2023 Honor: Maizy Chen’s Last Chance

VERDICT: Treasure

Laurinda’s Rating: 3.5/5

Maizy Chen lives in Los Angeles with her food-stylist mom, so it’s a big change when they head to Last Chance, Minnesota to spend time with Maizy’s ill grandfather, Opa. Maizy’s family has run the Golden Palace restaurant for over a hundred years and is the only Chinese family in town. Maizy gets the full small-town experience, complete with super friendly people, well-intentioned but hurtful folks, bullies, and not-so-casual racism. (I say this as someone who grew up in a town of ~2000 and currently lives in a city of about 30,000)

Maizy Chen’s Last Chance weaves together Maizy’s story and that of her ancestor, Lucky, the first family member to emigrate from China, whose story is told by Opa. The stories connect not just thematically – with family, friendship, and racism particularly prominent – but also through physical touchpoints like the carved wooden bear given to Lucky when he opened the restaurant and stolen while Maizy is in Last Chance.

One of my favorite storylines was that of the paper sons. Shocking, that an archivist like myself would be into the primary source research. Maizy digs into the photographs of paper sons that hang in the restaurant office, contacting a doctoral researcher and eventually seeking out family members of the paper sons. The late-book reveals are particularly great. There may have been a few tears on my part.

Look, this isn’t a subtle book and that’s totally ok. Lucky experiences most of the the major events that impacted Chinese in the United States in the second half of the 19th century, from working on the Transcontinental Railroad to nearly getting lynched by an anti-Chinese mob. The parallels to current anti-immigration sentiment and hate-crimes are strongly, and rightfully, drawn. The solid relationship-building and empathy save the book from feeling cliched. Maizy is delightful – she helps her mom and grandma understand each other and gets her Opa and his former best friend interacting again, she works hard to solve the mystery of the missing bear, and she fosters connections. Her curiosity and keen intellect are infectious, driving the story forward.

Recommended for late elementary school and up, particularly for those who enjoy themes of storytelling, relationship building, and exploration of identity.

2019: Merci Suarez Changes Gears

VERDICT: Treasure

Laurinda’s Review: 4/5

In this 2019 Newbery Award Winner, Merci Suarez tackles both the 6th grade and a LOT of family issues.

Merci is part of a strong, multi-generational, working-class family. She is especially close to her grandfather, Lolo. The book basically splits into two main, sometimes intersecting and tense, plots: school and family.

Merci and her brother attend a private academy as scholarship students. Part of being on scholarship means they have work assignments. Merci is assigned to help a new student out, netting her the ire of mean girl Edna. Merci also doesn’t know how to deal with boys, leading to some very middle-school-typical incidents (though the highlight is when she accidentally breaks a boy’s nose…).

My favorite parts of this book focus on Merci and her family. Love shines through – both that of the author for the characters and that of the Suarez family. The main tension is her grandfather’s Alzheimers, which causes behaviour changes and some scary moments like when he wanders away from a painting job. The adults try to protect Merci by not telling her what is going on. Not surprisingly, that strategy doesn’t work out well. As Lolo deteriorates, Merci is also expected to step up and care for her younger cousins, which means she can’t play soccer, the one school activity she wants to participate in.

While there is no magical happy ending, Merci does become friends with former-nemesis Edna and the family pulls together to deal with Lolo’s Alzheimers.

I actually read this in one, maybe two, sittings. I found it incredibly touching and readable. I actually appreciated that there was no one monster to slay but rather the many smaller monsters of everyday life. It’s a quieter book, but one that I really enjoyed.

It’s biggest strength is in the care and detail the author takes with her characters – she is drawing from experience, and you can tell. On many dimensions, this isn’t the typical story that gets told, and it is vital that more books like this get published, for all the kids who NEED to see themselves in literature.

 

2019: Merci Suarez Changes Gears

VERDICT: Treasure

Sally’s Rating: 3/5

In this 2019 Newbery Medal coming of age novel, a sixth grade girl is faced with the insecurities of fitting in at school and the uncertain challenges of supporting her family through hard times.

I found this book to be a decent read, but there was no wow factor that made me feel compelled to continue reading onto the next chapter. The plot felt typical of other middle school realistic fiction, but its focus on diversity gives it a little something extra. I really enjoyed the last 100 pages as the humor became a bit more prevalent in the school rivalry plot with the Egyptian mummy fiasco and the emotional highs were reached in Merci’s relationship with her aging grandfather.

Pros: Following Merci’s perspective allows the reader a chance to experience the cultural differences of growing up in a Cuban-American family. I enjoyed all the scenes that involved her family and her tough experience dealing with her grandfather’s worsening Alzheimer’s disease. Merci’s relationship with Lolo was a highlight, and the thematic emphasis on supporting family through tough times was strongly felt.

Cons: The characterizations really fell flat for me – especially the cast of characters at her middle school since they came across like stock characters. Additionally, this book had a bit of a slow start and took a while to get going.

Overall, this was a cute novel with some fun slice of life stories, but I found it to be nothing out of the ordinary and somewhat forgettable compared to other Newbery winners.

