Cheers to January

January, the month that still feels long, even as time seems to pass quicker and quicker. Artist Mari Andrew gets it:

A post shared by Mari Andrew (@bymariandrew) on Jan 26, 2018 at 5:02am PST

Perhaps it's because I'm coming off several months of overeating, celebrating everything, and travel (wedding+honeymoon+holiday season), but I'm truly appreciating this crawl back to "real life" that January has been. It's been the perfect month to weed out my closet and to start buying groceries and cooking for myself again - with no events to plan for or attend and no visitors to entertain, just me, my husband, and stacks of YA novels to read.

Cheers to long nights, long socks, and long books.

2Birthdays & 2Cellos

Yes, our birthdays are in the summer...but our birthday gift from Mom & Dad got postponed until last weekend - a sold out 2Cellos concert!

Neither Jesus nor I have ever seen a show at the Chicago Theatre, so we enjoyed seeing the inside of this landmark building. The music was pretty alright too. ;) 

The Witch Boy

The Witch Boy by Molly Ostertag
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

One of the graphic novels I read last semester for my children's materials class was a new release by Molly Knox Ostertag. I book-talked it in class, and though I was nervous (as a book talk newbie), most of my classmates seemed really interested in reading the book after hearing what I had to say about it. Fans of colorful and fantastical graphic novels will also want to add this one to their TBR piles.

Imagine knowing exactly what (or who) you want to be, but not being able to show it because of rules created long before you were born. Such is Aster's predicament - he wants to be a witch, but in his family, only women are witches. Men become shapeshifters. When his boy cousins start disappearing, leaving him behind, Aster's secret talents at witchcraft just might save them. Will he risk exposing his secrets? Besides all the real life parallels that can be drawn with this tale, it's wonderfully written and illustrated, and features a wide variety of characters - in personality, looks, sexual orientation, and magical abilities.


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Welcome to the Jungle(s)

In the dead of winter, sometimes what you need is a total escape in the form of a movie. What's a total escape from dry, cold Chicago? A hot, humid jungle filled with giant monsters.

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)

The most recent of my jungle movie picks, this indirect Jumanji sequel (takes place in the same world, but only barely references the original movie) sends its characters into the game, which has been updated from board to video for a 21st century audience. Once in the jungle, our four protagonists become the avatars they play - so a nerdy teen becomes a ripped explorer (Dwayne Johnson), the football player becomes a much smaller zoologist (Kevin Hart), the brainy overachiever becomes the sexy martial arts expert (Karen Gillan) and the vapid selfie-taker becomes the overweight cartographer (Jack Black). Learning how to work together, and growing more comfortable with their new personas, they play to win the game - the only way back to real life.

I found this movie hilarious, and all the actors did a great job of showing us their distinct personalities, which were usually at odds with their outward appearances. The video game rules made sense and were followed (mostly) consistently, and while the ending is predictable, the journey there is lots of fun.



Godzilla (2014)

We've seen several iterations of Godzilla in recent years, but this reboot marks the beginning of a MonsterVerse series with several films to follow, and because of this makes an effort to build a complete world with characters we are invested in and writing that gives depth and variety to the plot. This movie reveals Godzilla's origin through a narrative that stretches back to the 1950s and carries into present day, and introduces other MUTOs (Massive Unidentified Terrestrial Organisms), and while only a portion of the movie actually takes place in a jungle, it's still worlds away from a Chicago winter.



Kong: Skull Island (2017)

This King Kong reboot fits into the MonsterVerse franchise along with Godzilla as an origin retelling and a way to introduce future (upcoming) monsters. Set primarily in the 1970s, the story shows us scientists and soldiers traveling to an uncharted island and discovering Kong, along with other larger-than-life monsters. Plot-driven action and dynamic characters advance the story and keep it from getting bogged down with monster fights, and the gorgeous cinematography matched with a setting-appropriate soundtrack make this movie both visually and aurally appealing.

