Sunday, March 17, 2024

GENDER QUEER: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe

With all the craziness about book banning, this title pops up often. I realized I had never read it. Well, now I have, and I believe it offers critical information for any person searching for who they are and how they identify.

Maia Kobabe's childhood was free of many of the conventions limiting sexuality most young people face. Raised in an open, accepting family living off the grid, gave Maia a chance to be, just be. When the family moved to a more traditional home and public school became part of Maia's life, complications became the norm.

In GENDER QUEER readers will ride along with Maia as they explore and experiment to find just exactly who they are. Discovering the pronouns "e, em, and eir" opened a whole new world for Maia. Feeling more comfortable with this discovery and expanding the world to include college, self-discovery answered many questions for Maia.

As an author Maia Kobabe deserves praise not censorship. GENDER QUEER should be available for all readers.

 

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

UNSTUCK by Barbara Dee

 

Seventh grade Lyla loves to write. She is thrilled when her new ELA teacher explains they will be starting a new creative writing unit. Lyla has ideas and is ready to write what she hopes will be a fantasy novel, maybe even a series.

Armed with her trusty blue gel pen, a new notebook, and what she knows is an awesome opening sentence, Lyla starts to write. During the 10 minute writing sessions, Lyla is shocked to find once she writes her opening line, she is stuck. She tries creating a character family tree and even a map for the world in her story, but she can't seem to continue with the actual writing. Her teacher offers suggestions, but nothing helps.

Lyla is also struggling with friend issues and some problems at home. As a seventh grader, Lyla is going to a new school while her best friend is attending a different school in a different neighborhood. Lyla is used to bouncing ideas off Rania, but Rania isn't even returning Lyla's texts. At home things are rocky as her older sister is constantly fighting with their parents about her college applications. She confides in Lyla saying she doesn't even want to go to college. This secret weighs heavily on Lyla because she feels caught in the middle.

How can she get unstuck and finish her story? She'll never be able to enter the writing contest she's always hoped to win.

Author Barbara Dee has written another hit. Her fans will fall in love with Lyla in the first chapter. Dee's straight forward narrative and dialogue will help readers deal with their own challenges. You will want to read this new release ASAP.

Friday, March 8, 2024

BARELY FLOATING by Lilliam Rivera

 

Fans of STARFISH by Lisa Fipps will want to check out BARELY FLOATING by Lilliam Rivera. 

Sassy, feisty Natalia "Nat" is proud of her strong, athletic body. She loves swimming and will challenge anyone. In fact, she uses her ability to earn extra money to finance her interest in anime and to treat her friend to the latest anime videos. 

Nat finds a new interest when a local synchronized swim team performs at the pool she visits every day. She is sure this is her calling, but when she approaches her parents, they are less than thrilled. Her mother doesn't like the fancy make-up and costumes and calls it no better than a "pageant in the water." 
Nat can't believe they refuse to let her join the team. That's when the lies begin.

Using her own money and convincing her cousin to drive her to the pool where the team practices, Nat tries out and makes the team. It is hard work, but Nat loves it and learns that she is very good at it. The lies mount as she deceives her parents and begins to alienate her best friend.

Author Lilliam Rivera shows readers how determination and courage can help make a dream come true, but she also details the sacrifices made in the bargain. Nat is both brave and reckless as she dares to show everyone exactly what she can do.

Sunday, March 3, 2024

COYOTE QUEEN by Jessica Vitalis

 

Fud hates living in Larry's trailer. She would rather be hopping from apartment to apartment or even living in the car as long as it was still just she and her mom. When her mom met Larry, they moved into the trailer he owned, and since then the world has been an uncomfortable place.

Larry works at the local coal mine, but he says it is only until his back gets better and he can return to the boxing ring. He knows he can become the world champ so they can move to a huge house and have all kinds of cool stuff. All Fud knows now is that Larry has a bunch of rules, and she never knows when her mother will be the victim of one of his outbursts.

When new neighbors move in next door, Fud is nervous, but she soon learns that Leigh wants to be best friends. As their friendship grows, Fud enjoys spending time with Leigh but is always worried that she'll find out the truth about Larry and his temper. 

Fud has an idea that might help them escape from Larry's trailer and his recent crazy scheme to start living on an old boat on the Mississippi River. There's a local pageant for girls that includes a money prize that could help Fud and her mom get their own place far from Larry. Leigh and Fud succeed in entering the pageant and both hope to win for different reasons. Will Fud be able to help her mom? Will being in the contest change people's view of her?

Author Jessica Vitalis weaves a tender story about the challenges Fud faces as she tries to protect her mother and improve their lives. Fud's vivid imagination and love of coyotes spices things up as she begins to understand how strong and resourceful she can be.

A LONG TIME COMING by Ray Anthony Shepard

 

The complete title of this combined biography is A LONG TIME COMING: A Lyrical Biography of Race in American from Ona Judge to Barack Obama. Author Ray Anthony Shepard uses verse to highlight the lives of Ona Judge, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Ida B. Wells, Martin Luther King Jr., and Barack Obama. Scattered art by R. Gregory Christie is included.

Readers are taken through a history of race in America that includes well-known facts about these brave Americans as well as little known tidbits that illustrate their courageous efforts to establish true freedom and rights for a population still fighting this battle today.

A LONG TIME COMING is the perfect complement for history classes, history buffs, and anyone interested in learning about slavery through the present time.

Monday, February 26, 2024

JUST KEEP WALKING by Erin Soderberg Downing

 

Jo was supposed to go on this hike along the northern edge of Lake Superior with her dad. He took her older brother years ago and promised to repeat the hike with Jo this year. Instead, Jo's parents have gotten divorced, and her brother has gone off to college. 

It was a real surprise when Jo's mother offers to do the hike with her. They have plan the route and shop for the gear they need and are ready to start. Hiking is a lot harder than they thought. The first couple of days are rough. When they finally reach their campsite for the night, they realize their work isn't over. They have to pitch their tent, get water from the nearest source and purify it, find the latrine, and then fix supper. 

The days pass as they both get smelly, and Jo counts her blisters and knee pain. Being alone with her mother does give Jo the chance to ask what happened to cause the divorce. The answer isn't completely satisfying, but it is a bit clearer, and Jo begins to think about whether she should work on reconnecting with her dad when they get home. 

When Jo's mom hurts her ankle and can't continue, Jo has to decide if she will join with a couple of women who offer to let her finish the hike with them. This could be Jo's chance to show herself and everyone else that she is capable of more than she ever expected.

Author Erin Soderberg Downing takes readers on a realistic adventure that illustrates courage and family connection. This fast read is perfect for middle grade readers.

Friday, February 23, 2024

SHARK TEETH by Sherri Winston

 

Sharkita "Kita" lives every day on edge. Will today be the day she and her siblings are whisked away by Child Protective Services? Ever since their mother took off for nine days leaving them alone, Kita worries it will happen again.

Alcohol and drugs tempt her mother into forgetting she's a mother. Right now things are good or at least there's food in the house and a mother who seems to be thinking about her kids. Kita tip-toes around carefully trying not to upset the momentary peace. 

Even though she is constantly teased at school for her horrible double row of teeth, she has found a few friends and is having fun on the twirling team. Art is her favorite class. She also has some help from the assistant principal and the counselor. If her mom will just stay sober and not take off, life seems to be working.

Author Sherri Winston's SHARK TEETH gives readers a likeable main character they will want to root for and cheer on when things are going smoothly. Readers will jump to her defense when the choices her mother makes take wrong turns and cause Kita and her siblings grief.