Current Book Review

Shadow by Michael Morpurgo (J Historical Fiction)

“She may be a dog, but I think she is more like a friend than a dog, like a friendly shadow that does not want to leave us. You never lose your shadow.”

Shadow

Michael Morpurgo (J Historical Fiction)

Aman and his family lived in the beautiful and peaceful valley of Bamiyan. When Russian fighters came followed by the Taliban, Afghanistan was no longer the safe home that Aman and his people once knew. Forced to flee his homeland, Aman and his mother make the perilous journey to England through Kabul, Kandahar, Iran, Turkey, and across the English Channel. Through it all, he was given comfort, joy, and hope through a Springer Spaniel that he named Shadow. Now, six years later, Aman and his mother face deportation and it’s up to his classmate Matt and his grandfather to find a way to keep Aman in England. With time running out, will Aman lose his new home just like he lost Shadow?

Michael Morpurgo is the reason why historical fiction is my favorite genre. His strong characters take center stage while historical facts and pivotal details provide a colorful backdrop to a compelling and heart-pounding story. Morpurgo sheds light on a region where the police are just as dangerous as the area warlords and local militias; and he shows readers that money can’t guarantee safety and trusted allies are easily corrupted by force or bribery. It is a dangerous world and Aman discovers this all too soon at the young age of eight.  

Morpurgo also introduces readers to Yarl’s Wood—a place where Aman and his mother are kept prior to their scheduled deportation. Opened in 2001, the facility is in Bedfordshire, UK and is the main removal center for up to 405 individuals. A second wing added in 2002 increased capacity to 900. Shadow details the horrific conditions of the facility including poor living conditions, children being separated from their parents, and a lack of access to legal representation. According to a recent online article by the BBC (https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-66121098), the facility now houses only men and although conditions seem to be improving, officials admit that there is still more work to be done.

Shadow is told from three points of view: Aman, Matt, and Matt’s grandfather. For the most part, Aman is our main narrator and through his lens we experience courage and hope of the strongest measure. This book is recommended for readers ages 10 to 14 and contains passages dealing with physical abuse, death, and animal cruelty. Opting for the higher end of the age range might be a safe choice for sensitive readers although all will benefit from the accurate account of a region and people in turmoil while navigating the emotions that this raw, immersive, and captivating story provides.

Shadow reminds us to never underestimate the human spirit or the impact that a loyal and brave companion has on our own capacity to trust and endure the seemingly unbearable. During one of their more difficult times, Aman’s mother said to him, “She may be a dog, but I think she is more like a friend than a dog, like a friendly shadow that does not want to leave us. You never lose your shadow.”

Rating: 5/5

* Book cover image attributed to: www.abebooks.com

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Esio Trot by Roald Dahl (J Fiction)

Esio Trot

Roald Dahl (J Fiction)

Mr. Hoppy has two loves in his life: his flowers and the widowed Mrs. Silver. If only Mr. Hoppy was the object of Mrs. Silver’s affection, but that honor goes to Alfie, her pet tortoise. But, as luck would have it, something happens on a certain bright morning in May that would be the answer to Mr. Hoppy’s prayers. He would not only find a way to make Mrs. Silver’s wish come true, but his own wish as well. But to what lengths is Mr. Hoppy willing to go to make dreams come true?

As I’ve said countless times before, the hardest part about reviewing a children’s book as an adult is suppressing my own experiences and expectations and instead looking at the story through the untarnished and innocent eyes of a child—for whom it was written. Normally, I’m able to balance this fairly effectively…until now. No matter how I try to rationalize this story and understand whatever lesson it’s attempting to convey, Esio Trot is a disappointment on a moral, human, psychological, and ethical level. No matter how many ways you analyze this story and the behavior of the main character, dishonesty and betrayal are the underlying drivers in what is meant to be a funny and slapstick children’s story.   

A stark contrast to most beloved Dahl protagonists, Mr. Hoppy has no redeeming qualities whatsoever. He’s a lying, scheming, manipulative, and totally self-serving individual. At every turn, he puts his own wants and needs above everyone else under the delusion that he’s helping his beloved acquire her one true desire. His intentions are truly devious and there’s nothing charming or humorous about it. In the hands of a child, it might be viewed as Ha, ha! Boy, did he really trick Mrs. Silver! Wasn’t he smart? Hurray, Mr. Hoppy! But to the average reader who possesses the smallest understanding of right and wrong, the moment eventually comes when the hero’s motive is justifiably questioned and it’s decided that a line has not only been crossed, but absolutely eviscerated. I even held out hope that perhaps Mr. Hoppy would have an Ebenezer-Scrooge moment when he realizes the error of his ways and immediately seeks redemption. Sadly, this was not to be and all I took away from this book is that if you lie to the one you love, then all of your dreams will come true AND, if you’re super slick, you’ll manage to convince them that your dream is actually what they wanted for themselves all along, too.

