Who was Martin Luther King, Jr.?
Bonnie Bader
Grosset & Dunlap, 2008
Grades 2-5
Biography
Bader traces the life of famous Civil Rights leader, Martin Luther King, Jr. from birth, through his important career and, tragically, his death and aftermath. Sidebars offer background information on a variety of topics from Jim Crow laws to the main points of the Civil Rights act of 1964. Cartoon-like illustrations by Elizabeth Wolf occur on practically every page to further tell the story and to entertain the reader. Bader concludes with a time line of both King's life and of the greater world during his lifespan. She includes a bibliography on the last page encouraging kids to read more about the topic.
The "Who Was" series is wildly popular in my library. We own the whole set, sometimes in multiples, and can't seem to keep them on the shelf. Why are they so popular? They are non-fiction written like fiction. Unlike the narrative non-fiction of the past (The Childhood of Famous Americans series) these books are evenly balanced accounts of the facts from the featured person's life. The cartoon-like illustrations, short chapters, compact book size, large print and wide margins make them very inviting and non-intimidating. The bobble-head covers serve to make the series distinctive and draws the reader in further. Though fun to read, the books are carefully researched and historically accurate. I learned things about Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Civil Rights movement I never knew before. The information is presented in connected sound bites, which is perfect for today's young people. A great choice for the chapter book set, give this to kids who love non-fiction. Grosset & Dunlap have figured out how to make reading non-fiction fun for kids and they don't break from the formula. Nor should they. Kids everywhere are learning about great people and events from both the past and the present and are loving every minute of it!
Giants Beware
Rafael Rosado
Jorge Aguirre (Illustrator)
First Second, 2012 202 pgs
Grades 2-6
Graphic Novel
Our story opens with a telling of the village legend of the baby-feet eating giant who lives beyond the forest and has caused the village to live in fear, safely barricaded behind stone walls. Young Claudette longs for adventure. She wants to be a giant-slayer like her monster killing/blacksmith father. Poppa lost legs and his sword arm and although he's strong and tough relies on his all suffering assistant Zubair. Claudette finally realizes that the time is right and escapes the village to kill the giant. Companions include brother Gaston and friend Marie, who is the Marquis' (mayor) daughter. The team encounters many obstacles in their quest, first escaping capture by the Apple Hag and then saving Marie from being forced to marry the son of the River King and gaining access to cross.They use their wits to find their way, escape enemies and survive in the wild. Finally they reach the forest where the giant lives. Claudette utilizes the magic given to her earlier by Zubair, revealing the true nature of the giant and discovering that all was not as they have been told all of their lives. Meanwhile, both fathers have been journeying to rescue their offsprings with less successful results. Eventually all are reunited and the children return to their village to great fanfare; a little wiser and having gained a friend.
Set in fairytale, medieval times, Giants Beware is an exciting classic quest with infused humor and modern touches. Main character, Claudette, is spunky, fearless, and androgynous, making her relatable to both boys and girls. Brother Gaston is the family chef, further expanding gender expectations. Marie, who aspires to princess-hood, is more of a traditionalist, but is as brave as the other two and proves that princesses can still kick butt. The action never stops, nor does the humor. Poppa's relationship with Zubair is hilarious and will elicit giggles from readers. Rosado offers a creative plot with interesting and different villains all within a traditional framework. Themes include following your dreams no matter what society says, gender equality, overcoming preconceived notions, and loyalty and friendship. Full color illustrations by Aguirre help to convey the story, add extra humor and are easy to scan. The book reads quickly, yet has substance. It will be enjoyed by all and may lead the reader to the team's new offering Dragon's Beware.
