en-US Sat, 08 Mar 2025 09:42:20 -0800 60 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg 215805832 From the New York Times bestselling author of Dear Martin comes the thrilling final installment of the series, set in college. Jared (white, Justyce's roommate, woke) is running for Junior class president. With his antiracism platform, he's a shoo-in. But he's up against the new girl, Dylan (Black). Will Jared have to choose between his head and his heart?

Jared Peter Christensen is running for junior class president at his university.��

Based on early polls, Jared’s pretty sure he’s got a good shot at beating the right-wing business major he’s running against. After all, his platform built on increased equity and inclusion on campus makes him the popular choice.��

A new candidate enters the Dylan, transfer student from a HBCU and the most beautiful girl Jared has ever seen. She calls him out for his Woke White Boy mentality.��

Jared starts writing letters to his deceased best friend Manny to make sense of his confusion.

What’s a white boy to do when love and privilege collide?

From the New York Times bestselling author Nic Stone comes the exciting third chapter that examines white privilege, love, and our political climate. Stone reinterprets the constitution for today's teens.]]> 224 Nic Stone 0593308018 Beth 4
In this third and final installment, the main character of Jared Christensen is writing letters to his best friend Manny who died in the book Dear Martin. Jared was an insufferable and racist tool in Dear Martin but now that he’s in college (at Yale, though that is not ever explicitly stated in this book, there are clues for the reader to know this) and has experienced the death of his best friend as the result of racial profiling, Jared is trying to be a better human. Sometimes he gets it right, but many times he still gets it very wrong.

Nic Stone is an absolute gift to humanity and to the young people for whom she writes. Giving someone like Jared Christensen the grace we as readers feel he likely doesn’t deserve is how we learn to navigate a world where our digital silos have trained us to see people as either all good or all bad. Jared’s story reminds us that we all contain multitudes�� especially as many of us (speaking for myself as a white person) are working to unlearn the racism (both overt and covert, systematic and individual) we have been taught in our homes and by society at large.

I’m grateful that Nic Stone and many of the POC characters gave Jared the grace he didn’t deserve, but I hope that white readers don’t assume that everyone will react this way and they use this book as an opportunity to see that there is always work to do. Jared didn’t have an epiphany after his friend died and then just automatically become a benevolent anti-racist hero. He was still messing up even to the last pages. Like we all do in real life. ]]> 4.29 2025
author: Nic Stone
name: Beth
average rating: 4.29
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/08
date added: 2025/03/08
shelves: 2025-novel-length-reads, arcs, politics, social-justice, we-need-diverse-books, ya-lit
review:
A fantastic end to the Dear Martin trilogy.

In this third and final installment, the main character of Jared Christensen is writing letters to his best friend Manny who died in the book Dear Martin. Jared was an insufferable and racist tool in Dear Martin but now that he’s in college (at Yale, though that is not ever explicitly stated in this book, there are clues for the reader to know this) and has experienced the death of his best friend as the result of racial profiling, Jared is trying to be a better human. Sometimes he gets it right, but many times he still gets it very wrong.

Nic Stone is an absolute gift to humanity and to the young people for whom she writes. Giving someone like Jared Christensen the grace we as readers feel he likely doesn’t deserve is how we learn to navigate a world where our digital silos have trained us to see people as either all good or all bad. Jared’s story reminds us that we all contain multitudes�� especially as many of us (speaking for myself as a white person) are working to unlearn the racism (both overt and covert, systematic and individual) we have been taught in our homes and by society at large.

I’m grateful that Nic Stone and many of the POC characters gave Jared the grace he didn’t deserve, but I hope that white readers don’t assume that everyone will react this way and they use this book as an opportunity to see that there is always work to do. Jared didn’t have an epiphany after his friend died and then just automatically become a benevolent anti-racist hero. He was still messing up even to the last pages. Like we all do in real life.
]]> 220341389 John Green, the #1 bestselling author of The Anthropocene Reviewed and a passionate advocate for global healthcare reform, tells a deeply human story illuminating the fight against the world’s deadliest disease.

Tuberculosis has been entwined with humanity for millennia. Once romanticized as a malady of poets, today tuberculosis is a disease of poverty that walks the trails of injustice and inequity we blazed for it.

In 2019, John Green met Henry, a young tuberculosis patient at Lakka Government Hospital in Sierra Leone while traveling with Partners in Health. John became fast friends with Henry, a boy with spindly legs and a big, goofy smile. In the years since that first visit to Lakka, Green has become a vocal and dynamic advocate for increased access to treatment and wider awareness of the healthcare inequities that allow this curable, treatable infectious disease to also be the deadliest, killing 1.5 million people every year.

In Everything is Tuberculosis, John tells Henry’s story, woven through with the scientific and social histories of how tuberculosis has shaped our world and how our choices will shape the future of tuberculosis.]]> 208 John Green 0525556575 Beth 5
So John Green set out to put a human face on this global problem. He tells the story of Henry, a boy he meets at a hospital in Sierra Leone that he immediately connects with because he has a son named Henry and he assumes they are the same age due to his “spindly legs and a big, goofy smile.��

As Green tells the story of the societal factors that once made it “fashionable�� to have TB, to becoming mostly a disease of poverty, Green always comes back to Henry’s story, to ground his narrative in the present-day.

I encourage everyone who cares about public health to pick up this humanizing narrative. And as you can see here, it is a short read, coming in at only 198 pages. When the Penguin booth at ALA was handing them out I even asked if this was just a sampler because I was so surprised it was so short. But by the time you get to the last page, you’ll wish it was longer, not because the book feels incomplete, but because it’s such an engaging and important read.

And because so many of my friends are teachers and librarians, I absolutely wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this book to middle and high school readers. If they like John Green’s YA novels, they’ll enjoy this book. ]]> 4.52 2025
author: John Green
name: Beth
average rating: 4.52
book published: 2025
rating: 5
read at: 2025/02/14
date added: 2025/02/14
shelves: 2025-novel-length-reads, arcs, nonfiction
review:
If two years ago you would’ve recommended I read a nonfiction book about the topic of tuberculosis, I would have given you side eye. But here I am in 2025 not only reading a book about it, but also telling you that it is an incredibly engaging and accessible read. I think the only person who could’ve enticed me to read a book about this topic is John Green�� because his books are always so human and thought provoking. He doesn’t dare you or shame you to think hard about things or talk down to you; he just writes in a way that makes you want to be better and smarter about the world. And so he approaches this topic from a humanities lens rather than a science one. He shows the ways in which this disease has been “a failure of our social order, an invasion of injustice.�� You see, we have the power to eradicate TB around the world. We just choose not to because the people that TB primarily afflicts are from low income countries.

So John Green set out to put a human face on this global problem. He tells the story of Henry, a boy he meets at a hospital in Sierra Leone that he immediately connects with because he has a son named Henry and he assumes they are the same age due to his “spindly legs and a big, goofy smile.��

As Green tells the story of the societal factors that once made it “fashionable�� to have TB, to becoming mostly a disease of poverty, Green always comes back to Henry’s story, to ground his narrative in the present-day.

I encourage everyone who cares about public health to pick up this humanizing narrative. And as you can see here, it is a short read, coming in at only 198 pages. When the Penguin booth at ALA was handing them out I even asked if this was just a sampler because I was so surprised it was so short. But by the time you get to the last page, you’ll wish it was longer, not because the book feels incomplete, but because it’s such an engaging and important read.

And because so many of my friends are teachers and librarians, I absolutely wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this book to middle and high school readers. If they like John Green’s YA novels, they’ll enjoy this book.
]]> 30688765
A��funny, heartwarming, and heartbreaking contemporary story about three boys, one teacher, and a day none of them will ever forget.

“Kids won’t just love this book. They need it.�� —Soman Chainani,��New York Times��bestselling author of��The School for Good and Evil“Each page crackles as we embark on the greatest adventure of all.�� —Gary D. Schmidt, Newbery Honor winner and author of��Okay for Now

Everyone knows there are different kinds of teachers. The boring ones, the mean ones, the ones who try too hard, the ones who stopped trying long ago. The ones you’ll never remember, and the ones you want to forget. Ms. Bixby is none of these. She’s the sort of teacher who makes you feel like school is somehow worthwhile. Who recognizes something in you that sometimes you don’t even see in yourself. Who you never want to disappoint. What Ms. Bixby is, is one of a kind.

Topher, Brand, and Steve know this better than anyone. And so when Ms. Bixby unexpectedly announces that she won’t be able to finish the school year, they come up with a risky plan—more of a quest, really—to give Ms. Bixby the last day she deserves. Through the three very different stories they tell, we begin to understand what Ms. Bixby means to each of them—and what the three of them mean to each other.

John David Anderson is the author of Sidekicked and The Dungeoneers, proven winners with middle grade readers, and Ms. Bixby's Day is no exception.]]> 309 John David Anderson 0062338196 Beth 4 4.43 2016
author: John David Anderson
name: Beth
average rating: 4.43
book published: 2016
rating: 4
read at: 2016/06/11
date added: 2024/09/12
shelves: middle-grade, 2016-novel-length-reads, realistic-fiction, death-and-grief, arcs
review:
Three young sixth graders skip school and go on a madcap hero's journey to visit their teacher in the hospital who is going through cancer treatment. A heartfelt, but not overly sentimental or treacly story about the impact great teachers can have on our lives.
]]> 16081764
Felicia and Neil have arrived in Level 3 and are supposed to prepare for their divine vocations.

But during Felicia and Neil's training period, a series of explosions rips through Level 3. Tension is high, and casualties are mounting. A rift forms between the pair, one that grows wider when Felicia receives memories from the Morati. The memories cast doubt on the people she loves the most, but Felicia can't stop her curiosity. She has to know the truth about her life �� even if it means putting at risk everything she’s worked for in her death.]]> 368 Lenore Appelhans Beth 4 NOTE: This review contains spoilers from book one so if you haven't read The Memory of After yet, you might want to refrain from reading this review until you get up to speed.

Now that Felicia Ward has defeated the Morati in Level Two and been reunited with her boyfriend Neil, she is ready to move on to Level Three and begin what she thinks is her long-awaited, peaceful afterlife.

Oh how wrong she is.

Upon arriving in Level Three, Felicia soon discovers that the Mortai have infiltrated this new level and are sabotaging it with powerful and deadly explosions. Felicia realizes that she must make a choice between seeking answers to the past that she is desperate to remember or defeating the Morati yet again in order to move on to the next level. Another risky choice she must make is realizing that Julian, her complicated former love interest, may be the only person who can help her figure out what to do. Afterlife-changing choices are all around her in Level Three, and it seems like no matter which one she makes, she is going to lose. Will Felicia choose to find answers to her past and risk losing Neil? Or will she follow her heart and risk losing herself?

Read my entire review .]]> 3.52 2014
author: Lenore Appelhans
name: Beth
average rating: 3.52
book published: 2014
rating: 4
read at: 2014/06/21
date added: 2024/08/07
shelves: arcs, ya-lit, fantasy, 2014-novel-length-reads, own
review:
NOTE: This review contains spoilers from book one so if you haven't read The Memory of After yet, you might want to refrain from reading this review until you get up to speed.

Now that Felicia Ward has defeated the Morati in Level Two and been reunited with her boyfriend Neil, she is ready to move on to Level Three and begin what she thinks is her long-awaited, peaceful afterlife.

Oh how wrong she is.

Upon arriving in Level Three, Felicia soon discovers that the Mortai have infiltrated this new level and are sabotaging it with powerful and deadly explosions. Felicia realizes that she must make a choice between seeking answers to the past that she is desperate to remember or defeating the Morati yet again in order to move on to the next level. Another risky choice she must make is realizing that Julian, her complicated former love interest, may be the only person who can help her figure out what to do. Afterlife-changing choices are all around her in Level Three, and it seems like no matter which one she makes, she is going to lose. Will Felicia choose to find answers to her past and risk losing Neil? Or will she follow her heart and risk losing herself?

Read my entire review .
]]> 205181109 Journey with a young girl as she explores the mesmerizing wonders of a Nigerian night market, where each stall is an adventure waiting to be discovered! Filled with vibrant illustrations, this captivating picture book invites young readers into a world of magic, mystery, and the joy of finding treasures in unexpected places.The Night Market is here again, and all one girl needs is a bag of gold coins to enter. The market is alive with the sound of hawkers and traders. “A taste of tangy sweetness!�� hollers a man behind a towering fountain of lemonade. “I’ll trade you a joke for a coin,�� a little boy calls. “Home grown spices!�� shouts a granny at a counter. What should the girl buy? But, wait! Do you hear that? It's the sound of an old African drum. Have a turn, then learn to make cards disappear when you shout Abracadabra! When the sun starts to rise and the night market winds down, the girl has one gold coin left—just enough to buy a return ticket to the night market.With stunning illustrations by Nigerian artist Briana Muchodiri Uchendu, here is an enchanting read aloud about curiosity and the wonders that lie hidden in plain sight.]]> 40 Seina Wedlick 0593563689 Beth 5 4.24
author: Seina Wedlick
name: Beth
average rating: 4.24
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2024/07/16
date added: 2024/07/16
shelves: arcs, children, picture-books, setting, we-need-diverse-books
review:

]]> 205181051 In this poignant tribute to grandparents everywhere, a grandfather reflects on his loving relationship with his three grandchildren. This story beautifully captures how love can make anyone "the greatest" in someone's eyes.

From Newbery Honor author Veera Hiranandani and National Book Award finalist Vesper Stamper comes a poignant story about the love between grandparents and grandchildren.

Grandpa loves Sundays-- that's when his three grandchildren come to visit. They act out plays, catch fireflies in the yard, and celebrate Jewish holidays together. His grandchildren bestow affection and admiration on him. Sometimes, though, he wonders why they think he's so great? Should he tell them that he's just an average, ordinary man?

Here is a book that wonderfully captures how simple, everyday moments can turn into treasured memories, and how the power of love makes us all the "greatest" to somebody.]]> 40 Veera Hiranandani 059364557X Beth 5 4.11
author: Veera Hiranandani
name: Beth
average rating: 4.11
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2024/07/16
date added: 2024/07/16
shelves: arcs, children, family, picture-books
review:
A simple yet emotional story of a grandfather whose love for his grandchildren make them think he’s the greatest grandfather. In his own mind he bristles at this thought, but at as the story progresses, you start to see that for these kids, his time and love and storytelling make him the greatest for them.
]]> 205181080 Venture to the Arctic Ocean and discover real life underwater unicorns--narwhals--in this stunningly illustrated nonfiction picture book.You are a narwhal. Shy... Swift... Small... Humans call you unicorn of the Arctic.When winter ice covers the Arctic Ocean, a narwhal pokes his head through a patch of open water, his tusk--a six-foot long tooth--pointed to the sky.Join this mammal as he jousts with another narwhal, floats with his pod, and uses echolocation to find his prey. When warmer weather arrives, he will migrate towards summer ground. But he must be careful! Predators--orcas and polar bears--will be hungry and looking for a meal.... How will the narwhal escape? Will he be able to return to the winter bay?��Paired with atmospheric illustrations by debut illustrator Deena So'Oteh, nonfiction master Candace Fleming delivers a picture book, uniquely told in second person, that expertly explores the mysterious and fascinating unicorn of the Arctic.]]> 48 Candace Fleming 0593377796 Beth 5 Stunning 4.86 2024
author: Candace Fleming
name: Beth
average rating: 4.86
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/07/16
date added: 2024/07/16
shelves: arcs, children, middle-grade-picture-book, nonfiction, picture-books, science
review:
Stunning
]]> 210137352
Ruth shares from her heart the words she's spoken over her own six children, from their very young days into adulthood. Ruth's lyrical text and whimsical art take children and families on a journey that reminds all of us that no matter where we go, no matter what comes our way in life, the Lord keeps us close to Him.

