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READING STYLE GUIDE

Justice is Served

1/13/2020

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​Ruth Objects: The Life of Ruth Bader Ginsburg (Big Words)
by Doreen Rappaport ill by Eric Velasquez

I got the idea that being a lawyer was a pretty good thing, because you could do something for your society.
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This generously-sized picture book celebrates the life and legacy of the second woman to serve as a Supreme Court Justice.
Using her trademark format, biographical narrative interspersed with appropriate quotations,  Rappaport recounts important events in the life of this influential woman. 
The U.S Constitution serves as a backdrop for the cover’s close-up portrait of the Associate Justice. Looking directly into the faces of readers, Ruth is clear-eyed and resolute. ​Opening pages feature Ruth as a young girl, her childhood filled with books and school activities, music and traditional Jewish observances.
Ruth loved her mother, who taught her to work hard, think for herself, and act independently.
My mother was the bravest and strongest person I have known.
The well-researched profile highlights Ginsburg’s scholarship, her efforts to overcome inequities she experienced firsthand and witnessed in the lives of others, her marriage and family, and the crowning achievement of her professional life: nomination to the Supreme Court. Rappaport supports the narrative with interesting details.
Velasquez' stunning images of Ruth begin with a tender girl and conclude with a joy-filled group portrait of the four women who have served or are currently serving as Supreme Court Justices. Intervening pages reveal Ginsburg's developing maturity and gradual aging.  Her innate girlish shyness is replaced with growing resolve, and and quiet confidence. Facial expressions and body language reflect her evolving self-assurance.
Rich back matter includes a timeline of events, author's note, illustrator's note, selected bibliography with additional resources, acknowledgements, and source notes. This excellent introduction to a remarkable individual, Ruth Objects: The Life of Ruth Bader Ginsburg is a worthy addition to classroom and children’s library collections.

Big Words: Picture Book Series

A variety of illustrators capture the individual’s essence in each of Rappaport’s beautifully presented biographies. The artist's style is appropriate to the subject. The realistic Frederick Douglass portrait is rendered in somber tones. Helen Keller is positioned in profile, rather than a direct full face. John Lennon’s glasses reveal the title in his left lens and a mirrored reflection of the words in his right lens. Each portrait could be a framed work of art. Discover this glorious series.
Captivating life stories. Memorable quotations. Gorgeous art. Stellar series.
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: February 11, 2020  Publisher: Disney-Hyperion   ISBN: 978-1484747179
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King Shaka: Zulu Legend by Luke W. Molver

11/4/2019

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King Shaka Zulu Legend by Luke W. Molver

He who beats but is not beaten
The voracious one of Senzangakhona
Whose spear is red, even on the handle.
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King Shaka: Zulu Legend continues the fascinating story of this historic figure, Introduced in Shaka Rising: A Legend of the Warrior Prince. As with the first volume, Molver sets the work of historical fiction within the context of a storyteller capturing the rapt attention of her audience as she continues her tale.
​This format emphasizes the importance of an oral language tradition, the epic "larger than life" stature of King Shaka, and mythological elements in this graphic novelization.
With his rise to power King Shaka united many of the local clans resulting in the Zulus becoming a dominant force throughout south Africa. Shaka maintained an elaborate system of governance which provided protection and assistance while allowing local chiefs some autonomy over their own lands.
​It was during his reign that white settlers arrived on Zulu soil. Attempts to establish relationships between the Zulu and the British were difficult and less than successful.
Molver paints Shaka as a conflicted man. The demands of ruling, fighting attacks from neighboring clans, negotiating the arrival of white settlers, receiving conflicting advice from those he trusted took their toll.
Finding the balance between the roles of conqueror and protector, between uprooting treachery and honoring family loyalty were part of King Shaka's ongoing governing challenges. His leadership strengths outweighed his missteps.
The role of women during King Shaka's reign is fascinating. While the culture was patriarchal, women held positions of prominence and influence. Shaka's mother, referred to as She Elephant and his aunt known as The Kingmaker exerted considerable influence. Shaka appointed women as amakhosikazi, overseers in outlying areas who served as proxies for the king.
Bold color palette and strong images which aggressively dominate each panel accentuate the life and times of this compelling historical figure.
His influence and place in Africa's history have earned him the honorific title of legend. King Shaka is now regarded as the founder of the Zulu nation.
Rich back matter enhances the work. Sections include: "The Story Continues," "How Accurate is This Story?" "The Historical Setting of King Shaka's Time," "The Challenges of Leadership," "Zulu Political Structures," "The Role of Women," "Siblings," "The Royal Homestead," "Zulu Culture and Beliefs," "Language and Naming," "Questions and Ideas for Going Deeper," "Glossary," and "Pronunciation Guide."
Learn about the Shaka’s early life and his rise to power in Shaka Rising: A Legend of the Warrior Prince.
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Copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: October 1, 2019 Publisher: Story Press Africa: 978-1946498939
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Women’s Business

