The Borrowers

The Borrowers
Mary Norton
HBJ, 1953  200 pages
Grades 3-6
Fantasy/Classic

A story within a story, within a story. Kate is stuck sewing with her elderly relation Mrs. May. To pass the time Mrs. May tells the story of her deceased brother's experience meeting "Borowers" when he was a nine-year old boy (we never know his real name) sent to recover from an illness to an old estate in the English countryside. Borrowers are little people who live in the secret places of houses and take what they need to live from the larger humans occupying the premises. The boy meets the borrower daughter named Arrietty and she explains what life is like for herself and her parents Pod and Homily, as well as borrower history with the many families who lived in the house in its heyday, who have since emigrated. Against Arrietty's parent's better judgement, she and the boy become friends. He eventually wins Pod and Homily over when he borrows for them many coveted items, including real furniture from a tucked-away dollhouse. It is when the boy is making a delivery through an open floorboard that the worst happens: the crabby housekeeper catches him at it, spots the little family and goes into a tizzy, calling in the local authorities, an exterminator, and bringing in a cat. There is nothing left than for the family to emigrate, searching for family members who have left before them. Mrs. May's story ends with her own investigation a year later at the estate, which both legitimizes her brother's fantastic tale and plants a seed of doubt at the same time.

I have read this book perhaps more than any other children's book in my life. It was one of my childhood favorites. The thought of little people living in a cozy little space appealed to me and sent my imagination soaring. It is now one of my favorite book club books and I use it on a regular rotation. Being in my humble opinion a children's literature classic that has stood the test of time, The Borrowers is a well written and richly told classic story featuring a well-conceived originally magical creature in the tradition of elves and brownies. As opposed to other such classics, it is a comfortable reading level and is not overwhelmingly long. There are even some pen and ink illustrations to break up the text, of which I poured over the details as a child. It is also a great book for comparing to the movie. The original version came out twenty years ago staring John Goodman and not sticking to the original story at all, which makes for interesting discussion. More recently Ghibli studios released The Secret Life of Arrietti, which follows more closely the story penned by Norton and is beautifully constructed. I love the secret little world where it feels conceivable that these little creatures exist. I love that the main character never gets a name. I love that the ending is left a bit open ended, allowing for the reader to draw their own conclusions about the existence of borrowers, always inciting an interesting discussion in book groups. Most of all I love knowing what happens to the nail clippers and safety pins that I can never find. Mystery solved. Thank you Mary Norton!

Jasmine Toguchi: Mochi Queen

Jasmine Toguchi: Mochi Queen
Debbi Michiko Florence
FSG, July, 2017 107 pages
Grades 2-5
Realistic Fiction
Jasmine Toguchi series #1

Jasmine Toguchi is excited for the New Year's holiday. Her grandmother, Obaachan, is visiting from Japan and all the members of her extended family will gather at her California home to make the traditional mochi, a special rice treat. Mochi is always made by the men pounding the rice in the backyard, which is rolled into balls by the women in the kitchen. Jasmine is too young to help and is delegated to babysitting her little cousins. To make matters worse, it is her big know-it-all sister's first year helping in the kitchen and her obnoxious boy cousin's second year pounding. To solve the problem of feeling left out Jasmine retreats to her "thinking spot" within the limbs of an elderly neighbor's tree. Here she develops a dandy of an idea. Jasmine decides that instead of trying to copy her sister in the kitchen, she will go her own way and ask to pound the rice. But is she strong enough to lift the hammer? After many failed attempts to build up strength and get her hands on the mochi hammer the day before New Years arrives. Jasmine finally confesses to her father her desire to pound. Will he go for the idea? And will the other relatives, especially traditional Obaachan, back her up? If she gets her way, will she even be able to lift that heavy hammer? All is revealed by book's end and, after a brief misunderstanding, peace and love is restored, the sisters have reconciled, and a happy new year is had by all.

