The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora by Pablo Cartaya

 

-from Penguin Random House

This was a great book!  It is Realistic Fiction, and perfect for middle grade readers. It is set in sunny Florida, and centers around a Cuban family that run a restaurant in their community, Canal Grove.  Arturo is the central character and narrator, and he is a great guy!  He loves his food and family dearly, especially his Abuela.💓 

I love this book for several reasons. There is a smattering of Spanish throughout the story, and I love learning/relearning bits of another language.  I also love the strength and love that the Zamora family has for each other. There is also a little romance between Arturo and his long-time friend, Carmen. Don't worry- it's sweet and innocent, totally age appropriate for young readers.  

This book deals with the loss of loved ones. There are a couple of different scenarios within the story, and they are heart wrenching.  The author does not dwell too long on the sadness, but there are some realistic descriptions of the struggles that loss brings.  I think books like this can be very helpful to kids. They can normalize the strong feelings young people have when going through hard things like death or loss.  It also presents and offers healthy coping strategies to the readers as well.  

I highly recommend this book!  In fact, this will be our Spring book club selection at our library!  I am looking forward to reading through it again with our kids.  

Too Bright To See by Kyle Lukoff

I picked up this book because of all of the shiny stickers on the cover!  I mean- wow!  Too Bright to See has earned a lot of praise- the Stonewall Book Award, National Book Award Finalist, and it is a Newbery Honor book. In our library, it sits in the Mystery section. This book is definitely mysterious, but it is also sad, intriguing, beautiful and hard.  The main character, Bug, is grieving the loss of her beloved uncle.  She and her mom have lived with him in an old, haunted house out in the country.  Uncle Roderick taught Bug about ghosts, but she never imagined he would become one.  

While this books is about grieving the loss of a loved one, it is even more so about identity and self-discovery. Bug is about to begin middle school. As your read Bug's internal thoughts and learn more about her, you can't help but feel a little confused. She seems discontent, not just about the absence of her uncle, but about herself.  Spoiler: you eventually figure out that Bug doesn't feel like a girl. Bug feels more content and at peace as a boy.  

This is my first book to read where the protagonist is transgender.  It was interesting to learn about some of the possible thoughts and feelings that someone may experience in this kind of life journey.  In the author's notes, you find out that Kyle Lukoff was born a girl, but transitioned to the male gender as a teenager. So I think he writes Bug's character from a relatable and realistic perspective. 

I don't love sad books, and I don't love scary books. This book was a little bit of both. But this book is a perfect example of why READING IS SO IMPORTANT! Through this fictional, middle-grade story, I was able to learn and develop more compassion and empathy for those whose stories are like Bug's.  And I am grateful for that. 

 

The Lost Year by Katherine Marsh

 

This is my first book review NOT for a class! :) I still want to share the great Middle Grade/YA books I am reading, but I am simplifying the review format. 

The Lost Year is a WONDERFUL book, but it is also heart-wrenching.  I chose to read this book over the Christmas break because I love Historical Fiction. Marsh sets this book during 2020, in the midst of Covid quarantine. Matthew is a young teen, stuck at home with his mom and his great grandmother. Only when he is grounded from his Nintendo Switch does Matthew begin to ask questions of his GG. These questions lead to the rest of the story, which takes place in the early 1930s. It is the story of three young teenage girls that are living three very different lives, one in the US and two in the Soviet Ukraine. 

The book is so well written, and I learned a lot about the devastating Holodomor. I am pretty sensitive to sadness and tragedy in books (and shows and movies and commercials...and maybe life.)  I cried while reading the book, but Marsh handles the tragedies of the period with discretion and care.

The recommended age range for this book is 10-14 yrs. There is some heaviness that I would not want a younger child to bear, but I think teenagers and adults would enjoy the book. 

It was a National Book Award Finalist in 2023, and it is rated 4.51⭐ on Goodreads.com.

Once upon an Eid: Stories of Hope and Joy by 15 Muslim Voices, edited by S.K. Ali and Aisha Saeed

 

A. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Ali, S.K & Saeed, Aisha (Eds). 2020. ONCE UPON AN EID: STORIES OF HOPE AND JOY BY 15 MUSLIM VOICES. New York: Amulet Books. ISBN 978-1-4197-5403-6.

