Guy Friday- Maybe He Just Likes You

Yes, I know that there are no "boy" books or "girl" books, but I would wager that few of the boys in my library would pick this up on their own. This is too bad, because they all would benefit from reading a "window" into another experience. You know this is going to be my top pick for Boys Read Pink month, but I'm also going to suggest it to many, many boys before then.

Dee, Barbara. Maybe He Just Likes You
October 1st 2019 by Aladdin
E ARC provided by Edelweiss

Mila is anxious about starting middle school, especially since things are tough at home. Her mother seems to be having a tough time at work, although she's not talking about it, and also isn't getting a lot of cooperation with child support from Mila and her younger sister's dad. Mila has grown a bit, and her clothes are too tight, but she doesn't want to say anything, relying instead on a favorite fuzzy green sweater that is loose enough to also cover her tight pants. This sweater gains some unwanted attention from a group of boys, who want Mila to hug them or brush up against her sleeve. It's just weird, and she doesn't like it, and lets the boys know. But it still continues. Making it even more difficult is the fact that one of the boys is one whom her friend Zara likes. Her friend Omi isn't quite sure what to do, but her friend Max, who was bullied during the last school year by other boys calling him gay, presses Mila to tell an adult about the behavior. Mila does, but she has to talk to a male school counselor, and isn't comfortable giving details. The behavior is such that it flies under the teachers' radars, and it's Mila's slightly louder reactions that get the negative attention, which doesn't make her feel any better. The two things that are pleasant in her life are band class and a karate class that she is taking at a nearby gym while her mother has a free two week pass. Things become worse at home when her mother quits her job, so Mila doesn't want to bother her mother. Finally, one of the boys makes a comment right before the middle school band takes the stage for the concert, and Mila can no longer be silent. There are consequences, but also understanding teachers who want to make sure that the boys' behavior stops for good.
Strengths: This was well done. It's a difficult topic, but it's the only book I've seen (other than the YA Moxie) that deals with sexual harassment and about the only book that portrays realistic bullying. Mila's confusion as to whether or not the boys were really doing anything was perfect, and all middle schoolers will relate to the discomfort over clothing and changing bodies. The situation at home is also handled well; parents occasionally quit jobs, and it's very concerning for middle school students. I especially liked that the boys were finally dealt with in a constructive way that made them understand the effects their behavior had on Mila, and that it wasn't just a joke. Max is also a good character, and he is commendable for encouraging Mila to talk to adults, the way she encouraged him. It's also nice to see a gay middle school character who isn't in the middle of a crisis. All in all, a well-crafted, important tale that is interesting to read as well as informative.
Weaknesses: I wish that the teachers (especially the aide) had been a bit more approachable, or that Mila had had one teacher with whom she felt safe. We've made a big push in our school to encourage our students to have a "trusted adult" in the building for instances such as Mila's and other types of problems.
What I really think: Definitely purchasing and recommending.

The Disaster Days

Behrens, Rebecca. The Disaster Days
October 1st 2019 by Sourcebooks Young Readers
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Hannah doesn't understand why her parents are SO overprotective, even though she occasionally has a hard time dealing with her asthma. She lives on Pelling, a small island outside of Seattle, and is glad that she has a chance to babysit for one of the few neighboring families. Usually, it's just for a short time while Ms. Matlock runs to the store, but when there is a gallery show, she gets to watch Oscar and Zoe for a little longer. Her mother will be home a little later in case she runs into problems, so she's looking forward to a little independence. She is also glad to have something to take her mind off her fight with her best friend, Neha. Ever since Hannah quit soccer because of her asthma, the two have grown apart, and when Neha doesn't want to work with Hannah on a project, the two have a text scuffle. All of those things become unimportant, however, when there is an earthquake! All three children (Zoe is just a couple of years younger than Hannah; 4th graders are pretty helpful) are worried, but they manage to ride out the quake, assess the damage, and think through what they need to do. When Hannah's cell phone stops working and Ms. Matlock does not come home, she tells the children that she is on her way to make sure they don't panic. Zoe is not happy the next day, but things slowly go from bad to worse. There are aftershocks and other small quakes that damage the house further and cause the refrigerator to topple. Hannah smells gas and knows that they have to leave the house, so they stay on the porch and then set up a tent when even that seems dangerous. They have a wind up radio and listen to the local news, but none of it is good. Hannah worries that her father, an architect working on a project on the coast, might have been killed, and she knows it will be some time before anyone gets back to the island. When food is low and the children's injuries become worse (Zoe gets glass in her arm and Oscar breaks his leg), Hannah decides they should make their way to her house, 3/4 of a mile away, and closer to the ferry. When her house is in even worse shape and circumstances seem dire, the three set out for the ferry. Will they be able to get help in time?
Strengths: Children saving the day alone without killing off any parents! Hooray! I loved that Hannah was irritated with her mother for hovering, but soon understood what it is like to be responsible for others. Having her be in 7th grade and having taken a babysitting course, and having her charges be in 4th and 2nd grade (or so-- e copies are hard to go back and scan) is perfect-- I babysat children that age from 5 p.m. to 2 p.m. for a neighbor in the summer, and certainly felt like I could have dealt with an earthquake! Yes, it's horrible, but it's also sort of exciting. I'm not normally a fan of flashbacks, but the first chapter of this was so suspenseful. The children consulting an encyclopedia for information and remembering some of their lessons on what gas smells like, etc. was brilliant. Really, really enjoyed this!
Weaknesses: I am usually a fan of inserting friend drama into every middle grade novel, but there were so many details about survival in this book that the subplot with Neha wasn't really necessary. It's not bad; just distracted me from the awesome tale of survival.
What I really think: Loved this one, and needed some fresh survival tales. This will be heavily used and I'm looking forward to giving it to students! Also, I apparently need to have a Go Bag in my closet.

Blue Liz Claibourne slacks I know I wore to London in 2005, Lands End gingham shirt, cotton argyle vest. Evil bunny pin! When I worked at Lazarus thirty odd years ago, we were required to wear three pieces on the floor. A skirt and blouse were not enough; we had to add a jacket, vest, sweater, or scarf in order to look professional. Of course, most of us just kept a navy blazer in the break room and threw it on with everything. This has really stuck with me, though!

