notes on books, teaching, and tech from your friendly neighborhood librarian
Fuzzy Mud, Louis Sachar
Action/Adventure
Tamaya and Marshall already have enough problems. Tamaya’s life is split between her mom’s house and her dad’s two hundred miles apart, so she misses out on half of both her lives. Marshall made an enemy of new kid Chad during the first month of school, and now he spends his days in silence because no one – not even his best friends – will talk to him. Continue reading “Book of the Week: Fuzzy Mud by Louis Sachar”
Menace from the Deep, Michael P. Spradlin
Science fiction
Emmet Doyle has already had enough change. He’s moved four times in the last six years, and last year his mom passed away. And now he’s being uprooted yet again to Florida, near the Everglades, where his biologist dad will be studying endangered species. Florida smells weird and is hot and rainy, which is bad enough, but Emmet has no idea what dangers are really in store. Deep in the Everglades, something terrible lurks. Continue reading “Book of the Week: Menace from the Deep by Michael P. Spradlin”
The Girl Who Drank the Moon, Kelly Barnhill
Fantasy
Newbery Medal winner!
Every year, the people of the Protectorate – a walled gray city surrounded by a dangerous magical forest – sacrifice a baby to the Witch. They believe this sacrifice allows them to live in the city without the Witch’s interference, and so no one ever fights back against this cruel tradition. Continue reading “Book of the Week: The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill”
Threads, Ami Polonsky
Realistic fiction
Clara is thirteen and lives in Evanston with her parents – and, until she passed away six weeks ago, her sister Lola. Since Lola’s death, Clara has seen her ghost everywhere. She can’t even begin to accept that her best friend is gone. Continue reading “Book of the Week: Threads by Ami Polonsky”
Scar, J. Albert Mann
Historical fiction
Growing up in the midst of the American revolution, 16-year-old Noah wants desperately to follow his dead father’s ideals and join the Revolutionary Army, but Noah has a bad foot and is unable to join the fighting. He finally gets his chance when a group of British and Iroquois soldiers come to his settlement and burn all of the houses to the ground, killing several colonists in the process. A group of men decide to attack the troops in revenge and they head north, planning to surprise the enemy soldiers. Noah tags along without telling his mother. Continue reading “Book of the Week: Scar by J. Albert Mann”
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he Creepy Case Files of Margo Maloo, Drew Weing
Fantasy/Graphic novel
Charles just moved to the big city, away from all his friends and his big house, into an old creepy apartment building that his dad wants to renovate. If that weren’t bad enough, it turns out that there are monsters in the closets – like, literal monsters. Like goblins and trolls and ghosts. Continue reading “Book of the Week: The Creepy Case Files of Margo Maloo”
Ghost, Jason Reynolds
Realistic fiction
Ghost knows how to run.
But running isn’t a real sport, not something to be proud of – it’s just something he’s always had to do. Ghost is a kid who’s had to do a lot of running away. Now, basketball – that’s a real sport. Ghost wants to be a basketball player, but he doesn’t play – just watches the older boys out on the court. Continue reading “Book of the Week: Ghost by Jason Reynolds”
Girl in the Blue Coat, Monica Hesse
Historical fiction/Mystery
Hanneke is a teenager living in Amsterdam in the middle of World War II. She spends her days riding her bike around the city, delivering black market goods. She spends her nights in her family’s apartment waiting out the citywide curfew and trying not to think about her boyfriend, Bas, who died trying to protect his country from the Nazi invasion. Continue reading “Book of the Week: Girl in the Blue Coat by Monica Hesse”
Hour of the Bees, Lindsay Eagar
Magical realism (realistic fiction with a hint of fantasy)
Twelve-year-old Carolina would rather be anywhere else. Her friends are going to camp and having sleepovers and hanging out without her, while Carol has to spend her summer in the middle of nowhere, New Mexico, with her grandfather, who she’s never met. Her parents have decided it’s time to move him into a home, and they’re bringing the whole family to help clean and the ranch. Continue reading “Book of the Week: Hour of the Bees by Lindsay Eagar”
Ms. Marvel, G. Willow Wilson
Comic book/Fantasy
Sixteen-year-old Kamala Khan is a pretty average teenager. Her parents are way overprotective and strict, she has nothing in common with her brother, and she kind of maybe has a crush on her best friend, Bruno. She’s Pakistani-American and sometimes struggles to balance both cultures. She would much rather write fan fiction than do her homework. So, you know: pretty normal. Until. Continue reading “Book of the Week: Ms. Marvel #1”