I read this for library card sign up month about a year ago. Finding love in a library at a Japanese internment camp is both lovely and heartbreaking. I read this for library card sign up month about a year ago. Finding love in a library at a Japanese internment camp is both lovely and heartbreaking. It's amazing how love can grow despite such hardships, it carries a hopeful tone....more
The red scare turned pink with this re-imagining of Snagglepuss. It works really well because I can hear snagglepuss' voice and easily imagine him as The red scare turned pink with this re-imagining of Snagglepuss. It works really well because I can hear snagglepuss' voice and easily imagine him as a Oscar Wilde/Tennessee Williams type of play-write. He blends really well into the red-scare with artists being blacklisted and unable to find work, the cold war (atomic bomb), along with history of LGBT+ doing a bit of a feature on stonewall at that time, and just some interesting bits on hanna-barbera cartoons. That's why I put it also in the historical fiction - it also has some nice details at the end of the book. It was just a really interesting idea that I think could have worked if the art was better to portray the story.
The story I thought was pretty dramatic and ok. The art really did not keep my interest - I was disappointed that the entire graphic novel was in this style - truly everyone looked pretty creepy.
The cover art style was so good and unique- vibrant with the colors and such a great stylistic take. I was glad the art from the covers were included. ...more
I just learned about decoration day and saw this book at the library. It was really nicely illustrated and provided some great information at the backI just learned about decoration day and saw this book at the library. It was really nicely illustrated and provided some great information at the back of the book. Very nice!...more
I keep finding books about baseball in Japanese camps, so I have been learning a lot. The other book I read was Baseball Saved Us and did this as a scI keep finding books about baseball in Japanese camps, so I have been learning a lot. The other book I read was Baseball Saved Us and did this as a school project that was going through museum collections and visual information. For this project I found baseball being played at the camps. So, when I noticed this book at the library I thought It was a must for my year.
I thought this was such a character driven story and I think it makes such an impact that it's by a child's perspective. This goes through the family being blamed, taken from their home, and having to build a new life in the camps.
The illustrations are great, it has extra information in the back of the book, and I think this is a great story to talk with historical events that happen with a juv. audience. ...more
I great book, the illustrations are realistic and travels through emotions and events that happen to a Japanese boy kept in the camps and later releasI great book, the illustrations are realistic and travels through emotions and events that happen to a Japanese boy kept in the camps and later released and how baseball had been there.
Good book for juv. historical fiction to have early conversations with kids about history and events. ...more
I thought was really an interesting book and I didn't know Morgan had a library...or really any of this history! It is also such an interesting time pI thought was really an interesting book and I didn't know Morgan had a library...or really any of this history! It is also such an interesting time period where a lot of different major events happening like the sinking of the titanic, civil rights, lynching, women's right to vote, … etc. Belle da Costa Greene was a pretty secretive person and I think this book did her justice. She had to balance and hid her true identity for her entire life and that cost her a lot, despite her success. An important historical figure for sure and even more respect for her being in my library profession realm. The audio book was well narrated, but I did put it on x2 speed. The plot was fine, pacing was steady (with some interest and some boring parts, imo) The author notes were interesting and stated intentions to write her as well as they could. Also it was during the 2020 pandemic so they talk a little about that experience and how similar events BLM protests sort of echoed similar themes in the book.
Good book, an extra star for me because the mad librarian respect. AND YES! I did get this book at my library! ;)
Beautifully illustrated story about the survivor tree. The story is a dedication to those who had to recover and build again. It does a good job tacklBeautifully illustrated story about the survivor tree. The story is a dedication to those who had to recover and build again. It does a good job tackling a tough subject and I found myself thinking back to that day. It handles this subject with gentle nature of a long recovery.
I'm from IL and was so surprised that I had never heard of the Radium Girls...thinking back the only radium histories I knew were from the manhattan pI'm from IL and was so surprised that I had never heard of the Radium Girls...thinking back the only radium histories I knew were from the manhattan project and Marie Curie. I do plan to make a trip to Ottawa to visit the statue.
These women did so much with the time they had left, the fought an evil and corrupt company, fought for workers rights (especially those with hazard materials), and donated their bodies to science. We owe these girls a great debt.
Some of these portions had me in tears as I imagined their lives, their families, their devote husbands or people who took it upon themselves to be their champions against injustice. The authors note about wanting to do their best to tell their individual stories did a really great job capturing them and finding out about what they were like. I applaud her good efforts because I became captivated.
*note In historical fiction because it does do a narrative type of telling and I think this would be a great book to rec. for this kinda genre too. ...more
I thought this was wonderfully illustrated and a very meaningful story about the pandemic. I think it covLeUyen Pham is an illustrator I really enjoy.
I thought this was wonderfully illustrated and a very meaningful story about the pandemic. I think it covers a lot of good and nice ways people hoped to help others, the fun families had to spend more time together, but also the hardships in households as well.