I Can Make This Promise

Day, Christine. I Can Make This Promise
October 1st 2019 by HarperCollins
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Edie lives near Seattle, Washington, and has two good friends, Serenity and Amelia. They are working on an animation project for a local contest. After seeing a lost dog at a festival she attended with her parents, Edie wants to make him the center of the story, but Amelia thinks that is babyish. Amelia thinks a lot of things are babyish, but when the girls are searching Edie's attic for ice pop molds, they come across some photographs and letters from the early 1970s, and that intrigues all of them. Edie's mother is Native American, but because she was adopted by a white couple as a baby, she doesn't know her tribal affiliation or anything about her cultural heritage. The photograph of  the young woman, Edith, looks very much like Edie, and she starts to read the letters and do some research. She feels out her parents by asking them leading questions that they fail to pick up on, so Edie is a bit perturbed that they are keeping secrets from her. Serenity goes away for a bit, and Amelia becomes friends with a girl who has always given Edie a hard time, so Edie struggles with the animation project as well as finding out the truth about her past.
Strengths: I always appreciate books that teach me something; I had no idea that Native American children were taken away from their parents in the 1970s and before. The Indian Child Welfare Act (https://www.nicwa.org/about-icwa/) was enacted in 1978, and yet I knew nothing about it. The family mystery is worked into the rest of Edie's life well, and certainly friend drama is a huge part of the middle grade experience. My favorite part was when the parents finally told Edie about her heritage and finally gave her all of the details.
Weaknesses: This was rather slow and introspective, and there were a couple of weighted references about at-home mothers that seemed odd.
What I really think: There are very few books about Native Americans that reflect experiences accurately, so this is a welcome #ownvoices addition, although the characters seemed more like elementary students rather than middle school ones.

Been thinking a lot about #30wears. Since I've had this skirt since 2002,  and the sweater since about 2005, I feel good about them.

6th grade classes in the library all day today, working on life size character portraits, so needed something I can crawl around on the floor in if necessary.

Homerooms and Hall Passes

O'Donnell, Tom. Homerooms and Hall Passes
October 8th 2019 by Balzer + Bray
E ARC from Edelweiss Plus

Albiorix is a young Medieval wizard from the mystical realm of Bríandalör who is Hall Master for the role playing game Homerooms and Hall Passes. He and his friends (Thromdurr, a barbarian; Sorrowshade, a gloom elf; Vela, a paladin; and Devis, a thief) meet at a local pub in between their real life adventures (thwarting evil orcs, rescuing jewels, etc.) to run their newest campaign, The Semester of Stultification. Set in J.A. Dewar Middle School, it involves each of Albiorix's friends having an alter ego. Thromdurr is Douglas,  a Nerd; Sorrowshade is Melissa the Loner; Vela is Valerie, an overachiever, and Devis is Stinky, whose back story is not well developed. When the group sits down to play, they start with Spirit Week at the school, but they are all suddenly whisked into the realm of the game! Of course, they all look a bit unusual in their Medieval garb, and have to stow their weapons in the auditorium closet. Not only that, but as Hall Master, Albiorix doesn't exist, so he has to pretend to be Armando, from Toronto, Ontario, Canada! He lives in a supply closet with a little used floor polisher and subsists off cheese crackers he buys from the vending machine with magicked coins. He also consults his 26 guides to the world of H&H in order to understand the classes, teachers, etc. He must provide the principal with documentation, and asks another new student, June Westray. She is understanding of the group's eccentricities, helps Armando with the computer, and also ends up helping the group with algebra, a subject with which they struggle mightily. The group believes that if they can run a successful campaign, they will get home, and there are several different problems they must face, but when Armando conjures the evil wizard Zazirak by using the Malnomicon, and the wizard takes over the body of the assistant principal, the group must save both of their worlds.
Strengths: This made me laugh and laugh and laugh, and I really needed that after the summer of Serious Middle Grade Books with Serious but Trendy Problems. Oh, my... Thromdurr! Loved him SO MUCH! And when I say laugh, I mean snorted unbecomingly. Again and again. I have a small group of students who believe in their heart of hearts that I will be able to teach them to play Dungeons and Dragons, which is super sweet but not going to happen because it involves, as Albiorix knows, a huge background knowledge of the game, which I will never possess, and those students each need their own personal copy of this book! There is a deep understanding of middle school students and how they operate, and the group from Bríandalör is hysterical when they turn those expectations on their ears! Of COURSE Devis puts mustard on pizza. I'm just surprised he didn't suck the mustard packets.

Oh, I give up. Yes, there is literary merit in this book, but the best part of this was that it was hysterically funny. Just buy it, especially if Denis Markell's The Game Masters of Garden Place is popular in your library.
Weaknesses: I was a bit thrown when Albiorix's teacher from Bríandalör showed up at the school and whisked them all back, then they had to find a way to return and deal with Zazirak. It took me out of the story, briefly. Readers who have never heard of Dungeons and Dragons might need some front loading of information.
What I really think: I think that, like John David Anderson's Insert Coin to Continue, the only responsible thing I can do is to buy at least three copies and put it on the Battle of the Books list next year!

Some things that are out now that you need to have!

Bacon, Lee. The Last Human
October 8th 2019 by Amulet Books
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

I read this, but the pages of the E ARC moved so slowly that it took about two weeks to get through this. I loved this author's Joshua Dread series, and this was a solid robot adventure, but I don't feel I can review this properly. I'll buy a library copy and will need to read it again. Definitely take a look if robot adventures are popular in your library!

From Goodreads. com
In the future, robots have eliminated humans, and 12-year-old robot XR_935 is just fine with that. Without humans around, there is no war, no pollution, no crime. Every member of society has a purpose. Everything runs smoothly and efficiently. Until the day XR discovers something impossible: a human girl named Emma. Now, Emma must embark on a dangerous voyage with XR and two other robots in search of a mysterious point on a map. But how will they survive in a place where rules are never broken and humans aren’t supposed to exist? And what will they find at the end of their journey?"

Read Elizabeth L. Cline's The Conscious Closet, which had lots of good information, but since I bought this dress in 1997, I'm pretty sure I have gotten #30wears out of it. The vest is new to me, but the original owner put "2000" on the back of the tag, which I assume is the year she bought it. Since it cost $2, my cost per wear is... $2.

Remember, I have an archive, not a closet, so her advice about paring down fell on deaf ears. I do have extreme closet contentment (I love what I have and feel good wearing everything), and really do wear about 95% of what I own. That purple velvet mini dress my mother bought in 1969? My Gunne Sax dress from 1988? Don't wear those a lot. I do donate back things I no longer wear, so I feel good about my clothing policies.

