird events, happy accidents, wild coincidences. Basically, the plot is nearly impossible. But we swallow it easily because the characters are what matter. There is a strong cast of complex, believable characters. Each major character has some degree of growth, some truth they have to face. The pacing is strong with enough action to keep the reader engaged and enough emotion and reflection for it to matter. It reminded me somewhat of the book Big Rig by Louise Hawes. They share a lot of the same bones. It was well narrated with a pleasant voice. Overall, two thumbs up from me.

Pick 6: mental illness

 We are seeing an increasing number of books for young readers that include mental illness to some degree. Sometimes it directly affects the protagonist; others we see the impact that a family member's illness has on a character. Sometimes the diagnosis is central to the plot; others it merely informs how characters respond. All of these books affect how we think about mental illness in our own lives and facilitate conversation. Here are six books published in the past six months that include mental illness as a plot element.

6 books that feature mental illness:

1. Underdog City by Chris Negron
2. Swarm by Jennifer Lyle
3. Lost Kites and Other Treasures by Cathy Carr
4. Just Shy of Ordinary by A J Sass
5. You Owe Me One Universe by Chad Lucas
6. Drawing Deena by Hena Kahn