Where Only Storms Grow, by Alyssa Colman

     The 1930s in the middle of the United States was not a good place to live, as detailed in this wonderful historical fiction book by author Alyssa Colman. A huge swath of the Midwest was suffering from severe drought (lack of rain for a long period of time - in this instance, several years), and the farms in this region were really struggling to grow crops. As the soil dried up, it became dirt, sand, and dust. When the wind blew, this dirt blew for miles, sometimes hundreds of miles, creating drifts like snow drifts, only in sand and dirt. Many people lost their farms and/or moved west to try to survive. Others, like Joanna's family, stayed and hoped for better days. Where Only Storms Grow is the story of the Dust Bowl as told through the fictional accounts of Joanna and her twin brother Howe. 

    In 1997 author Karen Hesse won the prestigious Newbery Award for her book, written in verse, called Out of the Dust. That book was equally as well written and powerful, covering the same time period and events of our country's history. Where Only Storms Grow made me think of that book and how much I loved it. I'm no Newbery Committee dog, but I think Colman's book is very deserving of this year's award! I was a little surprised to see it listed as an elementary or middle school book - I thought it was written at a solid middle grade level. But if you like historical fiction, or if this period in our history interests you, I recommend this with an enthusiastic 5 paws! This is a really well-written book that I think you might love, too!

Strays, by Gia Gordon

     The second, and newest, book from author Gia Gordon. Strays already starts high on my "like" list, because it has a dog on the cover, and it's called Strays, which is the equivalent of "rescue", of which I am one - a rescue dog, I mean! So, a book about rescuing a cute little creature like me is already a story I want to read, although it still has to be a good story...   

    ...and Strays is! A good story, I mean. In the book, antagonist (main character) Campbell sees someone open their car door on the side of the road and put a dog out onto the street...and drive away. She is appalled (which most anyone would be, right?), and she sets out to make sure this dog gets cared for. The stray is not the only abandoned character in the story, however, as you will discover when you read this book. It seems that several of the humans are also trying to find their home, their center, their safe place. 

    I have not read Gordon's first book, My So-Called Family, although in an interesting twist, I have it sitting next to my round dog bed (my favorite reading spot at night), and I didn't even know I had both of her books in my possession! But Strays is really good and reminds me a lot of a book I read a few years ago, where some kids decide to help find homes for some shelter animals as part of a school community service project...I cannot remember the title at the moment, but when it comes to be I'll come back and add it here. Do you know the book I'm thinking of? Please tell me if you know! 

    As for Strays...my 5 paws seal of approval!

Lily Tripp: Diary of an Accidental Time Traveler, by Amelia Tait

     The first book by British author Amelia Tait, Lily Tripp is a cute story about a young girl who is facing some challenging life situations - a bully, a crush, a bestie (or is she...?), an annoying boy who keeps annoying her, and...oh, every New Year's she wakes up in a different year! Not just a slightly different year, but a completely different century! Lily describes her time in places like Ancient Rome, but throughout the story she actually finds herself in 1621 and 1972 - two very different times in history. Everyone she knows travels with her, but only Lily realizes she is time traveling. Her friends and family exist in each new place, but they don't realize they truly belong in the present.

    The book is written from Lily's perspective (first person), in the form of her writing in her diary. Some of the entries are quite short, but it's tough to find time to write when you've been cleaning the chamber pots all day (there is no indoor plumbing in 1621...ewww!). Author Tait does a nice job writing in Lily's voice, so overall the book flows very nicely from start to finish. 

    However, the entire story centers on a few characters (mentioned above); a bully (named Georgia), a bestie (named Poppy), a crush (named Ollie), and an annoying boy (who never seems very annoying to me...named Joey). All of this is fine, but then there is the time traveling part of the story...and I'm not sure why. It doesn't really add anything to the story overall, or to any of the characters, in my canine opinion. Tait manages the different times and places pretty well, with one or two facts about a place kind of forced into the story unnaturally. But really this is a decent story about a soon-to-be-13-year-old who is trying to figure out her life. This is the setting of a lot of books for young readers like you, and some authors can turn that into reading gold, right? 

