Picture Book Review: Ollie and Augustus by Gabriel Evans

Image: Candlewick Press.

Ollie and Augustus by Gabriel Evans. unpgd. Candlewick Press, May, 2020. 9781536209679. (Review of finished copy courtesy of publisher.)

Ollie and Augustus are bffs. Like most bffs, they occasionally clash, but always make up before lunch. Like most bffs, they do everything together. Ollie is small. Augustus is huge. They make it work. But. Ollie is about to begin school and he's worried that Augustus will be lonely without him all day, so he sets about finding a new friend for his pal. Did I mention that Augustus is a dog? 

This adorable friendship/ school anxiety story is both humorous and gently reassuring in the best possible ways. The pencil and watercolor vignettes charm from end-page to end-page. I just loved this one!

Waiting on Wednesday: Ground Zero by Alan Gratz

Image: Scholastic Inc.

Ground Zero by Alan Gratz. 336 p. Scholastic Inc. February 2, 2021. 9781338245752.

Welcome back to school everyone! If you think you don't enjoy historical fiction, you have not read one by Alan Gratz. His many books are quite popular at TMS, so his fans will be excited to learn that he has a new book coming in February, 2021. Waiting on Wednesday features Ground Zero by Alan Grata. Next September will mark the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of 9/11. He often uses multiple points of view and here, he has two. Here's the synopsis from his website: Two kids. One devastating day.

September 11, 2001. New York City. Nine year old Brandon goes to work with his dad on the 107th floor of the World Trade Center. Out of nowhere an airplane slams into the tower, creating a fiery nightmare of terror and confusion that threatens everyone in the building. Can Brandon survive–and escape?

September 11, 2020. Afghanistan. Eleven year old Reshmina has grown up in the shadow of war, but she dreams of peace and progress. When a battle erupts in her village, Reshmina stumbles upon a wounded American soldier named Taz. Should she help him–and put herself and her family in mortal danger?

Ground Zero releases on February 2, 2021.

Fact Friday: One Person, No Vote: how not all voters are treated equally by Carol Anderson with Tonya Bolden

Image: Bloomsbury

One Person, No Vote: how not all voters are treated equally by Carol Anderson with Tonya Bolden. 276 p. September, 2019. 9781547601078. (Review of arc courtesy of publisher.)

Fact Friday features One Person, No Vote: how not all voters are treated equally by Carol Anderson and Tonya Bolden. The one hundredth anniversary of the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment was August 18. The Nineteenth Amendment gave women in the U.S. the right to vote in 1920. Fifty years earlier, Black men were given the right to vote with the Fifteenth Amendment. However, Black men were systematically disenfranchised, meaning denied the right to vote, by illegal poll tests, poll taxes and the threat of violence. You might think that is a thing of the past, but in the 2016 election, millions of mostly Black Americans were purged from the voter rolls according to this eye-opening book that was written originally for an adult audience and adapted for teens by Tonya Bolden. 

I work in a middle school. Why should seventh and eighth graders care about voting? In a scant five or six years they will be eligible to vote and should exercise their right by becoming an informed electorate. This includes understanding history and why this nationwide reversal of voting rights protections is deeply disturbing. 

In a conversational tone and accessible language, the authors walk the reader through history to the present day efforts to disenfranchise voters. Prepare to be upset through much of this. Then prepare to advocate. This book belongs in every library and social studies classroom.

Friday Memes: Tornado Brain by Cat Patrick

Book Beginnings is hosted by Rose City Reader and Friday 56 is hosted by Freda's Voice.

Image: Penguin Random House

Tornado Brain by Cat Patrick. 296 p. G.P. Putnam's Sons/ Penguin Random House, May, 2020 9781984815316.

Publisher synopsis: Things never seem to go as easily for thirteen-year-old Frankie as they do for her sister, Tess. Unlike Tess, Frankie is neurodivergent. In her case, that means she can't stand to be touched, loud noises bother her, she's easily distracted, she hates changes in her routine, and she has to go see a therapist while other kids get to hang out at the beach. It also means Frankie has trouble making friends. She did have one—Colette—but they're not friends anymore. It's complicated.

Then, just weeks before the end of seventh grade, Colette unexpectedly shows up at Frankie's door. The next morning, Colette vanishes. Now, after losing Colette yet again, Frankie's convinced that her former best friend left clues behind that only she can decipher, so she persuades her reluctant sister to help her unravel the mystery of Colette's disappearance before it's too late.

A powerful story of friendship, sisters, and forgiveness, Tornado Brain is an achingly honest portrait of a young girl trying to find space to be herself.

First Line: People used to believe that tornadoes only move in one direction-to the northeast-but that's not true.

Page 56: "Have a seat, Frances." Officer Rollins said when it was finally my turn in the interview room. My mom sat in the chair closes to the wall. She pulled her frumpy sweatshirt tight around her like she was freezing, but it was hot in the room.

     "I wanted to sit there," I said to her, crossing my arms over my chest.

     "Be flexible, please," she said.

     "I am," I said. "I'm trying." Flexibility is a big deal to her. And to therapists. And, I guess, to people in general. "But can I sit there?"

