Iran

The Authentics was good.  Many thanks to Americanized again because now I do understand the Shah and recent Iranian history and all of that, much more.  So it was made it easier to get into the book.  The main character, Daria has a unique heritage but also her questions and feelings are universal.  Belonging, family, that kind of thing.  Good stuff. 

Too Wild

I did love The Wild Robot.  But for me, it would have been a great stand-alone.  The Wild Robot Escapes is the sequel and I hope that will be it.  But for people who really enjoy a lot of descriptive action scenes, this might be much more enjoyable.  At first I really liked it but then it just seemed to go overboard with the action scenes.

I LOVE Jason Reynolds

And I really loved Patina.  I loved it so much that the ending made me so mad!!!!!  Great, great book!  Lots to think about here, especially the pressure that Patina puts on herself.  What a great kid.  I loved this book. 

Far from the Tree was a very good book.  There were just so many OUTSTANDING YA books this year that it might be hard for it to stand out.  Compared to Auma's Long Run, Long Way Down, The Hate U Give and Dear Martin, it's hard to see this as THE Printz.  An honor book?  Sure!  As long as those I listed above are honor books as well, with Auma getting the big prize (in my imaginary world this will happen).  But this was an excellent book with so many emotions and great characters.  Very heart-felt and heart-rending.  Well recommended.  

Walter Dean

Solo by Kwame Alexander solidified a suspicion I had about Alexander. Alexander is the new Walter Dean Myers, the new Sherman Alexie, the new Gary Paulsen.  He is the new amazing.  And while it might seem cool to put him up there with those big names, I want to make sure that it is clear that I don't mean it in a "good job, dude, you are getting there, you made the big time!" kinda way, because Alexander probably always was this good.  And when I say good I mean masterful.  So I mean no, "good going kid" by that at all.  I simply think he is one of the best.

Greed

There are many, many people who do not have homes in our country.  There are many, many people who do have homes but they are not safe.  There are many, many people who have homes but they don't have enough food to eat.  There are so many, many people living at or below or just above the poverty line.  And it is frustrating to see how much greed there is in our country, in the world, in myself.
My brother and I were talking today about our country's current president.  And wondering how he was elected, with no experience, with such a vulgar history.  And we think it all comes down to greed.  To people wanting more than what they have currently at the expense of others.  People are willing to overlook all kinds of behavior, are willing to overlook character completely, to say nothing of experience, if it means that they might have a chance of keeping what is they see as theirs, or making sure that someone else isn't getting something they don't "deserve."  Money.  The dollar sign.  And our current president is a very rich man.  He got his money the old fashioned way, he inherited it.  And so maybe those who support him thought he knew a thing or two about making money.  Truth is, he didn't really do all that well with the money he inherited.  Compounding interest would happen to anyone.  Yes, he worked hard, but yes, he really didn't make a grand splash and he never could have done any of it without his inheritance and his father backing up his loans.  So yes, he is hard working man.  But no, he isn't an overly smart businessman.  So yeah.
But anyway...we need to care more about one another and less about what we want for ourselves. I include myself in that, too.  Even thought I didn't vote for President Trump, I could have done more to see that he was not elected.  But does greed always win the day?  In this life is seems so.
But I digress.
Paper Things is a novel about homelessness.  It is a terrific novel.  It is a novel about families.  It is a novel about friendship and love and complications, it is a novel about life that ripped my heart out and probably will rip yours out as well.  Jennifer Richard Jacobson is a new-to-me author.  I am so thankful for her words and I am sorry that this book wasn't on my radar before now.  Excellent.

Robots in the Wild

If I had a Newbery pick it would be Wild Robot.  This was not (yet) on the list for the goodread group I follow, but I hope it will be, or at least considered.  In addition to being different, totally fresh, well written and pretty much amazing, kids would really enjoy it, too.  

Sometimes? Often? Rarely?

As Simple as it Seems.  The title of this book made me ask the question, "How often are things as simple as they seem?"  I only gave this book 3 of 5 stars after I finished it, and I wonder if I should change it to 4.  I really did like this book.  The thing is, even though I love short books, I felt like this one was maybe a little too short?
Verbena learns a lot about herself during the summer before middle school.  She learns that she has been adopted, that she was born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and that her birth father (her adoptive father's brother) is in prison for killing someone in a fight.
At the same time she is dealing with the regular growing pains, growing a part from friends, not being as "cool" or ready for boys as her best friend, and being embarrassed by her mother's appearance.  In Verbena's case her mom is very overweight.  It made me think that David Levithan would hate this girl's mother!
This really isn't a criticism of the book, it probably is a compliment, I would have liked to know more about Verbena.  She is an angry girl, but no more than any middle schooler, probably.  God knows what life is like being a middle schooler without all of the different complications that Verbena has.

