The First State of Being: a time traveling tale

The First State of Being by award winning author, Erin Entrada Kelly is unlike any book I have ever read. It's difficult to review the book without giving away spoilers that are important to the experience of reading the story.  I will do my best! 

The story is set in multiple times, both in the past (1999) and in the future. Kelly seamlessly takes the reader from the characters in the past to the future where their stories intertwine. Ridge, the mysterious teenager who appears one day in the apartment complex of neighbors, 12 year old Michael and his 15 year old babysitter, Gibby, changes their lives forever. The reader is right alongside Michael and Gibby as their minds are flooded with questions: Who is he and why is he there all alone? What is he wearing and how can Michael and Gibby keep him from getting kicked out by their complex manager?

As the story unfolds, readers dive into the personal lives of the main characters. Themes of friendship, crushes, family and trust abound in this story. It would be fitting for a book club since there is so much to discuss with other readers. I would definitely add this book to my school library and gift it to the middle grade readers in my life. 

Less toxic masculinity, more community support

Ultraviolet by Aida Salazar is already one of my favorite books of 2024. When I was entering middle school, I read a lot of Judy Blume and Ann M. Martin books because they wrote about real growing pains that my friends and I were experiencing.  Now I can add Ultraviolet to that group of stories that encapsulates what it's like to be 13, developing first crushes, heartbreak, and learning how to navigate your emotions without hurting others. 

In this novel in verse, Salazar follows Elio, a Mexican-American boy who has a core group of friends and looks to his dad to teach him what it means to "be a man."  According to his dad, it's not allowing yourself to feel any negative emotions and to embrace a macho attitude.  Thankfully, Elio's mother steps in and gently guides him to fully embrace the changes he's going through and to allow himself the time and space to heal from being hurt. Elio's two younger sisters, who typically get on his nerves, turn up for him when he is at his lowest point. 

My favorite part of this book is how Salazar writes authentically from the perspective of teenagers.  Their dialogue is completely believable, even using the most up-to-date slang of our current times: "no cap" and "rizz" make their way into the conversations throughout the story. She also weaves in the power of social media, group chats, and consent into the tale as Elio faces big decisions over how to deal with his ex-girlfriend's new boyfriend who is taunting him.  Elio's problems are realistic so readers can possibly work through similar issues they are having through the story. 

As a teacher, parent, and school librarian, I would highly recommend this book to upper middle grade readers (6th grade and up).  The story's open and honest conversations about bodies and hormones between the grownups and teenagers can show readers how to respectfully have these important conversations by using accurate language and some humor, at times. I also appreciate Salazar showcasing a broad range of side characters who are also dealing with similar coming-of-age feelings. The last part that I especially enjoyed is how much Spanish is used in the story.  Being an immigrant myself, I can attest that hearing your ancestral language is powerful, using it yourself is even more moving, and finally seeing it printed in a published book is beyond feeling seen.  It signifies your experience as a person with a another language and cultural background that is just as a part of your identity as any other part. 

Be sure to checkout this novel as it is released in April of 2024 and Salazar's other books. She is a master storyteller who will have you laughing at one point and reaching for the tissues at another. For a read-alike to this book, I suggest the young adult book by Lamar Giles, Not So Pure and Simple:

Thanks to Net Galley for providing an Advanced Reader's Copy of this book. 

 

Flamer: "I want this book to be a lifeline."

Flamer, a semi-autobiographical graphic novel by Mike Curato, is an emotional story of Aiden, a Filipino American boy who is spending his last week of summer break at his favorite place, his scout camp.  The year is 1995 so the times reflect an era of homophobia, bullying, and lack of resources that could help a teenager who is questioning his identity. 

 I was surprised to learn that Flamer has been challenged and even banned in school libraries across the country, despite winning a book award.  The audience for the book are young adults who are the same age as the main character.  Readers will be able to empathize with Aiden's apprehension for starting high school, his insecurities about his body image, and his surprising attraction to his friend. Although the book climaxes with a suicide scene, Aiden does not go through with it and it ends on a hopeful note.  The author's note states that these were actual instances that he experienced so I believe it will help others, either as a friend or family member of a person exhibiting Aiden's characteristics or for people thinking similar thoughts as Aiden. 

 

What I liked about this book was the honesty with which Aiden's voice permeates the entire story.  I have yet to read a book that explores a boy's insecurities about his body with as much care as Curato write's Aiden's feelings.  Many readers will be able to relate to Aiden and his reluctance to draw attention to his body as he constantly compares it to others in his camp.  

