The COVID-19 Pandemic: A Coronavirus Timeline by Matt Doeden - ADVISABLE

The COVID-19 Pandemic: A Coronavirus Timeline by Matt Doeden, 48 pages. NON-FICTION Lerner, 2021. $32 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

In 2019, when a mysterious illness was discovered in Wuhan, China, no one could have imagined that in only a few months a Global Pandemic would change everything, shutting down schools, businesses, restaurants and life as we knew it. With doctors and scientists learning how to treat patients and looking for a vaccine, governors and politicians stepped in to try to control the spread. 

From the 1st cases in Wuhan, to toying with the possibility of a quickly developed vaccine, Matt Doeden has given us a well developed timeline, perfect for young readers. Mostly narrative non-fiction, with a few side bars spotlighting individuals and their contributions, politics are put aside, for the most part, with a mention of the protests surrounding George Floyd as an event people felt strongly about attending despite their concerns with the pandemic. It's hard to feel like a book published so quickly is complete, however, it's well written with photographs throughout, with a timeline and source notes. I'm excited to see the response from my middle schoolers - this is actual history they experienced.

Lisa Librarian

Black Lives Matter: From Hashtag to the Streets by Dr. Artika R. Tyner - ADVISABLE

Black Lives Matter: From Hashtag to the Streets by Dr. Artika R. Tyner, 27 pages. NON-FICTION. Lerner, 2021. $25 (library binding). 9781728429564 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Tyner gives us an introduction to the recent #BlackLivesMatter movement and puts it into context of the Civil Rights Movement and the 2020 summer protests. 

A reasonable, if somewhat shallow, introduction to #BlackLivesMatter. Hopefully there will be future works for young readers that dive a bit deeper on the subject. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

Rural Voices by Nora Shalaway Carpenter - HIGH

Rural Voices: 15 Authors Challenge Assumptions About Small-town America by Nora Shalaway Carpenter, 300 pages. CENTERING ME, SHORT STORIES. Candlewick Press, 2020. $14.

Language: R (64 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

In 16 stories, these 15 authors invite readers to see small-town America in new ways. If we are going to overcome these little-acknowledged prejudices, we first need to recognize the problem. Experience these different lives through novel, memoir, poem, and graphic novel formats.

I love the perspective changes these stories have invited into my life, even though I didn’t love all the stories. Each author takes readers through a unique journey in the life of small towns all over America, and I was surprised to see more than just the South -- I didn’t even realize that image of small-towns being mostly southern was part of my thoughts. The mature content rating is for innuendo, mention of masturbation and pornography, groping, and drug use.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Rock by Rock by Jennifer Bradbury and Sam Broughton - ADVISABLE

 Rock by Rock: The Fantastical Garden of Nek Chand by Jennifer Bradbury, illustrated by Sam Broughton. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Atheneum (Simon), 2021. $18. 9781481481823 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Nek Chand was displaced when India and Pakistan were divided. He relocated to Chandigarh, got a job, and got married. But he still missed his jungles. After work he disappears into the jungles around his city, brings rocks, cement, and discarded bits with him, eventually creating a wonder of tunnels, figures, animals, walls. When the city discovers his garden, some want to tear it down. But many people take a stand to support him. Even though Chand is gone, his wonders still remain for the whole world to enjoy. 

If you want to read more about Nek Chand, you can read the novel Bradbury wrote and another picture book by Barb Rosenstock. It will fuel dreams of trips to India to see the wonders for yourself. Broughton’s illustrations enhance the magic. For classroom support, there a lot of photos of Chand’s work available online – it is a major tourist site. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS  

Sia Martinez and the Moonlit Beginning of Everything by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland - NO

Sia Martinez and the Moonlit Beginning of Everything by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland, 432 pages. Simon Pulse (Simon and Schuster), 2020. $19 

Language: R (100+ swears 69 'f'); Mature Content: R (on-page sex); Violence: PG13 (sexual assault, racist dialogue, sexual name calling) 

BUYING ADVISORY: NOT RECOMMENDED 

Sia Martinez mom disappeared in the Sonora Desert trying to return from Mexico after being deported. It's been 3 years and with no word from her, she's assumed dead. Sia blames the town sheriff for profiling and turning her over to ICE, but she's holding out a glimmer of hope and continues to light candles in the desert to "guide her way." When a new boy at school shows up in the same special place in the desert (between two seguaros Sia calls Adam and Eve) they start up an unlikely friendship which quickly becomes intimate. But they aren't the only ones to visit their spot - unexplained lights and a possible UFO crash brings back more than just memories for Sia. 

