Growing Pangs

Bibliography:

Ormsbee, K., & Brooks, M. 2022. Growing pangs. Random House Children's Books. 

Plot Summary:

Katie is a girl that feels different than others her age. She is homeschooled, has red hair and knows that she must get braces because her teeth are crooked. One thing Katie has is her friendship with her best friend Kacey. When Katie and Kacey go to summer camp together, their friendship changes as Katie begins to make new friends. Katie begins to get worrying feelings and buzzing thoughts about her friendships, braces, family and her decisions that causes her to things like tapping her fingers or opening and closing things. 

Critical Analysis:

Kathryn Ormsbee’s graphic novel tells a relatable story that many younger readers (grades 3rd-7th) will fall in love with. There are so many themes such as friendship and mental health that are seen throughout the story. Readers will learn that friendships come and go and change in our life when Katie sees her relationship with Kacey change because she makes new friends. We see friendships that come and go like her friendship with Delaney where they struggle to keep in touch after camp. Starting from the beginning of the story, the reader can see Katies struggle with her buzzing thoughts. The “bee” is buzzing around giving her thoughts when she worries about what others think of her, her mouth surgery or her friendships. 

Review Excerpts:

“The story stays true to this child’s experience, and the art…gives equal attention to the high points of Katie’s life while skillfully depicting her lows.”- Booklist

“A poignant account of journeying through life while navigating mental heath and friendships.” - Kirkus

Connections:

Read other works by Kathryn Ormsbee such as, Vivian Lantz’s Second Chances, Lucky Few and Candidly Cline

Read other graphic novels such as Smile, Guts, Sisters and Drama

Babymouse: Monster Mash

Bibliography:

Holm, J. L., & Holm, M. (2008). Babymouse: Monster mash. Random House. 

Plot Summary:

Babymouse is told that she can have a Halloween party after she goes trick or treating. She wants to have the best costume and best party ever. When Felicia Furrypaws hears about her party and gets invited, Babymouse’s plans for the night changes to try to impress her and her friends.

Critical Analysis:

Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm’s ninth graphic novel in the Babymouse series that leaves the message about being true to yourself and your beliefs. Readers will relate to wanting to have the best costume or party or fitting in with friends that aren’t really your friends when Babymouse feels pressured to dress as a fairy instead of her scary costume or toilet papering someone’s house. You don’t have to read the other books in the series to get to understand the story or characters. This is a great book for reluctant readers because it will make them feel like they are reading a lot but the book isn’t filled with text and the story will keep them entertained.

Review Excerpts:

“Nobody puts Babymouse in the corner!”- The Horn Book

“Cute, smart, sassy Babymouse is fun and funny, and this book, like its predecessors, will draw reluctant readers as well as Babymouse fans.”- Booklist

Connections:

Read all 20 books in the BabyMouse graphic novel series

Smile

Bibliography:

Telgemeier, R. (2014). Smile. Graphix.

Plot Summary:

Raina is an average sixth grade girl, but when she falls and knocks her front two teeth out, her life takes some uncertain turns. She has to endure surgeries, braces and headgear all while dealing with friendships, boy crushes and an earthquake. 

Critical Analysis:

Raina Telgemeier will have you gasping and laughing while reading the graphic novel, Smile. Telemeier tells about her real life experiences in the story which will make readers fall more in love with the story.  The reader is given a view into Raina’s journey as she is given setbacks after falling and knocking her front two teeth out. Readers will relate to Raina as she struggles with finding out who her real friends are and those that turn out to not be true friends. Raina learns that Nicole and Karin aren’t her real friends after they pull her skirt down. Readers learn that is important to stand up for yourself when she tells them that they are not going to disrespect her anymore. Telgemeier shows that there is a right way to stand up for yourself. Smile shows real emotions and experiences that teenagers go through including acne. This book is great for reluctant readers as you feel like you are reading a lot but it is a filled with text that readers quickly.

Review Excerpts:

“One of the most widely loved kids’ graphic novels in recent history.” – Booklist

“Irresistible, funny and touching.” – Kirkus Reviews

Connections:

Read other books by Raina Telgemeier such as Sisters, Ghosts, and Drama

Savvy

Bibliography:

Law, I. (2008). Savvy. Dial Books for Young Readers.

Plot Summary:

Every member of the Beaumont get a “savvy” or magical power on their thirteenth birthday such as creating hurricane or creating electricity. Two days before Mib’s thirteenth birthday, Poppa is an accident and in a coma. Mibs is convinced that her saavy will save her dad and makes it her mission to get to the hospital that turns into an adventure. 

