The Mona Lisa Vanishes, by Nicholas Day

     The first book for teens by author Nicholas Day, and if you like historical fiction, even just a little bit, you'll be entertained by this one! The Mona Lisa Vanishes tells the story of one of the most famous paintings in the world, the painting of Mona Lisa. Painted way back in the 1500s, the painting was stolen in 1911. At the time, it wasn't a very famous painting at all. In fact, it was described as a bit boring. But then it was stolen, and would become something so much bigger than it had ever been...very, very famous!

    Day jumps back and forth, from the making of the painting - the artist, Leonardo da Vinci, the believed model - to the theft from the Louvre in France and the subsequent investigation. It took years to find the thief, and even when he turned himself in, people didn't believe he was the thief! It is a fun, fascinating tale, one most of you will really enjoy! And, like all good historical fiction, you'll learn a lot along the way!

    Fans of my blog know I love non-fiction and historical fiction writer Steve Sheinkin. Day isn't quite at that supreme level of storytelling - yet! - but if he continues on this trajectory (or path), he might be. He is certainly someone I will watch and read again in the future. Winner of the Robert F. Sibert Medal for the best informational book...give this book a try - it's a page turner! 5 paws!

Watercress, by Andrea Wang & Jason Chin

     Another picture book that I've been trying to get my paws on, and I'm so glad I did! Winner of the Caldecott Medal, a Newbery Honor Award winner and Picture Book Award Winner from the Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association, Watercress tells a story of change, and movement, and learning to see things from other people's perspective. 

    In this story, author Wang tells about growing up in Ohio to Chinese immigrant parents. She is embarrassed when her parents spot some watercress plants on the side of the road and pull over to gather it. She's afraid she'll be seen standing in a ditch, ankle deep in water, picking plants out of the ground. What she doesn't realize is how this plant has meaning to her parents, and to their experiences growing up during a famine. Two cultures collide, and the girl narrator is struggling to navigate both, as many people do. 

    Artist Chin beautifully illustrates this book with watercolors and he captures the era as well as the emotions and feelings of the characters on every page. This is another wonderful book that I recommend! Don't miss out on such great art and story because of the picture book format..."everybody" books are not just for small children, they are for everybody! Even you! 5 paws!

We Are Water Protectors, by Carole Lindstrom & Michaela Goade

     This wonderful picture book was published in 2020, but it's taken me a while to finally get a copy...not for lack of trying! This is a very popular book, and with good reason! Winner of the Caldecott Medal means this book is exceptional in its illustrations. Artist Goade lives in Alaska and is a member of the Tlingit tribe, which makes her a great choice to illustrate this book about protecting the Earth.

    Author Lindstrom tells a powerful story of earth and all of its important resources, especially, in this case, water. 

                    "Water is the first medicine. It affects and connects us all..."

    This story is told in few words, relative to most chapter books you and I read in middle school, which makes it better, in my opinion. It briefly describes the "black snake" that will someday come and threaten all of the water in the world, and how we all must fight against that happening. The book also describes how that native story is coming to pass in today's world, all around the world, including in the United States. The book implores and empowers us to be stewards for our planet, which means being strong voices in favor of doing what is right and for those without a voice. We all share the water on Earth, and when it is gone (or no longer clean enough to drink), we will disappear like the dinosaurs.

    This picture book is powerful, beautiful and important. Read it. Then read it again. 5 paws!

War Stories, by Gordon Korman

     Sometimes, when I don't know what to read next, I reach back and grab a great Gordon Korman book! It's like visiting a friend you haven't talked to in a while! When my human first started his college program to become a librarian, Korman was on a book tour and presented at a school nearby. He was SO funny and interesting, and his books are the same. By now he has written way over 60 books, and although I've only read 5 or 6 of them, I've enjoyed every single one...that is some talent!

    War Stories is told by Trevor, who is infatuated (or very, very interested in) World War 2. His great grandfather, Jacob, actually fought in that war, and is being honored in France for helping to free a village from the Nazi's. Trevor and his dad decide that they will make the trip to France with Jacob, which makes Trevor super excited! Along the way, Jacob recounts his time in the service, from boot camp until his company landed in Normandy to chase out the German troops. But as the story unfolds, Trevor begins to realize that he has never been told the entire story...which isn't as glamorous at it first sounded.

