After working with students for quite some time I have realized that they are hesitant to go anywhere near historical fiction. They assume that once they hear it is about history they equate the book to their boring history textbooks. I'm always on the look out for historical fiction that don't really read as one. In other words where there is other things happening in the book in which I can entice my reluctant readers with so that the historical aspects don't really stick out and just become part of the story. The Tales from Alcatraz series is a perfect example where there is enough coming of age story, intrigue, and humor to keep the reader's attention.

Description: It's 1935. Moose Flanagan lives on Alcatraz with his family, the other families of the guards, and a few hundred no-name hit men, con men, mad dog murderers and a handful of bank robbers too. And one of those cons has just done him a big favor.
  You see, Moose has never met Al Capone, but a few weeks ago Moose wrote a letter to him asking him to use his influence to get his sister, Natalie, into a school she desperately needs in San Francisco. After Natalie got accepted, a note appeared in Moose?s freshly laundered shirt that said: Done.
  As this book begins, Moose discovers a new note. This one says: Your turn. Is it really from Capone? What does it mean? Moose can't risk anything that might get his dad fired. But how can he ignore Al Capone?


Review: Al Capone Shines My Shoes is a great sequel to the Newbery Honor-winning Al Capone Does My Shirts and could be read as a standalone. I think in order to become a bit more comfortable with the setting and the book's subplots you may want to read the first book. 
  In the first book Moose's autistic sister, Natalie, is attending a special school in San Francisco, due to strings presumably pulled by Al Capone, the notorious mobster. Moose assumed he was off the hook until he receives a note through the prison laundry, stating, "Your turn." In addition to the fear that he now owes a con and struggling with his conscious, he also needs to focus on negotiating the constantly shifting friendships, crushes, and grudges among his friends at school and on Alcatraz, where he lives. 
  The historical details of daily life on Alcatraz in 1935 which is also expanded upon in the author's note at the end of the book really brings the book to life. The children living in Alcatraz maintain a titillated fascination with the convicts, most especially with the notorious Al Capone. I had no idea that the well-behaved convicts who, because of the difficult economic times, are allowed to do manual labor for the island's civilians. 
  The pace and plot for the book never got boring as we try to figure out if Moose's predicament in assisting Al Capone is legitimate or not. His personal mystery leads to other questions and mysteries among the convicts, and it's up to the children (especially Natalie) to foil a dangerous escape plan.    Moose is a very likable character. He cares deeply for his sister and protects her from the other bullies who don't seem to understand her autism. I also liked how Natalie was important to the plot and not just there for the sake of being there. 

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: None. Recommended for strong Grade 4 readers and up.

If you like this book try: Al Capone Does My Homework (Tales from Alcatraz #3)

 Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch was a debut novel of 2014 that I really wanted to read last year. With comparisons to my favorite YA fantasy novel, Graceling by Kristin Cashore, I was very eager to read Raasch's debut. While Snow Like Ashes is not quite like Cashore's novel, it is a satisfying read for readers who enjoy fantasy with a touch of romance.

Description: Sixteen years ago the Kingdom of Winter was conquered and its citizens enslaved, leaving them without magic or a monarch. Now, the Winterians’ only hope for freedom is the eight survivors who managed to escape, and who have been waiting for the opportunity to steal back Winter’s magic and rebuild the kingdom ever since.
  Orphaned as an infant during Winter’s defeat, Meira has lived her whole life as a refugee, raised by the Winterians’ general, Sir. Training to be a warrior—and desperately in love with her best friend, and future king, Mather — she would do anything to help her kingdom rise to power again.
   So when scouts discover the location of the ancient locket that can restore Winter’s magic, Meira decides to go after it herself. Finally, she’s scaling towers, fighting enemy soldiers, and serving her kingdom just as she’s always dreamed she would. But the mission doesn’t go as planned, and Meira soon finds herself thrust into a world of evil magic and dangerous politics – and ultimately comes to realize that her destiny is not, never has been, her own.

