Nice lighthearted take on family secrets, road trips, American history, and intergenerational friendships. FFO AJ and the Queen and Diamond DorisNice lighthearted take on family secrets, road trips, American history, and intergenerational friendships. FFO AJ and the Queen and Diamond Doris Payne. Ending was a little abrupt for me, but (view spoiler)[ that's because my favorite character died. (hide spoiler)]...more
Vaguely interesting thinly veiled autobiography from a guy who had an interesting upbringing and who loves to write with lots and lots of words. CoolVaguely interesting thinly veiled autobiography from a guy who had an interesting upbringing and who loves to write with lots and lots of words. Cool part: Slim Halliday as a mentor. Not-so-cool part: magical mutism! Lots of ABYA appeal. I skipped the middle section tbh. Maybe it's better if you are Australian?...more
I'm not prepared to give this one a star rating right now, just to remark upon the release of an own voices version of Wonder. We are doing somethingI'm not prepared to give this one a star rating right now, just to remark upon the release of an own voices version of Wonder. We are doing something right in kidlit if HMH is feeling compelled to release an own voices companion to Wonder. Nathaniel seems like a cool kid and a great advocate for himself, and his mom is super tough. So, I hope they make lots of cash from this tie-in and accomplish what they want to accomplish with it. ...more
What a lovely and warm little STEM book for newly independent readers! Sadiq and his family are Somali Muslims living in Minnesota. Kids can learnWhat a lovely and warm little STEM book for newly independent readers! Sadiq and his family are Somali Muslims living in Minnesota. Kids can learn some Somali words, what it's like to go to a planetarium, how to start/fund a club at school, and how to make a DIY telescope in this charming, approachable book. Discussion questions and a glossary are included, as well as some facts about Somalia and a nice clear introductory illustration of all the characters. When I say "We Need Diverse Books", I mean like this one!...more
Quick, cinematic prison novel (based on a true story) with plenty to say about juvenile justice, the school-to-prison pipeline, and America's baked-inQuick, cinematic prison novel (based on a true story) with plenty to say about juvenile justice, the school-to-prison pipeline, and America's baked-in fear of and fascination with young African American men. Totally Alex Awards material. Would also work for anybody interested in First Nations residential schools. All about state-sanctioned injustices fomented upon the young. Nice to see Colson Whitehead using his journalistic and novelist skills in one power punch. ...more
Aw, geez. I love this book! Warm (but not sweet) poems from the POV of a middle school kid who lives on the border between Texas and Mexico with hisAw, geez. I love this book! Warm (but not sweet) poems from the POV of a middle school kid who lives on the border between Texas and Mexico with his loving family and devoted nerdy pals. Reminds me of Cynthia Rylant's novels in verse. A real winner. ...more
Love love love the respect Paula Chase has for the social and emotional lives of middle school students and how she portrays them within a loving,Love love love the respect Paula Chase has for the social and emotional lives of middle school students and how she portrays them within a loving, complex community. Reminded me of the hundreds of Monday afternoons I spent with my library kids playing mancala, UNO, and video games, and how much was at stake for them every ding dang day.
Beautifully written brave memoir of a gifted guy with lots of deep scars. Basically a testament to The Hate U Give Little Infants Fucks Everybody.Beautifully written brave memoir of a gifted guy with lots of deep scars. Basically a testament to The Hate U Give Little Infants Fucks Everybody. Absolutely wrenching and too real/why are you so loud?
How about this call to action in the final pages, youth services friends? "We are worthy of sharing the most abundant, patient, responsible kind of love and liberation with every vulnerable child on this planet."
Saeed Jones says this in the NYT review, which pretty much says it all: I don’t know what to make of an America in which we feel compelled to hurt the people we love in order to keep them alive. ...more
A really good, comprehensive sex manual with great modeling of consent and sympathetic writing on LGBQ and A, wrapped in a thin coating of YA novel.A really good, comprehensive sex manual with great modeling of consent and sympathetic writing on LGBQ and A, wrapped in a thin coating of YA novel. The characters are super jaded, hyper adult NYC kids living an utterly privileged lifestyle. The ending kinda comes out of nowhere. But kids who are looking for glamour and sex positivity will be into it. ...more
I’ve been waiting 20 years for a kids book with Korean Baptist Church in it, and this one is good enough to win the Newbery. The grief feels real, theI’ve been waiting 20 years for a kids book with Korean Baptist Church in it, and this one is good enough to win the Newbery. The grief feels real, the things Ok and his mom do to save money feel real, his desperation to take care of his mom and be the man of the family feel real. Also, the writing is great. I'm Ok is the total package. ...more
All I can say is thanks for sharing, and this book will mean a lot to a lot of kids.
OK, one more thing. Why is this and Kendra by Coe Booth the onlyAll I can say is thanks for sharing, and this book will mean a lot to a lot of kids.
OK, one more thing. Why is this and Kendra by Coe Booth the only 'raised by my grandparents' book I can think of? Can we have some more of those? ...more
The Louise Fitzhugh tribute album of Jason Reynolds books, and I am here for it.
Probably just my own Fitzhugh-stan eyes seeing elements of Harriet theThe Louise Fitzhugh tribute album of Jason Reynolds books, and I am here for it.
Probably just my own Fitzhugh-stan eyes seeing elements of Harriet the Spy (journaling and a magical adult friend/mentor), Nobody's Family is Going to Change (love of dance, rhythm, physicality) and really difficult, cold familial relations (all of it, basically).
