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!!
Resistance by Jennifer A Nielsen
ReplyDeleteGr 6-9-It’s been 2 years since the war ended Chaya’s childhood at the age of 14. Separated from her family she becomes a part of a resistance cell in Krakow. She uses her abilities to speak Polish, Yiddish and German along with her non-Jewish looks to aid the Jewish people as a courier. Her reserved and timid new associate Esther’s lack of training puts the resistance cell at risk of being identified and Chaya’s vows to never trust her again. Esther later becomes her only traveling companion as they continue to work for the resistance. As the fight against the Nazi occupiers grows more violent and dangerous, Chaya struggles with her beliefs, and who to trust to ensure here survival. Is fighting and violence against the Nazi’s the only way to resist the occupation? Are the risks worth helping the Jews trapped in the ghettos? Verdict: An enthralling work based on actual historical events and people who endured and resisted the Nazi occupation of Poland and the Jewish ghettos. The actual scenarios Chaya finds herself in at times seem unbelievable and the stuff of movies. Younger readers may not comprehend that these events are based on historical fact or the actual violence that occurred as the heroine of the story always manages to escape.
Do you think the book would inspire readers to learn more about ghettos during the Holocaust and the Warsaw Uprising?
DeleteIf the book is discussed with an adult they may understand and want to learn more. My son reacted very negatively to anything about the holocaust when he has younger ages 10-13, but now the only books I can get him to read are either on sports and World War II. So it can be a starting point to further reading and enlightenment for some students.
DeleteThe Light in Hidden Places
ReplyDeleteSharon Cameron
This inspiring true story of Stefania Podgorska, a teenager during World War II, who faces a number of challenges like raising her six-year-old sister alone and hiding thirteen Jews in her tiny apartment. This book kept me on edge as my anxiety grew with each knock on Stefania’s door and her unknown fate.
Titlewave has the book categorizes for young adults and I believe that is accurate. This story would appeal to students who are in eighth grade on up. People who are thoroughly interested in historical fiction will not be able to put this book down. This book has a number of strengths. The story is based off of a true story which makes it incredibly inspiring. Cameron also incorporated suspense along the way and the reader holds his or her breath for Stefania as she finds herself entangled with police, Nazis, and nosey neighbors. The weakness of the story is that there are sometimes too many details within the story making it a long read.
This book has gotten the attention from Reese Witherspoon and is now on her Young Adult reading list. The audiobook is narrated by Stefania’s longtime friend Beata Poźniak and is an Earphones Award winner.
Verdict: This inspiring true story is a must have in any library. Stefania’s story should be shared with those around the world for her bravery in saving the lives of thirteen people.
There are many high quality stories in current publication about the Holocaust, (at least two on the reading list for this course), and it sounds like this is one of them!
DeleteWolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin
ReplyDeleteWolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin is an alternate history novel that explores the world ten years after Hitler and the Nazis won World War II. It follows Yael, a skin shifting Jewish girl that used her ability to escape the concentration camp she was in and join the resistance against Hitler’s regime. Every year, there is a motorcycle race for teens that brings them from Germania (aka Berlin) through the Third Reich’s territories and into ally Japan’s territories and ending in Tokyo. The race culminates with a victor’s ball attended by Hitler and Emperor Hirohito. This is where Yael plans to assassinate Hitler once she wins the race.
This book is written for young adults, but I think it would appeal to any history enthusiast that likes to speculate the “what ifs.” The anticipation and drama of the race, coupled with Yael’s backstory will compel readers to keep turning the page. Readers won’t know who to trust until the very end.
VERDICT: Wolf by Wolf is a compelling alternate history that gives readers a glimpse of what could have happened after WWII, while bringing them on a wild race through the Eurasian continent. This would be a great addition to any high school library.
What is "skin shifting"? I looked on Titlewave and this book is classified as both historical fiction and fantasy. That is a rare combination!
