Monthly Archives: January 2024

YA – Bianca Torre Is Afraid of Everything

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Winans, Justine Pucella. Bianca Torre Is Afraid of Everything. Clarion, 2023. 978-0-358-72164-2. 362 p. $19.99. Grades 7-12.

High-school student, Bianca Torre sums up their own story: “From a gender identity crisis to a goddamn murder.” Mix in anime, manga, Shakespeare, ornithology, the school play, money laundering, a transgender person, first crushes, and over 65 ways to be afraid, and we get Bianca Torre Is Afraid of Everything. Quiet, anxious Bianca couples bird-watching from their bedroom window with people watching. They make a connection with “Mr. Conspiracy,” the tenant across the way; he leaves pictures of birds taped to his window for Bianca to spy with their telescope. What Bianca also gets to see is Mr. Conspiracy’s murder by a person dressed in black robes with a plague doctor mask. When the Los Angeles police brush off Bianca’s witness statement, they enlist their best friend, the popular and straight-A student, Anderson Coleman to help them work out the mystery. Anderson and Bianca do some sleuthing and start to put together clues from a diary found in Mr. Conspiracy’s apartment. Ronan, Anderson’s transgender brother, gets access to the high school’s budget and discovers Valley Quail-mentioned in the diary-is siphoning off funds. The stakes are heightened, though, when Bianca gets life-threatening messages–not a good situation for a person who has a lengthy list of fears that they keep interspersing within the narrative. Besides being a possible murder victim, Bianca is having her own gender identity issues. They are pretty sure they are lesbian and nonbinary, but they have only come out to the Colemans and an admired queer English teacher, Ms. Richards, not to their family. They are absolutely sure they are attracted to Elaine Yoo, a member of the bird club Bianca belongs to; but they are so inexperienced, they lack the confidence to make a move. Coincidentally, the clues to catching the killer include lots of ornithological references, which take Bianca back to the birding hikes. This fast-paced mystery weaves Bianca’s tenuous steps into gender with a whodunit. The ending and some other parts may require a suspension of disbelief, but the humor infused with each plot twist makes it necessary. Recommend this book to those who liked Holly Jackson’s Good Girl’s Guide to Murder. The Colemans and two minor characters are African American; Elaine and some minor characters are Asian-American; all other characters represent as white.

THOUGHTS: Though some plot elements are unbelievable (the ease with which Bianca and Anderson cut class and deal with gun-toting criminals, the nonchalance of Bianca’s parents who leave them with the Andersons while they go stay at a hotel, even after their child has received multiple death threats), Winans’ sense of humor and imagination overpower realistic situations. Bianca’s struggles, too, with coming out to their family and with their fearfulness of almost everything come across realistically. The good news is that everyone to whom Bianca reveals their gender reacts positively. 

Mystery 

Elem. – Rivka’s Present

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Wallmark, Laurie. Rivka’s Present. Illustrated by Adelina Lirius. Random House Studio, 2023. 978-0-593-48207-0. $18.99. 40 p. Grades K-3.

In 1918 on New York’s Lower East Side, Rivka enthusiastically proclaims to all who will hear that it is her first day of school. Heartbroken, Mama tells Rivka, that she cannot begin school. Papa has influenza, and Mama must work to support the family. Rivka must care for her little sister. Upset, Rivka tears out of the apartment, crashing into a sandwich board in front of the grocery store. Apologizing to the shop owner, Rivka admires the writing on the board, and asks the grocer to teach her how to write. Mr. Solomon carefully explains he is too busy to take on teaching Rivka how to write. But when Rivka bargains to help around the shop in exchange for writing lessons, Mr. Solomon agrees and even allows Rivka to bring her little sister along. Papa is no better, and Mama works long hours. By the time the leaves fall from the trees, Rivka knows her alphabet and can sound out basic words. While running an errand at the tailor’s shop, Rivka admires Mr. Cohen’s ledger of neat arithmetic. Offering to make deliveries in exchange for math lessons, Rivka quickly begins learning a new skill. Unfortunately, Papa has shown little improvement. When the first snow falls, Rivka helps a neighbor across the hall with baking and cleaning. She discovers that Mrs. Langholtz is studying to take her citizenship exam. Rivka politely asks Mrs. Langholtz to teach her about American history. By the time spring rolls around, Rivka can name the states and sing the anthem. One day Papa is well enough to join the family at the dinner table. As the flowers begin to blossom, Papa sends Rivka on an errand. When she returns to the apartment, she is surprised to find Mr. Solomon, Mr. Cohen, and Mrs. Langholtz, who have all arrived at the apartment for a party to honor Rivka and all of her hard work. Each neighbor brings Rivka a present that she will need to finally begin her first day of school.

