Dasia (Forever)-a middle grade novel tackling serious topics

 

Dasia (Forever) by Nic Stone, a middle grade novel sprinkled with letters in a verse format, provides a raw, emotional perspective of Dasia, a 13 year-old who is in the hospital receiving cancer treatment. Through Dasia's dates and timestamps, the reader is taken to her home before her treatment where she is grieving over an abusive father, missing her older brother who is serving time for a crime he didn't commit, rejected by her younger brother who is starting to hang out the same crowd that got her brother into trouble, and worst of all, cautiously walking on eggshells around her erratic mother who has undiagnosed depression and PTSD.  

Dasia finds her older brother's journal and writes to him about what her life is like now that he is gone.  She pours her heart into these letters and lets him in on the harsh realities she must face, aside from her cancer diagnosis. The reader is then brought back to the present when Dasia is isolated in the hospital for several weeks as she gets her treatment which leaves her weak.  

One night she is visited by another patient, Jimmy, who brings out Dasia's true self.  By sharing details about her own life, Dasia learns how to speak about her own struggles.  

Readers will come away with a deeper understanding of adolescent emotions, thinking, and ways to help those who have similar situations as Dasia and Jimmy.   There is a surprise in the story that completely caught me off guard and reaching for the tissue box.  This is an important topic that deserves to be read, shared and discussed by middle grade readers, teens, and adults. 

Although this is a spin-off of the Dear Martin trilogy of young adult books by Nic Stone, the reader does not have to have read those books in order to read Dasia (Forever). 

It will probably encourage those readers to pick up the books in the Dear Martin series, however! 

Ghost in the Night: a spooky story for preteens

 

Ghost in the Night by award-winning author, Tiffany D. Jackson, is a middle grade chapter book that is perfect for readers who want an intriguing mystery along with some creepy supernatural events. I usually devour any book that Jackson writes, especially her young adult novels, so I was surprised that I missed Jackson's other middle grade thriller that was written before Ghost in the Night, Blood in the Water.

Although I hadn't read Blood in the Water yet, I read Ghost in the Night anyway and it could truly be read on its own.  

Ghost in the Night is from the perspective of Harmony, a 12 year old Harlem resident, who is taken to Savannah, Georgia with her father, who is a musician.  Once Harmony arrives into town she is immediately curious about the ghost tours.  Since she has been on multiple ghost tours in other cities, her father allows her to go.  During the tour she snaps a photo of a house that is thought to be haunted and when she develops the photos she believes that she did indeed capture someone--or something, through the window!  

Along with several new friends that Harmony makes in Savannah, they make a plan to find out what is in that house.  The mystery is amped up when a local historian is murdered and his young nephew, Jabari, goes missing.  Harmony and her friends want to help find Jabari and find out if his slain uncle has anything to do with the house that is said to be haunted. 

The best part of this story is how deeply Jackson delves into each of the characters' motivations and their past experiences. For Harmony, it's the loss of her grandmother who was her best friend.  The background of her new friends connects her to the Gullah people's culture that shapes how some interact with the supernatural in the Low Country.  Harmony struggles with getting too comfortable in Savannah, knowing that she will be returning to Harlem, however, several twists in the story change this plan and Harmony has to face some difficult conversations with her father about their future.  For a 12 year old, Harmony is an extremely thoughtful person who is flawed, but faces up to her mistakes with empathy.  Young readers will be able to relate to her situation and adults who read this may have more understanding of pre-teen developmental needs.

I would recommend this book to readers ages 10 and up noting that there are many talks about ghosts, haints, demons, etc.  The mystery is one that readers could possibly solve before the ending is revealed so that makes it a more entertaining read.  Jackson carefully plants clues throughout the story that make the ending quite satisfying.  Now I need to read her middle grade thriller, Blood in the Water!

Slug Days: a day in the life of a girl with Autistic Spectrum Disorder

 

Slug Days by Sara Leach and illustrated by Rebecca Bender, is a slim read at just 116 pages, however, Leach leaves much to be considered after the story is through.  The main character, Lauren, is in elementary school, and she has Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) which includes Asperger's Syndrome.  Her brain works differently than others, a term known as neurodiverse, therefore, she has to work extra hard at remembering rules for how to behave at school and at home.  Lauren's range of emotions guide this story, as it is told from Lauren's point-of-view.  Her relationship with her classmates, teachers, bus driver, parents, and sibling are all on display as Lauren navigates her daily schedule.  

As a parent and educator, this is a story I recommend to others in order to consider how a person with ASD may be interpreting the world.  The author, Leach, is a former educator who writes from experience of having students with ASD and I, too, can say that the story's portrayal of Lauren is authentic.  This is also a great story for elementary-age and middle-grade readers to read, listen to, and discuss in order to build empathy.  When they are in their daily lives, are they mindful of others' neurodiversity?  How would they respond if they were in Lauren's class? The story leaves much to be discussed and readers can note how others they know who have ASD are similar or different from Lauren.  

Another part that drew me to this story were Bender's detailed illustrations.  They help tell Lauren's story, especially her feelings of anticipation, joy, frustration, fear, etc.  The book would not be the same without them. I can see my students wanting to draw Lauren and her "slug and butterfly days" to show what makes her feel uplifted or down.  

In honor of Autism Awareness Month in April I decided to read this book that I had added to my school's library collection earlier this year. It should really be a whole-staff read in all schools so that more educators can have a better understanding of ASD.  I was happy to learn that Leach & Bender continued Lauren's story with two follow-up books in this series:

Here are more books featuring characters with ASD:

• Autism Spectrum Australia
• San Francisco Public Library
• Reading Rockets

If you have more to share please leave the titles in the comments below! 

