Review: Other Words for Home

Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have read several wonderful books over the past two years featuring Syrian refugees: Refugee, Nowhere Boy, and Illegal come to mind, but all of those books have focused on Syrians who are immigrating to countries in Europe. Those books all made me question why I had not paid more attention to the Syrians' plight, but Other Words for Home is the first book that gave me a deeper look into what being an Arab immigrant in America is like.

Many of Jude's thoughts about Americans made me feel self-conscious like someone was looking deep into my soul. I felt extremely convicted when Jude says "Americans love labels, they help them know what to expect. Sometimes though, I think labels stop them from thinking." How many times have I caught myself labeling someone based on their appearance, education, or dress. I even label my children: the smart one, the athletic one; the easy one, the difficult one. What am I missing about people when all I see is the label I gave them? I recently purchased a shirt in honor of Autism Awareness month that says "See the Able, not the label." What a great thing for me to remember whenever I meet someone new. Thank you, Jasmine Warga, for this beautiful book.



View all my reviews

Review: Midsummer's Mayhem

Midsummer's Mayhem by Rajani LaRocca
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The back of this book describes it as "a contemporary fantasy retelling of Shakespeare's A Midsummer's Night Dream, and that scared me a little bit. I've never read that play, so I have minimal background knowledge of the story. As I began reading, I felt like my lack of experience with the play was impeding my ability to appreciate this retelling; however, the farther I got into the story, the more I was able to appreciate this MG novel all on its own. I think younger students might struggle with reading some of the names: Peaseblossom, Titiana, etc, but if they can get over that hump, I'm sure they will appreciate this fun fantasy.

My daughter and I love to watch baking competitions with each other, and LaRocca's debut put me right in the middle of a baking competition for kids. MiMi's creative desserts had my mouth watering and wishing that I was a little more brave with my ingredients. Readers who feel like the black sheep of their family will connect with Mimi who often feels unseen as the youngest of her siblings who are all extremely gifted. Mimi wants nothing more than to succeed at something, and she is hopeful that she can be successful at something she truly loves. I think anyone can appreciate that sentiment. This book will be a delightful summer read.

View all my reviews

Review: Caterpillar Summer

Caterpillar Summer by Gillian McDunn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Cat's summer plans get turned upside down when her best friend ends up in India visiting his sick grandmother. Instead of spending time with her friend, her mom dumps Cat and her brother Chicken off with her grandparents. The thing is, Cat has never even met her grandparents. She isn't sure why, but she knows that there is a riff between her mom and her grandparents, and now she is spending three weeks on a North Carolina island with them.

Cat normally spends most of her time looking after her little brother. Chicken is different from other kids his age. While we never get an actual diagnosis, Chicken reminds me of my son with autism. He's a runner; he doesn't like loud noises; he has very fixated interests (this kid loves sharks), and Cat is one of the only people who knows how to take care of him. Since their father died, Cat has really had to grow up, and she is starting to resent the fact that her mother just expects her to be a second parent to Chicken.

Cat's time on the island with her grandparents makes her realize how much she has been missing: not just a relationship with her extending family but also the chance to be a kid herself. She needs time without having to worry about Chicken so she can enjoy her own childhood, and her grandparents step up for her in a way that her mom hasn't been able to do.

I absolutely loved Gillian McDunn's writing and the way she accurately portrayed the life of a child with a special needs sibling. My husband and I constantly worry about our daughter. She is five, and her seven-year-old brother has Autism Spectrum Disorder. Instead of being treated like the baby of the family, she is often forced to act like a "big sister." Her brother needs her in ways that I cannot begin to explain to her, and I know that he will always need her. What I fear is that she will one day resent him and even us for all the times that she has had to put his needs first. When she is old enough to read to this book, I will definitely share it with her because I think she will need to be reminded that she is lucky to have a brother who loves her so fiercely, even if it isn't always easy to be his little sister.



View all my reviews

Review: Momentous Events in the Life of a Cactus

Momentous Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If you enjoyed Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus, you have probably been highly anticipating this sequel. When we rejoin Aven, she is on the cusp of starting ninth grade, and she is scared out of her mind. Her best friend Connor has moved across town and won't be beside Aven to help her navigate high school. Her llama Spaghetti is in declining health; Henry's memory is getting worse and worse, and Josephine is as grumpy as ever. When Aven attracts the attention of Joseph, a cute football player, her friend Zion warns her to stay away from him. Zion has been bullied by Joseph in the past and doesn't think it is possible for him to have changed; however, Aven always sees the good in people and believes in second chances. Despite Zion's warnings, Aven is crushing on Joseph. Sadly, Aven finds herself as the target of a mean prank by Joseph and his friends. Aven finds herself questioning everything she has ever believed. She no longer believes in second chances and that most people are good; but worst of all, she no longer believes in herself.