THOUGHTS: Rivka is plucky and eager to learn. This is an adorable story about hard work and determination in the face of great challenges. Beautifully detailed painted illustrations by Adelina Lirius add to the wonder and delight as Rivka spends the seasons learning new skills.

Picture Book

Elem. – Salat in Secret

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Thompkins-Bigelow, Jamilah. Salat in Secret. Illustrated by Hatem Aly. Random House Studio, 2023. 978-1-894-84809-3. $18.99. 40 p. Grades K-3.

On Muhammad’s seventh birthday his father gives him a salat (prayer) rug. Muhammad is proud to be old enough to pray five times a day. He prepares for his evening prayers feeling very grown up and mature. In the morning he is happy to pray, but is worried about what mid-day will bring. Will he find a place to pray at school? Muhammad hopes to find a secret place but is unsure how to ask for privacy. Daddy drives an ice cream truck and takes breaks during the day to pray very openly. Sometimes people on the busy streets jeer at Daddy, but he is always brave. Muhammad tucks his salat into his backpack, determined to find a place where no one will see him praying. At school Muhammad realizes the coat room might be a place to pray in private. He attempts to ask his kind teacher, but Muhammad gets too nervous as he remembers how people sometimes treat his father when he prays in public. Muhammad is determined to find another appropriate, but secret, place.The bathroom does not seem like a good choice, so Muhammad decides to bring the rug to recess. He quickly finds that it is hard to play soccer with his salat rolled under his jacket. The coat room really seems like the best option. After recess Muhammad lingers as his classmates enter their classroom. Muhammad places his salat on the coat room floor and rushes to finish his prayers, but he is interrupted by a concerned classmate. Embarrassed, Muhammad rolls his rug and returns to class. On the way home he decides he will pray for bravery. After school Muhammad joins Daddy in the ice cream truck. As the sun sets, Daddy unrolls his salat on the sidewalk and begins his evening prayers. A woman walking by stops and glares, attracting police officers. Daddy does not interrupt his prayers. Muhammad takes his own salat and bravely joins Daddy in prayer on the sidewalk. Muhammad sees Daddy’s hands tremble and realizes how brave Daddy truly is. The next day at school Muhammad nervously approaches his teacher and asks for help in finding a place to pray. He has learned that being scared sometimes comes with being brave. 

THOUGHTS: This is a beautiful picture book with many themes to explore about acceptance, bravery, and love. Hatem Aly’s illustrations are absolutely endearing. A wonderful read-aloud.

Picture Book

Elem. – World Festivals

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Hansen, Grace. World Festivals. Abdo Kids, 2023. $22.95 ea. $137.06 set of 6. 24 pages. Grades K-3.

Carnival. 978-1-098-26174-0.
Dragon Boat Festival. 978-1-098-26175-7.
Harbin Ice and Snow Festival. 978-1-098-26174-0.
Holi Festival of Color. 978-1-098-26177-1.
Iditarod Race. 978-1-098-26178-8.
Taiwan Lantern Festival. 978-1-098-26179-5.

This Abdo Kids World Festivals series features six celebrations from around the world. These nonfiction picture book titles include a table of contents, index, glossary, and an online link to view the eBook as well as additional reference materials. Large print and full page full-color photographs make the books intriguing for young readers. This reviewer had the opportunity to read the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival selection. The pictures are absolutely stunning, and the facts about this celebration are fascinating. 

THOUGHTS: This series is in an easily accessible format for young researchers and students wanting to know more about celebrations from around the world. The large print, simple text-features, and bright pictures will draw students in. A great selection for K-2 libraries wishing to diversify their holiday and celebration offerings. 

