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Lord of the Fly Fest

Lord of the Fly Fest is a YA Mystery Suspense/Thriller written by Goldy Moldavsky. The target audience for this book is Young Adults 14-18 years. 

This story follows Rafi Francisco who is looking for new material for her true crime podcast. She has her eye on a musician named River Stone whose girlfriend recently went missing. Rafi decides to spend all of her money on a ticket to Fly Fest- a music festival in the Caribbean, but when she arrives she discovers that the relaxing getaway she was expecting may not be so promising. Moreover, as she gets closer to River Stone she realizes that he might be hiding more than she suspected. 

I chose to review this book because I read Moldavsky’s other Mystery Suspense/Thriller “The Mary Shelley Club” in the summer and really enjoyed it. I was eager to read another novel by this author, and as a crime junkie myself I liked the idea of Rafi being an aspiring podcaster who is trying to solve a murder. I appreciate that Moldavsky’s main characters tend to be Latine, because it gives representation to young readers who also identify as Latine.

Evaluation: For this review, I will be evaluating Theme, Setting, and Mood.

Theme: One of the central themes of this book is society's fixation on social media and the illusion that everything that we see online is real. The second is that Rafi is on this island to investigate a murder for her podcast. However, she gets trapped on the island with influencers and a murder suspect. I thought this was an interesting approach by the author to demonstrate the lasting impact that social media has on not just everyone but young adults and what they are willing to do to maintain a following. There were so many references to modern social media with a satirical twist that became a bit overwhelming. I think it would have been interesting if the author would have created influencers that did not reflect real life celebrities. 

Setting: The majority of this story takes place on a sketchy island with spotty to no wifi. The Fyre festival that was supposed to happen on the island is now a failed festival. I really wanted to imagine the island in this book, but had a hard time doing so because the author went from describing it as "gorgeous" to an "ugly sand beach". There is a lot of satire in this book so I had a hard time differentiating what was satire and what wasn't. I think this is the main thing that interfered with the setting for me. 

Mood: I also had a hard time distinguishing the mood in this story. At first I got the sense of adventure as the protagonist spends all her money to attend this festival in search of a murderer. I then got the feeling that something was off but couldn’t quite describe the mood I was feeling as if the story shifted and they ended up on an island that wasn’t what was promised. I do feel like this book was all over the place which made it hard to follow. I think it had potential but lacked well constructed characters and plot. 

References:

Moldavsky, G. (2022). Lord of the fly fest. Faber and Faber.

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The Poet X (Ebook)

The Poet X is a powerful novel in verse written by Elizabeth Acevedo. It is the 2019 Michael L. Printz award winner and is intended for young adults 13 and up.

This story follows Xiomara Batista, a sophomore who lives in Harlem with her family. She has a twin brother and strict Dominican parents who are very religious.This becomes problematic as her confirmation approaches because Xiomara begins to question the Catholic faith among other things. She is also becoming aware of her body and sexuality. Moreover, Xiomara’s character deals with sexism, exploring her identity, and hoping that her difficult family will accept her new interests. She uses poetry as a coping mechanism to express her frustrations, and is tempted to perform in poetry slams, but is afraid that her family will not approve.

I chose to review this book because it is culturally significant. Similar to Xiomara, I also grew up in a religious home with strict parents. I think that stories like this one are crucial for young Latina women who struggle with body discomfort as they become teenagers. Moreover, I think it’s important for all young adults to know that they are not alone if and when they begin to question the customs and beliefs their families impose on them. Xiomara's story is empowering and encourages self love. I think this is a great book for individuals who may be struggling with religion, self acceptance, and family. 

For this review, I will be evaluating Format, Pacing, and Character.

Format: I read this book on my Kindle as an ebook and had a good experience. I noticed that I went through it faster than when I read a physical book, but I’m not sure if it was because it was novel in verse or because of the format. After reading that the author had narrated the audiobook, I plan on listening to it at some point in the future. Xiomara’s character is so passionate and is filled with so many emotions that are not foreign to young teenage girls, and the author did so well in capturing those emotions. While I enjoyed my experience reading this as an ebook I look forward to hearing the audio version. 

Pacing: The pacing of this book is pretty fast, and Xiomara’s story is so captivating that it’s hard to put it down. However, because it’s a novel in verse the pacing feels appropriate. I think the author did a good job with the pacing in this story because the reader gets a good sense of what is going on and in a way it matches Xiomara’s character. As the reader I imagine Xiomara would be telling her story at this pace. The only time I felt like the pacing was not well executed was towards the end of the book because the ending seemed rushed. 

Character: Xiomara’s character seemed so authentic and wise beyond her years. I appreciate that she was a first generation immigrant, and I really sympathize with her when she feels that pressure on her shoulders. I found her relatable on so many levels and as someone who has gone through similar experience with religion, strict immigrant parents, and struggling with body discomfort I think that the author succeeded in reaching the intended audience for this novel. I found myself going through the same emotions as Xiomara, and was ultimately rooting for her the entirety of the book.

References: Acevedo, E. (2018). The poet X: A novel. HarperTeen, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers.

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Maybe An Artist: A Graphic Memoir

Maybe An Artist is a graphic novel memoir written and illustrated by Liz Montague - one of the first Black female cartoonists to be published in the New Yorker. The target age group for this graphic novel is young adults in grades 7-12.  

