The Last Last-Day-of-Summer by Lamar Giles, illustrated by Dapo Adeola

It's the last day of summer in the rather strange town of Fry in equally strange Logan County, Virginia and Otto (Octavius) Alston is up early and wants to make the most of it. Maybe even have such an awesome adventure solving a big enough problem that the mayor would award the Legendary Alston Boys a third key to the city, especially now that he's just learned that the Epic Ellisons - twins Wiki and Leen - just received their third key. Unfortunately, his cousin Sheed (Rasheed) Alston isn't quite as enthusiastic.

While hanging around the hillside that overlooks the town Fry, as Otto furiously makes notes about possible adventures, tall thin man wearing a stovepipe hat suddenly approaches asking if they are the Legendary Alston Boys of Logan County. Introducing himself as Mr. Flux, he has a gift for Otto and Sheed - an big, heavy, old fashioned camera and insists they take a picture of the spectacular view of Fry. No sooner does Otto take the picture, but a blinding flash of light produces a man from the sky, knocking Mr. Flux out and asking "Did it work? Is this the right day?" and tells the boys to take the camera and run.

Which they do - right on home to Grandma's house, where they find everything is frozen, including Grandma, and though she is standing at the stove cooking, there are none of her good cooking smells wafting through the house. Figuring they have found their problem to solve, they manage to unfreeze their bikes and head in to town, noticing that everyone and everything is also frozen in the last position of what they were doing, just like Grandma. They stock up supplies they might need at the hardware store, but just as they leave, there's a loud commotion on the street. It's a large crowd of strange-looking people stampeding by, followed by a giant furry creature with legs as big as an elephant's.

Back out on the street, Otto and Sheed hear someone moaning. It tuns out to be two shiny stylists named Golden Hour, A.M. and Golden Hour, P.M., who are actually agents of time called Clock Watchers. The boys follow them to the high school library, where they find a gathering of people all involved in time, including Father Time. It seems that time is frozen and they need to discover why and how to undo it and get it moving again. Along the way, the Legendary Alston Boys get help from a superhero named TimeStar (the same guy who came out of the sky and knocked Mr. Flux out, who, if you haven't already guessed, is the villain in this novel), Father Time, the Golden Hour twins, Petey from the hardware store, and yes, even their rivals, the Ellison Twins.

The Last Last-Day-of-Summer is a very zany, very quirky book. I'm not a big fan of this kind of science fiction, but I did find it entertaining, and I loved Otto and Sheed. I was also glad there were illustrations to help visualize some of the odd characters Giles has included, even though his descriptions were sufficient on their own. I quite liked that fact that this isn't Otto and Sheed's first problem solving adventure, they have already had a number of exciting and unusual exploits that summer, and have quite a reputation in Logan County for their deductive and investigative skills. All this experience have led the cousins to formulate a list of useful Maneuvers for getting out of sticky situations (see the Appendix for a list of the ones used in this book).

Some of the time-related characters were, I thought, clever and amusing. For example, there's the giant creature called Time Sucks; the indecisive Second Guessers who work with the Minute Men, who handle some of the more tedious time management tasks; Witching Hour, the maker of the magical camera Mr. Flux gives to Otto and Sheed; and of course, Mr. Flux, time trickster extraordinaire. They are all personifications of time related expressions and each plays a part in the story according to the expression they are named after.

The carpe diem approach to the last day of school was a nice touch and the idea of making the most of it will probably resonate with young readers, but there's a nice lessons about being careful what you wish for and about missed opportunities.

The real importance of The Last Last-Day-of-Summer is it shows readers that kids of color, like Otto and Sheed, can be heroic main characters in books, that they are smart and that they can have wonderful imaginative adventures. This is one of the first books published by Kwame Alexander's imprint Versify and it certainly does live up to their goal of publishing books that "engage, entertain, and empower young people." I've already read a few books published by Versify and can't wait to see what the future will bring from this imprint. Who knows, maybe even some more adventures for Otto and Sheed.

This book is recommended for readers age 9+
This book was borrowed from the NYPL

The Afterwards by A.F. Harrold, illustrated by Emily Gravett

December, nicknamed Ember, and Happiness, called Ness, live next door to each other and have been best friends for three years now. They did everything together, walking to and from school, playing in the schoolyard, and having lots of laughs and fun with each other. So Ember is pretty surprised one day when she calls for Ness to walk to school and no one answers the door.

