Returning to two characters first introduced in Liar's Beach--childhood friends Michael Linden and Holiday Proctor--this mystery set at prestigious HaReturning to two characters first introduced in Liar's Beach--childhood friends Michael Linden and Holiday Proctor--this mystery set at prestigious Harvard highlights the lengths some individuals will go to make the grade, often sacrificing the best in themselves and destroying others in the process. The writing is snappy, and some of the characters are untrustworthy, leading readers to point the finger of suspicion for the death of Bri, roommate of Greer, Linden's former and future girlfriend. The author plants subtle clues about what's going on, but they are easy to miss when distracted by other aspects of the story. While this one might not be as pleasing as its predecessor, it still provides a good read as well as contemplative passages about class privilege and fitting in. This one is a fast read too. ...more
Sometimes troubled times require shocking actions to awaken those around us. And sometimes those actions can change the lives of those who are close tSometimes troubled times require shocking actions to awaken those around us. And sometimes those actions can change the lives of those who are close to the activist. In the case of this YA novel, set in 1969 Czechoslovakia, it is seventeen-year-old Pavol Bartos who sets himself on fire in Prague because he sees only a bleak future for himself and others like him. His death prompts the others in his circle--his pregnant girlfriend Lida and his two friends, Stepan, who is gay, and Tomas, who finds the rules of everyday socialization confusing, to question their next steps and possible futures. While Pavel appears only briefly in the story, his influence is far-reaching, and readers learn more about his character, background, and ambitions through the eyes of his friends. The characters, even Lida's father, Ondrej, are particularly well drawn, complex, and relatable, and their paths forward aren't always smooth, easy or predictable. Moving back and forth in time so that it's clear what has led to some of these decisions, including the reprisals meted out to those who don't obey the harsh rules of the current regime as well as the rewards for walking the party line, the story is fast paced, deeply engaging, and informative. For anyone coming of age in 1969 in the United States, it will bring back some memories of that time period, but for those coming of age today, the story is particularly timely. Questions about repression of certain music and literature and whether it is more effective to try to fight the system from within in order to make a change or leave and start a new life are raised by this well-researched, nuanced, and important book. Teen readers will care deeply about the characters, perhaps relating to one of them, and wonder what they might have done in similar circumstances. ...more
I have always felt conflicted about Louisa May Alcott's Little Women, which I read several times as a child. I enjoyed the different personalities of I have always felt conflicted about Louisa May Alcott's Little Women, which I read several times as a child. I enjoyed the different personalities of the March girls and their idealized family bond, but I always felt annoyed when Jo was married off, feeling a sense of disappointment that she wasn't allowed to flourish as a writer and human being on her own two feet. While it's interesting that Jo is depicted as queer in this reimagining of the classic story set in 1942 amid WWII, I'm undecided as to whether that adds to or detracts from the character. After all, it's quite possible to turn down a marriage proposal and remain single and economically independent without being gay. In this particular book, the sisters are all scattered after the death of their beloved Beth, leaving only Meg to stay with Marmee. Marmee herself seems to have chosen to drown her grief in social services, good deeds, and committee meetings while her family is falling apart. As in the original book, the girls' father is largely absent, serving as a chaplain during the war. Meg teaches at the local school, waiting for her math teacher boyfriend to return from service, and dealing with an old frenemy who tries to introduce her to a different way of living. Jo works in a factory and helps build airplanes for the war and avoids contact with her sisters because of a fight they had after Beth's death. And Amy is in London, working for the Red Cross, thanks to her shady application. A different writer tackles each of the sisters' stories with Beth's voice being heard in a series of poignant poems that show that she was a much more observer than might be expected and that she yearns for what she never had. I'm glad I read this book, but I wonder how those who loved Little Women will feel about it and those plans to be "great or nothing." Perhaps all of us are great in some way, after all. As I was reading this book, I kept thinking to myself, "For Heaven's sake, pick up a phone or a pen or pencil and communicate with each other. Surely, the bonds you had when you were growing up are still strong." Interestingly, the authors have made sure that there is some diversity in the plot and secondary characters. I have mixed feelings as to whether that adds to the book's complexity or just an added element included for the sake of political correctness and as a nod to diversity. ...more
