More middle grade fiction for CYBILS
This week, I've been trying to whittle down the list of middle grade fiction for the CYBILS award. Some of these books are terrific and I'm SO GLAD I've had a chance to read them. This first one was terrific. It's called "Listen, Slowly" by Thanhha Lai. If you read children's literature at all, you might recognize Thanhha Lai's name... she wrote a book a few years ago called "Inside Out and Back Again" which was a Newbery honoree and the National Book Award winner. I think this one is even more accessible because it's written in prose and the character's voice is so strong and clear, I think she will resonate with a lot of kids. It's about a Vietnamese American girl named Mai (or Mia in America) who lives in California with her mom and dad and grandmother. She has lots of friends and likes surfing and hanging out and has big plans for the summer. Until her parents come to her and tell her that they want her to go with Vie...