Miiddle Grade Monday and Audiobook Review: Alebrijes by Donna Barba Higuera

Image: Recorded Books

Alebrijes by Donna Barba Higuera. Unabridged e-audiobook, ~10 hours. Narrated by Cisco Fernandez and Frankie Corzo. Recorded Books, October, 2023. Review of e-audio borrowed from public library. 

Thirteen-year-old Leandro and his nine-year-old sister, Gabi are Cascabeles, living in extreme poverty and at the mercy of the Pocateles, the ruling elite in what seems to be California in a post-apocalyptic world. What little food that can be farmed from the once fertile land, goes to the Pocateles. But, Leandro has grown up with stories about the once fertile lands and has a plan to get out with his sister. Unfortunately, that involves pickpocketing, and when Gabi gets caught, Leandro steps up to take the fall. Judgement is swift and severe - banishment outside the city, where wyrms burst from the soil to swallow any who walk there. But, Leandro has been given a reprieve, of sorts. If he agrees to leave his body behind, a doctor will remove his essence and implant it into the body of a hummingbird drone, leftover old-tech from the before-times. She wants Leandro to find and return her daughter. 

This dystopian adventure grabs you by the throat, lets up from time to time, but doesn't let go. Vivid world building and sympathetic characters kept me listening. The narrator sounded convincingly youthful and I appreciated the fluent shift to Spanish words that I would've butchered had I read with my eyes. I will reread it with my eyes soon, though. The physical book, which I have/ had in my library is utterly gorgeous, with its  intriguing die-cut cover and illustrations. 

Alebriges was a "Best of the Year" book for Kirkus, Booklist, New York Times and the Chicago Public Library. It was also named a Pura Belpré Honor Book. Happy reading!

Teen Tuesday and Audio Review: The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera

Image: Blackstone Library

The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera. Unabridged downloadable e-audiobook, ~8.5 hours. Read by Frankie Cross. Recorded Books, November, 2021. 9781705044308. (Review of e-audiobook borrowed from the public library.)

Teen Tuesday features The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera. It is the first-person narration of twelve-year-old Petra Peńa, who is evacuating Earth with her little brother and scientist parents. A solar flairs have knocked Haley's Comet off course and it's hurtling straight to Earth. Three space ships will transport a select few to colonize Planet Sagan, but they will have to sleep for 380 years. During that time, Petra and her brother will continue their education via programming. Petra is expected to become a botanist, but her passion lies in storytelling. Her abuela was a storyteller and she wishes to become a cuentista as well. 

However, a dissident group, know as The Collective, boards the ship and re-programs all on board, wiping away all memories of Earth. Petra learns that her brain has resisted re-programming but hides this when she sees what happens to another girl when she remembers her mother-back for reprogramming. And if that doesn't work?

All Petra knows is that her parents and brother are nowhere to be found. 

While fast-paced and suspenseful, the language is lovely. The incorporation of her beloved Mexican folk tales was seamless. Listening to this added to my enjoyment thanks to the fluent pronunciation of Spanish words. 

This sci/fi/ dystopian won the 2022 Newbery Medal as well as the Pure Bel Pré Author Award. 

Teen Tuesday and Audiobook Review: Gilded by Marissa Meyer

Image: Macmillan Publishers

Gilded by Marissa Meyer. Unabridged e-audiobook, ~16 hours. Read by Rebecca Soler. Macmillan Young Listeners/ Macmillan Audio, November, 2021. 9781250810588. (Review of downloadable e-audiobook borrowed from public library. HC purchased.)

Happy Tuesday! Dress for the weather this morning, it's windy out there! I hope my students had a wonderful three-day weekend. We teachers had a satisfying professional development day yesterday.

Teen Tuesday features Gilded by Marissa Meyer. Ms. Meyer gave Cinderella a sci-fi mash-up with her impressive debut, Cinder in 2012. Careful readers of the Daily Book Talk might remember that I featured Gilded in a Waiting on Wednesday post not long ago. In Gilded, she reimagines Rumplestiltskin. Now, Rumplestiltskin has never been a favorite of mine. So misogynistic! But, this! 

