No Place on Earth, by Andrea Beatriz Arango

  The fourth book by award-winning Puerto Rican author Andrea Beatriz Arango, and a nice start to celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. I don't think this is the first book I've read by her, but I'll have to go back and check past blog postings to be sure. 

    There is a lot to like about this story, but some things that made me twist my head just a little and wonder why. No Place on Earth is the story of Gus, who moves with his mom and sister from Puerto Rico to Yellowstone National Park - a world of difference and change! His dad stays behind as his parents try to fix their marriage from the two very different places. Gus already had anxiety, but his anxiety doesn't get any better in this new place, surrounded by wild animals and cold winters. 

    Gus makes a friend, of sorts, in Kordell, an equally unique teenager who is facing his own serious level of anxiety and depression. Kordell has learned how to create his own dreams as a place to feel safe between real, awake times of his life. Somehow, Gus drops into one of his dreams, and the story really takes off.

    This is not an elementary level book, in my opinion, if you couldn't tell from the brief description above. Arango is a good storyteller, but the themes in this book just felt too intense much of the time. Anxiety and depression are real things and truly affect people of all ages, and it's good to learn more about mental health through stories like this one, but I was surprised at how the themes were presented. Kordell, in particular, recorded his dreamscape thoughts in a poetic sort of way that made me want to just skip those parts after the first few. And Arango's use of both English and Spanish, which I usually really like, seemed to require a higher level of understanding of Spanish than I possess. I love to learn more of a language through bilingual stories like this one, but there were many lines and phrases that were just too far from what I know to be able to translate, so I feel I missed some of the story there as well.

    So, in short, a good story, but intense. Definitely not for elementary readers - maybe more like 7th grade and above. A strong dose of Spanish written in, and most not translated for the non-Spanish reading reader. I really want to find out if I've read Arango's earlier stories, because I think I have, and liked them! But this one wasn't my favorite...3 paws.

Felix Powell, Boy Squirrel, by Erin Entrada Kelly

     Author Erin Entrada Kelly is one of my favorite writers for upper elementary and middle school fiction, and her books always rely on science in some form for their plot, which I find fun and unique! Felix Powell, Boy Squirrel is more elementary focused, and the science element comes in the form of nature - specifically, animals in nature. Main character Felix has a special ability to talk to animals, and with the help of a magical blanket, he one day turns into a...squirrel! But how do you survive as a squirrel, and how can he turn back into a human boy?

    Kelly weaves various themes into this delightful book, such as facing your fears and friendship, and her writing is always solid (she is one of the only authors of kid's books to win the prestigious Newbery Award more than once!). It appears that she has recently written a second book where Felix Powell is the main protagonist (main character) - Felix Powell, Boy Dog - and I look forward to reading that one as well! Who doesn't like a good dog story, right? I enjoyed Boy Squirrel, and it made me want to go back and re-read some of her longer books, such as the 5 paw We Dream of Space. This book lands a solid 4 paws!

Amari and the Night Brothers, by B. B. Alston

     Amari has been on my reading radar for quite some time now, as I come across rave reviews of this book series pretty regularly. I was finally able to get my paws on a copy of book 1, Amari and the Night Brothers, and I was excited to jump in. Amari is a young Black girl living in a tough part of town. Her brother has gone missing some months ago, and Amari and her mom are trying to live their lives without knowing what happened to him or if they will ever see him again. Then Amari receives a message from her brother to join a secret society of people fighting against ghosts, spirits, and many other non-human creatures. Does this mean Quinton, her brother, is still alive? And supernatural beings?!? What could that mean? It turns out, Amari has more in common with her missing brother than she thought, and she decides she needs to join this group to help find out what happened to him.

    B. B. Alston has created this other world of wonderful and sometimes scary creatures, with 13-year-old Amari being the main character - or protagonist - of the series. I believe the series will eventually be five books long, and book four has just been released, but I have only read this book, the first in the series, so far. This is definitely fantasy story telling, and I couldn't help but imagine the movie all the way through (perhaps it's a movie already, but I don't know...the book is always better!).

     If Hermione Granger from Harry Potter (smart, brave) met Holly Short from Artemis Fowl (smart, brave), with a storyline or background written by Sharon Flake or Jaquelyn Woodson you would have a good idea of what this book is like!  I enjoyed it, but having this feeling that Alston was trying to write a book that will quickly become a movie took just a little bit of my enjoyment away. I couldn't commit to a full 5 paws for this one, although a strong Black girl lead character is not as common as it should be (yet!), and I appreciate Alston creating Amari. But the movie thing bothered me a little, so 4 paws and a wag will hopefully convince any of you fantasy fans to still give this a try! Probably best for 4th graders or older, but if you read Harry Potter you would be okay with this long book as well.

