Category: Friendship - READING STYLE GUIDE

Riding On

5/24/2022

Ride On by Faith Erin Hicks

Girl meets horse. Horse meets girl.

Cover art captures the trusting, tender relationship between one young equestrian and a gelding. Hicks uses the term Horse Girl to describe a youngster enamored with horses. Evidently the affection between this pair is reciprocal.

Twelve-year-old Victoria is new to Edgewood Stables. She may be unfamiliar with this equestrian facility, but she is obviously not a novice. Her horsemanship catches the eye of Edgewood staff. She shows potential as a trainer.

However this is more than a horse story. It is a story about relationships. When Victoria's best friend gets her own horse, the dynamic between the two changes. Victoria wonders: is riding at Waverly Stables the only thing the two have in common?

Stung by this falling out, Victoria is hesitant to connect with a trio of Edgewood's regulars. What will it take to overcome the past and make new friends? These kids have their own problems and they may need Victoria just as much as she needs them.
Trust is recurring theme. In a climactic scene, trust plays a pivotal role.

In addition to horses, Victoria and her newfound friends share a fascination with the sci fi series Beyond the Galaxy These nerdy fans look forward to the release of new episodes and concoct an elaborate scheme to celebrate their favorite show.

Hicks is particularly skilled at revealing undercurrents that simmer beneath the surface. Misunderstandings, first impressions, and frustrations are often discernible by a facial expression, simple gesture, or a figure's placement within a panel.

This is a story filled with heart. One does not need to be a horse person to appreciate Victoria's world.
It is obvious that Hicks has more than a passing interest in horses. Her love for all things equestrian shine on every panel, every page. She knows what it means to develop a close relationship with a horse. This is more than a hobby and far exceeds athletic prowess.

The phrase Ride On has multiple meanings. Victoria not only finds a new stable, but a group of friends with shared interests. After a few disappointments, our girl is ready to move on. Ride On Victoria, Ride On.

Back matter includes the author’s history as a Horse Girl, which served as the inspiration for this stand alone comic. The inclusion of a personal photograph and childhood drawings of horses are a bonus.

More Stories

Hicks gets it. She gets growing up. She understands disappointment. She knows that friends can make all the difference. She gets it.

"With RIDE ON, I wanted to show that it's okay to evolve and change.
Even when it feels like it's the end of the world and you've lost friendships, there are other communities out there who might be more supportive of the person you want to be."

Electronic copy accessed via Net Galley.

Pub date: August 16, 2022 Publisher: First Second ISBN: 978-1250772824

Secrets & Silence

5/16/2022

Caprice by Coe Booth

Twelve-year-old Caprice is concluding a seven week Summer Leadership Program at a prestigious girl's school in upstate New York. She has thrived in this academically challenging institution, impressing the faculty, and making new friends. Now she is offered a scholarship to enroll as a full-time student. It seems like a dream come true.

There is one problem. A HUGE problem.

On the last night of her summer program, an unexpected and unwelcome kiss triggers childhood memories. With painful clarity, Caprice begins to recall her history as a victim of sexual abuse. For years she has suppressed those memories. That coping mechanism is no longer working.

She returns home, believing that reuniting with her parents and friends will ease her torment. Caprice spends her days at the local community center. She joins Express Yo’Self, a writers group, where her poetic talent blossoms and then takes the initiative to organize a Woman Group.

When her grandmother is hospitalized, the family gathers at grandma's home in Baltimore, the site of her victimization. Memories associated with the bedroom where she will sleep are excruciating.

Booth masterfully builds to the climactic scene that readers simultaneously hope for and dread. Caprice publicly confronts her abuser.

Construction of the novel is one of its strengths. This story takes place within a week and consists of a running first person account interspersed with text messages and inner dialogue. Each time segment of Caprice’s week is introduced with one of her poems. A lot gets packed into a few days.

Caprice must decide if she will make a major life change. Should she remain at home with her supportive family, community, and best friend? Or should she accept this "once in a lifetime" educational opportunity? Caprice debates the question of familiarity and family versus the opportunity for new experiences and academic challenges. It’s a difficult choice. Caprice's decision is not revealed until the final pages.