Serilda Moller is the miller's daughter who lives with her father in the village of Marchenfeld where she is known for her wild tales/ lies and her unusual eyes. Her father claims she is god-blessed. She feels it's more like god-cursed because the villagers basically shun her-all except the children. The children adore her stories and always ask for more. She also knows to remain indoors at the full moon when the Erlking and his hunting party of ghouls and hellhounds scour the countryside. On the night of the Cold Moon, Serilda saves two Moss Maidens from the Erlking, but then is discovered herself. When he questions why she is out on such a night, she says that she needs to harvest straw so that she might spin it into gold. He allows her to live, but returns at the next full moon, abducts her and brings her to his castle, where he locks her in a dungeon filled with straw and orders her to spin.

Serilda, to her credit, does try to spin the straw, but it's hopeless and she knows it. Suddenly, she's not alone in the dungeon. A redheaded boy appears. He says his name is Gild, he has no memory, and he's willing to spin the straw into gold-for a price.

If this summary doesn't quite fit your memory of Rumplestiltskin, you would be right. The bare bones are there, but Ms. Meyer has crafted her own spin on the yarn, one that is infinitely richer and more ominous than the traditional tale. The fairytale king and his court are truly hideous and terribly violent. The Moss Maidens she rescued, while grateful in their own way, viewed the act as a transaction.

Well-drawn characters and a vivid setting, especially the undead castle captivate readers from the start. I usually avoid reading too many reviews, and so did not realize that this is a series starter. I disagree that the story got a little slow. I just loved the world building. 

Gilded, weighing in at ~16 hours of listening (512 pages), with its depiction of ruthless fey politics, is best suited for a more mature teen reader, but highly recommended.

Middle Grade Monday: The Beatryce Prophecy by Kate DiCamillo

Image: Candlewick Press

The Beatryce Prophecy by Kate DiCamillo and illustrated by Sophie Blackall. 256 p. Candlewick Press, September, 2021. 9781536213616. (Review of arc courtesy of publisher.)

Happy Monday! I hope you had a healthy and restful holiday filled with a lot of great books. Today was my first day back from break and it was quite interesting. Lots of kids on the quarantine list due to either testing positive or exposure to Covid, or travelled and are unvaccinated. I'm in a 5 - 8 middle school and until recently, fifth graders were too young for vaccination. There were a few staff members out as well. Taking attendance was a bit more involved and then there were the late-comers on Zoom. Sigh. It's good to be back though. 

Middle Grade Monday features the very last book I read in 2021, The Beatryce Prophecy by Kate DiCamillo and illustrated by Sophie Blackall. Sadly, I'm woefully behind in all my reading and it took me forever to get to this gem. I must say though, reading it as my last book of 2021 was lovely.

Brother Edik illuminates manuscripts in a monastery while he awaits visions, which he reports to the his superior, who then writes them down in The Chronicles of Sorrows. His other job is caring for Answelica the goat, a being so ornery that she strikes fear in everyone. Imagine his surprise then, when Brother Edik discovers a little girl, curled up, asleep in Answelica's stall holding the goat's ear! The girl is dirty, bloody, and running a high fever. She remembers nothing about how she got to the monastery. She only remembers her name, Beatryce.

Gentle Brother Edik convinces the monks to nurse the child back to health. As he cares for Beatryce, he uncovers a secret. The girl knows how to read and write! It is forbidden for girls and women to read and write in the kingdom! As Brother Edik ponders the danger of this, he remembers one of his earlier prophecies, "There will one day come a girl who will unseat a king..." Could Beatryce be this girl?

This book is getting a lot of Newbery buzz. Ms. DiCamillo builds a dangerous world, unfolding it slowly in spare and concise language. Readers will instantly care for Brother Edik, Beatryce and later, Jack Dory, all three are so pure and vulnerable in this harsh world. It is a rare thing to possess a true moral compass. 