Paper collage illustrations assembled digitally give this picture book a distinctly original look. A skeleton named Oscar has lost a tooth, and he thiPaper collage illustrations assembled digitally give this picture book a distinctly original look. A skeleton named Oscar has lost a tooth, and he thinks it makes him look scary. He's looking for a friend, and while he has his dog, Tag, as his buddy, he needs more than that. Oscar happens upon a girl burying a tooth so that her wish to find a friend will come true. She decides to give him the tooth under the condition that he will help her find a friend. Off they go, and she shows him all the sights she longs to share with her friend. He, in turn, shares his world with her. At the end of the day, he no longer needs that tooth since both of them have found a friend. Although it's somewhat odd to see a skeleton featured in a children's picture book, the idea of longing for a friend is one with which most youngsters will be able to relate. I loved how some of the pages have no words, simply relying on the images to hold readers' attention as they explore both worlds. ...more
Drawing in part on her own experiences in Alabama during the civil rights movement, the author highlights the pivotal year of 1970 in Red Grove, AlabaDrawing in part on her own experiences in Alabama during the civil rights movement, the author highlights the pivotal year of 1970 in Red Grove, Alabama during which one sixth grade girl finally takes a stand. Protagonist Lu Olivera has been reared by her parents, immigrants from Argentina, to do the right thing. She is friendly enough to all her classmates, but the school's recent integration has resulted in a racial divide in her classroom with Lu and some of the students feeling as though they are in the middle, torn between the whites and the blacks. This might not be an issue, but Lu starts running track, and quietly nurtures a friendship with Belinda Gresham, another runner who also happens to be black. Even while the laws of the nation are changing, attitudes and practices are not, and mixing between the two races is frowned upon. As Lu's best friend, Abigail, becomes increasingly boy crazy and interested in impressing Phyllis, one of the bossy girls in the class, Lu finds herself doing things that aren't usual for her. In order to earn extra credit and to participate in a cake walk, she even attends a political rally for George Wallace, a segregationist who is running for governor against the incumbent, where she is shocked at the racist rhetoric and ashamed to be in attendance. After all, her older sister and parents all support the other candidate, Albert Brewer. Her attendance and behavior leave another classmate, Sam, confused since he had thought they were on the same political side. The best scene in the book takes place at a birthday party where Lu finally takes her stand and shows herself willing to embrace her real friends. When she takes this action and another important move in her classroom regarding the seating arrangements, I wanted to cheer for her courage. It's so very hard to go against the mores of one's social circle, especially when the consequences for doing so are very clear. What with her parents not being particularly supportive of her desire to run and Abigail changing in ways that confuse Lu, this was a very tough year. I was proud of Lu for finally doing the right thing, and impressed with how easily the author took readers back to that particular historical time when many whites would never have worn anything touched by someone who was black, let alone become friends. While this story is important because it shows that one person, even a sixth grader, can take action to make a difference, there were points at which the author seemed to be trying too hard to thrust readers back in time with so many cultural references. I'm glad I read this book and consider it to be a solid addition to the canon of civil rights literature, but her graphic memoir, Darkroom, impressed me more. As I read, I worried about the consequences to her family for adhering to their own political stances on civil rights. After all, small towns can be very judging of new folks, especially immigrants. The budding romance with Sam just left me feeling a bit bored because of its predictability. ...more
Like many teachers, I'm also on the hunt for books that depict poverty, homelessness, and abuse or books in which children often have to become the paLike many teachers, I'm also on the hunt for books that depict poverty, homelessness, and abuse or books in which children often have to become the parents in their household. Covering all of these issues in various ways, this is a book that describes the harsh realities and challenging living situations of many of our intermediate and middle grade students. Too much responsibility has been thrust on them at an early age, and seventh grade protagonist Zoey Albro brings to mind many of my students in New Orleans and Tallulah. In many cases, their parents were doing the best they could, but they have traded their self-esteem and emotional health for (relative) economic stability as does Zoey's mother in this case, becoming quieter and quieter and less visible moment by moment. While it’s easy to judge someone in that situation, this book makes it all too clear just how hard it is to take action to change or to find a safe place. And when the adult in a teen's life is unable to stand up for herself, how much harder is it for the teen? Speaking up takes courage, and taking even one step to change is terribly hard since inertia traps us. I marked several passages that resonated with me in this well-written book, even the closing lines, which show just how far Zoey has come and how far she may go: “By morning, I’ve even filled out the entry form for the debate tournament and put it in my backpack. Because I’m going. And I’m going to speak up. No matter how scary it is” (p. 254). These lines made me want to cheer. for Zoey and hope that her life will start to be better now. It surely couldn't get much worse.
