Our Mock Newbery voting happened on the 14th, and the ALA winners were announced a couple of days ago. We had a couple of overlapping titles. Here are the 14 of 16 final RI titles that I managed to read, and my thoughts.
Birdie and Me by J.M.M. NuanezMy 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.
Fighting Words by Kimberly Brubaker BradleyMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
I thought Bradley handled the subject matter so well. Incredibly realistic characters and reactions to situations. Shitty, shitty situations. (Voted RI Newbery Honor book, same as ALA)
King and the Dragonflies by Kacen CallenderMy 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.
A Wish in the Dark by Christina SoontornvatMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
This was a 5-star for a while, but oh how it started to drag. Can we make a rule that middle-grade books can't be more than 300 pages unless I say it's ok?
Anyways, the world building at the beginning was fantastic, and I loved Father Cham. But once everyone was back in Chattana, I started skimming. And taking breaks every 10 pages. But I still think it was more interesting overall than some of the other books on our list, so I'm leaving it at 4 stars.
Spoke too soon. Took off a star for the ghosty visions near the end. And the wrist lights. And what was up with Nok's staff being able to cause an earthquake? (Voted RI Newbery Honor book, same as ALA)
Efrén Divided by Ernesto CisnerosMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Family of five living in a studio ... we need more stories about families like this. Intact families who love each other but are struggling. There wasn't any abuse. Nobody was dead. They were just poor. Like so so so many American families. With immigration issues. Again, like so so so many American families.
Lalo was a little too good to be true, but I can only take so much trauma at a time.
"They tried to bury us, but they didn't know we were seeds."
Also, second book on our Mock Newbery list that mentioned pepperoni and pineapple pizza. (Other was "From the Desk of Zoe Washington.") (Voted ALA Pura Belpre winner)
From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae MarksMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Lots going on here - best-friend trouble, cupcake planning, trying to prove the innocence of one's imprisoned birth father ... Good for those who like happy endings (spoiler alert!). Under 300 pages, so maybe my students would read it? Also I grew up in Melrose, which is next to Medford, so that was kind of cool.
NOTE: Second book I've read this month that mentions "Ghost" by Jason Reynolds. The other was "Dress Coded."
When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria JamiesonMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Powerful - and traumatizing. No food some days. No electricity ever. Waiting in the water line for hours. Using plastic bags to make a soccer ball and a swing to play with. Getting "new" clothes when the original owner dies. Students fainting from hunger at school. Girls being forced to quit school and get married and have kids as early teens. People killing themselves when they don't get chosen for resettlement. Camera crews coming to document the grinding poverty but change never happening. Almost missing out on high school because of not being able to afford a uniform.
But another thing I couldn't get over was Omar's references to God's greatness and gifts. Really? You think you should be grateful to some deity that allows this shit to happen? Ugh. Sometimes I am envious of people who have faith, and other times I am incredibly annoyed. This experience falls into the latter category.
Still, important for my students to understand some of the evils of the world. Will put on my to-buy list. (Voted ALA Schneider honor)
The List of Things That Will Not Change by Rebecca SteadMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
I liked that Bea went to a therapist and had eczema - things I can relate to! "What does a feeling feel like?" But overall, just an ok book. And I don't think the corn bookends worked.
Here in the Real World by Sara PennypackerMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
So slow ... not sure if any of my kids would stick with it. The last few chapters did make me tear up, though, so I added a star. The kind of book you might have one reader for. And it might make a difference to them. (Voted RI Newbery honor)
Echo Mountain by Lauren WolkMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Yes, the setting was definitely evoked distinguishedly (I made up that word), and there was philosophizing and pontificating that often marks a work of "literature" vs. just a "book," but my lord was this slow. So slow. So many trips to the woods and back. So many strange ideas about waking up dad from a coma. So many descriptions of suppurating wounds. And after all that, a ridiculous ending.
Characters evolve, so I guess that as a Mock Newbery committee member I need to give it an extra star for that. (Voted RI Newbery winner)
Show Me a Sign by Ann Clare LeZotteMy rating: 2 of 5 stars
I didn't know anything about the history of Martha's Vineyard, so that was interesting. The book itself though ... not so much. The big event that happens was kind of cuckoo bananas. But by then I was skimming.
One thing that I wasn't sure about was the way that signed sentences were written. Like "I'll keep you apprised of further developments." I don't think that's exactly what Mary said ... unless she fingerspelled? But then other times the author gave the literal translation of the signs and how they were understood. (Voted ALA Schneider winner)
Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue ParkMy rating: 2 of 5 stars
A Home for Goddesses and Dogs by Leslie ConnorMy rating: 2 of 5 stars
So at our last Mock Newbery meeting, I was maybe 50 pages into this book and said that it seemed like yet another "dead parent, new family, learn to love a dog" book. "No! It's so much more than that!" I was told. So I slogged through the next 335 pages. And really, that's all it was. With some mutilated goats and old boots/snowshoes thrown in. And we never even get to read Lydia's goddess memoir! Ugh! This was not worth the overdue fines.
Black Brother, Black Brother by Jewell Parker RhodesMy rating: 2 of 5 stars
This started out so strong, and while as another reviewer stated, the writing itself stayed strong "at the sentence level," the plot was a bit yawn-inducing. I ended up skimming the last several chapters. Someone else said it reminded them of the Karate Kid. So so so so so much fencing. (And his dad happened to be on the team in college and they never knew?)
The urgency on p. 34 with Donte worrying that a passing squad car might be after him because he squatted on the sidewalk to catch his breath dissipates as the fencing lessons come to the forefront. I want more exploration of this kind of thing on p. 87: "How many others are like Dylan? Wanting to speak up but scared? I might've missed some kindness. Or maybe I was supposed to figure out that kindness to Trey also meant me? I'm glad folks are now being nice. But what if Trey wasn't here? What if it was just me?"
I wanted more about the fact that this kid went to court on charges of throwing a pencil. Do you know how many kids throw pencils at school? I don't know ... I complained that "Ghost Boys" hit readers over the head a little too much, but I could have used some more of that in this one.
As an (almost) 46-year-old woman, I'm not the target audience, I know. But I ended up disappointed.
A Game of Fox and Squirrels by Jenn ReeseMy rating: 2 of 5 stars
Wait. I made it halfway through before our voting meeting and was going to let it go but decided to finish it because other participants told me the game was all in her mind, and I wanted to see how that panned out. But ... it isn't portrayed that way in my reading of it. Her aunt comes and saves her from a fox, yes? And I wouldn't think Sam would have torn apart her aunt's stuffed rabbit.
I did appreciate the portrayal (via memories) of a family walking on eggshells trying to appease the abuser. But I hated the fantasy element.
On the Horizon by Lois LowryMy rating: 1 of 5 stars
Oh dear. Did. Not. Like. At. All. Great idea, terrible execution. The fact that Lois Lowry and Allen Say saw each other as stranger children IS AMAZING. But maybe should have been a separate picture book. I appreciate that Lowry researched specific soldiers, but the sing-song rhyme she used in some of the poems seemed to trivialize the horror and sadness of their deaths. And why were a few forms of poetry identified (e.g., triolet) but others weren't? I was disappointed.
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