poetry – One Chapter

Begin Again by Oliver Jeffers

4.5 stars

We all need to read this book. Oliver Jeffers brings together a lot of issues in this book that in my own country today we are facing head-on. Jeffers speaks of a “world” yet in my own country, this book even applies to us. We are full of strangers right now, a country divided but we are still the same, people who “like to feel warm both on the skin and in the heart.”

Our country is a divided one, a nation that has been built on a firm foundation is now cracking and it’s heartbreaking. Jeffers talks in his author notes why he wrote the book, and I suggest you read this also.

Where are we headed? What will happen? Great question as like Jeffers talks about, we’re all running, racing to the end. Pulling and competing with one another, choosing based on the concept that it’s “more important to be right over wrong than to be better over worse.” “WE ARE BLIND”

I totally agree with Jeffers, we have to keep an eye on the past and the present to be successful. We can’t forget what we have seen or experienced. WE must work together as a part of the crew for we are “no longer passengers on this ship, “ we are all part of the story. Great story but not for younger readers more for adults or mature readers. Read it slowly and think about it as your read. 4.5 stars

There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Rainbow by Lucille Colandro

3 stars Children’s Picture Book

A take on I Know An Old Lady, this book follows the same rhyming storyline. A person swallows various items, correlating to the previous swallowed item and then, at the end, they spit everything out.

We thought while reading this version of the story, that some of the items that she swallowed items were strange. She swallowed glitter to brighten the cloud (which shows clouds sparked with glitter) and in the next few pages, she swallowed a cone to catch the glitter.

Why would she want to catch the glitter that is now brightening the cloud? She’s then swallowing a pole to lift the cone.

I understood at the end what the purpose was but perhaps she could have swallowed something different to create the final scene.

We weren’t fans of this version. 3 stars

Once Upon an Alphabet by Oliver Jeffers

4.5 stars Children’s Picture Book

I liked this! Each of the letters in the alphabet has a short story attached to it. This book is big and thick.

The illustrations are plain and simple, without much color.

Each story is short, but they are entertaining and fun. Covering a variety of subjects, these stories will make you think or laugh.

“C Cup in the Cupboard

(Illustration of cup in a bare kitchen cupboard)

Cup lived in the dark cupboard,

It was dark and cold in there

when the door was closed.

He dreamed of living over

by the window where he’d

have a clear view.

One afternoon, he decided

to go for it.

(picture of broken coffee cup)

Unfortunately, he forgot that

The counter was a long way

Down, and made of concrete.”

Cute example of the letter C. I liked how the letter C is used multiple times in the story, and the illustration compliments the story but doesn’t compete with the text for attention. Having to turn the page to get the last part of each story is a good cliffhanger and add to the drama. 4.5 stars

Away by Megan E. Freeman

4 stars YA/Middle School

I knew I had to read Away after reading the book Alone, as I wanted to know more about what happened to the individuals who were gone in Alone. I was ready for answers and more of the emotions and tension that had me speeding through the chapters of Alone.

In Away, this book gave me the answers that I was looking for, as an emergency relocation camp is set up for those who have been evacuated. With no warning or reason, residents in a section of Colorado had been rounded up and relocated to a temporary camp until a hazardous situation can be eliminated. The authorities keep the citizens up to date on the situation but the future of returning home starts to look hopeless. As the days turn into weeks, and weeks turn into months, a group of teens at the camp start to question exactly what this “emergency” really is.

The voices of four teens Ashanti, Grandin, Harmony, and Teddy use a variety of methods including prose, diary entries, movie script, letters, poetry and newspaper bulletins to describe the camp and their investigation into the emergency. I enjoyed this variety, and I felt it helped to keep the teens’ voices separate. This was an interesting and entertaining story. This book was more like a mystery than Alone was so unfortunately, I didn’t feel the emotions and tensions that I had felt with Alone. 4 stars

Unsinkable Cayenne by Jessica Vitalis

5 stars Middle School

“The Thing Mom Doesn’t Understand

Some people ARE bigger.

Whether we like it or not,

our size

has nothing to do

with the amount of space

our bodies take up.

It has everything to do

with the amount of space

other people tell us

we’re allowed to take up.”