This book is perfect for parents and families who want to

reassure their children with the comforting truth that God is always with them, that He will guide them, and that He will provide for all their needs;teach their children that God is the source of joy, overflowing blessings, and wonderful adventure;be delighted with captivating illustrations and beautiful art; andsoothe anxious minds with the comfort of God's provision and presence.Home Is Right Where You Are makes a perfect gift for

baby showers, new mothers, births, or adoptions;graduations, milestones, and other big life events; andChristmas, birthdays, Easter, and other gift-giving occasions.Home Is Right Where You Are is bestselling author and artist Ruth Chou Simons's first children's book—a beautiful treasure of God's promises combined with her moving art.]]> 32 Ruth Chou Simons 1400244390 Beth 3 arcs, children, picture-books 4.77 2024
author: Ruth Chou Simons
name: Beth
average rating: 4.77
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2024/07/15
date added: 2024/07/15
shelves: arcs, children, picture-books
review:

]]> 195261520 Before the Ships is a powerful and poetic celebration of the early roots of Black history. The great achievements and accomplishments across Africa prior to the Transatlantic slave trade are told through melodious text and evocative illustrations, that culminate into the strength and resilience of modern-day Black people.

For so many of us, the first introduction to Black history begins with lessons about slavery. While slavery is a crucial part of African-American history, it is not the beginning. In fact, there is a rich history tied to the continent of Africa that deserves to be told and to be marveled at-- which is exactly what Maisha Oso does in Before the Ships. With sparse yet moving text, Maisha takes us back in time to before the advent of the Transatlantic slave trade. We see the grandness of African royalty, the bravery of warriors like the Queen of Kush, and stories being told in song with griots and drums. Candice Bradley's gorgeous and reflective illustrations illuminate the strength of Black history and Black joy, reminding readers about the power within us all.]]> 0 Maisha Oso 1338849980 Beth 5 4.55
author: Maisha Oso
name: Beth
average rating: 4.55
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2024/07/15
date added: 2024/07/15
shelves: arcs, children, history, identity, picture-books, we-need-diverse-books
review:

]]> 180352072 32 Granger Smith 1400241669 Beth 3 4.47
author: Granger Smith
name: Beth
average rating: 4.47
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2024/07/13
date added: 2024/07/12
shelves: arcs, children, death-and-grief, picture-books
review:

]]> 195261502 A sweet and joyful story of self-discovery and identity from the same celebrated creative team who brought us My Bindi, and the co-author of the bestselling middle grade story Save Me a Seat.



I look in the mirror, I see me in my saree. And my heart is full... In my beautiful peacock blue saree. I bring my palms together and smile. "Namaste, I am Divya, and this is my saree."

Divya loves her mother's sarees. Each one is unique; some are soft and silky, some are stiff and crisp, and some dazzle with gold and silver. And she can't wait for the day when she's old enough to wear one herself! It's Heritage Night at school and everyone gets to share something from their culture with the class. Divya hopes this is her chance to finally wear her first saree. Will Divya get to wear one after all?

In this tender follow-up to My Bindi, author Gita Varadarajan's lyrical and moving text is accompanied with Archana Sreenivasan's charming and vibrant illustrations and bring to life another beautiful story as a young girl discovers a new way to embrace her Indian culture.]]> 0 Gita Varadarajan 1338834150 Beth 4 4.07
author: Gita Varadarajan
name: Beth
average rating: 4.07
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2024/07/13
date added: 2024/07/12
shelves: arcs, children, identity, picture-books, we-need-diverse-books
review:

]]> 202772982 Carter G. Woodson Book Award Winner



Activists Colin Kaepernick and Nessa Diab present a poetic anthem to your brilliance, your beauty, your very existence.



Every child has the right to be free. . . the right to reach. . . the right to dream. . . This lyrical affirmation of what freedom truly means celebrates the principles of Colin and Nessa's Know Your Rights Camp -- an international movement that has inspired thousands of young people to rejoice in their inherent goodness.



We Are You & Me invites even the youngest readers to embrace the Know Your Rights Camp ideals, and to believe they are loved and worthy, just because. . .]]> 40 Colin Kaepernick 1339042940 Beth 3 3.79
author: Colin Kaepernick
name: Beth
average rating: 3.79
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2024/07/13
date added: 2024/07/12
shelves: arcs, children, picture-books, we-need-diverse-books
review:

]]> 197036045 40 Katey Howes 1728271657 Beth 4 4.52
author: Katey Howes
name: Beth
average rating: 4.52
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2024/07/13
date added: 2024/07/12
shelves: arcs, children, community-building, math, picture-books
review:
A cute story that will help kids conceptualize the mathematical concepts of remainders and prime numbers. Math picture books are pretty few and far between but this is a great one.
]]> 202204720
Explore the hidden potential in what we often discard and spark a new way of thinking about consumption, waste, and the impact of small actions in Gifts from the Garbage Truck. With themes of upcycling, anti-consumerism, love for community, and joy in the everyday, Gifts from the Garbage Truck inspires kids to think more creatively and curiously about what we do (and don't) throw away!]]> 40 Andrew Larsen 1728283515 Beth 4 4.16
author: Andrew Larsen
name: Beth
average rating: 4.16
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2024/07/07
date added: 2024/07/07
shelves: arcs, children, creativity, going-green, growth-mindset, middle-grade-picture-book, nonfiction, picture-books
review:
My school library makerspace isn’t just low budget, it’s no-budget. I have gleaned many things that would have otherwise been thrown away or asked for donations and kids make things out of items that would have been thrown away. So this book will be a great introduction to the spirit of our makerspace�� to create something new out of items destined for the landfill.
]]> 211805540
Did you know, there was a time when people could get in trouble—really, really BIG trouble—for being LEFT-HANDED!?

It’s true!

Lefty and Righty hand out the facts in a theatrical performance that spans the ages. Once upon a time, left was considered wrong . . . but now, left or right, it’s all alright. (And there are scissors for everyone!)

Created by the award-winning (right and left) hands of New York Times bestselling authors Mo Willems and Dan Santat, this book ensures that no one gets left behind!]]> 40 Mo Willems 1454951486 Beth 5 arcs, children, picture-books 3.93 2024
author: Mo Willems
name: Beth
average rating: 3.93
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/07/03
date added: 2024/07/05
shelves: arcs, children, picture-books
review:
As a lefty myself, I love this book. And also, I love the heavy emphasis on how it used to be considered bad to be left handed for a long time but society grew and evolved. There is definitely an obvious comparison that could be made to that in this day and age but I will let you make that inference.
]]> 195263597 40 Nell Cross Beckerman 1338874675 Beth 5 4.36 2024
author: Nell Cross Beckerman
name: Beth
average rating: 4.36
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/07/03
date added: 2024/07/02
shelves: picture-books, nonfiction, middle-grade-picture-book, children, science, arcs
review:
Such a cool book! Just enough text to make it meaty but not so much that it's too dense for a picture book. Will definitely be getting a copy for my school library.
]]> 205845189 From musical superstar Lance Bass, this quirky and surprising Halloween story is perfect for trick-or-treaters who love extra tricks and treats.

Come one.

Come all.

Come follow thirteen trick-or-treaters down Scary Street. Dare to stop at the vampire’s lair? Tempted to take a bite of the witch’s delight? How about a peek inside a ghostly haunt? Who will make it to the end. . . and what last trick (or treat) awaits?

Celebrate the thrills and chills of the season with this unforgettable trip down Scary Street!

This engaging Halloween tale appeals to young readers who love scary books and anyone looking for Halloween books for kids. Parents and kids alike will be drawn to this Lance Bass book, as the *NSYNC star brings his creative flair and love of Halloween to the world of scary stories for kids ages 4 to 6. Trick or Treat on Scary Street,/i> is a must-have for families who eagerly anticipate the Halloween season and enjoy sharing in its playful frights together.]]> 40 Lance Bass 1454952172 Beth 3 arcs, children, picture-books 3.47
author: Lance Bass
name: Beth
average rating: 3.47
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2024/07/01
date added: 2024/07/01
shelves: arcs, children, picture-books
review:

]]> 202772940 YOU are Black Girl Magic. How will you shine YOUR light? A striking companion to I Am My Ancestors' Wildest Dreams and perfect for fans of All Because You Matter, Little Leaders, and She Persisted.



I AM dope!

My crown shines bright

in all its glory.

I AM Black Girl Magic!

In this inspiring tribute to Black girl pride and excellence, a young child discovers her place in a radiant heritage. As she meets twelve extraordinary Black women-historic and contemporary heroines who have blazed a trail to her own future success-she internalizes their strength as she sets out to change the world, in her own way.

Just like them, she can reach her dreams. And just like her, you have within you big promise. YOU are Black Girl Magic. How will you shine YOUR light?]]> 32 Tanisia Moore 1338776207 Beth 4 4.11
author: Tanisia Moore
name: Beth
average rating: 4.11
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2024/06/17
date added: 2024/06/17
shelves: arcs, children, identity, inspirational, picture-books, we-need-diverse-books
review:

]]> 199635063 272 Eden Royce 006325140X Beth 4 3.91 2024
author: Eden Royce
name: Beth
average rating: 3.91
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/06/02
date added: 2024/06/02
shelves: 2024-novel-length-reads, arcs, fantasy, middle-grade, we-need-diverse-books
review:

]]> 196047032
Today is a day of excitement—it’s time to move! As a young Cherokee girl says goodbye to the swing, the house, and the city she's called home her whole life, she readies herself for an upcoming road trip. While her mother drives, she draws in her sketchbook the changing landscape outside her window. She looks forward to the end of their journey, where she'll eat the feast her extended family prepared, play in the creek with her cousins, and settle into the new rhythm of home.

With warm, expressive artwork and spare, lyrical prose, the story of a young girl’s move towards rather than away from home unfolds.]]> 32 Traci Sorell 1984816039 Beth 4 4.10
author: Traci Sorell
name: Beth
average rating: 4.10
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2024/04/14
date added: 2024/04/14
shelves: arcs, children, family, picture-books, we-need-diverse-books
review:

]]> 202468462 Caldecott Medalist Matthew Cordell and librarian Travis Jonker have crafted a timeless tale of a little mouse and a big adventure.Mabel the mouse wants nothing more than to be a fearless sea captain traveling the world in search of adventure. Every night she watches a man carefully construct a model ship, as his son watches by her side. Mabel and the boy know the model ship is anything but a toy, but they both long to see if it can really float. So Mabel hatches a plan to make her seafaring dreams come true.Illustrated by Caldecott Medalist Matthew Cordell and children's librarian and reviewer Travis Jonker, The Ship in the Window celebrates the rewards of following your dreams and never losing the spirit of adventure.]]> 40 Travis Jonker 059335057X Beth 5 arcs, children, picture-books 3.98 2024
author: Travis Jonker
name: Beth
average rating: 3.98
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/04/04
date added: 2024/04/04
shelves: arcs, children, picture-books
review:
It already feels like a classic.
]]> 197514374 Filling a gaping hole in menopause care, everything a woman needs to know to thrive during her hormonal transition and beyond, as well as the tools to help her take charge of her health at this pivotal life stage--by the bestselling author of The Galveston Diet.

Menopause is inevitable, but suffering through it is not! This is the empowering approach to self-advocacy that pioneering women's health advocate Dr. Mary Claire Haver takes for women in the midst of hormonal change in The New Menopause. A comprehensive, authoritative book of science-backed information and lived experience, it covers every woman's needs:
- From changes in your appearance and sleep patterns to neurological, musculoskeletal, psychological, and sexual issues, a comprehensive A to Z toolkit of science-backed options for coping with symptoms.
- What to do to mediate the risks associated with your body's natural drop in estrogen production, including for diabetes, dementia, Alzheimer's, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and weight gain.
- How to advocate and prepare for annual midlife wellness visits, including questions for your doctor and how to insist on whole life care.
- The very latest research on the benefits and side effects of hormone replacement therapy.
Arming women with the power to secure vibrant health and well-being for the rest of their lives, The New Menopause is sure to become the bible of midlife wellness for present and future generations.]]> 311 Mary Claire Haver 0593796268 Beth 5 4.42
author: Mary Claire Haver
name: Beth
average rating: 4.42
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2024/03/27
date added: 2024/03/27
shelves: 2024-novel-length-reads, netgalley, arcs, nonfiction
review:
Women in their late 30s/early 40s, put this book on your TBR piles. Dr. Mary Claire Haver has written the only book you will need when you are in perimenopause. I have read several books and articles about menopause in the past year as well as following doctors like Haver on social media and this book is THE book that gives you the information you need that is easy-to-digest and empowers you as a patient to advocate for yourself at your next doctor's visit. Haver recognizes that while not ideal, patients have the opportunity to be educating physicians and changing the paradigm about hormone replacement therapy, which has been unjustly maligned for the past 20+ years ever since a wrongly interpreted study was released via press conference to the media back in 2002 that said it increases the risk of getting breast cancer. This book empowers patients to discuss this previously taboo topic with their doctors in order to return some quality of life from the laundry list of physical and mental health symptoms related to perimenopause. Because at a certain point, you have to ask yourself if it's worth the risk to gain back some quality of life.
]]> 134221625 277 Anne Ursu 0062275151 Beth 5
Not Quite a Ghost is a book that any adult that has taken enough literature classes in college will immediately make the connection to the famous short story by Charlotte Perkins Gillman, "The Yellow Wallpaper." In that story, a woman is left alone to "recover" from her postpartum depression by being isolated alone up in a room where she eventually descends into madness. Instead of postpartum depression, the main character in Not Quite a Ghost is a young 6th grade girl who is being told by her friends and the medical community that there is nothing wrong with her and everything she is experiencing is in her head. So in that regard, it is a book about medical gaslighting and the very real damage it causes to real people, disguised as a ghost story.

I am generally not a fan of fantasy stories because so often they are hard to follow and lack fully realized and empathetic characters. But because Ursu writes characters that feel like real people, I find myself not being able to stop turning the pages of her books. Not only is Violet a protagonist you root for, but there are a lot of other wonderful characters in this book that you fall in love with, including Violet's mother and stepfather, which is unusual in children's literature to have supportive and competent parents.

I look forward to recommending this book to readers, kids and adults alike, who are experiencing any sort of chronic illness that has resulted in being written off by their doctors, as they will most certainly see themselves in this story. ]]> 4.04 2024
author: Anne Ursu
name: Beth
average rating: 4.04
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/01/21
date added: 2024/01/21
shelves: 2024-novel-length-reads, fantasy, arcs, middle-grade
review:
When Violet Hart's growing family moves into an old house for more space, she is less-than-thrilled when she discovers her new bedroom is in the attic and is plastered with a hideous yellow wallpaper. It isn't long after her family moves into the house that Violet falls ill from a mysterious virus -- that keeps her feeling sick for weeks afterwards, with no answers from her doctors. In fact, not only do her friends question whether Violet is really sick, but so do her doctors. Due to her malaise, Violet spends a lot of time in her creepy room... and she eventually starts to wonder if she's actually alone up there and also how much of her mysterious illness is related to whatever is living (or dead) in her room.