This book definitely feels more like it is more appropriate for middle school than upper elementary; there isn't any bad language or questionable content, but it does feel pretty angsty. I'm not sure that my third or fourth graders will appreciate the stress of high school and first crushes, but I'm certain some of my fifth graders will relate. If you know a student who needs to care a little less about what others think, put this book in his or her hands. While adults and friends are trying to convince Aven that she is good enough and can do whatever she wants, self-doubt keeps creeping back in her head. Adolescents will certainly connect with Aven's struggles.

View all my reviews

Review: The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise

The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is one of those books that you know is about an emotional topic (tragically losing family members), but there are so many hijinks and funny moments along the way that you think you are safe from crying. Let me warn you; you are NOT safe. Dan Gemeinhart sucker punches you at the end with an emotional beating that will leave you scrambling for a box of tissues. But you'll feel good about it because after going on this long journey with Coyote, you will need to release all those emotions that she and Rodeo have been barricading behind their "I'm fine. You're fine. We're all fine." facade. Be forewarned that there is a four-letter word that appears many times throughout this book. For my school population & conservative community, I would be inclined to mark this book as "fifth-grade only."

View all my reviews

Review: Right as Rain

Right as Rain by Lindsey Stoddard
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Rain's older brother passed away nearly a year ago, and her family has tried to bury their grief down deep. Her father barely gets out of bed, and her mother is always rushing around somewhere so she doesn't have time to think about her loss. Rain's mom decides they all need a fresh start in a new city miles away from where they were once a family of four. Rain knows that only one out of four marriages survive the death of a child. She's a numbers person; those aren't good odds, and "that's a fact." She is desperate to help her parents finds their way back to each other, but how she will accomplish that is a "big who-knows."

Rain will run away with every reader's heart. You will feel the depth of her sadness as well as the guilt she feels over her brother's death. Your heartbeat will race when you feel her anxiety of writing and sharing poetry with her classmates. Most of all, you will feel how badly she wants to hold her family together. Make sure to have a box of tissues close by when you read this novel because it will definitely tug at your heartstrings. Right as Rain is a perfect read for those kids who want a book that makes them "feel things."

View all my reviews

Review: The Third Mushroom

The Third Mushroom by Jennifer L. Holm
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Third Mushroom is an excellent sequel to The Fourteenth Goldfish, but it also works as a standalone book. I love Jennifer Holm's novels because they tackle important topics while still being funny and appropriate for young readers. As an elementary librarian, I often worry about putting books out in the library that have profane language in them because I work in a very conservative community.

This story is all about friendship in its many different forms: the current best friend, the old best friend, a pet, and a family member that becomes a friend. I completely agree with the main character Ellie; someone needs to create a "friendmance" category of books "because friendship is as important as love" (p. 212*). I love that Ellie learns that failure is normal and acceptable if you learn from it. In our "everyone gets a trophy" society, students seem to be destroyed by failure. When they fail, they want to find someone else to blame instead of seeing the chance to learn from their mistakes.

I will definitely be recommending this heartfelt story to all of my third through fifth-grade students. I can't wait to get it in our school library.

*Quoted from an ARC

View all my reviews

Review: The Bridge Home

The Bridge Home by Padma Venkatraman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The cover of this book is stunning, but the words inside will captivate your heart. I'm struggling to find the best words to describe this book. Each time I type a few lines, I realize they don't do the story justice, so I just delete them. Instead of trying to summarize the story, let me just say why I love it. I love books that show the world as it truly is, even when the truth is ugly and hard to swallow. I want my own children and the students I teach to appreciate every gift they are given; sometimes those gifts are as simple as being born in the United States. The only way to appreciate the things we often take for granted is to see into the lives of others.

Children who are suffering in abusive homes or living in poverty will read this book and realize they aren't alone. They may even feel like they are doing well compared to the suffering the four homeless children in the book endure. My hope is that students will read this book and feel hopeful for their future. Despite all that Viji loses, she still finds a way to hope that she can create a better life for herself.

