Saturday, July 10, 2021

Best Reads T2 2020-2021

The second third of the school year was possibly even more insane than the first, as kids started trickling back full-time from their hybrid schedules. I still managed to read a few books. Here's what I recommend. Click on the titles to read plot summaries. If you'd like to see all of my books, you can follow me on Goodreads. 


Picture Books


There Is a RainbowThere Is a Rainbow by Theresa Trinder
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lovely. The other side is on the horizon.


 

Jabari Tries (Jabari, #2)Jabari Tries by Gaia Cornwall
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I've read this to two classes so far for Mock Caldecott, and I love that they love the message. Keep trying, Jabari! Keep helping, Nika!




You Poop HereYou Poop Here by Paul Meisel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

My kids are going to lose their minds when I read this for Mock Caldecott next year.





Early Readers



What About Worms!? (Elephant & Piggie Like Reading!, #7)What About Worms!? by Ryan T. Higgins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Him running away screaming while they chase him with hugs made me laugh.



 

Flubby Will Not Play with ThatFlubby Will Not Play with That by Jennifer E. Morris
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Anyone who ever met a cat knows how this will end.






Middle Grade Fiction


Birdie and MeBirdie and Me by J.M.M. Nuanez
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow! It took me a couple of chapters to get into this, and at first all I could think was "Really? More dead parents?" But the next thing I knew, it was an hour later, and I hadn't put it down. I ended up reading it all in one sitting and I cried at the end.

Fantastic multifaceted characters (at least the main ones - Ross and Teddy and the teachers suck) and sharp writing (ex., "... her eyes looking like little fires"). Mom had serious issues, but I want to play some of the games she invented, like the First-Class Quest.

One question: If the book takes place now, how the heck old is Carl if he fought in Vietnam? I know he is 15 years older than Mom, but the math doesn't seem to work. I still loved this book.


King and the DragonfliesKing and the Dragonflies by Kacen Callender
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was halfway through when we had our Mock Newbery voting meeting, and asked if it turned out that the dad went to therapy. He didn't. But I'm glad he changed.

I could maybe have done without Khalid's dream ramblings. Like "So in a way, all of us are already gone, and the entire universe has all started and expanded and ended, all in the same second."

But other than that, nicely plotted with a sense of place and evolving characters. And very relevant issues. I can see why it's getting so many awards.


Young Adult-ish


Dress CodedDress Coded by Carrie Firestone
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Fast paced with short chapters / podcast transcripts / lists / letters, anger-inducing issue, positive outcome - I loved this book!







For Grownups



Little Sister: A MemoirLittle Sister: A Memoir by Patricia Walsh Chadwick
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Started with audio version, but those first few chapters were too hard to follow. Once I got through them visually, the rest of the book was a good read ... I actually finished it all in one day! Sister Catherine was a hypocritical lunatic. Oh how I would love to be able to ask her husband some questions. The way that some of the other sisters - originally fun-loving coeds - became punishers was scary. I don't think Jesus approves of beating children or locking them in cellars. And yet Chadwick still donates to the order!


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