Another aspect of the book that stood out to me was the setting.  Aiden finds so much peace in being outside in nature that it becomes his happy place. I think that other readers may also find solace in going outdoors when they are feeling stressed or need room to think.  It also may encourage others to seek out ways to spend time outdoors with friends to increase endorphins and relieve them of social anxiety.  The camp also lends itself to a sense of community that readers may look to join in order to feel as a part of a group.

 

As a junior high teacher and librarian, I can attest that the moments of bullying and teasing are 100% authentic.  In Flamer, the reader experiences what Aiden does as he tries to navigate his place in an ever-increasing environment that tells him he needs to be an "alpha-male" while he doesn't have those inclinations. He also has racist remarks thrown at him for being Asian.  At one point, a well-intentioned friend, tries to tell Aiden to draw less attention to himself and Aiden questions how he can do that.  This is a very real dilemma that teens go through and Curato writes this delicate scene with such care, it's incredible. Readers can discuss what their experiences have been with racism towards Asian people and what they can do to stand up against that hate. 

Finally, the part that I really enjoyed was Aiden's relationship with his only friend who allows him to be his true self.  His pen pal, Violet, is a trusted ally whom Aiden confides his thoughts.  This is a beautiful model of how even having one person who is on one's side makes a big difference in a person's life. Allyship is a topic that young people can discuss throughout this story and into their own lives.  Aiden has some people who seem to be on his side but then change their mind once they realize that others call him out about being gay.  

Aiden's coming-of-age realization about his sexuality is something that others may be able to relate.  His religion has taught him that homosexuality was wrong so Aiden denied being gay when his classmates bullied him about it.  Only after his dreams started showing his true feelings was when he started to come around to possibly accepting this aspect about himself.  Some of his trusted scout leaders tried to help him through being himself but they ended up being outed and ultimately fired from the scout camp.  This is another reflection of the times and even some discrimination against the LGBTQ community in today's world.  Readers can discuss the factors that are at play and what they can do when they see this happening in their communities. 

Overall, Flamer is a book that embodies a number of adolescent emotions and should be available to young adult readers who want to read it.  It would also benefit educators, counselors, social workers, families and care givers to read it in order to broaden their understanding of a young person's needs during this critical time of their development.  It may very well save a life. 

Stuck & Solving for M: where do children get help?

 

Teachers make the best writers when it comes to capturing the feel of school.  Former educator, Jennifer Swender, completely strikes a chord of authenticity in her two middle grade novels: Solving for M and Stuck.  Each of these is told from the point of view of a student who is going through a tough time. Although each story is about a different child, the feelings, reactions, situations and people who are there to help or hurt, is realistic.  As a teacher, I think school stories can truly help improve my practice, especially in areas where trauma and other learning insecurities come into play.

 In Solving for M, the main character is a 5th grader named Mika who is just starting middle school.  Her favorite subject is art but she's surprised to find out that her class is heavier on art theory than actual art creation.  On the positive side, her math teacher is unlike any teacher she's ever had. He teaches with outside-the-box approaches and asks everyone to keep a math journal.  Mika's journal is her outlet to not only show that she understands the math concepts, but she connects everything to the news that her mom may have cancer.  Through drawings and writing down her feelings, Mika is able to get through the difficult year and that's all thanks to her teacher who noted what his students needed and followed through in a memorable way.

Solving for M won the Mathical Book Prize in 2020 and is nominated for the William Allen White Children's Book Award in Kansas for the 2021-2022 school year, along with more accolades!

Swender's newest book, Stuck, is a slim read compared to Solving for M. At only 133 pages, this story is from the perspective of a boy named Austin who is just finishing 4th grade at a new school right at the end of the year.  He's used to making up lies about why him and his mom move so much and he's ready to do it all again in his new school, except there are several people who welcome him without asking any questions: his new teacher and a classmate.  This is an interesting read because Austin tries to hide his reading disability in clever ways that I'm sure other teachers will recognize.  His relationship with his classmates is unique as he tries to figure them out based on their behaviors. One classmate receives special education services and support and Austin studies him the most trying to figure him out.  Over the course of his time he discovers that he wants to be a leader and to try out for their school's safety patrol. He wants to be looked-up to and it will take his friends and teacher to help him get there.  

