Category: Cream of the Crop Nominees

Inside Outside

Inside OutsideInside Outside by Anne-Margot Ramstein, Matthias Arégui
Published by Candlewick Studio on April 9th 2019
ISBN: 1536205974
Pages: 40
Goodreads
five-stars

Published first in France, Inside Outside is an art book for young viewers.  Yes it is a concept book but this title will not be shelved in public libraries with early education concept books.   It will be best appreciated by children between the ages of 4-6 and by art teachers of all ages.   The authors have produced a lovely and creative work that offers concepts to ponder.  The first few pages clearly show the inside and outside of an egg, a tunnel, and a castle. Readers may not be prepared for the illustration of birds on a captivating two page spread.  Equally challenging is the tent and whale illustration which this readers admits is her favorite.

Choice of colors, the depth within the illustrations and drama represented in this wordless book makes it a winner.   Add this to public libraries, primary schools and gift to your favorite art teacher and student.

Submitted by Jan Hamilton, retired youth services librarian in Scarborough, ME

five-stars

The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali

The Love and Lies of Rukhsana AliThe Love & Lies of Rukhsana Ali by Sabina Khan
Published by Scholastic Press on January 29th 2019
ISBN: 1338227017
Pages: 336
Goodreads
five-stars

Rukhsana is afraid of the consequences of being a lesbian in an extremely conservative Muslim family. All she wants is to graduate and go to Caltech with her girlfriend, Ariana. The day that her mother catches her kissing Ariana leads to her being taken to Bangladesh and being forced into a marriage that she has no interest in. To be gay in her culture is a sin and in Bangladesh, many have been beaten or even killed.

Khan brings attention to the cultural diversity that many Americanized children of immigrant families deal with, such as arranged marriages and family obligations that their peers don’t understand. Culturally, LGBTQIA and religiously diverse and emotionally intense. Recommended for grades 9 and up.

Reviewed by Kristin Taylor, Biddeford High School, Biddeford.

five-stars

Dark Sky Rising: Reconstruction and the Dawn of Jim Crow

Dark Sky Rising: Reconstruction and the Dawn of Jim CrowDark Sky Rising: Reconstruction and the Dawn of Jim Crow (Scholastic Focus) by Henry Louis Gates Jr., Tonya Bolden
Published by Scholastic Nonfiction on January 29th 2019
ISBN: 1338262041
Pages: 240
Goodreads
five-stars

Renown historian Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and YA author Tonya Bolden have written a narrative nonfiction of the rise of Jim Crow Laws in the South during and after the Reconstruction period. Detailed changes to the rights of African Americans during the Civil War along with the rights giving citizenship such as the Emancipation Act and the Amendments added to the Constitution are well discussed. The authors also give details in the rise of white violence/supremacy, racism and political/economic factors that allowed the Jim Crow Laws to be established in the South.

TOC, sources/notes, photo credits, index and an About the Authors section are present. A great resource on the Reconstruction Period of the United States and its effects on the citizenship and lives of the newly freed slaves. Recommended for grades 9 and up.

Reviewed by Kristin Taylor, Biddeford High School, Biddeford.

five-stars

Stepsister

StepsisterStepsister by Jennifer Donnelly
Published by Scholastic Press on May 14th 2019
ISBN: 1338268465
Pages: 352
Goodreads
five-stars

Recommending for cream of the crop consideration.  This is a dark, gruesome and riveting fairy tale based on Cinderella.  Isabelle is one of Ella’s hardened and bitter stepsisters who, coerced by her mother, cuts off her toes to try to fit into the glass slipper.  Octavia only cut off her heals, so her walking is not effected, but Isabelle is disabled.  As a battle rages over Isabelle’s life map between the Crone, who draw maps of a person’s destiny and Chance, no explanation needed, Tanaquill, the fairy queen aka Ella’s godmother, provides Isabelle choices that transcend the magical rules of the life map.  Isabella must work through the bitterness in her heart as her life circumstances profoundly mirror the harshness that Ella once lived under.  Her quest leads to the softening of heart and a freedom from the Fates and Chance.  Lovers of fairytales will revel in this one.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Springvale Public Library

five-stars

Fake News: Separating Truth from Fiction

Fake News: Separating Truth from FictionFake News: Separating Truth from Fiction by Michael Miller
Published by Twenty-First Century Books (Tm) on January 1st 2019
ISBN: 154152814X
Pages: 112
Goodreads

Fake news has been around for centuries, despite what President Trump might claim. This book explores the journalistic and fact-checking standards that are involved with legitimate news stories along with the Constitutional protections and real-world case studies. Readers are educated about the 2 types of fake news and also how to be able to tell truth from fiction. Preventive tips are also shared on to prevent further spreading of fake news.  Recommended for middle and high school libraries for research or just interest in fake news phenomenon.

