Great to have some great reads to start the new year. Most of these titles were published in 2024. Three wonderful titles are verse novels / two wonderful novels are told from a dog’s point of view / one title is a wonderful poetry anthology. Each of these ten books deserve at least a four (out of four) star rating from Dr. Larry.
4 titles are by British authors.
3 titles are by U.S. authors.
3 titles are by Canadian authors.
A DUET FOR HOME by Karina Yan Glaser (2022)
The author has given readers vivid insights into what it means to live in a homeless shelter. The story is centred on 11 year old Chinese girl named June, her young sister Maybelle (who loves dogs), her mother (who mostly stays in bed mourning the loss of her husband. We also learn about Tyrell who has lived in the South Bronx shelter for over 1300 days. June has a special talent for playing the viola (vee-ola) and is determined to practice, practice, practice, despite the rule of having no instruments in the shelter. Tyrell is hopeful that he can learn to play the violin. Music gives these two characters reasons to dream and hope. When a new government policy threatens the residents of Huey House, life for June and Tyrell lead them to take action. The novel is presented in alternating voices of June and Tyrell. A Duet for Home is a special story that examines the circumstances, the trials, and the politics of those who are homeless. It is a story of resilience and optimism.
THE KODIAKS: Home Ice Advantage by David A. Robertson
To start, let me say that I am not a hockey fan. Let me also begin by saying that David A. Robertson knows hockey. The play-by-play description of each of the character’s games is filled with the action, thrills and tensions of the mighty travelling puck. Alex Robinson’s family has moved from their reserve community to Winnipeg. Like any kid on the move, Alex is trying to find a place of belonging and his passion and talent lead him to find purpose when he joins the local hockey team, The Kodiaks. Alex proves himself to be one of the best players, but he also becomes a target because he’s Indigenous. Intentional or not, slurs about his Indigeneity are hurled at Alex and he is challenged with the choice to stand up to the racist jerks or continue to support the team he loves. The discussion of Anti-Indigenous Racism is a notable feature of this exciting story. I’m assured that young hockey lovers would love this book. The Kodiaks (Book One of the Breakout Chronicles) is a marvelous story about being a member of a sports team and I’m assured that any kid who’s participated in a team sport would understand and identify with the joys and frustrations of competition. This is another very special book by a very special author.
Excerpt (p. 180)
“There was going to be somebody at some point, who would say something ignorant. Alex knew that. But he knew, now, that when it did happen, it would be their problem, not his.”
ONE BIG OPEN SKY by Lesa Cline-Ransome / Verse Novel
One Big Open Sky is a remarkable, poignant piece of historical fiction describing the perilous wagon journey in 1879 of the Black Homesteaders movement heading west. The narrative is beautifully revealed in three first-person voices (women) written in exquisite free verse style. Young Lettie is the central character recounting the dangers her family experienced as they trudged forward on a covered wagon from Mississippi to Nebraska. This is a story of opportunity and dreams that emancipated black families, like Lettie’s pursue in order to claim the independence they’ve strived for over generations hoping to own their own plot of land. Readers accompany Lettie, her mother and father and two brothers in their long brave journey experiencing such hardships as hunger, storms, crossing rivers, community and loss. Alongside Lettie’s entries, we get inside the families trials and tribulations through the voice of her mother, Sylvia and a young teacher named Philomena. That the novel digs into the restrictions – and fierce -determination of strong women, adds a special dimension to this story. This novel was awarded a 2025 Newbery Honor book distinguished. I agree that Cline-Ransome’s book is deserved of praise and honours. It is a mighty portrait of survival, emancipation and freedom of what is an underrepresented historical era.
OUT OF THIS WORLD by Michael Rosen / Poetry
This is a grand, brand new collection of poems by beloved British author and former Children’s Laureate, Michael Rosen. The twelve narrative free verse poems (with some splashes of rhyme) inspire thoughtful reflection, particularly when they are drawn from memories of our families. (e.g., The Schoch; Letters; Family Secret). Some poems display Rosen’s creative imagination (e.g. March 30, AD 3528; Time Travel; Red Blood Cell. The final poem, Riddles’, is a brilliant wrap-up of all the pieces we’ve encountered in the book. The black and white drawings by Ed Vere compliment the text. If I were to write a poetry book, I’d love to have Mr. Vere as my illustrator. This collection is subtitled: “Poems to make you laugh, smile and think”. Indeed they are! The title of this anthology is a perfect review of Michael Rosen’s talent. I look forward to reading Out of This World again.
