Please post on your choice of reading in this category. Remember, you are reading like a media specialist, so it is not about your personal likes and dislikes. Include in your post:
a. Audience for whom the book is written
b. Audience to whom it will appeal (might differ from a)
c. Particular strengths of the book
d. Particular weaknesses of the book
e. Any special considerations (artwork, curriculum links, community values, beliefs espoused, etc.)
f. And, in School Library Journal's format: your verdict supported with details
No plot summaries and no spoliers, please. Failure to follow that rule will result the revocation of your authoring rights, guaranteed!!!
42 Miles by Tracie Vaughn Zimmer
ReplyDeletea. 10-12 years
b. Middle schoolers in general
c. Novel in verse that surrounds a child of divorce who code switches between her mom and dad’s . Children will identify regardless of family’s marital status. Collages accompany the poems to help create deeper meaning.
d. The main conflict is neatly wrapped up and unrealistic due to that simplification.
e. Accompanying collages lend well to creative projects in a Makers Space or partnered with an ELA teacher. Mention of death of teen cousin by a car crash and DUI, but this happens before the novel starts and isn’t graphic.
f. This shorter novel in verse lends itself well as an addition to your shared bookroom if you plan to co-teach with an ELA class. It does not merit a place in your collections, as there are much better novels that focus on being a child of divorce, finding yourself, and being a middle schooler. The plot is romanticized and the conflict is glossed over. Realistic, it is not .
You might check out Blended by Sharon Draper. It's a traditional novel, not in verse, but deals with divorce, appropriate for middle school students.
DeleteBefore the Ever After by Jacqueline Woodson
ReplyDeletea. Ages 10-15
b. Lovers of football, poetry, and anyone who likes to read stories that open up parts of the world you didn't know people struggle with
c. Sheds a light into an unknown part of the professional sports world--violent parts--and living in the light of a famous family member
d. As a reader, I wanted to know more after the diagnosis. The ending felt unfinished.
e. Quick, easy read. Could be used as a hook book for reluctant readers
f. Perfect for sports lovers 10 and up, readers dive into the world of a child dealing with his father's chronic traumatic health issues and navigating life with a "different" dad.
I would recommend this as a movie pairing. I was inspired to watch Concussion starring Will Smith after reading this book: https://youtu.be/Io6hPdC41RM
ReplyDeleteTitle: Starfish
ReplyDeleteAuthor: Lisa Fipps
a. Intended audience: Age 10
b. Likely audience: Middle School, anyone with body image or bullying issues or needs to see their perspective
c. Strengths: Poetry format lends more power to the words, written by author who was bully due to her size
d. Weaknesses: Will we get to see more Ellie in the future?
e. Of Note: Important for anti-bullying
f. Verdict, supported with detail:
The is a moving book in verse for anyone who has been bullied. There are no easy solutions or healing, especially for the relationship between Ellie and her mom – who is always trying to get Ellie to lose weight. Ellie does have a few great allies to support her, including her dad. After being forced by her dad to see a psychologist, change begins. A powerful read as Ellie learns to remove and replace negative thoughts. A practice we all could be better at. The poetry format lends even more power to Ellie’s words. The bullying events are heart-retching, but, as the author notes at the end, similar things really happened to her and others. Verdict: A must purchase for all middle grade libraries because of the quality writing and necessary story.
I am wondering if there is something similar to this out there that would be a bit more fitting, or appealing to boys. I feel like this one has more of a female focus. It is such an important message. I'm curious if there is something that the boys in similar situations would be able to relate to a bit better.
DeleteCheck out this blog post on middle grade book about body image. There are books listed that appeal to boys as well. :-)
Deletehttps://readingmiddlegrade.com/middle-grade-books-about-body-image-body-positivity/
Thanks for sharing these resources, Tina!
