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READING STYLE GUIDE

...and then there was Annabelle

7/30/2016

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Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk

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Entering Wolf Hollow feels like viewing a vintage photograph: warm, evocative, and reassuring. In 1943, three generations are cozily tucked into a rural home.  Annabelle and her younger brothers live within the security of hard-working parents, loving grandparents and postmistress Aunt Lily.
​The beautiful vignettes Wolk paints underscore this tranquil setting.
"The old barn taught me one of the most important lessons I was ever to learn: that the extraordinary can live in the simplest things...
I loved the barn in fall, especially, when I'd often find my father there, mending wagon wheels, oiling the joints of wagon parts, and sometimes- as on that November day- napping in the hayloft, snoring softly in the dim, blue light."
 "It was dark when we reached the beet field, but we worked by the truck's headlamps and had enough beets for supper in no time at all...
They didn't look like much, those beets. Tough skins clotted with dirt, hairy with fine roots, hard as stones. But inside were sweet rubies, eager to be warmed into softness.
I longed for that order of things."
Eleven year old Annabelle is an observant and thoughtful girl. Within the Hollow, she is aware of elements which her young mind seeks to make sense of:  the dichotomy between what her Aunt Lily says and what Annabelle observes, the puzzle of the often mysterious Toby, and the perception of good and evil.
Her innocence is shattered with the arrival of Betty Glengarry, the dark and troubled granddaughter of neighboring family friends. ​ ​Annabelle experiences cruelty and injustice firsthand. With wisdom, often fair beyond her years, she decides what she can and should do.
     "...I learned that what I said and what I did mattered.
      So much sometimes, that I wasn't sure I wanted such a burden.
​      But I took it anyway, and I carried it as best I could."
This is a story compassion, redemption, and understanding in the face of blind ignorance, prejudice, and deceit.
While the language and story often seem deceptively simple, it is after all, a story told through the eyes of an eleven-year-old girl, the concepts are deep and  thought-provoking.
Wolves and hollows, pain and understanding are woven together in this compelling story.  One that I will not soon forget.
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Fasten your seatbelts...

7/25/2016

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The Secret Sea by Barry Lyga

Ten years ago (Has it really been ten years?)  I read The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl and knew that I had discovered an author who perfectly captured the angst of a geeky young comic book nerd.  My heart still aches when I think of that painful moment at the comic book convention.  I will never ever forget it.
Then there was the smug and sarcastic voice of Kyle Camden, the boy with superpowers in the Archvillian series. Loved the voice. Loved the series.
Lyga's I Hunt Killers series creeped me out. Totally. Creeped. Me. Out.
​
The Secret Sea felt like a new direction for Lyga. Rather than focus on one main character who moves and interacts within his (most of his main characters are male) world, his latest book takes a different approach.
Here three friends move beyond the constructs of "reality" and into a brave new world.  The world-building is an essential story element and combines with the characters to give the story added dynamism.
​Thanks Barry for the a ride on the wave.
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How much can an author pack into one book? In the case of Barry Lyga's The Secret Sea it is a lot. A whole lot.
Meet twelve-going-on-thirteen-year-old Zak Killian and his friends, Khalid Shamoon and Moira O'Grady. Three young kids living in New York, who in the space of a few short days encounter:  voices from another world;  the spirit of a deceased twin;  a flooded subway station;  an alternative universe "Universes in superposition...in a different dimensional space than ours, but otherwise.. nearly identical";  a boat chase scene that can compete with any James Bond movie;  a gristly fight in a women's prison cell;  the Secret Sea"...a sort of quantum foam, with our two universes bobbing in it...";  wild science "Any sufficiently advance technology ...indistinguishable from magic.";  the destruction of the twin towers;  and a gripping, pulsating fight with a ghost that will leave you gasping for air,
​Ultimately the book speaks to the power of friendship, the pain of grief, and a search of understanding and forgiveness.

