Frequently Challenged/Banned Book- The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

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Imagine a world in which women are not allowed to read and books are burned. Such is the world that Offred lives in; serving as a Handmaid a slave living in a household where her sole purpose is to get pregnant by the man who owns her to provide a child to him and his wife.

Handmaids live a very oppressed life and if they are not able to perform their duty and produce a child, then they have very few offers, one being put to death. 

Click HERE to watch my book talk on The Handmaid's Tale

Genre: Classics

Call #: F ATW

Atwood, M. (1985). The handmaid's tale. New York, NY. Anchor Books. 

YA Graphic Novel: My Friend Jeffrey Dahmer by Derf Backderf

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In 1991, a nation was shocked by the sick and demented acts committed by the serial killer Jeffery Dahmer.  Many are still haunted by the first reports of what was discovered in Jeffery's apartment as the number of young men murdered continued to climb.
In 1991, Derf Backderf was a sitting at his office when his wife called and said, "I think a boy you went to school with in on the news." Within minutes of turning on the TV. Derf was looking at the face of a once boyhood friend, as he was being handcuffed and walked out of an apartment building and placed into a squad car.
My Friend Dahmer is a haunting tale of one man's memories of the notorious serial killer during their junior high and high school years. Follow Derf Backderf as he recants knowing Jeffery as the weird kid classmates didn't really notice and that teachers didn't really pay attention to.
Think you know the story? Read, My Friend Dahmer to see from a friend's point of view what helped to make a quiet geeky kid into one of America's most deprived serial killers.
National Bestseller
2013 ALA/YALSA Alex Award
20114 Revelation Award at Angouleme
2015 ALA/YALSA Alex Award ( Exellence in Narrative Nonfiction)

Click HERE  to watch my book talk on My Friend Dahmer.

Genre: Graphic Novels
Call # GN Bac
Backderf, D. (2012). My friend dahmer. New York. NY. Abrams Comic Arts.

Graphic Novel Display 

YA Quick Reads: IF I WAS YOUR GIRL by Meredith Russo

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If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo

Andrew has been bullied his entire life for being different and three years ago, he tried to end his life. When he wakes up in the hospital, Andrew hands a note to the hospital psychiatrist that reads, "I should have been a girl." 

Now Andrew is trying to his new life at a new school, in a new town, and as Amanda. Quickly Amanda makes friends with the popular girls in school and has caught the eye of two boys. Amanda's father warns her to be careful about keeping a low profile as to not draw attention to herself in order to stay safe. But as Amanda's feeling grow stronger for Grant, she can't help but want to live the normal life a high school girl. Can she trust Grant with knowing about her past life, or will the one person she does tell about her past betray her in the most public way?

Click HERE to watch my book talk on If I Was Your Girl

Genre: Realistic Fiction
Call # F Rus
Russo, M. (2016). If i was your girl. New York, NY. Flatiron Books. 

YA-Informational: Lab Girl by Hope Jahren

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Lab Girl is an interesting memoir by Hope Jahren a geobiologist. Hope loves trees, soil, seeds, and plants which is what she spent her life studying. She gives the scoop on what it was like growing up in her father's college chemistry lab and how the nature of a child's curiosity drove her to be a scientist. In this memoir we are introduced to Hope's students and her quirky lab manager, Bill.

Anyone with an interest in STEM activities will have fun with this book so come in a check it out!

Click HERE to watch my book talk on Lab Girl.

Genre: Nonfiction- biography

Call #: 921 Jah

Jahren, H. (2017). Lab girl. New York, NY. Vintage Books.

YA- Culturally Diverse: WRITTEN IN THE STARS by Aisha Saeed

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Written In The Stars by Aisha Saeed

Naila is a 17 year old Pakistani-American who has lives in Florida. Up until now, she has been able to choose her own career, her clothes, and even how she styles her hair. One thing she will never be able to do is choose who she will marry. That has been chosen for her by her Pakistani immigrant parents.

When Naila's parents learn of her dating a boy from a Pakistani family the community doesn't approve of, they decide it is time to take Naila back to Pakistan for a visit with family to help her regain her cultural roots. Naila agress to go. She has no idea what awaits her when she arrives. A husband.

Naila is horrified by her parents' betrayal and tries to fight back and escape back to America and to the boy she loves.

This book will be an eye-opener for many who are not familar with a  culture who, to this day, practice arranging marriages. Some of these marriages work out well, other do not. Which one will will Naila have?
Find out, check out Written In The Stars by Aisha Saeed
Click HERE to watch a booktalk on this title.

Genre: Realistic Fiction
Call No: F SAE
Saeed, A. (2016) Writtin in the stars. New York, NY. Penguin Random House LLC.

YA Fantasy Book- THE HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins

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For Katniss Everdeen, survival for her family depends on her being a good hunter. But when she voluteers as tribute for the Hunger Games, Katniss will become the hunted.