DeleteIt does not look like Lisa Fipps has a sequel in the works yet: https://authorlisafipps.com/books/starfish/
ReplyDeleteBook of Questions - Selections
ReplyDelete-Pablo Neruda
a. Audience for whom the book is written: 5-12
b. Audience to whom it will appeal: Could be thought-provoking for readers 12+
c. Particular strengths of the book: Neruda's poetry poses beautifully written, unanswerable questions. The English translations were thoughtfully done to capture the essence of Neruda's original work. Neruda's questions promote curiosity and encourage the reader to look at the everyday world through a new lens.
d. Particular weaknesses of the book: The text of the book is bilingual. Both the original Spanish and the English translations appear on each page. However, the English is presented in bright contrasting color (white or yellow) and the Spanish is in complimentary shades, making it difficult to see and read. While the intent of the book was to make Neruda's poetry accessible to English readers, it would be nice to make both languages appear to be of equal value on the page. Neruda's 'Book of Questions' questions were grouped in sets. This book picks and chooses questions from his sets and couples them with questions from other sets. I wonder if something is lost in doing so.
e. Any special considerations (artwork, curriculum links, community values, beliefs espoused, etc.). There are several options for curricular ties with this book. Neruda's questions could be used to demonstrate inquiry; questioning, search terms, refining both questions and search terms. Additionally, the questions could be prompts for artists. Given the imaginative nature of the questions, like "When does the butterfly read what flies written on its wings?", students could create some really compelling and different works!
f. And, in the School Library Journal’s tradition: Have you ever wondered where the center of the sea is and why the waves don't break there? This book combines a selection of Pablo Neruda's Book of Questions with beautiful illustrations by a Chilean illustrator. While this version of the Book of Questions is thought-provoking and entertaining, it left me wanting to read Neruda's original work. That said, it is a nice introduction to Neruda's poetry and could create opportunities for creative inquiry and artistic expression. Verdict: Purchase this book AND Neruda's original Book of Questions!
This book is also oversized, making it challenging to fit on the library shelf.
DeleteI struggled to find this in the library for this very reason! It had to be shelved elsewhere because of its size.
DeleteThe Book of Questions, Pablo Neruda (2022)
ReplyDeletea. Audience: 5-12 years old
b. Audience to whom it will appeal: 5-12 years old, possibly older for kids interested in complete volume
c. Strengths: This edition, illustrated by Paloma Valdivia, is gorgeous. The illustrations are as thought-provoking as the questions. Each question stands alone as something to ponder and provide your own response to, or to let it sit answerless. Neruda's work was originally published in Spanish, so this book is in Spanish and English.
d. Weaknesses: as Jennifer stated above, the Spanish translations are almost hidden, even though they may be right next to or across from the English translations. Would be better if they were both the same color text. At the end of the book, in the Editor's Note, you learn that this is not the complete volume of questions, but rather rearranged and abridged questions. I can definitely see how similar questions are grouped, but wonder if I am missing something by not getting the complete poems.
e. Any special considerations: beautiful artwork by a Chilean artist. Sometimes I buy books simply for the artwork, and this is one I need in my collection.
f. Verdict: Some questions are so poignant you have to stop and reread them and feel them deeply. One of those for me was "How do I express to the tortoise that I surpass him in slowness?" Some questions do not need answers, some things do not need to be explained. Sometimes a question is felt, and I felt this question and understood it immediately without giving it any kind of definition. As someone who has been wondering for awhile and feel a bit late in finding a career I enjoy I really, really felt this question. For the wonderment alone I would keep this on my shelf, and in a library, and suggest it to kids who also have a lot of questions of their own.
--Beth
The questions posed in this book would serve as thought-provoking writing prompts. The illustrations are beautiful! Students may not have seen a bilingual book previously, so there may be a learning curve with this one, particularly if the Spanish is hard to see.
DeleteThe Name She Gave Me by Betty Culley
ReplyDeletea. Audience for whom the book is written: 13-17
b. Audience to whom it will appeal (might differ from a) 13-adult
c. Particular strengths of the book: connection to adoption and foster care, raw emotions, powerful story without a lot of words
d. Particular weaknesses of the book: If you are not willing to process the verse, you will miss the story within the story. This is a very introspective book.
e. Any special considerations (artwork, curriculum links, community values, beliefs espoused, etc.) This is such an emotional, raw book. Very fitting for anyone living with adoption or foster care in their lives. Very relatable to YA, very consuming and sucks you right into the story.
