I have watched various Hollywood movies of this battle, but this graphic telling of it definitely put things into perspective for me.

“HITLER TOLD SKORZENY THAT HE WOULD TRAIN AND LEAD GERMAN SOLDIERS WHO SPOKE PERFECT ENGLISH TO MASQUERADE AS AMERICAN SOLDIERS. THEY WOULD WEAR AMERICAN UNIFORMS AND DRIVE AMERICAN VEHICLES AND WOULD CAPTURE BRIDGES, CHANGE ROAD SIGNS, AND SPREAD FALSE RUMORS AND PANIC IN THE AMERICAN REAR LINES. “(8) Hitler would not budge on his “Watch the Rhine” plan in December 1944, even though “FIELD MARSHAL GERD VON RUNDSTEDT …AND FIELD MARSHALL WALTER MODEL… FELT THE PLAN WAS TOO AMBITIOUS…” (9)

The retelling of this piece of war history goes back and forth between the German and American forces’ various victories, surrenders, defeats, massacres, and lack of food, fuel and supplies. Week by week, sometimes day by day, sometimes hour by hour, and even inch by inch the troops moved from one strong hold to another. The graphics in this retelling are as much about facial expressions, body postures, and tank and troop movements, as it is about the dialog of various generals. “TO THE SOUTH, PATTON GATHERED HIS FORCES TO DRIVE IN THE SOUTHERN SIDE OF WHAT IN NOW CALLED, “THE BULGE.” THESE FORCES INCLUDED TH 26TH AND 80TH INFANTRY DIVISIONS, BUT IN THE FRONT WAS HIS VERY ABLE 4TH ARMORED DIVISION.” (46) The scope of sequence of these weeks in the snow and cold of December 1944-January 1945 (differing from the warm summer/fall weather of D-Day) are much more understandable than I have ever experienced through any other retelling. The Battle of the Bulge ended January 16, 1945, with Germany surrendering a few months later on May 7, 1945.

Casualties for the Americans, British and Germans are each listed in wounded, killed, and missing. The numbers are in the tens of thousands. Then, there is a brief  “AFTER THE WAR, THE PEOPLE OF BELGIUM AND LUXEMBOURG BEGAN THE PROCESS OF REBUILDING THEIR HOMES AND VILLAGES, THE MARSHALL PLAN, WHICH BEGAN IN 1948, WAS AN AMERICAN INITIATIVE TO AID AND REBUILD WAR-DEVASTATED EUROPE, MODERNIZE AND BUILD EUROPEAN INDUSTRY AND TRADE, AND PREVENT THE SPREAD OF SOVIET COMMUNISM.” (94)

Page 96 lists the Allied and Axis Divisions, with pages 97-101 illustrating the different U.S. and German tanks used in this battle.

We have yet another book on a Native American tribe featuring them wearing regalia, as if it is what they still wear in everyday modern life. Not true. Do not get me wrong, the regalia is wonderful, but these modern photos mislead our youth into thinking Native Americans still wear this style of clothing daily.

This book gives very general information about the Nez Perce tribe of the 1700-1800s before white settlers came. The page headings include: Nez Perce Territory, Home Life, What They Ate, Daily Life, Made by Hand, Spirit Life, Storytellers, Fighting for Land,  Back in Time ( a timeline), and The Nez Perce Today ( again a photo of a Nez Perce in regalia).

I shared this book with my Native American- Nez Perce colleague from a Native American school.  He was only disagreed with one point, on page 16, ” The Nez Perce were named for shell bead decorations in their noses.” According to my friend, this was not the Nez Perce but a totally different tribe altogether. He was disappointed that this inaccurate information is still being taught.

