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READING STYLE GUIDE

Lucha Libre

12/26/2016

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Maximilian: The Lucha Libre Club by Xavier Garza

Welcome to the world of lucha libre, a high intensity freestyle form of wrestling. This entertaining sport, originating in Mexico, differs significantly from Greco-Roman wrestling. The competition involves a series of rapid holds and includes "high flying" maneuvers. Individual competitors, known as luchadores, wear distinctive colorful masks.
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"The spirit of lucha libre is the force that drives mere mortals to do incredible feats in the ring"

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With the Bilingual Lucha Libre Thriller series Garza brings the excitement of lucha libre to middle grade readers. 
Meet Maximilian, a young man living in a strong lucha libra family culture. Max's uncle is The Guardian Angel, a superstar luchadore. However fighting is not limited to luchadores. In one of the funniest scenes in the book, his aunts get into a heated disagreement at the hospital maternity ward, arguing as to whether the baby will be a boy or a girl. Sparring both in and out of the ring is in this family's blood.
​Max
seems destined to carry on the family tradition. He joins a secret club for relatives of luchadores and wrestles with the possibility of becoming the next Guardian Angel.
The series will appeal to young readers. It is packed with intense fight scenes, humor, and plenty of middle grade angst (Max has girlfriend issues).
But here's the bonus: the book is bilingual, with the text alternating between English on even-numbered pages and Spanish on odd-numbered pages. These books can be enjoyed by those who are fluent in either language as well as those learning a second language.
​Maximilian and The Lucha Libra Club is the declared the winner!

Companion Books

Want to read more about Lucha Libre?   Garza has got this covered.
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Maximilian & the Mystery of the Guardian Angel
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Maximilian & the Bingo Rematch​
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Lucha Libre: The Man in the Silver Mask
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The Great and Mighty Nikko
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Life, Liberty, & the Pursuit of Happiness

12/19/2016

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In the Shadow of Liberty: The Hidden History of Slavery, Four Presidents, and Five Black Lives by Kenneth C Davis

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This study of slavery in American offers a unique perspective that is eye-opening. Davis traces the lives of five enslaved individuals, owned by U.S. presidents. Delving into existing documents, Davis has reconstructed the lives of Billy Lee, valet to George Washington; Ona Judge, seamstress for Martha Washington; Isaac Granger, servant to Thomas Jefferson; Paul Jennings, servant to James Madison, and Alfred Jackson, servant to Andrew Jackson. The disparity between the personal lives of these slave owners and each one's published writings and declarations on the topic of liberty is often jarring.
Timelines, interspersed throughout the narrative, follow the history of slavery in the United States and add context. The work is liberally enhanced with photos and copies of primary source documents.
This nonfiction account merits thoughtful consideration and a reexamination of painful chapters from America's past.

Freedom Over Me: 
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Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams Brought to Life
by Ashley Bryant

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Ashley Bryant has done it again! He has created another stunning compilation of images and verse. His latest picture book is inspired by a document recording the sale of eleven slaves. Bryant imagines each of the names on the bill of sale as an individual, giving voice to their lives through first person narrative, told with free verse and vibrant illustrations. Readers will view each as a unique and distinctive person, with talents, fears, hopes and dreams.
The stark contrast between the eleven portraits and pages detailing the bill of sale for these enslaved persons is graphically evident. The personal lives spill across the double spread with rich color and text. A monochromatic color scheme reinforces the cold calculation of viewing human as property. Bryant's work offers important insights into the toll that the practice of slavery takes on a society.

Companion Book

Jefferson's Sons: A Founding Father's Secret Children by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

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​Bradley's fictionalized account of the last twenty years of Thomas Jefferson's life, told through the voices of two of his sons Beverly, and Madison. Their mother, Sally Hennings, was one of Jefferson's slaves.  A neighbor Peter is the third voice in this compelling narrative.

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Healing the Wounded

12/10/2016

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Lotus and Feather by Ji-li- Jiang illustrations Julie Downing

​Ji-li Jiang's tender story introduces readers to Lotus, a lonely young girl who has lost her ability to speak. She lives with her grandfather near a lake, bereft of the animals that used to inhibit its waters and shores.
The tune Lotus plays with her reed whistle epitomizes her world.
"The sound drifted around the empty lake like a wisp of sorrow."
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One day she encounters a wounded bird, trapped in the marshes near her home. To her astonishment, it is an elegant crane. With great effort, Lotus manages to rescue the bird, carrying the heavy load home to her grandfather. With his healing skills and her constant vigilance, the crane, who becomes known as Feather, slowly recovers and becomes this girl's constant companion. Together, the two wounded souls find solace and eventually joy in their companionship. When tragedy strikes the village, it is Feather, together with Lotus and Grandpa, who are able to save the community.
​The day arrives when Feather must return to the wild. With a heavy heart, Lotus sets him free. Eventually Feather returns. Lotus' whistled tune now becomes a sound of joy.
"Her whistle, accompanied by the birds' singing, echoed far, far away in the golden sky."

​​​"If there is one goal I would like to achieve in my life, that is to bridge the gap between China and the western countries ... " Ji-li Jiang
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Watercolor is one of my favorite mediums. I love the fresh clean feel of pigment mixed with water. Julie Downing has a way with watercolor, bringing its beauty and spontaneity to this tale of a shy Chinese girl and a wounded crane. The cover art featuring entwined, circular images is particularly evocative and conveys the message of this heartfelt story.
I was surprised to learn that Downing used digital tools to develop the illustrations. It is a laborious process, requiring hours of painstaking work. She painted about 70 separate transparent layers and then digitally arranged and rearranged them to create the final product. Learn more about the art of creating her stunning images here.
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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.

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