Leeva at Last

Leeva at Last

Sara Pennypacker
Matthew Cordell, Illustrator
HarperCollins, 2023
320 pages
Grades 3-6
Humor-ish

Leeva lives a dull life. The child of the town's mayor and a businessman, she is not allowed to attend school. Instead, she does housework for her family all day and gleans her knowledge of the world from daytime soap operas. One day she wanders out of her backyard and discovers the town library. This chance encounter introduces her to the kind librarian, her equally kind nephew, and the world of reading. Once Leeva's parents find out, she is forbidden to enter the library, but no one says she can't still be passed off library books? Through the discovery of literature Leeva's imagination sours and her brain grows. Through the acquaintance with the librarian and nephew she discovers for the first time what it is like to be cared for-and the power of cookies. While running errands for her new friends, Leeva's circle opens even further, as she gains two new human friends, as well as that of a badger. Finally running away from home, Leeva sleeps in the library's book drop and remains unmissed by her parents. When Leeva discovers that her money-grubbing father is siphoning the town's budget and hoarding the cash, she is determined that all of the town departments, including her beloved library, should get their fair share. Does she dare to oppose her family?

Not my favorite of Pennypacker's books, Leeva at Last is certainly unique and has a lot to say. The style of the book is much like Roald Dahl and readers will make comparisons with Matilda almost immediately. The humor is certainly there, yet runs absurdist and dark and may go over the heads of young readers. Much like The Series of Unfortunate Events, clever readers will get the dark humor and understand what the author is doing, yet more literal kids will possibly get distressed. The characters are all very interesting and unique and kids will certainly empathize with the protagonist and root for her success. I like that Leeva connects with community and this is what makes the difference. I also like the connection with the library, demonstrating the importance of this institution and that of reading books. I chuckled at the broken elevator complication, since my library is suffering similar woes. The illustrations, by Caldecott winning Cordell, reflect the flavor of the story and compliment the plot, also feeling influenced by Dahl's illustrator Quinten Blake. I don't think that this book will do as well as some of the author's other works, but it is certainly worth checking out.

Isla of Adventure

Isla of Adventure: Welcome to the Island

Dela Costa

Ana Sebastian, Illustrator

Simon & Schuster, 2022

117 pages

Grades 2-4

Meet Isla, a young girl growing up in the happy island community of Sol who has a big secret: she can talk to animals. Although she can talk to every animal on the island, Isla's special friend is a gecko named Fitz. Isla's life is happy enough, living with her single mother and her grandparents next door and Fitz is a great best friend. What she longs for is a human friend. When a new girl moves in the long unoccupied house next door, Isla is excited. Could this be a new friend? At first glance it doesn't seem hopeful. Tora is dressed in pink from head to toe and doesn't seem to like playing outside and getting dirty. When Tora's beloved "La Ciudad" pin, her reminder of the life she left behind, is stolen by a seagull, it is Isla's chance to save the day and impress her new neighbor. While negotiating with the sassy bird, Tora witnesses Isla's secret in action. Oh, no! Will Tora think she is weird? Find out how Tora reacts and if the two becomes friends in this brand new chapter book series.

Costa offers a first installment in a new chapter book series, just right for new readers taking the plunge to the next step. The print is large, clear, and dark. The vocabulary is controlled and the chapters are short. Cartoon-like illustrations are on literally every page, sometimes taking up full pages, giving the novel a graphic feel and welcoming reluctant readers. Spanish words are carefully inserted within the text and names are cleverly sometimes the Spanish equivalent (ex: the Island of "Sol"/sun). Isla is cheerful, likable and as sunny as her island home. Kids will relate to her problem of finding friends and envy her ability to communicate with animals. The story and illustrations are welcoming and cozy. Fitz the Gecko is particularly cute and endearing. The second installment in the series, The Secret Cabana, has been released simultaneously, with an excerpt at the end of the first volume to encourage kids to pick up the sequel. A great starter series for both Spanish and non-Spanish speaking young readers.

