The Loan Stars

  Summary: Daniel and Natasha wake up as strangers on a summer morning in New York City. This is a day that could send each of their lives into new directions that neither of them wants to go. In a last minute effort, Natasha has only hours left to prevent her family’s deportation to Jamaica. Daniel dreads the alumni interview that will solidify his future and pave his way to a career in medicine, as his Korean family expects. Told alternately from Daniel and Natasha's perspective, the reader is left to witness Natasha's race against the clock and Daniel's struggle with family expectations, as well as the love between the two that eventually grows between the two. Criteria: This book fit the basic criteria of what was required: it was a Walter Award recipient, published in the last 10 years, and I had not previously read it. I had additional reasons to choose this specific book that included how much I liked Nicola Yoon's first novel, Everything, Everything. It also was...

  Summary: Khosrou (whom everyone calls 'Daniel') is a story teller and this book is ample evidence of that. Written from his vantage point of 7th grade  Khosrou/ Daniel this book encompasses stories he tried (tried because he wasn't often believed) to tell his class in Oklahoma to elaborate on his family's history in Iran, and stories of what it is like for a religious refugee from Iran to try to assimilate into life in Oklahoma.  Criteria: This book was a Printz winner, published within the last 10 years, and I had not read it previously. Response: I have a confession: while I had not read this book previously, I had tried to read it. Twice. I would get a few pages in, something else looked better, then I would need to return it to the library. One of the first -- maybe the first -- story in the book is of Daniel as a small child arriving at his grandfather's house just in time to see the bull slaughtered by a slashed neck. The bull was for dinner BECAUSE Daniel w...

Summary: This free-verse novel is a snapshot of the chain reaction caused by violence. The book opens with 15-year-old Will Holloman telling about his brother Shawn’s murder two days prior—gunned down while buying soap for their mother. He explains The Rules: don’t cry, don’t snitch, always get revenge. Now that the reader is up to speed, Will puts Shawn’s gun into his waistband and steps into his building's elevator, ready to carry out rule number three and shoot his brother’s killer. However, the seven-floor ride down gets stranger on every floor. The doors open on each floor to admit someone killed by the same cycle of violence that Will’s about to perpetuate.   In the epilogue, the author says that this book has been compared to a cross between The Hate You Give and A Christmas Carol. I can't quit thinking about that analogy because it's such a fitting description. Criteria: Besides meeting the basic criteria for books for reviews (published in the last 10 years, I had...

  "I wished to be like Johnny Appleseed, who in the United States was known for planting apple seeds across the land... And so I wished to plant my story seeds across the land."  Summary: Pura Belpre' traveled to New York City from her home in Puerto Rico in 1921. She found opportunity to tell stories when she joined the New York City public library as a bilingual assistant, but was disappointed to find that there were no written stories or books from her home in Puerto Rico. So she decided to write some. This book goes on to follow the trajectory of Pura Belpre's life and her influence on literacy and social change. Criteria : A picture book about Pura Belpre' received the Pura Belpre honor in 2020. It was originally published in 2019 and I had not read it previously. Review: Theme Plot/ Narrative I learned about a very important figure in our multicultural literacy. As a white woman, I grew up with plenty of representation in my literature and entertainment. I a...

Summary: The prestigious Urban Promise Prep Academy looks like an exclusive academy, but students and staff know there are secrets lurking within. When the hard-nosed principal is murdered on campus, the three students who were on campus for detention at the time emerge as the prime suspects. All 3 boys maintain their innocence and decide to band together to clear their names by finding the real killer. Review: Flat out, highly recommend. The age recommendations for this start at 14, and I would agree with that as there are mature situations and gun violence included in the novel. The audiobook is a work of art with different characters being read by different people. The narrative jumps from one person's perspective to another so quickly, the audiobook had the potential to be confusing and lose listeners, but the audiobook is done so well a listener gets completely captivated by the story.   Brooks, N. (2023). Promise boys . PAN MACMILLAN.

Summary: On a family trip to Paris, Prince Sebastian's parents are focused on finding a wife for the prince, while Prince Sebastian is focused on keeping his secret from the world: sometimes he likes to wear dresses. Prince Sebastian hires a dressmaker, Frances, to help him transform into the fabulous Lady Crystallia. There are secrets and twists and turns as the prince and Frances try to find the balance between keeping secrets and being true to who each of them are.  Reaction: Very sweet book touching on mature subjects. Inclusion and acceptance look different ways and can mean different things. Recommend for grades 6 and up.   Wang, J. (2018). The prince and the dressmaker . First Second.

 I went to a book festival this weekend and have come to the same conclusion most of us do: there are so many books to get to, and so little time! Before I get a chance to review these, I wanted to share the list with you. So, these will be "read at your own risk" but let me know if you read any of these and what you think! (Some of them were in "what's coming" from publishers so may not be out yet). I will keep this list active and remove books as I've read and reviewed them and add to as I hear about more! Ellie Engle Saves Herself by Leah Johnson Aniana Del Mar Jumps In by Jasmine Mendez You, The Story by Ruta Sepetys Tiger Daughter, by Rebecca Lim Invisible Son, by Kim Johnson Finally Seen by Kelly Yang What the Fact? by Seema Yasmin Four Eyes by Rex Ogle Camp Sylvania (series) by Julie Murphy Shine On Luz Veliz by Rebecca Blacarcel Nic Blake and The Remarkables by Angie Thomas A Danger to Herself and Others by Alyssa Sheinmel The Wednesday Wars by Gary ...