Geo Librarian

OTHER WORDS FOR HOME by Jasmine Warga Balzer + Bray, 2019 ISBN: 978-0-06-274780-8 Source: purchased Ages 9-12 All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK I am learning how to be sad and happy at the same time. Jude never thought she’d be leaving her beloved older brother and father behind, all the way across the ocean in Syria. But when things in her hometown start becoming volatile, Jude and her mother are sent to live in Cincinnati with relatives. At first, everything in America seems too fast and too loud. The American movies that Jude has always loved haven’t quite prepared her for starting school in the US—and her new label of “Middle Eastern,” an identity she’s never known before. But this life also brings unexpected surprises—there are new friends, a whole new family, and a school musical that Jude might just try out for. Maybe America, too, is a place where Jude can be seen as she really is. REVIEW This novel in verse that won a Newbe...

SONG FOR A WHALE by Lynne Kelly Delacourte Press, 2019 ISBN: 978-1-5247-7023-5 Source: purchased Ages 9-12 All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK The story of a deaf girl's connection to a whale whose song can't be heard by his species, and the journey she takes to help him. From fixing the class computer to repairing old radios, twelve-year-old Iris is a tech genius. But she's the only deaf person in her school, so people often treat her like she's not very smart. If you've ever felt like no one was listening to you, then you know how hard that can be. When she learns about Blue 55, a real whale who is unable to speak to other whales, Iris understands how he must feel. Then she has an idea: she should invent a way to "sing" to him! But he's three thousand miles away. How will she play her song for him? REVIEW Song for a Whale  is a beautifully-written tale involving a young girl who is deaf, a whale with an u...

A THOUSAND SISTERS: The Heroic Airwomen of The Soviet Union in World War II by Elizabeth Wein Balzer + Bray, 2019 ISBN: 978-0-06-245301-3 Source: purchased Ages 14 and up All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK The true story of the only women to fly in combat in World War II In the early years of World War II, Josef Stalin issued an order that made the Soviet Union the first country in the world to allow female pilots to fly in combat. Led by Marina Raskova, these three regiments, including the 588th Night Bomber Regiment—nicknamed the “night witches”—faced intense pressure and obstacles both in the sky and on the ground. Some of these young women perished in flames. Many of them were in their teens when they went to war. This is the story of Raskova’s three regiments, women who enlisted and were deployed on the front lines of battle as navigators, pilots, and mechanics. It is the story of a thousand young women who wanted to take flight t...

THE FIRST DINOSAUR: How Science Solved the Greatest Mystery on Earth by Ian Lendler Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2019 ISBN: 978-1-5344-2700-6 Source: purchased Ages 12 and up All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK A Kirkus Reviews Best Middle Grade Book of 2019 An Orbis Picture Recommended Title “An outstanding case study in how science is actually done: funny, nuanced, and perceptive.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review) Join early scientists as they piece together one of humanity’s greatest puzzles—the fossilized bones of the first dinosaur! Dinosaurs existed. That’s a fact we accept today. But not so long ago, the concept that these giant creatures could have roamed Earth millions of years before humans was unfathomable. People thought what we know as dinosaur bones were the bones of giant humans. Of large elephants. Of angels, even. So, how did we get from angel wings to the T-Rex? The First Dinosaur tells the story of the idea of dinosaurs...

NEW KID by Jerry Craft Harper, 2019 ISBN: 978-0-06-269120-0 Source: purchased Ages 9-14 Graphic Novel -- Realistic/Contemporary All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK A graphic novel about starting over at a new school where diversity is low and the struggle to fit in is real. Seventh grader Jordan Banks loves nothing more than drawing cartoons about his life. But instead of sending him to the art school of his dreams, his parents enroll him in a prestigious private school known for its academics, where Jordan is one of the few kids of color in his entire grade. As he makes the daily trip from his Washington Heights apartment to the upscale Riverdale Academy Day School, Jordan soon finds himself torn between two worlds—and not really fitting into either one. Can Jordan learn to navigate his new school culture while keeping his neighborhood friends and staying true to himself? REVIEW Jerry Craft has created a masterpiece of a story with his b...

THE DARK LORD CLEMENTINE by Sarah Jean Horwitz Algonquin Young Readers, 2019 ISBN: 978-1-61620-894-3 Source: purchased Ages 9-12 All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Dastardly deeds aren’t exactly the first things that come to mind when one hears the name “Clementine,” but as the sole heir of the infamous Dark Lord Elithor, twelve-year-old Clementine Morcerous has been groomed since birth to be the best (worst?) Evil Overlord she can be. But everything changes the day the Dark Lord Elithor is cursed by a mysterious rival. Now, Clementine must not only search for a way to break the curse, but also take on the full responsibilities of the Dark Lord. As Clementine forms her first friendships, discovers more about her own magic than she ever dared to explore, and is called upon to break her father’s code of good and evil, she starts to question the very life she’s been fighting for. What if the Dark Lord Clementine doesn’t want to be dark af...

