March 1, 2022
Inspired by her friendship with a famous poet, an 11-year-old attempts to rescue a baby elephant. Oriol is homesick for Cuba, bullied at school for her Spanish accent, and mourning her Abuelita, who died after their family moved to California to help her receive a diabetes treatment that failed. Set in Santa Barbara in 1947, this novel in verse follows Oriol, who finds comfort in caring for animals at her parents' veterinary clinic and at a nearby wildlife ranch where movies are filmed. She also befriends an elderly neighbor, later revealed to be a fictionalized version of a real historical figure: Gabriela Mistral, the Chilean poet of mestizo Incan and Basque heritage and the first Latin American winner of the Nobel Prize in literature. Mistral teaches Oriol to write poems as a way of coping with her emotions and later encourages her to write a petition to help free a baby elephant cruelly separated from her mother and twin sibling. The book is replete with lovely, nearly magical imagery: In one scene, the mother elephant uses her trunk to swoop Oriol off her feet for a hug. In another, elephants and humans march together for justice. Throughout, the power of words--both to help children find where they belong and to make the world a kinder place--profoundly resonates. Brilliant, joyful, and deeply moving. (author's note, poem by Gabriela Mistral, further reading) (Verse historical fiction. 8-12)
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April 15, 2022
Grades 4-7 Brock has anthologized a treasury of short essays and stories that captures authentic feelings and creates encouragement, much like her teen-focused Hope Nation (2018). Aimed toward middle-graders, this book's unifying theme is also hope, and it delves into such questions as, What does hope look like? How can it change lives? The contributors deliver personal thoughts and reflections on the meaning of hope in their lives, sharing anecdotes of family, fear, and fun. The success of this collection lies in its breadth and depth of understanding, as the personalities and writing styles of the included authors envelop the reader. With contributors ranging from Tom Angleberger and Gordon Korman to Veera Hiranandani and Matt de la Pe�a, the collection's chapters comprise a diversity of backgrounds and styles while bringing home the reality that though hard times and circumstances challenge everyone, hope can be nurtured in all hearts. Bibliotherapy in small doses.
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May 23, 2022
Twenty-two renowned authors, including Soman Chainani, Stuart Gibbs, Hena Khan, and more, dig deep into their childhood memories to share personal stories of hope in Brock’s optimistic anthology. In “Everything I Needed to Know I Learned in a Thai Restaurant,” Christina Soontornvat reminisces on several years as a kid watching her parents run their establishment (the first Asian restaurant in Weatherford, Tex.) and the many invaluable life lessons her wise father and his customers taught her, including how to navigate prejudice. Ojibwe author James Bird’s “I Am the Greatest” recalls his three-year-old self, post-eviction from his family’s home in Ventura, Calif., marveling at strangers’ kindness following a car accident with his mother and siblings. Matt de la Peña, who wanted people to stop perceiving him as a “mop headed, half Mexican underprivileged kid in hand-me-down sneakers,” reveals his dream of becoming a basketball star, describing the role models who encouraged him in “There’s More to Playin’ Ball Than Just Playin’ Ball.” These personal essays, whose authors embody myriad worldviews and represent a widely intersectional spectrum, provide a much-needed window into how hope can flourish in hardship, and stress the importance of perseverance and a supportive community. Ages 8–12.