2019 Honor: The Night Diary

VERDICT: Meh

Sally’s Rating: 2.5/5

Veera Hiranandani’s The Night Diary follows a girl whose life gets uprooted during the Partition of India as she is forced to make the dangerous journey from Pakistan to the new India. This Newbery Honor winning book provides a deep look into the issues surrounding the conflict and how it changed one family and country forever.

What I liked:

• The Night Diary highlights a controversial time in history that is oftentimes neglected in children’s literature and sometimes only limited to a single paragraph in history classes. This is a great entry point for children and adults into the discussion regarding the religious and political conflicts surrounding the Partition of India.
• The main character, Nisha, highlights a variety of social anxieties that one can encounter on a day-to-day basis. It was interesting to read about her struggle to try to make new friends and how there wasn’t just an easy solution to her anxiety and shyness. She felt like a fully-fledged character that people, particularly introverts, can easily identify with.
• I always came away with a craving for Indian food whenever a scene mentioned food of any kind. The author perfectly encapsulates the little details of everyday life for Nisha with her focus on the mundane stuff like making friends, skipping school and talking to her brother, and her reverence for food really stands out. It contrasts with the scary situation they run into later on when they run out of food and water and almost starve to death.

What I didn’t like:

• I’m not normally a fan of the epistolary format, and this novel did little to change my mind. The diary format really distanced me from the action of the novel and made it seem like little happened throughout.
• I wish there’d been a bit more follow up to what happened after they reached their final destination as I’m really interested in how she adapted to her new surroundings.

Overall, I found myself really bored with the novel and felt like it didn’t live up to my expectations. I appreciated learning more about this time in history and found the book to be thoughtful in providing different viewpoints on the conflict, but this one just wasn’t for me.

1984 Honor: The Wish Giver

VERDICT: Meh

Sally’s Rating: 2.5/5

Bill Brittain’s The Wish Giver takes inspiration from the old adage “be careful what you wish for.”

In this Newbery Honor book, three children are given the chance to make their dreams come true when a strange man with a carnival tent comes to town offering each of them a chance to make a wish and have it be granted – exactly as they ask for it. Polly wishes for people to notice her, Rowena wants her crush to set down some roots, and Adam needs some water for his drought-stricken farm. Of course, their are some unintentional side effects that cause them some major problems.

What I liked:

• The writing style is well suited to being read aloud to children. I feel like younger elementary children would enjoy the simplicity and humor of the story.
• Polly’s story was the best of the three. The quick to anger 11-year-old girl wishes to be popular, and as a result, every time she insults someone, she croaks “jug-a-rum” like a toad and causes everyone to notice her. This section was fairly imaginative and had some memorable interactions between lots of characters.
• The narrator’s name is Stew Meat.

What I didn’t like:

• The characters, especially Rowena and Adam, should have been aged down since their characters acted more like children than actual teenagers. Rowena had no positives at all about her character – she was just a lovestruck idiot. Ugh!
• The resolution was tied up too a little too neatly with almost no lasting consequences for the main characters.
• Everything about the story feels dated – the characters, the setting, the language and the plot.

I wouldn’t really waste your time reading this book unless you intend to read it out loud as a family activity, but that depends on how many times you think you could croak out “jug-a-rum” before you lose your voice.

2018 Honor: Long Way Down

VERDICT: Treasure

Sally’s Rating: 4/5

Jason Reynolds’ Long Way Down is the type of book I wish I had been assigned to read in freshmen year of high school. It has everything you need for a great teen school novel – a trending and impactful theme, inherent symbolism and an unconventional narrative device.

The plot is simple: 15-year-old Will, who is currently in an elevator descending to the bottom floor of his building, has to decide whether he’ll follow the unspoken rules of the community and avenge his brother’s murder – or walk away and break the cycle of violence.

Told in verse, the story delves into the emotions and mindset of someone who has lost many friends and family members to murders and random shootings throughout his life, and Will’s 60 second elevator ride brings him to the tipping point. The verse is less poetry and more like a script which makes his inner dialogues more interesting to read. This book really stands out from the countless other young adult novels that are currently being published due to its narrative structure.

The only reason this didn’t get a 5/5 from me was because I’m not the biggest fan of verse and the ending is super abrupt.

This 2018 Newbery Honor was a very quick and thought-provoking read. Its themes make it more suitable for a teen audience than a middle school one in my opinion, but it explores a heavy topic in an accessible and unique way.

2018: Hello, Universe (it’s a small, small world)

VERDICT: Treasure

Sally’s Rating: 3.5/5

Erin Entrada Kelly’s Hello, Universe is an adventure tale about a group of children who band together despite not knowing each other to find a boy who fell down a well trying to rescue his pet guinea pig.

What I liked:

• A diverse cast of characters who aren’t always prominently featured in children’s books. Each characterization was very distinct, despite all characters being children, and the point of view changes between each chapter were seamless.
• Valencia Somerset’s point of view – an interesting mesh of religiosity, her experiences being deaf, and her curiosity and naievete about the world.
• The plot was quick-paced with a good build up to the central conflict.
• Animals (including a guinea pig, squirrel, dog and snake) are all featured in the main adventure and will make animal lovers feel warm and fuzzy.

