Fire Shapes the World

How do you explain to young children the importance of fire to the natural landscape? It’s easy. Read them “Fire Shapes the World.” I wanted to read an advance copy of this story because I live in a wildfire-prone state and I am a teacher who often finds herself wondering how to explain complex topics.

Joanna Cooke’s text explains the topic in an almost poetic way. I liked the way the words danced across the literal and figurative landscape of the book. Illustrations by Cornelia Li and Diana Renzina have an almost magical illuminated quality to them. The overall effect is one of comfort in scary times. 

The Author’s Note is extensive and would be great for older kids to read. There is a list of additional resources and websites if one wants to learn more about wildfire and fire policy. 

I would recommend this for elementary level students and their families and would even use it to introduce wildfire, conservation practices, and fire policy to middle school and high school students. 

Thanks to Edelweiss and Yosemite Conservancy for providing an advance copy for review consideration. All opinions are my own. The book is scheduled to release in April 2023.

The Underground Railroad

 “The Underground Railroad” is my first experience with Blind Date with a Book. I don’t know that I would have picked it up otherwise, but it’s definitely a good read. 

I don’t have much to add to the 29,000+ reviews already on Goodreads or the more than 21,000 ratings and reviews on Amazon. Seriously, many, many people have expressed their opinions about this story.

The story is compelling in an “I-can’t-put-the-book-down” kind of way despite the unrelenting physical and psychological brutality. Secondary characters move in and out of Cora’s orbit only to be destroyed. Yet Cora persists. Several times Cora is cast into literal or figurative darkness and claws her way back toward the light of a new day or a new place in search of physical and psychological safety. And yet she persists. 

The literal underground railroad criss-crossing states moving north is an interesting way to move characters from one reality to another (is it an express to your ultimate destination, on a spur, headed for a dead end or a cave in, or worse, has it been discovered). 

I would recommend this book to adults and teens. I will put “The Underground Railroad” in my classroom library.

Little People Big Dreams: Hedy Lamarr

 Yes, that Hedy Lamarr. Yes, the actress considered one of the most beautiful women of her day happened to develop the technology used as the foundation of today’s wifi. I became fascinated with Hedy Lamarr’s story after learning about her from the National Women’s History Museum. Naturally, I was interested in seeing how this complex story played out in one of the Little People, Big Dreams books for young children.

The text is straightforward, but does not oversimplify Hedy’s life. She is portrayed as curious about her world and brave for challenging society’s expectations for women. The illustrations are detailed, but not fussy. I could easily see an adult reading the book to a young child, then having a conversation about the action and emotion in the illustrations.

I would recommend this book for young children and their families. It would be particularly good for families wanting to share diverse lives early on. 

Thanks to #NetGalley and Francis Lincoln Children’s Books for providing a copy of “Hedy Lamarr” for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

The Adventures of Ruby Pi and the Geometry Girls

 I’m always looking for engaging historical fiction with strong female characters to add to my classroom library. The five stories in “The Adventures of Ruby Pi and the Geometry Girls” fit the bill. These vignettes into time and place each feature a strong girl who uses her brain to solve problems. Whether solving mysteries, bettering village life, or trying to stop a famine before it happens, these young women get the job done.

Each bite-sized story can be read in one sitting. Each of the characters is distinct in her time and place in the world. Some of the characters work within society’s constraints and others seem to work against barriers. I found some of the transitions in time a bit jarring, but this may have been because the Advanced Reader’s Copy didn’t have clear chapter divisions within each story. Really, each of these adventures could be expanded to a much longer telling of the tale.

I liked that the girls used practical applications of mathematics to solve problems in a no-nonsense way. Tom Durwood makes complex math accessible in these tales.

This book would be great for middle school and high school readers looking for bite-sized stories and strong female characters. I will get a copy of this for my classroom.

 

Thanks to #NetGalley and #BooksGoSocial for a copy of “The Adventures of Ruby Pi and the Geometry Girls” for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

I Could Not Do Otherwise: The Remarkable Life of Dr. Mary Edwards Walker

 How did I not know about Dr. Mary Walker? 

