Fact Friday: The Roots of Rap: 16 bars on the 4 pillars of Hip-Hop by Carole Boston Weatherford

Image: Little Bee Books

The Roots of Rap: 16 bars on the 4 pillars of Hip-Hop by Carole Boston Weatherford. Illustrated by Frank Morrison. 48 p. Little Bee Books, January, 2019. 9781499804119. (Review of finished purchased copy.)

Fact Friday features The Roots of Rap: 16 bars on the 4 pillars of Hip-Hop by Carole Boston Weatherford. I'll put it right out there. I loved this book! This gorgeous picture book dazzles from end-page to end-page and is the perfect marriage of text and illustration. 

After a forward written by producer and musician, Swiss Beatz, Weatherford's connects the rich past of African American storytelling and singing and poetry as a direct path to the rise of Hip-Hop music in a sprightly, rhythmic poem whose words flow beneath each double-page painting. Morrison's art pulses with life. Each spread exudes energy and spirit. Do not rush past these spreads. And don't skip the back matter! There's both an author an illustrator note, a glossary, and a timeline.

The Roots of Rap is a first-purchase. It's a must-read for all lovers of music as well as non-musicians. 

#tbt: Heat by Mike Lupica

Image: Penguin Random House

Heat by Mike Lupica. 224 p. Philomel/ Penguin Young Readers Group, 2006. 9780399243011. (Own)

#tbt features Heat by Mike Lupica. Heat is the story of Michael Arroyo, a twelve-year-old pitching phenom with an 80 mph pitch. Coaches don't think he's twelve and want him to produce his birth certificate only that's not easy because it's in Cuba and investigation by the authorities will reveal that Michael's father died and his not-quite-eighteen-year-old older brother has been caring for him. Lupica was a sports journalist who wrote a column for the New York Daily News. He wrote several biographies of sports figures and novels for adults before making his middle grade debut with Travel Team in 2004. Heat is his second book for young people published in 2006. Lupica published a sequel to Heat recently called Strike Zone.

Waiting on Wednesday: War Stories by Gordon Korman

Image: Mr. Schu Reads

War Stories by Gordon Korman. 240 p. Scholastic Inc., July 20, 2019. 9781338290202.

Waiting on Wednesday features War Stories by Gordon Korman. Korman is a TMS favorite and his many books are often checked out for most of the school year. I learned about this in a "Cover Reveal" on Mr. Schu's blog. (Link above.)

Publisher synopsis: There are two things Trevor loves more than anything else: playing war-based video games and his great-grandfather Jacob, who is a true-blue, bona fide war hero. At the height of the war, Jacob helped liberate a small French village, and was given a hero's welcome upon his return to America.

Now it's decades later, and Jacob wants to retrace the steps he took during the war -- from training to invasion to the village he is said to have saved. Trevor thinks this is the coolest idea ever. But as they get to the village, Trevor discovers there's more to the story than what he's heard his whole life, causing him to wonder about his great-grandfather's heroism, the truth about the battle he fought, and importance of genuine valor.

Teen Tuesday and Audiobook Review: Superman by Matt de la Peña

Image: Penguin Random House

Superman: Dawnbreaker by Matt de la Peña. DC Icons series #4. Unabridged e-audiobook, ~ 7 hours. Narrated by Andrew Eiden. Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group, March, 2019. 9781984832610. (Review of e-audiobook borrowed from public library. Own hc.)

Teen Tuesday features Superman: dawn breaker by Matt de la Peña. This is the fourth book in the DC Icons series where YA authors weigh in with origin stories of sorts of well, four DC superheroes. Superman: dawn breaker tells of high school senior Clark Kent's coming of age. He always knew he had powers that none of his peers had, but now his strength is scaring him. He's afraid that he will do more harm than good when he's called upon to use them because he has trouble harnessing his power. At the same time, immigrant workers are disappearing and a corporation has been buying up the area farms. de la Peña cleverly blends contemporary immigration issues as well as other ethical dilemmas here. The thoughtful parts are punctuated with actions scenes that should keep fans of the the superhero engaged. 

Eiden was a new-to-me narrator when I listened to his performance of The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle. My Goodreads note said I was delighted with the performance. I didn't love his growly delivery in this one and his female character vocalizations were annoying. 

Middle Grade Monday and arc review: Roll with It by Jamie Sumner

Image: Simon &  Schuster

Roll with It by Jamie Sumner. 256 p. Atheneum Books for Young Readers/ Simon & Schuster, October1, 2019. 9781534442559. (Review of arc courtesy of publisher.)

For most of her life, it has just been Ellie and her mother living in Nashville, dealing with wheelchairs, cerebral palsy and IEPs. Her mom successfully advocated for an aide for Ellie, but she occasionally finds a way to escape. Ellie is not your typical sunshine and roses kid in a wheel chair. She has an edge and a dream. She loves to cook and bake and aspires to be a celebrity chef. Life is pretty good in Nashville; but then Ellie's grandad's Alzheimer's disease begins to worsen, Ellie's mom decides to move the family to Oklahoma. This means living in a trailer where Ellie can't navigate without help. It also means attending a school that is not quite equipped to handle Ellie's special needs as well as being the new kid - in a wheelchair. 

Well, I swallowed this one whole. I loved the voice from page one. Terrific writing. Great characters. Realistic issues. Kids are going to adore this, especially if they enjoyed Out of My Mind! Impressive debut! Looking forward to Ms. Sumner's sophomore novel.

#tbt: A Series of Unfortunate Events Turns 20!

Image: HarperCollins Publishers

The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket. A Series of Unfortunate Events #1. 224 p. HarperCollins Publishers, August, 1999. 

#tbt features The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket. The Bad Beginning was published in August of 1999, making this the 20th anniversary. This book launched the thirteen book series featuring the Baudelaire siblings and all the unfortunate events that happen to them starting with the death of their parents in a fire. The evil Count Olaf is intent on adopting them in order to obtain the fortune left to them. The books are darkly humorous and feature the siblings facing one terrible situation after another.

Waiting on Wednesday: Wrecking Ball by Jeff Kinney

Image: Abrams

Wrecking Ball by Jeff Kinney. Diary of a Wimpy Kid #14. 224 p. Amulet Books/ Abrams, November 5, 2019. 9781419739033.

Publisher synopsis: In Wrecking Ball, Book 14 of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series—from #1 international bestselling author Jeff Kinney—an unexpected inheritance gives Greg Heffley’s family a chance to make big changes to their house. But they soon find that home improvement isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

Once the walls come down, all sorts of problems start to crop up. Rotten wood, toxic mold, unwelcome critters, and something even more sinister all make Greg and his family wonder if the renovations are worth the trouble. When the dust finally settles, will the Heffleys be able to stay . . . or will they need to get out of town?

This the circulation for this series remains robust. Even I cannot wait.