Emmy had been dreaming of going to a special music boarding school in England to build her vocal skills, but then her Mom, her duet partner, died and Emmy had been dreaming of going to a special music boarding school in England to build her vocal skills, but then her Mom, her duet partner, died and so did Emmy's voice. When the acceptance letter from the school arrives, Emmy wants to hide it, but her father thinks it would be the perfect thing as the Japanese draw closer to the Dutch East Indies. Emmy can't imagine leaving her home in Batavia or her best friend, Bakti. Eventually, the decision is made for her when the Japanese invade. But they do not bring the welcome freedom from the Dutch Bakti dreams of, nor do they come peacefully like Emmy had been hoping. They tear her away from her home and put her in Tjideng with only her frenemy Violet for companionship among the host of strange women. Can she survive in Tjideng, and will this war ever end?
This story is based on the author's grandmother's experiences during WWII. Batavia was the Dutch name for Jakarta. The book does a good job of exploring the complexities of third culture kids in figuring out where home is and how they often feel like they don't 100% belong anywhere. It also does a good job of showing the Indonesian perspective of the Dutch colonial period, their hopes for the Japanese, and the reasons behind war that followed WWII for their independence. Having Emmy be friends with a Japanese store owner long before the war helps humanize the Japanese and show that not all of them were monstrous or violent people. There are a host of WWII books out there, and many based on real people, but this is the first I've read about someone in Indonesia during that time and what they experienced. I really liked it for that reason.
Notes on content: Language: None Sexual content: None Violence: The camp leader and the guards sometimes beat prisoners, and make them go through grueling daily routines of standing and bowing for crazy long periods. Emmy witnesses some people who have survived bombings, some blood is described. Ethnic diversity: Emmy is Dutch/French/British, Emmy's best friend and loving housekeeper are Javanese, her frenemy is Dutch, a family friend is Japanese, guards are Javanese and Japanese. LGBTQ+ content: None specified Other: Starvation, poor living conditions, diseases that result from poor living conditions/diet, are all talked about. Some people die from disease. 2 captured animals are let free. Social injustices faced by the colonized are talked about. One person dies from a snake bite. Children are forcibly separated from their parents by the Japanese and put in different prison camps. More than one child is grieving the death of a parent....more
Kathy shares about growing up not sure where she belonged. Her mom was Thai, her dad was American. They lived in Bangkok, Thailand and she went to an Kathy shares about growing up not sure where she belonged. Her mom was Thai, her dad was American. They lived in Bangkok, Thailand and she went to an international school. She didn't feel totally at home in Bangkok, so she was counting down the days to their summer trip to Maine and her first summer camp experience. She was sure that camp was where she would fit in. But reality was a bit different.
I absolutely loved this. The students at my international school in Bangkok will totally identify with young Kathy. And even I, as an expat adult, can identify with not feeling like you totally fit in in any one place. It's a totally typical third culture kid experience, put into words and pictures excellently. I will need to buy more copies.
Notes on content: Language: None. Sexual content: None Violence: None Ethnic diversity: Kathy and her sister are mixed Thai/American, most other Americans depicted are white, a wide range of ethnicities at her school, and her housing community is very international. LGBTQ+ content: None specified Other: Some kids/adults make fun of her for being mixed or say she doesn't belong (in both places). Kathy is very insecure, but ends up in a somewhat better place by the end. Her parents are both older and this is not their first marriage, so she talks about how having older parents and step-siblings makes her feel. Her mom was also a bit of a workaholic and if her dad wasn't home, Kathy often felt lonely....more
Zeph introduces David to a group of kids at school led by a guy named Nolan who are looking into discrepancies in the official story and what really hZeph introduces David to a group of kids at school led by a guy named Nolan who are looking into discrepancies in the official story and what really happened to Amy. David isn't so sure about them, but he's willing to go to a meeting to check them out. Meanwhile, Amy has started training and being taken to the shooting range has her PTSD flaring up big time. She thought she had got a handle on it, but maybe not. Qiana is there for her, though, and is reveling in Amy calling her a friend. Dr. Kim is neglecting his robot dog and his own needs to try and finish Oliver's remote body. The time is growing short to when Oliver may need it, but Amy is worried Dr. Kim will burn himself out and not be any good to Oliver.