Sara Latta’s “I Could Not Do Otherwise” demonstrates that Walker was a consequential figure in the early fight for women’s suffrage. She was at the forefront of women’s dress reform. She spoke extensively on both subjects. She served during the Civil War. She had access to the movers and shakers of the federal government for decades. Mary Walker did not compromise on her values and made enemies along the way. In short, her story is a fascinating example of someone who has nearly been erased from history.

The narrative of Mary Walker’s life smoothly flows throughout this book targeted to middle grade and teen readers. Latta provides some support for unfamiliar vocabulary terms and there are ample, clearly marked asides to help put Walker’s story in the context of her time. An extensive bibliography is provided for those who might wish to learn more about Mary Walker.

This telling of Dr. Mary Walker’s life is thorough and engaging. The reader learns about both her public and private life, including her quest to improve life for women, the poor, and veterans. I appreciate that the book does not sugar-coat aspects of Walker’s personality that made her difficult for others to deal with and, at the same time, dogged in pursuit of her causes.

I would recommend this book to teens and plan to get a physical copy for my classroom. This book is particularly good for teens who don’t conform to typical social norms.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #ZestBooks for a copy for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

My Dear Henry: A Jekyll & Hyde Remix

 In this re-telling of “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” Gabriel Utterson enters the London School for Medical Studies at his father’s insistence. There isn’t much hope of securing a position upon graduation, but Gabriel is a dutiful son. Soon after arriving in London, Gabriel meets Henry Jekyll, another dutiful son. The two become friends, and then something more. Rumors about their relationship lead to Henry’s expulsion and Gabriel’s forced resignation. The two correspond, but then Henry becomes distant and, for a time, he seems to disappear. Gabriel wants to know the truth and will do anything in his power to find Henry.

“My Dear Henry” is a quick read filled with late Victorian London/steampunk atmosphere (think dark nights, dark alleys, and plenty of fog). Racism and homophobia are discussed thoughtfully, but make clear the untenable situations the characters (and real people of the time) found themselves in. Gabriel, Henry, and their friends are earnest and likable, even when they encounter monsters.

 

The publisher suggests content warnings, particularly around “racism and homophobia in the context of the late nineteenth century, sexual assault, and suggested conversion therapy.” I would agree that these elements may be of concern to sensitive individuals. 

 

“My Dear Henry” is one in a series of remixed classics for the YA market. I would recommend this book for teens who like atmospheric stories and those who enjoy tales of Victorian London. It would be interesting to pair this re-telling of “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” with the original in the classroom. 

Thanks to #NetGalley and #Feiwel&Friends (Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group) for a copy for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

All That Is Hidden: A Molly Murphy Mystery

Molly Murphy Sullivan is back for her 19th installment in “All That is Hidden.” The story opens in 1907 when Daniel, her police captain husband, takes Molly to a posh Fifth Avenue home and announces they will live there while Daniel runs for sheriff on the Tammany Hall ticket. Naturally, Molly is stunned. Though she struggles with Daniel’s apparent turn to the Dark Side, she throws her support behind her husband and soon finds herself embroiled in Tammany politics. 

I discovered Molly during the Pandemic and have devoured each story. Molly is a reflective character who knows that she has been shaped by the circumstances of her life. By this point, she espouses what we would consider solid traditional middle-class values, but Molly’s beliefs are challenged by her friends and acquaintances (the cast of characters is colorful) so she is constantly evolving. In this installment, Molly considers the treatment of those with disabilities and the consequences of political corruption at the turn of the 20th century. 

As always, this peek into Molly’s life paints a vivid picture of early 20th century New York City. Molly Murphy fans will find the story familiar, yet intriguing. If you haven’t read a Molly Murphy story before, you could easily start here, then go back and read earlier episodes to more deeply understand the characters. I highly recommend this story!

Thank you #NetGalley and #MinotaurBooks for providing an advanced reader’s copy of “All That is Hidden” for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

A Teen's Essential Guide to Social Anxiety Relief

Teens suffering from social anxiety and depression are looking for tools to help themselves. “A Teen’s Essential Guide to Social Anxiety Relief” by Emma Lou Parker seeks to provide such a tool. 