I liked Stuck because of Austin's personality which is something not often seen in middle grade literature.  Many readers will be able to identify with Austin's neurodiversity and educators and parents can use his perspective to gain more empathy for others like him.  

Both of these books would be smart additions to elementary and middle grade classrooms, libraries and homes.  Austin and Mika's stories deserve to be told, shared & discussed!

And the Stuck cover doubles as a cool Book Face for #BookFaceFridays !

Last Night at the Telegraph Club: a Young Adult historical fiction coming of age tale

Last Night at the Telegraph Club the 2021 National Book Award for Young People's Literature written by Malinda Lo is a story that has yet to be told in the arena of young adult literature. Lo deserves the award for her portrayal of Lily Hu, a 17 year-old Chinese-American daughter of immigrants who settled in Chinatown in San Francisco.  The year is 1954 and the Red Scare is is buzzing all around Lily and her community. She must be careful with whom she associates or else it could spell trouble for her family.  What ends up happening not only affects Lily's future, but also those around her.  

With the tone of a coming of age story, Lo reminds the reader of what it's like to be a teenager trying to figure out who you really are.  When Lily sees an advertisement for The Telegraph Club with a male impersonator or cross-dresser, something in her is awakened. She feels drawn to the club and finds a fellow classmate, Kath, who has an in there.  Once Kath introduces Lily to the club and the people inside, a whole new world opens up for Lily.  A world where others who feel like her can feel normal.  How can Lily return to the person her family expects her to be after she's discovered her feelings for women?  

The best part of this story is when Lo uses the flashbacks between Lily's storyline with ones about her parents and her aunt.  Their own circumstances and journeys to the U.S. to where they are in the 1950s sheds much light on their actions.  As I read the story I kept telling myself if Lily only knew her own family's struggles with their identity in the U.S., then she could open up to them about her own apprehension about where she stands.  

As a former history teacher, I also enjoyed the timelines that Lo includes that show the year, Lily and her family's major moments, and parts of world and American history that have affected Chinese Americans since they were first brought to the U.S. to build the trans-continental railroad.  As the daughter of an aerospace engineer, I enjoyed the development of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory as Lily's other passion is studying space travel.  Thankfully her aunt is a human computer for the program and encourages Lily to pursue her interest in math, science, and engineering.  This part of history is interesting for readers to compare to Katherine Johnson and her pioneering work she did for NASA.

This story is an important one for people to read who may not be familiar with the experiences of Chinese Americans.  It's also a history of how the LGBTQ+ community has had to seek out safe spaces to be themselves.  It surprised me that in the ever-inclusive city of San Francisco, there was once a time that it was illegal for homosexuals to even congregate in public.  The end of the novel is full of more information that Lo explains served as her basis for all of the storylines in the book.  Readers who are interested have a number of resources to use to continue learning about more people who lived during this time and left their mark on the country. 

Perfectly Parvin: a PersianVoices rom-com

Perfectly Parvin a debut young adult chapter book by Olivia Abtahi is a romantic comedy and coming of age story about a Persian-American 14 year old named Parvin and her first few months of high school.  It is a good book to understand the dual identity many people face in their lives and the issues that go along with that.  Parvin's half-Persian but she looks like she is 100% Persian.  Her American mom cannot give her any advice about grooming, colors to suit her complexion or help her with her Farsi schoolwork.  Parvin relies on her aunt who lives in Iran for guidance and she is hoping to get a visa to come and visit soon.  Being an adolescent and going through puberty as your friends of other nationalities and cultures go through their own struggles is what shines in this story.  

Parvin's love life seems to be off to a good start when she ends the summer with her crush, Wesley, who asked her to be his girlfriend.  Once the school year starts, though, Wesley breaks up with her claiming she is too loud for him.  Parvin is convinced that if she can get a cute sophomore, Matty, to ask her to Homecoming then that will prove to Wesley that she can be the docile, quiet and mousey girl that he seems to really want her to be.  But is that who Parvin truly wants to be?

Her friends, Fabian and Ruth, want her to avoid the plan and just be herself.  While she gets closer to her goal, Parvin attends Farsi school and gets tutored by Amir, a 100% Persian classmate.  She is herself around him and he develops feelings for her.  What should she do?  This is when her aunt can help her but when she is detained by ICE at the airport that puts Parvin's family into emotional stress.

