by Andrew Norriss ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 25, 2015
An appealing afterlife account with an important message.
A phantom friend makes a life-changing difference in the lives of three English middle schoolers.
Bullied at their schools and depressed by their differences, Francis’, Andi’s, and Roland's lives change when they meet Jessica, a ghost still stuck in the everyday. Francis is seriously interested in fashion and design; he’s a gifted seamster. Body-building Andi has a black belt in karate; she’s short, squat, and looks like a boy. Video gamer Roland is huge and hugely fat. As an omniscient narrator, Norriss adroitly brings these kids together, gradually reveals what they have in common, and demonstrates the power of friendship. Readers will be sucked into the story by their admiration of Jessica, who can move through walls, appear wherever she wants (during the day), and change her clothing to match anything she sees and likes. By the time the idea of suicide is addressed directly, they’ll be thoroughly engaged. Even the addition of an adult character, a counselor who knows the right things to say and do to talk a fourth young teen down from a high wall, doesn’t interrupt the flow of this well-crafted friendship story. Bullying and clinical depression go together often enough to make this title useful for book discussions as well as private readings. First published in England as Jessica’s Ghost, this will be equally relevant to American readers.
An appealing afterlife account with an important message. (Fiction. 10-15)Pub Date: Aug. 25, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-545-85186-2
Page Count: 240
Publisher: David Fickling/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: April 28, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2015
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by Andrew Norriss & illustrated by Hannah Shaw
by Tae Keller ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 28, 2020
Longing—for connection, for family, for a voice—roars to life with just a touch of magic.
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A young girl bargaining for the health of her grandmother discovers both her family’s past and the strength of her own voice.
For many years, Lily’s Korean grandmother, Halmoni, has shared her Asian wisdom and healing powers with her predominantly White community. When Lily, her sister, Sam—both biracial, Korean and White—and their widowed mom move in with Halmoni to be close with her as she ages, Lily begins to see a magical tiger. What were previously bedtime stories become dangerously prophetic, as Lily begins to piece together fact from fiction. There is no need for prior knowledge of Korean folktales, although a traditional Korean myth propels the story forward. From the tiger, Lily learns that Halmoni has bottled up the hard stories of her past to keep sadness at bay. Lily makes a deal with the tiger to heal her grandmother by releasing those stories. What she comes to realize is that healing doesn’t mean health and that Halmoni is not the only one in need of the power of storytelling. Interesting supporting characters are fully developed but used sparingly to keep the focus on the simple yet suspenseful plot. Keller infuses this tale, which explores both the end of life and coming-of-age, with a sensitive examination of immigration issues and the complexity of home. It is at one and the same time completely American and thoroughly informed by Korean culture.
Longing—for connection, for family, for a voice—roars to life with just a touch of magic. (Fiction. 10-14)Pub Date: Jan. 28, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-5247-1570-0
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: Sept. 28, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2019
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by Tae Keller ; illustrated by Geraldine Rodríguez
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by Tae Keller ; illustrated by Geraldine Rodríguez
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by Tae Keller ; illustrated by Geraldine Rodríguez
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by Crystal Allen ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 22, 2011
This stands out for its unusual setting and smooth integration of friendship and family concerns. (Fiction. 10-14)
Sucked into "business" with a crooked classmate, bowling fanatic Lamar Washington makes good money faking his skills, but when a disruptive prank reveals his new friend Billy’s duplicity, he realizes how wrong it was to aim to be “the smoothest baddest dude” in Coffin, Ind.
This refreshing first novel is told in the first person with plenty of snappy dialogue by a smart African-American middle-schooler whose asthma has kept him out of the usual sports and whose older brother, a basketball star, consistently taunts him. Lamar’s new friendship threatens both a longstanding one and a promising new relationship with a girl. Tension mounts as Lamar is drawn further into an unsavory gambling world, realizing that his cheating is wrong but thrilled to have the cash to buy a Bubba Sanders bowling ball. A final, seriously physical fight with his brother leads to climactic arrests. The drab rigidity of Camp Turnaround, where Billy is incarcerated, contrasts with the excitement of the bowling alley Lamar loves. His grounding and community service seem appropriate. His understanding of the consequences of his prank fire alarm, both for his brother and for his basketball-mad small town, comes slowly and realistically, and the solution of his family issues is satisfying.
This stands out for its unusual setting and smooth integration of friendship and family concerns. (Fiction. 10-14)Pub Date: Feb. 22, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-06-199272-8
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Jan. 10, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2011
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by Crystal Allen ; illustrated by Eda Kaban
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