Teen Tuesday and Audiobook Review: Bravely by Maggie Stiefvater

Image: Disney

Bravely by Maggie Stiefvater. Unabridged downloadable e-audiobook. ~10 hours. Read by Fiona Hardingham. Disney Press, May 2022. 9781368083850. (Review of downloadable e-audiobook borrowed from public library.)

Teen Tuesday features Bravely by Maggie Stiefvater. This might be the first time a sequel to a movie was published as a book? I have read movie novelizations, but can't recall ever reading something like this. Plus, I have never viewed the movie. So there's that.

Merida DunBroch should be content now that she's no longer obligated to make a marriage. She still prefers practicing archery to perfecting her embroidery, but she's a tad restless and impatient with the sameness of every day and longs for adventure. On Christmas Eve, she spies a figure in the snow just outside the castle and when she goes to investigate, the figure flees after turning into a rabbit. Undaunted Merida follows though she's barefoot and not dressed for snow. Turns out, the figure is Feradach, the god of destruction and he was about to obliterate the DunBrach family because they have become stagnant. It is only the intervention of the goddess, Cailleach that stays Feradach's hand. Merida is given one year to prove the family can change and, she needs to keep the agreement a secret. Under the watchful eyes of both gods, Merida sets about saving her family and transforming her kingdom. 

This richly woven tale features intriguing characters, vivid Scottish settings, humor, suspense and adventure. There were a few tears near the end as well. 

Ms. Hardingham's narration was well-paced and contained a variety of voices and accents. Fans of the movie will love this new chapter in Merida's life; but this should appeal to any reader who loves a brave and headstrong main character.

Fact Friday: Defiant: Growing Up in the Jim Crow South by Wade Hudson

Image: Penguin Random House

Defiant: Growing Up in the Jim Crow South by Wade Hudson. 272 p. Crown Books/ Random House Children's Books, October, 2021. 9780593126356. (Review of finished purchased copy.)

Happy Friday TMS! We made it! February break starts in a few short hours. I hope you have your reading planned. I do. Fact Friday features Defiant: Growing Up in the Jim Crow South by Wade Hudson. Mr. Hudson is author of more than thirty books and is co-founder, along with his wife, Cheryl Willis Hudson, of Just Us Books. His conversational memoir begins with him contemplating the prison cell he was placed in after his arrest as a college student. He was a vocal activist on campus and he and others were charged with plotting murder. The next chapter rewinds to the author's childhood, growing up in a large family in a small town, where folks looked out for one another, but Black folks couldn't try on clothes in the department store. He grew up loving school and baseball and the church. 

Back matter contains notes and a time line to help young readers understand the history of Civil Rights in the U.S. Defiant is a first-purchase for all kinds of libraries-compelling and important.

Teen Tuesday and Audiobook Review: Once and Future by Amy Rose Capetta and Cori McCarthy

Image: Hachette Book Group

Once and Future by Amy Rose Capetta and Cori McCarthy. Once and Future series #1. Unabridged downloadable e-audiobook, ~10 hours, 55 minutes. Read by Lauren Fortang. LBYR/ Hachette Audio, March, 2019. 9781549178863. (Review of e-audiobook borrowed from public library.)

Teen Tuesday features Once and Future by Amy Rose Capetta and Cori McCarthy. Regular readers of this blog might know that I'm a fan of King Arthur retellings. The legend gets a gender-bending, sci-fi twist here and it's utterly delightful! Ari Helix is on the run from the Mercer Corporation, which literally controls the galaxy. Planet Earth has been abandoned, Ari's planet has been destroyed and her parents murdered. She has been raised by two adoptive mothers and adored Kay, her adoptive older brother. 

The two are eluding capture when they crash-land on Earth. Ari finds a sword embedded in a stone, yanks it out and discovers that she is the forty-second incarnation of King Arthur. This awakens Merlin, Arthur's mentor and wizard. He has been aging backward and is now a teen-age boy.

