Blog Checks and categories

 1st Blog Check:

Children's Titles                                    Categories            

    Big                                                         Texas 2x2

    Elf Dog and Owl Head                          Newberry Medal Honor Book

    Yuck, You Suck!                                    Poetry

    Six Dots                                                 Disability

Young Adult Titles                                Categories

    The Curie Society                                    Graphic Novel

2nd Blog Check

     Children's Titles                                Categories

        Glitter Everywhere                                Informational

        Legend of Gravity                                 Texas Bluebonnet Award 

     Young Adult Titles                            Categories

        Fire Keeper's Daughter                            Printz Winner

        Furia                                                         Romance

        A Deadly Education                                 Fantasy

        

3rd Blog Check

     Children's Titles                                Categories

         Mexikid                                               Pura Belpré Award Winner

         New Kid                                              Coretta Scott King

        Something Happened in Our Town      Banned or Challenged

        Artemis Fowl : the Graphic Novel        Graphic Novel

     Young Adult Titles                            Categories

        The Hate U Give                                 Banned or Challenged book                           

Artemis Fowl: the Graphic Novel

 

Title: Artemis Fowl: the Graphic Novel by Eoin Colfer and Andrew Donkin and illustrated by Giovanne Rigand and color by Paulo Laminna

Genre: Fiction - Graphic Novel

Targeted Age: Ages 10-12

Plot Summary: This title has transformed the original Artemis Fowl book into a graphic novel. Artemis is a 12 year old genius who has followed in his Fowl family legacy to be a criminal mastermind. He has been using all of his resources to track down real fairies and manages to kidnap one. He and his bodyguard Butler find themselves battling multiple magical creatures in their quest to obtain fairy gold. 

Justification for book choice: This book was a favorite of my children and we enjoyed listening to the audio versions. I had not read graphic novel version previously, and after the disappointing movie version I was not looking forward to a different written version. But I was pleasantly surprised. While of course the dialogue and details were reduced, using the graphic novel version was able to capture all of the important details.

Evaluation:

Illustrations: The illustrations in this graphic novel version really brought a gangster feel to the book. Fowl manor is a darkened setting, not a cheerful place. So many details were included in the drawings that additional narration was not needed. For instance, the images of Artemis' office show lots of technology but also piles of books, papers, notes, images, etc that all indicate that he has been studying a lot of resources. Aside from a understated mention of some hard copies of images on the wall, the images speak for themselves. The use of including secret files and documents about characters was a creative way to add details about the characters in a single page.

Pacing: The graphic novel format kept the story moving at a quick pace. A few pages included information that needed some extra reading, however, it was a fast way to explain character traits, such as why Butler was so skilled as a body guard. I liked that the dialogue was often brief because it added to the pace. Narration boxes were also kept at a minimum. This is an action filled story and it was able to include all of the important events from the original book.

Characters: This book is the first in a series. It is where the main characters that will be seen throughout the following books are introduced. Having read the original versions first, I feel that the basic elements of each of the main characters was covered. Artemis' genius is well described and observed. While being introduced as a criminal, there is also a softer side when it comes to his mother. Butler and his sister Juliet are given backgrounds that leave you wanting more, but that is also the allure to their family history of being body guards. The magical creatures are briefly introduced and we understand Holly more than any of them. They are pretty well rounded out as much as the original title provided. 

Something Happened in our Town - Banned or Challenged

 

Title: Something Happened in our Town by Marianne Celano, Marietta Collins, and Anne Hazzard. Illustrated by Jennifer Zivoin

Genre: Children's picture book

Targeted Age: Ages 4-8+

Plot Summary: This title follows two different families, one Black and one White, and how they react to a Black man being shot by police. As the children in each family ask questions, they are given different answers. Both give good examples of listening to their children and answering them at their level. Both families discuss racial injustice from their perspectives but also honestly and with examples their children will understand.

Justification for book choice: Following the 2020 shooting of George Floyd this book was especially challenged even though it was published in 2018. Protestors claim it give an anti-police message, however, the book claims it is a pattern and that not all police are part of that pattern. 

