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!!
The Lincoln Conspiracy by Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch
ReplyDeleteGr 10 and higher Everyone is aware that President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated but not everyone is aware that it was not the first attempt to assassinate the man considered by many to be one of the greatest Presidents of the United States. The authors set the stage for the assassination attempt by exploring the politically charged climate in the United States in the decade prior to his election introducing us to the individuals that will play a role in the unsuccessful assassination attempt. The story briefly describes his childhood and how he became the Republican nominee for President. The story then journeys along with the President-elect as he prepares for his upcoming inauguration in Washington D.C. relating both historical and political events as well as anecdotal tales about Mr. Lincoln making the text both informative and entertaining. The plot of the first assassination attempt is uncovered almost by accident by Allen Pinkerton of the famed Pinkerton Detective Agency as he is employed by the railroads to protect their lines in the area. The story picks up pace as the authors delve into the who, what, where, when why and how of the assassination plot and the investigative techniques used to uncover it. Verdict: Regardless that the reader knows the outcome of the story this book is hard to put down. The details and interwoven stories of the investigation by Pinkerton and Lincoln’s pre-inaugural journey are both well researched and retold creating intrigue and suspense. A great read for those interested in President Lincoln, the Civil War, historical politics or the early years of detective work.
Amy thanks for sharing - I have this book on hold and am so eager to read it!
DeleteI am excited to read this book. At the school I work at we are do a book club and this is the book that I will be reading with my group. Thank you for this amazing post.
DeleteAmy, is John Mensch a ghost writer? When I looked this book up online, Brad Meltzer is photographed much more frequently.
DeleteBorn A Crime
ReplyDeleteTrevor Noah
Trevor Noah sprang into the spotlight as the host of The Daily Show. Before he was hosting the Grammys and rubbing shoulders with some of the richest and most famous people in the world he was a young boy growing up in South Africa. In the autobiography Born A Crime, Trevor Noah reflects on his life growing up during and after apartheid in Johannesburg.
Titlewave does not have an age range for this text but it is meant for young adult due to the content and the language. Students from 9th grade on up will enjoy this comical read, especially those who are fans of Trevor Noah. The strength of this book is how Trevor Noah discusses heavy topics, such as race and identify, in a comical and light-hearted way. His style of writing had me reflecting on my own experiences of identify and thinking about the constructs of race. The weakness of this book is that it can sometimes be difficult to follow. There are flashbacks and life experiences woven throughout the text and sometimes I found myself lost.
The audiobook on Audible is narrated by Trevor, which helps to bring his story to life. He even won the Audie Award for Best Male Narrator. Born a Crime also one the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work for a Debut Author and the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work in the Biography/Autobiography category.
Verdict: This book is a great way to start conversations about race and identify with a little comedic relief. This book would be great in any high school library.
You are correct, Titlewave classifies this book as adult. In this interview on the CBS Morning Show, it talks about how the audio book was chosen as a HS all school read in Newark: https://youtu.be/L2x1kmOqoNo
DeleteBeyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out, by Susan Kuklin, is written for ages 14 and up. It would appeal to high school ages and older, especially anyone wanting to gain more understanding of being transgender, non-binary, or gender neutral.
ReplyDeleteBeyond Magenta contains the stories of six young adults who have struggled with their gender identities throughout their lives. In interviews with each, they share how they came to understand who they are and how they identify. There are occasional notes added in by the author that contain additional information or comments about nonverbal moments in the interviews.
The biggest strength of the book is in the courage of these young people to allow readers to share in their experiences and expose very personal aspects of themselves and their lives. The six interviewees come from very different backgrounds, had a range of family and friend responses and levels of support. They are in different places now in terms of how happy they are and how they view themselves. Through only these six stories, the reader can come to understand that transgender isn’t one set thing or one kind of situation; transgender is as diverse as any other group of people. The main weakness I see is that the sometimes shocking and disturbing behaviors described in a couple of the stories cause some readers to reject the book as a whole.
Awards for Beyond Magenta include a Flora Stieglitz Straus Award for Nonfiction and being named a Stonewall Honor Book. It was included on many lists of notable books in 2014, including Kirkus’ 10 Best YA books, Booklist Editor’s Choice books, and The Advocate’s 10 Best Books list for Transgender Non-Fiction. Beyond Magenta was even a finalist at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Books for a Better Life Awards. It has received at least three starred reviews.
