Blog Archives

Marvin Gardens

1/31/2017

Me and Marvin Gardens by Amy Sarig King

"There were people who cared and people who didn't. I was the kind of person who cared...but sometimes I cared too much, if there was such a thing."

Amy Sarig King AKA A.S.King, the author of award-winning books for young adults, makes her foray into the world of books for middle grade readers with Me and Marvin Gardens.
It's a story of land and family, history and pride. But it's also a story of fitting in verses standing alone. It's story of science and environment and believe it or not, the board game Monopoly.

With her considerable storytelling skills King weaves all of these elements together in an engrossing tale, told by eleven-year-old Obe Devlin. He has always been a loner, spending hours at Devlin Creek, picking up trash. One day he encounters an animal never seen before. Obe is fascinated and escapes to the creek whenever possible, spending time with this strange creature. Eventually long absences come to the attention of his family, a classmate, and school personnel. How long can Obe keep his secret? What is the cost of revealing his discovery? What is the cost of remaining silent? So much to consider.
King surprised me. I thought that this story was headed toward a predictable conclusion. I was wrong. The ending is not what I expected. Not at all. However, the outcome is very satisfying.
A thoughtful exploration of social issues

Companion Books:
Environmental Issues in Middle Grade Fiction

The White Giraffe by Lauren St John

Scat by Carl Hiaasen

Poached by Stuart Gibbs

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Munchkinland

1/27/2017

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Short by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Meet Julia Marks. She's the student who is always positioned in the front for school class photos. She's selected last on the basketball team. She can crawl through the dog door when accidentally locked outside of her house.
That's right. Julia is vertically challenged.
And now her precious dog Ramon, the family pet for the past five years, is dead. Julia acutely feels this loss.
The school year has come to an end and her two best friends will away for most of the summer.
Summer vacation is not looking too promising for Julia.

Her mother comes up with a plan: Julia and her younger brother Randy are to perform in a local production of The Wizard of Oz.
Julia is not sure about this. Not sure at all. However her size makes her an ideal candidate to be a cast member: a munchkin, of course.
Julia faces her fears of singing and dancing in public and even dares to venture into the air, high above the stage.
She learns more about others, life, and herself; all in the course of one short summer. Her story is one of humor and heart.

Holly Goldberg Sloan has created another tender tale of discovery and self acceptance. Warning: you will need tissues when reading the final chapter.

The Wisdom of Julia:
Check out some of her astute observations

Fame "One thing I've decided is that life is just one big, long struggle to find applause. Even when people die, they are hoping someone writes a list of accomplishments about them."
Older Brothers "Tim doesn't do more than shrug, but that's because he's at what my parents say is 'the difficult age.' I'm not sure if it's difficult for him, or for us because we have to live with him. My mom says I'm getting valuable experience about men by having two brothers."
True Friendship "I decide that Olive believes in me. I think showing up and eating the ice cream was her way to be heard. Maybe you don't have to speak to be heard. Because I don't remember silence being so loud before."
Issues with Math "Numbers are fuzzy to me. They come and they go. Once you're lost in math, it's better to just give your mind a break from numbers, since they can pile up like paper cups in the recycling container in the lunchroom."
It's All in How You Look at It "Maybe the key is that Big Ideas are Little Ideas but told in Big Ways?"
Generosity "My dad once said that giving away something you don't want isn't generous. Giving away something you do want is."
Falling in Love "I think the falling part is right. It's not climbing in love. Or even sitting or standing or stepping in love. No. Falling."
Butterflies in the Stomach "How did this saying get started? Did it once really happen? Maybe a person swallowed a handful of very small butterflies that were alive."
Gratitude "'Thanks, Mom. Thanks for making me try out for this play.' I think I might just have made being a mother totally worthwhile for her. I will try to never forget her face. It's too bad I don't have a cell phone, because I could have taken a picture and that would have been great for my scrapbook. Mom's got tears in her eyes and she's smiling. It's an amazing look. I have to remember how powerful it can be to say thank you."
Things Not Seen "Shawn Barr says that there are always two things happening in any situation: What we see, and what we don't see. But what we don't see we can feel- if we are paying attention."
Saying Goodbye "I try not to cry, because my nickname is Baby but I'm not a baby. I say in a very small voice. 'I don't want it to end. Why does it have to end?'"

Companion books:
Spotlighting middle grade forays into the world of performing arts.