View all my reviews

Review: The Once and Future Geek

The Once and Future Geek by Mari Mancusi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book totally took me back to 10th grade English and my love for The Once and Future King. After reading it, I found myself searching Netflix and Prime video for movies and shows about King Arthur and Merlin. Mari Mancusi's fun tale of gamers being transported to the day that young Arthur is meant to pull the sword from the stone will delight MG readers. This book is perfect for fans of fantasy and those who dream of living out their video game triumphs. I look forward to reading the next installment in this series when it is published.

View all my reviews

Review: Mostly the Honest Truth

Mostly the Honest Truth by Jody J. Little
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Jane isn't thrilled when Officer D, her foster mom for the next 12 days, brings her to Three Boulders. There isn't anywhere for her to longboard; no one has a TV, but the worst part is she can't see her Pop. Pop has gotten himself another twelve day stint in rehab. He's an alcoholic, and the last time Jane was with him, she suffered a severe burn to her hand. It's not really clear if Pop did something to cause Jane's injury; the adults around Jane seem to believe there was some foul play, but Jane is adamant that Pop loves her and would never hurt her.

As Jane's next twelve days unfold in the rural community of Three Boulders, Jane befriends Gertie (or G as Jane likes to call her). Gertie is straight-laced and knows everybody's business because she is the town recorder. She keeps detailed journals of their softball games, garden produce, and everyday life. G feels like something big is going on because people keep leaving the community. Jane helps her uncover the truth, while Gertie helps Jane survive the next twelve days without her father.

This book takes an honest look at what it is like to be the child of an alcoholic. Jane often has to fend for herself, but she knows that her dad is her "matching sock," and she doesn't want to be without him. Jane is willing to do just about anything to be with her father again, until she realizes that being with him might not be most healthy for her. This book will tug at your heart strings.

View all my reviews

Review: Skylark and Wallcreeper

Skylark and Wallcreeper by Anne O'Brien Carelli
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

If you enjoy historical fiction, then you must read this book. Having spent time in France during college and loving all things French, I will never turn down the opportunity to read a book that involves my favorite destination. Many people will tell you that this book is about the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy and World War II. Those two events don't seem to fit together, but O'brien has magically woven them together.

Lily's grandmother is evacuated from her nursing home during Hurricane Sandy to an armory. Lily decides to stay with her grandmother because it will be safer than returning home but also because she is worried about her. The story alternates from Lily's perspective to that of her grandmother, Colette, as a child living in the south of France during World War II. Colette is part of the French resistance and takes on very dangerous missions. During the chapters about Colette, we see a side of Lily's grandmother that she has never seen.

After Lily loses her grandmothers favorite pen, she goes on a search to find it. During this search, Lily discovers the truth about Colette's childhood. While this book takes place during two very important events, I would tell you that this book is about the love of family. It's about doing all you can to make sure those you love are happy and safe. While Lily has always loved and respected her grandmother, finding out about her grandmother's past makes her realize that Colette is the bravest person she's ever met; this frail old woman is truly a hero.

View all my reviews

Review: New Kid

New Kid by Jerry Craft
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This graphic novel will make an excellent addition to middle-grade libraries. Students who are in the minority in their school will certainly appreciate Jordan's experiences at his new school, but I truly think it will resonate with everyone. Most people have felt like an outsider at some point in their lives whether it be because of their race, socioeconomic status, intelligence, etc. New Kid will inspire conversations amongst students and teachers about racism and stereotypes.

View all my reviews

Review: Harbor Me

Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I wish I could live in one of Jacqueline Woodson's books because they are so full of beauty. Even when she is writing about heartbreaking events, she finds a way to paint the most desperate situation with her magical lyrical brush. Harbor Me is a short quick powerful read, which will leave you believing that Woodson could find a way to solve all of our country's problems. This novel explores the way we view and treat each other in this country. She manages to explore all the hot-button political issues through the lens of fifth and sixth grade "special" students. These topics include racism, immigration, rich vs. poor, the separation of families, and having an incarcerated parent. How she managed to pack so much depth in such a small book is beyond me, but let me tell you, folks, she did!

What I love most about this novel is how Woodson tackles these important topics; six students spend an hour every Friday afternoon in a classroom talking to each other without any adults present. While one might think kids this age would talk about trivial things, these students truly open up to one another and talk about their preconceived notions of one another based on race, appearance, accent, etc. They find a way to break down the imaginary walls between them simply by honestly discussing their feelings. If only all adults could be so honest with one another, we would probably have a lot less stress in our lives. This book is a perfect spring broad into discussions about equal rights or the lack thereof in this country. Teachers should feel comfortable sharing this book with students in 4th grade and up; however, it would be an excellent tie-in to the fifth-grade curriculum (in South Carolina).

View all my reviews