Book Reviews

This page is a compilation of children's and book reviews I have written for my library science coursework. I have created 3 different blogs and websites and decided to consolidate the work onto this blog. I hope you enjoy them. Please feel free to comment on any and all reviews. I welcome feedback of all sorts.

El Deafo by Cece Bell

In this memoir, author and illustrator Cece Bell tells the story about how she navigated her school days as a hearing-impaired child with a light-hearted approach. Hearing aid technology was not what it is now, and Cece was encumbered by a large and unattractive device known as the Phonic Ear. Unbeknownst to her teachers, the device allowed her to hear many things of which her teachers weren’t aware. She dubs this as her ‘superpower’, thus the title El Deafo. For a while, Cece suffers the angst of someone who feels they don’t fit in, but becomes quite popular when her “superpower” becomes known to her classmates.

Like Wonderstruck, El Deafo would also be a good recommendation for any young reader who has a hearing impaired family member or peer, and Cece’s refusal to give into self-pity in spite of her impairment is an inspiration to us all.

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick

Like all Brian Selznick books, Wonderstruck is visually breathtaking. About one half of the tells the story of Rose, a young deaf girl longing for a parent’s love and compassion. Rose’s story is told completely with illustrations alone, much like a silent movie tells a story.

Her story parallels Ben’s, a young boy who becomes deaf due to an unfortunate accident, and he too longs for his father, who he has never known. Their stories converge about two-thirds of the way through the book after receiving support from an unexpected source.

This book would be an excellent book for children or teenagers who may have a hearing impaired family member or peer; however, the story has a universal theme that should appeal to many young readers.

Martine the Beautiful Cockroach by Carmen Agra Deedy

The vivid colors of Martina the Beautiful Cockroach serve to create for the reader a sense of the tropical setting of Cuba in the charming folktale. I think it’s an excellent choice for a parent to share with children. Martina benefits from her abuelita’s wisdom, and finds true love with someone who values her strength and intelligence, as well as learning to recognize the shallowness and potential cruelty of suitors who see only her outer beauty. It is so important that girls learn to expect to be treated with respect, and the theme of this charming folktale illustrates this in a humorous manner.

The Legend of the Bluebonnet by Tommie de Paola

The Legend of the Bluebonnet by Tommie de Paola is a lovely retelling of the legend based on Comanche Indian lore.  The richly colored paintings create visual interest, and the final illustration vividly portrays the beauty of the bluebonnets in spring. In She-Who-Is-Alone, DePaola portrays a character at once innocent but wise, fearful yet afraid, and whose sacrifice saves her tribe. The bluebonnets are the sign that the People’s greed has been forgiven.

My Teacher is a Monster by Peter Brown

Deceptively simple geometric illustrations help make My Teacher is a Monster a very approachable book for young readers. The students in the illustrations have heads shaped like circles; arms, legs, and torsos in the shape of rectangles. They are not unlike the types of drawings primary students make themselves. The narrator, afraid of his teacher, pictures her as a monster, but as the plot progresses, the narrator becomes less and less afraid of her. As he gets to know her, he realizes she is no longer a monster. Near the end of the book, she is portrayed as a human being instead, which enhances the narrative.

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are is an enduring childhood classic. The main character Max has been sent to his room because he is acting like a "wild thing." Max responds by allowing his imagination to take him to a land of wild things where he is the leader of them all. In his illustrations, Sendaks’ uses of lines for dual purposes. In some of the illustrations, small lines create texture and movement in the drawings. However, Sendak also uses short, cross-hatched lines to obscure Max’s reality. After Max is sent to his room and his imaginary forest grows, Sendak uses short, intersecting lines to obscure the objects in the bedroom as Max’s fantasy develops. Once Max is immersed in his fantasy, the angles seen in the illustrations of his home become curved, and the illustrations feel more organic and less structured.

Max is a memorable character and the story is unusual in the sense that Max doesn’t explicitly ‘learn his lesson’, but does come to realize that home is the place where he is loved “best of all.” There’s a catharsis in Max’s fantasy, and only after that release can Max calm his wild self and return to his reality.