This is a well-written, realistic book about the cost of fitting in, finding your identity and being a good friend to those around you who want the best for you.  I enjoyed Parvin's journey and especially appreciated the cultural information about her friends' backgrounds, too.  

Listen to Abtahi talk about her book HERE on Vimeo.  She also on a panel on body positivity on Vimeo, too.

 

A Father's Day Booklist

Stories about fathers abound in our library.  Readers think about the characteristics of the characters and the relationships they build with those around them.  These are books that our students have come back to read and discuss over and over again. If you have other titles you recommend, please add them in the comments!

Picture Books:

In Daddy's Arms I Am Tall, a collection of poems by outstanding Black writers and illustrated by Javaka Steptoe.

Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry and gorgeously illustrated by Vashti Harrison is about a young girl and her father helping her style her hair into a beautiful, natural style that is all her.

My Papa is a Princess by Doug Cenko is a story of snapshots from the point of view of a young daughter who shares the activities her father does with her.

Owl Moon by Jane Yolen and illustrated by John Schoenherr is the story of a father and daughter who venture out deep into the night to find the beauty in looking for owls.

Elena's Serenade by Campbell Geeslin and illustrated superbly by Ana Juan is about Elena, a girl in Mexico who wants to become a glassblower. With the help and support of her father, she reaches her goal.

A Different Pond by Bao Phi and illustrated so beautifully by Thi Bui is about a boy whose father tells him about his life before he immigrated to Minneapolis from Vietnam.

Mister Seahorse by Eric Carle is a story about how the male seahorses carry the eggs in their belly after they are laid by the mothers.

Dad and the Dinosaur by Ginnifer Choldenko and illustrated marvelously by Dan Santat is about a boy whose toy dinosaur goes missing and how his father helps him find it again.

Pete's a Pizza by William Steig is about a time when a boy couldn't go out to play with his friends because of the weather so his father plays a game with him to cheer him up--by turning him into a pizza!

One Dad, Two Dads, Brown Dad, Blue Dads by Johnny Valentine and illustrated by Melody Sarecky is about the different ways that families form and function, but in the end, love is what is the same.

Chapter Books:

The List of Things That Will Not Change by Rebecca Stead, about Bea, a ten year old girl, whose parents divorced because her father is gay and is planning to marry again.

Ramona and Her Father by Beverly Cleary, about 7 year old Ramona whose father just lost his job and she must deal with how their lives will change as a result of that.

Squirm by Carl Hiaasen is about Billy, a tween whose father left him and his mother when he was 3.  Now Billy discovers his address in Montana so he sets off from Florida to find him and get some answers.  Along the way there are adventures, new family and the possibility to build a relationship with his dad.

Before the Ever After a novel in verse by Jacqueline Woodson is from the point of view of ZJ, a son whose father plays for the NFL but he is acting strange.  Doctors do not know about the lasting effects of concussions and brain injuries for football players at this point, so putting the pieces together and learning to live with a new personality is the heart of this story.

The Crossover, a novel in verse by Kwame Alexander is about a pair of 14 year old twin basketball stars, Josh and Jordan, and their lives as their father's health goes downward.

From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks, 12 year old Zoe, who is a budding baker, receives a letter from her biological father whom she has never met while he is serving time in prison for a crime he did not commit.  

Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park is a historical fiction story about a half-Chinese girl named Hanna whose father and their journey to the Dakota Territory in the 1880s to begin a new life after her mother passes away in California.

Frankie & Bug: a family & friendship LGBTQ+ tale set in 1987 LA

Frankie & Bug, a middle grades chapter book by Gayle Forman, tackles important issues like prejudice, family, friendship, identity and community.  Set in 1987 in Venice Beach, California, it's told from the perspective of a ten year old girl named Bug, short for Beatrice, who is just starting her summer.  She wants to spend it at the beach but her older brother, Danny, needs some space away from her so her mother arranges her to be under the supervision of their quirky neighbors, Phillip and Hedvig.  

When Phillip's young nephew from Ohio, Frankie, flies in to stay with him for the summer, Bug's hopes are raised to possibly make a new friend and be able to spend it at the beach.  But Frankie is nothing at all what Bug expected.  He doesn't want to go to the beach and only is obsessed with catching the serial killer who is stalking residents in southern California.  Bug must open her mind to new ways of thinking when she adjusts her plans and becomes friends with Frankie.

