Please post on your choice of reading in this category. Remember, you are reading like a media specialist, so it is not about your personal likes and dislikes. Include in your post:
a. Audience for whom the book is written
b. Audience to whom it will appeal (might differ from a.)
c. Particular strengths of the book
d. Particular weaknesses of the book
e. Any special considerations (artwork, curriculum links, community values, beliefs espoused, etc)
f. And, in the School Library Journal’s format: Your verdict, supported with details
No plot summaries and no spoilers, please. Failure to follow that rule will result in revocation of your authoring rights, guaranteed!!
We all remember the first ghost stories we heard. As children, around campfires or at sleepovers, listening to a tale of paranormal activity can leave a lingering memory of fright and fear that never quite fades away. As we get older, we like to believe the things that scare us most are more complex than floating phantoms, but, as the novel Watch Over Me, proves: maybe it’s just all how you look at things.
ReplyDeleteNineteen-yea-old Mila is introduced to readers as a young woman cycling through the foster care system. The reason for her parents’ absence is not immediately clear, but Mila is hopeful that she is on the brink of moving in to a home that will keep her permanently. She has been accepted into a family comprised of many foster children, all living and working together on a remote farm out near the coast. She learns she will serve as a teacher for another young adoptee Lee, and find new brothers and sisters in the other children and young adults living at the homestead.
What she isn’t prepared for are the ghosts.
At her new sprawling home, Mila is confronted with ghosts, in more ways than one. Mila’s story will certainly appeal to readers who carry personal ghosts of their own; it is written to reflect trauma within families and the perseverance it takes to remain strong for loved ones and oneself. The book will also appeal to lovers of a traditional but twisted ghost story, mysteries, and the extraterrestrial.
The writing is superbly successful at crafting atmosphere. Descriptions of Mila’s new homestead are evocative of the chill and bluster that can only come from a place situated on the edge of a cliffside and inhabited by supernatural beings. The language feels cinematic and allows the reader to picture clearly the scenery around them.
This book is special in that it will draw young readers in on the strength of its spooky premise and dazzling cover art, and in a teaching or library setting, it leaves a lot to be discussed. There are themes of trauma, confrontation, and self-acceptance. As such, many lessons can be derived from its pages.
VERDICT: A sweepingly cinematic story that will win young readers on mystery and intrigue and leave them meditating on the complex meaning of ghosts.
This books sounds like it would really appeal to our readers who enjoy a good ghost story!
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ReplyDeletePaper Towns
ReplyDeleteGrowing up in a town with the girl of your dreams living right next door. Becoming the best of friends until high school where the relationship changes from hanging out all the time to where she barely notices you. Until one night Margo climbs into Quintin’s window. Asking for Q’s help to seek out acts of revenge on those that have done wrong by her. It was this night where Margo created one of the most exciting nights for Q. This night only ignited Q’s flame for Margo. A romantic mystery, where Margo goes missing but leaves clues behind for Q to find her. Will Q solve the mystery to find the love of his life? Will he get the girl of his dreams?
The strengths of this book occur around the wonderful adventures that high school students can be related to. The setting of this story occurs during their senior year, where students will be experiencing events for one last time. High school students, (seniors) or adults who recall their own memories of high school may relate to this story. Going to prom, getting the girl, and building meaningful experiences with your best friends.
The Author John Green includes a great balance of metaphors and philosophical discussions centered around the characters. There are many funny moments shared that help to keep the reader engaged. Q’s best friend Ben was a hard character to follow, he constantly using offensive language and had a crusty personality. Ben's character added a bit of annoyance to the story that many high school students can relate to if they have friends like him.
This book is broken into three parts that are represented by three different metaphors; The strings, the grass, and the vessel. The strings is about breaking and irreversible change; the grass is about friends,family, and memories; the last metaphor the vessel is about journeys and final destinations.
Verdict: The metaphors in this story create a lovely build-up in the first two sections and the final section ties it all together.
This is a great story that is hard to put down, it's jam-packed with comedy and adventure that causes the heart to fill with many emotion. I would recommend this book to high school students. Fun fact this book was also turned into a fantastic movie.
