Dystopian stories about how Earth’s environment will be unlivable in the future are plentiful. Chapter books for young people about what we can do now are few. Carl Hiaasen and Louis Sachar have successfully broached the topic, and now Amy Sarig King’s latest book, Me and Marvin Gardens, joins the list.

Told from 11-year-old Obe Devlin’s point of view, the story is immediately accessible as readers are drawn into his world. We understand Obe’s anguish as he watches the fields he played in become new housing developments. We sympathize with his efforts to keep the trash out of the little creek that still runs through his family’s property. When Obe discovers a strange new creature that eats plastic (he names him Marvin Gardens), we know that he and his best friend, Annie Bell, will find a way to share the secret, even if they are not sure of that themselves.

King (who writes award-winning young adult books as A.S. King) captures the heart of a young boy without making the prose too simplistic. Obe is a sophisticated storyteller but still a believable sixth-grader. Readers will find many interesting themes in this story—some subtle and some not so much—to discuss and wonder about for many years to come.

Jennifer Bruer Kitchel is the librarian for a Pre-K through 8th level Catholic school.

This article was originally published in the February 2017 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.

Richard Loving and Mildred Jeter just want to hold hands without drawing stares, be married and raise their children in their home state of Virginia. “What is so difficult about that?” Richard asks in Loving vs. Virginia, Patricia Hruby Powell’s novel about the real-life couple’s groundbreaking civil rights case. Told in free verse, it alternates between the voices of Mildred, who is black and Native American, and Richard, who is white.

Their story opens in 1952, when the two youths and their families shared meals in Central Point, a rural town that was more integrated than the rest of the state of Virginia, where miscegenation laws still ruled. While Mildred and Richard’s affection for one another came easily, their courtship met with racism. And when pregnancy prompted the pair to marry in 1958, they were forced to drive to Washington, D.C., where they could be legally wed.

After returning to Virginia, the newlyweds were arrested and sentenced to expulsion from Virginia for 25 years. The heartfelt novel describes the sadness, fear and prejudice that invaded their lives until their case went before the Supreme Court and was overturned unanimously in 1967.

Interspersed period photographs, quotes and historical facts add greater impact to the Lovings’ personal story and legal challenges, which paved the way for interracial marriage throughout the country. Above all, the Lovings live up to their name as Powell describes their romance and dedication as much as their role in history.

This article was originally published in the February 2017 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.

In the Second World, Kinchen and her brother, Pip, live with their adopted grandfather, Old Ren, on the islands. Pip has the gift of talking to fish, but he cannot recognize faces and has trouble in social situations, so Kinchen is constantly shielding him. The Raft King, leader of the traveling nation of Raftworld, needs Pip’s talents to help with a mysterious plan. He tricks Kinchen and takes Pip to sea, leaving behind a Raftworld girl named Caesar. While Kinchen and Caesar make a plan to follow Raftworld and retrieve Pip, Pip finds he enjoys his new independence and the opportunity for adventure. Meanwhile, in the First World, a small group—including young Thanh and his sister, Sang—make the risky decision to escape war-torn South Vietnam in a small boat. And two centuries in the past, a pair of twins named Venus and Swimmer lead their people from danger to safety using their watery gifts.

H.M. Bouwman’s second novel is a magical journey through three tales of separation and reunion, family and friendship. Bouncing between the three main stories, A Crack in the Sea maintains momentum thanks to a consistent narrative voice and beautiful ink illustrations by Yuko Shimizu. With a whimsical but sage narrator, vulnerable but courageous characters and a remarkable conclusion, A Crack in the Sea is constantly engaging and enlightening. The extremely serious story at the heart of the novel, along with its sophisticated world-building, make this the rare middle grade book that could also appeal to higher age groups, including teens.

Sally Christie’s middle grade debut is a fantastic and relatable novel of loneliness, unlikely friendships and the catastrophic effects of bullying.