Mirror, Mirror by Marilyn Singer

In Mirror, Mirror, Singer effectively employs a device she calls a ‘reverso’ and uses it to tell two sides of one story. By simply reversing the line order and changing a poem’s punctuation and capitalization, Singer is able to create 2 unique points of view, just like a mirror’s reflection. Masse’s illustrations reflect the opposing perspectives of each pair of poems. Children will enjoy comparing the poems and illustrations.

The Three Little Pigs by David Weisner

This is a wonderful twist on the traditional folktale. Midway through a traditional retelling of the tale, the pigs are able to escape the wolf and journey to other tales, meeting up with numerous characters and traveling into the settings of other well-known fairy tales. They eventually return to their story, which meets its traditional conclusion, but Weisner puts a twist in the ending, as the pigs are accompanied back to their story by characters from other fairy tales.

This is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen

Klassen uses negative space very effectively in this wonderful book, creating a clean, clear effect. The dark backgrounds underscore the story’s comically dark conclusion. Klassen captures the perspective of a child’s thought process when knowingly doing something wrong. The juxtaposition of the narrator’s thoughts with the illustrations adds to the dark humor of the story line. The concise narrative is enriched by Klassen’s carefully chosen words, and the story’s conclusion relies on what is not stated, leaving the reader to use his/her imagination to determine the fate of the little thief. This book would serve as an excellent springboard for the discussion of right and wrong with early readers.

Olivia by Ian Falconer

Falconer employs a bold use of color to help define Olivia’s bold character. Olivia is a strong character and her choice of red as her favorite color reflects her vivid personality. Falconer’s illustrations are clearly outlined in black, and similarly, Olivia is also clearly defined. Readers delight in her individuality as she lives her young life to the fullest. 

It's a Book

Smith’s funny little story pokes gentle fun at our reliance on technology, and chastises us for allowing ourselves to become dependent on our devices. The monkey is the protagonist in this story, and simply wants to be left alone to enjoy his book. But his antagonist, ironically personified as a jackass, does not seem to understand what a book is, and wants to know where it’s mouse is and what the book does. He does not comprehend that it’s not the book that does something, but the reader who must engage. It’s not until the jackass, while in the process of trying to ‘fix’ it actually begins to read. At this point, the monkey loses his book to his friend. Young readers will appreciate the playful illustrations and parents, teachers, and librarians can appreciate how Smith conveys the value of a book without criticizing technology.

Crossover by Kwame Alexander

Josh Bell is the book’s narrator and protagonist, and from the outset, Alexander tells his story completely from his point of view. Rather than use traditional dialogue and first or third person narration, Alexander writes Josh’s story using verse fiction. Every line and every word allows the reader the opportunity to feel Josh’s triumphs and struggles, from the joy he takes in his basketball skills, to the jealously he feels towards his twin J.B, and the sense of loss he feels when J.B. chooses some girl over Josh.

But the true achievement of Alexander’s award-winning book is how brilliantly he develops the metaphor of the ‘crossover’ throughout the storyline through the changing relationship with his twin J.B., and his father’s final crossover at the book’s climax. But at its heart, the true change is in Josh. The book opens with Josh glorying in his own brilliance. He has not yet known true hardship. By the conclusion, Josh has learned hard lessons and experienced great loss. Today’s youth will find much to relate to in this engaging young adult novel.

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

The writing is lovely in this classic about friendship, but I felt that some of the characters to be somewhat 2 dimensional, and therefore less believable. Jesse’s older sisters are shallow and selfish. His parents don’t value his art. Only the hippie music teacher, Miss Edmunds, sees Jesse’s artistic potential. And today’s readers might question why Leslie’s parents would ever move to such a community. It would be helpful for students to have some background of what society was like in the 1970’s prior to reading this novel.

Although the book is clearly a product of the 70’s, the themes of unlikely friendship and untimely death make Bridge to Terabithia an enduring classic. Jesse and Leslie become fast friends after a rocky start, and their friendship allows Jesse to escape the daily drudgery of the world he knows and become immersed in the kingdom they build for themselves. When tragedy occurs, Jesse can’t accept it at first. When he finally goes to say goodbye, another tragedy is barely averted because Jesse’s friendship with Leslie helped him find a stronger part of himself. Bridge to Terabithia feels dated at times, nonetheless, it remains a powerful coming of age story.