#tbt: Matched by Ally Condie

Image: Penguin Random House

#tbt celebrates the upcoming 10th anniversary this fall of the publication of Matched by Ally Condie. Matched was Ms. Condie's debut and is book one of a dystopian trilogy of the same name. Crossed and Reached are the sequels. Cassia Reyes is seventeen-year-old who lives in a tightly controlled community run by the Society. She is eagerly awaiting the assignment of her life partner. She's secretly hoping it will be Xander, her best friends and is overjoyed when it is. When she reviews information regarding her match later, it is not Xander's picture on the monitor, but Kai's. Kai is an outcast and not a suitable match. Cassia, whose eye for patterns has placed her on a career path to becoming a sorter, is intrigued. She's intrigued by Kai. She wonders if the Match system is flawed. She begins questioning everything about the Society.

If you enjoy dystopian literature, check out the Matched trilogy. 

Picture Book Review: Dark Was the Night: Blind Willie Johnson's Journey to the Stars by Gary Golio

Image: Penguin Random House

Dark Was the Night: Blind Willie Johnson's Journey to the Stars by Gary Golio. Illustrated by E.B. Lewis. unpgd. Nancy Paulsen Books/ Penguin Random House, August 25, 2020. 9781524738884. (Review of electronic review copy courtesy of publisher.)

A favorite author and a favorite illustrator have a book releasing next Tuesday. It really should not be missed. Dark Was the Night opens with a watery double-page spread of deep space. The year is 1977 and Voyager I is headed out into the universe containing samples of human civilization, including a variety of music from different eras and cultures. One of the songs included on this "Golden Record" is a song called Dark Was the Night sung by Blind Willie Johnson. 

Quick, without consulting Google, do you know who Blind Willie Johnson is? I sure didn't. Now I do, thanks to this luminous picture book biography.

Willie Johnson was born in 1897. He loved to sing from an early age so his father made him a cigar box guitar. He lost his mother as well as his sight at an early age, but found comfort in his singing, at church as well as at home. Eventually, he made his was out into the world, traveling by train around Texas to sing in the streets where he was discovered by a man from a record company. He recorded his songs, which did well and were played on the radio thanks to his rough and raspy vocals and unique guitar playing. 

Mr. Lewis' liquid, impressionistic water color paintings quietly entrance, from the portrait of mother and child that conveys joy and possibility to the final portrait where the subject is bathed in yellow. Each spread pulls the reader in and invites lingering. I've read through this book many times and I find some new little detail to appreciate with each visit. 

We learn in the author's note that details about Mr. Johnson's life are scarce. Thanks to the work of music historians, not all was lost and Mr. Golio provides five titles for music-loving researchers to consult. How easily details of this innovative musician might have been lost had not some dedicated music historians not begun researching shortly after Mr. Johnson's death in 1945? Food for a rich class discussion.

I am a firm believer that one is never too old for picture books. I think they belong in all classrooms, and not just language arts classrooms, all the way through high school. Picture book biographies, in particular are quite useful as a means of enticing students to read longer biographies. Dark Was the Night will encourage students to think beyond the narrow confines of their world. While there is much to discuss here, there is also much to sit with and just quietly contemplate. 

In his note, Mr. Golio encourages the reader to search out a recording of the song online. I've read several of his books with my students, such as Bird and Diz and Strange Fruit. Bookmarking the link to the appropriate recording extends the experience beyond the book. While online, visit E.B. Lewis' website too. I cannot wait to share this with my students. Dark Was the Night releases on August 25. Remember how I said don't miss it up top? Don't.

Waiting on Wednesday: This Will Be Funny Someday by Katie Henry

Image: HarperCollins Publishers

This Will Be Funny Someday by Katie Henry. 400 p. Katherine Tegen Books/ HarperCollins Publishers, January 19, 2020. 9780062955708.

Publisher synopsis: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel comes to high school in acclaimed author Katie Henry’s coming-of-age YA contemporary about a girl who accidentally falls into the world of stand-up comedy. Perfect for fans of John Green and Becky Albertalli!

Sixteen-year-old Izzy is used to keeping her thoughts to herself—in school, where her boyfriend does the talking for her, and at home, where it’s impossible to compete with her older siblings and high-powered parents.

When she mistakenly walks into a stand-up comedy club and performs, the experience is surprisingly cathartic. After the show, she meets Mo, an aspiring comic who’s everything Izzy’s not: bold, confident, comfortable in her skin. Mo invites Izzy to join her group of friends and introduces her to the Chicago open mic scene.

The only problem? Her new friends are college students—and Izzy tells them she’s one, too. Now Izzy, the dutiful daughter and model student, is sneaking out to perform stand-up with her comedy friends. Her controlling boyfriend is getting suspicious, and her former best friend knows there’s something going on.

But Izzy loves comedy and this newfound freedom. As her two parallel lives collide—in the most hilarious of ways—Izzy must choose to either hide what she really wants and who she really is, or finally, truly stand up for herself.

I really enjoyed Ms. Henry's debut, Heretics Anonymous and will have to get to Let's Call it a Doomsday before January.