Intended for a younger audience with a publisher’s suggested age range is 9 to 12 years, the narrative is intense and heart wrenching but avoids overly graphic descriptions. The focus here is on the heart and mind of a twelve-year-old girl. Booth's approach is honest while remainng sensitive to tween readers.

No one can tell a story like Booth. Although readers may have different life experiences from the protagonist, audiences of all ages will indentify with the universal desire to suppress painful secrets. Healing begins with acknowledging past wounds and reaching out to trusted individuals for support.

Kudos to the cover artist. A careful examination of the portrait of Caprice reveals the light in her eyes is a silhouette of a girl.

Bonus factoid:

Definition of caprice. noun. a sudden, unpredictable change, as of one's mind. Source: Oxford Languages

More Books by Coe Booth

Want more stories by this award-winning author? Try these.

Background Reading

Booth mentions two titles, written for adults, that add context to the story.
Born a Crime, a memoir describes living with apartheid in South Africa. The one constant in his life is his mother.

Breath, Eyes, Memory is a novel of a Haitian girl who returns to Haiti after living in New York. A story of trauma, violence, and conflicted relationships.

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: May 17, 2022 Publisher: Scholastic ISBN: 978-0545933346

Words Words Words

3/15/2022

Worser by Jennifer Ziegler

William Wyatt Orser, known to his classmates as Worser, is the quintessential word nerd. Masterwork, his ongoing self-titled project is a binder filled with 321 pages of word-related “observations.”

Life has not been easy for this studious, sometimes too-smart -for-his-own-good kid. Worser’s sheltered world with his mother, a university professor, is shattered when she has a stroke. The brilliant academic is no more. In her place is someone with garbled speech, erratic movements, and the need for constant rest.

Aunt Iris, along with her two cats and outrageous art projects, moves in as mom’s caretaker. She also assumes the role of Worster’s guardian, meeting with school staff to discuss her nephew’s performance, suggesting that he update his wardrobe, offering to redecorate his bedroom, and calendaring his daily activities. Worser resents her intrusion into his well-ordered life. He makes it clear that she is not his mother.
Iris' rehabilitation methods for her sister includes finger painting, singing, and even dancing. Worser considers his aunt's therapy sessions demeaning and embarrassing. Her unconventional style is the antithesis of everything he knows.

His relationships at school are limited to a long-standing crush on Donya, a member of his Advanced Language Arts class and Herbie, a loner and lunchroom companion by default. Worser escapes to a small bookshop where spends hours developing additions to his Masterwork. In a attempt to impress Donya, he negotiates with the bookstore owner to allow her Lit Club to use the store for their weekly meetings. He joins the group.

Things get worser and worser when (a) Donya reveals that she is not romantically attracted to him; (b) the bookstore faces a monetary crisis; (c) his mother’s prognosis is problematic; and (d) Aunt Iris will continue to live with the Orsters. Readers along with the protagonist will hope that despite all evidence to the contrary, a magical solution will save the day. That does not happen. Alas, this is life. Worser’s life. A life filled with changes and challenges he cannot avoid.

The narrative invites readers into the mind of this seventh grade student. It is particularly effective as the story builds to a dramatic climax. The tension is almost unbearable as events lead to inevitable disaster. Superb pacing gently leads readers back from the story’s precipice to a resolution that offers hope.

This author has an uncanny ability to reveal the pain of a young boy coming to grips with loss. She paints people with loving strokes. Supporting characters are skillfully introduced as the plot unfolds and distinctive personality traits are revealed. Readers will sympathize with each. There are no bad guys, just difficult and unfair situations.

Worser tells a story of hurt and conflict where no one is at fault. It's a tale of finding friendship, help, and understanding where you never expect to find it. I fell in love with this quirky twelve-year-old. I can’t let him go. He is the boy of my heart.

Bonus: Masterwork challenges that Worser sets for himself make interesting explorations for those who enjoy word play. It's like Wordle, only better.

Offer: I will bake dozens of scones and build the author a secret hideout located in a tree top if she will write a continuation of Worser’s story. I’m already missing him.

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: March 15, 2022 Publisher: Margaret Ferguson Books ISBN: 978-0823449569

To Be Human

1/11/2022

The School for Whatnots by Margaret Peterson Haddix

What's What and What's Not

Numerous books by Haddix feature children attempting to survive in anomalous societies. They include Among the Hidden (a third child forbidden by the Population Police) and Running Out of Time (a girl from the future who must save her 1800's community from a deadly disease). The author’s latest story presents an ingenious concept: coexistence of humans and androids.

