Another one in the series completed, but to be honest this wasn’t exactly my favorite. It’s weird because the colonial period as whole interests me, bAnother one in the series completed, but to be honest this wasn’t exactly my favorite. It’s weird because the colonial period as whole interests me, but I wasn’t engaged with the story. The Revolutionary War is a huge period in history to cover and it’s hard to capture it in such a short book....more
Another solid installment in the I Survived series. I would definitely recommend checking out Tarshis' author's note at the end where she effectively Another solid installment in the I Survived series. I would definitely recommend checking out Tarshis' author's note at the end where she effectively discusses the broader impact of Pearl Harbor and the treatment of Japanese Americans following the event. I think my main critique of this title would be that it leaves out the fact that Hawaii was taken from Indigenous communities and "made" into a United States territory prior to it becoming a state in 1959. The introduction of this talks about Hawaii being owned by the US, but makes no note of those who lived there prior to colonization....more
This was an excellent addition to the series. I actually remember when this happened and still cannot fathom how scary this must have been. Once againThis was an excellent addition to the series. I actually remember when this happened and still cannot fathom how scary this must have been. Once again Tarshis is able to effectively capture this historic and devastating event in a way that’s accessible for children. ...more
A quick, yet somewhat emotional children's historical fiction about the sinking of the Titanic. Although this is probably one of the most written abouA quick, yet somewhat emotional children's historical fiction about the sinking of the Titanic. Although this is probably one of the most written about disasters in history, there are so many different perspectives that people take when deciding to cover the various things that happened that fatal night. As always this was well-written and took into consideration the intended audience....more
This isn't my first time reading Deborah Hopkinson and I'm happy I picked this one up! It's a great mix of historical fiction and mystery.
The Plot to This isn't my first time reading Deborah Hopkinson and I'm happy I picked this one up! It's a great mix of historical fiction and mystery.
The Plot to Kill a Queen is a fictionalized account of the relationship between Queen Elizabeth and Mary Queen of Scots. The story also centers main character Emilia who is interested in having her writings performed on stage in the theater. Unfortunately, this dream is pushed to the side when Emilia discovers a plot to kill Queen Elizabeth I. Sent under disguise to figure out the true intentions of Mary Queen of Scots, Emilia quickly learned that things are never what they seem.
What Worked: I LOVED that Hopkinson wrote this as if readers are engaging with an actual play. It brings the character of Emilia to life and it's a fun way to play into her dreams of becoming a playwright. While Hopkinson does take some historical liberties with this text (i.e. Emilia would have never met a young William Shakespeare), it still provides enough historical accuracy to draw in the attention of younger readers. This book is proof that there is a way to draw students into the tidbits of history that are fun, engaging, and high stakes. The relationship between Elizabeth and Mary was truly strained, but adding in a few more high energy elements, Hopkinson is able to provide a history lesson with some added fun. I loved the moments where Emilia would break the fourth wall to give readers an aside about the current environment of play. It made me, as reader, feel more connected to her as a character.
Overall, this was a fast paced and fun read that explored one of my favorite periods of history. This is one that I would recommend to middle grade readers that love both historical fiction and mysteries!...more
Night of the Ninjas is definitely a product of it's time and contains some inaccuracies/oversimplificationsAnother book in the series is completed....
Night of the Ninjas is definitely a product of it's time and contains some inaccuracies/oversimplifications. I would recommend reading this one in tandem with the Magic Tree House Fact Trackers that specifically goes into the history of ninjas and Samari. Jack and Annie are sent on another mission to help out the mysterious M (I won't say who this is) and end up in ancient Japan. It pretty much follows the same structure as the rest of the books in the series. I still think that Osborne does a great job balancing out Jack and Annie as main characters. I'm hoping that we get to see some greater character development in future installments in the series. I'll be slowly continuing my read of the series. ...more
It's been years since I've picked up any of the American girl books and I thought that it might be a fun idea to start from the beginning. CW: discrimIt's been years since I've picked up any of the American girl books and I thought that it might be a fun idea to start from the beginning. CW: discrimination of immigrants, death of character
Meet Kirsten: An American Girl is the first in the long line of American Girl books that looks at the historical experiences of young girls. Kirsten's books focus on her experience immigrating from Sweden to the United States.