VERDICT: Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out is a raw, honest, respectful look at the lives of six young people who have struggled to understand and accept themselves, and want that same understanding and acceptance from others. Many teens, regardless of gender identity or sexuality struggle with feelings of trying to figure out who they are and wanting to be accepted. This book will resonate with them and be a helpful resource for young people who are questioning their own gender identities. Overall, I believe it is a worthwhile addition to libraries at the high school level or higher.
I'm going to have to place this book on hold at the library! What draws me to this book is that it has six very different stories, as opposed to one autobiography. I'm interested to hear how each person's journey is different and why. I am also drawn to the fact that it includes young adults who identify as non-binary and gender neutral, as I think this can be an even more alien and unfamiliar concept to cisgendered people.
DeleteThanks for highlighting this book with Katie for your book challenge project! And, I agree with Jody that it is unique to find a book on this topic with multiple stories and perspectives!
DeleteOn the Horizon by Lois Lowry
ReplyDeleteGr 4-7--- Lowry presents this short two-part collection of autobiographical writings about two major events of World War II. The first part of the book features poetic snippets of the people and experiences of the Pearl Harbor attack. In the second part of the book, readers get almost a mirroring of perspectives from the people and experiences of the Hiroshima nuclear bomb. Lowry herself grew up in Hawaii during the Pearl Harbor attack and surprisingly moved to Tokyo with her family when she was 11 years old. Lowry’s voice is clear and authentic throughout, because of her real relationships and first hand experiences in Hawaii and Japan during and after these two horrific moments in history. This informational book combines poetry, autobiography, and World War II history in a unique format begging to be reared. The style and format of this book is reminiscent of an old slide projector of images. I could imagine the click of the projector as I turned the pages. The artistry is in each slide (excerpt), but when the reader starts to piece all the “images” together to create a cohesive underlying message of peace, it’s magic. VERDICT A fast-paced, unique format of informational text. Multiple educational uses. Highly recommended for all elementary libraries. --- Jenna Stevens-Royer, 2021
Sounds interesting. I did realize she wrote an autobiographical work. - Amy
DeleteI did not realize Lois Lowry grew up in Hawaii & Japan. She has written stories in so many settings including the Holocaust (Number the Stars) and the fictional world found in the Giver.
DeleteStamped: Racism, Anti-racism, and You by Jason Reynolds is "not a history book." This adaptation of Ibram X Kendi's National Book Award-winning title Stamped: From the Beginning will have grade 7 and up readers thinking critically about race, racism, and anti-racism in the US. The book is separated into sections according to time period. Reynolds starts out the book by differentiating between 3 different terms: segregationist ("a hater"), assimilationist ("a coward"), and antiracist ("someone who truly loves"). He discusses that anti-black racist ideas rely heavily on the erroneous beliefs that black people are “dumb” and “savage,” ideas perpetuated by written word, the media, and pseudo-science.
ReplyDeleteReaders will walk away from the book truly understanding the deeply embedded racism in the United States and its deeply flawed systems.
VERDICT: Impressive book chronicling the history of racism in a way that is accessible, exciting, and inspiring. Should be included in every middle and high school library and taught in classrooms.
I agree Kim, the authors did an outstanding job of making the content accessible for teenagers!
DeleteI have this on hold from the library. I can't wait to read it. Amy
ReplyDelete"On The Horizon" by Lois Lowry
ReplyDeleteThe image that author Lois Lowry references seeing “on the horizon” in her nonfiction account is the hazy outline of the battleship USS Arizona sailing the sea. There is a photograph of her as a child, playing on the shore of Waikiki Beach in Hawaii, and the ship looms large but peaceful in the background. Little did anyone on the beach that day realize that soon after that photo was taken, the USS Arizona would be one of the ships hit and violently sunk by Japanese torpedo bombers in the attack on Pearl Harbor. Lowry grew up haunted in some ways by her closeness to this traumatic event and the war that took a turn because of it. Part I of this book recounts the bombings, their impact on her local community, and the lives of the sailors who found themselves ensnared in this tragedy and driven to take heroic action.
Years later, after the war, Lowry’s family moved to Japan. Once again, the author saw up close and personal the effects the war had ravaged, this time from the perspective of the Japanese. As an American, she had been taught to believe the Japanese were the enemies, but living on their turf she quickly saw how haunted the average Japanese citizen was and how altered their daily lives were as well as a result of war. Part II explores the lives of civilians effected by the bombing. The arc of the story explores the events the both precipitated and ended a war from a personal point of view.
