Elem./MG – ThunderBoom

Posted on October 16, 2023 by pslamediaselectionreview

Briglio, Jack. ThunderBoom. Illustrated by Claudia Dávila. Kids Can Press, 2023. 978-1-525-30496-5. 128 p. $16.99. Grades 3-6.

Logan, a nonverbal child, wants to attend a holiday parade with his family. In order to attend, he will have to cope with his fear of masked people and other things. After arriving at the parade via train with his family, Logan is separated from his mom and dad. While on his own, he channels the power of ThunderBoom, his imaginative superhero alter ego, to help a lost neighbor girl, Becky, find her mom. Logan is reunited with his family quickly, and he concentrates on his super powers to repel anything that scares him.

THOUGHTS: This short graphic novel offers a unique window into a nonverbal child’s deep imagination. The author includes very little dialogue throughout the story; the emphasis on emotions and images make this an accessible graphic novel for all upper elementary and middle grade students. The author’s note includes information on Angelman’s Syndrome, the causation behind the character Logan’s nonverbal and developmental behaviors within the story. Brilgio also explains in his author’s note that Logan’s character is based on his own son, Lucas, and Lucas’s experiences living with the same genetic disorder.

Graphic Novel

Elem. – Like Lava In My Veins

Posted on October 6, 2023 by pslamediaselectionreview

Barnes, Derrick. Like Lava In My Veins. Illustrated by Shawn Martinbrough & Adriano Lucas. Nancy Paulsen Books, 2023. 978-0-525-51874-7. $18.99. unpaged. Grades K-3.

Bobby Beacon is a new student at the Academy for Kids with Awesome Abilities where he is going to learn to control the lava flowing through his veins. It’s about time, too. The other day, he got angry that the school bus driver would not stop to let him on even though he saw Bobby standing there. What happened next involved a tidal wave of molten lava and a startled bus driver. Bobby does not get along with his new classroom teacher who threatens to send him to the Institute for Supervillains. But then Bobby is transferred to a different teacher who teaches him how to control his anger (and his lava) with deep breathing and counting. Bobby starts taking pride in his school and even makes new friends. But during an assembly, Headmaster Chaos from the Institute for Supervillains arrives by busting through the wall. The headmaster has heard about Bobby’s powers, and he has come to kidnap him and bring him to his institute. Bobby has to safely harness his powers to save himself and his classmates from the villains.

THOUGHTS: The old school comic book-like illustrations are bold and eye-catching, enhancing the action-packed storyline. This book has the potential to empower the voices of Black readers and is a must-have for elementary libraries.

Picture Book

Elem. – Stink, Superhero Superfan

Posted on October 5, 2023 by pslamediaselectionreview

McDonald, Megan. Stink, Superhero Superfan. Candlewick Press, 2023. 978-1-536-21507-6. 148 p. $14.99. Grades 1-4.

Stink Moody has superheroes on the brain. He’s exploring superhero science at Saturday Science Club, and as he’s helping his family prepare for a yard sale when he discovers a box of old comic books in the garage. The comics feature a superhero Stink’s never heard of before: Super Gecko. The Super Gecko comics originally belonged to Grandma Lou, then Stink’s Dad, and once he starts reading, Stink is hooked too. As Stink and his friends are trying to catch a real-life gecko, they discover a mysterious note from Super Gecko himself. Stink must use his powers of deduction to figure out Super Gecko’s secret identity and how to get his hands on the first comic of the brand new Super Gecko series that debuts soon.

THOUGHTS: This is the thirteenth book featuring Stink Moody, and fans of the previous titles in the series will not be disappointed. Share this latest installment with superhero fans as well as animal lovers and mystery buffs.

Realistic Fiction

YA – Miles Morales Suspended: A Spider-Man Novel

Posted on September 7, 2023 by pslamediaselectionreview

Reynolds, Jason. Miles Morales Suspended: A Spider-Man Novel. Atheneum, 2023. 978-1-665-91846-6. 303 p. $19.99. Grades 7-12.

Miles Morales, a teen hiding secret spider super-man powers, uncovers a villainous plot after he receives in-school-suspension (ISS) at his school, Brooklyn Visions Academy. After a blow-up with a racist teacher, Miles is set to serve his ISS day quietly by completing a large packet of work from each of his teachers. As the day progresses, Miles begins to notice there is something a little ‘off’ in the ISS room—and something weird going on with one of his classmates, Tobin. Tobin is in trouble for stealing (and allegedly eating) library books. His ‘spidey-sense’ keeps prickling, and Miles is not quite sure why. Then, Miles thinks he sees a termite crawl across Tobin’s desk…and directly into his ear. Miles ultimately discovers that Tobin is part of a larger plot. Miles must face off against this enemy in order to restore justice—and the freedom to read.

