Sabrina's Bookish Adventures

  Bibliography Fajardo, Kat, 2022. MISS QUINCES. Color by Mariana Azzi. New York, NY. ISBN 9781338535594. Plot Summary Suyapa wants nothing more than to celebrate a quiet summer with her friends at a sleepaway camp, where they can have fun and create comics together. Unfortunately for Suyapa, her family makes plans to visit Honduras instead, to visit their loud, outgoing family members. They will be isolated in the Honduran country with no cable, cell service, or Internet. To Suyapa's horror, she also finds out her mother has planned a surprise quinceañera. Nothing seems to be going Suyapa's way, until she begins to embrace her outgoing family and unique traditions.  Critical Analysis Suyapa's character is quiet, introverted, and quirky. She wants nothing more than to be left in quiet situations where she can hangout with friends or draw comics. Fajardo's depiction of this character mirrors a middle schooler perfectly as Suyapa feels misunderstood by her family; they ca...

  Bibliography Soontornvat, Christina, 2022. THE TRYOUT. Ill. by Joanna Cacao. New York, NY. ISBN 9781338741261. Plot Summary Best friends Christina and Megan are excited at the thought of trying out for the cheerleading squad. As they have faced situations of being treated differently based on their ethnicities in their small town, they long to be a part of the cheerleading team. A team where they will not only feel acceptance for once, but also become popular for their talents. Christina and Megan's friendship will be put to the test as they prepare for tryouts, navigate middle school life, and overcome small town judgement.  Critical Analysis This story is already unique as it is based on the author's past. Best friends Christina and Megan were instantly drawn to each other, as they both shared similar interests and had, unfortunately, been treated the same by others. Living in a small town in Texas, both girls had experienced feeling left out as they were both born into cu...

  Bibliography Krosoczka, Jarrett J., 2009. LUNCH LADY AND THE LEAGUE OF LIBRARIANS. New York, NY. ISBN 9780375846847. Plot Summary The school lunch lady does more than prepare school lunches, she's actually a secret crime fighter. There seems to be something mysterious going on in the library. The usually friendly librarians are being strange and rushing everyone out of the library. With the help of the Breakfast Bunch, Lunch Lady gets to the bottom of the mystery and takes care of crime.  Critical Analysis Krosoczka writes about a school lunch lady who happens to be a secret crime fighter. She begins to suspect something strange is happening when the librarian begins to act cold towards students. Lunch Lady soon discovers the librarian has gathered the League of Librarians to destroy an incoming shipment of video games. With the help of the Breakfast Bunch, a group of students, Lunch Lady is able to stop the League of Librarians and serve justice. Young readers will enjoy th...

Bibliography Medina, Meg, 2018. MERCI SUÁREZ CHANGES GEARS. Somerville, Massachusetts. ISBN 9781536212587.  Plot Summary As if beginning sixth grade wasn't hard enough, Merci experiences hardships at school due to the fact she is a scholarship student at Seaward Pines Academy. Instead of living in a large mansion in Florida, her and her family live in three little houses, Las Casitas. While she is fortunate to have her family close and receive a good education, Merci still feels the hardships of life. At school, she has deal with mean girls and at home, she's being treated like a little kid. The only thing that make sense to Merci is her close relationship with her grandfather, Lolo, the only person who seems to understand her. However, he's been acting differently lately which has Merci concerned and confused. Readers will follow Merci's journey through sixth grade, as she matures, understands, and navigates life. Critical Analysis Medina writes of relatable events tha...

  Bibliography Hiranandani, Veera, 2018. THE NIGHT DIARY. New York, NY. ISBN 9780735228528. Plot Summary Hiranandani writes the story of young Nisha, who has been gifted a beautiful diary for her 12th birthday in 1947. She finds that she truly enjoys writing down her feelings, addressing each entry to her late mother, who died during childbirth with Nisha and her brother Amil. Nisha begins to write of how the British has freed India, dividing the country into Pakistan and India. This divide has created a rift between the two religious groups, the Muslims and Hindus/Sikhs. Nisha feels conflicted as she is half-Hindu, half-Muslim, wondering where that will leave her family. As the Partition begins to take over her country, Nisha wonders how she will overcome another tough loss; the loss of her homeland. Her powerful voice and journey can be read through her diary entries. Critical Analysis Beginning the story, readers learn of how Nisha gains this diary and begin to understand why ea...

  Bibliography Holm, Jennifer L., 2010. TURTLE IN PARADISE. New York, NY. ISBN 9780375836909. Plot Summary It's 1935 in Key West, Florida. Turtle has been sent to live in the Key West with her mother's relatives, as her mother works her housekeeping job that doesn't allow children. As difficult as it was to find jobs and money during the Great Depression, Turtle manages to make the best of this time. Her cousins allow her to follow the Diaper Gang, taking care of babies in exchange for candy. After spending time with her extraordinary family, Turtle begins to feel at home and getting comfortable with with her new world. Critical Analysis Holm writes a story about a strong, tough shelled girl named Turtle living in New Jersey. She is skeptical of accepting life can be anything like a Hollywood movie, especially experiencing the difficult hardships that comes with Great Depression. After Turtle's mom begins her housekeeping job in a house where no children are allowed, sh...

  Bibliography Cline-Ransome, Lesa, 2018. FINDING LANGSTON. York, PA. ISBN 978082344582.  Plot Summary Taking place post World War II, in 1946, young Langston faces hardship early on. Between losing his beloved mother and moving from Alabama to Chicago, Langston is experiencing a mixture of deep, difficult feelings. However, it seems the one thing that has shone a bright light during this difficult time is having access to the Chicago Public Library. He begins to find solace in the library and ultimately, finds peace in the poetry works of Langston Hughes.  Critical Analysis Cline-Ransome writes about sweet, young Langston, who is grieving his mother's death and dealing with the immediate changes as best as he can. Langston and his father leave their home in Alabama after his mother's death to move up north to Chicago. Langston's story takes place in 1946, which is right after World War II. Many families from the South migrated up North for better job opportunities, as La...

  Bibliography Cushman, Karen, 1994. CATHERINE, CALLED BIRDY. New York, NY. ISBN 9781328631114. Plot Summary Following her monk brother's suggestion of writing entries in a diary, Birdy grudgingly entertains the idea by writing about her daily life in England of 1290. Birdy struggles with her family's expectations of her, as her mother tries to teach her how be lady-like and her father seeks out suitors to marry her off. However, little do her parents know, Birdy will lead her own path with her strong willed personality.  Critical Analysis Cushman writes about a young girl named Catherine (Birdy), who begins to write in a diary at the request of her older brother. While she's skeptical of the idea in the beginning, she begins to take to the habit and share her daily life in each entry. Birdy is comical as she is experiencing coming of age, almost like a strong-willed, moody teenager. However, she cannot be described as moody necessarily, she just happens to know what she wa...