This is the sixth book in the Furry and Flo series. Author – Thomas Kingsley Troupe does a nice job of recapping the vital information from book one giving the reader enough background to make this a book that can stand alone from the others in this series. Readers of the series will enjoy the golem, the latest monster to escape through the portal, from another world, hidden behind the washing machine in Flo’s apartment building’s basement laundry room. In previous books, the portal has let giant spiders, goblins, mummies, and skeletons escape. The giant golem, made of rocks, is on a mission from his master Krigg to bring back Wolf Son, AKA Furry, who is a werewolf, when not in human form. Garvel, the golem, only wants to take Furry back to Krigg because Krigg has promised to give Garvel back his brothers and sisters. Flo is drawn into Garvel’s problem. She wants to help him, but Furry isn’t so sure. What does Krigg want with Furry? It could be a trap, but Flo convinces a reluctant Furry to help. To get Garvel back through the small portal opening, Flo and Furry have Garvel stand inside a dumpster then pull out the magic pin which keeps Garvel together. Boulders, once Garvel, tumble into the dumpster which Flo and Furry push through the portal. Back on the other side of the portal, Flo and Furry a-line the boulders before replacing the magic pin bringing Garvel back to life. Garvel leads them to Krigg. Flo notices Krigg is wearing a belt of magic pins. Krigg commands golem Number 20, made of metal, to hack Garvel apart for not following his orders.  Afterwards,  Number 20 proceeds to attack Flo. At this  “Garvel gave the iron golem a push backward, and Number 20 tripped over his own legs. He fell against the far wall, smashing a giant hole in the rocky border. Garvel moved to help his brother up, but when he saw through the hole in the wall, he stopped in his tracks. Number 20 turned to look too.” (92) There in pieces were the other  eighteen golems. Now, Flo commands Number 20 to get the pins from Krigg. Much to Krigg’s dismay, Number 20 is no longer under his control. Krigg drops the pins and runs for his life. Flo, Furry, Number 20, and Garvel begin to piece all of the disassembled golems back together, with Garvel and Number 20 doing the heaviest parts. They finally have them all together but one. They can’t find the pin to bring it back to life. Flo and Furry go to look for the missing pin inside of Krigg’s cottage. There they find the missing pin, but also a WANTED poster for Furry, put out by Furry’s father. “This poster thing says my dad will pay a fortune in bellims to whoever manages to return his son–and the portal shard.’  ” (112)  It is getting late, Flo needs to get back home. When Flo and Furry get back to the portal they find that Krigg has smashed it. Will Flo and Furry be trapped in this other world forever?

After this cliff hanger ending there are 3 “Questions form Flo” and 3 “Prompts from Furry” for discussion and or writing.

One action packed black and white illustration per chapter.

Do you remember the first time you were introduced, in person, to an orchestra one instrument at a time? What a thrill to hear the instrument and what it was capable of playing! In this book, an orchestra conductor does just that. Since the reader can not hear the instrument, Gabriel Alborozo has invented a colorful visual for each instrument’s sound.The timpani have bluish fingery clouds, while the cymbals have bright golden yellow sound shock waves, and the xylophone has multi-colored confetti floating in the air. After the percussion section comes the brass, then the strings, wood winds, and a piano and harp. Finally the conductor asks, ”  ‘So let’s see how they all fit together, shall we? One, two, three…’   MAGNIFICO! ”

The finally page, ” Clap  clap  clap  clap  clap  clap  clap  clap  clap  clap…”

The Civil Rights Movement Through the Eyes of Lyndon B. Johnson is a non-fiction title in the Presidential Perspectives series which also includes The Civil War Through the Eyes of Abraham Lincoln, The Louisiana Purchase Through the Eyes of Thomas Jefferson, The New Nation Through the Eyes of George Washington, September 11 Through the Eyes of George W. Bush, World War I Through the Eyes of Woodrow Wilson, World War II Through the Eyes of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and The Cuban Missile Crisis Through the Eyes of John F. Kennedy. This series supports the Common Core State Standards for grades 3-6.

