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?)

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.  

An eclectic group of apartment dwellers are brought together for the reading of the will of Samuel Westing, a 65-year-old millionaire who went missing thirteen years ago.  All of them are eager to get their hands on a piece of his fortune, even if they're not sure exactly why the wealthy eccentric would leave it to them.  They're shocked when they hear the terms of the will—whoever solves the elaborate puzzle Samuel left behind first gets the cash.  The participants are paired off and given clues to follow.  What ensues is a competitive race to be the first to find the million-dollar answer and win the game.  Of course, there's more to the contest than meets the eye.  Samuel Westing may be deceased, but he's still got some tricks up his sleeve!

I've always loved mysteries and The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin is one I remember enjoying as a child.  Published in 1978, the novel is clever and fun with likable characters and an engaging story.  While I figured out what the word clues meant right away, there were a few plot surprises I didn't see coming.  Overall, this is just a light, entertaining read that I enjoyed as much as an adult as I did as a child.

(Readalikes:  Reminds me of The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes and a little of the Mr. Lemoncello's Library books by Chris Grabenstein)

Grade:  

To the FTC, with love:  Another library fine find

Because of his autism, Hank Hudson feels things—especially sadness—very keenly.  His hyper sensitivity has gotten him into plenty of trouble already, which is why he's hesitant to join the new girl's campaign to free her neighbor's dog.  It's not that he doesn't care about Booler's plight.  He does.  The 2-year-old pit bull, who's constantly tethered to a too-short chain, is pitiable.  But Hank has enough problems without Maisie Huang bossing him around and getting him mixed up in some ill-planned rescue mission.

When Maisie makes him an offer he can't refuse, Hank becomes her reluctant wing man in a covert operation to help Booler escape his confinement.  It's not long before Maisie's enthusiasm overtakes her good sense (again) and the kids are caught up in a plan that's quickly spiraling out of control.  Hank needs order to keep his world on an even keel.  The more chaotic Maisie's escapade becomes, the more anxious he gets.  When push really comes to shove, can he keep it together long enough to fulfill the mission?  Can they give the poor pooch the freedom they so desperately think he needs?  What if the plan to free Booler isn't really about the dog at all—what if it's the two misfits looking for belonging who are really the ones in need of rescue? 

There are so many things to love about We Could Be Heroes, a debut middle-grade novel by Margaret Finnegan.  Not only is it warm and funny, but its depictions of autism are some of the clearest, most helpful explanations of the disorder that I've ever come across.  Hank's feelings and actions seem very authentic, which probably has a lot to do with the fact that Finnegan has an autistic daughter who helped her make them so.  Both he and Maisie are wonderful characters, who are interesting, humorous, and relatable.  Their actions are consistent with their ages, which makes them feel like real kids.  In addition to likable story people (and canine), the book also features a compelling plot and engaging prose.  Finnegan uses these elements to subtly teach valuable lessons about how to be a real friend, accepting people in spite of their differences, reserving judgement, and owning up to and learning from one's mistakes.  Overall, We Could Be Heroes is simply a great children's book.  I loved it.

(Readalikes:  Um, I can't think of anything.  You?)