It is good to catch up with David and Zeph, we haven't seen them for a while. Poor Amy is wrestling with big things, but still manages to make a positive impact on the people around her. She and Qiana also haven't given up on their investigation. We also learn some things about the tracking mechanisms the organization uses on Amy and other recruits and Dr. Kim's involvement in the development. The plot keeps moving, and I keep enjoying each volume (and so do my students...there will be a mad scramble for this once it hits the shelves).
Notes on content: Language: None Sexual content: None Violence: A flashback talks about a man losing his arms. And multiple flashbacks to Amy having a gun pulled on her. Nothing gory depicted on page. Ethnic diversity: There are Black, White, Asian, and other ethnicities hinted at in skin tones, facial features, and names. But the future cultures are different from current ones in some ways. LGBTQ+ content: None specified Other: PTSD realistically represented, forward progress in recovery is hopefully and realistically presented. The Nolan kid has started a conspiracy theory and David points out he's more hungry for attention than wanting to help Amy....more
Max loves all kinds of food. He loves his family’s Cantonese food, which he always knows is coming when the blue bowls come out. He loves going out toMax loves all kinds of food. He loves his family’s Cantonese food, which he always knows is coming when the blue bowls come out. He loves going out to eat with cousins and grandparents, but sometimes he wishes he could have a mix of his favorite Italian dishes with some of the Cantonese, or ice cream with sprinkles for dessert at his favorite restaurant. They are headed to his grandparents’ house for his birthday so he knows the food will be yummy Cantonese, but he can’t help wishing there was a little mix of some of his other favorite foods in there too. He doesn’t think it could happen, but could it?
I like how the story shows a family knowing the desires of a child they love’s heart. Kids have a hard time verbally expressing how they feel torn between cultures sometimes, but preferences for different kinds of food could be an area where they can express themselves. I can see Max’s story being used as a springboard for adults to help third culture kids or children/grandchildren of immigrants process their love for their unique blends of cultures that make up their life.
I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more
Milton has had a rotten year. First there was the Bird Brain Incident (which he does NOT want to think about), then the de-friending by Dev, and now hMilton has had a rotten year. First there was the Bird Brain Incident (which he does NOT want to think about), then the de-friending by Dev, and now his parents are getting divorced. He's retreated into the Isle of Wild game where he can be brave explorer Sea Hawk. But when his parents announce that he's going to spend the summer with his scientist uncle on the very real exotic Lone Island where adventure and nature abounds, Milton isn't very excited. He just wants to get lost in Isle of Wild. Which proves hard when his game console runs out of power and he realizes there's no electricity anywhere in his uncle's hut! The Lone Island is supposed to be this amazing place abounding with never-before-seen creatures, but all anyone can see is the ever-present Truth-will-out-vine. The scientists are getting discouraged, and it looks like the island might get sold for development. But when Milton stumbles across the guidebook of the island's original discoverer with clues to a treasure, he and the other 3 kids on the island think just maybe they can find the treasure and save the island from the sale. But what can 4 kids do that scientists haven't been able to do in 9+ years?
This story is just as much about personal growth, and the freedom admitting fears and baggage you've been carrying around can bring. Milton lies to the other kids and tells him his name is Sea Hawk. He starts talking like his favorite video game character (using words like egad and peril and things that don't normally come out of a middle graders' mouth). But the adventure will force him to confront why he lied to them and why he is trying to be someone else. The island and the discoveries they make are wild, imaginative, and utterly fantastical. Fig is Milton's best friend. She's a bookish nerd, who had retreated from others after her father's death. Rafi and Gabe are brother. Rafi is standoffish and a bit mean, but they come to learn it is because he's tired of moving every couple of years and wishes he was at his parents' last posting. Gabe is just a cute little goofball. I liked where the author took the story and the things the kids learned. I liked the imaginativeness of the island. The only thing holding me back from liking the story (well, at first you want Milton to snap out of it) and then secondly, the copy I got had horrible typesetting errors with odd spaces appearing in the middle of words on a fairly regular base (percent was always spelled per cent and every time there was a dash, an odd space appeared in the word following, sometimes in the middle of a contraction like I'm would be I' m). I've never come across anything like it. I hope they get it fixed in the next printing because it was distracting.
