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Category Archives: historical
Journey to Jo’burg: A South African Story
Set in apartheid South Africa, Journey to Jo’burg chronicles the journey of Naledi and Tiro, brother and sister, as they make their way to Johannesburg from their village. The 200 kilometer trip is dangerous for children who have never been … Continue reading
Posted in Children's novels, historical, social issues
Tagged Africa, history, kid lit, serious book
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Inside Out & Back Again
National Book Award winner Thanhha Lai’s beautiful book, Inside Out & Back Again, is Hà’s poetic lament through the Vietnam War, escaping her country and starting life in Alabama as a sponsored refugee family while not knowing the fate of … Continue reading
Posted in Children's novels, historical, Poetry, social issues, strong characters
Tagged asian, history, kid lit, must-read kids' books, novel-in-verse, picture book, serious book
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Between Shades of Gray
When fifteen-year-old Lina’s family is exiled from Lithuania by the Soviets, they are forced to travel to remote regions, including Siberia, to work and endure under extreme hunger, cold and inadequate shelter. Maintaining hope is difficult when Lina doesn’t understand … Continue reading
Posted in historical, Michigan author/illustrator, Teen/Young Adult
Tagged books, historical fiction, serious book
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These Hands
Grandpa’s hands can tie shoes, play the piano and throw a curve ball, but they were not allowed to touch the bread dough at the Wonder Bread factory in the 1950s and early ’60s. As Grandpa lyrically relates to Joseph … Continue reading
Turtle in Paradise
In Key West, 1935, everyone has crazy nicknames: Turtle, Kermit, Pork Chop and Beans. Even Ernest Hemingway cameos as Papa. Jennifer L. Holm creates a swashbuckling adventure in this perfect summer read for kids. Hailing from New Jersey, Turtle is … Continue reading
Posted in Children's novels, historical, strong characters, Voice
Tagged high interest, history, kid lit, summer
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Feathers
The book starts with it, the jacket quotes it and Frannie, the main character, ponders it, so I’ll begin with it as well. Hope is the thing with feathers … Continue reading
Moon Over Manifest
Moon Over Manifest by Claire Vanderpool is a good book–winning the Newbery Medal for 2011, it has to be, right?–but the last four chapters are what take the cake. More than just tying up the loose plot threads, these chapters … Continue reading
Posted in Children's novels, historical
Tagged country setting, historical book, Kansas, kid lit
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Song of the Trees
Mildred Taylor’s first book, Song of the Trees, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney, is full of vivid characters (the Logan family) and vivid landscape. Cassie and her family are bullied into letting their trees be cut down for profit, until David … Continue reading
Underground to Canada
Extensive research went into Barbara Smucker’s Underground to Canada, which is about four people escaping slavery by following the underground railroad to freedom. Shockingly realistic, Julilly, Liza, Adam and Lester’s heartrending trip toward freedom in the face of slave catchers … Continue reading
Spitting Image
Jessie’s world may be poor, but she’s surrounded by rich characters like Baby Blue, who barely talks even though he’s four and Robert E. Ketchum who hasn’t decided what the E stands for yet. When President Johnson’s War on Poverty … Continue reading
