Category Archives: Highly Recommend

A Blue Kind of Day

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When Coen is having a blue kind of day, the feelings are murky, prickly and tense. When the feelings just won’t go away, he curls up in a ball on his bed and refuses to get up. His Mom, Dad, and sister all try to convince him to get up, then try to distract him from his feelings, and finally they snuggle close and wait. With their waiting, they validate Coen’s feelings and show they’ll be there for him.

A Blue Kind of Day describes the miasma of depression from the perspective of a young child. In words and pictures, the book offers a supportive and accepting narrative to remind children that they are not alone in their big feelings.

Hands

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Torrey Maldonado

A short, quick read in an authentic voice, this book really packs a punch – all while wondering how hands CAN be a powerful force in the world without them getting him into trouble. Trev faces a number of challenges in this story, but the central problem is how to keep all the promises he’s made to people he loves. This comes down to how he’s going to use his hands – to fight off his stepfather’s potential abuse of his mom once he’s out of jail for hitting her OR trust the adults around him to protect his family and use his hands for their other promise & potential, drawing. He trains to become strong, but using his hands to fight will have consequences that will limit his other strengths. I really liked the dialogue in the book. It sounds real. It’s the short, choppy sentences of Trev’s real language that give the book so much authenticity. Every chapter is extremely short (1-3 pages) which should help get this book read by students who may not love to read but will love Trev’s story. The end feels incomplete-ish, but I think that’s deliberate. We know what Trev decides he’s going to do at the end, but the events that will put him to the test have not happened yet. We must trust, like he must, in the people around him. Perhaps there will be a sequel, but I think it’s okay if there is not. I highly recommend this book!

Junior High

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By Tegan and Sara Quin

This semi-biographical, fictionalized graphic novel is by the musical duo of over a million records, including the song, “Everything is Awesome” from The Lego Movie. Of course, the main thing is how true this book resonates with readers. Because these two twins have based their book on their own lives, the reader can feel both the bonds between these close siblings, but also the rifts that sometimes occur. Much of the book is printed in purple ink, but sections that focus on one twin or the other are in red or blue ink. The visual difference & combination of colors is an added element I really liked. The illustrations are soft, mostly monochromatic colors that do not detract from the story, but add to it. The plot focuses on their life in junior high after moving to a new school with their mom and her new boyfriend. Anyone who has ever moved can relate to the loss of old friends and the adjustment of finding new ones. It’s more complicated with twins because sometimes one twin finds different connections than the other does. This story chronicles the purchase of their first bras (horrifying!), dealing with their parents’ split & new relationships, bullying new classmates, and discovering a new love of music. It’s the discovery of a guitar in their garage that helps them start to heal the rift that had begun to form between these two close siblings. There is so much for students to relate to in this book. It’s also fun to see how a passion in junior high can morph into a real career as adults. The very last few pages include the true biographical information and how the fictionalized version varies from reality. Real photos of the girls’ lives, including early lyrics from their first song are included. I highly recommend this graphic novel to middle school readers.

Luminary: A guide to magical self-care

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Reviewed by Taylor T. 11th grade – This Self-Help book is catered to a variety of people which makes it a perfect guide to bettering one’s self. The author of this book communicates how they learned about spiritual self-help. They use the knowledge gained from multiple different sources. This book’s goal is to provide help to people who are struggling to understand themselves but also provide background knowledge. This helps the book stay interesting as you’re learning multiple things at once. I liked how the author did not claim to be right. They made the reader aware that in order to get better it starts with you. There are not any big warnings I have about this book, but it is very spiritually based so it is important to keep that in mind if you plan on suggesting this book to other students. 

Rhythm of Time

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By Questlove with S.A. Cosby

The first of a new series about two friends from Philadelphia who get in over their heads when Kasia gives Rahim a new cell phone she’s created for him. Best part: it’s free & off the grid, so no pesky monthly bills. Worst part: it sends Rahim back in time to the Philly of his Dad’s childhood causing increasing problems with the time/space continuum. I loved that Rahim gets to see a side of his father that is so different from what he thinks he knows about him. It introduces the idea of the butterfly effect in messing with time in a kid-friendly way. Both main characters are black and smart and talented.  Rahim is a budding musician who loves rhyming and making music even though his father just wants him to be academic. Kasia is a brilliant scientist-in-the-making who pushes the boundaries, perhaps a bit too far, but without giving up on finding a solution.  The book includes a few drawn illustrations that I didn’t feel were absolutely necessary, but will appeal to readers who need a little visual support. The plot moves along with plenty of excitement and complications, but doesn’t dwell overlong in solving the problem of getting Rahim home. Overall, you can bet it will be a book my students will enjoy and will be wanting the next in the series because, of course, there is a tiny teaser at the end.

