2026 Bookish Books Reading Challenge (hosted by Yours Truly)
2026 Cover Lovers Reading Challenge (hosted by Yours Truly)
2026 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge
2026 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge
Booklist Queen's 2026 Reading Challenge
2026 52 Club Reading Challenge
2026 Craving for Cozies Reading Challenge
2026 Medical Examiner Mystery Reading Challenge
2026 Mount TBR Reading Challenge
2026 Around the Year in 52 Books Reading Challenge
Shelf Reflection Candy Reading Challenge for Kids (and Adults)
2026 Countdown Reading Challenge
Dragon Rambles' Law of Fives Bingo
2026 Southern Literary Reading Challenge
2026 Reading Challenge (by Linz the Bookworm)
2026 Pioneer Book Reading Challenge
European Reading Challenge 2026
2017 Pick Your Poison Reading Challenge (retired challenge - doing old boards for fun)
2026 Reading Challenge Addict Reading Challenge
The 100 Most Common Last Names in the U.S. Reading Challenge
The Life Skills Reading Challenge
Showing posts with label Cybils Awards. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cybils Awards. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 29, 2020
It's Ally Carter! What More Do I Need to Say?
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April might be temporarily caught within the foster care system, but she's not like other foster kids. Not only is her mother alive, but she's also coming back for April just as soon as she can. The other children might laugh at her for believing in the promise pledged in the note that was left at the fire station along with 3-year-old April, but April knows her mom would never totally abandon her. She just needs to be patient.
Patience has never been April's strong suit, which is how she ends up setting a museum exhibit on fire. The incident brings her to the attention of a charity funded by the wealthy Winterborne Family, which has decided to house a group of foster children in its ornate mansion. Gabriel, the Winterborne heir, disappeared ten years ago, leaving a great mystery in his wake. April's entranced by the thought of solving it while also figuring out why the necklace April's mother left her bears the Winterborne crest. The answers must be inside the great mansion, but where? The place is massive and crammed full of tantalizing secrets ... Can April unravel its many puzzles, including the mystery of her own past?
If you've read books by Ally Carter before, you're not going to be at all surprised to hear that her newest, Winterborne Home for Vengeance and Valor, is a sassy, upbeat read that's full of adventure and mystery. It stars a diverse cast of middle-schoolers who are sympathetic and likable, along with peripheral grown-ups who add additional layers of intrigue to the tale. Revealed in short, exciting chapters, the plot is compelling and engrossing, making the book an enjoyable page-turner. While this first book in a planned series answers some of the questions its plot poses, it leaves plenty more to be revealed in a sequel (or two). I, for one, am eagerly anticipating the second book!
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence and scenes of peril
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Mystery/Family Drama Novel a Nuanced, Touching Read
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Ever since her dad died three years ago, Maddy Gaines' anxiety has been out of control. The 11-year-old sees danger lurking around every corner, even if no one else does. She's made so many emergency calls to local authorities that they don't take her seriously anymore. So, when she meets a mysterious boy setting booby traps in the cemetery, a boy who looks an awful lot like one who went missing six months ago, Maddy knows she can't take her knowledge to the police without proof that the kid really is Billy Holcom. Maddy is warned off the hunt by her arch enemy, who insists the boy is just his visiting cousin. She won't be thwarted that easily, not when she's discovered a real emergency, but she will be sure to gather proof this time. The boy is Billy and Maddy aims to make sure he's found. When she discovers a reason he might need to stay hidden, however, she realizes that not everything is as it seems. Is she truly rescuing the kid or putting him in more danger?
Every Missing Piece by Melanie Conklin is a nuanced middle-grade novel that's part mystery, part family drama. Maddy has a lot to deal with—grief over losing her dad, managing her anxiety, accepting her new, trying-too-hard stepfather, and grappling with a BFF who's leaving Maddy behind as she grows up too fast—even before she starts playing detective. Her earnestness is appealing, making her a character who's easy to like and root for. Plot-wise, Every Missing Piece is exciting and engrossing. The book is also full of subtle lessons about friendship, family, and figuring out how to adapt when change rocks your safe, orderly world. Every Missing Piece is a touching novel that I very much enjoyed.