POPCORN by Rob Harrell
“Dedicated affectionately to the anxious, the worried, the stressed, and the generally freaked out.”
Andrew Yaeger is having a terrible horrible no good very bad day. The action of this story takes place in the school day in the life of Andrw who suffers from OCD, anxiety and panic attacks. It’s picture day and this grade seven student has prepared himself to look good for the photo, but is not prepared for all the mishaps that come is way (a flying ketchup bottle, an exploding test tube, an abusive bully and a grandmother who has gone missing. The kernels of corn in Rob’s stomach are getting hotter and hotter until they threaten to pop and create a nightmare for Andrew as the mishaps of the day build and build. Most of the action takes place over the course of a single school day, but that narrativer is interrupted with 1) stories of Andrew’s relationship with his grandmother (G) who has Alzheimer’s and now has taken over Andrews bedroom room and 2) Andrew’s visits to a therapist who helps him deal with his problems. Rob Harrell (Wink) unpacks how a young person deals with mental challenges and remarkably he does so with funny funny stuff. The spot illustrations nd graphic “Anxiety File” graphic panels provide comic relief to Andrew’s woes. Harrell knows what Andrew Yaeger is going through, because he himself was 100 percent a “Kid with Anxiety”. This is a terrific terrific read with an A+ recommendation from Dr. Larry.
REASONS TO LOOK AT THE SKY by Danielle Daniel / Verse novel
I am a fan of Danielle Daniel’s picture books (Sometimes I Feel Like a Fox, Sometimes I Feel Like a River, I’m Afraid, said the Leaf) and was pleased to enjoy her recent publication for Middle Years readers, a novel told in free verse Eleven-year-old Luna is passionate about all things to do with Space. She dreams of becoming an astronaut and hopes to secure a spot at NASA’s space camp for young people. She is especially excited when the science curriculum presents a unit on Space and she is excited about immersing herself into a project that promotes her interests and talents. Disppointment enters Luna’s life when her beloved classroom teacher, is replaced with a substitute teacher, Ms Manitowabi ,who is keen on weaving art into the science program. Changes in her family life and her friendships add to Luna’s woes. Facts about the Solar System, haiku poetry, and learning about Indigenous sky stories are appealing features of Daniel Danielle’s star-filled art-filled novel.
SUPER SLEUTH by David Walliams
Oh, Mr. Walliams you’ve done it again!!. Quirky characters (e.g., Aunt Gladys who hates children; The Black Widow, elderly Norwegian lady; Shariff, Egypt’s superstar sleuth; Frau Frohlich, a German Detective madcap adventures, a body found in a giant blancmange dessert; the afrozen body of a chef (wearing only his undercrackers) trapped found in an iceberg; a nun c coming to the rescue in her bike-o-plane contraption; o and a dynamite plot (i.e., murders aboard a transAtlantic cruise liner). The heroine of our story, is Dilly, who loves cracking cases along with her faithful companion dog named Watson who has been well-trained to sniff out clues. Super Sleuth is yet another page turner from masterful, comical storyteller, David Walliams. In fact, the pages seem to turn themselves as readers join Dilly and Watson aboard the Masquerade Ocean Liner crossing the Atlantic Ocean. Adam Stower’s masterful, comical illustrations add to the fun of reading this novel, particularly with his abelled diagrams of people (e.g., Morosov, the brooding Russian novelist; Sister Ruth, the world’s greatest nun detective), places (e.g., the Masquerade ocean-liner, a submarine), and things e.g, Perfect Place Setting; a whisk murder weapon. Super Sleuth is a super book. Funny, whacky stuff. No wonder Mr. Walliams books have been sold by the millions! And millions!