Young Max leads a protected life. To craft the perfect childhood, his wealthy parents enroll him in a school where his classmates are remarkably realistic androids, programmed to act like "normal" children. Max doesn't know this school is a carefully constructed environment.

Max and Josie are classmates and best friends. One day Josie leaves Max a startling note, "No matter what anyone tells you, I'm real."

Readers learn that young Josie was recruited to pretend to be an android at Max's school. But that's only the first of many plot twists. Things get "curiouser and curiouser." Josie looks for answers to her questions: who is behind the Whatnot Corporation and why were the two friends placed in this bizarre school?

The omniscient narrator occasionally breaks the fourth wall and speaks directly to the audience, eventually disclosing the identity of several mysterious individuals. Shocking plot revelations scattered throughout the text will keep middle grade readers swiftly turning pages.
It's a story of friendship, a biting commentary of class divisions, an examination of technology's side effects, and a relentless search for truth. The School for Whatnots is entertaining reading that can invite serious discussions about what it means to be human. Don't miss this one. Haddix is at the top of her game.

Audio copy accessed via Net Galley.

Pub date: March 1, 2022 Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books ISBN: 978-0062838490

Animal Friends

11/23/2021

Amos McGee Misses the Bus by Philip C. Stead and Erin E. Stead

Beloved picture book character Amos McGee is back with a new story. Caldecott Award-winning duo Philip C. Stead and Erin E. Stead revisit this gentle zookeeper as he plans a special outing for his animal friends.

McGee is so involved with these preparations that exhaustion eventually sets in. He nods off at the bus stop and misses his ride. Eventually he arrives at work but falls asleep on the job.

His animal friends note their keeper’s exhaustion and decide to assume his duties. Elephant picks up a broom, turtle retrieves a forgotten hat, owl offers visitors important conservation guidelines, and rhinoceros feeds smaller animals. While the others are hard at work, thoughtful penguin ensures that their caretaker rests without disruptions.

Philip C. Stead's text glows with understated charm. The juxtaposition of large animals performing small jobs is part of the book's appeal. Erin E. Stead's line drawings paired with woodcut prints add just the right touch of whimsy. Her illustrations are filled with hidden surprises. Readers will observe that a teddy bear, bunny slippers, tiny mouse and bird inhabit the zookeeper's home, a fitting homage to his occupation. Turtle’s progress throughout the pages ingeniously marks the passage of time.

While it is possible to analyze the book, locating themes of friendship, forgiveness, helpfulness, and cooperation, perhaps like Amos McGee, it is best to keep things simple. This is a quiet little gem, to be savored and shared. It retains its charm with subsequent readings. Readers will love the characters, the dilemma, and the resolution. Quite simply, Amos McGee Misses the Bus is a book to love. Over and over again.

The Stead's have one more sweet surprise: a giraffe! His long neck rises above the sunroof, the foliage forming a heart shape. Note the license plate, soaring balloon, and bird mouse duo closing out the scene. So many charming touches to be discovered.

Illustration Technique: Wood block printing

Erin E. Stead explains the process of wood block printing. Try making prints using Styrofoam plates. Off the Shelf offers an online printmaking tutorial.

Electronic copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: November 23, 2021 Publisher: Roaring Brook Press ISBN: 978-1250213228

A Tale of Two Worlds

11/20/2021

A Snake Falls to Earth by Darcie Little Badger

“Recuerda nuestra historia.” Remember our history.

Little Badger has done it again: creating another storytelling marvel. Seemingly unconnected narratives spanning over eight years and alternating between two distinctive worlds are magically woven together.

Cottonmouth snake Oli lives in the Reflecting World, home of spirits and monsters. He is devastated when his friend Ami, a small spotted toad, disappears. Oli recruits three spirit animals who can assume human form to help him search for Ami who is gravely ill and faces possible extinction. The companions leave the Reflecting World and "fall" to Earth, hoping to locate and save one small toad.

