Phillip Hoose is a mighty fine writer. I have almost zero interest in birds and migratory patterns (I get bored just typing "migratory patterns"), butPhillip Hoose is a mighty fine writer. I have almost zero interest in birds and migratory patterns (I get bored just typing "migratory patterns"), but his excellent storytelling pulled me into this book! Hoose charts the annual journey all rufa red knots take, and it's really astounding. Most go all the way from Tierra del Fuego (the very bottom of South America) all the way to the Canadian Arctic. At the same time, the story is made more interesting by Hoose's focus on one particular red knot: B95 AKA the Moonbird. B95 is the oldest red knot known to scientists and has flown the equivalent of the distance to the moon and back. Crazy!
The other characters populating this book are the humans involved in the red knot story. Mostly they're scientists and bird enthusiasts, but Hoose also profiles a fisherman whose job is made more difficult by conservationists' efforts in Delaware.
Lots of maps and photographs help make this a really appealing non-fiction pick for readers, especially those in 5th to 8th grade. There's a section in the back about how kids can get involved in the effort to help rebuild the struggling red knot population.
And, finally, when Hoose thanks his wife as the end of the book, he writes, "It is a joy to migrate through life with her." :) ...more
I'm about halfway through and so far I think this is a very distinguished contribution to American literature for young adulMy mock Newbery thoughts:
I'm about halfway through and so far I think this is a very distinguished contribution to American literature for young adults. Not children, though. (I'm willing to concede that it may just hit the very end of the Newbery age range, which goes up to 14, but I do so grudgingly because, in my humble opinion, the spirit of the award is to recognize a book written primarily for children--being able to imagine one bright 14-year-old for whom this book will work technically makes it eligible, but that doesn't mean the book has "excellence of presentation for a child audience"). Though it starts when the main character is just a boy, NCS is primarily about adults and adult issues. It also takes for granted a good deal of American history is known by the reader (for example, the state of race relations in 20th century America, and who Malcom X was). I can't help comparing NCS to We've Got a Job which is much better suited for a child audience.
Let's get specific. The first part of the book is about how young Lewis was a troublemaker and everyone thought his brother Lightfoot was the golden child. This is great stuff because we know the book is about how Lewis is going to make history. However, I feel like this is the high point in terms of child appeal. Lewis Michaux is an adult and running gambling rings by page 19 (that's 19 pages out of 165).
I see a lot of potential for confusion when a child dives into a narrative like this without knowing the historical context. There are so many things in NCS that pass without explanation. Why would Lightfoot want to marry somebody because she's light skinned? Why do so many characters keep saying black people don't read? The ideal reader for this book has knowledge of the history of racism in the United States, from slavery up through the 1960s. This is why I see this as an excellent novel for young adults. Nelson herself said in an interview that she set out to write a biography for teens.
But in the same interview she also said, "[Don't] underestimate what kids can handle. They’re smart and beg to be challenged. I hope my writing stretches them." I want to take that to heart. I'll write more when I finish the book. ...more
Like a lot of people my age and younger, I have trouble trying to imagine what it would've been like to grow up in the South in the 1960s. The injustiLike a lot of people my age and younger, I have trouble trying to imagine what it would've been like to grow up in the South in the 1960s. The injustice, the suffering, the hatred--it's overwhelming to imagine it happening around me. But here comes a book that really puts you right there in the middle and shows you the nitty gritty.
Because Cynthia Levinson's We've Got a Job is told from the perspectives of four real children who lived in Birmingham at the time, it is immediately more visceral and moving than most accounts I've read. If you can put yourself in the shoes of Audrey, Arnetta, James, and Wash, you can have some idea of what you might've thought, said, and done if you'd been there. I think that's the power of this book and it's especially apparent in the book's awesome opening:
"On Thursday morning, May 2, 1963, nine-year-old Audrey Faye Hendricks woke up with freedom on her mind. But, before she could be free, there was something important she had to do. 'I want to go to jail,' Audrey had told her mother. Since Mr. and Mrs. Hendricks thought that was a good idea, they helped her get ready."