What Worked: I truly enjoyed learning more about the immigrant experience through Kirsten's perspective, from their experience on the boat to what they encountered once they made it to the United States. There were definitely aspects of this story that were more sad than I anticipated. While true to history, a part of me wasn't expecting the series to get so dark so quickly. The backmatter serves as additional support in sharing information related to the immigrant experience, particularly those who came from Sweden.
What Didn't Work: This wasn't the best writing and parts of it were quite boring. It's clear that the standard of children's literature has changed over time. There were parts of the story that I needed to reread because I frequently lost interest in the narrative. This doesn't deter me from reading anymore books from the series, but at least I know not to expect much as I continue my read through the next books.
Overall, this was a solid start to the series and I'm interested in seeing how it evolved over time. ...more
For some reason I have this idea in my head that I need to work through popular children book series. This series in particular circulates very well aFor some reason I have this idea in my head that I need to work through popular children book series. This series in particular circulates very well at libraries and is almost impossible to keep on the shelf. With fictional characters woven into actual historical catastrophes, Tarshis creates books that are both fun and accessible to a younger audience.
I Survived Hurricane Katrina is a close look at the events the preceded and proceeded the hurricane in 2005. I still remember all of the new reports that came in after the hurricane passed over New Orleans. There are still images that I can't get out of my head. Tarshis takes the events of this catastrophe and creates a fictional story that follows Barry and his family as they try to evacuate. Unfortunately, they are unable to make it out in time and Barry is ultimately separately from his family forced to survive the storm by himself.
What I loved most about this story was Tarshis' ability to utilize writing to re-create what others may have experienced during the hurricane. It's clear that she spent a lot of time researching and thinking about how to effectively create a narrative that was both accessible and easy to follow for children, but doesn't stray far from the facts of the actual events. The pure terror that is captured in Barry's character was especially hard to read as a parent, but I'm sure is true to what a lot of families experienced that day. The story also has these amazing illustrations that help paint a clearer picture of the events for younger readers. Tarshis also includes author notes with questions that are still asked today. Why did it take so long for the government to respond? And if they knew the storm was going to be bad, why didn't they take the necessary precautions to make sure the people of New Orleans were provided with safety? I have my own personal thoughts about the answers to these questions, but I'm glad that Tarshis was even willing to put them out there. One of the final things that stood out to me was Tarshis acknowledging that it was impossible for her to feel comfortable including a happy ending to this story after all of her research. It is clear that this is a story/event that impacted her greatly.
Overall, this was a great pick from the series. I'm excited to dive into the rest of the books and learn more about these disasters that have happened all over the world. This would be a great series to check for kids that around 3rd-4th grade especially if they love history. ...more
So I'm currently working my way through the Little House series. I read a few of these as a child and watched a little of the TV Show. There has been So I'm currently working my way through the Little House series. I read a few of these as a child and watched a little of the TV Show. There has been quite a bit of controversy surrounding these books as the award (Laura Ingalls Wilder Award) was removed by the ALA and changed to the Children's Literature Legacy Award. For my own personal reasons, I wanted to go back and read this series as an adult and truly understand the intricacy of the controversy surrounding it. For that reason, I will be reviewing these titles, but leaving them unrated.
Before I begin this review, I want to point out that these stories are stories of their time. Some of the content gives readers insight to what it was like for families such as Laura's to live and survive during the 1800s and some of the content is harmful. As a librarian, it is against my personal code of ethics to tell people not to read a book. However, I try to encourage all readers to read these stories and use it as an opportunity to discuss why the content is harmful to certain groups. I also encourage readers to try stories that give a scope of this time period without all of the problematic content and come from marginalized voices that are often underrepresented.
