YA – On the Children's Shelf

Travelling to Ancient Greece

I haven’t read many time travel books. If I’m going to read one, I need it to feel possible, believable, and realistic (although I read fantasy so I’m not sure why these are my rules on time travel but if the book doesn’t involve fantasy, then I want the time travel to feel completely possible).

I was given a copy of Caroline Lawrence’s “The Time Travel Diaries: Adventures in Athens.” Lawrence introduces her readers to Alex and Dinu, two friends who are enjoying newfound fame and popularity in their school after appearing in a popular video game. How did they end up in a video game? Well, they traveled back through time to gather information for the video game maker who in turn added them into the game. Life post time traveling (and appearing in a popular video game) is good for the two friends but they both vow they never want to time travel again. Their time travel mentor, the video game maker, is gone so they don’t expect they will ever be asked to time travel again.

Much to their surprise, their mentor shows up and makes them an offer they can’t refuse…. but it involves one more trip through time. The mission sounds simple enough, find one specific person. Who did they need to find and observer? Socrates. Like last time, they just need to follow 3 “simple” rules: 1. go naked, return naked 2. no eating, only drinking and 3. interact as little as possible (as it might change the course of history).

How bad could one more quick trip through time be? Could they find the one person they needed to and make it back without interacting with too many people? Could they handle a surprise person following them through the portal through time? I want to tell you what happens, but I want you to read this book.

Lawrence writes in a way that traveling back through time to find Socrates felt completely possible. I didn’t doubt any aspect of the time travel. I was invested in this trip, the possibility of finding Socrates, the wonder of seeing the streets Alex and Dinu had just walked in modern times as they were originally built. I loved this trip through time. My only disappointment was that I could only travel through time to search for Socrates in the pages of the book because after reading it, I wanted to go too.

Definitely check out this book! Join Alex and Dinu on this epic adventure through time. I highly recommend it.

Hero of Draconis – your new must-read fantasy

One of my favorite things about books that take place in a different world is a map. I have a weakness for a good map for a few reasons. First, I like to visually see the world I am diving into. Seeing the magnitude on a map at the start of the book shows me we are in for a big adventure across this new land. I refer back to book maps often. Second, it shows the author has “mapped” everything out, so we won’t travel west to a location previously described as being due east.

My mom heard about a talented new author and gave me a copy of her book, “Hero of Draconis” by Evelyn Klotz. If you haven’t heard of Evelyn Klotz yet, check her book out…. this is an amazingly talented young writer (and by young, she was 12 when this book was published!). Klotz had my attention from the start as the book opened with a map. I couldn’t wait to see the story that unfolded across this new world.

In “Hero of Draconis” we follow the adventures of three children and two animals on a true fantasy adventure complete with dragons, magic, and a missing royal baby. This book has it all. I want to tell you more, but I want you to read it and uncover the story as you dive into the pages.

Klotz’s writing is incredible for a writer of any age. To realize this young writer was so young working on this book is even more impressive. While reading, I was sending photos of text to my closest bookish friends with messages like “can you believe how well written this is????”

If your child loves a good adventure through a fantasy world, this book is just the book you are looking for. Pick up a copy and let your child know this book was written by a young author. What better way to show your child the stories they imagine inside their heads could be a book than to give them a book written by someone their age. Evelyn Klotz will be an inspiration to many aspiring writers, and her book is a non-stop, can’t put it down tale for fantasy readers of all ages.

My Dear Old Friend, Ivan

*author’s note – this originally appeared on Books Ink in 2015 and “My New Friend, Ivan”. While I have reread this book many times, I wanted to revisit this review because you can’t reread a favorite for the first time again but I can remember how incredible that first read was reading this.

Every once in a while, a book comes along that changes you. It changes how you see the world; it touches your heart and opens your eyes. It makes you question things; it makes you think. This week, I met Ivan, Stella, Ruby, Julia and George. Within moments of opening this book and diving in, I knew these characters would stay with me long after I finished this book. When I sat down to write this, I asked myself how many times I could use the words “brilliant,” “profound,” and “amazing” without them losing their power because this book really is that special.

