Reviewed by Jaelyn 12th grade – How to Lose a Best Friend is a real and honest book that more teenagers, especially the “Gen Z” generation should read. Zeke and Imogen were best friends for as long as anyone could remember. Everyone wanted them to get together, including Zeke. Imogen didn’t feel the same. This book was labeled as fiction which I do agree with but the concept of the story, the plot twist, and emotions were all very real. I really liked the storyline of the book and how on the back it says “What would you do if you were in love with your best friend… and they didn’t love you back?” It’s something I’ve experienced and I think many others have as well. This book could be used as a life lesson. I didn’t like how this book gave us “2 years later” but only lasted for a few pages. There should have been more or a second book.
Category Archives: Additional Purchase
Chronically Dolores by Maya Van Wagenen
Reviewed by Baylie 12th grade – Chronically Dolores is centered around a girl, Dolores Mendoza, who suffers from a chronic bladder illness. The book follows her daily struggles and her slow path to self-acceptance. Dolores befriends Terpsichores-Jones, an autistic homeschooled girl, making a pact to help each other in their challenges. Dolores wishes to rekindle her old friendship with her friend Shae, while Terpsichore hopes to attend public school. Waganen’s use of first person helps connect you with Dolores, feeling the exact emotions she feels when she is embarrassed/self-conscious about her illness. I liked when Dolores reviewed bathrooms, as that is something with a bladder disease would do that is also funny to think about. This book shines in its lack of a concrete ending. It instead focuses more on the challenges and the growth of Dolores and Terpsichore Berkenbosch-Jones. They grow more confident in themselves about their respective disabilities, learning to accept themselves for who they are even if they don’t get the exact results that they aim for in their “pact”. This is something that I would recommend for people to try something new, as when most go for fantasy or horror fiction, this book shows that realistic stories can still be just as entertaining. Would read again!
Outside Mom, Inside Mom by Jane Park
A young child is about to start at a new school. Instead of wearing his favorite red shoes, he chooses sneakers to fit in. Others comment on how quiet his mom is, but he knows that at home she is different. The story shows how the mom and the boy show different sides of themselves when they are in public and when they are at home. Finally the boy is brave and wants to be his authentic self which encourages the mom to be as well. The illustrations were more muted in color when talking about outside mom and vibrant when we learned about inside mom. I like the message of the story, but it seemed a little disjointed in parts and left me with questions.
Alex’s Field Guides: But Where Do Sea Turtles Live? by Elina Ellis
The Curious Explorers Club wants to know where sea turtles live. Alex has the answer in her journal, but the Explorers want to discover the answer on their own. Throughout the story the explorers discuss why a sea turtle would or would not live in a certain location. Alex’s journal pages give facts about sea turtles.
The pictures are colorful, engaging and fill the page. The pictures and dialog feel geared towards younger readers, but the fact pages are text heavy with a lot of information on a two page spread. Resources at the end list websites for information about sea turtles and protecting sea turtles. This is the third book in the series Alex’s Field Guides.
A Song of Swords and Stuffies
Written by Max Brallier & Joshua Pruett, Illustrations by Jay Cooper & Douglas Holgate, Color by Joe Eichelberger
A song of Swords and Stuffies is book 3 of the Last Comics on Earth graphic novel series.The Laser Blade Hero Squad has come into the picture when they arrive in Apocalyptia and save all from a vicious monster. They agree to ally with our heroes while the Savage Aloner is called home on a mission to save his people from being “cutified”. What is this crazy impairment that has affected the entire land? Will our heroes be able to save the world from ending up all being cute?
This series will be enjoyed by those who love the Last Kids on Earth, DogMan, and Captain Underpants. I would recommend this book series if you have students who enjoy silly humorous graphics and can afford another Dogman type series.
Emilio Sloth’s Modern Manners
Words by Renee Ahdieh, Pictures by Alea Marley
Emilio is a kind sloth who goes about his day with his dear friends always listening to what they have to say and asking how they are. He also lets them know how he is and always has a cheerful demeanor.
This is a wonderful book about being a kind and listening friend. It really highlights how fulfilling it can be to be a good person with a positive insight to life. Emilio is a great example for young students who are in the process of learning what being a friend means. If these are the type of books you need in your library I would recommend this one as an extra purchase.
Clara: The Triumphant Rhinoceros
A True Story
Written by Jane Kurtz Illustrated by Claire Messer
This is a fictional tale about Clara, a famous rhinoceros that was taken in as a calf by a Dutch sea captain 260 years ago. This adorable Indian Rhino traveled with Captain Van der Meer where she became a wonderful ambassador for the species. As many know, rhinos have the reputation of be ill-tempered, deadly and cruel. Clara proved these assumptions to be wrong in her lifetime.
Today, many would feel that having someone travel with what should be a wild animal in this way is wrong but as the author’s note says the captain truly treasured Clara and took the best care of her he could. The note also discusses how with conservation efforts these rhinos are now numbering in the thousands although in the past very few were left alive and the species was almost extinct. II would recommend this book as an extra purchase as philosophies on wild animal care have changed and this may take some explaining to do if one was to want to read it aloud to groups and young children.
Bouncing Bunnies!
Written by Fiz Osborne, Illustrated by Tim Budgen
Bouncing Bunnies all around in this tale. When it’s time for the baby bunnies to wake up they do their bestest jumps! After that, they get hungry then it’s time to wiggle. This carries on until it’s time to cuddle snuggle and go to bed.
This happy little picture book can be a fun librarian read for youngers as it would be easy to sing a simple little tune to it. It can also be one that can have movement activities for an audience easily added. I recommend it as an extra purchase if one needs some new books like this for kinders and pre-K.
Sharing the Dream
Written by Shelia P. Moses, Illustrated by Keith Mallett
This book is another wonderful book about a family traveling to march in Washington DC to fight for rights. Agnes travels by train on an adventure with many others. She is nervous and excited as she does not know what to expect. When they arrive, they walk and walk and in the end, they see many speak about rights, freedoms and the future. It is a day of celebration and smiles. People are hopeful for better days. I recommend this book for libraries that may need to refresh their MLK Day, Black History month books of just want a great historically based book added to their collection.
Gecko Girl/Lagartijita by Daniel Chacon
A young girl falls asleep while her father tells her a story and dreams that she wakes up as a gecko. She sets off to find out what she is. The cat says she’s a toy, the dog says food, the spider says danger. Eventually the girl wakes up to realize that she is still a child.
The book is bilingual with the text on top in English and the text at the bottom of the page in Spanish. One side of a two page spread is text and the other is the illustrations which fill the page.