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 Rainbow by Theresa Trinder
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lovely. The other side is on the horizon.

 

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 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!? 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 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 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 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 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 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!