A Good Kind of Trouble, by Lisa Moore Ramee

     Happy New Year, Readers! What better way to start a new year than with an OBOB book for this season! The second book by author Ramee but the first one I have read (the third one is coming this year!). A Good Kind of Trouble is the story of seventh grader Shayla, doing her best to navigate friends, family, school, and race. She has some successes but also her fair share of bumps along the way, as we all do (or did!). Ramee does a great job of creating Shayla's voice throughout the story, and the real intensity comes nearer the end of the book when Shayla's race and the Black Lives Matter movement finally face each other. It's well written and BLM is very well explained (to those of every race), and in fact this storyline is the best part of the book, I think. 

    Overall, Trouble is a good book, but not great. However, the Black Lives Matter aspect of the book is important - not only to read but also to put out in the conversations we have with each other. Ramee works this well into Shayla's character and the story, with a couple of "too easy" characters and situations worked in. But mostly, this is a solid book, and a good addition to this season's OBOB list! 3 paws and a wag!

An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States, by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz

     This is an adaptation of a book written for adults, but this version is written for you, the YA crowd! Often times I like the YA version of a book better because it's still chock full of info but with a lot of the added, super specific material taken out. So I get the good stuff without the fluff. Like the filling of the Oreo without the cookies. Or without one cookie maybe...

    Many years ago a writer named Howard Zinn wrote A People's History of the United States. It was a brilliant book that told about major events in U.S. history, but from the perspective of the regular people, like you and my human, and not from the usual perspective of those who benefited from the event in some way. In other words, rather than tell about the March on Washington during the civil rights era from the government's viewpoint, it was told from the viewpoint of people who were actually participants of the march. What readers discovered is that the same story is very different when told from these different perspectives.

    Indigenous Peoples' History by Dunbar-Ortiz tells the story of the United States, but from the viewpoint of Native Americans. Same events that you learn about in school and in textbooks, but from the perspective of those on the receiving end of hundreds of years of broken promises, lies, oppression, violence...it's not a light read, for sure. But an important one. It's important for all of us to get as many perspectives as we can about the things that have - and do - shape our world. The more information we have from different sources and voices, the better we really understand what has or is happening, and we can craft our own opinions about it. 

    This book does not read as fluidly as a Steve Sheinkin book would (perhaps my favorite non-fiction author!). And at times it seems a little textbook-y. But this will give you a perspective on the history of this nation like none other you have ever read. It mostly presents information in a non-biased way, only occasionally slipping into opinion or bias, as far as I could tell. Even though it is a lot of information, and it won't likely read like a fiction book would, I still recommend it to you, and everyone, young and old. We need this information as citizens of this country so that we continue to be an informed nation, and not one that simply believes everything we hear and see as absolute truth. In this increasingly digital age, more and more of what we see and hear is not the truth. It is our responsibility to be informed. This book is an important step in that lifelong process. Read this. 4 paws!

Steelheart, by Brandon Sanderson

     I must apologize - I finished this book a couple of weeks ago but thought I had blogged about it already...see? Even pugs need a vacation once in a while! This is the first book in a series by fantasy and sic fi writer Sanderson, also known for his Alcatraz versus the Evil Librarians series (are there such things as evil librarians...?). I believe there are now 4 books in this Reckoners series, although book 4 may not have been released yet. It seems there is also a movie of Steelheart, although that may not be out yet, either, and I can say with almost certainty that the book is going to be better...isn't it always?

    This was a pretty exciting read, even for a pug like me who doesn't go looking for sci fi and fantasy books on my own. A lot of action, adventure...even humor woven throughout.  Along the lines of Alex Rider or even Percy Jackson only slightly older. Maybe more like Maze Runner. Anyway, again - action, adventure...a page-turner, for sure! Throughout the book I found myself, when I wasn't able to be reading, wondering when I could read more to find out what happened next!

    This is also an OBOB book for this season, and one of the better ones, I think. I will say that for this genre, I liked Arlo Finch in the Valley of Fire a bit better, but Steelheart will not disappoint you, especially of the genres and books mentioned above are anywhere at all in your wheelhouse. 4 paws!

Akata Witch, by Nnedi Orokafor

     Book 1 in the Akata Witch series (or the Nsibidi Scripts Series), another OBOB book for this season, and a book being called "The Nigerian Harry Potter" in some reviews and circles. It goes without saying then that this is a fantasy story, set in Nigeria, Africa, with 12-year-old Sunny being the main protagonist. Born in New York but living back in her family's home of Nigeria, Sunny only wants what young teens want most places - to have friends, do well in school, and in this case not be bullied at school for her appearance (Sunny is albino). But Sunny's grandmother had secrets that no one wants to share with her, and she quickly discovers that those secrets have been passed onto Sunny in the form of magical powers. She becomes one of a group of four teens who are chosen to stop the pending death of the world, one she sees in the vision of a candle flame long before she knows who she truly is.