The pace is whiplash fast, the humor is high and surprises abound. I had no idea what to expect going into this. I hadn't read a review. I just knew it was a King Arthur retelling. This book sizzles and that cliffhanger ending left me needing the next installment ASAP! The good thing about coming to a series later is not having to wait for the sequel. Sword in the Stars is in my Libby queue. I cannot wait.

Once and Future is not quite middle school fare. Mature teens who are into King Arthur, science fiction and/ or lgbtq literature where the sexuality of characters is not the issue will go gaga over this adventure. Once and Future was my final book of 2020. What a way to end a reading year. Highly recommended!

Fact Friday: How We Got to the Moon by John Rocco

Image: Penguin Random House

How We Got to the Moon: the people, technology, and daring feats of science behind humanity's greatest adventure written and illustrated by John Rocco. 264 p. Crown Books for Young Readers, October, 2020. 9780525647416. (Review of finished copy borrowed from public library.)

Happy Friday! Fact Friday features How We Got to the Moon: the people, technology, and daring feats of science behind humanity's greatest adventure written and illustrated by John Rocco. Now, if you are a Percy Jackson fan, you know Mr. Rocco's work, as he has illustrated all the covers for that series and its spin-offs.

This hefty, oversized, gorgeous volume begins in October of 1957, when people all over the world learned that Russia had launched a satellite called Sputnik. Panic ensued. Were we being spied upon? Could a satellite drop an atomic bomb? The U.S. scrambled to catch up. 

The subtitle really says it all. That's how wide-ranging the text is. Each spread brims with text that explains the history, science, engineering and gives biographical background on some of the many thousands of individuals who worked tirelessly to put a man on the moon. Illustrations vie with the text on each page and just beg to be pored over. There are technical drawings, cutaways, and portraits. This is a book that ought to be read more than once. There's just too much to take in. The back matter is superb. It gives the reader a glimpse into all the research Mr. Rocco did for both the writing and the art, source notes, sources, and suggestions for further reading.

Fact hounds and space geeks will adore this book, but so will the average curious reader. How We Got to the Moon was long-listed for the National Book Award and is a finalist for the YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction. Who knows what other awards it might garner next Monday? A Sibert? A Newbery? This book needs to be in every library's collection.

Teen Tuesday and Audiobook Review: Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

Image: Macmillan Publishers

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas. Unabridged e-audiobook. ~13 hours, 48 minutes. Read by Avi Roque. Macmillan Audio, September, 2020. 9781250619129. (Review of downloadable e-audiobook borrowed from the public library.)

Teen Tuesday features Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas. Sixteen-year-old Yadriel is a transgender boy who lives in a cemetery with his extended family of brujas and brujos. He is determined to become a brujo, even though his father does not acknowledge him as his son. He held a secret initiation ceremony with his best friend, Maritza. After his cousin is brutally murdered, the brujos set out to find his ghost in order to set him free. Yadriel hopes to find his cousin in order to prove himself to his father. Instead, he accidentally summons Julian, a bad-boy classmate who was also murdered around the same time. Julian has unfinished business and no idea who killed him. He teams up with Yadriel and Maritza to find out. 

This deeply nuanced and sparkling debut was such a surprise to me - suspenseful and laugh-out-loud funny as well as tear-inducing! I loved this book and highly recommend it to mature teen readers. The East LA Latinx community is vividly drawn. The magic is oh-so-believable. The characters are unique and memorable. I really did not want this story to end. I was happy to learn that the author might be working on a sequel of sorts. 

I must admit that I had to get used to the narrator's staccato delivery. I thought that I inadvertently upped the speed of audiobook. I soon got used to it. There's an absolutely adorable interview/ love fest between the narrator and the author at the end of the audiobook. 

The Cemetery Boys is a first-purchase for any collection serving teen readers. 