 George by Alex Gino

George is a thoughtful book that manages to address a controversial subject in an honest and sensitive manner. George/Melissa, the book’s main character, struggles with her gender identity, and thinks of herself as a girl rather than a boy. The plot follows her through the process of auditioning for and ultimately, performing in the class play based on Charlotte’s Web. Once George reveals her secret to her best friend Kelly, she begins to feel hopeful that maybe she can truly live life as her true self. George, with the help of her friend Kelly, finally is able to show her true self to her family and classmates. I think it would be interesting to follow George as Melissa through her journey throughout the school years to see how her story continues.

The story is written at approximately an elementary reading level, but I wonder about its appropriateness in elementary libraries, but has a definite place in a middle school library. I do feel that George would be an excellent choice for school and youth counselors to have in a professional collection as a resource for students like George.

Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary

Cleary’s 1984 Newbery Medal winner has withstood the test of time, and feels as relevant today as it did when it was first written. The epistolary novel opens with Leigh Botts’ first letter to his favorite author, Mr. Henshaw. Although the reader never meets the author himself, through Leigh’s letters to him, it becomes clear that Mr. Henshaw becomes a mentor and father figure to Leigh as he navigate life in a new town following the divorce of his parents. Leigh struggles to feel comfortable in his new home and explores his feelings about his new life through his journal. Many children can relate to Leigh’s problems, and the loneliness he feels as he adjusts to his new home. Leigh begins to make friends, first with the school custodian, and then a classmate intrigued by his homemade burglar alarm. The changes are gradual and authentic, which is part of the book’s appeal.

Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt

Joseph’s younger foster brother (Jack) tells Joseph’s story. We learn that Joseph, age 14, has a child of his own. We also learn that Joseph has been in juvenile detention, but the reasons are not stated at first. As Joseph learns to trust his foster family we begin to learn his backstory from Jack. But Joseph’s main desire is to see and love his baby daughter, Jupiter, and will stop at nothing to see her. As the end of the book nears, Joseph has learned to hope, and the reader hopes with him, but not all stories will have a happy ending. A visit from Joseph’s past forces him to make a choice that puts the safety of those he loves above his own.

I think if Ernest Hemingway had written a young adult novel it might have been something like Orbiting Jupiter because Schmidt’s prose is spare, but every word counts. Joseph’s history and abuse is not covered in detail; in some ways the reader must come to his/her own conclusions. This is a powerful story with some difficult themes, such as abuse and death, but well worth the challenge.

The Watson's Go to Birmingham by Christopher Paul Curtis

Set during the tumultuous events of 1963, Curtis explores the developing American Civil Rights movement through the eyes of Kenny Watson, middle son of the self-proclaimed “weird Watsons” of Flint, Michigan. The first half of the book focuses primarily on the family dynamics between the Watson siblings, which also include older brother Byron and younger sister Joetta. Byron is on his way to becoming a juvenile delinquent, and his parents struggle to discipline him, which becomes the catalyst for the trip south to Birmingham, Alabama, his mother’s hometown.

The Watson’s trip to Birmingham results in culture shock for the Watson siblings. Their upbringing in Flint, Michigan has not prepared them for the prejudice that existed in the Deep South at that time. Alabama was being forced to comply with federally imposed desegregation, of which young Kenny is unaware. The story’s climax puts Kenny and his family at the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing on September 15th, 1963.

The events of the trip have a profound effect on the relationship between Kenny and Byron, as well as impacting them individually. Kenny struggles to process the events of the bombing and it is Byron who helps him do so. And so Kenny learns that love can and will overcome even the most powerful fears.

Rosa by Nikki Giovanni

Giovanni’s portrayal of the well-known icon, Rosa Parks, is not a dry, factual recount of her pivotal role in the civil rights movement. Most of the books about Parks’ actions in Montgomery, Alabama recount the events surrounding Parks’ actions, and emphasize her relationship with Martin Luther King, Jr. With Rosa, Giovanni develops Rosa almost as if she were a fictional character by setting the emotional context in which her story begins, and describes her as a character of ‘integrity’, ‘dignity’ and having a “quiet strength”.