Metaphors

Breadcrumbs was a book I saw around for a long time, but the cover looked boring. Then I read about it and discovered it was one of those fairy tale change-up books and I decided to give it a try!
I am really glad I did and it was a terrific audio listen, but I do wish I would have read it, because there is a lot in here with regard to some of those non-Disneyfied fairy tales, like the Little Match Girl that show up here in this story.
While most of us won't meet White Witches and wear red shoes that make us dance and dance and dance, we probably have all had an experience like Hazel, finding that a loved childhood friend is slipping away, that maybe you are outgrowing one another.
Beautifully written, I think. And for me to notice, because I am not an educated "smart reader" who notices that kind of thing, you know for sure that it is beautifully written.
Hazel is the main character but I do think dudes would enjoy this story if they gave it a chance. Even if they just started it, because they are all intriguing characters and Jack is a main focus. I am glad I read this finally! Anne Ursu is from Minnesota and remember, only great things and people come from Minnesota!   There is a neat interview with the author here, as she answers some questions that kids ask her.

A Red String that Connects

Just Like Me is told from the POV of Julia, who was adopted from China as a baby.  She has never made a connection with her Chinese birth, not like the other girls who were adopted from the same orphanage in China, Avery and Becca.  Avery and Becca and Julia's parents were all part of the same group who adopted their daughters at the same time.  Because of this, all of the parents have kinda forced them to be "Chinese sisters,"  which seems totally fine for Avery and Becca, but Julia just doesn't want to have any part of it.  When a newspaper (or maybe magazine) writer wants to do a story on the three girls their parents decide that the girls should spend a week together at a summer camp and journal about their experiences.
Becca and Avery are all excited about it in their own ways, but Julie just really wants to forget about being Chinese and embrace the Italian and Irish part of her, as those are the heritages of her adoptive parents.
As she journals on and the week goes on, Julie faces feelings that she has tried not to feel.  This was a very interesting book. I wonder if it rings true for children who were adopted internationally or even within their own country.
Also it was just a good story about girls getting a long and about foster care as well, as Becca and Avery and Julia share a cabin with three other girls with different life situations.

I tried

Greenglass House has been getting Newbery buzz.  I have little doubt that it will win.  I didn't like it at all.  It just seems to be the safe Newbery choice.  I tried three times to read this.  I ended up buying the audio book just so I could get through it.  Even on 3x speed, it took 467 hours.
This book has been compared to other books I just couldn't get through, like From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler and The Westing Game.  So if you liked those books,  you may very well like Greenglass House.  I tried and tried, I did finish it but it was rough going.

Kira-Kira

is one of those books that I have seen on the shelf forever and had no interest in reading.  Just like Hatchet, The Witch of Blackbird Pond and the Bridge to Terabithia.  All three I finally did read and loved.  Now I must read Kira-Kira because Half a World Away was just so excellent.  Cynthia Kadohata wrote them both!  Jaden was adopted by American parents at the age of four from Romania.  I am not sure when the book takes place, but it must be before 2001 because international adoption of Romanian children was banned.   Now if one parent has a Romanian passport but are living in the US, adoptions can proceed.
Jaden is a troubled kid, he remembers his mother and is still wondering why she gave him up.  He doesn't seem to be able to feel love for his parents, he still has social difficulties.  His parents, Penni and Steve are now seeking to adopt a child from Kazakhstan.  They travel to Kazakhstan to bond with the baby.
Some of the most memorable parts of this book are between Jaden and Sam, the man who drives Jaden's family around while their are in Kazakhstan.  He and Jaden bond, Sam calls him out as a hoodlum, but one he likes.  He says this to Jaden, "What have you thought your power would be?  You will find something that makes you fly and then your life will be settled."
This is so so so true.  I have known many young people, and older people who are struggling with what to do with and in their lives.  I was like that, too.  I totally understand.  And what it took me to get settled was indeed, finding what made me fly.  For me it was a deep passion for service.  For me it was wanting to be Christ-like to and serve and uplift  all of the people I meet in a day.  Do I do it all the time?  No.  I fail a lot. A LOT!  But I try, try, try and it is so important to me that it is my passion and service is what makes me fly. This book leaves a lot up in the air, yes, but I do think that Jaden found something that has made him fly. This book is painful and hopeful and wonderful.
This is also on Anderson's Mock Newbery 2015 list and I won't be sad if it is an Honor Book, not sad at all. Still man, The Crossover is THE ONE!

Ancient Chinese Secret

I'm definitely not a cook. In fact I come from a long line of non-cooks. We are a microwave kinda family. I do love food, but I don't know much about it. Still, The Secret Ingredient, while it focuses a lot on food, held my interest from page one and was one of the most enjoyable books I've read in awhile.
Olivia lives in Silver Lake, with her two dads, one of whom own and runs an restaurant called FOOD, where Olivia makes the Saturday special. Times are tough for the family right now. Lots of economic woes and troubles with Olivia's brother. Olivia is on a quest to make things okay again at home and also find her birth mother. A lot of heavy stuff.
The character of Olivia is extremely real and likable. Her dreams about who she is and who she wants to be ring true.
The book also had hints of real life in Hollywood- not just the glamorous stuff of the stars.
Likable characters, good storyline. I liked it a big bunch!

Just a good, solid story

Find a Stranger, Say Good-bye isn't an exciting book.  There isn't crazy bunch of action, or a ton of funny lines.  It is just the very solid story of Natalie who has just graduated from high school and has decided to spend the summer looking for her birth parents.  She's got a great life, great parents and a great future, heading off to college and then hopefully, medical school.  This is just something that she feels like she has to do.  This pursuit sends her on a solo journey up into the Maine woods and to NYC. Really good book, read in one sitting.