While You Are Sleeping

While You Are Sleeping by Mariana Ruiz Johnson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

If I've learned anything from my time working with children's literature, it's that there's something to be said for wordless picture books (silent books). They're accessible to children of all ages and speakers of any language, and because different things stand out during each read, the story is stays fresh. The ability to tell a story with illustration alone is not a skill all authors/illustrators have, so it's a treat to see it done well.

Mariana Ruiz Johnson's While You Are Sleeping is an example of wonderful storytelling through imagery. She helps children imagine what goes on in the world right outside their windows while they sleep - and it's a world many parents will recognize as neighbors walk their dogs, go out for dinner, have a glass of wine before bed, and pursue hobbies late into the night. Of course, adventures await the later it gets, but when morning comes, we're back and safely tucked in bed, ready to face the day (and ready to read the book again and again).


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Still in the Honeymoon Phase

In celebration of two months of marriage, here are a few photo highlights from the first day (evening) of our honeymoon!

We flew into Tokyo the Monday after our wedding (Sunday night in Chicago) and stayed awake as long as we could to battle jet lag, which meant going for a long walk around the neighborhood our hotel was in (Ueno) and checking out Tokyo Skytree for a view of the city from above.

Since we left for Osaka the next afternoon, our first night in Tokyo feels much different from the few days we spent there at the end of our trip. That, plus airplane sleep deprivation, a smidge of culture shock, and leftover wedding elation means my memories of that Monday evening will always be a bit hazy, so I'm extra grateful for these photos!

Our first hotel had all the space we needed for the night!

The walk to the Skytree was serene & surreal. 

Lit up green for Christmas!

 

The first of many shoe pics, this one featuring the streets of Tokyo.

Our exhausted "We Made It!" faces.

Novel Novels: Two Reviews

Last semester, the Butler Center hosted a Mock Pura Belpré Award event. I somehow found the time to read all but one of the books on the reading list, and I'm so grateful I did. Two of them, novels for middle grade readers, don't let traditional "novel" formats limit them, which helps to show instead of tell their stories. The First Rule of Punk by Celia C. Pérez includes zines (homemade mini-magazines) created by the story's protagonist and Forest World by Margarita Engle is told in dual-narrative poems, allowing the reader to see into both protagonists' thoughts.


The First Rule of Punk by Celia C. Pérez
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

MaLu is exactly the type of kid I would have wanted to be friends with in middle and high school - she knows who she is and what she stands for, and she's not about to let any sort of authority tell her differently. The adult in me had a few moments of "yeah, I don't think so honey," but middle school Rachel loved MaLu's artistry, earnestness, and fashion sense. What really makes The First Rule of Punk stand out is the inclusion of zines, collage-style mini-mags that show just how passionate MaLu is about being her most true self.

Forest World by Margarita Engle

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Edver isn't quite sure what to think of his older sister Luza when he meets her for the first time during a visit to Cuba, made possible by relaxed travel laws and his mother's hope that Edver spend some time with his father, away from his precious cell phone. Luza, though, remembers Edver and their mother, and wants to reconnect with the family she was forced to say goodbye to so many years ago. Told in a series of poems from both Edver and Luza's perspectives, Forest World is as beautiful and stunning as the Cuban forest it's set in.

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The Lob

Turning the page on my calendar wasn't all the motivation I needed to get my hair cut, but it does help to be in a clean slate kinda mood. Also, being so. totally. done. with winter static and dry, damaged ends and zipping my hair into my coat and having to wash AND brush all of it just to pull it back into a ponytail and do it all again in 2-3 days...yeah, I needed to chop it off.

Much thanks to Nina at the Hair Cuttery in Skokie for seeing my desperation to have something new and taking charge! She said "I love transformations" as she tied my hair into four sections and chopped each one off, holding them up for me to see.

I'm loving my wonderful Lob (Long Bob)!

1.8.18

Eight years blogging has meant wildly different things in each year: travel journal, cookbook, confessional, poem diary, photo album, review site, scrapbook...what I appreciate most about this space is its adaptability. Cheers, As The Romans Do, and here's to another year of failing big and following curiosities.