Evaluation:

Illustrations: Jennifer Zivoin created beautiful illustrations. Your eyes are always drawn to the faces and people on each page. The colors are calming. They are colorful without feeling flashing or angry. The people and the dialogue are what can be focused on. The illustrations add details not included in the text, such as the setting that both families live next door to each other based on an image that shows the children in upstairs windows in buildings next to each other.

Theme: The theme is something that I wish was not relevant. But it continues to be - unfair and fatal violence against blacks. This topic continues to be in the news and it can be difficult to explain to younger children. We can't prevent them from hearing about it because just like in this book - they will hear about it from older kids, family, media, etc. Beyond the issue of the violence, I think that the other theme is how to talk to your kids about tough topics. 

Accuracy: This picture book is designed with families in mind. While the circumstance was based on real events, this is a fictional book. However, there is a lot of supplementary material provided in the back of the book. These resources include information for families about how to discuss, definition of terms, and sample questions and answers. This book is designed with families in mind to be able to discuss accuracy of news reports, the accuracy of judging others, and the accuracy needed when discussing scary events.

New Kid- Coretta Scott King

 

Title:  New Kid by Jerry Craft

Genre: Fiction -Graphic Novel

Targeted Age: Ages 8 - 12

Plot Summary: Jordan Banks, begins attending a private school and is one of only a few African Americans students. He longs to attend art school and uses his drawings to chronicle the experiences he is having. The new school is a world of prejudice and racism for the minority students and teacher. This book points out that individuals matter, knowing who they are means more than just the color of their skin or the language spoken at home. Jordan learns how to vocalize his feelings at school and have confidence in himself that he can help make a difference. 

Justification for book choice: This award winning book has a lot of lessons about dealing with conflicts. It earned a Coretta Scott King award among others. It is well-written and deals with difficult topics sometimes in a light hearted way to make it appropriate and approachable for younger audiences.

Evaluation:

Illustrations: Graphic novels allow for the images to tell more of the story than just the words. There was some variation in the illustrations as well as the main story used color but the images that Jordan drew in his notebook were in black and white. This allowed for different types of illustrations telling the story. 

Characters: The story line is centered on Jordan and those he interacts with at school and at home. Jordan maintains an outside perspective on his new school. We see the difficulties the students of color have at the school through him. We also follow his feelings as he finds his way through the various lifestyles of his friends and how he deals with the social economic differences. Jordan is a catalyst for change at his school. The changes may not affect the entire school, but they do influence the lives of those around him. His behavior is unusual but isn't too exaggerated to be unbelievable. He is a realistic hero for the readers about how to treat others.

Tone: The tone of this book could easily have been dark and depressing because of the difficult topics of bullying, prejudice and racial and economic inequity. Instead, staying true to the intended audience, some humor was injected without ignoring the tough topics. Examples of the humor include Drew and Jordan intentionally calling each other the wrong names, the illustrations of Jordan's reactions with angels, and the jokes with Liam about judging. Balancing the hard topics, Jordan and friends found ways to laugh.

Mexikid: Pura Belpré award

Title: Mexikid by Pedro Martín

Genre: Children's Graphic Novel

Targeted Age: Ages 9-11

Plot Summary:  A family roadtrip from California to Mexico and back is filled with new experiences for Pedro. For Pedro, this trip is a road of discovery as he learns more about his grandparents and the lives they have lived and the traditions they hold. Written as a graphic novel, the illustrations are inviting and keep the story moving at a good pace. This book provides perspectives of how life experiences are different from generation to generation and even between siblings. But they are the stories worth sharing over and over again at family gatherings. 

Justification for book choice: This was highly recommended by the librarians at my local library. It has won several awards including the Pura Belpré and a Newbery Honor. I also enjoy books that bring understanding between family generations.

Evaluation: 

Theme: The story is based on Pedro Martín's family, and it feels like a memory being retold. Family stories are a repeating theme throughout the story. As each story is told, understanding, empathy and connections are created within the family members. 

