Book review - Not the Worst Friend in the World

 

Title: Not the Worst Friend in the World

Author: Anne Rellihan 

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: Ruby Lost and Found by Christina Li

                      Sofia Acosta Makes a Scene by Emma Otheguy

Rating:

 

exciting and reflective

Summary (provided by publisher): It’s the thirty-fourth day of sixth grade at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School in Missouri, and eleven-year-old Lou wishes she could rewind time.
Lou wants to go back to the ninth day of sixth grade—the day before she fought with her best friend Francie and said the terrible, horrible things she can’t unsay. Or better yet, she would go back to fifth grade when Francie was still the Old Francie.
Then the new girl, Cece Clark-Duncan, passes Lou a mysterious note. It says she was kidnapped. (!) If Lou can help Cece, maybe she can prove she’s not the world’s worst friend.
But as observant Lou uncovers the complicated truth about Cece’s family, she starts to panic. Can she help Cece without hurting her? Or will Lou end up losing another friend instead?

My opinion: If you've ever read Harriet the Spy and wished for an updated version, then this is the book you've been looking for. The parallels are clear and are freely acknowledged within the text. Lou describes how Harriet inspired her activities. So of course we aren't surprised when things go about as well for Lou as they did for Harriet. That parallel aside, this book explores two important topics - personal responsibility and secret keeping. Throw in a heavy dose of changing friendships in the middle grade years and it makes for an honest, often uncomfortable, ultimately realistic read.

More information: Not the Worst Friend in the World releases February 6.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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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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

Similar books: Nest by Esther Ehrlich

                      The List of Unspeakable Fears by J Kasper Kramer

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.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Nalbinding a hat

 Last year, around this time, I was learning the new skill of nalbinding. This winter I decided to use that skill to make a hat. I didn't follow a pattern, just sort of increased whenever it felt appropriate. The result was kind of nice looking but a loose weave. And far too big around. It fell over my face.

Luckily, this hat was made from wool yarn so I was able to felt it. Since fit was a concern, I felted it by hand. While that's a lot more labor intensive I had control over the exact finished size. Here's the final product, just in time for the winter storm they've predicted for this weekend.

Book review - Between Two Brothers

 

Title: Between Two Brothers

Author: Crystal Allen

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: Ten Thousand Tries by Amy Makechnie

                      Daisy Wormwood Changes the World by Melissa Hart

Rating:

 

compelling

Summary (provided by publisher): Isaiah "Ice" Abernathy has always worshiped his older brother, Seth. For years they’ve been not just brothers but best friends—and as Seth starts his senior year, Ice is eager to spend as much time with his brother as he can, making memories before Seth goes to college.
But when Seth announces he’s leaving much earlier than expected, and then he misses an important event—one he'd promised to attend—it causes a major fight.
Filled with regret, Ice plans to apologize to Seth later the next day, but later never comes, as he finds out Seth was in an accident—one that leaves him in the hospital. And the doctors say he may never recover.
Racked by fear and guilt, Ice chooses to step up, defy the experts, and help Seth recover in a way only he can—by trusting in their bond and the undying love between two brothers.

My opinion: While some elements of this novel won't be relevant to the average reader, this is a solid read. It's an artfully written picture of a middle grade kid already shouldering a fair amount of responsibility. His sense of guilt and his brother's accident cause the situation to spiral nearly out of control. This becomes a story of a kid trying to do too much, to "fix" a tragedy all on his own. His efforts follow a believable pattern. The characters are strong and believable. And most importantly, the resolution is realistic. There are no miracle cures, just a sense of hope as the family adjusts to their new normal.

More information: Between Two Brothers releases January 23.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Book review - The Reckoning

 

Title: The Reckoning

Author: Wade Hudson

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: Take Back the Block by Chrystal D Giles

                      The Probability of Everything by Sarah Everett

Rating:

 

doesn't live up to potential

Summary (provided by publisher): Lamar can’t wait to start his filmmaking career like his idol Spike Lee.  And leave behind his small town of Morton, Louisiana. But for now, Lamar has to learn how to be a filmmaker while getting to know his grandfather.
When Gramps talks about his activism and Black history, Lamar doesn’t think much about it. Times have changed since the old Civil Rights days! Right? He has a white friend named Jeff who wants to be a filmmaker, too, even though Jeff’s parents never let him go to Lamar’s Black neighborhood. But there’s been progress in town. Right?
Then Gramps is killed in a traffic altercation with a white man claiming self-defense. But the Black community knows better: Gramps is another victim of racial violence. Protesters demand justice. So does Lamar. But he is also determined to keep his grandfather's legacy alive in the only way he knows how: recording a documentary about the fight against injustice.

