The House in Poplar Wood by K.E. Ormsbee Chronicle Books - August 28, 2018 I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. As soon as I read the teaser for this book, I was excited! It was hailed as a “Stranger Things meets The Haunted Mansion middle grade fantasy,” and ended up being the perfect mix of mystery and intrigue with a few unusual characters. This book centers around twin brothers Felix and Lee. They live with their parents, Vince and Judith, in a quiet house nestled in the Poplar Wood. Here’s the catch, their family has an Agreement in which Lee and his mother are apprentices to Memory and Felix and his father are apprentices to Death. Yes, both Memory and Death are capitalized because they are very much alive and “human” throughout the book. Memory and Death, along with Passion, are Shades, that through their apprentices are able to influence and interact with the people in their town. The Agreement between the family does have a dark side. Death and Memory are enemies and, because of this, have separated the house into two parts. I won’t give away all the nuances of the Agreement, but it is definitely not ideal for this family. Lee is allowed to go to school and have a normal life, while Felix is only allowed into town once a year on Halloween when Death takes a break. On Halloween, another important character, Gretchen, enters the fray. Gretchen’s family are Summoners, making them the enemy of the Shades’ apprentices. Gretchen desperately wants the help of Lee and Felix to solve the recent murder of Essie Hastings, the apprentice of Passion. Lee and Felix reluctantly get caught up in the investigation, only to discover that they might find something that will change their lives forever. What I loved most about this book was the characters. Each and every one of them was so believable and engaging. I have a special place in my heart for the cheeky, industrious, and very mischievous Gretchen, who isn’t willing to give up. The brothers, Felix and Lee, are super relatable and their sibling issues will resonate with readers of all ages. The story moves quickly and is told from the perspectives of these three main characters, which gives the story more depth and complexity, and in my opinion, makes it more fun to read. I highly recommend this book for middle grade readers and up. It would be great for fans of Neil Gaiman and those who like stories that have a little dark humor to them. I am so impressed with this book and cannot wait to share it with my middle school readers!
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For Every One by Jason Reynolds Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books - April 10, 2018 I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Again; Jason Reynolds does it again. What writer can effortlessly move between genres and still maintain a level of consistency with which readers can identify no matter their background and life experiences?! This book is a shining example of why Jason Reynolds is, and always will be, one of my favorite authors. This book is a letter written in poetry to “The Dreamers.” Jason Reynolds begins the book by giving the background of this piece, then immediately diving into an approximately 100 page poem that plays with spacing, format, and font. It is a love letter written by someone chasing their dreams, encouraging others to do the same. It is beautifully written, with such vivid imagery that I felt like I could see my own dreams running ahead of me, calling to me to be chased. For Every One reminded me of my own dreams, hopes, and fears, and left me inspired “jump anyway.” Here is just one of my favorite poems from this title: “Dreams don’t have timelines, Deadlines, And aren’t always in Straight lines.” This was a very quick and empowering read. It would make a fantastic inspirational gift for a graduation, new baby, or just for a friend who needs a pick-me-up. It is perfect for school and public libraries, and I plan to add several copies to my own shelves as soon as it is released. I was incredibly lucky to pre-read this book through an eARC provided by NetGalley. It will officially be released on April 10, 2018. Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly Greenwillow Books, 2017 Winner of the 2018 John Newbery Medal Hello, Universe was just announced as the 2018 winner of the Newbery Medal, one of the most well-known awards for children’s literature. I’ve heard lots of great things about this book, as well as some mixed reviews, and wanted to check it out for myself. This story contains the unique perspectives of four kids, two boys and two girls, on the first day of summer after sixth grade. The main character, Virgil, is a young Filipino boy whose quiet personality doesn’t quite fit in with his outgoing, athletic family. His grandmother, Lola, is his confidant and someone who plays a pivotal role in the story, sharing Filipino folklore that directly relates to the events of the story. Kaori is a self-proclaimed psychic who befriends Virgil as she helps him with how to deal with some of the problems he he is experiencing. She is closely shadowed by her sister, Gen, who is along for the adventure of this story. Valencia is deaf, struggling with nightmares, and secretly desperately lonely. She is, however, incredibly smart and brave, and proves to be a vital resource to the group. Chet is the school bully who has been relentlessly attacking Virgil throughout the past school year. Throughout the story, the lives of these four kids intertwine as each chapter is told from one of their perspectives. You really get a feel for their emotions and motivations in a way that is easily relatable for younger readers. Without giving too much away, after an encounter with Chet, Kaori and Valencia set off to find and rescue Virgil who relies on the knowledge imparted to him by his Lola to survive. So, here’s the honest truth, I did not love this book. I liked it, it was well-written, the characters were well-developed, it had a satisfying ending, etc. It just didn’t “wow” me. When I think of the Newbery award, I think of amazing books that have left a lasting impact on me as a reader, like When You Reach Me and The One and Only Ivan. This one just didn’t do that for me. That being said, it is a good book, and one that I will recommend to students, especially fans of realistic fiction and survival/adventure stories. Unbound: A Novel in Verse by Ann E. Burg Scholastic Press, 2016 Unbound was a book I just happened to stumble upon as we were weeding the Fiction section of our library. It immediately intrigued me because it was a verse novel, one of my favorite genres. As I read the summary inside the book’s jacket, I was struck by the fact that I had no idea what the Great Dismal Swamp was or the fact that it had been used as a hiding place by runaway slaves. Seeing as how this book combines two of my favorite genres, historical fiction and verse novels, I immediately had to read it. What I found was one of the best books I’ve read in a long time that had a lasting emotional impact. The story follows Grace, a young slave girl who is called to work in “The Big House,” leaving her family behind to work in the fields. Grace is blue-eyed and light-skinned, which is an implied reason she is called to work for the Master and the Missus. Grace, of course, struggles with leaving her family. She is a young girl, living in a new house, with extremely high expectations and many more rules than she is accustomed to. What Grace sees living in “The Big House” and her interactions with the Master and Missus, begin to motivate her to run away. She begins to question the fairness of the way she and other slaves are treated, and sees the cruelty that lies in the hearts of her owners. Then, one evening, Grace overhears the Missus make plans to sell her family on the auction block. In order to save them all, Grace runs away from “The Big House” to her family’s cabin. They make their escape that night, heading toward the Great Dismal Swamp. The characters and events in this story are so engaging and unforgettable. The history behind their escape is just as interesting as the story itself, and the author provides historical information as well as acknowledgements for her sources at the end of the book. This is by far one of my favorite books to booktalk with students. I can’t keep it on the shelves when I do! It is a fantastic story, full of wonderful free verse, engaging characters, and a plot that moves quickly and holds interest. I cannot recommend this book enough! |
AuthorMy name is Mrs. Scott and I'm a secondary Media Resource Specialist (librarian) in Texas. This blog was created as part of my graduate coursework at Texas Woman's University. All reviews and opinions are my own.
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