Monday, February 29, 2016

Stories in Black and White

One of the big stories with last night's Oscars ceremony was the lack of African-American nominees.  This was upsetting considering how many great acting performances were given by African Americans this past year.  So, I want to draw attention to some great teen books featuring African American characters . . . .

How It Went Down by Kekla Magoon
When sixteen-year-old Tariq Johnson is shot to death, his community is thrown into an uproar because Tariq was black and the shooter, Jack Franklin, is white, and in the aftermath everyone has something to say, but no two accounts of the events agree.

Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee
In 1845, Sammy, a Chinese American girl, and Annamae, an African American slave girl, disguise themselves as boys and travel on the Oregon Trail to California from Missouri.

Black Dove, White Raven by Elizabeth Wein
Having moved to Ethiopia to avoid the prejudices of 1930s America, Emilia Menotti, her black adoptive brother Teo, and their mother Rhoda, a stunt pilot, are devoted to their new country even after war with Italy looms, drawing the teens into the conflict.

Fake ID by Lamar Giles
An African-American teen in the Witness Protection Program moves to a new town and finds himself trying to solve a murder mystery when his first friend is found dead.

Jimi & Me by Jaime Adoff
After his father's tragic death, twelve-year-old Keith James moves from Brooklyn to a small midwestern town where his mixed race heritage is not accepted, but he finds comfort in the music of Jimi Hendrix and the friendship of a white classmate.


More Books --
Black and White by Paul Volponi
Boy21 by Matthew Quick
Copper Sun by Sharon Draper
Dancer by Lorri Hewett
Fabulous by Simone Bryant
Forge by Laurie Halse Anderson
If I Grow Up by Todd Strasser
Invasion! by Walter Dean  Myers
Kendra by Coe Booth
Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley
Lockdown by Walter Dean Myers
Money Hungry by Sharon Flake
My Name Is Not Friday by Jon Walter
New Boy by Julian Houston
The Pox Party by M.T. Anderson
X: A Novel by Ilyasah Shabazz


Check out these books on display through March, 18, 2015.





Thursday, February 25, 2016

Regarding the Fountain by Kate Klise

The middle school in Dry Creek needs a new drinking fountain.  The esteemed fountain designer Florence Waters agrees to build them a new drinking fountain, but only if the children give their input.  So begins a year of letters between Flo, the fifth grade students of Dry Creek, their teacher, their principal and others.

This was a wonderfully fun story to read.  Every child will wish they were part of the fifth grade class who gets to become great friends with Flo.  The best part, this is the first book in a series.

Monday, February 22, 2016

Who Knew There Were So Many Stories About Mice?

The other week when I was trying to come up with a new chapter book display for kids, I noticed that a lot of stories seemed to feature mice as the main characters.  And so, here are some great chapter books featuring mice . . .

Mouse Noses on Toast by Daren King
Paul Mouse gathers a group of mouse activists to uncover the mystery behind the delicacy known as "Mouse noses on toast" which is served in a fancy human restaurant.

The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary
A reckless young mouse named Ralph makes friends with a boy in room 215 of the Mountain View Inn and discovers the joys of motorcycling.

The Tale of Desepereaux by Kate DiCamillo
The adventures of Desperaux Tilling, a small mouse of unusual talents, the princess that he loves, the servant girl who longs to be a princess, and a devious rat determined to bring them all to ruin.

Mouseheart by Lisa Fiedler
Follows the experiences of an escaped pet shop mouse who descends into a utopian rat civilization before confronting threatening rebels, ravenous cats, and a generations-long battle involving deadly secrets.


More Mouse Stories --
Charlie Muffin's Miracle Mouse by Dick King-Smith
Journey to Freedom by Gilbert Morris
Magnus Maybe by Errol Broome
A Mouse Called Wolf by Dick King-Smith
The Mousehunter by Alex Milway
The Orphan and the Mouse by Martha Freeman
Poppy by Avi
Secrets at Sea by Richard Peck
The Show Must Go On! by Kate Klise
Starring Prima! The Mouse of the Battle Jolie by Jacquelyn Mitchard
Survival School by Frank Asch

Check out these books on display at the Arnold Branch through March 11, 2016.


Thursday, February 18, 2016

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Eleanor and Park share a bus seat on the ride to and from school.  They don't talk.  They don't look at each other.  They don't even acknowledge the other's prescence.

One day, Park notices that Eleanor is reading his comic books with him each day.  Then he sees the song titles written on her text books.

And they strike up a conversation.  Soon those conversations are the best part of each of their days.

The conversations grow until Eleanor and Park realize the feelings they have for each.  But can their star-crossed relationship survive?


This was a great look at life in the mid-1980s.  It's amazing to see how people lived without all the technology we take for granted.  It also a great love story that both girls and boys would enjoy reading.  I would recommend this book (or the audio version) to all teens.

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Books for Black History Month

During this Black History Month, share one of the following great books focusing on the African-American experience with your child . . . .

Just Like Josh Gibson by Angela Johnson
A young girl's grandmother tells her of her love for baseball and the day they let her play in the game even though she was a girl.

This Jazz Man by Karen Ehrhardt
Presents an introduction to jazz music and nine well-known jazz musicians, set to the rhythm of the traditional song, "This Old Man." Includes brief facts about each musician.

