The Loan Stars

Summary:  Imogene has been homeschooled as her family works at the local Renaissance Faire. She chooses to show her bravery by the ultimate quest: going to middle school at the local public school. She makes what she thinks are friends almost immediately, but learns some tough middle school lessons about who to trust as a friend, trying to be like others to fit in, and taking frustration out on family. Soon she begins to think she more closely resembles the ferocious dragon than the brave knight. Justification: All's faire 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.  Response: Accuracy I currently teach sixth grade, the gateway to middle school. I see kids of every kind all day every day and the ways they try to fit in and/ or the ways they try to keep others out. I saw so much of my students in the characters in the book and in the highs, ...

  Summary: A zombie chef who has committed to not eating brains decides to pour her energy into sharing scientific facts and information about the body's control center. From facts about how the brain processes information to what brains look like in various other species, this book is filled with fun facts about brains. It is also illustrated beautifully with eye-catching drawings. Justification: This book fit all of the criteria needed for this category: it was published in 2021, I had not read it previously, and was on the Texas 2x2 list for 2022.  Response Mood The overall mood of the book is whimsical and light-hearted (it's narrated by a Zombie after all) while sneaking in some interesting facts about brains. The illustrations perfectly align with the mood while being a critical component of the facts conveyed. I found many of the facts interesting, as well as the view point of the zombie chef that liked to snack on brains. This book was a great way to get a lot of info...

  Summary Beekle is born where all imaginary friends are born. He waits and waits for a friend to imagine him. When he isn't imagined, he sets off for the real world on his own in search of his real friend. Justification Beekle fit all the criteria I was looking for in a Caldecott Medal winner: it was written in 2014 and I had not read it prior to this semester. Two other things that brought me to Beekle: I love silly, made up words and Beekle is absolutely the perfect name for this particular imaginary friend. Also, the illustrations are beautiful with the character of Beekle perfectly matching his name. Response Mood As mentioned in my New Kid review, having to move my children during their school years was hard on our family. Beekle shows, in the best way possible, what it's like to feel afraid of being left out, that sometimes you have to do hard and brave things in order to make a friend, and sometimes good things just take time. I think it's critical to teach childre...

Summary: New Kid is a graphic novel that follows a school year in the life of Jordan, an African American student whose parents placed him in a predominantly white elite academic academy starting his 7th grade year (I think it was 7th grade -- they referred to him as a "first form", and 1st and 2nd form were before high school). Jordan loves to draw and wanted to go to art school. While the school does arrange for a student guide who ends up being friendly with Jordan, that can't make up for other subtle hints of racism that show up. The academy is a long way from his neighborhood in every way possible. During the lengthy commute and his time in school we see the struggle as Jordan wants to fit in at the new school while maintaining his neighborhood friendships. Criteria: This book fit all the criteria for my reviews: it is a Coretta Scott King award winner, published in 2019, and I had not read it prior to this semester. I didn't realize when I selected it that it wa...