Ironically, Roald Dahl once said, “Having power is not nearly as important as what you choose to do with it.” Too bad that he didn’t have his own Mr. Hoppy choose better for if he had, he would have realized that the greatest gift he could have given Mrs. Silver was simply his company, his friendship, and perhaps a lovely flower or two.

Rating: 1/5

* Book cover image attributed to: www.abebooks.com

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Uncle Boris in the Yukon and Other Shaggy Dog Stories by Daniel Pinkwater (Adult Autobiography)

Uncle Boris in the Yukon and Other Shaggy Dog Stories

Daniel Pinkwater (Adult Autobiography)

This is a book about three men who love dogs and the dogs that loved them back. From the author’s Uncle Boris, the most colorful and cultured of his father’s five gangster brothers from Warsaw; to his father who emigrated from Poland to New York in the 1920s and became an expert in parrots; to the author himself who has always been drawn to sled dogs, had a penchant for magic in his youth, and opened up an obedience school while authoring several children’s books, their shaggy tales (pun intended) will delight and warm the heart of any puppy parent, canine cuddler, or doggy doter.

Admittedly, I was disappointed for the first third of the book where I found the title to be misleading—the story related very little of Uncle Boris in the Yukon and the other shaggy dog stories were either mere mentions, brief encounters, or just a few short paragraphs. However, as Mahatma Gandhi once said, “To lose patience is to lose the battle” so I was determined to press on because who was I to doubt Gandhi? Luckily, my patience was rewarded as I was given stories that plucked at my very heartstrings: using dogs to heal troubled boys lost in an academic system; adopting an aggressive Malamute whose imperfections made him the perfect companion; and opening up Superpuppy, a dog obedience business that resulted in several comedic situations and even more valuable life lessons. Pinkwater’s stories of love, loss, healing, and heartbreak will resonate with anyone who has ever had the privilege and experienced the joy of having been loved by a dog.

I sometimes end my reviews with a famous quote that succinctly and eloquently wraps up the overall theme of the story. I couldn’t find anything that expresses this better than Pinkwater’s own words about his many canine companions: They’ve been my teachers, this little succession of barkers—they’ve shown me a lot about how it’s possible to live this life, and also how to leave it, loving it right up to the last second. Whether purebred, crossbred, mongrel, rescue, foster, or stray, these shaggy creatures somehow find a way into a few lucky homes and hearts…and ultimately we are all the better for it.

Rating: 4/5

* Book cover image attributed to: www.abebooks.com

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The Last Holiday Concert by Andrew Clements (J Fiction)

The Last Holiday Concert

Andrew Clements (J Fiction)

Hart Evans was officially a Palmer kid—that wonderful immersion of sixth graders from Collins Elementary School and Newman Elementary School. Out of almost 400 kids, Hart was well on his way to becoming the most popular student at Palmer Intermediate School. But all that was about to change when he decided to make his uncool chorus class a little more fun. When you combine a sweeping arts budget cut with two misfired rubber bands and a disillusioned chorus director, you get one Hart Evans who is suddenly in charge of this year’s holiday concert. What started out as a joke turns into a battle of wills between the chorus director, Mr. Meinert, and Hart. With so much infighting and time quickly running out will Hart and his class deliver the best holiday concert…or the last?

I REALLY enjoyed this book. Not only does it accurately portray middle-school life, but I was delighted that it lacked the stereotypical “bad guys” that you often expect to see in school-related books targeted for this age range: the adult, authoritative figure being the oppressor or the stuck-up popular kid who belittles the weak. Clements avoids those overused pitfalls and instead delivers a heartfelt, sweet, and human story about a teacher feeling betrayed by the institution he loves and a popular kid who suddenly realizes that he can’t make everything right simply by pleasing everyone. Both Hart and Mr. Meinert may seem very different at first, but as the story progresses, we see how much alike they are in wanting to be appreciated and valued. They even learn how to work together and in a nice twist, the teacher realizes just how much he can learn from his students and the students understand just how much their teacher has to offer.

At a time when teachers are abandoning their profession at an alarming rate, Andrew Clements reminds us that everyone wants to feel valued and needed and teachers are no exception. He shows us that leading begins with listening and reminds us of the astounding impact that a teacher can have on learning.

