I didn't personally love or hate Jovita Wore Pants, a picture book biography about a revolutionary Mexican woman from the early-20th Century.
Jovita isI didn't personally love or hate Jovita Wore Pants, a picture book biography about a revolutionary Mexican woman from the early-20th Century.
Jovita is on the 2024-2025 Texas Bluebonnet list for Grades 3-6. That means many school librarians and teachers in Texas will be reading this book aloud with students in these grades. It also won a Caldecott Honor in 2024, so it's clearly getting some attention from award committees.
But for me, I am not sure who I'd give this book to, or if many students will love it enough to return to read it again. There are also some very traumatic events like (view spoiler)[ the Mexican government burning Jovita's family home to the ground and her father and brothers all dying in war (hide spoiler)].
If reading aloud with a class, teachers will need to give some backstory about WHY girls at this time could not wear pants, WHY Jovita could not do the things her older brothers did, and WHY she could not go off to war. These are not really explained in the book. Yet there will be girls in the class who do wear pants, who do the things their older brothers do, and who have female family members in the military.
Some students might wonder, why can't Jovita wear pants? Traditional gender roles in the early 20th Century will need to be clearly explained before reading the book aloud. It also needs to be said that women wearing only dresses did not just happen in Mexico, and that in some countries, these rules for women are still the norm today.
All in all, Jovita is an important story to tell, and I'm glad it exists. It just feels more like a book teachers and award committees love more than young readers do. The book is more of a healthy vegetable kids need to read rather than a delicious book chocolate cake. There is nothing wrong with that, but I don't see students absolutely loving this.
I'm marking this as "read" even though I only got through 86% of the audiobook. Yes, that is almost finished - I had one hour left - but y'all, I justI'm marking this as "read" even though I only got through 86% of the audiobook. Yes, that is almost finished - I had one hour left - but y'all, I just couldn't force myself to care anymore.
I really enjoyed this memoir for a little while. I loved the stories about Korean culture and growing up biracial in Korea. But as Youngmi got into her teen years and especially into her adult years, I found that I just didn't like the story anymore. It is so self-deprecating and mean-sarcastic, and she just doesn't seem like someone I would like in real life.
I see that this has lots of very positive reviews. I think it just isn't to my taste.
The author read the audiobook, which I think was a good choice. I usually don't like it when authors narrate their own audiobooks, but I think it generally works when the author/narrator is a successful performer (such as Matthew Perry, Trevor Noah, Jason Reynolds). It definitely works here - even though I didn't love this book, I cannot imagine another narrator reading it.
I was not familiar with Youngmi Meyer prior to reading this book. ...more
This is a beautiful book about caving and different caves around the world! There is much to love here, and I think it is a great choice for the 2024-This is a beautiful book about caving and different caves around the world! There is much to love here, and I think it is a great choice for the 2024-2025 Texas Bluebonnet List. Read it aloud to maximize student engagement on this fascinating topic.
Students will enjoy learning about multiple caves and cave systems in various locations around the world, and I do think it will inspire some students to explore caves. Be sure to either read or point out the "Cave Rules" in the Author's Note at the end. For curious students living in an area where there are caves, these rules could give them some necessary caution about entering caves alone.
I'm always eager to share books that introduce students to other countries. The world is wide and amazing, and books that provide such literary field trips are among my favorite read-alouds.
Science teachers will love the abundant cave vocabulary, including spelunking, excavation, fossils, bioluminescent, stalactite, and stalagmite.
The reason this is a 4-star review and not a 5-star review is the font readability. I've talked about the importance of readable fonts before here. Font can really make or break a picture book. As librarians and teachers, we already go to great lengths to encourage students to pick up a book and open it. Even better if they start reading the words. But those words absolutely must invite students to read them. They must be eye-catching and draw students in naturally. Font, font color, spacing, size, and page placement are just as important as beautiful illustrations. Maybe even more important.
The illustrations in Caves are generally dark/black in color, as they would be for a book about caves. The issue isn't the dark background - plenty of picture books for children use white text on a dark background. But Caves also uses a small white font on the black background, even though there is often plenty of room on the page to increase the font size. I really had to focus to read the nonfiction text, even when displaying the Libby (digital) copy on a large screen.
Further, the poetic text is in a different font from the informational text. It's a great strategy to differentiate the two styles of writing, but I found the font style used for the poetic text, while a little larger, was also difficult to read.
