libscote's reviews
6266 reviews

This Is How We Do It: One Day in the Lives of Seven Kids from Around the World by Matt Lamothe

informative lighthearted reflective slow-paced

3.0

This book is a good way to compare and contrast some basic things people do every day. It's especially helpful for children, who might think everyone does things the way they do. 

Cher: The Memoir, Part One by Cher

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

4.0

"Cher is a global icon." That's her author bio, and it's so true. One thing I appreciated about this book was getting to know Cher through her childhood and her family, to see patterns that repeated themselves and ones that didn't. I had a vague idea about parts of her life due to "The Cher Show" but to hear it in her own words? Extraordinary. Love her forever.

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Alcohol

Throw Your Tooth on the Roof: Tooth Traditions from Around the World by Selby Beeler

informative slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A

3.0

A look at different tooth traditions. My personal favorite was learning how many countries use mice to grab teeth, rather than a fairy.

Nya's Long Walk: A Step at a Time by Linda Sue Park

emotional hopeful informative sad medium-paced

3.0

This book is about a girl who has to walk far to get water, and it isn't necessarily clean. This book is a good introduction for kids about water cleanliness.

Alone by Megan E. Freeman

adventurous challenging emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

I can see why this book is so popular with my middle grade patrons. It's easy to read and a gripping tale of survival, but set in a suburb. Like, what if you were abandoned but still had access to a grocery store? I enjoyed it. 

How to Stay Invisible by Maggie C. Rudd

adventurous emotional sad medium-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Raymond is abandoned by his parents in North Carolina. It's not that unusual for them to leave for a few days, but to leave him for good? That's new. He and his dog Rosie have to figure out how to survive. Your heart will break for Raymond as he struggles to avoid getting back in the foster care system, based on a previous negative experience. 

When I Arrived at the Castle by E.M. Carroll

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

3.0

Beautiful art but the story was a bit convoluted. 

Indian Shoes by Cynthia Leitich Smith

lighthearted fast-paced

3.0

An excellent chapter book about a Native family living in the city. 

Simon Sort of Says by Erin Bow

challenging emotional funny medium-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

This reminded me of Gary Schmidt's books, where there is a very sad thing that happens and people deal with it, often in humorous ways. Simon wants to escape his life in Omaha when he moves to Grin and Bear It. No one can have the internet there, in addition to other electronics that might interfere with radio telescope frequencies. He meets Agate, a girl who wants to ping alien noises off of the local telescope so the researchers won't feel so all alone. These two learn to be best friends and to help each other deal with the aspects of their lives that aren't always so pleasant. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Medical content and Mass/school shootings

South to America: A Journey Below the Mason Dixon to Understand the Soul of a Nation by Imani Perry

challenging dark informative reflective sad slow-paced

3.5

This took me a while to read. I thought it was good, but it was a lot to process and very different from my usual type of reading. I'm glad I read it though.