Critical Analysis:

Ingrid Law’s fantasy novel is filled with magic and adventure that will have readers hooked. Law creates characters that are interesting especially when learning about each member’s power. Mibs is filled with determination trying to get to the hospital to see her dad. Law shows us the importance of family throughout the novel. The family sticks together and is there for each other even when Fish, Will Junior and Bobbi accompany Mibs on her bus journey. The theme of not being in a hurry to grow up is seen throughout the novel as well. The kids can’t wait to get out school but are reminded that it’s not fun to get a job and pay bills instead of having fun and enjoying the little things. By the end of the book, the reader will be filled with joy but also asking “what would my saavy be?”

Review Excerpts:

Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Award

Oprah’s Book Club Kids Reading List

“Laws storytelling is rollicking, her language imaginative, and her entire cast of whacky yet believable characters delightful.” - Booklist

“A marvel-laden debut.” - Kirkus

Connection:

Read other Law books in the Beaumont family with Switch and Scumble

Penny From Heaven

Bibliography

Holm, J. L. 2006. Penny from heaven. Random House. 

Plot Summary

In the summer of 1953 in New York City, Barbara “Penny” Falucci lives with her mother and grandparents and dog named Scarlett O’Hara. Her father died when she was a baby but she doesn’t know how he died. Penny begins to work at her Uncle Ralphie’s meat shop where her Uncle Dominic tells her and her cousin Frankie about a story about how their grandfather buried a huge sum of money in the backyard. The story leads to a hunt for money that sets of a series of events that changes Penny’s life and leads to solving the mystery of her father. 

Critical Analysis

Jennifer L. Holm’s novel starts off like an ordinary living an ordinary life in the 1950s. There is mention of her father and the mystery of death throughout the story, but it isn’t the main element of the plot. Penny comes from an Italian family during a time when Italy was seen as the enemy coming from World War II. The story focuses on the theme of family as both sides of Penny’s family are not speaking to each other but do come together for Penny after her accident. Holm creates moments that are heartwarming and laugh out loud to moments of emotion and suspense. There are moments of laughter when Penny describes how horrible her grandmothers cooking is. Penny shows her sneakiness when she gives her mother’s new boyfriend a big plateful of her grandmothers cooking and asks him “would you care for some peas and onions?” I ask in a sweet voice.” After Penny’s accident, she learns about her father’s death. The reader can see the prejudice that was around at the time because of being Italian immigrants. At the end of the story Holm shows the theme of forgiveness between Penny’s mother and Uncle Dominic. You also get the glimmer of hope as Penny is able to move her fingers while she reaches down to grab the lucky bean.

Review Excerpt(s)

Newberry Honor Book

“Penny and her world are clearly drawn and eminently believable.” – School Library Journal

“Holm impressively wraps pathos with comedy in this coming-of-age story, populated by a cast of vivid characters.”- Booklist

Connections

Read other nonfiction works by Jennifer L. Holm: Turtle in Paradise, Turtle in Paradise: The Graphic Novel, Our Only May Amelia, Boston Jane Trilogy 

Dash

Bibliography

Larson, K. 2016. Dash. Scholastic, Inc. 

Plot Summary

After the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, a Japanese American girl begins to feel lonely when her friends give her the cold shoulder when returning from the Christmas holidays. Mitsi is confused and doesn’t understand what is happening to her world. One thing that stays the same is having her dog that she considers her best friend named Dash. In 1942, Mitsi and her family are one of the many Japanese American families that is sent to internment camps. They must leave everything behind including Dash. The camp is a one room cabin with her family in a fenced in “camp.” Mitsi is hoping that war will end and her life will return to normal after. Mitsi’s neighbor, Mrs. Bowker, takes care of Dash and is her connection to her old life. As Mitsi struggles, by the end of the story, she has made new friends and is finally reunited with Dash.

Critical Analysis

Dash shines a light about important events that took place during World War II that many kids may not know about when they think about World War II. Kirby Larson really helps the reader see what life was like for those living in the camps as she describes how crowded and the cabins only have five Army cots that “were lined up in the middle of a space smaller than their kitchen at home.” You get a sense of how life was for those living in the camps. You feel nothing but sympathy for Mitsi as she is suddenly ripped away from her home and dog having to figure out a whole new way of life. With the tough topic being discussed, the reader is also filled with happy times as well such as when Mitsi gets letters from Dash. The themes of the importance of family and friendship are present throughout the story to help guide the reader through and learn about the time period.