Point of View: Pedro's illustrations mesh with the narrative so well that it feels you are looking through a family album with snap shots of memories and experiences. Wonderful read to show how important family connections can be and how the sacrifices in the past have impacted future generations. 

Style and Language: What is great about this title is that it is available in both Spanish and English. Just as the family speaks in both languages, the story itself should also be in both languages. In the English version, some phrases are written in Spanish and translations are provided. I think that is important - use the family's natural expressions but then provide translations to educate others. 

The Hate U Give - YA banned or challenged book

 

Title:  The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Genre: YA Realistic Fiction

Targeted Age: High School

Plot Summary: When you live in two worlds, knowing who you are can be difficult. Such is the case for Starr who lives in "the projects" but attends school at an affluent, mostly white high school. Starr has kept these two areas of her life separate, trying to keep a foot in each side. When she is a witness to a close friend shot by an officer, her worlds begin to collide and she can no longer separate her two personas. This timely novel focuses beyond one incident and gives a full picture of prejudice and racism, some intended and others culturally engrained. Should be a must read.

Justification for book choice: This book has been challenged for language, drinking and drugs. Thankfully in one challenge the book won and remained on the shelves. This timely novel is a must read.

Evaluation: 

Perspective: Seeing the world of too many shooting headlines through Starr's eyes, shows the other side of the story. Beyond the headlines there are stories, lives, relationships, history, culture that can so easily be erased with a few short words from the media. This is a story that was hard to read and not see thoughts and feelings of myself or others I know in a different light. 

Character: I found the character Starr as a very believable teenager. She was not perfect in how she handled situations, but that is what makes her real. She hid things about        herself and her life from both worlds because she was still trying to figure out who she was and how she wanted to live her life. As she came to terms with her role as a witness and how she wanted to handle that responsibility, she grew in confidence as was able to combine her lives into one. She was able to find her voice.

        Setting: The setting of inner city poor communities vs the media and prejudice feels very         current and something that could happen tomorrow. This title was published in 2017, and         Angie Thomas was inspired to write the novel based on an event that happened in 2009            of a shooting death of Oscar Grant by police. Unfortunately, events have continued to                happen that are similar. That is the power of the messages in this book - too many of the            circumstances remain that leave shooting deaths a possibility. The setting of fear for                blacks when getting pulled over is not a new feeling, it has been around too long. 

Legend of Gravity - Texas Bluebonnet

 

Title: Legend of Gravity by Charly Palmer

Genre: Children's picture book

Targeted Age: Grades 2-3

Plot Summary: A tall tale set in modern times. When a new kid joins their playground basketball team, they agree that his skills seem to defy gravity. And a new playground nickname was born, Gravity. His skills were instantly legendary, he dominated the court, leading his team to the championship. Beautiful illustrations accompany the tale showcasing the movements and plays of basketball. But even legendary players need a team, and that was a lesson that Gravity teaches readers.

Justification for book choice: Legend of Gravity is a 2024 Texas Blue Bonnet nominee. It a modern take on tall tales. This would be great to include in a theme of tall tales that could include older ones such as Paul Bunyan, Calamity Jane and John Henry. 

Evaluation:

Illustrations: Charly Palmer pairs his narration and illustration gracefully. His large brushstrokes allow the colorful pictures to be recognizable and almost realistic but exaggerated, just as a good tall tale should be. 

Theme: A tall tale is generally retold by a narrator as if it was true. A folk tale told by someone claiming to have possibly encountered the subject or who appears to believe it. In the Legend of Gravity the story is told by the only female player, later nicknamed Butta. The details are exaggerated such as when Gravity's jump was so high and long that they had time to get ice cream before he landed. This story is grounded in a realistic setting - neighborhood basketball teams, but the hero Gravity has skills that are exaggerated beyond what is humanly possibly.

Setting: Palmer based the setting on the street ball that is played in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and other places. In his note at the back he wanted to highlight the great players that never went professional but gained notoriety locally for their skills. Based in a realistic setting, the Legend of Gravity used the tradition of nicknames and small local teams to spin a tale of a street ball star.

Citation:

Palmer, C. (2022). Legend of Gravity. Farrar Straus Giroux Books.