This GN memoir is told from Montague’s point of view as an adult as she reflects on different stages of her life, beginning with her childhood up to adulthood. The illustrations that were published in the New Yorker are what led Montague to write this memoir. Liz touches on important themes throughout this memoir such as growing up as a Black girl in a predominantly white town. Trying to find her voice as an artist while navigating her severe dyslexia, and finding confidence to pursue her career.

I don’t usually read graphic novels but this one was displayed in the teen room at my local library. I initially picked it up because of the cover, but when I discovered that it was also a memoir I was immediately interested. After reading about the author, I felt a sense of comfort because I found a lot of similarities between her experiences as a young adult and my own. For example, I grew up with a learning disability like Liz and I remember feeling a sense of confusion and frustration when doing my schoolwork. When it comes to learning disabilities, I do think that it’s difficult to find representation in stories, and for authors to capture that feeling of frustration that so many young adults experience. I felt that Liz did well in representing those emotions through her art. 

For this review, I will be evaluating illustrations, format, and Design & Layout.

Illustrations: The illustrations in this Graphic Novel have a bubbly and cartoonish style to them. The drawings are followed with simple text making it easy for readers to follow along. One observation I made was that the story begins when Liz is five years old and transitions to her middle school, high school, and then adult years. However, her features hardly change and she appears to be the same age throughout the entirety of the novel even though she’s not. I do think that overall the author did a good job with the illustrations because it’s easy for the reader to see the emotions that are being conveyed. Most of this story focuses on Liz and her academic and personal struggles and it’s easy to identify when she’s in the classroom, her room, or at her job. Overall, I enjoyed the author's style and color choices.

Format: As I mentioned, graphic novels are not my first choice when it comes to choosing books. I read the physical copy of Maybe An Artist and enjoyed going through the pages. It was a fun experience getting to see all of the details the author put into illustrating her personal story. I also appreciated seeing Black female representation and inclusivity in an industry and genre that is overwhelmingly dominated by men. I believe that if I had listened to this story as an audiobook or read it as an ebook I would not have had the same experience. I believe that graphic novels are meant to be read in their physical form rather than digital.

Design & Layout: I decided to review this element because what drew me to this book was the cover and the colors that were used. The two main colors on the cover are a light teal and the title stands out in a peachy/orange color. The most eye-catching element of the cover is the triple self-portrait of the author. I think this worked well because the cartoon style on the cover as well as the colors are consistent with what's inside of the book. Moreover, I enjoyed how the author alternated between individual and multiple panels throughout the novel. The position of the comics and the placement of the text were also well executed and made it easy to follow the story. Overall, I think the author chose the perfect font, style, and colors for the intended audience.

References:

Montague, L. (2022). Maybe an artist. Random House Studio.

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A Snake Falls to Earth

A Snake Falls to Earth is a Young Adult Science Fiction/Fantasy book written by Darcie Little Badger. It has been nominated for multiple literary awards and won the Nebula Award in 2021. The intended age group for this fantasy novel is Young Adults aged 12-18. 

The author draws from traditional Lipan Apache culture and combines it with magical realism, to tell the story of Nina, a Lipan Apache teen girl who is on a mission to translate the last story her grandmother told her about the animal people, and Oli who is a cottonmouth snake from the land of spirits and monsters. While these two characters are unaware of one another, their worlds end up connecting through catastrophic events. This story is told from two points of view and touches on important topics such as climate change, family relationships, and the importance of storytelling.

I chose to review this book because I believe that Indigenous representation matters. As a Mexican woman who grew up with an appreciation of the Mexican folk tales and legends that were told to me by my grandparents, I felt a special connection with Nina. I also appreciated how Nina’s grandmother spoke a mix of indigenous and Spanish languages and rather than letting the language barrier get in the way of their relationship Nina used modern technology to communicate with her. I was also interested in the concept of combining the perspectives of Oli from the supernatural world with Nina in the human world to emphasize the importance of protecting our planet. This book gave representation to the LGBTQIA+ community as Nina identifies as Asexual and it covered other important topics that are impacting our youth today. 

For this review, I will be evaluating Character, Tension, and Point of View:

Character: I feel that the characters in this story are unique and relatable. I think the author did a good job making the characters personable. As the reader, I felt like I related to Nina’s character and found myself rooting for her as she simultaneously attempted to translate her grandmother's story while trying to find out why her grandmother has fallen ill. At the beginning of the story, Nina is around nine years old and as the story progresses she grows older (16/17). I enjoyed how the author structured this because the reader is essentially “watching” her grow into a young adult. As mentioned previously Oli is a cottonmouth kid from the land of spirits who has left the nest to learn how to survive on his own. Oli reminded me a lot of the animal characters in Disney movies. It was hard not to become attached to him especially as he loses his way. He is also another character who you genuinely want things to work out for as he tries to save his new friend. Both Oli and Nina were very well written and it’s easy for the reader to become involved in their lives.  

Tension: I believe that Little Badger did well building up the tension in this book. The first couple of chapters felt a bit slow, but as the story progressed the tension heightened. Most of the tension stems from the characters trying to find the answer to something. For example, Nina is trying to translate her grandmother's story and wants to find out why her grandmother has suddenly fallen ill. Oli is not only trying to find his way back home but he’s also trying to find a solution that will save his new friend Ami in the human world. There were multiple components throughout this story that required the characters to use problem-solving skills, and because this is a YA book I feel like those problems were appropriate for the intended audience. When Oli and Nina finally cross paths they work together to solve their problems. As the reader, I was interested to find out what would happen at the end of the story and the tension kept me invested to the point that I wanted to help the characters on their journey.  

