Who protects nature? Legends of Lotus Island, a new middle grade series

"I'd never known my parents. I was just a baby when a storm capsized their boat on the open sea." - Plum

The new middle grade fantasy series, Legends of Lotus Island: The Guardian Test, by award-winning author, Christina Soontornvat, is the ideal story to share with children.  She writes of an orphaned farm girl, Plum, who is raised by her grandparents since she was a baby. She knows nothing of the rest of the country and is shocked when she is invited to join the elite school so that she may become a Guardian, a protector of the natural world.  

It is difficult for Plum to leave the security of her grandparents' home where she is comfortable taking care of the crops and livestock.  As she learns about the other cities in her country and meets children from those places, her eyes are open to how important Guardians are in this society. Readers can connect to this as they, too, are learning about the vast world and their place in it.  As Fred Rogers famously said, "Look for the helpers." This is perfectly applied to this story.  The natural resources are being depleted and it is up to the Guardians to save what is left for everyone's well-being, even if they are vilified for it.

Readers who enjoy magical school stories, like Harry Potter and Amari and the Night Brothers may also like this series. It is significantly shorter than both of those series at under 150 pages, so it is not as intimidating to pick it up.  The teachers and cast of students are all unique and bring a sense of humor and danger to the story. After a month of lessons, students are given a Guardian test in which they must transform into their creature form that will allow them to protect the natural world.  Plum has had difficulty with this and is on the verge of quitting.  Will she find what is inside of her to allow her to transform?

Another aspect of this story that readers will find interesting is the role of meditation in it. One of the lessons that the students learn each day is to sit and focus and on their breathing.  In this era of constant noise and entertainment, this is an important practice that will bring much-needed calmness to many young people.  As an educator I have witnessed the effects of my students being unable to control their emotions.  Daily practice of focusing on their breath helps to center them when they feel their emotions start to get out of hand. Soontornvat also wrote about this meditation practice in her nonfiction account of the Thai Boys' Soccer Team rescue in the caves in her award-winning book, All Thirteen.   The boys said that their coach taught them to meditate and that is one reason that they were able to stay calm and get through the many days of being trapped in the caves before they were able to be rescued. 

The last part of the story that drew me in the most is the mystery surrounding Plum and her mother. In the opening chapters the readers learn, along with Plum, that her mother was from the big island to which she didn't want to return.  When Plum sees this place up close and meets people from there she wonders how her mother would've been there. As the series continues, I hope that Plum uncovers her mother's past and why Plum has a set of powers that nobody else exhibits. Soontornvat's books are all ones that I recommend and this one is no different. It belongs on all bookshelves and in readers' hands. 

(Thank you to the book's publisher, Scholastic,  for sending an ARC to my book review group, #BookExcursion!)

 

The Ogress and the Orphans-trust, power & love

 

The Ogress and the Orphans, a middle grade chapter book by Kelly Barnhill, reads like a fairy tale: a town dominated by an evil, glowing, greedy man, an orphanage full of sweet children who only hope of a better life ahead, and an outsider, the Ogress, who lurks nearby and leaves the community members gifts in order to alleviate their suffering.  It is no surprise that this book was a National Book Award Finalist.

From the first page the reader knows that all of the characters will come to a head at one point and the journey to that climax is well worth the wait.  I loved how skillfully Barnhill describes the relationships of the children towards one another and their caregivers.  The mystery of the community's fire lingers over the whole story as they are told to hate the Ogress by their greedy, orange leader.  The Ogress is my favorite character of the entire story. She has a gentleness that many can envision in a friend and the way she is treated is just heart-breaking. Children who read this will root for her and there will be discussions of the choices the characters make that drive the story forward.  

This book is similar to Barnhill's other fantasy novel, The Girl Who Drank the Moon, a Newbery Medal winner.  They both feature a misunderstood magical creature who is portrayed as the villain by power-hungry forces.  Readers will delight in both of these stories as the action-packed scenes, humor, and heart over-ride any reminder that they are indeed, fantasy stories. Both of these lend themselves well to read-aloud books for teachers, parents, and caregivers. Every reader will want to discuss these rich stories that are sure to be classics. 

