Review: The Scourge ✭✭✭✭

The Scourge by Jennifer A. Nielsen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The title of this thrilling adventure refers to the deadly plague that is gaining ground and taking victims in a fictional medieval land. The main character is a spunky girl named Ani who is suddenly snatched by government officials and tested for the disease. Although she has no symptoms, Ani tests positive for the disease and is taken away along with her friend Weevil, to quarantined Attic Island. This is a remote, desolate place where patients are treated more like prisoners as they wait out their death sentences. Find out if Ani will be able to save herself and others as she searches to find out exactly what is happening at this mysterious place.

This book is a great read for a middle grader who is taking a break from series books. The action/adventure is compelling and will keep your reader turning pages and wearing down their flashlight batteries late into the night! More mature readers that are interested in finding out more about plague might try the historical fiction book Fever by Laurie Halse Anderson.

View all my reviews

Review: Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan ✮✮✮✮✮

Echo is a wonderful children's book that could be classified as a historical novel with a fantasy element. The book's anchor is a magical harmonica and any music lover will appreciate the musical themes presented throughout. Three thrilling, yet lyrical stories unfold in the book, all taking place mid-20th century. Due to war and other hardships, all of the stories involve characters that are escaping or transitioning to a different way of life.

Friedrich is the main character in the first story; his is a heartbreaking tale that takes place in the early years of Hitler's Germany. Jews and anyone associated with Jews have to flee their homes or face the real possibility of being sent to a concentration camp. Will Friedrich make it out of Germany alive? Michael's story takes place during the great Depression; can he get himself and his much younger brother out of the horrific Philadelphia orphanage they live in to begin a new life? Finally, in the last story, Ivy is a Mexican American girl living as a migrant farmer with her family in California. Pearl Harbor has recently been bombed, and Japanese Americans are being rounded up and imprisoned. This presents an opportunity for Ivy's family. But what is the cost for their meager success?

Don't be discouraged by the size and thickness of this book; it is a wonderful read with a larger type font and well-spaced margins. The only time you will be able to put the book down is when one story ends and another begins. It is no surprise that this book won the Newbury honor in 2016. If you like the format of this book, try reading Refugee by Alan Gratz.

View all my reviews

Review: Merci Suárez Changes Gears ✮✮✮✮✮

Merci Suárez Changes Gears by Meg Medina

This sweet, coming-of-age story takes place in Southern Florida. Merci is a girl of Cuban descent who lives with her multi-generational family in a collection of three small homes called "Las Casitas." In the story, Merci and her older and smarter brother Roli have scholarships to attend a very exclusive private school near their home. Although Merci is in a much different place financially then her peers; she navigates her way through sixth grade with humor and grace.

Meanwhile, Merci is concerned that her grandfather Lolo doesn't seem to be himself as he begins to forget recent events and begins telling lies to Merci's grandmother to keep her from worrying about him. Lolo is suffering from Alzheimer's disease, and the close knit family comes together to offer their support and love.

This charming story is a well deserved winner of the 2019 John Newbury Medal. It touches upon several of-the-moment issues including immigration, inclusion, diversity, and aging. Meg Medina has also written a wonderful picture book titled Mango, Abuela and Me that is worthy of many read-alouds. As a recommendation for older readers, it is not difficult to find many similarities between this story and The Hate U Give. by Angie Thomas. In both books, strong and supportive families encounter and learn to deal with tragic circumstances beyond their control.


View all my reviews

Review: The Jumbies ✭✭✭✭

The Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This spooky story, based on a Haitian folk tale, will keep you up at night. Don't let the cute name fool you; jumbies are bizarre creatures that live in the forest of an unnamed Caribbean island. Corinne, the lead character, is a girl who lives with her father. She isn't afraid of the legend of the jumbies, or anything else for that matter. Jumbies, if they are real at all, don't leave the deep forest. That all changes when Severine, a creepy shape-shifter visits the local market in the form of a beautiful woman. She then tricks Corinne's father into falling in love with her. As she works her creepy magic, Dad begins to turn into a zombie-like jumbie. Severine's master plan is to "take back" the island that she and the other jumbies lost to humans when the first settlers arrived by boat. Corinne must count on her friends and some ancient magic to stop Severine from turning all the island's humans into jumbies.

You or your reader will love the descriptions of the tropical island. The author, Tracey Baptiste. describes the setting in vivid detail that makes it easy to imagine. You can almost taste the sweet oranges that become a large part of this story. If you love this book, you might want to try The NIght Gardener by Jonathan Auxier for an even scarier story.

View all my reviews

Review: Ban This Book

Ban This Book by Alan Gratz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



View all my reviews

Bloomability

I love reading autumn books in autumn, winter books in winter...you get the idea. Bloomability by Sharon Creech takes place in the Swiss Alps, and the imagery of the sparkling snow-capped mountains and crystal clear waters is breaktaking. Much prettier than our dreary freezing rain in Connecticut. In this coming of age story, 12-year old Dinnie's Uncle Max has just gotten the job of headmaster at an international school in Switzerland. Since Dinnie's parents have had difficulties providing for their family, they agree that Uncle Max and Aunt Sandy can "kidnap" Dinnie for a year of schooling abroad. Dinnie gets to meet students from all over the world, but will she able to overcome her homesickness?

Even though this story is 20 years old, it still resonates with its global message of unity. Some of the global issues back then have not changed all that much. Dinnie and her friends develop great empathy as they learn about the world around them. A scary incident in the mountains keeps the excitement level up later in the story.

This book would be perfect for a sixth grade book club discussion (in fact, that's why I read it). Make sure to whip up some yummy raclette, or at least have some Swiss chocolate on hand when you get together. Analyzing Dinnie's dreams could be part of a thoughtful discussion about the book. Also, make sure to read or recommend other titles by Sharon Creech, such as her newest, Saving Winslow.

Review: The Tale of Angelino Brown

The Tale of Angelino Brown by David Almond
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Do you believe in angels?

Bert the bus driver does. One day, Bert is having chest pains while driving the local bus. Lo and behold, a small angel appears in his shirt pocket and suddenly Bert is ok! Bert brings little Angelino home to his lovely wife Betty, and she immediately begins to take care of the miniature angel. They learn he is especially fond of gumdrops. Angelino even gets to attend school and meet instructors such as Mrs. Mole and Professor Smellie, and learn how to become a fast flying soccer goalie. Will Angelino’s new friends from school be able to save him from the villains who want to capture and sell the tiny angel? Will Angelino be able to fill a void in the hearts of Bert and Betty?

It may take a bit to get used to the English dialog and slang, but it is well worth it. And, be prepared: Angelino’s small problem with farting with have young readers in hysterics. Our library will be getting the audiobook version of the story as well and I can’t wait for that to arrive! David Almond mixes fantasy, humor and adventure into this story that will appeal to most third grade and up readers. This book was recently nominated for the 2018 Kate Greenaway Medal in England (similar to our Caldecott medal for illustration). Readers that enjoy books by Roald Dahl will love this cute story.


View all my reviews