Point of View: This story is told from different perspectives. The first is Nina, a Lipan Apache girl who is a storyteller living with her family in Texas. The second is a cottonmouth snake named Oli who has two forms and who lives in the spirit realm. Nina’s story is told from a third person point of view while Oli’s is told from first person. I think taking this approach was successful because the characters are so contrasting. At the beginning of the story, each character has their chapter which allows the reader to get a glimpse of both Oli and Nina's worlds separately. Even though this story is told in alternating points of view between the two characters the transitions are smooth.

Reference:

Badger, D. L. (2021). A Snake Falls to Earth. Levine Querido.

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All Boys Aren't Blue (Audiobook)

All Boys Aren’t Blue is a memoir-manifesto written by George M Johnson, a journalist and LGBTQIA+ activist. The target age group for this book is young adults aged 14+. All Boys Aren’t Blue was ranked second on The ALA’s top 13 most challenged books of 2022. According to the ALA, Johnson's memoir was challenged because of “LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit”.

In this memoir-manifesto, Johnson shares their personal experiences and journey from childhood to college. The book begins with Johnson’s earliest memory of experiencing physical violence for the first time and reflecting on the aftermath of the incident. The author discusses how this traumatic experience impacted other aspects of their life such as navigating their gender, racial, and sexual identities. Johnson’s story is broken up into four parts, each touching on significant stages of their life.

I chose to review this book because the author addresses important topics such as adolescent sex education for queer youth, racism, and homophobia in the Black community. Johnson’s story highlights the importance of intersectionality and is a source for POC who are exploring their sexuality. While this memoir was written and shared to help young adults in the LGBTQIA+ community, it reaches a larger audience and can educate all readers about the experiences of Black queer individuals.

For this review, I will be evaluating: Tone, Style & Language, and Format:

Tone: The author shared their story to reach a teen audience who might be navigating a similar experience in their own lives. However, I feel like the author’s tone came off as condescending. For example, when discussing the story behind their name the author expressed the importance of respecting others for their names and how they choose to identify. Johnson also attempts to educate the reader by explaining that they have the power to choose what they want to be called. I believe that this was a powerful message, but the author ended the statement by saying “I bet most of you never thought to ever question if you even like your name” which felt belittling. Even though this story lacked a tone of empathy, it was clear that the author was passionate about the subject matter of the book.

Style and Language: All Boys Aren’t Blue was written as a series of personal essays that is divided into four parts. While I appreciate how vulnerable the author was in sharing their story, it read more as a diary or a set of journal entries rather than an informational guide. This was an element that was difficult to evaluate because I listened to the audiobook which felt like I was listening to the author read from a journal or script rather than telling their story. There were also parts of the book where the author contradicted previous statements they had made. Moreover, Johnson lacked consistency and struggled to make connections when describing their experiences and feelings. For example, the author discussed their first traumatic experience with physical violence. The way they structured this significant moment made it seem as if it would be a full-circle moment that was connected to their sexuality, race, or gender identity. However, it was hardly mentioned after the first chapter and as a reader/listener, it left me wondering what prompted the boys in the story to “jump” Johnson.

Format: I decided to listen to the All Boys Aren’t Blue audiobook which is narrated by the author George M. Johnson. One thing I appreciated was hearing the author tell their story in their own words. I feel like this allowed the audience to hear and experience Johnson’s story the way Johnson wanted it to be heard. However, the author kept the same pace, tone, and personality throughout the entirety of the book. I believe that they could have changed the dialect and tone when they quoted their grandmother or when they discussed traumatic events. For example, at the beginning of the story, Johnson describes their grandmother as having a Southern accent even though she had lived in Jersey for 35 years, but when Johnson quotes their grandmother the dialect remains the same and lacks that Southern accent that they described. Moreover, the author discusses traumatic events with a matter-of-fact tone, where I expected them to show more emotion. Even though the audio version lacked inflection, hearing George Johnson tell their story evoked an emotional response within me as the listener. 

References:

Collis. (2023, August 25). Top 13 most challenged books of 2022. Advocacy, Legislation & Issues.  

Johnson, G. M. (2020). All boys aren’t blue: A memoir-manifesto. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

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Scritch Scratch

Scritch Scratch is a juvenile ghost story written by Lindsay Currie. It falls under the genre of Horror/Mystery suspense, and the target age group for this book is children 9-12 years.

The story follows a young girl named Claire, an aspiring scientist and skeptic of the paranormal who is required to help her father with his ghost tour in Chicago. While on the tour she catches a glimpse of a little boy who she doesn’t recall seeing at the beginning of the tour. Claire brushes this off and figures she must have overlooked him. However, she begins to feel on edge when she doesn’t see him at the end of the tour and even more uneasy when strange occurrences start to happen to her at home. Claire can’t quite understand what she saw, and can’t find an explanation for the mysterious scratching on the wall and whispers she’s been hearing. She’s worried that she is being haunted by the boy from the bus and she’s on a mission to find out why. 

As a lover of all things spooky, I chose this title because it incorporates aspects of the paranormal with real life historical events in Chicago, and a hint of investigative work. Scritch Scratch has memorable characters, and the dynamic relationships and bonds between Claire, her family, and new friends give young readers the message that supporting one another is important. Even though Claire was a skeptic, her determination to help the ghost boy who is haunting her demonstrates that there is value in helping those in need. I also chose to evaluate this book because it gives representation to the challenges that young adults face during their middle school years, such as working through friendships and feeling anxious about asking for help. Navigating through emotions can be difficult for young adults, and I believe that young readers who enjoy spooky stories can find comfort in Claire’s story.