Can Bears Ski? by Raymond Antrobus & Polly Dunbar

     This is one of several books my human purchased for the school library this year as he begins a new year at a new school, really wanting to emphasize kindness - something this world can always use more of, right? Can Bears Ski? tells the tender story of a young bear who thinks everyone around him is asking him if bears can ski? The more he hears that question, the more odd that question sounds - of course bears cannot ski! But doesn't everyone know that? Apparently not, but little bear keeps trying to understand the question anyway. Finally, his life changes when he realizes what people are really asking him, and why he wasn't hearing the real question all along!

    This is a wonderful picture book with a kind message. It reminds me of how books can be windows into other people's (or bears!) lives, or a mirror that reflects something about us that we might find in a story. For me, Can Bears Ski? is a window, and a useful one, as my human experiences the world the way little bear does in this book. For my human, this book is a mirror, and a wonderful way to share how he is different than some other people. Every creature in the world is unique in some ways, and the more we celebrate that, the kinder our world becomes! 4 paws!

The Summer Scrapbook, by Florence Migga

     The first book by new author Florence Migga reminded me a lot of an older series by Ann Breshares called The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Where Pants was meant for a slightly older audience (upper middle and high school), The Summer Scrapbook is written more for younger readers. In this book, three best friends are set to spend the summer before they begin high school in three different places, instead of together, like they usually do. Ava is going to London with her family, which she desperately does not want to do. Becca is being sent to a summer camp, something she desperately does not want to do, either. Cat is not going anywhere, facing a summer at home without her besties, to hang out with...who, exactly? Not the summer any of them wanted!

    Against this backdrop, author Migga writes three unfolding stories of self discovery, the strengths of friendship versus distance and time apart, and, of course, a little romance! All three girls find things about themselves and the world they didn't know before, which makes this a nice teen discovery book. However, unlike The Traveling Pants, there are no pants connecting the girls, and the overall story just didn't quite come together for me. I enjoyed the book overall, but also found myself wishing it were done as I wondered at times what I would read next. That isn't the sign of an award-winner, but it also doesn't mean you won't like this book, especially if you like a nice romantic story! It's a good first effort, but not life changing. Fun, but not a must-read. 3 paws and a wag, but not 4 or 5.

Native Mascots, Myths, and Misrepresentations, by Cayla Bellanger Degroat

     I picked up this short non-fiction book at my local public library because the title caught my attention. This particular title is one in what will eventually be an 8-book series, all focusing on some aspect of Indigenous culture. In your parent's younger days, Indigenous people in the United States were often referred to as "Indians", but slowly, over time, we are learning that past words for these native people were inaccurate, sometimes hurtful, and wrong. Native Mascots, Myths, and Misrepresentations is a newer book hoping to correct those past mistakes and to educate all of us on the truths of these important and varied people and cultures.

    This particular book describes the use of native words and images in school and professional sport teams. Only a few years ago the professional baseball team called the Cleveland Indians changed their name to something less hurtful, the Cleveland Guardians. Closer to home, the professional football team in Washington, DC changed their name from the Redskins to the Commanders. But not all team names have changed, and books like these are important for all of us to understand why many people - native and non-native alike - insist that these hurtful names are removed from our everyday usage.

    This series is written for elementary students, probably upper elementary grades, according to the publisher. I think they'd be best when read alongside an adult who can help explain some of the words used and ideas being written about. But I don't think anyone is too young to begin to understand the messages in these books and to help be the change in our communities to correct past errors. An important topic and series that everyone should read! 4 paws!

Juniper's Christmas, by Eoin Colfer

     It has been a very hot summer, don't you think? And I know when it's hot outside, we all do things to stay cool, like go swimming, or go to a movie theater, or...read about Christmas! I admit it's an odd time to pick up a book called Juniper's Christmas, in the throes of a hot summer, but why not, right? And when it's written by the wonderful Irish author Eoin Colfer, even better. Colfer is the author of many books, and of one of the only series I have read in its entirity, Artemis Fowl. And I loved loved Artemis Fowl - a 12-year-old bent on taking over the world. But it was Colfer's use of fairies and trolls and other underground characters that made the Fowl series so fun. And he does it again with Juniper's Christmas!

