Science Fiction: The Wild Robot by Peter Brown

 I was super excited to see The Wild Robot by Peter Brown on the list of science fiction books for this week. While I had not read it previously, I remember hearing incredible reviews about it when it first came out. I also remember hearing praise when the movie came out last year, though I haven't had a chance to watch it yet. I was incredibly impressed by the story, and I highly recommend it for readers both young and older.

The Wild Robot is about a robot named Roz who becomes stranded on a deserted island after her crate is the only one to survive a shipwreck during a hurricane. She navigates the new world in a very clunky kind of way as she becomes accustomed to the environment and its inhabitants. She scares off the first family of otters that she comes across and earns a few dents in her first few hours of life. Eventually, she kills a family of geese by mistake and vows to raise the orphaned gosling. Together, the two adapt to the environment and learning through shared experiences.

I say this a lot on this blog, but I would absolutely recommend this book for a young library. Roz has so many qualities that students can learn from, and her genuine curiosity about her environment was inspiring, even as an adult reading it. She was able to learn from those around her and adjust her own behaviors accordingly (like when she copied the crab to climb up the cliffs). It also heavily touches on the theme of acceptance, as Roz and Brightbill are a very unconventional pairing that is ultimately accepted by the animal community for who they are. Looking at this through a mom's lens, I think this would be a great addition to the mini library we're trying to build in anticipation of my son's arrival. While he may not be old enough to read it for quite a while, I think it's a wonderful story that teaches curiosity, compassion, and acceptance. I also particularly loved the animal caretaker aspect, especially because the animal community is made up of animals that may not always receive much love! (By that, I mean not cats and dogs, but actual wild animals.) Coming from a veterinary background, it's incredibly important to teach my son to be accepting and caring of all creatures regardless of species, and I think this is a great way to either introduce or reinforce that idea with him.

I really appreciated the writing style of this book on top of everything else. It was incredibly easy to read, and it almost felt like the author was having a conversation rather than writing a book. There were a few times the reader was addressed directly, and on top of the way sentences and paragraphs were structured, it gave it a very personal feel. It was very easy to get lost in reading it, and I really had a good time getting through it. I think young students will definitely be interested in being "spoken" to, hopefully allowing them to enjoy the book that much more.

Overall, 10/10, absolutely would recommend.

Word count: 529

Graphic Novel: When Stars are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed

I was incredibly excited going into the reviews this week, specifically because graphic novels hold a very special place in my heart. I was very big into manga during my middle school and high school years, and I genuinely don't think any type of graphic stories are given the admiration they deserve, especially in a school setting. When Stars are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed is a graphic novel memoir written about Omar's experiences in a refugee camp in Kenya. Omar is in charge of taking care of his younger brother, Hassan, as he is his last surviving family member. Omar learns of the opportunity to attend school, and he wrestles with the conflict of providing a better life for his brother or leaving him alone every day to pursue the opportunity. It's an incredibly emotional read that brings forward a lot of relevant issues in a way that younger students can grasp.

While I do not personally have any experiences with refugee camps or a similar family dynamic, I've been trying to look at books through the lens of a mother. My husband and I are trying to curate a book collection in preparation for our son's arrival, and this one caught me by surprise. It's so genuine and honest in its story, and Omar is an incredibly relatable character. His decision to attend school for a better life or stay with his family is one that I can relate to; I dropped out of college halfway through my career at Seton Hall University, and it was a struggle to decide whether going back to school was right for me. When I decided to go back, I was 25, still had a year and a half to complete, and had already been engaged to my now husband and working full time. I didn't know if I could ask my husband to support me while going back to school and working full time, and while it is a different situation than what Omar is facing, I can still see how the decision was difficult for him to make. 

I also think exposing young students to tough topics such as refugee camps is incredibly important. Allowing young students to see what other children are going through around the world just to survive (hopefully) helps to develop their empathy. In today's political climate, being able to see another human being and want the best for them is incredibly important, and empathy seems to be lacking greatly. Educating children on more mature topics in ways they can grasp (like a graphic novel with relatable characters around their age) is a great first step in trying to nurture human connections and compassion. 