“The One and Only Ivan” by Katherine Applegate is the story of a gorilla, named Ivan, and two elephants, Stella and Ruby, who live in cages in a shopping mall. Ivan was captured as a baby and was raised by the owner of the mall. Once he grew too large to live in the owner’s home, he was moved to a cage in the mall where he lived for twenty-seven years. Stella is an elephant who was bought from a circus. She too, is kept in a cage in the mall. Ivan is an artist who draws and later paints pictures that are sold in the mall. Stella is forced to put on a show performing tricks for the crowds every single day. Stella falls ill and the owners buy a young elephant to replace her. As Stella gets sicker, she asks Ivan, her dear friend to promise her that Ruby, the young elephant, will not spend her whole life in a cage. Ivan promises and although it seems impossible, he is determined to find a way to save Ruby.

Applegate introduces us to George and his daughter, Julia. George works cleaning the mall. Julia seems to understand Ivan in a way other humans don’t and Ivan finds a way to ask Julia for help. Despite the fear of losing his job, George helps Julia try to save Ivan and Ruby.

While I felt angry that humans could be so uncaring and hold an animal in a cage for 27 years in a mall, Applegate managed to restore my faith in the kindness of humans through George and Julia. While this book is written for children, it is one of the most brilliant books I have read. While Ivan’s words might seem simple, their meaning is so deep and powerful.

“I’ve learned to understand human words over the years, but understanding human speech is not the same as understanding humans.” – Ivan

Ivan reminds me of my other favorite talking animal in children’s literature…a wise spider named Charlotte. Like Charlotte, Ivan shows the reader what a true friend is.

Ivan was a real gorilla who lived in a cage in a shopping mall for 27 years. In that time, he never saw another gorilla. Thankfully, the real Ivan finally got moved to a zoo, and spent his final years with other gorillas. Although this book is fiction, it is inspired by the real Ivan.

This book will make you laugh. It will make you cry. It will make you angry. It will make you sad. It will make you smile. It will make you believe in friendship. It will make you believe in promises. It will make you think. While many adults may miss this profound book because it is on the children’s shelf, I wish copies would be kept in the adult section of every library as well, as I believe every adult should read it. While adults may get caught up in the fact that it is told in “first person Gorilla,” one needs to move beyond that and realize how powerful this book really is. The moment I finished reading my library copy of the book, I immediately went on amazon and ordered my own copy. This is a book I will reread many times over. It will join “Charlotte’s Web” on that shelf of really special, life changing books. I am so grateful my daughter recommended it to me to read, and I hope those of you reading this article pick up a copy and meet my favorite Gorilla, Ivan.

Thunder Dog

We all remember the September 11th that we experienced. We remember where we were when the planes hit. We remember who told us. We remember that feeling, like being punched in the stomach and you can’t breathe. Some remember trying to get out of New York City. Some remember clutching their phones waiting for text messages from friends and family. We remember the feelings of gratitude for those who were safe, the feelings of despair for those who weren’t. We will never forget that day. To those of you reading this who lost someone that day, my thoughts are with you. To those of you reading this who are or have family or friends who are firefighters and police officers, thank you for running in to help no matter how scary the situation is.

I remember the September 11th that I experienced. I didn’t want to read any books about that day. I wasn’t sure I could handle reading the story of someone who was far closer to it than I was, until I stumbled upon one book. It’s remains the only book I read about that day.

Michael Hingson’s book “Thunder Dog: The True Story of a Blind Man, His Guide Dog, and the Triumph of Trust” takes the reader into the World Trade Center on September 11th. Hingson and his guide dog were on the 78th floor at a meeting on teh morning of September 11th. When the planes hit his guide dog, Roselle, did exactly what she was trained to do….she lead Hingson to safety….down 78 flights of stairs.

This first person narrative takes the reader through the trip down all those stairs and out to safety. The story includes flashbacks of Hingson’s life and shares with the reader his experience growing up blind and his bond with his guide dog.

You will cry reading this book (I have to be honest with you and I would only recommend this book for teen readers and older). Hingson talks about the firefighters who were going up the stairs while he and Roselle were making their way down. Several firefighters asked Hingson if he needed a guide down the stairs. He was fine, he had his dog. While he was scared, Hingson put his trust in his guide dog. Roselle knew she had to try to get Hingson to safety and she did.

This book reminds the reader that heroes come in all different forms. The obvious heroes are of course, the firefighters who were running in as everyone else ran out to safety. They are true heroes. There were other heroes too…the people inside helping each other get out. While they might not think of themselves as heroes, they are. Of course, there is one more hero….Roselle the guide dog.

