#WNDB Wednesday: the Treasure of Maria Mamoun and Summer Showers

Posted on November 30, 2016 by Katy K.

An island mystery – and cupcakes for the county fair.  What could be better?

cover of The Treasure of Maria Mamoun by ChalfounThe Treasure of Maria Mamoun by Michelle Chalfoun. Farrar Straus Giroux, 2016.
Maria Theresa Ramirez Mamoun lives with her mother Celeste in New York City.  When her mother finally realizes how bad the bullies in the building are, she takes a nursing job on a tiny New England island, where they can stay in a cottage on the property of wealthy Mr. Ironwall.  Maria starts looking into an old treasure map she finds wedged in her attic bedroom, and reluctantly makes her first friends in Brutus, Mr. Ironwall’s dog, Mr. Ironwall himself, and Paolo, the housekeeper’s son.  Together, Paolo and Maria restore a sailboat and try to decode the clues on the treasure map, while avoiding the bullies that crop up even on isolated islands.  It’s filled with the joy of exploring nature and good food, from Celeste’s Lebanese cooking to the seafood and cinnamon rolls of the island.  Nature and friendship helping a scarred child recover aren’t new themes, but the issues are fresher and I will probably never tire of stories of introverts finding safe places to unfold and make friends.

 

Summer Showers by Kate HanniganSummer Showers. Cupcake Cousins Number 2 by Kate Hannigan. Illustrated by Brooke Boynton Hughes. Scholastic, 2015.
I read this second Cupcake Cousins book aloud to my daughter following the first one.  She’s much more interested in realistic fiction than my son, and this series, set in our own state of Michigan and featuring a perfect blend of fun and real-life issues is perfect.  This time, the story of two best-friend cousins is told from the perspective of Delia, originally from Detroit, and the more responsible of the two cousins.  Willow may like to take life as it comes, but Delia notices and plans and worries.  A year after the first book, Delia’s father is now a full-time artist with his art hanging in the new Arts and Eats Café – but so far, the out-of-the-way gallery and café isn’t attracting much notice.  Would entering something in the upcoming county fair help? The family is gathered this summer not only for their traditional Saugatuck vacation, but also to have a baby shower for Aunt Rosie and Uncle Jonathan, whose wedding was the highlight of the previous summer. Delia and Willow of course want to showcase their baking skills at the shower – but since Willow’s hurt her hand in karate, everyone seems to think they won’t be baking anything.  Can they throw Aunt Rosie and Uncle Jonathan a fabulous baby shower, save little Sweet William and his ever-growing menagerie from thunderstorm trauma, and put the Arts and Eats Café on the map?  Don’t tell my daughter, but the third and final volume in this series, Winter Wonders, will be under the tree for her.  Maybe we’ll even find the time to try some of the recipes over break. Winter Wonders by Kate Hannigan

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The Birchbark House and The Game of Silence

Posted on November 23, 2016 by Katy K.

For the past 14 years, I have recommended this series to every family that’s come to me asking for something to read after reading the Little House books. This year, I finally started the series myself.  I am so glad I did!


book cover: The Birchbark House by Louise ErdrichThe Birchbark House by Louise Erdrich. HarperCollins, 1999.
In this book we are introduced to seven-year-old Omakayas, Little Frog, and her Ashinabe/Ojibwa family as they journey through the year in their village on Lake Superior.  It’s a warm, loving family consisting of Omakayas’ parents, her grandmother, her too-beautiful teenage older sister Angeline, her annoying five-year-old brother Pinch, and sweet baby Neewo. Though the book copy doesn’t make any comparisons to those books, it has such a similar feel, the journey through a year with a family illustrated in soft pencil drawings, that I couldn’t help doing so.  It’s set earlier than the Little House books, when there is still only minimal contact with whites – but enough that the dreaded small pox makes its way through.  I remember reading a factual look at the Little House books in high school and learning that Laura left out mention of her deceased siblings.  Erdrich is more honest, and even though this is very difficult, it’s important.  Amazingly, despite the heartbreak, the overall feeling of the book is loving and hopeful.  My son’s favorite part of the Little House books was the descriptions of the technology and the methods for making the things they needed – those kinds of things are here, too, but of course different.  Descriptions of the beauty of nature are present in both, as are stories from a beloved family member – in The Birchbark House, mostly from the grandmother.  Omakayas’s family is also tightly connected with the surrounding community.  No matter how many times I stopped the Little House CDs to discuss the unjustly negative portrayals of the Native Americans there, me saying that the portrayal is racist and untrue doesn’t build any kind of positive portrayal in its place.  Whether you want to branch out beyond the Little House books, are looking for a sensitive portrayal of a historical Ashinabe family from an Ashinabe author, or want a look at the time period that avoids the problems of the Little House books, or just want some beautiful, well-written historical fiction, this is an excellent series.   

