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Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Strong Girl Characters!

Strong Girl Character Book Recommendations!

I am on a good reading streak and I have really liked almost everything I have picked up! I had the above stack of books on my desk and realized that all of the characters are really strong and charming characters filled with heart and spirit. Let me tell you about them.

Roll With It by Jamie Sumner

Ellie and her mother move to help take care of her grandfather during the middle of the school year. She is having to adjust to a new living and school situation which isn't easy since she has to use a wheelchair. She was born with cerebral palsy and isn't strong enough to walk. Her grandparent's home and her new school are not quite ready for wheelchairs. It seems like the challenges are too much, but Ellie begins making friends which makes this move one of the best things that have happened to her. 

I loved Ellie! She is a fighter who doesn't let her disability stop her. It is a fast read, about a 4th-grade reading level, and 250 pages long. I really liked it and give it a 4-star rating. 
All the Colors of Magic by Valija Zinck

The intense colors on the cover of the book drew me in. It is about a little girl who discovers she has magical abilities from her red hair. Her father has been missing since she was little and now Penelope is being led through a road and voices that she needs to go on a rescue mission. Hopefully, she will find out the mystery of where her father is on her journey. 

I found this book very compelling because it was so different and full of interesting magic and mystery. I really liked it and give it 4-stars.  It is about a 5th-grade reading level and is 279 pages long. 

Shine by J. J. and Chris Grabestein

Piper doesn't feel like she was born to shine or be a star but she loves the stars, as in astronomy. Her father lands a new music teaching job at a very elite private middle school. Piper is enrolled as a student and discovers she doesn't quite fit into the culture of the school. She is trying to find her way when a special contest is announced and everyone is school is doing all they can to win the prestigious prize. She faces some decisions about staying true to herself. 

This book was so funny!  I am pretty sure I laughed out loud. It is a story about someone who is not willing to compromise who she truly is. I really liked it and rate it 4-stars. It is a 4th-grade reading level and 210 pages. 

Captain Superlative by J. S. Puller

A girl with a red mask, blue wig, silver swimsuit, rubber gloves, torn tights, high-top sneakers and a cape is running through the halls of a middle school helping kids and preventing mishaps. Janey Silverman is curious and wants to find out who is behind the mask. She ends up finding out more than she had planned and her life along with her classmates are changed. 

Grab some tissues because you will probably need them. I really liked this book and rate it a 4-star. It is a 4th-grade reading level and is 245 pages long. 

All of these books are great character studies that are also fast and fun reads.  I recommend all of them. 







Tuesday, April 14, 2020

Sweep by Jonathan Auxier



This book was on so many recommended lists that I finally found a copy to read. Someone even said it would be a book they would take to a deserted island for reading. That really made me want to read it. It turned out that I loved this book too.  Stories about monsters or horror are not my go-to genre, but this isn't horror.  Think Mary Poppins, Oliver Twist, and Jewish folklore with fantasy and historical fiction. 

The story is set in Victorian London and the main character is an orphan who is raised by a chimney sweep until he has to leave her when she is only six years old. Nan ends up having to work for an evil chimney sweep lord who employs little children to clean out the chimneys in London.  The little ones are the only ones who can easily fit inside a chimney in order to clean it. When she is in a life or death situation, a small chunk of dust comes to her rescue! 

In the title, the book calls the creation Nan has a monster but I would say he is more like a gentle guide golem. A golem is a clay figure brought to life in Jewish folklore. The book refers to Jewish mythology, child labor, historical history, and a little bit of mysticism and magic. The writing is very beautiful and you can recognize the quality of this author's craft in this book.  It won the 2019 Sydney Taylor book award for an outstanding book for children that authentically portrays the Jewish experience.

This book gets a 5 rating from me.  I thought it was an amazing read!  It is about a 4th or 5th-grade reading level and is 368 pages long. 



