American Street

American Street

Ibi Zoboi

ISBN:  9780062473042

A coworker of mine is starting a Young @ Heart book club, focusing on titles that appeal to readers who are, obviously, young at heart.  While many of the titles are young adult, not all of them are.  The characters, however, are all young adults facing a variety of challenges and experiences.  This title is scheduled as their first selection.

Summary

On the corner of American Street and Joy Road, Fabiola must figure out what her version of the American dream will look like now that she is facing a new life in America without her mother.  Recently immigrated from Haiti, Fabiola struggles to fit in with her rambunctious American cousins, understand the culture of Detroit, explore a new romance, and retain her Haitian and vodou roots.  As she finds herself moving deeper into her new reality, she quickly realizes that freedom is not free, and she must find out what she really wants.

What I Liked

I loved that this book integrated elements of Fabiola’s Haitian and vodou roots in a realistic, respectful way.  Not only are Fabiola’s beliefs an important part of her life and rher decisions, they are described with beautiful detail and realism.  The author does an excellent job of blending both Fabiola’s home culture and her new American surroundings while being respectful of both.  Throughout the story, the reader clearly feels the tension of trying to reconcile two very different worlds to create an individual dream.

What I Didn’t Like

I’ll admit, it’s been awhile since I’ve read a young adult book, so it took me a while to get into the dialogue and slang that was used by the characters.  While I was still trying to figure out the “voices” of the characters, I had a hard time getting into the story.  I also didn’t really care for the stories of the different characters that were dropped into the overall plot.  While I appreciated the background that they provided about different characters, as a whole, I found them a little disruptive and hard to reconcile with the rest of the writing.

Overall Feeling

I enjoyed this book, but it definitely wasn’t my favorite read.  As a young adult book, it’s a fairly quick read once you get into the story.  The story does do a great job of making you think about the cost of your dreams and what you would be willing to sacrifice for your family.  It’s also an interesting look at different cultures and how they come together to make up individuals.  The story raises important questions, but for me, they were sometimes lost in the writing.  I’d recommend reading it as a good coming of age story that forces you to think about the issues impacting families today.

Mountain Dog

Mountain Dog

Margarita Engle, illustrated by Olga and Aleksey Ivanov

ISBN:  9780805095166

I started out reading all of the 2015-2016 Texas Bluebonnet Award nominees with the best intentions.  Summer reading derailed part of the reading, and now, our copies of the books are almost always checked out.  Which reminds me…I need to start on the 2016-2017 list earlier (maybe right away), although I am still going to try and read all of this year’s nominees.  Anyway, my most recent read:  Mountain Dog by Margarita Engle.  Of all the books I’ve read so far, this one generated some of the most complex emotions.  I alternately loved and hated it, but it’s definitely one not to miss.

Summary

When Tony’s mother is sent to jail for dog fighting, he goes to live with a great uncle he didn’t even know he had.  He is so used to fear and anger from his old life that he is very hesitant of this new one, made even harder because there is nothing in common between the two worlds.  With the patience of his uncle and his uncle’s search-and-rescue dog, Gabe, Tony slowly learns that there is good to be found in the world, often in unexpected places.

What I Liked

This book has a beautiful plot.  Tony’s story is heartbreaking, and yet all too realistic.  As I read, I couldn’t help but think of how many Tony’s might be out there without a loving uncle to save them.  I also loved the use of two perspectives:  both that of Tony and of Gabe.  While Tony’s segments teach us about his struggles to embrace his new life and to find trust and love again, Gabe’s narration provides us deeper insight into the complexity of this struggle.  Gabe’s simple happiness provides the perfect foil to Tony’s emotional turmoil, and through his dedication to loving Tony and proving that happiness exists, we can easily see Tony begin to open his heart again.  What I think I loved best about this book is that the emotions are raw and real.  Yes, there is happiness and love.  But there is also anger, and fear, and resentment.  Engle does not shy away from any emotion, and has a more realistic, meaningful story because of it.