(Readalikes: Reminds me a bit of Closer to Nowhere by Ellen Hopkins)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence, tough subject matter (death of a parent, domestic violence, etc.), and scenes of peril
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Sunday, December 27, 2020
Family Drama Unfocused But Still Impactful
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With six people in their household, life with the Mannings has always been crazy, loud, and fun. Twelve-year-old Zinny especially enjoys hanging out with Gabriel, her 18-year-old brother, with whom she always has a great time. When Gabriel is involved in a serious car accident, it throws their close-knit family for a loop. Even though Gabriel is not injured, he's taken to a hospital—a facility that treats people with mental illnesses. According to the doctors, Zinny's beloved brother has bi-polar disorder. Her parents don't know what to do with the diagnosis, so they make Zinny and her siblings promise not to tell anyone what is going on. Although she can't quite understand the need for secrecy, she agrees to keep mum.
As the weeks pass, all of Zinny's parents' time seems to be taken up with visiting Gabriel, arguing with the insurance company, and talking to therapists. Zinny's siblings are dealing with Gabriel's situation in their own ways. The Manning family feels more fractured than it ever has. Zinny has so many worries that she needs to share, but she can't let her frustrations out without betraying her parents. Even though she's been invited to attend a special lunch club/support group at school for kids dealing with various difficult issues, she's not about to share what's going on at home. The longer Gabriel is in the hospital, the more anxious Zinny feels. If she can't express all the emotions boiling up inside her she's going to burst. Can she find a way to get the help she needs? Will her family ever be whole again?
My Life in the Fish Tank by Barbara Dee is a thoughtful novel about mental illness and how it affects all members of a family. Although Zinny's victimhood gets old, her emotional roller coaster ride in the wake of her brother's diagnosis feels authentic. Without a solid story goal, though, her tale feels more episodic than focused. There's no real plot at the center of My Life in the Fish Tank, which makes the whole story feel a little loosey-goosey. Still, it features likable characters and teaches some valuable lessons about the importance of feeling and expressing one's emotions, being a true friend, getting help when needed, taking the stigma out of mental illness, and dealing with unexpected changes. I liked it, didn't love it.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of Where the Watermelons Grow by Cindy Baldwin and Waiting for Normal by Leslie Connor)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for difficult subject matter
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
MG Debut Accessible and Empowering
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Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero, a debut novel by Kelly J. Baptist, is a slim novel that packs a big punch. It deals with some tough subjects, but it does so in an accessible, age-appropriate, and hopeful way. Isaiah is a relatable character who's sympathetic and admirable while still feeling real. His story teaches many lessons about being yourself, working toward goals, using your talents, and asking for help when you need it. Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero is a poignant, touching, empowering novel that I enjoyed very much.
(Readalikes: Um, I can't think of anything. Can you?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for difficult subject matter (alcoholism, homelessness, poverty, etc.)
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Saturday, December 26, 2020
Debut MG Novel a Spuderrific Read
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Potatoes have never been good to 12-year-old Ben Hardy. Now that he's living in small-town Idaho in the heart of spud country, he feels positively cursed by his least favored vegetable. A for-instance: after accidentally causing the school mascot to fall and sprain his ankle, Ben is sentenced to finishing out the season as Steve the Spud. There are only two weeks left, but that's plenty of time for all of Ben's popularity plans to go straight down the toilet. If his classmates know he's the one inside the dorky potato man suit? That's it for Ben. He'll go down forever as the nerdiest of nerds. Since that absolutely cannot happen, he vows to keep his substitute Steve the Spud act top secret. What could possibly go wrong?
la Gordon Korman, Lincoln Peirce, and Jeff Kinney.
(Readalikes: books by the authors mentioned above)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of My Life As a Potato with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
MG Challenger Novel a Liked-It-Didn't-Love-It Read
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Cash, Fitch, and Bird Thomas are three siblings in seventh grade together in Park, Delaware. In 1986, as the country waits expectantly for the launch of the Space Shuttle Challenger, they each struggle with their own personal anxieties.
Cash, who loves basketball but has a newly broken wrist, is in danger of failing seventh grade for the second time. Fitch spends every afternoon playing Major Havoc at the arcade on Main and wrestles with an explosive temper that he doesn’t understand. And Bird, his twelve-year-old twin, dreams of being NASA’s first female shuttle commander, but feels like she’s disappearing.
The Thomas children exist in their own orbits, circling a tense and unpredictable household, with little in common except an enthusiastic science teacher named Ms. Salonga. As the launch of the Challenger approaches, Ms. Salonga gives her students a project—they are separated into spacecraft crews and must create and complete a mission. When the fated day finally arrives, it changes all of their lives and brings them together in unexpected ways.