The more Bug becomes aware of her community's struggles, the more she then learns about her own family's secrets.  This news causes her expand her world view and in the end she is richer for it.

I would recommend this book to read with 11 year olds and up, and it is perfect for a book club to be discussed.  Forman puts issues of prejudice, refugees, LGBTQ+ hate crimes, abandonment out in ways that readers can discuss and ask questions about.  Although the book is set in 1987, readers can think about how these issues have changed or stayed the same in certain ways.  What do they think Frankie and Bug are like today?  Do they have people in their lives who remind them of any of the characters?  

 

Pawcasso: a lovable dog that divides & unites a community

 

Pawcasso a graphic novel by Remy Lai is ideal for elementary and middle school libraries and classrooms.  It's a sweet and engaging mystery about a dog without a leash who goes shopping in a community where nobody knows its name.  A lonely and curious girl named Jo follows the dog one day so much that people mistake her as the owner and she fails to correct them. As Jo and the newly named dog, Pawcasso, make more friends, will Jo be able to solve the mystery of the dog's owners before she is caught?  Her ideas for how to find the owners lead to some especially humorous moments!  Readers can share their solutions for solving this problem.

Although this may look like a simple story, the story line and character of Jo are well-developed, layered, and perfect for discussions.  Jo's dad is away on work and she misses him terribly.  Pawcasso gives her a reason to leave the house and have an identity outside of her family.  Jo's responsibility for the dog takes her to various parts of the community: to a dog grooming shop, bookstore, ice cream parlor and art class.  At one point she even engages in laughing at a mean, old neighbor, Mr. ICCC who just complains to the city council all of the time.  As she's making fun of him, she wonders why it is that he is that way. 

Jo's lies about Pawcasso start to get away from her.  There are numerous close-calls when she could get caught and she's determined to keep quiet until she's solved the mystery of Pawcasso.  It also doesn't hurt that she's making connections with people in her community that she would never have made, otherwise.  She says, "I made a chihuahua-sized lie, but it snowballed into a Great Dane-sized lie."  One reason the news spreads about Pawcasso is that photos of him on his shopping trips go viral.  Readers can think about the pros and cons of going viral in today's world.  Where do people's rights to privacy start and end?

I love the art connections in the story.  The art students study Pablo Picasso and his cubist style of art.  They also learn about Marcel Duchamp, his rival.  When the town is eventually divided over leash-laws, they call each camp a Picassos (anti-leash laws) and Duchamps (pro-leash laws).  This is a real-world problem that readers can relate to in their own communities.  Students can debate the pros and cons of these types of laws and research what their community has voted to uphold.

Jo also joins a book club where they discuss the question, "If love comes from the heart, does hate come from the brain?"  Readers can discuss their impressions of this questions and give examples of their opinions.  At the end of the story Jo makes a grand speech where she gives her answer.  Does the reader agree with her interpretation?  Also, how do readers feel about how the story was resolved?  There are a number of twists and ways in which different characters' struggles parallel each other's.

Finally, a bonus at the end of the book is an ice cream recipe that is safe for dogs and "hoomans!"

I Wanna Be Where You Are: YA music/dance/art rom-com

 

I Wanna Be Where You Are is a young adult chapter book by Kristina Forest.  It is a coming-of-age novel that mostly takes place over the course of a week when Chloe schemes with her best friend to sneak out of town to audition for a dance company when her mother forbade her to do that.  When her next-door-neighbor, the annoyingly cute Eli, blackmails her to tag along for the road trip, Chloe is forced to go along with it.  This is when the adventure begins for both of them.  From accidents to romantic tension and snippets about a mysterious history between them, there is a lot to contemplate while enjoying this story.

Chloe's father passed away from a car accident when she was little and she, too, got hit by a car just last year.  Her mother has increased her over-protectiveness of Chloe to the point where Chloe doesn't think she will ever get to leave the house after graduation.  Eli is dealing with his parents' divorce and sister going away to college.  He fell into some self-destructive habits and there is no coming back from deciding to major in art rather than pre-law for college.  Through the story, Chloe and Eli confide with each other on some topics, but not others.  Readers can consider what they would do if they were in Chloe and Eli's shoes.  How would they handle the pressure they are put under by their families.  How are they more alike than they know?

The story goes by quickly and by the end of it the reader has gotten to know these two characters so well that they just want them to be happy.  Are they happier together or having gone through the week supporting each other enough to get them to be honest with their families?  