Middle Grade Monday and Audiobook Review: When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller

Image: Penguin Random House

When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller. Unabridged e-audiobook. ~ 6 hours. Read by Greta Jung. Listening Library/ Penguin Random House, January, 2020. 9780593155455. (Review of downloadable e-audiobook borrowed from public library.)

Happy Monday! I enjoyed the wintery sunshine this weekend and took lots of walks with Boo! I hope your weekend was fantastic.

Middle Grade Monday features When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller. Lily's widowed mother has decided to move the family of three from California to Sunbeam, Washington to care for Lily's grandmother, whose health is declining. Lily loves Halmoni, especially her stories, but she wants to stay in California for seventh grade, not start all over in Washington. Lily has a superpower though. She can become invisible - the QAG - quiet Asian girl. She's so unlike Sam, who is outgoing and can make friends anywhere.

When Lily sees a tiger at the side of the road near Halmoni's house and the tiger seems to be watching Lily, she knows Halmoni will understand the meaning. Instead, Halmoni tells Lily that the tiger is after her because she stole something from her long ago and now the tiger is back to reclaim what was stolen. Lily and her new friend, Ricky set out to trap a tiger.

Fans of magical realism will adore this exquisitely written story-within-a-story. If you loved Where the Mountain Meets the Moon or The Girl Who Swallowed the Moon, you will love When You Trap a Tiger. Warning: I was a weeping mess near the end, so make sure there are tissues handy. There has been a bit of Newbery buzz around this one and deservedly so.

The narrator's performance was well-paced and she had distinct voices for the different characters as well as for the tiger folk tale that interspersed the narrative. My only question has to do with her pronunciation of Halmoni. It sounded like Harmony and when I looked up the pronunciation online, each source pronounced it the l. 

Fact Friday: The Great Bear Rescue: Saving the Gobi Bears by Sandra Markle

Image: Lerner Publishing Group

The Great Bear Rescue: Saving the Gobi Bears by Sandra Markle. 40 p. Sandra Markle's Science Discovery Series. Millbrook Press/ Lerner Publishing Group, September, 2020. 9781541581258. (Review of finished copy borrowed from public library.)

Happy Friday! We made it! It's a beautiful morning with a crescent moon rising in a clear, star-filled sky. Enjoy the day.

Fact Friday features The Great Bear Rescue: Saving the Gobi Bears by Sandra Markle. I have never associated bear habitats with deserts. Have you? Acclaimed science writer, Sandra Markle, introduces us to the endangered species, Gobi bears, in this beautifully designed book filled with lots of full-color photos of the bears as well as of the conservation scientists attempting to save them. It is estimated that there are only forty bears left in the Gobi Desert in Mongolia. While climate change is impacting their chances for survival, illegal gold mining in the region is also having an impact. "Ninja miners" sneak into the desert and dig deep holes in their search for gold. Bears and other wildlife can tumble into those holes and the water that collects there is poisonous. 

Ms. Markle's eloquent text endears and educates. There are interviews with the scientists, helpful maps and useful back matter. The volume concludes with a reminder to readers to also not forget the polar bear. This book is part of a series called Sandra Markle's Science Discoveries. Any new book by Ms. Markle is an automatic purchase for me and should be for anyone who curates a school, public or classroom library collection. Happy reading!

Teen Tuesday: Dear Justyce by Nic Stone

Image: Penguin Random House

Dear Justyce: a novel by Nic Stone. 266 p. Crown Books for Young Readers/ Random House/ Penguin Random House, September, 2020. 9781984829665. (Review of finished purchased copy.)

Happy Tuesday! Teen Tuesday features Dear Justyce: a novel by Nic Stone. In this sequel to Ms. Stone's critically acclaimed debut, Dear Martin, seventeen-year-old Vernell LaQuan Banks, Jr. (You better call him Quan) is awaiting trial for the murder of a police officer. It's a crime he did not commit, but he was at the scene. He has an arrest record, an overworked, possibly incompetent public defender and knows he's looking at hard time in prison.

