Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina by Misty Copeland

Pages: 263

Intended Audience: Mature tweens and up

Genre: Autobiography

Notes for Parents: Some mature content

The Back Cover

As the only African American soloist dancing with the prestigious American Ballet Theater, Misty Copeland has made history. But when she first placed her hands on the barre at an after-school community center, no one expected the undersized, anxious thirteen-year-old to become a groundbreaking ballerina.

When she discovered ballet, Misty was living in a shabby motel room, struggling with her five siblings for a place to sleep on the floor. A true prodigy, she was dancing en pointe within three months of taking her first dance class and performing professionally in just over a year: a feet unheard of for any classical dancer. But when Misty became caught between the control and comfort she found in the world of ballet and the harsh realities of her own life, she had to choose to embrace both her identity and her dreams, and find the courage to be one of a kind.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

This autobiography was co-authored by Charisse Jones.

What’s good?

This is a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the rise of a ballet prodigy. Misty Copeland was already 13-years-old when she took her first ballet class while attending a Boys & Girls Club (an after-school program in the States). Her story is one of inspiration and perspiration that starts with her troubles at home, erupts into a shocking custody battle between her mom and her dance teacher when she’s 15, and follows her through the competitive and demanding world of dance. The reader is witness to Copeland’s struggles through puberty, weight issues, racism, and injury. She is very open about her family’s issues, and her own feelings, which creates a captivating narrative.  

Best Part: Prince!

What isn’t good?

Copeland is unapologetic about her level of natural talent and this occasionally borders on arrogance, especially at the beginning. Her abilities are undeniable, and her story of success is amazing, but her (or her co-author’s) choice of words and bluntness in the storytelling sometimes feel haughty or condescending. The writing itself is a bit weak.

Worst part: The constant use of the word “Mommy.”

Recommendation ☺☺☺☺ (4/5)

In 2015, Misty Copeland became the first African-American principal dancer in the 75-year history of American Ballet Theater. The story of her rise to fame is mesmerizing. While the writing isn’t strong, the narrative is insightful and her experiences are lessons in strength and perseverance. Definitely recommended.

Copeland, Misty. Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina. New York: Scholastic, 2014.

Newsprints by Ru Xu

Pages: 201

Intended Audience: Tweens and up

Genre: Graphic novel / Steampunk

Notes for Parents: Some mature content

The Back Cover

Blue is an orphan who disguises herself as a newsboy. There’s a war going on, and girls are expected to help the struggling economy by selling cookies. But Blue loves living and working at the Bugle, the only paper in town that tells the truth. And what’s printed in the newspapers now matters more than ever.

But Blue struggles with her secret, and worries that if her friends and adopted family at the Bugle find out that she’s a girl, she’ll lose everything and everyone she cares about. And when she meets and befriends Crow, a boy who is also not what he seems, together they seek the freedom to be their true selves…and to save each other from the effects of war.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

The author is the creator of the popular webcomic Saint for Rent and this is her first graphic novel.

What’s good?

This is a simple story set in an alternate world and told with bold, beautiful, manga-inspired illustrations. The plot is simple; the dialogue is sparse but strong; and the characters are very likeable. The setting is a quirky combination of the turn of the 20^th century newspaper wars and Victorian steampunk complete with robots and war machines. Themes include friendship, gender roles, identity, truth, war, humanity, and media.

Best Part: Crow.

What isn’t good?

The start was slow and I found it a little hard to follow at times (especially in the beginning). The story itself is nothing new – a girl pretending to be a boy in a society that has certain expectations of the “fairer” sex. Crow’s story isn’t original either (but I don’t want to give anything away). However, their combined stories, and the added action and adventure make it exciting and relevant.

Worst part: Jack was a bit of a weak character.

Recommendation ☺☺☺ (3/5)

Newsies, robots, and a boy named Crow highlight this fast-pace, well-drawn adventure story. It’s an unpretentious lesson about stereotypes and identity. However, it’s a predictable tale, and like many graphic novels, it lacks the depth required for true character growth. Regardless, it was entertaining, with impressive artwork and excellent characters.