The story is also told in verse. It will immediately appeal to readers who are drawn to this format, as well as those who like historical accounts and creative nonfiction. Lowry employs a variety of poetic styles, including haiku, rhyme, free verse, and more. Most poems are short, rhythmic, and musical, possibly appealing to readers who traditionally regard poetry as boring or difficult to enjoy or access.
Many poems are accompanied by illustrations done by Kenard Pak, himself a well-known children’s book author and illustrator. The drawings often depict the sailors, soldiers, and citizens impacted by the war, and add a humanity to their stories.
VERDICT: An expansive, moving reflection on the lifespan of war, and the lives on all sides which often go unacknowledged but not untouched by it. Simple but beautiful poems will speak to all sorts of readers and accompanying illustrations will further bring to life this important historical event in a personal way.
Do you think The War That Saved My Life might be a good pairing with this book? It talks about the bombing during WWII in England but there is a different impact in the countryside from the mainland.
DeleteLaughing at My Nightmare by Shane Burcaw is a collection of stories from Shane’s life growing up with Spinal Muscular Atrophy. He has never been able to walk, but that has never stopped him from doing the things he loves. He writes about how he loves to skateboard, despite being in a wheelchair. He also describes how his brother helped him modify his Xbox controller to fit into his hands, so that they could play games together. Shane’s attitude toward his diagnosis is generally positive, and he shows readers how he copes: by laughing at his own nightmare.
ReplyDeleteThis book is written for young adults and up. Shane tells some stories that might be more suited to mature readers. All readers will be able to identify with Shane as he tells stories from his adolescence. Even though many of us have not had to go through the hardships that Shane has endured, we can all sympathize with the awkwardness of growing up and being a teenager.
VERDICT: Get ready to laugh as Shane tells some of his most embarrassing and heartwarming stories from growing up with SMA. This book is a must-have for every high school library.
Shane Burcaw has a YouTube channel which I would also say is for a mature audience. Looks like Laughing at My Nightmare was a YALSA Non-fiction book award finalist. His children's book, Not So Different: What You Really Want to Ask About Having a Disability was a Siebert Honor book in 2018.
DeleteOn The Horizon, Lois Lowry
ReplyDeleteAlthough it would be easier to think so, war is not black and white and in the book, On The Horizon, written for ages 10 and above, Lois Lowry explores this exact concept. Written in verse, the main topic of this exploration is the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941, an event that ultimately led the United States to enter World War ll.
Each of Lowry's poems in the first part of her novel come from the perspective of those impacted (or witnessing) the attack. The poems are haunting and beautiful and give the reader an intimate look at a harrowing event. In the second part of her novel, Lowry's poems also focus on a bombing, but this time it is the bombing of Hiroshima by the United States, an act that contributed greatly to the end of World War ll. As in the first part of the book, the poems in this section are equally haunting and beautiful and give the reader an intimate look at a harrowing event. Lowry follows both of these with a third part of the book that explores pieces of her own childhood while living in Hawaii at the time of the attack. In a chilling reveal, Lowry explains that she has a photograph of herself as a young child playing on a Hawaiian beach just days before the attack. In the distance of the photograph is one of the ships that would soon be sunk by Japanese planes.
While it is written for children, this novel will appeal to all ages old enough to understand the happenings of World War ll. It is both reflective and redemptive and offers a unique look at a topic that has been written about in thousands of different ways.
VERDICT: A new look at a topic that continues to fascinate readers of all ages. An essential part of any World War ll collection of resources.
Were you surprised to learn that Lowis Lowry has such a personal connection to these real-world events?
DeleteTo Fly Among the Stars: The Hidden Story of the Flight for Women Astronauts is a nonfiction title written for students in grades 9-12. This book will appeal to students in that 9-12 age range as well as adults. For this book’s strengths, I listened to this book and as an audiobook it read like a really interesting podcast about American history. I was captivated by all of the different stories of these women who were so capable but lacked opportunity. Additionally, I think this book does a really good job of providing a different side to a pretty well known “space race” narrative. For weaknesses, some of the stories felt a little repetitive and when the narrative turned to illustrating the downfalls of the male Mercury 7 astronauts it, in my opinion, took the spotlight away from the stories of the women. This book would be an awesome read in an American history class when covering the space race or in any class that needs a novel exposing the institutional sexism we have in our society.
ReplyDeleteVerdict: This nonfiction tale of how hard females had to work to get a horse in the space race will have you both shaking your head and reflecting on the plight of women everywhere.