f. And, in School Library Journal's format: your verdict supported with details
The Name She Gave Me tells the story of Rynn, adopted at birth, as she struggles to figure out who she is and where she fits in the world. With a multitude of health issues, she is on a journey to fix herself one hole at a time. As her relationship with her adoptive mother becomes more volatile, the desire to find her roots becomes stronger and stronger. As she digs into her past, she finds that her birth mother left her clues, giving Rynn her same name at birth, and giving Rynn’s newly discovered younger sister a name that means sister. Rynn discovers the ties that bind family can be stronger than she ever imagined, but as those ties are discovered, they threaten to destroy the relationship with her adoptive family. Emotions will definitely surface in this powerful, challenging, yet healing story about the importance of family and identity. Verdict: a must read for all libraries serving teens and young adults.
There has been several books published lately about the foster care system (Fighting Words) or being adopted (All the Impossible Things), being an orphan (The Missing Piece of Charley O'Reilly), highlighting family diversity. This is one of them.
DeleteA Million Quiet Revolutions by Robin Gow
ReplyDeletea. Written for 14-18 year olds
b. Would appeal to middle/high school readers
c. Strengths: beautiful own voices story about two trans boys growing up, falling in love, and coming to terms with their identity in a small town. Through the author’s word choice you could really feel the anxiety the two main characters feel about coming out, as well as the love they feel for each other, and the fear they feel about changes that come along with growing up and coming out in a small community.
d. Weaknesses: much of the story felt incredibly sad. It would have been nice to see these two young characters who felt so strongly for each other experience more joy and beauty in their transness amongst all the challenges they faced.
e. Special considerations: own voices story, important for trans representation
f. Verdict: A Million Quiet Revolutions is a beautiful story about Oliver and Aaron, two trans boys falling in love and finding themselves in their senior year of high school. Early on in the story they decide to rename themselves to better align with their male identities. They choose the names Oliver and Aaron after two Revolutionary War soldiers who may have been trans men in love. Partway through their senior year, Aaron suddenly moves away, and as a way of staying connected, the two boys dig into history in order to find representations of themselves in America’s past. This story would be a great addition to any middle school and high school library.
Do you think this could pair well with some non-fiction about the Revolutionary War?
DeleteThe Ghosts of Rose Hill by R. M. Romero
ReplyDeleteTarget audience: YA (14+) according to the publisher. Various reviews recommend anywhere from grade 7 to grade 10 and up.
Potential audiences: Older teens and adults
Strengths:
• Enchanting cover art.
• Relatable conflict (child v. parents).
• Learn about a lesser known city (Prague) and its history.
• Ticks many boxes: magical realism, ghosts and monsters, folktales, music, Jewish heritage, romance.
• Interesting format - written in 4 “movements” punctuated by “interludes” to mimic the music that Ilana loves to play.
Weaknesses:
• Complex storytelling + vocabulary in Hebrew, Spanish and Czech + poetry form = difficult to comprehend at times.
• Ilana making out with a ghost who is 104 years older than she is? (I found that a little cringey)
• Much of the book relies on myth and folklore that not all readers will be familiar with.
Special Considerations:
Starred reviews in Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly, School Library Connection, and School Library Journal.
Verdict:
This unusual summer romance story focuses on Ilana, a Jewish/Latina teenager, who is sent to Prague to stay with her aunt, give up the violin, and focus on her academics. Instead, Ilana restores an abandoned Jewish cemetery, falls in love with the ghost of a young man who is buried there, and meets a man/monster who must be destroyed. This lyrical novel-in-verse, filled with ghostly romance, European Jewish history, and Czech folklore, is one I would recommend to high schoolers who enjoy magical realism and/or historical fiction.
