Olympics, Courage, and High Stakes: A School Librarian Reviews War Games

 

We just wrapped up our fall Scholastic Book Fair, and one of our top sellers was War Games by Alan Gratz. With so many students excited about it, I knew I needed to read it myself—and I’m glad I did.

Set during the 1936 Berlin Olympics, the story follows thirteen-year-old Evalyn (Evie) Harris, an American gymnast determined to win gold not just for her country, but for her family back home still recovering from the Dust Bowl. She believes a gold medal could change their lives forever. But once Evie arrives in Berlin, she quickly realizes the competition is tougher than she expected—and that Nazi Germany is hiding a much darker truth beneath its polished Olympic façade.

Evie is soon approached about participating in a dangerous plan to steal Nazi gold. She doesn’t leap at the idea, but as she witnesses the mistreatment of Jewish people and people of color, she begins to question what is right, and whether this mission might be her one chance to help others and bring home the gold.

Recommended For:

Grades 6–8, especially students studying WWII or readers who love fast-paced historical fiction.

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The Good

• A fast-paced historical thriller that keeps readers turning pages.

• Strong, relatable protagonist in Evie.

• Sparks curiosity about real historical events and figures surrounding the 1936 Olympics.

• Classic Alan Gratz—engaging, accessible storytelling that hooks middle-grade readers.

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Things to Note (From a School Librarian Lens)

Nothing here is a deal-breaker, but helpful for matching students and families with the right book:

• Occasional mild language (“damn,” “bastards”).

• Some intense historical content: a biracial character is forcibly sterilized by the Nazis; another character’s partner is sent to a concentration camp for being gay.

• Themes of violence and oppression are typical of WWII-era fiction.

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Overall

War Games is an exciting, high-stakes read with powerful historical grounding. I can absolutely see why students grabbed it off the shelf. Gratz continues to shine as a writer who brings history to life in ways that resonate with young readers, and I’m already looking forward to diving into more of his work.

Lizzie and the Lost Baby by Cheryl Blackford

Goodreads Synopsis

Cheryl Blackford's debut novel is set in England during World War II and told from the dual perspectives of ten-year-old Lizzie, a homesick girl evacuated from bomb-blitzed Hull to the remote Yorkshire valley, and Elijah, a local gypsy boy. When Lizzie discovers an abandoned baby, her dangerous friendship with Elijah is put to the test. Will Lizzie be able to find the baby's parents? And if she does, can she and Elijah remain friends in a world clouded by prejudice and fear?

Review

Lizzie and the Lost Baby delves into an issue of prejudice that has been haunting Europe for centuries, but is not often discussed. Gypsies have been treated with disdain since medieval times, sometimes because of wrongs they have committed, but other times simply because of who they are. In the case of Elijah's family, it seems the prejudice is due more to who they are than their actions. The way the village folk deal with his family is reminiscent of the treatment of African Americans in the United States received before the civil rights movement. It was refreshing to read a novel acknowledging this problem. (The only other story I can think of off the top of my head that addresses this is The Hunchback of Notre Dame.) Have you read any books that have handled this issue well? 

Despite the interesting topic, the character development throughout the entire book is poor. I found myself having a difficult time remaining interested in any of the characters and their problems, because they were so one-dimensional. Frankly, I was bored with this book. I first learned about Lizzie and the Lost Baby from a webinar and was quite intrigued. A book addressing prejudice against gypsies and displaced English children during the Blitz sounded like an engaging read for this history buff. Unfortunately, even my love for history could not overcome the lack of magic in this forgettable novel.

Disclosure: I read an Advanced Reader Copy received from the publisher.

What are your favorite current middle grade novels set in WWII?

Alyssa

The Door by the Staircase

The Door by the Staircase 

By: Katherine Marsh 

Release Date: January 5. 2016
Pages: 288
Age Range: 8 and up 

The Story 

Twelve-year-old Mary Hayes can't stand her orphanage for another night. But when an attempted escape through the stove pipe doesn't go quite as well as she'd hoped, Mary fears she'll be stuck in the Buffalo Asylum for Young Ladies forever. 

The very next day, a mysterious woman named Madame Z appears at the orphanage requesting to adopt Mary, and the matron's all too happy to get the girl off her hands. Soon, Mary is fed a hearty meal, dressed in a clean, new nightgown and shown to a soft bed with blankets piled high. She can hardly believe she isn't dreaming!

