social issues – 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

I’m Sorry You Got Mad by Kyle Lukoff

4.5 stars Children’s Picture Book

Are you really sorry? Sometimes it takes some time to really be sorry for something you did. I think that is what really is happening in this children’s book which takes place in a classroom. The teacher is having Jack write a letter of apology to Zoe for something he did, and I don’t think he’s ready.

Jack’s first attempts at the letter are short and I mean short. He crumples that attempt and tosses it into the garbage. The next couple attempts at a letter include more words, but you can see that Jack is not really sorry for what he did. He is just making his teacher happy by attempting to write this apology.

Each page of this book shows Jack’s attempts of writing an apology note to Zoe and you can feel his mood start to change. By watching the illustrations in the book, you can also see how Jack watches Zoe and how he feels towards her. At first, he is mad but later he starts to miss his friendship with her, and he understands that he must apologize to be her friend again.

I like how Jack has to work through his feelings in this book and how Zoe watches his throughout the day. I liked how the teacher encouraged Jack and helped him throughout the process.

The illustrations supported the message the book tried to convey, and I liked the color-scheme that was used. 4.5 stars

Squirrel and Bird by Laura Baker

3.5 stars Children’s Picture Book

Great illustrations and I loved the use of just a few colors within the pages as I think that brought a special element to this story. I did think that the wording in this children’s book was a bit jumbled and it didn’t flow very well for me. I did like the message that the book was trying to convey and as I read it, I had to explain it to my grandchildren.

The book centers around Squirrel and Bird. The author tries to tell the reader that Squirrel is the busy, excited, and basically the extrovert of the two. The Bird on the other hand, is the quiet, calm, and introvert of the two.

Hosting a concert, these two best friends are getting ready for the forest friends to listen to them perform. Now, you would think Squirrel would hold center stage and Bird would be nervous and shy yet as the author is explaining how they are getting ready, Bird speaks up and starts to sing. He’s wonderful!

And squirrel, he listens as his friend’s voice bellows throughout the sky. The author reflects on the moment when Bird and Squirrel decide that they can be however they want to be, one size does not fit all.

A great message in the book but I wasn’t fond of the text and how it was presented. It was too cumbersome. 3.5 stars

Dear Manny by Nic Stone

5 stars YA

It’s coming to an end. A white, privileged male faces the hard truth of life. Now that he’s in college, running for office, he’s having to face the reality of a life that has led him to where he is today. Everything that he has learned and been instilled comes into play. What kind of a life had he really been living?

Up against the other candidates, the struggle gets real, and his awareness grows. This powerful story is a three-book series, which I have enjoyed since the beginning. I do think you should start at book one to fully appreciate this story.

Gone Wolf by Amber McBride

3.5 stars YA Science Fiction

Sometimes a book tries too hard for me, and I find myself just reading along as the book pushes me through the motions. I felt this book was doing some of that as the book painted the picture that I wanted to create on my own. Inmate Eleven is living out her life in her cell with her dog, who “goes wolf” within their cell. Pacing back and forth, her dog acts as if there is more out of life than the 4 walls that surround them. A Blue, Inmate Eleven learns that in reality, Blues are not inferior to the Clones and that her “friend” (a Clone) hasn’t been completely honest with her. Her dog is right, there is more to life than the 4 walls that surround them and now, Inmate Eleven is determined to free them.

Flipping to the present day, Imogen is in the middle of the pandemic. Imogen feels confined and overwhelmed as things start closing in on her. As she begins experiencing phobias, the need to get a handle on the situation becomes increasingly urgent. With only her therapist and her mother available, Imogen tries to come to grips with what is happening and gain control of the situation.

I did like the two timelines and how the author tried to link the two events. Both characters had to take control of their own situation to move forward from somewhere they didn’t want to be. This desire pushed and strengthened them. 3.5 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.””

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

Coyote Queen by Jessica Vitalis

5 stars Middle School/ YA Fiction

There’s something about these stories that draws me in repeatedly. Fud and his mother lived with Larry in his trailer. Fud doesn’t know much about her father except that he returned to Spain after learning her mother was pregnant with Fud. Mom thought their life would be better with Larry and I guess if living with fear and anxiety is better, then she is right.

See, mom tries to be the perfect woman for Larry, but nothing makes him happy. He’s demanding, he likes to yell, and he likes his drink. Fud tries to block out the yelling but sometimes it gets to be so loud. Fud is worried about their future with Larry, but her mother doesn’t see it that way. Larry has been physical with her mother, yet Fud doesn’t understand why her mother keeps hanging onto Larry, doesn’t she see the danger that lies up ahead? Larry was a boxing champion and he’s a big talker about his days in the ring. He’s determined that he’s headed back into the ring. Those dreams are suddenly taken away and Larry pulls a massive, defeated boat into the yard.