Review: Snow Like Ashes is an enjoyable fantasy with the right balance of action, intrigue, and romance. Raasch has created an interesting fantasy world. In Primoria, the world our heroine Meira inhabits, there are eight kingdoms: four Seasons, in a perpetual state of the season they're named for, and four Rhythms that cycle through all four. Meira is one of the remaining eight free Winterians, a kingdom who was enslaved and ravaged by King Angra of Spring sixteen years ago in order to slay the Winterian Queen and to destroy its Royal Conduit (a locket used by a female ruler to magically aid her country).
  Meira is a scrappy, likable female character with a good head on her shoulders. She hates that she can't be taken seriously or given important tasks just because she is female. Refreshingly she is not focused on her own comforts and problems, but longs to take an active role in helping to free the people of her kingdom. In order to show her fellow Winterians that she is indeed useful she goes on a dangerous mission and reclaims half the of the coveted locket. Meira is captured but thanks to her quick thinking and her military training, she escapes. Born an orphan Meira always longed for affection whether its familial in which she seeks from her stoic leader Sir or romantically with Mather, heir to the Winterian throne and best friend, though she constantly reminds herself that their relationship can not be because of their social ranks. I didn't really feel any romantic connection between Mather and Meira and often thought it was one sided. I also wished that Mather's character was a bit more fleshed out too.
 Meira's doesn't get the celebration she thought she would she would receive from retrieving the half locket and instead Spring scouts follow her to camp and the refugees must flee to the Rhythm of Cordell, where court intrigue ensue and Meira meets the instantly likable Prince Theron. While it is clear that with two love interests there would be a love triangle, however, I think Prince Theron is the most logical choice. 
  The running theme throughout Snow Like Ashes is what does it take to become a leader? There are many important decisions that the rulers of Primoria need to make. Meira's role is constantly shifting, especially as the story unfolds, the history of the provinces is revealed, magic explained, and all is not as it seems. I'm looking forward to finding out what happens next.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some strong violence. Recommended for Grade 7 and up.

If you like this book try: Shadow and Bone series by Leigh Bardugo

 I really liked Brian K. Vaughan's space opera graphic novel, Saga, but haven't been able to get the second volume of that series. Since I liked his writing and the illustrations of Saga, I thought I would check out his earlier series called Y The Last Man. 


Description: When a plague of unknown origin instantly kills every mammal with a Y chromosome, unemployed and unmotivated slacker Yorick Brown suddenly discovers that he is the only male left in a world inhabited solely by women. Accompanied by his mischievous monkey and the mysterious Agent 355, Yorick embarks on a transcontinental journey to find his girlfriend and discover why he is the last man on Earth. But with a gang of feminist extremists and the leader of the Israel Defense Forces hunting him, Yorick's future, as well as that of the human race, may be short-lived.

Review: Y: The Last Man: Unmanned is a dystopian graphic novel that has a really intriguing premise. A plague of unknown origin has spread and killed every mammal with a Y chromosome with the exception of one young man named Yorick and his male monkey pet. We don't find out the explanations for the plague or why Yorick and his monkey were saved, which is actually a good thing because there are several possibilities. 
  This graphic novel and I'm guessing the remainder of this series takes a satirical viewpoint of gender issues and the continual fight between progressive science versus the natural order of things. There is also a lot of humor and not so subtle social criticisms/satire as women commemorate the dead man at The Washington Monument (take a moment and think about it). We also have what society would dub as the crazy feminists who take on the role of the ancient Amazons and tear off one breast and take to believing Mother Earth meant to eradicate the males. Politicians are not left unscathed as Republican wives of dead senators show up with guns, arguing they should have a voice in the new government.
 Our main protagonist Yorrick is a likable slacker who is sometimes clueless. He is more concerned about reaching his girlfriend who he wants to marry and his sister. We are meant to believe that the survival of humanity rests in his head and let me tell you, it doesn't look good. 
  With its humorous dialogue, great illustrations, fun characters and a fast-paced story, I'm willing to take the journey with Yorrick to find out the answers to my questions.

Rating: 4 stars


Words of Caution: This graphic novel contains strong bloody violence, nudity, and language. Recommended for mature teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: Y: The Last Man: Cycles (Vol 2) by Brian K. Vaughan

 Navigating Early is one of those special middle grade reads that can be appreciated by young readers and adults for its complex narrative and excellent character development. After reading this book I was not surprised by how many starred review and accolades it has received. I thoroughly enjoyed it and it landed on my Top 14 reads from last year.