Betty Davis warning holds true here. Every time I picked up The Secret Sea, I reminded myself to fasten my seatbelt. Reading this book is one wild ride.
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Me and My Flashlight

7/20/2016

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Goodnight Bob
​by Ann Hassett and John Hassett

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I love flashlights. 
The world looks different when viewed through this concentrated beam of light. The unknown is revealed and shadows are dispelled.
​My summer camping trip included several nighttime adventures and excursions with my powerful little battery-operated beacon.

A favorite childhood activity for the grandchildren involved taking "treasure hunts" around the house with a flashlight. They loved discovering and uncovering things which escaped their notice during daylight.
This brings us to Bob: a boy with a flashlight.
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From the vantage point of his window, Bob can see the moon, wishing him a good night.  Bedcovers clutched tightly between his fingers and the tiny dots for eyes inform us that Bob is not entirely sure that this will indeed be a good night.
However, he has his own special companion to help banish his fears. Not a teddy bear, a favorite book, nor a special blanket. It's a flashlight. 
Bob spies an ominous-looking pair of eyes.  What could it be? His flashlight reveals the friendly face of his pet goldfish. With each page turn, a new set of eyes makes an appearance. Readers will enjoy discovering with Bob and his flashlight the face belonging to each pair of glowing eyes. The conclusion offers a very surprising set of eyes, and then finishes with a tender reassurance.
Here's an added bonus. The book was written by flashlight on a dark night. Husband and wife team created this little charmer while in bed with a flashlight.  That has got to be the best place ever to create a story about nighttime fears.

​Hurray for Bob and his trusty flashlight!

Companion Books

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Flashlight
​by Lizi Boyd

This wordless picture book brilliantly illuminates a walk through the woods at night. The graphics are stunning!
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Whoo's There? A Bedtime Shadow Book
by Heather Zschock & illustrated by Martha Day Zschock

This activity book invites children to use a small penlight (not included) to cast shadows through the windows of the book and discover friendly nocturnal animals.
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English in My Cabeza

7/13/2016

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Juana & Lucas by Juana Medina

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I have fallen truly deeply madly in love with Juana & Lucas. The concept is intriguing.  Characters are charming. Illustrations integrate seemlessly with the story. Design of text, individual pages, and total layout is eye-catching and make the entire book a joy for early readers.  Spanish words and phrases flow naturally within the context of the book. This is an innovative template for youngsters learning about another language and culture. What a terrific way to hook readers.
Medina's foray into books for early learners is so clever, so charming. It improves with each reading.

​Meet Juana, the spunky little girl from Bogota, Columbia.
She loves her beautiful city.  
​She loves her dog Lucas.
She loves her family.
​She loves her best friend Julia.
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Juana loves to read.
She also loves to draw. One of her favorite subjects to draw is the amazing character Astroman. 
Her dream is to visit Spaceland, home of Astroman.
There is only un problema.
First she must learn to speak the English.
This could be a gran problema.
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​A warm abrazo to Juan Medina
Gracias for this enchanting book.

Companion Books

The Sock Thief by Ana Crespo and Nana Gonzalez
Follow the Felipe through his neighborhood in Brazil as he searches for a soccer ball. 
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One Big Salad​ by Juana Medina
Medina uses her considerable design talents to creating a mouth-watering visual treat.
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Enmagick!

7/11/2016

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The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill


​Before we get started, can we just pause for a moment and admire the case of this gorgeous book? 
Here it is on my bookshelf. Note the spine. Don't you just love the tiny dragon image? Then there's the richly detailed cover art, which perfectly captures the magic of the story and invites readers inside.
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​Ready? Now prepare to take an astounding adventure.
​Step with me into the pages of The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill.

