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READING STYLE GUIDE

Play Like a Girl

10/14/2020

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Furia by Yamile Saied Méndez read by Sol Madariaga

Always proud to play like a girl
Fútbol is in Camila Hassan’s blood. As a young girl, she took the head off a doll and used it as a ball to practice her kicking technique. It’s more than a sport, it’s her passion. Her goal is to compete professionally. Camila knows that the best opportunity to play with a world-renowned team will require her to leave her native Argentina. The first member of her family to graduate from high school and to receive an English fluency certification, Camila wants to improve her chances of earning a spot on a professional team. She dreams of escaping the restrictive existence that she seems to be her destiny and creating a new life for herself. She will not be deterred, both on and off the pitch. Her teammates honor the fútbol-fueled fire that burns within her, naming her La Furia.
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So, what’s holding her back? Her family. Her macho domineering father considers fútbol a man’s game and would never consent to permitting his daughter to compete in the sport. Her mother, cowed into silence by her controlling husband, submissively works as a seamstress, fashioning elegant gowns. She wants a better life for Camila and plans for her daughter to attend medical school.
Camila constructs an elaborate charade to conceal from her family her passion for fútbol and her identity as La Furia. She tells her mother that she is with a friend when she participates in games and team practice. So that she can’t be contacted, she allows her phone to run out of minutes. She waits until no one is home to wash her uniform and pretends to study for an upcoming medical school entrance exam.
Her life is further complicated when a childhood friend, now an international fútbol star, returns to Argentina for a brief visit. It is apparent to both that this is more than friendship. The attraction is mutual. Camila faces a heart wrenching dilemma. Does she abandon her dream of becoming a world class athlete and follow the guy who makes her heart sing? Or does she remain focused on her life-long ambition and reject his offer of a life together?

This story is about choices. Hard choices. Camila agonizes over her decisions, recognizing that with each choice, she may be closing a door. Will she choose to follow her passion for fútbol or succumb to her desire to be with the boy she loves? Can she stand up to her abusive father? Will she remain silent? Can she confide in her mother?

Narration moves fluidly between Spanish and English. Madariaga flawlessly differentiates the varying degrees of English fluency among her Spanish-speaking characters. Singing flows beautifully as a natural extension of the narration. The longing, indecision, frustration, and passion of an older teen is clearly evident in this performance.

The author obviously knows and loves the sport. The play by play descriptions bring readers onto the pitch, delivering immediacy and fierce intensity to the narrative. Méndez storytelling is a polished gem. Her characters are multifaceted. The narrative reveals their sparkling qualities as well as inherent flaws. Their lives are messy. There are no simple solutions. Things are not perfect. However, there is hope.
Furia is intense, filled with desires and dreams, heartache and disappointment, pain and passion. Camila is a girl of my heart.
Audiobook accessed via Hoopla.
Release date: September 15, 2020  Publisher: Workman Publishing
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Ripped from Today's Headlines

7/17/2020

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Illegal: A Disappeared Novel by Francisco X. Stork

Siblings Sara and Emiliano Zapata are on the run, hoping to elude an international human trafficking cartel. Illegal continues their story which began with Disappeared. After leaving Juárez Mexico, the two separately cross the Rio Grande River, hoping to outpace and outsmart the syndicate.
The story is told in the alternating voices of the brother and sister. Sara opts to legally request asylum as she believes that ample documentation will support her amnesty claim. Emiliano chooses to go underground, hiding in the back of a horse trailer to evade detection and eventually living in the basement of his father’s home in a Chicago suburb.
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The two have an explosive secret: a cell phone containing damning photographs and documents detailing human trafficking that originates in Mexico and extends into the United States. Those involved include a federal government employee. Before they part ways, Sara entrusts the phone to her brother. Sara and Emiliano must protect this valuable piece of evidence without endangering one another.
Stork ratchets up the tension as both lives are on the line. Sara is locked in solitary confinement within a detention center in Fort Stockton Texas because she refuses to disclose the whereabouts of her brother. Emiliano tries to stay one step ahead of a killer hired to track down the phone. It’s a nail biting, intense read.
The narrative includes fascinating details about everything from technical processes used to open a phone to some of the legal intricacies in the asylum process. There are striking contrasts: Emiliano sharing tender moments with his half brother while Sara endures horrific cruelty. A stunning betrayal keeps the central characters constantly questioning who to trust. Both siblings are faced with moral dilemmas. There are no easy solutions. Every choice has positive and negative consequences. ​
An electrifying story that could easily have been ripped from today's headlines, this can't-put-down story of danger, intrigue, and corruption will keep readers rapidly turning pages. It's action and suspense to the max.
​While the book’s conclusion brings resolution to the immediate dangers facing Sara and Emiliano, there is obviously more to the story. Please Mr. Stork, don’t keep us waiting too long.
Uncorrected copy provided by author.
​Pub date: August 4, 2020  Publisher:  Scholastic Press  ISBN: 978-1338310559
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From Cuba with Love