9/24/2019

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Charlotte Brontë Before Jane Eyre
by Glynnis Fawkes introduction by Alison Bechdel

Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain and little, I am soulless and heartless? You think wrong! -
​I have as much soul as you, - and full as much heart!
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​Charlotte Brontë Before Jane Eyre is an insightful and well-researched portrait of young Charlotte Brontë.
Prologue features Brontë receiving a letter from England's Poet laureate Robert Southey. A series of panels focus on Charlotte and the emotions that play across her face as she reads his critique of her poetry. 
Literature cannot be the business of a woman's life.
This opening sets the stage for an illustrated chronology of the sixteen-year struggle for Brontë and her sisters Emily and Anne to establish themselves as authors. The 1800’s were not a period favorable for educated women who aspired to move beyond the traditional vocations of teacher or governess.
Following the death of her mother, Charlotte is sent, along with her three sisters, to an austere boarding school. Both of her of older sisters die from "consumption" and the two younger girls are withdrawn from the school.
The four surviving Brontë children remain at home, where their imaginations take flight as they create an elaborate world based on a set of toy soldiers. They call their fantasy world Glass Town. It becomes the basis for their early ventures into writing.
We will be the subject of tales and verse for years to come! Hooray for Great Glass Town!
Eventually Charlotte and Emily return to school and prepare to become teachers. Both girls find the life of a teacher and governess to be distasteful. They want to write. Assuming constant care of young charges leaves no time for these accomplished siblings to pursue their passion for writing. They receive this advice: women cannot support themselves as authors.
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Finally the sisters determine that they will find a way to see their work in published form. All three women submit novels for consideration. Anne's Agnes Grey and Emily's Wuthering Heights are accepted. Charlotte's The Professor is rejected. Fortunately Charlotte receives this encouraging response: perhaps she might write another novel for consideration. She gets to work on a story set on the moors. The main character is neither wealthy nor glamorous. She has endured a painful childhood. Despite difficulties the heroine is determined to succeed. Her name is Jane Eyre.
Brontë writes, pouring her life and her heart into the work. When she is ready to submit her final clean copy of Jane Eyre she learns that if the publisher rejects the novel she must pay both sending and returning shipping fees. She risks a double payment if the novel is rejected. She decides to send the manuscript.
I've been writing incessantly for a year- what will come of it?
Her book is accepted.
Fawkes concludes Brontë’s story with a full-page tribute to Jane Eyre. First published in 1847, it has never been out of print, has been adapted numerous times for a variety of media, and translated into approximately sixty languages.
Emily Bechdel’s Forward serves as a a personal and fitting introduction.​ Back matter is a treasure trove of valuable resources. Author’s Postscript offers a rationale for focusing on the life of Charlotte, the influence of the Glass Town Saga, and the necessity of editing Brontë’s writing to fit within the constraints of sequential art. Panel Discussions meticulously document specific details with supporting sources of information. Selected Bibliography, Credits, and a Thank You conclude the work.
It is not necessary to read or to even be familiar with the novels of Brontë to appreciate her ongoing efforts to establish herself as a credible author. Her story is a moving tribute to the desire to follow one’s passion regardless of societal mores. Above all, it is a poignant glimpse into the struggle to advance the stature of literary women.
This beautiful and thought-provoking graphic novel is part of The Center for Cartoon Studies reality-based cartoon series. A rich resource and worthy addition to libraries and the school curriculum.
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Fawkes line drawings and ink wash are an excellent medium for the pastoral British Isles ​setting.
Meet Glynnis Fawkes as she discusses two of her recent projects.