Alex, like so many adolescents, goes to school every day plagued by the fear of being tormented by his peers. In order to deal with this fear, Alex has devised a simple strategy that he believes will minimize the effects of the bullying: Don’t react. Don’t let them get a rise out of you, don’t let them see the hurt and anger they cause, and you just might get away unscathed. This is Alex’s strategy, and he believes it’s foolproof. However, one of his classmates, David, holds the opposite strategy and suffers the consequences that Alex fears. Because of this, David is the last person that Alex wants to get involved with. However, there are variables at play that are out of Alex’s control, and when a mysterious message about a flying boy starts to travel through the school, Alex sets out on a journey to unmask the culprit, and along the way he will have to break out of his comfort zone in ways that he never thought possible.

This is a classic story that adults will recognize as part of their past, and that kids will find comforting as they enter into the stage of their lives when fear and bullying are often a daily reality. Heartbreaking in its honest and unflinching depiction of the pain that often accompanies the adolescent years, The Icarus Show ultimately offers the most encouraging message of all: You are not alone.

Readers will enjoy a rapid ride through history in Death on the River of Doubt as Theodore Roosevelt, his son Kermit, explorer Colonel Cândido Rondon and a jungle-hardened crew explore an uncharted river in Brazil’s Amazonian rainforest. In 1913-14, these explorers spent nearly four months surveying the river, during which time Roosevelt also planned to collect wildlife specimens for the American Museum of Natural History.

The expedition started with severe losses, as the team was forced to ditch supplies as mules and oxen died of starvation. This was just the beginning of travails for the crew. In one gripping moment, two canoes became pinned between river rocks, and Roosevelt rushed into piranha-infested waters to help free the boats, gouging his leg in the process. As Roosevelt’s leg wound and a malarial infection brought him near death, he begged Rondon to leave him behind. 

Author Samantha Seiple adds realism to the story through explorers’ journal entries and photographs. In his darkest moments, Roosevelt may have doubted his expedition and his own survival, but there is no doubt that this middle grade read earns high marks for historical accuracy and adventure.

This article was originally published in the January 2017 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.

“We live in a time when life is hard for many people. Yet there is reason to hope and to dig deep for the strength hidden inside of us.” From award-winning poet Nikki Grimes comes this prophetic statement, which introduces One Last Word, a collection that combines Harlem Renaissance poetry with clever, thought-provoking and intricately formed poems of her own. 

Grimes begins her book with reflections on the notable poets of the early 20th-century Harlem Renaissance, which includes Countee Cullen, Zora Neale Hurston, Langston Hughes and other lesser-known poets, especially emerging women writers. They wrote about race, humanity’s role in the universe, anger, beauty and more. Grimes’ collection couldn’t come at a better time, as she notes: “These literary lights, writing at a time when the lynching of black men filled the news, were more than familiar with racial profiling, racial violence and every variety of injustice imaginable. Yet they ascended to great heights in spite of it all.”

In addition to their words ringing true, the real forte of this book are Grimes’ “golden shovel” poems, a challenging form in which she takes a line (or in some cases, a whole poem) and pens a new creation using the words from the original. Her poems are freshly made while echoing her predecessors.

Interspersed with colorful artwork from Sean Qualls, Christopher Myers, Javaka Steptoe and other lauded African-American illustrators, this is an important and timely poetry collection.

This article was originally published in the January 2017 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.

Life has been challenging for 10-year-old Cadence Mariah Jolly ever since her mother disappeared to pursue her musical dreams. As Cadence desperately yearns for her missing mom, she nurses her own musical and literary dreams in Sherri Winston’s heartfelt novel.

In a book brimming with musical allusions, Cadence lives in Harmony, Pennsylvania, and plans to become a “No.1 Bestselling Author of Amazing Stories.” Meanwhile, not even her family or best friends realize that she’s a gifted singer like her mom. Cadence—so shy that people call her Mouse—is trying hard to summon the gumption to change that.