7/10/2020

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Letters From Cuba by Ruth Behar

Late 1930's were perilous times in Europe. The Nazi party was ascending to power and invading surrounding nations.
Twelve-year-old Esther’s family is Polish and Jewish. They face a future filled with uncertainty and fear. Bravely Esther leaves her mother, siblings, and grandmother to join her father in Cuba. The plan: father and daughter will secure funds for the entire family to escape the dire conditions in their homeland and emigrate to Cuba.
Through a series of letters to her sister, Esther describes her life in this new country. Her correspondence is infused with sensory descriptions: luscious tropical fruit, beautiful countryside, eloquent Spanish language, and the poetry of José Matí. ​She tells of heartbreaking setbacks and small triumphs.
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Initially, the two earn money peddling religious statues in the predominantly Catholic villages. It seems a unusual thing: Jews selling religious statues. Sadly, this venture produces little income.
Their fortunes begin to look up when, desperate for suitable clothing to wear in the oppressive heat, Esther designs and sews a light, comfortable dress to replace her heavy woolen clothing. By hand, she sews similar dresses for her friends. Several of her creations are displayed in a local shop. Then the miraculous happens. Esther receives a sewing machine. With help from her father, the two make attractive lightweight dresses for women in the village. Eventually her designs are sold to a buyer in Havana. Now there is hope that she can earn enough money to reunite her family in Cuba. After some tense moments, the family obtains the necessary money to emigrate.
Esther is a natural at reaching out and connecting with people. She quickly becomes acquainted with many of the villagers. Her father’s rents lodging from the local doctor and his wife. They befriend an Afro-Cuban woman and her grandson. A couple from China own the local store patronized by Esther and her father. She invites this diverse group to share a Seder meal in their tiny apartment. She must improvise, dipping onions in salt water and filling glasses with sour cherry tea. The celebratory dinner is a success. New friendships are formed.
Esther is the star of this story. Her resourcefulness, hard work, willingness to try new things, and acceptance of other cultures and customs make the story shine.
This epistolary middle grade novel was inspired by Behar's grandmother’s journey from Poland to Cuba. Her story offers young readers a fresh perspective on a contemporary issue. ​  Letters from Cuba is a mind-opening,  heart-expanding look at the plight of immigrants, the far-reaching effects of World War II, and the stain of racism.  
​Electronic copy provided by publisher.
​Pub date: August 25, 2020  Publisher:  Nancy Paulsen Books   ISBN: 978-0525516477
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Sweet with a Sprinkling of Salt

5/14/2020

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Stand Up, Yumi Chung! by Jessica Kim

What does it mean to follow my heart, anyway?
​What if pleasing my parents and wanting to do comedy are both pieces of my heart?
Hurrah! A middle grade book that is funny. And heartwarming and painfully honest. Bonus: It is served with a side of tasty Korean barbecue.
Meet Yumi Chung, eleven-year-old daughter of immigrant parents. Pressure. She constantly feels parental pressure to excel academically. It's particularly difficult because her older sister Yuri is the embodiment of the ideal Korean daughter: accelerated educational advancement and currently a medical school student.
Not Yumi. Earning high marks and academic accolades are not that important. What she really loves is stand-up comedy. This seems bizarre, as she is painfully self-conscious.
Mom has decided that Yumi will spend her summer with tutoring sessions in preparation for the SSAT, Secondary School Admission Test. ​​​Yumi grudgingly heads off for morning test prep sessions combined with three hours of afternoon study at the library. 
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Then something amazing happens.
​She discovers a comedy club adjacent to the library. What luck! YouTube sensation Jasmine Jasper is facilitating a comedy camp. Right now. At the club. Yumi succumbs to temptation and steps inside. She is mistaken for a camp registrant who failed to show. Here’s Yumi’s chance to shine. Performing using another identity frees her from stage fright. She is a success!
Unfortunately, the family is dealing with several other issues. Her high-achieving medical student sister has decided to quit school and join the peace corps. The family restaurant is experiencing a significant financial downturn. Yumi wants to quit the prestigious and expensive private school favored by her parents and enroll in the new Performing Arts Magnet School.
Yumi's juggling act of working at the restaurant, attending morning test prep classes, maintaining the pretense of studying daily at the library, preparing a routine for an upcoming comedy club showcase, and assuming the identity of another workshop participant all comes crashing down. Big time.
My plans are teetering like Jenga bricks, and I'm going to get caught under the rubble...
Readers will sympathize with Yumi as she tries to unravel the mess that she has created, support the family's business, honor her parents’ wishes, and find a way to realize her dream. Everything doesn't work out perfectly. There are heartbreaking moments and several compromises. However... there are jokes!
​Like Korean barbecue Stand Up, Yumi Chung! is sweet with a few salty tears but definitely savory. YUM! ​Kudos Jessica Kim.

