The Thing About Jellyfish

Book talk: Suzy can't believe that her best friend has drowned. It just doesn't make any sense--she'd always been an excellent swimmer. How could something like this happen? Then she learns about jellyfish so small they're practically invisible and so venomous they could kill an adult. Sure they're usually found near Australia, but with climate change and sea temperatures rising, maybe their territory is expanding. Everyone keeps telling Suzy that she should move on, but she can't until she can prove the real reason her friend died isn't a simple case of drowning.

Rave: Benjamin has done such a beautiful job on this novel. The plot is emotional, the characters well drawn, and the prose is just gorgeous. The way she depicts the complicated, messy experience of grief and the images she draws form the scientific world are simply breath-taking.

Every book its reader: I'd give this to students 4th grade and up looking for an emotional story.

Extras: jellyfish, grief, tearjerkers, friendship

The publisher has put out a video and some quote images to promote the book:

Bonus Quotes:

“If people were silent, they could hear the noise of their own lives better. If people were silent, it would make what they did say, whenever they chose to say it, more important. If people were silent, they could read one another's signals, the way underwater creatures flash lights at one another, or turn their skin different colors.”

“It's peculiar how no-words can be better than words. Silence can say more than noise, in the same way that a person's absence can occupy even more space than their presence did.”

“There are so many things to be scared of in this world: blooms of jellies. A sixth extinction. A middle school dance. But maybe we can stop feeling so afraid. Maybe instead of feeling like a mote of dust, we can remember that all the creatures on this Earth are made from stardust.
And we are the only ones who get to know it.
That's the thing about jellyfish: They'll never understand that. All they can do is drift along, unaware.
Humans may be newcomers to this planet. We may be plenty fragile. But we're also the only ones who can decide to change.”

“The more fragile the animal, the more it needs to protect itself. So the more venom a creature has, the more we should be able to forgive that animal. They're the ones that need it most. And, really, what is more fragile than a jellyfish, which doesn't even have any bones?”

Source: school library

The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin: buy it or check it out today!

Circus Mirandus

Book talk: Micah Tuttle loves listening to his grandpa's stories of the magical Circus Mirandus with its invisible tiger, flying birdwoman, and a powerful magician known as the Lightbender. People think they're just stories, but Grandpa insists that they're true and Micah believes him. Now Grandpa is dying and the only thing that can save him is a miracle. Luckily, the Lightbender owes his grandpa just that. But is the circus real? Will Micah be able to convince the Lightbender to pay his debt? It's hard to believe in magic in a world of cynics, but Micah would do anything to give his grandpa another chance.

Rave: This is a beautifully-told, heart-breaking story of the connection between a boy and his grandfather. The circus is delightful and the magical elements fantastic, but when you boil it down this relationship is the core of the story. It suffuses the whole book with emotion and a deep meaning about the difficulty of letting go. On top of all that it's a great magical quest/adventure story.

Every book its reader: I'd give this to fans of magical adventures and tear-jerkers. It has a classic feel like Peter Pan and would make a great family read-aloud. 3rd & up.

Topics and Trends: Grandfathers, grief, circuses, magic, tearjerkers

Extras:

The Texas Bluebonnet Awards made a great trailer:


There's a lot of great quote images made to promote this book:

Bonus Quote:

“Grandpa Ephraim was always saying things that sounded so important Micah wanted to wrap them up in boxes and keep them forever.”

Source: School Library

Circus Mirandus by Cassie Beasley: buy it or check it out today!

Lost in the Sun

Book talk: Playing sports always brought Trent joy. Everyone in town knew him as the golden kid who could excel at any type of game, and he took pride in his reputation. Until the day a pick-up hockey game changed his life forever. One slapshot to the chest combined with an un-diagnosed heart condition made Trent a killer. Now it's a new school year and a new baseball season. It should be a fresh start, but Trent can't leave the past behind. He's changed into someone his friends and family don't recognize and he's not sure if he can ever go back, or if he even wants to. Will he ever play sports again? Who will he be without them?

