Review: Property of the Rebel Librarian

Property of the Rebel Librarian by Allison Varnes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

All my library friends must read this tribute to librarians and the freedom to read!

June, a 12-year old avid reader, checks out a new book from the middle school library as she's done many times before. But when her parents see it and disapprove, June's innocent choice of reading material snowballs into the suspension of her beloved school librarian, the sacking and pillaging of the school library, and a ban on all books other that what the school assigns! On top of that, June's parents confiscate all of her personal books at home (later returning them vandalized with ridiculous edits and re-writes). June is devastated, but when she discoveres a Free Little Library nearby, the Rebel Librarian is born!

I loved this book, even though it had my blood boiling by the end of the 3rd chapter. I loved June and related to her love of reading, and I was so angry and frustrated with her parents, as well as the school principal and board members. They were all absolutely narrow-minded and ridiculous, and I hope a gross exaggeration of the degree of censorship that is really out there, though I do know of some cases where communities have gotten up in arms over specific books. June also deals with budding romance, betrayal, and figuring out when and how to stand up for herself. The book is fast-paced and has a satisfying ending.

I would recommend this to all librarians and English teachers, and to kids who are passionate about reading and making their own choices about what they read. This is a manifesto of sorts, about the importance of the freedom of information, equal access, and anti-censorship in regards to children. [The author also wrote an article for Brightly recently about the importance of letting kids make their own choices about what they read.]

While the book that set off the whole book-banning frenzy in this story is fictitious, many other great children's books are mentioned, including classics like Old Yeller, popular fiction like Harry Potter, and potentially controversial books like George, and a complete bibliography of all of them is provided in the endnotes.

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Review: Louisiana's Way Home

Louisiana's Way Home by Kate DiCamillo
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I have to say I was a little disappointed in this book. I was looking forward to the trio of Louisiana, Beverly, and Raymie having another adventure and getting to know them better and watching their friendship deepen and grow. Instead it's all about Louisiana having her own adventure and finding out some surprising information about her family history after her Granny takes her and sneaks out of town in the middle of the night.

The story is told in Lousiana's voice, in the form of a letter documenting the events of her unwilling flight from Florida and the events that followed. Louisiana is very precocious and adorable with the way she talks to people and relays her story, but the story seemed too short and rushed, and too much in Louisiana's head. I think it needed more involvement and development of some of the other characters, and I think we needed to get to know the Allen family a little before before Lousiana's decision.

It's okay, and I would recommend it to readers who enjoyed the first book, but I think it could've been better. I'm curious if there will be a third book about Beverly...

[I received this as a digital ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.]

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Review: Merci Suárez Changes Gears

Merci Suárez Changes Gears by Meg Medina
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book. I've read Meg Medina's Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass, but I had not read any of her work for younger readers before.

In this story we see Merci, a young girl who is adjusting to changes in her life (starting middle school, ageing grandparents, older brother about to leave for college) and finding she is starting to resent all the obligations that her extended family dumps on her, and sacrifices they expect of her, without ever including her in the conversation or decision making. Plus, her beloved grandfather who she has always had a special relationship with, begins to act strangely, leaving Merci with very mixed feelings when he asks her not to tell anyone about his "incidents".

This story deals with all the typical tween-angst of navigating friendships, frenemies, changing social structures in middle school, trying to become more independent, dealing with parental and familial expectations, all with the added nuances of the cultural expectations. There is the added conflict of having a relative with Alzheimer's, at first not understanding the odd behavior, angry outbursts, and forgetfulness, and then feeling angry and betrayed after finding out the family knew of the illness for some time and kept it from her.

I thought the story was well-written and well-paced, with great characters. I loved Merci's whole extended family, but I greatly emphathized with her resentment of the unfair expectations put on her. I think this is a great story for all young readers, but those who have similar close, extended family units would appreciate seeing that type of family represented.

[I received this as a digital ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.]

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Review: The Dollar Kids

The Dollar Kids by Jennifer Richard Jacobson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

While I had a little bit of trouble connecting with the story and characters at the very beginning, I was quickly caught up in Lowen's struggle to overcome the guilt he felt in the death of the boy who lived across the hall, and the Grover family's struggle to start over in a small town where apparently not everyone welcomed them.

There is a lot going on in this book with it's ensemble case of characters, but I think it is generally all pulled together pretty well. I thought the idea of a family buying a "dollar house" (a foreclosed, rundown house sold for only a $1, with the stipulation the purchaser perform repairs and improvements within a year) very interesting, and though the mixed reactions from the locals were spot on: some would be welcoming, some would assume they were poor, and many would regard them with suspicion as "outsiders".

Although Lowen's father remained a bit of a stranger due to his staying in the city for much of the book, I thought the characters of the rest of the family were fairly well-developed, particularly Lowen and his mother. I could relate to his mother's dream of her own business, and to feeling like an outsider in a small-town. The story touched on so many things. Initially it seemed to be all about Lowen's guilt (which I liked seeing that he used his art to work through), but it was also very much about friendship, with Lowen finally understanding there are different types of friendship and realizing he and Abe were friends, and gradually building a friendship with Dylan. It was also about starting over, working hard, overcoming obstacles, and how a dying town finally came together and reinvented itself.

I really enjoyed this and will definitely recommend it!

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Review: The Storm Runner

The Storm Runner by J.C. Cervantes
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3-1/2 stars. This is the second book published under Rick Riordan's new Disney imprint "Rick Riordan Presents". In Rordan's own words, the purpose of this new imprint is:

"....to publish great books by middle grade authors from underrepresented cultures and backgrounds, to let them tell their own stories inspired by the mythology and folklore of their own heritage."

I do love the idea of an established author helping to promote new authors, especially those from underrepresented groups, and I respect Riordan for going that route rather than using unknown authors as ghostwriters and publishing them under his own name, a practice that has always seemed rather predatory to me.

However, I am not sure I really heard the author's voice in this story. I felt like it was too similar to Riordan's style and just seemed really cookie-cutter to me. It was not bad, and I can't really point out any specific flaws, other than the character development just wasn't quite there for me and it just wasn't as engaging. I usually hate to put a book down until I'm finished, but that wasn't the case with this one. I also found I was more interested in some of the supporting characters, like Ms. Cab and Jazz, than the main character. However, I have read so many middle-grade books based on mythology in the last few years I think I am just really burned out on the genre.

In this story, Zane Obispo is the only child of a single mother who feels self-conscious because one leg is shorter than the other, resulting in his walking with a limp. His seemingly normal life is interrupted by some very unusual events and a new shape-shifting friend. He soon discovers that he is the son of a Mayan creation god, and must destroy Ah Puch, the god of death, whom Zane had released from where the gods had imprisoned him.

