Enter the world of Bronze and Sunflower: a small village in Mainland China during the Cultural Revolution. The villagers of Damaidi live close to the land as subsistence farmers. Bronze is mute after an early trauma; Sunflower is the daughter of one of the artists sent to a nearby work camp who died suddenly, leaving her an orphan. They form an incredible bond tried by poverty, adversity and famine. Beautiful lyrical text (translated from the Chinese by Helen Wang) gives readers a true glimpse into life half a world away and 50 years ago. Bronze and Sunflower feels a bit like Little House in the Big Woods, going deeply into the business of farming, hunting, and attending school but in 1970’s China. Cao Wenxuan (last name is Cao) is a professor of Chinese literature at Peking University and one of China’s most beloved children’s authors. He is the recipient of the 2016 International Hans Christian Anderson Award. We are so lucky that Ms. Wang and Candlewick Press made it possible for Americans to enjoy it too. Unforgettable. Read it to someone you love.
Archives: Book Reviews
It All Comes Down to This by Karen English
It’s the summer before her freshmen year in high school in 1965. Sophie is planning on writing, hanging out with friends and just having a good time, but life and the rest of the world starts to get in the way her plans. First, the reality of racism really starts to set in for Sophie as she continually encounters prejudice in her almost all-white community; from being uninvited to pool parties to being accused of stealing. Her parents aren’t much help because they’re busy with their own lives and trying to salvage their marriage. Luckily, her older sister has always has her back, but that will change at the end of the summer when her sister leaves for college. Suddenly life isn’t as clear cut as she thought it was and once a close friend is arrested for no reason Sophie finds herself questioning things even more. An excellent piece of historical fiction that rings very true in today’s world.
Bera the One-Headed Troll by Eric Orchard
Feeling wanderlust heading into the summer? Join humble pumpkin farmer and reluctant hero, Bera, the one-headed troll, and her owl pal, Winslowe. The day a human baby mysteriously washes up near Bera’s tiny island, they embark on a quest to return the strange creature to her kind before former Head Witch of the Troll King, Cloote, turns her into a monster. This slim graphic novel is filled to the brim with charm, adventure, magical creatures, humor and heart. Even though the illustrations can be a bit haunting, give this quirky tale a try! Fans of the Bone series are sure to enjoy this stand alone book. For grades 2 and up.
How Cycling Can Save the World by Peter Walker
A terrific international review of cities becoming more cycling friendly; this book may have changed my life. There were several key insights for me:
1) Requiring helmets significantly reduces usage of bikes; people are robbed of the terrific health benefits of biking if usage is reduced; and helmet may or may not help most folks avoid injury, so that the best solution overall for the community is to encourage but not require a helmet.
2) “Livability’ means people having a more one on one relationship with their city; a synonym would be “walkable” or “bike-able.” Biking creates a statistically measurable difference in your relationship with your hometown: relationships with retailers and city services; greater involvement in the life of your city; knowing more neighbors; more support for local charities and institutions.
SO, for the last 4 days of work, I have cycled to work 4 times, all of them without a helmet on the trip going in to work, but wearing one on the trip home. (Hair etc.) It’s a start! I feel like I have a whole new way to describe why I love where I live and, though very late to the game, I am ready to be militant in pushing for more support on the roads for bikes because it not only is better for me — it is better for the local economy! mm
The Lines We Cross by Randa Abdel-Fattah
Abdel-Fattah’s new book goes right for today’s news headlines: Michael’s parents run an anti-immigrant group and Mina is a beautiful, strong Afghan refugee who won a scholarship to Michael’s prestigious school. Narrated alternately by both teenagers, this story is compelling, powerful and stirs up questions about how to find our place and our voice in a world we didn’t choose. The minor character are well drawn with rich backstories and trajectories. You get a strong sense of modern Sydney. Read this one!
Compass South (Four Points) by Hope Larson
Hop aboard Hope Larson’s new and exciting high seas adventure series with illustrator Rebecca Mock, titled Compass South (Four Points). Right from the start this author and illustrator pair are in sync, Larson’s way with dialogue and story blending deftly with Mock’s emotional and expressive rendition of the setting and characters. Set in 1860, New York City, Compass South follows the story of not one but two sets of twins seeking better lives for themselves and their siblings in San Francisco, even if it means crossing street gangs, impersonating other people, stowing away and even fighting for their lives. And of course hidden treasure is involved! Fans of Treasure Island, the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies and even Faith Erin Hick’s new graphic novel series The Nameless City (though it’s a land-based story) are sure to be swept away by this new graphic novel addition! Look for book two of the series, Knife’s Edge, this summer! For grades 4 and up.
Ashes to Asheville by Sarah Dooley
This heartfelt and quixotic road trip novel finds Fella and Zany
on their way to Asheville NC in Mama Shannon’s car to release their beloved Mama Lacey’s ashes. They are grieving more than their mother: since each girl was born to a different mom in the couple, the (pre-June 2015) law separates them at Lacey’s death, so they lost their family, too. Sarah Dooley writes beautifully and sometimes hilariously about grief, finding your voice and empathy. Don’t miss this book — a sweet mixture of Thelma and Louise and As I Lay Dying in a novel just right for summer!
Bravo! Poems About Amazing Hispanics by Margarita Engle
Margarita Engle’s insightful poems and Rafael López’s vibrant, soulful illustrations work together to create a memorable poetry collection that celebrates the contributions of a wide variety of Hispanics. What makes this book special is readers learn about people rarely covered in collective biographies for kids. Each biographical sketch consists of a double page spread with a poem on one side and a full page mixed media drawing on the other. Each poem is written in the first person, brief but filled with enough facts to give readers a sense of the person’s accomplishments and life philosophy. Subjects include wildlife advocate George Meléndez Wright, librarian Pura Belpré, poet José Martí, among others. The excellent back matter includes a poem that mentions other amazing people not singled out with an individual poem, and more facts about the lives of each person covered. A very readable collection for people who like poetry, biographies, and learning about fascinating lives.
All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely
Rashad is a boy trying to navigate high school. He’s clean cut, an ROTC kid, and he has mad art skills. Quinn is also a boy trying to navigate high school: he’s on the basketball team and he’s really focused on impressing all those college recruiters. Rashad is black and Quinn is white. They have mutual friends, but don’t really know each other; it’s a big school. Rashad has an older brother, a very strict father, and a warm, loving mother. Quinn’s mom takes care of him and his younger brother because his dad died while serving in the army. Quinn is on the basketball team with his best friend, Guzzo. And although Quinn didn’t witness what happened inside the corner store, he was outside and witnessed when Rashad was taken down by a white cop and dragged out of the and brutally beaten. This police officer just so happens to be Guzzo’s brother, and is like a second father to Quinn.
This story is told from two different perspectives with alternating chapters, and the incident is portrayed through both the point of view of victim and bystander. It will bring up many significant questions: How do you choose sides––especially when someone you once respected is in the wrong? And if we want the violence to stop, how do we end it? This is a hard-hitting contemporary, realistic novel and it forces you to question what it means to be all American. It also makes you ask: Why is Rashad absent again today? And what does that mean?
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
I couldn’t put it down; sometimes I couldn’t pick it up. Starr lives in Garden Heights, the ghetto. It’s home, where her close-knit and extended loving family live. It’s where gangbangers and drug dealers terrorize the streets. It’s where cops protect and cops kill. Sometimes they kill the innocent. Starr is in the car with Khalil when they are pulled over by Officer 115. They’ve done nothing wrong but the officer panics, then shoots and kills Khalil. The shock of this death reverberates. Will there be justice for Khalil? How can Starr, her family, her community move forward?