Opportunity presents itself through youth choir auditions at Cadence’s lively, bustling church. Winston weaves occasional biblical references throughout the novel but still manages to create a story for all creeds and colors—a rare feat indeed. Too timid to audition in person, Cadence posts an anonymous video that soon goes viral, with news outlets vying frantically to identify the mysterious “Gospel Girl.” Ultimately, Cadence faces the agonizing choice of being true to herself or betraying one of her best friends.

Winston has a superb knack for creating intriguing middle school relationships, natural dialogue and an entire village of believable, multicultural characters. The Sweetest Sound is a deftly written saga that reads like a small symphony.

This article was originally published in the January 2017 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.

BookPage Children's Top Pick, January 2017

A young man spends his summer being shut out of basketball games and learns a valuable lesson about persistence. Choctaw storytelling traditions keep a family in stitches, in between eye rolls. A girl’s anger when her father allows an injustice to stand shifts as she realizes he’s gently changing the world on her behalf. These stories and more fill Flying Lessons & Other Stories, and each unique journey reinforces the notion that diversity in publishing is not just welcome but vital.

The anthology, edited by We Need Diverse Books co-founder Ellen Oh, doesn’t limit itself to the here and now. Grace Lin’s fable “The Difficult Path” describes indentured servant Lingsi’s unexpected journey out of servitude in ancient China, a life made possible because she’s a rare commodity: a female who can read. Debut author Kelly J. Baptist sets much of “The Beans and Rice Chronicles of Isaiah Dunn” in a public library, where Isaiah escapes his difficult home life and disappears into the notebook his late father left behind. Stories by Kwame Alexander, Tim Federle, Jacqueline Woodson and the late Walter Dean Myers, to whom the book is dedicated, never let the reader stay in one place too long . . . and that’s the point.

By turns quick and funny, thoughtful and heartbreaking, Flying Lessons & Other Stories will expand your worldview in quick, addictive bites. Prepare for liftoff and enjoy.

This article was originally published in the January 2017 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.

Misty Copeland, the first female African-American principal dancer in the history of the American Ballet Theater, brings her story to life in this special young readers edition of her autobiography.

Though her talent is unparalleled, Copeland’s journey to stardom in the classical ballet world was not easy. While most ballerinas begin lessons at 3 or 4 years old, Copeland came to the ballet world much later, at the age of 13. Despite this late start and the added challenge of an unstable home life, Copeland’s natural talent was apparent from her first day in a ballet class at her local Boys & Girls Club. Dubbed a prodigy by her teachers, Copeland was going en pointe, the technical term for dancing on the tips of your toes, after just three months of lessons, a technique that takes most young dancers years to master.

Young girls and boys alike will be captivated by Copeland’s story of hard work and perseverance, and encouraged to pursue their own dreams no matter what obstacles may stand in their way. Through spare yet beautiful language, Copeland shares both the hardships and triumphs of her journey in a simple yet honest way that younger readers will be able to easily comprehend. While Copeland’s illustrious career is certainly inspirational, this biography allows readers to peak behind the curtain of glamour and fame and get to know the true story of one of the world’s most famous ballerinas. Rather than skipping over the struggles along the way, Copeland relates them with grace and transparency, creating a genuine account of her impressive life that is sure to motivate young and old alike. 

James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein pen the perfect animal lover’s story in their new middle grade collaboration.

When a mischief of mice must run for their lives, all are caught, except for Isaiah. Frightened and feeling very much alone without his 96 siblings, Isaiah is unaware that he will have to face his fears as he sets off for uncharted territory. He is not your typical mouse, though. Besides his sky-blue fur and ability to read, Isaiah is a bit of an etymologist. His love for words and their origins work to his advantage when he gets involved with another horde and makes friends with Hailey, a human. The serendipitous connections present an opportunity for Isaiah to save his family, and only time will determine whether or not he is brave enough to execute his plan.

Patterson and Grabenstein have produced a coming-of-age story replete with human-interest issues. No doubt Isaiah, their protagonist who often speaks directly to his audience, understands the fears that many middle grade readers experience on a daily basis. Without using specific terminology, the author duo uses Isaiah and Hailey to address issues such as bullies, self-esteem and, most importantly, xenophobia. Patterson and Grabenstein’s portrayal of the latter is nothing less than stellar, as Isaiah and Hailey have to find ways to survive in a world that is uncomfortable with differences.