What I Didn’t Like

At first, I wasn’t thrilled that this book was written entirely in free-verse poetry.  I’m not sure exactly what I expected, but from the book’s summary and even the cover, I guess I was anticipating action-packed chapters.  Which, to be fair, this book does provide.  While I initially thought that having the book written in such a poetic format did a disservice to its plot, in reality, I think it provided for a sense of drama and intrigue that focused on the emotions in a way that more traditional writing might not have allowed.  While it did take some getting used to, I didn’t find reading poetry to be nearly as distracting as I thought it would be.  My only other complaint would be with Gabe’s chapters.  While I love his as a foil for Tony’s emotions, at times I thought that he was included too often and without offering anything additional to the plot, as though he were merely repeating ideas from previous chapters.

Overall Feeling

When I started reading this book, I thought that I would hate it.  By the time I finished reading it, I loved it.  It was actually one of my favorite titles that I’ve read from the list so far.  This book has it all:  emotion, character, drama, and intrigue.  It addresses hard topics fairly, but without shying away from the realities of the situations.  It forces you to think, and, more importantly, to feel Tony’s story as you read it.  I will, however, admit that this book isn’t for everyone.  The poetic writing style may be a turn-off for some readers and discourage them from fully enjoying the text.  I would recommend this book for anyone who enjoys realistic fiction or animal stories.  However, given the complexity of the emotions described and some of the situations Tony encounters, I would recommend this title to the older end of the Bluebonnet audience from a maturity standpoint.  Still, this is one you absolutely MUST read from this year’s list.

The Scraps Book: Notes from a Colorful Life

The Scraps Book:  Notes from a Colorful Life

Lois Ehlert

ISBN:  9781442435711

I recently finished reading another Texas Bluebonnet Award nominee, this time a nonfiction title:  The Scraps Book:  Notes from a Colorful Life by Lois Ehlert.  I was actually looking forward to getting to this title on the list, mostly because I love Lois Ehlert’s books and often use them in story time.  Although it is an autobiography, the book is presented in picture book format, so it reads quickly.  However, the simple format doesn’t detract from the text; rather, it encourages a deeper understanding of Ehlert’s career as an artist.

Summary

Lois Ehlert has considered herself an artist since a very young age.  Encouraged by her parents and inspired by all manner of things around her, she has spent many years creating beautiful works of art.  Ehlert outlines not only her development as an artist, but also her process for creating the artwork for her books.  Using examples and illustrations from many of her popular titles, this text provides a beautiful explanation of Ehlert’s life and encourages the reader to develop their own artistic talents.

What I Liked

This book is truly a masterpiece, incorporating not only Ehlert’s personal memories, but also her beautiful artwork.  The combination of childhood photographs and book illustrations seamlessly shows the transition between her artistic beginnings and the growth of her dream.  In addition to the familiar pictures, the book also includes pictures of objects and the creative process in developing them, showing the reader how a single idea or moment can translate into a picture or even an entire story.  The inclusion of simple craft instructions also encourages the reader to attempt their own artistic creations.  I particularly enjoyed the notes accompanying the artwork and photos included.  While reading this information is not necessary for understanding the process, the added information provides extra depth to the narrative.  I also appreciated the photo credits for each of the illustrations, which helped remind me of some of my favorite works.

What I Didn’t Like

I don’t really have any complaints with this book.  It is informative, engaging, and useful in several contexts.  While at times I wished more information was included, the simplicity of the text added to the overall beauty of the work.  Readers of all ages are sure to enjoy this work.

Overall Feeling

This autobiography is simple and compelling.  Whether a fan of Ehlert’s work or not, at the very least, the reader can appreciate the development of the artistic process, the use of mixed media, and the inspiration from everywhere in creating art.  One of the most compelling parts of this book is the underlying message:  Anyone has the capability to succeed at their dreams.  Anyone has the capacity to create art and beauty.  At the same time, Ehlert remains realistic that sometimes developing one’s dream requires time and patience, an important reminder for many.  I would recommend this book for anyone interested in art, or anyone interested in the works of Lois Ehlert.  Teachers and students alike will appreciate this work, and the simplicity and engaging illustrations will be appealing to both older and younger readers.