Would this pair well with the movie Hidden Figures?
DeleteWho Got Game? Baseball Amazing but True Stories! By Derick Barnes was written for grades 4-6. Since this is the age, most kids become interested in sports I would say I agree with this recommendation. This book talked about some really well known baseball players like Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, but it also talked about players that you may not have heard of. Jackie Mitchell was a teenage girl who struck out both Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. We not only read about women in baseball back in the late 1800s to early 1900s but we learned there was a national Negro league back then as well. It was not as well organized but none the less blacks played baseball as well. This book also talked about the leaders from other races broke into the major leagues. There were a few players that got injured in baseball that they never thought would be able to play again but they made amazing comebacks and played just as well if not better than before their injuries.
ReplyDeleteThe strengths of the book were learning about some amazing players you may never have heard about. How women have been part of baseball from early on as well as the blacks. I enjoyed hearing of other players that broke the boundaries of race to play in the major leagues and left the door open for others to follow.
A weakness was following all the statistics was difficult if you did not know what was considered good or not. There really was not any reference to outstanding statistics verses average or poor statistics. Since they were in this book for their statistics, I am assuming they were outstanding.
This book received the 2018 Ezra Jack Keats Book Award for outstanding new writer.
Verdict: This is a good book with many interesting facts. It is one I would have on the shelf for young adults to check out and read about some of the great baseball players got their start in the major leagues. This book features well know ball players like Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson, and Lou Gehrig but it also has less known players Jackie Mitchell, John (Bud) Fowler, William Edward White, Moses Fleetwood Walker, and Weldy Walker. The last four guys were African Americans that were playing on white teams long before Jackie Robinson.
I enjoyed hearing you share about this book in class.
DeleteStamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You: Grades 8 and up: is a remix of the National Book Award Winner, Stamped From the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi.
ReplyDeleteThis young-adult version lays out a history—typically and unfortunately—not taught in schools. Reading this book, I learned more in a month about systemic racism in America than my four years of high school and college experiences combined. Where did my history teacher get his curriculum?
This book comes at a critical time in America when moving forward means learning about racist ideas in America and our implicit biases. Learning the history of this nation is a critical step to change. Though Jason Reynolds promises this is no history book! And it isn't. It's like a conversation with a well educated and knowledgeable friend. Its fast-paced narrative will not disappoint.
Verdict: To know the past is to change the future and Jason Reynolds lays out America's racist past in this easy-to-read book for youth—and adults alike—in order to help shape our future.
I would pair this with Lies My Teacher Told Me (James Loewen) and Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States.
DeleteIn his book, The Black Friend: On Being A Better White Person, Frederick Joseph shares his experiences with blatant racism and micro-aggressions. He shares stories of times in which his white friends could have stood up for him but instead, remained silent. Joseph shares suggestions on how to be a better white person with the focus on education and ally-ship.
ReplyDeleteAccording to Common Sense Media, this book was written for anyone ages 12 and older, however, I believe that if read with some adult guidance, it would be suitable for students as young as 10 years old. While this book was written with middle and high schoolers in mind, it is a book that could appeal to older readers, especially those who are eager and willing to learn about the experiences of people who are different (or similar to) them.
This book takes an approach to educating white people on racism that I have never seen before. The author writes with a non-judgmental tone and encourages readers to continue their work with anti-racism. While educating white people, this books acts to validate people of color and the experiences they have had in their lifetimes. Experiences that white people can not possibly have.
I do not believe that this book has inherent weaknesses, however, it forces (white) readers to look at themselves and the role they play in racism, whether intentional or not. This could be a hard sell for students who come from a situation in which they are not ready to look at their own participation in racism. Some readers, regardless of age, may be too immature to read a book with heavy content. This book would be a good book to supplement an American history curriculum or to discuss current events.
Verdict: This book about the realities and racism that Black people face (even in present day America) should be on every middle and high school library shelf.
I think friendship is a topic that many would be interesting in becoming better at.
DeleteStamped: Racism, Anti-racism, and You. By Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi
ReplyDeleteThis is a great eye-opening book that talks about the history of racism in America. Both authors do a wonderful job describing the history of racism that is engaging and informative, without it being dry and boring history that we grew up reading in the classroom. Talking about how people are followers and typically follow the groundwork of those they are near to. I listened to this book on audible and loved listening to this book, read out loud by Jason Reynolds.