But when Mary begins to explore the strange nearby town with the help of her new friend, Jacob, she learns a terrifying secret about Madame Z's true identity.  
Madame Z is the historically terrify Baba Yaga. 

If Mary's not careful, her new home might just turn into a nightmare.

Story synopsis provided by Amazon 

Strengths 

I liked learning about the Russian Folklore that is sprinkled throughout this book. Marsh does a wonderful job of creating a creepy and yet  magical story line. It can be slow at times, but if you hang in there, you will be rewarded with a fantastic story. I especially enjoyed the twist at the end. It reminded me a great deal of Neil Gainman's Coraline. I think it reminded me of this book in regards to the parallel magical world. I would highly recommend paring this book  with a non-fiction book on Russian and Slavic Folklore or on Baba Yaga herself. If you have this history, it will help to make the story more enjoyable. 

Weaknesses 

This isn't for the faint of heart. It is definitely creepy. My biggest concern is finding an audience for this book. Even though it was beautifully crafted, I am not sure who to book talk this book to.  Perhaps if it is marketed as a magical fantasy story? 

Overall 

I am seeing more and more books with Baba Yaga as a central character. In the publishing world, I  think this has become a trend. Although I did find it interesting, I wouldn't recommend it to everyone. 

Baba Yaga

Here are some resources about the origins of Baba Yaga:

Baba-Yaga and Vasilisa the Fair - origins

Baba Yaga

Ancient Origins- Baba Yaga

If you like this book, you might like: 

- Pamela 

Watch the Sky

Watch the Sky 

By: Kirsten Hubbard

Published: April 7, 2015

Pages: 275

Grades: 4 and up

The Story 

Something is coming. You just have to see the signs. Celeb, Jory’s stepfather says so. Celeb is former military and he overheard something while he was serving.  Out of all of the people in the world, Celeb chose Jory and his mom to protect. Together they picked a secluded farm to prepare for the end of the world. Along the way, the family adopts a girl by the name of Kit who wanders onto their property and shortly after Jory’s mom adds a new baby brother to the family.  

It seems like the family is complete, and Celeb runs the family on a tight ship to ensure order.

He instills in Jory that family is the only people you can trust. School is Jory’s only escape from Celeb’s tight grip. One day, Celeb sees the final sign. It the sign he has been waiting for. The world is coming to an end. To protect his family, the family sets up a schedule to build an underground bunker, but is the world really coming to an end?

Jory starts to make new friends at school and starts to question Celeb. His little sister does too. Jory must decide what to really  believe before Celeb put them in the bunker.

Favorite Quote

“When you spend so much of your life worried about the future…you forget to live.”

Strengths

This was an exciting book. It captures the uncertainty of the future well. It left me wondering if maybe this story might turn into a science fiction! I quickly gobbled up this read in anticipation to see what would happen next. I think readers who enjoy problem novels could enjoy this one. It is a little bit different than the typical MG novel, and I think some readers (like myself) will appreciate that.

Weaknesses

I was really disappointed by the ending of the book. I felt like the book leads up to this fantastic climax, and then the  book suddenly ends. There wasn’t much of a resolution.

I wanted to know more about Jory and what happened afterward. Did he go to jail? How does the family get by now? What happened to Kit? Who is Kit? Was she even real?

These are just a few of the many questions I have.  

Overall, this book was a little different. I enjoyed the plot, and I become invested in Jory.  

I had flashbacks to the Y2K fiasco.

I will recommend this one to tweens who want a book outside the typical.  It would make a great book for a book discussion. There are just so many questions…..

Have you read this book yet?

What did you think ?

-Pamela

Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard

I try not to review really popular books, but this one is special. One of my mentors once told me that it is especially important to read and pay attention to what is popular with your age range. If you can keep up with these trends, it makes it easier to connect with the people you work with. I have found this piece of advice to ring true. 

When a kid asks for a Rick Riordan book, I love to start a conversation with them about the books. When I do this, I find that the kids get really excited, and the next time they come in they remember me. It has been a great way to open the door to start to build relationships with new tweens. 

So when I received a copy of the newest Riordan book, I jumped at the chance to read it. 

Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard 

By: Rick Riordan 

Book Trailer 

Strengths 

The book is long, but it is perfect for Riordan's growing fan base. I love that it starts off saying that the Magnus is going to die. As a reader, you instantly know this book is going to be packed with action!

With this action, Riordan continues to make this a family series by adding some references that adults would appreciate. He compares Magnus to looking like Kirk Cobain.