Answelica's antics lend humor and her devotion to Beatryce is endearing. The author packs a lot of adventure and suspense in this rather short book. The black and white illustrations are well-placed and lovely.

Fans of Kate DiCamillo will not be disappointed. Fans of Adam Gidwitz's The Inquisitor's Tale will likely enjoy The Beatryce Prophecy, though there's no magic here, just the magic of the powers of friendship, love, courage and storytelling.

Arc Review: Once Upon a Camel by Kathi Appelt

Image: Simon & Schuster

Once Upon a Camel by Kathi Appelt. Illustrated by Eric Rohmann. 326 p. A Caitlyn Dlouhy Book/ Atheneum Books for Young Readers/ Simon & Schuster, September 7, 2021. 9781534406438. (Review of arc courtesy of Blue Slip Media.)

Zada is an elderly camel who lives in the desert in Texas with her found family headed by kestrels, Pardo and Perlita. She's awakened abruptly one morning by a hysterical Perlita babbling about an approaching mountain. Turns out, that mountain is a dust storm, a haboob (Yes, I had to look that up), and it's heading toward the cottonwood tree the family have made their home. What's more, Pardo and Perlita have two unfledged chicks in their nest that need protecting! 

The frantic kestrel parents entrust the care of Beulah and Wims to Zada before they are blown upwards into the windstorm. The two chicks nestle down into the hair on top of Zada's head and the trio sets off to the Mission. While Zada has made the trip to the mission many times, never has she done so in the middle of a windstorm and never on such achy legs and certainly not with two fidgety chicks balanced on her head! But she is an honorable camel and a fine auntie and will not Pardo and Perlita down. But what to do to keep Wims and Beulah occupied? She tells them stories.

This is when the narrative flashes back from 1910, West Texas to Smyrna, Turkey in 1850. Do the math, Zada is old! Together with Asiye, Zada was born into the Pasha's racing stables and are destined to race for him. Under the tutelage of gentle Teodor, the two camel best friends thrive and strive to be their very fastest in service of the Pasha. How then, does Zada end up in America? You'll need to read this luscious, atmospheric story-within-a-story to find out. 

And, did you notice in the publication information up top that the book was illustrated by Eric Rohmann? This was the whipped cream and cherry on top of your favorite sundae! Here's a photo of one particularly arresting bit of art among many:

I'm a huge fan of Ms. Appelt. Her books are basically automatic purchases for me. I love her unhurried storytelling. It's rich and lyrical and perfect for reading aloud. She must've done a tremendous amount of research. I spent a fair amount of time looking up unfamiliar words, including the pronunciation of Asiye's name. Young readers' vocabulary will be enriched as Ms. Appelt steeps the reader in two countries/ cultures. 

There are moments of danger and suspense. There will be tears but there are many moments of humor, much of it laugh-out-loud. I closed the book with a satisfied sigh and cannot wait to reread it with my ears. 

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. 

Picture Book Review: The Fish Who Cried Wolf by Julia Donaldson

The Fish Who Cried Wolf by Julia Donaldson. Unpgd. Arthur A. Levine Books/ Scholastic Inc., April, 2018. 9780439928250. (Review of finished copy courtesy of publisher.)

A wee, gray fish named Tiddler is always late for school and he always had a tall-tale as the reason. This does not amuse his teacher, but tickles his classmates, one in particular, who loves to tell his granny, who shares the story herself. When poor Tiddler is captured in a fishing net and late yet again, his classmates begin to wonder why he is later than usual. Lucky for Tiddler, when the net is finally hauled on board, he is thrown back in the sea because "he's just a tiddler." Unfortunately, the boat is miles from his home.

This was a clever twist on a familiar fable and would make for a fun read aloud, though I'm not sure why the cataloguing information says it's a story in rhyme. There is a fair amount of effective repetition that would encourage participation. The illustrations add to the humor with a vibrant palette and cartoonishly expressive eyes on all the sea life. 

