I must confess that although I knew about the Flint water crisis I did not really "know" about it. I am not one to follow the news and really delve into issues. This book was eye opening and very sad. That something like this could happen and be covered up is so disturbing. Is it a "good" book - yes in that it is well researched and honest. Was it enjoyable - no. Should it be in my library - yes.
John's father is off fighting and his mother works in a munition's factory. All around him - his teachers and community members are telling him he is at war. But John doesn't feel like he is at war - he's just a kid. After seeing a conscientious objector with photos of German children and visiting the munitions factory John comes to realize even more that he is not at war and does not like it. He also decides that after the war he will go to Germany someday and be one that spreads peace.
A short tale but powerful.
Her dad's in jail and Ashley has been in and out of foster care. Her newest home seems okay but Ashley isn't so sure about the lady of the house. When she accidentally finds a suitcase of mysterious paints in her new mom's closet things get really interesting. The paints give her superpowers. But there is a soldier who was supposed to have the paints as part of a military experiment and he is not happy. Can Ashley defeat the soldier and save her new family?
I really liked this - bright and colorful, girl superhero with really cool powers.
Piper and Sloane both have alter egos. Sloane is super smart and is using that ability to steal things to help out her mom and their home situation. Piper is super strong and wants to be a superhero but she sometimes makes a mess of things. Soon after meeting a new device makes them actually switch bodies. Can they figure out how to repair the device, keep their secrets safe, and maybe become friends?
I am not always a graphic novel fan but I did like this one.
Simon's family has recently moved into his grandfather's old house and things have been weird. Simon has come down with a mysterious illness that comes and goes but leaves him exhausted and weak. One bright spot is the friendship he develops with an elderly neighbor who has a historic interest in mirrors. Simon starts to appreciate the mirrors, but one, an Egyptian mirror, seems particularly fascinating. This becomes even more so when the neighbor tells him of its history and starts to become paranoid about someone trying to steal it. When the neighbor dies and the mirror disappears things get even stranger with mysterious heirs showing up. What is this mirror and can they figure it out before it's too late.
In concept the book was pretty cool. But the "villain" was never developed enough, the ending and confrontation when it finally arrived was too little, too late, and too easy. Then his mysterious illness - which should have been tied more to the plot ending was just not.
This book was just fun - crazy names of some crazy animals with brief blurbs about each. I read an eARC from Netgalley and will be curious to see the final version. I felt that some of the illustrations were not finished and so I'd like to see what it looks like. My students will enjoy this accessible, quirky book.
Will is super self conscious about his face - mainly his chin that is really small and makes him look like a turtle. He gets teased about it at school. Ironic that he actually loves turtles. He can have surgery to correct the issue - but his dad died in surgery years ago and he is terrified. In fact, if he's honest he is terrified of a lot.
With his bar mitzvah coming up Will needs to do a mitzvah - something good for someone. His rabbi finally talks him into going into the hospital to meet a boy who is really sick. At first Will hates it but as he gets to know RJ his life is changed forever.
I really loved this - friendship, internal struggles, grief, hope, even a bit of a romance. I am worried that the 400 pages will deter some readers. I read it on my iPad in about 2 1/2 hours though - the chapters are relatively short and it was fairly engaging throughout.
