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READING STYLE GUIDE

Questions. Questions.

3/14/2019

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To Night Owl from Dogfish by Holly Goldberg Sloan & Meg Wolitzer

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​​Full disclosure: Initially I skimmed this book's  back cover and concluded that it was a remake of The Parent Trap. To be honest, I wasn't crazy about the movie. So, no. I wasn't interested. But... this middle grade novel was by Holly Goldberg Sloan and Meg Wolitzer.  I reasoned that two extremely talented authors would write something more than a warmed-over Disney movie script. Once I started reading I was hooked. 
​​Reasons why I loved this book:
Point one: The girls are interesting individuals, not plot contrivances. While they have a west coast vs. east coast point of view, they have enough unique traits to transcend the California and New York City stereotypes. 
Point two: The dads.  These men are neither good guys nor bad guys. They are guys.  They are dads. They make some good decisions, arrive at some conclusions based inaccurate assumptions. They make mistakes. They love their families.
Point three: Supporting characters, especially Bett's grandma and Avery's birth mother are not phantom shadows or cardboard standees. Even campers are not one-dimensional. ​The snobby camper reveals a surprising side near the end of the book. 
Point four: There are no simpering, sniveling, demanding rivals trying to destroy each girl's relationship with her father.  The adults are adults. Readers will be cheering for a resolution that will help all characters build fulfilling, happy lives. 
Point five: There are plenty of interesting plot twists to keep readers engaged. Some are telegraphed early on, others are hinted at as the story progresses. A few caught me by surprise.  This is not a Disney remake.  Prepare to be delighted and surprised in a good way.

I Have Questions

After reading To Night Owl From Dogfish I found I had several questions.  After a quick internet search, I could not find answers to my questions, so am posing my questions for Holly Goldberg Sloan and Meg Wolitzer online.
  • What inspired you to create this story of two girls being raised by single gay dads?
  • Did you have the plot in mind from the outset or did the story evolve as you wrote?
  • Was one of you the voice of Bett and one the voice of Avery?
  • How did Gaga evolve?  What inspired the creation of this character?
  • What about camp? Were those two very different camps based on personal experience?
  • What brought the two of you together to write this book?
  • What are the advantages of writing a middle grade novel together?
  • What are the challenges of writing a middle grade novel together?

Music of Love

'Bonus: The 1998 version of The Parent Trap opens with Nat King Cole's “L.O.V.E.” ends with Natalie Cole's “This Will Be An Everlasting Love.” Both songs make a terrific soundtrack for To Night Owl From Dogfish. 
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: February 12, 2019  Publisher: Dial Books  ISBN: 978-0525553236
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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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Timber!

3/1/2019

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Lumber Jills: The Unsung Heroines of World War II
by Alexandra Davis  ill Katie Hickey

Two hands willing to work and one stout heart.
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During World War II, 8,500 British girls joined the little-known Women’s Timber Corps. They were armed with nothing but four-and-a-half pound axes, six-pound saws, and the willingness to pick them up. The average Lumber Jill was eighteen years old, and while these girls came from all walks of life, most of them had never lifted an axe before.      Author's Note
Lumber Jills: The Unsung Heroines of World War II is the story of women whose service to their country is less well-known. None-the-less, their story is intriguing.
Davis frames her rhythmic text within a numerical construct. Beginning with "one pair of woolen socks pulled up to the knee," she chronicles the work of young British girls who volunteered to support the war effort by felling and cutting trees, then hauling the logs to the mill by wagon teams.
What begins as four brown boots, multiplies into sixteen train cars and then twenty-seven new girls signing up to serve. The number of girls rapidly increases throughout the pages. Two hundred cheerful girls learning the basics of logging, doubles to four hundred and eventually reaches two thousand Lumber Jills.  ​
By the book's conclusion these girls have cut ten million trees, which are used to create telephone poles, roadblocks, pitprops, crates, fences and gates. An extraordinary accomplishment. While the mathematical details are interesting, it is the combined efforts of these young women, willing to leave home, learn new skills, and work together in support of their country that is most impressive.
Hickey maintains a forest-inspired color palette: primarily using greens and browns. Girls wear thick sweaters and loose-fitting pants tucked inside boots. Every face has rosy cheeks. All appear to be smiling. Nothing seems difficult or particularly disagreeable. 
The rhythmic quality of the text makes it an excellent choice for reading aloud.  Numerical factoids scattered throughout the pages could serve as the basis for an interesting Infographic. 
An Author's Note fleshes out the story, providing additional background material.  It is worth noting that Davis mentions women throughout North American who were involved in the timber industry, before and during World War II.
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: March , 2019 Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company  ISBN: 978-0807547953
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Phases of the Moon