Description: When Jack Baker's father sends him from his home in Kansas to attend a boys' boarding school in Maine, Jack doesn't know what to expect. Certainly not Early Auden, the strangest of boys. Early keeps to himself, reads the number pi as a story, and refuses to accept truths others take for granted. Jack, feeling lonely and out of place, connects with Early, and the two become friends.
   During a break from school, the boys set out for the Appalachian Trail on a quest for a great black bear. As Jack and Early travel deeper into the mountains, they meet peculiar and dangerous characters, and they make some shocking discoveries. But their adventure is only just beginning. Will Jack's and Early's friendship last the journey? Can the boys make it home alive?

Review: Navigating Early is a story about memories, personal journeys, interconnectedness, and the power of stories. On its surface, it is a tale of two outcast boys from a boarding school developing a friendship and overcoming loss; however, if you dig deeper you will realize that the book in fact is composed of three stories that beautifully weave together by the last page.
  Jack enters boarding school in Maine after his mother's death at the end of World War II. He mourns and feels guilty for not taking care of his mother. He also resents his Navy father who appears to him like a stranger and in Jack's eyes kicked Jack out of the only home that he has known. Jack quickly befriends Early Auden, a savant whose extraordinary facility with numbers allows him to "read" a story about "Pi" from the infinite series of digits that follow 3.14. It takes some time for Jack to accept Early as he is, but there is a powerful scene that shows how Jack and Early's solidified their friendship. Jack accompanies Early in one of the school crew team's rowing boats on what Jack believes is his friend's fruitless quest to find a great bear allegedly roaming the wilderness--and Early's brother, a legendary figure reportedly killed in battle. While on their journey, Early tells an evolving saga of Pi  and the boys encounter memorable individuals and adventures that uncannily parallel those in the Pi's stories.
 To be honest, I was not very interested in Navigating Early at first. I wasn't sure where the story was going when it started to include pirates and Pi's crazy adventures, but once I figured out the allegorical connection to Pi's story with that of Jack and Early's everything clicked for me. Jack and Early may appear to be very different from one another because of their abilities, but they are very much alike. Both are trying to accept the loss of their loved ones and are trying in their own ways to understand their realities. Jack prefers to internalize and analyze his thoughts. His voice does seem a lot older than a thirteen year old. Similarly, Early makes sense of his situation by creating a story using what he knows best: numbers.
 Vanderpool ties all these details along with Jack's growing maturity and self-awareness together masterfully and poignantly, though humor and excitement leaven the weighty issues the author and Jack frequently pose. Some of Pi's adventures require a bit of suspended disbelief and there are some coincidences that may seem a bit too convenient in the story. Despite these minor flaws, Vanderpool has created a stunning novel with a very eloquent and moving ending. Navigating Early requires patience, thought, and concentration but it is well worth the effort. 

Rating: 4.5 stars

Words of Caution: None. Recommended for strong Grade 5 readers and up.

If you like this book try: Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool, Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan

 These Broken Stars was one of my favorite books from last year. I was really looking forward to reading the next book in the series. While being different from the first book, the sequel does not disappoint. Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book.

Description: Jubilee Chase and Flynn Cormac should never have met.
  Lee is captain of the forces sent to Avon to crush the terraformed planet's rebellious colonists, but she has her own reasons for hating the insurgents.
  Rebellion is in Flynn's blood. His sister died in the original uprising against the powerful corporate conglomerate that rules Avon with an iron fist. These corporations make their fortune by terraforming uninhabitable planets across the universe and recruiting colonists to make the planets livable, with the promise of a better life for their children. But they never fulfilled their promise on Avon, and decades later, Flynn is leading the rebellion.
  Desperate for any advantage against the military occupying his home, Flynn does the only thing that makes sense when he and Lee cross paths: he returns to base with her as prisoner. But as his fellow rebels prepare to execute this tough-talking girl with nerves of steel, Flynn makes another choice that will change him forever. He and Lee escape base together, caught between two sides in a senseless war.

