I WISH I DIDN'T HAVE TO TELL YOU THIS by Eugene Yelchin

 

Eugene Yelchin's first memoir was THE GENIUS UNDER THE TABLE about his childhood in Russia and the challenges of living in a small apartment with his family and a number of others all hoping to stay safe from Russian rule. I WISH I DIDN'T HAVE TO TELL YOU THIS is the tale of an older Yelchin. He is a young man hoping to practice his art and still hoping to stay safe from those in power.

Yelchin describes meeting a young American girl studying in the city. She fascinates him as he attempts to educate her on the dangers of a place so different from her America. He must avoid those who dislike artists and at the same time avoid being drafted into the military and sent to fight in Afghanistan. Yelchin's mother and grandmother don't really understand him, and they aren't fond of the girl who seems to have stolen his heart.

In an effort to practice his art, Yelchin spends some time in Siberia designing sets and costumes for plays performed there. All the while he is waiting for Libby to return from America. He might be able to escape his homeland if she will agree to marry him, but this requires cutting through Russian red tape that threatens to be impossible.

Yelchin's artwork is used to enhance the memoir readers will find full of danger and adventure as he plans his escape to a better life.

THE CHANCE TO FLY by Ali Stroker & Stacy Davidowitz

 

Nat Beacon is leaving her best friend behind as she and her parents move from California to New Jersey. She will be starting at a new school and hoping to make friends interested in the same things she is. She'll have to explain why she's been in a wheelchair since she was two years old. Will people understand that she isn't helpless?

Nat's dad has gotten her a spot on a wheelchair racing team, but when Nat sees a poster for cast tryouts for a production of Wicked, she immediately knows that's what she wants to do. Instead of racing practice, Nat attends tryouts and she succeeds in scoring a spot in the cast. Now she'll have to convince her parents that she can do this.

This is the first role Nat has ever had in a production. Her singing impressed the director and also some of the other cast members. Now she has to show them she can handle the part even with her chair. She's on her way to being part of a group she's always dreamed of. The production is plagued with difficulties that require everyone to be creative. Nat loves every minute of it, even though she struggles with challenges physically and emotionally.

THE CHANCE TO FLY is cowritten by two talented authors with experience in theater. Ali Stroker herself is confined to a wheelchair, but that didn't stop her from winning a Tony Award. Stacy Davidowitz has degrees in drama and acting. Together, they take readers on an inspiring journey with Nat and her new-found friends.

LARK by Anthony McGowan

 

A recent trip to the bookstore led me to this book by author Anthony McGowan. I read on the back cover that the book is "super readable" and "dyslexia friendly." I immediately purchased it as well as another book in the series.

Weighing in at only 110 pages, LARK was a fast read. It is definitely low level/high interest with a captivating plot involving brothers and an intense adventure. As far as being dyslexia friendly, the font reads comfortably and the slightly increased white space no doubt works well for readers.

Nicky and Kenny have had a tough time in life. Their father used to drink which resulted in their mother leaving them to make a new life. Things are a bit better now that a woman named Jenny has helped get their father sober.

Nicky and Kenny are embarking on a hike in a nearby wilderness area. The weather is iffy, but they are sure they can complete the trek in plenty of time. Unfortunately, that is not what happens. Although Nicky is the younger brother, Kenny has mental challenges and relies on his younger sibling's decision making. As the weather deteriorates, Nicky takes a fall to the bottom of a gorge. He is sure he has a broken leg, so he sends Kenny off with instructions to get help. Will Kenny be able to find help before Nicky is overtaken by the cold and his injuries?

I will definitely be reading the next book PIKE and will be recommending the books to those who teach young adults, especially those with reading challenges.

GROWING HOME by Beth Ferry

 

What do you get when you write a story about a crabby goldfish, an ivy plant, a potted violet, and a spider? Well, you get quite a tale of intrigue and adventure.

Mr. and Mrs. Tupper and their daughter Jillian live at 3 Ramshorn Drive. The Tuppers own a shop selling antiques. One of their prized possessions is an eight-sided fish tank currently housing a goldfish named Toasty. As the story begins, the Tuppers are bringing home another treasure - an antique birdcage. 

The Tuppers are in and out of the story as they deal with financial troubles. While they are busy coming and going, their houseplant named Ivy and the fish Toasty discover the possibility that they may have special powers. Ivy begins showing incredible strength, and when a small spider, Arthur, arrives in the house, he exhibits the ability to become invisible. It is possible that Toasty is contributing to these amazing powers, but only time and some experimentation will tell.

Author Beth Ferry's book GROWING HOME will have middle grade readers eagerly turning pages to see what happens to this quirky group of characters. They will also be treated to engaging illustrations by the Fan Brothers.

WHAT HAPPENED THEN by Erin Soderberg Downing

 

When it was announced that Avery and her family would be joining her mother's siblings on an island that used to be a vacation spot for their families for years, she is excited but also a bit nervous. She would be there with no cell service and aunts and uncles and cousins she hadn't seen for years. 

