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READING STYLE GUIDE

Magic Magic Magic

5/2/2022

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Bravely by Maggie Stiefvater

There are two kinds of people. There are people who seek magic, and people the magic seeks.
Stiefvater works her magic, taking story threads from an animated children's movie and interweaving them with a trio of of formidable challenges. This tapestry includes a measure of medieval life and sparkles with fibers of Scottish mythology. The result is epic YA fantasy.
Merida, a fiery redhead girl whose prowess with a bow is legendary, is now a restless young woman. A series of travels have left her unsettled. She wonders: What is missing from her life? What needs to change?
To save her country, she strikes a bargain with two gods. Within one year she will travel to three prearranged locations throughout the land, proving that her family and country can change. It's a daunting task. She is working against time and deeply entrenched traditions.
Seasons play a role, as progression of time is a critical plot point. The text eloquently describes the splendor of each season with sensory details.
The narrative captures the essence of family life: the messy, complicated, frustrating all-of-it. DunBroch castle is brimming with busy, boisterous interactions. ​​“You jam-handed scab!” Merida lashes out at her brother.​
Her parents and three younger brothers are dimensional individuals who change as the story progresses. The evolving relationship between mother and daughter is particularly touching.
As with all her novels, Stiefvater's prose is masterful. She embroiders scenes with her characteristic slightly acerbic wit and ear for language.
  • ​Geese fly in a "forever-dim summer"
  • ​​Her parents "arranged their faces to look less like taxidermied animals."
Signature motifs are sprinkled throughout the text: gloves with oxblood stitching, "the Sight," and a knock at the door.
Just when readers think they know what comes next, the plot takes a one-eighty. The ending is what I hoped for but believed could never happen.  Bravely took my heart on a tender journey.
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A major theme is the push and pull between renewal and ruin, the tension between complacency and change.  Bravely is a study of both external and internal change. Some situations can be controlled. Some events are beyond human intervention. 

​Disclosure: I have not viewed the Pixar movie Brave and can affirm that the book stands independent of the movie. However, now that I have read the book, I want to view this version of young Merida. How does the impetuous sixteen-year-old compare with the young woman in her early twenties, searching for answers, longing to resolve the incomplete pieces of her life.
A story of magic and the power of love, Stiefvater brings her considerable storytelling skills to this novel that is part fairytale, part mythology, and a whole lotta hopes and dreams.
I rarely immediately reread a book. However this richly layered tale drew me in for a second reading, which was as rewarding as my first encounter with Merida. Knowing the eventual outcome helped me appreciate and enjoy the story even more. I am itching to read it again. It's a sumptuous medieval feast.
Images: Picture the Story
The story's skillfully constructed world includes an introduction to Celtic history and mythology. The goddess Cailleach, and a Scottish king are featured characters. She takes liberties with the historical figure Feradach, refashioning the Irish king into a god. All three play pivotal roles in the unfolding saga.
 Stiefvater's gorgeous prose brings the setting and characters to life. 
Dásachtach, Donald II, King of Scotland. Known as the Madman.
Scotland. Photos posted online by the author.
​

Images of the goddess Cailleach as imagined by various artists.
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: May 3, 2022 Publisher: Disney Press  ISBN: 978-1368071345
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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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A Tale of Two Worlds

11/20/2021

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A Snake Falls to Earth by Darcie Little Badger