Better Nate Than Ever by Tim Federle

Summerlost by Ally Condie

Surviving the Applewhites by Stephanie S. Tolan

The Wednesday Wars by Gary B. Schmidt

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Complications

1/18/2017

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Under Rose-Tainted Skies by Louise Gornall

"You have all these fears, your body endures all this pain and heartache, but you keep going. I think that's really brave."

Life is anything but rosy for Norah Dean. Louise Gornall paints a portrait of a teen suffering with a mental illness which is both heart-wrenching and acerbic.
Full disclosure. In this book:

No one dies
No one discontinues treatment
No one completely recovers

Under Rose-Tainted Skies is painfully realistic:
Life goes on. Illness goes on. Coping goes on. The reality is that Norah Dean's life is a struggle. Each moment of each day she bravely fights to live an authentic life as a person with agoraphobia and OCD. Readers will empathize with her and cheer for her as she constantly confronts hundreds of tiny battles.
With regards to the ending, you'll get no spoilers from me. Starting with Chapter 35, Gornall weaves together all details (which initially appear to be extraneous) to create a climax that left me breathless, frantically reading to find out what would happen.

What a story. What a life. What a book.

Life was never this complicated before life got involved

"Why can't I think the way normal people do?" Norah asks herself. Her head is filled with masses of detailed information which she must constantly juggle before doing anything. The contortions her brain must go through to process information and determine a course of action is exhausting. Below are some examples of the way that Norah thinks.

"This is probably dumb, but no one remembers Charles Darwin as the guy who suffered from panic attacks. Ludwig van Beethoven isn't the bipolar composer, he's the composer who was bipolar."

"The beyond-your-control speech is my least favorite of all the pep talks...It's the hardest one to corrupt. It's immortal, the adamantium of arguments."

"Another new/scary/terrifying thing to add to my list. Before long, I'm going to need a wheelbarrow to lug this list around."

"Everything seems so complicated, like a Rubic's Cube with twenty-six sides. No matter how much my mind turns it over, my explanations won't make any sense. It's too much; there are too many facts."

"It would be so easy to tighten the gap between us and press my mouth against his.
Except: petri dishes, full of little alien life forms that live on the human tongue."

"...blackbird jumping around on my windowsill.
Your mind adapts to what worse is. Suddenly, that thing that seemed so terrifying at first is dwarfed by the next challenge that comes your way. but you adapt again and again and again..."

Companion Books

Three excellent YA novels chronicling teen struggles with mental illness.

The Memory of Light
by Francisco X Stork

One Thing Stolen
by Beth Kephart

Challenger Deep
by Neal Shusterman

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Family is Family

1/16/2017

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Still a Family by Brenda Reeves Sturgis ill by Jo-Shin Lee

Sometimes a book comes along that touches the heart in a special way. One such book is Still a Family by Brenda Reeves Sturgis with illustrations by Jo-Shin Lee, a sensitive portrayal of homelessness as viewed by a child.

A close-knit family: father, mother, daughter and her doll find themselves in a difficult situation. They are homeless. Mother and daughter are able to find sanctuary in a shelter for women and children, while dad must reside in a separate shelter for men.
Despite obstacles this family finds ways to remain close and connected. They strengthen bonds of love by spending time together in the local park, creating a private family space under a tarp, and finding creative ways to celebrate important occasions. This young girl has learned to feel safe and cared for in spite of the family's circumstances. She knows that they are still a family.

Jo-Shin Lee's illustrations take a duel perspective. She beautifully and simply captures images of the family and contrasts them with child's perceptions of her family life.
A terrific book to share with children who are homeless. An important book to share with all young readers, helping them to understand the struggles and courage of the displaced.
Thank you Brenda for this gentle and hopeful introduction to the plight of the homeless.
Back matter includes an author's note and additional resources to help children understand and serve the homeless.
How I love this little gem.

Companion Books

Two middlde grade books which feature children who are homeless. Both make excellent selections to read aloud and discuss.

Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate

Towers Falling by Jewell Parker Rhodes

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Spy on History: Follow the Clues

1/10/2017

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Spy on History: Mary Bowser and the Civil War Spy Ring
by Enigma Alberti and Tony Cliff

When is a book more than a great story? When the reader becomes a participant in a mystery: searching for clues located in the text, studying the diagrams and illustrations, using a special red acetate overlay (included), and cipher wheels (included) to discover secret information. Even the introduction on the first page can provide a tip to solving the puzzle.
Mary Bowser and the Civil War Spy Ring is a thrilling adventure based on the real life experiences of Mary Bowser, a courageous African American free woman who posed as a slave in the home of Confederate President Jefferson Davis. At great personal risk, she provided valuable information to the Union leaders.
The story is filled with heart-stopping action and puzzles to solve. In addition to innovative page design with intriguing use of text size and placement, Tony Cliff's illustrations help to bring the story to life with detailed art which enhances the drama and provides additional clues.