For this review I will be evaluating: Style & Language, Tension, and Mood.

Style & Language: Because this is a horror story I believe that style and language are crucial to the story itself. According to Young et al., "style is the way a writer manipulates all the facets of language such as word choice, syntax, and sentence length". Beginning with the title "Scritch Scratch", Lindsay Currie strategically used words that a young reader might find spooky. This alone was used to guide the rest of the story. Readers were already aware that this book would be scary, and the language and tone used by the protagonist shifted as she realized she was being haunted. I think the author did a good job of using style & language to set up this story. As I read along I felt like my attitude was parallel to that of Claire's throughout the story as she searched for answers.

Tension: Every horror story needs to have tension that will keep the reader engaged. I believe Currie was successful in using this element from the beginning to end. I believe creating Claire's character to be a scientist who is a skeptic contributed to that tension as her attitude began to shift when she felt fear. At first I was curious about what was happening with Claire and then my focus changed to the ghost boy she had seen and what he wanted. I was determined to keep reading until I found out what had happened to him.

Mood: According to Young et al., "The mood is the atmosphere evoked in the writing". For this particular story, the mood consisted of spooky and innocent. Lindsay Currie was also successful in this area. After reading this book I was reminded of the characters in other horror books and horror films who are nonchalant and skeptic about paranormal encounters. Once the protagonist begins to feel fear the audience does so as well. In this case, when Claire see's the boy and does not recognize him and then does a double take to only see that he is gone the reader is involved in the story and feels the same fear as Claire.

References:

Currie, L. (2021). Scritch scratch. Sourcebooks Young Readers.

Young, T. A., Bryan, G., Jacobs, J. S., & Tunnell, M. O. (2020). Children’s literature, briefly. Pearson.

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The Best Man

The Best Man is a juvenile fiction book written by Richard Peck. This book was challenged in 2019 at an elementary school book fair after parents raised  concern due to the book containing LGBTQ+ content, specifically same sex marriage. The target age group for this book is children aged 9-12 years.

The story follows young Archer Magill who has spent most of his grade school years in search of a grown up role model. Some of Archer’s closest relationships are with his grandpa, dad, and uncle and he looks up to them the most. As Archer becomes a middle schooler, his search for more grown-up role models continues, and he adds Mr. McLeod, a teacher who stands up to the bullies to the list. As Archer transitions from grade school to middle school, he faces the challenges that come along with growing up such as navigating new friendships, dealing with bullies, and facing grief and love.  

As an Auntie to three boys I chose to review this book because I know how important it is for young boys to have male role models they can look up to. Similar to Archer, my nephews look up to their grandfathers, fathers, and uncles. However, as they’ve grown up new role models have entered their lives such as coaches and teachers. This book also carries important themes about acceptance, growing up, friendships, and family. The Best Man gives  representation to the LGBTQ+ community and addresses the topic with a heartfelt conversation between Archer and his Uncle Paul. This book is a great read for both boys and girls and addresses real life situations in a fun and heartfelt way.

For this review I will be evaluating: Character, Setting, and Theme.

Character: According to Young et al., "Good books must have characters that are unique and believable". Throughout this whole story the reader learns about the Magill family, Mr. McLeod, and Archer's new friends. It's easy for the reader to be drawn to the characters in this story because of how relatable they are. They each have different characteristics that might remind the reader of their own fathers, grandfathers, uncles, or even themselves. For most readers, the most relatable may be Archer himself. As the story progresses, Archer experiences the troubles that come with adolescence. As the reader I think the author did a good job executing this, I was transported back to my middle grade years, the struggles I faced when growing up, and the people I went to when I needed comforting.

Setting: The Best Man takes place in Chicago, and begins with a wedding and ends with a wedding. Moreover, much of the setting also takes place in middle school. The wedding is perhaps the most significant in this story. In the beginning of the book Archer is six and a ring bearer at a wedding. This takes place in the past, and is foreshadowing a significant event that will take place later in the book. That event is a wedding that takes place when Archie is in sixth grade, and two of his favorite people get married, his uncle Paul and his teacher. I think the Richard Peck did well with the setting in this book because he used it in both the past and the future allowing the reader to make the connection.

Theme: The central idea in this story is Archer's close relationship with his family. However there are other themes that the book touches on such as same-sex marriage, every day heroes, and what it means to grow up. This realistic fiction allows young readers to make connections to the world around them. Richard Peck did a good job in balancing out the many themes in the story to get the message of love is love.

References:

Peck, R. (2017). The best man. Puffin Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC.

Young, T. A., Bryan, G., Jacobs, J. S., & Tunnell, M. O. (2020). Children’s literature, briefly. Pearson.

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Freewater

Genre (or “category” from the requirements list): Coretta Scott King Award

Freewater is a Coretta Scott King Award winner and is written by Amina Luqman-Dawson. This juvenile fiction book is intended for young readers aged 10 years and older.  

The story follows twelve year old Homer and his younger sister Ada as they seek liberation from a plantation. On their journey they become separated from their mother and meet another escaped slave who guides them to freewater, a secret town in the swamp. Freewater is a safe haven for other individuals who have escaped slavery, a community where people are cared for and can experience freedom. As the story progresses, Homer continues to think of his mother and her suffering at the plantation. With the help of his sister and new friends Homer is on a mission to save his mother and bring her to freedom. 