Black History Month: celebrating excellence

 Black History should be recognized year round, however, since 1915, what started out as a single week to honor the contributions and trials and tribulations of Black people has turned into a month in February to  do so. There is a yearly theme on which to focus and this year's theme is on "Black Resistance." There are a number of books that feature Black heroes who pushed against society's repression.  We have also have stories of the joy and pride in Black people's lives that should be celebrated and shared with young people.  

I hope that these ideas below spark an idea that works with these stories or the books in your class, home or library collection:

Music: Sing a Song (Lift Every Voice and Sing--the Black National Anthem written in honor of President Lincoln's birthday in 1900)

 The Roots of Rap

 How the Beat was Born

 Harlem's Little Blackbird

Writing: Maya Angelou (Little People, Big World) 

 Change Sings 

 DeShawn Days 

Dance: Firebird 

 Bunheads 

 Josephine

Artists: Between the Lines: How Ernie Barnes Went from the Football Field to the Art Gallery

 Radiant Child

 Ablaze with Color

Scientists: Blast Off into Space Like Mae Jemison

How We Got to the Moon

Little Leaders Bold Women in Black History

Black Joy: I Am Every Good Thing

Princess Hair

Princess Truly 

Hair Love

Crown: Ode to the Fresh Cut

Black Joy: Sulwe

Honeysmoke

Magnificent Homespun Brown

Magic Like That

Parker Looks Up

Black Joy: Not Quite Snow White

Posey Monster Slayer

Dream Big, Little One

New Kid

Twins

Black Joy: SnapDragon

All Because You Matter

Ambitious Girl

Black is a Rainbow Color 

Community: Thank You, Omu

Kamala and Maya's Big Idea

Loretta Little Looks Back

Step Right Up

Child of the Dream

Shaking Things Up

Community: Before She Was Harriet

A Good Kind of Trouble

No Small Potatoes

Genesis Begins Again

From the Desk of Zoe Washington

Community: When Stars are Scattered

Evelyn Del Ray is Moving Away

Nana Akua Goes to School

Emily's Fortune

Enough!

Athletes: Before the Ever After

Becoming Muhammad Ali

Mo'Ne Davis: Remember My Name

Black Heroes of the Wild West

Fearless Mary: Mary Fields, American Stagecoach Driver

Athletes: Let'Er Buck!

The Champ: The Story of Muhammad Ali

A Nation's Hope

Flying High

Game Changers 

Folktales: Tristan Strong series

The Jumbies Trilogy 

The Year I Flew Away

Black Author/Illustrator studies: Jason Reynolds, Derrick C. Barnes, Kwame Alexander, Vashti Harrison, Carole Boston Weatherford

Book Awards: Coretta Scott King Award 

Teaching ideas: Choose a Black person from history, research them to find out how they are a CHANGE maker and design a slide, collage, video, song, acrostic poem or artifact that represents them and their accomplishments.

Pick a Black person from history whom you admire.  What qualities did they have and how did that help them and the world?

For more ideas and resources, I like to use the American Association of School Librarian's Resource Guide to Black History Month.  

What do you like to use to share the importance of Black History Month? Share in the comments!