Books and Friendship

Some of my early memories include characters in books. I remember them the way I remember childhood friends. Some were fleeting and I only knew them through a story I read once. Others were there for a longer period of time, perhaps a series that I read over the course of several years. Some were those special old friends who I revisited many times over the years as I jumped back into a favorite book. Some were friends I couldn’t wait to introduce my children to and hope they formed as special of a friendship.

Through books, I’ve cared for baby Wilbur along with Fern. I solved crimes with Nancy Drew. I learned magic with Harry Potter. I fought the evil squirrels with Miss Suzy. I was there when the wild rumpus started. I’ve cried with fictional characters. I’ve visited castles, islands, foreign lands, the places where fairytales exist with amazing friends as guides. While that life has existed inside of the pages of books, those friends I’ve met there, have changed me, made me a better person.

The one thing I never expected was for books to bring so many human friends into my life. I’ve shared so many favorite books with so many friends who were just as excited to dive into the story as I was. I’ve had brief conversations with people at library book sales when we’ve pointed out books we recommended to each other. I’ve had deep conversations about book series with friends that have lasted through all the books. I’ve received pictures texted to me of a book page with the message “you need to read this.” I’ve found books left on my front steps by dear friends who were excited to share them with me. I’ve learned through all those interactions that reading isn’t necessarily a solo event. Reading is social in its own way.

I never expected when I started writing about children’s books back on HamletHub’s Books Ink 12 years ago, that I would meet so many incredible people both in the pages of so many amazing books and in the community around me. My introduction to my dear friend, Sally, was literally “she loves books as much as you do, you will be great friends.” Sally introduced to my incredible friend, Kerry Anne, who has been one of the biggest cheerleaders of me writing this column.

While the characters in books become friends, stay with us, help us grow, challenge us, change us, and are always there for us, I’m so incredibly grateful for the real-life friends I’ve made because of books. Books are so much more than simply words on pages. If you are as lucky as I am, books will introduce you to some of the greatest people, both on paper and in real life.

Reading with your high schooler – Homer

To raise a reader, we need to demonstrate reading. It’s hard to sell a child on doing something if they never see those around them do that exact thing. Being read to as a young child encourages reading. Seeing parents and other friends and relatives read, encourages reading.

When my children recommended books to me that they enjoyed, I loved reading them. Sometimes the stories were incredible, and I appreciated the recommendation of a great story. Sometimes they weren’t books I’d choose but seeing how happy my child was that I read that book, made it one of the best books ever. They were sharing books with me that they loved.

As my children move through their education, they will casually mention “did you ever read this book?” I love when it is a book I remember, and we can discuss it. Sometimes, I remember reading the book but not the specifics. Sometimes, it’s a book I’ve never read before, and I’m interested to read it as well. I love that conversations can start from simply “did you ever read this book?”

One thing I’ve discovered as a reader and parent is, in addition to reading or rereading the book my child might be reading, I can read an incredible companion book. What is a companion book? A companion book is a book that explores the topic of the book further. These books include details on authors, additional information on the story itself, or give another perspective on the story. Last OTCS, I talked about “Some Writer!” the story of E.B. White. This fascinating companion book provides so much additional information about E.B. White and his experience writing with so many great conversation topics to share with your reader who is enjoying “Charlotte’s Web.”

A new favorite companion book that I highly recommend to anyone who is reading Homer (or whose children are reading Homer in school) is “The Epic Women of Homer: Exploring Women’s Roles in the Iliad and the Odyssey” by Eirene Allen, my dear friend and brilliant writer. Immerse yourself in Homer’s epic poems by understanding the stories further through Allen’s detailed look at the goddesses and heroines who have not always received the attention they deserve. Read along with your highschooler who is on this epic adventure and share insights from Allen’s exploration of these essential characters.

Reading books like this show your child how important the books they are reading truly are. Reading books like this show your child how much you value reading. Reading books like this are great conversation starters to explore the epic poems even further together. Be sure to check out Eirene Allen’s new book “The Epic Women of Homer.” I highly recommend it.

Writing through writer’s block

I’ve tried to write here multiple times lately but just had nothing profound to say. Everything I wrote seemed blah, even about books that I was excited about. I just wasn’t presenting them in a way that did them justice.

I couldn’t figure out why I had such writer’s block. I think we often keep thinks like this quiet and it’s silly because every person who writes feels this way at some point. By talking about it, we realize every writer goes through it. I was telling a dear friend this morning and she reminded me of the importance of continuing to try to write to work it out. As we chatted, I thought of a favorite book that addresses exactly this.