This innovative concept makes reading a participatory experience that can be savored by independent readers, but would also make a terrific shared book experience. Partners can assist one another in locating details which provide key evidence as well as helping to decode unfamiliar text.
The text is further enriched with back matter which includes Bibliographic Information, a Historical Note, a Bibliography and (for those who want to confirm their findings) a sealed envelope with information on how the mystery may be solved.
What an amazing story of an incredible woman. What an imaginative way to learn about history. What a fantastic way to use a variety of skills. Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah! Three cheers for Spy on History.
More books in the series please.

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Courageous Firsts

1/4/2017

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The first step into the unknown is a scary proposition. It certainly is true for a tiny blue bird as well as a Cuban-Jewish immigrant, the main characters featured in two very different books: one an almost wordless picture book and the other a novelization of a traumatic childhood experience. Both consider overcoming fear and venturing into the unknown. They are stories of courage and hope.

Lucky Broken Girl by Ruth Behar

I've forgotten how to be a regular kid. I don't know what it's like to be free to be able to walk to school and play outside. I'm like a turtle now, stuck in its shell."

Ruthie Mizrahi and her family left their home in Cuba for a new life in Queens, New York. Already struggling to learn a new language and understand a different culture, Ruthie is devastated when a car accident leaves her in a body cast. Here world shrinks to the life inside her bedroom. She no longer attends public school or plays sidewalk hopscotch.
Slowly she discovers a different world. She finds joy in creative expression when a neighbor introduces her to painting and her father gives her a typewriter.
Over time she confronts her ultimate challenges: learning to forgive those responsible for the car accident, and having the courage to trust her legs to support her as she learns to walk again.
Lucky Broken Girl, Ruth Behar's tale of a young immigrant who perseveres and overcomes tremendous obstacles is a personal account filled with heartbreak and hope.

Nope by Drew Sheneman

A fledgling contemplates leaving the safety of the nest and attempting to fly. Drew Sheneman's Nope extracts multiple layers of meaning with cleverly designed pages featuring cinematically arranged panel sequences, a variety of visual points-of-view, strategically placed layouts, and expressive body language. Text is kept to the bare minimum, allowing the colorful images to speak for themselves.
Conclusion: sometimes a daunting task requires just a little nudge in the right direction.

NEIN! ¡NO! NYET!

"I have to admit, the world can be a frightening place sometimes."

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Marvin Gardens

Me and Marvin Gardens by Amy Sarig King

Companion Books:
Environmental Issues in Middle Grade Fiction

Munchkinland

Short by Holly Goldberg Sloan

The Wisdom of Julia:
Check out some of her astute observations

Companion books:
Spotlighting middle grade forays into the world of performing arts.

Complications

Under Rose-Tainted Skies by Louise Gornall

Life was never this complicated before life got involved

Companion Books

Family is Family

Still a Family by Brenda Reeves Sturgis ill by Jo-Shin Lee

Companion Books

Spy on History: Follow the Clues

Spy on History: Mary Bowser and the Civil War Spy Ring
by Enigma Alberti and Tony Cliff

Courageous Firsts

Lucky Broken Girl by Ruth Behar

Nope by Drew Sheneman

Category

Archives

Barbara Moon

Marvin Gardens

Me and Marvin Gardens by Amy Sarig King

Companion Books:Environmental Issues in Middle Grade Fiction

Munchkinland

Short by Holly Goldberg Sloan

The Wisdom of Julia:Check out some of her astute observations

Companion books: Spotlighting middle grade forays into the world of performing arts.

Complications

Under Rose-Tainted Skies by Louise Gornall

Life was never this complicated before life got involved

Companion Books

Family is Family

Still a Family by Brenda Reeves Sturgis ill by Jo-Shin Lee

Companion Books

Spy on History: Follow the Clues

Spy on History: Mary Bowser and the Civil War Spy Ringby Enigma Alberti and Tony Cliff

Courageous Firsts

Lucky Broken Girl by Ruth Behar

Nope by Drew Sheneman

Category

Archives

Barbara Moon

Companion Books:
Environmental Issues in Middle Grade Fiction

The Wisdom of Julia:
Check out some of her astute observations

Companion books:
Spotlighting middle grade forays into the world of performing arts.

Spy on History: Mary Bowser and the Civil War Spy Ring
by Enigma Alberti and Tony Cliff