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READING STYLE GUIDE

Riding On

5/24/2022

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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.
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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.
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"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
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Secrets & Silence 

5/16/2022

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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.
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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.
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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.
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Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: May 17, 2022 Publisher: Scholastic  ISBN: 978-0545933346
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Facing Your Fears

4/20/2022

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The Girl in the Lake by India Hill Brown read by Bahni Turpin

Celeste has never overcome her fear of swimming. This twelve-year-old tried lessons but failed miserably. Now her phobia takes on mammoth proportions when she and her brother spend a week at her grandparents’ house. Their home features access to a lake!
In addition to Celeste's fear of the water, she soon discovers that her grandparents’ home is haunted. There is a flickering light in an empty room, an unseen hand touching her shoulder, a relative’s face appearing in the mirror, and unexplained shattering glass.
When Celeste sees a photograph of her great aunt, she is shocked to discover she looks just like her Great Aunt Ellie. She suspects that her aunt may be the ghost. When she asks her grandparents about her aunt, they say little to alleviate Celeste’s worries. Instead, they reassure their granddaughter that Ellie never did and never would never hurt anyone. ​
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Listen to a sample of the audiobook.
Celeste is terrified. Her fear of swimming is now compounded by paranormal phenomena . This family vacation is becoming a nightmare. What does the spirit want? Why do her grandparents seem oblivious to is this other-worldly apparition? Celeste searches for answers and tries to protect herself and her family from this ghost.
With each eerie manifestation, Brown ratchets up the tension. Readers will emphasize with Celeste when she makes a panic-stricken call to her parents stating I want to go home. Now!
Caring adults come to the rescue, identifying individual fears and teaching youngsters lessons from history.
Eventually the children learn a reason for the fear of swimming. This dates to segregation practices in the United States when Blacks were not permitted to swim in "white's only" public swimming facilities. These policies prevented youngsters from learning to swim and exacerbated fear of swimming pools.
Turpin's narration, with individual voicing for each character brings the tale to life. She skillful reveals the progression of Celeste's mindset from uncertainty and puzzlement to a full-on panic attack in this audio performance.
The Girl in the Lake, a spine-tingling tale of facing fear and learning lessons from the past.

More Ghost Stories

Looking for more mysteries featuring ghosts from the past? Try these novels for middle grade readers.
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Electronic copy accessed via Hoopla.
Release date: October 5, 2020  Publisher: Scholastic Audio.
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Pandemic Life

4/19/2022

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New From Here by Kelly Yang

People look at you and see a white kid. They look at me, and they see…a virus carrier.
With the onset of COVID 19, the Wei-Evans family faces a major upheaval. Mom and her three children abruptly leave home and family in Hong Kong and return to California, hoping to avoid exposure to the virus sweeping throughout Asian. Dad will remain working in Hong Kong with the family dog to keep him company.
Life in California is not what they expected. Protective masks, hand sanitizer, and social distancing are the norm. Groceries and household goods, especially toilet paper, are in short supply. After a period of in person instruction, schools initiate virtual classrooms. Mom loses her job. Money is tight.
The family’s story is told through the eyes of ten-year-old Knox, whose ADHD heightens his impulsivity, restlessness, and difficulty concentrating.​ Viewing the pandemic through his eyes gives the story a unique perspective. Knox has his own way of seeing the world, which at times can be a bonus but in some situations is a problem. ​
He knows his race, culture, and medical condition mark him as different from his classmates. What would be a small slip-up for other kids, spirals into a major disaster for Knox.
What’s gotten into that kid? I look down. The pain is almost unbearable. It’s a question I’ve been asking myself my whole life.
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Knox’s narrative exudes with his frustrations along with his sense humor and an appreciation for the absurd. A dinosaur costume is an example of his unconventional and clever way of looking at a situation.
The children miss their father. It is particularly hard for Knox, as dad was the one who always had his son's back. The kids decide that the best way to reunite the family is to raise enough money to pay for dad's airfare to California. They sell unwanted items in a garage sale. Unfortunately, an item that they consider "unwanted" is a family treasure. Next they brainstorm,  creating a social media account for dad and systematically searching the online job postings,  posing as their father. Misunderstandings and complications naturally ensue.
Yang handles heavy subject matter with just the right touch of hard reality, disappointment, heartwarming moments, and delightful humor. Her clever descriptions sparkle throughout the narrative.
It feels like a Double-Double burger of I-screwed-up.
While the story centers on life during a pandemic, the narrative explores important topics such as family separation, racism, sibling rivalry, unemployment, adapting to a new environment, and living with ADHD. These issues transcend the current pandemic crisis, giving New From Here a timeless quality.
Life is hard enough already. But if we’re not kind to each other, it’s a double whammy of hard.
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: March 1, 2022 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers ISBN: 978-1534488304
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Know When to Hold. When to Fold.