Monday, April 13, 2020

Framed Series by James Ponti


I highly recommend the mystery series Framed by James Ponti.  The main characters are Florian Bates and his best friend Margaret. They are middle schoolers in Washington D. C. who get called by the FBI to help solve cases.  Florian has developed a T. O. A. S. T. theory which stands for theory of all small things which helps him solve life's mysteries. It reminds me of Sherlock Holmes's observation powers when he solved cases.  I love books where kids are asked to help with solving crime cases and mysteries. Florian and Margaret are great friends and fun characters to get to know. The stories are fast-paced, funny, and clever.  I don't always read an entire series, but I read all three of these stories!  I give them all 4-star ratings. 

Book 1:  Framed 
Florian and Margaret solve the mystery of stolen paintings from the National Gallery of Art.

Book 2:  Vanished
Florian and Margaret go undercover at a private school in Washington D. C. where the President of the United States daughter may or not be behind a series of middle school pranks.

Book 3:  Trapped
Florian and Margaret get involved in a spy ring and stolen books from The Library of Congress. Fascinating to get inside this library!







Wednesday, April 1, 2020

The Vanderbeekers to the Rescue by Karina Yan Glaser


I really like happy and neighborhood books. Not that there aren't difficulties and problems but that overall the kids and adults encourage, support and love each other through the tough times. Karina Yan Glaser has written three books about the Vanderbeeker family of seven who lives in Harlem, New York City.  Her fourth book in this series comes out in September.  I usually read the first book in most series and then move on but I just couldn't resist continuing to read about this family. They are perfect to read aloud to a range of ages since it is about the entire family of different ages. Also, a good read-aloud for younger grades. 


In The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street, the family finds out that they are not able to continue their lease on their brownstone and have to move out around Christmas. This devastating news makes the five children start to plot how to convince their landlord, who lives in the upstairs apartment, to change his mind. 

In The Vanderbeekers and the Hidden Garden, the kids clean up a vacant lot by their brownstone to cheer up their beloved neighbor who has had a stroke.  Of course, they run into difficulties!

The Vanderbeekers to the Rescue was my favorite so far! In this saga, the Vanderbeekers keep finding stray animals at their door that they feel compelled to care for.  The only thing is, they need to get rid of their pets in order for their mother to pass the health inspection for her baking business which she runs in her home. 

I rate all of these books with 4 stars.  



Books I Read in March

I read 10 books this month:  3 adult fiction, 3 middle-grade fiction, and 4 graphic novels. 

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo:  4 stars
Dear Edward: 4 stars
Bear Town: 2 stars

Trapped: 4 stars
Vanished: 4 stars
The Doughnut King: 4 stars
Guts: 4 stars
Amulet: The Stonekeeper: 4 stars
Nat Enough: 4 stars
Best Friends: 4 stars

Tuesday, March 31, 2020

The Doughnut Fix and The Doughnut King by Jessie Janowitz


I picked up The Doughnut Fix one day because I was hungry for doughnuts and the cover called to me. I was delighted with this funny and charming book about a family and a small, quirky town. The story starts with Tristan's family moving from New York City to a very small town in upstate New York. It is a hard transition for Tris because the principal of the school recommends that the kids in their family wait until the beginning of the semester to start school. In the meantime, they are encouraged to come up with a project. Tristan discovers that there is a closed doughnut shop in the town. His family happens to love baking and so Tristan decides that he is going to reopen up the doughnut shop. But first, he needs the recipe and has to learn to start a business. 

Well, I didn't expect this book to be so funny!  It reminded me of the old TV show, Green Acres, where city folk moves to the country and all of the funny things that happen as they adjust to a new life. It was also just a warm and happy family story with a lot of baking going on. 

The Doughnut King is the sequel and it is also delightful. This time, Tristan cannot keep up with the demand of the doughnuts and is disappointing customers. He finds out that a 50,000.00 robot doughnut maker could be the solution. So, he gets on a kids cooking show in hopes of raising the funds. Again, you learn about business, cooking, and in this book, doing the right things. 

If you want to read a happy story with plenty of humor and throw in some baking and great friendships, then this is a good choice.  I rate both books a 4. I really liked them.


The book trailer for The Doughnut Fix:


The book trailer for The Doughnut King:



Do you want to learn how to make the winning cupcake recipe?  Watch this show!



Sunday, March 29, 2020

White Bird by R. J. Palacio

Graphic Novels Win Awards!