Greenglass House & Ghosts of Greenglass House

Milo Pine lives with his mom and dad in an inn called Greenglass House, and he's looking forward to a quiet winter break, thank you very much. Unfortunately for him, the inn has guests - two winter breaks in a row! Greenglass House, and its follow-up, Ghosts of Greenglass House are both super fun novels to lose yourself in during your own winter break, or snowed-in weekend, or even on a quiet Friday night when you refuse to wander into freezing temperatures. Plenty of mystery, quirky characters, and a protagonist any introvert can relate to make these books great for middle grade readers and adults alike.

Greenglass House:

Greenglass House by Kate Milford
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What secrets do the stained glass windows of Greenglass House hold, and why are so many guests suddenly interested in them? Milo and his snowed-in friend Meddy create mystery-solving characters for themselves to help his parents figure out which of the new guests is stealing others' possessions and creating havoc in their cozy inn. Is everyone telling the truth about who they are and why they chose to stay at Greenglass House?

I was totally taken in by Milford's world-building and loved the way she incorporated role-playing games and unique takes on traditional mystery tropes. Milo is nothing short of adorable, a kid that young Rachel would've befriended and adult Rachel wants to adopt herself, and Meddy provides just the right amount of snark and wit to keep the very grown-up capers from bogging the fun of the story down.

Ghosts of Greenglass House:

Ghosts of Greenglass House by Kate Milford
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Milo's back and ready to finally enjoy a quiet winter break, even though there's no snow yet...and then the guests start to show up. Again. A few old friends plus some new faces appear just as the Winter Solstice begins, and this time of mystery and magic has odd events occurring throughout the house and its surrounding grounds. Milo really hopes Meddy joins him again, as it seems there are a few more mysteries for them to solve, and he could use a sidekick to boost his confidence.

I'm glad I read this sequel fairly soon after finishing Greenglass House, as it helped to place returning characters quicker (and I also didn't have to spend so much time away from the world of Nagspeake & the inn). These books are undeniably winter books, and go so well with a cup of tea or hot chocolate, under a blanket, with a fire by your side (or a radiator hissing steam). It should also be mentioned that while the setting is immersive, the characters realistic, and the story engrossing, the relationship between Milo and his parents is what really makes this book stand out for the middle grade crowd especially. Ben and Nora Pine are loving, but they have their own lives as well. They allow Milo to make mistakes, they answer his questions honestly, and they trust him to make good decisions (because that's how they've raised him). They never hover, but they're also not missing from the story - they are two of the most authentic parents I've read in children's fiction, which always seems to sway too far to one extreme or the other.


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Re.w.or.d.a.ble

What it is: A 2-8 player competitive game. Players collect word fragments (1-3 letters long) and combine them to create complete words, adding fragments to their own or other players' words to "reword" them for extra points.

What it includes: The diminutive box holds 120 word fragment cards, 16 bonus tokens, and rules.

Gameplay: Each player holds 5 cards in their hand, and 3 extra cards are placed on the playing surface, along with 3 bonus tokens. On their turn, a player can either build a word (using at least one card in their hand, and optionally in combination with cards already in play) to add it to their lexicon or discard their hand to get new cards. Once a word is in play, any player can add to it (beginning, middle, or end - but no reordering of letters/fragments) and steal it for their lexicon. The game ends after a pre-determined amount of plays, or when cards run out.

Winning: Players count the amount of letters in each word in their lexicon (each letter is worth one point), then add 4 points for each bonus token earned. The player with the most points wins!

Recommended for: This game could be marketed towards a young crowd - it would definitely help elementary (3rd-5th grade) age kids learn different word variations, could be played cooperatively (using teams) for middle school age, and is a unique challenge for adults as well. Because of how the word fragments are split onto each card, playing this game in other languages is also a possibility. (Spanish seems to work pretty well, at least.)

Positives: Easy to set up and play starts quickly, since there aren't a lot of rules to go over. Super portable, and rules can be adapted to player skills (allowing abbreviations, proper nouns, or words in other languages). Graphics on the cards are readable - good use of size/font/color.

