Shelf Awareness--The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea

YA Review: The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea

The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea by Maggie Tokuda-Hall (Candlewick Press, 368p., ages 14-up, 9781536204315)

In this shimmering, swashbuckling fantasy, the fates of Flora, a poor orphan, and Evelyn, an Imperial noble, intertwine as each struggles to find her place in a grim and opportunistic world overseen by the brutal Nipran Empire.

Ever since Flora killed a man to prove herself worthy of a pirate's life aboard the Dove, she's been accepted by the crew as Florian, "something better than a girl." The Dove masquerades as a passenger ship, and its murderers and rapists trick "stiff-legged landsmen" aboard, then sell them into slavery. Desperate to escape to a better life, Flora and brother Alfie save all their meager wages--until Alfie blows all of their money on that forbidden "oblivion drink," mermaid's blood. When the Dove takes on a group of wealthy Imperials, Flora is given the task of guarding the virginal Lady Evelyn Hasegawa so she may be sold--intact--to work as a "slave-whore" on the Red Shores. Although Flora sees Evelyn as a typical spoiled Imperial, she is impressed by the compassion Evelyn shows when she uses her own blood to keep a captured mermaid alive. And the Sea, mother to all mermaids, notices, too.

Maggie Tokuda-Hall (Also an Octopus) has crafted a brooding, magical adventure with a healthy dose of intrigue. Her prose is delightful, by turns delicate and brutal, as her plot demands. At the heart of this tale about learning when to stand out and when to blend in, lies the importance, imparted by first mate Rake, of "know[ing] your truth, not your story." --Lynn Becker, blogger and host of Book Talk, a monthly online discussion of children's books for SCBWI.

Discover: In this rich YA fantasy, pirate Flora and entitled Lady Evelyn find themselves in love and on the run from a nasty husband-to-be, a witch, spies and a vengeful pirate captain.

May Recommendations

Novels:

In CHIRP, by Kate Messner, Mia and her family move back to Vermont to help her grandmother transition into retirement after suffering a mild stroke, but Gram is all fired up to expand her cricket farm. When strange accidents keep putting the business (and crickets) in danger, however, it sure feels like someone is trying to sabotage the place. Mia and her new friends dig into the mystery and, along the way, Mia learns some truths about how to deal with a problem of her own, one she’s kept hidden for a long time. Readers are sure to relate. (MG)

MAÑANALAND, by Pam Muñoz Ryan, blends the boundaries of myth and reality in relating the story of Maximiliano Córdoba and the Guardians of fictional Santa Maria. Max loves to play fútbol, and, more than anything, he wants to play on the town team. But when it becomes clear that the new coach will want to see a birth certificate, Max’s dad must go to San Clemente in search of a replacement for the document. Meanwhile, there are bridges to build and Hidden Ones to escort to freedom, and Max uses his kind, generous nature and strong family values to guide him. Ryan weaves an engrossing tale. (MG)

Graphic Novels:

WITCHLIGHT, by Jessi Zabarsky, is the whimsical, offbeat story of a witch who has lost most of her power, and the woman who accompanies her to find it. After Lelek’s family sends her to a witch, insisting that she learn how to save their village, the witch seals most of Lelek’s power away to protect the young girl. This goes badly, and Lelek ends up alone, searching for her power until she kidnaps Sanja. Which ends up being the start of a beautiful friendship. Delicate drawings and innovative use of color make a lasting impression. (YA)

Picture Books:

DON’T WORRY, LITTLE CRAB, by Chris Haughton, is an affectionate look at fighting your fears. Little Crab doesn’t think he can get to the ocean, but, step by step, he makes his way down the rocks, where—yes!—he finds he loves the fish and the seaweed and the “giant game of hide and seek,” until, alas, it’s time to go home. Quirky, colorful, digital illustrations reinforce the love Big Crab brings to the outing.

THE IMAGINARIES: Little Scraps of Larger Stories, by Emily Winfield Martin, is just what the subtitle says—a book which pairs small bits of enigmatic text with intriguing, wonder-filled portraits, painted with acrylic on wood and gouache on paper. It will spark children of all ages to create their own “fragments of a secret world…stories which do not exist."

VAMOS! Let’s Go to the Market, and VAMOS! Let’s Go Eat, by Raul the Third, with colors by Elaine Bay, are two of the most entertaining, thoughtful, information-packed picture books around. Kind of like bilingual, comics-based Richard Scarry books. In the first, wrestling-obsessed Little Lobo checks his list to see what supplies he and Bernabé (his perro) need to take to people at the Mercado. The streets are filled with some pretty odd—and friendly--creatures! In the second, El Coliseo is buzzing with excitement before the big wrestling match. Little Lobo again has plenty of deliveries to make, this time to the hungry luchadores, who are practicing their moves. As an added bonus, Little Lobo and Bernabé are accompanied by rooster Kooky Dooky. Stylish and spectacular!!!