I would highly recommend this book for a library. I think it does a wonderful job of breaking the stigma that graphic novels are not "real books" or don't touch on any serious topics. The artwork is breathtaking, and it immediately captures the reader's attention while complementing the story perfectly. It shows a realistic look at the setting while still bringing beauty into a difficult situation. The story itself can be used to teach lessons not only on refugee camps and what people have to go through in order to survive, but it can also be used to teach younger students about family, empathy, and connection. I really do think it's a wonderful option for a graphic novel that can have a deep, lasting impact on young students.

Word count: 578

Historical Fiction: Full of Beans by Jennifer L. Holm

Based solely on the title, I was unsure of what to expect going into Full of Beans by Jennifer L. Holm. Published in 2016, the story follows Beans Curry, a 10-year-old boy who lives in Key West, Florida in 1934. He attempts to help his family throughout their financial struggles by doing odd jobs and eventually getting involved with a local criminal, Johnny Cakes. He begins helping Johnny by smuggling rum, which eventually leads to consequences he seemingly was not expecting. The local government also devises a plan to turn the island into a tourist destination, and eventually, things begin to look up as the environment improves due to this newfound economic boom. 

I think the book is incredibly well-written for a younger audience. It touches on themes with a more mature feel in a way that younger students would be able to understand. Learning about the Great Depression in a typical, historical way (textbooks, lectures, etc.) may be difficult for young students. Providing them with a character who is their age gives them something to relate to, and looking at such a dark time in history through a child's lens may make it easier for students to grasp the mature themes being discussed. When I was in middle school, I remember reading The Diary of Anne Frank and Milkweed and being incredibly interested in both specifically because they were written through the perspective of people my age. While the story and time period may be different, I think it's still the same general idea of giving a young student a character to relate to in order to invoke an interest in the time period.

The idea of Beans working with criminals to help his family make ends meet is also one I find incredibly interesting. I think it's a great way of teaching students about morals and ethics. Is it really ethical for him to do something illegal just so his family doesn't starve? The lesson reminds me a lot of Les Miserables, which is obviously a much more mature book! The main character steals a loaf of bread for his starving family and is sentenced to serve his time basically as a slave. It's a similar conundrum of is it really ethical to do illegal things if it's for a good reason, though this is on a much smaller scale that students could potentially relate to more closely. I just thought the parallel was interesting, and it's a great way to introduce ethics to young students! 

Overall, I think this is an incredibly versatile title to have in a library or a classroom library! English teachers can utilize this as another option for the standard lesson (that aligns with the curriculum), and history teachers can use this as a way of teaching the time period during the Great Depression. It's also just a pretty entertaining book to read if you have a student interested in history; I was definitely a kid who fixated on this time period during history class, and I would have really loved having something like this available on the shelf. 

Word count: 516

Realistic Fiction: Starfish by Lisa Fipps

Reading Starfish by Lisa Fipps has hit me harder than any other book I've read up to this point in the semester. I was able to relate to the main character perfectly, and the story was incredibly reflective of my own experience as a plus-size child and teenager. 

The story revolves around Eliana, a 12-year-old girl with severe self-esteem issues directly linked to her weight. Her family is unsupportive and at times, incredibly hurtful, about her weight, and her mother goes so far as to impose strict diets to try and remedy the situation. Ellie goes to therapy to try and deal with the intense bullying she receives from her family and classmates, and by the end, therapy seems to have helped her improve her self-image and confront her parents about their treatment of her. It's an incredibly emotional story that hit me very deeply! 