Magic.
Barnhill creates magic.
"In Which a Story is Told" introduces readers to the storyteller, who spins a tale to a fretful child. "Of course this is a true story. Haven't you been listening?"
It all begins when the witch rescues an infant, accidentally feeding her moonlight which enmagicks the baby. The child's growing powers of magic have a profound effect on the world.
The ensuing narrative consists of intricately interwoven threads following a witch, a bereft mother, a monster, a tiny dragon, a young man on a mission, the enigmatic leader of the Sisters of the Star, and a girl named Luna.
Each travels a path which eventually leads to the forest where their fortunes come together in a most dramatic way.
The voice, or rather distinctive voices throughout the narrative are captivating.
Consider these examples:
Xan, the witch
      "Sorrow is dangerous. Or, at least, it was. I can't remember why, now. I think we both became accustomed to not                  remembering things. We just let things get...foggy."
Glerk, the monster,
     "As the Poet says, 'Oh, ever changéd Earth -'"
Fyrian, a tiny dragon
     "I love foolish things. And clever things. I love all the things."
Antain, the nephew
     "What if we are wrong about the Witch?"
Sister Ignatia, of The Sisters of the Star
     "Oh, sweet Antain! There is no cure for sorrow."
Madwoman of the Tower
     She is here, in the heart of the robin.
     She is here, in the heart of the crane.
     She is here, she is here, she is here, in the hearts of a falcon and a kingfisher and a swan.

The prose shines with Barnhill's sparkling writing. Examples of her signature style include the use of a conversation tone "Moonlight is magic. Ask anyone you like", her clever turn-of-phrase "It was the first lie she ever told. Even though her words were true" and a concluding statement followed by a contradiction "They thought she was gone forever. They were wrong, of course."

Story construction brilliantly leads the reader through the multiple story lines and results in a conclusion which is at times surprising, always logical, and ultimately satisfying.
Readers will be enmagicked.
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How many feelings can one heart hold?
Infinite, Luna thought. The way the universe is infinite. It is light and dark and endless motion; it is space and time, and space within space, and time within time. And she knew: there is no limit to wha the heart can carry."

Companion Books

All of Barnhill's books. Read them all. Each is a treasure.
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An ugly princess, a stable boy, & the very last dragon.
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A bully, disappearing children, & secrets discovered.
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Speaking stones, a friendly wolf, & a spoiled young king.
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My History Too

7/11/2016

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Towers Falling by Jewell Parker Rhodes

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"Where were you when the Twin Towers fell?"
​
​Most adults remember vividly where they were and what they were doing when they learned that terrorists hijacked planes, targeting and destroying the World Trade Center. Americans have a visceral response, remembering clearly the events of those dismal days in September 2001 and their personal connection to the tragedy. This event is firmly rooted into the history of the US.
As she brilliantly did with her award-winning book Ninth Ward, Jewell Parker Rhodes chooses to write about this episode in our country's history from a child's point of view. In this case, the child is a young girl born after September 2001. Young Déja "I'm ten, eleven next year" lives with more than her share of heartache: the family is homeless and currently residing in a shelter, she must attend a different school, and her father is no longer the man that she knew and loved.
When she arrives at her new school in Brooklyn she glimpses Manhattan from the classroom window. The view reveals a sight not familiar to her. Her perceptions of the world continue to expand as her teacher along with classmates Ben and Sabeen open her eyes to events of American's recent past.
"Sometimes it isn't about what you do, it's about what you see."
​

Parker tenderly takes young readers by the hand, as they follow Déja on her journey of self-discovery, learning what it means to be a part of a larger community. Young Déja slowly grasps the ways in which the past has shaped her present. She explores her connection to family, community, country, and history.
With the help of her friends and family, Déja begins to comprehend exactly what happened on that fateful September day and its long-reaching implications.
"America is my history. My story."

"I don't know how yet - but the towers falling is my history too. My friend, Ben, showed me. My friend Sabeen, shared hurt. Sadness. Sadness... History is about feelings, too. I'm happy I'm American. But sometimes American history isn't happy."


​Descriptions of the fall of the towers, while not overly graphic, are authentic and painful.
"The building whined. Inside it felt like there was an earthquake shaking the foundation, the walls, windows. and ceiling."
​
"Did you know, Deja, stretching steel shrieks, clangs as joints shift? Something told me the tower was dying."
Reading this book is not easy. I wept as I read. I mourned and ached. In spite of the subject matter the overall tone of Towers Falling remains hopeful and healing and serves as an excellent introduction to a period of history unfamiliar to many young readers. Along with time to read and absorb the message of this book, plan on time for plenty of discussion during and after reading.
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A word about the cover: Instantly the eye is drawn to the Freedom Tower dominating the skyline. Look at the image below this tower and note the word "falling" within ghosts of the Twin Towers.