    In describing the story here the book seems better than I thought it was. I didn't dislike it, and nearer the end of the story I found myself wanting to read more to discover what was happening. But most of the time I found myself wondering why author Orokafor left out certain actions or explanations that help bridge the gap between scenes or actions. In other words, I often found myself filling in weird little gaps in the story while at the same time wondering why such an accomplished author would leave so many little gaps. 

    This book was nominated for the Nebula Award, which is an award for exceptional science fiction and fantasy books, when it was first published in 2011. So people who read a lot of books in these genres thought very highly of this story! I liked that it took place in Nigeria, and that it incorporated so much of Nigerian culture and folklore. For that I am giving it 4 paws! Also because my human asked several of the kids at school what they thought of the book, and most of them gave it enthusiastic thumbs up! But for me, probably 3 paws would have worked. I didn't want to dive right into the second book in the series, and in fact a few times I looked to see how many pages I had left so I could start a new book. Those aren't great signs of a great book. But I'd love to know what you think of it...let me know once you finish it!

All He Knew, by Helen Frost

     The newest book by veteran author Helen Frost, and what a beautiful and terrible story it is. The main character, Henry, falls ill as a very young boy and loses his hearing. Back when this story takes place, around the time of World War 2, most schools did not know how to work with kids with hearing loss, or those with Cerebral Palsy...anything outside of the "ordinary". They were labeled "unteachable" or "feebleminded".  So kids like Henry were often sent to institutions, which were often horrible places where the children were undernourished, emotionally and physically abused. Not a proud moment on our nation's history, for sure, and one that continued until fairly recently, sadly.

    Frost gives a fictionalized account of such a place but also weaves in the element of conscientious objectors, which were, and are, people asked to go to war but who refuse on moral or religious grounds. In All He Knew, as the regular staff gets drafted and heads to war in Europe, Conscientious Objectors, or CO's, take their place. One man, Victor, ends up at the place Henry has lived for several years, and together they create a lasting friendship, and much needed changes. 

    This story has a steady heartbeat to it, and once you start it will be hard to ignore. It will tear at your heartstrings.  You'll find yourself rooting for the good and crying for the bad.  Henry and Victor and the other characters will stay in your head long after you read the last page. That, to me, is the sign of a really great book! 5 paws!

My Year in the Middle, by Lila Quintero Weaver

     Another OBOB book in this wonderful season of really good books, and My Year in the Middle does not disappoint! A sort of fictionalized memoir of the author, who is Argentina-born but grew up in Alabama. The main character of this story is Lu, a middle school student from Argentina growing up in Alabama, navigating the tumultuous times of the South in the United States when the Civil Rights Movement was still fresh and racism was still a part of life for many people, especially in the South. Lu discovers her love of running, and this starts one of many themes woven throughout the story. In that sense the book reminds me of the Track series by Jason Reynolds, and also in its theme of race and race relations between people in Lu's life (Lu finds a best friend as the story unfolds, a Black girl named Belinda, who proves to be one of the nicest people in Lu's life but also causes some derision with her peers).

    Because this book mirrors author Weaver's life so closely, it is hard to point out anything that seems like criticism of the story itself. But it's not the story that keeps this book from having more paws, but the language Weaver gives her characters, particularly Lu. It seems very forced, very unnatural. Especially in the first half of the book, the frequent use of words like "golly" and "whippersnappers" make it seem like Weaver was trying really hard to put us into the early 1970s. I don't think those words were so wide spread in the 70s as they appear to be from this story.

    I did like the book much more past the half way point. But I couldn't help but wish during the first half that the story would either get better somehow or be a really quick book to finish. This is a really good story, but I didn't think it was the best version of what could have been an even better story. For that reason I give it 3 paws.

    If you want really good stories that delve into issues like race, diversity, and racism, especially in the United States, you could find exceptional books by writers like Jason Reynolds, Jacqueline Woodson, Gary Soto, Cynthia Kadohata, and more! I would be open to reading future books by Weaver, but I'm not sure I would go looking for them on purpose. Maybe you feel differently? If so, please let me know!

Almost American Girl, by Robin Ha

     Almost American Girl is another OBOB book for this season, and the second graphic novel! This is a memoir, which is a biography but about one portion of someone's life, versus their entire life. Author Ha moved from South Korea to the United States with her single mom at a young age, and then moved from Alabama to Virginia at the start of high school. This graphic novel tells (and shows) what this was like, and will really speak to anyone who has ever moved schools, towns, states, or countries before! If you have never moved, the stories Ha tells may seem overly dramatic. But as a pug who has moved many times with my humans, I can tell you that moving can be really, really hard.

