19. Fever Year

Fever Year: The Killer Flu of 1918. Don Brown. 2019. 96 pages. [Source: Review] [Graphic Novel; Historical; World War I]

First sentence: America was at war.

Premise/plot: Fever Year is a nonfiction narrative in graphic novel format. It tells the story of the killer flu (aka Spanish flu) which devastated the world is 1918/1919. There are no central characters, it just follows the spread of the flu and its effect on communities. It is well researched. The speech bubbles in red are direct quotes.

My thoughts: I have read adult nonfiction on this subject. I find it fascinating and horrifying in equal doses. It’s scary to read about such a deadly and contagious flu.

The adult read was a bit more compelling. I’ll have to search my blog archives and try to find the title so I can possibly reread. But this one was great for the middle grade audience.

There were definitely not any nonfiction graphic novels when I was young. You were lucky if a book had eight illustrations and slightly larger print.

I would not have read this one as a kid—I scared super easy. But as an adult I enjoyed it.

© 2020 Becky Laney of Young Readers

18. Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemum. Kevin Henkes. 1991. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [picture books; animal fantasy; school; friendship]

First sentence: The day she was born was the happiest day in her parents’ lives.

Premise/plot: Chrysanthemum loves, loves, loves her name until she starts school and is teased by her classmates. Will Chrysanthemum find a way to love her name again and make a few friends in the process?

My thoughts: I don’t know which Kevin Henkes book is my favorite. There are so many great, timeless stories that he has given readers over the years. Chrysanthemum is a charming character that needs a bit of a confidence boost when she starts school. She is just as lovely and unique as her name.

I recommend this one. I don’t know how many times I’ve read it since it was first published. I am a bit surprised that no one has made an animated series starring a class with all his characters—perhaps minus siblings. I think they all take place in the same world.

Text: 4/5
Illustrations:5/5
Total:9/10 

© 2020 Becky Laney of Young Readers

17. Owen

Owen. Kevin Henkes. 1993. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [Picture books; love objects; security blankets; animal fantasy]

First sentence: Owen had a fuzzy yellow blanket. He’d had it since he was a baby. He loved it with all his heart.

Premise/plot: Owen loves, loves, loves his blanket. Life is good—no, life is great! But school threatens to change all that. Owen’s parents are being encouraged by a nosy neighbor that Owen absolutely has to lose the blanket before he starts school. Can Owen keep his Fuzzy and start growing up into a big boy (big mouse, I suppose) too?

My thoughts: Owen is a great book. I love, love, love the writing, the story, the characters, the illustrations, just everything. It really is a timeless story. Highly recommended.

Text:5/5
Illustrations:5/5
Total:10/10

© 2020 Becky Laney of Young Readers

16. Running Out of Time

Running Out of Time. Margaret Peterson Haddix. 1995. 184 pages. [Source: Library] [action, adventure, speculative fiction]

First sentence: The light woke Jessie, though it was just a glimmer downstairs.

Premise/plot: Running Out of Time is a premise-driven, action-packed middle grade coming of age novel. Jessie, our heroine, is thirteen and about to be sent on a mission by her mother with life and death implications.

Jessie’s family is one of the families living in Clifton. To Jessie, it’s home, just home. To the world, however, it’s a tourist attraction, a field trip destination. In 1984, give or take, a group of adults decided to move to this new town, Clifton, and live like it’s the 1800s. (The starting year was in the mid to late 1820s. The year now is 1840.) Jessie’s parents were part of this group. Jessie’s mom is now having major regrets. Their lives are in danger, Jessie must escape and get help.

How will Jessie cope with the real world? Can she find help? Will any adult believe her? Who can she trust?

My thoughts: I was shocked that I only gave this one three stars the first time I read it. Why? Because it’s been almost ten years and I haven’t forgotten the story and characters. The premise intrigued me. The idea of a community living “in the past” and their children and potential grandchildren being clueless that they were being watched as education or entertainment. Something very Truman Show about it (though this was published in 1995). It has a dystopian thriller tone to it.

Technically it may be weak in that it is premise driven. It has a few info dumps that aren’t all that subtle. But I found it compelling all the same. I found Jessie brave and resilient.

© 2020 Becky Laney of Young Readers

15. The City of Ember

The City of Ember (Book of Ember #1) Jeanne DuPrau. 2003. 270 pages. [Source: Library] [futuristic; dystopia; mystery; series book]

First sentence: In the city of Ember, the sky was always dark.

Premise/plot: Lina and Doon have come of age—along with their classmates—and are ready to receive their work assignments. It’s a big day: the mayor himself is there to witness. Doon longs to draw a great assignment like electrician, to perhaps work on the big generator himself. Lina, well, she wouldn’t mind being a messenger and running around the city every day. Could there be a more important job for a kid than helping to keep Ember’s residents in touch with each other?! Doon gets the job messenger; Lina gets a job in the Pipeworks. Eew! Fortunately these two are friendly and eager to trade jobs. If Ember wasn’t a dying city perhaps they’d have little contact with each other. But. Ember is dying. Doon is observant, not gullible, and doesn’t believe the propaganda put out by the mayor. Lina comes to believe Don’s instinct is right. She happens to find a typed official looking document that might be of great importance. The problem? It’s a little chewed up thanks to Poppy—Lina’s baby sister. But she has salvaged some of it and is prepared to solve the puzzle. Could this document be the salvation the community needs? Or will it cost her her freedom or even her life? Doon and Lina will have to work together to solve the mystery before Ember loses its power forever.

My thoughts: I love and adore this book. It’s one of my absolute favorites to reread. I love the alternating narratives. I love both Doon and Lina. I love the glimpses of life in Ember. We are given hints here and there, but not a huge info dump. We learn about this world as we experience it, not a big history lesson. I do wonder what it would have been like to live in Ember when it was new and thriving. I actually think it would be a great video game, to play out a generation or two in Ember...before playing the events of the book. This world fascinates me.

© 2020 Becky Laney of Young Readers