The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander (illustrated by Kadir Nelson)
ReplyDeletea. Audience for whom the book is written: ages 6-12
b. Audience to whom it will appeal (might differ from a): ages 9+, including high schoolers
c. Particular strengths of the book: Although this book is marketed as a picture book for elementary schoolers, it has broad appeal for middle and high schoolers as well; it's a short and easy read (great for reluctant/struggling readers) that still packs in quite a lot of history and important information. The poetic language is accessible for younger readers while still having deeper layers of meaning that will speak even more poignantly to older readers. The illustrations are similar; while younger readers will appreciate the beautiful art against the stark white background, older readers will catch details such as the blank page for "the ones who didn't [survive America]," the song lyrics and quotes embedded in the text, and the extra depth of meaning behind the art featured on the three pages that repeat "This is for the unspeakable." The back matter is a treasure trove of further information, and the book itself could serve as an excellent jumping-off point for middle and high school students to choose a topic or person to study more in-depth for projects.
d. Particular weaknesses of the book: Although aimed toward ages 6+, this book is likely to go over the heads of some younger readers, who are unlikely to understand many of the references. Still, it would pair well with Born on the Water as an overview of Black history and heroes for young readers, especially with an educator present who is willing and able to explain some of the featured issues and biographies in more depth and answer questions.
e. Any special considerations (artwork, curriculum links, community values, beliefs espoused, etc.): Alexander originally performed the poem that would go on to inspire this book for ESPN's The Undefeated, a digital platform that launched in 2016. After being published in picture book form, the poem "The Undefeated" went on to win the Caldecott medal and become a NYT bestseller.
f. Verdict: Short but incredibly powerful, this poetic tribute to Black heroes and history is a must-buy for school libraries elementary through high school.
Before the Ever After by Jacqueline Woodson
ReplyDeletea. Audience for whom the book is written: 10 years and up.
b. Audience to whom it will appeal: Sports fans, especially football. Middle school boys. It might appeal to reluctant readers because it is written in free verse.
c. Particular strengths of the book: This book is easy to read and understand. It speaks to a time before we knew and understood how dangerous multiple concussions could be. It is a history lesson along with a sports story as well as a story about family and friend relationships. It demonstrates the ability of a young person to persevere through challenges when the future is unknown. It does a good job of showing that the glory and fame of playing a professional sport is not always what it seems.
d. Particular weaknesses of the book: It is a little frustrating to read this book knowing exactly what is causing the problem when the characters in the book did not understand what the problem was. The format might discourage middle school boys from reading it. I have not had a lot of luck getting my middle school boys to read novels written in free verse.
e. Any special considerations (art work, curriculum links, community values, beliefs espoused, etc.) This book is the winner of the NAACP Image Award and the Coretta Scott King Author Award. The reader gets to see what its like to be the child of a professional(famous) football player.
f. And, in School Library Journal's format: your verdict supported with details: This is a great book, I recommend that it be in every middle school and high school library. It is an entertaining read but it also educates about the dangers of multiple concussions. I think every kid who plays, or wants to play, football should read this book. Parents of kids who play football should also read this book.
Starfish by Lisa Fipps
ReplyDeletea. Audience for whom the book is written: 10+
b. Audience to whom it will appeal (might differ from a): 10+
c. Particular strengths of the book: The book is written as a novel in verse that is easy to read. It will appeal to all readers, including tweens and teens who struggle with body issues. The characters are relatable. The main character, Ellie is very likable and we are rooting for her. Her mom is unbelievably mean and degrading, which makes the reader root for Ellie even more. Other issues are addressed in the book as well, such as racism, bullying, and family issues.
d. Particular weaknesses of the book: It doesn't feel like there is enough development of some characters such as: Catalina, Viv, and Ellie's sister and brother.
e. Special considerations: The book addresses issues of racism, bullying, and body image. This book also has earned 13 book awards, including the 2022 Michael L. Printz Award Honor Book, 2022 ALA Notable Children's Book award, 2022 YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults winner, and 2022 YALSA Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults winner, to name a few. Resources available on Lisa Fipps' website include:
Bullying is NEVER Okay brochure: https://authorlisafipps.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/as-of-8.26.22-STARFISH-bullying-brochure.pdf
Discussion Guide aligned to Common Core: https://storage.googleapis.com/classroom-portal-production/uploads/2021/01/97ba7e70-starfish_discussionguide.pdf
Discussion Guide for Parents/Families: https://authorlisafipps.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Anti-Defamation-League-Book-of-the-Month-Parent-Family-Discussion-Guide-for-STARFISH.pdf
f. Verdict: Lisa Fipps' Starfish tells the story of eleven year-old Ellie, a girl who has been struggling with her weight and body image since she splashed into the pool at five years old. For years, she has developed and lived by her Fat Girl Rules. Bullied by not only classmates and strangers, but also by her family, Ellie is a character that we care deeply about and want to see her win, especially against her mean mom who seems to obsess over Ellie's weight more than she does. We love seeing Ellie stand up for herself! In addition to body image issues, other important issues such as bullying and racism are also addressed in the book. This beautiful novel in verse will appeal to readers of all ages, and is a must purchase for all libraries.