“After we finish packing the van

I gaze at the house I’d hope would be

a permanent home.

I’d expected it

to change everything.

The only thing that changed

was me.

Before I arrived

I wanted to hide my strange

life behind four walls

built of normal.

This house

this town

this move

taught me

to break down walls

take up – space

claim my place

in a world

where there are always

going to be people

trying to make me

feel small.”

” Some walls existed

long before I was born.

Some walls will exist

long after I’m gone.”

” Fitting in is overrated.

The key to surviving middle school

is to be okay

standing out.”

I’ve never written a review where I used only quotes from the book, but this book speaks for itself. I fell in love with Cayenne from the minute I started reading this book. Her parents wanted to be free birds, but Cayenne’s had other dreams. She wanted stability and what Cayenne would call “normalcy.” She wanted a house with a foundation, school lunches, boyfriends, a social life and a schedule. If only she could have that instead of the sticker- plastered van that has been her home-on-wheels with her family.

Then, that day happened. The family moved into a home with a foundation, a home with walls and a solid floor. I can’t say much about what else the house had to offer as it needed work, but it was a start and for now, Cayenne was happy. She could start living her dream and I was happy for her. Middle school was on her horizon and things were looking up, yet we all know what middle school brings, and I was hoping that Cayenne would fit in. Would she find her own crowd? Would she be accepted? How would her parents adapt to living in a house? Cayenne’s hopes and dreams seemed simple and practical yet when there’s so much going on around her, they become involved.

What a great novel! I really loved all the characters and how realistic this book felt. This was also an emotional book for me, the highs and the lows as Cayenne gets to experience one of her dreams. I highly recommend it. 5 stars

Ultraviolet by Aida Salazar

4 stars YA

A kaleidoscope of colors lit up his world whenever he was close to Camelia. It happened the minute she walked into his life. This bright display of color awoke something within Elio, and he knew immediately that Camelia was “the one”. She said yes when he asked her to be his girl and things changed after that. Paco, his best friend hooked up with Laurette and now, the four of them hang out as couples.

In previous years, the boy’s only group chats centered around mundane subjects. But it’s now 8^th grade and with hormones churning, the boys are chatting it up about girls. Everything about girls is being discussed. I couldn’t believe how much Elio had fallen in love with Camelia already. He was infatuated with her. I was worried about their relationship, and I started to question where things were headed. I felt that Elio was smitten with Camelia, yet she acted like she wasn’t aware of his deep feelings, or she just wasn’t concerned with how he felt.

Pops suggests a new group to Elio, a group where they can discuss “manly things and indigenous Mexican” topics. Although Elio doesn’t like the sound of it, it might be exactly what he needs. With so much happening and his emotions running high, Elio needs an outlet. Elio was with Camelia, or at least he thought he was until Chava comes waltzing into the picture. Talk about drama! What is up with Camelia, is she blind? I was getting more frustrated with Camelia the longer and Chava……I just wanted to punch him. Elio needs to let them be but he can’t and its getting out of control…… the train is coming off the track………

What a book……lots of emotions and drama happening inside this book, told in verse. Elio is in love; it’s his first love and it’s everything. Nothing is sacred as he discloses his life. He hits on the physical, emotional, and “manly” side of things, a guy who tells it like it is. For older audiences, this book hits on some mature topics. I love a book that pulls intense emotions out of me. 4 stars

Being Toffee by Sarah Crossan

5 stars YA Prose

“Dad badgered me to
grow up
hurry up
shut up
stop being a baby
stop whining
stop moaning
act my age
act like an adult
quit with the crocodile tears,
as though
being a child was a serious problem
and something I could remedy.”

Allison lives with her father, staying in the shadows. You can feel her pain and her desire to be something more as her words fall across each page. Her father expects everything from her, and she tries but it just isn’t enough. Through the years, Allison has realized that the physical pain she has experienced hurts just as much as the emotional pain. The scars from both, last longer than their appearance.

When dad’s girlfriend suddenly takes off, dad’s emotions run high, leaving Allison in his path. The time has come, and Allison needs to make her move. Allison finds temporary shelter in a shed, one belonging to Marla. Allison is good at staying hidden, for she’s been invisible for years. Allison discovers that Marla has dementia, and she starts to form a friendship with her. Allison was very good with Marla, and I enjoyed their friendship. Allison was thriving under these different circumstances, but I knew it couldn’t last forever.

