by Salai Selvam ; adapted by Shruti Buddhavarapu ; illustrated by Tejubehan ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 10, 2019
A beautifully designed and expertly narrated introduction to childhood in the southern Indian countryside
An Indian mother’s tales of her mischievous rural childhood are almost too magical to believe.
In the intricate world woven by an 11-and-½-year-old child’s mother, bicycles pedal themselves, shadows become friendly ghosts, hyenas haunt the fields, and insects predict the weather. Amma’s descriptions of her exploits in the southern Indian village where she grew up walk a thin line between fact and fiction, and the narrator is never quite sure what is truth and what is exaggeration. Only one thing is certain: Whether she is plucking feathers off of a live peacock or throwing herself into a river before she knows how to properly swim, Amma’s courage and curiosity are the driving forces behind all of her fantastical adventures. By the end, the narrator wishes that they, too, lived in a place as interesting as Amma’s village. The book is written as a dialogue between a mother and child, and its conversational tone makes it suitable for both read-alouds and independent reading. The narrator’s voice is charming, as are the pen-and-ink illustrations and the cleverly designed text, which uses various fonts to emphasize key words in the narrative. Amma’s fearless and empowered personality is particularly refreshing to read, as is the book’s portrayal of rural India as a fascinating place bursting with possibility instead of an impoverished backwater in need of Western intervention.
A beautifully designed and expertly narrated introduction to childhood in the southern Indian countryside . (Fiction. 10-12)Pub Date: June 10, 2019
ISBN: 978-81-934485-1-9
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Tara Publishing
Review Posted Online: March 16, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2019
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by Kwame Alexander ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 5, 2016
A satisfying, winning read.
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Nick Hall is a bright eighth-grader who would rather do anything other than pay attention in class.
Instead he daydreams about soccer, a girl he likes, and an upcoming soccer tournament. His linguistics-professor father carefully watches his educational progress, requiring extra reading and word study, much to Nick’s chagrin and protest. Fortunately, his best friend, Coby, shares his passion for soccer—and, sadly, the unwanted attention of twin bullies in their school. Nick senses something is going on with his parents, but their announcement that they are separating is an unexpected blow: “it’s like a bombshell / drops / right in the center / of your heart / and it splatters / all across your life.” The stress leads to counseling, and his life is further complicated by injury and emergency surgery. His soccer dream derailed, Nick turns to the books he has avoided and finds more than he expected. Alexander’s highly anticipated follow-up to Newbery-winning The Crossover is a reflective narrative, with little of the first book’s explosive energy. What the mostly free-verse novel does have is a likable protagonist, great wordplay, solid teen and adult secondary characters, and a clear picture of the challenges young people face when self-identity clashes with parental expectations. The soccer scenes are vivid and will make readers wish for more, but the depiction of Nick as he unlocks his inner reader is smooth and believable.
A satisfying, winning read. (Fiction. 10-12)Pub Date: April 5, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-544-57098-6
Page Count: 320
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: Jan. 8, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2016
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by Kwame Alexander & Deanna Nikaido ; illustrated by Melissa Sweet
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by Kwame Alexander ; illustrated by Dare Coulter
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by Marion Jensen ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 20, 2015
Like its predecessor, a satisfying, Incredibles-style mix of awesome exploits and common family issues.
Deprived of superpowers in the previous episode (Almost Super, 2014), can the Bailey and Johnson clans put aside their squabbles to tackle their common nemesis, the Joneses?
Determined to prove that they have the mettle to join their parents and relatives in fighting crime, 13-year-old Rafter Bailey, his little brother, Benny, and erstwhile rival Juanita Johnson (definitely the brains of the trio) kick off their own search for the Joneses’ secret hideout. Little do they suspect that those clever villains have planted a ringer in their very midst. Sabotage and other distractions ensue, until Juanita’s sudden disappearance sharpens not only the urgency of the search, but also Rafter’s guilt for being a poor friend. The kidnapping turns out to be a crucial mistake for the bad guys, however, as resourceful Juanita gets off a call for help that both brings the Baileys and Johnsons together for a collective rescue operation and, amid much breakage of glass and heroic feats of derring-do, foils the evil schemes of scenery-chewing archfiend October Jones. Rafter makes a likable narrator, emotionally open and determined to be both a good superhero and a good friend.
Like its predecessor, a satisfying, Incredibles-style mix of awesome exploits and common family issues. (Fantasy. 10-12)Pub Date: Jan. 20, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-06-220958-0
Page Count: 256
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Sept. 30, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2014
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