It’s been great digging into some recent publications, especially those by favourite authors with new releases (Gordon Korman, Kelly Yang, Kwame Alexander, Jerry Craft, Raina Telgemeier, Dusti Bowling).
TWO GREAT CHAPTER BOOKS: Animal Friendships
BAD BADGER: A Love Story by Maryrose Wood; Illus; Giulia Ghigini
I love this novel. I’m often a sucker for books with anthropomorphic characters (e.g., Frog and Toad are Friends, Abel’s Island, The One and Only Ivan, Charlotte’s Web, The Wind in the Willows) Septimus Badger who enjoys sunsets and cheeses and seashells and opera lives quite a contented life living alone. But alone he is. Unbadgerlike he is. Life changes when a gull appears on his windowsill, and though the bird’s vocabulary is reduced to only one word (‘Caw’) the two animals seem to truly understand one another. Oh, joy a friend! But badger and seagull each their differences. Can they really be friends? How does Septimus cope when his best – and only – friend vanishes. He is a gull after all and gulls take flight. Subtitled ‘A love story’, this beautiful novel, beautifully illustrated helps readers think about the joys that life can bring, the special bonds of friendship and love between two characters who enjoy each other, despite different interests. I love Septimus Badger. I love this novel.
ORRIS AND TIMBLE: Lost and Found by Kate DiCamillo
Orris the rat and Timble the owl are friends. Can a rat and owl really be friends? Storytelling is one thing that binds them. One day, Timble doesn’t show up in the barn as expected Timble fears that his owl friend has abandoned him. Spoiler alert Timble, a little more grown up returns to visit his friend and has a lovely story about getting lost to tell his rat friend. Every sentence in this short book is simple and exquisite (e..g., ‘The sun rose and gray dawn turned into day. Light filled the barn.’; ‘From deep inside the velvet slipper, Orris could feel the owl waiting’. He arrived with a great rush of feathers that smelled of nighttime air’. The clarity of dialogue enriches character and setting: “By the light of the stars, by the light of the moon, I will always return.” said the owl.” Each word is perfectly chosen. But that’s no surprise – Kate DiCamillo is a storytelling genius . Mok’a beautiful illustrations are story moments unto themselves (Lonely Orris gazing into the night sky longing for his friend; Oris crawling in a velvet slipper; Owl hovering over a country landscape; Orris and Timble reunited underneath the gaze of a crescent moon), Lost and Found is the second book in trilogy (Book One: Orris and Timble: The Beginning).
TWO GREAT VERSE NOVELS
AWAY by Megan E. Freeman (Verse novel)
Away is a companion to the novel, Alone, where readers first encountered the story of evacuations in the state of Colorado. Alone centred on the story of Maddie who was left to survive on her own. In this book, we are introduced to four young teenagers who ended up in an emergency relocation camp. Each of the characters has a story to reveal about their experiences: Harmony works on a zine to report events; Teddy is passionate about the world of movies and is determined to create a documentary of events; Grandin is separated from his father and is anxious to be be reunited with him; Ashanti, draws on her knowledge of mythical characters and along with her mother who is a doctor, brings strength and wisdom to unpacking the mystery of their circumstances. The novel is presented in free-verse style, presented as voices of each of the character (in different font styles). Much of the narrative is told in movie script form when characters are brought together. Like the characters in the story, readers question the of the evacuation, casting doubts that this might all be a hoax: (How did this evacuation happen? Why are people being quarantined? How widespread is the danger? Why Colorado? What does the future bring?) Harmony, Teddy, Grandin and Ashanti endeavour to uncover what’s really behind the threat and are challenged to reveal their investigations to expose the truth. (“What’s truth? What’s fiction? In the absence of facts, everything adds up to nothing at all.” (p. 260) References to The Wizard of Oz are cleverly filtered throughout the novel. And yes, like the first novel, a dog (Popcorn) plays an important part in helping the characters to bond together. The novel is aptly chunked into different sections to help frame the sequencing of events (e.g., ‘Build Up’, ‘Evacuation’, ‘Shelter’, ‘Acclimation’ etc.). The free-verse and transcript style not only helps to reveal characters worries and hopes but serves to make Away a fast paced, mystery adventure.