Welcome newcomer, Jasmine Toguchi, whose irrepressible charm and chutzpah will delight the female chapter book set, landing her shelf space besides Junie B, Judy Moody, Clementine, Ivy and Bean, and others. Jasmine offers an added multi-cultural and diverse dimension, exposing readers to Japanese-American culture. Although the fact that Jasmine is Japanese-American is not the point of the story, her ethnicity adds an extra layer to the narrative, setting her apart from other heroines in a crowded genre. Readers will relate to Jasmine's problems of being over shadowed by an older sister, trying hard, but not quite accomplishing a task, and wanting to do something you are not old enough to do. Jasmine problem solves and I love that her thinking place to do so is in the branches of a tree. I also love that her friend is an elderly neighbor. Throughout the book Florence celebrates relations between generations. Also celebrated is the importance of family and traditions, although acknowledging that sometimes these traditions can be "tweaked" to fit a situation. Jasmine's family is kind and supportive and even the older sister and evil cousin show that they care about our feisty heroine. The reading level of this series is on target for the intended audience. The margins are wide, the chapters are short, and the print is big. Attractive illustrations, contributed by Elizabet Vukovic, will entertain the reader, allow for the book to be more approachable, and help to advance the plot. Back matter includes an author's note about mochi, a recipe for this traditional dish, and a chapter insert of the next book in the series, Jasmine Toguchi: Super Sleuth, released simultaneously.

Pip Bartlett's Guide to Magical Creatures

Pip Bartlett's Guide to Magical Creatures
Jackson Pearce and Maggie Steifvater
Scholastic, 2015  184 pages
Grades 3-7
Fantasy
Pip Bartlett series book 1

Meet Pip Bartlett, who has an amazing ability: she can speak to magical creatures. Only no one believes her and so far it has only landed her into trouble. When Pip starts a unicorn riot, which demolishes her school's career day, her parents decide to take drastic measures. Pip is sent to spend the summer with her aunt, a magical creature's veterinarian, and Broadway-bound cousin. It is here that Pip encounters her aunt's nemesis, Mrs. Dreadbatch, who is against all magical creatures and is trying to shut down Aunt Emma's facility. Friendship comes in the form of neighbor boy Tomas, who despite his allergy to practically everything, becomes Pip's partner in crime. Pip happily updates her volume of Jeffrey Higgleston’s Guide to Magical Creatures with new information as she conducts her research, until a new  creature threatens to wreck havoc on Aunt Emma's small town. Little harmless-appearing fuzzles start showing up around town in barns and underwear drawers. The problem with fuzzles is that they catch on fire when scared, which can quickly spread. Mrs. Dreadbatch is on the warpath to exterminate the fuzzles and the Higgleston Guide is no help. It is up to Pip to determine what has brought the fuzzles to town and why they won't leave in order to save them from extermination. She must depend on her new friends and family, her ability to communicate with magical animals, and determination and grit to save the little creatures from harm and defeat the intolerable Mrs. Dreadbatch.

Designed to look like a real guide to magical creatures, this eye-catching book will appeal to readers. A collaboration of two seasoned authors for young people, Pearce and Steifvater, know how to draw-in their target audience. Filled with madcap situations, humor, and fabulous beasts, this series opener will keep readers delightfully turning pages. The setting is contemporary suburban United States, yet with a slight twist: magical creatures do exist. Putting this premise in a completely relate-able situation will help kids to identify with Pip and completely give themselves over to the fantasy. The authors have utilized some creatures already part of the folklore cannon, such as unicorns, and have developed some of their own, such as fuzzles. Mrs. Dreadbatch is a perfect foil of the Scooby-Doo variety that all kids will love to hate. Readers will cheer as Pip out-smarts her and saves the day, as well as the clinic. The chapters have snappy headings, the print is a good size, and interesting design elements will draw in reluctant readers. The illustrations all appear to be labeled drawings from the actual guide and are relevant to both the format and the plot and add further interest. The book is cleverly written and is laugh-out-loud funny in certain parts. All readers will enjoy this book, from die-hard fantasy fans to children new to the genre. The series will appeal to readers of the How to Train Your Dragon series. As someone who likes to believe that unicorns are real and maybe exist on some isolated island somewhere, I loved this book and think that children will too.

