Mini Book Reviews: New Kid, A Wolf Called Wonder

New Kid by Jerry Craft

Published: February 5th, 2019 by Quill Tree Books

Genre: Graphic Novel, Coming-of-age

Format: Hardcover, 256 Pages, Library

Rating: 5 stars

My Thoughts:

Middle Schooler Jordan Banks just wants to go to art school but instead his parents send him to a prestigious private school so he can get the best education possible. But he soon realizes there aren't a lot of kids who look like him.

Jerry Craft writes a beautiful and funny story. Jordan experiences tiny racist moments from people who would call him a friend to teachers he should feel safe with. One annoying kid is always asking inappropriate things about his home life like if his dad's in prison or about drugs in his neighborhood. One teacher keeps calling another Black kid in class another name; someone who attended a previous year and she had a hard time with him. She ends up expecting him to do worse in class and behave badly. 

He expertly crafts classism in here as well as it comes up whether there are people there at the school who have financial aid and scholarships. Does the teacher handle that information well? And what about expectations from other Black teachers at the school? Do they expect more or worse of other Black students at the school?

It's all handled with thought and humor. My son and I both read this separately and had great conversations. I think this is a must-read for anyone in middle school and their parents. Overall, it's a fantastic story that talks about the many experiences Black kids and kids of color experience in schools with a White majority.

Guts by Reina Telgemeier

Published: September 17th, 2019 by Scholastic

Genre: Graphic Novel, Coming-of-age, Memoir

Format: Paperback, 144 Pages, Own

Rating: 4 stars

My Thoughts:

Raina Telgemeier writes a mini memoir about her anxiety in middle school. The way she is able to bring the issue to the forefront with humor and realness is a compliment to her fantastic writing skills that speak to both adults and kids. My son loves every one of her books and this one was no different. We both struggle with anxiety and recognized many of the same things she writes about. Great job to Telgemeier for being open about her experiences and helping kids and adults alike grappling with stress and anxiety. This makes it a lot easier to talk about and get more people talking about it.

The Earth Under Sky Bear's Feet by Joseph Bruchac

Published: September 28th, 1988 by Puffin Books

Genre: Poetry

Format: Paperback, 32 Pages, Own

Rating: 5 stars

My Thoughts:

The poems are beautiful and the illustrations are too. Bruchac introduces various Native American poems from many Nations through a story of Sky Bear. My son and I both loved it.

A Wolf Called Wander by Rosanne Parry

Published: May 7th, 2019 by Greenwillow Books

Genre: Historical Fiction, Nature

Format: Kindle, 243 Pages, Own

Rating: 5 stars

My Thoughts:

This book is based on the travels of an actual wolf in Oregon, OR-7, who left his pack and traveled from his home more than a thousand miles through eastern and southern Oregon and up through northern California. Parry has created a beautiful and empathic journey for us to take with Swift/Wander. What does a wolf think about a road with cars on it that speed so quickly or about men with guns? What is the relationship between crows and wolves? What makes mountains to enticing for wolf packs? Her world-building is phenomenal. We see and hear and taste Swift/Wander meander and survive through deserts and hills and forests and even a fire. One truly feels like they're a wolf wandering for survival and trying to find a new place to call home. I can't recommend this book enough. This is one I read out loud with my son.

Animals of Houston

So many animals were also affected by Hurricane Harvey. People Pets found some great animal rescue stories during the storm. I'll post a few of my faves but go check out the post for all of them!

This dog was found clinging to the rail. But they got to her!




This cooper hawk took refuge in this man's taxi to escape the hurricane winds. According to the New York Post the man Bruso nicknamed him "Sgt. Hurricane Harvey." The hawk even landed on Bruso's arm after he had put on a glove.

Bruso..."eventually handed the bird over to the Texas Wildlife Rehabilitation Coalition of Houston. “It was a very cool experience,” Bruso told the Post. “I felt very honored that [the hawk] chose to hunker down with me — and was so well-behaved, better behaved than my cousins who come here and wreak havoc … It was a magical experience. This is a bird of prey, a natural-born killer in its normal environment. But this was not a normal situation.”

Here's How To Help according to People Pets:

• Best Friends Animal Society, the first animal rescue on the ground during Hurricane Katrina, has deployed its disaster response team to Texas to help rescue stranded animals, deliver supplies and transport displaced pets. You can donate to the disaster relief fund here. 
• The SPCA of Texas is working to evacuate pets out of the affected ares and is helping to provide resources on pet-friendly housing to those evacuating the Houston area. The SPCA of Texas is accepting donations here. 
• Austin Pets Alive! Is moving as many displaced animals as possible into its shelter and is working on adopting out the animals currently residing there, so it has more room for Harvey evacuees. The rescue is looking for financial donations and potential adopters, learn more here.
• American Humane is working to rescue animals from the flood waters, as well, and is also providing hundreds of pounds of pet food to pet owners and their animals currently displaced by Harvey. To support these efforts, click here.
• The Humane Society of the United States has several on-the-ground response teams rescuing animals and helping people with pets get to safety. It recently took the lead in organizing a flight of shelter dogs from Texas to New Jersey. Readers can donate towards the rescue effort by clicking here.