Drawbacks: While the ease of play and small size of the box makes this game perfect for bringing along to parties/on vacation/etc, the cards sometimes feel a bit too small - they are hard to shuffle. Not a dealbreaker, but something to consider if playing with an older crowd.

Overall: Rewordable is like Scrabble or UpWords, but with cards. Common words and word combinations are emphasized over obscure words. Wordies will enjoy its many possibilities and competitive gamers will appreciate the variety of challenges.

12.31.17

Jesus and I don't really have NYE traditions yet - we've done different things each year of our relationship. I guess that's our tradition: switching it up. This year we're celebrating with my parents, which means plenty of snacks, board games, fireworks on TV, and potentially falling asleep before midnight. :)



Extra: last year, the year before, and the year before that

2017 By the Books

I read 196 books in 2017...thanks to library school and my job at a children's literature center (helloooo, picture books!). A Land of Permanent Goodbyes will be #197 if I finish it this weekend, but all stats are pre-completion. Here's a breakdown of what I read (using my Goodreads account as my source):

Total Number of Books Read: 196
Total Pages Read: 35,603
Shortest Book: Ghost Poems by Daisy Wallace (30 pages)
Longest Book: The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood (637 pages)
Average Rating: 3.8 stars
Most Popular (according to Goodreads): The Help by Kathryn Stockett (read by over 2 million)
Least Popular (according to Goodreads): The Long Island by Drew Beckmeyer (it doesn't actually come out until 2018...)
Highest Rated (by Goodreads): Refugee by Alan Gratz (4.66 stars)
Highest Rated (by me): There were a lot of 5-star books this year, I'm happy to say!
Re-reads: A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle (very excited for the film adaptation), Hatchet by Gary Paulsen (doesn't quite hold up), Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein (definitely holds up), The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss (it's complicated)
Series I Finally Finished: The Bartimaeus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud
Women Authors: 55% (108/196)
Authors of Color/Minority Authors: 40% (78/196)
Translations/Bilingual: After a very brief scroll through my list, I think about 12 of the books were either translated into English, included bilingual text, or were foreign language titles altogether. Several others were written by non-American writers in English.
Most Popular Author (according to my list): Margarita Engle (Forest World, Drum Dream Girl, Bravo!, and Miguel's Brave Knight). Jason Reynolds and Carole Boston Weatherford tied for second with three books each.
Audiobooks: 11, and I can pretty safely say that I am not a good listener...I much prefer reading text. If I have to listen, please let it be a comedy book (Yes Please was delightful) or a book featuring music (Solo and Echo had several musical moments).
Fantasy: 18
Horror: 3
Comedy: 9
Mystery: 10
Non-fiction: 53
Non-fiction for adults: 27
Biggest Surprise: All These Wonders (a collection of stories told on various Moth stages) gave me life. Miles Morales is hilarious and important. Out of Wonder is unbelievably beautiful. Greenglass House (and the follow-up, Ghosts of Greenglass House) is so. much. fun.
Biggest Letdown: On the whole, I was disappointed by self-help books this year (lesson learned, I guess?), but the biggest letdown was The Arrow Finds Its Mark (a collection of "found" poetry). It had extreme potential to be innovative and original, sure to be beloved by this found poet, but it lacked creativity and design.
Still Thinking About: the beauty of some of the picture books and graphic novels I read this year. It was an amazing year for illustrators! Also, lots of WOW moments in YA fiction, novelizations of comic books, and historical fiction with plenty of heart.
Something I Learned (about reading): Something I've known, but that was reaffirmed for me this year is that representation matters. I read a lot of "window" books this year (as opposed to "mirrors"), and I loved it. I can only imagine how affirming it is for non white/straight/English-speaking/etc kids and adults to see their lives in the books they read, and I'm excited to continue exploring a wide range of narratives from a wide range of authors.
Goal For 2018: Keep on keeping on.

