Love – Page 7 – Unleashing Readers

Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Literary Couples

February 9, 2016 by Ricki

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. The feature was created because The Broke and Bookish are particularly fond of lists (as are we!). Each week a new Top Ten list topic is given and bloggers can participate.

Today’s Topic: Favorite Literary Couples

These couples are so easy to fall in love with!

Ricki

1. Brigan and Fire from Fire by Kristin Cashore

This phenomenal book features one of my favorite couples. I almost named my son Brigan, but it didn’t quite go with my last name.

2. Lou and Will from Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

Proving that disability most certainly doesn’t get in the way in love.

3. Isabel and Conrad/Jeremiah from The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

I devoured these books, and my students and I had heated debates about this romance.

4. Aristotle and Dante from Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

There is nothing better than the love that emanates from this book.

5. Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

I couldn’t keep it off the list. That would be negligent of me. 😉

Kellee

1. Katsa and Po from Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Their love is one of those passionate, forever loves where the reader falls in love with the character too because the protagonist loves the other so much.

2. Eleanor and Park from Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Imperfect, perfect love.

3. Aristotle and Dante from Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

There is just something so special about the true love that flows through this book.

4. Sam and Camilla from Life in Outer Space by Melissa Keil

These characters are so different and so quirky yet so perfect for each other.

5. Tally and David from Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Tally and David are just so kick butt, and together they just are even more so!

Which literary couples were your favorite?

and

Honor Girl by Maggie Thrash

September 16, 2015 by Kellee

Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday

Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday is hosted by Kid Lit Frenzy and was started to help promote the reading of nonfiction texts. Most Wednesdays, we will be participating and will review a nonfiction text (though it may not always be a picture book).
Be sure to visit Kid Lit Frenzy and see what other nonfiction books are shared this week!

Honor Girl
Author and Illustrator: Maggie Thrash
Published September 8th, 2015 by Candlewick Press

Goodreads Summary: All-girl camp. First love. First heartbreak. At once romantic and devastating, brutally honest and full of humor, this graphic-novel memoir is a debut of the rarest sort.

Maggie Thrash has spent basically every summer of her fifteen-year-old life at the one-hundred-year-old Camp Bellflower for Girls, set deep in the heart of Appalachia. She’s from Atlanta, she’s never kissed a guy, she’s into Backstreet Boys in a really deep way, and her long summer days are full of a pleasant, peaceful nothing . . . until one confounding moment. A split-second of innocent physical contact pulls Maggie into a gut-twisting love for an older, wiser, and most surprising of all (at least to Maggie), female counselor named Erin. But Camp Bellflower is an impossible place for a girl to fall in love with another girl, and Maggie’s savant-like proficiency at the camp’s rifle range is the only thing keeping her heart from exploding. When it seems as if Erin maybe feels the same way about Maggie, it’s too much for both Maggie and Camp Bellflower to handle, let alone to understand.

My Review and Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: This book is a book of truth. Maggie has put her heart and soul onto paper and shared it with all of us. I adored the honesty of her story and the slow unraveling and realization of her feelings for Erin. The romance in this felt so much more real (well, it is real!) than other YA books out there. Maggie’s feelings over this specific summer will resonate with so many readers because it is how real people fall in love and/or confirm their sexuality. I also was surprised that I liked the art. At first I found it hard to follow, but then it felt just as real as the story. This is a book that will be important to many readers out there, so it needs to be available to teens.

Discussion Questions: How hard did you think it was for Maggie to feel so opposite of what was expected of her by the camp and her parents?; Why do you think that Erin and Maggie’s relationship didn’t work out? Were you surprised that they were so uncomfortable when they reconnected a year later?; How did Maggie’s friends play a role in how she felt at camp?