He also sprinkles some other  cultural references like Taylor Swift in the book too. I really enjoyed this aspect. I especially enjoyed the diversity and a variety of characters including dwarfs and elves.  

If these wasn't enough, he further entices fans of Percy Jackson by bringing Annabeth  into the story as Magnus's cousin.

I am interested to see how this crossover will take place. This will be especially interesting with Riordan's new book The Trials of Apollo that features Percy. Could we see a crossover in both books?

Weaknesses 

This book is too similar to Percy Jackson for me. I found the plot to be predictable and repetitive to his previous works.  The character Magnus even had a similar voice to Jackson. Even though it was repetitive, I still couldn't put it down.
Perhaps it is a Riordan spell that is hidden in the mist of  this book.



Overall, this was a fun read. I needed a break from realistic fiction, and this provided the perfect avenue. Riordan has done it again! It ended on a cliffhanger. I can't wait to see what happens next.

What are some of your favorite tweens series?

-Pamela

Helpful links about Norse Mythology 

Norse mythology and Thor is always an interesting subject. As I read this book, I learned a lot about Norse Mythology that I was not aware of.  I wanted to find out more. Here are some helpful links that I used to find out more information:

Cliffsnotes- Cliffsnotes provides a great overview of the mythology in general. This makes a great reference as you are reading the book.

Vikings Beliefs and Stories - This site is powered by BBC and provides a great overview of Viking stories for kids. I would recommend this  resource to kids that want to learn more.

Interview with Rick Riordan- This interview is wonderful! It goes into why Riordan made his book the way he did, and provides a little extra.


If you like this series, you might like: 

Footer Davis Probably is Crazy

Footer Davis Probably is Crazy 

By: Susan Vaught 

Release Date: March 3, 2015 

Audience: Grades 5 and up 

Pages: 240 

The Story 

When Fontana “Footer” Davis's mother shoots a snake with an elephant gun, Footer’s life begins to unravel. Her mom is sent away to a  psychiatric hospital for Bipolar Disorder.

Even though Footer misses her mom, it is the least of her worries.

Her neighbor’s farm burned down nine days ago. Mr. Abrams was shot and killed. His grandchildren Cissy and Doc were assumed dead in the fire, and Footer suspects that her mom might have something to do with it.

Footer teams up with her best friend, Peavine, and his sister, Angel to discover what really happened. The more she learns about the fire, the more she begins to have visions. She can smell the smoke & can see the gun. Could she have been there that night or is she going crazy like her mom?

Written by author and practicing psychiatrist Susan Vaught, this page turning story explores friendship and what it is like to have a loved one with Bipolar Disorder.

Strengths 

 There is so much suspense as you try to unravel this murder mystery. In this regard, this book will appeal to kids who enjoy books by Peg Kehret and April Henry.

 I also really liked that it addressed mental illness and having a loved one with Bipolar Disorder. One may also relate to the depression issue that goes along with Bipolar Disorder too. This is becoming more and more common. I appreciated that this book addresses these issues & even offers some resources at the back of the book for help. Commonly if a tween has a loved one with these issues or they face these issues themselves, they may feel isolated. I think this book does a great job at giving an overview of these issues and I like that these resources have an underlining message that one is not along if they do face these issues. 

This book will definitely be on my list for tweens who enjoy suspenseful books or for tweens that face these issues. 

Weaknesses 

The southern charm wasn't exactly charming all of the time. I was turned off by Footer's mom shooting snakes with an elephant gun in the first pages of this book. This is just a personal preference though. I think snakes are frighting. 



 Tweens might like this for the gross factor, but it may not have a appeal to everyone. 

Overall, this is was a fun and exciting read. It left me on the edge of my seat. I stayed up into the early morning hours finishing it. This is a great read that I will be sure to recommend. 

Thank you Susan Vaught for a fun read that provides awareness to mental illness. 

For more information on Bipolar Disorder, please visit the sites below: 

National Institute of Health

National Alliance on Mental Health

Helping a Loved One With Bipolar Disorder 

-Pamela 

Please note: these are just my thoughts on this book. This is no way a reflection of  the committee or committee discussions.

The Thing About Jellyfish

The Thing About Jellyfish 

By: Ali Benjamin

The Story 

Suzy and Franny Jackson were inseparable in grade school. They did everything together as best friends. When middle school came, Suzy fully expected to take it on with Franny. When the girl's first days in middle school arrive, the girls make a pact. If Franny ever joins the "popular crowd" and starts to desert her true self, Suzy is supposed to give her a sign to keep her grounded.