Not Quite a Ghost is a book that any adult that has taken enough literature classes in college will immediately make the connection to the famous short story by Charlotte Perkins Gillman, "The Yellow Wallpaper." In that story, a woman is left alone to "recover" from her postpartum depression by being isolated alone up in a room where she eventually descends into madness. Instead of postpartum depression, the main character in Not Quite a Ghost is a young 6th grade girl who is being told by her friends and the medical community that there is nothing wrong with her and everything she is experiencing is in her head. So in that regard, it is a book about medical gaslighting and the very real damage it causes to real people, disguised as a ghost story.

I am generally not a fan of fantasy stories because so often they are hard to follow and lack fully realized and empathetic characters. But because Ursu writes characters that feel like real people, I find myself not being able to stop turning the pages of her books. Not only is Violet a protagonist you root for, but there are a lot of other wonderful characters in this book that you fall in love with, including Violet's mother and stepfather, which is unusual in children's literature to have supportive and competent parents.

I look forward to recommending this book to readers, kids and adults alike, who are experiencing any sort of chronic illness that has resulted in being written off by their doctors, as they will most certainly see themselves in this story.
]]> 177721395
But another voice inside me says,
We need help.
We’re going to die.

Jake volunteers at a nursing home because he likes helping people. He likes skating and singing, playing Bingo and Name That Tune, and reading mysteries and comics aloud to his teachers. He also likes avoiding people his own age . . . and the cruelty of mirrors . . . and food. Jake has read about kids like him in books—the weird one, the outsider—and would do anything not to be that kid, including shrink himself down to nothing. But the less he eats, the bigger he feels. How long can Jake punish himself before he truly disappears? A fictionalized account of the author’s experiences and emotions living in residential treatment facilities as a young teen with an eating disorder, Louder than Hunger is a triumph of raw honesty. With a deeply personal afterword for context, this much-anticipated verse novel is a powerful model for muffling the destructive voices inside, managing and articulating pain, and embracing self-acceptance, support, and love.]]> 528 John Schu 1536229091 Beth 5
John Schu was one of the first educators I followed and learned from in the early days of Twitter. His enthusiasm and love for books was and is infectious.

When he became a picture book author, I was elated for him. Both picture books (THIS IS A SCHOOL and THIS IS A STORY) follow that same joyful enthusiasm I experience whenever I am in John’s presence, whether digitally or IRL.

But when I found out he wrote a middle grade novel in verse based on his own experience as a teenager with an eating disorder, my heart broke for him. And it continued to break as I read this book. But just as Erin Entrada Kelly says in her blurb for this book, “He broke my heart and stitched it back together again.�� That is what this book did for me too. And while the main character of Jake loves Emily Dickinson and frequently quotes the poem “Hope is the thing with feathers,�� author Natalie Lloyd says about LOUDER THAN HUNGER, “Sometimes hope comes along and it’s book-shaped.��

John Schu has managed to write one of those rare books that can bridge the middle grade/YA divide, and while it is certainly about a really difficult topic that could be triggering for some readers, John writes with such gentleness and care for his readers that I hope was healing for his inner child.

If you teach upper elementary, middle or high school, LOUDER THAN HUNGER is a book that belongs on your bookshelf. Publishes March 2024.]]> 4.46 2024
author: John Schu
name: Beth
average rating: 4.46
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2023/12/09
date added: 2023/12/09
shelves: 2023-novel-length-reads, arcs, middle-grade, mental-health, novels-in-verse, realistic-fiction, resilience-literature, ya-lit
review:
“When will you give yourself permission to take up space?��

John Schu was one of the first educators I followed and learned from in the early days of Twitter. His enthusiasm and love for books was and is infectious.

When he became a picture book author, I was elated for him. Both picture books (THIS IS A SCHOOL and THIS IS A STORY) follow that same joyful enthusiasm I experience whenever I am in John’s presence, whether digitally or IRL.

But when I found out he wrote a middle grade novel in verse based on his own experience as a teenager with an eating disorder, my heart broke for him. And it continued to break as I read this book. But just as Erin Entrada Kelly says in her blurb for this book, “He broke my heart and stitched it back together again.�� That is what this book did for me too. And while the main character of Jake loves Emily Dickinson and frequently quotes the poem “Hope is the thing with feathers,�� author Natalie Lloyd says about LOUDER THAN HUNGER, “Sometimes hope comes along and it’s book-shaped.��

John Schu has managed to write one of those rare books that can bridge the middle grade/YA divide, and while it is certainly about a really difficult topic that could be triggering for some readers, John writes with such gentleness and care for his readers that I hope was healing for his inner child.

If you teach upper elementary, middle or high school, LOUDER THAN HUNGER is a book that belongs on your bookshelf. Publishes March 2024.
]]> 128089643
"My block looks like
a collision of cultures
a melting pot of cool
a burst of life
my favorite groove

. . .No matter what happens
I’ve seen it for myself
my block looks like
the coolest place
I’ve ever been."

A lyrical and proud picture book that recognizes the beauty of the bodegas, subways, and playgrounds that characterize everyday life in the Bronx and pays homage to the ways that its residents have shaped pop culture through music, visual art, and dance. Perfect for fans of I Am Every Good Thing and Last Stop on Market Street , My Block Looks Like offers kids a reaffirming message to celebrate and uplift their communities in an energetic text that begs to be read aloud.]]> 40 Janelle Harper 0593526309 Beth 5 4.11
author: Janelle Harper
name: Beth
average rating: 4.11
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2023/11/28
date added: 2023/11/28
shelves: arcs, children, good-for-read-alouds, picture-books, setting, we-need-diverse-books
review:

]]> 124932749 48 Joanna Ho 1338846655 Beth 5 4.38
author: Joanna Ho
name: Beth
average rating: 4.38
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2023/11/28
date added: 2023/11/28
shelves: arcs, identity, middle-grade-picture-book, nonfiction, poetry, we-need-diverse-books, ya-picture-book
review:
Joanna Ho is an absolute treasure and the writing in this book is stunning.
]]> 124932745 *School Library Journal Starred Review
*Audiofile Earphones Award Winner

This middle-grade Moxie centering period equity is i<>Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret for the next generation!

Helen and Gracie are pranking their way through middle school when a stinky stunt lands them in the front office -- again. Because nothing else has curbed their chaos, the principal orders the best friends to do the unthinkable -- care about something. So they join the school’s Community Action Club with plans to do as little as humanly possible. But when Helen is caught unprepared by an early period and bleeds through her pants -- they were gold lamé! -- the girls take over the club’s campaign for maxi pads in bathrooms for all students who menstruate. In the name of period equity, the two friends use everything from over-the-top baked goods to glitter gluing for change. But nothing can prepare them for a clueless school board (ew), an annoying little sister (ugh), and crushes (oh my!). As Helen and Gracie find themselves closer to change and in deeper trouble than ever before, they must decide if they care enough to keep going . . . even if it costs them their friendship.]]> 266 Ali Terese 1338835831 Beth 4 4.05 2024
author: Ali Terese
name: Beth
average rating: 4.05
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2023/11/21
date added: 2023/11/26
shelves: 2023-novel-length-reads, arcs, feminist-reads, middle-grade, realistic-fiction
review:
Moxie meets Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret in this book where two school pranksters are forced to care about something, so they choose period equity and getting menstrual products easily available to all students in their school.
]]> 72988977 48 Peter H. Reynolds 1338572334 Beth 3 children, picture-books, arcs 4.21
author: Peter H. Reynolds
name: Beth
average rating: 4.21
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2023/08/30
date added: 2023/08/30
shelves: children, picture-books, arcs
review:

]]> 63899016 In a hilarious story for fans of We Don't Eat Our Classmates, a young girl is determined to find out the truth about her favorite animals -- and find out once and for all, are seals really jerks and do they really eat penguins?!

Seals are Lorelei’s favorite they're so cute and cuddly and best buddies with penguins. Well... that’s what she thought before learning the ugly truth -- some seals EAT penguins! She doesn’t want to believe it at first, but she drags Penguin, the classroom guest, and seal whistleblower, to Antarctica to prove Penguin wrong and confront Seal face-to-face. And Seal finally reveals the truth.

Beloved creator of bestseller Vegetables in Underwear, Jared Chapman explores the ultimate Can seals be Lorelei's favorite animal even if they eat penguins? This laugh-out-loud story, brimming with honesty and charm, is perfect for today's young readers. Seals Are Jerks! is the launch of an exciting new series, in the spirit of We Don't Eat Our Classmates, Children Make Terrible Pets, and I Want My Hat Back.]]> 48 Jared Chapman 1338835696 Beth 3 children, picture-books, arcs 4.07
author: Jared Chapman
name: Beth
average rating: 4.07
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2023/08/09
date added: 2023/08/09
shelves: children, picture-books, arcs
review:

]]> 128680695 YOU are your ancestors�� wildest dreams. How will you express YOUR greatness? This electrifying anthem to Black boy joy and pride is perfect for fans of I Am Every Good Thing, Little Legends, and All Because You Matter.



I am fly.

From my crown

down to the kicks

on my feet...

I AM my ancestors' wildest dreams.

In a story that sizzles and soars, a young child discovers his place in a distinguished lineage. As he meets ten exceptional Black men �� historical and contemporary heroes who have paved the way for his own future success �� he internalizes and asserts their greatness. Just like them, he can reach his dreams. And just like him, you have within you big potential.]]> 32 Tanisia Moore 1338776177 Beth 4 4.04
author: Tanisia Moore
name: Beth
average rating: 4.04
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2023/08/09
date added: 2023/08/09
shelves: children, picture-books, we-need-diverse-books, inspirational, arcs
review:

]]> 66087071
"They say I'm an artist. They say I'm an activist."

When a young boy realizes the scope of inequities in the wider world, he's seized with the urge to do more . He decides to bring together the different parts of himself—the artist and the activist—to become. . . an Artivist. After his mural goes viral, he sets out to change the world one painting at a time.

With inspiring text and stunning illustrations by Nikkolas Smith, The Artivist is a call to action for young readers to point out injustice in their lives and try to heal the broken bones of the world through their art.]]> 40 Nikkolas Smith 059361965X Beth 4 4.38 2023
author: Nikkolas Smith
name: Beth
average rating: 4.38
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2023/07/26
date added: 2023/07/26
shelves: children, picture-books, we-need-diverse-books, arcs, social-justice
review:

]]> 128511317
When Zora grows up, she wants to be just like Aunt Bea. Aunt Bea is the best storyteller she knows! Every day after school, Zora heads to her aunt’s house, where they take out their family book and turn Aunt Bea’s kitchen into their stage. They raid Aunt Bea’s costume chest, filled with colorful garments from her acting days, and even do special voices to tell the stories of swimming coaches, Sunday preachers, World War II pilots, and more—all real members of their family. Zora can’t wait to find out what her story will be. As the days pass, Zora notices something’s happening to Aunt Bea. She gets tired more quickly, and sometimes she needs Zora to tell the stories instead. Zora never imagined that Aunt Bea’s tales would ever stop, but in addition to creating lots of joy and a lifetime of memories, Aunt Bea had been working on her greatest gift of preparing Zora to become the story keeper.

Lyrically told by Dr. Ebony Joy Wilkins and exquisitely rendered with mixed-media illustrations by Dare Coulter, Zora, the Story Keeper captures the richness and scope of Black American life through the lens of one family across generations.]]> 40 Ebony Joy Wilkins 1984816918 Beth 5 4.30
author: Ebony Joy Wilkins
name: Beth
average rating: 4.30
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2023/07/26
date added: 2023/07/26
shelves: family, death-and-grief, we-need-diverse-books, arcs, heartprint-books, children, picture-books
review:
A beautiful, heartfelt picture book about the legacy of family stories
]]> 112974879 A joyful, empowering story of a boy made royal by his mother’s hand-stitched clothes, inspired by the author's childhood in St. Lucia, and with art by a #1 NYT bestselling artist with St. Lucian roots.

What makes a patchwork prince? A prince must be ready for adventure—ready for the night, ready to pluck the brightest, most beautiful fabrics from the scrap heap, ready to run when danger comes. With the treasures he and his mother collect, she will make him clothes fit for No flashy jewels, no crown, but a cut and drape that hug his Black shoulders just right. And in his new clothes, with chin held high, he will know he is a prince.

Together with Kitt Thomas’s beautiful, exuberant�� artwork, acclaimed author Baptiste Paul brings readers a celebratory story about confidence and self-worth, and the enduring love between a mother and son.

"Joyful [and] powerful . . . So much beauty.�� ��SLJ (starred review)
"Artfully rendered . . . A loving portrait of a child embracing their innate value." ��PW
"Filled with energy and movement, [the book speaks] to the resilience of the human spirit." ��Kirkus ]]> 32 Baptiste Paul 0593463463 Beth 3 4.06
author: Baptiste Paul
name: Beth
average rating: 4.06
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2023/07/26
date added: 2023/07/26
shelves: arcs, picture-books, we-need-diverse-books, children
review:

]]> 62047926 Laurel Snyder, author of Orphan Island, returns with a story of one girl's quest to answer the seemingly unanswerable questions about what makes us who we are.

Hi, whoever is reading this. I'm Zipporah Chava McConnell, but everyone calls me Zippy.

Things used to be simple--until a few weeks ago. Now my best friend, Bea, is acting funny; everyone at school thinks I'm weird; and my mom is making me start preparing for my bat mitzvah, even though we barely ever go to synagogue. In fact, the only thing that still seems to make sense is magic.

See, the thing is, I'm a witch. I've been casting spells since I was little. And even if no one else wants to believe in magic anymore, it's always made sense to me, always felt true. But I was still shocked the day I found a strange red book at the library and somehow...I conjured something. A girl, actually. A beautiful girl with no memory, and wings like an angel. You probably don't believe me, but I swear it's the truth.

Miriam is like no one else I've ever met. She's proof that magic is real. And, it's hard to explain this part, but I just know that we're connected. That means it's up to me to help Miriam figure out what she is and where she came from. If I can do that, maybe everything else in my life will start to make sense too.

Anyway, it's worth a try.]]> 304 Laurel Snyder 006283665X Beth 4 ]]> 3.96 2023
author: Laurel Snyder
name: Beth
average rating: 3.96
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2023/05/29
date added: 2023/05/29
shelves: 2023-novel-length-reads, middle-grade, fantasy, arcs
review:
Laurel Snyder has always been one of my favorite middle grade authors. Her work is heartfelt and always makes you think without being obviously didactic. In The Witch of Woodland, Snyder writes a coming-of-age story that delves into Jewish folklore while still maintaining a contemporary vibe. We are so entrenched in Christianity being the default in American culture that coming across a contemporary coming-of-age story that looks at Judaism as more than a religion, but also in a cultural context was a beautiful and immersive reading experience.