Would you go to jail to be free? What if you were just nine years old? Could you be peaceful and passive as your enemies called you names and threatened you? Would you pick yourself up and try again after multiple defeats?
This book just slays me because it's so inspirational and heartbreaking at the same time. For every win, there's a terrible loss. For every step forward, there's also a push back. We have this in teen non-fiction, but I think kids as young as 5th, maybe 4th, grade would be absorbed by the stories of the people in this book, especially the children.
Children are the heroes in this story. When Martin Luther King Jr. and Fred Shuttlesworth were trying to fill the jails of Birmingham in peaceful protest, they couldn't get enough adults to volunteer for the cause. The grown-ups were afraid of losing their jobs and weren't sure protesting was the smartest way to go. The kids, however, valiantly risked life and limb to demand equal treatment. They marched and went to jail in the thousands. They endured racist taunts, fire hoses, attack dogs, and other violence. They made a difference.
The only reason I didn't give this book 5 stars is because there were a few times I found the narrative confusing. The author would refer back to a character I didn't remember or jump around in time in a way that didn't make sense to me. Ultimately, it's a well-written, powerful book that I'll be happy to recommend this coming school year. ...more
A solid NF choice about the battle over integrating Little Rock's schools, told with lots of photos and some broader context. Would pair well with LioA solid NF choice about the battle over integrating Little Rock's schools, told with lots of photos and some broader context. Would pair well with Lions of Little Rock.
There are few interesting pieces of follow-up information in this book I'm gonna share:
#1. Apparently, the snarling racist white girl and the stoic, just-trying-to-learn-over-here black girl eventually became friends. The friendship doesn't seem to have lasted, but it's pretty crazy that they were posing for chummy photos as adults.
#2. The governor of Arkansas that fought so hard to keep the schools segregated later supported Jesse Jackson in his bid for the Democratic presidential ticket.
Moral: People can change? Or people try to make up for being on the wrong side of history? ...more
A good Hunger Game read-alike. The selling point for me was the author's note saying she was inspired by Les Mis, specifically retelling the story betA good Hunger Game read-alike. The selling point for me was the author's note saying she was inspired by Les Mis, specifically retelling the story between a famous criminal and a famous law enforcer.
I think overall it was a touch too predictable for me to love, the characters were a little too stock (especially Jameson), the setting too familiar. But it's fun and I just might read the sequel. ...more
On the regency romance scale, this ranks smack in the middle between Julia Quinn and Pride and Prejudice. It's fun and quick to read like a JQ, but itOn the regency romance scale, this ranks smack in the middle between Julia Quinn and Pride and Prejudice. It's fun and quick to read like a JQ, but it's also refined and observant like P&P.
Our heroine Althea starts out a little ruthless. At 17, her mission in life is to marry a rich man to save her family from near poverty. As is common in books likes these, a handsome young man in possession of a good fortune moves into Althea's neighborhood and the chase ensues. Add in Althea's wicked-ish stepsisters, a ridiculous crumbling castle, and some excellent verbal sparring and you've got a truly enjoyable tale worthy of comparisons to Jane Austen. ...more
Sometimes novels in verse work beautifully and sometimes they leave me thinking, "What was the point of writing this as poetry?" This book falls into Sometimes novels in verse work beautifully and sometimes they leave me thinking, "What was the point of writing this as poetry?" This book falls into the latter category. I couldn't see the poetic form serving any purpose, except to make the book short. In fact, the line breaks seemed random to me and there were times I thought I'd enjoy the writing more in paragraphs instead of stanzas.