Book Trailer:

Read This If You Loved: Openly Straight by Bill Konigsberg, Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan, Ask the Passengers by A.S. King

Recommended For:

YALSA Morris Finalists’ Blog Hop: The Carnival at Bray by Jessie Ann Foley

May 2, 2015January 30, 2015 by Ricki

The Carnival at Bray
Author: Jessie Ann Foley
Published: October 1, 2014 by Elephant Rock Books

Goodreads Summary: It’s 1993, and Generation X pulses to the beat of Kurt Cobain and the grunge movement. Sixteen-year-old Maggie Lynch is uprooted from big-city Chicago to a windswept town on the Irish Sea. Surviving on care packages of Spin magazine and Twizzlers from her rocker uncle Kevin, she wonders if she’ll ever find her place in this new world. When first love and sudden death simultaneously strike, a naive but determined Maggie embarks on a forbidden pilgrimage that will take her to a seedy part of Dublin and on to a life- altering night in Rome to fulfill a dying wish. Through it all, Maggie discovers an untapped inner strength to do the most difficult but rewarding thing of all, live.

The Carnival at Bray is an evocative ode to the Smells Like Teen Spirit Generation and a heartfelt exploration of tragedy, first love, and the transformative power of music. The book won the 2014 Helen Sheehan YA Book Prize.

Ricki’s Review: When I read the back of this book, I thought, “Hmm.” It felt like a (recent) historical fiction with its emphasis on ’90s grunge music and the highlights of Kurt Cobain’s life. Because my teen years spanned through part of the ’90s, I was intrigued.

My favorite aspect of this book was the fact that the writing felt effortless. Too often, books’ messages or prose feel forced, and with this book, I felt as if I was whisked along for the (very bumpy) ride. As a former high school teacher, I enjoyed the myriad, richly realized themes. The reader feels a wild sense of adventure, the uneasiness that comes with living in a new environment, the loyalty that is tied with love, the heartbreak that emerges with loss and grief, and the utter purity that comes with finding oneself. At times, YA texts feature absent (or horrid) parents, but the complexity of Maggie’s mother was realistic to many parents, I believe. This will leave teens (and adults!) pondering their own relationships with their parents. The intricacies of this text will allow for book groups, students, and readers to have much to ponder and discuss.

Teacher’s Tools for Navigation: This would be a great novel to discuss theme. As stated in my review above, there are many themes to ponder. I would put butcher paper around the room and write a different theme on each paper. Students could travel around the room, discussing each theme, placing post-it notes with evidence from the text. Or, the teacher might discuss a different theme on each day. Beyond the classroom setting, I think this would be an excellent selection for book clubs.

Download the comprehensive study guide (from Elephant Rock Books) here.

Discussion Questions: How does Maggie handle the challenges she faces? Do you think she makes the right choices? Is she brave?; What does her uncle teach her? Was he an admirable character?; What role does the setting (both time and place) play in this novel?; Is Maggie’s mother a positive or negative role in her life?

We Flagged: “But don’t you think that never suffering at all—is its own form of suffering?” (p. 150).

I am not sure whether or not I agree with this quote, but weeks later, I am still thinking about it.

Read This If You Loved: Love Letters to the Dead by Ava Dellaira, Timely Persuasion by Jacob LaCivita, Five Flavors of Dumb by Antony John, The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone, The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler, Get Happy by Mary Amato

Recommended For:

Make sure to stop by Cinco Puntos Press blog to see the other stops on the tour!

**A special thank you to Jessica Powers at Cinco Puntos Press for organizing this blog hop and to Elephant Rock Books for providing this book for review!**

YALSA Morris Finalists’ Blog Hop: Gabi, a Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero

May 2, 2015January 29, 2015 by Kellee

Gabi, A Girl in Pieces
Author: Isabel Quintero
Published October 14th, 2014 by Cinco Puntos Press

Goodreads Summary: For all the gorditas, flaquitas, and in-between girls trying to make their space in the world. Don’t worry, you got this.

Gabi Hernandez chronicles her last year in high school in her diary: college applications, Cindy’s pregnancy, Sebastian’s coming out, the cute boys, her father’s meth habit, and the food she craves. And best of all, the poetry that helps forge her identity.