Brontë Times Three

Can't get enough of Brontë? Try this imaginative introduction to Glass Town, the fantasy world created by the Brontë siblings, a graphic novel version of Jane Eyre, and a young adult novel inspired by Jane Eyre.
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Uncorrected copy provided by publisher
Pub date: September 24, 2019  Publisher: Disney-Hyperion ISBN: 978-1368045827​
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Finding Her Voice

8/5/2019

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A Likkle Miss Lou:
​How Jamaican Poet Louise Bennett Coverley Found Her Voice
by Nadia L. Hohn ill by Eugenie Fernandes

‘I wish’ I wished, ‘that I could be
A poet great and with my pen
Trace paths of peace and harmony
For the uncertain minds of men.’
​May 1, 1928
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A picture book brimming with poetry, rhythms, and song, A Likkle Miss Lou: How Jamaican Poet Louise Bennett Coverley Found Her Voice introduces young readers to the early years of a native poet and performance artist. 
Nadia L. Hohn describes Louise's fascination with the speech she that was an integral part of her daily life. Jamaican patois, an English-based creole language with a West African influence is spoken by the most Jamaicans.
At school, she was required to restrict her language to what was considered "proper" English. Louise was reprimanded by her teacher when she included words and phrases from Jamaican dialect in her assignments. ​Fortunately, she became a student at Excelsior College, where acceptance and appreciation for her native tongue was encouraged.
​Hohn's narrative is rich and colorful. She captures the flavor and cadence of the language in this sumptuous feast of poetic expression. 
Like a doctor bird's wings, the words tickled Louise's ear and like peanut drops, they stuck.
Fernandes' illustrations tell their own tale. Louise's face moves from doubt and discouragement to wonder and joy. The animated faces of her classmates and native storytellers feature a variety of warm shades of brown.
Back matter includes an extensive Note from the Author with details on the life and works of Coverley. Hohn describes her own introduction to the works of this poet. A glossary, with photos of peanut drops and water crackers, is helpful. References contains a citation list.
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Spread out youself deh, Liza.
Dress ooman a come.
A picture book that sparkles with a love for language. Excellent as an introduction to the power of one's own voice and as a validation of student self-expression.
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: August 13, 2019  Publisher: Owlkids ISBN: 978-1771473507
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Tummy Trouble