This is the one we were talking about in our breakout room! I was thinking about the movie and asked if that was the one that had "the actress with the eyebrows"! Now I remember that actress was Cara Delevingne and the movie was Paper Towns. I really appreciated reading your review of the book. I tried to read it in my first year of college, while I was in my John Green phase, and I just couldn't get through it for some reason. I don't remember much about it but your review tells me that maybe I just didn't connect with the book at that time because I was past my high school experiences. I liked reading about the metaphors; I don't remember that either but it is intriguing enough to make me want to give it another try as a more mature reader!
DeleteFor those of you who have not seen the movie, here is the trailer: https://youtu.be/rFGiHm5WMLk
DeleteGolden Arm by Carl Deuker
ReplyDeleteGr 5-9 Life for Lazarus Werthers and his half-brother Antonio isn’t always easy growing up with a single mom and living in the Jet City trailer park known for its rough and tough reputation. They played on their high school baseball team, Laz as the star pitcher and Antonio as the short stop while working part time as well. Yet everything begins to change as Laz enters his senior year. Their high school baseball coach retires and the principal refused to replace him leaving them without a team. His brother’s new friend Garret seems to be heading both of them into a world of trouble and Curtis, Antonio’s dad moves back in after being gone for the past fifteen years. Not to mention their home is set for demolition the following summer. As his life is turned upside down an unexpected opportunity arises for Laz to play on a nearby high school baseball team Will Laz stay at home with his family that is in turmoil or will he continue to pursue his passion for the game of baseball? The book contains some unexpected twists that explore the themes of family, priorities, and the role sports play in our society today. This book will appeal to male readers who are into sports particularly baseball as it does go into detailed description of multiple games.
Verdict: Golden Arm would be a nice addition to any middle school that will have you cheering for Lazarus to overcome the odds and pursue his dream of being a professional ball player.
Looks like Carl Dueker has written several sports novels. You can find more on his website: http://carldeuker.ag-sites.net/index.htm
DeleteHazardous Tales: Alamo All Stars
ReplyDeleteNathan Hale
I was talking with a seventh-grade student about my assignments and said I was struggling thinking of a good western book to read. He immediately recommended the story Alamo All Stars. This is a graphic novel that takes place in the wild west during the Alamo. This book is a fun twist on history. The story takes place as a graphic novel and highlights all of the key people within the Battle of The Alamo. The story is told through a comic lens and will be making any middle schooler laugh. Titlewave has the book for 3rd – 7th grade. Yet, I feel it is more appropriate for 5th through 8th grade. There are a number of scenarios that discuss death, disease, and one needs some historical background knowledge prior to reading, which will make it more appropriate for middle school students. This book had me learning so much about the Alamo and had me laughing along the way. Yet, a weakness was that there was a lot of text bubbles and blocks and I found myself sometimes getting lost and not knowing where to read or look next. This aspect also makes me feel that this is more appropriate for middle school students.
Verdict: This book is entertaining and a fun way to learn about a historical event. Middle school students will enjoy learning about the wild west while they have some good chuckles.
Your are describing an important aspect of graphic novels: they are multi-modal (pictures and text) so the cognitive load can be heaver. A graphic novel sounds like an entertaining way to learn about history!
DeleteA Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson is a contemporary mystery thriller novel about Pippa, a teenage girl trying to solve a murder for a senior project. She believes the guy, Sal Singh, who was blamed for his girlfriend’s murder five years ago is innocent and she wants to find proof for her project- and his family. When Pip starts to find legitimate information that could help prove that Sal was innocent, weird things start happening and she starts getting messages warning her to stop investigating or else. This makes Pip even more determined to figure out what happened, because now she knows there is still someone out there that wants the truth to remain a secret.
ReplyDeleteThis book is written for young adults, but anyone older will also appreciate the mystery and thrill of this murder investigation. There are a few surprising twists that will keep readers engaged and entertained. There is also a bit of romance sprinkled into the story, but it is not the main focus of the plot. Readers will become invested in Pip and her inquiry into what really happened five years ago.
