With Halloween later this month, it seems appropriate to choose a story of magic, mayhem, and monsters for Friday Reads.
Living in a town on the fault lines of the magic sealed into the ground … this was every-day to Sid (she’s 17). Occasionally wisps of something floated up from the ground – this was what the tourists were hoping to see.
But then, one of the several Guardians of the sealed area is killed, his key taken, and is used to open one of the several fault lines. Out comes threads of magic that attach themselves to people and animals. Also, zombies and other monsters are now on the loose.
The person behind this event – murder and destroying one seal, so far – keeps claiming magic should be for everyone – but he is absorbing all the magic he can find to keep for himself. He wants all the seals opened to absorb more magic.
Sid joins the remaining Guardians (her brother being one) and struggles to help make a difference in this situation. Who will survive? Who else will die?
As the December 1, 2023 issue of Kirkus says, “The thoughtfully developed characters grapple with issues of race, insecurities, self-absorption, isolation, connection, family, loss, grief, and empathy. …readers won’t want to put [it] down.” This book is written for older teens.
Wasley, Robin. Dead Things Are Closer Than They Appear. Simon & Schuster, 2024.
Book 1 in a new series, Orris, a rat, lived in an abandoned barn. He was happy there. One of his prized possessions was an old sardine can. It had a picture of a sardine king on the can, and the king said, “Make the good and noble choice.” He contemplated this advice regularly.
One evening Orris hears a horrible screech and a cry for help. Orris looked out from his nest to see a young owl caught in a mousetrap. The rat is not planning on helping his natural enemy until he recalls the sardine king’s advice. Slowly he moves towards the owl, asking him to stand completely still. Next to the talons, Orris pulls on the metal of the trap and tells the owl to move. When the owl is free, Orris is terrified and cowers, then creeps slowly to his nest.
But, rather than prey, the owl, Timble, thinks of Orris as a friend. Orris tells Timble the fable of The Lion and the Mouse. Soon they plan to meet every evening for more stories.
A marvelous introduction to the two main characters and the wonder of storytelling. “Make the good and noble choice” could show up again in future titles of the series.
This is an early chapter book aimed at readers who are ready for something longer than a beginning reader but not ready for a full-fledged novel, though many readers will enjoy it.
Orris and Timble: The Beginning, by Kate DiCamillo.Candlewick Press, 2024.
Olive Zang (almost 12) doesn’t really fit in – at school, with friends (what friends?) or even with her mom and dad. They are always gone on a trip for work, and seem to not really notice her. This time, before they leave again, they put her in a boarding school located on an island in San Francisco Bay.
Once she arrives at RASCH (Reforming Arts School) she undergoes an unusual set of tasks as an aptitude test for placement in the school. Once placed with Pod 101 she is surprised at how quickly the group of five bonds. They are hastily put into training to prepare them to be a contributing group for a secret crime fighting organization. Soon the very existence of the school (the first one where Olive feels connected and appreciated) is on the line, can The Misfits (her group) help capture a jewel thief? Will they help or hinder the effort?
As Kirkus says, “A fantastical blend of quirky characters and goofy adventures.” (11/1/23) Includes occasional black and white drawings by Dan Santat. This is the first book of a new series aimed at grades 3-6 or so.
Yee, Lisa. The Misfits: A Royal Conundrum. Random House, 2024.
To celebrate Smokey Bear’s 80th Birthday the National Forest Service has set up their Smokey Bear Reading Challenge. To learn more about the Challenge, visit here.
The Forest Service is going to ask how many children signed up and filled in a log of the challenge, so please keep a count if you promote it to your community.
We have received the items the National Forest Service mailed to the Library Commission for their Smokey Bear Reading Challenge. Each public library is welcome to receive the following items:
One roll of 500 Smokey Stickers One package of 50 Smokey Cards One Smokey Stamp
I plan to deliver what I can at the Library Systems’ Summer Reading Program workshops. If you do not plan to attend the workshop, or if your system’s workshop has already met, we will be working on a way to get the items to you if you want them.
