Blue Sky, White Stars
Easy Fiction
By: Sarvinder Naberhaus
Illus. by Kadir Nelson
Dial, 2017
Tags: America; diversity; artistic narrative
Anything with Kadir Nelson's distinctive artwork demands attention. This lovely book pairs patriotic images with either historic or contemporary American scenes in a beautiful and thought-provoking way. For example, "Sew Together, Won Nation" shows a Betsy Ross-like woman hand-stitching a colonial flag on one page; "So together, One nation" showing the rich tapestry of American multiculturalism is on the facing page. In a time of national angst, this calm book is filled with soothing, soaring images and gentle ideas.
Terri Faulkner
Library Services
In Plain Sight
Easy Fiction
By: Richard Jackson
Illus. by: Jerry Pinkney
Roaring Brook Press, 2016
Tags: grandfathers; games; African American families
Sophie lives in the bustling city with her mom, dad, and ailing grandfather. They play a special game every day after school, looking for lost items that are "in plain sight".
A 2017 Coretta Scott King award winner, this heart-warming story about a young girl and her ailing grandfather is a great addition to school libraries. The Pinkney illustrations will be familiar to many, depicting a bustling urban environment with faces of many colors. Students will enjoy combing through the colorful illustrations in order to find grandfather's lost items.
Reviewed by: Denise Cushing
Carson Elem.
We're All Wonders
PS-2
Easy Fiction
Written and illus. by: R. J. Palaccio
Alfred A. Knopf, 2017
Lexile: 370
Tags: Bullies; Diversity; Empathy
In a charming picture book, R. J. Palaccio returns to a story first told in her best-selling novel Wonder. Here Auggie’s tale of a young boy with marked facial deformity is told from only his viewpoint, but the message is clear: Auggie can’t change the way he looks, but “maybe, just maybe, . . . people can change the way they see.”
Palaccio’s illustrations--worthy of study on their own--contribute to the story in two important ways. First, Auggie’s unusual face is presented in a non-threatening way by simply showing him with only one eye and no nose. In addition, a page picturing children of many races and religions subtly reminds us of other ways we all might change the way we see.
Reviewed by: Nick Bleckley
Cheltenham Elem.
Amina's Voice
3-5
Realistic Fiction
By: Hena Khan
Salaam Reads, 2017
Lexile 800
Tags: Diversity; Tolerance; Muslim Americans; Cultural Identity
Amina's Voice is a simple, clear story about cultural identity and diversity in America. Amina's parents are Urdu-speaking Pakastani immigrants, her best friend, Soojin, is Korean, and she and her basketball-playing brother, Mustafa, enjoy reality TV and pizza. The straight-forward story weaves these themes and adds family, school, citizenship, language, traditions and the courage to stand up into a loving tapestry of understanding and acceptance.
Reviewed by: Terri Faulkner
Library Services
The Boy Who Said Nonsense
3-5
Easy Fiction
By: Chernesky, Felicia Sanzari
Illus. by: Anderson, Nicola
Albert Whitman & Co., 2016
Lexile: 570
Tags: Savants; Communication; Individuality
When Mama asked Papa to pick a pumpkin from the patch, he found a baby boy! They took him in and they named him Tate. Tate was an active boy, but his first word was “eleven.” When he went to school, that was all he said. His friends and family soon came to discover, he was good with numbers. He just had a little different way of communicating.
The author comments that, “the world is full of people with special ways to seeing and saying. This could apply to many of our students, whether they have special skills or dealing with an unfamiliar language. These students learn to express themselves in their own way.
Reviewed by: Karen Burns
Place Bridge Academy
Danza! Amalia Hernandez and El Ballet Folklorico de Mexico
3-5
Illustrated Biography
Written and illus. by: Duncan Tonatiuh
Abrams, 2017
Lexile: 980
Tags: Biography; Mexican Culture; Folklore; Dance
Tonatiuh furthers his reputation as a proponent of all things Mexican with this homage to Amalia Hernandez, founder, choreographer, and for many years a lead dancer with the Ballet Folklorico. Although Hernandez’s dazzling theatrical adaptations were sometimes controversial, they helped spark world-wide interest in traditional Mexican dance. Today thousands of troupes in Mexico and the United States celebrate las danzas folkloricas.
As always, Tonatiuh’s trademark illustrations, inspired by pre-Columbian art, provide a dramatic accompaniment to his expressive writing. Tonatiuh mentions dances adapted from both Hispanic and indigenous sources.
Revewed by: Nick Bleckley
Cheltenham Elem.
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Once a Shepherd
By: Glenda Millard
Illustrated by Phil Lesnie
Grade Level: 3-5
Easy Fiction
Candlewick Press, 2014
Lexile: 520
Tags: Shepherds; Soldiers; War; Survival
This is a sad and poignant story about a shepherd and his wife. Their story began with happiness until he was called to war. She sewed him a warm coat and “lined it with her love.” He left his wife and unborn child to fulfill his duty as a soldier. He stopped to help an enemy soldier, and “fell, no more to rise.” The soldier whose life he saved went back to where he lived. He told the wife the story while she hugged the ragged coat. Then she took that coat and made a small toy for their son when the world was at piece again.