The Game of Silence by Louise ErdrichThe Game of Silence by Louise Erdrich. HarperCollins, 2005.
We rejoin Omakayas and her family two years later, in a story that’s a pleasing mix of big events and observations of daily life.  Omakayas is trying to decide when it will be the right time for her to undertake her dream journey, when she will spend nights alone in the woods with her face painted black, waiting for the spirits to speak to her.  Maybe the spirits are trying to speak to her now – but Omakayas isn’t yet ready to listen.  Word comes that their people may be forced west, towards the hostile and violent Bwaanag people, and this rumor is confirmed when a large group of starving refugees arrives by canoe from father east.  Omakayas’s family adopts a baby, while her cousins take in a boy Omakayas’s age whom she names the Angry One.  The Game of Silence comes as the adults get together to discuss what to do about the changes they see coming, and set out a variety of tempting prizes for the children who can stay silent the longest.  Meanwhile, Angeline shocks Omakayas by deciding to go to the school run by white people in town. As in the previous book, even when outside events are difficult, the strength of family and community carry through, while Omakayas herself grows and finds her place within them.

Further books in this series are The Porcupine Year, Chickadee, and (just out this year) Makoons.  While this is an excellent series, we need more!  My daughter’s 2/3 class is reading The Birchbark House now, and I read them the beautiful contemporary picture book Jingle Dancer by Cynthia Leitich Smith to help balance the historical setting of the former.  On my radar in the middle grade category is In the Footsteps of Crazy Horse   by Joseph Marshall, recommended by both Debbie at American Indians in Children’s Literature and Brandy at Random Musings of a Bibliophile.  I’d love to hear if you have any more recommendations for Native children’s books, especially fantasy.

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The Lioness and the Spellspinner

Posted on November 21, 2016 by Katy K.

Elements from many different fairy tales combine in this story that works as a prequel to Mahoney’s “Twelve Dancing Princesses” retelling The Storyteller and Her Sisters.  If you missed it, be sure to read my latest interview with Cheryl.

The Lioness and the Spellspinners by Cheryl MahoneyThe Lioness and the Spellspinners by Cheryl Mahoney. Stonehenge Circle Press, 2016.
The life of peace- and yarn-loving Forrest is disrupted by the sudden arrival of an armed and trousers-wearing young woman in his family’s barn.  He doesn’t trust her at all – but his family seems determined to welcome her.  For her part, Karina doesn’t trust people who are as open and welcoming as Forrest’s mother and gaggle of younger sisters.  His distrust seems much more appropriate.  But when random bits of magic start appearing around the farm – the horse starts speaking in rhyme, the eggs have gold-plated shells – Karina and Forrest reluctantly team up to figure out what to do.  Soon the trouble that Karina was running from catches up to both of them – trouble that could have horrific consequences for everyone on Forrest’s tiny island.

The story is set in what I would describe as Renaissance Faire era, a comfortable setting focused solidly on the fun of the story.  In a historical setting, for example, Karina’s trousers would be much more shocking.  Here, Forrest doesn’t seem to have too much trouble accepting the trousers, Karina’s independence or her remarkable abilities with knives.  She, on the other hand, takes some time to come to terms with his knitting (and appreciate the beauty of the local yarn), though he is untroubled and says that everyone on their island knits.  As with the other books in the series, this is a feel-good adventure with appeal for everyone from middle grade kids who won’t be put off by mild romance up to adults.

