YA – I Kick and I Fly

Posted on July 10, 2023 by pslamediaselectionreview

Gupta, Ruchira. I Kick and I Fly. Scholastic Press, 2023. 978-1-338-82509-1. $18.99. 336 p. Grades 7-12.

Heera comes from the Nat clan in the Red Light district of Forjesganj, India. Even though she and her older brother Salman go to school, Heera gets distracted because she is so hungry, tired, and dirty. Living in poverty, she desperately wants to escape what seems to be her fate, a life of prostitution. Her mother does back-breaking work pulverizing stones on the highway; her father drinks and gambles away what little money they have. A boiled egg is a rare treat for her little sisters. The whole lane is under the thumb of sex traffickers, Ravi Lala, and the local police officer, Suraj Sharma, who is also the father of Heera’s best friend, Rosy. As the annual Kali Mela Fair draws closer to the Girls’ Bazaar, Heera’s father sees no other alternative but to have his fourteen-year-old daughter join the ranks of his niece, Mira Di, as a sex worker. Thankfully, the school’s kung fu team at the nearby girl’s hostel and especially its teacher, Rina Di give Heera respite and empowerment. She takes to kung fu and its philosophy of being in tune with one’s body easily; it seems agility is in her blood, a maternal descendant of people known for their acrobatic feats. As she begins to win competitions, her confidence builds and belief that another type of life for her family is possible grows. When Heera’s life becomes endangered, she moves into the hostel and, for the first time, knows the luxury of sleeping on a bed, having enough food to eat, and getting enough hours to sleep. As her skill at kung fu sharpens, she sees her success changing her parents. When she learns that Rosy is being trafficked, she joins forces with other survivors to rescue her even though it may jeopardize her standing in a special kung fu competition in New York. This compelling book tells a harrowing story at a rapid pace and with a delicate hand. The striking contrast of evil and kindness and the vivid descriptions of conditions of abject poverty is tempered with the well-drawn characterizations of major and minor characters. The author’s note reveals that the plot is not all imagination, but based on similar real-life events. I Kick and I Fly is an important book that should hold a spot in every high school library.

THOUGHTS: This book has a lot of heart, probably because it is projecting the truth. It also contains a lot about kung fu and honors Bruce Lee by inserting his sayings and philosophy. One part where the reader may have to suspend belief is Heera’s sophisticated language as she narrates the story. The background on Heera’s education, her inability to keep up with her studies because of lack of food and sleep, deems it unlikely that her vocabulary would be as rich as Gupta presents it. But that’s okay. Readers need to feel her fear, witness the despair of her family, ache with hope at each new achievement. All characters are Indian. Though it does not spare the horrors of sex trafficking, no acts of sex are described. Mira Di, the cousin who has her brothel set up in the back of the houses, experiences physical abuse as well as the sexual abuse, but the reader finds this out after that action takes place. Violence happens, but Heera triumphs with her kung fu moves. I Kick and I Fly can foster awareness of sex trafficking, poverty, injustice, and inequality.

Realistic Fiction

MG – Mothman

Posted on June 26, 2023 by pslamediaselectionreview

Gow, Robin. Dear Mothman. Amulet Books, 2023. 978-1-419-76440-0. 313 p. $18.99. Grades 6-8.

It is during his 6th grade year that Noah finds himself searching for meaning after his best friend Lewis dies tragically in a car accident. Both Noah and Lewis are the only two trans kids in their class and have been best friends for years. They have kept their true identities between one another, and now after Lewis’ death, Noah finds himself reaching out to other students in his class. He becomes friends with three “weird” girls, and he confides to them who he really is. At the same time, preparations are being made for the school science fair. Noah selects the subject of Mothman which is something that Lewis found fascination with. Noah plans to prove that Mothman’s existence is real and sets off on a journey of discovery and healing as he writes letters to Mothman and leaves them outside to be read. He feels he is close to finding Mothman and decides to risk it all and find him.