A story with beautiful pictures, and emotion charged words. Although set at a 3-5 reading level, it should be read before shared. So many of our kids have come from war torn countries, so care should be taken as to how it is shared.
Reviewed by: Karen Burns
Place Bridge Academy
We Come Apart
9-12
Realistic Fiction in verse
By: Sarah Crossan and Brian Conaghan
Bloomsbury, 2017
Tags: Domestic violence; Racism; Bullies
Nicu has come to London with his parents to earn enough money for a bride price for his arranged marriage. Jess is rebellious at school to compensate for how helpless she feels when her stepfather beats her mom and makes Jess video it. The two teens are thrown together while doing community service for shoplifting.
While the novel is in verse and a quick read, Nicu’s chapters are written as a second language learner might speak, complete with mis-organized sentence structure and word replacements. Use this book to discuss racism, arranged marriages, bullying, and learning to stand up for yourself.
Reviewed by: Chris Coble
CEC Early College.
The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora
Realistic Fiction
By: Pablo Cartaya
Viking, 2017
Lexile: 750
Tags: Families; Cuban-American; Restaurants; Poets; Gentrification
Thirteen year-old Arturo Zamora only has a few weeks one summer to save his family's restaurant from a money-hungry developer who wants to gentrify the neighborhood and to reveal his feelings to the girl he loves. His efforts fail, big time. Can he recover?
Author Pablo Cartaya infuses his story with the history of Cuba through the eyes of protest poet Jose Marti. Teachers can use this as a conduit to discuss Cuba's independence from Spain. Students who speak Spanish will feel comfortable with the mix of languages. Context clues make the sections in Spanish understandable to all. Authentic Cuban recipes are found at the end of the book.
Reviewed by: Denise Cushing
Carson Elem.
Echo After Echo
9-12
Mystery, LGBTQ Romance
by: Amy Rose Capetta
Candlewick Press, 2017
Tags: Theater; mystery; lesbian romance
Zara Evans gets selected by famous and demanding director, Leopold Henneman, to play her dream role in the Broadway Greek tragedy, Echo and Aristan. The role is something Zara has dreamed of all her life, but Henneman has conditions to his offer. He insists Zara must have no outside commitments or distractions. This proves to be difficult for Zara when there are two deaths in the theater (perhaps the result of the Aurelia curse?) and she falls in love with the assistant lighting designer, Eli.
This title may appeal to students interested in theater or seeking romance titles with LGBTQ characters, but the pacing may be too slow for mystery fans.
Reviewed by: Lori Micho
Library Services
Undefeated
6-8
Biography
By: Steve Sheinkin
Roaring Brook Press, 2017
Lexile: 980
Tags: Native Americans; Prejudice; Football
JIm Thorpe, the first All-American athlete, was not even considered a citizen when he stunned the sports world in the early 1900's. The son of Native American parents, rebellious Jim was sent from Oklahoma to attend the Carlisle Indian School in Pennsylvania where he met the legendary Pop Warner, and history was made as the school beat most of the elite Ivy League colleges. Jim participated in the 1912 Olympics, earning two gold medals which were stripped from him when it was discovered he had played as a professional in a minor league baseball team; they were returned seventy years later after extensive lobbying by fans and family.
This book is a combination of sports history, views on racial stereotypes, and anecdotes about bigger-than-life characters. The writing is well-paced and draws the reader in. Historical photos add interest, and there is extensive resource material in the back.
Reviewed by: Peggy Obert
Alumni
Beck
9-12
Historical Fiction
By: Mal Peet
Candlewick Press, 2016
Lexile: 790
Tags: Orphans; The Great Depression; Canada; Bildungsromans; Survival; Immigration
Orphaned at eleven, Beck is shipped from Britain to an orphanage in Canada. On the receiving end of abuse from both the orphanage and a foster home, Beck flees with the hope of finding something better. He becomes a bootlegger before the road leads him on a walking journey that spans the expanse of Canada as he searches for a place to call home.
This title is a powerful, heart-rending account of what it means to find oneself and to recognize and accept love. The gritty, yet lyrical prose does not shy away from graphic descriptions or crass dialogue. Beck is a story of survival and redemption.
Reviewed by: Michelle Jensen
George Washington H.S.
Refugee
6-8
Historical Fiction
By: Alan Gratz
Scholastic Press, 2017
Lexile: 800
Tags: Refugees; Emigration and immigration; Survival stories
Refugee follows three families that are separated across time. While each comes from drastically different backgrounds, they all share a common need to flee home countries that are no longer safe or welcoming. As they seek new homes, their journeys are fraught with danger and seemingly insurmountable obstacles. The goal of keeping their families together is the one thing that drives them forward.
This title is an excellent choice for middle grade and high school classes, as it is a vehicle to create discussion and to give a face to the refugee crisis. The character Mahmoud pleads, “See us….Hear us. Help us.” This well-researched book helps answer that cry.
Reviewed by: Michelle Jensen
George Washington H.S.