Xu, Ru. Newsprints. New York: Graphix, 2017.

Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan

Pages: 587

Intended Audience: Teens and mature tweens

Genre: Historical / Supernatural

Notes for Parents: Some mature content

The Back Cover

Lost and alone in a forbidden forest, Otto meets three mysterious sisters and suddenly finds himself entwined in a puzzling quest involving a prophecy, a promise, and a harmonica.

Decades later, Friedrich in Germany, Mike in Pennsylvania, and Ivy in California each, in turn, become interwoven when the very same harmonica lands in their lives. All the children face daunting challenges: rescuing a father, protecting a brother, holding a family together. And ultimately, pulled by the invisible thread of destiny, their suspenseful solo stories converge in an orchestral crescendo.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

The author has written over forty books for young people, including picture books, early readers, and middle grade and young adult novels. She has been the author recipient of the NEA's Human and Civil Rights Award, the Virginia Hamilton Literary Award, and the Ludington Award for body of work. Echo was a 2016 Newbery Honor Book and has won multiple awards including the 2015 Kirkus Prize and the 2016 Audie Award.

What’s good?

The power of music is the thread that unites what is essentially four separated stories that take place during varied periods of World War II. Each story manages to be both heartwarming and heartbreaking, with an outstanding protagonist surrounded by strong supporting characters. The structure is unique, the writing is fresh, and the tone remains hopeful throughout. The chapters are short, the plot is simple but engaging, and the premise is wonderfully imagined. Themes of courage, sacrifice, injustice, racism, and love are thoroughly explored.

Best Part: “Music does not have a race or a disposition! Every instrument has a voice that contributes. Music is a universal language. A universal religion of sorts. Certainly it's my religion. Music surpasses all distinctions between people." 

What isn’t good?

It’s thick, and unfortunately that will be a turn off for many. The font is fairly large and the spacing is generous so it’s not as long as it looks. I found the end to be predictable (but still lovely), and I was disappointed that the author chose to finish the individual stories on a cliffhanger, opting for a collective resolution at the end instead.

Worst part: The bookends (I think it’s actually called framing). The “magical” bits at the beginning and end are odd and unnecessary. The story would have been perfect fine without them.

Recommendation ☺☺☺☺☻ (4/5)

This was a beautiful story. It was compelling, at times even enchanting, but also sober and uneasy. I’m curious if it will appeal to teen and tween readers since it has such a serious tenor and is based around the harsh realities of World War II. It was a quick and easy read despite the daunting thickness and it was buoyant even with the solemn tone. Recommended. 

Ryan, Pam Muñoz. Echo. New York: Scholastic, 2015.

It's Not Me, It's You by Stephanie Kate Strohm

Pages: 275

Intended Audience: Teens and mature tweens

Genre: Romance / Humor

Notes for Parents: Some mature content

The Back Cover

There’s no suitable summary on the back cover so this is from the author’s website:

Avery Dennis is a high school senior and one of the most popular girls in her class. But a majorly public breakup with the guy she's been dating causes some disastrous waves. It is right before prom and Avery no longer has the perfect date. She runs the prom committee, how could she not show up with somebody?

Post-breakup, Avery gets to thinking about all of the guys that she has ever dated. How come none of those relationships ever worked out? Could it be her fault? Avery decides to investigate. In history class she's learning about this method of record-keeping called "oral history" and she has a report due. So Avery decides to go directly to the source. Avery tracks down all of the guys she's ever dated, and uses that information along with her friends, family, and even teachers’ thoughts, to compile a total account of her dating history. Avery discovers some surprises about herself and the guys she's spent time with just in time for prom night.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

The story is written in an unconventional format, in what the author (or rather, the main character) describes as an oral history. It’s almost like a script (but with no description of action).

What’s good?