7/30/2019

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Guts by Raina Telgemeier

Can you be sick even if you're not sick?
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Uber-talented Raina Telgemeier has done it again. She has created a companion volume to her endearing and enduring classics Smile and Sisters. Guts is also autobiographical. It recounts Telgemeier’s bouts with stress and the mental, social, and emotional costs of anxiety. This may be her most personal book to date, detailing her childhood panic attacks, phobias, and anxiety. She opens up about the distress that she experienced and her body's responses to these fears. ​
Beginning in the fourth grade, Raina begins worrying about vomiting, an experience that assaults all of the senses: sight, sound, taste, and smell. The possibility of throwing up, even hearing the word vomit becomes a trigger, sending her to the bathroom.
​Stress-provoking factors multiply. They include crowded living conditions, fear of speaking in public, the possibility of contracting the flu, and eating contaminated food. The result: this young girl spends her days and nights in a state of continual turmoil.
There are numerous visits to doctors who suggest possible causes. Everything from food poisoning to puberty and Irritable bowel syndrome are suggested. ​None of these diagnoses seem accurate.
Fortunately, her mother suggests therapy and arranges for Raina to meet with a professional who helps her work through her issues.  Together they plan ways that she can anticipate anxiety triggers and deal effectively with her angst. She eventually reaches the point where she can share her coping techniques with others. She is amazed to learn that she is not alone. Others have health-related problems. Others find therapy helpful. 
Raina brilliantly uses the graphic novel format to tell her story. She knows when to over-fill a panel or page with people and actions, reinforcing her suffocating claustrophic feelings. Panel placement is an integral part of the story, at times horizontal bands move from the top of the bottom of the page.  Full page panels set the scene and provide important background information.  A full page is a significant statement which invites readers to pause. One of my favorites is the full-page image of her sneakers.  As readers pause to consider what it feels like to look down at shoes and become "grounded" they can experience the value of this technique.
Facial expressions and body language are a hallmark of her work. She effectively captures fear, frustration, and eventually, self-confidence.
Panels which are predominantly green signal her moments of extreme distress. A swirling mass of worry and doubt encircle Raina in various shades of green.
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The poignant dedication acknowledges the fears that many children face. Telgemeier reaches out to her readers, describing her pain and the ways it manifests itself. Individual battles with stress will vary. However children who live with anxiety will see and understand that they are not alone.
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​Thanks Raina. It takes courage to relive painful childhood experiences. It takes talent to accurately record your experiences in comic format. It takes empathy to share your journey through dark moments with young readers. It takes intention to seek help through therapy.
You are a woman of courage, talent, empathy, and guts.
Readers are fortunate that their beloved author has shared her story.
Thank you.
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Telgemeier Treasures

Collect them all. They are kid-tested, award-winning, time-honored classics. 
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Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: September 17, 2019  Publisher: Graphix  ISBN: 978-0545852500
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On Your Toes

3/13/2019

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Brave Ballerina: The Story of Janet Collins
by Michelle Meadows ill Ebony Glenn

This is the girl who danced...
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​Echoing the rhythmic quality of dance, Meadows uses rhyming couplets to tell the story of Janet Collins.  The cumulative syntax traces her story from early beginnings to prima ballerina with the Metropolitan Opera House.
Born in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1917 and raised in Los Angeles, California, Janet displayed not only talent, but a love for dance. ​
In a time when dance opportunities were limited for a youngster of color, Collins found ways to realize her dream. Whether it was finding teachers or studying and performing other forms of dance including Spanish, Caribbean, and African, she continued to pursue her passion.
Collins' determination to be true to herself and her heritage is remarkable.  She was invited to join Ballet Russe with the stipulation that she lighten her skin. She refused. She would find ways to dance, but on her terms.
Glenn captures the joyous enthusiasm of a young girl and the willowy body of a gifted dancer. She uses a realistic approach, positioning bodies in classic ballet style with arms gracefully rounded, fingertips with thumb and middle finger slightly curved inward. The arms are always extended, reaching out and up. The bearing is regal.  Glenn's color palette allows Janet’s skin to be the focal point. The gorgeous sienna skin makes each pose more elegant and visually arresting.
This picture book is enriched with an author's note which provides additional information on the life of Janet Collins. Two small photographs of Collins as a professional performer provide a real life look at this beautiful, poised woman. A list of print and online resources is also included.
Together Meadows and Glenn have choreographed a sparkling tribute to dedication, persistence and above all, the wonder of dance. Youngsters will be enchanted and inspired by Brave Ballerina: The Story of Janet Collins.
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Young Ballerinas

Meet Misty Copeland, Siena Cherson, and Maria Tallchief. Each dreamed of becoming a professional ballet dancer. Each practiced endless hours, pushing her body to execute difficult moves with precision and grace. Along with Janet Collins, they are role models for aspiring dancers.
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Copy provided by publisher.
​Pub date: January 8, 2019  Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)  ISBN:  978-1250127730
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Black History Month

2/1/2019

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Carter Reads the Newspaper by Deborah Hopkinson ill Don Tate

The teaching of the whole truth will help us in the direction of a real democracy.
​Carter G Woodson 1944
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Deborah Hopkinson introduces young readers to an important historical figure: Carter G. Woodson.