Presence of TOC, glossary, index, bibliographies and further information on the topic of fake news.

Reviewed by Kristin Taylor, Biddeford High School, Biddeford.

No More Excuses: Dismantling Rape Culture

No More Excuses: Dismantling Rape CultureNo More Excuses: Dismantling Rape Culture by Amber J. Keyser
Published by Twenty-First Century Books (Tm) on January 1st 2019
ISBN: 1541540204
Pages: 144
Goodreads
five-stars

The most common crime is the sexual assault of women. With accusations of rape against many well known men, the founding of the  #MeToo movement and other organizations,  the underlying causes of the rape culture have been brought into light. Amber J. Keyser discusses how restorative justice can address the rape culture and explores the gender norms along with how race and gender are disproportionally affected by rape.

Well documented and researched providing TOC, glossary , index, bibliography and further information and resources. A must have for high school libraries and a must read by all genders and races so that this rape culture can be changed.

Reviewed by Kristin Taylor, Biddeford High School, Biddeford.

five-stars

Exposing Hate: Prejudice, Hatred and Violence in Action

Exposing Hate: Prejudice, Hatred and Violence in ActionExposing Hate: Prejudice, Hatred, and Violence in Action by Michael Miller
Published by Twenty-First Century Books (Tm) on January 1st 2019
ISBN: 1541539257
Pages: 144
Goodreads
five-stars

There has been an explosion in the number of hate groups since the elections of Presidents Obama and Trump. Michael Miller addresses the types of hate groups, the history and reasons behind their rise. He also discusses ways to recognize and confront such hatred in this extremely well researched book. Recommend for shelves of middle and high school libraries.

Presence of TOC, glossary, index, source notes, bibliography and further information. Very useful as a resource in hate crimes, hate speech and hate groups. Photos, graphs and charts accompany the information in the text.

Reviewed by Kristin Taylor, Biddeford High School, Biddeford.

five-stars

Awake in the World

Awake in the WorldAwake in the World by Jason Gurley
Published by Roaring Brook Press on February 12th 2019
ISBN: 1250141834
Pages: 336
Goodreads
five-stars

Zach is a natural artist when it comes to drawing and understanding the wonders of what surrounds him. He captures the moment which makes his art even more intense. Living in a small, coastal town in California, Zach lost his father to a deep sea diving accident and no one is sure who to blame. But now, Zach’s older brother has dropped out of college to pick up the family business. Zach needs to finish high school, and has an opportunity to leave, but is torn whether to stay at home, where he feels obligated to tend to their younger sister, and a mother who mentally has never recovered from her husband’s death. Then, in steps – Vanessa,  who is financially better off then Zach, a little odd, but admires his art and wants Zach to want what she wants. Their worlds collide when a  disasters happen and the emotions are intense.

Recommended for grade 8 and up.

Reviewed by Kristin Taylor, Biddeford High School, Biddeford.

five-stars

American Moonshot: John F. Kennedy and the Great Space Race

American Moonshot: John F. Kennedy and the Great Space RaceAmerican Moonshot Young Readers' Edition: John F. Kennedy and the Great Space Race by Douglas Brinkley
Published by HarperCollins on April 2nd 2019
ISBN: 0062660284
Pages: 272
Goodreads
five-stars

July 20, 2019 marked the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11’s historical landing on the moon. Author Douglas Brinkley, in this Young Adult version, has written an outstanding and equally as fascinating book that gives the beginnings of the race to the moon, but also the continuation of President Kennedy’s aspiration to be the first country to step foot on the moon.

Well organized and chronologically written which makes the text easier to follow with the various progressions of the great race — politically, patriotically and personally. Many photos of the time span that correlate with the chapters. TOC, bibliography and source notes present — no index. Great resource for research on the beginnings of the space race and information of President Kennedy’s involvement.

Recommended for grades 4 and up.

Reviewed by Kristin Taylor, Biddeford High School, Biddeford.

five-stars

The Me I Meant to Be

The Me I Meant to BeThe Me I Meant to Be by Sophie Jordan
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers on January 1st 2019
ISBN: 1328977064
Pages: 304
Goodreads
five-stars

You would think that a girl code, never date a friend’s ex, would be easy to keep, but it has put Willa in an extremely difficult situation. See  Wiila’s best friend, Flor, has recently broken up with Zach, Willa’s childhood friend and neighbor. The problem is Willa has always been in love with Zach and now, of all times, he is returning her affection!

A fast paced, engaging story of friendship, romance and of course — the girl code. Any teen that reads this will understand what is being said and could easily place themselves or someone they know in Willa’s place. Recommended for grades 9 and up.

Reviewed by Kristin Taylor, Biddeford High School, Biddeford.

five-stars