B. PLOT SUMMARY

This is a collection of stories about a special time of year for Muslim believers.  Told from young people’s perspectives, the stories are about the gifts, food, clothes, and traditions around the end of Ramadan.  Family and joy are central themes to all of the celebrations. 

C. CRITICAL ANALYSIS (INCLUDING CULTURAL MARKERS)

I did not know much about the celebration of Eid.  I had a superficial understanding of Ramadan, but I did not know anything about the celebration at the end of it.  Like many other festive occasions, friends and family are the common denominator. Ancient cultural traditions are juxtaposed alongside modern day elements in these stories.  In “Just Like Chest Armor” by Montgomery, the young girls are posting Tik Tok videos while discussing hijab. 

I was happy to read stories about young women being excited to wear hijab. I had unfairly assumed that young Muslim women are forced to wear their head coverings, but the characters in these stories see it as an honor. The fashion, color, and beauty of hijab was mentioned in several stories.  

Also there was a wide variety of ethnicities represented in these stories. The characters and their families came from all over the world- Guinea, Algeria, Australia, Pakistan, Iraq, and more.  It was wonderful to read about so many different nationalities sharing a common celebration because of their faith.  Each celebration was influenced by the ethnic roots of the family. 

Some of the food mentioned was different from what I am accustomed to, and some of it was very familiar.  Hot chocolate, cinnamon buns, brownies and yogurt are all common to me.  However, bean pies, as well as fuul, lontong, sambal, and nasi impit are foods I had never heard of before. I had to Google them!  

These stories were told in a variety of ways- short stories, some in verse, and then one graphic/comic story. The language used was another mixture of familiar and unfamiliar. I had to look up a few phrases because the language of the Koran, Arabic, is used in several stories.  For example, Insha’Allah means, “if God wills it.”

D. AWARDS & REVIEW EXCERPTS

ALA Notable Children's Books, 2021

Booklist starred, March 2020: “This special anthology about family traditions, sharing meals, giving presents, and delighting in the cultural uniqueness of people all over the world isn’t just for those who celebrate Eid; it’s for all who want to share and learn about the holidays.”

Kirkus Reviews starred, March 2020: “The diversity within the collection is impressive, including several blended families and a recently converted one, and while the writing varies in style and quality, each story is engaging, full of emotion and thought…This thoughtful and uplifting volume will keep readers turning pages year-round; here’s to many more.”

Publishers Weekly starred, April 2020

School Library Connection starred, March 2020

E. CONNECTIONS

This book would be a great tool for learning and discussing Islam’s holidays and celebrations.  There are other great books out there for upper elementary and middle grades about this topic.  Some of those titles are Night of the Moon by Hena Khan, A party in Ramadan by Asma Mobbin-Uddin, and Moon Watchers: Shirin’s Ramadan Miracle by Reza Jalali. 

We are Okay by Nina LaCour

 

A. BIBLIOGRAPHY
LaCour, Nina. 2017. WE ARE OKAY. New York: Dutton Books. ISBN 9780525425892.

B. PLOT SUMMARY
Marin lived with her Gramps by the beach. They baked. They talked. They did each other’s laundry. Their lives were their own, until the night that Gramps went missing. Marin thought she knew her grandfather. She thought she knew what kind of life they had together. As they say- “ignorance is bliss” until it isn’t.

C. CRITICAL ANALYSIS (INCLUDING CULTURAL MARKERS)

Wow. This book felt intense.  The loss and loneliness that Marin experiences is intense.  This poor young woman experiences immense sadness. LaCour writes her internal dialogue so well. As the reader, you can really feel Marin’s sorrow.  Her initial detachment seemed to be a survival instinct. Sometimes a young person’s brain can only process and handle so much devastation.

I loved the allusions that LaCour writes into the story.  There are several literary and art allusions throughout. The connection and explanation that Marin makes with Frida Kahlo’s work is very interesting. Marin uses a particular painting, The Two Fridas, to explain her feelings to Mabel. Also, Jane Eyre is one of my favorite books, so I loved that Marin had an affection for that work as well.  

The flashbacks that LaCour writes include Marin’s grandfather and their unique relationship.  The way she describes him is somewhat ambiguous, but with enough substance to make him endearing.  His quirks just seem to make him more lifelike and three dimensional. I did not pick up on any clues that he was mentally ill.  That revelation was as surprising for me as it was Marin’s character. 