Notes in content: Language: None Sexual content: None Violence: The kids are attacked by some creatures, and Milton is even eaten by a plant at one point. No one is seriously hurt. Death of a parent is part of Fig's back story. There's a broken nose that results in a lot of bleeding at one point. One person falls into a sink hole and gets a little scratched up (some bleeding is described). Ethnic Diversity: The descriptions of the people are vague enough it is kind of left up to the imagination. The boys' last name is Alvarez so I assume they have a Latino background. LGBTQ+ content: None Other: Divorce is talked about a bit. Rafi is dealing with third culture kid issues from moving a lot....more
After Kitty's mother dies of lung cancer, she is holding as tight as she can to anything that feels normal or unchanging in the midst of this whirlwinAfter Kitty's mother dies of lung cancer, she is holding as tight as she can to anything that feels normal or unchanging in the midst of this whirlwind of hurt and loss. When her father announces that he's being sent New York City for work for a few months, her sister Imogen is thrilled and excited to get away from London and the places that remind her of Mum. But Kitty is NOT happy that their father is dragging them away. Will their time in NYC be a disaster, like she fears? Or could it be just what they need?
Kitty deals with 2 different types of grief in this story, the loss of a parent and the changes an international move brings (and there is grieving involved in this as you miss people and places you left). It has been over 15 years since I lost my own mother to cancer, but wow, this book certainly brought up a lot of the emotions and feelings. But it was good. Yvette Clark deals with a heavy topic in this story, but does so in a way that feels honoring and incredibly realistic. I like that Kitty is seeing a therapist both in London and in NYC and they help her process all her emotions in healthy ways. Her therapist in London warned her that grief is like spilling a bunch of glitter, no matter how well you clean it up, it'll still show up in the most random places and times, and that is so very, very true. I love that analogy. In NYC Kitty befriends a boy who is the son of a famous movie star. He goes to the same therapist office as she does but he goes to process his parents' divorce, his dad being so busy, and his mom turning to alcohol after his dad's betrayal in their marriage. He has few friends who get to know the real him, and Kitty finds him a down to earth friend who is easy to talk to. Their friendship is really good for both of them and so sweet. Kitty and her family move back to London after a few months, and then Kitty has to face re-entry challenges and changing friendships. That part (which I'm also familiar with as an expat) was well done. Lest you think this book is all heavy topics, there's plenty of comic relief woven in and some lighter topics. Kitty loves colors and has memorized color names from a company (kind of like Pantone). She constantly notices colors, talks about them, ponders how people use them in their outfits and houses, and wants to develop new colors for the company when she grows up. It was such a unique interest for a kid to have, I loved it. I also loved Kitty's Gran and family friend Mrs. Allison. They are both hoots. Mrs. Allison is a baker and is competing on the fake equivalent of The Great British Bake-Off over the course of the book. The two of them come visit the family in NYC over Thanksgiving and keep them on their toes. Overall, I felt like this was a moving story, but wasn't too heavy. It dealt authentically with both grief and being a third culture kid.
Notes on content: Language: 1 moderate swear (which isn't a swear in British culture) Sexual content: None. Mrs. Allison is divorced and calls her ex-husband "the Lothario of North London" for his unfaithfulness. Dashiell's father had an affair which brought about the divorce; his father brings his girlfriend in a rather suggestive outfit to the school's Halloween party. Violence: A child falls and breaks a leg. Obviously, death from cancer is talked about a lot. Ethnic diversity: British and American characters, the US school seems pretty diverse in make up. LGBTQ+ content: None specified Other: Gran tells the girls about a French exchange student who stayed with her when their mother was young and who chain smoked (with her parents' approval). Gran was scandalized by it. Kitty is tired of people assuming her mother smoked if she had lung cancer (she didn't)....more
As Amy and Qiana calm down after their undercover mission and ponder what their finding could mean, Amy's friends back home return to school and see iAs Amy and Qiana calm down after their undercover mission and ponder what their finding could mean, Amy's friends back home return to school and see if there are any clues still there after the clean up. Oliver comes to realize he has feelings for Amy and asks Dr. Kim for advice on whether to tell her or not, and in the process realizes Amy cares for so many others...does anyone ask her how she's doing?