He writes a series of letters to his friend, Justyce. The two met on a playground one night while trying to escape difficult times at home. The two boys were bright, loved school and loved to read. Quan had an aptitude for math and hopes for the future despite experiencing the trauma of witnessing the violent arrest of this father when he was eleven. Justyce had a mother who expected him to excel and supported him; Quan's mother sided with the teacher who accused him of cheating on an algebra exam. As Quan began to lose hope, the school-to-prison pipeline became an increasing reality.

Dear Justyce is a difficult read. It's raw. It's sad. It's intense. It's important. You don't really need to read Dear Martin before reading Dear Justyce, but you should. Both books belong on every kind of library shelf. 

Fact Friday: Condor Comeback by Sy Montgomery

Image: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Condor Comeback by Sy Montgomery. Photographs by Tianne Strombeck. 80 p. Scientists in the Field Series. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, July, 2020. 9780544816536. (Review of finished copy borrowed from public library.)

Happy Friday! We made it! It's Friday! My students all continue to remain patient and flexible as 2020 continues to dish up challenges. Yesterday, we pivoted to all-virtual learning for the great snowstorm that wasn't. We had snow, about six inches, but not the foot to foot and a half that was promised. I felt sorry that students didn't get a snow day. Nothing boosts the spirits like a snow day. Oh well. With virtual learning platforms, the snow day may become obsolete. 

I look for ways to tell my student to pat yourself on the back and I offer a virtual high five. I'm am always thrilled when I see them doing so on my zoom screen. Three school days until break!

Fact Friday features Condor Comeback by Sy Montgomery. This is one of the newest entries in The Scientist in the Field series I write so often about. In 1982, there were just 12 California Condors left in the wild. What do conservation scientists do when an animal is on the brink of extinction? Ms. Montgomery, veteran science writer, informs us in captivating detail.

First, conservationists and zoos got together to start a breeding program. Next, the magnificent creatures had to be introduced to the wild and studied. Each year, the birds are captured and examined to check their health, especially to check for levels of lead. The terrain these scientists have to traverse is rough and there are other challenges, like holding a thrashing bird that is roughly the size of a large sofa still for examination!

As usual, there are plenty of fascinating full-color photographs as well as maps and charts to pore over. Additionally, the back matter contains suggestions for readers who'd like to learn more. This series is an auto-purchase for me. I happen to love science. I created a unit for seventh graders just so this series would get the readership it deserved.

Fact Friday: Eclipse Chaser: Science in the Moon's Shadow by Ilima Loomis

Image: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Eclipse Chaser: Science in the Moon's Shadow by Ilima Loomis with photographs by Amanda Cowan. 80 p. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, December, 2019. 9781328770967. (Review of finished copy borrowed from public library.)

Happy Friday! Skies were clear last night, but I didn't see any sign of the aurora borealis. Bummer. Maybe some day. Let's turn our attention from the night sky to daylight. Fact Friday features Eclipse Chaser: Science in the Moon's Shadow by Ilima Loomis with photographs by Amanda Cowan. Many of you know of my love for the Scientist in the Field series. Each well-researched book highlights the work of a scientific specialty with vivid writing and spectacular photographs and this book is a worthy addition to any collection.

Shadia Habbal is an astronomer and solar physicist. She and her team travel the world in order to study solar eclipses. It's expensive to haul around the many computers, cameras and other equipment necessary to record eclipses. Sometimes the weather or other conditions do not cooperate. It might be too cloudy to see the eclipse or, in the case of one trip, wind kicked the desert sands up so much, visibility was decreased. Most of the book describes the team's work during the eclipse of August, 2017. Not only does Ms. Loomis vividly describe the actual eclipse, she also eloquently depicts the teamwork and collaboration on the part of the team.

