Review: The Enigma Girls

“The Enigma Girls” tells the story of several British young women who served during World War II helping to break codes. Some were recruited, others seemed to end up at Station X by accident. All were made to sign the Official Secrets Act in which they promised to never talk about their wartime jobs. These young women were gifted mathematicians or linguists. They largely came from middle and upper class families. They were dedicated to doing their part to beat the Nazis.

Candace Fleming does a fantastic job describing the dedication of these women and the conditions under which they worked (often horrible). I particularly appreciated that she included the women’s concerns about the ethical considerations of their jobs. There are introductory code-breaking activities and a thorough author’s note that describes why these women started sharing their experiences after decades of silence.

Classroom Considerations: “The Enigma Girls” is written at roughly a 5th/6th grade level. Because of the complexity of the story, it would be great for middle school students. The language is not overly simplistic so high school students would enjoy this book as well.

This book is great for kids who are interested in World War II or stories of strong women who have ignored society’s expectations.

I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley and Scholastic Focus, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Review: Run and Hide

 “Run and HIde” is a graphic novel that tells the story of how Jewish children escaped Nazi persecution during World War II. This graphic novel contains not just one story of escape, but many, from the Kindertransport to walking across the Pyrenees Mountains to hiding in fields and barns. Quotes from survivors are throughout.

Author and illustrator Don Brown’s book starts with an overview of the end of World War I to the rise of the Nazis in Germany. Early efforts by parents to get their children to safety are chronicled with succinct text and haunting illustrations in muted colors. The illustrations effectively capture both urgent movement and terrified stillness.

There are extensive notes and a list of sources in the back of the book.

This book is great for those interested in learning about the Holocaust and the children who escaped. I would definitely recommend this to my students as a concise introduction to the topic.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book provided by NetGalley and the publisher, Clarion Books. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Review: Accountable

I remember when this story first made the news. I paid attention to it because I’m a high school teacher, I know people who live in Albany, and I worked in the neighboring school district for 20 years. What was on the news was only the tip of the iceberg.

“Accountable” is a well-written, compelling account of the discovery of a racist Instagram account started by a student at Albany High School and the lives in that school community that were irrevocably changed in the aftermath of the discovery. At nearly 500 pages, the story follows the perpetrators and victims, while providing important additional background information on racism in America, psychology, and other related issues. I found Dashka Slater’s style to be engaging throughout. Slater clearly spent a lot of time getting to know the students (and, to some extent, their families) involved. 

This is not an “oh, everything will turn out just fine” type of story. There are no neat endings tied up with a pretty bow. NOTHING was the same for any of the students involved, even those who came to some sort of resolution or had some sort of reconciliation. This is a difficult story, but you need to read it anyway.

This book should be read by all teens and the adults who work with them. “Accountable” comes out August 22.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book provided by NetGalley and the publisher, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Review: 88 Life-Changing High School Hacks

Do you want to help your teen smooth out the rough edges of life? “88 Life-Changing High School Hacks” could be for you. Author Derek T Freeman provides 88 specific strategies for improving life in categories ranging from study habits to relationship building to personal growth. The writing style is conversational and provides encouragement for teens to empower themselves.

Teens can choose the area of life they wish to work on as the book does not have to be read in a linear fashion. Some teens may need to skip the tips on relationships with parents if those relationships are already particularly damaging. There are many places that open avenues for conversation between teens and the adults in their lives (e.g. Want a Car? Consider ALL of the expenses related to having a vehicle, not just the cool car you want to purchase).

This book is great for teens and their adults who are looking for specific ideas to stay on track and thrive.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of “88 Life-Changing High School Hacks” provided by NetGalley and BooksGoSocial. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Review: Your Freedom, Your Power: A Kid's Guide to the First Amendment

Allison Matulli’s “Your Freedom, Your Power: A Kid’s Guide to the First Amendment” is an excellent introduction to the topic. It breaks down the First Amendment into its five freedoms, defines each, then provides relevant examples. Matulli uses current examples, but does explain that those examples could be out of date because of changes in the legal landscape. There is a good explanation of the federal court system and how it works.