Delete"Kent State" by Deborah Wiles
ReplyDeleteSchool shooting. Police brutality. Peaceful protestors. Are these terms ripped from the headlines of today’s news sites, or newspapers that circulated 50 years ago? “Kent State” by Deborah Wiles reminds us that it could be, was, and is, both. The book is a novel-in-verse, a fictionalized narration of the shocking and tragic events that unfolded on the college campus in Ohio in 1970, when the National Guard was called on a group of students peacefully protesting the Vietnam War. In a moment of panic and confusion Guardsmen shot into the crowd, and when the dust settled four people were dead, and nine others had sustained injuries. It was the first time a student had been killed in an antiwar demonstration in US history.
Wiles’ novel recounts the leadup to the shooting, the incident itself, and the aftermath. It is narrated by a variety of voices, each delineated by a change in font style, size, and page alignment, so a reader is engaged in what feels and looks like a conversation between all manner of concerned parties. Speakers include close friends of the shooting victims, concerned community members who insisted the school call in the National Guard, and Guardsmen themselves. One notable perspective was that of Kent State’s Black Student Union members, who reminded everyone involved that the National Guard had been called in to Ohio State just a few days before the Kent State shooting, in order to monitor students calling for the organization of a Black Studies program at the school. Black Ohio State students were beaten and teargassed by the Guard at that time. Additionally, 11 days after Kent State, a similar incident involving antiwar protests sprung up and two young students again were killed by police; but on these occasions, the victims were Black, and their murders and terrorization never made national news, and very few people know these things even happened at all.
Due to the brutal nature of the book’s content, it is likely intended for older middle grade to high school readers, though it is not overtly graphic and children are learning about and facing violence in their schools and the world as younger and younger people. Current day students who are confused and angered by the events taking place around them in regards to police brutality and mass shootings and government protests may find that this book sheds some light on the long-running history of these things in the United States.
“Kent State” is a very quick read, the conversational verse style moves fast and the angered, arguing, or otherwise impassioned discussion of the narrators will keep readers flying through the story. At the same time, the voices are articulate and often profound, offering many statements one may sit back and reflect upon. Author Deborah Wiles adds a note at the end which recounts her years-long research for this project and some emotional facts that did not make it into the story. Classes discussing historical events and specifically tenets of democracy such as the right to peacefully protest will find a lot to discuss with this book, and lessons can be pulled about telling one’s own story and examining stories from all sides.
VERDICT: A tense read that draws parallels between school shootings, government protests, and power dynamics of the past and the present; a story that will strengthen the conversation many young adults want and need to have about these topics, and the conviction that the way they choose to get involved will continue to matter.
This sounds like a book that has the power to bring (information about) the past forward to the present for today's readers. It's always interesting to me to see how fonts and page layouts are manipulated to tell a story for novels in verse.
Delete"Stella by Starlight" by Sharon Draper
ReplyDeleteSet in the deep south during the depression era, this novel tells the story of Stella, a young African American child, who stumbles upon the burning of a cross by the KKK in her small hometown.
Sharon Draper does a masterful job of weaving many elements together in this novel. She avoids cliches and how easily it could become to label things as all "good" or all "evil." Most of life is actually shades of gray and this novel does an excellent job of showing young adults such shades.
There is the segregated town, where blacks are not allowed to mingle with whites or use their services. There are the relationships between people who show that who we display to others in public is not always how we live in private. There are the violent and frightening acts of a white supremacy group that threaten the very lives of innocent people caught in the crossfire of segregation. There are the small and big acts of humanity and grace that show that even some who believe in segregation still have a deeply human and giving side.
Although there are extremely difficult topics relayed throughout this novel, it handles such issues in a manner that allows the reader to touch and explore race, identity, and township fully. Topics such as voting rights and white supremacy are woven throughout a deeply human and touching story, one that readers will come away from feeling changed by.
Verdict: A novel filled with complexities that deal with simple truths about what it means to be human and what it means to be on equal ground as a human being. A definite must have for any young adult library collection.
