So we're voting tonight. My first choice is at the top.
This Promise of Change: One Girl’s Story in the Fight for School Equality by Jo Ann Allen Boyce
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Holy shit.
Some gut punches here.
Delivered in verse that is truly poetic.
Interspersed with media coverage from the time.
Damn.
p. 89: "All those cups of sugar. / All those cakes and pies / Mrs. Smith baked with those borrowed cups. / How did they bear to swallow them? / How do I bear / to swallow this?"
p. 124: "The news is something / that happens / to other people / in other places. / Until it happens to you."
p. 168: "It's the little things that help. ... It's the little things that hurt."
p. 192: "It's the big things that grow from the little things."
Genesis Begins Again by Alicia D. Williams
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Gen broke my heart. The racism within her family and classmates - and within herself - was, quite frankly, shocking to me. The brown bag test and the bleach elicited out-loud reactions. Powerful stuff.
The Line Tender by Kate Allen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
One of our strongest Mock Newbery contenders so far. Although I stopped reading for a while after an unexpected tragedy struck and traumatized me. Mr. Patterson was a fantastic character. The postcards were lovely. Would probably recommend for middle school v. elementary.
p. 84: "I love that you can just throw around 'uterus.' You are highly evolved."
Sweeping Up the Heart by Kevin Henkes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Beautifully written. We are completely in Amelia's head for a week.
p. 11: "She was moving quickly because she was eager to work, but more to the point she was reinventing her walk, trying to make it faster and more graceful. Purposeful. Her legs had grown so much lately that she felt out of sync, as if her body belonged to someone or something else. And she'd recently decided that she hated her knees."
Dear Sweet Pea by Julie Murphy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Charming with a sweet resolution. Although I never got over Sweet Pea hiding her dad's mail.
p. 10: "And because he's a true best friend, he even slams my bedroom door for me because my hands are full."
p. 34: "Heck, when I fed Miss Dillon's cat for a week when she went on a cruise, she told me she'd pay me too. She just didn't say it would be in seashells she'd found on the beach and painted herself. When one of them started stinking up my room, Dad found a dead snail inside. Mom said it was a good lesson in doing nice things without expecting anything in return. I thought it was a good lesson in why you should check your seashells for living creatures before taking them home."
p. 53: "He laid claim to Greg on his first day. Oscar says it's like he peed on him to mark his territory."
p. 240: "We all love each other, but it's like on those shows about doctors where they need a certain kind of blood for a patient, but all they have is the wrong kind. This is what that feels like. We have plenty of love. It's just not the right kind."
p. 255: "Sometimes it's easy to forget that quiet moments mean just as much as the loud ones, because it's no always about moving. Sometimes it's about sitting perfectly and quietly still."
The Bridge Home by Padma Venkatraman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Liked it more than I thought I would. I feel like I need a shelf of child-laborer books to hand to my students when they complain about having to do anything.
Caterpillar Summer by Gillian McDunn
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
Kind of generic. And I know I'm supposed to be more sympathetic to Chicken, but my lord he was annoying.
The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James by Ashley Herring Blake
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
While collecting Mock Newbery reviews to paste into a blog post, I realized that I evidently never wrote anything about this one. So ... not my favorite.
Pay Attention, Carter Jones by Gary D. Schmidt
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I very much welcomed the return to the breezy narration style of The Wednesday Wars. But ... I was disappointed in the rest. Also, too much cricket.
Wait, let me review the pages in which I stuck bits of paper ..
- Heartily agree with the disgust re: 1% milk
- Laughed at the possible "serial killer" identity of the Butler
- "Evocative connotations" get a plus
- Liked the point made about Loyalists
- Dying to know the relationship of Principal Swieteck to our protagonists of yore
- The Eggplant was a nice touch
Ok, moving up from a 2 to a 3.
Queen of the Sea by Dylan Meconis
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
I was so excited by the idea of the book, but it was rather boring. Extra star because I appreciate the work that went into it.
Butterfly Yellow by Thanhha Lai
My rating: 1 of 5 stars
Hated it. Which was so disappointing. I loved Lai's previous books. Enough people liked it at the last Mock Newbery meeting, though, that I forced myself to finish it. The Kindle said it would take 2 hours. I dragged it out over 2 weeks. Everyone was annoying and the trauma flashbacks were exceedingly traumatic. I am now convinced every itch is a worm.
Tuesday, January 14, 2020
Friday, January 10, 2020
Best Reads T1 2019-2020
Here's what I read and loved this trimester. Click on the titles to read plot summaries. If you'd like to see all of my books, you can follow me on Goodreads.