One of my favorite authors, Michael Morpurgo, once wrote, “It’s the teacher that makes the difference, not the classroom.” Facing dismissal and an overwhelming feeling of obsolescence, Mr. Meinert could have easily turned his back on his class and school, but he eventually realizes the reason that he became a teacher in the first place and that was to make a difference. And what a difference he made. Thank you teachers…everywhere.

Rating: 5/5

* Book cover image attributed to: www.abebooks.com

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Wait Till Helen Comes: A Ghost Story by Mary Downing Hahn (J Horror)

Wait Till Helen Comes: A Ghost Story

Mary Downing Hahn (J Horror)

“YOU’VE BOUGHT a church?” That was Molly’s reaction when she found out that her mother and stepfather were planning to move their blended family to a renovated church with a cemetery in the backyard. Making matters worse is her new seven-year-old stepsister, Heather who is mean, lies, tattles, and is an overall troublemaker. Soon after they arrive, Heather discovers the grave of a girl named Helen who shares her initials AND was her age when she died. Over time, Heather begins to turn even more hateful and diabolical towards her new siblings and as Molly and her brother Michael uncover the tragic events surrounding them, things begin to get worse and more dangerous…especially when Helen comes.

Hahn delivers an eerie and suspenseful ghost story that’s spooky yet spares readers the gore that authors sometime rely on to raise the hairs on our neck. Hahn psychologically preys upon her readers’ fear of death and delves into feelings of isolation, loneliness, guilt, and jealousy through Heather’s possessive and protective relationship with her father. Heather harbors some deep-seeded trauma that is never fully resolved and this spills over into her relationship with her new siblings. Young readers won’t think twice about the obvious parental negligence of not providing Heather with the therapy she clearly requires, but they will most certainly see how unfairly Molly and Michael are castigated (especially by their own mother) for things that are clearly not their fault. In this respect, the siblings’ dislike for their parental figures is clearly warranted and make them even more sympathetic.

This is the second book that I’ve read by Hahn (the first being The Old Willis Place) and I understand why young readers are drawn to her books when desiring a good old-fashioned ghost story. The characters are well established, the story has a nice momentum and never lags, and Hahn effectively increases the tension and heightens the fear as Heather’s dependency on Helen grows stronger and more resolute. I really like how the author reverses predictable roles to create a sense of chaos and unpredictability as family members become untrustworthy or unreliable allies and antagonists turn out to be more than meets the eye. This flip really jostles the reader and keeps things uncomfortably off balance as Molly fights to separate fact from fantasy while struggling to nurture a relationship with a stepsister that clearly despises her and even threatens her with death. And you thought Cinderella had it tough!

As an adult reading this book, I thought the parents were selfish, neglectful, and terrible role models; however, young readers will overlook these self-centered people and instead delight in a heart-pounding, thrilling read that will have them anxiously flipping pages toward a rollercoaster ending. So, buckle up, hold on tight, and just wait till Helen comes.

Rating: 4/5

* Book cover image attributed to: www.abebooks.com

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The Girl in the Garden by Melanie Wallace (Adult Fiction)

The Girl in the Garden

Melanie Wallace (Adult Fiction)

A widowed landlord. A young, abandoned mother. An elderly woman with a tragic past and her estranged daughter. A Vietnam veteran who bears the scars of war. A town patriarch and sage longing for a family. The lives of these damaged and vulnerable individuals converge in a small eastern town in the 1970s. Bleak, repentant, and tragic, their stories tell of unrequited love, repressed shame, and regret, but as their paths become intertwined, each begins to experience acceptance, forgiveness, and a second chance at happiness.

The Girl in the Garden is a first for me in that this novel—brimming with characters and dialogue—contains no quotation marks. Not a single one. Although Wallace’s writing technique is unique and immersive, this continuous stream-of-consciousness style of writing was both intensive and exhausting:

So, Claire said, the question of the day is: are you a good driver? And that caught Sam off-guard, for it meant she’d learned if not from Leonard then maybe from George—who rarely spoke in sentences that could be understood, his speech being as garbled as his mind, but then Claire had a way of making people intelligible, who knew how?—that Sam wasn’t blind in the eye over which he always wore a patch that also covered his eyebrow and some of his scarred, dented cheekbone.

This book feels more like a mind dump rather than a cohesive story and the constant ramblings often pushed my attention span to its breaking point; however, there are some endearing characters and relationships that keep the story interesting and smooths the rough patches a bit. And although this garden seems to be mercilessly overrun with tangles of ivy and carpetweed, the occasional rose manages to emerge for those readers patient and diligent enough to push through.

