Take a photo of a barcode or cover
andee_zomerman's reviews
758 reviews
Refugee by Alan Gratz
5.0
Every so often a book comes along so important, you want everyone you know to read it. This is that book. The story is Josef escaping from Nazi Germany. Isabel escaping from Cuba. Mahmoud from Syria. Each story is a struggle, leaving one's home and way of life for the chance to survive.
But it's not all happy endings. There is death. There is separation. There is a life we who are privileged will never have to live. And that is the reason we need to read this book.
Today there are refugees being refused admission into America. Refugee helps put what we see in the news in personal perspective. God help the refugee.
But it's not all happy endings. There is death. There is separation. There is a life we who are privileged will never have to live. And that is the reason we need to read this book.
Today there are refugees being refused admission into America. Refugee helps put what we see in the news in personal perspective. God help the refugee.
Diamond Willow by Helen Frost
5.0
Why did it take me years to read this book? It's my only regret. Now that I have, its become a part of me.
This novel in verse follows the story of Alaska Native, Athabascan, Willow. She is 12, tries to not stand out in a crowd, but deems herself independent enough to mush the 12 miles from her house to her grandparents house.
There is tragedy, mythology, friendship, love, and so much more. I'm a fan of libraries and don't often recommend books to own - but this is one of them. I could read it again and again.
This novel in verse follows the story of Alaska Native, Athabascan, Willow. She is 12, tries to not stand out in a crowd, but deems herself independent enough to mush the 12 miles from her house to her grandparents house.
There is tragedy, mythology, friendship, love, and so much more. I'm a fan of libraries and don't often recommend books to own - but this is one of them. I could read it again and again.
Posted by John David Anderson
3.0
I read and recommend so many "mean girl" books about overcoming bullying, this is a great one that features boys as main characters. When cell phones are banned from school because of horrible texts about other people, the students take their meanness to post-it notes.
It's a good book about friendships, friends who drift away, new friends who come into the circle, and standing up for what's right. A good book for 5-8th graders.
It's a good book about friendships, friends who drift away, new friends who come into the circle, and standing up for what's right. A good book for 5-8th graders.
Fresh Ink by Lamar Giles
4.0
Soon I'll be giving short story book talks to my library students and I wanted to include this companion to Flying Lessons. It fits my purpose.
I'm a cisgender, white, suburban mom who has never had anything but privilege. However, the students I serve can find a story in this book with which to identify for sure. The stories give me the insight into their lives and I finished the book with a renewed compassion.
Some of my favorite authors are in here: Jason Reynolds, Walter Dean Myers, Nicola Yoon. Some are authors I'm reading for the first time. This is the brilliance of a story collection - I know have more authors to seek in order to have more books to share.
I'm a cisgender, white, suburban mom who has never had anything but privilege. However, the students I serve can find a story in this book with which to identify for sure. The stories give me the insight into their lives and I finished the book with a renewed compassion.
Some of my favorite authors are in here: Jason Reynolds, Walter Dean Myers, Nicola Yoon. Some are authors I'm reading for the first time. This is the brilliance of a story collection - I know have more authors to seek in order to have more books to share.
Solo by Kwame Alexander, Mary Rand Hess
4.0
I so appreciate the rhythmic reading of Kwame Alexander books; Solo is no exception. My emotions are everywhere - feeling for Blade, the protagonist, anger at his family, genuine love for the village he finds on an important journey.
While this book is at a middle school reading level, I think the impact would be greater for a high school student. But I will recommend this to anyone with a heart for a journey to find what is true within.
While this book is at a middle school reading level, I think the impact would be greater for a high school student. But I will recommend this to anyone with a heart for a journey to find what is true within.
The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
4.0
Xiamara is sure of herself on the outside, not so much on the inside. With a mom who doesn't help her confidence (in fact, berates her for it) X has her poetry to turn to. A beautiful story about growing up, finding who your friends are, and finding a way to make peace with your parents.
Recommended for grades 9 and up - though I know there are some 8th graders who could benefit from reading this.
Recommended for grades 9 and up - though I know there are some 8th graders who could benefit from reading this.
Chiggers by Hope Larson
2.0
Like others, I love Hope Larson. Like others, I'm left with the feeling, "what did I just read?" Maybe younger middle schoolers would like this book? I just had no idea what was going on. Was there a plot? Maybe it's my old brain not understanding. Entirely possible.
On the Come Up by Angie Thomas
5.0
The problem with reading an Angie Thomas book is that I want EVERY book to be like an Angie Thomas book. So often, authors of YA novels write their teens with vocabularies most adults don't have. But Thomas' characters are real, believable, and become a part of me. Yes, black kids from the hood become a part of a middle-aged, suburban, white woman. You KNOW that takes talented writing.
Main character Bri is following in her rapper-dad's footsteps - on the outside looking in. In reality, she's figuring out who she is. The depth of her character goes far, but so does the depth of the family and friends around her. I've never been through what her mother, Jay, has been through. And yet, just being a mom I could feel her heartache. Bri's brother Trey, her BFFs Malik and Sonny, and even Curtis - the boy who's been bugging her since they were kids, all have been shaped into real people.
A view shared with most, I never like a movie as much as a book. "The Hate U Give" was different - I liked them both equally. I have a sense if "On the Come Up" is made into a movie, I'll like it just as much.
Main character Bri is following in her rapper-dad's footsteps - on the outside looking in. In reality, she's figuring out who she is. The depth of her character goes far, but so does the depth of the family and friends around her. I've never been through what her mother, Jay, has been through. And yet, just being a mom I could feel her heartache. Bri's brother Trey, her BFFs Malik and Sonny, and even Curtis - the boy who's been bugging her since they were kids, all have been shaped into real people.
A view shared with most, I never like a movie as much as a book. "The Hate U Give" was different - I liked them both equally. I have a sense if "On the Come Up" is made into a movie, I'll like it just as much.
Hurt Go Happy by Ginny Rorby
5.0
When a friend recommended this to me, she had no idea I majored in Deaf Education and Fresno State (read the book for the coincidence)
Joey is deaf and misunderstood by her mother. She meets a neighbor and his signing chimpanzee. The story moves from a mother/daughter relationship to an intergenerational friendship, to animal rights, to independence to lessons in being kind.
I highly recommend this for grades 6 and up. It's poetically beautiful and will remain a part of me.
Joey is deaf and misunderstood by her mother. She meets a neighbor and his signing chimpanzee. The story moves from a mother/daughter relationship to an intergenerational friendship, to animal rights, to independence to lessons in being kind.
I highly recommend this for grades 6 and up. It's poetically beautiful and will remain a part of me.
Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga
5.0
Another beautiful story about a Syrian refugee, Jude is a middle schooler who leaves her home to live across the ocean with her uncle's family in Ohio. She jumps into American tween life like a champ - she may be scared on the inside, but she displays confidence on the outside.
This story doesn't shy away from the hardships refugees face. However, the strength of the main character is admirable for readers of all ages. Written in verse, the poetic nature is sure to be a favorite in our middle school library.
This story doesn't shy away from the hardships refugees face. However, the strength of the main character is admirable for readers of all ages. Written in verse, the poetic nature is sure to be a favorite in our middle school library.