THOUGHTS: This book was beautifully written about a trans boy dealing with grief of the loss of his best friend and the discovery of who he is and finding comfort and love from those around him. Such a compelling read for all ages.

Realistic Fiction

YA – Four for the Road

Posted on March 9, 2023 by pslamediaselectionreview

Reilly, K.J. Four for the Road. Simon & Schuster, 2022. 280 p. $18.99 978-1-665-90228-1. Grades 7-12.

One year ago, Asher Hunting’s mom was killed in a car accident by a drunken truck driver, who, due to a technicality, faced no penalties. For him, life continues. But for Asher, guilt over his part in the accident, along with revenge, consume his thoughts. He’s gone so far as to profile the drunk driver online and discover he has a teenage daughter Grace, who Asher ‘catfishes,’ planning to take her to her prom. Asher’s supportive father waits for him to process the grief, even taking him to multiple grief groups. In these groups, Asher meets Sloane, whose dad died of cancer; Will, whose little brother was in the minority of those to die from neuroblastoma; and eighty-year-old Henry, whose wife has died. The prom–and Asher’s revenge–is approaching, leading these four on a road trip from New Jersey to Graceland. Each person is seeking something different to heal their grief–and the success of each depends upon the unknowns of the trip and upon each other. By turns sarcastic and realistically grief-laden, this novel showcases grief and the things we need from each other. Asher’s voice rings true as the modern-day Holden Caulfield with a deep reason to voice his pain, confusion, and desperation. Although humorous at times, the novel does not downplay each character’s pain and growth. And when Asher arrives at Grace’s house, readers are treated to another unexpected character, and she is no shamed, wilting damsel.

THOUGHTS: This is a heart-wrenching and heart-healing book about grief, and readers will root for Asher, Sloane, Will, Henry, and Grace on their journey. It strikes just the right balance of humor, introspection, pain, and healing. Highly recommended.

Realistic Fiction Melissa Scott, Shenango Area SD

MG – A Duet for Home

Posted on March 1, 2023 by pslamediaselectionreview

Glaser, Karina Yan. A Duet for Home. Clarion Books, 2022. 978-0-544-87640-8. 358 p. $16.99. Grades 4-7.

The Yang family has just experienced a terrible loss, and June, her little sister Maybelle, and her mother are homeless as well as grief-stricken. They end up at Huey House, a shelter for homeless families in New York City, and begin to try to fit into a new and unfamiliar life. A whole host of characters, including some long-time residents of the shelter, rally around June and support her as she begins to put her life back together, but then the shelter itself is threatened as the director looks for ways to save money.

THOUGHTS: This is a heart wrenching and heartwarming story highlighting the plight of homeless children and the importance of empathetic and helpful assistance programs to help families get back on their feet. June struggles to be as strong and brave as her mother and sister need her to be, and Tyrell struggles to keep his life going in a positive direction even when it seems almost impossible to do the right thing. The characters in his book are so real and appealing that readers cannot help but root for them to succeed in spite of all the hardships they face.

Realistic Fiction Erin Faulkner, Cumberland Valley SD

MG – The Edge of In Between

Posted on March 1, 2023 by pslamediaselectionreview

Savaryn, Lorelei. The Edge of In Between. Viking Books for Young Readers, 2022. ISBN 9780593202098. 304 p. $17.99 Grades 4-8.

Lottie enjoys an idyllic life with her parents in a city where almost everyone she knows has magical abilities. The Living Gray somehow exist without magic, but Lottie is sure that she will never suffer that depressing and magic-less fate. Then Lottie experiences a tremendous tragedy, and her magic slips away, leaving her feeling lost and hopeless. When Lottie’s uncle offers her a chance to live in the In Between and regain her magic and her family, she jumps at the chance, but the magic she is searching for seems permanently out of reach. Eventually, Lottie befriends a family who lives and works on her uncle’s estate and discovers that she can learn to coexist with loss, not as one of the Living Gray, but as a vivid character in a rich and rewarding life of her own.