I chose to review this book because it is narrated from the perspective of young characters and it also gives representation to the young children who were enslaved. Because this story is historical fiction it’s a great source to use to introduce the topic of slavery to young readers. Free water also addresses overcoming trauma and fear- specifically with young children, and demonstrates the importance of community. Friendship and survival are also strong themes that can be seen throughout this story. I think it’s important for young readers to learn about this nation's history, and this story touches on tough topics such as racism and enslavement in an appropriate way.

For this review I will be evaluating: Tension, Setting, and Theme.

Tension: According to Young et al., "Tension makes the reader want to read in order to find out what happens to the individuals involved in the problem and how the conflict is resolved". This was the main theme throughout this whole story. When Homer and Ada become separated from their mother, the reader is immediately hoping that she will be saved. The author did a good job with the tension in this story because the reader wants to continue to follow Homer, Ada, and their new friends on their mission to save their mother.

Setting: The setting was also another theme that was executed successfully. The story takes place on a plantation and a secret swamp that serves as refuge to escaped slaves. The vocabulary the author uses to describe these locations helps the reader visualize the swamp and the plantation. The descriptions of this setting are so profound that it becomes a key element in the narrative. As a reader I think that the author did a good job with the setting of the book, I believe it allows young readers to visualize the life of Homer and Ada and what they consider home.

Theme: According to Young et al., "Theme is the story's central idea and best expressed in complete sentences". The underlying theme of Freewater is the enslaved children of the south and the traumatic things they experienced. While this is a fictional story, it gives representation to the real life stories of the individuals who fled slavery and found asylum in the Southern Swamps. This book is a historical fiction and the theme of enslaved souls seeking freedom and I believe the author did well in educating readers about these swamps that once existed.

References:

Luqman-Dawson, A. (2023). Freewater. LITTLE, BROWN COMPANY.

Young, T. A., Bryan, G., Jacobs, J. S., & Tunnell, M. O. (2020). Children’s literature, briefly. Pearson.

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Rez Dogs

Rez Dogs is a novel in verse written by Joseph Bruchac who is a scholar of Native American culture. This novel is set during the COVID-19 pandemic on the Wabanaki reservation. Rez Dogs is intended for young readers aged 8-12 years and older.

Malian is a young Native American girl who is visiting her grandparents at the Wabanaki reservation. During her visit, a new virus (COVID-19) surfaces putting everyone at risk and resulting in a lockdown. Malian quarantines with her elders and during this time she learns about her roots, community, and culture. Malian also acts as a protector for her elders during this time and in turn, one of the dogs on the reservation- Malsum appears at their door and serves as Malian's protector as well.

 I chose to review this book because it addresses the COVID-19 pandemic through the perspective of a young girl. Moreover, it is a story that gives representation to the Native American community. I also chose to review this book because the author tackled multiple topics that could have been confusing or troubling for young kids during the time of the pandemic. This is a great resource for parents who want to have conversations with their young readers about the COVID-19 pandemic and how it impacted families, the Native American community, reservations, and how they’ve overcome plagues in the past.

For this review I will be evaluating: Accuracy, Pacing, and Setting.

Accuracy: This story takes place during the COVID-19 pandemic. While this is a novel in verse, there are many aspects in this story that makes it feel realistic. The protagonist Malian is living with her grandparents because of the shutdown. During this time Malian has to navigate the transition from in person school to online school. Moreover, she helps her grandparents with these devices to communicate with family members while they're separated. As someone who was impacted during this time, I understand the struggle of relying on the internet and not being able to interact with friends and family other than zoom calls. I think the author did a good job with this story, and as a reader I felt like this was an accurate representation of what many of us went through during this difficult time.

Pacing: The pacing in this story moved relatively quickly. Because this was a novel in verse it seemed to move faster. I do think that this aspect also depends on the reader and how much time they spend evaluating the text. I do believe that the pacing fluctuated depending on what was being discussed in the story. Some of the text was presented in a quick manner which increased tension, while the slower parts allowed for an emotional response to what was taking place in the story.

Setting: The setting of this story takes place on the Wabanaki reservation during the COVID-19 pandemic. As someone who is not indigenous, and has never been to a reservation, I believe the author did a good job with this aspect. As a a reader I felt as if I was transported to the reservation with Malian and her family. I also feel like this setting served a purpose. As the protagonist spends time on the reservation with her family she learns about her culture and other plagues that her ancestors had overcome. The author used descriptive vocabulary to help the reader visualize where Malian and her family live.

References:

Bruchac, J. (2021). Rez Dogs. Thorndike Striving Reader.

Young, T. A., Bryan, G., Jacobs, J. S., & Tunnell, M. O. (2020). Children’s literature, briefly. Pearson.

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What A Waste: Trash, Recycling, and Protecting our Planet.

What a Waste is an informative book written by Jess French. This book discusses recycling, pollution, and renewable energy and it was written for young readers aged 6-9. Summary:

 In this book Jess French discusses the waste that is produced and how it impacts our planet. What a Waste is educational and addresses how actions have consequences. The text is simple and has illustrations to give readers a visual representation of what they are reading. What a Waste addresses the climate crisis in an appropriate way and gives young readers suggestions on what they can do to help the environment. 

