The Year of the Dog by Grace Lin

From Goodreads,

"A special edition of a modern classic by the Newbery-Award winning and bestselling author of Where the Mountain Meets the Moon

When Pacy's mom tells her that this is a good year for friends, family, and "finding herself," Pacy begins searching right away. As the year goes on, she struggles to find her talent, deals with disappointment, makes a new best friend, and discovers just why the Year of the Dog is a lucky one for her after all.
This funny and profound book is a wonderful debut novel by award-winning and bestselling author and illustrator Grace Lin, and young readers will be sure to love and treasure it for years to come.
This special edition of the modern classic features over 15 pages of new content, including deleted stories, a Q&A with the author and editor, photos from the author's childhood, and more!"

Goodreads - The Year of the Dog

Awards and Nominations:

• Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature for Youth Literature Honor (2006)

The Year of the Dog follows a young girl named Pacy who is struggling to figure out who she is.  She knows that it is her lucky year because it is the year of the dog.  She is determined to find out who she is, what special talent she has, and what the year will hold for her.  

This book had a lot potential, but it felt like a real let down.  The book made this big point about how Pacy was going to "find herself".  I don't feel like that happened.  I thought that she was going to go through some big transformation and discover who she really was.  I expected there to be a change in her character, but it didn't happen.  Finding herself just meant that she decided she wanted to write books when she got older.  If deciding what you want to do when you grow up means you've found yourself, then I found myself in third grade.  I felt like there needed to be a grander transformation of finding herself or it didn't need to be such a big point in the book.

While there's not a lot that I enjoyed about this book, I did like that it is based loosely on true events from the author's childhood.  There is an afterword where Lin mentions that she chose to write this book because she wanted to see more characters like her in literature.  I love that she included this note because it really gave me a better understanding and appreciation of this book.  I do feel that we need more diversity in children's literature.  So many kids aren't exposed to diverse people and culture.  I love that authors are writing about things that are lacking in children's literature. 

This wasn't my favorite book and I don't plan to read the other books in this series.  The book was too scattered.  It also had a huge build up of finding yourself and it flopped.  I have to give this 2 stars.  I will probably put this in my classroom library, but I feel it will be a book that will sit untouched for months. 

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

From Goodreads,

"The beloved first book of the Harry Potter series, now fully illustrated by award-winning artist Jim Kay.

For the first time, J.K. Rowling's beloved Harry Potter books will be presented in lavishly illustrated full-color editions. Kate Greenaway-award winning artist Jim Kay has created over 100 stunning illustrations, making this deluxe format a perfect gift as much for a child being introduced to the series, as for the dedicated fan.

Harry Potter has never been the star of a Quidditch team, scoring points while riding a broom far above the ground. He knows no spells, has never helped to hatch a dragon, and has never worn a cloak of invisibility.

All he knows is a miserable life with the Dursleys, his horrible aunt and uncle, and their abominable son, Dudley--a great big swollen spoiled bully. Harry's room is a tiny closet at the foot of the stairs, and he hasn't had a birthday party in eleven years.

But all that is about to change when a mysterious letter arrives by owl messenger: a letter with an invitation to an incredible place that Harry--and anyone who reads about him---will find unforgettable."

Goodreads - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Awards and Nominations:

• Nestle Smarties Book Prize for 9-11 years (1997)
• Carnegie Medal Nominee (1997)
• British Book Award for Children's Book of the Year (1998)
• Parenting Book of the Year Award (1998)
• Specsavers National Book Award for Children's Book of the YEar (1998)
• American Booksellers Book Of The Year Award for Children (1999)
• Kinderboekwinkelpriis (1999)
• North East Teenage Book Award (1999)
• Literaturpreis der Jury der jungen Leser for Kinderbuch (1999)
• West Australian Young Readers' Book Award (WAYRBA) for Young Readers (2000)
• Grand Canyon Reader Award for Teen Book (2000)
• Charlotte Award (2000)
• Nene Award (2000)
• Massachusetts Children's Book Award (2000)
• Nevada Young Readers' Award for Young Reader Category (2000)
• Golden Archer Award for Middle/Junior High (2000)
• Indian Paintbrush Book Award (2000)
• Washington State Sasquatch Award (2000)
• Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award (2001)
• Blue Hen Book Award for Chapter Book (2001)
• South Carolina Book Award for Junior Book Award (2001)
• Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award (2001)
• Prijs van de Nederlandse Kinderjury for 6-9 jaar en 10-12 jaar (2002)
• Hotze de Roosprijs (2002)
• Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature (2008)