At school, it's announced that one of the students has died after an accident, and to Ember's surprise and distress it turns out to be Ness. This is hard news to take, and Ember is understandably distracted, so when her creepy Uncle Graham picks her up from school one day, she unquestioningly goes to his house with him. When evening comes, he says he is taking Ember home, but instead they end up in a place that is black, white, and grey. There, Uncle Graham finds his recently deceased dog, and Ember find Ness sitting on the steps in front of her now grey empty house. Ember is excited to see Ness, but Ness is quite lackluster and grey.

When Ember discovers that Uncle Graham brought her to this place called the afterwards, where people go to forget their lives and are only echoes of their living selves, in order to swap her living self for his dog's dead self and bring the dog back home - alive and well. Luckily, there's a mangy, but wise cat who takes an interest in Ember, and a mysterious lady named Ms. Todd who gets Ember back among the living.

But...now Ember knows that there is a way to bring back the dead and that is just what she intends to do for Ness. After all, isn't that just what best friends would do? But when Ember finds herself stuck in the afterwards is there really no way out?

The Afterwards is a very dark, surreal fantasy told in the third person from Ember's point of view so the reader is privy to her feelings, thoughts and plans. The writing is simple, straightforward, so matter-of-fact that it makes the uncanny feel almost real. Harrold has imbued Ember with qualities of courage, loyalty, and vulnerability. She never tries to understand what has happened, only focusing on rescuing Ness from death, despite being told over and over by the cat and Ms. Todd that that can't be done. Ember never questions where Uncle Graham got his directions to the afterward, simply accepting that he did. She simply focuses on the task she's set for herself. In this way Harrold effectively deals with themes of loss, grieving,  and then being about to move on and live life.

Gravett's illustrations, often fusing color and grey to distinguish between the living and the deceased add to the sinister feeling of the story, and there were certainly times when I felt like something really ominous what going to happen, but the illustrations brought the story back to where it belonged - disturbing but not horror.

The Afterwards is definitely not going to be everyone's cup of tea, but if you like stories that are dark yet poignant this is a really good choice. In fact, if you loved Neil Gaiman's Coraline, then The Afterwards is definitely a book for you. The writing creates that same haunting feeling of entering an in-between world that exists but doesn't exist, that's familiar but not familiar and it is all deliciously creepy.

This book is recommended for readers age 11+
This book was bought for my personal library

Love from A to Z by S. K. Ali

Zayneb Malik, 18, is a Muslim American high school senior living in Indiana. She is part Pakistani, part Guyanese and Trinidadian, wears a hijab and has a teacher, Mr. Fencer, who delights in spinning his lessons to fit his Islamophobia.

Adam Chen, 18, is a Muslim convert from Doha, Qatar, born in Canada, he's part Chinese and part Finish. He's also university student in London. I should say, was a university student. He hasn't been attending classes for months now, instead staying in his dorm and making things, including a display box for his younger sister Hanna's rock collection.

The thing that these two strangers have in common, besides being devout Muslims, is that they both keep a Marvels and Oddities journal for recording the marvels and oddities in their lives.

Now, Zayneb is on her way to Doha for two weeks after being suspended from school for writing a "threatening note" about Mr. Fencer. And Adam is on his way home to Doha to explain to his father why he hasn't been attending classes. Naturally, they run into each other at the London airport and on the plane, but it's Adam who notices the name of Zayneb's journal. Still, all his plans to try to talk to her on the plane are to no avail.

So imagine Adam's surprise when he sees his fourth grade teacher (and his deceased mother's best friend) Ms. Raymond at the airport and discovers that she is Zayneb's Auntie Nandy. It's a small world, and Zayneb and Adam have one more thing in common, they are both keeping secrets - she hasn't told Auntie Nandy why she is in Doha, Adam hasn't told his family about his multiple sclerosis diagnosis, the same disease that his mother died from when he was a boy.

Attracted to each other from that first meeting in the London airport, their relationship is on a rocky road, but it is also a road filled with marvels and oddities.

In Saints and Misfits, S.K. Ali gave readers a look into the life of a young hijab-wearing Muslim woman, whose religion is very important to her, but who finds herself in a difficult position caused by one of the rising stars of her mosque. I had never read a book before Saints and Misfits that was so focused on the different aspects of being Muslim - not just within the family and mosque, but what life is like in the world at large. Needless to say, I learned a lot, and it is a great book to boot.

So I was really looking forward to reading S.K. Ali's second novel, Love from A to Z, and I was not disappointed. Readers get to know the two main characters through written alternating journal entries as they record the marvels and oddities they experience. And once again, Ali has given readers a strong, independently thinking Muslim character in Zayneb, but she's also a nicely flawed character, having some justifiable anger issues towards Islamophobes but needing to find a more productive way to deal with them. And Ali gives us some really disturbing examples of what a Muslim female who wears a hijab like Zayneb faces on a regular basis.