“Recuerda nuestra historia.”  Remember our history.
Little Badger has done it again: creating another storytelling marvel. Seemingly unconnected narratives spanning over eight years and alternating between two distinctive worlds are magically woven together.
Cottonmouth snake Oli lives in the Reflecting World, home of spirits and monsters. He is devastated when his friend Ami, a small spotted toad, disappears. Oli recruits three spirit animals who can assume human form to help him search for Ami who is gravely ill and faces possible extinction. ​The companions leave the Reflecting World and "fall" to Earth, hoping to locate and save one small toad.
On Earth, sixteen-year-old Nina is puzzled by comments made by her Great-Great-Grandma Rosita and seeks answers from her Grandma. Both women are an enigma. Why do animals mysteriously recover in Grandma’s presence? What accounts for Rosita’s unusually long life?
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When a major hurricane is projected to make landfall near Grandma’s South Texas property, Nina along with her father and the spirit animals join forces to save Grandma’s home from destruction.
The two worlds are well delineated. Characters are fully formed with unique personalities. The narrative sparkles with numerous charming details: a nearsighted snake who wears spectacles, a cantankerous alligator with a score to settle, a father habitually consuming all the chocolates in the candy dish, a grandmother who delights in gifting garage sale purchases.
The story's conclusion is dramatic, taking on mythic proportions. A devasting hurricane. A species facing extinction. A mysterious individual who seems inordinately interested in Grandma’s property. Impossible odds. ​
Extraordinary forces are at work here: the ability to shape nature and the overarching power of love. A Snake Falls to Earth, a 2021 National Book Award longlist selection, is a fascinating tale and a literary masterpiece.
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: November 23, 2021  Publisher: Levine Querido  ISBN: 978-1646140923
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Her Immigrant Story

10/15/2021

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Where I Belong by Marcia Argueta Mickelson

High school senior Milagros Vargas' life has not been easy. But she has learned to cope, caring for her three younger siblings while her immigrant mother works long hours as a housekeeper, cook, and nanny for the Wheelers, prominent members of the Corpus Christi social elite.
In addition to family responsibilities, Millie has maintained a stellar academic record, earning a full scholarship to Stanford.
She has learned to keep a low profile. Her anonymity evaporates when Mr. Wheeler, in a bid for a congressional seat, reveals during a campaign speech that his housekeeper's daughter fled Guatemala with her parents, sought asylum, attained U.S. citizenship and is now an immigrant success story.
Milagros becomes the subject of news reports and internet trolls. Quiet, never-make-waves Millie is thrust into the spotlight, a position she never wanted. ​Media coverage as well as threats directed at her and her family intensify.
Eventually, she must decide if she will remain silent or speak out.
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A strength of Mickelson's storytelling can be found in the details of Millie's personal interactions with her widowed mother whom she adores and does not want to disappoint, a younger sister who has to go to the bathroom at an inconvenient time, and the handsome Charlie Wheeler who suddenly seems interested in her.
Where I Belong is a richly layered narrative that explores headline-grabbing issues and the dynamics of personal relationships.
Audio copy accessed via Hoopla.
Pub date: September 7, 2021  Publisher: Carolrhoda Lab  ISBN: 978-1541597976
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A Girl, Golf, and Graduation

8/11/2021

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10 Truths and a Dare by Ashley Elston

We’re full of bad ideas. So what’s one more?
High school graduation is here and Olivia is ready for this. So ready. She has worked HARD, taking every AP class that she could fit into her schedule, while maintaining a high GPA and has earned her ranking as class Salutatorian. Everyone in her large closely-knit family will be there to honor her. It will be her proud moment.
​When a friend refers to Salutatorian as “runner up,” Cousin Charlie responds. "So, if the valedictorian can’t perform their duties, does the crown pass to you?" Yes, the dialog is loaded with snark.
There is a wrinkle. Olivia learns that the required P.E. credit for her off-campus golf has not been honored. Without this credit, she will not graduate. The golf coach offers to waive her excessive absences and sign her P.E. form if she will work as his assistant during a local golf tournament.
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There is yet another wrinkle. Olivia's parents are out of town and have installed a tracker on her phone to keep constant surveillance on their daughter. Not wanting to reveal her graduation dilemma, Olivia concocts an elaborate scheme to trade phones with her cousins throughout the tournament. They will take Olivia's phone to locations where she should be and respond to mom as her daughter would.
The phone exchanges result in numerous complications including Cousin Sophie getting stuck while escaping through a bathroom window and Charlie attempting to field his aunt’s question about the appropriate bra for a party ensemble.
"Now is not the time for I told you so."
"This is the exact perfect time for I told you so. Never, ever has there been a time when I told you so was more needed."
There are even more problems: some trivial, many hilarious, and a few that are heartbreaking. Olivia realizes that she has made errors in judgement on several counts. Can she get everything straightened out before graduation? Readers will keep turning pages in Ashley Elston's contemporary comedy of errors with a side of sweet romance.  ​10 Truths and a Dare is great fun.
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: May 4, 2021  Publisher: Disney-Hyperion  ISBN:  978-1368062381
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What Divides Us

7/27/2021

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Walls by L. M. Elliott

"Your children are wearing their dog tags, right? And you have an emergency bag packed...just in case?"
"Welcome to Berlin."

