Graphic Novel: Run Home

Alyssa is a freshman in high school. Her parents want her to join a sports team. She isn't too coordinated, so running seems to be the best fit. She hates running. The more the practices, the better she gets. She also gains a few friends too. 

Her father is sick and dies. She doesn't know what to do with herself. She feels guilty if she's happy. She feels sad all the time. She's drowning in her grief, but running does help. It helps that she sees herself improving. 

My Thoughts: This is a sequel to Big Apple Diaries and it's really good. Alyssa has so many ups and downs. The book goes through the calendar year. Her situation is unique, but she's trying the best she can with her family and friends. I love the illustrations. There's so much detail in this one year. I hope there are more books in the works. 

Cover Thoughts: Fantastic

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: A great graphic novel about grief, friendship, and moving forward. 

Christmas Romance Review: Grace & Henry's Holiday Movie Marathon

Grace and Henry both lost their spouses and both are struggling with grief. Their moms set them up with a very obviously ploy. Grace realizes that Henry needs a friend; someone who understands grief. And maybe she could use one too. They start texting and talking about holiday movies and then watching them together. Could there be something lurking underneath the surface.

My Thoughts: I did not realize this was a book about grief when I started it. I almost stopped reading it and I'm SO GLAD that I did not. Because while it is about grief, it's also about living. And it was really funny. I lost track of the number of times I laughed out loud. The banter between Henry and Grace was awesome. I loved Grace's kids. This was a charming romance I devoured. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: Highly recommended for your adult romance collection.

Mini Review: The Correspondent

1. My sister told me about this book

2. I LOVE epistolary novels

3. I couldn't put this book down

4. The ending made me cry

5. This gave me a book hangover

6. This debut author is one to watch

7. I loved the characters - they had so much pain but also hope

* this seems like it would make a great book club book

Picture Book Review: Grief

 

It's hard losing people and pets, but these books can help small readers learn about grief:

A young girl and her father miss her mother, so she imagines a trip they always talked about taking when it was still the three of them. In time, they can create new dreams together.

This story offers up hope alongside the sadness. They're remembering the old dreams and keeping Mami's memory alive while finding new dreams with each other. 

A young girl loves visiting her grandparents and seeing her aunt. Her aunt loves sewing; it's her love language. She gifts her niece a pair of pajama pants, but they are pink. The next week, the go to visit, but her aunt has fallen ill. She dies. Afterwards, the family is cleaning out her room, the girl finds the pink pajama pants she rejected. Now she loves them. 

This story shows the hospital, a funeral, and the family cleaning out her room. It's a lovely story, but those might be hard for some kids. The ending is sweet and heartwarming. 

Middle Grade Review: The Trouble with Heroes

Finn is grieving the death of his father. He lashes out in the middle of a cemetery, kicking gravestones. Unfortunately for him, there's a camera in the cemetery and he's caught vandalizing the gravestones. Instead of paying for the replacement, the family decides that Finn should hike the 46 mountains of the Adirondacks.

Finn has the whole summer to complete the challenge, but there are some rules. The family dog has to go with him. Different volunteers will accompany him. Finn isn't thrilled with this ruling, but he has little choice.

He struggles with hiking, his grief, and his anger. 

My Thoughts: This novel in verse made me cry; I loved it. Finn struggles so much - both physically and mentally. I'm impressed with his hiking skills; those are some long hard hikes. I wanted to wrap him up in a hug. He's funny and sarcastic. I love how he started to enjoy the hikes and look more around him to appreciate nature. I love how everything tied together. I loved Finn's outlook on heroes. The dog is adorable. Another winner for Kate Messner! 

* There's a scary moment with the dog, but it turns out ok.

Why I Read This Book: I love Kate Messner's Books

Source: My Library

Cover Thoughts: Perfect

Library Recommendation: A Must have book for your school and public library collection

Middle Grade Review: Into the Rapids

Addy's excited to attend survival camp, especially to meet new friends for school next year. She doesn't really have any friends in this small town. She and her mother live on the outskirts of town. They're pretty isolated. A storm comes through and wipes out the bridge leaving the village in trouble.  

Addy's worried she won't be able to make it to camp. She keeps running into Caleb. She's not a fan of him after he teased her leaving their classmates to call her nickname. The more they see each other, the more they talk. They begin to understand each other. Could Caleb help Addy get to camp?