2/26/2019

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The Moon Within by Aida Salazar
"The moon reaches her zenith -
Her glow silvering the world.
Joy sings out
Within every good soul."
"Flower Song for Maidens Coming of Age." From songs of Dzitbalché 7
translated by David Bowles
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Recently, several books about menstruation have been published for young readers. Most are collections of information presented in an engaging manner. The Moon Within takes a refreshing approach. Salazar weaves poetry, astronomy, and mythology together with Mexican and Caribbean culture in this intimate view of a young girl anticipating and experiencing her first menses.
The book is divided into sections mirroring the lunar cycle: New Moon, First Quarter Moon, Full Moon, and Last Quarter Moon. This journey from childhood to maidenhood is like the moon: at times dark, at other times shimmering with reflected light. 
Twelve-year-old Celestina Rivera lives in East Oakland with her father of Puerto Rican heritage, mother of Mexican ancestry, and younger brother Juju.
Magda, a drummer in her bomba class is "better than my best friend," and "my best echo." The two are inseparable.  
Celi's mother is thrilled that her daughter will soon have her first period.  She excitedly shares this news with friends and family and begins planning a tradition ancestral celebration to honor her daughter's first menses. Celi is mortified and feels that her privacy has been invaded. A clash between generations, cultures, and expectations leaves both mother and daughter at odds. Celi's internal dissonance extends to relationships with her peers.
She examines her feelings when Magda reveals her gender fluidity, requesting that family and friends refer to her as Mar because "I feel more boy than girl at the moment and because I can be both."  In addition, Celi develops a crush on skate boarder and capoeira dancer Ivan. Sadly, when Ivan and his friends mock Mar, Celi remains silent, refusing to speak in defense of her friend. ​​She finally realizes that she will have to take a stand. She must decide where her loyalties lie.
Salazar lyrically weaves several themes throughout this poetic first-person account. Reading becomes a sensory experience though explorations of rhythm "dancing bomba feels like warm Caribbean water swishing and swaying happiness inside of me," hearts "a locket in my heart ... holds all of the questions that do cartwheels in my mind,' and of course, the moon "I look into the dark and sway with Luna's moonbeams..."
Ultimately, Celi acknowledges that her Mexican and Puerto Rican heritage are an important part of her identity. She accepts and appreciates the biological changes taking place in her body. She celebrates the girl she is and the woman that she is becoming.
A full moon for many cultures
is a time for magic
for healing
for rituals.

Join in the Dance

Meet the Author

Culture, Identity, and Menstruation

A timely reminder of the universal nature of menstruation and cultural differences:  "Period. End of Sentence" won a 2019 Oscar Award for Best Short Documentary.
​The film explores the stigma attached to menstruation in a rural village in India where girls are prevented from staying in school, worshipping in temples, and having access to basic sanitary products.
​Follow the remarkable story of village women who learn to use a sewing machine, creating biodegradable and affordable sanitary pads for women in the surrounding villages. Their sewing machine was contributed by The Pad Project, a program created by high school girls in a California.
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: February 26, 2019  Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books  ISBN: 978-1338283372
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Show of Hands

1/11/2019

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Hands Up! by Breanna J. McDaniel ill Shane W. Evans

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Breanna J. McDaniel takes an expression laden with negative connotations and turns it inside out and right-side up. Each page is filled with positive, self-affirming actions with Hands Up!
Meet a little charmer as she lifts her tiny hands to the sun, plays peek-a-boo, and helps get ready for the day. Time passes. Now school age, she reaches up for a book high on the shelf, jumps to grab the basketball, and raises her arms in worshipful praise. There are moments when hands are extended to help her when she falls. The book concludes with a tribute to the power of raising consciousness through hands holding signs of peaceful protest.
​We begin small, but we grow big. 
Together we are mighty.
High fives all around, hands up!
Shane W, Evans' illustrations burst with vitality. The cheerful pastel color palette features sunshiny yellow, often as a diagonal ray. There are clever touches: her cat lapping up the spilled juice, the cat and its shadow leap together. When extra effort is expended: reaching for an object on the table or attempting to shoot the basketball, a tiny pink tongue peeks out between lips. Often the characters' eyes are closed. Emphasis is on the mouth. Evans lets expressive lips tell the story.
Words and images combine to acknowledge the power of uplifted hands to aspire, rejoice, and help. An optimistic interpretation of the phrase Hands Up!
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Dynamic Duo

Together Diggs and Evans have created picture books joyfully celebrating children of color. 
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Raise Your Hands. Raise Your Voice.