Love the poetic feel of the language -- this one is going to be a particularly great audiobook. ...more
More later, but right now I will say that this hot hot satire made me extra sad that a bum I gave a Luna bar to said "I haven't had a seizure in twoMore later, but right now I will say that this hot hot satire made me extra sad that a bum I gave a Luna bar to said "I haven't had a seizure in two months! This is going to be my year!" ...more
Maybe a little bit too much content and plot packed into one book. However, a noble effort, extremely woke, and should be present in every libraryMaybe a little bit too much content and plot packed into one book. However, a noble effort, extremely woke, and should be present in every library serving teens and young adults. ...more
For fans of Lemonade. For fans of Moonlight. For fans of Beloved. For fans of Nothing Gold Can Stay. May cause uncontrollable weeping. Best toddlerFor fans of Lemonade. For fans of Moonlight. For fans of Beloved. For fans of Nothing Gold Can Stay. May cause uncontrollable weeping. Best toddler I've ever seen in adult literature. ...more
**spoiler alert** This book has everything you could ask for in terms of body horror and disturbing themes:
Eating. Worms and bugs. Eating worms and**spoiler alert** This book has everything you could ask for in terms of body horror and disturbing themes:
Eating. Worms and bugs. Eating worms and bugs. Worms and bugs eating you. Putrefaction. Nighttime. Being trapped on an island. Being trapped in a closet. Being trapped in a cave. Being 14. Conspiracy. Stupid adults. Realizing that adults are stupid. A psychopath! A horrific virus! Animal abuse! (You can skip those parts easily -- I did).
I read the thing in one evening and one morning. Could not put it down. Now I see why everybody in my office has passed it from hand to sick hand. Nick Cutter wins the Blurg award! ...more
I wanted to like this! I like the protagonist's energy and love of dance! But the dance teacher was so unreasonably and unrealistically mean that II wanted to like this! I like the protagonist's energy and love of dance! But the dance teacher was so unreasonably and unrealistically mean that I couldn't suspend disbelief to get behind the plot. Oh well. ...more
Strenuously neutral look at both a teen whose skirt was set on fire and the kid who did it. Raises questions of privilege, guilt, responsibility,Strenuously neutral look at both a teen whose skirt was set on fire and the kid who did it. Raises questions of privilege, guilt, responsibility, justice, and class with elegance. I cried for both kids. Must-read, must discuss. ...more
So on point with the dialogue and perspectives of tweens growing up in urban America -- still kids, like any twelve or thirteen year old, butSo on point with the dialogue and perspectives of tweens growing up in urban America -- still kids, like any twelve or thirteen year old, but sometimes dealing with some very grown-up stuff as best they can.
Super smart about the extra pressures placed on young men and women of color to grow up fast.
I love this book for taking place in an afterschool program, for honoring play and creativity, and for the hilarious sweetness of the characters' perspectives.
Oh, and did I mention it's LGBTQIA friendly in the chillest of ways?
EDIT: OK, after reading a few reviews, I see that some folks are concerned with the way Lolly and his friends talk to and about one another. To me, that honesty is a strength of the book. Kids his age would crack on Butteray and Rose (at least initially) b/c of their own insecurities and need to fit in. Depicting the behavior is not the same as condoning, and it makes Lolly much more realistic to me. ...more
Night of the Hunter-style atmospheric literary thriller about two brothers in peril, told from the little brother's POV. I couldn't put it down! SomeNight of the Hunter-style atmospheric literary thriller about two brothers in peril, told from the little brother's POV. I couldn't put it down! Some nice turns of phrase, some good old 80s style parental neglect of latchkey kids, and some villains for the ages. The Rick pinch! AUGH!
This is pretty much what I wished Universal Harvester had been like, honestly. ...more
Great sense of time and place, interesting relationship between Armstrong & Charlie, pretty true-to-life about the preoccupations of sixth-gradeGreat sense of time and place, interesting relationship between Armstrong & Charlie, pretty true-to-life about the preoccupations of sixth-grade boys. I found the (view spoiler)[ lizard torture (hide spoiler)] to be almost too much to take, but it does set up the (view spoiler)[utter villainy (hide spoiler)] of those guys well.
Like Last Stop on Market Street, this is a pretty great examination of privilege for young readers, and I'm super glad that it exists.
Nikki Grimes has a gift for writing about kids that are Totally Invisible to Most Writers, but Totally Familiar to Anybody Who Works with Kids.
ThisNikki Grimes has a gift for writing about kids that are Totally Invisible to Most Writers, but Totally Familiar to Anybody Who Works with Kids.
This time around, she's writing from the POV of a fat kid who hates sports (even tho his dad loves them) and loves to sing (but mostly in private). And it's 100% in the poetic form of tanka. And the kid's idol is (view spoiler)[Luther Vandross (hide spoiler)]. I met Ms. Grimes briefly at a library convention once -- if I ever see her again, I'm giving her the most enthusiastic high five. ...more
Heartbreaking, well-researched history of juvenile justice as applied in the USA. Particularly appreciate the short profiles of activists who gotHeartbreaking, well-researched history of juvenile justice as applied in the USA. Particularly appreciate the short profiles of activists who got caught up in the system as youthful offenders and emerged as changed men.
Essential for all school and public libraries. ...more
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