In Maine in 1884, Louis Sockalexis, a young Penobscot boy was invited to join a group of white boys playing a new game called baseball. By the end of the day, Louis had fallen in love with the sport.…
Tag: middle grade
Tameka’s New Dress by Ronnie Sidney, II, illustrated by Traci Van Wagoner
Tameka’s New Dress Written by Ronnie Sidney, II, MSW Illustrated by Traci Van Wagoner Being the new girl at middle school can be a challenge. For protagonist, Tameka, it is harder because since her father has died, her mother…
The Story of an Ally: A Review of She Stood for Freedom
With the focus on Black Lives Matter comes the discussion of what it means to be a white ally. The blog site Reading While White addresses the responsibility of allies from the perspective of a half dozen white librarians who…
Stolen Stash: A Billie B. Mystery by Sally Rippon and Aki Fukuoka
“Stolen Stash: A Billie B. Mystery” By Sally Rippon and Aki Fukuoka Reviewed by Linda Boyden Author Rippon’s early reader series portrays the day-to-day drama inherent in elementary schools. The spunky main character, Billie Brown, her best friend, Jack,…
Review: Pax by Sara Pennypacker
The Fox felt the car slow before the boy did, as he felt everything first. So begins Sara Pennypacker’s middle grade novel Pax (Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins, February 2016), a book about many things, including the effects of war. Not some…
The Personal and Global Environment: Water Runs Through This Book
Nancy Bo Flood and Jan Sonnenamir’s collaboration involving informational text, poetry, and photography led to stunning results in Cowboy Up! Ride the Navajo Rodeo. Water Runs Through this Book follows up on its success with a meditation on the importance…
Review: Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson
Serena Williams just won her twenty-first singles grand-slam title, and yet there has been more discussion about her body and femininity than about the sheer brilliance of her performance or her dedication to her sport. The U.S. Women’s National Soccer…
Review: Listen, Slowly by Thanhhà Lai
With her first novel for young readers (Inside Out and Back Again, HarperCollins 2011), Thanhhà Lai captured in verse one child’s experience adjusting to life in Alabama after leaving Vietnam. In Listen, Slowly, Lai explores the experience of Mai (Mia at…
Worth the Price of Admission: Review Of Better Nate Than Ever
Better Nate Than Ever by Tim Federle (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, February 2013) is a love song, and a lifeline, to every kid who has ever dreamed of Broadway while navigating the mean streets of Hometown, USA.…
Weaving Politics, Culture, and Story: A Review of The Vine Basket
Writers who take on political stories—stories that focus on conflicts within and between communities—face daunting challenges. How does a writer keep the focus on the story rather than the political issue? How does he or she present background information without…