Let's Get Lost
Adi Alsaid
Harlequin Teen, 2014 338 pgs
Grades 9-Up
Realistic Fiction
Four teenagers with their own separate stories are linked by Leila, a road-tripping teen on a quest to see the northern lights. We first travel to small town Mississippi and meet Hudson. Hudson is a very serious young man. He works fixing cars at his father's shop, but has dreams of becoming a doctor. The day before his big interview he meets Leila and the two have a reckless adventure, falling in love as he shows her his town. After the crazy night Hudson misses his interview and his life comes crashing down around his ears. Next Leila picks up hitchhiker Bree. Leila's adventure with Bree involves shop lifting and grand auto theft, landing the girls in prison. Through this experience Leila works to reunite Bree with her only family member: a long-lost and misunderstood sister. Leila now finds herself in Minneapolis, where she runs over tuxedo-clad Elliot with her car. Elliot finally confessed his love to long-time crush Maribel, only to have her turn him down. Teenage-hood should be just like the 80's movies Elliot is obsessed with, so it comes as a surprise when he doesn't get the girl on prom nigh. Enter Leila and the two go on a quest to remedy the situation. Finally we head up to the western Canadian boarder and meet Sonia. Sonia is about to be a bridesmaid in her deceased boyfriend's sister's wedding, only she has found herself falling in love with the groom's brother. Confusion and guilt are tearing her apart. She runs off with Leila only to find that she has lost her passport on the wrong side of the boarder and she is wearing a jacket holding the wedding rings. The last story is Leila's herself. She makes it to the northern lights and the reader finally discovers exactly what has motivated her quest and we experience the awesome sight of the northern lights with her, along with its aftermath.
First time author, Alsaid, presents a highly-readable novel, that feels like five episodes of Touched by an Angel. All five stories are narrated by a different teenager who is at a crossroads. Leila enters their lives and helps them to get on the right path. I really thought she was an angel, until her own story when we see that she has her own troubles and her back story is revealed. Alsaid helps us to turn pages in order to find out what is Leila's motivation and past. He finally divulges and offers the reader closure and a satisfying ending. Because of underage drinking, recreational drug use, and poor decision making I would clearly make this book not appropriate for middle school. Even though there are five distinct narrators and many characters, the book never becomes confusing. The plot moves along like the open road and never lags. There were a few parts that I would actually call nail-biters that truly made me nervous while reading. Teenagers will love this book and even though it is published by Harlequin and is romantically driven, it can be enjoyed by both boys and girls. "Teenagers at a crossroads" is what motivates novels for young people and Alsaid offers us not just one but five. He has a new book out this year Somewhere over the Sun and I am interested in checking it out.
Space Dumplins
Craig Thompson
Graphix/Scholastic, 2015 313 pgs.
Grades 3-7
Graphic Novel
Veteran illustrator, Craig Thompson, creates a full-color graphic novel with non-stop action, madcap humor, and hidden depth. Meet Violet. She lives in the space equivalent of a trailer park with her space-lumberjack father and clothing designer mother. After Violet's school is destroyed in a space-whale attack she must go to work with her mother. Mother gets transferred to the ritzy space center Shell-Tarr, where Violet meets Elliot, a talking chicken-boy who works as a button runner for Mom's pretentious boss. Through a scavenging run with Dad we meet Zacchaeus, an alien child from an obliterated planet, where Violet obtains a space-bike. Tragedy strikes as whale diarrhea destroys the trailer park and threatens the whole galaxy. Meanwhile, Dad leaves on a secret mission for the government, never to return. Violet and her two unlikely friends escape on the space bike to try to find and rescue Dad. The journey proves treacherous as the team faces alien attack, whale excrement, and fuel loss, overcoming one obstacle after another with the help of Dad's delinquent buddies. Finally Violet and friends locate Dad, but can they save him? And if they do what will become of orphans Zacchaeus and Elliot? All is revealed by book's end.
Thompson offers a kid-friendly graphic novel for the video game generation. The action never stops, the slapstick humor never lets up and the characters and story line are original and fresh. Kids will relate to Violet and appreciate her courage, spunk, and warm heart. Friends Zacchaeus and Elliot are quirky and cute and provide much comic opportunities. Not simply an exciting space romp, Thompson cleverly inserts messages pertinent to the kids of today specifically: environmental protection, genetically enhancing consumable poultry, economical discrimination, not judging a book by its cover, and scientific ethics. Kid's won't care what the agenda is. They will simply enjoy the quickly moving plot and antics of Violet and her friends. Both boys and girls will enjoy this book and it will work for all reading levels and ages. Thompson has set-up more adventures for Violet and company, so hopefully this will be the first in a series. The comic feels a bit busy and frentic at times, but this generation of kids wouldn't want it any other way.
