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:

 

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 !

Genesis Begins Again: a middle grade novel of self-hate & hope

 Genesis Begins Again, the multiple award winning chapter book by Alicia D. Williams is mighty in its characterization of a young woman who comes from a traumatic home life who's desperate to erase her past and start anew.  13-year old Genesis and her parents have been kicked out of their rental home again.  Unfortunately it's on the day that Genesis finally convinces the cool clique of classmates to accompany her home.  Right from the start of that opening scene the reader feels for Genesis as many can connect to her humiliation and helplessness for what will happen tomorrow when she has to face them at school.  Fortunately for Genesis, her mother decides to leave her father's harmful ways and move the two of them to a new place that she can afford on her own.  Will Genesis have the fresh start that she's always wanted or will the reasons why she hates herself according to class bullies and her father come back into her mind? 

At her new school, Genesis surprises herself by making friends easily, even if they aren't in the popular crowd. With her new friends and a supportive singing teacher who opens Genesis's eyes to singers who also had unstable home lives but funneled their emotions into their singing, maybe this is Genesis's shot at a new identity?  Genesis still makes questionable decisions that are relatable to any reader who has tried to change a part of themselves or hide a family secret at the expense of their health only to hope for a better tomorrow.

This story is perfect for middle schoolers and above who want to understand how race, social class, substance abuse, bullying and trauma can affect a person.  Educators can learn more about their students who may be going through similar issues that Genesis faces like homelessness, poverty and self-hatred. Williams is a teacher herself so she writes with authenticity for what Genesis experiences at school It's no wonder that this book has won so many accolades!  

Readers can also discuss how much they understand about skin color shades as they pertain to different cultures around the world.  As a societal prejudice in many areas of the world, the darker the skin tone, the more the person is persecuted. How does this ring true for Genesis? Young people can also discuss what they'd do if they were in Genesis's shoes.  What if they were her classmates?  

Here is a special treat of Williams reading aloud from the first chapter of the novel:

The publisher's website also has an audio excerpt from the audiobook and a book club discussion guide!

Cuba in My Pocket: a refugee's tale of uncertainty & hope

 

Cuba in My Pocket, the middle grades historical fiction chapter book by award-winning author, Adrianna Cuevas, tells the story of 12 year old Cumba who, in 1961, is forced to flee Santa Clara for the U.S. in order to avoid being drafted into the military for Fidel Castro.  Based on the author's family history, the book is full of intimate details that can only be from the perspective of someone who lived it.  The story is one that should be shared with middle grade readers on up because it tells the important part of history, how governments impact people's lives, and the real accounts of people who risked it all in order to have a chance at a future for themselves and their families.  

Cumba's relationships with his family and friends in Cuba are the most memorable parts of the story.  They play dominoes, cook delicious meals, go looking for flowers and even discuss how their lives have changed after Fidel came to power.  Readers can continue with learning about these parts of Cuban history and culture by looking at photos and videos of Cuba prior to the 1960s and afterwards.  Cumba relies on the strength of these relationships to propel him towards the unknown in the U.S. and holds on to the promise of reuniting with them again.  

Cumba's journey to the U.S. is another important part of the story that readers will never forget. From his flight to Miami with another young girl traveling alone who doesn't understand the language or even how to put on a seat belt, they rely on the kindness of other passengers to guide them through.  Cumba's school experience in Miami is like being pulled into a rip tide because of the cacophony of noise, not being able to practice his English, and his teachers not making any attempts to help him.  This is especially gripping to me as a teacher.  Thankfully he does make an American friend who makes going to school more tolerable, but the PTSD that Cumba has as a result of living in a militaristic society, is keeping him from moving on.

The reader also learns about the role the Catholic Church had in taking in young children from Cuba and sending them to foster families across the U.S.  Cumba and his house-mates use the Catholic Welfare Services to help them locate their family and friends who were supposed to be coming to the U.S.  If readers want to continue learning about this part of history there are many resources that offer more glimpses into how the church supported Cuban immigrants.

When Cumba gets sent to a foster family in Key Largo his story does change for the better.  School is a complete change as his teachers help him learn the content through visuals and study tips.  He even reunites with a friend from Santa Clara and they bond over being the only Cubans in school.  Even when he gets bad news from home and feels helpless he knows he can rely on his friend to understand exactly what he's feeling: helpless and guilty.   Here they are enjoying life in Key Largo while their families are experiencing torture in Cuba.  I think other immigrants can relate to this feeling, too.  We are grateful for being able to be here in the U.S. but also have guilt that our family members are struggling in our home countries.   