Avery Dennis is a surprise. At first she seems like the stereotypical dumb blonde or self-obsessed mean girl as she introduces an oral history project that focusses on – no surprise – herself! However, while Avery is popular, pretty, and rich, she is also driven, confident, smart, and nice to everyone (even her nemesis, Bizzy). After her breakup right before prom, she sets out on a journey of self-discovery and learns about herself through the observations of her friends, family, and teachers as they weigh in on her distinguished list of relationships. The plot itself is nothing new, but the format gives it a fresh feel, and the well-drawn characters are an absolute delight. The unusual format makes it easy to read, and the rich vocabulary and countless pop culture references makes it a ton of fun.

Best Part: The secondary characters are fantastic, especially Coco and Hutch.

What isn’t good?

I knew how it was going to end about 30 pages in. Character growth is definitely given more attention than plot development. But even so, there wasn’t much depth to the characters either. The main character, Avery, definitely goes through a transformation as the story progresses, but we don’t get a sense of her or anyone’s history beyond the superficial.

Worst part: All. The. Periods.

Recommendation ☺☺☺☻☻ (3/5)

It was cute. This is a light, humorous, romantic story. The writing is good, the characters are great, but the story is predictable. Tons of young adult novels are also great reads for adults, but this isn’t one of them. I think to appreciate the problems of this particular teenage girl, you probably have to be a teenager, so I’m going to highly recommend this to any teens looking for a quick and witty read.

Strohm, Stephanie Kate. It’s Not Me, It’s You. New York: Point, 2016.

George by Alex Gino

Pages: 195

Intended Audience: Tweens

Genre: Drama / LGBTQ+

Notes for Parents: Some mature content

The Back Cover

Be who you are. When people look at George, they think they see a boy. But she knows she’s not a boy. She knows she’s a girl.

George thinks she’ll have to keep this a secret forever. Then her teacher announces that their class play is going to be Charlotte’s Web. George really, really, REALLY wants to play Charlotte. But the teacher says she can’t even try out for the part…because she’s a boy.

With the help of her best friend, Kelly, George comes up with a plan. Not just so she can be Charlotte—but so everyone can know who she is, once and for all.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

Author Alex Gino is transgender, more specifically genderqueer (a term used to describe a person who feels that his/her gender identity does not fit into the socially constructed "norms" associated with his/her biological sex. ~urbandictionary.com). The author wrote George to fill a hole in children’s literature.

In a September 24, 2015 interview with Kiera Parrott of School Library Journal, the author said: “When I started writing George, there wasn’t really mainstream trans literature for children of any age. The few gay and lesbian books that did exist were focused on picture books for children with LGB adults in their lives and young adult novels about high school students first coming out.”

What’s good?

The real charm of this story comes from the very simple style with which the author introduces the 10-year-old girl whom everyone else sees as a boy. The complex issue of being transgender is treated in an admirably uncomplicated way. George is not kicking and screaming about the world’s injustices, but rather lives with a quiet determination to get to know herself and eventually become that person. The adults of her world don’t seem ready to deal with George’s true self, and instead of making demands, she simply shows them how she feels. There is certainly a great irony in wanting to play a “girl” part when she feels like she’s been playing a “boy” part. It was interesting to realize how often gender comes up on a daily basis (using the bathroom, lining up for recess, trying out for a play). This was a fast, easy read with plenty of heart.

Best Part: Kelly and her dad.

What isn’t good?

I had a few issues with the use of gender stereotypes (all girls wear dresses and makeup). I can only guess that they were used to simplify George’s feelings and give Kelly a method of helping George experience her true self. I don’t think it was a harmful choice, but there are probably better choices out there.

Worst part: None.

Recommendation ☺☺☺☻☻ (3/5)

At its core, this is a sad story, but it’s hopeful and ultimately heartwarming to see George gain the confidence to acknowledge Melissa. While it’s easy to say “Be who you are,” it’s much more challenging when your authentic self is someone who doesn’t conform to society’s norms. George is about courage and honesty, and fortitude. 

Gino, Alex. George. New York: Scholastic, 2015. (hardcover)