I've seen this book checked out by my 5th graders who say they love it! The discussion of moral grays sounds super interesting in this context. I think the refutal of the black and white good/evil dichotomy is especially critical in introducing concepts of racism today. It's great to hear this conversation is being started in elementary school grades.
DeleteThere are very few topics that Sharon Draper has not written about. You can find all of her books, including her newest one, Blended, here: https://sharondraper.com/books.asp
ReplyDeleteI was honored, and completely thrilled, to be able to sit in the same chair as Sharon Draper and be interviewed for an amazing program through a Virginia school district, where one of their elementary librarians interviews authors in a repurposed school that is now a t.v. studio. It was so cool and I think Sharon was one of the authors interviewed right before I was. How cool is that??
DeleteSO COOL! What a wonderful experience, both for the kids at that school and YOU!
DeleteShow Me a Sign by Anne Clare LeZotte
ReplyDelete*2021 Schneider Family Award
Gr 4-8--- In this Own Voices story, readers get a unique historical perspective of an early 19th century deaf community on the island of Martha’s Vineyard. The main character, Mary Lampert is the great-great-granddaughter of the first deaf islander and was credited for the unique sign language that everyone on the island uses to communicate (even the hearing people). Mary feels proud of her family and there is a strong sense of belonging in this tight-knit community. All was well until Mary’s beloved brother dies in an accident and Mary is left living with a quiet sense of guilt and responsibility. In the midst of this grief, a new young scientist starts snooping around the island. We discover his desperate and extreme “scientific” intentions, when he kidnaps Mary and brings her back to the mainland to perform cruel experiments and study the cause of the island’s deafness. Mary feels isolated and is treated as less than human for the first time in her life. With her trust and identity shaken, it becomes even harder for her to escape and get back to her people on the island. VERDICT This is an important and uncomfortable novel that addresses the intersectionality of colonialism, racism, and ableism. Powerful, personal, and well-written. A must-read!--- Jenna Stevens-Royer, 2021
Hi Jenna,
DeleteI've had this book waiting on my to-read list since last summer, when I took Kids Lit and read the Schneider Family Book Award winner for 2020, Song for a Whale by Lynne Kelly. That was a great story with thoughtful deaf representation, and I wanted to read some other books on the radar of this award! Your description of Show Me a Sign has convinced me to bump it back up to the top of my to-read pile!
I would recommend pairing with El Deafo by CeCe Bell.
DeleteWe Are Not Free by Traci Chee is a story of young Japanese teenagers during World War II. It tells the story of their evacuation from a part of San Francisco called or as they called it Japantown to incarceration camps. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the United States did not trust anyone of Japanese descent, so the United States government placed anyone who was Japanese in encampments. This story took the viewpoints of 14 different teens and wove them into a timeline from 1942 to 1945, the time of evacuation to life in the 3 years in the camps for these youth. During their time in the camp, their loyalties were tested and some of the teens were forced apart. Some of the teens showing their allegiance to the United States by enlisting in the military, others passing background checks and were allowed to resettle in locations around the country, and those who refused to serve in the military or pledge allegiance were sent to yet another camp.
ReplyDeleteThis book is written for students in grades 8-12. I would agree with this recommendation because I would want the students to have some understanding about World War II and what lead to these encampments. The book also shows some violence and death that I believe should be viewed by a more mature audience.
This book has many strengths, it is a very powerful story from the perspective of the Japanese, and it is heart wrenching at times. The pictures in the book are historical photographs that help the reader envision the camps. It was fast read and the book was very difficult to put down.
The weakness I found in the book is that at times it was difficult to follow whose point of view you were reading. All of their lives were so intertwined I would get confused who was telling the story at certain points. Another weakness was you did not find out where some of the characters ended up in the story. Reading some of the reviews, I see this may have been a trilogy so I am hoping that may explain why some of the stories were left unfinished.