    This story is really well told, and the artwork is even better! Drawing cartoons was Ha's passion growing up, and it helped her navigate and handle these life transitions along the way. And now, she has written and illustrated this book! What perseverance! What talent! This is one of many strong OBOB titles this year - if you are not part of OBOB yet, get involved! You will love the books! 4 paws!

Healer of the Water Monster, by Brian Young

    Author Brian Young is a playwright and screenwriter, but this is his first book for young adults and teens. He is Navajo, and Healer of the Water Monster is a tale that incorporates many of the Navajo stories that explain the world and all of its workings and wonders. Similar to a Percy Jackson book, which relies on Greek mythology to create a new fictional story, Water Monster uses Navajo tales to tell the story of young Nathan and his search for his own heritage and strength. This is Nathan's hero's journey, using native American folklore as the vehicle for the story.

     I stopped reading this book twice along the way. Both times I didn't think I was going to finish it, but I kept going back to all the strong reviews it was getting and trying to convince myself that the story was going to get better if I just kept reading. It did, and for that I am grateful that I continued on. This is a really important story in YA and teen lit. But the reasons I almost stopped reading is because the writing seems so robotic a lot of the time. I found the dialogue in the book really difficult to believe. For an author who is used to writing in other genres and for other audiences, I think he really needs more practice writing for teens. It seemed like he was trying really hard to write for a younger audience that his characters lost a lot of their personality along the way.

    Rick Riordan Presents is a newer imprint that is publishing fiction books by new authors telling stories of cultures other than the white, American mainstream. We Need Diverse Books is also a publishing branch that is doing the same thing, and Water Monster was printed with their help. This is really important work, and these stories need to be written and read by all of us! This book is one of a very few teen books written with Native American culture as its backbone, and for that it is a good book to read. But Eric Gansworth and Sherman Alexie write much better stories with these same themes. For that I give this book 3 paws and a wag.

    I hope Young continues to write, and the book leaves a sequel as a possibility, but his writing needs to be a lot better if he is going to be a mainstay in teen and YA lit.

Deep Water, by Watt Key

     Another of this season's OBOB books, and a really riveting adventure story that takes place almost entirely in the water! You know what that means...sharks, for one, right?! This is not the first novel for author Key, but the first I've read, and I confess that I will look to read more. One in particular, titled Alabama Moon, has gotten really good reviews, and would probably be the next one of his I would "dive into"...get it? 

    Deep Water is a story about Julie Simms, who helps her dad run a scuba business off the coast of Alabama. They take a father and son out for a very special, expensive dive, and things do not go as planned. This is a page-turner, with action right from the start! Fans of Anthony Horowitz (Alex Rider series) would love this, as might fans of the late Gary Paulsen, perhaps, as their is plenty of surviving that goes on this book!

    My only criticism of Deep Water, and it's only a minor one, is that it seems to get a little stuck about 2/3 of the way through. The adventure continues, but it takes a turn and in my opinion loses a little steam at the bend. But a strong story altogether, and another strong OBOB book for this season (which is turning out to be really good)! 4 paws!

The Blackbird Girls, by Anne Blankman

 The fourth novel by author Blankman, and a story about an event I have read about in newspapers but never in a book. That makes this book good already, right? The event is the nuclear disaster at the Russian Chernobyl Nuclear Plant in 1986. This real event was the first time a nuclear power plant had suffered such an extreme event, anywhere in the world, and the Russian government covered it up for a period of time. This cover up only made the effects of nuclear material floating in the air worse for the real people who lived near the plant, people like the two main characters of this story.

Oksana and Valentina attended school together but were not friends. Valentina is Jewish, and Oksana has been raised to think all Jews are cheaters, liars and thieves. The explosion of the power plant affects their immediate families, and they end up together, being sent out of their town, to a faraway place where the adults hope the nuclear toxins will not reach them. It becomes a story of survival, family, prejudice and friendship, and of trying to outrun and outwit a very real threat to all of us, then and now. 

The Blackbird Girls is written with a bit of coldness to it, much like the part of the world where the story takes place. I couldn't decide if this was on purpose, or because the author was new at this writing business and wasn't sure how else to make the story warmer (I since discovered that she has written three other books). But the basis of the story, the real event of the Chernobyl disaster, written into a historical fiction book, made it worth finishing. Normally I would give the writing and story 3 paws - decent but not great.  The added element of taking on this topic where no one else has before (to my knowledge), gives it another paw.   4 paws. An important story to read and know.