I am still curious to see other titles from this new imprint, and I would suggest them for young readers looking for something similar to Riordan's Percy Jackson and other series.

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Review: Children of Blood and Bone

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I have very mixed feelings about this book. Because of all the hype and the long wait to get a copy from my library, I had very high expectations, and I just didn't feel like it lived up to the hype. I know there's a lot of exitement about it because of having an author who is a POC, particularly in the fantasy genre.

I'll start with the good. The story did grab my interest right away, and held it most of the time. I love the cover art. I really liked the character of Amari, the princess who rebels against her father and brother to do what is right. I loved the growth in her character, from a frightened princess who made an impusive decision after seeing her father murder her maid and best friend, but not really having a clue what she was doing, to a strong fighter who had the courage of her convictions and is determined to claim the throne in order to lead her country into peace.

I would not say anything was really BAD about it, but some things were annoying. It was very preditable in many ways, especially the romance between the princess Amari and Tzain, the main character's brother, and the ill-fated romance between Zelie and crown prince Inan. Readers can see the sad end of that before it ever gets started, due to Inan's desire for his father's approval overriding any hint of decency and good character he has. In my opinion, the book would have been so much better if that romantic subplot had been left out entirely.

Zelie's character was at times very sympathetic, likeable, and admirable, but at others very annoying because of her poor choices and not learning from past mistakes, which end up costing many, many lives. I'd really like to see the characters of her brother and the princess play a bigger role. The other thing I found annoying was the juxtaposition of a setting that felt like a very anicent time and culture, and the sometimes very modern speech and phrases. Some of the dialog just didn't seem to fit the culture and time. Also, I found the adding of "aire" to the end of real animal names as a naming device for all the fantastical animals annoying, too.

And finally I wondered about the facets of Yoruba legends, mythology, and language being used in high fantasy. I would rather see folklore that is an authentic and accurate representation of an actual culture's mythology and language, or fantasy that is truly all fantantiscal and fictional, rather than a mixing of the two, and another reviewer who self-identifies as Yoruban indicated this usage and representation was problematic to them, as well.

I don't want to disuade anyone from reading this book, but since it has been hyped SO much, I felt more compelled to point out some of the potential flaws. This book is the first of a trilogy, so that's good news to the many who loved it, though I doubt I will read the rest, but will look at summaries and skim them as I am curious about what happens next.

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Review: The End of the World and Beyond

The End of the World and Beyond by Avi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I did not realize that this book was the sequel to The Unexpected Life of Oliver Cromwell Pitts: Being an Absolutely Accurate Autobiographical Account of My Follies, Fortune, and Fate, which came out last year, until after I started reading it. While I would prefer to have read the first book before this one, it does work as a stand-alone since Oliver graciously gives the reader a quick summary of the events in the first book.

In this story, Oliver's misfortune contintues as he is sentenced to 7 years of indentured servitude, and sent to the American colonies, where after surviving attrocious conditions on the ship, he is eventually sold to a cruel master, who boasts of murdering another boy because he thought he was going to run away. Oliver is befriended by Bara, the slightly older black slave boy, and the two begin to plan an escape, but Oliver's recklessness causes them to have to leave immediately, escaping into the swamp. Can they evade both capture and the dangers of the swamp and find sanctuary in the legendary Maroons?

Part history lesson about the disparity between the haves and have-nots in 18th century Britain, the shockingly harsh laws of that time, and the great cruelties inflicted on people and children who were just trying to survive, and heart-stopping tale of survival, this story would appeal to middle-grade readers who are looking for adventure, stories of survival and facing adversity, and enjoy or are at least open to historical fiction. Some readers might be a little put-off by the language and writing style, but if they stick with it will soon be drawn into the story.

This book is fairly fast-paced with short chapters, with a satisfying, though somewhat contrived, ending. My biggest criticism is that the ending seemed a bit rushed, very convenient and contrived, without enough explanation. Based on the way the book ended, I would not be surprised to see a third book that reveals Bara's fate.

[I received this book as a digital ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.]

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Review: The Darkdeep

The Darkdeep by Ally Condie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The next step for Goosebumps fans!

A bullying incident ends up with Nico falling off a cliff into the mysterious Still Cove, as his friends Emma and Tyler watch helplessly in horror. Opal, a former friend who has lately been hanging out with the bully, comes back and leads a resuce attempt, with the three eventually findong Nico safe on a mysterious island no one knew existed, where they make a very strange discovery that soon proves to be dangerous. Logan, the bully, follows them to the island. Can the five of them learn to trust each other and work together to stop the sinister force they have unwittingly unnleashed?

I must start with the disclaimer that I do not like horror at all, but. I selected it to review because I recognized Ally Condie as the author of the popular Matched YA dystopian series, and I was curious to see how she would write for middle-grade, and I try to read all genres for reader's advisory purposes. Even though horror is not *my* thing, I found it to be an age-appropriate level of "horror"; it is creepy, scary, and suspenseful with assorted monsters, but no one is seriously hurt, no graphic violence or blood and guts (other than a couple of mentions of blood from scrapes and cuts resulting from falling). And while I don't necessarily care for creepy, scary stories with unexplained sinister forces, I did like how the situation forced the kids to work together and learn to trust each other.

It reminded me very much of the Goosebumps series, but is a step or two above in terms of length and reading level. I would definitely recommend it to those who have read and enjoyed the Goosebumps books, or Louis Sachar's Fuzzy Mud, but are ready to move up in length and reading level. It appears that there will be at least one sequel to this book, as well.

[I recieved a digital ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.]

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Review: Skink--No Surrender

Skink--No Surrender by Carl Hiaasen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Loved it! I'd forgotten how much I enjoy Carl Hiaasen's books since it's been a while since I've read Hoot, Scat, Chomp and Flush.

This one is an interesting cross between his novels for kids and his novels for adults. It's similar to his middle-grade novels, but the characters are slightly older and the plot is just a bit grittier, but still tame compared to a lot of YA books, and it features a recurring character from several of his adult novels. In this story, a teenage girl has run off with a guy she met in an online chatroom. Her cousin Richard, who is more level-headed and sensible than she is, knows that she could be in serious trouble and alerts her family (who think she's left early for boarding school), and then heads off to hunt for her himself, along with an eccentric hermit called Skink, who also happens to be a former governor and surprisingly tough for a 72-year old!