2022 - A Year of Book Picks

2022 was quite the year in publishing. We are so lucky to have more inclusive and broader range of perspectives represented in literature. Thinking back to my year in reading, here are my highest rated chapter books that I recommend for children, teens and adults: 

Early Readers (ages 5-9)

Slug Days - realistic fiction, autism, school, friendship

Maybe Maybe Marisol Rainey - realistic fiction, overcoming fears, friendship, family

Surely Surely Marisol Rainey - realistic fiction, school, self-confidence, friendship

The Weird Sisters: A Note, a Goat and a Casserole - fantasy, mystery, humor, sisters

Bee & Flea and the Compost Caper - science, biology, humor

Ada Twist and the Perilous Plants - science, inquiry

Pet That Cat! - nonfiction, cat care, cat behavior

Middle Grade (ages 9-14)

Fantasy 

Cress Watercress - fantasy, animals, grief, humor, adventure, community 

The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez - fantasy, military families, bullying, mystery, Cuban folklore

The Ogress and the Orphans - fantasy, community, family, social commentary 

Too Bright to See - paranormal, mystery, grief, ghosts, identity, LGBTQ, family, friendship

The Last Mapmaker - fantasy, family, mystery, adventure, humor, dragons

Lalani of the Distant Sea - fantasy, Filipino folklore, adventure, monsters

Lotería - magical realism, Mexico, mortality, fate

Scary Stories for Young Foxes: The City - fantasy, suspense, scary, animal adventure, sequel to Scary Stories for Young Foxes

The Silver Arrow - fantasy, train travel, family, friendship, mystery, humor

The Marvellers - fantasy, action, family secrets, magic school

Pony - supernatural, historical fiction, 1860s, U.S., horses, grief, sons, fathers, horses, bandits

Snapdragon - fantasy, graphic novel, friendship, LGBTQ, mystery

Zatanna and the House of Secrets - fantasy, magic, graphic novel, family secrets, mystery

Scritch Scratch - paranormal, Chicago, tragedies, family, friendship

The Year I Flew Away - fantasy, historical fiction, 1980s New York City, Haitian folklore, immigrants in the U.S.

Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians, Book 1 - fantasy, humor, adventure, grandfathers, magic, clumsiness

Frances and the Monster - fantasy, adventure, humor

Historical Fiction

The Other Side of the River - historical fiction, Mexican revolution, immigrants in the U.S., identity, sequel to The Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna

The Door of No Return - historical fiction, Africa, slavery, family

The Blackbird Girls - historical fiction, 1980s Chernobyl Explosion, Russia, family, friendship, religion

Red, White and Whole - historical fiction, 1980s, Indian, immigrants the U.S., ill parent, family, identity

My Own Lightning - historical fiction, 1940s Pennsylvania, mystery, sequel to Wolf Hollow

Long Road to the Circus - historical fiction, 1900s, U.S. farms, gender roles, family

Starting from Seneca Falls - historical fiction, 1800s, U.S., women's rights, child abuse

Moonwalking - historical fiction, 1980s New York City, novel in verse, art, autism, friendship, ill parent, bullying, race

By the Light of the Fireflies - historical fiction, American Revolution, child hero, family

Being Clem - historical fiction, 1940s Chicago, grief, race, family, friendship, class

The Legend of Auntie Po - historical fiction, graphic novel, 1880s NW U.S., LGBTQ, Chinese voices, logging history

A Place to Hang the Moon - historical fiction, WWII, England, siblings, orphans, community 

 

Nonfiction

Alias Anna - biography, WWII, novel in verse, music, family

While I Was Away - memoir, immigrants in the U.S., Japanese, friendship, family, grandparents

Short Stories

Beyond the Stars - short stories, Irish authors, emotional

Hope Wins - short stories, inspiring, overcoming challenges

Realistic Fiction

Stuntboy, in the Meantime - realistic fiction, graphic novel, anxiety, bullying, community, family

Out of My Heart - realistic fiction, disability POV, friendship, sequel to Out of My Mind

The Best Liars in Riverview - realistic fiction, mystery, LGBTQ, friendship, bullying 

Maizy Chen's Last Chance - realistic fiction, identity, racism, immigrants in the U.S., Asian, family, community

Efrén Divided - realistic fiction, immigrants in the U.S., Mexico, deportation, friendship, family

Worser - realistic fiction, school, friendship, family, ill parent, autism, bullying, community activism