THE PRINCESS IN BLACK AND THE BATHTIME BATTLE by Shannon Hale & Dean Hale, illustrated by LeUyen Pham Candlewick Press, 2019 ISBN: 978-1-5362-0221-2 Source: purchased Ages 6-10 All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK The Princess in Black is in a very stinky situation. A foul cloud is plaguing the goat pasture, and it smells worse than a pile of dirty diapers or a trash can on a hot summer day. But every time the Princess in Black and her friend the Goat Avenger manage to get rid of the odor, they accidentally blow it to another kingdom! Other masked heroes and their trusty companions show up to help, but how do you battle a stench when your ninja moves fail? Fans with a nose for slapstick will be tickled to see the six stalwart friends join their wits to take on an impossibly beastly stink. REVIEW I always look forward to new books in my favorite series.  And the Princess in Black is definitely one of my favorite series.  Wit...

LITTLE ROBIN'S CHRISTMAS by Jan Fearnley Nosy Crow, 2019 ISBN: 978-1-5362-0825-2 Source: publisher for review Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK It's a week before Christmas and Little Robin has everything ready, including a nice warm vest for each frosty day. But Little Robin didn't count on meeting seven chilly friends, and his generosity gets the best of him as he shares his vests with the animals he meets. With no vest left for himself, poor little Robin huddles on an icy roof ... until someone very special comes to the rescue. REVIEW Robin eagerly looks forward to the arrival of Christmas.  His seven warm vests have him all ready to enjoy winter activities in the meantime.  But for each of the next seven days as Robin heads out to enjoy a variety of different activities, he comes across an animals suffering from the cold.  His kind heart leads him to give away all of his vests.  As he huddles, shivering o...

FLY GIRLS: How Five Daring Women Defied All Odds and Made Aviation History Young Reader's Edition by Keith O'Brien Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2019 ISBN: 978-1-328-61842-9 Source: publisher for review for Cybils Ages 12 and up All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK From NPR correspondent Keith O’ Brien comes this thrilling Young Readers' edition of the untold story about pioneering women, including Amelia Earhart, who fought to compete against men in the high-stakes national air races of the 1920s and 1930s—and won. In the years between World War I and World War II, airplane racing was one of the most popular sports in America. Thousands of fans flocked to multiday events, and the pilots who competed in these races were hailed as heroes. Well, the male pilots were hailed. Women who flew planes were often ridiculed by the press, and initially they weren’t invited to race. Yet a group of women were determined to take to ...

SANTA'S STORY by Will Hillenbrand two lions, 2019 Source: purchased Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Santa is ready to leave on Christmas Eve, but he can’t find the reindeer anywhere. Dasher is busy dashing, Donner is dozing, and Cupid is crooning. It isn’t until Santa remembers their annual tradition—reading a Christmas story together—that the reindeer are ready. Reindeer merriment abounds in this charming yuletide tale about honoring the celebration of holiday customs with those you love. REVIEW Hillenbrand's adorable Santa and reindeer stand out in this sweet story about the importance of stories and traditions.  Santa's ready to leave on Christmas Eve when he discovers that the reindeer are not in the stable.  As he searches for them, the reindeer live up to their names by dancing, prancing, and dozing. The use of alliteration makes the book fun to read a loud.  When Santa can't find the reindeer, he resorts to...

SULWE by Lupita Nyong' O, illustrated by Vashti Harrison Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2019 ISBN: 9781534425361 Source: publisher for review Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK From Academy Award–winning actress Lupita Nyong’o comes a powerful, moving picture book about colorism, self-esteem, and learning that true beauty comes from within. Sulwe has skin the color of midnight. She is darker than everyone in her family. She is darker than anyone in her school. Sulwe just wants to be beautiful and bright, like her mother and sister. Then a magical journey in the night sky opens her eyes and changes everything. In this stunning debut picture book, actress Lupita Nyong’o creates a whimsical and heartwarming story to inspire children to see their own unique beauty differently. REVIEW This stunningly beautiful book packs a punch.  I found myself both near tears and smiling hugely while reading this book. Sulwe, ...

SKULLS! By Blair Thornburgh and Scott Campbell Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2019 ISBN: 978-1-5344-1400-6 Ages 4-8 Picture book nonfiction Source: publisher for review All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Debut picture book author Blair Thornburgh and award-winning illustrator Scott Campbell put their heads together to celebrate one of the most important bones in your body: the skull! You probably don’t think much about skulls. So what’s the big deal about them? Well, every head of every person you’ve ever seen has a skull inside. And that includes YOU! This smart, skull-positive story cheerfully dispels any fears kids might have about their skeletons, flipping our view of skulls from a spooky symbol to a fascinating, cool, and crucial part of our bodies. REVIEW Skulls have long been used to frighten people.  But in this delightful new book, Blair Thornburgh and Scott Campbell show readers why skulls don't need to be frigh...