Barakah Beats

Barakah Beats
Maleeha Siddiqui
Scholastic, 2021
277 pages
Grades 5-7
Realistic Fiction

After making her Ameen (ceremony celebrating the completion of Qur'an study) Nimra's parents allow her to transfer from the Muslim private school she had been attending to the local public school. Nimra is fairly confident that it will be fine. Her former class was made-up of three girls of the same culture and religion, but Nimra has her best friend, Jenna, with her to help navigate the foreign waters of public school seventh grade. Almost immediately Nimra realizes that she is in over her head. There are more kids than she was expecting and very few Muslim students. Even worse, Jenna's school friends aren't entirely welcoming and her best friend seems different when she is with the big group. Looking for a place to pray, Nimra stumbles into the band room, where a group of eighth grade Muslim boys, The Barakah Beats, are practicing. Nimra joins in the signing and finds herself part of the group. The problem is, some Muslims, including her parents, think that music and dancing is against Islamic teachings. Further complications arise when Jenna is excited that Nimra is in the group with the cool older boys. Should she stay in to please both Jenna and her new friends or stay true to her beliefs? And what will her parents say when they discover her secret life?

Siddiqui presents a contemporary glimpse into middle school life from a Muslim perspective. Nimra is a very likable and relatable protagonist and readers will empathize with her struggle between social success and family obligations. I appreciate that there is no romance in this story, just an unrequited  crush--and it isn't Nimra's She actually becomes friends with the cool older guys and has the confidence to speak her mind and hold her own space within the band. I also appreciate that Siddiqui presents differing Muslim perspectives on issues such as listening to music and how they can be divergent within a community and even a family. Muslim children will enjoy seeing someone that they can relate to in a current school story and non-Muslim children will understand that even though some of their classmates might dress differently or celebrate different holidays, they still have universal hopes and troubles. Nimra discovers the hardship of keeping secrets and eventually comes clean with both her friends and her family with satisfying results. A bright and straightforward read that gave me an easy distraction in the doldrums of winter.

You Only Live Once David Bravo

You Only Live Once David Bravo
Mark Oshiro
HarperCollins, 2022
375 pages
Fantasy

Poor David Bravo! Middle school and sixth grade are off to a terrible start. He has become a target of the school bullies, is struggling making friends, cannot properly express himself, and then trips his cross-country teammate/best friend by accident, landing the future track star on the injured list. After the worst day ever, an otherworldly creature, who no one else can see, presents herself offering David a do-over. Fea's job is to help folks fix that one regrettable thing in their life to break an unfortunate timeline. What is it in David's life that needs fixing? After many failed attempts, all of which Antoine still hurts his leg--or they loose their friendship, David realizes that maybe his life was just fine the way it was. But if that's the case, why was Fea sent to him? Meanwhile, David discovers that he has confusing feelings about his best friend. Should he tell Antoine? David questions that, because he is adopted, maybe something is missing or that he isn't good enough. By book's end David learns the truth about his past, what really makes a family, and that you should go for things, because: you only live once!

This book was starred everywhere and could be found on a lot of the "best of 2022" lists. Young Adult author, Oshiro, has a great concept for his foray into middle grade. Who wouldn't want a do-over? I certainly have some cringy things lurking in my past that I am sure, assuming they were fixed, my life would have followed a better path. I love time travel and I appreciate David jumping back into the past in an attempt to fix his present, only to keep making matters worse. My main complaint is that the book is waaaaay too long. It goes talkie in places and I am guessing that many middle grade readers will bail by the end. The character Fea is annoying, yet maybe Oshiro intended that on purpose. I did not find her sympathetic or likable, especially after she convinces David to act on romantic feelings that he was previously unaware in order to fix her own past. I thought that the story was a bit unnecessarily romantic (David is eleven and pretty dopey) and the cover shows someone who looks even younger. I liked the adoption plot and the message about your true family and identity as delivered by the author. I found the book to have a great premise, but is somewhat overshadowed by adult intentions.