The Civil Rights Movement Through the Eyes of Lyndon B. Johnson is an historical look at the turbulent early half of the 1960s, and contains powerful black and white photos of  civil rights protests in Birmingham, the march on Selma,  the National Guard deployed in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles, and Martin Luther King, Jr.’s funeral cortege in Atlanta. The text also contains a timeline, glossary, index, and a “Stop and Think” section that would be helpful in the classroom. Additionally, there is a reference section with both text and web sources for deeper study.

Investigating Seasons is a non-fiction title in the What Are Earth’s Cycles? series which includes Investigating Animal Life Cycles, Investigating Plant Life Cycles, Investigating the Carbon Cycle, Investigating the Rock Cycle, Investigating the Water Cycle.  This easy to read text is filled with large color photos, a glossary, an index, and a reference section that includes both print and web sources.

How the Executive Branch Works is part of the How the US Government Works series, which includes additional titles of How Political Campaigns and Elections Work, How Political Parties Work, How the Judicial Branch Works, How the Legislative Branch Works,  and How the US Security Agencies Work.  This non-fiction series supports the Common Core State Standards for grades 3-6.

Nicely laid out, easy to read with color and black and white photographs and other illustrations, the text contains sidebars, a timeline, a glossary and an index, and a “Stop and Think” section that would be very useful in the classroom. There is also a reference section that includes books and a link to websites that are routinely monitored and updated.

Armistice Day is a  graphic novel in the Graphic Warfare series that includes these additional titles: D-Day, Fallujah, Gettysburg, Iwo Jima,  and the Tet Offensive. The text is filled with action-packed illustrations and fact-filled narration. Easy to read, but riveting, this text explains how WW I started, the new battle methods used in that war, trench warfare, the final days of the war, and the signing of the armistice agreement with the cease fire on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. It concludes with a history of Armistice Day, how it later became known as Veterans Day. The text also includes maps, timelines, biographies, statistics, a glossary and index, as well as a reference to websites that are frequently monitored and updated.

This book, and the entire series, would make an excellent addition to a school library.

Polar Bears Matter is a non-fiction book in the Bioindicator Species series that also includes the titles Bees Matter, Coral Reefs Matter, Dragonflies Matter, Frogs Matter, and Monarch Butterflies Matter. The series supports Common Core State Standards for grades 3-6

Polar Bears Matter has especially nice colored photographs of polar bears in the wild, and of scientists and researchers working to determine what is causing their habitat to shrink, and how to protect these animals from extinction.  There are also sidebars, graphs, charts, a glossary, index, additional resources for further research, and a nice “Stop and Think” section that will useful for classroom use.

Thomas Edison Invents the Light Bulb is a non-fiction book in the Great Moments in Science series. The series, which also includes non-fiction titles on Charles Darwin, Isaac Newton, Louis Pasteur, Marie Curie, and Rachel Carson, supports the Common Core State Standards for grades 3-6.

The book is filled with period black and white photos and etchings, has numerous sidebars of information, as well as a timeline, glossary, index, and resources for further study. It is interesting and easy to read, and will make a good addition to a school or classroom library, especially for students who are studying inventors and inventions.

Ebola is a non-fiction book for children and youth that explains how the Ebola epidemic occurred, what is thought to cause the virus, the symptoms shown by the infected, how the disease spreads, how the disease can be  or prevented or contained, and what health officials in the affected countries of Africa and around the world are doing to educate communities about this disease.

The book contains numerous color photographs and other graphics, as well as statistics, a glossary, index, and resources for further study.

George is a novel about a 10 year old named George, who loves to read and has a best friend named Kelly. Everyone thinks George is a boy, but she doesn’t feel like one. George is a transgender fourth-grader who prefers to be called Melissa and who identifies as a girl. The main plot conflict is that George really wants to try out for the role of Charlotte in the class production of the play Charlotte’s Web.  George  thought she would always be keeping the secret, but when her teacher states that she can’t try out for the part because she is boy, she and her friend Kelly come up with a plan.

George is praised for filling the gap between transgender picture books for young children and novels for teenagers, as it is the perfect book for mid-grade kids.