Adam has his own anger issues, but while the fact that he spends his time building things seems productive, it is also a way of not dealing with his illness. Adam is also a kind, gentle, religious man, and wonderful to his little sister. He isn't exposed to the kind of vitriolic attacks that Zayneb faces, only because his being Muslim isn't as obvious. Both Zayneb and Adam have loving, supportive, understanding families, which is a welcome change from the usual angsty families in YA, though Zayneb's mother would like her to be a little more low profile.

I particularly like that Ali takes her characters (and her readers) to Doha, a place where being Muslim isn't unusual but then shows readers that it, too, is not without prejudice. For example, when Zayneb goes swimming in the pool where her aunt lives wearing a burkini, she is forced out when a resident objects.

And once again, Ali has written a YA novel, a real love story, that has sent me to Google a number of times, not the least of which was to find the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha and the manuscript called The Wonders of Creation and the Oddities of Existence that had inspired their journals and which Adam takes Zayneb to see. It's there and if you ever visit Doha, you can see it, too.

Reading Love from A to Z is a true learning experience wrapped up in a eminently readable, richly textured love story and I can't recommend this book highly enough.

This book is recommended for readers age 13+
This book was an EARC received from NetGalley

Nine Picture Books About Immigrants and Refugees

I've been exploring stories about immigrants and refugees with my young readers and I thought I would share the books we have read with you. I chose these for their variety and to give the kids a well-rounded appreciation for the reasons people need to leave their homeland and the kind of courage it takes to start over again in a strange place, no matter what your age is. I hope you find them as interesting and as informative as we did.

Gittel's Journey: An Ellis Island Story written by Leslèa Newman, illustrated by Amy June Bates
Abrams BFYR, 2019, 42 pages
When living in their small Jewish Eastern European village is no longer safe for Gittel and her mother, they decide to emigrate to the United States, where Mama's cousin Mendel lives. When an eye infection prevents Mama from boarding the ship to the US, she decides to send Gittel alone. Clutching Cousin Mendel's address, scared and along, Gittel makes the crossing, but by the time she reaches New York, the ink on the paper has rubbed away and no one read the address. Luckily, a kind Yiddish interpreter and a photographer have an idea about how to unite Gittel with Cousin Mendel.

This is a lovely story that highlights the bravery of children (or for that matter, anyone) leaving their home and traveling far despite the difficulties for a better life in America. Gittel's Journey is based on two true stories from the author's family (see the Author's Note). The watercolor illustrations are done in subtle browns, yellows and blues, with Gittel and her mother the only full color figures throughout. The illustrations and Newman's expressive text are frames in woodcut designs, giving the book an old-fashioned, yet timeless, feel. Back matter includes a Yiddish Glossary, and a Bibliography. 

The Day War Came by Nicola Davies, illustrated by Rebecca Cobb
Candlewick Press, 2018, 32 pages
The day war came begin like any other day, the young narrator tells us. First breakfast with her family, then school. But the war arrives just after lunch, full of smoke, fire and noise, turning everything to rubble, including the narrator's home and happy family. Walking alone, the narrator follows a crowd of other refugees, eventually arriving in another country. Living in a hut with other refugees, the narrator quickly realizes that war has taken hold of her, and everywhere she goes, she is told there is not place for her, even in the local school. But just as she sinks into overwhelming despair, a knock on the door, a young boy proves to be just what she needs - acceptance and place to belong. This powerful free verse poem captures so poignantly the heartbreak of war, the desolation of loss, and of finding yourself alone in the world as an unwanted refugee so well through the eyes of a young girl. The color pencil and watercolor illustrations are simple yet sensitive and child-friendly, reflecting the vulnerability of the narrator (and all people impacted by war) throughout. It is a story that will hopefully accomplish what the author set out to do: "remind us all of the power of kindness and its ability to give hope for a better future."

You can download a discussion guide for The Day War Came from the publisher HERE 

My Name is not Refugee written and illustrated by Kate Milner
The Bucket List, 2017, 32 pages
A young boy and his mother talk about the journey they are about to take because their homeland is no longer safe for them. She tells him they will be leaving old friends and to think about what to pack, and the long journey ahead of them by foot, the people they will meet, the things they will see. After the journey, she explains, they will sleep in strange places, hear strange words, eat different food until they finally have a home again and begin to understand things in their new country. And, she tells him, that he will be called refugee, but to remember that his name is not refugee. What's different about this book is that they haven't left on their long journey yet, so that at each juncture talked about, readers are also prompted to think about what they would do if they were about to go on the same trip, making this an interactive book that puts the reader into the shoes of a refugee, making the experience more realistic for them when they need to consider something like what to take and what to leave behind. The illustrations are simple and expressive.