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Holy Hot Cheetos!
It's Yumi's Super-Secret Comedy Notebook
Yumi picked up a tip from her comedy idol Jasmine Jasper. She maintains a journal, recording her observations and reactions to events in her life. These entries could be the basis for possible jokes and comedy routines.
Readers will find several pages from Yumi’s notebook scattered throughout the first person narrative. Yumi accompanies her entries with personal emojis that express her current mood .

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: March 17, 2020  Publisher: Kokila  ISBN: 978-0525554974
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A Reason to Hope

3/31/2020

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The Great Upending by Beth Kephart

Turns out that you have no idea how any story's going to end.
There’s something about Beth Kephart’s writing. Instantly she draws me in, exquisitely capturing the moment with sensory imagery. I'm right there, sitting on a windowsill, gazing at the night sky with eleven-year-old Sara Scholl and her younger brother Hawk.
Hawk kicks his bare feet. I kick mine. The air freckles up with fireflies. The trees wave their hands in the breeze.
This summer Sara is grappling with a physical condition that seriously affects her heart, a mysterious man who has taken up residence on the family farm, and the aftermath of a devastating fire.
Sara stands out among her peers. Literally. Taller than both of her parents, she is extremely thin and her feet are flat. She has a condition known as Marfan syndrome which affects the connective tissues throughout her body. Of critical concern is the possibility of an aortic rupture. A surgical procedure could save her life, but it requires the services of an expensive specialist in faraway Cleveland.
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Then there's The Mister. Sarah's father refurbished an unused silo, creating a small round home which the family rents to help offset the farm’s expenses. Sixteen days after completion of the tiny round multi-storied home, a mysterious stranger arrives in an old Cadillac limo and agrees to rent the space. He silently moves about, keeping to himself. Sara and Hawk speculate on who this man is and why he moved into the silo. They refer to him as The Mister.
It's August. The land is parched, the cistern dry. Then the unthinkable happens. The hay shed and hay field catch fire. Shed and most of the hay are gone. All that remains are char and soot, banishing the family's hope for a profitable farm season.
Three totally unrelated things woven into a story of beauty and power. Kephart does it. And does it masterfully.
It’s a tale of quiet desperation and the uncertainty of life.
Somehow despite, or maybe because of a life-threatening condition and the possibility of financial ruin, there is a reason to hope.
​Hope is rain. Hope is Sara’s seed collection. Hope is a pair of red shoes.
​I love this book. Considering current world events, The Great Upending has arrived at precisely the right time.
Bonus: Kephart offers a glimpse into the world of children’s book publishing when a librarian and an author visit a publisher’s offices in New York City’s iconic Flatiron Building.
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
​Pub date: March 31, 2020  Publisher: Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books  ISBN: 978-1481491563
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Changes. Changes.