Also, take a look at the digital toolkit prepared by the National Forest Service.
Amanda Shelton, Director of the Franklin Public Library, made a QR code for their website. Thank you Amanda!
A number of awards honoring titles and media for children and young adults were announced this morning. The John Newbery Medal goes to The Eyes and the Impossible written by Dave Eggers, with five other titles named as Newbery Honor Books.
The Randolph Caldecott Medal goes to Big, illustrated and written by Vashti Harrison, with four additional titles named Caldecott Honor Books.
To see the ALA new release listing all the youth awards and titles, go here.
Simon Sort of Says by Erin Bow, set in Nebraska, was named both a Newbery Honor Book and a Schneider Family Book Award honor book for middle grades. This title is hilarious, heart-breaking and goofy – an amazing book. Simon and his parents move from near Omaha to a part of Nebraska that is a National Radio Quiet Zone (fictional, the real one is in West Virginia). There is no Internet access and the town (Grin and Bear It, NE) lives with it. Simon has been homeschooled for the past year and now is back in public school for the 7th grade. He makes a couple of friends and begins to settle in. His mom is undertaker for the town and they live in the mortuary. His dad works for the Catholic Church. Amazing writing, quirky people and animals, unusual situations will keep the students reading. Spoiler: a school shooting has happened in the past and is revisited. It will break your heart.
Announced yesterday, A First Time for Everything has won the National Book Foundation Award for Young People’s Literature.
It is on my Summer Reading Program list for 2024 and is a memoir of a three week school trip to Europe in 1989, the summer after 8th grade. In middle school Dan learned to be “…quiet. Small. … invisible.” (p. 11) Then one day, at the end of a school assembly Dan was unexpectedly asked (forced) to give his speech as practice for the speech tournament. It was a poem by A. A. Milne. He was ridiculed.
Then he took the three week school trip to Europe. Quiet at first, he slowly begins to have fun with some of the other students. And actually enjoying the trip. He does get lost in the middle of the night in France, but manages to steal a bike and find his way back (not proud of stealing the bike). Kirkus says, “Full of laughter and sentiment, this is a nudge for readers to dare to try new things.” (12/15/22)
Other Finalists for the Award for Young People’s Literature were:
Gather by Kenneth M. Cadow Huda F Cares? by Huda Fahmy Big by Vasti Harrison The Lost Year: A Survival Story of the Ukrainian Famine by Katherine Marsh
Visit their web page to learn more. You can also see the winners and finalists in the other four categories on this web site.
Dan Santat is an author and illustrator of a variety of children and teen books, including After the Fall (How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again), The Aquanaut, Sidekicks: A Graphic Novel, and Lift by Minh Lê and illustrated by Dan Santat.
Santat, Dan. A First Time for Everything. First Second/Macmillan, 2022.
A full color graphic novel for tween readers, ages 8-12 or so. Avery (11) the second-oldest of seven children in the loving Lee family, is beginning to feel squished by her siblings. When her older brother is given a room of his own, and her room of two is becoming a room of three, (younger brother Max is moving in with Avery and her sister, Pearl), she prepares a list of reasons she should have her own room, to no avail.
Avery loves her family, she just gets a bit embarrassed and frustrated by them. She also has some good friends who she spends time with – and they share some inside jokes as well.
Now Avery has decided to earn money in order to have a room built for her in the basement. Walking dogs and selling lemonade do not work out well. Then she learns the family may be moving to Oregon for her mother’s new job, and a room of her own is not even an issue anymore. She doesn’t want to move away from her friends and all she knows.
There is plenty going on and readers will relate to Avery’s ups and downs.
Megan Wagner Lloyd. Squished. New York, Graphix, Scholastic Inc., 2023.