The Year I Flew Away: Haitian voices of magical realism

 The Year I Flew Away is a middle grade historical fiction novel by Marie Arnold.  In it the reader meets 10 year old Gabrielle who lives in Haiti with her family but she is sent to Brooklyn to start a new life with her uncle's family until hers can join them in the U.S.  Life is hard for Gabrielle in New York.  She faces bullying for not speaking English.When a witch offers her a deal to make her fit in, Gabrielle's desperation wins.  The witch's agreement has a cost and before she takes everything from Gabrielle, a team of people and even a rat, need to put that witch in her place!  A story of identity, racism, family, friendship and new beginnings.   

I enjoyed this story because it is unique to the Haitian culture and experience immigrating to the U.S.  The folklore of the witch and the talking animals, like the rat, are reminiscent of authentic stories from the author's upbringing.  It is also a relatable story to so many readers because they have either been the new kid or have had new kids in their classes at school.  This can help readers empathize with how those students may be feeling and be better equipped with ways to welcome them into school and the community. Teachers and families who want to use this book with their middle grade readers can use the vast amount of resources offered on the  Teaching Books website. 

How to Become a Planet: removing the stigma of mental illness

How I Became a Planet is a middle grade, realistic fiction novel by Nicole Melleby.  The main character is Pluto, a 7th grader, who is on the verge of being sent away from her home on the Jersey Shore to live with her Dad in the city.  The only way she can stay is if she shows progress from her diagnosed anxiety and depression by:

• completing summer school
• reconnecting with her ex-BFF
• doing what her mom asks

Only when Pluto meets Fallon, another person with her own to-do list, does Pluto get the support she needs to come to terms with her new normal.  

This is a heavy topic, much like Sharon M. Draper's Out of My Mind, where the neurodiverse internal dialog takes center stage.  I would add this book to my school library collection and have it for my home library for my middle grade daughter because Melleby's portrayal of Pluto and Fallon's relationship is a positive one for young people to see.  Their romantic relationship organically grows out of their friendship with a supportive community to foster their identities.  I hope that more middle grade writers incorporate characters who have complex mental illness needs, as well as more characters who have non-cis-gendered identities.  

Here is an interview with Melleby to learn more about this book.  Melleby has also written many other middle grade books, see below:

Violets are Blue: a middle grade story of family secrets

Violets are Blue by Barbara Dee is a poignant look at how one middle schooler, Wren, tries to deal with her family drama by escaping into her passion for special effects makeup.  This is a book that brings up important issues that young people deal with or may see in their friends' lives.  It offers a chance for readers to discuss issues such as divorce, being the new kid in school, addiction and having half-siblings in a safe way.  Dee realistically writes the characters and situations so the reader roots for them to make better decisions in order to bring relief to their ailing hearts.

Wren experiences a traumatic family event when her father leaves her mother for another woman, moves away to New York City and has twins with her.  Stuck in the middle of her parents, Wren just wants everyone to be happy so she avoids telling them about the other one's lives.  Her escape from this tension is into the CatFX YouTube channel where Cat teaches her viewers how to transform faces with makeup. 

 Wren is pushed out of her comfort zone when her mom decides to move them to a new town where Wren is to start 7th grade.  Her mother's actions keep getting more alarming and when Wren tries to handle it on her own, it becomes so big that it's out of her hands.  Wren reaches a breaking point, will she be able to come out of it unscathed?

I highly recommend this book for middle grade readers and adults who want the perspective of a tween who is doing her best in a tough situation.  Dee is a seasoned writer whose other books also touch on young people who are challenged by life.  Check out more of Dee's books below:

 

The Power of a Name: Proud to Be...

Proud to Be... is a children's picture book written by Natalie McDonald-Perkins and is illustrated by Mary Ibeh.  The heart of the story is an elementary-aged child from Nigeria named Ifunanya. She is starting at a new school and is already nervous for the typical reasons any child would be.  On her first day she is greeted by a substitute teacher who mispronounces her name. As the day goes on more classmates make fun of her name so much that she starts to question why she even has such name that is so problematic.

Disappointed in her unwelcoming class, Ifunanya shares her feelings about her name with her parents. They listen then tell her about the origin of her name and the meaning behind it.  The advice they give her is to be patient as people learn to say her name correctly.   

Ifunanya decides to give school another chance the next day. Thankfully, her permanent teacher is back and she takes the time to make sure she is pronouncing her name correctly.  She sympathizes with Ifunanya's situation because her name is also commonly mispronounced. The classmates who made fun of her name apologize for their behavior and they start to share the meaning behind their names.  

As a teacher, librarian, parent, and an immigrant whose name is often mispronounced, I liked this book's message and delivery of the point that a person should be proud of their name and be patient as others learn it.  There have been many books published about children with difficult names to pronounce, but this is the first story I have seen with a main character from Nigeria.  The illustrations are also vibrant, show a range of characters and capture the mood of the story well.  

This story could lead to discussions with young people about many topics.  For example, what are ways that you can ask how to pronounce a person's name?  What if your name is difficult to say? How can you help others learn your name?  People can also share experiences they have had with other people's names who were new to them.  What did they learn from those experiences?  It could also be a time to invite readers to share the origin of their own names.  The author also includes a Teacher Tips section at the end of the book for what to do if a student has a name that is difficult to pronounce.  She also includes a list of unique names with their language of origin and meanings.  Children can try to say them out loud for practice.  

I'd definitely add this to my school library collection and include it in my daughter's reading collection, too!

Another book that this author and illustrator duo have created is Best In Me. I reviewed it last year and it had similar themes of looking inward to point out your unique traits.  

 

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!"