There will be a full solar eclipse on December 14, but unless you're traveling to southern Africa, South America or Antarctica, you won't be able to view it. The next eclipse that will be viewable to those of us in North America will be on June 10, 2021. In the meanwhile, get your hands on this book to learn all about the work of the scientists who study the sun.

Teen Tuesday: Layoverland by Gabby Noone

Image: Penguin Random House

Layoverland by Gabby Noone. 304 p. Razorbill/ Penguin Random House, January, 2020. 9781984836120. (Review of finished purchased copy.)

Teen Tuesday features Layoverland by Gabbie Noone. Our narrator in this superb debut is seventeen-year-old Bea, a snarky, prickly cynic who keeps everyone at arm's length and doesn't suffer fools lightly. She's ugly-crying in her car after a fight with her sister when she's hit head-on by another car. When she awakens, she's on a plane bound for...where now? She's wearing the unfortunate outfit she had on and her mascara is running but can't be wiped off. Turns out, Bea died instantly and is on board a plane headed for the afterlife. Only Bea has some unresolved issues and doesn't have a connecting flight to her final destination. She's stuck at the airport, has to sleep in an airport motel and all her food is encased in jello. She's been given a job and has to help thousands of souls find out what their unresolved issues are and help them move on before she herself can move on. To make matters worse, the dude who plowed into her is also stuck in Layoverland and it's Bea's job to help him move on. No way, Bea is determined to make him suffer. There's a problem though. He's very cute. 

So, this is a coming-of-age story even though the protagonist is dead. Hilariously funny and yet surprisingly deep and poignant. I just loved the voice in this sparkling debut. 

Middle Grade Monday and Audiobook Review: Tristan Strong Destroys the World by Kwame Mbalia

Image: Disney Books

Tristan Strong Destroys the World by Kwame Mbalia. Tristan Strong #2. Unabridged e-audiobook, ~9 hours. Read by Amir Abdullah. Listening Library, October, 2020. 9780593149614. (Review of e-audiobook borrowed from public library.)

Middle Grade Monday features Tristan Strong Destroys the World by Kwame Mbalia. This sequel to Mr. Mbalia's debut blockbuster, Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky is even better. That's saying something because I loved the first book. If you've read it, you will definitely want to read the sequel and if you haven't, what are you waiting for?

Tristan Strong has been back from Alke for a month, still staying on his grandparents' farm and still training with his grandfather. He's still filled with self-doubt and acknowledges that he's probably suffering from PTSD. After a "friendly" sparring match gets a bit rough, Tristan's grandmother is kidnapped and taken to Alke. Reluctant as he is to return to Alke, he has to rescue his grandmother! He hopes to get advice from John Henry, but he is a shell of the man Tristan came to admire. So, it's up to Tristan, Ayanna and the irrepressible Gum Baby to get things done. 

Mr. Mbalia seamlessly weaves African mythology and African American folklore into a seat-of-your-pants adventure. While often humorous, there is real trauma here both cultural and personal. Perceptive readers will appreciate the power of storytelling and remembering. The mind-blowing ending of this installment will leave readers panting for the next!

Amir Abdullah's performance does not disappoint! It's perfectly paced and emotionally engaging. 

November is Picture Book Month! Picture Book Review: My Favorite Color by Aaron Becker

Image: Candlewick Press

My Favorite Color by Aaron Becker. unpgd board book. Candlewick Studio/ Candlewick Press, September, 2020. 9781536214741. (Review of finished copy courtesy of publisher.)

I love how the title of this book asks "Only one?" I feel the same way. I have lots of favorite colors. They usually match my mood.

Aaron Becker follows his lovely, You are Light  with this magical book. Simple, tactile and intriguing, this inviting board book will have readers young and not-so-young, returning again and again to flip pages to watch the change in hues with each page-turn. So many shades of color to enjoy and name! Indeed, how can only one be a favorite?