Romania, 1989. Cristian Florescu (17) and his family are barely surviving the regime of Nicolae Ceaușescu. There are spies everywhere, and due to a small mistake, now Cristian is forced to spy on his neighbors and the family his mother cleans house for, an American who works for the American Embassy.
Everyone is suspicious of everyone else, for good reason. Only Cristian’s grandfather, called Bunu, is willing to speak out loud – but he is ill, and is taking a risk every time he talks. There is some comedy relief – as Bunu and others delight in jokes about Ceaușescu and the regime.
Cristian finally comes up with an idea that may outsmart the spies – but it could cost him his life. The horrible conditions – little food, little warmth in winter, suspicions, beatings, despair, the threat of wild dogs – are clearly portrayed. Cristian wonders if anyone in the U.S. is aware of their circumstances and their level of need. It has been so hard to visit the home of the American diplomat and know he cannot say anything to ask for help for his country.
The revolution began on Dec. 21, 1989. Cristian joins it.
Includes period photos, references, and an Author’s Note at the back of the book. This title is fiction and is aimed at high school age readers.
Sepetys, Ruta. (2022). I Must Betray You. Philomel Books.
The Black Caucus of the American Library Association, Inc. (BCALA) and School Library Journal announced the 2023 Children & Young Adult Literary Awards winners.
First awarded in 2021, the awards, given annually, celebrate outstanding children’s and young adult books by African American authors of fiction and nonfiction in four categories: First Novelist Award, Fiction Award, Nonfiction Award, and Graphic Novel Award.
I have read (among others) the Graphic Novel Winner, Swim Team by Johnnie Christmas a full-color graphic novel. Bree and her father move from Brooklyn, NY, to Florida for his new job. Bree is starting middle school and wants Math Puzzles as one of her electives, but it is full – all that is left is Swim 101. Bree cannot swim but doesn’t want to admit it. Negative talk to herself is shown as black outlined capitals, such as “You’re going to be so embarrassed” and “It must be your fault!”
New friends, Humberto and Clara, are upbeat and supportive. She skips swim class, but then an older neighbor agrees to teach her. Over time she learns to float and swim and one day the coach basically assigns everyone in class to try out for the swim team. They race and Bree swims past all her negative thoughts and wins! She joins Clara on the swim team. Maybe this year they can finally win state! It includes overcoming fears, putting in the time needed to succeed, supporting friends and teammates, and not giving up. It is for upper elementary and early middle school ages.
The Newbery Award winner is Freewater by Amina Luqman-Dawson and three titles were named Newbery Honor Books. This year Freewater also won the Coretta Scott King Author Book Award. The Coretta Scott King Illustrator Book Award is Standing in the Need of Prayer: A Modern Retelling of the Classic Spiritual illustrated by Frank Morrison and written by Carole Boston Weatherford.
The Caldecott Award winner is Hot Dog, illustrated and written by Doug Salati. Four titles were named Caldecott Honor Books. I have not seen Hot Dog yet, but one of the Caldecott Honor Books is Knight Owl illustrated and written by Christopher Denise. This book was the subject of one of my “Friday Reads” posts. Take a look here if you would like to know more about it.
To learn all the titles that were recognized on January 30th during the ALA Youth Media Awards webcast, just visit this news release.
I hope you find a title on this awards list that you just have to read!
Meg Medina has been named the 2023-2024 National Ambassador For Young People’s Literature by the Library of Congress. As it says on the website, “The National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature raises national awareness of the importance of young people’s literature as it relates to lifelong literacy, education and the development and betterment of the lives of young people.”
She is the eighth individual to hold this position. Former Ambassadors are:
Jason Reynolds, 2020-2022 Jacqueline Woodson, 2018-2019 Gene Luen Yang, 2016-2017 Kate DiCamillo, 2014-2015 Walter Dean Myers, 2012-2013 Katherine Paterson, 2010-2011 Jon Scieszka, 2008-2009
I have read several of Medina’s books, including Evelyn Del Rey Is Moving Away. In this picture book, on the morning of the move, Daniela and Evelyn play among the moving boxes until they must say goodbye. They are número uno to each other and their friendship will never be forgotten.