Author Bio: Isabel Quintero is a library technician in the Inland Empire. She is also the events coordinator for Orange Monkey and helps edit the poetry journal Tin Cannon. Gabi is her debut novel.

Kellee’s Review: What I found in this book was a book of truth. While I normally find a book that has so many topics in it to be cumbersome (just some of the topics hit were: pregnancy, abortion, meth, family, religion, ethnicity, school, homosexuality, sex, death, poetry, college, rape, and gender expectations), I felt that Gabi was just truthful. Her story was just a story full of real life which just happens to be messy. I enjoyed the unique format, the diversity (not just race/ethnicity, but lbgt, body size, class, ELL, etc.), and the amazing cast of characters. Gabi’s voice rang true throughout, and even got stronger as she became more independent within the story. Well done.

Teacher’s Tools for Navigation: Parts of Gabi’s story could easily be pulled out to be a mentor text for many different literary elements; however, I feel like one of the best ways it could be used is to have students emulate Gabi’s writing. For example, Gabi writes letters to her father sharing how she really feels. Students could write to someone sharing something with them that they are keeping from them. You could also use Gabi’s magazine and poetry the same way. Gabi’s writing is very raw, and I think that students will definitely connect with it.

Discussion Questions: Gabi makes a choice towards the end of the book that makes Cindy be upset with Gabi. Do you agree with what Gabi did?; Gabi’s mother is very protective of her. Why do you think she is so hard on Gabi?; Gabi deals with body issues throughout the book. How do you think our society affects how she pictures herself?; Sebastian and Cindy’s parents are both disappointed in their kids for different reasons and deal differently with their disappointment. Do you agree with how they treat their children?

We Flagged: “My brother is fifteen. He knows many things. He knows how to make a pipe out of an apple, and he knows how to make beautiful murals on public property. He likes wresting and biking and skateboarding but doesn’t like school because school doesn’t understand kids like us. My brother–the brat, the crybaby, the quite one, the brown one, Mami’s favorite: where will he go? I ask myself the question over and over. Y no se. I don’t know where he will go, but I hope wherever it is it’s better than here.” (p. 94)

Read This If You Loved: Yaqui Delgado Wants To Kick Your Ass by Meg Medina, Jumped In by Patrick Flores-Scott, What Can(t) Wait by Ashley Hope Perez, Under the Mesquite by Guadalupe Garcia MacCall, Bridget Jones Diary by Helen Fielding

Recommended For:

Make sure to stop by Cinco Puntos Press blog to see the other stops on the tour!

**A special thank you to Jessica Powers at Cinco Puntos Press for organizing this blog hop!**

Winger by Andrew Smith (Kellee’s Review)

August 13, 2014 by Kellee

Winger
Author: Andrew Smith
Published May 14th, 2013 by Simon & Schuster

Goodreads Summary: Ryan Dean West is a fourteen-year-old junior at a boarding school for rich kids. He’s living in Opportunity Hall, the dorm for troublemakers, and rooming with the biggest bully on the rugby team. And he’s madly in love with his best friend Annie, who thinks of him as a little boy.

With the help of his sense of humor, rugby buddies, and his penchant for doodling comics, Ryan Dean manages to survive life’s complications and even find some happiness along the way. But when the unthinkable happens, he has to figure out how to hold on to what’s important, even when it feels like everything has fallen apart.

Filled with hand-drawn info-graphics and illustrations and told in a pitch-perfect voice, this realistic depiction of a teen’s experience strikes an exceptional balance of hilarious and heartbreaking.