THE TROUBLE WITH HEROES by Kate Messier (Verse novel)
This is a beautifully written verse novel that explores the themes of grief, perseverance and accomplishing goals. Finn Connelly’s father was a firefighter but his death two years ago has left Finn bereft and determined to learn more about his father who was deemed a hero, especially after his 9/11 rescue feats. Early in the novel we learn that Finn has been caught knocking over a headstone, which happens to have been tag of a legendary mountain climber. The woman’s daughter agrees to drop charges if the 7th grader agrees to climb all forty-six Adirondack Peaks in the summer months. He will have a dog to keep him company and meet other climbers to help guide him. Accomplishing the task would mean the he fulfills school requirements to pass Phys Ed and writing poetry for English classes. The physical endurance of climbing the mountains will satisfy his needs to pass Phys Ed. Writing poetry, in a variety of forms under the topic of heroes will help him pass English. The novel depicts the wild adventures and tribulations (mud, bridges tricky rocks) that Finn endures while climbing mountain trails. Arriving at each peak, Finn can see for miles and he comes to a better understanding of his father – and himself. Kate Messier’s choice to write a verse novel allows her to step into Finn’s hiking boots and create journal entries that describe the challenges he faces, mountain to mountain. The novel is also filtered throughout with chocolate cooke recipes, letters choose your own adventure narratives, text messages and photographs (a worthy attempt, but, alas, not presented with clarity). This is a special novel that unpacks a variety of emotions (for both the protagonist and the reader), the importance of remembrance and the challenge of adolescents growing into their authentic selves.
NOTE
The Adirondack Forty-Sixers (The 46ers) are an organization of hikers who have climbed all fort six of the recognized High Peaks of the Adirondack Mountains in Northeastern New York State. To date there are over 15,000 registered 46ers, The author, Kate Messier is one of them.
Excerpts
“Climbing isn’t about reaching the top. / It’s about pushing past limits / of what you thought you could do, If you never fall, never fail, you’re not growing, / you know?” (p.97)
“There’s no good path – just a bad way and a worse way – so you might as well choose one and get started.” (p. 259)
TWO GREAT SEQUELS
THE BEAT I DRUM by Dusty Bowling
The title of this book caught my attention. I was pleased to discover that this was the third book in a trilogy by the talented Dusti Bowling. We first met Conor Bradley who was the best friend of Aven Green from the wonderful novel Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus. Conor has Tourette syndrome and every day poses challenges, particularly now that he has entered high school. Like many teenagers, is full of negatives and positives Two things are particularly stressful for Conor: 1) A school bully and 2) a strained relationship with his father who had been absent and now reappears in his life. Two things bring Conor pleasure: 1) a new group of friends who each have an issue with being an outcast and 2) learning to play the drums from a caring teacher which helps him to deal with his tics and barking outbursts. As a young teenager, Conor is growing to better accept the reality his syndrome where his brain just does what it wants resulting in uncontrollable barking and blinking. Mounting pressures with family and deep anger stall Conor from finding the beat he drums. This novel helps readers to better understand the realities of living withTourette syndrome, the power of music and the meaning of forgiveness as they enter the world of Conor Bradley. Like her other two novels in the trilogy, Dusti Bowling has written an engaging heartfelt book with an authentic empathetic character. Highly recommended.
CHEF’s SECRET by Kelly Yang
Kelly Yang’s first title in the Front Desk series was released in 2018. Chef’s Secret is Book #6 in the series where attention is given to the character of Jason Yao, a talented young chef. Jason is now in eight grade and his friendship with Mia Tang is blossoming into a romantic relationship but now he is troubled with 1) planning the first perfect date, 2) about his father who is eager to become a member of the local country club 3) trying to make guy friends his own age 4) helping Mia and her family solve the problem of a leaky roof and 5)living with the secrets and fibs he tells in order to get others to like him. (He is not being considered for a Michelin star: he was responsible for once stealing money). Kelly Yang does a fine job of telling a story with humour and with conveying the thoughts and feelings of middle age students. She is also very clever at weaving in episodes from previous novels to satisfy readers who have followed along with Mia and her friends since the first book. Still, Chef’s Secret works as a stand-alone book. Yang seems dedicated to publishing a Front Desk book once a year. Bravo Kelly Yang!
TWO GREAT BOOKS ABOUT WRITING AND ILLUSTRATION GRAPHIC STORIES
THE CARTOONISTS CLUB by Raina Telgemeier and Scotty McDonald
Best selling comic artists Raina Telgemeier (Smile, Drama, Ghosts) and Scott McCloud (Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art) have collaborated to present a love-letter to the art of writing and illustration graphic stories. This comic book about comic books is designed to give readers insights into the process of paging ideas and imagination through illustration and words. A group of four come together meet weekly to share their talents, frustrations and knowledge and creativity to make comics that will please others (and themselves. Each member of The Cartoonists Club has a unique perspective to share: Makayla enjoys inventing stories, Howard loves to draw, Lynda is a talented artist but very critical of her own work, and Art is excited about anything that feeds his creative spirit. Tips are given for creating facial expressions, postures, frames and thumbnail sketches, and growlixes and plewds (comic symbols). Telgemeir and McDonald have certainly succeeded in giving comic enthusiasts information and inspiration to grow in their cartoonist endeavours.