There’s another knitting fairy tale hero in Jessica Day George’s Princess of the Midnight Ball, also a “Twelve Dancing Princesses” retelling.

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Four Fantastic Fantasies

Posted on November 18, 2016 by Katy K.

Here are four mostly recent middle grade fantasies, all by authors I’ve enjoyed in the past.

Unidentified Suburban Object by Mike JungUnidentified Suburban Object by Mike Jung. Arthur A. Levine/Scholastic, 2016.
Chloe Cho is the only Asian in her small town, tired of stereotypes about ASIANS – why must her violin playing be compared only to that of famous Abigail Yang, for example? She’s still trying to learn about her Korean heritage, a topic on which her parents are silent – but learning to cook from Korean cooking blog posts isn’t the easiest.  When she’s given a family heritage project at school by the first Korean teacher she’s ever had, it goes horribly wrong and leads to a Revelation of (spoiler) a sci-fi nature that turns her world upside-down.  Chloe has a wonderfully snarky sense of humor and I really enjoyed her drama.  Despite things that are decidedly unique to her situation, there’s a lot in here about what makes best friends and what might make a straight-A student stop caring about grades.  The sci-fi element is light enough to give this plenty of appeal to kids who might not normally go for it. Mike Jung’s Geeks, Girls and Secret Identities is one I’ve gone back to more than once.

cover of Zahrah the Windseeker by OkoraforZahrah the Windseeker by Nnedi Okorafor. Houghton Mifflin, 2005.
Even though Zahrah lives in a world where technology and buildings are grown, the vines, or dada locks, that grow naturally in her hair are rare and suspect – a sign of magic that’s no longer believed in.  She doesn’t show any other signs of magic until her first menstruation, when she starts floating – awkward for a girl terrified of heights.  Her best friend, Dari, is thrilled when he learns of this, and uses it as an opportunity for the two of them to explore the Forbidden Greeny Jungle.  When he’s bitten by a rare and extremely venomous snake, Zahrah will have to journey even farther in and explore the full reach of her powers to find a cure.   The fairly standard quest narrative is lifted out of the ordinary by the world-building, an African-inspired setting with absolutely unique technology, like computers that grow from seed – Zahrah’s has grown with her since she was a small child and works much better than a generically grown CPU.  Zahrah, too, has a nice character arc, going from feeling very young for a middle grade character to an accomplished young woman. The story is on the slow-moving side, but this is one that fans of world-building and character-driven stories will enjoy. I also recommend Okorafor’s Akata Witch.

Baker's Magic by Diane ZahlerBaker’s Magic by Diane Zahler. Capstone, 2016.
Orphaned Bee journeyed through the beautiful tulip fields surrounding the coastal city of Zeewal.  She didn’t mean to steal the delicious-looking bun in the bakery window – but it lands her a job as an apprentice to Master Bouts the Baker. As Bee starts to settle in, she also learns to be careful what’s she’s feeling as she’s baking, as her customers are likely to start feeling the same way.  When delivering baked goods to the castle, she meets both sweet Princess Anika and the wicked Master Joris, her guardian.  Soon Bee, her new best friend Wil, and Princess Anika are off on an adventure involving a pirate queen and missing trees.  But can Bee’s small skills with baking be enough to hold off a power-mad and vengeful wizard?  This is light and sweet and cinnamon-scented with substantial undertones.  I liked this even better than Zahler’s Twelve Dancing Princesses retelling, The Thirteenth Princess, which leads me to

