Macy McMillan and the Rainbow Goddess

I saw Macy McMillan and the Rainbow Goddess by Shari Green on the book award list for the Schneider Family Book Award (for books with a disability experience) and got it from the library. Here's the book description:  "Sixth grade is coming to an end, and so is life as Macy McMillan knows it. Already a “For Sale” sign mars the front lawn of her beloved house. Soon her mother will upend their perfect little family, adding a stepfather and six-year-old twin stepsisters. To add insult to injury, what is Macy’s final sixth grade assignment? A genealogy project. Well, she’ll put it off—just like those wedding centerpieces she’s supposed to be making. Just when Macy’s mother ought to be understanding, she sends Macy next door to help eighty six-year-old Iris Gillan, who is also getting ready to move—in her case into an assisted living facility. Iris can’t pack a single box on her own and, worse, she doesn’t know sign language. How is Macy supposed to understand her? But Iris has stories to tell, and she isn’t going to let Macy’s deafness stop her. Soon, through notes and books and cookies, a friendship grows. And this friendship, odd and unexpected, may be just what Macy needs to face the changes in her life."

This was a great book! It was written in verse (which I always love), so it was a quick read. I loved the characters and following Macy as she sorted through everything she was dealing with. I also enjoyed reading a book with a deaf character since I have some ASL background. I added this to a list of books I'd like Emmeline to read.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

Amina's Song

I recently re-read Amina's Voice by Hena Khan, this time with Emmeline for our book club. After finishing, I saw there is now a sequel and so got Amina's Song from the library. This book follows Amina on a life-changing trip to Pakistan where she gets to know Thaya Jaan's family and then her return home. The book description reads, "After she’s home, though, her friends don’t seem overly interested in her trip. And when she decides to do a presentation on Pakistani hero Malala Yousafzai, her classmates focus on the worst parts of the story. How can Amina share the beauty of Pakistan when no one wants to listen?"

I really enjoyed this book. It was fun to continue on the story of Amina, and I think Emmeline would enjoy reading this book as well. The book was engaging with a realistic, relatable storyline.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

When You Trap a Tiger

I got When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller from the library after seeing it won the Newbery medal this year. I'm getting lazy with writing my own summaries, so here's the description from Amazon: "When Lily and her family move in with her sick grandmother, a magical tiger straight out of her halmoni's Korean folktales arrives, prompting Lily to unravel a secret family history. Long, long ago, Halmoni stole something from the tigers. Now they want it back. And when one of the tigers approaches Lily with a deal--return what her grandmother stole in exchange for Halmoni's health--Lily is tempted to agree. But deals with tigers are never what they seem! With the help of her sister and her new friend Ricky, Lily must find her voice...and the courage to face a tiger."

This was a great read. I was sobbing by the end and was also left with a lot of questions about what was real and what wasn't--which maybe was left unclear on purpose. I loved the main character, Lily, and worried about what was going to happen as she tried to navigate the cirumstances she was facing. It was a unique book, but it definitely caught my interest and made me want to keep reading. It was also kind of deep at the end, and I probably need to do some pondering to really understand all of the lessons the book teaches in the end.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

Fighting Words

I got Fighting Words by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley from the library after hearing it was one of the newly announced Newbery Honor books. Here's a description of the book from the publisher: "Ten-tear-old Della has always had her older sister, Suki: When their mom went to prison, Della had Suki. When their mom’s boyfriend took them in, Della had Suki. When that same boyfriend did something so awful they had to run fast, Della had Suki. Suki is Della’s own wolf–her protector. But who has been protecting Suki? Della might get told off for swearing at school, but she has always known how to keep quiet where it counts. Then Suki tries to kill herself, and Della’s world turns so far upside down, it feels like it’s shaking her by the ankles. Maybe she’s been quiet about the wrong things. Maybe it’s time to be loud."

This was an incredible book. It is a book that addresses things like sexual abuse and suicide but is meant for younger readers than a typical young adult book. (My sensitive 10-year-old with anxiety wouldn't be quite ready for this book, but I think it would be a meaningful read for her in a few years. Other children her age probably could handle this, but I think it'd be good to have an adult in their life reading it too so it can be discussed.) The book was engaging and hard to put down, and the characters were just so well developed. I was rooting for Della and Suki the whole book and so grateful for the good people in their lives. The book also opened my eyes to the many children who go through childhoods that are completely unfair. I really love that this book was written because I think it will give children who have been through difficult things the courage to speak up and the ability to find hope for a better future.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

Shine

I heard about Shine by J.J. and Chris Grabenstein in my Children & Libraries journal where I read an article about couples who collaborate. Chris Grabenstein is a well-known author, and for this book, he wrote with his wife, J.J., an actress/singer. Shine is about 12-year-old Piper who has to transfer schools when her dad accepts a new job as the music director at Chumley Prep, a private school for rich kids--which seems like a place where Piper will never fit in. The book follows Piper as she makes friends, navigates a bully, and figures out what things like friendship and excellence really mean.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were great, and I liked following the problems Piper faced and how she tried to work through them. The book was a little predictable for me, but I don't think a kid would catch onto everything quite like I did. I think this would be a great book for my 10-year-old and one that she'd really enjoy, but it does have a spoiler for something she still believes in, so I'll give it a year. :)

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

Illegal

I was looking for new graphic novels for my daughter to read and saw on a list Illegal by Eoin Colfer, Andrew Donkin, and Giovanni Rigano and got it from the library. It follows Ebo and his brother Kwame who leave Ghana as refugees, looking to get to Europe to reunite with their sister.

This was a powerful book that gave a glimpse into the terribly unfair and difficult circumstances faced by refugees. I think it would be a little too much for my 10-year-old right now since she's pretty sensitive, and this book had some hard deaths. But I think it's a great book for teens and helps readers remember the real issues faced by people around the world every day.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

Ways To Make Sunshine

I saw Ways To Make Sunshine by Renee Watson on some kind of list somewhere and decided to get it from the library since I am a fan of the author (loved her book Piecing Me Together). This book follows Ryan and her family when her dad loses his job and they have to move to a new house. As Ryan adjusts to some changes in her family's life, she learns to find the good in rough situations.

This was a quick, sweet read. There wasn't much of a big conflict or major plot but just a simple story, realistic fiction story. I can't remember much more because I read this a few weeks ago, and that's about how my memory is. ;) I do like that Renee Watson is telling the everyday story of a girl who is black since that is definitely an underrepresented population in children's books.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)