My Review: Andrew Smith sure knows how to write a teenage boy’s voice. He gets inside of adolescent male’s mind, and puts it all on paper for us. (It probably has something to do with teaching high school.) Ryan Dean’s voice and his story are so authentic. This book will make you cringe, laugh out loud, shake your head, and cry. I am also so impressed with all of the themes that are dealt with in this book without ever feeling over done. These themes include bullying, absent parents, peer pressure, identity, sexuality, prejudice, and friendship. In addition, Smith builds his characters, setting, and plot seamlessly. You fall in love with all of the characters, main and secondary. Even the antagonist. The setting itself is a character. And finally the plot arc was perfectly done, and was so unpredictable all the way to the end.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: First and foremost, this book needs to read by teens. However that happens, it is the right thing. The easiest way would be to get it into libraries and classrooms. There are also parts of the book that could definitely be pulled out to be used in the classroom in may different ways. On that junps to mind right away is using Ryan Dean’s comics as mentor texts for writing comics to write narratives of everyday events. Ricki also has some great ideas for Winger in the classroom in her review.

Discussion Questions: What kind of social challenges does Ryan Dean have to overcome since he is 14 but a junior?; Were you able to predict the end of the book?; What are some traits about Ryan Dean that made him easy to connect to?; How does Opportunity Hall and the rest of the school become a character in Winger?

We Flagged:

(p. 21)

Read This If You Loved: Looking for Alaska by John Green, Openly Straight by Bill Konigsberg

Recommended For:

Kellee’s Recently Loved Picture Books from Bloomsbury: The Table Sets Itself by Ben Clanton, Penguin in Love by Salina Yoon, Dino-Baby by Mark Sperring, Moo! by David LaRochelle, & On My Way to Bed by Sara Maizes

August 18, 2016August 1, 2014 by Kellee

Last week I shared with you some wonderful picture books I’d read recently published by Candlewick Press. Today I wanted to share with you even more, but these are published by Bloomsbury.

The Table Sets Itself
Author: Ben Blanton
Published September 3, 2013 by Walker Books for Young Readers

Goodreads Summary: Izzy is thrilled to finally help set the table, learning all the proper places for her friends Fork, Spoon, Dish, Napkin, Cup, and Knife. But once they get into a nightly groove, Izzy and her friends grow tired of their same old spots. Shaking things up doesn’t go over so well with Mom and Dad, so Spoon and Dish run off for an adventure of their own. Lonely without her favorite tablemates, Izzy will need to find a way to convince Spoon and Dish to come back to the table.

Perfect for any kid who has ever resisted a daily task, this clever, pun-filled story is gentle reminder that every dish has its place, and that injecting some creativity into daily tasks can make even the dullest ones lots of fun.

My Review: This book is just so much deeper than it seems on the surface. There are so many little things going on in it. Puns, word play, allusions, and subtleness in the illustrations. It is a wonderful book for a read aloud and discussion!

Penguin in Love
Author: Salina Yoon
Published December 3, 2013 by Walker Books for Young Readers

Goodreads Summary: Penguin unravels a mystery that leads him to discover the biggest adventure of his life!

One day, Penguin was looking for love,
But instead he found . . .
A mitten.

When Penguin finds a lost mitten on the ice one day, he wonders who it belongs to—after all, every mitten has a mate! Prolific author/illustrator Salina Yoon’s spare text and bright, energetic illustrations bring to life this endearing story celebrating love in its many forms, reminding us that the greatest adventure begins when you find your other half.

My Review: I love penguins. I love them because they are contemplative and handsome and fearless, and Salina Yoon just captures all of this in her Penguin books. This is the second I’ve read, and I know I will read all of them.

Dino-Baby
Author: Mark Sperring
Illustrator: Sam Lloyd
Published October 1, 2013 by Bloomsbury USA Childrens

Goodreads Summary: It’s not easy being a big sister, especially when your new baby brother is a dino-baby! There’s a lot to remember:

Be quiet in the morning, when you first get up.
Because crashes, bangs, and thuds will wake our dino-pup. Shh!
Don’t play rough and tumble with a little thing like this.
Instead be soft and gentle. We all LOVE a dino kiss. Mwaah!

But before long, big sister will love teaching her little brother all the things she knows. And pretty soon they’re playing and growing–together! A sweet and funny picture book that’s perfect for older siblings, parents, and dino fans.