3/30/2022

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Playing the Cards You're Dealt
​by Varian Johnson read by Dion Graham

Johnson and Graham deliver in Spades
Anthony Joplin has been dealt a tough hand. He’s short. Hence the nickname Ant. He wants to play in the community Spades tournament, but his partner dropped out. Ant’s only option is a girl. She's a shrewd card player. But she's a girl!
However, he has a more pressing problem: his father is addicted to gambling and alcohol. Ant finds dad staying up all night, playing online poker and taking swigs of some mystery liquid in a red plastic cup. His first reaction is to ignore and rationalize his father’s behavior, then to make excuses and try to protect his dad.
He is torn. When is silence the wrong response? Is keeping his father's addictions secret the act of a loyal son? Would talking to his mother about his father be a betrayal?
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Listen to an audio clip.
Ant's older brother discloses a crucial moment in Ant's childhood that demonstrates the extent of his father's illness. His mother and brother remain a constant support. While they love Ant's father, they cannot condone his behavior.
​The heart of the story is a boy’s emerging realization that addiction is tearing a huge hole in the fabric of his family. Ant must come to terms with his father’s addictions. Can you love someone when trust is broken?
Johnson delivers another middle grade story brimming with a cast of characters so real they seem jump off the pages. His characteristic wry sense of humor shines as Ant faces playground taunts, overly-attentive parents, a first crush, and sibling rivalry. This ten-year-old learns that his upstanding mother who cannot cook, his high-achieving brother, and surprisingly, the girl who trounced him at Spades have his back. Always.
The audiobook edition of Playing With the Cards You’re Dealt received the 2022 Audie Award for Middle Grade. Graham delivers a masterful performance. Each character has a unique voice, revealing a distinct personality from the mother dealing with a critical blow to the stability of her family, a kind older brother, a father struggling with addiction, to venerable ten-year-old Ant.
Graham’s narrative skills are consistent throughout the narrative. Pacing is superb. Of special note is the voice of Roland, Ant’s father. While the father’s voice remains in character, there is a noticeable change in the delivery as he slides deeper into the world of alcoholism. When Roland is intoxicated, enmeshed in gambling, or caught in a lie, Graham infuses the voice with an attempt at smooth talking that devolves into hostility and belligerence.
Playing With the Cards You're Dealt covers a lot of territory: Johnson neatly weaves contemporary middle school life with heart wrenching effects of addiction. It’s winning combination.
Electronic copy accessed via Audible.
Pub date: October 5, 2021  Publisher: Scholastic Inc. ISBN: 978-1338780949
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Make Me a Map

3/18/2022

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The Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat

Fast-paced adventure that is jam-packed with secrets, intrigue, and narrow escapes.
Twelve-year-old Sodsai leads a double life. Each morning this impoverished girl sneaks away from her home in the slums and furtively exchanges her rags for the professional attire of an assistant to Paiyoon, the Kingdom of Mangkon’s Mapmaker. She can make exact copies of complex documents,
a talent that makes her invaluable to her employer.
Recently the Queen of Mangkon commissioned several sailing expeditions to search for a legendary southern continent that may be the home of dragons. Sai joins the Mapmaker on this voyage, helping him create maps to chart the ship's course. If the expedition is successful, she hopes to be awarded an honor that will remove the stigma of her low social class and grant her legitimacy as a respected member of society.
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The voyage is fraught with peril. It’s not just motion sickness and fear of dragon-infested waters. An illegal stowaway, a mutinous plan, and a crew member who recognizes her might jeopardize Sai's future. Who can she trust? She must determine who are her allies and who are her enemies. 
Woven throughout the narrative are scenes depicting the dehumanizing effects of colonization, class differentiation, and poverty. Empowerment of woman is a dominant feature in this society, to wit: a queen rules the land and the ship’s captain and most of the high-ranking ship officers are women. If you are looking for fantasy with bold and daring women, this book for middle-grade readers delivers.
There's a lot at stake including the mapmaker’s reputation and the safety of the ship's captain and crew. Soontornvat's tale contains major plot twists, daring escapades, and surprising revelations. It has a WOW factor to the max.

Story Map

This review is based on an uncorrected copy of The Last Mapmaker.  I attempted to visualize the journey by creating a drawing of the voyage. How close will my rendition match the official map that accompanies the published work?  
Random Question: Will Paiyoon approve of this mapmaking effort?
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Creating a story map is another way to visualize a book.
Here's one reader's view of the ship’s voyage.