Like glass, this story is pretty and transparent (oh, snap!). If I weren't so annoyed by it being written as "poetry" I'd probably give it three stars because I love historical romance. In fact, I just finished and really liked Keeping the Castle, which was also fairly formulaic, but (unlike this book) it had humor and didn't take itself so seriously. ...more
I might have hated this book if I'd read it, but listening to the audiobook was a treat. My stars! I cracked up over and over again, not just because I might have hated this book if I'd read it, but listening to the audiobook was a treat. My stars! I cracked up over and over again, not just because the story and the narration were so outlandishly ridiculous, but because I couldn't believe Libba Bray herself did such a good job performing all the characters (there were tons of accents going on in this book--British, southern, Australian, Midwestern, weird-fictional-country). Completely over the top, but totally fun. ...more
Attention, drama kids! You now have your very own book--one that completely captures your culture of artistic production and overenthusiastic fandom. Attention, drama kids! You now have your very own book--one that completely captures your culture of artistic production and overenthusiastic fandom. Enjoy it. ...more
A short, intriguing high school novel about a rebel who falls for a prep. The story is told from the perspective of both girls, but (not surprisingly)A short, intriguing high school novel about a rebel who falls for a prep. The story is told from the perspective of both girls, but (not surprisingly) the rebel's perspective seemed deeper and more sympathetic. The prep, while not totally villified, came off as shallow and not worthy of the rebel's heart. I think it would've been a more interesting book if the prep had been more likable.
Really, the most interesting character was Esther, a friend of the rebel's who is obsessed with Joan of Arc. Esther deserves her own novel.
When I think of this book, I will remember that the rebel wore giant boots all the time because she needed lots of wiggle room for her toes.
I also liked that the rebel's parents were interesting characters who actually made a difference in the plot. So often in children's and YA fiction the parents are not a factor in the kid's life, unless they're heinous. ...more
Well, friends, this book made me do a little research on Haitian history and I can tell you I got really angry about it. Did you know a U.S. governmenWell, friends, this book made me do a little research on Haitian history and I can tell you I got really angry about it. Did you know a U.S. government-funded agency called the International Republican Institute contributed to the ousting of Haiti's democratically elected president in 2004? Just, ugh.
Anyway, this is a powerful book. It's dark, disturbing, and gripping. It has a mix of modern and historical characters. If you want to read a great review of it, try Patrick Ness' take in the Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/...
The audiobook was very good. Not recommended for the squeamish or highly sensitive. ...more
I admit I was a little bored with Hadley's inner turmoil and skimmed a lot of this book, but what I did actually read (anything involving dialogue or I admit I was a little bored with Hadley's inner turmoil and skimmed a lot of this book, but what I did actually read (anything involving dialogue or Oliver) was pretty cute and entertaining. The turmoil bits are about Hadley's difficulty with her parents' divorce, but I thought the author made it pretty easy for Hadley to work through it. The book takes place over 24 hours, so the character growth can seem a little unrealistic. Whatever. You're reading this book to fantasize about falling for a cute boy on a long flight. ...more
So I started following this blog called Forever YA (for those who are a little less Y and a little more A). They have some great scientific analyses oSo I started following this blog called Forever YA (for those who are a little less Y and a little more A). They have some great scientific analyses of Peeta vs. Gale.
Anywho, the Jessica Darling series kept coming up on this blog, which inspired me to go back and read it, even though it came out when I myself was still a teenager (though just barely).
What can I say? If I could dig out my own diaries from high school, I feel like they would read as if in the voice of Jessica. It was almost scary. I, too, agonized over things that didn't matter and was even more agonized that I was agonizing over things that didn't matter. I, too, was seen by my friends as a cynical brainiac, while I was completely baffled by their happiness. (I was not, however, skinny, a runner, or in love with a hot bad boy who actually talked to me.)
In terms of realism, I have to give this an A+. In terms of enjoyability, it wavers between an A- and an F because it's painful for me to think too hard about my wonder years.
When I finished I immediately downloaded the second one and quickly devoured it. ...more
Loading...