The story has lots of adventure as Skink and Richard follow Malley's trail across Florida, with Hiaasen's characteristic environmental message woven in. They encounter interesting locals, skunks, gators, wild boars, and a supposedly extinct species of woodpecker in the process, as well as facing other challenges. This is a great book for those wanting adventure stories without a fantasy or sci-fi element, and those who are interested in environmental concerns and conservation.

It is only slightly darker than his middle-grade novels; there is some violence and a death, but it is not overly graphic. There are references to cursing, but I don't believe there were any actual curse words, and though a teenage girl was kidnapped by an online predator, there is no sexual abuse, and she states that he did not hurt her, only kissed her and held her against her will. As I said, it is very tame compared to most YA, and I would not hesitate to recommend it for readers as young as 12, and possibly as young as 11 or 10, depending on maturity.

Now I'm so intrigued by the character of Skink, I'm going to have to find time to read some more of Hiaasen's adult novels....

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Review: Puddin'

Puddin' by Julie Murphy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Loved it!

Millie and Callie seemingly have nothing in common. Millie is short, fat, not popular, but has a small circle of friends including her best friend Amanda. She gets made fun of because of her weight, but is comfortable with herself and has an inner confidence and sweetness that is often mistaken for naivete. She simply ignores those who can't accept her, or kills them with kindness.

Callie is thin, pretty, has a popular boyfriend, and is next in line to be captain of the dance team. Though she seems to be part of the popular crowd, in reality she has no real friends because she doesn't let anyone get that close, and she knows what it's like to feel different. She adopts a "mean girl" persona in order to protect herself from getting hurt, and rejects people before they can reject her.

When one night of bad judgement causes their paths to become entertwined, Callie and Millie discover that they have more in common than they ever realized, and bring out qualities in each other they didn't know they had, leading to surprising developments.

This book is part sequel, part companion to Murphy's second novel, Dumplin'. It takes place where the previous book left off, but the focus is on different characters, though the rest of the Dumplin' cast is present as well. While this book does refer to events in the previous one, it can be read on it's own, but I would still recommend reading both because they are so good. In the author's own words, "If Dumplin' was about coming to terms with your own body, Puddin' is about demanding that the world do the same."

I loved this book at least as much as the first, possibly slightly more. I really enjoyed getting to know Millie much better, as well as Callie. I loved seeing how Millie's friendship helped Callie grow and learn she didn't have to play the mean girl and keep everyone at arm's length all the time, even if in real life the mean girls seldom change. The character development of the two main characters was wonderful, and I enjoyed being able to see different sides of them: Millie's ambition and determination, and Callie's softer side in caring about her family.

While there is some drama and romance in this story as well, it is first and foremost about friendship, and learning the difference between real friends and fake ones, and making the decision to be a better version of yourself, realizing you don't have to settle for someone else's stereotype of you.

I highly recommend this book! Though it looks a bit on the longer side, it really was a relatively quick and enjoyable read. Not too serious, but still very real and well-written; a perfect summer read.


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Review: Amal Unbound

Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was very good, and a relatively quick and easy read, so might appeal to some of the more reluctant readers as well.

This is the story of Amal, a 12-year old Pakistani girl who is educated and dreams of going to college and becoming a teacher, until one day when the stress and fatigue from caring for her family while her mother struggles with postpartum depression causes her to mouth off to the wrong person. Jawad Sahib's family is powerful and wealthy, controlling everything in Amal's village and several others.

Jawad Sahib demands that Amal's father pay his debt in full immediately, which of course he can't, or surrender Amal to indentured servitude as punishment for her disrespect. Amal adapts to life at the Kahn compound, and is assigned to serve Jawad Sahib's mother, who treats her with kindness. While there, Amal learns dangerous secrets that could bring down Jawad Sahib and break the family's hold on her family and friends, but could also jeopardize her life.

Being a middle-grade novel, the story is a bit simplistic and the conflict resolved rather quickly and maybe a bit too easily. But that is exactly what makes it very accessible to younger readers and reluctant readers. According to the author's notes at the end, Amal's character is inspired by Malala Yousafzai and all the Pakistani girls who fight for education. She also notes that many girls are subjected to far worse circumstances for far longer than Amal.

I really liked Amal's character, seeing how she cared for her family and friends, but also wanted something more. I enjoyed seeing the relationship she developed with Nabila, who was at first her enemy but then became her friend, and Fatima, who became her first student. The relationship between Amal and Nasreen Baji was also interesting, Nasreen's unexpected kindness in contrast to her son's cruelty, and Amal's realization that Nasreen was just as trapped as the rest of them.

Some critique this book as being too idealist, though middle-grade books are rarely completely realistic, but I think it is important to plant a seed, the idea that even those that are poor, young, and oppressed can sometimes effect change if they work together are willing to take the risk. I would recommend this for ages 8-12.

Aisha Saeed is one of the founders of the We Need Diverse Books campaign, and this is her second book. Her first book was the YA novel Written In The Stars about a Pakistani-American girl being pushed into an arranged marriage, and she has plans for a picture book, Bilal Cooks Daal, expected to be published in 2019.

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Review: You're Welcome, Universe

You're Welcome, Universe by Whitney Gardner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I had a little trouble getting into this story at first, but by the end I really liked it.

Julia is a deaf teenage graffiti artist who happens to be Indian-American and have two moms. Everything is great until someone paints a slur about her best friend on the wall of their school for the deaf, and when the administration drags their feet about painting over it, Julia takes matters into her own hands and covers it with her graffiti art. Unfortunately, her "friend" does not show the same protective loyalty and quickly gives Julia up when questioned about it, resulting in Julia's expulsion.

Julia then has to be mainstreamed into public school, where she has trouble adjusting and fitting in, and most of the other students and teachers make little effort, except for a girl that Julia calls "Yoga Pants" who she seemingly has nothing in common with. Eventually Julia and YP (the name sign Julia gives her) do become friends, but just when Julia think she has found a real friend, YP reveals she has been keeping a huge secret.

This is a story about friendship, trust, and forgiveness. Refreshingly, there is no real romance, just a crush that is another source of conflict between Julia and her former "best friend", and the focus is on developing friendships, learning how to tell real friends from the fake ones, knowing when it's time to let one friend go, and when to forgive another.

While I wish Julia's moms had a little bit more character development, I think the characters of Julia and YP were fairly well-developed. Julia is not always the most sympathetic character; she is dark and sulky, adopting a tough, gritty, "too cool for everyone else" persona that just rubs people the wrong way, but it is obvious this her way of protecting herself and rejecting everyone else before they can reject her. YP, on the other hand, is a very friendly and likeable character, and her openness and vulnerability is a perfect complement to Julia's dark edginess.