Current headlines include these concepts: borders, walls, refugees, family separations, authoritarian regimes. informants, and asylum seekers. These issues are not new. They were on the minds of people during the years following World War II.
Walls introduces young readers to the politics and intrigue behind a wall that was created sixty years ago as a guarded barrier, physically and ideologically dividing Berlin. This fictional account of events begins in August 1960 and culminates with initial construction of the Berlin Wall in August 1961.
Fifteen-year-old Drew McMahon and his family relocate to Berlin for his father’s next military duty assignment. They reside in the zone occupied by America.
Drew’s mother views this as an opportunity reconnect with her German relatives. She introduces her family to their German cousin Matthias who lives in the Soviet Union Sector. Initially, both boys appear to have little in common. Drew plays baseball and is an "army brat." Matthias is a skillful soccer player who pledged to take up arms against NATO.
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The boys discover that they share an interest in contemporary music, the theater, and thought-provoking literature.
With maps, historical photos, and political cartoons, readers are introduced to Berlin after World War II. ​Each chapter begins with a selection of relevant historical photographs featuring images of world events from that time period. This structure offers readers a close-up view of the time and place, giving the narrative an authentic feel.
The text includes numerous German phrases (shown in italics) with context that supports comprehension.  Back matter includes an Afterword,  Acknowledgments, Photo Credits, Selected Sources including books, an article, documentaries, drama series, and films.
Based on actual events Elliott creates a gripping story of a city occupied by opposing countries. Spies are everywhere. Who can be trusted? What is safe? Elliott ratchets up the tension, building to a climactic heart-pounding dramatic escape, evading concertina wire and armed guards.
Walls is a glimpse into a pivotal moment in history that invites comparisons with contemporary events. Highly recommended.
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: July 27, 2021  Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers  ISBN: 978-1643750248
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Jane Austen Remix

5/27/2021

1 Comment

 
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a popular classic with witty commentary on society, expectations and romance is an interesting starting point for a retelling. Example: GoodReads lists 440 adaptations, variations, and continuations of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Several of these stories are available in audiobook format. Pop in the earbuds and chill with two engaging reimaginings of a timeless rom-com.

Pride: A Pride and Prejudice Remix
by Ibi Zoboi read by Elizabeth Acevedo

Well, there goes the neighborhood!
Zuri Benitez is appalled when wealthy Darius Darcy and his family move into her predominantly African American/Latino working class community.
Pride: A Pride and Prejudice Remix maintains several elements of Austen's novel: five sisters, a scoundrel who initially appears charming, a family with an uncertain financial future, and a younger sister who makes a troubling choice.
Zoboi sets this version in a contemporary urban environment with a sensory-rich description of life in Bushwick and the Haitian-Dominican culture. Zuri also confronts racism, gentrification, and stereotyping. The expectation of higher education for students of color is a welcome addition and includes a nice shoutout to Howard University.
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Listen to a sample.
This refreshing adaptation with numerous misunderstandings, awkward situations, and heartbreak eventually arrives at a satisfying conclusion. No one will walk down the aisle, but there is mutual attraction and admiration.
Acevedo's narration is spot-on, injecting the text with an intonation and rhythm which brings the story to life.
Audiobook accessed via Hoopla.
Release date: September 18, 2018  Publisher: Harper Audio

