2025 National Book Award Finalists and Audiobook Review: The Teacher of Nomad Land: a World War II Story by Daniel Nayeri

Image: Levine Querido

The Teacher of Nomad Land a World War II Story by Daniel Nayeri. Unabridged downloadable audiobook, ~3 hours. Read by the author. Listening Library, September, 2025. Review of audiobook borrowed from public library.

I have been a bad blogger. I read this back in the fall with the intention of reading all the National Book Award Finalists for Young People's Literature. I absolutely loved it and was thrilled when it was given the National Book Award. Did I blog about it then? No. It also garnered a Newbery Honor on 1/26. Did I blog about it? Nope, nope, nope. Bad blogger.

Daniel Nayeri is a masterful storyteller. I wrote on Goodreads, "I can't think of too many children's authors who can spin an enthralling tale with such economy of words." It is a treat to hear him narrate as well. 

I was totally unaware of the fact that Iran was occupied by both the British and Russians during WWII. The tale Nayeri spins of the trials of the two orphans, from despicable relatives who take them in only to exploit them, to the endearing British soldier who befriends them, to the Jewish refugee they feed is suspenseful. I was rapt. I laughed and cried. Truthfully, it is that rare middle school reader who will appreciate this; but it's wonderful to have it to share with that lucky reader. 

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 Audiobook Review: A Snake Falls to Earth by Darcie Little Badger

Image for HC/ Levine Querido 

A Snake Falls to Earth by Darcie Little Badger. Unabridged e-audiobook, ~11 hours. Read by Shaun Taylor-Corbett and Kindle Hueston. Recorded Books, November, 2021. 9781705045039. (Review of e-audio borrowed from public library.)

As Indigenous Peoples Month winds down, Teen Tuesday features A Snake Falls to Earth by Darcie Little Badger. This immersive dual-narrative shifts point of view between sixteen-year-old Nina here on Earth and fifteen-year-old Olli who resides in the Reflecting World. The two worlds were once joined thousands of years ago. Nina's family is linked to it through her grandmother, who is a healer. Nina is intent on figuring out a story that her great, great grandmother Rosita told her and also intent on saving her grandmother from a man who may be poisoning her land. Olli is a cotton mouth snake person who reluctantly leaves his mother's home to make his own way in the world. Eventually, he settles down close to two coyote sisters and a frog named Ami and the four become friends. When Ami falls ill, it is up to Olli and the sisters to save him. That's when the two stories converge.

The narrators' performances were  well-paced and beautifully inflected. As always, I appreciate hearing the proper pronunciation of unfamiliar names and words.  

This genre-blender won the Andre Norton Award for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy, a Newbery Honor and was longlisted for the National Book Award. It also appeared on many Best Books of the Year lists including the Chicago Public Library and the New York Public Library. Readers looking for a layered, nuanced adventure will enjoy A Snake Falls to Earth.

Waiting on Wednesday: What the Jaguar Told Her by Alexandra V. Méndez

Image: Chronicle Books

Waiting on Wednesday features What the Jaguar Told Her by Alexandra V. Méndez. This debut will publish on October 11. 

Here's the publisher synopsis: Jade is starting eighth grade in a new city—Atlanta. She just wants to go back to Chicago, where her friends are. Where her Abuela lives. 

But Jade does like walking to her new school on the trail that winds through the woods behind her house, where lush flowers bloom and soft leaves rustle beneath her feet. In the forest, Jade feels protected. Sometimes, it's as if it's listening to her.

There, Jade meets Itztli, an elderly storyteller who exists between dreams and reality. In the golden afternoons when Itztli appears, he steps out of the forest as a lithe, agile jaguar. But when he speaks to Jade, he is a wise old man who makes intricate works of art and tells her ancestral stories of Mexico. At first, Itztli's stories feel far removed from Jade's life. But as her Abuela suddenly falls ill, two towers come crashing down in New York City, and Jade becomes someone or something she doesn't yet understand, Itztli's stories take on new meaning. Jade must learn to have patience and strength to become who she was always meant to be, as the stirrings of an ancient power awaken within her.

What the Jaguar Told Her is a lyrical debut about growing up in the midst of change, and a magical cultural homecoming.

Happy reading!

Waiting on Wednesday: A Snake Falls to Earth by Darcie Little Badger

Image: Levine Querido

Happy Wednesday! It is Wednesday, isn't it? See last Wednesday's post for context.

Waiting on Wednesday features A Snake Falls to Earth by Darcie Little Badger. Dr. Little Badger has a PhD in oceanography along with her undergraduate degree in Geoscience. She's tribally enrolled as a Lipan Apache. Her debut novel, Elatsoe was named by Time Magazine one of the 100 best fantasy books of all time! A Snake Falls to Earth was long-listed for the National Book Award and it's not out until November 23!