This volume bounces back and forth between Amy's friends, Amy, and Oliver much more than any of the recent volumes. Her friends are gathering more clues and Schafer still doesn't know if he believes Tammie about seeing Amy alive, but he does realize he loves her and she reciprocates his sentiment, so there's a lot of love going around in this volume. I really like that all the love relationships are built on solid friendships and they've fallen for each others' character; there's no shallow physicality to any of the relationships. It also demonstrates that disagreements don't mean you can't be friends. It is possible to work through them. I really liked that Oliver took the time to ask Amy how she was doing and the space to process what she was really feeling. She does take care of so many others, it is a good reminder to take care of the carers in your own life. While there's a lot of love going on, there's a subtle building of tension in the background as we move closer to more secrets being uncovered. I put this on the "coming soon" bulletin board today and I've already had several ask me if they can have it. Space Boy definitely has many devoted fans, and I'm glad I get the privilege of reading it even before it hits the shelves. #librarianperks ...more
A graphic novel memoir of high school and the author discovering that her parents moved so often and lived overseas because they were spies.
I really wA graphic novel memoir of high school and the author discovering that her parents moved so often and lived overseas because they were spies.
I really wanted to like this one. It seemed like it would be a fascinating TCK story, and it started off promising. The bits about trying to find your place overseas resonated with experiences of TCKs I know and work with, and the parts about working with the Hurricane Mitch relief in their area was interesting, but then she started to go to party after party where there was underage drinking going on and after the third one I was done. There didn't seem to be much plot but trying to gain popularity by partying at that point. I hope there was positive resolution, I just didn't have the patience to get there.
Notes on content [up until about halfway through]: Language: A couple minor swears. Sexual content: No sex scenes. Talk about crushes, talk about sexual discussions in a play the school is putting on, and Sophia freaking out because there's a kissing scene in the play and she's never kissed. She and the guy awkwardly try to fake it. Violence: Deaths in the hurricane and slow clean up of bodies is talked about. Sophia talks about seeing dead people at their funerals. Ethnic diversity: Sophia and her parents appear to live in Latin American countries and some of her classmates are Latinx. She and her family are Americans (their ethnic background is unclear). GBLTQ+ content: Girls at a sleepover are playing truth or dare, Sophia is asked if she would be willing to kiss a girl and she says she supposes so. Her answer is spread around school later and she isn't happy about that. Other: A lot of underage drinking (they mention the legal drinking age is 18, but still, it is the beginning of her Senior year so most of them aren't likely 18 yet)....more
Amy gets Qiana to open up to her and the two set off to investigate the murder that happened at FCP. Silber has declared the kidnapping case in BaltisAmy gets Qiana to open up to her and the two set off to investigate the murder that happened at FCP. Silber has declared the kidnapping case in Baltissippi closed, but the local police have their suspicions it is a coverup. Silber uses his powers to shut them up. But he didn't count on Tammie having Schafer and Cassie for friends, friends willing to listen to what others call her crazy hallucinations of Amy alive during her kidnapping. While Amy is snooping around with Qiana she's too busy to talk to Oliver so he reaches out to someone he should have talked to long ago.
This book is what flour is to soup, it's a thickening agent. The plot is thickening of Amy and Qiana figuring out what is going on at FCP, Tammie and Schafer and Cassie figuring out the truths Silber is hiding, and Oliver growing as a person. I love how Amy continues to demonstrate how responding to angry people with kindness instead of retaliation is so powerful. I'm a little worried, though. She meets someone in this story she can't read as well as others. Looking forward to the next book!
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. No violence in this volume (past violence is discussed). Tammie is struggling with not having people believe her....more
Shu Lin is a new girl at school who doesn't speak much English and keeps to herself. The narrator and other kids in the class wonder about her. When SShu Lin is a new girl at school who doesn't speak much English and keeps to herself. The narrator and other kids in the class wonder about her. When Shu Lin's Grandpa comes to share his paintings with the class, they are skeptical at first, but then wowed and along the way find Shu Lin nice and a potential friend.
