YALSA Award for Nonfiction

Heiligman, Deborah. (2017). Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh brothers. New York: Henry Holt.

This book chronicles the life of both Vincent and Theo Van Gogh and their very complicated relationship. Both boys were expected to enter the gallery and sales aspect of the art world, be successful, and support their family. While Theo followed this path, Vincent would rather make art than sell it. Theo spent most of his adult life supporting Vincent's. Their relationship was at best co-dependent. Vincent's mental illness, which today would be called bipolar disorder, caused huge depressions and then weeks of prolific artistic creation. Theo's wife is credited with preserving most of Vincent's work following his death and making him the famous artist he is today.

I wanted to like this book. I adore the art of Vincent Van Gogh. My favorite place in Amsterdam is his museum but I struggled to read this. It is a well researched, excellently written biography but I just couldn't get into it. The use of the letters as the basis for the book gives the reader a special glimpse into the mind of Vincent. The only part that I found intriguing was that Gaugin may have cut off his ear during an argument and Vincent covered for him. I find that much more plausible than giving it to a unrequited love. But the codependency between the two brothers was just too much for me. 

Sibert honor

Martin, Jacqueline Briggs, and Lee, June Jo. (2017). Chef Roy Choi and the street food remix.
            Bellvue: Readers to Eaters Publishing.

This picture book tells the story of how Chef Roy Choi, a Korean immigrant, developed his love for cooking and food. As a kid, he explored Los Angeles and learned to love all the cultures within it. As a chef, he learned the finer techniques but felt something was missing. So he and a buddy bought a food truck and created street food, a fusion of Korean, Mexican, and fine dining. The story calls it "LA on a plate". His belief that good food brings people together is what drove him to come back to the city and the food he loves.

The pictures in this book are amazing. The illustrator is a LA based street artist called Man One. It is his pictures that give this book the LA street feel and the pops of color that students will love. When Roy opened his first brick and mortar, he chose the neighborhood of Watts. Most know that neighborhood because of the riots that occurred in 1965. He has not only put fusion food on the map so to say, but is helping neighborhoods that have been disregarded, like Watts, have the same access to high quality food as the rest of LA. I have to admire him for that.

Another NYT Best Seller

Grantz, Alan. (2017). Refugee. New York: Scholastic.

Three children in three different time lines. Josef's family is fleeing Nazi Germany, Isabel is leaving communist Cuba, and Mahmoud is escaping the war in Syria. As each family tries to escape the horrors of their homeland they encounter all sorts of issues. Josef''s boat is refused entrance to Cuba and the United States and is forced to return to Germany where he faces certain death in a camp. Isabel's homemade boat is in constant danger of sinking due to the weight in the boat. Mahmoud's family loses the car and is forced to walk to Turkey and is then at the mercy of smugglers who will get them a boat to Greece "tomorrow". Not every story has a happy ending, but a link between all three children is shared.

This book was amazing! Grantz writes each story with a realness that draws you in. No child should face what these children faced, yet today there are thousands of Syrian refugee children who have lost everything and just want a place to be safe. I could get political here but I'll refrain. But I will say that we have a moral obligation to help others in need. Perhaps through sharing this book we can change peoples minds about the refugee crisis in the world. While this is on the Bluebonnet list, I would encourage my middle school teachers to use this book in class and spark a discussion.

Printz Winner

LaCour, Nina. (2017). We are okay. New York: Dutton.

Marin left California the day her grandfather died and has talked to no one from there in months. But now her best friend/girl friend is coming to her college in New York to visit and Marin is going to have to talk about what happened and why she left. In California, Marin lived with her grandfather, a sweet man who baked and played cards with his buddies. He has a long distance relationship with a woman named Birdie whom he writes letter to. But when her grandfather disappeared, Marin discovered that everything was a lie. He was mentally ill and was writing the letters himself. When he claimed that he had no baby pictures of her, he had a room full of photos and items from her mother. Marin couldn't handle that everything he said was a lie so she too ran. But with Mabel there she is finally able to tell what happened and begin to face the memory of the man she thought she knew.

This was one of those books where I really didn't like it, but couldn't put it down because I really had to know what happened. I know that may not make sense, but this isn't a book I would have picked up on my own. I love YA but tend to go towards fantasy and low sci fi, not realistic. Marin's struggle with who her grandfather was versus who he portrayed himself was a bit much for me. But I'm a "put on your big girl pants and deal" person, so her running off bothered me. But not everyone likes every book and that's why we need diversity in the library.

Morris Award Finalist Book

Ali, S.K. (2017). Saints and Misfits. New York: Salaam Reads.

Janna is a Muslim American teen. With that comes dealing with several issues. She has chosen to wear a hijab, she is expected to only date (with a chaperone) Muslim boys, and she is to be active in her Mosque's activities especially since her uncle is the Iman and her brother is courting her study circle leader. But the reality is that she likes Jeremy, who is definitely not Muslim and her days are haunted by the memory of an attempted rape by her friend cousin. She has told no one of the assault and her attacker seems to be stalking her. When his presence at a Muslim teen quiz show, causes Janna to freeze and the team to lose she starts to realize that she has to speak up and take back control of her life.