My Thoughts: This wasn't the book I thought this was - but I really loved it. I loved the slow friendship build-up between Addy and Caleb. I loved how Addy and her mom slowly became part of the town. I love how the community comes together to help each other after the storm. I did love the survival moments of the book - and the reason that Addy's afraid of water. A really great read.

Cover Thoughts: Fantastic

Why I read this book: I love survival stories (which I thought this was)

Library Recommendations: Highly Recommended for your middle grade collection

* fictional town in Vermont

Middle Grade Review: Crumble

Emily and her aunt Gina have a special gift. They can bake magical treats, which make people feel better. The one rule - you can't bake when you're feeling bad.

Which Emily does after her Aunt dies. She's drowning in grief. Baking helps her feel better. But the outcome is bad: the bake is terrible but people can't stop eating...

My Thoughts: I really liked this graphic novel. Of course, I loved baking and the magical elements. That would be such a cool bakery to frequent. I felt terrible about Emily losing her Aunt. The bakery clearly struggles; Emily's mom runs the business part of the bakery. I bake when I'm stressed, so I understand how Emily can't stop baking even though it's not helping. Grief is a tricky emotion to handle - but I felt bad for Emily that her mother wasn't able to help her. Her mother was barely able to help herself. 

Cover Thoughts: Funny

Source: My Library

Why I read it: I love baking

Library Recommendation: A Great Graphic novel about grief and dealing with your feelings

Hand this book to: bakers and for those who like books about ALL the feels.

Middle Grade Review: The Trouble with Sunshine

 

Dorani lives her life boldly. She's been sent to the principal's office for bringing a banned book, Anne Frank's Diary. She called her mother to meet her, but her mother never shows up. Instead, she dies on the side of the road. It's just been Dorani and her mother. Her estranged aunt shows up and takes Dorani home. 

Dorani's used to the city life as she lives in Miami. Her aunt lives on a ranch in the middle of no where - in Wyoming. Her aunt is used to caring for horses, not children. On the first day, Dorani gets locked out of the house and finds the barn.

Inside the barn, there a horse who is also grieving. Sunshine lost her family too. Dorani hasn't been around horses before, she Sunshine is easy to talk to. Sunshine responds to her. Can they use each other to help heal themselves?

My Thoughts: I felt so bad for Dorani - she felt that it was her fault her mother died. She was ripped away from her hometown, her friends and family to live in a place that's wildly different. I wanted to give her a hug. I love how she and her aunt struggled to find their connections. I loved how Dorani made friends and how she stood up for them in her new school. The new school assumed that she didn't speak English - which is not cool, but I admired how she handled it. I love how things turned out. 

Cover Thoughts: Adorable

Why I read this: Honestly, the cover sold me. I love horse books

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: A must have book for your school or public library.

Hand this book to: Horse girls but also any student who needs a warm hug

Middle Grade Review: On Thin Ice

 

The twins are having a rough time of it - Dexter is cut from the hockey team and Phoebe's ice-skating partner is injured. Dexter's pranks have gotten him in trouble one too many times with the coach. Phoebe's hoping to medal at an upcoming competition.

Their mom makes a deal with Dex: he will become Phoebe's new skating partner and in return, she will buy him the new hockey skates that he desires. Dexter isn't thrilled with the idea, but he agrees. Plus, figure skating might help his footwork when he gets back on the hockey team. Can they skate together without killing each other?

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book. I loved the sports moments. This book snuck in so many other moments: grief, friendship, romance, and family drama. The twins' father died recently and they're still processing their grief. They're also learning how to talk with their mother and ask for help. All of them are bottling up their emotions, but they do learn to let them out. There were a lot of growing moments here. I liked the dual POV between the siblings. The ending works well. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: Highly recommended for your school and public library.

Illustrator Interview: Barbara McClintock

A few weeks ago, I reviewed:

It's a fantastic book about losing your best friend. 