Too many layers, PTSD from her assault, her mother's death, the sheriff's son's bullying, racism, immigration issues, her friend's ultra religious father, aliens, conspiracy theories - and so much more. With so much going on, nothing was well developed. It was science fiction, coming of age, and magical realism story, and too mature for a school library.

Lisa Librarian

Black Voter Suppression by Dr. Artika R. Tyner - ADVISABLE

Black Voter Suppression: The Fight for the Right to Vote by Dr. Artika R. Tyner, 27 pages. NON-FICTION. Lerner, 20201. $10 (paperback). 9781728429663 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Tyner explores a few of the ways that cities and states have worked to limit marginalized voters’ ability to actually vote and lightly touches on the reasons why they would do so. It also talks about ways that Blacks and others have worked around and actively lobbied for those very rights. 

A decent beginner level treatment of the topic. A good way to get the idea of voter suppression into students’ hand, but the subject deserves many more pages. I hope that someone comes out with a good 96 pages on the topic. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

Breaking the Ice by Angie Bullaro and C.F. Payne - ESSENTIAL

 Breaking the Ice: The true story of the first woman to play in the National Hockey League by Angie Bullaro, illustrated by C.F. Payne. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Simon & Shuster, 2021. $19. 9781534425576 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

5yo Manon loved playing goalie for her older brothers as they practiced hockey in their backyard. When her dad’s peewee team needed a goalie, Manon stepped in and proved she could do it. Her hockey skills and her tenacity led her to become the first, and so far the only, women to ever play a game on a men’s major sports league in North America. 

An inspiring story and a necessary addition to any library collection. Great for Women’s studies or those rare occasions when you can get a PE teacher to read to their classes. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

Controversial Monuments by Amanda Jackson Green - ADVISABLE

Controversial Monuments: The Fight Over Statues and Symbols by Amanda Jackson Green, 29 pages. NON-FICTION. Lerner, 2021. $26 (library binding) 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Green cuts to the heart of the fight between those who want to keep Confederate statues up around the United States and those who are working to take them down. She looks at the roots of the statues, including their purpose and moves to the modern day Black Lives Matter activism. 

A well-written if simple look at the issue. Accessible to elementary or middle school, though not enough depth for research, except as a single source among several. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

Billie Eilish: The Rise of a Superstar by Heather E. Schwartz - ADVISABLE

Billie Eilish: The Rise of a Superstar by Heather E. Schwartz, 39 pages. Lerner, 2021. 9781728404493 

Content: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

At 15yo, Billie Eilish became an overnight sensation. Since then she has released an EP and an album, and written a title song for a James Bond movie. 

For fans who just want a little bit of info, this is a good, light bio – just the highlights. I would suggest the unofficial biography from Adrian Besley if you have someone who wants more depth and details. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

Allergic by Megan Wagner Lloyd and Michelle Mee Nutter - HIGH

Allergic by Megan Wagner Lloyd and Michelle Mee Nutter, 240 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. Scholastic, 2021. $13. 

Content G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS – ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Maggie is looking for a place to belong. Her parents are expecting a new baby and her brothers have each other. Maggie desperately wants a pet, and is so excited to pick out a puppy on her tenth birthday. Maggie sadly discovers she is wildly allergic to anything with fur. Not only does she not get a pet, but she also has to undergo a series of shots that will help determine what she is and is not allergic to. 

 Similar to Guts and Smile, this book will help kids who are dealing with a difficult situation. Sometimes severe allergies can get in the way of friendships and make kids feel self-conscious. Colorful graphics make this book accessible and fun as it teaches empathy and coping. 

 Michelle in the Middle 

A Hopeful Heart by Deborah Noyes - OPTIONAL

A Hopeful Heart: Louisa May Alcott Before Little Women by Deborah Noyes, 267 pages. BIOGRAPHY. Schwartz and Wade Books, 2020. $ 19

Language: G (0swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: G ; Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS – OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW 

Louisa May Alcott grew up the daughter of a transcendentalist father, Bronson Alcott. Among her father’s many friends such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and Nathaniel Hawthorne, Louisa learned to love the world of thought and writing. She spent most of her life in poverty due to her father’s lack of financial motivations. She tired being a teacher to bring in money for the family, but her heart was set on earning her living from writing. 