Rating: 3/5

* Book cover image attributed to: www.abebooks.com

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Hidden Figures Young Readers’ Edition by Margot Lee Shetterly (J Non-Fiction)

Hidden Figures Young Readers’ Edition

Margot Lee Shetterly (J Non-Fiction)

The newspaper ad caught the attention of many women. It read: “Reduce your household duties! Women who are not afraid to roll up their sleeves and do jobs previously held by men should call the Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory.”

It was one thing to break the gender barrier—to perform jobs exclusively held by men—but four women would heed the call and begin crumbling racial roadblocks as well. While Americans were fighting for freedom overseas, these women were fighting their own war at home: overcoming impossible odds, challenging societal norms, and battling racial prejudice to ensure that the United States of America would be the first to land a man on the moon.

The stories of Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christine Darden were likely unknown to most before the movie—of the same title—hit the big screens. Stories such as theirs should be celebrated and studied because of their importance to American history. These women’s rise through the ranks of a segregated government are both inspirational and affirmational: Dorothy Vaughan joined the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) in the first year they began hiring African American women as “computers” (or mathematicians) and was the first to be promoted into a management position; Mary Jackson became NASA’s first African American female engineer in 1958 and worked to make supersonic aircraft fly higher and faster; Katherine Johnson worked on the numbers to successfully plot the trajectory of an orbital mission around Earth and to land on the Moon; and Christine Darden became one of the world’s leading experts on supersonic flight. Each were remarkable not only for their knowledge, courage, and determination, but also because they never hesitated to support and elevate other women in their careers and offer them opportunities that would otherwise have been unattainable and unimaginable.

This book took me an unnecessarily long time to finish as it read more like a textbook than a story, which is the reason why I enjoy reading historical fiction so much. The publisher’s recommended reading age for this book is listed as 9 to 12, although I really can’t imagine that age bracket sticking with this book long enough to finish it. Although it spanned many pivotal events in history: World War II, V-J Day, the breaking of the sound barrier, the Rosenburg trial, IBM’s first computers, the Cold War, the “Little Rock Nine”, the Space Race, Sputnik, Brown v. Board of Education,the Mercury 7, the “Greensboro Four”, punch cards, MLK Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech, the tragedy of Apollo 1 and more stuffed onto just 216 pages (using large typeface) presents an overwhelming challenge for readers of any age. I do appreciate Shetterly providing backgrounds on our four groundbreakers, although Christine Darden’s story got the least amount of coverage as she was born about a generation after Dorothy, Katherine, and Mary and represented the next generation of female space scientists. If young readers had to provide an in-depth book report on the vital role that these women played in the advancement of space exploration, then this is the book for them; otherwise, if they are looking for an engaging and immersive read, it’s just too fact-heavy for the casual reader.

A common theme throughout the book is the idea of breaking barriers. As soon as these women conquered one obstacle, another would quickly form and take its place. Wall after wall was broken down by these women and their tireless efforts paved the way for those that followed. When Shetterly was describing Mary Jackson’s son’s accomplishment of being the first black boy to win the Hampton Road area’s soap box derby, she relished in the idea that the best thing about breaking a barrier was that it doesn’t have to be broken again. Hidden Figures is not just a remarkable story of four women, it’s also an homage to all individuals who make a sacrifice and are willing to pay the ultimate price in order to break walls so that others may walk through.

Rating: 4/5

* Book cover image attributed to: www.abebooks.com

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Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool (J Historical Fiction)

“To write a good story, one must watch and listen.”

Moon Over Manifest

Clare Vanderpool (J Historical Fiction)

Every story has a beginning, middle, and an end, but Abilene Tucker’s story seemed to be nothing but middle. It’s 1936 and while her father, Gideon, works a railroad job in Iowa, she is sent to the town where he grew up…Manifest, Kansas. She’s to spend the summer with her father’s old friend, Pastor Shady Howard, whose home is a combination saloon, church, and carpenter’s shop. While upstairs in her father’s old room, Abilene discovers an old cigar box with various trinkets, as well as some handwritten letters addressed to a boy named Jinx. Could these items—a cork, fishhook, silver dollar, key, and a little wooden doll—help Abilene uncover the mystery of her father’s past? With the help of two new friends, Abilene embarks on a hunt for a possible spy and meets a diviner who helps her uncover a few things about her father and herself.