This is a new kid story that also celebrates Chinese watercolor painting and how art can bridge languages. I didn't find the cover very eye-catching, but the style helps make the grandfather's artwork shine all the more. The fold out spread of it is really stunning. ...more
Cam Walker, his mom and dad, and his uncle have a very unusual and popular home. They live and run Futureland, a floating futuristic amusement park thCam Walker, his mom and dad, and his uncle have a very unusual and popular home. They live and run Futureland, a floating futuristic amusement park that travels the world. Cam's parents invented all the rides and experience in the park and are pretty famous. Which is why he feels super awkward about going to public school for the first time when the family decides to stay hovering over their home city of Atlanta for a longer stretch of time. Cam knows everyone will know who he is and want to get close to him just to get access to the most popular amusement park in the world. Thankfully, he does make some quick friends who help protect him from the sycophants. They also prove to be great allies when things start going horribly wrong in the park. Revs (robots) start acting weird, which is bad since they work all the rides and experiences in the park. Cam can't find his uncle anywhere, and he's becoming increasingly convinced someone swapped out his parents with revs. A local businessman says his parents added him to their management team, but Cam knows his parents would never do that. But worst of all, children and teens have gone missing at the park. Can Cam and his friends find proof of sabotage and save the park from falling into evil clutches and find the missing people before it is too late?
I really liked how imaginative the concept of Futureland is. It really lets your imagination take flight. I also liked how Cam's struggle to adjust to living in Atlanta versus the park full time is portrayed. He's basically a third culture kid and is dealing with many of the challenges TCKs face when returning to their passport country/city that others consider his "home" but which feels like a foreign place to him. The mystery and suspense part of the story was very well done and gets really intense! I'm sure this is going to find lots of fast fans, and I'm looking forward to book 2.
Notes on content: No language issues that I remember. No sexual content. There are kidnappings going on and threats to kill people. Some revs going haywire get pretty scary and/or dangerous, but most everyone ends up ok in the end....more
Lily's mom announces that they are moving from the US to Taiwan to help take care of Ah Ma. Lily is not happy about this. Taiwan is not her home, and Lily's mom announces that they are moving from the US to Taiwan to help take care of Ah Ma. Lily is not happy about this. Taiwan is not her home, and the adjustment is hard. But Lily's mom reminds Lilly that Taiwan is her home and to give it some time. Will this new country ever feel like home for more than just Mom?
As an expat, I've definitely witnessed kids and adults who have moved here to Thailand or moved back to the States after being overseas for years and felt just like Lily. So many who are or have relocated across country lines will find Lily's story resonates with them. Lily's emotions and attitude aren't always pretty, but they are very real. The creators bring a touch of humor to it in the illustration style too. And ultimately, Lily's story ends in hope and joy in where she's at, hopefully bringing hope to readers who need it. ...more
Monkey Prince continues to leave a string of frenemies in his wake. First there's Aquaman who he crosses paths with, infuriates, and then join forces Monkey Prince continues to leave a string of frenemies in his wake. First there's Aquaman who he crosses paths with, infuriates, and then join forces with to defeat a common threat. Then his parents get jobs with a new supervillain and the job goes very badly so Marcus gets to meet his supervillain grandfather, become frenemies with Supergirl, and learn his real backstory along the way. Shifu Pigsy is trying to whip his charge into shape every step of the way and teach him things like how to create clones of himself and educate him on the Monkey King's backstory. Which comes in handy when old enemies of the Monkey King come after Marcus.
I read this when I wasn't feeling great last week and now it is a bit of a blur. ...more
Orion is quite surprised when a man in a strange bronze contraption appears on his street at night and tries to kill him only to be stopped by anotherOrion is quite surprised when a man in a strange bronze contraption appears on his street at night and tries to kill him only to be stopped by another strange man in a cape. But his life is only going to get stranger, because his Grandma Kim who adopted him as a baby soon reveals that he isn't from there. He isn't even from Earth, and the time has come for him to return to his home planet. Cirrus comes to take him back to the planet of Cypria, live with him, and start school as his sponsor. His origins and true parents are still kept a secret, even from him, because someone is out to kill him. It's the whole reason he was put on Earth to begin with. Cirrus' daughter Aurora is around Orion's age, and is excited to have Orion staying with them and going to school with her. She's a little astounded by how little Orion knows about their culture. And when she eventually gets a whiff of the mystery surrounding Orion, she and her best friend Apollo are eager to help Orion figure out his origins. None of them realize how deep the mystery goes, or how dangerous uncovering Orion's secret may be.