3/26/2020

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The List of Things That Will Not Change
by Rebecca Stead

a story about me, but a different me, a person who doesn’t exist anymore
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Bea experienced a major life disruption four years ago when her parents divorced. Now she divides her time equally between the apartments of her supportive mother and understanding father. To ease her anxiety, they presented her with a green notebook to record "The List of Things That Will Not Change." They started the list with:
  • Mom loves you more than anything, always.
  • Dad loves you more than anything, always.
They encourage Bea to look for things that remain constant, things that she can depend on. School, relationships with peers, and the distinctive parenting styles of her mother and father are predictable.
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The irony is that her life is about to change in several surprising ways.
Without revealing an important plot point, it is safe to say that the most significant change that occurs is the change in Bea herself.
At age twelve, Bea’s life is about to experience another seismic shift. Dad has announced that he and his partner Jesse are getting married. The secure little nuclear threesome of Dad, Jesse, and Bea will expand to include Sonia, Jesse’s daughter who lives with her mother in California. Bea is thrilled at the prospect of having a sister and fantasizes about life with a sibling. When Sonia comes for a visit, things are not as Bea envisioned. Not at all.
Bea has her share of challenges. She suffers from eczema which requires application of a medicated lotion. She frequently opts for quick but temporary relief by running her hands under scalding hot tap water, leaving her skin sore and dry. She often exhibits a lack of impulse control, rashly responding when angry. On more than one occasion her impetuous outbursts have alienated her from those close to her. Mom has arranged for her to regularly meet with a therapist to help Bea learn to deal with her anger and frustration.
Stead lovingly paints her central character as flawed. Bea makes mistakes, some trivial, others resulting in serious consequences. Her anger, recklessness, and misreading of a situation bring pain to herself and to others in her immediate circle. She’s a girl who loves to dance, looks forward to the future, and eventually takes the massive step to acknowledge her past mistakes and courageously work to make things right. Readers will fall in love with Bea, not by overlooking her faults, but by accepting this imperfect girl. Readers will discover, like her family and friends, that they love her. All of her. Her strengths and her weakness. A story of love that persists in the face of change.
While The List of Things that Will Not Change narrative is a whole cloth, each chapter stands alone, a polished gem in a sparkling diadem of a novel. I read, stopping to savor each individual chapter.  Each is a well-crafted tiny literary jewel that offers a glimpse into a precise moment in Bea's life.  Chapters fit together into a smooth and polished middle-grade story. This is Stead at her best. 

Blue on Blue 

Look at all these lovely shades of blue. Five distinctly different hues. Five unique stories. They all come from the brilliant mind a master storyteller.
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Electronic copy provided by publisher
​Pub date: April 7, 2020  Publisher: Wendy Lamb Books  ISBN: 978-1101938096
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Once Upon an Eid: Stories of Hope and Joy by 15 Muslim Voices

2/21/2020

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Once Upon an Eid: Stories of Hope and Joy by 15 Muslim Voices
by 
S. K.Ali (Editor), Alisha Saeed (Editor)

There are a lot of ways to show our faith and love to Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala.
​You pick the ones that are right for who you are right now.

Candice Montgomery
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So this is what Eid tastes like!
N.H. Senzai
This collection of short stories paints miniature portraits of an assemblage of Eid-al-Fitr celebrations. While the practice of faith varies within the Muslim community, each unique Eid observance is memorable.
The anthology is feast for the senses. Stories include lighthearted as well as poignant glimpses into the culminating observance of Ramadan with descriptions of private prayer, public celebrations, distinctive clothing, special food, and gifts. Readers meet a recent convert to Islam. She fasts and samples spicy foods for the first time. For others Eid is bittersweet, reviewing celebrations from years past and remembering absent family members. ​ Some entries follow the journey to be with family: taking the subway to the Bronx or sitting in the car’s back seat with siblings on the way to Sydney, Australia. I loved the descriptions of clothing: choosing to wear a hajib for the first time or fashioning a unique gown from a thrift store purchase.
A variety of writing styles and formats (prose, verse, comic panels) share long-standing traditions and introduce contemporary celebrations. Bake a batch of special Eid brownies with ALL the toppings and savor this delightful anthology. Share the joy of family, generosity, and friendship.

Joyous Faces

It’s true. Muslims women are diverse. They cannot be typecast. Each woman is unique, reflecting her country, culture, and family. Some chose to express themselves with a head scarf. Some opt for a western style of dress. 
What do they have in common? Pride in their Muslim identity. Respect for the diverse ways to practice their faith.
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Insightful stories. Engaging plots. Thought-provoking points of view. S.K. Ali and Alisha Saeed have assembled the work of fifteen talented women. Meet some of the amazing authors who contributed to this anthology. ​
 Once Upon an Eid contributors include: G. Willow Wilson (Alif the Unseen, Ms. Marvel), Hena Khan (Amina's Voice, More to the Story), N. H. Senzai (Shooting Kabul, Escape from Aleppo), Hanna Alkaf (The Weight of Our Sky), Rukhsana Khan (Big Red Lollipop), Randa Abdel-Fattah (Does My Head Look Big in This?), Ashley Franklin (Not Quite Snow White), Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow (Mommy's Khimar), Candice Montgomery (Home and Away, By Any Means Necessary), Huda Al-Marashi (First Comes Marriage), Ayesha Mattu  ( Love, InshAllah: The Secret Love Lives of American Muslim and Salaam),  Asmaa Hussein (A Temporary Gift: Reflections on Love, Loss and Healing), and Sara Alfageeh ( Star Wars Women of the Galaxy).
I can almost hear their whispered wishes-
duas spoken in the fields each Eid.
Say “ameen” to those prayers,
all our voices as one.

Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow
Electronic copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: May 5, 2020  Publisher: Amulet Books  ISBN: 978-1419740831
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What Was Lost

2/11/2020

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​The Everything I Have Lost by Sylvia Zéleny

“Diaries are for when life isn’t fun.
They are for figuring out what went wrong.”
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Thirteen-year-old Julia keeps a deeply personal journal describing her life near the Mexico -United States border. Over the course of approximately two years she discloses her fears, her uncertainty, and the longings of her heart. Detailed lists and commentary reveal her life, her everything.
Living in Juárez with father, mother, and younger brother Willy, Julia’s life experiences a seismic shift when her father begins working for the mafia. She assumes that he is a courier. Suddenly the family has a new car, a new house, and many luxury items. But wealth has a downside.
Mamá is no longer her confidant. Her mother's primary objective is to protect and care for her husband. In an attempt ​to shield her children from the mob's influence and possible retribution, she sends Julia and Willy to live with family in El Paso: Aunt Tia, Cousin Jose, and their dementia- afflicted great grandmother.
​​​This young girl faces an uncertain and frightening existence. She must adjust to a new city, new home, new school, new language. She is angry with her father who mysteriously vanishes for long periods of time. She resents her mother for what she perceives as abandonment of her children. She feels that she must accept responsibility for Willy and be the mother he no longer has. This is a heavy burden for a young girl to carry.
When her life in Juárez is forever gone, she makes a startling discovery.
Her father is more than a courier. He is a hit man.
​Julia is devastated.
Her pain bleeds across her diary pages.
She enters an American high school with a few glimmers of hope. She makes a friend and shares with him her shameful secrets. Her great grandmother becomes a source of constancy and comfort. After her husband dies, Mamá reunites with Julia and Willy in the United States and takes tentative steps to reconnecting with family. 
The Everything I Have Lost is a story that is bleak and often terrifying. It paints a picture of survival and finding hope when things seem hopeless. Zéleny's prose is poignant and piercing in its honesty and humanity. A story that readers will not soon forget.

Voices from the Border

"Hold on to your dreams...When times get tough, hold on tight and don't let go."
Reyna Grande
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​Copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: February 11, 2020  Publisher: Cinco Puntos Press  ISBN: 978-1947627178
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What About the Children?

1/23/2020

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War affects everyone, including children. Three middle grade books written for middle grade explore the devastating effect of World War II on youngsters living in Great Britain. Three very different books: the life-affirming true story of courage in the face of disaster, a thrilling saga filled with danger and intrigue, and heart-filled tale of a disabled girl learning to trust. Three completely different stories. All excellent reading for middle grade.
Torpedoed: The True Story of the World War II Sinking of the Children's Ship
​by Deborah Heiligman
Each person had a life, a story, a life worth living and a story worth telling.
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When Germany began relentlessly bombing London some parents sought to protect their children by sending youngsters overseas to places of relative safety. A luxury ocean liner, the SS City of Benares set sail on September 12, 1940 departing from Liverpool and bound for Canada. The ship carried 406 people, including over 90 children. Terror struck five days into the journey when a German U-boat fired a torpedo, sinking the ship.
Meticulously researched, the narrative describes the ordeal endured by passengers and crew set adrift in the icy Atlantic. The story of six boys who spent eight days clinging to a lifeboat until they were rescued is particularly harrowing.
​​Torpedoed: The True Story of the World War II Sinking of “The Children’s Ship” chronicles this catastrophe and the fate of its few survivors. ​A story of tragedy and suffering.  A story of heroism and hope. Narrative nonfiction at its best.
Deborah Heiligman describes her path to becoming an author.
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: October 8, 2019  Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)  ISBN: 978-1627795548

