A ROVER'S STORY by Jasmine Warga

 

This book is going to be on the required reading list for my Children's Lit class in the fall. I can't wait for the future teachers in the class to read it and get excited about sharing it in their future classrooms.

Resilience "Res" is a Mars rover. At the beginning of his story he is in the NASA lab. Scientists are still building him and tweaking his systems. He has formed a bond with two of the scientists, Xander and Rania. Although the other rover named Journey, in a neighboring lab, doesn't approve of Res connecting with the humans, Res doesn't care. Imagining he feels human emotions makes him feel special. 

Readers will follow Res on his path from creation to launch and eventual arrival on Mars. The exploration of the planet involves complicated communication between Res, a satellite named Guardian, and a drone named Fly. As a team they spend years on Mars filming, making recordings, and drilling for rock samples. They even try to revive an old rover that went offline on a previous mission.

Scattered throughout Res's story are letters written by the daughter of Rania. She was assigned to write a letter to Res when she was twelve and continued to write to him long after. Since her mother is one of the NASA scientists working on Res and following his work on Mars, she feels connected in a special way.

If you don't think you can become connected emotionally to a robot exploring a planet far, far away, you find out it is totally possible if you read A ROVER'S STORY. Author Jasmine Warga explains the combination of fact and fiction she called on to create Res and his story. This is a wonderful read for middle grade and up.

WORST-CASE COLLIN by Rebecca Caprara

 

Twelve year old Collin keeps an orange notebook filled with worst-case scenarios. Ever since his mother's tragic accident, he has wanted to be prepared for any emergency. Maybe if he had known the accident would happen and been there, maybe he could have prevented it. Now Collin lives his life hoping to be prepared for anything. 

Collin has several good friends he counts on. They stand by him when the bullies at school pick on him, and they understand his "worst-case" life philosophy. He appreciates when they invite him to their houses for movies and sleepovers. Those invitations allow him to escape the confusion and chaos in his own home. Collin is proud of his professor father who spends all his time trying to solve one of the most important math problems in the world. If successful, he could win a million dollars.

Solving math problems is one thing, but Collin's dad is also a collector, or rather, a hoarder. Their house is filled with all kinds of stuff threatening to smother them both. Collin is able to keep his own room mostly free of the junk, but he isn't always successful. He is grateful for his close friends, but he lives in fear of them finding out the horrible secret of what he calls The Hoard.

WORST-CASE COLLIN by Rebecca Caprara is a wonderful novel in verse that highlights friendship and family and all the complicated issues involved in both. Readers will fall in love with Collin and root for him to regain control of his life as he navigates loss the public and private issues that threaten to pull him under.

CAST AWAY by Naomi Shihab Nye

 

In this collection of 84 poems, poet Naomi Shihab Nye presents thoughts on the way we treat the world as disposable. She writes of thrown-away items and lost things that fill the spaces around us. Not only material things but also people like immigrants and refugees are written about as cast aways most don't even consider.

The poems can be appreciated individually or as a collection that will open eyes and minds to what Nye sees as sad waste we should contemplate in our everyday lives. CAST AWAY would be the perfect text for classes looking into the global crisis of pollution and the hazards to our environment of man-made trash. 

FOUR EYES by Rex Ogle & Dave Valeza

 

FOUR EYES is the perfect graphic novel for middle grade students dealing with the drama of school, friends, and family. Rex Ogle tells a straight-forward story about bullying, feeling left out, and living in poverty.

Rex is starting 6th grade. He is looking forward to hanging out with his best friend, having a locker, and switching classes. When he realizes that most of the kids he knew in elementary school are going to a different school because of redistricting, he still has hopes when he sees his BFF, but in a matter of days, he becomes the target of bullying and is ditched by his friend.

The next bad news comes when he suddenly has trouble seeing the notes on the board. He's never had that problem before. His grades begin to suffer. He finally admits that he can't see which prompts a trip to the eye doctor. Since his mother doesn't have insurance, Rex is fitted with the least attractive pair of glasses, and even they cost over $200.

Now he has earned the nickname Four Eyes and even more jokes are flung his way. At least he has finally found a new friend. They eat lunch together and share comics. It's not all smooth sailing, but between his mom's efforts to make things better and his grandmother's kindness, he begins to settle in as he tries to just be himself.