UNSINKABLE CAYENNE by Jessica Vitalis / Verse novel
Knowing that I enjoy reading verse novels, a friend recommended Unsinkable Cayenne to me. I’m glad she did since this is a story that not only unpacks the complexity of trying to fit in in middle-school, but addresses issues of poverty and classism. The story is set in 1985 in a fictional town in Montana. Cayenne’s family has moved around a lot in their sticker-covered van and because of her sage-burning, free-spirited mother and moody father (suffering from PTSD), Cayenne feels that her life is weird. With the hopes of settling down and finding a job, Cayenne’s father settles the family into a new home. For this seventh-grader it also means that she is challenged of finding a way to fit in with the popular girls, class projects, attending parties and games. and finding a way to hide that her family is living in poverty and can’t pay the rent on their new home. Drawb frin her own family’s transient childhood experiences, Jessica Vitalis a very fine job of revealing the woes that many young adolescents face. Throughout the novel, references are given to birds who serve as symbols for Cayenne’s experiences. The history and fate of the Titanic disaster also plays an important part in helping Cayenne come to terms with what life has dealt her. Thank you for recommending this book, my friend. Unsinkable Cayenne is a special title to add to my Verse novel collection
Excerpt (p. 69)
“In middle school/ there are two choices/fit in/ or stand out. Trust me, you do bnot, want to stand out./ At least not/ for the wrong reasons.”
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SHOUT OUT (Five stasrs *****)
Novels with dog characters have great appeal for middle year readers. Such titles as Where the Red Fern Grows (Wilson Rawls), Sounder (William H. Armstrong), Shiloh (Phyllis Reynolds Naylor), Stone Fox (John Reynold Gardiner) and Because of Winn-Dixie (Kate Di Camillo) can be considered treasured reads for many young people. While visiting London in January I purchased two new novels each story told from the point of views of a devoted dog, each caught up in the perils of war time. Both books were absolutely terrific!
COBWEB by Michael Morpurgo
Although he has written many books over many decades, I first became enamoured with beloved award-winning Michael Morpurgo’s masterful storytelling after reading his celebrated title War Horse. I have since collected a bookshelf of Morpurgo titles and was thrilled to dig into his most recent publication, Cobweb, another story about a brave, loyal dog, set in wartime. The setting is Britain 1815 and the war with Napoleon is threatening the nation. Cobweb lives a contented life on a country farm with Bethan and her father until he is taken away to become a Drover’s dog, herding sheep and cattle for hundreds of miles. Cobweb becomes intwined with the Battle of Waterloo, where he eventually meets up with a heroic soldier who has a might y story to tell. This novel is a heartwarming, adventure story of Loyalty with a capital ‘L’ and Bravery with a capital ‘B’. Cobweb is another incredible story told from the point of view of an animal by an incredible author. I was also comforted by the fact that Michael Foreman illustrated this book. What a team, Morpurgo and Foreman are! Mr. Morpurgo, you are a treasure.
I AM REBEL by Ross Montgomery
Rebel enjoys. as simple life on the farm and is fiercely loyal to how owner, Tom. When war approaches, Tom is determined to join the rebellion to defeat the Kings’ men and chooses to leave behind life on his farm, as well as his faithful dog. Even though Rebel knows that war is dangerous, he will stop at nothing to save the human he loves: “I am here, and that I’ll always be here, because I’m his dog and he’s my boy and I love him.” This is a ‘dog story’ extraordinaire and was the winner of Waterstone’s children’s book of the year, 2024. That recognition caught my eye and I was rewarded with a heartfelt adventure story. I wish I had a junior class to read this novel aloud to. I hope North American readers meet this wonderful wonderful British title. I Am Rebel is a thrilling adventure story, of Loyalty with a capital ‘L’ and Bravery with a capital ‘B’ guaranteed to pull the heart strings. A winner indeed.
Excerpt (p. 230)
“He never even asked me to follow him. He told me not to, Jaxon.”
“Then why are you doing it?”
“Because… “I fumble for words. Because that’s what love is. It pins you to things. It makes you do things that aren’t right or clever or sensible, because you’re not doing them fro you. And that’s exactly what makes them important. Because if you haven’t got something outside of yourself to love, then you might as well be nothing.”
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FYI
The NEWBERY Awards for distinguished contribution to American literature for children were announced on January 27th.
Newbery Medal: THE FIRST STATE OF BEING by Erin Entrada Kelly
Newbery Honors
ACROSS SO MANY SEAS by Ruth Behar
MAGNOLIA UNFOLDS IT ALL by Chanel Miller
THE WRONG WAY HOME by Kate O’Shaugnessy
ONE BIG OPEN SKY by Lesa Cline-Ransome
*LARRY’S CHOICES
AND THEN, BOOM by LIsa Fipps
KAREEM BETWEEN by Shifa Saltagi Safadi
TREE TABLE BOOK by Lois Lowry