Not only does this book address topics often ignored in books for a young audience–poverty and verbal and emotional abuse–oh, how I shuddered every time Lenny came on the scene!–but it does so in a relatable way. The details the author includes about food and how important it is to have something to eat bring the story to life. It’s clear the author did her homework. How else would she know to include the opening line in which Zoey eats the chocolate pudding she saved from her school lunch? Or her amazement at a family that goes out for pizza every weekend and not just on special occasions? The writing sparkled, and just like the references to jellyfish in The Thing about Jellyfish, which deals with grief and loss, the references to being an octopus and the benefits of such a species were powerful and carefully woven into the story. Many youngsters in Zoey’s situation surely fantasize about being someone, something or somewhere else so it makes sense that she would do this. I was thoroughly impressed by this book and will recommend it to many readers. While I wasn't particularly fond of the gun control issues that were woven into the story or Fuschia's desperate situation with her mother's romantic partner and I found the improved relationship between Zoey and her debate team members, especially Matt Hubbard, to occur a little too quickly, I still liked the book a great deal. The writing is strong and filled with sentences that capture Zoey's feelings and describe in simple but meaningful terms what her life is like. Even the opening line grabbed me with its simplicity, and brought me up short as I thought about the discipline it would take not to eat that chocolate pudding. "I settle onto the couch with the chocolate pudding I saved from Friday's school lunch" (p. 1). There are so many sentences like this that capture the real life a girl who is barely making it and hardly being noticed by anyone around her--and yet, there is so much more to her than anyone seems to see. Thank goodness for Mrs. Rochambeau. I'd love to know her story, wouldn't you? And Zoey's comments to Matt about not judging someone like her friend Silas until you know the whole story are great reminders for all of us. There's so much more to everyone than meets the eye. ...more
The title of this impressive biography of Congressman Barbara Jordan brings to mind nonfiction writer and illustrator Steve Jenkins' beloved What Do YThe title of this impressive biography of Congressman Barbara Jordan brings to mind nonfiction writer and illustrator Steve Jenkins' beloved What Do You Do with a Tail Like This? Of course, it covers very different subject matter since it follows the formative years and political career--I'd almost prefer to say career of service, given the negative connotations now associated with many politicians--of this Texas native. The mixed media illustrations are filled with meaningful words and images and are layered so that readers feel completely immersed in Jordan's life and times. Here is an example of a black woman with oratory talent who turned that ability into making a difference in the world for those that had few others to speak for them. Although it took her three attempts to win public office, she eventually succeeded, being elected as a state senator in Texas and then to Congress as a representative of her state. I loved how the author wove in personal details about her struggles in her law classes, her decision to make changes from inside the system, her teaching, and her health issues as she dealt with multiple sclerosis. The book's last lines just might inspire others today to speak out and use their voices for good just as she did. I finished the book quite impressed, inspired, and reminded that one voice, one strong and determined voice, can make a difference and must be heard. There is an Author's Note that provides additional information about Barbara Jordan and a timeline covering her birth in 1936 to her death in 1996. I was pleased to see the timeline mentions her mentoring from President LBJ and her loving relationship with another woman as well as how she tried to keep her health struggles a secret for a time. This one is well-deserving of its Orbis Pictus honor distinction. And yes, as another reviewer mentioned, I wonder what the world might be like with Barbara Jordan still in it. Where, oh, where are the Barbara Jordans of today, willing to stand up against those in power who seem to ignore those in need or don't play fair? Maybe one of them is reading this book and will find the courage to stand up against what's wrong....more
The genocide that occurred in Rwanda in 1994, lasting 100 days and resulting in the deaths of more than 800,000 individuals, is depicted here in graphThe genocide that occurred in Rwanda in 1994, lasting 100 days and resulting in the deaths of more than 800,000 individuals, is depicted here in graphic and brutal detail. Some readers will become confused by the shift in time and events since the book begins after some of the worst events have occurred as Deogratias stumbles down the street and into a bar where he drinks with a French soldier. From there, readers learn of the events that occurred earlier and led to the killing of Tutsis by Hutus. Historians trace the start of the violence from radio programs urging vengeance for the death of the country's president, Juvenal Habyarimana, whose demise was blamed on the Tutsis. Deogratias is haunted by what he has seen and done and his part in the death of his girlfriend, Benina, a Tutsi, her sister Apollinaria, and their mother Venetia. It's hard to see how this teenager could get caught up in all the senseless violence, but the story makes it clear that he bowed to the pressure of those around him and betrayed those who trusted him. The trauma, of course, results in his thinking that he is a dog, having seen so many dogs eating the bellies of those who died. This is a complex story and complicated history, and readers will surely be curious to read more in order to understand what led to this massacre. The inclusion of priests and members of the Catholic church and others from the western world give some hints that there is more at work here than just two groups who have come to hate each other and have forgotten their own humanity. Like others, I need to read more to try to understand what happened. This isn't easy reading at all, but it is necessary reading if we want to sort out truth from lies and prevent similar occurrences. ...more