The Vanishing Coin

The Vanishing Coin

Kate Egan with Magician Mike Lane; illustrated by Eric Wight

ISBN:  9781250029140

In the latest round of Texas Bluebonnet Award nominees, it’s time for another chapter book.  Due up:  The Vanishing Coin by Kate Egan (with assistance from Magician Mike Lane).  Once again, this book is the first in a series.  The book reads quickly (I was able to finish it in a day), but overall, I did not find it to be on the same level as the other nominees.  While billed as a chapter book, I found the text to simple, the story line too simplistic, and the character development too flat to be on par with the other chapter books that I’ve read so far.

Summary

Mike Weiss has just started fourth grade, and despite his best efforts, the school year is turning out to be as terrible as every year before it.  He’s terrible at staying focused and on task, and, much to his dismay, is in the principal’s office within the first week of school.  Added to his problems, his classmate Jackson is a grade-A bully, and, due to his parents’ new friendship with the neighbors, he has to spend his afternoons with the somewhat nerdy, definitely female Nora.  Just when it seems that all hope for the year is lost, Nora and Mike stumble upon The White Rabbit, a hidden magic shop in a local shopping center.  Has Mike finally discovered something that he can be good at?

What I Liked

Initially, Mike presented as a very likable character, a fourth-grade boy struggling with attention problems and poor academics.  However, given the brevity of the story, Mike as a character is never fully developed.  The author touches briefly on his struggles in school, and his frustration at always letting those around him down, but these feelings are not fully explored.  Also, I enjoyed the inclusion of the magic tricks that Mike was learning, since it gave the reader a chance to practice magic as well and learn something while reading.  However, I didn’t like that they appeared in the middle of the chapters as Mike was practicing them.  I found them distracting, and think they would have been better served somewhere else in the text.

What I Didn’t Like

Even though this book was easy to read, I just couldn’t get into the story.  I felt like character development fell short, the plot line was lacking, and the book ended abruptly.  Even though I read this book knowing it was the first book in a series, I expected some conclusions by the end of the book.  However, it ends as if there are more chapters to read, and there is no plot resolution for any of the issues presented.  Readers will have to read the second book if they want to know what happens with Mike and Nora.  While the language is simple and straightforward, I found it too easy to read as a chapter book.  There was nothing to challenge me while reading.  Although the ideas of struggling with what you are good at and disappointing others are good, they lack development to fully explore the issues.  While Mike is a fourth-grade student, the book in no way appeals to a fourth grade audience.

Overall Feeling

While this story may appeal to some readers, as a nominee for the Texas Bluebonnet Award, it falls short.  The story and its writing and too simplistic to put it on par with the other nominees.  The book, while enjoyable, will not hold the attention or interest of an older audience, and lacks the appeal of some of the picture book titles on the list.  Reading the sequel will be a requirement to anyone who hopes for plot resolution, so I don’t recommend this title for anyone who is looking for a one-and-done read.  I would recommend this book for younger readers and reluctant readers who need something simple and to the point.  An interest in magic is also a must to make this novel more appealing to readers.

Saving Lucas Biggs

Saving Lucas Biggs

Marisa de los Santos and David Teague

ISBN:  9780062274625

After breezing through a picture book on my lunch break for my last Texas Bluebonnet Award nominee, the next on the list was a chapter book.  But, with summer reading now behind us, I have much more free time available for reading, and I had no trouble reading Saving Lucas Biggs in just a few days.  And, while the book was different from anything I’ve read in a while, I have to say that it was quite good, and one that I’m happy to recommend to others.