Extra: 2016 By the Books

Take Me Away: Seven Mystery & Adventure Titles to Capture Your Attention

The Case of the Time-Capsule Bandit by Octavia Spencer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Randi Rhodes is exactly the girl detective I wanted to be growing up - I tore through Nancy Drew, Harriet the Spy, and other similar books in elementary school. Randi is tough and headstrong, but she has heart too. The tension of moving away from Brooklyn is compounded by the mystery of the time capsule, and there’s no break from the action as Randi meets D.C. and they team up to solve the mystery. Of course, as an adult, I wondered about the believability of some of their adventures, but nothing strayed too far from reality, and most kids will be too focused on trying to solve the mystery along with the protagonists to care about small details. I finished this book in an afternoon at the airport and felt fully immersed in the story!

Maximilian & the Mystery of the Guardian Angel: A Bilingual Lucha Libre Thriller by Xavier Garza

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What a fun read! I loved that it was bilingual, and that the translations matched up so well. The direct, simple language made it easy for even this beginning Spanish reader to compare the pages. The actual story was also fun, and I enjoyed solving the mystery along with Max, cheering for heroes and booing the villains all along. Max develops slightly as a character, becoming more confident in himself and the action was paced nicely. I’ll definitely be recommending this book!

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book gave me major Willy Wonka vibes, as Grabenstein intended, which had me guessing the whole way through - How will kids start being eliminated? What’s Lemoncello’s actual intent? Where are the Oompa Loompas? A fun ode to libraries with plenty of solvable puzzles, this bookworm was happy to read Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library all afternoon. I was invested and curious the whole way through!

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed reading Hatchet in elementary school. Growing up in north/central Wisconsin, winter survival was a popular topic and kids would build elaborate forts during recess as if we’d be out there longer than 20 minutes. We read Hatchet in class, and I remember both boys and girls getting into the story. When I tried to read more Gary Paulsen on my own though, I wasn’t as interested, and I definitely wasn’t as into the action this read through. Yes, Brian goes through a “coming of age” in the wilderness, learning about himself and the world around him, but I wasn’t as into the action as I remember being as a 10 year old. I think the plot was interesting, especially considering the age of this book, and most kids reading are able to guess at what Brian needs to do next, or at least think about what they would do in his situation.

Heart of a Samurai by Margi Preus

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was an interesting book to read one week after a trip to Japan. Preus did her research, though some details of the book felt forced (ie, “I did my research on this can’t you tell?!”). Manjiro’s adventure moves right along, and he grows and changes as he experiences new things. I felt invested in his story, wanting to know if he made it back home, and what happened if/when he did. There were a few problematic bits, details that were glossed over (though explained more in the epilogue/glossary), but nothing that a child reader would care much about, or need to appreciate the story. Preus is clear about the things she created for the story, and the inclusion of Majiro’s drawings adds context.

Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I listened to the audiobook version of this book, which I hesitate to recommend - the added music was a nice touch, but the actual narration left something to be desired. Also, I personally am not a great audiobook listener so I know I missed some things. I want to reread this in print to get the “full” story because I’m pretty sure I liked it. I know I liked each individual story, learning about the characters and their motivations. I didn’t read anything about the book before listening, so it took me a bit to realize Echo is 4 different/connected stories. The connections at the end were sweet, if convenient.

Thriller by Jon Scieszka

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Besides the unnecessary gendering of this collection, I found the stories inside to be fun and interesting. As in any book of short stories, some resonated more than others, but altogether I found they worked well at keeping my attention with good pacing and just enough tension throughout. I felt involved in reading most of the stories, especially “Believing in Brooklyn” and “Nate Macavoy, Monster Hunter” (which felt like a Junior X-Files). Snakes aren’t my jam, so I checked out while reading “The Snake Mafia” and “Boys Will Be Boys” felt too simplistic (and that title, ugh).

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Winter Solstice Check-In

Winter Break is so close!

• Finals: finished (one paper, two projects - one being a new page on this blog)
• Presents: four left to wrap
• Thank You Notes: we're down to co-workers & friends!
• Travel Journal: one day left to recap

Of course, I've already sort of started the relaxing & celebrating...

• Reading: ARCs that I've been saving up all semester
• Dipping: into my winter wine stash
• Watching: all the Harry Potter movies
• Vacuuming: hey, it calms me, okay?