I chose to review this book because I am a big advocate for the environment. This is a great source for parents who want to discuss climate change with their little ones. This is a book that provides knowledge for both kids and their grown ups and gives suggestions to what can be done to save the planet. This is a topic that can be difficult for parents to have with young readers, but the book doesn’t only focus on the negative aspects of climate change which was another reason for choosing this book. Jess French also discusses the steps that other countries have taken to make a difference.

For this review I will be evaluating Illustrations, Pacing, and Tone.

Illustrations: According to Young et al., "Colorful illustrations stimulate young readers, and color provides more stimulation than black and white illustrations. Because climate change can be a broad topic with different characteristics, I believe the illustrations strengthen the content in the book. Each page provides a different example of what is causing climate change such as the "plastic page". One of the reasons this section was successful in delivering the message is because it used illustrations to provide a visual of the different kinds of plastics and whether they can be reused and recycled.

Pacing: I chose to evaluate the pacing of this book because I wanted to determine if there was too much being covered in this book. As I mentioned, climate change can be a broad topic, and information overload could be problematic for young readers. I believe that the pacing in What a Waste is dependent on the reader and how much they want to learn about a particular topic. For example, this informative book discusses recycling, deforestation, waste, and much more. Every topic gets about two to four pages filled with information and illustrations for young readers to read. While I enjoyed this book, I do think that children could get overwhelmed with the amount of information that is being presented. I feel like the pacing is meant to be average, but I also believe that kids could skip over the longer parts of this book.

Tone: Tone is important because it is ultimately the author's attitude toward the subject or the audience in a particular book (Young et al.,). Jess French is a veterinarian and author among other things. The tone in this book demonstrates that French is respectful toward the younger audience who may come across this title, and genuinely wants to inform them over a social issue that is impacting them. I think the author did a good job delivering the information in the book. It is apparent that Jess French is knowledgable on the topic of Climate Change and is an author who views her audience as thinkers who are eager to learn new things.

References:

French, J. (2019). What a waste: Rubbish, recycling, and protecting our planet. DK Children.

Young, T. A., Bryan, G., Jacobs, J. S., & Tunnell, M. O. (2020). Children’s literature, briefly. Pearson.

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Indelible Ann: The Larger-Than-Life Story of Governor Ann Richards

Indelible Ann is a picture book biography about Ann Richards, the late governor of Texas. It is written by Meghan P. Browne and illustrated by Carlynn Whitt. It is listed on the 2023 Texas Bluebonnet Book List, and its targeted age group is children aged 4-8.

The story follows the life of Ann, beginning with her childhood on a Texas farm, to her time as a Texas commissioner, state treasurer, and ultimately state governor. It discusses all of her accomplishments during her time in office and the lasting impression she's left for women of all ages.

As a Native Texan, I had not learned about Ann Richards until my college Texas history class in 2018. When I came across this picture book I was excited to see that Ann Richards was being represented in a children's book where readers could learn about her at a young age. She historically served as the second woman governor of Texas from 1991-1995 and was the last governor to serve as a democrat in the state.

For this review I will be evaluating: Style and Language, Illustration, and Setting.

Style and Language: Meghan Browne writes this story using longer sentences and paragraphs compared to other picture books. I believe that this style worked well for this story. As a biography the author is providing important factual information and combining it with vocabulary that will keep the reader engaged. For example, Browne uses words like "ruckus", "pop-crackling", and "bone-dry" throughout sentences. I believe that this was also a good choice because it gives the story personality and as I was reading it, I imagined that this was the way Ann spoke herself.

Illustration: Throughout the story, the author emphasizes Ann's big personality and the illustrator does the same. The illustrations take the reader through Ann's formative years and adolescence. Whitt does a good job illustrating this to make the reader feel like they are in the time period that is being depicted. She does this with the way she dresses the characters, the style of cars, and old fashioned cameras. The most significant aspect of the illustrations is the way Ann ages from a young girl to an adult throughout the story. Overall, Carlynn Whitts attention to detail transports the reader to the story.

Setting: Most of the book takes place in Texas, but there are some parts that are set in San Diego and Washington. Ann's story is also told over the course of her life. It begins with her birth and ends with the end of her govern-ship. Each of these settings serve a purpose, for example, when Ann moved to San Diego she was exposed to people from different backgrounds and cultures, and is where she encountered Eleanor Roosevelt. This was a significant moment in her life that "changed her heart forever". Indelible Ann successfully created a setting that transports readers through different time periods of Ann's life.

References:

Browne, M.P. (2021). Indelible Ann (C. Whitt, Illus.). Random House Studio.

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Dreamers

Dreamers is a picture book memoir written and illustrated by Yuyi Morales and is the 2019 Pura Belpre Winner. The target age group for Dreamers is 3-8 years. Morales uses her own experience to tell this immigration story that celebrates new beginnings. The story follows Yuyi and her infant son as they navigate their way from Mexico to the US.

I chose to review this book because it encourages readers to be resilient and to be dreamers. It celebrates change, and discusses how it can be scary at first but gets better as you find your way. Dreamers gives young readers a perspective of the trials Migrantes face as they make a home in a foreign world. It gives representation to those who have had a similar journey, and it emphasizes their strength as they try to adapt. I also chose to review this book because Yuyi's story allows adults to have conversations with young readers about immigration and the challenges that Dreamers face in our world today.

For this review I will be evaluating: Illustrations, Character, and Plot.