While ten-year-old would-be detective and lawyer Guinevere St. Clair might be a handful and quite memorable, for me, it was Gaysie Cutter, her neighboWhile ten-year-old would-be detective and lawyer Guinevere St. Clair might be a handful and quite memorable, for me, it was Gaysie Cutter, her neighbor, who is unforgettable. I found her story and character fascinating, especially considering how she's had to live with the comments of others who blamed her for a childhood tragedy involving Vienna and two other children, one of whom died. Guinevere and her family have moved from Brooklyn, New York, to Crow, Iowa, where her parents grew up in a desperate attempt to help her mother remember her children and her adult life. Vienna, Guinevere's mother, was in a coma for several months, and suffered brain injury. She is unable to remember anything past the age of 13. While Guinevere's father reads as much as he can about the brain and continues to love his wife, his daughter grows increasingly angry that her mother doesn't know whom she or her little sister Bitty are and that she behaves so badly around others. Guinevere becomes fast friends with Gaysie's son, Micah, who makes colorful fashion choices and is teased by some of the local boys, and his best friend, Jimmy, who spends more time at the Cutter house than his own for reasons that are revealed during the story. Parts of the story, including the beginning, are a bit slow, but once readers settle into the book, they will be intrigued to see what's buried in Gaysie's backyard and whether Wilbur, a local farmer, has come to a bad end. And those scenes in which the friends float on styrofoam mats through flood water are pages that they will want to race through even while anxious about what's going to come next. For me, the ending is a bit improbable, but I still ended up enjoying the journey and this fascinating cast of characters. ...more
These Pocket Bios books literally are small enough to fit into a pocket or a pocket book, making them easy to transport. In this one, readers learn abThese Pocket Bios books literally are small enough to fit into a pocket or a pocket book, making them easy to transport. In this one, readers learn about fashion designer, Coco Chanel, and how her designs and style changed the way women dressed. Just about everyone has heard about her little black dress and her perfume, Chanel No. 5, but it is not likely they know about her impoverished background and the time she spent with nuns or some of the other tragedies in her life. It can certainly be argued that she rose to fame and influence at the behest of the wealthy men in her life, which makes this account of her life something of a white wash, but it can also be claimed that she simply seized the moment and took advantage of the opportunities provided to her. Hers is an interesting inclusion in this series, and as with the other titles in the series, this one features notable moments and individuals and places that were important to Coco Chanel. ...more
3.5 Unlike many teen and adult readers, I loved The Great Gatsby, and no matter how many times I read it, I'm still haunted by Jay Gatsby and the worl3.5 Unlike many teen and adult readers, I loved The Great Gatsby, and no matter how many times I read it, I'm still haunted by Jay Gatsby and the world in which he so desperately tried to fit. Naturally, when I saw this new title and read the blurb comparing it to that classic piece of literature, I didn't hesitate to leap into reading it. Junior Tanner McKay has transferred to Bannerman Prep, an exclusive California prep school where he is expected to lead the debate team to glory in Policy Debate. Having won the state title in that area the previous year, he has been granted a scholarship to Bannerman, and he sees the school and debate as his ticket to future glory--a scholarship to a great college like Stanford and later law school and a lucrative career. As a side note, his mother works as an emergency room nurse so I found some of the references from reviewers and the blurb to his being dirt poor and having to scrimp and save a bit problematic. Tanner is by no means poor although perhaps he doesn't have the money he might like to have. Then again, how much is ever enough? From the start, Tanner doesn't feel as though he fits into the school, and he throws himself into preparing for his debate competitions. When he is assigned to partner with Andrew Tate, better known as the Duke, he becomes concerned about his chances of winning. After all, the Duke has a reputation as a ladies' man, throws wild parties, and seems to take nothing seriously. There are all sorts of wild rumors about him and his great wealth and aristocratic background. Although Tanner initially resists being drawn into the Duke's circle, eventually he finds himself helping out with little things that seem on the shady side and being faced with some hard choices. As he heads down that unexpected path and that slippery ethical slope, even Kelsey, the girl on whom Tanner has a crush, notices the changes in him. Although it might seem that Tanner would resist anything that seems wrong, he also wants to win--and apparently to win at any cost. The narration is fast-paced, and readers will race to the conclusion as the pace picks up. Eventually, as Tanner discovers to his great dismay, all that he thought he knew about the Duke turns out to be false, and just as his cousin Abby's attempts to balance her tempestuous relationship with her boyfriend Blake with her secret one with the Duke foreshadow tragedy, Tanner learns too late just how gullible he has been. And what was Abby even thinking? When Tanner drives out to the Duke's house to confront him near the end of the book, I felt the truth slam me in the stomach just as hard as it did Tanner. While some readers may not enjoy the details about the debate world, they added to my pleasure in reading this book. In the end, as I closed the book, I felt a strange longing to spend more time in the company of Duke and to know more about this brilliant young man and how he pulled off this particular scam. This is a promising debut from an author I hope to read more of in the future. ...more
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