]]> 63249689
In a tall, tall tree, at the tip-tippy top, hangs a single red apple...

Along skirts Mouse. “An apple!�� she squeaks, "How divine! When it tumbles to the ground, it’ll all be mine!��
And so it goes, for Hare, Fox, Deer, and Bear, who each can't wait to get their hands on the apple.
Soon the wind huffs and puffs, the branch snips and snaps, and down the apple falls. Only one shiny red apple for five furry creatures? What are they to do?!
Here is a read-aloud picture book, perfect for storytime, that will have kids repeating the refrain “Mine!��... complete with an ending that celebrates sharing and is sure to surprise!]]> 40 Candace Fleming 0593181662 Beth 3 picture-books, children, arcs 4.05 2023
author: Candace Fleming
name: Beth
average rating: 4.05
book published: 2023
rating: 3
read at: 2023/04/04
date added: 2023/05/04
shelves: picture-books, children, arcs
review:

]]> 59806060 40 Tami Charles 1338752049 Beth 5 4.25
author: Tami Charles
name: Beth
average rating: 4.25
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2022/11/29
date added: 2022/11/29
shelves: children, history, we-need-diverse-books, picture-books, inspirational, arcs
review:

]]> 62594328 From #1 New York Times bestselling creator Peter H. Reynolds and talented debut author Marc Colagiovanni comes an inspirational story about optimism, overcoming adversity, and forging your own path.

"One day for no particular reason, nothing was going right. Absolutely positively, nothing was going right. So, I decided to go left..."

Told through creative language play, and with depth and whimsy, this picture book reminds readers of their own agency and the power they have to direct their own path. Marc Colagiovanni’s lyrical text and Peter H. Reynolds's stunning art create an enduring message of strength and perseverance that is both universal and personal, and one that readers will be drawn to over and over again.

This first of two new picture books created in collaboration with Marc and Peter will inspire, affirm, and reassure readers at key milestone moments in every young reader's life. When Things Aren't Going Right, Go Left makes an inspiring graduation gift as well as a must-have, uplifting read sure to bring positivity to all who read it and remind us that even when nothing is going right�� we can always choose to go left.]]> 32 Marc Colagiovanni 1338831313 Beth 4 4.42
author: Marc Colagiovanni
name: Beth
average rating: 4.42
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2022/11/29
date added: 2022/11/29
shelves: social-emotional-learning, children, picture-books, arcs, inspirational, mindfulness
review:

]]> 60316970
Dan's always been a good kid. The kind of kid who listens to his teachers, helps his mom with grocery shopping, and stays out of trouble. But being a good kid doesn't stop him from being bullied and feeling like he's invisible, which is why Dan has low expectations when his parents send him on a class trip to Europe.

At first, he's right. He's stuck with the same girls from his middle school who love to make fun of him, and he doesn't know why his teacher insisted he come on this trip. But as he travels through France, Germany, Switzerland, and England, a series of first experiences begin to change him―first Fanta, first fondue, first time stealing a bike from German punk rockers... and first love.

Funny, heartwarming, and poignant, A First Time for Everything is a feel-good coming-of-age memoir based on New York Times bestselling author and Caldecott Medal winner Dan Santat's awkward middle school years. It celebrates a time that is universally challenging for many of us, but also life-changing as well.]]> 320 Dan Santat 1626724156 Beth 5
I read this book on my flight home from NCTE and it was the perfect book to read on a plane. My experience living in Europe was in my 20s but I saw so much of my own experience in this book and how the world became so much bigger for me. I loved the way the story was structured, I love how it ended in a way that it felt like you were watching a movie, oh, and I also love that I understood most of the German throughout the book and laughed so hard when Dan was baring his soul to Helga, his Austrian host mother whom he lived with for a week and she said "Es tut mir leid, dass ich nicht verstehe was du sagt." This book has so much heart and is relatable in so many ways, whether that's the travel angle, the "middle school was torture" angle or the pining away for a summer romance angle. So many readers will devour this book and I can't wait to get a finished copy for my school library and start handing it to students.]]> 4.37 2023
author: Dan Santat
name: Beth
average rating: 4.37
book published: 2023
rating: 5
read at: 2022/11/23
date added: 2022/11/25
shelves: sequential-art, 2022-novel-length-reads, arcs, middle-grade, memoir, nonfiction, travel, we-need-diverse-books
review:
Middle school was one series of humiliations after another for Dan Santat. So when the summer before high school presents him with an opportunity to travel to Europe with a school group for 3 weeks, he is initially ambivalent. He wants to experience new things, but he's not sure he wants to do it with some of his classmates. But as the trip goes on, he realizes how much bigger the world grows for him as he tries new and forbidden things for the first time (beer, cigarettes, coffee, and even steals a bike), has his first summer romance, and he sees what the world has to offer beyond his small hometown.

I read this book on my flight home from NCTE and it was the perfect book to read on a plane. My experience living in Europe was in my 20s but I saw so much of my own experience in this book and how the world became so much bigger for me. I loved the way the story was structured, I love how it ended in a way that it felt like you were watching a movie, oh, and I also love that I understood most of the German throughout the book and laughed so hard when Dan was baring his soul to Helga, his Austrian host mother whom he lived with for a week and she said "Es tut mir leid, dass ich nicht verstehe was du sagt." This book has so much heart and is relatable in so many ways, whether that's the travel angle, the "middle school was torture" angle or the pining away for a summer romance angle. So many readers will devour this book and I can't wait to get a finished copy for my school library and start handing it to students.
]]> 55811111 In Ride On, this middle grade graphic novel from Faith Erin Hicks , twelve-year-old Victoria is burned out from the high-pressure world or riding competitions. Can she get back to basics and rekindle her love of horses? Perfect for fans of Best Friends and Stargazing!

Victoria has always loved horses. But riding in competitions is high stakes, high stress, and shockingly expensive. And even though Victoria’s best friend Taylor loves competing, Victoria has lost her taste for it.

After a heartbreaking fight with Taylor, Victoria needs a new start—at a new stables. A place where she doesn’t have to worry about anything other than riding. No competition, no drama, no friends.

Just horses.

Edgewood Stables seems ideal. There are plenty of horses to ride, and Victoria is perfectly happy giving the other riders the cold shoulder.

But can she truly be happy with no friends?]]> 224 Faith Erin Hicks Beth 5 4.01 2022
author: Faith Erin Hicks
name: Beth
average rating: 4.01
book published: 2022
rating: 5
read at: 2022/11/25
date added: 2022/11/25
shelves: 2022-novel-length-reads, buy-for-library, friendship, middle-grade, realistic-fiction, sequential-art, arcs
review:

]]> 59806035 The Devil's Arithmetic and finds some words blacked out, he thinks it must be a mistake. But then when he and his friends discover what the missing words are, he's outraged.

Someone in his school is trying to prevent kids from reading the full story.

But who?

Even though his unreliable dad tells him to not get so emotional about a book (or anything else), Mac has been raised by his mom and grandad to call out things that are wrong. He and his friends head to the principal's office to protest the censorship... but her response doesn't take them seriously.

So many adults want Mac to keep his words to himself.

Mac's about to see the power of letting them out.

In Attack of the Black Rectangles, acclaimed author Amy Sarig King shows all the ways truth can be hard... but still worth fighting for.]]> 258 Amy Sarig King 1338680528 Beth 4 4.18 2022
author: Amy Sarig King
name: Beth
average rating: 4.18
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2022/11/13
date added: 2022/11/13
shelves: 2022-novel-length-reads, arcs, middle-grade, realistic-fiction
review:

]]> 59251239
Nobody has her moves.
She doesn't just swim to the bottom,
she dive-bombs.
She doesn't just somersault,
she triple-doughnuts.
She doesn't just ride the waves,
she makes them.

Odder spends her days off the coast of central California, practicing her underwater acrobatics and spinning the quirky stories for which she's known. She's a fearless daredevil, curious to a fault. But when Odder comes face-to-face with a hungry great white shark, her life takes a dramatic turn, one that will challenge everything she believes about herself—and about the humans who hope to save her.

Inspired by the true story of a Monterey Bay Aquarium program that pairs orphaned otter pups with surrogate mothers.]]> 274 Katherine Applegate 1250147425 Beth 3 4.21 2022
author: Katherine Applegate
name: Beth
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2022/10/11
date added: 2022/10/11
shelves: 2022-novel-length-reads, arcs, middle-grade, novels-in-verse
review:

]]> 60644048
Like most of the kids he knows, Langston is a huge fan of boxing champ Muhammed Ali. After all, Ali is the greatest for so many reasons—his speed, his strength, his confidence—and his poetry. Langston loves that Ali can float like a butterfly and sting like a bee, and Ali’s words give him confidence to spin his own poems. When Langston hears the champ is coming to the local high school, he’s ecstatic—this will be a day that will go down in history for him. When the big day arrives, Langston gets a special haircut, and floats like a butterfly to meet his hero—so imagine his disappointment when a guard tries to stop him at the door, saying the event is just for students. Fortunately, Langston has learned a thing or two about fearlessness from the champ and is quick about not taking “no�� for an answer. And just like that, a dream comes true for Langston that leaves him feeling wrapped in a warm glow and chanting I’m quick and I’m strong. I’m Black and I’m free. I’m brave and I’m bold, like Muhammad Ali!]]> 32 Jabari Asim 152473988X Beth 5 4.01
author: Jabari Asim
name: Beth
average rating: 4.01
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2022/09/20
date added: 2022/09/20
shelves: arcs, children, picture-books, we-need-diverse-books
review:

]]> 60165401
In his first-ever memoir for young readers, Tommie Smith looks back on his childhood growing up in rural Texas through to his stellar athletic career, culminating in his historic victory and Olympic podium protest.]]> 208 Tommie Smith 1324003901 Beth 4 4.41 2022
author: Tommie Smith
name: Beth
average rating: 4.41
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2022/08/04
date added: 2022/08/04
shelves: 2022-novel-length-reads, arcs, biography, nonfiction, sequential-art, social-justice, we-need-diverse-books, ya-lit
review:

]]> 59251233 Winner of the 2023 Eisner for Best Publication for Kids
October 2022 Indie Bestseller

New York Times- bestselling author Claribel A. Ortega and star debut artist Rose Bousamra's Frizzy is about Marlene, a young Dominican girl whose greatest enemy is the hair salon! Through her struggles and triumphs, this heartwarming and gorgeous middle-grade graphic novel shows the radical power of accepting yourself as you are, frizzy curls and all.

Marlene loves three books, her cool Tía Ruby and hanging out with her best friend Camila. But according to her mother, Paola, the only thing she needs to focus on is school and "growing up." That means straightening her hair every weekend so she could have "presentable", "good hair".

But Marlene hates being in the salon and doesn't understand why her curls are not considered pretty by those around her. With a few hiccups, a dash of embarrassment, and the much-needed help of Camila and Tia Ruby―she slowly starts a journey to learn to appreciate and proudly wear her curly hair.]]> 224 Claribel A. Ortega 1250259622 Beth 5 4.56 2022
author: Claribel A. Ortega
name: Beth
average rating: 4.56
book published: 2022
rating: 5
read at: 2022/07/30
date added: 2022/07/30
shelves: 2022-novel-length-reads, arcs, family, feminist-reads, identity, middle-grade, sequential-art, we-need-diverse-books
review:
An important middle grade graphic novel about a young girl who wants to embrace her natural curly hair rather than being forced to go to the salon every week with her mami to straighten her hair. This book is an important mirror for young Black girls who want to embrace their natural hair and a window for white readers who are used to seeing their physical features as a cultural default.
]]> 60420369
A NEW WAY OF The use of comparison and contrast gives readers a new lens through which to see themselves and others.

HUMOR WITH Annie Barrows uses her trademarked humor to get readers laughing and thinking.

GREAT The silly and surprising text is the perfect read-aloud for homes and classrooms.

Perfect ]]> 44 Annie Barrows 1452163375 Beth 5 3.84
author: Annie Barrows
name: Beth
average rating: 3.84
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2022/07/17
date added: 2022/07/17
shelves: arcs, children, building-empathy, picture-books, good-for-read-alouds
review:
A picture book that brilliantly sets up the thesis that humans are more alike than different by showing the ways we are alike/different to other objects. A great read aloud for Preschool-1st grade classes.
]]> 57812368 ��������dzܰ�!) little pigs as they convince the narrator to tell a slightly different version of their fairy tale:

First there’s Alan, the one pig in the bunch who is actually a builder. He’s got a BIG problem with building a home out of flimsy straw. Next there’s Alfred, who wants to be an actor and wouldn’t dream of getting his hands dirty. Then we have Alvin, whose dream is to be . . . a pumpkin. Last but not least is Alison, the fourth pig who is ready to bring some flair to this story, if only she can get the narrator to agree to a few changes. . . . And what about that wolf?

Grab your jet-packs and get ready for this rollicking retelling of the popular tale.]]> 34 Josh Funk 1542032431 Beth 4 3.98 2022
author: Josh Funk
name: Beth
average rating: 3.98
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2022/07/17
date added: 2022/07/17
shelves: children, arcs, fractured-fairy-tales, picture-books
review:

]]> 58484043 32 Stephen Hogtun 1547608994 Beth 3 4.39 2021
author: Stephen Hogtun
name: Beth
average rating: 4.39
book published: 2021
rating: 3
read at: 2022/07/17
date added: 2022/07/17
shelves: children, death-and-grief, picture-books, arcs
review:

]]> 55846908
Twelve-year-old homeschooled Olive is tired of being seen as “fragile�� just because she has osteogenesis imperfecta (otherwise known as brittle bone disease) so she’s thrilled when she finally convinces her parents to let her attend Macklemore Elementary. Olive can’t wait to go to a traditional school and make the friends she’s always longed for, until a disastrous first day dashes her hopes of ever fitting in.

Then Olive hears whispers about a magical, wish-granting hummingbird that supposedly lives near Macklemore. It’ll be the solution to all her problems! If she can find the bird and prove herself worthy, the creature will make her most desperate, secret wish come true.

When it becomes clear that she can’t solve the mystery on her own, Olive teams up with some unlikely allies who help her learn the truth about the bird. And on the way, she just might learn that our fragile places lead us to the most wonderful magic of all . . .]]> 289 Natalie Lloyd 1338654616 Beth 5 4.60 2022
author: Natalie Lloyd
name: Beth
average rating: 4.60
book published: 2022
rating: 5
read at: 2022/07/14
date added: 2022/07/14
shelves: 2022-novel-length-reads, arcs, building-empathy, buy-for-library, heartprint-books, identity, magical-realism, middle-grade
review:
There’s a teacher in the story that says a pen is a direct line to a person’s heart. Well, Natalie Lloyd’s pen draws a whole lot of lines to readers�� hearts.
]]> 60705684 40 June Tate 0063114135 Beth 5 children, arcs, picture-books 4.22
author: June Tate
name: Beth
average rating: 4.22
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2022/07/14
date added: 2022/07/14
shelves: children, arcs, picture-books
review:

]]> 60370860 48 Marc Majewski 0063021552 Beth 4 children, picture-books, arcs 4.25 2022
author: Marc Majewski
name: Beth
average rating: 4.25
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2022/07/14
date added: 2022/07/14
shelves: children, picture-books, arcs
review:

]]> 58311940 In this lyrical picture book, world-renowned poet,��New York Times��bestselling author, and Coretta Scott King Honor winner Nikki Giovanni and fine artist Erin Robinson craft an ode to the magic of a library as a place not only for knowledge but also for imagination, exploration, and escape.