Trees by Verlie Hutchens
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Editors, THIS is poetry! Please make some of your other authors work a little harder at word choice and rhythm. Rich vocabulary - castanets shimmer, canapes of sunshine and pollen, fuzzy round baubles, akilter / unkempt, struts in royal ermine robes. I have ideas for using this for lessons ...
Saturday by Oge Mora
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Loved it. Loved the pictures, loved the text patterns, loved the message.
Grandpa's Stories by Joseph Coelho
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Beautiful. I miss Beepie.
Ginny Goblin Cannot Have a Monster for a Pet by David Goodner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Extra star for the vocabulary. Oh, this will be so fun to read for Mock Caldecott. And I can use in the future for some kind of bad pet theme with other books of the ilk.
The Phone Booth in Mr. Hirota's Garden by Heather Smith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
What a wonderful idea for dealing with grief.
Who Wet My Pants? by Bob Shea
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Definitely adding to the Mock Caldecott list. The hand in the fish tank made me laugh out loud. Thank you, Bob Shea and Zachariah O'Hora, for living up to expectations.
Sweet Dreamers by Isabelle Simler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
At first I found the palette off-putting, but upon rereading, I became more appreciative of this book as an artistic tour de force. I also noticed that the wordless spreads were introducing new habitats. May buy as a gift for the next baby I know who is born.
A Normal Pig by K-Fai Steele
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Nice rendition of a classic theme.
Music for Mister Moon by Philip C. Stead
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is the first Stead production I have really liked! Will my kids? Not sure.
Bear Came Along by Richard T. Morris
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
We're all in this together.
Cat Knit by Jacob Grant
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Adorable.
Chick and Brain: Smell My Foot! by Cece Bell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
OMG.
Hello, Crabby! by Jonathan Fenske
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Love these Acorn books. And crabby characters.
Harold & Hog Pretend For Real! by Dan Santat
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
So meta!
Guts by Raina Telgemeier
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
As someone with terrible stomach problems for years, who didn't even know "anxiety" was a thing until she was 30, I really could have used this when I was in middle school.
A Drop of Hope by Keith Calabrese
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Immensely readable, sweet, and lovely. The interconnecting stories worked, and some of the resolutions made me cry.
p. 10: "It was like he was riding in the back seat of his own family."
p. 25: "Parents always tell their kids to stand up for themselves, but they never mean for their kids to do it with them>."
p. 90: "At first none of it made any sense. ... It was like trying to listen to a four-year-old describe his dream to you."
p. 301: "You can't fix the world. But you do your best in your own little corner of it. And you hope."
The Line Tender by Kate Allen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
One of our strongest Mock Newbery contenders so far. Although I stopped reading for a while after an unexpected tragedy struck and traumatized me. Mr. Patterson was a fantastic character. The postcards were lovely. Would probably recommend for middle school v. elementary.
p. 84: "I love that you can just throw around 'uterus.' You are highly evolved."
Finding Orion by John David Anderson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
So much fun. And now reviewing the highlights, I'm sad I agreed to let it go from the Mock Newbery list. Hoping it makes RICBA.
Dear Sweet Pea by Julie Murphy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Charming with a sweet resolution. Although I never got over Sweet Pea hiding her dad's mail.
p. 10: "And because he's a true best friend, he even slams my bedroom door for me because my hands are full."
p. 34: "Heck, when I fed Miss Dillon's cat for a week when she went on a cruise, she told me she'd pay me too. She just didn't say it would be in seashells she'd found on the beach and painted herself. When one of them started stinking up my room, Dad found a dead snail inside. Mom said it was a good lesson in doing nice things without expecting anything in return. I thought it was a good lesson in why you should check your seashells for living creatures before taking them home."
p. 53: "He laid claim to Greg on his first day. Oscar says it's like he peed on him to mark his territory."
p. 240: "We all love each other, but it's like on those shows about doctors where they need a certain kind of blood for a patient, but all they have is the wrong kind. This is what that feels like. We have plenty of love. It's just not the right kind."
p. 255: "Sometimes it's easy to forget that quiet moments mean just as much as the loud ones, because it's no always about moving. Sometimes it's about sitting perfectly and quietly still."
Her Fearless Run: Kathrine Switzer’s Historic Boston Marathon by Kim Chaffee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Great combination of text and pictures. May use for a Mock Sibert.
The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Well done, Mr. Turton. Meticulously plotted with a reveal I did not see coming but tied up some loose ends. Supremely entertaining if a bit braintwisting.
