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READING STYLE GUIDE

Stronger Than Death

8/25/2020

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Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger ill by Rovina Cai

Boundaries between the dead and the undead, dreams and reality, animals and humans are all fluid.
Ellie has the extraordinary ability to bring back the dead. Her truest companion is her dog Kirby who died five years ago. After his death, she reached into the underworld for her beloved canine and returned him to her world. Now he usually manifests himself as a shimmering transparency which Ellie and some others can see.
​Seventeen-year-old Ellie, an Apache Lipan, has inherited her Six-Great-Grandmother’s capacity to travel to the land Below where ghosts and monsters dwell. 
​Named Elatsoe in honor of her legendary ancestor Six-Great, Ellie continues the matriarchal task of protecting her family and close friends.

But there are rules. Do not speak the deceased’s name or view an image of a departed individual. While she may return animals to the world of the living, she is not to bring people back from the land Below.
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Ellie is devastated when her cousin Trevor dies, leaving his grieving widow and seven-month-old son. Authorities report his death is the result of a tragic auto accident. But Ellie has reason to believe otherwise. In a dream, Trevor's ghost informs his cousin that he was brutally murdered. He identifies his killer and asks Ellie to avenge his death. She enlists the help of her best friend to locate the killer and bring him to justice. In addition to traditional sleuthing methods, Ellie relies on the assistance of a tribal Elder and other spiritualists.
The climax is a thriller which crackles with nonstop action. Look for a ghost dog, a mother-daughter team, vampires, an agile cheerleader, and basketball bridesmaids wearing rhinestone-embellished trench coats to join forces in an epic battle to defeat evil.
Little Badger lightens the tension with wry tongue-in-cheek humor. There is a discussion of veggie burgers that taste like beef because they are made with "plant-synthesized hemoglobin." When the fighting escalates there is a request to “Keep things PG” because kids are present. Ellie fires back “We’re at least PG-13...At least. But I appreciate your consideration.”
The satisfying conclusion holds the possibility of new directions for Ellie that will honor her heritage, prepare her for the future, and bring peace to the family. The final tender scenes may cause the book’s pages to be wet with readers’ tears.
Australian artist Cai's soft ink wash illustrations set off the book's mystical ethereal quality.
Set in south Texas, near the Rio Grande River known to the Lipan as Kunétai, the land is more than setting, it’s an integral part of the story. The way of the Apache Lipan is woven throughout the tale with inclusion of Apache mythology, culture and traditions.
Speculative fiction that explores timeless relationships, family loyalty, the bond between animals and people. Ties which death cannot sever. Elatsoe holds readers under its spell long after the final page.
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: August 25, 2020  Publisher:   Levine Querido  ISBN: 978-1646140053
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Sweet Advice

11/7/2019

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Two recently published books share a common denominator: a young girl anonymously authors a local newspaper's advice column. The two books are quite different: Dear Sweet Pea is contemporary fiction for middle grade readers and The Downstairs Girl is historical fiction for young adults. Both are standouts.

Dear Sweet Pea by Julie Murphy

Dear Sweet Pea, 
​I could use your advice...
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Thirteen-year-old Patricia "Sweet Pea" DiMarco is experiencing some significant changes. Her parents have agreed to an amicable divorce and will live on the same street in similar houses to minimize their daughter's discomfort with this new family dynamic.
She is simultaneously negotiating a falling-out with her former best friend and the repercussions from thoughtlessness toward her new best friend. This girl is headed for a world of hurt.
Then there's her neighbor, the eccentric advice columnist Miss Flora Mae who leaves town and asks Sweet Pea to forward advice requests and then deliver the answers to the newspaper editor. Sweet Pea succumbs to temptation and reads letters addressed to Miss Flora Mae. She decides to dispense her own advice and sets up an elaborate scheme to impersonate Miss Flora Mae in print. Sometimes the plan works. Sometimes it doesn't. How she extricates herself from a situation of her own making, salvages damages friendships, and rebuilds trust makes for a humorous, heartwarming tale.
Snippets from the advice column are interspersed throughout the narrative and deal with topics important to tweens: building and repairing friendships, dealing with awkward situations, weathering and surviving change at home,
Dear Sweet Pea oozes with southern charm. There's so much to love here: A vulnerable young girl caught up in a messy predicament. Concerned and sometimes overprotective parents. The agony of clothing shopping when nothing fits. As a bonus, there is a fifteen-pound live cat named Cheese, a dead stuffed cat who goes by Bette Davis, and a whole lotta Aretha Franklin. It's as good as gravy. ​Thank you, Julie Murphy.
​Audiobook accessed via Overdrive.
​Pub date: October 1, 2019  Publisher: Balzer + Bray  ISBN: 978-0062473073