A teacher's guide is available from the publisher that can be downloaded HERE

Calling the Water Drum by LaTisha Redding, illustrated by Aaron Boyd
Lee & Low Books, 2016, 32 pages
When they receive money from his Uncle Jacques in New York City, Henri's parents buy a rickety old boat in the hope of successfully crossing from Haiti to the United States. Told not to tell anyone what they are planning, Henri, his mother and father set out in the middle of the night. It's scary out in to ocean in a small boat that's taking on water. When the waves get bigger and rougher, the boat capsizes. Henri's father puts him on top of the boat, while he and his mother try to hold on. As it get rougher, they loose their hold and disappear into the water. Rescued by another boat, Henri lives with his uncle in NYC. The only thing he has left if the bucket he used in Haiti to help his parents with chores. Henri is unable to speak due to the trauma of losing his parents, but now, he uses the bucket as his voice and to drum his feelings about his loss. Henri does make a friend, Karrine, who lost her father in Hurricane Katrina.

This is a realistic, moving story that really portrays the uncertainty and danger, as well as the courage and tenacity refugees face as they try to escape to a better, safer life. Henri's story does end on a hopeful note, as he finds his voice and learns to laugh again. The realistic watercolor illustrations really capture the dangers and struggles Henri faced.

You can download a useful Teacher's Guide for Calling the Water Drum from the publisher HERE

Marwan's Journey by Patricia de Arias, illustrated by Laura Borràs
Minedition, 2018, 36 pages
When war comes to his (unnamed) country, a young boy finds himself fleeing on foot across the desert, his footsteps leaving behind"a trace of ancient stories, the songs of my homeland, and the smell of tea and bread, jasmine and earth" and apparently his deceased mother. By day, this small refugee carries the sound of his mother's voice urging him on, step by step, and to never look back. At night, he dreams of her coming to tuck him in. As he walks with others who are also fleeing, crossing borders to other countries, the boy thinks about his happy home life before the war - his mother lightning a nighttime fire, his father telling stories, their garden, their cat, and the ray of morning sun that shone on his pillow - and he vows he will someday return and rebuild his home and recapture that happiness.

Marwan's Journey is a simple story of fear, loss, and sorrow, but also of courage, hope, and promise lyrically written in a youthful voice that goes far capturing the emotional impact war and flight have on a young child. de Arias' words create beautiful text images and metaphors, complimented by Borràs' stylistic ink and color wash illustrations done in a palette of desert colors against sand-colored paper reminiscent of the desert Marwan is crossing.

This is a beautifully rendered book highlighting the impact refugee crisis in today's world has on young people.

A Shelter in Our Car by Monica Gunning, illustrated by Elaine Pedlar
Children's Book Press (imprint of Lee & Low), 2004, 32 pages
After her father died, Zettie and her mother moved from Jamaica to the United States seeking a better life. But things didn't work out exactly as they has hoped, and now they are living in the car, driving from place to place to try to sleep for the night. It's a struggle because Zettie's mom can't get a permanent job, so they can't get an apartment. When her mother does find a day's temporary job, they eat better then their usual peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. To her credit, mom is going to community college, and makes sure Zettie attends school every day. School, however, isn't the safe haven it should be as Zettie is made fun of and bullied by kids calling her Junk Car Zettie. The story is essentially one about a night and day in the life of a homeless girl and her mother, and depicts some disturbing truths - sirens interrupting sleep, getting ready for school in a park bathroom, getting chased away from one parking spot by an unfriendly cop.

The boldly painted illustrations really accent Zettie's feelings of loneliness and fear. However, I'm not sure I care for the boldly painted stylized illustrations that look  a little to much like caricatures of Afro Caribbean characters to me. On the other hand, they reminded me very much of the fear and angst Edvard Munch depicted in his expressionistic painting The Scream.

A Shelter in Our Car is a picture book for older readers and while it isn't a immigrant/refugee story per se, it is not uncommon for those coming to this country for a better life to end up in shelters or cars. What it does do is tackle this complicated phenomenon of homelessness that has plagued this country for too long. But it's also a powerful story about family, hope, courage, and love even as it tackles a complicated phenomenon that has plagued this country for too long.

You can download a useful Teacher's Guide for A Shelter in Our Car from Lee & Low.