Told in three alternating points of view, We Dream of Space is an unforgettable and thematically rich novel for middle grade readers. (Plot summary from publisher)
We Dream of Space by Erin Entrada Kelly is an atmospheric novel that highlights an important historical event that I haven't seen addressed in fiction before. Kelly uses enough detail to vividly recreate the 80's for her 21st Century audience and capture the Challenger-inspired fervor that I remember well, although I was only 10 when the shuttle launched. These are the elements I enjoyed most in the novel, especially since I found it difficult to connect with the Thomas children. They all seemed cold, self-absorbed, and just not very likable. Plotwise, there's not tons going on in We Dream of Space, so it dragged a little bit for me. While I was particularly moved by Kelly's depiction of the characters' reactions in the immediate aftermath of the Challenger explosion, overall, this book was definitely a liked-it-didn't-love-it read for me. Too bad.
(Readalikes: Hm, I can't think of anything. You?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for difficult subject matter (Challenger explosion, dysfunctional families, anger, etc.)
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
MG Novel-in-Verse Realistic and Relatable
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Hannah Lincoln's life has always been safe and stable. The 12-year-old has two caring parents, plenty of friends, and a love of gymnastics and dancing that sustains her. Her cousin, Cal Pace, has had the opposite experience. His mother died three years ago leaving him with his drug-addicted father. His chaotic home life ended with his dad going to prison and Cal coming to live with the Lincolns. Hannah's childhood has given her confidence and balance. Cal's has left him with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Hannah gets that her cousin's been through a lot, but she can't help feeling resentful of his sudden presence in her life. Cal acts strangely and has serious anger management issues. Not only is he bullied at school, but his behavior is causing contention in Hannah's home. She's trying to be patient and understanding, but Hannah feels like her nice, quiet life is spinning out of control. Will her family ever go back to normal? Or will Cal's antics tear them apart for good?
Told in verse, Ellen Hopkins' first novel for middle-grade readers tells a poignant story about two cousins with very different life experiences trying to find common ground. Closer to Nowhere is a quick read that's realistic and relatable. Based on the author's own experience, the story paints a vivid, sympathetic picture of how addiction impacts not just the addict but his/her whole family. While Closer to Nowhere deals with tough subjects, overall it's a hopeful book. I've enjoyed other books by Hopkins and this one is no exception. It's a heart-wrenching, empathy-inducing novel that spoke to me.
(Readalikes: Reminds me a little of Christmas After All by Kathryn Lasky)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence and difficult subject matter (drug abuse, alcoholism, divorce, school shootings, etc.)
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of Closer to Nowhere from the generous folks at Penguin Random House via those at NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Thursday, December 24, 2020
Efrén Divided Provides Intimate Peek at Illegal Immigration Through the Eyes of Those It Impacts Most
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In many ways, Efrén Nava is just like any other American seventh grader. He hangs out with his best buddy, hides in the bathroom to get away from his pesky younger siblings, worries about how his ears stick out, wolfs down the food his mom makes, and is forever trying to convince his overprotective parents that he's ready for more independence. His neighborhood is rundown and his apartment is tiny, but Efrén is surrounded by a caring family and a warm, vibrant Mexican-American community. He is loved and protected. And yet, he never quite feels safe. Although he was born in America, his parents are in the country illegally, as are many of their neighbors and friends. The threat of ICE raids and deportation is a constant dark cloud looming over them all.
Efrén's worst fears come true when his mother is arrested and sent back to Mexico. With his father taking on extra work to earn the money needed to bring her back home, he must step up and take care of his rowdy younger siblings. In addition to wrangling rambunctious kindergarten twins, he still has to keep up with his schoolwork, help his BFF with a school election, and keep all his fears and worries in check. Desperate to keep his family's problems a secret, Efrén is exhausted, terrified, and in need of help he's too scared to ask for. Can he keep it all together so no one finds out what's really going on in his life? Will his family ever be reunited? How will Efrén cope when his entire world is falling apart?