Of Mice and Magic. Hamster Princess 2 by Ursula VernonOf Mice and Magic. Hamster Princess Book 2 by Ursula Vernon. Dial Books, 2016.
Princess Harriet Hamsterbone may no longer be invincible, but that doesn’t mean she’s happy to hang around her own castle waiting to be married.  She craftily accepts a quest (and a poncho of invisibility) from a fairy and sets off to rescue twelve dancing mice princesses, even if the king their father was expecting a man (and preferably a prince) to rescue them.  There, she finds an old friend working in the stables with the riding quail – useful for filling her in on castle gossip – and meets the princesses, each named after a month of the year.  It doesn’t take her long to figure out that the king is off his rocker, and not in a good way.  I’ve read a lot of 12 Dancing Princesses retellings, and this is an exceptional one – funny and adventurous while still being an age-appropriate treatment of abuse and victim blaming.  (Maureen at By Singing Light has more great thoughts on this.)  I’m looking forward to reading more of Harriet’s adventures!

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War: The Lost Heir and Guts and Glory: WWII

Posted on November 17, 2016 by Katy K.

Cybils listening continues with two books about war, one fantasy with dragons and one historical.

cover of The Lost Heir, Wings of Fire book 2 by SutherlandThe Lost Heir. Wings of Fire Book 2 by Tui Sutherland. Read by Shannon McManus. Scholastic, 2016.
This is book 2 in the Wings of Fire series. While I read Book 6, Moon Rising (a subseries starter) last year, I’ve never read the first book in this original series. Tsunami and the other Dragonets of Destiny, having escaped from the caves where they were being kept by the Talons of Peace organization and from captivity in another dragon kingdom, know they are being followed by enemies who don’t care if war between dragon tribes continues as long as they might win.  The dragonets hope that Tsunami’s mother, Queen Coral of the Seawings, will keep them safe.  Tsunami also secretly hopes that she might be the future queen of the Seawings, despite never having been to the underwater kingdom.

The setting in a new kingdom makes it easy for new readers (or listeners, in my case) to slip in.  Tsunami has always thought she was treated badly by the Talons of Peace, but now she has to confront prejudice against her best friends, as well as seeing the severe lack of freedom given to her young sister, Anemone.  There’s a mysterious menace in the hatching grounds that Tsunami is determined to thwart.  She’s also inadvertently befriended a cute boy sea dragon – who’s loathed by the Queen.   This is a really impressive series, with great character growth and a sophisticated plot – Charlotte has been raving about it for years and I really should just read the whole thing.  Shannon McManus does a fine job distinguishing the voices of the many characters.  My only caveat is that while my son would love it, there’s far too much violence for my seven-year-old daughter to want to listen as well, despite the dragons.

Guts & Glory: World War II by Ben ThompsonGuts and Glory: World War II by Ben Thompson. Read by Aaron Landon and Kiff VandenHeuvel. Landmark Audio, 2016.
Stirring military music introduces this entertaining 6-cd history of World War II.  The telling is shared between two narrators, one with a young, enthusiastic Popular Mechanics for Kids-style voice, and one with a gruff army sergeant voice who also does accents for quotations from major leaders of the time.  I was impressed when it started the history not with Czechoslovakia but with China and Japan, because (to paraphrase) “previous histories were written by old white dudes who thought only Europe mattered”.  Broad stroke history is mixed in with tales of brave individuals and small groups from all sides, including women and people of color.  Between chapters are “Know Your Vehicles” sections where two similar vehicles from opposite sides compared, with a paragraph of how the differences mattered, e.g. “French tanks at the beginning of WWII were every bit as tough as the German Panzers, but made to stand still….” I had a hard time focusing on the technical details and really appreciated the summaries, while my son ate up the details.  Even the seven-year-old was taken with stories like that of Vojtek the bear who officially joined the Polish military.

This is mostly about the battles rather than the Holocaust – it says straight up that that’s outside the scope of the book, but the story of a Jewish Russian soldier who staged a successful break from a death camp is included, along with pointers to further references.  I don’t think I’ve ever read straight-up military history before, but I was kept interested except for those brief vehicle moments and learned lots of things that definitely weren’t covered in my high school history class, all told in kid-friendly, colloquial language that talks about things like “kicking Hitler right in the Panzer”.  A pdf with over a hundred pages of photographs, illustrations and those Know Your Vehicles charts is included.  I’d say this definitely lives up to its 100% Not Boring Guarantee and would make for entertaining family listening with older kids.

