The Loan Stars

  "I had a poem in my pocket, but my pocket got a rip. Rhymes tumbled down my leg and trickled from my hip." Summary: A young writer is disappointed to realize that their ripped pocket allowed the words from a handwritten poem to fall out. The child tries to capture all of the dropped words, but the words get caught by the wind. The wind makes a mess of scrambled up words and some of them became puns or rhymes or mix up with nearby signs. The child finally realizes that this fiasco has ended up with the poem growing into something even better than first imagined. Criteria: This book fit the criteria for a book to be reviewed in that it was published in the last 10 years and I had not read it before. It also had positive reviews from both BookList and School Library Journal. Response:  Style and Language The poetry was delightful and not forced. It was appropriate for young children while not feeling as if the entire book was "dumbed down" for young readers, rather i...

  Summary: Genevieve spent the summer of 1939 in Alsace with Mémé, her stern grandmother. The plan was for 13-year-old Genevieve to return to America before the Germans invade France. Impulsively and at the last minute, she decides to stay and help Mémé on her farm. German soldiers occupy the area, deporting Jewish residents and housing an officer in Mémé’s farmhouse. Resistance is not a new idea to the people of Alsace, and Genevieve soon learns the ropes as well. Throughout the book we see Genevieve grow up, one might argue too quickly, amidst challenging times, and we witness Genevieve’s hostility for her stern grandmother evolve into empathy, respect, and love .  Criteria: Response: Character: Initially, I struggled to appreciate Genevieve. So impulsive. So reckless. So.... childish. Of course she is. She is a child. We got to see Genevieve grow from a selfish, impulsive child learning about the realities of war into a shrewd young woman capable of becoming a force with th...

Summary: Favio Chavez is an environmental engineer who also happens to be a musician and music lover. When environmental work took him to Cateura, Paraguay, he was startled to find that the village had been built on a landfill with families -- including children-- living amongst the area's discarded things. Wanting to offer the children living in the landfill the hope, discipline, and beauty that comes from creating music, he enlisted another engineer to help him make instruments from the landfill supplies. Criteria:  Building an Orchestra of Hope fit all the criteria I was looking for: I had not read it previously and it was published in the last 10 years. It also received positive reviews from Booklist,  Horn Book Magazine, and School Library Journal Xpress. On a personal note, hope is my favorite word and I was curious what an orchestra of hope would be. This book did not disappoint. Response: Character: Favio Chavez is the subject of this informational biography, and not a...

  Summary: Amari has never given up hope that her brother who went missing 6 months ago is still alive. She has been in trouble and been causing trouble at her fancy-pants private school where she is on scholarship. When she receives a ticking briefcase from her missing brother, she also finds an invitation to a summer internship at the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs. Seeing this as an opportunity to find out what really happened to her brother, she jumps at the chance. However, she wasn't fully prepared for the magic, danger, and betrayal that comes with the internship. Justification: Amari and the Night Brothers  fit the criteria in books I was looking for: it was published in the last 10 years and had several positive reviews including from Book List, Horn Book Guide, and Publisher's Weekly. It also was named one of ALA's Notable Children's Books for 2022. But my favorite recommendation came from one of my students. Response:  Pacing I had a mixed reaction to Amari. ...

Summary: Merci and her brother are Cuban-American scholarship students at their private school in Florida. Merci never feels like she belongs. Mean girl Edna has a plan to make Merci’s life miserable, and things at home are hard, too. Something is wrong with the way Grandpa is acting. He’s forgetting things he knows, he falls, and since when did he have a temper? No one in the family will talk about it, leaving Merci to feel alone at home and at school. Criteria:  Merci Suarez changes gears  fit the criteria in the books I was looking for: it was published in the last 10 years, I had not read it previously, and it is a Newberry Medal winner. Booklist referred to it as a must-read and the Horn Book Guide points out that the natural use of Spanish (language) builds authenticity. Response:  Style and Language Since Merci is the age of the students I teach, it is relevant to my current job. Author Meg Medina does an excellent job of capturing the highs and lows of middle scho...

  Summary: While traveling to a school competition, a sudden blizzard forces Nell and her theater group to take shelter in a creepy, run-down hotel. They meet other groups sheltering there as well, including a rival team heading for the same competition. The first night in the hotel, the two groups play the game, Two Truths and a Lie, to pass the time. Things get dark when one game piece admits to multiple killings. Then it is discovered that the hotel was the scene of an unsolved double murder many years ago. Everyone is a suspect in the haunting confession. The next morning, one of Nell’s theater friends is found dead. Trapped without power or access to help, Nell and her friends must protect themselves and find a way to survive. Criteria: This book fit the criteria necessary. It was in the suspense category, published in the last 10 years, and I had not read it. It does not have as many accolades and awards as some of the other books reviewed  here but does have positive re...