The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee

Dear Miss Sweetie, 
Hold your horses. What's next? Shall women and men be forced to exchange wardrobes - pants on her and petticoats on him? I think you need to rein in your brazen ideas.
Sincerely yours,
Mary Steeple

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Stacey Lee addresses racism, worker's rights, immigration, and women's suffrage from a unique perspective: a Chinese girl living in Atlanta Georgia in the late 1800s.
​Seventeen-year-old Jo Kuan loses her job as a milliner and must return to the demeaning life of a lady's maid for the cruel daughter of one of the wealthiest men in Atlanta. She and immigrant Old Gin secretly live in a tunnel beneath a newspaper printer's shop. She faces
discrimination on several fronts. She’s an orphan, female, and Chinese .
An intelligent and resourceful young woman, she is determined to protect Old Gin and rise above her current circumstances. She finds a way, pseudonymously penning a local newspaper's advice column "Dear Miss Sweetie." Many questions are of the mundane sort: unruly children, troubled marriages, making a hat fit properly. She doesn’t stop there. Under the cloak of anonymity, she speaks out forcefully on racial and gender inequality. Her column is a success and newspaper subscriptions skyrocket.
In time she discovers some of Atlanta's darkest secrets, including a shocking revelation about her own past. ​There is plenty of intrigue: Clandestine meetings in a graveyard. Confronting a despicable Atlanta criminal. Listening in on private conversations via a secret connecting tube.
Readers will discover several fascinating tidbits scattered through this first person narration: Elaborate Chinese knot work (Take a look at some gorgeous samples.) Horse racing in 19th century Atlanta and a female jockey.  A glimpse into a suffragette meeting.  (Love those snazzy sashes.)
​Heart-warming, pulse-pounding, eye-opening historical fiction. The Downstairs Girl is a captivating read.
​Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
​​Pub date: August 13, 2019  Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Reader  ISBN: 978-1524740955
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On the Border

11/13/2018

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“Poetry is the clearest lens for viewing the world.”

They Call Me Güero: A Border Kid's Poems by David Bowles 

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This slim poetry collection becomes more relevant with each passing day. They Call Me Güero chronicles the life of twelve-year-old Güero, a Mexican American boy living on the swath of land near the Rio Grande. Although he lives on the American side of the river, his heritage and identity are deeply rooted in Mexico. 
He frequently traverses the bridge connecting the two countries. In Mexico he and his father eat breakfast and purchase fresh groceries. Güero's imagination inhabits his grandmother's world filled with chilling tales of mythical monsters.
He possesses distinctive physical characteristics which distinguish him from other members in his community: a light complexion with freckles and a head of bright red hair. 
He's a 7th grade student who enjoys sharing books, comics, movies, and gaming with his nerdy friends. He fluidly moves between two countries, navigating crowded middle school hallways and the bustling pulga. He is equally comfortable communicating in Spanish, English, Spanglish, and colloquial Texan. ​English teacher Mrs. Wong expands his multicultural view of the world, incorporating Aztec, Mayan, Chinese and Korean mythology into the curriculum. ​
This first person memoir takes shape through multiple poetic forms such as haiku, rhyming couplets, and free verse.  "Mis Otros Abuelos" is a concrete poem which narrows as the family crosses the bridge connecting the two countries and expands as the family travels further into the interior of each country. 
Bowles handles sensitive topics with a light touch. Racism, stereotypes, immigration are part of Güero's life and are subtly revealed throughout the narrative. This is a boy discovering a world closely connected to his heritage, family, and friends.   
Spanish is clearly an important feature in the text. Bowles liberally peppers these verses with Spanish phrases and references to Mexican and Mexican-American culture. A glossary for most of the phrases with pronunciation and the English equivalent enriches the reading experience. This is especially helpful when reading aloud.
The poems can be read as a collective narrative.  They also work well as standalone vignettes.  Read. Enjoy. Discuss. Share. Repeat.
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¡Gracias!
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​THE REFUGE
ON THE RANCH
It's quiet here except for the hushed flow of the river
and the hum of the bugs answered by the sharp trill of birds
Somewhere, an ocelot growls.