Asher (17) lost his mother a year ago in a car accident. The semi driver was drunk and ran her off the road. He did not receive the punishment Asher thinks he deserved, due to a technicality.
Over the course of the book certain facts and Asher’s plans are revealed to the reader. Asher has started group therapy, in 2 different groups, since he has made no progress in accepting his loss. He befriends an older gentleman, Henry, from his first group, and then he befriends Sloane and Will, close to his own age, from the second.
All three agree to travel with him from New Jersey to Memphis, so he can take his long-distance girlfriend to the prom. That’s what he tells them but he really is planning to kill the man who killed his mother.
Believe it or not, this is an upbeat book, with the final plan lurking in the distance. They accept and bond with each other as they travel. There are jokes, laughing, supporting each other when needed.
They have fun. Ultimately, what will Asher do?
This book was on my mind for several days after I finished reading it. Something about how the characters interact and how they express themselves made it hard to forget.
The Well is a full color graphic novel published for high school readers. Li-Zhen, called Lizzy, lives with her grandfather and for the first time she will travel to town by herself with some goats to sell, riding in a sailboat in which her friend Eli now rows. While in town, she snitches some coins from a sacred fountain to pay for her return trip. After returning home she is visited that night in her sleep. The well demands repayment, not in coins but in wishes. Lizzy must find a way to provide what has been wished for, or she will be drowned. The well’s servant says it is the wishes connected to each of the three coins that are valuable, not the coins. She has to talk friends and strangers into helping her and she only has a day to accomplish each task. Each task is different, and the last task may kill her.
One of the things that appealed to me about this book is the care put into wishing. Little children wish for candy or toys, they said, but wishing should be more thoughtful. Eli tells Lizzy that her mother explained it this way: “…first you’re supposed to think about what you have, what you are grateful for. Then think about what you want out of life.”
For the first task she asks for help from Eli, and they end up kidnapping a woman who has wished to return to her island, but now no longer wants to go there. The island was destroyed by the leviathan. The well doesn’t care about current wants or changes in wishes. It wants her to give what was wished for on the stolen coin, however long ago the wish was made.
This past summer I saw the movie “Three Thousand Years of Longing” with Idris Elba playing a genie. Wishes are a big part of his existence. That movie and this graphic novel made me think more about wishes. Fairy tales often have wishes involved, almost always tricking the wisher. I liked what Eli said in the book about wishing. It can be done too quickly with little contemplation as to the likely result of the wish. Maybe wishes should stay in our hearts and not be spoken out loud.
(The Nebraska Library Commission receives free copies of children’s and young adult books for review from a number of publishers. After review, the books are distributed free, via the Regional Library Systems, to Nebraska school and public libraries.)
Don’t all of us have at least one heartfelt wish? So does a little owl.
Set in medieval times, a young owl’s fondest dream is to become a knight. To his family’s great surprise, he is accepted to Knight School. (A number of knights had been disappearing lately.)
He was smart and dedicated – he just had a little trouble with wielding a sword, or using even the smallest shield available. He also did have some trouble staying awake during the day
After two weeks, they all graduate with honors. The illustration of his graduating class is hilarious. Owl only comes up to the knee of the huge knight standing behind him.
He was assigned the perfect job – Knight Night Watch. It was not a problem for him to stay awake all night. All was well until one night when he heard a strange sound. It turned out to be a dragon who thought the owl looked tasty. He was scared, but knights are brave and clever. He was sure he could find a way out of this predicament.
An entertaining look at someone realizing their dream, facing a challenge, and hoping to succeed. Humorous, with wonderful illustrations, this is a delightful picture book for reading aloud.
A year after the events in the March 2010 title, Out of My Mind, we join Melody during summer vacation. She wants to go to camp and has researched camps that are designed to provide experiences for children with disabilities. The Green Glades Therapeutic Recreational Camp – here comes Melody! Her experiences are believable, her apprehension as well as eagerness to go and to participate. The reader learns more about Melody and her feelings, hopes, and readiness for adventure.