My original impression was that I was looking at a reflection - but not so. This is an inverted image of the New York City skyline. Everything, while visually similar has shifted. With the falling of the towers, the city has been forever changed. The creation of One World Center does not replace what once was. It is a new cityscape,

Companion Books

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America is Under Attack: September 11, 2001: The Day the Towers Fell
by Don Brown
Nonfiction. A chronological account of September 11, written to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the tragedy. Line and wash illustrations on each page provide detail without sensationalizing.
Great informative source for young readers.
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Nine, Ten, A September 11 Story
by Nora Raleigh Baskin
Middle grade historical fiction follows the lives of Sergio in Brooklyn, Nadira in Ohio, Aimee in California, and Will in Pennsylvania and describes each of their lives on and leading up to September 11, 2001.
​
"Life doesn't work that way, even in the Magic Kingdom."
Another aside: Look at the cover art for each book. So much sky. So much blue.
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So Many Machetes

7/7/2016

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Machetes by Jason Reynolds

​Tragic news. Tragic headlines. What can be done? 
​I'm starting by reading more, reading widely, reading with open eyes and and open heart.
Read Jason Reynolds' searing poem Machetes, delivered at the Coretta Scott King Awards.
Watch his powerful delivery here.
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Some excellent books to read and further the discussion of racism, violence, and brutality. 

​What additional books should be added to this list?

​MACHETES
(written for and read during Coretta Scott King Honor acceptance speech, 2016)
if you listen closely
you can hear the machetes
cutting the air
in half
connecting for half a second with something
breathing and growing
breathing and growing
before being chopped
down like sugar cane in a Louisiana field
yes there are machetes everywhere
the sound of them cutting the air
chop CHOP
chop CHOP
we try not
to bend in the wind
try not to bow or bow
try to wrap fingers around our own
saccharine souls
and brace ourselves
for the
chop CHOP
chop CHOP
the machetes
cutting the air in half
coming for us
seems like folks like us be best
when we broken open
when we melted down
when we easier to digest
if you listen closely
you can hear the machetes
cutting the ears off
us
chop CHOP
chop CHOP
cold steel against our cheeks
be black sheep siblings
be black boy pillows
be
chop CHOP
chop CHOP
ears lopped off
leaving our drums in the dirt
like we ever needed ears
to hear God
like we ever needed ears to hear
the machetes
cutting the air
in half
the machetes
cutting the eyes out
us
retinas ripped
light left as a stain on the angry end of a blade
life in black and white blur
like we ever needed eyes to see red
to see gold
to see sunshine laughing yellow
to see those machetes
cutting the air
in half
chop CHOP
chop CHOP
those machetes
cutting us
in half
chop CHOP
dropping us down
to a manageable size
like gigantism be the only reason we giants
what you gon do with this ten foot fire in my belly?
what you gon do with tidal wave under my tongue?
aint nobody ever told you we always find our legs?
if you listen closely
you can hear the machetes
cutting the air
in half
chop CHOP
and if you listen even closer
you can hear
in the sliver of silence
between those chops
the clapping
clap CLAP
clap CLAP
the clapping of yester-generation’s
freedom songs
protest warriors
unpopular opinions
uncomfortable confrontation
unhinging truth
clap CLAP
and this generation’s
freedom songs
protest warriors
unpopular opinions
uncomfortable confrontation
unhinging truth
hashtag
clap CLAP
clap CLAP
the clapping of kids in the street
and grandmas at church
the clapping of aunties watching
their nieces lead the march now
the clapping of new connections
new routes
new alleyways
new allies
new chances
new dances
at house parties
because we’ve never needed
eyes ears or legs
to boogie because boogie
be our heartbeat
and if you listen closely
you can hear our heartbeat
in syncopation with that
clap CLAP
clap CLAP
our laughter
clap CLAP
our singing
clap CLAP
our dancing
clap CLAP
our fighting
clap CLAP
our praying
clap CLAP
our crying
clap CLAP
or trying to breathe and grow
in the midst of all this
chopping
yes there are machetes everywhere
and if you look closely
really closely
closer than closely
you can see the machine
turning its wheels
churning out those machetes
this machine
distant yet all around
like sky
faceless
and cold
and perfect for sharpening steel
because it has no finger to prick
it has never felt the sting of skin rolling back
because it doesn’t have skin
and the excuses of history keep its conveyor belt
rolling
rolling out
machete after machete after machete to
to cut the air
of so many of us
in half
no this machine
it does not feel
but it does speak
it says
get to work
chop chop