​
"I know poetry when I hear it.”
​Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
​Pub date: September 4, 2018 Publisher: Cinco Puntos Press ISBN:  978-1947627062
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Texas Legend

7/12/2018

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What Do You Do With a Voice Like That?
The Story of Congresswoman Barbara Jordan

by Chris Barton ill Ekua Holmes

"My faith in the constitution is whole, it is complete, it is total. And I am not going to sit here and be an idle spectator to the diminution, the subversion, and the destruction of the Constitution."
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Full disclosure: The first time that I heard Barbara Jordan speak, I was mesmerized. I had tuned into the impeachment hearings, and listened as a powerful voice spoke with measured authoritative language. I wanted to learn more about the woman behind that voice.
Well-known and respected Texas author Chris Barton whose Whoosh, Dazzle Ships, and The Day-Glow Brothers are some of his outstanding nonfiction titles has penned a picture book biography that is worthy of this Texas legend and her legacy.
What Do You Do with a Voice Like That? The Story of Extraordinary Congresswoman Barbara Jordan traces her life, beginning with her childhood in the Fifth Ward of Houston, Texas. Barton mentions the influence that her grandfather and her high school teachers had on her decision to study law. He details her service first as a Texas state senator and later as a United States Congresswoman. The concluding pages reveal her struggle with multiple sclerosis and her decision to return to Texas, teaching at the University of Texas at Austin.
The narrative emphasizes Barbara Jordan’s distinctive communication abilities by frequently repeating the word voice. The multiple meanings for this term are implied as readers learn of her unwavering defense of principle. Thought-provoking questions are posed. Each page turn brings answers and further elaboration. Barton makes it clear that in additional to her verbalization skills, Jordan is remembered for her devotion to the constitution and the values of right and wrong.

View

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I had the opportunity to hear Coretta Scott King Award-winning illustrator Ekua Holmes (Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer, Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement). She displayed some of the original art that she created for this picture book.
​Ms. Holmes shared that her granddaughter served as the model for young Barbara Jordan. Note: she's the young girl in pink standing in front of a tree. It took a few tries before she captured the essence of a confident young Barbara Jordan. The image of Barbara, returning to her home years later is particularly poignant. The artist used a family home as the model in these images. It is fitting that these sources serve as inspiration for her work.
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Page design and layout is particularly striking. Collages include campaign memorabilia and a photo of a television screen, which lend authenticity to the work. Innovative use of font size and color give added emphasis to key points. ​Back matter includes an author's note, time line, a list of recommended books and videos.
​This exceptional picture book is a treat for the mind, heart, and eyes. What a fitting tribute to a remarkable woman. Well done, Mr. Barton and Ms. Holmes.
What do we do with a voice like that?
We remember it, and we honor it by making our own voices heard.

Listen!

After reading about the life of this extraordinary woman, view a video retrospective of her life and a recording of her opening statement during the congressional impeachment hearings. Her voice is compelling. Her influence is immeasurable.
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: September 25, 2018  Publisher: Beach Lane Books  ISBN: 978-1481465618
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Listen!

2/21/2018

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Voices in the Air: Poems for Listeners by Naomi Shihab Nye

"All the voices we ever loved or respected in our lives..."
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In the busy-ness of my day, things seemed to get scrambled. Falling into bed, I congratulated myself on completing all the mailings.  Then a quick check of email reminded me that I had missed one important item to be mailed. How did I miss that one? I worried as I tried to settle down and prepare for sleep. One more thing to add to tomorrow's To-Do List.  I set aside the phone.  This was madness. The mailing could wait.  Instead, I picked up Naomi Shihab Nye’s Voices in the Air ​and began to read and to listen.  Shihab Nye introduces this collection of poetry with a reflection on the value of listening. 
"Might we pause on our way to everywhere we are rushing off to and hear something in the air, old or new, that would help us?"
My evening and subsequent morning, afternoon, and evening were spent with this slim volume. Each poem is an homage one who inspired the author. The list of individuals ranges from poets, musicians, world figures to childhood acquaintances and family members. The ideas are compelling, succinctly and poignantly expressed. 
Here are samples of her exquisite poetry
Some days     reviewing everything from brain's
     balcony
                      filigree of thinking    a calm comes in
     you can't fix the whole street     change the city
     or the world
                      but clearing bits of rubbish possible

