An empowering and empathetic jumping-off point for important conversations about addiction and recovery.
A family comes to terms with, and overcomes, a parent’s addiction.
“My life turned upside down after Mom’s car accident,” notes Claire. After a doctor prescribes Mom pain pills, things change; sometimes she’s unusually boisterous, but other times she withdraws to her bedroom. Claire tries pitching in as Mom neglects household chores; younger brother Emmett stops bathing and damages Mom’s favorite scarf. When Mom doesn’t wake up one day, Claire calls 911. Mom soon begins going to an addiction recovery clinic, while Claire and Emmett attend a kids’ group. By story’s end, Claire realizes that nobody is perfect and that many other children are dealing with similar issues. The co-authors sensitively unpack complex feelings and dynamics, underscoring that addiction doesn’t make someone a bad person, that the path to rehabilitation can be bumpy, and that drug issues are far more common than children might realize. Tan’s artwork is emotionally charged, reinforcing the theme of support as Claire looks after Emmett and their mom and tries to be there for a similarly troubled classmate. A dramatic nighttime scene of Claire’s mother releasing pills from a curled fist contrasts effectively against the otherwise mostly bright palette, which also dims to subdued colors during more difficult scenes. Robust backmatter includes information for educators and caregivers, including a sample dialogue for discussing the story. The protagonists are pale-skinned.
An empowering and empathetic jumping-off point for important conversations about addiction and recovery. (further information, endnotes) (Picture book. 6-9)Pub Date: Oct. 7, 2025
ISBN: 9781433847547
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Magination/American Psychological Association
Review Posted Online: Aug. 16, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
This outing lacks the sophistication of such category standards as Clementine; here’s hoping English amps things up for...
A gentle voice and familiar pitfalls characterize this tale of a boy navigating the risky road to responsibility.
Gavin is new to his neighborhood and Carver Elementary. He likes his new friend, Richard, and has a typically contentious relationship with his older sister, Danielle. When Gavin’s desire to impress Richard sets off a disastrous chain of events, the boy struggles to evade responsibility for his actions. “After all, it isn’t his fault that Danielle’s snow globe got broken. Sure, he shouldn’t have been in her room—but then, she shouldn’t be keeping candy in her room to tempt him. Anybody would be tempted. Anybody!” opines Gavin once he learns the punishment for his crime. While Gavin has a charming Everyboy quality, and his aversion to Aunt Myrtle’s yapping little dog rings true, little about Gavin distinguishes him from other trouble-prone protagonists. He is, regrettably, forgettable. Coretta Scott King Honor winner English (Francie, 1999) is a teacher whose storytelling usually benefits from her day job. Unfortunately, the pizzazz of classroom chaos is largely absent from this series opener.
This outing lacks the sophistication of such category standards as Clementine; here’s hoping English amps things up for subsequent volumes. (Fiction. 6-9)Pub Date: Dec. 17, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-547-97044-8
Page Count: 128
Publisher: Clarion Books
Review Posted Online: Oct. 1, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
It’s hard to argue with success, but guides that actually do the math will be more useful to budding capitalists.
How to raise money for a coveted poster: put your friends to work!
John, founder of the FUBU fashion line and a Shark Tank venture capitalist, offers a self-referential blueprint for financial success. Having only half of the $10 he needs for a Minka J poster, Daymond forks over $1 to buy a plain T-shirt, paints a picture of the pop star on it, sells it for $5, and uses all of his cash to buy nine more shirts. Then he recruits three friends to decorate them with his design and help sell them for an unspecified amount (from a conveniently free and empty street-fair booth) until they’re gone. The enterprising entrepreneur reimburses himself for the shirts and splits the remaining proceeds, which leaves him with enough for that poster as well as a “brand-new business book,” while his friends express other fiscal strategies: saving their share, spending it all on new art supplies, or donating part and buying a (math) book with the rest. (In a closing summation, the author also suggests investing in stocks, bonds, or cryptocurrency.) Though Miles cranks up the visual energy in her sparsely detailed illustrations by incorporating bright colors and lots of greenbacks, the actual advice feels a bit vague. Daymond is Black; most of the cast are people of color. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
It’s hard to argue with success, but guides that actually do the math will be more useful to budding capitalists. (Picture book. 7-9)Pub Date: March 21, 2023
ISBN: 978-0-593-56727-2
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: Dec. 13, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2023
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