The author of Wonder, R. J. Palacio, has written and illustrated a graphic novel about World War II and it is the story of Julian's grandmother as a young girl and her experiences during the war. Julian is one of the characters in Wonder who was a bully to the main character. 

First, this is a very moving and beautiful story of courage when living in a time when war made nothing normal. It is about fighting injustice, being kind, and doing the right things even when it is difficult. Next, it is just a gorgeously illustrated book. I admired many of the illustrations. 

I loved this emotional scene where Sara is enjoying time with her parents in a forest scene filled with bluebells; the illustrations were exceptional. I remember double checking on who was the illustrator and then realized that Palacio also did her own artwork. Impressive.

This book won the 2020 Syndey Taylor award which is presented annually to outstanding books for children and teens that authentically portray the Jewish experience. It is a great introduction to upper elementary and middle school students on WW II and Nazi topics. 

I think I could easily recommend this book to most 5th graders and up and I would especially press this book into the hands of adults. It is really an inspirational story. I give it a 5 rating for Amazing!


Tuesday, March 17, 2020

They Called Us Enemy by George Takei

Graphic Novels Win Awards



They Called Us Enemy won the 2020 Asian/Pacific American Award for Young Adult Literature. It is the memoir of George Takei (rhymes with OK), who is the actor from Star Trek who played Mr. Sulu.  This book has been put on many best-of lists and has received much press. 

Takei tells of the story of when he was a small child and his family was sent to an internment camp during WWII just because they were Japanese living on the West coast.  This is his first-hand account of life in a prison camp and his reactions as a small child. Sometimes it was very hard and then at times a new normal.  George Takei wrote this story so that the next generation will not forget this time of history and repeat it again. 

My book club read this book and we gave it high scores. It is a great historical memoir for teens and adults. I give it a 4 out of 4 rating. It is a must-read!


  • Paperback: 208 pages
  • Publisher: Top Shelf Productions; First Edition edition (July 16, 2019)


Monday, March 16, 2020

Stargazing by Jen Wang

Graphic Novels Win Awards


This year's winner for the Asian Pacific American Book Award for Children's Literature was Stargazing by Jen Wang. It is the story of a Chinese-American girl named Christine who meets Moon who is very different from her. 

Christine's family is Christian, strict and high expectations. Moon is Buddist, outgoing, confident, and has visions of celestial beings from the stars. Christine and Moon become friends but suddenly Moon is very sick. Christine has to figure out how this friendship can survive their differences. 

The author had a health situation when she was young that she draws upon for this story. It isn't a memoir but some of the storylines come from Wang's personal experiences.  She is able to show us that there are great differences in culture within the culture of the Chinese American and to notice the shades within a group of people. 

I really liked this book and rated it a 4 out of 4. It is a good choice for upper elementary students. I would call it a realistic school story. 

  • Age Range: 8 - 12 years
  • Grade Level: 3 - 4
  • Hardcover: 224 pages
  • Publisher: First Second (September 10, 2019)


Sunday, March 15, 2020

New Kid by Jerry Craft


Graphic Novels Win Awards



New Kid is the first graphic novel to win the gold Newbery medal.  A few have been honor books in the past but this is the year that a graphic novel took top honors. It also won the Coretta Scott King Author Award and the Kirkus Prize for Young Readers' Literature. Not only that, but it was named Audible book of the year.  I noticed that it takes about 2 hours to listen to the audio version of this book.  They have a full cast of readers and music and I am really curious to see if you can only listen and get all the nuances of the plot. Otherwise, this would be a great book to listen to while looking at the graphics. 

The story is about a seventh-grader named Jordan Banks who is enrolled in a fancy private school and finds that he is one of only a few kids of color. His family isn't wealthy and he lives in an apartment in a not as affluent area of the city. Jordan is finding it difficult to fit in and uses his artist sketchbook to convey his feelings. He is talented at art and is hoping to someday go to a high school for the arts. 

This funny and yet thought-provoking story should be a hit with middle school kids. It is very current and full of pop-culture. It is a humorous school story.  I really liked it and give it a 4 out of 4 rating. 


