Piecing Me Together by Renee Watson

Summary:

Jade creates beautiful art out of ordinary things. She's successful in school and even nominated for a prestigious program. Her mother is supportive, her father is active in her life, and her uncle E.J. brings cheesecake for her birthday. She has good friends to encourage her. But, something is still amiss. Her world is accompanied by the existence of a very real social prejudice. When a 15 year old girl becomes a victim of police brutality and later Jade is asked to hand over her bag at store, this prejudice cannot be ignored. In a world made for people with money, can Jade stay on the path to make a difference in her world? Find out when you pick up Piecing Me Together by Renee Watson, available in your library!

Personal Reflections

I found such truth and beauty in this book. So often I can be blind to social injustice. I associate myself with Sam, not really knowing what to say in certain situations although realizing they do exist. Watson brings these things to life, depicting a somewhat harsh reality but also highlighting on the importance of hope, friendship, and taking a stand. The characters are very believable and relatable. I certainly recommend this book for middle and high school students. Check it out in the library or on Overdrive today!

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein

Summary

Kyle Keeley, a typical twelve year old boy in many ways, spent much of his life playing Mr. Lemoncello's games with his older brothers. He knows them mostly by heart! When the school holds an essay contest for students in his grade, Kyle blows it off until he finds out the prize is overnight access to the coolest library in the world. Even cooler when he finds out its benefactor is none other than Mr. Lemoncello himself! Is it too late for Kyle to join his friends who didn't blow off the contest? Or, by some stroke of luck, could he be one of the chosen twelve? Find out when you pick up this fun-filled mystery/action book in your library!

Personal Reflections

What a fun read! I enjoyed it immensely. I found myself picturing Mr. Lemoncello as a sort of Christopher Lloyd type - wild haired, goofy, full of laughter and cut-ups. I was so jealous of his library because it was so cool! Grabenstein wrapped me in with his depiction of what would obviously be one amazing library - complete with coffee shop, holograms, various statues of all kinds, meeting rooms, video games, and more! Who wouldn't want to spend the night in that place?! If you're looking for a fun book that's not too hard but still keeps you wondering how it all will end, I suggest picking up Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library today - available in your library and on Overdrive!

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sanchez

Summary

While this book encompasses normal teen experiences - growing up, dealing with overprotective parents, preparing for college, friendship, love - it also deals with several difficult experiences such as grief and loss, uncovering one's past, mental illness, and suicide. Sanchez makes it clear she's not afraid to discuss hard topics and believes they need to be discussed. We watch our narrator and main character over the course of two to three years - from the time of her older sister's death until the time she leaves home for college in New York. Julia's dreams of leaving behind her poor Mexican neighborhood and her overprotective, nosy parents are beautifully interwoven with the search for her older sister's true identity and the discovery of what is meant when people tell her her parents "had such a hard life," both of which ultimately help her uncover her own identity as well. We see Julia mostly as a mess - selfish, loud, erupting at things we may see as minute. By the end of the story, however, she is confident and mature, ready to take on the challenges of college and more cognizant of her family and friends and their needs. It is a great story of growing up, overcoming challenges, and learning to see other people for who they really are and not who you assume them to be. Due to content, it is recommended for upper middle to high school students.

Personal Reflections

I really loved this book. The characters were well-developed and relatable. Whereas society tends to shy away from discussing the topics of mental illness and suicide, I applaud authors like Erika L. Sanchez for writing about them. She did this beautifully, giving us insight into the situations that may drive a young teen to attempt suicide, while cautioning readers to pay attention to warning signs of depression and anxiety as contributors. Fortunately, our narrator is saved and overcomes, but the harsh reality is not all who suffer are.

Again, I caution you - the book would be for more mature readers due to language, violence, and content. But, I also encourage you to give this book a try. I listened to it on Overdrive through the public library and found it very enjoyable. Check it out at your library! 

Ghost by Jason Reynolds

Summary:

Meet Ghost, a kid with a troubled past who learned to run when his drunk father tried to shoot his mother and him. Ghost doesn't want to join a team. He enjoys reading about world record setters and eating sunflower seeds from Mr. Charles's store. He's bullied by Brandon because he's poor and can't afford clothes that fit. His mother is a hospital cafeteria worker trying to make ends meet. While at the track, Ghost reveals his secret before an audience in an attempt to prove a point to someone he deems a "show-off." He's super fast. Now, Ghost finds himself a part of the city track team, the Defenders, and on a mission not to get into any more trouble at school. His wardrobe is inferior, his training is inferior, his home is inferior. But, his running . . . Let's just say he's got skills.

Author Jason Reynolds brings us a beautiful story of overcoming obstacles, especially those created by ourselves. Read about this award-winning author here. Ghost is the 2016 National Book Award Finalist. 

Personal Reflections:

This book is full of great lessons, believable characters, action, and life lessons. I enjoyed it immensely and immediately picked up the sequel, Patina, and read it. I am not an athletic person by any means, but I still found great joy in this novel. Jason Reynolds has a beautiful way with words and tells a beautiful story of growing up and discovering who you really are. A quick but delightful book! Check it out in your library today! 