I had heard good things about K.B. Hoyle's writing, and this book definitely lived up to the hype. The characters are interesting and entertaining, and just the right amount of mysterious. The world Orion comes from is complex and interesting. There's a messy political situation of different planets and their cultures (each with their own special superpowers) and how they form a convoluted hierarchy that involves a lot of tension and a slave system that Orion sees as wrong but is widely accepted in society. There's also a very interesting group of zombie-like creatures in the background called revenants that appear to be a growing problem and have mysterious origins. I was totally sucked into Orion's new world and definitely am eager to read more. Some secrets regarding Orion come to light, but there's a lot more to be unpacked and some issues in the society at large that obviously need to be addressed. I love Orion's adopted Korean grandma, and Aurora is a spunky foil as a friend to complement Orion's more calm and quiet personality. And as an expat, I readily identify with Orion's mixed feelings about missing one home but also feeling strong ties to another home. The students at my school will get those feelings as well. Can't wait to see what's in store for Orion next!
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content except one little kiss that was one-sided. A past affair between adults is implied in some of the secrets revealed, but it is kept totally middle grade appropriate in how it is talked about. There are some perilous situations, and Orion receives death threats, and a revenant attack turns many people into revenants off page. ...more
After some time with no sign of Nate, Grace and her friends are relieved when he shows up again. However, he takes Grace to visit the Dragon King and After some time with no sign of Nate, Grace and her friends are relieved when he shows up again. However, he takes Grace to visit the Dragon King and he shows Grace that Daijing has put out an order to bring her and Nate in alive, but also that he is looking for 1 more dragon stone. He has the other 3, and if he has all 4, he can rule the world through people's thoughts. Grace and friends need to get to Paris to stop Daijing's minions, but how can they get from Hong Kong to Paris?
The plot thickens in this one and promises more adventure ahead. I'm excited there will be more in the series, but only certain questions are answered in this volume. Nate discovers some new powers during their adventure, and the kids gain a new ally. Jing and James provide good support for Grace along the adventure while Ramesh provides the comic relief. I'm going to have to buy 2nd copies of this and the 1st book...this series is shaping up to be something my students will love and bonus points: it features international students just like themselves. Because things get a bit tense and serious at times, I'd only recommend this series for middle school, it may be a bit much for some Elementary students.
Notes on content: Language: None Sexual content: None Violence: There's some shooting, dragon vs dragon battles, and evil dragons trying to roast humans, there's a bit of property damage and a lot of peril (some injuries), there's also a lightning bolt that hits some dragons and a human (they aren't dead), a past death from medical experimentation and the mutant result is shown (it's a little gross), Grace's dad died in the past from what they thought was cancer Ethnic diversity: Hong Kong residents, some of Chinese heritage, some of Indian heritage, Grace is half White half Chinese, French residents and visitors of a variety of backgrounds GBLTQ+ content: None specified Other: Daijing has brainwashed some people and caused rifts in families, they go into the catacombs in Paris and skeletons are shown...more
The City Spies have been sent to Venice as a terrorist threat to a peaceful environmental protest has risen. This is one of Cairo's first missions andThe City Spies have been sent to Venice as a terrorist threat to a peaceful environmental protest has risen. This is one of Cairo's first missions and he's nervous about doing a good job. The environmentalist leading the protest is Beatriz, a teen girl from Brazil, and many of her followers are also young people, which is why MI5 put Cairo and the other the City Spies on the case. Rio saves Beatriz and others from an attempted bombing, but her meeting with the UN there is canceled. It is rescheduled to happen in New York City and the City Spies regroup in Scotland and then follow her to DC and NYC. The Italians made arrests, but the City Spies are pretty sure they got the wrong people. Can they find the bad guys before they strike again?