For the first time in her life, Melody has friends, though it takes just a little while for her campmates to gel into true friends. Her parents, especially her mother, are reassured that each camper will have a camp counselor assigned to them all day (and night) every day. Melody was thinking she didn’t want to be monitored all the time, like her younger sister, she is 12 after all.
But then, during the week she is at camp, Melody faces several new situations. She is scared to get into the pool – what if she sinks? Trinity, her counselor, is there for her. They go for a ride around the lake on a pontoon boat – what if it takes on water? No problem, Trinity is there. But horses, they are huge, and how can Melody ride one? The camp has it all worked out and Trinity rides with her.
Some of the best things about this book are all the wonderful new experiences for Melody, the safety of the camp, and her new friends. Also, there are no mean girls or bullies. It may seem like a week of unbelievable opportunities – but there are camps like this around the country. Readers who wanted to know what happened next for Melody, after the first book, will be surprised and happy for Melody’s first camp experience.
Draper, Sharon M. Out of My Heart. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2021. ISBN 978-1-6659-0216-8.
The Newbery Award winner is The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera, (I have put it on hold at the library). Four titles were named Newbery Honor Books. The Newbery Award is celebrating its 100th Anniversary this year.
The Caldecott Award winner is Watercress, illustrated by Jason Chin and written by Andrea Wang, which also won the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature in the picture book category, and was named one of the Newbery Honor Books. I just read it last week! It was heartfelt with amazing illustrations. Four titles were named Caldecott Honor Books.
Nikki Grimes was awarded the Coretta Scott King – Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement, and A. S. King was awarded the Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement in writing for young adults.
To learn all the titles that were recognized on January 24th during the ALA Youth Media Awards webcast, just visit this news release.
Since it is nearly Halloween, it seems appropriate to discuss a title that includes a vampire. This is a full-color graphic novel aimed at the upper elementary school level. A group of vegetables animated by a witch to help with the gardening and selling of vegetables has reached consciousness – they are aware of what they do and how it helps the townspeople. The have distinct personalities.
Their peaceful life is completely thrown when Potato notices smoke rising from the formerly abandoned castle across the valley. Could a vampire have moved in? All are in a worried state. At their meeting where they learn it is a vampire, thanks to the magic of the witch, Celery (who is miffed at Garlic) suggests Garlic should deal with him. It does make sense, vampires are known to be put off by garlic, but this Garlic is a quiet, nonthreatening creature and she trembles at the idea of confronting a vampire. Still, Garlic puts on a brave face and prepares for the mission. Readers will delight in the idea that at the last minute the witch assigned Celery to accompany her on the mission. Celery abandons Garlic at the castle door, immediately heading back home. Garlic bravely goes in, and finds something quite unexpected. Staking the vampire will not be necessary.
(The Nebraska Library Commission receives free copies of children’s and young adult books for review from a number of publishers. After review, the books are distributed free, via the Regional Library Systems, to Nebraska school and public libraries.)
Paulsen, Bree. Garlic & the Vampire. Quill Tree Books, 2021.
Nominees for YALSA’s 2022 Lists Are Updated Weekly
YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association), a section of the American Library Association (ALA), has a schedule of updates of nominees for several of their lists for 2022. Check their blog, The Hub, each week or month to learn what titles are being considered for their Best Fiction for Young Adults (Mondays), Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers (Tuesdays), Amazing Audiobooks (Wednesday), and Great Graphic Novels (Thursday). You see a copy of the cover and a review of the book, usually one title with a review and one or more additional titles merely listed per posting.
At the bottom of each posting there is occasionally a place to click to see all the postings referring to that list. A quarterly compilation of each list is available, the first ones were posted on The Hub in early April, the second list was posted in early July.