VERDICT: Readers who enjoy a fast-paced mystery thriller will not be disappointed with A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder. This book will keep you on the edge of your seat and is a great addition to a high school library collection.
See a short interview with the author here: https://youtu.be/Bk8kkFzLovU
DeleteThe Bridge Home by Padma Venkatraman
ReplyDeleteGr 4-7--- Eleven-year old, Viji, has always protected her older sister, Rukku. So, when their abusive father ridicules Rukku's verbal skills and hits her for the first time, Viji vows that it will also be the last time. Seeing their mother forgive his abuse over and over through the years, Viji determines that fleeing their home and their parents is the only way out. By the time they get to the busy city of Chennai, they have already lost so much. With their trust shaken, a kind aunty provides a little nourishment and glimmer of hope. They set off in search of shelter for the night and come across some tarps on a run-down bridge that seem to be abandoned. However, the occupants, two young homeless boys, Muthu and Arul return to their tarps after a long day of work. The boys show mercy on the newly homeless sisters. These four children, and a loyal stray dog, Kutti, listen to Viji’s stories, collect trash to buy food, share, and sacrifice for each other over the coming weeks. Just when things seem to be turning around, they have to abandon their bridge home and find shelter in a wet and buggy graveyard. The days are hard and the nights are worse. Sickness and desperation sets it. Will they find anyone they can trust to help them? The author has beautifully woven a thought-provoking story around issues of child labor, poverty, abuse, caste, and disability. The second person narrative (Viji writing to her sister, Rukku) is unique and intimate. However, this book is so much more than a sister writing to another. The whole book was a deeply sensory and emotional experience. As I closed the book, I longed to hear Viji’s voice again. I am looking forward to seeing what comes next for this debut-middle grade author. VERDICT A unique story that weaves heartbreak, pain, loss, hope, trust, and strength in a beautiful intimate story between two sisters. Highly Recommend!--- Jenna Stevens-Royer, 2021
This is a current Maud Hart Lovelace Division II nominee. https://www.myrahome.org/2021-mhl
DeleteI Can Make This Promise by Christine Day: Grades 4-8: Not knowing anything about her Native American heritage, young Edith does some of her own detective work after finding a dusty box of photos and letters in her attic. In particular a photo of a woman who looks just like her. Her whole life, Edie's mother and father have skirted around the topic of her heritage—not to mention the origin of her name. The only thing she does know is that her father is Norwegian and her mother was adopted by a white couple.
ReplyDeleteThis story takes you on Edie's journey of self-discovery—in more ways than one.
Christine Day integrates true historical events that open your eyes to the struggles faced by the Indigenous population. VERDICT: As a window into someone else's world, or a mirror to your own, this is a must-read for our young readers. #OwnVoices
It's always good to be aware of a wealth of titles that provide windows, mirrors, and sliding glass doors.
Delete"Float" by Laura Martin
ReplyDeleteWhen I was younger, there was no one on Earth I envied more than the kids I knew who went away to summer camp. I never went, I just stayed home and lazed around the whole season, but every year I’d watch many of my friends and peers jump onto buses and ride away off to what I assumed was a magical land of cabins, sleepovers, swimming, and campfires for three months straight. I was often so jealous that by the fall I didn’t ask my friends if my vision of summer camp actually matched the reality, but I always assumed I was right and therefore, right to be jealous.
Laura Martin’s “Float” takes on a whole new definition of kid’s summer camp. Protagonist Emerson has been classified by the US government as a RISK kid—someone who exhibits Reoccurring Incidents of the Strange Kind. Basically, he and a small portion of the population possess a sort of superpower that is often somewhat out of their control and at times, dangerous. Emerson has a condition that causes him to float into the air suddenly and uncontrollably; neither he nor anyone around him can guarantee that he won’t float all the way up into the sky and space one day if he isn’t constantly supervised and weighed down with his weight vest shoes made of cement. The government has been identifying these RISK kids and has mandated they all attend a summer camp, ostensibly to connect with and learn about each other, but Emerson suspects its real purpose is to get rid of the burden of their existence from their caretakers and parents. Emerson does not have a high opinion of this summer camp, and anticipates he’ll have the worst summer of his life.