Crossover by Kwame Alexander

Summary:

Meet Josh Bell - lover of all things basketball, son of a renowned NBA player known as Chuck "Da Man" Bell, and recipient of the strange but adopted nickname Filthy McNasty. Josh and his twin brother, Jordan (JB), are the best on their school team. They practice every night with their retired father, who teaches them some of the sneakiest moves in the game - like the crossover. On the surface, you see a story about teen boys who play basketball, but the story goes so much deeper. 

When the new girl, Alexis AKA Miss Sweet Tea, shows up, Josh finds his relationship with his brother changes a little too much. Suddenly basketball isn't all there is for JB. And Josh doesn't like it. Then, his school principal, who happens to be his own mother, suspends him from basketball until further notice, his dad starts exhibiting signs of illness, and his mother tells him they have to start watching what they eat! How much can a teen handle?! As Josh finds his world being turned upside down in some pretty big ways, he also discovers that not everything is how he initially perceived it. And he learns that life can be way too short. 

Personal Reflections:

I recently read Crossover by Kwame Alexander and fell in love with it! He has quickly become one of my favorite authors to read. And, he's releasing a sequel to this book soon! So excited! If you're a fan of basketball, middle school literature full of middle school problems, have a sibling, enjoy poetry, or if you are LIVING, check out this book! It is a very quick read, as the whole novel is written in verse. It's a great book to recommend to anyone who is struggling with relationships, the death of a parent or family member, or for anyone who is trying to figure out this thing called life. Boys and girls alike will love it. And did I mention it's a quick read?! Read up on Kwame Alexander by clicking here. And check out this book and others by visiting your library today!

The Inquisitor's Tale by Adam Gidwitz

Summary: 

The subtitle of this book is Or, The Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog, which pretty much is an accurate depiction of the premise behind Gidwitz's novel. The Inquisitor's Tale is comprised of excerpts told by a somewhat extreme cast of characters who all contribute what they know to the overall bigger story of three "saints," as they are often referred to by the storytellers and their reincarnated (or resurrected) saint of a dog, Gwenforte. The unlikely trio of acquaintances turned friends is William, a dark-skinned boy educated in the monastery, Jeanne, a young girl with gifts that allow her to predict some of life's more scary happenings, and Jacob, a Jew whose village was burned down. These friends embark on a wild, crazy journey filled with action, a farting dragon, giants, witch hunts, and more. Find out what happens when you check out The Inquisitor's Tale by Adam Gidwitz today, available in your library and on Overdrive as an audio book today!

Personal Reflections:

I found this story to be a humorous tale in true Canterbury Tales fashion, although I will have it noted that the story line was completely different. I liked how all of the pieces of the story seemed to come together in the end. I'll admit I found myself wondering exactly when and how this would happen at times. I listened to the book on Overdrive and really enjoyed the cast of characters who performed the reading. It was more like listening to a play than listening to an audio book. Very well read. The most humorous part had to do with the farting dragon, whom Jacob was commissioned to "heal" from sickness, which turned out to be smelly farts that killed (or knocked out) upon contact. I think Gidwitz showed his creativity and boyishness with that part. Overall, I would give it four out of five stars, as some parts were a little on the let's-get-to-the-point side. Still, I'd count it a worthwhile read. Check it out at your library! 

The Key to Extraordinary by Natalie Lloyd

Summary:

A perfect fall story complete with adventure, mystery, friendship, potential treasure, and ghosts? The Key to Extraordinary by Natalie Lloyd has it all! Emma Pearl is a 12 year old girl being raised by her semi-crazy, former-boxer grandmother, Blue, in a house with a downstairs cafe and a graveyard for a backyard. Prior to her death, Emma Pearl's mother presented her with the Book of Days, an old book filled with stories from her ancestors, all of whom dreamed of blue flowers in a field that contained an exciting destiny. Emma knows she is set to have the "destiny dream" at a young age. Her time is typically spent in the cafe with her brother, Topher, or giving graveyard tours to the townsfolk of Blackbird Hollow. When she finally has the destiny dream, she knows it is up to her to save the cafe by finding the phantom treasure she's heard about all her life. Teaming up with her best friend, Cody Belle, and her new friend, Earl Chance, Emma Pearl will encounter mysterious telling vines that just might contain the voices of the dearly departed, interpret the meaning of her mysterious destiny, make a new friend, and learn more about the ghosts in their town than they ever dreamed. Find out if Emma Pearl and her friends find the treasure and save the beloved cafe from Warren Steel and his minions when you pick up The Key to Extraordinary by Natalie Lloyd, available in your library and on Overdrive as an audio book.

Personal Reflections:

I really enjoyed listening to this book. The reader did an excellent job portraying a young, Southern girl. The book had elements of magic, great imagery, and believable characters. The only thing missing was a cup of Boneyard Brew sitting in front of me! My favorite part was when Emma Pearl, Earl Chance, and Cody Bell were heading down a hill and ended up sliding down a muddy trek. The book was humorous but serious - depicting the many attributes of small-town life and the adventures three young friends create. I think most middle school students would enjoy The Key to Extraordinary by Natalie Lloyd.