Pride and Premeditation by Tirzah Price read by Morag Sims

What happens when the daughter of a barrister decides to solve a murder? Welcome to the 19th century world of Lizzie Bennett. Price and Premeditation is a mystery that preserves Austen's setting and cast of characters along with several of their idiosyncrasies.
Price moves the story away from Longbourn and to the law firm of Mr. Bennett. He employs Lizzie, Charlotte, and the odious Mr. Collins who does little work but takes all the credit. Lizzie hopes to expand her role from quietly working behind the scenes to taking an active role in a case of murder.
To her dismay, she learns that haughty Fitzwilliam Darcy will be representing the defendant. Undaunted, Lizzie soldiers on: interviewing witnesses, uncovering evidence, and eventually trying the case before a judge. While this aspect of the story is historically inaccurate, it fits neatly with her personality.
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Listen to a sample.
This tale of manners takes a modern twist, focusing on women's empowerment. Lizzie's jurisprudential skill and courage are admired by her father and Mr. Darcy. Her future as a barrister seems assured. However, Miss Bennett has a mind of her own and surprises everyone with an interesting decision about her prospects.
Sims' uses a variety of speech patterns to distinguish various characters, while retaining her "proper" British narration.
​Audiobook accessed via NetGalley.
Release date:  April 6, 2021  Publisher: Harper Audio
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Of Courage and Cowardice

5/10/2021

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On the Hook by Francisco X. Stork

Francisco X. Stork books often feature teens who find themselves in difficult situations, the result of personal choices and circumstances beyond their control. The protagonist struggles with a moral dilemma. There are no easy answers. There is no simple solution. Stork’s stories are filled with complications. Like life.
Case in point:
Sixteen-year-old Hector Robles has a lot going for him. An excellent student and exceptional chess player, he has a best friend he can confide in, a loving and supportive family, and a good part-time job. He also deals with some serious problems. Hector resides in the gang-infested projects of El Paso. His father’s death, along with older brother Filipino's difficulty in coping with the loss of his father, make life doubly hard. His drug-dealing neighbor Joey constantly bullies and threatens him. Hector bears the scar from an encounter with Joey: a “C” carved into his chest with a box cutter. Joey's omnipresent threat haunts Hector. "You know I'm coming. You're dead already."
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One night, fate places Hector in the wrong place at the wrong time. Joey and his brother Chavo confront Filipino. Hector is terrified as he silently witnesses Joey and Chavo attack Filipino. Panicked, Hector drives a truck toward his brother’s killers, seriously wounding Chavo.
The result: Joey and Hector are both sentenced to a reform school for troubled minors. Hector is ashamed of his inability to stop the fight that took his brother's life. He plans to kill Joey as soon as he has the opportunity. A life for a life.
While at the reformatory, Hector is conflicted as he considers his options and wonders what he should do. He is consumed by a desire for revenge and at times makes rash decisions. Surprisingly, he also performs a selfless heroic act. He questions his motives. Why did he do that? Can he overcome his cowardice? How will he satisfy his desire for justice? Is it possible to make things right?
The final pages reveal Hector's surprising solution. His choice will be painful. It's a big risk, difficult and potentially dangerous. But... it feels right.
On the Hook offers readers a searing exploration into the mind and heart of a young man struggling with serious issues. It's a story that needs to be told and one that is impossible to forget.

Try These Books 

Stork explores the lives of three young men who are confronting serious issues, weighing consequences, and making difficult decisions.
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Meet the Author

Francisco X. Stork introduces On the Hook, his latest novel for young adults.
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
​Pub date: May 18, 2021 Publisher: Scholastic Press ISBN: 978-1338692150
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Defining Moment

4/19/2021

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From a Whisper to a Rallying Cry:
The Killing of Vincent Chin and the Trial that Galvanized the Asian American Movement
​
by Paula Yoo

June 2012. Jarod Lew came face to face with his past, a past that he never knew existed. Eventually he would uncover a thirty-year-old family secret.
June 1982. Vincent Chin was sitting in front of a McDonalds when he was bludgeoned with a baseball bat. Days later, he died of massive brain injuries.
Yoo's narrative introduces several seemingly unconnected individuals and brilliantly interweaves their life stories. Jarod Lew wanted to understand his past. Vikki Wong fought for justice after the violent death of her son. Detroit auto workers Ronald Ebens and Michael Nitz worried about job security when Toyota, Datsun, and Honda began to dominate the car market.
Vincent Chin's life and death is the common factor that connects these people. It is a real life drama: a heinous hate crime and the resulting mobilization of the Asian American community.