In what other place can a child "sail their dreams" and "surf the rainbow" without ever leaving the room? This ode to libraries is a celebration for everyone who loves stories, from seasoned readers to those just learning to love words, and it will have kids and parents alike imagining where their library can take them.

This inspiring read-aloud includes stunning illustrations and a note from Nikki Giovanni about the importance of libraries in her own childhood.]]> 32 Nikki Giovanni 0358387655 Beth 4 4.28 2022
author: Nikki Giovanni
name: Beth
average rating: 4.28
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2022/07/14
date added: 2022/07/14
shelves: children, picture-books, we-need-diverse-books, arcs
review:

]]> 58068083
Kara and Amanda hate not being together. Then it's time for the family reunion on the Rez. Each girl worries that the other hasn't missed her. But once they reconnect, they realize that they are still forever cousins. This story highlights the ongoing impact of the 1950s Indian Relocation Act on Native families, even today.

This tender story about navigating change reminds readers that the power of friendship and family can bridge any distance.]]> 32 Laurel Goodluck 1623542928 Beth 4 4.05 2022
author: Laurel Goodluck
name: Beth
average rating: 4.05
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2022/07/14
date added: 2022/07/14
shelves: children, picture-books, arcs, we-need-diverse-books, identity
review:

]]> 60021493 ���ձ�> 40 Tyler Merritt 1546012567 Beth 4
Author Tyler Merritt is well known for the viral video "Before You Call the Cops" in 2018. ]]> 4.53
author: Tyler Merritt
name: Beth
average rating: 4.53
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2022/07/14
date added: 2022/07/14
shelves: children, social-justice, we-need-diverse-books, picture-books, identity, arcs
review:
A picture book that explores young Black boy's first overt experience with racism and what that means for his friendships and self-esteem.

Author Tyler Merritt is well known for the viral video "Before You Call the Cops" in 2018.
]]> 59440760
Estela’s family lives together in a happy home full of love. Or, at least, they used to�� until their home was torn apart.

My mom had to go back,
to the other side of the river,
because she wasn’t born in this country.

For years her family fought and fought for permission for her to stay in the U.S. But no one listened. When Estela was eight, her mother was deported to Mexico.

Estela knew she had to do something. So she wrote to local newspapers, Congress, the President, and anyone else who could help. She wrote and wrote and wrote until, finally�� someone listened.

In this heart wrenching, autobiographical story, Estela Juarez's letters take her from the local news all the way to the national stage, where she discovers the power in her words and pledges to keep using her voice until her family―and others like hers�� are together again.

Also available in Spanish as Hasta que alguien me escuche !]]> 40 Estela Juarez 1250832128 Beth 3 4.48 2022
author: Estela Juarez
name: Beth
average rating: 4.48
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2022/07/14
date added: 2022/07/14
shelves: nonfiction, social-justice, picture-books, middle-grade-picture-book, we-need-diverse-books, arcs
review:
The true story of one girl using her voice to bring back her mother to her family, who was deported to Mexico despite having American children and being the wife of a former U.S. Marine.
]]> 44287012
But when Delaney manages to secure both of them full rides to an elite prep school in Connecticut, Cash will have to grapple with his need to protect and love Delaney, and his love for the grandparents who saved him and the town he would have to leave behind.

From the award-winning author of The Serpent King comes a beautiful examination of grief, found family, and young love.]]> 432 Jeff Zentner 1524720240 Beth 5 4.44 2021
author: Jeff Zentner
name: Beth
average rating: 4.44
book published: 2021
rating: 5
read at: 2020/12/25
date added: 2022/07/10
shelves: 2020-novel-length-reads, arcs, buy-for-library, death-and-grief, family, friendship, good-for-read-alouds, heartprint-books, favorites, identity, mentor-texts, netgalley, realistic-fiction, ya-lit
review:
The exploration of gentle masculinity, of loving familial and platonic male relationships, is one that will stay with me for a long time.
]]> 59088288 432 Chris Rylander 006232750X Beth 4 4.06
author: Chris Rylander
name: Beth
average rating: 4.06
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2022/07/03
date added: 2022/07/03
shelves: 2022-novel-length-reads, arcs, middle-grade, realistic-fiction, sports
review:

]]> 59245865 48 Ruby Bridges 1338753886 Beth 4 4.42
author: Ruby Bridges
name: Beth
average rating: 4.42
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2022/06/14
date added: 2022/06/14
shelves: arcs, biography, children, history, nonfiction, picture-books, social-justice, we-need-diverse-books
review:

]]> 59806032 48 Mac Barnett 133867384X Beth 3 4.35 2022
author: Mac Barnett
name: Beth
average rating: 4.35
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2022/06/14
date added: 2022/06/14
shelves: children, folk-tales-fairy-tales-fables-myths, picture-books, arcs
review:

]]> 58713803
Moon has been plunged into a swill of uncertainty and confusion. They travel to the spirit realms every night, hoping never to return to the world of the living.

But when the realm is threatened, it's up to Moon to save the spirit world, which sparks their own healing journey through the powerful, baffling, landscape that depression can cause.

From this novel’s very first utterance, author Kacen Callender puts us behind Moon’s eyes so that we, too, are engulfed by Moon’s troubling exploration through mental illness.

Moon’s mom is trying her best, but is clueless about what to do to reach the ugly roiling of her child’s inner struggles. At the same time, though, there are those who see Moon for who they are �� Blue, the Keeper, the Magician, Wolf. These creature-guides help Moon find a way out of darkness. The ethereal aspects of the story are brilliantly blended with real-world glimmers of light. Slowly, Moon grows toward hope and wholeness, showing all children that each and every one of us has a tree growing inside. That our souls emerge when we discover, and fully accept, ourselves.

Drawn from the author’s own experience through depression as a young person, this carefully orchestrated, unique novel is deeply spiritual. Moonflower will challenge you to think beyond traditional storytelling �� to reach. To weep. To discover. To cheer this feat of nuanced writing that speaks directly to the heart.]]> 272 Kacen Callender 1338636626 Beth 3 4.12 2022
author: Kacen Callender
name: Beth
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2022/05/26
date added: 2022/05/26
shelves: 2022-novel-length-reads, arcs, fantasy, identity, lgbt, mental-health, middle-grade, resilience-literature, social-emotional-learning, we-need-diverse-books
review:
An incredibly innovative book by Kacen Callender that turns the experience of living with depression into a fantastical world of going into a spirit realm. For some readers this will be the exact book they need. For others it will be triggering. I found it to be both, which is why, despite the short page length, it took me over a month to complete. As teachers and librarians, we need to be aware that just because students might identify with the main character's struggles, it might be too tender a subject for them to read at a given time.
]]> 58563479 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

An inspiring story of identity and self-esteem from celebrated athlete and activist Colin Kaepernick.



When Colin Kaepernick was five years old, he was given a simple school assignment: draw a picture of yourself and your family. What young Colin does next with his brown crayon changes his whole world and worldview, providing a valuable lesson on embracing and celebrating his Black identity through the power of radical self-love and knowing your inherent worth.



I Color Myself Different is a joyful ode to Black and Brown lives based on real events in young Colin's life that is perfect for every reader's bookshelf. It's a story of self-discovery, staying true to one's self, and advocating for change... even when you're very little!]]> 40 Colin Kaepernick 1338789627 Beth 5 4.29
author: Colin Kaepernick
name: Beth
average rating: 4.29
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2022/05/08
date added: 2022/05/08
shelves: children, identity, picture-books, arcs, we-need-diverse-books
review:

]]> 35540804 A debut novel based on the true story of the iconic painter, Artemisia Gentileschi.

Her mother died when she was twelve, and suddenly Artemisia Gentileschi had a stark choice: a life as a nun in a convent or a life grinding pigment for her father's paint.

She chose paint.

By the time she was seventeen, Artemisia did more than grind pigment. She was one of Rome's most talented painters, even if no one knew her name. But Rome in 1610 was a city where men took what they wanted from women, and in the aftermath of rape Artemisia faced another terrible choice: a life of silence or a life of truth, no matter the cost.

He will not consume
my every thought.
I am a painter.
I will paint.

I will show you
what a woman can do.]]> 298 Joy McCullough 0735232113 Beth 5
*~*~*~*
2019 Walden finalist]]> 4.15 2018
author: Joy McCullough
name: Beth
average rating: 4.15
book published: 2018
rating: 5
read at: 2019/06/12
date added: 2022/05/05
shelves: 2018-novel-length-reads, arcs, ya-lit, feminist-reads, historical-fiction, novels-in-verse, 2019-novel-length-reads, re-read, walden-award-and-finalists, setting
review:
This historical novel in verse takes place in the early 1600s and is about a young Italian artist named Artemisia Gentileschi who lost her mother at a young age and whose father gave her two options: go off to the convent or stay home as his assistant, where she basically paints all of his commissions for him. But when Artemisia finds herself the victim of rape, she must make another tough choice: remain silent or speak out and risk everything. An incredibly timely book despite taking place over 400 years ago.

*~*~*~*
2019 Walden finalist
]]> 30256109 The rock in the water does not know the pain of the rock in the sun.

On the corner of American Street and Joy Road, Fabiola Toussaint thought she would finally find une belle vie—a good life.

But after they leave Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Fabiola’s mother is detained by U.S. immigration, leaving Fabiola to navigate her loud American cousins, Chantal, Donna, and Princess; the grittiness of Detroit’s west side; a new school; and a surprising romance, all on her own.

Just as she finds her footing in this strange new world, a dangerous proposition presents itself, and Fabiola soon realizes that freedom comes at a cost. Trapped at the crossroads of an impossible choice, will she pay the price for the American dream?]]> 336 Ibi Zoboi 0062473042 Beth 4 3.99 2017
author: Ibi Zoboi
name: Beth
average rating: 3.99
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2016/10/16
date added: 2022/05/05
shelves: arcs, realistic-fiction, 2016-novel-length-reads, we-need-diverse-books, ya-lit, family, setting
review:
This book has a little bit for everyone: it's got grit, romance, tragedy, tied up with a dash of magical realism. It's a quick, page-turning read, but it is by no means an easy read. In fact, finishing the book will leave you with more questions than answers. Because while the book has a resolution, it also leaves you feeling unsatisfied. You want more answers. But conflicts in life don't always get tied up with a neat little bow and so even though you close the book feeling frustrated, that also makes a lot of room for some really good discussion and rumination.
]]> 28220960
What follows is their story, told in alternating points of view, as Kyle tries to unravel the mystery of the girl so he can return her to her family. But what if the girl has forgotten everything, even her own name? And what if the more Kyle gets to know her, the less he wants her to go home?]]> 279 Gae Polisner 1250095522 Beth 5
It's so easy to dismiss narrative and expressive writing in favor of teaching students dry, expository essay writing in school. But students aren't going to feel loss and empathy by reading about 9/11 in a textbook. They feel it by reading stories. All the more reason that books like this, while fiction, bring out an understanding that expository writing just can't accomplish. I have a feeling that when this book finally hits bookstores, it's going to be a popular staple in my classroom library. ]]> 3.92 2016
author: Gae Polisner
name: Beth
average rating: 3.92
book published: 2016
rating: 5
read at: 2016/04/25
date added: 2022/05/05
shelves: ya-lit, realistic-fiction, netgalley, arcs, 2016-novel-length-reads, heartprint-books, setting
review:
This is a book that takes place during 9/11 but manages to not be ABOUT 9/11. It's a reminder to us all that despite great tragedy, life goes on and the world keeps turning. It's a book that took me back to that fateful day in September of 2001 and what I was feeling, but it reminds me that the students I now teach weren't even born yet when it happened.

It's so easy to dismiss narrative and expressive writing in favor of teaching students dry, expository essay writing in school. But students aren't going to feel loss and empathy by reading about 9/11 in a textbook. They feel it by reading stories. All the more reason that books like this, while fiction, bring out an understanding that expository writing just can't accomplish. I have a feeling that when this book finally hits bookstores, it's going to be a popular staple in my classroom library.
]]> 17352909 264 Beth Kephart 1452124574 Beth 0
I was very excited to read Beth Kephart's Going Over because, you see, Berlin is my absolute favorite city on earth. History resides on every corner and yet it possesses a vibrant, youthful energy. It is like no other city in the history of the world. A wall divided it for decades: on one side, the free west, on the other, the oppressed east. The duality was striking and it still is to this day. When you go up to the top TV tower on Alexanderplatz in what is former East Berlin, you can clearly see where East and West once resided. When the wall came down in 1989, it was by the will of the people rather than weapons that
brought it down, which is what makes this city's story so compelling. When Beth Kephart says in the author's note:

"When I traveled to Berlin in the summer of 2011 I discovered a city palpably alive, brilliant with color. I stood before memorials. I cried inside museums. I touched pieces of the old graffiti wall and imagine the ache of being separated from people I loved, from landscapes I yearned to see."

That was my experience with Berlin when I traveled there in 2004. I loved everything about it. Its storied past. Its hopeful and frenetic future. I own a t-shirt that says "Ich bin ein Berliner" because I love this city so much.

So given my clearly emotional investment in the city of Berlin, I think it has skewed my impression of Going Over somewhat. It was difficult to find MY Berlin in this book and that's precisely why I had a hard time with it. I was looking for the Berlin I experienced in 2004, but how could that be when the story takes place in 1980s Berlin? And despite the fact that I drink up every piece of Berlin history I can get my hands on, I didn't feel the spirit of my beloved city in this story. Again, why would I? It was a different time and place.

But also, I just wanted to feel the city more in this story. When you have such a strong setting like Berlin, the city should almost be another character, much like I felt Prague was in Laini Taylor's Daughter of Smoke and Bone. It should be so vivid that you feel like you are there, and I didn't feel that sense of place I was longing for. And that's precisely why it's difficult for me to review this book objectively, which is also why I'm not going to give this book a star rating.

But despite my difficult experience with this book, I want to thank Beth Kephart for writing it. I think the Cold War is just now starting to become an era of history authors are beginning to explore and I think Berlin is a goldmine of fictional - and true! - stories just waiting to be told in young adult literature. Even though I didn't connect with the story as much as I would have liked, I will still recommend it to people and hope that they connect with it. Maybe it will even inspire people to visit and fall in love with the city the same way I did.

Read my entire review .]]> 3.59 2014
author: Beth Kephart
name: Beth
average rating: 3.59
book published: 2014
rating: 0
read at: 2014/01/18
date added: 2022/05/05
shelves: historical-fiction, ya-lit, arcs, 2014-novel-length-reads, setting
review:
Ada and Stefan are in love. But like any star-crossed love story, there is something preventing them from being together: a wall that divides their city. Pink-haired Ada lives in West Berlin where freedom and self-expression rule the streets and have emboldened her to become an angsty, teenage graffiti artist. Stefan lives in the straight lines and drab colors of East Berlin where his life and job have been forced upon him, so he waits for the day when he can escape to the West to be with Ada.