I really resonated with Ellie's character, and I found myself thinking back to my experience as a child and teenager. I was always bigger than the other kids, and I had a rapid weight gain when I went through puberty. I remember crying to my parents about how when I hung out with my friends at the mall, I couldn't shop at the same clothing stores because I just couldn't squeeze into the available sizes without feeling like a whale. I thought it was ironic that whale stood out to Ellie as an insult because I always compared myself to one. I dealt with incredibly low self-esteem directly linked to my weight, and I saw multiple therapists to try and seek help. Like Eliana, I also didn't appreciate the value in therapy at first. I didn't really provide much information to my first few therapists, but I was finally able to open up when I was a mid-teenager. Speaking openly about my feelings really did help, and I'm grateful my parents were able to push me to get better. I was ultimately diagnosed with PCOS, which caused my rapid weight gain, and I've lost a lot since getting on medication to control the medical side effects of it. Now that I'm 6 months pregnant, I feel like a whale again, though I know it's for a wonderful reason.

Overall, I would highly, highly recommend this book for a young library. There weren't many books that focused on weight-related issues when I was a kid, and I think reading about characters like Ellie would have helped me to realize that my big body still held immense value in the world. I also think there's a lot of benefits in having students who may not have weight issues read titles similar to these. My friends didn't understand my self-esteem struggles because they didn't have to deal with the same issues. I think if they had been able to see my perspective through a character, it would have made them a little more empathetic. I would absolutely keep this as a title in a library! 

Word count: 497

Poetry: Change Sings by Amanda Gorman

 I have only heard of Amanda Gorman once before, when she delivered her poem "The Hill We Climb" at Joe Biden's inauguration on January 20, 2021. In watching her speak, I was incredibly moved and inspired. As I looked into her and her website further, I found that we were both born around the same time (she's less than a month older than me!). Seeing someone so accomplished at the same age as me is incredibly impressive, and I couldn't help but be inspired by her incredible writing ability. She seems to write words so freely and powerfully, and learning that she published a children's book definitely perked my interest. I've mentioned it in plenty of blogs prior to this one, but my husband and I have been curating a collection of books in preparation of our son's arrival, and I instantly knew this one would be a necessary addition.

I'm very happy to say that after reading her book, I was absolutely right. Change Sings was written by Amanda Gorman, illustrated by Loren Long, and published in 2021 as Gorman's first children's book. The story and illustrations follow a child who inspires others to make changes for the better with her words, her music, and her actions. She befriends a boy early on, and they move throughout different scenes helping various groups of people with tasks. There is incredible diversity throughout the book, and one line reads, "I also walk our differences, to show we are the same". The various scenes of change include the pair picking up trash, feeding a (presumably) family in poverty, fixing a wheelchair ramp, cleaning and repainting a storefront, and a parade of children playing their instruments as they go. Finally, one illustration shows a large mural that reads "We are the change". The book ends with a request, "We all hear change strumming, won't you sing along?", asking children if they hear the music and want to be part of the change.

I do think this would be an incredible piece to have in any library, as it inspires and shows children that anyone can be the change that the world needs. While the book does include some themes that children may not pick up on, it's a very easy read that can definitely be understood at the surface level. There are some deeper references to the recent political climate that can be addressed, though I don't think that would be very useful to use in teaching this book to children because they may be too far out of their cognitive level. Still, the illustrations make it incredibly easy to understand that despite how difficult it may look to change the world, it can be easy if you put your mind to it and have a support system helping you. Overall, I think it's a wonderful book to read aloud with a class, and the discussions that follow can help young students better understand the content. The poetry flows easily, making it a great way to introduce poetry to young students.

Word count: 508

Nonfiction: The 57 Bus: A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives by Dashka Slater

 The 57 Bus: A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives by Dashka Slater was published in 2017. The book details an incident that happened in Oakland, California on November 4, 2013, in which a student at Oakland High School, Richard, sets the skirt of an agender teenager, Sasha, on fire during a ride home on the 57 bus. Following this incident, Richard is arrested and attempts to cooperate with the police without being accompanied by an adult, stating that he is "homophobic". His willingness to cooperate lands him with multiple felony charges, and he ends up in Juvenile Hall. 