MMGM- Nina Soni and Fighting for the Forest

 It's Marvelous Middle Grade Monday at Always in the Middle and #IMWAYR day

 at Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers. It's also Nonfiction Monday.

Sheth, Kashmira. Nina Soni, Former Best Friend

October 1st 2019 by Peachtree Publishing Company

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Nina is nine years old, and struggling with several things. Her father has to spend his week working away from home, and Nina misses him. She also has trouble controlling herself, which leads her to accidentally crash her friend Jay's project to the ground. He forgives her, but is also a little irritated. Nina's younger sister Kavita also is rather impetuous, and goes head first into a school trash can to retrieve something shiny, getting gum stuck in her hair right before her birthday party! Nina has forgotten to do a Personal Narrative Project for school. Jay doesn't have a lot of sympthay and claims to already be done. Nina decides to pursue the scientific experiment option after she helps her mother make a cabbage dish and notices that the lemon juice turns the cabbage a different color. This is a good thing, because her sweatshirt that she was wearing when she rescued Kavita from the garbage is not growing things as fast as she would like at the bottom of her closet! While working on the preparations for Kavita's party, Nine tries to work on her experiment, but it is constantly interrupted. Not only that, but Jay informs her at the party that he did the same experiment in third grade! Will Nina be able to get her project done by Monday morning?

Strengths: Nina's concerns are all too real; how many children have put off important projects because they just can't get themselves organized? There should be more books about this. I enjoyed Nina's family and her relationship with Kavita. The Indian culture is a major component in the book, but it is not a book about Nina's culture, which is perfect. I think Indian writers are the absolute best at writing descriptions of food, and I just wanted to go to dinner at Nina's house!

Weaknesses: Too young for my readers, but I loved everything about this!

What I really think: I really enjoyed this; it was sort of like an Indian version of Haywood's Betsy books! (And I loved Betsy when I was six, so this is high praise!) Sheth also has The No-Dogs-Allowed Rule (2012) for younger readers; sadly, it is out of print, but both of these are great choices for realistic fiction for elementary schools.

Pearson, P. O'Connell. Fighting for the Forest: How FDR's Civilian Conservation Corps Helped Save America
October 8th 2019 by Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers
E ARC from Edelweiss Plus

I find the Great Depression fascinating, and there could be every bit as many books about it as there are about World War II. So many different stories, from the pack horse librarians who traveled through Appalachia, to children who were turned out of their homes because their parents couldn't afford to feed them, to Dorothea Lange and her work photographing migrant farm workers during this time. The Civilian Conservation Corps (which is described brilliantly in Jeanette Ingold's 2006 Hitch) is not a well known organization, but hopefully this exquisite title will change that.

Pearson does a great job at giving background knowledge about so many things leading up to the creation of this group-- the Great Depression and its effects on families, the farming crisis caused by erosion, Theodore Roosevelt's attempts at setting up federal parkland, and Franklin Roosevelt's belief that the government needed to step in to help people find jobs. This is important, because most people under the age of 75 have no clue how bad the Depression was. The clothing that people wore was often little more than rags, and Pearson points out that some of the young men in the CCC were especially glad to join because food was so scarce that family members might take turns eating-- today might be your sister's day for food and yours would be tomorrow!

The CCC was a great idea for many reasons. Unemployed young men in cities are a problem. Put them to work at back breaking labor, have them send $25 of their $30 a month home to their families, and you cut down significantly on behavioral problems! I can't imagine young people today wanting to live in tents in the middle of no where and spend their days clearing brush, cutting through rock, and occasionally dealing with natural disasters, but when your next meal depends on it, you do what you have to do.

The work done on the parks seems almost incidental, but it wasn't. Not only did the men work on parks, but they helped restore farmland devastated by overgrazing and subsequent erosion. Pearson covers the different types of work done and the reasons behind it at the time. At the end of the book, there is some discussion about modern criticism of the program, much of it centered around things like clearing brush to prevent fires, when modern studies have proven that some brush needs to be left for some species to flourish and that controlled fires can help forests.

There is also ample discussion of the results of the racism at the time on the CCC. African American, Native Americans, and Hispanics all were part of the Corps, but usually were in their own units. Towns were reluctant to have African American units stationed near them, so they were often sent to the most remote places. Native Americans spent most of their time working on reservations. While this is certainly a shameful part of the US's past, I don't think it's fair to discount the good work that the CCC did, especially since many in administration did what they could to try to integrate the Corps.

This book is an interesting nonfiction choice, and the inclusion of stories of several different men makes this more personal and immediate. With the 100th anniversary of the start of the Great Depression coming up in a decade, this is certainly a book I am excited about having in my collection.

I have to admit that I am very conflicted about FDR; his treatment of Eleanor wasn't very admirable, but you can see why US citizens admired him; he was a very personable guy.

It's finally fall! Very glad for the cooler temperatures, which give me an excuse to wear a flannel shirt even though it's not Friday. And a skirt makes every outfit professional, even when it's denim, right?

Dear Sweet Pea

Murphy, Julie. Dear Sweet Pea
October 1st 2019 by Balzer + Bray
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Sweet Pea DiMarco's parents have divorced, and her father has moved into a home two doors down, so that it's easier for her to go back and forth according to the shared custody arrangement. In between the houses is a larger home occupied by local advice columnist, the eccentric Miss Flora Mae. Sweet Pea and her best friend Oscar have heard all kinds of stories about Miss Flora Mae, so when the columnist asks Sweet Pea to collect her mail, water her plants, and send packages back to the newspaper, Sweet Pea is a little apprehensive but agrees. Her parents' divorce was a bit of a local scandal because her mother is a therapist who specializes in couples' therapy, and her father has come out as gay. Her ex-best friend, Kiera, is a bit mean about everything, and her father has made many snide comments about Sweet Pea's father. Sweet Pea misses how things used to be with Kiera, and starts to try to be a bit nicer to the girl when she finds out that Kiera's parents are fighting and may get a divorce. Sweet Pea opens some of Miss Flora Mae's mail, and answers a couple of the letters, which get published in the paper. As she spends more time with Kiera, Oscar gets angry and starts avoiding her. The DiMarco family is adjusting to their new reality, but it's still hard when the mother starts dating and Sweet Pea fears that her father might move away from their small Texas town and return to Connecticut. When Miss Flora Mae returns and primary school graduation looms, will Sweet Pea be able to handle all of the changes in her life?
Strengths: The best part of this was the day-to-day details of Sweet Pea living with her parents. For some reason, this was oddly compelling to me! Both parents are trying desperately to get along and make the change as easy as possible, and there was something endearing about them having houses close by and trying to maintain the family rituals and traditions. It was also good to see that aside from Kiera's father, there wasn't a lot of drama about the father being gay, and there were also some comments that Oscar might be, but it really didn't matter. Friendship drama is such a big thing in middle school, and there are always readers for stories like Kiera and Sweet Pea's, even though in real life I think friends rarely get back together! The main story with Miss Flora Mae held the book together.
Weaknesses: This is not a great cover. Maybe it's the peach background. Peach tends to circulate poorly. Maybe it's the way Sweet Pea is holding the cat that makes her look younger. I also wish the main story hadn't been the one with Miss Flora Mae, since none of my students read the newspaper and may not care about the advice column.
What I really think: Definitely purchasing, but may have to recommend this if students don't pick it up.