King of the Sky by Nicola Davies, illustrated by Laura Carlin

Candlewick Press, 2017, 60 pages

This is the story of a young immigrant boy from Rome, who hasn't learned much English yet and who feels not yet feel like he belongs in his new home in Wales. One day, as he watched a crumpled old man with a cane and a smile like springtime release his pigeons, the man spoke to him "I like to see them fly...after so long underground."  Clearly sick and disabled from working in a coal mine all his life, Mr. Evans becomes the boys first friend, handing him a pigeon to name, own, and train to be a champion. Together, they begin training the boy's pigeon, but as Mr. Evans goes weaker, and the boy's doubt that his pigeon, King of the Sky, is a winner grows stronger, the bird is entered into a long distance race of more than 1,000 miles beginning in Rome. After days and stormy weather go by and still no sight of King of the Sky, Mr. Evans, now bedridden, sends the boy out side to welcome his bird home - as the bird finds its way home and into the boys waiting arms, the knows he, too, is at last home. 

Told from the point of view of the young boy, a nameless narrator throughout, this is such a compelling and poignant story that shows how a simple act of kindness can help an immigrant, or anyone who feels like they are outsiders and don't belong, feel welcome. The somewhat smudged mixed-media illustrations carried that sense of not belonging, but evoked a sense of time and place for me. First, with the grey, rainy landscape that one finds in Wales, and also in row houses so common in mining villages like the one my dad grew up in, and the image of boy and man sitting at the table eating Mrs. Evans's welsh cakes, a picture and taste from my own childhood and afternoon tea.

Teachers and Home Schoolers can find a wonderful classroom ideas courtesy of Candlewick Press HERE

Mustafa written and illustrated by Marie-Louise Gay
Groundwood Books, 2018, 40 pages

Mustafa and his family have left their (unnamed) war-torn  country and have new settled into a new urban home in an unnamed country. As Mustafa ventures into a nearby park, exploring this new flowering place with green grass and leafy trees. It looks nothing like the country he left behind all gray and dusty. Then, he sees a young girl walking a cat. When she says something he doesn't understand, he runs away. Mustafa returns to explore the park some more the next day, sees the girl and her cat again, but runs away from her. Fall comes and the park turns from greens to oranges and reds, and Mustafa is surprised to see an old woman feeing birds. In his country, he remembers,  there wasn't enough food for birds. Later, he hears someone playing music he knows, but no one notices Mustafa. Even though he's feeling invisible, he hides when he sees the girl and her cat again, but this time she waves for him to follow her. Soon, they are feeding the park's goldfish, swinging on swings and laughing. Finally, the girl points to herself, says her name. Understanding her, Mustafa does the same thing. This is a gentle story about the loneliness of being a refugee in the country and not knowing the language yet and how it only takes one person to make a child feel visible and welcome. The only indication of anything is that Mustafa's mother wears a hijab, but by keeping their home country and their new country unnamed, this becomes a universal story of immigration. Gay also incorporates the traumas that Mustafa and his family experienced in their war-torn country, traumas that still invade his dreams at night. Themes of friendship and empathy are nicely explored. The soft watercolor illustrations reflect Mustafa's park explorations while capturing his feelings of loneliness and isolation. 

There is a great educator guide for teachers courtesy of Groundwood Book and available HERE.

Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote: A Migrant's Tale written and illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh
Harry N. Abrams, 2013, 32 pages
Even though this isn't an immigrant or refugee story, I thought it was important to include it here. It is a allegory tale about a young rabbit named Pancho who is eagerly awaiting the return of Papá Rabbit. Papá and two friends had gone up north to work in the fields and earn needed money when their own crops failed. But when Papá doesn't arrive home when expected, Pancho decides to go look for him. Packing Papá's favorite meal, Pancho heads out and soon meets Señor Coyote, who offers to take him safely north for the sweet and spicy mole Pancho had packed. They travel together, but when Pancho runs out of food with which to pay the coyote, he decides to roast Pancho. Luckily, Papá Rabbit saves Pancho just in time, having heard his cries. Papá Rabbit and his friends were delayed on their way home because they had been robbed of the money they had earned picking crops. This sounds like a simple story, but it clearly depicts in both words and picture the perilous journey north, the greed, ruthlessness and treachery of the coyotes guides who take advantage on desperate migrants, and thieves who prey on vulnerable migrant workers, robbing them of the wages they worked so hard for. Young readers may see this as a typical fable, but it can be brilliantly unpacked with older readers who are more aware of and have a better understanding of the border problems that face migrants, immigrants, and refugees.

Sumo Joe by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by Nat Iwata

Sumo Joe by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by Nat Iwata

Lee & Low Books, 2019, 40 pages

It's Saturday and that means it's time for Joe to practice sumo with his friends, and time for younger sister Jo's aikido lesson. But before Jo leaves with mom, she gives a subtle look at the sumo boys, and you know that joining them is what she really wants to do. While Jo and mom are gone, Joe and his friends get ready to practice. Sumo takes place in a dohyō ring and the boys build one using throw pillows.