No matter how you feel about U.S. immigration policies, border walls, and detention centers, you can't read a book like Efrén Divided by Ernesto Cisneros and not be moved. The story is fictional, of course, but it mirrors the sad reality of many immigrant families who live lives marked by fear and division every day. Cisneros provides an intimate peek at what that looks like and how it affects all members of a family that's already just doing its best to get by. Efrén Divided features sympathetic characters, a compelling plot, and engaging prose. It's a timely, impactful, discussion-worthy read that teaches empathy while exploring the explosive issue of Mexican immigration to the U.S. through the eyes of those it impacts most.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of Land of the Cranes by Aida Salazar)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for difficult subject matter and scenes of peril
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Wednesday, December 23, 2020
Quiet, Contemplative MG Novel an Ode to the Power of Imagination and Friendship
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Everyone thinks 11-year-old Ware is a space cadet, but he's perfectly happy spending all his time in his own little world. His grand imagination allows him to be anything he wants to be, including a heroic Medieval knight. When his plans for a quiet summer being left pretty much to his own devices goes awry, Ware finds himself enrolled in a day camp at the local rec center with a bunch of other kids his age. Meaningful social interaction is not Ware's idea of a good time, so when he happens upon a secret oasis—an abandoned church next to the rec center—he sees an unparalleled opportunity to duck out of camp and make his own fun. The only problem is that someone else has already claimed the space and she does not want him there. When Ware convinces scrappy Jolene to let him help her develop the old church into their own private playground, the two embark on a tentative friendship that might finally help two lonely misfits find belonging. Then, an outside "enemy" starts to threaten their sanctuary. Well versed in the knights' code of honor, Ware vows to protect their territory at all costs. Can he and his new friend save the place that has sustained and nurtured them all summer? Or will everything they've worked so hard to build be destroyed by the swing of a wrecking ball?
Here in the Real World, a middle-grade novel by genre veteran Sara Pennypacker, is a quiet, contemplative book. The plot is compelling, the characters are likable, and the prose is assured. While the story isn't exactly action-packed, it's still engrossing and enjoyable. The tale teaches valuable lessons about friendship, being yourself, working together, finding one's strengths, etc. Overall, it's a empowering, uplifting novel that I liked, didn't love.
(Readalikes: Reminds me a little of Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for difficult subject matter (alcoholism, parental abandonment, etc.)
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
MG Sisters Novel Warm and Hopeful
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Twelve-year-old Libby Monroe is great at science, being optimistic, and talking to her famous, accomplished friends (okay, maybe that last one is only in her head). She’s not great at playing piano, sitting still, or figuring out how to say the right thing at the right time in real life. Libby was born with Turner Syndrome, and that makes some things hard. But she has lots of people who love her, and that makes her pretty lucky.
When her big sister Nonny tells her she’s pregnant, Libby is thrilled—but worried. Nonny and her husband are in a financial black hole, and Libby knows that babies aren’t always born healthy. So she strikes a deal with the universe: She’ll enter a contest with a project about Cecilia Payne, the first person to discover what stars are made of. If she wins the grand prize and gives all that money to Nonny’s family, then the baby will be perfect. Does she have what it takes to care for the sister that has always cared for her? And what will it take for the universe to notice? (Plot summary from publisher)
When her big sister Nonny tells her she’s pregnant, Libby is thrilled—but worried. Nonny and her husband are in a financial black hole, and Libby knows that babies aren’t always born healthy. So she strikes a deal with the universe: She’ll enter a contest with a project about Cecilia Payne, the first person to discover what stars are made of. If she wins the grand prize and gives all that money to Nonny’s family, then the baby will be perfect. Does she have what it takes to care for the sister that has always cared for her? And what will it take for the universe to notice? (Plot summary from publisher)
(Readalikes: Hm, nothing is coming to mind. You?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for material most suited for readers over 8
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Tuesday, December 22, 2020
Tough, Beautiful Fighting Words An Unforgettable Novel
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Every child needs a fierce protector. Ten-year-old Della has her older sister, Suki. It was Suki who cared for her while their mother cooked meth; Suki who watched out for her when their mom went to prison, leaving the girls in the care of her abusive boyfriend; Suki who got the evidence that convicted him for molesting Della; and Suki who still shields her even though the sisters are finally safe with Francine, their forthright but loving foster mother. It's only now that Della is beginning to realize that while she's always had Suki as her older, wiser guard, Suki's never really had anyone to fulfill that role. And she's needed a protector. Desperately. When Suki tries to take her own life, Della discovers just how broken her she-wolf sister really is. Can Della find a way to nurture her sister the way Suki has always done for Della? Will the two ever find the healing they so need and deserve?