I can't judge the accuracy of representation of being deaf and deaf culture, so I will leave that to those who can. But the story is not really about Julia's being deaf, but about friendship, and expressing oneself through art. I would recommend this for anyone looking for realistic fiction that doesn't involve romance.

This book was the 2018 Schneider Family Award winner.

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Review: Little & Lion

Little & Lion by Brandy Colbert
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If you are looking for diversity, this book has it! The main character is a black Jewish girl from a blended, interracial family who is trying to figure out her sexuality while at the same time worrying about her stepbrother who has been dignosed with bipolar disorder. One of her love interests is a male friend who is biracial (black and Korean), another is a girl who identifies as pansexual, and her best friend is a lesbian.

Suzette is home from boarding school where her parents had sent her when her brother began developing symptoms of mental illness, in part so they could focus on him, and partly to shelter her. But she feels a sense of responsibility for Lionel, and her love for her brother causes her to make a very bad decision that puts his safety in jeopardy out of a misguided sense of loyalty. At the same time, she is trying to figure out her sexuality after having an affair with her female roommate at school that had a very messy ending, but also finding herself strongly attracted to a male friend.

Some have described this book as being too messy and having too many issues going on, and I have often felt that way about other books in the past. But I realized as I was reading it, life for many of us IS really that messy, and my family is a good example. We'd like life to be more simple and only have to deal with one complication or crisis at a time, but it isn't always that easy, which is something I have learned in the last year or two. Life is messy, difficult, and complicated.

I think the character development could have been a little bit deeper, but I did like the relationships within Suzette's family, how close she was to her stepfather and stepbrother. I found Rafaela, the girl Suzette and Lionel are both attracted to, to be less than honest or worthy of either of them. At times she was manipulative and seemed to enjoy being the center of attention and having siblings both interested in her, then she claimed an ex was stalking her, when it seemed she was really stringing him along because she like the attention and drama, and enjoyed having him and Lionel fighting over her. I was really suprised no one called her out on that crap and told her to get lost.

I cannot attest to the validity of the representation of bisexuality or bipolar disorder, so I will leave that to other reviewers.

This book won the 2018 Stonewall Award.

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Review: Starfish

Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Kiko Himura struggles with self-esteem, speaking up for herself, and feeling reponsible for her narcissistic mother's unhappiness. She is shy, withdrawn, and socially awkward, and finds it very difficult to be around other people, besides her best friend Emery. Her mother has little interest in her, and frequently belittles her Japanese heritage and features. When her mother insists on letting the uncle who sexually abused her as a child move in like nothing ever happened, Kiko finally finds the strength to leave and find a new life, with the help of her old childhood friend and crush, Jamie.

This book was a Morris finalist, and I can see why. Though it is sometimes painful to watch Kiko put up with her mother's abuse and selfishness, and her mother is a character everyone will love to hate, it is very satisfying to see Kiko slowly develop the strength to stand up to her mother and gradually realize that it is her mother who is the problem, not her. I love that while Kiko initially needed Jamie's support, she realized that she had to stop using him as a crutch and learn to be independant and find her own inner strength on her own, without him.

This could be very helpful for teens dealing with similarly unhealthy relationships with nacissistic people.


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Review: Lucky Broken Girl

Lucky Broken Girl by Ruth Behar
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a wonderful, sometimes bittersweet, story of perseverance, friendship, hope, and forgiveness. Definitely worthy of the Pura Bel Pre Medal!

Ruthie's family recently emigrated from Cuba to the U.S. to escape Castro. At first it was difficult, as they didn't speak the language and had to leave everything behind. Finally Ruthie's English is good enough that she is about to be promoted out of the remedial class and her Papi is making enough money to buy her the go-go boots she longs for and himself the car he has always dreamed of. But just as things are looking up, the family is involved in a terrible car accident that leaves Ruthie seriously injured and bedridden for almost a year.

This semi-autobiographical story follows Ruthie's long and difficult recovery, spending 8 months bedridden and in a body cast, and taking another 4 months after that to be able to walk normally again. We see her pain, anger, frustration, hopelessness and as she struggles with her lack of freedom, independence, and dignity; and her fear when she is finally free of her cast but has to learn to trust her leg and walk again.

I love how several cultures are woven into the fabric of this story. Ruthie and her family are secular Jews, but grew up in Cuba, and so brought much of the Cuban culture and language with them, and her neighbors include other immigrants from India, Belgium, and Mexico. As Ruthie learns about them and their cultures, she draws on parts of various faiths for strength and comfort. Ruthie's parents are portrayed as loving, but flawed parents. Her father is quick-tempered, slightly controlling, and perhaps a little insecure, but he does love his family. Her mother loves Ruthie, but has a hard time dealing with the burden of caring for an invalid, and sometimes seems a little selfish and lets her frustration show too much, making Ruthie feel guilty. Her little brother Izzie is extremely sweet and generous, however.

I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy a more thoughtful, character-driven story, and those who enjoy stories of resilience and seeing others face and overcome hardships. Fans of The War That Saved My Life would also like this one.

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Review: The 57 Bus: A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives

The 57 Bus: A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives by Dashka Slater
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I don't even know where to begin with reviewing this book.....it is powerful, well-written, well-researched, and will really make you question your own biases and views on education, hate crimes, and juvenile criminal justice. It is at times horrific and bleak, but in some ways hopeful, and reveals people showing amazing capacities for empathy and forgiveness. It is also terrifying.

This is the true story of a horrible crime that happened in Oakland in 2013, when one teenager lit the skirt of another teenager on fire as they slept while both were riding a transit bus home, resulting in horrific burns. Because the victim was perceived as a male (though self-identifies as agender) wearing a skirt, it was immediately assumed and reported to be a hate crime. But was it really? Did the 16-year old boy who committed the crime really deserve to be tried as an adult? Was he a hardened, homophobic criminal with no conscience and beyond saving? Or just an impulsive teenager, susceptible to peer pressure with poor judgment who did a very, very stupid, dangerous thing without conceiving of how disastrous the results would be?

I say it is terrifying because I am the parent of a very impulsive teenage boy, who has already gotten into trouble several times because of the lack of impulse control, inability to foresee consequences, and desire to show off for his friends. I live in constant fear that his immaturity and impulsivity will some day lead to him doing something similarly stupid, dangerous, and harmful that will end up with someone else hurt and him in jail before he (hopefully) matures and grows out of this behavior.

A must-read for all teens and parents of teens, but brings up issues all of society should think about.

