children’s chapter – Page 2

Home Away From Home by Cynthia Lord

4.5 stars Middle School Realistic Fiction

Sometimes life is not all about yourself. This is something that Mia learns in this middle school which captured my heart. Mia’s parents have divorced, and Mia is having a hard time finding her place. Her father has remarried, and they have a new baby while her mother and current boyfriend have decided that they’re going to move in together. Mia likes Scott and was okay with them moving in together until she found out that they would be selling her childhood home and they’d all be moving into a new home together. This was too much change for Mia and their yearly mother-daughter visit to grandma’s is now just going to be a month-long visit for Mia. Mom and Scott can deal with the house details while Mia has grandma’s attention all to herself.

Mia has made plans for this visit with grandma, after all she’s been coming here for years. Grandma has a new cat which Mia can handle but there’s another addition that Mia feels is invading her space. This was supposed to be grandma and Mia’s time – a month of exclusive grandma time and now, there’s Cayman. This neighbor boy seems to know too much about Mia’s grandma and her life. Mia is finding him annoying, and I find myself laughing at her as he moseys his way onto the scene. There are these emotions that Mia is having, when Cayman is present and when he is gone. They’re not romantic but Mia is confused about this boy who has popped up in her life. I like Cayman’s attitude and Mia’s confusion causes quite the drama she wasn’t looking for.

It’s a fun and entertaining read. I enjoyed how openly and honestly the emotions were portrayed in the book and I think young readers will be able to relate to the characters. This was an Iowa Children’s Choice Award Book 2024-2025. 4.5 stars.

““That’s all you can say?” Cayman snapped. “I’m telling you that it upset my mom and you want nosy details? Why? So you can blame her, too? You don’t understand anything!” He started running away from me up the path.”

Thirst by Varsha Bajaj

5 stars Middle School Realistic Fiction

I loved, loved this book. Oh, the things that we take for granted. Minni and her family soon realize how much their Ma did for them when she falls ill and decides to move in with relatives who can tend to her until she’s recovered.

Water was the main focus of this book, but I thought there were many other great themes captured within its pages. Minni and her family live in the slums and someone must wake up early to gather water. Grabbing vessels to carry water back to their living quarters, families wait in line to fill from a common tap outside, for their daily water. If you wait too long, you might not get any water, or it might take a long time if the water pressure gets too low. It’s like a social event but it’s not really a pleasant one. Ma usually handled this job each morning. Once back home, that water must be boiled to make it safe for consumption and this is where the problem started for Ma.

While Ma is away, she asks Minni to take over her job, so she does not lose it. Minni knows her family depends on that money and hopefully, Ma won’t be gone that long, so Minni takes on the job after school. Sounds quite eventful for such a young child. Minni the maid.

Tending school full-time, working as a maid part-time after school and helping around the house when she gets home, Minni days are full. Oh wait, she must also get water early in the morning, once the tap has been turned on. Minni is a terrific student showing great potential so keeping up her studies is high on the list. When Minni starts the job, it doesn’t seem fair when the individuals living in the luxury apartment building have fresh, clean water flowing out their taps, right inside their apartments! They don’t even have to boil it! They can drink immediately from the tap! Ma has learned she must have proper behavior while working but Minni, she hasn’t yet. It’s a hard reality to understand but Minni must, if she is to keep her Ma’s job.

I liked how Minni’s community came together to help her when they realized how much she was trying to juggle. Seeing life through Minni’s eyes, we get to see the inconsistencies and how Minni tries to cope with them. This was a fabulous read and one of Iowa’s Children Choice Award Books for 2024-2025. 5 stars

The Circuit Graphic Novel by Francisco Jimenez

5 stas Middle School Graphic Novel

This was to be their ticket out of poverty. Papa’s eyes sparkled with excitement while his brother was thrilled to be leaving Mexico, it was too much work just to survive there. Roberto wanted what the states had to offer, their cousin had filled their heads with everything that Roberto had dreamt about, he was tired of just surviving. Panchito looked forward to this new adventure.

His parents planned out the trip, all the details finalized. The train ride to California was exciting and uneventful. Their parents knew exactly where to enter the state of California, as the family secretly climbed under a fence undetected. In California, their ride was waiting for them, so things were going according to plan. It was now time to find the camp which would be their new home. A camp which was the home to many and would keep them safe, for now.