Upon arrival on the island, Avery loved the old main house. Each family would be sleeping in cabins scattered over the island. The cabins needed a good cleaning and repairs due to been abandoned since the family visited long ago. She found this interesting, but that was not the case for everyone.

Avery is the same age as her cousin Jax. At first, they don't seem to have much in common. In a few short days, and after learning about Aunt Robbie's health news and her plans for reuniting the family before deciding to sell the house and buildings, both Avery and Jax are determined to learn as much as possible about the past. Finding bits and pieces of a journal written by one of their aunts, helps them, but they only have a few short weeks to put all the pieces together. 

Author Erin Soderberg Downing weaves a fascinating tale of family drama that is sure to captivate readers. There are plenty of twists and turns and surprises to keep the pages turning in this middle grade mystery.

WHEN PIGS FLY by Rob Harrell

 

Join Gary, also known as Batpig, and his friends Brooklyn and Carl, as they find adventures in this graphic novel by Rob Harrell.

Gary takes on the thrilling role of superhero! He's hoping to save the world or at least stop people from littering and saying bad words. With the help of his friends, he does succeed in conquering a giant lizard and a mean Meat Lady and her robot. 

Full of laughs, danger, and adventure WHEN PIGS FLY is perfect for readers looking for a fun-filled, colorful read. Rob Harrell is also the author of the memoir WINK.

DREAM by Barbara O'Connor

 

If you are a fan of Barbara O'Connor's WISH, you will want to grab a copy of DREAM as soon as you can. This is a stand-alone book that features Idalee Lovett in her small North Carolina town.

Idalee lives in a huge old house. To make ends meet, Idalee's mother rents room for short or long 

term stays. This means Idalee is always surrounded by unusual characters who enrich the lives of folks in her community. Currently, there is a man and his talking parrot, a strict teacher, a pet psychic, and a boy and his truck driver father who are waiting for parts to repair their truck.

As the story begins, Idalee's mother is leaving for a tour with her country music band. She is planning to be gone for at least a month. Idalee is staying behind under the supervision of the adult residents. School doesn't start for a few weeks, and Idalee has a plan for how to keep busy. She is going to enter a local song writing contest. The only problem is her guitar is old and broken. She would love to be able to purchase the blue guitar in a local store because she is sure that will improve her song writing skills. Her only hope is to find the hidden treasure her mother's uncle hid somewhere in one of the rooms in the house.

Will Idalee and her friends find the treasure? Will she get her blue guitar? Will she be able to write the winning song for the contest?

INFLUENCED by Sarah Darer Littman & Cindy L. Otis

 

INFLUENCED is a timely book about the perils of online scrolling especially for teens. Authors Littman and Otis tell a tension-filled story about two girls who connect online and how each of their lives is forever changed.

Lainey isn't looking forward to tenth grade. Surviving school won't be the same without her twin brother Aidan. After their parents' divorce, Aidan chose to move from the east coast to California to live with their father. Lainey has always been the shy one and has relied on Aidan to speak up for her. Now that she's on her own, she is finding it difficult to connect with her usual friends who seem to be going their separate ways this year.

While using the internet, Lainey stumbles across a video that has gone viral. It is a video of a girl in a wheelchair whose two friends help her out when her wheelchair breaks down. Thousands of people are commenting on the video, some positively and others with mean remarks about people with disabilities.

Lainey begins exchanging DMs with the girl known as Bliss. She is a good listener, and the more Lainey connects with her the more Bliss seems to understand Lainey.

Bliss (Elizabeth) can't believe how her videos have exploded online. She begins getting sponsorship offers and her followers are soon over 500,000+. Her parents become involved as managers of her online presence. Neither Bliss nor Lainey ever imagined how out of control the situation can become.

INFLUENCED is perfect for YA readers. This story will help internet users understand the power of influencers and the power of exposing our lives online. This is a must-have for classroom, school, and public libraries.

THE EYES & THE IMPOSSIBLE by Dave Eggers

 

THE EYES & THE IMPOSSIBLE by Dave Eggers is the perfect book for animal lovers. Set in an urban park (I pictured Central Park), Johannes is a dog left to roam the park freely. He acts as the "Eyes" for the rest of the animals who live in the confines of the park. He reports daily to the three buffalo living in a preserved area of the park. His reports help keep life for the animals under control, or what is considered to be the Equilibrium of the park.

When mysterious rectangles appear in an area of the park where a new building is being constructed, Johannes isn't sure how to deal with this. He is fascinated by the rectangles which interfere with his responsibilities as the "Eyes." He is even so distracted that he is captured and put on a leash. How could this happen? He is also stunned to learn that there has been a coyote sighted in the area.

With the help of the racoons, squirrels, birds, and more, Johannes escapes and begins to solve the mystery of the rectangles. Adventure, humor, and all out nature are found in this wonderful book. Included with the narrative are two-page spreads of beautiful illustrations to help readers understand Johannes's journey.