Review: This Shattered World is the second book in the Starbound trilogy, however, it can be read even if you haven't read the first book in the series. This book focus on new characters and a new world. Unlike the space-opera romance in the first book, This Shattered World as the title implies is much darker, gritter, where the mystery takes center stage with hints of romance.
 Captain Jubilee Chase is the longest serving soldier on the partially terraformed planet of Avon, the only person who has proved immune to "The Fury," the mindless rage that strikes off-worlders who come to serve on Avon. Flynn Cormac is a member of the native Fianna rebels, who hopes that by kidnapping Chase, he can discover more about a mysterious facility hidden in the swamp to the east of the military's main outpost.
 Jubilee and Flynn are opposites of the war and see each other as the enemy, however, neither of them wants the shaky ceasefire between their sides to be over. At first Jubilee and Flynn can only see and focus on their differences, but as the two characters spend more time throughout the story they come to understand that they share many similarities particularly their tragic losses of their loved ones. As the characters spend more time with one another they develop a mutual respect that grows to something more-even as their alliance comes to be seen as a betrayal by both sides. They both uncover mysterious and conspiracies that have been plaguing Avon and quite possibly other planets in their galaxy. It was nice seeing Tarver Merendsen and Lilac LaRoux, the main leads in the first book make appearances and have a real purpose besides fanfare, tying the many unexplained events in this title to those in the first volume of the "Starbound" trilogy.
  There is plenty of action in This Shattered World and the mysteries that Jubilee and Flynn uncovered kept me turning the pages. I did, however, find the romance and the chemistry between these two characters are a bit underdeveloped and lacking. I find it a bit hard to believe that can find romance especially when their world is quite literally falling apart. Nonetheless This Shattered World is a very strong second book that can be enjoyed by young and adult readers. I look forward to seeing how every thing gets resolved in the next book of this series.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is strong war violence but most of it takes place off the page. There are some disturbing images and minor language. Recommended for strong Grade 7 readers and up.

If you like this book try: Across the Universe series by Beth Revis, Sky Chaser series by Amy Kathleen Ryan

Description: While picking up milk for his children's cereal, a father is abducted by aliens and finds himself on a wild adventure through time and space.

Review: A little boy and his little sister awake one morning with milk for their cereal. Their mother is away on business and their father is buried, reading in the paper while the childrens' sit impatiently and hungry for breakfast. The siblings concoct a plan to persuade their father to drop his paper and go get milk by telling him his tea isn't as good without milk. The father reluctantly makes a trip to the story, but takes a very long time from coming back to the story with their coveted milk. When he does finally arrive back home, he has a story to tell, a story involving aliens; pirates; ponies; wumpires (not the handsome, sparkly ones but the brooding kind); and a stegosaurus professor who pilots a Floaty-Ball-Person-Carrier (which looks suspiciously like a hot-air balloon). Fortunately, the Milk reminds me a lot of Douglas Adams' bizarre plots and humor. There is a lot of things that young readers will enjoy: time travel, treachery, and tongue in cheek humor and narrative twists as the father goes to great lengths at rescuing his bottle of milk at every turn. The illustrations by Young fills the pages with sketchy, highly stylized and exaggerated images, stretched and pointy, bringing the crazed creatures father meets on his perilous journey to life. Many kids just like siblings in the book will scratch their head and wonder if they believe the father's wild stories at all. I think this would make a great read aloud.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: None. Recommended for Grades 3 and up.

If you like this book try: Sideway Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar, Flora and Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo

Princess of Thorns is a loose fairy tale retelling, weaving elements of the various famous tales such as "Sleeping Beauty", "Rapunzel", and "Swan Lake" while creating a unique and compelling story of its own merit. Readers expecting a faithful retelling of any of the above fairy tales will be disappointed with picking up this book. Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book.


Description: Though she looks like a mere mortal, Princess Aurora is a fairy blessed with enhanced strength, bravery, and mercy yet cursed to destroy the free will of any male who kisses her. Disguised as a boy, she enlists the help of the handsome but also cursed Prince Niklaas to fight legions of evil and free her brother from the ogre queen who stole Aurora's throne ten years ago. Will Aurora triumph over evil and reach her brother before it's too late? Can Aurora and Niklaas break the curses that will otherwise forever keep them from finding their one true love?

