Fighting Words, by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

     In Fighting Words, sisters Della (twelve years old) and Suki (seventeen years old) have just landed in another foster home. Their mom is incarcerated (in jail) for drug use and related issues. Both sisters have been abused for quite a long period of time, until something happens that gets them placed in foster care. Nothing about this story is easy, or necessarily nice, but it is a story that author Bradley has real life experience with. This book is interesting, intense, and very, very well written. I don't know how anyone can write of abuse, especially abuse of children, with clarity and poise and such real-world words and feelings and in such an engaging way, but Bradley does it.

    I have read a few of Bradley's books, as she is one of my favorite authors of historical fiction. Fighting Words is not historical but very realistic, and was awarded the Newbery Honor the year it was released, 2020. I found it to be a very difficult subject to read about, but so well written that I couldn't help keep reading. I was bummed when the book was finished, but so happy at the strength of the sisters...I recommend this tough book to anyone. 5 paws!

The Storyteller, by Brandon Hobson

     This is the first book for teens by author Hobson. According to the author info at the back of the book, he has written four books for adults, one of which was a National Book Award finalist (a pretty big deal for a book and author!). He currently teaches creative writing at a university in New Mexico, and is a member of the Cherokee Nation Tribe.

    I mention all of this because it all relates to this book, The Storyteller. Ziggy, the main character, is trying to find his mom, who disappeared many years before, as apparently many Cherokee women do. The book is full of Cherokee beliefs and folktales, which is much of the charm of the story. The downside of this book is that it reads like it was written by a 7th grader, not by someone who used to teach 7th grade English. My human has also taught English in all the middle grades, and I have read my fair share of stories and papers. Nothing wrong with any of them, but very few rise to the level of a published author. 7th graders are still developing story, and often don't do well with character voice, transitions, dialog, etc. 

    The Storyteller is just like an okay story written by a middle school student. So much of the dialog and descriptions are very, very basic. It feels as though author Hobson didn't know how to write for kids, instead of like kids. If this book were written by a middle school student, I would consider it incredible! But because it was written by an author who is considered for book awards, I expected more. 

    If you want to read exceptional stories where Native beliefs, people, ideas, and folklore are well represented and discussed, consider any book by Joseph Bruchac, Michael Dorris, Sherman Alexie, or Eric Gansworth...but I don't think this book is worth your time. I am hopeful that Hobson's next book for teens gets better, and it won't take a lot to be better. But with this one, he leaves me wanting more...a lot more. 2 paws and wag (for effort).

The First State of Being, by Erin Entrada Kelly

     Newbery-winning Kelly submits her newest, latest book, and like her others, it is full of science!. But unlike Hello, Universe and We Dream of Space (my favorite of hers!), The First State of Being deals with time travel. In this sense it dips its toe into fantasy as well as science fiction, which she works pretty well.

    In this new release, Michael Rosario meets a strange new boy hanging out at his apartment complex. Strange for the way he's dressed and strange for the way he acts (like someone is following him, when there doesn't appear to be anyone there). Ridge is different, that's for sure. You'd dress and act differently, too...if you were from the future!!! While Michael is trying to navigate his own life, he becomes part of Ridge's life, too. Is this new kid a little crazy, because he can't really be from the future...can he?

    Kelly again creates a wonderful cast of characters - Michael, his babysitter/crush Gibby, Ridge, Mr. Mosely, the custodian at the apartment complex - and a believable, realistic setting. But she also relies on transcripts of sorts, to share information from the future, which is a little like using text messages in a book to make a story work. That drives me a little crazy, to be honest, and seems a little...easy. That doesn't mean this isn't a good book, because it is, and Kelly is a strong storyteller. First State of Being takes place a few months before the calendar turned to the year 2000, which was a pretty big deal in many places of the world. no one knew if computers were going to make that transition from 1999 to 2000 without shutting down. That would mean everything in the world that uses computer technology to function - and that is a lot of things! - might stop in January 1st, 2000. This setting added an exciting element to the story as well.

    This books reminded me of The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacy McAnulty, who is another good science fiction writer. Both books are good - not quite great - but still worth your time, especially if science interests you in any way. 4 paws!