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Review: Dear Martin

Dear Martin by Nic Stone
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars. Overall a good story, but something was off in the writing to me. I didn't feel like the character development was quite there, and it just felt like it should have all been written in first person, rather than just the journal letters. It seems almost like it HAD originally all been written in first-person, and then re-edited so that all the I's and me's were simply replaced with "Justyce", rather than re-writing to be truly from a 3rd-person perspective, in an unnecessary effort to make more distinction between the story and Justyce's journal entries. I expected a little more from a Morris finalist.

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Review: The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue

The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4.5 out of 5 stars. From the summary, I was expecting a story full of frivolity, partying, and raunchy hijinks (which is exactly what the main character was expecting from his Grand Tour as well), but it is so much more! It is most definitely a fun- and action-filled adventure, but there are also moments that are sincere and touching, and it deals with the serious issues of racism, abuse, disability, and learning to be comfortable in your own skin.

The story starts off with the hard-partying Monty and his best friend (and love interest) Percy setting off on what Monty expected to be a year of continental debauchery as he drank and slept his way across Europe with plenty of beautiful lasses and lads. However, his hopes are dashed as not only does his father hire a stern chaperone to accompany them and keep them in line, but his younger sister Felicity is going to be tagging along for part of the trip. But, a night of bad behavior and impulsive actions by Monty soon sends the trio on a wild and dangerous adventure they could never have imagined, including being pursued by highwaymen, discovering secrets and intrigue, being kidnapped by pirates, and robbing a sinking tomb. Along the way, Monty must deal with his feelings for Percy, and the pain and self-loathing caused by his father's rejection and abuse.

This was such a fun read, and historical romance has always been my guilty pleasure. This reminded me very much of the many historical romances I have indulged in over the years, just with two male protaganists. Along with the fun and romance, there are some clear messages woven in the story that were maybe just the tiniest bit heavy-handed at times, but overall the issues of disability, racism, sexuality, gender equality, and learning not to let others define you were integrated into the story fairly well. The author also adds some additional historical information and context in the endnotes that I appreciated. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a fun read with adventure and romance.

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Review: Strange the Dreamer

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was good, but it was really long! I was a little disappointed it is part of a series, because I would have liked to have a real ending after reading that much, and I likely won't have time to read the rest of the series. But for many who love getting into a series, that will be good news. Just know not to expect a true ending.

After it was named a Printz honor book and I discovered the main character was a librarian, I had to read it. Fantasy isn't my normal thing, but I know kids and teens love it, so I do try to read some. The writing is very lyrical and very descriptive, lots of metaphors and similies, but it really draws the reader into the sense of mysticism and "otherworldliness" that sets the scene for this whole story.

The main characters are very well-developed, and since much of the story takes place in their heads and in their dreams, the reader really feels that they get to know and care about them. I would recommend this for anyone, young adults and up, who enjoy fantasy and mysticism and escaping into other worlds. Fans of mythology and fairy tales would like this is well as it has much of the same feel. I would not recommend this to someone looking for a quick read! However, it would be great for spring break or summer reading, when one can really devote the time to becomming lost in a book.

Laini Taylor is also the author of the Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy.

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Review: The First Rule of Punk

The First Rule of Punk by Celia C. Pérez
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a Pura Bel Pre honor book, and one of only two true middle grade books to receive any honors out of all of this year's YMA's, and it was just the thing I needed to read after reading so of the other YA winners and honorees that were good, but so heavy and serious! Not that this story is fluff or frivolous by any means, but it is definitely lighter, energetic, fun, and positive, and I loved it!

Twelve-year old Maria Luisa, who prefers to be called Malu, is about to leave Florida, the only home she's known, to move to Chicago with her mother for two years, and she is not happy about it at all. In addition to having to leave behind her friends and father (her parents amicably divorced when she was very little) and having to adapt to a new neighborhood and being the "new kid", Malu struggles with her identity and mixed heritage. She looks like her Mexican mother, but her personality is much more like her father, enjoying expressing themselves through punk music and style (Malu also expresses herself by making 'zines, several of which are contained in the book and add to it). Malu feels like she is a disappointment to her mother, who always seems to be trying to make her "a good little senorita".

But, Malu soon makes a few good friends and finds a place where she feels comfortable, and gets the support and acceptance from her friend Joe's mother that she doesn't think she can get from her own. The four friends form a band, and plan to play a punk version of a tradtional Mexican song at the school's talent show, only to find out the principal has banned them from participating for being too different. Faced with the disappointing news, will Malu and her friends give up, or stand up against discrimination?

This is a great story with wonderful characters that are well-developed, and moves along at a good pace. It has elements of typical tween angst that anyone can relate to, like friction with parents, frustration with school dress codes, dealing with "mean girls", and having to start over and make new friends, and a little civil disobedience. But it also deals with the specific issue of cultural heritage, and what that means, particularly to the increasing number of children of mixed heritage. I like that the story shows you don't have to choose one over the other, and you don't have to suppress your own thoughts, feelings, dreams, and sense of expression in order to appreciate and respect your cultural heritage. You just have to be you.

I think most kids could find something to relate to in the story, but it could be especially relateable and helpful for those who are also going through big transitions and having to start over, and those who also feel their parents may have unfair expectations of them based on cultural tradition or those of mixed heritage who feel caught in the middle.

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Review: The Stars Beneath Our Feet

The Stars Beneath Our Feet by David Barclay Moore
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars. This story had a fairly strong finish, but was a little hard to get into at first, and the author's over-use of a particular phrase was very distracting and annoying.

Twelve-year old Wallace, or "Lolly" as most people call him, lives in the projects in Harlem with his mom. They are both grieving over the recent loss of Lolly's older brother, Jermaine, who was killed as a result of gang violence. Lolly is having a particularly hard time because not only is he grieving, he is also dealing with anger over whatever caused the two of them to stop speaking the week of Jermain's death, and feeling guilty because of it.

Lolly is obsessed with Lego's, meticulously following the directions to make them exactly like the photos on the box. But once he suddenly decides to break all his models down and build something entirely new, of his own design, he is finally able to start working through his feelings of grief and anger, and make an unexpected connection. But after two neighborhood thugs start hassling him and his freinds, will he be able to resist the temptations that Jermaine could not?

I had a little trouble getting into this book at first, but once I did really enjoyed following Lolly on his journey of discovery. I loved the characters, especially Lolly, his mom, her girlfriend Yvonne, and Lolly's friend Vega, and I really liked seeing the friendship that gradually developed between Lolly and Rosamund through building, and how they each were highly skilled, but in such different ways, and the way they integrated their work together at the end.