I think this is a very great story to connect too and I can imagine a lot of kids liking especially. ...more
Interesting read, I did read this on audiobook and thought they did a great job with narration. The writing is good, the pacing is fine, and it was anInteresting read, I did read this on audiobook and thought they did a great job with narration. The writing is good, the pacing is fine, and it was an all round good read! I didn't actually read what this was about and WHAM! It actually turned out to be much more action packed then I could have anticipated - especially with the kidnapping. (I did not see that coming!) An adventure for sure that I think J- YA readers could really get hooked on!
This book also provides a lot of talking points about d/Deaf culture and even privilege/discrimination, and our main character has a balance of being both! There is discussion about natives (Wampanoag) and free slaves - then her kidnapped experience and the doc. seeing her deafness being an infliction and being treated less as such.
An excellent book, I especially appreciate the author's notes and experiences being d/Deaf. Extra star for the representation!
Heavily illustrated by the fabulous Brian Selznick it really has a nice layout and flow that goes really well with the story. A historical fiction aboHeavily illustrated by the fabulous Brian Selznick it really has a nice layout and flow that goes really well with the story. A historical fiction about a box finding Houdini's box - extra info at the end of the book...more
I am a sucker for is a coming of age summer time stories, so I naturally immediately grew attached to this book. There is something about summer that I am a sucker for is a coming of age summer time stories, so I naturally immediately grew attached to this book. There is something about summer that is so magic and this book captures it really well. This is about a young boy romanticizing the vaudeville and wanting the lifestyle. He easily makes friends with their kids when they come to relax each summer. This is a pretty powerful summer story with a very beautiful watercolor art style. I was also surprised that this is a historical fiction of Buster Keaton who was an early film star. ~Ashley
If you like Matt Phelan you may enjoy Brian Selznick. Especially if you love illustrated historical fiction!...more
Brian Selznick writes amazing historical fiction that also feels like magic. This book is a really fun experience. The illustrations are beautiful andBrian Selznick writes amazing historical fiction that also feels like magic. This book is a really fun experience. The illustrations are beautiful and are able to tell a story with no dialog that make it feel cinematic. Reading this book you will learn about an early film maker named Georges Méliès who made a film called A Trip to the Moon in 1902! At the end of the book there is a references page so you can continue to learn about the person and events that inspired the book! ~Ashley
If you like illustrated historical fiction I would recommend Matt Phelan to read next!...more
Generation after generation and seeing things change for the better is what I see when I read this book. I nearly cried every time a child was sold anGeneration after generation and seeing things change for the better is what I see when I read this book. I nearly cried every time a child was sold and did cry when the child finally could stay with their family. In tears it moved me. Slavery was a significant and devastating event that happened in our history, family history is difficult to track because of these events...as you know families were separated [And other horrible events that have happened to breed and sell slaves. (hide spoiler)] and records can be hard to find. Inspiring to see that sewing and quilts were past down this gives me a better understanding of how important these traditions and heirlooms are that are passed down from families. Heirlooms that can also tell the fight for freedom is especially important. What an important story which I hope is taught in classes, The book is also beautifully illustrated. I recommend this book highly! ~Ashley
If you like this book I just finished Brown Girl Dreaming was very good! ...more
This story takes place 1942, after the attack on Pearl Harbor, where Japanese-Americans were being moved to internment camps. This story is about a giThis story takes place 1942, after the attack on Pearl Harbor, where Japanese-Americans were being moved to internment camps. This story is about a girl named Manami having to move and leave her dog behind and her adjustment to the life in the prison camp.
This story was heartbreaking, her making paper wishes and drawings to try to get her dog back. Manami is very sensitive and you're experiencing the camp through her thoughts. The life in the prison camp was horrible. Everything was taken from them, except what they could carry in suitcases. She has a strong bond with her family and that plays a big part in this book. When they have everything taken they hold each other closer and talk about home often. They remain hopeful. Be sure to read the author's notes at the end for more information about this time and the events that occurred.
This is a J-book and would be a great choice for projects or anyone who likes historical fiction. ~Ashley...more
I usually don't read dog stories because we all know what happens at the end, but it was interesting to learn more about the story of Laika. I'm interI usually don't read dog stories because we all know what happens at the end, but it was interesting to learn more about the story of Laika. I'm interested in reading more about her to see if I can't learn more about her handler and the others involved with Laika.
If you like learning about Russia you might like this graphic novel The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain ~Ashley...more
When a young girl runs away from home and decides to ride the rails away. She disguises herself as a boy and luckily enough finds a hobo mentor to traWhen a young girl runs away from home and decides to ride the rails away. She disguises herself as a boy and luckily enough finds a hobo mentor to travel with. The story was ok, the layout was nice, and the coloring was very unique! I actually learned a lot about the hobo lifestyle, very nice to have all the songs and rules cited. It was really interesting to see the meaning of the symbols (and how nicely it was worked in with the title) and I really love the inspired reading list included in the back! I think this was worth the read and I would recommend it to those interested in historical fiction. ~Ashley...more
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