The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora

The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora
Pablo Cartaya
Viking, 2017 239 pages
Grades 5-8
Realistic Fiction

Meet Miami native, Arturo Zamora. He helps his extended family run the family business: a neighborhood restaurant featuring the delicious Cuban food that his beloved Abuela became locally famous for cooking. Now Abuela is old, Arturo's mother has taken over chef duties and Arturo is delegated to a job washing dishes for the summer. Even though his two best friends are away during the school break, his life brightens when family-friend Carmen moves to their neighborhood with her father after the loss of her mother. Arturo and Carmen make an instant connection and he finds himself experiencing his first crush and getting all tongue-tied around his former playmate. Carmen loves poetry and Abuela shares her late husband's writings and love of poetry with Arturo as inspiration to connect to Carmen. Meanwhile, an oily developer takes the neighborhood by storm. He wants to build a giant high-rise building with many amenities, gentrifying the neighborhood, and pushing the family restaurant out. The neighbors seem thrilled with the projected project and Arturo's family is faced with fighting a battle for their livelihood, as well as for the preservation of the soul of the neighborhood. Then tragedy strikes as Abuela's health begins to deteriorate. Arturo has to discover life’s true priorities and to fight for them, finding inner courage and personal strength along the way.

I enjoyed this book a lot, penned by a relatively new author, Pablo Cartaya. The Miami setting is unusual in juvenile books and is fully realized and integral to the story. At its core this is a book featuring a boy who must find his inner courage to help his family and do the right thing in a classic battle of good verses evil. The developer is clearly the villain and is presented almost as a caricature, yet kids will feel comforted in the clear-cut lines of who the good guys are. Other themes besides the pitfalls of urban development and the importance of family include loyalty, standing up for what is right, overcoming grief, and the magic of finding one's soulmate. The "Epic Fail", as hinted at in the title, refers to Arturo's confession of love to Carmen, of which she initially seems to reject. He gets the girl in the end, which results in some innocent kissing. This is a story that is aimed mostly at boys, but girls will enjoy it as well. Because of all of the character building within the novel, it would be a great fit in the classroom. The Epic Fail also offers readers a glimpse into Cuban-American culture, which adds an extra dimension to the story. Spanish word and phrases are sprinkled throughout and, although exact translations are not given, the meaning is clear through the context of the sentence. Beyond all of this, Arturo is a very likable guy and readers will enjoy spending 239 pages with him. Zamora offers interesting back-matter, including Cuban recipes and further information about Carmen and Abuelo's favorite poet, Jose Marti. The last page opens a door to a possible sequel, hinting that perhaps the evil developer may run for city council. My favorite line from this book comes from a letter written by the deceased Abuelo, "Remember: sometimes life's answers are hidden in poetry." So true!

Empress of a Thousand Skies

Empress of a Thousand Skies
Rhoda Belleza
Razorbill, 2017 320 pages
Grades 7-Up
Science Fiction

Two stories are told simultaneously, only to converge at the end, leading readers to the next installment in this projected series. The crowned-princess and heir apparent Rhee's story begins with an assassination attempt on her life by her mentor and the father of her companion/love interest. With the help of a radical monk/assassin and potential third angle in her love triangle Rhee escapes, changes her appearance, and goes undercover, seeking revenge on the man thought to have murdered her family only to seize power. Meanwhile, Aly, a refugee from a planet considered to be an enemy, is framed for the princess's murder (of which she escaped) and must run for his life. While stowing away on a spaceship he meets a fellow renegade/love interest, also in hiding. The two fugitives flee to find Cara's scientist mother, from whom they seek help, only the powers that be are on their tails. The two stories are told in alternating chapters with characters overlapping and secrets slowly being revealed. The enemy is not who the reader is shown at first and twists and turns in the fast moving plot are abundant. This futuristic society warns of our dependence on technology as computers are surgically planted in people's heads storing their memories, which becomes a vulnerable weapon to be used against enemies of the state. Who is the real enemy? What is Cara's true identity? What becomes of Rhee's childhood companion/love interest after she flees her home? These questions are all answered by book's end and will draw readers directly to the second installment, Blood of a Thousand Stars, yet to be released.

