Geo Librarian

HOW DARE THE SUN RISE Memoirs of a War Child by Sandra Uwiringiyimana, Abigail Pesta Katherine Tegen Books, 2017 ISBN: 9780062470164 Source: public library e-book collection Ages 14 and up All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK This profoundly moving memoir is the remarkable and inspiring true story of Sandra Uwiringyimana, a girl from the Democratic Republic of the Congo who tells the tale of how she survived a massacre, immigrated to America, and overcame her trauma through art and activism. Sandra was just ten years old when she found herself with a gun pointed at her head. She had watched as rebels gunned down her mother and six-year-old sister in a refugee camp. Remarkably, the rebel didn’t pull the trigger, and Sandra escaped. Thus began a new life for her and her surviving family members. With no home and no money, they struggled to stay alive. Eventually, through a United Nations refugee program, they moved to America, only to fa...

SURVIVOR'S CLUB: The True Story of a Very Young Prisoner of Auschwitz by Michael Bornstein & Debbie Bornstein Holinstat Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers, 2017 ISBN: 978-0-374-30571-0 Source: public library Grades 9-12 All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK In 1945, in a now-famous piece of archival footage, four-year-old Michael Bornstein was filmed by Soviet soldiers as he was carried out of Auschwitz in his grandmother’s arms. Survivors Club tells the unforgettable story of how a father’s courageous wit, a mother’s fierce love, and one perfectly timed illness saved Michael’s life, and how others in his family from Zarki, Poland, dodged death at the hands of the Nazis time and again with incredible deftness. Working from his own recollections as well as extensive interviews with relatives and survivors who knew the family, Michael relates his inspirational story with the help of his daughter, Debbie Bornstein Holinst...

KING & KAYLA AND THE CASE OF THE MISSING DOG TREATS written by Dori Hillestad Butler, illustrated by Nancy Meyers Peachtree Publishing, 2017 ISBN: 978-1-145-877-6 Ages 6-9 Source: publisher for review All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Kayla made peanut butter treats for Jillian's new puppy, Thor. But now the treats are missing.  What does Kayla know? There are three treats missing. King was in the kitchen. King's breath doesn't smell like peanut butter.  What does King know? There's an intruder in the house.  How will they solve the mystery? REVIEW I'm always on the lookout for fun early chapter books.  These books need to be fast moving with short, easy to read sentences for children just learning to read.  But the stories and illustrations are important as well.  In this first of a new series, King wants to eat the peanut butter treats that Kayla has made.  And when some of the treats go missing, ...

BERTHA TAKES A DRIVE How the Benz Automobile Changed the World by Jan Adkins Charlesbridge, 2017 ISBN: 978-1-58089-696-2 Ages 6-9 Source: publisher for review All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK It's 1888 and Bertha Benz's husband, Karl, has invented the prototype Benz motorwagen. But the German government declares the vehicle illegal, and the church calls it the devil's work. Unbeknownst to her husband, Bertha steals away with her two sons and drives nearly one hundred miles to prove just how amazing the motorwagen is. Bertha's mechanical savvy gets the boys to Grandma's house safely, and the remarkable mother/son road trip reduces global concern about moving vehicles. REVIEW I'm a big fan of books that highlight the actions of brave, clever women.  Jan Adkins has done an admirable job of telling one story from the life of one such women.  I had to laugh at the determination of this woman, Bertha Benz, to prove...

THE ADVENTURES OF HENRY WHISKERS by Gigi Priebe, illustrated by Daniel Duncan Aladdin, 2017 ISBN: 978-1-4814-6574-8 Middle grade animal fantasy (speculative) Ages 9-12 Source: Blue Slip Media All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Henry Whiskers must face his fears and rescue his little sister from the scary Rat Alley in this fun, fast-paced debut chapter book set in Queen Mary’s historical dollhouse at Windsor Castle. Twenty-five generations of Whiskers have lived in Windsor Castle’s most famous exhibit: Queen Mary’s Dollhouse. For young, book-loving Henry Whiskers and his family, this is the perfect place to call home. But when the dollhouse undergoes unexpected repairs and Henry’s youngest sister, Isabel, goes missing, he risks everything in a whisker-whipping race against time to save her. His rescue mission will take him to the murky and scary world of Rat Alley, and Henry will have to dig deep and find the courage he never knew he had in orde...

UNFILTERED: No Shame, No Regrets, Just Me by Lily Collins Harper, 2017 ISBN: 978-0-06-247301-1 Source: public library Ages 14 and up All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK In this groundbreaking debut essay collection, featuring never-before-seen photos, actress Lily Collins—star of Mortal Instruments and the upcoming Rules Don’t Apply —is opening a poignant, honest conversation about the things young women struggle with: body image, self-confidence, relationships, family, dating, and so much more. For the first time ever, Lily shares her life and her own deepest secrets, underlining that every single one of us experiences pain and heartbreak. We all understand what it’s like to live in the light and in the dark. For Lily, it’s about making it through to the other side, where you love what you see in the mirror and where you embrace yourself just as you are. She's learned that all it takes is one person standing up and saying something...

WHAT THIS STORY NEEDS IS A PIG IN A WIG by Emma J. Virjan Harper, 2015 ISBN: 978-0-06-232724-6 Ages 3-6 Source: purchased All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK What this story needs is a pig in a wig, on a boat in a moat with a frog, a dog, and a goat on a log. . . . As a panda in a blouse, a skunk on a trunk, and more hop on board, it becomes clear that what this story really needs is a bigger boat! Join Pig on an exciting boat ride as she discovers that life is more fun with friends in this fantastic funny read-aloud with cumulative text from author-illustrator Emma J. Virján. REVIEW  "What this story needs is a pig.  A pig in a wig, on a boat..." And so begins this ode to the joys and chaos of friendship.  But beyond the obvious themes is something that makes this book perfect for librarians like myself to use in teaching lessons about story elements.  As the story begins, a main character is presented (the pig in a ...

GIRLING UP How to be Strong, Smart and Spectacular by Mayim Bialik, PhD Philomel Books, 2017 ISBN: 978-0-399-54860-4 Source: public library Ages 14 and up All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Mayim Bialik, star of The Big Bang Theory , puts her Ph.D. to work as she talks to teens about the science of growing up and getting ahead. A must-have book for all teenage girls. Growing up as a girl in today's world is no easy task. Juggling family, friends, romantic relationships, social interests and school sometimes it feels like you might need to be a superhero to get through it all! But really, all you need is little information. Want to know why your stomach does a flip-flop when you run into your crush in the hallway? Or how the food you put in your body now will affect you in the future? What about the best ways to stop freaking out about your next math test? Using scientific facts, personal anecdotes, and wisdom gained from the worl...

BONAPARTE FALLS APART by Margery Cuyler, illustrations by Will Terry Crown Books for Young Readers, 2017 ISBN:978-1-101-93768-6 Ages 4-8 Source:purchased All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Bonaparte is having a tough time. It's hard for this young skeleton to just hang loose when he can't keep hold of himself.  When he plays catch, his throwing arm literally takes a flyer. Eating lunch can be a real jaw-dropping occasion. How can he start school when he has so many screws loose? Luckily, Bonaparte hit the bone-anza when it came to his friends. Franky Stein, Black Widow, and Mummicula all have some boneheaded ideas to help pull him together. But will it be enough to boost his confidence and get him ready for the first day of school? REVIEW Bonaparte fears going to school when he is constantly losing body parts.  A valid fear when you are a skeleton.  Bonaparte's friends try to help him come up with a solution, but their...