I enjoyed the banter between the characters, their language, references and musical choices were all authentic.  Readers will also feel comfort in being in Chloe and Eli's world.  Will they commit to their own developing identities or give in to what their parents want for them?  This is an important idea to which teens can relate.

Forest, the author, gave a great interview on the Fierce Reads blog where she gave some background on how she came up with the idea for this book.  Readers will be able to learn more about its origins and read an excerpt from the novel.

Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna: the true cost of war

 

Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna by Alda P. Dobbs is a historical fiction, #ownvoices story of the author's great-grandmother who trekked across Mexico during the 1913 revolution towards the U.S. border.  This is an important chapter book that is excellent for grades 3 and up.  Although this is a refugee, war story, readers can still relate to the characters and their emotions since they are all universal themes of family, friendship, hope and love.

12 year-old Petra whose mother passed away a year ago is grappling with the trauma of her father being forced to fight in the revolution.  Alone in her village with her aging grandmother and two younger siblings, Petra is forced to lookout for their well-being.  Her father promises to return as she remembers his words before he left, "in a world full of darkness and uncertainty, there's always enough rom for one more promise."  Petra clings to the hope of reuniting with her father after the war.  Readers can discuss times when they were forced to say goodbye to loved ones and what that felt like.  Did they make plans to stay in touch or reunite one day?  Why does that offer comfort?

When the Federales, "the monsters" who are the army for the government of Huerta, attack their village, Petra and her family must flee or be killed.  Petra thinks, "My home, my life--everything I knew was gone.  There was nothing to come back to.  I thought about Papa and prayed that one day we'd find each other."  Readers can try to imagine what they would do in Petra's situation.  Would they stay close-by in case her father returned or risk losing touch with him if they left their village?  

 Using their wits and knowledge of their ancestors, they make their way north meeting various groups of people along the way who offer advice, hope and friendship to Petra who desperately needs the encouragement.  "...sincere friendships can sprout even amid the darkest moments and places."  These friends provide a safe space for Petra to share her insecurities and develop a sense of confidence in her abilities.  Readers can share people in their lives who offer this support and even think about who they offer their support to, as well.

The story is quite well-told with Spanish words and folklore mixed in that adds authenticity to the characters and their mindsets.  The relationship that Petra has with her grandma and younger siblings is touching and relatable for many readers.  She faces prejudice for being darker-skinned so others look down upon her.  Readers can discuss ways in which prejudice still exists in the world today.  How does that affect how people earn money to support their families?

The author's note at the end explains more about how Dobbs' great-grandmother escaped the war and fled to the U.S.  She provides a timeline that explains the complicated history of power in Mexico and is helpful for even adults to read and understand.  I hope that this book makes its way into many classrooms, libraries, and book clubs.  Refugee perspectives are so often left out of history books that the more we have them, the better we can empathize with their circumstances.  Here is a free teaching guide that goes with the book for more ideas on how to use it with students.

We are home: A Pho Love Story

 A Pho Love Story is a young adult, romance debut novel by Loan Le, about rival Vietnamese restaurants in L.A. whose owners have a long history of animosity and competition. Imagine the mess that ensues when their high school seniors, Bao and Linh, become partners for a school project and end up falling for each other!  This is an important story about how family and cultural pressure can influence the children of immigrants.  Rather than communicate their needs and wants, immigrant children often go-with-the-flow and end up stressed.  A Pho Love Story is a richly layered story full of humor, bonds, love and hope.  It resonates strongly with people who straddle dual cultures and don't want to let anyone down, including themselves.

As a teacher, librarian, and parent, I would use this book to discuss many topics with readers. Starting with the main characters, Bao and Linh, whose point of view changes with every-other-chapter.  Bao accuses Linh of being a liar because she isn't forthcoming with her family about her true passion of painting.  Readers can take a side and debate who is in the right and wrong in this situation.  

Another topic for discussion is how Bao and Linh go about their romance.  At first they hesitate to partner up because for their entire lives they were told by their families that it was taboo to associate with the other.  Despite their apprehension over being seen by someone in their community circle they embark on a friendship which grows into a romance.  Do readers agree with how the events unfolded?  Were there any times when they could've come clean with their families?