New author, Belleza, has penned a series perfect for readers of The Lunar Chronicles and The Diabolic. The futurist science fiction setting will appeal to readers, but could be flushed-out a bit more. I think because the characters are dashing around from one planet to another, the planets all kind of blend together. The plot itself gave me a bit of whiplash, but will keep teens reading and the mysteries embedded in the plot will keep them guessing. I saw many of the plot twists coming a mile away, but the target audience won't care. They will find comfort in the predictability and satisfaction at figuring it out. Various love interests balance the action and further draw-in teen readers. Offering both a male and female protagonist will invite readers of both sexes and the cover is ambiguous enough to not scare away boys. Sometimes I struggled with keeping all the characters apart, but got there eventually. Belleza does a good job at creating her characters, so even though they are numerous, they are all developed enough to be distinct. Themes introduced in this novel include racial discrimination, immigration, privacy, and the threat of dependence on technology. Empress of a Thousand Skies offers food-for-thought within a plot that leads readers through outer space at a break-neck speed.

Ben's Revolution

Ben's Revolution
Nathaniel Philbrick
Wendell Minor, Illustrator
Penguin, 2017  64 pages
Grades 2-4
Historical Fiction

A fictionalized vignette from his Bestselling Book Bunker Hill: A City, A Siege, a Revolution, Philbrick turns his talents to young people. The Ben of the title is famed journalist and politician Ben Russell, who as a boy left school at the start of the Revolutionary War to follow the troops. He found himself cut off from his family in Boston and stayed serving the soldiers as a clerk. Ben witnessed first hand many important moments in the first year of the Continental Army, including the Battle of Bunker Hill. Four months later his father manages to escape the city to rescue him. Since the war was no place for a boy, Father places Ben in an apprenticeship with patriot newspaperman Isiah Thomas, where he learns the business and gets started on his way to his future career. An author's note at the end tells us more about this great man and separates the fact from the fiction. An artist's note directly after explains to the reader the research process involved in creating the beautiful artwork and the overall process of the artist.

Adult author and researcher, Philbrick, takes the child-friend and interesting bits from his best-selling adult book and adapts it for young readers. Even though he lived long ago, kids will identify with Russell, who is a typical rambunctious, curious, and adventurous kid. My favorite part of the account is when a group of boys complain to a British officer that by spreading ashes over the road in front of his house he made the hilly street non-conducive to sledding.  Because kids will relate to Ben, they will be able to live the life of a Revolutionary War clerk during this important time period in American history. Ben is a great role-model for young people in that he was a true patriot, was not afraid to stand up for what he believed to be right, was very bold, and performed a grown-up job even though he was a boy. Philbrick also explains that there are two sides to a war and portrays the enemy as real people, who were formally friends and now find themselves on the opposite side of the issues. A perfect choice for early chapter-book readers, the print is big, the plot is linear, the margins are wide, and the layout is appealing. Minor's colorful illustrations are plentiful and can be seen on every two-page spread, sometimes taking up the whole page with no words included. A boy's eye view of the Revolutionary War and a tribute to a great American.

Quicksand Pond

Quicksand Pond
Janet Taylor Lisle
Atheneum/Simon and Schuster, 2017
240 pages
Grades 4-7
Realistic Fiction

Jessie, along with her father, older sister, and younger brother, escape the summer heat of urban Pittsburgh and move into a ramshackle cottage on Quicksand Pond on Rhode Island's coast, a local where Dad spent a summer as a young man. Her older sister is on a quest to be popular and chooses to spend her days on the beach. Younger brother spends his time at a new friend's pool. Jessie prefers the quiet pond on which the house sits. It is here that she uncovers an ancient raft and meets a new friend. Terri is a local girl with a shady family. The two girls instantly bond and set to work restoring the raft. They spend their days floating around the quiet pond and exploring the natural wildlife. Meanwhile, an old woman is watching them through her window with binoculars. She remembers her days on the pond on that raft and welcomes the girls to the tools in her garage to fix it up. Jessie's family is nervous about her relationship with Terri. Is it true what they say about her family? Her grandfather spent most of his adult life in prison after allegedly murdering the old lady's family and her father is a nasty drunk. When valuable items are stolen from the old lady's garage and it is set on fire, all fingers point to Terri. Jessie finds herself in the crossfire. Did Terri do it? Should Jessie cast a light on Terri to make her look more suspicious and to keep herself out of trouble? And who really did murder the old lady's family? Things aren't always what they seem at first glance and Jessie must find the courage to follow her conscious.

