Pageantry

I am happy to support the author of my recent read, Like Vanessa, written by Tami Charles. Charles is a teacher turned writer, and I was fortunate to see her during an author panel at the JLG Day of Dialog in NYC. Charles’s book is loosely based on her own feelings, experiences and various people in her life that helped her as a pageant contestant.

Vanessa is the main character in this book. She is a tall, heavy-set, African American eighth grader who lives with her grandfather, her gay cousin and her dismissive father. Her father has closed himself away from Vanessa since her mother disappeared when Vanessa was very young. Vanessa’s mom was involved in pageants and Vanessa is enchanted with this life. She is fully supported in her dream to join the pageant occurring at her middle school by her grandfather, her cousin and one of her teachers. The story becomes a bit of a make-over tale as they all work to whip her into shape (physically, emotionally, etc) for the show. Her dad forbids her to join which creates some family conflict, especially when he finds out she’s been involved in everything behind his back.

Through the story Vanessa encounters struggles with her best friend, and also faces mean girls who stoop very low to wreck Vanessa’s chances of participating in the pageant.

This story is about growing up, but mostly, it’s about accepting oneself . While Vanessa feels proud that Vanessa Williams just became the first African-American Miss America, she doesn’t know if America will ever accept someone as dark skinned as she is in this role. She struggles with her appearance through much of the story, but ends the story with love for herself. She also reconciles with her dad and finds out what actually happened to her mom. Vanessa overcame her personal doubts, family issues and other obstacles to fulfill her dream. This should appeal to many teen girls.

Home

The memoir Hey, Kiddo by Jarrett J. Krosoczka will hit home for anyone affected by a family member with an addiction. This is Jarrett’s story of being raised by his grandparents because of his mother’s heroin addiction. The story begins with some background into his grandparents’ lives and then his mom’s. His mom began using when she was only thirteen. She cleaned up while pregnant with Jarrett, but couldn’t fight her addiction once he was born and through his upbringing. She served jail time and her relationship with him consisted of periodic visits and letters. Jarrett didn’t meet his dad until he was graduating high school.

Jarrett’s love of art provided an outlet for him and got him through difficult times at home and school. His grandparents had their own issues with drinking, but their love for him is apparent throughout his life. They supported his art by sending him to classes, buying supplies for him to use at home, and helping his application process to art colleges. I felt endeared to his grandparents (despite some not so great moments) because of his grandfather’s sense of humor and his grandmother’s crassness. They went through a lot with their daughter as well.

This is a graphic novel with an incredible sense of detail. Krosoczka used actual drawings that he saved from his childhood throughout the book. He even used his grandmother’s favorite pineapple wallpaper between story sections. This book is clearly a labor of love. Jarrett came to terms with the mixed emotions he had for his mother and her choices and ensured that his life would be positive. Two important points become evident in this story: the tenacity of the human spirit can push one through difficulty, and home is found where you are cared for and loved.

Batter Up

The Hero Two Doors Down by Sharon Robinson was a pleasant surprise for me. I cringe to admit that I am not a baseball fan. I would not normally select this book; but chose it since it’s a 2019 Nutmeg nominee. The Prologue evoked an emotional response from me and basically hooked me into the story.

Sharon writes about her dad and his young neighbor Steve. It is a mostly true account of Steve’s love of the NY Dodgers and his hero Jackie Robinson living just a couple houses away from him. Steve had a rough time controlling his emotions and behavior in school. His love for his dad, baseball and Jackie Robinson’s friendship as a neighbor greatly helped him gain some control in his life.

This story is narrated for younger readers. Important topics such as discrimination, religion and learning self control are all parts of this book. These topics are explained in an approachable, understandable way. Through all the events is the friendship between Steve and Jackie (along with his family). The story ends with photographs of the family members which makes the story and Steve’s voice even more palpable. This book will definitely be a hit to baseball fans and beyond.

Souls of War

It is difficult for anyone to fully comprehend what it feels like to be in war unless they’ve been through it themselves. To me, Alan Gratz’s book Grenade represents the turmoil, aggression, fear, survival instincts, and desperation of war quite well. The story takes place in WWII Okinawa, where the Japanese army is hoping to slow down the advancement of the American soldiers into Japan. The author’s afterword is worth a read to get more context too.

The plot shares perspectives between an American soldier named Ray, and Blood and Iron Student Corps soldier Hideki. Both are young men thrust into this brutal war. Hideki’s tale begins when his Student Corps are given two grenades; one is to kill as many Americans as possible and the other is to kill themselves. Hideki’s grenades become a strong symbol throughout the story. His first grenade is used (SPOILER AHEAD) and it takes Ray’s life. He contemplates using the second at numerous points in the story, but ultimately places it down before he surrenders. In doing so, he hopes to spare his life and his sister’s. His sister is his only remaining living relative, and finding her was his final promise to his dad before he died.