Sixteen year old, Katniss Everdeen, lives with her mother and younger sister in the poor part of Panem's District 12. The newly shaped North America is run by the vengeful  government known as the Capital. It sits in the center of Panem, surrounded by the 12 districts inhabited by the suppressed populations of people who lost in the war that made the Capital the governing power.
In order to keep the districts in line, the Capital hosts the Hunger Games once a year. A televised event, the competition pits one 12- 18 year old  boy and one girl from each of the twelve districts and they must compete to stay alive for there can only be ONE victor.
On the day of the Reaping, Katniss is devastated when the name of her younger sister, Prim, is called as the female tribute for District 12.  Without a second lost, Katniss volunteers in her sisters place therefore sentencing herself to certain death.
Does Katniss have what it takes to survive knowing that she will be the cause of others dying? Is the cost of living worth what you lose of yourself to get there? Or will the love of one boy be enough to push her into victory? Fans of reality shows will find this exciting page-turner one they can't put down.

Click HERE for my book talk on The Hunger Games. 

Genre: Fantasy/Science Fiction, Dystopian,
Call No: F COLL
Collins, S. (2008). The hunger games. New York, NY. Scholastic Press.

YA- Realistic Fiction : SYMPTOMS OF BEING HUMAN by Jeff Garvin

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  “Vibrantly imagined…a welcome mirror for gender-fluid teens.” (Kirkus Reviews)

Imagine what it would be like to wake up feeling like a girl only to have the slightest thing cause a shift and now your are feeling 100% like a boy. 

Riley knows what that feels like because Riley identifies as gender fluid and never seems to feel comfortable in his/her own skin

To complicate things, Riley has not told anyone including is family. How? Riley's father is a conservative politician in the midst of a campaign and can't have any family complications darken the voters opinions. 

Riley's therapist suggest Riley create an anonymous blog as an emotional outlet for what Riley is feeling from day to day. Riley is amazed with the positive reactions to the blogs. Riley has a fan following that lends to a new sense of confidence and strength that Riley hasn't experience before now. 

When someone learns of Riley's true identity has to host of the blog and threatens to expose Riley, a decision has to be made. Does Riley shut down the only thing that has been a positive and lifeline or does Riley step out and come out and let the world know he is the true author of the blog?

Find out by picking up a copy of the book today. You won't be able to put it down! 

**Voted one of YALSA's Top Ten Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers, 2017. 

Click HERE to watch my booktalk on Symptoms of Being Human by Jeff Garvin

Genre: Realistic Fiction
Call No: F GAR
Garvin, J. (2016). Symptoms of being human. New York, NY. Balzer + Bray: an imprint of Harper Collins Publishers

Award Winning Young Adult Book- I'LL GIVE YOU THE SUN by Jandy Nelson

Fans of John Green, Rainbow Rowell, Jojo Moyes, and Emma Straub will be sure to add I'll Give You The Sun to their TBR lists!
New York Times Best Selling author, Jandy Nelson, brings us the story of Jude and Noah, fraternal twins whose lives begin to diverge as they discover who they are as individuals. Jude, a girl, is crushing on an older boy and Noah, a boy, is hiding a secret about himself from everyone.
The chapters alternate between Jude and Noah's perspectives beginning at the ages of 13 and as the book jumps around from each twin's point of view and time, we see that they have changed dramatically but a mystery surrounds the reason for such changes in the twins.
I'll Give You the Sun is recommended for anyone who enjoys humor and romance, tied up with family drama.

Click HERE to see me book talk I'll Give You The Sun

Genre: Realistic Fiction
Call # F NEL
Nelson, J. (2014). I'll give you the sun. New York, NY. Penguin Group, LLC.

Children's Informational Book

Author, Stacy McAnulty will have children, both young and old, over the moon for this sweet little book. She packs the pages with fun facts about the moon such as its age, how it came to be, and its relationship with the Earth. The best part is...it is told from the view point of the moon, herself!

Readers will also be pulled into the story by the captivating illustrations created by Stevie Lewis. Each page seems to light up as the luminous moon shines against the dark backgrounds, making each little start twinkle. Everyone is sure to fall in love with Moon! This book is the perfect companion to Earth! My First 4.54 Billion Years and Sun! One in a Billion. Hurry and pick up your copy today!

Publisher: Henry Holt & Company (2019)
Hardcover: 41 pages
Grade Level: Pre to 3
ISBN: 978-1250199348

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Book Awards Presentation

Book Awards Lib732

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Fantasy Read Aloud

Publisher: Sterling Publishing (2015)
Hardcover: 32 pages
Grade Level: Pre to 3
ISBN: 978-1454911296

Digital Historical Fiction Book Display

This digital book display was created as part of a collaborative unit for Cultural History with one of our teachers, Mr. Mendoza. Students will be researching the events that took place in the United States shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the effect it had on the lives of Japanese Americans when forced into internment camps. Students will also learn of a local connection when they read about how our town's own fairgrounds were used as a temporary internment camp. Students will be researching the circumstances that lead to this event in America's history, and how fear, intolerance, and bigotry impacted the lives of Japanese Americans. Students will compare their finding to current world issues.