Newbery honor winner, Lisle, pens a novel for young people set in a real place; Quicksand Pond, to be found in Lisle's home state of Rhode Island. Lisle's love for the local and respect for it's animal's and fauna comes through in the story, as does her appreciation for its quiet pleasures, such as enjoying the pond from a raft. Readers will envy Jessie's summer spent with a new friend exploring pond life on a raft with complete freedom, while Dad works on writing a book. The setting and mood are predominate in this reading experience, but Lisle also offers an interesting plot. We see the story through Jessie's eyes as well as those of Henrietta Cutting, the old lady in the window. Henrietta and Terri's pasts are connected and a mystery emerges: whether or not Terri's grandfather is responsible for Henrietta's family's death. While watching the girl's on the raft, Henrietta remembers the truth behind that fateful night, sees that justice is done, and finds some peace. Sensitive readers will enjoy this story that shows that life isn't always black and white. Lisle brings attention to inequality between social classes and the justice system. Other themes include the importance of honesty, loyalty, finding time to enjoy family over constant working, and of course the appreciation of nature and simple pleasures. Jessie must find the courage to stand up for what she believes is right and to remain loyal to her friend, even though the rest of the town is against Terri. Great lessons for kids are hidden among an interesting plot and a fully realized and beautifully peaceful settling. A great summer read for thoughtful kids.

The Escapades of Clint McCool

The Escapades of Clint McCool: Octo-Man and the Headless Monster
Jane Kelley
Jessika von Innerebner
Grosset & Dunlap/Penguin, 2017 91 pages
Grades 2-4
Humor.
Clint McCool series volume 1

What's Clint McCool (real name Walter) great at doing? Developing interesting schemes (that generally get himself and his friends in trouble) and saving the day. What's he not so great at doing? Being patient, sitting still, following rules and controlling his impulses. After a long day at school, where his secret super-power enhanced hat was confiscated by his teacher, who reported his bad behavior to his mother, Clint's day seemed a bit grim. Luckily, his two best friends were coming over after school. On the way home they see a movie being filmed staring a giant octopus/man/monster. Clint gets involved, accidentally knocks the arm off of the monster, breaks the monster's jar of brains and gets kicked off the movie set. Once home he concocts a plot to create brains out of cauliflower and turns himself headless with the help of his friend's shirt. Its back to the movie set where Clint manages to wreck more havoc and finally gets his wish to act in the movie. The part he must portray is awful and humiliating, but the show must go on and the day must be saved. By the book's end Clint realizes one more thing he is good at: being a friend.

Another new early chapter book series launched by Grosset & Dunlap (see The Kid from Planet Z). Clint will have emerging readers turning pages and rolling in the aisles as they gain confidence reading chapter books. The plot is simplistic, light, and totally unrealistic, and young readers will love it. Appealing especially to boys, Kelley writes what kids will enjoy reading. Who wouldn't want a hat with buttons that make you invisible or help you come up with a good idea? The hat is not real, but Clint thinks it is and readers will wonder as they see him pushing its buttons with contagious enthusiasm. Clint's all-suffering mother appears to be a single parent and Clint seems to have brown skin on the cover, adding both diversity and a non-traditional family. As with The Kids from Planet Z the real star of the book is the design and illustrations. There are numerous well-drawn cartoon-like illustrations on every page spread, some full-page. One color is used, a retro-blue, adding interest and contrast. A decorative blue and white stripped boarder further boosts the book's appeal. Clint will definitely hook readers and the silly and adventurous plot will ensure they make it to book's end. A sequel, Sol-Ray Man and the Freaky Flood, has been simultaneously released, so readers will have a place to turn next.