Picture Books
Trees by Verlie Hutchens
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Editors, THIS is poetry! Please make some of your other authors work a little harder at word choice and rhythm. Rich vocabulary - castanets shimmer, canapes of sunshine and pollen, fuzzy round baubles, akilter / unkempt, struts in royal ermine robes. I have ideas for using this for lessons ...
Saturday by Oge Mora
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Loved it. Loved the pictures, loved the text patterns, loved the message.
Grandpa's Stories by Joseph Coelho
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Beautiful. I miss Beepie.
Ginny Goblin Cannot Have a Monster for a Pet by David Goodner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Extra star for the vocabulary. Oh, this will be so fun to read for Mock Caldecott. And I can use in the future for some kind of bad pet theme with other books of the ilk.
The Phone Booth in Mr. Hirota's Garden by Heather Smith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
What a wonderful idea for dealing with grief.
Who Wet My Pants? by Bob Shea
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Definitely adding to the Mock Caldecott list. The hand in the fish tank made me laugh out loud. Thank you, Bob Shea and Zachariah O'Hora, for living up to expectations.
Sweet Dreamers by Isabelle Simler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
At first I found the palette off-putting, but upon rereading, I became more appreciative of this book as an artistic tour de force. I also noticed that the wordless spreads were introducing new habitats. May buy as a gift for the next baby I know who is born.
A Normal Pig by K-Fai Steele
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Nice rendition of a classic theme.
Music for Mister Moon by Philip C. Stead
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is the first Stead production I have really liked! Will my kids? Not sure.
Bear Came Along by Richard T. Morris
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
We're all in this together.
Cat Knit by Jacob Grant
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Adorable.
Early Readers
Chick and Brain: Smell My Foot! by Cece Bell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
OMG.
Hello, Crabby! by Jonathan Fenske
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Love these Acorn books. And crabby characters.
Harold & Hog Pretend For Real! by Dan Santat
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
So meta!
Graphic Novels
Guts by Raina Telgemeier
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
As someone with terrible stomach problems for years, who didn't even know "anxiety" was a thing until she was 30, I really could have used this when I was in middle school.
Middle Grade Novels
A Drop of Hope by Keith Calabrese
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Immensely readable, sweet, and lovely. The interconnecting stories worked, and some of the resolutions made me cry.
p. 10: "It was like he was riding in the back seat of his own family."
p. 25: "Parents always tell their kids to stand up for themselves, but they never mean for their kids to do it with them>."
p. 90: "At first none of it made any sense. ... It was like trying to listen to a four-year-old describe his dream to you."
p. 301: "You can't fix the world. But you do your best in your own little corner of it. And you hope."
The Line Tender by Kate Allen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
One of our strongest Mock Newbery contenders so far. Although I stopped reading for a while after an unexpected tragedy struck and traumatized me. Mr. Patterson was a fantastic character. The postcards were lovely. Would probably recommend for middle school v. elementary.
p. 84: "I love that you can just throw around 'uterus.' You are highly evolved."
Finding Orion by John David Anderson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
So much fun. And now reviewing the highlights, I'm sad I agreed to let it go from the Mock Newbery list. Hoping it makes RICBA.
Dear Sweet Pea by Julie Murphy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Charming with a sweet resolution. Although I never got over Sweet Pea hiding her dad's mail.
p. 10: "And because he's a true best friend, he even slams my bedroom door for me because my hands are full."
p. 34: "Heck, when I fed Miss Dillon's cat for a week when she went on a cruise, she told me she'd pay me too. She just didn't say it would be in seashells she'd found on the beach and painted herself. When one of them started stinking up my room, Dad found a dead snail inside. Mom said it was a good lesson in doing nice things without expecting anything in return. I thought it was a good lesson in why you should check your seashells for living creatures before taking them home."
p. 53: "He laid claim to Greg on his first day. Oscar says it's like he peed on him to mark his territory."
p. 240: "We all love each other, but it's like on those shows about doctors where they need a certain kind of blood for a patient, but all they have is the wrong kind. This is what that feels like. We have plenty of love. It's just not the right kind."
p. 255: "Sometimes it's easy to forget that quiet moments mean just as much as the loud ones, because it's no always about moving. Sometimes it's about sitting perfectly and quietly still."
Nonfiction
Her Fearless Run: Kathrine Switzer’s Historic Boston Marathon by Kim Chaffee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Great combination of text and pictures. May use for a Mock Sibert.
For Grownups
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Well done, Mr. Turton. Meticulously plotted with a reveal I did not see coming but tied up some loose ends. Supremely entertaining if a bit braintwisting.
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