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)

Educated

I've had Educated by Tara Westover on my to-read list for forever, and this time when I got it from the library, I actually read it. It's a memoir about a woman who was raised by survivalist parents in Idaho, living a life without medicine, doctor's visits, and any kind of real education. As a teenager, she decides to leave and attend college and begins to realize that there is a new kind of life out there.

This was a fascinating book and incredibly engaging. (It was quite long, but I finished it in just a couple days.) I could not believe the kind of experiences she had as a child and the crazy views her parents had on certain things. (For example, several times, people in the family got seriously injured, and they did not go to the doctor and get the help they really should have gotten.) As a sidenote, Tara was raised as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which is my religion too, but our life experiences do not match AT ALL. Her parents had a lot of beliefs that are outside the normal LDS religion, and I think Tara does a good job observing that the things she experienced are not representative of a religion but rather her family's experience. Anyway, this was a really interesting and empowering read.

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