On Earth, sixteen-year-old Nina is puzzled by comments made by her Great-Great-Grandma Rosita and seeks answers from her Grandma. Both women are an enigma. Why do animals mysteriously recover in Grandma’s presence? What accounts for Rosita’s unusually long life?

When a major hurricane is projected to make landfall near Grandma’s South Texas property, Nina along with her father and the spirit animals join forces to save Grandma’s home from destruction.

The two worlds are well delineated. Characters are fully formed with unique personalities. The narrative sparkles with numerous charming details: a nearsighted snake who wears spectacles, a cantankerous alligator with a score to settle, a father habitually consuming all the chocolates in the candy dish, a grandmother who delights in gifting garage sale purchases.

The story's conclusion is dramatic, taking on mythic proportions. A devasting hurricane. A species facing extinction. A mysterious individual who seems inordinately interested in Grandma’s property. Impossible odds.
Extraordinary forces are at work here: the ability to shape nature and the overarching power of love. A Snake Falls to Earth, a 2021 National Book Award longlist selection, is a fascinating tale and a literary masterpiece.

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: November 23, 2021 Publisher: Levine Querido ISBN: 978-1646140923

Her Immigrant Story

10/15/2021

Where I Belong by Marcia Argueta Mickelson

High school senior Milagros Vargas' life has not been easy. But she has learned to cope, caring for her three younger siblings while her immigrant mother works long hours as a housekeeper, cook, and nanny for the Wheelers, prominent members of the Corpus Christi social elite.

In addition to family responsibilities, Millie has maintained a stellar academic record, earning a full scholarship to Stanford.

She has learned to keep a low profile. Her anonymity evaporates when Mr. Wheeler, in a bid for a congressional seat, reveals during a campaign speech that his housekeeper's daughter fled Guatemala with her parents, sought asylum, attained U.S. citizenship and is now an immigrant success story.

Milagros becomes the subject of news reports and internet trolls. Quiet, never-make-waves Millie is thrust into the spotlight, a position she never wanted. Media coverage as well as threats directed at her and her family intensify.

Eventually, she must decide if she will remain silent or speak out.

A strength of Mickelson's storytelling can be found in the details of Millie's personal interactions with her widowed mother whom she adores and does not want to disappoint, a younger sister who has to go to the bathroom at an inconvenient time, and the handsome Charlie Wheeler who suddenly seems interested in her.

Where I Belong is a richly layered narrative that explores headline-grabbing issues and the dynamics of personal relationships.

Audio copy accessed via Hoopla.

Pub date: September 7, 2021 Publisher: Carolrhoda Lab ISBN: 978-1541597976

Bezerkered!

9/28/2021

Barb the Last Bezerker by Dan Abdo and Jason Patterson

“I’m a Bezerker and protecting humans from monsters is my duty.”

Thunder, Boulder, Claymore, and Arrow are Berzerkers, super-sized heroes who fight to protect the land from monsters. Unfortunately, this foursome’s brawn often exceeds their reasoning skills. Their nemesis Witch Head is intent on destroying all who thwart his plan for total domination over monsters and humans. He tricks the Berzerkers into helping him obtain Shadow Blade, a sword of awesome power.

In all the chaos, no one notices Barb, a Berzerker who is considered an inconsequential girl. That was a mistake!

With one swift movement, Barb grabs the sword, claims it, and teams up with a 400 pound Yeti-like monster named Porkchop. She is in search of the North Zerks. He’s looking for lunch.

Along the way she meets vampire goat fiends, the Grub of Death, shadow bats, and Glom, a Snot Goblin. Not to worry, Barb the Last Berzerker is up to the challenge.

Barb longs for her mother, a woman who loves sunrises and leaves warm oatmeal for her daughter when she must go fight in the Monster Wars. She is able to connect with her warrior mom as she sleeps. There are hints that in further episodes the two will meet.

When you need a fighter who is willing to take on an impossible task, you need Barb, a diminutive Bezerker who is fearless. She will always have your back and she never backs down from bullies.

"Big mean bullies are my specialty."

This is a terrific series packed with cliff-hanger chapter endings, plently of action, and a ton of "groan-worthy" jokes. The oversized panels often span the gutter. A traditional primary color scheme often used in superhero comics is scrapped for secondary colors: orange, green, and purple. The message is that is no ordinary superhero story. Come for the weird monsters, the action and adventure. Stay for an unlikely friendship that is golden. This series is off to an explosive start. Thanks Dan and Jason.