​Born in 1875, the son of a formerly enslaved father and mother, young Carter grew up hearing the stories of his Virginian parents' struggles. Times were hard for this family. As a result, Woodson left school in his early teens to labor as a farm-hand, garbage collector, and coal miner. He and other West Virginia coal miners were often invited to the home of Oliver Jones, a Civil War veteran. Carter would read the newspapers to Jones and the other miners, researching and answering their questions.
​At age 20, he moved back to Virginia, graduating from high school. He went on to earn bachelor's and master's degrees. At age thirty-seven, he was the second African American to earn a PhD from Harvard University. His life's work centered on researching and promoting Black history. This historian and educator established Negro History Week in 1926. He is recognized as the father of Black History Month.
Hopkinson sprinkles quotes from Woodson throughout the text, giving an immediacy and relevancy to the narrative. This biography stresses of the importance of education, reading, and research. Like Carter, young readers can learn more about their world and work for positive change.
Don Tate's realistic illustration style features slightly enlarged heads. Memories are rendered in a monochromatic palette and to the side of a full-color full color portrait. The book features full page spreads highlighting significant events in Woodson's life: a crushing mine incident, reading a newspaper, and wearing full academic regalia on receiving a PhD from Harvard University. The cameo portraits of important African American individuals feature a variety of occupations and a spectrum of skin tones. Line drawings of historical individuals from Nzinga of Ndongo and Joseph Cinqué to contemporary figures such as Katherine Johnson and Colin Kaepernick are a bonus.
The book's value is significantly enriched with extensive back matter which includes a bibliography of online and print resources, an Author's Note, an Illustrator's Note, a roster of the forty-three Black leaders pictured throughout its pages, a timeline of Woodson's life and accomplishments, and quotation citations. A rich resource for teachers and students.
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Carter Reads the Newspaper is an excellent introduction to African American History Month.
Use this poster with a display of books featuring biographies, historical accounts, historical fiction, and other works by Black authors and illustrators.  Download a copy of the poster featuring an inspiring quote and art by Don Tate.
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: February 1, 2019  Publisher: Peachtree Publishing Company  ISBN: 978-1561459346
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Finding Your Voice

1/18/2019

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"the story of a girl who lost her voice and wrote herself a new one"
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For two decades Laurie Halse Anderson has been speaking out, giving voice to teens who have experienced horrific trauma. Speak has brought the shame and humiliation experienced by rape victims out of the dark recesses of suppressed memory. Acknowledging the suffering, the rage. Initiating the first steps to healing.
In my early years as a youth librarian, Speak was constantly requested, always checked out. The story is as relevant to a fourteen-year-year-old girl from a small Texas town in 2000 as it is to a teen living in urban New York in 2019.
Now Anderson has added two companion books to her YA classic: a graphic novel and a personal memoir. Together these three make a significant contribution to the canon of important literature for young adults.
Here’s the beauty of these books: you can read them in any order. Maybe you discovered Speak long ago and recently learned that there was a graphic novel version of the story that spoke so poignantly to teens. Maybe you see a shiny new book titled Shout with an intriguing cover and now seek for other books by the author. Doesn't matter which book you read first, the order will be just right for you. No matter who you are or where you come from, the journey through pain and anger to triumph over tragedy can be found within these pages,
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Speak
by Laurie Halse Anderson