As author Alex Gino states, “It’s not just, ‘This is a trans narrative.’ This is a narrative about a young person who is very much trying to become who they are.”

Have you ever played those word games were you have to see how many words you can create from the original word? This book reminds me of one of those games, but for primary age readers. It is a cross between one of those games and a wordless picture book. There are no sentences in this book.  There is usually one word per page. All of the words begin with the letter “p”. Sometimes a letter is added to the word on the previous page and sometimes a letter is subtracted from the word on the previous page. Here is the progression of words: plan, plane, planet, plant, pant, pants, pans, pals, Pa’s, past, post, pot, pit, pin, pint, point, paint, pain, plain, plan. Have you guessed the plot of this book yet? It is about a young girl with a dream to fly a bi-plane as she plants a garden,  hangs pants up on a clothes-line, and goes about her daily life. She takes a key which fell out of the pant’s pocket to open a locked photo album belonging to her Pa. Inside the album are ticket stubs, old photos, a blue ribbon, and pilot’s wings from her parents’ barnstorming days. She shows the album to her pa. Together they paint posters, fit aviator clothing, paint the bi-plane, visit her mother in the cemetery, and pack a picnic lunch and luggage, before flying off over the plain. What a great plan!

The first graders I read the book to loved finding the change from one word into the other, as well as, following the story-line through use of the one word per page and the illustrations!

Poisonous vomit, punching shrimp, hidden claws… oh my!  This high appeal title profiles a wide selection of animals from all over the world which defend themselves in unexpected ways.  Many of the defenses hinge on bodily fluids in some way – and kids can’t get enough of it.  Each tale is accompanied by photographs, and the graphic design of the book has pizzazz.  This and Johnson’s similarly packaged works “Zombie Makers” and “Masters of Disguise” are essential for any public, elementary, or middle school library.

Full Cicada Moon by Marilyn Hitton is a novel written in free verse form as in the style of Brown Girl

Dreaming. It’s about a girl named Mimi whose family moves from Berkley, California to Vermont

*Japanese making Mimi multi-ethnic and feeling like an outsider in her new community. Not only

must she adapt to a new climate with cold winters, but she is in the middle of Junior High. It is set in

the late 1960’s and Mimi questions school policies such as classes being assigned by gender (really,

shop is only for boys). It also highlights historical events such as the first lunar landing.

I like the style of this book with many short chapters making it easy to pick up and put back down, for

busy people who tend to read books in short bits. It has Japanese words and customs sprinkled

throughout which increases the interest. It is a realistic book of a girl on the verge of discovery of who

she is.

Tiny Cooper is not Tiny.  He’s big boned and has a big presence too.  Additionally, he is gay and figuring out how to love in this novel written as a script for a musical by David Leviathan.  Hats off to Leviathan for accomplishing such a feat of writing.  The word choices are so terse, yet so loud and powerful.  Tiny wants to experience the type of love he sees his unconditional parents exchange to freely.  He tries this through multiple boyfriends, each who have their own agendas.  When Tiny does find love, his last partner becomes the one who can’t trust the love Tiny so desperately wants to give.  Ultimately, Tiny shares the message he has had to learn over the course of the story — that you have to fall to learn to trust.  And if you hit bottom, you just have to get up again.

The stage directions Leviathan incorporates are more impressive than the dialogue between actors.  In fact, because of the repetition within music, a reader can fast forward their reading.  Written for a high school audience and above, there are plenty of witty lines which just highlight the truth in certain stereotypes of gay men.   Tiny is jazz hands gay, proud of it, and makes his presence known to all.  It will be interesting to see if this gets picked up in my library.

This is a silly, funny story about the fashion world and the humorous drama that surrounds it. In a panic search for a fashion assistant just one week before Fashion Week, Cover magazine has a huge problem.  Mitford the giraffe saves the day.  She knows just the right new look, who to bring on as the most unique model and the latest “look” for this season.  Mitford’s dream comes true and Fashion Week is a success!  The wispy, sketchy drawings capture the mood of spontaneous design.  A delightful book!