I just loved the friendship between Bao and Linh.  The more time they spent together the more they discover all that they had in common: they both recognize their Vietnamese culture along with the pressure to make their families proud.  It is unique to live in America where, as the children of immigrants, they are exposed to more avenues and opportunities than their parents.  Communicating this with their parents is difficult because their parents are unknowledgeable about how these experiences lead to future success.  Readers can talk about anyone in their life whom they feel like can understand them and their background.  

As the child of immigrants myself, I connected to this story especially when Linh was looking at old photographs of her parents from Vietnam.  She notices how happy and idyllic the scenes are and thinks, "It seems impossible to think that outside the frame of this photo, the country they knew was changing rapidly.  And yet here they were: joyful."  It would be interesting to pose this question of what is happening outside of the frame when looking at photos as primary sources with students.  Although countries go through so much change that their citizens are pushed or pulled to emigrate, the constant that they feel is family, cherished moments and unforgettable memories.  This is universal.  Which is what hurts when in the story there is a racist posting online with the person telling those in Little Saigon, "go home!"  Bao responds by writing an op-ed titled, "We Are Home".  His message is that immigrants are real people with a past that needs to be listened to in order to understand why they would leave their homes in order to make a better life here.  In the wake of the anti-Asian hate-crimes on the rise recently, his writing hits hard.

Le also captures what it is like when your secrets are revealed to your parents.  When the truth is out and you have to deal with the shame that stems from disappointing them, but also the other side of the feeling that what you did and hid from them was something that felt perfectly natural to you.  Linh calls the aftermath of her parents finding out as, "Terse. Cold. Punishing."  Readers can talk about times when they kept secrets from their loved ones or friends.  What was keeping them from being honest? Did they find ways to get through it? 

The most uplifting part of this whole story is the network of support that Bao and Linh have through their friends, teachers, neighbors, and family members who see their struggles and encourage them.  Like when Linh's aunt says to her, "Be the brave, honest person I know you are."  Readers can name people in their lives who provide this advice and kindness to them.  Maybe they are that support system to others in their lives.  Why is it important to form and nurture these relationships?

All in all, I absolutely loved this book. I'd recommend it, even to adults, because it has universal themes and good knowledge to bestow about Vietnamese history, food, language, and culture as a whole.  For example, how to pronounce PHO: it rhymes with, "huh?" Thank you, Loan!  I had never read a book with Vietnamese characters that I can recall and I cannot wait to read more from this amazing author.

Stand Up, Yumi Chung!

 

Stand Up, Yumi Chung! a middle grade chapter book by Jessica Kim is a fast-paced, humorous, yet touching book about a 6th grade daughter of Korean immigrants who has to tackle the difficult decision of following a dream that is different than what is expected by family elders.

Yumi is constantly in the shadow of her genius, older sister, Yuri.  Yumi loves stand-up comedy and even though she is shy, it doesn't deter her from wanting to pursue it.  When Yumi accidentally ends up in another person's slot in a comedy camp, she cannot give up her opportunity to feel a part of a community in which she belongs.  

Unfortunately, as in the common experience of children of immigrants who cannot face disappointing their parents, Yumi lies in order to stay in the camp.  When one lie turns into another in order to avoid getting caught, Yumi loses control of the situation.  Will she be able to express herself to her family and come clean with her comedy crew?

As a teacher, librarian, and daughter of immigrants, I can relate to the family pressure that she feels.  When discussing this book with students they can share times when their personal interests were or weren't supported by family members and how they handled those situations.  Another way that students can use this book is to compare how Yumi's choices are the same or different as to what they would do if they were in her shoes, her sister's shoes, and even her family and friends' shoes if they saw what Yumi was doing.

Overall I would recommend this book to readers in grade 4 and up, and their parents, too.  As an educator and parent I learned about how important it is to listen to children and support their interests while expressing expectations for them, at the same time.  Kim, who is Korean, writes with authenticity and care for her characters.  

The Cat I Never Named: wartime memoir

 

The Cat I Never Named: A True Story of Love, War and Survival by Amra Sabic-El-Rayess with Laura L. Sullivan is a young-adult memoir that resonates with anyone who has had connections to persecution, uncertainty, and wanting to live life with dignity and hope.  This is the story of Amra, a survivor of the Bosnian Genocide from 1992-1996.  She is 16 when she learns that because she is Muslim and lives in Bosnia, her life is threatened.  Although she lives among Serbs and Jewish people, there are tensions of war coming closer to her town, Bihać.  