    Korman does not write great literature that will be remembered for centuries, probably, but he is a first-rate story teller! I have never read a bad Korman book. War Stories is very good, not terribly complicated or challenging to follow or read, but you'll find yourself turning pages as fast as you can read them! He simply tells a wonderful story, every time! If you have any interest in World War 2, or wars in general, this is a good book to read. I found it to be very fair in portraying all sides of a war. If you like it, consider reading Schooled, No More Dead Dogs, or Restart, some of my favorite Korman books to date. You won't be disappointed! 4 paws and a wag!

Mid-Air, by Alicia D. Williams

     The second release by the author of Genesis Begins Again (5 paws, August 2021), and another really good story! Williams's sophomore (which means her second) release, Mid-Air,  is written in verse, which is a favorite of mine (so already points for that), and she is solid at creating meaningful, realistic characters that become "you", the reader. 

    Main character Isaiah takes us through the summer when one of his best friends is killed, and Isaiah believes he could have prevented it. The world around him seems to be telling him to be tougher, while he is trying to figure out who he really is and how to be that person, not just at home in his closet, but with everyone all the time. World records, rock music, bikes and boards, plants...Williams reveals a unique, sensitive, smart young man to us, the reader, with style and voice. It took a little while for this book to come out, but worth the wait! Can't wait to see what she writes next! While you wait, read this! 5 paws!

 

Amber & Clay, by Laura Amy Schlitz

     The latest release by author Schlitz, Amber & Clay tells the story of two young people, very different one from the other, both living in Ancient Greece with all of the philosophers, gods and goddesses, and "ringed by the restless sea." Rhaskos is a slave boy, worth no more than clay. Melisto is a spoiled young girl who was born into money, and is as precious as amber, but with her own strong ideas and will. Their stories are told mostly in verse, and author Schlitz is truly masterful with her words (if you've never read Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! try it and you'll understand what I mean). Tying their stories together are blurbs about actual ancient Greek artifacts, which Schlitz weaves into the story much like Ransom Riggs does with photographs in his Peculiar Children series.

    Schlitz writes absolutely beautifully, and if you as a reader are willing to give this long book (over 500 pages, but written mostly in prose) the time, you will find yourself rewarded by writing not seen in most books, I believe. On the other hand, if you don't have that level of patience, as I sometimes lack, you might find yourself not finishing this story, or perhaps not even choosing it at all. I will admit I read the first 100 pages or so, and appreciated that I was reading some really exceptional writing, but I found myself wanting to finish so that I could read the next book on my ever-growing stack of books. 

    Bottom line is, this is an exceptionally written book, but it won't appeal to everyone. If you are a fan of Greek mythology or history, this may be your next favorite book! If you are looking to be entertained, even with Greek backgrounds (such as Percy Jackson), this may not hold you all the way until the end. I can appreciate her above-average writing talent, but this one I didn't have the patience to finish. 3 paws (and a wag for the writing)!

Stay Dead, by April Henry

     Stay Dead. Who doesn't want to read a book with THAT as the title?!? The latest release by murder mystery writer April Henry is exactly what you would expect from her; a page turning book with strong girl characters, twists and turns, and a few people getting killed, of course! Stay Dead is the story of Milan, daughter of two politician parents, both of whom are victims of suspicious deaths, one not long after the other. Milan isn't aware of any connections between the two, except for her painful losses, until she is suddenly the one being hunted. The hunter is also a strong female character, which gives this book a cool twist - one of many. 

    One part Hatchet (surviving in the wilderness), one part Hoot (environmental destruction needing to be corrected), and all April Henry equals a very good story! If you've ever read Henry's books, you'll know exactly what you're in for. If you haven't, this is as good a place to start as any. Her writing won't blow you out of the water, but I guarantee you won't be able to put this down (and if you do, you'll be thinking about when you can pick it up again)! Not a 5 paw book, but Henry is almost always a strong 4 paws!