My Own LIghtning

My Own Lightning

Lauren Wolk

Dutton/Penguin, 2022

307 pages

Grades 5-8

Historical Fiction

Seven years after the publication of her Newbery winning Wolf Hollow, Wolk continues Annabelle's story soon after the tragic events of the previous book conclude. Annabelle, still reeling from the double deaths of Toby and Betty, finds herself trapped in a lightning storm. She is struck and loses consciousness. Upon awakening Annabelle is aware of rough hands, who bring her back to life and then disappear. Once her father appears and takes her home, Annabelle is ready to recover with her life thankfully saved. She is both bewildered and delighted to discover that since the strike she has superhuman senses and can mentally communicate with dogs. This skill brings her to a farm down the road where new neighbors have something to hide, both physically in their barn and emotionally. Meanwhile, a fancy-man is looking for a his lost dog and it seems as if this is not the only dog missing in the area. Annabelle's path crosses with Andy, Betty's former co-conspirator, and she has to decide whether or not to trust him, and he must do the same with her. Annabelle discovers that people are not always what they seem, as well as the importance of family and the value of our animal friends, as she heals from her past and moves forward to her future.

I loved Wolf Hollow and find myself recommending it often to readers. I re-read this award winning title in order to refresh myself for it's sequel and found that I still love it. I enjoyed this new edition just as much--if not more. Wolf still offers little mysteries within the pages (the true identity of the fancy man with the lost dog, what the new neighbors are hiding, the truth behind Andy), which will keep readers on their toes and turning pages. The story, much like it's predecessor, is seeped in it's rural Pennsylvania WWII setting and Annabelle's voice perfectly reflects her time and place. I love Wolk's writing and turn of phrase and found myself re-reading passages that are beautifully crafted. The lightning strike resulting in animal communication is very cool and readers will envy Annabelle's new gift. Wolk makes a strong message against animal cruelty, which will also resound with the target audience. Other themes include the power of forgiveness, not jumping to conclusions about people and working within a community. Knowledge of the first book is extremely recommended, though I know a young reader who read this without the first and did okay. That said, he said that after reading Wolf Hollow he understood this sequel much better. A great duet that makes me wonder if it will become a trilogy?

The Epic Story of Every Living Thing

The Epic Story of Every Living Thing
Deb Caletti
Random House, 2022
403 pages
Grades 9-12
Realistic Fiction

Harper is a high school junior with a practically perfect life. She is beautiful, smart, outdoorsy, and has a cute and artsie boyfriend. Her instagram says is all and Harper find gratification in all of the likes and interactions that she gets on her carefully orchestrated photos. Forget about the fact that her controlling single mother is driving her crazy, her boyfriend is getting tired of schlepping the camera equipment on all of their hikes, and post COVID anxiety has her a bit twitchy. Further complications arise as a comment on one of her posts leads her to a half-brother from her sperm donor father that she never knew existed. In fact, there are forty-four half-sibs in all, though Harper meets only three--to start. The quartet travels to Hawaii to meet/ambush said sperm donor father with surprising results, showing Harper that families are complicated. Dad turns out to be a diver and the new siblings learn the tricks of his trade, exploring a shipwreck slated for demolition. The shipwreck has historical significance, as we see in the form of diary entries from a long-ago young female wife-turned-captain. Can the new family save the shipwreck before it's too late? And will Harper's mom let her stay for the summer to pursue these new connections?

Award winning teen author, Caletti pens a post-pandemic novel with a lot to say. In my opinion the most important message is the addiction to and fake validation of social media. At one point Harper loses her phone and that brings about complete change, new confidence, and character growth. Other themes include environmentalism, standing up for what is right, the importance of honesty, finding your authentic self, post-COVID anxiety, and that families are what we make them. Yes, there is a lot going on, yet Caletti never gets preachy or muddled. The diving bits are rich and calming amidst the pages of angst and the reader will want to sign up for scuba lessons immediately. The book felt a little predictable, except one surprise plot twist towards the end that I didn't see coming and made the book better for it. It all ends a bit too neatly, which will satisfy readers, yet did not totally ring true for me. I loved the diary entries from the captain's wife-turned-captain in the mid-1800's. Those brief interludes added historical context and became integral to the plot in the present. A little long, yet a great concept, this may not be Caletti's best, but it is a worthwhile read.