Our Castle by the Sea by Lucy Strange

I was very small indeed when Pa first told us the legend of the Wyrm and the Stones
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Two sisters, along with their parents live in a lighthouse set on a clifftop overlooking the sea. Nearby are four upright stones, which local lore believes are four girls turned into stone. Petra suspects that she is destined to become a part of this ancient legend.
With the threat of a German invasion, Britain relocates individuals with German heritage and possible enemy sympathies to internment camps. Petra Zimmerman Smith's mother is German. A tribunal determines that this wife of a British citizen may be a threat to security. She is sent to an internment camp.
It is evident that there is a saboteur within the community. Petra is determined to discover the traitor's identity and exonerate her mother. It's a dangerous mission. The enemy is ruthless and will stop at nothing to silence anyone who interferes with plans to aid a German invasion. Petra risks her life to save her family and her country.
 Our Castle by the Sea is a fantastic intertwining of mythology, history, and intrigue. 
Author Lucy Strange introduces her book.
Audiobook accessed via Audible
Pub date: April 30, 2019  Publisher: Scholastic Audio  ASIN: B07PT38ZB6

The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

There are all kinds of wars. 
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​Neglect and abuse are all that Ada has ever known. She and her club foot are concealed in shame within a small apartment. When the threat of bombing reaches London, she and her brother escape. Posing as evacuees, they travel to Kent and are placed in the home of Susan Smith.
This benefactor offers the siblings a clean warm home with plenty of nourishing food. She arranges a consultation with a doctor who believes that the deformed foot can be corrected. Ada learns to read, makes a friend, and watches for German spies. ​Most wondrous of all, Ada cares for and rides the beautiful pony in the adjoining pasture. ​
While the threat of an enemy invasion is constantly on the minds of everyone, within the home of Susan Smith each one is fighting a personal battle.
The War That Saved My Life is satisfying and heartwarming. A story of conquering fear and learning to love.
Kimberly Brubaker Bradley introduces the horses that inspired an important story element.
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
​Pub date: January 8, 2015  Publisher: Dial Books  ISBN: 978-0803740815
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Mi corazón

1/20/2020

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How to Build a Heart by Maria Padian

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Isabella Crawford leads a double life. At home she is the daughter of her white father, a Marine killed in action and her Puerto Rican mother, who ekes out a living as a nurse's aide, moving her family from place to place.
Now the family resides in Virginia where Izzy has received a scholarship to attend a prestigious Catholic high school and sing with the school's premier vocal group. She has her father’s green eyes and can "pass" at school, borrowing clothing from her best friend to supplement her meager wardrobe. She informs classmates that her mother is a nurse.
"I’ve been hiding for a long time. Behind my school uniforms, behind my complicated car pool plans, my borrowed clothes, all the stories I made up in every new town we called home."
Isabella's life undergoes a dramatic shift when her family is selected receive a brand new Habitat for Humanity home. The house will be built in an affluent section of town. Izzy befriends Aubrey, a transfer student who lives near the Crawford’s new home. To further complicate matters, Aubrey's good-looking brother and co-captain of the local school’s basketball team is attracted to Izzy. It is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain her elite-private-school-student facade.
​"I felt shame for all the times I pretended to be something I wasn’t. Letting people think I was something I wasn’t."
My heart ached for Izzy as she struggled to care for her younger brother, complete assignments by pirating Will-Fi access, mend an broken relationship with members of her father’s extended family, and forgive her best friend. Maria Padian, daughter of an Irish father and Puerto Rican mother, has experienced many of the identity issues that Izzy faces.
"Growing up sometimes felt like having a guest pass to a club I couldn't join." 
Poverty is not pretty. It is fraught with the constant need to figure out how to survive, who to trust, and how to protect those you love. ​
​ Padian paints a realistic picture of this bicultural, biracial teen. It is easy to empathize with Izzy. She makes mistakes, misjudges. She also takes risks. The narrative is punctuated with Spanish phrases succinctly conveying ideas and emotions in a manner that the English language cannot.
​How to Build a Heart: a story overflowing with a generous quantity of heart.  ​"Oh, mija. Te quiero."

When You Don't Fit In

Trying to "fit in" isn't easy. Cultural, racial, and socioeconomic differences can make school tough for young teens. These excellent books explore some of those difficulties.
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Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
​Pub date: January 28, 2020  Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers  ISBN: 978-1616208493
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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.

    Professional Reader
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