Anyway, I am reviewing this from a school librarian perspective. I know readers of this review may say this is a nit-picky detail. But when you serve students with dyslexia and visual processing disorders, not to mention older teachers with vision challenges, font is SO CRITICAL to their reception of the book. ...more
This was my very first Katherine Center book! I've gotten several recommendations for Katherine Center's books recently, and I've finally read one. I This was my very first Katherine Center book! I've gotten several recommendations for Katherine Center's books recently, and I've finally read one. I really enjoyed it and plan to read more by this author.
I originally gave this book 5 stars, but after writing this review, I've knocked off a star. My main reason for doing this is the "grumpy" MMC (Charlie). I loved the "sunshine" FMC (Emma) so much - she is vibrant and has energy and a heartbreaking backstory - but the MMC is like a wet blanket on her fire.
Though the MMC is only in this mid-30s, I pictured a dowdy, middle-aged man shuffling around with thinning hair and a paunchy belly. He wears corduroy pants and wrinkled Oxford shirts. His physical features are minimally-described, and due to his grumpy (asshole) attitude, I was picturing more of a George Costanza than a Chris Hemsworth.
I mean, I do love me some George Costanza, but he is hardly a romantic interest for a vivacious 26-year old redhead. I just never really warmed up to Charlie.
I did really enjoy Emma's family dynamics and trauma. This is well-written, and I was thoroughly entertained and engaged. I loved the overall theme of seizing our moments while we have them and enjoying our people for their positive traits instead of picking apart their flaws.
I don't read other Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ reviews until I have first written mine, but there is one point of contention that I'm sure other reviewers have mentioned: The cover doesn't match the story. Emma's dress should be green tropical leaf print, not hot pink. Emma's fancy dress is described in detail for a major scene in the book, so it's a pretty noticeable oversight. At no point does she ever wear a hot pink dress, or any fancy dress other than that tropical print one.
Overall, this effervescent adult romance is clean enough for teen readers.
Spice: low spice; clean romance
Romance tropes: - forced proximity - tragic backstories - enemies to lovers - opposites attract - grumpy / sunshine - celebrity falls for commoner - colleagues - second chance romance - asshole hero - mentor and mentee...more
This is a cute and clean romance set in Bangalore and Mumbai, India. I LOVE the setting and descriptions of Indian food! There is also a lot of IndianThis is a cute and clean romance set in Bangalore and Mumbai, India. I LOVE the setting and descriptions of Indian food! There is also a lot of Indian culture, especially surrounding weddings, social etiquette, and family dynamics. Arranged marriages come up several times, as does the need to make your family look good in the eyes of others.
I liked the main characters, but it did take me some time to warm up to both of them. The awkward moments early in the "fake dating" were plausible, and I felt that awkwardness.
For me, the writing feels clumsy at times. I had to read some sentences again because they weren't clear. Sometimes I could not tell who was speaking the dialogue.
The romance is a little giggle-blush, but maybe that's how dating in India is?
The ending is too pat. There was a small amount of drama, then a very, very happy ending that came quickly.
Spice level is low, mostly holding hands and kissing on the cheek, hand, or top of head. One intimate scene comes late in the story and fades to black. If you like a more traditional, old-fashioned romance, give this a try.
Overall, Can't Help Faking in Love was a cute story that I was invested in. I'd say this is more 3.5 stars for me, so I rounded it up to 4 stars.
Romance tropes: - fake dating - slow burn - only one bed - attending a wedding - lying about identity - family pressure - poor little rich girl - controlling parents...more
This took a little while to get going, and I did NOT LIKE the male love interest (Jonah) for a good while. What an ass! He threw Calla's luggage in a This took a little while to get going, and I did NOT LIKE the male love interest (Jonah) for a good while. What an ass! He threw Calla's luggage in a mud puddle, then stole it, then stole her make-up because "she looks better without it." He made fun of her need of coffee with soy milk even though she had a literal dairy allergy.
I would not have given this neanderthal the time of day, nor did Calla for a little while.
Jonah did grow on me eventually, but there is no excuse for his terrible behavior. I liked the female main character (Calla) much better. Sure she was spoiled and clueless, but she learned and matured. Jonah was unnecessarily mean.
I liked the ending and may give the sequel a try. Four stars for keeping me reading and for the gorgeous Alaska setting.
It doesn't currently exist, but I would love to read a prequel about Calla's parents' (Wren and Susan) relationship.