Review Excerpt(s)

Winner of the Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction

“Emotionally satisfying and thought-provoking.” – Kirkus Reviews

“Historical Fiction at its best.” – School Library Journal

Connections

Read other books from the dogs of World War II series: Code Word Courage, Duke, and Liberty

Lily's Crossing

Bibliography

Giff, P. R. 1997. Lily's Crossing. Yearling Book. 

Plot Summary

Lily has spent her summers in Rockaway with her father and grandmother. In 1944, Lily’s summer changes with World War II. Lily’s best friend Margaret moves to Detroit and Lily’s dad is drafted into the war. Lily’s summer changes when she meets a refugee from Hungary named Albert. They form a special friendship. Lily learns about Albert’s past and life in Hungary. Albert tells Lily about his sister Ruth that is still in Hungary because she had measles. Both try to search for her while they are also rescuing a kitten. Lily has to leave Albert at the end of the summer and doesn’t know if he will still be there when she returns the next summer. In the summer of 1945, Lily’s father has returned from the war and Albert is still in Rockaway, but his sister Ruth is also with him.

Critical Analysis 

Patricia Reilly Giff creates a historical fictional story that deals with deep issues such as war and family issues but also creates lighthearted moments to balance those tough moments out such as discovering a marmalade kitten. Throughout the novel, you get a sense of how the war has impacted everyone’s life with family members leaving for war, dying in the war or even the fear the characters get when there is a plane that flies over thinking they are getting attacked. Giff puts you in the 1940s time period when characters are missing or wondering about their loved ones because they don’t know where or how they are. They couldn’t call or FaceTime each other and sometimes they wouldn’t get a letter from their loved ones for weeks on end or even receive one at all. 

Review Excerpt(s)

Newberry Honor Book

ALA Notable Book

“Details…are woven with great effect into a realistic story.” – Horn Book

“With wry comedy and intense feeling…Giff gets across a strong sense of what it was like on the home front during World War II…The friendship story is beautifully drawn.”- Booklist

Connections

Read other works by Patricia Reilly Griff such as Nora Ryan’s Song, Maggie’s Door, Pictures of Hollis Woods

Finding Langston

Bibliography

Cline-Ransome, L. 2018. Finding Langston. Holiday House. 

Plot Summary

In 1946, eleven-year-old Langston and his father move from Alabama to Chicago after his mother dies who he had a very close relationship to. Chicago is a very different place for Langston and he is having trouble making friends. Langston loves to learn and read. One day he discovers a library that welcomes everyone and not just a whites-only library like in Alabama. Spending all of his time after school at the library, Langston learns about a poet who is also named Langston and discovers that the poet inspired his mother to name her son after him. 

Critical Analysis

Lesa Cline-Ransome creates this heartwarming story that will have readers hooked once they open the book. Readers will fall in love with Langston as he is very relatable in some shape or form in that he isn’t a popular kid that is athletic, but someone that loves to read and does get made fun of. He hasn’t had the best relationship with his father and it doesn’t help after his mother dies. The reader is brought into a different time period of living in Chicago in the 1940s where integration is at its beginning in the north and times are hard. Cline-Ransome shows the difference in time periods when Langston is fascinated by being able to see a toilet flush because he only had an outhouse in Alabama. You get another glimpse at the time period when Langston is unsure about being in the library for the first time and is following someone and make sure he doesn’t get in trouble for being there because of the color of his skin. When Langston begins to discover Langston Hughes the reader is taken on journey as they learn about Hughes’ poetry. Lesa Cline-Ransome includes Hughes’ poems from the time period that Langston reads that he is able to relate to throughout the novel. The reader not only learns about the time period in the story but also gains knowledge about Langston Hughes as well.  

Review Excerpt(s)

Winner of the Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction

A Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book

“Poignant, bittersweet… A fascinating work of historical fiction.” – Kirkus Reviews

“The impact on the reader could not be more powerful. A memorable debut novel.” - Booklist

Connections

Read Leaving Lymon and Being Clem that are part of the Finding Langston trilogy.

Read other books by Lesa Cline-Ransome: Before She Was Harriet, The Story of the Saxophone, Game Changers: The Story of Venus and Serena

Read poems by Langston Hughes and try to connect them to the story or how they might be similar to the character Langston.