And I was lucky enough to have the chance to interview Barbara McClintock about her time illustrating this book

About Barbara McClintock:

Barbara McClintock is an American illustrator and author of over forty books for children. Her books have received numerous awards and selections, including five New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book Awards, four ALA Notable Book selections, a Boston Globe–Horn Book Honor Award, a China Times Open Book Award, and a British Fantasy Award. One of her books is a bestselling title in Japan. She has lectured about her work nationally and internationally and is currently teaching classes on creating children’s books at Wesleyan University. Originally from New Jersey and North Dakota, she now resides in northeastern Connecticut with her partner, the illustrator David Johnson, and their three overly helpful cats.

Interview Questions: 

Did you ever get to meet Brontë?
Unfortunately, no. But my art director Laurent Linn did. In fact, Laurent met several of Tomie’s Airdale Terriers. Brontë was Tomie’s favorite!

Was it hard to capture the heartbreak of losing a pet and conveying to the audience (without the words) that Brontë had died?
Yes! I wasn’t sure if I should show Tomie in tears, maybe a big close-up of him crying. But then I though showing him in quiet sadness, taking in the shock and emptiness of not having Brontë around would have a stronger effect. 

Was it hard to capture Tomie's art style?
It was a challenge! I had to study Tomie’s drawings in many of his books and keep copying his drawings over and over ’til I got close to what his style was. And I still didn’t get it so it was perfect! But it’s pretty close!

Do you have a favorite memory of Tomie?
I met him several times at events in New York City. He was always kind and supportive of me and all other up and coming illustrators. And he had the best scarf collection!

Are there any Easter Eggs in the book?
I hope readers have fun figuring out who all the characters are sitting around the dinner table with Tomie! And there are copies of paintings Tomie made scattered throughout illustrations in the book.

Anything else you'd like to share?
I loved making drawings of Brontë, and my three kitties didn’t mind!

This is such a charming book, even though it's a bit sad. Be sure to take a look and pour over those illustrations. 

Review: Playing Hurt

Star basketball player Chelsea "Nitro" Keyes had the promise of a full ride to college—and everyone's admiration back home. Then she took a horrible fall during senior year. Now a metal plate holds her together and she feels like a stranger in her own family.

That summer, Chelsea's dad hires Clint, a nineteen-year-old ex-hockey player and "boot camp" trainer, to work with her at a northern Minnesota lake resort. As they grow close, Chelsea finds that Clint's haunted by his own tragedy. Will their romance end up hurting them all over again—or finally heal their heartbreak?

- summary from publisher

My Thoughts: I really liked this book, even though it does contain cheating. I loved the exploring during vacation - and the different outdoor activities (hiking, kayaking...). I enjoyed the pull between Chelsea and Clint. I felt badly for both the main characters as they struggled through their grief. But I did love their determination and strength. I like how open they became with each other as they spent more time together. I felt terrible for Chelsea as she struggled with finding herself in her family - particularly with her father. I did love her brother - he was great. I'm eager to see where the next book goes.

Cover Thoughts: Cute
Source: eARC for review
First Published: Published March 8th 2011 by Flux 
But it's been updated for the re-release.

This one is on the line of New Adult and YA 

Review: Letters to the Lost

Juliet and her mother exchanged letters while her mother was away photographing the news. Now, even though she died months ago, Juliet can't break the habit. She leaves the letters on her mother's grave. She's angry and curious when someone writes back to her.

Before long, she's started a correspondence with this person. She learns quickly that he lost someone too - and the guilt he feels weighs on him. Another connection, as Juliet feels guilty about her mother's death.

Juliet and Declan share their inner most feelings with each other, realizing that they are the same age. They don't share identities, but unbeknownst to them they do interact in real life. Their interactions with each other couldn't be more opposite than their conversations through letters. When the truth comes out, will their relationship fizzle?

My Thoughts: I couldn't stop reading this book! I loved the duel perspectives, the letters back and forth, and their interactions at school. I love how they both death with death and how they both felt guilty about their roles, but also how they helped each other overcome their grief. I felt terrible for both of them as their stories unfolded. I enjoyed Juliet's father. I loved Rev and his family. And Declan's boss at the graveyard -  I love how their relationship unfolded. I enjoyed Declan giving his classmates something different to see in him when they had already made up their minds about him because of his criminal record. I loved the photography aspect of it. And of course the hopeful ending and that slow burn.

Cover Thoughts: Adorable. I love it - understanding it better after reading the book.
Source: Book sent for review

Library Recommendation: Perfect for school and public libraries!