When the Ground is Hard, by Malla Nunn

     Wow! The first book I've read in a while that I simply could not put down! This is an OBOB book for the coming season, which is surprising as it seems to be an "older" book than I would pick for middle grade OBOB, at least when I first started reading it. When the Ground is Hard is author Nunn's debut book, and currently she has a second release (titled Sugar Town Queens, which I'll be sure to find and read!). She is a South African who moved at a young age to Australia where she currently lives. One of the things I loved about Ground is that it is obvious Nunn is not from the U.S. - her writing just has a different cadence, or rhythm, to it. It was a refreshing change of pace, and her writing is riveting! Honestly, when I wasn't reading I was trying to figure out when I could be reading again! Yep, this one is wonderful!

    This book tells the story of Adele, a mixed-race girl whose White father provides modestly for her and her Black mother. But because of apartheid laws in Swaziland, in southern Africa, where this story takes place, father and mother cannot live together, so Adele is raised by her mother while her father provides financially, but from another town, where he lives with his other (White) family. 

    Adele attends a Christian boarding school and usually is absorbed into the popular girls group. But in this new school year, she has been replaced in her girl clique, and finds herself rooming with a poor girl, Lottie, who doesn't follow the rules and likes to fight. The book is about Adele navigating race and class differences where she lives, but with many relevant issues that apply to people today, most anywhere in the world, which makes the book so good! Lottie is not what Adele thought she was, nor are the girls she used to hang with, but discovering all of that is challenging, and often hard.

    Treat yourself to this story! The writing is different because the author uses different descriptions and words than authors I often read. But that makes this book even better - it's fresh and new, and the descriptions will stay with you long after you put the book down. I hope the rest of the OBOB season is this awesome! 5 paws!

The Many Meanings of Meilan, by Andrea Wang

    Meilan is a middle school Taiwanese-American living in Boston with her extended family when a bedtime story that she tells her niece one night turns the family into a quarreling clan. The infighting escalates and continues for months, resulting in a move across the country for Meilan, her parents and her grandfather. In their new town in Ohio, Meilan really struggles to find herself among mostly White classmates and far from her best friend, her old schoolmates and the rest of her family.

    This first middle grade novel by author Wang has a lot of really good themes in it, the strongest of which includes identity, especially where race is concerned. Meilan finds that in her new town most people don't know a lot about other people or cultures, certainly not hers, and as she tries to navigate all of the negativity that that ignorance brings, she has to find sources of strength within, rethinking events and memories - even past relationships - to discover herself.

    

    There is a lot to like about this book, but I just couldn't get super excited about it. There were a few things that I felt Wang did that weakened the overall effect of what is a good story. For instance, she inserts a lot of Mandarin Chinese into the story, which makes sense as Meilan is pushed to learn her ancestral language by her parents. But she inserts it so often that it took away from the flow of the story for me. She also uses words that I don't think Meilan would use, such as when she's describing a certain food her parents enjoy but not easy to find in Ohio. In Meilan's narration, she describes the food as "gelatinous"...which sounds like it came straight from the dictionary, not a 7th grader. 

    

    Perhaps these things are my own pug biases coming out. After all, The Many Meanings of Meilan is getting really good reviews in most places. And I love much about Meilan and this story. But I couldn't get past the few things, like those I mentioned, that seemed to be due to a new author. With a few books under her belt, I think Wang would have created a stronger story. This one is good, but not as good as it could have been. 3 paws and a wag!

Ghost, by Jason Reynolds

     The first book in author Jason Reynold's Track series, Ghost is the story of Castle Crenshaw, also known as Ghost. Living in a tough part of the city, not particularly successful in school, living with his single mom who is working full time and trying to get through night school classes to improve life for her and Ghost - all present challenges for our protagonist. He happens upon a local city track team in his neighborhood and ends up wanting to be part of that team. But does he have what it takes to work for it? And does he have the stamina to stick with it, and do it honestly? Can Ghost use a horrible event from his past to make his future better? Or will the past hold him back, heading towards a life much like his father is living now, a life of fighting...will Ghost run away from his past or towards his future?

    Reynolds is one of my all-time favorite authors, and if you've never experienced a Jason Reynolds book, do yourself a huge favor and read one today! This one is a great place to start, but you won't go wrong with any of his books. He writes excellent stories, realistic fiction, all with African-American characters and most with race as one of the themes of the story. Sort of a modern-day version of Walter Dean Myers. While I haven't read all four books in this series yet, I have read the first two, and they are really good, with Ghost being better than average, for sure! A pretty quick read, an excellent story...read this! 5 paws!

Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna, by Alda P. Dobbs

     It's 1913 in Mexico, and the revolution is in full swing. Petra Luna has lost both of her parents to the revolution, which was supposed to be a good thing for the people of Mexico, but for many it meant the destruction of their towns and the disappearances of many people. Petra is trying to lead her siblings and grandmother out of harm's way, and she learns that the only direction to go is north, to cross the border into the United States. But can she get there? Can she get her and her remaining family there safely? Or would it be better to stay and join the forces that are trying to win Mexico back for its people (and not the corrupt government and military, who once promised a better nation, but who clearly will not be making that happen for Petra or others like her). 

    Author Dobbs creates a tense historical fiction story which seems to parallel today's headlines in many ways. It reminded me a lot of The Only Road by Alexandra Diaz in the sense that young people are in charge of saving themselves, and perhaps others, in escaping bad situations in countries south of the U.S. but with no guarantee that getting to the border will mean being able to cross. Those questions are still relevant today, which makes books like Petra Luna more riveting. It also gives us a better idea of the story behind the lives of people trying ti make their lives better, here or other places in the world. And do we as a country have a responsibility to help other countries? Other people? Weren't we, or our ancestors, once in need of a better life as well?

    A good read, with a strong lead character in Petra, and some historical information as the background to her story. Mixed together this is a very good window into the lives of those trying to find a better world, but not without putting in the work to make it better. 5 paws!

The Girl Who Drew Butterflies, by Joyce Sidman

     Subtitled; How Maria Merian's Art Changed Science, Sidman's book chronicles the life work of Maria Merian, a young girl who turned her love and fascination of nature into one of the most famous works of insect research and art the world has seen! And she lived in the 1600 and 1700s! Back then, to be interested in things such as "summer birds", or butterflies, and their different stages (pupa and caterpillars) could get you labeled a witch...and killed! But Merian coupled her talent for drawing and painting along with her intense interest in insects - butterflies and moths, mostly - into a lifelong journey to seek out and catalog as many species of these beautiful creatures as possible, from various places in the world (another element of her amazing life that did not come easily...it's not like she could hop on a plane to another continent back then!). 

    I loved the idea of this book, and was curious to get my paws on it. Then, once I started it, it took a little time to really settle into the short chapters and the story, as fascinating as it is. The artwork is gorgeous, and by pushing myself a little to stick with the story, I found myself having a hard time putting it down! What a brave person Merian was, to follow this dream and turn it into something that has lasted for hundreds of years! If she could do it back in the 17th century, then surely we can follow our dreams, too, right?! This book won't take long to finish and is worth seeing for yourself. A really powerful story, even if butterflies and moths are not your "thing"! 5 paws!

Marshmallow Clouds: Two Poets at Play Among Figures of Speech, by Ted Kooser & Connie Wanek

     A picture book with wonderful illustrations! U.S. Poet Laureate Kooser and Wanek construct some fun poems using various word plays, showing how one might see something one way, while someone else may see it another...perhaps I see an empty nest perched on the branch of a tree, but you see a clown balancing a pie in a tree! The book of thirty poems is divided into four sections, one for each element (fire, water, air and earth). The poetry is simple in subject but really stays with you afterward, like a Shel Silverstein poem but with less silliness (or maybe just a different kind of silliness). If you enjoy words, poetry or otherwise, and are open to possibilities in the world around you, check this out! Our school library has a copy, just waiting for you to explore it! 4 paws!

The Ghoul of Windydown Vale, by Jake Burt

     A new book by author Jake Burt that is receiving rave reviews, so I couldn't wait to read it myself! The story of Copper, a teen living in a small mountain town that has been half-swallowed up by mud over the years. The only thing keeping it alive - and the rest of the world from overtaking it - is the ghoul that lives in the woods, the mud flats...everywhere people can't really go safely and easily. The ghoul is gruesome, scary, frightening, awful, terrifying, and rumor is that it has killed more than its share of people over the years. The ghoul keeps the town living in fear, but also protects the town from unwanted visitors.

    When a young girl is discovered, injured at the hands of the ghoul and missing her father (who it seems has been killed by the ghoul), some in town head out to finally kill the ghoul. But is the ghoul real? Does anyone know for sure? It seems some people in town know...but they aren't telling. And who is this girl? Is she really missing her father, and is he really dead at the hands of the ghoul? 

    Things are not what they seem in Windydown Vale. Even when I thought I had the whole story figured out early on, which I don't like to do because why finish the story if you already know what is going to happen, right? But I was wrong, deliciously so! Burt has crafted a fun tale that twists at the right moments and keeps you guessing until the end. For fans of Goosebumps books who are ready for another level of scary mystery, you have to read this! Be warned that the cadence of the writing takes a little getting used to. But it's worth your time to get a bit further into the story...at some point the cadence falls into place, and the story takes over....and it's a good one! 5 paws!