What to wear on a rainy Sunday: jeans, a sweatshirt, and a sleepy dog!

The Paris Project

Gephart, Donna. The Paris Project
October 8th 2019 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young
ARC provided by the publisher

Cleveland is bound and determined to leave stifling Sassafras, Florida and   move to Paris, France, hopefully to attend the American School there. She has a list of things she needs to do to get ready for her adventures. Unfortunately, her first task-- to study ballet-- does not go well at all, and she is kicked out of the school! Undeterred, she keeps learning French from a library CD and hopes that her best friend and neighbor in the trailer park, Declan, will help her with her French cooking skills. It's good to have something to focus on, because her father is in prison for stealing money from his employer. He had also stolen Cleveland's Paris fund that she had acquired through her dog walking enterprise, and used all of the money for gambling. While she is angry, Cleveland misses her father, and is worried that her mother is having to work too much. Cleveland's sister, Georgia, is applying to the University of Vermont in order to escape life in Florida, and Cleveland knows that she will miss her supportive sister. Things are a little rocky with Declan as well, since he has become friends with Todd, whose father was responsible for her father's arrest. When she realizes that Declan like likes Todd, she is hurt that her best friend didn't trust her enough to tell her he was gay, but she understands how hard it is for her friend, and she tries to be nice to Todd. Her father's release is a good thing, but the family also worries that he will fall back into his gambling ways. Georgia doesn't get into the University of Vermont, she is devastated and uses her savings to take her mother and sister to a Parisian themed fancy hotel in California while their father stays at home to look for work. The vacation is a nice break, and things start to improve at school for Cleveland, making her feel a little better about not being able to go to Paris for school.
Strengths: Books where tweens do things and have ambitions are fantastic, and Cleveland's desire to go to Paris to live really resonated with me! It took me until I was 40 to get to London, but I started planning to go when I was Cleveland's age! While her plan isn't completely realistic, she has short terms goals to work towards, and she saves her money. The inclusion of more serious issues, like her father's imprisonment and gambling, as well as Declan's sexual identity, works well as a foil to Cleveland's sometimes ill-advised schemes and are treated with sensitivity. Georgia and Cleveland's mother are very supportive, as is her father, even though he has his own problems. Cleveland has to deal with some fall out of her father's local notoriety at school, but eventually is able to stand up to people who give her a hard time, and she does make a new friend. All in all, a fun and informative book.
Weaknesses: Starting out with Cleveland's tragicomic ballet experience was a good way to draw me in to the story, but also made me think that the story would be goofier than it ended up being.
What I really think: This was a great combination of humorous, realistic experiences and social justice issues, which will make is appeal to a wide variety of readers. The cover is fun as well. I just wish I didn't have to wait until October to hand this to students. (I'm writing this post June 6!)

Book Project on A Tale of Magic

I'm all about instilling the love of reading in children and just letting children loose with books. However, there are some students who would never finish a book if there were no accountability. My school used to have Accelerated Reader, which I actually enjoyed. One nine weeks, I took tests on books and racked up 500 points. That's reading 100 books the size of Charlotte's Web. My own children liked this testing system, as long as their goals were reasonable (under 45 points for the nine weeks), and they weren't required to read "on their level", which was 12.9+ in middle school and therefore kind of impossible.

Most teachers and librarians hate AR. That's fine. We no longer have that system, so teachers assign projects. Students can read anything they want, fiction or nonfiction; the only requirement for this 8th grade project was that the book be 200 pages long and not be a graphic novel.

There were so many students in the library complaining about this project yesterday that I asked the teacher for the assignment sheet and did the project last night. I read a 481 page book that didn't particularly interest me. The students had about six weeks to complete the project. I also had to cook dinner and read two other books last night.

This was a completely reasonable and rather enjoyable project. I hope to present it to classes today and am curious to see what my grade will be. The link to the full Google Slide presentation is at the bottom.

Colfer, Chris. A Tale of Magic
October 1st 2019 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Public library copy

Summary:

•  Brystal Evergreen chafes at her restrictive life in Chariot Hills in the Southern Kingdom and longs to be educated. (Conflict 1)
• An incident gets her sent to the Bootstrap Correctional Facility.
• Madame Weatherby rescues her and lets her attend a magical school.
• She is joined by students Xanthous, Emerelda, and Lucy.
• The students identify areas in which they are magic and are trained.
• Madame Weatherby is gone for a suspiciously long time, and things start to go wrong in the kingdom. (Conflict 2)
• The students work to uncover the reasons for both events while defending their school’s existence. (Rising action)
• Brystal realizes who is behind the war with the Northern Kingdom. (Climax)
• Several crises are averted, and Brystal is able to enjoy her new life of magic. (Resolution)

Strengths of this Book:

• This is an easy-to-follow, accessible fantasy book that has challenging but understandable vocabulary. Brystal’s quest for an education is a great “girl power” story.
• The magical school is fun, and there are lots of details about it.
• The plot moves along fairly quickly.
• Many people like this author.
• Quote I liked: “You will abolish the law prohibiting women from reading, joining libraries, or pursuing any profession they desire. Boys and girls can attend any school they wish, including the University of Law and the Chariot Hills School for Future Wives and Mothers.” (page 464)

Weaknesses of this Book:

• The trope of kingdoms where magic is outlawed is overdone in middle grade literature.
• The secondary characters are not well developed.
• There is a lot of excessive, unnecessary description that makes this book long but doesn’t forward the plot.
• “Magiclexia” is not the word that would be used for trouble with magic. It would be “dysmagica”.
• There are many twee phrases and odd sentences.
• “Holy plot twist,” Lucy said. “I’m a friggin’ fairy?” “The fairy screamed in agony, as if a creature was [should be were] trying to claw its way out from inside her.” Fabubblous Fizz

What I really think:

• I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy this author or who like books about magical schools, even though I don’t like it myself. There are a lot of fantasy books, and this one did not have any fresh ideas, nor was it particularly well written. Three out of five unicorns.