Author Rex Ogle teams up with illustrator Dave Valeza in this colorful graphic portrayal of middle grade problems that will be relatable to readers everywhere.

THE MINUS-ONE CLUB by Kekla Magoon

 

Thank you to a friend who gave me the heads up that this new Kekla Magoon book was released. Trust me, you don't want to miss it.

It all starts when Kermit Sanders finds a note in his locker telling him to come to the art room after school. He has no idea who it is from, but it says they know about his sister, and they can help him. 

Kermit's sister died in an accident involving a drunk driver, and Kermit is just coming back to school since the funeral. He probably could use all the help he can get so he goes to the art room.

It turns out he has been invited to the Minus-One Club. Everyone in the club has lost someone - mother, sister, dad, grandpa, or sister like Kermit. The rules of the club are simple. 1. Tell no one else about us. 2. We never talk about IT. 3. Ever. 4. Ever.

An added benefit of the Minus-One Club for Kermit is the presence of Matt Rincorn. Matt is the only "out" gay guy in the high school. Kermit has come to terms with his own gayness but not the part about letting others know. Hopefully, he can watch and learn if he's a part of Matt's group.

Dealing with the loss of his sister means Kermit must also deal with his parents and their sudden over-protectiveness. They want him to resume attending church which had always been a huge part of who their family was, but losing Sheila hasn't exactly confirmed Kermit's faith in religion. He finds that spending time with Matt is much more satisfying. Their relationship grows both emotionally and physically. Now Kermit must worry about his parents finding out, and the closer he gets to Matt, the more he realizes Matt has problems Kermit may not be able to solve.

THE MINUS-ONE CLUB by Kekla Magoon is an emotion driven novel about loss and love. It's frank handling of the young gay experience will no doubt help readers struggling with their own sexuality and questions they may have. Kermit and Matt will let readers know they are not alone in dealing with life's struggles. Perfect for YA collections.

THE MAGICAL IMPERFECT by Chris Baron

 

This novel in verse captured my attention on the first page and never let go. Filled with quirky and very real characters and relatable problems and relationships, it is truly a page-turner.

Etan lives with his father and spends time every day at his grandfather's jewelry store. His mother left for treatment because of what she explains to Etan is a sickness inside her. He knows she'll be returning, but until she does Etan rarely speaks.

At school Etan spends his free time drawing and making notes in a notebook he shared with his mother. When the kids ask him to play baseball, he refuses because he knows his skills are weak. Since his father works long hours at a construction job, Etan spends before and after school time with his grandfather. The other shopkeepers in the area often rely on Etan to make deliveries for them, and that's how he meets Malia.

He has heard she is homeschooled because the kids at school make things difficult for her. They call her "the creature." When Etan makes a delivery to her house, she answers the door almost completely covered by a blanket. The bits of her that peek through are covered by red hives and scaly skin. Etan doesn't have much to say, but something tells him she could be a friend. Soon Etan is visiting even when he doesn't have any deliveries to make.

There is much more to the story including his grandfather's strong Jewish faith, an elderly home-bound woman and her spunky little dog, baseball, and earthquakes. Author Chris Baron takes readers on a wonderful journey that is sure to inspire as well as entertain.

A SEED IN THE SUN by Aida Salazar

 

This novel in verse by Aida Salazar opens with one of my favorite quotes - "They tried to bury us but they didn't know we were seeds." A Mexican Proverb

It is 1965 and Lula and her family are in Delano, CA, picking grapes. The work is exhausting and the pay is pitiful. Lula's mother has not been able to pick recently because of ill health. She can't even take care of the two youngest children so Lula and her older sister have had to stay home from school to care for them or to work picking to make up for their mother's lost wages.

Unrest plagues the camps because Filipino workers are striking. Leading the strike are activists Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chavez. At first Lula's father forbids them to get involved. Instead, they cross the picket lines to keep working, but soon that changes. Lula's father learns that the more workers who strike, the more chance for higher wages and better conditions.

The activists are helping the strikers to find housing, food, and medical care. The medical care comes at just the right time for Lula's mother. It is discovered that her condition is due to the pesticide sprayed on the crops. Hopefully, the treatment prescribed will help her.

Author Aida Salazar uses verse to reveal the plight of many farmworkers in the 1960s. Readers will learn about how growers took advantage of these hard workers and still do to some extent today.