Tropes: - enemies to lovers - wilderness survival (not through the whole book, but one part in particular) - estranged father - spoiled heroine - rugged country hero - city girl + country boy - opposites attract - forced proximity...more
This was cute and I read it pretty compulsively. I liked the slow burn romance and seeing how the characters' lives change over the story's 10 or so yThis was cute and I read it pretty compulsively. I liked the slow burn romance and seeing how the characters' lives change over the story's 10 or so years duration.
I also like the way this story handles settling for relationships that are just "okay." Both main characters date other people that are all nice people but not a match for them. I love how this was discussed openly and how the characters felt about it and dealt with it.
I didn't really feel the chemistry between the two main leads. They were okay, I guess, but the MMC was wooden and uninteresting. The FMC behaves immaturely for much of the story, and it took me a long time to warm up to her. She also seems to have this "not like other girls" vibe, where all the men seem to have a crush on her because she is so darn special. She's not special. She's just overly-competitive and self-absorbed.
This is a pretty clean romance with only a couple of mild spicy scenes that fade to black with minimal detail. Overall, I enjoyed the story, but I'm not over the moon for it.
Tropes: - enemies to lovers - slow burn - broken engagement - When Harry Met Sally... - brooding MMC - hot mess FMC - clean romance...more
Like several reviewers I see here on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ, I had a difficult time connecting with both leads.
In the summer camp scenes (half of the book), I fouLike several reviewers I see here on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ, I had a difficult time connecting with both leads.
In the summer camp scenes (half of the book), I found Kyle to be a bit insufferable. He was the kind of boy I would have avoided as a teen - cocky, reckless, a player. He takes a lot of dares and encourages Piper to do the same. And he wears a faux-hawk? All I could picture here was a Joe Dirt hairstyle, which I know isn't a faux-hawk, but that's what I was picturing. Facial piercings on men are not my thing, either. I get that some readers will love that, but it's not for me. I just found young Kyle difficult to like or root for.
And Piper-as-an-adult...Girl, you need to get away from your dad. You are 29 years old, yet still sneaking around and worrying what your dad will think of your boyfriend. Get yourself together. You are a fully-grown woman who is essential in your dad's business. Who cares what dear old daddy thinks? Who cares what the people you work with think? They do not control you. I mean, David isn't worried about others' opinions of him dating Renee, is he?
Also, Kyle-as-an-adult pretending not to know Piper when they first meet? Even after he transferred to that building on-purpose just to be close to her? This is the behavior of a teenager, not a 30-year old man. It's also creepy that he stalked her like that.
There were way too many business scenes in the "Now" sections that I really didn't care about. Plenty of meetings and boardroom talk. Boring.
And what was the purpose of Christa being Piper's "Now" roommate? Ashley, I understand as they were friends at camp, but Christa? I wonder if she had more story at one time but it got edited out. How did they go from barely liking each other at camp to best friends in the present?
As a reader of lots of YA books, I agree with other reviewers that this reads more as YA than adult contemporary. The two lead characters, both then and now, are just immature.
I did like the big reveal of the secret at the end, and I did not see that coming. It was an emotional twist, so props to the author for that one.
Overall, I give this two stars because I did finish it, and also because of that reveal at the end.
Tropes include: -summer camp -second chance romance -controlling father -poor little rich girl -socioeconomic differences -bad boy -high-powered businesswoman -workaholic...more
So cute! I love the adventure theme and the teamwork between the male and female leads. Villains are cartoonish, but it's all in good fun. Zipped throSo cute! I love the adventure theme and the teamwork between the male and female leads. Villains are cartoonish, but it's all in good fun. Zipped through this humorous adventure romance in one day.
Romance tropes: - forced proximity - intellectual mismatch - opposites attract - life or death situations - wildlife encounters - rescue - teamwork - surviving the wild
I see the Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ ratings for this book are pretty low (currently 3.49), but reading them, I notice that several of the 1* ratings are people who DNI see the Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ ratings for this book are pretty low (currently 3.49), but reading them, I notice that several of the 1* ratings are people who DNFed the book 20 pages in, or they didn't like the Wordle stuff (either that it was too much or that the words didn't match the game rules).
Personally, I loved this book, and I'm glad I didn't see that low rating before I read it. The voice of the female narrator, Emily, reminds me a bit of Becky Bloomwood from the Shopaholic series. I had some LOL moments, and some AWW moments, too.