With the main character being Muslim and the attempted rape, this story is modern and timely. With the "Me Too" movement, many teen girls are finding their voices and speaking out against their attackers. But the Muslim community where sex isn't openly discussed, I have to wonder how many other girls this has happened to who stayed silent. This book could be a catalyst for change. I was looking for reviews from the Muslim community and found that several were positive. https://muslimreads.com/2018/01/07/review-saints-and-misfits-by-s-k-ali/ 
refers to Saints and Misfits as the book her teen self had been waiting for.  While this is not a professional review, I felt that a Muslim American woman's review actually carried more weight. She has lived this life and would be the best to comment on it. Overall, a great book that I would definitely have out in a high school library!

Schneider Family Award

Green, Shari. (2017).  Macy McMillan and the rainbow goddess. Ontario: Pajama Press, Inc.

Told in verse, this is Macy's story. Her mother is marrying and she is not happy about it. She also is being made to help her elderly neighbor pack her home in preparation for her move to an assisted living facility. Macy learned from Isis, the neighbor named for the Greek rainbow goddess, that cookies reflect your feelings for others, books are a joy, and that we all have a story to tell. Macy also learns that maybe the guy her mother is marrying isn't as bad as she thought.

As I look back at the summary, I realize I left out something important - Macy is deaf. But as I read this book, her deafness became secondary to the story. It was about her learning from Isis, accepting Alan, and learning that a family is more than who you are related to. Yes, she is deaf but that doesn't define her and to me that is key.

Another personal note: when I finished the book I read the acknowledgements in the back. One of the people Shari Green thanked for support during the writing process was Kip Wilson Richea. Well, I about fell off my bed. Kip and I went to high school together and still keep in touch via Facebook! I dashed off a message to Kip about the book and was excited to learn that Kip will be working with Kwame Alexander in a writer's group he has started. This was so cool!

Newbery Winner

Kelly, Erin Entrada. (2017). Hello, universe. New York: Scholastic.

Virgil is a shy kid, so much so that his parents call him Turtle because he won't come out of his shell. He is Filipino American and lives with his parents, brothers, and grandmother. She tells him Filipino legends and her dreams. Her current dream is of a boy being eaten by a stone monster. Virgil has a crush on Valencia, a girl in his resource class. Virgil struggles with math and Valencia is deaf.  They are both seeing Kaori, another middle school student who believes she is psychic. Virgil is tormented by Chet, the local bully. On his way to an appointment with Kaori, Virgil runs into Chet in the woods. Chet throws Virgil's backpack in an old well. For most this wouldn't be a problem, but his guinea pig Gulliver was in the bag. In an attempt to save Gulliver, Virgil is trapped in the well. In the well, he finds characters from his grandmother's tales. Meanwhile Kaori and Valencia are searching for him, as he missed his appointment with Kaori. They eventually find him and everyone learns that the universe may have a plan for all of us.

If, God forbid, I don't get the library job that I am interviewing for next week, this will be my first read aloud of the year. I just loved it. I believe that God and the Universe have a plan for us, whether we are ready for it or not and this book illustrates that beautifully. I also loved the diversity of the characters. Disabilities and cultures are important to Virgil and Valencia and that makes this book even stronger. The character of the bully is also intriguing,  as he is emulating his father and desperate for his approval. I see a lot of great conversations coming from this book.

Coretta Scott King Honor Winner

Watson, Renee. (2017). Piecing me together. New York: Bloomsbury.

Jade attends a private school in Portland, Oregon but lives in the Villa - a rough neighborhood. She is selected by her guidance counselor to be part of a program called Woman to Woman where she will be mentored and provided with college tuition. Jade cannot pass this opportunity up but being mentored isn't what she expected. She resents being Maxine's "project" and a way to show Maxine's wealthy parents that she is doing good in the world like her siblings. Her friendships and relationships with teachers are also difficult. They don't understand what her experiences as a young black woman in Portland is like. Just because she is on scholarship doesn't mean that she needs to be fixed or should be excluded from other activities. Jade is smart, artistic, and socially aware and shows everyone with her organization of a fundraiser for a local girl assaulted by the police. With her
collages, she shows everyone who she really is.

This book seems very timely. The main character's struggle with her treatment and acceptance as a young black woman is one that many need to read. This idea that she needs to be fixed because she is considered economically disadvantaged isn't one that I had considered. But as a white middle aged woman, I would not have. So many people of means think that when they offer this kind of help, it is making the person better. No one considers the idea that it is just a means to an end, as the tuition money is to Jade.

On a personal note, my brother lives in Portland so I know the area well. I always seem to enjoy a book more when I know each place that they discuss or visit. This book was amazing but the setting of Portland made it even better!