Through the story, first Ray and then Hideki, collect pictures of fallen soldiers with their family members. These represent the humanity lost from both sides. The Okinawan people were very much in the middle of this battle. They were used as sacrifices by the Japanese Army, and they became expendable to both sides fighting around them. Hideki took note many times of the fear that makes man a killing machine. It is kill or be killed. The photos are an important reminder that underneath these “killers” are someone’s brother, father, and son.

Also enmeshed in the story is Okinawan culture. Mubui is a term that to me is described as a person’s soul. At first, Hideki has an ancestor’s mubui attached to him which makes him cowardly and afraid. Throughout the story, Hideki conquers this cowardice by making strong choices for the survival of himself and of others. Ray’s mubui also attaches to Hideki, and he must make amends with Ray’s death in order to free his soul.

While stories about war are not normally top picks for me, this one was so well written. There is attention to detail and realism in the representation of both soldiers’ and civilians’ deaths. My recent visit to the Scholastic Book Summit gave me the early copy of Grenade. Before even receiving this book, two other people mentioned Gratz’s other book, Refugee. This author is getting good buzz, and I will definitely be looking to read Refugee soon.

Will to Live

The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware raises an interesting moral dilemma. If you were “accidentally” named in a wealthy person’s will, would you take the chance of getting caught and go for the money, or would you come clean about the error?

Hal finds herself in this exact situation. Hal is quite broke and a bit desperate since her mother’s death by a hit and run. She is being physically threatened by a loan shark’s henchman, and decides to take the chance that she can uphold the mistaken identity to get some money out of it.

In going to the deceased’s mansion, she finds that she actually is related to the family. It takes some time to dig into her past in order to find the true connection. Her mother’s diary and an old photograph are key pieces to start unraveling the puzzle. Through this she must navigate a seemingly vengeful old housekeeper, and three very different uncles. The story has a great twist, but there was a bit of confusion for me with the photograph. I felt that the mother’s description didn’t line up with the twist. I normally would go back to double check, but since I read this one on my Kindle it was too much work to do that!

I most enjoyed the overall concept of the book and I liked the mystical presence of the Tarot throughout the story. Hal learned how to read Tarot from her mom, and it provided both of their livelihoods while forming how they viewed people and life. While the story got a bit dragged out in parts for me, it had enough strong elements to keep me going until the end.

Outbreak

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel is another friend recommendation. I can best describe this book with the word intricate. The plot jumps around quite a bit among many characters, yet everything comes together.

The story begins the night that the pandemic illness, the Georgia Flu, begins its full outbreak. Arthur is acting the part of King Lear when he drops dead onstage (from natural causes). More about Arthur’s past is woven throughout the story: his three marriages including a son from his second marriage, his rise as an acclaimed actor and his friendships.

Arthur’s first wife, Miranda, is a graphic novelist whose sci fi work (also titled “Station Eleven”) is an anchor through the story. This work ties together a couple of key characters, and it also (somewhat) parallels the main story’s plot.

One of the key characters is Kristen, the child actress who was part of King Lear with Arthur. We follow Kristen through her time with the Traveling Symphony, a group of musicians/actors who move through the post flu world. The Symphony provides entertainment to the various groups they come across, until they reach one that is a bit different than the others. It is a cult-like settlement run by the prophet. A pre-teen girl is promised as his next wife and she stows away with the Symphony when they leave. This causes the prophet and some of his followers to go after the Symphony during their travel to the Severn Airport, which they heard is a safe haven.

There are other important characters too. Clark is one of Arthur’s lifelong friends who was stranded at the Severn Airport at the start of the outbreak (along with Arthur’s second wife and son). Another is Jeevan, who ran onstage during King Lear to perform CPR on Arthur.

There is a lot to enjoy about this book. The plot’s maze of movement among different characters, times and places kept me aware and involved. It was a constant guessing game as to whether everyone would connect. I liked the Shakespeare references and the presence of the graphic novel throughout the story too. More than anything, books, movies and shows with post-apocalyptic plots make you think about how one would function in this altered reality and instill some fear. This novel is no exception.

Creepy Treat

After so many young reader books, it was a real treat to read an adult novel. I was beyond excited to borrow an advanced reader copy of Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage from a friend.

Suzette is a stay-at-home mom to her seven-year-old, mute daughter Hanna. The story moves back and forth between Suzette and Hanna’s perspectives. Suzette struggles with her own state of health along with feeling ineffective as mother to her troubled daughter. She often thinks back to her own difficult relationship as a child with her own mother and the happiness of her life before children.

Hanna’s mind is a very twisted place. Hanna senses her mother’s discomfort and disdain of her. This drives her to continue a twisted game of trying to get rid of her mother. She is a perfect angel for her dad which creates additional conflict between her parents too. I couldn’t help be reminded of the movie The Omen while reading! This book is disturbing in a similar way to the movie.