I also love how the romantic conflicts in this are very real. So often in romance novels, the romantic conflicts feel too contrived. Like, the girl sees her man with another woman and immediately jumps to conclusions. Or there is some miscommunication or insecurity or fake reason that the two romantic leads simply cannot be together.
In Five-Letter Word, the main relationship conflict is very real. (view spoiler)[You can see both sides of the conflict and understand each character's viewpoint. There is no lack of communication, no silly jumping to conclusions about something innocent. Emily could not turn down her huge opportunity, nor could John leave his life to follow her. It works for both characters, and I'm sure plenty of real-life couples have broken up over this exact issue. (hide spoiler)]
This is a slow-burn adult romance that is pretty clean, with low spice. Tropes include: - friends to lovers - small town - grumpy/sunshine - opposites attract - office romance
This book also got me started on Wordle, and my husband is doing it, too! Will I make it to 365? Today is Day 2, so I've got a ways to go. Thank you to the author for that!...more
I read this gorgeous book after reading Home by the same author-illustrator duo. I love this book and think it could be a great gift book for graduatiI read this gorgeous book after reading Home by the same author-illustrator duo. I love this book and think it could be a great gift book for graduating seniors (high school or college). ...more
This gorgeous picture book is the latest from a powerhouse author-illustrator duo.
Author Matt dMore Librarian's Perspective Reviews at .
This gorgeous picture book is the latest from a powerhouse author-illustrator duo.
Author Matt de la Peña won the 2016 Newbery Award for The Last Stop on Market Street (2015). Illustrator Christian Robinson also won the Caldecott Award for this book in the same year.
The illustrator, Loren Long, created the illustrations for The Yellow Bus (2024), which I predicted would win the 2025 Caldecott. It did not win, but I think this book will yet again be a Caldecott contender for 2026. Other notable titles illustrated by Loren Long include: Love (with author Matt de la Peña), Change Sings (with author Amanda Gorman), and Someone Builds the Dream (with author Lisa Wheeler).
The rich vocabulary is full of sensory details to savor. Some examples:
~“the gnarled branches of an old oak tree� ~“the calloused hand of a quiet father� ~“the hawk steadily circling overhead, measuring the sky with its wings�
Home is a great choice if you are teaching second person narration, which is used throughout the story. Various diverse children and families are featured in the illustrations, but the story addresses “you� as the main character.
This is not always a happy story. Characters are devastated by homes lost in a flood or what appears to be eviction. But the crux of the story is that though disasters may occur, home is not necessarily a place. Home is where your family is. I love that this also includes dogs!
This might be a great picture book to share with families that have suffered the tragic loss of their home to disasters such as fire or floods or moving away. Some of the illustrations are sad, but readers are reassured after the loss of the homes because home is where your family is.
Throughout the story, families triumph together, and noticing the small details of everyday life helps us get through hard times.
NOTABLE ILLUSTRATIONS AND DISCUSSION TOPICS ~very close airplane outside a window � The text describes the “rumble through the floorboads� as the plane goes by
~busy family with a construction scene outside � Notice the strong muscles on the female construction worker! Also, the father is feeding the baby (who appears to be refusing the food), mom is rushing off to work, and older sibling is alone on the porch
~devastated faces of the parents in the truck � They are moving away from their house. This might be a good discussion page for students. Why are they moving? Why are they so sad? Why are they holding hands? Why are their belongings on the curb (and being left behind)? What are some of the activities that help the families feel less sad? (cooking, tossing a baseball, reading, walking together and holding hands, attending church, climbing a tree, enjoying nature)
~2-page spread of child’s face up-close � Notice the earth reflected in the child’s eyes!
DIVERSITY Home features many different and diverse characters. Families include mothers, fathers, grandparents, and children. Skin tones vary. One adult female wears hijab, and a young male character is wearing a yarmulke. Queer families are not explicitly represented, but some pages feature numerous characters that may or may not be queer.
LIBRARIANS WILL WANT TO KNOW Would adults like this book? YES; the language is gorgeous, and the illustrations include lots of details to pore over.
Would I buy this for my high school library? YES, IF� I were looking for examples of imagery in picture books for ELA classes.
Would I buy this for my middle school library? YES, IF� I were looking for examples of imagery in picture books for ELA classes.
Would I buy this for my elementary library? ABSOLUTELY YES! I think this could be a Caldecott contender for next year, but even if it isn’t, the illustrations and message of hope during natural disasters are excellent.