J vs K by Kwame Alexander and Jerry Craft
Jerry Craft won the Newbery Medal in 2020 for his graphic novel New Kid. Kwame Alexander won the Newbery Medal in 2015 for his verse novel, The Crossover. These two remarkable authors have teamed up to write J vs K (J=Jerry; K+Kwame). Fifth graders, J & K are both keen on entering the school’s annual storytelling contest which entails a rivalry between a brilliant artist and writer and talented writer (K). The voice of each character is presented in alternate chapters. This is one funny book that features illustrated pages, comics (J), poetry (K) transcripts of dialogue; highlighted ‘new’ vocabulary (.e.g. tremulous, serendipity, preposterous ; punny ‘Dad jokes’ and Author Notes that are humorous comments to the reader (“Not sure if ‘whisper-asked’ is a real thing. in fact, but Jerry wrote it, and you know words aren’t really his thing.”), Throw in episodes that involve reading to a rambunctious grade one class; a funeral for two frogs, Hoppy and Poppy; a basketball game against older kids; not-to-be followed rules for writing and illustrating; a special writer’s ostrich hat; a punny school chef, (named Mr. Alexander) whose specialities include Chicken, Chicken, Boom, Boom; A Crinkle in Thyme, The One and Only I-Flan and a tiny elephant partially puking up a plane and you’ve got one funny funny ‘J-Enius’ book. J & K’s are rivals throughout, but Jerry and Kwame are surely GREAT friends who have worked together to create this GREAT – hilarious – book. More J & K please!
TWO GREAT BOOKS BY ONE GREAT CANADIAN AUTHOR
OLD SCHOOL by Gordon Korman
As of this writing, Gordon Korman has written over 105 books. This is one prolific. author. This is one terrific author. I haven’t read all of his books Iwhich have sold over 30 million copies, translated into 30 languages) but for the past several years I have been keen to dig into his recent publications (Ungifted, The Fort, The Superteacher Project and Linked (a must-read). Old School is another great novel by a great author who really knows kids, and what kids like. When he wa6 years of age, Dexter Foreman’s parents left him to live with his grandmother at the Pines retirement village and these circumstances gave Dexter a solid homeschooled background amongst the residents of the seniors’ home. All was going well, until a truancy officer comes to ensure that Dec enrol in the local middle school. How will this clever 7th grader who dresses like a grandpa fit into the culture of public schooling. Dexter comes to make friends with others, especially Gianna Gresco who is a reporter for the school newspaper. Dexter is smart and dexterous (!). At school he becomes Mr. Fixit, a foreman (!) of sorts who with the help of his handy dandy Swiss Army knife volunteers to repair a damaged staircase, a water fountain and the coffee machine in the teachers’ lounge. Dexter Forman is coming to fit in to the school environment and deal with bullies, but he ends up getting suspended unaware of what rules he’s broken (i.e. Swiss Army Knife.) Returning to The Pines is fine and dandy with Dexter where he can continue to learn from his ‘old friends’ especially 99 year old, Leo, who was once a code breaker in World War 2. The novel is organized into chapters, each centred on a different character’s voice, a style that has become common to the author. This is a captivating, humorous story of a Seventh grade hero. You can’t help but root for this twelve year old – going on eighty character. Hooray, hooray! for for Dexter Forman. Hooray, hooray! for Gordon Korman (who probably has written more books by the time you read this.) I hope so.
SNOOP by Gordon Korman
Twelve year old Carters legs get damaged during a ski trip (his litle brother crashed into him while coming down a slope and now Carter, wearing a cast on each leg is forced to stay home. What’s a guy to do? Carter is addicted to his devices and to conquer boredom, he starts checking the lives feeds from cameras around town. One thing leads to another as Carter becomes obsessed spying on classmates, citizens and suspicious characters as they go about their business. Carter is in fact a ‘Snoop’ with a capital ‘S’. When he discovers some unusual activity involving endangered animals (e.g., . a snow leopard, a tree kangaroo, a red panda, a bonobo), the tweenager decides to take things into his own hands with the help of his mother’s drone. This is another fun fun fun novel from Gordon Korman, but underneath the adventure and humour there is a theme of significance he explores. In this case, Snoop explores young people’s obsession with their phones and computers, the idea of hacking and the potential danger of how media can lead to secret snooping. This is great read for middle years readers.
“It’s like there’s a whole other side to life I never even knew existed before I broke my legs. It’s full of secret plots and restaurant wars and animals on the street that should be thousands of miles away… The best thing that’s happened since my accident has been discovering there are. resources out there that an bring you practially any piece of information you can dream of.” (p. 70-71)