  • Age Range: 8 - 12 years
  • Grade Level: 3 - 7
  • Hardcover: 256 pages
  • Publisher: Quill Tree Books (February 5, 2019)



Thursday, March 12, 2020

Graphic Novel Read-a-thon for Middle Grade March

Graphic novels are real books.


I am doing a graphic novel read-a-thon challenge for this month. I have been unpacking some brand new books and I saved a stack of graphic novels for myself to read. I will be sharing these books with you as I read them.

I am doing this challenge because I have not been making reading graphic novels a priority in my professional reading. My sense was that kids are reading them already and so I don't need to promote them as much with a book talk.  However, I noticed that graphic novels were huge winners in the recent American Library Youth Awards last month and the award committees are solidly supporting graphic novels as "real books". It is worth my while to intensify my support for this format of books with some dedication to reading and reviewing them. 

In reading a graphic novel, you will find that you can easily read some in as little as a half-hour.  Most of the middle-grade books I have picked up take me about an hour or more to read. You can't speed read because there are a lot of pictures to look at and "read". Sometimes I will go over a page several times as I try to understand what is going on and what each scene means to the story line. Take your time and slow down as you look at the pictures. They are essential to the flow of the plot as you make inferences about each graphic box; especially the ones without words. This type of reading is different from all text and you may find yourself a little confused if you just rush through the book and just read the words. It may feel strange...but keep reading and you should begin to find a rhythm. 


First up is the book Sheets by Brenna Thummler.  She is both the writer and the illustrator of this graphic novel. It is about a 13-year-old girl named Marjorie who is holding her family together while her father deals with depression and her mother's death.  Marjorie is also trying to keep the laundromat business going as well as going to school and feeling at a loss herself. A villain character tries to con the business from Marjorie's family and resorts to sabotage to get it done.  Meanwhile, a young ghost who isn't happy about settling into a typical ghost routine comes to the laundromat at night and manages to leave signs of his presence. He has to keep his "sheet" clean and finds the laundromat a good place to land. It turns out that the ghost and Marjorie need each other. 

This book deals with some sad themes such as depression, grief, feelings of hopelessness, abandonment, and money problems. The ghosts are cute and friendly and look like Casper and not really creepy. There are some moments of humor and levity in the story but I would not classify this book as humor. It is a mash-up of realistic fiction and fantasy. 

I rate this book a 3 out of 4. I liked it, but it was a sad story. Slow down and look at the pages carefully as you figure out the plot of the book. 


  • Age Range: 9 and up
  • Grade Level: 4 - 7
  • Paperback: 240 pages
  • Publisher: Oni Press (August 28, 2018)


I didn't read Anne until I was an adult and adored it and read the entire series.  When the new graphic novel came out which is written by Mariah Marsden and illustrated by Brenna Thummler, I heard it was terrific.  I was doubtful because I wasn't sure if the story would really translate well into graphics.  So, I read the book.  I loved it....and I laughed and cried. Another teacher read the book after my recommendation and felt the same.  The true test was giving the book to a teacher who hadn't read the book. Unfortunately, it fell flat for her.  She had a hard time figuring out the characters and didn't feel all of the emotions that I experienced.  I suspect that this graphic novel is best read by someone who has already read the novel. 

If you are a reluctant graphic novel reader. Try reading a book that has been made into a graphic novel that you are familiar with. See what kind of experience it is and how it compares with a book without graphics. 

I rate this book a 4 out of 4. I really liked it and the graphics were wonderful, especially the fall scenery. It was nice to reread "Anne" without the time commitment of the entire novel. 


  • Age Range: 8 - 11 years
  • Grade Level: 2 - 6
  • Hardcover: 234 pages
  • Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing (October 24, 2017)

Tuesday, March 10, 2020

The Line Tender by Kate Allen


This is an amazing story by another Minnesota author! Everyone is simply raving about this one and it is a must-read. I rated it a 5!  

Lucy, a twelve-year-old, goes through a summer of intense experiences with the support of her father, friends, and neighbors. Her mother, who was a marine biologist and studied sharks, died when she was seven. The research she started comes back to Lucy as she looks to find meaning in her life in this eventful summer. 

There is a reason why the book reviews for this book are vague. It is too easy to spoil the story for the reader. Just trust everyone and put this book on your reading list. 