--Lynn

May's Book of the Month--The Undefeated

May’s Book of the Month is THE UNDEFEATED, winner of the 2020 Caldecott Medal, by two highly esteemed artists and winners of many awards, Kwame Alexander and Kadir Nelson.

This homage to black America features a poem Alexander wrote as a tribute to the birth of his daughter and the election of Barack Obama. As he relates in his afterward, "I wanted to establish from the very beginning that much of what I’m talking about in this poem, so much of American history, has been forgotten, left out of the textbooks, and that to truly know who we are as a country, we have to accept and embrace all of our woes and wonders.” The book is a proud and inspiring testament to courage, genius, and perseverance.

Design-wise, Alexander and Nelson, along with the team at Versify, have produced a jaw-dropping look at what can be accomplished in picture bookmaking. THE UNDEFEATED features a large trim size, big type, and plenty of white space which highlights the transcendent text and majestic portraits. Nelson uses oil paints on panels to create his work for this book. Backmatter describes many of the historical figures and events portrayed in the art.

THE UNDEFEATED should be essential reading for all Americans.

--Lynn

Shelf Awareness--A New Green Day

PB Review: A New Green Day

A New Green Day by Antoinette Portis (Neal Porter/Holiday House, 40p., ages 3-7, 9780823444885)

From dawn to dark in this ever-so-satisfying picture book from the creator of Hey, Water! and Now, readers are treated to a series of poetically posed riddles which offer an evocative exploration of the sights and sounds, touches and smells a girl experiences one summer day.

"Morning lays me on your pillow,/ an invitation, square and warm./ Come out and play!" These first lines beckon readers to turn the page to find out who or what is speaking: sunlight. And, just like that, a pattern is established. Next up is snail asking the girl to "read all about my/ nighttime travels." A leaf follows and implores her to "follow my roads/ and climb." Inchworm, tadpole and pebble make appearances before rain moves in, accompanied by lightning and "the rumble/ in the stomach of the storm" that is thunder. Shadow gives way to darkness, “a black coat/ slipped around/ Earth’s shoulders,” as cricket, that “engine/ of the summer dark," thrums in the “new green day” of tomorrow.

Portis's digitally finished illustrations use brush, ink, leaf prints and charcoal with hand-stamped lettering. She poses her riddles in square swatches of color, using an earth-toned palette that echoes the pale yellow of sunlight through a window, the green of an inchworm, the deep blue-gray of a stormy sky. In its reverence for each finely described detail, A New Green Day holds a magnifying glass to the wonders, big and small, that are waiting in nature for all to enjoy. --Lynn Becker, blogger and host of Book Talk, a monthly online discussion of children's books for SCBWI.

Discover: A series of riddles helps define the many small wonders of a summer day.

Shelf Awareness--Parachutes

YA Review: Parachutes

Parachutes by Kelly Yang (Katherine Tegen Books, 496p., ages 14-up, 9780062941084, May 26, 2020)

In this noteworthy, immensely enjoyable novel, Kelly Yang (Front Desk) tackles some of the systemic inequalities that foster racism, misogyny and sexual assault. She convincingly brings to light ways in which victims are often judged more harshly than their aggressors, but also provides a template for change.

As an 11th grader in Shanghai, Claire insists she will support herself rather than rely on a husband. "I have a brain, remember," she snaps at her mom, but her rich family insists that she find a worthy husband: "A Fortune 500 CEO perhaps. Or a second-generation scion." To ensure she gets into a good college, Claire's Chinese tutor provides answers to homework assignments and essay tests, which makes her feel "as though [she's] not capable of producing [her] own thoughts." When Claire writes her own paper, however, she scores such low grades that her concerned parents send her to finish high school in America. Just like that, she's a "parachute," a kid from China who goes to the U.S. without her parents.

Dani is a scholarship student at American Prep, the same school Claire now attends. Dani's a powerhouse on the debate team and a favorite of her coach, Mr. Connelly. Dani's entire college admissions strategy hinges on qualifying for an upcoming debate that all the top coaches, including one from dream school Yale, will be attending. Dani works hard outside of school, too--like her single mom, Dani's employed as a maid and the pair still barely make ends meet. Out of desperation, Dani's mom decides to rent out their spare bedroom to Claire, "a nice girl from China."

The two girls immediately clash: to Dani, Claire seems horribly spoiled, while Claire can't understand Dani's apparent hostility. As Claire navigates her new school, she begins dating Jay, a boy who fits her family's high standards, but she is taken aback by the 129 girls on his phone and the ways he describes other young women: "bubble butt," "button nose," "dimple cheeks." When Jay goes too far, Claire must decide whether to stay quiet as her parents would expect or to speak up. As Claire deals with this trauma, Mr. Connelly comes on to Dani. How she reacts could affect her entire future, and her idolization of him makes his betrayal all the more devastating.