I like that this books portrays the difficulties of living in the projects, the realities of gangs, violence, and how difficult it is to resist, but also shows positive examples of those who are able to make better choices to give hope and direction to others. I did find some of the little side-stories to be unnecessary and a little distracting, and while I like the way his mom and her girlfriend were portrayed, some of the other minor gay characters were too stereotypical, almost caricatures.

Now, to what absolutely irritated the crap out of me about this book.... For some reason, the author *constantly* refers to characters "sucking their teeth", over and over and over. It's as bad as Ana constantly biting her lip in Fifty Shades of Grey. It was so distracting and annoying that I almost gave up on reading the book. I don't know how on earth the editor did not catch and correct this!

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Review: We Are Okay

We Are Okay by Nina LaCour
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book, and can see why it was chosen for the Printz Medal. While it does deal with grief, tragedy, and loneliness, don't let that put you off. While some tears may be shed reading this book and it does follow the charcters into dark places, it is NOT one of those dark, twisty, depressing books with a bleak ending.

The book opens on Marin, a college freshmen in New York, saying good-bye to her roommate, Hannah, as Hannah prepares to leave for winter break and Marin stays in the dorm, alone. From their conversation, the reader perceives that Hannah is concerned about Marin, that Marin is somehow fragile. As the story progresses we understand that Marin has sufferred some kind of tragedy that prompted her to leave everything and everyone behind in California, without even saying good-bye, and she has not talked to anyone since, not even her best friend Mabel. After 3 months of Marin ignoring Mabel's calls and texts, Mabel is coming to visit, which prompts Marin to begin to deal with her feelings.

As the story unfolds, we learn bit by bit what happened to Marin, and why it affected her so deeply as Marin herself finely begins to face the past and deal with her feelings. This is primarily a story about dealing with grief, showing how there is no one way to grieve and everyone processes grief differently, and sometimes in ways that are not so healthy. But it is also a story of love and friendship, and being able to let your guard down and admit when you need help and accept love. We see how Marin and Mabel's friendship evolves and changes, but that no matter how many walls Marin puts up, Mabel and her family refuse to give up on her, but give her the space to work through her feelings.

This is definitely a thoughtful book, with most of it taking place inside Marin's head, her thoughts, feelings, and memories, and while some readers might get a tad impatient to know what happened to Marin to leave her so affected, I think it unfolds at an appropriate pace. This could be a good book for teens who have had to deal with such losses to find someone to relate to, and would also be good for the friends or family of a young person who is grieving to read to help them understand how difficult it can be, and how differently people might deal with it.

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Review: Hello, Universe

Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5 out of 5 stars. I struggled with how to rate & review this book. There are definitely some good points, but I found it to really drag for the first half and to be too predictable. Ok, but certainly not "the most distinguished book in children's literature" for 2017, which is what the Newbery medal is supposed to mean.

Four very different kids: Virgil, painfully shy and insecure; Valencia, strong and smart; Kaori, the good-hearted fortune teller and mystic, and Chet, the bully. One fated day when their lives intersect in the nearby woods. Some say there are no coincidences...

I'll start with what I like about it, which were the characters. The characters are fairly well-developed, at least as well-developed as they can be in a relativey short, middle-grade novel. I particularly liked Valencia, with her inner strength, interest in nature, and intelligence; and Kaori's fascination with "second sight" and sincerity in using it to help others. At times, I found Virgil's inability to speak up for himself frustrating and annoying, but I loved his Lola and their relationship, the way she stuck up for him in the family and encouraged him.

I also really liked the way the author showed what Chet (the bully) was thinking, revealing his bullying was because of his own fears and insecurities, and following the example set by his father. It was interesting how Chet didn't really know what his father did, but envisioned him has being someone very important at whatever it was, while I in turn imagined him as some low-level manager or supervisor, frustrated because he can't go any higher, frustrated with having to take orders, who then bullies other people to try to make himself feel superior.

The other positives are a very satisfying (if predictable) ending, and a very diverse cast of characters reflecting various ethnicities and abilities that are well-integrated into the story. Too often it feels like an author is just throwing in everything but the kitchen sink to check off boxes and score points for diversity, and it's just districting, artificial, and annoying, but that was happily not the case here.

What I didn't like about the book is that is seemed to drag on so slowly in the beginning, and so much of it was predictible. You knew Chet was going to do something to Virgil that was going to be the real start of the story and bring all the characters together, and you just wanted it to hurry up and happen already! It seemed to take forever to get to the real story, and the ending was completely predictible. You knew that new friendships would be made and expected that Virgil would finally find his voice, it was only the some of the details along the way that were unknown.

I think this is an enjoyable enough read and would still recommend it to kids aged 8-12, but it just didn't live up to my expectations of a Newbery winner. I just don't find anything particularly distinguishing about it. I guess the diversity of the characters and the fact that the author is a person of color make it stand out, but I find neither the writing nor the highly predictible and hardly unique plot to be anything more than average, certainly not the "most distinguished" children's book of the year overall. I can think of others I would rank higher.

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Review: Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers

Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers by Deborah Heiligman
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

I am really shocked, but despite much anticipation, this book was a rare DNF for me. I really tried, but I just found it boring, choppy, had no flow, and not the least bit engaging.

And that really surprises me because (1) I almost never fail to finish a book, but I have so many demands on my time now that I just can't waste time on books I'm not enjoying unless I feel they are really significant for some reason, (2) I usually enjoy biographies, (3) it has been mentioned by some as a potential Newbery finalist, and most of all, (4) I'm a huge fan of Van Gogh's work! I just love his style of painting, and have reproductions of "A Starry Night" and one of the "Sunflowers" hanging in my house, and a coffee-table biography with lots of full-page photos of his work.

So given all that, I really thought I'd get into this book, but I just couldn't. There is no flow, it is broken up into a million short 3=4 page chapters, the writing is just clunky and odd, and the book has a serious identitiy crisis; the author doesn't seem to know who her intended audience is.

My library has it in the children's section, so for ages 10-14 ish, but I would never recommend it for someone of that age. I mean, this thing is almost 500 pages long! And while the Harry Potter books gradually became very long tomes, they were full of action and adventure, and highly engaging so the reader raced through them to see what happens. Not only is it long, difficult to read, and dull, there are topics within it that are not appropriate for this age range. While I certainly would not tell a 14 year old they couldn't read it, I most definitely would not suggest it or assign it.

But at the same time, it doesn't quite read as a teen or adult, book, either. Though overall it is a ponderous read, at the same time the writing comes across as a bit patronizing for an adult or older teen. I really can't figure out who this book was written for, or who would want to read it. Whatever the author's intentions, it clearly misses the mark.