I was very excited to read Beth Kephart's Going Over because, you see, Berlin is my absolute favorite city on earth. History resides on every corner and yet it possesses a vibrant, youthful energy. It is like no other city in the history of the world. A wall divided it for decades: on one side, the free west, on the other, the oppressed east. The duality was striking and it still is to this day. When you go up to the top TV tower on Alexanderplatz in what is former East Berlin, you can clearly see where East and West once resided. When the wall came down in 1989, it was by the will of the people rather than weapons that
brought it down, which is what makes this city's story so compelling. When Beth Kephart says in the author's note:

"When I traveled to Berlin in the summer of 2011 I discovered a city palpably alive, brilliant with color. I stood before memorials. I cried inside museums. I touched pieces of the old graffiti wall and imagine the ache of being separated from people I loved, from landscapes I yearned to see."

That was my experience with Berlin when I traveled there in 2004. I loved everything about it. Its storied past. Its hopeful and frenetic future. I own a t-shirt that says "Ich bin ein Berliner" because I love this city so much.

So given my clearly emotional investment in the city of Berlin, I think it has skewed my impression of Going Over somewhat. It was difficult to find MY Berlin in this book and that's precisely why I had a hard time with it. I was looking for the Berlin I experienced in 2004, but how could that be when the story takes place in 1980s Berlin? And despite the fact that I drink up every piece of Berlin history I can get my hands on, I didn't feel the spirit of my beloved city in this story. Again, why would I? It was a different time and place.

But also, I just wanted to feel the city more in this story. When you have such a strong setting like Berlin, the city should almost be another character, much like I felt Prague was in Laini Taylor's Daughter of Smoke and Bone. It should be so vivid that you feel like you are there, and I didn't feel that sense of place I was longing for. And that's precisely why it's difficult for me to review this book objectively, which is also why I'm not going to give this book a star rating.

But despite my difficult experience with this book, I want to thank Beth Kephart for writing it. I think the Cold War is just now starting to become an era of history authors are beginning to explore and I think Berlin is a goldmine of fictional - and true! - stories just waiting to be told in young adult literature. Even though I didn't connect with the story as much as I would have liked, I will still recommend it to people and hope that they connect with it. Maybe it will even inspire people to visit and fall in love with the city the same way I did.

Read my entire review .
]]> 17262236
Elizabeth Wein, author of the critically-acclaimed and best-selling Code Name Verity, delivers another stunning WWII thriller. The unforgettable story of Rose Justice is forged from heart-wrenching courage, resolve, and the slim, bright chance of survival.]]> 360 Elizabeth Wein 1423183096 Beth 4
Needless to say, I was nervous (and maybe a little hesitant) to tackle Rose Under Fire, a companion novel to Code Name Verity. But the premise of the story drew me in and I knew I had to give it a go.

Throughout the story Rose's poetry is what sustains her and her fellow prisoners and even keeps them alive on a few occasions. I think this poetry connection is what immediately allowed me to feel for Rose as the protagonist when I couldn't feel for the characters in Code Name Verity. And this is a very different story than Wein's first novel. But if you think it will be impossible to love Rose Under Fire as much as Code Name Verity, you would be wrong. This book is equally as compelling, both emotionally and intellectually. And reading about the horrors Rose and especially her fellow prisoners had to endure at the hand of their captors, was both heartbreaking and hopeful, knowing that despite the inhumanity, there was still kindness and hope to be found -- eager to soar, but needing a lift.

Read the entire review on .]]> 4.10 2013
author: Elizabeth Wein
name: Beth
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2013
rating: 4
read at: 2013/08/19
date added: 2022/05/05
shelves: arcs, historical-fiction, ya-lit, 2013-novel-length-reads, resilience-literature, own, setting
review:
While everyone was lauding Code Name Verity last year, I have to start right off the bat by saying that I didn't connect with it. The book was difficult for me to follow, I think because of all the military jargon. I didn't feel anything for the characters despite their grave circumstances, mostly because I felt like I wasn't really inside the story, I was sort of hovering around the outskirts of it.When many people found themselves sobbing by the end, I felt nothing. And I'm usually a crier. Don't get me wrong, I know what a brilliant and important book Code Name Verity is; I just didn't personally connect with it the way I was hoping I would.

Needless to say, I was nervous (and maybe a little hesitant) to tackle Rose Under Fire, a companion novel to Code Name Verity. But the premise of the story drew me in and I knew I had to give it a go.

Throughout the story Rose's poetry is what sustains her and her fellow prisoners and even keeps them alive on a few occasions. I think this poetry connection is what immediately allowed me to feel for Rose as the protagonist when I couldn't feel for the characters in Code Name Verity. And this is a very different story than Wein's first novel. But if you think it will be impossible to love Rose Under Fire as much as Code Name Verity, you would be wrong. This book is equally as compelling, both emotionally and intellectually. And reading about the horrors Rose and especially her fellow prisoners had to endure at the hand of their captors, was both heartbreaking and hopeful, knowing that despite the inhumanity, there was still kindness and hope to be found -- eager to soar, but needing a lift.

Read the entire review on .
]]> 11178225
Josie is caught between the dream of an elite college and a clandestine underworld. New Orleans lures her in her quest for truth, dangling temptation at every turn, and escalating to the ultimate test.

With characters as captivating as those in her internationally bestselling novel Between Shades of Gray, Ruta Sepetys skillfully creates a rich story of secrets, lies, and the haunting reminder that decisions can shape our destiny.]]> 348 Ruta Sepetys 039925692X Beth 5
Longer review to come.]]> 4.03 2013
author: Ruta Sepetys
name: Beth
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2013
rating: 5
read at: 2012/12/14
date added: 2022/05/05
shelves: arcs, historical-fiction, mystery, ya-lit, favorites, own, setting
review:
While nowhere near as moving as Between Shades of Gray, Ruta Sepetys's sophomore novel is beautifully written and equally comelling as her first novel. I hope this is the beginning of a prolific writing career for Ruta. I will read everything she publishes.

Longer review to come.
]]> 60021207 New York Times Bestseller!

From the��Newbery Medal��and Coretta Scott King Award��winning author Kwame Alexander, comes the first book in a searing, breathtaking trilogy that tells the story of a boy, a village, and the epic odyssey of an African family.

In his village in Upper Kwanta, 11-year-old Kofi loves his family, playing oware with his grandfather and swimming in the river Offin. He’s warned though, to never go to the river at night. His brother tells him ”There are things about the water you do not know." “Like what?" Kofi asks. “The beasts,�� his brother answers.
��
One fateful night, the unthinkable happens, and in a flash, Kofi’s world turns upside down. Kofi soon ends up in a fight for his life and what happens next will send him on a harrowing journey across land and sea, and��away from everything he loves.
��
This��spellbinding��novel by the author of The Crossover and Booked will take you on an��unforgettable��adventure that will open your eyes and break your heart.
��
The Door of No Return is an excellent choice for independent reading, sharing in the classroom, homeschooling, and book groups.]]> 432 Kwame Alexander 0316441864 Beth 4 4.29 2022
author: Kwame Alexander
name: Beth
average rating: 4.29
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2022/04/13
date added: 2022/05/04
shelves: 2022-novel-length-reads, arcs, buy-for-library, historical-fiction, middle-grade, novels-in-verse, we-need-diverse-books, ya-lit, setting
review:
I still need to sit and process what an important book I just read. From Kwame's opening " Note from the Author" to the very last page, I was completely immersed in the story and could feel its gravitas as I was reading. The second I closed the book, I started looking into the history behind the story because I knew from reading it that there was so much I didn't actually know. And that is the mark of a great author of historical fiction: to reveal a moment of history through fiction that many people didn't know about and inspire them to learn more. I hope this book will also be a catalyst to move beyond Euro-centric history and compel readers, both kids and adults alike, to learn more about African history that is rarely or never taught in school in the U.S.
]]> 56733508 An Association of Jewish Libraries Sydney Taylor Honor Winner

With a masterful mix of comic timing and disarming poignancy, Newbery Honoree Eugene Yelchin offers a memoir of growing up in Cold War Russia.

Drama, family secrets, and a KGB spy in his own kitchen! How will Yevgeny ever fulfill his parents' dream that he become a national hero when he doesn't even have his own room? He's not a star athlete or a legendary ballet dancer. In the tiny apartment he shares with his Baryshnikov-obsessed mother, poetry-loving father, continually outraged grandmother, and safely talented brother, all Yevgeny has is his little pencil, the underside of a massive table, and the doodles that could change everything. With equal amounts charm and solemnity, award-winning author and artist Eugene Yelchin recounts in hilarious detail his childhood in Cold War Russia as a young boy desperate to understand his place in his family.]]> 208 Eugene Yelchin 153621552X Beth 4 4.19 2021
author: Eugene Yelchin
name: Beth
average rating: 4.19
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2021/08/12
date added: 2022/05/04
shelves: 2021-novel-length-reads, arcs, memoir, middle-grade, setting
review:
Eugene (Yevgeny) Yelchin grew up under the oppressive communist regime in Soviet Russia and this is his memoir of his childhood growing up in a communal apartment with one of his neighbors being an informant to the KGB and the pressure his parents put on him to have a talent that would eventually help give his family some upward mobility.
]]> 53175322 "A poignant, necessary entry into the children's literary canon, Root Magic brings to life the history and culture of Gullah people while highlighting the timeless plight of Black Americans. Add in a fun, magical adventure and you get everything I want in a book!"--Justina Ireland, New York Times bestselling author of Dread Nation

Debut author Eden Royce arrives with a wondrous story of love, bravery, friendship, and family, filled to the brim with magic great and small.

It's 1963, and things are changing for Jezebel Turner. Her beloved grandmother has just passed away. The local police deputy won't stop harassing her family. With school integration arriving in South Carolina, Jez and her twin brother, Jay, are about to begin the school year with a bunch of new kids. But the biggest change comes when Jez and Jay turn eleven-- and their uncle, Doc, tells them he's going to train them in rootwork.

Jez and Jay have always been fascinated by the African American folk magic that has been the legacy of their family for generations--especially the curious potions and powders Doc and Gran would make for the people on their island. But Jez soon finds out that her family's true power goes far beyond small charms and elixirs...and not a moment too soon. Because when evil both natural and supernatural comes to show itself in town, it's going to take every bit of the magic she has inside her to see her through.]]> 352 Eden Royce 0062899570 Beth 4 4.19 2021
author: Eden Royce
name: Beth
average rating: 4.19
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2020/12/27
date added: 2022/05/04
shelves: 2020-novel-length-reads, arcs, fantasy, middle-grade, we-need-diverse-books, setting
review:

]]> 51307102 From Lois Lowry comes an account of the lives lost in two of WWII’s most infamous events: Pearl Harbor and Hiroshima. With black-and-white illustrations by Kenard Pak.

Lois Lowry looks back at history through a personal lens as she draws from her own memories as a child in Hawaii and Japan, as well as from��historical research, in this work in verse for young readers.

On the Horizon tells the story of people whose lives were lost or forever altered by the twin tragedies of Pearl��Harbor and Hiroshima.�� Composed of poems about individual sailors who lost their lives on the Arizona and about the citizens of Hiroshima who experienced unfathomable��horror.]]> 80 Lois Lowry 0358129400 Beth 4 4.27 2020
author: Lois Lowry
name: Beth
average rating: 4.27
book published: 2020
rating: 4
read at: 2020/05/17
date added: 2022/05/04
shelves: children, wwii, middle-grade, novels-in-verse, poetry, war, arcs, setting
review:
This book defies genre and format. It seems like a novel in verse, but it's not long enough to be a novel. It's also not a poetry collection because it still tells a story. It's hard to understand what this book is until you read the author's note at the end, which is a great reminder to always read the backmatter.
]]> 22453777
While her friends are spending their summers having pool parties and sleepovers, twelve-year-old Carolina �� Carol �� is spending hers in the middle of the New Mexico desert, helping her parents move the grandfather she’s never met into a home for people with dementia. At first, Carol avoids prickly Grandpa Serge. But as the summer wears on and the heat bears down, Carol finds herself drawn to him, fascinated by the crazy stories he tells her about a healing tree, a green-glass lake, and the bees that will bring back the rain and end a hundred years of drought. As the thin line between magic and reality starts to blur, Carol must decide for herself what is possible �� and what it means to be true to her roots. Readers who dream that there’s something more out there will be enchanted by this captivating novel of family, renewal, and discovering the wonder of the world.]]> 360 Lindsay Eagar 0763687359 Beth 5 4.20 2016
author: Lindsay Eagar
name: Beth
average rating: 4.20
book published: 2016
rating: 5
read at: 2016/05/08
date added: 2022/05/04
shelves: 2016-novel-length-reads, heartprint-books, family, magical-realism, arcs, in-classroom-library, mentor-texts, middle-grade, setting
review:
Simply stunning. Magical realism at its finest. Despite being middle grade fiction, I wouldn't hesitate to put this book in a high school classroom. In fact, I'd recommend it to anyone who read and loved Bone Gap.
]]> 23309551 In this poetic memoir, Margarita Engle, the first Latina woman to receive a Newbery Honor, tells of growing up as a child of two cultures during the Cold War.

Margarita is a girl from two worlds. Her heart lies in Cuba, her mother's tropical island country, a place so lush with vibrant life that it seems like a fairy tale kingdom. But most of the time she lives in Los Angeles, lonely in the noisy city and dreaming of the summers when she can take a plane through the enchanted air to her beloved island. Words and images are her constant companions, friendly and comforting when the children at school are not.

Then a revolution breaks out in Cuba. Margarita fears for her far-away family. When the hostility between Cuba and the United States erupts at the Bay of Pigs Invasion, Margarita's worlds collide in the worst way possible. How can the two countries she loves hate each other so much? And will she ever get to visit her beautiful island again?]]> 192 Margarita Engle 1481435221 Beth 5
Lovers of Jacqueline Woodson's Brown Girl Dreaming will love Enchanted Air. Put this book on your TBR list and look for it to hit bookstores in August. ]]> 4.03 2015
author: Margarita Engle
name: Beth
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2015
rating: 5
read at: 2015/04/19
date added: 2022/05/04
shelves: middle-grade, ya-lit, memoir, novels-in-verse, 2015-novel-length-reads, arcs, we-need-diverse-books, own, heartprint-books, setting
review:
I don't think my mind can fully process yet how much I loved Margarita Engle's beautiful memoir in verse. I need to come back and write a longer review when I'm not feeling ALL THE THINGS all at once.

Lovers of Jacqueline Woodson's Brown Girl Dreaming will love Enchanted Air. Put this book on your TBR list and look for it to hit bookstores in August.
]]> 17815784
A powerful story of courage and survival, Upside Down in the Middle of Nowhere celebrates the miraculous power of hope and love in the face of the unthinkable.]]> 320 Julie T. Lamana 1452124566 Beth 4
Heartbreaking yet hopeful. Terrifying yet beautiful. This middle grade debut novel by Julie Lamana is a page-turner that will leave you staying up late to finish. And yet, despite not being able to stop turning pages, it is also a difficult read, but it's an important story to tell.

The ending, while certainly a realistic portrayal of the heartbreak people had to endure in New Orleans after Katrina, left me feeling empty and unsatisfied. Not because it ended the way it did --I understand why it had to end that way -- but because it ended when it did. I got to the last page and thought to myself, "But surely there's one more chapter, right?"