Summary

When Margaret’s father is convicted of a crime that she knows he didn’t commit, she doesn’t know how to process it.  Worse, Judge Biggs, the notoriously heartless and evil company judge, has sentenced her father to death.  As the verdict is handed down, Margaret’s father begs her to repeat the foreswearing, although she doesn’t know why.  But when her best friend Charlie and his grandpa Josh propose an idea so crazy that it just might work, Margaret realizes that sometimes, promises must be broken.  Margaret must now go back in time to when Judge Biggs was just a boy, in the hopes of preventing the past that formed his present.  But history resists, and this is no easy task.  Will Margaret be able to change the past and save her father, or will her efforts be in vain?

What I Liked

While this book is a classic story of good versus evil, the way it is presented offers so much more.  Not only does Margaret learn about right and wrong, she learns about treasuring the moment, never giving up on those you love, and finding strength in each other when you have no strength on your own.  The story is told from three perspectives:  Margaret, Grandpa Josh (as a boy), and, at the very end of the book, Margaret’s best friend Charlie.  The alternating perspectives are not only interesting, and useful in speeding the plot, but they also allow a depth of understanding unavailable otherwise, by presenting the story from many sides.  The plot is multi-layered and beautiful.  While it is the story of Margaret and her hope to save her father, it is simultaneously the story of a downtrodden, abused community that finds strength in doing what is right, even when it is hard.

What I Didn’t Like

Honestly, there wasn’t much that I didn’t like about this book.  But, one thing that I didn’t like was the inclusion of a chapter in Charlie’s voice at the end of the book.  The story is really that of Margaret and Grandpa Josh, and while Charlie is important, I didn’t feel like his role in the story merited his own chapter told from his perspective.  Other than that, my only complaint is that I would have liked a bit more background about Margaret’s dad and his role at the company.  Since the company’s history is so integral to the story, it would have been interesting to have more insight into how Margaret’s family fit into the company overall.

Overall Feeling

This book has a stunning, heartfelt message.  It manages to encourage deep thought, while simultaneously lulling the reader into thinking it is just a story.  The triumph of good over evil is not guaranteed, and thus the story doesn’t come across as trite or overdone.  The obstacles against Margaret are realistic and compelling.  While it’s true that history resists, it’s even more true that humans resist, too.  The truth of the struggle lies in the Margaret and Grandpa Josh working through people, and realizing that humanity is much more complex than just changing a single moment.  While time travel is admittedly not something realistic, the story is written in such a way that the reader is completely certain of the ability to move through time.  More importantly, the story gives the reader a strong sense that any individual has the power to exact change in the world.  I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys adventure, realism, and the power of friendship.

Emily’s Blue Period

Emily’s Blue Period

Cathleen Daly

ISBN:  9781596434691

With summer reading, I have to admit that I’ve fallen behind in reading the Texas Bluebonnet Award nominees.  Luckily for me, the next book up on my list was a picture book, which I was able to read the other day during lunch.  I’m not sure what I expected going into this book, but I was definitely surprised by the depth of the topics covered.

Summary

Emily loves art and painting, and she loves the way it allows her to express herself.  When her life gets turned upside down, she finds that the art that she has been painting just doesn’t match her feelings.  With the help of her knowledge of art, and the encouragement of her art teacher, Emily finds the perfect the perfect medium to express herself and her mixed-up feelings.

What I Liked

While this book is a picture book, Daly doesn’t shy away from difficult topics.  Emily’s family life is mixed up, and her dad no longer lives at home.  The book explores not only the raw emotion of this change (Emily wants to paint only in blue to express her deep sadness), but also the complexity.  When faced with the task of painting her home, Emily must confront the fact that she has not one, but two homes.  Even Jack’s response to furniture shopping captures the tumultuous nature of this change.  Throughout, Daly sprinkles artistic facts and information, allowing the reader a glimpse not only into Emily’s mind and heart, but also into the wider subject of art.  Further, the simple illustrations subtly and expertly utilize color and dimension to further capture the emotions in the book, adding a secondary, powerful telling of the story.

What I Didn’t Like

I didn’t like the use of “chapters” in this book.  The book reads like a picture book, and while the chapters indicate the different phases and periods of Emily’s artistic life, I found that they made the text more choppy and segmented than it needed to be.  I think the story flowed enough on its own, without segments, and pausing throughout detracted from the overall message rather than adding to it.  Although I can appreciate the intent in this layout, I would have preferred the book without it.