Review:  Jay has created an interesting fantasy kingdom that is home to humans, fairies, ogres, and witches; however, I wished the world building was a bit stronger so we could see how the kingdom works on a grand scale. The story of Princess of Thorns is engaging and unfolds incrementally creating suspense and romantic tension throughout the book. Briar-born siblings Aurora and Jor have been in hiding for 10 years, ever since their mother, Sleeping Beauty, sacrificed herself in order to protect her children from the Ogre Queen. Now Jor has been kidnapped, and the fairy-blessed Aurora must save him before his blood is spilled and the prophecy of living darkness comes true.
  I liked the main characters of Princess Thorns. Aurora is a very likable female heroine. She is tough and strong when it is required of her, but also has vulnerabilities that draws us closer to her. Her loyalty and determination to save her brother is admirable though at times a bit unrealistic such as solely fetching an army to fight the Ogre Queen. She is reluctant to trust anyone unless there is some bargin in which she can gain from, which is exactly how she meets Prince Niklaas.
  Disguised as a boy and calls herself Ror, she teams up with the repulsive Niklaas, when he promises to help her find an army in exchange for an introduction to "his sister," Ror agrees. Like Aurora, Prince Niklaas is also a complex character. He reminded me a lot of Flynn Rider from the movie Tangled. Under his handsome and overly confident bravado, he too is trying to escape from his own destiny of turning into a swan by his eighteenth birthday unless he finds and marries a princess. You get to see and fall for the real Niklaas as you get to know him better through his journey with Aurora.
 Aurora and Niklaas had great romantic tension. They definitely had a hate-love relationship as their preconceived notions about one another stood in their way. As their journey occurs over the span of several days, their relationship grows believably as we see them transition between friends and something more. When the truth is revealed to both characters about each other, it was refreshing to see that it took time as they sought trust and forgiveness for one another as well as repair their strained relationship. 
  While there were some interesting twists to the story, I felt the ending was a bit too rushed. The promised epic battle scene lacked oomph and was resolved too quickly. Though the book could stand on its own and it does not have a cliffhanger, I do hope that Jay returns to this world as I was left with some questions. 
   
Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some language, some crude humor, and a violent suicide that takes place off the page. Recommended for strong Grade 8 readers and up.

If you like this book try: Beauty by Robin McKinley, Book of Thousand Days by Shannon Hale, Bound by Donna Jo Napoli, Impossible by Nancy Werlin

  I seem to be in a Sherlock Holmes kick. I read a slew of books in the same vein as Sherlock Holmes in hopes that it will help pass the time until the new season of Sherlock returns to TV. Some of the reads were entertaining while others were a complete miss.


Description:  It is the dawn of World War I, and Sherlock Holmes has been dead for 20 years. Holmes'' enemy - Professor James Moriarty - is a lost man. MI5 blackmails Moriarty into finding Holmes'' long-lost brother, Mycroft, but what at first appears to be a routine case leads to a web of intrigue that involves a psychic box and its creator, a woman from Moriarty''s past, and a new villain that threatens to be greater than Moriarty ever was!

Review: Moriarty has always been a fascinating character. He has been commonly called Sherlock Holmes' arch-nemesis. Yet, any Sherlock Holmes reader would know, we know very little of him besides the mentions here or there since he barely appears in the stories. To find a graphic novel that attempts to shed some light on this mysterious character piqued my curiosity and I thought I would give it a try. 
  Daniel Corey has created a Moriarty that is tangible and easy to understand, but he is far different from his original description created by Doyle. Instead of being an older scholarly gentlemen, he is much younger and comes across as a secret spy. He is not as formidable as I hoped him to be and nor is he smarter than Holmes. While the changes to Moriarty character is jarring, it does make sense since this book has a lot of action.
  The plot of the graphic novel was a bit hard to follow at times. From what I can gather the story takes place in an alternative universe where Sherlock Holmes was the one who went over the falls at Reichenbach, and Professor Moriarty who survives, albeit in a much diminished form. His criminal network is all but lost and he is reduced to being “a sort of investigator for the criminal element”, when he is called upon to find the missing Mycroft Holmes and at last finds the first real challenge he's had since 'The Final Problem'. There were many new characters that were in the graphic novel that I was unfamiliar with and could have used a better introduction. In addition to having problems with the plot of the graphic novel, I also was not a fan of the artwork. The color black and dark red was used heavily and made the panels hard to read. 
  Overall Moriarty has a great premise and concept, but the execution of the story and drawings leave you with wanting more. I don't plan on continuing this series.

Rating: 2 stars

Words of Caution: There is strong violence, some language, and some nudity. Recommended for mature teen readers and up.

If you like this book try: Moriarty: The Lazarus Tree by Daniel Corey, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen by Alan Moore

Description: One snowy December morning in an old European city, an American man leaves his shabby hotel to meet a local woman who has agreed to help him search for an apartment to rent. The Apartment follows the couple across a blurry, illogical, and frozen city into a past the man is hoping to forget, and leaves them at the doorstep of an uncertain future—their cityscape punctuated by the man’s lingering memories of time spent in Iraq and the life he abandoned in the United States. Contained within the details of this day is a complex meditation on America’s relationship with the rest of the world, an unflinching glimpse at the permanence of guilt and despair, and an exploration into our desire to cure violence with violence.