Once that's done, they tie on their special belts called the mawashi, practice teppo to strengthen arms and shoulders, and shiko, a stomping exercise to build strength and to get rid of any evil demons that might be hanging around in the dohyō.

But when Jo comes home, she challenges brother Joe to a match - aikido vs. sumo. But girls aren't allowed within the sacred space of the dohyō. Now he's torn between being a good big brother and following the rules. And even if they do let Jo into the ring, can younger, smaller sister beat her bigger, older brother in this male-only sumo space? Because one of those rules is that if any part of Joe steps out of the ring, he loses. What a dilemma!

Sumo Joe is a wonderful book on several levels. First, it's a playful look at family and sibling rivalry. Joe is such a kind, gentle brother towards his sister, and readers quickly realize that the match Jo challenges him to is done in the spirit of good clean fun. Most importantly, the loser doesn't stomp off sore and angry. Second, it an informative book about sumo wrestling which many of us don't really know a lot about (including myself). Debut picture book author Wengen has seamlessly woven in sumo terms so that by the end of the story, young readers are familiar enough with the new words to use them comfortably.

Picture book artist Nat Iwata used a soft pastel palette for Sumo Joe that perfectly matches the gentleness and playfulness of the story. I thought that including lots of generational family pictures in the background throughout to the story was a really nice touch.

It is a tradition in Asian homes to take off one's shoes when you enter and leave them by the door, and indeed Iwata shows everyone's shoes lined up at the front door in some pictures. These are the kinds of references that help kids understand other cultures they may not be familiar with.

As you can see from the illustration examples shown here, Wengen has written the text in short rhyming stanzas of four beats each that never falters throughout the whole book. And amazingly, she has managed to include a lot of information in these short sentences.

Back matter includes an Author's Note that gives more information about traditional sumo wrestling, and the surge of interest and support for allowing women into this sacred space. There is also Glossary of the terms used throughout the book.
 
You can also find an extensive Sumo Joe Teacher's Guide to download, thanks to the published, Lee & Low

Sumo Joe is a sweet, informative story and ideal for young kids who are just developing an interest in martial arts.

This book is recommended for readers age 4+
This book was provided to me by the publisher, Lee & Low

August Isle by Ali Standish

When her mom, a freelance photographer, gets a job in Argentina, and her dad has a big law case to prepare for, it is decided that Miranda, 12, would be sent to stay with her mother's old friend, Aunt Clare on August Isle, where her mother had spent her summers growing up. Miranda has always wondered why her mother threw away the postcards Aunt Clare periodically sent and now that she will be on August Isle, she is determined to find out. And then maybe she can figure out why her mother suddenly began to distance herself from Miranda a few years ago.

Miranda had met Aunt Clare and her daughter Sammy four years ago, and the two girls quickly bond again once Miranda arrives on August Isle. Aunt Clare has signed them up for sailing lessons every morning, not knowing that Miranda is deathly afraid of water. And that's where she meets Caleb, who at first makes fun of Miranda for her fear, but soon she, Sammy and Caleb are fast friends.

Pretty soon, mysteries are uncovered. First, the three discover an old abandoned house and Miranda is dared to go in. Which she does, but gets caught by an elderly man who is now living there. As punishment for breaking and entering, the three friends have to spend afternoons helping Mr. Taylor unpack his many books, acquired on a sailing trip around the world and writing down the  stories he collected from different people and places.

They discover the second mystery while walking down the street. There, carved into the sidewalk cement are three names - Clare, Beth, Ben. They know Clare is Sammy's mother, Beth is Miranda's mother, but who is Ben and why have they never heard of him?

The third mystery is who is in the lighthouse on Keeper's Island across the water from August Isle. Legend has it that it's haunted, but someone is definitely there at night.

While these are the main threads of the story, like summer days, there are other things going on as well. There are the turtle eggs that are getting ready to hatch and be gently guided to the ocean; there are problems between Caleb's parents at home; and my favorite is Miranda learning to bake pies with Aunt Clare's help, something she had always wanted to do with her mother.

I've always loved books set in the summer, so August Isle was right up my alley. I particularly liked the companionable way the three kids hung out together, getting ice cream after sailing lessons, and sitting under an old tree eating it, and their secret afternoon visits to Mr. Taylor (this part is never creepy, there is a housekeeper named Betsy always present). I also like how kind the young sailing instructor was about Miranda's fear of water, letting her do it all at her own pace. This is the kind of book my 11-year-old self would have loved to read during the summer when I could whatever I wanted (confession - I still look forward to reading exactly this kind of summer book).