The focus of this book is to investigate Internet privacy and the spying of companies and governments against their own employees and citizens.  There is an explanation of “cookies” and how they facilitate a third party viewing an internet account.  The legitimacy of surveillance for purposes of protection and the legal “greater good” of society is contrasted with the expectation of  individual’s constitutional rights of  privacy. A person may unknowingly allow a company access to private information by clicking user agreements. Digital privacy is at risk the world over and stricter controls are needed on data tracking. This book offers a brief, informative investigations of a growing problem.

Ebola: fears and facts  clearly discusses the terrible disease, the terror it evokes and the search for a cure.  The Ebola epidemic of 2014 killed nearly 10,000 people and terrified the world with the fear of an uncontrollable pandemic.  The book is clear and concise, using photos and graphs to explain the spread of the disease and how it is contracted. Although there is not a “cure” for Ebola,  methods have been developed to curtail the spread of the disease.  Care to not touch an infected body and a prohibition against eating bush meat are both effective.  In a brief clear manner, this book answers many questions about a world problem.  It could be very useful in writing a middle school report.

Fuel Under Fire assesses the fuel industry and its many problems.  It is an informative read to learn about the fossil fuel industry.  There is little discussion in the book about the spectrum of green fuel alternatives currently under development and commercially viable alternatives that are not being promoted by energy companies and investors in general.  Millions of dollars have been invested in renewable resources over the past couple of decades while billions of dollars are spent on fossil fuel projects.  The book missed the mark on electric cars in failing to point out how the market has advanced with the introduction of the Tesla electric car and the public demand for practical cars that consume less gas.  Alternatives are being developed but at a slow rate.  When the cost of fossil fuel becomes prohibitive, change will happen.

Life in the United States military is definitely different from civilian life, but it is also different for the spouses and for their children.  Combat Zone,  weaves a story about high school senior Justin who is the child of a military parent. Justin is the son of a Navy Seal, the elite of the elite. Every year before school begins, Justin takes part in the ritual mixed martial arts BBQ with the sons  and their Navy Seal fathers in one of their backyards. “This establishes who’s tough and who’s weak. Who rules but also who needs to be protected. At school, we stick together. The Seals are not just a branch of the military; we’re a family.” (4)

Justin and his father haven’t spent much time together as Justin was growing up. So now that Justin’s parents are divorced, Justin is enjoying their time together. Dad- Colonel Edwin Ladd, wants Justin to teach Col. Parker’s son Calvin , a freshman, how to fight. Justin doesn’t want to saying it’s Calvin’s dad’s job. Dad ends the discussion by inferring it’s Justin’s “Duty”.