Although Deborah Noyes used many delightful quotes from the life of Louis May Alcott, her writing of the story is tedious and insipid for the most part. The story takes on a blandness and the book trod from year to year through her life. I did enjoy learning that she felt romantically inclined towards a few men, including a European “romance”. I also thought it interesting how she came about writing “Little Women”, which is still classed as a number one book for young women and ranks with Harry Potter. 

Reviewer: MOMMAC 

The ABC’s of Black History by Rio Cortez and Lauren Semmer - ESSENTIAL

The ABC’s of Black History by Rio Cortez, illustrated by Lauren Semmer. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Workman, 2020. $15. 9781523507498 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS, HS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Cortez and Semmer collaborate to create an exuberant abecedarian of words especially important to Black lives – places, people, ideas, truths. 

The eye-catching full color illustrations compliment the bouncing rhymes and rhythms. The back matter delves into a bit of detail of each word. I would definitely buy multiple copies and make a teaching kit for a mini class project at any grade. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS  

American as Paneer Pie by Supriya Kelkar - ADVISABLE

American as Paneer Pie by Supriya Kelkar, 311 pages. Simon and Schuster 2020 $18.00 

Language: G. Mature Content: G. Violence: PG. 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

11yo Lekha is American, she's one of the strongest swimmers on her relay team, but she hates the bindi size freckle on her forehead, she doesn't like the way her classmates make fun of the food she brings for lunch, and she's never had a "sleepover friend." Noah lives next door, and they are best friends, but Lekha hopes that a girl moves into the neighborhood. Then, right across the street, Avantica moves in, not only a girl, but an Indian girl! Finally, a friend who understands her. But, it seems Avantica is everything Lekha is not: Avantica stands up to the bullies who tease her, she's proud of her Indian heritage, and she's brave. But when Lekha is confronted by a racist message directed at her family, she needs to decide if she is strong enough to speak up for what is right.

I loved all the cultural aspects of this story, Lekha's family dynamics are great, her parents, both immigrants from India, have differing perspectives on being American. Lekha both learns from Avantica about accepting her own culture around her school friends, while she teaches Avantica how to fit in at school. Political issues bring the town into the story as an election outcome changes attitudes about immigrants. Much of the drama with her girlfriends was so typical for middle school, trying to fit in with the popular crowd while still staying true to herself. The descriptions of racial violence were difficult to read, not because they were graphic but because they happened.

Lisa Librarian  

Farmers Unite!: Planting a Protest For Fair Prices by Lindsay H. Metcalf - ADVISABLE

Farmers Unite!: Planting a Protest For Fair Prices by Lindsay H. Metcalf, 64 pages NON-FICTION Calkins Creek (Boyds Mills), 2020. $19. 9781684379088 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

In 1978, American farmers were desperate. It was costing them more to grow their crops than they were getting for their harvest. A lot more. They had appealed to the US government, but the Department of Agriculture seemed to be ignoring the farmers. So, they started with a protest in Plains Georgia (home of the current president Jimmy Carter) and brought thousands of tractors to town, hoping to get their cause noticed. Two weeks later an organized effort did the same to state capitals around the country. By February, the tractor parade came to DC. Clogging the streets and causing enough traffic trouble to, hopefully, force the DofA to listen to their concerns. 

I loved the captioned photographs, and the succinct text on every page. Plenty of additional information including an author's note, statistics, a timeline and source notes. A fascinating look at a peaceful protest - change didn't happen right away, but they did finally get noticed. Showing this to my social studies teachers.

Lisa Librarian

Billie Eilish: The Unofficial Biography by Adrian Besley - ESSENTIAL

Billie Eilish: The Unofficial Biography by Adrian Besley, 211 pages. Zest Books, 2021. $15. 9781728424163 

Content: G 

 BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

One day Bilie was a teenager posting music on Soundcloud for friends to listen to – then almost overnight she was receiving a lot of attention, finding an agent. And landing a recording contract. Now she is known all over the world. 

Besley’s breezy style makes this a fun, quick read, even though it is filled with all kinds of details about pre-fame Billie and post-fame Billie and her performing partner/brother Finneas. Definitely the best book for a fan. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS https://amzn.to/3ekuWJ7

Go the Distance by Jen Calonita - ADVISABLE

 

Go the Distance (A Twisted Tale) by Jen Calonita, 329 pages. Disney Hyperion, 2021. $18. 