I couldn’t wait to find out what would happen next throughout the entire book. The ending (especially Suzette’s last statement to her daughter) made my jaw drop. There is even the hint of a sequel. Sign me up!

Into the Woods

This is a two in one post- Saint Louis Armstrong Beach and The Blossoming Universe of Violet Diamond are my last two reads; both are by Brenda Woods.

Saint Louis Armstrong Beach is Saint’s story of the time building up to and during Hurricane Katrina. Saint is an extremely enterprising kid (I think 11 year old?). He plays his clarinet along the Louisiana streets to make money and is saving for a new clarinet. He is an outgoing, helpful and extremely likable character. The book gets quite dramatic when Saint ditches his uncle and cousins to find his dog Shadow. He heads back to his home (even though the area has been evacuated). He ends up finding the dog and needing to weather the storm with an elderly neighbor, Ms. Moran. The storm descriptions are intense and the drama continues as Ms. Moran is diabetic and needs medical attention. Luckily, they are whisked away by helicopter in time. Saint is reunited with his parents at the end. They are so happy that he is okay that he seemingly gets away with everything.

The Blossoming Universe of Violet Diamond was my preference between the two. Violet is an innocent, and also outgoing eleven year old. She is not as street savvy as Saint. She is a biracial girl in a town that is primarily white. Her older half sister (different father) is a beautiful white girl. Violet questions herself and how she fits in. She has no connections to her African roots because her dad died when she was young and his family has no contact with her mom (or her). Until she reaches out to her grandmother. She is able to spend a couple weeks with her artist grandmother in California and learns more about her dad and herself in the process. This book has many deep, thoughtful points for a younger reader. Race is definitely one of these points, plus so much more. Family, life and death, forgiveness, understanding oneself, being inquisitive about one’s roots. I loved it.

Countdown

The book Nine, Ten: A September 11 Story by Nora Raleigh Baskin (another 2019 Intermediate Nutmeg nominee) opens by recalling the weather. It was a beautiful day in which nobody could have possibly foreseen the tragedy about to occur. We sometimes talk about the weather when we are not quite sure what is the right thing to say. It is a fitting start to the horrors of 9/11; a day we will never forget.

Baskin does a phenomenal job of weaving together four very different characters. Their stories begin on Sept. 9th at O’Hare Airport. Sergio is an African American teen who is returning to NYC after receiving a special math award in Chicago. He lives with his grandmother in NYC. Naheed is a Middle Eastern Muslim girl from Columbus, Ohio. She is with her family waiting to pick up her visiting aunt and uncle. Aimee is transplanting from Chicago to California due to her mother’s new job. Will is a boy from Shanksville, Pennsylvania who is still healing from his father’s death one year ago. His family is just returning from a trip to Disney that was donated by their town.

The book moves everyone to their individual homes, with their own situations to work through. Timing is critical in that a couple of these characters almost lose loved ones to the events. Sergio’s newly met mentor is a firefighter who rushed to the scene to help. Aimee’s mom is scheduled to have a conference in the World Trade Center that very morning. The author captures the fear, chaos and heavy sadness of this day.

The characters come together at Ground Zero to conclude the story. The message that we are all connected is a powerful part of the book and one that touched me in the ending quite a bit (definitely some tears).

Fitting In

This is my first Intermediate Nutmeg 2019 read (well, slightly true, I already read Fuzzy Mud and A Handful of Stars with a mother-daughter book group a couple years ago)! This book, Awkward by Svetlana Chmakova, created a lot of buzz among the 4th and 5th grade students who previewed it during my year-end book tasting. The title itself is appealing! I knew I had to read this one first, and did so in one sitting during the afternoon of my last day of school.

Awkward is a graphic novel that immediately hooks you with its personable voice. The cardinal rules of starting school somewhere new are introduced and mentioned throughout the story; keeping it relatable. Peppi moved to a new school and manages to trip in front of everyone the first day. Then, she draws even more attention when the school “nerd,” Jaime, stops to pick up her books. She is so worried about being targeted by bullies that she pushes her only helper down and yells at him. She avoids Jaime at all costs after this even though she wants desperately to apologize.

The story goes on to show how she manages to find where she fits in: Art Club. Her friends in Art Club are the best part of her day. Meanwhile, Art Club and Science Club have an ongoing battle about who is best. They are competing against one another to earn a table at the school’s club festival. It turns out that Jaime is part of the Science Club. He is assigned to tutor her and they are in a group for a science field trip. A friendship begins to form as she finally makes amends, and they navigate through the turmoil between their two clubs together.

There are quirky characters who you can’t help but like. I found the frazzled art teacher pretty comical. The author enjoyed creating her characters (it shows), and her notes at the end of the book are worth reading. This book is a light, fun read for students and has some depth in its topics of belonging, doing the right thing, and speaking up.