There is something soul-satisfying about raising hands and voices with a positive message. Energize your day with music.
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: January 22, 2019  Publisher: Dial Books  ISBN:  978-0525552314
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Ebony and Ivory

10/30/2018

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Blended by Sharon M. Draper

Is normal never being sure of what normal really is?
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Eleven-year=old Isabella feels that she is constantly being pulled in different directions. Her life ping-pongs back and forth, as her parents share custody. She lives part-time with her black father, his girlfriend and her son. Alternate weeks are at the home of her white mother and future stepfather.  Two different homes. Two different families. Every. Other. Week.
At dad's house, she is Isabella and practices her music on a grand piano. To mom she is Izzy and prepares for her upcoming recital on an electronic keyboard.
Then there are the Exchange Days, the dreaded moments when her two sets of parents meet at the mall and Izzy/Isabella must switch backpacks, lifestyles, and identities.
It's confusing.
Draper has fashioned a compelling portrait of a biracial girl living with conflict.  In addition to the tension between her parents, Isabella faces racial hostilities: her best friend Imani discovers a noose in her locker. Who would do something like that? And why? On a shopping trip Imani and Izzy discover an exclusive dress shop. They are tailed by security and eventually asked to leave the store.  Is it because of the color of their skins? Their young age? When her soon-to-be brother is accused of theft, things take a frightening turn. These encounters leave her shaken.
Blended combines questions of identity, racism, friendship, and family.  Like a Sonatina and an old-time swing tune, Draper's novel for young readers hits all the right notes. Melody and harmony blend in one dazzling performance.

Listen Up

Izzy/Isabella prepares for the Pianopalooza by learning music composed in the eighteenth century. She also discovers a treasure trove of old boogie-woogie and blues numbers. Want to hear these two very different musical numbers? 
Bumble Boogie, a 1946 version by Jack Fina of Flight of the Bumble Bee 
Sonatina in C Major by Muzio Clementi  1752-1832

Additional Sharon M. Draper Books

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Uncorrected copy provided by publisher
​Pub date: October 30, 2018 Publisher: Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books  ISBN:  978-1442495005
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Makers Wanted

10/9/2018

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Made by Maxine by Ruth Spiro ill Holly Hatam

"If I can dream it, I can make it."
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Maxine, a thinker and tinkerer, joins the ranks of iconic young inventors.  Her specialty is repurposing items to create something new and better. Our spunky little heroine is determined to create a habitat for her goldfish Milton. He is worthy of more than an ordinary round fishbowl.  Maxine sets to work.
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The result is astonishing. Not content to rest on her laurels, she enhances her invention with a pedal-powered fish feeder and a Makey Makey sound system.  Cowabunga!  Her problem-solving skills are put to the test when her teacher announces that the class will have a Pet Parade. How can she include her goldfish in this event? This dilemma proves to be her most daunting challenge to date. Multiple attempts to solve the problem result in multiple failures.
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She had already discovered a million ways that would not work. Which meant she was getting closer to finding a way that would work.
Her hard work and determination eventually pay off. Maxine includes Milton in the Pet Parade with an invention Made by Maxine.
While messages of recycling and inclusion are woven into the narrative, it is Maxine's persistence in the face of setbacks that shines through. Spiro has created one determined little girl. Hatam's illustrations are brimming with clever and inventive touches. (Love the "wheelie delicious" fish-feeder that Maxine operates while reading Fish Tales.)
Let's hope that some little inventor shows up for Halloween dressed in sparkle shoes, a flouncy skirt and a knitted thinking cap with attached antenna.