My opinion: This is a solid concept for a middle grade novel. We have a young Black man starting to have an awakening to racism and history. He's learning how to be an activist and what things are worth fighting for. He's also starting to become aware of the difference between himself and his white peers. An unexpected tragedy becomes a catalyst for real change in his community. That all sounds quite solid and important. Unfortunately, the reading experience is stiff. The dialogue doesn't read like a real kid. The topic is important enough to be worth reading but it doesn't live up to the potential.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Graphic novel spotlight - Punycorn

 

Punycorn by Andi Watson

When we think of the unlikely hero in a quest narrative we probably don't think of a unicorn. But that's what Watson gives us and it works spectacularly well. With a unicorn in training the only one available to defend the city, Punycorn sets out on a quest to collect necessary elements to defeat a villain who is equal parts threatening and silly. While Punycorn's interpretations of the necessary items are perhaps not what was intended, his adventure is kind-hearted and noble. This is fun and exciting and a joy to read.

 

Yip-yip

 Remember these muppets from Sesame Street?

My sister and I have fond memories of them from our childhood so when I found a pattern to make one, I knew she needed one for her birthday.

Here's what I made:

 

Book review - The Unbeatable Lily Hong

 

Title: The Unbeatable Lily Hong

Author: Diana Ma

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: Underdog City by Chris Negron

                     Sanford Wong Flunks Big-Time by Lisa Yee

Rating:

 

a solid experience

Summary (provided by publisher): If there’s one thing Lily Hong can’t stand, it’s being second best. That’s why she and Max Zhang have been bitter rivals ever since he swooped into town as the new kid with the cool clothes and his fancy downtown Chinese school and showed her up in the fifth-grade reading challenge.
She had wanted to be the one to win the pizza party for their class. Okay, so that was two years ago . . . her best friends Kelli and Lauren didn’t totally get it, but they were on her side. And that’s why they agreed to help Lily with her submission for the Clarktown’s Got Talent video competition. Filmmaking is Lily’s passion—which means winning is more important to her than ever.
Unfortunately, finding time to work on her video submission is proving harder than ever. In addition to doing regular homework and attending the Chinese school her parents own and run out of the Clarktown Community Center, Lily’s been getting weird vibes from her parents lately and she can tell something is up. Then her mom announces that the Clarktown Community Center is having its first showcase, and the students of Hong Chinese Academy will be performing as a group—traditional Chinese dance!
Lily is more confused than anything else—the community center is practically falling apart and they think this is a good time to put on a show? Could it be that the community center is in trouble and the only way to save it is to make the showcase a huge success? Lily has no choice. She’ll have to juggle the video competition and the art of Chinese dance simultaneously. But when Max Zhang unexpectedly shows up in her class at Chinese school with his perfect Mandarin and his surprisingly good dance skills, Lily might just have to embrace her longtime rival as a key part of her plan to save the community center.

My opinion: Chinese American culture and the sense of community take center stage in this novel but they don't fully define Lily. She is a complex, realistic character. She's a middle school kid trying to be her best self and struggling to please her parents. So while Chinese culture is essential to the plot, there is a universality to the characters that makes this a book that anyone can enjoy.

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Book review - The Five Impossible Tasks of Eden Smith

 

Title: The Five Impossible Tasks of Eden Smith

Author: Tom Llewellyn

Genre: adventure

Similar books: The Eureka Key by Sarah L Thomson

                      Holes by Louis Sachar

Rating:

 

clever

Summary (provided by publisher): When Eden Smith moves into the beautiful and bizarre old mansion housing her grandfather, she discovers a strange society of elderly metalworkers whose mastery verges on the magical. Deadly mechanical birds, a cavernous chamber full of dirty dishes, a highly dangerous game of Machinist BINGO–life at the guild is not only strange, it’s also dangerous.
Eden’s grandfather, Vulcan Smith, the most gifted of all the metalsmiths in the mansion, has just been sentenced to live out the rest of his days locked in a tiny basement room for rebelling against the guild. To save him, Eden will have to complete The Five Impossible Tasks, a series of deadly feats that have already killed off many of Eden and Vulcan’s ancestors. With the help of her new friend Nathaniel and a cast of eccentric old silversmiths, blacksmiths, and inventive machinists, Eden sets out to do the impossible before her newfound grandfather is lost to her forever.

My opinion: Take elements of curse and chosen one narratives. Add in secret societies and puzzles. It should be too much, too many directions. But Llewellyn makes it work. It draws the most compelling aspects of each of these types of stories. It helps that the cast of characters is quirky and vast but well distinguished. Each character has distinct elements and develops, at least a little, throughout the course of the novel. Pacing is tight and the stakes are high. The world of the smiths is introduced in a bit of an info dump but the details are parceled out through the rest of the novel in a way that is never overwhelming. While the beginning moves a little slowly this is by necessity. Once Eden takes on the Tasks, the action is constant and well interspersed with moments of reflection and growth. The ending falters a little but over all it's a solid read.

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