Each chapter opens with Isaiah’s golden nugget aphorisms and closes with a cliffhanger, and laced throughout are Joe Sutphin’s dramatic and animated pencil sketches. With plenty of unexpected everything from beginning to end, Word of Mouse is not only bound to be a favorite among middle schoolers, but also an inimitable classic.

The world has ended. A small group of children survive in a ranch surrounded by desert. They have been saved, their Teacher explains, because they are brilliant and special. The children themselves are not so convinced of this. To each other, they seem a ragtag bunch, plagued with peculiar obsessions. One of the girls, 12-year-old Eider, is haunted by memories of a girl named Robin, whom Teacher said was imaginary. A boy named Finch strains to remember how to construct a radio and is certain there is still something in the beyond. When Teacher begins testing the children in Extrasensory, with the intention of discovering which child is the most gifted, a new uneasiness comes between them. Just when Eider begins to cast aside old dreams of Robin and a world beyond, she and Finch make a discovery that changes everything.

The simplicity of Kirsten Hubbard’s storytelling works well with the limited understanding of the children’s situation. Clues of a world beyond creep in and out of the narrative as easily as half-remembered dreams, keeping the reader as hesitant and suspicious as the children themselves. The story has a creepy edge similar to that in The Giver, allowing readers to imagine a truth that could be dreadful or benign. For that reason, the abrupt ending can be forgiven, since it draws the suspense out until the very last page. This is a good recommendation for young fans of Margaret Peterson Haddix or Suzanne Collins. 

Diane Colson is the Library Director at City College in Gainesville, Florida.

These days, when discussing the subject of World War II in middle school classrooms, American teachers are sure to include the history of the Japanese internment camps in the United States and the result of the U.S. decision to use atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. What might be missing is a book that examines the life of a “hibakusha”—a survivor of these bombings. With Caren Stelson’s new book, Sachiko: A Nagasaki Bomb Survivor’s Story, the void is more than adequately filled.

Sachiko Yasui was only 6 years old on August 9, 1945, when she lived with her family in Nagasaki. Stelson’s narrative gently takes readers through her whole life, offering exquisite little details but also keeping it simple. As a survivor, Sachiko now tours Japan giving talks on her history and her desire for peace. Stelson includes sidebars and insets that provide further history and rounds it all out with photos of the war and of Sachiko.

Wonderfully written, easy to read and highly informative, this book should be a must-have for every school library. It includes a glossary, endnotes, bibliography and index.

Jennifer Bruer Kitchel is the librarian for a Pre-K through 8th level Catholic school.

Prejudice. Hate. Fear. Farting dragons? Though Adam Gidwitz’s The Inquisitor’s Tale often careens into the absurd, it is rooted in the reality of the outcast. Grounded in the perennial quest to see beyond one’s self and social group, to grasp the common humanity of all—particularly those branded as other and lesser-than—The Inquisitor’s Tale is a rare page-turner, both humorous and profound.

Drawing on myths and historical figures, The Inquisitor’s Tale recounts the adventures of three misfits: William, a mixed-race monk in training who possesses superhuman strength; Jeanne, a peasant girl who has visions of the future; and Jacob, a Jewish boy who can heal mortal wounds with plants and prayer alone. Along with their resurrected dog, Gwenforte, these three outcasts take on a dyspeptic dragon, a fanatical Bishop and a monarchy hell-bent on burning every last Talmud in France.

Fast-paced and thought-provoking, Gidwitz’s well-plotted tale overcomes its only failing—a cast of diverse narrators whose voices sound, essentially, alike—with a wealth of humor and a story so compelling you won’t care who’s telling it. Slyly crafty, Gidwitz’s prose is sparse yet densely descriptive. Coupled with Hatem Aly’s whimsical “illuminations,” which mark nearly every other page of text, this action-packed tale of the oneness of humanity will captivate readers, young and old alike.