The Bletchley Riddle, by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin

     Wow! The brand new book by two of my all-time favorite writers, writing together! Historical fiction author Sepetys and non-fiction author Sheinkin are both top-of-the-line story tellers. The Bletchley Riddle is there first collaborative effort - like peanut butter meeting jelly for the first time...doesn't matter if it's crunchy or creamy, or the flavor of the jelly, it's going to be GOOD!

    The Bletchley Riddle is historical fiction and tells the story of a real place, Bletchley Park, that existed in England at the start of World War 2. Siblings Jakob and Lizzie are both very intelligent young people, and both end up contributing to the war effort on the part of England and the Allies (which does not include the United States at the start of the war, when this story takes place). Bletchley Park is a secret place where many different people, young and old, work tirelessly to decipher the messages that Germany is using as they advance the war. Germany is sending hundreds of messages a day to various places and people, but in secret code. The people at Bletchley Park work all night, every night, to try and crack the secret code to know what the messages say - and to stay ahead of the German war machine.

    The overall effect is more Sepetys than Sheinkin, in that her books tend to be a bit more complicated than Sheinkin's. This book isn't difficult to follow once you get about one-third of the way into it, but it will take some focus to get that far before the characters and story lines start to come together and make more sense. If you are interested in history, like smart mysteries, and will commit to reading enough of the book for it to start to really make sense, you will be very happy you did! The ending wraps up some parts of the story nicely, but doesn't take us to the end of the war, so not every question gets answered. I kind of like that for a change. But either author, on their own, will get my recommendation every time. Together, they can't help but be 5 paw writers!

Kareem Between, by Shifa Saltagi Safadi

     Kareem is a 7th grade Syrian American living in Indiana. He goes to middle school and dreams of someday being the quarterback on his school football team. He lives with his parents and his siblings, even though his older sister isn't always nice to him. He does his homework, goes to classes, has friends, and loves the Chicago Bears (even though they haven't been a very good team in a very long time!).

    Austin is the coach's son, and the current quarterback of the school team. The team is also pretty bad, and they don't usually win. Austin promises to get Kareem a chance to make the team, in exchange for doing his school work for him. Kareem wants to play football so badly that he agrees. 

    Being Syrian American makes Kareem different than other kids at his school. When another Syrian family arrives in his community, Kareem is told to help Fadi, who will now attend Kareem's middle school, feel welcome. However, Kareem is trying to win Austin's favor at every turn, even when Austin refers to Fadi as "cereal". At the same time, Kareem's mother has returned to Syria to bring her parents back to the United States, but while she is there the U.S. declares a ban on Muslim immigration from various country's...including Syria. Kareem's mother is stuck.

    Kareem Between is the first middle grade book by author Safadi. It won the National Book Award last year, when it was published, which means it has been well received in the community of readers. It is a story told in verse, which I admit didn't really fit the story at first, but seemed to grow on me more the further into the story I got. It's a very important story, and part of a growing number of middle grade books that address the reality of our current world, where people are being separated based on their skin color and nation of origin. This book is important for all of us as we are reminded that the United States has always been a nation of people coming together from all parts of the world - not always easily, and not always peacefully - but we are a great, giant nation built of people from all over the world! This is a cause for celebration, as we continue to learn different languages, different cultures, traditions, religions - none better or worse than another. No person better or worse than another, no matter the color of their skin. 

    This idea does not occur easily for everyone, as our past and present continues to show us. It is up to us to use our voices to make this work. For everyone. You. Me. Him. Her. Them. Books like Kareem Between are a vital part of this ongoing conversation. I hope you read it, and books like it, to provide you with hope and inspiration when you need it to continue to make the world a better place, every day! 4 paws and a wag!

Homebody, by Theo Parish

     Homebody is a new graphic novel from author and illustrator Theo Parish. The memoir is an account of how Parish (they/them) came to accept themselves for who they are, from memories of being a child through teen years and college and into adulthood. It's a quick read, and the creative illustrations really add to the telling of their story. Growing up, Parish realized at points along the way that they were not boy or girl alone, but neither, and both. Parish calls this non-binary, but also refers to themselves as queer.

    Stories with such personal topics are getting more and more attention in the last year or two, but not for the right reasons. Groups of people around the country are working hard at eliminating stories such as Parish's, in the hopes that if the stories are not being written and read, somehow issues (and people) that include transgender, non-binary, LGBTQA+, or other similar identifications and acronyms will simply "go way". What I love about Homebody is that Parish is quite simply and honestly telling their story - of growing up knowing that the label they received at birth did not fit who they felt they really were. Like everyone everywhere in the world, as we grow we are discovering who we are! What we like, what our character is, who we want to be and what we want to do with ourselves and our lives. Parish's journey includes the search for gender identity. As a dog, mine didn't, but it is heartwarming to read about someone who is different than me, on a journey different from mine, but asking questions we all ask ourselves along our own journeys!

    I love the honesty of this book, and the creative ways Parish explains how understanding who we are is like finally coming home. They use a house in words and drawings to make the point that they are simply trying to find their own safe place, to be themselves and to find peace and joy in being who they are. I think that is something even this pup can understand and appreciate, which is what makes this book even more endearing. Parish is not asking the reader to be like them, but to be themselves, and celebrate who they are, and also who other people are. It's a simple message, on the surface, but one that causes a lot of division between people as well. I'm a dog, and I wag for most anyone! Maybe that's a lesson people can learn from me? 4 paws and a wag!