My Review: This book is a great way to talk about responsibility and rules (with or without being an older sibling), but in a fun way. And anything written as personified dinos will hold kids’ attention! And I just think these dinosaurs are just so cute!

Moo!
Author: David LaRochelle
Illustrator: Mike Wohnoutka
Published October 3, 2013 by Walker Books for Young Readers

Goodreads Summary: When Cow gets her hooves on the farmer’s car, she takes it for a wild ride through the country. Moooo! But a bump in the road brings this joy ride to a troublesome end. Moo-moo. . . Has Cow learned her lesson about living life in the fast lane? Moo?

Pairing two talented creators who managed to tell a complete story with just one word—MOO—this imaginative picture book will have readers laughing one moment and on the edge of their seats the next, as it captures the highs and lows of a mischievous cow’s very exciting day.

My Review: This book actually made me laugh out loud. Who knew that a whole book written in one word could be so funny! But the way the author italicizes, bold, lengthens, minimizes, etc. the word as well as the cow’s expressions just bring it all to life. I CANNOT wait to read this one to Trent when he’s a bit older because I know he will just giggle. It would be fun in the classroom to discuss what the cow is saying with her moos.

On My Way to Bed
Author: Sara Maizes
Illustrator: Michael Paraskevas
Published September 17, 2013 by Walker Books for Young Readers

Goodreads Summary: Kids everywhere dread the nightly call to go to bed. But not Livi! Her imagination takes her on a journey full of daring obstacles and exciting adventures on her way to bed. She pilots a spaceship, walks a tightrope, and climbs a mountain, all while her Mom waits with her covers turned down and bed ready. With stalling techniques as creative as this, it’s a wonder she ever makes it to bed! Author Sarah Maizes and illustrative veteran, Michael Paraskevas, once again create a funny, fresh book that will be a must for every parent who wants to foster creativity while fulfilling the every day necessities.

My Review: What a great imagination book! The colorful, page-filling illustrations will take you straight into Livi’s imagination and all of the fun things she does (in her mind) before going to bed. A wonderful bedtime story (or daytime story) that will take the reader on an adventure.

All Books Recommended For:

**Thank you to Linette at Bloomsbury for providing copies of these books for review**

Kellee’s Recently Loved Picture Books from Candlewick Press: Paul Meets Bernadette by Rosy Lamb, Forever by Emma Dodd, A is for Awesome by Dallas Clayton, Picnic by John Burningham, The Way to the Zoo by John Burningham, & Dinosaur Kisses by David Ezra Stein

August 18, 2016July 25, 2014 by Kellee

Over the last couple of months, I have read quite a few amazing picture books from Candlewick Press, so I wanted to share them all with you.

Paul Meets Bernadette
Author: Rosy Lamb
Published December 10, 2013 by Candlewick Press

Goodreads Summary: Visual humor sweetens an artful tale about a fish who suddenly sees everything a new way — thanks to a charismatic companion.

Paul is a fish who used to go around in circles. He made big circles and little circles. He circled from left to right and from right to left. He circled from top to bottom and from bottom to top. What else was there to do? Until one day Bernadette drops in and shows Paul that there is a whole world out there, right outside his bowl, with so many things to see. A banana-shaped boat! A blue elephant with a spoutlike trunk (be quiet when she’s feeding her babies)! A lovely lunetta butterfly, with tortoise-shell rims! Simple saturated paintings play off this charming ode to an active imagination — and the way that life changes when a bewitching creature opens your eyes.

My Review: This is a special book about thinking outside of your world and exploring. I think it is a good book for young and old because it makes you think about what you are missing out on by limiting yourself. It also is fun because Bernadette isn’t sure of her surroundings as they are new to her, and she makes up fun stories about the things she sees. This would be so much fun to do with young readers. But what pushes this book above many other picture books are its beautiful illustrations. You will not be disappointed.