“Some Writer! The Story of E.B. White” by Melissa Sweet is an incredible read. “Charlotte’s Web” is one of my all-time favorite books. It is filled with important life lessons and recognizes the incredible value of a great friend. In “Some Writer!” we learn about E.B. White’s experience writing “Charlotte’s Web.” E.B. White wrote the story based on a real spider. He struggled with the first line for over a year. Read that line again…. he struggled with the first line for over a year.

As anyone who has attempted to write anything finds some comfort in knowing that even greats like E.B. White struggled with writing at times. He wrote and rewrote the start of Charlotte’s Web for a year. A YEAR. It’s easy to assume writing comes naturally for the writers we admire because we see all these incredible books that they wrote. We don’t see the discarded pages, the pages with lines crossed out and notes in the margins. We don’t see the many attempts to rewrite the story. We just see the pretty shiny finished copy.

I highly recommend “Some Writer” for several reasons. If you love “Charlotte’s Web” or anything by E.B. White, it’s a fascinating read. We all have to write, whether it is papers for school or something for work. Sometimes it’s really hard to do and easy to think we just aren’t good at it. Writing is like anything else…it takes a lot of practice and some days we are just off our game but need to keep trying.

Keeper of the Lost Cities, book 9.5

I love a good series. Once I’m invested in the character, knowing there will be another book with more story makes the book ending so much easier. I love introducing young readers to a good series because they too get so excited for the next book.

Last week I waited impatiently for the latest book in Shannon Messenger’s “Keeper of the Lost Cities” series. Book 9.5, “Unraveled,”(yes, this book follows book 9 and comes before book 10 because it parallels book 9) detours from the usual narrator, Sophie, to her friend Keefe telling his story of the time he is away from the Lost Cities.

A little background on the “Keeper of the Lost Cities” series…in book 1, we meet 12-year-old Sophie, who always felt different than other children and even her own family. She has a photographic memory, but what really makes her different…she can read minds. She keeps this secret hidden until she meets Fitz, who shares something so big, mind reading seems small in comparison. Sophie is an elf, as is Fitz and there is a whole secret elf world that humans don’t know about. Sophie leaves her family (whose memories of her are removed by another elf) and moves to the elf world in the lost cities.

The series follows Sophie as she learns there are secrets buried in her memories and that she has a much larger purpose in the elf world. She was hidden in the human world for a reason and now that she has been found, Sophie and her friends will need to battle evil, while manifesting other special skills and being normal teenagers who attend elf school.

This series has all sorts of twists and turns, adventures, betrayals, battles, family challenges, friendship challenges, and unicorns. While being an elf and meeting unicorns might make the story seem especially childish, it isn’t. It is written in a way that it feels very real and believable. Shannon Messenger weaves a complicated tale while keeping a myriad of big personalities on their interwoven journeys. It’s a good read for tween, teen, and adult readers.

What Messenger does best…she gets her readers excited for the next book. If your young reader enjoys the “Keeper” series, be sure to follow Shannon Messenger on social media. She talks about the characters, does count downs and give aways for preorders of the next book. Young “Keeper” fans count down the days to the next book. Anyone who can get young readers that excited about the next book in a series gets a big recommendation from me. I highly recommend this series. If your tween or teen likes fantasy, be sure to introduce them to Sophie (definitely start with book 1, this isn’t a jump in the middle of the series kind of book).

The Princess Bride

*Note: This as originally published November 16, 2018.

“He held up a book then. “I’m going to read it to you for relax.”

“Does it have any sports in it?”

“Fencing. Fighting. Torture. Poison. True Love. Hate. Revenge. Giants. Hunters. Bad men. Good men. Beautifulest Ladies. Snakes. Spiders… Pain. Death. Brave men. Cowardly men. Strongest men. Chases. Escapes. Lies. Truths. Passion. Miracles.”

“Sounds okay,” I said and I kind of closed my eyes.”

― William Goldman, The Princess Bride

There are very few books and movies that I love equally. I often read a book with the movie I would like to see in my mind, except I’m not a filmmaker nor do I imagine any filmmakers are interested in the very specific details I hoped to see. I usually wish that instead of being turned into a 2-hour movie, that they could simply make the 12 hour extremely detailed version I pictured in my mind while reading. I would guess that most filmmakers don’t think viewers would sit there for 12 hours watching that movie…I totally would.

