Protagonist, Peyton King, has been the target of taunts, teasing and bullying throughout her school career; she is lonely and looking for something to connect with. Fortunately she has her art that allows her to process the world surrounding her. At seventeen, she sets off on a journey that takes her from her home town in England to the western shores of Canada. Although her family does not approve of this, Peyton is determined to make a new start and meet some longed-for friends along the way. Readers learn, though flashback, about the types of bullying and self harm that Peyton must go through to be accepted by her peers. The tipping point and ultimate reason for Peyton’s escape to Canada is revealed slowly throughout the chapters. Present day Peyton’s journey is much more than one of escapism; she learns who she is and wants to be – she demonstrates true strength in her self by the end of the novel.

Author, Sara Barnard, brings together a likable cast of characters from all over the world; they are all travelers at heart, but the reasons for traveling are widely different. This is a quick read that even the most reluctant would be able to pick up and connect with. There is sex, drinking, and drug use; therefore it is best suited for high school libraries.

Co-authors Kass Morgan and Danielle Paige alternate chapter by chapter the star roles of Scarlett and Vivi, a senior and freshman respectively at Westerly College. Scarlett is aiming to become her sorority’s president while Vivi doesn’t even think the sorority life is her thing. But Vivi is destined to become a Raven, the nickname for the Kappa Rho Nu sisters. The Ravens are witches, each specializing in one of four powers, but bound in sisterhood, they can also draw upon the other powers. And sisterhood is the most important part of being in this sorority — above all else. Vivi arrives on campus, against her mother’s pleas, and is drawn to attend a party at the Kappa house. Vivi and Scarlett clash immediately. The current president assigns Scarlett as Vivi’s magic mentor, setting up internal struggles for both girls. But a previous mistake by Scarlett will bring evil magic to Westerly and all Ravens will need to work together to fight it off. This is the beginning of a series, though it reads like a stand-alone. Those readers who like the motif of sisterhood above all else or who are fans of magical tales with spooky spells, ancient myths and tense scenes will probably enjoy this tale.

Cardi B has risen to the top of music world with her determination, her showmanship and her shock value — two positives, one negative, postive wins. This is the love/hate relationship that seems to surround her. Love her rhythm, hate her lyrics. Love her come up from dancing on tables for money, hate her overt sexual overtones. The same love/hate follows with this text. Love that there is something relatively easy for students to grab and be interested in, hate the overly simplistic tone. High school students will feel like the language is dumbed down. Abdo is a strong publisher and while there are interesting sidebars, references and bibliography at the back, most student probably won’t linger there. The colorful pictures will entertain but the drama that is Cardi, the voice that is Cardi, is not reflected in this chronology of her life. Therefore this is an additional purchase for libraries that can afford it.

What was it like to grow up in a strict German Catholic family in the early 1900s? This work chronicles the life of Wilhelm Hosenfeld – a teacher, husband, father, thinker, leader and always a man with a Christian conscious.

Wilm Hosenfeld embraced the Wandervogel message that, “German youth wanted to shape their own lives, through self-determination, self-responsibility, and inner truthfulness.” He embraces the youth hostiles, competitions and camaraderie with people his age. WWI erupts and he proudly volunteers to join the Prussian infantry and fights on Flanders Field for the fatherland. By 1918 he was tired and disillusioned with war and happy to return to his studies to become a teacher.

He meets his future wife at a Wandervogel meeting.  Their shared interests include art, literature, music and the outdoors though they came from very different backgrounds: Catholic versus Protestant, upper class vs villager.   

By 1923 Wilm establishes a night school in his village.  It offered course once a week in the evenings to persons ages 15 to 25 in economics, history, civics, German language and literature. He wanted to captivate the minds of those engaged “in work that requires brute force”, exposing them to an awareness of the outside world and not just their rural area. 

The change in German leadership in 1933 to the National Socialist German Workers’ Party, led by Adolf Hitler, Wilm Hosenfeld believed would put an end to Germany’s problems. He joined the SA. However his beliefs are in conflict with Nazi’s cruelties. Who can he trust? Can he challenge those in charge? What will happen to his family? He helps those he can. But he cannot help every one. He is captured and tried as a war criminal by the Russians yet his moral and ethical compass always remained intact. Wilm “saw each person as a fellow equal human being”.  

Among many awards and recognitions postumusually given Wilm these two stand out: in 2007 he was awarded The Commander’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restitula by then Polish President Lech Kaczynski and in 2009 Wilm Hosenfeld was recognized with the Jewish honor as a “Righteous Among the Nations”. This young readers edition will be picked up by students who enjoy the details of this time period in history.

Wreck This Picture Book: How to Make a Book Come to Life is hilarious! Keri Smith’s definition of ‘wreck‘ is most likely different from your definition of ‘wreck‘. Keri Smith most likely means dilapidated rather than damaged. Books are not meant to simply sit on shelves. Books are living, breathing things that want to go on adventures. A book is waiting for a person to love it, take it everywhere with him, and do everything with him. Now that is how a book becomes dilapidated or a wreck. How many of you enjoy the feeling of holding a book, touching it’s paper, smelling it, and / or hearing the sound of its pages while they are being flipped? These are the actions books are waiting for to bring them to life according to Keri Smith. Now as a librarian and former elementary school teacher there are a few actions in this book that scare me: taste, fold, roll, fly, wear, drop, bump, spin, read it upside down… but if the book belongs to the child- why not? As a librarian and former elementary school teacher we want children to LOVE books, right? As a librarian, I always knew a book was enjoyed or truly loved when it came back dilapidated and falling apart, or “WRECKed” in Keri Smith’s words.

Keri Smith’s photographed 3-D textured, art style is fun and whimsical to behold! The books with faces on them remind me of Mr. Potato Head. The people made from wine corks are adorable. Plus, there are directions for how to make these cork people inside the book jacket. The front and back end papers each have a different list of items to locate inside this book.

“YOU CAN TELL A WELL-LOVED BOOK BY HOW WRECKED IT IS. HOW DOES THIS ONE LOOK NOW?”