LaCour’s characterization of Marin is passive, even lethargic. Her description comes out slowly and sometimes second-handedly.  Perhaps because Marin struggles with her own identity and is even in the process of redefining herself, LaCour only leaves dots that have to be connected.

Marin’s sexuality is never defined in terms, but the reader assumes she falls in the LGBTQ+ spectrum. Mabel’s character appears to be bisexual, because she has been in a physical relationship with Marin, but then dates and professes love for a boy named Jacob.  Honestly, the love that Marin and Mabel share feels deeper and stronger than just a teenage dating relationship.  They are best friends, and even family. Mabel’s forgiving and even selfless love for Marin is beautiful. 

LaCour creates darkness and light in this story. Marin’s grief and isolation cause darkness to enter her mind and heart. But Mabel’s and Ana’s- and even Javier’s- love bring strength and light. Their love is a true lifeline for Marin. The ending feels abrupt in some ways, but I like that it ends with hope of brighter days ahead.

D. AWARDS & REVIEW EXCERPTS

Michael L. Printz Award, 2018

Booklist starred, December 2016: “Raw and beautiful, this portrait of a girl searching for both herself and a sense of home will resonate with readers of LGBTQIA romances, particularly those with bisexual themes, and the poignant and affecting exploration of grief and betrayal will enchant fans of character-driven fiction.”

Kirkus Reviews starred, December 2016

Publishers Weekly starred, December 2016

School Library Journal starred, December 2016: “Though there's little action, with most of the writing devoted to Marin's memories, thoughts, and musings, the author's nuanced and sensitive depiction of the protagonist's complex and turbulent inner life makes for a rich narrative. Marin is a beautifully crafted character, and her voice is spot-on, conveying isolation, grief, and, eventually, hope. With hauntingly spare prose, the emphasis on the past, and references to gothic tales such as The Turning of the Screw and Jane Eyre, this is realistic fiction edged with the melancholy tinge of a ghost story.”

E. CONNECTIONS

Grief fiction is an important sub-genre in YA novels. It is therapeutic, and it can help adolescents process and name their feelings. Other exceptional YA books that address grief are Clap when you land by Elizabeth Acevedo, The boy in the black suit by Jason Reynolds, An Appetite for Miracles by Laekan Zea Kemp, and I’ll give you the sun by Jandy Nelson.

Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed

 

A. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Saeed, Aisha. 2018. AMAL UNBOUND. New York: Nancy Paulsen Books, An Imprint of Penguin Random House LLC. ISBN 9780399544682.

B. PLOT SUMMARY
Amal was a bright student who dreamed of becoming a teacher. As the eldest of the children in her family, it was her responsibility to help with her younger siblings and the home when her mother was ill after childbirth.  She never dreamed that a simple trip to the market would change her life forever.  When she was almost run over by a vehicle, and then rudely asked ot give up her precious pomegranate, Ama.

C. CRITICAL ANALYSIS (INCLUDING CULTURAL MARKERS)

One would think this book was set a hundred or more years ago, but it isn’t. The classism and sexism that Amal is victim to is unfortunately still around in modern times. T 

There are so many cultural markers shared in this book.  I do not know very much about Pakistan and its culture, so this book was very interesting and enlightening for me. The village culture is different from ours here in Texas.  Also, the educational system is very different.  Saeed writes Amal as a young woman who values education so much that she wants to become a teacher as an adult.  Educational opportunities are not guaranteed to the masses in this country.  Wealth and gender are greater factors in one’s ability to receive an education. 

Saaed includes several different descriptors about clothes in the story.  For example, Amal wears a “chador” to the market, and she mentions how she “cloak[s]” herself with it. Reading this small description of what she was wearing completely changed how I imagined Amal in the marketplace. The chador is a garment associated with culture and religious beliefs. Amal also mentions the city girls wearing “shalwar kamizes”--again, I found myself Googling this to understand the meaning.  

The food in the story also taught me about Pakistani culture. Tea is a social drink there, like coffee or wine is in my local culture. Fruit is a treat, like Amal’s pomegranate or oranges from the groves. Amal describes the city by the smell of “samosas and pakoras.” 