Award-winning Books from Soontornvat

Soontornvat is a prolific author who writes a variety genre. A Wish in the Dark, middle grade fantasy, received a 2021 Newbery Honor. A gripping account of a headline-making news event, All Thirteen, was awarded YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction, Newbery, Orbis Pictus, and Sibert Honors. She has also written several picture books, middle grade novels, and a chapter book series for young readers.
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​Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: April 12, 2022  Publisher: Candlewick Press  ISBN: 978-1536204957
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Words Words Words

3/15/2022

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

2/10/2022

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Solimar: The Sword of the Monarchs by Pam Muñoz Ryan

The fate of my entire family and my home is in my hands.
Solimar: The Sword of the Monarchs opens with a description of monarch butterfly swarms taking flight in Mexico's oyamel forest. This true-life phenomenon is an awe-inspiring sight. View the PBS video below. ​
Thirteen -year-old Solimar steals into the oymel forest to watch butterflies awaken from their winter hibernation. Warmed by the sun, the monarch pattern woven into her rebozo also comes to life as butterflies once trapped inside the shawl take flight. Soli wonders what causes the magical transformation. The soon-to-be-princess considers this as she returns to her kingdom and learns of troubling events.
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Treachery threatens to disrupt the court's tranquility. King Aveno of a neighboring kingdom schemes to obtain a thousand acres of oyamel forest from San Gregorio. A traitor within the castle plans to take the royal family and staff hostage until Solimar’s father agrees to his demands.
​It is an unfortunate time for her father and brother to be absent from the kingdom. They are traveling on business to the distant city of Puerta Rivera. Upon their arrival, her brother plans to give up the throne and join the crew of a ship ready to set sail from this harbor city.
Time is running out. Solimar must make the dangerous journey to Puerta Rivera and inform her father of King Aveno's plot. This route  will require that she navigate river rapids, avoid treacherous rock formations, locate an exit in a labyrinth of caves, and evade King Aveno's spies. A monumental task!
Solimar remains her own person, determined to risk her life to save her kingdom. She agrees to a traditional quinceañera.. But Soli cuts her hair and decides that both her parents should have starring roles in her upcoming corination ceremony. She eventually convinces her family that she can capably rule the kingdom.
This story traces several journeys: the migration of monarch butterflies, a dangerous expedition to save a kingdom, the transition from girl to young woman, and a princess’ quest to set a new course for her life.
Ryan's narrative is replete with references to Latin culture. Solimar's pet is a resplendent quetzal. At her quinceañera Soli wears her first pair of shoes with heels and dances with father.
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The story combines political intrigue, adventure. and a generous infusion magic. It's a story of tradition and breaking with tradition; love of country and family; and the power that lies within one person to bring about meaningful change.

Story Map

Ryan's fascinating tale invited the creation of a story map. Tracking the numerous journeys and how they all fit together within the overall narrative was a creative and informative exercise. A story map can be a helpful way to recall crucial details and view them in context.
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Protecting Monarch Butterflies

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The World Wildlife Fund reports that the Monarch Butterfly population is threatened by deforestation of forests in Mexico, disruptions in migratory paths due to climate change, and loss of native plants, including milkweed. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service publishes information about Monarchs and offers suggestions for protecting these butterflies.
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: February 15, 2022 Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children ISBN: 978-1484728352
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Water Crisis

1/21/2022

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When the World Runs Dry: Earth's Water in Crisis
by Nancy F. Castaldo

Everything is connected.
Providing sufficient potable water to meet the needs of a parched world is an ongoing challenge. Like a detective, Castaldo searches for insights and solutions to this global crises.
When the World Runs Dry: Earth’s Water in Crisis opens with an examination of water pollution due to lead, coal production, fracking, pesticides, fertilizer, sewage, pharmaceuticals, and harmful bacteria. Some of these factors such as lead contamination have received extensive news coverage. Some less. Case in point: In 2003 scientists discovered more than three-quarters of Chesapeake Bay smallmouth-bass had female egg cells growing inside male reproductive organs. The fish were ingesting synthetic estrogen found in waterways.
Basic information is supported with photographs, case studies, quotations, personal accounts, background, call out boxes, political implications, a variety of examples from around the globe, and financial details.
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In addition to water quality, this informational book for tweens and teens describes other stressors affecting the earth’s water crisis including decreased water supply, climate change, and societal or political conflicts.
Water, water, every where,
Nor any drop to drink.
​The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
The famous Coleridge line is a reminder that the occurrence of tropical storms, hurricanes, tsunamis, and other global water-related phenomena often result in flooding and rising seas, adding to the world's water stress.
​A strength of the book is the call-to-action suggestions embedded throughout the narrative. The concluding chapter, "You Can Make a Difference" offers easy-to-implement ideas such as "Take shorter showers. You can save gallons of water by taking a five-minute shower instead of an eight-minute shower." Project ideas include instructions for making a rain barrel or growing your own garden. Profiles of young "Water Warriors" and a list of water protecting organizations will inspire readers.
Extensive back matter consists of Acknowledgements, thorough Source Notes arranged by chapter, an Index, Resources including Calendar items, Videos,, Books, Activities, and a Glossary.

Companion Titles

​Explore these water-focused Activity Guides intended for younger readers written by Nancy F. Castaldo
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Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date:  January 18, 2022  Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers ISBN: 978-1616209711
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To Be Human 

1/11/2022

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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?
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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
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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
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    ​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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