What I didn’t like:

• This is definitely a children’s book. As an adult reader, I didn’t find much substance in its themes, and the narrative style is written more for a fifth and sixth grade audience. For children this is definitely a plus, but I didn’t get a whole lot out of the book.
• Kaori. I’m not the biggest fan of faux fortune teller fictional characters that believe fully in their powers. I found her enthusiasm slightly grating.

Overall, Hello, Universe provides some mindless, adventurous fun featuring a diverse cast of characters.

2017 Honor: Wolf Hollow (Only Fake Wolves Here….)

VERDICT: Treasure

Laurinda’s Rating: 4.5/5

Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk was one of the 2017 Newbery Honor recipients. It is a historical fiction book set during World War II, but its focus is on the relationships between people in the small town of Wolf Hollow. It shows how the actions of one can have dire consequences for many.

Annabelle is a pretty normal 12-year-old. She meets up with friends and helps on the farm. Her parents and many of the neighbours help Toby, a local World War I veteran who doesn’t interact much with people, but loves taking photographs. When Betty moves to town, everything changes. She immediately starts causing trouble. She threatens, then physically assaults Annabelle and her siblings. In cahoots with a local farmboy, she throws a rock at a local farmer who is German, instead hitting a classmate in the eye; they intimate that it was the veteran who threw the rock. Little (and not so little) incidents like this mount, creating tension in town.

Then, Betty disappears. Suspicion falls on Toby. Annabelle refuses to believe he was involved, so when she runs into him on the road, she hides him in her parent’s barn. Things get complicated for her when state police with tracker dogs get involved. Betty is eventually located, with a disguised Toby aiding in the rescue. However, state police still believe Toby was involved. He decides to run rather than talk to them. It ends badly.

I’d recommend this for middle school (MAYBE late elementary school) and up. There is bullying and the deaths of several major characters. However, I think it’s a GREAT book, which allows you to discuss issues such as prejudice, when/how to involve adults in difficult situations, and how to stand up for your beliefs. It’s probably a tougher read for adults, who are more likely to see how the book is going to end, so read with a sense of dread (or maybe that was just me…).

2018 Honor: Piecing Me Together

VERDICT: Treasure

Sally’s Rating: 5/5

The 2018 Newbery Honor Piecing Me Together is a thoughtful novel about race, privilege and relationships.

Jade’s character growth is what makes this novel great to read. As the one of the few black girls at the private high school she attends, the aspiring artist starts the novel with no confidence to voice her own desires – feeling like she has no friends, struggling with body image issues, and strong armed into joining a Woman to Woman mentorship program that will allow her the chance to go to college. But the mentorship program ends up being not what she expected, and Jade struggles to connect with her new mentor since they have very different backgrounds and interests despite having gone to the same high school.

I really enjoyed seeing things happen from Jade’s perspective. She encounters a variety of problems throughout the novel like daily microaggressions happening in her school, being seen as a charity case by her mentor, and hearing about police brutality in the news but she steps up to become a great role model to those around her as she realizes that the only person who can make a positive difference in her life is herself – by speaking out through her art and voicing her opinions to the people she feels aren’t understanding her point of view.

The book really immersed me into Jade’s world, and I finished the book wanting to read more about Jade’s future endeavors. It was great to see a variety of supporting characters that didn’t fit the normal YA stereotypes, and each character felt like they had a compelling motivation for whatever they said or did. There were no easy answers to Jade’s problems.

This is a slow and subdued read with coming of age themes that are very relevant to the world today. I’d recommend Renee Watson’s book for anyone looking for a young adult novel with themes of empowerment, friendship and identity.

2001 Honor: Hope was Here (Diner Dash with a side of politics)

VERDICT: Trash

Sally’s Rating: 2/5

When Hope moves to a small town in Wisconsin with her aunt to work at a diner, she unexpectedly gets caught up in local politics when she begins campaigning for the good-hearted leukemia-stricken cook who is running against a corrupt mayor.

I really struggled to finish Joan Bauer’s Newbery Honor Hope was Here and had to force myself to finish the book. The book never presents any complex issues throughout the campaign, and there was only so much I could take of reading about the ins and outs of waitressing. The characters were flat and filled their stereotypical small town roles to a tee. There was the obvious hero and the obvious villain, and the book seemingly ignores and childproofs the murky waters of politics. It was just a bit too sugary for me.

I will give this book credit for the fact that is does promote activism in a high school setting which makes it very relevant to modern day readers and may encourage children to take an interest in what is happening in their own town. As Hope gets more involved in politics, she has to rally her classmates to help with the campaign and lead by example. She is a great role model in this sense. I can see this appealing for those to want to read a simple, optimistic story about how activism can change things for the better.

However, this just wasn’t my type of book. I appreciate the story the author was trying to tell, but the sweet tone and bland characters quickly made me lose interest in the narrative.