Cody and the Mysteries of the Universe

Cody and the Mysteries of the Universe
Tricia Springstubb
Eliza Wheeler, Illustrator
Candlewick, 2016
Grades 2-4
Realistic Fiction
Cody Series #2

Cody is sooooo excited. Her best friend Spencer is moving in with his grandmother down the street with his parents while they start a new business. It is nearly impossible to wait and patience is not Cody's best virtue. At last Spencer arrives and they can start the fun. Cody knows the best place to begin: to discover the identity of the mysterious new neighbor on the other side of Grandma's duplex. The new school year begins and Cody pledges to take Spencer under her wing. Much to her surprise, he fits in nicely, getting along great with a feared teacher, joining the orchestra with his violin and making friends with Cody's best pal pearl. The identity of the new neighbor is discovered. He is a big, scary, and gruff man with the fitting last name of "Meens" and works as an exterminator, killing off Cody's favorite things in the world: insects. To make matters worse, his evil daughters live with him during the school week and are determined to make Cody and Spencer's lives a living nightmare. The home-front is also a struggle. Dad is often away driving a truck, Mom works long hours, and older brother is love-sick. What's a girl to do? Cody shows resilience and pluck as she wades through the treacherous waters of growing up and makes peace with the miscellaneous conflicts in her life, including the neighboring bullies. By book's end Cody has not solved all of the mysteries of the universe, but she has certainly found her place within it.

I picked this book up while looking for something light to read on my lunch hour. It wasn't until I was finished with the entire book and reading the author's biography on the back cover that I realized it was the second in a series. This goes to show that this series installment stands on its own and the series itself does not need to be read in order. I enjoyed Cody's story very much. She is a wonderful character, much in the vein of Clementine and Ramona. She wants to be good with all of her heart, yet struggles with impulse control and patience. What Cody lacks, she makes up for with exuberance, enthusiasm, and her loving nature. I appreciate how Cody describes her teenage brother's mood swings as when his love-life is going well he has so much love inside of him that he passes it on, much like passing a baton in a relay race. It also works both ways when you don't have love, you take it out on others, dropping the baton. Cody manages to find a solution with the bullies next door, but not until a crazy chase involving yellow jackets and shoe throwing ensues. She even learns to accept the differences between herself and Spencer and the two friends share a touching moment at the end. The scary neighbor isn't as bad as Cody feared and the story ends with a big neighborhood celebration. This story is perfect for the chapter book crowd and can be enjoyed by both boys and girls. Cody's name is ambiguous and its not obvious whether or not she is a boy or a girl from the cover, so boys should not be put off diving into this story. The illustrations are plentiful and expertly drawn, adding to the enjoyment of the story. A fun and gentle time well spent with an enduring character.

Felix Yz

Felix Yz
Lisa Bunker
Viking, June, 2017 286 pages
Grades 5-8
Science Fiction

When Felix was three years old he was at work with his father, a scientist, when an experiment went wrong, blasting nuclear energy. Dad dies in the blast and Feliz is fused with an alien being from the fourth dimension. Fast forward ten years. Felix is now thirteen and has been sharing his body with this enmity named Zyx. Zyx turns Felix into a slightly spazzy individual, who is not fully in control of his actions and speech. Moreover, Zyx proves to be great at chess, calling attention to Felix and bringing him into the public eye. Although Zyx loves chess, Felix discovers his own passion, for writing, and enters a contest, tuning into his own best abilities. Meanwhile, Felix is struggling with a bully, his first crush, and an impending operation meant to separate him from Zyx before irreversible damage is done. The good news is that Feliz's family, though non-traditional and quirky, are very loving and supportive. He lives with his mother, transgender grandparent, and musical prodigy sister. When the date is steadily approaching and Feliz overhears a conversation that he may not survive the ordeal, he decides to runaway by hopping a train. He ends up in nearby Portland, Maine where he meets some nice young people who convince him to return home after exposing him to jazz, which he discovers both he and Zyx love. Once home he is met by his crush, Hector, and has a first kiss. Finally the moment of the operation arrives with the results to follow and their aftermath.