Allison longs to be a part of something but where and what will that be? Will her dad ever miss her and really need her? What will happen to her friendship with Marla? This book was much more than I had anticipated. I will definitely have to read more from this author! 5 stars

“I wasted a lot of time
waiting for my father to be a better person,
wondering if she could change…..

I should have used my time more wisely:
I could have counted the hairs on Sophie’s dog,
I could have emptied a swimming pool
with a spoon;
I could have memorized Shakespeare’s plays,
the sonnets too.”

“I am hiding my whole history ,
hoping I will forget it.
I am hiding everything from you.
If only I could hide it from myself.”

Garvey’s Choice: the Graphic Novel by Nikki Grimes

4.5 stars Graphic Novel Children’s/ Middle School

It’s bullying….short and simple. Everyone is different and that even goes for family members, yet Garvey’s father wants his son to be more like his sister. He wants an athletic son, a son who plays football, someone who can score points, a son who can shoot a basketball but unfortunately, Garvey doesn’t do any of these things. Garvey likes science, he likes space, he likes reading and because he knows he doesn’t fit the mold for his father, Garvey likes food. Garvey uses food to escape, and his classmates have notice and their comments have fallen upon Garvey.

Garvey just wants to be accepted for who he is. He doesn’t feel safe at home or at school. At school, his friend Joe suggests a new club to him and unfortunately, his mind drifts to thoughts of his father. This was Garvey’s choice, but he did it, he made up his own mind and jumped in! He joined a club which ends up being life changing.

This was a great graphic novel to read. I liked how Garvey found himself and his growth throughout the book. Being able to see the characters facial expressions helped tell the story. Most of the text in this graphic novel is found in the captions inside each of the text boxes. This text is quite lengthy on some pages. I find it interesting that some pages do not have any speech bubbles on them while others only have one or two. The text is not difficult to read, and the story is easy to follow. The color palette was nice and keeping all the chapters separate was nicely done. Definitely worth picking up. 4.5 stars

And Then, Boom! by Lisa Fipps

5 stars Fiction Book in Verse Children’s/ Middle School

And then, WOW! This book really packs a punch, and I loved it so much. Written in verse, this book is powerful as it deals with issues that many young adults unfortunately must face today. It’s just not the poverty that Joe needs to adjust to but it’s also the abandonment, the insecurity, and the loneliness that just keeps on popping up in his life. When will it ever end?

Mom gets “the itch” and before you know it, she’s out the door. Sometimes its weeks, months, or just a few days, that she’ll be gone. They lived with Joe’s grandmum in her house until she lost it on legal matters for Joe’s mom. Now, Joe and grandmum are living in a car and using food stamps to eat. My heart was breaking as Joe fought to use public bathroom facilities to maintain his appearance. They’re hungry but they’re doing the best that they can. As he tries to go to school, he struggles to hide his life from others that are around him. One of his best friends finds them a place to stay and finally, things change direction.

The mobile homeowner, Uncle Frankie is an amazing person, and he becomes a fantastic friend to Joe. One obstacle is taken down but the others remain. One moment in this book which has stuck with me is when Joe wins at Jeopardy in his classroom. Able to take any prize out the storage closet, which is filled with games and puzzles, Joe picks……. Yes, this is a storage closet so it’s also storing cleaning items and extra supplies. Joe picks out “an enormous box of toilet paper.” This is a 6^th grade boy, and he picks toilet paper as a prize. Yep, that got me……..

I can’t tell you much more about what happens inside the pages of this emotional read but I loved so much about it. I love how Joe gathered strength from within to keep moving forward. From everything that happened in his life, Joe could have lost hope or retaliated but he didn’t. His friends stood by him, and he learned many lessons along the way.

This is such a great read, one in which I could read it again and again. Read it because this is real folks, this is what is happening all around us whether you want to see it or not.

“Every time I hugged Grandmum,

I’d breathe in her scent.

When I miss her a lot,

like tonight,

I open the bag in the back of my closet

where I keep Grandmum’s quilt

and breathe in her scent.

I call it, “Grandmum in a bag.””

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