I really enjoyed reading this graphic novel as it gave an excellent account of how this young boy’s life was. As this migrant family works, the author shows the reader the struggles that they faced and the relationships that they created. It was interesting how they also viewed the United States. An eye-opening read. The illustrations were nicely down and the text boxes were not too busy. 5 stars

Pizza and Taco: Super-Awesome Comic! by Stephen Shaskan

5 stars Children’s Graphic Novel

There’s been at least one time in your life that you’d like to be someone different whether that person is real or fictional. Pizza and Taco have decided to act on this and create a graphic novel together.

They believe that they would make great fictional superheroes, so the besties start planning out how to accomplish this goal together.

It truly is a fun, creative plan. Pizza is good at writing so he’ll be writing the story and with Taco’s great handwriting and artistic ability, Taco will oversee the graphics. It’s funny as they work all day separately writing/sketching and when they come together to discuss their ideas, the reactions they get from one another. Will Taco Awesome and Super Slice ever make it past the preview stage? Could they have done this a different way to be successful? Through it all, they did come up with some Rules for Working Together: 1. Listen 2. Be Positive 3. Compromise

My grandchildren enjoy this book as they like how Pizza and Taco create their superhero and how they argue back and forth but they’re still friends. They’re able to express themselves, be heard, and still have a friend at the end of the book.

I love the illustrations and how everything is not rosy. There is conflict and differences which they work out without a bunch of drama. 5 stars

Pizza and Taco: Rock Out! by Stephen Shaskan

5 stars Children’s Graphic Novel

How hard is it to create your own band? Well, Taco and Pizza soon find out. After discussing their favorite bands: Beetles, Jo-Jo’s, Jam Jett, and Food Fighters, they decided to create their own band because that would be so cool!

They each have their own vision of what they should sound/look like, the besties must now make some comprises as they get to work planning and putting their new group together. I love the creativity behind this book as there are lots of funny moments as the duo discovers that this new dream of theirs is harder than they imagined.

Pizza will be strumming the guitar and Taco really wants to play the tambourine in their new band. A calm Taco is portrayed rocking it out, with colorful strings hanging off his instrument as he moves to the music. Pizza feels that Taco should take it up a notch and hammer down on some drums in their band and the contrast between these two pictures is funny. From deciding what they should call their band to recruiting other band members, and deciding how to move forward, it’s obvious that they need to comprise. Pizza needs to let Taco help make some of the decisions as this is a group decision.

The Best Friend’s Dance makes an appearance as they needed some music to perform. After they did some “think, think, think” to come up with some lyrics to write and coming up empty, they put their famous dance to music. The reaction from their potential band members wasn’t what they hoped but the besties thought it was “awesome!” “yaaas!” and that keeps their energy pumped. Who thought putting a band together would be this much work?

Super fun series that keep my grandchildren and I laughing as we read each book. We’ve read each book in this series so many times, my preschool grandchildren know each story by heart, and they tell me if I am missing a word when I read them out loud to them. You don’t really need to read them in order, but you’ll appreciate them more, if you do. They sometimes relate to the previous stories in the sequential books but for the most part, you’ll be able to follow the story. 5 stars

Pizza and Taco: Too Cool for School by Stephen Shaskan

5 stars Children’s Graphic Novel

I think everyone can relate to this book. This book is another one of my favorites in this series. Just thinking about it makes me laugh! Were you one of the cool kids in school or not? Did you know a cool kid? How did you feel about them? This book is about being cool and well, are the cool kids really cool or not?

It’s the first day of school and Pizza is excited!! He has the Freddy the Fire Truck backpack with Super Siren sounds which he feels will make him the coolest kid at school. Whoops, that’s wrong. Since Taco is his friend, Taco believes Pizza’s backpack will make them BOTH the coolest kids at school.

There’s excitement on the playground before school and ha, Pizza thinks the other kids heard about his backpack and they’re all excited about it. I love this. Isn’t that how kids feel? Honestly, the besties find out there is a new kid at school, a cool kid named B.L.T. these initials get Pizza going as he wants some initials too but…….not appropriate for Pizza.