Companion Resources

Meet this trio of young problem-solvers. 
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Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: October 9, 2018  Publisher: Dial Books  ISBN: 978-0399186295
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At the Movies

9/17/2018

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It  all begins with a great book.
Current box office receipts prove that there is significant interest in romantic comedies featuring an all Asian cast. Crazy Rich Asians has been drawing record-breaking crowds. Interestingly, the movie is based on Kevin Kwan's book with the same title. Jenny Han's YA classic To All the Boys I've Loved Before has been adapted for the screen and is available on Netflix. 
But let's not stop with these fantastic films developed from contemporary fiction. There could be more. Look at these three romantic YA novels written by Asian American authors. Each, in my humble opinion, would translate well to the screen. Can you picture some of your favorite actors assuming roles in these stories? I can. If I were a movie producer looking for a follow-up hit movie, I would consider these 2018 YA books.

The Way You Make Me Feel by Maurene Goo

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Clara is the class clown, the prankster. When she takes it too far, she and her arch-nemesis Rose get into a knockdown brawl. As punishment Clara and Rose must work together at KoBra, her father’s Korean-Brazilian fusion food truck. Complications arise when Hamlet from the coffee kiosk begins to pay Clara an inordinate amount of attention. After one date, he decides that she is his girlfriend. Whoa! This is more than Clara's typical superficial relationship.
Our girl has some serious growing up to do. Can she sustain a friendship with a former enemy? Can she commit to one guy? Can she work through her complicated relationship with her mother? Can she repair the damage that her impulsive actions have caused? That’s a lot to ask of one sixteen-year-old.
Maurene Goo’s romantic comedy is more than a smart, slick portrait of love and friendship. It’s also a tantalizing send-up to food trucks. Impossible to read this without having some serious cravings for walk-away eats.
​Review based on uncorrected text.
​Pub date: May 8 2018       Publisher: ​Farrar, Straus and Giroux    ISBN: 978-0374304089

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. The opportunity comes when Twinkle is asked to direct a movie for the local arts festival. Here is her chance to show the Colorado Springs community that she has talent.
Film geek Sahil has offered to help her 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.
There is a slight problem. 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.
Sandhya Menon uses a series of imaginary emails that Twinkle sends to famous women of filmdom in this story of finding where her heart lies.
​Review based on uncorrected text.
​Pub date: May 22, 2018       Publisher: ​Simon Pulse    ISBN: 978-1481495400

American Panda by Gloria Chao

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Mei Lu's parents have her life arranged. At the age of seventeen, she has followed the life plan that they set for her and is about to enter MIT, studying to become a doctor. Her mother, who gives new meaning to the term helicopter parent, has obtained a copy of her class schedule and relentlessly voicemails Mei, wanting to know where she is and what she is doing every moment of the day. She has even selected a suitable husband for her daughter. Mei, a germaphobe, constantly worries about contracting a disease from normal human contact and struggles to stay alert in biology class. She loves dance and is attracted to a young man who is definitely not Taiwanese.
Gloria Chao's heartwarming tale of the girl struggling to be true to herself, while honoring and respecting her family and culture is served with a generous quantity of humor. Love her. Laugh with her. Agonize with her. Mei’s story is the quintessential romantic comedy.
​Review based on uncorrected text.
Pub date: February 6 2018       Publisher: ​Simon Pulse    ISBN: 978-1481499101

Bonus: Love currently available on a screen near you. ​

Romantic comedy films featuring Asian Americans are winners at the box office and in the hearts of viewers. 
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Because of Books

9/4/2018

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Turning Pages: My Life Story 
by Sonia Sotomayor ill Lulu Delacre

My story is a story about books
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Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latina Supreme Court Justice, has penned a tribute to the power of books and the pivotal role that they have played in shaping her life. Born and raised in New York City, Sotomayor is the product of a vibrant Puerto Rican culture. 
Books played an integral role in her young life. Superhero comic books encouraged her to be brave in the face of daily insulin shots. The local library provided solace following the death of her father. Mystery books meant searching for clues and figuring out puzzles. Novels invited her to discover the importance of law. The Bible gave her an appreciation for the importance of distinguishing right from wrong. A set of encyclopedias, science fiction, and the university library opened new vistas. Books became her maps, mirrors, lens for viewing the world, and loyal friends.
Turning Pages: My Life Story highlights the importance of reading and the value that knowledge from books can have in attaining one's goals.
Delacre ingeniously incorporates references to books with each illustration. Images throughout the pages contain direct references to the written word including posted signs, copies of newspapers, and naturally,  books. Two images stand out. First, Sonia sails in a paper boat, constructed from a printed page and her library card. "books were little boats that helped me escape sadness at home." Second, wearing her black robe, Justice Sotomayer ascends the steps to the Supreme Court Building. The steps are created from pages of legal documents. "Justice means treating people fairly under the law. It's also the name of what I am now - Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States."
End papers feature a collage of personal photographs. A timeline following the narration neatly encapsulates the life of this significant figure in United Stars history.
Books are keys that unlock the wisdom of yesterday and open the door to tomorrow.