THOUGHTS: Reminiscent of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s The Secret Garden, this book strikes all the right notes of tragic orphan storytelling and dreamy magical realism. Discussions about life, grief, letting go of lost family, and moving forward with joy are all part of this haunting story. The way Lottie and her new friends intertwine and support each other leaves the reader with a satisfyingly hopeful ending.

Fantasy Fiction Erin Faulkner, Cumberland Valley SD

MG – Ravenous Things

Posted on February 28, 2023 by pslamediaselectionreview

Chow, Derrick. Ravenous Things. Disney Hyperion, 2022. 978-1-368-07763-7. 325 p. $16.99. Grades 4-7.

Reggie misses his dad so much. He knows he should feel stupid going to his dad’s grave and giving him a birthday present – a model of the Enterprise he made, but it’s the only way he can feel close to him. When a curious, oddly speaking man accosts him on his way home from the cemetery, he tells Reggie he can obtain his heart’s desire if he comes to the subway station at midnight. There is only one thing Reggie wants, his dad back. Maybe he’ll be less angry then. Maybe his mom will become herself again, instead of the spaced out agoraphobe she has become. Even though Reggie is skeptical, he boards the train, joining dozens of other kids, including his arch enemy, Gareth, and Chantal, a peppy, bossy Black girl. Each child is thrilled to be reunited with their deceased loved one, but the dream-come-true reunions quickly turn into nightmares, and the three team up to escape from the terrifying parallel world. As the trio attempts to unravel the situation, they uncover a Pied Piper tale taken to extremes. The verminous conductor is luring children underground in order to replace them with transformed rats. Can the three friends stop the conductor and return the lost children to their homes? This creepy horror story provides chills and shivers galore, while exploring the manifestations of grief and loss in children. The three protagonists have dealt with loss in three generational forms, each of it traumatic and life altering. Their teamwork to derail the conductor offers them support as they work through grief, loss, and survivor guilt. Reggie acknowledges his anger issues, Gareth reclaims his music, and Chantal emerges from her sister’s memory. Reggie presents as Asian, Garrett is white, and Chantel is Black.

THOUGHTS: This story succeeds on multiple levels. The Pied Piper tale is imaginative and creepy, but balanced by the exploration of grief and its aftermath. Purchase where horror books are popular.

Horror Nancy Nadig, Penn Manor SD

Elem. – The Treasure Box

Posted on February 24, 2023 by pslamediaselectionreview

Keane, David. The Treasure Box. G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2022. 978-1-984-81318-3. Unpaged. $17.99. Grades K-2.

A young girl enjoys collecting found objects outside and sharing them with her grandfather. She keeps them in a special wooden box with a latch. When he comes to visit, they look over the items and often go out looking for more. Her grandfather’s health goes into a decline, and eventually he is hospitalized. One day her parents share the sad news that her grandfather has died. At the funeral home, the young girl looks at the pictures of her grandfather when he was young and says her goodbyes. At home, she does not open the treasure box because she knows it will make her sad. After a while, her grandmother, now alone, comes to visit. She gives her granddaughter some things her grandad wanted her to have from their treasure hunts: his blue cap, his magnifying glass, and his watch. Grandmother and granddaughter share their grief as they examine the contents of the box. Eventually the pair goes out hunting for new objects together. Bell uses scanned textures and digital collage to create warm, touching, and engaging illustrations. This technique allows the items to stand out, especially on the page with the snakeskin and the parachutist. The message from this moving story is best summed up on the back cover- “Time with grandparents is the greatest treasure of all.”

THOUGHTS: This picture book handles the experiences of loss and grief in a sensitive way that is accessible to young children. It shows that the connection between grandparents-grandchild remains strong even after death. This is a must-have for all elementary libraries.