The story is infused with a style that conveys Parks’ calm resolution, and Collier’s paintings go far to set that tone. In his notes, he explains how he states that he painted Parks as if she is emanating light, and lends the illustrations a Madonna-like quality. The painting on the last page is of Parks standing in front of what looks like a halo, surrounded by children reaching up to touch her, as the faithful might seek a papal blessing. She is clearly worshipped and glorified by the author and illustrator.

Balloons Over Broadway by Melissa Sweet

In Balloons Over Broadway, Melissa Sweet has written a visually playful and historically relevant narrative that relates the story behind the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Primary and intermediate readers will find much to enjoy in this well designed social history. Her use of richly colored gouache water colors makes the illustrations pop off the page, and her collages create a scrapbook effect. The whimsical incorporation of mixed media adds texture and visual interest to each page. Sweet balances her artwork with copies of Tony Sarg’s sketches and excerpts from his book. Incorporating these original sources is an engaging way in which to tell the tale of the beginnings of this Thanksgiving tradition. The main text is accessible to transitional readers, while more fluent readers will enjoy reading the historical documents the author included. I think it’s interesting that a nonfiction book contains so much original artwork, which explains why it was chosen as a Caldecott Honor winner.

Frogs by Nic Bishop

Breathtaking photographs in this volume by Nic Bishop make this book a pleasure for any young animal lover. The frogs are captured in sharply focused close-ups, which offer the reader an opportunity to see these creatures in great detail. There are some amazing action shots that allow the reader to see how tadpoles experience their metamorphosis, and how frogs have adapted to survive in the environment,

Another interesting feature of the book is how Bishop uses the font on each page to highlight the important idea being shown by the photograph it accompanies, which would make this an excellent choice for a classroom of English language learners. Bishop states in the Afterward that he spent years completing the research and photography, which is evident in the depth of information presented.

How They Croaked by Georgia Bragg

It is books like this one that can convince adolescents that history can be interesting. Bragg has written a collection of biographical essays that are not the standard, fact-filled fare. The author’s wit and economical style is apparent in the individual biographies. For instance, when writing of Marie Antoinette, Bragg sums up her troubles in one sentence: “Every problem France had ever had was blamed on Marie Antionette, and she wasn’t even French.” And as promised in the title, Bragg provides thoroughly disgusting information about the deaths of each of his subjects. The trivia that follows each biography add to the reader’s enjoyment.

Kevin O’Malley’s humorous black and white illustrations engage the reader without distraction from the content. Indeed, adolescents would likely be drawn to the grinning skeleton that graces the cover. I think that this book would be an excellent suggestion for reluctant readers ages 12 and up.

Me...Jane by Patrick McDonnell

This enjoyable biographical picture book is a delightful introduction to the biographical format. When telling the story of how Jane waited and watched in the chicken coop, McDonnell hooks the reader by extending the narrative over the course of several pages. Primary readers will enjoy simple story, and more fluent readers can read more about Jane Goodall in the About the Author and Meet Jane Goodall sections.

The illustrations evoke a pastoral childhood, and the focal point of each illustration nicely parallels the narrative on the opposite page, which would make this a wonderful book for emerging readers. The final picture is a photograph of Goodall with one of her chimpanzee friends, which brings this tale to a natural conclusion.

We Are the Ship by Kadir Nelson

This history of the Negro League was the recipient of 2 Coretta Scott King awards; the King Author Book winner and an Illustrator Honor Book. Nelson organizes the book into “innings” rather than chapters, and creates a narrator to tell the history of the league from the perspective of a player in the league, which allows the reader to connect with the narrative. Although the narrator is a fictional character, the history is very well researched.