Another very fun spy adventure with the City Spy family. I like how they are welcoming Cairo into the group and helping him feel a part of the family. Rio gets a lot of page time and because he rescued someone from his home country of Brazil he spends time contemplating where home is and we learn how Mother recruited him. Brooklyn also gets to return to her former home and contemplates how she's grown and changed. Sydney and Kat are getting more comfortable in their roles, and at one point the kids have to manage without adult backup for a period of significant time so the way they work as a unit is really tested. I like how Ponti manages to balance personal growth for all his characters as well as exciting action sequences and clever spy maneuvering. Excellent, highly engaging writing and lots of fun for readers.
Notes on content: Language: None Sexual content: None Violence: A bombing attempt in which no one is injured, but a boat is destroyed. Others are drugged and kidnapped, and someone is scratched up in an escape. Ethnic diversity: Sydney is White Australian, Rio is Brazilian, Kat is Nepalese, Cairo is White British, Brooklyn is Black American, Paris is Black French, Mother is White British, Monty is White Scottish, others are Brazilian, American, Italian, and British LGBTQ+ content: None specified Other: Several of the kids are dealing with third culture kid issues and being adopted. Beatriz mentions being easily dismissed by leaders because she is young....more
Holly-Mei is having a rough patch with some friends when her tendency to say whatever she is thinking got the whole class in trouble for cheating. SheHolly-Mei is having a rough patch with some friends when her tendency to say whatever she is thinking got the whole class in trouble for cheating. She was hoping the end of school would restore at least some friendships, but that doesn't seem to be the case. So when her mom announces that she got a huge promotion and the family is moving to Hong Kong for 2 years Holly-Mei is excited to start over in a new place with new friends, though she is sad her Ah-ma isn't coming with them. Ah-ma warned Holly-Mei that you usually have to get through some bitterness often to get to the sweet, but Holly-Mei is sure life in Hong Kong and at her new international school will be a breeze. Or will it?
I've been to Hong Kong a couple of times, and Christina Matula does a fabulous job of bringing this place to life. (I've even done the hike that Holly-Mei goes on with a club, and the description of it was very good.) I teach at an international school, and while some of the things Holly-Mei experiences will ring true for all international school students, most don't quite have the clientele, or campus, or club options that Tai Tam Prep has. It feels a teensy bit mythical from my perspective. What will ring true for other international students are the experiences of being in a classroom with people from all over the world. In Asia, the pressures that Holly-Mei experiences academically and family honor-wise are all too real. And unfortunately, the pressures from ad campaigns for Asians to look a certain way are very real too. Having a helper who handles many household chores is also very common in Asia, though whether the helper lives in the home varies from location to location. I am excited to put this on the shelves because I think many of our students will find Holly-Mei to be one of the closest reflections of their own lives in kids' lit today. They'll identify with her struggles, and hopefully start thinking about whether the pressures they are taking on are necessary or not, and whether friendships are worth the work.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. There's an accident that is very close to drowning someone, but they are saved. Another accident results in some girls being locked in a spot for a while. There's some passive aggressive bullying going on, but it is resolved well by the end of the book....more
Lina's mother has just died of pancreatic cancer, and now she's being shipped off to a Dad in Italy she didn't even know existed. She managed to conviLina's mother has just died of pancreatic cancer, and now she's being shipped off to a Dad in Italy she didn't even know existed. She managed to convince her Grandma to let her finish out the school year living at her best friend's house, but now she's off to Florence to meet Howard. If it hadn't been one of her Mom's last desires, Lina totally wouldn't have gotten on that plane. And she's still figuring out her quickest exit. Because not only does she not know anything about this guy other than some of her mom's stories of him as a friend (note the friend bit, no peep about parentage), but he lives in a WWII cemetery. Yep, a place full of long dead people. Like she hasn't had enough death in her life recently. The two bright spots to her summer in Italy are some new friends, especially Ren, an Italian American guy her age she met while out for a run, and one of her mom's journals that was sent to Italy. It's the journal from the summer when her Mom must have learned she was having Lina. Hopefully it will give her some answers about her dad.