See the Google Slide Presentation here:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/125apJQidqrkV9Ru7EhiU9OxtsXf1unm3_r85SEOGqjM/edit?usp=sharing

Creep

Corrigan, Eireann. Creep
October 1st 2019 by Scholastic Press
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Olivia is interested when new neighbors move next door after the original ones, the Langsoms, have to move when their physician father runs afoul of the law. The Donahues are not like her quiet family-- Janie, Lucy and Ben and their parents are loud and interact a lot. When a note shows up at their door from "The Sentry" promising that deeply creepy things will happen in the house (think blood pouring from the ceiling and corpses under the floorboards), the family is thrown into chaos, and all manner of problems from the past surface. The father is determined to take the real estate agent, Ned, to task, especially since the mother seems to be flirting with him. The news media is all over the story, and tensions run high. Still, Janie and Olivia get along so well, and the drama is an interesting distraction as the girls begin high school. They interview a neighbor, have Ben befriend the son of the former owners, and even do research in the library on the history of the town. They find an interesting connection from the past, but will they be able to stop the "creep" before something terrible happens?
Strengths: This had a strong start, mentioning a murder in Olivia's town, and I was then completely sucked into Olivia and Janie's friendship. There should be a LOT more books that are set in the first few weeks of high school! I loved that Olivia runs cross country, and also that her parents were very protective but still tried to give her a little room to be independent. Janie's family is quite a mess, but that wasn't really what caused the stalking, which was an interesting twist in itself. The ancient (1980s!) history and the hidden rooms in the house made this extra intriguing, and the cover will make sure that readers pick this up!
Weaknesses: While this was an absolutely fascinating read which I enjoyed, it wasn't really very scary.
What I really think: Since this author's Accomplice (2010) still circulates well with some of my older, more mature readers, I'll definitely purchase.

Unusual that I would be wearing a sleeveless dress to work in October! Of course, the hotter it gets outside, the cooler the air conditioner is inside, hence the blouse. Anyone else not really like three quarters sleeves? Can't put a sweater over them. But I love gingham, and when things are $1 at the thrift store, I am very, very weak!

Roll With It

Sumner, Jamie. Roll With It
October 1st 2019 by Atheneum Books for Young Readers
E ARC from Edelweiss Plus

Ellie and her mother live in Nashville; her father left when she was young and has another family. Ellie loves baking, and gets along okay at school. She has an aide who helps her navigate with her wheelchair (due to her cerebral palsy), but Lauren is also another level of supervision that makes it really hard to get away with any misbehavior. After a recent incident at school, Ellie is expecting to get in trouble with her mom, but a lot of other things are going on. On the bright side, Ellie's neurologist agrees she can be taken off seizure medication, but on the not-so-bright side, her grandfather's behavior has become very erratic. Ellie and her mother go to visit them for Christmas, not telling her Memaw that they plan on staying. Ellie will enroll in the local school in Oklahoma, and her mother is taking a leave of absence from her teaching job and will substitute. Memaw's not too happy, but realizes that she needs help. The trailer in which they live is small, and it's a bit hard for Ellie to go about her daily tasks, so she needs more help from her mother. She manages to get away with not having an aide at school, and makes friends with two neighbors, Coralee and Bert. Both are a bit quirky, but Ellie enjoys their company, and feels odd that for once, it's not her wheelchair that sets her apart, it's the fact that she lives in a trailer park! As she spends more time with her grandparents and new friends, Ellie begins to realize that she prefers to be in Oklahoma rather than in Nashville, where she felt lonely. Will her mother decide that they need to return "home" once the grandparents have a plan for going forward?
Strengths: I really believe that most middle school students are more curious about differences than mean about them, and Coralee and Bert both evidence this in their treatment of Ellie. Ellie herself is very matter of fact about what she can and can't do, and there is enough description about the help she needs to enlighten readers who have never encountered someone in a wheelchair. While the move necessitates some discussion of her wheelchair use, this is a book about the family dynamics and the grandfather's Alzheimer's as well as settling in to a new community. It was fast-paced, fun to read, and included a lot of good baking descriptions. The cover is appealing, and I can see this being a popular book with my students.
Weaknesses: I was weirdly bothered by the fact that Ellie's real name was Lily, and Ellie was her childish mispronunciation. We will blame this on the fact my daughter is Eleanor, but I wanted to name her Lily. Also, I wish the grandfather's dementia had been treated a bit more seriously. Yes, it's good that the grandparents moved into a senior facility, but that is not going to stop the grandfather's decline. We will blame this on the fact that I have seen my mother decline very rapidly this summer.
What I really thought: This hit the sweet spot on a lot of levels-- Ellie is pragmatic but not noble, her mother is concerned but proactive, and the grandparents are aware of their situation and actively looking for a solution. There are a lot of problem novels for middle grade readers, and I've given up complaining about them; I am just glad when we see problem novels that model a positive way forward. Ellie is a great example of how to "roll with it" in a positive manner.

In my 21 years of teaching, I've seen one child with a wheelchair, one Deaf student, and two students with varying degree of blindness. The vast majority of their classmates really want to be helpful. I'm sure they aren't always sensitive about how they approach being helpful, but I do think they want to understand and mean well. And no, I don't think "well-meaning" should be considered perjorative!

Timeslip Tuesday: A Time Traveler's Theory of Relativity

Timeslip Tuesday is a frequent feature of Charlotte's Library!