The only light in her life is when she befriends a stray cat.  The cat, Maci, ends up performing miracles and saves the life of multiple people throughout the war.  While Amra and her family find ways to evade starvation and build community despite the whole world seeming to ignore their strife, Maci continues to be the constant comfort in their lives.  Amra's parents hide Muslim soldiers who run away from serving in the Serbian army. One solider tells Amra, "Thank you, you and your parents for being lights in the nightmare of my life."  When refugees pour into their city, Amra and her family find ways to help them.  "Without question, without reward, we help."  Her father, Tata, says, "A drop in the ocean. But many drops can turn a tide."

The constant hope that Amra has is to survive the war and continue her education.  She says, "One of the greatest responsibilities is knowledge."  How can she hold on to this hope when there is such devastation around her?  She finds that, "The world is a beautiful place.  It's not beautiful everywhere, but that just makes it more important to look for the beauty." Amra's strength comes from her family's belief in her abilities.  She is determined to be successful at any cost. "I won't let the world go black around me. I'll kindle a new light.  With study and knowledge and persistence...and hope."

 

Told with a rawness that will make you want to learn more about this horrific war, Sabic-El-Rayess and Sullivan detail the events and connect them with strong characters.  This story will remind people of where they were when they learned about the genocide in Bosnia and what was being reported in various parts of the world.  It is especially interesting because Sabic-El-Rayess and Sullivan do not stop the story once the war is declared "over".  Too often people who are apart from a war think it is like closing a book.  This story is unique in its exploration of what happens to cities and its people after a war.  "Left for any traumatized survivors is yet another trauma."  This is in terms of rebuilding one's life and country.

For further reading at the end of the book is a comprehensive list of books and sites for further research.  There are even film suggestions about the war in Bosnia.  The author's note describes how her story parallels life under the current COVID-19 pandemic with being isolated and wanting any sense of normalcy, school, anything!  She continues to share the state of Bosnians and Serbs today.  Her hometown of Bihać is currently taking in refugees from around Europe.  She also gave an excellent interview about her book.

The Sea in Winter: an authentic, modern-day Native voices book

 

The Sea in Winter written by Christine Day  is a middle grades novel that appeals to those who have been disconnected from their life purpose and need to find their way back.  In this story, 12 year-old Maisie is recovering from a knee injury that has left her without her ballet friends and her identity as a dancer.  This loss of control of her life is sending her down a depressing cycle of negative self-talk and a feeling of helplessness.  

When her family goes on a road trip to her mother's native ancestral homeland, the Makah, Maisie connects to the strength of her ancestors who had to endure hardships.  During the trip she cannot express why she feels so low despite her attempts to try to enjoy the memories she is making with her family.  After a text from her friend sends her into a downward spiral, Maisie has no choice but to face reality and accept help from her family so that she may heal in more ways than one.  

As a teacher and librarian, this book can be used in multiple ways:

1. The poetic language Day uses to describe the landscape as well as the characters.  It transports the reader to the landscape of the Pacific Northwest, to the ocean and the forest.   Students can explore the setting through online research to note how it compares to what they imagined while reading the book.  

2. Maisie learns how her ancestors lived through a landslide caused by magnitude-9 earthquake in the 1700s that caused a tsunami in Japan.  When asked how that could be, her mother replies, "The ocean has always connected us."  Students can take this one step further by researching other ways that one natural event affects other places.  

3.  Maisie and her little brother learn from their father about how his Klallam peoples' lives were affected by White settlement in the area, specifically, not being able to fish without a license.  But fishing licenses were only granted to citizens and Native Americans did not attain citizenship until 1924.  Students can research how the Native American community in their area was affected by White settlement. 

4. Maisie is going through a difficult time in her life. She doesn't have friends at school, her grades are slipping, and her one and only hobby is something that is off-limits until her body can heal.  A lot of people can relate to this sense of loss.  Students can revisit Maisie's mother's advice when she tells her, " Dreams change. Realities change. People change.  We all go through it in different ways."  What does she mean by this? How does this connect to your life?

The author's note at the end of the story gives more context to the various topics explored in the book.  The reader can benefit from reading this because it has such a personal connection to Day and her life.  More stories of modern-day Native people and their history and hopes for the future are much needed. Heartdrum, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, which published Day's book, has more authors with stories to tell. In partnership with We Need Diverse Books, classrooms and libraries around the world can carry and share these stories with their communities.