Golden Girl - realistic fiction, novel in verse, Pakistani immigrants in the U.S., family, kleptomaniac

Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence - realistic fiction, friendship, pets, inspiring 

New From Here - realistic fiction, COVID lockdown, Asian, racism, community, family, ADHD

Tune it Out - realistic fiction, homelessness, sensory processing disorder, family, friendship

Turtle Boy - realistic fiction, identity, friendship, grief, religion, death

Brave Like That - realistic fiction, adoption, identity, friendship

Five Things About Ava Andrews - realistic fiction, friendship, social anxiety, community activism

96 Miles - realistic fiction, family, survival, friendship, mystery, suspense

This Last Adventure - realistic fiction, grandparents, Alzheimers, friendship

The Amelia Six - realistic fiction, friendship, mystery, gender, humor

Jennifer Chan is Not Alone - realistic fiction, friendship, mystery, identity, bullying, Asian, aliens

Solving for M - realistic fiction, ill parent, friendship, family

Stuck - realistic fiction, learning disabilities, friendship, school, family

Lemon Drop Falls - realistic fiction, grief, OCD, anxiety, family, friendship

Samira Surfs - realistic fiction, novel in verse, Rohingya refugees, gender roles, identity, Bangladesh, surfing

One Time - realistic fiction, school, imagination, friendship, identity

How to Become a Planet - realistic fiction, LGBTQ, anxiety, depression, family, friendship

Violets are Blue - realistic fiction, opioids, divorce, friendship, special FX makeup 

Count Me In - realistic fiction, Indian, immigrants in the U.S., racism, community activism, friendship

The Girl Who Stole an Elephant - realistic fiction, adventure, Sri Lanka, friendship, class

Young Adult (ages 14 +)

Nonfiction

Black Birds in the Sky - nonfiction, Tulsa Race Massacre, racism, American history, Oklahoma

From a Whisper to a Rallying Cry - nonfiction, true crime, Asian, justice, American history 

Fallout - nonfiction, Cold War, espionage, nuclear war, Soviet Union, United States, communism

Revolution in Our Time - nonfiction, Black Panthers, history, politics

The Woman All Spies Fear - nonfiction, biography, code breaker, heroism

Historical Fiction

Last Night at the Telegraph Club - historical fiction, 1950s San Fransisco, LGTBQ, Chinese immigrants, gender, identity

A Sitting in St. James - historical fiction, 1860s Louisiana, enslaved generation, plantation life, identity, racism, class 

I Must Betray You - historical fiction, Romania, Communism, spies, romance, family  

Under a Painted Sky - historical fiction, 1849 Oregon Trail, romance, friendship, gender roles

Displacement - historical fiction, graphic novel, Japanese-American Internment Camps, WWII, Asian

Realistic Fiction

All My Rage - realistic fiction, immigrants in the U.S., romance, ill parent, abuse, identity, trauma, Middle Eastern

Firekeeper's Daughter - realistic fiction, Ojibwe, identity, mystery, thriller, family

You Should See Me in a Crown - realistic fiction, LGBTQ, high school, friendship, social pressure

Jagged Little Pill - realistic fiction, sexual assault, multiple narrators, community, friendship

Ain't Burned All the Bright - poetry, COVID, Black voices, social commentary

Blackout - short stories (intertwined), realistic fiction, identity, LGBTQ, relationships, romance

Fantasy

A Snake Falls to Earth - fantasy, Indigenous futurism, family, community, Lipan Apache, supernatural

Me (Moth) - supernatural, romance, grief, identity, spiritualism, Navajo

Gleanings - short stories, dystopian, death, power, part of the Arc of a Scythe trilogy

Poster Girl - dystopian, mystery, power, family

Adult

When Women Were Dragons - fantasy, gender roles, family, mystery, social commentary