    Juniper is a young girl whose mom has suddenly and mysteriously disappeared, and Juniper is focused on finding her. Along the way she meets Nico, who has his own mysterious past, and sure does seem a lot like Santa Claus. In fact, it's been ten years since Santa has worked his holiday magic on the world - he found kids just weren't interested anymore in toys and gifts - so he quit! He quit being the Santa you and I know, and was helping people in other ways instead. But if ten years pass without a Santa, the magic that is part of Christmas will disappear forever. Can Juniper find her mom and at the same time save Christmas?

    Juniper is a wonderful, strong main character, and her supporting cast in this book is equally as good. The best way to describe this book is joyful - Colfer writes such clever plot twists and characters that you can't help but smile and keep turning pages! Finishing this made me want to go back and re-read the Artemis Fowl books again! 

    Even though it's August, go ahead and jump ahead to the holidays with this fun story - you'll be happy you did! 5 paws!

Bear and Bird, by Jarvis

     Another new author-illustrator for me, Jarvis is the creator of characters Bear and Bird - perhaps you know them already, but I did not, and I enjoyed this first look at their adventures! I usually try to review the first book in a series, but Bear and Bird: The Stick and Other Stories appears to be the fourth book for these two main characters. This particular book has four very short stories in it, all involving Bear and Bird, of course, but my favorite story was the first one - The Leaf. Bear arrives at Bird's house with a leaf stuck to his face - but he doesn't know it! Bird cannot decide whether to tell him, which Bird thinks might embarrass him, or to try to get the leaf to drop off, without telling Bear what she knows. I won't give away the solution -  you'll have to find out for yourself! But I think you'll be happy with how things work out.

    I am new to Jarvis's work, both writing and illustrating, and perhaps he is already better known in children's books than he is known to me. But I can see Bear and Bird becoming - or being - classic characters that kids look for again and again, much like Mo Willem's characters, for example (Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus). Written for younger readers, early to mid-elementary, but a book I think readers of all ages could appreciate and enjoy! 4 paws!

Silence Sounds Simple, by Gary Golio & Andrea D'Aquino

     The full title of this picture book is Silence Sounds Simple: A Day in the Life of John Cage. Before reading this wonderful book I didn't know who John Cage was, and if you are in that same category, before you read this book for yourself, check out this video of John creating a symphony of "music" using many different objects (google "John Cage: Water Walk").

    In essence, John Cage was fascinated by noise - and also by silence. On the opening page of the book, he is quoted saying, "There is no such thing as an empty space or an empty time. There is always something to see, something to hear." Cage spent his life being curious - about sound (including what most of us would call music) and silence...as well as mushrooms! He was a very curious, quirky character, indeed!

    I'm not sure if someone like John Cage will appeal to all of you, readers, but this book is full of color, and shapes, and words that try to describe John and his life. Author Gary Golio writes in a way that I think John Cage tried to make people think - in unique ways. Andrea D'Aquino's added artwork really brings the book to life in boldly and colorfully. As a book I found this to be very artistic, just like I think John Cage was an artist - creating and imagining and thinking about everyday things in different ways. If you have ever thought of something in a new or different way, I think you'd appreciate learning about John and reading this book very much! 4 paws!

Spy Sisters versus Snake Ten-Fangs, by Alan Markham

     From the front cover through the first 50 or so pages, Spy Sisters #1 by Alan Markham felt like a book version of something from the Cartoon Network, or like a Powerpuff Girls episode, which I loved! Like reading a cartoon about three sisters with different powers and abilities whose job it is to save the world, over and over again! It's a very different kind of book than what I normally read, but I had fun allowing my brain to embrace the comic book adventure of it all!

    However, after the first 50 pages or so, somehow I wasn't having as much fun with the story...my imagination wanted - needed - something a little deeper to be happening, but it didn't. Maybe it happens even further into the story? But for a book written for an elementary or early middle grade audience I felt like that deepening needed to happen a little sooner than what I had read. Maybe it does and I didn't get that far? I admit I don't usually stop a book before finishing it, but I just didn't have the kibble to finish this one. I do admit to going and watching a few Powerpuff Girls episodes online instead, which made my tail wag! So maybe you read this book, and finish it, unlike me? I just wasn't able to give this book more of a chance...there are too many 5 paw books in the world, and I need to keep reading them! 3 paws.