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: September 28, 2021Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books Young Readers ISBN: 978-1534485716

Aftermath

8/17/2021

AfterMath by Emily Barth Isler

Lucy loves math. She loves precise definitions and phenomena that can be explained. She loves solutions.

There is one aspect that does not fit into her world view of calculations and exact answers. Her younger brother Theo was born with a heart defect. His short life was filled with doctors and hospitals and treatments. Now he is gone, leaving behind grieving parents and his sister Lucy.

Mom and dad decide that the best way to cope with their loss is to move to a new town. They select a city that has suffered a profound loss. Four years ago, a deranged shooter entered the elementary school, killing and injuring many inside the building.

Lucy’s anguish as she witnessed her brother's painfilled demise stretch over five years is both similar and very different from the public tragedy that instantly affected the entire community.

Isler's characters provide a variety of perspectives on the aftereffects of grief. Lucy's father withdraws, remaining in bed or behind his newspaper. Her mother visits with a therapist and busies herself with making the family home fresh and different. Lucy learns that the bedroom in her new home was the bedroom of Bet who was a shooting victim. She develops an internal storyline for Bet. By chance, Lucy connects with Avery, a classmate who appears to be a pariah. Later, Lucy discovers that Avery's brother was the shooter.

The one place where Lucy feels most comfortable is math class, a world of formulas and equations. However, there is one concept that eludes her: infinity. Lucy searches to understand this mathematical expression throughout the book. The text is brimming with math facts, riddles and jokes which are a counterpoint to the story's heart-rending subject matter.

While this is a story of grief and loss, AfterMath is a hopeful story. Through an extracurricular mime group Lucy learns new ways to express herself, make friends, and solidify her relationship with Avery. Her family begins to heal.
A touching story that avoids becoming maudlin. The author’s narration is well suited to the voice of a tender twelve-year-old. Occasionally a title is precisely the perfect fit. AfterMath is a brilliant title choice.

Audio copy accessed via NetGalley.

Pub date: September 7, 2021 Publisher: Carolrhoda Books ISBN: 978-1541599116

Pluto-the-Person

7/12/2021

How to Become a Planet by Nicole Melleby

Yes, I'm broken, Pluto thought. Just let me be broken and leave me alone.

Thirteen-year-old Pluto and her mom are confronted with a challenging situation: understanding and coping with Pluto's recent diagnosis of depression and anxiety.

Her mother is terrified when her daughter completely withdraws, is unable to sustain long-established friendships and can no longer attend school.

Pluto alternates between constantly sleeping and lashing out at others, particularly her mother. Activities she enjoyed such as visiting the planetarium and spending time on the boardwalk are no longer interesting or entertaining.

She was tired of trying. She was tired of her mom's desperate, eager eyes. She was tired of all of it.

There are similarities between How to Become a Planet and Melleby's debut novel Hurricane Season. Both explore the tenuous relationship between a parent and child as they deal with mental illness. While her early book chronicles a young girl struggling with her father's illness, her current novel reverses the situation. A mother must come to grips with her daughter’s depression.

Pluto-the-Person discovers that like the former planet Pluto, her status seems to have shifted. Over the course of the book her world alters in significant ways. She connects with a girl whose family owns a Jersey Shore business and finds that their developing friendship holds the possibility of romance. She visits her father and his girlfriend in New York City and learns that his partner copes with a mental disorder. She begins tutoring sessions with a sympathetic woman and attempts another session with a therapist. Pluto also make the surprising discovery: her grandmother lived with a mental illness.

By summer's end, Pluto is able to acknowledge some realities. A list of goals does not work for her. She must find what helps her and avoid unrealistic expectations. She wants to repair her relationships with her mother and her best friend. She hopes to explore the possibility of romance. She has the support of her parents, her friends, her tutor, and her therapist. Learning to live with depression will take time. There will be setbacks. That is okay.

Melleby's explorations of mental illness and how it affects family life are stories of everyday people facing real problems. Life is a struggle, but not without hope.

You still are Pluto...You just need to learn how to care for and accept this new understanding of you.

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: May 25, 2021 Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers ISBN: 978-1643750361