~Mature Content ~Profanity: none ~Sexuality: none ~Violence: none ~Drugs/Alcohol: one character silhouette on a city street MIGHT have a cigarette in his mouth. It could easily be a straw or toothpick as it is a silhouette. ~Other: Some illustrations are sad. Parents moving away from their home have devastation on their faces. A family is in a boat escaping a flash flood. A dog is in flood waters and swimming toward a boat. But the message is of hope in the face of disaster....more
Yes, I did that. I rated a major American classic novel 2 stars. I was supposed to have read this in 8th grade, but I'm not sure how much of it I actuYes, I did that. I rated a major American classic novel 2 stars. I was supposed to have read this in 8th grade, but I'm not sure how much of it I actually read back then. I remembered some of the early scenes, but then nothing at all after that. I was probably too busy reading Stephen King and VC Andrews instead.
We'll start with the positive. I listened to the audiobook, which is narrated by Sissy Spacek. The audiobook narration is beautifully done, complete with authentic southern accents in the dialogue. Sissy Spacek was born in the very small town of Quitman, Texas, so the southern accents are authentic. The narration is well-paced.
I did mostly enjoy the book up through the rape trial of Tom Robinson. The rabid dog scene especially broke my heart. I felt similarly to when I watched Old Yeller at summer camp as a kid.
The court testimony had me riveted, but I was disappointed that it was so short. I do love legal thrillers.
Now for the not-so-great. I have several major beefs with this book...
#1 - The last 30% or so (basically after the trial) was pretty boring. I went from being absorbed in the story to having to force myself to finish the book. Plenty happens, but it just lost me after the trial.
#2 - Precocious Child trope - Scout and Jem are intelligent and worldly beyond their years, providing sophisticated perspectives on complex social issues.
#3 - White Savior trope - Atticus represents morality and goodness. He's noble and intelligent and is the only one who can save the Black characters. Characters like Tom Robinson and Calpurnia have actions done TO them; it is Atticus who takes action. He is the star of the show. The passive Black characters do not play much role in making things happen for themselves.
#4 - Did I get that right? Atticus wants Jem (view spoiler)[to stand trial for the murder of Mr. Ewell at the end? And he practically begs the sheriff to start an investigation? (hide spoiler)]Huh? Jem is only 13 years old. I just do not believe a father as loving as Atticus would want this. Unbelievable and ridiculous.
#5 - The most serious issue, however, is simply how this book does not give much voice to the Black characters. Calpurnia and Tom Robinson have very little dialogue when compared to Atticus, Scout, Jem, and multiple other white characters. Calpurnia's and Tom's stories would have been far more interesting.
I know that when To Kill a Mockingbird was published, it was revolutionary and very much needed. But from a 2025 perspective, there are just so many amazing books published every week by authors of color. Many of them include themes of racism, prejudice, and injustice and provide perspectives that TKAM simply does not provide.
I know it may be unfair of me to judge TKAM through a modern lens, but that's the lens I've got. This is a literary classic that was revolutionary in its time, but it hasn't aged well in light of all the amazing literature from today's authors of color.
This book is commonly taught (and banned) in public middle and high schools across the US. I know we studied it when I was in 8th grade, and that was way back in the late-1980s. If I had to teach this novel today, I would do it alongside works by Black authors of that time, including James Baldwin, Gwendolyn Brooks, and Maya Angelou, as well as contemporary YA authors like Nic Stone, Ibi Zoboi, Angie Thomas, Jason Reynolds, and so many others....more
I wasn't sure if I'd like this one TBH. The reviews are a bit all over the place, and I thought it might just be a bunch of spicy scenes without much I wasn't sure if I'd like this one TBH. The reviews are a bit all over the place, and I thought it might just be a bunch of spicy scenes without much substance. But having enjoyed Jordan's YA title Hidden awhile back, I thought I'd give it a try.
I am pleasantly surprised to say I did enjoy this book! Yes, it has some sexy scenes, but it also has an interesting story. I saw the two "twists" coming early on, but the plot was entertaining nonetheless. The when and how of the twists are not as predictable, so it was fun getting there. I was compelled to read and never bored.
The ending sets up several new plotlines, such as apparent conflict among different kinds of dragons and what happens with Stig. Fire in the Sky released in Sept. 2024, so it's is only about four months old. There is ample room for a sequel, but it isn't out yet at the time of this writing.
This is definitely not a YA book, so I don't recommend it for any school library. There are plenty of sex scenes, as well as violence and profanity....more
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