Rave: The characters in this story are simply fantastic. It would take a very cold heart not to sympathize with Trent as he recovers from the grief and guilt of accidentally killing another kid. The adults around him seem to think that just telling him it's not his fault should be enough for him to get over it, which sadly reflects the lack of knowledge around mental health in our society. I appreciate the way Trent's struggle is depicted, but I think kids will just enjoy the compelling story. Those who enjoy sports will be especially impacted by the loss Trent feels at his inability to play the way he did before. Misfits and sports neophytes, on the other hand, will relate to the other main character Fallon, who helps Trent adjust to his new life. A little something for everyone.

Every book its reader: I'd give this to students looking for a moving novel, especially sports enthusiasts. 4th grade and up.

Topics and Trends: mental health, grief, guilt, sports, baseball,

Extras:

There's a fan-made book trailer




Source: public library

Lost in the Sun by Lisa Graff: buy it or check it out today!

Half a World Away Review

Book talk: Jaden's parents wanted a baby, but by the time they brought him home he was already a toddler. The orphanage he was in often didn't give him enough food to eat let alone care and attention. Now he's eleven, but he can't stop hoarding food or lighting fires. He know's he's not what his parents wanted, which is why they're going to Kazakhstan to finally adopt a baby. When they get there though, the baby they'd thought they were adopting is already gone. They have to stay there and choose a new one. Meanwhile Jaden gets to know some of the toddlers there and forms a special bond with one.

Rave: This book breaks your heart then stitches it back together again. It is such a honest portrayal of the lingering effects of trauma and some of the possible complications of international adoption. I loved reading about all this from Jaden's perspective, and watching as he formed a bond with a toddler at the orphanage. There's a lot of harsh truths, but through it all there's good people who may make mistakes but are nevertheless trying hard to do the right thing. It's a quiet but important novel.

Every book its reader: I'd give this to kids looking for a tear-jerker 4th grade and up.

Topics and Trends: international adoption, mental health, pyromania, orphanages,

Extras:

I made this image from one of my favorite quotes from the novel and a cool model of a heart I saw in a museum.

Source: public library

Half a World Away by Cynthia Kadohata

Ellie's Story Review

Book talk: Ellie has always been smart. That's why she was chosen for a special purpose. She was trained as a puppy how to track and find people. At first, it was just a game to make her human happy. But as she grew up, she could sense that her work was important. Whether it was finding injured humans in disaster zones or comforting people when they were sad, she helped people when they most needed it. But what would happen if she couldn't do her job any more? Would she still have a purpose? Would she still have a human who loves her?

Rave: I was completely fascinated by the training process for a search and rescue dog from the dog's perspective. Cameron does a great job describing what it's like and imagining how a dog would puzzle out what humans want it to do. The story goes along at a pretty fast clip through Ellie's life with a lot of tear-jerker moments but things always work out in the end.

Every book its reader: Because the main character is a dog, I could see a wide range of kids from 3rd grade up enjoying this title.

Topics and Trends: dogs, search and rescue, disasters, tear-jerkers

Extras:


Source: school library

Ellie's Story: A Dog's Purpose Novel by W. Bruce Cameron: buy it or check it out today!

Orbiting Jupiter Review

Book talk: Jack lives an old-fashioned, quiet life on a farm in a small town. When he finds out his parents are fostering a teen who has been to prison and has a history of violent outbursts, he isn't sure what to think. The first sign Jack has that Joseph is more than his past is that the cows trust him. The more Jack learns about Joseph's life, the more Jack wants to help. The only thing Joseph really seems to care about is getting to meet his new-born daughter. Jack could never have anticipated the heartache and sacrifices that Joseph's path would require.

Rave: Get out your tissue boxes because just one may not last you with this novel. I fell so deeply in love with all the characters. There's so many well-meaning people trying their hardest to do good in such heart-breaking circumstances. I appreciate that there's no candy-coating or easy outs. Despite the tragic ending, this book still managed to leave me hopeful thanks to the many inspiring characters in its pages.

Every book its reader: I'd give this to fans of tear-jerkers 6th grade and up. It would be a great pick for book clubs. It would make for some excellent discussions.

Topics and trends: tear-jerkers, foster care, adoption, abuse, alcoholism, rural life, teen pregnancy

Source: ARC from ALA
Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt: buy it or check it out today!