When I was a child I remember my aunt giving me Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone because she didn't want my cousin reading witchcraft.  I tried to read it a few times, but I could never seem to get into it.  A great number of years later I finally watched all the movies and really enjoyed them, but I still couldn't bring myself to read the books.  I finally decided that I needed to, so I purchased a used copy and stuck it on my shelf with the rest of my "to be read" books.  I forgot about it until I received a package in the mail from Scholastic Insider.  Inside was the illustrated hardback edition of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.  I was beyond excited and showed it off to anyone and everyone.  I'm able to admit that at 25 I have FINALLY read the first Harry Potter book....and I loved it!

Harry Potter has lived his whole life under the stairs in his aunt and uncle's house because his parents were killed.  He has grown up being annoyed and overshadowed by his big brat of a cousin.  Harry's life has been terrible, until he starts receiving letters in the mail.  He soon finds out that he is a wizard and has been accepted into the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.  Harry must put the pieces together to figure out who is trying to steal the Sorcerer's Stone from Hogwarts.  

I absolutely loved this book and I'm so glad that I was able to get it as a gift from Scholastic.  I hate watching the movie before reading the book because I always imagine the characters as the ones portrayed in the movie.  I was worried when I started the book because the book itself had illustrations and I feared that I wouldn't like them, but it was actually just the opposite.  I loved the illustrations and how they portrayed the characters written by Rowling.  This book would be a perfect introduction for kids getting into the Harry Potter scene.  The illustrations complete and complement the book.

The only complaint I had about this book was the pure size of it.  It is big.  This book is meant to be more of a coffee table book than an actual reading book.  It was uncomfortable to hold and difficult to take anywhere due to the sheer size of it.   I'm the type of person who wants to curl up in bed with a book or take a bubble bath while reading, but this book really required it to be on a table or lap.

I am so glad that I finally read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.  I'm a little late to the game, but better late than never.  I liked that the book and movie were pretty close to the same story.  There were some timeline differences and minor things that were changed, but it was still an excellent story.  I'm definitely excited to purchase the next illustrated book Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.  I give this 5 stars and recommend this specific edition of the book to young kids reading Harry Potter for the first time. 

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

From Goodreads,

"Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed.

Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil’s name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr.

But what Starr does—or does not—say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life."

Goodreads - The Hate U Give

Awards and Nominations:

• National Book Award Nominee for Young People's Literature (2017)
• Los Angeles Times Book Prize Nominee for Young Adult Literature (2017)
• Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Fiction (2017)
• Kirkus Prize Nominee for Young Readers' Literature (2017)
• Goodreads Choice Award for Young Adult Fiction (2017)
• Goodreads Choice Award for Debut Goodreads Author (2017)
• Goodreads Choice Award for Best of the Best (2018)
• Carnegie Medal Nominee (2018)
• NAACP Image Award Nominee for Youth/Teens (2018)
• Odyssey Award (2018)
• Edgar Award Nominee for Best Young Adult (2018)
• Michael L. Printz Award Nominee (2018)
• Coretta Scott King Award Nominee for Author Honor (2018)
• Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis for Preis der Jugendjury (2018)
• Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award (2018)
• Rhode Island Teen Book Award Nominee (2019)
• Lincoln Award Nominee (2019)

I love reading books that are in the news and making waves.  This book is definitely one that has been in the spotlight both for the book and the movie release.  For many, this book is a reality.  I bought this book about a year ago and just now got around to reading it since the movie was being released.  I was determined to read the book before watching the movie, and I am so glad that I did. 

