Book Blitz

      The Hate U Give By Taylor Angie Thomas The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas is a powerful and thought-provoking novel that tackles issues of race, identity, and social justice in modern-day America. The book tells the story of Starr Carter, a 16-year-old black girl who lives in a poor neighborhood but attends a wealthy, mostly white prep school. Starr's world is turned upside down when she witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood friend, Khalil, by a police officer. Thomas' writing pulls the reader into Starr's world and makes them feel like they are experiencing the events of the book firsthand. The characters are complex and portrayed in a realistic and relatable way. Starr is a particularly compelling protagonist, struggling with her identity as a black girl from a poor neighborhood who is also a student at a predominantly white school. Her journey of self-discovery is both inspiring and heartbreaking. The novel's themes of police brutality, racial profiling, a...

     Daisy Jones and the Six By Taylor Jenkins Reid Audiobook performed by:   Jennifer Beals, Benjamin Bratt, Judy Greer, Pablo Schreiber Daisy Jones and the Six is an amazing audiobook that transports you back to the 1970s rock scene. This book, written by Taylor Jenkins Reid, has been brought to life through the narration of a full cast of talented voice actors. The audiobook format is perfect for this story, which is told through a series of interviews with the members of the band, their friends, and their family. Each character is given their own voice, allowing the listener to easily distinguish between them and get a deeper understanding of their personalities and motivations. The story itself is captivating, with an immersive plot that follows the rise and fall of a fictional rock band. The characters are complex and complicated, and the audiobook's format allows them to be explored in depth. One of the strengths of the audiobook is the way the music is woven...

    El Deafo By Cece Bell El D eafo , written and illustrated by Cece Bell, is a graphic novel that tells the story of a young girl named Cece who lost her hearing as a result of an illness at 4 years old.  The book is a loose autobiographical account of Bell's childhood and life with her deafness.  The novel follows her experiences navigating school and friendships while using a bulky hearing aid that she calls the "Phonic Ear." What makes El Deafo  a great book is the way it portrays Cece's hearing loss and her use of the Phonic Ear as a superhero origin story. The device allows her to hear her teacher's voice from anywhere in the school, giving her an advantage that she leverages to become "El Deafo," a superhero who can hear and solve any problem. The way that Cece visualizes her hearing loss and the use of the Phonic Ear as a tool for her superhero persona makes for a unique and entertaining story. Throughout the book, Cece encounters many of t...

   Long Way Down By Jason Reynolds Click here to listen to a community read of the book.  Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds is a powerful novel written in free-verse that tackles the issue of gun violence in America. The story follows fifteen-year-old Will as he reacts to the shooting death of his brother Shawn just two days earlier. The story takes place in a mere one minute and seven seconds as Will travels in an elevator to the ground floor of his building; he is on a mission to avenge his brother’s death by killing the person he believes is responsible. As Will is in the elevator, he is visited by a series of ghosts, including his brother, who challenge his decision and force him to confront the cycle of violence that has plagued his community. I loved that this novel was written in free-verse. I have never read a novel that was structured this way and the writing had a rhythm that moves the story along. Additionally, the rhythm of the novel mimics the urgency and ...

      Full of Beans By Jennifer L. Holm Full of Beans  is a historical fiction book by Jennifer L. Holm. The story takes place during the Great Depression in Key West, Florida. The book centers around a young boy named Beans who is always looking for ways to make money. His search for money leads Beans to get involved in questionable activities. Through the eyes of Beans, we see the struggles and hardships faced by families during the Great Depression. Beans also illuminates the resilience and resourcefulness that were required to survive during this period.  I think Full of Beans  is a great historical fiction book to get children interested and engaged in the Great Depression. Jennifer L. Holm fills the book with likable and relatable characters that help to engage readers. The thing that impressed me the most about the book is how the author managed to address serious issues of the time, such as poverty and discrimination, in a way that is accessible and...

     Fuzzy Mud By Louis Sachar Fuzzy Mud  is a young adult novel by Louis Sachar. The story follows the lives of two middle school students, Tamaya and Marshall. One day on their way home from school, they take a shortcut through the woods and discover a strange, fuzzy mud. Tamaya touches the mud and develops a rash, prompting the school to go on lockdown to prevent a potential virus outbreak. The fuzzy mud is revealed to be a genetically modified organism created by a scientist. Tamaya and Marshall work together to expose the truth about the fuzzy mud and prevent future accidents from happening.  Fuzzy Mud  is a realistic science fiction book in which Sachar does an excellent job of keeping the reader on edge as the mystery of the fuzzy mud unfolds. This is a great science fiction book for young adults because it masterfully mixes science fiction with things that normal kids deal with, such as fitting in and bullying. Additionally, this book engages childr...

    The Turtle of Oman By Naomi Shihab Nye The Turtle of Oman  is a novel about a young boy named Aref Al-Amri that is moving from Muscat, Oman to Ann Arbor, Michigan.  The book is  about the challenges of leaving one's home and adapting to a new environment. Aref struggles to come to terms with the fact that he is leaving everything he knows and loves behind, including his beloved turtles. Through the support of his family and his own resilience, Aref slowly learns to appreciate his new surroundings and find joy in unexpected places. The Turtle of Oman is a beautifully written novel that explores themes of family, friendship, and cultural identity. I think this book is great for children to read because it is realistic fiction and deals with situations that children face in their own lives. For children who are in the same position as Aref, having to move to a new place and leave friends/family behind, reading this book will provide them with a character they ...