Picture Book Denise Medwick, Retired, PSLA Member

MG – If You Read This

Posted on January 4, 2023 by pslamediaselectionreview

Getten, Kereen. If You Read This. Delacorte Press, 2022. 978-0-593-17004-5.$16.99. 168 p. Grades 4-7.

It has been three years since Brie’s free-wheeling, spontaneous, loving mother succumbed to cancer. Papa buries himself in work at the Jamaican resort he manages, and Brie feels invisible to him and her Nana. Only her good friends, Smiley and Femi keep her going. When Brie’s twelfth birthday arrives, she is unhappily surprised by a big party with everyone she knows from her close knit island neighborhood. Only the bestowal of a special gift from her deceased Mama makes the day memorable. Inside a box, Brie finds letters from her Mama taking her on a treasure hunt to her Grandfather Brim’s home in search of a secret door. Her father arranges for the trip, which turns into a family affair with aunt, uncle, grandmother, and best friends, but he does not accompany them–disobeying her mother’s directives. Grandfather Brim’s home is magical and organic with tree-chairs, fairy lights, and bright colors. Brim has dementia, though, and now lives in a care facility. With each letter, Brie receives another clue to finding the secret door; but can’t shake her disappointment that her Papa isn’t with her, convincing her that he must not care about her. In one of the letters, Mama tells Brie of a key which leads to a visit to Grandfather Brim at the care home and his abduction by Brie. Her actions enable her to get the necessary key, but incur Papa’s anger. Brie finds the secret place her Mama intended for her and discovers her father’s hand in this special gift. This revelation helps to restore Brie’s and Papa’s relationship and secure a plan to include Brim and this unique place in her life. This heart-warming story of loss and love includes Jamaican dialect and cultural traditions that create an authentic setting.

THOUGHTS: Author Kereen Geffen creates strong characters, from Brie’s effusive mother, to her insightful friend Femi, to the town’s bus driver, Jackfruit–all are described deftly. In addition to dealing with her grief and consequent feelings of inadequacy, Brie has to cope with her grandfather’s dementia. He recognizes Brie as his daughter. Brie remembers her mother’s cavalier ways fondly, but Papa had to deal with some negative backlash from his wife’s impulsivity. The vehicle of the letters leading to the secret room is different, especially since it entails only three letters with clues to a specific place. Readers who like family stories or who have suffered the death of someone close may like this book.

Realistic Fiction Bernadete Cooke, School District of Philadelphia

Elem. – The Long Ride Home

Posted on November 8, 2022 by pslamediaselectionreview

Graegin, Stephanie. The Long Ride Home. Random House Studio, 2022. 978-0-593-42602-9. Unpaged. Grades K-2.

Little Koala is on a car ride home. As her mother drives through town, the locations the car passes by remind Koala of her best friend Little Cheetah and all the fun times they have shared together. The ice cream parlor reminds her of the times they would sit at a table, sharing stories and enjoying their favorite ice cream. The big hill prompts memories of bicycling trips and a mishap resulting in a skinned knee. When the car passes the library, Koala remembers sitting on the floor inside, side by side with Cheetah, reading their favorite book. Every location evokes a memory of Cheetah; in fact, the text is told in first person, as Koala speaks to her friend. In the closing pages of the book, the reader learns why Cheetah is on Koala’s mind so much and why her thoughts seem to have a melancholy and longing tone. Cheetah and her family have moved away, and the girls are no longer able to spend time together on a regular basis. The story ends on a positive note when it is revealed that the friends now maintain a long-distance friendship and that Cheetah is thinking about Koala at the same time Koala is thinking about her.

THOUGHTS: This gentle story would be ideal for children dealing with feelings of loss and grief over friends or family members that have moved or passed away. The emotion of the text is enhanced by Graegin’s digitally created illustrations, which are rendered in a more muted-style color palette. Highly recommended.

Picture Book Elizabeth Henry, Lampeter-Strasburg SD

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