It doesn't take long for Franny to break their pact. She begins to change and make new friends. Suzy gives her a sign, but it turns into a disaster that forever ruins their chances of becoming friends again.

Pretty soon Suzy is all alone without any friends.
If it wasn't bad enough that Suzy looses Franny as a friend, Suzy soon learns that she lost her all together.

Suzy's mom receives a call that Franny passed away in a drowning accident.  Franny was a great swimmer. How could this have happened? Suzy stops talking and fades into the background to deal with her grief. The more she thinks about the accident and the year, the more Suzy thinks that Franny was stung by a jellyfish. It is the only way that she could have died. To prove her theory, Suzy goes on a quest to meet up with a jellyfish expert.

As Suzy ventures to find the truth, she is able to find healing and acceptance.

Strengths 

I was prepared to hate this book. Lately it feels like every other middle grade book I have read has a dead friend or parent in it, but this one was interesting, and it was beautifully written. I was touched by its story and depth.

 Middle school is cruel, and many tweens go through losing a friendship with childhood friend. So I think this will generate a lot of appeal for many tweens. I also think that many will enjoy the jellyfish facts that are sprinkled throughout the book. Animal facts can be a big seller to tweens!

Weaknesses 

I know this book does address some dark issues, but I wish that there was more humor. It felt too heavy at times. I was also was a bit disturbed by some of Suzy's behavior. To give Franny a sign that she needs to change, Suzy puts urine in Franny's backpack.



This was too much for me. I think the character could have gone about this in a less gross manner. Maybe a card discussing why she talked about urine in front of Franny's new friend with an apology?

Perhaps Franny ignores her apology and it is then that she realizes their friendship is over! I feel like if it went a route like this one, it might be more relatable for tweens and readers.

The urine thing is characteristic of the character though. Maybe the author just went this way to show how Suzy thinks in a literal way.

Overall, I did like this one.  I will recommend it to tweens who enjoy problem novels. I can see this one being a favorite for school libraries to address social issues in middle school.

What did you think of this book?

-Pamela



Please note: This is just my thoughts on this book. This is  no way a reflection of  the committee or committee discussions.

A Whole New Ballgame

A Whole New Ballgame 

By: Phil Bildner

Published: August 18, 2015

Pages: 256

Audience; Grades 4 and up 

The Story 

Rip and Red are best friends whose fifth-grade year is nothing like what they expected. They have a crazy new tattooed teacher named Mr. Acevedo, who doesn't believe in tests or homework and who likes off-the-wall projects, the more "off" the better. They also find themselves with a new basketball coach: Mr. Acevedo! Easy-going Rip is knocked completely out of his comfort zone. And for Red, who has autism and really needs things to be exactly a certain way, the changes are even more of a struggle. But together these two make a great duo who know how to help each other—and find ways to make a difference—in the classroom and on the court.
With its energetic and authentic story and artwork, this is a fresh, fun book about school, sports, and friendship.

Story  by Goodreads

Strengths 

There was a lot of diversity in this book that I think will appeal to a wide range of kids. Its theme is that you are more than the label you are given. This is an issue and I think a lot of kids will connect to. I think my favorite part though was in regards to the theme that learning happens when we have fun. I wish I had Mr. Acevedo as a teacher! For the kids, I think the appeal will be for the basketball & a project that the kids do on the grossest things. I would feel comfortable recommending this book to basketball lovers and some reluctant readers too. For the adults, I think the teaching style will resonate some appeal. It has a little something for everyone.

Weaknesses

Although there were a lot of strengths to the book, I think the biggest weakness for me was that the character Red was not as well developed as I would have liked. It felt like he fell into the background. I wanted to see more of him & wanted to see an emphasis on his strengths. There are more books planned in this series though. 
I am hopeful that the author will put more of a spot light on Red. 

With one in 68 kids diagnosed with Autism a year, we need more books like this. 
I look forward to see what more these series has to offer. It has a lot of promise.


Here are some more great books with characters with Autism:









For More Information on Autism, please visit Autism Speaks.

For more information on more books & book reviews with characters with disabilities, please check out these resources:

Disability in Kidlit

Resource for Special Need Literature

We Need Diverse Books

-Pamela 

Please note: This is just my thoughts on this book. This is  no way a reflection of  the committee or committee discussions.