All from a Walnut

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“All the best things grow with time. Even when you can’t see them, still they grow.” In this heartfelt story, the walnut embodies both the durability and change of family relationships as time passes. A young girl learns how as a child her grandfather left his home with only a small bag – and a walnut. He planted, nurtured, and protected the walnut as it grew into a towering tree. Her grandfather gifted her with a nut like he had for her mother before her. The grandfather then  taught the child all she needed to know to help the walnut flourish as he himself slowly declined. The teachings of the walnut help the girl accept change and provide a symbol of the strength and permanence of love.

All from a Walnut has so many layers; immigration, poverty, intergenerational families, single parent families, loss and grief, self growth, the power of nature. Tied together, these themes create a story with a powerful message for young readers.

A Day in the Life of an Astronaut, Mars, and the Distant Stars

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By Mike Barfield; illustrated by Jess Bradley

In the third book in the graphic novel-like series of Day in the Life books, the author explores all things space. Each page consists of many panels with information on a specific day in the life of an item from space. Sometimes there is a companion page that gives you the bigger picture and extends the information a bit. There are even a few secret diary pages in the mix, like the secret diary of a Hairy Star. I wanted to know more about that cool title! The illustrations are bright, bold cartoons in very typical cartoon panels. The writing is factual, but humorous. The end of the book includes a Glossary of terms. This is a fun book to flip randomly through and just read some pages OR to read cover to cover. I can see students doing both. I think students who enjoy graphic novels will enjoy this dip into non-fiction. It will also appeal to astronomy fans looking for a delightful way to read about their favorite topic. I highly recommend this book (or any of the Day in the Life books).

Wonders of the Night Sky: Astronomy Starts with Just Looking Up

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By Raman Prinja; illustrated by Jan Bielecki

This richly illustrated book of astronomy is a visual delight of information and drawings that beautifully explain the night sky. Because the images are created by an artist, constellations not only show the location of stars, but show the image that the stars represent. For example, the constellation Orion is explained & various stars are explained and the Orion Nebula is zoomed out so you can see it up close. The book covers all manner of topics someone looking at the night sky might be interested in knowing – from best ways to watch the night sky to what constellations you might see at various times of the year, phases of the moon, the milky way, our galaxy and beyond.  All are explained in student-friendly, detailed language and gorgeous illustrations. Want to know more about moon landings? A lovely 2 page spread gives you the highlights with explanatory images. Want to understand comets and asteroids?  Easy to understand explanations and illustrations that zoom in and out to show you the close up and the distant all on beautiful 2-page spreads. The back of the book includes some hands-on activities students can make and do followed by a Glossary, ways to find out more, and an index to help the reader locate the specific information they want. This is going to be a popular book with my astronomy fans in my middle school. It is a feast for the eyes as well as the mind.

A Work in Progress

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By Jarrett Lerner

Will Chamber’s life is profoundly changed by an episode of bullying in a 4th grade hallway where he is publicly humiliated by Nick Fisher who loudly calls him FAT. Over the next 3 years, he internalizes the label & is more a bully to himself than any continued taunting by anyone else. He comes to hate himself and believe he is unlovable and that no one would want to be his friend. He quickly alienates the 3 friends he’s always had and becomes a loner in baggy clothes. Much of the book takes place when he decides he has to change his habits with food and quickly develops some very unhealthy food and mental behaviors during 7th grade. This verse novel is very accessible to middle school readers – even the reluctant ones. Few words on the page, paired with scribbled sketches like one might put in notebooks, pull you into Will’s self-destructive world. The addition of a skateboarding character who moves school frequently is a pivotal moment in the book. Will meets Markus during lunchtime behind the auditorium where Will hides during lunch and Markus just wants to skateboard. Markus begins to help him after a sad scene where he hits rock bottom. He finally gets help from his parents, his new friend, a doctor and a therapist. I liked that the book is about a boy with an eating disorder. We don’t see many books that help us see that it’s not just a problem girls face. There are resources for help at the back of the book to help anyone who sees themselves struggling in a similar situation. For anyone who feels “less than” the book shines a light on the possibility of hope in being, not perfect, but rather a work in progress. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and know it will do well in my middle school library.

Nayra and the Djinn

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By Iasmin Omar Ata

Nayra Mansour’s life is in chaos. Pressure from her family, bullying at school, and a friendship demanded from her only other friend all make her world challenging. Her family fasts during the Muslim holiday Ramadan, though something is different this year during fasting. A mythical Djinn has appeared in the human world. His life is also in chaos. As Nayra and the Djinn Marjan meet, Iasmin Omar Ata weaves his story to create a very interesting book. Nayra’s world is interrupted and enriched by their new friendship. I think that readers that really like graphic novels with a kinda soft and a cute style of drawing will really like this book. The drawing is really top rated, and as a person who doesn’t really like bright colors, the pastel and calm colors were really great for me. I really like how the author wove Islamic folklore and the tradition of fasting into this book. Another  thing that I could relate to in this book was the pressure from her mom.  I could relate a lot to the main character of this book. The plot and the conflict in this book between Marjan and Zirkouniya, as well as between Nayra and Rami, kept me interested throughout the whole book. Overall, I really liked this book and its writing and drawings and would give it a 5 out 5 stars!.

Review by 6th grader, Victoria L.