I applaud Cuevas for writing this story and honoring her family's history.  The photos and glossary at the end of the book offer more details about the Spanish language and why she chose to write her father's story.  As an adult, I learned a lot about Cuba's history and how refugees were treated during this time.  It would be a good book for grades 4 and up. Here is the author talking about the book in her own words:

MuslimVoices Romance: Saints & Misfits and Misfit in Love

Saints and Misfits is a realistic fiction, young adult book written by S.K. Ali.  It's about 15 year old American Arab-Indian girl named Janna who is struggling in her life.  She has been sexually assaulted by a prominent member of her mosque and she is developing a crush on Jeremy, a classmate who is not Muslim at all.  Janna wants to expose her assailant but is afraid of the backlash she could receive from her religious community.  Ali expertly writes about the different ways people express their religious beliefs and it is an eye-opener for those who want to learn beyond the Muslim stereotypes.

Misfit in Love is the sequel to Saints and Misfits but it can stand on its own.  In this story it is summertime and Janna's plan is to move forward with her feelings for Nuah, the boy who was there for her when she was assaulted the year before.  It's her brother, Muhammad's wedding and for Janna, that is the perfect time to reveal to her friends and family that she also has feelings for Nuah.  Except the wedding's not going as planned, Nuah is acting detached and Janna's even more confused when she meets two more men who are attending the wedding: Haytham, the handsome poet/singer who is amazing with kids and Layth, the equally handsome, yet broodingly mysterious one who has his own struggles he's keeping within.  The wedding is also a time that Janna can finally spend with her mom and possibly, her mom's new love interest since divorcing her father.  The weekend is full of family, relationship breakthroughs, laughter, music, dancing, swimming, eating, family and friendship.   The Janna who starts the story is not the same one who finishes it.  

 Ali explains the nuances within the various types of  Muslim cultures and brings into the mainstream the way modern-day people's Muslim faith is a part of their daily lives.  She tackles the complicated dynamics of joining families with different cultural roots, even while sharing a religious one.  I learned a lot about Muslim wedding ceremonies, nikahs, burkinis, dabke dances, niqab hijabs and many more terms that I enjoyed looking up while reading this story. Here is her interview for Entertainment Weekly where Ali discusses Misfit in Love and more!

 

Fighting Words: speaking out against sexual abuse

 

Fighting Words by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley is an award-nominated, middle-grade novel about sexual abuse, foster care, family and how a person can heal after enduring trauma.  10 year-old Della, and her 16 year-old sister, Suki, have been placed under the care of Francine, their foster mother.  What's happened to them is a mystery and the narrator, Della, tells bits and pieces of their story in small increments.  Their mother, who is incarcerated after suffering a psychotic break is not in the picture so they have had to live with their mother's boyfriend before Francine.  Della and Suki rely on each other to navigate their new lives but cannot process what has happened to them on their own.  They act out in different ways in order to deal with their trauma.  Full of emotion, both humorous at times and heart-breaking, the story is realistic in its depiction of the social services that are supposed to be protecting children.  The sisters must accept the help of Francine and their friends in order to heal.

I would share this book with older readers who would be able to discuss the story content with an adult.  The abuse that Della and Suki endure is at first alluded-to, but then described in one scene, so it would be beneficial to unpack what happened to the girls with the reader.  There are so few middle grade books that approach this subject, that I would recommend this book for all educators to read and try to understand how to better help students who suffer from trauma such as the one described in this book.  Bradley offers many resources and discussion questions at the end of the book to help with these conversations with young people.  Consent, how to be a supportive friend/adult, and what to do if you're being abused are the three big takeaways I had from this incredibly well-written book.  

Here is a review from Common Sense Media with more details.

Bradley writes on her website:

2021 Newbery Honor and Odyssey Honor!

I am absolutely thrilled to announce that Fighting Words has received a Newbery Honor medal and an Odyssey Honor from the American Library Association!! I am so incredibly happy and grateful. As I’ve said many times, this book is my heart. 

Every Body Looking: seeking an identity

Every Body Looking by Candice Iloh is an emotionally-driven book about a first-generation Nigerian immigrant, Ada, who is about to attend college away from the watchful eye of her father.  Through a series of flashbacks from first grade, second grade, and middle school the reader is exposed to the trauma young Ada faced.  The repercussions of that trauma resonates her total being until the present when she embarks on her own for the first time, to a HBCU to fulfill her duty to her father.

Ada's reserved nature changes as she meets new people on campus and is drawn to a dance studio where she feels, in her heart, she can be her authentic self.  It's more than a coming-of-age story. It's a self-actualization tale that is fraught with sorrow and regret, but most importantly, with hope.

This is intended for a young adult to adult audience due to its mature themes about abuse. As a debut author Iloh approaches Ada's story with such care.  Iloh's choice to write the story as a novel-in-verse only adds to its lyricism.