There is however one exception, the book and movie I love…The Princess Bride. I love this book. I love this movie. It would be inconceivable to love one and not the other. The story has something for everyone…romance, fencing, a giant (played by Andre the Giant in the movie), rodents of unusual size, and so much more….in both the book AND the movie. Obviously, they aren’t exactly the same, but they are similar enough and yet distinct enough that they are both amazing.

In 2017, my mom gave me the coolest gift ever…a signed copy of The Princess Bride. She knew it was my favorite and when she met William Goldman, she knew a signed book would be the most amazing gift ever (and it definitely was).

Last night (in 2018), William Goldman passed away at the age of 87. Today, I will revisit some amazing characters in my beloved copy of “The Princess Bride,” and I will watch the movie again this weekend. If you haven’t read the book or seen the movie, please join me. This epic fairy tale should be enjoyed in both book and movie.

It’s ok to reread books.

I often wish I could go back in time and tell myself not to worry. So many hours spent worrying about things that ended up being totally fine. Yes, some things merited that worry, but many didn’t. How does this tie into reading? I think as parents, we worry about our children reading. Are they reading enough? Are they reading the right books? Are they reading at their appropriate level? Why are they rereading the same book instead of different books? Why do they only read certain subjects?

Looking back at my childhood reading, I don’t recall ever being told to pick a different book. If a book was beyond my reading level at the time, I either put it away to read later or, if I loved the book, persevered slowly trying to understand. Sometimes I read books well below my reading level. I often reread books because I enjoyed revisiting those stories. I remember reading Stephen King as a tween and as long as it wasn’t giving me nightmares, no one stopped me. I believe that this is what made me a reader.

Reading at the appropriate reading level is important. Teachers will recommend books and obviously all school reading should follow what the teacher recommends. If a child picks up a book below their reading level for some at home recreational reading…it’s ok (as long as they are doing their appropriate school reading too). They are choosing to read in their free time. I obviously embody this when writing this column. I enjoy so many of the books I read to write about here. I also read much more complex books that would be deemed an “appropriate” reading level. Neither are better, they are all great books in their own ways, and I grow as a reader from all of them.

In school, rereading a book might not be what a teacher wants a student to do when they are working on specific reading skills. At home, if a child picks up a book they already read and wants to reread it in their free time…it’s ok. There is often a comfort that comes from rewatching shows or movies. The same can be the case for rereading favorite books. For those who are easily stressed, reading a book where they know what will happen next makes it more enjoyable. Also, when rereading a book, readers may pick up on things they previously missed. I love to reread “Harry Potter” in the fall because I enjoy the vivid holidays in the books. I have reread “Charlotte’s Web” so many times and I continue to find more things that I love about that book. My favorite book to reread “A Time to Keep: the Tasha Tudor Book of Holidays.” Broken down into months, I might reread the whole book or simply skip to the current month and enjoy those few pages.

If we feel like we aren’t good at something, someone pointing out what we are doing wrong, might make us shut down or give up. Obviously, I mean this within reason. If a child is attempting a dangerous sport and something is pointed out for safety reasons, that wouldn’t apply here. I also don’t mean this in terms of homework…the student who does a math problem wrong needs to be shown what is wrong and how to correct it. I’m thinking of the child who picks up a picture book to read in their free time because they like seeing the story while reading the words. While it might not be the book they are supposed to read for homework (and as long as they are reading that too), it’s ok.

If you are still concerned because your child does all of these things, there are some great books you can recommend that may help and won’t discourage your reader. If your child loves to reread a particular book, look for other similar books. If your child loves picture books and you want them reading more advanced stories, there are some incredible advanced picture books that cover more complicated topics, have more words per page, etc. Maybe introduce them to graphic novels that combine word and pictures in a different way.

How do you find these books you can recommend to your reader? Stop by your local library or independent bookstore. The librarians and booksellers have read so much and always have incredible suggestions. Many online book retailers also have sections of suggested books based on a specific title. Include your child in finding these books. A great way would be “I know you love this book, let’s find more like it.” Feeling validated about the books they love, will help grow their confidence as a reader.

I truly believe I read as much as I do is because I never felt bad about the books I chose. I never felt like I could only read certain books or others were for smaller children or older children. As long as the topic was appropriate, I was given the green light in the library to pick up whatever books I chose and enjoy the stories. I read books I might not have otherwise, if my reading list had been entirely curated for me.