Extras: last year's Winter Solstice thoughts (feeling similarly this year - cautiously grateful)

Using Children's Fantasy to Talk About Family, Memory, and the Power of Knowledge: Two Reviews

The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

There is a lot going on in The Girl Who Drank the Moon, but it is beautifully written. While I had to reread a few passages to make sure I understood what was happening, I was engrossed in this story, its characters, and in learning the mystery of magic and the power of stories. The setting is familiar, though unique in its particularities. The themes of family and the power of memory and knowledge in this story repeat themselves, like refrains, and and are woven into each character’s actions, so that each page enforces the universal truths explored in the book as a whole.


Jinx by Sage Blackwood
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sage Blackwood creates a magical world with dynamic characters in Jinx. While an intriguing conflict and plenty of mystery kept me reading, the fantasy itself was also compelling. Jinx is set in a fictional time and place, but aspects of the world are recognizable. The magic used along with other imaginative characteristics follow the “rules” of the world, lending credibility to the fantasy. Similarly to The Girl Who Drank the Moon, family, memory, and the power of knowledge are key themes, and the reader learns from both the mistakes and the victories of the characters. The setting of Jinx is similar to ones I’ve read elsewhere, but shows originality in its treatment of nature and the concept of a “Listener” along with not revealing all the details of the world (you have to keep reading the series to find out more!). I enjoyed trying to figure out each character’s motivations, and wondering who could be trusted as I read.


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Finding Their Way Home: A Review of Refugee by Alan Gratz

Refugee by Alan Gratz
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Told in three separate yet connected stories, Refugee is a historical novel of perseverance and commitment to one’s identity in the face of persecution. It will resonate with middle grade readers of today.

Josef flees from 1930s Nazi Germany and the threat of concentration camps with his parents and sister. He struggles with the responsibility of taking care of his family when he still feels like a child.

Isabel, her parents, and her neighbors use a makeshift raft to escape Cuba in 1994, during the unrest of Castro’s regime. Though never one to retreat from a challenge, Isabel worries for her pregnant mother during the dangerous journey.

Mahmoud, along with his parents and younger siblings, leave the violence of war in Syria in 2015, traveling through Europe as they search for a safer place to live. Unsure of the future of his country, Mahmoud wonders if his family will feel at home if they make it to Austria.

Though the details of their stories are unique, Josef, Isabel, and Mahmoud share more similarities than just their situations. Gratz gives attention to creating characters with heart and conviction, while the conflicts they face ensure none of their stories muddle in the emotions of the book as a whole. Refugee tells an important story without preaching or sensationalizing the experiences of refugees past and present. Maps and an author’s note highlight the reality of Josef, Isabel, and Mahmoud’s stories and show the readers how they can help with relief efforts.


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JAPAN

It's honeymoon time! I'm excited to get back to my blogging roots and discuss travel destinations and reviews...after I get back (and after I finish my finals!). :)

See you in two weeks!

#bricksandbananasforever

J: I love you tons and bunches.
R: A ton of bricks and bunches of bananas?
J: Yes, bricks and bananas.

Today is the day I marry my love & I couldn't be more excited. Or more prone to breaking out in happy tears.

What's Past is Present: Nine Historical Fiction Books for Kids & Adults

My Heart is on the Ground: the Diary of Nannie Little Rose, a Sioux Girl, Carlisle Indian School, Pennsylvania, 1880 by Ann Rinaldi
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I struggled with My Heart Is on the Ground, especially after reading the article about its inconsistencies. I remember reading almost all of the Dear America books growing up, so it’s possible that I read this one too, though I couldn’t tell you if it had any effect on me, or if I understood the extent of its inaccuracies. What drew me to this series as a child was the range of experiences of the various characters, and the diary format, which makes it more apparent that the book is fiction. While this story has aspects of reality - there were boarding schools meant for Native Americans in the late 1800s - there were far too many “artistic licenses” taken for anyone to recommend this book to children, at the very least without bold disclaimers.