Back of the Bus by Aaron Reynolds
From the back of the bus, an African American child watches the arrest of Rosa Parks.

Goggles by Ezra Jack Keats
Two boys must outsmart the neighborhood bullies before they can enjoy their new treasure, a pair of lensless motorcycle goggles.

Light in the Darkness by Lisa Cline-Ransome
Risking a whipping if they are discovered, Rosa and her mama sneak away from their slave quarters during the night to a hidden location in a field where they learn to read and write in a pit school.


More Books for Black History Month --
Almost to Freedom by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson
Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman
Be Boy Buzz by Bell Hooks
The Beautitudes: From Slavery to Civil Rights by Carole Boston Weatherford
Black Cowboy, Wild Horses by Julius Lester
Bring on That Beat by Rachel Isadora
Coming on Home Soon by  Jacquline Woodson
Ellen's Broom by Kelly Starling Lyons
Flossie and the Fox by Pat McKissack
Henry's Freedom Box by Ellen LEvine
I, Too, Am America by Langston Hughes
In the Time of Drums by Kim L. Siegelson
Knock Knock: My Dad's Dream for Me by Daniel Beaty
The Listeners by Gloria Whelan
Looking Like Me by Walter Dean Myers
Mirandy and Brother Wind by Pat McKissack
Mr. George Baker by Amy Hest
The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson
The People Could Fly by Virginia Hamilton
The Piano Man by Deborah Chocolate
Pictures for Miss Josie by Sandra Belton
Rosa by Nikki Giovanni
Ruth and the Green Book by Calvin A. Ramsey
Sojourner Truth's Step-Stomp Stride by Andrea Davis Pinkney
Something Beautiful by Sharon Wyeth
Uptown by Bryan Collier
Yo! Yes? by Christopher Raschka


Check out these and more books on display at the Arnold Branch through March 4, 2016.

Monday, February 8, 2016

Make a Date with a Book

Valentine's Day will be here is just one week.  Don't have plans for the day yet?

No problem!
Pick one of these great teen romance books to read this Valentine's Day . . .







The Game of Love and Death by Martha Brockenbrough
In Seattle in 1937 two seventeen-year-olds, Henry, who is white, and Flora, who is African-American, become the unwitting pawns in a game played by two immortal figures, Love and Death, where they must choose each other at the end, or one of them will die.

Keturah and Lord Death by Martine Leavitt
When Lord Death comes to claim sixteen-year-old Keturah while she is lost in the King's Forest, she charms him with her story and is granted a twenty-four hour reprieve in which to seek her one true love.

There Is No Dog by Meg Rosoff
When the beautiful Lucy prays to fall in love, God, an irresponsible youth named Bob, chooses to answer her prayer personally, to the dismay of this assistant, Mr. B who must try to clean up the resulting catastrophes.

Son of the Mob by Gordon Korman
Seventeen-year-old Vince's life is constantly complicated by the fact that he is the son of a powerful Mafia boss, a relationship that threatens to destroy his romance with the daughter of an FBI agent.

Keeping the Castle by Patrice Kindl
In order to support her family and maintain their ancient castle in Lesser Hoo, seventeen-year-old Althea bears the burden of finding a wealthy suitor who can remedy their financial problems.


More Teen Romances --
Anna Dressed in Blood by  Kendare Blake
As I Wake by Elizabeth Scott
Beastkeeper by Cat Hellisen
Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult & Samantha Van Leer
Crash Into You by Kate McGarry
Cupid: A Tale of Love and Desire by Juilius Lester
Drink, Slay, Love by Sarah Beth Durst
Eat, Brains, Love by Jeff Hart
Fan Art by Sarah Tregay
The Last Forever by Deb Caletti
Love by the Morning Star by Laura Sullivan
The Princess Spy by Melanie Dickerson
Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matswon
The Shadow Prince by Bree Despain
Still Star-Crossed by Melinda Taub
These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman
This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith
Time Between Us by Tamara Stone
The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh


Check out these books on display at the Arnold Branch through February 27, 2016.

Thursday, February 4, 2016

Isle of the Lost: A Descendants Novel by Melissa de la Cruz

Once upon a time . . .

All the evil villains of Disney fame were exiled to the Isle of the Lost.  There they are trapped without magic for all of time.

Sixteen years have passed and now these villain's children are trying to live up to their parents' evil deeds.

Jay is the son of Jafar who tried to rule all of Agrabah, is a pickpocket and thief who finds the merchandise for his father's store.

Carlos, the son of Cruella de Vil, lives in terror of his mother and her rages.

Evie, daughter of Snow White's Wicked Stepmother, has been taught by her mother to be beautiful and to capture a prince.

And Mal, Maleficent's daughter, is the undisputed "queen" of the kids just as her mother rules the island and its villains.

Together they go on a quest to find the Dragon Eye Sceptre in the hopes of breaking the dome keeping all magic out of the Isle of the Lost . . .


This is the prequel novel to the Disney movie The Descendants.  It was a fairly well done novel.  The premise is intriguing the and book does better than the movie with character and plot development.  It's a fun read for anyone who ever thought the villains seemed more interesting than the heroes of the Disney movies.