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The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser

3/26/2018

Thank you to @kidlitexchange for providing @bookedupblog with a free copy of The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 

One of the most delightful middle grade reads I’ve read in a long time, The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser takes us into the heart and home of the Vanderbeekers at Christmastime. All is merry and bright, until the family learns their landlord is refusing to renew their lease and they must be out by the end of the month. The 5 Vanderbeeker children take matters into their own hands, showing their unique personalities and talents in an attempt to change their Scrooge-like landlord’s mind before it’s too late. Each character is charming in their own way. Great for the classroom or for independent reading, this middle grade novel will teach kiddos never to give up when faced with the impossible and to never judge a book by its cover.

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Colorblind by Leah Harper Bowron

3/9/2018

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Thank you to Spark Press for a free copy of Colorblind in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Colorblind by Leah Harper Bowron transports readers back to Montgomery, Alabama, 1968, where a small all-white elementary school becomes one of the first to integrate its halls with their first African-American teacher. Told from the point of view of one of her students, Miss Loomis experiences prejudice and racism like she’s never seen before. But her student, Lisa, is determined to make her feel comfortable and wanted despite the opinions and actions of the other teachers, students, and even Lisa’s mother. Lisa knows what it’s like to be outcast and bullied for the way she looks, but she’s never seen the people she knows and loves be so mean before. Filled with multiple opportunities to talk about prejudice of all shapes and sizes, Colorblind is a middle grade book that takes a look at what one young person can do in the face of adversity.

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Fun Home by Alison Bechdel

3/5/2018

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This is going to be a rare moment where I take the time to share about a book that I did not like. In 2018, I made a goal to read more graphic novels. No set number and no set parameters. Just more. Fun Home was one that had been on my radar for a while. After the recommendation of several friends on Instagram to pick it up, I was happy to find it nestled among the shelves of my local library while I was browsing. It seemed like it was meant to be. Until it wasn’t.

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Laura Ingalls is Ruining My Life by Shelley Tougas

3/2/2018

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Thank you to @kidlitexchange for a free copy of Laura Ingalls is Ruining My Life by Shelley Tougas in exchange for an honest review.
All opinions are my own.

Laura Ingalls is Ruining My Life is a perfect read if you grew up reading or watching Little House on the Prairie. It brought a flood of nostalgic feelings back to my reading life, leaving me wanting to go back and reread (and rewatch) the original. Tougas highlights all the ways in which Laura Ingalls Wilder portrays life on the prairie, including many ways in which she misrepresents the people and the experience.

The main character, Charlotte, moves to Walnut Grove with her twin brother, little sister, and their dog’s ashes after their mother has a dream about Laura Ingalls Wilder. As a writer, Charlotte’s mom needs the inspiration only Laura’s childhood can provide, causing upheaval in everyone’s lives, especially Charlotte’s.

When they finally arrive, however, Charlotte’s mom begins to spiral into a depression, struggles to write about the prairie, and breaks her promises to her children. Blaming Laura for all her family problems, Charlotte expresses her disdain for Walnut Grove in an essay assignment, explaining in detail all the ways Laura has ruined her life.

Perfect for adults needing a tug on their nostalgic heartstrings and middle-grade readers that want to see how life on the prairie compares to the past, check out why you should read Laura Ingalls is Ruining My Life.

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Book Reviews

The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser

Colorblind by Leah Harper Bowron

Fun Home by Alison Bechdel

Laura Ingalls is Ruining My Life by Shelley Tougas

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