   The Octopus Scientists By Sy Montgomery Photographs by Keith Ellenbogen The Octopus Scientists is a non-fiction book by Sy Montgomery that is part of the Scientists in the Field series. In the book, Montgomery details her studies of octopuses in French Polynesia.  The book covers a range of topics, from the ways that octopuses use tools to solve problems to their sophisticated camouflage abilities and intricate courtship rituals. Throughout the book, Montgomery emphasizes the importance of recognizing the intelligence and individuality of these creatures and argues that studying octopuses can provide insights into the evolution of intelligence and consciousness. The Octopus Scientists  is a great non-fiction book for young readers. The book is filled with beautiful and engaging pictures that help to break up the text. Additionally, the book is written in a narrative style, making it engaging and easy to read, even for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. One ...

  The Lion & the Mouse  Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney The Lion & the Mouse  is a nearly wordless picture book illustrated by Jerry Pinkney. The book tells Aesop's classic fable of The Lion and the Mouse through Pinkney's beautiful illustrations. In 2010, Pinkney won the Caldecott Medal for his illustrations in this book, making him the first African American to win this award. The story takes place in the African Serengeti and begins with a mouse's life being spared by a lion. When the lion is later caught in a human trap, the mouse chews through the ropes to free the lion and repay him.      The illustrations in this book are absolutely stunning, and even without words, the story still relays an essential lesson about the value of kindness and how even the smallest creature can make a big difference. Additionally, the use of onomatopoetic animal sounds as the only words in the story added an element of motion and energy. I have used this book ...

Super Fly Guy! Written and Illustrated by Tedd Arnold Super Fly Guy! is the second book in the Fly Guy series. The book is about a fly named Fly Guy, who is a boy named Buzz's pet. Buzz takes Fly Guy to school and Fly Guy falls in love with the lunch lady, Roz. Roz becomes friends with Fly Guy and feeds him, but when Roz's boss finds out that there is a fly in the kitchen, he fires her and replaces her with Miss Muzzle. No one likes Miss Muzzle, so Fly Guy and Buzz create a plan to get rid of her. When Miss Muzzle sees Fly Guy, she tries to swat him but destroys the kitchen in the process. In the end, Roz gets her job back and everyone is happy.  The Fly Guy  series is great for early readers. This book in particular has three chapters and totals about thirty pages. The book is fun and silly and perfect for younger children who want to begin to read chapter books. Super Fly Guy!  is full of colorful and fun illustrations, which makes it a great book to use with children t...

  Ada Twist, Scientist By Andrea Beaty Illustrated by David Roberts     The book Ada Twist, Scientist  is about an inquisitive young girl named Ada Marie Twist. Ada is full of questions about the world; her first word was "why" followed by "what, when, and how." She questions everything she encounters, such as why a clock ticks and why roses have thorns. One day, Ada encounters a particularly difficult puzzle: what is the source of the terrible stink? Ada conducts experiments to try to find out the answer to this question, however, she leaves a trail of chaos in her wake. At first, her parents are overwhelmed and mad at Ada for the mess she has created. But they soon realize that Ada is extremely curious and begin to work together to solve the answers to Ada's questions.        Ada Twist, Scientist is an incredible picture book that features a variety of important lessons. The book focuses on Ada Twist, an African American second-grader who loves...

  The Ugly Duckling  By Hans Christian Andersen Adapted and illustrated by Jerry Pinkney The Ugly Duckling is a story about a young duckling that all the other animals make fun of, tease, and call ugly. Unknown to the duckling and the other animals, he is actually a swan that was misplaced in a ducks nest. Despite being loved and accept by his mother, the ugly duckling ventures out into the world to find a place he is understood and accepted. When spring arrives, the duckling spots a flock of beautiful white swans and decides to join them. Worried he will not be accepted, the duckling finds out that he is actually one of them. The story ends with the duckling finally finding his home and place in the world. Jerry Pinkney's adaption of the classic story is a Caldecott Honor Book. The Caldecott Honor recognizes the preceding year's most distinguished American picture book for children. In his adaptation, Pinkney captures the spirit of Hans Christian Andersen's original...

             Bowwow Powwow by Brenda J. Child                                             Brenda J. Child's book, Bowwow Powwow , tells the story of a young girl named Windy Girl. Windy Girl, and her dog, Itchy Boy, enjoy adventures together, but their favorite activity is driving with Uncle's and listening to his stories about powwows from his childhood. After a powwow one day, Windy Girl falls asleep and dreams of a "bowwow powwow," where the dancers are dogs.     What stood out to me the most about this book is that it is a bilingual-book. On every page is the text in English, as well as Anishinaabemowin. The book was tr anslated into Anishinaabemowin by Gordon Jourdain, a member of the Lac La Croix First Nation of Ontario, and a teacher at the Misaabekong Ojibwe Language Immersion program in the Dulu...

The purpose of this blog is to discuss children's and young adult books that I am reading for my graduate class, Selecting Literature. This blog will be used to record my reactions to and thoughts about the books I read.