Bonus

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Pasando páginas: La historia de mi vida, the Spanish edition is also available.
Meet Justice Sotomayor in this interview conducted during the National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: September 4, 2018 Publisher: Philomel Books  ISBN: 978-0525514084
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Reach for the Stars

7/19/2018

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Path to the Stars:
​My Journey from Girl Scout to Rocket Scientist 
by Sylvia Acevedo

“Is there a badge for you somewhere in the stars? “ my troop leader wondered. ‘Maybe studying space? “
Meet Sylvia Acevedo, daughter of a Papa, Texas chemist originally from Mexico and Mami, a native of Mexico who didn’t speak English. She recalls this story of her birth:
​Some of the babies had blond hair. Some had brown hair or no hair at all, and nearly all of them had fair skin. Only one baby had very dark hair. “That was me!”
Acevedo grew up in Las Cruses, New Mexico, surrounded by a close-knit family. Young Sylvia had the desire to learn about her world and the drive to excel in a wide variety of endeavors. She credits the Girl Scouts with helping her learn to set goals and work to achieve them.
From childhood she realized that she had an affinity for numbers and a curiosity to learn how things work. By the age of thirteen, she assumed the responsibility of maintaining the family vehicle, including changing the oil. In junior high school, she opted out of home economics class, choosing instead to take an additional math course. Interestingly, one of the most challenging Girl Scout badges for her to earn was the cooking badge. 
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​I was nine years old, living in a small desert town. And on that day I decided I would go to Stanford someday.
In addition to excelling academically and advancing in Girl Scouts, Sylvia enjoyed basketball. Eventually she reached a point during her college years when she had to make a choice: continue competing on the court or focus her attention on preparing for a career in engineering. She chose engineering. This was a groundbreaking career choice, as engineering was not considered an option for women.
They'd never had a woman engineer, so they didn’t even have a bathroom for women in the test labs.
Sylvia pioneered the work of women in the sphere of science and math. Her achievements resulted in advances in the study of rocket science at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Equally important is the encouragement that her story provides for young girls, particularly for those from under-represented ethnicities and cultures. Her story can be the story for aspiring scientists everywhere.
​
Introduce middle grade to students to the remarkable Sylvia Acevedo: a girl who had a plan, worked hard and never gave up on her dream. This inspiring memoir belongs in all libraries, classrooms, and organizations which serve young people.
"My parents were proud of me, but now, I knew it was more important that I was proud of myself."
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From Brownie to NASA scientist. Still the same winning smile!
There is another hero in this story: Sylvia's amazing mother. She was a woman determined to make life better for her children. Before Sylvia was old enough to attend school, her mother arranged for Sylvia and her brother to learn to read and write English. She also enrolled Sylvia in what was considered at the time to be a questionable program: Head Start. She helped Sylvia obtain a library card, open a savings account, and supported her participation in Girl Scouts. Mami learned to drive a car and made the decision to relocate her family to a neighborhood with more favorable schools. What remarkable women! Both Mami and Sylvia have my admiration and respect.
”'Are you happy?'! And, I finally realized, Mami asked the only question that really mattered."
Bonus 
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My Journey from Girl Scout to Rocket Scientist (English edition)  
​is also available in Spanish: 
Camino a las estrellas: Mi recorrido de Girl Scout a ingeniera astronáutica
This autobiography is enhanced with liberal use of personal and family photographs inserted throughout the text. The author's "Note about Girl Scouts Yesterday and Today" provides context.
​

Companion Reading

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Super Women:
​Six Scientists Who Changed the World
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First Girl Scout:
​The Life of Juliette Gordon Low
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Hidden Figures:
​Young Readers Edition
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
​Pub date: September 4,  2018       Publisher: Clarion Books    ISBN: 978-1328809568
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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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