I am a big fan of pockets. I have to really like a pair of pants to buy it if it is lacking in functional pockets. And when you get a pocket-free pair, you still need a place to put your things. Sure, you can carry a bag but sometimes you need your hands free. So I crocheted myself a pocket out of some soft cotton yarn. It's big enough to hold my phone and a few other things and attaches to a belt And since it was a little plain, I attached a couple of buttons.
Title: Lost Kites and Other Treasures
Author: Cathy Carr
Genre: realistic fiction
Similar books: The Lost Whale by Hannah Gold
When Sea Becomes Sky by Gillian McDunn
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Summary (provided by publisher): Twelve-year-old Franny Petroski never lets anyone know how often she thinks of the charismatic, troubled mom who left her years ago—any more than she talks about the unaccountable things Mom did while she was still in the picture. Life with Nana is safe and secure, and Franny’s innovative art projects fill in any lonesome times.
But when Nana has an accident and Franny’s estranged uncle comes home to help out for a while, some long-guarded family secrets come to light. Franny has to use all of her courage, as well as all of her creativity, to come to terms with the discoveries she makes about her mother—and herself.
My opinion: We sometimes get the idea that for a kid in an unstable home, putting them in a different home will fix all of their problems. They get out of the chaos and everything is good. This book calls that into question. There's no denying that life with her Nana is better for Franny than life with her mom. But she still has questions and her family is full of secrets. The plot becomes about Franny expressing what she needs, finding her truth and becoming a complete person. It tells us a story of a family with all kinds of troubles, all of the fall out from mental illness. While the cast of characters is more adult than child, they are realistic and complex and make for compelling reading.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley
This is just to say that I've finally got my act together and made an Etsy shop. I'm still building my inventory but I'd love if you took a look.
While I’m not a fan of most things athletic myself, I must admit sports and the personalities that come along with athletics have great natural drama for stories. Competition reads well on the page and can provide other natural lessons on teamwork and fair play. Here are six books with strong athletic elements published in the last six months.
6 new sports stories:
Don't let the title fool you. This is no drippy romance. Really, the book explores the concept of love more than the love between a particular pair. It utilizes a construction we've seen from Gene Luen Yang before in the Boxers and Saints duology - spirits that only individual characters can see. It is unclear whether these are actual spirits, hallucinations, or simply constructs of an over active imagination but that ambiguity works in the book's favor. Simply put, the spirits don't really matter. They are a device for the characters to come to terms with their families and past traumas. There's complexity to the plot that is worth dwelling on and picking through. The illustrations are complex as well, inviting us to sit on a single page for a while and appreciate everything that is going on. This slows the reading and allows us to fully grasp the plot. This is a prime example of how literary a graphic novel can truly be.
Author: Anne Rellihan
Genre: realistic fiction
Similar books: Ruby Lost and Found by Christina Li
Sofia Acosta Makes a Scene by Emma Otheguy
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.JPG)
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.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley
Author: Hena Khan
Genre: realistic fiction
Similar books: Front Desk by Kelly Yang
Iveliz Explains it All by Andrea Beatriz Arrango
Rating:
.JPG)
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