The Sugar Mountain Snow Ball

Even though my term as a 1st round judge for Cybils is over. I am still slowly putting up reviews for the Cybils books I have read for round one. 

 All of the books that were nominated are more than worthy. Even though I cannot post a review for every book, I wanted to try and post as many I could.

I forgot to previously mention this, but please note: these are just my thoughts on the books. They are no way a reflection of  the committee or committee discussions. 

Thank you to all  that nominated books and to Cybils for giving me the opportunity to participate. It was such a joy to read these books and be exposed to books that I normally wouldn't have read. 

This was such a wonderful experience I will never forget. 

Please be sure to watch for the Cybils finalists on January 1st and the winner on February 12th. 

Finalists and winners will be announced on the Cybils blog.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Here is another great round one book: 

 The Sugar Mountain Snow Ball 

By: Elizabeth Atkinson 

The Story 

Cheerful Ruby and her shy friend Eleanor couldn’t be more different. Ruby has lived her whole life in Paris, New Hampshire. Eleanor’s family is from Sri Lanka. But these best friends share one thing: they both have impossible dreams.

Ruby and Eleanor live in the quaint town of Paris, New Hampshire, located at the base of Sugar Mountain, an exclusive ski resort in the White Mountains. Every winter, Paris comes alive with "Outers," wealthy families from out of town who own ski condos and wear designer clothes, luxuries that Ruby and Eleanor (and most of the year-round residents of Paris) cannot afford.

One December day, Ruby and Eleanor stumble across Madame Magnifique, the "World’s Most Divine Psychic," who urges them to unlock their deepest dreams. Ruby’s has always been to mingle with Outers, and now, more than ever, she is determined to make that dream come true.

As a chain of events unfolds over the winter months, both girls find themselves on a journey of self-discovery that starts with unlikely friendships, secret crushes, and new found skills, and snowplows to an unexpected outcome.

A relevant story in today’s world―exploring cross-cultural sensitivities and diversity within a classic New England microcosm―"The Sugar Mountain Snow Ball" questions the role of destiny and the ability we all have to achieve that which seems impossible.

*Description provided by Amazon* 

Best Quote 

"It made me realize—like everything else we’d been through lately—that a lot of stuff you think will happen doesn’t, and stuff you never thought would happen does. So it’s best to be open to anything and everything life throws at you, because you never know where it will take you next."

Strengths 

Four things I really liked about this book: 

1. It had a sweet theme of bettering yourself and following your dreams. The author uses a psychic to push the girls to go out of their comfort zone to achieve their dreams. I thought this was a cleaver plug for this theme. I also appreciated that the author had the adults in the book working on bettering themselves too. It showed that this improvement never stops. 

2. There was some diversity. Eleanor and her family are from Sri Lanka & there is a boy who has Asperger's Syndrome. There is also some French sprinkled throughout the book. 

3. Although the father was absent and worked away from home, the families were overall happy. I really liked Ruby's relationship with her brothers and step mom.  There also wasn't any tragic deaths! Hooray! After reading so many sad middle grade books lately, I really appreciated this.

4. The friendship between Ruby and Eleanor is spectacular.
 It made me long for my childhood friends. 

Weaknesses 

It was on the slow side. There were also some plot holes in regards to Ruby's mom. Ruby's dream to ski, and Lance. I wish the author would have given more detail to these areas. It definitely left me with a lot of unanswered questions. 

Even though I appreciated Lance's character, I also was a little disappointed with his mysterious presence. I wish that books would make characters with Autism more present. It feels like they often fall into the background & I think they deserve more than that. 

These were just minor things though! 

I am sure my middle grade reader's will not analyze it in the way I have and will enjoy the story. 
I will be sure to recommend this one to tweens who enjoy realistic fiction. 

Overall, this was a fun read. I would recommend reading this one on a snowy day 
with a cup of hot coco. 



-Pamela

Sweet Sounds: Diary of a Mad Brownie by Bruce Coville

Goodreads Synopsis

Told in diary entries and other “documents,” this magical, modern-day comedy by the master of funny fantasy, Bruce Coville is a story filled with laugh-out-loud humor and heart.