As you can no doubt tell, Fighting Words by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley is a raw, gut punch of a novel. While it's not graphic, it's still honest and hard-hitting. The thing that saves it from being unrelentingly grim is our heroine, Della. She's tough, irrepressible, and hilarious. Her voice is absolutely pitch-perfect. For all these reasons, it's impossible not to root for her and Suki. While Fighting Words is about so many things—sexual abuse, consent, bravery, resilience, etc.—it's really about two sisters and their unbreakable bond. Despite its touch subject matter, I loved this beautiful, empowering novel.
(Readalikes: Reminds me a bit of Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Monday, December 21, 2020
MG Survival Story Riveting and Real
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As a Sonoran Desert dweller myself, I'm very well aware of the dangers posed by our unique climate and landscape. Our local news is always full of warnings about excessive heat, staying hydrated, hiking alone, flash flooding, etc. Many people have been hurt, even killed, by these dangers. In fact, Dusti Bowling—who lives here in Arizona—wrote The Canyon's Edge partially in response to the tragic 2017 deaths of nine family members who were caught in a flash flood outside of nearby Payson. These very real stories make Bowling's fictional one feel all the more harrowing and real. The Canyon's Edge is a tense, exciting page-turner that's so compelling it's impossible to put down. It's written in verse, using text art to create a story that is as visually interesting as it is engrossing. I raced through the book in one sitting because it truly is that immersive and unputdownable. The book teaches some invaluable lessons about outdoor survival while also examining intriguing themes like grief, resilience, the struggle to move on after tragedy, and rebirth. It's an impactful novel that should appeal to even reluctant readers.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of other survival novels like Hatchet by Gary Paulsen, Be Not Far From Me by Mindy McGinnis, When We Were Lost by Kevin Wignall, etc.)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for scenes of peril
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Delightful Romp Features a Fun Amelia Earhart-Themed Mystery
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Amelia "Millie" Ashford is stoked when she wins a fabulous prize—along with five other girls, she gets to spend the night in the Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum in Atchison, Kansas. The 11-year-old Rubik's Cube champion has no friends, an absent mother (who's a pilot, like Earhart), and a fascination with the famous aviatrix. She needs this diverting opportunity to socialize, immerse herself in history, and maybe learn enough about Earhart—her mom's idol—to bring her own missing pilot home.
When a scavenger hunt is announced, giving Millie and the other girls a chance to take a close-up look at artifacts throughout the museum, Millie's excited. She's even more thrilled when she comes upon a roped-off room where Earhart's flight goggles are being stored before being transferred to a Washington, D.C., museum. When the priceless goggles go missing, however, Millie's as shocked as everyone else. Fingers start pointing in her direction, reminding Millie that she's surrounded by strangers—one of whom is a thief! It's up to her and the other girls to find out who's hiding the precious artifact. As a winter storm rages outside and tension mounts inside, the stakes get higher and higher. How far will the robber go to smuggle the goggles out of the museum? Can six middle-schoolers (one of whom is the likely kleptomaniac) find the culprit in time? Or will an irreplaceable piece of history be smuggled out right under their noses? With no way to call for outside help, it's up to the Amelia Six to solve the mystery.
I love me a good, old-fashioned locked-room mystery. The Amelia Six by Kristin L. Gray is just that, complete with the requisite stormy weather, mysterious house, and quirky characters. Filled with Amelia Earhart trivia, a girl-power vibe, and plenty of surprises, it's a fun, entertaining read. Realistic? Not so much. And yes, the girls talk like senior citizens (no 11-year-old says "May I ..." let alone "Oh,crumb") and indeed, some of them are fairly indistinguishable from the others. Overall, though, the book stars an engaging detective team and features an engrossing tale. Not only did I learn a lot about Earhart from this enjoyable romp, but I also found it to be a delightful read that kept me turning pages with a smile on my face.
(Readalikes: I can't think of anything. You?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for scary situations and scenes of peril
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Woodson's Newest a Poignant, Impactful Tale From a Mastery of Poetry and Prose
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
As the son of a beloved pro football star, Zachariah Johnson, Jr., is used to having a famous parent. Not only is ZJ's dad charming with his fans, but at home he's the fun-loving guy who will chill with ZJ's friends and spend hours writing and strumming the guitar with ZJ. Then, he changes. It starts with headaches and confusion, then progresses to mood swings and memory loss. The doctors diagnose Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), a brain injury caused by all the concussions Zachariah senior has experienced on the football field over the years. According to his medical team, nothing can be done to reverse the condition. The loving, easy-going man ZJ has known all his life is gone forever, replaced by an angry stranger who doesn't always remember ZJ's name. How will ZJ cope with his disheartening new normal? Will his family ever again be the tight, anchoring unit it once was?
