Wow this is something!! Jarrett Krosoczka has created a graphic memoir of his life growing up. Jarrett's mom was a heroin addict who battled the addiction and was in and out of jail and rehab for years. Jarrett was raised by his grandparents in a household filled with smoking, drinking, fighting. But underneath it all there was love which Jarrett comes to terms with.
This is powerful and something that many students will relate to. There is language in the text and it is a bot harsh at times but I am more inclined to give it a pass because of its honesty. So well done.
Ellie's mom left when she was a baby - she has never met her, never heard from her, and her dad refuses to talk about her. Then her dad does tell something - her mom is dead. Ellie is so angry and confused - now she will never have the chance to get to know her. What makes it worse is the discovery of a box of items that her mother supposedly sent - old 80s cassettes and items. With the help of her friends Ellie sets out to find out more about the mother she never knew.
This wasn't bad but it just didn't seem developed enough. There were some cute moments and it could lead to some interesting discussions. I can see this as a possibility for a middle grade student who isn't a great reader but wants a bit of drama.
Zoey thought life was going to be much better now that they are in a more stable environment - her mom is living with her boyfriend in a trailer, her mom has a steady job, and Zoey is able to watch the kids in the afternoon. But... the boyfriend isn't actually that great and blames her mother for everything. Zoey is struggling at school too - how does she fit in or should she just camouflage herself like an octopus? Then there are issues with her friend Fuchsia as well - maybe all the drama is just a cry for help?
This is a look at poverty, at life on the edge of survival, of making assumptions about people, about confidence, and about learning to take control. I thought it was very well done.
It's 1863 and Magdalys lives in an orphanage for children of color. But there is a group of people kidnapping any people of color and sending them south as slaves. This committee will stop at nothing - fire, riots, even killing those who stand in their way. Can Magdalys and her friends find out who is involved and stop them - with their dinosaurs? Yeah - that's right we have dinosaurs that the children ride.
At first I thought the idea was clever and fun but as I kept going through the book the mash up didn't work for me. To be fair, fantasy is usually not my favorite but I do like a good historical fiction. Maybe I would have liked the book better without the dinosaurs - but they were needed to move the plot along with the flying and spying. Not my favorite but I have a feeling some students will like it.
This was a really well done biography of Maria Merian by Joyce Sidman. Maria was way ahead of her time - not only as a woman "scientist" but also with her observations and artwork. Each chapter was short and followed her personal and "professional" life. There was also good side bar information about the times she lived in and the places she traveled to. I thought this was great!
Life for Bryan is difficult. His mom has a good job and wants him to be successful, make the right friends, do well in school. But navigating the neighborhood is tough. He doesn't want people to think he is soft but he is also worried about getting angry like his dad does. His dad who has been to jail.
Bryan's mom and dad both think Mike is a good friend for him. And he is at first. But then Mike shows jealousy and begins pressuring Bryan to skip school, skip paying for the subway, and even subway surfing. What should Bryan do?
I liked this book a lot. It really shows Bryan's struggles which can mirror a lot of students in junior high. Maybe they aren't in a neighborhood in New York City with the same racial aspects but many of the struggles are similar. I felt the book ended without a solid resolution but that could lead to some good discussion.
Good informational text about the physical aspect of itching - the why and also some of the biggest culprits like lice, mosquitoes, certain plants, etc. For younger students this will be an interesting read.