This book was on the National Book Award finalist. It won the Printz Honor, and the Walter Honor book. The historical pictures and documents were an asset to the story.
Verdict: This book is a must have on the high school library shelves It tells the story of the incarceration of the Japanese from the Japanese point of view. The author states at the end of her book that this history was her history. Her family was in these camps and it affected so much about how her family was able to exist in this country.
I also read this book for class and loved it! I agree that the characters are hard to keep straight: I was tempted to make a character chart with their names and defining attributes to keep handy. However, I think the great variety of characters and voices is what makes this book such a powerful and intriguing masterpiece!
DeleteI would recommend pairing with They Called Us Enemy by George Takei.
DeleteThe Blackbird Girls by Anne Blankman is a beautiful and tragic story told from 3 different perspectives: Oksana, Valentina, and Rifka. It was written for grades 4-7, but it could appeal to high school students and adults. The work of historical fiction is gripping and fast-paced.
ReplyDeleteIt begins in Pripyat, Ukraine in 1986 on the morning of the Chernobyl explosion, an historical event rarely covered in young adult fiction. Oksana and Valentina are fifth graders who experience an "angry red sky" on their way to school. They are worried because both of their fathers work the nightshift at the plant and neither of them were home that morning. Things carry-on as usual until word gets out that reactor No. 4 exploded, killing several workers at the plant. People begin falling ill but the government continues to cover up the accident for several days.
Oksana and Valentina are nemeses at school. But as news continues to spread about how bad the situation is in Pripyat, they suddenly find themselves thrown together when they are forced to evacuate the city and travel together to Leningrad to stay with Valentina's estranged grandmother. They soon find out that both of their fathers are dead, one died immediately in the explosion and the other later due to radiation poisoning.
Their stories are interspersed with another from 1941, the story of Rifka (a Jewish girl fleeing Kiev and the advancing German army on foot) --during her harrowing journey she discovers unlikely friendship in Uzbekistan. All three stories ultimately come together to reveal the power of unlikely friendship in the face of bias, tragedy, and distance.
VERDICT: A must-have for any upper elementary or middle school collection. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction--this story takes a stunning and unique look at two historical tragedies (WWII and Chernobyl) in history told through fast-paced, alternating narratives. You won't want to put it down.
What a unique mix of historical stories from Chernobyl to the Holocaust!
DeleteIt inspired me to finally watch the Chernobyl miniseries on HBO which is excellent. Highly recommended if you haven't seen it yet!
DeleteKent State is a novel written in verse that details the shooting that took place on the Kent State college campus in May of 1970. The students were protesting the United States involvement in the Vietnam War. This book was written for students aged 12-18, the content is heavy and emotional so I wouldn’t recommend it for ages younger than that. This book will appeal to students in the suggested age range as well as adults. This book’s biggest strength is that it provides a really balanced look at a deeply emotional issue. It on the surface seems like an event that could be explained in a few pages, however, as you will discover when you read this book the reasons that this event unfolded the way it did is really complicated. Additionally, this book comes with an author’s note that does a really good job of prefacing the story. This book’s biggest weakness is that the differing voices that tell the story are sometimes difficult to differentiate from one another. This could make it confusing for younger readers. This book could be taught in many different classrooms for a variety of reasons. It has vast parallels to issues that are currently happening in our society like policy brutally. It is important to note that this book contains graphic descriptions of a shooting that can be difficult to read.
ReplyDeleteVerdict: This emotional raw look at a devastating moment in US History will captivate anyone who picks it up. It’s verse structure helps to tell the story from multiple points of view in a way that gives readers information without bias, allowing you to make your own opinions.
Perhaps this book can be used as a conversation started about the connections to today's current events?