Again, I'm surprised and disappointed I couldn't finish it. Admittedly, I'm under a huge time crunch and not feeling that great, so if I have a chance, I'll give it another try sometime when I'm in a different frame of mind.

I loved the cover, though :)

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Review: Orphan Island

Orphan Island by Laurel Snyder
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Nine children, alone on an island. Every year, a boat arrives bringing a new child, and the eldest child leaves by the same boat. Who are they? Why are they on the island? Where did they come from and what happens to the Elder after they leave? We soon see that things on the island are not quite normal, and something or someone is controlling it. Is it magic or technology? Who is charge of everything? Reminds me a bit of both <i>The Maze Runner</i> and <i>The Girl Who Drank The Moon</i>, and also made me think of the old Jim Carrey movie "The Truman Show".

Unfortunately, we do not get the answers to ANY of these questions, which just soured me on the whole book. So we find nothing about the big picture, but spend a year watching the new Elder, Jinny, flounder as a leader and fight with her ambivalent feelings about her impending departure. Some have  championed this book as a possible Newbery honor book, but it is not on my short list. Books that have no real ending, and leave so many important questions unanswered just piss me off!

I get that some see this as an imaginative metaphor for childhood, and the ambivalence of growing up; some kids embrace it while others want to stay a child a little longer. But kids are not going to appreciate that aspect at all, and are generally going to be very literal readers just as I am, and would be frustrated by all the unanswered questions. I would not recommend this book unless and until there is a sequel available to answer the mystery of the island and the children.

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Review: Princess Cora and the Crocodile

Princess Cora and the Crocodile by Laura Amy Schlitz
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I normally don't review picture books and beginner chapter books on here, but I made an exception for this one since I've seen it tossed around as a potential award winner this year (we'll find out in a couple of days).

It is a cute enough story about a princess who is tired of having such a rigid, structured, life with everyone telling her what to do and having no fun or freedom to be herself. She writes a letter to her fairy Godmother, and the next day receives a mysterious package containing a crocodile who offers to eat everyone she's upset with. Instead, she has the crocodile take her place for the day, while she leaves the castle and does whatever she feels like for a a day. Upon her return, she finds the crocodile has made a mess of things, but this leads to her being able to finally communicate her feelings to her parents.

The story has a good message about finding your voice and learning to speak up for yourself. It is a cute enough story, the only negative was I thought the author dwelled a bit too long on the crocodile munching on the King's rear end. But I wasn't "wow-ed" by any means, so I would be suprised to see it as a Newberry honor book or medalist, but then again I often am, so we will see!

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Review: Real Friends

Real Friends by Shannon Hale
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This semi-autobiographical graphic novel follows little Shannon from kindergarten through 5th grade, showing the trials and tribulations of making and maintaining friendships, particularly when you're a shy, sensitive type, as well as dealing with a mean older sibling. My little sister would probably say she could identify with young Shannon, especially having the mean big sister ;)

While this book has an important message about friendships, recognizing real friends from fake ones or "frenemies", how friendships change and people may come and go, and how it's better to be kind and be yourself than to be "in", I found the execution a little lacking. It just did not flow well at all to me, and I was tempted not to finish it, but pushed through knowing it wouldn't take very long. I've seen it mentioned as possibly being considered for a Newberry, and I can see that it might because of dealing with bullying, but I just find the writing lacking.

A good idea that probably would have benefitted from some serious editing and re-writing, but it could be particularly beneficial for some kids to read anyway. I still prefer Roller Girl and All's Faire In Middle School, however.


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Review: Refugee

Refugee by Alan Gratz
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I had a little bit of a hard time adjusting to the frequently changing storylines. The three storylines, one about Jewish refugees from the Holocaust, one about Cuban refugees in the mid-90's, and one about a Syrian family escaping certain death in current-day Aleppo, alternated every chapter and was a little distracting and disjointed at first, as I would just be getting into one when the chapter would end and it would change to the next. It probably took me the first third of the book to get used to it and settle into the rhythm. I guess I had been expecting it to be like Echo, with each story told almost in entirety, then all being tied together in the ending.

But once I got used to it, it was a very compelling read, sometimes hopeful and inspiring, but more often shocking, sad, and horrifying. Beware, I don't think anyone could read this book without crying from the injustices, needless deaths, awful choices, and the families being torn apart. Very powerful and definitely helps put faces and voices to what we may tend to think of as an "issue" rather than as people, and makes it very real.

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Review: The Upside of Unrequited

The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is basically your typical "insecure fat/plain girl finally gets a boyfriend and now life is complete" stories, with a bunch of diverse characters added for flavor. While it was not terrible, I am just really tired of this trope and I hate the message it sends, that you need a boyfriend to validate you. I'd rather see a story of a big girl who is confident and has serious interests and goals other than having a boyfriend.

I did like parts of the book, and the connection to the author's first and Morris Ward-winning book, Simon vs. the Homo sapiens Agenda, which I loved, but it definitely did not measure up to Simon. Simon had such great, well-developed characters that had clear and distinct personalities and voices, but the characters in Unrequited were never really fully developed and lacked depth and voice. I really couldn't tell you anything about Molly other than she's a twin, has two moms, is fat, and would love to have a boyfriend but settles for secret crushes that she never acts on to avoid rejection.

I hope the author's third book due out later this year and also with a Simon tie-in, has a better message and better character development.


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Review: It All Comes Down to This

It All Comes Down to This by Karen English
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A quiet, thoughtful coming of age book that addresses racism and classism, through the lens of 12-year old Sophie, who is from a very comfortable upper middle class family that has just become one of the first black families in their new neighborhood in the LA suburbs in 1965.

Since they had previously lived in majority black middle-class neighborhoods and not in the South, Sophie and her sister Lily have been shielded from racism most of their lives, but now they begin to experience it in their mostly white neighborhood. Sophie and Lily begin to realize just how sheltered and privileged they are, after befriending their housekeeper's son Nathan whose experiences being pulled over for no other reason than having the very light-skinned Lily in his car, who the cops had mistaken for being white, and being arrested for no reason during the riots in his Watts neighborhood opened their eyes.

The books also shows classism, in how Sophie's mother saw herself as so different and better than most other black people who had less money, and shows the struggle children can feel when torn between wanting to follow their own path, but not wanting to disappoint their parents who dream of them having things easier and better than they did, and feeling obligated to fulfill some of their parents' dreams because they weren't able to. I felt Nathan was very unfair in his expectations of Lily and judgmental attitude about her choice and in not even trying to understand.

