Duet

When I read the summary of this book by Elise Broach, I recognized its similarities to her Masterpiece and I thought they would be so similar that I would not like this one.  I was mistaken. This was a lovely story about a boy named Michael, his piano teacher, and a bird named Mirabelle.  Told from Mirabelle's perspective, we learn that Michael is reluctant to prepare for a big piano competition with his new teacher until she sings with him one day.  She then becomes integral to his practices.  When they find out that his teacher's sister has a house full of treasures - including a possible rare piano, they set out to ensure Michael plays on it to prepare.  But that becomes impossible when the bank takes over the house and its contents.  When Michael's teacher becomes ill, Mirabelle has to make a difficult choice to help him over Michael.  This is a great addition to the Great Stone Face list for 2023-2024.  (FIC BRO)  

A Duet for Home

Karina Yan Glaser is one of my favorite authors.  Her Vanderbeekers series is amazing, so I was thrilled to read her newest book.  It did not disappoint.  Set in a NYC homeless shelter, its themes touch on friendship, struggle and hope.  June, her mother, and sister find themselves homeless after their father died and their mother lapsed into depression.  They are placed at a shelter where a wonderful cast of characters live and work.  However, the manager of the shelter is heartless and the kids hear about a new plan to kick people out of the shelter.  June and her new friends have to get the city to listen to their needs.  (FIC GLA)

A Rover’s Story

Jasmine Warga’s latest novel is on the 23-24 NH Great Stone Face List.  Resilience, a Mars rover, narrates his story of being built, sent to Mars, and his mission there.  Constantly observing and taking in data, he learns from his humans and yearns to be like them and make them proud.  Meanwhile, the daughter of his creator keeps a diary of sorts... letters to Res, over many years.  In these, we learn of her struggles, feelings, and fears about her life and her mother, the scientist who built Res.  If you liked the Wild Robot, you will love this.  (FIC WAR)

Violet and Jobie In the Wild

If you liked her Nuts To You, you will enjoy this story by Lynne Rae Perkins.  It is on the 2023-24 Great Stone Face List.  Violet and Jobie are siblings.  They are very happy mice, living in their human house.  But when the are caught and released into the wild, they have to learn how to survive.  A wise old mouse named Zolian guides and teaches them how to eat and stay safe from predators.  I found this, like Nuts, lacking in depth.  

Garvey in the Dark

 

In this sequel to her Garvey’s Choice, author Nikki Grimes follows Garvey during the COVID lockdown. Again, she tells the entire, beautiful story in verse using tanka poems.  Garvey feels scared and isolated because of the pandemic but also helpless as the George Floyd murder highlights the struggles that black people face in the community.  When his father contracts Covid, his fears heighten.  He uses his talent to help heal spirits battered by the trying times. (FIC GRI)

Swim Team

In this graphic novel by Johnnie Christmas, we meet Bree, who has just moved with her dad to a new town.  All of the electives are filled and she is forced to take a swimming class.  She avoids it as much as possible until a neighbor, Ms. Etta, helps her learn.  Ms. Etta explains that historically, because of segregation, black people did not have the opportunity to learn how to swim, so it was a skill that was not passed down in families.  Bree and her friend, Clara, face some serious competition, as well as friendship problems, until the girls realize what a team really is.  This is on the 2023-24 Great Stone Face list.      (GN CHR)