This Book Won't Burn, by Samira Ahmed

     From the wonderful author who brought us Internment and Love, Hate and Other Filters, This Book Won't Burn is a good story that centers around book challenges and bans. According to the American Library Association, last year there were more book challenges and bans in the United States than any other year previously. What that means is that more people (or people being more organized) are working harder trying to determine what you and I can and cannot read, using the explanation that certain books are not "good" for us and should not be available. This dog agrees that not every book is right for every reader, and that parents and guardians should have a say in what their own kids and teens are reading (just like they should have a say in what kids eat, view on screens, etc.). However, more and more there are people wanting to tell ALL of us what is good for us, and what we should not be able to read (or eat, or view). I don't believe this is right, or a good direction for our society to go.

    Author Ahmed uses her main character Noor to tell the story of book bans happening in her school. She moves from a big city to a small town with her sister and mom after her father abandons the family, and this particular small town has adults who are organized in removing library books from the high school library shelves, based on what this small group feels is acceptable for teens to be reading. Because Noor is a high school senior, there is a strong romantic aspect of the book, as she tries to navigate not just the book bans but also her feelings for not one - but two - different boys! One comes from an Indian family, like she does, and one is the son of the man who is leading the community book ban movement.

    Ahmed is a really good storyteller, if you are not familiar with her writing. This Book Won't Burn is written more for older middle grade and high school readers, but there isn't anything too strong if you wanted to read this and weren't quite at 8th grade yet (some strong language, but not pervasive and not gratuitous). The message she is trying to get across to the reader in this story is very relevant and timely, and thus pretty important. This is a slightly more mature version of A.S. King's Attack of the Black Rectangles, which is also good but written for an earlier middle grade audience.

    I love the message of this story, and even though I also love a good romantic story, the middle of this book lags a little as the romance completely takes over the story, and the censorship storyline disappears for a while. As a complete book, I recommend this. I especially recommend this to anyone interested in understanding the seriousness of censorship, which is what book banning is. It is happening more and more across the country, and will need your voice to help stop that trend. This book will give you a lot of good information on both sides of the book censorship debate, and for that I recommend it even more. Not quite 5 paws, but definitely 4 paws and a wag!

And Then, BOOM! by Lisa Fipps

     The second book by Fipps, the author of highly acclaimed Starfish, and an equally good release! And Then, BOOM! is the story of young Joe, whose mother has a tendency to get "the itch", when she disappears from home for hours, days...sometimes weeks at a time. In those instances, Joe is being raised by his Grandmum, but they struggle to make ends meet financially, and soon find themselves facing hunger and homelessness. 

    Like Starfish, Fipps writes this book in verse, which is really powerful and also nice for those of you who may get overwhelmed, or even bored, with regular chapter books. I've always had an admiration for writers who write books in verse, as it seems more difficult - not less - the tell a good story using less words rather than more. Authors like Karen Hesse, Sharon Creech and Kwame Alexander are some of my favorite authors who use verse expertly!

    There is one big event in And Then, BOOM! that was a bit tough to believe, and I think you'll know it when you get to it. But outside of that one hiccup, I really liked Joe and his story. Fipps writes this book from experience, just like her first, and her voice really comes through her characters very strongly. This book will make you feel for Joe - and anyone, including maybe you - who are or have had to survive poverty, in its many forms. You never know what a person's story is when you meet them, or simply pass them in your day-to-day life. It's good to remember that, and to show kindness whenever and to whomever you can. 4 paws!

Maelstrom; A Prince of Evil, by Lorian Merriman

     The debut graphic novel by the creator of the online sci-fi web comic The Otherknown. I discovered Maelstrom: A Prince of Evil on a recent visit to my public library (where I find my next great read when school is n summer break), wanting a graphic novel after finishing my last book, and also wanting something brand new that I knew nothing about.

    What a treat this was, and I am so happy that I chose this book! Colorful, fun, funny, dramatic, with exceptional artwork and a really cute, albeit not original, storyline. Maelstrom is the son of the evil queen who took over the throne and rules with terrible magic and power. Prince Maelstrom, however, gets bored of being the evil prince, and falls into favor with a group of people forming a resistance to topple the queen and return the land to peace once more. But is Prince Maelstrom who he says he is? Does he really want to help move his mother from the throne? 

    Merriman's Maelstrom is full of great characters, beautiful art, dragons, magic, sword fighting - a real medieval tale in graphic novel format. At times it reminded me of Shrek for it's funny one-liners and likeable characters. Never boring and an easy to follow plot (mostly) make this one for any of you graphic novel fans! I will recommend this to my human so that he can add it to the River City library collection. 4 paws!