The War that Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Personal wars and victories set during an actual war highlight the variety of living situations during a time period, and The War that Saved My Life shares a powerful story of how World War II affected women and children in England particularly. The history of this book lives more in the background and edges, while Ada’s story takes center stage. This is a character novel that just so happens to be set in history. There are important historical details - the existence of child evacuees during WWII, blackout curtains and food rationing, a distrust of medical knowledge - but the growth of Ada as a character and the development of her and Jamie’s relationship with Susan are what this book is really about.

The Madman of Piney Woods by Christopher Paul Curtis

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

In The Madman of Piney Woods, the reader learns about generational similarities and differences between the children of Irish immigrants and enslaved people in Canada. The history of this book comes through on every page, in its characters and their conflicts. While I have no connection to either Benji or Red, I could still relate to the friendship of two seeming opposites, and to the power of shared experiences. Told in a he said/he said format, this book starts slow, but has a satisfying conclusion. Once Benji and Red meet, I enjoyed watching their friendship develop and anticipating how they would navigate their differences. An author’s note describes the motivation for telling this story, and lends credibility to the details.

One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Rita Williams-Garcia portrays the “why” of 1968 Oakland through the eyes of three sisters, and the eldest in particular in One Crazy Summer. In the context of a summer camp run by the Black Panthers, Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern explore their identities as black children in America, as sisters to each other, and as daughters to their poet mother. There was definitely research done to portray the girls accurately, as well as to include factual events and keep the style and tone reflective of the time period, Delphine’s background, and the setting of the story. Delphine, as our narrator, is matter-of-fact and quite descriptive of her own feelings as well as her interpretation of others’ feelings. I appreciated her no-nonsense style and could relate to her challenges of being an older sister while also recognizing her unique situation in history.

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Told as a series of free verse poems, Brown Girl Dreaming is an autobiographical account of Jacqueline Woodson’s childhood and how she found her identity as a writer. Creative liberties and poetic style aside, this novel leans more towards personal history within the larger context of growing up in both South Carolina and Brooklyn in the 1960s and 70s. We see Woodson struggle with the feeling of not belonging anywhere in relation to her family’s struggles to adapt to different ways of life as political and social changes occur. There is a dreamlike quality to the poetry of this novel, and it was a joy to read about another writer’s journey to herself.

In the Footsteps of Crazy Horse by Joseph M. Marshall III

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Jimmy McClean and his grandfather follow Crazy Horse’s path and we hear of his deeds as Jimmy learns to love who he is and what it means to be Lakota in In the Footsteps of Crazy Horse. Maps, a glossary, and a bibliography help to ground this story in fact, and this book felt more educational and historical than others we read. There is less dramatic character development, besides Jimmy eventually coming to terms with how he looks, and the fiction itself is set in present day, though it is geographically and politically accurate for the story.

90 Miles to Havana by Enrique Flores-Galbis

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I listened to the audiobook version of 90 Miles to Havana, read by the author, and appreciated hearing the names and dialogue straight from the source. The events that occur in Julian’s life are similar to Flores-Galbis’s experience of Operacion Pedro Pan, and are therefore credible and relatable. Themes of identity, family, and revolution weave in and out of the narrative and color each interaction. It was easy to feel the emotions of the story and to cheer for the characters.

Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Dead End in Norvelt is also an audiobook read by the author, inspired by his childhood. It’s historical in that the events of the story happened in the past, and are affected by the real life events of the time, but the story itself focuses more on the characters and the mystery of their fellow neighbors passing away at an accelerated rate. Some of Jack’s adventures remind me of stories my dad likes to tell of growing up in a small town, especially when he gets in trouble or is in some sort of danger and he shrugs it off.

Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It’s difficult for me to evaluate verse novels because they tend to be my favorite, but Inside Out & Back Again was both sad and hopeful, and remained true to both the poetic style and the historic settings of Saigon and Alabama. These poems are about acceptance, belonging, and identity, and share universal truths even in their specific details. While the details are about the fallout of the Vietnam War for one family, and Ha in particular, any reader who has felt out of place or not “something” enough to fit in will relate to this novel.

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