The Hate U Give follows a teenage girl named Starr who lives in two different worlds.  Half the time she is the typical kid at a prestigious school in a good neighborhood.  The other half of the time she lives in a poor neighborhood where gangs run the streets, being black is a crime, and staying alive is the goal.  Starr unfortunately witnesses the murder of one of her childhood friends at the hands of a cop.  Starr has to make the decision to stand up and speak out or to stay silent to avoid problems.

I'm going to start with my thoughts on the book, which was by far my favorite between it and the movie.  I love that the book took place over the course of weeks, but there wasn't a struggle to determine how long it had been.  Thomas had neatly separated the book so that we knew how many weeks it had been since the shooting.  I also love that she tackled such a topic that is plaguing news headlines.  I feel like we constantly hear about a white police officer shooting someone who was unarmed or not a threat.  I feel like our society is so quick to pick a side and make a judgment call.  This book really focused on what really happened versus the information that was presented to the public.  Things were being released to the public that were false and that was dramatically skewing people's opinions.  I think that we as a society need to stop taking sides on situations and focus more on the fact that all lives matter.  This is a hard subject to talk about and to cover, but it is a real thing happening.  My heart breaks that people are losing their lives based on the color of their skin and that they "thought" they had a gun.

While I loved the book and the entire topic and approach, I disliked the movie.  This is going to contain a spoiler, but the ending made me SO angry.  At the end of the movie the gang leader King and Starr's dad start to approach each other, both reaching for their guns.  Starr's dad reaches for a gun that isn't there.  At this point the movie shifts and we realize that Sekani has pulled the gun and is aiming it at King.  The cops show up and pull guns yelling at the kid to drop the gun.  Starr ends up stepping in front of him to shield him in case they decide to shoot.  This whole scene was a sham and never happened in the book.  I was so mad that they added this in to make the story have a more dramatic ending that had a point to it.  I feel like if I hadn't read the book then I would have thought the ending was great, but because I did it really just killed the movie for me.  I was also upset that DeVante was removed from the movie and that the things that happened to DeVante happened to Seven.  DeVante wasn't a huge character in the book, but he still had an important role and was well missed from the movie.

Overall, I enjoyed the book way more than the movie.  This is an important topic that is so prominent in media today.  I think that we all need to give more love and less hate.  This book does have curse words in it, but it is still a powerful book.  I give it 4 stars.  I think teenagers would really enjoy this book, especially since it is so relevant.  

The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron

From Goodreads,

"Believing that her French guardian is about to abandon her to an orphanage in the city, ten-year-old Lucky runs away from her small town with her beloved dog by her side in order to trek across the Mojave Desert in this Newbery Medal–winning novel from Susan Patron.

Lucky, age ten, can't wait another day. The meanness gland in her heart and the crevices full of questions in her brain make running away from Hard Pan, California (population 43), the rock-bottom only choice she has.

It's all Brigitte's fault -- for wanting to go back to France. Guardians are supposed to stay put and look after girls in their care! Instead Lucky is sure that she'll be abandoned to some orphanage in Los Angeles where her beloved dog, HMS Beagle, won't be allowed. She'll have to lose her friends Miles, who lives on cookies, and Lincoln, future U.S. president (maybe) and member of the International Guild of Knot Tyers. Just as bad, she'll have to give up eavesdropping on twelve-step anonymous programs where the interesting talk is all about Higher Powers. Lucky needs her own -- and quick.

But she hadn't planned on a dust storm.

Or needing to lug the world's heaviest survival-kit backpack into the desert."

Goodreads - The Higher Power of Lucky

Awards and Nominations:

• Newbery Medal (2007)
• Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award Nominee (2008)

I'm still working my way through the Newbery Medal Winners.  Thanks to everyone who is still reading as I power my way through.  This book was the 2007 winner of the Newbery Medal and is another book to mark off my list.

The Higher Power of Lucky tells the story of a young girl named Lucky who lives with her guardian Brigitte.  Lucky is dealing with a lot since the death of her mother and her father dumping her with Brigitte.  She spends her days working at the museum and eavesdropping on the various twelve step meetings that take place.  Lucky is also trying to pack the perfect survival backpack just in case she ever needs it.  But one day Lucky thinks that Brigitte is moving back to France and she decides to take action by running away.