Overall Feeling

This book is simultaneously simple and complex.  At the outset, it seems to be an exploration of artistic styles, but in truth, it is actually a complicated look into the heart and mind of a confused little girl in the midst of a life crisis.  The reader simultaneously learns about grief, emotions, and healing while also gaining further appreciate of art history.  The message of the book is powerful, yet written in such a way that you almost absorb it rather than consciously read it.  Overall, I recommend this book to anyone willing to explore difficult topics, and not afraid to look at their own emotions in the process.

Always, Abigail

Always, Abigail

Nancy J. Cavanaugh

ISBN:  9781402293030

This is the second chapter book that I’ve read from this year’s Texas Bluebonnet Award nominees, and I have to say that I enjoyed it much more than the first title that I read.  Although I have to admit, you can’t really consider this a chapter book when there aren’t specific chapters in it.  The book is more like a diary, with Abigail’s lists chronicling the majority of the events that happen.  The word bubbles and slight graphics used throughout also help break up the text into different segments, even if there is never a specific chapter.

Summary

Abigail Walters looks forward to sixth grade as the chance to really begin her life.  From the start, she has lofty aspirations of becoming a pompom girl, gaining the attention of boys, and finding popularity with the other “cool” kids.  But, despite her best ambitions, a place on the pompom squad is not in Abigail’s future, and she finds herself as a mere alternate with a lot of spare time on her hands.  Separated from her best friends Alli and Cami, Abigail finds herself not only not a pompom girl, but not even in the same homeroom or classes.  instead, she’s paired with school outcast Gabby Marco on Old Hawk’s friendly letter assignment.  As Abigail starts to realize that she has very little in common with AlliCam, she discovers that Gabby isn’t quite as bad as she first seemed.  But when Abigail suddenly gets a chance to be a permanent member of the pompoms, she finds she must choose between what she’s always wanted and what she’s starting to become.  Can she successfully navigate the middle school drama and find an answer she can live with?

What I Liked

Abigail’s quandary – choosing between popularity and what she feels like is the “right” thing to do – is something incredibly relevant.  Cavanaugh does a great job of describing Abigail’s inner battle in a way that makes sense to the audience.  Abigail can feel when she’s being a troll, without fully being able to articulate why she feels that way.  The struggle presented between doing the right thing and being accepted is something that most girls can easily identify with, even if they aren’t cheerleaders in their own right.  Unfortunately, it’s a topic that can be found in just about any school.  As Abigail starts to feel the distance between herself and AlliCam, the reader also starts to discover some of the politics and hard decisions of popularity.  Because Abigail has so many “normal” experiences – sleepovers, going out to eat with friends, being paired up for a class assignment – the reader is able to see her own situations and experiences in Abigail’s story.

What I Didn’t Like

Although Abigail’s list-making was often entertaining, I didn’t like that the book didn’t have clear divisions between parts.  Sometimes it was hard to tell how many days had passed or when events were supposed to have taken place.  Although the book covers the span of an entire year, it is unclear throughout the book how much time elapses between events.  Also, Abigail’s end choice seems very dramatic.  Instead of finding a way to successfully navigate the two worlds that she wants to inhabit, she is forced to choose between one or the other.  Popularity or Gabby – there is no middle ground.  While I appreciate that this makes Abigail’s decision more dramatic (and emphasizes the importance of making one’s own decisions and doing the right thing), it also seems somewhat unrealistic.  Why couldn’t Abigail be an influence for good with the pompom girls?  Having such a strict division between the “good” and the “bad” in the story undermined some of the overall message.  I think we all know that no one (not even Gabby Marco or AlliCam) is completely good or bad, but in the book, the characters are only given one dimension.  However, the choice between doing what is popular and doing what is right is the more important element of the story, and that is clearly and effectively conveyed.