                                                          moving one stone

                  from Time's Low Note
down by the Charles River we will go
when daylight shines. I wish I had known you,
Longfellow, but truly I did, as a small reader
with a book cracked wide, speaking aloud
on the old wooden stairs of my grandparents' home,
saying your words, between the daylight
and the dark, swinging them like small lanterns

     from ​Longfellow's Bed
I write her back
     Slowly      slow
Clean one drawer
     Arrange words on a page
Let them find one another
     Find you
Trust they might know something
     You aren't living the whole thing
     At once

That's what a minute     said to an hour
Without me     you are nothing

​     from To Manage
The glory in the doing. The breath of the doing.
Sometimes the simplest move kept fears from
fragmenting into no energy at all, or sorrow from
multiplying, or sorrow from being the only person
living in the house.
     from Loving Working
To live with what we are given-
Graciously, as if our windows open wide as
     our neighbors',
as if there weren't an insult at every turn.
How did you do that
​               from Break the Worry Cocoon
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There are so many treasures within these pages. Shihab Nye's verse introduces "listeners" to voices spanning both the globe as well as periods of time. The stories, the voices, are rich and real.  I was surprised to learn that at age twenty, Naomi traveled to Florida to meet Stella Kerouac, widow of Jack Kerouac.  While she was there, she picked up the phone.  It was Allen Ginsberg calling. Voices. More Voices. Back matter includes Biographical Notes for each of the individuals who inspired these verses.
I recently read Sarah Aronson's Writing Tip: Read a Poem. One A Day. Aloud.  Voices in the Air offers an excellent opportunity for me to begin this practice.  So I shall begin, searching for a peony and give away the collection of skeins of wool, waiting to be knitted into the sweaters, socks, hat, and gloves that I needed when I lived in New York.  Now in South Texas, the wool has lost its usefulness. "give it away” Unsung - On Finding advises. I will give away the wool and, in its place, take up a word:  Yutori. Shihab Nye introduced me to "Yutori", a Japanese word meaning "life-space".  I want to make more spaces in my life. Moving without haste, Making room for mistakes. Opening to possibility.  Thank you, Naomi Shihab Nye.
"Slowing to a more gracious pacing- trying not to hurry or feel overwhelmed- inch by inch-one thought at a time- can be a deeply helpful mantra. It's a gift we give our own minds."
​Review and poetry excerpts from an uncorrected text.
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Windswept

10/10/2017

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All the Wind in the World by Samantha Mabry

There is so much wind in the world.
All the Wind in the World, Mabry's second novel for young adults transports readers to The Real Marvelous, a Texas ranch where jimadors toil countless hours in the blazing desert sun harvesting maguey. Lopping out the hearts of this cactus is soul-numbing, back-breaking, hope-stifling labor.  Sarah Jac Crow and James Holt have a plan to escape their fates in Chicago, work as jimadors, and earn enough money to move to a home of their own on the East Coast.
But the desert and particularly Real Marvelous have a power over its inhabitants. There are witches and curses, death and plagues. And the ever present wind.  Always the wind.
The story is brimming with evocative language that casts its own spell on readers.  There are numerous references to Biblical literature: Sarah posing as a cousin to protect her relationship with James, the escape after killing an overseer of the field workers, and a series of plagues including a devastating attack of bees. The book's mystical elements are rich in symbolism.  Enter a world of heat and pain, longing and loss. The images remain long after turning the final page.

Images from Texas

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​We wait for weather or disease or bees or a sudden accident to come and pick one another off..
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I learned later that desperate people turn, like an apple gone to rot from the inside out.
​
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​The stars in the night sky are overwhelming in number and in their random patterns. Some are glowing. Some are dim. Some are clustered, and other seem to stand apart. Someone has to be the first to point out how they connect. Constellations aren't obvious until the moment they are.
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I worry that my heart is not very hard anymore. It's getting tired and worn out, like maybe its fibers are coming undone.
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I don't believe in signs and symbols, but in reality, facts, and things I can see with my own eyes. A freak storm of bees is just that: a freak storm of bees.
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James and I have always had our plans, but plans are different than expectations. Expectations are firm. You expect the stars to appear at night because they've always appeared at night...Plans are more like half dreams.
​
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Inexplicable

