Gary D. Schmidt

There are a few children's books with so much heart that reading them is a special experience. This is one of those. In first person, it tells one year in the life of Holling Hoodhood, a seventh grader during the 1967–1968 school year. At the heart of the book is his relationship with his teacher, Mrs. Baker. Initially, Holling believes that Mrs. Baker hates him, but throughout the year we find out that she is actually a pretty amazing teacher. During that year, Holling will grow up, develop some self-confidence and read a lot of Shakespeare.

Plenty of things happen during that year, although the book is mostly slice-of-life rather than plot-oriented. It's funny at times, and touching at others. A truly excellent book for kids that can be appreciated by adults. Highly recommended.… (more)

Short-haired artist River (drawn by Jarrett J. Krosoczka) feels compelled to doodle visions they see - not characters, but real people. Each quick sketch - in a sketchbook, in dust on a window, with condiments on a cafeteria table - springs to life in a new story, and each person has an unusual superpower, which they try to use to make the world a better place.

Quotes

"Love yourself or lose yourself.
Pick one." (Nikki Grimes, 42)

There are too many things that are unfair and too many people who are being unfair. If one thing becomes fair, something else becomes unfair. (Ibi Zoboi, 145)

For as long as she could remember, it had been made clear to Jamie that protecting their feelings was more important than protecting hers. (Linda Sue Park, 156)

Except that I already know that impossible things happen sometimes, and things, well, they shift.
And then we move on. (Meg Medina, 269)… (more)

It only takes a few hours for Turner Buckminster to start hating Phippsburg, Maine. No one in town will let him forget that he's a minister's son, even if he doesn't act like one. But then he meets Lizzie Bright Griffin, a smart and sassy girl from a poor nearby island community founded by former slaves. Despite his father's - and the town's - disapproval of their friendship, Turner spends time with Lizzie, and it opens up a whole new world to him, filled with the mystery and wonder of Maine's rocky coast. The two soon discover that the town elders, along with Turner's father, want to force the people to leave Lizzie's island so that Phippsburg can start a lucrative tourist trade there. Turner gets caught up in a spiral of disasters that alter his life - but also lead him to new levels of acceptance and maturity. This sensitively written historical novel, based on the true story of a community's destruction, highlights a unique friendship during a time of change.… (more)