I've seen this book compared to works of Rita Williams-Garcia, but that comparison doesn't quite fit in my opinion. Rita Williams-Garcia's books have a bit more action, humor, and lively dialogue, and characters that have stronger personalities and more spunk. This book is more thoughtful, with characters that are more quiet, thoughtful, and a bit subdued or even cool and aloof. The quiet thoughtfulness reminds me more of Jacqueline Woodson's Brown Girl Dreaming.

I had a little trouble rating this one because I just didn't quite enjoy it as much as I'd hoped to. But I decided that came down to personal taste more than there being anything wrong with the book itself, and I just had slightly different expectations. But it has a very unique voice and perspective that isn't offered by any other book I know of, and deserves a place on the shelf.

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Dare to Make Any Awards Predictions?

I've never tried to make any predictions before, but I'm going to give it a shot just for fun on a few of them this year. Given how I am usually completely surprised by and often unfamiliar with, most of the winners and finalists, I don't expect to get many right, if any 😉. I'd love to hear your predictions in the comments!

If there's ever a sure thing, one would think The Hate U Give could be it. It's all everyone's been talking about all year, was assigned reading in my multicultural lit class, was voted best YA Fiction book and best by a debut author on Goodreads, and has already been announced as a Morris finalist. 

It seems likely to win the Morris, but I wonder if its popularity with the masses could possibly be a turn-off to the committee and they might want to select one of the other finalists that has not already gotten a lot of attention, like the similarly themed Dear Martin by Nic Stone. Either could also be a Coretta Scott King or CSK-Steptoe finalist and I think THUG could be one of the Printz finalists as well. 

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter was already a National Book Award finalist this year, and could be a strong candidate for the Pura Belpré Award, though that one seems to favor middle grade and picture books, and the Tomás Rivera Book Award. Since the main character develops severe depression, it could possibly be considered for the Schneider award as well.

This book reminded me a lot of 2015 Morris winner, Gabi: A Girl In Pieces, but darker and with the added mystery of what seemingly perfect sister Olga was up to before her death.

The Librarian of Auschwitz by Antonio Iturbe is one I expect to see on a lot of reading lists over the next year. Originally published in Spain by a Spanish author, I don't know if it's eligible for any awards here, but it is certainly worthy, in my opinion. 

I would love to see it as at least a finalist for the Batchelder Award, though I don't think it fits their criteria for "children's literature". The main character is 14, but I would say the intended audience is older. But then again, we did see a YA graphic novel as a Caldecott honor book not long ago, so who knows how strictly they define "children's". This is a great story, made even better when you realize it is based on real people and events.

When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon has been mentioned fairly frequently, on various lists and in online discussions. It is a good book that is a very enjoyable read, but being primarily a fairly typical teen romance I wouldn't normally expect it to receive a nod from any awards committees.

However, it wins points for diversity and having a strong female character going into a traditionally male-dominated field and has built up a little buzz, so I wouldn't be surprised to see it as a Printz finalist even though it is not as dark and weird is they tend to be. After all, The Sun Is Also A Star was a finalist last year, even though it is also a hopeful romance.

And now for the Newbery. Below are some of the books I think could be Newbery finalists:

You might notice that Wishtree by Katherine Applegate was not on my list of favorites from 2017. It was okay, but I think the story drags way too much in the beginning, and the writing seems really awkward in the beginning as well, though it smooths out later on. I just don't think this book would find wide appeal among kids, and that many would find the slow, awkward beginning too much of an obstacle to get through. However, this is exactly the kind of children's book that adults want kids to like and think they should read, so I do expect it to get a nod at the very least.

Refugee by Alan Grantz is one I have not actually had a chance to read yet because I was late getting my name on the waiting list, but I have heard so many people gushing about how powerful it was, and given the timeliness of the topic, I wouldn't be surprised to see it as a finalist. 

Amina's Voice by Hena Kahn appeared on several recommended reading lists, and is really good book that shows the plurality of the Islamic religion, portrays Muslims in a positive and authentic way, but is also very relatable to others, though I'm afraid being published so early in the year could cause it to be overlooked. I read this book for my multicultural youth literature class last May, and I really liked it and recommend it.

Beyond the Bright Sea by previous Newbery honoree Lauren Wolk is a beautifully written story that questions our ideas of love and family, with a bit of mystery and adventure thrown in that is just as good as her previous book, without the depressing ending. I just don't know if the committee would honor the same author two years in a row. 

All's Faire in Middle School by Victoria Jamieson is another great graphic novel for middle grades and tweens, and I think even better than her previous Newbery honor book Roller Girl, but I don't know if the committee would select the same author and format again so soon. It could also be considered for a Caldecott, but I think that's a long shot. 

The War I Finally Won by by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley is one I considered, but I had doubts about the committee choosing a sequel rather than an original story.

I'm sure whatever the committee actually comes up with will be quite different than my picks, and there will be at least a couple of the actual finalists that I will be unfamiliar with and completely surprised by, but I hope I got at least 1 or 2 in there!

Clayton Byrd Goes Underground by Rita Williams-Garcia is my other pick for the Coretta Scott King. I'm sure there are several other great books in this category, but this is the only one that I read that immediately comes to mind. I am a big fan of Rita Williams-Garcia's Gaither sisters trilogy, and this is just as about as good, though a little short for me personally and I wanted to slap his mother for being so childish and selfish! But this will be particularly great for reluctant readers. 

I have seen several others mention Jason Reynolds' Patina for both the CSK and the Newbery; I thought the first book in the series, Ghost, was better, yet it was not a finalist for either award last year, but Jason Reynolds is very hot right now. I also want to give a quick plug for an upcoming book by a debut author that I hope gets enough attention to be considered for the CSK next year, Like Vanessa, by Tami Charles.

I don't think I'm even going to attempt to make any Caldecott predictions, because I know I won't be even close. It seems the committee and I are just never on the same wavelength. I firmly believe appeal to children should be part of the consideration for all awards, and in my opinion, most Caldecott winners and honorees appeal to adults far more than children. 

I have been very underwhelmed by most of the recent Caldecott winners and honorees, and I'm still bitter that Ida, Always was given the cold shoulder by the committee last year. I think the only book that I liked this year that has a remote chance is Creepy Pair of Underwear by Aaron Reynolds and Peter Brown. I really think we need an award for picture books that considers the whole book, the illustration and the text, in the context of appeal to children.

I haven't read enough to really to have picks for the other awards and categories. So, what do you think? Am I in the ballpark on any of these?

What are some of your picks? I'd love to discuss!