More amazing middle grade characters
I'm still reading for the CYBILS award and it's bit surprising this year. Usually there are several that I can start and within just a few pages, I know I'm not going to have to finish reading it because it's not interesting or it's poorly written, or I don't find the characters interesting. But this year, they're all so GOOD. Lucky I'm a fast reader!
This first one is called "Everlasting Nora" by Marie Miranda Cruz. It's about a girl named Nora who lives with her mom in a cemetery in Manila. They live in the cemetery because a while back there was a fire in their apartment and in addition to losing most of their belongings, Nora's dad was killed. They lived with relatives for awhile, finding small odd jobs to make money, but when things there didn't work out either, they ended up moving into the family mausoleum. It's not ideal-there's only a small lock on the gate and it's only closed on three sides, but most of the people who live close by (there are other people living the cemetery) are kind to them and they have formed a pleasant community. But one night Nora's mom doesn't come home. It turns out that she has a gambling problem. As Nora searches for her, she becomes more aware of how precarious their situation is and continues to hope for some solutions. I don't want to give away too much because it's a really compelling story. I loved that one of the things that the characters hold out for is education and that education can be the key to getting out of their current situation. I think kids are going to like this one a lot because I think a lot of the storyline of being homeless is pretty universal but the cultural information about life in the Philippines is also really interesting. It would help kids to understand why there are so many Filipino immigrants in the US.
The second one is called "Everything Else in the Universe" by Tracy Holczer. This story is about Lucy, who is trying to be brave. Her dad has left the family to go and serve in the military during the Vietnam War. Before the war, it was hard to get to spend time with him because he was busy going to medical school to become a surgeon. Lucy has a big support system-her mom, who comes from a family that believes that you should be very brave and keep a stiff upper lip, no matter what. Then there's her dad's side of the family-a big, loud, Italian family that is superstitious and opinionated but also loving and caring. When Lucy's dad comes home, he's left part of his arm in Vietnam so he has to think about how things are going to be different now. She finds a new friend-Milo, who's dad is also serving in the military. Together they embark on a mystery that revolves around a helmet and a Purple Heart Medal they find buried in the backyard. This is a book that is both funny and poignant. The family characters are endearing and seem like people you've met. Lucy's character is compelling. I really liked this book and I can easily see kids that are 4th-8th grade really enjoying it.
This first one is called "Everlasting Nora" by Marie Miranda Cruz. It's about a girl named Nora who lives with her mom in a cemetery in Manila. They live in the cemetery because a while back there was a fire in their apartment and in addition to losing most of their belongings, Nora's dad was killed. They lived with relatives for awhile, finding small odd jobs to make money, but when things there didn't work out either, they ended up moving into the family mausoleum. It's not ideal-there's only a small lock on the gate and it's only closed on three sides, but most of the people who live close by (there are other people living the cemetery) are kind to them and they have formed a pleasant community. But one night Nora's mom doesn't come home. It turns out that she has a gambling problem. As Nora searches for her, she becomes more aware of how precarious their situation is and continues to hope for some solutions. I don't want to give away too much because it's a really compelling story. I loved that one of the things that the characters hold out for is education and that education can be the key to getting out of their current situation. I think kids are going to like this one a lot because I think a lot of the storyline of being homeless is pretty universal but the cultural information about life in the Philippines is also really interesting. It would help kids to understand why there are so many Filipino immigrants in the US.
The second one is called "Everything Else in the Universe" by Tracy Holczer. This story is about Lucy, who is trying to be brave. Her dad has left the family to go and serve in the military during the Vietnam War. Before the war, it was hard to get to spend time with him because he was busy going to medical school to become a surgeon. Lucy has a big support system-her mom, who comes from a family that believes that you should be very brave and keep a stiff upper lip, no matter what. Then there's her dad's side of the family-a big, loud, Italian family that is superstitious and opinionated but also loving and caring. When Lucy's dad comes home, he's left part of his arm in Vietnam so he has to think about how things are going to be different now. She finds a new friend-Milo, who's dad is also serving in the military. Together they embark on a mystery that revolves around a helmet and a Purple Heart Medal they find buried in the backyard. This is a book that is both funny and poignant. The family characters are endearing and seem like people you've met. Lucy's character is compelling. I really liked this book and I can easily see kids that are 4th-8th grade really enjoying it.
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