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MaggieBookseller at RavennaMaggie shelves all things Kids and YA at Ravenna. She is a fan of realistic fiction, and loves the ways books allow kids and teens to learn more about themselves and other people. When she's not at the bookstore, Maggie enjoys hiking, photography, and travelling to naturally beautiful places. |
Middle school is hard enough, but then Ross' eye just had to get cancer. What gives?! He gets by with his friend, Abby; Frank, his radiation tech; a surprising new hobby, and a good sense of humor. Fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid will surely appreciate his journal entries scattered throughout the book. Author Rob Harrell is a cancer survivor himself, and gives Ross the depth and humor only a fellow survivor could.
Camino lives in the Dominican Republic with dreams of going to med school in the States. She misses her father, who works hard in NYC and only visits during summer break.In New York, Yahaira struggles after finding out something about her father. They used to bond over her chess prowess, but now she can barely look at him.Everything changes one day in June, when a plane headed to the DR from NYC crashes into the Atlantic, and both girls are forced to reckon with family secrets that will bind them together forever.Acavedo has created a wonderful story written in verse. The chapters flow effortlessly from one girl's perspective to the other, drawing the reader into their distinct worlds and circumstances as they navigate the waters of grief and shock, and what it means to be family.
Much praise has been given to Jones' debut novel, The Prophets, and every bit of it is deserved. At the heart of the story are Isaiah and Samuel, two young men who have found sanctuary in each other, despite being enslaved on the plantation known as Empty. Their love creates a sort of spiritual radiance unmatched on Empty, and seems to bring out the hope, curiosity, and ire of everyone around them, enslaved and free.Jones' writing is beautifully intimate. While the story pulled me in right away, I found myself slowing down to soak in the spiritual depth of his words.
It's been a long time since I couldn't put a book down, but I stayed up late to finish this one! If you woke up one morning to find your parents gone, your town completely abandoned, would you know what to do? Could you survive? Alone is a fantastic, nail-biting, and realistic story of survival written beautifully in verse. And twelve year old Maddie is SMART - I was so impressed with the clever ways she solved problems and made tough decisions, including the toughest one of all: to stay put, or go look for help.
You must read this book, absolutely must. I've recommended it to all of my friends who have put blood, sweat, and tears into fighting for marginalized kids. Imagine being a case manager who advocates not for human children, but for magical creatures that the human world has cast aside. The wonderful children created by TJ Klune, along with their caretakers, will make you laugh out loud while wrapping you in a warm hug with this story of finding love and healing with chosen family.
An amazing book about healthy boundaries of love and self care. Parents of all genders have been put through the ringer this past year. This book reassures you - parent and child - that taking a break "doesn't mean I love you any less," because sometimes mama just needs a minute. A must-have book for any mama of young kids.
Girl, Woman, Other earned the 2019 Booker Prize for a reason: this book is fantastic. Bernardine Evaristo put together an ensemble cast of British women and nonbinary people of color spanning generations, countries, and circumstance. As you read, you slowly come to understand how each of their lives are connected, whether the characters themselves are aware of it or not. In addition to the compelling stories, Evaristo turns the conventions and expectations of writing upside down. The lack of punctuation was tricky for me for the first few pages, but after I got used to it I found her queering of writing itself to be absolutely brilliant. Its complex storylines and writing make this an amazing book for discussion with friends - I highly recommend it for your book club.
Two words to describe my reaction to this amazing book: mind. blown.
A beautifully written story about family, friendship, Iran, tea, and depression. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Having trouble focusing enough to read during the pandemic? Me, too. This book has exactly what you need to keep your attention and give you a welcome distraction: murder (?), mystery, true emotional depth, and small town drama set against the Australian coastline. (cw: domestic violence.)
Did you know that until the mid-1800s there were communities in New England where sign language was the dominant language, and that many of the residents were Deaf? Show Me a Sign follows young Mary as she finds out what happens when outsiders think they know what's best for people. LeZotte, who is Deaf, does a great job bringing post-Revolutionary War Martha's Vineyard to life, and beautifully weaves local sign language, ASL grammar, and "standard" grammar together in this unique work of historical fiction.
A really important book that sheds light on the truly immeasurable ways one Black woman's body has contributed to the advancement of science and medicine, and has undoubtedly saved millions of lives - all without her knowledge or consent.
I love this book! It is perfect and wonderful for a time when things seem to be falling apart. It has the quick sarcastic wit of The West Wing, the romantic charm of Prince Harry fan fic, and a whole lot of gay. What more could you want??
This children's graphic memoir about Mohamed's childhood growing up in a refugee camp is great for readers of all ages. While I'm certain it doesn't cover the true depth of life as a displaced refugee, it paints a picture that is honest about global and personal injustices, and is hopeful without being "so inspirational."
A beautifully written book about a child living on the US Virgin Islands struggling with loneliness. Why did her mother leave? Will she ever have a friend? Calendar does an amazing job transporting us into Caroline's world, both real and spiritual. Definitely a cathartic, yet hopeful, read.