My Favorite Color is a terrific gift book and should find a place in pre-schools and art classes as well as comfy laps to explore, discuss and appreciate color. Here's a short video of the creator talking about his book. Don't miss this gem.

Fact Friday: When They Call You a Terrorist: a story of Black Lives Matter and the power to change the world by Patrice Khan-Cullors

Image: Macmillan

When They Call You a Terrorist: a story of Black Lives Matter and the power to change the world by Patrice Khan-Cullors and asha bandele [sic]. Adapted by Benee Knauer, with a forward by Angela Davis. Unabridged e-audiobook, ~7 hours. Read by the author. Macmillan Young Listeners/ Macmillan Audio, September, 2020. 9781250772077. (Review of e-audiobook borrowed from public library.)

Fact Friday features When They Call You a Terrorist: a story of Black Lives Matter and the power to change the world by Patrice Khan-Cullors. This emotionally gripping memoir is adapted from Ms. Khan-Cullors' best selling, award-winning memoir originally published for an adult audience in 2018. This book is absolutely required reading for anyone who is interested in social justice, equity and equality. 

Ms. Khan-Cullors' was a social justice advocate who, with several like-minded friends posted a hashtag that became a movement that, incredibly, branded her a terrorist. Through journal entry excerpts and photos, readers learn about circumstances and events that shaped Ms. Khan-Cullors' life. The reading isn't always easy, her life was hard, her family was economically insecure, her brother was troubled; but her resilience is impressive and her attitude is hopeful.

By choosing to read this one with my ears, ably narrated by the author, I missed out on the viewing the photos, but will remedy that when I purchase the book for my school library. This book is a first-purchase for any library seeking to provide anti-racist, social justice informational literature for patrons.

Middle Grade Monday: Twins by Varian Johnson

Image: Scholastic Inc.

Twins by Varian Johnson. Illustrated by Shannon Wright. Twins #1. 252 p. Graphix/ Scholastic Inc., October, 2020. 9781338236132. (Review of finished purchased copy.)

It's a rainy Monday! I hope you had a fantastic weekend! I got to rake my leaves and finish a few books. Middle Grade Monday features a graphic novel called Twins by Varian Johnson and illustrated by Shannon Wright. This is Mr. Johnson's first graphic novel. You may have read some of his other middle grade fiction like, The Great Greene Heist or The Parker Inheritance. Come to think of it, he has also written a few YA titles, which are old enough to feature on #tbt so stay tuned.

Twins, Francine and Maureen do everything together. They share a room and have shared a classroom all through elementary school. Now that they are entering middle school, Francine is pulling away. Maureen expects things to go on as usual and is hurt, first when she discovers that they don't have the same schedules, then when she learns that Francine has something to do after school each day and isn't including her. Francine has even shortened her name and wants to be called, "Fran" now!

So what happens when to two decide to run for class president? Read this delightfully relatable, gorgeously illustrated graphic novel to find out. I know this wouldn't sit on my shelf were we not in a pandemic and my library closed. 

Both girls are immediately likable, relatable and endearing. Their family is blended, consisting of an older half-brother, and happily supportive. The girls' parents are attentive and involved. The tween dialogue and middle school drama are spot-on. Some of the sisters' fights are so eerily familiar even to this old reviewer! But so is the evident bond between to the two.

The art is vibrant and engaging, with subtle bits of visual humor sprinkled about, such as a store named "Temporarily 22." This smile disappears however, once the girls are ignored in the store by a white salesperson. Luckily for them, the white customer the saleslady rebuffed the girls for called her out on her behavior before stomping out of the store, causing other customers to do the same. It was a subtle example of white allyship in action. This was followed by Mama Bear storming into the store to give the clerk a piece of her mind after Maureen's friend tearfully recounts the experience. The panels are dynamic and the bright palette is quite pleasing. The student body is diverse in many respects from race to body types. 