THOUGHTS: Jason Reynolds masterfully weaves together verse and prose to create a layered, complex novel; Suspended could be read and enjoyed by a middle schooler right up to a senior in high school. Reynolds keeps Spider-man cool and relevant to 2023; the book tackles topics of school library censorship and contains social justice themes while still including all of the elements of a classic superhero story. Miles himself is a realistic and nuanced character who grapples with familial and cultural identity, seeing patterns, and understanding consequences. Although this book is technically a sequel to Miles Morales, Spider-man (2018), readers can enjoy Suspended on its own as well.

Fantasy

MG – The Supervillain’s Guide to Being a Fat Kid

Posted on October 13, 2022 by pslamediaselectionreview

Wallace, Matt. The Supervillain’s Guide to Being a Fat Kid. Katherine Keagen Books, 2022. 978-0-063-00803-8. 261 p. $16.99. Grades 4-7.

Max, the main character of this heartbreaking and heartwarming story, is a great kid with one problem; he’s a fat kid, and he endures constant bullying and ostracization at school because of his weight. He and his equally-bullied friend, Luca, spend each day at their new middle school waiting for the next attack from the biggest and most popular bully, Johnny Pro. The situation seems hopeless until Max decides to reach out to Master Plan, a notorious supervillain who was recently put in jail because of his villainous deeds. Through letters between Max and Master Plan, Max learns confidence as the older supervillain teaches him to dress well and defend himself, but when Max gets a great opportunity to appear in a popular TV baking show, he begins to wonder who is really helping who in their unusual mentoring relationship. Eventually Max decides that Master Plan did help embrace his good qualities and improve his friendships, but that he, not his supervillain hero, must take responsibility for his own happiness and success.

THOUGHTS: The body-positivity and anti-bullying messages in this book are skillfully incorporated into a funny, charming and thought-provoking tale about a kid who has to deal with a bully. The dialogue and action in this story is realistic, and students who enjoy hero-and-villain tales will appreciate the way Master Plan mentors Max and helps him find his own style and his own voice. This is ultimately a light-hearted tale that contains some excellent messages.

Realistic Fiction Erin Faulkner, Cumberland Valley SD

Elem. – The Blur

Posted on October 6, 2022 by pslamediaselectionreview

Lê, Minh. The Blur. Illustrated by Dan Santat. Alfred A. Knopf, 2022. 978-0-593-37746-8. Unpaged. $18.99. PreK+.

Any parent will tell you, when you have children, the years pass so quickly. In fact, it might be said they go by in a blur. Lê’s book, illustrated by award-winning artist Dan Santat, remembers and celebrates the whirlwind that is childhood. Beginning in infancy, Lê introduces readers to his adorable superhero, The Blur. The Blur’s super powers include supersonic voice, enhanced hearing, propensity to rush into danger, and, of course, ultra-magnetism (everyone is attracted to the cute tot). In the blink of an eye, or the turn of a page, The Blur passes from toddler to youngster to teen, while proud, exhausted, loving parents trail behind, there to celebrate successes, comfort failures, and patch up bruises. Eventually, The Blur graduates from high school and dashes off to college. Santat’s sweet drawings, steeped in warm tones, power the emotional punch of the story. This sentimental book celebrates the joy of watching children grow and mature. While the book will make a fun read aloud between parent and child, its true target audience may be high school graduates (given the conclusion of the book) or new and expecting parents. Children may giggle over the idea they have super powers, but the emotional impact of the book is definitely an adult experience. The featured family is Asian.

THOUGHTS: A delightful, charming book that may find a better fit with older and adult readers than the very young.

Picture Book Nancy Nadig, Penn Manor SD

Elem. – Mighty Reader: Makes the Grade

Posted on February 9, 2022 by pslamediaselectionreview

Hillenbrand, Will. Mighty Reader: Makes the Grade. Holiday House, 2021. 978-0-823-44499-1. 35 p. $18.99. Grades K-1.

Lulu is beside herself and oh, so worried about the standardized test that is scheduled to happen in her class at school today. Formatted like a graphic novel, this picture book is full of evil villains like the scary test, pencils, books, and watchful eye but Might Reader comes to save the day with ‘partner power.’ Turns out, Lulu was just having a nightmare, but how was she going to be successful at school without Mighty Reader?