Overall Feeling

This book is an enjoyable read, and definitely has a relevant and relatable subject.  Abigail, although sometimes obnoxiously simplistic in her thinking (and very genuinely girly in her approach to some topics), is an endearing character that the reader quickly comes to love.  Her struggle to discover herself, even if it means addressing the uglier parts of her character, is one that we can all relate to, and doing so in the context of middle school makes her even more realistic.  While I doubt that many boys will be interested in this particular title, I think the girls will definitely appreciate both the plot and the characters.  The almost-diary approach of Abigail’s list is also likely to appeal to even reluctant readers, because it breaks the text into small chunks that can be read quickly.  You can read as much or as little of the book in one sitting as you like, depending on how many lists you want to explore.  I recommend this book to anyone who wants to explore what it means to be a good friend.

The Misadventures of Salem Hyde: Book One: Spelling Trouble

The Misadventures of Salem Hyde:  Book One:  Spelling Trouble

Frank Cammuso

ISBN:  9781419708046

This is the second graphic novel format Texas Bluebonnet Award nominee I read, but, unlike The Great American Dust Bowl, this book is completely fictional.  At first I thought I would have a hard time getting into the format, but once I started reading, I found that I completed the book very quickly.  It was entertaining, it was cute, and it was just plain fun.

Summary

Salem Hyde is a young witch who is just learning to control her powers.  Neither of her parents are witches, although her aunt is.  In an effort to help her learn to control her powers, they enlist the help of an animal companion, Mr. Percival J. Whamsford, III.  Salem is disappointed to have an unoriginal cat as her companion (she wanted a unicorn), but she soon finds that she has bigger problems to worry about.  Salem inadvertently signs herself up for the school spelling bee.  She thinks it will be no problem – after all, she’s a witch and knows plenty of spells.  But spelling and casting spells are not the same thing, and Salem is going to need some serious help to get out of the trouble she’s caused.

What I Liked

Salem is an immediately loveable and relatable character.  She’s cute, she’s confident, and she’s adorably mistaken about her magical abilities.  I immediately loved the attitude that she brought to the story – she believes in herself and her magical powers even when she miserably fails Whammy’s tests.  Plus, the plays on words throughout the book are hilarious – simple enough that young audiences can appreciate them, but with enough depth that adults find them enjoyable as well.  Cammuso even goes so far as to include literary references like Moby Dick into the story, which makes it more than just a simple tale of a girl and her cat.  Overall, Salem struggles with a very real problem:  learning to be the best version of who she is.  Even if we aren’t all witches, we can certainly relate to her dilemma.

What I Didn’t Like

Although the illustrations are cute and add so much detail to the story, I have to admit that I didn’t like that the only color used throughout the book was green.  I would have loved to see Salem’s vibrant personality illustrated with a few more colors.  Overall, though, that’s not a large enough complaint to discourage me from recommending the book, nor do I anticipate it being a negative factor for most readers.

Overall Feeling

This book is a complete hit!  It has something that will appeal to just about any reader – a cute story, an adorable protagonist, magic, humor, and real-life lessons.  It is obvious from Book One that Salem and Whammy will have more adventures in the future, and the reader ends the first story wanting to immediately pick up the next installment.  Cammuso does a brilliant job of addressing a lesson that we all must learn at some point – how to be the best versions of ourselves, in spite of our flaws.  This story is sure to find a place in the hearts of most readers, and I would recommend it without hesitation for anyone looking for a great read.

The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus

The Right Word:  Roget and His Thesaurus 

Jen Bryant, illustrated by Melissa Sweet

ISBN:  9780802853851

This is the second nonfiction Texas Bluebonnet Award nominee title that I have read, and honestly, I was a little disappointed in this one.  The illustrations were beautiful, and, if you took the time to really look at them, they very much enhanced the text.  There is not a doubt in my mind as to why this book was a Caldecott Medal Honor book.  However, I found the book overall to be lacking in the substance that I had expected, and I wished that it had offered something more.