Nightcrawling - poverty, crime, realistic fiction, law enforcement

Wrong Place, Wrong Time - organized crime, time travel, family, betrayal 

The It Girl - mystery, suspense, murder, Oxford, friendship, romance 

Book Lovers - romance, family, book publishing industry

Tracy Flick Can't Win - realistic fiction, dark humor, community, high school, sequel to Election

One Italian Summer - realistic fiction, grief, marriage, mothers, romance

She Come By it Natural - nonfiction, culture, music, feminism 

This Tender Land - historical fiction, 1930s ,Great Depression, midwest U.S., epic quest

Compiling this list reflects the genres I gravitate towards and what I need to seek out more.  The upcoming year provides the perfect time to read more books that will leave their mark in my psyche.  If you have any suggestions for me, please leave them in the comments. 90% of these books I read come from others' recommendations!

 I'm incredibly grateful to be a part of book clubs, review groups and other professional learning networks that allow me to discuss the best books.  The American Library Association's Youth Media Awards are also a source of my selected books to read in the coming year.  The nominees and winning books are announced on January 30, 2023 from 8 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. CENTRAL time. I can't wait!

Blackout: NYC modern-day romance

There are some authors whose books I will read no matter what.  Now imagine my delight when six of these writers collaborated on one book!  Blackout the anthology of short stories by the best writers of today: Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon, is a must-have in any high school library collection.  The setting is exactly the same for all of the writers' tales: in NYC a massive blackout takes over the city and from there the stories take form.  From exes competing for the same summer internship to new crushes developing at a home for the elderly, there is a range of love stories for everyone to get into. There are even LGBTQIA relationships that develop with such care that no reader will be unaffected by them.  This is the perfect example of Black joy for young adult readers on up. 

What stood out to me about these stories is that they continued in the form of snapshots throughout the whole book.  It reminded me of a film or play taking place at the same time with fadeaway shots dimming at the close of a chapter and then picking up at the start of another one as the next part of the story unfolds for the characters there.  One might think this would be hard to keep track of all of the storylines, but this is where the writers truly shine in their depth of developing each character and their motivations.  One suggestion I have is to help those who have never been to NYC understand the layout of the boroughs, is to include a map to help with the movement of the storylines. The cover is also beautifully designed, by Erin Fitzsimmons, and has a surprise underneath the book jacket! I cannot decide how to display it in my bookshelf...

 Other anthologies that Blackout reminded me of are Black Boy Joy and Ancestor Approved. These are more for middle grade readers while Blackout is more for high school aged readers. 

106 Kindness Books & Activities for Elementary & Middle Grades

 

The month of February is dedicated to friendship, kindness, empathy and love.  When I was curating the book display for my students across grades kindergarten through fifth grade, I began seeing common themes arise:  how kindness is shown between people, towards animals, between animals, with grandparents, and towards oneself.  

During my library lessons I book-talked these books with the themes and my students responded with interest and enthusiasm.  They began recalling other stories that fit in the themes that I hadn't added so they recommended them to their classmates.  Every class that came through the library selected books from the kindness display and discussed their choices with their classmates.  This led me to share my list below along with extension ideas:

Extension ideas that go with these books and themes are numerous:

1. Give students the themes, then book-talk a book or show the cover and have them guess what theme it would be.
2. Ask students to write or draw a story from their life that exhibited kindness.  Have them share with and ask others to determine the theme.
3. After choosing a book, ask students to create an artifact, button design or keychain charm that pairs well with the theme of the book.
4. Allow students to use a video creation application to tell which book they recommend to others. You can show them vintage Reading Rainbow clips as inspiration. 
   
   
5. Give students a random picture, ask them to think of a story that incorporates the picture with a kindness theme. If they are stuck give them the prompt, "Once upon a time in ________ (setting) there was a __________(character) who wanted to _____________ but couldn't (plot). Then _______(climax) came along and ___________(resolution).  Let them pair up and combine their picture prompts and story ideas. They can even share them with others or act them out.

Do you have more books and/or activities to suggest that go well with these themes? Please share them in the comments below!