I enjoyed watching the mysteries get solved, even though parts of them were very sad, but I really liked Miranda's resolve that from now on she is going to be "Miranda - brave and bold," facing her fears and learning to speak up for herself, even though sometimes it was really hard. Sammy, who is part Indian, part white, has always felt too white in India and too Indian in America, struggles to come to terms with her identity, even though she has always being proud of her Indian heritage.

On the whole, August Isle was a wonderfully inspiring book to read and although Standish has used the usual tropes of family, identity, overcoming fear, and finding courage, she's managed to give them all a new look. Young readers are sure to count Miranda, Sammy, and Caleb among their book friends at summer's end.

This book is recommended for readers age 9+
This book was borrowed from the NYPL

Be sure to check out the other Marvelous Middle Grade Monday offerings, now being carried on by Greg at Always in the Middle.

Two for Tuesday: Juana & Lucas Books 1 and 2 written and illustrated by Juana Medina

Here are two mini reviews about books that my young readers really enjoyed - over and over. Not only did we find Juana to be a chatty, funny, heartwarming character, but we also learned some things about living in Bogotá, Columbia, South American and some Spanish words while reading both books. I gave them copies of a map so the kids could see just where Bogotá is and how Juana could see the Andes Mountains from her bedroom window. The kids were also able to see how far Juana and her family had to travel to get to Spaceland in Orlando, Florida. We spent a lot of time with these books and had lots of fun doing it. 

Juana & Lucas 

written and illustrated by Juana Medina

Candlewick Press, 2016, 96 pages

Young readers will love getting to know Juana in this delightful semi-autobiographical chapter book. She's a young girl living in Bogotá, Columbia with her two favorite people: her Mami and her dog Lucas. Juana also likes lots of things: drawing, superhero Astroman, brussels sprouts,and reading books (sometimes under the covers with a flashlight). She also like living near her abuelos and playing her friends, especially Juli. Juana isn't crazy about math, dance class, or her school uniform, but she does like lunch when she can play fútbol with her friends. Juana thinks her life is just about perfect, that is until English comes along - on the first already-not-going-well day of school. Thank goodness, there's Lucas to come home to after such a horrible day.

English, Juana discovers, has lots of THs, big Ws, and long Ls and she finds them all so hard to pronounce. Besides, why does she have to learn English anyway?  Her mother tells Juana that "learning English can change [her] life...in a good way." And everyone else she asks seems to agree with that - neighbors Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon, shopkeeper brothers Fernando and Hernando Herrera, even Tía Cris. But it's when her abuelo tells her she needs to learn English for the family's trip to Spaceland where Astroman lives in the United States that Juana finally finds a good reason to study English harder.

I thought the kids in my reading group were a little too young for this book, but I read it to them anyway. I thought it was just such a great kid-friendly book, that I couldn't resist. And my kids loved it! One could relate to Juana's struggle to learn English, and Juana reminded a few of them of their older sisters, but all agreed it was a great story. I thought it was also an ideal read aloud.

Told in first person narration by Juana, you can feel the energy behind her words, and she gives a very easy to follow vision of her life, that includes detailed asides that draw the readers into her world along with the main story. These are all accompanied by lively cartoon-like ink and watercolor illustrations and sprinkled with Spanish words throughout. Each time we came to a Spanish word, we practiced it until it was memorized, which proved to be a lot of fun. We also talked about how Juana's is similar to their lives and how it is different, which was also an interesting conversation. And though we learned that her father had passed away, we also saw that Juana has a loving, supportive family and lots of friends.

With her pigtails, her dislike of her uniform, her friendliness, and her abundant enthusiasm, Juana is a wonderfully appealing character, and we were pretty excited to continue her adventures with a second Juana & Lucas story.

You can download some handy Spanish/English flash cards to use along with Juana & Lucas thanks to Candlewick Press

Juana & Lucas: Big Problemas

written and illustrated by Juana Medina

Candlewick Press, 2019, 96 pages

This sequel to Juana & Lucas, begins just as Juana is realizing that her just about perfect life has become a little less perfect lately. It starts when she notices that her mother is wearing her hair differently, using more perfume, more lipstick and even singing. And lately Juana has also been spending more time with her abuelos, or with her abuelo's sister Cecilia, nicknamed Piti, or she has been staying with her cousins Cami Pipe, which is nice since Lucas can come, too. But Juana misses spending time with her Mami, whose spending times elsewhere without her.