Once I got a couple chapters into this I could not put it down. Lina's trying to figure out her relationship with Howard and why her mom never talked about him, and then as she reads the journal she starts visiting some places her mom mentions and gets to know her mom a bit better through the process. There's this drive to figure out who her father really is, and what happened with her mom 17 years ago. Her mom wrote about her boyfriend rather cryptically, just calling him X in the journal so there's a mystery element to the story that brings a lot of momentum to getting you turning the pages as fast as possible. Howard is actually a really nice guy and is doing is best to be supportive but not overwhelming. The travel around Florence is fun to experience with Lina. She gets to know Ren's friends from the local International school and hangs out with them several times. I was a little surprised by how much they drink (but from what I hear of Europe it sounds very realistic) but the mix of kids and personalities feels quite believable for an international school group (I've taught at international schools for almost 2 decades now, so I know the third culture kid demographic quite well). There's a cute romance between Ren and Lina. Welch's writing is very fun. She creates a lively voice for Lina, and keeps things fun and upbeat (some of the writing made me laugh out loud) which is quite a feat considering Lina is grieving and figuring out why her mom's romance 17 years ago ended with her leaving the Italy she obviously loved and being a single mom. As someone who lost my mom to cancer at a relatively young age (though I was out of school), I felt like Welch handled the grief and grieving process authentically, and also helped Lina find healthy ways to grieve eventually. Lina did feel a bit older than 16, but losing a parent to cancer will help mature children very quickly. Overall, this is a cute contemporary fiction of self-discovery in a unique setting for English YA lit.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sex scenes. There's some kissing, and Lina is disturbed by the extremely intimate dancing at a club she goes to that her mom mentioned in her journal. One man grabs her at that club and grosses her out, but someone helps her get away from the slime ball before anything happens. Lina's mom's relationship with her biological father obviously got intimate in that she was born, but her mom's journal only mentions kisses. There is a relationship in the story that was unhealthy as the guy was just using the girl and had ongoing relationships with others at the same time, but she escapes him. The death of a parent is a huge part of the story, though her mom dies off page. There is some underage alcohol consumption (though it is legal age in Italy). Lina doesn't drink....more
Zack, Seth, and Drake are selected to be the team to represent Sprockets Academy at the Intergalactic Games. The trio is quite excited, especially sinZack, Seth, and Drake are selected to be the team to represent Sprockets Academy at the Intergalactic Games. The trio is quite excited, especially since the games will be held on planet Digitron this time, so it will be a video game competition. But can they work well as a team and show good sportsmanship even when the going gets rough?
I really liked how Zack and his friends learned great lessons about being good teammates, and also that even if you are competing, that doesn't mean you can't be friends with the other competitors and be nice to them. They also learn not to judge someone's actions until they get the full story. But don't let all of that make you think this is a preachy story. It isn't. It's wrapped in a fun format with intergalactic travel, a cross-cultural competition, and an immersive video game world. I really love this series and how it makes life on another planet come to life, even with little details like saying the Intergalactic Games are held when the planets competing align. It's a small detail, but it is so much more realistic for space travel (that would be the shortest travel time) than if it had said yearly (because which planet's year would they go by?). I continue to be jealous of Zack's packing tech. I would greatly love a shrinking suitcase every time I have to pack to fly across an ocean. Hand this series to third culture kids, kids who love scifi and dream of life on other planets, and kids who love to travel.
Lilico is thrown for a loop when her parents suddenly move to New York from Japan. She was in the middle of the basketball season, and they were aboutLilico is thrown for a loop when her parents suddenly move to New York from Japan. She was in the middle of the basketball season, and they were about to win the championships! Now she has to figure out an American school, find new friends, and see if she can get a spot on the girls' basketball team. But making friends is challenging, keeping them is even harder, and the team captain of the basketball team doesn't seem to like her for some reason. Is life in America just going to be miserable? Well, Nicco, her cat/guardian spirit is there to help her out - even if it does freak her out when he starts talking to her.
Navigating a new culture is challenging enough without throwing middle school friend drama into the mix! I think students at our international school will find plenty in Lilico's story to relate to. I like having a girls basketball story for our readers too. Those are so hard to find! I was surprised when Nicco started talking (the book suddenly shifts from realistic to fantasy at that point) but he is very entertaining once he does open his mouth. Lilico learns some important lessons about friendship, leadership, and her family through the story. The art style is very cute and I know this will have plenty of readers just based on that cover.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content beyond a little kiss. No violence. There's some unkindness between kids that mostly involves neglecting friends....more
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