After the football game Friday night, Justin and his Dad go for a motorcycle ride. On one of their stops, Dad suggests that Col. Parker and Calvin come on their next ride, too. On a later stop, Justin texts his friend Eric to see where the after game parties are happening. When Justin shows up at the party, his teammate Anton asks for a ride home because it’s against the “athlete code of honor” to be drinking. Justin eventually agrees to take Anton home. On the way home, Anton tells Justin, “I thought you’d be a good person to come out to first…” Justin can’t stand the implication of what Anton is trying to tell him. This is unmanly! Justin goes overboard and breaks Anton’s jaw.  At school, Justin makes up a story saying the fight with Anton was over Allison. The next weekend, Colonel Parker (Larry) and Calvin tag along on Justin’s and his father’s motorcycle ride. During a stop on the ride, Ed and Larry go off together to see something leaving Calvin and Justin to talk. Calvin mentions that he and his father will be stationed here for as long a Justin and his Dad are here. Why? ” ‘You know about our dads.’  ” (39) Justin is about to hit Calvin when the dads come back. All Justin can do is race out of there as fast as he can. Justin is so hurt and angry he smashes the windshield of his father’s car. He doesn’t come home that night. Colonel Ladd has Justin taken out of school in handcuffs by the MP, when Justin won’t talk to him, and put in the back seat of his car. At home, Justin pretends to teach Calvin how to fight, pins him, and tells Calvin he lied about his father. Justin is so confused. His father, his macho Navy Seal role model, is living a lie. Justin starts spreading rumors at school about boys he suspects of being gay. He even tells one of the boy’s girl friends, he’ll be taking her to the homecoming dance because her boyfriend is gay. Justin is out of control. Between the football game and the homecoming dance Justin and Jimmy get into a fight in their backyard. Justin won’t end the fight when Jimmy taps out, until Justin’s dad steps in. After the homecoming dance, Justin breaks Allison’s curfew and scares her by his actions. When Justin finally takes her home, both Allison’s and Justin’s parents are there. Justin goes over to Eric’s house to get away from his father. Eric’s mother doesn’t want Justin in their house, so they sit out on the curb and talk. Justin finally tells Eric what is going on with his father. Eric’s response , ”  ‘I’ve been so jealous of the two of you since my dad split. You know what to do. Man up.’  ” (73) Back at his home, Justin confronts his father. Dad say, ”  ‘ This changes nothing between us…’  … ‘I don’t want to be a disgusting freak.’.. SMACK.  Justin’s father hits him and he runs from the house. (77) Justin spends the night in the high school baseball dug out. Later at lunch, Justin and Mychal throw a bowl of fruit at Eric. Coach Young sees the whole thing and takes it upon himself to handle the situation. Coach Young takes them aside and then throws them off of the football team.  Coach “knows about Dad. He doesn’t care. Am I the only one who does?” (82) Coach Young arranges for  Colonels Ladd and Porter to have a talk with Justin in his school office. Dad tells Justin he’s always been this way.  He can ”  ‘accept it now. I hope you will. … How do you feel? ‘   ” … ”  ‘ Betrayed.’  ”     ”  ‘You’re my son. I’m still your father.’  “(85)  … ”  ‘First, you’ll apologize to Eric. Second, you’ll get a job so you can pay for replacing my windshield, and third, you’re going to get your act together going forward? ‘  ” (86) …  ”  ‘So we know where we stand. Are you going to keep acting like this or will you…’   ‘ Man up.’ I finished his sentence. For the first time in a long time, Dad and I both smile.” (87)

Short and quick paced.

Liberia by Scholastic Press gives a concise overview of the beautiful, troubled African country of Liberia.  The book begins with the table of contents with definite subject areas to obtain the information a student may need for a research project. Starting with a historical perspective and the founding of Liberia by former American slaves, the book also includes information about the geography of a biodiverse country with statistics displayed with  charts and diagrams.  Many photos of the social life and traditions of the people add to useful information in this book. Recommended for students from the middle and high school grade levels.

The bright, colorful children’s book , Hurry Up, Alfie, playfully looks at the difference between a child’s sense of time and a parent’s.  While being coaxed to “hurry” to get ready to go to the park, Alfie is repeatedly distracted by his imagination.  He is gently encouraged to continue by his patient Mom.  The antics of Alfie are charming and the illustrations delightfully enhance the story. This is a very sweet book for kindergarten or first grade readers.

Review of Becoming Maria

         Sonia Manzano’s memoir, Becoming Maria, is an honest, heart-wrenching account of growing up in the chaotic world of Puerto Rican New York City in the 1950s. The recollections of her early life of severe poverty, parental strife and constant moving are stated with frank realism. There is voice of authenticity as she observes the events with curiosity, confusion and occasional anger. Passion for music and a natural talent for theater are her ticket to a different life.  She continues a split life while living in the barrio and attending a performing art high school.  She then earns a scholarship to the Drama department of Carnegie Mellon University. This memoir shows that drive, determination, hard work and a dream of a better future CAN change a life.  Sonia Manzano always knew she wanted more than to just repeat the life she saw around her.  This book is inspiring for anyone with a past they wish to escape and a dream to pursue.