It all started in 1999. Laurie Halse Anderson published her first book: a ground-breaking young adult novel chronicling the story of fifteen-year-old Melinda Sordino. Beginning her freshman year, this young student is ostracized by her former friends and classmates. She is singled out at a school pep rally for calling the police at a summer party.
What Melinda cannot say is that she was raped at that party. School becomes unbearable. She is constantly confronted with the shame and agony of that night, as the boy who raped her is a student at her school. Shunned by her friends, 
Melinda's life has deteriorated to the point where she seldom speaks. Art class is her refuge. Creating becomes a means of safely expressing herself. With the encouragement of Mr. Freeman, her art teacher, she is able to face the reality of her sexual assault. She begins to acknowledge her hurt, finally confronts her attacker, and eventually finds the courage to speak up and speak out.
Speak earned the distinguished honor of being named a finalist for the 1999 National Book Award for Young People's Literature.
​Copy accessed from public library
Pub date: October 22, 1999   Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux  ISBN:  978-0374371524
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Speak: The Graphic Novel
​by Laurie Halse Anderson ill by Emily Carroll
Publishing a graphic novel version of Speak is both an obvious choice and a brilliant decision. This visceral narrative translates to striking visual imagery.
Anderson chooses to update the original story, including references to cell phones and Instagram. This gives the narrative a fresh, contemporary vibe. Her Author's Note serves as an introduction. A helpful list of organizations which support victims of sexual assault contains descriptions and contact information can be found in the back matter.
​Emily Carroll eschews the traditional panel strip format, opting for a mix of full page images, spaces defined by diagonal lines, and boxes outlined in bold black. She uses Mel's facial expressions and body language to tell the story. Close-ups of a hand or part of a face provide sharp focal points. ​The excruciatingly raw self-portraits are painful to view. At times her face is mutilated, often distorted, even erased as Mel reveals her self-loathing. Most illustrations are rendered in multiple shades of gray. Intense scenes are a violent study in black, the anger exploding on a page that a rigid panel box cannot contain.
​Copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: February 6, 2018   Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)  ISBN:  978-0374300289
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Shout
by Laurie Halse Anderson

Told primarily in verse, this memoir covers a wide range of events and emotions. Part One shares moments from Laurie’s difficult and conflicted childhood, her rape at age thirteen and subsequent reliance on drugs to mask the anguish, the slow ascent from depression during tenth grade, her year as a foreign exchange student in Denmark, and her foray into writing for teens. Part Two explores the publication of Speak and the impact it has had on her and a world-wide audience. Part Three returns to recurring symbols and themes: trees, blood, family, and stories. She acknowledges her parents’ personal troubles, but is willing to maintain a relationship with each. What a generous heart!
I loved the little glimpses into her extraordinary life. Some of my favorite poetic snapshots include her year in Denmark, her dream or more aptly described as her nightmare that was the genesis for Speak, and Laurie's heartwarming meeting with Walter Dean Myers.
While Shout is an apt name, some poems feel like they should be read sotto voce. These verses are the inner longings of the wounded yet resilient spirit that resides in many, far too many of us.
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: March 12, 2019  Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers  ISBN:  978-0670012107

Bonus: Additional Resources

Since my early draft of this post, a twentieth anniversary edition of Speak​ has been released. It includes a new introduction by Ashley C. Ford as well as an afterword by Jason Reynolds. This edition also features an updated Q&A, resource list, an essay, and poem by Anderson. I look forward to reading this updated edition.
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I’ve Talked With Teenage Boys About Sexual Assault for 20 Years.
​This Is What They Still Don’t Know
 Laurie Halse Anderson Time January 15, 2019
Laurie reads "Me,Too" from Shout.
Laurie reads "Listen" from the 20th edition of Speak.
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Groundbreaker. History Maker.

1/4/2019

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Fearless Mary:
The True Adventures of Mary Fields, American Stagecoach Driver
by Tami Charles ill Claire Almon

No task was too small, no task was too dangerous.
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Mary Fields was a stagecoach driver in Montana during the 1890's. Her story is fascinating.
This former slave defied racial, gender, and age-related prejudice, serving as a mail carrier to Saint Peter's Mission. She successfully took on what was considered "man's work."
Being "first" is hard. Not everyone likes the idea of a woman driving a stagecoach.
Tami Charles weaves together incidents from
Field's life to create a compelling tale: protecting mail from thieves, unleashing her trained eagle on would-be marauders, standing guard overnight to save her cargo from a pack of wolves. Remarkably, during her eight years of mail delivery she never lost a horse or a package.
Claire Almon's bold illustrations give Mary stature and girth.  This is not the bearing of a weak or submissive woman. Wearing men's trousers and a hat, she stands boldly before her employer. Her over-sized pet eagle soars across the pages, continuing to present-day mail delivery. This thematic image is symbolic of her influence.  Mary's groundbreaking work opened opportunities for other women to drive stagecoaches and deliver mail. She exemplified the qualities of hard work and resourcefulness.  
Fearless Mary: The True Adventures of Mary Fields, American Stagecoach Driver inspires all to break barriers and overcome prejudices. Add this picture book to the cannon of children's books featuring significant women of color. 