At this time, Sasha is recovering from multiple surgeries due to the injuries sustained from the burns. Richard writes two letters to Sasha in which he attempts to explain himself and apologizes for the prank, but his lawyer makes sure they do not receive them, as they could implicate Richard and be seen as admission of guilt. Richard is ultimately given a plea deal which states that if he displays good behavior while in Juvenile Hall, he will be released before his twenty-first birthday without going to prison as an adult. Sasha finally receives the letters after Richard was in prison for a year, and at the sentencing hearing, their family forgives Richard for the prank and asks for leniency. He is ultimately released after maintaining good behavior, and he manages to earn his diploma and get a job at a non-profit. Sasha ends up attending MIT and excelling despite the incident. 

Overall, I thought it was an incredibly emotional read that was easy to get through and kept me hooked the entire time. I can definitely recommend this book for a high school library, and I think it can be taught in class in multiple ways. It touches on a number of themes that would be relevant for the high school age, including gender identity, the justice system, empathy, and adolescence. It's especially a fantastic look into the justice system, particularly when Richard was attempting to cooperate despite having no lawyer present. He labelled himself as "homophobic" without really understanding what the word meant, and he was charged with a hate crime because of it. He also attempted to help resolve the situation by writing letters which openly admitted guilty. Those letters, if provided to the defendant's family prior to the plea deal, could have sealed a much worse fate for him. It's also incredibly important to discuss the LGBTQ+ community as part of teaching this lesson, as Sasha's identity plays a big role in who they are. Sasha's family also expresses incredible empathy in forgiving Richard and asking for leniency, and they understood it was a prank and not meant to be an attack on Sasha due to their identity. I do think it can be an incredibly powerful piece to utilize when teaching, and I would absolutely recommend it for any high school librarian's collection.

Word count: 492

Traditional Book: The Lion and The Mouse by Jerry Pinkney

 The Lion and The Mouse by Jerry Pinkney is one of the more unique books I've had the opportunity to review! The book is an adaptation of Aesop's fable, though there are no words throughout the entire book. The story solely relies on inferences made from the illustrations, allowing the reader to understand the story through art. I've been reading through tons of children's books recently in attempts to grow my own book collection in preparation for my son's arrival in February, and this book definitely caught my eye as one that should be saved.

The story begins with an incredibly detailed illustration of pride lands. A lion roars in the corner with his lioness, and zebras, giraffes, elephants, ostriches, and a number of other animals roam beneath the trees. It seems like a simple, peaceful morning so far. Following the title page, which shows a small mouse sitting in a lion's footprints, there is another scene with the same mouse sitting on a cluster of rocks under the moonlight with a wolf howling. An owl screeches and chases the mouse down into a hold underground, and he scampers through a small tunnel before returning to the grass above. He finds a comfy place to rest, and it's revealed that he landed on the back of a lion. The lion grabs the mouse with his paws and growls, though he doesn't harm him. He simply lets him down gently, and the mouse returns to its family, happily squeaking to see him again.

The book shows the lion again as he roars at a safari truck rumbling down the road. The hunters set up a net trap, and the lion is caught in it. He struggles to free himself, and the mouse hears him roaring. The mouse eventually makes it to the net, and he bites and gnaws at the ropes until he's able to free the lion from the trap. The lion falls, escapes the hunters, and he and the mouse go their separate ways. The mouse returns to his family of squeaking babies, and the lion returns to his lioness and cubs.

Aside from the book having no words, the one thing that drew my attention and took my breath away was the illustrations. Each page is beautifully done with masterful details, showcasing incredible artistry in ways that make it easy to understand the story despite being unable to read it. It's really incredible how they managed to pack so much story into each illustration. I really believe this would be a great way to encourage students to slow down when reading; instead of reading words and skipping through pages, they would really need to focus on each illustration in order to fully understand the story. They should be encouraged to take their time with each page, absorb the artwork, and really reflect on what they understand is happening. This book is also a great way to bring up the topic of fables, and an entire lesson can be taught on that alone! It's an incredible book that's a perfect example of how picture books can have the same depth that books with words can have.

The Lion and The Mouse is absolutely a book I would recommend to keep in a library. Despite the lack of words, it provides an incredibly rich story that can be utilized to teach various lessons to different grade levels. It should definitely be a library staple, and it's a wonderful reminder of karma and how your kindness can come back to you in the future, though it may be in an entirely unexpected way. 

Word count: 602