Written as a first person diary, we see what it would be like to live as a thirteen year old and, if that's not a struggle enough, while fused to a fourth-dimensional being. As the novel progresses, so does the physical pain Felix endures and the fear of either dying from staying fused with Zyx or dying from the procedure. This is the main story-line. Other plot lines include the blurred lines of gender identity and sexuality. Zyx is neither male nor female, Grandy alternates genders each day and refuses to be defined by labeling pronouns, Feliz's first crush is on a boy, and Mom start out the novel with a boyfriend and ends with a girl friend. The LGBTQ characters are just that: characters. Their sexuality and gender identity, or lack their of, is not the main focus of the plot. It serves as an added layer to the story, making it an inclusive addition to the middle-grade novel shelves. The science part is cool and reader's will experience what it would be like to share a body with an alien. The less intense plot lines, the bully and the first crush, will remind readers that Felix is an ordinary kid like them, creating validity and leading the reader to believe that the science fiction bits of the account could really happen.. Because of the diary format, readers will be drawn into Felix's story and empathize with his fears and sorrows. Felix doesn't always make the best choices, running away and such, but he is human and we get it. Luckily, his family loves him no matter what and that is what pulls him through. After twenty-four years in this business I often feel that there is "nothing new under the sun" and then a book like Felix Yz comes along to prove me wrong.

The Lotterys Plus One

The Lotterys Plus One
Emma Donoghue
Scholastic, 2017 303 pages
Grades 4-7
Realistic Fiction/Family

"Once upon a time, a man from Delhi and a man from Yukon fell in love, and so did a woman from Jamaica and a Mohawk woman. The two couples became best friends and had a baby together. When they won the lottery, they gave up their jobs and found a big old house where their family could learn and grow...and grow some more." So begins this first children's novel from Donoghue (The Room). We experience life within this non-traditional and loving family through the eyes of nine-year-old Sumac (all of the children are named after trees), who ,at number five of seven in birth order, is the practical one of the kids. All of this changes when she and one of the dads, PopCorn, go to Yukon to retrieve a previously unknown grandfather because he is showing signs of dementia. In proper Lottery fashion the family gives him a kookie nickname and "grumps" is ensconced in Sumac's room and she is regulated to the attic. Grumps hates it in the Lottery's household. It is too noisy, too "hippy", and the food is weird and organic. Moreover, he doesn't understand why the children are home schooled, disapproves of the romantic pairings of the parents, and has out-moded and seemingly prejudice views on race and other cultures. Sumac concocts a plan to send Grumps to a nursing home, where she thinks both he and the rest of the family will be happier. An accident finally seems to convince her parents that maybe Sumac is right, but she has not told the whole truth about the incident. Will she do the right thing or keep her mouth shut in order to extricate the miserable new grandpa?

This book is a breath of fresh air and a wonderful celebration of diversity and non-traditional families. Readers will be so entranced by the madcap fun and healthy and stimulating lifestyle enjoyed by the Lotterys that they will wish they could move into Camelottery as well, even if it mean bunking down with Grumps. The children are all a mix of different racial identities and although some are biological and some are adopted, they are all loved and treated equally. This book reminds me of a Canadian version of Surviving the Applewhites, which is another story of a creative, homeschooled family as told by the practical middle child. Although both share a humorous style, The Lotteries adds the element of breaking down racial and sexual stereotypes. I read this book by listening to the audio, which was great because this book makes an entertaining read-aloud. The problem with the audio was that I kept getting the members of this large family confused in the beginning. The actual book solves this problem by offering a picture of the family helpfully labeling its members. The book is also enhanced with illustrations by Caroline Hadilaksono, which greatly adds to the exuberance of this eccentric bunch. Its fun to see a crazy situation through a straight-man and Grumps proves the perfect foil. He adds conflict to this gentle story and allows for the characters to grow around the adjustment to his presence. Children of non-traditional families, homeschoolers, and bi-racial kids will all find something to identify with here. Traditional children will be exposed to a different way of doing things, which can help them to better understand their neighbors. All children will relate to the struggle of adjusting to change, which can be very scary and unsettling. Moreover, this story is simply a lot of fun!