6/19/2017

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The Inexplicable Logic of My Life by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

I have a memory that is almost like a dream: the yellow leaves from Mima's mulberry tree are floating down from the sky like giant snowflakes... Mima is singing something in Spanish. There are more songs living inside her than there are leaves on her tree.
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Inexplicable. What is it about this word? Is it the sound? Is it the elusive idea? I’m not sure. Whatever the reason, I know that I am fascinated with this word, this concept. Inexplicable Logic characterizes both the story's thematic thread and the elegance of Sáenz's poetic prose.
Its senior year for Salvador: A time for endings. A time for beginnings. Salvie lives within embrace of the close-knit Mexican-American family of his adopted father Vicente. An artist by profession, Vincente is the father every kid dreams of. This gay man deeply loves Sal and is both protective, yet willing to allow his son to explore and learn about life. Sal begins to question his existence and his place in the world. "There didn't seem to be any logic behind who we turned out to be. None at all." During his final year of high school Sal discovers that his father has put his desires on hold, determined to place first the needs of his adopted son.
Sal has two friends who figure predominantly in his life: Samantha (Sam) and Fito. The backgrounds for both of these teens contrast sharply with the warm and stable home life Sal knows. He sees the pain which his friends constantly experience and reflects "I guess life hurts everybody. I didn't understand the logic of this thing we call living. Maybe I wasn't supposed to."
Both Sam and Fito cope with emotional abandonment and rejection. All three friends must come to terms with complicated and conflicting emotions with respect to adults in their lives. "just because my love isn't perfect doesn't mean i don't love you"  
The specter of death permeates each of their young lives. Each experiences loss and learns what it is to grieve.
"Life had its seasons, and the season of letting go would always come, but there was something very beautiful in that, in the letting go."
The story opening makes it clear that the act of remembering is an essential component of identity.  “We are what we remember.”
​“I had a picture of my dad teaching me how to tie a tie, taken the morning before my First Communion…I had a picture of Mima holding me in her arms when I was four. She had all this love in her eyes, and I swear I could drown in all that love.”
The endearing appellation “Oh mijito” and other Spanish phrases radiate family warmth and connection. From the fresh tortillas slathered with butter to the kitchen filled with traditional tamale-making, readers feel a strong sense of home and family.
A story of beginnings and endings, life and death, confliction and resolution, faith and doubt; Saenz has created a tale of “Life (that) had a logic all its own."
Gracias Benjamin Alire Sáenz, for this luminous literary gift.

 Sáenz Books for Young Adults

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Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
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He Forgot to Say Goodbye
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​Last Night I Sang to the Monster
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Sammy and Juliana in Hollywood
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YA Authors IRL

2/20/2017

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Teen Bookfest by the Bay

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Busloads of teens from south Texas filled the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi on Saturday February 18 for a memorable day celebrating literature for young adults. Against a stunning waterfront background the third annual Teen Bookfest by the Bay welcomed twenty nine authors who came to share their books, offer insights into the writing process and create memorable moments for young readers. A wide assortment of author panel discussions were offered that included these sessions: The Scarier the Better, Love in Peril, Mind Matters, Survivors, The Real Thing, Worlds Away, Love is Funny (or is it?), Worlds Away, and Gift or Curse. In addition to the panel presentations, teens also had the option to attend more intensive workshops which focused on illustration, manga, and writing. 
Numerous events throughout the day provided teens with opportunities for photos and interactions with guest authors. The day concluded with a book signing session.
Spectacular day!  Kudos to the Teen Bookfest by the Bay committee, event sponsors, and authors!  

Bookfest by the Bay Snaphots

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Author secrets: giraffes, sloth, Kevin the dog, and 1950's furnishings.
Steven Parlato, Jeff Zentner, Beth Fehlbaum, Jennifer Mathieu
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Teens are "my people."
Terri Farley, Kym Brunner, Brendan Kiely, Diana Lopez

​
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Writing fuel: oreos, Diet Coke, tacos, coffee, dark chocolate sea salt almonds.
Guadalupe Garcia McCall, Jacqueline E. Smith, Laura Stampler
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"I got a signed book!"
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"P.J. Hoover came to my school. She is great."
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"I got books signed by two authors!"
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"I can't wait to read this signed book."
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Illustrators try creating illustrations for a well-known fairy tale.
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Evan Turk demonstrates sketching techniques.

Great advice. Memorable lines. 