It is difficult to not judge another culture by your own values and social norms. Some aspects of Amal’s story can be universally understood to be unfair or unjust, and there are others that are a matter of opinion or belief. 

D. AWARDS & REVIEW EXCERPTS

ALA Notable Children's Books, 2019

Booklist, April 2018: “Saeed fills her prose with lush descriptions of Pakistani life, while still managing to connect with readers whose surroundings and experiences will be starkly different. Hand to any reader who struggles with definitive gender roles, norms, and expectations held in place by societal structures.”

Kirkus Reviews starred, April 2018: “Amal narrates, her passion for learning, love for her family, and despair at her circumstance evoked with sympathy and clarity, as is the setting. Inspired by Malala Yousafzai and countless unknown girls like her, Saeed’s timely and stirring middle-grade debut is a celebration of resistance and justice.”

Publishers Weekly starred, March 2018

School Library Journal starred, June 2018

Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA), April 2018

E. CONNECTIONS

Literature reflects real life.  Unfortunately, stories of indentured servants and slaves are still reality.  Amal Unbound could be read alongside other great books that tell similar tragic stories, like Copper Sun by Sharon M. Draper, Lion Island: Cuba’s warrior of words by Margarita Engle, and The Queen of Water by Laura Resau. 

Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin

 

A. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Martin, Ann M. 2014. RAIN REIGN. New York: Feiwel and Friends. ISBN 978-0-312-64300-3.

B. PLOT SUMMARY

There is a strong bond between a child and his/her dog.  Rose Howard is a lovely, young 5th grade girl. She loves homonyms, prime numbers, and her dog, Rain. Her father seems to be perpetually stressed out, but her Uncle Weldon takes great care of her.  Rose’s Asperger’s syndrome makes socialization challenging, so Rain is her best and only friend.  When Rain goes missing, Rose does everything within her power to find her.

C. CRITICAL ANALYSIS (INCLUDING CULTURAL MARKERS)
Martin does an awesome job of writing Rose’s character.  Her first person narration gives the reader a unique understanding into how a child with Asperger’s syndrome may think.  Much of the narration is riddled with nonessential details about words and numbers. Reading this kind of stream of consciousness is definitely different and in some ways frustrating. However, I think it helps the reader empathize with some of the challenges a person with Asperger’s experiences, with being able to focus or engage with others.  

The innocence of Rose’s character is beautiful.  It makes the lack of patience and kindness from her father even more heartbreaking. The characterization is definitely one of the strengths of this middle grade novel. Rose’s relationship with her father is not a typical one. There is no physical affection or deep emotional connection.  

Rain is really Rose’e closest attachment. In the most volatile moment, Rain acts as a protector of Rose. When her dad raises his fist in anger, Rain jumps between Rose and her father. He strikes Rain instead. For most of the story, her relationship with Rain provides companionship and routine responsibility, as well as emotional refuge.    

The characters of Mrs. Leibler and Mrs. Kushel exercise patience and provide help to Rose during her hardships and outbursts. Again, these fictional characters exhibit strategies that the reader can consider when interacting with people in real life that have similar challenges.

D. AWARDS & REVIEW EXCERPTS

ALA Notable Children's Books, 2015

Schneider Family Book Award, 2015

Booklist starred, August 2014: “Readers will be moved by the raw portrayal of Rose’s difficult home life, her separation from other kids at school, and her loss of the dog that has loved her and provided a buffer from painful experiences. A strong story told in a nuanced, highly accessible way.”

Kirkus Reviews starred, September 2014: “Martin has penned a riveting, seamless narrative in which each word sings and each scene counts. There is no fluff here, just sophisticated, emotionally honest storytelling.”

School Library Journal starred, August 2014: “Though Rose's story is often heartbreaking, her matter-of-fact narration provides moments of humor. Readers will empathize with Rose, who finds strength and empowerment through her unique way of looking at the world.”

E. CONNECTIONS
There are other great realistic fiction books out there with characters on the Autism spectrum.  These would be great books to read with middle grade book clubs or even as a class, to learn about a different perspective, but to also facilitate empathy for others.  Some other great titles for middle grade readers and above are Mockingbird: (Mok’ing-burd) by Kathryn Erskine, Tornado Brain by Cat Patrick,  and The Very Ordered Existence of Merilee Marvelous by Suzanne Carlisle Crowley.