Non-fiction book review - Finding the Clotilda

 

Finding the Clotilda by Anitra Butler-Ngugi

Africatown and the Clotilda were terms I'd heard but could not remember any details so I was primed for this book. The vocabulary is accessible and Butler-Ngugi lays out the information in a clear and concise manner. From this book we learn the whole story: the history of the Clotilda; the formation of Africatown; how racism destroyed the community that was built; how the Clotilda itself was found and verified; and how that discovery lead to the preservation of Africatown. A compelling read for fans of lesser known history.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Denim bowls

 Ever had a worn out pair of jeans and felt bad about throwing them away? There are many ways you can use that denim in crafting. For instance, my mother has been cutting jeans into strips and using crochet cotton to turn them into bowls like these:

Incidentally, these bowls and a few other designs are available on our Etsy shop.

WWW Wednesday

What are you currently reading?

House of Thorns by Isabel Strychacz - Lia's family has been falling apart for five years, ever since her older sister vanished and they fled from their house. She's been trying to be perfect. But now the house is calling them back and it's secrets will be revealed.

What did you recently finish reading?

Something's Wrong With Micah by Jamison Hill - Micah has a mysterious illness that keeps him confined to a wheelchair. His friends don't understand. His doctors think it's all in his head. Only Evie understands and she's keeping secrets.

What do you think you'll read next?

The Grimsbane Family Witch Hunters by Joan Reardon

Picture books for everyone - Swinging Into History

 

Swinging Into History by Karen L Swanson

Not quite a biography, this book walks us through the professional journey of an unfamiliar figure in sports history. It uses a narrative style to tell us the basics about who Toni Stone was, the challenges she faced, and how she went about achieving her dream. Through the story young readers will be introduced to the Negro Leagues and the challenges for women in sports. While not an in depth exploration, it is very readable and well put together.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Book review - The Super Berries Scam

 

Title: The Super Berries Scam

Author: Natasha Deen

Genre: realistic fiction

Rating:

a clearly explained intent

Summary (provided by publisher): Dalia Gopie is shorter than all her friends. Then she discovers that her favorite social media influencer is promoting a miracle fruit—one that guarantees to make anyone taller overnight! Is this online fad the real deal, or is the popular influencer selling a tall tale? With the help of other Cyber Sleuths—a network of mystery-solving kids—and legit online resources, Dalia uncovers the truth about this too-good-to-be-true product. Created in partnership with the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), this action-packed chapter book is perfect for young readers and demonstrates valuable media literacy skills.

My opinion: You don't need to read very deeply to understand what this book is trying to teach. But that's okay. It makes the messaging easily grasped by young readers. It's a bit of a blunt object over the head in terms of teaching media literacy but it achieves that aim well.

Graphic novel spotlight - The Night Librarian

 

The Night Librarian by Christopher Lincoln

The promotional material for this book compares it to the movie Night At The Museum and that's a pretty accurate description. One could also compare it to The Pagemaster, though that's a little more niche. We jump right into a world of magic and adventure around famous books. With a cast that includes a pair of mischievous kids and a band of vigilante librarians, it's exciting and inventive. With a wild plot it requires a solid willing suspension of disbelief and a little patience to fully understand what is going on. But a kid who enjoys Hatke's Mighty Jack or the Amulet series is primed for this one as well.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Book review - The Outsmarters

 

Title: The Outsmarters

Author: Deborah Ellis

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: Lost Kites and Other Treasures by Cathy Carr

                     The Truth About Twinkie Pie by Kat Yeh

Rating: 

what's not to like?

Summary (provided by publisher): Suspended from school and prone to rages, twelve-year-old Kate finds her own way to get on with her life, despite the messed-up adults around her. Her gran, for one, is stubborn and aloof — not unlike Kate herself, who has no friends, and who’s been expelled for “behavioral issues,” like the meltdowns she has had ever since her mom dumped her with her grandmother three years ago. Kate dreams that one day her mother will return for her. When that happens, they’ll need money, so Kate sets out to make some.

Gran nixes her idea to sell psychiatric advice like Lucy in Peanuts (“You’re not a psychiatrist. You’ll get sued.”), so Kate decides to open a philosophy booth to provide answers to life’s big and small questions. She soon learns that adults have plenty of problems and secrets of their own, including Gran. When she finds that her grandmother has been lying to her about her mother, the two have a huge fight, and Gran says she can’t wait for Kate to finish high school so she’ll be rid of her at last. Kate decides to take matters into her own hands and discovers that to get what she wants, she may have to reach out to some unexpected people, and find a way to lay down her own anger.

My opinion: There is a bit of an air of unreality to this story. The details sit just outside of what we would expect but that's less of a barrier than we might expect. It makes some resolutions a bit tidier than they ought to be in terms of facts. Emotionally, though, the journey is messy and complex. That's where this book shines. It gives us a cast of complex characters who have all made mistakes and need to find a way forward. While uncomfortable reading at times, the book overall is quick and worth the effort.

Advanced Reader Copy provided  by NetGalley