Here's the publisher synopsis: Nina is a Lipan girl in our world. She’s always felt there was something more out there. She still believes in the old stories. Oli is a cottonmouth kid, from the land of spirits and monsters. Like all cottonmouths, he’s been cast from home. He's found a new one on the banks of the bottomless lake.

Nina and Oli have no idea the other exists. But a catastrophic event on Earth, and a strange sickness that befalls Oli’s best friend, will drive their worlds together in ways they haven’t been in centuries. And there are some who will kill to keep them apart.

A Snake Falls to Earth is a breathtaking work of Indigenous futurism. Darcie Little Badger draws on traditional Lipan Apache storytelling structure to weave another unforgettable tale of monsters, magic, and family. It is not to be missed.

Fact Friday: Everything You Wanted to Know about Indians but were Afraid to Ask by Anton Treuer

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Everything You Wanted to Know about Indians But Were Afraid to Ask (Young Readers Edition) by Anton Treuer. 386 p. Levine Querido, April, 2021. 9781646140459. (Review of arc courtesy of publisher and audiobook borrowed from the public library.)

Happy Friday! Fact Friday features Everything You Wanted to Know about Indians But Were Afraid to Ask (Young Readers Edition) by Anton Treuer. Using a question and answer format, Dr. Treuer poses and answers around two hundred questions one might have about terminology, history, cultural practices, politics and activism regarding Native Americans. Dr. Treuer is an Ojibwe author and professor. The tone is thoughtful and seeks to educate the curious. There are plenty of well-captioned photos to illustrate the text, giving readers extra insight. 

Dr. Treuer speaks some painful truths about how Native Americans were/ are treated by the U.S. Government and its citizens. The book is a remarkable starting point for any reader seeking to unlearn American history. Back matter includes suggestions for further reading, source notes and an index.

The audiobook was narrated by the author in a dispassionate, reasoned tone allowing the facts to speak for themselves. I was glad I had the arc handy to see the photos and read the back matter. And, I absolutely love the cover! This is a book that belongs in all school and public libraries serving young adults. Highly recommended!

This and That and Jacket/ Cover Dilemmas: The Boys in the Back Row by Mike Jung

Long ago, when my sons were small and I bought books for my home library, I rarely, if ever removed the jackets and so, never knew if the book cover beneath the dust jacket was different. As a school librarian, I remove the jackets of all books I purchase for my school's collection to cover them with a mylar cover in order to prolong the life of the book. I occasionally come across a surprise-a jacket with different illustration from the cover. 

"Jacket/ Cover Dilemmas" is the occasional post that occurs in my school library life. I know I've failed to document quite a few. Sometimes I take the pic and just post to FB and forget to post here. Other times, I probably forget to tag, and thus the post is un-findable.

Today, I finally got to covering some books I've recently only cataloged. My library has been closed since last March. <Boohoo> Since September, I've been teaching fifth and sixth grade LA to hybrid students on their virtual days. But since early April, the hybrid students are back in school five days per week. Because I taught two hybrid cohorts per class each day, totaling sixteen classes in each two-day cycle, I wondered what I would be given to do. I've been assigned as a support teacher in one fifth grade LA class and one sixth grade LA class. AND! I've been given three periods a day in the library!

This means I could catalog all the books I've acquired through purchasing with my own money or books I received because I've been asked to review. AND I am checking out books to students! They can't come to the library though. One, it's now being used as a classroom, but they are not allowed to leave their cohort. I am so thrilled that students are actively requesting books from me! Yay! 

Which brings me to the point of this post. Thanks for hanging in there!

When I removed the cover of The Boys in the Back Row, I found this.

I probably should've repositioned the jacket better to show the juxtaposition of images - my bad. I appreciate Levine Querido books for so much! First, the books on their list are phenomenal and second, the care the team puts into the design.

Teen Tuesday: Everything Sad is Untrue: a Novel by Daniel Nayeri

Image: Levine Querido

Everything Sad is Untrue: a Novel by Daniel Nayeri. Unabridged e-audiobook, ~8 hours. Read by the author. Listening Library, 2020. 9780593168417.