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YOUNG DREAMERS
This 2013 essay from Christopher Myers is well-worth rereading.
"Literature is a place for imagination and intellect, for stretching the boundaries of our own narrow lives, for contextualizing the facts of our nonfictions within constellations of understanding that we would not be able to experience from the ground, for bringing our dreams and fictions into detail, clarity, and focus."
​"I want the children who see my books to see an encounter with the other as an opportunity, not a threat."
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How Low Can You Go?

7/5/2016

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Lowriders to the Center of the Earth
​by Cathy Camper & Raul Gonzalez III

This mélange of Latino culture, Aztec mythology and basic geology takes readers on an action-packed ride in Lupe's meticulously-detailed low-riding classic Impala. Lupe Impala and her sidekicks Elirio Malaria and El Chavo Flapjack Octopus set off to find their beloved cat Genie. Their search takes them deep inside the earth where they encounter Mictlantecuhhli, fierce Aztec god of the underworld. The story concludes with an extravagant Dia de los Muertos celebration. That is one wild ride!
Cathy Camper peppers this continuation of the Lowriders saga with an abundance of fascinating details. The low-rider culture is super-cool and use of Spanish catchphrases gives the dialog a sparkle. I loved the puns - the ridiculously crazy puns - in Spanish, English, and an audacious Spanish-English mix. "You've gato be kitten me!"
A glossary of Spanish idioms, Aztec myths, and geological terms up the book's awesome factor.
Learn more in this interview with the author.
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Now let's move on to an exploration of Raul the Third and his signature art, influenced by his childhood years in Mexico and El Paso, Texas.
Line drawings in red, black, and blue pen are heavily detailed. The expressive style often bursts outside the boundaries of rigid panels and complements the storyline. Note: Loved the expanded drawing explaining the workings of a car swamp cooler.
​With epic fight scenes and plenty of inside humor, Gonzalez packs a punch in every page.
​Learn more about the illustrator here.
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Companion Books

Leo Geo and His Miraculous Journey Through the Center of the Earth
​by Jon Chad
First thing that you notice is the shape of the book. The very long and skinny shape sticks out on a bookshelf.  But it’s the brilliant way that geology is presented to young readers with smart slick text and art that will keep young readers wanting to know more.
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Lowriders in Space
by Cathy Camper and Raul the Third
Meet Lupe Impala, Elirio, and Flappy and discover how they acquired her classic ranfla.
This book is the one that started the saga. Whether you read this before or after Lowriders to the Center of the Earth, you won't want to miss out on any of the back-story and inside jokes. 
​​This book is on the master list for the 2016-2017 Texas Bluebonnet Award.
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    Barbara Moon

    I like talking about books and  interesting ideas. I like thinking about how books affect my life. Not particularly interested in giving out stars or in rating books. 

    Audio Publishers Association
    2013, - present  Audies judge 
    American Library Association Book Awards and Lists 
    ​2017 YALSA Award Nominating Committee
    2016 Excellence in Nonfiction 
    2014 Margaret Edwards Award
    2012 Odyssey Awards.  
    2009, 2010, 2011 Great Graphic Novels for Teens.

    Professional Reader
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