Starfish

Starfish

Lisa Fipps

Nancy Paulsen/Penguin, 2021

224 pages

Grades 6-8

Realistic Fiction

Starting sixth grade without her best friend should be bad enough, but for Ellie it is that much worse. Tormented by bullies since kindergarten for her weight, Ellie (AKA Splash) would like to be invisible, trying to make herself as small as possible by living the "fat girl rules". Life at home isn't much better. Despite a supportive father and an adoring dog, Ellie's brother is a constant source of insults, her sister is ambivalent and Mom puts Ellie on diet after diet, finally suggesting weight loss surgery. The only place that Ellie finds solace is in her pool, where she feels weightless and can float like a starfish-finally spreading out and allowing herself to take up space. A new next-door neighbor turned friend and a helpful therapist start to turn Ellie's self-confidence around. She slowly accepts the person that she is, starts to love herself, and learns to deal with both the bullies at school and at home in a healthy manner. When Ellie's dog disappears, she must learn to trust those around her that will help and stand up to those who hurt her, finally finding the confidence to confront Mom, despite the fear of further rejection.

This was a hard book to read. Debut author, Fipps, explains in an author's note that, although a work of fiction, all of the events stem from pieces of her childhood. I cannot imagine a world where such cruelty exists or a mother who is so unsupportive. The bullying from both school and home is so extreme that we put this book initially in the teen section. I will buy a second copy for the children's department for though the cruelty is not for sensitive readers, it is important for kids to open their eyes to the plight of those living within unconventional body types. Wonder allowed children to feel empathy for those considered "ugly" and, hopefully, Starfish will raise awareness for kids who are bullied for their weight. The message is to live "healthy" over the unhealthy behaviors associated with the quest to be skinny. Although Ellie is tortured for most of the book, it ends on a positive note and both Mom and a sister have a change of heart and the bullies are dealt with in a positive manner, as well as revelations about their motivations. Written in verse, this is a beautiful book with a lot to say, that will break the reader's heart and leave them seeing the world a little more kindly.

Thirteen Witches: The Memory Thief

Thirteen Witches: The Memory Thief

Jodi Lynn Anderson

Aladdin/Simon & Schuster, 2021

325 pages

Fantasy

Grades 3-6

Thirteen Witches Trilogy #1

Rosie does not have the typical life of a normal twelve-years-old. Her mother is mentally checked-out to the extreme and Rosie is forced to be the grown-up of the house. She doesn't understand why her best friend, Germ, is wearing make-up, interested in boys, and hanging out with a new friend. Seeing this as a betrayal, Rosie drops Germ, only to need her when things get super crazy at home. One night, Rosie, an aspiring writer, burns all of her childhood stories in order to become more "sophisticated", inadvertently unlocking her "sight" to see ghosts and spirits. Because of their intense friendship and despite not having a family lineage of witch-hunters, Germ gains the sight as well. The ghosts reveal that Mom's memory was stolen by one of thirteen witches and, as a former witch-hunter, she possesses long-forgotten secrets to battle them. The ghosts help Rosie to uncover Mom's old gear, including a guide to witches and a possible weapon. The witch in question who stole Mom's memory needs to be tracked down, as well her millions and trillions of moths, who carry the stolen memories. How can Rosie connect with the Memory Witch and how will she battle her once found?

The first in a trilogy, veteran author Anderson pens a novel of fantasy and adventure with a gentle family mystery woven in. Set in coastal Maine, the atmosphere is dark and ominous, perfect for a witch-hunting family who's house is massively occupied with ghosts. The story has an old-fashioned feel, such as referring to the living room as the "parlor", yet the kids around Rosie are contemporary, helping the reader to feel Rosie's helpless rooting in the past and her inability to grow up without discovering her true gifts and getting some answers. The witches and ghosts are creepy and the book may be too much for sensitive readers. Lovers of dark and gothic fantasies will find much to enjoy and keep turning pages in order to see what happens to Rosie and her mom. Witches are currently trending, as is horror, making this an on-target choice and possibly an easy sell. A cliff-hanging ending, revealing more family mysteries to solve and a new friend to save, will lead the reader to the next installment. Rosie's secret power needed to combat the witches is storytelling and writing, a powerful gift shared by many young readers and just may inspire the target audience. 

Cemetery Boys

Cemetery Boys
Aiden Thomas
Swoon Reads, 2020
352 pages
Grades 9-Up
Fantasy/Romance

Yadriel has a lot to prove. His Latinex community won't accept him as a boy and his brujo family won't accept him as a ghost hunter. The women of the community become healers and the men become ghost hunters, helping spirits pass onto the afterlife. As a trans teenager, Yadriel knows his true self to be male and longs for the ceremony allowing him into the ranks of brujoes. When his father stubbornly refuses to acknowledge his true self, Yadriel takes matters into his own hands and performs the ceremony with the help of his cousin Maritza, a vegan bruja-who can't receive her own ceremony because of a reluctance to use the required chicken blood. Almost immediately a displaced ghost is summoned by the surprised Yadriel. It is a teen boy named Julian, who refuses to continue to the afterlife without checking on his friends and discovering the cause of his death. This leads the three teenagers to a mystery. How and why did Julian die and by who's hand? As the days leading to Dia de Muertos pass and truth behind Julian's death becomes clear, so do the feelings that begin to grow between him and Yadriel. Can a real-life boy have a relationship with a ghost?