Though written for middle grade students, this book is suitable for high school students as well. Specialized legal vocabulary is included within the text and complicated court decisions are explained thoroughly. 

This book would be great to have in social studies and journalism classrooms at the middle school and high school levels. I would even recommend it for AP U.S. Government classes for students who are having a hard time breaking down required cases or understanding the federal court system.

“Your Freedom, Your Power” will be out in July 2023.

I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley and Running Press Kids. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Review: Squirrel is Alive!

Mary Rostad is horrified by what the Nazis are doing in her beloved Belgium. She begins with small acts of resistance, then commits to joining the larger resistance movement. As a teenager, she leaves her family without telling them and begins walking across western Europe. Along the way, she meets interesting people and delivers messages. 

Mary tells her story in a clear voice that looks back on her life. The reader can almost see the shake of Mary’s head as she describes the risks she took as a young girl. She also reflects on the pain it must have caused her family to not know what happened to their daughter for two years during World War II. 

“Squirrel is Alive” came about because of a community of people who encouraged Mary to tell her story. Susan Heissel helped Mary write the story and they got through a first draft before Mary passed away. Heissel finished the revisions on Mary’s behalf. Darryle Cloet, who worked closely with Mary for many years wrote an afterword about the impact Mary’s story had and continues to have on others.

This book would be great for teens who are interested in acts of resistance during the Holocaust. 

Thanks to NetGalley and Independent Publishing Group for an advanced review copy in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Review: The Men of the 65th

 “Men of the 65th” is the gripping story of the U.S. Army 65th Regiment from Puerto Rico. Formed after the Spanish American War, the unit fought with distinction in World War I and World War II. The men of the 65th were known for their determination, fortitude, and ferocity in battle. The regiment was sent to the Korean peninsula during the Korean War, where the highly disciplined group earned even more accolades. A series of changes in leadership and turnover in the ranks (because of battle losses and regular rotation out) led to a decline in morale and uneven performance on the battlefield. Ultimately, dozens of men were court-martialed after refusing to walk into another meat-grinder of a battle. Was this fair or appropriate given everything they had done?

This is a fascinating story that reads like a traditional history book with troop movements, numbers of troops, and battle details. This can seem repetitive and dry at times. On the other hand, Aikens-Nunez uses these facts to make a convincing case that the 65th faced discrimination even as they were lauded for bravery. 

Sidebars give additional explanation for key ideas such as background on the Borinqueneers (and what the name means) and the names for groups of people in the Army. These add interest and explanation.

Maps that include the body of water on the eastern side of the Korean peninsula show both names: the familiar Sea of Japan and the South Korean preferred name, East Sea. South Korea continues to advocate for the name change to the East Sea.

“Men of the 65th” would be great for middle and high school readers who want to know more about how the Korean War was fought.

Thanks to NetGalley, Lerner Publishing Group, and Zest Books for an advance reader copy of “Men of the 65th” in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Review: Breaking News: Why Media Matters

“Breaking News: Why Media Matters” by Raina Delisle is an excellent introduction to media literacy for middle grade and early teen students. The book provides a brief history of Western journalism and specific steps to take to analyze the deluge of information we get every day. There is an emphasis on journalism’s watchdog function in modern society and ideas for students to get involved. The book has multiple specific (and current) examples from Canada and the United States.

Lots of white space on the pages, good use of color, and a multitude of sidebars make for a strong design. The sidebars provide examples of young people involved in journalism or give extra details about the topic of the chapter. The text is easy to understand, but does not talk down to students. Julie McLaughlin’s illustrations add interest and bring home the point of the necessity of diversity in modern newsrooms.

This book is great for those interested in media literacy, journalism history, and media activism. It would be a great addition to the classroom library. I would expect “Breaking News” would get students fired up about media literacy.

Thanks to NetGalley and Orca Book Publishers for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

“Breaking News: Why Media Matters” will be available in mid-May.

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.

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.