I hadn't realized when I bought the book that it was a series starter. This pleases me. I look forward to visiting with Francine and Maureen soon. This book belongs in all library collections! Fans of friendship graphic novels like Real Friends and Smile and Sunny as well as the kids of Berrybrook Middle School, will just gobble Twins up and ask for more.

Visit Varian Johnson's website and Shannon Wrights website for more information about each and their body of work. 

Fact Friday: Life in a Frozen World: wildlife of Antarctica by Mary Batten

Image: Peachtree

Life in a Frozen World: wildlife of Antarctica by Mary Batten. Illustrated by Thomas Gonzalez. 40 p. Peachtree, November 1, 2020. 9781682631515. (Review of finished copy borrowed from public library.)

 
Happy Friday! The temperatures dipped this week and hopefully you broke out the layers as well as hat, scarf and mittens. Cold temps shouldn't prevent you from getting out of doors every day! Speaking of cold, Fact Friday features Life in a Frozen World: wildlife of Antarctica by Mary Batten and illustrated by Thomas Gonzalez. Antarctic is a biodiverse home to many organisms, from microscopic bacteria to the blue whale. They have adapted to the extreme cold at the southern pole of planet Earth. 

The succinct text provides a brief overview of animal life from krill to the penguins we all know and love. But it's the illustrations that are the stars here. Thomas Gonzalez's pastel and water colored pencil spreads are breathtaking. Really, each one is immersive - the textures, the colors, the drama - all transfix. Back matter includes a map; 10 more facts about Antarctica; an author's note; a glossary and a list of books, websites and films to learn more.

Life in a Frozen World is a must-read for all fact-hounds and readers who are fascinated by extreme conditions. I just loved this one.

Teen Tuesday: Long Way Down: a graphic novel by Jason Reynolds

Image: Simon & Schuster

Long Way Down: a graphic novel by Jason Reynolds. Illustrated by Danica Novgorodoff. 208 pl Atheneum/ Caitlyn Dlouhy Books/ Simon & Schuster, October, 2020. 9781534444959. (Review of finished purchased copy.)

Teen Tuesday features Long Way Down: a graphic novel by Jason Reynolds. Illustrated by Danica Novgorodoff. I didn't think that Mr. Reynolds' stunning novel in verse needed adaptation. The imagery painted by the poet's words is vivid. I was wrong. 

Ms. Novgoroff's watercolors are simply stunning. The palette veers toward blues and greys with judicious pops of color. I'm getting ahead of myself. 

Will's older brother, Shawn has been shot and killed. Will knows the rules though - no crying, no snitching and get revenge. So, even though he has never held a gun, he retrieves his brother's gun from its hiding place and takes the elevator down to the lobby of his building intent on finding the dude he "knows" killed his brother and killing him. Only the elevator stops at each floor and the impossible happens. 

The entire novel takes place in the time an elevator travels from the seventh floor to the first. This is a graphic novel that is not to be missed, even if you've already read the original. The panels and illustrations beg to be lingered over. Long Way Down: a graphic novel is an absolute first-purchase.

Middle Grade Monday: Class Act by Jerry Craft

Image: HarperCollins Publishers

Class Act by Jerry Craft. 256 p. Quill Tree Books/ HarperCollins Publishers, October, 2020. 9780062885510. (Review of finished purchased copy.)

Happy Monday! I hope you enjoyed the amazing weekend! After five days of rain, Saturday was brilliantly sunny and I spent the day raking and blowing all the leaves that came down with the rain while listening to an audiobook. I finished on Sunday before the wind and rain combined forces to bring more leaves (and some neighborhood trees) down, obliterating the work I did. Such is autumn.