Valentine, Nicole. A Time Traveler's Theory of Relativity
October 1st 2019 by Carolrhoda Books
ARC provided by Blue Slip Media

Finn's life is a bit sad and small, since his parents have struggled for years with the death of his twin sister, Faith, who drowned in a local quarry at the age of three. Luckily, he has a supportive grandmother and best friend, Gabi. This is especially important, since his mother has gone away and not been in contact, and his father is more and more remote, even going on a research trip and not answering his phone. When his grandmother visits him and tells him that the women in the family have the ability to time travel, and that she has hard news to tell him, Finn doesn't want to believe her, but the next day, he finds that he must. Family secrets emerge, and Finn must find out if he is able to time travel in order to save his mother, his sister, and almost everyone else around him. There is a group of local people who have banded together to help Finn's family, but their motives are somewhat suspect, and Finn has to carefully heed his grandmother's device to "trust no one". Gabi stays by his side through his adventures, but will the two be able to figure out what to do in time?
Strengths: This had a lot of interesting twists and turns, and I don't want to spoil those. Like any good time travel novel, this made my brain hurt a bit, figuring out everything that was going on. The mechanism for traveling is fairly simple, and it's interesting that it hinges on not only genetics, but on following the female line, AND that Finn shared a placenta with a fraternal twin. Hmmm! Faith's appearances, and Finn's interactions with a sister he really doesn't remember much, are fascinating. The grandmother (and her soup!) and Gabi were the best part of the story for me; their support of Finn when he is hurting is very welcome.
Weaknesses: I'm never a fan of the malfunctioning grieving parent trope; after nine years, trust me, the town would have pretty much forgotten all about Faith. The trope doesn't even work very well once we find out more of the family secrets.
What I really think: This was a solid time travel novel with a convincing mechanism that is also right on trend with the current need to have a variety of problems in every middle grade novel.

It's still unseasonably warm here in Ohio, so t shirt dresses are saving the day. By Friday, it's supposed to be cooler, so I can go back to my basic uniform of pleated skirts and jackets. As always, jewelry that can be seen from space!

MMGM- Born to Fly and Survivor Girl

It's Marvelous Middle Grade Monday at Always in the Middle and #IMWAYR day at Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers. It's also Nonfiction Monday.

Sheinkin, Steve. Born to Fly: The First Women's Air Race Across America 
September 24th 2019 by Roaring Brook Press
E ARC from Edelweiss Plus

In 1929, pretty much anything that could be made a contest became a contest, and the bigger, better, and more dangerous, the better. Flying was still fairly new, and air shows attracted big crowds. There weren't a lot of pilots, and there were fewer pilots who were women, since women were deemed weaker and less mentally able to handle the rigors of flight. This, of course, was ridiculous, and the women who entered the first Air Derby were all different examples of this. The most familiar name to modern tweens was Amelia Earhart, but others, like Pancho Barnes, and Elinor Smith may ring bells as well. Starting with the childhoods of these women, Sheinkin shows us how they all defied current conventions to embrace air travel, from jumping off roofs as children to fearlessly taking lessons and even, in the case of Marvel Crosson, building their own planes! Once we understand all of the women involved (and some others, like Bessie Coleman, who didn't fly in it but contributed to women's aviation), we get to experience the race! Starting in California, weaving through Texas, and ending up in Cleveland, Ohio, the course was not easy to navigate, and perils were rife. The women's planes were sabotaged in many ways that weren't fully investigated and were never proven, even though they most likely lead to the death of one of the flyers. There were also accidents, sudden landings, and midair mishaps. The weather was hot, comforts were few, and the evenings of "rest" were filled with banquets and too many chicken dinners, but the women were determined and fearless. The rave hinged on not only the flying skill of the pilots, but the eccentricities of their planes, as well as sheer dumb luck. Several women had to stop out because of plane issues, and one woman flew past Columbus (the next to the last stop) and went straight to Cleveland, thereby disqualifying herself. In the end, Louise Thaden won. With the Great Depression starting just a few months after the Derby, aviation took a lot of blows, but many of the women continued to be involved in aviation and certainly set the stage for women to be active in the field.
Strengths: This will put some new names before many readers; I especially was intrigued by Pancho Barnes and Marvel Crosson and might have to see if there are any books about them! The details of the race are very exciting, and there is a good mix of what is going on and what the women felt abou tit. The research is remarkable-- luckily, there are memoirs by the flyers and lots of newspaper articles detailing every move! This reminded me a lot of Speno's The Great American Foot Race:Ballyhoo for the Bunion Derby!  which is set during this era. Great nonfiction choice for readers who want an exciting tale!
Weaknesses: There are some photographs, but there are also a lot of illustrations. I find that my students prefer photos if any exist. I know it is probably more expensive to include them, but the drawings never seem to be a draw for my readers. This was also a bit confusing at the beginning, since there were so many people who needed to be introduced.
What I really think: Definitely purchasing, and can see this getting a lot of use.

Teagan, Erin. Survivor Girl
July 16th 2019 by Clarion Books
Public library copy

Since Ali's dad is frequently on the set of his latest Survivor Guy adventure, it's easy for her to pretend that her parents are not getting a divorce. When her dad forgets that her mother has to attend a conference, Ali ends up going on a shoot with him. Her old brother Jake warns her that it won't be what she expects, but Ali thinks she has it figured out. Sure, she's never actually been camping, but she's watched her dad's show and figures she'll be able to help out. She is surprised that it's not just "one man, one camera"; there is a whole production crew, including a chef who makes homemade toaster pastries! There's an intern about her age, Adam, as well as the five year old daughter of one of the staff, Isabel there as well. Her father wants her to be part of the show, and she's written into the script doing all manner of stunts, few of which go well. She's shocked at how staged everything is, but grateful for her stunt double after a few things go wrong. She starts to realize that her dad is never going to come back and live with her and her mom again. When there is a fire in the swamps where they are filming, the group is evacuated. Isabel has run off, and when Ali goes to find her, she misses the plane. Adam is there as well, and the three have to survive in the swamps without all of the back up crew. They are eventually saved, and Ali makes peace with the new structure of her family.
Strengths: That Ali was a fan of her father's show without really knowing how it was filmed, and that she had developed a persona at school of "Survivor Girl" without ever having gone camping is  great premise!Dealing with the divorce by pretending it wasn't happening is also pure middle grade emotion! Her disillusion at the reality of the lack of hardship in filming is a great lead in for her to actually survive. She could have come off as snotty, but is actually a very likable character. The supporting characters are also fun, and the survivor reality show was an interesting setting.
Weaknesses:I wonder how many times in real life children run away in a snit and get involved in a natural disaster? It happens a lot in middle grade books.
What I really think: Glad to see this book, along with Behrens' Disaster Days and Philbrick's Wildfire. I was needing some fresh survival books for my collection.

It's "spirit week". Today is Hawaiian shirt day. I play along when I can, but I'm afraid the effect is sort of ruined by my beige cardigan, especially since there was a toner mishap and there are some odd black smudges on my sleeve. Do what you have to do some days!

