I cap my book list for KUCLC at 7 pages. That gives me about half a page to brag on myself - my 30+ years in public libraries, this blog, my kids' CD - and to give contact info so people can help me find good books.
THEN, I usually add another page or two of books I forgot. The following books are noteworthy and I MIGHT mention them tomorrow but, they didn't make either list. Some books did not make the list because I want to feature them in a future list. Some did not make the list because they are fluff. If I mention them, it will be to illustrate a trend in children's literature - because I am a Trend Identifier.
The Worthy Ones:
The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani. Dial Books, (9780735228511), 2018. When Pakistan and India are divided there is wide spread strife and violence among the various religious sects. Nisha and her father, brother, and amah must flee - on the titular night train - to save their lives. The book is a series of journal entries that Nisha writes as letters to her Muslim mother, who died when she and her brother were born.
Observations: 1. Sometimes a book is worthy because it brings attention to a concept, a philosophy, a time period or an event that needs a spotlight. MG, religious conflict, war, discrimination
Turtles All the Way Down by John Green. Dutton Books, (9780525555360), 2017. Aza suffers from anxiety and OCD but she keeps it together. When the search for a missing billionaire offers a prize for finding him, Aza's best friend, Daisy hatches a plan to find him. Since Aza went to camp with the billionaire's son, Daisy is sure they can get info that will lead to the runaway dad. That's as far as I got.
My observations: 1. John Green's writing is smooth as glass, a joy to read. 2. Reading about anxiety disorders and OCD behavior makes me uncomfortable because I am that person - the one who starts having the symptoms that she reads about. 3. When I finally finish reading this book, I expect to put it on a list because I heart the Green Brothers. YA, mental illness, fugitives
Some Fluff!
First: Fluff is good. There is nothing wrong with an amusing book that makes a kid giggle - unless it's a mean giggle and then, well, then we will have to have an intervention and years of therapy to deal with the trauma. That said, the success of the Wimpy Kid and the Dork Diaries have caused a wave of imitators like:
Take the Mummy and Run: the Riot Brothers are on a Roll by Mary Amato. Holiday House, (9780823438686), 2017. This is book #4 in this series about Wilbur and Orville Riot and their detective efforts or missions or whatever. I did not actually read this book. I read a page or two.
My Observations: 1. It's funny - funny dialogue, goofy people with goofy mannerisms. 2. There actually seems to be a story going on here. Some of these fluff books are all jokes and very little story. Stories are good. MG, humor, mystery
Stick Dog Craves Candy by Tom Watson. Harper, (9780062410948), 2107. I don't know about this book. I read a few pages and it moves very slowly. It appears to be about dogs who are looking for food.
My Observations: 1. Lots of people think that they can think like dogs. I think that this author thinks he's one of those people. 2. Dogs really like food. 3. I find it hard to imagine that dogs can understand concepts like "witches" but these dogs seem to be very frightened of "witches". 4. This MIGHT be a Halloween themed book; witches, candy, also orange heads. 5. One of these observations is not like the others. Can you guess which one? MG, humor, dogs, candy, witches
Welp, that's it for now. I hope to see some of my scads and hordes of readers at the Kutztown University Children's Literature Conference tomorrow.
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