Content: Language: PG (1 swear); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG. 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS – ADVISABLE  

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Meg and Hercules are in front of Zeus and Hara and Hercules has gained his godhood.  Hercules tries to remain a human because he loves Meg, but Zeus refuses to let Hercules give up his godhood, so Hara provides Meg a way to become a god-by going on a quest.  Meg embarks on a quest that will make her re-exam her life and her relationships with the help of Pegasus and a satyr named Phil. 

Hercules is an okay enough story, and I can’t say I was overly interested in Meg as a character, but I got into her story.  Meg was a great heroine, and her backstory was heartbreaking and made her an easy character to empathize with. Sometimes quest stories can seem all about the setting, or the plot moving from point A to B, and this is a quest story but was fully developed throughout with a character who was learning to forgive, grow and embrace her possibility. I enjoy the Twisted Tale series and Calonita’s other books, and this book didn’t disappoint.  

Reviewer, C. Peterson 

The Ickabog by J.K. Rowling - OPTIONAL

The Ickabog by J.K. Rowling, 274 pages. Scholastic, 2020. $27. 

Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content PG; Violence: PG 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

In the happy kingdom of Cornucopia, all was well until a monster known as the Ickabog was reportedly seen. According to myth, the monster is as tall as two horses with eyes like glowing balls of fire, and long razor-sharp claws. Some believe in the Ickabog and some don’t, but fear of the monster changes the kingdom in horrible ways. Two children try to unravel the truth behind the Ickabog to help their country. 

 I am just not sure who the audience is for this book. It’s written like a bedtime story, and I wanted to like it. However, it is fairly horrifying, unless you are immune to murder and child abuse. Children’s parents are murdered or dragged off to prison and citizens are forced to do awful things or lose loved ones, even though the citizens may be killed anyway because they know too much. Children are abused and dying of starvation in an orphanage. The ending doesn’t make up for all the broken lives along the way. Even though it is told in a fairytale sort of format, I think it would give little children nightmares and older children would find it too childish. There are illustrations made by children from an illustration competition, which was a nice touch. I miss the charm and humor of the Harry Potter books. 

 Michelle in the Middle  

Space Encyclopedia: A Tour of our Solar System and Beyond by David A. Aguilar - ADVISABLE

 

Space Encyclopedia: A Tour of our Solar System and Beyond by David A. Aguilar.  NON-FICTION. National Geographic, 2020. $25. Content: G. 

BUYING ADVIOSRY: EL, MS – ADVISABLE  

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE  

This fact-filled space encyclopedia is broken up into different sections about exploring the universe. It includes information about geniuses who have helped discover space, important facts, interesting predictions, and funny jokes.  We learn about space equipment and how the planets got discovered and why they are uninhabitable.  

Throughout this encyclopedia, the reader is left with wonder and awe about the universe. As a lover of space, I read this book cover to cover. It is filled with amazing artwork that looks like pictures. It fed the wonder and curiosity in me and was a satisfying read, but there is always more to learn about space. 

Reviewer, Logan, age 12

The Middle Passage White Ships/Black Cargo by Tom Feeling - ESSENTIAL

The Middle Passage White Ships/Black Cargo by Tom Feeling. PICTURE BOOK. Dial Books, 2018. $30. 9780525552444

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS – ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

The Middle Passage provides an education through both information and illustration to bring a better understanding about the horrors of slavery. Attention is given in specific detail to the journey that brought slaves to the New World highlighting the grievous suffering of so many. 

The story begins with a dense few pages of information to educate the reader about the Middle Passage. This is then followed by 64 exquisite and excruciating illustrations about the journey. Teachers would benefit from devising how to include this book in their curriculum in order to help students have a more thorough understanding of this part of history. 

AEB

The Sisters of Straygarden Place by Hayley Chewins - HIGH

 The Sisters of Straygarden Place by Hayley Chewins, 200 pages. Candlewick Press, 2020. $17. 

Content G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS – ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Three sisters grow up in a magical house that takes care of them and clothes and feeds them. They are alone there after their parents left them seven years ago. They have one big warning and that they cannot go out into the tall silver grass and floating trees that surround the house. One day, the eldest, 14yo Winnow does and even though her middle sister, Mayhap, tries to keep the sisters together, there is something mysterious and dangerous going on in the house. Mayhap has to try and unravel the mystery before they get sick and turn to silver. 

 Poetically written, this book draws the reader in to a magical but sinister setting. Mayhap will have you rooting for her as she tries to find answers while racing to outwit the house. The prose makes the otherworldly seem real, and once you start you will have to finish. 

Michelle in the Middle