Thornhill

Thornhill
Pam Smy
Roaring Book Press, August, 2017 531 pages
Grades 5-8
Graphic Novel Hybrid/Horror

Alternating stories tell the tales of two girls in different times, yet the same place, finally merging at the end. Mary's story from 1982 is told in a diary format, while present day Ella's is told through images. Mary's diary traces her misery, loneliness and fear living in an orphanage, alone on the top floor, while being tortured by a bully. Through her isolation Mary has discovered a love of puppets and dolls, which she lovingly creates and who become her only friends. Because of the dysfunction of her past, Mary suffers from select mutism and is unable to tell anyone the extent of the abuse. Mary is a drawn and seemingly unlikable child, who has an affinity for Mary from the Secret Garden and also finds a hidden garden behind the orphanage, which becomes her solace. When the orphanage decides to close, all of the girls are relocated. The last to go are Mary and her tormentor. Drastic measures must be taken before its too late. Meanwhile, present-day Ella and her father, having recently lost her mother, move into a new house next door to the creepy and abandoned old orphanage. Feeling lonely in a new house and missing her mother, Ella feels inexplicably drawn to the dilapidated mansion and on a scouting missions discovers Mary's secret garden and one of her dolls. Mary repairs the doll and returns it to the garden. Why is there a light in the attic room in a building where no one has lived in thirty-five years? And who is the mysterious and wispy figure floating around the garden? An investigation draws Ella to the truth and the discovery of a new friend.

Wow! What a creepy and cool book! Told in the style associated with Brian Selznik, telling two stories using different formats, Smy creates a much different mood, more Graveyard Book than Wonderstruck. A true ghost story, Smy doesn't pull-punches or offer a Disney-esque ending. The abuse and neglect suffered by Mary is hard-core and will draw empathy out of the reader, as will the grief and loneliness experienced by Ella. I kept expecting things to turn out okay by the end; that maybe Mary is a long-lost aunt of Ella's who comes to save the day. Things don't end pretty, but they do end satisfying. I loved the ending and kept turning pages rapidly to get there. Definitely not for sensitive kids, fans of the creepy and macabre will love it. I would have loved it as a kid and found it delicious now as an adult. As with Selznik's work, don't let the 500+ pages throw you. The book reads quickly within a few hours. I also love the dolls and puppets, both as substitute friends and as a further creepy element. The Secret Garden references may act as an incentive to encourage kids to read the original and further highlight the difference between the happy endings of traditional children's stories verses stark reality. Both boys and girls will enjoy this story and the cover is invitingly atmospheric to draw readers in, yet doesn't feature the girl characters to scare off boys. The black and white illustrations are expertly drawn, add to the mood of the story, and blend seamlessly with the other plot. Black pages separate the two narratives as the book continues. A well crafted gen of a book just waiting for the brave kind of reader who appreciates getting their spine tingled. Unfortunately, Thornhill will not be officially published until August, but keep it on your radar. It's worth the wait.

Fairy Tale Comics and Fable Comics

Fairy Tale Comics
Chris Duffy, editor
First Second, 2013 128 pages
Grades 2-Up
Graphic Novel

Seventeen comic book creators re-imagine classic fairy tales ranging from Hansel and Gretel to Baba Yaga. Although heavily Grimm based, a few other tales from other world cultures are included.


Fable Comics
Chris Duffy, editor
First Second, 2015  124 pages
Grades 2-Up
Graphic Novel

Twenty-eight traditional fairy tales are given a fresh retelling by graphic novel creators who specialize in creating works for children. Most of the selected fables are attributed to Aesop, but a few other world cultures are recognized.

Chris Duffy brings traditional fairy tales and fables to a new audience in these kid-friendly editions. The contributors range from the established to rookies and there is a wide range of styles, representing the varied and talented artists within the field of children's graphic novels. Some of the comic creators chose to go with a traditional retelling and setting, while others contemporized the tales, even tweaking details and morals to appeal to a modern audience. In the volume of fables I noticed that some of the contributors chose to spell out the morals, while others left it to the reader to figure out. I see the value in both approaches and love that Duffy left it to the creator to decide how to impart the tale's message. This volume comes in full-color and is slightly over-sized, making it eye-catching and boosting the kid-appeal. Duffy offers a brief note at the back of both volumes explaining what fables/fairy tales are and communicating his selection process. He also offers some suggestions for further reading, should kids chose to turn to the original story. Although both volumes are Grimm/Aesop heavy, other cultures are briefly explored. The country or source of origin is included on the first page of the tale/fable. A great way to spot-light some of the best comic creators currently in the field, all while exposing kids to traditional fairy tales and fables. A third volume is in the series titled Nursery Rhyme Comics (2011), which offers a fresh take on traditional nursery rhymes.