Debut author, Thomas, hits teen gold with this critically acclaimed best-seller. The book ticks a lot of boxes currently trending in teen literature. It features trans and gay characters of color, veganism, immigration and deportation of the Latinex community, and the plight of the working poor, all within the cultural context of Dia de Muetos with the addition of a paranormal romance. A lot is going on and being said, yet none of this bogs down the plot, which is truly fresh and interesting. The mystery behind Julian's death propels the story forward and surprised me in the end with a satisfying Scooby-Doo reveal. Yes, the book ends happily with the mystery solved, gifting readers with closure and relief. The characters are well developed and the romance is believable. I instantly fell into Yadriel's fully realized world and enjoyed the pageantry of preparing for Dia de Muertos, a holiday I have always found fascinating. A great piece of escapism, marrying supernatural romance with a well developed mystery all within the culture of a urban California Latinex community.

The Magical Reality of Nadia

The Magical Reality of Nadia
Bassem Youssef & Catherine R. Daly
Douglas Holgate, Illustrator
Scholastic, 2021
163 Pages
Grades 3-6
Magical Realism

Nadia returns from a summer visiting family in Egypt excited to start sixth grade. Her gang of friends, The Nerd Patrol, are confidently entering a town-wide contest to determine the new exhibit at the local museum. Nadia is quite sure her idea featuring different immigration groups who have settled in the town is the best idea and steamrolls the rest of the group into backing it. Conflict arises when the new student, Jason, begins to tease her about her Egyptian heritage, the food she eats, and the way she dresses. Even Nadia's best friend is lured by Jason's charms and Nadia feels the need to become less of herself to slip under the radar. One night, much to Nadia's surprise, the amulet that she has been wearing from her summer trip begins to glow. Out pops Titi, a cursed teacher forced to live inside the dreaded amulet until Nadia said the magic words to release him. Titi has some magical powers, including the ability to transport Nadia to other times and places, but is confined to the page. Can Titi help Nadia combat the bully, win back her friends, and score big on the contest?

Egyptian-American entertainer, Youssef based this story on the real-life experiences of his daughter Nadia who faced challenges immigrating to the United States. Through the character Nadia's eyes we experience how it feels to be American with firm roots in another culture. Children who have immigrated from another country or children of immigrants will find much in which to relate. Readers who are several generations American will perhaps look upon their classmates with a bit more understanding and compassion, understanding that their ancestors were once immigrants as well. Nadia learns to embrace and be proud of her culture, become more of a team player in a project situation, and personally experiences the power of forgiveness. The black and white illustrations help to add interest to the story and attract reluctant readers. Nadia's adventures with Titi are told in a comic format, helping them to stand out and further drawing readers. Titi adds comic relief, as well as providing background cultural information. Truly the Jar Jar Binks of the story, kids (and librarians) will either love him or find him annoying. The books reads quickly and will be enjoyed by a large cross-section of readers.

Simon B. Rhymin'

Simon B. Rhymin'

Dwayne Reed

Little Brown, 2021

226 pages

Grades 3-5

Realistic Fiction

It is the first day of fifth grade and Simon should feel super-confident starting the new school year in the oldest grade with two best friends. Unfortunately this is not the case. He is the shortest kid in class and also maybe the shyest. What his classmates don't know is that Simon is actually the Notorious D.O.G., rapper extraordinaire, a secret only his best friends, family, and Sonny, the man who sweeps the street, are in on. When his cool new teacher starts the year with a rap and a project to present an oral report about something current of local importance, Simon is both thrilled and terrified. What could he possible have to say that would make an impact? When Dad takes Simon to a homeless shelter he sees his friend and fellow singer the sweeper Sonny. Is Sonny homeless? Simon learns Sonny's backstory and decides to make him the focus of the oral report. Can a little guy like Simon make himself heard and deliver the message of a neighborhood problem that needs to be addressed? And, most of all, can he speak in front of the class without throwing up?

This book had me at the jaunty cover. Simon was instantly a kid that I needed to know. I enjoyed this story very much. Simon is a sweet and earnest main character. Young readers will identify with his desire to make a difference, but lacking the confidence to make it happen. Luckily, a supportive family, friends, and teacher make all the difference and Simon gains the courage to make big things happen-and speak in front of people. I love the rap aspect of the book. Simons raps are interspersed within the text, helping to move the plot along and express his feelings, encouraging readers to perhaps try writing some of their own. Since rap is a form of poetry, there is an easy classroom connection for this title. The book is over 200 pages, yet reads quickly and is peppered with small black and white illustrations, encouraging kids to keep turning pages. Even though some big world problems are addressed, the main focus of the book is Simon's lack of confidence and his journey to discover the courage to use his voice in the world. A fun book with a lot to say that will appeal to a wide variety of readers.