Forever
Author: Emma Dodd
Published October 22, 2013 by Templar

Goodreads Summary:

If you’re ever feeling scared,
I’ll be right beside you.
If you’re ever feeling lost,
know that I will find you.

A little polar bear discovers that through life’s ups and downs, a parent’s love lasts forever.

My Review: There are a lot of “I Love You Baby” books out there, but few of them make me cry and make me want to reread them to my son. This is one that did. It is heartfelt, lyrical, and the illustrations are so sweet.

A is for Awesome
Author: Dallas Clayton
Published March 11, 2014 by Candlewick

Goodreads Summary: Inspirational artist Dallas Clayton infuses his trademark whimsical art and positive message into an absolutely awesome alphabet book.

Alliterative and rhyming words of wisdom surrounded by all new art fill this energetic alphabet book by Dallas Clayton. Bursting with color and life, each spread offers a rhythmic phrase and an abundance of artwork illustrating the featured letter. The message of dreaming big and living life to its fullest permeates every page, inviting readers to “learn some new letters that you can use to make magical words and share big ideas.”

My Review: Dallas Clayton has a way of making you feel happy whenever you read his books. This one is no exception. His alphabet book focuses on the positive like “D is for dreaming things never expected” and “I is imagine ideas all your own”. Then in the background there are fun little drawings of other things that start with the letter. This is one of my favorite alphabet books.

Picnic
Author: John Burningham
Published May 13, 2014 Candlewick Press (first published August 1, 2013)

Goodreads Summary: The renowned John Burningham is in classic form with a simple story of a boy, a girl, and some animal friends that invites the child listener to join in.

One day, Boy and Girl head down the hill with a picnic basket and meet a fancily dressed Sheep, Pig, and Duck. They all set off to find the perfect place to sit outside — until they see Bull coming! A short-lived chase segues into a gentle interactive text as the friends wend their way from an idyllic outdoor world to a welcoming house on a hill. (Can you find Pig’s ball? Shall we find your bed?) In a charmingly understated tale with child-friendly illustrations and a hint of sly humor, John Burningham evokes a perfect summer day with a fresh new picture book.

My Review: What a fun picture book for summer! I also really like how the author makes the reader part of the story and asks the reader questions. It will definitely make children love this book even more.

The Way to the Zoo
Author: John Burningham
Expected publication August 26, 2014 by Candlewick Press

Goodreads Summary: In her bedroom wall, Sylvie spots a door … and beyond that door she finds a passage … and beyond the passage she discovers … the ZOO! Where Sylvie finds LOTS of animals, looking at her! So she decides to bring a few small ones, like a little bear, into her bedroom at night time, just for a cuddle. And then she takes the penguins back for a splashy bath. Once, she even brings back the monkeys but, really, they were too messy. No matter what Sylvie does though, she always makes sure to close the door in her bedroom wall. Until, one day, she forgets…

My Review: This is a silly book that promotes imagination and curiosity. It’ll also be a huge hit for animal lovers.

Dinosaur Kisses
Author: David Ezra Stein
Published August 6, 2013 by Candlewick Press

Goodreads Summary: WHOMP! An energetic young dinosaur figures out her own way to give a kiss in the latest from the creator of the Caldecott Honor–winning Interrupting Chicken.

For newly hatched dinosaur Dinah, the world is an exciting place. There is so much to see and do. She tries this — STOMP! And she tries that — CHOMP! Then she sees a kiss and knows just what she wants to try next. Who can she kiss? And after a few disastrous attempts, can she figure out how to give someone a kiss without whomping, chomping, or stomping them first? Young children will chuckle and cheer when Dinah finds just the right creature for her dinosaur kisses in this funny new picture book from David Ezra Stein.

My Review: I love Dinah! She is just running crazy and so happy and trying all the new things in her life. This is a funny book that I can imagine kids wanting to read over and over.

All Recommended For:

Next week I’ll share some more great picture books from Bloomsbury!

**Thank you Tracy and Rachel at Candlewick for providing copies of these books for review**