DeleteThe Great Chicago Fire: Rising from the ashes. – Kate Hannigan and Alex Graudins
ReplyDeleteThis is a perfect book for 3rd graders and up. It’s a historic graphic novel with amazing illustrations and facts about the great Chicago fire. Including history in a graphic novel is an awesome way for students at a lower reading level to enjoy reading historical fiction. The strength of this book is how informative it is on how the Chicago fire started and then on the same page a fact about those who suffered or survived the fire or a timeline when events occurred. I do not believe there are any weaknesses, other than it is short and leaves the reader wanting more. I am looking at getting more books like this for my students at school. Our fiction section needs a facelift and graphic novels are super popular. Teachers at the elementary school level can use this book as a read-aloud or have students use this book to compare how history has changed over time.
Verdict: I would recommend this book to teachers and students that I work with. It’s a great way to teach history. I was interested in history, but the reading materials were always for long and boring. This is a perfect way to flip the student's thinking when It comes to historical fiction. Love this book!
Do you think you'll consider purchasing the other books in the series which cover other historical events?
DeleteRuns With Courage by Joan M. Wolf grades 5 and up: Forced to live at an Indian Boarding School, Four Winds struggles to conform to the ways of the white man. Set in 1880—present-day Black Hills of South Dakota—Four Winds and her tiospaye (Lakota term for the extended family group) are forced onto land called reservations. If Four Winds does not attend school to conform to the white's traditions, her family's rations will be taken away and they will starve.
ReplyDeleteAt the boarding school, Four Winds not only loses her long hair, traditional Lakota dress, and right to see her family, but her language, customs, and faith. She is often painfully reminded that she is no longer a savage like the other Indians—with the expectation to act, think, and feel like a "white" person.
Joan M. Wolf paints vivid images and eloquent similes and metaphors that allow a peek into the world during the 1800s and the struggle felt by the Native American population. Her research into Native American boarding schools compelled her to tell this important story, a story from the perspective of lost and forgotten children. Verdict: This is a must read for students and teachers alike. It will open your eyes to the truth.
This would pair well with the movie: The Education of Little Tree.
DeleteWe Dream of Space by Erin Entrada Kelly. Written for ages 8-14.
ReplyDeleteThe book takes place in January of 1986 focusing on the Thomas family with the approaching Challenger expedition as a backdrop. The main characters are siblings Cash and twins Fitch and Bird all in seventh grade and dealing with their own hopes and struggles. They share a science teacher who is excited for the Challenger launch and the space mission takes on a role in their lives. The story travels day by day leading up to the disaster and beyond the fateful day. Each chapter includes a short perspective from each of the siblings allowing the reader to understand the characters and cheer them on as they navigate school, understanding themselves and the challenges of family.
Strengths: An illustration is used for Cash, Fitch and Bird along with their names to help the reader know who is narrating each portion of the story. The characters are unique and dealing with very different struggles, so readers will have many chances to connect with someone in the story. The illustrations included allow the reader to understand the working of Bird’s mind and offer some humor to the family struggle. Metaphors are used throughout the book to create connections and visualize the interactions between characters. The end of the book allows the read to see Bird’s essay that helps you understand her and predict where her life will take her. Kelly also supplies a short chapter on the Challenger explosion and provides information on the disaster, but also about the amazing crew that was lost that day.
Weaknesses: There is a little language and the parents fight often. Sexist comments are made by the kids dad often but it also helps tie into the historical timeline of women’s right movement pushing ahead.
Verdict: This book needs to be in upper elementary and middle school libraries. Readers will cheer for the Thomas siblings and want to know more about the NASA program after reading this book. The story is a great reminder that everyone struggles with their identity, kindness goes a long way and we all need to dream.
This would pair well with non-fiction about NASA, space travel, and astronauts.
DeleteOne Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia
ReplyDeleteIn 1968, eleven year-old Delphine, along with her two younger sister are sent to spend the summer with their absent mother, Cecile, in Oakland, California. Unpleased with their visit, Cecile sends them daily to a summer camp sponsored by the Black Panthers. Delphine’s relationship with her sisters, her mother, and her own identity are challenged and strengthened throughout this One Crazy Summer.