Review: The Apartment is not recommended for readers who are plot driven, but rather for those who enjoy the stream of consciousness narrative. The plot of this book is very simple. A Navy veteran in his early 40s who has made big money working as a military contractor in Iraq explores an unnamed European city with a possibly romantic interest in a local woman, Saskia. The events in the book take place over the course of one day spent searching for an apartment with the anonymous, military worker who looks back on his role in the American military. The narrator is interesting especially in his cowardice and hypocrisy. Much of the book is exploring how the idea of American power is seen in the global context and how it is actually played in the real world. Transporting an American outside of America is good device of doing so, but I kind of wished the author took this idea a step further and placed his character beyond the Euro-centric country. Nonetheless The Apartment is very well written but be warned there isn't much happening within the pages and the pacing is quite slow despite its short pages.

Rating: 3 stars

Words of Caution: There is some language and mature themes. Recommended for adults only.

If you like this book try: The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien, Redeployment by Philip Kay

 I haven't posted any picture book reviews quite sometime and I missed doing them. Today I have reviews of award honoree picture books, Journey by Aaron Becker and Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote by Duncan Tonatiuh, as well as the historical Miss Moore Thought Otherwise by Jan Pinborough.


Description: A lonely girl draws a magic door on her bedroom wall and through it escapes into a world where wonder, adventure, and danger abound. Red marker in hand, she creates a boat, a balloon, and a flying carpet that carry her on a spectacular journey toward an uncertain destiny. When she is captured by a sinister emperor, only an act of tremendous courage and kindness can set her free. Can it also lead her home and to her heart's desire?

Review: I was really surprised that Aaron Becker's gorgeous wordless picture book didn't win the Caldecott last year. Journey is another example of how easily we get distracted by all the digital tools that grab our attention and how we lose sight of our own precious imagination. Ignored by her digitally distracted family, a nameless girl escapes into a a new lush, colorful world by drawing a red door on her bedroom wall and steps through. Through wordless pages we see the girl's world become richer and complex as she draws lush green forests that twinkles with lanterns and strung lights; a dizzying castle towers with its gates, turrets and halls linked by complicated waterways; even a hovering aircraft with propellers and wheels which holds an imprisoned, metaphorical purple-plumed bird.
 I absolutely loved how amid all of these intricate and detailed drawings, the girl appears markedly ordinary with her simple pageboy haircut, minimal facial features and simple clothes which suggests that she could be anyone and the reader could easily picture themselves in her own shoes and go on her journey as if it was their own. Becker does a great job in contrasting the girl's reality with putty-colored grays and flat, boxy city shapes. Since the book is wordless, the white pages highlight action and bring up so many contextual questions with no clear answers and generates our own imagination to come up with with the possible solutions just like this girl did to escape her loneliness. Journey is a must read picture book that will be enjoyed by readers of all ages and can be easily read multiple of times without getting bored.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Words of Caution: None. Recommended for Grade 1 and up.

If you like this book try: Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson, Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak, The Red Book by Barbara Lehman



Description: When Papa Rabbit does not return home as expected from many seasons of working in the great carrot and lettuce fields of El Norte, his son Pancho sets out on a dangerous trek to find him, guided by a coyote. Includes author's note.

Review: With debates and conversations on the topic of immigration being prevalent in our news today, there are not many books written on this topic for younger readers. Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote, an award honoree for the Pura Belpre award, attempts to break down the complexities surrounding immigration in a fable-like picture book for children and succeeds.
Pancho Rabbit has the feel of a classic fable or fairy tale that uses an animal cast to demonstrate the often perilous journeys of migrant Mexicans who seek work in the U.S. in order to support their families. In our story, Papa Rabbit is expected to return home from working in "El Norte," and his family prepares a celebratory fiesta, but he fails to arrive. When his son Pancho goes in search of his father, he meets an unreliable coyote who agrees to guide him north but at a cost.
 I really like how the illustrations in this book which draw inspiration from ancient Mexican art, but also incorporates modern items such as denim jeans and a backpack in photographic textures which emphasize the connection between the past and the present. Since the topic of immigrations is quite complex and may be over the heads of many young readers, there is an extensive author's note which can help guide adults to talk about the subject with younger readers. The story is realistic and shows that there are no easy solutions. Though this book could be read by first or second grade students, I think it is best to use this book with kids who are older and more familiar with the topic of immigration.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: None. Recommended for Grade 2 and up.