Title: Starfish
ReplyDeleteAuthor: Lisa Fipps
a. Intended audience: Age 10 +
b. Likely audience: Upper Elementary or Middle School (Strong pull to the female audience)
c. Strengths: Novel in verse written with an authentic voice.
d. Weaknesses: Main characters were so strongly written that the side characters felt incomplete. May be a difficult book to recommend to students with “outing” them for appearance.
e. Any special considerations: Nominee for various awards such as Printz (2022), Vermont Golden Dome Award (2023)
f. Verdict, supported with detail: Powerful story of a girl who feels out of place at home, at school, and even in the doctor’s office. The book is riddled with empowering statements encouraging Ellie (and the reader) to take up space in the world. Adult readers have stated, “I wish I had a book like this when I was growing up.”A must read for anyone who is feeling uncomfortable in their own skin.
Audience for whom the book is written: Middle Grade
ReplyDeleteAudience to whom it will appeal: Middle Grade
Particular strengths of the book: Beautifully written
Particular weaknesses of the book: Slow going at times
Special considerations: Coretta Scott King Award Winner, Newbery Honor, National Book Award Winner, Claudia Lewis Award Winner, E.B. White Read-Aloud Award Winner, Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor
School Library Journal Review: (5-8)--This memoir-in-verse tells the story of Jacqueline Woodson’s childhood. Readers follow Jacqueline’s life as she adds nuance and complexity to the African American experience in the Jim Crow era. Born to a prominent Black family in Ohio, Jacqueline’s mother moved her and her siblings to South Carolina where she became a Jehovah’s Witness and later to Brooklyn where she developed her love of writing and stories. The book highlights the love of family and finding a place to belong. This is a necessary purchase for secondary schools.
Brown Girl Dreaming
DeleteI was originally going to write a blogpost on Starfish but given how many others also wrote about Starfish I figured I would pick Inheritance instead.
ReplyDeleteInheritance : a visual poem by Elizabeth Acevedo, illustrated by Andrea Pippins
a. Audience for whom the book is written: Publisher states this book is for ages 13 and up.
b. Audience to whom it will appeal: I believe this poem would appeal to those as young as 10 up through any age, most likely appeals to a more female audience.
c. Particular strengths of the book: Full color illustrations accompanying each line of the poem, ability to use for a wide variety of subjects and age ranges, last line of the poem is especially powerful.
d. Particular weaknesses of the book: That there's not more of it!
e. Any special considerations (artwork, curriculum links, community values, beliefs espoused, etc.): Full color illustrations, can be used in so many different situations, would be great to build a display or a unit around this poem.
f. And, in School Library Journal's format: your verdict supported with details: A spoken word poem about the cultural history and identity that is connected to women of color and their hair, turned into an illustrated book. Inheritance is small but mighty! This poem and its accompanying illustrations could be used in language arts, visual art class, sociology, or even in a world history class at a wide variety of grade levels. A must have for both middle and high school libraries, this book is begging to be the inspiration of many display.
ReplyDeleteStarfish LIsa Fipps
.
A. the audience for whom the book is written
Ages 10+
B. Audience to whom it will appeal
Ages 11+
C. Particular strengths of the book
The character in this book is made to feel horrible about herself by her own mother about her weight. She encourages others to take up space, starfish, and be who they are. She finds love and acceptance in others.
D. Particular weaknesses of the book:
This book could initially be upsetting because of the remarks made by the character’s mother.
E. Special considerations: Michael L. Printz Honor, 2022
F. Verdict: A must-read for all young girls. All girls are going through body image issues and this story helps girls develop self-love and see that everyone is struggling with something. A great addition to all middle-grade libraries.