Soon, things take a turn. Emerson meets his cabinmates, a motley crew of fellow RISK kids dealing with their own RISKs—one turns unpredictably invisible, one may stick to any and everything, one has X-ray vision, and one can even time travel. Through a series of classic camp activities, these boys slowly become friends and begin to challenge each other to embrace their differences and live their lives not in spite of their abilities, but in seeing them as a strength. The strengths of this book parallel these lessons and characters: the boys are extremely likeable and relatable; they are constantly cracking jokes and roasting one another, and feel very real and fleshed out. They express their joys and fears equally, and learn to support one another. There are scenes of high humor and high action, when the boys engage in some expected activities like a camp-wide scavenger hunt...but then the next chapter they might find themselves alone in the wilderness trying to lasso a pig. The story is alternately fun and heartwarming, and even features a high-stakes plot twist halfway through. Ultimately it is a very sweet story that offers themes of friendship, self-acceptance, and growing up. Many middle grade and older readers will resonate with the messages of not fitting in, finding your group, and embracing your uniqueness—and maybe they’ll just enjoy the depiction of kids basically at X-Men Summer Camp.
VERDICT: His first year at summer camp, Emerson learns his cabinmates catch on fire, have X-ray vision, can turn invisible or travel through time...but he floats so he fits right in. A story about learning that there is a place where everyone can not only fit but belong, which emphasizes the power of friendship, self-acceptance, and superpowers, this is sure to be a popular pick with middle grade readers.
Sounds like this book may pair well with Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children!
DeleteBe Not Far from Me by Mindy McGinnis: YA. Grades: 9-12
ReplyDeleteAfter a night of partying with her friends, Ashley catches her boyfriend in the bushes with another girl. Filled with drunken rage, she flees barefoot into the woods only being stopped once she takes a nasty spill into a ravine. Ashley knows the woods better than most but now she is lost, with only the clothes on her back and a red line of infection creeping up her leg. Will her experience and survival skills keep her alive long enough to find her way back to civilization?
Ashley battles the elements, hunger, and injury while reflecting on her life. Her movements are often informed by her mentor, a camp counselor that she idolizes who disappeared in the woods just two years before. Ashley is stubborn and refuses to give up--willing to die trying anything and everything possible to escape (I am not kidding, she tries some crazy stuff!). This book is an addictive page-turner filled with twists and turns and many gross-out moments. VERDICT: This fast-paced, impossible to put down novel is highly recommended for an older crowd who loves adventure and survival stories.
The author's website boasts that this title is Hatchet meets Wild! https://www.mindymcginnis.com/be-not-far-from-me
DeleteThe True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, by Avi
ReplyDeleteThis is one of those books that is hard to categorize. Is it a mystery? Is it an adventure? Is it historical fiction? I would maintain that it is a combination of all three. And no matter how you categorize it, I would also maintain that it is an intriguing, thrilling book to read, one dense with meaning and lessons for our modern age.
The story is told through the first person narration of a young Caucasian girl, Charlotte Doyle, who has spent her life living in wealth and privilege in the year of 1832. Inadvertently, she becomes a passenger on one of her father’s ships as it journeys across the ocean to return her to her family. Things are not as they seem and quickly she is swept up into a murder mystery, a mutiny plot against the ship’s captain, and a hurricane. Along the way, she discovers that sometimes our heroes are not our heroes at all and that the “finer” class can be just as evil as the “lower” class has been made out to seem. Through careful characterization, the author explores the issues of both race and class and leaves the reader as changed as the main character. In the end, Charlotte must choose between two opposing ideals: those things she has learned to be real through her own experiences or those things she has been taught to believe by her family.
Although the cover may be off-putting to adolescent boys, this book will be just as thrilling for boys as for girls to read. Once past the first chapter, the book takes off at a pace that is quick and enticing, one guaranteed to make it hard to put down.
VERDICT: An essential book that addresses race and class through a historical lens. It works to help create a well rounded media center. Note: The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle was a 1991 Newbery Honor book.