Change is in the air and it turns out that Mami has been dating a man named Luis. Luis asks Juana lots of questions about herself when they first meet, and she learns that he loves to take pictures (so does she), he has a house in the country, called La Finca, and Luis likes to listen to jazz (so does she). And she really likes visiting La Finca. But when Mami and Luis announce they are getting married, Juana is less than happy.

And now, Juana needs to pack all her things because she, Mami, and Luis will be moving to a new house. Not only that, but her abuelita's seamstress is called in to take measurements for wedding dresses, including one for Juana and a special bow tie for Lucas. Piti is making the wedding cake, and Juana is her official taster. And she is excited about the new house, too. Pretty soon, Juana's dress is ready, the cake is made, and the wedding day has arrived. By now, Juana has accepted that her life has changed in a big way, and she starting to enjoy it, especially the idea of more cousins, uncles and aunts. After all, "it might guarantee an adventure or two."

Once again, Juana's first person narration draws readers into her life as she deals with the trauma of change and a new stepfather. I liked that Medina included an aside that is very touching as Juana thinks about the father she doesn't really remember and wonders what life would have been life with him. And Mami's reassurances that not everything will change, that she will always be her Mami who loves Juana, not matter what, and who will take care of her, laugh with her, cook her favorite foods, was also a nice touch.

The ink and watercolor illustrations are every bit as playful and energetic as in the first book, capturing all of Juana's emotions that run from very happy to very sad. And once again, there are Spanish words sprinkled throughout Juana's story. Juana's asides might inspire young readers to think about what is good in their own lives.

Both Juana & Lucas books deal with the kind of ups and downs that kids anywhere might face, but I really thought this story might be way, way over the heads of my young readers. Happily, most of them really got into it, and we again had lots of discussions, especially regarding the topics in the asides that Juana includes. I really hope they revisit both of these books when they begin reading on their own.

As a sequel, Juana & Lucas: Big Problemas stands up very nicely in terms of execution and strong storyline, and with the short introduction to Juana's near perfect life in Bogotá, it can be read as a stand alone story. 

And it is the humble opinion of my kids that Juana & Lucas and Juana & Lucas: Big Problemas are just about perfect. And we are hoping for more stories about Juana's life in Bogotá, Columbia with her best furry friend Lucas in the future.

You can download some handy Spanish/English flash cards to use along with Juana & Lucas. There is also a short Juana & Lucas: Big Problemas Activity Kit that can also be downloaded. Thanks to Candlewick Press for these.

These books are recommended for readers age 5+

These books were provided to me for review by Candlewick Press

This is the map I used:

Source: http://lanic.utexas.edu/la/region/map/

It's Monday! What are you reading?

It's Monday! What are you reading? - from picture books to YA is a kidlit meme hosted weekly by Jen at Teacher Mentor Texts and Kellee at Unleashing Readers. The purpose is to recap what you have read and/or reviewed and to plan out your reading for the upcoming week. Twitter #IMWAYR

Last week was a busy week. Wednesday was a full day at the Academy of Medicine in NYC for School Library Journal Day of Dialog and Thursday was an unexpected day at Book Expo. I used to really like going to Book Expo, but not so much nowadays. Ever since they made it hard for bloggers to go, it just hasn't been the same. It used to be a nice time to see online friends from near and far. Now, it's much smaller and quieter. I could have gone back Friday, but decided not to. I was disappointed not to be able to meet Karuna Riazi, who was signing ARCs of The Battle, sequel to The Gauntlet, which I loved. But I have absolute faith that the fates will somehow put a copy of The Battle in my hands at some point.

The week wasn't a total loss as far as reading and reviewing is concerned, however. I did review the following:

Alex Rider: Secret Weapon by Anthony Horowitz 

Dutch Girl: Audrey Hepburn and World War II

by Robert Matzen

I read, but have not reviewed:

August Isle by Ali Standish

Juana & Lucas (Book 1) and Juana & Lucas: Big Problemas (Book 2)

written and illustrated by Juana Medina

D-Day Dog by Tom Palmer

June 6th is the 75th anniversary of D-Day, the world's greatest amphibious assault on the coast of Normandy, France that turned the tide of WWII in favor of the Allies and began to break the hold that Adolf Hitler and the Nazis had on Europe. for that reason, I am in the middle of reading

Invasion: The Story of D-Day

by Bruce Bliven, Jr.

and

D-Day: Untold Stories of the Normandy Landing 

Inspired by 20 Real-Life People

by Michael Noble, illustrated by Alexander Mostov

And on a different note, I am also hoping to read

Silver Meadows Summer by Emma Otheguy

What are you reading this week?