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​Born in China, Chin was adopted and raised by Asian American parents. To celebrate his upcoming marriage to Vikki Wong, Chin went with friends to a strip club. At the club’s bar he traded insults with Ebens and Nitz. When words escalated to a fight and a smashed chair, all were evicted by the bouncer. Vincent wandered Detroit’s streets and eventually sat down in front of a local McDonalds. Ebens and Nitz were driving around the area when they spied Vincent. Eben stopped, took a baseball bat from his car, and brutally beat Chin until his face was battered beyond recognition. Chin was taken to the hospital where he died days later.
A lengthy legal battle ensued. Initially Ebens and Nitz were charged with manslaughter but the sentence was reduced to probation with no jail time. The Asian American community was shaken by this verdict. They determined to no longer remain silent when faced with inequity and racism. Asians and Pacific Islanders united to protest, seek legal redress, increase media exposure, and join with other civil rights advocacy groups to combat overt and subtle forms of discrimination.
With excellent pacing and stunning detail, Yoo uses newspaper reports, court documents, and in depth interviews to recount events leading up to this tragedy and its long-term affects.
The work is well supported with extensive back matter: a detailed timeline, 311 source citations, numerous photos, and a bibliography. The author’s Afterward personalizes this defining moment in history and brings current events, especially the world wide pandemic into the equation. She suggests that reports of the virus have helped foster and exacerbate targeting Asians.
From a Whisper to a Rallying Cry: The Killing of Vincent Chin and the Trial that Galvanized the Asian American Movement chronicles a pivotal moment in the ongoing struggle for civil rights. It’s the story of a hate crime, the creation of the first pan-ethnic Asian American civil rights organization, and the genesis of the Asian Lives Matter movement. ​Compelling nonfiction.
Electronic copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: April 20, 2021 Publisher: Norton Young Readers ISBN: 978-1324002871
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It Takes a Thief

3/30/2021

1 Comment

 

Hello, Cruel Heart by Maureen Johnson

Sixteen-year-old Estella is an orphan living on the streets of London in the 1960’s. She lives with two sleight-of-hand con artists in the crumbling remains of an abandoned building. The trio’s principal source of income is derived from carefully planned and brilliantly executed pickpocketing. These lifters are masters of their craft. But Estelle is more than a common thief.
Her passion is fashion. She designs and constructs stunning one-of-a-kind styles. This clever seamstress scouts high-end establishments for luxurious fabrics, furs, lace, and elegant accessories. With the help of her accomplices, she nicks the best materials and takes them back to the sewing machine in her grimy little hovel. The resulting ensembles are amazing.
Estelle has a dark secret. There is another personality residing inside this resourceful girl-of-the-streets. It’s Cruella, a vicious and spiteful evil twin who occasionally pops into her head offering diabolical suggestions. Usually Estelle can keep Cruella in check by saying to her alter ego “Thank you for coming, but you may go now.”
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One day she is noticed by two wealthy siblings who take a fancy to this odd young woman with exceptional style. They invite her into their world of excess and decadence. Soon her days are spent lounging in their posh residence and her nights are devoted to an endless stream of parties. She becomes a dressmaker for the elite, creating couture for members of London’s hip social set. There are stolen kisses with the guitarist of popular band. It’s a life that she never dreamed could be hers.
Until...Estelle’s world of opulence evaporates. All gone. Literally overnight.
Johnson brings readers along for Estelle’s journey from rags to riches.  In the "I never saw that coming" catagory, there is an unexpected plot twist in the book's final pages. Hello, Cruel Heart is filled with fascinating characters, 1960's trivia, and vivid scenes contrasting abject poverty with exorbitant wealth. A cinematic tale that is as savvy as Estelle’s fashions.
Post Script: The story features two dogs. Buddy, Estelle’s dearest companion was rescued from a trash heap. Wink is a a one-eyed Chihuahua. Estelle clearly loves both of these canines. There is no depiction or suggestion of animal cruelty throughout the tale.
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
​Pub date: April 6, 2021  Publisher: Disney Press   ISBN:  978-1368057769
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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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