Illustrations: The illustrations in Dreamers have an aspect of texture that make the images look like a collage. Morales uses bright colors and objects that are associated with the Mexican culture. The butterflies make an appearance in almost every page and symbolize transformation. There are also subtle details on some of the illustrations that imply that she does not feel welcomed. The one that stood out to me the most is when she is telling her son that they are Migrantes and as they look at the sky the clouds spell out "speak english" backwards. As the story transitions from a feeling of nervousness to acceptance the illustrations also transition. I think Yuyi did a great job with the illustrations and using a collage style. She included symbols and made it personal. The illustrations make the reader feel like they are on this journey with Yuyi and her son.

Character: The characters in this book consist of Yuyi, her son, and a librarian. Yuyi is unique and her character has traits that draw the reader in. It is apparent that she has a love for her son and is doing her best to navigate her way in the United States. The reader gets a sense of her determination and strength as she continues to work through what she calls mistakes. When she finds comfort and trust at the library her reaction is believable, and the reader is genuinely happy and excited for her. Yuyi's son is also another character who captivates the readers attention. His facial expressions are full of curiosity and innocence. It's also as if the reader gets to "watch" him grow from an infant to a toddler throughout the journey. The last character is the librarian who seems intimidating at first but is later presenting Yuyi and her son with their first library card. Morales also did a good job with this detail because I feel like libraries are a safe haven for those who are in need of resources.

Plot: Yuyi Morales successfully incorporated this element into her story. Once she crosses the bridge to the United States the reader is left wondering what her next steps will be. Just when she finds herself having trouble understanding things and afraid to speak she comes across a building. At this point in the story the reader is invested and is curious to know what she has found. Once it is revealed that she found the library the reader gains a sense of hope for her. As the story progresses the reader learns that Yuyi and her son have found their place and are proud to be resilient dreamers.

References:

Morales, Y. (2018). Dreamers (Y. Morales, Illus.). Holiday House Publishing.

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We Move Together

We Move Together is a picture book written by Kelly Fritsch and Anne McGuire and it is illustrated by Eduardo Trejos. The reading age for this picture book is children who are 6 to 9. We Move Together is about disability culture and it discusses the challenges the community faces as well the relationships they build while navigating those barriers. The story follows a group of kids whose disabilities vary, and the creative measures they take to navigate through their everyday spaces.

I chose this book because it discusses multiple disabilities among a diverse group of kids and adults. It also has an aspect of social justice and activism in making spaces more accessible. The book demonstrates that even though things are unfair and frustrating at times, working together with others can help us work through those feelings. It encourages creativity, diversity, and understanding. We Move Together is a great book for parents and adults to introduce and discuss the topic of disabilities with their young readers.

For this review I will be evaluating: Tone, Illustrations, and Pacing.

Tone: The authors tone in this book demonstrates that they are passionate about representing the disability culture and community. It is also apparent that the author is determined to educate the reader in a respectful way. I think the author does a good job at giving the reader just enough information to make the connections of the importance of accessibility throughout the story. By providing examples in spaces that may be familiar to the reader it shows that the author trusts them to observe and speak up if they feel like someone is being treated unfairly. The author holds a respectful, informative, and understanding tone throughout the book.

Illustrations: One great thing that the illustrations in this book depict is action and movement. Many of the disabled characters in this storybook are in wheelchairs and in the illustrations their hair is blowing in the wind as they move fast. Even when they slow down they are still performing actions that imply that they are moving such as eat apples, painting, and reading books. I think the illustrator did a good job in creating detail that gives the reader perspective of the challenges that the disabled community faces. For example, one of the barriers that is faced in the story is the lack of accessibility at the ice cream shop. In the illustration, the person in the wheelchair is having an emotional reaction. The illustration depicts the ice cream store with one step, and on the next page, the community is making plans to add a ramp to the ice cream shop. However, the author is not specifically stating this in the text. Instead, the author writes “We notice when things are unfair, and it helps us get creative” and the illustration portrays the community creating building plans for a ramp at the shop. On the next page the reader sees the town square with businesses who now have accessibility ramps. This encourages the reader to use their imagination and make a connections from what they are reading and seeing on the previous page.

Pacing: We Move Together starts off slow and keeps a steady pace throughout most of the story I think this worked well as the author introduced the group of characters that the story follows. They also discussed important topics at the beginning such as lack of accessibility in public spaces and problem solving. However, towards the end of the book the pace seemed to speed up and it felt as if the author was attempting to discuss more important topics and in a short amount of time as the book was coming to an end. I do feel like this book could have been written in two parts, one that focused on the barriers that the disabled community faces, and a second part that gives insight into the culture of the community and their celebrations. Overall, the authors pace keeps the reader captivated as the story progresses.

References:

Fritsch, K., McGuire, Anne. (2021). We Move Together (E. Trejos, Illus.). AK Press.

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We Are Water Protectors

We Are Water Protectors is the winner of the 2021 Caldecott Medal and is a best seller. The target audience for this book is children aged 3 to 7. This book was written by Carole Lindstrom and Illustrated by Michaela Goade and was created to bring attention to the climate crisis and the efforts of the Indigenous communities to protect the earth, particularly the Earth's water. The book is about a young Native American girl who along with her tribe is determined to protect the water and land from a black snake that will essentially poison it. We Are Water Protectors also demonstrates peaceful protesting and the importance of activism. The book gives representation to Indigenous cultures and discusses the importance standing up for what you believe in.

I chose to review this book because climate change and activism can be difficult topics to discuss with children even though it's important. Often times what is shown on tv or on the news is scary or confusing and not the best way to introduce a topic. However, this book is educational without being overwhelming and not only educates children about protecting the environment but it is also a great way to educate children about Native cultures.