Summary

Peter Roget has been making lists his entire life.  Starting with his list of important events, he makes sense of his world by organizing things into understandable lists.  As he grows older, Peter realizes the importance of these lists not only in organizing his world, but also in helping him to find the precise word that he needs.  In time, he realizes that he must share these lists with the world, and thus the legendary thesaurus, still in use to this day, is born.

What I Liked

This book is full of beautiful illustrations.  If you take time to appreciate the details, you learn more about Roget’s lists and the ways in which he organizes the world.  The little details, such as important dates, are shown in the vivid detail.  I also liked that overall, the concept of the book was simple.  The reader learns about what a thesaurus is, and how it is useful, before ever learning the specific term.

What I Didn’t Like

I didn’t care for the writing style of this book at all.  On some pages, the text is in complete, logical sentences and paragraphs, while on others, it switches to a more lyrical format and reads like an awkward poem.  There does not seem to be much rhyme or reason as to why the writing style switches, and for me, I found it confusing to switch back and forth between one and another.  Another thing I thought was lacking was specific historical details.  While the back matter of the book includes a list of important dates and a selected bibliography as part of its resources, I found that overall this factual information was missing from the text itself.  It seemed that in an attempt to keep the book simple and understandable, the author left out numerous details that would have allowed this to become a stronger work.

Overall Feeling

I personally did not feel that this was a strong nominee for the Texas Bluebonnet Award. While the illustrations are fantastic, the pictures alone are not enough to carry the book.  It lacks the substance of other nonfiction titles, and the poetic approach may be confusing to young readers.  As a brief introduction to the the thesaurus and its invention, this book is an adequate resource; however, as an authoritative reference work, it falls short.  It is worth reading for the background information, and for the illustrations, but if you are looking for depth of information, you will need to look elsewhere.

The Great American Dust Bowl

The Great American Dust Bowl

Don Brown

ISBN:  9780547815503

This is the second title I have read for the 2015-2016 Texas Bluebonnet Award nominees.  Continuing down the list in alphabetically order, this is the next title.  I was actually pleased to have a nonfiction title (and more of a picture book) after reading a full chapter book.  It also gave me a better idea about the diversity of titles that are included each year on the nomination list.

Summary

The biggest storm of the Dust Bowl happened on April 14, 1935.  But, as Brown points out, the events that led to the Dust Bowl started far earlier.  The text, reading in an almost graphic novel format, presents a summary of the events leading up the Dust Bowl, from the shifting of the earth’s plates, through World War I, and on into the series of droughts and dusters that shaped the Dust Bowl.

What I Liked

As a nonfiction title, this book obviously presented a lot of facts.  I liked that the author presented the facts as simply as possible, but also in ways that are understandable to the reader.  For example, Brown describes the duster of May 1934 as filled with enough dust to fill 1500 modern supertankers.  Not only does the reader suddenly understand the vast amount of dust described, the simple visuals accompanying the text reinforce the points.  Overall, the book presents much factual information in a concise, understandable format.  Further, Brown hooks the reader from the very first sentence of the book.  The word choice immediately intrigues the reader and encourages you to read further.

What I Didn’t Like

Overall, I enjoyed the book.  However, I felt that the illustrations could have done more to support the text, at least as it relates to the families depicted.  On their own, the illustrations do a wonderful job of depicting the terror and hardship of the dust storms.  However, since the author chose to use a graphic format with the characters periodically adding their own thoughts to the narration, I would have liked to see perhaps a bit more character development throughout the story.  For instance, having the same family describe the impact of the Dust Bowl on their farm to allow the reader to form a stronger connection.  Overall, though, the way the author presents information does not detract from the text or the overall goal of the book, and the comments that are provided are beneficial for providing more personal context to the historical events described.

Overall Feeling

I enjoyed reading this book.  As a nonfiction title, it presents a lot of information without being overwhelming, and yet there is no doubt as to the historical accuracy and the amount of research that the author put into the work.  I think this book provides a great factual overview to the topic, and includes a surprising amount of information for its relatively short format.  I would recommend it not only as an interesting read, but also as a very useful resource in understanding this period in American history.