I was curious so I looked it up: Follett's Titlewave is classifying this one in all the ways you mentioned: mystery, adventure, and historical fiction!
DeleteJenny - I know - this one is really hard to pin down into one genre. I really really loved the book, partly because it touches on so many different genres. It kind of has a little of everything.
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ReplyDeleteWe Are Not From Here by Jenny Torres Sanchez is a story of 3 teenagers who sneak away from their town of Puerto Barrios, Guatemala just to survive. Pulga a 15 year old boy and his chosen brother Chico are 2 teenagers that try to stay out of trouble. However, when they witness a murder of a friend and convenience store clerk by a gang leader their life changes and they are forced to make errands for this gang leader. Pequena is Pulga's cousin and she was raped by this same gang leader. He got her pregnant and she had the baby. He was going to take her away to marry him and raise his baby. Pequena didn't want anything to do with Rey (gang leader) or his baby. Scared for their future they run away and begin a journey to the United States.
ReplyDeleteThis is written for 9th grade and up and with the content rape, gang, and death I would probably agree with this. It wasn't to horrible but a middle schooler may just not be mature enough to handle it. It would definitely be too mature of a book for elementary.
The strengths of this book are it is gripping right from the beginning. It was very hard to put this book down, it was very heart-wrenching. You could sympathize with the characters and were cheering them on all through out the book. I was very thrilling. They were on a journey for their life and you felt you were there with them.
Weakness were some of the book was in Spanish and they didn't translate some of it so if you don't speak the language you either need to skip it or get out a translator. I also wasn't to thrilled at the end. It just kind of stops and doesn't really wrap up. You are left hanging.
We Are Not From Here won the Pura Belpre Author Honor Book award in 2021.
Verdict: I would definitely recommend having this book on the shelves in all high school libraries. It gives an eye opening view on why some people go through the trouble of coming to the United States and how treacherous it can be.
I found an interview with the author if you are interested in hearing more: https://youtu.be/x3JHiFUpTcI
DeleteI was considering reading this book for this class, so it's interesting to read the review of what I missed out on. It sounds like a really good story. I especially appreciate your trigger-warnings and content advisory, as I find them super helpful.
DeleteI've heard that this book is like a YA alternative to American Dirt, which was a big hit last summer. I think it'd be interesting to read and compare these two books side by side. This also makes me wonder what other YA alternative books to popular adult reads currently exist/will exist. I had not considered this trend beyond the Nonfiction genre.
Winterborne Home: For Vengeance and Valor by Ally Carter. Our story focuses on April a young orphan who has never had a family but sees herself as different from all the other kids in her group homes. Her mother is coming back for her, otherwise why would she have left the special key with her as a baby. A field trip helps April realize a connection between her key and the wealthy, cursed family, the Winterborne’s. Through a series of misunderstandings, and accidents April is brought to the Winterborne Home to live with other orphans. She knows there is a connection between her key and this family, she just needs time to search. However as she is looking for clues to her past she stumbles onto long buried secrets, mysteries and more danger than she can handle on her own. Will her new friends stand by her? Can she help herself and protect her new ”family”?
ReplyDeleteThis book is a fast read and filled with adventure along the way. There are hidden staircases, a chance for kids who had nothing to suddenly have luxury and how this can be confusing. The story showcases the life of kids in the foster care system, how families may not look the same to all or even be people who are related to you. The ending leaves the reader ready for the next book in the series, waiting to see what is next for April. There are murder plots and some violence but it does not go into great detail.
Verdict: This book would be a wonderful addition to any upper elementary or middle school library. It gives kids the opportunity to read a true mystery and the themes and topics are appropriate for students age 9 and up. This would be a great mystery for young adult readers who are looking for a main character to cheer for and a story without too many mature themes. A nice light read!
I wonder if this would pair well with series like The 39 Clues and Spy X?
DeleteOne of Us is Lying, by Karen M. McManus, is written for ages 14 and up. It would appeal to high school ages and older.