Fish in a Tree
Lynda Mullaly Hunt
Penguin, 2015 267 pgs.
Grades 4-7
Realistic Fiction
Ally's sixth grade year is already a disaster. Her kind teacher is about to go out on maternity leave. Ally, a perpetual class misfit who has changed schools multiple times because of a military father, accidentally gives her teacher a sympathy card instead of a good wishes card, all because she can't read what the card says. Ally finds herself in trouble again and struggles with the ridicule dished out by her classmates and getting through the school day. Her new teacher. Mr. Daniels, is different. Her takes the time to get to know each student and recognizes almost instantly that Ally has trouble reading, even though she has many coping mechanisms to hide this. Mr. Daniels finally uncovers that Ally has dyslexia and works after school with her to teach her new strategies for reading. Meanwhile, Ally reaches out to a new student named Keisha and the girls befriend fellow outcast, Albert, forming a circle of friendship. Through having an understanding teacher, finally learning how to read, and making friends for the first time, Ally slowly starts to develop confidence. A constant target for the classroom bully, Ally learns to stand up to her tormentor and stops giving her power. As the year progresses Ally and her friends find their places in both the classroom and the world and learn to embrace and appreciate who they are. As a student with dyslexia we see that although Ally is smart, she learns differently. By book's end Ally is a different person, confident and kind, and well on her way to becoming a student.
Hunt (One for the Murphys) again explores the struggle of a young person overcoming adversity, this t;me a learning disability. Fans of Out of My Mind, Wonder, and Counting by Sevens are the natural audience for this book. Hunt invites us into the mind of Ally. Through her eyes we see how frustrating every school day is for her. She has a loving and supportive family, but her beloved grandfather recently died and her military father is currently deployed, leaving her lonely. Ally continues to be misunderstood, yet puts one foot in front of the other and it is impossible not to root for her. I saw the learning disability before Ally or any adults in her life saw it. It was such a relief when Mr. Daniels comes on the scene, diagnoses dyslexia, and finally does something about it. We see Ally begin to blossom and grow in confidence. This would be a great classroom read aloud. Learning differences, bullying, deployed family members, poverty, and low self-esteem are all issues delved into within this book. Mr. Daniels is such an awesome teacher that he serves as a wonderful role model, making this a must-read for educators. The principal, who formally only punished Ally, apologizes at the end of the book, admitting that she should have recognized her disability, showing that administrators sometimes make mistakes and its appropriate to admit them and to always treat students with respect. Ally's friends Albert and Keisha are also fully developed characters who are interesting people, yet also struggle with issues of their own, showing kids that they are not the only one's with problems, we all have them. Both boys and girls will enjoy this book and identify with it. Fish in a Tree will be a natural fit in a school setting and is an enjoyable read for recreational use, making this book a recommended reading for all.
Untamed: the Wild Life of Jane Goodall
Anita Silvey
National Geographic, 2015 96 pgs.
Grades 3-6
Non-Fiction/Biography
Veteran author and Children's Literature expert, Anita Silvey presents an overview of the life and work of Jane Goodall suitable for young people. The book begins with a forward penned by the scientist herself with an invitation to children to become wildlife protectors. Silvey then digs into Goodall's childhood in World War II England tracing her life-long love of animals. Next we see Goodall following a dream to travel to Africa, where she falls in with renounced researcher Louis Leakey. Armed with only a secretarial degree and a great love and respect for wild animals, Leakey sends Goodall into the jungles of Tanzania to observe the wild chimps living in the Gombe Stream Game Reserve. Goodall accepts the challenge with enthusiasm and revolutionizes what we know about chimpanzees and the process in which they are studied. The second half of the book (as with Goodall's life) is spent following the celebrity scientist as she campaigns around the globe for animal rights and environmental protection. Finally, we see what is happening in the world today in regards to wildlife research and protection, a glimpse into some of the lives Goodall has touched, chimpanzee facts, brief biographies of some of Goodall's more notable chimp friends, a timeline, a map, further resources, sources, and a comprehensive index.