Teen Tuesday features Everything Sad is Untrue: a Novel by Daniel Nayeri. Ten-year-old Khosrou stands in front of his fifth grade class in Edmond, Oklahoma. He is a target. He is the only Iranian in the mostly white town. His classmates and teachers can't pronounce his name and so, he is now Daniel and he's a storyteller, just as Scheherazade was - telling stories to save his life. How did the son of a physician and a dentist who lived in luxury in Iran end up fleeing with his mother and sister? His classmates learn Daniel's story slowly, as does the reader because, while often humorous, it's very painful. They also learn about Persian kings and princesses and kindly doctors. The story zigs and zags and, while it requires a bit of patience, like any long story, it is satisfying.

This compelling and complex autobiographical novel won the 2021 Printz Award. 

The audiobook was narrated by the author and was outstanding. Mr. Nayari's storytelling skills shine here.

Picture Book Review: What Ollie Saw by Joukje Akveld

Image: Levine Querido

What Ollie Saw by Joukje Akveld. Illustrated by Sieb Posthuma. Translated by Bill Nagelkerke. 56 p. Levine Querido, April 6, 2021. 9781646140398. (Review of finished copy courtesy of publisher.)

Ollie is a little pig of indeterminate age, but probably around six, who wears a blue beanie and can do without his know-it-all, grouchy sister. She grizzles everywhere, but most of all on family outings, which she finds very boring. Not Ollie though. The dull cows are water buffalo, which Ollie gleefully imagines stomping his sister. Dumb cars caught in a traffic jam are a parade in Ollie's view and a slow and boring sailboat ride is really a pirate ship. Ollie is happy with the way he sees things until he goes to school where his teacher is not happy with the way he sees letters and his classmates laugh at him.

Ollie needs glasses.

Unfortunately, glasses turn the extraordinary into the ordinary, which does not please him in the least.

This book is quite adorable, humorous, and engaging. The whimsical cartoonish art, we learn on a page entitled, "Some Notes on this Book's Production," was created with watercolor, pencil, and ink. We also learn that there are nearly 500 pairs of glasses decorating the endpapers. I just love it when publishers take the time to describe the media used. This page is terrific. 

What Ollie Saw is a first-purchase for any library. 

Middle Grade Monday and Arc Review: The Boys in the Back Row by Mike Jung

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The Boys in the Back Row by Mike Jung.268 p. Levine Querido, October 6, 2020. 9781646140114. (Review of arc courtesy of publisher.)

I'm back! I took a rare week off of blogging. My week at a lake in the Adirondack Mountains was filled with reading and mostly absent of wi-fi and cell service, which was weird. Cell service was spotty and I could occasionally get on the Internet but not reliably and not for any sustained length of time. 

My dogs loved the lake and the freedom of running around a fenced in yard and in and out of the water. We've always vacationed at the beach mostly due to the fact that we owned a beach house and the dogs were largely stuck inside since the property was small and not fenced in and dogs weren't allowed on the beach between May and October. I never thought of myself as a lake person. I was pleasantly surprised. 

Middle Grade Monday features The Boys in the Back Row by Mike Jung. The back row refers to the percussion section in a band and the boys refers to two best friends, Mike Park and Eric Costa. Mike is the narrator and he's super-anxious about the start of his sixth grade year. He doesn't look forward to all the changes sixth grade will bring; but he's happy to have Eric to help him through. They've been best friends since fourth grade band and also share a love of comics, especially Sandpiper. Eric has convinced Mike to switch from flute and piccolo to drums this year so that they can sit together during band. The two have to put up with their frenemy, Sean, who is also a drummer and takes a great deal of pleasure in bullying Matt and Eric, casually slinging racist and homophobic slurs their way. 

The boys do their best to ignore it and focus on the epic end-of-year band trip to an amusement park for a competition. Then they learn that the author of Sandpiper will be at a comic con nearby at the same time as the competition! They make plans to sneak away from band to attend but Sean wants in. What makes everything worse? Eric is moving across the country at the end of the school year.

This story is both amusing and endearing. It is familiar as well as utterly unique. It celebrates band kids and boy best friendship that is filled with warm affection and absent of budding toxic masculinity and constant competition. The Boys in the Back Row releases in October and is a first-purchase.

I've been a school librarian for twenty-two years now - the first ten were spent at a K - 8 school, the last twelve at a 5 - 8 middle school. I've also raised four boys. Something happens between fifth and sixth grades to both boys and girls. Grade five and below, the students are like adorable puppies, relatively inclusive and squirming bundles of energy. Some invisible switch clicks between fifth and sixth grade and suddenly lines are drawn and bewildered boys and girls find themselves excluded. Friendships fracture. Unwritten, unspoken rules are broken. Puberty happens for some and not others. Both boys and girls can turn mean. What is especially heartbreaking is how boy friendships evolve and how gentleness and affection get smothered by competition and one-upmanship. I love how Mike Jung has celebrated boy best friendship.