These Violent Delights

These Violent Delights

Chloe Gong

McElderry Books, 2020

449 pages

Grades 9-Up

Historical/Sci-Fi/Adventure

Welcome to 1920's Shanghai, where rival gangs rule, political unrest stirs, a mysterious monster is lurking and an unknown illness is causing death and confusion all over the city. Juliette, heir to the locally operated Scarlett Gang has recently returned from New York, ready to claim her birthright. Don't let her flapper appearance fool you. She is ruthless, deadly, and willing to do whatever it takes to protect her family's interests. Put in charge of discovering the truth behind the mysterious illness that is ravaging the city, forcing people to scratch at their own throats until they bleed out, her paths cross again with Roma, the heir to the rival Russian operated White Flowers--and her former boyfriend. The past romance with Roma is what sent her away in the first place and here he is again. But now Juliette is older and wiser and needs to get the job done. Can the two star-crossed lovers from rival gangs discover the cause of this mysterious illness without causing more bloodshed? The investigation must be kept a secret, as well as their reawakening feelings for each other. The action reaches a climax, shots are fired, family members are injured-or worse, and then the story ends--leading readers to Our Violent Ends, set for a November, 2021 release.

One of the youngest authors ever to publish a young adult book on that reaches the best-seller list, debut author, Gong's star is flying high. This Romeo and Juliet inspired story is filled with many hooks making it a hit with readers. The 1920's Shanghai setting is interesting, unusual and fully realized. Everyone likes the 1920's and setting the story in Shanghai makes it that much more appealing. There are several things happening here: a mysterious and deadly illness, a monster creeping around, gang warfare, communist uprisings and an unlikely romance. The illness will immediately draw readers in and make the book relevant to current events. Since the romance began in the past and references are made to Nurse, who somehow was killed-also offscreen in the past, I thought I was reading a sequel and somehow the first volume got past me. This IS the first volume and I was comforted to know that I was exactly where I should be. Perhaps in the future the author may consider a prequel to clear-up the previous plot-points. Teen readers gravitate to unlikely lovers and will immediately sympathize with these two. They will also enjoy the non-stop action, plot twists, and violence. Young people are calling the shots and doing the important work in this book and it is up to them to save the day and fix the mess created by their elders, making the story that much more appealing to the target audience. A bit over the top for me, teen readers will lap it up and grab the sequel upon release.

The Year I Flew Away

The Year I Flew Away
Marie Arnold
Versify, 2021
256 pages
Grades 3-6
Fantasy/Magical Realism

Gabrielle moves to Brooklyn, leaving behind her parents and friends in Haiti, to live with an aunt, uncle and cousins. She starts school and finds herself nearly immediately a target for bullies, unable to defend herself with her clumsy English. If only she could be more American? Despite having made one friend, as well as, incredibly, the acquaintance of a talking rat, who thinks he's a squirrel, Gabrielle longs to be popular. When a witch approaches her in school with the offer to speak perfect American English how can Gabrielle refuse? Of course the wish comes with strings, but it will be worth it, right? Gabrielle agrees to the deal and the witch is as good as her word, only now Gabrielle can no longer speak Haitian Creole and what's worse is that the kids still don't accept her as truly American. Another wish makes Gabrielle even more American with the right clothes and food, but this time the price is even higher. To what extent will Gabrielle go to fix the big problem she has created. Is she willing to trade her very essence? Is there a way to beat the witch at her own game? Gabrielle has the courage, but she will need help of she wants to conquer a witch and fix the mess in which she now find herself.

This book was very different than I thought it would be. I went into this story thinking it was another immigration story of a child coming to America and trying to adjust. It is that-but much more. The magical elements give the immigration trope a new dimension and woke me up as soon as the talking rat appeared. The witch feels very Haitian, complimenting Gabrielle's cultural background and also adds interest to the tale. Debut author, Arnold, draws from her own childhood, setting the story in the 1980's. The time period is not important to the plot and young readers will miss the cultural references given, making this unnecessary. The place is essential to the plot. Brooklyn is a widely diverse area and Arnold both highlights and celebrates this fruit salad of different cultures. Readers will sympathise with Gabrielle and understand her desire to fit-in. They will also chuckle at the antics of Rocky the Rat, who lightens the mood and adds comic relief to what could be a heavy story, much like a Disney animated sidekick. Arnold presents the immigration experience to a young audience in an entertaining, yet gently realistic way, showing readers the struggle, all while keeping them turning the pages.