All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys' Soccer Team

I saw All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys' Soccer Team by Christina Soontornvat on the list of Newbery Honor books for this year and was immediately intrigued because I had been fascinated by that news story back in 2018. I had to wait on hold for the book at the library for several months but just got it--and finished it in one day! This is a nonfiction account (written for a children/young adult audience) of the 13 Thai boys (ages 11-16) and their soccer coach who went on a fun outing through a cave and ended up getting trapped deep inside when the cave flooded. Miraculously, they were found after 9 days and then all rescued 8 days later.

This book was AMAZING. The author told the story so well--it was engaging, well organized, fascinating, etc. I came away from the book just amazed at the miracle of the rescue and so touched by how much a human life matters. So many experts from around the world came and dedicated their time and skills (and some even risking their own lives) to save these boys. The book really showed how many people put their efforts into this rescue and how much work it truly required to make the miracle happen. This book was interesting and inspiring, and I highly recommend it.

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

From the Desk of Zoe Washington

I read From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks aloud to Emmeline for our Girls' Book Club in May. It is the story of Zoe, who has never met her birth father because he's in prison for a terrible crime. However, when she receives a letter from him on her 12th birthday and starts corresponding with him, she finds out he claims to be innocent. Zoe works to uncover the truth--while trying to keep her family from knowing what's going on.

This was a great read. Emmeline and I both enjoyed it, and all the girls in the book club gave it a thumbs up (meaning they loved it or really liked it). The author had a good balance of hard stuff (father in prison, accused of murder, etc.) with fun stuff (Zoe creating a cupcake recipe of her own and trying to be on a kids' cooking show). The story was engaging (almost too stressful for me at times!) with likable characters. The book does have Zoe lying a lot to her parents and grandma, which is tricky because I don't think that's a great example to kids--and yet all her lying paid off in the end. Tricky. :) I liked that this book is Own Voices (black author writing about a black character) and that it addresses the issue of parental incarceration because I always think it's good to expand kids' experiences and understanding.

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

Orbiting Jupiter

My mom recommended Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt, so I got it from the library. The dust jacket reads, "When Jack meets his new foster brother, he already knows three things about him: Joseph almost killed a teacher. He was incarcerated at a place called Stone Mountain. He has a daughter. Her name is Jupiter. And he has never seen her." This book follows 13-year-old Joseph as he tries to find peace in his new foster home.

This was an engaging story that had me rooting for Joseph throughout the story. It was a really sad book all the way through, but it was pretty much unbearably sad at the end. For that reason, I don't know if I'd actually recommend it to others unless you enjoy super sad books. The author did a great job developing the characters, and I loved watching the actions of the amazing foster parents. When I talked to my mom after I finished the book, my mom said she thought this would be a great book for teens to read and then do a writing exercise afterward where they write their own ending. I completely agree because I would have chosen to end the book much differently. (Aka happily.)

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