THIS WEEK'S BOOKS

As I began to write this week's post, I realized that all three out of four books are about orphans and finding a forever family. There all explore different concepts of what makes up a family and home. These books fall squarely into what I would call "tween" reads - 3rd-6th grade roughly. One is historical fiction, two are realistic with touches of magic, and one is a fantasy. All revolve around a quest or a compelling desire.

The Year I Flew Away by Marie Arnold; published February 2, 2021.

Don't judge a book by its cover? At least, not this one. There are witches and talking rats in this book - and I would never have guessed that from looking at the cover. Our story begins in Haiti where Gabrielle is surrounded by good friends, loving parents, and a community where she belongs. But her parents decide to send her to America for a better life and soon she finds herself in Brooklyn with her Uncle's family and with no friends. And at school there is a bully who makes her life miserable. Gabrielle would give anything to fit in - to be American. And a local witch, Lady Lydia, hones in on that desire by offering her three wishes. But magic in this world comes at a cost. Each time Gabrielle uses a wish, she loses something. And if she uses all three wishes, the witch will control her essence. Yes - Lady Lydia is definitely a bad witch. Fortunately, Gabrielle has found a few friends - Carmen, a school friend; Rocky, a talking rat who wants to be a rabbit and has an invisibility cloak; and the school librarian who is also from Haiti. They help her overcome her mistakes and fix the mess she makes - though Gabrielle is ultimately the one who has to have the courage to admit that she messed up big time.

Gabrielle and Carmen are ten years old but the magical elements in the book should grab the interest of older readers also. I think this book would make a great read-aloud. Kids will be able to relate to Gabrielle and her mistakes. The book also addresses how difficult it can be for a new student from another country to fit in at school. And encourages students to not give up on their culture and customs but embrace and share them with others.

The Elephant's Girl by Celesta Rimington; published May 19, 2020.  

This book took me completely by surprise. In fact, it's not a book I normally would have picked up but it is a Bluebonnet nominee and I try to read all twenty nominees each year. I am glad it was nominated because I really enjoyed it. Lexington Willow (Lex) is our protagonist. She was found in the elephant enclosure at the Lexington Zoo after an F-5 tornado leveled a large part of her town. Unfortunately, her parents were never found and no one stepped forward to claim her so Roger, the zoo's train engineer, became her guardian. But wait!  There's a ghost! And a hidden treasure. Plus Lex's desire to unravel the mystery of who her parents were. So much packed into one book! Highly recommended, this book would pair nicely with The Year I Flew Away and would also make a great read-aloud.

A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus; published February 2, 2021. 

I love a good historical fiction. This one is set in Great Britain during World War 2. After the death of their parents nine-ish years ago, William, Edmund, and Anna have been raised by their rather uncaring grandmother. You don't really get to meet her because the story opens during her funeral. Or the reception after the funeral. The children have a tidy inheritance but no one to look after them. So the solicitor suggests that they evacuate to the countryside - along with thousands of other children from London - and see if fate grants them a family. Which, of course, does not happen. At least not right away. The story touches on bullying, neglect, prejudice, and death but it is an overall heartwarming read. Follow it up with The War that Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley. The author was influenced by C. S. Lewis' Narnia series and the Edmund in this story is based upon none other than Edmund Pevensie. Though both Edmunds have healthy appetites, there is no Turkish Delight in A Place to Hang the Moon. But you could certainly read The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe and compare the two characters!

Foxheart by Claire Legrand; published October 4, 2016. 

I picked this up because Legrand is publishing a stand-alone companion book, Thornlight, next month and I had never read Foxheart. A young girl is left at a St. Martta's Convent of the White Wolf. She knows her name but she sees no reason to reveal it to anyone else so the nuns call her Girl. The other orphans in the convent call her Pig and torment her endlessly. The sisters at St. Martta's serve the Wolf King who is striving to stamp out all magic in the land - especially the witches. Our protagonist does have one friend at the convent, a yellow dog she names Fox. They are constant companions and become very adept at stealing and making mischief in general. Until the night she and Fox find themselves alone on the streets of Willow-by-the-River. Having long ago decided that she wanted to be a thief, she christens herself Quicksilver and sets about to become the best thief in the kingdom. Which she does - but not at all in the way she has expected. This was a lovely high fantasy with tons of adventure and quite a bit of sadness.