A Few Recent Favorite MG Books

Finished reading February 24, 2019

I loved New Kid by Jerry Craft SO much! Jordan Banks is a gifted artist (and we are blessed to see his art throughout the book). He REALLY wants to go to art school, but his parents REALLY want him to go to a private school known for academics. You can probably guess who wins! J  My middle school students enjoy this book because it’s a gorgeous graphic novel about what it is like to be in middle school. For me, it was all of that plus a “Where’s Waldo?” of the microaggressions that happen in schools (and in life) on a daily basis. Some of the scenes stood out to me specifically...like the teacher wishing “Coach” luck this season, and the Secret Santa project. This book is super important to all of the "Ms. Rawles" in the world. I have added this title to my “Must Read for All of Humanity” list. Please read it!

Finished reading March 29, 2019

In the beautiful book, The Bridge Home by Padma Venkatraman, Viji and her sister Rukku run away from home because their father is abusive. A short time after taking a bus into the city, they meet Muthu and Arul, two homeless boys living under a bridge. The boys help them find work and get things that they need to survive. Learning these characters’ stories helped me understand how quickly some children are forced to grow up. Also, this story made me wonder how often we really see other people around us. At one point, Viji explained, "We were in plain sight. But we were invisible" (41). On a personal note, I don’t think I’ve ever had a favorite CHAPTER in a book before, but I have a very special place in my heart for Chapter 19. I’ve begun to look at the books I read through the lens of Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop’s work. This is a spectacular "window" book to look into another country and see how other children experience the world. I’m so excited that this will be a Global Read Aloud choice in the fall! 🌎📖

Finished reading April 8, 2019

First line: “I first realized I was crazy on a Tuesday.”

In OCDaniel by Wesley King, Daniel refers to himself as a 13-year-old “social oddity”. After a couple of mysterious emails, a girl named Sara (who the kids at school refer to as “Psycho Sara”) asks Daniel to help her investigate a mystery. Daniel helps her solve the mystery, and Sara helps Daniel to understand that he has a condition called Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Daniel explains, “It’s funny to be a prisoner of yourself. Like you’re being bullied by your own mind and you’re afraid of it, but it’s also you and it’s extremely confusing” (228). This fantastic book shows what people dealing with mental illness experience, and how other people react to them. I highly recommend this title!

#MustReadin2019 Spring Update

Hello, Readers! 📚

This is just a quick progress update on my #MustReadin2019 list. 

As I've said before, there is so much stress in committing to a list and then realizing how many awesome titles were overlooked. So this year I've decided to also include books that I absolutely ADORED, but were not in my original post. 

I have not always been one of those people who could read more than one book at a time, but usually now I find myself with a "school" book and a "home" book, with professional titles sprinkled in. I'm going to write a bit after finishing each one, mainly so I don't freak out when it's time to post the updates! 😊

Finished reading January 16, 2019

Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster by Jonathan Auxier is now one of my absolute favorites!!! Sweep is the story of Nan, a 12 year old girl in Victorian London. Left behind on a rooftop nearly five years ago, Nan has been working with other chimney sweeps in deplorable conditions. After a near tragedy, a little ball of char that Nan keeps in her pocket comes to life, and then continues to grow. This incredibly moving and beautiful story reminds us, "We save ourselves by saving others." It also forces us to ask ourselves who the REAL monsters are. 

Finished reading January 19, 2019

Where, oh where, was Pride by Ibi Zoboi when I was younger??? 💘 As someone who fake-read Pride and Prejudice in high school, but for-real read it later as an adult, I can say that this remix is so much more accessible to young readers for myriad reasons. First line: "It's a truth universally acknowledged that when rich people move into the hood, where it's a little bit broken and a little bit forgotten, the first thing they want to do is clean it up." The story follows Zuri Benitez and her family as the wealthy Darcy family moves in to the recently renovated "mini-mansion" across the street. Zuri takes an immediate dislike to hot, but standoffish Darius Darcy. And he appears to have zero interest in Zuri or her sisters. But as they spend more time together, they start to second-guess their original impressions of each other. 

Finished reading February 1, 2019

The wonderful line from John Green, "Frankly, I'd read your grocery lists," is the perfect summation of my love for Nic Stone's writing. Because I had read Dear Martin, I was confident that Odd One Out would be a winner, and I was not disappointed! Courtney Cooper, Jupiter Sanchez and Rae Chin each narrate a part of the story. "Coop" and "Jupes" have been best friends forever, but Coop is struggling with the fact that he wants them to be more than friends. The problem? Jupiter likes girls. When Rae Chin moves to town, it seems like the three of them make the "perfect couple"! I loved the main characters, the closeness of their families, and Coop's teammates are hilarious! This is a book that everyone needs to read. Well done, Nic! 💓

Finished reading February 6, 2019

When I finished reading Watch Us Rise by Renee Watson and Ellen Hagan, I told everyone who would listen, "I've added this book to my 'Required Reading For All of Humanity List.'" This is a story of a group of high school friends on a mission: "...we want to use our art to disrupt society and push against what's happening in the world." 

Here are just a few of my favorite things: 

1) The challenge from Jasmine's dad-"Get out, go see the places that present poetry, visual art, and theater made by people of color." 

2) All students in this school are required to join a social justice club.💖

3) "The only way to change things is from the inside out."

4) "Don't let idiots change your perception of you."

Many thanks to Bloomsbury Kids for sending me an ARC of this amazing title!

Finished reading February 13, 2019

I have never read a Dan Gemeinhart book that I didn't like. The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise is a new favorite! Coyote and her dad, Rodeo, live in an old yellow school bus named Yager. They travel wherever they feel led, and when people can use a bit of help, they are invited along...after answering three questions:

1) What is your favorite book?*

2) What is your favorite place on planet Earth?

3) What is your favorite sandwich?

*Coyote believes, "There's nothing like a good book for bringing folks together." (Be still, my book-nerd heart!)

I found room in my heart for all of the characters, and was rooting for each and every one of them. 

I wrote this in my reading journal: "At the end of the day, if you give them half a chance, people want to help other people. Most of 'em, anyway. They do" (308). 

I NEED TO BELIEVE THIS!!!

My takeaway quote: "Always kindness." 

Finished reading March 17, 2019

First line: "I might have to kill somebody tonight." That alone probably makes you want to read On The Come Up by Angie Thomas, am I right? I'm not going to pretend that I know ANYTHING about hip-hop, but I adored this book. Though from the same neighborhood as Starr (The Hate U Give), Bri is a completely different (equally strong) character. This book covers so many different issues...drug addiction, poverty, family, micro-aggressions, and people's perceptions. My personal favorite quotes were Bri's comments on "church people", which I wrote down to read again and again. Angie Thomas develops some rich, amazing characters and I continue to be enthralled by her writing. 

And did y'all see that this one's going to be a movie, too???