However, the true stars of this book are the illustrations. Nelson’s paintings are vibrant, detailed, and realistic. In the many portraits, one can see the veins in the player’s arms, the folds of their uniforms, and the sheen of sweat on their skin. It’s important to note that the paintings were necessary because the Negro Leagues games were rarely photographed, no one kept statistics on the players, and written records of their game are hard to come by. Nelson’s paintings create a visual record to fill the empty spaces in the history of the Negro League.

Rapunzel's Revenge by 

Rapunzel’s Revenge puts a western spin on the traditional tale of a kidnapped princess taken from her parents as an infant. In the Hales’ graphic novel version, Rapunzel is sent to an isolated tower in the forest when she disobeys the witch’s strict orders only to discover that her true mother still survives, forced to slave away for Gothel, the greedy, power-hungry witch. The Hales’ retelling portrays a Rapunzel who uses her wits and courage to save herself, rather than waiting to be rescued. In her adventures, she meets up with another fairy tale character, Jack, who possesses a goose named Goldy, which he procured by questionable means. Rapunzel welds her ginger braids with a vengeance, using them to lasso her adversaries and rescue her friends.

The Hales’ reimagining of the fairy tale also plays with the story line of the folk hero, Pecos Bill. However, in the version, Rapunzel assumes the Pecos Bill role, while her sidekick Jack plays the part of Slue-Foot Sue, Bill’s love interest. The illustrations by Nathan Hale blend a traditional fairy tale setting with the American west. Middle school students will find a lot to enjoy in this creative treatment of this popular tale.

Comics Squad 

This entertaining collection of tales centered around students’ favorite subject, recess, is guaranteed to entertain young readers. Dave Pilkey’s comical contribution focuses on a plot by Petey to dumb down the world by ridding it of all the books in order to finally defeat his nemesis, Dog Man. Fans of the popular character of Babymouse will not be disappointed with her recess exploits, returning to class late because her whiskers were zapped off by a Greek god. Jiminy Sprinkles deals with snotty kids, i.e. healthy foods who belong to the Mean Green gang, by consuming super foods that give him special powers. Less engaging is “The Magic Acorn” which seems to lack a point, but kids will love its light-hearted humor. The illustrations are done in orange and black allows the individual style of each comic to stand out. This book is sure to be a favorite of young graphic novel fans.

Love That Dog by Susan Creech

In Love That Dog, Creech doesn't tell Jack's story; instead she allows it to unfold. There is no definitive narrative throughout the book. Instead, the reader comes to know Jack through his poems, which are all written in response to his teacher's comments, whose kindly presence is always felt but never seen. Young readers may find they have much in common with Jack, and his attitude towards poetry. You don't have to love Shakespeare to appreciate Love That Dog.

Brown Girl Dream by Jacqueline Woodson

Brown Girl Dreaming weaves a poetic tapestry of Woodson’s childhood as a daughter of both the North and the South. The poems create a narrative of a girl, Jackie,  whose heart is at home in 2 places, which she shares in “Writing #2” “…Greenville and Brooklyn/ the two worlds my heart lives in now.” (Woodson, 2014, p. 221)

Poetry lovers will appreciate how each poem can stand alone, and readers who prefer a compelling narrative will enjoy seeing Jackie develop from an insecure girl to a young woman with a strong sense of self. There is something for everyone in Brown Girl Dreaming.

Skullduggery Pleasant by Derek Landry

The first of the popular Skullduggery series opens with a funeral. The story opens with the funeral of Gordon Edgley, a best-selling fantasy writer and to the surprise of his whole family, leaves the bulk of his sizable estate to his young preteen niece Stephanie, much to everyone’s surprise, except to his most unusual friend, Skullduggery Pleasant. Skullduggery is an ace detective and also a fire-wielding skeleton that refuses to let death prevent him from living. He soon becomes Stephanie’s guide to a world of magic and evil she never knew existed.

Skullduggery is one of the most entertaining and well-developed characters I’ve read in a long time. He’s a sarcastic, gun-toting skeleton, and ace detective, who can summon devastating fireballs with ease. However his wisecracks hide a determination to fight evil at any cost, which in this book presents itself in the form of an ancient sorcerer named Serpine, who seeks to wield a powerful weapon that will destroy the mortal world. Stephanie’s character has less depth, but it does not detract from the twists and turns in this fast-paced fantasy. I look forward to reading the series to see where Landry takes this magical private investigation team.