For this review I will be evaluating: Illustrations, Accuracy, Style and Language.

Illustrations: The illustrations in this book compliment the topic of the story and reinforce the written text. The story begins with an elder telling native American folklore about the water and mother earth. The illustrator uses different shades of blue to represent the water that is being protected, and hues of purple and white to represent the sacred land. While these illustrations are well executed and made me feel like I was also on the sacred land, the most significant illustration for me was the last page where the Indigenous community is protesting. The attention to detail made me feel like I was protesting alongside them.

Accuracy: This story was written in response to the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) which violated the Fort Laramie Treaty, disturbing the reservation lands surrounding the pipeline. According to Native Knowledge, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe advocated that the DAPL would threaten the survival of the Tribe and destroy valuable resources (Native Knowledge, 2018). The author and illustrator did a great job of depicting this real-life event in a story book for kids without it being too overwhelming. While the DAPL is not explicitly stated in the story, it is seen in the illustrations at the end of the story as protestors hold signs that say “No DAPL” and “Stand with Standing Rock”. The author and illustrator also included information about the dangers of oil pipelines and Standing Rock at the end of the story in the author’s note which gives parents the option to have that discussion with their children. The story did well in accurately representing the fight against the DAPL.

Style and Language: As mentioned, climate change and activism can be heavy topics. Lindstrom uses a direct and lyrical style to emphasize the importance of protecting the water and the earth. She uses metaphors such as “Tears like waterfalls” and uses personification by describing the water as being alive. Using figurative language, the author allows the reader to make an emotional connection with the message that is being told in the story in an engaging way..

Describing an oil pipeline and its negative impacts might be difficult to do with young readers but by using vocabulary that they may be familiar with makes it simpler. For example, using the black snake to represent something harmful might be easier for them to make a connection with the dangers of a pipeline. Using words like “poison” and “venom” along with the illustrations is a powerful way to describe something dangerous of having something like a snake in sacred water. Additionally, the author uses Indigenous vocabulary to refer to the girl’s grandmother. She also speaks of spirit, ancestors, and sacredness which are also impactful ways to expand the readers language and curiosity.

References:

Lindstrom, C. (2020). We Are Water Protectors (M.Goade, Illus.). Roaring Book Press.

Standing Rock Sioux and Dakota Access Pipeline: Teacher resource. Standing Rock Sioux and Dakota Access Pipeline | Teacher Resource. (n.d.). https://americanindian.si.edu/nk360/plains-treaties/dapl

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Bodies Are Cool

Bodies Are Cool is a picture book written and illustrated by Tyler Feder. It was listed on the Texas Library Association 2022 2X2 reading list, and is a great read-aloud book. The target age group for this book is children aged 2-5. This book celebrates body positivity, diversity, and inclusivity. Using bright illustrations and rhyming, Feder highlights different disabilities, skin color, hair types, body size, religion, and much more!

I chose to review Bodies Are Cool because it gives representation to individuals whose bodies may not meet society's ideal beauty standards. It also allows parents to introduce the idea that all individuals are unique and different, and that those differences should be celebrated. As somebody who grew up with thick curly hair, and noticeable body hair, having a book like this growing up would have been a great way to introduce self-acceptance as those characteristics often made me feel insecure. Another reason for choosing this book is because children are filled with curiosity. By strategically placing these bodies in common spaces such as pools, subways, and parks it allows children to make connections from what they are seeing in the illustrations to the real world.

For this review I will be evaluating setting, mood, and illustrations.

Setting: This book has multiple settings but the one that stood out to me the most was the movie theater. Feder does a great job of using each setting to focus on a specific difference. The movie theater setting discusses eyes and the multiple shapes and colors that they come in, as well as those who wear glasses. Dark colors are used to insinuate that the theater is dark, and lighter colors are used to brighten the characters eyes and faces. This is just one visual aspect that makes the reader feel like this is a real movie theater. The characters are also eating popcorn and sipping on their drinks which adds to the atmosphere. Feder did a good job giving each character a different emotional reaction to the movie. This particular setting functioned to illuminate the characters eyes and all of the ways in which they are different while making the reader feel as if they are in the theater along with the characters.

Mood: This read-aloud book has a fun and innocent mood that is well executed throughout the story. Bodies Are Cool is about acceptance and diversity and Feder uses rhyming words to describe the characters differences along with bright illustrations. The personalities of each character along with the settings they are in established the mood in this story. Additionally, the author used seasons and places that bring joy to most people- including kids which contributed to the mood in the story. Many of the places in this book are set in outdoor spaces that most kids are familiar with such as the park or the pool. The mood in Feder's story remains fun and innocent throughout the story and the depiction of multiple children and adults having positive interactions with one another further establish the atmosphere.

Illustration: The illustrations in Bodies Are Cool define and develop the characters as Feder uses multiple visual elements to keep the reader engaged. The characters represent people who a child may interact with in real life, and they all have fun and bright personalities. The illustrations focus on different elements of an individuals body, disabilities, and the LGBTQ community. Each character depicted in this story is unique and the illustrations highlight their different personalities. The illustrations also have the element of action, for example, there are characters who are riding bikes, operating their wheelchairs, swimming, and having emotional reactions. Feder brings the characters to life in this book making the illustrations realistic overall.

References:

Feder, T. (2021). Bodies Are Cool (T. Feder, Illus.). Penguin Young Readers Group.