You and your teens are also welcome to submit titles for consideration for any of the lists. Also at the bottom of each posting is a link to the information and form to suggest a title for that list.
Nubia: Real One by L.L. McKinney and illustrated by Robyn Smith is a graphic novel included on two nominees’ lists: Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers and Great Graphic Novels.
Nubia is fast and strong – really strong. She is black and her two mothers constantly remind her not to use her strength, it will only get her in trouble; they DO want the best for her. Her two best friends (LaQuisha and Jason) want her to enjoy her summer, but that seems unlikely. She is in a convenience store for a refill when two robbers enter. She stays low, as her mothers would want, until a guy she likes is threatened – and she throws the ATM at the robber and then runs. No surprise to Nubia, a policeman finds her part way home and handcuffs her, until he learns the two robbers were men. Then he releases her and tells her to stay out of trouble.
Dealing with many things common in high school – liking a guy and being awkward around him – Nubia must also deal with racism; and keep in mind that if people learn of her abilities, they will likely be afraid of her, they will not see her as Wonder Woman. But when her best friend Quisha, is threatened by her former boyfriend, Nubia finds a way to catch him out without violence. And… it turns out Nubia is related to Wonder Woman.
As School Library Journal said, “No superhero collection is complete without Nubia.”
(The Nebraska Library Commission receives free copies of children’s and young adult books for review from a number of publishers. After review, the books are distributed free, via the Regional Library Systems, to Nebraska school and public libraries.)
The Nebraska Library Commission (NLC) is pleased to announce the availability of Youth Grants for Excellence to legally-established public libraries, tribal libraries, and institutional libraries in Nebraska, through a competitive grant process. The purpose of the Youth Grants for Excellence is to make funding available specifically for innovative projects for children and young adults in Nebraska communities.
This year’s funding is provided from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), as administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). ARPA is the result of the federal stimulus bill passed by Congress. Nebraska has received a one-time award of $2,422,166. A portion of that amount will be available via these competitive grants.
Some of the usual rules and requirements for Youth Grants for Excellence will be suspended for this year only:
No local match is required.
All legally established public libraries are eligible, both accredited and unaccredited, as well as tribal libraries and State run institutions.
Libraries will be able to use the grant funds for improving their collection (buy any books you feel you need), and to purchase AWE workstations or an equivalent item, Playaway Launchpad, computers, and furniture for the children’s or teen areas.
Online applications will be accepted through 11:59 PM (CT) on October 7, 2021 and recipients will be notified of funding by October 29, 2021.
Visit the grant webpage for the full grant details and the online application form.
And to learn more, sign up for the September 1 NCompass Live webinar, NLC Grants for 2022.
Join Sally Snyder and Laura England-Biggs as we explore content from the T3 grant program sponsored by YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association) and COSLA (Chief Officers of State Library Agencies). You’ll learn more about Connected Learning, how to apply it in your library and get a chance to think about next steps. Connected Learning helps us engage our teens with topics that already interest them. That in turn can drive programming numbers, which is what we all want, right?
This free online workshop will last four weeks (September 8 – 29). Zoom Sessions will be held on Wednesdays in Canvas, an online learning platform, starting with the optional introductory session on September 1 at 2 pm Central. This introductory session will explore how Canvas is structured, the content we will cover and answer any logistical questions.
Our first week’s content will kick off Thursday, September 2, and we will meet by Zoom Wednesday September 8 at 2 pm (Central) to check in on everyone’s progress, answer questions, and network. The course cycle repeats through the closing session September 29. Wednesday Zoom Sessions are planned to last from 2 – 3 pm (Central).
This workshop will be limited to 15 participants with another session offered in November 2021. Those who complete the workshop will be eligible to receive 4 hours of CE credit from the Nebraska Library Commission. For more information and registration details, please visit the Nebraska Library Commission’s event calendar.
Another class is scheduled for November, if that month will work better for you, see the calendar. Sign-up will open for it in mid-September.