THOUGHTS: The graphic novel formatting may be a bit overwhelming for new readers, but this short story could break the ice for nervous students before big test days. Some of the techniques mentioned could even be tried out in class. Talk about a super power!

Picture Book Samantha Hull, Ephrata Area SD

YA – Faith: Greater Heights

Posted on February 9, 2022 by pslamediaselectionreview

Murphy, Julie. Faith: Greater Heights. ‎ Balzer and Bray, 2021. 978-0-062-89968-2. 352 p. $18.99. Grades 8-12.

Ever a fan of anything Julie Murphy writes, diving into a magical realism book gives pause to some readers. The authentic writing style is descriptive enough to make the reader feel like they’re flying. This is part two of Faith’s story, and she is fully aware of her superpowers but still not super sure how to deal with her grandmother’s dementia or how to cope with exes. Murphy’s world building and origin story preparation make it pretty clear that we can expect more to come on Faith’s story, with action plugged into scenes when Faith isn’t just trying to figure out normal life.

THOUGHTS: For Julie Murphy fans in general, this book should make its way onto high school shelves as long as book one is already there. While you’re at it, you can make sure you have a few of her other series as well. Murphy has a knack for writing in an inclusive way that feels like how it should’ve always been (spoiler: it should’ve been). Her writing is trustworthy and representative.

Fantasy Samantha Hull, Ephrata Area SD

Elem. – Katie the Catsitter

Posted on January 7, 2022 by pslamediaselectionreview

Venable, Colleen A.F. Katie the Catsitter. Random House, 2021. 978-1-984-89563-9. 229 pg. $20.99. Grades 3-5.

Katie is not looking forward to this summer because all of her friends are going away to summer camps. Katie needs to figure out a way to make some money, so she can go to a summer camp. Katie ends up cat-sitting for her upstairs neighbor, who has 217 (yes, you read that right) cats! However, these are not normal cats, and Katie doesn’t think that her neighbor is normal. Will Katie be able to handle all these cats, figure out how to keep her friends, and perhaps solve the city’s mystery? The answer to all those questions might surprise you.

THOUGHTS: This is an extremely fun graphic novel for readers who love the Warriors series. The plot is super fun and ends up going places the reader does not see coming. Highly recommend this book!

Graphic Novel Mary McEndree, Lehigh Valley Regional Charter Academy

MG – Ikenga

Posted on March 4, 2021 by pslamediaselectionreview

Okorafor, Nnedi. Ikenga. Viking, 2020. 978-0-593-11352-3. 227 p. $16.99. Grades 6-7.

Nnamdi is devastated when his father, the police chief of their Nigerian town, is murdered. He vows to get revenge, but a year later, the murder remains unsolved, and Nnamdi is increasingly frustrated as he sees his mother struggling to support them, especially after she is mugged by one of the brazen petty criminals who torment the town. That is when he encounters his father’s spirit, who gives him a small figurine called an Ikenga. Nnamdi soon discovers that the figure imbues him with superpowers like those of his favorite comic book hero, the Hulk, when he becomes enraged. While Nnamdi means to use his powers for good, taking down various local crooks, it soon becomes evident that Nnamdi has to learn how to harness his superpowers before he seriously harms someone. His alternate ego, known as The Man, is garnering much attention in the town and from the press, but not always positively, After nearly injuring his best friend, Chioma, and a classmate, Nnamdi runs away from home and hides, so he cannot endanger anyone else, or himself. However, Chioma, after an interaction with the spirit of Nnamdi’s father, pieces together what is happening and tracks Nnamdi down. With Chioma’s support, Nnamdi learns to control his abilities, unearths who murdered his father, and faces down the local crime boss. Nnamdi is an engaging character with great big flaws to go with his great big heart. Readers will empathize as he makes mistakes along the way, whether it’s jumping to conclusions or being unable to control his rage when he is The Man. Okorafor skillfully places the reader in Nnamdi’s Nigerian town, through use of local dialect and evocative description. One can easily conjure the sounds and smells of the marketplace or Nnamdi’s home. While most of the plot threads are wrapped up by the end of the book, a few loose ends hint at a sequel, which will be eagerly anticipated.

THOUGHTS: Great for fans of myth-based literature, and ties in superbly with Kwame Mbalia’s Tristan Strong series. Unfortunately, the use of profanity may make its placement in an elementary school library problematic, leaving it with a limited audience.

Fantasy Nancy Nadig, Penn Manor SD

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