The book offers strategies for coping and even significantly reducing one’s social anxiety. Breathing techniques are explained. Thought distortions are discussed. Positive self-talk is suggested. All of these are great.

However, Parker’s voice is inconsistent throughout (some sections are well-written and well explained), but others leave a lot to be desired as they feel cursory or dismissive. Tone is uplifting in some parts of the book, but in others it feels condescending. As someone who works with teens on a daily basis, I am not sure I could get away with the tone even if I have a good relationship with a particular teen. While I don’t see any obvious trigger warnings (other than discussion of psychological and physical discomfort), I am not sure it is realistic to espouse an elimination of social anxieties (which, again, seems inconsistent).

I read an Advanced Reader’s Copy, but proofreading still needed work. There are numerous spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors throughout. These challenges are beyond what one might use for effect and interfered with my enjoyment of the book.

Despite these concerns, this book would be good for teens who are on the road to self-reflection and are ready to take on the challenges of reducing social anxiety. 

Thanks #NetGalley and Cissy Editions for providing a copy for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Tell Me What Really Happened

 Thanks #NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Fire for a copy of “Tell Me What Really Happened”  for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Five teens go into the woods for an overnight camping trip. One doesn’t make it home. Now the survivors must tell the story of their night in the woods to police, but what really happened?

I was drawn to this book because the story is told in four voices as police interviews. The reader only sees what each survivor tells law enforcement officials over the course of the better part of a day. Each character is distinct and has a clear voice throughout. At times each stubbornly withholds information, but relents in the end. While camping the characters are sometimes funny, other times aggravating, and often protective of their own reputations before the night becomes fraught with paranoia and descends into chaos. The story is riveting and heart-breaking.

This book would be great for teens looking for a fast-paced mystery, with relatable, but not always completely likable characters (as humans are sometimes). The story is also great for those looking for alternative story-telling methods. I will get a copy of this for my classroom.

Ghost Talker: Madame Chalamet Ghost Mysteries, Volume 1

 Thanks #NetGalley and Rook and Castle Press for providing this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Madame Chalamet is a highly trained Ghost Talker who assists law enforcement and counsels the bereaved. After being called to help identify a body she finds herself caught up in government intrigue that goes all the way to the King. 

This is not my typical genre, but I love a good mystery and good atmosphere in a story. “Ghost Talker: Madame Chalamet Ghost Mysteries, Volume 1” delivers. Another reviewer mentioned good world-building and I would agree. The world Elinor Chalamet inhabits is familiar, yet not. As someone who doesn’t spend a lot of time reading fantasy, this was an excellent mix for me. As a Ghost Talker, Chalamet certainly has critics, but her strength, humor, and understanding of human (and other beings) behavior see her through every challenge. She knows her own mind, but is humble enough to work with others, including an intriguing and powerful duke. This episode reveals a number of mysteries within the storyline, including some in Elinor’s own life.

#GhostTalker is fun for historical mystery fans, mystery series fans, those who like novels on the short side, well-paced action, and a little bit of fantasy.

This is the first in a series of six novellas. I can hardly wait for the next one!

Missing Clarissa

 Thanks to #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for sending “Missing Clarissa” for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Besties Cameron and Blair decide to do their high school journalism project about a 20-year-old missing persons case in their small town. Clarissa had disappeared from a party in the woods a month after she graduated from high school. As Cam and Blair navigate their own complicated lives, they realize their project has the power to hurt…or heal those Clarissa left behind.

I love a fast-paced mystery and “Missing Clarissa” definitely fills the bill. I had a hard time putting it down. The dialog is snappy, rarely getting bogged down in either Clarissa’s disappearance or Cam and Blair’s life outside of the journalism project. Characters are quirky and flawed, but so very likable.  Forays into questions about the meaning of justice, lack of confidence in young women, and the challenges of growing up in a small town shine a light on tough topics and draw connections between Cam and Blair and those who came before them. 

This is a great book for mystery lovers of all ages, those who like strong and reflective female characters, those who like stories set in small towns where everybody knows who you are. I’ll be getting a hard copy of this book for my classroom library.