    Lily Tripp is funny and likeable, and there are a couple of laugh-out-loud moments in the book. It isn't a bad book, but not a must-read, either. I liked it, but a few times wanted to finish so I could start my next favorite read. Probably best for middle grade readers, but a late elementary reader could manage it, too. Warning: You may find yourself wanting to re-read your Dork Diaries books again! 

3 paws and a wag!

Mind vs. Machine, by Steve Sheinkin & Maurice Ashley w/artwork by Thien Pham

     I have read some newly released books in my dog days, but this may be the first time I am reviewing a book that isn't released yet (it comes out in September)! Pretty cool right? My copy of the graphic novel Mind vs. Machine is an Advanced Reader's Copy, or ARC, which means a book that is close to what the real book will look like, but not entirely, and sent to avid readers (like me!) who get to read and review it before everyone else...I feel so special!

    Regular readers of this blog know that Steve Sheinkin is one of my all-time favorite writers, and that he creates amazing stories in non-fiction that read like some of the best fiction I've ever read. Mind vs Machine is no exception! Maurice Ashley is a 3-time National Chess Champion, as well as an author. Thien Pham is an award-winning graphic novelist and educator. What a dream team to create a book about the year when the best chess player (Garry Kasparov) known in the world at that time (1979) played a 6-game tournament against a computer. Man vs. Machine!

    I can't tell you who wins, but I can tell you that the story is very "Steve Sheinkin", so be prepared to finish it in one or two sittings! It's a very cool story, even if you aren't an avid chess player (like me...I prefer corn hole, but hey, I'm a dog - corn (yum!) and holes (fun!)). Ashley adds a lot of background info that helps the story make more sense, and the artwork is solid. One disclaimer; since this is an ARC, the artwork isn't completely finished, and even some of the panels are off center. But when this book is released those flaws will have been corrected, and all you'll have is a very cool, interesting graphic novel to enjoy! If you are already a Sheinkin fan, read this! If you enjoy graphic novels and/or non-fiction stories, also read this! I read it one day - I couldn't put it down! I think you'll love it, too! 4 paws (this may change to 5 paws once I see the finished book)!

The Second Life of Snap, by Erin Entrada Kelly

     On the back flap of this newest release by author Erin Entrada Kelly is a list showing all of her other fiction book covers (she also wrote the non-fiction book At Last She Stood). It seems I've read 5 of the 7...and now I've read 6! I guess I can include Kelly on my list of favorite authors?

    The Second Life of Snap is Kelly's latest release, and like her other books there is a strong science element here, which I always enjoy. In this book, which takes place in the not-too-distant future, Snap is a robot that is discarded by its maker and claimed by Zuzu and her dad. Zuzu lives in a barren, dusty place with no trees or water, far from the "city" where Snap came from. Zuzu and her friends make fun as they can with very little in the way of toys or games while baking under the shade-less sky day after day. Even though she does not like the idea of having a robot at first, Zuzu and Snap become friends, as much as being friends with a machine can happen.

    Like all of Kelly's books, this is well written, and there are a lot of clever elements included in the story. As I read Snap I marked two passages that I especially loved:

            "It doesn't matter where you look. It matters what you see."

and

            "I don't think it's ever too late to change things."

    I love how the author inserts these messages into her stories! I find these to be gems in her writing, and they stay with me long after the details of the particular book do. That's not to say The Second Life of Snap won't stay with you, because I think it will. At the same time, it wasn't my favorite Kelly book - that would definitely be We Dream of Space. But this is another solid read by this talented writer, and I recommend it to you! It definitely falls into the science fiction genre, and seems written for older elementary or early middle grade readers, although I think avid readers above and below this range could also enjoy it. I'm looking forward to her future work, and giving this 4 paws!