Harvey Comes Home

Nelson, Colleen. Harvey Comes Home
September 19th 2019 by Pajama Press
E ARC from Netgalley

Harvey is a Westie whose owner, Maggie and her family go on vacation. The young woman watching him doesn't check that the gate is locked, and Harvey takes off after a squirrel, getting further and further from home. We also meet Austin, who volunteers at Bayside, a retirement facility where his grandfather works. He cleans, helps his grandfather, and visits with the elderly residents. One resident, Mr. Pickering, is very grumpy. When Harvey shows up at Bayside, Austin takes him in and volunteers to keep him until his owners show up. Of course, he lies to his grandfather, saying that the shelter is full and that he is supposed to keep the dog until the owners show up. Mr. Pickering takes a liking to the dog, since he reminds him of General, the dog he had growing up. As Austin and Harvey visit more and more, Mr. Pickering tells of his hardscrabble childhood during the Great Depression, and about his friend, Bertie, whose living circumstances were even more dire. When Maggie gets back from vacation, she searches for Harvey and puts up more signs, one of which Austin finds. Austin knows he must give up the dog, but feels a need to hear more of Mr. Pickering's story.
Strengths: This is an interesting story of the Great Depression, and a good description of how dire the situation was. Bertie's story reminded me of Irene Hunt's 1970 No Promises in the Wind, in that children were viewed as sort of dispensable. If parents couldn't feed them, the children could just fend for themselves! The involvement of the dog is a nice touch, and Bayside is an interesting place. I was glad that Maggie eventually got Harvey back, and that she understood that Austin would miss him, too.
Weaknesses: There are several rather graphic scenes; General gets his foot caught in a trap and has to have it taken off, General is attacked by wild dogs and dies, Bertie's father is found dead in the cabin, and Mr. Pickering dies.
What I really think: This starts with a chapter from Harvey's perspective, and the cover makes this look like a happy book. Most of it is, but because my readers who are apt to pick up dog books like this one tend to be a little less mature, I might have to pass on this one because of the graphic scenes. That's just my library, though. I'm sure there are plenty of readers who will enjoy the history part of this story and won't be traumatized by the troublesome parts.

Vanishing Fleece

I have been knitting since I was four years old. When I was in high school, a friend of mine knit an entire sweater, and I thought "If she can do it, I can do it!" I knit a brown sweater, then a variegated pink sweater, then thought it was a good idea to knit one for my friend Karen, who has since gotten a fair number of garments that ended up being a little too big for me! I bought wool yarn when I lived in Greece, but generally used Red Heart; that's just what I was taught. In my twenties, I did a ton of Fair Isle sweaters, Aran cable sweaters, and a lot of plain pullovers. All very boring, solid items that are never quite in or out of style. I still wear many of them.

My daughter, on the other hand, is more of a craft knitter who buys the type of locally sourced, hand dyed wool that Parkes talks about in her books. She follows other knitters on Instagram and can make SOCKS. For her birthday (which is October 3), we are going to the Rhinebeck Wool festival in Pennsylvania, which is apparently a big deal.

I am more of a quilter, although I've never thought about posh materials or the social aspect of it. I've read a couple of Parkes' books, and what strikes me most is that she makes me interested in things that I don't really care about. Wool? Expensive. Has to be dry cleaned. But following Parkes as she deals with her Great White Bale? Fascinating. Sort of like the M.F.K. Fisher of knitting. I don't want to go to France, don't care that much about food, but Fisher's work is always fun to read.


Parkes, Clara. Vanishing Fleece: Adventures in American Wool
October 1st 2019 by Abrams Press
E ARC from Edelweiss Plus

Parkes has been writing about yarn and knitting for a while, and felt a need for a new challenge. When she is offered a bale of wool from Saxon Merino sheep by a wool grower in upstate New York, she is both excited and apprehensive about the challenge of getting it made into usable yarn. Luckily, her years in the industry have given her many connections, and she is able to crowd fund her project by offering yarn to people who want to subscribe to her adventure. In exquisite detail, we learn about unbaling and shipping wool, and follow the multitude of steps it takes to make it into yarn. Parkes decides to try four different routes for the wool so that she can learn about a variety of processes. Traveling to different wool processing facilities not only gives us a view into how wool is spun, but a view into the people who perform this work and a foray into the history of wool processing as well. Foreign competition has greatly decreased the amount of US wool being produced, but the growing  interest in all things locally sourced and artisanal is helping to keep the industry alive.
Strengths: There are a few writers who make me interested in things in which I have little interest, like Steve Almond and his Against Football: One Fan's Reluctant Manifesto. Parkes has a conversational tone that carries her extreme enthusiasm for her topic perfectly. Can't say I ever want to spin wool into yarn and dye it indigo, but I was more than happy to go along with Parkes on her journey. A fascinating look into a struggling US industry that probably mirrors many others. A must for any knitter interested in wool.
Weaknesses: Few middle grade readers will have any interest in this, but occasionally I like to break out and read adult books!
What I really think: Buying a copy for my daughter for her birthday, and plan to treat myself to reading some other Parkes' titles over winter break and the summer!

Sunny Rolls the Dice

Holm, Jennifer L. and Matthew. Sunny Rolls the Dice (#3)
October 1st 2019 by Graphix
Copy provided by the publisher

Sunny is still struggling with middle school in the 1970s. She reads all of the teen magazines with her best friend Deb and attempts to be "groovy", but feels she falls short in all areas, and doesn't understand why Deb is so interested in boys. When she meets a group of boys from the neighborhood who invite the two to play Dungeons and Dragons, Sunny really gets into the game, even though it is confusing at first. However, the more interested in the game Sunny gets, the less interested Deb gets, and soon the girls drop out. They are involved in carnation delivery to classrooms, "liking" different boys, and preparing for school dances. Deb really wants to save up for a pair of Gloria Vanderbilt jeans and get her ears pierced, but Sunny realizes that she would rather spend her money on a D&D character figurine. Eventually, Sunny returns to the game, but is able to stay friends with Deb as well.
Strengths: The Sunny graphic novels are my absolute favorite; they have the perfect mix of pictures and decently large text, they cover serious issues with a light touch, and have great characters. I have a group of students who are absolutely sure I can teach them to play D&D (Picky Reader did pick up this skill in college), but my essential fandom in middle school was Little House on the Prairie. This will be a popular choice with everyone!
Weaknesses: I could have used more of the grandfather in this story-- he's my favorite!
What I really think: I am pretty sure that Ms. Holm would have been my friend in middle school; I, too, read the magazines but was never successful at replicating the outfits. I love that the 1970s details are all over this story, but it is still an absolutely timeless tale of fitting in and standing out in middle school. Five disco balls!