Middle Grade Monday features Class Act by Jerry Craft. This is the sequel to his Newbery-winning, and I believe MG debut, New Kid. Jordan returns to ritzy RAD for his second year. He's now an eighth grader. He notes all the changes among his classmates, Drew got taller and sports a new haircut that attracts unwanted attention and touching. Liam remains oblivious to his own white privilege, though we do learn thanks to the triple POV of this graphic novel, that life at home is not great. He's closer to his driver than his own dad. We also learn more about Drew and his home life. The school administration has launched a diversity initiative that is laughably inept. 

Mr. Craft seamlessly weaves serious issues, such as racism, microagressions and classism into an engaging text that never feels burdened by the messages. The full-color art just pops. The chapter breaks contain amusing parodies of popular graphic novels that most gn fans will recognize and an an Easter egg that is metaphorical genius and absolutely tickles.

Class Act is an absolute must-purchase. You'd do well to buy more than one copy.

November is Picture Book Month! Review: The Boy and the Gorilla by Jackie Azúa Kramer

Image: Candlewick Press

The Boy and the Gorilla by Jackie Azúa Kramer. Illustrated by Cindy Derby. unpgd. Candlewick Press, October, 2020. 9780763698324. (Review of finished copy courtesy of publisher.)

Don't be too quick to flip past the title page in this exquisite picture book. The story starts there, followed by two wordless, double-page spreads. The first depicts a gorilla following a group of people who are following a boy and his father. The second depicts a scene inside a living room where the father and son sit alone among a crowd of people dressed in black while the gorilla sits quietly in the middle of the room. 

Eventually, the boy wanders out to his mother's garden and the gorilla follows. The story is told in dialogue, with the gorilla's words italicized. He tells the boy, "Your mothers garden is beautiful. May I help?" While the two quietly work the garden, the boy opens up because the gorilla gave him room. The boy is filled with questions he cannot ask his father; such as how someone knows a person has died or whether we all die. The gorilla answers each question simply and honestly. The gorilla reminds the boy that his mom is always with him. When the boy misses his mom reading to him, the gorilla suggests that his dad might enjoy the story. He allows the boy to be alone and, most importantly, listens. Eventually, the boy connects with his father. Once that happens, the gorilla's job is done and the story ends with a final wordless spread.

I don't know why I love books about grief. I can't stop reading this one. It has to be my favorite ever. The text is reassuringly simple and the illustrations are utterly mesmerizing. The watercolors are somber and blurry, as if viewing through tears (and I was viewing through tears at times). The palette is filled with grey and purple but little pops of color draw the eye. 

The best way to convey difficult concepts to young children is simply and honestly and as concretely as possible. The Boy and the Gorilla is a godsend for any adult who needs to comfort a child, or, even themselves. I cannot recommend this book enough.

Teen Tuesday: What If It's Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera

Image: HarperCollins Publishers

What If It's Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera. Unabridged e-audiobook. ~9 hours, 48 minutes. Read by Noah Galvin and Froy Guitierez. HarperTeen, October, 2018. 9780062855091. (Review of e-audiobook borrowed from public library.)

Teen Tuesday features What If It's Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera. This dual narrative is told from the POV of Arthur, an Atlantan with Ivy-league aspirations who is in NYC for an internship in a high-powered law firm and Ben, a native New Yorker who lives with his working-class parents in Alphabet City and is stuck in summer school with his ex-boyfriend and ex-best friend. The two meet cute at the post office where Ben is trying to mail a box of his ex's belongings back to him. Unfortunately, they go their separate ways without exchanging contact info. But neither of them can stop thinking about the other. With the help of some internet savvy friends, the two finally reconnect. Their first date is a disaster, but they decide on a do-over - twice before wondering if the universe is toying with them. 

This rom-com is laugh-out-loud funny and sweet, but also explores issues that can get in the way of romance. Arthur and Ben are surrounded by smart and supportive friends (OMG, Dylan!) and family and the NYC setting is vibrant and hip. 

The performances were perfectly paced and added to the appeal of the book. I was definitely late to the party with this, but sure am glad I finally got here. Fun, breezy, angsty, and endearing.