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2 Diverse Audiobooks -The Inquisitor’s Tale & Momotaro: Xander and the Lost Island of Monsters

Posted on November 16, 2016 by Katy K.

And now for some Cybils listening, in hopes of catching you up to the many great books I’ve been listening to.

cover of the Inquisitor's Tale by GidwitzThe Inquisitor’s Tale by Adam Gidwitz. Read by the author and a full cast. Features Medieval Music performed by Benjamin Bagby of Sequentia. Listening Library, 2016.
Travelers meeting at an inn share stories with an unnamed narrator, who wants to know why it is that King Louis of France has declared war on three children and their dog. Every one of the guest at the inn has some connection to at least one of the children – Jeanne, a peasant girl who sees visions of future; William, an enormous part-Moorish novice monk with super strength; and Jacob, a small Jewish boy with the gift of healing. Also Gwynfort, a magical greyhound.  Many of the guests are convinced the children, and perhaps even the dog, are saints. Either that or possessed by demons.

It’s set in the 13th century, with multiple narrators, yet the characters of the children (and the narrators) come through loud and clear.  Even the king isn’t given the simple black-and-white treatment he could have been. The tale is full of gore and humor and plenty of slapstick action despite the kingdom-level forces arrayed against them.  The thirteenth century is one of which I’m particularly fond, and this book does a wonderful job illustrating the glory and prejudice of that time, so different and yet not different from our own.  The multiple narrators keep the setting vivid, though the illustrations I peeked at in the print version are great, too, so take your pick there.  This was so fabulous I nominated it for the Cybils before I even finished it, in case I didn’t finish it before the deadline.

cover of Momotaro: Xander and the Lost Island of Monsters by DillowayMomotaro: Xander and the Lost Island of Monsters by Margaret Dilloway. Read by Chris Patton. Dreamscape Media, 2016.
Xander Miyamoto has never taken much notice of the Japanese legends his father researches.  He’s more into trying to stay out of the way of a teacher who has it in for him, playing video games with his best friend Peyton, and wondering why his mother left him four years ago.  Then, that climate change he was ignoring in class hits hard – there’s water all around his house and his father has vanished.  It turns out that Xander is a Momotaro, the Peach Boy hero of Japanese legend.  The oni monsters have taken his father, and it’s up to Xander, Peyton, and Xander’s dog to rescue him.  Is a comic book story that Xander doesn’t remember drawing really enough of a guide to the Island of Monsters?  And is being only half Japanese weakness or strength?

The comparisons to Percy Jackson here are easy and apt – the story is full of action and humor in a story that feels like an authentic companion to Rick Riordan’s books.  In addition to being a very welcome mixed-race hero, Xander struggles at school, where he is labelled as AD/HD.  Chris Patton reads in a voice that brings out the rollercoaster plot – maybe a little too dramatic for me, but I bet I know quite a few adventure-loving kids who would eat it up.

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11 Girl-Led Read-alouds for 2/3 Grade

Posted on November 11, 2016 by Katy K.

It has been a very tough couple of days here – so many children I know, including my own daughter, are terrified that our president-elect will be sending away their friends and family members.  So many feel that he hates them personally.

All I can do is what I always do – work to spread understanding and love through literature.  This is a list of girl-led read-alouds to appeal to the whole class that I’ve been working on for about six months now, at the request of my son’s former 2/3 teacher and a companion to my list of 11 Girl-Led Read-Alouds for 4/5 Grade. Links are to my own reviews where available.

The Birchbark House by Louise Erdrich – follow Omakayas, Little Frog, and her Ashinabe family through the year in this story that is warm and loving while not shying away from the tough parts of life in this period.  Kudos to our school’s teachers for making this a standard read-aloud with the Michigan history unit (it’s set in Minnesota, but on Lake Superior.)