I've been a big Jacqueline Woodson fan for years. Her luminous prose and lyrical poetry create books that are beautiful, moving, and memorable. Woodson's newest middle-grade offering, Before the Ever After, is no exception. Written in verse, it's a slim volume but one that packs a definite punch. Although it brings the dark side of fame to light, the story is really about a family and how they're all affected by a member's illness. The tale also concerns life's unexpected, irreversible changes. How do you move on when all you want to do is reverse time? Before the Ever After is a poignant, touching tale featuring sympathetic characters, impactful writing, and a compelling conflict. Like everything Woodson pens, it's a stick-with-you story, beautifully told.
(Readalikes: Hm, nothing's coming to mind. You?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for difficult subject matter and scary situations
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Saturday, December 19, 2020
Warm and Engaging MG Novel Entertaining and Thought-Provoking
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
When her family can no longer afford the fees at the private Islamic academy she's been attending, 11-year-old Sara Hameed is forced to attend public school for the first time. As the new girl and a Pakistani-American, she feels lonely and out of place. When her mother starts teaching a South Asian cooking class at the school, Sara's even more in the spotlight. She's not ashamed of her culture or her immigrant mom, but when her classmates snicker and criticize her family's "weird" ways, it makes her feel like even more of an outcast.
Elizabeth Shainmark's British mother has been so depressed lately that she no longer prepares meals or really engages with the family. The 11-year-old signs up for an after-school cooking class in order to gain culinary skills she can use at home. Elizabeth forms a tentative friendship with Sara when the girls become cooking partners. Although her family is not observant, as a Jew Elizabeth understands what it's like to be seen as different. Not only does she empathize with Sara's plight, but she genuinely enjoys her company and wants to learn more about her.
Even as the girls face challenges in their friendship and at home, they decide to work together to create a fusion dish that they hope will win them a spot on a television cooking show. Not only are they keen to nab the prize, but they also want to prove to their doubtful peers that people from different backgrounds and cultures can be not just teammates but also true friends. Will their unique dish wow the judges? Most importantly, can the girls show everyone just how beautifully differences can blend—not just in food, but in friendship too?
A Place at the Table by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan is a warm, upbeat novel that celebrates the individual traditions and backgrounds that make us all unique. It encourages readers to be themselves, even when that means being different from everyone around you. Not only does it offer an engaging story with sympathetic characters and interesting conflicts, but it also teaches some great lessons about friendship, family, staying true to you, standing up for others, forgiving each other, and seeking to understand other cultures instead of believing unfair stereotypes. My favorite lesson in the story is that becoming a better, less prejudiced, more open-minded person is a process. We can learn from our mistakes and strive to do better each and every day. As a religious person, I also appreciate that A Place at the Table teaches kids that religion isn't necessarily weird or fanatical—for most people, it's just a normal, ordinary part of life. Also, the way that members of the same faith practice their religion can vary widely among different communities, families and individuals. All of these elements combine to create an eye-opening, entertaining, and thought-provoking story that I enjoyed very much.
(Readalikes: Um, I can't think of anything. Can you?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Friday, December 18, 2020
MG Series Opener A Joyful Ode to the Ordinary
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Ways to Make Sunshine, the first installment in a new middle-grade series by Renée Watson, is an upbeat, positive story that is as joyful as it is empowering. Ryan Hart has been called the new Ramona Quimby, which fits. While she's a good girl who's always trying to be kinder and more compassionate, she becomes realistically frustrated with daunting situations. She's also got a mischievous side that helps make her feel authentic. There's not a lot of plot in this series opener, but that's okay. I actually love that the book portrays ordinary days with ordinary problems in the life of an ordinary family. You don't see that a lot in children's novels that star Black families—most of the ones I've read tackle slavery, racism, gang violence, absent fathers, the Civil Rights movement, etc. While there's nothing wrong with taking on those big issues, it's refreshing to find a book like Ways to Make Sunshine that depicts a typical Black family dealing with normal, everyday issues. I wish this novel had been around when my daughter, who is bi-racial and adopted, was younger. It would have helped her feel seen. I'm thrilled that kids who look like her—as well as those who don't—will all be able to find themselves in this delightful series.
(Readalikes: The Ramona Quimby books by Beverly Cleary)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
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