Black Birds in the Sky, by Brandy Colbert

     Brandy Colbert tells the story of the Tulsa, Oklahoma race massacre that happened on June 1, 1921. Just over one hundred years ago, and still this event is underreported, hidden, buried, not discussed, not largely written about as part of our nation's racial history. To help uncover this story earns praise for Colbert's first book. This is a story that should be known by students across the country as part of our nation's history. For most of our country's existence, stories such as these were not told in the mainstream, but as uncomfortable as they may be, these events have shaped our nation as much as anything more positive has. We cannot only hear the "good" stories about history, because if we do we are not really understanding who we are as a nation, nor where we have come from.

    That said, and as important s this story is for us to read and know, and for as much of her heart she put into this important book, the book itself isn't super compelling. After reading authors like Steve Sheinkin, who does such an amazing job of telling historical stories for teens, Black Birds is a little tough to keep up with. Even as my human, who loves non-fiction and historical fiction, had a tough time in spots keeping names straight as well as staying engaged with the book. The Tulsa Race Massacre is something we all should know about, and Black Birds is one decent way to start to understand this event. But from a strictly readers point of view, compared to other teen and young adult books, Black Birds is just...okay.

    Know that if you choose to read this, you may have to push yourself at times to keep moving forward. Not because the overall story isn't worth it - it is! - but the writing isn't entirely teen friendly.   3 paws and a wag.

Big Tree, by Brian Selznick

     Did you know that animals, like dogs - like me - can get COVID? I didn't know that until this week, and I'm a little surprised! Usually human diseases and illnesses are not transmittable to animals, nor vice versa. But as my human has been home the last two days suffering through his second round of COVID since it appeared in the world in 2020 (I have never had it, though, thankfully...), it has afforded me some extra reading material, as he always has several books ready to read here at home. But since all he is doing is sleeping, all I am doing is...reading! I'm definitely getting the better side of this...

    From the author and illustrator that brought us the sensational and groundbreaking book The Invention of Hugo Cabret way back in 2007, and several equally amazing books since, comes Brian Selznick's latest story, Big Tree. This is a story that takes place when dinosaurs roamed the earth, long before human beings arrived on the scene, and tells the story of two seeds from a sycamore tree, Louise and Merwin. They are young seeds in a seed pod that is prematurely separated from their mother due to an approaching fire, and the subsequent fleeing of animals through the forest. As the seed pod is liberated from the adult tree, the two seeds take flight, pushed farther and farther away by the heat of the fire, the movement of the animals below them, and simply by the wind. Big Tree is the story of these two seeds, different from each other in their outlook but tied together as siblings, both wanting to succeed in finding a safe place to grow up - a place with water, sunlight, and soil.

    Selznick tells one version of nature's story, of the world, from how the Earth was formed to how life was introduced to the planet. It is a story rooted in science with wings of imagination as he explores the evolution of plant and animal life, how we all depend on each other, and ultimately how our current climate situation isn't bad for the planet, as is often discussed, but bad for us - all living creatures. The planet will survive, he suggests, but how do we make sure we survive? This is a hopeful, mysterious, humorous, and wonderful story, one most of you will enjoy.

    What makes Selznick's books extraordinary is that they are roughly half written and half drawn. His books are all giant-looking chapter books, but really contain about as many pages of artwork as pages of words. His stories are always solid, and his artwork is always wonderful! I'm not sure he'll ever replicate the beauty of the Hugo Cabret book as far as his artwork goes, maybe since that was the first we saw of it. But he has successfully created his own style of book in young people's literature, and not many writers or artists can say that! 4 paws!

Victory. Stand! by Tommie Smith, Derrick Barnes and Dawud Anyabwile

     Victory. Stand! is a wonderful graphic novel that tells the true story of Tommie Smith, an U.S. Olympic gold medal winner and world record setting runner. The book starts with Tommie as a young boy, one of twelve children, born and raised in Acworth, Texas before his sharecropping family had to move to California to survive. At the time it was a move Tommie neither understood nor wanted, but it proved to be pivotal, or life changing, for him. 

    Fast forward to the 1968 Olympics in Mexico, where gold-medal-winning Smith protested treatment of Blacks in America by raising his black-gloved fist for his nation's anthem. From there he was banned from competition, Olympic and otherwise, for many years. Arguably the fastest man alive was no longer welcome to participate in his sport. Before NFL star Colin Kaepernick took a knee on the sideline during the same national anthem just a few years ago (and who was also unofficially banned from playing professional football again!), Smith used his status to show the world that everything in America was not what it appeared.

    Long term readers of this blog know that I (and Violet before me) don't read a lot of graphic novels, but with that genre really taking off in the last couple of years, it's hard not to (as there are so many compelling ones being created!). That said, I am not a graphic novel connoisseur, or expert, by any means. But I will say the artwork in this book is some of the best I've seen! It fit the story so perfectly, and added to Smith's life as it unfolded across the pages. Combined with the compelling story being told, this was a difficult book to put down...until I finished it, and I wished there had been more. Graphic novel fans, and fans of social and American history, read this! It's first rate! 5 paws!