Castle Hangnail by Ursula Vernon – Can young, kind-looking Molly convince both the minions of Castle Hangnail and Magic Board that she is a wicked witch, capable of taking over the castle?  This Cybils finalist has a lot of heart hidden inside the humor.

Dancing Home by Alma Flor Ada and Gabriel M. Zubizarreta. Margie is proud to be a born-in-Texas American.  She’s deliberately forgotten most of her Spanish and pushed her Mexican-born parents to be as American as possible.  But when her Spanish-only speaking cousin Lupe arrives in California, things start to fall apart.  This takes a hard look at the immigrant experience and what it means to be American, with an uplifting ending.

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine – the classic Cinderella-inspired story of a girl “gifted” by a fairy godmother to be obedient.

Lulu and the Duck in the Park by Hilary McKay – The adventures of a risk-taking girl who really, really loves animals.  In this first book in the series, Lulu and her best friend and cousin rescue an abandoned duck egg.

President of the Whole Fifth Grade by Sherri Winston – Michigan girl Brianna Justice wants to build a cupcake empire, just like her hometown hero, Miss Delicious.  She’s sure the path to success lies in being elected fifth-grade president.  But when a new girl, Jasmine Moon, recruits one of Brianna’s friends to work on Jasmine’s campaign, Brianna starts to lose sight of what’s really important.  Will offers of help a boy whose nickname is Weasel be good or bad for Brianna and her campaign?

Tuesdays at the Castle by Jessica Day George – Welcome to the Castle Glower, which changes itself every Tuesday.  Only the youngest royal child, Celie, always knows her way around – and when sinister Prince Khelsh invades, it’s up to Celie and her siblings to save the castle and their parents.

The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett – 9-year-old Tiffany Aching must rescue her often-annoying kid brother from the Queen of the Fairies, with the aid of her frying pan and some crazy tiny blue men.

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin – Why, yes, this was on my list of read-alouds for 4/5s, too.  It really is worth it.  This is an epic journey through folk tales, with a dragon.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum – let kids discover the magic behind the original classic, where Oz is not a dream.

The Wrinkled Crown by Anne Nesbet – Linny is shocked when playing an instrument forbidden to girls puts her best friend in danger.  She leaves the magical hills only to find a larger struggle between the forces of science and magic.

This is only a beginning – many of the books on my 4/5 list and the upcoming K/1 list would also work at this level (my daughter’s 2/3 class listened with rapt attention to the entire Princess in Black series.)  Here are some books that have been recommended to me by other blog readers that I haven’t yet gotten to:

  • Izzy Barr, Running Star by Claudia Mills
  • The Mystery of Meerkat Hill by Alexander McCall-Smith
  • Sassy: Little Sister is Not My Name by Sharon Draper
  • Sylvia & Aki by Winifred Conkling

What are your favorite read-alouds for 7 to 9 year-olds?

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The Mountain of Kept Memory

Posted on November 9, 2016 by Katy K.

This morning I went off to the polls to vote (listening to my latest Cybils audiobook on the way, of course.)  But if you want a break from real-life politics, may I recommend some fantasy politics instead? I was just about over the moon when Rachel Neumeier gave me one of the last two ARCs of her new book at Kidlitcon, so that I can now give you a release day review.

Book cover: The Mountain of Kept Memory by Rachel NeumeierThe Mountain of Kept Memory by Rachel Neumeier. Saga Press, 2016
Oressa Madalin, princess of Carastind, has always relied on her ability to find out what’s going on in the kingdom without anyone else, most especially her father the king, finding out.  The small kingdom of Carastind has always relied on the protection of the Kieba, both to repel intruders and to combat the plagues that come up from time to time.  Now, though, it looks like her father may have offended the Kieba and put all of Carastind at risk.  The country is being invaded by Gajdosik, a prince of neighboring Tamarist.  (Tamarist has the pesky habit of encouraging its princes to fight to the death, winner take the throne.)  Oressa’s brother, crown prince Gulien, narrates alternating chapters.  He’s the one who takes it on himself to ride to the Mountain of Kept Memory where the Kieba makes her home and the memories of all the dead gods are kept, to try to make peace with her.  But with both foreigners and their own father wanting to claim the Kieba’s power for their own, is there a way for Oressa and Gulien to save Carastind?

