Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

Look, I know it's going to take you a bit to get into this book, but the pay-off is worth it.  This story of the friendship of Queenie and Maddie have in the midst of the terrible tragedies of World War II is a mighty one.  Please know that once you get to the second half of the book, the part told by Maddie, you will be reading intensely trying to figure out what is going to happen.  The story of these best friends, pilot and this spy, working undauntedly on behalf of the French Resistance is terrifying, beautiful, and stunning.  You won't believe your eyes as you read.

The episodes of war are both frightening (like when the German Luftwaffe is hovering above the girls as they try to escape the shooting or the accounts of Nazi torture) and intriguing (like all the plotting, planning, and promising the Resistance efforts require).  And the narratives are written like a puzzle.  You are certain you can trust the narrators, but you realize you aren't the only audience reading the pages.  But, BUT!, the very best part of this novel is the friendship the girls share.  It crosses class divisions and personal inclinations; it is as strong as any family tie.  They offer each other places to escape and chances to show great strength.  The share fears (literally, they each list 10) and moments of true joy (bike rides and plane rides).  Their friendship is uncommon.

As I try to describe this book that I just completed, I can't believe I'm really trying to describe it.  It's indescribable.  It's a puzzle and a simple story of friendship.  It is a slog and twisty suspenseful roller-coaster.  The narrators are trust-worthy and complete liars.  The girls are a spy and a pilot, a female spy and a female pilot, no less. The book and it's contradictions punched me in the gut- in a way only the best, best, best stories can.  I cannot stop thinking about the experience I had reading this book.  Book love, people.  Book love.  Get your hands on this challenge book when you can.  Stick with it's outcome, and enjoy.

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

Novels in verse, like this one, are like many, many little and beautiful stories that add up to one giant wonderful story.  This one, Jacqueline Woodson's newest release, is so powerful I had to read many parts of it out-loud to the Kujawski boys. And very often when I did, the tallest one, Barney, recognized the sweetness of the story too.

Non-fiction, historical non-fiction, memoir, novel in verse...so many aspects of this book.  The writers in every kid would benefit from reading this book.  Teachers in every LA/R classroom will benefit from sharing pieces of this book with their students.  This book is so simple and so powerful. Jacqueline Woodson is brilliant.

Born in 1963 and raised by all the important people in her life (mom, dad, grandmother, grandfather) in Ohio, in the South, and in Brooklyn, Ms. Woodson tells us the tales of her adventures.  She shares secrets about her questions and her insecurities, and she shares her confidence in friendship, family, and faith. There are lines from old music, poems quoted and copied, favorite games and pop culture divulged- it's a book that is as playful as it is powerful.

I want kids of color to get their hands on this book.  But I need kids not of color to get their hands on this book too. It's just that #weneeddiversebooks for so many reasons.  For empathy, for knowledge, for sharing of the struggles.

Yet, still, we could simply read beyond the brown in this story of a little girl dreaming, and we'd have a marvelous story of a writer-in-bloom.  Kids who grow-up dreaming of becoming writers and story-tellers need to get their hands on this book.



This is one of those books I'm so thankful exists.  It makes this world one in which I'm capable of raising kids.  Because they are all ours, all of them.

SAMS kids and families, you are welcome to my copy!  Any time.  You'll find it either in my office or Ms. Mohr's classroom.

-absk

THERE WILL BE BEARS by Ryan Gebhart

At least 13 year-old Tyson still has his grandfather and their upcoming hunting adventure.  That's what our protagonist thinks as his closest friend ditches him for football and the popular kids at school.  He's feeling left out and alone, but at least Tyson has the elk-hunting trip in the Grand Tetons to look forward to.  Until his parents move his ailing grandfather to a nursing home three hours away. Now what? Tyson wonders.  Will he survive all of his bad luck?  How serious is his grandfather's health problem?

Even though Tyson is a typical silly and hormonal 13 year-old, readers follow along as he struggles with complex-relationships,  real-life struggles, and questions about life and death.  The plot really heats up when Tyson and Gramps decide to sneak out on their own and go hunting with or without everyone else's permission.  On the trip, Tyson must face more than just his fear of bears, and he learns there is more to Gramps than he had ever known.  More importantly, Tyson learns there is much more to him than anyone, including himself, has ever seen.

Part-survival story, part realistic-fiction,  THERE WILL BE BEARS is a great choice for regular kids in middle school looking for adventure and fun. The lessons Tyson learns are ones that will apply to every kid and grown-up who picks up this book.