Historical Fiction

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Write to Me: Letters from Japanese American Children to the Librarian They left Behind by Cynthia Grady is composed of a collection of letters written by Japanese American children during one of America's most disgraceful events.

After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt enacted the Executive Order 9066 which forced over 110,000 Japanese Americans from their homes and into "internment" camps. Nearly half were children.

As a group a of children from San Diego California were forced to turn in their library cards before being shipped off, their beloved librarian gave them postcards and books and asked them to write to her. The result is told within the pages of this beautifully illustrated picture book.

"A beautiful picture book for sharing and discussing with older children as well as a primary audience." - Booklist-starred review

Publisher: Charlesbridge (2018)
Hardcover: 32 pages
Grade Level: Pre to 3
ISBN: 978-1580896887

Pinterest Poetry Board

Realistic Fiction

By Sandy Stark-McGinnis

Any one who is a fan of Counting by 7 and Fish in a Tree will be sure to find a place in your heart and on your book shelf for Extraordinary Birds by debut artist Sandy Stark-McGinnis.

December, an eleven year old girl, believes she is a bird and has always imagined she would one day she will sprout wings from the strange scars left on her back and fly away from the struggles of being a foster kid.  When December enters into her latest foster home carrying with her her two most treasured possessions, two bird books, she is met by Eleanor, a kind woman who volunteers at animal rescues and has secrets of her own and is her new foster mom.

As life with Eleanor and her best friend, Cheryllyn takes a different turn, December is left wondering if she really will need to escape into the sky, as she has believed her entire life, or will life be livable down on the ground.

Poetry

By Marilyn Singer

From the author who brought us the book, The Dog Who Insisted He Wasn't  comes a truly unique form a poetry in Mirror Mirror. Award-winning author, Marilyn Singer has taken many of our favorite fairy tales and turned them on their heads. With her Reverso style of Poetry, she cleverly gives us two points of view using the same poem. By reading the poem from top to bottom you get the perspective of one character, for instance Snow White, by reading the same poem from bottom to top and you will see the story from the Wicked Queen's perspective.

Illustrated by Josee Masse

Readers of all ages will fall in love with the beautiful artistry as Josee Masse creates a split-screen look to accompany each version of poems. The subtly nuisances weaved into the illustrations gives the readers hints as to whose version of the story we are experiencing.



Be sure to check out this remarkable and creative telling of some of the best known children's fairy tales created by the innovative author, Marilyn Singer and illustrated by Josee Masse. Sure to be a favorite addition to any library!
Pages: 32
Publisher: Dutton Books for Young Readers, 1 edition
Date: March 4, 2010
Age: 6-9 years
Grades: 1-4
ISBN-13:  978-0060777579

  

Traditional Tale

Reading of Intersellar Cinderella by Kira Jones

Blast off into this new twist on an old tale. Interstella Cinderella is a girl who only wants to fix spaceships. When her family is invited to the Royal Space Parade, her stepsisters only care about catching the eye of the Prince, Cinderella only cares about seeing all the wonderful spaceships. Instead of a fairy godmother, Interstella Cinderella has a fairy godrobot,.  Instead of bestowing her a glass slipper for her to lose, gives her a magical socket wrench. After fixing the Prince's rocket ship, Cinderella rushes off to be home by curfew, but not before dropping her magical wrench. Now the Prince must search the Cosmos to find the space ship mechanic of his dreams. 

by Deborah Underwood

Picture Book: For Just One Day

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Click here to see Mrs. Jones read For Just One Day

This sweet little book engages the imaginations of little ones who have wondered what it might be like to be something else, even if only for just one day. The simple, almost sing-song quality of the story leads the reader through hints as to what the author is wishing they could be, only to find out by turning to the next page. Super fun for kids and parents! One of my son's favorite.















                                                                            For Just One Day by Laura Leuck

Award Winner: Waiting by Kevin Henkes

 

Waiting by Kevin Henkes 

From the Caldecott Medalist author, Keven Hankes, comes this heartwarming story about five toy friends who spend their day....waiting.

 Waiting for the moon, waiting for snow, waiting for the wind, waiting for the rain, and just waiting for nothing in particular to happen. An owl, a dog, a bear, a pig and a rabbit sit in a window sill each day watching the world outside. On some days, the thing they wait for comes and they are happy, and other days well.... they just wait. 

With a simple text and soft illustrations, children will learn about patience and that an imagination can help the time pass. These five friends don't mind waiting, but I urge you not to. Don't wait to reading Waiting! 

Copyright 2015

ISBN 978-0062368430

Age Ranges: 4 to 8 years

Awards: Caldecott Honor and Geisel Honor Book

Hello and Welcome to by blog. This blog contains reviews for children and Young Adult books. I created this blog to fulfill a requirement for my Master's program through Fresno Pacific University.