If you like this book try: The Quiet Place by Sarah Stewart



Description: Once upon a time, American children couldn't borrow library books. Reading wasn't all that important for children, many thought. Luckily Miss Anne Carroll Moore thought otherwise! This is the true story of how Miss Moore created the first children's room at the New York Public Library, a bright, warm room filled with artwork, window seats, and most important of all, borrowing privileges to the world's best children's books in many different languages.

Review: As a librarian myself, I could not help but thoroughly enjoy Miss Moore Thought Otherwise. Pinborough introduces young readers to Anne Carroll Moore, the strong-willed woman whose vision of library services for children shaped the standards and practices of the libraries everywhere. Moore grew up reading and hearing stories in an era when children were not welcomed by public libraries in fears that the would be too loud or not be responsible with books. She later became a librarian who worked tirelessly to bring warmth and welcome to the library in order to ensure that all children felt welcome to the library and were able to check out books.  Atwell’s cozy, folk-art-style paintings brim with period details and depict a multicultural clientele, however, they can be a bit boring. I'm really not sure if this book would be popular amongst younger readers or picked up by them independently, however it will be enjoyed by adults and those who are library lovers themselves. This would be a great readaloud during National Library Week.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: None. Grade 2 and up.


If you like this book try: The Librarian of Basra by Jeanette Winter, Biblioburro by Jeanette Winter

 Reggie and Me is more than a story about a girl who was raped. It is first and foremost a survivor story, of a girl rising above her emotional obstacles. Dani's resilience is inspiring and admirable. 


Description: Reggie and Me is the first book in the Dani Moore Trilogy. Dani's story is told through her diary in the wake of her rape and subsequent court case. Having moved with her mum, Dani starts year eleven at a new school, facing various challenges that bring a renewed energy to face whatever is thrown at her and carry on regardless. She realises that ‘normality’ is something that she can define herself, with the help of her dog Reggie and the people around her. 

Review: Reggie and Me offers a different kind of story in regards to the topic of sexual abuse. The focus is not on the fact that Dani was raped, but rather how Dani deals with the aftermath. I really liked how Yates treats a tricky and sensitive topic such as sexual abuse with warmth, honesty and compassion and woven into a compelling story about a girl overcoming some pretty horrendous challenges. When I think of Dani Moore long after I closed the book, the first term came to mind was not 'victim' a label which she refuses to standby, but rather a survivor who is trying to rebuild her life and figure out how to be normal again. 
  Dani's story is told in first person in a diary format. This format allows us to get a first hand look at Dani and her emotions. I would have liked to actually see what Dani goes through rather than her recounting all which happened in the story in each entry, which can be a bit tedious. One of the biggest strength of the book is that Yates doesn't make Dani's recovery unbelievable in which she succeeds and has a perfect day every day. Dani has really bad days from trying to overcome bullying from some of her female friends and when her self confidence takes a hit, which happens to all of us. Another very strong aspect of the book is displaying the relationship and parallels between Dani and her rescued dog Reggie. 
  Though Reggie and Me deals with a tough issue, it is ultimately uplifting and is helpful without ever being preachy and heavy handed. It shows us that we have a long way to go from erasing 'victims' from our vocabulary and replacing it with 'survivors'. 
Rating: 3 stars

Words of Caution: There are some derogatory slurs in the book. Recommended for Grades 8 and up.

If you like this book try: Just Listen by Sarah Dessen, Story of a Girl by Sara Zarr

Note:  Unfortunately, I am without internet access this week so some of my posting may be sporadic. 

I wanted to share with you today a guest post from Marie Yates, the author of Reggie and Me, a book about a young adult trying to overcome her label of 'victim' after being sexually abused. If this guest post interests you, please check back tomorrow for my review of Reggie and Me.

Image courtesy of Serge Bertasius Photography at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

  I am trying to diversify my reads and would like to increase how many nonfiction books that I read in a year. Thanks to The Introverted Reader, I can challenge myself to read more nonfiction books.