Enjoy Colby Sharp's enthusiastic book review! He was nice and vague about the plot as well! Pick up the book to find out what it is all about. 


Age Range: 10 and up
Grade Level: 5 - 6
Reading Level:  4.6
Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: Dutton Books for Young Readers (April 16, 2019)

Saturday, February 29, 2020

Giant Pumpkin Suite by Melanie Heuiser Hill


My fellow reader for MYRA nominations was surprised that I wasn't voting for this book for our nomination voting window this year. I had to admit that this book wasn't on my radar. She thought it would be right up my alley.  She was right; I loved it.  It came out in 2017 and I somehow missed it. 

The story begins with a 12-year-old twins Thomas and Rose who help their elderly neighbor who has fallen down the stairs in his basement and is seriously injured. What Mr. Pickering is most worried about is the one pumpkin plant that he has just planted. He entrusts this plant to the twins with directions for its caretaking. Turns out that is a seed for a special giant pumpkin that was willed to Mr. Pickering and he plans on growing a record-breaking pumpkin. Because of his accident, Thomas and Rose and the entire neighborhood get involved over the summer to make sure that this pumpkin plant is well taken care of. Meanwhile, Rose who is practicing for a big cello audition finds herself derailed over the summer and takes an unexpected break from playing her cello. The summer becomes a growing season for her as well as the pumpkin. 

I adored the community and family focus of this book. They truly support and help each other out across generations. It is set in Minneapolis and ends up later at the great Minnesota get-together State Fair. I also spent one evening asking "Alexa" to play lots of the cello music mentioned in the book. I highly recommend doing this when you read this book. Even though this book is longer than average...I didn't want to leave this neighborhood. I give this a 4 out of 4 rating.  I really liked it!

Age Range: 9 - 12 years
Grade Level: 4 - 7
Reading Level: 5.0
Hardcover: 448 pages

Publisher: Candlewick (September 12, 2017)

Sunday, February 9, 2020

A Village of Scoundrels by Margi Preus


This is such a memorable title and when I realized it was written by Margi Preus, I requested an advanced reader copy. It will be released in a few weeks on February 25th and I have my order in for this title.  Even though there are a plethora of World War II books right now and I almost feel saturated, I needed to read this one since I really love how this author can surprise me.  This is the time to be writing these stories since many of the persons from this era are now quite elderly and it is our last chance to get their first-person accounts. Preus includes lots of photos and additional information about the characters at the end of the book along with pronunciations of the French names and places. 

The story is about a French town that was united in taking in Jewish refugees and helping them escape or hide in plain sight. This book focuses on teenagers who smuggled, forged documents, delivered messages to the resistance, and escorted Jews to safety. The town was a neutral zone at the beginning of the war but eventually, the German soldiers begin to arrive with names seeking out the illegals and their safety is no longer firm. What remains firm is the conviction that what was happening to the Jews was wrong and that they would break laws and risk lives to give them protection.

Despite the heavy sounding description of the plot, Preus tells this story with levity, love, and youthful hopefulness. I think messages of doing what is right when it is difficult,  not sanctioned, or even illegal are important reminders for all of us.  

I give this book a 4 star out of 4 star rating. I really liked it. 

  • Age Range: 10 - 14 years
  • Grade Level: 5 - 9
  • Hardcover: 320 pages
  • Publisher: Amulet Books (February 25, 2020)

Friday, January 31, 2020

Little Brother by Khalid White #READYOURWORLD


Meet little brother Khari and his family as they work together to teach him how to be responsible. The parents in this story teach the older kids, Kenya and Jelani, how they can guide their little brother with responsible behaviors. They call it "take care of your business."  In the activities for the day, the two older siblings teach Khari how to be part of a loving, responsible family team.

This book is written with a repetitive "Little Brother, Little Brother" chant that begs for repeated readings with lots of chances for interaction with kids as they chime in. The concept of teaching responsibility is lightened by this approach and doesn't seem too heavy-handed. The illustrations are colorful with an animated look that will appeal to kids. I look forward to seeing more books like this as a series. I think they would be popular with kids and teachers. 