I had very mixed feelings about this book.  In my opinion it was very dry at the beginning.  Absolutely nothing exciting happened until the end of the book.  The first two-thirds of the book was just setting up the background for the book.  Lucky shared about how she came to live with Brigitte and we met the various characters like Lincoln and Miles.  It was very dull and lacked any kind of hook or excitement to pull readers in.  Lucky also introduced us to the twelve step program and what she did to help out.  The summary of this book really made it seem like the twelve step programs were going to be a bigger part of the story than they really were.  I just felt like there were a lot of ideas thrown in the book, but very few were carried out and executed properly.

The one thing I did like was Lucky finding her "higher power" at the end of the book.  The message of learning to let go is a really important one that many people can take and apply to various aspects in their life.  I am very guilty of hanging onto things.  I don't want to let go because I'm honestly scared of the unknown.  But I think that is the magic of the "higher power".  I can think of at least a dozen things in my life that I need to let go of and trust that it's going to be alright.  We all really need to take a leap of faith, let go, and believe that everything is going to be alright.  In doing this we all find our higher power, whatever it should be.

This book wasn't what I expected it to be.  I was a little bit disappointed in the book.  There are two other books in this trilogy.  I would honestly have to read reviews before I decided to read these books.  The first one just didn't do it for me and pull me into the storyline and series.  I give this 3 stars.  

The Midwife's Apprentice by Karen Cushman

From Goodreads,

"From the author of Catherine, Called Birdy comes another spellbinding novel set in medieval England. The girl known only as Brat has no family, no home, and no future until she meets Jane the Midwife and becomes her apprentice. As she helps the sharp-tempered Jane deliver babies, Brat--who renames herself Alyce--gains knowledge, confidence, and the courage to want something from life: "A full belly, a contented heart, and a place in this world." Medieval village life makes a lively backdrop for the funny, poignant story of how Alyce gets what she wants. A concluding note discusses midwifery past and present. A Newbery Medal book."

Goodreads - The Midwife's Apprentice

Awards and Nominations:

• Newbery Medal (1996)
• Dorothy Canfield Fisher Book Award Nominee (1997)
• Pacific Northwest Library Association Young Reader's Choice Award for Senior (1998)

It's been a while since I posted a review for a Newbery Award winning book.  I'm still slowly working my way through the list, but I'm really enjoying getting to read the books that were award winning for a specific year.  Some of them I think absolutely deserve to be on the list, while there have been others that I have questioned as to why they won.  This book was a questionable book, but when I looked at the overall meaning in the book and the author's note at the end, I realized this book was deserving. 

This book is about a young, poor girl who has no name except for Brat.  She is found in a dung heap and soon the midwife in the village takes her in.  Soon Brat is called the Midwife's Apprentice.  She works to do her best to earn her keep of food and a roof over her head.  She soon renames herself Alyce in hopes it will help her belong, but she feels she is unworthy of being the apprentice.  She soon runs away to try to figure out her purpose and place.  Eventually Alyce has multiple opportunities present before and she must chose which is the perfect fit for her. 

This book was a bit slow and a little boring.  However, it had a really great message about finding who you are and where you belong.  This book really spoke volumes to me at this point in my life.  There have been times lately that I have questioned who I am and where I belong.  I think that so many kids would find this book relatable because we all go through points in life where we don't know what we are doing.  We can't figure out what our purpose is or where we belong.  For me it is a highly unsettling thing because I am a control freak.  I need to know the next thing that is happening.  I don't like the uncertainty and the unknown.  This book really shows you that it is okay to not know what you are doing, but that it will feel "right".  

This book had weird time jumps and I never really knew the time frame in which this book took place.  It was very scattered and that made the book confusing.  Another thing that bothered me was the grammar in this book.  The language was very old style.  It made it difficult at times, but I completely understand that it was written in this way to fit the time period in which the book takes place. 

Overall, this book was a fairly good read.  I think the informational piece in the author's note was a very good addition.  It had lots of information about midwifery and how it has progressed.  I have to give this book 3 stars.  This isn't a book I would recommend to kids.  I just don't think they would willing pick it up and read it.  It would have to be a very specific student I recommended it to.