As the friends meet the new student, Cheeseburger joins in as they discuss Pizza’s new backpack. Wow, lots of emotions here as the friends are confused over what is cool and what is not.

Awed by the new student and his “coolness” they become like sheep and follow him throughout the day being “cool”. I liked how Pizza and Taco tried to change their image and be cool and how they struggled to maintain it.

At the end of the day, they realized things about themselves and B.L.T., that put things into perspective.

A super cute book with some great life lessons in it. I love all the different text fonts used throughout the book and the illustrations were fantastic. The story is one that most individuals can relate to, on one level or another. Great puns and a book that will leave you smiling. 5+ stars

Pizza and Taco: Best Party Ever! by Stephen Shaskan

5 stars Children’s Graphic Novel

I’m not sure who enjoys these books more, my grandchildren or me? Every time I read one of these books, which is every weekday, they make me laugh. We have purchased every book in this series and are awaiting the new book this fall. Pizza and Taco are great friends who have their moments together but, in the end, they realize how much they like each other, and they know that’s what really matters. There’s a life lesson squeezed into each book but if you’re not looking for it, you just might miss it.

In Pizza and Taco’s Best Party Ever, the friends are bored and don’t have anything to do. They “think, think, think” about some options but nothing ends up being fun until the idea of having a party, pops into their minds, at the same time. Of course, Taco is ready to make the list of what they need, so with Pizza’s pen and Taco’s paper, they get down to work planning the perfect party.

If you’ve read the other books in the series, you will pick up on the reference to some of their comments in this book but if you haven’t, you’re not lost as the illustrations and the text will fill you in. With their list complete, it’s time to get working on the party!

I think this is one of my favorites in this series. They had planned their party out, they thought they had planned every detail of their party, yet it seems like everything started to crumble as they tried to execute their plans. It was supposed to be “awesome!” “yaaas!” but “ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!” their plans are met with disaster. The look on their faces was hilarious!

I loved how they pushed themselves through, repeatedly, trying to make the best of the situation just to get through the party. They’re trying to make the party fun and entertaining even though their plans are history.

With short chapters, a text that’s easy to follow and a great storyline, these stories are fun to read and are a great book for beginner readers. The illustrations are bright, colorful, and busy but aren’t bursting with unnecessary details. Other readers will enjoy them for the humor and illustrations. A great series that my grandchildren and I really enjoy.

School Trip by Jerry Craft

4.5 stars Middle School Graphic Novel

They’re off to Paris! If you liked the first two graphic novels by Jerry Craft, you’ll want to pick up book three in this series, as the group is now headed to Paris to close out their last year in junior high. You can also read this book as a stand alone as the author does give the reader some details about the characters to help you feel connected.

I enjoyed the variety of characters that were included in this book and their different walks of life. This diversity made the book more interesting, and entertaining. In junior high, there are those students who settle into groups (or packs) and then, there were those students who walk alone. Nothing changes as excitement fills the air. The teens are looking forward to their end-of-the-year trip. The tension and division that the classmates felt during the school year felt significate and factual but that soon changes as they begin to realize what’s really important.

The supportive staff are excited about being the tour guides but at the last minute, their plans are upended. So much for having things all planned out. I thought this twist of events was excellent as it put the adults on the same playing field as the students. As each group arrives at their destination, the unfamiliarity and the excitement of the situation affects everyone. It’s like their senses have come alive to embrace what’s in front of them.

As they walked the streets of Paris, this alternative was the best option for them. They saw Paris for what it was. From the bathrooms to how friendly everyone was, they realize many things about themselves and life. No longer was Paris just a city in a movie or a picture in a book, they were actually experiencing Paris with their own eyes! I liked how the characters started to change. Their own observations on how their trip went at the end of their trip was a great way to wrap up this experience. This wasn’t just an educational trip for the students. This trip didn’t go according to plan, yet everyone enjoyed themselves and had a good time. I feel that everyone left their better person, even the supportive staff.

Another great graphic novel by Jerry Craft which touches on a variety of issues that teens encounter. 4.5 stars I want to thank NetGalley and HarperCollins Children’s Books for my copy of this book that I received in exchange for an honest opinion #SchoolTrip

“In France, we work in order to live. But in America, it seems you live in order to work.”