Meet Mary Fields

Mary Fields, also known as Stagecoach Mary, is a dynamic individual. While much of her life is unknown, a few documents survive which chronicle her personal history.
Charles limits the book's narrative to Fields’ years as a contract driver. She softens her portrayal of Mary, referring to her rifle as an "iron weapon." It is seen only in shadow on her back.
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Photos and biographical information History Stories website.
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: January 1, 2019    Publisher: ​Albert Whitman & Company    ISBN: 978-0807523056​
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Picture This: Three Cultural Snapshots

1/1/2019

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"​one of the reasons I pick up the camera - to find understanding"
Isabel Quintero 
Meet three women: one an important modern artist and two fictional characters. They share a passion for photography.  Each uses a camera to tell stories and explore "the many angles to truth" Quintero.  ​Each uses the lens of her unique cultural heritage to bring relevance and importance to her work.

From Twinkle, With Love by Sandhya Menon

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Twinkle feels that she is a "nobody." Ignored by her parents, she longs to be noticed at school. An opportunity to shine comes when Twinkle is asked to direct a movie for the local arts festival. 
Film geek Sahil has offered to help produce her filmmaking debut. They brainstorm an imaginative story concept, turning the classic Dracula into a gender-reversal version. But Sahil clearly wants more than just a business relationship.
Twinkle has an ongoing crush on Sahil's athletic superstar twin brother Neil. When she begins receiving anonymous emails from a secret admirer, Twinkle assumes (hopes) that the sender is Neil.
Menon uses a series of imaginary emails that Twinkle sends to famous women of filmdom in this story of finding where one's heart lies.
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: May 22, 2018    Publisher: ​Simon Pulse    ISBN: 978-1481495400

Rain is Not My Indian Name by Cynthia Leitich Smith

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​Fourteen-year-old Cassidy Rain Berghoff, still mourning the death of her best friend, agrees to photograph the local newspaper's story of this summer's Indian Camp, organized by her Aunt Georgia. Prominent members of this mostly white Kansas community protest the use of public funds for Indian Camp.
Rain's heritage includes Muscogee Creek-Cherokee, Scots-Irish and Irish-German-Ojibway.  Her mother refers to the loving, close-knit family as her "patchwork tribe." 
​After introductory pages detailing her friend's  tragic death, readers follow Rain's  chronological description of nine days: June 26 to July 4.  Smith begins each chapter with a journal excerpt which gives the narrative intimacy and poignancy.
​​Rain uses her camera to help her face the world after her heartbreaking loss, acknowledge her heritage, and bring closure and peace to her heart.
Book accessed from public library
Pub date: June 19, 2001    Publisher: ​HarperCollins    ISBN: 978-0688173975

Photographic: The Life of Graciela Iturbide
​by Isabel Quintero ill Zeke Peña

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Quintero and Peña employ a mixed media approach to this biographical graphic novel illuminating the life and work of  Graciela Iturbide.  The pastiche of eloquent text, artfully arranged sequential panels, and photographs blend together seamlessly.
Quintero's glorious text is rich with layers of meaning. Peña's realistic line drawings combined with black and white photographs and artful panel and page design provide a stellar reading experience. This biography is much more than a chronology.  It is a celebration of art, creation, and culture. 
"I photograph and exist in the in-between: those spaces where unknown worlds, real and imagined intersect."
Published copy
​Pub date: March 6, 2018    Publisher: ​Harry N. Abrams    ISBN: 978-1947440005
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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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