Yang dives with aplomb into issues of opulence and poverty, power and impotence. While it is also a story of friendship amid culture clash, Yang clearly portrays how, though progress is being made, girls and women everywhere deserve more. Main characters Claire and Dani are strong and compelling enough to take on the powers that be, and the supporting cast is fully realized. Whether it's unwanted attention from trusted teachers or lovers going too far, Yang's characters realize they will need to shift the culture to respect women as the strong, intelligent, independent beings they are. --Lynn Becker, blogger and host of Book Talk, a monthly online discussion of children's books for SCBWI.

Shelf Talker: American high schooler Dani and Chinese "parachute" Claire face similar problems regarding men, aggression and authority.

April Recommendations

Novels:

In THE BRIDGE HOME, by Padma Venkatraman, when Viji’s abusive father directs his violence towards her sister, Viji packs a few meager belongings and the two girls run away to the big city in search of a better future. Life on the streets is hard, but they meet two boys who live on an old bridge. Together, the four children form a family, scrounging for food, and sharing meager resources. How they all fare in this rather desperate situation forms the basis of a moving story of perseverance, quiet heroism, and the expansive scope of family. This will be a main Book Talk book soon. (MG)

Graphic Novels:

THE PHANTOM TWIN, by Lisa Brown, is a mildly spooky, mildly creepy, thoroughly enjoyable ghost story about a pair of conjoined twins who are sold by their parents to a carnival sideshow. When Jane, the more dominant twin, insists on allowing a doctor to try to separate the girls, the surgery is botched. Jane dies, leaving Isabel alone—and not alone. The drawings are well done and the color is superb. (YA)

Picture Books:

In THE OLD TRUCK, by Jarrett Pumphrey and Jerome Pumphrey, an old farm truck works hard, rests and dreams, then finds new life with another generation of farmer. This upbeat, imaginative story by two brothers is illustrated entirely with 250-plus hand-crafted stamps.

MY BEST FRIEND, written by Julie Fogliano and illustrated by Jillian Tamaki, is a friendship story, start to finish. It’s one little girl singing the praises of another, written in Fogliano’s signature, kid-friendly rhythm and style that begs to be read aloud. The digital illustrations, all greens and various shades of red, are full of movement, joy, and fun perspectives.

GREEN ON GREEN, written by Dianne White, illustrated by Felicita Sala, is a poetic look at the changes that one year of seasons can bring, as experienced by a boy and his family. Colors figure prominently in the text, and the vibrant watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil illustrations take full advantage. Just like the Fogliano/Tamaki book above, you must read Green on Green aloud to fully experience its beauty.

THINGS THAT GO AWAY, by Beatrice Alemagna, is another creative look at change, but this time on a smaller scale, as moments transform with the turn of a velum page. Masterful use of color and appealingly quirky design in these oil paintings illustrates the “before" and “after” moments, ending with one thing that will never go away.

--Lynn

Shelf Awareness--Brown Girl Ghosted

YA Review: Brown Girl Ghosted

Brown Girl Ghosted by Mintie Das (Versify/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 304p., ages 14-up, 9780358128892)

Avenging Assamese warrior queens fight to save America's Heartland from an evil spirit in this humorous whodunnit that dismantles popularity, prejudice and the dubious perks of being a high school superhero.

As a brown girl in a mostly white town, 16-year-old Violet Choudhury feels the safest way for her to get through high school is to blend in. Unfortunately, Violet's heritage is at odds with her chosen method of survival. Her "great-great-multiplied-by-like-a-hundred-more-greats-grandmother" Ananya was the queen of the ancient kingdom of Assam, located in present-day India. Ananya used her supernatural powers to help the gods, who then honored her by making her and all of her future female lineage "Aiedeo": warriors tasked with protecting the world from demon kings.

Since there can be only one Aiedeo per generation, all of Violet's teachers have been immortal spirits. In middle school, she could hide the fact that her dead relatives were teaching her how to shape-shift, but, after an accident when she was 13, she began ignoring their existence. The Aiedeo are getting more persistent, though, demanding that she resume her training. When Naomi, "cheer captain and all-around head bitch," turns up dead after a sex tape surfaces, Violet is charged by the Aiedeo--and a vengeful Naomi fresh from the "Ghost World"--to find her killer.

Mintie Das does a terrific job blending the everyday concerns of her heroine with the awesome responsibilities her legacy demands. Violet's journey to claim her inheritance is a compelling one that is also plenty of fun. Snappy banter, plenty of action and a host of supernatural beings make Brown Girl Ghosted, the author's U.S. debut, a refreshing choice. --Lynn Becker, bloggerand host of Book Talk, a monthly online discussion of children's books for SCBWI.

Discover: All Violet wants is to fit in, but when head cheerleader Naomi dies, Violet's supernatural ancestors insist she find the killer--or die herself.