Larry new plans are to rehaul this shipwreck. He plans to create a new houseboat for his new family and set sail. Warning lights immediately go off inside Fud! This cannot be happening! Out on a boat, in the open waters, alone with mom and Larry, this sounds like a horrible situation! Can’t mom see this? Fud starts to calculate how long it will take Larry to overhaul this boat and what she can do to prevent them from boarding it.

Meanwhile, new neighbors move in, and Leigh seems like a nice girl which is too bad. Fud knows that Ava will add her to her posse the minute she walks into the school. It’s a shame too as Fud needs a friend. It’s surprising how much Fud and Leigh have in common and how well they get along, considering Ava influence on Leigh. Leigh ends up being the branch that Fud needs when she mentions a pageant with a cash payout as the prize. If Fud could only win that pageant, it just might be their ticket to freedom. Their ticket away from Larry.

I enjoyed how realistic this book felt and how quickly the story moved along. Great relationships and the dramatics between the characters created powerful connections with the characters that made me feel like I was part of the story. Leigh was a neutral character when she arrived, and I liked how she tried to fit in. Leigh saw individuals for who they were, even though others were trying to influence her. Fud wanted/needed a friend yet when she found Leigh, she was reluctant to really embrace her. I feared the day that Larry would finish his boat and what that would entail and as Leigh and Fud’s pageant day crept closer, these days seemed to be on a collision course. There were a lot of factors playing into Fud’s future and as the pages of this book started to dwindle, I just didn’t expect this book to end the way that it did. Such a powerful story about status, acceptance, family, friendship, poverty, and abuse. 5 stars

“To Leigh, this was plain old hair cream. To me, it was friendship in a bottle.”

Coyote Lost and Found by Dan Gemeinhart

5 stars Middle School/YA Fiction

It’s been almost a year since Coyote and her father settled into this small Oregon town. Parking Yager, they’ve hung-up their traveling shoes for a more permanent home and now, Coyote is trying to find her place amongst her 7th grade peers. There’s been so much to adjust to and none of it has been easy nor does Coyote feel that her life will ever be the same. My heart starts to soften as I flashback to The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise, the first book that introduced Coyote and her family. Back then, her life seemed carefree and simple but turned tiring and complicated as troubles began. Now, she’s living with her dad in a house, trying to establish a new life.

As we’re introduced to Candice, you can immediately get a feel as to how Coyote feels about that situation. Candice isn’t in Coyote’s face flaunting her relationship with Coyote’s father, yet any scene that Candice is present in, it’s just too much for Coyote. Emotions come flooding out of the pages when Coyote sees, hears, and or even thinks about Candice. Coyote doesn’t need another adult figure in her life, nor does she like seeing their PDA’s, and deep down inside there’s some jealousy there. Adding Candice to everything else that Coyote is trying to adjust to could be a good thing or a bad thing and right now, Coyote sees her as a threat.

Chilling out inside Yager, Coyote discovers a hidden box. This was a shocker for both Coyote and her father but now, they must face reality. I could understand the state their family is in but now, they must decide what happens next. Mom can’t stay hidden inside Yager forever, she must find a permanent resting spot. But where?

Dad knows the location, but he needs Coyote’s help getting there. It’s time for another road trip so with Candice, dad, Coyote and Salvador, it’s time to load up Yager and hit the road. Coyote is determined to make this a great trip but sometimes things don’t go as planned as she’s faced with complications and plans that are out of her control. Coyote learns to grow her own wings and she begins to find peace within herself. Such a great continuation of Coyote’s journey, I hope we get more stories about Coyote. 5 stars

“” But when this girl calls, I answer. Every time. And I always will. No matter what. I don’t even answer every time when my mom calls. But I do for you, Coyote.” …….”And you don’t even answer my texts,”” he said.

“Boy. He was right. He was one hundred percent right. Leave it to a best friend to make you feel like a million bucks and a total piece of crap in one conversation.”

“And I’m afraid that …. that…that I’ll never find where I fit.” (she’s a work-in-progress).

Being You: a First Conversation About Gender by Megan Madison

4 stars Nonfiction Children’s

Finally, a book by Megan that doesn’t go negative. This is my third book of Megan’s that I have read in this series, and this is one that I finally liked. Megan addresses how everyone has some of the same body parts (belly buttons, elbows, etc.) and then, males and females each have something different.

Megan does use specific terms for those body parts, so be prepared for that. The book moves into growing up and how individuals keep the gender they are born with, or they change them. For some individuals, they don’t know what gender they are.

The main point here is that whatever a person is feeling is what’s important and they can use pronouns to describe themselves. The author addresses history and even though the rules may state that girls can do this, and boys can do that, there are feminists who are working to change these rules so anyone can do anything that they want.

Even the reader can be an active participant. They can “work together” with others to make things fair because the “things we say and do matter” and make the “world better for everybody.”

A more positive book and it didn’t get off the main topic. It showed the reader that they can do something to help the situation instead of creating more hostility or anger. 4 stars