Angus is a brownie. No, not the kind you eat! He’s a tiny magical creature that loves to do chores. Angus has just “inherited” a new human girl, Alex. To say that Alex is messy would be an understatement. She’s a total hurricane-like disaster—and she likes it that way, thankyouverymuch! Living with each other isn’t easy but Angus and Alex soon learn there is a curse that binds them. What’s worse, it threatens Alex’s family! Working together, Angus and Alex will set out to break the curse . . . without killing each other first . . . hopefully. 

Review

Alright folks! Here is the first of the many "Sweet Sounds" I promised you. Get ready to be inundated with audiobooks!

Strengths 

For some reason, this story reminds me of Beverly Cleary. Because Angus is so small. he faces many similar situations to Ralph S. Mouse. Add to this the fact that Alex carries Angus to school in her backpack, and we have a solid "Mouse on the Motorcycle" comparison. The Cleary comparison does not end here; however. This was my first Coville novel and he surprised me with the quality of writing he poured into this novel. Diary of a Mad Brownie is in the tradition of many of the classic middle grade novels from the sixties and seventies and a breath of fresh air after the slew of low-quality, debbie-downer, angsty, middle grade novels we have seen the past couple of years. 

On the audiobook, the story is told by multiple narrators.  Euan Morton is the primary reader who performs Angus' diary. The "supporting documents" are performed by several other narrators. I am unsure whether Euan Morton is a native Scotsman or not, but his Scottish accent is superb. The other narrators gave good performances as well, but I enjoyed listening to Euan the most. Angus' emotions, (especially anger), were delivered in an exceedingly believable fashion and added color and verve to the performance.

Weaknesses

Although, Euan Morton's accent is interesting and easy to listen to; unfortunately, his voices for other characters do not differ from Angus' as much as I would prefer.  In addition, if Alex has a speaking part in Angus' diary, that part is performed by Euan Morton; however, one the "supporting documents" is Alex's diary, which is performed by another narrator. This results in two voices, and; therefore, a disconnect for the character of Alex.  Overall, the pros far outweigh the cons of this delightful audiobook. If you are searching for a good holiday road trip audiobook children and adults alike can enjoy, this is the one!

What are middle grade audiobooks are you listening to right now? How many have adult, as well as kid appeal? Does that matter to you?

Merry Christmas,

Alyssa

Stella by Starlight

Stella by Starlight 

By: Sharon M. Draper 

"If you are afraid, then those who foster hatred will win." 

The Story 

Stella lives in the segregated South; in Bumblebee, North Carolina, to be exact about it. Some stores she can go into.Some stores she can't. Some folks are right pleasant. Others are a lot less so. To Stella, it sort of evens out, and heck, the Klan hasn't bothered them for years. But one late night, later than she should ever be up, much less wandering around outside, Stella and her little brother see something they're never supposed to see, something that is the first flicker of change to come, unwelcome change by any stretch of the imagination. As Stella's community - her world - is upended,her family decides to fight. 

Story provided by Goodreads 

Strengths 

This book gave a great depiction of segregation in the South. It details how different the schools were, differences in medical care, food, and the fear of the KKK. 

Ultimately, I just really appreciated hearing about the black experience, and I think that is what makes this book special. 

This book  reminds me a great deal of the the 1977 Newbery winner, 

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor. 



For this reason, I think that it is a book worth reading and passing along to friends. 

Weaknesses 

I wasn't pleased with the ending. I know realistic fiction books are only supposed to showcase a small bit of a character's life, but it felt like it ended suddenly.

For instance when Dr. Packard's daughter falls into the pond and almost dies. Stella saves her, but the chapter ends. It doesn't describe what happens next. As a reader, I felt like there was a lot of tension built up with Dr. Packard, and I expected something big to occur, but nothing ever happened. 

It is possible that that author did it this way to portray the uncertainty and anxiety that members of the black community felt toward KKK members, but I felt like it needed something more to wrap up the loose ends. I would have loved to have seen an epilogue detailing Stella's journey and fight to become a writer & maybe even a showcase of the Civil Rights movement.  

I fell in love with this book, and wanted more. Can this be a series Ms. Draper, please? :) 



What did you think of this book? 