Review: The Marvels by Brian Selznick

The Marvels by Brian Selznick. 664 p. Scholastic Press/ Scholastic Inc., September 15, 2015. 9780545448680. (Review from arc courtesy of publisher.)

So. There has been a bit of fanfare around the Interwebz for the past couple of weeks. The genre-blending, format-smashing Brian Selznick has a new book. And Scholastic is rolling out the red carpet. Literally.

There was a big launch at BEA. Mr. Selznick spoke at SLJ Day of Dialog (kicking myself for being unable to attend) and there was this little party. Thankfully, I was able to attend that.

Scholastic took over the Hudson Theater for a cocktail party and presentation, ending with a signing. The Hudson is a venerable theater on 44th Street. It's small and intimate with a beautiful stage and lots of architectural features for the eye to roam over. A red carpet was rolled out and huge posters advertising The Marvels were hung in the glass cases on either side of the theater doors. 

Selznick's multi-media presentation and talk about his journey birthing this story was inspiring, touching and totally charming. Honestly, if you ever have the opportunity to hear him speak, grab it.

Weighing in at nearly 700 pages, The Marvels is a brick of a book. I should know. I forgot it was in my backpack when I went to Boston with the seventh grade the morning after the big party. I stowed it there hoping to read it on the bus and before turning in that night. I should've left it on the bus because once we disembarked, we were on the go until dinner at our hotel.

Worth the hype? In a word, yes. Selznick has created something epic here. I am going to be maddeningly vague about the storyline though; because you should discover the wonders for yourself.  

The first 492 pages are told in illustration. Page after page of double-page pencil drawings depict several generations of the Marvel family beginning in 1766. This is no flip-o-rama here. Do not pass quickly over them! Allow yourself to get sucked into each and every one, please.

The text part of the story begins in 1990 with Joseph, lost in London, without the foggiest notion of finding the address of an uncle he never knew he had. Joseph has run away from his boarding school where he doesn't fit in. Nor does he fit in at home apparently, as his parents are constantly traveling and seem disinterested in him. Thanks to a stroke of luck, Joseph does manage to find his uncle's house when a child who is chasing down a stray dog collides with him. Unfortunately for Joseph, his uncle is none too happy to meet him. His uncle and the house is filled with mystery. Joseph feels like he stepped back in time. Is the house haunted? Why is the table set for a party? Where is that bird sound coming from? Who is that boy in the photo, with red hair, like Joseph's?

Patience is required here and pays off near the end. As the pieces click quietly into place, there will be gasps, sighs and tears. This complex, multilayered tale is, okay, I've been resisting using this word, a marvel. Readers won't want to leave the world Brian Selznick has brought so vividly to life. I love that fugue state that I get when I finish a satisfying story. I didn't want to start a new book and I find my thoughts returning to the book again and again. 

This won't take much selling with my students. I have duplicate copies of The Invention of Hugo Cabret and Wonderstruck and they are rarely on the shelf. In fact, one of my students spied my arc and begged me for it. I am certain she will bring a buddy when (if) she returns it to me. Budget for multiple copies of The Marvels. A book trailer is in the works, so keep an eye out for it as well.

Highly recommended!

Imani's Moon by JaNay Brown-Wood

Imani's Moon by JaNay Brown-Wood. Illustrated by Hazel Mitchell. unpgd. Charlesbridge Publisher, October, 2014. 9781934133576. (Finished copy courtesy of publisher for review.)

Imani is constantly teased by the members of her Maasai tribe for her short stature. What she lacks in height, she makes up for with determination and imagination thanks to her supportive mother who fuels Imani with stories each night. Tales of the moon goddess and Anansi sustain her and it is her heart's desire to touch the moon. As she tries and fails, the taunts do not diminish her intentions. Magical realism is deeply embedded in this lilting story. The bright, energetic illustrations are endearing and add to the sweetness of the story.