 The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Gaiman’s novel, The Graveyard Book, opens with the murders of Bod’s, the main character, family. Bod escapes the killer by wandering into the town’s nearest community graveyard. The graveyard residents, ghosts and otherwise, come together to protect him from the man who killed his family. His adoptive parents are 18th century ghosts, and his guardian is Silas, a man who is neither alive nor dead. Bod’s survival depends on him remaining in the graveyard, and his friends are other inhabitants of the graveyard and Bod understands very little of the world outside the cemetery. His education includes lessons in ‘fading’ and how to protect himself against ghouls.

Each chapter serves as an individual short story about a point in Bod’s life, but as he grows, he becomes increasingly curious about the world outside his graveyard, thus putting his life in jeopardy. But Silas, an unexpected hero, has been preparing for the day when Bod will no longer live under the protection of the graveyard’s residents. The tension builds and the ending presents unexpected twists and shows that indeed, Bod proves he is ready to live among the living until his time comes.

Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate

The narrator of Crenshaw is Jackson, a young boy who has a deep appreciation for facts, which he considers much better than ‘stories’. He lives with his parents and little sister Robin in a small apartment in Northern California. His family is struggling to make ends meet. His mother was laid off and his father is too ill to work construction anymore, so they try to scrape by on part-time work. Jackson has fears and questions about their situation, but this time, the facts don’t seem to match what his parents are telling him. In comes Crenshaw, an over-sized, bubble bath-taking, jelly bean-loving cat who was Jackson’s imaginary friend when he was much younger. Jackson, with Crenshaw’s help, is finally able to find the courage to tell parents how he feels about their situation. And Jackson learns, with the help of his friends, to “appreciate the magic.”

Much of what the reader learns about Jackson and Crenshaw is revealed through Jackson’s memories of Crenshaw’s first appearance in Jackson’s life. These flashbacks allow the reader to develop a sense of why Jackson is feeling so desperate and scared about what might happen again to his family.  It’s interesting that this novel is classified as a fantasy because so much of the plot is grounded in the harsh reality of what it’s like to be homeless, and the struggles faced by families who have fallen on hard times. Applegate has written a lovely novel about a boy who learns to deal with a difficult situation with the help of his friends, real and imaginary.

Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins

Gregor lives with his mother and two sisters in New York, but since his father disappeared, life has never been the same. While doing laundry in the basement of his apartment, Gregor and his little sister Boots fall into a tunnel and land in a strange underground world. In the Underland, cockroaches are super-sized, humans fly on bats, must defend themselves against monstrous rats, and share an uneasy truce with a faction of giant spiders.

Though Gregor wants nothing but to escape this strange underground land, fate, in the form of an ancient prophecy, requires that he and Boots form an alliance with some of these characters in order to save the inhabitants from the threat posed by the rat community. Gregor is fiercely protective of his little sister, scared of heights, and most of all, doubts that he has the skills to survive the quest on which he’s been sent. However, Gregor finds courage and strength he never knew he had as well as something that had been lost for a long time.

Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! by Laura Amy Schlitz

The setting is a medieval village, the cast of characters are the sons and daughters of the village’s feudal system. The author explains that she wrote the book with the intention of the parts being performed. Most parts are monologues, but some are intended for two performers. Most of the parts are written in rhythmic verse that lends itself to performance.

As each character’s tale unfolds, young readers are presented with yet another aspect of medieval life. Schlitz makes good use of the vernacular of the day; indeed many of the illuminating footnotes explain the unfamiliar vocabulary. Each section of the book is followed by historical information that helps develop the societal context for young readers. Some of the stories are especially poignant, such as that of Jacob, the moneylender’s son, and Peteronella, the merchant’s daughter. This part is written for two voices, and beautifully illustrates the discrimination faced by Jews during the Middle Ages.

Robert Byrd’s illustrations call to mind illustrations of the time. A two-page map of the village creates a frame of reference for each character and his or her place in the village. This is a wonderful book about the Middle Ages for students of all ages