I received a copy of this book from the author Khalid White as part of the Multicultural Children's Book Day Celebration for January 31, 2020. 
Follow the link below to view all of the book reviews in The Big Giant Linky 2020 (my post is #108) Check all of February as the Linky grows!


Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2020 (1/31/20) is in its 7th year! This non-profit children’s literacy initiative was founded by Valarie Budayr and Mia Wenjen; two diverse book-loving moms who saw a need to shine the spotlight on all of the multicultural books and authors on the market while also working to get those book into the hands of young readers and educators.  
Seven years in, MCBD’s mission is to raise awareness of the ongoing need to include kids’ books that celebrate diversity in homes and school bookshelves continues.

MCBD 2020  is honored to have the following Medallion Sponsors on board


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Jerry Craft, A.R. Bey and Adventures in Boogieland, Eugina Chu & Brandon goes to Beijing, Kenneth Braswell & Fathers Incorporated, Maritza M. Mejia & Luz del mes_Mejia, Kathleen Burkinshaw & The Last Cherry Blossom, SISSY GOES TINY by Rebecca Flansburg and B.A. Norrgard, Josh Funk and HOW TO CODE A ROLLERCOASTER, Maya/Neel Adventures with Culture GrooveLauren Ranalli, The Little Green Monster: Cancer Magic! By Dr. Sharon Chappell, Phe Lang and Me On The Page, Afsaneh Moradian and Jamie is Jamie, Valerie Williams-Sanchez and Valorena Publishing, TUMBLE CREEK PRESS, Nancy Tupper Ling, Author Gwen Jackson, Angeliki Pedersen & The Secrets Hidden Beneath the Palm Tree, Author Kimberly Gordon Biddle, BEST #OWNVOICES CHILDREN’S BOOKS: My Favorite Diversity Books for Kids Ages 1-12 by Mia Wenjen, Susan Schaefer Bernardo & Illustrator Courtenay Fletcher (Founders of Inner Flower Child Books), Ann Morris & Do It Again!/¡Otra Vez!, Janet Balletta and Mermaids on a Mission to Save the Ocean, Evelyn Sanchez-Toledo & Bruna Bailando por el Mundo\ Dancing Around the World, Shoumi Sen & From The Toddler Diaries, Sarah Jamila Stevenson, Tonya Duncan and the Sophie Washington Book Series, Teresa Robeson  & The Queen of Physics, Nadishka Aloysius and Roo The Little Red TukTuk, Girlfriends Book Club Baltimore & Stories by the Girlfriends Book Club, Finding My Way Books, Diana Huang & Intrepids, Five Enchanted Mermaids, Elizabeth Godley and Ribbon’s Traveling Castle, Anna Olswanger and Greenhorn, Danielle Wallace & My Big Brother Troy, Jocelyn Francisco and Little Yellow Jeepney, Mariana Llanos & Kutu, the Tiny Inca Princess/La Ă‘usta Diminuta, Sara Arnold & The Big Buna Bash, Roddie Simmons & Race 2 Rio, DuEwa Frazier & Alice’s Musical Debut, Veronica Appleton & the Journey to Appleville book series  Green Kids Club, Inc.
We’d like to also give a shout-out to MCBD’s impressive CoHost Team who not only hosts the book review link-up on celebration day, but who also works tirelessly to spread the word of this event. View our CoHosts HERE.
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A Crafty Arab, Afsaneh Moradian, Agatha Rodi Books, All Done Monkey, Barefoot Mommy, Bethany Edward & Biracial Bookworms, Michelle Goetzl & Books My Kids Read, Crafty Moms Share, Colours of Us, Discovering the World Through My Son’s Eyes, Educators Spin on it, Shauna Hibbitts-creator of eNannylink, Growing Book by Book, Here Wee Read, Joel Leonidas & Descendant of Poseidon Reads {Philippines}, Imagination Soup, Kid World Citizen, Kristi’s Book Nook, The Logonauts, Mama Smiles, Miss Panda Chinese, Multicultural Kid Blogs, Serge Smagarinsky {Australia}, Shoumi Sen, Jennifer Brunk & Spanish Playground, Katie Meadows and Youth Lit Reviews

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