I would recommend this book to 6th -12th grade. I believe that this is also a great book for teachers to read, possibly in a book club so that they can have a clear understanding of why people fall into the roles of being racist or anti-racist. If educators have a clearer understanding of how they became racist or anti-racism, they can assist in changing their thinking as they become more knowledgeable to guide students to have the same understanding about racism and anti-racism. Weaknesses in the book would be some of the “historical” information seemed to be the author's opinion. Other than that, this book was great!
This would be a fabulous book for students to gain a different perspective of where racism first began. I also think that students in high school (US History class) would benefit from reading this book. Take a break from the big old history books.
Verdict: I believe that students 6th grade – 12 grade and any adult would benefit from the information that comes from this book. I would recommend this to colleges as a perfect book for an adult read-aloud. I believe that a 5th-grade class may benefit from this book as well, but a teacher would need to have a clear understanding of what is in this book so when students asked questions it will lead to amazing classroom conversations.
This is a must-read!
I was amazed at how accessible this book was in explaining complex historical issues. I agree that this book is as appropriate for adults as it is for students.
DeleteWho Got Game?: Baseball: Amazing but True Stories! By Derrick Barnes. Written for ages 9-11.
ReplyDeleteDid you know that the longest baseball game was 33 innings and just over 8 hours long? How about that Babe Ruth is really not the homerun king? Or that the youngest player in the MLB was 15?
Derrick Barnes presents a collection of stories sharing the people and facts we do not always hear about within baseball history. The theme of the book seems to be to highlight the men of different races and women who shape the game. The book is broken into four chapters highlighting players, record breaking events, moments that changed baseball’s path and heroes to root for! A glossary supports terms for those who may not know baseball or just need a reminder. The style of the book makes the reader want to go out and share their new knowledge with others right away!
Strengths: The style of the book makes it easy to navigate for readers. The illustrations add personality and are drawn in a comic style but still respectful. Each story is two to three pages, allowing the reader to easily transition to the next interesting fact. The challenges for women and men of color are discussed openly in the book and new names are shared that give readers a chance to continue their learning outside of the book.
Weaknesses: The stories move around in history and around the world in no particular order. A timeline or map might help readers keep track of people and understand context a little better. Also many statistics are shared throughout the book. A website suggestion or companion sheet at the back would help those who are not baseball fans understand the impact of the statistics.
Verdict: This would make a good addition to a middle school library. The style and illustrations help make the amount of information less intimidating. It would work well to connect with other nonfiction texts looking at segregation and discrimination in sports. It presents itself as a fun fact book about baseball and would help those who may not normally read nonfiction dive in!
Thanks for sharing about this on in class Andrea. It's amazing to see the range of work that Derrick Barnes has done.
DeleteThe Nazi Hunters: How a Team of Spies and Survivors Captured the World’s Most Notorious Nazi by Neal Bascomb
ReplyDeleteThe Nazi Hunters is a young adult adaptation of Hunting Eichmann. The book details the 16 year long hunt for and capture of Adolf Eichmann, a leading operator in the Nazi’s “Final Solution” who escaped to Argentina after the end of WWII. This book goes beyond where most WWII and Holocaust books end, detailing the aftermath of the Holocaust and Nazi control. The book emphasizes the enormous effort it took to track down this single person, and why it was so critical to do so on a global scale.
This book is very informational and detail-driven. Well-researched and historically accurate, The Nazi Hunters tells the story of Eichmann’s capture from a multitude of perspectives. The book is very thorough, not only detailing the plot, but the surrounding context and background of related issues. Although readers could guess (or previously know) the ending of the story, the book did a good job of keeping the suspense alive, flitting between narrative and cold hard facts.
There are lulls in the novel, following the hot and cold narrative of the case. The novel remains accurate to true spy work, which is often boring research and waiting around, less exciting as audience members might originally think. The language is often stilted and overwhelmingly factual. The multitude of characters involved in the story are hard to keep straight.
This story was made into a movie in 2018, called “Operation Finale!”
This book is written for grades 7-9. I would say this book would primarily appeal to WWII/Holocaust history buffs, spy story enthusiasts, and detail driven people aged 14+. It would also appeal to slightly younger audience members who are super-invested in the topic.
VERDICT: One thumb up. I would recommend this book for enthusiasts of the time period, but not necessarily those who are new or univested in the topic as it is incredibly detailed. While not as exciting as the title makes it sound, this suspenseful retelling remains true to real life and a good nonfiction addition to middle school and high school libraries.
Would this pair well with the Hunters series on Amazon Prime?
Delete