394.2683 Holidays

Elem. – Mine!

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Fleming, Candace. Mine! Anne Schwartz Books, 2023. 978-0-593-18166-9. $18.99. 40 p. Grades K-3.

Mouse spies a perfect apple, high up in a tree. She imagines how happy she will be when it falls. Hare comes along next and spies the apple. He imagines how happy he will be when the apple falls. Fox, Deer, and Bear follow, each animal dreaming of enjoying the apple and  proclaiming it  will be “MINE!” When the apple finally does get blown off the tree, all of the animals charge to get it and a melee ensues. The apple rolls away and is found by a shy possum. Possum instantly finds a friend to share the apple with and proclaims “OURS!” This is an adorable storyline with a bouncy rhyming rhythm and repeating refrain. Black line relief prints on stained tissue paper by Caldecott winning Eric Rohmann are absolutely delightful. 

THOUGHTS: A fun read aloud for younger students.

Picture Book

Elem. – Home is Calling: The Journey of the Monarch Butterfly

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Pryor, Katherine. Home is Calling: The Journey of the Monarch Butterfly. Worthy Kids, 2023. 978-1-546-00313-7. $17.99. 40 p. Grades K-3.

Every year as fall descends on North America, monarch butterflies migrate to their winter home in Mexico. Though this generation of butterflies has never been to Mexico, they instinctively know the path toward their mountain forest winter-home. The monarchs’ journey is detailed in this gentle nonfiction picture book. As the butterflies head south they encounter difficulties including bad weather and stretches of green where no nourishing flowers exist. Some individual butterflies do not make it to their final destination. When the swarm arrives they expect to find a forest, but the trees have been stripped. In the distance the monarchs spot a flicker of orange in a grove of trees and recognize they have found their ancestral home. The butterflies will be safe here until the next generation of monarchs begin the first leg of the journey north in the spring. Bright and beautiful illustrations by Ellie Peterson depict the 3,000 mile journey with incredible detail. End pages include drawings of the anatomy and life cycle of a butterfly, as well as a map of the migration path. Also included are child-friendly explanations of the threats faced by the monarch population and ways to get involved to help save the monarchs and their habitats. 

THOUGHTS: The simple yet detailed explanation of the migratory pattern of monarch butterflies will be appealing to younger elementary aged students. 

595.78 Moths and Butterflies

Elem./MG – Silverwing

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Oppel, Kenneth. Silverwing. Simon & Schuster, 2023. 978-1-665-93848-8. $23.99. Unpaged. Grades 3-7.

Shade is the smallest bat in his silverwing colony, and while his size may be small, his curiosity looms large. He wants to know why he is not allowed to see the sun. Of course, he knows about the law established by the owls millions of years ago: bats may only rule the skies at night while birds rule during the day. One day, he stays out at sunrise, hoping to catch a glimpse of the sun. An owl catches him and later comes to his colony to tell the silverwing leader that retribution must be made since Shade broke the rules. The leader refuses, and the owls burn down their roost. The colony has no choice but to migrate south to their Hibernaculum a bit earlier than expected. Shade sticks close to his mother during the beginning of the journey, but he gets blown off course by a strong storm. He finds himself lost and alone until he meets Marina, a brightwing bat who vows to help him get back to his colony. Together, they journey to Hibernaculum but not before many dangerous encounters with cannibalistic jungle bats, sewer rats, and vengeful birds. 

THOUGHTS: The graphic adaptation of Oppel’s novel by the same name is sure to be a hit with readers who love animal stories filled with adventure. The illustrations are detailed and colorful and the story, while action-packed, also weaves in details about bat life, including diet and echolocation. 

Graphic Novel

Elem./MG – Home Away From Home

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Lord, Cynthia. Home Away From Home. Scholastic, 2023. 978-1-338-72611-4. $17.99. 212 p. Grades 4-7.