Finally, I want to talk about the cover. While the rain boots on the cover are significant to the main character, I have to wonder if this was a story about a white family if this would be such a non-descript cover. There seems to be this unspoken rule that publishers don't like to put black faces on the covers of books. Not only are there no black faces on the cover, but the background is so white it's literally whitewashed. This lack of diversity or HIDING of diversity in children's literature is not okay in 2014. And despite the fact that the author has nothing to do with the cover, it slightly marred my experience reading this book because all I kept thinking about was the exposing of racial inequality Katrina brought out in our country, and so the obvious refusal to put the face of a black character on the cover of a book just speaks even further to that inequality. I have always respected Chronicle Books and will continue to read their books, but I also want them to know that I expect better from them in the future.

Read my entire review .]]> 4.22 2014
author: Julie T. Lamana
name: Beth
average rating: 4.22
book published: 2014
rating: 4
read at: 2014/03/12
date added: 2022/05/04
shelves: middle-grade, realistic-fiction, arcs, 2014-novel-length-reads, in-classroom-library, setting
review:
Armani Curtis and her family live in the Lower Nines of New Orleans. They've heard that a storm is coming, but Armani begs her parents to stay in town because her birthday party is on Sunday -- the same day Hurricane Katrina makes landfall in New Orleans. Armani's birthday quickly shifts from celebration to a scramble for her family's lives as the levees break and they must outrun the wall of water coming toward their house.

Heartbreaking yet hopeful. Terrifying yet beautiful. This middle grade debut novel by Julie Lamana is a page-turner that will leave you staying up late to finish. And yet, despite not being able to stop turning pages, it is also a difficult read, but it's an important story to tell.

The ending, while certainly a realistic portrayal of the heartbreak people had to endure in New Orleans after Katrina, left me feeling empty and unsatisfied. Not because it ended the way it did --I understand why it had to end that way -- but because it ended when it did. I got to the last page and thought to myself, "But surely there's one more chapter, right?"

Finally, I want to talk about the cover. While the rain boots on the cover are significant to the main character, I have to wonder if this was a story about a white family if this would be such a non-descript cover. There seems to be this unspoken rule that publishers don't like to put black faces on the covers of books. Not only are there no black faces on the cover, but the background is so white it's literally whitewashed. This lack of diversity or HIDING of diversity in children's literature is not okay in 2014. And despite the fact that the author has nothing to do with the cover, it slightly marred my experience reading this book because all I kept thinking about was the exposing of racial inequality Katrina brought out in our country, and so the obvious refusal to put the face of a black character on the cover of a book just speaks even further to that inequality. I have always respected Chronicle Books and will continue to read their books, but I also want them to know that I expect better from them in the future.

Read my entire review .
]]> 59317245
If you are tired of the anxiety, frustration, and fear that pervade your connections with other people, both online and in real life, Sarah Stewart Holland and Beth Silvers want you to know one thing--you are not alone. In this book they will help you understand the powerful connections you have with other people on a personal, community-based, national, and even international level. Then they show you how to

- engage your family with a spirit of curiosity
- listen closely to the anxieties and fears of your friends
- explore shared values within your community
- understand your work as a citizen in a diverse country
- hold lightly those things that are beyond your control around the world

The status quo isn't working. If you long to be a peacemaker and a positive influence in your spheres, Now What? is your door to a future that is characterized by hope, love, and connection despite our differences.]]> 240 Sarah Stewart Holland 0800740807 Beth 4 4.26
author: Sarah Stewart Holland
name: Beth
average rating: 4.26
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2022/04/26
date added: 2022/04/26
shelves: 2022-novel-length-reads, arcs, netgalley, nonfiction, politics
review:
As a longtime and loyal listener of Pantsuit Politics, I didn't find necessarily anything new in this book. After listening to Sarah and Beth multiple times per week for the past six years, this book was a way to reinforce their greatest hits in writing. I enjoyed reading it and spending more time with them, but I didn't necessarily feel like there were any new revelations. For those picking this book up without having that experience with them, this book will be revelatory. To me it was a nice visit with some ladies who have felt like friends for the past six years.
]]> 58064769 ��
★��“Perfect for readers who, like Mirabelle, are sometimes spellbound by music.�� �� Booklist ­, starred review

A musically gifted bird, a piano-playing boy, and a real-life mystery involving three artistic geniuses

Welcome to the world of Mirabelle, a young goldfinch who loves to sing and dreams of becoming a musical star. She lives with her family in the backyard of a��piano teacher, and she is quickly intrigued by Mr. Starek's��newest pupil. Michael Jin is an eleven-year-old keyboard sensation, but lesson after lesson, he refuses to play.�� With the prestigious Chopin Festival looming at summer’s end, how will he be ready in time?�� Mirabelle is responsible for Michael’s breakthrough—to her own astonishment, she�� sings ��the Chopin piece he is beginning to play at the piano. It is their first duet.

Thus begins a secret adventure that will take Mirabelle and Michael further than they ever imagined—in music, in friendship, and in solving the mystery of a lost piano that could be worth millions.�� A house full of treasures holds the clues. There, Mirabelle, Michael, and their friend Emily will make an important��discovery that links the great composer Frederic Chopin, the trailblazing author George Sand, and the French Romantic painter Eugene Delacroix.

A fast-paced, history-rich mystery will have young readers hooked as they root for boy and bird in this beautifully told novel, full of emotion and suspense.]]> 304 Elise Broach 0316311359 Beth 3
I could see the eventual audiobook of this story being more enjoyable if they layer the Chopin pieces discussed on top of the narration. I found myself going to YouTube every time a piece was mentioned just so I could hear what they were describing. ]]> 4.02
author: Elise Broach
name: Beth
average rating: 4.02
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2022/03/30
date added: 2022/03/30
shelves: 2022-novel-length-reads, arcs, middle-grade, music, mystery
review:
I love classical music. I played classical piano for 13 years. Chopin is my all-time favorite composer. This book should have been a slam-dunk for me. Here’s why it wasn’t: the story being narrated by a bird felt forced and gimmicky to me. I just wanted it to be told from Michael’s perspective. I also am not convinced that kids will connect with Chopin and a missing piano the way I did. I think that is why Elise Broach brought in the element of Mirabelle the goldfinch as a narrator, to try to appeal more to a kid audience, but it made for too much going on in the narrative.

I could see the eventual audiobook of this story being more enjoyable if they layer the Chopin pieces discussed on top of the narration. I found myself going to YouTube every time a piece was mentioned just so I could hear what they were describing.
]]> 58603110 A moving celebration of school and all it may signify: work and play, creativity and trust, and a supportive community that extends beyond walls.

A school isn’t just a building; it is all the people who work and learn together. It is a place for discovery and asking questions. A place for sharing, for helping, and for community. It is a place of hope and healing, even when that community can’t be together in the same room. John Schu, a librarian and former ambassador of school libraries for Scholastic, crafts a loving letter to schools and the people that make up the communities within in a picture book debut beautifully illustrated by Veronica Miller Jamison.]]> 40 John Schu 1536204587 Beth 5 4.15 2022
author: John Schu
name: Beth
average rating: 4.15
book published: 2022
rating: 5
read at: 2022/02/17
date added: 2022/02/17
shelves: children, arcs, picture-books, buy-for-library
review:
This beautiful, quiet, and joyful book will definitely be a staple in classrooms at the beginning of every school year.
]]> 55295161 Black Lives Matter meets Attack the Block with a dash of Under the Dome in this stunning story of teens using their talents to liberate a city from unjust police occupation

Jamal Lawson just wanted to be a part of something. As an aspiring journalist, he packs up his camera and heads to Baltimore to document a rally protesting police brutality after another Black man is murdered.

But before it even really begins, the city implements a new safety protocol...the Dome. The Dome surrounds the city, forcing those within to subscribe to a total militarized shutdown. No one can get in, and no one can get out.

Alone in a strange place, Jamal doesn't know where to turn...until he meets hacker Marco, who knows more than he lets on, and Catherine, an AWOL basic-training-graduate, whose parents helped build the initial plans for the Dome.

As unrest inside of Baltimore grows throughout the days-long lockdown, Marco, Catherine, and Jamal take the fight directly to the chief of police. But the city is corrupt from the inside out, and it's going to take everything they have to survive.]]> 352 Kosoko Jackson Beth 0
Love the premise, love the characters; I just was not in a place mentally to read this. Will try again in the future. ]]> 3.77 2022
author: Kosoko Jackson
name: Beth
average rating: 3.77
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/02/02
shelves: abandoned, arcs, dystopia, science-fiction, social-justice, try-again-someday, we-need-diverse-books, ya-lit
review:
Abandoned Feb 2, 2022

Love the premise, love the characters; I just was not in a place mentally to read this. Will try again in the future.
]]> 56970272 Romania, 1989. Communist regimes are crumbling across Europe. Seventeen-year-old Cristian Florescu dreams of becoming a writer, but Romanians aren’t free to dream; they are bound by rules and force.

Amidst the tyrannical dictatorship of Nicolae Ceaușescu in a country governed by isolation and fear, Cristian is blackmailed by the secret police to become an informer. He’s left with only two choices: betray everyone and everything he loves—or use his position to creatively undermine the most notoriously evil dictator in Eastern Europe.

Cristian risks everything to unmask the truth behind the regime, give voice to fellow Romanians, and expose to the world what is happening in his country. He eagerly joins the revolution to fight for change when the time arrives. But what is the cost of freedom?

A gut-wrenching, startling window into communist Romania and the citizen spy network that devastated a nation, from the number one New York Times best-selling, award-winning author of Salt to the Sea and Between Shades of Gray.]]> 321 Ruta Sepetys 198483603X Beth 5 4.38 2022
author: Ruta Sepetys
name: Beth
average rating: 4.38
book published: 2022
rating: 5
read at: 2022/01/18
date added: 2022/01/18
shelves: historical-fiction, 2022-novel-length-reads, ya-lit, arcs
review:
As always, Ruta Sepeys' attention to detail and her ability to shine a light on moments in history that so few know about is a special gift. In I Must Betray You, she shines a light on the gruesome communist dictatorship in Romania and its ultimate yet complicated end in 1989.
]]> 57789630 368 John David Anderson 0062985973 Beth 4 3.62 2022
author: John David Anderson
name: Beth
average rating: 3.62
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2022/01/03
date added: 2022/01/03
shelves: 2022-novel-length-reads, arcs, fantasy, middle-grade
review:

]]> 35605416
Lying low is not exactly Beatrice's strong suit, especially when she sees someone who desperately needs to be recognized. But when the certificate meant for him falls into the wrong hands, Beatrice and Lenny have to find a way to widen their circle once again to save Operation Upside, and themselves, from trouble.]]> 224 Shelley Johannes 148476739X Beth 4
What I love about this series is that the conflicts seem silly to adults, but after hanging around second and third graders the past few years, Beatrice Zinker’s antics seem totally plausible.]]> 4.38 2018
author: Shelley Johannes
name: Beth
average rating: 4.38
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2018/08/09
date added: 2021/10/08
shelves: 2018-novel-length-reads, arcs, friendship, middle-grade, netgalley, realistic-fiction
review:
Beatrice Zinker always has the best intentions but sometimes she doesn’t stop to think how her actions might be received by others. As her kind gestures get her into a wee bit of trouble, she must use her superhero ninja skills to get herself out of a few pickles.

What I love about this series is that the conflicts seem silly to adults, but after hanging around second and third graders the past few years, Beatrice Zinker’s antics seem totally plausible.
]]> 56462368 An unforgettable, torrential, and hopeful debut young adult novel-in-verse that redefines what it means to "make it,�� for readers of Nicholasa Mohr and Elizabeth Acevedo.

Sarai is a first-generation Puerto Rican eighth grader who can see with clarity the truth, pain, and beauty of the world both inside and outside her Bushwick apartment. Together with her older sister Estrella, she navigates the strain of family traumas and the systemic pressures of toxic masculinity and housing insecurity in a rapidly gentrifying Brooklyn. Sarai questions the society around her, her Boricua identity, and the life she lives with determination and an open heart, learning to celebrate herself in a way that she has been denied.

When We Make It is a love letter to anyone who was taught to believe that they would not make it. To those who feel their emotions before they can name them. To those who still may not have all the language but they have their story. Velasquez�� debut novel is sure to leave an indelible mark on all who read it.]]> 384 Elisabet Velasquez 059332448X Beth 4 4.38 2021
author: Elisabet Velasquez
name: Beth
average rating: 4.38
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2021/09/26
date added: 2021/09/26
shelves: 2021-novel-length-reads, arcs, identity, novels-in-verse, realistic-fiction, we-need-diverse-books, ya-lit, mental-health
review:
Fans of Elizabeth Acevedo will devour this novel in verse by Elisabet Velasquez. This is the story of Sarai and the daily struggles of living in poverty in Brooklyn as the child of first generation Puerto Ricans. The writing in this novel in verse is beautiful; I particularly love that Velasquez uses Spanglish throughout the narrative, but doesn't feel compelled to translate for her monolingual readers, choosing instead to ask them to use context clues or to seek the translations on their own. While the writing was beautiful and kept me turning pages, the story is a difficult read and one that felt short on hope, which is ultimately why it took me longer to read this book than it typically does for a novel in verse. Sarai's family situation -- an emotionally distant mother in addition to their dire financial situation-- is one that many young (and not-so-young) readers will certainly identify with, but doesn't make it any less difficult to read about. I chalk this up to a book that is a necessary but difficult read.
]]> 57640241 There's a new dog in town! Finally Greenwood gets the mayor they've been waiting for--Mayor Good Boy! In this graphic novel, a very good dog is going to save his town, one hilarious try at a time.

The votes are in and the new mayor is...A DOG?!

This dog will do more than shake paws. Mayor Good Boy is here to help Greenwood become a town filled with kindness, starting with fetching help for the local zoo. With foes around every corner trying to put a stop to Mayor Good Boy's campaign of fun, are there cheese snacks and belly rubs in his future? Or will the whole town suddenly have a flea problem?

In the hilarious Mayor Good Boy graphic novel series, everyone can make the world a better place, whether you're a human or a dog.]]> 224 Dave Scheidt 0593124871 Beth 3 3.80 2021
author: Dave Scheidt
name: Beth
average rating: 3.80
book published: 2021
rating: 3
read at: 2021/08/12
date added: 2021/08/12
shelves: 2021-novel-length-reads, arcs, middle-grade, sequential-art
review:

]]> 55600878
Evie Thomas doesn't believe in love anymore. Especially after the strangest thing occurs one otherwise ordinary afternoon: She witnesses a couple kiss and is overcome with a vision of how their romance began . . . and how it will end. After all, even the greatest love stories end with a broken heart, eventually.

As Evie tries to understand why this is happening, she finds herself at La Brea Dance Studio, learning to waltz, fox-trot, and tango with a boy named X. X is everything that Evie is not: adventurous, passionate, daring. His philosophy is to say yes to everything--including entering a ballroom dance competition with a girl he's only just met.