-Pamela

Circus Mirandus

Circus Mirandus 

By: Cassie Beasley 

The Story 

From School Library Journal

Micah Tuttle has been living with his Grandpa Ephraim since his parents died. The two are close; Grandpa Ephraim teaches Micah how to tie complicated knots and tells him fanciful tales about the magical Circus Mirandus and its many performers, including a powerful illusionist called the Lightbender. When Grandpa Ephraim becomes gravely ill, his sister, the strict Aunt Gertrudis, comes to take care of the household. She severely limits Micah's time with his sick grandfather, and the boy is distraught at the idea of losing the only important person in his life. In a stolen moment, Grandpa Ephraim surprises Micah by revealing that the Circus Mirandus is real, and that the Lightbender promised him a miracle when he was a child. Michah then begins to hope that his grandfather will get well. The Circus Mirandus arrives in town on the wind, and Micah, with the help of his classmate Jenny Mendoza, seeks out the Lightbender and tries to retrieve the miracle that Grandpa Ephraim has requested. During a whirlwind adventure in the Circus, Micah learns about his family and discovers that the miracle that Grandpa Ephraim asked for might not be the one that Micah had in mind. 

Strengths 

I loved the relationship between Micah and his grandfather. I was also really impressed by the world building. It in itself  & the circus is like magic. After reading this book, I can easily see why it was  star reviewed and it was on many Newbery watch lists.  It reminds me of the magic of reading the Polar Express as a child. It makes you want to believe in magic and in the impossible.

Weaknesses 

When the book ended, there were a lot of loose ends. I am told, however that there will be another book to tie up the loose ends that were left.  I can't wait to read the sequel!




Update: I waited to write this review. After waiting so long, my thoughts on this book have changed. When I first read it, I was really blown away by the world building and the circus. Normally, I hate books about grief and dying, but I liked the theme of letting go. I am really disappointed to say that I have completely forgotten most of the plot. After you finish the book, I think the magic quickly fades. I do think it is still worth reading though! I would recommend it to readers who like fantasy circus stories.

What did you think of this book? 

Pamela

Counting by 7s by Holly Sloan

It is Mark Twain Nominee Monday! 

Here is the Nominee & the discussion questions of the week: 

Counting by 7's 

By: Holly Sloan 

The Story 

Willow Chance is a twelve-year-old genius, obsessed with nature and diagnosing medical conditions, who finds it comforting to count by 7s. It has never been easy for her to connect with anyone other than her adoptive parents, but that hasn’t kept her from leading a quietly happy life . . . until now.
 
Suddenly Willow’s world is tragically changed when her parents both die in a car crash, leaving her alone. Told from four different viewpoints, Willow must overcome her grief and find a new family. 

Also, check out this great book trailer!

My Thoughts 

This reminded me a lot of the books Wonder and Out of My Mind. Since it exhibits many of the same qualities of these books, I think that is why my tweens are flocking to it.

It is a very popular one at my library, but I have to admit, I had some trouble with this one. I just did not feel like it was realistic at all. I don't want to give too much away, but I wish the author made the character go through more of a struggle. I just felt like everything worked out too perfectly, but maybe after all the great reviews I read on this I expected too much & it didn't even out!



Please don't get me wrong though, I do think that there are some worth while themes in the book that are important. For instance, I think a lot of tweens enjoy this book because it hits on the aspect of not fitting in. It also touches on how everyone tries to put people into categories and giving them labels.




 The majority of this book is how the characters deal with these struggles. I think this is something that many of our tweens deal with on a daily basis. In this aspect, I do feel like this makes this book a worth while read for this age group. I think it is especially important to us as educators to use this book in our discussions to try & open door to discuss some of these feeling and hardships.

Discussion Questions 

What makes Willow different?

Is Dell a good counselor? Why does he take interest in Willow?

Pattie does not have much to offer Willow. Why does she agree to take Willow in? Is she the right person to take care of Willow?

After the social worker does the house check, Patti says: “What we expect rarely occurs; what we don’t expect is what happens.” What does she mean by this? Is this true?

Why did they think Willow cheated on her test? Could Dell have changed their mind? Why didn’t he? Why didn’t Willow tell her parents?

How does gardening & running help Willow heal?

Mai believes that her acorn is lucky & her mom, Patti, believes that wearing red finger nail polish is lucky. Do you think that it was luck that changed their situation around? Does luck exist or is it what you make of your situation?

How does Willow change the people around her? How does Willow change throughout the course of the book? How does she address her grief throughout the book?

What is significant about the number 7 in the book?

Willow compares her life to a plant. How is her life like a plant? Willow tries to not set down roots. What does this mean? Does end up doing so anyway?

Willow says that giving in is different than giving up. What does she mean by this? Is this true? Willow also says it is impossible to put people in categories (which Dells does) is this true?

Books like this one 

Until next time,

Pamela