Once again, a highly satisfying story from Neumeier.  I think it’s aimed at adults rather than teens – both Oressa and Gulien are adults, if young – but there’s plenty here to appeal to teens and advanced middle school readers here , as well as treatment of women that differs by culture without being shown as black and white.  Interesting thoughts!  I like that Oressa is the decisive, risk-taking sibling, even if she’s used to hiding in the shadows, while Gulien is more cautious, trying his best to hold on to the crumbling status quo.  The romantic plot line develops slowly, and concerns itself more with the finding of commonality under external differences than with physical passions and the bridling or unbridling thereof, which works very well here. The Mountain of Kept Memory has tricksy politics with no clear solution, well-developed characters, good world building, and lovely writing.

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October Diversity on the Shelf Update

Posted on November 2, 2016 by Katy K.

I am participating in the Diversity on the Shelf Challenge hosted by Akilah at The Englishist.  I finished a total of 23 books in October – here are the ones that count towards the challenge.

Books by authors of color:

  • Big Red Lollipop by Rukhsana Khan and Sophie Blackall (picture book)
  • Jingle Dancer by Cynthia Leitich Smith (picture book)
  • Dancing Home by Alma Flor Ada and Gabriel M. Zubizarreta (early chapter/ short middle grade)
  • The Treasure of Maria Mamoun Michelle Chalfoun (middle grade)
  • When the Sea Turned to Silver by Grace Lin (middle grade)
  • Zahrah the Wind Seeker by Nnedi Okorafor (middle grade)
  • Momotaro Xander and the Lost Island of Monsters by Margaret Dilloway (middle grade, Cybils audiobook nominee)
  • Monstress by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda (adult)
  • The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros (adult)

White authors, main characters of color:

  • Gloria’s Way by Ann Cameron (early chapter/ short middle grade)
  • The Inquisitor’s Tale by Adam Gidwitz (middle grade – and I nominated for the Cybils)
  • Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier (middle grade)

Bonus:

A diverse dragon team works together to stop the war in this Cybils audiobook nominee, book 2 of the Wings of Fire series:

cover of The Lost Heir, Wings of Fire book 2 by Sutherland

  • The Lost Heir by Tui Sutherland (middle grade)

This puts me at 27 books by white authors with main characters of color and 50 books by authors of color.  Now that it’s Cybils season, it’s harder for me to pick my own reading – but my goal of reading 60 books by authors of color in 2016 is in sight!

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Kidlitcon 2016

Posted on October 31, 2016 by Katy K.

Two weekends ago, I was fortunate enough to attend Kidlitcon in Wichita, hosted by the wonderful Melissa Fox of Book Nut and planned by these amazing people:

Kidlitcon 2016 Organizers

The Amazing Kidlitcon Team: Sheila Ruth, Paula Willey, Charlotte Taylor, Melissa Fox, Sarah Stevenson and Pam Margolis

I came back and spent two weeks (punctuated by a weekend of Girl Scout outdoor training) typing up a very long document of all the notes I took on the sessions I went to, with the intention of posting it here.  Then I realized that you probably don’t want to read five pages worth of conference notes, no matter how fascinating.  Neither did my boss or the library board, who would need a report on it.  I condensed my report down to a single page, which I was still planning to share with you here. Looking back on it, it still seems pretty dry, but I don’t think I have time to rewrite it a third time.  So I’ll just put in some of the pictures I took (though I didn’t manage to get any good ones of myself, or either of my two roommates, Charlotte Taylor of Charlotte’s Library and Sarah Stevenson aka aquafortis of Finding Wonderland, though it was lovely spending time with both of them.)  Text and pictures below the fold here, and send me a note if you’d like my full notes emailed to you.   Continue reading →

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