Reviewed by Dan Grussing Sherman Alexie is an award-winning Native American author whose poems and novels candidly, humorously, and truthfully explore what it means to be Native American today. Thunder Boy Jr. is a light-hearted and beautiful exploration of the Native American naming tradition in which a person’s name uniquely captures something of themselves. Thunder … Continue reading
Reviewed by Emily Naik Ganesh and the Little Mouse is inspired by a myth of Hindu gods, Ganesh and Karthikeya, racing around the world. Joshi adapts the original myth to include themes of friendship, family, and perseverance for a modern audience. Ganesh was born with the head of an elephant, which sometimes makes him feel … Continue reading
Reviewed by Dani Quast Did you ever feel guilty as a kid for not using all of your crayons equally? Did you ever consider that some less-used crayons might have felt left out? The Day the Crayons Quit will make you remember the joys of coloring, but will add a quirky twist on how our … Continue reading
Reviewed by Jennifer Langreck Do you remember believing in fairy tales or scary creatures when you were young? In Tracey Baptiste’s fantasy novel The Jumbies, Caribbean lore becomes reality. The twelve-year-old protagonist Corinne doesn’t have to believe in the creatures she hears about in the local stories, but she does have to confront them. The … Continue reading
Reviewed by Kate Plager There’s a limited number of classic tropes featured in most works of adolescent realistic fiction. Drama about who will be named homecoming queen, parents’ pressure about college decisions, nervous and awkward first dates with a boy you have a crush on, trying to find your place in a high school run … Continue reading