Plus a set of hot rollers. I had a set just like these in about 1978 (I think my mom bought them to use instead of her metal rollers but never got the hang of them, so I ended up with them) and got rid of them about, um, 2010. Never used them successfully either, but to this day can smell the setting lotion in my mind's nose!

Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky

Have you ever heard the Irish saying "Dance as if no one were watching, sing as if no one were listening, and live every day as if it were your last?"

It's my only good explanation for my rendition of Queen's Another One Bites the Dust, entitled "Another Book Overdue".

That, I have my own SnoBall microphone, and the 6th graders were WAY too impressed with my rendition of the THE Ohio State fight song that started "Read, read, oh read a book/ read a new book every day".

Also, while students can't check out a book if they have something overdue, no student EVER leaves my library without a book of some kind!


Mbalia, Kwame. Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky
October 15th 2019 by Rick Riordan Presents
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Tristan's parents send him from his home in Chicago to stay with his grandparents in Alabama for the summer so that he can try to find a new way forward after the death of his best friend Eddie in a bus accident. He feels inadequate for several reasons; he failed to save his friend, he doesn't box as well as his father, and his Granddad thinks he is soft and doesn't work hard enough. His Nana, who tells him lots of stories, is the only one who seems to understand. He has his best friend's journal, and only he can see it glowing green, with an unusual symbol on the front. One night, Tristan hears odd sounds in his room, and the Gum Baby appears to him. Talking continuously in the third person, Gum Baby demands the journal, which of course Tristan does not to part with. The resultant fighting causes Tristan to get sucked into another world, ripping the titular "hole in the sky" in the process. Once in this other world, he meets a host of characters who are from traditional African-American stories: Brer Fox and Rabbit, John Henry, Nyame, two flying women named Rose and Sarah, Thandiwe, High John,  and a girl his age named Ayanna and a man named Uncle C. The journal keeps getting misplaced, so finding it is an important quest, but Tristan also finds himself fending off the fetterlings and traveling into the Golden Crescent on a mission to find a Story Box. He has found that he is an Anansesem and has a keen ability to tell stories in a riveting fashion, which he does frequently. The force that the group is fighting is called Maafa, and he wants to power of the stories within the journal and Story Box. Tristan is able to gain insights into his own grief by understanding Maafa's motivation, and finds a way to silence his threat. Unfortunately, there are other adversaries who are not so easily subdued. Will Tristan be able to retrieve Eddie's journals and return to his own world?
Strengths: I really enjoyed the parts set in the real world, and I loved Granddad's philosophy that more work solves everything! This very cleverly uses a lot of African and African American folk tales to good effect. The characters work well together, and there is LOTS of action and adventure. It is great to see speculative fiction by #ownvoices writers that represent cultures that are NOT Anglo-Saxon-Celtic.
Weaknesses: There were a lot of characters and places, as well as some allegory, and I spent most of my time trying to figure out one thing, thereby missing something else. It is telling that when I looked up other reviews, most did not include a plot synopsis that would have clarified some of these points for me. I think I am not the only who was confused. It might have helped to have an index with some of the references.
What I really think: I will purchase, but I wish it were a bit shorter (the E ARC was 498 pages!) and less confusing. I fear that only my most avid fantasy fans (i.e. the students who adore Eragon) will be able to get through this.

In 1950s teen literature, there were an inordinate number of great aunts and elderly neighbor women who lived in decrepit mansions and wore the styles of the 1910s- high necked dresses, usually black, with jet beading and long skirts.

I have become that person, but, man, the 1990s had some comfortable, professional dresses with long sleeves and fantastic shoulder pads!

Indian No More

McManis, Charlene Willing and Sorell, Traci.
Indian No More
September 24th 2019 by Tu Books
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

In 1957, Regina, who is Umpqua, lives on the Grand Ronde reservation in Oregon. Life isn't perfect, but her father gets enough work to keep the family afloat, and Regina enjoys being in a close knit community where she can be close to nature. When the Indian Relocation act goes into effect, everyone in her family loses their tribal identification number, and are encouraged to move off the reservation. "Encouraged" means that the government no longer wants to help the people and wants their land, which means that very few Umpqua can afford to buy their land from the government. Regina's father, who has some experience with California after being in the military during World War II, decides to move the family to Los Angeles. The government gives them a tiny bit of help, finding a run down house and helping the father get into a training program, but the new home is not nearly as nice as their one on the reservation, and Regina's mother is upset. Regina herself tries to make new friends, which is hard since the children in the city only know "movie Indians" from the inaccurate depiction in films and television programs. She tries to explain to Keith, a neighbor who is African-American, that this is the same as people thinking he lives in the jungle, and he understands a bit. The family also runs into various forms of racism, such as being thrown out of a restaurant just because they are people of color. Regina struggles with trying to fit in to her new neighborhood while missing her previous way of life. She is comforted by her grandmother (whom she calls Chich), who is more secure about her identity and shows Regina ways to incorporate her Umpqua heritage into her daily life.
Strengths: The details of Regina's daily life both on the reservation and in Los Angeles are well done, and the Indian Relocation program is explained. I can't think of a single other book on this topic, and I didn't know about it myself. Regina's struggles with people's preconceptions about her and her family are brilliantly done, no doubt because this is an #ownvoices narrative. Sadly, Ms. McManis passes away before the book was completed, which is why Ms. Sorrell is also credited as author. Ms. Sorrell is a registered member of the Cherokee Nation, and has been careful to make sure the book stays true to McManis' Umpqua background. This is one of the few books about Native Americans that has gotten approval from American Indians in Children's Literature (AICL).
Weaknesses: It would have been helpful to have a little more detail on Regina's new neighborhood and about racial issues in general; some young readers don't know a lot about racism and civil rights at this time. The book is fine without a deeper discussion and does include some details, but a few more would have made this even better.
What I really think: This would be a good choice for two language arts units for which I always need books; the 1930s to 1970s historical fiction  unit in 7th grade, and the oppressed peoples assignment in the 8th. I love that my teachers make such broad categories so that students can make their own choices, and since I need about 250 books for each assignment, it makes me happy when I can find titles like this one that are also interesting as a general read.

In my mind, this matches. The sweater was my mother's. Considering that one day a few years ago I had my own impromptu Bay City Roller/Roller Disco Day and wore a bright green turtleneck with a magenta t shirt over it, a blue and red plaid skirt and an orange and gray plaid jacket and NO ONE said anything to me (although one student asked a teacher if I had gotten dressed in the dark), I think I'm good.

Moral of the story: No one is looking at YOU.