Falling for X is definitely not what Evie had in mind. If her visions of heartbreak have taught her anything, it's that no one escapes love unscathed. But as she and X dance around and toward each other, Evie is forced to question all she thought she knew about life and love. In the end, is love worth the risk?]]> 304 Nicola Yoon Beth 4 3.96 2021
author: Nicola Yoon
name: Beth
average rating: 3.96
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2021/07/25
date added: 2021/07/25
shelves: 2021-novel-length-reads, arcs, magical-realism, realistic-fiction, we-need-diverse-books, ya-lit
review:

]]> 55977825 Celebratory, triumphant, and inspiring, In the Spirit of a Dream is a tribute to American immigrants of color, written in poems and illustrated by 13 first- and second-generation immigrant artists.



In the spirit of a dream, many immigrants of color set out across continents, oceans, and borders, travelling to the United States in pursuit of opportunity. This book is a celebration of 13 American immigrants of color, from world-famous to local heroes, politicians, surgeons, athletes, activists and more.



The biographies include engineer and astronaut Anousheh Ansari; Paralympic athlete and entrepreneur Alejandro Albor; surgeon Ayub Khan Ommaya; jazz musician Candido Camero; dancer Conceiçao Damasceno; Sriracha inventor and businessman David Tran; basketball player Dikembe Mutombo; author Edwidge Danticat; politician Ilhan Omar; comic artist Jim Lee; environmental activist Juana Guttierez; cellist Yo-Yo Ma, and the Undocupoets, a group of undocumented poets.



These stories are told in poems by Aida Salazar and artwork by Alina Chau, Bianca Diaz, Dion MBD, Fahmida Azim, Gaby D'Alessandro, Jose Ramirez, Ken Daley, Nicole Xu, Paulo D. Campos, Rahele Jomepour Bell, Tracy Guiteau, Vanessa Flores, and Yasmin Imamura.]]> 48 Aida Salazar 1338552872 Beth 4 4.27 2021
author: Aida Salazar
name: Beth
average rating: 4.27
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2021/07/16
date added: 2021/07/16
shelves: children, middle-grade-picture-book, nonfiction, we-need-diverse-books, ya-picture-book, arcs
review:

]]> 55977791
There once was a time when the sun alone ruled the day, the moon graced the night, and little children were sent to bed before sunset. Then early one dawn, the moon heard sounds of children laughing, and she yearned to see them by daylight.

"Certainly not!" snapped the sun. "The day is mine. The night is yours!"

But the moon had a clever plan...

Carmen Agra Deedy and Jim LaMarche have brilliantly crafted an original pourquoi tale about finding one's place in the universe.]]> 40 Carmen Agra Deedy 1338216392 Beth 3 4.08
author: Carmen Agra Deedy
name: Beth
average rating: 4.08
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2021/06/29
date added: 2021/06/29
shelves: arcs, children, folk-tales-fairy-tales-fables-myths, picture-books
review:

]]> 55977894 40 Jocelyn Li Langrand 1338680692 Beth 4 4.33
author: Jocelyn Li Langrand
name: Beth
average rating: 4.33
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2021/06/29
date added: 2021/06/29
shelves: arcs, children, death-and-grief, family, picture-books, we-need-diverse-books
review:

]]> 58051894
When a child meets a fish and says hello, the fish does not respond. The child is shocked. What a rude fish! But soon the child learns that it's not up to the fish to speak the child's language. And if the child wants to communicate, he'll have to take the time to learn how to speak Fish.]]> 48 DJ Corchin 1728219221 Beth 4 arcs, picture-books 3.92 2021
author: DJ Corchin
name: Beth
average rating: 3.92
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2021/06/28
date added: 2021/06/28
shelves: arcs, picture-books
review:

]]> 55660774 32 Alice Hemming 0702303208 Beth 3 children, picture-books, arcs 4.16 2020
author: Alice Hemming
name: Beth
average rating: 4.16
book published: 2020
rating: 3
read at: 2021/06/09
date added: 2021/06/08
shelves: children, picture-books, arcs
review:

]]> 55977832 Creative visionary of The Word Collector, Happy Dreamer, and The Dot, #1 New York Times bestseller Peter H. Reynolds creates a tender, lyrical story of multigenerational love, tradition, and family coming together with gratitude and thanks.

Celebrated, bestselling creator Peter H. Reynolds brings his signature touch of love and kindness to this special, timely picture book, as families now, more than ever, are rediscovering and reevaluating what means the most: time together with one another.

Violet longs for the time when her family was connected: before life, distractions, and technology pulled them all away from each other. They used to gather at the table, with food and love, to make memories, share their lives, and revel in time spent together. But now her family has been drifting apart, and with nobody to gather around it, the table grows smaller and smaller.

Can Violet remind her family of the warmth of time spent together, and gather around the table once more?

A mystical fable that feels at once timeless and utterly of the present moment, The Table Fable is renowned, bestselling creator Peter H. Reynolds at his best. Exquisite, expressive watercolor tells a tender story, growing from monochrome into luscious, joyful color as Violet's family is reunited around the beloved table. An ode to traditions that unite families, The Table Fable brings readers together with a universal message of gratitude.]]> 48 Peter H. Reynolds 1338572326 Beth 4 4.25 2021
author: Peter H. Reynolds
name: Beth
average rating: 4.25
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2021/06/09
date added: 2021/06/08
shelves: children, picture-books, arcs, family
review:
A young girl laments over the loss of her family regularly gathering together at the table to eat together. Instead of grieving over this loss, she decides to come up with a solution.
]]> 55901256
Parents and teachers will find:
*a story of getting along with your neighbors...even when it's really hard!
*educational backmatter with further information about these animals and their habitat
*gorgeous art and a beautiful story packed with scientific accuracy
*a great Earth Day book!

Discover a scientifically accurate portrayal of the natural world around us rich with human emotion and depth. Readers will learn about the biological concept of commensalism specifically the commensal relationship between a beaver and an otter.]]> 40 Sneed B. Collard III 1728232244 Beth 4 4.17
author: Sneed B. Collard III
name: Beth
average rating: 4.17
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2021/05/23
date added: 2021/05/23
shelves: arcs, children, picture-books, science
review:

]]> 46060867 An exploration of one of the darkest moments in our history, when American troops killed four American students protesting the Vietnam War.

May 4, 1970.
Kent State University.

As protestors roil the campus, National Guardsmen are called in. In the chaos of what happens next, shots are fired and four students are killed. To this day, there is still argument of what happened and why.

Told in multiple voices from a number of vantage points -- protestor, Guardsman, townie, student.]]> 132 Deborah Wiles 1338356283 Beth 5 3.95 2020
author: Deborah Wiles
name: Beth
average rating: 3.95
book published: 2020
rating: 5
read at: 2019/11/29
date added: 2021/05/18
shelves: 2019-novel-length-reads, arcs, historical-fiction, novels-in-verse, ya-lit, favorites, walden-award-and-finalists
review:
Kent State is structured like a novel in verse but it’s so much more than that. The varying perspectives are of collective voices and points of view, showing the reader just how difficult it was to get a consensus on what happened on that campus back in May of 1970. But even more important than that, Deborah Wiles circles it back around and points to how this moment in history still matters today and compels you, the reader, to be a vocal and participating citizen in our democracy. Put this book at the top of your TBR pile. I promise you won’t be able to put it down.
]]> 55977822 A celebration of the gospel anthem and Civil Rights protest song "We Shall Overcome", masterfully brought to life by Caldecott Honor recipient and a nine-time Coretta Scott King Award winner Bryan Collier.
"We Shall Overcome" is one of the most recognizable anthems of the Civil Rights movement, widely performed at protests and rallies to promote nonviolent civil rights activism. Now, these inspirational, empowering, legendary lyrics are brought to life with the stirring, evocative, and breathtaking illustrations from multi-award winning talent Bryan Collier. Powerfully imagined for the present moment, Collier's illustrations meld the most emblematic moments of the twentieth century Civil Rights movement with the present day, depicting the movements, protests, and demonstrations-big and small-as the fight for justice continues. With illustrations full of depth, tenderness, and expression, and offering historical context while remaining powerfully relevant to the present-day, this impactful picture book is a must-have for every home, classroom, and bookshelf.]]> 40 Bryan Collier 1338540378 Beth 4 4.26 2021
author: Bryan Collier
name: Beth
average rating: 4.26
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2021/05/13
date added: 2021/05/13
shelves: arcs, children, history, inspirational, social-justice, we-need-diverse-books
review:
A stunning visual interpretation of the beloved song “We Shall Overcome�� the that has a young girl walking in the present time past well-known places in African American history.
]]> 53435854 For readers of Alma and How She Got Her Name and The King of Kindegarten, this story will help kids just starting school transform from timid caterpillars into beautiful butterflies so they can love who they are.

On Vanessa's first day of school, her parents tell her it will be easy to make friends. Vanessa isn't so sure. She wears her fanciest outfit so her new classmates will notice her right away. They notice, but the attention isn't what she'd hoped for. As the day goes on, she feels more self-conscious. Her clothes are too bright, her feather boa has way too many feathers, and even her name is too hard to write.

The next day, she picks out a plain outfit, and tells her mom that her name is too long. She just wants to blend in, with a simple name like the other girls--why couldn't her parents have named her Megan or Bella? But when her mother tells her the meaning behind her name, it gives her the confidence she needs to introduce her classmates to the real Vanessa.]]> 40 Vanessa Brantley-Newton 0525582134 Beth 4 4.07 2021
author: Vanessa Brantley-Newton
name: Beth
average rating: 4.07
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2021/04/25
date added: 2021/04/25
shelves: children, identity, picture-books, we-need-diverse-books, arcs
review:

]]> 56219069 From the author-illustrator of Ten on a Twig comes a hysterical dog book for kids and adults alike, perfect for any pet lover!

We want a dog! What kind of dog...?

This hilarious rhyming texts takes us through twenty-seven unexpected and amusing varieties of dogs that one could have, like "one that begs, one that sheds, one that rips things into shreds." And while the book is sure to delight any dog lover, the narrator's choice at the end will make readers laugh out loud! See how many of these lovable and amusing pups you can recognize from your own life.]]> 32 Lo Cole 172823817X Beth 3 3.85
author: Lo Cole
name: Beth
average rating: 3.85
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2021/04/07
date added: 2021/04/07
shelves: arcs, children, dog-books, humor, picture-books
review:
I was all set to give this book a 5-star review with its fun rhyme scheme and endearing subject, but the end was hugely disappointing, as the narrator just abruptly and out of nowhere decides they want a cat instead? Huh?
]]> 55479349 The Bubble is about what it feels like to have a negative thought you just can't shake and the steps you can take to let it go.]]> 40 Christine Peck 1728235901 Beth 3 3.81
author: Christine Peck
name: Beth
average rating: 3.81
book published:
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2021/04/07
shelves: children, mental-health, mindfulness, picture-books, social-emotional-learning, arcs
review:

]]> 52664797 From debut author-illustrator Gracey Zhang comes a timeless and timely picture book that celebrates the unassuming power of kind words.

Oh, there goes Lala! She carries a pot of water around the corner, down the block, and over the fence, to a patch of dirt and concrete where tiny weeds sprout. "Hello, hello, friends!" she whispers. Lala waters the plants every day, but it is her kind words that make them sway and nod.

Lala's wild nature and quiet compassion enchant in this evergreen story about the power of kind words and the magic of being loved for who you are.]]> 48 Gracey Zhang 1338648233 Beth 4 children, picture-books, arcs 3.90 2021
author: Gracey Zhang
name: Beth
average rating: 3.90
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2021/03/02
date added: 2021/03/09
shelves: children, picture-books, arcs
review:
Words are seeds we plant. How kindly we speak determines whether they grow.
]]> 54776511 A reflection on immigration, family, and home.

Wishes tells the honest story about one Vietnamese family's search for a new home on the other side of the world, and the long-lasting impact that makes on the littlest member of the family. Inspired by actual events in the author's life.]]> 34 Mượn Th�� Văn 1338305891 Beth 5 4.49 2021
author: Mượn Th�� Văn
name: Beth
average rating: 4.49
book published: 2021
rating: 5
read at: 2021/03/03
date added: 2021/03/03
shelves: arcs, building-empathy, buy-for-library, children, good-for-read-alouds, picture-books, we-need-diverse-books
review:
A beautiful, important story about wishes, hope, and seeking refuge. Don’t miss the incredible author’s note at the end that tells of the author’s own experience as a refugee fleeing from Vietnam.
]]> 52664743
In fact, she's never even seen a wolf.

So when a real wolf shows up and ruffles her feathers, what's a fretful fowl to do: Join the frenzied flock and fly the coop? Or find out if this newcomer is as bad as his reputation?

The star of Chicken Little: The Real and Totally True Tale goes toe-to-toe with literature's most famous villain.]]> 40 Sam Wedelich 1338359002 Beth 4 arcs, children, picture-books 3.95
author: Sam Wedelich
name: Beth
average rating: 3.95
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2021/03/02
date added: 2021/03/02
shelves: arcs, children, picture-books
review:

]]> 52664741
Standing on Her Shoulders is a celebration of the strong women who influence us -- from our mothers, sisters, aunts, and grandmothers to the women who fought for equality and acceptance in the United States.

Monica Clark-Robinson's lyrical text encourages young girls to learn about the powerful and trailblazing women who laid the path for their own lives and empowers them to become role models themselves. Acclaimed illustrator Laura Freeman's remarkable art showcases a loving intergenerational family and encourages girls to find female heroes in their own lives.

Standing on Her Shoulders will inspire girls of all ages to follow in the footsteps of these amazing women.]]> 40 Monica Clark-Robinson 1338358006 Beth 4 4.16 2020
author: Monica Clark-Robinson
name: Beth
average rating: 4.16
book published: 2020
rating: 4
read at: 2021/03/02
date added: 2021/03/02
shelves: arcs, children, feminist-reads, picture-books
review:

]]> 55561622 This heartfelt picture book biography illustrated by the Caldecott Honoree Ekua Holmes, tells the story of MaVynee Betsch, an African American opera singer turned environmentalist and the legacy she preserved.

MaVynee loved going to the beach. But in the days of Jim Crow, she couldn't just go to any beach--most of the beaches in Jacksonsville were for whites only. Knowing something must be done, her grandfather bought a beach that African American families could enjoy without being reminded they were second class citizens; he called it American Beach. Artists like Zora Neale Hurston and Ray Charles vacationed on its sunny shores. It's here that MaVynee was first inspired to sing, propelling her to later become a widely acclaimed opera singer who routinely performed on an international stage. But her first love would always be American Beach.

After the Civil Rights Act desegregated public places, there was no longer a need for a place like American Beach and it slowly fell into disrepair. MaVynee remembered the importance of American Beach to her family and so many others, so determined to preserve this integral piece of American history, she began her second act as an activist and conservationist, ultimately saving the place that had always felt most like home.]]> 42 Heidi Tyline King 1101996323 Beth 4 4.20 2021
author: Heidi Tyline King
name: Beth
average rating: 4.20
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2021/01/04
date added: 2021/01/04
shelves: arcs, biography, buy-for-library, children, community-building, going-green, history, middle-grade-picture-book, picture-books, we-need-diverse-books, nonfiction
review:
I love when picture books teach me something about history that I had no clue about. This book made me want to visit American Beach in Florida, which is now part of the National Park Service for being a beach that Black Americans could visit during the Jim Crow era.
]]>