As I always say, "Everything I know about the world I have learned from reading children's books". Thanks to Silvey I now own surface knowledge of the life of Jane Goodall. Silvey presents a thoroughly researched and highly readable account of Goodall's life and work in an age-appropriate fashion. Emphasis is placed on Goodall's childhood and inspirations for future study, which would be relevant to children. Basic facts about her personal life in adulthood are offered, but not explored. Kids wouldn't care about this anyway. Instead, Silvey focuses on the work, incredible success stories of the abilities of some of the chimpanzees, and heroic efforts on Goodall's part to protect them. A perfect fit for children interested in nature or science, it will also appeal to the casual browser. The book reads quickly with distinct chapter breaks and remains interesting throughout. The real star of this book are the stunning photographs included on every page and the book's beautiful design. Anyone, child or adult, would pick up this book and start reading. I picked it up and, honestly, never thought I was interested in Goodall or the chimpanzees. Now I want to know more. Goodall started out with very little education at a time where women were not scientists, especially in the jungles of Africa. She followed her dreams, was fearless, and worked tirelessly, never loosing sight of what was important to her. Goodall's life is truly an inspiration and children will benefit on so many levels from checking out this book.
Appleblossom the Possum
Holly Goldberg Sloan
Gary Rosen, Illustrator
Dial, 2015 274 pgs.
Grades 3-6
Animal Fantasy/Adventure
Appleblossom is born the runt of thirteen possum babies. Being Marsupials, Appleblossom and her siblings live in Mama's pouch until they are ready to face the world. Since Mama is a progressive possum, she allows each possum to chose their own names, only they must begin with the letter "A" since this is her first litter. At last the baby possums emerge from the pouch and the real life training begins. Mama's teaching relies heavily on drama coaching (playing dead, etc,) and safety rules. Before Appleblossom is ready, Mama sets her little ones out on their own. For a while Appleblossom sticks close to brothers Amlet and Antonio, but eventually she is distracted by a "monster", who is in reality a little girl named Izzy. Izzy is very lonely and is desperate for a pet to become her best friend. So far, relations with her dog have been less than satisfying. After a disastrous fall through the chimney Appleblossom is in Izzy's house and Izzy is determined to keep her as a pet. Some very funny scenes ensue, involving an ill-fated bottle of shampoo and a Paddington coat, until Appleblossom is ready to return to the wild. But how to escape Izzy's house? Meanwhile, Amlet and Antonio are looking for help to rescue their lost sister. Help arrives in a very unexpected place: estranged father Big Poss. Big Poss leads the boys to the big city in search of their mother, who will help them rescue Appleblossom and save the day.
I am a big fan of Holly Goldberg Sloan Counting by Sevens was my favorite book of 2013. Appleblossom the Possum is a very different book. I was expecting another heart-felt realistic story. Instead I got a very funny animal-fantasy adventure for a younger audience. Even though it was not what I was expecting, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Appleblossum the Possum is a great choice for fans of the Humphrey books by Birney. Children ready for longer chapter books, but not ready for anything too challenging will be the target audience. The chapters are short, the margins wide and the print is large. The action never stops and the book is genuinely funny. Puns abound and subtle theatrical jokes cracked me up. Big Poss is a great character, somewhat stealing the show. Even though there are a lot of Possums to keep straight, the main characters have distinct personalities and become easily identifiable. The bumbling dog Columbo provides even more comic relief and the humor and action never stop. Sweet, cartoon-like illustrations, contributed by Gary Rosen, add to the story and will help to allure readers. Though books about all kinds of animals exist for children, this is the first non-picture book I can think of featuring possums. Sloan camouflages possum facts throughout the book and I actually learned something about these creatures, who are the only marsupials in North America, and made me a bit more sympathetic to them. Maybe I won't scream when I see the guy who lives under my shed crawl out as I pull my car into the driveway at night. No, I don't think I'm that evolved yet. This title stands alone, but could easily turn into a future series following further adventures of Appleblossom and her family.