The Girl from the Sea, by Molly Knox Ostertag

     Another graphic novel - that's two in a row! - and another book on next year's OBOB list! The Girl from the Sea is the story of 15-year-old Morgan who lives on an island with her mom and annoying younger brother. Morgan has a small group of girl friends that she doesn't seem super connected to, on the one hand, but who also seem to be her support group (that storyline is a little blurry). Except they don't know that Morgan has a new friend, a girl from the sea named Keltie. Morgan dreams of being rescued from drowning by this beautiful mermaid character, and secretly understands she has desires to be romantic with this girl as well...Morgan is gay.

    Author/illustrator Ostertag creates a good story about teen romance that will appeal to anyone who enjoys YA or teen books with romance as a theme - not just those among the LGBTQ community. The artwork is simple but good, better than the overall storyline I'd say. The story itself isn't bad, it's just...okay. Teen angst, annoying family members and rules, an absent parent, friends who don't quite understand you...this story checks a lot of the boxes. The interest Morgan has in Keltie is a nice twist, but not the only one. Keltie is actually a seal who turns into human form because of true loves kiss - Morgan's. So there's that twist as well.

    It's nice to see OBOB including the graphic novel category in its titles again this year! And nice to have the LGBTQ community a more included part of the program, too (even though OBOB has rocked the boat in the past with other LGBTQ titles, which hasn't always been received well across the state of Oregon).The Girl from the Sea is a nice addition to the season't list of titles, but not an amazing choice. It has enough going for it to make it a 4 paw book, however, and if you'd like a new graphic novel to read, or a new romance book for teens, you could do worse than this one!

Dragon Hoops, by Gene Luan Yang

     I've been wanting to get my paws on this graphic novel for a while now, but it's a popular book and tough to find at the library...a sign of a good book, right? I finally got a copy, and even though I'll end up returning it a little late (but worth the late fees!), I couldn't return it until I finished it! I'm glad I did!

    On the surface, Dragon Hoops is a story about the graphic novelist Yang (American Born Chinese, Avatar, and other good graphic novels) and the boys basketball team at the school he taught at in northern California. But there is so much under the surface if this story! It's the story of several individuals, adults and teens, who are part of the basketball program as well as of the school's storied history - good and bad. It's a story about taking that step, sometimes a first step, but always a defining step, in one's life that changes the path a person seems to be on. I don't think I can describe it as well as Yang does in over 400 pages of really good storytelling and illustration. 

    In this book you'll get a really good, brief history of basketball in the U.S. and around the world (for the sports fan in you), as well as a story about a boy with Chinese heritage living in the U.S., and the stereotypes and expectations that come with that. You also get a story of a group of teens who have come together for one purpose, to play basketball, but who each have unique stories and pasts, showing that you can never tell what stories people carry with them that we don't often get a chance to see or hear. And this is a book about mistakes people make, and how far we do or should go to forgive those mistakes.

    This is a good book, but a long one, yet in graphic novel format it reads quickly. It's worth your time, as I know because I've finished it but can't keep thinking about it...for me a sign of an exceptional book. Yang is a good writer and artist. If you haven't ever read one of his books, this is a great start! 5 paws!

While I Was Away, by Waka T. Brown

     My second OBOB book from next season's list, and of course I chose a biography, right?! This is the author's story of growing up Japanese American, living with her family in Kansas. As a teenager, her parents decided that she didn't know her native language as well as she should, so they sent her, alone, to live with her grandmother in Japan for 5 months. Those months included summer, when she normally would not be in school in Kansas, but in Japan she was right back in the classroom - only now she was in Japanese school, where Japanese was the language everyone spoke, wrote and expected her to learn and know. She knew a little, of course, as her parents spoke Japanese as well as English. But Waka went from being somewhat of an outsider as an Asian American in Kansas, to being another kind of outsider as an American in Japan. 

    Author Brown tells a compelling story of these five months, ended with some information about some of the people we meet in the story after the book ends. Although it is an autobiography, it often reads like a fiction story. It is easy to read and keeps you turning pages. This book reminded me a bit of A Girl From Yamhill by Oregon's own Beverly Cleary in that the author's voice comes through nicely, although there were a few parts of the story that became a little slow, I thought. Overall, a nice OBOB choice for next season, and if you like books in the 921 section of the library, I think you'll like this, too! 4 paws!