The strong sense of characters draws the readers into the novel. This novel is character-driven rather than plot-driven.The three sisters, who they are, their individual voices, and how they interact with each other through witty snippets, jabbing arguments and harmonious unity is the real star of the book.
Some topics discussed in One Crazy Summer include the Black Panthers, political activism, generational trauma, injustice and adult responsibilities placed on children. It has a powerful message about standing up for yourself, educating yourself and learning your own values. One Crazy Summer was a National Book Award finalist, Newbery Medal Honor book, and Coretta Scott King award recipient.
This book is written for grades 5-8. However, I believe the audience it would most appeal to is adults. The novel hints at historical and adult topics that go over Delphine’s head, and would probably go over young readers heads as well. Some important historical context is missing for children to fully understand the book. There is little action (although there is plenty of potential within the storyline), and it would be hard for the target audience to be engaged throughout the whole book. Overall, the book comes across as one written for educators from the perspective of a young adult, rather than for young adults.
VERDICT: Although a good book, One Crazy Summer is not a good book for middle grade audiences. While it has a powerful story, the lack of nuances and action would quickly lose the attention of the target audience. One Crazy Summer would be best read with adults in a classroom setting, or by adults.
I agree Jody, there are many adult themes in this book that may be misunderstood by younger readers. It is part of the Gaither Sisters Book series: https://www.amazon.com/gp/bookseries/B00SNHTFG2
DeleteRed, White, and Whole by Rajani LaRocca is an own voices novel about Reha, an Indian American. Reha struggles to find her place in the world as she feels split between two cultures-her Indian culture and her American culture.
ReplyDeleteThis book is a middle grade novel, written for students in grades 3-8. Due to the age of the main character (13) and her interests, this book feels to be better suited for students in grades 5-8, however, the content and language are fine for younger readers. This book looks like a novel but is an easier read so it could be appealing to 9th and 10th graders with a lower reading level or who struggle to connect with books.
Red, White, and Whole is an own voices novel. It is clear that LaRocca spent time researching Indian and American culture. This adds to the readability of this book. This book is accessible to all readers and it provides representation to an under-represented group.
Red, White, and Whole is written in verse. It was published in February of 2021 but has already received a starred review from Booklist and BookPage.
Verdict: This is a great read that should be in every library. Not only does it represent two cultures but it is readable and accessible for many age groups.
~Zoe
Looks like this one would have been a good addition to the required reading list this semester.
DeleteKent State, by Deborah Wiles, is written for ages 12 to 18. It would appeal to this age range and, though the reader is referenced throughout the text as being a young adult, I believe it also would appeal to older audiences.
ReplyDeleteTold in verse from a variety of perspectives, Kent State is about the escalation of tension on and around the Kent State University campus in Ohio at the beginning of May 1970. The students had been staging protests against the Vietnam War and over the weekend, the governor called in the Ohio National Guard to restore “order.” It reached a breaking point on Monday, May 4th, when the National Guard fired on the student protesters, killing four and wounding nine others.
A strength of Kent State is that the author put in the effort to represent a wide range of viewpoints and to make each one at least somewhat understandable and relatable. Even the viewpoints that may differ from the opinion of the author or the reader are presented as having a logic and reasoning behind them. The story is told in the midst of debate and argument between all these different perspectives and, like a real argument, sometimes that means voices are interrupting each other, shouting over each other, and getting off on tangents. While this approach is effective to give a multifaceted understanding of the event, it could be confusing or off-putting to some readers who need a more direct narrative to focus on.
Kent State has received starred reviews from Booklist, Publisher’s Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, Horn Book, and Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books. The audiobook version won the 2021 Odyssey Award for Excellence in Audiobook Production.
VERDICT: Connecting past events with continuing issues of racism and police brutality, encouraging readers to step up and make changes for the better, Kent State would be an excellent addition to any middle or high school library.
I'm hopeful that this book, and others like it, will help illuminate history for today's students.
Delete