Mia is thrilled to be spending the summer with her grandma in Stone Harbor, Maine. Usually, Mia and her mother spend the summer there, but this year, she is going alone. Her mom is staying behind to find a new house with her new boyfriend, and Mia does not want any part of it. At least at her grandma’s, things will be just as they always were. She will get to spend time with grandma and all of the birds she loves to spot around Stone Harbor. But when Mia arrives, she meets Cayman, a boy her age who lives down the street and has been spending a lot of time with her grandmother. She doesn’t like having to share grandma with anyone, but she tries to give Cayman a chance. She invites him to see the eaglets in their nest, so Cayman and Mia trek through the wooded trail to visit them. When they arrive, they notice a strange white bird flying nearby. It doesn’t seem to be native to the area. Mia snaps a picture. When they get back to her grandma’s house, Cayman decides he is going to the library to find out what kind of bird they saw. But Mia feels a connection to the bird who seems a little displaced like she feels right now. She wants to find out about the bird before Cayman. Ignoring her mom’s rules about posting personal information online, she posts the bird picture on a birding website along with her location. Suddenly, there is a flurry of people traveling to Stone Harbor to see the bird. The secret is out, the bird is possibly in danger, and it’s all Mia’s fault.

THOUGHTS: Mia’s struggle with change is combined with an important message about respecting wildlife. Lord’s novel is heart-warming, comforting read with relatable characters. This is a must-buy for upper elementary and middle grade librarians.

Realistic Fiction

Elem. – Fungi Grow

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Gianferrari, Maria. Fungi Grow. Beach Lane Books, 2023. 978-1-665-90365-3. 40 p. $18.99. Grades 2-5. 

Fungi grow all around us, and this book introduces readers to their mysterious world. Fungi grow from spores which form threads that spread and create a complex network of roots. Mushrooms are the fruit, and they can be found both above and below ground. The lyrical text is supplemented by fact boxes that share additional information about how spores are spread, how some mushrooms can absorb enough water to crack cement, and how fungi are also used to create antibiotics. The gouache watercolor and digital illustrations include a wide variety of labeled fungi. Additionally, many pages also feature word art visualizations of how spores move and grow, detailing how they puff, plop, poof, sprout, branch, poke, splash, swirl, and multiply. Backmatter includes a warning to never eat wild mushrooms until their identity is confirmed by an expert as well as a glossary and a list of blogs and websites for further reading. Information about how fungi help the environment, fun fungi facts, and a diagram of the fungi life cycle are also featured. 

THOUGHTS: There are many books about the life cycles of animals and plants, but this title will fill gaps about how other living things grow, change, and impact the environment. This is a visually interesting title to browse, or share it with science-loving students.  

579.5 Fungi

Elem. – What’s Inside a Caterpillar Cocoon? and Other Questions About Moths and Butterflies

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Ignotofsky, Rachel. What’s Inside a Caterpillar Cocoon? and Other Questions About Moths and Butterflies. Crown Books for Young Readers, 2023. 978-0-593-17657-3. 40 p. $18.99. Grades K-3. 

Although libraries may already have several titles about the life cycles of butterflies, this book stands out thanks to its stunning illustrations and visually appealing layout. Simple sentences compare and contrast butterflies and moths and share interesting information, such as the fact that these animals have been flying the earth since the time of the dinosaurs. Clearly labeled diagrams explain the four life stages of butterflies and moths: egg, caterpillar, pupa, and adult. Additional descriptions also walk readers through the changes that occur inside a butterfly chrysalis and a moth cocoon. Full-page images of the animals’ anatomy highlight their similarities and differences, and captions describe how their wing patterns help the insects camouflage themselves or confuse potential predators. Readers will linger over the beautiful illustrations, featuring many shades of green, yellow, and orange. Varied typefaces, labels, and speech bubbles break the text into easy-to-digest segments. The final page features suggested extension activities such as visiting local national parks to find out what kinds of butterflies and moths live nearby, adding plants to your yard to attract pollinators, and visiting a natural history museum to see butterfly and moth specimens up close. 

THOUGHTS: This is one of the most eye-catching nonfiction titles I’ve ever seen. Not only will readers return for the poster-quality illustrations, but they will also be hooked by the inviting and conversational textual layout. 

595.78 Moths and Butterflies