ReplyDeleteOne of Us is Lying is a mystery. It begins with five students arriving for detention at the end of a school day: Bronwyn is the school “brain” and planning to go to Yale, Nate is on probation for drug dealing, Addy is one of the popular girls and a former child beauty pageant contestant, Cooper is the star baseball pitcher hoping to be drafted or offered a full ride, and Simon runs a gossip app that spills all his classmates darkest secrets. Shortly into detention, Simon collapses and dies. The other four become the main suspects of having murdered him, especially when the police find that Simon had been set to publish stories about all of them the next day. The narration of the story rotates between these four students.
A strength of the book is that the four characters telling the story all feel like distinct, real, relatable people. The reader may or may not find the solution predictable, but most will enjoy the ride regardless because of the characters’ journeys and seeing them develop from the stereotypes they are introduced as into complex people you want to root for.
One of Us is Lying is the debut novel of Karen M. McManus. It has a sequel called One of Us is Next. It was a YALSA Top Ten Best Fiction Book Nominee and it was included on lists of best teen and young adult books of the year by the New York Public Library, Buzzfeed, Entertainment Weekly, Bustle, Popcrush, and Goodreads. It received a starred review from VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocates).
VERDICT: One of Us is Lying is a fun mystery and, more importantly, a relevant story with discussions of pressure to succeed, desire for recognition and acceptance, insecurity, cyberbullying, and mental health. It would be a great addition to libraries at the high school level or higher.
This is my go to book for any kid that tells me they don't like reading. IT IS SO GOOD
DeleteI am always so intrigued by stories, especially mysteries, that are told in one room with multiple characters!
DeleteFloat by Laura Martin is a heartwarming story of some teens trying to fit in, which sounds like a very typical plot for a teen novel... however, these teens all have something very strange in common. All of the teens in this story have super powers that they are unable to control and they are sent to a summer camp together. What sounds like a pretty cliché plot ends up being a pretty harrowing tale of friendship and acceptance. This story was written for young adults in grades 8-12 however it will appeal to younger readers as well. I personally think an advanced reader in 5-7 grade would really enjoy this book. For strengths, this book is really funny. It’s the kind of young adult book that makes you feel good after you read it. Kids will love the summer camp aspect to this story. This book has a pretty big weakness in that it isn’t really written for girls. All of the main characters in this story are males, and while there are females in this book they feel like a really minor part of the story. It is geared specifically towards boys. Also, I found the font to be pretty small which might deter younger readers. This book is a great next read if someone enjoyed Percy Jackson because the camp aspect felt very similar.
ReplyDeleteVerdict: This fun and campy read is sure to be a favorite of middle and high school boys.
It's amazing how often the camp idea is used. The Percy Jackson series comes to mind. (Along with X Men, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, etc.)
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ReplyDeleteCity Spies by James Ponti
ReplyDeleteSarah is facing juvenile detention for hacking into New York City’s database to expose her lawbreaking foster parents. At the last minute, a British spy offers to bail her out, and invites her to join a secret team of young agents based in Scotland. Sarah agrees, but she has to work hard and quickly to prove herself to the other teammates, as their first mission fast approaches. They must learn on the go to work as a team in order to save the world from deathly peril. A witty spy mystery, City Spies strikes a perfect balance between suspense and humor, predictability and surprising twists. With a cast of culturally and neurodiverse characters, the young spies are bright and playful, with intriguing backstories and personalities.
The two halves of the novel, the spy training and the mission, seem a little disconnected from each other, with a lack of cohesive flow, although the consistent action makes up for it. A classic junior spy novel, this book is not groundbreaking by any means, but has a familiar comfortableness that makes it even more enjoyable.
This is the first book in the upcoming series, with book two, City Spies Golden Gate, released last month.
This book is written for grades 3-6. I believe it would appeal to a wider audience, grades 2-8, and adults. City Spies is fast-paced and full of action, making it a perfect candidate for a read-aloud book. With colorful characters, an intricate but not hard to follow plot, and witty banter and twists, this book is a perfect addition for elementary and middle school mystery sections.
Have you read Framed? That was my first introduction to James Ponti when it was a Maud Hart Lovelace nominee last year.
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