Little House in the Big Woods is interesting in the fact that it doesn't really have much of a plot. Readers simply follow Laura and her family through day to day activities or special holidays. Nevertheless, it does set the stage for understanding the ins and outs of settler life. The way in which they caught animals for food, interacted with others, celebrated holidays, and more will prove to be interesting for children reading this from a 21st century perspective. In the same regard, there are parts of the text that warrant discussion and illustrate the casual racism that existed in the 19th century. One that stood out to me that I had to read over and over occurred during a song that Pa sang to Laura and her sister. The lyrics included the term "darkey" which is a clear reference to a Black person. As a Black person, it is never a thought in my mind to excuse racial slurs and even at 31 and reading this in 2022, I was extremely uncomfortable. I couldn't imagine reading this to my daughter (at a young age) and having to have a conversation about why people thought it was remotely appropriate to use such a term and in such a casual situation. It; however, was the norm for Laura and her family. There is no conversation about the inhabitation of land that technically did not belong to the Ingalls family or any other settlers which unfortunately, for me, was expected. As with a lot of these older books, the idea or consideration for Native/Indigenous communities never seems to exist.
I understand that many people hold this book and the rest of the series dear to their hearts because it was such a huge part of their childhood; however, I think that it is just as important to point out what behaviors and language are no longer appropriate, but are clearly woven into the pages of these stories. That doesn't mean that there aren't lessons to be taken from this or that it doesn't provide a historical picture of life in the 19th century; however, I think it is detrimental to ignore the harmful content and not use it as a means for open dialogue. There were parts of the story that I did find interesting, but I think that reading this as a BIPOC woman made the experience a little different. Stories have a way of making people feel seen and also unseen. So while this may be such a fond memory for many, I can only question the level of discomfort and pain that it causes others. Does this mean that we cancel these books? Absolutely not. However, I think that openly engaging with this text without true discernment of it's harmful content doesn't do good either.
Overall, I can see why these stories would be appealing to children. The adventure and suspense of life out in the wilderness would seem fun to many. I will be continuing the series, but with caution and keen awareness to some of the content that often goes unaddressed. ...more
I've been seeing quiet a few of these Girls Survive books around the library so I decided to pick this one up. From my understanding, each of these boI've been seeing quiet a few of these Girls Survive books around the library so I decided to pick this one up. From my understanding, each of these books takes a historical event and tells it from the perspective of a young girl. They are written in a way that is both educational and accessible for a younger audience. This was no different. It covers what life was like for Black residents of Greenwood before the Massacre and what eventually led to the tragic events. I appreciated the fact that Smith didn't shy away from the facts of what happened, but continued to tailor the story in a way that made sense to the target audience. As parent/caregiver, this book will definitely serve as a great read aloud and will be a great way to openly discuss historical events. With the 100th anniversary just taking place last year, I definitely see this book being a great teaching tool/resource. If you haven't considered picking up these books for your own enjoyment or for the little ones in your life, I highly recommend it. ...more
This book was phenomenal. I really enjoyed it. It definitely weaves in some interesting aspects of history! I had no idea how involved children were in the Black Panther Party. I knew about it's origins and it's most prominent members; however, I had no idea that children played such a significant role in doing small things for the party such as coloring in protest signs, organizing party newspapers, and protesting and performing at protests.
What I really loved about this book was the incorporation of family ties and what it was like for these three young girls who grew up without a mother. It was heartbreaking at first, but I really do think that it all comes together in the end. It illustrates how Delphine takes on a hoard of responsibility since her mom isn't there to take care of her or her sisters. The relationship between the sisters is even interesting. They look to each other for love, courage, and inspiration. It really is a wonderful thing to watch.
The only thing that I wished was that there was more Black Panther incorporation into the story. There was quite a bit information; however, it did leave me wanting more. I think that this is an important part of American that doesn't get written about as much in fiction especially children's fiction.
Overall this was a book and I can't wait to read the next one in the series! : )...more
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