This book covers two periods of time: 1936 (present day narrated by Abilene) and 1918 (told in third person). Although this book makes multiple time jumps involving several characters, Vanderpool does a terrific job at making sure young readers stay engaged by keeping the two storylines separate and straightforward. Our diviner, Sadie, eases readers into the past as she reveals Manifest’s history that involves several actual events including World War I, orphan trains, and the Spanish influenza. Moon Over Manifest does deal with some disturbing content such as racism, murder, alcohol use, and the ugliness of war, but in doing so gives readers an honest and rare opportunity to learn about important periods in American history through the unique lenses of a twelve-year-old hardworking and fearless girl and a thirteen-year-old runaway conman. Together, these two protagonists teach us that everyone deserves a do-over, things are not always what they seem, and perhaps there’s nothing more dangerous than hope.

Vanderpool packs so many wonderful takeaways and lessons into this book but overall, Moon Over Manifest is a celebration of immigrants and the richness and vibrancy they add to the American fabric. Manifest is a community represented by Scotland, Poland, Greece, Norway, Italy, Germany, Hungary, and Russia. These people—from very different countries and cultures—all unite behind a young con artist and collectively take a leap of faith to not only save their town, but to save their way of life and themselves. U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson said on October 3, 1965 at the Statue of Liberty, “The land flourished because it was fed from so many sources—because it was nourished by so many cultures and traditions and peoples.” Although Manifest was a town torn apart by racism and stricken with war and an epidemic, its community flourished because of the strength and uniqueness of its people…people who were all lucky enough to call Manifest home.

Rating: 5/5

* Book cover image attributed to: www.abebooks.com

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Hatchet by Gary Paulsen (J Fiction)

My name is Brian Robeson and I am thirteen years old and I am alone in the north woods of Canada.

Hatchet  

Gary Paulsen (J Fiction)

My name is Brian Robeson and I am thirteen years old and I am alone in the north woods of Canada.

Brian Robeson’s mother and father recently divorced. Nothing much was said about it, but Brian knew the reason because he knew the Secret. He lives in New York with his mother, but is headed to Canada to spend the summer with his father. He boards the Cessna 406 and makes his way north with his belongings in a suitcase and a hatchet hooked in his belt—a present given to him by his mother on the ride to the airport. This last-minute gift would tip the scales between almost-certain death and survival as Brian’s plane goes down in the Canadian wilderness and this city boy faces decisions that he never imagined he would be making.

This Newbery Honor book was challenged for its graphic descriptions of trauma and injury and removed from school libraries in Tennessee for its sexual content and violent imagery. Hatchet has a recommended reading age of nine to twelve so it was banned from elementary school libraries. As this story deals with survival, some portions of this book are graphic (especially the scene describing the pilot’s death), but nothing that would tremendously affect a typical fourth grader who hungrily clamors for the next installation in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Also, the “sexual content” reference refers to Brian witnessing his mother sitting in a car and kissing a man who is NOT his father so don’t let this be a major red flag if your youngster reaches for this book.

I liked how Paulsen uses repetition in his writing to build suspense (He was stopped. Inside he was stopped. He could not think past what he saw, what he felt. All was stopped.) or to reinforce urgency (He had to fly somehow. Had to fly the plane. He had to help himself. The pilot was gone, beyond anything he could do. He had to try and fly the plane.). This is incredibly effective—especially with this age group—and although he incorporates it often throughout the book, it never becomes tedious or loses its impact. Also, Brian’s learning curve is inline with someone of his age. Although raised in the city, he pulls lessons he’s either learned in school or seen on the screen and these allow him to adapt to his situation and surroundings. He quickly realizes that self-pity and panic are only liabilities and quickly discounts them as useful reactions to his predicament. He systematically and logically approaches his obstacles and begins to understand the importance and necessity of not merely surviving day by day, but also preparing for the future. The reader witnesses Brian’s evolution and although we mourn the innocence that he’s lost, we applaud him for the bigger lessons that he’s learned about life and what’s truly important and necessary.

Gary Paulsen died in 2021 and during his lifetime—having written over 200 books throughout his career—was one of the most challenged authors of the 21st century according to the American Library Association. Because several of his books were banned because his writing was just “too realistic” speaks volumes to just how gifted a storyteller Paulsen was and why he continues to amass such a large and loyal fan base. Just as Brian changes throughout the story, I hope that we too continue to evolve and begin to realize just how important stories like Paulsen’s are in showing young readers the importance of believing in yourself, the downside of underestimating your abilities, and the courage it takes to wake up each morning with a renewed sense of determination and hope. How can anyone think of banning a book such as this?

Rating: 5/5

* Book cover image attributed to: www.abebooks.com