I Survived Hurricane Katrina, 2005: The Graphic Novel

5 stars Graphic Novel

They were headed out, that was their intention but sometimes things don’t always go as planned. It was a mandatory evacuation, and they were going. If they could make it.

Barry had just finished creating a comic adventure with Jay. This piece was going to win them first prize in a contest, they were sure of that. They had plans to split the cash prize but now with the storm coming, Barry had Akivo, their winning piece, in his possession until he could drop it off in the mail. Most individuals were taking this storm seriously. Jay’s family was headed to Birmingham while Barry’s family would head towards Houston. Their neighbor Abe was told to head out with his grandma to a safe spot but lately, Abe did what he wanted. Since his dad left, Abe had changed. He claimed his new dog Cruz was a killer dog and by the time this storm was over, Barry would know firsthand if Abe was correct about his dog.

Barry’s family headed out along with hundreds and thousands of other individuals. Bumper to bumper traffic on the road and then, Barry’s sister Cleo gets sick and the family heads back home. They’ll ride the storm out at home, they decide. Overnight the storm pounds the house. By morning, the water rushes into their home, flooding everything. The family moves upstairs but so does the water. The family moves into the attic and soon, the water is lapping at their feet. The intensity and urgency can be felt as the family moves quickly and must think on their feet to keep themselves safe.

Holding onto their roof, the family feels somewhat relieved until Barry falls into the swirling water around them. He’s immediately swept away as his family calls for him. Panic and desperation mounds! Barry’s trying to grab onto anything that’s floating nearby but he’s coming up with nothing substantial. As he finds a tree and gets comfortable, he looks around and sees a large building headed towards him! Stay in the tree or jump back into the water? Both options can be deadly but what else can he do?

There are times when the story relaxes a bit, but the intensity of the situation was still there. I liked how the ending centered on the characters and when Barry reflected on himself. The ending answered many of the questions I had as I read this story. The graphics in this story followed the story and the illustrations provided enough detail without overdoing it. It was a great graphic novel. At the back of the book there was more information discussing Hurricane Katrina that should be looked at too. 5 stars

Louder Than Hunger by John Schu

5 stars YA/ Middle School

The nonstop talking.

The control.

It consumed him, it consumed his time.

Yet, he knew no different.

He’s got nothing else.

It’s his companion.

Telling him how to act, how to feel.

And he believes it.

Because he has nothing else.

It all started in seventh grade, and it has escalated since. Middle school stole the life that was once Jake’s and handed it over to the voice that now controls him. In seventh grade, Jake had more bad days than good and he wanted to vanish forever. In eighth grade, as his peers formed their circles, Jake was isolated. Like vultures, the groups would attack their prey, bullying Jake and his tears would fall. With no outlet, Jake began hiding from everyone and internalizing the taunts hurled at him and his own feelings. As the negative chattering flowed, Jake began to believe them, and his inner voice drowned out the rest of the world and took control. Jake had finally found a friend. Someone who seemed to care for him and told him what to do.

This was such a sad reality. To think that he spiraled down because no one was there to lift him up. Written in free verse, this book packs a powerful punch as the words flow across the page. The voice screams to be heard and Jake listens. The outside world produces a mixed choir if Jake could just sift out the beauty and leave the haters to wallow amongst themselves. His inner voice became more demanding, more negative, and louder as time continued and Jake responded. “not enough exercise, you’re growing bigger!” yet Jake was vanishing before everyone’s eyes. Going into therapy, the voice still hammered on as Jake tries to battle between what the therapist wants and what the voice is dictating to him. There are serious results when the tests come back, yet the voice dismisses their diagnosis. The voice is the only one who knows the truth (it believes). The voice is Jake’s friend and his companion, and these therapists are just doctors doing their jobs. Jake needs a miracle which might be standing right in front of him. The relationship that Jake has with his grandmother and the love that he has for her might just be the firepower he needs to battle the voice. Jake needs motivation and support to quiet the voice which has claimed his life. Based on the author’s life, this book is powerful and pulls at your emotions. 5 stars