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"Write about who and what fascinate you." Jeff Zentner
"Let your characters lead you where they want to go" Steven Parlato
​"Where are the books about us?" Latina students asked Diana Lopez
"Listen to the music inside you." Guadalupe Garcia McCall
​"It's a matter of practice & persistence." Jeff Zentner
"I've always processed my life through writing." ​ Beth Fehlbaum
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Lucha Libre

12/26/2016

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Maximilian: The Lucha Libre Club by Xavier Garza

Welcome to the world of lucha libre, a high intensity freestyle form of wrestling. This entertaining sport, originating in Mexico, differs significantly from Greco-Roman wrestling. The competition involves a series of rapid holds and includes "high flying" maneuvers. Individual competitors, known as luchadores, wear distinctive colorful masks.
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"The spirit of lucha libre is the force that drives mere mortals to do incredible feats in the ring"

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With the Bilingual Lucha Libre Thriller series Garza brings the excitement of lucha libre to middle grade readers. 
Meet Maximilian, a young man living in a strong lucha libra family culture. Max's uncle is The Guardian Angel, a superstar luchadore. However fighting is not limited to luchadores. In one of the funniest scenes in the book, his aunts get into a heated disagreement at the hospital maternity ward, arguing as to whether the baby will be a boy or a girl. Sparring both in and out of the ring is in this family's blood.
​Max
seems destined to carry on the family tradition. He joins a secret club for relatives of luchadores and wrestles with the possibility of becoming the next Guardian Angel.
The series will appeal to young readers. It is packed with intense fight scenes, humor, and plenty of middle grade angst (Max has girlfriend issues).
But here's the bonus: the book is bilingual, with the text alternating between English on even-numbered pages and Spanish on odd-numbered pages. These books can be enjoyed by those who are fluent in either language as well as those learning a second language.
​Maximilian and The Lucha Libra Club is the declared the winner!

Companion Books

Want to read more about Lucha Libre?   Garza has got this covered.
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Maximilian & the Mystery of the Guardian Angel
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Maximilian & the Bingo Rematch​
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Lucha Libre: The Man in the Silver Mask
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The Great and Mighty Nikko
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How Low Can You Go?

7/5/2016

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Lowriders to the Center of the Earth
​by Cathy Camper & Raul Gonzalez III

This mélange of Latino culture, Aztec mythology and basic geology takes readers on an action-packed ride in Lupe's meticulously-detailed low-riding classic Impala. Lupe Impala and her sidekicks Elirio Malaria and El Chavo Flapjack Octopus set off to find their beloved cat Genie. Their search takes them deep inside the earth where they encounter Mictlantecuhhli, fierce Aztec god of the underworld. The story concludes with an extravagant Dia de los Muertos celebration. That is one wild ride!
Cathy Camper peppers this continuation of the Lowriders saga with an abundance of fascinating details. The low-rider culture is super-cool and use of Spanish catchphrases gives the dialog a sparkle. I loved the puns - the ridiculously crazy puns - in Spanish, English, and an audacious Spanish-English mix. "You've gato be kitten me!"
A glossary of Spanish idioms, Aztec myths, and geological terms up the book's awesome factor.
Learn more in this interview with the author.
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Now let's move on to an exploration of Raul the Third and his signature art, influenced by his childhood years in Mexico and El Paso, Texas.
Line drawings in red, black, and blue pen are heavily detailed. The expressive style often bursts outside the boundaries of rigid panels and complements the storyline. Note: Loved the expanded drawing explaining the workings of a car swamp cooler.
​With epic fight scenes and plenty of inside humor, Gonzalez packs a punch in every page.
​Learn more about the illustrator here.
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Companion Books

Leo Geo and His Miraculous Journey Through the Center of the Earth
​by Jon Chad
First thing that you notice is the shape of the book. The very long and skinny shape sticks out on a bookshelf.  But it’s the brilliant way that geology is presented to young readers with smart slick text and art that will keep young readers wanting to know more.
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Lowriders in Space
by Cathy Camper and Raul the Third
Meet Lupe Impala, Elirio, and Flappy and discover how they acquired her classic ranfla.
This book is the one that started the saga. Whether you read this before or after Lowriders to the Center of the Earth, you won't want to miss out on any of the back-story and inside jokes. 
​​This book is on the master list for the 2016-2017 Texas Bluebonnet Award.
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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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